A cavernicolous planthopper in the Galápagos Islands (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cixiidae)

A new troglobitic cixiid species, Oliarus hernandezi sp. n. is described from three lava tubes on the island of Floreana, Galápagos group. It is the first known obligately cavernicolous planthopper species from Galápagos. Notes on its ecology and distribution are given, and phylogenetic relationships to epigean Oliarus species from Galápagos are discussed.     

Species of Antarctoscyphus Peña Cantero,García Carrascosa and Vervoort, 1997 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Symplectoscyphidae) collected by US Antarctic expeditions: biogeographic implications

Antarctoscyphus is one of the most characteristic genera of Antarctic benthic hydroids, with nine of the 10 known species considered to be endemic to the Antarctic; only Antarctoscyphus elongatus is also present in the sub-Antarctic region of Kerguelen. Accordingly, the genus was considered to have an Antarctic–Kerguelen distribution. Here we present the results of the study of the species of Antarctoscyphus collected from different Antarctic areas and from the Magellan region, during several expeditions under the United States Antarctic Research Program between 1958 and 1986. A scanning electron microscopy survey of all known species of the genus was carried out. Eight of the 10 known species of Antarctoscyphus were found in the collection, with A. spiralis and A. elongatus being the most frequently found species, whereas A. biformis, A. fragilis and A. gruzovi were found only once. The type material of A. biformis was reviewed and re-described. This study represents the second records for A. biformis and A. fragilis. The new records allow updating of the biogeographic knowledge on the distribution of several species: A. mawsoni, so far considered endemic to East Antarctica, and A. asymmetricus, considered endemic to West Antarctica, are here considered to have a Circum-Antarctic distribution. Additionally, A. fragilis, previously considered endemic to the Weddell Sea, is now considered to have a West Antarctic–Patagonian distribution, as it was recorded off the Pacific Magellan region. The records gathered here allow us to change the distribution pattern of the genus from Antarctic–Kerguelen to Pan-Antarctic. The study has allowed us to increase the known bathymetric range for some species, some reaching much deeper waters than previously known. Hence, A. fragilis, A. grandis and A. mawsoni, hitherto considered shelf species, are reported from bathyal bottoms of the continental slope. A general discussion on the bathymetric and geographic distribution of all known species is included.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1C7ED3F2-3FF1-4C5C-85BB-FAAF557AC2ED     

Four new species of the genus Trichomyia − subgenus Septemtrichomyia Bravo (Diptera: Psychodidae: Trichomyiinae) from Brazil

Septemtrichomyia Bravo is a subgenus of Trichomyia Haliday in Curtis that includes 14 Neotropical species. Here we describe four new species of moth flies from the state of Espírito Santo in Brazil: Trichomyia capixaba sp. nov., T. gabia sp. nov., T. gustavoi sp. nov. and T. menezesi sp. nov. We also provide an updated key to males of the subgenus Septemtrichomyia.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4E3C2133-2FCD-4A14-B9A3-A55715931AB4     

New and little‐known earthworm species from the Ivory Coast (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae: Benhamiinae and Eudrilidae)

In the framework of the international project called “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Below‐Ground Biodiversity”, soil macrofauna collections were carried out in the Centre‐West Ivory Coast. Altogether, 13 earthworm species were recorded, of which four belonged to the family Eudrilidae and nine to the family Acanthodrilidae. From the species collected, two, Dichogaster (Dichogaster) eburnea sp. nov. and Dichogaster (Dichogaster) mamillata sp. nov., proved to be new to science. To accommodate the enigmatic eudrilid earthworm species Scolecillus compositus Omodeo, 1958 Omodeo, P. 1958. Oligochetes. In, La reserve naturelle integrale du Mont Nimba.. Memoire de la Institut Francais Afrique Noire, 53: 9–109.  [Google Scholar], a new genus, Lavellea gen. nov., is proposed.     

