The taxonomy and ecology of Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) fuscimanus (Kieffer), a hygropetric chironomid (Diptera)

The immature stages of Chironomidae (non-biting midges) are important biotic components of the percolating filter beds of sewage works. Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) fuscimanus (Kieffer) is recorded from a sewage works for the first time, is described in all stages and a neotype designated. Considerable taxonomic and nomenclatural confusion concerning the species and subgenus was resolved by recognition of holotypes of Dactylocladius fuscitarsis Kieffer, D. olivaceus Kieffer, Orthocladius indivisus Kieffer and Eudactylocladius vagans Thienemann, by designation of neotypes for Dactylocladius adauctus Kieffer, D. fontium Kieffer and Orthocladius hygropetricus Kieffer and selection of a lectotype for Eudactylocladius bidenticulatus Thienemann. Orthocladius hygropetricus, O. indivisus, O. bidenticulatus, Dactylocladius adauctus, D. fuscitarsis and D. fontium are all newly synonymized with O. fuscimanus, and Eudactylocladius vagans synonymised with Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) olivaceus (Kieffer).

The detection of numerous synonyms (and previous misidentifications) revealed a substantial amount of ecological information on the larva of O. fuscimanus. This information is reviewed and reveals that this is a frequent species of hygropetric (thin water film) habitats. A review of the fauna of percolating filters of sewage works indicates that this biotope is the ecological equivalent of naturally occurring hygropetric habitats.     

Rediscovery of Disepyris semiruber (Kieffer) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) in Southern Africa,with first description of the male

Holepyris semiruber Kieffer is redescribed and illustrated based on freshly collected specimens. Holepyris semiruber var. striatipleura Kieffer is considered a colour variant of this species and therefore a junior synonym of H. semiruber syn. nov. This species is transferred to Disepyris, D. semiruber (Kieffer) comb. nov., based on the possession of a short 2r-rs&Rs vein in the fore wing and presence of long flat spine-shaped setae on the outer (posterior) surface of the protarsi. The male is described for the first time from new specimens collected in South Africa. This species is recorded for the first time from Namibia and Zimbabwe. All photographs are available on www.waspweb.org.     

Resource utilization specificity in three cosmopolitan Drosophila species

Summary

D. immigrans of the subgenus Drosophila shows clear ecological differences in the laboratory and the field from the sibling species D. melanogaster and D. simulans of the subgenus Sophophora for the utilization of lemons as a resource. Since these three species frequently co-exist in urban regions of southern (but not northern) Australia, they afford good possibilities for combined laboratory—field studies on the comparative evolutionary strategies involved in adaptations to their environments.     

The immature stages of Simulium speculiventre,type-species of Stilboplax Enderlein (Diptera: Simuliidae)

Synopsis

The previously unknown immature stages of Simulium speculiventre are described and figured, and a lectotype is designated for this species from the adult syntypes. S. speculiventre is assigned to the subgenus Eusimulium (new subgeneric combination) and the genus-group name Stilboplax Enderlein is sunk in synonymy with Eusimulium Roubaud (new synonym).     

Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae: Diptera) present in aquatic macrophytes from wetlands of Marchantaria Island,Iranduba, Central Amazonia,Brazil

Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) are easily found in both aquatic and semi-aquatic sites under various environmental conditions, where their immature stages develop in areas of nutrient richness. Material was collected from six wetland areas in Ilha da Marchantaria, Iranduba, Amazonas, between July and October 2010 and February and June 2011 throughout the Amazon River’s cycle (receding and flooding stages), in aquatic macrophytes Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes and Salvinia auriculata. The collections produced 431 immature individuals: 191 (44.3%) in E. crassipes, 125 (29%) in P. stratiotes and 115 (26.7%) in S. auriculata. After development in the laboratory 16 species were identified belonging to the following genera: Alluaudomyia Kieffer, Bezzia Kieffer, Dasyhelea Kieffer, Forcipomyia Meigen, Heteromyia Say, Neobezzia Wirth and Ratanaworabhan, Palpomyia Meigen, Paryphoconus Enderlein and Stilobezzia Kieffer. Aquatic macrophytes are excellent substrates for immature Ceratopogonidae, which are important because of their value to the balance of biodiversity in ceratofauna in wetlands.     

Reclassification of Bracon mendocinus,a gall‐associated doryctine wasp,and description of a new closely related species of Allorhogas (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

One of the first reported gall‐associated braconids, from 1910, Bracon mendocinus Kieffer and Jörgensen, is removed from the subfamily Braconinae and transferred to the doryctine genus Allorhogas, A. mendocinus (Kieffer and Jörgensen) comb. nov. A new species morphologically similar to A. mendocinus, A. joergenseni Martinez and Zaldivar‐Riverón sp. nov., is also described. Additionally a neotype is designated for B. mendocinus Kieffer and Jörgensen. We base our conclusions on the morphological examination of recently collected specimens from central Argentina associated with galls on Lycium chilense (Solanaceae), as well as on the DNA variation at 28S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial DNA genes.     

