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This paper provides descriptions of two new species of Calcigorgia gorgonians collected from the Sea of Okhotsk between 1973 and 2008. The new species are Calcigorgia herba sp. nov. and С. lukini sp. nov., belonging to the deep-water coral fauna of the temperate Northern Pacific. The taxonomy structure of the genus is reviewed and a comparative table is provided for all known species of Calcigorgia. The following taxonomic changes are made: the diagnosis of the genus was corrected from that given in Matsumoto et al. (2019); synonymization of C. simushiri Dautova, 2018 with C. spiculifera Broch, 1935 and inclusion of additional specimens in C. japonica Dautova, 2007 (both performed by Matsumoto et al. 2019) are assumed erroneous. The finding of previously undescribed species emphasizes the need for further surveys, particularly in deeper waters, to improve knowledge of the Octocorallia fauna in Far East seas. The distribution of Calcigorgia (Octocorallia, Acanthogorgiidae) is reviewed and presented based on field and collection studies published since 1935 as well as miscellaneous data from previous literature.
Three new species of Ochodaeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Ochodaeidae) from Madagascar are described that have a strongly granulate pronotum and, unlike all previously described species from the country, possess a clypeal tubercle or minute horn: O. meridialis, O. umbonulus, and O. iniquipes. An update to the key to the species of Ochodaeus from Madagascar is provided.
Two new species of Mexican Clytini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) are described: Trichoxys giesberti Botero, Santos-Silva and Wappes (also added to a recent key) and Megacyllene giesberti Botero, Santos-Silva and Wappes. The geographical distribution of Megacyllene melanaspis (Chevrolat, 1862) is expanded to include Bolivia, new country record, and compared to the similar and sympatric Megacyllene proxima (Laporte and Gory, 1841); Megacyllene asteca (Chevrolat, 1860) is proposed as a new combination for the previous Plagionotus asteca, and Amyipunga armaticollis (Zajciw, 1964) is redescribed to correct previous errors regarding it in the literature. Additionally, characters to help separate it from the similar species Amyipunga moritzii (Thomson, 1861) are provided.
Coniopteryx tineiformis Curtis (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) is reported from Pennsylvania for the first time, a new state record. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s collection holdings were reviewed and four specimens from two counties were found. These records fill in a gap in this species’ reported range, despite no records of it from adjacent states.
New tribes, overview and checklist of Neotropical Cladonotinae (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tetrigidae)
(2019)
The Cladonotinae (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tetrigidae) are a peculiar tetrigid taxon characterized by a relatively widened fascial carina on the frontal costa. This group currently has a doubtful taxonomic status since this is the only character shared by its members. Here, we provide an overview of the Cladonotinae reported from the Neotropical region (29 species, three of them fossils), based on the morphological examination of the specimens housed at several museums. We show that Neotropical Cladonotinae share more characteristics, which strengthen its taxonomic status, and propose two new tribes: Choriphyllini n. trib. and Mucrotettigini n. trib. We propose the new combination Cota undulata (Cadena-Castañeda and Cardona-Granda, 2015) n. comb. (from Metrodora undulata Cadena-Castañeda and Cardona, 2015). We also propose splitting the genus Dasyleurotettix Rehn, 1904 by revalidating the status of one of its junior synonyms, Liotettix Bolívar, 1906, and creating the combinations Liotettix affinis Bruner, 1920 n. comb. (from Dasyleurotettix affinis (Bruner, 1920)), L. lobulatus Stål, 1861, rev. comb. and L. miserabilis Blanchard, 1851, rev. comb. We then transfer both Liotettix and Dasyleurotettix out of Cladonotinae, with the former going to subfamily Tetriginae and the latter going to tribe Criotettigini (Tetrigidae: Scelimeninae). Additionally, we provide a taxonomic key for Neotropical Cladonotinae genera.
Nomenclatural and taxonomic changes are proposed for American Apomecynini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae). New synonymies: Parmenonta valida Thomson, 1868, type species of Parmenonta Thomson, 1868, is transferred to Adetus LeConte, 1852, making obligatory the synonymy of Parmenonta with Adetus; Adetus cylindricus Bates, 1866 = A. inaequalis (Thomson, 1868); Adetus leucostigma Bates, 1880 = Adetus binotatus (Thomson, 1868); Adetus tuberosus Galileo and Martins, 2003 = Typophaula melancholica Thomson, 1868; Adetus latericius Belon, 1902, and Adetus irregularis (Breuning, 1939) = Adetus nanus (Fairmaire and Germain, 1859). New records: Adetus binotatus for Chiapas, Guerrero, Tamaulipas, and Quintana Roo (Mexico), new state records; A. inaequalis for Amapá (Brazil), new state record; A. punctatus for Brazil (Rondônia), and Suriname, new country records; Adetus bacillarius Bates, 1885 for Mexico, new country record, and Brazil, new country record; Adetus insularis Breuning, 1940 for Mexico, new country record; Adetus nanus, for Brazil (Pará), new state record, Colombia and Venezuela, new country records. Adetus validus (Thomson, 1868) comb. nov. (from Parmenonta Thomson, 1868). New genera and new species: Adetus x-fasciatus Santos-Silva, Nascimento and Wappes, from Paraguay and Argentina; Adetus monteverdensis Santos-Silva, Nascimento and Wappes, from Costa Rica; Adetus pseudobacillarius Santos-Silva, Nascimento and Wappes, from Costa Rica; Adetus clinei Santos- Silva, Nascimento and Wappes, from Bolivia; Adetaptera Santos-Silva, Nascimento and Wappes, new genus, with A. albisetosus (Bates, 1880) comb. nov. designated as type species; Adetaptera schaffneri Santos-Silva, Nascimento and Wappes, from Mexico; Morrisia Santos-Silva, Nascimento and Wappes, new genus, for M. squamosa (Chemsak and Noguera, 1995) comb. nov., transferred from Adetus LeConte, 1852 and designated as type species, and M. pulchra Santos-Silva, Nascimento and Wappes, from Mexico; Skillmania Santos-Silva, Nascimento and Wappes, new genus, with S. obrienorum Santos-Silva, Nascimento and Wappes comb. nov., from Mexico, designated as type species. New combinations: The following 15 species are transferred from Parmenonta to Adetaptera: A. albosticta (Galileo and Martins, 2003), A. chapadensis (Martins and Galileo, 1999), A. fulvosticta (Bates, 1885), A. insularis (Fisher, 1930), A. laevepunctata (Breuning, 1940), A. lenticula (Galileo and Martins, 2006), A. maculata (Martins and Galileo, 1999), A. minor (Bates, 1880), A. ovatula (Bates, 1880), A. parallela (Lameere, 1893), A. punctigera (Germar, 1823), A. strandiella (Breuning, 1940), A. thomasi (Linsley and Chemsak, 1985), A. wickhami (Schaeffer, 1908), and A. dominicana (Galileo and Martins, 2004).
A survey of the parasitoids associated with Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) in the Republic of Korea in 2014 resulted in the documentation of one species of Aphelinidae, Marietta picta (Andre), and two species of Encyrtidae, Metaphycus eriococci (Timberlake) and Zaomma eriococci (Ferrière). Of these, M. eriococci and Z. eriococci are newly recorded from Korea. In addition, one species of encyrtid is newly recognized as a parasitoid associated with A. lagerstroemiae from Korea. In this paper, the list of parasitoid species of A. lagerstroemiae that occur in Korea is updated and a brief diagnosis and photographs of these species are provided.
The host plant and life history observations of Plesioclytus morrisi Wappes and Skelley and Plesioclytus relictus Giesbert (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Plesioclytini) are described for the first time. The host for both species is shown to be Polygonum polygamum Vent. (Polygonaceae). Observations also indicate that plants chosen for oviposition occur in open sand areas of scrub habitat.
Host plants of Romulus globosus Knull (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are described for the first time. Notes on its natural history are provided. The larvae of R. globosus feed in living roots of scrub oaks, including Quercus geminata Small, Quercus myrtifolia Willd., and Quercus laevis Walter. Field observations show that the beetle emerges below ground, and females may burrow to lay eggs on the roots.
Records of Odonata from the southwest of Sri Aman Division and the extreme east of Serian Division in Sarawak are presented. The sampled areas are interesting not only because they are poorly known for Odonata but also because many are just to the south and west of the Lupar Line which is a division between the ancient Sunda shelf and more recent geological formations. Differences between the odonate faunas on either side of the Lupar Line are discussed. Eightyfive species of Odonata were recorded during the surveys reported on. The single most notable record is that of Coeliccia southwelli Dow & Reels, 2011, which represents a considerable extension to the known range of this species. Other interesting records include Telosticta dupophila (Lieftinck, 1933), T. species cf longigaster Dow & Orr, 2012, Podolestes parvus Dow & Ngiam, 2019 and Heliogomphus species cf olivaceous Lieftinck, 1961. Variation in the markings of Stenagrion dubium (Laidlaw, 1912) across its range is discussed and a gene tree using the COI marker is presented to illustrate the high variability of this species in this marker. However the variability in COI does not appear to be correlated with other characters.
Records of Odonata collected in Gunong Mulu National Park in Sarawak are presented. Between 2005 and 2019, in 12 surveys that lasted between one week and five months, 163 species were collected. The collections from Gunong Mulu National Park are of importance for the taxonomic study of dragonflies and damselflies in Borneo; several species have been described based on material collected in the Park.
Another survey of Odonata on the Indonesian island of Belitung is reported. This survey was the second survey conducted in the Belitung area with International Dragonfly Fund support and was focused to Belitung Regency's outer islands. Seventy two species were recorded during the survey. Significant records from the surveyed islands include Amphicnemis kuiperi, Mortonagrion arthuri, Mortonagrion appendiculatum, Teinobasis ruficollis, Platylestes heterostylus, Pornothemis serrata, Pornothemis starrei and Tramea phaeoneura. Almost all the records are new to the small islands surveyed, except for Mendanau Island for which there were already records of four species. A checklist of the odonate fauna of the outer islands is given in an appendix.
Globally urban wetlands are under high anthropogenic pressure of degradation. Urban wetlands are hotspots for species losses and rapid turnover in species assemblages. Therefore, studying such wetlands may provide an estimate of the pace of local extinction, concerning wetlanddependent species such as odonates. We undertook a study to document odonate species across a tropical urbanization gradient. We sampled six localities across the gradient across the Mula River that flows through the Pune City, India. We sampled adult odonates using a newly devised Halfcircle Point Count method from September 2016 to March 2017. We took multiple temporal replicates per site. We also sampled larvae across six sites once in November 2016. We measured site characteristics such as canopy cover, solid waste, and water turbidity to understand the level of disturbance at each site. We recorded 41 odonates, six species (primarily Gomphidae members) exclusively from the larval sampling. We did not find the localization of species in a particular site across the urbanization gradient, possibly because we sampled a relatively short stretch of the river to capture the variation. Here, we update the Odonata list of Pune including data on larvae. We demonstrate that larval sampling complements Odonata surveys, especially in recording Gomphids.
We recommend future research to include a longer timespan and extensive sampling area.
