Geographic distribution,host plants,and morphological variation of the currently radiating phytophagous ladybird beetle Henosepilachna diekei

To overview the morphological and ecological diversification within a species of phytophagous ladybird beetle Henosepilachna diekei, information concerning its distribution and host plant use was studied. This species was found widely in South East and South Asia from the Philippines through the Greater Sunda islands, a western part of Lesser Sundas, the Malay Peninsula to Sri Lanka. Mikania species (Asteraceae), Mikania micrantha in particular, were the most frequently used host plants, but some other plants belonging to Lamiaceae or Acanthaceae were also used by some local populations. Each population is possibly monophagous. According to morphological analyses, seven populations from four host plants at six sites on four Indonesian islands were grouped into two, one occurring on Java and Kalimantan (Borneo) and another on Sulawesi and Lombok, indicating that they were separated by the Wallace line. This morphological distinction was not correlated with the host plant use.     

Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) fauna of the Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf

Mosquitoes of four Iranian islands (Abu-Musa, Hormuz, Larak and Qeshm), Hormozgan Province of southern Iran, were surveyed between 2005 Madison DR, Madison WP. 2005. MacClade 4.08 [Internet]. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates, Inc. http://macclade.org/index.html  [Google Scholar] and 2007 Tamura, K, Dudley, J, Nei, M and Kumar, S. 2007. MEGA4: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) software version 4.0. Mol Biol Evol., 24: 1596–1599. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. In 521 specimens collected, 14 species belonging to four genera were identified: Anopheles culicifacies Giles sensu lato (s.l.), An. dthali Patton, An. fluviatilis James s.l., An. stephensi Liston, An. turkhudi Liston, Culex bitaeniorhynchus Giles, Cx. perexiguus Theobald, Cx. pseudovishnui Colless, Cx. quinquefasciatus Say, Cx. sitiens Wiedemann, Cx. theileri Theobald, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus Giles, Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart) and Ochlerotatus (= Aedes) caspius (Pallas) s.l. This is the first record of all of these species on the islands. Cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcode sequences were used to confirm the taxonomic identity of An. stephensi, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Oc. caspius s.l. from the islands and mainland of Hormozgan Province, with genetic isolation noted in both Oc. caspius s.l. and Cx. quinquefasciatus samples collected in Abu-Musa Island. Morphological anomalies in island specimens of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. pseudovishnui are discussed.     

A description of Siphonophora portoricensis Brandt (Diplopoda: Siphonophorida: Siphonophoridae), with a Catalogue of Ordinal Representatives in the New World

Data on geographical distribution are provided for S. portoricensis Brandt, the type species of Siphonophora Brandt and the oldest species-group name in the genus, family, and Order; it appears to occur throughout Puerto Rico. It is characterized by fusion of the distal three podomeres of the anterior gonopods, which are sublinear in shorter, less mature males and bend caudad for varying lengths in longer individuals. In the New World, the Siphonophorida is represented by both families, the Siphonorhinidae by one genus and one species, Illacme plenipes Cook and Loomis, from San Benito County, California, and the Siphonophoridae by 10 genera, six monotypic, 66 extant nominal species, and one subspecies; two fossil species of Siphonophora have been proposed along with an unnamed fossil form of Siphonocybe Pocock. The following new combinations are officially recorded: Columbianum gracilicornis (Carl), Columbiozonium pearsei (Chamberlin), Cordillerium fuhrmanni (Carl), Yucatanium sabachana (Chamberlin), and Guatemalium barberi (Chamberlin). The Siphonophoridae ranges from southern California, northcentral Arizona, and central Texas to the Andes of central Peru and São Paulo state, Brazil. It also occurs on 10 islands in the Greater and Lesser Antilles, being newly recorded from Martinique, but apparently does not cross the Straits of Florida and is unknown from Florida, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.     

