ALBERT

Description: Vestalaria vinnula spec.nov. (holotype male, southern Vietnam, Lam Dong province, Blao, 1962) is described in both sexes and compared with other species of Vestalaria May, 1935 (= the Vestalis smaragdina - group), which is ranked as valid genus.

Description: A new species of the genus Artocella van Achterberg is described from Spain. On the basis of its substantial sexual dimorphisim, the differences between the two previously known species of this Turanian-Mediterranean genus, which had each been described from specimens of only one (and differing) sex, are reassessed.

Description: Dasypoda intermedia spec. nov. from Iran is described. Its description fills a gap of our knowledge of the East Mediterranean fauna of the genus Dasypoda. The West Mediterranean Dasypoda species are well known but the eastern species lack convincing records. Moreover, D. intermedia spec. nov. is a very interesting species from a phylogenetic point of view. It shares some characters common to subgenera Dasypoda s. str. and Megadasypoda Michez, 2004, which provide further evidence for the close relationship of both subgenera.

Description: Thirty-one species of the family Platystictidae of the Philippines are revised, i.e. all species recognised, excluding the species of the Drepanosticta halterata-group. The following new taxa are described: 16 species in Drepanosticta Laidlaw: D. acuta spec. nov., D. aurita spec. nov., D. centrosaurus spec. nov., D. clados spec. nov., D. flavomaculata spec. nov., D. furcata spec. nov., D. hermes spec. nov., D. krios spec. nov., D. luzonica spec. nov., D. malleus spec. nov., D. myzouris spec. nov., D. paruatia spec. nov., D. pistor spec. nov., D. quadricornu spec. nov., D. rhamphis spec. nov., D. trachelocele spec. nov., two in Protosticta Selys, viz. P. lepteca spec. nov. and P. plicata spec. nov., and three in Sulcosticta gen. nov., viz. S. striata spec. nov., S. pallida spec. nov. and S. viticula spec. nov. The status of eleven previously described nominal taxa is established. One, D. septima Needham & Gyger, is doubtfully considered a synonym of D. mylitta Cowley. Based on a preliminary phylogenetic analysis, the species of Drepanosticta are divided into informal species groups. Most species of the Philippines have affinities to species of Sulawesi, the Moluccas and New Guinea. Several species confined to Palawan have sister-group relationships with species from Borneo. The affinities of various other species confined to the Sulu archipelago, are unsettled as yet. The species of Platystictidae here assigned to Protosticta Selys are presumably not closely related to the type species, P. simplicinervis Selys from Sulawesi. However, a better placement has to await a more detailed phylogenetic study of the family. For three species the new genus Sulcosticta gen. nov. is erected. These species are closely allied based on the structure of the appendages, but should have been assigned to different genera if based on the present generic definitions. Many species here described have small distributional ranges, a common phenomenon in Platystictidae. Since most forests in the Philippines are heavily under threat or have already disappeared in the last fifty years, several taxa described in this paper should be considered under threat of immediate extinction.

