New and rare British spiders

Summary

The following species new to Britain are described: Family LINYPHIIDAE Subfamily ERIGONINAE Erigone psychrophila Thorell (male only) Typhocrestus simoni Lessert (male only) Rhaebothorax paetulus (O. P.-C.) (both sexes) Subfamily LINYPHIINAE Centromerus parkeri sp. nov. (male only)

The new county records add 13 species to the Scottish list and eight species to that of Wales.

Species new to Scotland:

• Tibellus maritimus (Menge)

• Pirata uliginosus (Thor.)

• Theridion melanurum Hahn

• Wideria nodosa (O. P.-C.)

• Cornicularia kochi (O. P.-C.)

• Erigone capra Sim.

• Erigone psychrophila Thor.

• Rhaebothorax paetulus (O. P.-C.)

• Ostearius melanopygius (O. P.-C.)

• Porrhomma convexum (Westr.)

• Centromerus parkeri Sp. n.

• Bathyphantes parvulus (Westr.)

• Allomengea warburtoni (O. P.-C.)

Species new to Wales:

• Coelotes terrestris (Wid.)

• Wideria nodosa (O. P.-C.)

• Lophocarenum stramineum (Menge)

• Mecopisthes silus (O. P.-C.)

• Scotargus inerrans (O. P.-C.)

• Typhocrestus simoni Lessert

• Bathyphantes parvulus (Westr.)

• Taranucnus setosus (O. P.-C.)

     

Two new genera of Cryptocephalinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Australasia

Two new genera are described for some species of Cryptocephalinae from the Australasian region. Melatia is erected for 29 species hitherto described in Cadmus Erichson, Cryptocephalus Geoffroy and Lachnabothra Saunders, from New Guinea and nearby islands; Ditropidella for four species described in Coenobius Suffrian and Ditropidus Erichson, from southern Australia.     

Revision of Bonesioides Laboissière, 1925 (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae; Galerucinae) from continental Africa

Bonesioides Laboissière, 1925, Galerucinae endemic to Tropical Africa is revised. This group is characterized by the metallic coloration of the entire dorsum or at least parts of it, the prothorax is moderately trapezoidal, posteriorly enlarged, and lacks any pronotal depressions, the basi-metatarsus is moderately elongated, pronotal coxal cavities are open behind, and distinctly shaped male genitalia. Most metallic-coloured species originally described in Barombiella Laboissière, 1931a are herein transferred to Bonesioides. For each species drawings of the habitus, basal antennal articles, spermatheca and median lobe are given. Species distributions are illustrated in maps, and an identification key is given. In a phylogenetic analysis including other Afrotropical Galerucinae with elongated basi-metatarsi, 'Monoleptites' is found to be a non-monophyletic group. Bonesioides now includes 21 species as follows (including new taxonomical changes): Bonesioides coerulea (Allard, 1889); Bonesioides purpureipennis Laboissière, 1925 = Bonesioides speciosa Laboissière, 1937, syn. nov.; Bonesioides dimidiata Laboissière, 1937; Bonesioides kirschi (Jacoby, 1899), comb. nov. = Monolepta munroi Bryant, 1931, syn. nov., = Barombia lesnei Laboissière, 1931b, syn. nov., = Barombiella babaulti Laboissière, 1939, syn. nov.; Bonesioides barombiensis (Jacoby, 1903), comb. nov. = Barombiella graciosa Laboissière, 1941, syn. nov.; Bonesioides caerulea (Jacoby, 1903), comb. nov.; Bonesioides virens (Weise, 1913), comb. nov. = Barombiella opalina Laboissière, 1940, syn. nov., = Monolepta ruwensorica Bryant, 1952, syn. nov.; Bonesioides laboissierei nom. nov. (replacement name for Beiratia coerulea Laboissière, 1924); Bonesioides laevicollis (Laboissière, 1940), comb. nov.; Bonesioides jacksoni (Bryant, 1953), comb. nov.; Bonesioides budongoensis sp. nov.; Bonesioides gambiae sp. nov.; Bonesioides godzilla sp. nov.; Bonesioides jacobyi sp. nov.; Bonesioides kamerunensis sp. nov.; Bonesioides marcoi sp. nov.; Bonesioides montana sp. nov.; Bonesioides nitida sp. nov.; Bonesioides pusilla sp. nov.; Bonesioides rubricollis sp. nov.; Bonesioides trispiculata sp.     

