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The Neotropical genus Mesoconius Enderlein, 1922 is revised with the redescription or diagnosis of 20 previously described South American species, the description of one new species of the M. infestus group (M. triunfo sp. nov.) from Mexico and the description of 32 new species in four species groups from Andean South America (M. eques group: M. albiseta sp. nov., M. albitergum sp. nov., M. anchitarsus sp. nov., M. cosanga sp. nov., M. epandribarba sp. nov., M. hirsutimamma sp. nov., M. nigripleuron sp. nov., M. noteques sp. nov., M. pasachoa sp. nov., M. rufipleuron sp. nov. and M. suzukii sp. nov.; M. infestus group: M. acca sp. nov., M. albipedis sp. nov., M. nigricephala sp. nov. and M. notacca sp. nov.; M. nono group: M. aurantium sp. nov., M. bipleuron sp. nov., M. garyi sp. nov., M. nono sp. nov., M. reinai sp. nov., M. uchumachi sp. nov., M. woytkowskii sp. nov. and M. zorro sp. nov.; M. oblitus group: M. apa sp. nov., M. apicalis sp. nov., M. gelbifacies sp. nov., M. keili sp. nov., M. lobopoda sp. nov., M. nigra sp. nov., M. quadritheca sp. nov., M. rex sp. nov. and M. ruficrus sp. nov.). Calobata eques Schiner, 1868 is transferred from Cliobata Enderlein, 1923 to Mesoconius and all South American species previously treated as Zelatractodes Enderlein, 1922 are transferred to Mesoconius. Mesoconius aeripennis Enderlein, 1922 is synonymized with M. eques, M. enderleini Frey, 1927 is synonymized with M. infestus Enderlein, 1922 and Aristobata melini Frey, 1927 is synonymized with M. filipes (Enderlein, 1922). Mesoconius garleppi (Enderlein, 1922) is newly recognized as a subjective junior homonym and given the replacement name Mesoconius ottoi nom. nov. A maximum likelihood tree is provided for 29 species of Mesoconius sequenced for the barcode region of CO1 and a key is provided for all South American species of Mesoconius.
We present an updated, subjective list of the extant, non-marine ostracod genera and species of the world, with their distributions in the major zoogeographical regions, as well as a list of the genera in their present hierarchical taxonomic positions. The list includes all taxa described and taxonomic alterations made up to 1 July 2018. Taxonomic changes include 17 new combinations, 5 new names, 1 emended specific name and 11 new synonymies (1 tribe, 4 genera, 6 species). Taking into account the recognized synonymies, there are presently 2330 subjective species of non-marine ostracods in 270 genera. The most diverse family in non-marine habitats is the Cyprididae, comprising 43.2% of all species, followed by the Candonidae (29.0%), Entocytheridae (9.1%) and the Limnocytheridae (7.0%). An additional 13 families comprise the remaining 11.8% of described species. The Palaearctic zoogeographical region has the greatest number of described species (799), followed by the Afrotropical region with 453 species and the Nearctic region with 439 species. The Australasian and Neotropical regions each have 328 and 333 recorded species, respectively, while the Oriental region has 271. The vast majority of non-marine ostracods (89.8%) are endemic to one zoogeographical region, while only six species are found in six or more regions. We also present an additional list with 'uncertain species', which have neither been redescribed nor re-assessed since 1912, and which are excluded from the main list; a list of taxonomic changes presented in the present paper; a table with the number of species and % per family; and a table with numbers of new species described in the 20-year period between 1998 and 2017 per zoogeographical region. Two figures visualize the total number of species and endemic species per zoogeographical region, and the numbers of new species descriptions per decade for all families and the three largest families since 1770, respectively.
Globba subsect. Nudae K.Larsen is revised. Seven species are recognised and three names are lectotypified. A key to the species and descriptions are provided. Three new species are described and illustrated: G. aranyaniae Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov., G. lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov., and G. macrochila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. Four names based on types from Bangladesh, India and Myanmar remain doubtful. The morphological expression of andromonoecy in this group is described in detail. Provisional IUCN conservation assessments of all species are supplied.
A taxonomic revision of Desplatsia Bocq. (Malvaceae s. lat. Juss., subfamily Grewioideae Hochr., tribe Grewieae Endl.) based on about 800 herbarium specimens is presented. Desplatsia is a genus of trees and shrubs found in tropical West and Central Africa and is characterized by subulately divided stipules, the absence of an androgynophore, stamens that are fused to a tube at the base, and large and distinctive fruits that are dispersed by elephants. Four species are recognized (D. subericarpa Bocq., D. chrysochlamys (Mildbr. & Burret) Mildbr. & Burret, D. dewevrei (De Wild. & T.Durand) Burret and D. mildbraedii Burret) and 12 species names are placed into synonymy, two of which have been put into synonymy for the first time: D. floribunda Burret syn. nov. and D. trillesiana (Pierre ex De Wild.) Pierre ex A.Chev. syn. nov. All four species are widely distributed and their conservation status is assessed as Least Concern (LC). A key to the species, full species descriptions, illustrations, a specimen citation list and distribution maps are provided.
A world dataset on the geographic distributions of Solenidae razor clams (Mollusca: Bivalvia)
(2019)
Background: Using this dataset, we examined the global geographical distributions of Solenidae species in relation to their endemicity, species richness and latitudinal ranges and then predicted their distributions under future climate change using species distribution modelling techniques (Saeedi et al. 2016a, Saeedi et al. 2016b). We found that the global latitudinal species richness in Solenidae is bi-modal, dipping at the equator most likely derived by high sea surface temperature (Saeedi et al. 2016b). We also found that most of the Solenidae species will shift their distribution ranges polewards due to global warming (Saeedi et al. 2016a). We also provided a comprehensive review of the taxon to test whether the latitudinal gradient in species richness was uni-modal with a peak in the tropics or northern hemisphere or asymmetric and bimodal as proposed previously (Chaudhary et al. 2016).
New information: This paper presents an integrated global geographic distribution dataset for 77 Solenidae taxa, including 3,034 geographic distribution records. This dataset was compiled after a careful data-collection and cleaning procedure over four years. Data were collected using field sampling, literature and from open-access databases. Then all the records went through quality control procedures such as validating the taxonomy of the species by examining and re-identifying the specimens in museum collections and using taxonomic and geographic data quality control tools in the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) and the r-OBIS package (Provoost and Bosch 2017). This dataset can thus be further used for taxonomical and biogeographical studies of Solenidae.
Records of Bahamas plume moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) collected since 2011 are summarized and four new species described: Michaelophorus salensis Matthews, new species, Oidaematophorus androsensis Matthews, new species, Hellinsia bahamensis Matthews, new species, and Hellinsia lucayana Matthews, new species. Species accounts including illustrations of adults and genitalia, diagnoses, larval hosts, habitats, and distributions are provided. Of the 23 species found, new larval host associations are reported for two species while the life histories remain unknown for seven species.
The rare hyolith Alfaites romeo gen. et sp. nov. is described from the lower half of the middle Cambrian (Drumian) Buchava Formation of the Skryje-Týřovice Basin in the Barrandian area of the Czech Republic. This new taxon is based on excellently preserved external and internal moulds of three opercula and several conchs collected from carbonate nodules and shale. This rare species has been established at three separate outcrops in the lower part of the Biozone of Paradoxides (Eccaparadoxides) pusillus (Barrande 1846). Morphology of conch and both external and internal surface of operculum are well known. However, specific morphology excludes assignment to any predescribed hyolithid family.
A checklist of the Scarabaeoidea (except Passalidae) of the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana) is presented for the first time. Both recorded and potential species are included, the latter defined as being recorded from Brazil north of the Amazon/Rio Negro main channel or from Venezuela east of the Orinoco main channel. The checklist contains a total of 930 species and subspecies, with 265 validly recorded from Guyana (eight new country records), 388 from Suriname (146 new country records), 531 from French Guiana (four new country records) and 177 additional species recorded from contiguous areas of neighboring Brazil and Venezuela. Valid names as well as selected synonyms are provided. Multiple notes on presently recognized subspecies, nomenclatural problems, doubtful type localities, historical misidentifications, etc. are included. An extensive reference list is provided.
The Odonata collection deposited at the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) includes specimens of 634 taxa labeled as types. Fifteen of these have been incorrectly labeled as types (pseudotypes) and eight are apparently lost, leaving a total of 611 types currently deposited at MCZ. From these, 489 represent primary namebearing types (syntype/s, holotype, lectotype and neotype), 21 are probable primary types, and 101 are secondary types (paratype/s, paralectotype/s).
Archaeological evidence indicates that pig domestication had begun by ∼10,500 y before the present (BP) in the Near East, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) suggests that pigs arrived in Europe alongside farmers ∼8,500 y BP. A few thousand years after the introduction of Near Eastern pigs into Europe, however, their characteristic mtDNA signature disappeared and was replaced by haplotypes associated with European wild boars. This turnover could be accounted for by substantial gene flow from local European wild boars, although it is also possible that European wild boars were domesticated independently without any genetic contribution from the Near East. To test these hypotheses, we obtained mtDNA sequences from 2,099 modern and ancient pig samples and 63 nuclear ancient genomes from Near Eastern and European pigs. Our analyses revealed that European domestic pigs dating from 7,100 to 6,000 y BP possessed both Near Eastern and European nuclear ancestry, while later pigs possessed no more than 4% Near Eastern ancestry, indicating that gene flow from European wild boars resulted in a near-complete disappearance of Near East ancestry. In addition, we demonstrate that a variant at a locus encoding black coat color likely originated in the Near East and persisted in European pigs. Altogether, our results indicate that while pigs were not independently domesticated in Europe, the vast majority of human-mediated selection over the past 5,000 y focused on the genomic fraction derived from the European wild boars, and not on the fraction that was selected by early Neolithic farmers over the first 2,500 y of the domestication process.
