First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae

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  First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae Abstract Flies of the genus Megaselia Rondani, 1856 exhibit exceptional ecological flexibility, with certain species acting as facultative parasites. This study presents the first documented cases of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) infesting captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae, Ceratogyrus darlingi Pocock, 1897 and Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994) in terrarium settings. Our observations demonstrate that M . abdita colonise artificial habitats and exploit spider hosts similarly to Megaselia scalaris . Citation: Szymański, D.M., Szymański, D., Kłonowski, P. (2026). First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae). Dipteron, 42, 25-29. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23137389

The new genus Magnacrus (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Ornithoctoninae) from Vietnam, with notes on Citharognathus hosei Pocock, 1895

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The new genus Magnacrus (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Ornithoctoninae) from Vietnam, with notes on Citharognathus hosei Pocock, 1895

Abstract

A new ornithoctonine genus, Magnacrus gen. nov., is established with two species from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Magnacrus tongmianensis (Zhu, Li & Song, 2002) gen. nov. comb. nov. is transferred from Citharognathus Pocock, 1895, and is redescribed based on the new Vietnamese specimens; its type locality is potentially wrongly recorded, this species likely does not inhabit China. A new species, M. taynguyenensis gen. nov. sp. nov., from Vietnam is described with both sexes. The type species of Citharognathus, C. hosei Pocock, 1895, is redescribed based on the type specimen and new samples from two populations of Sarawak, Borneo. The males of M. tongmianensis gen. nov. comb. nov., and C. hosei are additionally described. Insights into natural history and conservation of all species are included. A distribution map for both Magnacrus species is provided.

Hoang, Q.D., Yu, K., Wendt, I., West, R.C. & Wirth, V.V. (2025) The new genus Magnacrus (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Ornithoctoninae) from Vietnam, with notes on Citharognathus hosei Pocock, 1895. Zootaxa, 5701 (3), 351–381. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5701.3.5