Three new mite species of the genus Mediolata Canestrini (Acari,Stigmaeidae) from Turkey and re-description of Mediolata granaria Gonzalez-Rodriguez

Three new mite species of the genus Mediolata Canestrini – Mediolata obtecta sp. nov., Mediolata ozkani sp. nov. and Mediolata turcica sp. nov. – are described and illustrated from Turkey. Mediolata granaria Gonzalez-Rodriguez is a new record for Turkish fauna. A key to the species known from Turkey is provided.     

Six new feather mite species (Acari: Astigmata) from the carolina parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), an extinct parrot of North America

We describe six new feather mite species collected from museum skins of the carolina parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis Linnaeus, 1758, which lived in North America and became extinct at the beginning of the 20th century: Genoprotolichus simplex sp. n., Lopharalichus beckeri sp. n., Neorhytidelasma conuropsis sp. n. (Pterolichidae: Pterolichinae), Chiasmalges carolinensis sp. n. (Psoroptoididae: Pandalurinae), Fainalges gracilitarsus sp. n., and Protonyssus proctorae sp. n. (Xolalgidae: Ingrassiinae). Brief comments on the current systematic state and host associations of these feather mite genera are provided.     

First collections of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Honduras: descriptions of six new species

First collections of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Honduras indicate a rich fauna. Nineteen species from just three sites yielded six species new to science. New species described and discussed are: Hydrodroma moralesi n. sp., Flabellifrontipoda triscutata n. sp., Monatractides angelae n. sp., Pseudotorrenticola espinasseae n. sp., Atractides jenniferae n. sp. and Recifella cusucoensis n. sp.     

Two new Tarphius species from Macaronesia (Coleoptera,Zopheridae)

Two new species of Tarphius are described: Tarphius desertaensis n. sp. sifted from saxicole lichens on the small islet of Deserta Grande, east of Madeira, and Tarphius jandiensis n. sp. from Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, where it lives in the upper parts of the massif of Jandía as a relict of the once more hygrophilous fauna that inhabited the island. Both species are of small size and have a fairly convex body.     

Nine new species of Braconidae (Hymenoptera) from the Russian Far East

Nine new species of Braconidae from the Russian Far East are described and illustrated: Tebennotoma spasskensis sp. n., Parahormius bikinus sp. n., Colastes (Colastes) ussuricus sp. n., C. (Shawiana) kurilensis sp. n., C. (S.) bohayicus sp. n., Oncophanes makarkini sp. n., Doryctes slavianka sp. n., Brulleia chankaica sp. n., Cardiochiles turga sp. n. The genera Tebennotoma Enderlein and Brulleia Szépligeti are recorded for the Russian fauna for the first time.     

Vertical distribution and substrate association of the British Halacaridae

The vertical distribution of 24 species of Halacaridae on a number of British shores is investigated. Three species namely Isobactrus ungulatus Bartsch, 1975; Halacarellus basteri v affinis Trouessart, 1896; and Lohmanella norvegica Viets, 1927 are new to the British fauna.     

New species of Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) from the Upper River Sigi,Usambara, Tanzania

Additional species of mayflies are described from the relatively well-studied fauna of the Upper River Sigi in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania. They comprise Cheleocloeon sigiense sp. n. and Centroptiloides ornatus sp. n. A species of Afroptiloides, of which only the adult is known, is figured but not named. The composition of the assemblage of genera known as the Bugilliesia complex is critically examined.     

Spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) of Saudi Arabia: two new species,new records and a key to all known species

A total of 18 spider mite species belonging to 10 genera of the family Tetranychidae (Acari: Prostigmata) are reported from different provinces of Saudi Arabia (SA). Among these, two new species, Sonotetranychus madinahensis sp. nov. and Tetranychus salicornicus sp. nov., belonging to the subfamily Tetranychinae are described and illustrated. Also, five genera and 11 species are new to the mite fauna of SA. The distribution and host data of all recorded species in the current study are provided. A key to all spider mite species of SA is provided as well as a key to the species of the armenychus species group of the genus Tetranychus Dufour, based on males.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C41BB3ED-99D5-4DCF-B557-09526FA7D56B     

Revision of the genus Erythracarus Berlese (Acarina: Anystidae: Erythracarinae)

