Siphanta acuta est signalée pour la première fois en France. L’habitus et les genitalia mâles sont illustrés. L’espèce est comparée à Acanalonia conica (Say, 1830), une autre espèce invasive récemment introduite et avec laquelle elle pourrait être confondue. La comparaison des codes-barres ADN des spécimens français à ceux du Portugal, des Açores, d’Australie et d’autres pays met en évidence des erreurs d’identifications concernant les populations de Siphanta invasives à travers le monde. A new exotic insect in mainland France: first record of Torpedo Bug Siphanta acuta (Walker, 1851) and new insights into introduced populations attributed to this species (Hemiptera Flatidae). Siphanta acuta is reported for the first time from France. Habitus and genitalia are illustrated. The species is compared with Acanalonia conica (Say, 1830), another recently introduced invasive species with which it can be confused. A comparison of the DNA barcodes of the French specimens with those from Portugal, the Azores, Australia and other countries, highlights misidentifications of invasive Siphanta populations around the world.

Two specimens of a rare eel of the genus Meadia (Synaphobranchidae, Ilyophinae) were trawled during a survey conducted by the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen off Tanzania in 2023. Detailed examination and comparison with the three known species of the genus revealed that both specimens belong to Meadia roseni Mok, Lee & Chan, 1991, a species previously thought to be restricted to Taiwan and Vietnam. These specimens represent the first record of this species from the Indian Ocean. Species identification is supported by a phylogenetic analysis of the COI barcoding region, which included a specimen of M. roseni from Taiwan. Description of both Tanzanian specimens, based on voucher material, is provided and accompanied by photographs of fresh specimens. Ontogenetic changes associated with growth are also discussed.

A single specimen of Epigonus pectinifer Mayer, a rare deepwater cardinalfish known from scattered localities in the Atlantic Ocean and Indo-West Pacific, was trawled during a survey conducted by the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen off Tanzania, representing a new regional record. Epigonus pectinifer belongs to the E. constanciae species group that is characterized by a pungent opercular spine, and it differs from congeners of the group by the following set of characters: a pair of pointed, mustache-like processes on the anterior part of the maxilla; a tongue bearing a tooth patch; a pair of bumps at the symphysis of the lower jaw; and vertebral count of 10 + 15. The specimen is described, illustrated with a photograph taken in fresh condition, and included, for the first time, in a phylogenetic analysis based on the COI barcoding region.

A new species of grunter, Hapalogenys olivaceus, is described based on two specimens trawled during a survey conducted by the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen from off Tanzania in 2023, representing the first record of the genus from the Western Indian Ocean. Phylogenetic analysis of the COI barcoding region revealed that the species is a member of the H. kishinouyei species complex, the known members of which are characterized by the presence of two to five longitudinal stripes on the body. However, Hapalogenys olivaceus sp. nov. differs from species of this complex by having a uniformly olive-brown head and body and a pale area posterior to the pectoral fins. In addition, the new species can be distinguished from all eight congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays XI,14; pored lateral-lines scales 44– 45; nasal pore followed by a series of distinct pores along the ventral margin of the suborbital; suborbital deeply notched; maxilla scaly; relatively short soft rays in dorsal and anal fins; first pelvic-fin ray filamentous; and black membranes in the posterior portion of the spinous dorsal fin.

The Vestnesa Ridge at 79°N in the Arctic Fram Strait is known for sub-surface methane hydrate reservoirs and numerous gas emitting pockmarks, with associated microbial and faunal communities on its eastern flank. The expedition MSM95 in 2020 found the first evidence of active methane seepage on the north-western flank of the Vestnesa Ridge in water depths of 1200 to 1375 m. Subsequent investigations during the PS136, MSM108 and PS143/1 expeditions with towed camera, Remotely Operated Vehicle and trawl sampling confirmed the MSM95 early indications. Here we report the first faunal assemblage description of the discovered active methane seep field, named Hœnir seep field. In-situ image analyses of the methane seep field and its active and inactive areas showed a regional community comprising 47 megafaunal taxa. The presence of obligate seep-associated faunal taxa, such as the tube-building siboglinid polychaetes and oligochaetes were interpreted as indicative of active methane seepage in the area. The most frequent taxon observed, ophiuroids in the genus Ophiocten Lütken, 1855, occurred in high densities with up to 80 ind. per m2 in inactive areas but was absent from the seafloor closer than a few meters from bacterial mat or tubeworm forests. The fauna seen in the Hœnir seep field shares most faunal elements with seep fields previously studied on the eastern flank of the Vestnesa Ridge and on the nearby Svyatagor Ridge. For taxonomic identifications of fauna associated with the methane seepage, 95 specimens of 43 selected taxa, mostly ophiuroids, polychaetes and amphipods, were COI barcoded.

