Re-evaluation of the fossil Phoridae (Diptera)

I re-evaluated the known fossil phorids after re-examining much of the Baltic amber and Dominican amber fauna. Many extant genera reported from Eocene Chinese and Eocene/Oligocene Baltic amber are actually not present; instead there are representatives of relatively primitive stem-group taxa. A new genus and species of fossil phorid, Limulomyia tyche, based on a male and a limuloid female, is described from Baltic amber. Some changes in the taxonomy of amber phorids are proposed: Pseudometopina Disney is synonymized with Metopina Schmitz (new synonymy), Diplonevra meunieri Brues is transferred to the genus Godavaria Brown (new combination), Protophorites fimbriatus Brues is considered a junior subjective synonym of Protoplatyphora tertiaria Brues (new synonymy) and Phalacrotophora tertiara Statz is transferred to the genus Gymnophora (new combination). The oldest confirmed dates for extant phorid genera are given.     

The generic affiliation of Japanese species of the subfamily Psyllinae (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) with a revised checklist

The generic affiliations of all the Japanese species of the psyllid subfamily Psyllinae are re-examined under the current generic recognition of the subfamily based mainly on adult morphological characters. Twenty-two species of the genus Psylla Geoffroy are newly combined with the genus Cacopsylla Ossiannilsson. Psylla wulinensis Yang and Aphalara akebiae Shinji are newly synonymized with Psylla multipunctata Miyatake and Cacopsylla hakonensis (Kuwayama), respectively. In addition, Cacopsylla toddaliae (Yang) is newly recorded from Japan. In all, 62 species of the Japanese Psyllinae are recognized and classified into three genera Psylla, Cacopsylla and Chamaepsylla Ossiannilsson, which include 11, 50 and one species, respectively. A key to Japanese psylline genera and a revised checklist of all the Japanese species of Psyllinae are presented with their distribution and host plant information and also with their synonymies.     

The Mollissima subgroup of fannia Desvoidy,with the description of a new species from Burma and a revised key to species (Diptera: Muscidae)

Synopsis

A comparison of the type-species of the genus Coelomyia Haliday (C. mollissima Haliday) with that of the genus Fannia Desvoidy (F. scalaris Fabricius) shows that these two genera cannot be maintained as equivalent phylogenetie taxa. Coelomyia is synonymized with Fannia and its species placed in Fannia, four new combinations thus being established. The mollissima subgroup is defined and its affinities shown, a new species is described, and a revised key to species is given.     

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.     

Model mimics: antlike jumping spiders of the genus Myrmarachne from Sri Lanka

All nominal species of ant-mimicking jumping spiders of the genus Myrmarachne from Sri Lanka are redescribed, based on type and newly collected material. Three new species are described: Myrmarachne aurantiaca sp. nov., M. dishani sp. nov. and M. morningside sp. nov. Panachraesta Simon, 1900 is shown to be a junior synonym of Myrmarachne MacLeay, 1839, syn. nov. The following species are synonymized: Myrmarachne orientales Tikader, 1973 = Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839 syn. nov., Myrmarachne paivae Narayen, 1915 and Myrmarachne bengalensis Tikader, 1973 = Myrmarachne prava (Karsch, 1880) syn. nov., Myrmarachne hanoii Zabka, 1985 = Myrmarachne pumilio (Karsch, 1880) syn. nov., Myrmarachne maratha Tikader, 1973 = Myrmarachne robusta (Peckham & Peckham, 1892). One new combination is proposed: Myrmarachne paludosa (Simon, 1900) comb. nov. Myrmarachne ramunni Narayan, 1915 is recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka. A total of 12 valid species are now known from the island; six of them are endemic.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B723C180-996B-471D-B920-4D08E7A8CD53     

North Pacific species of the amphipod (Crustacea) family Stegocephalidae,with description of one new species and redescription of another

The genera and species of the family Stegocephalidae Dana, 1852 (Crustacea: Amphipoda) of the North Pacific, including the Bering Sea, are surveyed, and a key to the species is presented. One new species, Stegocephalus beringi n. sp., is described, and Stegocephalopsis ampulla (Phipps, 1774) is redescribed; S. vegae Oldevig, 1959 is synonymized with S. ampulla. Comments are given on the morphology of three additional species.     

