Scorpion-flies of the Panorpa cognata-complex in the western palaearctic region (Mecoptera)

Summary

The Panorpa cognata-complex comprises four morphologically distinct species two of which, P. cognata and P. meridionalis, show a confusing degree of variation. P. meridionalis is separated by the bi-lobed ventral parameres, which are singlelobed in P. cognata, P. annexa and P. etrusca. P. meridionalis is also allopatric and has two geographical forms which may prove to be biologically distinct species. P. cognata is sympatric with, and closely related, to P. annexa. P. cognata and P. etrusca are also sympatric. There is a clear morphological and distributional division between P. annexa and P. etrusca, for which reason the latter is raised to species level. Based on morphological evidence P. ghilianii, P. cognata osellai and P. adnexa [sic] var. subalpina are synonymized with P. cognata and P. meridionalis var. commissa, P. meridionalis var. germanizans and P. meridionalis var. liberata are synonymized with P. meridionalis.     

Some European Processidae (Crustacea,Decapoda, Caridea)

Summary

The name Processa canaliculata Leach has been applied to a species other than that to which the holotype belongs. The species P. canaliculata Nouvel & Holthuis non Leach has no valid name; it is re-named P. nouveli, with type material from Monaco.

P. nouveli and P. canaliculata have been considered to be conspecific by one recent author. New characters for their separation are described from Irish Sea material.

The northern form of P. nouveli differs from the Mediterranean form sufficiently to be placed in a separate subspecies. The name P. nouveli holthuisi is proposed for it, with type material from the Irish Sea.

The distribution of the four species and subspecies of Processa known to occur in northern Europe is reviewed.     

The mouthparts and feeding behaviour of two species of hermit crabs

Summary

The mouthparts of P. novae-zealandiae and S. setosus are similar in construction, but differ in details of setation. These differences are related to particular feeding habits. S. Setosus is a suspension filter feeder, the antennae being modified to form sieves which actively sweep plankton from the water. Setation of the maxillipeds is modified for cleaning the antennae. Both species are detritus feeders and this is the major source of food for P. novae-zealandiae, the maxillipeds here bearing numerous stout setae with dentate margins. Neither species readily feeds on large food and it is suggested that S. setosus is less well adapted to do so.     

Revision of the proctotrupoid genus Pelecinus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae)

The extant Pelecinidae consist of the single genus Pelecinus Latreille. This group is restricted to the continental New World; miscellaneous reports and specimens from Jamaica, Australia, India and Malaysia are errors. Three species are recognized: the widespread Pelecinus polyturator (Drury), found from the southern portions of the eastern provinces of Canada, the eastern USA (west to North Dakota, Colorado and New Mexico) and Mexico south to northern Argentina; Pelecinus thoracicus Klug revised status, from western Mexico; and Pelecinus dichrous Perty revised status from northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and south-eastern Brazil. Pelecinus rufus Klug, 1841 and Pelecinus annulatus Klug, 1841 are treated as junior synonyms of Pelecinus dichrous Perty, 1833. The status of Pelecinus polyturator var. apicalis Roman is discussed and the name is treated as a synonym of P. polyturator. The only recorded host species for the genus are for P. polyturator: Phyllophaga anxia (LeConte), P. drakei Kirby, P. futilis (LeConte), P. rugosa (Melsheimer) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae); and Podischnus agenor Olivier (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae).     

Pycnogonids caught in bathypelagic samples from the Rockall Trough,northeastern Atlantic Ocean

Summary

Four species of pycnogonids occurred in the pelagic samples taken in the Rockall Trough to the west of Scotland and Ireland. They are Pallenopsis calcanea, P. tritonis, P. scoparia and an unlikely record of a young Colossendeis species. Two juvenile pycnogonids were found attached to a single coronate scyphomedusan Periphylla periphylla, reinforcing the contention that they are probably associated with such organisms in the meso- and bathypelagic environments.     