Odonatological results of a trip across the southern Far East of Russia, from nearly the border of North Korea to Khabarovsk from July 1st to 16th, 2014, are presented. In total, 50 species were recorded, including those with limited presence in Russia, such as Paracercion calamorum, P. hieroglyphicum, P. plagiosum (for this species the 3rd Russian locality is reported), Pseudocopera tokyoensis, Stylurus annulatus (2nd Russian locality), Sinictinogomphus clavatus; Trigomphus citimus, Macromia daimoji (3rd Russian locality), M. manchurica, Deielia phaon, Lyriothemis pachygastra (2nd Russian locality). For S. annulatus, M. manchurica and D. phaon the northernmost known localities in the world are reported. D. phaon, earlier reported from one locality in Russia, have been found in five localities in Primorye and for the first time reported for Khabarovskiy Kray in general and Bol'shekhekhtsirskiy State Nature Reserve in particular. A trend of mutual exclusion of two abundant Shaogomphus postocularis epophthalmus and S. schmidti is supposed: the lowermost Ussuri River / Amur River, respectively. Variation in Paracercion spp. and Macromia amphigena fraenata is discussed.
The New Caledonia archipelago is known for its high level of endemism in both faunal and floral groups. Thus far, only 12 species of non-marine ostracods have been reported. After three expeditions to the main island of the archipelago (Grande Terre), about four times as many species were found, about half of which are probably new. Here, we describe a new species, Cyprinotus drubea sp. nov., which is characterised mainly by the hyper-developed dorsal hump on the right valve, much larger than in any other known Recent species in this genus. After a literature study of the other presumed species in Cyprinotus Brady, 1886, we retain seven Recent species in the genus, including the present new species. Cyprinotus crenatus (Turner, 1893), C. dentatus (Sharpe, 1910), C. flavescens Brady, 1898, C. inconstans Furtos, 1936, C. newmexicoensis Ferguson, 1967, C. ohanopecoshensis Ferguson, 1966, C. pellucidus (Sharpe, 1897), C. scytodus (Dobbin, 1941) and C. sulphurous Blake, 1931 are here all referred to the genus Heterocypris s. lat. Claus, 1892. Cyprinotus unispinifera Furtos, 1936 is assigned to the genus Cypricercus Sars, 1895. Cyprinotus tenuis Henry, 1923, C. fuscus Henry, 1919 and C. carinatus (King, 1855) are here classified as doubtful species. A checklist of the 14 non-marine ostracods, now including Cyprinotus drubea sp. nov. and Cypris granulata (Daday, 1910), thus far reported from New Caledonia, is provided. Herpetocypris caledonica Méhes, 1939 and H. caledonica var. minor Méhes, 1939 are synonymised with Candonocypris novaezelandiae (Baird, 1843).
Survey in three protected areas of Chhattisgarh reveals the presence of 50 species of Odonata belonging to 34 genera and 9 families. Specimens were sampled from different lotic and lentic ecosystems. 17 species were exclusively found in or around running water. Larvae or exuviae of 23 species were found and photographed. Habitat availability, larval abundance, species composition and phenology are discussed.
Phnom Tumpor is a scarcely accessible basalt table mountain in the Cardamom Mts. in Pursat Province of Cambodia. On top surface it bears tall evergreen forest (ca 1100 m a.s.l.), concealing a slow rivulet, O'Gran, being a chain of deep pools. It was examined odonatologically on March 1418th, 2019. Six common species were recorded in dry and burnt scrub on the Phnom Tumpor slopes and ten on the forested upper surface at O'Gran, among them Polycanthagyna erythromelas (Selys, 1891) and Macromia sp. cf. pinratani Asahina, 1987 for the first time in Cambodia. The peculiarities of the males of Coeliccia kazukoae Asahina, 1984 from Phnom Tumpor and the problem of distinguishing females of M. pinratani and M. moorei are discussed.
The primary types of Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) of the Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP), São Paulo, are catalogued and illustrated. Data on the original combination, current name, gender, and type locality are verified and presented. There are 85 primary types of Onciderini including 23 in Oncideres Lacordaire, 1830; 10 in Cacostola Fairmaire and Germain, 1859; and five in Hesychotypa Thomson, 1868. Of the 85 primary types, 71 were described by Ubirajara R. Martins, many of these with Maria Helena M. Galileo. The type locality for Cacostola exilis Martins, Galileo, and Limeira-de- -Oliveira, 2011 is corrected based on the specimen label. A brief history of the Coleoptera collection at the MZSP is also presented.
The primary types of Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) of the Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin (ZMHB), Germany, are catalogued and illustrated. Data on the original combination, current name, gender, and type locality are verified and presented. There are 16 primary types of Onciderini including four in Oncideres Lacordaire, 1830 and three in Trestonia Buquet, 1859. Of the 16 primary types, seven were described by Ubirajara R. Martins, four by Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson, and three by Ernst Friedrich Germar.
Polysyncraton Nott, 1892 is the second largest genus of didemnid ascidians; it has a wide distribution ranging from temperate to tropical waters. Seventy-one specimens of Polysyncraton from eight museum collections and recently collected samples were analyzed. This resulted in the description of three new species (P. cabofriense Oliveira & Rocha sp. nov. from Brazil, P. globosum Oliveira & Rocha sp. nov. from Australia and P. snelliusi Oliveira & Rocha sp. nov. from Suriname) and emended descriptions of three further species (P. amethysteum (Van Name, 1902), P. magnilarvum (Millar, 1962) and P. purou C. Monniot & F. Monniot, 1987).
Populus primaveralepensis A.Vázquez, Muñiz-Castro & Zuno sp. nov., a new species from relict gallery cloud forest in Bosque La Primavera Biosphere Reserve (Mexico), is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to P. subsect. Tomentosae Hart., and is morphologically similar to P. luziarum A.Vázquez, Muñiz-Castro & Padilla-Lepe, but differs from it in having taller trees without root suckers, white and ringed young stems and branches, a branching angle of ca 45º, leaves with higher blade to petiole ratio, leafs frequently elliptic or ovate to widely ovate (vs widely ovate to ovatedeltoid), denser inflorescences, and shorter capsules. The conservation status of the species was assessed as Critically Endangered (CR).
Records of Odonata from Sarawak's Bintulu Division are presented. One hundred and sixtysix (or more) species are listed, of which three (Oligoaeschna amata (Förster, 1903), O. buehri (Förster, 1903) and Oligoaeschna (?) species) had not previously been recorded in Sarawak and Macromia species cf dione Lieftinck, 1971 had not previously been recorded from Borneo. Additionally this is the first published record of Prodasineura tenebricosa Lieftinck, 1937 from Sarawak, although it had been found at another location in the state prior to its discovery in Bintulu, and the first published record of Phyllothemis raymondi Lieftinck, 1950 from Borneo, although specimens from Kalimantan are present in the collections of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden. Other notable records include "Elattoneura" longispina Lieftinck, 1937, Pericnemis dowi Orr & Hämäläinen, 2013, Linaeschna polli Martin, 1909, Burmagomphus arthuri Lieftinck, 1953, Heliogomphus borneensis Lieftinck, 1964, Merogomphus femoralis Laidlaw, 1931, Chlorogomphus species, Macromidia genialis erratica Lieftinck, 1948 and Tetrathemis flavescens Kirby, 1889. Altogether there do not appear to be any previous published records from Bintulu Division of 52 of the species listed in this paper. The status of Rhyothemis fulgens Kirby, 1889 is discussed and illustrations of its anal appendages and those of R. pygmaea (Brauer, 1867) are provided. Illustrations of the anal appendages of Tetrathemis hyalina Kirby, 1889 and T. irregularis Brauer, 1868 are also provided. Identification problems when using COIbased DNA barcoding with some species of Archibasis are discussed, and the nuclear marker ITS is shown to be a successful alternative in these cases; COI and ITS gene trees for part of the genus are included. Some COI data for Macromia species are published and the marker is used to identify larvae of M. corycia Laidlaw, 1922 and establish the relationship of another Macromia larva with M. dione, a very poorly known species from Sumatra. Macromia euterpe Laidlaw, 1915 is considered to be the same species as M. westwoodii Selys, 1874 and dropped from the list of species known from Sarawak, however formal combination of the two species is left for a peer reviewed publication. A detailed list of previously unpublished specimens from the locations covered is given in an appendix. Concise checklists for two of the locations covered Similajau National Park (54 species) and the Bukit Mina Wildlife Corridor (84 species) are given in another appendix.
Climate change forces many species to move their ranges to higher latitudes or elevations. Resulting immigration or emigration of species might lead to functional changes, e.g., in the trait distribution and composition of ecological assemblages. Here, we combined approaches from biogeography (species distribution models; SDMs) and community ecology (functional diversity) to investigate potential effects of climate-driven range changes on frugivorous bird assemblages along a 3000 m elevational gradient in the tropical Andes. We used SDMs to model current and projected future occurrence probabilities of frugivorous bird species from the lowlands to the tree line. SDM-derived probabilities of occurrence were combined with traits relevant for seed dispersal of fleshy-fruited plants to calculate functional dispersion (FDis; a measure of functional diversity) for current and future bird assemblages. Comparisons of FDis between current and projected future assemblages showed consistent results across four dispersal scenarios, five climate models and two representative concentration pathways. Projections indicated a decrease of FDis in the lowlands, an increase of FDis at lower mid-elevations and little changes at high elevations. This suggests that functional dispersion responds differently to global warming at different elevational levels, likely modifying avian seed dispersal functions and plant regeneration in forest ecosystems along tropical mountains.
Telegeusinae is a small subfamily of Elateroid beetles presently attached to the Omethidae family. Pseudotelegeusis Wittmer, 1976 is composed of three species, two occurring in northern South America and one in Mexico. Here we describe the fourth species for the genus, Pseudotelegeusis meloi sp. nov., collected in a Malaise sample from the region of Madre de Dios, Peru. The new species is diagnosed mainly by the antennae serrate from antennomeres III to X, eyes occupying half of head width in lateral view and vertex occupying 3/5 of head in dorsal view. This new species is close to the other two South American species, P. howdeni Wittmer, 1976 and P. oculatus Wittmer, 1976, according to the serrate antennae and number of ventrites. The three South American species differ from the Mexican species, P. jiliotupaensis Zaragoza-Caballero, 2008, by the different antennae and the number of ventrites, which indicates that the Mexican species should possibly be classified in a different genus. The main morphological characters, including maxillar palpi, tentorial pits and male genitalia, are illustrated, and an updated key to the species of Pseudotelegeusis is given, as well as distribution maps.
Insect taxonomy is fundamental to global biodiversity research, but few studies have been conducted to track progress in this field using objective criteria. This study reports publishing trends in the taxonomy of four diverse, globally-distributed insect families from 1946 to 2012 to elucidate recent progress and the current status of insect taxonomy. Publications included in the Zoological Record online literature database were analyzed for Cicadellidae (leafhoppers), Miridae (plant bugs), Pyralidae (moths) and Staphylinidae (rove beetles). Data on numbers of new species, article length, species description length, authorship and collaborations, and taxonomic journals were extracted and compiled for each year. The results showed that (1) the number of taxonomic papers increased before 1980, followed by a steep decline with subsequent partial recovery; (2) the number of papers describing new species generally mirrored the trend in numbers of new species, suggesting no overall change in the proportion of larger, synthetic works (monographs) and more such work is encouraged; (3) the average number of new species described per publication decreased over the time period investigated, but with an increase in the average description pages per new species; (4) researchers from Europe and North America continue to produce the most taxonomic research on three of the four families, but the main center for Cicadellidae taxonomy has recently shifted to Asia; (5) collaboration among authors within and across continents has increased as indicated by increases in coauthored papers; and (6) journal prevalence differed for the four families and the top 10 most utilized journals for each family were given out for reference. Based on the analysis of the publication trend of the four families, we found that the overall trend toward increasing rates of species discovery is encouraging. But more human resources training and financial support on taxonomic work are required in order to complete a global faunistic inventory in a reasonable timeframe. Future study that conducts more in-depth and comprehensive analysis based on more families is required to reflect the overall trend of the insect taxonomy.
