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Indian species of Drassyllus and Nodocion are revised, mostly based on the type material available in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. All the Indian representatives of the former genus are transferred to Cryptodrassus, with a synonymy of Drassyllus jabalpurensis syn. nov. with Cryptodrassus khajuriai comb. nov., while the Indian species of the latter genus are transferred to Setaphis, with a provisional transfer of Nodocion solanensis. All the examined type specimens are imaged and supplementary descriptions are provided.
A new paedophagous species of Protomelas, P. krampus sp. nov., is described from Lake Malawi. It has been found in Lukoma Bay in Tanzania, near Mara Point in Mozambique, and at Otter Point, Chizumulu, the Likoma Islands and Mazinzi Reef in Malawi. This species is placed in the genus Protomelas based on its melanin pattern, which comprises a continuous midlateral stripe. A morphometric study was done to compare this species with its congeners and similar species of Hemitaeniochromis and Caprichromis. It differs from most congeners by having only one inner tooth row. Furthermore, P. krampus sp. nov. differs from P. insignis, P. spilopterus, H. brachyrhynchus, H. urotaenia, Caprichromis liemi and C. orthognathus by its shorter premaxillary pedicel, shorter prepectoral distances and dentition. It also differs largely in its melanin pattern from the paedophagous species C. liemi, C. orthognathus, Diplotaxodon greenwoodi and Naevochromis chrysogaster, as well as H. brachyrhynchus and H. urotaenia. Protomelas krampus sp. nov. has been observed to ram mouth-brooding cichlids from above to feed on their eggs or larvae.
A new genus and species, Richerius marqueti gen. et sp. nov., of a crab of the family Hymenosomatidae MacLeay, 1838 are described from the inland waters of New Caledonia based on several specimens collected in two streams at altitudes of 180 m and 500 m, respectively. Richerius marqueti gen. et sp. nov. was compared to the other freshwater species known in New Caledonia, Odiomaris pilosus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1873), and to species of Amarinus Lucas, 1980, a genus comprising many freshwater species in New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea, but never recorded in New Caledonia. The barcode fragment of the COI mitochondrial gene was sequenced for seven specimens of R. marqueti gen. et sp. nov., and all sequences were deposited in GenBank. A brief and updated review of the New Caledonian marine and freshwater hymenosmatid fauna is provided.
A new fossil diatom species, Tertiarius minutulus sp. nov., is described from a sediment sequence DEEP-5045-1 of Lake Ohrid. The species is characterized by small valves (3.0–8.0 μm) with a round shape, a marginal area with radially arranged costae and a central uneven area with scattered areolae. Externally, the alveoli are occluded by cribra perforated by irregularly arranged pores. Internally, the alveoli are simple and areolae are occluded with domed cribra. The marginal fultoportulae are situated on costae close to the valve margin, located on every 5th or 7th thick internal costa. One to three fultoportulae are present on the valve face, each surrounded by two to three satellite pores. One rimoportula is present, positioned on a costa at the valve face / mantle junction. The species is compared with morphologically similar taxa and a detailed differential diagnosis is provided. Tertiarius minutulus sp. nov. is known only as a fossil taxon from Lake Ohrid, with a first occurrence during the early stages of lake basin development.
Phlyctinus callosus (Schoenherr, 1826) (Curculionidae, Entiminae, Oosomini) is a species native to the Western Cape province of the Republic of South Africa. It is regarded as a key pest of orchards and vineyards. Detailed observations of its morphology and ecology have shown this species to be a complex of closely related species. In this study we describe the species of this complex, provide morphological and molecular diagnostic tools to distinguish between species, and review their distribution and host plant associations. In all, six species are recognized in the P. callosus complex and five are described as new (P. grootbosensis Haran sp. nov., P. xerophilus Haran sp. nov., P. planithorax Haran sp. nov., P. littoralis Haran sp. nov., P. aloevorus Haran sp. nov.). Sequences of the mitochondrial gene used (cytochrome oxidase I, COI) indicated that P. xerophilus Haran sp. nov. might comprise several cryptic species for which stable morphological features could not be identified at this stage. The species of the genus Phlyctinus appear to be primarily associated with various Asteraceae found in humid, sandy and disturbed habitats.
The genus Cotesia Cameron, 1891 is one of the most diverse of the Microgastrinae, a subfamily of wasps that are exclusively endoparasitic on lepidopteran larvae. Species of Cotesia are widely utilised as biological control agents across the world. In Australia, there are currently 10 confirmed native species as well as four species introduced for the management of lepidopteran pests. The genus is morphologically conserved and has not been studied in the Australasian region for many decades. In this study, we use both comparative morphology and sequence data from the COI gene to delineate species, and in so doing describe seven new species from Australia: C. lasallei sp. nov., C. medusae sp. nov., C. ocellata sp. nov., C. reidarum sp. nov., C. scripta sp. nov., C. tjapekki sp. nov. and C. wonboynensis sp. nov., raising the number of species of Cotesia formally recorded in Australia to 21. We also provide updated descriptions of the previously described native species, diagnoses for the introduced species and a key to all currently described species found on the continent and from Papua New Guinea. This study treats only a fraction of the likely diversity of Cotesia, but provides a solid framework for future work.
Based on samples collected during the BIOICE project off Iceland, four species of marine annelids belonging to the family Pectinariidae were identified: Amphictene auricoma (O.F. Müller, 1776), Cistenides granulata (Linnaeus, 1767), Cistenides hyperborea Malmgren, 1865 and Lagis koreni Malmgren, 1866. Taxonomic remarks and data on geographical and bathymetric distribution are presented. The distribution of each species off Iceland was evaluated and two patterns were defined: C. granulata and C. hyperborea were mainly found in waters off the northeast coast, while A. auricoma and L. koreni were found on the southern coast. Several body characters with taxonomic value in this family were reviewed under the stereo microscope and scanning electron microscope, with special emphasis on the neuropodial uncini. Remarks on these special chaetae are included in the diagnoses.
The present study aims to fulfill the gap of taxonomic knowledge on Triphoridae from Brazil. We describe five new species (Isotriphora uncia sp. nov., Isotriphora leo sp. nov., Monophorus verecundus sp. nov., Sagenotriphora albocaput sp. nov., Similiphora lucida sp. nov.), report five species previously known only from the Caribbean and related areas (Cheirodonta dupliniana (Olsson, 1916), Eutriphora auffenbergi Rolán & Lee, 2008, Isotriphora tricingulata Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 2015, Marshallora ostenta Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 2008, Monophorus caracca (Dall, 1927) comb. nov.) and describe six morphotypes at the generic level (Isotriphora sp. 1, Marshallora sp. 1, Nanaphora sp. 1, Sagenotriphora sp. 1, Sagenotriphora sp. 2, Similiphora sp. 1). Remarks are made to some species previously recorded from Brazil, including the invalidation of records, problems of generic allocation and geographical range extensions. Maps of the geographical distribution are provided for the 65 currently recognized species of Triphoridae from Brazil. Of these, 31 species are endemic to Brazil and 58 inhabit the continental shelf vs only seven from the continental slope. A distinct geographical zone occurs in southeastern Brazil. A few species occur exclusively near the mouth of the Amazon River, whereas others inhabit a local biogenic reef, possibly serving as a biogeographical corridor that connects western Atlantic populations. Species of Isotriphora from Brazil are particularly common around oceanic islands, probably due to adopting intracapsular metamorphosis, which may have evolved in more than one evolutionary event.
As a result of the integrative (morphology and DNA barcodes) revision of the Taiwanese species of the rove beetle genus Quedius belonging to the abnormalis group, in the subgenus Microsaurus, three valid hypogean species are reported for the fauna of this island: Quedius masuzoi Watanabe, 1989, Q. nishikawai Watanabe, 1991 and Q. adilus sp. nov. A new synonymy, Quedius masuzoi = Quedius chiangi Smetana, 1995 syn. nov., is established along with providing additional records, a larval description and bionomic information for this species. Finally, the biogeographic origin of the abnormalis group in Taiwan is discussed.
In the last few years, a sharp increase in the number of descriptions of new species of West African cone snails, particularly from the Cabo Verde Archipelago, has taken place. In previous studies, we used mitogenome sequences for reconstructing robust phylogenies, which comprised in total 120 individuals representing the majority of species (69.7%) described from this biogeographical region (except Angolan endemics) and grouped into seven genera within the family Conidae. Here, we add another 12 individuals representing endemic species that were missing in the previous studies. We use the phylogenies to identify monophyletic groups and a genetic divergence threshold (0.2% uncorrected p distance) to determine the number of valid species. As a result, the number of valid West African cone species could be drastically reduced to at least 40%, indicating that some recent poor-quality descriptions loosely based on phenotypic characters prone to convergence such as the shape and color patterns of the shell have contributed substantially to taxonomic inflation. Several previously accepted species with a reduced geographical distribution now become phenotypic forms of the remaining valid species, which increase their distribution ranges. In contrast, several cryptic species are now uncovered and described. For instance, Africonus insulae sp. nov. and Kalloconus canariensis sp. nov. are hereby introduced as new species. A detailed systematic account with illustrations and relevant information is presented. Lectotypes are designated for Conus trochulus and Conus irregularis, and neotypes for Conus crotchii and Conus diminutus. According to our results, it is strongly recommended that any future introduction of new taxa names for cone snails from West Africa should be supported by molecular and/or anatomical rather than exclusively shell morphological data. The taxonomic decisions here taken have direct implications for conservation and will eventually require re-evaluation of the Red List risk status of an important number of species.
The Iranian species of the genus Anomalon Panzer, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Anomaloninae) are reviewed. Four species, Anomalon amseli (Hedwig, 1961), A. chinense (Kokujev, 1915), A. cruentatum (Geoffroy, 1785) and A. narinae Zardouei & Rakhshani sp. nov., are found to occur in Iran. The female of A. amseli is described for the first time. Anomalon chinense is a new record for Iran. A key to the known Anomalon species of Iran is provided.