The taxa of Cryptocephalinae (Clytrini), Synetinae and part of Galerucinae introduced by Carl Peter Thunberg are reviewed based on the examination of primary type specimens deposited in the Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Coptocephala unifasciata unifasciata (Scopoli, 1763) = Cryptocephalus melanocephalus Thunberg, 1787 syn. nov.; Melitonoma decemnotata (Thunberg, 1787) comb. nov. (from Cryptocephalus Geoffroy, 1762); Miopristis flexuosa (Thunberg, 1821) = Miopristis namaquensis Medvedev, 1993 syn. nov.; Protoclytra ( Lacordairella) taeniata (Thunberg, 1821) comb. nov. (from Camptolenes Chevrolat, 1836) = Camptolenes fastuosa (Lacordaire, 1848) syn. nov.; Smeia undata (Thunberg, 1821) comb. nov. (from Miopristis Lacordaire, 1848) = Smeia virginea (Lacordaire, 1848) syn. nov. = Melitonoma pictipennis Jacoby, 1898 syn. nov.; Teinocera catenata (Thunberg, 1821) comb. nov. (from Miopristis) = Teinocera subclathrata (Lacordaire, 1848) syn. nov.; Exosoma lusitanica (Linnaeus, 1767) = Crioceris haemorrhoa Thunberg, 1827 syn. nov.; Megalognatha festiva (Fabricius, 1781) = Crioceris virens Thunberg, 1827 syn. nov.; Monolepta bioculata (Fabricius, 1781) = Cryptocephalus bioculatus Thunberg, 1827 syn. nov.; Monolepta melanogaster (Wiedemann, 1823) = Cryptocephalus capensis Thunberg, 1827 syn. nov.; Palaeophylia tricolor (Fabricius, 1781) = Crioceris tetrapuncta Thunberg, 1787 syn. nov. = Crioceris dimidiata Thunberg, 1827 syn. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Cryptocephalus bioculatus Thunberg, 1827 and Crioceris dimidiata Thunberg, 1827. Melitonoma decemnotata comb. nov. is redescribed. Labidostomis insidiosa Péringuey, 1888 is resurrected from synonymy with Teinocera catenata comb. nov. and provisionally placed as a valid species in the genus Miopristis Lacordaire, 1848. Crioceris betulina Thunberg, 1787 is proposed as nomen oblitum for Syneta betulae (Fabricius, 1792) (nomen protectum). Colour photographs of the type specimens of all taxa are provided.
Cheilostome Bryozoa Anoteropora latirostris, a colonial marine invertebrate, constructs its skeleton from calcite and aragonite. This study presents firstly correlated multi-scale electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography, electron backscatter diffraction and NanoSIMS mapping. We show that all primary, coarse-grained platy calcitic lateral walls are covered by fine-grained fibrous aragonite. Vertical lateral walls separating autozooid chambers have aragonite only on their distal side. This type of asymmetric mineralization of lateral walls results from the vertical arrangement of the zooids at the growth margins of the colony and represents a type of biomineralization previously unknown in cheilostome bryozoans. NanoSIMS mapping across the aragonite-calcite interface indicates an organic layer between both mineral phases, likely representing an organic template for biomineralization of aragonite on the calcite layer. Analysis of crystallographic orientations show a moderately strong crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) for calcite (7.4 times random orientation) and an overall weaker CPO for aragonite (2.4 times random orientation) with a high degree of twinning (45%) of the aragonite grains. The calculated Young’s modulus for the CPO map shows a weak mechanical direction perpendicular to the colony’s upper surface facilitating this organism’s strategy of clonal reproduction by fragmentation along the vertical zooid walls.
Literature about Mesitiinae Kieffer, 1914 has not been treated extensively from a taxonomic viewpoint in comparison with other subfamilies in Bethylidae Latreille, 1802. Our research on species of Metrionotus Móczár, 1970, Clytrovorus Nagy, 1972 and Sulcomesitius Móczár, 1970 revealed a new hypopygium shape pattern, namely a 'star-shaped' hypopygium, which is characteristic of a new genus, Astromesitius gen. nov., with two new species Astromesitius thionyi gen. et sp. nov. and Astromesitius olavoi gen. et sp. nov. The descriptions of both new species are based on male specimens collected in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Astromesitius quatei (Móczár, 1977) gen. et comb. nov. is designated as type species for the new genus, which is erected for a total of seven species. The main diagnostic characteristics are the head longer than wide; a clypeus with a median lobe quadrate; an antenna with distinct long setae, with pedicel caliciform, and with flagellomeres long and caliciform; pronotum and anteromesoscutum with longitudinal sulcus indistinct or absent; metapectal-propodeal complex with posterior projection hardly distinct or absent; hypopygium star-shaped; genitalia with aedeagus slender and fusiform.
Drebrin (DBN) regulates cytoskeletal functions during neuronal development, and is thought to contribute to structural and functional synaptic changes associated with aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Here we show that DBN coordinates stress signalling with cytoskeletal dynamics, via a mechanism involving kinase ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). An excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) stimulates ATM-dependent phosphorylation of DBN at serine-647, which enhances protein stability and accounts for improved stress resilience in dendritic spines. We generated a humanized DBN Caenorhabditis elegans model and show that a phospho-DBN mutant disrupts the protective ATM effect on lifespan under sustained oxidative stress. Our data indicate a master regulatory function of ATM-DBN in integrating cytosolic stress-induced signalling with the dynamics of actin remodelling to provide protection from synapse dysfunction and ROS-triggered reduced lifespan. They further suggest that DBN protein abundance governs actin filament stability to contribute to the consequences of oxidative stress in physiological and pathological conditions.
The alpha-taxonomy of triphorids is still largely based on the study of the shell, and the scarcity of studies dealing with their anatomy is a result of the difficulty of sampling live animals and their very small size. Whereas radula and operculum are important structures in the taxonomy at the generic level, the jaw of triphorids has never been properly studied, being regarded as presenting a morphological homogeneity. The present research explored the basic anatomy (especially internal hard structures: operculum, jaw and radula) of 12 species from Brazil, distributed in 11 genera: Cheirodonta Marshall, 1983 (with a new generic allocation, Cheirodonta dupliniana (Olsson, 1916) comb. nov.), Cosmotriphora Olsson & Harbison, 1953, Iniforis Jousseaume, 1884, Latitriphora Marshall, 1983, Metaxia Monterosato, 1884, Monophorus Grillo, 1877, Nanaphora Laseron, 1958, Nototriphora Marshall, 1983, Sagenotriphora Marshall, 1983, Similiphora Bouchet, 1985 and Strobiligera Dall, 1924; in addition, the basic anatomy of the Caribbean species "Inella" harryleei Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 2008 was analysed. Radular examination showed that the majority of species studied is properly allocated in their genera after comparisons in the literature with respective type species, albeit a few species are clearly in need of a new generic allocation. The jaw of triphorids is remarkably heterogeneous, displaying different patterns of scales and micro-pores between outer and inner sides.
The new genus and species Campydoroides manautei Holovachov gen. et sp. nov. is placed in the suborder Campydorina and is characterised by a transversely striated cuticle without lateral alae, body pores or epidermal glands; somatic sensilla only on pharyngeal region and on tail; a truncate labial region with papilliform inner labial, outer labial and cephalic sensilla; a stirrup-shaped amphid with transverse slit-like opening; a conoid stoma with strongly cuticularised walls and large protrusible dorsal tooth; a cylindrical pharynx with distinct basal bulb but without valves; a large ovoid cardia; didelphic, amphidelphic female gonads with antidromously reflexed ovaries and without spermatheca; a transverse vulva; a straight vagina without pars refringens vaginae or epiptygmata; an elongate tail with caudal glands and spinneret. The new genus is similar to the genera Campydora Cobb, 1920 and Udonchus Cobb, 1913 in having papilliform labial and cephalic sensilla, a stirrup-shaped amphid with a transverse slit-like opening, a stoma with a well-developed protrusible dorsal tooth, and a muscular pharynx with a strongly developed basal bulb, but can be easily separated from both in details of a stoma morphology. The systematics of the suborder Campydorina is revised. Halirhabdolaimus Siddiqi, 2012 is synonymised with Syringolaimus de Man, 1888.
Planthopper (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) diversity inhabiting Neotropical terre firme forests is poorly known but may comprise one twentieth of the known World planthopper diversity. This study estimates planthopper diversity of the terre firme forest canopy using multiple measures. Samples were collected by canopy fogging at two localities in the Ecuadorian Amazon terra firme forest (Orellana province) Tiputini Biodiversity Station and Reserva Etnica Waorani. Fogging was conducted during three seasons (wet, transitional, and dry) between 1994 and 2006. The total planthopper collection encompasses 17,951 specimens in 15 families, and from these specimens 638 morphospecies were recognized. EstimateS diversity software was used to determine seven alpha diversity estimators that predicted an average alpha diversity of 793 morphospecies. Beta diversity estimators supported limited overlap between localities in the study and predicted that diversity of the sampling sites composes roughly 1/3 of the known planthopper diversity for all Central and South America.
