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.     

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.     

Correlation of heteromorphic life instars in terrestrial Parasitengona mites and its impact on taxonomy – the case of Leptus molochinus (C. L. Koch, 1837) and Leptus ignotus (Oudemans, 1903) (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata: Erythraeidae)

Preference–performance hypothesis was tested in the butterfly Heliconius erato phyllis under field, insectary and laboratory conditions in a population from southeastern Brazil. Throughout a year, Passiflora capsularis was the host predominantly used for oviposition in the field. Similarly, when host plants were of high quality in the field, H. erato phyllis females that came from this environment laid more eggs on P. capsularis under insectary conditions. In contrast, when host plant quality declined in nature, females did not show preference for any host plant in particular in the insectary. Larvae had superior performances when reared on P. capsularis and Passiflora edulis than on Passiflora jilekii. Overall, our results show a trend towards a positive relationship between oviposition and performance in H. erato phyllis. The factors that might lead to an absence of selection under insectary conditions by females from a poor-quality environment are discussed.     

Ultrastructural redescription of Chordodes moraisi (Carvalho, 1942) and Chordodes straviarskii Carvalho and Feio, 1950, and re‐interpretation of Chordodes gestri Camerano, 1904 and Pseudochordodes griffinii (Camerano, 1898) (Gordiida,Nematomorpha)

The Gordiida species Chordodes moraisi (Carvalho, ) and C. staviarskii Carvalho and Feio, are re‐described using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chordodes moraisi is characterized by four areole types, two of which correspond to tubercle areoles, the crown areoles appear as single structures and occur on both sides along the ventral midline. Chordodes staviarskii is characterized by a polymorphism of crowned areoles which appear as two types with distinct distribution patterns. Two species, Chordodes gestri Camerano, and Pseudochordodes griffinii (Camerano, ), are synonymized with Neochordodes occidentalis (Montgomery, 1898) and Chordodes peraccae (Camerano, 1894).     

Some new and unrecorded Arrenurus Dugès 1834 (Acari: Hydrachnellae) species from Turkey

In this paper two new species, Arrenurus (s.str.) hasankalensis n.sp. and A. (s.str.) afyonensis n.sp., and the females of A. (s.str.) turgidus Koenike 1911 and A. (s.str.) ayyildizi Erman 1993 are described. In addition, a list of Arrenurus species known from Turkey is presented.     

Three new Idiops (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) from Argentina and redescription of the male of I. hirsutipedis Mello-Leitão, 1941

Three new Argentinean species of the front-eyed trapdoor spider genus Idiops namely I. minguito sp. nov. from Salta and Jujuy provinces, I. piluso sp. nov. from Córdoba province and I. tolengo sp. nov. from Santiago del Estero province, are described. The male of I. hirsutipedis is redescribed and new distributional data in Argentina are presented for this species and for I. clarus. An identification key for all these species is provided.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:846E175E-3E2F-4512-83BE-E72D41C307AF     

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.     

The distribution and ecology of Chirocephalus diaphanus Prévost (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) in Britain

The anostracan Chirocephalus diaphanus is at the northwestern limits of its range in Britain. Its distribution, based on records made since first reported nearly three centuries ago, is mapped. Aspects of its ecology and behaviour that have a bearing on its requirements, and therefore on the pattern of its distribution, are noted. It is an almost defenceless, opportunistic species, largely confined to temporary pools where it avoids predators. It occurs in those regions of Britain where a high winter water table is followed by a dry spring and early summer, and is essentially confined to the zone in which there is a deficit between precipitation and evapotranspiration during the six months April to September. Such conditions prevail in the south and southeast. Cooler, wetter, northern and western parts, with their more frequent rain-days and cloud cover, do not favour the formation of suitable temporary pools. The eurythermous nature of C. diaphanus, its ability to remain active at low temperatures, and its tolerance of a wide range of other conditions, enable it to exploit, and to reach maturity in, temporary pools before such predators as can colonize them have had the opportunity to do so. Dispersal and survival during ensuing periods of drought are effected by drought-resistant resting eggs. Possible genetic, reproductive and ecological constraints relevant to events that take place towards the edge of its range are noted.     

Along‐ and across‐shore components of the spatial distribution of the clam Tivela mactroides (Born, 1778) (Bivalvia,Veneridae)

Beach clam fisheries often provide an alternate income for traditional fishermen, but this activity is highly vulnerable to urbanization of coastal areas. Tivela mactroides is a beach clam commonly harvested in the Caribbean (Venezuela) and on the south‐eastern Brazilian coast. Only localized records on its spatial structure in size and abundance are available to support management of this clam. The present study showed that the spatial distribution in abundance and size of T. mactroides in Caraguatatuba Bay, state of São Paulo, Brazil, has both along‐ and across‐shore (intertidal and subtidal) components. The nature of this distribution should be taken into account in the design of further population or monitoring studies concerning this species. Clam density varied along‐shore, with a tendency towards higher numbers of individuals in the stations near the northern side of river mouths of this bay. Lower densities were related to the occurrence of sea‐stars and sand‐dollars. The intertidal and subtidal across‐shore distribution of clam abundance and size varied between and within areas (southern and northern). The individuals from the southern area were concentrated at intermediate tidal levels (0.2–0.6 m in relation to mean low water), whereas in the northern area the clams were more homogeneously distributed. The uppermost limit of their distribution was 0.8 m (southern) and 0.4 m (northern), and an upwards tendency towards increased size was more evident in the northern area. In the subtidal, abundance and individual size tended to increase from the deepest (4.5 m) to the shallowest (0.5 m) levels only in the southern area. Individual clams in the northern area tended to be smaller and more abundant than in the southern area. The species had an ontogenic distribution: small‐sized individuals were recorded only in the subtidal. Possible causes for these patterns and for the differences between areas (human exploitation, organic pollution, beach morphodynamics, differential recruitment, and adult–larvae interactions) are discussed, and specific studies are suggested to evaluate formally the proposed hypotheses.     

Two new species of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from the State of São Paulo,Brazil

Two new species of phytoseiid mites, Amblyseius ica and Typhloseiopsis dorsoreticulatus, from the State of São Paulo, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Amblyseius ica belongs to the americanus species group and dombeyus species subgroup, being the second species of that subgroup. Typhloseiopsis dorsoreticulatus is the first species of the genus Typhloseiopsis recorded outside Central America.