Daily activity schedule,gregariousness, and defensive behaviour in the Neotropical harvestman Goniosoma longipes (Opiliones: Gonyleptidae)

In this paper we provide a field account of some aspects of the behavioural biology of Goniosoma longipes (Roewer), a harvestman which commonly occurs in caves in South-east Brazil. During daytime, solitary and aggregated individuals can be found resting on the cave walls. Just after sunset, however, many individuals leave the cave to forage for live and dead arthropods. Foraging individuals return to the cave before dawn. Aggregations of G. longipes contain on average 34 individuals (range 7-200), and the groups are usually found close to the water source and away from the cave entrance. The main predators of G. longipes are the spider Ctenus fasciatus Mello-Leitao (Ctenidae) and the opossum Philander opossum (L.) (Didelphidae). Upon disturbance solitary and aggregated individuals may either flee, or drop from the cave wall or vegetation. The harvestmen can also release a repugnatory liquid upon manipulation, and aggregated individuals collectively discharge this secretion toward the aggressor before fleeing. The activity schedule of G. longipes shows that individuals need to leave the cave periodically to forage, and therefore the population can be considered trogloxene. Data on the food items collected by G. longipes indicate that the harvestman is a generalist predator which also feeds on dead animal matter. Gregarious behaviour is considered relatively common among harvestmen and has been interpreted in several ways. We suggest that gregarious behaviour in G. longipes may be related with the choice of more suitable microconditions in the cave habitat and/or with group chemical defence.     

Emersion behaviour and foraging ecology of the common Chilean clingfish Sicyases sanguineus (Pisces: Gobiesocidae)

The present study is the first to correlate information on emersion behaviour and foraging ecology of Sicyases sanguineus, a common clingfish of the Chilean coast. Individuals smaller than 15 cm in total length were frequently found at the highest points in the inter-tidal zone and consumed inter-tidal animals and seaweeds. Fish larger than 23 cm were infrequently observed emersed in the lower inter-tidal zone, but were collected sub-tidally by divers. These large clingfish ate mainly benthic animals occurring in the low inter-tidal and sub-tidal zones. Size-dependent factors, dessication and wave impact restrict the area of action of S. sanguineus to certain areas of the rocky inter-tidal and shallow sub-tidal zone. However, the fish can be locally very abundant, consuming a great diversity of prey items including both direct primary space users and mobile animals able to affect community structure through grazing. We argue, therefore, that S. sanguineus may be important in structuring communities in some areas of the rocky inter-tidal and shallow subtidal zones of Central Chile.     

Foraging ecology of the giant Amazonian ant Dinoponera gigantea (Hymenoptera,Formicidae, Ponerinae): activity schedule,diet and spatial foraging patterns

This study provides a detailed account of the natural history and foraging biology of the ponerine ant Dinoponera gigantea in a rainforest in north Brazil. The species nests on the ground and the colonies contain 70–96 workers. Ant activity is negatively correlated with temperature, and is more intense at dawn and dusk. Foragers leave the nest independently and search for food individually on the leaf litter, within ca 10 m around the nest. Workers are opportunistic feeders that collect seeds and fruits, and hunt for live prey as well as scavenge for dead animal matter. The dry weight of food items ranges from <10 mg (spiders, insect parts) to >400 mg (seeds, fruits). There is no nestmate recruitment during the search for or retrieval of food, irrespective of food type and size. Foragers have a high directional fidelity, and ants from neighbouring colonies may engage in ritualized territorial contests at the border of their foraging areas. The foraging ecology of D. gigantea is compared with other ponerine species living in tropical forests, as well as with other ant groups showing similar behavioural patterns.     

A morphological study of the enteric valves of the Afrotropical Apicotermitinae (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Soil-feeding termites are dominant members of the soil fauna in lowland tropical rainforests. As ecosystem engineers, they have a profound effect on their environment, particularly through modification of the vast quantities of soil that they ingest. There is growing evidence that the processing of the soil in the gut is influenced by the enteric valve--an extremely well-developed feature in the hindgut of the Termitidae, consisting of six ridges, variously armed with spines, teeth and scales. Although this valve has been extensively used in morphological work, little is known of its function. Scanning electron microscopy has been used in this study to better understand the three-dimensional structure of the enteric valve in the Afrotropical Apicotermitinae, a group in which these valves are everted into the following chamber of the hindgut. This configuration lends itself to scanning electron microscopy in a way that it does not in other soil-feeders, since in those species the armature is obscured within the gut lumen. It seems plausible that this structure is instrumental in filtering material through the gut in such a way that the coarse, organic-poor portion of the soil is channeled fast through the centre, while directing the fine, organic-rich portion to the edges for lengthier digestion of recalcitrant plant material. Thus, the enteric valve would appear to be important for the termites to survive on this nutrient-poor but super-abundant food resource.     

