Histology of the alimentary canal of the mature larva of Prodenia litura Fabr. (Lepidoptera)

Summary

The histology of the alimentary canal of the mature larva of Prodenia litura Fabr. is described in detail. The status of the oesophageal and stomodaeal valves, structure and morphological relationship of the mesenteric cells and the structure and formation of the peritrophic membrane are discussed. The oesophageal epithelium is deeply compressed by the intruding muscules and the chitinous intima bears prominent spines thus forming a valve. The structure and function of this valve is quite different from that of the stomodaeal valve. The interstitial cells give rise to two different forms of mesenteric cells, viz. the columnar and goblet cells. There are clusters of unspecified cells at the anterior end of the mesenteron. The role of these cells appears to be secreting chitin which helps in forming the peritrophic membrane.     

A scanning electron microscope study of the praniza larva of Gnathia maxillaris Montagu (Crustacea,Isopoda, Gnathiidae), with special reference to the mouthparts

Summary

Praniza larvae of Gnathia maxillaris Montagu (Crustacea, Isopoda, Gnathiidae) were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The body comprises a head, swollen peraeon, pleon and telson. Mouthparts are modified for cutting, spearing, and anchorage to the skin of fishes, from which larvae draw blood. Mandibles, maxillules and maxillipedes have serrated surfaces, whereas paragnaths are strongly pointed and gnathopods are hooked. Maxillae were not seen in SEM preparations. They are small structures which probably play little active part in feeding. Pits, which are possibly sense organs, occur on the head, parts of the peraeon, the coxal plates of peraeopods and pleonal somites. Pectinate scales are found on the inner and lateral surfaces of the peraeopods. The pleon, pleopods, the telson and uropods bear small semilunar scales.     

On the genus Orcus Mulsant with descriptions of new species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Chilocorini)

Three new species of the genus Orcus from Papua New Guinea are described and illustrated: Orcus frommi, Orcus nietzschei and Orcus popperi. New records of Orcus cinctus Weise from New Britain Island of Papua New Guinea and Orcus lafertei Mulsant from New Guinea (Papua New Guinea) are given. An updated key to Orcus species is presented.     

Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) seed-predators of Syzygium and Eugenia spp. (Myrtaceae), with description of the Alcidodes expansitarsis species group (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Mecysolobini)

The weevils known to develop in Syzygium and Eugenia (Myrtaceae) fruit are reviewed. These weevils belong to the genera Curculio, Alcidodes, Acythopeus, Apotomorhinus (Curculionidae: Curculioninae, Molytinae and (the last two) Baridinae respectively) and Sitophilus (Dryophthoridae) in the Old World, and Atractomerus (Curculionidae: Anthonominae) in the Neotropics; two undescribed baridine species (one in Australia and the other in the USA) are also known to feed on the fruits, and the Omophorine Teleuropus (Curculionidae: Molytinae) has been found associated with them. Particular attention is paid to species of Alcidodes from aseasonal dipterocarp-dominated forests in South-East Asia. Two Bornean species (Alcidodes janetae sp. n. and A. eugeniophilus sp. n.) are the first of their genus to be reared from the fruit of Syzygium or Eugenia. These species, plus two other (A. expansitarsis sp. n. from Assam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, and A. gymnasticus sp. n. from Malaysia) belong to a previously undescribed species group of Alcidodes; all four species are described and keyed.     

Action of the saproxylic scarab larva Cetonia aurataeformis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Cetoniidae) on woody substrates

The saproxylic beetle Cetonia aurataeformis Curti (Scarabaeoidea: Cetoniidae) is a common Iberian species, whose larvae develop in tree cavities feeding on wood and litter. The aim of this paper is to analyse how the larvae of this cetonid modify the woody substrate by feeding and what the ecological implications on their microhabitat could be. Thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy have been used to study the changes suffered by different substrates, litter and wood of Betula alba and Quercus pyrenaica, after digestion by the larvae. Results show that larvae of C. aurataeformis are able to digest polysaccharides and lignin producing a residue richer in nutrients than the original substrate and with an organic structure that contains a fraction of lignin that is easier to decompose. The main conclusion is that the action of cetonid larvae on woody substrates could facilitate their use by other saproxylic organisms in natural ecosystems.     

The millipede tribe Nedyopodini,with special reference to the fauna of Taiwan (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae)

The east and southeast Asian millipede tribe Nedyopodini is here restricted to a single genus, Nedyopus Attems, 1914 Attems, C. G. 1914. Die indo‐australischen Myriopoden.. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, 80: 1–398.  [Google Scholar]; the following genera are here considered to be junior subjective synonyms: Vaulogerodesmus Brölemann, 1916 Brölemann, H. W. 1916. Essai de classification des polydesmiens (Myriapodes).. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 84: 523–607.  [Google Scholar], Nesodyopus Verhoeff, 1940 Verhoeff, K. W. 1940. Zur Kenntnis ostasiatischer Diplopoden V (Polydesmoidea).. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 131: 129–145.  [Google Scholar], n. syn., and Varyomorpha Wang, 1957, n. syn. This taxonomically confused tribe/genus is reviewed and redefined. Based on new collections, the fauna of Taiwan currently contains five Nedyopus species including the redescribed N. hsientienensis (Wang, 1957) and N. pectinatus (Wang, 1957), both n. comb. ex Varyomorpha, as well as the newly described N. caudatus n. sp., N. latus n. sp., and N. wui n. sp. A key to these five species is provided.     

