A new genus and species of Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea) from Spain,parasitic in cynipid galls on Fumaria

Neaylax versicolor (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae), which forms galls on fumitory (Fumaria), is attacked in Spain by Rivasia fumariae, a species of Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) herein described as new and assigned to a new genus. The new genus has an unusual combination of morphological characters but seems best placed in the pteromalid subfamily Ormocerinae. An account is given of the biology and larval morphology of the new species.     

On the parasitoid community of Aulacidea laurae (Hym., Cynipidae), with description of a new species of Adontomerus (Hym., Torymidae)

An account is given of parasitoids (Hym., Chalcidoidea) reared from Spanish galls of Aulacidea laurae (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) which develop in achenes of Scorzonera laciniata (Asteraceae). The parasitoid community includes Adontomerus brevicaudatus (Hym., Torymidae) which is described as new. Final instar larva of the new species is also described. The generic placement of A. brevicaudatus and the composition of the parasitoid community are discussed.     

Aylax hypecoi Trotter (Hymenoptera,Cynipidae) in Europe: Redescription,with taxonomic and biological notes

Aylax hypecoi (Trotter) (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Aylacini), a poorly known cynipid wasp inducing galls on Hypecoum species (Papaveraceae), was described from North Africa and also doubtfully recorded from Greece about a century ago. The species has now been found in Bulgaria and thus its presence in Europe is confirmed for the first time. The species is redescribed and illustrated with SEM pictures of the adult female; galls are also described and illustrated. Data on distribution and biology are given, and its taxonomic and phylogenetic position are discussed. Aylax spirorhynchusii Diakontshuk, , another aylacine species, recorded from Transcaucasus and Middle Asia as a gall‐inducer on Spirorhynchus sabulosus Kar. and Kir. (Brassicaceae) is a synonym of Aylax hypecoi and the host plant record stated is a possible misidentification.     

Description of Torymus lasallei,sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), a species with an unusual ovipositor

ABSTRACT

Torymus lasallei, sp. nov., a species with an unusual ovipositor, reared from galls of Amphibolips spp. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) on Quercus spp. (Lobatae section) from Mexico, is described. The placement of this new species within the genus Torymus, and the morphology and function of its ovipositor, are discussed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0B9F9B11-DD95-465D-A98C-53742A8099CC     

A review of the encyrtid wasp tribe Aenasiini,with descriptions of new Afrotropical taxa (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

The tetracnemine tribe Aenasiini is discussed and a key is provided for the separation of the nine genera that can be attributed to this tribe. Neodiscodes is synonymized with Aenasius and the following seven species, which were originally assigned to the former genus, are transferred to Aenasius as new combinations: abengouroui (Risbec), comperei (Kerrich), lepelleyi (Kerrich), martinii (Compere), indicus (Narayanan & Subba Rao), parvus (Kerrich) and subbaraoi (Kerrich). A key is given for the separation of the four Afrotropical species of Aenasius and the male of A. comperei is described for the first time. Incisencyrtus gen. n. is described for the following three new Afrotropical species: secus (the type-species), sirus and afer. Cladiscodes incisius sp. n. is described from South Africa and it represents the first species of this genus from Africa. New distribution records are given for three Alfrotropical species of Metaphaenodiscus.     

Population structure of a native and an alien species of snail in an urban area of the Atlantic Rainforest

Native Megalobulimus paranaguensis was identified on Brazil’s Ilha Porchat promontory, an area that Achatina fulica commonly populates. The population structures of these species were investigated for interactions. Spatial distribution, niche overlap and mark–recapture analysis were conducted. The outer lip of M. paranaguensis and environmental variables were measured. One and two abundance peaks were observed for A. fulica and M. paranaguensis, respectively. Survivorship was higher in A. fulica. Distribution was aggregate for M. paranaguensis, whereas for A. fulica it varied from random to aggregate. Both species aggregate as abundance increases. The lifespan of M. paranaguensis in this location is shorter than its lifespan in a nearby location. Achatina fulica was affected by soil temperature and humidity; M. paranaguensis was influenced by humidity. Niche overlap was random. The results show that M. paranaguensis can keep its natural activity and abundance in the presence of A. fulica, but environmental degradation impacts M. paranaguensis and should be evaluated.     

