Recent studies of taxonomy, systematics and ecology often depend on molecular data, and non-destructive DNA extraction protocols have gained popularity as a method of saving a physical voucher specimen. However, the quality of the permanently mounted specimens is seldom discussed, and detailed protocols often left out. Here a modified and optimized protocol for Thysanoptera is presented and outlined in detail.

The Mediterranean cone snail, Lautoconus ventricosus, is currently considered a single species inhabiting the whole Mediterranean basin and the adjacent Atlantic coasts. Yet, no population genetic study has assessed its taxonomic status. Here, we collected 245 individuals from 75 localities throughout the Mediterranean Sea and used cox1 barcodes, complete mitochondrial genomes, and genome skims to test whether L. ventricosus represents a complex of cryptic species. The maximum likelihood phylogeny based on complete mitochondrial genomes recovered six main clades (hereby named blue, brown, green, orange, red, and violet) with sufficient sequence divergence to be considered putative species. On the other hand, phylogenomic analyses based on 437 nuclear genes only recovered four out of the six clades: blue and orange clades were thoroughly mixed and the brown one was not recovered. This mito-nuclear discordance revealed instances of incomplete lineage sorting and introgression, and may have caused important differences in the dating of main cladogenetic events. Species delimitation tests proposed the existence of at least three species: green, violet, and red + blue + orange (i.e., cyan). Green plus cyan (with sympatric distributions) and violet, had West and East Mediterranean distributions, respectively, mostly separated by the Siculo-Tunisian biogeographical barrier. Morphometric analyses of the shell using species hypotheses as factor and shell length as covariate showed that the discrimination power of the studied parameters was only 70.2%, reinforcing the cryptic nature of the uncovered species, and the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches considering morphology, ecology, biogeography, and mitochondrial and nuclear population genetic variation.

Capsalids are monopisthocotylean monogenean parasites found on the skin and gills of fish. Capsalines (subfamily Capsalinae) are large-sized capsalids, parasitic on highly prized gamefish, and species of Tristoma parasitise only the gills of swordfish (Xiphias gladius). We obtained specimens of Tristoma integrum Diesing, 1850 from swordfish collected off Algeria in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, we describe the specimens, including the key systematics characters of dorsolateral body sclerites. One specimen was used for a next generation sequencing analysis but a part of it, including the sclerites, was mounted on a permanent slide, drawn, and deposited in a curated collection. We characterised the complete mitogenome, the ribosomal cluster (including 18S and 28S) and additional genes such as Elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1α) and Histone 3. We also retrieved molecular information from the host tissue present in the gut of the monogenean and provide the sequence of the complete rRNA cluster of the host, X. gladius. The mitogenome of T. integrum is 13 968 bp in length and codes for 12 protein, 2 rRNA and 22 tRNA. Phylogenies of capsalids were generated from 28S sequences and concatenated mitochondrial protein-coding genes, respectively. In the 28S phylogeny, most subfamilies based on morphology were not found to be monophyletic, but the Capsalinae were monophyletic. In both phylogenies, the closest member to Tristoma spp. was a member of the Capsaloides. In an Appendix, we report the complex nomenclatural history of Tristoma Cuvier, 1817 and its species.

Species in the order Thysanoptera, or thrips, are often overlooked, perhaps because of their small size and hidden biology. Even though some thrips species are broadly distributed in northern Europe, records in Sweden are lacking. This is also the case for the species Rhipidothrips brunneus (Williams, 1913), here presented with the first record for Sweden. Thrips menyanthidis Bagnall, 1923 is a species associated with Menyanthes trifoliata L. and was previously only known from one locality in Dalarna, but is here recorded for the first time from Värmland.

Analyzing the δ2H values in individual amino acids of proteins extracted from vertebrates, we unexpectedly found insome samples, notably bone collagen from seals, more than twice as much deuterium in proline and hydroxyproline residues than inseawater. This corresponds to at least 4 times higher δ2H than in any previously reported biogenic sample. We ruled out diet as aplausible mechanism for such anomalous enrichment. This finding puts into question the old adage that “you are what you eat”.

Darwin wasps of the subfamily Campopleginae are among the most poorly studied insect groups, which is to a large part due to inadequate identification tools. The currently 835 European species are classified into 42 genera, some of a somewhat unclear delimitation, and are very hard to identify using the incomplete, scattered and often poorly illustrated literature. We here assess different character systems for genus identification and provide an interactive, dynamic online key to the European genera. We apply this key to identify 3,500 specimens of the Swedish Malaise Trap Project to genus level. We then chose ten comparatively small genera for species-level identification, reporting a total of 37 species, 20 of which are new records for Sweden. The large number of species only found in a single trap location indicates that a lot remains to be discovered, even in an otherwise well-known fauna such as Sweden’s.

