Identifying growth parameters for two endemic species [Capoeta antalyensis (Battalgil, 1943) and Pseudophoxinus antalyae Bogutskaya, 1992] in Duden Creek,Antalya, Turkey

It is hypothesized that Capoeta antalyensis (Battalgil, 1943) and Pseudophoxinus antalyae (Bogutskaya, 1992) might display specific growth characteristics that differ from other species of their genus. Age and growth were described for species from Duden Creek (Antalya, Turkey) from February 2008 to January 2009. The length–weight relationship for all individuals were described by the parameters: a = 0.0143 and b = 2.946 for C. antalyensis and a = 0.0084 and b = 3.251 for P. antalyae. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters based on data from scales were L∞ = 35.78 cm, k = 0.251 year^?1 and t₀ = ?0.30 for C. antalyensis and L∞ = 22.59 cm, k = 0.232 year^?1 and t₀ = ?0.78 for P. antalyae. The growth characteristics for these two species are not much different from those of closely related species from the same genus.     

Predation of Thereva nobilitata (Fabricius) (Diptera: Therevidae) on Agriotes obscurus L. (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Little is known about the natural enemies of wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae), but there are frequent anecdotal reports of (usually unnamed) stiletto fly larvae (Diptera: Therevidae) preying on various species. We observed larvae of Thereva nobilitata (Fabricius) feeding on larvae of the dusky wireworm, Agriotes obscurus L., during the summer of 2011, in Agassiz, British Columbia. This finding is of interest as: both the predator and the wireworm are introduced species to this area from Europe; T. nobilitata is uncommon in North America; and this predator has not been associated with any wireworm species previously. We observed that larvae of male and female T. nobilitata will feed on various sizes of A. obscurus larvae, most feeding being carried out by the smallest T. nobilitata larvae. These findings suggest future work should assess the potential for therevid larvae as top‐down regulators of Agriotes larvae under field conditions.     

Comparative morphology,biology and phylogeny of terminal‐instar larvae of the European species of Toryminae (Hym., Chalcidoidea,Torymidae) parasitoids of gall wasps (Hym. Cynipidae)

We present a phylogenetic and taxonomic study of the morphology and biology of the terminal‐instar larval stage of 19 species representing all the genera of Torymidae parasitoids of gall wasps in Europe, with the single exception of Megastigmus. The genera studied include Adontomerus Nikol'skaya, Idiomacromerus Crawford, Chalcimerus Steffan & Andriescu, Glyphomerus Förster, Pseudotorymus Masi and Torymus Dalman. We primarily used chaetotaxy and some head structures. The terminal‐instar larvae of all studied species are thoroughly described for the first time and illustrated with SEM images. We provide diagnostic characters for the family and the genera studied, and keys to genera and species for the identification of torymid larvae associated with cynipid galls. The majority of the torymid larvae studied are solitary monophagous parasitoids. Finally, to assess the potential use of larval characters in systematic studies of the family, a phylogenetic analysis of the studied taxa based on 42 larval morphological characters is proposed and compared with the current taxonomy of Torymidae. Our results suggest that body chaetotaxy, and characters of the head and mouthparts could be used for genera and species discrimination. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 154 , 676–721.     

Genetic diversity of Crocus antalyensis B. Mathew (Iridaceae) and a new subspecies from southern Anatolia

Crocus antalyensis B. Mathew is a bulbous plant endemic to Turkey. It is morphologically variable within the western part of Anatolia. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker system was used to detect genetic variation among the Crocus taxa. Twenty-two primer combinations were used to screen for polymorphism among the samples. Genetic variation ranged from 0.44 to 0.69. We demonstrated the efficiency of the AFLP marker system for discriminating between individual C. antalyensis specimens. A high level of genetic variation was present among C. antalyensis specimens collected from different locations in Turkey. We also observed that C. antalyensis subspp. are genetically distinct from their relative Crocus flavus Haw. subsp. dissectus Baytop & B. Mathew. A new subspecies of C. antalyensis B. Mathew from southern Turkey is described. It is characterized by striped outer perianth segments, waist-shaped flowers, and glabrous throat of the perianth. A composite image of the new subspecies is presented.     

