[Entomology • 2026] Stygioides hecate • A Golden Shadow in the Mountains: A New Stygioides Bruand, 1853 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) from Turkey

 Stygioides hecate Japaridze & Junnilainen, 

in Japaridze, Junnilainen et Sihvonen, 2026.  

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5821.2.8

 

Abstract

A new species of the genus Stygioides Bruand, 1853 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) is described from central Turkey. Stygioides hecate Japaridze & Junnilainen sp. nov. is based on material collected in the Sultan Daðlarý Mountains (Konya Province). The new species is characterised by its distinct wing coloration in females. Adults are diurnal, as in other members of the genus, and were collected by daytime netting. DNA barcode data (COI) are provided and compared with available sequences in the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD Systems), supporting the distinctiveness of the new taxon. The discovery of this species increases the number of Stygioides species to 10 and those from Turkey to three, thus contributing to a better understanding of the diversity and distribution of the genus in the Palaearctic realm.

Lepidoptera, carpenter moths, DNA barcoding, Heteroneura, Middle East

Adults of Stygioides hecate Japaridze & Junnilainen sp. nov.
 A–B. Paratype male, dorsal and ventral view and associated labels.
C–D. Holotype female, dorsal and ventral view and associated labels.

Scale bar: 10 mm

Stygioides hecate Japaridze & Junnilainen sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: Males of S. hecate Japaridze & Junnilainen sp. nov. differ from S. nupponenorum by the presence of a distinct white tip of the male abdomen and white scales on the antennae, the absence of brown piliform scales on the abdomen, a narrower apex of the valvae, and a shorter saccus (Figs 1A–1B, 2 C; cf. Lingenhöle et al. 2016: fig. 6; Yakovlev 2011: fig. 35). Females are readily distinguished from all congeners by the presence of golden-yellow scales on the antennae, head, thorax and wings (Figs 1C–1D; cf. Lingenhöle et al. 2017: figs 1–3, 9; Japaridze et al. 2025b: fig. 22).

Etymology: The species name is derived from Hecate, the ancient Greek goddess associated with the night and commonly depicted carrying yellow or golden torches. This name alludes to the coloration of the holotype female, which is predominantly black with yellow-golden scales on the wings, thorax, head, and antennae.

LASHA-GIORGI JAPARIDZE, JARI JUNNILAINEN and PASI SIHVONEN. 2026. A Golden Shadow in the Mountains: A New Stygioides Bruand, 1853 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) from Turkey.  Zootaxa. 5821(2); 274-280. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5821.2.8 [2026-05-29]

[Crustacea • 2026] Caridina tashanica • A New cave Shrimp Species (Decapoda: Atyidae) from Sulphidic Water in southwestern Iran

 Caridina tashanica sp. nov. (both ovigerous females)
from Tashan Cave, Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran.

 Jugovic, Malek Hosseini & Zakšek,

in Jugovic, Malek Hosseini, Fatemi, Flot, Kuntner et Zakšek, 2026. 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.55.184889

Abstract

A new cave species of atyid shrimp of the genus Caridina H. Milne Edwards, 1837 was discovered during a survey of a subterranean habitat in southwestern Iran (Khuzestan Province, Tashan Cave). This is the first record of a cave atyid shrimp in Iran and the first documented occurrence of a Caridina species inhabiting sulphidic groundwater. Phylogenetic analyses and genetic distances support the status of Caridina tashanica sp. nov. as a distinct species, closely related to C. shahrazadae. Morphologically, the new species is characterised by reduced eyes and pigmentation, and by an extremely elongated rostrum with numerous teeth. Males have specific, triangular endopodite of pleopod I, and a rod-like appendix masculina of pleopod II with numerous long setae. Ovigerous females lay relatively large, oval, white eggs, which clearly indicate a landlocked life cycle. This study contributes to the knowledge of atyid shrimps in the Middle East and to the subterranean biodiversity of the sulphidic Tashan Cave ecosystem in Iran.

Keywords: Atyids, groundwater, Middle East, subterranean, sulphidic, Tashan Cave

Photo of two cave shrimps Caridina tashanica sp. nov. (both ovigerous females) from Tashan Cave, Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran.

Photo credit: YF and MJMH, photographed on 8 December 2018.

