The pygmaeus-group of Euops Schoenherr (Coleoptera,Curculionoidea, Attelabidae), weevils associated with Nothofagus in New Guinea

A new species group of Euops Schoenherr from the highlands of New Guinea is described and referred to as the ‘pygmaeus-group’. It is comprised of 14 species which, except for E. singularis VOSS, are described as new: E. anggiensis sp. n., E. bicolor sp. n., E. convexus sp. n., E. fraterculus sp. n., E. ibelensis sp. n., E. kurulu sp. n., E. nothofagi sp. n., E. parvus sp. n., E. paraconvexus sp. n., E. platyrostris sp. n., E. porulosus sp. n., E. pygmaeus sp. n., and E. sedlaceki sp. n.. Most of the species are of relatively small body size. They form a monophyletic group characterized by the synapomorphic loss of the ventral suture between the galea and palpifer of the maxilla. Two other groups are recognized, the eucalypti-group and the quadrifasciculatus-group. They are believed to be closely related to the pygmaeus-group and all three species groups together are referred to as the ‘pygmaeus-complex’. A cladistic analysis of the pygmaeus-group is performed. All species with host records are reported to feed on the fresh leaf flush of Nothofagus. This is the first record of a group of leaf-chewing arthropods restricted to the subgenus Brassospora of Nothofagus.     

Revision of the genus Erythracarus Berlese (Acarina: Anystidae: Erythracarinae)

The mite genus Erythracarus is revised and redefined and the new pyrrholeucus species group is described. The type species of Erythracarus is established as E. ruricola and the previous designation of Trombidium parietinum as the type is thus declared invalid. Bechsteinia and Chabrieria are newly synonymized with Erythracarus. Nine new species are described: Erythracarus amnicolus n. sp., E. avius n. sp., E. barbarus n. sp., E. ciliatus n. sp., E. decoris n. sp., E. elegans n. sp., E. flavipes n. sp., E. katherinae n. sp. and E. nasutus n. sp. The species E. parietinus, E. pyrrholeucus, E. festinus and E. grahami are redescribed and identification keys to known species and instars of Erythracarus are presented. E. cluozzai is made a junior synonym of Tarsolarkus articulosus, Bechsteinia solarii and Erythraeus spinatus are made junior synonyms of Erythracarus parietinus, while Bechsteinia californica, B. schneideri and Tarsotomus terminalis are all made junior synonyms of E. pyrrholeucus. E. simku is found to be a nomen nudum. E. pyrrholeucus is recorded for the first time from Australia, Iran and the Ukraine and E. parietinus for the first time from the western United States. The only record of E. parietinus from Australia is shown to be based on a misidentification. Observations on reproductive behaviour are made for five Erythracarus species. All of these reproduce sexually by means of stalked spermatophores, the shape of which is species specific. Spermatophores are often deposited on top of one another, possibly indicating sperm competition. Males of one species, E. pyrrholeucus, are unknown and this species is thus likely to be thelytokous. Some Erythracarus species are oviparous. E. ciliatus and E. parietinus are ovoviviparous or viviparous. Prelarvae that were studied were immotile except for those of E. ciliatus, which were able to move their legs. Immotility is a derived character state in Erythracarus and possibly an adaptation to more protected habitats.     

Descriptions of two new species of the genus Agathis Latreille (Hymenoptera,Braconidae, Agathidinae) from Spain,with a record of mating by one species on flowers

Two new species of the genus Agathis Latreille, A. icarus sp. n. and A. nixoni sp. n., are described from southern Spain. Both species were observed feeding on the nectar of Anacyclus clavatus (Desf.) Pers.. (Asteraceae). A. nixoni was also observed mating on flowers. Mating by parasitoids at feeding sites is discussed.     

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     

Cladistics and taxonomy of the Afrotropical Empis (Coptophlebia) chrysocera-group (Diptera,Empididae)

The Afrotropical Empis (Coptophlebia) chrysocera-group (Diptera: Empididae) is defined on the basis of two synapomorphies, namely epandrial lamellae connected anteriorly and male cerci made up of an anterior almost bare lobe and a posterior bristled lobe. This group includes 10 species: E. (C.) brazzavillensis sp. n., E. (C.) barbitos Smith, E. (C.) juxtaripa sp. n., E. (C.) lyra Smith, E. (C.) plumata sp. n., E. (C.) chrysocera Collin, E. (C.) cuthbertsoni Smith, E. (C.) machipandensis Smith, E. (C.) samaruensis sp. n. and E. (C.) singulare sp. n. All species are described and keyed. The relationships between these species are established and two complexes of species distinguished. The Empis (Coptophlebia) chrysocera-group apparently occurs everywhere in the Afrotropical region except South Africa.     