We provide a review of the enoplid suborder Trefusiina Siddiqi, 1983, based on morphological considerations and analyses of new and published 18S rDNA sequences. We also describe Halanonchus scintillatulus Leduc sp. nov. from the Hauraki Gulf, northern New Zealand, as well as females of Trefusialaimus idrisi Leduc, 2013 from the continental slope of New Zealand. We show for the first time that the structure of the female reproductive system of Trefusialaimus Riemann, 1974 consists of two opposed and outstretched ovaries, an unusual feature for the Enoplida. The Trefusiina did not form a monophyletic group in the 18S rDNA phylogeny due to the placement of Lauratonema Gerlach, 1953 and Trefusialaimus sequences well away from the main Trefusiina clade. However, due to generally weak Maximum Likelihood support values, we refrain from changing the classification of these taxa until more comprehensive analyses can be conducted. Our phylogenetic analysis supports the inclusion of the Trischistomatidae Andrássy, 2007 within the Trefusiina, meaning that all of the enoplid suborders now include at least some terrestrial/freshwater representatives. The Trefusiina currently comprises five families, 14 genera and 92 valid species.
Three new species of the genus Centromerus from Italy, C. tongiorgii sp. nov., C. hanseni sp. nov., and C. gatoi sp. nov., are described for the first time on the basis of both male and female specimens. Their relationships with other congeneric species, as well as their diagnoses, are discussed using morphological characters. New records of poorly known species of Centromerus from Italy are furthermore reported. Among them, C. desmeti Bosmans, 1986 is reported for the first time for the Italian fauna and for continental Europe.
The generic status of Winitia Chaowasku (Annonaceae Juss., Miliuseae Hook.f. & Thomson) is reaffirmed by an extensive phylogenetic reconstruction using seven plastome regions (matK, ndhF, rbcL, ycf1 exons; trnL intron; psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF intergenic spacers) and including, among others, seven accessions of Winitia plus two accessions of its sister group, Stelechocarpus Hook.f. & Thomson. The results disclosed a maximally supported clade of Winitia, as well as of Stelechocarpus. The sister relationship of the two genera is still rather poorly supported and the branch uniting them is very short, whereas the branches leading to Winitia and to Stelechocarpus are relatively long, corresponding to their considerable morphological differences. Additionally, in Miliuseae there is a particular indel of eight continuous base pairs in the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer potentially diagnostic for generic discrimination, i.e., members in the same genus possess the same indel structure (absence or presence of a gap), and this indel differentiates Winitia from Stelechocarpus. Winitia cauliflora (Scheff.) Chaowasku appears polyphyletic and Winitia longipes (Craib) Chaowasku & Aongyong comb. nov. based on Stelechocarpus longipes Craib is consequently proposed. Furthermore, our phylogenetic data support a new species, Winitia thailandana Chaowasku & Aongyong sp. nov. from southern Thailand, which is described and illustrated. A key to genera in the sageraeoid clade (Sageraea-Winitia-Stelechocarpus) and a key to the four species of Winitia are provided.
Ten species of Campodorus Förster, 1869 are reported from China and five species are new to science: C. albilineatus Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov. from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the Oriental part of China, C. punctatus Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov. and C. rasilis Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov. from Beijing, C. shandongicus Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov. from Shandong Province and C. truncatus Sheng, Sun & Li, sp. nov. from Liaoning Province. Three species, C. ciliatus (Holmgren, 1857) and C. dauricus Kasparyan, 2005 collected from Liaoning Province and Mesoleius faciator Kasparyan, 2001 from Beijing, are new records for China. A key to species of Campodorus and a related genus known in China is provided.
We describe Croton calcareus Riina & Mateo-Ram. sp. nov., a new species in Croton section Cyclostigma (dragon's blood trees) from the state of Chiapas (Mexico). This species is a small tree growing in dry forest on calcareous substrates. Both morphological and molecular data support C. calcareus sp. nov. as a new species closely related to C. redolens, another dry forest taxon from northern Venezuela. We provide illustrations, a distribution map and suggestions for species conservation status. The new species along with Croton draco are the only known representatives of C. section Cyclostigma occurring in Mexico.
Capparis macrantha Souvannakhoummane, Fici & Lanorsavanh sp. nov., a new shrub species characterized by erect or ascending habit, stipular thorns, large lanceolate-elliptic leaves and large flowers in supra-axillary rows, is described and illustrated from the deciduous forest in Nam Kading National Protected Area (central Lao PDR). The new species belongs to Capparis sect. Monostichocalyx Radlk. and is morphologically similar to C. radula Gagnep., a shrub widespread in the Indochinese area, differing in the shorter, straight stipular thorns, larger leaves, larger sepals and petals, higher number of stamens with longer filaments and longer gynophore and ovary. Its affinities with related taxa are discussed and a key is provided for the species of Capparis L. known from Lao PDR. The conservation status of the new species is provisionally assessed as Vulnerable (VU D1).
The subfamily Sepiolinae (Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae), currently containing the genera Sepiola Leach, 1817, Euprymna Steenstrup, 1887, Inioteuthis Verrill, 1881, Rondeletiola Naef, 1921 and Sepietta Naef, 1912, is characterized by the hectocotylization of the left dorsal arm, i.e., its transformation into a copulatory organ thanks to modifications of sucker/pedicel elements. The hectocotylus morphology varies to a great extent across genera and species. In particular, one to several pedicels in its proximal third lose their sucker and become highly and diversely modified in shape to constitute a copulatory apparatus. An evolutionary gradient was observed in the copulatory apparatus morphology, from the simple modification into a papilla of just one pedicel from the third element of the ventral sucker row (some nominal species of Euprymna) to a quite complex structure involving several variously modified pedicels from both the ventral and dorsal sucker rows (Inioteuthis). In some species, elements in the distal portion of the hectocotylus may also be highly modified, such as the columnar suckers in Euprymna. The hectocotylian diversity allows to distinguish nine groups of species that do not match the current generic subdivision of Sepiolinae. Additional morphological characters (number of sucker rows on arms, female bursa copulatrix, occurrence and shape of visceral light organs, etc.) corroborate the subdivision of Sepiolinae into nine subtaxa, i.e., genera. Accordingly, a cladogram is drawn to describe the possible phylogenetic relationships among the nine clades. To comply with these results, all current genera are redefined and four new genera are described, namely Adinaefiola gen. nov., Boletzkyola gen. nov., Eumandya gen. nov. and Lusepiola gen. nov.
Neofidia Strother nom. nov., is proposed as the replacement name for Fidia Baly, 1863, a junior homonym of Fidia Motschulsky, 1861 (not 1860, Griffin 1936). A list of the included species of Neofidia Strother nom. nov. and Fidia Motschulsky, 1861 is provided for clarity. Fidia medvedevi nom. nov. is the new replacement name proposed for Lypesthes vietnamicus Medvedev, 2015. Fidia kanaraensis (Jacoby, 1895) is redescribed and habitus, male and female genitalia are figured. Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is reported as a new host of F. kanaraensis and partial information on the life history is provided. Eggs are laid singly on the surface of soil, and are covered with excreta and soil. Larvae tunnel into the tender roots. Adults are nocturnal and feed on tender leaves.
Three new fossil species from Burmese amber are described, one clearly in family Calamoceratidae, the other two in the highly variable family Odontoceridae. The family Odontoceridae contains 18 disparate genera, but there are no good diagnostic characters, which makes it difficult to place fossil taxa in this family. We here offer a revised diagnosis for the family, highlighting the lack of good diagnostic characters, and the need to use sets of characters to place (extinct) taxa in this family. On this taxonomic basis we describe two new species in the hitherto monotypic fossil genus Palaeopsilotreta Wichard & Wang, 2017 (Odontoceridae), Palaeopsilotreta burmanica sp. nov. and P. cretacea sp. nov., redescribe the type species based on additional information, and describe features of the female, based on two specimens, one of which is embedded adjacent to a male identified as P. xiai. Males of Palaeopsilotreta bear bipectinate antennae; the antennae of the females are simple and filiform. Similarly, bipectinate antennae are present in the third species we describe, Bipectinata orientalis gen. et sp. nov., which otherwise lacks the character combinations associated with the Odontoceridae, but clearly can be assigned to the family Calamoceratidae.
Neogene (Siwalik-aged) deposits from India and Pakistan have yielded many vertebrate fossils, of which most were named during the 19th century, including numerous geoemydid turtles. In contrast to many other faunal components from the Siwaliks, geoemydids have not undergone taxonomic revision for more than a century and most fossils have therefore been believed to correspond to recent taxa. In this study, we conduct a taxonomic revision of all previously described geoemydid material from the Siwalik-age. We propose that all specimens of 'Clemmys' from the Siwaliks of Punjab, Pakistan should be identified as Melanochelys sivalensis comb. nov.; that Melanochelys tricarinata var. sivalensis represents a valid species, for which we propose the replacement name Melanochelys tapani to avoid homonymy; that specimens originally identified as Batagur cautleyi and Pangshura flaviventer cannot be identified beyond the generic level; and that many fragmentary palatochelydians cannot be identified to any particular species or genus due to the lack of preserved diagnostic osteological characters. With a few exceptions, the Siwalik fauna mostly corresponds in its distribution to that of the recent fauna, indicating a certain amount of geographic stasis. However, as the stratigraphic provenance of most material is poor, it is not possible to discern meaningful temporal patterns.
Nemoura Latreille, 1796 and Amphinemura Ris, 1902 are the two largest genera of Nemouridae in China. In this paper, two new species are described and illustrated from China: Nemoura lixiana sp. nov. from Sichuan Province and Amphinemura jiaoheensis sp. nov. from Jilin Province. The two new species are diagnostic from congeners by the genitalic structures in males and females.
Eight species of the genus Prodasineura Cowley, 1934 are recorded from Vietnam, including two newly described species: Prodasineura lancastrei sp. nov. and P. kong sp. nov. from north and central Vietnam. All species recorded are illustrated, including figures of morphological structures, and distribution maps and keys to the males and females are provided. We consider the record of P. laidlawi (Forster in Laidlaw, 1907) a misidentification and exclude it here.
