Abbreviated larval development of the freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium pilimanus (De Man, 1879) (Decapoda,Palaemonidae), reared in the laboratory

The larvae of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium pilimanus (De Man, 1879), were reared in the laboratory. Larval development was highly abbreviated, with two zoeal and one megalopal stages. Newly hatched larvae were benthic, with a tendency to cling on to roughened surfaces. All larval stages subsisted solely on endogenous yolk. Morphological and behavioural differences between the first zoea of this species and that of M. malayanum (Roux, 1934) are highlighted. The potential use of larval characters in taxonomy is also discussed.     

A revision of the genus Metallolophia Warren (Lepidoptera,Geometridae, Geometrinae)

The Geometrine genus Metallolophia is revised. In addition to the 11 species known, five new species are described as new. All the known species are redescribed and lectotypes are designated for M. opalina (Warren), M. arenaria (Leech) and M. danielaria (Oberthür) (=M. arenaria (Leech)). The male of M. ocellata (Warren) and the females of M. medullosa Inoue and M. devecisi Herbulot are described for the first time. The generic characters based on all species are summarized and a key to all taxa is given. Illustrations of moths and genitalia are presented. The new and revised taxa are: Metallolophia purpurivenata sp. nov., Metallolophia cuneataria sp. nov., Metallolophia inanularia sp. nov., Metallolophia flavomaculata sp. nov., Metallolophia stueningi sp. nov. and Metallolophia ostrumaria Xue, syn. nov. (of Metallolophia albescens Inoue).     

Four new terrestrial species of Marionina (Clitellata,Enchytraeidae) from China and re-examination of M. hoVbaueri Möller

Enchytraeid surveys were made in China, mainly along the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Basin, during the period 1991–1999. Among the findings, four terrestrial species of Marionina are new to science and well illustrate the taxonomic complexity of the genus as currently defined. Marionina sinica sp. n. is characterized by a specific chaetal distribution, the marionine pattern of the dorsal blood vessel, and elongate, fusiform, spermathecal ectal ducts. Marionina sacculata sp. n. is distinguished by the possession of a pair of pouch-like oesophageal appendages in IV, the lack of lateral chaetae in VII–XI, a marionine pattern of the dorsal blood vessel, and short spermathecal ectal ducts gradually expanding into spherical ampullae. Both M. sinica and M. sacculata have minute bodies (2–3 mm long in vivo) and lack spermathecal accessory glands. The former species shows its closest aYnities with the European M. brendae Rota, 1995, whereas the latter is closest to the German M. hoVbaueri Möller, 1971, for which an amended diagnosis is provided. Marionina seminuda sp. n. has only ventral chaetal bundles, distributed from III onwards and bisetose. It is similar to the Holarctic M. subterranea (Knöllner, 1935) in lacking entirely the lateral chaetae and in having the brain incised posteriorly, the dorsal vessel bifurcating behind the pharynx, and coelomocytes containing opaque granules, but diVers from it in having the longest chaetae in preclitellar segments and gland cells distributed all over the spermathecal ectal ducts. Marionina righiana sp. n. is diagnosed by the location of the head pore on the prostomium, the absence of lateral chaetae from VIII (VII or IX) onwards, the possession of free spermathecae extending backwards through one to four segments, the brain deeply incised posteriorly, the lumbricilline pattern of the dorsal blood vessel, and the opacity of coelomocytes in vivo. Prior to this study, members of the genus so atypical as M. righiana with respect to the position of the head pore and the structure of the spermathecae were known only from South American soils. Until the taxonomy of Marionina has been more thoroughly assessed and revised, the assignment of the four species to this large assemblage should be regarded as tentative.     