Morphological and genetic analyses of species of Australoheros focusing on those distributed in coastal rivers from the Rio de La Plata north to the Rio Buranhém, support recognition of 17 valid species in the genus. Eight species are represented in coastal rivers: A. acaroides, A. facetus, A. ipatinguensis, A. oblongus, A. ribeirae, and A. sanguineus are validated from earlier descriptions. Australoheros mboapari is a new species from the Rio Taquari in the Rio Jacuí drainage. Australoheros ricani is a new species from the upper Rio Jacuí. Specimens from the Rio Yaguarón and Rio Tacuary, affluents of Laguna Merín, and tributaries of the Rio Negro, tributary of the Rio Uruguay are assigned to A. minuano pending critical data on specimens from the type locality of A. minuano. Australoheros taura is ajunior synonym of A. acaroides. Australoheros autrani, A. saquarema, A. capixaba, A.macaensis, A. perdi, and A. muriae are junior synonyms of A. ipatinguensis. Heros autochthon, A. mattosi, A. macacuensis, A. montanus, A. tavaresi, A. paraibae, and A. barbosae,are junior synonyms of A. oblongus. Heros jenynsii is a junior synonym of A. facetus.

The HHUMTL22 cruise onboard R/V Helmer Hanssen was an initiative by The Arctic University Museum of Norway (UMAK) aimed at sampling marine fauna for the museum collections and various research projects undertaken at the museum. Researchers from the Swedish Museum of Natural History and the Department of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Vienna also participated in the cruise. Cruise leader was Andreas Altenburger (UMAK).

Dario tigris, new species, is described from mountain streams south of Mogaung, in the Ayeyarwaddy River basin, Myanmar. It differs from congeneric species by its unique colour pattern, which consists of a series of eight straight vertical bars, the first two of which in males are ash-grey and the subsequent six are orange-red in life, combined with a series of small black spots arranged in three to four rows dorsolaterally on the head and nape. It differs further from its close relative Dario hysginon, with which it may occur syntopically, by fewer dorsal-fin spines (modally 14 vs modally 15), and fewer vertebrae (modally 12+12=24 vs modally 12+13= 25). Dario melanogrammus, new species, is another barred Dario from the Chindwin River basin. It differs from all other species of the genus by its zigzagging dark vertical bars; amongst Myanmar species, it can be further distinguished from D. hysginon and D. tigris by more vertebrae (modally 26 vs 25 in D. hysginon, and 24 in D. tigris).

Two new species of Oecetis from Maliau Basin, Malaysian Borneo, are described for the first time, O. mesospina sp. nov. and O. apelqvisti sp. nov. These two new species bring the total number of Oecetis found on the island of Borneo up to 16.

We report the first finding of the antlion Distoleon tetragrammicus (Fabricius, 1798) fromSweden. Several adults of the species have been collected or photographed on the island ofGotland in the Baltic Sea, between 2017 and 2021. The first finding is from Tofta skjutfält,a sandy military training ground vegetated with pines and mixed forests on the west coastof Gotland. Based on multi-year observations at the same locality as well as video recordingof an egglaying female it is clearly a resident population, even though larvae are yet to bedocumented. Distoleon tetragrammicus is not previously known from any of the Nordic orBaltic countries. The species is common in southern Europe with a wide distribution acrosswest palearctic and becomes rarer towards central Europe. The closest known locality isan outpost population on the Hel peninsula on the Polish Baltic coast which we speculateis the most probable source, 240km south of Gotland across the Baltic sea. Previously butthree species of antlions were known from the Nordic-Baltic countries, all belonging to thetypical pitfall trap-building tribe Myrmeleontini and subfamily Myrmeleontinae: Myrmeleonformicarius (Linnaeus, 1767), Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder, 1941) and Euroleon nostras (Geoffroyin Fourcroy, 1785). Distoleon tetragrammicus belongs to subfamily Nemoleontinae (tribeNemoleontini) with larvae being ambush predators without the behaviour of building pitfalltraps. We provide an identification key, as well as studio and field photographs of all fourNordic species. The quality and conservation value of Tofta military training ground localityfor insects is discussed with reference to other rare species.

