Zootaxa

**Revision of the Egernia stokesii species-group (Reptilia: Scincidae), including the description of a new saxicoline species from Western Australia**

2026-10-20T12:33:07+13:00

The large spiny skinks of the Egernia stokesii species-group are a charismatic element of the Australian herpetofauna, including some of the largest skink species and the most advanced levels of sociality documented in reptiles. Despite their familiarity, however, there are several taxonomic uncertainties within the group. Herein we review the systematics of the E. stokesii species-group, with particular emphasis on Western Australian populations, through an integrated assessment of molecular genetic and morphological variation in museum specimens. The molecular genetic analyses reveal four genetically diagnosable lineages, with a primary split between an eastern Australian population and three Western Australian populations. Morphological examination of specimens across Australia disclosed greater variation than expected, with four groups recognised: two from Western Australia that largely correspond to the two subspecies (E. stokesii stokesii (Gray, 1845) and E. s. badia Storr, 1978), a previously undescribed isolated taxon to the north-east of E. s. badia in Western Australia, and a widespread taxon from south-eastern Australia. These morphological forms show a high degree of concordance with the genetic lineages identified through molecular analyses. The combined molecular, morphological and biogeographic evidence supports the recognition of four independently evolving taxa within the Egernia stokesii species-group. For Western Australian populations, owing to introgression in the Shark Bay area, we maintain the current subspecific taxonomy and redescribe E. s. stokesii from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and the Shark Bay region and E. s. badia from the semiarid to arid western interior of the central and northern Avon Wheatbelt, the adjacent Yalgoo and southern Carnarvon bioregions, including Shark Bay. We also confirm the synonymy of the insular E. s. aethiops Storr, 1978 from Baudin Island in Shark Bay with E. s. stokesii. We describe the distinctive dark saxicoline populations from the Upper Murchison and adjacent central Yalgoo bioregions as a new species, E. umbra sp. nov. We also elevate E. zellingi (De Vis, 1884) to full species for the eastern populations from Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory, noting that further taxonomic resolution is required. Two of the Western Australian taxa (E. s. badia and E. umbra sp. nov.) are of elevated conservation concern owing to their large body size, small and fragmented distributions, as well as historical and contemporary threats from introduced herbivores and predators, clearing and modification of vegetation, damage to rocky habitats, and illegal collections and trade.

**Egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the Common Birdwing, Troides helena (L.) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) from Guangdong Province, China**

2026-10-20T12:35:00+13:00

The Common Birdwing, Troides helena (L.) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), is a widespread but locally vulnerable butterfly in South and Southeast Asia. Despite considerable interest in its conservation, little is known about its natural enemies. In this study, we report three species of chalcidoid wasps reared from eggs of T. helena in Guangdong Province of China: Anastatus meilingensis Sheng & Yu and Anastatus garygibsoni Zhou & Peng (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), and Ooencyrtus papilionis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Among these, A. meilingensis and A. garygibsoni are recorded for the first time as parasitoids of T. helena. These parasitoids represent an important source of early-life mortality in T. helena owing to their high rates of egg parasitism. Diagnostic morphological characters, illustrations, and DNA barcodes are provided for each species to facilitate the identification of these parasitoids.

The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Uruguay revisited: An updated checklist after nearly four decades

2026-10-20T12:36:39+13:00

We present an updated checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Uruguay based on a comprehensive review of the scientific literature, critical verification of distributional records, and additional field collections conducted across several regions of the country. A total of 163 species and subspecies belonging to 49 genera and eight subfamilies are recorded from 140 localities throughout Uruguay, including five genera and 13 species reported for the first time in the country. Three species are potentially endemic (Acromyrmex charruanus, Pheidole industa, and Hypoponera stoica), whereas only one species (Monomorium pharaonis) is introduced in the country. The species list presented here increases the diversity previously reported in the last national catalogue published almost four decades ago (117 species/subspecies) and highlights the existence of significant knowledge gaps, as new records emerged from a limited number of recent surveys and localities. This synthesis provides an updated and standardized baseline for future taxonomic, biogeographic, and ecological studies on the ant fauna of Uruguay.

**Description of Brumoides maya sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Chilocorini) from Yucatán, México, with notes on its molecular identity and biology**

2026-10-20T12:38:15+13:00

A new species of the tribe Chilocorini, Brumoides maya sp. nov., is described from the Yucatán Peninsula, México. Specimens were collected in citrus orchards preying on Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) and Unaspis citri Comstock (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). To date, five species of Brumoides are known from the Americas, of which only Brumoides septentrionis (Weise) has been formally recorded from México. The new species is distinguished from other American congeners by its small body size (length 2.6 mm, width 2.2 mm), creamy-white to satiny yellow elytra with sinuous dark brown longitudinal vittae, sparse dorsal punctation, and appendiculate tarsal claws. Male and female genitalia are described and illustrated. Molecular data from the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene confirm its specific distinctiveness, showing clear separation from its congener Brumoides septentrionis (Weise) and revealing that a GenBank sequence (accession OK505623) previously attributed to Exochomus sp. is misidentified and represents the new species. Biological observations under laboratory conditions (26.5 ± 7 °C, 64.7 ± 21% RH, 14:10 h L:D) revealed a mean total developmental time of 33.94 ± 1.09 days (egg to adult), with four larval instars and a mean adult longevity of 20.76 ± 2.19 days. The description of B. maya sp. nov. expands the known diversity of Brumoides in the Americas and provides baseline data for its potential use in biological control programs against citrus pests.

**Reassessment of Heptacarpus futilirostris (Bate, 1888) with description of a new species from Japan (Decapoda: Caridea: Thoridae)**

2026-10-20T12:39:47+13:00

The availability of topotypic specimens of the supposedly common thorid shrimp Heptacarpus futilirostris (Bate, 1888), collected from Akashi Strait, Seto Inland Sea, Japan, by a local commercial trawler, enabled the author to establish the true identity of this species and to clarify its male characteristics, including the considerable lengthening of the third maxilliped and first pereopod. Specimens previously identified as H. futilirostris from shallow coastal waters in Japan were found to actually represent an unnamed species. The new species, Heptacarpus tectus, shares significant lengthening of the third maxilliped in adult males with H. futilirostris, but differs from the latter by the non-elongate but thickened first pereopod in the male, the less slender first pereopod in the female, better developed armature on the dorsodistal margin of the first pereopod merus, consisting of row of minute spiniform setae, and the relatively short third to fifth pereopods. The molecular phylogenetic analyses using the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes support rigorously the distinctness between the two species. References to H. futilirostris are reviewed in the light of the present findings to clarify the distribution of the two species.

**A revision of little-known genera Euhexacentrus Hebard, 1922 and Philippicentrus Willemse, 1961 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Hexacentrinae) endemic to the Philippines**

2026-10-20T12:41:07+13:00

Fierce predatory katydids of the subfamily Hexacentrinae in Southeast Asia are studied here. Four genera are known: Hexacentrus Serville, 1831, Euhexacentrus Hebard, 1922, Glenophisis Karny, 1926 and Philippicentrus Willemse, 1961. A key to the four genera is presented. The taxonomy of two genera which are endemic to the Philippines are also reviewed, specifically Euhexacentrus and Philippicentrus. Based on new material collected, we describe the previously-unknown sex for each genus—male for Euhexacentrus and female for Philippicentrus—and provide new diagnosis of both genera. We also describe a new species of Philippicentrus from Mount Apo in Mindanao Island: Philippicentrus langit sp. nov.