Description: In this part the remaining 78 species of the genus Pepsis, belonging to ten species-groups, are described and figured, and their phylogenetics and biogeography are discussed. 14 of the species are described as new: P. achterbergi spec. nov., P. adonta spec. nov., P. boharti spec. nov., P. caliente spec. nov., P. dayi spec. nov., P. esmeralda spec. nov., P. ianthoides spec. nov., P. jamaicensis spec. nov., P. krombeini spec. nov., P. martini spec. nov., P. multichroma spec. nov., P. nanoides spec. nov., P. wahisi spec. nov., and P. willinki spec. nov. Three species-names, P. infuscata Spinola, 1841, P. lampas Lucas, 1895, and P. thoreyi Dahlbom, 1845, are recalled from synonymy. The following 293 names are newly synonymized (the valid names are listed first): P. atalanta Mocsáry, 1885 = P. nitens Mocsáry, 1894, P. mocsaryi Lucas, 1895; P. inclyta Lepeletier, 1845 = P. mutabilis Lepeletier, 1845, P. vagabunda Lepeletier, 1845, P. cupripennis Taschenberg, 1869, P. violaceipennis Mocsáry, 1885, P. clotho Mocsáry, 1888, P. spengeli Mocsáry, 1888, P. sickmanni Mocsáry, 1888, P. nireus Mocsáry, 1894, P. atrovirens Lucas, 1895, P. cerastes Lucas, 1895, P. pygidialis Brèthes, 1908, P. guaranitica Brèthes, 1908, P. parca Lucas, 1919, P. atahualpa Banks, 1946, opimicornis, Haupt, 1952, atropos, Haupt, 1952, azurea Haupt, 1952; crassicornis Mocsáry, 1885 = P. sappho Brèthes, 1908, P. nitocris Brèthes, 1908, P. vivida Brèthes, 1908, P. arechavaletai Brèthes, 1908, P. lynchii Brèthes, 1908, P. operosa Brèthes, 1908, P. ataraqua Banks, 1946, P. splendida Haupt, 1952; P. sommeri Dahlbom, 1845 = P. azteca Cameron, 1893; P. xanthocera Dahlbom, 1843 = P. nigrescens Smith, 1855, P. fulgidipennis Mocsáry, 1885, P. juno Brèthes, 1908, P. ismare Banks, 1946, P. nigroprasina Haupt, 1952; P. seifferti Lucas, 1895 = P. cornuta Lucas, 1895, P. moebiusi Lucas, 1895, P. stygia Lucas, 1895; P. luteicornis Fabricius, 1804 = P. strenua Erichson, 1848, P. tinctipennis Smith, 1873, P. citreicornis Mocsáry, 1894, P. venosa Banks, 1945, P. alector Banks, 1946; P. asteria Mocsáry, 1894 = P. luridicornis Brèthes, 1926; P. convexa Lucas, 1895 = P. humeralis Brèthes, 1914; P. helvolicornis Lucas, 1895 = P. bahiae Brèthes, 1914; P. vitripennis Smith, 1855 = P. obscura Lepeletier, 1845, P. amabilis Mocsáry, 1885, P. centralis Cameron, 1893, P. margarete Lucas, 1895, P. venezuelae Kaye, 1913, P. aeneipennis Banks, 1946, P. helenae Haupt, 1952, P. coeruleoviridis Haupt, 1952; P. fumipennis Smith, 1855 = P. pallidicornis Mocsáry, 1885; P. amyntas Mocsáry, 1885 = P. vicina Lucas, 1895, P. clarinervis Brèthes, 1908, P. amyntoides Lucas, 1919, P. eurydice Lucas, 1919; P. dimidiata Fabricius, 1804 = P. vittigera Lucas, 1897, P. argentina Brèthes, 1908, P. sanctaeannae Brèthes, 1908, P. virgo Brèthes, 1908, P. externa Brèthes, 1908, P. transversa Brèthes, 1908, P. cordubensis Brèthes, 1908, P. banghaasi Lucas, 1919; P. menechma Lepeletier, 1845 = P. elegans Lepeletier, 1845, P. dubitata Cresson, 1867, P. prismatica Smith, 1855, P. advena Mocsáry, 1885, cinctipennis Mocsáry, 1885, P. guatemalensis Cameron, 1893, P. nestor Mocsáry, 1894, P. nigricornis Mocsáry, 1894, P. auranticornis Lucas, 1895, P. fruhstorferi Lucas, 1895, P. concolor Lucas, 1895, P. cerberus Lucas, 1895, P. euchroma Lucas, 1895, P. nigrocincta Lucas, 1895, P. mordax Lucas, 1895, P. inermis Fox, 1898, P. roberti Brèthes, 1908, P. janira Brèthes, 1908, P. cultrata Brèthes, 1908, P. novitia Banks, 1921; P. decipiens Lucas, 1895 = P. similis Lucas, 1895; P. minarum Brèthes, 1914 = P. pulchra Brèthes, 1914; P. basifusca Lucas, 1895 = P. angustimarginata Viereck, 1908; P. chrysoptera Burmeister, 1872 = P. exigua Lucas, 1895, P. smaragdinula Lucas, 1895, P. nebulosa Lucas, 1895, P. karschi Lucas, 1895, P. anisitsii Brèthes, 1908, P. indistincta Brèthes, 1908, P. dimidiatipennis Brèthes, 1908, P. chloroptera Brèthes, 1908, P. culta Brèthes, 1908, P. recta Brèthes, 1908, P. tornowii Brèthes, 1908, P. schrottkyi Brèthes, 1908, P. itinerata Brèthes, 1908, P. miniata Brèthes, 1908, P. spegazzinii Brèthes, 1908, P. paulistana Brèthes, 1914, P. chloe Brèthes, 1914, P. coronaria Brèthes, 1914, P. semilucana Haupt, 1952, P. bruneipes Haupt, 1952, P. brachynotus Haupt, 1952, P. diagonalis Haupt, 1952, P. discrepans Haupt, 1952; P. elongata Lepeletier, 1845 = P. purpurascens Smith, 1855, P. fuscipennis Smith, 1873, P. longula Banks, 1946; P. australis Saussure, 1867 = P. centaurus Lucas, 1897; P. cyanescens Lepeletier, 1845 = P. micans Mocsáry, 1885, P. jucunda Mocsáry, 1885, P. balloui Banks, 1946, P. diversa Haupt, 1952; P. lampas Lucas, 1895 = P. venturii Schrottky, 1902; P. nitida Lepeletier, 1845 = P. lucidula Smith, 1855, P. vaualba Smith, 1855, P. pruinosa Mocsáry, 1894, P. cylindrica Lucas, 1895, P. andina Brèthes, 1908, P. dilatata Brèthes, 1908, P. holmbergi Brèthes, 1908, P. concava Brèthes, 1908, P. ephebus Brèthes, 1908, P. vaga Brèthes, 1908, P. fuscobasalis Brèthes, 1908, P. cordata Brèthes, 1914, P. impatiens Brèthes, 1914, P. tricolor Brèthes, 1914, P. joergenseni Brèthes, 1914, P. cleone Brèthes, 1914, P. dorsata Brèthes, 1914, P. aretheas Brèthes, 1914, P. lassonis Lucas, 1819, P. consors Banks, 