The vampire squid, Vampyroteuthis infernalis Chun, 1903, is currently the only extant species in the family Vampyroteuthidae Chun, 1903. However, specimens from the Gulf of Guinea, Africa, and California suggested the possibility of additional taxa. Here, we report the second species of Vampyroteuthis, collected from the South China Sea, China, which differs from V. infernalis by its tail shape, lower beak, photophores position, and the phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial COI and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU) sequences: V. infernalis present by the lacking of the tail, photophores located approximately one-third of the points between the fins and end, and the lower beak with a broad, short wing; V. pseudoinfernalis Qiu, Liu & Huang, sp. nov. present by an acuate tail, a pair of photophores located at the midpoints between the fins and tail, and a lower beak with a broad, elongate wing.

Four species of the genus Karstsinnectes, which live in dark, low-energy groundwater ecosystems, are currently recorded, mainly distributed in the upstream of the Pearl River, the Youjiang River and the Hongshui River. Completing biodiversity surveys is particularly difficult due to the particular cave habitats inhabited by these species. In this work, we describe a new cave fish of the genus Karstsinnectes, namely K. cehengensis Luo, Zhao & Zhou, sp. nov., collected from the Beipanjiang River, the upstream of the Hongshui River. Genetically, the four individuals of the new species form a phylogenetically separate lineage, as the sister clade of K. acridorsalis, with a 9.4–9.5% genetic difference in mitochondrial Cyt b. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: body naked, without body color; eyes reduced, diameter 1.4–3.8% of head length; anterior and posterior nostrils adjacent, anterior nostril not elongated to a barbel-like tip; lateral line incomplete; caudal fin forked; dorsal-fin rays iii-7, pectoral-fin rays i-11–12, pelvic-fin rays i-7, anal-fin rays iii-5, with 14 branched caudal-fin rays. The discovery of this new species represents the northernmost distribution of species within the genus Karstsinnectes and the first record from Guizhou Province. All currently known species of this genus inhabited in caves, making them ideal organisms for studying historical river connectivity and cave formation process.

Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Bruchinae) is a destructive agricultural pest that is harmful to beans worldwide and an important quarantine pest in China. It was divided into two phenotypes based on polyphenism: normal and flight forms. In this study, we first compared the morphological structures of the compound eyes of the two forms. According to the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), and computer three-dimensional reconstruction, there are no differences in the structures of the compound eyes between the normal and flight forms except for the number of ommatidia. From the internal structure, the compound eyes have a biconvex cornea with open rhabdom and acone eye, crystalline cone directly connected with rhabdom, and no clear zone. It is a kind of apposition eye. Ommatidia facets range in shape from quadrilateral to hexagonal and some irregular shapes. On electroretinograms (ERGs), the normal and flight forms showed different spectral sensitivities: the normal form had the strongest response to ultraviolet light, whereas the flight form had the strongest response to white light. Behavioral assays revealed that the normal and flight forms showed completely opposite phototaxis behaviors; the flight form exhibited positive phototaxis, whereas the normal form exhibited negative phototaxis. This study not only enriches our knowledge on coleopteran compound eyes but also provides a foundation for in-depth research on the photoreceptor mechanisms of compound eyes, which may be useful in pest control management.

This study focused on and examined the traditional Lucanus fortunei group comprising more than 60% of all Lucanus taxa in China. Each species treatment includes a description, distribution, collecting methods, natural history and digital habitus and other pertinent images. A dichotomous taxonomic key was created specific to the Chinese L. fortunei group and the related groups. The Lucanus fortunei group is arguably the largest group in terms of species richness in Lucanus Scopoli; however, the group definition is unclear and needs to be critically assessed and redefined. Field work and sampling of the Chinese Lucanus fortunei species group was conducted between summer, 2017 and summer, 2022. Field sites included Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Xizang, Guangdong, and Guangxi Provinces. Thirty-two taxa (species and subspecies), including 473 specimens, previously considered to fall within the scope of the Lucanus fortunei group were examined by morphological study. Three new groups, the Lucanus brivioi group, the Lucanus kraatzi group, and the Lucanus parryi group are proposed and separated from the traditional Lucanus fortunei group, based on morphological characters. The subspecies, L. parryi laetus, is proposed as the synonym of the nominate subspecies.