The first instar larva of Aulacoscelis appendiculata n. sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Aulacoscelinae) and its value in the placement of the Aulacoscelinae

Of all of the chrysomelid subfamilies, only the larvae of the Aulacoscelinae remain undescribed. The adults and first instar larva of Aulacoscelis appendiculata sp. n., from Panama are described, as well as the eggs. Larval characters, eggs, and oviposition behaviour are used to relatethe Aulacoscelinae with other chrysomelid subfamilies, in support of what is known to date concerning adult morphology.     

Numeric analysis of the lizard genus Sceloporus with special reference to cranial osteology

Phylogenetic relationships among Sceloporine genera are briefly discussed. Species relationships within the genus Sceloporus are analyzed, and evolutionary lines of descent are proposed. The genus Sceloporus is composed of three monophyletic groups: Group I, the most primitive, probably developed from Sator - like ancestral stock in Miocene times. This group speciated from stock similar to Sceloporus gadoviae in southern Mexico to S. merriami in the North and contains 7 species in 3 species groups. We propose that these species be included in the genus Lysoptychus Cope. Group II arose from Group I and evolved from centrally located Sceloporus pictus in all directions throughout Mexico. This intermediate group contains approximately 19 species in 5 species groups. Group III also arose from the primitive stock of Group I and radiated from several desert refugia created by Pleistocene glaciation. Evolution of this group in Mexico was generally from north to south with Sceloporus malachiticus extending as far south as Panama. This group contains approximately 33 species in 5 species groups.     

Gorgonolaureus muzikae sp. nov. (Crustacea: Ascothoracida) parasitic on a Hawaiian gorgonian,with special reference to its protandric hermaphroditism

Summary

Twenty-five specimens of a new ascothoracid parasite, Gorgonolaureus muzikae were found within cortical galls on specimens of a bathyal Hawaiian gorgonian, Placogorgia sp. These represent the first ascothoracid known from Hawaii. G. muzikae differs from its congener G. bikiniensis primarily in its larger size and details of setation. Five developmental stages are described and illustrated: the mature female, young female, late protander, protander, and nauplius. The protander is compared to species of Synagoga, and the characters distinguishing the two genera are specified. Sexuality in Ascothoracida is reviewed, and the life cycle of G. muzikae is reconstructed as follows: eggs and larvae are brooded within the carapace of a mature female; a bivalved, free-swimming male stage is postulated; after inseminating one or more established females it settles permanently on a host gorgonian; as the protandric male changes into a female, the carapace valves fuse and expand dorsally, the first and second antennae, thoracopods, penis, and abdomen become reduced, the dorsum of the second thoracomere becomes produced into a ‘horn’, and seminal receptacles appear in the thoracopods. The functional morphology of the second antennae, dorsal horn, and thoracopods is discussed, and it is suggested that G. muzikae may filter feed rather than be totally parasitic. The possibility that the large coxal setae represent vestigial epipods is discussed. Aspects of ecology, demography, and host specificity are briefly summarized. Wagin's (1976) biogeographical model of the provenance of Gorgonolaureus, based on outdated information, is rejected.     

Two new species of the genus Premicrodispus (Acari: Microdispidae) associated with beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Tenebrionidae), with a key to Palaearctic species of the genus

Two new species of mites of the genus Premicrodispus Cross, 1965 (Acari: Microdispidae) are described and illustrated from northern Iran: Premicrodispus paramaevi Hosseininaveh and Hajiqanbar sp. nov. recovered from Lucanus ibericus (Col.: Lucanidae) and Premicrodispus spinosus Hosseininaveh and Hajiqanbar sp. nov. from Corticeus unicolor (Col.: Tenebrionidae). It is the first phoretic record of the microdispid mites on beetles of the family Tenebrionidae. A key to Palaearctic species of the genus Premicrodispus is provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:49368637-B8D0-4697-9184-28B33B89962A     

Review of the Neotropical genus Physiomorphus Pic (Coleoptera: Mycteridae: Lacconotinae), with description of the larvae of three species

The Neotropical lacconotine genus Physiomorphus Pic (Coleoptera: Mycteridae) is reviewed, and redescribed. Larvae are described and illustrated for three species, based on reared specimens. Detailed information is included on biology, rearing and habitat. New synonymies presented are: Physiomorphus Pic 1917 = Batobiomorphus Pic 1920; Laccoderus melanurus Champion 1916 = Batobiomorphus laticollis Pic 1920; Physiomorphus atricolor Pic 1917 = Physiomorphus rufotinctus Pic 1921. The following new species are described: Physiomorphus rufolineatus; P. antennatus; P. angustus; P. mimeticus, and P. subcostulatus, bringing the total number of known species to eight. Comparisons are made between larvae and adults of Physiomorphus and other described lacconotines. Details are given on Brazilian localities where Physiomorphus larvae were collected.     

Chilarboreus gen. nov., a new genus of Chilean Scirtidae (Coleoptera: Scirtoidea), with descriptions of three new species

The genus Chilarboreus gen. nov. is described from Nothofagus forests of Chile to accommodate three new species: Chilarboreus fossulatus sp. nov., Chilarboreus acuticollis sp. nov. and Chilarboreus darwini sp. nov. The genus is subdivided into two subgenera: Chilarboreus subgen. nov. (type species: C. fossulatus) and Pictarboreus subgen. nov. (type species: C. darwini). Identification keys to the genera of Chilean Scirtidae and the species in the genus Chilarboreus are provided. The state of knowledge of Chilean Scirtidae is summarized. The position of Chilarboreus within Scirtidae and the phenomenon of wing reduction in Scirtidae are discussed.