Mandibular teeth in Chalcidoidea: function and phylogeny

Aphelinidae and Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) were surveyed for presence of a specialized ventroapical mandibular tooth that is formed through modification of a seta into a stout socketed spine. An almost identical tooth is found in a homologous position in Coccophaginae (Aphelinidae), Eriaphytinae (Aphelinidae), Calesinae (Aphelinidae or incertae sedis), and Habrolepidini (Encyrtidae), but nowhere else within Chalcidoidea. Although the tooth represents a synapomorphy for genera within each of these higher taxa, it appears to be independently derived on the basis of other morphological and biochemical evidence. Observations of Comperiella bifasciata and Encarsia sp. nr. perniciosi emerging from California Red Scale show that the tooth is used for shearing off pieces of the mummified host remains and the scale cover during formation of the exit hole. The tooth occurs in both sexes, and in taxa with a broad host range such as Encarsia, which attack both armoured scales and whiteflies. Problems associated with character homology, function and phylogeny are discussed.     

Morphologische Indizien für das unmittelbare Schwestergruppenverhältnis der Schizophora mit den Syrphoidea (‘Aschiza’) in der phylogenetischen Systematik der Cyclorrhapha (Diptera: Brachycera)

The phylogenetic relationships of the Schizophora with the families of the Aschiza were investigated on the basis of synapomorphies. Depending on the family, the sensory epithelium of the retinae of the compound eyes of flies consists either of populations of two ommatidial elements or of uniform ommatidia: duotype and monotype respectively. Within the Cyclorrhapha, the monotype occurs exclusively in the Schizophora and Syrphoidea (= Syrphidae + Pipunculidae), whereas the duotype occurs in the remaining Aschiza. These two types form a plesio-apomorphous pair: on the basis of character state analysis the duotype was regarded as plesiomorphous and the monotype proved to be a synapomorphy of the Schizophora and Syrphoidea. The retinal pair was accorded a high relevance as an indicator of the phylogenetic relationships in Cyclorrhapha owing to its special morphology and the very low probability of a parallel development of the apomorphous monotype.

In this paper the hypothesis (Hennig, 1976) that the dorsobasal arista on the antennal flagellum in the Schizophora and Syrphoidea is a synapomorphy compared to the original apical arista was confirmed on the basis of literature studies.

The monophyly of these two groups together, and their sister group relationship, were demonstrated in an argumentation scheme. Three alterations of the conventional systematics of the Cyclorrhapha were undertaken: (a) the term ‘Eumuscomorpha’ was introduced to designate a new monophyletic taxon of the Schizophora and Syrphoidea. (b) The remaining groups of the Aschiza were temporarily subsumed in a ‘superfamily Platypezoidea’ owing to their manifestation of complementary symplesiomorphous characteristics. Until its phylogenetic character (monophyly or paraphyly) is unequivocally clarified, it remains an ‘artifical’ entity. (c) The term ‘Aschiza’ is for a taxon of the genealogical system no longer applicable.     

A new genus of viviparous gyrodactylid (Monogenea) from the Great Barrier Reef,Australia with descriptions of seven new species

Acanthoplacatus gen. nov., a new genus of viviparous gyrodactylid, is described from the fins and skin of siganid fishes from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The genus is characterized by a muscular, tube-like haptor with 16 marginal hooks on the posterior margin. The ventral lobe of the haptor is located anteriorly relative to the dorsal lobe and contains a pair of hamuli and a ventral bar with posteriorly-projecting ventral bar membrane. A dorsal bar is absent. Five pairs of posterior gland cells surround the posterior terminations of the gut. The male copulatory organ is a muscular, non-eversible bulb with several spines around the distal opening. Species of Acanthoplacatus have a bilateral excretory system consisting of six pairs of flame cells and a pair of excretory bladders. Seven new species are described: Acanthoplacatus adlardi sp. nov. and A. amplihamus sp. nov. from Siganus punctatus (Forster, 1801), A. brauni sp. nov. from S. corallinus (Valenciennes, 1835), A. parvihamus sp. nov. from S. vulpinus (Schlegel and Mueller, 1845), A. puelli sp. nov. from S. puellus Schlegel, 1852, A. shieldsi sp. nov. from S. lineatus (Valenciennes, 1835) and A. sigani sp. nov. from S. fuscescens (Houttuyn, 1782). Species can be discriminated by shape and size of the hamuli, marginal hooks and ventral bar and by male copulatory organ sclerite morphology. Three species (A. brauni sp. nov., A. shieldsi sp. nov. and A. sigani sp. nov.) were assessed for seasonal variation of sclerite size. Ten of thirteen morphological characters showed seasonal variation in size for at least one of the species. The characters were longer in winter except dorsal root tissue cap width. Only one character, marginal hook length, showed significant seasonal variation for all three species. Species of Acanthoplacatus were observed to attach using only the marginal hooks and the role of hamuli in attachment is unclear. The dorsal fin of the host is the preferred site for most species but the anal fin, caudal fin and body surfaces are preferred by some species. Prevalences for species range from 57 to 100%.     

