Instar sizes,life cycles,and food habits of five Rhyacophila (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) species from the Appalachian Mountains of South Carolina,U.S.A.

The larval head widths at each instar, life cycles, and food habits of late instars were determined for five species of Rhyacophila from two Appalachian mountain streams in South Carolina, U.S.A. Rhyacophila acutiloba Morse & Ross was univoltine with two cohorts, one emerging in the spring and another presumably emerging in early autumn. Rhyacophila fuscula (Walker), R. nigrita Banks, and R. carolina Banks were apparently multicohort, univoltine species with extended flight periods. Rhyacophila minor Banks was univoltine with a spring emergence. All species were predaceous and consumed mainly Plecoptera nymphs and Trichoptera larvae.     

Two new species of the genus Rhyacophila Pictet (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) from India

Two new species of the genus Rhyacophila Pictet from the Indian Himalayas, i.e. Rhyacophila himalayensis n. sp. from Badrinath (Uttarakhand) of the R. divaricata branch and Rhyacophila indica n. sp. from Gangtok (Sikkim) of the R. vulgaris branch are described and illustrated.     

The genus Rhyacophila Pictet, 1834 (Insecta: Trichoptera) in Kosovo

The Balkan Peninsula is known for its high species diversity, but it is also one of the least known areas of Europe. Many previously inaccessible regions lack reliable faunistic records. There are especially few data available for the highly diverse aquatic insects of the region. To help fill the gap, we conducted an extensive survey to map the Trichoptera fauna of the Republic of Kosovo, an area where faunistic records are extremely scarce. Adult specimens were collected during 2009 and 2010, with light traps and entomologic nets. Of 84 Trichoptera species identified from the 21 investigated stations, 15 belong to the genus Rhyacophila. This makes the genus the most species-rich in Kosovo. Rhyacophila fasciata and R. tristis are widespread in many streams and rivers all over the country, while R. balcanica, R. trescavicensis, R. obtusa and R. bosnica have limited distribution. Ten Rhyacophila species presented in this paper are recorded for the first time on the area of Kosovo. We also provide new data for the disjunctive distribution of R. palmeni in south-eastern Europe, from Kosovo and Croatia.     

Two New Species of the Genus Plectrocnemia Stephens (Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae) from the Russian Far East

Two new species of the genus Plectrocnemia Stephens, Plectrocnemia levanidovae, sp. n., from Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands, and Plectrocnemia martynovae, sp. n., from southern Primorye, are described and illustrated. The new species belong to the P. tortosa Group and are the sister species of P. tortosa Banks, from China, and P. appensata Mey, from Vietnam.     

Unusual behaviour and morphology of some Rhyacophila Pictet, 1834 caddisfly (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) larvae reflect their ability to use the hyporheic zone

We found that larvae of four Rhyacophila Pictet, 1834 species preferred the hyporheic biotope in rapids and glides, which appears to be an unusual habitat among species in this genus. These species, i.e., Rhyacophila nigrocephala Iwata, 1927, R. nipponica Navas, 1933, R. shikotsuensis Iwata, 1927 and R. kawamurae Tsuda, 1940, belonging to the nigrocephala species group, of which six species occur in Japan. To study the movement behaviour of these species in the hyporheic biotope, we introduced their larvae into a small aquarium with a sandy bottom substrate. The larvae of these species burrowed into the sand bed and moved smoothly through interstices using their forelegs and their highly flexible and elastic abdomens. The larval morphology of these six species differs from that of the representatives of the other species group of Japanese Rhyacophila. They have more slender and flatter head capsules, more elongate abdominal segments, shorter thoracic legs and more slender anal prolegs. These features are adaptations that allow these species to effectively use the hyporheic biotope by enabling them to burrow through the interstices.     

长白山原石蛾属六种幼虫记述(毛翅目：原石蛾科)

原石蛾属（RhyacophilaPict．）种类较多[1～3],目前我国已报道过95种成虫（1995）[4],但对幼虫报道很少。原石蛾属的幼虫是不筑巢、自由生活在石质河床及清冷流水体中的种类。该属幼虫下颚须第2节比其它节长;中胸和后胸多无鳃,腹部缺密集的簇状鳃、或有稀疏的鳃或单枝的鳃、或完全无鳃;腹部节间常明显缢缩;第9腹节背板形成骨化的臀板;末龄幼虫体长不超过30mm[5,6]。1987年至1993年作者在长白山区（海拨370～2100m）的多条河流中采获原石蛾属幼虫6种,其中4种为中国新记录。现记述长白山原石蛾属6种幼虫于种检索表中。长白山原石蛾…     

Miliusa cambodgensis sp. nov. (Annonaceae) from Cambodia and M. astiana,M. ninhbinhensis spp. nov. from Vietnam

The genus Miliusa in Cambodia and Vietnam is reviewed. Cambodia and Vietnam each harbors six species of Miliusa, including three which are described as new to science: one from Cambodia (Miliusa cambodgensis sp. nov.), the other two from Vietnam (M. astiana and M. ninhbinhensis spp. nov.). In addition, a complete nomenclature and relevant information about the Miliusa species previously known from Cambodia and Vietnam are provided, including keys to the Cambodian and Vietnamese species, the designation of a lectotype for M. baillonii and the synonymization of M. balansae var. elongatoides, M. chunii and M. sinensis with M. balansae.     

