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The present study is a compilation of moss flora of Western Himalayas (India). This compilation listed 745 species of mosses, belonging to 19 orders; 55 families and 230 genera. Out of these 17 species have been reported endemic from Western Himalayas. 196 species have been synonymized and status of 86 species is still doubtful i.e. unresolved name. At present out of 745 only 463 species are validly known from this mountain range of India
In the present study the level of S, Cu, Cr, Cd, Zn, Pb and Cr was estimated in samples of the common thalloid liverwort Plagiochasma rupestre (G. Frost) Stephani, from Ranthambhore National park, Rajasthan (India). High metallic load was observed both in substrate as well as in plant tissue at locations adjacent to higher vehicular load, during winter the metallic content is highest, followed by summer and monsoon season. Elemental concentration in substrate for Plagiochasma rupestre was in the order of Zn> S> Pb> Cu> Cd> Cr, while in plant tissue it showed S> Zn> Pb> Cu> Cd> Cr, which is indicative of air borne trace elemental load. Quantitative analysis of these elements in vegetative thalli of Plagiochasma rupestre and the substrate showed an increase in metallic content during winter, which reveals the significance of this liverwort as a biological sink of mineral elements present in the soil and air and may provide an important tool in estimation of both aerial pollution and mineral enrichment in soil.
The present contribution is an enumerated account of mosses of Munsyari (Pithoragarh), Western Himalayas. The study revealed the presence 8 orders, 20 families, 32 genera and 44 species in the area. Moss species viz. Anoectangium walkeri Broth., Actinothuidium hookeri (Mitt.) Broth. Stereophyllum ligulatum Jaeg., Anomodon minor (Hedw.) Fŭrnr., Hageniells assamica Dixon, Schoenobryum cocavifolia (Griff.) Gang., Entodon luteonitens Ren. et Card. and Physcomitrium pulchellum (Grif.) Mitt. are reported for the first time from Munsiyari hills as well as western Himalayas as welcome additions to the bryoflora of Uttarakhand (Western Himalaya).
Similipal Biosphere Reserve is a part of biotic province of Chhotanagpur Plateau. It has a representative ecosystem under Mahanadian biogeographic region. Its biodiversity is an assemblage representation of Western Ghats and North-East India. Regarding bryophytes this area was rather unexplored and the current investigation shows the occurrence of 33 taxa of bryophytes in this biosphere reserve and its neighboring areas. Each species has been enumerated with its ecological and distributional details.
The present contribution revealed the occurrence of Hypnum plumaeforme Wilson belonging to family Hypnaceae (Bryopsida) for the first time in Munsiyari region of Uttarakhand state, which is a new addition to the bryoflora of Western Himalayas. Earlier this species was known only from eastern Himalayas (Nepal).
Scanning electron microscope analyses of sporoderm of 7 species of 3 genera of Marchantiales are presented in this study. In the studied species, sporoderm exhibit a broad range of morphology and have taxonomic specificity. The structurally rigid sporoderms have specific sculpturing and characteristic patterning. Peculiar architectures are found in different taxa, which revealed that and stable architectures may be present within an order. Sporoderms usually have specific surface markings which are often one of the best parameters to identify any species.
Reproduction in bryophytes is by asexual as well as sexual means. Asexual reproduction is a significant adaptation to special environments and occurs by a large variety of methods. During the last few decades, many of the bryophytes, particularly the dioecious ones are reported to have registered a decline in their fertile populations. There is, therefore, a need to understand the reasons for their disappearance.
Three new species of the genus Helicopsyche von Siebold (Trichoptera: Helicopsychidae), H. botosaneanui, H. verrucaspinosa, and H. inusitata, from Vietnam are described, and 1 new country record, H. pathoumthongi Johanson and Malm, is reported. The male of H. boniata Malicky and Chantaramongkol is redescribed to facilitate comparisons with two of the new species.
This paper presents the first comprehensive list of 2,688 species of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) recorded from Brazil. The list is based on the taxonomic and ecological literature, and new records from some insect collections, and includes locality references for each species. In addition, Brazilian localities and the country-level distribution outside of Brazil are provided for each species. Brazilian localities are organized by state, and include the bibliographic reference and page number where each locality was reported. All localities are geo-referenced, organized by state, and listed in an Appendix.
The present study deals with the investigation of bryophytic flora of Mukteshwar (Uttarakhand). The present account deals with the study of 38 species belonging to 31 genera of 21 families. The mosses are represented by 21 species of 20 genera and 12 families, while Liverworts are represented by 15 species of 10 genera and 8 families. Hornworts consist of 1 genus and 2 species. The dominant families are Aytoniaceae, Marchantiaceae, Thuidiaceae and Pottiaceae. The dominant genera are Plagiochasma, Targionia, Marchantia, Plagiochila, Atrichum, Thuidium and Pogonatum. Macrothamnium stigmatophyllum has been identified as new to western Himalaya, while Thuidium philiberti Limpr. is new to Uttarakhand.
180 species of bark and ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) are known to occur in Texas and Oklahoma. 175 species are known from Texas, 35 of which are reported here for the first time. 78 species are known from Oklahoma, 47 of which are new records for the state. Based on overall distribution patterns the largest group of species found in Texas and virtually all known from Oklahoma are widely distributed in eastern and southeastern North America, reaching their southwestern limits here. In the case of Texas other large elements include Neotropical elements shared with Mexico and a large number found in southwestern North America. New distribution and significant new host records are discussed. Distribution maps are included for most species and a checklist is provided as an appendix.
Two new species of Thomisidae are described (Mecaphesa reddelli sp. nov. and Tmarus galapagosensis sp. nov.). Of a third species, Mecaphesa inclusa (Banks, 1902), three colour variations are described. Tmarus specimens previously listed from the islands have always erroneously been called T. stolzmanni Keyserling, 1880. The Philodromidae are mentioned for the first time for the archipelago and are represented by two new species: Apollophanes fitzroyi sp. nov. and Apollophanes (?) lonesomegeorgei sp. nov.
A taxonomic revision of the cichlid genus Astatoreochromis is presented. Eighteen meristic and 23 morphometric measurements were taken on 185 individuals, including type specimens. While fin counts separate populations from the Lake Victoria region (Astatoreochromis alluaudi) from those of the Rusizi and Malagarazi rivers in the Lake Tanganyika basin (A. vanderhorsti and A. straeleni respectively), clear differentiation was not detected between the latter two. Mann-Whitney U-tests on specimens of comparable size from the two Tanganyika populations revealed significant differences in specimens < 75 mm SL, mainly in pharyngeal jaw proportions, but also in some other measurements on the head and body. However, these differences were not detected in specimens > 75 mm SL and Astatoreochromis vanderhorsti is herein considered a junior synonym of A. straeleni. A redescription of the two valid species of Astatoreochromis, A. alluaudi and A.straeleni, is provided.
A summary is given of the published host plant and descriptive immature stage morphology data for 671 species and 11 subspecies in 54 genera of Australian jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). New host data for 155 species and 3 subspecies in 17 genera including the first published data for 75 species are included.
Based on newly designated type material, four poorly known NE Atlantic cheilostome bryozoan species are redescribed and imaged: Cellaria harmelini d’Hondt from the northern Bay of Biscay, Hippomenella mucronelliformis (Waters) from Madeira, Myriapora bugei d’Hondt from the Azores, and Characodoma strangulatum, occurring from Mauritania to southern Portugal. Moreover, Notoplites saojorgensis sp. nov. from the Azores, formerly reported as Notoplites marsupiatus (Jullien), is newly described. The genus Hippomenella Canu & Bassler is transferred from the lepraliomorph family Escharinidae Tilbrook to the umbonulomorph family Romancheinidae Jullien.
