A new species of Rhopalomyia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from Artemisia ludoviciana Nuttall (Compositae) in Utah

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Rhopalomyia (Diarthronomyia) subhumilis Gagné, a new species of Artemisia ludoviciana Nuttall (Compositae), is described and its taxonomically important structural features illustrated. The new species is compared to its most similar North American congeners.          

Bionomics of a subterranean gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from Artemisia ludoviciana

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Bionomics of a gall midge that emerged from nodulelike structures of herbaceous sage, Artemisia ludoviciana, was studied as a part of a larger investigation on possible nitrogen fixation by this plant. Infested plants collected from the field were regularly examined in the laboratory where some of them were grown in a liquid nutrient medium. In the laboratory, adult midges were reared from pupae and induction of infestation was attempted. Apparent nodulation of these plants is caused by the subterranean bud galls of a previously unknown gall midge, Rhopalomyia subhumilis Gagné. Life history of this midge is reported. These midges have one generation per year in the study areas and overwinter as larvae. There were no indications of paedogenesis. These midges are parasitized by a species of Platygasteridae.       

Observations on the heather beetle Lochmaea suturalis (Thomson) (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) and its parasitoids

A small population of the heather beetle Lochmaea suturalis (Thomson) in southern England was found to be parasitized by Asecodes mento (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) and by Degeeria collaris (Diptera, Tachinidae). In recent years outbreaks of L. suturalis in The Netherlands have resulted in alterations of vegetational patterns and this has caused concern. It is suggested that the possibility of biological control of the beetle by A. mento should be investigated.     

Observations on the biology and anatomy of Curtonotidae (Diptera: Schizophora)

New information concerning the biology and anatomy of Cyrtona spp. and Curtonotum quinquevittatum is given. During the hot, dry season the latter species leaves its warthog burrow refuges at night. Cyrtona spp. rest in densely shaded humid habitats during the same season, dispersing in the cooler seasons. Postabdominal sclerites and internal anatomy of the male abdomen are described for both genera. A suggested ground plan of the Ephydroidea is outlined.     

New species of Hygiella Mesnil (Diptera: Tachinidae), parasitoids of leaf insects (Phasmatodea: Phylliidae)

The Oriental genus Hygiella Mesnil is revised: three species are described as new, Hygiella angustifrons sp. nov., Hygiella luteipes sp. nov. and Hygiella proclinata sp. nov., and two known species are re-described, Hygiella nigripes Mesnil and Hygiella pygidialis Mesnil. A key to these five species is provided. The host of H. proclinata, Phyllium siccifolium (Linnaeus) (Phasmatodea: Phylliidae), is recorded for the first time as a host of the Tachinidae. The systematic position of Hygiella is discussed and the genus is placed in the tribe Acemyini (Exoristinae) based on the structure of the male terminalia.     

Lahontan sagebrush ( Artemisia arbuscula ssp. longicaulis ): a new taxon

A new subspecies of Artemisia arbuscula is described, A. arbuscula ssp. longicaulis Winward & McArthur, ssp. Nov. This taxon is a landscape dominant in portions of northwestern Nevada and adjacent California and Oregon at elevations from 1050 to 2000 m on shallow or argillic (clayey) soils. It differs from A. arbuscula ssp. arbuscula in its long floral stalks and large leaves. Morphological, chemical, ecological, and cytological data suggest that it is of hybrid origin. It is hexaploid (6x). We hypothesize that 2x A. arbusucla ssp. arbusucla and 4x A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis are its parents.     

Encarsia (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) parasitoids of Bemisia species in Taiwan (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

The whitefly genus Bemisia (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is represented by five species in Taiwan, including the notorious global pest Bemisia tabaci. A catalogue of Encarsia species attacking these whiteflies, based almost entirely on previously unpublished records, is provided. A key for the identification of the 17 Encarsia species known to parasitize Bemisia species in Taiwan is provided. Three new species, E. guangxingana Shih, Ko and Polaszek sp. nov., E. lineolata Shih, Ko and Polaszek sp. nov. and E. magnalata Shih, Ko and Polaszek sp. nov., are described from Taiwan. These new species were all reared from Bemisia giffardi.     