During recent investigations on the terrestrial invertebrates of the tropical rainforest on Martinique Island (Pitons du Carbet), specimens of a new species of the terrestrial amphipod genus Cerrorchestia Lindeman, 1990, C. taboukeli sp. nov., were collected by means of different quantitative and non-quantitative methods (hand collection and Tullgren extraction) in the forest floor. The new species can be easily distinguished from the only other species of the genus, C. hyloraina Lindeman, 1990, by gnathopod 2 (carpus short, palm longer than wide), pereopod 4 dactylus with a denticulate patch, pereopod 5 basis ovate with a deep posterodistal lobe reaching the distal end of the ischium, pleopod 3 ramus with more than six articles. Cerrorchestia tabouleki sp. nov. is the first forest-hopper discovered in the Lesser Antilles, raising the question of island colonization by terrestrial amphipods. Ecological data and a key to terrestrial Talitridae of Central America and the Caribbean islands are provided.
A checklist of 49 damselfly species from 12 families (Odonata: Zygoptera) recorded from Kon Ka Kinh National Park is provided. A first description of the female Protosticta socculus Phan & Kompier, 2016, is given. Burmargiolestes cf. laidlawi Lieftinck, 1960 and three apparently new species, two Coeliccia and one Protosticta species, are recorded, all of which are to be described in the future.
A cladistic analysis of the genus Atlantodesmus Hoffman, 2000 is presented. With a total of 11 taxa and 30 morphological characters, and under implied weighting (k = 3), two equally most parsimonious trees (length = 58 steps; total fit = 23.150; CI = 0.64; RI = 0.64) recovered the monophyly of the genus. The resulting synapomorphies are: absence of a ventral projection on the post-gonopodal sternites; presence of folds on the dorsal edge of the prefemoral region of the gonopod; and one homoplastic transformation: presence of a cingulum. In addition, Atlantodesmus sierwaldae sp. nov. is described from the state of Minas Gerais, in the Brazilian Cerrado, and a key to the males of the genus is provided.
Active species reintroduction is an important conservation tool when aiming for the restoration of biological communities and ecosystems. The effective monitoring of reintroduction success is a crucial factor in this process. Here, we used a combination of environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques and species distribution models (SDMs) to evaluate the success of recent reintroductions of the freshwater fish Alburnoides bipunctatus in central Germany. We built SDMs without and with eDNA presence data to locate further suitable reintroduction sites and potentially overlooked populations of the species. We successfully detected eDNA of A. bipunctatus at all reintroduction sites, as well as several adjacent sites mostly in downstream direction, which supports the success of reintroduction efforts. eDNA‐based species detection considerably improved SDMs for A. bipunctatus, which allowed to identify species presence in previously unknown localities. Our results confirm the usefulness of eDNA techniques as standard tool to monitor reintroduced fish populations. We propose that combining eDNA with SDMs is a highly effective approach for long‐term monitoring of reintroduction success in aquatic species.
Natural history collections are fundamental for biodiversity research as well as for any applied environment-related research. These collections can be seen as archives of earth´s life providing the basis to address highly relevant scientific questions such as how biodiversity changes in certain environments, either through evolutionary processes in a geological timescale, or by man-made transformation of habitats throughout the last decades and/or centuries. A prominent example is the decline of the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis Linneaus, 1758 in the North Sea and the concomitant invasion of the common limpet slipper Crepidula fornicata, which has been implicated to have negative effects on O. edulis. We used collections to analyse population changes in both species in the North Sea. In order to reconstruct the change in distribution and diversity over the past 200 years, we combined the temporal and spatial information recorded with the collected specimens contained in several European natural history collections. Our data recover the decline of O. edulis in the North Sea from the 19th century to the present and the process of invasion of C. fornicata. Importantly, the decline of O. edulis was nearly completed before C. fornicata appeared in the North Sea, suggesting that the latter had nothing to do with the local extinction of O. edulis in the North Sea.
We report chromosome counts for ten taxa of Vincetoxicum sensu stricto (s. str.) (Apocynaceae) from Turkey (of which two are endemic), including the first chromosome counts for V. canescens subsp. pedunculata, V. funebre, V. fuscatum subsp. boissieri, V. parviflorum and V. tmoleum. Two taxa of V. fuscatum proved to be tetraploid (2n=44) and the remaining eight taxa diploid (2n=22). Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nrDNA (ITS) and cpDNA (trnT-trnL) (including 31 newly generated sequences) confirm the position of the Turkish Vincetoxicum in the Vincetoxicum s. str. clade. Vincetoxicum fuscatum, V. parviflorum, V. speciosum, as well as the Turkish endemic V. fuscatum subsp. boissieri, were clearly resolved as species-level clades, whereas the delimitation of the rest of the Turkish taxa was less clear based on molecular data.
Contribution to the Odonata fauna of the Society Islands, French Polynesia (Insecta: Odonata)
(2019)
Following field studies in 2018 the Odonata fauna of Society Islands, French Polynesia is reviewed and the validity of all records analysed. An updated species list is provided, bringing the number of breeding species recorded from this island group to ten.
Field studies targeted Hemicordulia Selys, 1870 specimens for inclusion in the revision of the Pacific representatives of the genus. Samples were taken mainly from Tahiti and Raiatea, with some additional specimens collected from Bora Bora and Huahine. Only the Society Islands endemic H. oceanica Selys, 1871 was encountered on all four islands, being recorded from Bora Bora for the first time. At least one new species of Hemicordulia has been reported from the high mountain areas of Tahiti (Jacq et al. 2009, 2014).
The present study also emphasises the need for a revision of Zygoptera records from the French Polynesia and the rest of the Pacific. Presently, about 25 endemic species provisionally assigned to Ischnura Charpentier, 1840 and Hivaagrion Hämäläinen & Marinov, 2014 are known from the Society, Austral and Marquesas island groups (R. Englund, J. Jacq, T. Ramage, D. Polhemus, per. comm.). Only seven of them have been described so far. Detailed morphological and molecular analyses will likely prove the separate generic status of some of the species presently included under Ischnura.
Paraleurolobus evansi García-Ochaeta y Sánchez-Flores sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is described from Guatemala. Differential characters between this and related species are discussed. A key is included to identify Paraleurolobus Sampson y Drews species, and P. chamaedoreae Russell and P. imbricatus Sampson y Drews are reported for the first time from Guatemala.
Five chrysopetalid species are reported from samples collected at bathyal depths in three NE Atlantic regions: the Bay of Biscay, the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain and the Gulf of Cadiz. Arichlidon reyssi (Katzmann et al., 1974), Dysponetus caecus (Langerhans, 1880) and D. profundus Böggemann, 2009 are free-living forms found mainly on biogenic substrates (e.g., coral and sunken wood). A brief description and taxonomical remarks are given for each of these species and their geographical distributions and habitat records were updated accordingly. Natsushima bifurcata Miura & Laubier, 1990 and Craseoschema thyasiricola gen. et sp. nov. are symbionts inhabiting the mantle cavity of chemosynthesis-based bivalves known from four mud volcanoes from the Gulf of Cadiz. Craseoschema thyasiricola gen. et sp. nov. was found inside a thyasirid bivalve and presents mixed morphological characteristics of free-living and symbiotic forms within Calamyzinae Hartmann-Schröder, 1971. A full description of the new species is given together with DNA sequences of the genes COI, 16S and H3 that were used in a phylogenetic analysis to indicate the position of the new genus within the family.
Description of Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. from Kadavu Island, Fiji (Odonata: Corduliidae)
(2019)
Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. (Odonata: Corduliidae) is described and diagnosed based on material collected from Kadavu Island, Fiji; holotype: Wainitayuki River about 750 m above Baidamudamu village, -19.0916, 178.1038; 37 m a.s.l., 06 June 2016, M. Marinov leg. This species is distinguished from its congeners in the field by the contrasting colouration – dark green metallic body with bright yellow spots on the synthorax and base of the abdomen. This pattern is comparable to H. pacifica Selys, 1871. However, Hemicordulia tuiwawai sp. nov. can be recognised by the larger size and unique shape of the caudal appendages and genital hamule (in males) and vulvar scale (in females).
In this study we describe a new species of the click-beetle genus Lacon Laporte, 1838 from the relict Hyrcanian forest in northern Iran. Lacon mertliki sp. nov. is morphologically similar to L. lepidopterus (Panzer, 1801) but differs from the latter in the body coloration and pubescence, the shape of pronotum and scutellar shield, and male and female genitalia. We provide brief data on its ecology as well as an identification key to all Lacon species in Iran. Additionally, we synonymize Lacon nadaii Platia & Németh, 2011 with Lacon unicolor (Candèze, 1874).
Descriptions of a new genus, Giesberticus Wappes and Santos-Silva, and seven new species in the Rhinotragini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) are included: Oxylymma soniae Wappes and Santos-Silva, from Bolivia; O. surinamensis Wappes and Santos-Silva, from Suriname; O. birai Wappes and Santos-Silva, from Brazil; Paraeclipta albopilosa Wappes and Santos-Silva, from Bolivia; P. vandenberghei Wappes and Santos- Silva, from Nicaragua; Odontocera elllanocarti Wappes and Santos-Silva, from Panama; and Giesberticus longiventris Wappes and Santos-Silva, from Bolivia. In addition, the holotype of Oxylymma gibbicollis Bates, 1873 is figured for the first time, Odontocera argenteolineata Santos-Silva and Bezark, 2016 is newly recorded for Guatemala and the Bolivian record for Odontocera globicollis Zajciw (based on a misidentification), is excluded from the Bolivia fauna.