The status of Hemilecanium imbricans (Green) (Homoptera : Coccoidea) in Africa south of the Sahara

Summary

This paper describes the findings from two series of observations on variation in C. austropalpalis L. and R. In Series I the distribution of head capsule lengths of 174 larvae, collected from 11 breeding sites in S.E. Queensland, was polymodal. Polymodality was also shown by the wing lengths of 15♂, 27♀ reared from 7 of the sites. In Series II the head lengths of 302 larvae from 5 sites (one not in Series I) gave the same polymodality, interpreted as representing 3rd and 4th instars of two forms A (smaller) and B (larger). 276 of these larvae, grouped on head length, were reared on agar and small nematodes, producing 62♂, 70♀ C. austropalpalis and 13♂, 5♀ C. narrabeenensis. The latter was not the cause of the polymodality. Adult wing lengths were bimodal in each sex. Form B was longer winged than form A. Within each form there was no significant correlation between larval head length and adult wing length. Only one of the many additional characters (19 in ♀; 22 in ♂) examined, differed between the two forms. Form B had more distinctly patterned wings with the intercalary pale spot more obvious. The results are discussed.     

A new species of Mantidactylus (subgenus Guibemantis) from Madagascar,with a comparative survey of internal femoral gland structure in the genus (Amphibia: Ranidae: Mantellinae)

A new species of Mantidactylus (subgenus Guibemantis) from the rainforests of eastern Madagascar is described. The new species is sympatric with the closely related M. depressiceps (Boulenger, 1882) and M. tornieri (Ahl, 1929) but differs by larger size, a more strongly developed prepollex, and by advertisement calls. Mantidactylus acuticeps Ahl, 1929 and Rhacophorus mocquardii Boulenger, 1896 are confirmed to be junior synonyms of M. depressiceps. The presence of distinct femoral glands in the new species was noted; a feature so far not reliably recognized in other members of the subgenus Guibemantis. Femoral gland structure was investigated in representatives of each of the subgenera included in Mantidactylus by dissecting and reflecting the femoral skin. Four femoral gland types were identified. Type 1: many small, single granules in an ill-delimited patch, grouped in rosettes at the patch edges; type 2: a group of moderately sized granules in a well-delimited patch; type 3: comprising two different structures: distal granules enclosing externally a distinct central depression, and smaller proximal granules or groups of granules; type 4: as type 3, but lacking the proximal granules. Mantidactylus rivicola Vences, Glaw and Andreone, 1997, M. cf. malagasius (Methuen and Hewitt, 1913) and M. ventrimaculatus (Angel, 1935) differed from all other species examined; their femoral glands comprise a reduced number of large granules with an indistinct central depression in external view. The presence of a distal granule group with external central depression (types 3 and 4 above) provides a probable synapomorphy for the subgenera Brygoomantis, Ochthomantis, Hylobatrachus, Chonomantis and Mantidactylus. In females of these subgenera rudimentary femoral glands are present, but they lack completely in females of the other groups.     

Phylogenetic implications of the structure and distribution of ovipositor valvilli in the Hymenoptera (Insecta)

Valvilli, articulated chitinous flaps on the lower ovipositor and sting valves in certain Hymenoptera, were studied using light and electron microscopy. Presence or absence, number, position and structure of valvilli in the ovipositors of more than 300 species distributed among 31 families (including representatives of 74 subfamilies of Ichneumonoidea) have been examined. Valvilli were found to occur in most Ichneumonoidea and most families of the aculeate lineage. Valvilli were absent from the Symphyta, Trigonalyoidea, Stephanoidea, Evanioidea, Cynipoidea, Chalcidoidea, Proctotrupoidea, Megalyroidea and Ceraphronoidea. Aculeates have a complex, double valvillus, which differs considerably in structure from those found in the Ichneumonoidea. Within both the Ichneumonidae and Braconidae the number and the position of the valvilli appear to be phylogenetically significant. Within the Braconidae, in particular, valvillus structure varied between subfamilies. The implications of valvillus distribution and structure in the Hymenoptera as a whole and within the Ichneumonoidea are discussed.     

