Hitherto, 37 species in 10 genera under 4 subfamilies have been known from the Korean Peninsula. In this study, three newly recorded species are reported for the first time from Korea: Conops ceriaeformis ussuriensis Zimina, 1974, Physocephala pielina Chen, 1939, and Myopa picta Panzer, 1797. Morphological diagnoses and illustrations of these species are presented. Additionally, a key to all species of Conopidae from Korea is also provided.
Moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are small fuzzy flies found in diverse habitats from mountains to urban areas, even in your house. Approximately 3,000 species among 6 subfamilies are recorded worldwide. However, in Korea, only 10 species from 3 genera of the subfamily Psychodinae have been recorded, including 8 species from North Korea. A preliminary study on moth flies in Korea was conducted using specimens collected via malaise traps and by hands from various locations in South Korea. As a result, Brunettia lungjingensis, Thornburghiella decoricornis, Philosepedon monstruosus and our friendly but unrecorded, Clogmia albipunctata are newly described in Korea. Brief descriptions, photographs, and illustrations of these four species are provided.
The genus Argyresthia Hübner, [1825] of the family Argyresthiidae is known to comprise over 150 species worldwide. Among them, more than 70 species are recognized in the Palearctic region. The Korean fauna of the genus Argyresthia includes 11 described species to date. In this study, we report three species of the genus Argyresthia for the first time in Korea: A. brockeella (Hübner, [1813]), A. longalbella Liu, Wang & Li, 2017, and A. mala Liu, Wang & Li, 2017. All available information, images of adults and genitalia for species are provided.
This study reports the first records of four coleophorids, namely Coleophora kamchatica (Anikin, 1999), C. lativittella Erschoff, 1877, C. levantis Baldizzone & Oku, 1988, and C. citrarga Meyrick, 1934, in Korea. Additionally, the presence of two species, C. montaniella Oku & Kusunoki, 2018, and C. artemisicolella Bruand, 1855, in Korea has been overlooked in the previous checklist of the family Coleophoridae in Korea, despite there being evidence of their existence. Consequently, with these additions, the total number of known species in Korea has been confirmed to be 42, expanding from the previously identified 36 species. Diagnostic characteristics and photographs of adults and genitalia for the four newly recorded species are provided, along with evidence supporting the presence of the two overlooked species in Korea.
The genus Paragabara is recognized as a member of the subfamily Boletobiinae, with six species in the Eastern Palaearctic. In Korea, three species of this genus are known. Konoenko et al. (2010) designated a lectotype for P. flavomacula (Oberthür, 1880) and described a new species, P. curvicornuta. In this study, the misidentification of the Korean P. flavomacula as P. curvicornuta has been corrected. Additionally, one newly recorded species, P. curvicornuta, is reported from Korea. In total, four Paragabara species are recognized in Korea. All available information, images of adults, a checklist, and male and female genitalia, etc., are provided.
Henricia specimens were collected using a dual approach of trimix scuba diving and fishing nets. This inclusive collection encompasses the discovery of two species highlighted in this study and introduces and provides comprehensive descriptions for Henricia kinkasana and Henricia longispina aleutica. The descriptions offered in this study were derived from the thorough examinations of external morphological characteristics. The documentation provides detailed insight into key traits related to the abactinal and actinal skeletons and spines of these newly recorded species in Korea. This comprehensive examination contributes to our understanding of the distinct morphological characteristics defining each species within the genus Henricia.
Two newly recorded sea stars, Henricia densispina (Sladen, 1879) and H. reniossa asiatica Djakonov, 1958, collected from the East Sea of Korea using fishing nets, were described in this study. Morphologically, H. densispina is characterized by the shape (sub-triangular) similarity of the intermarginal plates to the superomarginal plates. Henricia reniossa asiatica Djakonov, 1958, has long and slender arms (R/r=7.2- 9.1); clustered abactinal paxillae with 3-13 abactinal spinelets; a denuded abactinal skeleton made up of crescentic, elongated cross-shaped, the presence of small ossicles that divided the papular areas; and an adambulacral armature comprised of 14-17 spinelets. This study provides the first occurrence of H. densispina and H. reniossa asiatica in the Korean fauna and a detailed morphological description of these species’ key characteristics is provided.
This study introduces a newly discovered brittle star, Amphiophiura megapoma, from the mesophotic zone in the East Sea, Korea. It is the second species belonging to the genus Amphiophiura (which includes 57 species) to be recorded in Korean waters after A. sculpta. The specimen was discovered during a September 2022 survey, by SCUBA diving in the upper mesophotic zone of the East Sea, Korea. This study presents the morphological characteristics of A. megapoma, highlighting its differences from the related species within a comprehensive taxonomic description. It provides highresolution images of A. megapoma and a taxonomic key for Amphiophiura species in Korea.
Silene fissipetala Turcz., which is native to Continental China and Taiwan, was newly found in Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. S. fissipetala is similar to the related taxa S. antirrhina L., S. armeria L., and S. koreana Kom. in that it has glutinous zones. However, S. fissipetala is distinguished from the congeneric species by the presence of laciniate at the petals. The species grows on slopes and roadsides, suggesting that it is likely to have been introduced through the installation of green sites and road construction. A precise description, photographs, voucher specimens and a key to related taxa are provided.
Lovenia elongata is a member of the family Loveniidae and is one of the most common tropical echinoids. This species has a broad distribution range in the sub- and tropical regions of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, extending from the Mozambique to the Hawaiian Islands, and from southern Japan to northern Australia. It is commonly found in subtidal areas and on coral reefs within these regions. This species was for the first time recorded from the Ulleungdo Island, Korea. This species is characterized by a teardrop-shaped test that reaches up to 5 cm in length, with a deep groove at the front and tapered at the back end. The petaloid is not obvious, and the primary spines are long and banded. This study is the first to report the newly recorded L. elongata in Korea.
Three free-living marine nematodes (Desmoscolex (Desmoscolex) max Timm, 1970, Daptonema longiapophysis Huang and Zhang, 2010, and Pseudosteineria sinica Huang and Li, 2010) were newly recorded in Korea. Desmoscolex (D.) max was found from subtidal coarse sediment around Wangdolcho in the East Sea. It was characterized by the presence of untypical setae arrangement, obviously elongated triangle-shaped head, long hairy cephalic setae, a long naked tail spinneret, and the absence of peduncle at the base of somatic setae. Daptonema longiapophysis was obtained from intertidal sandy sediments in the southern coast of Korea. It was characterized by the presence of setiform labial sensilla, spicules with a projection on both sides, and gubernaculum with dorso-caudal apophysis. Pseudosteineria sinica was discovered from the intertidal sediment in the Yellow Sea. It was characterized by unobservable amphideal fovea, different lengths of spicules, and gubernaculum with dorso-caudal apophysis. In this study, we provide detailed morphological features of three free-living marine nematodes by differential interference contrast microscopy.