1946, P. interrupta Banks, 1946, P. analis Haupt, 1952; P. seladonica Dahlbom, 1843 = P. deuteroleuca Smith, 1855, P. kohli Lucas, 1895, P. venezolana Brèthes, 1908, P. burmeisteri Brèthes, 1908; P. cybele Banks, 1945 = P. weberi Banks, 1946; P. thoreyi Dahlbom, 1845 = P. lurida Lucas, 1895, P. euterpe Brèthes, 1908; P. flavescens Lucas, 1895 = P. periphetes Lucas, 1895, P. limbatella Brèthes, 1908, P. discoidalis Brèthes, 1914, P. limbatica Brèthes, 1914, P. militaris Brèthes, 1914, P. cavillatrix Haupt, 1952, P. arcuata Haupt, 1952, P. recterugosa Haupt, 1952, P. adversatrix Haupt, 1952; P. nigricans Lucas, 1895 = P. troglodytes Brèthes, 1908; P. montezuma Smith, 1855 = P. quitonensis Packard, 1869, P. sibylla Mocsáry, 1885, P. circe Mocsáry, 1885, P. occidentalis Cameron, 1893, P. peruanus Lucas, 1895, P. fulva Lucas, 1895, P. nessus Lucas, 1895, P. fusca Lucas, 1895, P. andicola Cameron, 1903, P. chilloensis Cameron, 1903, P. patagonica Brèthes, 1908, P. fasciculata Brèthes, 1908, P. pisoensis Strand, 1911, P. pacifica Brèthes, 1914, P. huascar Banks, 1946; P. completa Smith, 1855 = P. quichua Brèthes, 1908, P. comes Banks, 1946; P. smaragdina Dahlbom, 1843 = P. thunbergi Dahlbom, 1843, P. lara Mocsáry, 1888, P. satrapes Lucas, 1895, P. nupta Lucas, 1895, P. erynnis Lucas, 1895, P. fraterna Lucas, 1895, P. diabolus Lucas, 1895, P. mystica Lucas, 1895, P. thalia Brèthes, 1908, P. brasiliensis Brèthes, 1908, P. pallida Brèthes, 1908, P. iheringi Brèthes, 1908, P. dromeda Brèthes, 1908, P. sepultrix Lucas, 1919, P. strickeri Lucas, 1919; P. discolor Taschenberg, 1869 = P. sinnis Lucas, 1895, P. jujuyensis Brèthes, 1908, P. modesta Brèthes, 1908, P. comparata Brèthes, 1908, P. neutra Brèthes, 1908, P. terebrans Brèthes, 1908, P. procera Haupt, 1952, P. plaumanni Haupt, 1952, P. ogloblini Haupt, 1952, P. deletrix Haupt, 1952; P. limbata Guérin, 1831 = P. richteri Brèthes, 1908, P. polita Brèthes, 1908, P. limbella Haupt, 1952, P. artemis Haupt, 1952; P. basalis Mocsáry, 1885 = P. erdmanni Lucas, 1895, P. basinigra Haupt, 1952; P. infuscata Spinola, 1841 = P. niobe Mocsáry, 1885, P. sagana Mocsáry, 1894, P. incerta Banks, 1946; P. hyalinipennis Mocsáry, 1885 = P. subruficornis Haupt, 1952; P. festiva Fabricius, 1804 = P. pulchella Lepeletier, 1845, P. solitaria Smith, 1879, P. gallardoi Brèthes, 1908, P. hora Brèthes, 1914, P. amok Lucas, 1919, P. riojaneirensis Lucas, 1919; P. gracilis Lepeletier, 1845 = P. diana Mocsáry, 1885, P. hecate Mocsáry, 1885, P. spathulifera Lucas, 1895, P. sphinx Lucas, 1895, P. ierensis Banks, 1945, P. alceste Banks, 1946, P. scalaris Haupt, 1952; P. mildei Stål, 1857 = P. charon Mocsáry, 1885, P. cyanoptera Lucas, 1895, P. dryas Lucas, 1919; P. filiola Brèthes, 1914 = P. denserugosa Haupt, 1952; P. ruficornis Fabricius, 1804 = P. saphirus Palisot de Beauvois, 1805, P. violacea Mocsáry, 1885, P. hexamita Lucas, 1895, P. omniviolacea Haupt, 1952; P. brunneicornis Lucas, 1895 = P. glabripennis Lucas, 1895; P. purpurea Smith, 1873 = P. pan Mocsáry, 1885, P. parthenope Mocsáry, 1885, P. sagax Lucas, 1895, P. clypeata Brèthes, 1914, P. consimilis Banks, 1946, P. laconia Banks, 1946; P. viridisetosa Spinola, 1841 = P. eximia Smith, 1873; P. viridis Lepeletier, 1845 = P. errans Lepeletier, 1845, P. chlorotica Mocsáry, 1885, P. excelsa Lucas, 1895, P. selene Lucas, 1895, P. fimbriata Lucas, 1895, P. calypso Brèthes, 1908, P. fluminensis Brèthes, 1908, P. argentinicus Strand, 1910, P. mimetica Brèthes, 1914, P. garbei Brèthes, 1914, P. erecta Brèthes, 1914, P. tandilensis Brèthes, 1914, P. meridionalis Brèthes, 1914, P. minor Lucas, 1919, P. basifulgens Lucas, 1919, P. nebulosipennis Lucas, 1919, P. purpurea Lucas, 1919, P. koerberi Lucas, 1919, P. inimicissima Lucas, 1919, P. debilitans Lucas, 1919, P. itapaca Banks, 1946; P. aciculata Taschenberg, 1869 = P. nero Lucas, 1895; P. atripennis Fabricius, 1804 = P. flavilis Brèthes, 1908; P. ianthina Erichson, 1848 = P. fulvicornis Mocsáry, 1885, P. sirene Lucas, 1895, P. balboae Lucas, 1919, P. herodes Lucas, 1919, P. curti Lucas, 1919; P. nana Mocsáry, 1885 = P. mapiriensis Lucas, 1919, P. vinciens Lucas, 1919, P. ilione Banks, 1946, P. moesta Banks, 1946, P. orestes Banks, 1946, P. amautas Banks, 1946, P. inaequalis Haupt, 1952; P. hirtiventris Banks, 1946 = P. viridaurea Haupt, 1952, P. aequalis Haupt, 1952; P. auriguttata Burmeister, 1872 = P. aurimacula Mocsáry, 1885, P. flavicornis Mocsáry, 1894, P. guttata Lucas, 1895, P. incendiaria Lucas, 1895, P. pubiventris Lucas, 1895, P. planifrons Lucas, 1895, P. lestes Lucas, 1895, P. villosa Brèthes, 1908; P. sabina Mocsáry, 1885 = P. astioles Banks, 1946; and P. purpureipes Packard, 1869 = P. chlorana Mocsáry, 1885, P. antennalis Cameron, 1893, P. sulcifrons Cameron, 1903, P. carinata Brèthes, 1914, P. equatoriana Brèthes, 1914, P. angusta Banks, 1946. Keys to all forms are given. The mimicry-groups of P. atripennis Fabricius, 1804, and P. completa Smith, 1855, are defined and described and a comparative account of mimicry based on all four mimicrygroups in Pepsis is given. Lists of excluded species (with their current taxonomic placement and depository where ascertained), unplaced names, and a nomen nudum are given.

