Scanning electron microscopy of Echinostoma trivolvis and E. caproni (Trematoda) adults from experimental infections in the Golden Hamster

Scanning electron microscopy was used to compare the topography of Echinostoma trivolvis and E. caproni adults grown in golden hamsters for 15 days. The oral sucker of E. caproni was well-defined whereas that of E. trivolvis was not. Collar spines of E. trivolvis were contoured whereas those of E. caproni were smooth. The tegumentary spines of E. trivolvis were scale-like whereas those in E. caproni were thorn-like. The acetabular lip of E. trivolvis bore abundant papillae but relatively few spines; this situation was reversed on the acetabulum of E. caproni. A folded protuberance of unknown function was located just posterior to the genital pore in E. trivolvis; this structure was absent in E. caproni.     

Postembryonic development and population parameters of Alpaida veniliae (Araneae,Araneidae), reared in the laboratory

We studied the postembryonic development from hatching to the adult stage and determined population parameters of Alpaida veniliae. It is one of the most abundant species of the orb-weaving guild of the spider community of soybean crops in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The first three instars occurred inside the egg sac, and instar IV (spiderlings) started the dispersion from it. The female of Alpaida veniliae achieved greater adult size and adult longevity than the male. Mean fecundity, mean number of egg sacs per female, mean number of eggs per egg sac, as well as the net reproductive rate, the intrinsic rate of increase (r), the generation time (T), and the reproductive values (V _x) of three cohorts were determined under laboratory conditions, indicating a high capacity for growth. Their biological and ecological attributes indicate the importance of conservation of this predator as a natural enemy of soybean crop pests.     

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.     

Bathyal cumaceans of the Catalan Sea (North-western Mediterranean): faunistic composition,diversity and near-bottom distribution along the slope (between 389 and 1859 m)

Deep-water epibenthic/suprabenthic species of Cumacea were studied in the Catalan Sea (Western Mediterranean). Samples (21) were taken at depths from 389 to 1859m, using a Macer-GIROQ type sledge, 32 cumacean species were collected. Diastyloides serratus and Leucon longirostris were the commonest species on the upper slope and middle slope, respectively. On the lower slope (1250–1859 m) dominance by any single species was not apparent and Cyclaspis longicaudata, Procampylaspis bonnieri and Platysympus typicus were the most abundant species. Two leuconids (Leucon cf. serratus, and Leucon (Crymoleucon) sp. A) were recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea. The highest total abundance of cumaceans was encountered over the middle slope. Highest values of species richness and diversity (H') were registered at intermediate depths on the lower slope (1250–1355 m). The low H' value on the middle slope was attributable to the dominance of L. longirostris. Swimming coefficients calculated from near-bottom samples revealed intraspecific differences in the most abundant species. Thus, while mancas, juveniles, immature males and females, and adult females were captured almost exclusively in the lower level of the sledge, adult males of L. longirostris swam in the water column indistinctly between 10 and 140cm above the bottom. Similar trends, although less evident, have been established for other deep-sea cumaceans.     

Life cycle of a new African echinostome species reproducing by parthenogenesis

The morphology of the adult and larval stages of Echinostoma deserticum n. sp. and its life cycle are described. Adults were collected from the small intestine of the rodent Arvicanthis niloticus from Niger. Sporocysts and rediae were isolated from Bulinus truncatus and B. globosus from south of Algeria (Djanet oasis) and Niger (Daikena district). Previously phylogenetic results using both mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequencing indicate that E. deserticum n. sp. is very distant from the only considered valid African Echinostoma species, E. caproni Richard, 1964. The new species also differs from the other 37-collar spine echinostomes in that it develops in bulinid snails and in its probable exclusive parthenogenetic reproduction.     

A synopsis of the subterranean mealybug genus Neochavesia Williams and Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae: Rhizoecinae)

The neotropical mealybug genus Neochavesia, associated with the ant genus Acropyga Roger, is discussed and placed in the tribe Xenococcini on the bases that it lacks dorsal ostioles, the distal end of the circulus is depressed and cup-shaped, and the third-instar female is a pupa. These are characters shared by Xenococcus Silvestri and Eumyrmococcus Silvestri, also in the tribe Xenococcini, and differ from those in the tribe Rhizoecini, the other tribe in the subfamily Rhizoecinae. Two new species, Neochavesia iwokramae sp. nov. and N. lapollai sp. nov., are described from Guyana, and the female pupal instar and adult male of N. lapollai and the adult male of N. caldasiae (Balachowsky) are described and illustrated. A key to adult females is provided.     

