The trait evolution of different forceps types within the species-rich genus Caenis Stephens, 1835 and their worldwide distribution are partly interpreted as a result of reproductive isolation due to continental drift, thus reflecting possible phylogenetic relationships. Consequently, a hypothetical subdivision of the genus is suggested.

Die Merkmalsevolution der verschiedenen Forceps-Typen innerhalb der Großgattung Caenis Stephens, 1835 und ihre weltweite Verbreitung werden als Ergebnis reproduktiver Isolation durch Kontinentaldrift interpretiert, die mögliche phylogenetische Verwandtschaft widerspiegelt. Dementsprechend wird eine hypothetische Unterteilung der Gattung vorschlagen.

The larvae of Italochrysa italica (Rossi, 1790) were observed in nature for the first time since the original observations by Principi in the 1940s. Several larvae of this species were found in different nests of the arboreal ant Crematogaster scutellaris (Olivier, 1792) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in dead oaks in the Italian Apennines. The present observations agree with the few previous studies on the behaviour of Italochrysa Principi, 1946 species and confirm that the larvae of I. italica spend most of their time within ant nests. The chrysopid larvae were found in loose aggregations within the nest, sometimes just outside the brood chamber. Italochrysa larvae adopt a static behaviour, avoiding ants and using the packet of debris carried on the body to hide and protect themselves from them. The morphology of the larvae is also discussed.

Unusual Italian records witnessing the active flight of two predaceous diving beetles, Rhantus suturalis (W. S. Macleay, 1825) and Acilius (Acilius) sulcatus (Linnaeus, 1758), are provided. The second species is recorded from the Aosta Valley region (N Italy) and from three northern Italian provinces (Asti, Padua, Sondrio) for the first time. The conservation status in Italy of both species is updated. Deronectes silphoides (Ponza, 1805), from the environs of Saluzzo in the Piedmont region (N Italy), was in the past treated as a nomen dubium. Later it was placed, as a nomen oblitum, in synonymy with D. opatrinus (Germar, 1824) (nomen protectum). However, it is herein newly declared a nomen dubium and removed from the above synonymy, since its type specimen is lost and its type locality is outside the area of distribution of the D. opatrinus species-group. At the same time, the identity of Hydroporus silphoides Villa & Villa, 1833 (nomen nudum), previously referred to H. obscurus Sturm, 1835, is declared as uncertain.

Recently-collected Tenebrionidae material from Ivindo National Park in Gabon, Central Africa, is discussed. The 72 species collected altogether, which include four species new to science, represent four subfamilies. Species in the subfamily Alleculinae Laporte, 1840 and some species in the tribe Lagriini Latreille, 1825 are not treated. The four, newly-described species are: Enicmosoma ivindoense sp. n., Platydema telnovi sp. n., Diaclina gabonica sp. n., and Uloma gabonica sp. n. The identification of some taxa from Gabon remains tentative, since no comprehensive taxonomic revision of the corresponding genera is available.

A new species of Afrotropical Melittiini, Afromelittia gruschwitzi sp. n., is described. Attracted by synthetic pheromones, a single male was trapped 1992 in Abuko Nature Reserve, a gallery forest in The Gambia, West Africa. The female and the biology of the new species are unknown.

A new genus of Afrotropical Osminiini, Spatenkana Bartsch, gen. n., is described based on the type species Albuna dybowskii Le Cerf, 1917, which was previously combined with the genus Synanthedon Hübner, [1819]. Moreover, a second species, Albuna africana Le Cerf, 1917, is assigned to the new genus (comb. n.). Both species were only known from the female holotypes. Recently, four specimens of S. dybowskii comb. n., one female each from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and one male from South Africa, were discovered. These specimens represent the first records for these countries. Furthermore, they allow a description of the male, the genitalia structure of the female and a classification of this species for the first time.

A new genus, Sabzia Wanke & Rajaei, gen. n., is described based on the Iranian species Phorodesma graminaria Kollar, 1850, which in recent taxonomy was combined with the genus Xenochlorodes Warren, 1897. Moreover, Xenochlorodes albicostaria Brandt, 1938, syn. n. is synonymized with Sabzia graminaria (Kollar, 1850), comb. n. The new genus is established based on external and internal characters of the adult specimens. Morphological traits including wing pattern, wing venation and male and female genitalia are described and illustrated.