Anomalies in female receptacle of Plagiochasma appendiculatum Lehm. & Lindenb.- A report from J&K.
(2013)
The genus Plagiochasma belonging to the order Marchantiales has been very well worked out with respect to the structure and development of male and female receptacles. In the present paper, the author reports abnormalities in archegoniophores along with the anatomical details of the same. This report from J&K is altogether new.
We revise the species-level taxonomy of the Crematogaster (Crematogaster) degeerispecies-assemblage, a group of related ants occuring in Madagascar and the wider Malagasy region, and further provide an identification key to all species-groups of the genus Crematogaster in this region. Within the C. degeeri-assemblage, we recognize twelve species based upon morphological data from worker, queen and male ants, as well as genetic data from the barcode region of cytochrome oxidase I. Seven new species are described: Crematogaster alafara Blaimer sp. nov., C. bara Blaimer sp. nov., C. mafybe Blaimer sp. nov., C.maina Blaimer sp. nov., C. malahelo Blaimer sp. nov., C. masokely Blaimer sp. nov., C. ramamy Blaimer sp. nov. Crematogaster tricolor Gerstäcker, 1859 (stat. rev.) and C. dentata Dalla Torre, 1893 (stat. nov.) are raised to species level, and the following new synonymies are proposed: Crematogaster degeeri lunaris Santschi, 1928 as a synonym of C. degeeri Forel, 1886; Crematogaster sewelli improba Forel, 1907 and C. sewelli mauritiana Forel, 1907 as synonyms of C. dentata Dalla Torre, 1893, and C. pacifi ca Santschi, 1919 as a synonym of C. lobata Emery, 1895. Species descriptions, images, and distribution maps and identification keys based on worker ants, as well as on queen ants where available, are presented for all twelve species. In addition, we present a molecular gene tree for cytochrome oxidase I and summarize levels of sequence divergence within and between species of the C. degeeri-species-assemblage. Our findings are discussed in the light of previous work on Malagasy Crematogaster ants.
Cteniogaster, a new genus of small ground spiders is described from Kenya and Tanzania. It encompasses seven new species, three of which are known from both sexes: C. toxarchus sp. nov., the type species, C. conviva sp. nov. and C. hexomma sp. nov. Three species are known from females only: C. lampropus sp. nov., C. sangarawe sp. nov. and C. taxorchis sp. nov. and one only from males: C. nana sp. nov. The new genus can be recognised by the presence of a posterior ventral abdominal f eld of strong setae and anterior lateral spinnerets with enlarged piriform gland spigots in males. A cladistic analysis attributes the genus to Liocranidae, Cybaeodinae. The results of the analysis performed do not produce an unequivocal autapomorphy for Liocranidae, but provide a combination of non-homoplasious character changes that offers significant potential for recognising genera as Liocranidae. Moreover, robust apomorphies are determined within Liocranidae for the subfamilies Liocraninae and Cybaeodinae. Based on these fi ndings Toxoniella Warui & Jocqué, 2002 is transferred from Gallieniellidae to Liocranidae, Cybaeodinae. Jacaena Thorell, 1897, Plynnon Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 and Teutamus Thorell, 1890 are transferred to Corinnidae, Phrurolithinae and Montebello Hogg, 1914 to Gnaphosidae. Itatsina Kishida, 1930 is synonymised with Prochora Simon, 1886.
We present a preliminary checklist of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) compiled for St. Eustatius, an island located in the Lesser Antilles of the eastern Caribbean. The list has nine species, including six that have not been previously documented on St. Eustatius. One species is exotic to the Caribbean, one species is found only on St. Eustatius and St. Kitts, and five species occur elsewhere in the Lesser and Greater Antilles. Two of the collected specimens could not be assigned to a species; their geographical distributions are unknown.
Dilatitibialis Duverger (61 species) (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae: Coccidulinae; Hyperaspidini) is discussed, species described, illustrations provided, and a key to all recognized taxa included. Cleothera cognata Mulsant, Cleothera cruciferae Mulsant, Cleothera fuscomaculata Mulsant, Cleothera gaynoni Mulsant, Cleothera glyphica Mulsant, Cleothera jucunda Mulsant, Cleothera luteola Mulsant, Cleothera mulsanti Kirsch, Cleothera oseryi Mulsant, Cleothera poortmanni Mulsant, Cleothera scenica Mulsant, Cleothera semicincta Weise, Cleothera tropicalis Mulsant, Hinda guttipennis Weise, Hyperaspis carolinae Crotch, Hyperaspis ceciliae Crotch, Hyperaspis dilatata Crotch, Hyperaspis florifera Vogel, Hyperaspis gravabilis Brèthes, Hyperaspis hybridula Crotch, Hyperaspis laterinotata Brèthes, Hyperaspis silvani Crotch, and Hyperaspis suzannae Crotch are transferred to Dilatitibialis, becoming new combinations. Lectotypes are designated for D. boliviana, D. cognata, D. florifera, D. fuscomaculata, D. gaynoni, D. glyphica, D. gravabilis, D. guttipennis, D. luteola, D. jucunda, D. mulsanti. D. poortmanni, D. retigera, D. scenica, D. semicincta, and D. staudingeri. A total of 38 new species of Dilatitibialis are described: Dilatitibialis annie, D. carmen, D. cindy, D. connie, D. crystal, D. dawn, D. diana, D. edith, D. edna, D. elaine, D. ellen, D. emily, D. ethel, D. fallax, D. florence, D. gladys, D. grace, D. josephine, D. kim, D. lillian, D. lois, D. marjorie, D. norma, D. paula, D. peggy, D. phyllis, D. rita, D. robin, D. rosa, D. shannon, D. sheila, D. sherry, D. sylvia, D. thelma, D. tiffany, D. tina, D. tracy, and D. wendy. Corrections are made to titles of previous Parts of this series, as follows: South American Coccinellidae, Part XII (Gordon 2007) is changed to Part XIII; South American Coccinellidae, Part XII (Gordon et al. 2013) is changed to Part XIV.
The external morphology of the thorax and abdomen of four species of Neotropical Hesperiidae, belonging to different tribes, are described and illustrated. The morphological characters traditionally used in the classification of the family are reviewed and new information is added with emphasis on the characters usually neglected in the classification and identification of Hesperiidae and Lepidoptera. The use of these characters, along with those commonly used in literature for the identification and taxonomy of the family, is discussed, aiming to contribute to comparative studies of morphology and taxonomy of this group.
The molecular phylogeny of Miliusa (Annonaceae) is reconstructed, with 27 (of ca. 50) species included, using a combination of seven plastid markers (rbcL exon, trnL intron, trnL-F spacer, matK exon, ndhF exon, psbA-trnH spacer, and ycf1 exon) constituting ca. 7 kb. In addition, two new species of Miliusa are described from the Malesian area: M. butonensis sp. nov. from Buton Island, Indonesia and M. viridifl ora sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea. The former is included in the molecular phylogenetic analysis. The reconstructed phylogeny corresponds well to the informal morphological grouping proposed earlier. A revised key to 13 Austro-Malesian species of Miliusa is provided.
An overview of Nepenthes in the Philippines is presented. Four new species, Nepenthes extincta sp. nov., N. kitanglad sp. nov., N. kurata sp. nov. and N. leyte sp. nov. are described and illustrated from the Philippines and placed in the Nepenthes alata group. An updated circumscription and key to the species of the group is provided. Delimitation and comparison with the Regiae group is given. All four of the newly described species are assessed as threatened using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature 2012 standard, and one, N. extincta sp. nov. is considered likely to be already extinct due to open-cast mining. Logging and conversion of forest habitat are thought to be the main threats to the other three species.