Revision of the West Palaearctic species of Rhoptromeris Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae)

The West Palearctic species of Rhoptromeris are revised. A total of 11 species are recognised as valid in this region, including four newly described species: Rhoptromeris dichromata sp. nov., Rhoptromeris koponeni sp. nov., Rhoptromeris leptocornis sp. nov. and Rhoptromeris macaronesiensis sp. nov. Eucoila luteicornis Ionescu, 1959 is synonymised with Rhoptromeris heptoma (Hartig, 1840) syn. nov. A checklist of the Holarctic Rhoptromeris is presented and an identification key to the West Palearctic species is provided. www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8164332C-93E2-4E3F-A408-F5FF5DFB366E     

Amerozercon Halašková, 1969 species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Zerconidae) of the United States of America

During the study of rich material collected in the USA, six Zerconidae species were found which seem to belong to the genus Amerozercon Hala?ková, 1969 Hala?ková, V. 1969. Some new species of the family Zerconidae from North America (Acari: Mesostigmata). Acta Soc Zool Bohem, 33: 115–127.  [Google Scholar]. Four of them, Amerozercon annularis sp. nov., Amerozercon auricularis sp. nov., Amerozercon halaskovae sp. nov. and Amerozercon penicillatus sp. nov. proved to be new to science. The unknown female of the type species of the genus, Amerozercon suspiciosus Hala?ková, 1969 Hala?ková, V. 1969. Some new species of the family Zerconidae from North America (Acari: Mesostigmata). Acta Soc Zool Bohem, 33: 115–127.  [Google Scholar], is described. Amerozercon minimus (Sellnick, 1958) is redescribed and transferred from the genus Zercon C. L. Koch, 1836 to Amerozercon. Some remarks on the problems of the present Zerconidae systematics are discussed.     

Host–parasite relationships and life cycles of cuckoo wasps in agro-ecosystems in Argentina (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae: Chrysidini)

Chrysididae is a diverse group of parasitoid/cleptoparasitic wasps; however, host–parasite relationships and life cycles of few species have been studied. Nests of different wasp and bee species were obtained during a trap-nesting programme, in the Pampean region. Some of these nests were parasitised by cuckoo wasps females of Caenochrysis taschenbergi (Mocsáry), Chrysis boutheryi (Brèthes), C. saltana Bohart, C. sp. 1 (ignita-group), C. sp. 2 (ignita-group), Neochrysis lecointei (Ducke), Pleurochrysis ancilla (Buysson) and P. lynchi (Bréthes). This paper reports new data about host–parasite relationships and life cycles for these species. Multiple parasites (from one species or from different families of insects) emerged from single cells of some parasitised nests: from each host cell parasitised by species of Pleurochrysis, two adults emerged successfully, information previously unknown for the genus; and in three cases of cells parasitised by C. boutheryi, two adults successfully emerged from a single cell; in two cases both individuals were chrysidine, and in third one was chrysidine and one Leucospis pulchripes (Leucospidae).     

Tanaidacea (Crustacea: Peracarida) of the North-east Atlantic: the genera Leptognathioides and Portaratrum of the ‘Atlantic Margin’

The tanaidomorphan genera Leptognathioides and Portaratrum from the Benthic Invertebrates of Icelandic waters (BIOICE), Marine Benthic Fauna of the Faroe Islands (BIOFAR), and Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network (AFEN)-related surveys are examined. The diagnosis for Leptognathioides polita is amended and additional size data are given. A new species, L. biarticulata, is described although the differences from L. polita are slight. It occurs in the bathyal Iceland Basin with a distribution that does not overlap with that of L. polita. A new species of Portaratrum, P. holdichi, is described and the apparent similarities (parallelisms) between this former colletteid genus and the akanthophoreid Chauliopleona are discussed. The distribution and rarity of both genera in the region are analysed, Leptognathioides being more common in the cold-water areas or along the cold–warm interface. Portaratrum holdichi n. sp. is more common and abundant in the Rockall-Biscay region of the NE Atlantic.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:81262671-0665-49C3-9A02-F243C60FC334     

Redescription of Valdivianemertes valdiviae (Bürger, 1909) (Nemertea: Hoplonemertea: Cratenemertidae) and designation of neotype