Designation of a neotype for Synodontis schall (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) and description of two new species of Synodontis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae)

A morphometric study of 105 specimens of Synodontis schall, including most type specimens of all nominal species considered junior synonyms of S. schall has been undertaken. Two new species S. ouemeensis and S. kogonensis are described from the Ogun (Nigeria), Oueme (Benin) and Mono (Togo) basins, and the Kogon and Fatala (Guinea) basins, respectively. A neotype is designated for S. schall. The two new species differ from S. schall mainly by the width of the premaxillary toothplate (12.9–24.3% HL for S. schall vs. 21.6–32.7% HL), and can be distinguished one from the other by differences in orbit diameter (20.5–26.8% HL for S. ouemeensis vs. 19.4–21.0% HL for S. kogonensis) and prepectoral length (23.4–28.2% SL for S. ouemeensis vs. 21.6–23.3% SL for S. kogonensis).     

Two new genera of Cryptocephalinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Australasia

Two new genera are described for some species of Cryptocephalinae from the Australasian region. Melatia is erected for 29 species hitherto described in Cadmus Erichson, Cryptocephalus Geoffroy and Lachnabothra Saunders, from New Guinea and nearby islands; Ditropidella for four species described in Coenobius Suffrian and Ditropidus Erichson, from southern Australia.     

Water mites of the family Hygrobatidae Koch from southern Africa (Acari: Hydrachnidia)

New records are given of the water mite family Hygrobatidae (without the genus Atractides) from southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia). In addition to one new subgenus of the genus Hygrobates, namely Inflatibates, four new species are described, namely Hygrobates draconicus, H. laceratoides, H. okavangoensis, and H. inflatipes as well as one new subspecies, namely Hygrobates spathuliferus cederberg. The following synonyms are established: the subgenus Capobates Thor with Hygrobates Koch, Hygrobates sanguineus transvaalensis K. O. Viets with Hygrobates spathuliferus (Lundblad), and Ambiguobates permixtus agnewi K. O. Viets with Ambiguobates permixtus K. Viets. The male of Australiobates pilosus (K. Viets) is described for the first time. The synonymization of Diversibates with Australiobates can now be confirmed. Finally, keys are given for the known genera of southern Africa, as well as for all known species of the genus Hygrobates from southern Africa.     

Mites of the family Zerconidae Canestrini, 1891 (Acari: Parasitiformes) from the British Isles,with descriptions of two new species

The species of Zerconidae recorded for the British Isles are reviewed and keys and distributional details for the genera Parazercon, Prozercon and Zercon are given. Prozercon cambriensis sp. nov. and Zercon hemimbricatus sp. nov. are described.     

Re‐description of the lycosiformis species group of Anyphops Benoit and description of two new species (Araneae,Selenopidae)

Anyphops Benoit is a heterogeneous genus with 62 known species restricted to the Afrotropical region. It is split into four species groups using the number of ventral spine pairs on tibiae I–II. The lycosiformis species group (?=?B‐B1 species group of Lawrence) is characterized by four ventral pairs of spines and includes Anyphops lycosiformis (Lawrence), A. natalensis (Lawrence) and A. parvulus (Pocock). In this paper, I revise this species group and include here A. mumai Corronca, A. lawrencei (Roewer) and two new species: Anyphops ngome n. sp. and A. lucia n. sp. from South Africa. Drawings of the female and male genitalia and some somatic characters are given, in some cases for the first time. A key for the lycosiformis species group and a map showing the distribution of each species are provided.     

Redescription of Retilaskeya horrida (di Monterosato, 1874) comb. nov. and a re-evaluation of the taxonomic affinity of the genus Retilaskeya (Caenogastropoda: Triphoroidea)

