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.     

Lasalleistichus a new genus of Tetrastichinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from the Neotropical region,including four new species

ABSTRACT

A new genus, Lasalleistichus, is described based on material from the Neotropical region (Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru). This new genus includes four species: L. albiclava, L. albifasciatus, L. fuscicoxa, L. longicaulis, all spp. n. and described here. The group is mainly female based, males are known only for L. albiclava. There is no biological information available for this group.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:82E08F36-E2C4-42FF-AD12-11B49C272AC6     

Helminth biodiversity of Costa Rican Anurans (Amphibia: Anura)

One hundred and sixty-three frogs representing 21 species collected in Costa Rica were examined for helminths. Those found were: one species of Digenea (Mesocoelium monas), one species of Cestoda (Cylindrotaenia americana), 15 species of Nematoda, 11 species represented by gravid individuals (Aplectana hylambatis, Aplectana incerta, Aplectana itzocanensis, Capillaria recondita, Cosmocerca parva, Cosmocerca podicipinus, Falcaustra costaricae, Hedruris heyeri, Oswaldocruzia costaricensis, Oswaldocruzia nicaraguensis, Rhabdias savagei) and four species represented by larvae (Physaloptera sp., Porrocaecum sp., Spirocamallanus sp., Ascarididae gen. sp.) and three species of Acanthocephala, one species represented by gravid individuals (Anuracanthorhynchus lutzi) and two species by cystacanths (Centrorhynchidae gen. sp. and Oligacanthorhynchidae gen. sp.). Mean helminth diversity (number of helminth species) per frog species was 2.4 ± 0.3 SE, range: 1–6. Forty-nine new host records are reported. Costa Rican frogs are infected by generalist helminths, which infect other species of frogs from Central and South America.     

Considerations about the genus Pentoniscus Richardson, 1913 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) with description of a new species

The status of the neotropical genus Pentoniscus Richardson, 1913 is reconsidered and a diagnosis of this genus is given. It is shown that Pentoniscus Richardson, 1913 is a valid genus and not a synonym of Philoscia Latreille, 1804 as discussed by Schultz (1968). The type species, Pentoniscus pruinosus Richardson, 1913 is redescribed and for the first time figured in detail. A new species of Pentoniscus Richardson, 1913 is described from Costa Rica, Central America, which differs remarkably from its congeners in being unpigmented and blind.     

Immature stages of Parrhasius polibetes (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): host plants,tending ants,natural enemies and morphology

Natural history and immature stage morphology of the facultative myrmecophilous butterfly Parrhasius polibetes (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) are described and illustrated through both light and scanning electron microscopy. Larvae underwent four instars. At the third instar, the dorsal nectar organ became present and functional, and larvae were facultatively tended by several ant species, those also tending plants bearing extrafloral nectaries and honeydew-producing hemipterans. Larvae were florivorous and polyphagous at the species level, using at least 44 species of plants in 19 families. Most host plants (～ 89%) had some type of ant-attractive features, such as extrafloral nectaries or ant-tended treehoppers. The host range of this butterfly species allows the use of floral resources throughout the year. Food sources that promote ant visitation, flower bud morphology and phenology appear to be related to the evolution and maintenance of polyphagy in this butterfly species.     

Aedeagal musculature in phytophaga (Coleoptera)

Summary

Three species of Cerambycidae and three of Chrysomelidae have been studied from the standpoint of the aedeagal musculature. A brief reference to this part of the anatomy in Bruchidae has also been made. On the basis of the present observations and earlier publications in this area a basic plan for the aedeagal musculature in Phytophaga could be inferred. Some major and minor modifications of the basic plan have been pointed out. It has also been inferred that ‘retournement’ of the aedeagus is a rule along Phytophaga.     

