A new lacewing species of the Chrysoperla carnea species-group from central Asia associated with conifers (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

ABSTRACT

Chrysoperla duellii sp. nov. is discovered, associated with coniferous vegetation, in the Kyrgyz Republic in central Asia, co-occurring with two other cryptic species of the Chrysoperla carnea-group. It is distinguished by its courtship duetting song, which exhibits a uniquely complex multi-volleyed temporal and tonal structure but is nevertheless noticeably convergent on the species-specific song of another conifer-associated member of the carnea-group, C. downesi (Smith), from North America. The song of C. duellii also shows some superficial similarity to those of European/north African C. mediterranea (Hölzel) and southern Californian C. calocedrii Henry et al., both of which, like C. duellii, prefer conifers and exhibit dark-green adult body pigmentation. The new species is herein formally described as Chrysoperla duellii Henry, Taylor and Johnson and is shown to be diagnosable by song and morphology from all other known members of the Chrysoperla carnea-group. Results of restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) of C. duellii and five other carnea-group species strongly reject the hypothesis that similar songs and dark-green body colour among the four conifer-associated species are due to common ancestry, instead supporting independent, parallel acquisition of such features.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4CA5BE5F-B4B9-4A7D-A801-C9AE1E895D0B     

Revision of the spider genus Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871 (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae: Ischnocolinae)

The genus Ischnocolus is redefined based on type material, and extra specimens. Representatives of the genus are distinguished by clavate tarsal trichobothria arranged in median apical row; by the maxillae with lighter colour on prolateral edge. Males of the genus Ischnocolus Ausserer are recognized by the cheliceral intumescence, sigmoid ventral furrow on palpal tibia, unequal cymbium lobes, tibial apophysis absent, great number of spines on ventral side of tibia I, and male superior tarsal claws bipectinate. Species included are: Ischnocolus valentinus (Dufour) [= I. holosericeus L. Koch, I. triangulifer Ausserer, I. algericus Thorell, I. fuscostriatus Simon, I. maroccanus (Simon), I. mogadorensis (Simon), I. numidus Simon, I. tripolitanus Caporiacco, Avicularia andalusiaca Simon], Ischnocolus hancocki Smith, Ischnocolus jickelii L. Koch (senior-synonym of Chaetopelma adenense Simon) and Ischnocolus ignoratus sp. nov. Ischnocolus tomentosus Thorell is considered incertae sedis. The following species are considered species inquirenda: I. tunetanus Pavesi and I. fasciculatus Strand. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:207143F4-A235-4411-96D4-D4787ABF271F     

Revisiting the saproxylic beetle ‘Propomacrus cypriacus Alexis & Makris, 2002’ (Coleoptera: Euchiridae) using molecular,morphological and ecological data

Propomacrus cypriacus a saproxylic beetle endemic to Cyprus, was described as a species distinct from P. bimucronatus on the basis of a few morphological characters and has been evaluated as Critically Endangered by IUCN, as it depends on veteran trees and has a restricted distribution. Herein we explored the distribution, ecology, morphology and genetic variation of the populations from Cyprus, and we attempted a phylogenetic analysis including related species based on two mitochondrial and one nuclear DNA markers. We also used published mtDNA divergence rates to date cladogenetic events. Despite extensive sampling, we found only a small number of individuals, adding a few additional localities to the known distribution of the species, and we identified two more host species to those previously reported. Morphological examination showed that only the form of male protibiae differs consistently in Cyprus populations compared to those of P. bimucronatus from Turkey and the Lebanon. Nevertheless, genetic analyses do not support a distinct species status for populations from Cyprus, which should instead be considered as a subspecies of P. bimucronatus. Morphological and ecological data further support this conclusion. Cyprus populations have diverged from nearby continental ones in mid to late Pleistocene.     

An extraordinary new genus and species of spider wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from Southeast Asia

The new genus Aberropompilus Shimizu & Wahis, family Pompilidae, is described from Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Thailand) based on the new species A. dayi Shimizu & Wahis. Its peculiar morphological characteristics and taxonomic position within the family are discussed and the genus is tentatively placed in the subfamily Pepsinae.     

