The colonial ascidian fauna of Fiordland,New Zealand,with a description of two new species

A total of 17 species from the families Styelidae, Polyclinidae, Polycitoridae, Pseudodistomidae, Ritterellidae and Didemnidae are described for the first time in collections from remote fiords with steep-sided walls, high rainfall and high tidal flow on the south-west coast of New Zealand. The Fiordland ascidian assemblages are composed of endemic species, species with trans-Tasman affinities, species found in southern New Zealand and species found New Zealand wide, some of which have global distributions. Two Australian native species, Diplosoma velatum Kott, 2001 and Didemnum jucundum Kott, 2001 from South Australia are new records to New Zealand and a further eight species remain undescribed. Two new colonial ascidians Aplidium coronum sp. nov. and Trididemnum shawi sp. nov. are described in this paper.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5ADC2C9D-28AC-4348-8B4D-F26-2A43DEA66     

New Zealand chelonine braconid wasps (Hymenoptera)

The New Zealand braconid fauna is remarkable in that the only chelonine genus represented is Ascogaster; no member of the world-wide genus Chelonus has yet been found. The New Zealand species of Ascogaster are revised, keyed and illustrated. Of the 12 species, nine are new, two (crenulata Cameron, elongata Lyle) are redescribed and quadridentata, which was introduced into New Zealand for biological control of codling moth, was redescribed in a recent paper. One new synonym is established. The classification and biology of chelonines are briefly reviewed and the faunal relationships between Australian and New Zealand species of Ascogaster are discussed.     

Recent and fossil Lunulitidae (Bryozoa,Cheilostomata) 6. Lunulites sensu lato and the genus Lunularia from Australasia

The characters of the genus Lunulites Lamarck, and of some closely related genera are described and discussed. The genus Lunularia Busk is reintroduced, and three species from Australasia are described. One species, L. parvicella, is known only as an Australian Tertiary fossil, but the remaining two, L. capulus and L. repandus, have an extensive Tertiary-to-Recent Australasian distribution. L. capulus is apparently confined to Australian waters and deposits, but L. repandus has now been found in the Miocene and Recent of New Zealand, as well as off the southern and western Australian coasts.     

Phthiracarus species (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) from New Zealand,with description of a new species,redescription of Phthiracarus pellucidus and a key to 19 described species from the Australian Region

The genus Phthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) was represented in New Zealand only by two species prior to this work. In this paper, Phthiracarus minutus sp. nov. is described and Phthiracarus pellucidus is redescribed. Phthiracarus perlucidus Niedba?a, 1994 is probably a junior synonym of Phthiracarus insularis Jacot, 1935. A key to all known species of Phthiracarus from the Australian Region is also provided to facilitate identification.     

New Aoridae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Tasmanian kelp holdfasts

Three new aorid amphipod species from Tasmanian kelp holdfasts are described: Microdeutopus varietensis sp. nov., Lembos clematis sp. nov. and L. verrucularum sp. nov. Strong sub-ocular regression of the head is a usual feature of the genus Microdeutopus and is shown by M. varietensis. It is not, however, typical of the other known Australian/NewZealand Microdeutopus species (M. haswelli and M. apopo). The Tasmanian Lembos species (L. chiltoni, L. clematis and L. verrucularum) are not known from New Zealand, where the genus is represented by L. pertinax, L. acherontis and L. hippocrenes. The Tasmanian Lembos species display the condition of the mandibular palp that typifies the genus, that is, article 3 longer than article 2 (cf. the New Zealand species which display the reverse, unusual, condition).     

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 henicopid centipede Haasiella (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha): new species from Australia,with a morphology-based phylogeny of Henicopidae

Paralamyctes (Haasiella) Pocock, 1901 (= Wailamyctes Archey, 1917) includes three described species from New Zealand and its Subantarctic Islands. Australian species of P. (Haasiella) include P. (H.) subicolus n. sp. from Tasmania and a clade composed of P. (H.) cammooensis n. sp. from Queensland and New South Wales, P. (H.) ginini n. sp. from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and an allied species from Tasmania. Monophyly of P. (Haasiella) and the membership of a P. (H.) cammooensis Group are supported by parsimony analysis of morphological characters. A grouping of P. (Haasiella) and P. (Thingathinga) as retrieved by molecular data analysis is also found in minimal length cladograms based on morphology. The dataset incorporates new information on several previously poorly known henicopids, including the types of Lamyctopristus Attems, 1928, and Analamyctes Chamberlin, 1955.     