The present study aims to clarify the confused taxonomy of Z. schaufussi von Frauenfeld, 1862 and Zospeum suarezi Gittenberger, 1980. Revision of Iberian Zospeum micro snails is severely hindered by uncertainties regarding the identity of the oldest Iberian Zospeum species, Z. schaufussi von Frauenfeld, 1862. In this paper, we clarify its taxonomic status by designating a lectotype from the original syntype series and by describing its internal and external shell morphology. Using SEM-EDX, we attempt to identify the area of the type locality cave more precisely than "a cave in Spain". The shell described and illustrated by Gittenberger (1980) as Z. schaufussi appears not to be conspecific with the lectotype shell, and is considered a separate species, Z. gittenbergeri Jochum, Prieto & De Winter, sp. n.
Zospeum suarezi was described from various caves in NW Spain. Study of the type material reveals that these shells are not homogenous in shell morphology. The holotype shell of Z. suarezi is imaged here for the first time. The paratype shell, illustrated by Gittenberger (1980) from a distant, second cave, is described as Zospeum praetermissum Jochum, Prieto & De Winter, sp. n. The shell selected here as lectotype of Z. schaufussi, was also considered a paratype of Z. suarezi by Gittenberger (1980). Since this specimen is morphologically very similar to topotypic shells of Z. suarezi, the latter species is considered a junior synonym of Z. schaufussi (syn. n.). The internal shell morphology of all these taxa is described and illustrated using X-ray Micro Computer Tomography (Micro-CT).
Naviauxella varians Wiesner and Constant, n. sp. (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), is described. Neocollyris (Pachycollyris) bipartita unicolor (Horn, 1935), Therates laotiensis Sawada and Wiesner, 1999, Cosmodela duponti duponti (Dejean, 1826) and Cylindera (Ifasina) somnuki Naviaux, 1991 are recorded for the first time from Cambodia. Five tiger beetle species are recorded for the first time from Kampong Speu province, two for the first time from Ratanakiri province, and one each the first time from Pursat province and Preah Vihear province.
Chrysidea pumiloides Zimmermann, 1956 and its Malagasy allies are taxonomically revised. As a result, C. pumiloides and C. phoebe Zimmermann, 1956 are redescribed; two new species, C. vazimba sp. nov. and C. merina sp. nov., are described from museum collections, and another new species, C. rioae sp. nov., is described based on a male recently collected in Southern Madagascar, at Berenty Reserve. The habitus of the holotypes and the male genitalia are illustrated and the key to Malagasy Chrysidea Bischoff, 1913 is updated.
The 'D. bakoue species complex' Rafael, 1984 ('D. montium species group' Da Lage et al., 2007) comprises seven Afrotropical species. Using complete mitochondrial genome sequences and detailed morphological analysis, we revised thephylogenetic relationships between these species including two new ones. We found the 'D. bakoue species complex' to be a junior synonym of the 'D. seguyi species complex' Lachaise, 1971 and its seven species polyphyletic. We thus classified the species into three complexes, the 'D. seguyi species complex' comprises D. seguyi Smart, 1945, D. malagassya Tsacas & Rafael, 1982, D. curta Chassagnard & Tsacas, 1997 and D. chocolata sp. nov., the new 'D. tsacasi species complex' comprises D. tsacasi Bock & Wheeler, 1972 and D. seguyiana Chassagnard & Tsacas, 1997, and the new 'D. vulcana species complex' comprises D. vulcana Graber, 1957 and D. mylenae sp. nov. Drosophila bakoue Tsacas & Lachaise, 1974 could not be assigned to any of the defined complexes. The two new species are endemic to Madagascar and we report the presence of D. seguyi and D. curta in Mayotte and Madagascar, respectively. The results hence represent a significant step towards understanding the diversity and evolution of this species group in Africa and the islands of the Western Indian Ocean.
In this study, a total of 108 Aphidiinae species, belonging to 18 genera, associated with 240 aphid species in 16 countries of the Middle East and North Africa are reviewed. 743 host aphidparasitoid associations are listed. New material was collected from various regions of Saudi Arabia during 2011–2013. Three species including Aphidius avenae Haliday, 1834, Aphidius platensis Brèthes, 1913 and Praon barbatum Mackauer, 1967 are first recorded for the fauna of this country. Lysiphlebus marismortui Mescheloff & Rosen, 1990 syn. nov. is classified as the junior synonym of Lysiphlebus confusus Tremblay & Eady, 1978. An illustrated up-to-date key to all known species of Aphidiinae that occur in the Middle East and North Africa is provided. The findings are discussed in relation to the overall parasitoid-aphid associations in the target investigated region.
The taxonomic limits of Palpostilpnus Aubert, 1961 are reviewed. The genus is characterized mainly by having a very elongated maxillary palp; head short and depressed, with mandible small and with distinct basal groove; ovipositor short and slender, needle-like. A total of seventeen species are recognized, of which ten are described as new: P. aki sp. nov., P. angka sp. nov., P. angkor sp. nov., P. hainanensis sp. nov., P. mangrovi sp. nov., P. pterodactylus sp. nov., P. ranui sp. nov., P. singaporensis sp. nov., P. tamasek sp. nov. and P. trifolium sp. nov. The combination Palpostilpnus rufinator (Aubert, 1961) stat. rev. is proposed. An illustrated key to the known species of the genus is provided.
The Asian species of the subfamily Thaumastodinae Champion, 1924 are reviewed. Seven new species are described: Acontosceles borneensis sp. nov., Pseudeucinetus papuanus sp. nov., Mexico ogasawaraensis sp. nov., M. baliensis sp. nov., M. papuanus sp. nov., M. palauensis sp. nov. and M. borneensis sp. nov. The genus Babalimnichus Satô, 1994 is treated as a junior synonym of the genus Mexico Spilman, 1972, and three known species of the genus Babalimnichus are transferred to Mexico, viz. M. taiwanus (Satô, 1994) comb. nov., M. masamii (Satô, 1994) comb. nov. and M. splendens (Hernando & Ribera, 2003) comb. nov. Additional specimen data are shown, and new distributional records are as follows: Acontosceles chujoi Yoshitomi & Satô, 2005 from Vietnam; A. zetteli Pütz, 2008 from Laos; Pseudeucinetus javanicus Yoshitomi & Putra, 2010 from Lombok Island; Mexico taiwanus (Satô, 1994) comb. nov. from Lutao, Lanhsu and the Yonaguni-jima Islands; and M. masamii (Satô, 1994) comb. nov. from Kume-jima. A species list of the subfamily Thaumastodinae is given, with ZooBank LSIDs. The phylogenetic relationships of the thaumastodine genera are discussed.
The Swedish species of Ophion Fabricius, 1798 are revised. More than 4800 specimens and relevant type material were studied; 234 sampled specimens produced COI sequences. The study recognises 41 species, 18 of which are described as new to science, mainly from Fennoscandian material: Ophion angularis Johansson & Cederberg sp. nov., Ophion arenarius Johansson sp. nov., Ophion autumnalis Johansson sp. nov., Ophion borealis Johansson sp. nov., Ophion broadi Johansson sp. nov., Ophion brocki Johansson sp. nov., Ophion confusus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion ellenae Johansson sp. nov., Ophion inclinans Johansson sp. nov., Ophion kallanderi Johansson sp. nov., Ophion matti Johansson sp. nov., Ophion norei Johansson sp. nov., Ophion paraparvulus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion paukkuneni Johansson sp. nov., Ophion splendens Johansson sp. nov., Ophion sylvestris Johansson sp. nov., Ophion tenuicornis Johansson sp. nov. and Ophion vardali Johansson sp. nov. Barcoding analysis also indicated the possible presence of at least three additional, partly cryptic species, but these cannot be separated morphologically with certainty at this point. Ophion costatus Ratzeburg, 1848 and Ophion artemisiae Boie, 1855 are interpreted and defined. Ophion slaviceki Kriechbaumer, 1892 is excluded from synonymy with Ophion luteus Linnaeus, 1758 stat. rev. Ophion polyguttator (Thunberg, 1824) stat. rev. and Ophion variegatus Rudow, 1883 stat. rev. are excluded from synonymy with O. obscuratus Fabricius, 1798. Ophion variegatus is redescribed and a neotype is designated. Ophion albistylus Szépligeti, 1905 (syn. nov.) is synonymized with Ophion pteridis Kriechbaumer, 1879 and Ophion frontalis Strobl, 1904 (syn. nov.) is synonymized with Ophion areolaris Brauns, 1889 syn. nov. Eleven species are reported from Sweden for the first time: Ophion artemisiae, Ophion crassicornis Brock, 1982, Ophion costatus, Ophion dispar Brauns, 1895, Ophion forticornis Morley, 1915, Ophion kevoensis Jussila, 1965, Ophion ocellaris Ulbricht, 1926, Ophion perkinsi Brock, 1982, Ophion subarcticus Hellén, 1926, Ophion variegatus Rudow, 1883 and Ophion wuestneii Kriechbaumer, 1892. The study shows that a number of species that previously have been treated as highly variable taxa, actually consist of several valid species that are separable using morphological characters. An illustrated key for the determination of the Swedish Ophion species is provided.
Several taxonomic groups within Empidoidea Latreille, 1809 have been subject to unclear phylogenetic assignments along with multiple parallel hypotheses causing difficulties in classification and morphological identification. This study reviews the internal classification of the Ragadidae and includes a diagnosis and description of all included subfamilies and genera based on the results of an analysis of morphological characters using maximum parsimony. Illustration of important characters and a key to all genera in the family is given. The genus Hormopeza Zetterstedt, 1838 is found to be most closely related to Anthepiscopus Becker, 1891 and Iteaphila Zetterstedt, 1838, and the subfamily Iteaphilinae Wahlberg & Johanson, 2018 is therefore expanded to also include that genus. Hormopeza is consequently excluded from Ragadinae Sinclair, 2016. This study provides diagnoses, descriptions and keys in a contribution to a thorough classification of the empidoid groups and increased ease in morphological recognition.
We re-examined the type material of five of the seven described species of the marine tardigrade genus Angursa Pollock, 1979, namely, A. abyssalis Renaud-Mornant, 1981, A. bicuspis Pollock, 1979 (type species), A. capsula Bussau, 1992, A. lanceolata Renaud-Mornant, 1981, and A. lingua Bussau, 1992. In addition, we describe A. seisuimaruae sp. nov. from the Sea of Kumano, Japan. Based on new data obtained, we amend the diagnosis of this genus, provide a taxonomic key to species, and discuss their geographical distributions.
