Revision of Aleiodes (Hemigyroneuron) parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) with reappraisal of subgeneric limits,descriptions of new species and phylogenetic analysis

The parasitic rogadine braconid wasp subgenus Hemigyroneuron, previously and inappropriately synonymized with Aleiodes (Chelonorhogas) as a result of misidentification, is here synonymized with Aleiodes (Pholichora). A key to the 26 species of Aleiodes (Hemigyroneuron) is presented, including 16 which are described and illustrated as new: A. (H.) amoretae Butcher and Quicke, A. (H.) faddenae Butcher and Quicke, A. (H.) glandularis Butcher and Quicke and A. (H.) plurivena Butcher and Quicke from South Africa; A. (H.) bakeri Butcher and Quicke from Indonesia; A. (H.) bengalensis Butcher and Quicke from India; A. (H.) cusackae Butcher and Quicke from Uganda; A. (H.) elgon Butcher and Quicke, A. (H.) meruensis Butcher and Quicke and A. (H.) pappi Butcher and Quicke from Kenya; A. (H.) fenwickae Butcher and Quicke from Congo; A. (H.) pseudospeciosus Butcher and Quicke from Brunei; A. (H.) roberti Butcher and Quicke from Thailand; A. (H.) sharkeyi Butcher and Quicke from Madagascar; A. (H.) trianguliscleroma Butcher and Quicke from Malawi and Kenya; and A. (H.) ugandaensis Butcher and Quicke from Uganda. A. (H.) apicale (Brues) comb. nov., A. (H.) dubiosus (Fullaway) comb. nov., A. (H.) speciosus (Baker) comb. nov. and A. (H.) suffusus (Baker) comb. nov. are redescribed and illustrated. Males of most species of A. (Hemigyroneuron) are shown to possess a glandular pore opening near the mid-posterior margins of metasomal tergites 4–6, though the situation in A. (H.) dubiosus is different. Results of morphological phylogenetic analysis are presented and indicate clear separation between African and Asian species groups. Two of the new species have been reared from Geometridae and one apparently from Pieridae.     

Biogeography and phylogeny of Paraergasilus Markevich, 1937 (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) with descriptions of two new species from the gills of grey mullet

Two new species of Paraergasilus are reported from the gills of four species of grey mullet (Mugilidae). Paraergasilus dichotomus n. sp. was recorded on M. cephalus Linn. from New South Wales, Australia. Paraergasilus curtus n. sp. was found on the same host in Western Australia, on Valamugil cunnesius (Valenciennes) from the Philippines, on Valamugil seheli (Forsskal) from Sri Lanka and on Liza macrolepis (Smith) from Socotra, Yemen. Both new species differ from congeners in possessing a bifid antennary claw. The distribution of Paraergasilus species is summarized and the host specificity of Paraergasilus species is examined. Phylogenetic analysis of the relationships between Paraergasilus species indicated that there are two main lineages within the genus.     

A review of the genus Scyracepon Tattersall, 1905 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Bopyridae), with description of a new species from China

The parasitic isopod genus Scyracepon Tattersall, 1905 is recorded from China for the first time, and a new species, Scyracepon distincta, is described from the host Jonas distinctus (Brachyura: Corystidae). Females of the new species can be distinguished from those of the other six species of Scyracepon by their subequal mid-dorsal projections on pereomeres 6 and 7 (lacking on other pereomeres) and pleonal segments with medial but not lateral fusion. Males of the new species have the first two pleomeres free, pleomeres 3–5 fused, and bear midventral tubercles on all pereomeres and the first pleomere. This is the first record of any species of Corystidae bearing parasitic isopods. Remarks on, and a key to, the seven known species of Scyracepon are provided.     

A revision of the Chinese species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): parasitoids of whiteflies,scale insects and aphids (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae,Diaspididae, Aphidoidea)

The species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) known from China are revised. This study is based largely on newly-collected material from Fujian and Guangdong provinces in mainland China, and from the island of Taiwan. A total of 76 species are treated, including 29 new species, one new combination and 16 new records for China. All species are fully described or diagnosed, and illustrated. Three new specific synonymies are proposed and two lectotypes are designated. Four species are described from males only, three belonging to the perflava-group (ancistrocera, echinocera, viggianii), having modified antennae, and one (magnivena) in the strenua-group having very unusual fore wings. A key to the Chinese species of Encarsia, based largely on females, is provided.     