A new species, Cryptomonas uralensis Martynenko, Gusev, Kulizin & Guseva sp. nov., is described from western slopes of the Ural Mountains (Russia) based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from nuclear SSU and LSU rDNA sequences show that the new species forms a clade with C. tetrapyrenoidosa Skuja emend. Hoef-Emden & Melkonian. Comparison of secondary structures of nuclear rDNA ITS2, including analysis of Compensatory Base Changes (CBC), confirms the separation between C. uralensis sp. nov. and C. tetrapyrenoidosa. Cell morphology and sizes of C. uralensis sp. nov. are very similar to C. tetrapyrenoidosa and C. pyrenoidifera, and C. uralensis sp. nov. may thus represent a species that can only be reliably identified using molecular data.
The aquatic biodiversity of springs and groundwater systems of North Africa remains largely unexplored. In an earlier field survey of Tunisian springs, a new gastropod genus, Bullaregia, was discovered as a phylogenetically independent lineage of uncertain position within the family Hydrobiidae. Here, we provide taxonomic and phylogenetic assignments for three newly collected populations of hydrobiids from springs in northern Tunisia based on morphological, anatomical and genetic (mtCOI and 18S) data. Among these and specimens of Bullaregia, major differences were observed in male and female genitalia as well as in mtCOI sequences (divergence 8.0–9.1%). Based on these findings, we describe two new genera and three new species: Belgrandiellopsis chorfensis gen. et sp. nov., Belgrandiellopsis secunda gen. et sp. nov. and Biserta putealis gen. et sp. nov. In all our phylogenetic analyses, these three new species were well resolved as a monophyletic group together with Bullaregia tunisiensis. Unexpectedly, this clade emerged as sister to the European valvatiform genera Corbellaria and Kerkia and not to the recently discovered clade of groundwater, conchologically similar, species living in Bulgaria (Balkan Peninsula). These Tunisian species are each locally endemic and form part of a newly discovered clade which in future systematic studies could eventually be identified as a distinct hydrobiid subfamily.
Nine new species of the South African endemic group of euryglossiform bees of the genus Scrapter Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 are described, thus bringing the total number of species to 29 in this species-group: Scrapter avontuurensis Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀, S. bokkeveldensis Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀, S. fynbosensis Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀, S. hergi Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♂, S. keiskiensis Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀, S. mellonholgeri Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀♂, S. nitens Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀, S. oubergensis Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀ and S. willemstrydomi Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♂. The new replacement name S. punctulatus nom. nov. is proposed for S. punctatus Kuhlmann, 2014 which is a junior primary homonym of S. punctatus Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1825 (= Allodape punctata [Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1825]). Moreover, new records for already described taxa are presented and an updated key to all species of euryglossiform Scrapter is provided.
Integrative taxonomy of the genus Dyscolus (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Platynini) in Ecuadorian Andes
(2020)
The genus Dyscolus Dejean, 1831 is a highly speciose taxon of neotropical Carabidae and the major component of high-altitude ground beetle communities in the tropical Andes. The aim of this study is threefold: (i) refine the taxonomic position of the equatorial members of Dyscolus using molecular data, (ii) provide a delimitation of the species found in Ecuador in páramo and montane forest environments based on a robust combination of molecular and morphological data, (iii) describe the new species and take the nomenclatural decisions made necessary by the results of this study. The seclusion of Dyscolus from more basal platynine clades including Platynus, Batenus and Glyptolenus, is supported by a phylogenetic analysis of the COI marker. Twenty-five new species of Dyscolus, most of them microendemic, are described and illustrated: D. aquator Moret sp. nov. (Tandayapa, Pichincha), D. arauzae Moret sp. nov. (Mt Cayambe, Pichincha), D. arborarius Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Yacuri, Loja), D. barragani Moret sp. nov. (Mt Ayapungu, Chimborazo), D. crespoae Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Podocarpus, Zamora-Chinchipe), D. danglesi Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Yacuri, Loja), D. donosoi Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Podocarpus, Zamora-Chinchipe), D. eleonorae Moret sp. nov. (Cotopaxi and Pichincha provinces), D. famelicus Moret sp. nov. (Papallacta, Napo), D. giselae Moret sp. nov. (Reserva Otonga, Cotopaxi), D. globoculus Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Podocarpus, Zamora-Chinchipe), D. gobbii Moret sp. nov. (Guamaní and Mt Antisana, Pichincha), D. incommunis Moret sp. nov. (Tandayapa, Pichincha), D. marini Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Podocarpus, Loja), D. piscator Moret sp. nov. (Guamaní, Napo), D. placitus Moret sp. nov. (Guamaní, Napo), D. ravidus Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Podocarpus, Loja), D. rivinus Moret sp. nov. (Reserva Otonga, Cotopaxi), D. rugitarsis Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Yacuri, Loja), D. ruizi Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Podocarpus, Loja and Zamora), D. salazarae Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Podocarpus, Loja), D. silvestris Moret sp. nov. (Papallacta, Napo), D. sulcipedis Moret sp. nov. (Parque Nacional Yacuri, Loja), D. verecundior Moret sp. nov. (Mt Illiniza and Mt Corazón, Pichincha) and D. verecundissimus Moret sp. nov. (Mt Chimborazo, Chimborazo). Dyscolus palatus Moret, 1998 is newly synonymized with D. denigratus (Bates, 1891). We demonstrate the subgenus Hydrodyscolus Moret, 1996 to be polyphyletic and therefore consider it a junior synonym of Dyscolus Dejean, 1831.
One species of the louse genus Philopterus Nitzsch, 1818 is redescribed and illustrated: Philopterus acrocephalus Carriker, 1949 ex Acrocephalus luscinius (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830), A. melanopogon (Temminck, 1823), A. scirpaceus (Hermann, 1804), A. schoenobaenus (Linnaeus, 1758), Iduna aedon rufescens Stegmann, 1929, I. rama (Sykes, 1832), Locustella sp. and L. ochotensis (von Middendorff, 1853). Philopterus acrocephalus represents the first species of the Philopteruscomplex recorded in the family Locustellidae Bonaparte, 1854. Philopterus gustafssoni sp. nov. is described ex Regulus regulus (Linnaeus, 1758), R. regulus regulus (Linnaeus, 1758), R. regulus azoricus Seebohm, 1883, R. regulus buturlini von Loudon, 1911, R. regulus sanctaemariae Vaurie, 1954, R. regulus tristis Pleske, 1892 and R. ignicapillus (Temminck, 1820). Descriptions of both species are amended with genetic data, DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I, nuclear hyp and TMEDE6; concatenated sequences are compared to the morphologically nearest species with genetic data available, Philopterus citrinellae (Schrank, 1776) and Philopterus fringillae (Scopoli, 1772). Holotype of Philopterus reguli (Denny, 1842) is pronounced to be a straggler, determination of other known material from Regulidae is changed for Philopterus gustafssoni sp. nov.
Morphological characters support the description of two new species of Orchidaceae from New Caledonia: Dendrobium butinii M.Pignal & Munzinger sp. nov. and Dendrobium letocartiorum Munzinger & M.Pignal sp. nov. The lectotypes of Dendrobium camaridiorum Rchb.f. and D. crassifolium Schltr. are designated here. A leaf anatomical study was conducted and provided useful characters to distinguish the five New Caledonian graminoid Dendrobiineae species. Two identification tools are provided: an anatomical key for sterile material of grass-like Dendrobiineae and a morphological key for the New Caledonian graminoid Dendrobium. We propose preliminary conservation assessments with IUCN criteria for the new taxa.
The old genus Libitia Simon, 1879 of small Andean harvestmen is revisited. The monotypic genus Libitiella Roewer, 1947 is herein considered a junior subjective synonym of Libitia. Accordingly, Libitiella bipunctata (Sørensen, 1932) is restored to the combination Libitia bipunctata. The species Libitia cordata and Libitia bipunctata comb. nov. are redescribed and the new species Libitia gandalf sp. nov. and Libitia iguaque sp. nov. are herein described from Cordillera Oriental of Colombian Andes (Chingaza Natural Park and Iguaque Natural Park, respectively). The species Gonyleptes multimaculatus Wood 1869, currently under the synonymy of L. cordata, is revalidated and transferred to Paecilaemella Roewer, 1925 forming Paecilaemella multimaculata comb. nov., and the species Cynorta itacoaiensis H. Soares, 1970 is herein considered a junior subjective synonym of it. In addition, the second current species of the genus, Libitia fusca (Simon, 1879), is transferred to Metalibitia. Libitia is diagnosed based in genital and external morphology, an identification key of the four species and distribution maps are offered.
The flower fly genus Afrosyrphus Curran, 1927 (Diptera, Syrphidae) is revised and a new species, Afrosyrphus schmuttereri sp. nov., from Kenya and Uganda is described. Diagnoses, illustrations, DNA barcodes and known distributional data are provided for the two species of this genus, as well as an identification key. A critical review of the published literature is also provided.
Two new species of Phyxelididae are described from southern Africa: Xevioso cepfi sp. nov. (♂♀), from mountains in the Niassa Province of northern Mozambique, and X. megcummingae sp. nov. (♂♀), from urban Harare, northern Zimbabwe and the Viphya Mts in Malawi. They represent the northernmost localities of the genus. An identification key, partially adapted for the new species, is presented. The biogeographical importance of the mountain areas on both sides of the northern part of Lake Malawi is discussed.
Meiofauna sampling in the proximity of Syd-Hällsö Island (Strömstad, Sweden) revealed a new species of Kinorhyncha from the Skagerrak. The species, Setaphyes elenae sp. nov., is distinguished from its congeners by the arrangement of the middorsal cuticular specializations (it has shortened, distally rounded middorsal processes on segments 1 and 9 and middorsal elevations throughout segments 2–8), as well as by the presence of paired laterodorsal setae on segments 3, 5, 7 and 9 and ventromedial setae on segments 3, 5 and 7 in both males and females. The finding of a new species from the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, provides new valuable information for the recently established genus in the Allomalorhagida.