Description: A new species of the genus Allobracon Gahan, 1915, from Brazil is described and illustrated. It is the first green species of the genus and of the subfamily known. A key to the species is added.

Description: A supplement to the “Revision of the genus Paratropus Gerstaecker” (Kanaar, 1997) is given. Additional faunistic data are presented. The following four new species are described and figured: P. angulifrons (Malaysia: Sabah), P. strigosus (Cameroon, Ghana), P. tenuis (Indonesia: Sumatra) and P. transvalensis (South Africa: Transvaal).

Description: A new species of the genus Phaenocarpa Foerster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae: Alysiini) from the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil is described and illustrated.

Description: The genus Mama Belokobylskij, 2000 (Braconidae; Euphorinae) is re-assessed and the type species is compared with three similar species: Microctonus cephalicus Provancher, 1886, Microctonus reclinator Ruthe, 1856, and Euphorus spiniscapus Muesebeck, 1936. The results are discussed in relation to the use of taxa based on one specimen (“monotype taxa”). Problems concerning our knowledge of important groups of Euphorinae are outlined. The context of the peculiarly tangled taxonomical situation, which this paper deals with, is considered to be widespread in parasitoid taxonomy, and should be borne in mind in current studies of parasitoid biodiversity assessment.

Description: Two new species of the genus Pambolus Haliday, 1836, (P. leponcei spec. nov., and P. pilcomayensis spec. nov.; Braconidae: Pambolinae) from Argentina are described and illustrated.

Description: Bitomoides gen. nov. (type species: Bitomus latus Papp, 1999) is described and illustrated. In addition Phaedrotoma recondes spec. nov. and Chelonus lukasi nom. nov. are validated.

Description: A new species of the genus Aleiodes Wesmael, 1838 (Braconidae: Rogadinae: Rogadini), A. declanae spec. nov. from New Zealand is described and illustrated. It has been reared from Declana floccosa Walker, Cleora scriptaria (Walker), Pseudocoremia suavis Butler and P. fenerata Felder & Rogenhofer (Geometridae: Ennominae.

Description: Goellneriana deckerti gen. nov. & spec. nov. (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Phymatinae: Macrocephalini) from Namibia is described and illustrated. Keys to the tribes and to the Afrotropical genera and species of the subfamily Phymatinae are included, a checklist and a distribution map of the Afrotropical ambush bugs is added.

Description: Three new species of the genera Megischus Brullé and Stephanus Jurine from China (Hymenoptera: Stephanoidea: Stephanidae) are described, illustrated and keyed. Megischus ptosimae Chao, 1964, from Fujian is redescribed and the specimen from India described as M. ptosimae Chao by van Achterberg (2002) is renamed as M. alveolifer spec. nov. and the Malaysian specimen of M. ducalis Westwood listed by van Achterberg (2002) is described as M. ducaloides spec. nov. M. ducalis Westwood, 1851, is reported for the first time from Cambodia, which is the first report after its description. A key to world species of the genus Stephanus is provided.

