Investigations of an association between the stinkhorn fungus and badger setts

Fruiting bodies of the stinkhorn fungus (Phallus impudicus) were commonly found near badger setts, clustered in the zone 24–39 m from sett entrances. The odour from the spore-covered gleba of the fruiting body attracted several species of fly, principally Polietes lardaria, Phaonia subventa, Calliphora vomitoria, Calliphora vicina, Lucilia caesar and Lucilia sericata. The latter four, all blowflies, were also among the dominant species attracted to and reared from, badger carcases. The number of female flies at stinkhorns was significantly higher than that of males. Behavioural studies showed that female, but not male Calliphora vomitoria were attracted to the smell of the stinkhorn gleba. Flies feeding on the spore-laden mucilage on the gleba defaecated more rapidly than when feeding on dung or sucrose, thereby rapidly depositing large numbers of spores. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of a hypothetical stinkhorn-badger association, and of the overall ecology of badgers.     

Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles as a chemotaxonomic tool for three blowfly species (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic interest

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHs) contain complex mixtures of components that cover the surface of all insects to restrict water loss, and in many species function in chemical communication. The complex mixtures have been used as a chemotaxonomic tool since the 1970s. The majority of CH components can be identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), allowing hydrocarbon profiles to be used as chemotaxonomic characters, which can differentiate insect species, including cryptic species. The present study used GC-MS for the identification of CHs of males and females of three species of calliphorids: Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedmann), A comparison of the chromatographic profiles from the three species allows them to be readily separated. Hydrocarbons identified from the three species contain 23 to 37 carbons and include n-alkanes, methyl-branched alkanes and alkenes. The most abundant compound for both sexes of C. macellaria was n-heptacosane, while for H. segmentaria it was 2-methyltriacontane; for L. cuprina, however, the most abundant compound was hentriacontene for females and nonacosene for males. The results obtained in this study are important for the establishment of a database to be used in chemotaxonomy of sanitarily and forensically important insects.     

Attraction and preference of bacteriophagous and plant-parasitic nematodes towards different types of soil bacteria

The soil food web exhibits complex interactions between organisms including those between soil nematodes and bacteria. In the present study, 26 bacterial genera were obtained from the intestines of 11 species of bacteriophagous and predatory nematodes. A minimum number of two bacterial genera, namely Escherichia (species coli) and Staphylococcus, were isolated from Dorylaimoides micoletzkyi whereas a maximum number of nine bacterial genera were obtained from Butlerius butleri. Burkholderia was the most attractive bacterial strain for Meloidogyne incognita with the maximum number of nematode aggregations. Caenorhabditis elegans aggregated around Proteus colonies in greater numbers than any other colony whereas the maximum aggregation of Acrobeloides maximus was recorded around Pseudomonas. Three common bacterial strains were found to attract both M. incognita and A. maximus, five bacterial strains elicited response both from A. maximus and C. elegans whereas three common strains were found attractive to M. incognita and C. elegans.     

Grass-breeding fruit flies and their allies of Africa and Asia (Diptera: Tephritidae: Ceratitidinae)

The African genera Bistrispinaria Speiser, Clinotaenia Bezzi and Leucotaeniella Bezzi are reviewed. Clinotaenia camerunica sp. nov. and Leucotaeniella mambillae sp. nov. are described. Clinotaenia atlas Munro is transferred to Bistrispinaria Speiser and Carpophthoromyia superba Bezzi is transferred to Clinotaenia, whilst B. uranos (Hering) is placed as a new synonym of B. woodi (Bezzi) and C. cedarensis Munro is placed as a new synonym of C. grata (Wiedemann). Notes are included on the Asian genera Anoplomus Bezzi, Proanoplomus Shiraki, Rhaibophleps Hardy and Sinanoplomus Zia, all of which appear to be related to Clinotaenia and Leucotaeniella, with Sinanoplomus fasciatus (Walker) transferred from Gastrozona Bezzi. Genus Ceratitoides Hendel is also discussed, with Pardalaspinus Hering, Notophosa Zia and Ceratitisoma Zia placed as new synonyms. The African Chelyophora frigida Hering is transferred from Bistrispinaria and placed as a new synonym of Ceratitoides nigromaculatus Hendel. The Asian C. aberratus (Hardy), C. adnatus (Hardy) and C. maai (Chen) are transferred from Acroceratitis Hendel. Ceratitoides namtamai sp. nov. and C. sikhimensis sp. nov. are described from SE Asia. Keys to all known species are provided. Hostplants are known only for Bistrispinaria, which breeds in various grasses, including guinea grass, sorghum and maize, belonging to the subfamily Panicoideae.     

