Helminths of ten species of Litoria frogs (Anura: Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea

One hundred and ninety-one frogs collected in Papua New Guinea from 10 species of the genus Litoria, namely, L. angiana, L. arfakiana, L. caerulea, L. congenita, L. eurynastes, L. gasconi, L. infrafrenata, L. iris, L. kumae and L. modica, were examined for helminths. Eighteen species of helminths were found: one species of Monogenea, Parapolystoma bulliense; three species of Digenea, Diplodiscus amphichrus, Halipegus zweifeli and Mesocoelium monas; 13 species of Nematoda, gravid specimens of Aplectana macintoshii, Cosmocerca novaeguineae, Falcaustra papuensis, Maxvachonia adamsoni, Maxvachonia flindersi, Maxvachonia ingens, Meteterakis crombiei, Moaciria moraveci, Parathelandros mastigurus, Physalopteroides milnensis, Pseudorictularia dipsarilis, Seuratascaris numidica, and larvae (in cysts) of Abbreviata sp. and, one species of Acanthocephala, Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis. Mean number of helminth species per host species was 3.0 ± 1.4 SD (range 1–5), mean number of helminth species per infected frog was 1.1 ± 0.4 SD (range 1–2), and mean number of helminths per infected host was 33.3 ± 5.8 SD (range 1–36). Twenty-eight new host records and two new locality records are reported. The biogeography of the recovered helminths is discussed.     

The taxonomy and biology of the Polystomatidae (Monogenea) in Australian freshwater turtles (Chelidae,Pleurodira)

Polystomoides scottae n. sp. is described from the urinary and accessory bladders of Chelodina expansa. Four species of Neopolystoma are described from the conjunctival sacs of Australian freshwater turtles (Chelidae): Neopolystoma cribbi n. sp. from Emydura signata, E. macquarii, Elseya latisternum and Chelodina expansa; Neopolystoma spratti n. sp. from Chelodina longicollis; Neopolystoma tinsleyi n. sp. from Chelodina expansa; and Neopolystoma queenslandensis n. sp. from Emydura signata and E. macquarii. Polystomoides australiensis, Neopolystoma macleayi and N. chelodinae are redescribed from new individuals. Neopolystoma australis is made a junior synonym of N. kreffti. P. australiensis, N. macleayi and N. cribbi produced on average 5·6, 4·3 and 0·7 eggs per day, respectively. Eggs of P. australiensis take 33–57 days at 18–24°C and 30–33 days at 24–28°C to develop and hatch. Oncomiracidia of P. australiensis and N. macleayi had 64 ciliated cells; the patterns of the ciliated cells are the same for both species. Different sizes of worms in different sites in the hosts suggest strongly that the oncomiracidia of P. australiensis and N. macleayi enter the host, migrate to the ureters, possibly to the kidneys, then to the urinary bladder and finally to either the accessory bladders or cloaca. Successful cross-infection experiments between host genera (Emydura to Elseya) indicated that P. australiensis and N. macleayi have a low degree of host specificity.     

Seasonal reproduction in deep-sea Crustacea (Isopoda: Asellota)

A collection of Crustacea Isopoda (suborder Asellota) from a 10-year sampling programme in the Rockall Trough, NE Atlantic (54°40′N, 12°15′W) was analysed for evidence of breeding seasonality. No evidence of seasonal activity was found — adults and newly released juveniles were present throughout the year — but there was a strong seasonal pattern for breeding intensity. A significantly higher proportion of females was brooding during the winter months (25%) compared to the summer (5%), and the percentage of females brooding varied significantly with depth. The breeding pattern was synchronized to the seasonal deposition of organic detritus known to occur during the summer in the NE Atlantic. There were more newly released juveniles in samples during the summer than during the winter, with most females appearing to release their young at the time the deposition began. This deposition appears to be a major seasonal factor dominating the life-cycles of most benthic species in the Rockall Trough. Juvenile settlement for a range of taxa (echinoderms, molluscs and crustaceans) occurs while the detritus is present and most species maximize vitellogenesis at this time.     

