Effects of melezitose and stachyose on adult longevity and virus persistence in Culicoides sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

A wide variety of blood-feeding Diptera feed on extrafloral sugar sources such as homopteran honeydew. The significance of these sugar sources to insect survival and disease transmission is poorly known. Culicoides sonorensis, a biting midge, can survive on plant sugars but might also feed on homopteran honeydew. The survival of C. sonorensis fed 10% melezitose or 10% stachyose was compared to that of C. sonorensis fed 10% sucrose. A significantly greater number of C. sonorensis survived longer when fed melezitose than when fed either stachyose or sucrose. The effect of sugar meals on vector competence was measured using bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease viruses. There was no significant difference in viral persistence. However, if C. sonorensis feeds on homopteran honeydew in the wild, a larger number of midges could survive to transmit orbiviruses.     

Smicridea McLachlan (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from northwestern Argentina and Bolivia: new species,redescription, association and new records

Four new species of Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) are described from Argentina and Bolivia. Smicridea (Rhyacophylax) bifida sp. nov., S. (R.) elisae sp. nov. and S. (R.) valeni sp. nov. are described from the male; S. (R.) thermophyla sp. nov. is described as the first species of Smicridea from thermal springs. The larva and pupa of S. (R.) thermophila were associated using the metamorphotype method. New distributional records of S. (R.) dithyra, S. (R.) atrobasis, S. (R.) peruana and S. (R.) pampeana are included. Morphological characters of male S. (R.) peruana that were not mentioned before are included. Illustrations of all taxa named in this paper are included.     

East African Agromyzidae (Diptera): further descriptions,revisionary notes and new records

Twenty-seven new species of Agromyzidae are described from Kenya and two from Uganda in the genera Melanagromyza, Ophiomyia, Tropicomyia, Agromyza, Cerodontha, Liriomyza, Phytoliriomyza, Napomyza, Phytomyza and Chromatomyia. The following new combinations are established: Cerodontha (Butomomyza) cariciphaga (Spencer 1963), Cerodontha (Butomomyza) pubicata (Spencer 1959), Napomyza eximia (Spencer 1964a) and Chromatomyia anonera (Séguy 1951); in addition Phytomyza natalensis Spencer 1964 a is raised to specific status.

New records are given of the important pest species Ophiomyia spencerella and Liriomyza trifolii.

The distribution of Kenyan species within Africa is discussed and the Palaearctic origin of new, high altitude species from Mt. Kenya is documented.     

A new species of Forcipomyia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) ectoparasitic on butterflies in New Guinea

A new species, Forcipomyia (Trichohelea) papuensis, is described from New Guinea, where it is ectoparasitic on butterflies. The modifications and diagnostic characters of this species are compared with those of the other Australasian Trichohelea.     

A revision of the Nearctic species of Clinohelea Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The seven species of Clinohelea known to inhabit North America are described and illustrated, and a key is provided for identification. Two species groups are recognized: the unimaculata group and the bimaculata group. Clinohelea longitheca and C. pseudonubifera are new. Clino - helea nebulosa (Malloch) is a synonym of C. curriei (Coquillett) NEW SYNONOMY.     

Field behavior and seasonal activity of the rodent bot fly, Cuterebra tenebrosa, central Washington (Diptera: Cuterebridae)

Behavior and activity of the rodent bot fly, Cuterebra tenebrosa Coquillett, was studied at a natural aggregation site in central Washington. Daily flight activity extended from 1700 hr to 2030 hr (PDT) beginning in mid - July of 1970 and 1971. The peak of flight activity, in August, was followed by a decline in activity through September. Male flies aggregated on the vertical faces of basalt cliffs, where they awaited females. Daily activity reached a peak at temperatures of 30 – 35 C. Eggs were laid in rock crevices without regard to the proximity of Neotoma wood rat hosts. Developing fly pupae were found in litter in wood rat tunnels in basalt cliffs.     

Descriptions of the Patagonian species of the subgenus Trichohelea of Forcipomyia,with a key to the Neotropical species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The following two new species of Forcipomyia (Trichohelea) collected in the Nothofagus patagonian forest are described and illustrated: F. (T.) sayhuequei from the province of Chubut in Argentina and Llanquihue in Chile, and F. (T.) tehuelche from the Argentinean province of Santa Cruz. Based on the examination of the types, the previously known species Lasiohelea shannoni Ingram and Macfie is recognized as a junior synonym of Forcipomyia limnetis Ingram and Macfie, and the species is redescribed and illustrated. A key to recognition of females and males of the 14 Neotropical species of the subgenus is included.     

Hispid cotton rat ( Sigmodon hispidus ) in Nebraska: distribution, reproduction, and seasonal activity

The hispid cotton rat ( Sigmodon hispidus ) has occurred in Nebraska for about 50 years and entered the state from the south via northward movements through Kansas. However, little is known about its status or distribution in the state in recent decades. We conducted surveys for S. hispidus in southern Nebraska at historical sites and sites without previous records to determine its current status. From 2004 to 2008, we documented cotton rats at 9 of 12 historical sites in south-central and extreme southeastern parts of the state, and we captured this species at 13 new sites in southwestern and south-central Nebraska. In the past 3 decades, the distribution of S. hispidus has expanded westward but not northward in the state. An explanation for such a shift is unclear. At this northern edge of its geographical range, pregnant females were captured from early April to early October, and nonreproductive females were captured from November to January. Males with enlarged testes occurred from late March to September. Aspects of its natural history in Nebraska are similar to those reported in Kansas.     

