Pnigalio agraules (Walker) and Pnigalio mediterraneus Ferrière and Delucchi (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae): two closely related valid species

The genus Pnigalio is very difficult to study because of the large intraspecific variability of many traits considered diagnostic. Pnigalio agraules (Walker) and Pnigalio mediterraneus Ferrière and Delucchi were synonymized in 1984 because it was not possible to distinguish them on the basis of morphology. Here we propose the revalidation of P. mediterraneus based on multiple evidence: two molecular markers, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), and the second expansion segment (D2) of the 28S ribosomal subunit (28S-D2), host ranges and the shape of eggs. As the two valid species are potentially important parasitoids for biological control of key pests such as Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) and Cameraria ohridella Deschka and Dimic, practical consequences of the wrong synonymy are also discussed.     

New oriental aradid bugs in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History) (Insecta: Hemiptera)

Summary

The following new taxa of Oriental Aradidae are described: Acoryphocoris duodecimus sp. nov. (Sulawesi), A. minor sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Apaniocoris micropterus gen. and sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Aphelocoris minutissimus sp. nov. (Sarawak), Arictus gracilis sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Artabanus burmensis sp. nov. (Borneo), Chelonocoris tomentosus sp. nov. (Malaya), Chinessa kokodensis sp. nov. (New Guinea), C. major sp. nov. (New Guinea), Crimia tertia sp. nov. (Java), Magdalenia excelsa gen. and sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Mastigocoris insularis sp. nov. (Christmas Is, Indian Ocean), Mezira mekongensis sp. nov. (Laos), M. submontana sp. nov. (India), Mezira (Zimera) kachinensis sp. nov. (Burma), Neuroctenus perplexus sp. nov. (Bhutan), Notoplocaptera breviceps sp. nov. (N. Borneo), N. dollingi sp. nov. (N. Borneo), Overlaetiella elongata sp. nov. (Sulawesi), Parapictinus confusus sp. nov. (Sri Lanka), Proxius (Nesoproxius) malayensis sp. nov. (Malaya), Scironocoris malayensis sp. nov. (Malaya), and Usingerida longirostris sp. nov. (India).

Males of Artabanus magnificus Kormilev and Dimorphacantha luchti (Kiritshenko) are described for the first time. Brachyrhynchus lignicolus Kirby is transferred to the genus Neuroctenus as a new combination and redescribed. The following new synonymies are proposed: Melvertes Vásárhelyi, 1976=Notoplocaptera Usinger and Matsuda, 1959 syn. nov., and Chinessa furcella Vásárhelyi, 1976=C. bispiniceps Walker, 1873 syn. nov.     

The ant genus Triglyphothrix Forel a synonym of Tetramorium Mayr. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The myrmicine ant genus Triglyphothrix Forel is newly synonymized with Tetramorium Mayr. Six replacement names are proposed for the secondary homonyms resulting from this synonymy.     

Further studies on the systematics of Australian Diplurinae (Chelicerata: Mygalomorphae: Dipluridae): Two new genera from south western Australia

Summary

The current status of Australian diplurine genera is presented. The following genera are recognized here: Aname Koch, Chenistonia Hogg, Ixamatus Simon, Kiama Main and Mascord, Stanwellia Rainbow and Pulleine, Teyl Main, Troglodiplura Main and Xamiatus Raven. Aparua Todd from New Zealand is newly synonymized with Stanwellia Rainbow and Puleine. Two new genera, Kwonkan and Merredinia and six new species are described: Kwonkan anatolion, eboracum, goongarriensis, moriartii and silvestre and Merredinia damsonoides. Dekana wonganensis Main is designated as the type species of Kwonkan. The tribe Anamini Simon is rediagnosed and Anamini Raven newly synonymized with it. Aname, Chenistonia and the two new genera are attributed to the Anamini.     

A note on the genus Pseudathyma Staudinger with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Summary

A note is given on the status of Pseudathyma callina Grose-Smith and Pseudathyma sybillina Staudinger. A new species is described, and one name synonymized.     

