A new predatory flatworm (Platyhelminthes,Polycladida) from Botany Bay,New South Wales,Australia

A new species of Stylochidae flatworm Imogine lateotentare is described from Botany Bay, eastern New South Wales, Australia. This flatworm is distinguished from other species in the same genus mainly by having small, transparent and inconspicuous tentacles, densely packed purplish pink flecks at the posterior of the dorsal surface, distinctive purplish red colour gonopores and continuous bands of numerous frontal and cerebral eyes. Feeding and reproductive behaviour in the laboratory are described. This flatworm was found closely associated with the barnacle Balanus variegatus (Darwin, 1854) on which it fed by extending its pharynx over the barnacle opercular and sucking out the flesh but ejecting the cirri. It consumed one Balanus variegatus in a 14‐day observation period and it was observed feeding exclusively at night.     

A new stylochid flatworm (Platyhelminthes,Polycladida) from Victoria,Australia and observations on its biology

There are only four polyclad flatworms currently known from temperate waters of Victoria, Australia, although these turbellarians are common inhabitants of rocky shores. A new stylochid flatworm, Stylochus pygmaeus sp. nov. (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida) or oyster leech is described here from Port Philip Bay, Victoria. This flatworm was observed feeding on three species of barnacles by extending its pharynx over its prey and extruding copious amounts of mucus. Worms also preferred to prey on larger‐sized barnacles regardless of the species. Further observations indicated that these worms deposited eggs at night inside empty barnacle shells. Each eggmass was brooded for several days with the worms only moving off to feed. Each egg capsule contained multiple embryos and after 5 or 6 days, positively photo‐tactic, four‐lobed Götte's larvae emerged. Larvae metamorphosed to juvenile flatworms 1–2 weeks post‐hatching but failed to settle and survive.     

Behavioural ecology of Australian gall thrips (Insecta,Thysanoptera)

Collections, observations and experiments were used to investigate the behavioural ecology of gall thrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Data are presented on aspects of gall morphology, male and female morphology, behaviour, life cycles, and sex ratios for six gall-forming species, five species of inquilines (invaders that do not form galls), and one genus that uses secretions to glue phyllodes (modified petioles) together. During gall foundation on phyllodes of Acacia pendula, females of Kladothrips rugosus Froggatt fight other females to the death, males fight other males to the death, and one female or one adult of each sex remains alive within the gall to breed. In addition to the live adults, half of newly found galls contained dead bodies of from one to 13 males and females, which were apparently killed in fights. In Oncothrips tepperi Karny, which forms galls on Acacia oswaldii, single females found new galls, and females engage in lethal fighting during the period from gall initiation until closure. First-generation broods of Oncothrips tepperi comprise winged males and winged females with a sex ratio of about 1:6 female biased. Each gall also contains several wing-reduced adults with larger forelegs than winged adults, which probably either fight among themselves or defend their siblings from gall invaders. Adults of Oncothrips tepperi breed in the galls for two or more generations, whereas in all of the other species studied on Acacia only one generation occurs in a gall. Females of the inquiline Koptothrips flavicornis invade young, first-generation galls of Oncothrips tepperi, kill the foundling female, and produce their own offspring. Single females of Oncothrips antennatus (Moulton) form galls on Acacia aneura, and apparently do not fight. Winged females of Oncothrips antennatus have smaller forelegs, relative to their body size, than do winged females of Oncothrips tepperi. In Onychothrips arotrum Mound and Onychothrips tepperi (Uzel), single females from galls on Acacia aneura. In each species, females engage in lethal fighting during gall initiation. The sex ratio of Onychothrips arotrum broods is about 1:18 female biased. The inquiline Csirothrips watsoni Mound invades galls of Onychothrips arotrum, apparently after most or all of the offspring have left, and breeds inside. Females of this inquiline will kill live Onychothrips arotrum inside the galls, and they apparently plug gall entrances with cast O. arotrum exuviae. Iotatubothrips crozieri Mound and Crespi is involved in the formation of large, woody galls on stems of Casuarina, perhaps in association with a microorganism. They breed in these galls for many generations. Galls contain several to thousands of individuals, and the adult sex ratio is about 1:4 female biased. Adults of the inquilines Thaumatothrips froggatti and Phallothrips houstoni Mound and Crespi invade these galls, kill the Iotatubothrips adults, and breed therein. The Iotatubothrips occasionally attempt, ineffectually, to fight off the invaders, and they apparently make partitions within the gall to protect themselves from takeover. Adults of Lichanothrips spp. glue phyllodes of Acacia harpophylla together using eggs and patches of secretion, and they breed in the resultant narrow space. Xanothrips xantes Mound breed in these spaces after the Lichanothrips have left. Fighting in Kladothrips rugosus, Oncothrips tepperi and Onychothrips tepperi involves two adults rearing up head to head, sparring with their enlarged, armed forelegs raised, and attempting to grasp and hold their opponent with their forelegs and drive their sharply pointed fore-tarsal teeth into their opponent's body. Females of Onychothrips arotrum also grasp, stab and kill with their forelegs, but they have not been observed to rear up head to head. Three of the inquiline species, Csirothrips watsoni, Thaumatothrips froggatti and Phallothrips houstoni, kill the original gall inhabitants by extending their forelegs directly in front of their bodies, tilting their heads back, remaining in this position for variable periods of time, and sharply pulling their armed fore tibiae towards the fore femora when their victim is near. Inquilinism in gall thrips may have evolved from lethal intraspecific fighting. Certain aspects of behaviour and morphology in Australian gall thrips, such as high prevalence of lethal fighting, gall ‘plugging’ in Csirothrips watsoni, attempted gall defence and apparent formation of partitions in Iotatubothrips crozieri, and the presence of wing-reduced adults in Oncothrips tepperi, indicate that these species exhibit some of the most complex behaviour thus far discovered in Thysanoptera.     