The mite genus Erythracarus is revised and redefined and the new pyrrholeucus species group is described. The type species of Erythracarus is established as E. ruricola and the previous designation of Trombidium parietinum as the type is thus declared invalid. Bechsteinia and Chabrieria are newly synonymized with Erythracarus. Nine new species are described: Erythracarus amnicolus n. sp., E. avius n. sp., E. barbarus n. sp., E. ciliatus n. sp., E. decoris n. sp., E. elegans n. sp., E. flavipes n. sp., E. katherinae n. sp. and E. nasutus n. sp. The species E. parietinus, E. pyrrholeucus, E. festinus and E. grahami are redescribed and identification keys to known species and instars of Erythracarus are presented. E. cluozzai is made a junior synonym of Tarsolarkus articulosus, Bechsteinia solarii and Erythraeus spinatus are made junior synonyms of Erythracarus parietinus, while Bechsteinia californica, B. schneideri and Tarsotomus terminalis are all made junior synonyms of E. pyrrholeucus. E. simku is found to be a nomen nudum. E. pyrrholeucus is recorded for the first time from Australia, Iran and the Ukraine and E. parietinus for the first time from the western United States. The only record of E. parietinus from Australia is shown to be based on a misidentification. Observations on reproductive behaviour are made for five Erythracarus species. All of these reproduce sexually by means of stalked spermatophores, the shape of which is species specific. Spermatophores are often deposited on top of one another, possibly indicating sperm competition. Males of one species, E. pyrrholeucus, are unknown and this species is thus likely to be thelytokous. Some Erythracarus species are oviparous. E. ciliatus and E. parietinus are ovoviviparous or viviparous. Prelarvae that were studied were immotile except for those of E. ciliatus, which were able to move their legs. Immotility is a derived character state in Erythracarus and possibly an adaptation to more protected habitats.     

New freshwater interstitial Otoplanidae (Platyhelminthes: Proseriata) from the Paraná and Uruguay rivers,South America

This study describes two new freshwater otoplanid species (Platyhelminthes, Proseriata), Itaspiella parana n. sp. and Philosyrtis rauli n. sp., from interstitial habitats of the middle Paraná river (Argentina) and lower Uruguay river (Uruguay), respectively. Kata sp. from the Uruguay river is briefly characterized. This is the first report of otoplanids from freshwater environments of South America. The studied areas are particular biotopes. At present, only a few studies on the turbellarian fauna and its ecology have been carried out in the Paraná river and the records presented here are the first for the Uruguay river. The main difference between other known otoplanid species and Itaspiella parana, Philosyrtis rauli and Kata sp. is their ecological characterization. Until now the family Otoplanidae was known only from marine environments, with a few exceptions.     

The taxonomy and biology of the Polystomatidae (Monogenea) in Australian freshwater turtles (Chelidae,Pleurodira)

Polystomoides scottae n. sp. is described from the urinary and accessory bladders of Chelodina expansa. Four species of Neopolystoma are described from the conjunctival sacs of Australian freshwater turtles (Chelidae): Neopolystoma cribbi n. sp. from Emydura signata, E. macquarii, Elseya latisternum and Chelodina expansa; Neopolystoma spratti n. sp. from Chelodina longicollis; Neopolystoma tinsleyi n. sp. from Chelodina expansa; and Neopolystoma queenslandensis n. sp. from Emydura signata and E. macquarii. Polystomoides australiensis, Neopolystoma macleayi and N. chelodinae are redescribed from new individuals. Neopolystoma australis is made a junior synonym of N. kreffti. P. australiensis, N. macleayi and N. cribbi produced on average 5·6, 4·3 and 0·7 eggs per day, respectively. Eggs of P. australiensis take 33–57 days at 18–24°C and 30–33 days at 24–28°C to develop and hatch. Oncomiracidia of P. australiensis and N. macleayi had 64 ciliated cells; the patterns of the ciliated cells are the same for both species. Different sizes of worms in different sites in the hosts suggest strongly that the oncomiracidia of P. australiensis and N. macleayi enter the host, migrate to the ureters, possibly to the kidneys, then to the urinary bladder and finally to either the accessory bladders or cloaca. Successful cross-infection experiments between host genera (Emydura to Elseya) indicated that P. australiensis and N. macleayi have a low degree of host specificity.     

Diversity and distribution of marine Gastrotricha along the northern beaches of the state of São Paulo (Brazil), with description of a new species of Macrodasys (Macrodasyida,Macrodasyidae)

