Pupae in nomenclature and identification: West Palaearctic Orthocladius s.str. (Diptera: Chironomidae) revised

Abstract. Orthocladius (Orthocladius) is a subgenus of one of the more speciose genera amongst the Holarctic chironomids of the subfamily Orthocladiinae. Although many names have been applied, adult males are difficult to distinguish. However, the immature stages often are known, and pupae discriminate taxa reliably. Based predominantly upon examination of exuviae, Orthocladius atripluma Kieffer and Orthocladius mitisi Goetghebuer are syn.n . of Orthocladius glabripennis (Goetghebuer); Orthocladius smolandicus Brundin a syn.n . of Orthocladius holsatus Goetghebuer; Orthocladius lenzi Kieffer a syn.n . of Orthocladius oblidens (Walker); Orthocladius rhyacobius Kieffer, Orthocladius rhyacophilus Kieffer and Orthocladius excavatus Brundin are syn.n . of Orthocladius obumbratus Johannsen; Orthocladius saxicola Kieffer and Orthocladius curtiseta Sæther are syn.n . of Orthocladius rubicundus (Meigen). Orthocladius (Orthocladius) vaillanti is described as sp.n ., based upon distinctive pupal exuviae. Lectotypes are designated for Orthocladius rhyacobius Kieffer, Orthocladius rhyacophilus Kieffer, Orthocladius rivinus Kieffer, Chironomus rubicundus Meigen and Orthocladius saxicola Kieffer. A key to the thirteen western palaearctic species is given.     

The Mondrian matrix: Culicoides biting midge abundance and seasonal incidence during the 2006–2008 epidemic of bluetongue in the Netherlands

During the northern Europe epidemic of bluetongue (BT), Onderstepoort‐type blacklight traps were used to capture Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges weekly between November 2006 and December 2008 on 21 livestock farms in the Netherlands. Proven and potential vectors for the bluetongue virus (BTV) comprised almost 80% of the midges collected: the Obsoletus complex, constituting C. obsoletus (Meigen) and C. scoticus Downes & Kettle (44.2%), C. dewulfi Goetghebuer (16.4%), C. chiopterus (Meigen) (16.3%) and C. pulicaris (Linnaeus) (0.1%). Half of the 24 commonest species of Culicoides captured completed only one (univoltine) or two (bivoltine) generations annually, whereas multivoltine species (including all BTV vectors) cycled through five to six generations (exceeding the one to four generations calculated in earlier decades). Whether this increment signals a change in the phenology of northern Europe Culicoides or simply is an adaptive response that manifests during warmer episodes, thus heightening periodically the incursive potential of midge‐borne arboviruses, remains to be clarified. Culicoides duddingstoni Kettle & Lawson, C. grisescens Edwards, C. maritimus Kieffer, C. pallidicornis Kieffer and C. riethi Kieffer are new records for the biting midge fauna of the Netherlands. It is suggested that C. punctatus (Meigen) be added to the European list of vector Culicoides.     

Congruence between larval ventromental plate ultrastructure and immature morphology in Yama Sublette & Martin and some Oceanian species of Chironomus Meigen (Diptera: Chironomidae)

The morphology of the larval ventromental plates of Y. tahitiensis Sublette & Martin and four Oceanian species of Chironomus Meigen, C. hawaiiensis Grimshaw, C. javanus Kieffer, C. magnivalva Kieffer and C. samoensis Edwards, has been studied by scanning electron micrography. Data on ventromental plate ultrastructure are used in phenetic and cladistic analyses of the relationships of T. tahitiensis and the Oceanian Chironomus to other species in Chironomus and additional genera. The results of these analyses support the current generic status of T. tahitiensis but indicate that Yama is less closely related to Chironomus than previously supposed, a finding that is supported by a reexamination of ‘traditional’ morphological features.     