Ein Endemit Zyperns:Asperula cypria (Rubiaceae) und seine Verwandtschaft

Galium suberosum Sibth. etSm. belongs toAsperula sect.Thliphthisa; the taxonomic transfer and a new name are therefore necessary:Asperula cypria Ehrend. is endemic on the isle of Cyprus. Its closest affinities are withA. antalyensis Ehrend. in S.W. Anatolia.

     

Crocus antalyensis subsp. striatus subsp. nov. (Iridaceae) from southwest Anatolia

A new subspecies Crocus antalyensis subsp. striatus subsp. nov. from western Turkey is described. It is characterized by rough papery, light brown corm tunics, leaves that exceed the flower at anthesis and are recurved, distinctly striped inner perianth segments and deeply branched pale yellow or white style. The karyotype of the new subspecies is presented.     

Taxonomic notes on Neophylax koizumii (Iwata 1927) (Trichoptera, Uenoidae) from Japan

We re-examined the type series material of Apatania koizumii Iwata and designated a lectotype and a paralectotype. We transferred Apatania koizumii to the genus Neophylax based on the morphological characters of the larvae. We redescribed the larva of Neophylax koizumii and its case and provided some ecological notes and the geographical distribution. We also examined the larvae used to describe Neophylax sp. NA (sensu Tanida 1985) and found that those belonged to Neophylax koizumii. On the other hand, the larva of Neophylax sp. NA designated by Akagi (1962) is clearly different from that of Neophylax koizumii in characters of the ventral sclerites on the meta-thorax and abdominal segment I. Received: September 6, 1999 / Accepted: February 20, 2000     

The Larva of Beraea dira McLachlan, 1875 (Trichoptera,Beraeidae)

The larva of Beraea dira McLachlan, 1875 is described. An attempt is made to include the larva of Beraea dira in an existing key for larvae of Trichoptera published by Waringer and Graf (1997). Some taxonomical, zoogeographical and ecological notes on this species are included.     

The morphology of juvenile stages of two oribatid mite species (Acari,Oribatida, Eremaeidae)

The morphology of the juvenile stages of two oribatid mite species, Eueremaeus oblongus and Eremaeus hepaticus, is described. Diagnostic characters of larvae and nymphs of these species are given.     

Butterflies of the South Pacific

ABSTRACT

Larvae of the invasive mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus Say are morphologically similar to those of the native Culex pervigilans Bergroth, yet distinguishing these species can be hampered by morphological variations in Cx. quinquefasciatus. We present detail about the extent of these variations in an urban population of Cx. quinquefasciatus in Auckland. To aid in identification of this exotic species, we provide images of key diagnostic characters and some observed exceptions to these. Details regarding variation in diagnostic characters for < 3rd instar and 3rd/4th instar larvae are given. Of the nine characters used for identification, three were highly consistent (dorsal papillae, mantle plate, pecten teeth); each observed in > 90% of larvae, although these characters were not always visible. Other characters were less reliable, for instance, the expected position of seta 1a-S in relation to the pecten teeth was observed in < 10% of larvae. Further exploration of regional morphological variation in both Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. pervigilans is recommended, ideally with associated molecular characterisation.     

Contribution to the Knowledge of the Pre-imaginal Stages of Neotropical Hydrobiosidae (Trichoptera): Metachorema griseum Schmid

Mature larvae and pupae of Metachorema griseum Schmid are described for the first time. The known distribution of the genus includes the province of Neuquén in Argentina and central and southern Chile. The distinctive characters of the larvae of this genus are: (1) prothoracic sternite consisting of a wide subrectangular central sclerite and a pair of elongated lateral sclerites, (2) anterior femora with a narrow basodistal process, (3) anterior tibia and tarsus fused and (4) anal prolegs with a short lateral sclerite with basal spine and claws simple with ventral spine and two ventral setae.     