On the prezoeal stage: observations on three Pagurus species (Decapoda,Anomura)

Observation on prezoeas of three Pagurus species inhabiting the coasts of Hokkaido, P. lanuginosus de Haan, P. middendorffii Brandt, and P. brachiomastus (Thallwitz), were carried out using light and scanning electron microscopy. Hatching was produced at laboratory conditions of 17·5–18·2 °C and 32·5–33·2 ppt salinity, and after a short duration of 5–10 min, most of prezoeas moulted to the first zoeal stage. Prezoeal appendages are described and figured; previous observations on prezoeas in allied groups are summarized.     

Palpal loss,single palp copulation and obligatory mate consumption in Tidarren cuneolatum (Tullgren, 1910) (Araneae,Theridiidae)

Males of Tidarren cuneolatum (Tullgren, 1910) amputate one of their palps a few hours after the penultimate moult, like T. sisyphoides (Walckenaer, 1841) from the USA (Branch, 1942). Hence adult males, which are minute, have only one palp, either left or right randomly. This palpal organ is not oversized, when compared with other small spiders. During courtship females are unusually active, signalling receptivity by continuous twanging with legs II. Males construct a mating thread. Copulation involves one insertion, which lasts ca 4 min. Thus, only one receptaculum is inseminated during copulation. With the advance of insertion the male's prosoma becomes shrunken. Copulation regularly ends in mate consumption. In copulation with a virgin female the palp was inserted contralaterally. Females taken in the field had both receptacula filled with sperm and therefore were polyandrous. Re-mating was also observed in the laboratory. Remarkably the second male performed an ipsilateral insertion, if it possessed the same palp as the previous male. Probably the virgin receptaculum was recognized. Postembryonic development is rapid in males, which moult three times and mature ca 41 days after hatching from the cocoon. Females need four or five moults and ca 69 days to reach maturity and then survive ca 2-4 months.     

Copepodid stages of laboratory-reared Astericola asterinae (Bocquet, 1952) (Copepoda,Poecilostomatoida, Lichomolgidae), a copepod associated with Asterina gibbosa (Pennant, 1777) of Lake Faro (Messina)

We describe the five copepodids of Astericola asterinae (Bocquet, 1952) a poecilostomatoid copepod (family Lichomolgidae), reared in the laboratory. It shows only very slight sexual dimorphism in the third segment of C5 maxilliped. Our study of the copepodid development, together with the observations of Carton (1964), Bocquet et al. (1970) and Conradi et al. (1993), support the separation of A. asterinae from its sister species A. clausi (Rosoll, 1889).     

On some maerid and melitid material (Crustacea: Amphipoda) collected by the Hourglass Cruises (Florida). Part 2: Genera Dulichiella and Elasmopus,with a key to world Elasmopus

This paper deals with some of the Amphipoda Maeridae and Melitidae, i.e. one species in the genus Dulichiella and two in Elasmopus, collected during the Hourglass cruises, a 28-month sampling programme at 10 stations (5–73 m depth) on the central West Florida shelf. A key to world Elasmopus species is provided.     

