Structure of the ovipositor,associated sensilla and spermathecal system of entomoparasitic pipunculid flies (Diptera Pipunculidae)

The external parts of the female reproductive system in entomoparasitic flies of the family Pipunculidae form a compact, heavily sclerotized ovipositor for inserting the egg into the host. Two types of pipunculid ovipositor have been recognized: The Nephrocerus type is bilaterally asymmetrical and consists of modified abdominal segments 8 and 9. There is no spiracle. The genital opening is situate ventrally, approximately in the middle of the ovipositor. The Pipunculus type ovipositor is bilaterally symmetrical and originates from abdominal segments 7, 8 and 9. A pair of spiracles are located venterolaterally near the basal margin; the genital opening is situated close to the apex. Two types of campaniform and two types of haired sensilla have been found (tergum 9 only). Campaniform sensilla have been observed in apical third to apical half of the ovipositor of all studied species. Ten long haired sensilla arranged in two lateral rows on apex have been recognized only in species of Nephrocerus. Short haired sensilla have been found in all Chalarinae and Pipunculinae, situated in basal half of the ovipositor piercer. The spermathecal system consists of three spermathecae; well sclerotized (Nephrocerinae, Chalarinae) or soft and membraneous (Pipunculinae); and three spermiducts which can be undifferentiated and tubular (Nephrocerus) or differentiated to muscular, glandular and ductal parts (Chalarinae, Pipunculinae). In the Nephrocerus type ovipositor, spermathecae are situated in the distal half of abdominal segment 6; all other Pipunculidae have spermathecae located in the basal part of the ovipositor.     

Cladistics and tribal classification of the Agathidinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Five tribes of the braconid subfamily Agathidinae are recognized, viz. Agathidini (Blanchard), Cremnoptini (new tribe), Disophrini (new tribe), Earinini (new tribe), and Microdini (Ashmead). Phylogenetic relationships of the tribes are proposed and the phylogenetic placement of the Agathidinae within the Braconidae is discussed. Keys to, and diagnoses of, the tribes are presented.     

Taxonomy and cladistic analysis of the subgenus Xenomorellia Malloch (Diptera: Muscidae: Morellia Robineau-Desvoidy) with description of two new species

Xenomorellia Malloch, a subgenus of Morellia Robineau-Desvoidy, is revised to include two new species, Morellia (Xenomorellia) inca Nihei and Carvalho sp. nov. from South America, and M. (X.) maia Carvalho and Nihei sp. nov. from Costa Rica and Mexico. Diagnoses for M. (X.) holti (Malloch) and M. (X.) montanhesa (Albuquerque) are provided, as well as an identification key to the four species of the subgenus. A cladistic analysis was performed to test the monophyly of Xenomorellia and to recover the phylogenetic relationships among its species. Tree searches resulted in one single most-parsimonious cladogram, wherein the monophyly of Xenomorellia is supported, as well as a sister-group relationship with the Neotropical subgenus Trichomorellia Stein. Xenomorellia was divided into two clades: one with Caribbean–Andean species (maia?+?inca), and another with species from southeastern South America (holti?+?montanhesa).     

Phylogenetic analysis of the subgenus Lampetis (Spinthoptera) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) of North and Central America,and the West Indies

Phylogenetic relationships between species of Lampetis (Spinthoptera) of North and Central America and the West Indies were analysed by cladistic methods, based on 65 characters from the external morphology and male genitalia. Eleven species of different generic groups of the subtribe Dicercina were considered as outgroups, including also species of Lampetis (Lampetis) and one South American species of L. (Spinthoptera). The monophyly of Lampetis (Spinthoptera) is supported by two synapomorphies, but this subgenus appears to be more closely related to species of Psiloptera rather than to Old World species of Lampetis (Lampetis), suggesting that Lampetis (Spinthoptera) may be segregated from Lampetis as a different genus. The species of Lampetis (Spinthoptera) from North and Central America and the West Indies do not represent a monophyletic taxon, because L. (S.) tucumana (South American outgroup) is nested within them. Comparison of these results with a previous panbiogeographic analysis indicate that several generalized tracks possess species from different clades, thus suggesting an ancient radiation of this taxon in Mesoamerica and the Mexican Transition Zone.     