Descriptions of two new elateroid beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae, Elateridae) from Burmese amber
(2019)
Two new elateroid taxa are described from amber deposits excavated from the northern region of Myanmar. Two genera, Cenomana gen. nov. (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae), and Cretopityobius gen. nov. (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are described for the first time from Burmese amber. The following new species are described: Cenomana clavata sp. nov. and Cretopityobius pankowskiorum sp. nov. Each new species is diagnosed and illustrated.
Petroleum products including crude oils and refined distillates are unique environmental pollutants consisting of thousands of compounds with varying physical-chemical properties and resulting toxicity for aquatic biota. Hence, for a reliable risk assessment individual petroleum product toxicity profiles are needed. Furthermore, the influence of oil spill response strategies like the application of chemical dispersants has to be implemented. The present study addressed the toxicity of water-accommodated fractions (WAFs) of two different oil types on fish early life stages on different biological organization levels in the laboratory model species Danio rerio. Experiments with a 3rd generation dispersant used in loading rated resembling the exposure in experiments with chemically dispersed oils were included, enabling a direct comparability of results. This approach is of high importance as especially the investigation of dispersant toxicity in relevant exposure concentrations is rather scarce. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different WAFs shortly after and up to 120 hour post fertilization (hpf). Besides phenotypic effects including edema and spine deformations, reduced responses to dark stimuli, increased CYP1A activity and marginal AChE inhibition were observed in sublethal effect concentrations. Both oil types had varying strength of toxicity, which did not correlate with corresponding chemical analysis of target PAHs. Chemically dispersed oils induced stronger acute toxicity in zebrafish embryos compared to native (initial) oil exposure, which was further reflected by very low exposure concentrations for biomarker endpoints. Based on a comparison to the dispersant alone, a higher toxicity of dispersed oils was related to a combination of dispersant toxicity and an elevated crude oil compound bioavailability, due to dispersion-related partitioning kinetics. In contrast to LEWAF and CEWAF neither typical morphological effects nor mechanism-specific toxicity were observed for the dispersant alone, indicating narcosis as the responsible cause of effects.
Consistent individual differences in behaviour (animal personality) are widespread throughout the Animal Kingdom. This includes variation in risk-taking versus risk-averse behavioural tendencies. Variation in several personality dimensions is associated with distinct fitness consequences and thus, may become a target of natural and/or sexual selection. However, the link between animal personality and mate choice—as a major component of sexual selection—remains understudied. We asked (1) whether females and males of the livebearing fish Poecilia mexicana prefer risk-taking mating partners (directional mating preference), (2) or if their preferences are dependent on the choosing individual’s own personality type (assortative mating). We characterized each test subject for its risk-taking behaviour, assessed as the time to emerge from shelter and enter an unknown area. In dichotomous association preference tests, we offered two potential mating partners that differed in risk-taking behaviour but were matched for other phenotypic traits (body size, shape, and colouration). Females, but not males, exhibited a strong directional preference for risk-taking over risk-averse mating partners. At the same time, the strength of females’ preferences correlated positively with their own risk-taking scores. Our study is the first to demonstrate that a strong overall preference for risk-taking mating partners does not preclude effects of choosing individuals’ own personality type on (subtle) individual variation in mating preferences. More generally, two different preferences functions appear to interact to determine the outcome of individual mate choice decisions.
The genus Pleioplectron was first described by Hutton (1896) and included six New Zealand species. This genus has since had three species moved, one each to the genera Pachyrhamma Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888, Miotopus Hutton, 1898 and Novoplectron Richards, 1958. Here we clarify the status and appearance of Pleioplectron simplex Hutton, 1896 (incl. P. pectinatum Hutton, 1896 syn. nov.) and P. hudsoni Hutton, 1896, as well as P. thomsoni (Chopard, 1923) comb. nov., which is transferred from the genus Weta Chopard, 1923. The genus Weta is newly synonymised with Pleioplectron. We also describe seven new species of Pleioplectron from South Island, New Zealand: P. auratum sp. nov., P. caudatum sp. nov, P. crystallae sp. nov., P. flavicorne sp. nov., P. gubernator sp. nov., P. rodmorrisi sp. nov and P. triquetrum sp. nov. We base these descriptions on morphology using fresh specimens of both male and female adults, and provide support for each with DNA sequence variation (mtDNA, partial COI).
The article presents new faunistic data on 33 Odonata species, based on the material collected by the author in 2012, 2016 and 2017 and a systematic research in 2018 throughout the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (AR). Onychogomphus assimilis (Schneider, 1845) is a new record for the fauna of Azerbaijan. Eight species were registered for the first time for the territory of Nakhichevan AR: Lestes virens Rambur, 1842, Coenagrion scitulum (Rambur, 1842), Aeshna mixta Latreille, 1805, Anaciaeschna isoceles (Müller, 1764), Anax parthenope (Selys, 1839), Sympetrum sanguineum (Müller, 1764), Crocothemis erythraea (Brullé, 1832), and Selysiothemis nigra (Vander Linden, 1825).
During four field trips in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan from 2010 to 2018, the author collected data of a total of 55 species (see Tab. 2 in Appendix). This study provides first insights into new or rare species in this ecoregion. Ischnura fountaineae and Cordulia aenea were found for the first time in Armenia. We also highlight the rediscovery of some species that were mentioned in the older literature but had not been confirmed since. An autochthonous population of Lestes macrostigma was discovered in Azerbaijan sixteen years after the single previous record by Dumont (2004). Original information is provided on the distribution of some rare species encountered in these countries. Finally, the identification of a puzzling Cordulegaster sp. observed in south Armenia is discussed briefly.
This paper describes a set of guidelines for the citation of zoological and botanical specimens in the European Journal of Taxonomy. The guidelines stipulate controlled vocabularies and precise formats for presenting the specimens examined within a taxonomic publication, which allow for the rich data associated with the primary research material to be harvested, distributed and interlinked online via international biodiversity data aggregators. Herein we explain how the EJT editorial standard was defined and how this initiative fits into the journal's project to semantically enhance its publications using the Plazi TaxPub DTD extension. By establishing a standardised format for the citation of taxonomic specimens, the journal intends to widen the distribution of and improve accessibility to the data it publishes. Authors who conform to these guidelines will benefit from higher visibility and new ways of visualising their work. In a wider context, we hope that other taxonomy journals will adopt this approach to their publications, adapting their working methods to enable domain-specific text mining to take place. If specimen data can be efficiently cited, harvested and linked to wider resources, we propose that there is also the potential to develop alternative metrics for assessing impact and productivity within the natural sciences.
In the present paper three empidoid fly species new to science are described from the island Sal of the Cabo Verde archipelago. Aphrosylus salensis sp. nov., a marine dolichopodid fly, is found in the splash zone of a rocky sea shore. Crossopalpus salensis sp. nov. (Hybotidae) is recorded from two different sebkhas. Crossopalpus complicatus sp. nov. is reported from an irrigated wasteland. A key to the species of these two genera occurring on Cape Verde is provided. The presence of the morphospecies Tachytrechus tessellatus (Macquart, 1842), a presumed Old World tropical species, is confirmed.
Systematic, faunistic and ecological aspects of the six families and 34 species and subspecies in the order Ephemeroptera currently recorded from Cuba are reviewed based primarily on a reference collection located at the Universidad de Oriente (Santiago de Cuba), collections at the Institute of Ecology and Systematics (Havana) and historic literature. A key to nymphs is included with photographs of significant features of many species. An annotated list of species is presented with comments on type localities, species ecology and distribution. The morpho- ecological types of the nymphs are updated according to current taxonomic changes, and indicator species of organic contamination are analyzed according to the BMWP-Cub index. Based on present data, mayflies are best collected between January and June although many species are present throughout the year, and almost half of the species are widely distributed. Possible routes of penetration from the continents toward Cuba are from South America through the arc of islands formed by the Lesser Antilles, from Central and South America through the peninsula of Yucatan, and via an ancient landspan or island chain from northern South America (GAARlandia). With one exception, there is no evidence for dispersal of species from North America (through Florida) to Cuba (and then to the Antilles) or vice versa. The pattern of geographical distribution of Ephemeroptera inside Cuba is very similar to that of the orders Trichoptera and Odonata. The greatest number of species is found in the Eastern region and the fewest in the Central and Central-East regions. The high endemism (76.5%) is probably due to geographical isolation and processes that bring about this phenomenon together with the low vagility that characterizes the order.
During the last decades mammalian intracranial structures like the ethmoidal region have rarely been a focus of morphological studies, as they required invasive techniques. Contrary, the ontogeny of the fetal nasal capsule could easily be investigated based on histological material. Since the early 21st century modern imaging techniques like high-resolution computed tomography (μCT) reveal non-destructive insights into the mammalian skull. Furthermore, visualization software enables the virtual reconstruction of the tissues and additionally their morphometric analyses. However, the use of morphometric approaches on the nasal cavity is still scarce. Moreover, the turbinal skeleton is generally regarded as a unit, or the rostral respiratory part is compared to the caudal olfactory part; but the distinct olfactory turbinals have been considered only in a few studies.