Phenotypic differentiation and phylogenetic signal of wing shape in western European biting midges,Culicoides spp., of the subgenus Avaritia

In the past decade biting midges of the subgenus Avaritia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been popular subjects of applied entomological studies in Europe owing to their implication as biological vectors in outbreaks of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses. This study uses a combination of cytochrome oxidase subunit I barcode sequencing and geometric morphometric analyses to investigate wing shape as a means to infer species identification within this subgenus. In addition the congruence of morphological data with different phylogenetic hypotheses is tested. Five different species of the subgenus Avaritia were considered in the study (C. obsoletus (Meigen); C. scoticus Kettle and Lawson; C. chiopterus (Meigen); C. dewulfi Goetghebuer and C. imicola (Kieffer)). The study demonstrated that over 90% of individuals could be separated correctly into species by their wing shape and that patterns of morphological differentiation derived from the geometric morphometric analyses were congruent with phylogenies generated from sequencing data. Morphological data produced are congruent with monophyly of the subgenus Avaritia and the exclusion of C. dewulfi from the group containing C. obsoletus, C. scoticus and C. chiopterus. The implications of these results and their importance in a wider context of integrating multiple data types to interpret both phylogeny and species characterization is discussed.     

Redescription of Vorticella oceanica Zacharias, 1906 (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) with notes on its host, the marine planktonic diatom Chaetoceros coarctatum Lauder,1864

The late-spring quantitative relationship between epiphyton and macroinvertebrates was analyzed on the basis of units of colonizable plant surface of Typha angustifolia, Phragmites australis and Nuphar lutea (floating leaves) in the shallow euthrophic Lake Loosdrecht (the Netherlands), with a high seston load. The non-predatory chironomid larvae (Glyptotendipes viridis, Endochironomus albipennis, Pentapedilum sordens, Cricotopus sylvestris agg.) dominated among the macroinvertebrate taxa, controlling the diversity and resemblance of macroinvertebrate assemblages. There was a gradient in functional feeding groups among the chironomids from continuous filtering of the seston to prevailing utilization of epiphyton. We found no direct relationship between the total macroinvertebrate abundance and the epiphyton mass on the plants surface. We attribute this to the filter feeding-strategy of the most abundant species, Glyptotendipes viridis, that utilizes seston in the eutrophicated lake.     

Population dynamics and resource utilization by larval Chironomidae (Diptera) in a backwater area of the River Danube

1. The five most abundant species of the larval chironomid community in a backwater area of the River Danube were analysed in terms of population dynamics and utilization of space from July 1985 to July 1986. The life histories of Prodiamcsa olivacea (Meigen), Cryptochironomus defectus (Kieffer), Harnischia curtilamellata (Malloch), Polypedilum laetum (Meigen) and Polypedilum scalaenum Schrank were described; the number of estimated generations per year was two for P. olivacea, H. curtilamellata, P. laetum and P. scalaenum and three for C. defectus. A decline in larval densities of P. olivacea and P. scalaenum was significantly correlated with increasing cumulative water discharge in an area close to a dam (P<0.01). 2. Spatial overlap and resource width were estimated for these chironomid species across four ranges of water depth, in three sections of the River Danube. An increasing mean spatial overlap between larval species coincided significantly with higher mean resource utilization in all cross-sections during the sampling period. Simulations of spatial overlap between randomized species associations were conducted for analyses of coexistence and dispersion between larval populations. On the basis of comparison with a neutral model, in which patches of individuals were randomly reassigned to habitat units, spatial segregation was significantly (P<0.05) different from chance for seventy-three out of 263 species pairs examined through the year. 3. An analysis of the spatial dispersion of each chironomid species (using the standardized Morisita index) suggested temporally and spatially varying patterns of dispersion, whereas the mean spatial segregation between patches of larval species might have resulted from temporary formations of random patches in this backwater area of the River Danube. 4. Spatial stability estimated as the minimum positive eigenvalue of the species matrix was significantly positively related to mean spatial segregation, indicating that a lower habitat segregation between patches of larval species pairs may lead to a destabilization of the larval species assemblage.     

Chironomid flies of the genus Glyptotendipes Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) from India with a short account of their biology

Three new species, Glyptotendipes (Glyptotendipes) fumilatus, G. (G.) ingenius and G. (G.) validens are described. A short account of habitat, construction of dwellings, food and feeding of the larva and emergence of the adult has also been appended. A new dichotomous key to the Indian species is provided.     

