Two new species of Symphylella (Symphyla, Scolopendrellidae) from North China, with an analysis of genetic divergence in Chinese species

Symphylans from Liaoning Province, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Shanxi Province, North China, were investigated and studied for the first time. Two new species of the Symphylella isabellae group, S. hylophila sp. nov . and S. rotundata sp. nov ., are identified and described. Symphylella hylophila sp. nov . is characterized by having blunt ends of the processes, long, subconical styli each with a blunt apex, and the absence of long, erect setae on the cerci. Symphylella rotundata sp. nov . is characterized by having noticeably roundish ends of the tergal processes, short, subconical styli each with a pointed apex, and long, erect setae on the outer and ventral sides of the cerci. These new species are carefully delimited from similar species. Morphological analyses were supported by DNA barcodes, which were used to analyse the genetic divergence of Chinese species of the genus Symphylella .