Forty-three putative species were found in this first-ever survey of the marine gastrotrich fauna of Brazil. Samples from 23 locations and 37 sites along the northern coasts of the state of São Paulo yielded 21 species of Macrodasyida (12 genera and five families) and 22 species of Chaetonotida (seven genera and two families). Based on morphology, 26 species appear to be taxa not previously described and thus far endemic to Brazil, 13 are known species, while one in each of the genera Diplodasys, Paradasys and Tetranchyroderma remains undetermined. The overall high diversity contrasts with the generally low number of species from single locations, averaging 4.3 (SD 3.5) spp. per location; very few species were found in sites characterized by very fine sand sediment loaded with detritus and by high water turbidity (e.g. 1 sp. in praia da Fazenda), whereas a well-diversified gastrotrich community was found in localities characterized by medium or fine sand with little detritus and clear water (e.g. 14 spp. in praia de Castelhanos). The macrodasyidans, Paraturbanella sp. 1, Pseudostomella sp. 1 and Tetranchyroderma sp. 1, and the chaetonotidan Heteroxenotrichula sp. 1 were the most common species, often sympatric and particularly frequent and abundant along the continental shoreline (recorded in 50–65% of these localities); on the other hand, Macrodasys fornerise n. sp., Ptychostomella sp. 1, Tetranchyroderma sp. 3 and Thaumastoderma sp. 2, while occurring sometimes in very high numbers, exhibited a much narrower range, being encountered only once or twice during the survey. The main morphometric traits are described of the 13 species considered to be cosmopolitan or with at least an amphi-Atlantic distribution, including Chaetonotus apechochaetus and Halichaetonotus marivagus, reported here for the first time from the Americas; of the 26 species thus far endemic to Brazil, Macrodasys fornerise n. sp., which is characterized by a noticeable 145?µm-long frontal organ, is also described and figured.     

Cirolanid isopod crustaceans from the Townsville region of Queensland,Australia, with descriptions of six new species

Summary

A wide variety of littoral and sublittoral marine habitats have been sampled in the vicinity of Townsville in N.E. Australia in order to assess the diversity of cirolanid isopods present.

Of the thirteen species represented in the collections six were previously undescribed. The species present were: Cirolana schioedtei Miers, 1884 (16m in mud/sand); C. pustulosa Hale, 1925 (mainly littoral habitats such as crevices in wooden installations); C. cranchii var. australiense Hale, 1925 (mainly littoral cryptic habitats); C. tumulosa sp. nov. (3–9 m in soft particulate substrata); C. arcicauda sp. nov. (3–10 m in soft particulate substrata); C. variguberna sp. nov. (2–18 m in soft particulate substrata); C. luticola sp. nov. (2–14 m in soft particulate substrata); Neocirolana bicrista sp. nov. (11 m in particulate substrata); Excirolana orientalis Dana, 1853 (littoral sand); Pseudolana concinna (Hale, 1925) (littoral sand); Pseudolana brevifimbria sp. nov. (littoral sand); Eurydice orientalis Hansen, 1890 (plankton and 5–11 m in soft particulate substrata); Eurydice inermis Hansen, 1890 (plankton and 2–11 m in soft particulate substrata).

The new species are described in detail and additional information is given on the other species—some of which have been poorly described in the past. In addition two closely related species, i.e. Cirolana tenuistylis Miers, 1884 and C. woodjonesi Hale, 1924 are also redescribed so as to avoid any confusion with the Townsville species.     

Desmosomatidae and Nannoniscidae (Crustacea,Isopoda, Asellota) from bathyal and abyssal depths off North Carolina and their evolution

The deep-sea asellote isopod (Crustacea) species, belonging to the families Desmosomatidae and Nannoniscidae, were studied from R/V Eastward collections of Duke University from three study sites off North Carolina. The Desmosomatid isopod Eugerda svavarssonni n. sp. is described from Site Alpha at 620m. Eugerda latipes Hansen, previously known from boreal North Atlantic, is also reported from this upper slope site. Two new desmosomatid isopods, Mirabilicoxa hessleri n. sp. and M. alberti n. sp., and a new nannoniscid isopod Exiliniscus chandravoli n. sp. are also described from site Beta from 2700 to 3700 m. A nannoniscid isopod Leutziniscus jebamoni gen n., n. sp., and a desmosomatid isopod, Prochelator sarsi n. sp., are described from the deepest study site Omega in the Hatteras Abyssal Plain. A new genus, Nannoniscella is erected to accommodate Nannoniscoides bicustatus Siebenaller and Hessler, 1977. This paper also includes discussions on comparative morphology and sexual dimorphism in species of Mirabilicoxa, zoogeography of species of the genus Eugerda and phylogeny with emphasis on the genus Prochelator.     

Psocoptera of the Togo-Benin Gap,West Africa

Summary

The first major collection of Psocoptera from the Togo-Benin Gap containing 28 species, in 16 genera is described. Twelve of the species are new (Rhyopsocus plesiafer sp. nov., Caecilius propinquifallax sp. nov., C. fuscolineus sp. nov., Lachesilla mutabilis sp. nov., L. nigripalpa sp. nov., Ectopsocus maculosus sp. nov., Peripsocus marginatus sp. nov., P. acuminatus sp. nov., P. togoensis sp. nov., Pseudoscottiella forcipiforma sp. nov., Blaste togoensis sp. nov., and Trichadenotecnum colesae sp. nov.). Blaste muiri Smithers is synonymized with B. medleri New. The previously described psocid species, together with affinities which the new species have with the psocid fauna of other countries, are discussed in the light of the zoogeographical interest in this area.     