Phoretic behaviour of Attacobius attarum (Roewer, 1935) (Araneae: Corinnidae: Corinninae) dispersion not associated with predation?

Attacobius attarum spiders exhibit a phoretic behaviour on the winged sexual of Atta leaf-cutting ants during their mating flight. However, it is unclear if this behaviour is for dispersion or to facilitate the predation of ants in the new colonies. A nest of Atta sexdens was monitored on the day of the mating flight, and the winged ants, as well as the spiders, were collected. The results obtained corroborate the hypothesis that phoretic behaviour is commonly used for dispersion of the spider A. attarum, predominantly females. Of these spiders, 64 individuals of A. attarium were collected, of which 62 were females (96.9%) and two were males (3.1%). Regarding the winged leaf-cutting ants sampled, 378 females and 361 males were collected, totaling 739 individuals. Of these, 64 individuals (8.7%) had a spider attached to its back for phoretic dispersal and none was observed on the queens after the nuptial flight. In our study, A. attarum females perform phoretic dispersal into the environment on winged leaf-cutting ants but do not settle in the new nests.     

The hemipenis of lacertid lizards (Reptilia: Lacertidae): structure,variation and systematic implications

The basic anatomy of the lacertid hemipenis (intromittent organ) and methods for its investigation are described. In many members of the Lacertidae, the hemipenis has a structure quite unlike that of other squamate reptiles: the distal lobes of the retracted organ are complexly folded and there is a well-defined supporting structure of dense connective tissue, the armature. This incorporates blood sinuses and has an intramuscular portion embedded in the m. retractor penis magnus and two club-shaped bodies, the clavulae, that support the lobes in the erect organ. Unarmatured hemipenes occur in some lacertids and, like those of other squamates, possess sac-like lobes in the retracted state, but they are singular in having the lobes invested by the m. retractor penis magnus. It is argued that many of these apparently primitive hemipenes are in fact secondary derivatives of the armatured type.

There is considerable inter-specific variation in hemipenial structure which is described systematically. In some cases this involves differences in size, asymmetry and simplification, which may arise as physical isolating mechanisms and is useful in distinguishing otherwise very similar species, particularly in the genus Mesalina (p. 1253). Other shared derived hemipenial features provide useful information about relationships between species and higher taxa and a summary of the hypotheses that they support is given (p. 1254).     

A revision of Monocotyle Taschenberg, 1878 (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) with descriptions of three new species from Australia

Monocotyle is revised and three new species are proposed. Monocotyle corali sp. nov. is described from the gills of the cowtail ray, Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål) (Dasyatididae), and is distinguished from other members of Monocotyle by the large hamuli with a distinct tail on the guard and by the male copulatory organ with three loops and a wing-like accessory piece at the distal end. Monocotyle jordani sp. nov. from the gills of the southern eagle ray, Myliobatis australis Macleay (Myliobatididae), is differentiated by the male copulatory organ with a large, unique accessory piece. Monocotyle youngi sp. nov., from the gills of Himantura fai Jordan and Seale (Dasyatididae), has marginal haptoral papillae armed with 12 to 15 sclerites, a male copulatory organ with 20 loops and a unique accessory piece at the distal end. Monocotyle trygoni (Venkatanarsaiah and Kulkarni, 1980) Timofeeva, 1985 is synonymized with M. spirophallus Tripathi, 1959 and M. spirophallus is redescribed fully. There are now 16 valid species of Monocotyle and a key to species is presented. Additional data and illustrations of important taxonomic characters are provided. The developmental sequence of the male copulatory organ of M. spiremae Measures, Beverley-Burton and Williams, 1990 from juvenile to adult is described. The anterior glands and the type of secretion they contain are also documented for several species of Monocotyle.     

Ten new species of the genus Brevisomabathynella Cho,Park and Ranga Reddy, 2006 (Malacostraca,Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae) from Western Australia

Ten new species of Brevisomabathynella Cho, Park and Ranga Reddy, 2006 Cho, JL, Park, JG and Ranga Reddy, Y. 2006. Brevisomabathynella gen. nov. with two new species from Western Australia (Bathynellacea, Syncarida): the first definitive evidence of predation in Parabathynellidae. Zootaxa., 1247: 25–42.  [Google Scholar] are described and illustrated from the arid region of Western Australia. Comparison of the external morphology revealed the presence of three common characters distributed among the 10 species: the five-segmented antenna, the absence of the basipodal seta on the male thoracopod VIII and the absence of a basiventral seta on the uropodal exopod. This character combination is not found in Notobathynella and Billibathynella, but only in Brevisomabathynella, a genus known from two described species both with unusual characters. Despite the three common attributes, the 10 new species differ remarkably from these two described species, but could not be defined by their own synapomorphy. Consequently, and cognizant of a previously performed molecular analysis, we assign the 10 new species to Brevisomabathynella and amend the generic diagnosis. The species inhabit shallow aquifers in groundwater calcretes and each appears to be endemic to a given calcrete formation. The two species previously known and the 10 species now described include four sympatric species pairs, with similar-sized sympatric species differing markedly in body form. Brevisomabathynella inhabit groundwater up to at least marine salinity.     