Four new genera in three spider families are reported, namely Langlibaitiao Lin & Li, gen. nov., of Dictynidae O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871, with Lathys inaffecta Li, 2017 (♂♀, China: Guangxi) as the type species; Huoyanluo Lin & Li, gen. nov., of Macrobunidae Petrunkevitch, 1928, with Huoyanluo ruanxiaoqi Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂, China: Yunnan) as the type species and Gushangzao Lin & Li, gen. nov. and Gyro Lin & Li, gen. nov., of Theridiidae Sundevall, 1833, with Gushangzao shiqian Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Xizang) and Gyro zeppeli Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀, China: Yunnan) as the type species, respectively. Further 31 new species in 19 spider families are reported, including Agelenidae C.L. Koch, 1837: Troglocoelotes doul Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀, China: Guangxi) and T. ruanxiaowu Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀, China: Guangxi); Dictynidae: Langlibaitiao zhangshun Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂, China: Hainan); Hahniidae Bertkau, 1878: Hahnia zhuyifani Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀, China: Yunnan); Liocranidae Simon, 1897: Platnick xintongi Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Xizang); Macrobunidae: Funny yanqing Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Xizang) and Huoyanluo zhangzezhongi Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂, China: Yunnan); Mysmenidae Petrunkevitch, 1928: Phricotelus yangxiong Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Chongqing); Nemesiidae Simon, 1889: Raveniola shixiu Lin, Wang & Li, sp. nov. (♀, China: Guangxi) and R. xiezhen Lin, Wang & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Yunnan); Nesticidae Simon,1894: Speleoticus sicet Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Sichuan); Ochyroceratidae Fage, 1912: Speocera yiduoi Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂, China: Guangdong); Oecobiidae Blackwall, 1862: Uroctea chenyui Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Guangxi); Oonopidae Simon, 1890: Orchestina xiebao Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀, China: Chongqing); Philodromidae Thorell, 1869: Apollophanes lujiani Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Guangxi) and Psellonus dawanqu Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Guangdong); Salticidae Blackwall, 1841: Coccorchestes spark Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, Indonesia, West Papua), Onomastus zhuwu Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Chongqing) and Synagelides huangxin Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Chongqing); Sparassidae Bertkau,1872: Thelcticopis chongzu Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Yunnan); Symphytognathidae Hickman,1931: Kirinua zhengqi Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀, China: Guangxi); Synotaxidae Simon,1895: Tekellina haosiwen Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Chongqing) and T. huihangi Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Zhejiang); Theridiidae: Chrosiothes pengqi Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀, China: Chongqing), Coscinida hantao Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Chongqing), Gushangzao goemon Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, Japan, Iriomotejima Island), Theridion chenzhangfui Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Zhejiang) and Yaginumena xuanzan Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Chongqing); Theridiosomatidae Simon, 1881: Coddingtonia chenyufengi Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀, Vietnam: Hai Phong) and Sennin zhangxinae Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, Vietnam: Hai Phong); Zodariidae Thorell, 1881: Mallinella zhoushengboi Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀, China: Chongqing). Four new combinations in three spider families are proposed: Philodromidae: Psellonus kianganensis (Barrion & Litsinger, 1995) comb. nov.; Theridiidae: Gushangzao pelorosus (Zhu, 1998) comb. nov. and Dictynidae: Langlibaitiao chishuiensis (Zhang, Yang & Zhang, 2009) comb. nov. and L. inaffectus (Li, 2017) comb. nov.

We present a comprehensive catalog with an updated database of the fossil record of Diplopoda in the world. Taxonomic data was collected from descriptions and reports published from 1854 to the present. We also include new records from Mexican amber (Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene), counting 83 unknown fossil inclusions, with the first records of the orders Polyxenida, Platydesmida, and Julida, as well as the families Sphaeriodesmidae and Trichopolydesmidae within Polydesmida. According to our results, Diplopoda counts 413 records featuring 299 distinct taxa ranging from the Middle Silurian to the Upper Pleistocene, representing three subclasses, two subterclasses, six superorders, 25 orders, 15 superfamilies, 55 families, 93 genera, and 161 fossil species. To date, no fossils of the order Siphonocryptida have been reported. The fossil record extends over three geological eras: the Paleozoic, with 161 taxa, including 97 species; the Mesozoic, with 53 taxa and 22 species; and the Cenozoic, with 85 taxa and 42 species. The referred material shows different forms of fossil preservation. It comprises 123 impressions, 99 compressions, 26 ichnites, predominantly from Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments, and 165 amber inclusions from late Mesozoic and Cenozoic sites. Thus, this catalog allows us to estimate the size and taxonomic composition of Diplopoda in the fossil record worldwide.