Systematics and biology of the Rhinocolinae (Homoptera: Psylloidea)

Based on a cladistic analysis, the subfamily Rhinocolinae is redefined to comprise 13 genera and 39 species, of which two genera and eight species remain unnamed. Four new genera and 14 new species are described; one subfamily and one genus are synonymized, and two species are recombined; one lectotype is designated. The subfamily is divided into two groups, one with a Gondwanan distribution comprising four genera in Australia, New Zealand, South America and Africa, and another with Laurasian distribution in the Palaeotropics, the Western Palaerctic and North America comprising nine genera. Twenty-one species develop on host plants in the Rutales, three on Asteraceae, three on Cistaceae and one on Zygophyllaceae. The genus Pistacia (Anacardiaceae) in particular hosts six species whose biology is discussed.     

A re-assessment of the genera Holorusia Loew (=Ctenacroscelis Enderlein), Ischnotoma Skuse and Zelandotipula Alexander (Diptera: Tipulidae), with notes on their phylogeny and zoogeography

Summary

A short historical background to the genera considered is given. A review is made of a number of characters which had previously only been treated inconsistently, or not at all. As a result, the old-world genus Ctenacroscelis is merged with Holorusia sensu stricto, as represented by the isolated Californian type-species. All other species previously referred to Holorusia sensu lato are redistributed to two genera; the tropical South American and New Zealand forms are united into Zelandotipula; the Chilean element and the Australian species are united into Ischnotoma, the name Icriomastax Enderlein being resurrected as a subgenus to receive most of the Chilean species.

Tentative phylogenetic and zoogeographic observations are made. Holorusia and Ischnotoma are considered and discussed as sister-groups, whilst Zelandotipula is believed to be only distantly related. Zoogeographically Holorusia is seen as a successful Asiatic genus; Ischnotoma as a receding group, with extreme southern-continental distribution, having had a much wider distribution as indicated by the European Oligocene fossil Holorusia vasifera, transferred here to Ischnotoma. Zelandotipula is viewed as an essentially Neotropical genus, which has made one ‘invasion’ of New Zealand, probably in the geologically recent past.

Résumés of the principal features of the re-defined genera are given, together with systematic notes on certain species, and species catalogues giving distributions and all new name combinations.     

Notes on astogeny of some Petraliellidae (Bryozoa) from Australia

Members of the bryozoan family Petraliellidae share the capacity to develop basal rhizoids, which anchor the unilaminar, semi-repent parts of the colonies above the substratum, and enable them to overgrow other, competing sessile forms. Little is known of the larval behaviour and settlement, or the early astogeny of species. Ancestrulate colonies of the Australian Tertiary lunulitiform species Smittia biincisa are referred to the genus Riscodopa, and together with Riscodopa paucipora sp. nov. are described and compared with the Recent species R. cotyla and R. parva from New Zealand, and with R. hyalina sp. nov. from New South Wales, Australia. All the Recent species are known to develop basal rhizoids, and an early astogeny similar to that of many other small, rooted bryozoans, comprising the post-metamorphosis development of a binary complex, including rhizoid and feeding elements, is inferred for Riscodopa. Observations on living Hippopetraliella magna from Queensland suggest that both the ancestrular morphology and early astogeny show a capacity for semi-repent growth, even though they do not include rhizoid development. Larvae metamorphose without direct attachment, and the ancestrula develops elongated, partially calcified supporting processes, which raise the early stages of growth above the substratum. A similar kind of ancestrula has been found in preserved specimens of Mucropetraliella ellerii.     