The present study focuses on the highly diverse facial shape of the dog (Canis lupus familiaris) that evolved during domestication. Due to human-controlled breeding and care the natural selective pressure in prehistoric dogs has been replaced continually by artificial selection. As a consequence, harmful mutations on gene loci which e.g., control facial length growth got fixed within an extremely short time. According to veterinarian studies the turbinals of short snouted breeds continue their growth after the elongation of the facial bones has stopped prematurely. However, such investigations are based on low-resolution CT or MRT data and the morphological descriptions are vague. Referring to the elongation of the face in dolichocephalic breeds no former study has dealt with the detailed morphology of their turbinal skeleton so far.
The current study is based on comparative anatomical, morphometric, morphofunctional, and ontogenetic patterns of the dog’s turbinal skeleton. The 32 macerated skulls and four histological serial sections represent eleven breeds which cover different snout lengths (brachycephalic, mesaticephalic, dolichocephalic; according to two length indices), functional groups (scent hound, sighthound, companion/toy), and breeding histories (ancient pure-breeding associated with an unchanged appearance, modern time fashion breeding). The nasal cavity of the selected skulls was μCT-scanned and virtual 3D models of the turbinal skeleton were reconstructed. The breeds have been compared with each other in their number of olfactory turbinals, in the morphology of all turbinals and the lamina semicircularis as well as in their morphometrics and ontogeny. Based on morphological and ontogenetic patterns a new terminology of the interturbinals was established. The morphometric data covers the measurement of the relative turbinal surface area (IAT) and the calculation of the surface density (SDEN) and the turbinal complexity (TC). For the latter parameter a new morphometric approach was developed. For the ontogenetic comparison histological serial sections of perinatal dog stages have been consulted. As the dog’s ancestor macerated skulls of three adult Eurasian wolves (Canis lupus lupus) function for outgroup comparison and represent the grundplan with which the breeds are compared.
The results support former studies concerning a species-specific number of the fronto- and ethmoturbinals: in the Eurasian wolf and all postnatal dogs under study three ethmoturbinals and three frontoturbinals are observed. Additionally, two types of interturbinals are distinguished, namely four prominent interturbinals which are present in nearly all individuals and show a homologous pattern, and a variable number of additional interturbinals which differ in their shape among the dogs. Generally, longer snouted breeds have more additional interturbinals, so the total number of olfactory turbinals is increased to a maximum of 16 in the borzoi, whereas several short snouted breeds have only nine olfactory turbinals due to the loss of additional interturbinals and one prominent interturbinal. Regarding ontogeny the growth of the respiratory and the olfactory turbinals and the lamina semicircularis is highly associated with the growth of the facial bones after birth. As the viscerocranium of brachycephalic breeds is subjected to a postnatal growth inhibition the ethmoidal region stops growing prematurely, too. The turbinals of both functional parts develop less accessory lamellae that results in the reduction of the three morphometric parameters IAT, SDEN, and TC. The increase of all these three parameters with increasing snout length proves a correlation between both variables in the maxilloturbinal, all olfactory turbinals, and the lamina semicircularis in the dog. With the help of the perinatal dog stages plesiomorphic patterns which are present in all adult specimens (e.g., separation of ethmoturbinal I into two laminae, the presence of the uncinate process) were distinguished from less established morphological traits which get preferably reduced in association with brachycephaly (e.g., the anterior process of the posterior lamina of ethmoturbinal I, the caudal processes of frontoturbinal 1 and 2 within the frontal sinus due to the latter’s reduction). Obviously, the driving mechanism behind these and further variations are mutations on gene loci which control ontogenetic processes: the in other studies already described postnatal growth inhibition in the dermal bones of the midface of brachycephalic breeds seems to have a similar effect on the ethmoidal region. The results of the present study serve as basis for the evaluation how far the bony turbinals’ morphology, morphometrics, and ontogeny might be associated with physiological, genetic, neurological, and phylogenetic patterns. Additionally, the growth patterns of the hard tissues need to be compared to those of the soft tissues (i.e. the nasal epithelium).
This study investigates the history of Odonata studies in the Republic of Vanuatu and presents results from a two week field sampling mainly on three islands – Efate, Aneityum and Malekula. A total of 32 species are recognised as currently valid names for the country. Three new species have been collected and will be described elsewhere. Various taxonomic, faunistic and biogeographic issues are discussed in the light of the new material collected during the current study in comparison to already published research.
The general conclusion is that provisional species checklist is far from complete. The territory of Vanuatu is still highly insufficiently studied for its Odonata fauna. The local endemic genus Vanuatubasis Ober & Staniczek, 2009 is believed to be far more diverse than currently known with three described and three new species collected during the present study.
Genomic sequencing and analysis of worldwide skipper butterfly (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) fauna points to imperfections in their current classification. Some tribes, subtribes and genera as they are circumscribed today are not monophyletic. Rationalizing genomic results from the perspective of phenotypic characters suggests two new tribes, two new subtribes and 50 new genera that are named here: Ceratrichiini Grishin, trib. n., Gretnini Grishin, trib. n., Falgina Grishin, subtr. n., Apaustina Grishin, subtr. n., Flattoides Grishin, gen. n., Aurivittia Grishin, gen. n., Viuria Grishin, gen. n., Clytius Grishin, gen. n., Incisus Grishin, gen. n., Perus Grishin, gen. n., Livida Grishin, gen. n., Festivia Grishin, gen. n., Hoodus Grishin, gen. n., Anaxas Grishin, gen. n., Chiothion Grishin, gen. n., Crenda Grishin, gen. n., Santa Grishin, gen. n., Canesia Grishin, gen. n., Bralus Grishin, gen. n., Ladda Grishin, gen. n., Willema Grishin, gen. n., Argemma Grishin, gen. n., Nervia Grishin, gen. n., Dotta Grishin, gen. n., Lissia Grishin, gen. n., Xanthonymus Grishin, gen. n., Cerba Grishin, gen. n., Avestia Grishin, gen. n., Zetka Grishin, gen. n., Turmosa Grishin, gen. n., Mielkeus Grishin, gen. n., Coolus Grishin, gen. n., Daron Grishin, gen. n., Barrolla Grishin, gen. n., Brownus Grishin, gen. n., Tava Grishin, gen. n., Rigga Grishin, gen. n., Haza Grishin, gen. n., Dubia Grishin, gen. n., Pares Grishin, gen. n., Chitta Grishin, gen. n., Artonia Grishin, gen. n., Lurida Grishin, gen. n., Corra Grishin, gen. n., Fidius Grishin, gen. n., Veadda Grishin, gen. n., Tricrista Grishin, gen. n., Viridina Grishin, gen. n., Alychna Grishin, gen. n., Ralis Grishin, gen. n., Testia Grishin, gen. n., Buzella Grishin, gen. n., Vernia Grishin, gen. n., and Lon Grishin, gen. n. In addition, the following taxonomic changes are suggested. Prada Evans is transferred from Hesperiinae to Trapezitinae. Echelatus Godman and Salvin, Systaspes Weeks, and Oenides Mabille are removed from synonymy and are treated as valid genera. The following genera are new junior subjective synonyms: Tosta Evans of Eantis Boisduval; Turmada Evans of Neoxeniades Hayward, Arita Evans of Tigasis Godman, and Alera Mabille of Perichares Scudder. Eantis pallida (R. Felder) (not Achlyodes Hübner), Gindanes kelso (Evans) (not Onenses Godman and Salvin), Isoteinon abjecta (Snellen) (not Astictopterus C. and R. Felder), Neoxeniades ethoda (Hewitson) (not Xeniades Godman), Moeris anna (Mabille) (not Vidius Evans), and Molo pelta Evans (not Lychnuchus Hübner) are new genus-species combinations. The following are species-level taxa: Livida assecla (Mabille) (not a subspecies of Livida grandis (Mabille), formerly Pythonides Hübner) and Alychna zenus (E. Bell) (not a junior subjective synonym of Alychna exclamationis (Mabille), formerly Psoralis Mabille); and Barrolla molla E. Bell (formerly Vacerra Godman) is a junior subjective synonym of Barrolla barroni Evans (formerly Paratrytone Godman). All these changes to taxonomic status of names are propagated to all names currently treated as subspecies (for species), subgenera (for genera) and synonyms of these taxa. Finally, taxa not mentioned in this work are considered to remain at the ranks and in taxonomic groups they have been previously assigned to.
Five new species of the genus Drosophila Fallén, 1823 belonging to the tripunctata group are described and illustrated: D. warmi sp. nov., D. kurillakta sp. nov., D. chichu sp. nov., D. saraguru sp. nov. and D. ayauma sp. nov. from the forests of Podocarpus National Park. The first species is ascribed to subgroup II of Frota-Pessoa (1954), the second species to subgroup IV, and the last three species are not assigned to any subgroup. The flies were captured using plastic bottles containing pieces of yeast fermented banana.