Life cycle and behaviour of Charoxus spinifer and Charoxus major (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), predators of fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae)

Charoxus spinifer is associated in southern Florida with native fig trees (Ficus aurea and Ficus citrifolia). Winged adult beetles, 3.0–3.6 mm long, mate on Ficus twigs outside the syconia (fruits), and enter the syconia through holes cut by male pollinating wasps. Adults and larvae eat adult wasps within the syconia. Ovaries hold few, large, mature eggs. Larvae develop through three instars. Fully grown larvae abandon the syconia, drop to the ground, burrow to a depth of 1.5–3.7 cm, spin a silken cocoon, and pupate. Pupal duration is 8–9 days. Larval populations are highest in May, when penultimate stage syconia (phase D) are most abundant, but were detected in all months except June. Charoxus major is reported from Veracruz, associated with Ficus lapathifolia. Its adults extract wasp occupants of galled fig ovaries within syconia, and its eggs were found singly in empty galls.     

Analysis of enzymes in the Bulinus tropicus/truncatus complex (Mollusca: Planorbidae)

Summary

Five enzymes in the crude digestive gland extracts of individual snails of the B. tropicus/truncatus complex have been analysed by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels. The enzymes studied were: malate dehydrogenase (MDH); phosphoglucomutase (PGM); glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI); acid phosphatase (AcP) and hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH). Snails from 103 population samples (52 diploid, 51 tetraploid) from diverse geographical origins have been studied. Diploid and tetraploid snails were clearly differentiated and regional distributions of certain enzyme types are reported. The taxonomic implications of the findings are discussed.     

On Schistosoma curassoni,S. haematobium and S. bovis from Senegal: development in Mesocricetus auratus,compatibility with species of Bulinus and their enzymes

A comparative study on the development of Senegalese isolates of Schistosoma curassoni, S. haematobium and S. bovis in hamsters is reported, together with the compatibility of these parasites with Bulinus spp. and enzymes of adult worms.

The mean worm return from 35 hamsters exposed to 100 cercariae each of S. curassoni was 11·5%, and of these 54% were paired, the remainder were single males. The growth and maturation of the worms were recorded from 40 to 100 days. The cross-over point (when paired females are of the same length as paired males) was reached at 42 days post-infection when the worms averaged 13·7 mm in length. The majority of tissue eggs (84·5%) were recovered from the liver, compared with 11% in the colon, 2·5% in the caecum and 1·6% in the small intestine. Estimates of the fecundity of paired females averaged 167 eggs/day per female worm. Snail-infection experiments showed S. curassoni to be compatible with B. umbilicatus, marginally compatible with B. senegalensis and incompatible with B. forskalii, B. jousseaumei and B. guernei. S. curassoni is marginally compatible with B. bavayi, B. beccarii, B. camerunensis and B. cernicus, (members of the B. forskalii group) and B. obtusispira, a species placed in the B. africanus group. The mean worm return from 35 hamsters exposed to 100 cercariae each of S. haematobium was 9·1%, and of these 46·7% were paired, 42·1% were single male worms and the remaining 11·2% were single female worms. The growth of the worms was recorded from 40 to 100 days, the maturation from 60 to 100 days. The cross-over point was reached at about 62 days post-infection when the worms averaged 8·3 mm long. The majority of tissue eggs (95·3%) was recovered from the liver, compared with 2·8% and 1·9% from the small intestine and colon, respectively. Estimates showed that the average fecundity of paired females was 86 eggs/day per female worm. Snail-infection experiments showed that S. haematobium is marginally compatible with B. senegalensis, but incompatible with B. guernei and B. forskalii. The mean worm return from 35 hamsters exposed to 100 cercariae each of S. bovis was 26·6%, and of these 53·1% were paired, the remainder were single males. The growth and maturation of worms were recorded from 40 to 100 days. The cross-over point was reached just before 40 days: at 40 days the paired males averaged 9·5 mm in length, the paired female 9·6 mm in length. The majority of eggs (53·1%) was recovered from the liver, compared with 20·7% from the small intestine and 19·8% from the colon.

Estimates of the fecundity of paired females averaged 95 eggs/day per female worm. Snail-infection experiments showed S. bovis to be compatible with B. guernei, fairly compatible with B. forskalii, and marginally compatible with B. umbilicatus. B. senegalensis appeared to be sensitive to S. bovis under laboratory conditions with large numbers dying after one week of exposure.