Distribution, foraging behaviour, and capture results of the spotted bat ( Euderma maculatum ) in central Oregon

The spotted bat ( Euderma maculatum ) has been virtually unknown in Oregon despite the existence of potential habitat in many areas of the state. In 2002 and 2003 we searched for spotted bats along the John Day, Deschutes, and Crooked Rivers and at a remote dry canyon southeast of the city of Bend in central Oregon. The species was documented through the use of mist-nets, a bat detector, and recognition of audible spotted bat calls. Spotted bats were found at 11 locations in 6 Oregon counties. Nightly activity patterns of spotted bats were unpredictable. Spotted bats were found in 78% of search areas but on only 48% of survey nights. We observed spotted bats foraging above fields and low upland slopes adjacent to rivers and creeks and along the rims of cliffs. Estimated flying heights of spotted bats ranged from 3 m to 50 m aboveground. The species was difficult to capture and was captured only after considerable experimentation with methods and materials. Three spotted bats were captured toward the end of the project in 2003 and accounted for only 0.5% of all bats captured during the study. Although we attached radio transmitters to 2 spotted bats, we found no roost locations. We believe additional spotted bat surveys in Oregon are warranted, especially in higher-elevation habitats, but recommend that to increase their effectiveness, surveys accommodate the unique foraging behavior of the species.     

The taxonomy and biology of the British Adelognathinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Summary

The known biology of Adelognathus, including new findings, is summarized. An illustrated key is given to the 15 species found in the British Isles. One species, A. stelfoxi, is described as new.     

A review of the South-East Asian Nasutitermitinae (Isoptera: Termidae), with descriptions of one new genus and a new species and including a key to the genera

This paper describes Snootitermes leuserensis, gen. et sp. nov. (collected from the Leuser Ecosystem, Sumatra), Hirtitermes brabazoni sp. nov. (collected from north Sulawesi) and the major soldier of Ceylonitermes indicola. It also includes a revised generic key to the Nasutitermitinae of Peninsular Malaysia, Java, Sumatra and Borneo and reassigns the South-East Asian Subulitermes-group of termites to the Nasutitermes-group. Aciculioiditermes denticulatus and A. sarawakensis are considered to be junior synonyms of Aciculioiditermes holmgreni. The genera Aciculioiditermes and Proaciculitermes are considered to be junior synonyms of Malaysiotermes. Therefore Aciculioiditermes holmgreni, Proaciculitermes orientalis, P. sabahensis, P. malayanus and P. lowi are all Malaysiotermes species. Tho's (1982, 1992) unpublished new genus (Genus A) is considered to be a new species of Ceylonitermes. Oriensubulitermes borneensis is shown to be a Subulioiditermes species, S. borneensis. Nasutitermes matangensiformis is shown to be a junior synonym of N. matangensis. Havilanditermes is shown to be a junior synonym of Nasutitermes.     

A new genus and species of the termitophilous Neotropical Hybosorinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Hybosoridae) associated with Cornitermes (Isoptera: Termitidae) in the Cerrado ecoregion in Brazil

The new hybosorine genus Taisia Frolov, Ocampo, Akhmetova et Vaz-de-Mello, gen. nov. is described from T. cornitermitis Frolov, Ocampo, Akhmetova et Vaz-de-Mello, sp. nov. from Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Taisia gen. nov. can be easily distinguished from the rest of the Neotropical Hybosorinae genera by the following characters: mandibular teeth long and robust; pronotum with serrate lateral margins; scutellum with two deep rectangular fossae basally; and metatibial apex protruding. Males of T. cornitermitis sp. nov. differ in having feather-like setae on the three basal tarsomeres of meso- and protarsi. The new taxon is associated with termites Cornitermes cf. bequaerti Emerson, 1952.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:439DDABB-EBC2-4870-AA05-76ADC3BDB7D9     

Notes on the Muscidae of New Guinea (Diptera)

Synopsis

The species of Muscidae described or subsequently recorded by Walker from New Guinea and adjacent islands are reviewed. Twenty-three species are treated: type-locations are stated, lectotypes designated where necessary, and generic assignments given. Two holotypes are considered lost, eight lectotypes are designated, and nine new combinations established.     

Notes on types of Australian Chartocerus Motschulsky (Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae)

ABSTRACT

Type specimens of 11 species of Chartocerus (Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae) from Australia described by A.A. Girault, in the collection of the Queensland Museum, and one species described by W.H. Ashmead, in the United States Museum of Natural History, are redescribed and illustrated. Lectotypes are designated for Chartocerus australiensis (Girault) and Chartocerus hebes (Girault).     

Notes on the biogeography and dorsal coloration of Cicindela amargosae Dahl (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

The widely distributed and fragmented populations of the tiger beetle Cicindela amargosae are documented for dorsal coloration, elytral maculation, habitat, and adult escape behavior. Currently, there are 2 recognized subspecies, C. a. amargosae and C. a nyensis . The analysis of populations indicated that the variation in dorsal coloration did not coincide with the accepted subspecific criteria for this species, thus illustrating the difficulty in applying a subspecific category unequivocally to tiger beetles.     