Two new taxa from the Lesser Sundas in the genus Onthophagus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Two new Indonesian taxa are proposed in Onthophagus Latreille, 1802, illustrating the composite faunal spectrum of the Lesser Sundas (Indonesia): O. montishannoniae, a new species from Flores, and O. accedens nusatenggaricus, a new subspecies from Lombok and Flores. O. accedens Lansberge, 1883 is, with O. dux Sharp, 1875, placed in what is here defined as the dux subgroup within the subgenus Parascatonomus Paulian, 1932. The three included species‐group taxa are keyed, their status is discussed, and new records are given. The position of O. montishannoniae seems taxonomically and geographically isolated: this species has no known close relatives in the region, neither in the Lesser Sundas, nor anywhere else in Wallacea.     

Infestation levels of Culex (Phytotelmatomyia) mosquitoes inhabiting water-filled Eryngium pandanifolium (Apiaceae) under different sunlight condition

Water accumulations in vegetal structures, known as phytotelmata, serve as aquatic habitats for many insects, including mosquitoes. Among them, Culex (Phytotelmatomyia) is composed by a few species that are highly specialized and poorly known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between sunlight conditions and the abundance of immature stages of Culex (Phytotelmatomyia) species in the axils of Eryngium pandanifolium. A forest patch with a dense population of E. pandanifolium in the Lower Delta of the Paraná River (Entre Ríos province, Argentina) was sampled twice a month between December and May. A total of 880 plants were inspected in 220 sample zones defined by a combination of location within the patch and sunlight condition. All individuals collected (n = 521) belonged to Culex (Phytotelmatomyia) hepperi (56%), Culex (Phytotelmatomyia) castroi (40%), and Culex (Phytotelmatomyia) renatoi (4%). According to generalized linear models, the habitat availability (i.e. water presence) was positively associated with sun exposure, but not with the location within the patch. Mosquito presence and abundance were positively related only to water volume. Coexistence of C. hepperi and C. castroi was more frequent than would be expected by chance. Further studies to understand the effects of sunlight and plant architecture on water dynamics are needed.     

Redescriptions of two termites from Burmese amber

Summary

Danothrips Bhatti 1971 is revised and its relations with Chaetanaphothrips Priesner are discussed. The genus is redefined in view of the increased number of species within the genus, and a key is provided to distinguish the species. Six species are included: setifer Bhatti 1971 theifolii (Karny 1921), theivorus (Karny 1921), trifasciatus Sakimura 1975, and two new species, alis and moundi. The range of distribution of trifasciatus, originally described from Hawaii, is considerably extended by its new findings from the Lesser Antilles (St. Vincent Island) and Indonesia (Andalas).     

Pattern of shell occupation by the hermit crab Pagurus exilis (Anomura,Paguridae) on the northern coast of São Paulo State,Brazil

The purpose of this study was to determine the shell occupation pattern of Pagurus exilis using the percentage of shell types that were occupied and the morphometric relationship between hermits and occupied shells. Specimens were collected monthly from July 2001 to June 2003. A total of 1737 individuals were collected, occupying 19 gastropod shell species. Buccinanops gradatum (82%) was the most occupied shell, followed by Natica isabelleana (6.4%), Stramonita haemastoma (3.2%), and Cymatium parthenopeum (2.2%). There was a differential shell utilization pattern between sexes; males occupied larger and heavier shells while the non‐ovigerous females occupied the lightest ones. Pagurus exilis occupied more bare shells instead of incrusted ones. Buccinanops gradatum was the most occupied shell species as a function of its availability in the survey, and this occupation is strongly associated with the higher internal volume presented by these shells.     

Effect of tropical monsoon on fishery abundance of Indian squid (Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii)

Indian squid, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii (Loliginidae) constitute an important component of the inshore cephalopod fisheries along the eastern Arabian Sea. Local environmental variation plays an important role in species–environment interactions in neritic squids, which inhabit nearshore/coastal waters. Such ‘active’ and ‘passive’ responses of squids to environmental changes is crucial in understanding their relationships and influence on the biological processes, distribution and abundance of the fast-growing short-lived coastal loliginids. The empirical relationship between squid abundance and the variability in rainfall and sea surface temperature (SST) were explored in a tropical monsoon fishery. Monthly catch rates (catch per fishing hour) of squids in commercial trawl during 1987–2009 were used as the abundance index. Linear regression models with ARIMA errors were fitted with catch per unit hour time series as dependent variable and rainfall and SST as exogenous variables. While rainfall was observed to have a negative effect on squid abundance, the SST recorded a positive impact. ARIMA models provided satisfactory fit to observed data and forecast of 22 months. Given that the squid life-cycle is a function of their environment, this result is relevant in forecasting squid biomass for the management of tropical monsoon fisheries.     