Chondrocyclus Ancey, 1898 is a genus of nine species of African operculate land snails restricted to indigenous forest and mesic thicket. Worn specimens (i.e., without a periostracum or operculum), on which some species descriptions and records were based, appear to be indistinguishable morphologically. A comprehensive revision of Chondrocyclus s.l. is provided here based on comparative morphological examinations of the shell, protoconch, periostracum, operculum, radula and penis, and on mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S rRNA. Two genus-level lineages are recognised, Chondrocyclus s.s. and Afrocyclus gen. nov. Revised species descriptions are given for seven species. Two species, C. meredithae Bruggen, 1983 and C. chirindae Bruggen, 1986 both from north of South Africa, are removed from Chondrocyclus. Twelve new species are described: C. herberti sp. nov., C. silvicolus sp. nov., C. amathole sp. nov., C. pondoensis sp. nov., C. devilliersi sp. nov., C. pulcherrimus sp. nov., C. cooperae sp. nov., C. langebergensis sp. nov., C. kevincolei sp. nov., A. oxygala gen. et sp. nov., A. potteri gen. et sp. nov. and A. bhaca gen. et sp. nov. This is the first detailed systematic revision of an Afrotropical cyclophorid group to include morphological and molecular data. This study complements research on other taxa of low-vagility forest-dwelling habitat specialists by providing comparative distribution data for an independent, widespread group. Such evidence is urgently needed for conservation of South Africa’s threatened forest biome.
The Neotropical Distictus Townes, 1966 is diagnosed, redescribed and its species revised. A neotype is designated for the type species, D. tibialis (Brullé, 1846). The genus is characterized mainly by having the body subcylindric; clypeal margin with median tooth; areolet medium-sized, pentagonal, with crossvein 3r-m distinct; first metasomal tergite short and stout, with anterolateral tooth. Distictus aurantium Santos & Aguiar, 2008 is shown to lack some of these character states and is transferred to Mallochia Viereck, 1912. A total of 12 valid species are recognized, ten of which are new: D. apaensis sp. nov., D. ardens sp. nov., D. asterios sp. nov., D. ateles sp. nov., D. caligaris sp. nov., D. commatus sp. nov., D. daelus sp. nov., D. notabilis sp. nov., D. paratibialis sp. nov. and D. terrosus sp. nov. Other valid species are D. tibialis and D. mexicanus Kasparyan & Ruíz-Cancino, 2005. All species are described and illustrated. New distribution records, maps and separate keys for females and males of the species are provided.
The world species of Netomocera Bouček, 1954 (Hymenoptera Linnaeus, 1758: Pteromalidae Dalman, 1820), excluding those from the Oriental region, are revised. The Oriental species are excluded because their types could not be examined, the species limits could not be reliably assessed based on original descriptions and available Oriental material was scarce. Eighteen species, including 11 species described as new, are recognized: N. africana Hedqvist, 1971; N. alboscapus Hedqvist, 1971; N. amethysta sp. nov.; N. celebensis sp. nov.; N. cyanocephala sp. nov.; N. desaegeri sp. nov.; N. formiciformis sp. nov.; N. gloriosa sp. nov.; N. irregularis sp. nov.; N. masneri sp. nov.; N. merida sp. nov.; N. meridionalis sp. nov.; N. nearctica Yoshimoto, 1977; N. ramakrishnai Sureshan, 2010; N. rufa Hedqvist, 1971; N. sedlaceki Bouček, 1988; N. setifera Bouček, 1954; N. virgata sp. nov. The female brachypterous form of N. nearctica and the male of N. alboscapus are described for the first time. A key to both sexes is provided, as well as diagnoses, descriptions and illustrations for all treated species. The genus is reported for the first time in the Neotropical region. For several species, new distributional records are also given.
The African shieldbug genus Afrius Stål, 1870 is revised. Cantheconidea migratoria Distant, 1913 and A. williamsi Miller, 1952 are proposed as junior synonyms of A. (Subafrius) flavirostrum (Signoret, 1861) whereas Canthecona marmorata Dallas, 1851, Canthecona annulipes Dallas, 1851 and A. rubromarginatus Bergroth, 1903 are proposed as junior synonyms of A. (Afrius) purpureus (Westwood, 1837) based on the general morphology and genitalia of the species. The three valid species, viz. A. (Subafrius) flavirostrum, A. (Afrius) kolleri Schouteden, 1911 and A. (Afrius) purpureus, are redescribed with details of male and female genitalia morphology, and a lectotype is designated for A. (Afrius) kolleri. A key to identify the species as well as an update of the geographical distribution for each species are provided, including new records for A. (Afrius) purpureus.
The Afrotropical (including Malagasy Subregion) species of the genus Asobara Foerster, 1863, are revised. In addition to the redescribed 15 known species, 25 new species are described and illustrated, viz., Asobara abyssiniensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. caboverdensis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. carinata Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. cracentis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. elongitarsis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. fletcheri Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. harrinsmithensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. kawandensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. kibalensis van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. laticlypeata van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. mediana van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. mellicephalata van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. natalensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. notleyi Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. robusta van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. sarae Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. somersetensis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. stubbsi Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. taylori Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. vanalpheni van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. vanharteni van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. victoriana Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. zaprionae van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. zimbabwana Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., A. zululana Peris-Felipo, sp. nov. Moreover, the following new combination is suggested: Asobara pulchricornis (Szépligeti, 1911) comb. nov. A key to all Afrotropical (including Malagasy) species is provided for the first time.
Revised definitions are given for the genus Mysidium Dana, 1852, and its eight previously known species, based on material from Curaçao, Bonaire and SE-Brazil, along with the evaluation of published data. Type material of Diamysis columbiae Zimmer, 1915, M. cubanense Băcescu & Ortiz, 1984 and M. rubroculatum Băcescu & Ortiz, 1984 is examined. A lectotype is designated for D. columbiae Zimmer, 1915, a senior synonym of Mysidium columbiae (Zimmer, 1915). Two new species are described, M. triangulare Wittmann sp. nov. from Curaçao and M. antillarum Wittmann sp. nov. from Curaçao and Bonaire. Known ranges are extended by first records of M. cubanense from Curaçao and Bonaire and of M. integrum W.M. Tattersall, 1951 from SE Brazil. Three morphologically different groups are established at the subgeneric level: (1) the nominotypical subgenus Mysidium Dana, 1852 with M. gracile (Dana, 1852), M. integrum, M. cubanense, M. rubroculatum and M. triangulare sp. nov. from the West Atlantic plus M. rickettsi Harrison & Bowman, 1987 from the East Pacific; (2) Occimysidium Wittmann subgen. nov. represented only by M. pumae Ortiz, Hendrickx & Winfield, 2017 from the Pacific coast of Mexico; and finally (3) Orientomysidium Wittmann subgen. nov. comprising M. columbiae and M. antillarum sp. nov. from the West Atlantic. The poorly known M. iliffei Băcescu, 1991 is not assigned to any subgenus. A key to the resulting three subgenera and ten nominal species of the genus Mysidium is given.
We revise the genus Attemsostreptus Verhoeff, 1941 based on type material of the type species, A. costatus Verhoeff, 1941, synonymise A. orobius (Kraus 1958) with A. costatus and describe a second species of the genus, A. reflexus sp. nov., collected from Kimboza Forest Reserve in Tanzania, and discuss the dubious tribe Trachystreptini.
Revision of the genus Cerapanorpa (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) with descriptions of four new species
(2019)
The genus Cerapanorpa Gao, Ma & Hua, 2016 is taxonomically revised. Cerapanorpa is confirmed to be endemic to the mountain regions in central China. Nineteen species are recognized in the genus, including four new species: Cerapanorpa baimaensis sp. nov., Cerapanorpa xuebaodinga sp. nov., and Cerapanorpa yanggashana sp. nov. from the Minshan Mountains, and Cerapanorpa taizishana sp. nov. from the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Six species are transferred from Cerapanorpa back to Panorpa Linnaeus, 1758. An updated key to species is presented.
We examined the type specimens and historical collections holding puzzling Atlantic and Mediterranean material belonging to the genus Schizoretepora Gregory, 1893. We performed a detailed study of the colonial characters and re-describe the resulting species and those that have rarely been found or have poor original descriptions. As a result of this revision, nine species are found in the northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. Six of them are re-described and illustrated: S. aviculifera (Canu & Bassler, 1930), S. calveti d’Hondt, 1975, S. imperati (Busk, 1884), S. sp. nov.? (= S. imperati sensu O'Donoghue & de Watteville 1939) (in open nomenclature, specimen lacks ovicells), S. pungens (Canu & Bassler, 1928) and S. solanderia (Risso, 1826). For S. dentata (Calvet, 1931), no material remains; furthermore, S. hassi Harmelin, Bitar & Zibrowius, 2007 and S. serratimargo (Hincks, 1886) have recently been described and redescribed, respectively. This new arrangement attains a coherent geographical distribution: S. imperati seems restricted to the eastern Atlantic, S. dentata and S. calveti are deepwater species from Atlantic islands, S. pungens and S. aviculifera dwell on the African coasts of the Western Mediterranean, S. hassi and S. sp. nov.? (=S. imperati sensu O’Donogue & de Wateville 1939) are confined to the Eastern Mediterranean, and S. solanderia and S. serratimargo live on the European coasts of the Mediterranean.
Revision of the land snail genus Landouria Godwin-Austen, 1918
(Gastropoda, Camaenidae) from Java
(2019)
A revision of the land snail genus Landouria Godwin-Austin, 1918 (Camaenidae) from Java reveals that this group represents the most diverse land snail radiation on that island. Only six species of Landouria were recognized from Java in the last revision of the genus based on shell characters. Our investigation, which also considers the genitalia as well as DNA sequences, shows that the diversity in Java is much higher. Based on newly collected specimens as well as museum material, twenty-eight species of Landouria from Java are described and figured. To stabilize the nomenclature, neotypes are designated for L. winteriana (Pfeiffer, 1842) and L. rotatoria (Pfeiffer, 1842). Sixteen species are described as new to science, i.e., L. naggsi sp. nov., L. parahyangensis sp. nov., L. nusakambangensis sp. nov., L. petrukensis sp. nov., L. tholiformis sp. nov., L. madurensis sp. nov., L. abdidalem sp. nov., L. sewuensis sp. nov., L. tonywhitteni sp. nov., L. sukoliloensis sp. nov., L. nodifera sp. nov., L. pacitanensis sp. nov., L. zonifera sp. nov., L. pakidulan sp. nov., L. dharmai sp. nov. and L. menorehensis sp. nov. Landouria conoidea (Leschke, 1914) comb. nov., L. intumescens (Martens, 1867) comb. nov., L. moussoniana (Martens, 1867) comb. nov., L. schepmani (Möllendorff, 1897) comb. nov. and L. leucochila (Gude, 1905) comb. nov. are considered valid species of the genus Landouria for the first time. Plectotropis kraepelini Leschke, 1914 syn. nov. is considered a probable synonym of L. winteriana (Pfeiffer, 1842), P. trichotrochium Möllendorff, 1897 syn. nov. is a synonym of L. epiplatia (Möllendorff, 1897) and the preoccupied name Helix squamulosa Martens, 1867 syn. nov. is a synonym of L. madurensis sp. nov. We estimate that there are actually more than fifty species of Landouria in Java because many shell samples could not be classified and because no material is available from several regions of the island. A molecular phylogeny reveals that the species from Java do not form a monophyletic group, but that at least one species from Timor is nested within Javanese clades. This means that the Oriental Landouria crossed Wallace's line, the supposed border between the Oriental and Australo-Papuan regions, at least twice and supports the conclusion that Wallace's line does not represent a more severe barrier for terrestrial organisms than other straits through the archipelago. Within the Javanese clades, species from western and eastern Java are mixed, indicating frequent dispersals also within Java.