Radiation in the halophytic coenoses of the Peri-Tethys: taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Ita (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The weevil genus Ita Tournier, 1878 Tournier, H. 1878. Sur deux genres nouveaux de Curculionides. Ann Soc Entomol Belg (C R)., 21: XVIII–XIX.  [Google Scholar] is revised, its phylogeny inferred and its historical biogeography discussed. Its nomenclatural history is detailed and its taxonomic placement within the Curculionidae is examined; the genus is ascribed to the subfamily Curculioninae, tribe Itini. The type specimens of all the described names referable to this genus were examined and lectotypes designated. Ten new species are described. The synonymy Xeronoma Iablokov-Khnzorian, 1964 Iablokov-Khnzorian, SM. 1964. New genera and species of Coleoptera from Transcaucasus and middle Asia. Zool Sb Zool Inst Akad Nauk Armyanskoi SSR, 13: 151–186.  [Google Scholar] = Ita Tournier, 1878 Tournier, H. 1878. Sur deux genres nouveaux de Curculionides. Ann Soc Entomol Belg (C R)., 21: XVIII–XIX.  [Google Scholar] syn. nov. is proposed. The natural history is detailed: all the species for which data are available live in halophytic habitats and are associated with the former family Chenopodiaceae. Inference on phylogeny and hypotheses on historical biogeography are proposed: the genus has probably differentiated not later than the upper Miocene along the south-eastern coasts of the Paratethys; a subsequent radiation occurred as a consequence of the tectonic evolution of the region and through events of dispersion and dispersal.     

Notes on the natural history of Stizus perrisii ibericus Beaumont (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

A study of the biology of Stizus perrisii ibericus revealed some aspects about the behaviour of males, the nesting behaviour of females, and larval development. The slow mass provisioning of this species is compared with the provisioning behaviour of S. continuus and S. pulcherrimus. Cocoons are constructed in seven stages although, compared with other species, there are differences in the duration of each stage. Natural enemies of the wasp include miltogrammine flies, several cuckoo wasps, and velvet ants.     

Natural history and ecology of foraging of the Camponotus crassus Mayr, 1862 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

ABSTRACT

Ants are abundant in terrestrial ecosystems, especially in the Brazilian Cerrado, where they can play several roles at different levels of the food chain, including protection of plants against herbivores. Although there are many studies that evaluate the ant–plant interaction in the Cerrado, little is known about the natural history of most species of ants. Camponotus crassus Mayr, 1862, for example, is considered one of the main agents of plant biotic defence in Cerrado. But there are no studies specifically focused on this species, which hinders the understanding of how arthropod–plant interactions are structured in Cerrado. Here, we describe the natural history and ecology of the foraging of the C. crassus. We conducted the study from January 2013 to December 2014 in 10 quadrants of 40 m² to measure: the abundance, density and distribution of nests, location of the nests, the internal structure of the nests, the daily foraging of workers out of the nest, the food items they collect and the existence of territoriality and dominance of the workers on the soil and vegetation. We found 18 nests, 13 in the soil and 5 in hollow trunks on the ground with variable internal structures. The distribution of nests is aggregate, with density of 0.045 nests/m² and average distance of 3.73 m between nests. The foraging activity occurs on the daytime during the rainy and dry season. Extrafloral nectar and honeydew were the resources most collected, comprising 83.33% of the resources in the rainy period and 30% in the dry period. Camponotus crassus is a dominant species, especially on vegetation, although it also forages on the soil. This is the first study to evaluate in detail the natural history and foraging ecology of C. crassus, a diurnal, aggressive and territorial ant that mainly forage climbing onto the plants.     

Linking morphology and molecules: integrative taxonomy of spathidiids (Protista: Ciliophora: Litostomatea) from Korea

We isolated seven spathidiids from various terrestrial habitats in Korea: Enchelys megaspinata sp. nov.; Spathidium ascendens Wenzel, 1955; S. papilliferum Kahl, 1930; S. polynucleatum (Foissner et al., 2002) comb. nov.; S. rectitoratum Kahl, 1930; S. securiforme Kahl, 1930 stat. nov.; and Apobryophyllum schmidingeri Foissner and Al-Rasheid, 2007. Their vegetative and resting cyst morphology were studied in vivo and after protargol impregnation. Their phylogenetic relationships were inferred from the analysis of 18S rRNA gene and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region sequences. Enchelys megaspinata is nested within the Semispathidium breviarmatum cluster. It differs from all multi-macronucleate congeners either by the number of macronuclear nodules and ciliary rows or by the presence of prominent spines on resting cysts. Both morphological and molecular data support species-level status for S. rectitoratum and S. securiforme. Although S. papilliferum is one of the morphologically most distinct spathidiids due to the presence of oral bulge papillae, it is non-monophyletic. Based on molecular analyses, we suggest reassigning the morphologically transitional S. ascendens and S. polynucleatum, both formerly combined with Epispathidium, to the genus Spathidium. Korean and German populations of Apobryophyllum schmidingeri are highly similar, both morphologically and genetically. The present study highlights the complexity of spathidiid taxonomy, which requires a combination of morphological and molecular approaches to resolve.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:781F932B-97D1-4B15-9E35-602DC6D3AE67