A new wolf spider species in the Pardosa monticola‐group (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Xinjiang,China

The Plateremaeoidea demonstrate highly differentiated patterns of dorsal setae on the hysterosoma because these setae are lost in protonymph and adult. Setal loss in protonymph always starts with setae of d-series, and occurs in order, continuing to the l-series and h-series. For example, Aleurodamaeus setosus (Berlese, 1883 Berlese, A. 1883. Escursione in Sicilia. Acarofauna Sicula. Ia serie. Bull Soc Entomol Ital., 15: 212–220.  [Google Scholar]) and Al. africanus Pletzen, 1963 Pletzen, R Van. 1963. Studies on South African Oribatei, II. Plateremaeidae Trägardh 1931; Genus Pedrocortesella Hammer 1961. Acarologia, 5(3): 438–442.  [Google Scholar] lose setae of d-series in protonymph, and eight pairs in adult (c-series, l-series, h ₂, h ₃), so four pairs of setae remain (h ₁, p-series). Arthrodamaeus reticulatus (Berlese, 1910), Gymnodamaeus bicostatus (C. L. Koch, 1836) and Jacotella neonominata Subías, 2004 Subías LS. 2004. Listado sistemático, sinonímico y biogeográfico de los Ácaros Oribátidos (Acariformes, Oribatida) del mundo (1758–2002). Graellsia. 60:3–305. Online version accessed in February 2011, p. 1–558. Available from http://www.ucm.es/info/zoo/Artropodos/Catalogo.pdf (http://www.ucm.es/info/zoo/Artropodos/Catalogo.pdf)  [Google Scholar] lose also setae la and lm in protonymph, and four pairs (c-series, lp), five pairs (c-series, lp, h ₃) and six pairs (c-series, lp, h ₂, h ₃) in adults, respectively, so six pairs (h-, p-series), five pairs (h ₁, h ₂, p-series) and four pairs of setae (h ₁, p-series) remain, respectively. Licnodamaeus costula Grandjean, 1931 Grandjean, F. 1931. Le genre Licneremaeus Paoli (Acariens). Bull Soc Zool France., 56: 221–250.  [Google Scholar] loses additionally seta lp, and Licnobelba latiflabellata (Paoli, 1908 Paoli, G. 1908. Monografia del genere Dameosoma Berl. e generi affini. Redia., 5: 31–91.  [Google Scholar]) also lose seta h ₂ in protonymph, and setae of c-series in adults, so six pairs of setae (h-series, p-series) remain in the former species, and four pairs (h ₁, p-series) in the latter species. Morphological characters of juveniles and adults of eight species of Plateremaeoidea are compared.     

Reproductive phenology and pre‐dispersal seed‐feeding in Protium tovarense (Burseraceae), with a description of the first known phytophagous “Bracon” species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae)

The reproductive phenology of the cloud forest tree Protium tovarense (Burseraceae) is analysed for one population in northern Venezuela. Reproductive phenophases were monitored using both long‐term(21 years) and detailed short‐term (4 years) surveys of flower and fruit set. The reproductive phenology of this tree varies, with periods in which the species behaves as a supra‐annual reproducer, and other periods in which it reproduces annually, at the end of the rainy season. Marked spatial variation in reproductive condition was also observed, with subpopulations separated by less than 2 km showing contrasting phenological stages. Larval infestation of seeds by a braconid wasp was observed for a period of 1 year and is described. This wasp, the first obligately phytophagous species of Braconinae, is described as Bracon phytophagus Quicke sp. n. Percentage fruit infestation by this wasp was relatively high (50–60%) during the entire period (～10 months) of fruit development. The larval stages are described and illustrated, and compared with those of other phytophagous Ichneumonoidea. DNA sequencing of wasp colour variants provided no indication that multiple species were involved. Two related braconine species described in the genus Iphiaulax are transferred to Bracon, hence, B. flavipalpisimus replacement name (Szépligeti) ( = Iphiaulax flavipalpis Szépligeti, 1901 Szépligeti, G v. 1901. Tropische Cenocoeliden und Braconidae aus der Sammlung des Ungarischens National‐Museums.. Természetrajzi Füzetek, 24: 353–402.  [Google Scholar] not B. flavipalpis Thomson, 1892) and B. glabrescens (Szépligeti) n. comb. ( = Iphiaulax glabrescens Szépligeti, 1901 Szépligeti, G v. 1901. Tropische Cenocoeliden und Braconidae aus der Sammlung des Ungarischens National‐Museums.. Természetrajzi Füzetek, 24: 353–402.  [Google Scholar]). Evolutionary routes to phytophagy in braconid wasps and hypothetical scenarios in which this plant–seed predator interaction can be maintained are discussed.     