Description: The genus Taractrocera is distributed throughout the Oriental and Australian Regions. It contains 16 species, of which two, T. fusca and T. trikora, are described as new in this paper. All species are briefly characterized and the new species are described in full. The phylogeny of the genus is inferred, based on an analysis of morphological and genital characters, both of males and females. The biogeography of the genus is discussed in relation to the phylogeny. The genus has an Australian origin. After some diversification in Australia it dispersed into Asia, in or before the Miocene. It dispersed in the reverse direction, probably before the late-Miocene emergence of the Banda Arc and the Moluccas, 5-6 Mya. Three species are adapted to high altitude, one in the Himalayas and two in New Guinea. Apparently the adaptations occurred independently in the two areas. In New Guinea the high altitude species may have simply been carried up by the Pleistocene and recent uplift of the mountains. Possibly helped by the lowering of the sea-level several times during the Pleistocene, one Australian species colonized some of the Lesser Sunda Islands relatively recently.

Description: Neptihormius gen. nov. (type species Neptihormius stigmellae spec. nov. from New Zealand) is described and illustrated. It is a parasitoid of Nepticulidae and the first record of Nepticulidae as host for a member of the subfamily Hormiinae and of basal cyclostome Braconidae.

Description: Two new subgenera of the genus Xynobius Foerster, 1862, from the Southern Hemisphere are described and illustrated: Paraxynobius (type species Xynobius granulatus spec. nov. from New Zealand), and Sulcynobius (type species X. latisulcus spec. nov. from Sulawesi). One new species of the genus Ademoneuron Fischer, 1988, is added: A. yasirae spec. nov. from Indonesia (Halmahera).

Description: The venom apparatus of Pseudoyelicones nigriscutum van Achterberg, 1997 (Braconidae: Rogadinae) is described and illustrated. The venom apparatus morphology of Pseudoyelicones is closely related to that of Bulborogas van Achterberg. Therefore, we propose a sister group relationship between these two genera.

Description: The species of the genus Euagathis Szépligeti, 1900 (Braconidae: Agathidinae) from Wallacea and Papua (including Northeast Australia and Solomon Islands) are revised and keyed. Thirty-three species are recognized, of which 11 are new: Euagathis brevitibialis spec. nov. from Papua New Guinea; E. dejongi spec. nov. from Indonesia (Sulawesi); E. fuscistigma spec. nov. from Papua New Guinea; E. kendariensis spec. nov. from Indonesia (Sulawesi); E. maculata spec. nov. from Papua New Guinea; E. mellifacies spec. nov. from Papua New Guinea (Bougainville Island); E. mellisoma spec. nov. from Indonesia (Papua); E. minutoides spec. nov. from Indonesia (Sulawesi); E. novabritanica spec. nov. from Papua New Guinea (New Britain); E. raymondi spec. nov. from Indonesia (Papua); and E. toxopeusi spec. nov. from Indonesia (Papua). Euagathis maculipennoides nom. nov. is a new name for Euagathis maculipennis Szépligeti, 1902, not Brullé, 1846. Agathis etnaella Cameron, 1907, is a new synonym of Cremnops variceps (Cameron, 1907) and Euagathis papua Cameron, 1906, of E. novaguineensis Szépligeti, 1900. New combinations are: Biroia cameroni (Enderlein, 1920); Cremnops papuana (Cameron, 1907); C. varipilosella (Cameron, 1911); C. variceps (Cameron, 1907); and Zelomorpha maculipes (Cameron, 1911).

Description: Six new genera of the family Braconidae (Hymenoptera) from China are described and illustrated: two genera of the subfamily Agathidinae: Facilagathis gen. nov. (type species: F. spinulata spec. nov.) and Cremnoptoides gen. nov. (type species: Cremnops pappi Sharkey, 1994); one genus of the subfamily Helconinae: Mangshia gen. nov. (type species: M. elongata spec. nov.); two genera of the subfamily Pambolinae: Plesiocedria gen. nov. (type species: P. intermediata spec. nov.) and Apocedria gen. nov. (type species: A. nodifer spec. nov.) and one genus belonging to the subfamily Opiinae: Opiolastes gen. nov. (type species: O. hei spec. nov.). In addition two new species are described: Facilagathis macrocentroides spec. nov. from Zhejiang and Cremnoptoides furcatus spec. nov. from Jilin.

Description: New and lesser-known amphipods of hard substrates in the Delta area of the Netherlands (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridea) The distribution of 27 new and lesser-known amphipod species of sublittoral hard substrates in the Delta area in the southwest of The Netherlands is described. Data from literature on these species are scarce and/or not readily available. They are supplemented with results from recent investigations of mainly sublittoral hard substrates. Of the 22 marine species only nine occur offshore as well as inshore. The others seem to be restricted to inshore man-made coastline protections. This probably reflects the scarcity of hard substrates further offshore. Four invasive species were recorded in the brackish and freshwater part of the Delta area, two of them of pontocaspian origin.

