Description,molecular phylogeny,and natural history of a new kleptoparasitic species of gelechiid moth (Lepidoptera) associated with Melastomataceae galls in Brazil

The male, female, pupa and larva of a new species of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera), Locharcha opportuna Moreira and Becker, are described and illustrated with the aid of optical and scanning electron microscopy. A preliminary analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences including members of related lineages is also provided. The immature stages are associated with galls induced by a species of Palaeomystella Fletcher (Lepidoptera: Momphidae) on Tibouchina sellowiana (Cham.) Cogn. (Melastomataceae), endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest. Larvae are kleptoparasitic, usurping the gall internal space and thereafter feeding on the internal tissues. By determining the variation in population density of both species and following gall development individually throughout ontogeny under field conditions, we demonstrated that the kleptoparasite completes its life cycle inside galls induced by Palaeomystella, where pupation occurs. The variation in seasonal abundance of the kleptoparasite is tied to that of the cecidogenous species, with their corresponding peaks in density occurring sequentially.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:525F6D52-8CE1-47D1-A0D9-78B564DF5565     

Horizontal and vertical distribution of Dolichopodidae (Diptera) in a woodland ecosystem

The horizontal and vertical distribution of dolichopodid flies in a deciduous woodland ecosystem was investigated by means of white-water traps during a nearly 8-month period. Eighteen traps were installed along a light intensity/soil humidity gradient (three zones) and from 0 to 80cm high (six levels). Six environmental features were recorded on several occasions. The dolichopodid data were analysed by means of two multivariate techniques, detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN). The DCA revealed four distinct species groups, which also proved to be clearly different on a broader ecological basis. The horizontal distributions in many species could be explained by the different environmental conditions in the zones. Although nearly all species were unequally distributed over the traps, their stratification patterns generally showed no significant correlation with the recorded biotic and abiotic features. It is therefore suggested that the observed vertical distributions are the results of a combination of specific and environmental characteristics.     

Revision of the smiling worms,genus Prosorhochmus Keferstein, 1862, and description of a new species,Prosorhochmus belizeanus sp. nov. (Prosorhochmidae,Hoplonemertea, Nemertea) from Florida and Belize

A new species of Prosorhochmus is described from Belize and Florida based on morphological, reproductive and sequence data. Similar to Prosorhochmus nelsoni (Sanchez, 1973 Sanchez, M. 1973. Sobre 4 especies de nemertinos de Quintero (Chile) [On the four nemertean species from Quintero (Chile)].. Studies on Neoropical Fauna, 8: 195–214. [Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]), Prosorhochmus belizeanus sp. nov. is gonochoric and oviparous; all other species of Prosorhochmus are viviparous hermaphrodites. Prosorhochmus belizeanus sp. nov. differs from P. nelsoni by having significantly larger stylets and different arrangement of acidophilic cephalic glands. Sequence divergence between the two is 7.4% (16S) and 9.1% (COI), comparable to divergence from the viviparous hermaphroditic species. Prosorhochmus Keferstein, 1862 Keferstein, W. 1862. Untersuchungen über niedere Seethiere [Studies on lower marine animals].. Zeitschrift für Wissenschafliche Zoologie, 12: 1–147. German [Google Scholar] is revised based on re‐evaluation of the type and voucher material as well as fresh specimens collected by us. We conclude that Prosorhochmus adriaticus Senz, 1993 Senz, W. 1993. Nemertinen europäischer Küstenbereiche (Nebst ergänzenden Angaben zur Anatomie von Apatronemertes albimaculosa Wilfert & Gibson, 1974) [Nemerteans of the European shores (with additional data on anatomy of Apatronemertes albimaculosa Wilfert & Gibson, 1974)].. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums, Series B, 94/95(B): 47–145. German [Google Scholar] is insufficiently described and cannot be distinguished from Prosorhochmus claparedii Keferstein, 1862 Keferstein, W. 1862. Untersuchungen über niedere Seethiere [Studies on lower marine animals].. Zeitschrift für Wissenschafliche Zoologie, 12: 1–147. German [Google Scholar]. We re‐establish Prosorhochmus korotneffi Bürger, 1895 Bürger, O. 1895. Die Nemertinen des Golfes von Neapel und der angrenzenden Meeres‐Abschnitte [The nemerteans of the Gulf of Naples and adjacent waters]. Fauna and Flora der Solfes von Neapel.. 22: 1–743. German [Google Scholar] from its previous synonymization with P. claparedii and designate it as type species of Arhochmus gen. nov.     

First host records for the rogadine genera Rogasodes Chen and He and Canalirogas van Achterberg and Chen (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with description of a new species and survey of mummy types within Rogadinae s. str.

The parasitic wasp genus Rogasodes is recorded for the first time outside mainland China, based on a new species, R. scytaloptericola Quicke and Shaw sp. nov., from Java. Rearing data and host remains associated with the type specimen show that it is a parasitoid of the palm‐feeding drepanid moth, Scytalopteryx elongata (Snellen). Canalirogas sp. aff. balgooyi van Achterberg and Chen is recorded from an unidentified lymantriid on clove trees in Indonesia (Sumatra) and illustrated. Both of these are the first host records for the genera. Rogas spilonotus Cameron is transferred to Canalirogas. A survey of mummy sclerotization and adult emergence holes in the subfamily Rogadinae sensu stricto is presented. The data suggest an early shift to a posterior emergence position, with a strictly dorsal position being largely characteristic of the common genus Aleiodes. Only Aleiodes and a few apparently closely related taxa, including Hemigyroneuron, typically form heavily sclerotized mummies.