Proposed Amendments to the Constitution of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
(2020)
The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) proposes amendments to its Constitution and solicits constructive feedback from the zoological community. In compliance with the Constitution, the proposed amendments are made broadly available, and there will be a one-year period for submission of comments starting on 30 April 2020. The amendments may be modified in the light of the comments, before the final version is voted on by the Commissioners.
This paper provides a taxonomic assessment and distribution details of the species of the genus Ludwigia L. (Onagraceae) for the Paraíba State, Northeastern Brazil. Six species were found: L. erecta (L.) H.Hara, L. helminthorrhiza (Mart.) H.Hara, L. hyssopifolia (G.Don) Exell, L. leptocarpa (Nutt.) H.Hara, L. nervosa (Poir.) H.Hara and L. octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H.Raven. Ludwigia nervosa was recorded for the first time in the studied area. Our taxonomic treatment comprises an identification key to the species. For each species, description, illustrations, taxonomic comments, flowering and fruiting data, geographic distribution map, and the conservation status for the studied area are provided. Among the recorded species, three were classified as "Near Threatened", two as "Vulnerable" and one as "Critically Endangered".
Detailed description and illustrations of immature Trictenotoma Gray, 1832 (Trictenotomidae Blanchard, 1845) are presented for the first time, based on larvae and pupae of T. formosana Kriesche, 1919. Characters exhibited by the mature larva are similar to those described by Gahan (1908) for T. childreni Gray, 1832, which was based on a single specimen. The phylogenetic position of Trictenotomidae has varied among Scarabaeoidea, Chrysomeloidea and Tenebrionoidea, though recent studies place the family clearly among the latter. Features of the immature stages described here corroborate this placement. Evidence supports placement within or near the "salpingid group" (Pythidae, Salpingidae, Boridae, Pyrochroidae). Distinguishing features of the mature trictenotomid larva include the absence of stemmata, antennal sensorium, urogomphal pit(s) and lip, the presence of paired series of longitudinal ridges on the meso- and metathorax and abdominal tergites 1–8 and sternites 2–8, a paired arcuate row of 12–15 asperities on the anterior margin of sternite 9 and relatively short, upturned urogomphi. The systematic position of trictenotomids within the Tenebrionoidea Latreille, 1802 is confirmed. The phylogenetic relationships among Trictenotomidae and other “salpingid group” members (e.g., Pythidae Solier, 1834 and Salpingidae Leach, 1815) are highlighted and discussed, solving an almost two centuries old puzzle in Coleoptera systematics.
The new erigoninae genus Yuelushannus gen. nov. with two new species, Y. alatus sp. nov. (♂♀) and Y. barbatus sp. nov. (♂♀), are described from Hunan and Hubei Provinces. Detailed descriptions of somatic features and genitalic characters, photos of the habitus and copulatory organs, line drawings of copulatory organs and a distribution map are provided.
We describe a long-unnamed Chaetopterus Cuvier, 1830 species from southern California, using a combination of DNA barcoding and detailed morphological investigation employing highresolution X-ray microtomography (micro-CT). Chaetopterus dewysee sp. nov. is not only one of the most dominant annelids in the benthic communities of the shallow end of the La Jolla submarine canyon, but also a well-established model for studying bioluminescence and has a published transcriptome. The description and naming of this southern Californian Chaetopterus is a step towards the muchneeded revision of the group’s taxonomy and towards resolving the confusion over the 'cosmopolitan' Chaetopterus variopedatus species complex. Micro-CT data showing details of both internal and external anatomy has been made freely available as the first annelid cybertype.
The spider genus Bistriopelma Kaderka, 2015 is endemic to Peru and includes three species known to date: Bistriopelma lamasi Kaderka, 2015, B. matuskai Kaderka, 2015 and B. titicaca Kaderka, 2017. The present contribution diagnoses, describes and illustrates two new species of Bistriopelma from Peru: B. peyoi sp. nov. and B. kiwicha sp. nov., both based on male and female. The male of B. peyoi sp. nov. is provided with a remarkable thoracic horn, and the species is the first horned tarantula for this genus. An updated distribution map for all known species is presented.
Icacinaceae Miers are a well-described family. However, the family lacks a comprehensive guide to endocarp morphology, which would be an important tool for interpreting the family's extensive fossil record of endocarp remains. In this survey, we describe fruits and endocarps of 88 species of Icacinaceae s. str., four of Icacinaceae s. lat. (now Metteniusaceae) and one of Oncothecaceae. We investigated the value of the endocarp in species recognition. In addition, we generated an Xper3 database with an associated e-key to increase the availability of raw data and the understanding of the characters used. This study documents great diversity in epicarp hairs, mesocarp thickness, endocarp ornamentation, tubercle shape (if present), endocarp structure and thickness, and the locule lining. Some morphological features appear diagnostic for individual genera. In particular, the genus Iodes Blume, which is very common in the fossil record, is the only clade with the three following characters: papillae on the inner locule lining, ridged ornamentation on the endocarp surface, and a vascular bundle embedded within the endocarp wall. Finally, we discuss issues related to the preservation of fruit material in herbarium collections.
A new cypridopsine genus, Cyprettadopsis gen. nov., described here, is principally characterized by the reduced caudal ramus, the strongly serrated claw G2 of the antenna (A2), the A2 subquadrate terminal segment, the undivided penultimate segment of the second thoracopod (T2), the morphology of the third thoracopod bearing a distinctly separated terminal segment, the complete septa on the posteroventral margin and the incomplete septa on the anterior margin of both valves. Based on a combination of these characters, a new tribe, Cyprettadopsini trib. nov., is created in the subfamily Cypridopsinae Kaufmann, 1900 to accommodate this new genus, and one new species, Cyprettadopsis sutura gen. et sp. nov., is described as the type species. Apart from the above generic characters, the following features are also typical of the new species: the tiny needlepoint-like pores along the anterior and ventral margins of both valves, the remarkably large β-seta on the mandibular palp and the considerably short d2 seta on the T2. The presence of marginal septa in the new genus is a distinctive character and constitutes the first record of this feature within Cypridopsinae. The taxonomically relevant characters in the new taxon and related taxa are briefly discussed.
Historically the taxonomy of the genus Timarcha has been, and continues to be, quite confusing and largely erroneous. The confusion is mainly due to the absence of reliable traits that aid in precise identification; the lack of study of types at species-level has also contributed to the difficulty in the taxonomy. To improve this situation, we propose techniques for the dissection and study of three useful diagnostic characters such as the vestiture of the sole of female tarsi, and the morphology of the endophallus and its sclerites in males. These features combined are distinctive for each of the species and can help to resolve the taxonomy of the genus.
The genus Afrodonta s. lat. is shown to comprise several lineages with distinctive shell characters primarily associated with the microsculpture of the protoconch and teleoconch, and the manner in which the apertural barriers are deposited. These lineages comprise Afrodonta s. str. and five new genera: Amatholedonta gen. nov., Biomphalodonta gen. nov., Costulodonta gen. nov., Iterodonta gen. nov. and Phialodonta gen. nov. Twelve new species are described, doubling the diversity of aperturally dentate charopid snails known from southern Africa. All new species are narrow-range endemics. A new subspecies of one of the more widely distributed species of Afrodonta s. str. is also described. Keys to genera and species are provided. New species and subspecies: Afrodonta geminodonta sp. nov., Af. inhluzaniensis leptolamellaris subsp. nov., Af. mystica sp. nov., Af. pentodon sp. nov., Amatholedonta fordycei gen. et sp. nov., Biomphalodonta forticostata gen. et sp. nov., Costulodonta bidens gen. et sp. nov., C. pluridens gen. et sp. nov., Iterodonta ammonita gen. et sp. nov., Phialodonta agulhasae gen. et sp. nov., P. atromontana gen. et sp. nov., P. aviana gen. et sp. nov. and P. rivalalea gen. et sp. nov. New synonyms: Afrodonta bilamellaris londonensis Solem, 1970 = Afrodonta bilamellaris Melvill & Ponsonby, 1908. New combinations: Afrodonta acinaces Connolly, 1933, Afrodonta burnupi Connolly, 1933 and Afrodonta trilamellaris Melvill & Ponsonby, 1908 are transferred to Costulodonta gen. nov.; Afrodonta bimunita Connolly, 1939 is transferred to Amatholedonta gen. nov.; Afrodonta introtuberculata Connolly, 1933 and Afrodonta perfida Burnup, 1912 are transferred to Phialodonta gen. nov.
Three species of Lophogastrida and eight Mysida are documented for samples from 5161–5497 m bottom depth in the Angola Basin. Previously known latitudinal ranges are extended southward for five species, and bathymetric ranges extended beyond 5000 m for six species. Upon revision of the subfamily Petalophthalminae (Mysidae), four species previously attributed to the genus Petalophthalmus are integrated into Ipirophthalmus gen. nov. as I. liui gen. et comb. nov., I. caribbeanus gen. et comb. nov., I. oculatus gen. et comb. nov., and I. macrops gen. et comb. nov., mainly based on the structure of eyes and presence of setae on the telson. Petalophthalmus cristatus sp. nov. is described based on its reduced cornea and the structure of eyestalks, rostrum, mandibles, and telson. The structure of mouthparts, foregut and maxillipeds suggests an omnivorous mode of life. The diagnosis of the tribe Calyptommini (Mysidae: Erythropinae) is widened to cover the 3-segmented, uniramous fourth male pleopod and the non-incised eyeplate with horn-like rudiments of eyestalks in Abyssomysis cornuta gen. et sp. nov. The structure of mandibles, foregut, and second maxilliped suggest detritus feeding in this species. Keys to the Calyptommini and Petalophthalminae are given.
