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New data on the distribution of 11 Symphyta species phyllophagous on birch trees ( Betula L.) are presented. Dineura virididorsata (Retzius, 1783), Heterarthrus nemoratus (Fallén, 1808), Nematinus caledonicus (Cameron, 1882), Pamphilius varius (Audinet-Serville, 1823), and Pristiphora alpestris (Konow, 1903) are reported from Slovakia for the first time. The little-known Allantus cingillum (Klug, 1814), Euura ampla (Konow, 1895), E. leionota (Benson, 1933), Profenusa thomsoni (Konow, 1886), Trichiosoma lucorum (Linnaeus, 1758), and T. vitellina (Linnaeus, 1761) were found in Slovakia, either after many decades or for the second time.

The sawfly fauna of Greenland is reviewed, based on specimens collected in 2025 and a re-examination of material in museum collections. Ametastegia pallipes (Spinola, 1808) and Euura vaga (Fabricius, 1781) are recorded from Greenland for the first time. Pristiphora laricis (Hartig, 1837) is confirmed to be well established in a restricted area of South Greenland. Euura obscuripes (Holmgren, 1883) is the valid name for the nominal taxa described from Greenland as Nematus borealis Marlatt, 1892 (new synonym) and Amauronematus groenlandicus Malaise, 1933 (new synonym). Greenlandic specimens of Euura cornuta (Lindqvist, 1962) have formerly been misidentified as Amauronematus viduatus (Zetterstedt, 1838) or A. nitidipleuris Malaise, 1931. Now including a total of only nine recorded species, the sawfly fauna is extremely species-poor, thus fitting the general pattern exhibited by most groups of insects in Greenland. Genetic sequencing and existing distribution data indicate that most species are likely to have reached Greenland from the West Palaearctic. The possibility that some of them may have been accidentally introduced by humans is discussed.

Eight Western Palaearctic Euura species are here assigned to the bergmanni group ( bergmanni , brevivalvis , dispar , glutinosae , leptocephalus , respondens , sylvestris , and viridis ) and two species to the oligospila group ( frenalis and oligospila ). Euura pallens (Konow, 1903) ( bergmanni group) is removed from the list of West Palaearctic taxa. Euura pyramidalis (Hellén, 1948) is treated as incertae sedis within the bergmanni group. Definitions of the bergmanni and oligospila groups are primarily based on genetic sequence data (mitochondrial COI and nuclear NaK and POL2). We report likely occurrence of heteroplasmy and amplification of NUMTs among some of the treated species, complicating the use of DNA barcoding in species discrimination. Based on morphological and genetic evidence, we establish that the correct name for the invasive willow sawfly in the southern hemisphere (South America, southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand), known there only in the female sex, is Euura respondens (Förster, 1854). The species is probably native to the Palaearctic (or even Holarctic) where males are common: possibly as common as females (examined from Europe and Central Asia). The name Euura oligospila (Förster, 1854) has been incorrectly used for the species in the southern hemisphere. The examination of type material and reliable association of males and females based on genetics revealed that females of E. oligospila are morphologically extremely similar to E. respondens (and to some other E. bergmanni group species), but male penis valves and genetics enable reliable separation of these species. Morphological separation of females of E. oligospila and E. respondens is possible, but challenging. Identification keys for males and females of the bergmanni and oligospila groups are provided. The following 15 new synonymies are proposed: Nematus validicornis Förster, 1854, syn. nov. with Euura bergmanni (Dahlbom, 1835); Pteronidea woollatti Lindqvist, 1971, syn. nov. and Nematus turgaiensis Safjanov, 1977, syn. nov. with Euura brevivalvis (Thomson, 1871); Pteronidea pseudodispar Lindqvist, 1969, syn. nov. with Euura dispar (Zaddach, 1876); Nematus (Pteronidea) fastosus var. ponojense Hellén, 1948, syn. nov. and N. (P.) fastosus var. punctiscuta Hellén, 1948, syn. nov. with Euura frenalis (Thomson, 1888); Nematus declaratus Muche, 1974, syn. nov. and N. desantisi D.R. Smith, 1983, syn. nov. with Euura respondens (Förster, 1854); Pteronidea straminea Lindqvist, 1958, syn. nov. , P. angustiserra Lindqvist, 1969, syn. nov. , and P. disparoides Lindqvist, 1969, syn. nov. with Euura sylvestris (Cameron, 1884); Pteronidea breviseta Lindqvist, 1946, syn. nov. , P. breviseta Lindqvist, 1949, syn. nov. , P. abscondita Lindqvist, 1949, syn. nov. , and P. lauroi Lindqvist, 1960, syn. nov. with Euura viridis (Stephens, 1835). Lectotypes are designated for 18 nominal taxa: Amauronematus longicornis Konow, 1897; A. spurcus Konow, 1904; Nematus bergmanni Dahlbom, 1835; N. brevivalvis Thomson, 1871; N. curtispina Thomson, 1871; N. (Pteronidea) fastosus var. ponojense Hellén, 1948; N. (P.) fastosus var. punctiscuta Hellén, 1948; N. glutinosae Cameron, 1882; N. microcercus Thomson, 1871; N. polyspilus Förster, 1854; N. prasinus Hartig, 1837; N. respondens Förster, 1854; N. salicivorus Cameron, 1882; N. validicornis Förster, 1854; N. virescens Hartig, 1837; Pteronidea curtispina var. luctuosa Enslin, 1916; Pteronus fastosus Konow, 1904; and P. pallens Konow, 1903.