We provide the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of the poorly known South American butterfly genus Zischkaia Forster, 1964, hitherto regarded as including three described species. A phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequence data shows that Zischkaia is monophyletic and consists of two morphologically diagnosable clades. Morphological characters and DNA 'barcodes' support the recognition of twelve species in the genus, a significant increase even for the relatively poorly studied subtribe Euptychiina. Consequently, nine new species are described and named herein, including Z. arctoa Nakahara, sp. nov., Z. chullachaki Nakahara & Zacca, sp. nov., Z. baku Zacca, Dolibaina & Dias, sp. nov., Z. arenisca Nakahara, Willmott & Hall, sp. nov., Z. argyrosflecha Nakahara, L. Miller & Huertas, sp. nov., Z. abanico Nakahara & Petit, sp. nov., Z. josti Nakahara & Kleckner, sp. nov., Z. mielkeorum Dolibaina, Dias & Zacca, sp. nov. and Z. warreni Dias, Zacca & Dolibaina, sp. nov. In addition, a neotype is designated for Satyrus pacarus Godart, [1824], and lectotypes are designated for Euptychia amalda Weymer, 1911, Euptychia fumata Butler, 1867 and Euptychia saundersii Butler, 1867.
The genus Microogenius Gutiérrez (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Rutelini), endemic to the Andean biogeographic region, is revised and now includes six species: Microogenius arrowi (Ohaus) (Bolivia), Microogenius borealis sp. nov. (Peru), Microogenius gutierrezi Martínez (Bolivia), Microogenius lanterii (Soula) (Argentina), Microogenius martinezi Gutiérrez (Bolivia) and Microogenius puna sp. nov. (Bolivia, Chile, Peru). Redescription of the genus, individual diagnoses, identification keys and distribution records for all known species are provided. Additionally, photographs of adults and of diagnostic morphological characters are included. Eremophygus calvus Gutiérrez, based on the female holotype, is synonymized under Microogenius arrowi (Ohaus), based on the male lectotype. The genus Microogenius is recorded for the first time for the altiplano of Chile and Peru based on specimens of a new species that has been long confused with Eremophygus lasiocalinus Ohaus.
Rhodopsin-based voltage imaging tools for use in muscles and neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans
(2019)
Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) based on microbial rhodopsins utilize the voltage-sensitive fluorescence of all-trans retinal (ATR), while in electrochromic FRET (eFRET) sensors, donor fluorescence drops when the rhodopsin acts as depolarization-sensitive acceptor. In recent years, such tools have become widely used in mammalian cells but are less commonly used in invertebrate systems, mostly due to low fluorescence yields. We systematically assessed Arch(D95N), Archon, QuasAr, and the eFRET sensors MacQ-mCitrine and QuasAr-mOrange, in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans ATR-bearing rhodopsins reported on voltage changes in body wall muscles (BWMs), in the pharynx, the feeding organ [where Arch(D95N) showed approximately 128% ΔF/F increase per 100 mV], and in neurons, integrating circuit activity. ATR fluorescence is very dim, yet, using the retinal analog dimethylaminoretinal, it was boosted 250-fold. eFRET sensors provided sensitivities of 45 to 78% ΔF/F per 100 mV, induced by BWM action potentials, and in pharyngeal muscle, measured in simultaneous optical and sharp electrode recordings, MacQ-mCitrine showed approximately 20% ΔF/F per 100 mV. All sensors reported differences in muscle depolarization induced by a voltage-gated Ca2+-channel mutant. Optogenetically evoked de- or hyperpolarization of motor neurons increased or eliminated action potential activity and caused a rise or drop in BWM sensor fluorescence. Finally, we analyzed voltage dynamics across the entire pharynx, showing uniform depolarization but compartmentalized repolarization of anterior and posterior parts. Our work establishes all-optical, noninvasive electrophysiology in live, intact C. elegans.
The genus Corambis Simon, 1901 includes five species; three of them, C. jacknicholsoni sp. nov., C. logunovi sp. nov. and C. pantherae sp. nov., are described here as new. The female of the C. foeldvarii Szűts, 2002 is described for the first time and a new generic diagnosis is proposed. The distribution and relationships of Corambis are discussed in terms of the geological and bioclimatic history of New Caledonia.
New collection records for Calusamyia hribari Coher (Diptera: Keroplatidae) are presented. Sufficient material has been amassed to make some statements about the species’ distribution, seasonality, and morphology. Calusamyia hribari occurs throughout the inhabited Florida Keys, from Key Largo to Key West. New island records include Boca Chica Key, Crawl Key, Summerland Key, Geiger Key, Dredger’s Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Key Largo, Long Key, Tavernier, Windley Key, and Fat Deer Key. As yet it has not been collected from any uninhabited islands within wildlife refuges. About five times more males than females have been collected. Most specimens have been collected in the summer months, with May being the peak of abundance in traps. Females have two spermathecae, similar to other keroplatids.
This is the second part of a study of a large collection of Siphonophoridae Cook, 1895 from Brazil. Here, those without an abrupt division between the head and rostrum are considered. Two species have been distinguished and are described as Siphonophora setaepromissa sp. nov. and S. tuberculata sp. nov. Siphonophora hebetunguis (Attems, 1951) from the same region has many similarities with the two new species and is redescribed from type material. Comparisons have also been made with S. fuhrmanni Carl, 1914, and comments are made on the genera Cordillerium Verhoeff, 1941, Pterozonium Attems, 1951, Rhinosiphora Verhoeff, 1924, and Siphonophora Brandt, 1837. Finally, some suggestions for characters to look at in future collections of siphonophorids are made based on experience of this collection.
Small-scale phenotypic differentiation along complex stream gradients in a non-native amphipod
(2019)
Background: Selective landscapes in rivers are made up by an array of selective forces that vary from source to downstream regions or between seasons, and local/temporal variation in fitness maxima can result in gradual spatio-temporal variation of phenotypic traits. This study aimed at establishing freshwater amphipods as future model organisms to study adaptive phenotypic diversification (evolutionary divergence and/or adaptive plasticity) along stream gradients.
Methods: We collected Gammarus roeselii from 16 sampling sites in the Rhine catchment during two consecutive seasons (summer and winter). Altogether, we dissected n = 1648 individuals and quantified key parameters related to morphological and life-history diversification, including naturally selected (e.g., gill surface areas) as well as primarily sexually selected traits (e.g., male antennae). Acknowledging the complexity of selective regimes in streams and the interrelated nature of selection factors, we assessed several abiotic (e.g., temperature, flow velocity) and biotic ecological parameters (e.g., conspecific densities, sex ratios) and condensed them into four principal components (PCs).
Results: Generalized least squares models revealed pronounced phenotypic differentiation in most of the traits investigated herein, and components of the stream gradient (PCs) explained parts of the observed differences. Depending on the trait under investigation, phenotypic differentiation could be ascribed to variation in abiotic conditions, anthropogenic disturbance (influx of thermally polluted water), or population parameters. For example, female fecundity showed altitudinal variation and decreased with increasing conspecific densities, while sexual dimorphism in the length of male antennae—used for mate finding and assessment—increased with increasing population densities and towards female-biased sex ratios.
Conclusions: We provide a comprehensive protocol for comparative analyses of intraspecific variation in life history traits in amphipods. Whether the observed phenotypic differentiation over small geographical distances reflects evolutionary divergence or plasticity (or both) remains to be investigated in future studies. Independent of the mechanisms involved, variation in several traits is likely to have consequences for ecosystem functions. For example, leaf-shredding in G. roeselii strongly depends on body size, which varied in dependence of several ecological parameters.
Thirty-six species of various thecate hydroids occur in two recent, deep-water collections from off New Caledonia. Of these, nine are new, namely Solenoscyphus subtilis Galea, sp. nov., Hincksella immersa Galea, sp. nov., Synthecium rectangulatum Galea, sp. nov., Diphasia alternata Galea, sp. nov., Dynamena opposita Galea, sp. nov., Hydrallmania clavaformis Galea, sp. nov., Symplectoscyphus acutustriatus Galea, sp. nov., Symplectoscyphus elongatulus Galea, sp. nov. and Zygophylax niger Galea, sp. nov. The male and female gonothecae of Caledoniana decussata Galea, 2015, the female gonothecae of Caledoniana microgona Galea, 2015, as well as the gonothecae of both sexes of Solenoscyphus striatus Galea, 2015 are described for the first time. The systematic position of the genera Solenoscyphus Galea, 2015 and Caledoniana Galea, 2015 is discussed on both morphological and molecular grounds, and both are confidently placed within the family Staurothecidae Maronna et al., 2016. In light of the molecular data, the genera Billardia Totton, 1930 and Dictyocladium Allman, 1888 are assigned to the families Syntheciidae Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890 and Symplectoscyphidae Maronna et al., 2016, respectively. The previously undescribed gonothecae of Hincksella neocaledonica Galea, 2015, and the male gonothecae of Sertularella tronconica Galea, 2016, were found. Thyroscyphus scorpioides Vervoort, 1993, a peculiar hydroid with putative stem nematothecae, is redescribed and assigned to the new genus Tuberocaulus Galea, gen. nov. Noteworthy new records from the study area are: Tasmanaria edentula (Bale, 1924), Hincksella sibogae Billard, 1918, Dictyocladium reticulatum (Kirchenpauer, 1884), Salacia sinuosa (Bale, 1888) and Billardia hyalina Vervoort & Watson, 2003. Most species are illustrated to facilitate their identification, and the morphology of the new ones is compared to that of their related congeners.
Genera of Cryptognathini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are discussed and a key to all recognized genera is provided. Cryptognatha is revised, and species of this genus are keyed. New species, authored by González and Hanley, are Cryptognatha pam, C. kellie, C. hannah, C. whitney, C. karla, C. celia, C. shelia, C. gayle, C. della and C. vicki. The following new synonymies are proposed: Cryptognatha simillima Sicard = Cryptognatha gemellata Mulsant, Cryptognatha fryii Crotch = Cryptognatha pudibunda Mulsant, Cryptognatha bryanti Brèthes = Cryptognatha pudibunda Mulsant. Lectotypes are here designated for Cryptognatha amicta Gorham, C. weisei Brèthes, C. pudibunda Mulsant and C. fryii Crotch.
Twenty new species are described in Pentilia Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Scymninae: Cryptognathini) by Gordon and González: Pentilia bernadette, P. chelsea, P. dianna, P. elena, P. ernestine, P. estelle, P. kari, P. jasmine, P. jody, P. kendra. P. krystal, P. lora, P. mable, P. muriel, P. nichole, P. nadine. P. paulette, P. rachael, P. sadie and P. traci. A lectotype is here designated for Pentilia egena Mulsant.
Seventy-four species, forms and varieties of Cubitermes Wasmann, 1906 have been studied, including taxa placed in synonymy with other species. Within this group of taxa, the enteric valve, mainly of the workers and soldiers, provided the best and the only clear-cut criteria for distinguishing some major subsets that are proposed here as species groups.The genus Cubitermes is re-described; the morphologies of the enteric valves are described in detail including the number of spatulae at the downstream end of the primary cushions; the possible presence of crests or bulges near the downstream end of the primary cushions; the overall shape of the primary cushions; the number of lateral supporting bristles; the kind of symmetry of the valve; and the structure of the secondary cushions. These characteristics are used to define nine species groups. For now, these groups have no taxonomic ranking but are helpful as regards species recognition. Identification keys for species groups are provided for soldiers and workers together with a partial key for imagines. Geographical ranges of the groups are also provided. On the basis of enteric valve morphology, some synonymies can no longer be validated: (a) C. planifrons Sjöstedt, 1924 is not a synonym of C. fungifaber (Sjöstedt, 1896); (b) C. kemneri Emerson, 1928 is not a synonym of C. zenkeri (Desneux, 1904); and (c) C. fungifaber var. elongata Sjöstedt, 1924 does not belong to the species C. fungifaber. Cubitermes planifrons and C. kemneri become valid again and C. fungifaber var. elongata is an invalid name.