A troublesome sibling species complex of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) revisited

The complex of species resembling Megaselia pulicaria (Fallén) has proved to be one of the most troublesome challenges to attempts to resolve the recognition of species within the huge genus Megaselia Rondani. The new data presented allow more confident recognition of species and reveal that most published records represent misidentifications. The penis complex is discussed and its use in species identification demonstrated. All specimens currently assigned to M. pulicaria, other than the lectotype, are consequently reassigned to other species. These include the reinstatement of M. angusta (Wood) and its newly designated subspecies M. angusta angustina Schmitz, M. eupygis Schmitz, M. longifurca (Lundbeck) and M. monochaeta (Strobl) as valid species, and the recognition of M. buchsi sp. nov. from Germany, M. iberiensis sp. nov. from Spain, M. martensi sp. nov. from Nepal, M. nectergata sp. nov. from Britain, M. oviaraneae sp. nov. from Britain, and M. rotundapicis sp. nov. from Scotland. Five synonyms are proposed. The hitherto unknown male of M. petraea Schmitz is described. It and M. longifurca are reported from Britain and the latter from the Nearctic Region also. Natural history information is summarized for each species. In particular, it is reported that the species whose larvae prey upon spider eggs are M. angusta, M. longifurca and M. oviaraneae.     

Membraniporoidea,Microporoidea and Cellarioidea (bryozoa,Cheilostomata) collected by Discovery Investigations

Thirty eight species of anascan Cheilostomata are described from the collections of Discovery Investigations, and other British antarctic expeditions. Ten new species are described, including Stomhypselosaria watersi introduced for Cellaria dubia (Busk) sensu Waters (1904). Two new genera are introduced, and Swanomia nom. nov. is proposed for Mawsonia Livingstone 1928, non Woodward 1907.     

On Anomalotrema Zhukov, 1957, Pellamyzon Montgomery, 1957, and Opecoelina Manter, 1934 (Digenea: Opecoelidae), with a description of Anomalotrema koiae sp. nov. from North Atlantic waters

In order to clarify the systematic position of some opecoeline digeneans parasitic in scorpaenid and gadid fishes from the northern North Atlantic, a study of the genera Anomalotrema Zhukov, 1957, Pellamyzon Montgomery, 1957, and Opecoelina Manter, 1934, was carried out. Anomalotrema is retained in the subfamily Opecoelinae and A. koiae sp. nov. is described for the worms from scorpaenids and gadids which prompted the investigation. This species is distinguished from the Pacific species, A. putjatini Zhukov, 1957, on morphological and biological grounds. Pellamyzon is transferred to the Plagioporinae. A new subfamily, the Opecoelininae subfam. nov., is erected for Opecoelina, which is considered to contain only two or three valid species, O. scorpaenae Manter, 1934, O. helicoleni Manter, 1934 (possibly a synonym of O. scorpaenae) and O. pacifica Manter, 1940. Both O. theragrae Lloyd, 1938, and O. radifistuli (Acena, 1941) are transferred to the genus Podocotyle Dujardin, 1845, as P. theragrae comb. nov. and P. radifistuli comb. nov. O. pharynmagna Annereaux, 1943, is judged to be a synonym of P. radifistuli, and both O. vixiintestina Oshmarin, 1965, and O. vixigastera Oshmarin, 1965, are considered unrecognizable. The possible evolutionary relationships of the subfamilies within the Opecoelidae are commented on.     

A revision of Neobenedenia Yamaguti, 1963 (Monogenea: Capsalidae) including a redescription of N. melleni (MacCallum, 1927) Yamaguti, 1963