North-Western Palaearctic species of Pristiphora Latreille, 1810 are revised. Altogether, 90 species are treated, two of which are described as new: P.caraganae Vikberg & Prous, sp. n. from Finland and P.dedeara Liston & Prous, sp. n. from Germany. Host plant of P.caraganae is Caraganaarborescens Lam. Pristiphoradasiphorae (Zinovjev, 1993) (previously known from East Palaearctic) and P.cadma Wong & Ross, 1960 (previously known from North America) are recorded for the first time from Europe. Nematusnigricans Eversmann, 1847 [= Pristiphoranigricans (Eversmann, 1847), comb. n. ], N.breviusculus Eversmann, 1847 [= Euuramelanocephalus (Hartig, 1837)], and N.caudalis Eversmann, 1847 [= E.caudalis (Eversmann, 1847), comb. n. ] are removed from synonymy with P.pallidiventris (Fallén, 1808), N.paralellus Hartig, 1840 [= P.paralella (Hartig, 1840), comb. n. ] is removed from synonymy with P.bufo (Brischke, 1883), and P.mesatlantica Lacourt, 1976 is removed from synonymy with P.insularis Rohwer, 1910. The following 29 new synonymies are proposed: P.nigropuncticeps Haris, 2002, syn. n. with P.albitibia (Costa, 1859); Lygaeonematuskarvoneni Lindqvist, 1952, syn. n. with P.alpestris (Konow, 1903); P. (P.) anivskiensis Haris, 2006, syn. n. with P.appendiculata (Hartig, 1837); Nematuscanaliculatus Hartig, 1840, syn. n with P.carinata (Hartig, 1837); P.nigrogroenblomi Haris, 2002, syn. n. with P.cincta Newman, 1837; Tenthredoflavipes Zetterstedt, 1838, syn. n. , Nematuscongener W.F. Kirby, 1882, syn. n. , and P.thomsoni Lindqvist, 1953, syn. n. with P.dochmocera (Thomson, 1871); P.atrata Lindqvist, 1975, syn. n. with P.friesei (Konow, 1904); P.gelida Wong, 1968, syn. n. with P.frigida (Boheman, 1865); Pachynematusnigricorpus Takagi, 1931, syn. n. with P.laricis (Hartig, 1837); Nematus (Pikonema) piceae Zhelochovtsev in Zhelochovtsev and Zinovjev, 1988, syn. n. and P. (P.) hoverlaensis Haris, 2001, syn. n. with P.leucopodia (Hartig, 1837); Mesoneuraarctica Lindqvist, 1959, syn. n. , Pachynematusincisus Lindqvist, 1970, syn. n. , Pachynematusintermedius Verzhutskii, 1974, syn. n. , and P.mongololaricis Haris, 2003, syn. n. with P.malaisei (Lindqvist, 1952); Nematusanderschi Zaddach, 1876, syn. n. , P.inocreata Konow, 1902, syn. n. , and P.discolor Lindqvist, 1975, syn. n. with P.nigricans (Eversmann, 1847); Lygaeonematustenuicornis Lindqvist, 1955, syn. n. with P.paralella (Hartig, 1840); Lygaeonematusconcolor Lindqvist, 1952, syn. n. with P.pseudocoactula (Lindqvist, 1952); P.flavipicta Lindqvist, 1975, syn. n. , P.flavopleura Haris, 2002, syn. n. , P.mongoloexigua Haris, 2002, syn. n. , and P.mongolofausta Haris, 2003, syn. n. with P.punctifrons (Thomson, 1871); P.listoni Lacourt, 1998, syn. n. with P.sootryeni Lindqvist, 1955; P.gaunitzi Lindqvist, 1968, syn. n. with P.testacea (Jurine, 1807); and Nematusbreviusculus Eversmann, 1847, syn. n. with Euuramelanocephalus (Hartig, 1837). The valid name of Pachynematus (Pikonema) carpathiensis Haris, 2001 is Nematinuscarpathiensis (Haris, 2001) comb. n. Lectotypes are designated for 43 taxa. An illustrated electronic key made with Lucid and a traditional dichotomous key are provided to facilitate identification of the species. Species belonging to the carinata (previously Lygaeotus ), micronematica (previously Lygaeophora ), and rufipes (also known as thalictri or aquilegiae ) groups are not keyed to the species level, because additional research is needed to delimit the species more reliably in these groups. Phylogeny of Pristiphora is reconstructed based on one mitochondrial (COI) and two nuclear (NaK and TPI) genes. Remarkably, around 50–60% (depending on the exclusion or inclusion of the carinata , micronematica , and rufipes groups) of the species cannot be reliably identified based on COI barcodes. Limited data from nuclear genes indicate a better identification potential (about 20% remain problematic).