Five new species in four new genera from Western Australia are described. All species have valve characters that are reminiscent of the genus Heterocypris Claus, 1892 and also have similar valve outlines, with highly arched valves. However, all species have a hemipenis morphology that is totally different from the typical form in Heterocypris. In Patcypris gen. nov. (with type species P. outback gen. et sp. nov.), the lateral lobe is large and shaped as a pickaxe, while the medial lobe is divided into two distal lobes. Trilocypris gen. nov. (with type species T. horwitzi gen. et sp. nov.) is characterised by a hemipenis that has three, instead of two, distal lobes. In Bilocypris gen. nov. (with type species B. fortescuensis gen. et sp. nov. and a second species, B. mandoraensis gen. et sp. nov.), the lateral lobe of the hemipenis is spatulate, rather than boot-shaped, and the medial lobe is bilobed. Billcypris gen. nov. (with type species B. davisae gen. et sp. nov.) has a large and sub-rectangular lateral lobe and a pointed medial lobe. We discuss the taxonomic value of the traditional and new morphological characters and speculate that the diversity of this cluster of genera and species may be greater than currently known.
Four new species of Brueelia Kéler, 1936 are described and illustrated. All of them parasitize African endemic host species in the families Passeridae, Ploceidae, and Estrildidae (Passeriformes). They are: Brueelia pofadderensis sp. nov. ex Passer melanurus damarensis Reichenow, 1902 and P. m. vicinus Clancey, 1958; B. semiscalaris sp. nov. ex Granatina granatina (Linnaeus, 1758); B. sima sp. nov. ex Malimbus nitens (Gray, 1831); B. terpsichore sp. nov. ex Euplectes jacksoni (Sharpe, 1891) and E. progne delamerei (Shelley, 1903). In addition, Brueelia bicurvata (Piaget, 1880) is redescribed and reillustrated from non-type material. A summary of all published records of lice in the Brueelia complex from Africa since 1980 is provided. We also estimate the unknown diversity of African species of Brueelia based on an index of host specificity calculated for each host family independently. The unknown diversity is estimated to be over 1000 species of Brueelia from African hosts, compared to the < 50 species in this genus currently recorded from Africa.
Although Gastrotricha have previously been recorded in bottom sediments of greenhouses as well as in micro-reservoirs of Bromeliaceae, palm houses provide a more specific microhabitat for these animals that often originate from different regions of the world. This paper presents an investigation of gastrotrich assemblages associated with aquatic plants. Eight species of the epiphytic chaetonotids were found in the Jubilee Greenhouse of the Botanical Garden in Kraków (Poland), including three species new to science, Chaetonotus (Chaetonotus) invitatus sp. nov., C. (Hystricochaetonotus) horridus sp. nov. and C. (H.) inaequabilis sp. nov. Two other species are new to Poland, C. (C.) paucisquamatus Kisielewski, 1991 and C. (Zonochaeta) cestacanthus Balsamo, 1990, both recorded here for the first time outside their terra typica. These observations confirm that greenhouses and palm houses provide many ecological niches and favourable conditions for the development of a number of unintentionally introduced species which cannot be found outside their original climate conditions.
A new monotypic genus of Iassinae Walker, 1870 tribe Hyalojassini Evans, 1972 is proposed based on Guaricicana borgesi gen. et sp. nov. from the states of Paraná and Rio de Janeiro, southern and southeastern Brazil, respectively. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of males and females are provided, as well as comparisons with the presumably more closely related genus, Daveyoungana Blocker & Webb, 1992.
The list of the species of Hoya R.Br. occurring on the Indonesian island of Sumatra is updated and the type citation is clarified. Sixteen taxa are added to the latest checklist. Hoya danumensis subsp. amarii S.Rahayu & Rodda subsp. nov., H. rigidifolia S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov., H. solokensis S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov., and H. sumatrana S.Rahayu & Rodda sp. nov. are newly described. Hoya parviflora Wight, H. parvifolia Schltr., and H. purpureofusca Hook. are lectotypified.
The success of social insects is largely intertwined with their highly advanced chemical communication system that facilitates recognition and discrimination of species and nest-mates, recruitment, and division of labor. Hydrocarbons, which cover the cuticle of insects, not only serve as waterproofing agents but also constitute a major component of this communication system. Two cryptic Crematogaster species, which share their nest with Camponotus ants, show striking diversity in their cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile. This mutualistic system therefore offers a great opportunity to study the genetic basis of CHC divergence between sister species. As a basis for further genome-wide studies high-quality genomes are needed. Here, we present the annotated draft genome for Crematogaster levior A. By combining the three most commonly used sequencing techniques—Illumina, PacBio, and Oxford Nanopore—we constructed a high-quality de novo ant genome. We show that even low coverage of long reads can add significantly to overall genome contiguity. Annotation of desaturase and elongase genes, which play a role in CHC biosynthesis revealed one of the largest repertoires in ants and a higher number of desaturases in general than in other Hymenoptera. This may provide a mechanistic explanation for the high diversity observed in C. levior CHC profiles.
Environmental niche modelling is an acclaimed method for estimating species’ present or future distributions. However, in marine environments the assembly of representative data from reliable and unbiased occurrences is challenging. Here, we aimed to model the environmental niche and distribution of marine, parasitic nematodes from the Pseudoterranova decipiens complex using the software Maxent. The distribution of these potentially zoonotic species is of interest, because they infect the muscle tissue of host species targeted by fisheries. To achieve the best possible model, we used two different approaches. The land distance (LD) model was based on abiotic data, whereas the definitive host distance (DHD) model included species-specific biotic data. To assess whether DHD is a suitable descriptor for Pseudoterranova spp., the niches of the parasites and their respective definitive hosts were analysed using ecospat. The performance of LD and DHD was compared based on the variables’ contribution to the model. The DHD-model clearly outperformed the LD-model. While the LD-model gave an estimate of the parasites’ niches, it only showed the potential distribution. The DHD-model produced an estimate of the species’ realised distribution and indicated that biotic variables can help to improve the modelling of data-poor, marine species.
Four earthworm species, the endogeic Octolasion tyrtaeum (Savigny, 1826), the anecic Lumbricus terrestris Linnaeus, 1758 as well as the epigeic Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) and Dendrobaena veneta (Rosa, 1886), were examined for the presence of astome ciliates. Based on the integrative taxonomic approach, five ciliate species were recognized in their gastrointestinal tracts: Metaradiophrya lumbrici (Dujardin, 1841), M. varians (de Puytorac, 1954), Anoplophrya lumbrici (Schrank, 1803), A. vulgaris de Puytorac, 1954 and A. nodulata (Dujardin, 1841). Their distinctness was assessed using the multivariate morphometric approach and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Although the two species of Metaradiophrya Jankowski, 2007 on the one hand and the two former species of Anoplophrya Stein, 1860 on the other, were not distinctly separated by the multivariate morphometric analyses, they were clearly delimited by the 18S rRNA gene sequences. Species within each genus also differed by their hosts, M. lumbrici and A. lumbrici occurred only in anecic earthworms while M. varians and A. vulgaris occured exclusively in epigeic earthworms. Only a single species, A. nodulata, was detected in endogeic earthworms. It was morphologically distinct from and did not cluster with the two other species of Anoplophrya but was nested within the paraphyletic assemblage containing other astomes from endogeic earthworms. This indicates that the evolution of endosymbiotic ciliates from earthworms has very likely proceeded through a specialization to various ecological groups of their host organisms.
Morphological and allozyme analyses suggested the occurrence of a pseudocryptic species in the Lasioglossum villosulum (Kirby, 1802) species complex (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). We analysed the morphology of more than 1500 specimens and the DNA barcode fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of 102 specimens of this species complex from several Palaearctic countries. Our phylogenetic tree reconstructions, based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference revealed one clade corresponding to all specimens morphologically identified as Lasioglossum medinai (Vachal, 1895) and one divergent specimen morphologically identified as Lasioglossum berberum (Benoist, 1941). The other specimens, morphologically identified as L. villosulum, aggregated into at least three other lineages in our phylogenetic trees. The tree-based species delineations methods based on the Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC) model and the Bayesian Poisson Tree Process (bPTP) identified five to ten candidate species within the L. villosulum species complex, with L. medinai and L. berberum consistently recognized as separated from all other candidate species. Diagnostic morphological differences were found among L. medinai, L. berberum and the remaining specimens identified as L. villosulum. No diagnostic morphological differences were found to distinguish the different phylogenetic candidate species or lineages found within L. villosulum and L. medinai. Thus, both genetic and morphological approaches support the existence of L. medinai and L. berberum as distinct species from L. villosulum.
Korean encyrtids (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) associated with scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha)
(2019)
Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) are sap-sucking plant parasites and economically important pests on agricultural and horticultural crops. Scale insects are often difficult to control since their body is protected by a wax cover. Parasitic wasps that live and develop in scale insects are important natural enemies and effective biological control agents of pest scale insects. Chalcid wasps of the family Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) comprise the largest group of parasitoids of scale insects, followed by the family Aphelinidae. Here, an updated list of all thirty-six species of encyrtids in twenty-three genera that have been identified or reported from South Korea is provided, along with a dichotomous taxonomic key to separate them.
Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota (L.) van Royen) is originally from the Neotropics, and has become one of the most important tropical crops in the last few decades. The major producers include India, Mexico, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Venezuela and Guatemala. It is also a minor crop in the United States, specifically South Florida. In 2015, it was reported that Florida growers suffered a loss of up to 80% of their production due to lepidopteran pests. We surveyed two sapodilla orchards weekly in South Florida for about six months. We collected 1,070 lepidopteran individuals (i.e., larvae, pupae and adults) belonging to seven families, nine genera and ten species. Phidotricha erigens Ragonot (30%), Banisia argutula Whalley (22%) and Holcocera crassicornella Dietz (13%) were the most frequently collected species. The most abundant months were April, May and June. Florida has records for ten of the sixteen species of lepidopterans associated with sapodilla in the Americas, four of which are newly reported host records. We also recorded one new record on loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) and another new record on ficus (Ficus sp.). Finally, we found a negative relationship between climate variables and the abundance of Lepidoptera species.
