Comments on the genus Aphilenia weise in Reitter, 1889 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae), with a description of a new species from Russia

A review of species of the genus Aphilenia is given. The genera Aphilenia and Atomyria are transferred from the tribe Bromiini to the tribe Nodinini. A new species, Aphilenia astakhovi sp. n. from Russia (Astrakhan Prov.), is described. Aphilenia interrupta var. unicolor Rtt. is upgraded to a species and is transferred to the subgenus Pseudaphilenia Lop. Aphilenia hauseri Wse. is a new synonym of A. unicolor Rtt.; A. inornata Chen is transferred to the genus Chloropterus.     

Bathycamptus eckmani gen. et spec. nov. (Copepoda,Harpacticoida) with a review of the taxonomic status of certain other deepwater harpacticoids

Bathycamptus eckmani gen. et spec. nov., which is associated with mudballs produced by the. cirratulid Tharyx luticastellus, is described from bathyal muds in San Diego Trough, off California. ?Heteropsyllus minutus Wells from the Haden Ground, Scotland is considered to be its closest relative and is placed in the same genus. The genera Bathycamptus and Psammocamptus Mielke are regarded as sister groups on the basis of the shared sexual dimorphism shown by P3-P4. Relationships with other marine Canthocamptidae are discussed, and a re-evaluation of the genus Hemimesochra Sars is made. It is concluded that this genus should encompass only the type species H. clavularis Sars. ?Leimia dubia Wells and H. nympha Por are transferred to the new genus Boreolimella, which is closely related to Bathycamptus but not to Leimia Willey. The genus Perucamptus gen. nov. is established to include H. rapiens Becker and shows no clear relationship with the other genera. H. trisetosa Coull is assigned to Caroliiaicola gen. nov., which is regarded as being an advanced member of the Paranannopidae. H. secunda Wells is recognised as belonging to Mesopsyllus Por; whilst H. nixe Por is considered the type species of a new genus Pusillargillus.     

On the distribution and synonymy of some indo-malayan species of the chrysomelid genus Pagria Lefèvre, 1884 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae)

Pagria pseudograta sp. n. from Sri Lanka is described. Pagria flavopustulata and all its synonyms (Nodostoma kanaraense Jac., P. flavopustulata ab. bicolor Wse., P. signata grandis Chûjô, P. signata var. innotata Pic, and P. nodieri Pic) are placed to synonyms of P. grata Baly. Also, Nodostoma fulvipes Baly with the replacement name N. xanthopus Har., P. vignaphila Bry., and P. aeneicollis Lef. are synonymized with this species. Pagria bipunctata Lef. is placed to synonymy with P. signata (Motsch.). Nodostoma concolor Motsch. is transferred to the genus Pagria. Pagria laevifrons Jac., P. aenescens Jac. and P. recticollis Pic are transferred to the genus Cleoporus Lef. Pagria pallidicolor Pic is transferred to the genus Basilepta Baly. The drawings of the aedeagi of P. pseudograta sp. n. and P. ceylonica Pic are given. The distribution of a number of species is clarified.     

A new species of Bembidion ( Ecuadion) from Ecuador (Coleoptera,Carabidae, Bembidiini), with a key to members of the georgeballi species group

A new species of ground beetle, Bembidion ricei, is described from the Andes mountains of Ecuador east of Quito. It belongs to the georgeballi species group of subgenus Ecuadion, and is most similar to Bembidion georgeballi. A key to the species of the group is provided.     

The brachylaimidae (Trematoda: Digenea) of Australian native mammals and birds,including descriptions of Dasyurotrema n. g. and four new species of Brachylaima

The Brachylaimidae of Australian native animals are revised. Brachylaima dasyuri (Johnston, 1913) is redescribed from Dasyurus viverrinus, Phascogale tapoatafa and Isoodon macrourus. B. simile (Johnston, 1913) is removed from synonymy with B. dasyuri, reinstated as a valid species and redescribed from Perameles nasuta, Isoodon obesulus and Antechinus stuartii. B. antechini Peisley & Howell, 1975 is reduced to synonymy with B. simile. B. brindabellensis n. sp. is described from Rattus fuscipes. B. walterae n. sp. is described from Antechinus swainsonii and A. stuartii. B. delecta n. sp. is described from Antechinus flavipes. B. sandarsae n. sp. is described from Antechinus godmani. B. pulchellum (Johnston, 1917) is redescribed from Leucosarcia melanoleuca. An unnamed Brachylaima species is described from Isoodon macrourus. New host records are Brachylaima dasyuri from Phascogale tapoatafa and B. simile from Perameles nasuta. Dasyurotrema mascomai n. g., n. sp. is described from Antechinus swainsonii. The new genus is placed in the Panopistinae. It differs from the existing genera by having a single loop of the uterus passing anterior to the ventral sucker and the genital pore posterior to the posterior testis but still distinctly ventral. A second species of Dasyurotrema is recorded, but not described, from Antechinus stuartii. Brachylaimid metacercariae are described from Rhytida capillacea, Helicarion virens, H. mastersi and Vercularion strangei. In no case was a host species found to harbour more than one species from any brachylaimid genus at a single geographical site.     