Neobenedenia Yamaguti, 1963, a genus of capsalid (benedeniine) monogeneans lacking a vagina, is redefined. The generic diagnosis is amended to include previously unused characters like the path of tendons in the haptor from extrinsic muscles in the body, the presence and form of a marginal valve, the shape of the anterior attachment organs, the arrangement of musculature at the posterior (proximal) end of the penis sac and the presence of a pair of sphincters in the female reproductive tract. On this basis, the generic composition is reduced from 10 to six species. Species considered valid are: N. melleni (MacCallum, 1927) Yamaguti, 1963; N. adenea (Meserve, 1938) Yamaguti, 1963; N. isabellae (Meserve, 1938) Yamaguti, 1963; N. longiprostata Bravo-Hollis, 1971; N. muelleri (Meserve, 1938) Yamaguti, 1963; N. pacifica Bravo-Hollis, 1971. Neobenedenia girellae (Hargis, 1955) Yamaguti, 1963 and N. paragueraensis Dyer, Williams and Bunkley-Williams, 1992 are considered synonyms of N. melleni. Species formerly ascribed to Neobenedenia, namely N. manilae Velasquez, 1982 and N. vermiculariacola Gupta and Khanna, 1975 are considered species inquirendae. A key to valid species is presented. The type species, N. melleni, is redescribed based on the original specimens of MacCallum and N. isabellae is redescribed based on material from the type locality. Since no types of N. melleni were designated, a lectotype and paralectotypes are assigned. The problem of host designation and locality for the types of N. melleni sensu MacCallum is discussed. A study of more than 80 specimens now considered to be N. melleni has permitted comments on its apparent variety of forms and its low host-specificity according to the current revision. N. melleni is now recorded from over 100 species of teleosts in more than 30 families from five different orders. Material reported previously as N. melleni off Chile from Seriola mazatlana, Thunnus thynnus orientalis and Seriola sp. are identified here as Benedenia seriolae (Yamaguti, 1934) Price, 1939. The host-specificity and geographic distribution of species in the revised genus is discussed.     

The identity of two neotropical species of Fannia Desvoidy,Anthracina Walker and Albibasis Malloch (Diptera: Muscidae)

Synopsis

The status of the names Anthomyia anthracina Walker 1837 and Fannia albibasis Malloch 1934 is discussed, and both are referred to a single species which is fully redescribed and figured.     

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.     

Oncodiscus sauridae Yamaguti, 1934 from Saurida undosquamis in Kuwait and a revision of the genus Oncodiscus (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidae)

Oncodiscus sauridae Yamaguti, 1934 is described and figured in detail from specimens collected from Saurida undosquamis (new host) and S. tumbil in the Arabian Gulf and Australian waters, respectively (new geographical localities). O. fimbriatus and O. waltairensis are regarded as synonyms of O. sauridae. O. maharashtrae is regarded as species inquirenda. The diagnosis of the genus Oncodiscus is emended.     

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.     

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).     

Two new species of protandric pheretimoid earthworms belonging to the genus Metaphire (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) from Taiwan

This paper describes two new species, each consisting of two subspecies, of protandric, octothecal pheretimoid earthworms from Taiwan. They are Metaphire paiwanna sp. nov. typica, Metaphire paiwanna var. liliumfordiI subsp. nov., Metaphire bununa sp. nov. typica and Metaphire bununa var. glareosus subsp. nov. The var. typica of both new species occurred on the west side of the Central Mountain Range, whereas the subspecies, liliumfordi and glareosus, occurred on the east side of the range. Apparently, the Central Mountain Range constitutes a geographical barrier for isolation and subspeciation. Metaphire paiwanna has a male disc medial to male pore (opening of copulatory pouch) with a horizontal ridge, the character shared by holandric and sexthecal Amynthas swanus (Tsai) of Taiwan and Metaphire aggera (Kobayashi) of Korea and Manchuria, whereas M. bununa resembles more closely holandric, octothecal Metaphire riukiuensis (Ohfuchi) of the Riukiu Islands than protandric, octothecal Metaphire stephensoni (Michaelsen) of Indochina.     