Natural history of the terrestrial amphipod Cerrorchestia hyloraina Lindeman (Crustacea: Amphipoda; Talitridae) in a Costa Rican cloud forest

The field biology of the Costa Rican landhopper (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) Cerrorchestia hyloraina Lindeman was investigated in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica. On the Pacific (leeward) side of the continental divide, local distribution follows a gradient of moisture, from densities of over 200 m^-2 in the elfin forest at 1600 m, to extremely low densities in drier forest types. Below 1400 m, the leaf litter is apparently too dry to support landhopper populations. On the Caribbean (windward) side of the continental divide, landhoppers occur well below 1400 m. A discussion of geographic distribution is included. Landhoppers prefer aged (microfaunally pre-processed) leaves as food, and move about only at night or in the mornings of heavily overcast days. Average female fecundity is seven eggs, with progressive loss of marsupium contents over time. The sex ratio is biased towards females. In cloud forest, breeding apparently is continuous throughout the year, with some increase after the beginning of the rainy season. There are 9–10 juvenile instars and 5–6 adult instars. The relationship of antennal segment number to total body length is linear.     

Mites coexistent with neotropical hispine beetles in unfurled leaves of Heliconia: a new genus and family of the Ascoidea (Acari: Mesostigmata: Gamasina)

The genus Antennocheles gen. nov. is based on adults and nymphs of two newly described species associated with hispine beetles of the genera Chelobasis and Cephaloleia occupying unfurled leaves of Heliconia in lowland rainforest of Costa Rica. Within the superfamily Ascoidea, this taxon is so distinctive morphologically and behaviourally as to justify its own family, Antennochelidae, fam. nov. These mites bear remarkably elongated cheliceral shafts, which may extend for lengths greater than the body but are fully ensheathed in repose within the body. Other unique attributes include linear arrangement of hypostomatic setae, a pore-like structure beside the corniculus, and adults with a pair of unique sternal invaginations for enlarged muscle insertions. While undergoing their life history in water films of unfurled host leaves, the mites exhibit a slow, swimming-like behaviour in quest for prey. As leaves unfurl, adult mites run quickly off and on their hispine beetle phoronts for dispersal.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0876014C-1433-463B-B1A4-4CD6886F9D28     

A new species of Melanagromyza (Diptera: Agromyzidae) mining leaves of Bromelia pinguin (Bromeliaceae) in a dry forest in Costa Rica

Melanagromyza rosales, sp. nov., from Costa Rica is described and its natural history is summarized. Larvae are miners in leaves of Bromelia pinguin, a large terrestrial rosette plant. They form conspicuous longitudinal mines that may be over 1 m long. Adult emergence is virtually simultaneous for all individuals, probably triggered by temperature cues. Populations are low for many generations with brief periods of abundance.     

New species of Monstrilloida (Crustacea: Copepoda) from the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Monstrilloid copepods were collected from the oceanic island Isla del Coco in the Eastern Tropical Pacific; two undescribed species were found, one of Cymbasoma and one of Monstrillopsis. The first species, represented by females only, is distinguished by the structure of its fifth legs, the antennular armature and the position of the ovigerous spines. The new Monstrillopsis, represented by male specimens, is distinguished by its genital lappets and details of the antennule armature. The isolation of this island, 532 km from the mainland, and the limited dispersal means of monstrilloids suggest potential endemism of these species. A recent record of Cymbasoma tumorifrons from the Mexican Pacific was found to represent a new species of Cymbasoma. It can be distinguished from C. tumorifrons, probably a Mediterranean form, by its body shape and antennular armature. These findings double the number of monstrilloid species known from the Eastern Tropical Pacific.     

Intraspecific larval aggression in two species of Hyperini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Two unusual types of behaviour (wandering and intraspecific aggressive behaviour) have been observed when rearing larvae of two species of the tribe Hyperini. Wandering of Hypera postica in search for food was observed in L1, L2 and L3 larvae, as well as in young L4 larvae. L1 larvae also disperse in response to crowding. Wandering of L2 to young L4 instars was a response to food shortage. Wandering of late L4 larva (‘prepupa’) occurs because of searching for a place to spin the cocoon and pupate. Encounters between the larvae may result in agonistic behaviour, and some larvae may die as a consequence of fighting. This aggression increases with food limitation. Agonistic intraspecific behaviour has not been described to date in weevil’s larvae and it probably may not occur under natural conditions when there is a plenty of food and larval densities are decreased by pathogens or parasitoids.     