Description: The expansion of the range of the spider Argiope bruennichi in the Netherlands (Araneae: Araneidae) Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772) is one of the biggest and most colourful spiders in Europe and therefore easy to recognise, even by non-specialists. The species has expanded its range in Germany and Belgium for several decades now and reached the south of The Netherlands in 1980. After the discovery of the first female in the south of the province of Limburg more specimens were found in this region in subsequent years. Later the species was discovered near Herkenbosch, about 30 kilometres to the north. Over the last years the expansion continued rapidly and now almost 300 records are brought together. The species has become widespread in the southern and eastern part of The Netherlands. In 1995 a leap of some 70 kilometres was made, from Limburg to the southern parts of the Veluwe. The years 1998 and 1999 were very good for Argiope, both with over 80 records per year. It is suggested that this expansion is related to the warm and sunny summers in the nineties.

Description: Nests of the carpenter ant Camponotus ligniperda in the northwestern part of its range (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Camponotus ligniperda (Latreille, 1802) is a rare ant species restricted to the eastern part of the Netherlands. Most records relate to a low number of workers. In this paper the species is reported for the first time from the province of Drenthe. Some ecological features of the groundnest are compared with the only other recent nest in the Netherlands. Both nests are located under a decidious tree which protects them from excessive precipitation. In contrast with reports from Germany and Sweden, nesting sites in buildings and houses are not known. It is suggested that the low chances for settlement in our country are due to the wet atlantic climate as well as competition with larger Formica species.

Description: Menippus philippinensis Jacoby, 1894, is reported from Java, and Issikia clarki (Jacoby, 1884) comb. nov., from Sumatra.

Description: New and old records of the robberfly Machimus cowini in the Netherlands (Diptera: Asilidae) Until recently, Machimus cowini (Hobby, 1943) was known from just one record in the Netherlands. An examination of Dutch specimens of the similar M. cingulatus revealed specimens of M. cowini from five new localities. The records are concentrated on the island Ameland and along the rivers Waal and Maas. On Ameland, M. cowini probably occurs in coastal dunes. Near Nijmegen the species was found in grassy vegetation on floodplains and on riverdunes near the river.

Description: Two new species of the genus Diachasmimorpha Viereck, 1913 (Braconidae: Opiinae) are described: D. feijeni spec. nov. from Bhutan (reared from Bactrocera minax (Enderlein) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in fruits of Citrus reticulata Blanco (mandarin)) and D. budrysi spec. nov. from Far East Russia. A key to the Palaearctic species is added, including two similar species (Fopius alternatae (Tobias, 1977), and F. myolejae (Tobias, 1977)).

Description: Pemphredon montana, new to The Netherlands (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) In 1998 Pemphredon montana Dahlbom, 1845 was recorded for the first time in the Netherlands. The species was found nesting in the insulating material of a caravan in the northernmost part of the province of Overijssel.

Description: The influence of recent inundations on the distribution pattern of the isopod Eluma purpurascens in the province of Zeeland (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscoidea) Small scale mapping of Eluma purpurascens Budde-Lund, 1885 in the province of Zeeland revealed a remarkable distribution pattern. The species proved to be absent in parts which have been inundated during and after the second world war. This study shows that for the interpretation of distribution patterns the history of the study area should be considered.

Description: Faunistics and ecology of the syrphid genus Epistrophe in The Netherlands (Diptera: Syrphidae) Ten species of Epistrophe have been found in the Netherlands, two of which, E. cryptica and E. similis, are recorded here for the first time. The distribution, changes in distribution and ecology of the species were investigated and are illustrated by distribution maps and diagrams of the flight period. In all species, except E. eligans, females were observed more than males. Furthermore, females seem to be active later in the season than males. It is discussed that this is probably caused by the differences in behaviour between the males of the species.

Description: Until recently Boreus hyemalis was considered to be a rare species in The Netherlands. It was only known from a few localities in The Netherlands in the provinces of Noord-Holland, Zuid- Holland, Utrecht, Gelderland and Drenthe. The last few years many new populations have been discovered. In this paper the first records for the provinces of Limburg, Noord-Brabant and Overijssel are presented. The species seems to prefer scarcely vegetated patches in sanddunes, dominated by greyhair grass Corynephorus canescens and the moss Polytrichum piliferum. It proved to be relatively easy to find, when the right places were searched in the right period (October until February).

Description: Het genus Bryotropha in Nederland (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Het genus Bryotropha staat bekend als een notoir lastig geslacht van kleine bruine motjes. Die moeilijkheid komt door de variatie, maar vooral ook door gebrek aan bruikbare beschrijvingen. Met dit artikel zijn de negen Nederlandse soorten te determineren. Vanwege het gebrek aan determinatieliteratuur in heel Europa is het in het Engels geschreven. Behalve de maar één keer waargenomen B. domestica, zijn de meeste soorten vrij gewone verschijningen in ons land, zoals uit de kaarten blijkt.

Description: The occurrence of Digitivalva arnicella in the Netherlands: rediscovery and conservation (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae: Acrolepiinae) Digitivalva arnicella (Heyden, 1863), previously only known from two localities before 1902, has been rediscovered in eight localities in the northern part of the Netherlands (province of Drenthe) on its host Arnica montana. On the basis of leafmines, found in old herbarium collections, it can be concluded that the species was once widespread within the range of its host in the northern and eastern parts of the Netherlands and has apparently been overlooked by entomologists since. D. arnicella is a much endangered species in the Netherlands, because of the dramatic decline of its host. Two of the eight discovered populations have been lost since their discovery in the first half of the 1990’s. Systematics and life history of the species are described and illustrated, the distribution is mapped and advise for management of its sites are given. The current management of some populations of Arnica, by mowing the site completely in August, is disastrous for the young caterpillars, mining the leaves.

