A new species of Hyalella from the Patagonia,Chile, with redescription of H. simplex Schellenberg, 1943 (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

The species of Hyalella living in the southern extreme of South America have several common morphological features. The uniqueness of this morphology presents a good argument for inferring phylogenetic relationships among them. The species are concentrated, although not exclusively, in the Patagonia of Chile and Argentina. The group is called here ' patagonica complex'. These species are not the only Hyalella present in the area, however. Hyalella simplex Schellenberg, 1943, with no morphological affinities to the patagonica complex is also present, and is one of the few other species outside the complex living in the continental extreme south of South America. Hyalella simplex is redescribed in this paper. Two species of the patagonica complex have been recorded for the area: H. neonoma Stock and Platvoet, 1991 and H. araucana Grosso and Peralta, 1999. H. fossamancinii Cavalieri, 1959, another species in the complex, is found high in the Andes. The new species H. franciscae described in this work is added to the complex.     

Water mites from spring- and ground-water habitats in the Sultanate of Oman

Eight species of water mite were collected in 1996 during a biological survey with various sampling techniques by J. H. Stock, J. J. Vermeulen (both Amsterdam) and Abdul M. Al Nofli (Oman) from ground-water habitats of the Sultanate of Oman (Arabian peninsula). All species are recorded for the first time from the Arabian peninsula. Four species, representing the genera Monatractides, Bharatohydracarus (two species), and a genus and subfamily new to science, are described for the first time. The systematic and zoogeographical significance of these new records is discussed.     

Macro- and microscopic morphology of the reproductive system of Leptinaria unilamellata (d’Orbigny, 1835) (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Subulinidae)

Many tropical terrestrial gastropods, such as Subulinidae, are recognized and classified by their shells, as is the case for Leptinaria unilamellata (d’Orbigny, 1835), a hermaphroditic pulmonate snail restricted to tropical America. We aimed to characterize the morpho-anatomy and histology of the reproductive system of L. unilamellata. We compared the results obtained from L. unilamellata with the available data on the reproductive system of other subulinid species. The main distinctive characters are those of the penial complex, such as the proportion of the length of the penial complex and the length of the free oviduct, presence of a flagellum, site of insertion of the bursa copulatrix duct relative to the site of insertion of the penial complex and presence and extension of the penial sheath.     

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Mount Kilimanjaro: family Pieridae,subfamily Coliadinae

This paper forms part of a series on the butterfly fauna of Mount Kilimanjaro. Three genera (Catopsilia, Colias and Eurema) with eight species of Coliadinae are believed to occur within the main forest zone. However, of these, one or two may prove to be no more than variants of a third species, Eurema desjardinsii. A fourth conventionally recognized member of the complex may occur on the lower slopes below 1800 m. The widespread species Eurema hecabe occurs on the lower slopes, but records are sparse, and no records of its close relative Eurema floricola, with which it has often been confused, have been found. The need for original field and laboratory research on the taxonomy of African Eurema species is stressed. Keys to adult Coliadinae found in Tanzania, with colour illustrations, are included as online supplementary material.     

A new genus and new species (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Gomphocerinae) from south-east Xizang,China

In 2007, a 3-year survey was started in northeastern Italy to assess the influence of agricultural management on parasitoid composition and parasitism rates of parasitoids attacking larvae and pupae of Syrphidae (Diptera). Two types of management were considered – intensive (including wheat and maize monoculture with very low or null vegetation diversity) and extensive (with different types of habitats, characterized by a higher vegetation complexity). In habitats simplified by intensive agriculture, and particularly in maize fields, parasitism rates of syrphid larvae were higher than recorded in more diversified habitats. A substantial difference in the composition of the parasitoid complex was also found. In extensive and wheat sites, Diplazontinae (Braconidae), highly specialized to Syrphidae, were the dominant parasitoids, whereas in maize fields Pachyneuron (Pteromalidae) species, known as generalists, accounted for more than 80% of total parasitoids. In the habitats where Pachyneuron spp. were dominant, parasitism rates were very high. Conversely, in habitats where Diplazontinae were more abundant, the parasitism rates were very low. The higher rate of parasitism of syrphid larvae and pupae recorded in intensive monocultures could have a large impact on the development and control of aphid populations in such crops.     

