The Anopheles (Anopheles) maculipennis complex (Diptera: Culicidae) in Greece

Mosquitoes belonging to the Maculipennis Complex of Anopheles subgenus Anopheles were collected in 10 prefectures across Greece: Attiki, Evros, Florina, Fthiotida, Ioannina, Lakonia, Magnesia, Rodopi, Serres, and Xanthi. DNA was extracted from 276 specimens and sequences for the nuclear rDNA ITS2 region were obtained from 257 of these (93.1%). Four members of the An. maculipennis Meigen complex were identified: An. maculipennis, An. sacharovi Favre, An. melanoon Hackett, and An. messeae Falleroni. Species were identified based on correlation of their sequences with those available in GenBank. All four species have been incriminated as primary or secondary vectors of malaria. Species distributions in relation to potential threats of reintroduction of malaria in Greece are discussed. This study comprises the most complete study of the Maculipennis Complex in Greece to date, and contributes substantially to the current knowledge of the genetics and distributions of the four species.     

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) prey in Evros (Greece) and the discovery of a new mammal for the Greek fauna

ABSTRACT

Small mammals are key elements of terrestrial ecosystems, yet in south-eastern Europe many questions about their taxonomy and distribution remain unanswered. This is particularly true for the small mammal fauna of Greece. We investigated the distribution of small mammals in the district of Evros (NE Greece) through Tyto alba pellet analysis and live-trapping in 19 localities (29 samplings). We collected remains from a total 2434 individual vertebrates through pellet analyses and captured 110 small mammals through live trapping. We provide data on the distribution and community composition in the corresponding localities, for 17 small mammal species (11 rodents and 6 insectivores). Our findings include the first record of Myomimus roachi in Greece, a result facilitated by the yearly dynamics of Microtus sp. populations, as well as the first record of Sorex minutus in Evros. The Barn owl’s main prey (by percentage, allocated to genera) were Crocidura (29.7%) Mus (27%) Microtus (23.2%) and Apodemus (13%).     

Ophicardelus (Mollusca,Pulmonata) in eastern Australia: how many taxa?

The common south-eastern Australian estuarine ellobiid snails belonging to Ophicardelus have been considered to be one variable taxon by some authors, and three largely sympatric species by others. This study was undertaken to determine the number of taxa present. Different types of data collected included shell shape, allozyme electrophoresis, shell and radular morphology, anatomy and geographic range. These data sets were then examined for consistent discontinuities, and the results showed that the nominal species could be distinguished by a combination of shell shape and sculpture. Individuals from each nominal species also grouped together using allozyme data, although one taxon (Ophicardelus quoyi) is sometimes paraphyletic based on these data. There are several differences in the anatomy and radular morphology that separate the three taxa. These included marked differences in the penial complex, vagina, and presence or absence of a pallial gland. The three taxa also have different geographic ranges, albeit with most of their ranges in sympatry. Based on these differences, Ophicardelus ornatus, O. quoyi and O. sulcatus should be regarded as valid species.     

Generic classification of the family Pipunculidae (Diptera): a cladistic analysis

Classification of the higher taxa of the Pipunculidae is analysed by cladistic techniques. Twenty-five taxa are studied, and 117 character states are examined for these taxa. Based on the cladistic analysis a classification is proposed, recognizing three subfamilies: Chalarinae, Nephrocerinae, and Pipunculinae. The subfamily Pipunculinae is separated into five tribes: Pipunculini, Cephalopsini trib. nov; Microcephalopsini trib. nov., Eudorylini trib. nov., and Tomosvaryellini. Monophyletic genus groups within these tribes are recognized. The position of Claraeosphaera is unclear. Twenty-three taxa of generic status are recognized, and Wittella is considered synonymous with Cephalops. The genus Collinias is revalidated. Claraeomorpha is retained as a subgenus of Dorylomorpha. A presumed phylogenetic history of the taxa and evolutionary transformation series for certain characters are extrapolated from the analysis.     

Cryptic and non-cryptic diversity in New Guinea ground snakes of the genus Stegonotus Duméril,Bibron and Duméril, 1854: a description of four new species (Squamata: Colubridae)

ABSTRACT

The island of New Guinea has been identified as biologically megadiverse but many taxa are still poorly known. This is especially the case for many of the island’s snakes, which by their very nature can be difficult to collect and study. Here we examine the phylogenetic and phylogeographic structure of a poorly studied snake genus, Stegonotus, focusing on the species of New Guinea; until now, Stegonotus has never been examined using modern phylogenetic methods. Using molecular data from 49 individuals representing eight of the ten described species, and including all New Guinea taxa, we estimate a multilocus phylogeny and examine population structure to help identify undescribed taxa. We use morphological data from the corresponding museum vouchered specimens (where available) and also examine additional specimens for taxa not included in the molecular data set to determine morphological differences among putative taxa. We find molecular evidence for four new species of Stegonotus, both morphologically obvious and cryptic, and describe them herein. The recognition of these four species indicates that Stegonotus diversity has been previously underestimated and also suggests that there are likely additional undescribed taxa within the genus. These four taxa increase the number of described species by 40% and further confirm New Guinea as the centre of diversity for the genus.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9E21390E-3FD4-40EB-9442-31BC92A76B4F     