The seasonality and distribution of Neuroptera,Raphidioptera and Mecoptera on oaks in Richmond Park,Surrey, as revealed by insecticide knock-down sampling

Twenty-five species of Mecoptera, Raphidioptera and Neuroptera were collected from oak trees by pyrethroid fogging between April and October, and the seasonality of these species is discussed. A total of over 1500 specimens of adults and larvae were obtained at an average density of about 0·43/m². Four of the species of Neuroptera are considered to be relatively uncommon in Britain, yet two of these (Sympherobius pellucidus and Nothochrysa capitata) were caught in large numbers. Apparent dimorphism in Chrysoperla carnea larvae and other difficulties in identifying chrysopid larvae suggest that further work is needed on geographic variation in this group. An analysis of the spatial distribution within the tree canopy indicated that some species show a marked preference to remain near the trunk, possibly for camouflage.     

Abbreviated larval development of the freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium pilimanus (De Man, 1879) (Decapoda,Palaemonidae), reared in the laboratory

The larvae of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium pilimanus (De Man, 1879), were reared in the laboratory. Larval development was highly abbreviated, with two zoeal and one megalopal stages. Newly hatched larvae were benthic, with a tendency to cling on to roughened surfaces. All larval stages subsisted solely on endogenous yolk. Morphological and behavioural differences between the first zoea of this species and that of M. malayanum (Roux, 1934) are highlighted. The potential use of larval characters in taxonomy is also discussed.     

Eustigmaeus floridensis sp. nov., a new mite species of the genus Eustigmaeus Berlese, 1910 (Acari: Stigmaeidae) from citrus in Florida

Eustigmaeus floridensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on female specimens collected from citrus trees in Florida, USA. The new species is closely related to Eustigmaeus arcuata, Eustigmaeus segnis and Eustigmaeus microsegnis, all known to occur in Florida. Eustigmaeus floridensis sp. nov. can be distinguished by larger dimples associated with setae sce, d₂ and e₁ containing at least four or more vacuoles centrally; dorsal body setae broadly lanceolate and feather-like, except c₂, which is slender; anogenital area with striae and one pair of serrated aggenital (ag1) and three pairs of serrated pseudanal (ps_1?3) setae. A key to the Eustigmaeus species known to occur across USA is also provided.     

The distribution of New Zealand and Australian terrestrial flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria: Tricladida: Terricola) in the British Isles—the Scottish survey and MEGALAB WORMS

The New Zealand flatworm, Artioposthia triangulata, and the Australian flatworm, Caenoplana alba, have become quite widespread in the British Isles since their introduction, probably in the early 1960s. They are considered as pest species since they eat earthworms and consequently may affect soil structure and fertility. The distribution of the two species has been recorded by two surveys: a Scottish survey between 1991 and 1993, and a national survey, MEGALAB WORMS, in March 1995. The latter was organized as part of National Science Week by BBC TV Tomorrow's World, The Daily Telegraph newspaper and the Office of Public Service and Science. Results of both surveys are presented as distribution maps of confirmed records. New Zealand flatworms are common and widespread in Northern Ireland and Central Scotland, and occur less commonly in other parts of Scotland, and in Northern England. There are a few scattered records from Southern England. The Scottish survey has resulted in retrospective distribution maps. Australian flatworms are widespread in South West England, and are found in several places in North West England. There are also records from South and North Wales, Northern Ireland and one from Southern Scotland. There were many false and negative reports. There are records of both species from the Republic of Ireland.     

Comparative larval morphology of the European bone-skippers,Thyreophora cynophila (Panzer, 1798) and Centrophlebomyia furcata (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Piophilidae), with notes on their coexistence and natural history

Considered at times as extinct, the European bone-skippers Thyreophora cynophila and Centrophlebomyia furcata (Diptera: Piophilidae) have been recently rediscovered in Spain, coexisting in some areas. Nevertheless, apart from their typical association with big mammal carcasses, little is known about them and the other species of subtribe Thyreophorina. In the present paper, the larval morphology of T. cynophila is described for the first time and compared with that of C. furcata. The morphology of cephalopharyngeal skeleton, the number and arrangement of the spines of ventral creeping welts, and the morphology and presence or absence of tubercles in the two last segments of the body, are the main characters allowing for larval identification of both species. Some preliminary field and laboratory observations on the behaviour and life cycle of the two species are also provided.     

