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The ascalaphid genus Deleproctophylla Lefèbvre is a characteristic element of insects from dry, warm grasslands across the Palaearctic, currently comprising five described species distributed in northern Africa, southern Europe, and western Asia. As with other colorful owlfly genera, species of Deleproctophylla have traditionally been differentiated based on wing pattern, a trait prone to high variability and misidentification. The genus currently includes five species: D. australis (Fabricius), D. variegata (Klug), D. dusmeti (Navás), D. gelini Navás, and D. bleusei Kimmins; however, the taxonomic identity of some populations, particularly from Anatolia, has remained uncertain. Even western European species have been affected by taxonomic confusion, as exemplified by D. bleusei, whose presence in southern Spain was only recently detected. A comprehensive revision of all species in the genus demonstrated that the shape of the male ectoproct is the most reliable diagnostic character for species identification. This study also led to the discovery of two new species, D. dandizenor Badano, Zheng, U. Aspöck & Dobosz, sp. nov. from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and D. tengri Zheng, Badano, H. Aspöck & Liu, sp. nov. from Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China, significantly expanding the known range of the genus. Morphological findings were further supported by species delimitation analyses of COI sequences, which helped identify specimens with atypical pigmentation patterns and confirmed the validity of both European species and the newly described D. tengri sp. nov.

In this study, two new species, Armascirus kuandianensis Chen & Jin, sp. nov. and A. stellatus Chen & Jin, sp. nov. are described and illustrated based on females. Additionally, a key to adult females of Armascirus species of China is provided.

The Echinorhynchidae has a long research history, but its mitochondrial genome evolution remains poorly understood, hindering phylogenetic resolution. In this study, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome of the genus Echinorhynchus, obtained from its type species, Echinorhynchus gadi. The circular mitogenome was 17,696 bp in length and contained 39 genes: 12 protein-coding genes (lacking atp8), two ribosomal RNA genes, and 25 transfer RNA genes, including two extra copies of trnW and one extra copy of trnV. Five non-coding regions were identified; the major non-coding region contained tandem repeats and pseudogene fragments, consistent with a tandem duplication and random loss mechanism. Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated amino acid sequences of the 12 protein-coding genes placed E. gadi and E. truttae in a well-supported monophyletic clade representing the genus Echinorhynchus. This clade was sister to Aspersentis megarhynchus, supporting a close relationship between Echinorhynchidae and Heteracanthocephalidae. Because the published E. truttae mitogenome is incomplete, this study fills a critical genomic gap and provides a valuable molecular resource for future taxonomic, systematic, and evolutionary studies of Acanthocephala.

Boreus (Mecoptera, Boreidae) species are reviewed. Two new Alaskan species are described (Boreus tananaensis Kane, sp. nov., Boreus timaryi Kane, sp. nov.), a previously synonymized species is resurrected (Boreus gracilis Carpenter, 1935, stat. res.), and morphological descriptions are provided for all five Alaskan species. A key to male and female Alaskan Boreus species is provided. An estimate of the mitochondrial gene tree, based on COI DNA barcodes, is used to infer relationships, and morphological species are tested using five molecular species delimitation methods. What is known about the subgeneric classification of Boreus, and how Alaskan species are classified, is discussed. A checklist of all 33 currently valid species of the family Boreidae is provided.

In this study, the taxonomic status of the Lucanus kanoi species complex is examined through a comprehensive systematic revision, and the phylogenetic relationships among its constituent taxa are investigated. Three taxa are analyzed: L. kanoi, L. piceus, and L. ogakii. Although closely related, the results support the recognition of each as a distinct species-level taxon. Specifically, L. piceus stat. nov. is elevated to full species status, rather than being treated as a subspecies of L. kanoi. Furthermore, a new subspecies, L. kanoi kavulunganus subsp. nov., is described based on consistent morphological, biogeographical, and molecular evidence.