Australian thrips of the Haplothrips lineage (Insecta: Thysanoptera)

Keys are presented to the 11 genera and 50 species, including 21 new species, of Thysanoptera in Australia that are related to the worldwide genus Haplothrips Amyot and Serville. These taxa belong to what, in recent literature, has been called the “Haplothrips‐lineage”, that is, one of the three major radiations among the 2700 species and 350 genera of Thysanoptera Phlaeothripinae. The group is redefined, and the available tribal name Haplothripini shown to be appropriate. The character states on which the definition is based are discussed, and a list given of the 34 genera worldwide that can be included. The Australian species in these genera exhibit a diversity of biologies. Three genera involve species that invade galls induced by other thrips: Androthrips monsterae (Moulton) from New Guinea is newly recorded from Australia; Mesothrips jordani Zimmermann from South‐East Asia is newly recorded from Australia, with two new synonyms; the Asia‐Pacific genus, Euoplothrips Hood, includes two species in northern Australia. Three haplothripine genera are associated with grasses: one widespread genus, Apterygothrips Priesner, considered polyphyletic, includes only one Australian species; the only known species of Dyothrips Kudo is Oriental but extends into tropical Australia; Podothrips Hood, a circum‐tropical genus of thrips predatory on grass‐living coccoids, has 11 Australian species, six newly described. One grass‐associated genus, Bamboosiella Ananthakrishnan, is excluded from the Haplothripini. An Oriental genus of leaf‐ and flower‐living species, Dolichothrips Karny, includes one species in northern Australia, D. reuteri (Karny); Membrothrips Bhatti in which this species has been placed is considered a synonym. Karnyothrips Watson includes two species introduced to Australia, both predators of coccoids. Priesneria Bagnall includes three species from Australia, of which one fungus‐feeding species is newly described. Xylaplothrips Priesner is a widespread but ill‐defined, polyphyletic genus that currently includes three little‐known Australian species. Haplothrips is the main focus of this study, and character state variation among the Australian species is discussed. In total 24 species of Haplothrips from Australia are recognised, 14 being new species. Also included are the following, one new generic synonym, four new species synonyms, and one new combination. The 250 species worldwide in the genus are usually associated with the flowers of Asteraceae and Poaceae. In Australia, several of the species are specific to flowers, particularly of Poaceae and Cyperaceae but not Asteraceae. Almost half of these Australian species are presumed to be predatory on other small arthropods, and two have unusual host associations—with salt marsh Chenopodiaceae, and with the sori of Dicksonia tree ferns.     

I.—Notes on the Natural History of East Finmark

Synopsis

A new species of Argyrophylax, parasitic on the Banana Scab-Moth Nacoleia octasema Meyrick, is described and the Oriental and Australasian species of this genus are reviewed; a key is given for their identification. Six species and a subspecies hitherto placed in other genera are here assigned to Argyrophylax, and seven new combinations are established; two specific names are newly placed in synonymy.     

A note on the genus Pseudathyma Staudinger with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Summary

A note is given on the status of Pseudathyma callina Grose-Smith and Pseudathyma sybillina Staudinger. A new species is described, and one name synonymized.     

L.—Notes on Cecidomyidæ

Resumé

This paper is mostly concerned with records of mites new to the British Isles. Odd notes on the biology of some species previously recorded from these islands deal with various aspects of the general biology of the different species. The following species are described as new to science:—Parasitus hibernicus, Phaulodiaspis euris, Ettmulleria dipterorum, and Schwiebea boletophagi. The newly discovered male of Polyaspinus cylindricus Berl. is described fro the first time and its importance in the study of the comparative parative morphology of the Mesostigmata is discussed. The division of the genus Pergamasus by Hull in 1918 is treated in some detail and his subgenera, Plesiogamasus, Paragamasus are promoted to generic status. Some remarks are made on the generic divisions of the Hypoaspis complex of the Laelaptidae and two new genera of Dr. Hull, Chamolaelaps and Halbertia, are brought forward and the types of all the above genera of Dr. Hull designated. New records of Leptus porcinus Hull, 1918 are given and the species is figured in detail.     