A recent survey of the mangroves around Hong Kong revealed the presence of seven species of the genus Elaphropeza Macquart, 1827. All belong to a group of yellow species that occur exclusively in mangroves. Three species were previously known: Elaphropeza calcarifera Bezzi, 1912 and E. xanthocephala Bezzi, 1912, both from Taiwan, and E. riatanae Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007 from Singapore. Four species are new to science: Elaphropeza furcatella sp. nov., E. guenardi sp. nov., E. hongkongensis sp. nov. and E. hongshulin sp. nov. All seven species are described or an extended diagnosis is provided. All species are figured and NGS barcodes are made available. A key is given for the Hong Kong species and their siblings from Singapore and Taiwan. Remarkable is that five of the seven species are more or less closely related to species occurring in Singapore. Genetic distances and morphologic differences are congruent. The species turnover between the northern part and the southern part of the South China Sea is high, with only one of the seven species present in both regions.
Background: Developmental biology relies to a large extent on the observation and comparison of phenotypic traits through time using high resolution microscopes. In this context, transparent model organisms such as the zebrafish Danio rerio in which developing tissues and organs can be easily observed and imaged using fluorescent proteins have become very popular. One limiting factor however is the acquisition of a sufficient amount of data, in standardized and reproducible conditions, to allow robust quantitative analysis. One way to improve this is by developing mounting methods to increase the number of embryos that can be imaged simultaneously in near-to-identical orientation.
Results: Here we present an improved mounting method allowing semi-automated and high-content imaging of zebrafish embryos. It is based on a 3D-printed stamp which is used to create a 2D coordinate system of multiple μ-wells in an agarose cast. Each μ-well models a negative of the average zebrafish embryo morphology between 22 and 96 h-post-fertilization. Due to this standardized and reproducible arrangement, it is possible to define a custom well plate in the respective imaging software that allows for a semi-automated imaging process. Furthermore, the improvement in Z-orientation significantly reduces post-processing and improves comparability of volumetric data while reducing light exposure and thus photo-bleaching and photo-toxicity, and improving signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
Conclusions: We present here a new method that allows to standardize and improve mounting and imaging of embryos. The 3D-printed stamp creates a 2D coordinate system of μ-wells in an agarose cast thus standardizing specimen mounting and allowing high-content imaging of up to 44 live or mounted zebrafish embryos simultaneously in a semi-automated, well-plate like manner on inverted confocal microscopes. In summary, image data quality and acquisition efficiency (amount of data per time) are significantly improved. The latter might also be crucial when using the services of a microscopy facility.
Four new species in the genus Amphicnaeia (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) are described: A. panamensis Wappes, Santos-Silva and Galileo and A. fuscofasciata Wappes, Santos-Silva and Galileo from Panama; A. bezarki Wappes, Santos-Silva and Galileo from Venezuela; and A. rileyi Wappes, Santos-Silva and Galileo from Costa Rica and Panama. Amphicnaeia affinis Breuning, 1940 is placed in synonymy with A. lineata Bates, 1866, and the species newly recorded from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Amphicnaeia cordigera Aurivillius, 1920 is transferred to Rosalba Thomson, 1864, resulting in a new combination, and Rosalba rufescens Breuning, 1940, is found to be a junior synonym of the former. The holotypes of A. vitticollis Breuning, 1940, and A. villosula (Thomson, 1868) are illustrated for the first time.
Walter Biese described Littoridina santiagensis Biese, 1944 (Cochliopidae) from Estero Dehesa in 1944 based exclusively on external shell features and a second allopatric population in Yeso Spring three years later. Since 2011 different samplings have been carried out at the type locality and have only provided specimens of the morphologically similar invasive mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum Gray, 1843 (Tateidae), raising doubts about the identity of the species. The recent finding of two snail morphotypes in Yeso Spring, a thick shelled form congruent with type specimens of L. santiagensis and a slender one morphologically associable to P. antipodarum, allowed comparative studies, including the taxonomic analysis of additional populations with similar shell morphology occurring in central Chile. A DNA barcoding (COI) approach identified the slender form from Yeso Spring in Maipo Basin and a second population from the contiguous Rapel Basin indeed as the invasive P. antipodarum; however, L. santiagensis was recovered among species of Potamolithus Pilsbry, 1896 (Tateidae), justifying the Potamolithus santiagensis (Biese, 1944) comb. nov. Besides recognition of three other populations as belonging to Potamolithus, the molecular analysis also suggests trans-Andean dispersal of this group of snails in the Southern Cone of South America.
The gigas species group of the subgenus Canthidium (Neocanthidium) is defi ned and described. This species group is composed of three described species [C. gigas Balthasar, 1939, Brazilian Atlantic Forest, including intrusions into Cerrado, C. bokermanni (Martínez et al., 1964), Chaco and western Cerrado in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina, and C. kelleri (Martínez et al., 1964), Brazilian Cerrado and neighbouring open areas] and three new species: Canthidium stofeli sp. nov. from the western and southern regions of the Brazilian Amazon, Canthidium feeri sp. nov. from French Guiana, and Canthidium ayri sp. nov. from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We present descriptions and redescriptions, illustrations, an identifi cation key and comments on the distributions of the species of the gigas group.
Virpazaria Gittenberger, 1969 is distributed in the Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Montenegro and Croatia) and inhabits the shallow subterranean habitat (MSS) on limestone base rock. Reviewing historical and recently collected material, two species, Virpazaria (Virpazaria) gittenbergeri Fehér & Erőss sp. nov. and Virpazaria (Virpazaria) pesici Fehér & Deli sp. nov., are introduced as new to science. The conservation status of the new species are assessed using IUCN criteria. Two taxa, Virpazaria (Virpazaria) pageti alexanderi Reischütz & Subai, 2012 and Virpazaria (Aemiliella) ripkeni pastorpueri Reischütz et al., 2011, are synonymized with their nominate subspecies. Some new distribution records, as well as geological and geomorphological data about the known locations for Virpazaria, are presented.
The Tallahatta Formation, Lisbon Formation, and Gosport Sand are the three lithostratigraphic units that make up the lower-to-middle Eocene Claiborne Group. In Alabama, these marine units are among the most fossiliferous in the state and a long history of scattered reports have attempted to document their fossil diversity. In this study, we examined 20 931 elasmobranch and bony fish elements, including otoliths, derived from Claiborne Group units in Alabama and identified 115 unequivocal taxa. Among the taxa identified, one new species is described, Carcharhinus mancinae sp. nov., and Pseudabdounia gen. nov. is a new genus erected to include two species formerly placed within Abdounia Capatta, 1980. New taxonomic combinations proposed include Pseudabdounia claibornensis (White, 1956) gen. et comb. nov., Pseudabdounia recticona (Winkler, 1874) gen. et comb. nov., Physogaleus alabamensis (Leriche, 1942) comb. nov., and Eutrichiurides plicidens (Arambourg, 1952) comb. nov. We also report the first North American paleobiogeographic occurrences of Aturobatis aff. A. aquensis Adnet, 2006, Brachycarcharias atlasi (Arambourg, 1952), Eutrichiurides plicidens comb. nov., Galeorhinus louisi Adnet & Cappetta, 2008, Ginglymostoma maroccanum Noubhani & Cappetta, 1997, Gymnosarda sp., Mennerotodus sp., Rhizoprionodon ganntourensis (Arambourg, 1952), Stenoscyllium aff. S. priemi Noubhani & Cappetta, 1997, Trichiurus oshosunensis White, 1926, and the first North American occurrence for a fossil member of the Balistidae Risso, 1810. Our sample also included 26 taxa that represented first paleobiogeographic occurrences for Alabama, including Abdounia beaugei (Arambourg, 1935), Albula eppsi White, 1931, Ariosoma nonsector Nolf & Stringer, 2003, Anisotremus? sp., Anomotodon sp., Brachycarcharias twiggsensis (Case, 1981), Burnhamia daviesi (Woodward, 1889), Eoplinthicus yazooensis Capetta & Stringer, 2002, Galeorhinus ypresiensis (Casier, 1946), Gnathophis meridies (Frizzell & Lamber, 1962), Haemulon? obliquus (Müller, 1999), Hypolophodon sylvestris (White, 1931), Malacanthus? sulcatus (Koken, 1888), Meridiania cf. M. convexa Case, 1994, Palaeocybium proosti (Storms, 1897), Paraconger sector (Koken, 1888), Paralbula aff. P. marylandica Blake, 1940, Phyllodus toliapicus Agassiz, 1844, Propristis schweinfurthi Dames, 1883, Pycnodus sp., Pythonichthys colei (Müller, 1999), Scomberomorus stormsi (Leriche, 1905), Signata stenzeli Frizzell & Dante, 1965, and Signata nicoli Frizzell & Dante, 1965, and the first Paleogene occurrences in Alabama of a member of the Gobiidae Cuvier, 1816. A biostratigraphic analysis of our sample showed stratigraphic range extensions for several taxa, including the first Bartonian occurrences of Eoplinthicus yazooensis, Jacquhermania duponti (Winkler, 1876), Meridiania cf. M. convexa, Phyllodus toliapicus, and “Rhinobatos” bruxelliensis (Jaekel, 1894), range extensions into the late Ypresian and Bartonian for Tethylamna dunni Cappetta & Case, 2016 and Scoliodon conecuhensis Cappetta & Case, 2016, the first late Ypresian records of Galeorhinus louisi, the first Lutetian occurrence of Gymnosarda Gill, 1862, and a range extension for Fisherichthys aff. F. folmeri Weems, 1999 into the middle Bartonian. Larger biostratigraphic and evolutionary trends are also documented, such as the acquisition of serrations in Otodus spp., possible population increases for the Rhinopterinae Jordan & Evermann, 1896 and Carcharhiniformes Compagno, 1973 in the Bartonian, and the apparent diversification of the Tetraodontiformes Berg, 1940 during the same stage. This study helps better our understanding of earlyto-middle Eocene elasmobranch and bony fish diversity, paleobiogeography, and biostratigraphy in the Gulf Coastal Plain of North America.
Neopanorpa van der Weele, 1909 is the second largest genus in Panorpidae, and over 170 Oriental species have been reported hitherto. In this paper, we describe two new species: Neopanorpa luojishana sp. nov. and Neopanorpa xingmini sp. nov. from Southwest China. We also report the first discovery of the male of Neopanorpa ocellaris (Navás, 1908) from Guangxi and Guizhou, China, a species recorded from Sikkim previously. Neopanorpa brevivalvae Chou & Wang, 1988 is synonymized with Neopanorpa lungtaushana Cheng, 1957. In addition, Neopanorpa furcula nom. nov. is proposed for Neopanorpa furcata Zhou, 2005, a junior homonym preoccupied by Neopanorpa furcata (Hardwicke, 1825). The biogeographical implications of some Neopanorpa species are discussed in brief.
