Nematodemus lumbricoides von Graff, 1899 (Platyhelminthes,Turbellaria, Tricladida) redescribed and transferred to the phylum Nemertea

The type specimen of Nematodemus lumbricoides von Graff, 1899, is redescribed and fully illustrated. The internal morphology of the worm, which has not previously been reported, confirms that the animal is not a planarian but a heteronemertean. A re-assessment of the species' systematic status indicates that it should be transferred to the genus Baseodiscus as B. lumbridoides (von Graff, 1899) comb. nov.     

Seed-feeding beetles of the weevil tribe Mecysolobini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae) developing in seeds of trees in the Dipterocarpaceae

Species comprising two monophyletic groups of Alcidodes sensu lato (crassus group and dipterocarpi group) feed on fruits of the ecologically and economically important tropical timber family Dipterocarpaceae. Fifteen Alcidodes species are newly described from several thousand specimens of seed-feeding beetles reared from south-east Asian dipterocarp hosts (Dipterocarpoidae) and four other species are revised. Morphological keys are provided for identifying these 19 taxa. Weevil associations are provided for 70 species of Dipterocarpaceae in five genera (16 Dipterocarpus spp., four Dryobalanops spp., six Hopea spp., 39 Shorea spp. and five Vatica spp.). These records relate primarily to specimens reared from seeds in Borneo and in Peninsular Malaysia, but all known previous host records are also included (from India, Andaman Islands, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines) and assessed. These validated and documented host associations refute general assertions that (1) seed-eating beetles are host-specific in the tropics and (2) seed-eating beetles found on dipterocarp hosts are broad generalists across species in several genera of mast-fruiting Dipterocarpaceae. Most Alcidodes species exploit seeds from several dipterocarp species. Some Alcidodes species occur across broad geographic regions with several host species from a dipterocarp genus, other species have been found only on Bornean Hopea or Dipterocarpus species. Others, such as the two previously undescribed species feeding on Vatica species, may be restricted to separate sections of the host genus. Within an extensively sampled and diverse interspecific mast-fruiting dipterocarp community, no Alcidodes species was observed to feed on sympatric species across genera within the Dipterocarpaceae. Additional host records and specimens of Alcidodes spp. throughout the range of the Dipterocarpaceae in south and southeast Asia are required to further define these clades and the tribe Mecysolobini in general as well as to resolve the complex host associations and distributions documented.     

Phylogenetic evaluation of the tropical Camptotypus genus-group (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), with a key to the world genera

The phylogeny of the disjunct pantropical Camptotypus genus-group (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) was reconstructed using 40 morphological characters.The monophyly of many established genera (Parvipimpla, Clydonium, Odontopimpla) was found to be supported, but Hemipimpla was found to nest within Camptotypus and has thus been treated as a junior synonym of it (syn. n.). A group of undescribed Neotropical species were found to form a separate monophyletic group, herein referred to as Genus A. Species of the Neotropical genus Zonopimpla formed a basal paraphyletic grade which could not satisfactorily be resolved into discrete monophyletic units. Rather than subsuming all the more derived genera within one large group, or attempting to erect numerous new and probably ephemeral genera (for isolated species of Zonopimpla), we propose the retention of this grade-group as a separate genus at present. The host utilization patterns of the genus-group, and the biogeography of the genus-group are discussed. The group is hypothesized as having originated and radiated in the Neotropics, as ectoparasitoids of weakly concealed lepidopterous hosts. One lineage, Clydonium, has become specialized at attacking hosts in woody galls where it utilizes coleopterous as well as lepidopterous hosts. The Old World genera (Camptotypus and Parvipimpla) comprise a monophyletic group and are suggested to have originated from a single dispersal event across the widening Atlantic. No evidence for either a southern or northern circum-polar dispersal was observed in this entirely tropical genus-group. One lineage in the Afrotropical region has switched from attacking lepidopterous hosts, to attacking pre-pupal and pupal polistine vespids.     

The Eucerotinae: a Gondwanan origin for a cosmopolitan group of Ichneumonidae?