Caridina tashanica Jugovic, Malek Hosseini & Zakšek, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Caridina tashanica sp. nov. is the only species of cave shrimp (depigmented and with strongly reduced eyes without pigmentation; Fig. 6) from Iran of the family Atyidae. It is characterised by an extremely long rostrum (Fig. 3) with numerous teeth (13–19+3–5/9–22), uropodal diaeresis with 7–10 spiniform setae and 4–6 pairs of dorsomarginal spiniform setae on the telson of which the distal pair is dorsomarginal-terminal. Propodus of pereiopod III and V bears only 7–14 and 9–18 spiniform setae, respectively, while dactylus of pereiopod V bears ...

 Jure Jugovic, Mohammad-Javad Malek Hosseini, Yaser Fatemi, Jean-François Flot, Matjaž Kuntner and Valerija Zakšek. 2026. Caridina tashanica sp. nov., A New cave Shrimp Species (Decapoda, Atyidae) from Sulphidic Water in southwestern Iran. Subterranean Biology. 55: 137-160. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.55.184889 [23 Mar 2026]

[Arachnida • 2024] Micropholcus abha, M. bashayer, M. dhahran, M. ghar, M. shaat, ... • Old World Micropholcus spiders, with first records of acrocerid parasitoids in Pholcidae (Araneae)

 

A Micropholcus dhahran Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, W of Dhahran Al Janub; B M. harajah Huber, sp. nov., female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, SE of Harajah; 
C, D M. alfara Huber, sp. nov., male and female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, S of Al Fara; 
E M. abha Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, N of Abha; F M. tanomah Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, NW of Tanomah; 
G M. bashayer Huber, sp. nov., female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, NW of Al Bashayer; H M. maysaan Huber, sp. nov., male from Mecca, NW of Maysaan.

in Huber & Meng, 2024.

DOI:  doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1213.133178 

Photographs Bernhard A. Huber.

Abstract  

Micropholcus Deeleman-Reinhold & Prinsen, 1987 is one of only two Pholcidae genera known to occur both in the Old and New Worlds. However, there are major morphological and ecological differences among geographically separate groups of species, and it was mainly molecular data that have resulted in our current view of uniting all these species into a single genus. In the Old World, only four species have previously been described. Here, current knowledge about Old World Micropholcus is reviewed, redescribing three of the four previously known species, and describing twelve new species, originating from Saudi Arabia (M. dhahran Huber, sp. nov., M. harajah Huber, sp. nov., M. alfara Huber, sp. nov., M. abha Huber, sp. nov., M. tanomah Huber, sp. nov., M. bashayer Huber, sp. nov., M. maysaan Huber, sp. nov.), Oman (M. darbat Huber, sp. nov., M. shaat Huber, sp. nov.), Morocco (M. ghar Huber, sp. nov., M. khenifra Huber, Lecigne & Lips, sp. nov.), and the Philippines (M. bukidnon Huber, sp. nov.). We provide an exploratory species delimitation analysis based on CO1 barcodes, extensive SEM data, and first records of Acroceridae (Diptera) larvae in Pholcidae, extracted from book lungs.   

Key words: CO1 barcode, genetic distances, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, species delimitation, taxonomy

Micropholcus Deeleman-Reinhold & Prinsen; live specimens from Saudi Arabia
A M. dhahran Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, W of Dhahran Al Janub; B M. harajah Huber, sp. nov., female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, SE of Harajah; C, D M. alfara Huber, sp. nov., male and female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, S of Al Fara; 
E M. abha Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, N of Abha; F M. tanomah Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, NW of Tanomah; G M. bashayer Huber, sp. nov., female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, NW of Al Bashayer; H M. maysaan Huber, sp. nov., male from Mecca, NW of Maysaan. Photographs BAH.

Micropholcus Deeleman-Reinhold & Prinsen; live specimens from Oman, Morocco, and the Philippines
A, B M. darbat Huber, sp. nov., male and female with egg-sac from Oman, Dhofar, near Qairoon Hairitti C M. shaat Huber, sp. nov., male from Oman, Dhofar, Shaat sinkhole
D, E M. agadir (Huber), male and female with egg-sac from Morocco, Souss-Massa, Paradise Valley

F M. ghar Huber, sp. nov., male from Morocco, Fès-Meknès, Kef El Ghar G M. khenifra Huber, Lecigne & Lips, sp. nov., male from Morocco, Béni Mellal-Khénifra, near Sidi Ben Daoud H M. bukidnon Huber, sp. nov., male from Philippines, Mindanao, Blue Water Cave.

 Photographs BAH.