There are 214 species of the suborder Tipulomorpha (Diptera) known from Panama. Of these, 162 species were described by the noted American entomologist, Charles Paul Alexander, from Panama during the period from 1912 through 1979. Panama hosts two of the four families found within the Tipulomorpha: Limoniidae (197 species) and Tipulidae (17 species). We have records of only three species from multiple provinces (n = 2) within Panama and 211 species from just one province. The vast majority of the latter are known from a single location within their respective provinces. There are 142 endemic species (66.4%) included in Panama’s Tipulomorpha fauna, with the remainder being found elsewhere in South America (48 species), Central America (44), Mexico (23 species), the Caribbean (14 species), and the United States (4 species). Whereas, this taxonomic group has benefited from collecting in the Canal Zone and the popular western highlands in Chiriqui Province, we know little or nothing of the distribution of species within the country, their natural history, or their relationship to water quality.
First records of Elachistinae are given from Thailand. Ten species of Elachistinae are reported, eight of which are described as new: Urodeta longa Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., Elachista buszkoi Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. oryx Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. pellineni Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. capricornis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. phichaiensis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov., E. loeiensis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov. and E. siamensis Sruoga & Kaila sp. nov. The new species are diagnosed and illustrated with photographs of the adults and genitalia. One species remains unidentified to species level.
In two separate occurrences, graduates of the Oregon Forest Pest Detector program discovered the exotic Agrilus cyanescens (Ratzeburg) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Portland, Oregon, damaging a backyard shrub, Lonicera involucrata (Rich.) Banks ex Spreng. (Caprifoliaceae). Although first detected in the USA 99 years ago, the known occurrence nearest to Oregon is in Utah.
Jeekelosoma Mauriès, 1985, is upgraded from subgenus status under Eviulisoma Silvestri, 1910 to full genus status. The type species, Jeekelosoma abadi (Mauriès, 1985) is redescribed based on topotypical material from a cave in Morocco. Jeekelosoma heptarachne sp. nov. and J. viginti sp. nov. are described from two further Moroccan caves.
The new Southeast Asian genus Cambonilla gen. nov. (Zodariidae, Araneae): 'bis repetita placent'
(2019)
The new genus Cambonilla Jocqué gen. nov. is described on the base of two species, each known from both sexes. A cladistic analysis based on morphology, showed that the new genus is the sister-group of Heliconilla Dankittipakul, Jocqué & Singtripop, 2012 with which it shares the granulated carapace with branched setae and the marbled ventral abdominal pattern, but differs by the abdominal, tubular sclerotized protrusion around the pedicel in males and the absence of posterior ventral abdominal spines in the female. The type species Cambonilla securicula Jocqué gen. et sp. nov. was found in rainforest along the Mekong River in Cambodia and Laos. The second species Cambonilla symphonia Jocqué & Henrard gen. et sp. nov., provided with conspicuous femoral stridulating organs, was recorded from the same localities but in Cambodia only. An illustrated key to the genera of tropical Asia is presented.
Coronuloid barnacles are epibionts of several marine vertebrates (including cetaceans and sea turtles) as well as invertebrates, and are assigned to two families of turtle barnacles (Chelonibiidae Pilsbry, 1916 and Platylepadidae Newman & Ross, 1976) and one family of whale barnacles (Coronulidae Leach, 1817). Chelonibiids and coronulids have a scanty, albeit significant fossil record extending back to the Eocene and Pliocene, respectively; in turn, the fossil record of platylepadids is limited to a single record from the Upper Pleistocene. Here we report on an isolated carinolateral compartment of Platylepas Gray, 1825, the type genus of the family, from Lower Pleistocene (Gelasian) epibathyal deposits exposed at Milazzo (Sicily, Italy). This specimen is here designated holotype of a new species, †Platylepas mediterranea sp. nov. We argue that, like most extant members of Platylepas, †P. mediterranea sp. nov. lived partially embedded in the skin of a sea turtle. This record of an extinct platylepadid – the first from the Mediterranean region and the second worldwide – pushes back the fossil record of Platylepadidae to the lowermost Quaternary, thus possibly supporting an even earlier (e.g., Neogene) timing for the origin of this family and adding a new chapter to the evolutionary history of one of the most diverse and successful lineages of epizoic crustaceans.
The Palearctic flea beetle Epitrix pubescens (Koch) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) is reported as established in North America. It is recorded in the United States from Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin, and in Canada from the Provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. The oldest records are from 1975. The species has been reported feeding on Solanum dulcamara L. (Solanaceae). Full distributional information and reference photos for identification are provided. Epitrix pubescens may have avoided detection for such a long time due to its size, difficulty of identification, and affinity for a weed rather than agricultural crops. The more than 40-year lag between arrival and discovery of an immigrant species illustrates the importance of routine biodiversity monitoring efforts and taxonomic works.
Eleven species of Ctenopelma Holmgren, 1857 are reported from China. Five species are new to science: C. labiatum Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, C. lii Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., from Liaoning province, C. rufofasciatum Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., reared from Cephalcia lariciphila (Wachtl, 1898) from Beijing, C. pineatum Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., reared from Acantholyda posticalis (Matsumura, 1912) and Cephalcia lariciphila from Beijing and Henan, Shanxi, Shan’xi, Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, and C. spiraculare Sheng, Sun & Li sp. nov., reared from Cephalcia lariciphila from Henan and Shanxi provinces. One species, C. nigrum Holmgren, 1857, reared from Cephalcia lariciphila in Beijing, is a new record for China. Ctenopelma tomentosum (Desvignes, 1856) was reared from Neurotoma sibirica Gussakovskij, 1935 (new host record) in Liaoning province. A key to species of Ctenopelma known in China is provided.
A total of nine families of Trichoptera were identified from material collected in Malaise and light traps in the western part of Nyungwe National Park, southwestern Rwanda, late October 2018. Included in the material was an undescribed species of Pisuliidae which is described herein as Silvatares laetae Ngirinshuti & Johanson sp. nov. The new species adds to the six Pisuliidae species previously recorded for the East African region, five endemic to Tanzania and one to Uganda. This study portrays the first results of an ongoing survey on the Trichoptera fauna of Rwanda.
The Quebrada Rambala drainage is found immediately south and south-southeast of the town of Chiriqui Grande and east of Rambala on the Caribbean coast. It is one of two tributaries of the Rio Margarita watershed, a small, lowland drainage with elevations up to 180 m. During the 2014-2017 period, collections of caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera), employing both UV-light and Malaise traps, were made at two locations on Quebrada Rambala proper, and four locations on its unnamed tributary, all on a land area of approximately 1 ha. As a result, 127 species of caddisflies were identified, including 59 species of microcaddisflies. A non-parametric estimator of true, or potential, species richness based on rare species present for this watershed is 211 species. Previously, 19 new country records were published from this location. In this paper, we record three additional country records (Hydrobiosidae: Atopsyche minimajada Blahnik and Gottschalk; Hydroptilidae: Leucotrichia rhomba Thomson and Holzenthal and Oxyethira (Oxytrichia) apinolada Holzenthal and Harris) and describe and illustrate 19 new species of microcaddisflies (Alistotrichia bernali, Cerasmatrichia blahniki, Costatrichia santosi, Metrichia macdonaldi, M. thomsonae, M. thurmani, M. trebeki, Neotrichia carlsoni, N. rambala, N. serrata, N. starki, Ochrotrichia birdae, O. dewalti, O. kondratieffi, Oxyethira buenoi, Rhyacopsyche holzenthali, Tizatetrichia panamensis, Zumatrichia flinti, and Z. hazelae). Combined, this one small portion of the Quebrada Rambala has increased Panama’s caddisfly fauna by 41 species of microcaddisflies. Additionally, several new species of macrocaddisflies await description. Finally, we add one new genus to Panama’s fauna (Hydroptilidae: Tizatetrichia Harris, Flint, and Holzenthal). With the publication of these new taxa, Panama’s caddisfly fauna now includes 403 species in 15 families and 53 genera. We also suggest that multiple collections over time for all stream orders, employing several collection methods, are required in order to better estimate species richness within a drainage.
Herein we describe three new species of Smicridea McLachlan (S. (S.) lata, S. (S.) spatulata, and S. (S.) dividua) from Panama in the nigripennis species group (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae). The nigripennis species group is characterized by having a rather complex phallic apparatus, open anteroventrally and posterodorsally, with ventral and lateral portions produced into lobes, and with spines and other structures arising from the endothecal membranes. All three species resulted from a 2017 survey of Omar Torrijos and Santa Fe National Parks. Twenty-six species of Smicridea, nine of them endemic, are now known from Panama.
Herein we describe five new species in the trichopteran family Glossosomatidae Wallengren (Insecta: Trichoptera) from Panama: Mortoniella calovebora Blahnik and Armitage, n. sp., M. yayas Blahnik and Armitage, n. sp., Protoptila inflata Blahnik and Armitage, n. sp., P. totumas Blahnik and Armitage, n. sp., and P. rambala Blahnik and Armitage, n. sp. Three of the species were collected as part of ongoing biological surveys of Panama’s national parks. We also record three new country records for Panama for this family: Culoptila costaricensis Flint, 1974, Mortoniella opinionis Blahnik and Holzenthal, 2008, and Protoptila spirifera Flint, 1974. Thirty-one species of glossosomatid caddisflies, nine of them endemic, are now known from Panama.
Atelopus is a species-rich group of Neotropical bufonids. Present knowledge on bioacoustics in this genus is relatively poor, as vocalisations have been described in only about one fifth of the ca. 100 species known. All studied members of the genus produce vocalisations although, with a few exceptions, most species lack a middle ear. Nonetheless, hearing has been demonstrated even in earless Atelopus making bioacoustics in these toads an inspiring research field. So far, three structural call types have been identified in the genus. As sympatry is uncommon in Atelopus, calls of the same type often vary little between species. Based on recordings from the 1980s, we describe vocalisations of three Venezuelan species (A. carbonerensis, A. mucubajiensis, A. tamaense) from the Cordillera de Mérida, commonly known as the Andes of Venezuela and the Tamá Massif, a Venezuelan spur of the Colombian Cordillera Oriental. Vocalisations correspond, in part, to the previously identified call types in Atelopus. Evaluation of the vocalisations of the three species presented in this study leads us to recognise a fourth structural call type for the genus. With this new addition, the Atelopus acoustic repertoire now includes (1) pulsed calls, (2) pure tone calls, (3) pulsed short calls and (4) pure tone short calls. The call descriptions provided here are valuable contributions to the bioacoustics of these Venezuelan Atelopus species, since all of them have experienced dramatic population declines that limit possibilities of further studies.
Thopeutica (Thopeutica) petertaylori Medina, Cabras and Wiesner (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), new species, is described from the Cagan river, New Bataan, Mindanao. It is characterized by the metallic ground colour of the elytra, prominent middle tooth in the labrum, and bottle-shaped aedeagus with apical hook.
Adults of three known species of Ochodaeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Ochodaeidae) in Madagascar have a strongly granulate pronotum. Three new species are described herein that have a smooth or weakly granulate pronotum: Ochodaeus modopunctatus, O. polypollicatus, and O. meandrus. A key to the species of Ochodaeus from Madagascar is provided.
The present study is based on the genus Cotesia Cameron,1891 collected from Khuzestan Province in the Southwestern part of Iran during 2016–2017. Nine species (+200 specimens) of the genus Cotesia were collected and identified. We recognised three new species, which we describe and illustrate here: Cotesia elongata Zargar & Gupta sp. nov., C. khuzestanesis Zargar & Gupta sp. nov. and C. zagrosensis Zargar & Gupta sp. nov. Two species are recorded for the first time from Iran: Cotesia cynthiae (Nixon, 1974) and C. glabrata (Telenga, 1955). A faunistic list with species distribution in Iran, a modified key to include the new species and brief diagnoses for the new records from Iran are provided.