Research into the relative importance of Tabanidae (Diptera) in mechanical disease transmission

Summary

In 3 years 13 485 female Tabanidae of 4 Genera and 12 species were caught near cattle of a Dar es Salaam dairy farm. 58·44% of the flies were T. fraternus and 24·5% T. taeniola, which, in the context of possible mechanical disease transmission, were considered to be major species.

T. gratus, T. biguttatus and Haematopota decora showed a proportion of 6·77%, 5·8% and 3·5% respectively.

Another 7 species represented altogether 0·98% of the total catch.

The seasonal occurrence of Tabanidae depended on the pattern of annual climatic changes, with the highest seasonal incidence observed in T. taeniola.     

Notices

Summary

An analysis was made of morphometric differences between complementary antennae of females of three Culicoides species: C. pulicaris, C. punctatus and C. impunctatus. Greater bilateral symmetry was found between compound lengths e.g. total length, length of segments 3–10, than between individual segment lengths, suggesting control by a homeostatic mechanism.

Hypotheses are proposed for the embryological origin and functional significance of this phenomenon. The taxonomic significance of the results is discussed.     

Demosponges of the red coral bottoms from the Alboran Sea

This paper deals with a study of demosponge fauna inhabiting the red coral facies on the circalitoral bottoms surrounding the Alboran Island (Western Mediterranean, Alboran Sea). A total of 58 species were recognized, after examining a total of 107 sponges. Two of these species are new to science (Plakinastrella mixta sp. nov. and Leptolabis megachela sp. nov.) and another one (Rhaphidectyon spinosum Topsent) is recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean. Some other specimens collected belonging to poorly known species, such as Erylus papulifer Pulitzer-Finali, Isops anceps (Vosmaer), Spongosorites flavens Pulitzer-Finali and Timea cumana Pulitzer-Finali, are described briefly. Two controversial specimens, assigned to Microciona spinarcus and Plocamilla cf. novizelanica, are also described and discussed. A high degree of epibiosis and abundance of rare species were the major features characterizing the material studied.     

Cognetti's syllid collection (Polychaeta: Syllidae) deposited at the Museum of the Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn” (Naples,Italy), with descriptions of two new species of Autolytus

A total of 36 syllid specimens preserved on permanent slides, which were collected and identified by G. Cognetti, and deposited at the Museum of the Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn” in Naples, Italy, were re‐examined. Among the material, two new species of Autolytus, Autolytus antondohrni sp. nov. and A. cognettii sp. nov., were found and are described. Three new combinations are assigned: Autolytus mediterraneus (Cognetti, 1953), Exogone (Parexogone) meridionalis (Cognetti, ) and Syllis alternata Moore, 1908. Four lectotypes are designated for Autolytus convolutus Cognetti, 1953, A. mediterraneus (Cognetti, 1953), A. neapolitanus Cognetti, 1953 and Exogone (Parexogone) meridionalis (Cognetti, ). Proceraea scapularis (Claparède, ) is resurrected.     

Leucosiidae of the Albatross expedition to the Philippines, 1907–1910 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Decapoda)

A report of the Leucosiidae collected during the Albatross Philippines expedition 1907–1910 is given. A total of 36 species in 17 genera are treated, with one genus (Heterolithadia) and nine species (Alox rugosum, Arcania elongata, Arcania globata, Heterolithadia fallax, Myra acutidens, Leucosia craniolaris, L. galantua, L. perlatta and Nucia tuberculosa) being new records for the Philippines and one species being new. This brings the total number of species known from the Philippines to 64, in 22 genera. A complete list of Philippine Leucosiidae is provided.     