The distribution of New Zealand and Australian terrestrial flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria: Tricladida: Terricola) in the British Isles—the Scottish survey and MEGALAB WORMS

The New Zealand flatworm, Artioposthia triangulata, and the Australian flatworm, Caenoplana alba, have become quite widespread in the British Isles since their introduction, probably in the early 1960s. They are considered as pest species since they eat earthworms and consequently may affect soil structure and fertility. The distribution of the two species has been recorded by two surveys: a Scottish survey between 1991 and 1993, and a national survey, MEGALAB WORMS, in March 1995. The latter was organized as part of National Science Week by BBC TV Tomorrow's World, The Daily Telegraph newspaper and the Office of Public Service and Science. Results of both surveys are presented as distribution maps of confirmed records. New Zealand flatworms are common and widespread in Northern Ireland and Central Scotland, and occur less commonly in other parts of Scotland, and in Northern England. There are a few scattered records from Southern England. The Scottish survey has resulted in retrospective distribution maps. Australian flatworms are widespread in South West England, and are found in several places in North West England. There are also records from South and North Wales, Northern Ireland and one from Southern Scotland. There were many false and negative reports. There are records of both species from the Republic of Ireland.     

IV.—On some new species of Quadrupeds and Shells

Austrohalipegus anguillicola gen. et sp. nov. is described from the stomach of Anguilla reinhardtii Steindachner. Austrohalipegus is distinguished from other derogenid genera by the absence of filaments on its eggs, by the presence of blindly ending caeca, by having the ventral sucker in the middle of the body, by having the sinus-sac enclose only the hermaphroditic duct, and by the uterus which does not extend posterior to the vitellarium. Austrohalipegus anguillicola is distinctive in having a large temporary sinus-organ formed by a completely eversible hermaphroditic duct. Isoparorchis hypselobagri (Billet) is recorded as juveniles of 1–3 mm in length from the coelom and as larger juveniles and adults from the swim bladder of Tandanus tandanus Mitchell. The miracidium is typically hemiuroid and has a crown of apical spines and cilia in lateral bunches. Experimental infections in which the prosobranch snails Posticobia brazieri and Melanoides tuberculatus were fed embryonated eggs produced infections of mother sporocysts. It is postulated that the life-cycle includes an obligate period of development in the coelom of the definitive host for the Australian form of the species. Stegodexamene watsoni sp. nov. is described from the intestine of Maccullochella peeli (Mitchell). It is distinguished from the two other species of this genus by its considerably larger cirrus pouch and its more extensive vitellaria. Burnellus trichofurcatus (Johnston and Angel) is recorded from new hosts, Arius graeffei Kner and Steindachner and Neosilurus ater (Perugia). Aspects of its biology are discussed. Pretestis australianus Angel and Manter is recorded from a new host, Scortum hilli Castelnau, extending the known range of this species.     

The bryozoan genus Conopeum (Electridae) in New Zealand,with description of a new species and discussion of the morphological and genetic characters of Conopeum seurati (Canu, 1928)

ABSTRACT

The status of Conopeum Gray, 1848 in New Zealand is clarified, confirming the presence of three living species – one a naturalised alien, one new to science, and a third that is also known in the Pleistocene. Conopeum seurati (Canu, 1928), a Mediterranean-European species, is naturalised at three localities in New Zealand – Opua, Whangarei Harbour and Whanganui Inlet. Conopeum antipodum n. sp., previously confused with C. seurati, is an estuarine species distributed from Kaipara Harbour to Lyttelton Harbour and is also found in Te Whanga Lagoon at Chatham Island (all New Zealand localities). Conopeum oretiensis Uttley, 1951, first described from Foveaux Strait, is known as far north as Kaipara and Manukau Harbours and is known as a Pleistocene fossil from Napier, New Zealand. There is one other solely fossil New Zealand species – Plio-Pleistocene Electra ongleyi Brown, 1952 is transferred to Conopeum. Sequence data from the 18SrDNA locus confirm that Conopeum antipodum n. sp. is resolved within Conopeum and is distinct from C. seurati.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4FED6730-1C70-4420-B1DA-F1D9046221DF http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org.pub:5C130A99-0869-44A2-885C-338005FBCE07     

A new species of bethylid wasp (Hymenoptera) from New Zealand,with comments on its life history and host

A new species of parasitoid wasp Chilepyris platythelys (Chrysidoidea: Bethylidae), from New Zealand, is described and illustrated. Its life history is described and its host, an anobiid (Coleoptera) larva, Hadrobregmus (Megabregmus) magnus is mentioned as the first host record for the genus Chilepyris.     