Enzymes in 3017 extracts of adult schistosomes, obtained from natural and laboratory infections, have been analysed by isoelectric focusing. Enzymes studied include glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), phosphoglucomutase (PGM), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acid phosphatase (AcP), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), hexokinase (HK) and glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI). S. bovis was clearly differentiated from S. haematobium by patterns of G6PDH, GPI, HK and AcP. Similarly, S. bovis and S. curassoni were distinguishable by the different patterns of PGM, GPI, HK and AcP. S. haematobium and S. curassoni were differentiated by patterns of PGM and HK. Heterogeneity was seen in all species. In a natural infection of a sheep S. bovis and S. curassoni were found paired together.     

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.     

A revision of the Patagonian predaceous midges of the subgenus Acanthohelea of Stilobezzia excluding the S. (A.) edwardsi group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

In this revision of the Patagonian predaceous midges of Stilobezzia (Acanthohelea) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), the seven previously known species, Stilobezzia bicinctipes Ingram and Macfie, S. hirsuta I. and M, S. ornaticrus I. and M, S. patagonica I. and M, S. rava I. and M, S. succinea I. and M. and S. varia I. and M. are redescribed, illustrated and their distributions are expanded. Diagnoses are provided for Stilobezzia curvistyla Cazorla and Spinelli, S. longisternalis Cazorla and Spinelli and S. nigerrima I. and M, and the male of S. bicinctipes and the female of S. ornaticrus are described for the first time. Seven new species are described with photographs: S. estepae, S. mapuche, S. megatheca, S. monomorphica, S. pabloi, S. spinosa and S. tridentis. The species are illustrated by photographs, and a key to males and females is provided as well as distributional maps for all species.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CCEB2CB7-2FB3-4ABF-BCD4-75021AD6C338     

Natural prey of the crab spider Thomisus onustus (Araneae: Thomisidae), an extremely powerful predator of insects

The natural prey of the crab spider Thomisus onustus inhabiting Eryngium plants was studied in the Absheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan. The total percentage of specimens of T. onustus found while feeding was low (9.1%). However, solitary late instar and adult females exhibited a very high feeding percentage (29.9%). Other sex–age groups of T. onustus, including small juveniles, adult males, and females guarding egg sacs, were found feeding significantly less frequently. Investigation has shown that T. onustus is a polyphagous predator, with representatives of four arthropod orders found in its diet. The primary food of T. onustus was Diptera and Hymenoptera, which collectively accounted for 94.2% of total prey. Worker ants constituted about one‐fifth of the prey, suggesting that T. onustus is a myrmecophagic spider. The length of prey killed by T. onustus ranged between 1.25 and 16.00 mm (mean 6.21 mm) and constituted from 34.4 to 587.9% (mean 194.9%) of length of their captors. The most frequently captured were large arthropods, exceeding the size of the spiders (83.1%). Small and medium‐sized juveniles captured considerably larger prey (in terms of prey–predator length ratio) than late instar and adult females. Over half of their prey constituted arthropods more than two‐fold larger than the spiders.     

Diversity and life-history traits of wild bees (Insecta: Hymenoptera) in intensive agricultural landscapes in the Rolling Pampa,Argentina

The decline of bees is a major concern due to their vital role in pollinating many crops and wild plants. Some regions in South America, and especially the Pampas, are amongst those parts of the world where stressors of bee populations have been little studied. The Pampas has been intensively transformed for agriculture, being presently one of the most productive areas of agricultural commodities in the world. Here, we aim to provide first insights on the taxonomic and functional composition of bee assemblages in the Rolling Pampa, the most intensively managed part of the Pampas. Soybean (herbicide-tolerant genetically modified varieties) is the predominant crop in this region. Bees were sampled with coloured pan traps. Sampling points were located on field margins in either the cropped or the semi-natural grassland area of a farmland site devoted to annual cropping. A total of 2384 individuals were caught, representing 33 taxa [mainly (morpho)species]. The subgenus Lasioglossum (Dialictus) largely dominated captures (78% of the total abundance) and was relatively abundant in the entire study area, suggesting that some species are likely to reach their ecological requirements in cropped areas. No-till fields and field margins may provide large areas for these below-ground nesting species, while their polylectic food preferences allow them to collect pollen on a wide range of plant species, among them possibly soybean. On the contrary, the richness and the abundance of other taxa were higher in the semi-natural area than in the cropped area. Among them, above-ground nesting or oil-collecting species, which have more specialised nesting and floral requirements, were highly associated with the semi-natural area. Our findings highlight the large dominance of L. (Dialictus) species in this highly intensively managed landscape, and the urgent need of preserving semi-natural habitats to maintain species-rich and functionally diverse bee communities in the Pampas.     