 Bernhard A. Huber and Guanliang Meng. 2024. Old World Micropholcus spiders, with first records of acrocerid parasitoids in Pholcidae (Araneae). ZooKeys. 1213: 95-182. DOI:  doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1213.133178 [26 Sep 2024]

[Entomology • 2025] Igoria parwanae, Colotois shabazherica, ... • Four new ennomine Moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from Iraqi Kurdistan

  Igoria parwanae gen. n. et sp. n. 
Colotois shabazherica sp. n. 

 Khudhur & Axel Hausmann, 2025 

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2535148

 

Abstract

In this paper, we describe a new genus, three new species, and one new subspecies of moths from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Aleucis orientalis suleimana ssp. n., Pseudopanthera kurdistanica sp. n., Colotois shabazherica sp. n., and Igoria parwanae gen. n. et sp. n. We provide detailed differential diagnoses along with images of adult specimens and both male and female genitalia. Analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene (barcoding region) reveals genetic divergences ranging from 2.45% to 7.35% between these newly described taxa and their closest related congeners.

 

Keywords: Aleucis, Pseudopanthera, Colotois, Igoria gen. nov., Middle East 

Aleucis orientalis suleimana ssp. n.

 Pseudopanthera kurdistanica sp. n.

 Colotois shabazherica sp. n.

Igoria parwanae gen. n. et sp. n. 

Farhad A. Khudhur & Axel Hausmann. 2025. Four new ennomine Moths from Iraqi Kurdistan (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Zoology in the Middle East. 71(3); 339-350. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2535148 [23 Jul 2025]

[Paleontology • 2025] Recovering lost time in Syria: A gigantic latest Cretaceous azhdarchid Pterosaur from the Palmyrides Mountain Chain

 

Syrian azhdarchid (LU-GD 0001)

in Alhalabi, Pinheiro, Jaoude, Ismail, Suberbiola, Bardet et Langer, 2025.

 DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s00114-025-02032-9  

  x.com/WhWafa

Abstract

Azhdarchidae was a diverse group of toothless pterosaurs and one of the few lineages of flying reptiles to survive to the end of the Cretaceous. Despite including medium-sized forms, the group is notable for their gigantic representatives, which correspond to the largest known flying animals. Azhdarchids had a nearly global distribution during the Late Cretaceous, including the Arabian Plate, with records in Lebanon and Jordan, such as the iconic Arambourgiana philadelphiae. Here, we report the first azhdarchid, and indeed the first pterosaur, from Syria, recovered from early Maastrichtian phosphate deposits of the Palmyrides mountain chain, near Palmyra (Tadmur). It corresponds to a fragmentary left humerus, missing both its proximal and distal ends, with a preserved length of 289 mm. The Syrian pterosaur was exceptionally large, with extrapolations suggesting that, if complete, its humerus would be only about 10% smaller than the holotype humerus of Quetzalcoatlus northropi, the largest known pterosaur. The new pterosaur fossil also represents the uncommon record of a giant azhdarchid in marine deposits, confirming that these gigantic animals, though classically considered continental, could also inhabit nearshore environments. The find also underscores the widespread occurrence of gigantic azhdarchids until the latest Cretaceous, just prior to their Cretaceous/Paleogene extinction, and highlights the potential for fossil discoveries in understudied regions such as the Middle East.

 

Keywords: Azhdarchidae, Pterosaurs, Azhdarchids

Syrian azhdarchid (LU-GD 0001)

Conclusions: 

Despite the incompleteness of the Syrian azhdarchid (LU-GD 0001), it is significant given its size and geographic provenance. Firstly, it corresponds to one of the largest known pterosaurs and the first pterosaur found in Syria, adding to previously documented Middle East records from Jordan and Lebanon. It is also an additional record of an azhdarchid from marine strata, adding to the evidence that these gigantic animals were not strictly continental, but also able to live near the coastlines. The Syrian azhdarchid also reinforces the widespread distribution of those gigantic pterosaurs just prior to their extinction at the end of the Cretaceous. Finally, it is a witness that the Palmyrides phosphate mines of Syria are continuously yielding important fossil specimens, so that their exploration is likely to uncover further new finds, expanding our understanding of the Middle East ancient life.