Generic assignment and synonymy of Wiedemann's types of Oriental Tachinidae (Diptera)

Synopsis

All existing type-material has been studied of the Oriental Tachinidae described by Wiedemann: generic combinations and specific synonymies are confirmed or newly established as indicated by the examination of the types. One generic and twenty-two specific names are newly synonymised; nine lectotypes and one neotype are designated.     

Phylogenetic implications of ovipositor structure in Eucharitidae and Perilampidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

The external and cross-sectional morphology of the ovipositor was examined for 21 genera and 28 species of Philomidinae, Perilampidae and Eucharitidae. Eleven characters were scored and either mapped onto existing topologies reflecting the relationships of genera, or included in a larger data set focused on the generic relationships of Eucharitidae and analyzed using parsimony. The presence of a setiform flap in the ventral wall of the dorsal valve supported the monophyly of Perilampinae and possibly Chrysomalla (Chrysolampinae) + Perilampinae. Monophyly of Eucharitidae was supported by a thinning of the dorsal wall of the dorsal valve. One of two islands of most parsimonious trees that have recently been proposed was selected on the basis of fewer step changes as a result of both character mapping and parsimony analysis. Within Eucharitinae, this would support a clade that includes Kapala, Stilbula and Pseudochalcura, with Schizaspidia and Chalcura as its sister group. By mapping characters, an additional hypothesis of monophyly of Anorasema and Gollumiella was preferred, which on the basis of the pruned topologies was a single step shorter than the preferred islands of trees.     

An Australian stiletto fly (Diptera: Therevidae) parasitised by a bee fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae)

Exechohypopion therephaga sp. nov. (Bombyliidae) emerged from the pupa of Parapsilocephala ambocerina sp. nov. (Therevidae) collected near Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia. The adults, pupae and mature larvae of the bombyliid and therevid are described and illustrated. Because the therevid host was collected from soil as a larva, the first instar bombyliid planidium is presumed to attach to the therevid in the larval stage. This is the second known record of a therevid being parasitised. Both known cases occurred in Australia and involved a bombyliid parasitoid.     

Observations on the morphology and classification of weevils (Coleoptera,Curculionoidea) with a key to major groups

A brief account of the present state of weevil taxonomy is followed by a detailed study of certain structures used in their classification, namely the venter, abdominal tergites, sternite 8 of the male, apex of the hind tibia and deciduous mandibular processes. A key to some 50 families and subfamilies of Curculionoidea is followed by a list of family-group taxa. The following changes are made: Brachyceridae, Erirhinidae, Cryptolaryngidae and Raymondionymidae are promoted to family rank from Curculionidae; Antliarhininae is demoted to a subfamily of Brentidae, and Allocoryninae to a subfamily of Oxycorynidae; Coptonotini is demoted to a tribe of Curculionidae-Scolytinae; Carinae, Subfam. n. is erected for Car Blackburn (genus incertae sedis) is Belidae; Dinomorphini is demoted to a tribe of Molytinae and Brachyceropsidinae is revived from synonymy with Dinomorphinae (Curculionidae); Brachyderini, Eremnini, Otiorhynchini and Sitonini are demoted to tribes of Entiminae; Desmidophorinae is transferred from Brentidae to Brachyceridae; Ocladiini is promoted to a tribe of Desmidophorinae (from Curculionidae-Cryptorhynchinae); Campyloscelini (including Phaenomerina) is transferred from Rhynchophoridae to Curculionidae-Zygopinae; Carphodicticinae is promoted to subfamily rank and transferred from Curculionidae-Scolytinae to Platypodidae; Perieges Schönherr is transferred from Curculionidae-Thecesterninae to Cryptolaryngidae and Agriochaeta Pascoe from Cryptorhynchinae to Hyperinae (Curculionidae); Schedlarius Wood and Mecopelmus Blackman are transferred from Coptonotidae to Platypodidae.     