Keys to adults and larvae of the genera of West Palaearctic nematine sawflies are presented. Species of some of the smaller genera are keyed, and their taxonomy, distribution, and host plants reviewed, with a geographic focus on north-western Europe, particularly Sweden. Dinematus Lacourt, 2006 is a new junior subjective synonym of Pristiphora Latreille, 1810, resulting in the new combination Pristiphora krausi (Lacourt, 2006) for the type species of Dinematus . Hemichroa monticola Ermolenko, 1960 is a new junior subjective synonym of Hemichroa australis (Serville, 1823). Lectotypes are designated for Tenthredo opaca Fabricius, 1775, Mesoneura opaca var. nigerrima Enslin, 1914, Mesoneura opaca var. obscuriventris Enslin, 1914, Nematus hypogastricus Hartig, 1837, Nematus alnivorus Hartig, 1840, Leptopus rufipes Förster, 1854, Nematus protensus Förster, 1854, and Platycampus luridiventris var. pleuritica Enslin, 1915. A phylogenetic analysis based on four genes (mitochondrial COI and nuclear NaK, POL2, and TPI) supports the current generic classification.

Thirty-nine species of sawfly (Symphyta) are recorded for the first time in Bulgaria. Most of these were collected during early spring of 2018, in the south-east of the country (Burgas and Varna Provinces). Empriaaridicola Macek & Prous, sp. nov. is described as new to science from specimens collected in several central, east and south European countries. Lectotypes are designated for Poecilosomaparvula Konow, 1892, Empriapravei Dovnar-Zapolskij, 1925 and E.pseudoklugi Dovnar-Zapolskij, 1929. Empriapravei and Sciapteryxbyzantina Benson, 1968 are at present only known in Europe from the coastal zone of the Black Sea. The new Bulgarian records of Hoplocampacantoti Chevin, 1986 and Neomessasteusloffi (Konow, 1892) represent large extensions in their recorded ranges, previously comprising respectively only northern France, and north-eastern Germany. Possible host plant associations are noted for several species, based on observations of adults.