New taxa of Rhagidia and Foveacheles (Acari: Prostigmata: Rhagidiidae) from Italian and French caves,with keys to adults of subgenera Deharvengiella and Mediostella

Three new species of rhagidiid mites from France and Italy, Rhagidia (Deharvengiella) paralleloseta sp. nov., R. (D.) serpentiforma sp. nov. and Foveacheles (Mediostella) carnichensis sp. nov., are described. Keys to adults of the known species of Rhagidia (Deharvengiella) and Foveacheles (Mediostella) are presented.     

Geographical distributions and host associations of larval parasitoids of frugivorous Drosophilidae in Japan

In Japan, dominant parasitoids attacking frugivorous Drosophilidae species were Asobara (Braconidae, Alysiinae), Leptopilina, and Ganaspis species (Figitidae, Eucoilinae). Asobara japonica was found throughout Japan, and its populations in the main islands of Japan were parthenogenetic whereas those in the subtropical islands were sexually reproducing. Other parasitoids showed rather restricted distributions; A.tabida, A. rossica, A. rufescens, and Leptopilina heterotoma occurred mainly in northern to central parts of the main islands, Ganaspis xanthopoda from central to southern parts of the main islands, A. leveri in a southern part of the main islands, and A. pleuralis, L. victoriae, and Ganaspis sp. mainly in the subtropical islands. Their major hosts were species of the D. melanogaster species group in the main islands, and species of the D. melanogaster, immigrans, and polychaeta species groups in the subtropical islands. Host use considerably varied among parasitoid species, especially in the subtropical islands.     

Species of the genera Bakera and Mangganeura (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Typhlocybinae) occurring on mango and other crop plants in the Oriental region

The genera Bakera (Bakera), Bakera (Guinobata) and Mangganeura (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Typhlocybinae) are re-described and compared. Sandalla is considered a synonym of Bakera (Guinobata) (syn. nov.).

Bakera (Bakera) nigrobilineata (Melichar) (=vittata Mahmood) is redescribed and illustrated from mango in the Philippines, on which it is frequently abundant, and found in association with Bakera (Bakera) luzonica sp. nov. which is described. Bakera (Bakera) abaca sp. nov. is described from the Philippines having been collected on abaca (Manila hemp). Bakera (Guinobata) nigroscuta Mahmood is redescribed from the Philippines and its association with coconut confirmed. Mangganeura reticulata Ghauri, described from Malaysia on mango, has been found in Thailand and the hitherto unknown female is described.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the subgenus Lampetis (Spinthoptera) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) of North and Central America,and the West Indies

Phylogenetic relationships between species of Lampetis (Spinthoptera) of North and Central America and the West Indies were analysed by cladistic methods, based on 65 characters from the external morphology and male genitalia. Eleven species of different generic groups of the subtribe Dicercina were considered as outgroups, including also species of Lampetis (Lampetis) and one South American species of L. (Spinthoptera). The monophyly of Lampetis (Spinthoptera) is supported by two synapomorphies, but this subgenus appears to be more closely related to species of Psiloptera rather than to Old World species of Lampetis (Lampetis), suggesting that Lampetis (Spinthoptera) may be segregated from Lampetis as a different genus. The species of Lampetis (Spinthoptera) from North and Central America and the West Indies do not represent a monophyletic taxon, because L. (S.) tucumana (South American outgroup) is nested within them. Comparison of these results with a previous panbiogeographic analysis indicate that several generalized tracks possess species from different clades, thus suggesting an ancient radiation of this taxon in Mesoamerica and the Mexican Transition Zone.     

Meteorus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitoids of Pyralidae: description and biology of two new species and first record of Meteorus desmiae Zitani, 1998 from Ecuador

Two new Ecuadorian wasp species attacking pyralid larvae are described: Meteorus albisericus and Meteorus pyralivorus, as well as a new Ecuadorian distribution record for Meteorus desmiae Zitani, another pyralid parasitoid, previously known from Costa Rica and Colombia. The hosts of M. albisericus were found feeding on Clibadium glabrescens S. F. Blake (Asteraceae), Diplazium costale var. robustum (Sodiro) Stolze (Dryopteridaceae), Brunellia tomentosa Bonpl. (Brunelliaceae) and Cavendishia sp. Lindl. (Ericaceae). Chusquea scandens Kunth (Poaceae) is the associated plant for M. pyralivorus hosts. Meteorus. albisericus is the first Neotropical Meteorus species with dorsopes whose biology is known. We hypothesize that the parasitism of pyraloid caterpillars has originated at least twice in Neotropical Meteorus.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B603F36B-4645-490D-AD4D-469088EEF36F     

