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.     

Nouveaux Lamiaires du British Museum (Natural History), (Coleoptera,Cerambycidae)

Summary

Detailed examination of the cheliceral flagella of four British species (C. cimicoides, L. nodosus, A. dubius, and P. scorpioides) belonging to the family Chernetidae shows that the number of blades is stabilized by the protonymph. The morphology and pattern of growth of the blades are described, and the significance of the flagellum as a useful taxonomic character at the generic, if not specific level, is discussed.     

A checklist of the valid avian species of Babesia (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmorida), Haemoproteus,Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida), and Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Haemogregarinidae)

A current checklist of valid avian species of Babesia, Haemoproteus, Hepatozoon, and Leucocytozoon is presented. Some taxonomic problems which have arisen since the last review are discussed as too are the remaining host family groups of parasites still requiring review.     

Rediscovering Dichotomius foveicollis (Kirsch, 1871) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae), new combination,revalidation and other taxonomic notes

ABSTRACT

We found that Pinotus foveicollis synonym of D. agenor, does not belong to this group of species, neither is synonym of D. agenor. Here the species is revalidated to Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) foveicollis, the female is re-described, and the male is described for the first time. Based on male diagnostic characters the species is moved from D. agenor to D. inachus species-group.     

A new genus of Neotropical whitefly,secreting blue-iridescent wax (Sternorrhyncha,Aleyrodidae, Aleurodicinae), and its parasitoids (Hymenoptera,Aphelinidae)

Azuraleurodicus pentarthrus Martin gen. and sp. n. is described from three different host plant families in Central and northern South America. Adults of both sexes were reared in culture and adult characters are discussed in addition to those of puparia. The systematic position of Azuraleurodicus within the Aleurodicinae is discussed. One new combination, Aleuronudus ferrisi (Sampson and Drews) comb. n., is here proposed in the course of discussion. The secretion of blue wax by whiteflies is discussed and illustrated by colour photographs. Two species of hymenopterous parasitoids, Dirphys aphania Polaszek sp. n. and Encarsiella pithecura, Polaszek sp. n. emerged from puparia of Azuraleurodicus pentarthrus and are here described.     

Indirect sperm transfer and sexual differences of Erythraeus phalangioides (De Geer), (Prostigmata,Erythraeidae)

The spermatophore and morphological differences in the sexual organs of Erythraeus phalangioides (De Geer) as well as the reproductive behaviour of males are described.     

The haemoproteids of the Old World avian families Alaudidae (larks), Irenidae (leaf birds), and Motacillidae (wagtails and pipits)

The haemoproteids of the Old World passeriform families Alaudidae, Irenidae and Motacillidae are reviewed. Haemoproteus alaudae Celli and Sanfelice, 1891 of the Alaudidae and H. aegithinae de Mello, 1937 of the Irenidae are re-described and neohapantotypes designated. Haemoproteus anthi de Mello, 1937 from the Motacillidae is re-described and H. motacillae n. sp. is also described from this family.     

Bee visitors of sweetvetch, Hedysarum boreale boreale (Leguminosae), and their pollen-collecting activities

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} The native bee fauna visiting and pollinating a population of sweetvetch in Grand Teton National Park was surveyed. The papilionaceous flowers were exploited by 37 bee species, most of which had long mouthparts. Most species collected pollen as well as nectar. Bees foraged most heavily in early afternoon when pollen was most abundant. However, there was no indication that bee species were competing for limited pollen resources: there was no difference among three time periods in percent sweetvetch pollen carried in the scopal pollen loads of bees nor was there any evidence that some species were displacing the foraging times of others. The advantages of developing a native species as a commercial pollinator of sweetvetch are discussed and several potential candidates are mentioned.     

Cyclocypris diebeli Absolon, 1973 (Ostracoda,Crustacea), extinct in Europe,extant in Japan

Fossil Cyclocypris diebeli Absolon, 1973 Absolon, A. 1973. Ostracoden aus einigen Profilen spät- und postglazialer Karbonatablagerungen in Mitteleuropa,. Mitteilungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Historische Geologie, 13: 47–94.  [Google Scholar] from Europe are redescribed, utilizing material with chitinous preservation of the appendages and carapace. These are compared with living C. diebeli from Kushiro Marsh, Hokkaido, Japan, representing the first living population of this species ever found. The fossil material is associated with strongly calcareous sediments, whereas the living material is found in weakly calcareous to acidic waters. Reasons for the different ecological requirements are discussed. Detailed study of soft parts of both living and fossil material using SEM is compared with other Cyclocypris species and it is shown that C. diebeli is more closely related to the North American Cyclocypris cruciata Furtos, 1935 Furtos, N. C. 1935. Fresh-water Ostracoda from Massachusetts,. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 25: 530–544.  [Google Scholar] than to any European congeneric species. Furthermore, the comparison with other Cyclocypris species with left>right valve overlap results in the conclusion that the subgenus Laevicypris Krsti?, 1995 Krsti? N 1995 A new Cyclocypris subgenus—Laevicypris, in J. Ríha (ed.) Ostracoda and Biostratigraphy. Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Ostracoda (Rotterdam: A. Balkema), pp.?37–42  [Google Scholar] is not a useful division of the genus.     

Population and reproductive biology of the mud crab,Macrophthalmus hirtipes (Jacquinot, 1853) (Ocypodidae), from marine and estuarine habitats

Summary

Monthly samples of the burrowing mud crab, Macrophthalmus hirtipes (Jacquinot 1853) were collected from February 1978 to April 1979 from a marine inlet, Governors Bay (43°38′S, 172°39′E) and from the Avon-Heathcote Estuary (43°33′S, 172°44′E), New Zealand. The estuarine population was generally unimodal and had an annual cycle of population change sustained by a concentrated summer recruitment. In contrast, the bay population was unimodal and bimodal at different times, and recruitment occurred thoughout the year with no clear peak. Both populations had equal sex ratios and were dominated by immature individuals (crabs?10·0 mm carapace width). Estuarine crabs were generally smaller than marine crabs.

At both sites, ovigerous females were found from late May to early March; the smallest egg-bearing female measured CW 10·0 mm at the estuary and CW 10·5 mm at the bay. Cycles of ovarian and embryological development were similar at the two localities. Three peaks of egg oviposition occurred within one breeding season and mature females were capable of producing successive broods. Fecundity was related exponentially to female carapace width and did not alter during the breeding season. Estuarine females carried more eggs than marine females of similar size. Egg volume was related to time of oviposition and eggs laid at the start of the breeding season were significantly larger than those deposited during the second half; however, estuarine eggs showed less reduction in size at this time than did marine eggs.

Estuarine sediments had higher levels of chlorophyll ‘a’, ATP, and microorganism activity and productivity than marine sediments. As M. hirtipes is a detritus feeder, the differences in food resources are believed to account for the elevated fecundity of estuarine crabs. At the bay, salinities were high with little tidal and seasonal variation, whereas in the estuary sea water was diluted significantly both daily and seasonally. The differences in salinity characteristics between the sites may be affecting larval distribution; recruitment in the estuary was concentrated to the summer and in the bay it was almost continuous.