The New Caledonian Archipelago is a hot spot for biodiversity and endemism. Whereas popular groups such as birds and plants are well-studied, invertebrate groups such as ostracods remain ill-known. Here, we re-describe Strandesia sanoamuangae Savatenalinton & Martens, 2010, originally described from Thailand (8000 km away from New Caledonia), and describe Strandesia mehesi sp. nov. Both species are known only from females. Material for the present study was collected from diverse aquatic non-marine habitats from Grande Terre, the main island of New Caledonia. Whereas S. sanoamuangae is seemingly easily identifiable, S. mehesi sp. nov. is part of the Strandesia vinceguerrae/vavrai species cluster in the genus, of which the 'older' species (described long ago) often have incomplete and superficial descriptions. Differentiation between the new species and the other members of this species cluster are based on small anatomical details of the valves. The current paper updates the known number of recent freshwater Ostracoda of New Caledonia from 14 to 16 species, although at least five of these species have an uncertain status.
A large, newly collected material of the genus Aquattuor from the Udzungwa Mts, Tanzania, has been studied. Two new species are described, viz., A. mollilobus sp. nov. from the Udzungwa Mts and A. nguruensis sp. nov. from the Nguru Mts, Tanzania. Aquattuor claudiahempae Enghoff & Frederiksen, 2015, is recorded as new for the Udzungwa fauna. Characters from the first pair of male legs are illustrated for all Aquattuor species and are shown to be useful for species discrimination. A new gonopodal difference between A. submajor Enghoff, 2015 and A. udzungwensis Enghoff, 2015 is described and illustrated. Intrageneric relationships and distribution patterns are discussed. A distribution map and a key to all Aquattuor species are presented.
Arachnides 96.2020
(2020)
Five new species of Meta Koch, 1836 (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) from Gaoligong Mountains, China
(2020)
Five new species of the genus Meta C.L. Koch, 1836 from the Gongligong Mountains, Yunnan are described: Meta hamata sp. nov. (♂♀), M. longlingensis sp. nov. (♂), M. tangi sp. nov. (♂♀), M. yani sp. nov. (♂♀) and M. yinae sp. nov. (♂♀). Detailed descriptions of somatic features and genitalic characters, photos of the body and genital organs, line drawings of the copulatory organs and distribution maps are provided.
Three species of the genus Cryptochetum Rondani, 1875 from China are described and figured as new to science: C. euthyiproboscise sp. nov., C. glochidiatusum sp. nov., and C. longilingum sp. nov. An identification key to the known species of Cryptochetum from China is presented. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Henan Agricultural University.
New data of Torrenticolidae Piersig, 1902 are presented in this paper from Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, P. R. China. Three new species, Torrenticola suptilisrostrum Gu & Guo sp. nov., Torrenticola spinextension Gu & Guo sp. nov. and Torrenticola wuyiensis Gu & Guo sp. nov. are described and illustrated in detail, and one new record for Chinese fauna is given, Torrenticola dentifera Wiles, 1991, which was originally described from Malaysia. In addition, an updated key is provided to all species of Torrenticolidae in China.
Handbook of best practice and standards for 2D+ and 3D
imaging of natural history collections
(2020)
Digitising a collection is key to make it last even after the physical objects are no longer available. Almost all of the techniques currently available to digitise a natural history collection in 2D+ and 3D are listed herein. The techniques are explained in a way that even one without any knowledge on the subject may understand their principle. The strong and weak points of the techniques are discussed, and an overview of suitable collections and specimens are given for each one of them. Also, plenty of examples already digitised with each technique are provided together with the links to visualise them in 3D. After explaining all the different digitisation options, the subsequent chapters provide information on how to improve the 2D+ and 3D digital twins of the specimens and techniques are compared to each other by means of test specimens. These give a fast overview of the capabilities of the digitisation techniques. Possible solutions to avoid digitisation errors are equally provided. Lastly, the dissemination of the results and the data management of the 3D models are briefly discussed in the final chapters. Also, a large chapter is provided with several workflows that can be followed to get the best possible results.
This paper examines the described species of Cissidium and adds 77 new ones based on a study of material in the Manchester Museum, UK, the Natural History Museum, London, UK and in the possession of Dr Yoshihiro Sawada, Japan. The new taxa are: Cissidium advena sp. nov., C. amazonicum sp. nov., C. amieuense sp. nov., C. angulatum sp. nov., C. angusi sp. nov., C. apterum sp. nov., C. arcuatum sp. nov., C. aristophanousi sp. nov., C. besucheti sp. nov., C. bifoveolatum sp. nov., C. bilineatum sp. nov., C. bomjesus sp. nov., C. brachypterum sp. nov., C. ceylonicum sp. nov., C. clareae sp. nov., C. cryptophagoides sp. nov., C. davaoense sp. nov., C. deanei sp. nov., C. delicatum sp. nov., C. dewhurst sp. nov., C. dividuum sp. nov., C. dybasi sp. nov., C. eciton sp. nov., C. ecuadoriense sp. nov., C. faustum sp. nov., C. flavum sp. nov., C. franzi sp. nov., C. fraternum sp. nov., C. glabratum sp. nov., C. greensladei sp. nov., C. houailou sp. nov., C. ibicarense sp. nov., C. impressum sp. nov., C. inexspectatum sp. nov., C. insulare sp. nov., C. kolombangaricum sp. nov., C. lamington sp. nov., C. lawrencei sp. nov., C. loebli sp. nov., C. logunovi sp. nov., C. losbanos sp. nov., C. lucidulum sp. nov., C. luctuosum sp. nov., C. mahleri sp. nov., C. mindanao sp. nov., C. misellum sp. nov., C. modestum sp. nov., C. montanum sp. nov., C. murphyi sp. nov., C. mussardi sp. nov., C. noumeae sp. nov., C. obscenum sp. nov., C. obscurum sp. nov., C. obsoletum sp. nov., C. opacum sp. nov., C. orami sp. nov., C. peruviense sp. nov., C. pilosellum sp. nov., C. pinense sp. nov., C. plaumanni sp. nov., C. puncticolle sp. nov., C. riparium sp. nov., C. robustum sp. nov., C. rogeri sp. nov., C. seditiosum sp. nov., C. semicalvum sp. nov., C. similatum sp. nov., C. steeli sp. nov., C. subangulatum sp. nov., C. subfaustum sp. nov., C. sueae sp. nov., C. trangse sp. nov., C. upiense sp. nov., C. visendum sp. nov., C. waginicum sp. nov., C. werneri sp. nov. and C. yoruba sp. nov. The division of the genus is discussed and five species groups are established. The majority of the new species are the first records of Cissidium for the 28 countries represented.
In a recent project, extensive fieldwork was carried out in several parts of Sri Lanka to investigate scarab biodiversity. Here we present the first results of this survey and describe four new Sericini species: Selaserica athukoralai sp. nov., Neoserica dharmapriyai sp. nov., Maladera cervicornis sp. nov., M. galdaththana sp. nov. Further, new locality records for 20 already known species are given. The genitalia and the habitus of all new species are illustrated and photos of the habitats of the new species are given.
A new microscopic cnidarian is described, infecting five of thirty (16.6%) specimens of Corydoras schwartzi caught in the Purus River, State of Amazonas, Brazil. Histological analysis showed that cyst development occurred in the serosa layer of the intestine. Mature myxospores are ovoid in body shape in frontal view, 22.4 ± 0.3 μm in total length and 16.3 ± 0.1 μm in width. Internally, two aubergine-shaped, elongate symmetrical polar capsules occupy more than half the length of the spore, 14.3 ± 0.2 μm in length and 6.5 ± 0.1 μm in width. Ultrastructural analysis provided evidence of five polar filament coils inside the polar capsule and binucleated sporoplasm containing a moderate number of sporoplasmosomes. The valvogenic cells abutting each other form a sutural ridge and frequently a thin layer of homogeneous material separates the cells. The outer surface of the myxospore valves is smooth, with no evidence of formation of ridges in the valves. Immature myxospores in various stages of development were observed. This study is the first report of a myxosporean parasitizing C. schwartzi and the first report of a myxosporean infection in the intestine of an ornamental fish from South America.
This paper describes rare Cardiomya species from Brazil which have been hitherto misidentified as Cardiomya cleryana (d’Orbigny, 1842) in literature or museum collections. Cardiomya minerva sp. nov. is proposed as new species and is characterized by its quadrangular shell, short and truncated rostrum, and external ornamentation composed of six radial ribs on the posterior half of the shell flank. Cardiomya striolata (Locard, 1897) described from the Mediterranean Sea and northwestern Atlantic Ocean, is reported from Brazil for the first time; although previously regarded as a junior synonym of Cardiomya costellata (Deshayes, 1835), it is herein considered as a full species and redescribed. This species is characterized by its trapezoidal shell flank, elongated rostrum, tapering towards the tip, and external ornamentation composed of 18–53 radial ribs, the 3–4 posterior ones being the strongest and more widely spaced. Other three previously unknown species are illustrated but not formally named due to the lack of well-preserved articulated shells.
In this paper the primary types of Centris bees described by the British entomologist Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell deposited in the Natural History Museum (London) and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (Oxford) in the United Kingdom, as well as in the United States National Museum (Washington), American Museum of Natural History (New York), the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (Philadelphia), and in the California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco) in the United States were studied. To stabilize the application of the name C. lepeletieri (= C. haemorrhoidalis (Fabricius)), a lectotype is designated. The study of the primary types allow proposing the revalidation of C. cisnerosi nom. rev. from the synonymy of C. agilis Smith, C. nitida geminata nom. rev. from C. facialis Mocsáry, C. rufulina nom. rev. from C. varia (Erichson), C. semilabrosa nom. rev. from C. terminata Smith and C. triangulifera nom. rev. from C. labrosa Friese. Centris bakeri syn. nov., C. bimaculata carrikeri syn. nov., C. fusciventris matoensis syn. nov., C. heterodonta syn. nov. and C. elegans grenadensis syn. nov. are proposed as a new junior synonyms of C. varia, C. claripennis Friese nom. rev., C. caurensis, C. dentata Smith and C. elegans Smith, respectively. Centris ruae is withdrawn from the synonymy of C. transversa Pérez and proposed as a new junior synonym of C. nitida Smith. In addition, a lectotype for C. buchholzi Herbst (= C. wilmattae) is designated. Information on the repository of the lectotype of C. lepeletieri and images of most primary types studied here are also provided.