A century ago Bürger described the species Drepanophorus valdiviae from a single specimen taken from 155 m off the southern tip of Africa by the research vessel Valdivia during the German Deep Sea Expedition. Stiasny-Wijnhoff in 1923 Stiasny-Wijnhoff, G. 1923. On Brinkmann's system of the Nemertea Enopla and Siboganemertes weberi n. g. n. sp. Q J Microsc Sci., 67: 627–669.  [Google Scholar] transferred this species along with Amphiporus stannii (sensu Bürger 1895 Bürger, O. 1895. Die Nemertinen des Golfes von Neapel und der angrenzenden Meeres-Abschnitte. Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel, 22: 1–743.  [Google Scholar]) to a new genus Valdivianemertes but did not mention a family affiliation. In 1993 Crandall transferred this genus to the family Cratenemertidae. During the Spanish Antarctic Expedition BENTART 2003, carried out on board the RV Hespérides, we found one specimen identified with certainty as Valdivianemertes valdiviae, at 602 m depth in the Bellingshausen Sea (Antarctica). As there is no extant holotype, we here redescribe this species from this new specimen and designate it the neotype of this species; photomicrographs of the different regions of the body and the proboscis structure are provided for the first time.     

Hydrozetes longisetosus sp. nov. (Acari: Oribatida: Hydrozetidae) – the most primitive European species of Hydrozetes from Poland

The larva, nymphal stages and adult of Hydrozetes longisetosus sp. nov. are described and illustrated, and the relationship of this species with the other European species of Hydrozetes is investigated. This species was first found at the edge of a forest lake, Dury 3, in the Tuchola Forest (Poland). Subsequently, we studied specimens that had been collected in 1976 by Dr H.M. Engelmann 40 km north of Görlitz Niederspree (Germany). Many adults of this species have three setae of the c‐series, which is rare in Hydrozetes and is considered a primitive character. Most adults have two pairs of p‐series setae, which is not common in Brachypylina and is unique among European Hydrozetes. The nymphal stages have many long setae in the marginal part of the gastronotum (whole l‐ and h‐series and seta p ₁), and some or all long setae of the c‐ and d‐series, which is unique among European Hydrozetes. In H. longisetosus neotrichy occurs in the h‐series, as in H. parisiensis Grandjean, 1948 Grandjean, F. 1948. Sul les Hydrozetes (Acariens) de l'Europe occidentale.. Bull Mus Natl Hist Nat Série 2., 20: 328–335. French [Google Scholar]. Therefore, the former species is closely related to the latter, and also to H. lacustris (Michael, 1882) and H. octosetosus Willmann, 1932 Willmann, C. 1932a. Oribatiden aus dem Moosebruch.. Archiv Hydrobiol., 23: 333–347.  [Google Scholar], which rarely retain all the c‐series setae in the adults.     

Phoretic behaviour of Attacobius attarum (Roewer, 1935) (Araneae: Corinnidae: Corinninae) dispersion not associated with predation?

Attacobius attarum spiders exhibit a phoretic behaviour on the winged sexual of Atta leaf-cutting ants during their mating flight. However, it is unclear if this behaviour is for dispersion or to facilitate the predation of ants in the new colonies. A nest of Atta sexdens was monitored on the day of the mating flight, and the winged ants, as well as the spiders, were collected. The results obtained corroborate the hypothesis that phoretic behaviour is commonly used for dispersion of the spider A. attarum, predominantly females. Of these spiders, 64 individuals of A. attarium were collected, of which 62 were females (96.9%) and two were males (3.1%). Regarding the winged leaf-cutting ants sampled, 378 females and 361 males were collected, totaling 739 individuals. Of these, 64 individuals (8.7%) had a spider attached to its back for phoretic dispersal and none was observed on the queens after the nuptial flight. In our study, A. attarum females perform phoretic dispersal into the environment on winged leaf-cutting ants but do not settle in the new nests.     