The family Atyidae, the world's largest family of freshwater shrimps, is represented in Europe almost exclusively by subterranean species. The Dinaric Karst of the northwestern Balkans is among the most species-rich regions for atyids, hosting two genera, Troglocaris and Spelaeocaris. Recent speleobiological surveys in the southern Dinaric Karst of Bosnia and Herzegovina revealed a new cave shrimp species, described here as Spelaeocaris electa Jugovic & Zakšek, sp. nov. based on specimens collected during several field campaigns during 2013 and 2021. The epithet "electa" was chosen by a public vote, with the aim of involving local communities in the species naming process and raising awareness of subterranean biodiversity. Phylogenetic analyses, including species of the three European subterranean atyid genera (Spelaeocaris, Troglocaris and Xiphocaridinella) revealed its close relationship with S. hercegovinensis. Morphologically, S. electa Jugovic & Zakšek, sp. nov. is characterized by a weakly bilobed distal end of the telson, which is slightly concave in the centre, by a long rostrum, and the interchange of long and short spines on the appendix masculina. The discovery of S. electa Jugovic & Zakšek, sp. nov. highlights the exceptional subterranean biodiversity and high endemism of the Dinaric Karst, and emphasizes the need for continued taxonomic research and strengthened conservation efforts in this area.

The ponyfish genus Aurigequula is a relatively poorly studied group within the Leiognathidae, with its diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the West Pacific remaining unclear. This study reports the first confirmed record of Aurigequula striata from Chinese waters, based on two specimens obtained from a fish market in Sanya, Hainan Island. Newly collected specimens of A. fasciata from the same region are also provided, which enabled detailed morphological and genomic analysis. The morphological descriptions are supplemented by detailed photographic documentation of fresh and preserved specimens, addressing the historical scarcity of reliable visual references for these species. Furthermore, we present the first complete mitochondrial genomes for both A. striata (16,629 bp) and A. fasciata (16,537 bp). Our phylogenomic analysis, based on 13 protein-coding genes, strongly supports the monophyly of the subfamilies Gazzinae and Leiognathinae. Within Leiognathinae, however, the analysis suggests paraphyly of Aurigequula, with A. fasciata forming a clade with Leiognathus equula to the exclusion of A. striata. This result conflicts with the current morphology-based generic diagnosis, which relies on consistent differences in the length of the second dorsal-fin spine and body coloration patterns. This study significantly expands the genomic resources for the understudied genus Aurigequula but also highlights the limitations of relying solely on mitochondrial data for resolving generic-level relationships. A more robust phylogenetic framework for Leiognathidae, capable of reconciling molecular and morphological evidence, will require the integration of multiple independent nuclear loci.

Four new species, Elachista silfverbergi sp. nov. from Ethiopia and Kenya, E. griseifrons sp. nov. from Ethiopia, E. levis sp. nov. from Tanzania, and E. conica sp. nov. from Ethiopia are described. The habitus and genitalia are diagnosed and illustrated in detail. Identification keys to the Afrotropical species of the E. praelineata species group, based on male and female genitalia, are provided.

A new species of Leptobrachella is described from the coastal forest of Deo Ca Mountain in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam, based on morphological differences and genetic divergences in 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene sequences. The new species is distinguished from other species of the genus Leptobrachella by body size, dorsal skin texture, absence of ventrolateral and femoral glands, absence of lateral fringes on fingers and toes, color pattern of head and body, and iris color. The new species is divergent from other congeners by at least 6.34% uncorrected genetic distance (16S rRNA gene). Leptobrachella deocaensis sp. nov. is genetically closest to L. macrops from Vietnam, with strong nodal support from both BI and ML analyses (1.00/98).

This study presents the first comprehensive mitochondrial genome analysis of three Chironomidae genera, including sequencing, assembling, and annotating mitogenomes from two Paracladopelma species, one Parachironomus species and one Harnischia species. These newly characterized mitogenomes were subjected to comparative genomic analysis alongside twenty previously published Chironomidae mitogenomes, enabling robust phylogenetic reconstruction within the Harnischia generic complex. The Ka/Ks ratio analysis reveals that most protein-coding genes (PCGs) have undergone purifying selection, with ND6, ATP8, and ND5 exhibiting higher ω values and thus greater evolutionary flexibility. Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood methods demonstrate Robackia as a basal group. This study expands the available mitogenomic database and provides a robust foundation for future phylogenetic analyses of the Harnischia generic complex.