Odonata records from Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve and the surrounding area in Johor, Peninsular Malaysia are presented. A total of 44 Odonata species from eight families were collected in the area in October 2012. All of these records are new to Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve. Indothemis carnitica is a new record for Malaysia.
Data are presented for 29 chrysomelid species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) occurring in the Cayman Islands, West Indies, 26 of these not having been reported from these islands previously. Altica occidentalis Suffrian is removed from the genus Lysathia Bechyné and reinstated in Altica Geoffroy. Chaetocnema perplexa Blake is synonymized with Chaetocnema confinis Crotch, new synonymy. Omophoita cyanipennis octomaculata (Crotch) is synonymized with Omophoita cyanipennis (Fabricius), new synonymy. The following nine species are named and described: Apraea luciae, Apraea priscilae, Cryptocephalus catharinae, Cryptocephalus kirki, Cryptocephalus paulotigrinus, Longitarsus alisonae, Megistops adiae, Nyctiplanctus bifasciatus, Syphrea thurstonae, all are new species. Taxonomic notes and a key to species, as well as information on plant associations and extralimital distribution, are also provided.
New Zealand species of Iphimediidae, Amphipoda, are revised. Based on new material from the Chatham Rise, east of New Zealand, two new species are described in detail: Labriphimedia meikae sp. nov. and Labriphimedia martinae sp. nov. A key to the six species belonging to three genera of New Zealand Iphimediidae is provided.
This addendum to “An annotated list of the centipedes (Chilopoda) in The National Collection of Arachnids (Colección Nacional de Arácnidos, CNAN), Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México” (México City), is based on new samples deposited in the last three years. It updates the preliminary list of 197 samples determined to genus and/or species. In this paper a total of 132 samples were added: Scutigeromorpha, 27; and Scolopendromorpha, 105. It also provides new state distribution records for Dendrothereua linceci (Wood, 1867), Scolopendra morsitans Linnaeus, 1758, S. polymorpha Wood, 1861, Rhysida immarginata (Porat, 1876), Scolopocryptops melanostomus Newport, 1845, Newportia spinipes Pocock, 1896, and Ectonocryptoides quadrimeropus Shelley and Mercurio, 2005.
Two new species of Deltosoma Thomson, 1864 are described from French Guiana: D. humeralis sp. nov. and D. fernandezi sp. nov. Deltosoma lacordairei Thomson, 1864 is redescribed based on examination of the holotype. A study of the aedeagi of these three species was conducted. Dorsal habitus photographs of both sexes, ventral photographs of males, and aedeagi photographs are provided.
Barail Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) lies amidst the tropical forests of the state Assam, India between the coordinates 24o58' – 25o5' North latitudes and 92o46' – 92o52' East longitudes. It covers an area of about 326.24 sq. km. with the altitude ranging from 100 – 1850 m. An ongoing study on the group Marchantiophyta (liverworts, bryophyta) of BWS reveals the presence of 42 species belonging to 24 genera and 14 families. Among these, one genus (Conocephalum Hill) and 13 species are recorded as new for the state of Assam, eight species have been found which are endemic to India, seven species are recorded as rare and one species, Heteroscyphus pandei S.C. Srivast. & Abha Srivast. as threatened within the study area. Out of 24 genera identified, 46% have been found growing purely as terrestrials, 25% as purely epiphytes and 29% have been found to grow both as terrestrials as well as epiphytes. Among these, a diverse and interesting range of microhabitats have also been observed for each taxon. It has been found that genera having vast range of microhabitats comprise large percentage of the total liverwort flora of BWS.
Ostracods belonging to the genus Bennelongia differ much in valve morphology between adults and juveniles. Adult valves are asymmetrical, characterised by a beak-like feature in the anteroventral region of the left valve, and, with some notable exceptions, mostly have smooth or weaklyornamented valves. Juvenile specimens, on the other hand, have valves that are almost symmetrical, with no beak-like feature and are often heavily ornamented. We have examined the last 3 - 4 juvenile stages of 6 Bennelongia species from 5 different lineages, in order to decipher the types of external valve ornamentation and their recurrences during ontogeny and across lineages. It is clear that ornamentation is more prevalent at the early instar stages compared to the last 2 pre-adult stages, and especially when compared to the adult stage itself. We also examined the surprising presence of a calcified inner lamella with a prominent inner list in the pre-adult stages of Bennelongia species, that is usually absent in juveniles of other ostracods, thus questioning if heterochronic processes have provided an intermediate valve morphology between the simple (normal) cypridinid juvenile state and the heavily derived and modifi ed state of adult Bennelongia. We discuss the possible (speculative) functionality of the ornamentation in juveniles.
The new species Cephalocyclus majomaensis and Oscarinus cabreroi from Mexico are described and figured. While studying specimens from Mexico to complete a systematic revision of the Aphodiinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of that region, we found a couple of species new to science. They belong to the genera Cephalocyclus Dellacasa, Gordon and Dellacasa, 1998 and Oscarinus Gordon and Skelley, 2007, and are described here.
The species richness of the frugivorous fruit fly fauna of western African (in particular of Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria) is discussed. The diversity is compared at a national level and between the ecoregions within the national boundaries of the study area. A new species, Dacus goergeni sp. nov. is described and additional taxonomic notes are presented.
A boat dug out of a Alnus (alder) trunk about 4,000 years ago had the space between the transom (stern) board and the slot cut in the hull caulked with mosses principally a mass of Anomodon viticulosus but there were thirteen other mosses and one liverwort. The mosses allow the tentative deduction that the boat may not have been caulked at Degersee or, if caulked there, the mosses had been gathered elsewhere in the vicinity and brought to the boat.
Records of Odonata from Kuching and Samarahan, the western administrative divisions of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo, are presented. Forty-two species are listed from Bako National Park, and eighty-nine species are listed from various other locations. Notable records, not yet publishedin detail elsewhere, include Aciagrion ?fasiculare, Bornargiolestes species, Pericnemis species cf triangularis, Coeliccia new species and Tetrathemis flavescens.
Records of Odonata from Kubah National Park, near Kuching in west Sarawak, are presented. Eighty-five species are known from the national park. Notable records include Drepanosticta drusilla, Rhinocypha species cf spinifer, Bornagriolestes species, Anaciaeschna species and Macromidia genialis erratica.
Type material of the species of Alloxysta described by Cameron and Fergusson and deposited in the Natural History Museum of London has been revised. Seven species are considered valid: Alloxysta abdera Fergusson, 1986, A. basimacula (Cameron, 1886), A. crassa (Cameron, 1889), A. mullensis (Cameron, 1883), A. piceomaculata (Cameron, 1883), A. pleuralis (Cameron, 1879) and A. semiaperta Fergusson, 1986. A. basimacula, A. crassa, A. maculicollis (Cameron, 1886), A. perplexa (Cameron, 1889) and A. piceomaculata are here removed from synonymy with A. macrophadna (Hartig, 1841). A. rufi ceps (Cameron, 1883) is removed from synonymy with A. victrix (Westwood, 1833). A. caledonica (Cameron, 1886) and A. perplexa are here synonymized with A. basimacula. A. maculicollis, A. ruficeps and A. ruficollis (Cameron, 1883) are here synonymized with A. castanea (Hartig, 1841). A. ancylocera (Cameron, 1886) was correctly synonymized with A. fuscicornis (Hartig, 1841), A. curvicornis (Cameron, 1883) was correctly synonymized with A. victrix and A. filicornis (Cameron, 1889) was correctly synonymized with A. macrophadna. Complete redescriptions and illustrations are given for valid species. A key for all the Alloxysta species found so far in Great Britain is given.