Nearctic–Palaearctic relationships of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae): chromosomal and morphological evidence for the Prosimulium magnum species group in Japan

The banding patterns of the polytene chromosomes of Prosimulium yezoense Shiraki from Japan are resolved relative to the standard map for the genus Prosimulium, revealing two unique fixed inversions and novel autosomal and sex-linked rearrangements. Diagnostic chromosomal and morphological criteria demonstrate that P. yezoense is a member of the Prosimulium magnum group. The species is transferred, with three additional species – P. apoina Ono, P. karibaense Ono, and P. sarurense Ono – from the Prosimulium hirtipes group to the P. magnum group, representing the first geographic record of the group outside North America. The P. magnum group is one of only a few insect taxa, and one of only two simuliid taxa, distributed exclusively in Japan and the Nearctic region.     

Association of a juvenile phoretic uropodid mite with the beach hopper Traskorchestia traskiana (Stimpson, 1857) (Crustacea: Talitridae)

A phoretic association of an undescribed uropodid deutonymph (Acari: Uropodidae) with the beach hopper Traskorchestia traskiana (Crustacea: Talitridae) is examined. Only juvenile mites (deutonymphs) were found attached to the coxal gills of the 257 beach hoppers examined. Both prevalence (range = 27·1–75·0%) and mean intensity (range = 1·3–3·7) increased as host size increased, possibly due to increased exposure time to the mites and a greater area for attachment in larger hosts. Among the gills, the mites exhibited a preference for coxal gill 5, which may be due to pH and humidity gradients but did not seem to be influenced by grooming or agitation of the gills by adjacent appendages.     

Morphology and natural history of the cryptogenic sponge associate Polydora colonia Moore, 1907 (Polychaeta: Spionidae)

The polychaete Polydora colonia is a widely distributed symbiont of sponges that has been reported as introduced into the Mediterranean Sea. Polydora colonia is re-described based on specimens associated with the sponges Microciona prolifera and Halichondria bowerbanki from New York and aspects of its reproduction and feeding biology are described for the first time. The morphology of P. colonia agrees with previous reports of this species. Females of P. colonia deposited egg capsules (14–19 eggs/capsule) in their tubes on sponges and adelphophagy was observed. Larvae appear to be competent to settle on hosts at the 13-chaetiger stage. One commensal ciliate and one parasitic copepod were found associated with P. colonia. P. colonia as an introduced species is evaluated based on current evidence. Sponge material was observed in the gut of > 50% of the worms examined but further studies are needed to evaluate whether P. colonia is selectively feeding on M. prolifera.     

On the prezoeal stage: observations on three Pagurus species (Decapoda,Anomura)

Observation on prezoeas of three Pagurus species inhabiting the coasts of Hokkaido, P. lanuginosus de Haan, P. middendorffii Brandt, and P. brachiomastus (Thallwitz), were carried out using light and scanning electron microscopy. Hatching was produced at laboratory conditions of 17·5–18·2 °C and 32·5–33·2 ppt salinity, and after a short duration of 5–10 min, most of prezoeas moulted to the first zoeal stage. Prezoeal appendages are described and figured; previous observations on prezoeas in allied groups are summarized.     

Parasites of the Lessepsian invasive fish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin 1789) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Lagocephalus sceleratus, is a Lessepsian invasive fish species introduced into the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. This study investigated it as host of parasites. Out of 41 individuals caught from northern and southern locations of the eastern Aegean Sea, nine were found to host parasites. Gnathia sp. praniza larva, an ectoparasite, was associated with severe damage of the primary and secondary structures of the gills and it was found in one specimen (prevalence 2.4%). Regarding endoparasites, Anisakis type I third-stage larvae were found in two specimens (prevalence 4.9%). In addition, adult nematodes of Hysterothylacium aduncum were found in another six specimens (prevalence 14.6%). Lagocephalus sceleratus is a new host for some indigenous parasites, with low host specificity, in the Mediterranean Sea, providing an additional niche for the success and increase of local populations of these parasites and, to our knowledge, this is the first record of L. sceleratus parasites in this area. Whether these parasites can control the invasion success of L. sceleratus needs to be further investigated. However, the low mean intensity of infection found in this study does not support such control.     