 

Wafa A. Alhalabi, Felipe L. Pinheiro, Issam Bou Jaoude, Mohamad J. Ismail, Xabier Pereda Suberbiola, Nathalie Bardet and Max C. Langer. 2025. Recovering lost time in Syria: A gigantic latest Cretaceous azhdarchid Pterosaur from the Palmyrides Mountain Chain. The Science of Nature.  112 78. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s00114-025-02032-9 [16 October 2025]

 x.com/WhWafa/status/1978824576772550697

[Herpetology • 2025] Mesalina cryptica • Phylogeny and Systematics of Arabian lacertids from the Mesalina guttulata species complex (Squamata: Lacertidae), with the Description of A New Species

 

Mesalina cryptica

Šmíd, Velenská, Pola, Tamar, Busais, Shobrak, Almutairi, Salim, Alsubaie, R. H. M. AlGethami, A. R. AlGethami, Alanazi, Alshammari, Egan, Ramalho, Olson, Smithson, Chirio, Burger, van Huyssteen, Petford & Carranza, 2025

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1186/s40850-025-00233-3 

 Researchgate.net/publication/393261035

 

Abstract

Background: The lacertid genus Mesalina has been the subject of several phylogenetic and biogeographic studies as well as taxonomic revisions within the last decade. The genus is partitioned into seven main clades, some of which represent species complexes of morphologically very similar species. The Mesalina guttulata species complex is one such case. This complex currently comprises four described species that occur through Arabia and northern Africa, however, the presence of a cryptic species in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan was pointed out recently. For this study, we collected new material of the various species of the M. guttulata complex, including the undescribed lineage from across Saudi Arabia. We carried out multilocus phylogenetic analyses using three mitochondrial and three nuclear markers and analysis of morphological data to verify whether the undescribed lineage deserves a species rank.

Results: The results show that the lineage is clearly genetically separated from the other species of the complex and shows morphological differentiation from the other species. Therefore, we describe it herein as a new species, Mesalina cryptica sp. nov.

Conclusions: We contribute to the taxonomy of Arabian lacertid lizards by describing a new species distributed in central Saudi Arabia, with isolated populations occurring in Kuwait and Jordan. Despite its large range, the species is genetically and morphologically homogeneous. The gap in its distribution between the Jordan and Saudi Arabia populations is ascribable to the paucity of sampling along the Saudi/Iraqi border.

 

Keywords: Lizards, Mesopotamia, Middle East, Sauria, Squamates, Reptiles, Taxonomy

A) Holotype (NMP6V 76937) of Mesalina cryptica sp. nov. in life (photo by Al Faqih Ali Salim).
B) The species type locality about 7 km N of Hazlulah, west of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (24.561°N, 46.307°E), with the abrupt vertical cliffs of the Tuwaiq Escarpment visible in the background (photo by Jiří Šmíd)

Lacertidae Oppel, 1811

Mesalina Gray, 1838

 Mesalina cryptica sp. nov.

English name: Arabian small-spotted lizard

Diagnosis: A medium-sized species of Mesalina, member of the M. guttulata species complex with the following combination of morphological characters: 1) SVL up to 47 mm in both sexes (the character is not sexually dimorphic; adult males: 43.5–47.0 mm, adult females: 41.8–46.1 mm); 2) well-developed occipital scale in contact with the interparietal; 3) lower eyelid with a transparent window made up of two large scales; 4) 8–10 supralabials; 5) four upper labials in front of the subocular; 6) 9–12 plates in collar; 7) 21–29 gulars; 8) ventral plates in eight straight longitudinal rows; 9) 36–48 dorsal scales across midbody; 10) 24–29 femoral pores in males, 25–33 in females (the character is not sexually dimorphic); 11) 19–22 lamellae under 4th toe; 12) dorsal coloration of adults beige to dark brown, with black-and-white ocelli (the white dots are flanked but not completely surrounded by black specks); the ocelli are arranged in irregular longitudinal and transverse rows; 13) adult males with orange flanks; 14) juveniles sometimes with pale dorsolateral stripes that start at the level of the eye and extend all the way down on the tail; 15) juveniles with a bluish tail.

Etymology: The species epithet “cryptica” is derived from the Latin word for “concealed” or “hidden”, and refers to that the species had been overlooked for its morphological similarity with the other species of the M. guttulata complex, which were considered conspecific prior to the taxonomic revision by Sindaco, et al. [2018].