Thalloid liverworts with unistratose thallus margins are easily determined as Aneura maxima, which shall be identified by this character. However, forms of Pellia epiphylla and P. endiviifolia grown under humid conditions can have an unistratose undulate thallus margin and thus confused with the latter. Pellia species can, however, be distinguished from Aneura by the presence of slime hairs vz. slime papillae, which are described and illustrated here.
Hot spots are characterized by the occurrence of „hot“ species, rare, endangered, phytogeographically (for example highly disjunct) or ecologically interesting species (for example heavy metal species). The Apuanian Alps (ital. Alpi Apuani) are a place of extraordinary botanical and also bryological interest. Although situated far from the west coast of Europe, many atlantic species are found there, which have isolated occurrences and show up next in Asturias, Macaronesia. Ireland or Scotland. Representative of the oceanic element in the bryoflora are Dumortiera hirsuta, Lejeunea lamacerina, Lophocolea fragrans, Plagiochila exigua, P. bifaria, Saccogyna viticulosa, Harpalejeunea ovata and Marchesinia mackaii, supplemented by ferns such as Trichomanes speciosum and Hymenophyllum tunbrigense (Cortini-Pedrotti et al. 1992). Reasons for the presence of such species in Italy are the extraordinary climatic conditions. Situated directly along the Meditrerranean Sea, the climate is mild and due to depressions in the gulf of Genova, the rain is caught by the mountains resulting in a high precipitation of about 1400 at the foot of the region and more than 3000 mm in the summit region. This does, however, not explain whether these species are relics from the Tertiary or dispersed from the W-coast of Europe after the Pleistocene glaciations.
The location of Ticino in the southern Alps with an altitudinal range from 200 to more than 3000 m generates a high biodiversity of bryophytes, however, in addition, a mixture of mediterranean elements (caused by mild temperatures), atlantic elements (caused by high precipitation) and especially insubrian elements (confined to the Southern Alps) has attracted many famous bryologists over the past 150 years and make this region to a real bryological hot spot. Six of the 7 insubrian species are mainly distributed in North America. Their presence in the Southern Alps is correlated with a certain geological formation and their origin is not clear.
Dicranodontium didymodon, a species described from the Himalaya was recently reported from Spain. It has been distinguished from D. denudatum by a smooth subula. A reexamination of the type of this species revealed no additional characters which would support the recognition of a separate species. Therefore D. didymodon is synonymised with D. denudatum. The specimen from Spain is referred to D. denudatum var. glabrum, which differs from D. didymodon by larger stature and lack of brood leaves.
Fontinalis antipyretica var. mollis is recorded for Spain, which differs by orbicular, not keeled leaves. The presence in the same tufts together with var. antiypretica reveals that it is a somatic mutant of the latter. A form of Pellia epiphylla was observed which has wide thallus margins of unistratose cells resembling those of Aneura maxima. A Campylopus was collected resembling C. flexuosus but with ventral stereids in transverse section of the costa. It is described as C. flexuosus var. anomalus. An (unsuccessful) attempt has been made to find the locality in which P. Allorge found Campylopus setifolius for the only time in the Iberian Peninsula. The bryophilous fungus Octosporella jungermanniarum is reported as new to Spain. Dicranodontium didymodon, known before from the Himalaya and western China, is reported as new to Europe.
During the past years, Fontinalis specimens with round, concave leaves were collected in Germany and Spain, which were named as F. antipyretica var. mollis. A comparison with the type of F. mollis revealed that they are not identical and accordingly are described as new variety, F. antiypretica var. rotundifolia.
In the past, many bryophyte species were regarded as endemic to the Alps. Herzog listed more than 70 examples. Many of them are micro-endemisms or merely alpine forms of other species (Leptodontium styriacum) and not of taxanomic value, or considered as relics from the last interglacial period, although the Alps were covered by glaciers during the last ice age, which made a survival almost impossible, especially for forest species and epiphytes. Several of these species turned out to occur as well in Asia (Distichophyllum carinatum) or were described from there under a different name (Tayloria rudolphiana as T. delavayi). So far, one important species, Brotherella lorentziana, remained unsolved. A recent study revealed that this species is present in Asia, where it is known as B. henonii. At the present state of knowledge, five species namely Herbertus sendtneri, Riccia breidleri, Barbula bicolor, Marsupella ramosa and Trochobryum carniolicum must still be considered as endemic.
The identity of Braunia alopecura (Brid.) Limpr. with Braunia secunda (Hook.) Bruch & Schimp.
(2013)
Braunia alopecura, originally regarded as species endemic to the Southern Alps, later known in addition from the the Cape Verde Islands and recently reported from the Indohimalaya, has revealed to be identical with the neotropical Braunia secunda. This is another case of an American species in the Southern Alps and in Europe in general, as well as an example of possible long distance dispersal.
Eight specimens of bryophytes from Baltic amber are described and illustrated, five mosses and three hepatics. The genus Grimmia as well as Brothera leana are reported for the first time as fossils. The mosses Ctenidium capillifolium, Atrichum groehnii and Hypnodontopsis fossilis as well as the hepatics Cylindrocolea dimorpha and Scapania hoffeinsiana are reported repeatedly. The hepatic Spruceanthus polonicus is recorded the second time and photographs are presented for the first time. In addition, a haplolepideous moss capsule as well as a unknown apparently pleurocarpous moss are illustrated.
A two week trip to Costa Rica was conducted between 26 May and 8 June 2013, sampling odonates in several provinces along the center to the pacific southern portionof the country. A total of 86 species in 34 genera were found, including 16 species of the genus Argia. Lists of all species by locality, photographs of live specimens, and illustrations and notes of described species of Argiaare presented to facilitate identification to other collectors.
We report the rediscovery of the Pied Butterfl y Bat, Glauconycteris superba Hayman, 1939, 40 years after this species was last recorded. The new specimen from Mbiye Island, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is compared with the type specimens of G. s. superba and G. superba sheila Hayman, 1947 and a specimen from Matonguiné, Ivory Coast. The variation in the striking colouration of the pelage as well as in morphometric data is considered to be individual rather than geographic variation and we tentatively regard G. s. sheila as a synonym of the nominate form. Despite the wide distribution of this species in the tropical forest zone of West and Central Africa, only four specimens from four localities are known to date, which might indicate very specific habitat preferences. Contemporary land cover information around historic collection sites shows degraded landscapes. Given the highly uncertain area of occupancy of this species, we suggest changing the status of G. superba in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species from “Least Concern” to “Data Defi cient”.
The species of the Eastern Mediterranean genus Dichorrhinus Desbrochers, 1875 are reviewed. D. geiseri sp. nov. is described from Samos Island (Greece) and Western Turkey, and D. alziari sp. nov. is described from Cyprus. Dichorrhinus korbi Schilsky, 1911 is redescribed. An illustrated key to the species of Dichorrhinus is provided, and new records are presented.
Chromosomes of four rare and localized Caribbean Prioninae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) species were analysed. All have 26, XY karyotypes. Those of Solenoptera canaliculata (Solenopterini) from Guadeloupe nearby islands Les Saintes and Marie-Galante and S. quadrilineata from Martinique look similar. They have a single pair of sub-metacentric autosomes. The karyotype of S. touroulti from St. Lucia has three sub-metacentric pairs. It appears closer to that of Hovorodon maxillosum (Mallodontini) from Marie-Galante which has ten sub-metacentric pairs. The CO1 gene sequence, taking two European species Aegosoma scabricorne (Prioninae: Aegosomatini) and Ergates faber (Prioninae: Ergatini) as external groups was analysed in S. canaliculata and S. quadrilineata. In spite of their karyotype similarity, their CO1 genes differ by a strong accumulation of mutations. Thus, either chromosomal or genetic data confirm the species status of the three closely related Solenoptera species. Ten different CO1 haplotypes are found among the 21 specimens of S. canaliculata studied from les Saintes and Marie-Galante. Both different haplotypes were found in each island and identical haplotypes were found in different islands. Hence, the gene flow was not interrupted. Biogeographical parameters favor the hypothesis that repeated passages between islands were made possible by floating trunks, principally from Les Saintes to Marie-Galante.