A report on two large collections of the squat lobster Munidopsis platirostris (Decapoda,Anomura, Munidopsidae) from the Caribbean,with notes on their parasites,associates, and reproduction

The reproduction and parasite associates of the squat lobster Munidopsis platirostris (A. Milne Edwards and Bouvier, 1894) were investigated based on collections made in the Bahamas and Curaçao with grassmat and bundled fishing net traps used to collect sipunculan worms and other small invertebrates. Size of ovigerous M. platirostris was significantly correlated with clutch size for females from both localities but females from the Bahamas produced significantly more eggs (on average 10.1 eggs/clutch) than females from Curaçao (on average 6.6 eggs/clutch). Early embryos of M. platirostris from the Bahamas were 0.74–0.82 mm in diameter, similar to some other species of Munidopsidae as well as Chirostylidae. Two species of crustaceans, another squat lobster and a leptostracan, as well as a limpet mollusc, were collected with M. platirostris in the Bahamas, while a sipunculan was an associated species in a Curaçao collection. One specimen of M. platirostris had an unidentified cryptoniscoid epicaridean isopod, possibly representing a new genus and species. Two specimens of M. platirostris each had one rhizocephalan externa of a species belonging to Lernaeodiscus Müller, 1862 but their morphology does not match that of L. schmitti Reinhard, 1950, the only species in the genus known from squat lobsters in the western Atlantic. Additional materials and tools, such as DNA analysis, are needed to describe these potentially new parasites and we suggest that use of these traps may be an effective method to obtain additional samples.     

The Conidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of India

Summary

The polyp and immature medusa stages of Cladonema californicum Hyman, are described. The life cycle of the species was observed in the laboratory and took about 47 days to complete under laboratory conditions. Field collections from Bodega Harbor indicated that the medusae and reproductive polyp are present all year. A review of the taxonomy of the genus reveals that there are possibly only two valid species of Cladonema if one bases species separation on the medusa alone: C. radiatum and its ‘varieties’, and C. californicum. Additional work is needed to elucidate the relationships among the described varieties of the medusae of C. radiatum and the morphology of their respective polyps before further revision of the genus can be attempted.     

Two new species of Microprosthema from the Western Atlantic (Crustacea: Decapoda: Stenopodidea)

Two new species of shrimp in the genus Microprosthema are described and figured on the basis of materials collected recently from the tropical western Atlantic. Specimens of one, Microprosthema manningi, have been collected from Florida, Mexico, Belize and Old Providence Island. The other new species, Microprosthema looensis, was taken from a single site in the Florida Keys. Microprosthema manningi is closely related to the western Atlantic M. semilaeve, while M. looensis is closely related to the Indo-Pacific M. scabricaudatum. However, both new species can be distinguished by numerous morphological differences, as well as by coloration.     

Ecology and behaviour of the ‘road tarantulas’ Eupalaestrus weijenberghi and Acanthoscurria suina (Araneae,Theraphosidae) from Uruguay

Spatial distribution, burrow morphology, phenology, defensive displays and predation of two theraphosid spiders living in meadows were studied in Uruguay. Exhaustive field studies complemented with laboratory observations were carried out. Eupalaestrus weijenberghi occurred throughout the country while Acanthoscurria suina occurred only in the southern half. Both species seemed to be the most abundant theraphosid spiders in Uruguay as they live in the dominant landscape of the country. Burrows from both species showed a similar morphological pattern but a terminal narrow tube was found only in E. weijenberghi. We observed that A. suina always co‐occurred with E. weijenberghi but this species frequently occurred in the absence of the former. When co‐occurring A. suina showed an aggregated distribution while E. weijenberghi was randomly distributed. A restricted reproductive period was found for both species, mainly between March and April, evidenced by the massive presence of walking adult males and then confirmed by pit‐fall traps. Moulting, oviposition and longevity were also studied. Conspicuous species‐specific defensive behaviours were displayed by the tarantulas in all cases, when collected. These tarantulas showed spatial co‐occurrence and temporal coexistence with the beetle Diloboderus abderus, an important pest of grasslands. Tarantula predation on adult beetles was confirmed, these spiders being one of the few beetle predators. Their maximal efficiency in beetle predation could reach 65?000 prey captured per hectare by month. These polyphagous tarantulas seem to be potential agents for the biological control of beetle pests.     