Jiří Šmíd, Doubravka Velenská, Lukáš Pola, Karin Tamar, Salem Busais, Mohammed Shobrak, Mohammed Almutairi, Al Faqih Ali Salim, Saad Dasman Alsubaie, Raed Hamoud M. AlGethami, Abdulaziz Raqi AlGethami, Abdulkarim Saleh K Alanazi, Ahmed Mohajja Alshammari, Damien M. Egan, Ricardo O. Ramalho, David Olson, Josh Smithson, Laurent Chirio, Marius Burger, Ryan van Huyssteen, Melissa A. Petford and Salvador Carranza. 2025. Phylogeny and Systematics of Arabian lacertids from the Mesalina guttulata species complex (Squamata, Lacertidae), with the Description of A New Species. BMC Zoology. 10: 11. DOI: doi.org/10.1186/s40850-025-00233-3 [01 July 2025]

 Researchgate.net/publication/393261035_Phylogeny_and_systematics_of_the_Mesalina_guttulata_species_complex

[Botany • 2025] Boswellia oropedionis (Burseraceae) • A New frankincense tree Species from Socotra, and notes on B. ameero and B. bullata

Boswellia oropedionis Thulin & M.H.Weber,

in Thulin, Weber et Mubarak, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.1002/njb.04801

Abstract The new species Boswellia oropedionis Thulin and M.H.Weber is described, illustrated by photographs and mapped. This tree is only known from a small population growing on level limestone on the Qatariyah plateau in southern Socotra and is the twelfth endemic species of Boswellia from the Socotra archipelago. It differs from B. dioscoridis Thulin by having 7–9-foliolate leaves with pubescent nerves on the upper side, and by having larger flowers and fruits. Boswellia ameero Balf.f. is shown to have broadly winged pyrenes, an unusual feature in the genus and unique among the species on Socotra. Two new localities are reported for B. bullata Thulin, which is shown to have mostly narrowly winged pyrenes.

Keywords: endemic species, taxonomy, Yemen

Boswellia oropedionis sp. nov., from type locality, 21 May 2024.
(A) tree, showing expanded trunk-base, (B) upper branches of tree, showing leaves, inflorescences and young fruits. Photographs by Michael Weber.

Boswellia oropedionis Thulin and M.H.Weber sp. nov.

A species differing from Boswellia dioscoridis Thulin by having 7–9-foliolate leaves pubescent with crisped hairs along the nerves above (versus leaves mostly 11–17-foliolate and entirely glabrous above), petals 7.0 × 3.5 mm (versus 5.0 × 2.5–3.0 mm), stamens with filaments 3 mm (versus 1.5–2.0 mm) long and anthers 2.8 mm (versus 1.2–1.8 mm) long, disk 5.5 mm (versus 3.0–3.5 mm) in diameter, fruits 12–15 × 10–12 mm (versus 7–12 × 4–9 mm) and pyrenes 8.0–10.0 × 4.5–5.5 mm (versus 5.5–7.5 × 2.0–4.0 mm).

Etymology: The epithet ‘oropedionis' (from Greek for ‘of the plateau') refers to the habitat of the species.

Mats Thulin, Michael H. Weber and Sami Ali Mohammed Mubarak. 2025. Boswellia oropedionis (Burseraceae) sp. nov., a frankincense tree from Socotra, and notes on B. ameero and B. bullata. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/njb.04801 [08 May 2025]

[Ichthyology • 2025] Tariqilabeo iranicus • A New Species of labeonine fish (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from the Makran Basin in Iran

Tariqilabeo iranicus 

Esmaeili, Sayyadzadeh, Masoumi, Hashemi & Echreshavi, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.3.3

Abstract

A new species of labeonine fish, Tariqilabeo iranicus sp. nov. is described from the Makran drainage basin of Iran. It is distinguished from its closest congener, Tariqilabeo diplochilus, by having a silvery spot on the operculum, and a snout shorter than the postorbital length. It is further distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters: 34–36 lateral-line scales, 11–14 predorsal scales, 22–24 total gill rakers on the first branchial arch, 3+8 ½ dorsal-fin rays, 14–16 pectoral-fin rays, 9 pelvic-fin rays, 3+5½ anal-fin rays, 2–3 scales between anal-fin origin and anus, 7–8 scales between posteriormost pelvic-fin base and anus, 2 pairs of small barbels, presence of fringes on the rostral fold, and absence of horny tubercles on snout and cheek in males. Tariqilabeo iranicus sp. nov. is further distinguished from T. diplochilus by a K2P nearest-neighbor distance of 4% in the COI barcode region. A key to the species of Tariqilabeo is also presented.

Freshwater fish, Taxonomy, Labeonine, Gonorhynchus, Crossocheilus, COI, Iran, Pisces

Tariqilabeo iranicus sp. nov.