Description: Nemobius sylvestris in the dunes near Bergen (Orthoptera) A large population of Nemobius sylvestris (Bosc, 1792) has been found in the dunes near Bergen (Noord-Holland), 60 km northwest of the nearest known site in the Gooi-area. This discovery sheds new light on a specimen from Bergen found in a collection, which was thought to be mislabelled.

Description: Interesting new records of Odonata in the Netherlands in 1998 A survey of the most interesting observations on Dutch Odonata is presented. During the Odonata Recording Scheme many new records of rare species have become available. Gomphus flavipes, G. vulgatissimus, Anax parthenope, Sympetrum pedemontanum and S. depressiusculum seem to become more common. The status of some threatened species is elucidated: Calopteryx virgo, Sympecma paedisca, Coenagrion hastulatum and Cordulegaster boltonii.

Description: The West Palaearctic species of the subfamily Paxylommatinae are reviewed and the species of the genus Hybrizon Fallén, 1813, from the Palaearctic region are keyed. Hybrizon juncoi (Ceballos, 1957) is recognized as a valid species, a neotype is designated for Hybrizon latebricola Nees, 1834, and a lectotype is designated for Plancus apicalis Curtis, 1833. Paxylomma grandis Rudow, 1883, Ogkosoma schwarzi Haupt, 1913, and Eurypterna arakawae Matsumura, 1918, are new junior synonyms of Eurypterna cremieri (de Romand, 1838).

Description: Het genus Scrobipalpa in Nederland (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Scrobipalpa is een geslacht van kleine, lastig uit elkaar te houden motjes. In heel Europa zijn ongeveer 70 soorten bekend. Doorgaans zijn de vleugels bruin- of grijsachtig met een tekening van stippels en strepen die bovendien erg kan variëren. Hierdoor kunnen de individuele soorten vaak moeilijk herkend worden. Aan de hand van de genitaliën kunnen soorten wel allemaal gedetermineerd worden. Omdat de literatuur over deze groep niet erg toegankelijk is en bestaande beschrijvingen soms erg onvolledig zijn, wordt dit artikel in het Engels geschreven. Met dit artikel zijn de elf Nederlandse soorten te determineren. De meeste hiervan zijn min of meer gebonden aan de kust. Van alle soorten worden naast beschrijvingen van de vleugeltekening en de genitaliën, ook de verspreiding, de biologie en de ecologie gegeven.

Description: New records of Cheilosia caerulescens in the Netherlands (Diptera: Syrphidae) Cheilosia caerulescens is a rare hoverfly in The Netherlands. Until 1998 only four records were known, the first in 1986. In 1998 the species was found on three new and one old locality. The record from Heemstede (province of Noord-Holland) is among the northernmost in the European distribution of this species. Three of the four records originate from gardens.

Description: Chironomidae in newly created nature reserves In a newly created nature reserve near Eindhoven many interesting species of Chironomidae were found. Several new species to the Dutch fauna were identified and one species (of the genus Neozavrelia) proved to be new to science. The fauna of these young habitats is poorly known, but proves to be very interesting.

Description: A key to the European species of the Pteromalus altus group is presented. The relationship between this group and species of the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) is confirmed. One new species: P. villosae, associated with Euphorbia villosa Waldst. & Kit.is presented. Two new species of the albipennis group: Pteromalus almeriensis and P. costulata are presented. In addition one species of the P. vibulenus group: P. tethys is added. Information on P. sylveni Hedqvist, P. osmiae Hedqvist and P. discors Graham is given.

Description: The species of Encarsia Foerster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) known from Egypt are revised. A total of 14 species are treated, including one new species. E. indifferentis Mercet, 1929, is synonymised with E. inaron (Walker, 1839). All species are fully described or diagnosed, and illustrated. Host records, and species-distributions outside Egypt, are given.

Description: Interesting records of beetles in The Netherlands (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Nitidulidae, Dermestidae) Tachyporus quadriscopulatus Pandellé, 1869 has been recorded for the second time in the Netherlands at Arcen and Velden, province of Limburg. After 27 years, a third record of Carpophilus marginellus Motschulsky, 1858 can be reported from St. Geertruid, in the southern part of the province of Limburg. One specimen was found outdoors, in a wood. One specimen of Anthrenocerus australis Hope, 1843 was also found outdoors, in Oost- Maarland also in southern Limburg, sitting on a flower in a meadow.

Description: Butterflies in the Netherlands still under pressure (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) New information on the Dutch Rhopalocera fauna since the distribution atlas of Tax (1989) is presented. Coenonympha pamphilus was common in large parts of the Netherlands, but has declined dramatically. C. arcania is now formally extinct in our country. An extensive research showed that Maculinea alcon ericae has dissappeared from many sites. Furthermore the smallest of the two remaining populations of Heteropterus morpheus seems to have gone extinct. On the other hand, Callophrys rubi, has colonized new territory. Lampidus boeticus, was observed once as an adult and once a caterpillar was found between snow peas from Egypt. Colias croceus was very abundant in 1998. The reintroductions of Maculinea teleius and M. nausithous in 1990 appear to have been successful.