A new genus and species of the formerly monobasic and predominantly amphitropical, ichneumonid subfamily, Eucerotinae, is described from Chile. A phylogenetic analysis of the redefined Eucerotinae is undertaken. Barronia araucaria gen. et sp. n. has a sister-group relationship with Euceros. The southern hemisphere species of the latter genus were found to comprise a monophyletic clade, the sister group to all other Euceros species. Similarly all north temperate Euceros species form a monophyletic clade, the sister group of which occurs in Madagascar. Within the former clade, the North American species form a monophyletic group, the sister species of which is Palaearctic. Several other groups of Palaearctic taxa have a sister-group relationship to this lineage. These results suggest the Eucerotinae had an ancient origin on Gondwanaland in the lower Cretaceous, prior to the separation of the Indo-Madagascar terrane from the Australian-Antarctic-South American tectonic plate. We hypothesize the Palaearctic fauna colonized Eurasia following the impaction of India on to its southern margin, and that the North American fauna is derived from a single circum-polar dispersal from Eurasia. Our results do not support an earlier hypothesis that the Eucerotinae arose as hyperparasitoids of Symphyta. Evidence suggests the group arose as parasitoids of ophioniform ichneumonids attacking lepidopterous larvae feeding on gymnosperms or anemophilous angiosperm trees.     

A preliminary molecular phylogeny of the Sigalphinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), including Pselaphanus Szépligeti,based on 28S rDNA,with descriptions of new Afrotropical and Madagascan Minanga and Malasigalphus species

Minanga phoebea sp. n. Quicke, from Uganda, and Malasigalphus roa sp. n. Sharkey, from Madagascar, are described and illustrated. The new species of Minanga displays a distinct posterior metasomal carina and thus provides another example of the co‐occurrence of this feature with a metasomal carapace within the Braconidae. Malasigalphus roa is the second species of the genus recently described by Achterberg and Austin. A preliminary molecular phylogeny of the Sigalphinae is presented including the rare Neotropical genus Pselaphanus the placement of which has been debated. Sensitivity analysis to multiple alignment parameters was conducted and a single elided data set, based on the combined 21 separate alignments, was analysed. Strong support was obtained for the following relationships: Pselaphanus+(Malasigalphus+(other Sigalphinae)), (Minanga+(Sigalphus bicolor+(S. irrorator+S. gyrodontus))), and Earinini being basal (as a grade in these analyses) to other Agathidinae. The Mesocoelus group of genera (Mesocoelini in part) are shown to be derived agathidines rather than being associated with the Orgilini. The Microtypinae is shown be non‐monophyletic and Plesiotypus Achterberg is proposed as the sister group to the Agathidinae+Sigalphinae clade. The Acampsohelconinae does not appear as monophyletic; however, the placements of both of the two included genera, Afrocampsis and Canalicephalis, had less than 100% support in the elised analysis tree, and therefore monophyly of this recently redefined subfamily must be more rigorously tested.     

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.     

Phylogenetic relationships among genera of the tribe Cnephasiini (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae) based on morphological characters of adults

A phylogenetic analysis was conducted on the moth tribe Cnephasiini based on 83 morphological characters of adults (63 binary and 20 multistate). The analysis included 26 species representing 20 genera, plus two outgroup representatives of the tribe Tortricini. The cladistic analysis resulted in the 10 most parsimonious trees. The tribe Cnephasiini was recovered as monophyletic; the genus Cnephasia was not recovered as monophyletic; the New World Decodes clustered with the primarily Old World Cnephasia; Oxypteron is best treated as monotypic (with the single species palmoni), and Amphicoecia adamana, Oporopsamma dunaria and O. wertheimsteini should be assigned to a different genus; Propriomorpha and Xerocnephasia were the most basal groups; Exapate duratella and Epicnephasia mongolica were recognised as sister-groups; and Kawabeia was closest to Tortricodes.     