Poecilostome copepods (Lichomolgidae) associated with the scleractinian coral Galaxea in the Moluccas

Summary

Nine species of Scirtothrips are here recorded from the Australasian region, eight from Australia and two including one endemic species from New Zealand. A key is provided for their identification, and diagnostic details and collection notes are given for each species. Two new species, S. casuarinae and S. helenae are described from Australia and one new synonym, S. gladiiseta Girault = Dendrothripoides ipomeae Bagnall, is recorded.     

Redescription of Gordius paranensis Camerano, 1892 (Nematomorpha), a species new for New Zealand

We describe nematomorph specimens from New Zealand and compare them to museum specimens of Gordius paranensis Camerano, 1892 from Chile. Although specimens from New Zealand and Chile vary from each other, especially in body dimensions and coloration, literature data on other South American specimens of G. paranensis correspond to the New Zealand specimens which are therefore considered to belong to this species. A conspicuous character of G. paranensis is a precloacal, parabolic row of bristles that has been observed elsewhere only in G. difficilis (Montgomery, 1898).     

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 new species of Deoterthron (Crustacea: Tantulocarida) ectoparasitic on a deep-sea asellote from New Zealand

Summary

A new species of the recently designated crustacean class Tantulocarida (Deoterthron megacephala sp. nov.) is described from New Zealand waters, ectoparasitic on an undescribed new species of the deep sea asellote genus Haploniscus, collected by epibenthic sledge at a depth of 1386 metres. Illustrations of the new parasite include the first scanning electron microscope photographs of a tantulocaridan. The genotype, Deoterthron dentatum Bradford & Hewitt has been re-examined to clarify certain structural features.     

The genus Teuchophorus in South-East Asia and New Guinea,description of new species,species-groups and their phylogeny (Insecta,Diptera, Dolichopodidae)

Forty new Teuchophorus species are described and illustrated from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Thailand. New data are given for 14 of the 16 species described from Papua New Guinea by Meuffels and Grootaert in 1986. The genera Mastigomyia Becker, 1924 and Olegonegrobovia Grichanov, 1995 are placed in synonymy with the genus Teuchophorus Loew, 1857. Various species-groups are recognized and described and a phylogenetic relationship is proposed. A key is given for the 63 species occurring in South-East Asia and New Guinea, and a world checklist is added.     

Studies on gorgoderid digeneans from Australian and Assian Freshwater fishes

Pseudophyllodistomum gen. nov. is proposed for a section of Phyllodistomum Braun, 1899. The new genus is distinguished by the simple form of the uterus, the eggs which reach over 60 μm long in length, the saccular excretory bladder, the 2[3 + 3 + 3) + (3 + 3 + 3)] = 36 flame-cell formula, the metacercaria which may have fully developed genitalia and is parasitic in decapod crustaceans, the use of corbiculid bivalves as first intermediate hosts, and the cercaria which has a long tail not enclosing the cercarial body. Two species, P. johnstoni sp. nov. and P. murrayense sp. nov., are described from Australian freshwater fish and five new combinations of previously described Phyllodistomum species from Asian freshwater fish are proposed — P. macrobrachicola (Yamaguti, 1934) comb. nov., P. lesteri (Wu, 1938) comb. nov., P. srivastavai (Rai, 1964) comb. nov., P. lucknowense (Pandey, 1970) comb. nov. and P. mingense (Tang, 1985) comb. nov. The first intermediate host of P. johnstoni is a Corbiculina species. The long-tailed cercariae infect the gonads of palaemonid prawns, Macrobrachium spp., in which they grow to unencysted metacercariae which may have fully developed genitalia. The metacercaria of P. murrayense also infects a Macrobrachium species. The evolution of the Gorgoderinae is discussed and it is suggested that, prior to the erection of Pseudophyllodistomum, Phyllodistomum may have encompassed as many as five different phylogenetic lines, each with similar adult morphology but distinguishable by life-cycle characters. It is postulated that more study will lead to further division of Phyllodistomum.