Each species within the order Thysanoptera has a distinct mitochondrial gene order displaying a high level of gene rearrangement, particularly massive in Phlaeothripidae. To understand the evolutionary patterns of rearrangement in this family, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Psephenothrips eriobotryae, a notable potential pest of loquat trees. Its mitogenome is a circular DNA molecule (15,413 bp in size) composed of 37 genes: 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and two putative control regions (CRs). By comparing with the ancestral mitogenome of arthropods, P. eriobotryae exhibits notable gene rearrangement variations. However, it shares four conserved gene blocks with three closely related species in Phlaeothripinae. In the phylogenetic tree, P. eriobotryae was clustered with these three leaf-feeding Phlaeothripinae species. The presence of more similar conserved gene blocks probably indicates a strong correlation between gene rearrangements and the phylogeny within Phlaeothripidae. Furthermore, the mitogenome of P. eriobotryae shows some characteristics: (a) two putative CRs in which CR2 is the copy of partial CR1 with 99.62% sequence similarity, and CR1 consists of two 237 bp repeat unites; (b) high A+T content of 82.6% in overall base composition; (c) trnS1 lacking a complete dihydrouridine (DHU) arm; (d) the protein coding gene, atp8 started with TTG instead of the more common ATN, while nad3 terminated by TAG rather than TAA; (e) translocations and inversions observed in fifteen of the 37 genes.

Eleven new species of Ourapteryx Leach, 1814 were described: O. curta Jiang & Han, sp. nov., O. triangulata Cheng & Han, sp. nov., O. cawarongensis Cheng & Jiang, sp. nov., O. arcuata Jiang & Cheng, sp. nov., O. longiacutata Jiang & Cheng, sp. nov., O. linzhiensis Jiang & Cheng, sp. nov., O. aniqiaoensis Cheng & Zhu, sp. nov., O. incurvata Cheng & Jiang, sp. nov., O. concava Cheng & Han, sp. nov., O. alba Cheng & Han, sp. nov., O. motuoensis Cheng & Zhu, sp. nov. Diagnoses for these new species are provided, with illustrations of external features and genitalia.

Species are not only the fundamental units of taxonomy but also the basic units of pest management. Insects of Conogethes are important agricultural and forestry pests. However, species boundaries within Conogethes often appear obscure. In the present study, we re-evaluated the species status of Conogethes by applying three species delimitation approaches based on the mitochondrial DNA sequences, with particular emphasis on the yellow peach moth C. punctiferalis (Guenée, 1854). We first optimized species delimitation and inter-species genetic divergence threshold using a DNA barcoding dataset. The results revealed that several nominal species of Conogethes species harbored deeply diverged mitochondrial lineages which were recognized as independent species by the species delimitation methods. The p-distance between the delimited putative species ranged from 0.0159 to 0.1321 with a mean of 0.0841. Then we refined the species status of C. punctiferalis using the smallest interspecific distance threshold based on a geographically comprehensive population-scale dataset. This procedure narrowed the species concept of C. punctiferalis to a genetically coherent unit. Further investigation of its intraspecific divergence in the geographic context revealed that the refined C. punctiferalis was still widely distributed with the same or highly similar mitochondrial haplotypes occurring across South and East Asia.

Here I explore the biological relevance, origin and meaning of the concept of cladogram (rooted, directed branching diagrams representing the hypothesized phylogenetic relationships among the terminal taxa under study) and argue that cladograms do not necessarily entail synapomorphies, but synapomorphies are required to test and ultimately falsify cladograms. Both cladograms and synapomorphies are required to achieve phylogenetic explanation. I conclude that within a phylogenetic, scientific context, testability refers to the logical relationship among cladograms (hypotheses), synapomorphies (evidence), and background knowledge (descent with modification). It is the relationship between evidence and hypothesis that underlies a logically consistent relationship between synapomorphies and cladograms. The capacity of a given cladogram, as a hypothesis, to explain synapomorphies complements this relationship and conforms phylogenetic explanation.

