Australian thrips of the Haplothrips lineage (Insecta: Thysanoptera)

Keys are presented to the 11 genera and 50 species, including 21 new species, of Thysanoptera in Australia that are related to the worldwide genus Haplothrips Amyot and Serville. These taxa belong to what, in recent literature, has been called the “Haplothrips‐lineage”, that is, one of the three major radiations among the 2700 species and 350 genera of Thysanoptera Phlaeothripinae. The group is redefined, and the available tribal name Haplothripini shown to be appropriate. The character states on which the definition is based are discussed, and a list given of the 34 genera worldwide that can be included. The Australian species in these genera exhibit a diversity of biologies. Three genera involve species that invade galls induced by other thrips: Androthrips monsterae (Moulton) from New Guinea is newly recorded from Australia; Mesothrips jordani Zimmermann from South‐East Asia is newly recorded from Australia, with two new synonyms; the Asia‐Pacific genus, Euoplothrips Hood, includes two species in northern Australia. Three haplothripine genera are associated with grasses: one widespread genus, Apterygothrips Priesner, considered polyphyletic, includes only one Australian species; the only known species of Dyothrips Kudo is Oriental but extends into tropical Australia; Podothrips Hood, a circum‐tropical genus of thrips predatory on grass‐living coccoids, has 11 Australian species, six newly described. One grass‐associated genus, Bamboosiella Ananthakrishnan, is excluded from the Haplothripini. An Oriental genus of leaf‐ and flower‐living species, Dolichothrips Karny, includes one species in northern Australia, D. reuteri (Karny); Membrothrips Bhatti in which this species has been placed is considered a synonym. Karnyothrips Watson includes two species introduced to Australia, both predators of coccoids. Priesneria Bagnall includes three species from Australia, of which one fungus‐feeding species is newly described. Xylaplothrips Priesner is a widespread but ill‐defined, polyphyletic genus that currently includes three little‐known Australian species. Haplothrips is the main focus of this study, and character state variation among the Australian species is discussed. In total 24 species of Haplothrips from Australia are recognised, 14 being new species. Also included are the following, one new generic synonym, four new species synonyms, and one new combination. The 250 species worldwide in the genus are usually associated with the flowers of Asteraceae and Poaceae. In Australia, several of the species are specific to flowers, particularly of Poaceae and Cyperaceae but not Asteraceae. Almost half of these Australian species are presumed to be predatory on other small arthropods, and two have unusual host associations—with salt marsh Chenopodiaceae, and with the sori of Dicksonia tree ferns.     

New species of Australian cockroaches in the genus Paratemnopteryx Saussure (Blattaria,Blattellidae, Blattellinae), and a discussion of some behavioural observations with respect to the evolution and ecology of cave life

Three new species of Paratemnopteryx Saussure (Blattellidae) cockroaches from Australia are described. One surface dwelling species, P. rosensis, was collected from south-east Queensland, and two cavernicolous species, P. kookabinnensis and P. weinsteini, were collected from central Western Australia and north-east Queensland respectively. All three species demonstrate eye and wing reduction, consistent with adaptation to a homogeneous environment. P. weinsteini and P. rosensis species demonstrate sexual wing dimorphism, which is most clear in the former. P. weinsteini is very similar to P. rosensis, and they are probably sister species. I suggest that some surface dwelling species may have given rise to cavernicolous species as a result of isolation in moist refugia during periods of increasing aridity in Australia in the late Cenozoic.     

Recent and fossil Lunulitidae (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) 4. American and Australian species of Otionella

The nominal, free living lunulitiform genus Otionella has been found to include two major groups of species, each one with a distinctive periancestrular pattern of primary zooids. The first group occurs in the Eocene of North America and includes the type species, O. perforata, and several other forms. The second group occurs in the Late Eocene to Recent of Australasia, and may prove to be generically distinct. Intermediate forms, such as O. parvula from the Argentinian Tertiary, are discussed, and a diverse fauna of 10 species from Australia is described. Although some of these species, like O. cupola, O. exigua and O. nitida, have long been known from Australia. it has only recently been recognized that three New Zealand forms, O. squamosa, O. zelandica and O. proberti, also occur in the Tertiary and/or Recent of Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia. In addition, four species are considered to be new. These include O. australis, O. auricula and O. minuta, which are probably closely related to one another, and to O. zelandica. The fourth species, O. browni, has a unique periancestrular budding pattern which resembles that of fossil Lunulites more than any form of ‘Australasian Otionella’. Although, in many ways, O. browni could be assigned to Lunulites sensu lato, it is included here in Otionella.     