Evaluation of the taxonomy of Helix cincta (Muller, 1774) and Helix nucula (Mousson, 1854); insights using mitochondrial DNA sequence data

Phylogenetic relationships of the Aegean Helix cincta and Helix nucula with congeneric species found in Greece were inferred using mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Twenty-three specimens from mainland Greece, Aegean Islands, Cyprus and North Africa were analysed, revealing that (1) H. nucula is monophyletic, (2) H. cincta from Greece and Cyprus is paraphyletic, and so questions arise regarding the taxonomy of this species, and (3) H. cf. cincta from Tunisia might be considered as a distinct evolutionary lineage. Moreover Helix valentini, an endemic species of Kalymnos Island group, is clustered within the lineage of H. c. anatolica, so supporting the synonymy of the two ‘species’, and the elevation of H. c. anatolica to species level. Hence, our results stress the need for a taxonomic reconsideration of H. cincta in the Aegean Sea, indicating that sequence data can prove useful in overcoming taxonomic issues at both species and subspecies level.     

A new species of Caraiboscia Vandel, 1968 from South America,and a type species for Colombophiloscia gen. n. (Crustacea: Oniscidea: Crinocheta)

The South American genera Caraiboscia Vandel, 1968 and Colombophiloscia gen. n. are examined to establish their phylogenetic relationships in the light of their life histories. A new species is described in the genus Caraiboscia, whereas the latter genus replaces the name Colombophiloscia Vandel, 1968 which is an unavailable name since no type species was chosen by Vandel (1968). The taxa are described in detail and apomorphic characters supporting a sister group relationship are given. The adaptive value of these characters is discussed with respect to their life history and the probability of a convergent evolution.     

Dorcadionini of Turkey (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The Dorcadionini fauna of Turkey is reviewed, and a complete list with type information and provincial distributions is presented. Two hundred and seventy-eight species-group taxa are catalogued in total. This represents approximately 35% of the known Palaearctic Dorcadionini fauna. The Turkish Dorcadionini fauna is characterised by 227 endemic species-group taxa. So its endemism ratio is very high (approximately 82%). Distributions of the taxa in Turkey are given based on available literature records. Taxa in the list are arranged systematically under tribe, genus, subgenus (when recognised), species and subspecies (when recognised). The species group taxa whose occurrences in Turkey need conformation are not included in the list but are given separately. Additionally, two taxa are removed from the list: Dorcadion (Cribridorcadion) investitum Breuning in Braun, 1978a as nomen nudum and Dorcadion (Cribridorcadion) rosinae K. Daniel in Bodemeyer, 1900 as nomen nudum; and two taxa are given as status nov. and comb. nov.: Dorcadion (Cribridorcadion) atritarse Pic, 1931a and Dorcadion (Cribridorcadion) equestre bernhauerorum Peks, 2010. Moreover, a checklist of Dorcadionini of Turkey is presented in an appendix.     

Aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages associated with root masses of water hyacinths,Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laubach, 1883 (Commelinales: Pontederiaceae) in Taabo Lake,Ivory Coast

We examined aquatic macroinvertebrates associated with Eichhornia crassipes roots at five sampling sites in Taabo Lake. An average density of 1644 individuals (ind.)/m² was recorded. In total, 68 macroinvertebrate taxa belonging to 34 families and 14 orders were identified. Among these, Insecta was predominant (77.94%). The highest densities were recorded at Taabo cité during both rainy and dry seasons. Taxon diversity differences were not observed among all stations according to a Kruskal–Wallis test. High densities of predators were recorded. Next most prevalent in the trophic structure were detritivores. Indicator taxa analysis, using the Indval method, showed that stations upstream of the lake were characterized by eight taxa, while 11 appeared as indicators of the station near the dyke. Predators and herbivores dominated within those indicators. Sites near bays were distinguished by 18 indicator taxa with a predominance of predators and detritivores. Conductivity, NH₄ ⁺, temperature, PO₄ ^3?, turbidity and dissolved oxygen were parameters that strongly influenced the macroinvertebrate community.     