Radiolarians from the British North‐Polar Expedition (1875–1876): re‐examination of the H. B. Brady (1878) collection

The earliest report on radiolarians from the Arctic Ocean (north of the Arctic Circle) was provided by H. B. Brady (1878 Brady, H. B. 1878. On the reticularian and radiolarian Rhizopoda (Foraminifera and Polycystina) of the North‐Polar Expedition of 1875–76.. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 5, 1: 425–440. [Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]). He documented the occurrences of 10 genera from soundings in northern Baffin Bay and north of Greenland, but he did not illustrate any specimens in his report. We have re‐examined Brady's original slide collection, housed at the Natural History Museum, London (NHM), in order to refine his radiolarian identifications to species level. We have identified 11 radiolarian taxa in his slides, but some are definitely more characteristic of tropical oceans rather than high northern latitudes. We conclude that this is most likely due to sample contamination or misidentification of samples. Therefore, the actual occurrence of tropically affiliated radiolarians recorded from the Arctic is uncertain and should be regarded with suspicion.     

The parasitoid complex and parasitoid‐induced mortality of spiders (Araneae) in a Central European woodland

The parasitoid complex of spiders was studied in three different sites of a forest and, for comparison, in open habitats in north‐western Lower Saxony (Germany). Qualitative data and, for four spider species, detailed quantitative rearing data were obtained. At least 25 parasitoids of spiders were recorded (23 species of Hymenoptera and two species of Diptera). External parasitoids of spiders were rare in the woodlands; only up to 1% of the spiders collected by hand searching and sweep netting had ectoparasitoids. During the investigation 23 parasitoid species were reared from spider egg masses, 10 of them occurring in woodlands. Two species were secondary parasitoids. Several parasitoid–host relationships were recorded for the first time. Egg masses of Floronia bucculenta were parasitized up to 5% by two species of the genus Gelis. Up to 10% of the egg masses of Linyphia hortensis were parasitized by Aclastus species. Egg masses of the spider genus Ero were parasitized by three species, causing an overall mortality of 40%. For egg masses of Agroeca spp. parasitization at some locations was up to 60%. An overview of the Central European parasitoid complex of spiders is provided.     

New and little‐known earthworm species from the Ivory Coast (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae: Benhamiinae and Eudrilidae)

In the framework of the international project called “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Below‐Ground Biodiversity”, soil macrofauna collections were carried out in the Centre‐West Ivory Coast. Altogether, 13 earthworm species were recorded, of which four belonged to the family Eudrilidae and nine to the family Acanthodrilidae. From the species collected, two, Dichogaster (Dichogaster) eburnea sp. nov. and Dichogaster (Dichogaster) mamillata sp. nov., proved to be new to science. To accommodate the enigmatic eudrilid earthworm species Scolecillus compositus Omodeo, 1958 Omodeo, P. 1958. Oligochetes. In, La reserve naturelle integrale du Mont Nimba.. Memoire de la Institut Francais Afrique Noire, 53: 9–109.  [Google Scholar], a new genus, Lavellea gen. nov., is proposed.     

A cavernicolous planthopper in the Galápagos Islands (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cixiidae)

A new troglobitic cixiid species, Oliarus hernandezi sp. n. is described from three lava tubes on the island of Floreana, Galápagos group. It is the first known obligately cavernicolous planthopper species from Galápagos. Notes on its ecology and distribution are given, and phylogenetic relationships to epigean Oliarus species from Galápagos are discussed.     

Host–parasite relationships and life cycles of cuckoo wasps in agro-ecosystems in Argentina (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae: Chrysidini)

Chrysididae is a diverse group of parasitoid/cleptoparasitic wasps; however, host–parasite relationships and life cycles of few species have been studied. Nests of different wasp and bee species were obtained during a trap-nesting programme, in the Pampean region. Some of these nests were parasitised by cuckoo wasps females of Caenochrysis taschenbergi (Mocsáry), Chrysis boutheryi (Brèthes), C. saltana Bohart, C. sp. 1 (ignita-group), C. sp. 2 (ignita-group), Neochrysis lecointei (Ducke), Pleurochrysis ancilla (Buysson) and P. lynchi (Bréthes). This paper reports new data about host–parasite relationships and life cycles for these species. Multiple parasites (from one species or from different families of insects) emerged from single cells of some parasitised nests: from each host cell parasitised by species of Pleurochrysis, two adults emerged successfully, information previously unknown for the genus; and in three cases of cells parasitised by C. boutheryi, two adults successfully emerged from a single cell; in two cases both individuals were chrysidine, and in third one was chrysidine and one Leucospis pulchripes (Leucospidae).     