Following a review of the Afrotropical species of the Platyja genus group, the following generic synonymies are established: Platyja Hübner, [1823] = Facidia Walker, 1865 syn. n., = Megacephalomana Strand, 1943 syn. n., and at the same time Facidia (= Megacephalomana) is placed as a subgenus (stat. n., limitedly to such rank by application of ICZN Code art. 61.3.1). The assemblage is found to consist of at least eight species, one of which described herein, namely Platyja (Facidia) vacillans (Walker, 1858) comb. n. (= Facidia sassana Strand, 1918 syn. rev.), P. (F.) saalmuelleri (Viette, 1965) comb. n., P. (F.) semifimbria (Walker, [1858]), P. (F.) rivulosum (Saalmüller, 1880) comb. n., P. (F.) ennomoides sp. n., P. (F.) stygium (Saalmüller, 1881) comb. n., Platyja (“Facidia”) luteilinea (Hampson, 1926) comb. n., and Platyja (“Facidia”) remaudi (Laporte, 1972) comb. n., with the last two taxa tentatively retained in Facidia due to some extraordinary features of the wing venation and pattern, respectively, that will require refinement of the topology of their phylogenetic relationships with core Facidia. As regards luteilinea, whose hitherto unknown female is also described, an unorthodox and sexually dimorphic branching pattern of the veins from the lower part of the forewing cell has been found, while remaudi shows a reversal of the proximo-distal sequence of the antemedial line and orbicular stigma of the forewing. Other taxa currently attributed to Megacephalomana, namely divisa Walker, 1865, pilosum Pagenstecher, 1888 and laportei Berio, 1974, are briefly discussed, the first two being of uncertain identity, their names being therefore registered as “nomina dubia”, the last one of doubtful position in the Platyja assemblage and therefore provisionally positioned here [provisional comb. n.], albeit as “incertae sedis”. A specimen referable to but not fully matching vacillans is illustrated and briefly commented upon. Last but not least, phenotypic variation within vacillans, showing two male morphs in W Africa, is discussed.

This paper documents the first record of the Amazon sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Castelnau, 1855) (Pisces: Loricariidae), in the natural waters of the Shatt al-Arab River, Basrah, Iraq, as a result of aquarium trade activities in the country. The length-weight relationships and condition factors of 175 specimens of P. pardalis, collected in 2017 in the Shatt al-Arab, were calculated. The studied population of P. pardalis showed an allometric growth, where the regression line slope b = 2.548±0.038 and the intercept a = 0.041±0.005. The average condition factor (K) was 8.802±4.208. All 175 specimens had mature gonads and the sample was dominated by females, which had eggs as large as 3.7 mm diameter in the ovaries. Fecundity varied from 2,400 to 19,245 eggs per brood. Fourty-one food items were recognised in the stomach contents, broadly categorised as follows: Algae, Crustacea, insect larvae and pupae, meiofauna, fish, fish eggs, and fish larvae. Suggestions for future studies are given, so as to correlate reproduction and diet with water level and seasonality.

The taxonomic rank of Synopsia centralis (Wiltshire, 1966), recently raised from subspecies to species, is validated through investigation of the paratype. The genitalia of the paratype are illustrated for the first time. Additional faunistic data are given for Synopsia sociaria (Hübner, 1899) and Synopsia phasidaria phasidaria (Rogenhofer, 1873), extending knowledge on their distribution in Iran.

Der taxonomische Rang von Synopsia centralis (Wiltshire, 1966), die kürzlich von Unterart auf Artebene erhoben wurde, wird durch die Untersuchung des Paratypus bestätigt. Die Genitalien des Paratypus werden zum ersten Mal abgebildet. Für Synopsia sociaria (Hübner, 1899) und Synopsia phasidaria phasidaria (Rogenhofer, 1873) werden zusätzliche faunistische Daten angegeben, die das Wissen über ihre Verbreitung im Iran erweitern.