Psocoptera of the Togo-Benin Gap,West Africa

Summary

The first major collection of Psocoptera from the Togo-Benin Gap containing 28 species, in 16 genera is described. Twelve of the species are new (Rhyopsocus plesiafer sp. nov., Caecilius propinquifallax sp. nov., C. fuscolineus sp. nov., Lachesilla mutabilis sp. nov., L. nigripalpa sp. nov., Ectopsocus maculosus sp. nov., Peripsocus marginatus sp. nov., P. acuminatus sp. nov., P. togoensis sp. nov., Pseudoscottiella forcipiforma sp. nov., Blaste togoensis sp. nov., and Trichadenotecnum colesae sp. nov.). Blaste muiri Smithers is synonymized with B. medleri New. The previously described psocid species, together with affinities which the new species have with the psocid fauna of other countries, are discussed in the light of the zoogeographical interest in this area.     

Revision of the spider subfamily Gnaphosinae in Israel (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)

Gnaphosid spiders of 6 genera in Israel are revised presenting a relative richness in species and updated information on the Mediterranean spider fauna. Many inhabit the stony deserts of the south or are psammophiles that were detected by pitfall trapping. Minosia, Minosiella and Gnaphosa have never before been reported from Israel. Minosia simeonica sp. n. and the unknown males of M. spinosissima and Minosiella pharia are described. Gnaphosa barroisi is reinstated as a separate species. Berlandina jovia Denis, 1947 is newly synonymized with B. venatrix Dalmas, 1921, while the following B. chopardi Denis, 1955, B. paludani Denis, 1958, B. afghana Denis, 1958 and its subspecies B. a. spinitarsis Denis, 1958, and B. macrostigma Denis, 1966 are new synonyms of B. plumalis (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) one of the most widely distributed gnaphosids in the Old World. The matching female of Nomisia excerpta and the matching of N. palaestina, each proving a separate species, have been identified, and N. negebensis sp. n. is described. Nomisia marginata (O. P.-Cambridge, 1874) and N. mauretanica Dalmas, 1921 are new synonyms of N. ausserei (L. Koch, 1872), N. verneaui (Simon, 1889) = N. excerpta (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872), and N. soror Dalmas, 1921 = N. palaestina (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872). In Pterotricha, the largest genus of Gnaphosinae in the Middle East, P. levantina sp. n., P. parasyriaca sp. n., P. engediensis and the unknown female of P. dalmasi are described, and the following new synonyms are recognized: P. aegyptiaca Dalmas, 1921 and P. isiaca Dalmas, 1921 = P. conspersa (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872); P. fanatica Dalmas, 1921 = P. lesserti Dalmas, 1921; P. peregrina Denis, 1948 = P. chazaliae (Simon, 1985); P. lentiginosioides Nosek, 1905 = P. kochii (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872). Illustrations of diagnostic characters, records of distribution and pertaining literature are provided for each species.     

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     

Notes on Bombyliidae (Diptera) from the southern borderlands of the Sahara with descriptions of new species

The paper is a review of the genus Pellenes (s. lat.) in the fauna of Central Asia and the Caucasus. The genus Pellenes(s. lat.) is redefined and subdivided into four subgenera according to the structure of genitalia: Pellenes(s. str.), Pelpaucus subgen. nov., Pelmultus subgen. nov. and Pelmirus subgen. nov. Altogether 23 species have been treated, of which nine are described as new to science: Pellenes amazonka sp. nov. (female), P. badkhyzicus sp. nov. (male), P. borisi sp. nov. (female), P. karakumensis sp. nov. (male), P. bonus sp. nov. (male), P. pamiricus sp. nov. (male and female), P. pseudobrevis sp. nov. (male and female), P. sytchevskayae sp. nov. (male and female) and P. turkmenicus sp. nov. (male and female). Five species are newly synonymized: P. maderianus Kulczyński, 1905 with P. epularis (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872); P. kulabicus Andreeva, 1976 and P. simoni (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) with P. geniculatus (Simon, 1868); and P. albomaculatus Peng and Xie, 1993 with P. denisi Schenkel, 1963; P. tauricus (Thorell, 1875) is removed from synonymy with P. simoni (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) and is shown to be a junior synonym of P. nigrociliatus (Simon in L. Koch, 1875). A lectotype is designated for Pellenes brevis Simon, 1868. P. campylophorous (Thorell, 1875) is recognized to be nomen dubium. Pellenes calvus (Simon, 1868) is excluded from the Central Asian fauna of Pellenes. Evarcha lapponica (Sundevall, 1832), comb. nov. (ex Pellenes), is proposed. Some morphological terms, e.g. the median septum, the epigynal flaps, the central blindending pocket and the newly proposed ‘compound terminal apophysis’, are discussed in relation to their homology.     

