DNA barcoding efforts are useful for fast biodiversity and species identification and delimitation research, relying on one single genetic fragment (usually the ‘barcode’ known as ‘cox1’). We compared the efficacy of two most commonly used genetic fragments (cox1 and 16S) in a genus of spiders with well established morphological species. Our results show that 16S, not cox1, recovers species monophly of the multisampled species and is thus better suited for DNA species identification and delimitation in this group.

This work is a taxonomic study of a new genus and eight new species of plant bugs from Australia. They include new species collected during the Commonwealth Government Bush Blitz program. The species are mostly known from iconic plant genus Acacia, and their phylogenetic relationships are analysed. This work reinforces the notion that much of Australia’s biodiversity remains to be discovered and documented.

Sepsid flies are increasingly important models in comparative research and such research requires well-resolved phylogenetic trees. Here, we demonstrate the taxonomic validity of the European Sepsis nigripes and discuss whether two allopatric populations of Sepsis luteipes should be considered conspecific under different species concepts. We also place these species on the phylogeny of the Sepsidae, thus enabling future research on the evolution, ecology and behaviour of these Holarctic species.