Twenty-two samples of Leptoclinides Bjerkan, 1905 collected along the Brazilian coast between 1998 and 2017 were examined. Herein we describe two new species (Leptoclinides coronatus sp. nov. and Leptoclinides lotufoi sp. nov.). We also extend the distribution of L. latus F. Monniot, 1983 and report that, for the first time, L. torosus F. Monniot, 1983 was found outside its type locality.
Web spiders connect silk proteins, so-called spidroins, into fibers of extraordinary toughness. The spidroin N-terminal domain (NTD) plays a pivotal role in this process: it polymerizes spidroins through a complex mechanism of dimerization. Here we analyze sequences of spidroin NTDs and find an unusually high content of the amino acid methionine. We simultaneously mutate all methionines present in the hydrophobic core of a spidroin NTD from a nursery web spider’s dragline silk to leucine. The mutated NTD is strongly stabilized and folds at the theoretical speed limit. The structure of the mutant is preserved, yet its ability to dimerize is substantially impaired. We find that side chains of core methionines serve to mobilize the fold, which can thereby access various conformations and adapt the association interface for tight binding. Methionine in a hydrophobic core equips a protein with the capacity to dynamically change shape and thus to optimize its function.
Micro-computed tomography for natural history specimens: a handbook of best practice protocols
(2019)
Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT or microtomography) is a non-destructive imaging technique using X-rays which allows the digitisation of an object in three dimensions. The ability of micro-CT imaging to visualise both internal and external features of an object, without destroying the specimen, makes the technique ideal for the digitisation of valuable natural history collections. This handbook serves as a comprehensive guide to laboratory micro-CT imaging of different types of natural history specimens, including zoological, botanical, palaeontological and geological samples. The basic principles of the micro-CT technology are presented, as well as protocols, tips and tricks and use cases for each type of natural history specimen. Finally, data management protocols and a comprehensive list of institutions with micro-CT facilities, micro-CT manufacturers and relative software are included.
Wolves (Canis lupus) are currently showing a remarkable comeback in the highly frag-mented cultural landscapes of Germany. We here show that wolf numbers increasedexponentially between 2000 and 2015 with an annual increase of about 36%. Wedemonstrate that the first territories in each newly colonized region were establishedover long distances from the nearest known reproducing pack on active militarytraining areas (MTAs). We show that MTAs, rather than protected areas, served asstepping-stones for the recolonization of Germany facilitating subsequent spreadingof wolf territories in the surrounding landscape. We did not find any significant differ-ence between MTAs and protected areas with regard to habitat. One possible reasonfor the importance of MTAs may be their lower anthropogenic mortality rates com-pared to protected and other areas. To our knowledge, this is the first documented casewhere MTAs facilitate the recolonization of an endangered species across large areas.
Flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) are necrophagous insects initially colonizing on a corpse. The species-specific developmental data of the flies collected from a death scene can be used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). Thus, the first crucial step is to correctly identify the fly species. Because of the high similarity among species of flesh flies, DNA-based identification is considered more favorable than morphology-based identification. In this study, we demonstrated the effectiveness of combined sequences (2216 to 2218 bp) of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and II genes (COI and COII) for identification of the following 14 forensically important flesh fly species in Thailand: Boettcherisca nathani Lopes, Fengia ostindicae (Senior-White), Harpagophalla kempi (Senior-White), Liopygia ruficornis (Fabricius), Lioproctia pattoni (Senior-White), Lioproctia saprianovae (Pape & Bänziger), Parasarcophaga albiceps (Meigen), Parasarcophaga brevicornis (Ho), Parasarcophaga dux (Thomson), Parasarcophaga misera (Walker), Sarcorohdendorfia antilope (Böttcher), Sarcorohdendorfia inextricata (Walker), Sarcorohdendorfia seniorwhitei (Ho) and Seniorwhitea princeps (Wiedemann). Nucleotide variations of Thai flesh flies were evenly distributed throughout the COI-COII genes. Mean intra- and interspecific variations ranged from 0.00 to 0.96% and 5.22% to 12.31%, respectively. Using Best Match (BM) and Best Close Match (BCM) criteria, identification success for the combined genes was 100%, while the All Species Barcodes (ASB) criterion showed 76.74% success. Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) phylogenetic analyses yielded similar tree topologies of monophyletic clades between species with very strong support values. The achieved sequences covering 14 forensically important flesh fly species including newly submitted sequences for B. nathani, F. ostindicae and S. seniorwhitei, can serve as a reliable reference database for further forensic entomological research in Thailand and in other areas where those species occur.
Background: The invasive temperate mosquito Aedes japonicus japonicus is a potential vector for various infectious diseases and therefore a target of vector control measures. Even though established in Germany, it is unclear whether the species has already reached its full distribution potential. The possible range of the species, its annual population dynamics, the success of vector control measures and future expansions due to climate change still remain poorly understood. While numerous studies on occurrence have been conducted, they used mainly presence data from relatively few locations. In contrast, we used experimental life history data to model the dynamics of a continuous stage-structured population to infer potential seasonal densities and ask whether stable populations are likely to establish over a period of more than one year. In addition, we used climate change models to infer future ranges. Finally, we evaluated the effectiveness of various stage-specific vector control measures.
Results: Aedes j. japonicus has already established stable populations in the southwest and west of Germany. Our models predict a spread of Ae. j. japonicus beyond the currently observed range, but likely not much further eastwards under current climatic conditions. Climate change models, however, will expand this range substantially and higher annual densities can be expected. Applying vector control measures to oviposition, survival of eggs, larvae or adults showed that application of adulticides for 30 days between late spring and early autumn, while ambient temperatures are above 9 °C, can reduce population density by 75%. Continuous application of larvicide showed similar results in population reduction. Most importantly, we showed that with the consequent application of a mixed strategy, it should be possible to significantly reduce or even extinguish existing populations with reasonable effort.
Conclusion: Our study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms concerning the establishment of stable populations in invasive species. In order to minimise the hazard to public health, we recommend vector control measures to be applied in ‘high risk areas’ which are predicted to allow establishment of stable populations to establish.
Small usually beautifully coloured mussels from the Kattegat were to date identified as Modiolus adriaticus (Lamarck, 1819) since C.G.Johs. Petersen’s account of the shell-bearing molluscs was published in 1888. However, these mussels from Danish and Swedish waters represent a very distinct new species which also is endemic. The present paper serves to describe this new species, Modiolus cimbricus sp. nov., which belongs to the genus Modiolus Lamarck, 1799. The genus Gibbomodiola Sacco, 1898, to which Modiolus adriaticus has been moved, is here synonymized with Modiolus Lamarck, 1799.
Due to the possession of huge contort strongyles, and a lack of triaenes in an otherwise 'astrophorine' spicule complement, the phylogenetic position of the endemic, monospecific New Zealand sponge genus, Lamellomorpha Bergquist, 1968, has remained enigmatic. The genus was established within Jaspidae de Laubenfels, 1968 (in the abandoned order Epipolasida Sollas, 1888), but it was not until 2002 that the genus was transferred formally to Astrophorina Sollas, 1887, albeit incertae sedis, by Hooper & Maldonado (2002). In this study, we recognise specimens of Lamellomorpha from the Subantarctic New Zealand region and Chatham Rise, considered by Bergquist to be conspecific with the type species, L. strongylata Bergquist, 1968, first described from the Three Kings-Spirits Bay region of Northland, as the new species, L. australis Kelly & Cárdenas sp. nov. These two species of Lamellomorpha have differences in external morphology and colour, skeletal architecture and spicules, natural products, geographical distribution, and depth ranges. Sequencing of the COI Folmer barcode/mini-barcode and of 28S (C1–C2 domains) of these two species suggests phylogenetic affinities of Lamellomorpha with the tetractinellid suborder Astrophorina and the family Vulcanellidae Cárdenas et al., 2011. Two Subantarctic New Zealand species of the vulcanellid genus Poecillastra Sollas, 1888, P. ducitriaena Kelly & Cárdenas sp. nov. and P. macquariensis Kelly & Cárdenas sp. nov., provide further support for the close relationship of Lamellomorpha and Poecillastra.
Necropsies of Baltic grey (Halichoerus grypus) and ringed seals (Pusa hispida) presented a rare opportunity to study their acanthocephalan fauna. Both species hosted adults of three species of the genus Corynosoma Lühe, 1904, namely C. magdaleni Montreuil, 1958, C. semerme (Forsell, 1904) Lühe 1911 and C. strumosum (Rudolphi, 1802) Lühe 1904. A comparative morphological analysis of these three species of Corynosoma, combining both light and scanning electron microscopy, was performed for the first time. Sexual dimorphism in the size and shape of the trunk was observed in both C. magdaleni and C. semerme, but there was insufficient material to investigate this phenomenon in C. strumosum. Genital spines were not observed in any of the female acanthocephalans. Three possible explanations for the presence of genital spines in some females, but not others are (i) cryptic speciation, (ii) phenotypic variation and (iii) loss by extraction or shearing when the copulatory cap is released. Copulatory caps were observed on female C. semerme. The size and morphology showed considerable variability and all caps were strongly autofluoresecent.