Parasitism,seasonality, and diversity of trombiculid mites (Trombidiformes: Parasitengona,Trombiculidae) infesting bats (Chiroptera) in Poland

The study aims to ascertain the diversity of trombiculid species associated with Chiroptera in Poland, and for the first time in the case of research on Central European Trombiculidae, we use both DNA and morphology in an integrative taxonomic approach to determine species identities of trombiculids. The research was carried out from 2015 to 2019. In total, 2725 larvae were collected from 300 specimens of bats belonging to 11 species. Deutonymphs were obtained through laboratory rearing of larvae; few larvae and deutonymphs were collected also from bats' daily roosts. The presence of trombiculid larvae on hosts was observed between July and April of the following year, with the highest numbers recorded in autumn, during bat swarming. Male bats were infested more often than females (16.4 vs. 6.6%). The highest infestation rate was recorded for Barbastella barbastellus, Myotis nattereri and Plecotus auritus, and the highest prevalence of chiggers (>?30%) for Myotis bechsteinii and P. auritus. The larvae found on bats occupied the areas with free access to the host’s skin: auricles, tragus, and snout. Morphological identification of specimens to the species level was hindered by the mosaic distribution of diagnostic traits. Morphological analyses indicated the presence of Leptotrombidium russicum and Leptotrombidium spp. in the examined material, whereas molecular analyses additionally suggested three other potential species assigned to the same genus based on the assessed scope of intrageneric variation (ASAP method). We argue that the identification of the parasitic larvae (chiggers) using morphological characters does not address the question of actual species boundaries, which, in turn, affects the inferences about host specificity and host range.

     

The larvae of the British genera of Cantharidae (Coleoptera)

The larvae of the six British genera (Cantharis, Malthinus, Malthodes, Podabrus, Rhagonycha and Silis) of Cantharidae are described. The characters available for classification are discussed and a key to the genera is provided.     

Identification of instars and species in some larval Polypedilum (Polypedilum) (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Instars II and III of Polypedilum aviceps Townes, Polypedilum convictum (Walker), and Polypedilum illinoense (Malloch) can be identified to species by associating them with instar IV because key taxonomic characters remain relatively unchanged from instar to instar. Instars I cannot be identified to species or genus unless they are associated with older, identifiable larvae reared from the same egg masses. No single character evaluated on slide material can be used to clearly separate instars in all three species. Larvae of P. aviceps can be separated into instars based on any four of seven characters; P. convictum by either of two characters; and, P. illinoense by a combination of two characters. Changes in structures of instars II, III, and IV are described for all three species. Growth ratios for some structures are compared and discussed with regard to Dyar's Rule.     

On the biology of the Limoniid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lipsothrix nobilis</Emphasis> (Diptera,Limoniidae) with description of the immature stages

Data on the biology and morphological characters of the larva and pupa of Lipsothrix nobilis Loew, 1873 are given for the first time. The diagnostic characters for the genus Lipsothrix Loew and the species L. errans (Walker) are specified. The larvae differ in the structure of the frontal plate, coloration of the stigmal area, and structure of the hypostomium. The pupae differ in the shape of cuticular structures of the abdominal segments and structure of the spiracles and terminal dents. The larvae inhabit the light decaying moist wood of fallen trunks.     

The camerobiid mites (Acari, Camerobiidae) of Turkey

Three new species of Neophyllobius viz. N. demirsoyi, N. yunusi, N. bolvadinensis and male, protonymph and larvae of N. lachishensis Bolland, 1998 from Turkey are described and illustrated. Neophyllobius lachishensis is reported from Turkey for the first time.     

A description and classification of some final—instar larvae of the Mesochorinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae)

The characters of the final–instar larvae of the Mesochorinae are reviewed on knowledge of species belonging to four genera. Relationships indicated by larval characters, within the Mesochorinae, and between the Mesochorinae and other groups of rchneumonidae, are outlined. Evidence is given that the larval characters of Cidaphus indicate this genus to be the least specialized of the Mesochorinae.