Earthworms (Annelida: Oligochaeta) from islands of Kien Hai District,Kien Giang Province,Vietnam, with descriptions of two new species and one subspecies

An earthworm inventory was conducted on three islands (Hon Tre, Lai Son and An Son) in the southernmost part of Vietnam. A total of 13 species and subspecies belonging to four genera and two families were collected from 49 sampling sites. The genus Metaphire Sims & Easton, 1972 is dominant with six species and subspecies, Metaphire anomala (Michaelsen, 1907), Metaphire bahli (Gates, 1945), Metaphire houlleti (Perrier, 1872), Metaphire mangophila (Nguyen, 2011), Metaphire kiengiangensis Nguyen & Trinh, 2015, Metaphire peguana laisonensis subsp. nov. Two new species, Polypheretima dorsotheca sp. anov. and Polypheretima insularis sp. nov., and a new subspecies Metaphire peguana laisonensis subsp. nov. are described. Additionally, Amynthas alteradamae (Michaelsen, 1934) and Amynthas tertiadamae (Michaelsen, 1934) are re-described based on fresh material. An identification key to species is also provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4EA4C2C0-BEC2-45BF-8B72-388302A53F51     

Palaearctic species of Ammoplanus (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

The Palaearctic species of the genus Ammoplanus Giraud are revised, based on material of over 1750 specimens from Europe, North Africa and Central Asia. For almost all species it was possible to examine the type material and in six species the lectotypes have been designated, in two cases (A. perrisi and A. marathroicus) the neotypes. As a result 38 species are recognized as valid, keyed out and commented on. Eight species are described as new and four species names are here placed in synonymy. Several species are of wide distribution, which made it necessary to include also those described from Central Asia and Mongolia. The keys are made to all Palaearctic species but no material is known from the regions east of Mongolia, although four undescribed species are available from South-East Asia. The Afrotropical species are listed and most of them were also examined. Two subgenera are recognized in the region; 32 species are classified in Ammoplanus sensu stricto and six in the subgenus Ammoplanellus. In the nominal subgenus the following species are described as new: A. atlasensis from Morocco, A. biscopula from Israel, A. biskrensis from Algeria, A. denesi from Turkey (Anatolia), A. freidbergi and A. kaplanae from Israel, A. minutus from Bulgaria and Turkey and A. strumae from Bulgaria and Greece. New synonymy: A. angelae becomes a junior synonym of rhodesianus (known before only from Africa), A. crudelis a synonym of A. kaszabi, A. handlirschi a synonym of A. marathroicus, A. suarezi a synonym of A. kohlii, A. subcompressus of A. gegen, A. orbiculatus of A. simplex and A. zarcoi of A. kohlii; A. wesmaeli is confirmed as a synonym of A. perrisi. Otherwise the synonymy is corrected under A. bischoffi and the names A. dusmeti and A. curvidens are re-established as valid. In a short review of the African species A. (Ammoplanellus) cradockensis Arnold, 1959 is placed as a new synonym under A. (Ammoplanellus) latiscapus Leclercq, 1959. The nomenclatural changes are explained under the relevant species.     

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.     

The Hymenoptera (Chalcidoidea,Ichneumonoidea, Platygastroidea) described by Vittorio Delucchi: an annotated catalogue