Two new species of nematodes associated with crabs are described from New Caledonia. Gam-marinema scyllae sp. n. from the gill chambers of Scylla serrata (Forsskal) is characterised by 3–4 mmlong body, small outer labial and cephalic sensilla, distinct ocelli, short straight spicules and sub-cylin-drical tail. Monhystrium mangrovi sp. n. from the gill chambers and body cavity of mangrove crab Neosar-matium sp. is characterised by 1–1.4 mm long body; outer labial sensilla longer than cephalic sensilla,amphid located at level with posterior stoma chamber,denticles in posterior stoma chamber and five pairs ofgenital papilla on tail. Phylogenetic relationships oftwo new species and other nematodes from the familyMonhysteridae are analysed based on 18S and partial28S rDNA sequences.

The Swedish fauna of thrips (Thysanoptera) in the family Phlaeothripidae consists of 49 species. A key to the species of Phlaeothripidae found in Sweden is provided. One species is recorded as new for the country, and 10 new regional records are presented. A checklist of all Swedish tubuliferan species with regional distributions is also given.

The lower incisor enamel microstructure of the fossil rodent family Eomyidae was believed to be three-layered and highly derived but rather uniform throughout the clade. Here, we describe a new four-layered schmelzmuster in Eomyidae consisting of a three-fold portio interna with longitudinal oriented, uniserial Hunter-Schreger bands and a one-fold portio externa, accounting for a unique enamel microstructure character combination in Rodentia. This new schmelzmuster type has developed early in eomyid evolution and is detectable already in the late Eocene (Chadronian) of North America. In European eomyids, it first occurs in the early Miocene (MN 3), implying that this four-layered schmelzmuster was not present in all members of the family but restricted to species included in Eomyini and some genera currently considered Eomyidae incertae sedis within Eomyidae. Additionally, our analysis recognizes three taxa with schmelzmuster divergent from all other eomyids. Incisor enamel microstructure does not advocate a close phylogenetic relationship of Eomyidae to either fossil or extant Heteromyidae and Geomyidae, nor to fossil Heliscomyidae and Florentiamyidae. Our results rather support the view that Eomyidae are placed outside Geomorpha.

We describe for the first time the instar III larva of the diving beetle genus Hovahydrus Biström, 1982, based on H. praetextus (Guignot, 1951) and a new species yet to be described (identified here as Hovahydrus sp. near H. minutissimus (Régimbart, 1903)). We include detailed morphometric and chaetotaxic analyses of the cephalic capsule, head appendages, legs, last abdominal segment and urogomphi in order to discover useful characters for distinguishing Hovahydrus larvae from those of other known Hyphydrini (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae). A provisional parsimony analysis based on larval characteristics of 11 Hyphydrini species in eight genera was conducted using the program TNT. Larval morphology supports a close relationship between Hovahydrus, Hyphydrus Illiger, 1802, and the endemic South Africa genera Andex Sharp, 1882, Coelhydrus Sharp, 1882, Darwinhydrus Sharp, 1882 and Primospes Sharp, 1882. 

Animals and microorganisms often establish close ecological relationships. However, much of our knowledge about animal microbiomes comes from two deeply studied groups: vertebrates and arthropods. To understand interactions on a broader scale of diversity, we characterized the bacterial microbiomes of close to 1,000 microscopic marine invertebrates from 21 phyla, spanning most of the remaining tree of metazoans. Samples were collected from five temperate and tropical locations covering three marine habitats (sediment, water column and intertidal macroalgae) and bacterial microbiomes were characterized using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Our data show that, despite their size, these animals harbour bacterial communities that differ from those in the surrounding environment. Distantly related but coexisting invertebrates tend to share many of the same bacteria, suggesting that guilds of microorganisms preferentially associated with animals, but not tied to any specific host lineage, are the main drivers of the ecological relationship. Host identity is a minor factor shaping these microbiomes, which do not show the same correlation with host phylogeny, or ‘phylosymbiosis’, observed in many large animals. Hence, the current debate on the varying strength of phylosymbiosis within selected lineages should be reframed to account for the possibility that such a pattern might be the exception rather than the rule.

