Alexandre P. Aguiar

The preparation of multi-panel figures remains a labor-intensive step in scientific publication, particularly in image-intensive fields such as zoological taxonomy. Although many tools are available, they are generally either general-purpose applications or highly specialized solutions that may be difficult to install or time-consuming to learn. Here, new approaches are proposed to simplify and formalize multi-panel figure composition, emphasizing rapid layout construction and experimentation while maintaining explicit control over publication parameters. These include spatial inference of intended layouts from the distribution of images on a canvas, editable formulas for representing and modifying layout structure, integrated operations for image arrangement and transformation, and automated procedures for figure numbering, scale-bar calculation, and legend generation. The approaches are implemented and can be tested in Griphus, a standalone graphical application developed for taxonomists. User-defined parameters such as target print dimensions, resolution, spacing, and color mode are maintained throughout the work, while layouts can be interactively constructed, modified, rotated, and regenerated. The resulting composite figure is accompanied by a readable representation of its layout structure and a .gri session file storing images, transformations, and parameters for exact regeneration. Griphus thus provides a practical implementation of the proposed approaches and a complementary environment to professional image-editing software for efficient, reproducible, and exploratory construction of publication-quality multi-panel figures.

The preparation of multi-panel figures remains a labor-intensive step in scientific publication, particularly in image-intensive fields such as zoological taxonomy. Although many tools are available, they are generally either general-purpose applications or highly specialized solutions that may be difficult to install or time-consuming to learn. Here, new approaches are proposed to simplify and formalize multi-panel figure composition, emphasizing rapid layout construction and experimentation while maintaining explicit control over publication parameters. These include spatial inference of intended layouts from the distribution of images on a canvas, editable formulas for representing and modifying layout structure, integrated operations for image arrangement and transformation, and automated procedures for figure numbering, scale-bar calculation, and legend generation. The approaches are implemented and tested in Griphus, a standalone graphical application developed by and for zoological taxonomists. User-defined parameters such as target print dimensions, resolution, spacing, and color mode are maintained throughout the work, while layouts can be interactively constructed, modified, rotated, and regenerated. The resulting composite figure is accompanied by a readable representation of its layout structure and a .gri session file storing images, transformations, and parameters for exact regeneration. Griphus thus provides a practical implementation of the proposed approaches and a complementary environment to professional image-editing software for efficient, reproducible, and exploratory construction of publication-quality multi-panel figures.

Sweep‐netting is widely used for sampling terrestrial arthropods, but specimen extraction is a sensitive step that can introduce biases and variability in ecological or quantitative investigations. Field storage of multiple, independent sweep‐net samples, is also usually unfeasible because they need to be chilled, or the specimens immediately transferred to alcohol, to avoid both damage and decomposition. Current extraction methods based on washing and sieving of pooled samples are aimed at qualitative surveys, raising the question of whether direct search, also often used, could be more efficient and reliable for quantitative investigations. This study presents an objective comparison of both methods, investigating Hymenoptera extraction efficiency using direct search versus rapid rinse, a field‐adapted variant of traditional rinsing methods designed for use with minimal equipment. Rapid rinse improved specimen recovery by 29%–83% per sample, with only 0.0%–7.6% of specimens missed, compared to 16%–66% missed with direct search. It also yielded 11%–44% more species per sample and reduced processing time by more than half, while maintaining specimen integrity and enabling efficient, stable field storage. Rinsing is therefore recommended as the most reliable and operationally practical extraction method for studies requiring quantitative and comparative accuracy. Rapid rinse adaptations for fieldwork, using just a few items and no assembly, while also resulting in easy storage, improved the technique's overall accessibility.

Messatoporus bisignatus Aguiar & Supeleto, sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The new species was extensively reared from trap nests colonized by Auplopus subaurarius Dreisbach, 1963 (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae), in an area of secondary Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. Two other species, M. elektor Santos, 2013 and M. opacus Santos, 2013, were also reared from the same host, but in lesser numbers. The previously unknown males of M. elektor Santos, 2013, M. opacus Santos 2013 and M. unidentatus Santos, 2013 are described and illustrated. New females and significant morphological variation are reported for these species, previously known only from a few specimens. New geographical records are reported for M. unidentatus (Brazil, two localities in ES), M. elektor and M. opacus (Brazil, two localities in RS).

Dismodix colai sp. nov., from a reforested legal reserve of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil, and D. gladiata sp. nov., from central Brazil, are described and illustrated. Each new taxon is compared with similar species from both Dismodix Townes and the related Acerastes Cushman. Both species can be separated from all others within each genus by having the occipital carina distinctly widened.

Digonocryptus magnus sp. nov., from French Guyana, is described and illustrated, and new records, morphological and morphometric data are presented for two other rare species, D. coloratus (Szépligeti, 1916), registered for the first time from Colombia, and D. zatheos Aguiar & Santos, 2012. The new species is characterized by having the apical margin of the clypeus straight, medially with a small tooth, propodeal apophyses stout, scale-shaped, fore wing with ramellus, areolet about as wide as high, nearly quadrate, 2r-m as long as the mostly spectral 3r-m, T1basally with a distinct lateral rounded flange, and the longest ovipositor of the genus. The study employs morphological character coding combined with a reanalysis of published molecular data to investigate the phylogenetic placement of D. magnus. The results suggest that it may represent a borderline species within Digonocryptus or potentially a new genus, although further investigation is required due to limited available material and inconclusive data.

