Population dynamics of the bark-dwelling spider Eustala perfida Mello-Leitão, 1947 (Araneidae)

Population dynamics of spiders may vary according to biotic and abiotic factors. We studied the phenology of the bark-dwelling spider Eustala perfida over a two-year period and investigated how temperature, precipitation, and prey availability were associated with the population of this species. The population of E. perfida presented a well-defined fluctuation, with one reproductive cycle per year. The recruitment of spiders occurred in summer, followed by successive phenological peaks at all stages of development. The species is protogynic, and the population of adult males peaks in the cold/dry season, indicating a winter mature phenological pattern. The diet of E. perfida is composed mainly of medium-sized homopterans, complemented by small dipterans and hymenopterans. We found that the higher abundance of spiders occurred two months after the highest values of precipitation and temperature, and three months after the higher abundance of potential prey items. These results indicate that spiders require time to respond to changes in environmental conditions. The species’ natural history and the structure of the trunks in which it lives may also affect the number of individuals in a particular area and over time.     

Two new species of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from the State of São Paulo,Brazil

Two new species of phytoseiid mites, Amblyseius ica and Typhloseiopsis dorsoreticulatus, from the State of São Paulo, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Amblyseius ica belongs to the americanus species group and dombeyus species subgroup, being the second species of that subgroup. Typhloseiopsis dorsoreticulatus is the first species of the genus Typhloseiopsis recorded outside Central America.     

On the genus Penthesilenula Rossetti and Martens, 1998 (Crustacea,Ostracoda, Darwinulidae) from (semi-) terrestrial habitats in São Paulo State (Brazil), with the description of a new species

Three species of darwinulid ostracods, belonging to the genus Penthesilenula, are reported from terrestrial and semi-terrestrial habitats in São Paulo State (Brazil). Penthesilenula reidae n. sp. is here described as new to science. It belongs to the africana-group in the genus and was found exclusively in bromeliad pouches. Penthesilenula aotearoa (in the incae-group) was previously known from New Zealand only and is here reported for the first time from South America. The third species, Penthesilenula brasiliensis, is here described from leaf litter in forests, constituting the first darwinulid taxon to be found in fully terrestrial habitats. The morphological diversity within P. brasiliensis s. l. is discussed and various lineages on different continents are retained within this species. The evolutionary significance of the high incidence of teratologies in the Darwinulidae is discussed. A tentative homology for the apical chaetotaxy of A2 between Darwinulidae and Cyprididae is offered.     

Three new species of the brackish‐water copepod Halicyclops (Crustacea,Cyclopoida) from Ariake Bay,Japan

Three new species of the cyclopoid copepod Halicyclops are described from river estuaries of Ariake Bay, Japan. Halicyclops continentalis sp. nov. is most similar to H. laminifer, but differs by the shape of an angular protuberance on the genital double‐somite and a serrate hyaline frill of the fourth urosomite. Halicyclops sinensis described by Tai and Chen is widely distributed in China and is identifiable to H. continentalis, indicating that the population in Ariake Bay is probably a continental relict. Halicyclops uncus sp. nov., belonging to the thermophilus group, is distinguishable by the shape of the lateral process on the genital double‐somite, a frill of the fourth urosomite and caudal rami; it is probably endemic to Japan. Halicyclops ariakensis sp. nov. differs from the other congeners by a combination of the shape of the prosome, urosomal hyaline frills and caudal ramus length; it is considered endemic to Ariake Bay.