Two new Sarsiellinae (Ostracoda: Myodocopa) from Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia), with a cladistic analysis of the subfamily and keys to genera

Two new Sarsiellinae from Ningaloo Reef, Spinacopia ningalooi sp. nov., and Metasarsiella caleyi sp. nov. are described. Spinacopia ningalooi is the first representative of the genus collected from a coral reef. It differs from the other species by its odd looking posterior infold. Metasarsiella caleyi sp. nov. is the first species of the genus reported from Australia. Keys to species of Spinacopia Kornicker, 1969 Kornicker, LS. 1969. Morphology, Ontogeny, and Intraspecific Variation of Spinacopia, a new genus of myodocopid ostracod (Sarsiellidae). Smith Contr Zool., 8: 50 [Google Scholar] and Metasarsiella Kornicker, 1991 Kornicker, LS. 1991. Myodocopid Ostracoda from Enewetak and Bikini Atolls. Smith Contr Zool., 505: 140 [Google Scholar], and to all the genera of Sarsiellinae are given here, together with an inventory of all the species and information on their distributions and biology. The results of two cladistic analyses (with unweighted and with weighted characters) of the subfamily based on 138 species and 34 morphological characters are presented. The first analysis resulted in seven equally parsimonious trees and the second in just one. The majority rule of the first group of trees and the tree from the second analysis are presented here.     

Classification,reconstructed phylogeny and geographic history of the Neotropical phorid flies of the genus Gymnophora (Diptera: Phoridae)

The Neotropical species of Gymnophora are revised to include 28 species, 17 of which are new. Two subgenera, Cerocratia (in a revised sense) and Gymnophora s.s. are recognized. Cerocratia includes Gymnophora triangularis sp. nov., G. acutangula Schmitz, G. latibrachia sp. nov., G. lacertosa sp. nov., G. chilensis Borgmeier, G. parachilensis sp. nov., G. aemula Borgmeier, G. forticornis Schmitz, and doubtfully G. colona Brues. G. adumbrata Borgmeier is considered as a junior synonym of G. aemula (syn. nov.). Within Gymnophora s.s. there are four major lineages, the G. commotria-group, the G. carina-group, the G. cymatoneura-group and the G. quartomollis-group. Of these, the G. carina-group and the G. quartomollis-group are known only from the Holarctic Region. The G. commotria-group consists of the G. forcipis-series, containing G. forcipis sp. nov., subuncata sp. nov. and uncata sp. nov., and G. damula-series, whose species are further organized into the G. strigula-subseries, containing G. strigula sp. nov. and G. unidentata sp. nov., plus the G. falciformis-subseries, containing G. alces sp. nov., damula sp. nov. and falciformis sp. nov. Also included in the G. commotria-group are eight residual species whose relationships cannot be deduced at this time. Three of these species, G. commotria Schmitz, penai sp. nov. and quadrata sp. nov. are more closely related to each other than to G. auricula sp. nov., brasiliensis Borgmeier, heteroneura Schmitz, inusitata sp. nov. and trispina sp. nov. The G. cymatoneura-group contains G. cymatoneura Enderlein and G. spiracularis Borgmeier, and the male of G. spiracularis is described for the first time. A key is given that permits identification of males of most species, but females cannot be identified with certainty. A partially sequenced classification of the genus indicates the relationships of most of the included species. The genus may have originated in the Neotropical Region, although the evidence is tenuous, and shows some similarity of distribution to Andean-centered plant groups.     

The Andean tarantulas Euathlus Ausserer, 1875, Paraphysa Simon, 1892 and Phrixotrichus Simon, 1889 (Araneae: Theraphosidae): phylogenetic analysis,genera redefinition and new species descriptions