Described from Namibia, Trichophiala devylderi Aurivillius, 1879 is a species for which, apart from the original description of female “types”, little is known. Building upon recent observations in the field, investigations in variousmuseums that preserve specimens, and a review of the literature, we describe for the first time the habitat, the knowndistribution, the morphology of both sexes including the presence of two phenotypes, and the genitalia of both male andfemale. We also provide genetic information from several specimens that reveal little variation in the standard animalDNA barcode. Finally, we designate a lectotype among the three specimens preserved at the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet,Stockholm, Sweden

The dissolution of the biogenic silica that constitutes the skeletons of silicifying organisms is an important mechanism for regenerating dissolved silicon in the ocean. The silica skeletons deposited to the seafloor after the organisms die keep dissolving until becoming definitively buried. The low dissolution rate of sponge skeletons compared to that of diatom skeletons favors their burial and makes sponges (Phylum Porifera) to function as important silicon sinks in the oceans. However, it remains poorly understood whether the large variety of siliceous skeletons existing in the Porifera involves similar variability in their dissolution rates, which would affect the general conceptualization of these organisms as silicon sinks. Herein we investigated kinetics of silica dissolution for major types of skeletons in the three siliceous lineages of Porifera, following standardized digestion conditions in 1% sodium carbonate with orbital agitation at 85°C. The results are compared with those of a previous study conducted under identical conditions, which considered diatom silica, sponge silica, and lithogenic silica. Unexpectedly, the silica of homoscleromorph sponges dissolved only a bit slower than that of freshly cultured diatoms and as fast as diatom earth. However, the rest of sponge skeletons were far more resistant, although with some differences: the isolated spicules of hexactinellid sponges dissolved slightly faster than when forming frameworks of fused spicules, being hexactinellid frameworks as resistant to dissolution as the silica of demosponges, irrespective of occurring in the form of isolated spicules or frameworks. The experiments also indicated that the complexation of sponge silica with aluminum and with chitin does not increase its resistance to dissolution. Because the rapidly-dissolving homoscleromorph sponges represent less than 1% of extant sponges, the sponge skeletons are still conceptualized as important silicon sinks due to their comparative resistance to dissolution. Yet, the turnover of silica into dissolved silicon will always be faster in environments dominated by hexactinellids with isolated spicules than in environments dominated by other hexactinellids and/or demosponges. We discuss whether the time required for a given silica type to completely dissolve in 1% sodium carbonate could be a predictor of its preservation ratio in marine sediments.

Illustrated redescriptions are given for three species of encyrtid wasps first described in the early 1800s: Microterys cedrenus (Walker), M. cyanocephalus (Dalman) and M. interpunctus (Dalman), and four new synonyms are proposed: M. aldreyi Japoshvili (of M. cedrenus), M. dichrous (Mercet) (of M. cedrenus), M. steinbergi Sugonjaev (of M. cyanocephalus), and M. duplicatus (Nees) (of M. interpunctus).

In the present time of biodiversity crisis, assessing species diversity by accurate and accessible taxonomic revisions is more crucial than ever. Parasitoid wasps are considered as both one of the most diverse and under-studied groups in the tree of life. Dusona Cameron, 1901 (Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) is with 442 species one of the most species - rich genera of Darwin wasps, but despite the existence of recent keys, species identification has proven difficult to impossible to non-specialists. In this study, we exam- ined about 1,500 Dusona specimens from recent and historical collections in Sweden and Switzerland. We provide a photographic guide to diagnostic characters and detailed plates for 57 out of 125 Western Palaearctic Dusona species, facilitating species identification based on existing keys. We add 11 and 3 species to the faunistic records of Sweden and Switzerland, respectively. Furthermore, we reconstruct the phylogeny of European Dusona based on four standard markers (COI, CAD, ITS2, 28S) for 45 species, complemented with a reliable reference barcode library for 46 species. Even though we can identify sev- eral morphologically distinct clades, we do not propose any new subgenera due to prevalent homoplasy of characters. While most species are well separated by barcodes, several morphologically distinct species have barely discriminatory barcode sequences (p-distances < 2%) or are even paraphyletic in this marker, indicating limitations in the applicability of barcodes for Darwin wasps. This study reveals severe gaps in the inventories of neglected taxa even for well-studied countries such as Sweden and Switzerland. As this study makes species determination for Western Palaearctic Dusona more accessible, we encourage more people, including non-specialists, to work with this genus.