While working on an identification guide to the sawflies of Fennoscandia, we encountered numerous taxonomic problems, for some of which we present solutions. Dicrostema Benson, 1952 is a new synonym of Phymatoceropsis Rohwer, 1916, and not congeneric with Paracharactus MacGillivray, 1908. Two species occurring in Europe are transferred to Phymatoceropsis . Dolerus aericepsellus Heidemaa and Mutanen sp. nov. and Heptamelus viitasaarii Liston, Mutanen and Prous sp. nov. are described from Finland. Abia brevicornis Leach, 1817 nom. rev. is the valid name of Abia nitens auct. nec Linnaeus, and Abia nitens (Linnaeus, 1758) is the valid name for what has recently been called Abia sericea (Linnaeus, 1767). Tenthredo haemorrhoidalis Fabricius, 1781 is treated as an unplaced species of Hymenoptera, possibly Ichneumonoidea. Calameuta variabilis (Mocsáry, 1886) is the valid name of the species recently generally called C. haemorrhoidalis . Claremontia confusa (Konow, 1886) sp. rev. and Claremontia brevicornis (Brischke, 1883) are distinct species. Dolerus coracinus (Klug, 1818) is the valid name for D. anthracinus auct. Dolerus anthracinus (Klug, 1818) is a valid species similar to D. nitens Zaddach, 1859. Dolerus coruscans Konow, 1890 sp. rev. is a valid species. Dolerus junci (Stephens, 1835) is the valid name for Dolerus cothurnatus auct. Dolerus timidus (Klug, 1818) sp. rev. is distinguished from the similar D. pratensis (Linnaeus, 1758). A neotype is designated for Astatus punctatus Klug, 1803. Lectotypes are designated for 39 nominal species. 29 species group names are new junior synonyms. We present data on some species recently collected for the first time in Finland, including first records for the Palaearctic and West Palaearctic.

DNA sequences accumulating in the International Nucleotide Sequence Databases (INSD) form a rich source of information for taxonomic and ecological meta-analyses. However, these databases include many erroneous entries, and the data itself is poorly annotated with metadata, making it difficult to target and extract entries of interest with any degree of precision. Here we describe the web-based workbench PlutoF, which is designed to bridge the gap between the needs of contemporary research in biology and the existing software resources and databases. Built on a relational database, PlutoF allows remote-access rapid submission, retrieval, and analysis of study, specimen, and sequence data in INSD as well as for private datasets though web-based thin clients. In contrast to INSD, PlutoF supports internationally standardized terminology to allow very specific annotation and linking of interacting specimens and species. The sequence analysis module is optimized for identification and analysis of environmental ITS sequences of fungi, but it can be modified to operate on any genetic marker and group of organisms. The workbench is available at http://plutof.ut.ee.

It has come to our attention that we used the term “scopa” incorrectly throughout our revision of north-west Palaearctic Pristiphora species (Prous et al. 2017, p. 12 et seq.), and in the associated electronic identification key available at figshare (http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5235805). The term is in frequent use for assemblages of stiff hairs, on the legs or abdominal sterna, used for transporting pollen in bees (Huber and Sharkey 1993). Our intention, in sawflies, was to denote an invagination or concavity at the tip of the sawsheath (e.g. Figs 75, 104–107, 111, 115, 121 in Prous et al. 2017) that distinguishes such sawsheaths from unmodified ones (e.g. Figs 98–99 in Prous et al. 2017), or from those having a “carina” (e.g. Figs 66–69 in Prous et al. 2017). The meaning of “scopa” (from Latin “broom”) in the context of Symphyta, consistent with most recent literature, is a paired, latero-posteriorly projecting structure at the tip of the sawsheath (Ross 1937: 76, Smith 1988: 229, 1992: 4). The “scopa” of sawflies sometimes bears a clearly defined setose area, often conspicuous in Diprionidae, termed “scopal pad” by Ross (1955) and Smith (1988). A potential source of further confusion is the use by some authors of “scopa” for the scopal pad alone (e.g. Hara and Shinohara 2015). In future, it might be preferable to restrict the use of the word scopa to the bees, and refer to the respective structures of sawfly sawsheaths as “latero-posterior projections” and “setose fields”.

