Psocoptera (Insecta) from Bermuda

Seventeen species of Psocoptera are recorded from Bermuda, increasing the known number from three. Four new species are described: Echmepteryx atlantica n. sp., Caecilius bermudensis n. sp., Indiopsocus hilburni n. sp., and I. nebulosus n. sp. The latter two species appear to be closely related and two alternative hypotheses are proposed for their origin. Ectopsocus spilotus Thornton and Wong is recorded outside the central Pacific area for the first time. The species are assigned to four categories according to probable duration of time on Bermuda and probable source of original invaders: (1) endemics (four species); (2) species with wide distributions in the tropics and subtropics, not restricted to islands and sea coasts (four species); (3) species largely restricted to sea coasts and islands, not necessarily tropical (three species); (4) species widely distributed in southeastern United States, not restricted to the sea coast or the subtropical region (five species).     

A new species of Glyphidrilus (Microchaetidae: Oligochaeta) from East Africa

Of all of the chrysomelid subfamilies, only the larvae of the Megascelinae, along with those of the Aulacoscelinae remain undescribed. The first instar larva of Megascelis puella Lacordaire from Panama is described, as well as the eggs. Larval characters, eggs and oviposition behaviour are used to relate the Megascelinae with the Eumolpinae in support of what is known to date concerning adult morphology.     

A new genus and two new species of Parastenocarididae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from southeastern India

Indocaris gen. nov. with two new species, Indocaris imbricata sp. nov. and Indocaris inopinata sp. nov., and also for the already known Indocaris tirupatiensis (Ranga Reddy 2011a) comb. nov. – all from the groundwaters in peninsular India. The highly diagnostic synapomorphy of the new genus is a composite character associated with the male leg 4 basis: five or six prominent, imbricate, enlarged, petal-like spinules, arranged as a semi-whorl at the insertion of the endopod and increasing in size from internal to external. Another distinctive feature of the same appendage is that its one-segmented endopod is dilated or bulbous in the proximal half, produced distally into an incurved spiniform or horn-like structure about as long as the corresponding first exopodal segment, and ornamented with three or four fine spinules on the subproximal outer margin. The three species also share a unique constellation of other salient morphologic features, which along with the phylogenetic position of Indocaris gen. nov. within the family Parastenocarididae are discussed. Indocaris gen. nov. has closest phylogenetic affinity with the Neotropical Remaneicari Jakobi, 1972. A short note on the ecology and biogeography of the parastenocaridid species of the Indian subcontinent is provided besides a key for their identification.     

An extraordinary new genus and species of spider wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from Southeast Asia

The new genus Aberropompilus Shimizu & Wahis, family Pompilidae, is described from Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Thailand) based on the new species A. dayi Shimizu & Wahis. Its peculiar morphological characteristics and taxonomic position within the family are discussed and the genus is tentatively placed in the subfamily Pepsinae.     

A checklist and key to species of the genus Sophonia (Insecta: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Nirvaninae) in China with descriptions of two new species

This paper provides a checklist and a key to the 22 Chinese species of the nirvanine leafhopper genus Sophonia Walker. Two new species, Sophonia transvittata sp. nov. and S. yunnanensis sp. nov., are described and illustrated. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (IEGUC).     

A new large and colourful species of the genus Doto (Nudibranchia: Dotidae) from South Africa

A new species of the genus Doto is described from the Cape Peninsula of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. To date, the genus Doto is probably one of the more complex and poorly defined genera within nudibranchs. The very small body size and very similar external and internal features make this genus problematic and, therefore, poorly studied. Despite the large number of described species around the world, only three species are known to be present in South Africa: Doto coronata (Gmelin, 1791), Doto pinnatifida (Montagu, 1804) and Doto rosea Trinchese, 1881. Morphologically, Doto splendida sp. nov. is easily distinguished from all its South African congeneric species by its conspicuous colouration. In addition, mitochondrial and nuclear genes clearly separate the new species from other species from southern Africa. A molecular phylogeny based on two mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and one nuclear (H3) gene is herein presented. This phylogeny includes all available species of Doto (valid and unidentified) as well as several other traditionally closed related species retrieved from GenBank.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3764C38DF6BB-415F-958C-E3132A1A9524     