Cloeon perkinsi was described from South Africa in 1932 by Barnard. Despite being relatively common in Africa, it was mentioned in the literature quite rarely, and its known distribution to date includes most of sub-Saharan Africa. Material collected recently in Ethiopia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen extends its distribution in East Africa, Arabian Peninsula and the Levant. We examined this material, and provide a re-description of adults (females and males) and nymphs of the species. It represents a much-needed urge mainly due to inconsistencies in literature reports regarding colouration, and sometimes incomplete morphological description of all stages. We demonstrate the intraspecific morphological variability that we have witnessed, and provide information regarding the range of habitats colonised by C. perkinsi. Based on geological and climatic history of the studied region, taken together with among countries genetic distances of the mitochondrial barcoding gene COI, we propose colonisation mechanisms for the north-easternmost limit of distribution. The fragmented distribution pattern of the species highlights the conservation importance of isolated aquatic habitats in the region, as well as current knowledge gaps.
We studied the cestode fauna (Platyhelminthes) of forest birds in Malaysia (Selangor) collected during a field trip in 2010. Ninety birds of 37 species were examined and global prevalence of cestodes was 15.3%. Five new taxa are described: Emberizotaenia aeschlii sp. nov. (Dilepididae) from Tricholestes criniger (Blyth, 1845) (Pycnonotidae); Anonchotaenia kornyushini sp. nov. (Paruterinidae) from Trichastoma malaccense (Hartlaub, 1844) (Pellorneidae); Biuterina jensenae sp. nov. (Paruterinidae) from Chloropsis cochinchinensis (Gmelin, 1789) (Irenidae); Raillietina hymenolepidoides sp. nov. (Davaineidae) and R. mahnerti sp. nov. (Davaineidae) from Chalcophaps indica (Linnaeus, 1758) (Columbidae). Ophryocotyloides dasi Tandan & Singh, 1964 is reported from Psilopogon henricii (Temminck, 1831) (Ramphastidae). Several other taxa in Dilepididae, Davaineidae, Paruterinidae, Hymenolepididae and Mesocestoididae, either potentially new or poorly known, are also reported. The richness described from this small collection hints at the potentially huge unknown parasite diversity from wild hosts in this part of the world.
Sixteen aglaopheniid hydroids occurring in two recent, deep water collections from off New Caledonia are reported upon, of which 8 species are new, namely Cladocarpus asymmetricus sp. nov., C. partitus sp. nov., C. pennatus sp. nov., Lytocarpia fragilis sp. nov., L. pilosa sp. nov., L. pseudoctenata sp. nov., L. subtilis sp. nov. and Macrorhynchia spiralis sp. nov., the latter producing medusoid gonophores. Although not occurring in the present collections, brief notes on M. disjuncta (Pictet, 1893), including the first description of its gonosome, are provided to support its specific separation from M. phoenicea (Busk, 1852).
In this paper we describe Macrobiotus engbergi sp. nov. and Tenuibiotus zandrae sp. nov. from Greenland. Our study has involved both classical taxonomic methods, which include morphological and morphometric analyses conducted with the use of light and scanning electron microscopy, and genetic analysis based on four molecular markers (three nuclear: 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2, and one mitochondrial: COI). Moreover, we re-examined the type series of Tenuibiotus voronkovi (Tumanov, 2007) as well as the original sample where the species was found and we provide new morphological data from light and scanning electron microscopy which enabled us to amend its description. Finally, we also analysed slides with animals and egg of two populations from Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya (archipelago of Svalbard, Norway) designated as T. voronkovi within its recent redescription. The results and comparisons presented in our study question the validity of this designation.
A new symbiotic species of liljeborgiid amphipods, Liljeborgia associata sp. nov., is described from the burrows of the spoon worm Urechis unicinctus (Drasche, 1880) (Annelida: Polychaeta: Echiura: Urechidae) in the southern part of Peter the Great Bay and Posjeta Bay in the Sea of Japan. The new species is mostly similar and probably related to Liljeborgia geminata Barnard, 1969, known from the Californian coasts of the USA, and Liljeborgia serratoides Tzvetkova, 1967, described from Posjeta Bay in the Sea of Japan, but can be clearly distinguished from all congeners by morphological features of mouthparts, appendages and telson. The new species is only the fourth in the family Liljeborgiidae to be described from the Russian coast of the northwestern Pacific and the first in association with spoon worms (Echiura).
A new genus of Baetidae is described from Southeast Asia, Procerobaetis gen. nov. It has a wide distribution reaching from Indonesia (Sumatra) to the Philippines. Two new species are described from Indonesia, P. leptobranchius gen. et sp. nov. and P. petersorum gen. et sp. nov., and one new species from the Philippines, P. freitagi gen. et sp. nov. Procerobaetis gen. nov. is characterized by having seven pairs of elongate, apically pointed gills. At least gills I and II are very slender with strongly extended points, which is unique in Baetidae. Similar gills were described from Leptophlebiidae. Procerobaetis gen. nov. is further characterized by having long, slender legs with extended, slender and slightly bent claws. The antennae posess remarkable spines at the outer, lateral margin, which are maximally developed on segments IX–XI of the flagellum. No spines are present on the posterior margins of abdominal tergites I–VI. COI sequences were obtained from all three of the new species. The genetic distances (Kimura 2-parameter) between these species are between 13% and 20%. Very limited genetic distances of 0% to 1% were found between specimens of the same species. The occurrence of two different species in the same area of Sumatra is discussed.
A new jumping spider genus, Manzuma gen. nov. (Salticidae Blackwall, 1841), is described, type species is Manzuma nigritibia (Caporiacco, 1941). Aelurillus reconditus Wesołowska & van Harten, 1994 is synonymized with Rafalus nigritibiis (Caporiacco, 1941). Four new combinations are proposed: M. jocquei gen. et comb. nov. (ex Aelurillus), M. kenyaensis gen. et comb. nov. (ex Langelurillus), M. lympha gen. et comb. nov. (ex Rafalus) and M. nigritibia gen. et comb. nov. (ex Rafalus). Three species, M. botswana gen. et sp. nov. (♂♀, Botswana and Republic of South Africa), M. petroae gen. et sp. nov. (♂♀, Republic of South Africa) and M. tanzanica gen. et sp. nov. (♂, Tanzania), are described. The male of M. kenyaensis gen. et comb. nov. and female of M. lympha gen. et comb. nov. are described for the first time. A new aelurilline synapomorphy is proposed. Identification key for males is provided.
Micropterigidae is a family of Lepidoptera characterized by plesiomorphic morphological characters. Presently, this family consists of more than 22 genera and is distributed throughout all biogeographic realms. Vietomartyria Hashimoto & Mey, 2000 presently consists of six species mainly from South China. Two new species of the genus, V. wuyunjiena sp. nov. and V. maoershana sp. nov., are described herein from China; adult genitalia and wing venation are illustrated. Some biological accounts of the new species are also provided. A key to all described Vietomartyria species is given.
Recent studies have shown that the speciose Holarctic genera of Leiobunum C.L. Koch, 1839 and Nelima Roewer, 1910 are polyphyletic taxa, and therefore, the traditional diagnostic characters for these European genera of Leiobuninae Banks, 1893 (respectively, the presence or absence of tubercle rows on leg coxae) are unsuitable. We present the description of Leiolima iberica gen. et sp. nov., a new endemic harvestman from the north-western part of the Iberian Peninsula. The newly established genus shows intermediate characters between Leiobunum and Nelima. In addition, the new genus is characterized by shorter legs compared to Leiobunum and the presence of trichomes on all leg femora and pedipalpal patellae, a structure that is absent in all other western Palearctic genera of the subfamily Leiobuninae.
Abiinae is the second-largest subfamily in Cimbicidae, a small family of true sawflies (Tenthredinoidea). The subfamily is adequately defined, but the generic classification has been unstable. Currently, only two genera are regarded as valid: Abia Leach, 1817 and Allabia Semenov & Gussakovskij, 1937. We evaluate the generic classification of Abiinae in a phylogenetic context. A total of 32 species (out of 57 described for the subfamily), including the type species of Allabia, Allabia infernalis (Semenov, 1896), are scored for 150 adult morphological characters. Results show some resolution, but only few clades can be circumscribed by consistent character combinations. Most of the characters that have previously been used to define genera are not congruent; consequently, most suggested genus definitions appear to be random character state combinations and few natural groups can be identified. For these reasons, we treat Allabia syn. nov. as a junior synonym of Abia and make the following additional taxonomic changes: Abia infernalis Semenov, 1896 comb. rev. and Abia malaisei (Semenov & Gussakovskij, 1937) syn. nov. For the purpose of long-term stability of the classification of Abiinae, we recommend recognizing only one genus, Abia, within the subfamily.
After the examination of a large collection of Oniscidea from caves in the Brazilian states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, Pará, Sergipe and São Paulo, 12 species were recognized in the families Philosciidae and Scleropactidae. Four new species are described: Alboscia jotajota sp. nov. from the Açungui group; Androdeloscia akuanduba sp. nov. and Amazoniscus spica sp. nov. from the Carajás Formation; and Metaprosekia igatuensis sp. nov. from the Quadrilátero Ferrífero karst region. In addition, Atlantoscia inflata, Benthana longicornis, B. olfersii, B. picta and Paratlantoscia rubromarginata (Philosciidae) are recorded from Brazilian caves for the first time; and Benthana iporangensis, B. taeniata and Circoniscus bezzii (Scleropactidae) have the knowledge of their distribution extended to cave habitats.