Quantifying biodiversity is challenging when morphology is conserved in taxa with extensive geographic distributions generated in part by human activities. Shipworms, xylophagous wood-boring clams, have been dispersed throughout the world’s oceans by wooden vessels, aquaculture equipment, and in ballast water. Consequently, many species are considered cosmopolitan, with their geographic origin obscured by their extensive distribution. Several cryptic species pairs possessing different repro- ductive modes are known in the Teredinidae. However, the genetic, ecological, and geographic relationships within these pairs remain unexplored. Members of the Lyro- dus pedicellatus complex, both long- and short-term brooders, are found on coast- lines of five continents. Phylogenetic, anatomical, ecological, and geographic data were collected on shipworms extracted from test panels, fixed submerged natural wood and driftwood, from multiple locations, primarily in the Hawaiian Archipelago, a center of wooden vessel traffic since the 1400s. Phylogenetic analysis, using multiple loci of L. pedicellatus from Hawaiʻi, Europe, the Mediterranean, Japan, Florida (USA), and California (USA), revealed seven genetically distinct cryptic species comprised of short- and long-term brooders. Reproductive mode was determined to be an inherited trait within the species in this study. Herein we discuss these findings and describe a new member of this complex, Lyrodus reginae sp. nov., from Hawaiʻi. Historically, L. pedicellatus was considered a cosmopolitan species. Our integrative approach reveals a more complicated story, indicating the evolution of multiple cryptic species with different reproductive strategies.

A new species of parasitoid wasp, Gnamptodon avigail Pisanty sp. n. (Braconidae: Telengaiinae), is described from northern Israel, its distribution presumably extending south to Saudi Arabia based on genetic barcodes and photographs. The species is associated with Christ’s thorn jujube, Ziziphus spina-christi (l.) Desf. (Rhamnaceae), a drought-tolerant tree, and most likely attacks nepticulid leafmining moths feeding on the tree’s foliage. This is the first species of subfamily Telengaiinae to be reported from the region of the Levant.

A new holothuroid, Psolus comanchei sp. nov., is described from methane seeps on the Koryak slope and non-vent (background) communities of the Piip Volcano in the bathyal western Bering Sea. The new species differs by lacking ossicles in the sole skin and presenting mushroom-cap-shaped ossicles on the test, tentacles and tube feet. Molecular analyses (COI, 16S) confirm P. comanchei sp. nov. is distinct from congeners but closely related to North Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic species (P. eximius, P. chitonoides, P. fabricii, P. peronii and P. phantapus) and an unidentified Psolus sp. from the Emperor Seamount Chain. COI data also confirm its presence in the East Pacific. Our phylogeny challenges the monophyly of Psolus, revealing at least two polyphyletic lineages. The close re- lationships among North Pacific, amphiboreal, and boreal-Arctic species suggest a North Pacific origin for this clade. Although common near seeps, P. comanchei sp. nov. is not obligate to reducing environments.

Three new species for science of Chersodromia Walker are described from the Moroccan Mediterranean coastline (C. kessabae sp. nov., C. moroccensis sp. nov. and C. estuaria sp. nov.), with the first record of Chersodromia oraria Collin, 1966 in Morocco and new distributional data are provided for Chersodromia pseudohirta Chvála, 1970. This study is based on intensive field surveys conducted by the third author along the Mediterranean coastline of Morocco between 2022 and 2024, targeting especially a variety of coastal habitats. Illustrations of the new species are given, along with COI barcodes of all species recorded. A key to the Moroccan Mediterranean species of Chersodromia is also provided.

New Caledonia is a biodiversity hotspot with high levels of micro-endemism, yet its gracillariid fauna remains poorly documented. Here, two new species of Caloptilia Hübner, 1825 (Gracillariidae) are described from Glochidion J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (Phyllanthaceae) host plants in Parc des Grandes Fougères, New Caledonia: Caloptilia augeas Guiguet, Lopez-Vaamonde, van Nieukerken & Ohshima, sp. nov., and Caloptilia ceryneia Guiguet, Lopez-Vaamonde, van Nieukerken & Ohshima, sp. nov. Both species induce leaf galls on Glochidion billardierei Baill., co-occurring on the same host species, sometimes even on the same leaf. They exhibit distinct wing patterns, but very similar male and female genitalia, and DNA barcoding supports their status as separate species. These findings provide evidence for potential within-host sympatric speciation, as documented in other gall-inducing insects. The larval biology of C. augeas and C. ceryneia reveals a unique frass disposal behaviour, whereby waste is excreted through a hole and the aperture is subsequently sealed—an adaptation not previously reported in gall-inducing Lepidoptera. Our findings double the known number of gall-inducing species in Gracillariidae, highlighting that this life history strategy may be more common than currently appreciated. We also provide new information on distribution and host plants of Caloptilia xanthopharella (Meyrick, 1880), a leaf roller found on the same host plant, G. billardierei. These findings mark the first records of the subfamily Gracillariinae in New Caledonia. This study underscores the underexplored diversity of New Caledonian gracillariids and emphasises the conservation value of Parc des Grandes Fougères. Further surveys in the Indo-Pacific region may reveal additional yet undescribed Caloptilia species associated with Phyllanthaceae and help clarify the evolutionary mechanisms underpinning their diversification.