Phylogenetic relationships within many lineages of the phylum Nematoda remainunresolved, despite numerous morphology-based and molecular analyses. Weperformed several phylogenomic analyses using 286 published genomes andtranscriptomes and 19 new transcriptomes by focusing on Trichinellida, Spirurina,Rhabditina, and Tylenchina separately, and by analyzing a selection of species fromthe whole phylum Nematoda. The phylogeny of Trichinellida supported the divisionof Trichinella into encapsulated and non-encapsulated species and placed them assister to Trichuris. The Spirurina subtree supported the clades formed by species fromAscaridomorpha and Spiruromorpha respectively, but did not support Dracunculoidea.The analysis of Tylenchina supported a clade that included all sampled species fromTylenchomorpha and placed it as sister to clades that included sampled speciesfrom Cephalobomorpha and Panagrolaimomorpha, supporting the hypothesis thatpostulates the single origin of the stomatostylet. The Rhabditina subtree placed a cladecomposed of all sampled species from Diplogastridae as sister to a lineage consistingof paraphyletic Rhabditidae, a single representative of Heterorhabditidae and a cladecomposed of sampled species belonging to Strongylida. It also strongly supportedall suborders within Strongylida. In the phylum-wide analysis, a clade composedof all sampled species belonging to Enoplia were consistently placed as sister toDorylaimia + Chromadoria. The topology of the Nematoda backbone was consistentwith previous studies, including polyphyletic placement of sampled representatives ofMonhysterida and Araeolaimida.

Madagascar is known for its high endemism and as many as 90% of this unique diversity are forest-dwellers. Unfortunately, the forest cover of Madagascar is decreasing at an alarming rate. This decrease can also affect aquatic insects, but our knowledge on aquatic insect diversity and distribution on Madagascar are limited. Although the eastern rainforests are considered the most diverse, the Central Highlands of Madagascar also harbors unique microendemic fauna but has been less studied. Here, we analyze the aquatic Adephaga beetle fauna of three remaining protected forests of the Central Highlands. Diversity, abundance, and uniqueness are compared between and within natural forests and surrounding grasslands. At least 15 undescribed species were found, highlighting the Central Highlands as an important area for endemism. The natural forests and the surrounding grasslands differed significantly in species assemblages. Interestingly, the three remaining forests differed in their assemblages with the geographically more distant Manjakatompo Ankaratra having the most unique fauna but also the highest altitude span. By contrast, the species composition was similar between the peripheral zones of each of the three remaining forests. The similarity of the fauna in the peripheral open habitats illustrates how some local forest endemics are replaced with widespread generalists in degraded habitats. Our study shows that the remaining forests of the Central Highlands of Madagascar are important refuges of unique fauna at high risk of extinction.

The Udea species (currently six) present in the Afrotropical realm are revised based on adults. Phlyctaenia epicoena Meyrick, 1937 syn. nov. is found to be identical with U. ferrugalis (Hübner, 1796). Udea delineatalis (Walker in Melliss 1875) and U. hageni Viette, 1952 are redescribed. In addition, five species of Udea are described as new to science: U. kirinyaga Mally sp. nov. from Mount Kenya in Kenya, U. nicholsae Mally sp. nov., U. meruensis Mally sp. nov. and U. momella Mally sp. nov., all three from Mount Meru in Tanzania, and U. namaquana Karisch & Mally sp. nov. from South Africa. A phylogenetic analysis based on morphological data and mitochondrial COI as well as the nuclear wingless gene, where available, places the new species in the U. ferrugalis species group, which also comprises U. ferrugalis as well as U. delineatalis from the oceanic island of St. Helena. Another island endemic, Udea hageni from Tristan da Cunha, is found to be a member of the U. numeralis group, as sister to U. numeralis. An additional synapomorphic character of the genitalia is recognised for the U. ferrugalis group. Udea infuscalis (Zeller, 1852) and U. melanostictalis (Hampson in Poulton 1916) are misplaced in Udea and transferred to Pyraustinae, as Lirabotys infuscalis comb. nov. and Achyra melanostictalis comb. nov., respectively. Adults, tympanic organs, and genitalia of both sexes, where available, are illustrated. A checklist summarises the now eight Afrotropical Udea species.

The Wiedemannia zetterstedti species group is revised after examination of all available type specimens and includes one new species (W. ulrichi Ivković & Sinclair sp. nov.) and four redescribed species (W. czernyi (Bezzi), W. longipennis (Mik) stat. rev., W. rufipes (Oldenberg) stat. rev. and W. zetterstedti (Fallén)). The following new synonyms are proposed: W. (Roederella) ouedorum Vaillant, 1952 = W. czernyi (Bezzi, 1905); Paramesia riparia Robert, 1836 = W. zetterstedti (Fallén, 1826). Lectotypes are designated for the following species/subspecies: Atalanta hirtiloba Speiser, Brachystoma escheri Zetterstedt, Clinocera czernyi Bezzi, Clinocera longipennis Mik, Paramesia riparia Robert, and Roederia czernyi rufipes Oldenberg. In addition to morphological evidence, molecular species concepts were investigated using a molecular phylogenetic divergence-based species delimitation (bPTP) and results confirmed the morphological conclusions. A key to species is presented and geographic distributions are mapped.