West Indian Neoathyreus and their over-water dispersal (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Geotrupinae)

Neoathyreus androsensis n.sp., is described from Andros Is. in the Bahamas and from Cayo Coco, Cuba. The new species and four other previously described species, now known to occur in the West Indies, are briefly described, keyed and figured. One species, Neoathyreus lanei (Martínez) occurs in the Lesser Antilles and also in northern South America. The four other species occurring on either Cuba, the Bahamas, or Hispaniola are closely related to each other and somewhat less so to the Neoathyreus hamifer complex, known from Mexico and Central America. A minimum of two or three over-water dispersals by ancestral forms seem to be necessary to explain the current distributions of at least some of these West Indian species.     

Anisakis simplex complex (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in zooplankton communities from temperate NE Atlantic waters

The euphausiid Nyctiphanes couchii and an unidentified mysid have been found, for the first time, with third-stage larvae (L₃) of the Anisakis simplex complex in the mesozooplanktonic community of the coastal upwelling system in Galicia (NW Spain). Parasite larvae were molecularly identified using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The prevalence of these parasites in the euphausiid population was 0.0019%. The existence of parasites in a variety of mesozooplankton organisms suggests that the transmission routes of A. simplex sensu stricto and A. pegrefii are wider than expected. The results suggest that these two Anisakis species are not specific to their intermediate hosts. Finally, the recruitment of A. simplex complex may be affected by oceanography, differing under upwelling or downwelling conditions.     

The African grasshopper genus Acanthacris (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae)

The genus Acanthacris Uvarov is revised and four species are recognized: A. aithioptera sp. nov., A. deckeni (Gerstäcker), A. elgonensis Sjöstedt and A. ruficornis (Fabricius). Acanthacris elgonensis is raised to specific status for the first time. Acanthacris ruficornis is considered as two distinct geographical races: A. r. ruficornis and A. r. citrina (Serville). The following nominal taxa have been synonymized with A. r. ruficornis: A. ruficornis yemenita Uvarov, Gryllus locusta lineatus Stoll and Acridium ruficorne var. subimmaculata Finot. An identification key is provided for males, based largely on external morphological characters combined with those of the phallic complex. All the valid taxa are redescribed. Measurements, figures of genitalia and distribution maps are provided.     

Four new earthworms of the genus Amynthas (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from Mount Emei,Sichuan Province,China

Four new species were collected from Mt. Emei, Sichuan Province, China. They are Amynthas leshanensis sp. nov., Amynthas gilvus sp. nov., Amynthas retortus sp. nov. and Amynthas orbicularis sp. nov. The first three species could be assigned to the Amynthas sieboldi group and the last species could be assigned to the Amynthas aeruginosus group according to the definition of Sims and Easton. A. leshanensis sp. nov. has the male pore porophore surrounded by a large irregular-shaped pad which extends from 17/18–½ XIX, and the intestinal caeca are complex. A. gilvus sp. nov. has each male pore on a slightly raised elliptical glandular flat-top pad, with a pointed extension lateral to each porophore. Amynthas retortus sp. nov. has a pair of small, round post-setal genital papillae medial to male porophores on XVII, spermathecal seminal chambers are twisted into zigzags and accessory glands are present on spermathecae and prostate gland areas. A. orbicularis sp. nov. has the spermathecal pores near dorso-lateral, complex intestinal caeca complex, three accessory glands with long ducts near the male pores, and the spermathecal seminal chambers are twisted into zigzags. The barcode data (partial sequence of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) of each species has been submitted to the National Center of Biotechnology Information GenBank.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5B82315E-5CF8-4048-87C4-B702021464B5     

Generalist hymenopteran parasitoids of the leaf-miner Chromatomyia fuscula (Zett.) (Dipt.: Agromyzidae)