Classical Biological Control of Bemisia tabaci in the United States. By Juli Gould,Kim Hoelmer & John Goolsby

ABSTRACT

The present study describes two new genera, six new species and three new records from the Sea of Marmara. The new genus Marmara gen. nov. belonging to the family Sagartiidae is mainly characterized by having conspicuous muscular belts along the column and the absence of suckers and tenaculi on the body wall. The genus Charisactis gen. nov. belonging to the family Condylanthidae is mainly characterized by having an atypical mesentery arrangement, single siphonoglyph and homotrichs in tentacles. The other species newly described from the Sea of Marmara belong to the families Diadumenidae (one species from deep waters), Halcampoididae (one species from shallow waters), Edwardsiidae (one species from shallow waters) and Epizoanthidae (one species from deep waters). Three species, namely Epizoanthus arenaceus (family Epizoanthidae), Rolandia coralloides (family Clavulariidae) and Virgularia sp. (family Virgulariidae) are reported for the first time from the Sea of Marmara. The external and internal anatomical features as well as cnidom structures of the species are presented and discussed with the closely related species. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:51DA9869-D786-4A8A-8C1F-62DC1BB67923     

East African Agromyzidae (Diptera): further descriptions,revisionary notes and new records

Twenty-seven new species of Agromyzidae are described from Kenya and two from Uganda in the genera Melanagromyza, Ophiomyia, Tropicomyia, Agromyza, Cerodontha, Liriomyza, Phytoliriomyza, Napomyza, Phytomyza and Chromatomyia. The following new combinations are established: Cerodontha (Butomomyza) cariciphaga (Spencer 1963), Cerodontha (Butomomyza) pubicata (Spencer 1959), Napomyza eximia (Spencer 1964a) and Chromatomyia anonera (Séguy 1951); in addition Phytomyza natalensis Spencer 1964 a is raised to specific status.

New records are given of the important pest species Ophiomyia spencerella and Liriomyza trifolii.

The distribution of Kenyan species within Africa is discussed and the Palaearctic origin of new, high altitude species from Mt. Kenya is documented.     

A review of the north-western Pacific species of the genus Paguristes (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae), I. Five species initially reported by Ortmann (1892) from Japan

Five species of the hermit crab genus Paguristes Dana, 1851, initially reported by Ortmann (1892) from Japan, are revised based on the materials reported by Ortmann (1892), Doflein (1902), Balss (1913) and Miyake (1978), and on newly collected specimens. The specific status of P. palythophilus Ortmann, 1892, is clarified, and a species confused with P. palythophilus is described as new, P. albimaculatus. It has been revealed that P. kagoshimensis Ortmann, 1892, is actually a junior subjective synonym of P. digitalis Stimpson, 1858. The species heretofore assigned to P. kagoshimensis is described as new, P. versus. It has been confirmed that Paguristes acanthomerus Ortmann, 1892, is a valid species and that P. barbatus sensu Ortmann, 1892, is the same species as P. ortmanni Miyake, 1978. Further, a new species, P. doederleini, is described for P. setosus sensu Ortmann, 1892. It is also shown that a part of the group of specimens identified as Paguristes puniceus by Miyake (1978) is referable to P. doederleini. In addition to the three new species recognized herein, the four previously described species are also redescribed in detail in order to make clear their taxonomic status.     

Australian thrips of the Haplothrips lineage (Insecta: Thysanoptera)