Revision of the Australian endemic genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae), with descriptions of seven new species

The Australian hyptiogastrine wasp genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer is revised. Among other characters, species of Hyptiogaster can be readily distinguished from other Hyptiogastrinae by having an exserted ovipositor and the anterior face of the mesothorax truncate in lateral view. Ten species are recognised including seven which are newly described: H. arenicola Turner, H. humeralis (Schletterer), H. rufus (Westwood), H. cobarensis sp. nov., H. hulli sp. nov., H. kalbarrii sp. nov., H. kiefferi sp. nov., H. naumanni sp. nov., H. pinjarregaensis sp. nov., H. weowaniensis sp. nov. Two synonymies are proposed; H. flavosignata (Kieffer) with H. humeralis and H. crassiceps (Schletterer) with H. rufus. An illustrated key to species is presented and relationships among genera of Hyptiogastrinae and species of Hyptiogaster are discussed.     

A new species and new records of the subgenus Typhlodromus Scheuten from Spain,with a key to the world species (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

A new mite species of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata), Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) thuriferus sp. nov. collected from the Cupressaceae Juniperus thurifera in Spain is described. Three species of the same subgenus, new records for Spain, are also included. A key to all the species of this subgenus is given.     

Morphology of the larvae of three species of Arrenurus (Acari: Parasitengona: Arrenuridae)

A new species belonging to the subgenus Bezzisca of the Neotropical genus Dexosarcophaga is described. Dexosarcophaga (Bezzisca) bermudezi sp. nov. is described from Panama and represents the sixteenth species of this subgenus. An illustrated key to identifying the Bezzisca species is also provided.     

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).     

The female genitalia of Gonioctena,subgenus Spartoxena (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The taxonomy of the eight species of Gonioctena Chevrolat belonging to the subgenus Spartoxena Motschulsky is mostly based on male genitalia due to the unsuitability of external characters (i.e. coloration patterns) for identification. In order to provide similar diagnostic characters for both genders, the female genitalia of the eight species are described and illustrated. Considering the lack of spermathecae within the genus, the shapes of tergite 8, and sternites 8 and 9 have been explored as possible diagnostic characters. These structures present marked differences between taxa and simultaneously stability among individuals of each species, and thus they are very useful for taxonomic purposes. A key to the females of the subgenus Spartoxena is provided, and figures of tergite 9, and sternites 8 and 9 of each species are included.     

Variation in three centipede species of the genus Otostigmus and its bearing on species discrimination (Chilopoda; Scolopendromorpha; Scolopendridae)

Individual variation in populations of three species of the scolopendromorph centipede genus Otostigmus subgenus Otostigmus (O. spinicaudus (Newport, 1844), O. politus Karsch, 1881 and O. astenus (Kohlrausch, 1881)) is described and the reliability of their characters and those of other members of the subgenus is discussed.     

Predatory behaviour in Deltochilum: convergent evolution or a primitive character within a clade?

We present data on predatory behaviour in Deltochilum cupreicolle viridescens, which belongs to the subgenus Aganhyboma, and we contrast it with the behaviour of a species from the subgenus Deltohyboma. By this comparison we can investigate whether the predatory behaviour in Deltochilum could have appeared independently in these two subgenera, or if the behaviour is so similar that it suggests a single origin in a possible ancestor exclusive to those two groups. These laboratory studies on the behaviour of Deltochilum c. viridescens individuals on diplopods are described and divided into the following stages: (1) approach and recognition of the diplopod; (2) attack and death of the prey; (3) on-site feeding; (4) transport of the diplopod. The results found here strengthen the hypothesis of a primitive and highly specialized behaviour within a possible clade formed by the predatory species of Diplopoda.     

A revision of the Asian and European species in the subgenus Amiota Loew (Diptera,Drosophilidae) and the establishment of species-groups based on phylogenetic analysis

A total of 53 Amiota (s. str.) species (75% of the world total) from Asia and Europe, including 10 new species, kamui, kimurai and planata from Japan, and aristata, cuii, macai, magniflava, nuerhachii, spinata and watabei from China, are reviewed with designation of two new synonymies and phylogenetic analysis. Based upon the result of cladistic analysis with 31 adult male morphological characters, the following conclusions are deduced: (1) The subgenus Amiota is monophyletic, so far as the Asian and European forms are concerned. (2) Seven monophyletic groups are recognized within this subgenus. Two of them correspond to known species-groups, the apodemata and sinuata groups, and the remaining five are established as new species-groups, the nagatai, basdeni, taurusata, alboguttata and rufescens groups. A key to all the studied species from Asia and Europe is provided.     

A key to Neodohrniphora (Diptera: Phoridae), parasites of leaf-cutter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

A key to the females of Neodohrniphora Malloch is provided. A species referred to as Apocephalus sp. by Eibl-Eibesfeldt and Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1967) is assigned to N. attae sp. nov., and to a newly designated subgenus Eibesfeldtphora for the N. curvinervis (Malloch) group of species. Neodohrniphora frontalis (Curran) is confirmed as a synonym of N. (E). curvinervis. The paratype of N. (N.) acromyrmecis Borgmeier differs from the lectotype, and is reassigned to N. (N.) similis Prado. A new subgenus, Wallerphora, is designated for N. (W.) mexicanae sp. nov. from Mexico.     

A new subgenus of the genus Colastes Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Exothecinae) for species reared from bracket fungi,with description of two new species from Europe

A new Holarctic subgenus (Fungivenator subgen. nov.) of the genus Colastes Haliday, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Exothecinae) is proposed for a group of species that, as far as is known, has its larvae living on hosts in bracket fungi. The type species (Colastes sandei sp. nov. from Netherlands, Germany and England) and a second species (C. fritzeni sp. nov.) from Finland are described and illustrated. A key to the five known species is included.