Use and partition of space and resources by two coexisting Rhyacophila species (Trichoptera) in a high mountain stream

Life history, distribution, drift and food habits of two coexisting Rhyacophila species, Rhyacophila evoluta and Rhyacophila intermedia were studied in a high mountain stream in the Pyrénées.The life histories of both species took two years downstream and three years upstream. Several generations and a large range of larval instars permanently coexisted in the river.Slight temporal segregation of the life histories and differences in size and food habits of the coexisting larvae partially reduced the interspecific competition and allowed an optimal use of space. Instars IV of R. evoluta and V of R. intermedia, which had the most similar biological characteristics had the same microdistribution when they lived alone but used different habitats when they coexisted.     

Notes on taxonomy and new taxa of Aspidistra (Ruscaceae) in the flora of Laos and Vietnam

One new species of Aspidistra, i.e. A. nutans, and one new variety, i.e. A. tillichiana var. latifolia, recently discovered in Vietnam are described and illustrated. In addition, the rank of species is proposed for A. formosa widely distributed in northern Vietnam but originally described as a variety of A. fungilliformis. Aspidistra subrotata is recorded as a new species for the flora of Laos. Data on ecology, phenology, natural variation, distribution and expected conservation status are provided for these plants.     

The larva of Rhyacophila loxias Schmid, 1970 (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) with notes on its ecology

The larva of Rhyacophila loxias Schmid, 1970 is re-described. The diagnostic features of the species are listed and illustrated, and some information on the ecology and distribution of R. loxias is included.     

Differential vulnerability determines the diet of a slow-moving predatory stream insect

1. We investigated the diet and prey electivity of Rhyacophila obliterata, a slow‐moving invertebrate predator capable of hunting in high‐flow microhabitats, and quantified the components of the predation sequence of fifth‐instar larvae foraging on mobile (Baetis mayflies, Amphinemura stoneflies) versus semi‐sessile (larval blackflies) prey. 2. In the field, fifth‐instar Rhyacophila consistently took more larval blackflies than more mobile prey. In behavioural trials, the number of attacks by Rhyacophila differed significantly between prey types, mobile prey being attacked more often than blackflies. Capture success, by contrast, was highest for blackflies, whereas Amphinemura and Baetis were rarely captured. In mixed‐prey feeding trials, Rhyacophila showed strong preference for blackflies and equally strong avoidance of Amphinemura and Baetis. 3. For mobile prey, the risk of being captured by this sluggish predator is very low, so they can afford to be in close contact with it. Rhyacophila was almost unable to capture any other prey but blackflies, resulting in strong passive selection for blackflies. 4. Therefore, the diet of fifth‐instar Rhyacophila can be predicted from laboratory observations and prey behaviour is the major determinant of the diet of this invertebrate predator.     

Descriptions of oriental Perlini (Plecoptera: Perlidae)

Three new species of Oriental Perlini are described and Agnetina aequalis (Banks) and A. quadrituberculata (Wu) are redescribed. Agnetina jarai sp. n. (Vietnam), Togoperla shan sp. n. (Thailand), and Tyloperla schmidi sp. n. (Assam), are described, compared with related congeners, and male holotypes are designated for each species.     

Two New Lacconectus Species from Vietnam (Coleoptera; Dytiscidae)

Two new species of Lacconectus Motschulsky are described from Vietnam, Lacconectus valeriae sp. n. and L. baolocensis sp. n., and a key is given for the species described from and occurring in that country. Together with the two new species, seven species are now known from Vietnam, and the number of Lacconectus species rises to 60.     

A new species of Platea (Icacinaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia: Platea malayana

Platea malayana Utteridge is described and illustrated as a new species from the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia; notes on its conservation status and taxonomic affinities are discussed.     

Alpinia newmanii sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from central Vietnam

Alpinia newmanii, a new species from central Vietnam, is described and illustrated. A morphological comparison with the most closely related species and a key to the species of Alpinia subsection Catimbium in Vietnam are provided.     

Systematics of the Hipposideros turpis complex and a description of a new subspecies from Vietnam

• 1 Hipposideros turpis is traditionally known as a species composed of three subspecies, H. t. turpis, H. t. alongensis and H. t. pendleburyi, distributed disjunctly in south‐west Japan, north‐east Vietnam and south‐west Thailand, respectively. Prior to the present study, the systematic status of forms within the species remained unclear.
• 2 Using morphological (external, bacular, cranial and dental characters), genetic and echolocation data, we demonstrate that turpis, alongensis and pendleburyi represent three distinct species, and that these species are endemic to Japan, Vietnam and Thailand, respectively. They are very distinct genetically and do not even form a monophyletic group.
• 3 We also prove that H. alongensis is composed of two subspecies, H. a. alongensis and H. a. sungi. The latter subspecies is described as new to science. To date, H. a. alongensis appears to be restricted to the Cat Ba Island of Cat Ba National Park, west Ha Long Bay, whereas H. a. sungi ssp. nov. is known from three localities in mainland northeast Vietnam. These two subspecies are distinguished by body size, molecular data and the frequency of the constant‐frequency component of their echolocation signals.

     

Annotated checklist of species of the family pomacanthidae (Actinopterygii,Perciformes) from the Nha Trang Bay (South China Sea,Central Vietnam)

Angelfishes (Fam. Pomacanthidae) of the Nha Trang Bay (Central Vietnam) are reviewed. Fourteen species of pomacanthids belonging to six genera (Apolemichthys, Centropyge, Chaetodontoplus, Genicanthus, Pomacanthus, and Pygoplites) are recorded in the bay. All species are identified on preserved material. Two new species for the bay are found: Centropyge bispinosa and C. heraldi. C. herald is new species for coastal waters of Continental Vietnam and of adjacent areas. For all pomacanthid species of the bay, areas are described, brief diagnostic characteristics are supplied, and distribution by biotopes and depths is indicated based on data of underwater observations.