Contributions to the knowledge of the genera Haemerophygus Baudi, 1876 and Ceratanisus Gemminger, 1870 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Ceratanisini) in the Anatolian region

Previously known species of the genus Ceratanisus Gemminger, 1870 are studied, based on a comparison of specimens. This study is a first attempt to scrutinize the composition of this poorly known genus, as a preliminary approach to the tribe Ceratanisini Gebien, 1937. As a result of this study three previously described taxa are recognized as valid species and three new species from Turkey, Ceratanisus selimi sp. nov., Ceratanisus labriquei sp. nov. and Ceratanisus andiberti sp. nov., are described. A key for the separation of the genera of Ceratanisini is presented, including the new species described herein.     

A new genus and two new species of Philotarsidae. (Insecta: Psocoptera) from East Africa

Summary

Genus Tarsophilus and its species lineatus and aequabilis (Insecta: Psocoptera: Philotarsidae) are described as new. The specimens, all males, were collected in highland areas of East Africa. The new genus is placed in Philotarsidae rather than Pseudocaeciliidae on characters of hypandrium, phallosome, and lacinial tip. Its position in the subfamily Philotarsinae is justified and it is compared to the other genera of this group on both male and on trans-sexual characters.     

A new genus of Atlantic octocorals (Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae): systematics of gorgoniids with asymmetric sclerites

Gorgonian corals from the families Gorgoniidae and Plexauridae are among the most abundant and diverse shallow‐water cnidarians found along tropical and temperate Atlantic coasts and reefs. Some morphological traits in the Gorgoniidae comprise a taxonomic challenge due to their morphological plasticity as well as a lack of discrete character states among most genera. Some gorgoniids have asymmetrical sclerites in the surface coenenchyme, a character trait that consists of a continuum among several genera and can cause confusion with members of the family Plexauridae. The collection of a unique gorgoniid in Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago), which contains this trait but also maintains affinities to many different genera, stimulated a wider morphological comparison of gorgoniids using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Using the morphology of asymmetrical sclerites, gorgoniids could be grouped in four monophyletic clades that were compatible with recent molecular phylogenies and provide a provisional subfamilial classification: (1) a derived clade including gorgoniids with scaphoid sclerites, comprising the reef fauna from the western Atlantic (e.g. Gorgonia, Pseudopterogorgia [ = Antillogorgia], Pterogorgia, and Phyllogorgia); (2) a related group with taxa containing capstan sclerites including genera with short capstans and/or disk‐spindles sclerites such as Pacifogorgia and Leptogorgia ( = Lophogorgia); (3) a clade of gorgoniids with asymmetrical spiny sclerites including the Atlantic genus Muriceopsis and the Indopacific Pinnigorgia together with the distant single species from the new genus and species Tobagogorgia hardyi (it is worth noting that Muriceopsis was previously classified in the Plexauridae, but there is overwhelming molecular support that groups it with the Gorgoniidae and morphological evidence that suggests affinity with Pinnigorgia); and finally (4) a basal clade with long and spiny spindles, which includes some African species such as Filigorgia angolana and F. schoutedeni as well as other new combinations (all species previously classified as Leptogorgia but not phylogenetically related). The combined set of sclerites of Tobagogorgia (e.g. both asymmetrical and irregularly bent spindles) separates it from the diagnostic characters of related genera such as Muriceopsis and Pinnigorgia. The latter two genera are also profusely branched, including pinnate patterns, whereas T. hardyi has only one or two branches. Externally, T. hardyi looks like some Leptogorgia colonies that branch minimally but it is clear that the sclerites are very different and thus also their phylogenetic divergence.     

Muhaka icipe,an enigmatic new genus and species of Kleidotomini (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae) from an East African coastal forest

A remarkable new eucoiline genus and species, Muhaka icipe, is described herein. The genus is clearly a Kleidotomini, but is distinguished from other genera in the tribe by a unique head and scutellar morphology. The genus belongs to the ‘wedge-head’-syndrome group of species that, to date, is unique to Afrotropical eucoilines. The new genus and species is reminiscent of Stentorceps Quinlan and Nanocthulhu Buffington, but is readily distinguished from these genera. Muhaka was collected from a threatened kaya (sacred forest) of coastal Kenya. The biological importance of this and other kaya forests, as well as their protection, is discussed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6918ED2C-69A4-48FC-A1E4-2B5DFF58E876     

A new genus and species of leptostracan (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Phyllocarida) from Guana Island,British Virgin Islands,and a review of leptostracan genera