Keys are presented to the 11 genera and 50 species, including 21 new species, of Thysanoptera in Australia that are related to the worldwide genus Haplothrips Amyot and Serville. These taxa belong to what, in recent literature, has been called the “Haplothrips‐lineage”, that is, one of the three major radiations among the 2700 species and 350 genera of Thysanoptera Phlaeothripinae. The group is redefined, and the available tribal name Haplothripini shown to be appropriate. The character states on which the definition is based are discussed, and a list given of the 34 genera worldwide that can be included. The Australian species in these genera exhibit a diversity of biologies. Three genera involve species that invade galls induced by other thrips: Androthrips monsterae (Moulton) from New Guinea is newly recorded from Australia; Mesothrips jordani Zimmermann from South‐East Asia is newly recorded from Australia, with two new synonyms; the Asia‐Pacific genus, Euoplothrips Hood, includes two species in northern Australia. Three haplothripine genera are associated with grasses: one widespread genus, Apterygothrips Priesner, considered polyphyletic, includes only one Australian species; the only known species of Dyothrips Kudo is Oriental but extends into tropical Australia; Podothrips Hood, a circum‐tropical genus of thrips predatory on grass‐living coccoids, has 11 Australian species, six newly described. One grass‐associated genus, Bamboosiella Ananthakrishnan, is excluded from the Haplothripini. An Oriental genus of leaf‐ and flower‐living species, Dolichothrips Karny, includes one species in northern Australia, D. reuteri (Karny); Membrothrips Bhatti in which this species has been placed is considered a synonym. Karnyothrips Watson includes two species introduced to Australia, both predators of coccoids. Priesneria Bagnall includes three species from Australia, of which one fungus‐feeding species is newly described. Xylaplothrips Priesner is a widespread but ill‐defined, polyphyletic genus that currently includes three little‐known Australian species. Haplothrips is the main focus of this study, and character state variation among the Australian species is discussed. In total 24 species of Haplothrips from Australia are recognised, 14 being new species. Also included are the following, one new generic synonym, four new species synonyms, and one new combination. The 250 species worldwide in the genus are usually associated with the flowers of Asteraceae and Poaceae. In Australia, several of the species are specific to flowers, particularly of Poaceae and Cyperaceae but not Asteraceae. Almost half of these Australian species are presumed to be predatory on other small arthropods, and two have unusual host associations—with salt marsh Chenopodiaceae, and with the sori of Dicksonia tree ferns.     

A new species of arboreal salamander (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Pseudoeurycea) from the mountains of Oaxaca,Mexico

Recent surveys of the plethodontid salamander fauna of Oaxaca, Mexico, disclosed the existence of a new, morphologically distinct arboreal species of the genus Pseudoeurycea. The new species, described here, is from the Sierra Mazateca in northern Oaxaca. Sequences of 1833 base pairs of the 16S, cytochrome b and ND4 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes from the new taxon were used to assess its phylogenetic position. Previous phylogenetic analyses based on mtDNA supported recognition of four clades within Pseudoeurycea: P. bellii, P. gadovii, P. juarezi and P. leprosa-Lineatriton species groups. One additional species, P. unguidentis, was not closely allied to any of the four groups. Re-analysis including the additional sequences reported here establishes a sister-group relationship between the new species and P. unguidentis. Moreover, it supports this clade as part of the P. juarezi species group.     

Two new Encarsia species (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) reared from eggs of Cicadellidae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) in Argentina: an unusual new host association

Males of two undescribed Encarsia species were reared from eggs of two cicadellid species during a study of egg parasitoids of corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) in northwestern Argentina. Samples were collected during the summer of 2004–2007 using sentinel eggs, and several males of a new species of Encarsia (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae) were obtained. A single male of a closely related Encarsia species, also previously undescribed, was reared from an egg of another cicadellid on maize, Plesiommata mollicella (Fowler). These are the first records of any Encarsia species reared from eggs of Cicadellidae. The two new species are described as Encarsia dalbulae Polaszek and Luft Albarracin sp. nov., and Encarsia mollicellae Polaszek and Luft Albarracin sp. nov.     

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.     

Palaearctic species of Ammoplanus (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