A revision of East Asian Acanthomysis (Crustacea: Mysida: Mysidae) and redefinition of Orientomysis,with description of a new species

Twenty species of Acanthomysis s. l., distributed in Japanese, Korean and Chinese coastal waters, are revised. These species are distinguished from Acanthomysis s. str. by the following characters: the carpopropodus of the endopod of the third to eighth thoracic limbs divided into three to eight subsegments; the exopod of the fourth male pleopod with two long subequal terminal setae; the telson long linguiform or triangular without basal dilated portion and armed with spines throughout margins. On the basis of these characters, the genus Orientomysis, which was revived by Holmquist () and comprised O. japonica and O. mitsukurii, is redefined and recognized to contain the following 18 valid species: O. aokii, O. aspera, O. crassispinosa, O. fujinagai, O. hwanhaiensis, O. koreana, O. leptura, O. meridionalis, O. okayamaensis, O. pseudomitsukurii, O. robusta, O. rotundicauda, O. sagamiensis, O. serrata, O. sheni, O. tamurai, O. tenella, and O. tenuicauda. Acanthomysis longicauda and A. nakazatoi are synonymized with O. rotundicauda and O. japonica, respectively. A new species, O. arenaria, is described from Japan.     

Classification,reconstructed phylogeny and geographic history of the Neotropical phorid flies of the genus Gymnophora (Diptera: Phoridae)

The Neotropical species of Gymnophora are revised to include 28 species, 17 of which are new. Two subgenera, Cerocratia (in a revised sense) and Gymnophora s.s. are recognized. Cerocratia includes Gymnophora triangularis sp. nov., G. acutangula Schmitz, G. latibrachia sp. nov., G. lacertosa sp. nov., G. chilensis Borgmeier, G. parachilensis sp. nov., G. aemula Borgmeier, G. forticornis Schmitz, and doubtfully G. colona Brues. G. adumbrata Borgmeier is considered as a junior synonym of G. aemula (syn. nov.). Within Gymnophora s.s. there are four major lineages, the G. commotria-group, the G. carina-group, the G. cymatoneura-group and the G. quartomollis-group. Of these, the G. carina-group and the G. quartomollis-group are known only from the Holarctic Region. The G. commotria-group consists of the G. forcipis-series, containing G. forcipis sp. nov., subuncata sp. nov. and uncata sp. nov., and G. damula-series, whose species are further organized into the G. strigula-subseries, containing G. strigula sp. nov. and G. unidentata sp. nov., plus the G. falciformis-subseries, containing G. alces sp. nov., damula sp. nov. and falciformis sp. nov. Also included in the G. commotria-group are eight residual species whose relationships cannot be deduced at this time. Three of these species, G. commotria Schmitz, penai sp. nov. and quadrata sp. nov. are more closely related to each other than to G. auricula sp. nov., brasiliensis Borgmeier, heteroneura Schmitz, inusitata sp. nov. and trispina sp. nov. The G. cymatoneura-group contains G. cymatoneura Enderlein and G. spiracularis Borgmeier, and the male of G. spiracularis is described for the first time. A key is given that permits identification of males of most species, but females cannot be identified with certainty. A partially sequenced classification of the genus indicates the relationships of most of the included species. The genus may have originated in the Neotropical Region, although the evidence is tenuous, and shows some similarity of distribution to Andean-centered plant groups.     

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.     

Revision of Aleiodes (Hemigyroneuron) parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) with reappraisal of subgeneric limits,descriptions of new species and phylogenetic analysis

