Composition of meiobenthonic Platyhelminthes from brackish environments of the Galician and Cantabrian coasts of Spain with the description of a new species of Djeziraia (Polycystididae,Kalyptorhynchia)

From 1997 to 1999, the fauna of free‐living Platyhelminthes of the rias ecosystem was studied along the Galician and Cantabrian coast in northern Spain. In total, 72 platyhelminth species are listed in this study. Forty‐two species represent new records for the Iberian Peninsula, three of which represent new genera records. A new species belonging to the genus Djeziraia (Polycystididae, Kalyptorhynchia), Djeziraia longistyla sp. nov., is described in this paper. In this broad‐scale study, a large data set (27 localities) of the estuaries of northern Spain allowed an analysis of the turbellarian species assemblages and the relation of species distributions to salinity, conductivity, oxygen, temperature, and sediment characteristics. Species assemblages (species diversity) of each habitat of the brackish water ecotone are shown. The present study contributes to knowledge on the ability of adaptation of free‐living Platyhelminthes to regimes of brackish water ecotones.     

A new subfamily of Rhynchohydracaridae (Acari,Hydrachnellae) from the island of Coiba (Panama) with descriptions of new taxa

During an intensive study of the water mite fauna of the island of Coiba (Panama) the following new taxa were found: a new subfamily of Rhynchohydracaridae Lundblad, 1936 with two new genera and species, and a new subgenus of Rhynchohydracarus Lundblad, 1936 with a new species. The female of this genus is described for the first time.     

A checklist of the corals of the island state of Rodrigues,Mauritius

The aim of this study was to create an inventory of the coral species which occur in the shallow waters around Rodrigues island. The stony corals of Rodrigues island have received limited study. Corals were recorded, photographed and collected from reef slopes and lagoons by scuba diving and snorkelling during October 2001. A collection of previously collected corals in Rodrigues was also studied. A total of 130 named species in 40 genera of hard corals (125 species in 37 genera of zooxanthellate Scleractinia) were found during the present survey, together with eight unidentified species; 47 species of coral were new records for Rodrigues, 37 of which were new reports for the southern Mascarene archipelago; 23 species represented extensions of their known ranges, including two species that were previously considered endemic to other areas. The number of species found is similar to that previously reported from Mauritius (134), and significantly more than reported in earlier studies of Rodriguan corals (up to 89 species). This also complements recent reports for Rodrigues (132 species) and Mauritius (163 species).     

The Australian species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae), parasitoids of whiteflies (Hemiptera,Sternorrhyncha, Aleyrodidae) and armoured scale insects (Hemiptera,Coccoidea: Diaspididae)

The species of Encarsia Förster known from Australia are revised. This study is based mainly on material collected over the last 10 years. Ninety‐four species are recognized, including 38 new species, and seven new records for Australia. All species are fully described or diagnosed, and illustrated by microphotographs. Seven new specific synonymies are proposed and two lectotypes are designated. A key to the females of Australian species of Encarsia is provided. The known hosts and distribution are summarized. The diversity of the Australian Encarsia fauna is discussed.     

Conchoecia mesadenia,a new species of abyssopelagic halocyprid ostracod related to C. dasyophthalma Müller, 1906

A new species of bathypelagic planktonic ostracod is described and a comparative study made between it and the closely-related species Conchoecia dasyophthalma Müller, 1906. The new species occurs deeper in the water column than C. dasyophthalma, it is smaller and can easily be recognized by its size and the unusual position of the right asymmetrical gland.     

A revision of the Chinese species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): parasitoids of whiteflies,scale insects and aphids (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae,Diaspididae, Aphidoidea)

The species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) known from China are revised. This study is based largely on newly-collected material from Fujian and Guangdong provinces in mainland China, and from the island of Taiwan. A total of 76 species are treated, including 29 new species, one new combination and 16 new records for China. All species are fully described or diagnosed, and illustrated. Three new specific synonymies are proposed and two lectotypes are designated. Four species are described from males only, three belonging to the perflava-group (ancistrocera, echinocera, viggianii), having modified antennae, and one (magnivena) in the strenua-group having very unusual fore wings. A key to the Chinese species of Encarsia, based largely on females, is provided.     

Contributions to the knowledge of the genera Haemerophygus Baudi, 1876 and Ceratanisus Gemminger, 1870 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Ceratanisini) in the Anatolian region

Previously known species of the genus Ceratanisus Gemminger, 1870 are studied, based on a comparison of specimens. This study is a first attempt to scrutinize the composition of this poorly known genus, as a preliminary approach to the tribe Ceratanisini Gebien, 1937. As a result of this study three previously described taxa are recognized as valid species and three new species from Turkey, Ceratanisus selimi sp. nov., Ceratanisus labriquei sp. nov. and Ceratanisus andiberti sp. nov., are described. A key for the separation of the genera of Ceratanisini is presented, including the new species described herein.     