The life cycle of Hebella furax (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa): a link between a lafoeid hydroid and a laodiceid medusa

The adult medusa of a species of the hydroid genus Hebella Allman, 1888 (family Lafoeidae), with a metagenetic life cycle, is described for the first time. Hebella furax Millard, 1957 is epizoic on other hydroids and releases medusae with four radial canals and three marginal bulbs with tentacles. Adult medusae cultured in the laboratory attained 11 mm in diameter, had 8–11 radial canals, and up to 37 marginal tentacles. Cordyli were present between the tentacles, a characteristic feature of the superfamily Laodiceoidea. The pattern of branching of the radial canals indicates that adult medusae of H.furax should be referred to the genus Toxorchis, possibly to T. kellneri Mayer, 1910.     

The Indo-Pacific Pilumnidae XII. On the familial placement of Chlorodiella bidentata (Nobili, 1901) and Tanaocheles stenochilus Kropp, 1984 using adult and larval characters with the establishment of a new subfamily,Tanaochelinae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura)

Within the Xanthoidea, Chlorodiella bidentata (Nobili, 1901) had been assigned to the Xanthidae MacLeay, 1838 and Tanaocheles stenochilus Kropp, 1984, to the Trapeziidae Miers, 1886. The adult characters of these two species are re-appraised and are considered to be congeneric. The familial position of Tanaocheles is reviewed and the genus does not conform to the diagnosis of the Xanthidae or Trapeziidae. The taxon is, therefore, placed in the Pilumnidae Samouelle, 1819, sensu Guinot, 1978, and assigned to a new subfamily. The first stage zoeal chaetotaxy of C. bidentata supports the adult revision at the family level.     

The Agromyzid genus Paraphytomyza Enderlein: new to the Oriental Region (Diptera)

Paraphytomyza jasmini sp. n. from India and P. loniceroides sp. n. from N.W. Pakistan are described, representing the first reared species in this genus known in the Oriental Region. P. kraussi (Sasakawa, 1963) from Papua New Guinea is formally transferred to Paraphytomyza as a new combination. The nomenclature, distribution and host range of Paraphytomyza are discussed.     

Revision of ‘Horatia’ snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae sensu lato) from South Caucasus with description of two new genera

Four nominal species of the genus Horatia Bourguignat, 1887 were described by Russian authors from Caucasian caves (H. borutzkii Shadin, 1932, H. birsteini Starobogatov, 1962, H. ljovushkini Starobogatov, 1962 and H. sokolovi Starobogatov, 1962). Hitherto all the species were known from type series (presented by empty shells) only. Examination of newly obtained samples from the caves of South Caucasus has shown that the four species actually do not belong to the genus Horatia due to obvious differences in the morphology of the copulatory organs between H. klecakiana Bourguignat, 1887 (the type species of this genus) and the Caucasian snails. Moreover, statistical analysis of conchological variation has revealed that the species H. birsteini, H. ljovushkini, and H. sokolovi are conspecific. Two genera are described: Pontohoratia (includes P. birsteini and P. smyri sp. nov.) and Motsametia (with the single species M. borutzkii comb. nov.). The two genera can be distinguished on the basis of the structure of their copulatory organs. The distribution and ecology of the Caucasian Horatia-like mollusks are briefly outlined.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4EDFB2AE-CB1D-4113-8CC7-3A1BBB46D838     

Population dynamics,age structure and sex ratio of the bromeliad-dwelling jumping spider,Psecas chapoda (Salticidae)

In this study, the population fluctuations, phenology and sex ratio of the bromeliad-dwelling jumping spider Psecas chapoda were investigated in an area of semi-deciduous forest in south-eastern Brazil. Psecas chapoda occurred and reproduced on Bromelia balansae (Bromeliaceae) throughout the year. The number of egg sacs increased at the beginning of the rainy season (September to December), but the population size and phenology were stable over time and correlated weakly with rainfall and temperature. The principal factor affecting the dynamics of P. chapoda was the blooming of B. balansae, which expelled spiders because of the drastic change in plant architecture. Male spiders were more frequent than females during the juvenile phase, whereas females were more frequent than males during the subadult and adult phases, suggesting a sex ratio that favoured males. The biotic and abiotic factors that influence the population dynamics and sex-dependent vulnerability determination are discussed.