The parasitic rogadine braconid wasp subgenus Hemigyroneuron, previously and inappropriately synonymized with Aleiodes (Chelonorhogas) as a result of misidentification, is here synonymized with Aleiodes (Pholichora). A key to the 26 species of Aleiodes (Hemigyroneuron) is presented, including 16 which are described and illustrated as new: A. (H.) amoretae Butcher and Quicke, A. (H.) faddenae Butcher and Quicke, A. (H.) glandularis Butcher and Quicke and A. (H.) plurivena Butcher and Quicke from South Africa; A. (H.) bakeri Butcher and Quicke from Indonesia; A. (H.) bengalensis Butcher and Quicke from India; A. (H.) cusackae Butcher and Quicke from Uganda; A. (H.) elgon Butcher and Quicke, A. (H.) meruensis Butcher and Quicke and A. (H.) pappi Butcher and Quicke from Kenya; A. (H.) fenwickae Butcher and Quicke from Congo; A. (H.) pseudospeciosus Butcher and Quicke from Brunei; A. (H.) roberti Butcher and Quicke from Thailand; A. (H.) sharkeyi Butcher and Quicke from Madagascar; A. (H.) trianguliscleroma Butcher and Quicke from Malawi and Kenya; and A. (H.) ugandaensis Butcher and Quicke from Uganda. A. (H.) apicale (Brues) comb. nov., A. (H.) dubiosus (Fullaway) comb. nov., A. (H.) speciosus (Baker) comb. nov. and A. (H.) suffusus (Baker) comb. nov. are redescribed and illustrated. Males of most species of A. (Hemigyroneuron) are shown to possess a glandular pore opening near the mid-posterior margins of metasomal tergites 4–6, though the situation in A. (H.) dubiosus is different. Results of morphological phylogenetic analysis are presented and indicate clear separation between African and Asian species groups. Two of the new species have been reared from Geometridae and one apparently from Pieridae.     

New species of cheilostomatous Bryozoa from subantarctic Marion and Prince Edward Islands

Fifteen new species of cheilostomatous Bryozoa are described from the subantarctic Marion and Prince Edward Islands: Pyriporoides judyae, Valdemunitella dianae, Cornucopina elongata, Cornucopina bryonyae, Cornucopina antlera, Paracellaria elizabethae, Filaguria lithocrustata, Celleporella marionensis, Catenicella glabrosa, Ipsibuffonella hyalina, Parkermavella corrugata, Calloporina spinosa, Fenestrulina pumicosa, Microporella mandibulata, and Reteporellina berylae. Two species originally described from the region, Sclerodomus myriozoides and Reteporella gigantea, are here reported for only the second time, while three others, Celleporella alia, Celleporella bougainvillei, and Talivittaticella frigida, represent new records for Marion Island. Phonicosia jousseaumei was previously recorded from Marion Island as P. circinata.     

Seven new species of Amynthas (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) and new earthworm records from Taiwan

Earthworm specimens collected in southern Taiwan consisted of seven new species of Amynthas and several previously known species, mostly widely distributed peregrines. The new species are A. nanrenensis of the octothecal A. corticis species group, A. monsoonus and A. huangi of the sexthecal A. aelianus species group, and four proandric octothecal species: A. chaishanensis, A. hengchunensis, A. kaopingensis and A. ailiaoensis. Amynthas chaishanensis has dorsal intrasegmental spermathecal pores, but the other three proandric species have dorsal, lateral or ventral intersegmental spermathecal pores, respectively. The proandric species are united by several features, including the enclosure of segment xi in a sac, as in A. formosae (also proandric), octothecal with spermathecae in vi–ix, spermathecal diverticula stalks generally kinked and often enclosed in membrane, and prostatic ducts divided polytomously into numerous small ductlets, which may be grouped into bundles of two to five. In A. ailiaoensis the prostatic duct trunk contains up to seven separate lumens in the ental half, surrounded by the circular muscle of the duct, while in A. chaishanensis the prostatic duct trunk contains about 40 small lumens. Of the previously known species in the collection, Pontodrilus litoralis and Metaphire houlleti are first reported from Taiwan. Additional locations for A. incongruus and A. robustus are given, and in the latter case the material appears to be the usual male‐sterile morph. Other species found are Pontoscolex corethrurus, Amynthas corticis, A. gracilis, Metaphire californica, and Polypheretima elongata.     

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.     

Recent and fossil Lunulitidae (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) 4. American and Australian species of Otionella

The nominal, free living lunulitiform genus Otionella has been found to include two major groups of species, each one with a distinctive periancestrular pattern of primary zooids. The first group occurs in the Eocene of North America and includes the type species, O. perforata, and several other forms. The second group occurs in the Late Eocene to Recent of Australasia, and may prove to be generically distinct. Intermediate forms, such as O. parvula from the Argentinian Tertiary, are discussed, and a diverse fauna of 10 species from Australia is described. Although some of these species, like O. cupola, O. exigua and O. nitida, have long been known from Australia. it has only recently been recognized that three New Zealand forms, O. squamosa, O. zelandica and O. proberti, also occur in the Tertiary and/or Recent of Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia. In addition, four species are considered to be new. These include O. australis, O. auricula and O. minuta, which are probably closely related to one another, and to O. zelandica. The fourth species, O. browni, has a unique periancestrular budding pattern which resembles that of fossil Lunulites more than any form of ‘Australasian Otionella’. Although, in many ways, O. browni could be assigned to Lunulites sensu lato, it is included here in Otionella.