Aronia Medik. (chokeberry, Rosaceae) is a genus of woody shrubs with two or three North American species. Species boundaries and relationships between species of Aronia are frequently under question. The only European species in the genus, A. mitschurinii A.K.Skvortsov & Maitul., is suggested to be an inter-generic hybrid. In order to clarify the relationships between species of Aronia, we performed several morphometric and molecular analyses and found that the molecular and morphological diversity within data on American Aronia is low, and species boundaries are mostly not clearly expressed. Whereas morphology is able to separate American species from A. mitschurinii, there is no support for such discrimination from the molecular data; our analyses did not reveal evidence of A. mitschurinii hybrid origin. We believe that higher-resolution markers are needed to resolve species boundaries and putative hybridization events.
Mapping biodiversity is the marathon of the 21st Century as an answer to the present extinction crisis. A century in which science is also characterised by large scientific datasets collected through new technologies aiming to fill gaps in our knowledge of species distributions. However, most species records rely on observations that are not linked to specimens, which does not allow verification of species hypotheses by other scientists. Natural history museums form a verifiable source of biodiversity records which were made by taxonomists. Nonetheless, these museums seem to be forgotten by biologists in scientific fields other than taxonomy or systematics. Naturalis Biodiversity Center (NBC) in Leiden is care keeper of large collections of marine organisms, which were sampled in the Northeast Atlantic during the CANCAP and Tyro Mauritania II expeditions (1976–1988). Many octocorals were sampled and deposited in the NBC collection, where they became available for study and were partially identified by the senior author (M.G.) in the 1980s. Nonetheless, no checklist or taxonomic revision was published so far with the complete results. In 2016 the first author visited NBC to examine NE Atlantic Plexauridae octocorals. Plexauridae octocoral-vouchered records were listed and mapped to reveal high standard primary biodiversity records unreported so far for the NE Atlantic Ocean. Twenty-four Plexauridae species with ~ six putative new species to science were discovered and eleven new biogeographical records were made from distinct Macaronesian archipelagos. Finally, new depth range records were found for three species at sea basin level and for eight species at a regional scale.
The status of the taxon Ceratochodaeus Huchet, 2017 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea), initially described as a subgenus of Nothochodaeus Nikolajev, 2005, is reconsidered and raised to generic level. New information on the distribution of Ceratochodaeus eliotti (Huchet, 2014), new combination, in the Philippine archipelago is provided. Ceratochodaeus darlingi Huchet, a new species from Negros island, Central Visayas (region VII), is described and illustrated.
The sponge genus Latrunculia is a prolific source of discorhabdin type pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids. In the continuation of our research interest into this genus, we studied the Antarctic deep-sea sponge Latrunculia biformis that showed potent in vitro anticancer activity. A targeted isolation process guided by bioactivity and molecular networking-based metabolomics yielded three known discorhabdins, (−)-discorhabdin L (1), (+)-discorhabdin A (2), (+)-discorhabdin Q (3), and three new discorhabdin analogs (−)-2-bromo-discorhabdin D (4), (−)-1-acetyl-discorhabdin L (5), and (+)-1-octacosatrienoyl-discorhabdin L (6) from the MeOH-soluble portion of the organic extract. The chemical structures of 1–6 were elucidated by extensive NMR, HR-ESIMS, FT-IR, [α]D, and ECD (Electronic Circular Dichroism) spectroscopy analyses. Compounds 1, 5, and 6 showed promising anticancer activity with IC50 values of 0.94, 2.71, and 34.0 µM, respectively. Compounds 1–6 and the enantiomer of 1 ((+)-discorhabdin L, 1e) were docked to the active sites of two anticancer targets, topoisomerase I-II and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1), to reveal, for the first time, the binding potential of discorhabdins to these proteins. Compounds 5 and 6 are the first discorhabdin analogs with an ester function at C-1 and 6 is the first discorhabdin bearing a long-chain fatty acid at this position. This study confirms Latrunculia sponges to be excellent sources of chemically diverse discorhabdin alkaloids.
A biological inventory focused on plant-caterpillar-parasitoid associations at Yanayacu Biological Station, Ecuador, yielded 81 adult specimens of Tortricidae (Lepidoptera: Tortricoidea) representing 42 species in 13 genera. Based on this material, new host records are presented for species in the following genera: Lypothora Razowski, 1981; Inape Razowski, 1988; Orthocomotis Dognin, 1905; Paraptila Meyrick, 1912; Runtunia Razowski and Wojtusiak, 2008; Transtillaspis Razowski, 1987; Xoser Razowski and Pelz, 2003; Argyrotaenia Stephens, 1852; Anacrusis Zeller, 1877; Sisurcana Powell, 1986; Amorbia Clemens, 1860; Paramorbia Powell and Lambert, 1986; and Episimus Walsingham, 1892. Tortricids were reared from 46 plant species representing 24 plant families, with Piperaceae, Melastomataceae, and Asteraceae supporting the most tortricid herbivores (six species each).
Three new species of Thinophilus Wahlberg, 1844 are described from marine sites on the Andaman Sea coasts in peninsular Thailand: T. inaequalis Samoh & Grootaert sp. nov. belonging to the 'Thinophilus simplex-group' sensu Grootaert, 2018, T. plektron Samoh & Grootaert sp. nov., an unplaced species characterised by a long flattened apical spur on the hind tibia, and T. subapicalis Samoh & Grootaert sp. nov. belonging to the 'Thinophilus spinatus-group' sensu Grootaert, 2018. New records are given for following species occurring in peninsular Thailand: T. apicatus Grootaert, 2018, T. chaetulosus Grootaert, 2018, T. clavatus Zhu, Yang & Masunaga, 2006, T. evenhuisi Grootaert, 2018, T. lenachanae Grootaert, 2018, T. longicilia Evenhuis & Grootaert, 2002, T. nigrilineatus Grootaert, 2018, T. simplex Grootaert, 2018, T. superbus Grootaert, 2018, and T. yeoi Grootaert, 2018.
This paper is based on three collections of Ptiliidae from Sarawak totalling more than 2000 specimens made by staff and affiliates of the Natural History Museum, London, between March–July 1978. One new genus Niptella gen. nov with its type species Niptella gutta gen. et sp. nov. and 24 new species are described and figured: Sindosium collinsi sp. nov., Bambara hammondi sp. nov., Bambara subtortuosa sp. nov., Bambara tortuosa sp. nov., Erro brookei sp. nov., Cissidium globulum sp. nov., Cissidium longum sp. nov., Cissidium marshallae sp. nov., Cissidium pauxillum sp. nov., Cissidium subfoveolatum sp. nov., Cissidium triangulum sp. nov., Discheramocephalus nigritus sp. nov., Kuschelidium sarawakense sp. nov., Ptinella alisonae sp. nov., Acrotrichis acuta sp. nov., Acrotrichis belli sp. nov., Acrotrichis bidens sp. nov., Acrotrichis geiseri sp. nov., Acrotrichis globosa sp. nov., Acrotrichis hanskii sp. nov., Acrotrichis muluensis sp. nov., Acrotrichis plaga sp. nov., Storicricha resticula sp. nov., Storicricha umbella sp. nov. New records and information are provided for Dipentium latum Darby, 2019; Ptiliola semitaria Darby, 2018; Baeocrara minima Darby, 2019; Acrotrichis agricola Darby, 2019; Acrotrichis britteni Johnson, 1969; Acrotrichis bubalis Darby, 2019; Acrotrichis cognata (Matthews, 1877) and Acrotrichis cursitans (Nietner, 1856).
New species and records of Sericini from the Indian subcontinent (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) II
(2019)
The current paper presents new locality records, including first state records for Mizoram and Nagaland, of 50 species of Sericini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the Indian subcontinent. Nine new species are described herein: Maladera naveeni sp. nov., M. sujitrae sp. nov., M. thirthahalliensis sp. nov., M. viraktamathi sp. nov., Neoserica (s. lat.) reuteri sp. nov., Oxyserica goertzae sp. nov., Selaserica hosanagarana sp. nov., Serica (s. str.) eberlei sp. nov. and S. (s. str.) tashigaonensis sp. nov.
Seven new species of Cacostola Fairmaire and Germain, 1859 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Onciderini) are described: C. plotkini Wappes and Santos-Silva from Costa Rica; C. galenae Wappes and Santos- Silva from Panama; C. opitzi Wappes and Santos-Silva from Bolivia; C. howdenae Wappes and Santos-Silva from Guatemala; C. thomasorum Wappes and Santos-Silva from Brazil; C. nearnsi Wappes and Santos-Silva from Bolivia and Panama; and C. rothschildi Wappes and Santos-Silva from Argentina and Brazil. Notes on C. simplex (Pascoe, 1859), and C. mexicana (Breuning, 1943) are also included.
New species and taxonomical notes in Gorybia Pascoe, 1866 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae)
(2019)
Three new Gorybia Pascoe, 1866 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Piezocerini), species from Bolivia are described: G. martinsi Wappes, Botero and Santos-Silva new species; G. galileoae Wappes, Botero and Santos-Silva, new species; and G. clarkeorum Wappes, Botero and Santos-Silva, new species. In addition, G. bispinosa Martins, Galileo and Limeira-de-Oliveira, 2009 is proposed as a synonym of G. castanea (Gounelle, 1909) and G. maculosa Martins, 1976 as a synonym of G. apatheia Martins, 1976.
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.