Adult butterfly feeding–nectar flower associations: constraints of taxonomic affiliation,butterfly, and nectar flower morphology

Butterfly–flower morphological interrelationships were investigated for 108 butterfly species and 20 plants at Nagpur, India. Distinct clusters of higher taxa (families) are disclosed for butterfly morphology and significant morphological and taxonomic associations occur in nectar exploitation. Flower corolla depth generally restricts exploitation by butterflies in relation to proboscis length and butterflies with high wing load indices bias their feeding to plants with massed flowers. However, important exceptions emerge; also, a substantial number of butterflies feed on plants with massed flowers though their proboscises are of marginal length for corolla depths. These butterfly species are significantly smaller, lighter, with lower wing loading and shorter proboscis indices than species which easily access the same flowering plant species. It is suggested that small size and short proboscises could give them a competitive advantage (increased rate of nectar uptake) for exploiting nectar in such situations. The significance of the findings for conservation is discussed.     

An enigma from Australia: a new variation on the corophioid theme (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

Aetiopedes gracilis gen. et sp. nov. (Amphipoda : Isaeidae) is described from southern Australian (Tasmanian, Victorian) shallow coastal sand habitats. The taxon superficially resembles an ampeliscoid having antenna 2 markedly longer than antenna 1 and peraeopods 3–4 with long, slender dactyls. The possibility is raised that glandular peraeopods may be a synapomorphy associating Ampeliscoidea with Corophioidea as sister groups. The structure of peraeopods 3–4 (merochelate), labrum (toothed) and telson (shortened) are all autapomorphies peculiar to the new taxon. Within the Isaeidae, Aetiopedes appears to be closest to Amphideutopus. The relationships of these taxa are discussed in relation to the hypotheses of Barnard & Thomas (1987) on the systematics of the Neomegamphopidae.     

A new damsel-dragonfly from the Mesozoic of China with a hook-like male anal angle (Odonata: Isophlebioptera: Campterophlebiidae)

A new genus and species of campterophlebiid dragonfly, Angustiphlebia mirabilis gen. nov. et sp. nov., is described from the Jiulongshan Formation in China. It has some remarkable venational structures, i.e. a hypertrophy of the male hind wing anal angle, a quite long gaff, and a secondary branch of the anal anterior near subdiscoidal cell in hind wing, supporting the hypothesis of a sister-group relationship with the genus Oreophlebia. These new data will help to solve the phylogenetic relationships within the Campterophlebiidae. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:16E602E6-3567-44D7-BF64-95A6597E55DE     

Notes on the overwintering Apanteles-Tetrastichus-Lysibia complex (Hymenoptera: Parasitica), parasitoids of the large white butterfly

Apanteles glomeratus (L.) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is the main parasitoid responsible for limiting populations of Pieris brassicae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), but Tetrastichus galactopus (Ratzeburg) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Lysibia nana (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), in turn, greatly limit the primary parasitoid population, reducing its potential for constraint of the future pierid population. The patterns of spring emergence of these species from overwintering A. glomeratus cocoon clusters have functional significance. The sex ratio of emerging A. glomeratus is significantly correlated with the cluster size, higher proportions of females emerging from the larger clusters. Non-ovipositional attacks by T. galactopus appear to cause heavy mortality in the Apanteles cocoon clusters. L. nana oviposits in cocoons of A. glomeratus, whatever they contain, and very active female L. nana lay higher proportions of diploid eggs than do lower status females.     

Global species diversity

Sixteen species from the following six orders of insects have been recorded as breeding on pteridophytes of the Lycopsida: Homoptera, Thysanoptera, Mecoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera. All but one of these is from Selaginella, the exception being a pyralid moth from Lycopodium in Hawaii. Three new species are described from Selaginella eurynota in Costa Rica: Aleurotulus pteridophytae Martin sp. nov. (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae), Encarsia sueloderi Polaszek sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea), a parasitoid which was reared from the whitefly, and Echinothrips selaginellae Mound sp. nov. (Thysanoptera, Thripidae).     