The genus Trachycormocephalus a junior synonym of Scolopendra,with remarks on the validity of other genera of the tribe Scolopendrini (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha)

There are no clear characters separating the genera Scolopendra and Trachycormocephalus which are here synonymized. It is suggested that the distinction between Scolopendra, Cormocephalus and Arthrorhabdus may also be unclear.     

Revision of the American Pupisoma species (Gastropoda: Pupilloidea)

The American species of Pupisoma Stoliczka (Gastropoda: Pupilloidea) are revised. Five species are recognized. Pupisoma puella Hylton Scott has been synonymized with P. dioscoricola (C. B. Adams). This species occurs from southern USA through the Caribbean and Central America to the Galapagos Islands and to southern Brazil and northern Argentina. Pupisoma galapagorum Pilsbry, P. bailyi Pilsbry, and P. latens Hylton Scott have been synonymized with P. comicolense H. B. Baker. This species is distributed from Mexico to the Galapagos Islands, southern Brazil, and northern Argentina. Pupisoma costulata sp. n. from Andean forests in Colombia is described as new. The range of P. macneilli (Clapp) extends from southern USA through the Caribbean and Central America to southern Brazil and northern Argentina. A neotype has been designated for P. mediamericanum Pilsbry. Pupisoma michoacanense Pilsbry is a synonym of this species. This species occurs from Mexico to Colombia and on Jamaica.     

Astigmatic mites of the genera Schwiebea Oudms. and nanacarus oudms. from S. E. Ireland

Summary

Schwiebea hibernica sp. nov. (Acaridae) and Nanacarus manus sp. nov. (Saproglyphidae) are described and figured. Species relationships within the genus Nanacarus Ouds., are considered and a key is given for the identification of females. Nanacaroides Volgin and Mironov 1979 is synonymized with Nanacarus Oudemans 1903.     

The haemoproteids of the avian order Falconiformes

The haemoproteid parasites of the raptors of the avian order Falconiformes are reviewed. In the Falconidae, Haemoproteus erythropi Tartakovskii, 1913 was previously declared a nomen nudum and H. cerchneisi Bhatia, 1938 is synonymized with H. tinnunculi (Wasielewski and Wulker, 1918) Wingstrand, 1947. Along with H. brachiatus Valkyunas and Ezhova, 1989, there are the only valid haemoproteids in this family. In the Accipitridae, H. accipiter Zeiniev, 1975 was previously declared a nomen nudum and H. asturisdussumieri de Mello, 1937 and H. saviannae Tendeiro, 1947 are declared species incertae sedis. Haemoproteus buteonis Wingstrand, 1947, H. figueiredoi Travassos Santos Dias 1953 and H. circus Yakunin and Zhazyltaev, 1977 are synonymized with H. elani de Mello, 1937 and this latter species, together with H. janovyi Greiner and Mundy, 1979 and H. nisi Peirce and Marquiss, 1983, are the only three valid species in this family. No haemoproteids have been described from the Cathartidae, Pandionidae or Sagittaridae, the three remaining families of the Falconiformes.     

Sandflies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) of the Canary Islands

Of the four species of phlebotomine sandflies known from the Canary Islands one is endemic. The subgenus Phlebotomus (Abonnencius), created to accommodate this endemic species, is newly synonymized with Ph. (Anaphlebotomus). The biology of Canary Island sandflies is summarized and a comparison of the fauna to that of continental Africa suggests a closer affiliation to the eremic Palearctic than to the Afrotropical Region.     

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.     

North Pacific species of the amphipod (Crustacea) family Stegocephalidae,with description of one new species and redescription of another

The genera and species of the family Stegocephalidae Dana, 1852 (Crustacea: Amphipoda) of the North Pacific, including the Bering Sea, are surveyed, and a key to the species is presented. One new species, Stegocephalus beringi n. sp., is described, and Stegocephalopsis ampulla (Phipps, 1774) is redescribed; S. vegae Oldevig, 1959 is synonymized with S. ampulla. Comments are given on the morphology of three additional species.     