Biology and defensive secretion of myrmecophilous Thiasophila spp. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) associated with the Formica rufa species group

Various aspects of the biology of the myrmecophilous Thiasophila angulata and T. szujeckii (Staphylinidae; Aleocharinae), mainly associated with the Formica rufa species group, are studied. The composition of defensive gland secretions from adults of T. angulata has been analysed. The complete development (egg-L_1-3-pupa-adult form), including adult overwintering, of both species takes place solely in ant nests. Under laboratory conditions, this lasts for about 22 days in T. angulata, and the period elapsing between the old and new generations of insects is approximately two months. The mean fecundity of adults of this species (28 eggs) was determined, as well as the duration of its reproductive period (mean 28.5 days), and lifespan (mean 67 days). In natural conditions T. angulata, found within nests of Formica polyctena and F. rufa, produces three generations, and the sibling species T. szujeckii one generation per year. These two species differ in their phenologies and abundance dynamics of adults and larvae, which is linked to the size and temperature regime of the host nest. The results of this study uphold the recent separation of T. angulata and T. szujeckii based on morphological features of adults and selected molecular markers. Adults and larvae of T. angulata forage on both live and dead food items accumulated by the host, as well as on the host’s eggs and larvae. Both the beetle larvae and adults remain unmolested among the host workers. The adults use their defensive gland secretions, which contains substantial quantities of toxic quinones, when necessary. According to the current categories of myrmecophiles, T. angulata (and by analogy, T. szujeckii as well) should be classified as a species wholly integrated with the host.     

Northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean hermit crabs (Crustacea: Anomura: Paguroidea: Paguridae). I. The genus Pagurus Fabricius, 1775

A reappraisal of adult taxonomy of N.E. Atlantic and Mediterranean hermit crabs upholds the divisions A & B suggested for the species by MacDonal et al. (1957) from their studies of larval features. The nomenclature of three species is discussed. Pagurus variabilis (A. Milne Edwards and Bouvier, 1892) is relegated to the synonomy of P. alatus Fabricius, 1775 and P. excavatus (Herbst, 1791) is reinstated for Mediterranean and southern N. E. Atlantic material. A provisional check list is given of Paguroidean species occurring within the sea area 30°N–80°N:30°W–30°E and the Mediterranean Sea. An illustrated identification key is provided to the Pagurus species within these regions.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Mesobuthus eupeus (C.L. Koch, 1839) inferred from COI sequences (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

In this study, the first molecular phylogenetic analysis of Mesobuthus eupeus in Iran is presented based on sequence data of a ～ 700-base-pair fragment of cytochrome C oxidase, subunit I. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The results support monophyly of M. eupeus, but there is a clear divergence between northern and southern clades. The northern clade includes four subspecies – M. e. eupeus, M. e. philippovitschi, M. e. afghanus and M. e. thersites; whereas the southern clade is comprised of two others – M. e. phillipsi and M. e. kirmanensis. Accordingly, possible scenarios for the evolution and phylogeographic structure of M. eupeus based on the geological history of the Iranian Plateau were proposed. The observation of two distinct lineages supports the proposal that M. eupeus might be a species complex composed of species with highly similar morphological features.     

Population dynamics of the gall inducer Eriogallococcus isaias (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) on Pseudobombax grandiflorum (Malvaceae)

Eriogallococcus isaias Hodgson and Magalhães is a Neotropical species of gall-inducing scale insect (Coccoidea: Eriococcidae), whose phenological synchrony with its host plant, Pseudobombax grandiflorum, is fundamental to the maintenance of its population. Furthermore, E. isaias is unusual among gall-inducing Eriococcidae because its galls are not sexually dimorphic and are induced by the second-instar nymphs. We studied the life cycles of the host plant and the galling insect, and followed the development of the insects and the structure of the gall. The results showed that gall induction is synchronous with leaf flushing, and that the galls and leaves mature concomitantly. Males have a 36–48-day life cycle within the gall, whereas females have a 75–100-day life cycle.     

