{"title":"Systematics of the New World Rostrate Genus Metaxyphloeus Thomas, 1984 (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): Morphological Evidence for Monophyly Supporting a Broader Generic Concept","authors":"Matheus Bento","doi":"10.1111/aen.70069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.70069","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A morphology-based MP analysis is undertaken to test the monophyly of the lined flat bark beetle genus <i>Metaxyphloeus</i> Thomas, 1984, as well as to hypothesize its intra- and intergeneric evolutionary relationships. Based on the results of the present work, <i>Metaxyphloeus</i>, as currently composed, is hypothesized as a monophyletic assemblage of rostrate laemophloeids, whose definition is adjusted hereby to include two previously unknown, earliest diverging lineages. A taxonomic treatment is provided for all known species of the genus, which are diagnosed and illustrated in fine detail, including the mouthparts and genital structures. In addition, three further species are proposed as new: <i>M. brevirostris</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>M</i>. <i>dorsocapillatus</i> <b>sp. nov.,</b> and <i>M</i>. <i>homalirhinoides</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> Biological information constitutes rare direct evidence for mycophagy among members of <i>Metaxyphloeus</i>, which may also serve as vectors for the dispersion of fungal conidia and spores (endozoochory). Finally, a key to the species of <i>Metaxyphloeus</i> is provided, and their distributions are synthetized in maps.</p>","PeriodicalId":8574,"journal":{"name":"Austral Entomology","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aen.70069","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148077381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eduardo V. P. Cunha, Benedito M. Nunes, Luiza F. R. Souza, José A. M. Fernandes
{"title":"A new genus, Similihypoxys gen. nov., to Edessinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)","authors":"Eduardo V. P. Cunha, Benedito M. Nunes, Luiza F. R. Souza, José A. M. Fernandes","doi":"10.1111/aen.70066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.70066","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A new genus for Edessinae close to <i>Hypoxys</i> is described. <i>Similihypoxys</i> <b>gen. nov.</b> Cunha & Fernandes is proposed for five new species, and one transferred from the genus <i>Hypoxys</i>: <i>Similihypoxys infulatus</i> (Breddin, 1904) <b>comb. nov.</b> (type species), <i>S. connatus</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>S. guianensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>S. ineffigiatus</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>S. quasinfulatus</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> and <i>S. sulcatus</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> Here, we describe a male of <i>S. infulatus</i>. The species of the genus are distributed in French Guiana, Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. An identification key and illustrations of the species of the new genus are provided here.</p>","PeriodicalId":8574,"journal":{"name":"Austral Entomology","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aen.70066","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148073088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A PCR–RFLP Assay for Identifying the Cryptic Australian Endemic Plutella australiana From Invasive Plutella xylostella","authors":"Hareem Qazi, Ary A. Hoffmann, Joshua A. Thia","doi":"10.1111/aen.70079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.70079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Plutella xylostella</i>, diamondback moth, is a major invasive worldwide pest. In Australia, a local <i>Plutella</i> known as <i>P. australiana</i> is almost morphologically indistinguishable from <i>P. xylostella</i>. Therefore, we developed a PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) assay targeting the mitochondrial COI gene to differentiate the two species. COI amplicons were digested with <i>BfaI</i>, producing two fragments (~490 and ~270 bp) for <i>P. australiana</i>, whereas <i>P. xylostella</i> remained undigested (~658 bp). In total, 71 and 15 COI sequences were generated for <i>P. xylostella</i> and <i>P. australiana</i>, respectively. We found seven unique haplotypes for <i>P. xylostella</i> and two unique haplotypes for <i>P. australiana</i>. In all cases, <i>P. australiana</i> samples were consistently digested, whereas <i>P. xylostella</i> samples remained undigested. Our assay therefore produced consistent, species-specific banding patterns across multiple individuals. This provides a simple, rapid, reliable and cost-effective method for distinguishing these cryptic species without having to sequence COI. This will aid experimental and survey work where the cryptic <i>Plutella</i> species need to be identified to provide information on their distribution, host use and pest impact.</p>","PeriodicalId":8574,"journal":{"name":"Austral Entomology","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aen.70079","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148065701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Juan Romero-Rincon, Luiz F. M. Iniesta, Rodrigo S. Bouzan, Rodrigo L. Ferreira
{"title":"Into the Darkness: Unveiling Unexpected Records of the Nonnative Millipede Prosopodesmus jacobsoni Silvestri, 1910 (Polydesmida: Haplodesmidae) in Brazilian Caves","authors":"Juan Romero-Rincon, Luiz F. M. Iniesta, Rodrigo S. Bouzan, Rodrigo L. Ferreira","doi":"10.1111/aen.70080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.70080","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study expands the known distribution of the nonnative millipede <i>Prosopodesmus jacobsoni</i> in Brazil and reports its presence in cave environments for the first time in the country. Based on recently collected material and historical records, the species is shown to maintain stable populations in subterranean systems in the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. Possible mechanisms that may have facilitated the colonization of Brazilian caves are proposed, including processes associated with human activities and landscape transformation. Ecological observations on its occurrence in subterranean habitats are presented, along with descriptive notes supported by scanning electron micrographs (SEM) and a distribution map of the species occurrence in southeastern Brazil, complemented by photographic evidence from caves.</p>","PeriodicalId":8574,"journal":{"name":"Austral Entomology","volume":"65 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aen.70080","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148065700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}