Dhanya,a South-east Asian genus of ozaenine ground beetles

The species of the South-east Asian genus Dhanya are reviewed, and three new species are described: mulu from Sarawak; andrewesi from India; and cylindera from Philippines. Dhanya bioculata is designated as the type-species and a lectotype is designated for this species. The variety pallida is synonymized with its species seminigra. The species cavicola Moore is transferred from Pseudozaena to Itamus. Keys to the genera of South-east Asian Ozaenini and to the species of Dhanya are provided. Morphological details of Dhanya are illustrated with scanning electron micrographs and drawings, and include information on the structure of the prothoracic pits, elytral flanges, and on microsculpture. A cladistic analysis of the species is included and the relationship of the genus to its sister group, Eustra, and to the other genera of Ozaenini is discussed. Specimens of Dhanya are found under bark of fallen logs and in rotting tree stumps in lowland and upland tropical rain forest; an association with ants or termites is suggested for at least one species.     

Apelaunothripini from the Philippines (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae)

Summary

The relationships of the phlaeothripine tribe Apelaunothripini is discussed. Four genera and thirteen species are recorded from the Philippines, including the following two new genera and nine new species: Apelaunothrips cephalicus sp. nov., A. fasciatus sp. nov., A. flavicornis sp. nov., A. marginalis sp. nov., A. philippinensis sp. nov., A. rostratus sp. nov., A. simpliceps sp. nov., Lizalothrips luzonensis gen. and sp. nov., Paradexiothrips bispinosus gen. and sp. nov. Keys are provided to the four genera included in the Apelaunothripini, and to the ten Apelaunothrips species from the Philippines.     

A review of the encyrtid wasp tribe Aenasiini,with descriptions of new Afrotropical taxa (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

The tetracnemine tribe Aenasiini is discussed and a key is provided for the separation of the nine genera that can be attributed to this tribe. Neodiscodes is synonymized with Aenasius and the following seven species, which were originally assigned to the former genus, are transferred to Aenasius as new combinations: abengouroui (Risbec), comperei (Kerrich), lepelleyi (Kerrich), martinii (Compere), indicus (Narayanan & Subba Rao), parvus (Kerrich) and subbaraoi (Kerrich). A key is given for the separation of the four Afrotropical species of Aenasius and the male of A. comperei is described for the first time. Incisencyrtus gen. n. is described for the following three new Afrotropical species: secus (the type-species), sirus and afer. Cladiscodes incisius sp. n. is described from South Africa and it represents the first species of this genus from Africa. New distribution records are given for three Alfrotropical species of Metaphaenodiscus.     

The Villa group of genera in Africa and Eurasia with a review of the genera comprising Thyridanthrax sensu Bezzi 1924 (Diptera: Bombyliidae)

Summary

Bombyliidae are particularly abundant in arid regions where the greatest diversity of genera and species is found. The Villa group of genera (Anthracinae, Exoprosopini) are especially well represented in the Saharo-Sindian desert region. Difficulty in segregating genera has resulted from reliance on single key characters. Using a suite of characters, including the spermathecae largely overlooked previously, a key is provided to the eleven known genera in the Old World. The genus Thyridanthrax sensu Bezzi (1924) is reviewed and five genera are recognized: Thyridanthrax Osten-Sacken, Exhyalanthrax Becker, Pachyanthrax François, Veribubo Evenhuis, and Caecanthrax gen. nov. Species are allocated to these genera and new species Pachyanthrax laconae, Veribubo gazella and V. saffra and Caecanthrax auratus are also described.     

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.