The female genitalia of Gonioctena,subgenus Spartoxena (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The taxonomy of the eight species of Gonioctena Chevrolat belonging to the subgenus Spartoxena Motschulsky is mostly based on male genitalia due to the unsuitability of external characters (i.e. coloration patterns) for identification. In order to provide similar diagnostic characters for both genders, the female genitalia of the eight species are described and illustrated. Considering the lack of spermathecae within the genus, the shapes of tergite 8, and sternites 8 and 9 have been explored as possible diagnostic characters. These structures present marked differences between taxa and simultaneously stability among individuals of each species, and thus they are very useful for taxonomic purposes. A key to the females of the subgenus Spartoxena is provided, and figures of tergite 9, and sternites 8 and 9 of each species are included.     

Homichloda barkeri (Jacoby) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae), a candidate agent for the biocontrol of prickly acacia,Acacia nilotica (Mimosaceae) in Australia

The status of Homichloda barkeri (Jacoby) n. comb. is discussed. A key is presented to four Afrotropical Homichloda species, including fulva n. sp. The eggs, larvae and pupae of H. barkeri are described for the first time. Unusual adult and immature stage characters are discussed in relation to the placement of Homichloda in the Alticinae.     

Sexual dimorphism in the lipid fraction of the defensive secretion ofGastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The lipid fraction of the defensive secretion of adultGastrophysa viridula was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Three long chain acetates and two methyl-branched hydrocarbons were identified and their amounts in the secretion of single field-collected and laboratory-reared beetles determined. The composition of the secretion was affected by the sex, reproductive status, and age of the beetle. The ratio of (Z)-11-eicosenyl acetate to (Z)-13-docosenyl acetate ranged from 0.30 to 0.78 in male beetles and from 1.05 to 2.06 in female beetles. The biological significance of this sexual dimorphism is discussed.     

从COI基因序列探讨叶甲科部分昆虫的系统关系

对叶甲科21种昆虫的COI基因（长度为716bp）的序列组成和变异情况进行了分析．结果表明,21种叶甲碱基T、C、A、G的平均含量分别为39．5％、13．9％、32．1％和14．5％,A＋T含量明显高于G＋C含量,密码子第三位点A＋T平均含量高达90．4％;该序列片段中共有315个碱基发生变异,变异率达到44％;核苷酸替换主要发生在C←→T和A←→T之间,第三位点的替换频率显著高于前两个位点．以中华萝摩叶甲（Chrysocus chinensis）为外群,采用MEGA4．0软件构建系统发育树．结果显示,21种叶甲聚为2大分支,叶甲亚科的种类形成一大分支,位于系统树的基部,较其他2个亚科分化得早;跳甲亚科与萤叶甲亚科共同聚为另一分支,二者的关系较之与叶甲亚科的关系更近．系统树所反映的三亚科间的关系与传统分类结果一致．     

A new species of Glyphidrilus (Microchaetidae: Oligochaeta) from East Africa

Of all of the chrysomelid subfamilies, only the larvae of the Megascelinae, along with those of the Aulacoscelinae remain undescribed. The first instar larva of Megascelis puella Lacordaire from Panama is described, as well as the eggs. Larval characters, eggs and oviposition behaviour are used to relate the Megascelinae with the Eumolpinae in support of what is known to date concerning adult morphology.     

A morphological study of Phyllotreta tetrastigma (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) including two colour forms

P. tetrastigma is a chrysomelid beetle with two colour forms, and has populations feeding on two different host plants. Morphological variation was studied within both males and females of six populations of P. tetrastigma. Morphological difference was detected between the sexes and between populations from different localities but not between the colour forms. It is not clear whether host plant influences morphology.