The family Cerithiopsidae H. Adams and A. Adams, 1853 is distributed worldwide, and comprises around 800 extant species divided into ~40 genera. The most speciose genus within the family is Cerithiopsis Forbes and Hanley, 1850, a taxon currently used as a general receptacle rather than as a proper phylogenetic lineage. We hereby redescribe the rare species Cerithiopsis horrida di Monterosato, 1874, review its nomenclature, known material, and distribution as well as figure the entire protoconch, operculum, and radula for the first time. Our results highlight extreme differences between ‘Cerithiopsis’ horrida and the Cerithiopsis type species Cerithiopsis tubercularis (Montagu, 1803) and strong morphological and radular similarities with species belonging to the genus Retilaskeya Marshall, 1978. A wide discussion lists several taxa that might be ascribed to the same group of species, which presumably constitute a different worldwide lineage. Pending relevant molecular phylogenetic studies of the Triphoroidea Gray, 1847, for morphological conformity we suggest transferring ‘Cerithiopsis’ horrida to the genus Retilaskeya, and the same action is presumably appropriate for its possible sister species ‘Cerithiopsis’ leopardus Rolán and Gori, 2013. Finally, Retilaskeya better conforms to Newtoniellidae Korobkov, 1955 than Cerithiopsidae.     

Taxonomy of the Cecropia-inhabiting Azteca ants

Cecropia trees and several species of the ant genus Azteca form the most conspicuous ant-plant association in the Neotropics. The taxonomy and biology of the Cecropia-associated Azteca are reviewed. A key to queens is provided for the 13 species known to be obligate inhabitants of Cecropia trees, and a key to workers for the five species known from Costa Rica. Taxonomic changes include four new species and extensive synonymy. Individual species accounts contain taxonomic, behavioural, and ecological information. Evolutionary relationships among the species, and the community ecology of the Cecropia-Azteca association, are discussed.     

A review of Paranannopidae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) with claviform aesthetascs on oral appendages

Leptotachidia iberica Becker is completely redescribed from the type material and is shown to carry claviform aesthetascs on the mouthparts. This is regarded as a character of high phylogenetic significance and, together with the loss of the mandibular exopod and the form of sexual dimorphism of the distal segment of the male P2 endopod, provides overwhelming evidence for a common ancestry for the genera Leptotachidia, Micropsammis Mielke and Paradanielssenia Soyer. Additional observations are made of the morphology of M. noodti Mielke, M. secunda Mielke and P. biclavata Gee. From a discussion of the probable relationships within this group of genera it is concluded that M. secunda is the most likely sister group of Leptotachidia and therefore must be removed to a new genus Telopsammis gen. nov. New diagnoses are given for all the genera.     

Allometry,design and constraint of body components and of shape in sea urchins

Ontogenetic allometry of body components was studied in sea urchins from the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific Oceans. As sea urchins grow, the body wall, lantern and gut assume relatively smaller fractions of total wet weight whereas the coelomic fluid and gonad combined become relatively larger.

During growth, height (h) changes relative to diameter (d). Species that are relatively flat when small tend to become taller and if relatively tall become flatter as they grow with convergence towards h = d/2. This relationship is associated with equal volumetric increase for equal incremental changes in diameter and height at h = d/2. There is an interspecific relationship between height allometry and maximum size. If animals have a height diameter ratio less than 1:2 when they are very small, then the flatter they are initially, the larger the potential maximum size. There is a discontinuity in the relationship close to d = d/2 so if small individuals are relatively tall (h > d/2) then potential maximum size again is large. The allometric component of maximum size adds an interesting complication to analysis of size related features in life history evolution. The significance of allometric parameters for sea urchins include adaptation (α for body wall wet weight), developmental constraint (β for height: diameter allometry), and developmental plasticity (both α and β for the wet weight of Aristotle's lantern).     

Review and reclassification of Cataglyphis (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Exactly 100 years ago Forel made a misidentification of Cataglyphis viaticus as C. megalocolus, one of the most characteristic insects of North Africa. This farreaching error has influenced the systematics of the genus ever since. What really are the species of Cataglyphis? Cataglyphis is unique among formicine ants in that the morphology of the male genitalia is highly diverse: their characteristics are used for the differentiation of species groups and as a basis for postulated phylogenetic relationships within the genus. A synopsis, a key to the species-groups, and a full catalogue of all the available names are given. Of the 104 taxa currently recognized as valid, Cataglyphis albicans var. mixtus is a new combination, Cataglyphis cursor ssp. flavicornis is transferred to Alloformica, and Cataglyphis mauritanicus and Cataglyphis nigripes are given a new status. Camponotus phaenogaster is a new synonym, and Cataglyphis hispidus is a nomen nudum. A lectotype has been fixed for Cataglyphis savignyi.