The sentinel crabs of the genus Chaenostoma (Stimpson, 1858) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Macrophthalmidae), with description of a new species and new records

The genus Chaenostoma (Stimpson, 1858) so far includes four distinct species, i.e. C. boscii (Audouin, 1826), C. lisae (Poupin and Bouchard, 2010), C. punctulatus Miers, 1884, and C. sinuspersici (Naderloo and Türkay, 2011). Chaenostoma java n. sp. is here described as a fifth species from Java (Indonesia) easily distinguished from its congeners by the features of the male first pleopod, the penultimate segment of the male abdomen, and the unique female gonopore. The new species is most similar to C. lisae, but they differ in the morphology of the male chelipeds and female gonopores. Chaenostoma lisae is redescribed and recorded from Madagascar, Mayotte I. and New Caledonia. An identification key for the genus is provided.     

Revision of the subfamily Cardiochilinae Ashmead, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Egypt,with new records and a new species

In the present study, the subfamily Cardiochilinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is revised. This study is based on specimens deposited in Egyptian repositories. Many of them were collected during Priesner’s trips to Gebel Elba (extreme south-west of Egypt). The subfamily Cardiochilinae is represented in Egypt by 11 species in three genera, Bohayella Belokobylskij, 1987 (one species), Cardiochiles Nees, 1819 (three species) and Schoenlandella Cameron, 1905 (seven species). The cardiochiline species C. pseudofallax Telenga, 1955 and S. deserta (Telenga, 1955) are recorded here as new records in the fauna of Egypt. The females of previously known male C. weidholzi Fischer, 1958, S. acrenulata (Fischer, 1958) and S. obscuriceps (Fischer, 1958) as well as the male of the previously known female S. glabra (Fischer, 1958) are described. Schoenlandella pseudoglabra sp. nov. is also described and illustrated.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C134A1AA-81F6-4661-9C7B-12A7CAE08F67     

A redescription of the genus Cyrebion Fairmaire, 1891, with notes on related taxa and distribution (Coleoptera: Cantharidae)

Eight new species and one new record of Elasmopus Costa, 1853 are described from Australian waters including the extended offshore territories of Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Indian Ocean), Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), Ashmore Reef (Timor Sea), Norfolk Island (Tasman Sea) and Lord Howe Island (Tasman Sea). Range extensions are reported for seven described Australian species. Twenty-three species are now known from Australian waters. Elasmopus arafura sp. nov., E. carteri sp. nov., E. hyperopia sp. nov., E. leveque sp. nov., E. mcluerensis sp. nov., E. otus sp. nov., E. shepherdi sp. nov. and E. woodjonesi sp. nov. are described herein.     

A new species of the genus Nanosesarma (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), and redescription of Nanosesarma jousseaumei (Nobili, 1906), including new records from the Persian Gulf

A new species of sesarmid crab from the Persian Gulf, Nanosesarma sarii n. sp. is described. Further, a poorly known species, N. jousseaumei (Nobili, 1906 Nobili, G. 1906. Faune carcinologique de la Mer Rouge. Décapodes et Stomatopodes. Ann Sci Nat, Zool ser. 9., 4(1): 1–347.  [Google Scholar]), is recorded from the Persian Gulf and recognized as a valid species. N. sarii n. sp. is allied to N. minutum (De Man, 1887) and N. jousseaumei (Nobili, 1906) Nobili, G. 1906. Faune carcinologique de la Mer Rouge. Décapodes et Stomatopodes. Ann Sci Nat, Zool ser. 9., 4(1): 1–347.  [Google Scholar], but is easily distinguishable from them through a number of characters, in particular the upper surface of the palm with a longitudinal granular ridge, the upper surface of the movable finger fully covered with tubercles, and abdomen of the male with the sixth segment wide and the seventh segment remarkably elongate. N. jousseaumei differs from its remaining congeners in having a large gap between the cheliped fingers, a large tubercle proximally on the outer surface of the movable finger, and large teeth on the posterior margin of the merus of the walking legs.     

Pherbina mediterranea: immature stages,biology, phenology and distribution (Diptera: Sciomyzidae)

The egg, three larval instars, and puparium of Pherbina mediterranea are described. The duration of the various immature stages indicates that this specis is univoltine and spends the winter as quiescent larvae. The biology, phenology and geographical distribution are presented. The main features of the larvae are illustrated with scanning electron micrographs. A key to the adults of genus Pherbina is given.     

Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae: Diptera) present in aquatic macrophytes from wetlands of Marchantaria Island,Iranduba, Central Amazonia,Brazil

Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) are easily found in both aquatic and semi-aquatic sites under various environmental conditions, where their immature stages develop in areas of nutrient richness. Material was collected from six wetland areas in Ilha da Marchantaria, Iranduba, Amazonas, between July and October 2010 and February and June 2011 throughout the Amazon River’s cycle (receding and flooding stages), in aquatic macrophytes Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes and Salvinia auriculata. The collections produced 431 immature individuals: 191 (44.3%) in E. crassipes, 125 (29%) in P. stratiotes and 115 (26.7%) in S. auriculata. After development in the laboratory 16 species were identified belonging to the following genera: Alluaudomyia Kieffer, Bezzia Kieffer, Dasyhelea Kieffer, Forcipomyia Meigen, Heteromyia Say, Neobezzia Wirth and Ratanaworabhan, Palpomyia Meigen, Paryphoconus Enderlein and Stilobezzia Kieffer. Aquatic macrophytes are excellent substrates for immature Ceratopogonidae, which are important because of their value to the balance of biodiversity in ceratofauna in wetlands.