The larvae and pupae of two species of Tabanidae (Diptera), Chrysops beameri Brennan and Hybomitra trispila (Wiedemann), are described and illustrated, and their similarities and differences relative to similar species are discussed. Comments are also provided on the larval habitats and the other species of immature Tabanidae associated with larvae of each species.
Genera of Brachiacanthini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Hyperaspidinae) are discussed and a key to all recognized genera provided. Cyrea, new genus, is proposed, and Serratitibia, new genus, is erected and revised, Cleothera Mulsant and Hinda Mulsant are recognized as valid genera and revised. Helesius caseyi Sicard is transferred to Hinda and recognized as a synonym of Hinda designata Mulsant, new synonymy. Brachiacantha brethesi (Korschefsky), Cleothera abendrothi Kirsch, Cleothera ambigua Mulsant, Cleothera bisquatuorpustulata Mulsant, Cleothera decemsignata Mulsant, Cleothera gaillardi Mulsant, Cleothera humerata Mulsant, Cleothera tortuosa Mulsant, Cleothera traili Brèthes, Cleothera uncinata Mulsant, Hinda joeli Almeida and Milléo, Hinda modesta Weise, Hinda regularis Kirsch, Hyperaspis aliciae Crotch, and Hyperaspis fraudulenta Kirsch are transferred to Serratitibia, becoming new combinations. One new species of Hinda, H. ecuadorica, is described. A total of 73 new species of Serratitibia are described: Serratitibia amanda, S. andrea, S. angela, S. anna, S. ashley, S. barbara, S. barclayi, S. betty, S. beverly, S. bonnie, S. brenda, S. cheryl, S. christine, S. cynthia, S. debra, S. denise, S. donna, S. doris, S. elizabeth, S. evelyn, S. frances, S. gloria, S. heather, S. helen, S. irene, S. jacqueline, S. janet, S. janice, S. jean, S. jennifer, S. joan, S. joyce, S. judith, S. judy, S. julie, S. karen, S. katherine, S. kathleen, S. kathy, S. kelly, S. kimberly, S. laura, S. linda, S. lisa, S. loreto, S. lori, S. louise, S. margaret, S. marilyn, S. mary, S. martha, S. melissa, S. michelle, S. mildred, S. nancy, S. nicole, S. pamela, S. paprzycki, S. patricia, S. quincemil, S. rachel, S. rebecca, S. rose, S. ruby, S. ruth, S. sarah, S. satipoensis, S. shirley, S. stephanie, S. susan, S. tammy, S. teresa, and S. virginia. Lectotypes are here designated for Serratitibia lividipes, S. gaillardi, S. decemsignata, S. abendrothi, and S. ambigua.
A new status (as subgenera of Diostracus Loew, 1861) for Sphyrotarsus Mik, 1874, Lagodechia Negrobov & Tsurikov, 1996 and Ozmena Özdikmen, 2010 stat. nov. is proposed. A new species, Diostracus (Sphyrotarsus) kustovi sp. nov., is described from the Russian Caucasus. The following recombinations (comb. nov.) are also proposed: Diostracus (Sphyrotarsus) argyrostomus (Mik, 1874); D. (S.) caucasicus (Negrobov, 1965); D. (S.) hervebazini (Parent, 1914); D. (S.) hessei (Parent, 1914); D. (S.) hygrophilus (Becker, 1891); D. (S.) leucostomus (Loew, 1861); D. (S.) parenti (Hesse, 1933); D. (Lagodechia) spinulifer Negrobov & Tsurikov, 1988; and D. (Ozmena) stackelbergi (Negrobov, 1965). A key to ten Diostracus species inhabiting the West Palaearctic Region is provided.
We provide new records of biting and predaceous midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Guadeloupe in the subfamily Ceratopogoninae, including descriptions and illustrations of three new predaceous species in the genera, Parabezzia Malloch, Stilobezzia Kieffer and Palpomyia Meigen, respectively, and the first records of the New World predaceous genus, Amerohelea Grogan and Wirth, from the Caribbean region. We also provide the first Guadeloupe records of the biting midges, Culicoides (Anilomyia) decor (Williston), C. (Avaritia) pusillus Lutz, C. (Drymodesmyia) bredini Wirth and Blanton, C. (D.) poikilonotus Macfie, C. (Haematomyidium) hoffmani Fox, C. (Hoffmania) insignis Lutz, C. rangeli Ortiz and Mirsa and C. trilineatus Fox, and the predaceous midges, Brachypogon (Brachypogon) bifidus Spinelli and Grogan, B. (B.) telesfordi Spinelli and Grogan, B. (B.) woodruffi Spinelli and Grogan, Monohelea maya Felippe-Bauer, Huerta and Ibáñez-Bernal, Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) diminuta Lane and Forattini, S. (S.) thomsenae Wirth, Amerohelea galindoi Grogan and Wirth, Bezzia (Bezzia) flinti Spinelli and Wirth, B. (Homobezzia) venustula (Williston) and Palpomyia insularis Spinelli and Grogan.
Five species of the aphid genus Sipha Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are reported in North America and are reviewed herein. Of these species, three are adventive species and include: Sipha elegans del Guercio, Sipha glyceriae (Kaltenbach), and Sipha maydis Passerini. Sipha maydis was discovered in California in 2007 and now has been found in Georgia. The genus also includes two native species: Sipha agropyronensis (Gillette) and Sipha flava (Forbes). Sipha maydis can be distinguished easily from all the other species in the genus that occur in North America because it is black. All the species except S. agropyronensis have been implicated in damage to crop plants. A key to the apterae and alatae of Sipha found in North America is included.
The two species of Sufetula Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) occurring in Florida are reviewed based on adult specimens. Sufetula carbonalis n. sp. is described, Sufetula diminutalis (Walker) is diagnosed, and they are differentiated from related Caribbean species and similar sympatric Crambidae. Both are occasional root pests of ornamental palms. Unusual structural characters suggest that Sufetula is misclassified in Spilomelinae.
This paper summarizes current knowledge about West African pholcids. West Africa is here defined as the area south of 17°N and west of 5°E, including mainly the Upper Guinean subregion of the Guineo-Congolian center of endemism. This includes all of Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Benin. An annotated list of the 14 genera and 38 species recorded from this area is given, together with distribution maps and an identification key to genera. Five species are newly described: Anansus atewa sp. nov., Artema bunkpurugu sp. nov., Leptopholcus kintampo sp. nov., Spermophora akwamu sp. nov., and S. ziama sp. nov. The female of Quamtana kitahurira is newly described. Additional new records are given for 16 previously described species, including 33 new country records. Distribution patterns of West African pholcids are discussed, as well as possible explanations for relatively low West African pholcid species diversity as compared to Central and East Africa.
A new species, Memecylon pseudomegacarpum (Melastomataceae), is described from southern Peninsular Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. This taxon was previously known under the misapplied name M. megacarpum, which is now considered endemic to Borneo. Memecylon pseudomegacarpum sp. nov. differs from M. megacarpum in having smaller leaves (8–)10.5–17(–22.5) cm rather than (10–)17–28(–35) cm long, with an elliptic lamina (not lanceolate) with a raised mid-rib (not sunken) and a marginal vein which is 2–4 mm from the margin (not 5–12 mm). Both species have similar flowers and share large (c. 15 mm diameter) globose fruits.