Here, a new species collected in the coastal area of Southern China is described, namely Bolbochromus vespertialis sp. nov. The species belongs to the subgenus Bolbochromus Boucomont, 1909, distinguished from the other two subgenera by possesses a frontovertex with punctate augmentation, an unmodified clypeus and aedeagus with distinct parameres (Krikken & Li, 2013)

The genus Diomus Mulsant, 1850 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Diomini) from China is herein revised. Five species of Diomus are occurring in the Chinese fauna to date, including a new species from the Dafushan Mountains Forest Park, Guangzhou, Guangdong, namely D. dafushanensis Bi, Peng & Chen, sp. nov. Nomenclatural history, diagnosis, illustrations and distribution were provided for each species. A key to the native species of Diomus from China is also presented.

A new freshwater opecoelid species, Sphaerostoma tamarae sp. nov., is described from Rhynchocypris percnura mantschurica caught in the Syumnyur River (Amur River basin, Russia). This parasite species differs from all other congeners in the distribution of the vitelline follicles (restricted to the hindbody) and the morphology of the ventral sucker (strongly protuberant). Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 28S rRNA gene sequences and the morphological analysis allow to tentatively assign the new species to the genus Sphaerostoma, without closing the question regarding the true genus affiliation of this species. In addition, the authors provide an argument for renaming the Plagioporinae to the Sphaerostomatinae.

As the largest continent in the world, bound by the Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea, Asia is well-endowed in its geological and biological diversity. Not surprisingly, spiders abound in the vast expanses of its tropic and temperate forests, lofty mountain ranges and plateaus, and flood plains of its many river systems. However, it is only over the past two decades that we have begun to make a concerted effort to undertake the study of spider taxonomy, and correspondingly, to discuss the issue of conservation of their habitats.

In this study, we review the Rheotanytarsus acerbus species group based on adult males from China. Two new species, R. cangshanensis Lin & Yao, sp. nov. and R. yamamotoi Lin & Yao, sp. nov., are described. R. adjectus (Johannsen, 1932) is re-described for its new record from China. A world key to adult males of acerbus species group is provided for the first time.

A species of the genus Nephrotoma from Xizang, China is described as new to science, namely N. zhuolonggouensis Men, sp. nov., which differs from its relative species by the structures of outer gonostylus, median lobe of sternite eighth and gonapophyses. Hypopygiums of another six species, N. concava Yang & Yang, 1990, N. geniculata Yang & Yang, 1987, N. hirsuticauda Alexander, 1924, N. martynovi Alexander, 1935, N. nigrostylata Alexander, 1935 and N. virgata (Coquillett, 1898), are redescribed based on additional characters.

Based on available records, a comprehensive overview of the biodiversity and geographical distribution of Collembola in China is presented. A total of 735 species, 155 genera and 20 families were recorded in the checklist, including current name information, synonyms, geographical records, and bibliographic references. Taxonomic notes were added where necessary and Chinese translations were provided for genera and families. The following new combinations are proposed: Rambutsinella grinnellia (Wang, Chen & Christiansen, 2004) comb. nov. for Pseudosinella grinnellia Wang, Chen & Christiansen 2004; Rambutsinella hui (Wang, Chen & Christiansen, 2003) comb. nov. for Pseudosinella hui Wang, Chen & Christiansen 2003; and Rambutsinella tridentifera (Rusek, 1971) comb. nov. for Pseudosinella tridentifera Rusek 1971. In addition, certain species have been merged with their synonyms. This checklist includes articles published up to August 2023.

Egyptian species of the leafhopper genus Exitianus Ball, 1929, E. capicola (Stål, 1855), E. nanus (Distant, 1908), and E. pondus Ross, 1968 are reviewed. Illustrations, morphological descriptions, and a key for their identification are provided. In this study, we used molecular techniques to confirm morphological identification and detect phylogeny among the three Exitianus species. The partial nucleotide sequences of the amplified products obtained were determined by Macrogen Korea. The nucleotide sequences of 28S rDNA and COX genes of the EGY-ARC-9, EGY-ARC-4, and EGY-ARC-5 were determined by Macrogen Korea, blasted into BLAST at the National Center for Biotechnology Information website (NCBI) and compared with those deposited in the GenBank DNA database. The results represented the homology percentage between the partial sequences of the 28S rRNA and COX genes from each species and related species obtained from GenBank DNA database. The morphological identifications of the three Exitianus species were confirmed by molecular characterization and sequencing of 28S rDNA and COX genes and identified as E. capicola, E. nanus, and E. pondus. Also, their sequences of 28srDNA and COX genes were deposited in GenBank with an accession number (LC670610, LC670607, and OQ196105) for 28srDNA gene and (LC775357, LC775358, and LC775359) for the COX gene.