A phylogenetic and biogeographic study of Euniphysa (Eunicidae,Polychaeta)

Fourteen species have either been described in, or referred to, the genus Euniphysa. Seven of these are here re-described based on type material and two new species, E. quadridentata and E. filibranchia, are described. Euniphysa oculata is found to be a subjective synonym of E. spinea, and E. unicusa is a subjective synonym of E. aculeata. Euniphysa taiwanensis and E. megalodus are correctly assigned to the genus, but cannot be described due to lack of material. Euniphysa misakiensis, E. tubicola and E. tubifex are transferred to Eunice. A key is given to the nine identifiable species retained in Euniphysa. Coding strategies for polymorphic and inapplicable characters, as well as problems associated with shared absences, are discussed. A phylogenetic analysis of Euniphysa based on 24 morphological characters yielded two most parsimonious trees (CI = 0.902, RI = 0.905). The tree topology separates Euniphysa into two distinct groups. Group I includes E. filibranchia n. sp., E. italica, E. jeffreysii, E. quadridentata n. sp. and E. spinea, it is supported by five equivocal similarities. Group II is supported by five unequivocal synapomorphies and two equivocal similarities, it includes E. aculeata, E. auriculata, E. falciseta and E. tridontesa. Based on the phylogenetic topology, Paraeuniphysa and Heterophysa are considered as junior synonyms of Euniphysa. The recognition of a separate family for Euniphysa is not warranted. All species of Euniphysa are fragile, shallow, warm water species. They have been collected mainly from sandy sediments of the Northern Hemisphere. The greatest diversity is from the South China Sea area; other species are found throughout the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the East Atlantic Ocean coasts suggesting the genus may have originated in the Tethys Sea. A few species have also been found in the Gulf of Mexico and the West Atlantic Ocean coast again suggesting a Tethyan origin associated with the westward drift of the North American continent.     

A redescription of the genus Cyrebion Fairmaire, 1891, with notes on related taxa and distribution (Coleoptera: Cantharidae)

Eight new species and one new record of Elasmopus Costa, 1853 are described from Australian waters including the extended offshore territories of Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Indian Ocean), Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), Ashmore Reef (Timor Sea), Norfolk Island (Tasman Sea) and Lord Howe Island (Tasman Sea). Range extensions are reported for seven described Australian species. Twenty-three species are now known from Australian waters. Elasmopus arafura sp. nov., E. carteri sp. nov., E. hyperopia sp. nov., E. leveque sp. nov., E. mcluerensis sp. nov., E. otus sp. nov., E. shepherdi sp. nov. and E. woodjonesi sp. nov. are described herein.     

Taxonomic review of a new genus,Diathera gen. n., from Southeast Asia (Lepidoptera,Geometridae: Larentiinae)

Diathera gen. n., a new larentiine genus from central and southwestern China, is described. Three new species are named and described: fluctuata sp. n., metacolorata sp. n. and brunneata sp. n. All species and their genitalia are described and illustrated. A key is provided and the monophyly of the genus and its relationships to the allied taxa are briefly discussed.     

A study on the developmental bionomics of Dineutes indicus Aube (Gyrinidae,Coleoptera)

Australothis volatilis sp. n., the only species of Heliothinae endemic to New Zealand, is described. The larval food plants, Vittadinia spp., are recorded and other biological information is provided. The male and female genitalia, penultimate and final instar larva, pupa, adult, native food plant, and habitat are illustrated.     

Three new genera of Banchinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from Central and South America

Three new genera and four new species of Banchinae are described from Central and South America: Terrylee gen. n., is described from Peru and Honduras to accommodate Terrylee olearius sp. n. and Terrylee peruensis sp. n. (type species: Terrylee peruensis sp. n.); Valdiviglypta gen. n. and Pristiboea gen. n. are described from Chile (type species: Valdiviglypta nimbus sp. n. and Pristiboea leiomano sp. n.). Terrylee and Pristiboea are placed in the tribe Atrophini, Valdiviglypta tentatively in the tribe Glyptini. All the three new genera are morphologically very distinctive and two have such character suites that they may not immediately be recognizable as banchines. By describing these three Neotropical genera from Chile, Honduras and Peru we aim to draw further attention to the considerable morphological variation within the ichneumonid subfamily Banchinae.     

Description of a new Tetranychus (Acarina,Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) pest of Musa from French Guiana

A new species of tetranychid mite, genus Tetranychus Dufour, 1832, is described and illustrated herein from neotropical area. Tetranychus musae sp. nov. (Acari, Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) differs from other species in the genus by the combination between the arrangement of leg setae on females tarsus I and the shape of the aedeagus. Tarsus I bears one tactile setae proximal to proximal duplex setae and three tactiles in line or almost in line with proximal duplex setae. The aedeagus knob consists of an acute posterior projection bent ventrally and a larger anterior rounded projection directed anterodorsally. T. musae specimens were collected in French Guiana where they appeared to be a pest of Musa sp. A key to adults of neotropical species of the genus Tetranychus feeding on banana is provided.     