In southeastern Norway, by the last week of June (1992), 48%of Chromatomyia fuscula emerged, based on the number of mines collected from Hordeum vulgare leaves. Among the parasitoids Diglyphus begini was the dominant species, but Cirrospilus vittatus and Neochrysocharis aratus also emerged in significant numbers. During June and July, N. aratus was the dominant species in the 1st and 2nd leaves, but D. begini was dominant in the 4th to 6th leaves. C. vittatus and Cyrtogaster vulgaris affected all larvae of the leaf-miner fly, living on various leaves. In central Norway, 48% of C. fuscula also emerged. C. vulgaris and D. begini were the dominant parasitoids and C. vittatus was also found. C. fuscula has no specialist parasitoids. Adults of the generalist parasitoids of the leafminers always search for different hosts. In investigation of the parasitoid complex of a lepidopteran leaf-miner, Phyllocnistis labyrinthella (living in Populus tremula leaves at the edge of the examined barley field), three shared parasitoids (C. vittatus, Pnigalio soemius and Pnigalio pectinicornis) were found. The complex network of host plant-phytophagous insect-insect parasitoid-facultative hyperparasitoid relationship is discussed.     

Morphological reply to a DNA call: a new cryptic species of Hydraena from western Europe,with a complete overview of the Hydraena gracilis complex (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae: “Haenydra” lineage)

Recent molecular analyses revealed unexpected genetic variability within Hydraena gracilis, one of the most common and widespread European moss beetles, belonging to the West Palaearctic endemic “Haenydra” lineage. For this taxon, molecular data univocally evidenced two distinct clades, the first one including populations from the Iberian Peninsula, and the second including populations from central and eastern Europe. Aedeagal morphology of H. gracilis was further investigated, finally demonstrating the actual existence of a new cryptic species of the H. gracilis complex in Portugal, Spain and the French Pyrenees. The geographical range of the true H. gracilis was consequently revised. Finally, dichotomous keys for males of all species belonging to the H. gracilis complex, and for males of all the Iberian “Haenydra” species, are also supplied.     

Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles as a chemotaxonomic tool for three blowfly species (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic interest

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHs) contain complex mixtures of components that cover the surface of all insects to restrict water loss, and in many species function in chemical communication. The complex mixtures have been used as a chemotaxonomic tool since the 1970s. The majority of CH components can be identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), allowing hydrocarbon profiles to be used as chemotaxonomic characters, which can differentiate insect species, including cryptic species. The present study used GC-MS for the identification of CHs of males and females of three species of calliphorids: Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedmann), A comparison of the chromatographic profiles from the three species allows them to be readily separated. Hydrocarbons identified from the three species contain 23 to 37 carbons and include n-alkanes, methyl-branched alkanes and alkenes. The most abundant compound for both sexes of C. macellaria was n-heptacosane, while for H. segmentaria it was 2-methyltriacontane; for L. cuprina, however, the most abundant compound was hentriacontene for females and nonacosene for males. The results obtained in this study are important for the establishment of a database to be used in chemotaxonomy of sanitarily and forensically important insects.     

Morphology of oil-collecting pilosity of female Rediviva bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Melittidae) reflects host plant use

The oil-collecting hair morphology and pilosity on female foretarsi for all 26 species of the southern African endemic bee genus Rediviva was studied and related to host plant use based on about 2700 flower visitation records. Four different types of tarsal pilosity and six principal hair types are identified. Rediviva bees collect floral oil from 12 plant genera representing the families Iridaceae, Orchidaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Stilbaceae, with Diascia being the most frequently used host. Differences in foretarsal pilosity reflect the availability of floral oil and elaiophore morphology of the principal host flowers. Rediviva species with short female forelegs exhibit a greater diversity of tarsal oil-collecting pilosity than long-legged species. This contradicts an earlier hypothesis that the pilosity of species with shorter legs might be less complex than in Rediviva with elongate forelegs.     

A new species of Didogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Adriatic Sea

Didogobius schlieweni sp. nov. is described from a single specimen collected among pebbles in shallow water at Unije island, near Cres, in the northern Adriatic Sea. The holotype has vivid dark and pale patterning, and is assigned to Didogobius on the basis of head neuromast patterns and meristic features. Diagnostic values of the latter are D2 I/12, A I/11, P 17, and LL 55–56. A key to species of the Chromogobius and Didogobius complex is provided.