Hamid Reza ESMAEILI, Golnaz SAYYADZADEH, Amir Hassan MASOUMI, Seyed Hassan HASHEMI and Sorour ECHRESHAVI. 2025. Tariqilabeo iranicus, A New Species of labeonine fish from the Makran Basin in Iran (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).  Zootaxa. 5620(3); 437-450. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5620.3.3 [2025-04-10]

[Entomology • 2025] Davidlivingstonia mooseri • A New Species and A New Record of the Afrotropic Genus Davidlivingstonia Yakovlev, 2020 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) in the Middle East

[A-B]. Davidlivingstonia lenzi Yakovlev, 2020;
[C-D] Davidlivingstonia mooseri Yakovlev, Müller, Saldaitis & Prozorov, 2025 
 

 DOI: doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2444693  

  Researchgate.net/publication/387878024

 Abstract

A new species, Davidlivingstonia mooseri sp. n. is described from Oman and compared with the closely related D. boisduvalii (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854), which is known from Sierra Leone. Additionally, Davidlivingstonia lenzi Yakovlev, 2020 is recorded for Egypt for the first time. These new records significantly extend the known distribution of the Afrotropical genus Davidlivingstonia Yakovlev, 2020, demonstrating its range reaches much farther north and northeast than previously documented.

 

Keywords: Cossoidea, Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, new species, taxonomy

Davidlivingstonia, adult males and their genitalia:
A. D. lenzi, male, S. Egypt; B. D. lenzi, male genitalia, slide Prozorov 2022 0457;
C. Davidlivingstonia mooseri, Holotype; D. D. mooseri, male genitalia, slide Prozorov 2022 0458.

 

Roman V. Yakovlev, Günter C. Müller, Aidas Saldaitis and Alexey M. Prozorov. 2025. A New Species and A New Record of the Afrotropic Genus Davidlivingstonia Yakovlev, 2020 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) in the Middle East. Zoology in the Middle East. 71(1); 63-67. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2444693 [09 Jan 2025]

  Researchgate.net/publication/387878024_A_new_species_of_Davidlivingstonia_in_the_Middle_East

Yakovlev, R.V. 2020. On the taxonomy of Zeuzera boisduvalii Herrich-Schäffer, 1854 (Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) species complex with description of A New Genus and Three New Species. Ecologica Montenegrina. 38, 215–226. DOI: doi.org/10.37828/em.2020.38.31

[Botany • 2025] Boswellia hesperia (Burseraceae) • A New Species from Socotra

Boswellia hesperia Thulin, M.H.Weber & Rzepecky, 

in Thulin, Weber, Mubarak et Rzepecky, 2025.

 DOI: doi.org/10.1111/njb.04728

Researchgate.net/publication/389133907

Abstract

The new species Boswellia hesperia Thulin, M.H.Weber and Rzepecky is described, illustrated and mapped. It is a dwarf tree, restricted to westernmost Socotra (Yemen), growing on limestone rocks, in which the usually prostrate stems tend to fill out holes and crevices. It differs from B. nana Hepper, another dwarf tree endemic to Socotra but restricted to the easternmost parts of the island, by having leaves densely pubescent with whitish hairs beneath and by its smaller flowers and fruits.

Keywords: dwarf tree, frankincense, taxonomy, Yemen

Boswellia hesperia sp. nov. from mountain ridge above Neet, 5–6 km from the coast, Socotra, 18 May 2021.
(A) plant filling out crevice in limestone rock, leafless, showing reddish white flowers and fruits, (B) leafless plant with flowers and fruits. Photographs by Alain Rzepecky.

Boswellia hesperia sp. nov. from the type locality above Neet in Socotra, 30 Apr. 2023.
(A) plant showing upper surfaces of leaves and 5- or 4-merous flowers with reddish white petals, (B) flowers, showing calyx and outside of petals, and undersides of leaves with dense indumentum of crisped whitish hairs, (C) plant showing 3-locular fruit. Photographs by Michael Weber.

Boswellia hesperia sp. nov. from above Neet, Socotra, 17 May 2024.
 (A) plant showing flower and 4-locular fruits, (B) plant showing 4-merous flowers with cream or whitish petals, (C) plant showing 3-merous flower with whitish petals. Photographs by Michael Weber.

Boswellia hesperia sp. nov.
(A) flower, top view, (B) detail of petal margin, (C) flower, side view, (D) fruit, (E) pyrene, ventral view, (F) pyrene, dorsal view, (G) leaf from short shoot, upper side, (H) leaf from short shoot, lower side, (I) leaf from long shoot, upper side, (J) portion of plant with leaves, (K) long shoot, (L) seedling, showing lobed cotyledons. Drawing by Alain Rzepecky.

Boswellia hesperia sp. nov., plant filling out hole in limestone rock, showing leaves and reddish flowers; above Neet, Socotra, 31 Oct. 2007. Photograph by Lisa Banfield.