Description: The rearing of the botfly Cephenemyia auribarbis (Diptera: Oestridae) After several failures we finally succeeded in rearing botflies Cephenemyia from third-instar larvae. From a red deer shot at 13 March 1998 about one hundred larvae of Cephenemyia auribarbis (Meigen, 1824) were collected. Ten individuals reached the pupal stage. After 22 days, one fullgrown male died in the pupa, and two males emerged and lived for 17 and 18 days respectively. This is one of the few recorded succesful attempts to rear botflies.

Description: A new record of Chorthippus apricarius in the Netherlands (Orthoptera) Chorthippus apricarius is a very rare grasshopper in The Netherlands. Only three, very widely separated sites are known. In 1998 a small new population has been found in a roadside verge, 2 km southwest of the southernmost site in the south of the province of Limburg.

Description: Checklist of the Nitidulidae and Brachypteridae (Coleoptera) of the Netherlands and surrounding regions An annotated checklist of the Nitidulidae and Brachypteridae of the Netherlands and surrounding regions is presented, based mainly on literature research. Since the list of Brakman seven new species to the Netherlands have been published. One of these species, Pocadius adustus, is listed here for the first time. Major nomenclatorial changes, published elsewhere, have been implemented. The list contributes to the faunistic work of the European Invertebrate Survey - The Netherlands. A separate list of hostplants of the Nitidulidae and Brachypteridae is presented.

Description: Galeruca malakkana spec. nov., a new species is described from Malaysia.

Description: A new genus of the subfamily Alysiinae (Braconidae) is reported from South Africa (Bobekoides gen. nov.; type species: Bobekoides fulvus spec. nov.), illustrated, and described. A key to the species is added. The new genus is closely related to the East Palaearctic genus Hylcalosia Fischer, 1967.

Description: A synopsis of the genus Rhodopygia Kirby is given. Its species are discussed and their diagnostic morphological characters elucidated by figures. The hitherto unknown females of R. hinei Calvert and R. pruinosa Buchholz are described. A key to the species is provided.

Description: For the first time a gregarious parasitoid belonging to the genus Phaenocarpa Foerster, 1862 (Braconidae: Alysiinae) is reported, and described as P. helophilae spec. nov. from England. The first record of Chloropidae as host for a Phaenocarpa species is given; P. livida (Haliday, 1838) reared from Calamoncosis (Rhaphiopyga) glyceriae Nartshuk, 1958. Sathra debilis Foerster, 1862, is synonymised with P. livida (Haliday). Additionally, Phaenocarpa curticauda spec. nov. from The Netherlands is described and fully illustrated. A lectotype is designated for Alysia pectoralis Zetterstedt, 1838, and Phaenocarpa rufoflava Papp, 1968, is recognised as a valid species.

Description: The assassin bug genus Rasahus Amyot & Serville (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae) comprises 26 Neotropical species. A cladistic analysis of the genus was carried out using 63 characters from external morphology, body vestiture, and male and female genitalia, with the species considered as terminal taxa. The analysis yielded 149 equally parsimonious cladograms, each with 206 steps, CI = 0.35, and RI = 0.60; the successive weighting procedure resulted in eight cladograms (CI = 0.79 and RI = 0.91). In the strict consensus cladogram, two major clades are delimited: one comprising the species R. rufiventris, R. hamatus, R. arcitenens, R. arcuiger, R. amapaensis, R. thoracicus, R. biguttatus, R. argentinensis, R. limai, R. grandis, and R. angulatus; and the other with R. castaneus, R. aeneus, R. scutellaris, R. maculipennis, R. brasiliensis, R. sulcicollis, R. surinamensis, R. albomaculatus, R. guttatipennis, R. atratus, R. peruensis, R. costarricensis, R. bifurcatus, R. flavovittatus, and R. paraguayensis. A cladistic biogeographic analysis of the provinces of the Neotropical subregion, considering distributional data of the species of Rasahus and three other genera of Peiratinae (Eidmannia, Melanolestes, and Thymbreus) was carried out. Four general area cladograms were obtained applying programs COMPONENT 2.0 and TASS. The most parsimonious general area cladogram (= implying fewer items of error) was obtained with COMPONENT 2.0 minimizing the number of leaves added, and shows the sequence (Desierto, (Caatinga, (Cerrado, (Chacoan, (Caribbean, Amazonian), (Paranaense, Atlantic))))). This sequence of area relationships is congruent with the history previously hypothesized for the subregion, where the development of an open vegetated diagonal (comprising the Chacoan, Cerrado, and Caatinga provinces) due to the aridification induced by the gradual uplift of the Andes, separated the former Amazonian forest in a northwestern part (Caribbean plus Amazonian provinces) and a southeastern part (Paranaense plus Atlantic provinces).

Description: Two new species of the genus Bentonia van Achterberg, 1992 (Braconidae: Orgilinae) (B. inca from Peru and B. xochiquetzalis from Mexico) are described and partly illustrated. A third undescribed species was found for which some characters are listed. The distribution of B. scutellaris van Achterberg, 1992, is extended west to Peru and B. longicornis van Achterberg, 1992, north to Venezuela. An identification key is added.