Saronebalia guanensis, a new genus and species of leptostracan, is described from material discovered in shallow subtidal waters of Guana Island, British Virgin Islands. The specimens were collected from light traps placed on sediment and by hand from the green alga Halimeda. Saronebalia differs from other leptostracans most notably in the morphology of the antennule and the eighth thoracic limb: the articles of the antennular flagellum are fused and bear dense clusters of setae, and the eighth thoracic limb is elongate. While its eyes, like those of Nebalia, are non-tuberculate, it shares the rostral spine, dentate process of antennular article 4, and serrate pleopodal protopods of Levinebalia and Paranebalia. Specimens of the new genus lack the setal row of the exopod of pleopod 1, a complex feature characteristic of Dahlella, Levinebalia, Nebalia and Paranebalia. A cladistic analysis of the 10 leptostracan genera, using 30 morphological characters from these features and others, also supports the status of Saronebalia as a new genus. Saronebalia represents the third leptostracan genus to be recorded from the Caribbean Sea.     

Chroestia,a new supralittoral amphipod genus from Queensland,Australia (Talitroidea: Talitridae)

Chroestia lota, a new genus and species of talitrid amphipod from the shores of Moreton Bay, is described and figured. Its relationship to other ‘beach flea’ genera (Protorchestia, Transorchestia, Orchestia) and to the endemic Australian forest-dwelling genus Agilestia are discussed.     

A re-examination of Periclimenes (Hamiger) novae-zealandiae Borradaile, 1916, and recognition of the pontoniine shrimp genus Hamiger,Borradaile

The syntypes of Periclimenes (Hamiger) novae-zealandiae Borradaile, 1916, the only known specimens, from off North Cape, New Zealand, are redescribed and illustrated. Placed by Kemp (1922) in the genus Periclimenaeus Borradaile, 1915, the species is now removed from that genus and Borradaile's subgenus Hamiger is raised to generic status for its reception. The male specimen is designated as lectotype. The specimens are held in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History).

The genus Hamiger is most closely related to the genera Thaumastocaris Kemp, 1922, and Orthopontonia Bruce, 1982, both monospecific genera, known to associate with sponges. It is considered that H. novae-zealandiae is probably also a sponge associate and that Palaemonetes natalensis Stebbing, 1915 may be closely related.     

Revision of the genus Lepidastheniella Monro, 1924 (Polychaeta: Polynoidae: Lepidastheniinae) with notes on the subfamily Lepidastheniinae and the description of a new species

The present revision covers all known species of the genus Lepidastheniella Monro, 1924 (i.e. Lepidastheniella comma (Thomson, 1902), L. phillippensis Monro, 1924 and L. monroi Benham, 1950). The comparison of the available type material showed that L. monroi is a junior synonym of L. comma and that specimens from a collection of scale worms from off Shimoda (Japan) belong to the new species L. nishii sp. nov. described herein. The generic diagnosis of Lepidastheniella is emended and an identification key to all valid species given. Additionally, the subfamily affiliation of Lepidastheniella is discussed, distinctive characters of all genera belonging to the subfamily Lepidastheniinae Pettibone, 1989 are described, and an identification key to these genera is given.     

Dhanya,a South-east Asian genus of ozaenine ground beetles

The species of the South-east Asian genus Dhanya are reviewed, and three new species are described: mulu from Sarawak; andrewesi from India; and cylindera from Philippines. Dhanya bioculata is designated as the type-species and a lectotype is designated for this species. The variety pallida is synonymized with its species seminigra. The species cavicola Moore is transferred from Pseudozaena to Itamus. Keys to the genera of South-east Asian Ozaenini and to the species of Dhanya are provided. Morphological details of Dhanya are illustrated with scanning electron micrographs and drawings, and include information on the structure of the prothoracic pits, elytral flanges, and on microsculpture. A cladistic analysis of the species is included and the relationship of the genus to its sister group, Eustra, and to the other genera of Ozaenini is discussed. Specimens of Dhanya are found under bark of fallen logs and in rotting tree stumps in lowland and upland tropical rain forest; an association with ants or termites is suggested for at least one species.