Lebbeus sokhobio sp. nov. is described from abyssal depths (3303−3366 m) in the Kuril Basin of the Sea of Okhotsk. The related congeners are deep-water dwellers with a very distant distribution and very similar morphology. The new species is separated by minor morphological features, such as the armature of the rostrum and telson, meral spinulation of ambulatory pereiopods and the shape of the pleonal pleurae. This species is the deepest dwelling representative of the genus Lebbeus and the family Thoridae. A list of records of caridean shrimps recorded from abyssal depths below 3000 m is given.
Streblopus Van Lansberge, 1874 has been one of the most mysterious dung beetle groups of the Neotropical fauna, having a rather peculiar morphology, very few known specimens in collections and a difficult placement among the scarabaeine lineages. In this work, based on the examination of a recently collected series of specimens and a synthesis of some scattered, but deeply valuable, information available in the literature, we readdress many of the questions posed by past authors. It is shown that Streblopus is a relict genus composed of two currently living species of widely disjunct distribution, namely S. opatroides Van Lansberge, 1874, from patches of Atlantic Forest in the Brazilian states of Bahia and Espírito Santo, and S. punctatus (Balthasar, 1938), known from a few localities across Sub-Andean humid forests in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Amazon Forest. We redescribe both and present in detail the evidence pointing to their validity as two independent species; a discussion of their remarkable sexual dimorphism is also given. The biogeography of Streblopus in South America is addressed, and we conclude that the present disjunct distribution of the genus is a consequence of the retreat of the tropical forest corridors that once connected the Atlantic Forest to the Amazon Basin through the South American Dry Diagonal during several periods of the Neogene, particularly until the Middle Miocene. Finally, we propose an African origin for the genus based on its close phylogenetic relationship with a group of Old World taxa ‒ particularly Circellium Latreille, 1825 and Scarabaeini. Having diverged from those groups in the late Upper Cretaceous, we argue that the ancestor of Streblopus arrived in South America crossing the Atlantic Ocean by rafting. We present a synthesis of data from a wide variety of biological groups to support our ideas and contend that long-distance dispersal hypotheses should be taken more seriously by scarab beetle specialists.
The Oriental genus of Eurybrachidae (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha) Purusha Distant, 1906 is reviewed and a key to the genera of Eurybrachini is given. Two new species, P. bellissima sp. nov. and P. vietnamica sp. nov. are described from Myanmar and North Vietnam, respectively. Purusha rubromaculata Distant, 1906 is proposed as a junior synonym of P. reversa (Hope, 1843). All species are illustrated, including all type specimens and the male genitalia for the first time. Distribution maps, identification key to species and biological data are provided. The sexual dimorphism in the genus is discussed. Five species are currently placed in Purusha.
The authors collected caddisflies in the Dabie Mountains in 2014 and 2015. Three species of Psilotreta Banks, 1899 were found: Psilotreta daidalos Malicky, 2000, P. furcata sp. nov., and
P. brevispinosa sp. nov. The species were collected by light sheet traps or hand nets near streams in mountainous forests. All the species are described and illustrated, and the species groups to which they belong are discussed. Some variation within P. daidalos is described and the species is newly recorded from the Anhui and Hubei Provinces.
Ribosome biogenesis is one cell function-defining process. It depends on efficient transcription of rDNAs in the nucleolus as well as on the cytosolic synthesis of ribosomal proteins. For newly transcribed rRNA modification and ribosomal protein assembly, so-called small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and ribosome biogenesis factors (RBFs) are required. For both, an inventory was established for model systems like yeast and humans. For plants, many assignments are based on predictions. Here, RNA deep sequencing after nuclei enrichment was combined with single molecule species detection by northern blot and in vivo fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based localization studies. In addition, the occurrence and abundance of selected snoRNAs in different tissues were determined. These approaches confirm the presence of most of the database-deposited snoRNAs in cell cultures, but some of them are localized in the cytosol rather than in the nucleus. Further, for the explored snoRNA examples, differences in their abundance in different tissues were observed, suggesting a tissue-specific function of some snoRNAs. Thus, based on prediction and experimental confirmation, many plant snoRNAs can be proposed, while it cannot be excluded that some of the proposed snoRNAs perform alternative functions than are involved in rRNA modification
The oomycete genus Ectrogella currently comprises a rather heterogeneous group of obligate endoparasitoids, mostly of diatoms and algae. Despite their widespread occurrence, little is known regarding the phylogenetic affinities of these bizarre organisms. Traditionally, the genus was included within the Saprolegniales, based on zoospore diplanetism and a saprolegnia/achlya-like zoospore discharge. The genus has undergone multiple re-definitions in the past, and has often been used largely indiscriminately for oomycetes forming sausage-like thalli in diatoms. While the phylogenetic affinity of the polyphyletic genus Olpidiopsis has recently been partially resolved, taxonomic placement of the genus Ectrogella remained unresolved, as no sequence data were available for species of this genus. In this study, we report the phylogenetic placement of Ectrogella bacillariacearum infecting the freshwater diatom Nitzschia sigmoidea. The phylogenetic reconstruction shows that Ectrogella bacillariacearum is grouped among the early diverging lineages of the Saprolegniomycetes with high support, and is unrelated to the monophyletic diatom-infecting olpidiopsis-like species. As these species are neither related to Ectrogella, nor to the early diverging lineages of Olpidiopsis s. str. and Miracula, they are placed in a new genus, Diatomophthora, in the present study.
Arachnides 95.2020
(2020)
The conspicuous Mediterranean brittle star Ophioderma longicauda (Bruzelius, 1805) has been discovered to represent a cryptic species complex, consisting of six nuclear clusters with contrasting reproductive modes (broadcast spawners and brooders). Here, O. longicauda is re-described. It is distinguished by a dark reddish-brown colouration both dorsally and on the ventral disc, and multiple tumid dorsal arm plates. One eastern Mediterranean brooding cluster is described as O. zibrowii sp. nov., characterized by a dark olive-green colour both dorsally and on the ventral disc, and single dorsal arm plates. Another brooder is described from Tunisia as O. hybrida sp. nov., with a highly variable morphology that reflects its origin by hybridization of O. longicauda and a brooder (possibly O. zibrowii sp. nov.), leaving the third brooding cluster as morphologically indistinguishable at this point and possibly conspecific with one of the others. The West-African O. guineense Greef, 1882 is resurrected as a valid species, differing morphologically from O. longicauda by predominantly single dorsal arm plates and light green or creamy white ventral side. Also from West Africa, O. africana sp. nov. is described, characterized by a dark brown colour, dorsally and ventrally, and single dorsal arm plates.
Eight new species of Ecuadorian Ptiliidae are described and figured: Nossidium harrietae sp. nov., Ptenidium robustum sp. nov., P. tauriforme sp. nov., P. triangulum sp. nov., Notoptenidium brunneum sp. nov., Americoptilium nigrescens sp. nov., Discheramocephalus nigerrimus sp. nov. and D. striatus sp. nov. The insects were collected by J. McClarin, 2017–2018, in the Napo Province to the southeast of the capital Quito.
A new species of praying mantis, Vates phoenix sp. nov. (Mantidae, Vatinae), is described from localities within Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states, Brazil. This is the first record of Vates from the Atlantic Rainforest biome. The new species is unique among its congeners in having, among other features, strongly reduced cuticular projections above the lateral ocelli, structures otherwise well developed and produced in all other species of Vates. Remarks on the natural history and biogeography of Vates, in relation to this new finding, are further discussed.
Amphipod material collected from Brazil on Ilha do Arvoredo, (Santa Catarina), Campos Basin, (Rio de Janeiro) and Espírito Santo Basin (Espírito Santo) in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean yielded new taxonomic findings for the subfamily Phtisicinae Vassilenko, 1968. Hemiproto wigleyi McCain, 1968, previously recorded from the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean Sea, is herein redescribed and recorded for the first time from the Brazilian coast. The type material of Phtisica verae Quitete, 1979, a poorly described species recorded from Brazil and based only on its original description, was examined and considered herein as a junior synonym of P. marina Slabber, 1769, a well-known and widely distributed species from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In this paper, Phtisica marina is redescribed, with its two morphotypes of male gnathopod two, and compared with previous descriptions. The geographic distribution of both H. wigleyi and P. marina is provided.
The taxa Cubicostissus palaeocaeni gen. et sp. nov. are described from the Paleocene of Menat (Central France) as the oldest representative of the family Issidae for which all currently known fossils are reviewed. With a unique combination of characters, the specimen represents the first fossil described for the tribe Hysteropterini. Its occurrence in the European Paleocene shows that its lineage, and therefore the Issidae, were already present at least some 60 Ma. It allows to discard the hypothesis of an Eocene origin for the family, which is in accordance with a recent molecular calibration of the family, reporting the tribe as old as the Upper Cretaceous.
During several sampling campaigns in the regions of Galicia and Andalusia in Spain and the Algarve region in Portugal, specimens of twelve species of schizorhynch rhabdocoels were collected. Four of these are new to science: three species of Proschizorhynchus (P. algarvensis sp. nov., P. arnautsae sp. nov. and P. troglodytus sp. nov.) and one species of Schizochilus (S. coninxae sp. nov.). The new species of Proschizorhynchus can be distinguished from their congeners by the curvature and length of their stylet, as well as the cirrus sheath and the organisation of the genital system. Schizochilus coninxae sp. nov. has a distinct two-part stylet that is unique within the genus. In addition to these new species, new data are reported for the diascorhynchid Diascorhynchus caligatus and the schizorhynchids Carcharodorhynchus multidentatus, C. tenuis, C. flavidus, Proschizorhynchus pectinatus and P. reniformis. Finally, new records for C. flavidus from the Hawaiian archipelago are presented.
Canthon (Peltecanthon) is revised in this work. The subgenus now includes four species: C. (P.) staigi (Pereira, 1953), C. (P.) haroldi nom. nov., C. (P.) splendidus Schmidt, 1922 and C. (P.) terciae sp. nov. All species occur in the Atlantic Forest. Maps, natural history information, specimen data and illustrations are provided.