Crab‐associated amphipods from the Falkland Islands (Crustacea,Peracarida)

Four species of associated amphipods were collected from the lithodid crab Paralomis granulosa in the Falkland Islands: Jassa kjetilanna n. sp. (Ischyroceridae), Gammaropsis monodi (Schellenberg, 1931 Schellenberg, A. 1931. Gammariden und Caprelliden des Magellangebietes, Südgeorgiens und der Westantarktis.. Further Zoological Results of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition 1901–1903, 2: 1–290.  [Google Scholar]) (Photidae), Aora karibu n. sp. (Aoridae), and Paramoera falklandica n. sp. (Eusiridae s.l.). The Gammaropsis was also found on the majid crab Eurypodius latreillei, where it seemed to be the only associate. A survey of all amphipod associations involving lithodid crabs is provided.     

Protozoan ciliate epibionts on the freshwater apple snail Pomacea figulina (Spix, 1827) (Gastropoda,Ampullariidae) in an urban stream of south‐east Brazil

The objective of this study was to record and analyze the prevalence of ciliated protozoa associated with prosobranchian snails of the species Pomacea figulina collected from an urban stream in south‐eastern Brazil. Four collections were carried out between December, 2005, and March, 2006, from which 23 snails and 10 ‘empty’ shells were obtained. The shells and opercula were scraped over Petri dishes and the ciliates were observed using bright field and phase contrast microscopy. Seven species of ciliates were recorded on the snails of P. figulina. Of the 23 snails analyzed, 82.60% (n = 19) were infested with at least one species of ciliate. No ciliates were found on the ‘empty’ shells and opercula. The results are discussed in terms of ecological aspects involved in this association.     

A study of Platyplectrus Ferrière (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in mainland China

This paper reviews the Chinese species of Platyplectrus Ferrière. Twelve valid species are recognized from mainland China and a key to species is provided. Trichoplectrus Erdös (1951 Erdös, J, 1951. "Eulophidae novae. Acta Biologica". 1951, Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 2(1–3), 169–237. [Google Scholar]) is newly synonymized with Metaplectrus Ferrière (1941 Ferrière, C, 1941. New species of Euplectrini (Hym. Chalcidoidea) from Europe, Africa and Asia, Bulletin of Entomological Research 32 (1941), pp. 17–48.[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) and three new combinations are proposed: Metaplectrus szepligetii (Erdös) from Platyplectrus, Platyplectrus bussy (Crawford) from Euplectrus and P. politus (Lin) from Metaplectrus. Four species of Platyplectrus were known previously from China: P. politus (Lin), P. odontogaster (Lin), P. papillata Lin and P. medius Zhu and Huang. Six species, P. bussyi (Crawford), P. laeviscuta (Thomson), P. natadae Ferrière, P. orthocraspedae Ferrière, P. pannonica (Erdös) and P. viridiceps (Ferrière) are newly recorded from China and re-described. Five new species, P. pulcher, P. setulosus, P. peculiaris, P. obtusiclavatus and P. variflagellum are described and compared with related species. Several species are also newly recorded from other regions: P. orthocraspedae Ferrière from the Afrotropical region, P. bussyi (Crawford) and P. laeviscuta (Thomson) from the Australian/Pacific region, P. laeviscuta (Thomson) from the Oriental region and P. viridiceps from the Palearctic region.     

Female-limited polymorphism and its significance in Appias (Catophaga) nero corazonae Schröder and Treadaway, 1989 (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Diagnostic characters are presented for Appias nero corazonae, a pierid butterfly from the Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, that exhibits female-limited polymorphism. The potential significance of A. n. corazonae for genetic investigations into Darwinian transference, the hypothetical process whereby bright colouration first evolves in the males of a species and is later ‘transferred’ to the females, is discussed.     