Revision of Indo-Pakistan Parisomias Faust (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) with some notes on Leptomias Faust

Summary

Mandibles and maxillae of Australonuphis teres (family Onuphidae) continue to grow throughout life without replacement. Mandibles are solid structures that grow by external depositions, leaving a series of growth rings. Maxillae are hollow without any growth rings. New teeth are added to a maxilla by the division of its most distal tooth. Overall growth of the maxillae is thought to occur from the inner epidermal layer of the cavity. The same mode of growth is expected in all extant Eunicoidea with exception of Dorvilleidae, where maxillae are periodically replaced.     

Synonymy of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), 1790 and R. vulneratus (Panzer), 1798 (Coleoptera,Curculionidae, Rhynchophorinae)

Morphological, molecular-genetic and breeding data were collected to investigate the species status of the Asian palm weevils, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) and R. vulneratus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). These weevils are distinguished by characteristic colouring of the pronota and elytra, but naturally occurring colour intermorphs were observed. Contrary to the literature, quantitative measurements of the concavity of subgenal sutures and of pronotal shape indicated no differences between the two species. Larvae did not differ significantly in labral characteristics. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) banding patterns were identical for nine of 14 primers, indicating that these weevils are very closely related. Sequences of the cytochrome oxidase gene for 201 base pairs read were identical for R. ferrugineus and R. vulneratus, but the congener R. bilineatus differed from them by 10%, suggesting divergence of these lineages about 5?million years ago. Hybrid F1s were obtained from all heterospecific crosses, and one surviving hybrid F1 female produced viable eggs. Previous studies have revealed no pheromonal differences. On the basis of this evidence, R. ferrugineus and R. vulneratus should be considered colour morphs of the same species and be synonymized under the name Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), with the common name Asian palm weevil.     

Additional new species of Grouvellinus Champion 1923 (Insecta,Coleoptera, Elmidae) discovered by citizen scientists and DNA barcoded in the field applying a novel MinION-based workflow

ABSTRACT

Four new species, Grouvellinus nigerquadratus sp. nov., G. cruxniger sp. nov., G. luciaensis sp. nov., and G. borneensis sp. nov., are described from Borneo and illustrated in detail. Two additional species of the genus which remain undescribed are briefly diagnosed. The material was collected during Taxon Expeditions’ field course which involved citizen scientists, students and taxonomists. Specimens were collected at altitudes between 270 m and 750 m above sea level using fine-meshed hand-nets and blacklight traps. The morphological species delimitation based on morphology was supplemented and congruent with mtDNA sequences which are the first DNA barcodes for the genus from Borneo. They were obtained in the field using a newly developed rapid and accurate MinION-based workflow. The inter – and intraspecific genetic distances and the problems regarding cryptic species delimitation are discussed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4B1D0F3D-B303-46A5-86B4-C23454192327     

Description of new species of Miloderes Casey, with comments on other species of the genus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Miloderes allredi, from Utah, and M. tingi, from California, are described as new to science.     

Description of two new Quadrastichus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) reared from Litchiomyia chinensis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on commercial lychee (Litchi chinensis; Sapindaceae) in Taiwan

ABSTRACT

The lychee gall midge, Litchiomyia chinensis Yang and Luo (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), invaded Taiwan in 2008. This fly induces blister-galls on the leaves of lychee, Litchi chinensis Sonn (Sapindaceae), and causes significant yield losses. At present, its natural enemy complex is largely undocumented; thus, the overall aim of ongoing research is to investigate the natural enemies on L. chinensis in different areas and seasons in Taiwan. We describe two species that parasitise this gall midge: Quadrastichus lasallei, sp. n. and Quadrastichus johnlasallei, sp. n. that demonstrate biocontrol potential of this pest.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A5E93071-D935-4F60-BCF9-225C50389ABF http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:261FC598-03CC-44A1-9379-F665B2DF0AA0