The genus Rudolfina Roháček, 1987 is revised and redefined with the description of the following nine new species, all from the New World: R. bucki sp. nov. (Mexico), R. exuberata sp. nov. (widespread, from USA to Brazil), R. howdeni sp. nov. (Mexico), R. megepandria sp. nov. (Mexico), R. newtoni sp. nov. (Mexico), R. pauca sp. nov. (Guatemala, Mexico), R. pilosa sp. nov. (Mexico), R. remiforma sp. nov. (Mexico) and R. tumida sp. nov. (Mexico, USA). Rudolfina is compared to closely related genera in the Archiceroptera genus complex, which in turn is recognized as part of a large, mostly Neotropical clade including Robustagramma Marshall & Cui, 2005, Pterogramma Spuler, 1924, Aptilotella Duda, 1924, Bitheca Marshall, 1987, Bromeloecia Spuler, 1924 and Archiceroptera Papp, 1977.
This paper describes a novel species of the genus Heterophoxus Shoemaker, 1925 from Brazil. The material examined was collected during the Mini Biological Trawl Project, off southeast and southern Brazil's coast off the states of Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, ranging in depth from 25 to 128 meters. The new species, H. shoemakeri sp. nov., is similar to H. videns K.H. Barnard, 1930; however, the former species can be distinguished by: pereopod 7 basis posterior margin serrate with acute teeth, merus posterior margin not produced; epimeral plate 3 posteroventral corner with a longer acute projection, posterior margin almost straight; uropod 3 outer ramus article 2 clearly notable in both sexes. For Brazilian waters, this is the second record of the genus and the first species described with type material from the country. Besides that, we provide an identification key for the world species of Heterophoxus and a distribution map for the new species.
Diplura is a group of entognathous hexapods, often considered a sister group to insects. They play an important role in recycling organic matter in soil and subterranean terrestrial ecosystems. The Campodeidae is the most diverse family, divided into four subfamilies. The subfamily Plusiocampinae has a subterranean life-style with many species distributed in the Euro-Mediterranean area. The incertae sedis tachycampoids ("lignée Tachycampoïde") is a group within the family Campodeidae that share with the Plusiocampinae a strong preference for subterranean habitats and several morphological characters, such as slender body shape, elongated appendages, considerable increment in the number of antennomeres and cercal articles, and complexity of sensorial structures. The present monograph provides a taxonomic revision of the subfamily Plusiocampinae and the genera belonging to the tachycampoid lineage from Europe and the Mediterranean region. It comprises detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations together with data on the habitats and distributions of 87 species, 10 subspecies and 11 affinis forms. Seven new species are described among those, namely: Plusiocampa (Plusiocampa) apollo Sendra, Giachino & Vailati sp. nov., P. (P.) chiosensis Sendra & Gasparo sp. nov., P. (P.) dublanskii Sendra & Turbanov sp. nov., P. (P.) hoffmanni Sendra & Paragamian sp. nov., P. (P.) rhea Sendra sp. nov., P. (P.) ternovensis Sendra & Borko sp. nov. and P. (Venetocampa) ferrani Sendra & Delić sp. nov.
Microthlaspi erraticum is widely distributed in temperate Eurasia, but restricted to Ca2+-rich habitats, predominantly on white Jurassic limestone, which is made up by calcium carbonate, with little other minerals. Thus, naturally occurring Microthlaspi erraticum individuals are confronted with a high concentration of Ca2+ ions while Mg2+ ion concentration is relatively low. As there is a competitive uptake between these two ions, adaptation to the soil condition can be expected. In this study, it was the aim to explore the genomic consequences of this adaptation by sequencing and analysing the genome of Microthlaspi erraticum. Its genome size is comparable with other diploid Brassicaceae, while more genes were predicted. Two Mg2+ transporters known to be expressed in roots were duplicated and one showed a significant degree of positive selection. It is speculated that this evolved due to the pressure to take up Mg2+ ions efficiently in the presence of an overwhelming amount of Ca2+ ions. Future studies on plants specialized on similar soils and affinity tests of the transporters are needed to provide unequivocal evidence for this hypothesis. If verified, the transporters found in this study might be useful for breeding Brassicaceae crops for higher yield on Ca2+-rich and Mg2+ -poor soils.
Arachnides 94.2020
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Arachnides 93.2020
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Arachnides 92.2020
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Am 7. Oktober 2019 starb plötzlich und unerwartet DIETRICH BÜSCHER, der von uns allen DIETER genannt wurde. Er gehörte seit den 1980er Jahren zu den bekanntesten und sicherlich auch emsigsten Botanikern Nordrhein-Westfalens und war im BOCHUMER BOTANISCHEN VEREIN eines der ersten Mitglieder. DIETER erforschte nicht nur jahrzehntelang die Flora des Landes, sondern setzte sich auch aktiv und energisch für den Erhalt der Natur ein. Mit ihm verliert unser Verein und insbesondere auch das Ruhrgebiet einen der besten Kenner der hiesigen Flora und ihrer Veränderungen in den letzten 40 Jahren.
Dass Pflanzenarten bei aller Dynamik nicht einfach zufällig an bestimmten Orten zusammen erscheinen, sondern in wiederkehrenden und beschreibbaren Mustern, ist in der Öffentlichkeit noch immer wenig bekannt. Diese Muster werden von der Vegetationskunde seit ihren Anfängen im 19. Jahrhundert wissenschaftlich untersucht. Die Grundeinheit ist dabei die Pflanzengesellschaft oder Assoziation. Damit ist die Gesamtheit aller Pflanzenarten gemeint, die unter bestimmten biotischen und abiotischen Bedingungen regelhaft miteinander koexistieren. Um auf die Gefährdung und Schutzwürdigkeit der heimischen Pflanzengesellschaften aufmerksam zu machen, hat die Floristisch-Soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft (Tuexenia) für das Jahr 2019 zum ersten Mal eine "Pflanzengesellschaft des Jahres" ausgerufen (DIERSCHKE & HEINKEN 2018, TISCHEW & al. 2018). Die Wahl ist auf die Glatthaferwiese (Arrhenatheretum elatioris) gefallen, was kaum ein Zufall sein dürfte, denn Glatthaferwiesen gehören zu den buntesten und auffälligsten Pflanzengesellschaften unserer Landschaften – und sie sind im Flachland mittlerweile von vollständiger Vernichtung bedroht (FINCK & al. 2017).
Es wird über einen Fund von Alyxoria ochrocheila an Fraxinus excelsior in Nordrhein-Westfalen bei Hirschrott im Naturschutzgebiet "Erkensruhrtal mit Nebenbächen und Felsen am Oberseeufer" im Nationalpark Eifel berichtet, der einen Neufund für die Nordeifel und den Nationalpark Eifel darstellt. Die Neuansiedlung steht wahrscheinlich im Zusammenhang mit den steigenden Temperaturen im Rahmen des Klimawandels.
Auf einer etwa 0,5 ha großen Obstwiese an der Schattbachstraße in Bochum-Querenburg/Laer wurden von Mai 2018 bis Juli 2019 Flora, Fauna und Funga soweit möglich erfasst. Die Artenliste soll als Grundlage dienen, Veränderungen in der Artenzahl und Artenzusammensetzung bei einer späteren Untersuchung analysieren zu können. Diese Veränderungen erfolgen durch die Überführung der ehemaligen Wiesenbrache mit gelegentlicher Beweidung in eine zweischürige Glatthaferwiese im Sinn einer "Historischen Wiese". Insgesamt wurden 710 Arten nachgewiesen, unter ihnen 183 Pflanzenarten (168 Gefäßpflanzen, 13 Moose, 2 Algen), 32 Pilzarten, 13 Flechtenarten und 482 Tierarten. Bei den Tieren stand die Erfassung der Insekten (400 Arten), insbesondere der Anteil der Bestäuber (158 Arten, 40 %), im Fokus. Durch die Nutzungsänderung zu einer blütenreichen Mähwiese sind in dieser Gruppe am ehesten positive Veränderungen zu erwarten. Die Bestäuber werden hinsichtlich ihrer Blütenbesuche analysiert und die wichtigsten Pflanzenarten aufgeführt, an denen sie beobachtet wurden. Dabei stellen sich neben den Obstbäumen fünf Arten der Krautschicht (Senecio jacobaea, Heracleum sphondylium, Daucus carota, Anthriscus sylvestris und Cirsium arvense) mit jeweils 20 oder mehr unterschiedlichen Bestäubern als meistbesuchte Arten heraus. Bei der Bestäubung dominieren mit 38 % Hautflügler-Arten (Hymenoptera), gefolgt von Zweiflüglern (Diptera, 26 %), Käfern (Coleoptera, 18 %) und Schmetterlingen (Lepidoptera, 18 %). Die Anteile der gefährdeten Arten mit 9 (1,7 %) (zusätzlich 9 Arten der Vorwarnliste) und der Neobiota mit 32 Arten (4,5 %, 19 Neophyten, davon 10 unbeständig, und 13 Tierarten) sind relativ gering. Die gewählten Entwicklungsmaßnahmen der Wiese, die neben der Mahd auch Einsaaten umfassen, werden erläutert und Artenzahlen sowie Erfolgsperspektiven auch vor dem Hintergrund der klimatischen Änderungen diskutiert.
Als Maßnahme gegen das "Insektensterben" werden Samentütchen im Handel angeboten oder von Firmen und Behörden verteilt, die im Garten, aber auch in der freien Landschaft, ausgestreut werden. Häufig wird dies von Naturschutzverbänden unterstützt. Der Inhalt dieser Tütchen ist in der Regel nicht dokumentiert und besteht in vielen Fällen aus nicht-einheimischen, einjährigen Arten, die zu keinem nachhaltigen, positiven Effekt in der Natur führen und höchstens den häufigen Insektenarten nützen. Es werden die Komplexität der Themenfelder "Insek-tensterben" und "Ansaaten" beleuchtet und Handlungsalternativen zur ungezielten Samenaussaat aufgezeigt.