Revision of Pilargis de Saint‐Joseph, 1899 (Annelida,Polychaeta, Pilargidae)

Pilargis de Saint‐Joseph, 1899 includes seven species and one subspecies: P. berkeleyae Monro, 1933 Monro, C. C. A. 1933. On a new species of polychaete of the genus Pilargis from Friday Harbor, Washington.. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 10, 11: 673–675. [Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar], P. maculata Hartman, 1947 Hartman, O. 1947. Polychaetous Annelids, 8. Pilargiidae.. Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions, 10: 483–523.  [Google Scholar], P. modesta Intes and le Loeuff, 1975 Intes, A. and le Loeuff, P. 1975. Les annélides polychètes de Côte d'Ivoire, 1. Polychètes errantes—compte rendu systématique.. Cahiers ORSTOM (Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre‐Mer) Série Océanographie, 13: 267–321.  [Google Scholar], P. mohri Gallardo, 1968 Gallardo, V. A. 1968. Polychaeta from the Bay of Nha Trang, South Viet Nam.. Naga Reports, 4: 35–279.  [Google Scholar], P. papillata Rasmussen, 1973 Rasmussen, K. J. F. 1973. A new species of Pilargis (Polychaeta Pilargidae) from the deep soft sediments of Fensfjorden, Western Norway.. Sarsia, 53: 19–24. [Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar], P. tardigrada (Webster, 1879 Webster, H. E. 1879. On the Annelida Chaetopoda of the Virginian Coast.. Transactions of the Albany Institute, 9: 202–269.  [Google Scholar]), P. verrucosa de Saint‐Joseph, 1899, and P. verrucosa pacifica Uschakov, 1955. Two species (P. verrucosa and P. berkeleyae) have been recorded from widespread localities. However, no comparison with type material has been done, and there might be some different forms under the same name. We have reviewed all the available type material in order to clarify the taxonomy of this group. A critical analysis of morphological features and a standardization of their structure and variability have been attempted. Six species are redescribed, one species is characterized after published accounts, and one subspecies is elevated to species. Four are described as new: Pilargis angeli n. sp., P. cholae n. sp., P. rozbaczyloi n. sp., and P. wolfi n. sp. Three others based on damaged material are briefly characterized. A key for Pilargis species is included.     

Revision of the hirsuticornis‐like species of Macrothrix Baird, 1843 (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Macrothricidae) from Subantarctic and temperate regions of the southern hemisphere

The aim of this paper is to revise populations of Macrothrix cf. hirsuticornis (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Macrothricidae) from different regions of the southern hemisphere. It is demonstrated that M. hirsuticornis Norman and Brady, 1867 Norman, A. M. and Brady, G. S. 1867. A monograph of the British Entomostraca belonging to the families Bosminidae, Macrothricidae and Lynceidae.. Natural History Transactions of Northumberland and Durham, 1: 354–408.  [Google Scholar] s. str. is absent there, and five related species occupy different Subantarctic islands and the southernmost portions of South America, and Africa. Macrothrix boergeni Studer, 1878 Studer, T. 1878. Beiträge zur Naturgeschichte wirbelloser Tiere von Kerguelensland.. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, 44: 102–121.  [Google Scholar] from the Kerguelen Archipelago is redescribed and a neotype is selected. All populations in the southernmost portion of continental South America, Tierra del Fuego, Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkney Islands, and on the Antarctic Peninsula belong to M. oviformis Ekman, 1900 Ekman, S. 1900. Cladoceren aus Patagonien, gesammelt von der schwedischen Expedition nach Patagonien 1899.. Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 14: 62–84.  [Google Scholar]. All the taxa described from this region—M. ciliata Vávra, 1900 Vávra, W. 1900. “Süsswasser‐Cladoceren. Ergebnisse der Hamburger magalhaensische Sammelreise 1892/93. II Band. Arthropoden.”. In Hamburg 1–25.  [Google Scholar], M. odontocephala Daday, 1902 Daday, E. 1902. Mikroskopische Süsswasserthiere aus Patagonien, gesammelt von Dr. Filippo Sylvestri.. Természetrajzi Füzetek, Budapest, 25: 201–310.  [Google Scholar], M. propinqua Sars, 1909 Sars, G. O. 1909. Fresh‐water Entomostraca from South Georgia.. Archiv for Mathematik og Naturvidenskab, 30: 1–35.  [Google Scholar], and, probably, M. inflata Daday, 1902 Daday, E. 1902. Mikroskopische Süsswasserthiere aus Patagonien, gesammelt von Dr. Filippo Sylvestri.. Természetrajzi Füzetek, Budapest, 25: 201–310.  [Google Scholar]—are junior synonyms of M. oviformis. Two new species are established: M. sarsi sp. nov. from the Cape region of South Africa and M. ruehei sp. nov. from Crozet, Marion islands, and Île Amsterdam. Macrothrix cf. flagellata Smirnov and Timms, 1983 Smirnov, N. N. and Timms, B. V. 1983. A revision of the Australian Cladocera (Crustacea).. Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement, 1: 1–132. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar], previously known only from Tasmania, is found on Macquarie Island too. Differences between species from the southern hemisphere and Palaearctic M. hirsuticornis are summarized. It is demonstrated that characters of the general body shape (i.e. presence of a hood or a tooth on posterior head border) have a limited value for the systematics of Macrothrix. In contrast, some fine details, mostly missed by previous authors, are valuable for species discrimination. The present study increases the number of species recorded from the Antarctic‐Subantarctic region. Probably, the current pattern of Macrothrix distribution results from a disruption of a pan‐continental (early Mesozoic?) species complex.     