Life cycle of Huarpea fallax (Hymenoptera: Sapygidae) in a xeric forest in Argentina

This study describes the life cycle of Huarpea fallax (Hymenoptera: Sapygidae) in a xeric forest in La Pampa province, Argentina. This cleptoparasitic wasp attacks the nests of two species of leaf-cutter bees: Megachile catamarcensis and Anthidium vigintipunctatum, both belonging to the family Megachilidae. Nests of these bee species were obtained during a trap-nesting programme. Adult emergence showed a unimodal pattern indicating a univoltine life cycle. The period from egg-laying to adult emergence lasted for 10–13 months; however, one female took about 2 years to emerge, suggesting parsivoltinism. Most females attack one cell per host nest, the outermost cells being the ones most parasitized. However, the position of the attacked cells was variable. In this paper, although there were insufficient data to prove a correlation, the data suggest a positive trend between body size of sapygid wasps and their host bees.     

Reproductive features of the deep water hermit crab Sympagurus dimorphus (Anomura: Parapaguridae) inhabiting pseudoshells in the SW Atlantic Ocean

We herein provide information on reproductive aspects (the gonopore morphology of both sexes, the size of embryonic eggs and the fecundity) of the hermit crab Sympagurus dimorphus from deep waters of Argentina. Sampling was performed in different oceanographic and fishery campaigns between 2007 and 2010, at 38°01′–39°03′S, 55°–56°05′W, 85–150 m depth, in the SW Atlantic Ocean. Mean shield length (SL) of females was 9.41 ± 1.68 mm (range: 6.6–10.5 mm). Female gonopores measured 0.74 ± 0.10 mm (range: 0.45–0.90 mm), were oval in shape, and were more rounded and larger than male gonopores (0.51 ± 0.007, range: 0.4–0.63 mm). The egg volume for each of the three stages of embryonic development was 0.94 ± 0.20 mm³ for stage I, 1.14 ± 0.31 mm³ for stage II, and 2.07 ± 0.41 mm³ for stage III. Egg volume doubled from the initial to the final stage of the embryonic development. The fecundity (number of eggs) varied from 831 (6.62 mm SL) to 2246 (10 mm SL) for females carrying eggs in stages I+II, and between 158 (158 mm SL) and 1279 (9.4 mm SL) in stage III. The reproductive characteristics of the observed profile are intimately related to S. dimorphus use of a pseudoshell resource and a deep water habitat.     

Observations on mermithid parasitism (Nematoda: Mermithidae) in two species of Lasius ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The morphological effects of nematode parasitism by Pheromermis myrmecophila were investigated in two species of ants, Lasius flavus and Lasius niger, collected on Clare Island, Ireland. Infected males and queens were found for L. flavus but only infected queens in L. niger. The numbers of nematodes present in each infected specimen were counted and their lengths were measured. Head width, femur length and wing measurements were made for infected and non-infected individuals of both species. In queens, the length of the nematodes decreased as the number per ant increased. When single nematodes were present their mean lengths were significantly greater in L. flavus than in L. niger. In addition to the reduction in wing size for all parasitized specimens, head widths and femur lengths of the queens were significantly different in both species. A log–log graph of radial cell length versus width suggested a linear reduction of wing size.     

A new species of Cerchysiella (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitic in larva of chestnut trunk borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from China with notes on its biology

A new species of Cerchysiella Girault (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae), Cerchysiella raddeii Yang, sp. nov., is described from China. It is a gregarious koinobiont endoparasitoid in mature larvae of the chestnut trunk borer, Massicus raddei (Blessig) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a serious pest which causes severe damage to many oak tree species, particularly Quercus mongolica and Quercus liaotungensis (Fagaceae) in forested areas of northeastern China. The new species is one of the principal natural enemies of the wood borer and it has high potential as a biological control agent with parasitism rates of 6.7%, large numbers of adult wasps were reared from a single host larva (average 1083.8), and there is a high female : male sex ratio (9.67 : 1).     