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.     

Six new species of Microstigmus wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), with notes on their biology

Six new species of Microstigmus are described and illustrated. Nests and other aspects of their biology, when known, are also described. Microstigmus puncticeps sp. n. (northern Brazil and Peru) and M. xanthosceles sp. n. (Central America and western Colombia) belong to two distinct groups not closely related to previously described species. Microstigmus cooperi sp. n. and M. crucifex sp. n. (both from northern Brazil and Colombia) represent basal lineages within the large group including M. brasiliensis, M. theridii, M. lobifex, etc. Microstigmus flavus sp. n. (southeastern Brazil) is closely related to M. lobifex. Microstigmus simplex sp. n. (northern Brazil) is a basal lineage within the group containing M. guianensis and M. arlei. Reuse of nests of M. nigrophthalmus by M. flavus sp. n. and of M. crucifex sp. n. by a species of the M. theridii complex is reported for the first time for Microstigmus.     

A new genus and five new species of Phoxocephalidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the south-east Brazilian deep sea

Rearing data from higher plants, carrion and bird and mammal nests and burrows are provided for eight species of Heleomyzidae (Diptera): Heleomyzinae: Heleomyza borealis Boheman, Scoliocentra brachypterna (Loew) and Eccoptomera microps (Meigen); Heteromyzinae: Tephrochlamys flavipes (Zetterstedt), Tephrochlamys tarsalis (Zetterstedt) and Heteromyza rotundicornis (Zetterstedt); and Suillinae: Suillia ustulata (Meigen) and Suillia variegata (Loew). The puparia of these species are described. Unique characters and characters in combination distinguish each species and their subfamilies, suggesting that early stages are a valuable source of taxonomic data. Head skeleton and other features suggest contrasting food gathering mechanisms, with heleomyzines suited to feeding on food of low viscosity, suillines on high-viscosity or firm food and heteromyzines on food of intermediate viscosity.     

A revision of Eumedonus H. Milne Edwards, 1834 and Gonatonotus White, 1847 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Eumedonidae), two genera of crabs symbiotic with sea urchins

The eumedonid genera Eumedonus H. Milne Edwards, 1834 and Gonatonotus White, 1847, are revised. Members of both genera are obligate symbionts with sea urchins. Eumedonus is separated from Gonatonotus mainly by the presence or absence of crests on the merus of the ambulatory legs. Eumedonus, as here defined, contains five species, viz. E. niger H. Milne Edwards, 1834 (type species), E. vicinus Rathbun, 1918, E. zebra Alcock, 1895, E. brevirhynchus n. sp., and E. intermedius n. sp. Gonatonotus, as here re-diagnosed, includes three species, viz. G. pentagonus White, 1847 (type species), G. granulosus (MacGilchrist, 1905), n. comb. and G. nasutus n. sp.     

First collections of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Honduras: descriptions of six new species

First collections of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Honduras indicate a rich fauna. Nineteen species from just three sites yielded six species new to science. New species described and discussed are: Hydrodroma moralesi n. sp., Flabellifrontipoda triscutata n. sp., Monatractides angelae n. sp., Pseudotorrenticola espinasseae n. sp., Atractides jenniferae n. sp. and Recifella cusucoensis n. sp.     

Desmosomatidae and Nannoniscidae (Crustacea,Isopoda, Asellota) from bathyal and abyssal depths off North Carolina and their evolution

The deep-sea asellote isopod (Crustacea) species, belonging to the families Desmosomatidae and Nannoniscidae, were studied from R/V Eastward collections of Duke University from three study sites off North Carolina. The Desmosomatid isopod Eugerda svavarssonni n. sp. is described from Site Alpha at 620m. Eugerda latipes Hansen, previously known from boreal North Atlantic, is also reported from this upper slope site. Two new desmosomatid isopods, Mirabilicoxa hessleri n. sp. and M. alberti n. sp., and a new nannoniscid isopod Exiliniscus chandravoli n. sp. are also described from site Beta from 2700 to 3700 m. A nannoniscid isopod Leutziniscus jebamoni gen n., n. sp., and a desmosomatid isopod, Prochelator sarsi n. sp., are described from the deepest study site Omega in the Hatteras Abyssal Plain. A new genus, Nannoniscella is erected to accommodate Nannoniscoides bicustatus Siebenaller and Hessler, 1977. This paper also includes discussions on comparative morphology and sexual dimorphism in species of Mirabilicoxa, zoogeography of species of the genus Eugerda and phylogeny with emphasis on the genus Prochelator.