New species of Hamayulus Fialho, Chamorro-Rengifo & Lopes-Andrade, 2014 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Listroscelidinae: Hamayulini) from the Northeastern Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest DIEGO MATHEUS DE MELLO MENDES, RAFAEL SOBRAL, ALBERTO MOREIRA DA SILVA NETO Zootaxa, 2025 Hamayulus Fialho, Chamorro-Rengifo & Lopes-Andrade, 2014 (Tettigoniidae: Listroscelidinae: Hamayulini) has, until now, been a monotypic genus and it is the only known genus in Hamayulini. The type-species Hamayulus rufomaculatus Fialho, Chamorro-Rengifo & Lopes-Andrade, 2014 is recorded from the Atlantic Forest biome in Northeast Brazil. In this paper, we describe Hamayulus porangajuba sp. nov., the second species of the genus, from the northeastern Atlantic Forest biome. The new species is described based on an adult male specimen; two female nymphs were also described. A distribution map of the genus is provided as well as comments on the natural history of the new species.
The Sertão Leaf Katydid – a new genus of Pterochrozinae Walker, 1870 (Insecta, Orthoptera) from the Caatinga in Northeastern Brazil Victor M. Ghirotto, Phillip W. Engelking, Marcos Fianco, Samuel M. Martins, Rafael Sobral, et al. European Journal of Taxonomy, 2025 Pterochrozinae are katydids endemic to the Neotropics, commonly known as peacock or leaf katydids. Several areas in the Neotropical are poorly sampled for leaf katydids, and there are few experts working with this group. Most of Pterochrozinae diversity occurs in rainforests, while only a single genus occurs in the savannic Cerrado, and no Pterochrozinae is known for the Caatinga, a semi-arid biome. Here, we present a new Pterochrozinae genus and species, Metallacantha aculeata Engelking, Ghirotto, Fianco, Sobral, Silva-Neto & Mendes gen. et sp. nov., from the Caatinga. The new genus can be distinguished from all other Pterochrozinae by its robust body, enlarged legs, large and flat hind tibial spines, and extremely shortened hind wings. We describe the new genus and species based on three adult females, three adult males, and one nymph from different areas in the Southern Sertanejo Depression of the Caatinga biome, Brazil, also presenting notes on its biology, acoustics, and behavior. Furthermore, we present discussions on the relationship of some Pterochrozinae genera.
Neurostigma Enderlein, 1900 (Psocodea: ‘Psocoptera’: Epipsocidae) from Brazilian Amazon Rainforest: new species and variations in forewings Natália S. Reategui, José A. Rafael, Alberto M. da Silva-Neto European Journal of Taxonomy, 2025 Five new species of Neurostigma collected in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest are described and illustrated: Neurostigma alfonsoi sp. nov., N. patriciae sp. nov., N. angelicum sp. nov., N. spinosum sp. nov. and N. willkeniae sp. nov. The first record of Neurostigma for the Brazilian state of Rondônia is included, along with an unpdated distribution map of male specimens of Neurostigma. An updated identification key of males of the genus is provided. Now, the number of species of Neurostigma recorded for Brazil has increased to 12, with two of them also occurring in Colombia. With this study, we significantly contributed to the knowledge of the diversity of the genus, which increased to 19 species.
Neurostigma enderlein, 1990: New records, update diagnosis, description, redescription, description increment of females and a new synonymy (psocodea: “psocoptera”: Epipsocidae) Natália Soares Reategui, José Albertino Rafael, Alberto Moreira da Silva-Neto Papeis Avulsos De Zoologia, 2024 In this paper, we treat three species of Neurostigma. For the first, N. roesleri New, 1980 we provide illustrations of the holotype, a revised diagnosis, the female redescription, including the first description of the spermatheca and a distribution map of the species considering N. garcialdretei Mendivil Nieto, Gonzalez Obando & Carrejo Gironza, 2020 syn. nov. For the second species, N. enderleini New, we redescribe the male, describe and illustrate the unknown female, and provide a revised diagnosis and new records for the Brazilian states of Amapá and Rondônia. For the third species, N. xanthopterum New, 1980, we include the first description and illustration of the spermatheca.