Taxonomic observations on the genera Xenocheira Haswell and Ericthonius Milne Edwards (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Australian coastal waters

The type-species of the genus Xenocheira Haswell, X. fasciata Haswell, is redescribed (including the true male) from Tasmanian material. Pirlot's putative male X. fasciata from Indonesia is allocated to a new species, X. pirloti nom. nov. and K. H. Barnard's ‘X. fasciata’ from the Great Barrier Reef referred to Grandidierella gilesi Chilton. Another Xenocheira species from Western Australia is identified tentatively as X.? seurati Chevreux. Two new species of Ericthonius Milne Edwards are described, one from Tasmania (E. tacitus sp. nov.) and one from Western Australia (E. coxacanthus sp. nov.). The first record of E. pugnax Dana from mainland Australia is claimed for material from Western Australia. The taxonomic relationships of these species are evaluated and discussed.     

A revision of Tachyphron Brown and description of two new genera within the Ariphron group (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae)

The Australasian genus Tachyphron Brown is revised, and two new New Guinean genera, Deuterothynnus gen. n. and Heligmothynnus gen. n., described. Fifteen species are included in Tachyphron of which seven are described as new (T. aculeatus sp. n., T. athertonensis sp. n., T. mantonensis sp. n., T. neosubfragilis sp. n., T. nigrisetatus sp. n., T. planus sp. n. and T. townsvillensis sp. n.), and a further two, Aelurus comatus Smith and Aelurus fragilis Smith, transferred from Tachynomyia. Thynnus insularis Smith is transferred from Tachynomyia Guérin to Deuterothynnus and a further three new species, D. fulvicentratus sp. n., D. fulvisetatus sp. n. and D. parallelus sp. n. described. Aelurus atratus Cameron and Takyomyia sabronensis Kimsey are transferred from Tachynomyia and Tachyphron, respectively, to Heligmothynnus and a further two new species, H. microspinus sp. n. and H. neoaratus sp. n. described. T. megacephala (Turner) is synonymized with Tachynoides flavopicta (Ritsema) and, therefore, removed from Tachyphron. A key to the Ariphron group of genera is provided, as well as keys to the males of Tachyphron, Deuterothynnus and Heligmothynnus, although the male of D. insularis is associated tentatively with the female holotype only on the basis of collection records. Only the females of D. insularis, T. armidalensis Brown and T. subtriangularus Brown are known, the latter two being described for the first time. Evidence is presented to suggest that T. subtriangularus may be bivoltine in northern Australia.     

Biogeography and phylogeny of Paraergasilus Markevich, 1937 (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) with descriptions of two new species from the gills of grey mullet

Two new species of Paraergasilus are reported from the gills of four species of grey mullet (Mugilidae). Paraergasilus dichotomus n. sp. was recorded on M. cephalus Linn. from New South Wales, Australia. Paraergasilus curtus n. sp. was found on the same host in Western Australia, on Valamugil cunnesius (Valenciennes) from the Philippines, on Valamugil seheli (Forsskal) from Sri Lanka and on Liza macrolepis (Smith) from Socotra, Yemen. Both new species differ from congeners in possessing a bifid antennary claw. The distribution of Paraergasilus species is summarized and the host specificity of Paraergasilus species is examined. Phylogenetic analysis of the relationships between Paraergasilus species indicated that there are two main lineages within the genus.     

Occurrence of the trapdoor spider genus Moggridgea in Australia with descriptions of two new species (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Migidae)

The occurrence of the trapdoor spider genus Moggridgea (Migidae) in Australia is reported, and two new species described: M. tingle n. sp. from southwest Western Australia and M. australis n. sp. from Kangaroo Island, South Australia. This is the first record of the subfamily Paramiginae from Australia. The historical biogeographic implications are discussed.     

The Australian species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae), parasitoids of whiteflies (Hemiptera,Sternorrhyncha, Aleyrodidae) and armoured scale insects (Hemiptera,Coccoidea: Diaspididae)

The species of Encarsia Förster known from Australia are revised. This study is based mainly on material collected over the last 10 years. Ninety‐four species are recognized, including 38 new species, and seven new records for Australia. All species are fully described or diagnosed, and illustrated by microphotographs. Seven new specific synonymies are proposed and two lectotypes are designated. A key to the females of Australian species of Encarsia is provided. The known hosts and distribution are summarized. The diversity of the Australian Encarsia fauna is discussed.     