Ecology and field biology of two dominant Camponotus ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Brazilian savannah

Camponotus renggeri and C. rufipes are very abundant in Brazilian cerrado savannah, where they feed extensively on liquid rewards and commonly associate with plants bearing extrafloral nectaries and honeydew-producing insects. Here, we provide a qualitative and quantitative field account on the natural history and ecology of these two ant species. The study was carried out in a cerrado reserve in south-eastern Brazil across a rainy/hot season (summer) and a dry/cold season (winter). The ants were found in two vegetation physiognomies: all nests of C. rufipes were located in the cerrado sensu stricto (scrub of shrubs and trees, 3–8 m tall), whereas C. renggeri occurred mostly in the cerradão (forest with more or less merging canopy, 10–12 m tall). Both species nested in fallen or erect dead trunks, as well as underground. In addition, C. rufipes built nests using dead plant material arranged or not around shrub bases. Colonies of C. rufipes were generally more populous than those of C. renggeri, and both species had colonies with more than one dealated queen. Both species were active mainly at night and foraged for resources near their nests, mainly extrafloral nectar and hemipteran honeydew (aphids and mealybugs). The average size of the home ranges of C. renggeri in cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão varied from ≈ 2.8 to 4.0 m² and apparently were not affected by season. In C. rufipes, however, foraging grounds in cerrado sensu stricto showed a twofold increase from dry/cold (≈ 4.5 m²) to rainy/hot season (≈ 9.8 m²). Our study highlights the importance of natural history data to understand the foraging ecology and role of these ants in cerrado savannah.     

Relating abundance of purpleback flying squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis (Cephalopoda: Ommastrephidae) to environmental parameters using GIS and GAM in south-eastern Arabian Sea

The distribution pattern of purpleback flying squid and the relationship between its abundance and environmental variables in the south-eastern Arabian Sea were analysed using a geographical information system (GIS) and a generalised additive model (GAM). Highest abundances were observed during December and January within 10 and 13°N and 71 and 72°E around the Lakshadweep Islands. The mean abundance in the area was 4.21 tonnes/km² and the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) was estimated as 0.63 million tonnes. GAM indicated that very high squid abundance was associated with low values of dissolved oxygen (6.01–6.27 mg/L), sea surface temperature (28.03–28.62°C), pH (7.75–8.56), salinity (30.42–34.48 psu), chlorophyll-a (0.4–0.6 mg/m³), zooplankton biomass (0.23–0.64 mL/m³), and shallow 20°C isotherm (101.2–134.7 m) and mixed layer depth (17.8–29.8 m). As a carnivore from paralarval stages, S. oualaniensis depends on secondary and tertiary production to sustain its population for which primary production is used up. In the tropical Arabian Sea where temperature differences are not so pronounced, S. oualaniensis distribution was found to be related to a low but very narrow sea surface temperature (SST) band. There is sufficient fishable biomass in the area to possibly launch a new targeted oceanic squid fishery from the western seaboard of India.     

A revision of the genus Qianleptoneta (Araneae: Leptonetidae)

Southwest China is one of three famous karst areas of the world but research on cave spiders of the area is sparse. A Chinese endemic midget spider genus and species, Qianleptoneta quinquespinata (Leptonetidae) was erected by Chen and Zhu, 2008 Chen, HM and Zhu, MS. 2008. One new genus and species of troglobite spiders (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from Guizhou, China. J Dali Univ., 7(12): 11–14.  [Google Scholar]. Here, based on numerous materials collected from Guizhou Province, the mainly karst area of southwest China, Qianleptoneta is revised. Ten new species are described and illustrated: Q. triangula, Q. nuda, Q. identica, Q. lycotropa, Q. multiseta, Q. lophacantha, Q. robustispina, Q. palmata, Q. sublunata and Q. megaloda. The natural history of each species is presented.