Cyrioctea (Araneae, Zodariidae) in Africa: temperate Gondwanaland relict, recent radiation, or both?
(2013)
Two new species of the zodariid genus Cyrioctea Simon, 1889 are described: C. sawadee sp. nov. and C. lotzi sp. nov., both only known from males. The genus now contains seven Afrotropical species and this abundance is discussed in the context of its basal situation in the family and its apparent temperate Gondwanaland distribution, which implies a much greater age of the Zodariidae than presently accepted. Unlike most taxa with a temperate Gondwana distribution, Cyrioctea boasts a high number of species with small distribution areas. This points in the direction of a recent radiation initiated after a long period of stasis.
Retournement or turning of the aedeagus about its longitudinal axis through about 180o during development is known in Chrysomeloidea (Coleoptera). This change in the orientation of the organ may be observed during the postembryonic development. This change produces certain morphological effects. By observing these morphological features in the imago the retournement may be inferred. Such morphological features in Curculionidae (Coleoptera) are here recorded. From this it has been inferred not only that retournement of the aedeagus is included in the ontogeny of curculionids, but also that the change of orientation of the organ occurs by the same mechanism as in Chrysomeloidea. These inferences attest the notion of a close phyletic relationship between the superfamilies Curculionoidea and Chrysomeloidea.
Two new colourful species of direct-developing frogs of the genus Pristimantis are described from the summit of two isolated tepuis (sandstone table mountains) in the Eastern Pantepui District of the Guiana Shield highlands. Pristimantis jamescameroni sp. nov. is described from the summit of Aprada-tepui from 2557-2571 m elevation, and P. imthurni sp. nov. is described from the summit of Ptaritepui at 2471 m elevation. Both species share the absence of a differentiated tympanic membrane and external tympanic annulus (but presence of tiny pharyngeal ostia), the presence of nuptial pads in males, and the presence of lateral fringes on fingers and toes, a combination of characters that immediately distinguishes them from all other known Pantepui congeners. The two new species are morphologically similar to each other and are phylogenetically closely related, but they can be distinguished based on colour pattern and morphological characters such as head proportions, dorsal skin texture, and condition of the supratympanic fold. The IUCN conservation status of the new species is considered as Endangered (EN) owing to their apparent very restricted ranges. The number of described Pristimantis species occurring exclusively on tepui (and faunistically related granitic mountains) summits and upper slopes now reaches eleven.
The first reports of the multicolored Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Colombia appeared in 2011. However, based on museum insect specimens, the introduction of H. axyridis in Colombia occurred in 1989 or earlier, making it the second oldest record of the species in South America after the deliberate releases of the species in Argentina in 1986. Currently in Colombia, H. axyridis is well established and is here recorded from the States of Antioquia, Caldas, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Nariño, Tolima and Valle del Cauca.
After our taxonomic revision of Ootheca Chevrolat, 1837, and the description of Oothecoides Kortenhaus & Wagner, 2011 and Ootibia Kortenhaus & Wagner, 2012, it became clear that a further four galerucine species, closely related to the above named taxa, form a distinct monophyletic group, that constitutes a new genus, Oosagitta gen. nov. with O. anningae sp. nov., O. geescheae sp. nov., O. melanopicta sp. nov. and O. thomasi sp. nov.. Exosoma angolensis Laboissière, 1939, the type species of the new genus, and Ergana minuta Laboissière, 1937 are newly transferred to Oosagitta gen. nov. All species of Oosagitta gen. nov. are characterized by a broad body and pronotum, a more or less convex dorsum and short legs, and as such are most similar to the other above named genera. The antennae of Oosagitta gen. nov. are distinctly longer than those of Ootheca, Oothecoides and Ootibia. Genital structures of the males allow a reliable identifi cation of the genus. (Re-) descriptions are given for all species, including semi-schematic illustrations depicting the habitus outline, shape of the basal antennomeres and the median lobe. Photographs of the name-bearing types and distribution maps are provided.
A survey of Odonata in North Ethiopia, on the route Debre Libanos – Bahir Dar – Woldia – Hayk – Mile – Awash – Debre Zeyit crossing the provinces of Oromia, Amhara and Afar, in July 29 - August 10, 2012 yielded 38 species, including two endemics of Ethiopia and five species not hitherto reliably reported for this country in the literature: Pseudagrion commoniae (Forster, 1902), P. hamoni Fraser, 1955, P. salisburyense Ris, 1921, Bradinopyga strachani (Kirby, 1900) and Ictinogomphus ferox (Rambur, 1842). The number of Odonata species recorded in Ethiopia thus reached 104. Seventeen main localities were visited, on average showing 4.9 species per locality. A small branch of Jara River, Amhara, was the richest one (15 species). Comments on specimens of Pseudagrion spernatum Selys, 1881 and Nesciothemis farinosa (Forster, 1898) and notes on the country in general and particular habitats of Odonata are provided.
The late Katian, Late Ordovician Boda Limestone of Dalarna, Sweden contains a rich cephalopod assemblage. The assemblage consists of 61 species, in 31 genera, comprising almost all major Ordovician cephalopod orders. Most common and diverse are the Orthocerida. The Ascocerida are also remarkably common and diverse. The new ascocerid species, Redpathoceras bullatum sp. nov., R. depressum sp. nov., R. magnum sp. nov., and Probillingsites scandinavicum sp. nov., give reason to revise current hypotheses on the origin and evolution of this group. An ascocerid origin from barrandeoceratids or aspidoceratids is hypothesised. The absence of actinocerids in the Boda Limestone is notable, and is interpreted as an indication of relatively cool and/or deep depositional environments. The dominance of orthocerids is provisionally interpreted as evidence for nutrient-rich waters during the time of the deposition of the Boda Limestone. Additionally, the assemblage contains the new barrandeocerids Schuchertoceras fryi sp. nov., Siljanoceras varians gen. et sp. nov., Warburgoceras gen. nov. (for Cyrtoceras longitudinale Angelin in Angelin & Lindström, 1880), the new endocerid Cameroceras turrisoides sp. nov., the new oncocerid Cyrtorizoceras thorslundi sp. nov., and the new orthocerids Dawsonoceras stumburi sp. nov., Isorthoceras angelini sp. nov., I. curvilineatum sp. nov., Nathorstoceras adnatum gen. et sp. nov., N. kallholnense gen. et sp. nov., Palaeodawsonocerina? nicolletoides sp. nov., Pleurorthoceras osmundsbergense sp. nov., and Striatocycloceras isbergi sp. nov.
For the first time in Brazil, the weevil Cissoanthonomus tuberculipennis Hustache, 1939 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are reported preying on seeds of Cardiospermum grandiflorum Swartz (Sapindaceae). Observations are presented on oviposition and larval behavior, pupation site, and adult emergence. Photos of host plant, egg, larva, pupa and adult are provided.
By organizing the approach to religion historically, we trace the evolution, diffusion, and genealogies of ideas and themes and how those ideas have been inspired or configured by the events of times and human agency in looking at selected texts, actors, and themes. In other words, we inquire into the articulated problem of existence, its solutions, techniques and examples on a case-to-case basis contextualizing specific texts, actors and themes by relating them to time, space and situations.