Two new species of the genus Microstigmus Ducke (Hymenoptera: Sphecoidea)

Summary

Five species of tettigoniid of the Decticine genus, Platycleis (sensu stricto), are found in the environs of Montpellier, Hérault, S. France. P. intermedia, P. sabulosa and P. albopunctata are essentially early-evening singers. There is a nycthemeral cycle of vertical migration in these three species—they sing from a greater height than that at which they rest during the daytime. P. affinis and P. falx sing both during the day and during the evening. As the syllables of the songs of the five species are similar, and since these insects sing at the same time of year and at least during the evening, interspecific acoustic interference would seem likely. However, such interference appears to be avoided by spatial separation of singing individuals (the males only). The difference in habitat preferences may be so distinct that two species do not occur in the same locality (e.g. P. falx and P. albopunctata). Where two species do occur in one local area, one of them is generally confined to one type of vegetation (e.g. P. intermedia in the bushes) and the other to another type (e.g. P. affinis on the open ground). Differences in chirp types, and in the specific response to particular song patterns, mean that ethological barriers as well as ecological ones would appear to prevent heterospecific matings. However, prevention of acoustic interference between allospecific males seems to be brought about mainly by habitat-preference differences. In one species pair, P. falx and P. affinis, the habitat-preference difference is very slight, and their songs are similar. These facts, coupled with the impression that the range and abundance of P. affinis are increasing, while those of P. falx are decreasing, suggest that P. affinis is supplanting P. falx in the open areas of wasteland in the Montpellier area.     

LVIII.—On some new and curious Thysanoptera (Tubulifera) from Papua

Summary

Observations are made on the morphology of a polystomatid parasite recovered from Ptychadena mascareniensis in two areas of Uganda. Comparisons are made with other material from Zaire, Ethiopia and Uganda and a single taxon, Polystoma pricei (syn. P. africanum aethiopiense), is recognised. The present information on the morphological variation of the species suggests that P. pricei cannot be adequately separated from P. africanum and this latter designation takes precedence. The parasite is widely distributed with the following hosts and range: Bufo regularis in Liberia, Uganda and Ethiopia, Ptychadena mascareniensis in Uganda and Ethiopia, Ptychadena sp. in Zaire, and Rana angolensis in Ethiopia.

The systematics of the African species of Polystoma is reviewed and the close affinity of many of the taxa is recognised. Problems in the existing taxonomy of this group are discussed and a Polystoma africanum species complex is proposed.     

XL.—Deux cercopides nouveaux de l'Equateur

Summary

A history of the genus Pseudanisakis Layman &; Borovkova, 1926, is given. After studies on two species of the genus with both light and scanning electron microscopes, the genus is re-defined. A nomen novum, P. tricupola, is proposed for the type-species, P. rotundata (Rud., 1819) Mosgovoi, 1950, and another, P. baylisi, is proposed for Eustoma rotundatum (Rud., 1819) of Punt (1941). These two species are re-described, and a larval stage of P. tricupola is described for the first time. P. rajae Yamaguti, 1941, sensu nov. is included in the genus. Anacanthocheilus australis of Johnston &; Mawson (1945) is placed in the genus Acanthocheilus Molin, 1858. Acanthocheilus and Pseudanisakis are distinguished, and aspects of their life-histories commented upon.     

Psocoptera of the Togo-Benin Gap,West Africa

Summary

The first major collection of Psocoptera from the Togo-Benin Gap containing 28 species, in 16 genera is described. Twelve of the species are new (Rhyopsocus plesiafer sp. nov., Caecilius propinquifallax sp. nov., C. fuscolineus sp. nov., Lachesilla mutabilis sp. nov., L. nigripalpa sp. nov., Ectopsocus maculosus sp. nov., Peripsocus marginatus sp. nov., P. acuminatus sp. nov., P. togoensis sp. nov., Pseudoscottiella forcipiforma sp. nov., Blaste togoensis sp. nov., and Trichadenotecnum colesae sp. nov.). Blaste muiri Smithers is synonymized with B. medleri New. The previously described psocid species, together with affinities which the new species have with the psocid fauna of other countries, are discussed in the light of the zoogeographical interest in this area.     