Early brood-rearing habitat use and productivity of Greater Sage-Grouse in Wyoming

Populations of Greater Sage-Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ) have been declining throughout their range since the 1960s. Productivity, which includes production and survival of young, is often cited as a factor in these declines. We monitored radio-equipped Greater Sage-Grouse at 3 sites in western Wyoming to assess early brood-rearing habitat use (through 14 days post-hatch) and productivity. Logistic and linear regression analyses with Akaike's Information Criterion were used to evaluate early brooding habitat use and to examine relationships between productivity and vegetation, insect size and abundance, and weather parameters. Females with broods were found in areas with greater sagebrush canopy and grass cover, and fewer invertebrates compared to random areas. The number of juveniles per female (estimated from wing barrel collections during fall harvest) was positively related to the abundance of medium-length Hymenoptera and grass cover, and the proportion of females with confirmed chicks 14 days post-hatch was positively related to abundance of medium-length Coleoptera and total herbaceous cover. Although the specific parameters varied slightly, Greater Sage-Grouse productivity in Wyoming appeared to be associated with a combination of insect and herbaceous cover elements. Managing for abundant and diverse insect communities within dense protective sagebrush stands should help ensure high-quality early brood-rearing habitat and increased Greater Sage-Grouse productivity.     

Meteorus acerbiavorus sp. nov. (Hymenoptera,Braconidae), a gregarious parasitoid of Acerbia alpina (Quensel) (Lepidoptera,Arctiidae) in North Finland

The new gregarious parasitoid Meteorus acerbiavorus sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) was reared from the cocoons of Acerbia alpina (Quensel) (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae) in north-western Finnish Lapland. This species belongs to Meteorus rubens (Nees) species group and differs from the most related M. rubens in the following features: the eyes densely setose; the median lobe of the mesoscutum, scutellum, mesopleuron, and the hind coxa entirely or at least partly rugulose-granulate or rugose-areolate and sometimes with granulation; the ovipositor subapically with distinct dorsal node; the ventral borders of the first metasomal tergum weakly separated by narrow space in its basal half; the colour of the body and legs mostly or entirely dark; the fore wing more or less darkened. Phylogenetic relationships among several Meteorus species close to M. rubens including new M. acerbiavorus were investigated based on DNA sequence fragments of the mitochondrial COI and the nuclear 28S rDNA genes. The discussions on the species groups of Meteorus, on distribution of Acerbia alpina in the Holarctic and on its known parasitoids are presented.     

Note on occurrence of Mymaromella pala Huber and Gibson (Hymenoptera: Mymarommatidae) in Montana: a new state record

The parasitic wasp Mymaromella pala Huber and Gibson (Hymenoptera: Mymarommatidae) was collected at 4 sites within a canyon reach of the Kootenai River in Lincoln County, Montana. This minute species has only recently been described, but it appears to have a large distribution throughout the United States and to be associated with upland and riparian forests. La avispa parasitaria Mymaromella pala Huber y Gibson (Hymenoptera: Mymarommatidae) se recolectó en cuatro sitios a lo largo de un cañón del Río Kootenai en Lincoln Co., MT. Hace poco que se describió esta especie diminuta, pero parece tener una distribución extensa en los EE.UU. y estar asociada con bosques altos y ribereños.     

A new leaf-resembling genus of bush-cricket from West Africa (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Trimusculotrema warnaki gen. et sp. nov. is described from the skin of Himantura uarank Forsskål. Trimusculotrema is distinguished from other genera in the Benedeniinae by the following combination of anatomical features: accessory sclerites and anterior hamuli small; haptor with two or three intrinsic, concentric muscle bands; haptor papillate ventrally; cirrus sac with internal seminal vesicle and spermatophore matrix reservoir; separate male and female pores opening ventrally and dorsally respectively; vagina short. On the basis of these features Benedenia micracantha Euzet and Maillard, 1967 from the skin and B. leucanthemum Euzet and Maillard, 1967 from the gills of Dasyatis marmorata Steindachner off Senegal are transferred to the new genus as Trimusculotrema micracantha comb. nov. and T. leucanthemum comb. nov. The presence of haptoral papillae, noted previously in some species of Entobdella, perhaps indicates that the new genus is more closely related to entobdellids than to benedeniids. Several living specimens of T. uarnaki had 7 (2–17) eggs in early cleavage projecting from the body, their appendages gripped in a muscular sphincter at the uterine opening. These egg bundles appear to be shed from the parasite soon after laying.