A new genus of the millipede tribe Brachyiulini (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae) from the Aegean region
(2013)
A new genus of the julid tribe Brachyiulini, Enghophyllum gen. nov., is described, comprising two species from Greece. The type-species, E. naxium (Verhoeff, 1901) comb. nov. (ex Megaphyllum Verhoeff, 1894), appears to be rather widespread in the Aegean: it is known from Antiparos Island and Naxos Island (the type locality), both in the Cyclades, as well as East Mavri Islet, Dodecanese Archipelago (new record). The vulva of E. naxium is described for the first time. In addition, E. sifnium gen. et sp. nov. is described based on a single adult male from Sifnos Island, Cyclades. The new genus is distinct from other genera of the Brachyiulini mainly by its peculiar gonopod structure, apparently disjunct and at least mostly apomorphous: (1) promeres broad, shield-like, in situ protruding mostly posteriad, completely covering the opisthomeres and gonopodal sinus; (2) transverse muscles and coxal apodemes of promere fully reduced; (3) opisthomere with three differentiated processes, i.e., lateral, basal posterior and apical posterior; (4) solenomere rather simple, tubular. The evolution and biogeography of the new genus are briefly discussed, both suggesting its profoundly long isolation in the Aegean region from the contribal genera in the adjacent Balkans and Anatolia.
We present new southeastern United States distributional records for Stictoleptura canadensis (Olivier, 1795), Leptura subhamata Randall, 1838 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lepturinae), and Heterosternuta cocheconis (Fall, 1917) (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae) which extend the southernmost limits of the known distributions for these species. We present new state records for these species.
The six species of Siricidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) occurring in Florida and one species of regulatory concern introduced to North America are reviewed. Included are diagnoses of Eriotremex formosanus (Matsumura), Sirex areolatus (Cresson), Sirex nigricornis Fabricius, Tremex columba (Linnaeus), Urocerus cressoni Norton, Urocerus taxodii (Ashmead) and Sirex noctilio (Fabricius). A key to species, photographs of morphological features, biological notes and distribution data are provided. For the species T. columba, S. nigricornis, U. taxodii, and U. cressoni, a total of eight new state records are presented.
Two new genera and five new species of Selachinematidae are described from the New Zealand upper continental slope (350-1240 m depth). Synonchiella rotundicauda sp. nov. is characterised by cephalic setae 0.25 cbd long, mandibles each with two pairs of hooks and two wing-like projections laterally, eight cup-shaped pre-cloacal supplements and short rounded tail. Pseudocheironchus gen. nov. is similar to Cheironchus, but differs from the latter in having a cuticle without lateral differentiation, cephalic setae only slightly longer than the outer labial sensillae, and a posterior buccal cavity with three equal mandibles. Pseudocheironchus ingluviosus gen. et sp. nov. is characterised by mandibles with eight blunt teeth, multispiral amphideal fovea with five turns, and a short rounded tail. Males of this new species with 17-19 cup-shaped pre-cloacal supplements. Males of the genus Cobbionema are described for the first time; C. trigamma sp. nov. is characterised by four long cephalic setae and six smaller outer labial setae in one circle, six rhabdions surrounding the anterior buccal cavity, each with two pairs of pointed projections at their posterior extremities, posterior buccal cavity widening posteriorly, with three pairs of rhabdions fused posteriorly and widening anteriorly, males with two testes pointing anteriorly and with reflexed posterior testis, and no pre-cloacal supplements. Gammanema agglutinans sp. nov. is characterised by a short, stout body often covered in adhering mucus and detritus, cuticle with minute spines, leaf-shaped somatic setae with ducts, sexual dimorphism in the shape of the amphideal fovea (loop-shaped in males and spiral in females), posterior buccal cavity with three pairs of broad, column-shaped rhabdions fused anteriorly, intestine cells with orange-brown granules, and small tubular pre-cloacal supplements. Bendiella gen. nov. is most similar to Halichoanolaimus, but differs from the latter, and all other genera of the family Selachinematidae, in having a cuticle with lateral differentiation consisting of longitudinal rows of larger dots, and from all other genera of the Choniolaiminae in lacking pre-cloacal supplements. Bendiella thalassa gen. et sp. nov. is characterised by amphideal fovea with 5.25 turns, anterior buccal cavity with twelve rhabdions, each with a pair of pointed projections at posterior extremity, posterior buccal cavity with three Y-shaped pairs of slender rhabdions fused from two thirds of distance from anterior ends, and conico-cylindrical tail.
Two new species of the family Trefusiidae, viz., Trefusia piperata sp. nov. and Trefusialaimus idrisi sp. nov., are described from the crest of the Chatham Rise, Southwest Pacific Ocean (350 m water depth). The present study provides the first species records for this family in the region. Trefusia and Trefusialaimus comprise twenty and three valid species, respectively. A key to males of Trefusia is provided.
The family Geocalycaceae are one of the largest families of leafy liverworts in India consisting of 9 genera and 27 species belongs to two subfamilies. Present study reports the distribution of members of this family in Kerala state. In Kerala the family Geocalycaceae are represented by 11 species belonging to three genera viz., Heteroscyphus (6 species), Chiloscyphus (3 species) and Lophocolea (2 species). Among these Chiloscyphus muricatus and Heteroscyphus bescherellei are new record of occurrence for the state of Kerala.
New data on the Odonata fauna of the Kingdom of Tonga is provided following re-search carried out on Tongatapu and 'Eua islands in July 2012. New localities for Tongatapu Island are put on record and previous studies are compared with new pheno-logical data from a period during which field surveys are rarely conducted on Pacific islands. Although Odonata have been collected before from 'Eua Island, the data presented here is the first published so far.
'Eua Island is assessed as a very important venue for further research on Odonata. Overall the Kingdom of Tonga is very depauperate in water resources with lotic biotopes very restricted in area and found on 'Eua Island, and possibly on Tofua and Late islands, which are both volcanic. This study on the Odonata of 'Eua resulted in records of eighttaxa, including with Teinobasis sp. nov., which will be described elsewhere.
Morphological variation in Pseudagrion microcephalum stainbergerorumand Trameatransmarinaare discussed in the context of their subspecific affiliation. Diagnostic features for easier differentiation are proposed for the first of these taxa; the validation of commonly used diagnostic traits is discussed for the second.
Odonata records of the Samoan Archipelago are updated and an updated checklist provided. It is part of an ongoing assessment of the fauna, taxonomy and distributionof the Pacific island dragonflies. The checklist follows recent reviews published/prepared about the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji and Kingdom of Tonga.
This study draws on recent dragonfly records following general insect surveys spanning 2008-2012 funded by Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) via Conserva-tion International (CI) to the authors and to Secretariat Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) and also by funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Other unpublished data from Samoan Archipelago and Niue are included as well. All, but one, of the newly collected Odonata species are widespread within the Pacific region. Hemicordulia cupricoloris the only species from the recent collections which is endemic to Samoa, previously reported for Savai'i and Upolu Islands. It has neverbeen confirmed since its original description in 1927. The new study shows the species as an inhabitant of high altitude zones of Savai'i. It is recommended inland areas of Savai'i and other islands within the Samoan Archipelago should be targeted in further field studies.
Odonata fauna of the Solomon Islands (considered in its political rather than geographical borders) is revised following a recent collecting trip to Guadalcanal Island in April 2012. Some important taxonomic considerations are discussed and a complete literature review is provided for the country with an updated checklist of 64 species that is in accordance with the latest taxonomic studies on the group from that part of the world. The collection reported here was carried out on two and a half effective field days and resulted in a total of 30 taxa. Two of them (Agyrtacantha browni and Gynacantha amphora) are new to science and already described elsewhere and three oth-ers (Lestesconcinnus, Lathrecista asiatica festa and Rhyothemis resplendens) are new to the country. A female of Pseudagrion incisurum is described for the first timeand another female (Rhinocypha liberata) will be described later.