The Palaearctic species of the genus Ammoplanus Giraud are revised, based on material of over 1750 specimens from Europe, North Africa and Central Asia. For almost all species it was possible to examine the type material and in six species the lectotypes have been designated, in two cases (A. perrisi and A. marathroicus) the neotypes. As a result 38 species are recognized as valid, keyed out and commented on. Eight species are described as new and four species names are here placed in synonymy. Several species are of wide distribution, which made it necessary to include also those described from Central Asia and Mongolia. The keys are made to all Palaearctic species but no material is known from the regions east of Mongolia, although four undescribed species are available from South-East Asia. The Afrotropical species are listed and most of them were also examined. Two subgenera are recognized in the region; 32 species are classified in Ammoplanus sensu stricto and six in the subgenus Ammoplanellus. In the nominal subgenus the following species are described as new: A. atlasensis from Morocco, A. biscopula from Israel, A. biskrensis from Algeria, A. denesi from Turkey (Anatolia), A. freidbergi and A. kaplanae from Israel, A. minutus from Bulgaria and Turkey and A. strumae from Bulgaria and Greece. New synonymy: A. angelae becomes a junior synonym of rhodesianus (known before only from Africa), A. crudelis a synonym of A. kaszabi, A. handlirschi a synonym of A. marathroicus, A. suarezi a synonym of A. kohlii, A. subcompressus of A. gegen, A. orbiculatus of A. simplex and A. zarcoi of A. kohlii; A. wesmaeli is confirmed as a synonym of A. perrisi. Otherwise the synonymy is corrected under A. bischoffi and the names A. dusmeti and A. curvidens are re-established as valid. In a short review of the African species A. (Ammoplanellus) cradockensis Arnold, 1959 is placed as a new synonym under A. (Ammoplanellus) latiscapus Leclercq, 1959. The nomenclatural changes are explained under the relevant species.     

A new subgenus of the genus Colastes Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Exothecinae) for species reared from bracket fungi,with description of two new species from Europe

A new Holarctic subgenus (Fungivenator subgen. nov.) of the genus Colastes Haliday, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Exothecinae) is proposed for a group of species that, as far as is known, has its larvae living on hosts in bracket fungi. The type species (Colastes sandei sp. nov. from Netherlands, Germany and England) and a second species (C. fritzeni sp. nov.) from Finland are described and illustrated. A key to the five known species is included.     

New species of Dolichopus Latreille, 1796 from China (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)

The following three new species of Dolichopus are described from China: Dolichopus (Dolichopus) jilinensis sp. nov., D. (D.) longipilosus sp. nov. and D. (D.) yangi sp. nov. Three new species are reported from China, and a key to the Chinese species of the genus Dolichopus is presented for the first time.     

A new species of the genus Liopeltis Fitzinger, 1843 from Vietnam (Squamata: Colubridae)

ABSTRACT

A new species of Liopeltis from central Vietnam is described based on morphological and molecular differences. Liopeltis pallidonuchalis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: one single (or missing) loreal; one single nasal shield; dorsal scales in 15–15-15 rows, all smooth; 1 preocular, 2 postoculars and 1 + 2 temporals; 7 supralabials, of which 3^rd and 4^th in contact with the eye; 8 infralabials; nasal contacting internasal; prefrontal touching or separated from supralabials; ventral scales 126–138; subcaudal scales 67–73, paired; relative tail length about 0.274–0.301; an uniform bronze body colouration; a thin postocular stripe extending from eye to end of the neck becoming indistinct posteriorly. The new species differs from the morphologically closest species Liopeltis frenata by the lower number of ventrals and subcaudals, by characteristic colouration and significant divergence in cytochrome b mtDNA gene sequences (p = 15.3–15.6%). The new species is currently known from northen and central parts of the Annamite (Truong Son) Mountains, central Vietnam, and was recorded from montane evergreen tropical forests of Kon Tum–Gia Lai Plateau (Gia Lai and Thua Thien–Hue provinces, Da Nang City) at elevations of 950–1010 m asl to karst tropical forests in Quang Binh Province in the north at elevation 150 asl. We suggest the new species should be considered as Vulnerable (VU) following the IUCN’s Red List categories. An updated taxonomic key to the Liopeltis species is provided.     

Redescriptions of two termites from Burmese amber

Summary

Danothrips Bhatti 1971 is revised and its relations with Chaetanaphothrips Priesner are discussed. The genus is redefined in view of the increased number of species within the genus, and a key is provided to distinguish the species. Six species are included: setifer Bhatti 1971 theifolii (Karny 1921), theivorus (Karny 1921), trifasciatus Sakimura 1975, and two new species, alis and moundi. The range of distribution of trifasciatus, originally described from Hawaii, is considerably extended by its new findings from the Lesser Antilles (St. Vincent Island) and Indonesia (Andalas).