A new genus and two new species of Argeiinae (Crustacea: Isopoda: Bopyridae) from the Indo-west Pacific

Three hosts from Indo-west Pacific including Kiribati, Guam Island and Australia were examined, and found to be infested by three species of the subfamily Argeiinae. We describe Paraeragia kiribatiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. from Kiribati infesting Synalpheus gracilirostris. The new genus is most related to Eragia and it can be distinguished by female with triangular pleon, lateral plates extend posteriorly, paired uropods, widely opened brood pouch. Argeiopsis guamensis sp. nov. from Guam Island infesting Synalpheus cf. stimpsoni. The new species is most similar to Argeiopsis inhacae but differs in female with curved posterior margin of first oostegite, partly fused pleomeres, and male with head separated from first pereomere, pleon as wide as seventh pereomere. We also record Stegoalpheon kempi from Australia for the first time, infesting Alpheus cf. perplexus. Keys to the nine genera of Argeiinae, and to three species of Argeiopsis are provided. A table for all 13 species of Argeiinae with localities and host records is also provided. A table comparing the distribution of lateral plates and morphology of pleopods and uropods among argeiine genera is presented.

http://www.zoobank/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:284AB32C-6AE5-45BC-9C5D-01B3030D6DE6     

A new genus and species of Neotropical Anacolini and new distributional records (Insecta,Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)

A new genus is described: Acanthocornis gen. nov., type species, Acanthocornis flavus sp. nov. from Brazil, Pará. A new species is described: Atrocolus guarani sp. nov. from Paraguay, Cordillera, which differs from Atrocolus mariahelenae Monné and Monné, 2008 Monné, MA and Monné, ML. 2008. Atrocolus mariahelenae, novo gênero e espécie de Anacolini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). Iheringia Sér Zool, 98(2): 215–217. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] principally by the sparse punctures in the occiput and pronotum and by the dull interspaces between elytral carinae. We present new distributional data for Myzomorphus gounellei Lameere, 1912 from Brazil, São Paulo, and Biribellus martinsi Galileo, 1987 Galileo, MHM. 1987. Sistemática das tribos Meroscelisini e Anacolini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae) nas Américas. II, Anacolini. Rev Bras Entomol, 31(4): 481–705.  [Google Scholar] from Brazil, Rondônia, and new country data for Myzomorphus scutellatus Sallé, 1849 Sallé, A. 1849. Coléoptères nouveaux de l'Amérique. 2e partie. Ann Soc Entomol Fr, 2(7): 429–435.  [Google Scholar] and Nicias alurnoides (Thomson, 1857), both from Trinidad and Tobago, and Xanthonicias prostrata Galileo, 1987 Galileo, MHM. 1987. Sistemática das tribos Meroscelisini e Anacolini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae) nas Américas. II, Anacolini. Rev Bras Entomol, 31(4): 481–705.  [Google Scholar] from Peru, Junin. All the species are illustrated.     

A new genus and two new species of cave-dwelling Misophrioid copepods from the Balearic Islands (Mediterranean)

Speleophriopsis balearicus n. gen., n. sp., and Speleophria gymnesica, n. sp. are described from the flooded coastal karst of the Balearic Is. Two existing species of Speleophria are transferred to the new genus. Speleophriopsis scottodicarloi (Boxshall and Iliffe), new combination, occurs on Bermuda (Atlantic) and S. campaneri (Boxshall and Iliffe), new combination, in the Palau Archipelago (Indo-West Pacific). The type species of Speleophria is known only from caves on Bermuda. Both genera are noteworthy for displaying the most primitive condition known in copepods of the allobasis of maxilla (setal formula 5,3), and of the male antennule which, in Speleophriopsis n. gen., is geniculate but exhibits a 27-segmented condition. They inhabit cave waters with salinities in excess of 18‰., avoiding lower salinity inland groundwater habitats. A Tethyan relict status is proposed for both taxa.     

A new species of the genus Cytheridella (Crustacea,Ostracoda) from Nigeria,West Africa

Cytheridella tepida sp. nov., a freshwater ostracod, is described from Nigeria, West Africa. It has been compared with five extant species of the genus Cytheridella. Cytheridella tepida was collected from slow-flowing streams characterized by warm water. Some other ecological notes on its habitat are given.     