Notes on the ant genus Cataglyphis Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) in the Arabian Peninsula with description of a new species and a key to species of the C. pallida-group

Cataglyphis fisheri sp. n. is described and illustrated from the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based on the worker caste. It belongs to the Cataglyphis pallida-group which is recorded for the first time from the Arabian Peninsula. Cataglyphis fisheri sp. n. is similar to Cataglyphis pallida Mayr, 1877 from Kazakhstan. Differential diagnosis between these two species is given and a key to the species of the Cataglyphis pallida-group is presented. Cataglyphis laylae Collingwood, 2011 is treated as a junior synonym of Cataglyphis saharae Santschi, 1929. Cataglyphis flavobrunnea Collingwood & Agosti, 1996 is redescribed and a lectotype for this species is designated.     

Cairnsian mutagenesis inEscherichia coli: Genetic evidence for two pathways regulated bymutS andmutL genes

The phenomenon of Cairnsian mutagenesis was studied inEscherichia coli mutants bearing mutations inmutS,mutL,recA andlexA genes. It is shown that development of resistance to exogenous valine could be used as an example of Cairnsian response. Strains defective inmutS andmutL show a high frequency of Cairnsian mutagenesis to valine resistance. The response inmutS mutants is dependent upon cleavability of the LexA protein whereas that inmutL is not. The latter is independent ofrecA also. The need for LexA protein cleavage inmutS mutants can be bypassed by over-production of the RecA protein due to arecA operator constitutive mutation. Genetic evidence is presented to show that the products ofmutS andmutL genes negativelycontrol two pathways of Cairnsian mutagenesis. Cairnsian response is also elicited whenmutS ormutL strains are grown under conditions wherein a required nutrient is present in sub-optimal concentrations. Random, unselected mutagenic events are likely to occur during or after Cairnsian mutagenesis provided the cells are SOS inducible.     

A new Eastern Asian Hycleus and key to the Chinese species of the phaleratus group (Coleoptera,Meloidae, Mylabrini)

A new species of Hycleus belonging to the phaleratus group, and close to Hycleus phaleratus, is described. The new species, Hycleus marcipoli, is distributed in China (Gansu and Taiwan), Laos, and northern Thailand. A key to the Chinese species of this group is presented.     

On the validity of Epeorella Ulmer, 1939 (Ephemeroptera,Heptageniidae) with general considerations on the Heptageniidae of the Sunda Islands

The type material of Epeorella borneonia Ulmer, 1939, the sole species of the genus Epeorella Ulmer, 1939 is reinvestigated and a lectotype (male imago) is designated. Based on several morphological structures, the synonymy with Epeorus Eaton, 1881 (Rhithrogeninae) is rejected. Epeorella stat. prop., known only at the winged stages, belongs to the subfamily Ecdyonurinae, and is a probable endemic of the island of Borneo. The newly erected genus Darthus Webb & McCafferty, 2007, also endemic to Borneo and only known by one species at the nymphal stage, is shown to be a junior subjective synonym of Epeorella. The new combination Epeorella vadora (Webb & McCafferty, 2007) is proposed for the species. The distribution of known heptageniid species from the Sunda Islands is discussed.     

Molecular evidence for taxonomy of Rhacophorus appendiculatus and Kurixalus species from northern Vietnam,with comments on systematics of Kurixalus and Gracixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae)

Phylogeny of Rhacophoridae is constructed using two mitochondrial (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) and two nuclear (tyrosinase and Rag-1) genes in an attempt to test for the taxonomic status of Rhacophorus appendiculatus and Kurixalus species from Tam Dao. All phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that specimens from Tam Dao are nested in Kurixalus bisacculus, indicating that they belong to K. bisacculus. R. appendiculatus is closer to genus Kurixalus than to other genera with strong support values. In combination with morphological evidence, it is suggested that R. appendiculatus should be placed in Kurixalus. Kurixalus verrucosus is not related to Kurixalus appendiculatus and it is the sister taxon to the clade of K. bisacculus and Kurixalus odontotarsus, which rejects that K. verrucosus is a synonym of K. appendiculatus. The genus Kurixalus needs redefinition by clear synapomorphic characters, and generic status of Kurixalus ananjevae deserves further examination.     