Elusive flaws are identified in techniques widely adopted to organize the Material Examined sections in taxonomic publications, mostly regarding the usage of the term ibidem and the nesting of information such as country and states. Logical errors are identified that prevent objective retrieval of the original information and can hinder or block its interpretation, even in case-by-case analyses. It is demonstrated that the free usage of ibidem in the sense of “same as previous except as follows” compromises the interpretation of data, characterizing bad practice. Solutions are proposed for the precise usage of both the term ibidem and the nesting technique. A new technique for organizing, compressing, and presenting information, called grid-setting, is described and evaluated. Its most notable practical effect is that the Material Examined section becomes literally a coded data sheet, which can be accurately converted back to spreadsheet format. In addition, the grid-setting technique was able to generate texts up to 30% shorter than those edited with the best-known traditional techniques. The new ideas and fixes are incorporated into a new software, flexible enough to process varied and unlimited data into largely user-defined texts, which remain nevertheless universal in their format and logical interpretation.

Fortipalpa Kasparyan & Ruíz-Cancino, 2007 originally accommodates only its type species, F. yucatanica Kasparyan & Ruíz-Cancino, 2007. The genus can be distinguished from all other Neotropical Cryptini by having mandible with ventral tooth subequal to slightly longer than dorsal tooth; propodeum anteriorly smooth, posteriorly with transverse striation; T1 long and slender, without anterolateral tooth; and ovipositor moderately long and straight, with ventral valve without a lobe covering dorsal valve. The genus is revised, and the following new species are proposed, described, and illustrated: F. exelysae sp. nov., F. frida sp. nov., F. heredia sp. nov., F. panamensis sp. nov., F. pichincha sp. nov., F. sacha sp. nov., and F. shakira sp. nov. The male of F. exelysae sp. nov., the first for the genus, is also described and illustrated; other males remain unknown. The type species is redescribed and illustrated, including pictures of the paratype and a new record to Trinidad. Figures, distribution maps and a taxonomic key are provided for all valid species.

Summary There is a great knowledge gap regarding the morphology of immatures of Mantodea, making taxonomic identification of the nymphs difficult, therefore hindering their inclusion in other studies. The present work recognizes general ontogenetic patterns shared by praying mantises through the comparative analysis of the post-embryonic changes in the external morphology of the nymphal instars of 10 Neotropical species, representing nine genera in five families. Nymphs were reared in the laboratory, their exuviae were collected and vouchers fixed. A total of 369 specimens and 495 exuviae were studied, and a total of 7000 images of live nymphs, at each instar, were taken. Shared developmental patterns were recognized for the form of the spines of the forelegs, proximal discoidal spine of the forefemora, wing pads, female genitalia, cerci, body adornments such as denticles, lobes and apophyses, and crypsis. Based on the recognition of a set of key differences in these features, two distinct, successive forms are recognized for mantis nymphs: the protonymph, the form of the first instar, and the deuteronymph, the form of the remaining instars. In turn, two successive forms are identified for the deuteronymphs: the mesonymph, the form of the early deuteronymphs, and the metanymph, the form of the late deuteronymphs. Literature data provide good support for the occurrence of the observed patterns also in many other and highly diverse lineages of Mantodea, suggesting this might be a generalized feature, fixed in the ontogenetic system of the order. If so, these nymphal forms can be considered semaphoronts of Mantodea, which are more practical and more relevant references than instars for comparisons between praying mantis nymphs. An original key to recognizing the different post-embryonic semaphoronts and sexes of Mantodea is provided. The discovery has wide application in phylogenetic and taxonomic studies, providing an important framework for the study of nymphs of Mantodea. It is recommended that taxonomic studies provide descriptions for proto-, meso- and metanymphs, and include their features in identification keys.

Updated distribution maps are provided for all known species of Agonocryptus, with 115 new distribution records for 16 species, an expansion from 166 to 281 unique coordinates, or nearly 70%, in relation to what was previously published. A new species is proposed, A. glaphyrus sp. nov., from Colombia. All taxa previously treated as subspecies are raised to the rank of species, as follows: A. chichimecus (Cresson, 1873) stat. nov., A. coxinota Gupta, 1982 stat. nov., A. discoidaloides (Viereck, 1905) stat. nov., A. flavosternum Gupta, 1982 stat. nov., A. nigrifemur Gupta, 1982 stat. nov., A. nigristernum Gupta, 1982 stat. nov., A. paulus Gupta, 1982 stat. nov., and A. tucumanus Gupta, 1982 stat. nov. New distribution data is provided for the following taxa, with new records for countries specified where applicable: A. adustus Gupta, 1982, new to Colombia; A. argentinus Gupta, 1982; A. brevicauda Kasparyan & Ruíz-Cancino, 2005, new to Brazil; A. chichimecus; A. discoidaloides; A. flavosternum; A. fumosus Gupta, 1982; A. heathi (Brues, 1912); A. lioneli Gupta, 1982; A. nigristernum; A. physocnemis (Brullé, 1846); A. rufithorax Gupta, 1982; A. rugifrons Gupta, 1982; A. russulus Gupta, 1982; A. tricolor Gupta, 1982; and A. varus (Brullé, 1846), new to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guyana, Guyana, and Trinidad & Tobago. Images of the studied species are published for the first time, including the males of A. discoidaloides, A. physocnemis, and A. rugifrons, documenting both the typical morphology of each taxon and their morphological variation, which is also described and discussed. Specimens cited by Gupta (1982) as likely to represent a distinct subspecies of A. varus are identified as Digonocryptus zopherus Aguiar & Santos, 2012. Elevation data, both from the literature and original, is compiled and compared, revealing a range of preferences among different species.