The genus Rhaphium Meigen, 1803 is recorded for the first time from mangroves in Hong Kong. Three species are described as new to science: Rhaphium hongkongense sp. nov. and Rhaphium spinulatum sp. nov., both tentatively belonging to the Rhaphium crassipes group sensu Negrobov & Grichanov (2010), and Rhaphium canniccii sp. nov. assigned to a new species group, the Rhaphium micans group. The status of Rhaphium mediocre (Becker, 1922) described from Taiwan and Rhaphium eburnea (Parent, 1926) from Shanghai is discussed. NGS barcodes for the new species are provided.
Three new species of the genus Mimetus Hentz, 1832 are described and named as M. bucerus sp. nov. (♂), M. lingbaoshanensis sp. nov. (♂♀) and M. yinae sp. nov. (♂♀). Detailed morphological descriptions, photos of the body and copulatory organs, line drawings of copulatory organs, as well as the distribution maps are provided.
In the course of working on new species of North American Phyllophaga Harris, 1827 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) some synonyms have been found and are proposed here. New synonymies: Phyllophaga knausii (Schaeffer, 1907) is synonymized with Phyllophaga sociata (Horn, 1878); Phyllophaga chippewa Saylor, 1939 is synonymized with Phyllophaga rugosa (Melsheimer, 1845); and Phyllophaga falta Sanderson, 1950 is synonymized with Phyllophaga bipartita (Horn, 1887). Lectotypes are here designated for the following species: Listrochelus knausii Schaeffer, Listrochelus sociatus Horn, and Lachnosterna bipartita Horn. A neotype for Ancylonycha rugosa Melsheimer is here designated from the Horn Collection.
Prothyma (Genoprothyma) thandamoeae Wiesner, Phyu and Hori, new species, Prothyma (Genoprothyma) sotai Wiesner, Phyu and Hori, new species, and Prothyma (Genoprothyma) asamii Wiesner, Phyu and Hori, new species (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) are described from Myanmar. A key to all members of the genus known to occur in Myanmar is given.
Microplastics (MP) are contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic ecosystems. While the number of studies is rapidly increasing, a comparison of the toxicity of MP and natural particulate matter is largely missing. In addition, research focusses on the impacts of hydrophobic chemicals sorbed to plastics. However, the interactive effects of MP and hydrophilic, dissolved chemicals remain largely unknown. Therefore, we conducted chronic toxicity studies with larvae of the freshwater dipteran Chironomus riparius exposed to unplasticised polyvinyl chloride MP (PVC-MP) as well as kaolin and diatomite as reference materials for 28 days. In addition, we investigated the effects of particles in combination with the neonicotinoid imidacloprid in a multiple-stressor experiment. High concentrations of kaolin positively affected the chironomids. In contrast, exposure to diatomite and PVC-MP reduced the emergence and mass of C. riparius. Likewise, the toxicity of imidacloprid was enhanced in the presence of PVC-MP and slightly decreased in the co-exposure with kaolin. Overall, parallel experiments and chemical analysis indicate that the toxicity of PVC-MP was not caused by leached or sorbed chemicals. Our study demonstrates that PVC-MP induce more severe effects than both natural particulate materials. However, the latter are not benign per se, as the case of diatomite highlights. Considering the high, environmentally irrelevant concentrations needed to induce adverse effects, C. riparius is insensitive to exposures to PVC-MP.
Five small species groups of Traumatomutilla André, 1901 are revised. A new species, T. pilkingtoni Bartholomay and Williams sp. nov. (Argentina) is described and placed within its own species group. All known species of the bellica, diabolica, vitelligera, and bifurca species groups are redescribed. New synonymies are proposed for T. vitelligera (Gerstaecker, 1874) = Mutilla fascinata Smith, 1879, syn. nov.; = Traumatomutilla comata André, 1906, syn. nov. and for T. bifurca (Klug, 1821) = T. ira Casal, 1969, syn. nov. The lectotypes of Mutilla bifurca Klug, 1821 and Mutilla comata André, 1906 are designated. The hitherto unknown males of T. vitelligera and T. bifurca are diagnosed and described.
Two new Brazilian sharpshooter species of the genus Tretogonia Melichar, 1926 are described and illustrated: Tretogonia diminuta sp. nov. and T. elegantula sp. nov., both from the State of Paraná. A redescription of T. dentalis Emmrich, 1988 is provided based on a male from the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. This is the first Brazilian record of T. dentalis, a species originally described from Paraguay. Photographs and line drawings are provided for the three species, as well as notes on the taxonomy and biology of the genus.
The birdwing butterfly Trogonoptera brookiana (Wallace, 1855) is a well-known conservation icon, yet questions remain about the infraspecific status of regional populations. The eastern Peninsular Malaysian population has been described as the subspecies mollumar d’Abrera, Doggett & Parker, 1976, but its status as a subspecies distinguishable from the taxon trogon (Vollenhoven, 1860) in Sumatra has been disputed. Wing characters and measurements of specimens from the two regions were therefore examined quantitatively using discriminant function and correspondence analyses. Eastern Peninsular specimens differ on average from Sumatran specimens in having more extensive green, especially in the female. This is reflected in many of the measurements and characters analysed. Females from the Peninsula also have a characteristically blacker upperside ground colour in which the outer areas of both wings barely contrast with the black veins and forewing cell. The extent of these differences enables a reliable differentiation of the females of both regions. The magnitude and consistency of differences are comparable to that between other subspecies of undisputed status. Behavioural differences also exist. The name mollumar therefore merits subspecific status. In addition, we consider the male forms walshi Haugum & Low, 1982 and walshoides Haugum & Low, 1982 to be chemically discoloured specimens of trogon rather than biological forms.
Two new species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) collected from New Caledonia are described and figured based on worker specimens: Leptogenys loarelae Ramage sp. nov. (Ponerinae, Ponerini) and Lioponera neocaledonica Jouault, Ramage & Perrichot sp. nov. (Dorylinae, Cerapachyini). All specimens were collected from the South Province of Grande Terre. These two new species are primarily distinguished from the other New Caledonian relatives by the size and shape of petiole for L. loarelae Ramage sp. nov. and by the presence of dorsolateral margins on the mesosoma for L. neocaledonica Jouault, Ramage & Perrichot sp. nov. Keys to New Caledonian Leptogenys and Lioponera are provided.
This paper is part of a project of studying benthic diatom biodiversity on marine coastal regions of Sweden with focus on rare and less known species. Two new species of Cocconeis Ehrenb. are described from Vrångö, a small island in the west coast of Sweden. Both species were found as epiphytic on the green alga Ulva intestinalis L. Cocconeis magnoareolata Al-Handal, Riaux-Gob., R.Jahn & A.K.Wulff sp. nov. is a small species not exceeding 9 μm in length and characterized by having large subquadrangular areolae on the sternum valve. Cocconeis vrangoensis Al-Handal & Riaux-Gob. sp. nov. appears similar to some taxa of the 'Cocconeis scutellum complex', but differs by its stria density on both valves and variable features of the areola and valvocopula ultrastructure. Detailed descriptions based on light and electron microscopy examination, a comparison with closely related taxa, as well as a description of the habitat of both species are here presented.
Two new nematode species of the genus Tobrilus Andrássy, 1959 from Lake Baikal are described and illustrated. The first species Tobrilus elginus sp. nov. was found in the littoral zone of Maloye More Bays. The second species Tobrilus juliae sp. nov. dwells on bodies of dead sponges Lubomirskia baicalensis (Pallas, 1776). Tobrilus elginus sp. nov. is most similar to T. amabilis Tsalolikhin, 1974 and T. bekmanae Tsalolikhin, 1975. In contrast to the first species it has a shorter body and spicules, longer gubernaculum and a shorter supplements row. Its body is shorter and thinner, tail and supplement row are shorter and the vulva is more posterior as compared to the second species. The body size of Tobrilus juliae sp. nov. is most similar to T. securus Gagarin & Naumova, 2011 and T. saprophagus Naumova & Gagarin, 2017. From the first of these species it differs by the thinner body, shorter tail, comparatively shorter outer labial setae and shorter spicules. It differs from the second species by a thinner body, shorter male tail and shorter labial setae.
Saphenista bartellae Brown, new species (TL: Colorado), and S. powelli Brown, new species (TL: California) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), are described and illustrated. Two other western North American species, S. latipunctana (Walsingham, 1879), new combination, and S. dilutana (Walsingham, 1879), new combination, are transferred to Saphenista based on morphology of the genitalia.
Two new species of the leucopholine genera Engertia Dalla Torre, 1913 and Philacelota Heller, 1900 are described. Engertia allolepis sp. nov. from Ambon Island in the Moluccas, Indonesia, can be distinguished from the other species of the genus by the heterogeneous setosity on the elytra as well as by a very robust and arcuate aedeagus. Philacelota leucothea sp. nov. from Luzon Island, Philippines, differs from the other species of Philacelota in the scaled whitish vestiture of the pronotum and elytra, as well as in the unidentate protibiae and in the shape of parameres. The length of the 3rd antennomere is the only reliable character for the separation of the genera Engertia and Philacelota. A revised dichotomous key for identification of males and females of all species of Engertia and Philacelota is given. The genus Philacelota is reported from the Philippines for the first time.
Cave research in Hungary has developed a lot in the last decade. As a part of this progress, enchytraeid specimens were collected from Hungarian caves and were subsequently characterized by comparative morphological and molecular taxonomic analyses. Molecular phylogenetic studies based on ITS, CO1 and H3 sequences and morphological results confirmed that these specimens represented two species new to science. The descriptions of Fridericia baradlana sp. nov. and Fridericia spelaeophila sp. nov. are presented in this paper.
This study was conducted to describe and illustrate two new species of groundwater amphipods from the northern parts of the Zagros Mountains in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (28S rDNA) fragments as well as several morphological traits were used to characterize Niphargus urmiensis sp. nov. and Niphargus fiseri sp. nov. The phylogenetic analyses showed that the nucleotide differences between the recently described species and their close allies are attributed to their distinctiveness. The molecular analysis also introduced that the new species are placed within the clade comprising Iranian species as a sister taxon. The genetic distances between N. urmiensis sp. nov. and N. fiseri sp. nov. are 7.6% and 1.6%, respectively based on the COI and 28S rDNA gene fragments.
Two new species of the genus Lepidocyrtus Bourlet, 1839 from southern China are described here: L. (Acrocyrtus) huizhouensis sp. nov. from Guangdong Province and L. (Setogaster) wanningensis sp. nov. from Hainan Province. Lepidocytus (Acrocyrtus) huizhouensis sp. nov. is the fourth species of the subgenus reported from China and L. (Setogaster) wanningensis sp. nov. is the first report of the subgenus from China.
Two new species of Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) are described and illustrated: Neocherentes adrianoi Nearns and Monné, from Brazil, and Neocherentes pergeri Nearns and Monné, from Bolivia. The male of Neocherentes dilloniorum Tippmann, 1960 is redescribed and the female is described for the first time. Neocherentes dilloniorum is excluded from the Brazilian fauna. A key to the known species of Neocherentes Tippmann, 1960 is provided.