The genus Eodasycladus (Lower Jurassic dasycladalean green alga) and its relationship with Palaeodasycladus

The Lower Jurassic genus Eodasycladus is discussed according to the characters of type species and compared with the other species known in the literature. The architecture of two species attributed to the genus Palaeodasycladus, P. alanensis Soka?, and P. benceki Soka?, is examined and an alternative organization of the thallus is prospected. P. alanensis is considered a valid species, but its characters require to transfer the taxon to the genus Eodasycladus. P. benceki is considered synonymous with P. alanensis.     

Identity of the downy mildew pathogens of basil, coleus, and sage with implications for quarantine measures

The downy mildew pathogen of basil (Ocimum spp.) has caused considerable damage throughout the past five years, and an end to the epidemics is not in sight. The downy mildew of coleus (Solenostemon spp.) is just emerging and here we report that it was very recently introduced into Germany. Although it has been recognised that these pathogens are a major threat, the identity of the pathogens is still unresolved, and so it is difficult to devise quarantine measures against them. Using morphological comparison and molecular phylogenetic reconstructions we confirmed in this study that the downy mildews of basil and coleus are unrelated to Peronospora lamii, which is a common pathogen of the weed Lamium purpureum. In addition, we conclude by the investigation of the type specimen of P. swingleii and downy mildew specimens on Salvia officinalis that the newly occurring pathogens are not identical to P. swingleii on Salvia reflexa. The taxonomy of the downy mildew pathogens of hosts from the Lamiaceae and, in particular, from the tribes Mentheae and Elsholtzieae, is discussed, and a new species is described to accommodate the downy mildew pathogen of basil and coleus, which is the first downy mildew pathogen known to be parasitic to hosts of the tribe Ocimeae.     

A revision of Bremia graminicola

Bremia graminicola (Chromista, Peronosporales) is a common downy mildew pathogen of Arthraxon spp. (Poaceae) in Central to East Asia and the only species of Bremia parasitic on grasses. Despite its widespread occurrence and apparent differences in host range and morphology compared with other species of the genus, its placement in Bremia has not been challenged for the past 90 y. Its current taxonomic position is revised based on sporangiophore morphology and ultrastructure, haustorium morphology, and nu-rDNA sequence analysis. Haustorium morphology and sporangiophore ultrastructure indicate that B. graminicola is not a member of the genus Bremia, which shows affinities to Plasmopara and Paraperonospora. Based on haustorium morphology, B. graminicola appears to be more closely related to Viennotia oplismeni, although the sporangiophore morphology is strikingly different between these two taxa. This is supported by molecular analyses based on a near-representative sample of nuLSU rDNA sequences of downy mildew genera, whereby B. graminicola is revealed as the sister taxon of V. oplismeni with 100 % BS support under all phylogenetic optimality criteria applied. Relationships of this clade to other groups are less clear. However, network and reduced-consensus analyses show that this lack of resolution is mainly due to the ambiguous molecular affinities of Sclerospora graminicola. Omitting this highly divergent taxon results in considerable support for a clade comprised of taxa with globose to pyriform haustoria, including B. lactucae, and for the sister-group relationship of B. graminicola and V. oplismeni with Hyaloperonospora. Consequently, a new genus, Graminivora, is described to accommodate B. graminicola.     

Taxonomic update of Clitocybula sensu lato with a new generic classification

The taxonomy and phylogeny of the hydropoid clade (genera Clitocybula s.l., Megacollybia, Leucoinocybe gen. nov., Hydropus, Trogia, Gerronema, Porotheleum and Lignomphalia gen. nov.) in Europe is studied using morphological and molecular approaches; the first three genera in detail including all known European species. Only two European species remain in Clitocybula s.str., Clitocybula lacerata and Clitocybula familia. The European C. lacerata is a species complex which should be treated as C. lacerata agg. at the current state of knowledge. A neotype originating from type area was designated to fix the application of the name. The presence of American species Clitocybula abundans in Europe is insufficiently proved. “Clitocybula dryadicola ? belongs to the genus Hydropus, and Clitocybula tilieti has an unclear systematic position. The results showed that Megacollybia and Leucoinocybe represent independent genera separated from Clitocybula. The genus Leucoinocybe is validly published with two European species, Leucoinocybe lenta and Leucoinocybe taniae. “Clitocybula flavoaurantia” proved to be conspecific with the latter species. The genus Lignomphalia is published for “Pseudoomphalina lignicola”, a lignicolous omphalinoid species. The Indian “Clitocybula sulcata” is transferred to Leucoinocybe and “Clitocybula atrialba” to Gerronema. The first European records of Megacollybia marginata are published.