The ostracod genus Bennelongia De Deckker & McKenzie, 1981 is endemic to Australia and New Zealand. Extensive sampling in Western Australia (WA) revealed a high specific and largely undescribed diversity. Here, we describe seven new species belonging to the B. barangaroo lineage: B. timmsi sp. nov., B. gnamma sp. nov., B. hirsuta sp. nov., B. ivanae sp. nov., B. mcraeae sp. nov., B. scanloni sp. nov. and B. calei sp. nov., and confirm the presence of an additional species, B. dedeckkeri, in WA. For five of these eight species, we could construct molecular phylogenies and parsimonious networks based on COI sequences. We also tested for cryptic diversity and specific status of clusters with a statistical method based on the evolutionary genetic species concept, namely Birky’s 4 theta rule. The analyses support the existence of these five species and a further three cryptic species in the WA B. barangaroo lineage. The molecular evidence was particularly relevant because most species described herein have very similar morphologies and can be distinguished from each other only by the shape, size and position of the antero-ventral lapel on the right valve, and, in sexual populations, by the small differences in shape of the hemipenes and the prehensile palps in males. Four species of the WA B. barangaroo lineage occur in small temporary rock pools (gnammas) on rocky outcrops. The other four species are mainly found in soft bottomed seasonal water bodies. One of the latter species, B. scanloni sp. nov., occurs in both claypans and deeper rock pools (pit gnammas). All species, except for B. dedeckkeri, originally described from Queensland, have quite clearly delimited distributions in WA. With the seven new species described here, the genus Bennelongia now comprises 25 nominal species but several more await formal description.
Coastal species are under considerable threat from recreational activities and climate change. The tiger beetle Cicindela hirticollis Say (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) was recorded historically from 30 locations along the shores of New York City and Long Island, New York. We conducted surveys for extant populations of this species at 40 sites from 1989 to 2010. Adults of C. hirticollis were found at 13 beaches. Only four sites had 40 or more adults of C. hirticollis active at the time the beach was surveyed. No beetles were detected on the large coastal beaches that were formerly occupied by this species. Many coastal beaches of New York receive heavy human foot and vehicle traffic and are therefore unlikely to provide suitable habitat for C. hirticollis without a shift in beach management that recognizes the potential of some beaches as wilderness systems capable of supporting the full array of beach-dependent species.
Annotated world bibliography of host fruits of Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae)
(2013)
Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) infests fruits and vegetables of a number of different plant species, with host plants primarily found in the plant families Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae. Although B. latifrons is of primarily Asian distribution (e.g., Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, China [Fujian, Yunnan, Hong Kong, Hainan], Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Brunei), its range has expanded through introductions into Hawaii, Okinawa, Tanzania, and Kenya, and poses a threat of introduction into other countries where it does not presently occur. As with other tephritid fruit fly species, establishment of B. latifrons can have significant economic consequences, including damage and loss of food production, as well as requirements for implementation of costly quarantine treatments to permit export of commodities susceptible to infestation by B. latifrons. In order to avoid these adverse economic consequences, one needs to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of B. latifrons into a new habitat. To successfully achieve this, an accurate knowledge of the fly’s host plants is essential. Cognizant of this need, we prepared, and present here, a worldwide list of host plants for B. latifrons, with annotations on reported laboratory and field infestation data. Overall, a total of 59 plant species from 14 plant families are identified as hosts of B. latifrons, based on reported field infestation data.
Crossidius grahami Morris and Wappes new species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is described from the Ohoopee Dunes of southern Georgia. Comments are included on the new species’ biology and disjunct distribution compared to other species of Crossidius LeConte. Illustrations include: dorsal and lateral views of the primary types of C. grahami, its natural habitat, the known host plant (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa (Michx.) Greene (Asteraceae)), pupal chamber, and dorsal views of both sexes of Crossidius humeralis quadrivittata Penrose, 1974, considered its closest anatomical counterpart and nearest geographical relative.
The primary types of Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) deposited at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) are catalogued and illustrated. Data on the original combination, current name, and type locality are verified and presented. There are 36 primary types of Onciderini including 12 in Oncideres Lacordaire, 1830; four in Hypsioma Audinet-Serville, 1835; three each in Hesychotypa Thomson, 1868; Cacostola Fairmaire and Germain, 1859; and Sternycha Dillon and Dillon, 1945. A brief history of the CMNH is also presented.
Lingafelteria, a new genus of Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) is described and illustrated. Five new species of Onciderini are also described and illustrated: Cylicasta mariahelenae, Lingafelteria giuglarisi, Psyllotoxus dalensi, Psyllotoxus faurei from French Guiana; Trestonia solangeae from Bolivia. Keys to the known species of Psyllotoxus Thomson, 1868 are provided. Psyllotoxoides albomaculata Breuning, 1961 is redescribed; and the first known females of Strioderes peruanus Giorgi, 2001 and Tibiosioma martinsi Nearns and Swift, 2011 are described. The following eight new country records are reported: Peritrox marcelae Nearns and Tavakilian, 2012 (Brazil); Pseudobeta ferruginea Galileo and Martins, 1990 (French Guiana); Tibiosioma martinsi Nearns and Swift, 2011 (Brazil, Peru); Trestonia exotica Galileo and Martins, 1990 (French Guiana); Trestonia morrisi Martins and Galileo, 2005 (French Guiana); Tritania dilloni Chalumeau, 1990 (French Guiana, Suriname).
The elytra of Balcus signatus Broun (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) from New Zealand have pale markings. Such markings, most prominently found in females, represent intraspecific variations of Balcus violaceus (Fabricius). Accordingly, Balcus signatus Brown is synonymized with Notoxus violaceus Fabricius, new synonymy. Four habitus figures of Balcus violaceus (Fabricius) are presented to display the range of elytral color variation in the species.
Thirty-two new species of Perilypus Spinola (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) are described; they are Perilypus ancorus, P. angustatus, P. aquilus, P. arenaceus, P. caligneus, P. cartagoensis, P. collatus, P. comosus, P. concisus, P. copanensis, P. copiosus, P. diutius, P. divaricatus, P. elimatus, P. flavoapicalis, P. galenae, P. hamus, P. hornito, P. infussus, P. iodus, P. lateralis, P. latissimus, P. licinus, P. limbus, P. miculus, P. odous, P. orophus, P. patulus, P. punctus, turnbowi, P. violaceus, and P. yasuniensis. Included in this work are 58 line drawings and 32 color habitus photographs of primary types. To facilitate species identification the species included herein are linked to a key to Perilypus species provided in a previous review of the genus.
Microrhagus brunneus, new species (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Melasinae: Dirhagini) is described from Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Dorsal, ventral and lateral habitus, along with male aedeagus are illustrated and a new key is provided to distinguish the new species from the four other Microrhagus species in the region.
The Neotropical members of the genus Aesalus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Aesalinae) are transferred to a new genus, Trogellus, due to their morphological dissimilarity and molecular divergence from the Old World species of Aesalus, and the new genus is revised. A neotype is designated for A. trogoides Albers and a lectotype for A. neotropicalis Bates. Aesalus smithi Bates is placed into synonymy with Aesalus trogoides, new synonymy. Two new combinations result from the transfer of species formerly in Aesalus: Trogellus trogoides from Mexico and Trogellus neotropicalis from Guatemala. In addition to the two known species, eight new species are described: T. catrachitus, T. chapinitus, T. hawksi, T. herrmanni, T. maesi, T. narizotus, T. ticiticus, and T. trifinius. This brings the total number of species of Central American aesalines to ten. A phylogeny of Aesalini based on two gene regions of ribosomal DNA is presented. Due to clear morphological differences and large molecular divergence between species groups, two additional new subgenera of Trogellus are proposed: Mayaesalus and Trogoides.