Earthworms (Annelida: Oligochaeta) of Sao Tomé

During a soil zoology expedition to Sao Tomé Island, among other members of the soil fauna, earthworms were collected. During this collecting trip some 170 earthworm specimens belonging to 18 species were gathered of which two, Dichogaster (Diplothecodrilus) coeruleoviridis and Dichogaster (Diplothecodrilus) zicsii, proved to be new to science. In addition, a small sample from the same locality was also examined and Dichogaster (Dichogaster) thomeana Cognetti, 1910 Cognetti de Martiis, L. 1910. Lombrichi raccolti dal Cav. Leonardo Fea nelle Isole del Capo Verde e nel Golfo di Guinea.. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 4: 79–118.  [Google Scholar] was removed from synonymy of Dichogaster (Dichogaster) greeffi Michaelsen, 1902 Michaelsen, W. 1902. Neue Oligochaeten und neue Fundorte alt‐bekannter.. Mitteilungen aus dem Naturhistorischen Museum in Hamburg, 19: 3–53.  [Google Scholar].     

Revision of ‘Horatia’ snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae sensu lato) from South Caucasus with description of two new genera

Four nominal species of the genus Horatia Bourguignat, 1887 were described by Russian authors from Caucasian caves (H. borutzkii Shadin, 1932, H. birsteini Starobogatov, 1962, H. ljovushkini Starobogatov, 1962 and H. sokolovi Starobogatov, 1962). Hitherto all the species were known from type series (presented by empty shells) only. Examination of newly obtained samples from the caves of South Caucasus has shown that the four species actually do not belong to the genus Horatia due to obvious differences in the morphology of the copulatory organs between H. klecakiana Bourguignat, 1887 (the type species of this genus) and the Caucasian snails. Moreover, statistical analysis of conchological variation has revealed that the species H. birsteini, H. ljovushkini, and H. sokolovi are conspecific. Two genera are described: Pontohoratia (includes P. birsteini and P. smyri sp. nov.) and Motsametia (with the single species M. borutzkii comb. nov.). The two genera can be distinguished on the basis of the structure of their copulatory organs. The distribution and ecology of the Caucasian Horatia-like mollusks are briefly outlined.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4EDFB2AE-CB1D-4113-8CC7-3A1BBB46D838     

New dung beetle genus and species from a cave in the Espinhaço mountain range,Brazil (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

ABSTRACT

Based on a single specimen collected in a cave in the municipality of Diamantina, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, we describe Isacanthon mariaelinae Pacheco and Vaz-de-Mello, a new genus and species of dung beetles. The new genus is closely related to Paracanthon, Paracryptocanthon, Cryptocanthon and Tesserodoniella, but it can be distinguished by clypeus with two teeth, which appear to originate beneath clypeal margin, and metatibiae with one distinct tooth at basal two-fifth.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D810C791-D5CD-43BF-9277-BE90E66BFE15     

First record of the genus Arphthicarus Niedbała (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) from China,with descriptions of two new species

The oribatid mite genus Arphthicarus Niedba?a, 1994 (Phthiracaridae) is reported in China for the first time. Two new species of Arphthicarus are described: Arphthicarus baculus sp. nov. from Hunan Province, and Arphthicarus spiniformis sp. nov. from Guangxi Province.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A1729EB7-2C99-4BF6-94EB-229E2A743D84.     

Freshwater harpacticoids (Crustacea: Copepoda: Harpacticoida) in Norway – a comprehensive contribution from G.O. Sars,and a provisional checklist

Since the pioneering works of the Norwegian biologist G.O. Sars, little attention has been given to the freshwater harpacticoids in Norway. The prime purpose of this paper is to present the state of current knowledge about the Norwegian freshwater harpacticoid fauna based on all known published and unpublished literature and archive material. We highlight the contribution of G.O. Sars to the knowledge of this group by presenting his remaining unpublished archive material. We present two Norwegian species checklists – one for freshwater harpacticoids (16 species) and another for freshwater-associated/brackish-water harpacticoids (nine species). Four of the freshwater harpacticoid species are described by G.O. Sars. Original unpublished plates with drawings of those species are included in the paper. In addition, an overview of species distributions throughout the country is given.     