A new genus and species, Sananicoccus nanophytoni gen. & sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on its adult female, adult male, first-instar nymph and pupa, collected on the leaves of Nanophyton erinaceum (Pall.) Bunge (Chenopodiaceae) from Xinjiang. The new genus is similar to the genus Synacanthococcus Morrison, 1920, but differs by the absence of ostioles and dorsal cerarii, and no cerarii situated on a prominent sclerotized area.

Two new species of Eurytoma, E. truncatumi Yang, Liu & Cao, sp. nov. and E. acutibialis Yang, Liu & Cao, sp. nov., are described and illustrated, as the solitary larval and pupal ectoparasitoid of Bradybatus sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a serious pest of purpleblow maple, Acer truncatum Bunge (Aceraceae). Photographs of the characters of the new species were provided. Typical materials were deposited in Insect Museum, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing. The biological characters observed and their biocontrol potential were also discussed.

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This study reported two new species: Newsteadia multipori Zheng & Wu, sp. nov., collected from pine needle litter in Guizhou Province, are described and illustrated for its adult female, male, and first-, second- and third-instar nymphs; N. chebalingensis Zheng & Wu, sp. nov., collected from broad leaf litter in Guangdong Province, are described and illustrated for its adult female and first-instar nymph. Identification keys are provided to the adult females of Newsteadia species known in China and to the adult males of Newsteadia species known worldwide.

A new species, Sclerodermus alternatusi Yang, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), is described and illustrated. Its cerambycid host, Monochamus alternatus Hope, a severe wood borer attacking many pine trees (Pinus spp.), is also a vector of pine wood nematode, Bursaphelencus xylophilus, which cause severe damages to pine forests in China. The new species is a gregarious ectoparasitoid of junior larva of M. alternatus. The number of adult wasps reared from a single host larva ranges from 6 to 45. The ratio of female to male is 20 : 1. The new parasitoid species has a high potential in using as a biocontrol agent for the wood borer. Diagnosis of the new species with comparisons to its related species, S. pupariae Yang & Yao and a key to known species of Sclerodermus from China is provided.

Ancient Lake Baikal (LB) is the prime hotspot of the harpacticoid diversity. The Canthocamptidae harpacticoids in the lake can be considered at least six species flocks. The lacks of unequivocal diagnostic characters in the family species description often lead species identification to an impasse. Recently developed molecular techniques provide a powerful tool to subject copepod taxa to comparative analyses. In order to provide a new base for canthocamp-tids taxonomy and clarify the systematic in some species flocks, we analyzed the mitochondrial DNA marker COI of 103 harpacticoid specimens from LB belonging to five genera. The materials were obtained from different lake basins from the depths 0.2‒1632 m. Using DNA barcoding, we identified 23 genetic species or groups of species, it was almost 1.5 times less than number of morphological species, and divergence of some molecular lineages were not corresponding to morphological species. Results of our study were the discovery of a new species, males of some morphological species, for which only females were previously described, clarification of the level of morphological variability of some species, etc. Specifically, it became apparent that morphological and genetic harpacticoid species diversity in LB differ significantly and it has to be detected strictly in complex.

Three new spongillafly species of Sisyra Burmeister, 1839 from southern China and Laos are described, namely S. arcuata sp. nov., S. nobilia sp. nov., and S. stenoloma sp. nov. Notably, S. arcuata sp. nov. and S. nobilia sp. nov. have remarkable forewing marking pattern, which has never been reported in Sisyra. Additionally, the male of the rare species Sisyra yunana Yang, 1986 is described for the first time. All these Sisyra species have a highly specialized male gonocoxites 9.

Specimens of the crane fly genus Helius Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 from Sichuan, China are examined and studied. Three Helius species all belonging to the nominotypical subgenus are recognized, of which H. (H.) pallidissimoides Xu, Ma & Zhang, sp. nov. is described and illustrated as new to science, and H. (H.) pallidissimus Alexander, 1930 and H. (H.) franckianus Alexander, 1940 are redescribed and illustrated. For the first time, descriptions and illustrations are provided for the male of H. (H.) pallidissimus and the female of H. (H.) franckianus.