West Indian Neoathyreus and their over-water dispersal (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Geotrupinae)

Neoathyreus androsensis n.sp., is described from Andros Is. in the Bahamas and from Cayo Coco, Cuba. The new species and four other previously described species, now known to occur in the West Indies, are briefly described, keyed and figured. One species, Neoathyreus lanei (Martínez) occurs in the Lesser Antilles and also in northern South America. The four other species occurring on either Cuba, the Bahamas, or Hispaniola are closely related to each other and somewhat less so to the Neoathyreus hamifer complex, known from Mexico and Central America. A minimum of two or three over-water dispersals by ancestral forms seem to be necessary to explain the current distributions of at least some of these West Indian species.     

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) prey in Evros (Greece) and the discovery of a new mammal for the Greek fauna

ABSTRACT

Small mammals are key elements of terrestrial ecosystems, yet in south-eastern Europe many questions about their taxonomy and distribution remain unanswered. This is particularly true for the small mammal fauna of Greece. We investigated the distribution of small mammals in the district of Evros (NE Greece) through Tyto alba pellet analysis and live-trapping in 19 localities (29 samplings). We collected remains from a total 2434 individual vertebrates through pellet analyses and captured 110 small mammals through live trapping. We provide data on the distribution and community composition in the corresponding localities, for 17 small mammal species (11 rodents and 6 insectivores). Our findings include the first record of Myomimus roachi in Greece, a result facilitated by the yearly dynamics of Microtus sp. populations, as well as the first record of Sorex minutus in Evros. The Barn owl’s main prey (by percentage, allocated to genera) were Crocidura (29.7%) Mus (27%) Microtus (23.2%) and Apodemus (13%).     

Feeding ecology of the common sun skink,Eutropis multifasciata (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae), in the plains of central Vietnam

We studied the feeding ecology of Eutropis multifasciata in the tropical plains of central Vietnam to understand better the foraging mode, spatiotemporal and sexual variation in dietary composition, and rarefaction curves of prey-taxon richness for males and females. Stomach contents (n = 161) were collected from October 2013 to May 2014 using a nonlethal stomach-flushing technique. A total of 680 food items (624 animal items and 56 plant items) was found in 161 stomachs of skinks, representing 19 unique animal categories. We found that the diet of E. multifasciata is composed mainly of small, sedentary and clumped prey and that this skink specialises on spiders, insect larvae, snails, grasshoppers and crickets (with a combined importance index of 60%). Dietary composition, prey size and total prey volume in E. multifasciata changed between dry and rainy seasons and among regions. The total volume of food items consumed by males was larger than that of females, and the diversity and evenness index of prey categories were larger in males than in females. However, using rarefaction curves revealed that females have the higher prey-taxon richness after points between 130 and 140 prey items for frequency, and between 160 and 170 prey items for number of items, and the differences were not statistically significant. The foraging behaviour of E. multifasciata best fits a ‘widely foraging’ model.     

Bryozoa of the First Italian Antarctic Oceanographic Expedition (Terra Nova Bay,Ross Sea). I. Flustridae Smitt, 1867

An account is given of the species belonging to the bryozoan family Flustridae Smitt, 1867, collected during the First Italian Antarctic Oceanographic Expedition. A total of seven species pertaining to five genera have been determined: Carbasea curva (Kluge), Flustra angusta Kluge, Flustra tenuis Kluge, Austroflustra vulgaris (Kluge), Klugeflustra drygalskii (Kluge), Klugeflustra vanhoffeni (Kluge) and Nematoflustra flagellata (Waters).     

Freshwater sponges of the West Indies: Discovery of Spongillidae (Haplosclerida,Spongillina) from Cuba with biogeographic notes and a checklist for the Caribbean area

The paper reports the first finding of freshwater sponges from the Greater Antilles. Spongillidae belonging to four species of the genera Ephydatia, Anheteromeyenia, and Radiospongilla were found in a variety of freshwater habitats in western Cuba. Anheteromeyenia cheguevarai nov. sp. is described. Morphological traits of sponges from West Cuba were characterized by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and compared to the spongillofauna of the Nearctic and Neotropical regions and the pan‐Caribbean area. The specific richness and the discovery of a new species suggest a high diversity of the Antillean freshwater sponges although the investigated area of Cuba is relatively small.