Based on a phylogenetic analysis we revised the Chilean tarantula genera Euathlus and Paraphysa. As results of our analyses, within a wider context of South American lineages, Paraphysa is synonymous of Euathlus, and Phrixotrichus is resurrected. Euathlus and Phrixotrichus are sister genera, supported by their shared palpal organ morphology, especially at the ventral position of the distal prolateral inferior keel, also by spermathecal receptacles with a lateral chamber, and tarsal claws without teeth. Both genera are redefined based on cladistic results, and some of their constituent species are transferred. We describe four new species, and for the first time present the spermathecae of Euathlus parvulus comb. nov. All species described for both genera are diagnosed and keyed. Euathlus now includes: Euathlus antai Perafán and Pérez-Miles sp. nov., Euathlus atacama Perafán and Pérez-Miles sp. nov., Euathlus condorito Perafán and Pérez-Miles sp. nov., Euathlus manicata (Simon 1892) comb. nov., Euathlus parvulus (Pocock, 1903) comb. nov. and Euathlus truculentus L. Koch, 1875. Phrixotrichus now comprises: Phrixotrichus jara Perafán and Pérez-Miles sp. nov., Phrixotrichus scrofa (Molina, 1788) comb. nov. and Phrixotrichus vulpinus (Karsch, 1880) comb. nov. Furthermore, Paraphysa riparia Schmidt and Bolle, 2008 is synonymized with Eupalaestrus weijenberghi (Thorell, 1894), Paraphysa pulcherrimaklaasi Schmidt, 1991 is transferred to Maraca Pérez-Miles, 2006 and Paraphysa peruviana Schmidt, 2007 is considered a nomen dubium.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:62B49343-DCF0-4AFE-8154-19F9D50E9AA0     

Relationships of the South African lizards assigned to Aporosaura,Meroles and Pedioplanis (Reptilia: Lacertidae)

Phylogenetic analyses, using parsimony and compatibility methods, were carried out on the South African lacertid lizards assigned in recent times to Aporosaura, Meroles and Pedioplanis. These were based on 80 primary and 102 binary morphological characters which were drawn from osteology, external features, muscles, kidneys and reproductive systems. Contrary to some previous interpretations, there are two well-defined clades: Meroles plus Aporosaura, and Pedioplanis; these form successive branches on the main stem of the phylogeny of advanced lacertids. The clades show considerable parallel development of derived features, presumably because they had very similar initial genetic potential. Relationships within the two groups are shown on p. 800 and p. 802. As Aporosaura anchietae is sister taxon to a clade consisting of three of the seven species of Meroles, it has been transferred to that genus. Relationships in Meroles-Aporosaura are very well substantiated, in contrast to the situation in Pedioplanis. This difference appears to be related to the different kinds of evolutionary history that the two groups have had. The Meroles-Aporosaura clade has spread progressively into increasingly stringent and singular aeolian sand environments which have elicited the production of many, often unique, derived character states related to the functional problems of survival in such situations. As these states are rarely duplicated in outgroups, the characters concerned are easily polarized. This, together with their abundance, means that a robust basis for phylogenetic inference is available. In contrast, Pedioplanis exhibits relatively limited ecological radiation of a kind that also occurs in related groups, and the functionally related derived states elicited are fewer and less distinctive. In fact, production of a phylogeny for Pedioplanis is very dependent on genital characters which seem to be substantially independent of the main ecological changes that have occurred in the genus. The premaxilla is embraced dorsally by the anterior processes of the maxillae in most lacertids, but the processes are less extensive in two sister species of Pedioplanis, P. burchelli and P. laticeps. This modified condition also occurs in the genera Eremias, Acanthodactylus, Mesalina and Ophisops, which together constitute a clade that forms the sister group of Pedioplanis. The modification provides extra evidence for the holophyly of the clade, even though presence in some Pedioplanis shows it to be homoplasious.     

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.     

A new genus and subfamily of Typhloplanidae (Platyhelminthes,Rhabdocoela) from Australia with a cladistic analysis of subfamily relationships

During a survey of marine interstitial Platyhelminthes of North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia, a new taxon of Typhloplanidae (Rhabdocoela) was found, namely Cephalopharynx cannoni gen. nov. sp. nov. This new monotypic genus combines a suite of characters that set it apart from the remaining 63 genera present in the known eight subfamilies. It is unique in the lack of adenal and dermal rhabdites, the anterior position of the pharynx rosulatus, presence of a single anterior testis, and novel stylet structure. These character states substantiate the erection of a new subfamily, Cephalopharynginae, based on cladistic criteria. A key to the subfamilies of Typhloplanidae is provided.