New species of Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) from Central and South America

ABSTRACT

Six new species of Orasema are described. Four species are placed into a newly recognised lasallei species group: Orasema lasallei sp. nov. (Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua), O. janzeni sp. nov. (Costa Rica), O. peckorum sp. nov. (Brazil) and O. vasquezi sp. nov. (Colombia). One species is placed in the wayqecha group, Orasema masneri sp. nov. (Ecuador). One other species is currently unplaced to species group, O. longinoi sp. nov. (Costa Rica). Orasema lasallei was taken from a nest of Pheidole vorax (Fabr.) and an undescribed species near O. longinoi from a nest of Pheidole dossena Wilson (Myrmicinae). The morphology of the digitate labrum is discussed with respect to other Eucharitidae.     

XXXVIII.—The cretaceous Echinoid genera Infulaster Desor and Hagenowia Duncan

Summary

The Chalk Echinoids of the genera Infulaster and Hagenowia are redescribed. Three published species of Infulaster are regarded as synomyns of the genotype species. Two new species of Hagenowia are described from the English Senonian. While Infulaster is held to be an Echinocorythid of the subfamily Cardiasterinæ, Hagenowia is shown, by certain important structural features, to belong to the curious family Pourtalesiidæ of Loven. The phylogeny of the forms considered is also discussed.     

A revision of the genus Platythelphusa A. Milne-Edwards, 1887 from Lake Tanganyika,East Africa (Decapoda: Potamoidea: Platythelphusidae)

The genus Platythelphusa is revised and six species are recognized. These species are P. armata A. Milne-Edwards, 1887, P. maculata (Cunnington, 1899), P. conculata Cunnington, 1907, P. tuberculata Capart, 1952, P. polita Capart, 1952 and P. echinata Capart, 1952. A seventh taxon, P. denticulata Capart, 1952 is considered here to be a junior synonym of P. conculata. A diagnosis for each species is provided and most are figured from the type. Keys to the families of African freshwater crabs and to the genus Platythelphusa are also provided.     

A new genus and three new species of parasitoid wasp from Papua New Guinea and redescription of Trigonophatnus Cameron (Hymenoptera,Braconidae, Rogadinae)

ABSTRACT

Two new pill millipede species, namely Hyleoglomeris hoanglien sp. nov. and H. fanxipan sp. nov., are described from high elevations (approximately 2,800–2,900 m) of the Hoang Lien National Park, northern Vietnam. A new species, H. hoanglien sp. nov. is clearly distinguished by the telopods being short, stout and incrassate, femora strongly condensed, tibia without modifications, syncoxital lobe bifid trapeziform, and syncoxital horns with an apical seta and a spine. Hyleoglomeris fanxipan sp. nov., is diagnosed by the telopods being long and robust, tibia without modifications, syncoxital lobe roundly trapeziform, and syncoxital horns truncated at tip. COI-based DNA barcodes of the two species are also provided for the first time in the genus Hyleoglomeris. The K2P genetic distance between the two new species is 0.148. In addition, an identification key to the Vietnamese Hyleoglomeris species is also provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6DEFED42-0D65-4F50-9D24-A0923B9D1709     

A review of the north-western Pacific species of the genus Paguristes (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae), I. Five species initially reported by Ortmann (1892) from Japan

Five species of the hermit crab genus Paguristes Dana, 1851, initially reported by Ortmann (1892) from Japan, are revised based on the materials reported by Ortmann (1892), Doflein (1902), Balss (1913) and Miyake (1978), and on newly collected specimens. The specific status of P. palythophilus Ortmann, 1892, is clarified, and a species confused with P. palythophilus is described as new, P. albimaculatus. It has been revealed that P. kagoshimensis Ortmann, 1892, is actually a junior subjective synonym of P. digitalis Stimpson, 1858. The species heretofore assigned to P. kagoshimensis is described as new, P. versus. It has been confirmed that Paguristes acanthomerus Ortmann, 1892, is a valid species and that P. barbatus sensu Ortmann, 1892, is the same species as P. ortmanni Miyake, 1978. Further, a new species, P. doederleini, is described for P. setosus sensu Ortmann, 1892. It is also shown that a part of the group of specimens identified as Paguristes puniceus by Miyake (1978) is referable to P. doederleini. In addition to the three new species recognized herein, the four previously described species are also redescribed in detail in order to make clear their taxonomic status.     