The world Rhyparochrominae (Hemiptera:Lygaeidae)

Summary

The species of Epitraninae, a subfamily of Chalcididae, parasitic Hymenoptera, are taxonomically revised, from an area including India in the west and New Guinea in the east. Over 500 specimens were studied, including all accessible types. Only one genus, Epitranus Walker, is recognized and its synonymy corrected. A key is given to 29 species of which 17 are described as new and among the earlier names 30 were found to be junior synonyms (and some more are probable synonyms, as suggested in the paper, among the names the types of which were not examined). The treated and illustrated valid species include two from Australia and notes and a figure of another species, E. evanioides, from Mauritius. Two Oriental species were found widely distributed also in Africa: E. observator and E. clavatus. The latter was also recorded in the New World, probably having been inadvertedly introduced. One Oriental species, E. erythrogaster, is not only widely distributed but has an unusual range of variation and may prove to be a composite aggregate when more information is available. Little help could be drawn from the biological data because definite host records are available only for four species.     

Nephtyidae (Polychaeta: Phyllodocida) of Australia: new species from the North West Shelf,and a key to Australian species

Five species of Nephtyidae new to Australia are described from the North West Shelf, and a key to the 18 known species of Australian nephtyids is given. Four of the species described are new: three species of Aglaophamus (A. foliocirrata sp. nov., A. hedlandensis sp. nov. and A. victoriae sp. nov.) and a new species of Inermonephtys (I. tetrophthalmos sp. nov.). Difficulties in the clear definition of Aglaophamus, Micronephthys and Nephtys indicate the need for systematic revision of the family.     

Review of the southern temperate fish family Aplodactylidae (Pisces: Perciformes)

The southern temperate perciform fish family Aplodactylidae is reviewed. The monotypic genus Crinodus is relegated to the synonymy of the genus Aplodactylus, which is recognized as containing five species: A. arctidens Richardson from New Zealand and Australia (Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania); A. lophodon (Günther) restricted to south-eastern Australia (New South Wales and Victoria); A. westralis Russell restricted to south Western Australia; A. etheridgii (Ogilby) from the south-west Pacific (north-eastern New Zealand, Kermadec Islands, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island); and A. punctatus Valenciennes from the west coast of South America (Peru and Chile). A key to the species is given.     

A primitive representative of the Parabathynellidae (Bathynellacea,Syncarida) from the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia

Billibathynella humphreysi gen. et sp. nov. is described from calcrete aquifers located in the Yilgarn Craton of north‐western Australia. This is the first parabathynellid known from the Australian Precambrian shields, which have never been inundated by the sea. A comparison of the primitive species so far known from Australia and other continents points to the new species as being the most primitive among the parabathynellids. It further suggests that the new genus has an affinity to Notobathynella Schminke, but differs in having a six‐segmented antenna and a large epipod of the male thoracopod VIII. An attempt to relate the primitiveness of the new species to the historiogeological characteristics of the region has led to the conclusion that the recent parabathynellids could have emerged from freshwater epigean ancestors. It is further assumed that the transition of their ancestors to groundwaters happened in Notogaea.     

Ciliated protozoa from a volcanic crater-lake in Victoria,Australia

We have investigated the ciliated protozoa living in the crater-lake of an extinct volcano in Australia. Our principal objective was to discover if such a habitat— geographically distant and isolated from Europe (the latter having provided most of the diversity on which ciliate taxonomy is based)— could yield species that were unusual, and perhaps new to science. Numerous samples were taken from the superficial layer of lake sediment, and examined fresh in the laboratory. Thereafter, the samples were manipulated to encourage growth of rare and cryptic ciliate species. Eighty-five species of ciliated protozoa were identified. None of these was new, all having been found previously in fresh-or brackish water, sea water, or soil. All, apart from one (Oxytricha salmastra), are already known from Europe. In order to test our ability to discover new ciliate species, we examined a variety of water samples from other lakes, including those known to harbour endemic algae. One new ciliate species (Lembadion curvatum) was discovered in a lake in Western Tasmania. We conclude that the ciliate fauna of Australia is remarkably similar to that in Europe and other parts of the world. This is supported by the example of those ‘endemic’ ciliate species described in the literature which have, in response to additional sampling, been found elsewhere in the world.     