Two new species of the genus Trypoxylon, namely T. flavimaculatum Fu & Li, sp. nov. and T. tuberantennatum Fu & Li, sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Guizhou, Guangdong, Guangxi and Zhejiang Provinces, China. Another two species, T. chosenense Tsuneki, 1956 and T. konosuense Tsuneki, 1968, are newly recorded from China.

The genus Limonia Meigen, 1803 is globally distributed with 216 known species/subspecies, of which 30 are recorded from China. In this study, we firstly use DNA barcodes (mt COI) to identify specimens of Limonia from China, result in a discovery of three species. Considering the morphological data, these species were identified as L. albiterminalis Lü, Ren & Zhang, sp. nov., L. juvenca Alexander, 1935 (new record in China), and L. macrostigma (Schummel, 1829), respectively. Six COI sequences of the three species were provided, analyzed with other 24 COI sequences from Limonia species. The result indicates that intraspecific distances in the genus are generally less than 2.2%, interspecific distances range from 7.9% to 17.2%, and there is no overlap between intra- and interspecific distances. Redescription and illustrations of L. juvenca and illustration of male hypopygium of L. macrostigma, as well as the key to the Chinese Limonia crane flies, are all provided.

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Mitochondrial genomes of five Tykhepoda scolopendromorphs (Cryptopidae, Scolopocryptopidae and Plutoniumidae) are sequenced and analyzed using methods of comparative genomics to provide more information on the phylogeny of Scolopendromorpha. The locations of 22 tRNAs, 13 PCGs, and 2 rRNAs are annotated. The heavy chain of mitochondrial genomes are 14,841–15,619 bp in length. A+T % vary from 64.79% to 77.40%, and mitochondrial genomes are CG and AT skewed. The phylogenetic reconstructions showed the blind clade, recently named Tykhepoda, is monophyletic with high support values (BS = 100% and PP = 1).

China has the sixth-largest bee fauna with over 1,300 documented species. Yet countless more are expected, making taxonomic work an imperative. Here, we outline the history of bee taxonomy in China and discuss how best we can move into the future and describe all of the many undescribed species remaining. Key challenges include the difficulty of accurately assigning species names due to overseas type material as well as a general need for increased internationalization such as in specimen and data sharing. Only with sustained funding for basic taxonomy will it be possible to know and protect China’s unique bee fauna.

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Baraeus orientalis Aurivillius, 1907, an African longhorn beetle belonging to the Cerambycidae family and the Lamiinae subfamily, has previously been reported in various countries on the African continent. This study identifies Adenia globosa Engler, 1891, a succulent plant with medicinal and aesthetic value, as a new host plant record for B. orientalis. The discovery occurred during a phytosanitary inspection at Hong Kong International Airport, where an adult longhorn beetle was intercepted on a stem of A. globosa. This finding emphasizes the potential risk of introducing invasive species and underscores the importance of implementing stringent quarantine measures. It also enhances our understanding of the host of B. orientalis, which was previously undocumented.

Siberian taimen Hucho taimen (Pallas, 1773) is a broadly distributed and popular sport fish with high economic value. However, low abundance and hard-to-reach habitat make the Siberian taimen a relatively understudied species. Here we describe the morphological variability of two size groups of Siberian taimen juveniles from the eastern (Amur River basin) and western (Kama River basin) parts of the species distribution. The largest morphological differentiation of Siberian taimen juveniles was observed at the inter-basin level. In the Amur River basin, Siberian taimen juveniles also differed morphologically even at sites located at a distance of 20 km from each other, which may be explained by a small home-range inhabitation of juveniles leading to the formation of their morphotype determined by local environmental conditions. The pattern of allometry varies in taimen from different rivers, which could be related to the ontogenetic shift of ecological niches and the level of heterogeneity of the river environment.

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Dentisphaera Páll-Gergely & Jochum, 2017 is a troglobitic land snails genus known to harbour only one species found in a single cave in North Vietnam. Based on recently collected specimens from China, three species, Dentisphaera lagredeae Chen, Grego & Páll-Gergely, sp. nov., Dentisphaera shzha Chen, Grego & Páll-Gergely, sp. nov. and Dentisphaera zhoui Chen, Lin & Páll-Gergely, sp. nov. are introduced as new to science. The distribution range of Dentisphaera is extended based on the collecting records of these new species.