Notes on Simulium ovazzae Grenier and Mouchet (Diptera: Simuliidae) and river crabs (Malacostraca: Potamidae) and their association

Summary

Collections of crabs in the forest zone of West Cameroon produced three species—Potamonautes africanus, P. orthostylis and P. pobeguini. The P. africanus carried populations of immature Simulium ovazzae.

Analysis of crabs collected by hand and those collected in traps indicates very little overlap in the sizes of the crabs obtained by the two techniques. This problem is discussed.

The infestation rates of S. ovazzae on P. africanus were found to be highest on medium-sized crabs. The attachment sites of the S. ovazzae on the crabs were found to vary with both the size of the crab and the size of the Simulium larva.

The size distributions of S. ovazzae larvae on small crabs were found to be different from those on medium and large crabs. The characteristic deficiency of smaller larvae on medium and large crabs reported for other crab-phoretic species was also found with S. ovazzae but the smaller crabs showed a deficiency of larger larvae. A hypothesis is put forward to explain the dearth of larger larvae on the smaller crabs and the higher infestation rate on medium crabs.

S. ovazzae are shown to arrive on their hosts as single larvae carried by the current.

Six adult S. ovazzae were reared from pupae in the laboratory. Small numbers of presumed S. ovazzae biting man in Cameroon are reported.     

CVIII.—The African spiders of the family Ctenidae in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History)

Summary

The African Ctenidae in the Collections of the British Museum (Natural History) are revised. Thirty species are contained in the subfamilies Cteninae and Acantheinae. Ctenus batesii Pocock, 1903, is a synonym of Ctenus capulinus (Karsch), 1879, Ctenus dirus Thorell, 1899, is a synonym of Ctenus kingsleyi F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1898, Ctenus marshalli F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1898, is a synonym of Ctenus melanogastra (Bösenberg & Lenz), 1895, and Ctenus spenceri F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1898, is a synonym of Ctenus pulchriventris Simon, 1896.

The subfamily Acantheinae is recorded from Africa for the first time. A new genus, Africactenus, is erected for a group of allied species. The genotype is Ctenus agilior Pocock, 1899, and the following new species are described:—A. depressus, A. desartsi, A kribiensis, A. pococki, A. sandersoni, A. simoni, A. sladeni, A. tridentatus and A. trilateralis. Ctenus longurio Simon, 1909, is transferred to the genus Africactenus on examination of the type-material.

Certain species from the Simon Collection are listed in the Appendix and figured for the first time.     

First described fossil representatives of the parasitoid wasp taxa Asaphesinae n. n. and Eunotinae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae sensu lato) from Eocene Baltic amber

ABSTRACT

New Baltic amber species of Pteromalidae sensu lato are described, from two different subfamilies, Asaphesinae n. n. and Eunotinae. Asaphesinae is provided as a replacement name for Asaphinae Ashmead 1904, which is a junior homonym of the trilobite family Asaphidae Burmeister 1843. Coriotela lasallei gen. n., sp. n.. and Butiokeras costae gen. n., sp. n.. are described as the first known fossil species of Asaphesinae and Eunotinae, respectively. These species establish the minimum known age of both groups in the Eocene. Taxonomic changes are also proposed for some extant species. The genus Desantisiana Neder de Román syn. n.. is found to be a junior synonym of Notoglyptus, and its only described species is transferred as Notoglyptus jujuyensis (Neder de Román) comb. n.. The tribe Calyconotiscini, previously classified in Eunotinae, is abolished and Calyconotiscus Narendran & Saleem is transferred to Pireninae.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7A107FF9-28E7-40AA-8A9B-71321E476C07