A new diagnosis for Dinaphorura (Collembola: Onychiuridae: Tullbergiinae) and description of new species from Australia

Dinaphorura tooheyensis n. sp., the fourth species of Dinaphorura recorded from Australia, is described from Toohey Forest, a eucalypt woodland, in southeast Queensland. The new species differs from existing species in the genus in that it possesses only a single spiniform process on abdomen VI instead of the usual five or seven and the generic diagnosis has been modified accordingly. Ecological notes on D. tooheyensis are provided as well as a check list and key to species in Dinaphorura.     

On the status of Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Crustacea: Amphipoda) on the island of Colonsay,Inner Hebrides

The presence of the landhopper Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Hunt) is reported on the island of Colonsay, Inner Hebrides. It is widely distributed there amongst deciduous leaf litter in forested areas but also occurs in bracken litter and scrub grassland. The species is an introduction from Australia, doubtless transported inadvertently among plants brought to the gardens at Colonsay House. It is, however, not restricted to the ornamental plantings but has colonized native woodland. Maximum population density recorded under leaf litter was 680 m². Amphipods avoid waterlogged or dry situations preferring to burrow in moist soil under litter from deciduous trees. Coniferous woodlands are more sparsely colonized. Rate of spread (minimum) from the original locus is calculated at c. 25 m/year. Arcitalitrus may prefer to eat sycamore leaves (cf. oak, beech). Ovigerous females are reported for May but no evidence exists for a release of young any earlier in the year. Immature amphipods seem to live more covert lives in the soil beneath the superficial litter layer. Eggs are relatively large and few in number. Amphipods may avoid ants but may have a mite living in phoretic or ectoparasitic association.     

Copepods of the genus Colobomatus (Poecilostomatoida: Philichthyidae) from fishes of the family Sillaginidae (Teleostei: Perciformes)

Six species of Colobomatus, five of which are new to science, were found in a survey of 26 species of sillaginid fishes in the Indo-west Pacific. Three of the species are closely related and occur in the head cavities of various species of their hosts. Colobomatus sillaginis West, 1983 is recorded in Sillaginodes punctata and 12 species of Sillago, from around the coast of Australia and in the Gulf of Thailand, representing many new host and locality records. Female C. asiaticus sp. nov. are described from southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf, in three species of Sillago. Female C. arabicus sp. nov. are described from two species of Sillago occurring only in the Persian Gulf. A second intrageneric grouping of three species of Colobomatus inhabits a different microhabitat: tubes of the lateral line scales. Each of these species infects several sillaginid fishes, and in contrast to members of the first species-group they are entirely allopatric with each other. In Australia, female C. fulloonae sp. nov. are described from three species of Sillago in northern waters, and female C. charleah sp. nov. are described from two species of Sillago and Sillaginodes punctata in southern waters. Female C. westi sp. nov. are described from three species of Sillago in the waters of eastern Asia (Japan, Korea and China). Only one male specimen of each of C. arabicus sp. nov., C. charleah sp. nov. and C. westi sp. nov. was found.     

A new genus with three new species of copepods from the family Diaixidae (Crustacea: Calanoida), and a redefinition of the family

Plankton samples taken in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, yielded material of a new genus containing 3 new species: Anawekia spinosa gen. nov. et sp. nov., A. robusta sp. nov. and A. bilobata sp. nov., which are described herein. The family Diaixidae now contains 12 described species in 2 genera, 9 being in the genus Diaixis. It is noted that 3 of the Diaixis species (including the type species) share some features which are not shared with the remaining 6 species, and that these latter species should probably be placed into a third genus. An amplified redefinition of the family is given.     

Ascidiacea (Tunicata) from deep waters of the continental shelf of Western Australia

Seventy‐eight species of Ascidiacea, including 21 new species from deeper waters (about 100 m and occasionally to about 500 m) off Western Australia appear to represent a diverse fauna not previously sampled. The relatively few solitary species taken include two possibly introduced (Styela plicata and S. clava). Large aplousobranch colonies dominate the collections. Aplousobranch species with numerous, small, deeply embedded zooids in massive three‐dimensional, vertical and often branched or stalked inflexible colonies supported by embedded sand (Polyclinindae) or calcareous spicules (Didemnidae) are common. Species with flexible stalks (enabling them to respond to prevailing currents) such as Clavelina meridionalis, Sigillina australis and S. cyanea were not taken often. Some known species (e.g. Synoicum chrysanthemum, and Atriolum tubiporum) previously considered rare were taken at these depths in significant numbers. Other unusual taxa (Pseudodiazona longigona and Condominium spp.) are recorded from new locations but do not appear to be common.