The present catalogue lists 144 species and one subspecies described by Delucchi (134), Delucchi et al. (eight), Ferrière in Delucchi (two), and Ferrière and Delucchi (one). Name-bearing types are deposited in the entomological collections at the Lund University (three), the Natural History Museums of Budapest (three), Geneva (nine), London (four), Oxford (one), Paris (three), and Vienna (35), the Royal Africa Museum, Tervuren (26), and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich (60). The actual depository of the name-bearing types of one species and the subspecies (Scelionidae) is unknown. Lectotypes of 15 species are here designated. Twenty new synonyms are established, Eulophidae: Entedon erdoesi Delucchi= E. metatarsalis Thomson. Pteromalidae: Gitognathus gibberosus Delucchi and Lamprotatus kerrichi Delucchi= Sphaeripalpus viridis Förster; Glyphognathus umbelliferae Graham= G. convexus (Delucchi); Kentema viride Delucchi= Merismus megapterus Walker; Lamprotatus cupreus Delucchi, L. ornatus Delucchi, and L. rusticus Delucchi= L. splendens Westwood; Lamprotatus flavus Delucchi= L. crassipes Thomson; Lamprotatus montanus Delucchi= L. picinervis Thomson; Miscogaster fulgens Delucchi= M. rufipes Walker; Miscogaster lucens Delucchi= M. hortensis Walker; Seladerma agreste Delucchi= S. convexum Walker; Seladerma luteolum Delucchi= S. bicolor Walker; Seladerma nobile Delucchi and S. violaceum Delucchi= S. laetum Walker; Skeloceras cerebrosum Delucchi= Lamprotatus truncatus (Fonscolombe); Skeloceras glaucum Delucchi= Lamprotatus novickyi (Delucchi); Stictomischus lamprosomus Graham= S. nitentis Delucchi; Telepsogos helveticus Delucchi= Seladerma nigrum (Delucchi). Twelve new combinations are proposed, Eulophidae: Achrysocharoides parva (Delucchi) (from Enaysma); Aprostocetus hanangensis (Delucchi), A. longiscutulum (Delucchi), A. scutellaris (Delucchi), Neotrichoporoides crassianulus (Delucchi), N. microstigma (Delucchi), and Pracetus stramenticius (Delucchi) (all from Tetrastichus); Notanisomorphella bicolor (Delucchi) (from Sunha); Platyplectrus meruensis (Delucchi) (from Euplectromorpha). Pteromalidae: Glyphognathus convexus (Delucchi) (from Stictomischus) and G. nitidus (Delucchi) (from Sphaeripalpus); Theocolax oblonga (Delucchi) (from Cerocephala). The paper provides taxonomic notes on several species, references to published figures of and detailed information on type specimens. Parts of them, mostly antennae and wings, were mounted on slides by Delucchi and were contained in a hitherto unknown slide collection. These slides are individually associated with the respective specimens.     

Typhlosyrinx -like tropical deep-water turriform gastropods (Mollusca,Gastropoda, Conoidea)

Based on radular and protoconch morphology, the genus Typhlosyrinx Thiele, 1925 has been successively classified in the subfamily Turriculinae of the family Turridae and in the subfamily Clathurellinae of the family Conidae. It is shown that the protoconch had earlier been misinterpreted, and the presence of a diagonally cancellated sculpture indicates a placement in the conid subfamily Raphitominae. Two conchologically similar genera, based on teleoconch sculpture and radular morphology are recognized: Typhlosyrinx, with axial ribbing on teleoconch spire whorls and a radula with long (250 μm) barbed teeth, and Leiosyrinx n. gen., without axial sculpture and a radula with short (<100 μm) simplified teeth. Five species (two new) of Typhlosyrinx and four species (all new) of Leiosyrinx are recognized, all at bathyal depths between 280 and 1840 m in the tropical Indo-Pacific and Panamic provinces. The two genera are not known earlier than the Pliocene, where they already occurred in deep-water assemblages.     

A taxonomic study on the Phtisicidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) of New South Wales,Australia

The present study reviews the taxonomy of the Phtisicidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the coast of New South Wales, Australia. The following seven species are described; Dodecas decacentrum Stebbing, 1910b, Dodecas hexacentrum Mayer, 1903, Hircella cornigera (Haswell, 1879b), Metaproto novaehollandiae (Haswell, 1879a), Notoprotomima smithi gen. nov., sp. nov., Paraproto sp. and Perotripus sp. Generic diagnoses of Notoprotomima gen. nov., Dodecas, Hircella and Metaproto are provided based on the present materials. Notoprotomima smithi is fully described as a new species of the new genus. Dodecas decacentrum differs from Dodecas hexacentrum by the presence of paired dorsodistal projections on pereonite 2, paired mid-dorsal projections on pereonites 3 and 4 and shorter gill length on pereonites 2 and 3. Hircella cornigera and Metaproto novaehollandiae are described in detail. The larger mature males of M. novaehollandiae possess the unusual massive type of the propodus of gnathopod 2. The extended distribution of Perotripus to the New South Wales coast is noted. A key for these phtisicid amphipods from New South Wales, Australia is provided.