A description of Siphonophora portoricensis Brandt (Diplopoda: Siphonophorida: Siphonophoridae), with a Catalogue of Ordinal Representatives in the New World

Data on geographical distribution are provided for S. portoricensis Brandt, the type species of Siphonophora Brandt and the oldest species-group name in the genus, family, and Order; it appears to occur throughout Puerto Rico. It is characterized by fusion of the distal three podomeres of the anterior gonopods, which are sublinear in shorter, less mature males and bend caudad for varying lengths in longer individuals. In the New World, the Siphonophorida is represented by both families, the Siphonorhinidae by one genus and one species, Illacme plenipes Cook and Loomis, from San Benito County, California, and the Siphonophoridae by 10 genera, six monotypic, 66 extant nominal species, and one subspecies; two fossil species of Siphonophora have been proposed along with an unnamed fossil form of Siphonocybe Pocock. The following new combinations are officially recorded: Columbianum gracilicornis (Carl), Columbiozonium pearsei (Chamberlin), Cordillerium fuhrmanni (Carl), Yucatanium sabachana (Chamberlin), and Guatemalium barberi (Chamberlin). The Siphonophoridae ranges from southern California, northcentral Arizona, and central Texas to the Andes of central Peru and São Paulo state, Brazil. It also occurs on 10 islands in the Greater and Lesser Antilles, being newly recorded from Martinique, but apparently does not cross the Straits of Florida and is unknown from Florida, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.     

On some Maerid genera (Crustacea,Amphipoda, Maeridae) collected by the Hourglass Cruises (Florida). Part 1: Genera Anamaera,Ceradocus, Clessidra gen. nov., Jerbarnia,Maera, Meximaera,with a key to world Ceradocus

This paper deals with some of the Amphipoda Maeridae, i.e. seven species in the genera Anamaera, Ceradocus, Clessidra gen. nov., Jerbarnia, Maera and Meximaera, collected during the Hourglass cruises, a 28-month sampling programme at 10 stations (5–73 m depth) on the central West Florida shelf. A new genus Clessidra is erected for Maera tinkerensis Kunkel, and Maera caroliniana Bynum and Fox is found to be a junior synonym of Meximaera diffidentia. Keys to these Atlantic maerids, and to world Ceradocus species, are provided.     

Colony foundation,nest architecture and demography of a basal fungus‐growing ant,Mycocepurus smithii (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

The genus Mycocepurus is a phylogenetically basal attine ant, so studies of its biology may provide insight into the evolution of behaviours associated with fungus‐growing that characterize the tribe Attini. Mycocepurus smithii from Puerto Rico produces sexual females from July to September, but no males were observed in 2 years of observations, confirming previous observations elsewhere. Colonies were founded between July and August and most nests were haplometrotic (85% of 74 nests). After excavating a tunnel and small chamber, a foundress queen inserted her fore wings into the ceiling and used the wing surfaces as a platform on which the incipient fungal garden was grown. Foundresses foraged for substrate to grow the fungus garden. Growth of incipient colonies was slow: the first workers emerged 2–5 months after colony founding and, after 8 months, colonies contained on average only a single worker.     

Untying a Gordian knot: the domestication and laboratory maintenance of a Gordian worm,Paragordius varius (Nematomorpha: Gordiida)

Twenty-one sand field crickets (Gryllus firmus) were infected with naturally collected cysts of the Gordian worm, Paragordius varius (Nematomorpha: Gordiida). The life cycle was completed by infecting laboratory-reared paratenic hosts with P. varius larvae. The life cycle has been maintained subsequently in the laboratory for numerous generations. This is the first time the life cycle of a member of the phylum Nematomorpha has been completed experimentally. Maturation within the definitive host took from 27 to 30 days post-exposure. The natural and laboratory life cycles of Paragordius varius vary in that a more easily maintainable paratenic host is used in the laboratory than is used in nature. The complete domesticated model life cycle is maintained easily and takes as few as 45 days. Data gathered from 46 laboratory-infected cricket hosts indicated that sex ratios of worms did not differ significantly from 1.0. Unlike most natural collections, the mean intensity of infection was above 1.0, and infection did not appear to preclude the host from mating.