Records of ascidians from Bahrain,Arabian Gulf with three new species

Fifteen ascidian species were identified from 1 to 12 m depth in coastal waters of Bahrain, Arabian Gulf. Three new species, Aplidium rubripunctum, Didemnum yolky and Symplegma bahraini are described. Four species collected are cosmopolitan. This study increases knowledge of the ascidian fauna of an area for which only sporadic collections have previously been made.     

Deep-sea asellote isopods (Crustacea,Eumalacostraca) of the north-west Atlantic: the family Haploniscidae

The deep-sea asellote isopod species belonging to the family Haploniscidae were studied from three study sites off the North Carolina coast and one off Bermuda. The following five new species, belonging to the new genus Chandraniscus, are described: C. kussakini from Alpha-A off Bermuda (1300 m), C. eastwardae, C. costlowi and C. chardyi from the Carolina lower slope site Beta and C. negoescuae at site Sigma on the Carolina continental rise (4910 m). Three new species of Haploniscus are described: H. kensleyi from the Carolina upper continental slope at Alpha-B, H. gnanamuthi from site Alpha-A off Bermuda, H. harrietae from site Beta. A new species Chauliodoniscus wilsoni from site Sigma is also described. Three new species of the genus Hydroniscus, found in this alpha-taxonomic study, include H. buzwilsoni and H. malyutinae from site Beta and H. watlingi from both Beta and Sigma. Two new species of the genus Antennuloniscus, A. menziesi and A. lincolni, are described from site Beta over the Carolina lower continental slope.     

The marine green and brown algae of Rodrigues (Mauritius,Indian Ocean)

The marine benthic green and brown macroalgae of Rodrigues, collected during an expedition in October 2001, are documented and 18 of the 60 taxa of Chlorophyta (53 species) and 18 species of Phaeophyceae are illustrated. Fifty taxa of green and 12 taxa of brown algae are added to the existing species list of the island. Turf algae and smaller epiphytic species are not or are only sporadically included in this study. All records are listed with bibliographic, biogeographic, taxonomic and nomenclatural comments. Infrageneric identification keys are included. The new combination Caulerpa mexicana var. exposita is proposed and the discovery of a new Udotea species is mentioned. The algal flora of Rodrigues is of a typical Indian Ocean composition but appears to be relatively poor when compared to the nearby island of Mauritius.     

Trypanoplasma atraria sp. n. (Kinetoplastida: Bodonidae) in fishes from the Sevier River drainage, Utah

A total of 181 fishes belonging to 10 species were captured near Richfield, Utah, and examined for parasites. A new species of hemoflagellate, Trypanoplasma atraria sp. n., was observed in 3 species: Utah chub ( Gila atraria [Girard]), redside shiner ( Richardsonius balteatus [Richardson]), and speckled dace ( Rhinichthys osculus [Girard]). Seven other species of fishes examined in the study area were negative for T. atraria sp. n. The salmonid leech, Piscicola salmositica (Meyer), collected in the same area harbored developmental stages of Trypanoplasma , suggesting a possible leech vector for the hemoflagellate. Characteristics of Trypanoplasma atraria sp. n. place it near T. salmositica , but the new species is twice as large.     

Taxonomy and biology of final-instar larvae of some Eurytomidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) associated with grasses in the UK

A comparative morphological study was made of the final-instar larval stage of 33 species of grass-inhabiting Eurytomidae belonging to four genera: Eurytoma Illiger, Tetramesa Walker, Sycophila Walker and Ahtola Claridge. Emphasis was placed upon chaetotaxy and mandibular structure. The final-instar larvae of the species are described, those of 26 species for the first time, and diagnostic characters and keys to genera and species are provided. Information, including new rearing records, is given on the larval biology of each eurytomid species, together with comments on the adult taxonomy of certain species.     

The West Palaearctic species of Fidiobia Ashmead, 1894 (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea)

One new genus Songmachilis and six new species in family Machilidae are described from China: Songmachilis xinxiangensis gen. sp. nov., Coreamachilis songi sp. nov., Pedetontinus jiuzhaiensis sp. nov., Pedetontinus maijiensis sp. nov., Pedetontinus taishanensis sp. nov. and. Pedetontinus wudangensis sp. nov. A key to all Chinese species of Pedetontinus is given. We also examined the relationships among Chinese machilids based on partial sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). The molecular study further supported the species status of the six new taxa.