Boswellia hesperia Thulin, M.H.Weber and Rzepecky, sp. nov.  

A dwarf tree similar to Boswellia nana Hepper, but differing by having leaves densely pubescent with ± crisped whitish hairs (versus glabrous or subglabrous) beneath, smaller flowers with petals 3–4 mm (versus 4.5–5.5 mm) long and smaller fruits (5–7 mm versus ca 10 mm long).

Etymology: The epithet ‘hesperia' (Latin, western) refers to the distribution of this species that is restricted to the westernmost part of Socotra.

Mats Thulin, Michael Weber, Sami Ali Mohammed Mubarak and Alain Rzepecky. 2025. Boswellia hesperia sp. nov. (Burseraceae) from Socotra. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/njb.04728

 Researchgate.net/publication/389133907_Boswellia_hesperia_sp_nov_from_Socotra

[Entomology • 2025] Microdera abdullohi & M. uzbekistanica • A Review of the Genus Microdera Eschscholtz, 1831 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) of Uzbekistan

 

 Microdera abdullohi N. Bekchanov et Nabozhenko, sp. nov. & 
M. uzbekistanica N. Bekchanov et Nabozhenko, 

in N. Kh. Bekchanov, Nabozhenko, Kh. U. Bekchanov et M. Kh. Bekchanova, 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5590.4.1  

 facebook.com/NorbekBEKCHANOV75

 

Abstract

A review of darkling beetles of the genus Microdera Eschscholtz, 1831 from Uzbekistan is presented. In total, 12 species are known in this country. Two new species are described: M. abdullohi N. Bekchanov et Nabozhenko, sp. nov. (Sulton Uvays Mts.) and M. uzbekistanica N. Bekchanov et Nabozhenko, sp. nov. (Kuldzhuktau Mts.). The following new synonym is introduced: Microdera globulicollis Ménétriés, 1849 = Microdera extabesa Skopin, 1961, syn. nov. The species M. ferghanensis Kaszab, 1957 is resurrected from the synonymy of M. globulicollis Ménétriés, 1849. In describing the ranges of the species mentioned in the paper, we corrected some errors in previous publications and clarified the distribution, including as a result of taxonomic changes. A species rank status is restored for Microdera kaszabi Skopin, 1961, stat. resurr. (from a subspecies of M. convexa (Tauscher, 1812)), as a consequence the range of this species does not include southeastern Kazakhstan, and limited by Kazakh Hummocks in the east. Microdera deserta deserta (Tauscher, 1812) is recorded for Uzbekistan for the first time, and M. shasenema Medvedev & Nepesova, 1985 is firstly recorded for Tajikistan. The following species are removed from faunistic lists of different countries: M. laevigatula Reitter, 1915 from the list of Uzbekistan, M. heydeni Kraatz, 1882 from the list of Turkmenistan, M. minax Reitter, 1887 from the list of Kyrgyzstan, M. transversicollis Reitter, 1887 from the list of Armenia. Lectotypes for Tentyria deplanata Gebler, 1841 and Microdera semenoviana Bogatchev, 1947 are designated.

Coleoptera, taxonomy, darkling beetles, Tentyriini, deserts, Central Asia

Microdera abdullohi N. Bekchanov et Nabozhenko, sp. nov. (Sulton Uvays Mts.) 

 M. uzbekistanica N. Bekchanov et Nabozhenko, sp. nov. (Kuldzhuktau Mts.). 

Norbek Kh. BEKCHANOV, Maxim V. NABOZHENKO, Khudaybergan U. BEKCHANOV and Mokhira Kh. BEKCHANOVA. 2025. A Review of the Genus Microdera Eschscholtz, 1831 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) of Uzbekistan.  Zootaxa. 5590(4); 451-480. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5590.4.1 [2025-02-25] 

 facebook.com/NorbekBEKCHANOV75/posts/1662673751300293

[Entomology • 2025] Eupithecia anfala & E. kurdistanica • New geometrid Species of the Genus Eupithecia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from Iraqi Kurdistan

Eupithecia anfala & E. kurdistanica

 Khudhur, Mironov & Hausmann, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2459502

  facebook.com/FarhadKhudhur

Abstract

Based on the newly collected geometrid moths in Iraqi Kurdistan, two new geometrid species are described: Eupithecia anfala sp. n., and Eupithecia kurdistanica sp. n. Differential diagnoses and images of adult moths, male and female genitalia are presented. The status of E. kurdica Prout, 1938 has been elevated from the subspecies of E. irriguata (Hübner, 1813) to species rank based on both morphological and molecular evidences. Additionally, morphological and genetic data are presented to clarify the taxonomy of the species complex around E. unedonata Mabille, 1868.