Heterotrophic flagellates (Protista) from marine sediments of Botany Bay,Australia

Heterotrophic flagellates (protozoa) occurring in the marine sediments at Botany Bay, Australia are reported. Among the 87 species from 43 genera encountered in this survey are 13 new taxa: Cercomonas granulatus n. sp., Clautriavia cavus n. sp., Heteronema larseni n. sp., Notosolenus adamas n. sp., Notosolenus brothernis n. sp., Notosolenus hemicircularis n. sp., Notosolenus lashue n. sp., Notosolenus pyriforme n. sp., Petalomonas intortus n. sp., Petalomonas iugosus n. sp., Petalomonas labrum n. sp., Petalomonas planus n. sp. and Petalomonas virgatus n. sp.; and seven new combinations, Carpediemonas bialata n. comb., Dinema platysomum n. comb., Petalomonas calycimonoides nom. nov., Petalomonas christeni nom. nov., Petalomonas physaloides n. comb., Petalomonas quinquecarinata n. comb. and Petalomonas spinifera n. comb. Most flagellates described here appear to be cosmopolitan. We are unable to assess if the new species are endemic because of the lack of intensive studies elsewhere.     

The pygmaeus-group of Euops Schoenherr (Coleoptera,Curculionoidea, Attelabidae), weevils associated with Nothofagus in New Guinea

A new species group of Euops Schoenherr from the highlands of New Guinea is described and referred to as the ‘pygmaeus-group’. It is comprised of 14 species which, except for E. singularis VOSS, are described as new: E. anggiensis sp. n., E. bicolor sp. n., E. convexus sp. n., E. fraterculus sp. n., E. ibelensis sp. n., E. kurulu sp. n., E. nothofagi sp. n., E. parvus sp. n., E. paraconvexus sp. n., E. platyrostris sp. n., E. porulosus sp. n., E. pygmaeus sp. n., and E. sedlaceki sp. n.. Most of the species are of relatively small body size. They form a monophyletic group characterized by the synapomorphic loss of the ventral suture between the galea and palpifer of the maxilla. Two other groups are recognized, the eucalypti-group and the quadrifasciculatus-group. They are believed to be closely related to the pygmaeus-group and all three species groups together are referred to as the ‘pygmaeus-complex’. A cladistic analysis of the pygmaeus-group is performed. All species with host records are reported to feed on the fresh leaf flush of Nothofagus. This is the first record of a group of leaf-chewing arthropods restricted to the subgenus Brassospora of Nothofagus.     

Oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) of the Falkland Islands,South Atlantic and their zoogeographical relationships

A total of 21 species of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) are recorded from heat-extracted samples of soil and plant material collected in the Falkland Is., South Atlantic. Previous records of a further 11 species provide a total of 32 species. The distribution of each non-endemic species recorded from the Falkland Is. is figured. The oribatid mite fauna of these islands belongs to the Neotropical Region with strong sub-Antarctic elements and some similarities with New Zealand.     

The taxonomy and biology of a new species Pontonema (Nematoda,Oncholaimidae) dominant in organically polluted sublittoral sediments around Scotland,with a review of the genus

A new species of free living marine nematode, Pontonema alaeospicula sp. nov., is a dominant member of the fauna in three organically polluted sublittoral habitats off the Scottish coast. The species is described and the genus reviewed. A schematic pictorial key to the genus is provided. Some notes on the biology of P. alaeospicula sp. nov. are given, based on initial studies of the population in situ and in laboratory culture.     

The identity of Yoldia micrometrica Seguenza, 1877 and three new deep-sea protobranchs from the Mediterranean (Bivalvia)

Three new species are described from the relatively well-known deep Mediterranean protobranch fauna. Yoldiella wareni n. sp. is a miniaturized species so far misidentified as Yoldiella micrometrica (Seguenza, 1877), which is a Pleistocene species (neotype here designated). Yoldiella ovulum n. sp. is similar to Y. micrometrica, of which it may represent a descendant species. Ledella marisnostri n. sp. is the second species known for the genus in the Mediterranean. These three species are thought to be endemic to the Mediterranean, where they may represent either persisting Plio-Pleistocene species which survived the changes from psychrospheric to homeothermic conditions, or newly adapted species, evolved from Plio-Pleistocene ancestors. In the second case, they seem to be the result of an ongoing differentiation of the deep Mediterranean protobranch fauna from the North-East Atlantic one, due to the physical isolation of the Mediterranean basin.