Two new taxa from the Lesser Sundas in the genus Onthophagus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Two new Indonesian taxa are proposed in Onthophagus Latreille, 1802, illustrating the composite faunal spectrum of the Lesser Sundas (Indonesia): O. montishannoniae, a new species from Flores, and O. accedens nusatenggaricus, a new subspecies from Lombok and Flores. O. accedens Lansberge, 1883 is, with O. dux Sharp, 1875, placed in what is here defined as the dux subgroup within the subgenus Parascatonomus Paulian, 1932. The three included species‐group taxa are keyed, their status is discussed, and new records are given. The position of O. montishannoniae seems taxonomically and geographically isolated: this species has no known close relatives in the region, neither in the Lesser Sundas, nor anywhere else in Wallacea.     

The diet of the Eleonora’s falcon (Falco eleonorae) in the Aegean archipelago (Greece)

ABSTRACT

In the present study we investigated the diet of Eleonora’s falcons in Greece and assessed the regional dietary pattern of 16 breeding colonies of the Aegean. Overall 224 nests were visited and a total of 8067 prey items were collected which contained two mollusca classes, seven insect orders, one reptile family, two mammalian taxa and at least 54 avian species. Cicadas were the most common insects found in pellets (45.1%) followed by flying ants (34.8%) and beetles (15.8%) while just 20 species (33.3%) accounted for over 90% of the avian prey items identified in bird remains dominated (>50%) by the Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) and the Whitethroat (Sylvia communis). Insect feeding peaked in late August (39.8%) and late September (20.8%), whereas bird remains built up in falcon nests from mid-August onwards, culminating in late September (57.2%) and declined abruptly afterwards. Overall the falcons’ diet diversity increased as the breeding season progressed and from the north towards the south Aegean. The avian prey species richness was negatively influenced by the distance of the colonies from the mainland and the weather conditions during September which coincides with the fledgling period of the young and the autumn peak of passerine migration.     

Swedish nemerteans (phylum Nemertea), with description of a new hoplonemertean genus and species

A survey of the nemertean fauna along the Swedish west coast found specimens of 20 genera and 32 species, of which one genus and species is new to science (Tetraneuronemertes lovgreni gen. et sp. n.). The proportions of the three taxa Hoplonemertea, Heteronemertea, and Palaeonemertea are 34, 55, and 11%, respectively, with respect to specimen numbers, and the proportions for species within these taxa are 53, 31 and 16%, respectively. The most common species encountered during the survey were the heteronemerteans Lineus bilineatus, Micrura fasciolata, and Micrura purpurea, the hoplonemertean Nipponnemertes pulcher, and the palaeonemertean Cephalothrix rufifrons.     

Morphometric and molecular variation in mountain catfishes (Amphiliidae: Amphilius) in Guinea,West Africa

Species of the genus Amphilius are small benthic catfishes that occur throughout tropical Africa and are abundant in the mountain streams of the Fouta Djalon region in Guinea, West Africa. During a 2003 expedition to the area, numerous amphiliid catfish were collected and initial observations revealed a large amount of morphological variation across the sampled basins. These specimens were subjected to a geometric morphometric analysis and standard morphometric analysis. Cytochrome b gene sequences were also obtained and compared among populations. These analyses resulted in the discovery of multiple cryptic taxa within two recognized species, Amphilius platychir and Amphilius rheophilus. The discovery of these taxa is compared with other recent discoveries from the area.     

Diptera from Nepal. Sepsidae

Summary

The material examined included six species in three genera. No new taxa are described but Parapalaeosepsis Duda and related taxa are discussed. Dicranosepsis Duda is placed in synonymy under Parapalaeosepsis, and Parapalaeosepsis bicolor (Wied.) is proposed as a new combination with Sepsis pubipes Brun. as a new synonym.     

Microhabitat diversity of Svalbard Bryozoa

Bryozoans are one of the major macrofaunal groups of the high polar regions. Here we present data on the nature of bryozoan assemblages in the Svalbard Archipelago sampled over 6 years between 1997 and 2002. Samples were collected with use of Van Veen grab, dredge and Scuba diving at depths ranging from 0 to 268?m. Among examined material (5026 items) bryozoans were present on one type of abiotic (stones) and 40 types of biotic substrata. The biotic substrata we investigated included algae (12 taxa) and invertebrates (28 taxa: Hydrozoa, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Polychaeta, Crustacea, Ascidiacea, other Bryozoa). Both a priori ANOSIM (Global R?=?0.512, P?=?0.001) and cluster analyses reveal differences between the assemblages on different types of substrata. Cluster analyses distinguish two distinct groups of substrata. The first (stable) included stones, molluscs and Balanus balanus whilst the second (flexible) consisted of algae, hydrozoans and bryozoans. Bryozoan assemblages which colonized different substrata, varied in terms of species composition and their dominance. Bryozoan species were categorized as generalists, low‐specificity epibiotic species or locally abundant background species. No species were found to be substratum‐specific to any type. Among substrata with the richest bryozoan fauna were stones (156 taxa), Chlamys islandica (68) and Balanus balanus (62). There were clear patterns in the distribution of substrata colonized by bryozoans within the fjord system: those shallow near the mouth were rich whilst those in deeper water were depauperate. We consider environmental gradients such as siltation and processes related to depth to be responsible for such patterns.     