Notes on some palaearctic and oriental Systropha,with descriptions of new species and a key to the species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae)

An annotated list of the palaearctic and oriental species of the genus Systropha Illiger, 1806, includes additional records for some less well-known species. A lectotype is designated for Systropha hirsuta Spinola, 1839. Systropha christae Warncke, 1992, is synonymized with S. hirsuta. Systropha androsthenes and S. diacantha, spp. n., are described from the Gulf States. A key for the separation of the males is given.     

The Mollissima subgroup of fannia Desvoidy,with the description of a new species from Burma and a revised key to species (Diptera: Muscidae)

Synopsis

A comparison of the type-species of the genus Coelomyia Haliday (C. mollissima Haliday) with that of the genus Fannia Desvoidy (F. scalaris Fabricius) shows that these two genera cannot be maintained as equivalent phylogenetie taxa. Coelomyia is synonymized with Fannia and its species placed in Fannia, four new combinations thus being established. The mollissima subgroup is defined and its affinities shown, a new species is described, and a revised key to species is given.     

An abnormal,parasitized pseudoscorpion—holotype of Pedalocreagris tethys Ćurčić (= Bisetocreagris ussuriensis (Redikorzev), n.syn.) (Arachnida: Chelonethi: Neobisiidae)

The holotype male of the pseudoscorpion Pedalocreagris tethys ?ur?i?, 1985 has been re-examined and found to be parasitized by an unidentified nematode. The supposed absence of the tactile seta of the telotarsus of leg IV in this species is shown to be a teratology, affecting only right leg IV of the holotype. Pedalocreagris ?ur?i?, 1985 is synonymized with Bisetocreagris ?ur?i?, 1983; Pedalocreagris tethys, the type species, is shown to be a junior subjective synonym of Bisetocreagris ussuriensis (Redikorzev, 1934).     

Morphometric and allozyme variation in the black-chinned tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron (Perciformes,Cichlidae), with a revision of the subspecies complex

Based on morphometric and allozyme data of a large sample of black-chinned tilapia, Sarotherodon melanotheron, originating from over its entire geographical distribution range, the subspecific classification of this species has been revised. One subspecies, S. m. paludinosus, is synonymized with S. m. heudelotii. The validity of another subspecies, S. m. leonensis, is questioned. The remaining three subspecies, S. m. melanotheron, S. m. heudelotii and S. m. nigripinnis are clearly distinguished as separate taxa.     

Macrobrachium malayanum (Roux, 1934) stat. nov. (Decapoda,Palaemonidae) as a synonym of M. geron Holthuis, 1950, with notes on its distribution

Macrobrachium pilimanus malayanus (Roux, 1934) is synonymized with M. geron Holthuis, 1950 and accorded full species status as M. Malayanum (Roux, 1934) stat. nov. A lectotype is also designated. Variation within M. malayanum and differences between this species and M. pilimanus (De Man, 1879) are discussed, and the taxonomy of the species clarified. New records of M. malayanum are presented for Sarawak and Sumatra.     

Revision of Afrotropical Chonocephalus Wandolleck (Diptera: Phoridae)

Chonocephalus justini sp. nov., C. modestus sp. nov. and C. pudicus sp. nov. are described from the Seychelles; C. cummingae sp. nov. is described from Madagascar, South Africa and Zimbabwe; and C. cautus sp. nov. and C. steineri sp. nov. from Madagascar. C. dimakae Paulian is synonymized with C. depressus Meijere. A key to males and a partial key to the females of the 14 Afrotropical species are provided.     

A review of the species of Neococcidencyrtus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), parasites of diaspidid scale insects

A key is provided to the 18 known species of Neococcidencyrtus. Platylyca is synonymized with Neococcidencyrtus and its type-species, quadraticeps, is transferred to Neococcidencyrtus. The following species are described as new: brenhindis, cleddis, cliradainis, colynis, cullainis, delis, dryslydis, hynodis, melynis, selogis, synodis, and two further undescribed species are keyed but not formally described. All available published information on the biology and distribution of each species is listed and the pest status of the hosts is included.