A new leaf-resembling genus of bush-cricket from West Africa (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Trimusculotrema warnaki gen. et sp. nov. is described from the skin of Himantura uarank Forsskål. Trimusculotrema is distinguished from other genera in the Benedeniinae by the following combination of anatomical features: accessory sclerites and anterior hamuli small; haptor with two or three intrinsic, concentric muscle bands; haptor papillate ventrally; cirrus sac with internal seminal vesicle and spermatophore matrix reservoir; separate male and female pores opening ventrally and dorsally respectively; vagina short. On the basis of these features Benedenia micracantha Euzet and Maillard, 1967 from the skin and B. leucanthemum Euzet and Maillard, 1967 from the gills of Dasyatis marmorata Steindachner off Senegal are transferred to the new genus as Trimusculotrema micracantha comb. nov. and T. leucanthemum comb. nov. The presence of haptoral papillae, noted previously in some species of Entobdella, perhaps indicates that the new genus is more closely related to entobdellids than to benedeniids. Several living specimens of T. uarnaki had 7 (2–17) eggs in early cleavage projecting from the body, their appendages gripped in a muscular sphincter at the uterine opening. These egg bundles appear to be shed from the parasite soon after laying.     

A new genus and two new species of Pudeoniscidae Lemos de Castro 1973 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) from Brazil

To date, the family Pudeoniscidae includes six species and three genera, Pudeoniscus, Brasiloniscus and Iansaoniscus, with distributions restricted to Brazil. Here, we redefine the family Pudeoniscidae based on the discovery of a new genus and two new species, Oxossioniscus pataxo sp. nov. and Oxossioniscus akoko sp. nov., from the Brazilian Atlantic forest in the state of Bahia, and on the examination of Pudeoniscus birabeni and Pudeoniscus obscurus. Moreover, P. obscurus is re-described and new records are provided for P. birabeni.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A0123730-C623-49CE-8665-AE17FDDF994A.     

A new species of Liposcelis (Psocoptera,Liposcelidae) from North America with records of another species

Summary

Four enzyme systems have been analysed in digestive gland extracts of snails of the Bulinus africanus group. Forty population samples, representing eight of the ten nominal species recognized in the group, have been examined. Three distinct enzyme types were recognized in each of three of the systems and ten types in the fourth. Few of the individual enzyme types show marked restriction in either their taxonomic or geographic distributions. However, certain combinations of types appear to be associated with some nominal taxa and others with regional distributions.     

A new genus and species of Syncarida (Crustacea: Malacostraca) from Borneo

A new genus and species of the family Parabathynellidae, Sabahbathynella wongi, is described. It has been discovered in the interstitial of coarse sand filling the spaces between big stones of the bank along a stream in Sabah on Borneo. The new genus of the family Parabathynellidae exhibits some unusual features which make it impossible to assess its phylogenetic position. There are some convergencies with the genus Thermobathynella.     

A new genus and species of Caprellidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Kiribati

ABSTRACT

Luisacaprella eliae gen. nov, sp. nov. (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Caprellidae) is described bwct ased on specimens collected from Kiribati, Pacific Ocean. The new genus is close to Aciconula but can be mainly distinguished by the following characteristics: (1) pereonites 6 and 7 are fused in Luisacaprella gen. nov. while they are separated in Aciconula; (2) the setal formula of mandibular palp is 2-x-1 in Luisacaprella and 1-x-1 in Aciconula; (3) pereopods 3 and 4 are two-articulate in males and females of Luisacaprella, whereas there is sexual dimorphism in Aciconula, and males have pereopods 3 and 4 two-articulate while females have pereopod 3 two- or three-articulate and pereopod 4 four-articulate. The new species L. eliae is additionally characterised by its tiny size (<3 mm). The new taxon was collected from dead branching coral of shallow waters (3–32 m). Further studies targeting small caprellids which could easily be overlooked from substrates such as sediments and dead corals are needed to properly understand the global caprellid diversity of tropical and temperate areas.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F5A24BE-A7AC-4D3C-A087-F7284F84A2DC