Recent phylogenetic studies on Nematinae based on DNA sequences have shown extensive incongruencies with current nomenclature of genus-group taxa. Here, we expand previous DNA sequence datasets based on three genes (CoI, Cytb, and EF-1α), to include a fourth (NaK) and more genera. The analyses largely confirm the previous findings, particularly the existence of two well-supported large clades, Euura and Pristiphora , together comprising more than 75% of the species of Nematinae. Basal relationships within these two clades remain poorly resolved, mirroring the difficulties in delimiting genera based on morphology. In addition, a moderately supported small clade, Nematus , is found. The relationships between the Euura , Pristiphora , and Nematus clades are uncertain. Therefore, to stabilize the nomenclature we treat these clades as genera. This taxonomic treatment results in numerous new combinations of species names. The following synonymies are proposed for the available genus-group names. Synonyms of Euura Newman, 1837: Cryptocampus Hartig, 1837, Euura Agassiz, 1848, Pontania Costa, 1852, syn. n., Epitactus Förster, 1854, syn. n., Amauronematus Konow, 1890, syn. n., Holcocneme Konow, 1890, syn. n., Pachynematus Konow, 1890, syn. n., Holcocnema Schulz, 1906, syn. n., Holcocnemis Konow, 1907, syn. n., Pteronidea Rohwer, 1911, syn. n., Pontopristia Malaise, 1921, syn. n., Brachycoluma Strand, 1929, syn. n., Decanematus Malaise, 1931, syn. n., Pikonema Ross, 1937, syn. n., Phyllocolpa Benson, 1960, syn. n., Eitelius Kontuniemi, 1966, syn. n., Gemmura E.L. Smith, 1968, Eupontania Zinovjev, 1985, syn. n., Larinematus Zhelochovtsev, 1988, syn. n., Polynematus Zhelochovtsev, 1988, syn. n., Bacconematus Zhelochovtsev, 1988, syn. n., Alpinematus Lacourt, 1996, syn. n., Epicenematus Lacourt, 1998, syn. n., Kontuniemiana Lacourt, 1998, syn. n., Lindqvistia Lacourt, 1998, syn. n., Luea Wei and Nie, 1998, syn. n., and Tubpontania Vikberg, 2010, syn. n. Synonyms of Nematus Panzer, 1801: Craesus Leach, 1817, Hypolaepus W.F. Kirby, 1882, and Paranematus Zinovjev, 1978. Synonyms of Pristiphora Latreille, 1810: Diphadnus Hartig, 1837, Lygaeonematus Konow, 1890, Micronematus Konow, 1890, Gymnonychus Marlatt, 1896, Neopareophora MacGillivray, 1908, syn. n., Neotomostethus MacGillivray, 1908, Dineuridea Rohwer, 1912, Sala Ross, 1937, Pristola Ross, 1945, syn. n., Nepionema Benson, 1960, syn. n., Melastola Wong, 1968, syn. n., Sharliphora Wong, 1969, Oligonematus Zhelochovtsev, 1988, Lygaeotus Liston, 1993, Lygaeophora Liston, 1993, and Pristicampus Zinovjev, 1993, syn. n. Varna Ross, 1937, syn. n. is treated as a synonym of Dineura Dahlbom 1835. Stauronematus Benson, 1953 is treated as a separate genus from Pristiphora . Names of 20 species-group taxa are junior secondary homonyms when combined with Euura . Replacement names are proposed for these. To facilitate the identification of Nematinae genera, we provide an illustrated key to the 31 extant genera of world Nematinae.