A taxonomic study of the genus Coptotettix Bolívar, 1887 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Tetriginae) from China with description of a new species

An annotated list of 27 species of the genus Coptotettix Bolívar, 1887 Bolívar, I. 1887. Essai sur les acridiens de la tribe Tettigidae. Ann Soc Entomol Belg., 31: 175–313.  [Google Scholar] distributed in China is given. Coptotettix emeiensis sp. nov. is described from Sichuan Province, China. A key to the Chinese species of the genus Coptotettix is given.     

Revision of the hirsuticornis‐like species of Macrothrix Baird, 1843 (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Macrothricidae) from Subantarctic and temperate regions of the southern hemisphere

The aim of this paper is to revise populations of Macrothrix cf. hirsuticornis (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Macrothricidae) from different regions of the southern hemisphere. It is demonstrated that M. hirsuticornis Norman and Brady, 1867 Norman, A. M. and Brady, G. S. 1867. A monograph of the British Entomostraca belonging to the families Bosminidae, Macrothricidae and Lynceidae.. Natural History Transactions of Northumberland and Durham, 1: 354–408.  [Google Scholar] s. str. is absent there, and five related species occupy different Subantarctic islands and the southernmost portions of South America, and Africa. Macrothrix boergeni Studer, 1878 Studer, T. 1878. Beiträge zur Naturgeschichte wirbelloser Tiere von Kerguelensland.. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, 44: 102–121.  [Google Scholar] from the Kerguelen Archipelago is redescribed and a neotype is selected. All populations in the southernmost portion of continental South America, Tierra del Fuego, Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkney Islands, and on the Antarctic Peninsula belong to M. oviformis Ekman, 1900 Ekman, S. 1900. Cladoceren aus Patagonien, gesammelt von der schwedischen Expedition nach Patagonien 1899.. Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 14: 62–84.  [Google Scholar]. All the taxa described from this region—M. ciliata Vávra, 1900 Vávra, W. 1900. “Süsswasser‐Cladoceren. Ergebnisse der Hamburger magalhaensische Sammelreise 1892/93. II Band. Arthropoden.”. In Hamburg 1–25.  [Google Scholar], M. odontocephala Daday, 1902 Daday, E. 1902. Mikroskopische Süsswasserthiere aus Patagonien, gesammelt von Dr. Filippo Sylvestri.. Természetrajzi Füzetek, Budapest, 25: 201–310.  [Google Scholar], M. propinqua Sars, 1909 Sars, G. O. 1909. Fresh‐water Entomostraca from South Georgia.. Archiv for Mathematik og Naturvidenskab, 30: 1–35.  [Google Scholar], and, probably, M. inflata Daday, 1902 Daday, E. 1902. Mikroskopische Süsswasserthiere aus Patagonien, gesammelt von Dr. Filippo Sylvestri.. Természetrajzi Füzetek, Budapest, 25: 201–310.  [Google Scholar]—are junior synonyms of M. oviformis. Two new species are established: M. sarsi sp. nov. from the Cape region of South Africa and M. ruehei sp. nov. from Crozet, Marion islands, and Île Amsterdam. Macrothrix cf. flagellata Smirnov and Timms, 1983 Smirnov, N. N. and Timms, B. V. 1983. A revision of the Australian Cladocera (Crustacea).. Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement, 1: 1–132. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar], previously known only from Tasmania, is found on Macquarie Island too. Differences between species from the southern hemisphere and Palaearctic M. hirsuticornis are summarized. It is demonstrated that characters of the general body shape (i.e. presence of a hood or a tooth on posterior head border) have a limited value for the systematics of Macrothrix. In contrast, some fine details, mostly missed by previous authors, are valuable for species discrimination. The present study increases the number of species recorded from the Antarctic‐Subantarctic region. Probably, the current pattern of Macrothrix distribution results from a disruption of a pan‐continental (early Mesozoic?) species complex.