An Australian stiletto fly (Diptera: Therevidae) parasitised by a bee fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae)

Exechohypopion therephaga sp. nov. (Bombyliidae) emerged from the pupa of Parapsilocephala ambocerina sp. nov. (Therevidae) collected near Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia. The adults, pupae and mature larvae of the bombyliid and therevid are described and illustrated. Because the therevid host was collected from soil as a larva, the first instar bombyliid planidium is presumed to attach to the therevid in the larval stage. This is the second known record of a therevid being parasitised. Both known cases occurred in Australia and involved a bombyliid parasitoid.     

Mating in Wiedemannia (Diptera: Empididae)

Summary

The copulation of Wiedemannia bistigma (Curtis) and W. lepida (Melander) are compared and a detailed account of the action pattern of W. lepida is given. Swarming in Wiedemannia (Clinoceratinae) is compared to members of the subfamily Empidinae. Mate selection and aspects of possible intrasexual competition are discussed. The wing and genitalia of the heretofore unknown male of W. lepida are illustrated.     

The Australian Chloropinae (Diptera: Chloropidae)

The Australian Chloropinae are revised and keys are provided to the 22 genera and 110 species now known. Two genera and 50 new species are described, and nine genera and eight species, previously known in the Oriental Region to the north, are recorded as new to Australia. The new taxa and taxonomic changes proposed are listed in the Appendix. Distribution within Australia, the phylogeny of the genera known in Australia and the biology of the Chloropidae are briefly discussed.     

Robber flies of Utah (Diptera: Asilidae)

Reported are 158 species of Asilidae (Diptera) in 50 genera from Utah. Keys to subfamilies, genera, and species are given, along with information on seasonal and distributional occurrence in Utah. Seventy-six maps and 56 line drawings show the Utah distribution of each species and illustrate important characters used in the keys. A table summarizes the current status of names used in earlier state lists.     

Burrows of the sagebrush vole ( Lemmiscus curtatus ) in southeastern Idaho

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Burrows of the sagebrush vole ( Lemmiscus curtatus ) were analyzed by injecting them with expanding polyurethane foam. Average mean depth ± 1 SE of four burrows was 12.5 ± 2.6 cm. Tunnels were wider than high and flat on the bottom. Three of four burrows were nearly linear, with an average of five entrances. Burrows usually contained one nest made of Artemisia tridentata bark. No middens or communal nests were found. The burrow structure in sagebrush habitat suggests that sagebrush voles occur singly or in pairs rather than in colonies.     

Two new species of Hudsonimyia Roback, 1979 (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae) from Neotropical Region unveiled by morphology and DNA barcoding

Two new species of Hudsonimyia Roback, 1979 Roback, SS. 1979. Hudsonimyia karelena, a new genus and species of Tanypodinae, Pentaneurini. Proc Acad Nat Sci Philadelphia., 131: 1–8. [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae) are described and illustrated as male, pupa and larva. The generic diagnosis of pupa is emended and keys to males, pupae and larvae of known species are provided. The different life stages for one of the described species were associated by DNA barcodes.     

Aphidiinae parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Macrosiphoniella aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the western Palaearctic region

The parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) of Macrosiphoniella del Guercio (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from the western Palaearctic region are reviewed and keyed. The host associations and distribution of each species are summarized. Aphidius stigmaticus sp. nov. reared from Macrosiphoniella tanacetaria on Tanacetum polycephalum, which is another member of the Macrosiphoniella aphid parasitoid guild from high-mountain habitats in western Iran, is described in the present contribution. Some taxonomic problems within Macrosiphoniella parasitoid guilds are discussed as well.