Non-invasive genetic study and population monitoring of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) (Mammalia: Ursidae) in Kastoria region – Greece

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Greece is considered endangered but little is known about the genetic status and the exact size of local populations. Non-invasive genetic sampling was used in this study to investigate the genetic diversity and genetic structure of the brown bear population in the Kastoria region (northwest Macedonia, Greece) and to estimate its population size. Estimation of demographic parameters was based on innovative, well-evaluated methods that can provide estimates from a single sampling session. DNA was extracted from hairs, scat and blood samples and subsequent amplification of 10 microsatellite loci allowed the identification of a minimum number of 75 living bears in the study area while the mark–recapture-based analysis resulted in a point estimation of 219 individuals. Relatively high diversity values, lack of heterozygosity deficiency as well as estimated effective population size, support the Kastoria bear population having good conservation status.     

Microhabitat use and feeding habits of Crossodactylus bokermanni Caramaschi and Sazima, 1985 (Anura,Hylodidae) at a site in south‐eastern Brazil

We studied a population of Crossodactylus bokermanni in a stream at the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural, Santuário do Caraça, south‐eastern Brazil, with respect to microhabitat use and diet. We characterized microhabitats based on substrate, distance to water and exposure level of the occupying individual (exposed or sheltered), and adjacent aquatic microhabitats (evaluated as potential nesting sites based on observed nests), according to water current (absent, slow or fast), substrate and depth. Calling males, silent males, ovigerous females, non‐ovigerous females and juveniles showed spatial niche overlap higher than that expected by chance, with calling males showing the strongest preference for microhabitats close to potential nesting sites (with intermediate depths, fast current and sandy bottom). Only 14 males out of 48 individuals examined for stomach contents had prey in their stomachs. The food items with the highest electivity values were Coleoptera and Diptera, but preys with both high and low mobility were exploited.     

Microhabitat use by the white‐clawed crayfish in a Tuscan stream

Habitat modification, pollution, overfishing, poaching, competition from non‐indigenous species, and diseases have led to the extinction in Europe of many populations of indigenous crayfish. Under the rationale that any programme of reintroduction should be preceded by a thorough understanding of habitat requirements of the species of concern, we studied the microhabitat use of an Austropotamobius pallipes population in Tuscany, central Italy. Microhabitat use was assessed for water depth, current velocity, substrate, percentages of boulders, underwater tree roots, and in‐stream vegetation cover. Results show that A. pallipes' habitat use is size‐partitioned. Smaller individuals mostly occupy stream edges in shallow waters with submerged roots, whereas larger individuals use deeper waters, often associated with boulders. Crayfish spatial distribution is restricted mostly to the microhabitats characterised by extensive cover and slow current velocity. The study highlights the importance of habitat heterogeneity and cover elements for the protection of this indigenous species.     

Conservation in a changing landscape: habitat occupancy of the critically endangered Tennent’s leaf-nosed lizard (Ceratophora tennentii) in Sri Lanka

Landscape modification is a key driver of global species extinction. Thus, understanding how species react to changes is essential for effective conservation management in modified landscapes. We examined the impact of selected land use patterns on the critically endangered Ceratophora tennentii in the Knuckles mountain range of Sri Lanka where lizards occupy patches of both natural undisturbed forests and modified plantations – evidently, those with a forest canopy. We tested three potential explanations for non-random habitat selection: availability of suitable microhabitat pockets, availability of prey and direct threats from humans. The microhabitat pockets occupied by the lizards were characterised by shade, humidity and the density of perches. Most lizards were found in mixed cardamom forests followed by natural forests and cardamom plantations, but none were observed in the pine plantations. Food availability showed similar patterns among habitats. Direct mortality by humans did not influence the distribution of this species. Our work indicates that habitat modifications that retain the structural complexity of the vegetation would still permit the existence of the species in densities equal to or greater than that of undisturbed forest patches. It adds to a growing body of literature that signifies the importance of disturbed habitats (intermediate disturbance hypothesis) in protecting threatened species of fauna. It is highly unlikely that some disturbed habitats will be ever be returned to their former pristine state in time frames that are important for species’ conservation. Hence, attention is needed in developing suitable approaches to manage and conserve species across disturbed habitats.