 

Keywords: Genetic data, macro-moths, new taxa, pug moth

 

Eupithecia anfala sp. n.

Eupithecia kurdistanica sp. n. 

  

Farhad A. Khudhur, Vladimir Mironov and Axel Hausmann. 2025. New geometrid Species of the Genus Eupithecia from Iraqi Kurdistan (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Zoology in the Middle East. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2459502 

 facebook.com/FarhadKhudhur/posts/10004209232939733

[Entomology • 2023] Philhammus dilaramae • A New Species of the Genus Philhammus Fairmaire, 1871 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Khorezm Region, Uzbekistan

Philhammus (s. str.) spp. of Middle Asia:

[1, 3, 5] Philhammus dilaramae sp. n. Nabozhenko et N. Bekchanov, 
[2, 4, 6] Ph. zaitsevi G.S. Medvedev, 1979;
 

in Nabozhenko, N. Kh. Bekchanov et Kh. U. Bekchanov, 2023.

DOI: doi.org/10.25221/fee.481.1 

Scale bare for figs 3–6 = 0.5 mm.

A new species of darkling beetles of the genus Philhammus Fairmaire, 1871 is described from Amudarya bank, Khorezm Region, Uzbekistan: Philhammus dilaramae Nabozhenko et N. Bekchanov, sp. n. This first representative of the genus in the country belongs to the nominotypical subgenus and most similar to Pre-Caspian Ph. zaitsevi G.S. Medvedev, 1979. The new species differs from the latter in the structure of genae, eyes and pronotum.

Key words: taxonomy, new species, Cnemeplatiini, Philhammus, Middle Asia. 

Philhammus (s. str.) spp. of Middle Asia:
1, 3, 5 – Ph. dilaramae sp. n.; 2, 4, 6 – Ph. zaitsevi;
1, 2 – habitus; 2, 3 – head and pronotum dorsally; 5, 6 – head and pronotum dorso-laterally.

Scale bare for figs 3–6 = 0.5 mm.

 Philhammus dilaramae Nabozhenko et N. Bekchanov, sp. n.

Ph. zaitsevi G.S. Medvedev, 1979

M. V. Nabozhenko, N. Kh. Bekchanov and Kh. U. Bekchanov. 2023. A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS PHILHAMMUS FAIRMAIRE, 1871 (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) FROM UZBEKISTAN. Far Eastern Entomologist. 481; 1-6. DOI: doi.org/10.25221/fee.481.1 

https://www.biosoil.ru/FEE/Publication/2581

М. В. Набоженко, Н. Х. Бекчанов, Х. У. Бекчанов. Новый вид рода Philhammus Fairmaire, 1871 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) из Узбекистана // Дальневосточный энтомолог. 2023. N 481. С. 1-6.

[Entomology • 2025] Xestotrogus sagrmaticus • A Revision of the Taxonomic Status of Xestotrogus Reitter, 1902 and related taxa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), with the Description of A New Species from Iraqi Kurdistan

Xestotrogus sagrmaticus 

Uliana & Khudhur, 2025 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5575.3.8  

 

Abstract

An undescribed species of Rhizotrogini recently collected in Iraqi Kurdistan evidenced the unclear diagnosis of the genus-level taxa to which it could be attributed, prompting their revision. As a result, the currently monotypic subgenus Xestotrogus Reitter, 1902 is removed from subgeneric rank under the genus Xanthotrogus Reitter, 1902, treated as a valid genus and re-diagnosed. Cyprotrogus Nikolajev, 2004, also monotypic, is recognized as its junior subjective synonym. The new species, the third known of the genus, is then described as Xestotrogus sagrmaticus Uliana & Khudhur, new species. External morphology, aedeagus and endophallus of each species are illustrated.

Coleoptera, rhizotrogini, Middle East, Kurdistan, endophallus, new species, revision

Xestotrogus sagrmaticus Uliana & Khudhur, sp. nov.

Marco ULIANA and Farhad A. KHUDHUR. 2025. A Revision of the Taxonomic Status of Xestotrogus Reitter, 1902 and related taxa, with the Description of A New Species from Iraqi Kurdistan (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae).  Zootaxa. 5575(3); 477-490. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5575.3.8  [2025-01-24] 

 facebook.com/MSNve/posts/1363500857946840