XV.—Descriptions of three new freshwater fishes from China

The North American members of the eulophid subfamily Tetrastichinae are reviewed in light of systematic advances which have occurred in other geographic realms. Forty-two genera are recognized as valid, with the largest of these, Aprostocetus, having four subgenera in the study area. Thirteen new genera are described: Apterastichus, Careostrix, Chytrolestes, Comastichus, Cucarastichus, Dapsilothrix, Eriastichus, Exalarius, Exastichus, Hadrotrichodes, Mesofrons, Oxypracetus, Styotrichia; the new subgenus Quercastichus is described in the genus Aprostocetus. Five new generic synonymies are made. With Aprostocetus Westwood, 1833: Exurus Philippi, 1873, Omphalomopsis Girault, 1917, Paromphaloidomyiia Girault, 1917, and Prothymus Girault, 1917. With Pentastichus Ashmead, 1894: Hypertetrastichus Moser, 1965. Six previously described genera are newly recorded from North America: Aceratoneuromyia, Anaprostocetus, Henryana, Kocourekia, Lisseurytomella and Pentastichus. Two hundred and twelve species of North American Tetrastichinae are currently recognized as valid. Eighty new combinations are proposed from North America, and three from the Neotropical Region. The majority of these species are being moved from the genus Tetrastichus, which had previously held most of the North American Tetrastichinae species. Eighteen new species are described: Aprostocetus (Quercastichus) burksi, Apterastichus oculatus, Careostrix yoshimotoi, Chytrolestes alibaba, Comastichus zopheros, Cucarastichus texanus, Dapsilothrix jeanae, Eriastichus cigdemae, E. masneri, E. nakos, Exalarius huachucensis, Exastichus odontos, Hadrotrichodes waukheon, Kostjukovius grahami, Mesofrons villosus, Oxypracetus opacus, Styotrichia bicolor, S. quadrata. One new specific synonymy is made. With Aprostocetus (Quercastichus) pattersonae (Fullaway, 1912): Tetrastichus spilopteris Burks, 1943. A lectotype is designated for Tetrastichus pattersonae Fullaway. Aprostocetus (Ootetrastichus) mymaridis (Girault) is removed from synonymy with Tetrastichus polynemae Ashmead and considered as valid. Twelve previously described species are newly recorded from North America: Aceratoneuromyia fimbriata Graham, Anaprostocetus acuminatus (Ratzeburg), Aprostocetus antiguensis (Crawford), A. leucone (Walker), A. pygmaeus (Zetterstedt), A. strobilanae (Ratzeburg), A. longicauda (Thomson), A. terebrans (Erdös), Henryana magnifica Yoshimoto, Kocourekia debilis (Ratzeburg), Lisseurytomella flava (Ashmead), Tamarixia leucaenae Bou?ek.     

Revision of the isopod crustacean genus Mothocya Costa,in Hope, 1851 (Cymothoidae: Flabellifera), parasitic on marine fishes

The genus Mothocya is fully revised. Irona Schioedte and Meinert is placed in synonymy with Mothocya. All named species but one, including 18 new species, are described and figured in detail. A further eight undescribed species are listed. With one exception Mothocya species are all gill parasites found principally on atherinomorph fishes of the families Hemiramphidae, Belonidae, and Atherinidae. Brief accounts are given of the biogeography, biology and host-parasite interaction of the species of Mothocya. Keys to the species are provided for the different major biogeographic regions.     

Antheluridae,a new family of Crustacea (Isopoda: Anthuridea) with new species from Australia

The Antheluridae is erected for the genera Anthelura Norman and Stebbing, Ananthura Barnard and Anthomuda Schultz. The family is characterized by mouthparts of biting form; maxillipedal endite broad; maxillipedal palp broad, of 4–5 free articles; several posterior carpal and propodal spines on pereopods 2–7; pereopod 7 with transverse anterodistal propodal setal row on mesial face; and single telsonic statocyst. Its relationships to other anthurideans, especially the Paranthuridae, is discussed. Three new Australian species are described, Ananthura billarderia from off New South Wales, Anthomuda chorizema from the southeastern coast, and Anthomuda hovea, from the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea islands and Western Australia.

Bathura Schultz, Austranthura Kussakin and Valoranthura Kensley are junior synonyms of Ananthura, and Diaphoranthura is a junior synonym of Anthomuda.     

Reproduction,planula development,and substratum selection in three species of Stylactaria (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from Hokkaido,Japan

Modes of reproduction, morphology and behaviour of planulae, and substratum specificity were studied and compared in three species of the hydrozoan genus Stylactaria from Hokkaido, S. conchicola, S. uchidai, and S. multigranosi. Observed differences in these attributes provide additional characters for discrimination of the three species. Stylactaria conchicola is oviparous, its planulae are sedentary, and its hydroid is substratum specific (living only on shells of the gastropod Homalopoma amussitatum). Stylactaria uchidai differs in being ovoviviparous, in having crawling planulae, and in being a substratum generalist. Stylactaria multigranosi is parthenogenetic, its planulae are sedentary, and it is substratum specific (occurring exclusively on the gastropod Nassarius multigranosus). Only female colonies of S. multigranosi are known, and gonophores of this species differ from those of S. conchicola and S. uchidai in being eumedusoid rather than styloid. Correlations were noted between attributes of the planula larva and substratum specificity in the three species. The cnidome differences between the species suggest that penetrant nematocysts are particularly important for sedentary planulae colonizing moving substrata. These characters are also considered useful in the taxonomy of species of Stylactaria. The phylogenetic significance of different gonophore types in the genus is considered.     

Partial revision of the genus Fabia Dana, 1851 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae)

Eight species are now assigned to Fabia Dana, 1851. The present partial revision accepts five, F. byssomiae (Say, 1818), F. concharum (Rathbun, 1893), F. emiliai (de Melo, 1971), F. subquadrata Dana, 1851 (type species) and F. tellinae Cobb, 1973, and recommends a future study to determine whether the Brazilian species F. emiliai, is a junior synonym of F. byssomiae. In addition, a new species, F. carvachoi, from the Gulf of California, México is described. The six species are diagnosed and/or described and figured.