Structure of insect community in the fungus Inonotus radiatus in riparian boreal forests

Basidiomes of polypore fungi host many insects. Yet systematic information about insect assemblages from most fungal species is lacking. We studied the insect community associated with the wood-decaying fungus Inonotus radiatus (Sowerby: Fr.) P. Karst. (Hymenochaetales). More specifically, we studied the effect of successional stage and weight of basidiomes, as well as shore exposition (north or south), on species richness and composition, as well as occurrence and abundance of the most abundant fungivores. Basidiomes were collected from riparian forests at five lakes in Sweden. Insects were reared out from the basidiomes in the laboratory. A total of 5645 adult insect individuals of 117 taxa were obtained. Among these, 2782 specimens of 36 taxa use Inonotus radiatus basidiomes as breeding habitat. Eight species of parasitic wasps were new to Sweden. The most abundant fungivore was Ennearthron cornutum (Ciidae), which is a generalist breeding in many polypore species. Based on our material and literature, the melandryid beetles Abdera affinis and A. flexuosa seem to be specialists on the order Hymenochaetales. Other frequent fungivores were Dorcatoma dresdensis (Ptinidae), and the lepidopterans Archinemapogon yildizae, Nemapogon cloacellus and N. picarellus (Tineidae). The parasitoid community associated with the tineid moths was similar to the community associated with the other polypore species in the order Polyporales. In contrast, the parasitoids associated with Dorcatoma (and/or Abdera) were different from the other Polyporales species, suggesting that the fungal host species is more important for these parasitoid species than the beetle host species itself. The most abundant and frequent parasitoids were the braconids Diospilus dispar and Colastes fritzeni, which both parasitise Dorcatoma. Species richness was significantly smaller in fresh than in more decayed basidiomes, but species composition did not differ. There was no difference in species composition or richness between north and south shorelines.     

Current status of the non-indigenous molluscs in Chile,with the first record of Otala punctata (Müller, 1774) (Gastropoda: Helicidae) in the country and new records for Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774) and Deroceras laeve (Müller, 1774)

A new introduced species, Otala punctata (Müller, 1774) and new records in Chile for Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774) and Deroceras laeve (Müller, 1774) are documented based on surveys carried out in northern and central areas of the country. The presence and distribution of these alien species are complemented with a comprehensive compilation of all 34 non-indigenous species of marine, freshwater and terrestrial Mollusca in Chile; until 1999, only 16 alien species were known in Chile. Most of these alien species are found exclusively in transformed habitats, few exist in natural environments. The mechanism of introduction for the majority of these non-indigenous species is unknown; however, horticultural development, urban and suburban transformation of original natural habitats, and the aquarium trade are the most likely pathways of introduction. The highest threat of alien species is direct competition and predation of native molluscs, especially the small native land gastropods. Education and continuous field surveys are vital to detect and prevent their propagation as well as to avoid introduction of additional alien taxa.     

The taxonomic identity of Anthidium fasciatellum Friese, 1917 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthidiini)

Anthidium fasciatellum, described in 1917 by Heinrich Friese on the basis of a single female, has long been regarded as a synonym of Trachusa laticeps (Morawitz, 1873). Examination of a new series of specimens from Turkey shows that the two taxa overlap in many characters, but both males and females are clearly distinct in some features of the colour pattern and in the fine structure of the mandibles. None of nine morphometric characters of the head examined alone allowed the two species to be distinguished, but in a multivariate discriminant analysis the combination of these parameters revealed conspicuous differences, especially in the shape of the head; 96.2% of all specimens could be classified correctly with the help of these metric parameters. Anthidium fasciatellum Friese, 1917 should be regarded as a valid species: Trachusa fasciatellum (Friese, 1917), comb. nov. While T. laticeps has an almost circum-Mediterranean distribution, it is replaced in the eastern Mediterranean by T. fasciatellum, which is endemic to Turkey and probably to some eastern Aegean islands of Greece. Archianthidium laticeps ssp. anatolicum Mavromoustakis, 1939, is placed as a synonym of Trachusa fasciatellum (syn. nov.).

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:755E60D9-E2D6-4956-B4D1-619DAA73EBD9     

Two new troglobitic species of the genus Telema (Araneae,Telemidae) from Guizhou,southwestern China

Two new species of Telema are described, from caves in Xinyi City and Cheheng County, Guizhou, southwestern China: T. feilong sp. nov., T. zhewang sp. nov. Male and female genitalia and other taxonomically important characters are illustrated. Some comparisons are made between these species and similar taxa. In addition, some notes on their ecology and the distribution of Chinese Telema are also presented. Telema are recorded from three scattered localities, Hunan Province, Guizhou Province and Hannan Province, in China.