The Spine Raptor—a new genus of predatory katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae: Phlugidini) from the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest DIEGO MATHEUS DE MELLO MENDES, RAFAEL SOBRAL, ALBERTO MOREIRA DA SILVA NETO Zootaxa, 2024 The Phlugidini tribe (Meconematinae: Tettigoniidae) currently comprises 10 genera and 64 species of small predatory katydids with Neotropical distribution. Herein, we describe the new genus Spinaraptor gen. nov. with five species included: Spinaraptor taja sp. nov. (type species), Spinaraptor celerinicta (Nickle, 2003) comb. nov., Spinaraptor ecuador (Gorochov, 2012) comb. nov., Spinaraptor gerana (Gorochov, 2015) comb. nov. and Spinaraptor nemoptera (Bolivar, 2012) comb. nov. (All transferred from Phlugis Stål, 1861). Pictorial keys to species in the genus, maps and natural history observations are provided.
Synopsis of the Ptiloneuropsis Roesler, 1940 (Psocodea: ‘Psocoptera’: Ptiloneuridae), with a new cave-dwelling species from Brazil NATÁLIA SOARES REATEGUI, RODRIGO LOPES FERREIRA, JOSÉ ALBERTINO RAFAEL, ALBERTO MOREIRA DA SILVA-NETO Zootaxa, 2024 A new cave-dwelling species of Ptiloneuropsis from southeastern Brazil, is here described based on both sexes, illustrated and named as: Ptiloneuropsis krenaki sp. nov. This new species differs from Ptiloneuropsis immaculata Roesler, 1940 and Ptiloneuropsis diamantina Silva-Neto, García Aldrete & Rafael, 2018 in details of the hypandrium and phallosome. In addition to the third new species of the Ptiloneuropsis, descriptions of variation in the fore and hindwings veins are also given. The diagnosis of Ptiloneuropsis is updated, and P. immaculata is redescribed. Furthermore, the first identification key for Ptiloneuropsis species, based on males, is presented.
Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: Setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil Walter A. Boeger, Michel P. Valim, Hussam Zaher, José A. Rafael, Rafaela C. Forzza, et al. Zoologia, 2024 The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil ( CTFB ) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606
The Austral Predator Katydid - New species of Megatympanon Piza, 1958 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Listroscelidinae: Terpandrini) from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest DIEGO MATHEUS DE MELLO MENDES, RAFAEL SOBRAL, ALBERTO MOREIRA DA SILVA NETO Zootaxa, 2023 Megatympanon Piza, 1958 (Tettigoniidae: Listroscelidinae: Terpandrini) is presently a monotypic genus and the only Terpandrini occurring in South America. The type-species M. speculatum Piza, 1958 is recorded in the Atlantic Forest biome in southeastern Brazil. In this work, we describe an additional species, Megatympanon austroraptorum sp. nov., the second species of the genus, occurring in the Southern Atlantic Forest biome. The new species is described based only on a single male; the female of the new species is unknown. A distribution map of the genus is provided as well as comments on the natural history of the new species.
The Blue Legged Predatory Katydid-a new species of Listroscelis Serville, 1883 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Listroscelidinae: Listroscelidini) from the Atlantic Rainforest DIEGO MATHEUS DE MELLO MENDES, ALBERTO MOREIRA DA SILVA NETO Zootaxa, 2023 The genus Listroscelis is part of Listroscelidini (Tettigoniidae: Listroscelidinae) and comprises 11 species of predatory katydids only known from Brazil. Currently, the group’s greatest richness is recorded in the Atlantic Forest biome. In this work, the new species Listroscelis cyanotibiatus sp. nov. is described to the Northeastern Atlantic Forest biome. Morphological characters of both sexes and the male internal genitalia are described. A distribution map of the species and comments on its natural history are provided.