Reclassification of Epyrini (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae): a tribal approach with commentary on their genera

Epyrini (Epyrinae) are the largest and morphologically most diverse group within Bethylidae. Evans' conception of Epyrini induces misclassification of several taxa and their diagnostic features, such as median lobe of clypeus projected, and fovea in lateroposterior angle of propodeal disc, are insufficient to place species in the tribe. No previous comprehensive cladistic study has recovered Epyrini as a clade, and no synapomorphies are reported for the tribe, suggesting that the group is artificial. We infer a phylogeny based on 391 informative morphological characters for 42 terminal taxa (31 ingroup, 11 outgroup). Monophyly of Epyrini is supported by a petiole with fused root and body as an autapomorphy. Anisepyris Kieffer, Laelius Ashmead, Holepyris Kieffer, Formosiepyris Terayama, Disepyris Kieffer, Bakeriella Kieffer and Trachepyris Kieffer were retrieved as monophyletic. Epyris Westwood and Chlorepyris Kieffer are paraphyletic. The addition of new characters was essential to define Epyrini, and the ventral region of the mesosoma, petiole and male genitalia may help to better understand genera and species limits. All resulting trees indicate that Epyrinae are polyphyletic. Tribes Epyrini and Sclerodermini are revalidated to subfamily status.     

Emergence of Chironomidae from the shallow eutrophic Lake Kasumigaura,Japan

Seasonal chironomid emergence was monitored in the shallow eutrophic Lake Kasumigaura and 18 species were collected with a battery-operated light trap fixed on a floating stage and with surface emergence traps. During October–December, samples in the light trap comprised exclusively Tokunagayusurika akamusi (Tokunaga) and small numbers of one or two other species. T. akamusi, Procladuis (Holotanypus) culiciformis (L.), and Chironomus plumosus (L.) constituted 91.6% of the annual catch of chironomid adults. The predominance of T. akamusi (75.3 % of chironomid catch) and the high ratio (13) of T. akamusi to C. plumosus was more marked in this lake than other Japanese eutrophic lakes. Glyptotendipes tokunagai Sasa and Dicrotendipes pelochloris (Kieffer) were also caught abundantly with the light trap, but not with surface traps, indicating these were littoral species. The dry weight of emerging adults during May–December 1982 was 2.87 g m^–2, of which 1.92 gm^–2 (67%) was T. akamusi and 0.67 gm^–2 (23%) C. plumosus and 0.23 g m^–2 (8%) Clinotanypus sugiyamai Tokunaga and 0.03 gm^–2 (1%) P. (H.) culiciformis. The weight of emerging Tanypodinae was much higher than the annual mean larval biomass or estimated larval production, which have been due to underestimating the population density using an Ekman-Birge dredge. High numbers of individuals and species of chironomids were caught during April–July, presumably as a result of the high food supply for chironomid communities.     

Host specificity testing and suitability of the parasitoidMicroctonus hyperodae (Hym.: Braconidae,Euphorinae) as a biological control agent ofListronotus bonariensis (Col.: Curculionidae) in New Zealand

The behaviour of the parasitoidMicroctonus hyperodae Loan was studied under quarantine conditions to determine its likely host range in New Zealand. The species was imported from South America as a potential biological control agent of Argentine stem weevil,Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel). The study involved systematic evaluation of the parasitoid's behaviour when exposed to 24 non-host weevil species; all but three of these were native to New Zealand. Of those tested, four were found to sustain someM. hyperodae development. However, further examination showed that in all but one species,Irenimus aequalis (Broun), parasitoid development was impeded, with up to 50% of the larvae becoming encapsulated. Overall, those weevil species that were attacked produced only 19% of the parasitoids derived fromL. bonariensis controls. As an adjunct to this quarantine study, a review of the habitats of the native weevil and target pest populations indicated that refugia would probably exist for native alpine species. I. aequalis was not considered to be threatened byM. hyperodae as this weevil has benefited from the advent of European agricultural systems to the extent that it is now recognised as a minor pest. In view of its relatively oligophagous behaviour, the parasitoid was recommended as suitable for release.      

The Brunetti types of Tipulidae (Diptera) in the collection of the Zoological Survey of India: Part II,Nephrotoma Meigen and Ctenophora Meigen

An account is given of eight species of Pachyrhina Macquart and four species of Pselliophora Osten-Sacken, described by Brunetti, that fall under Nephrotoma Meigen and Ctenophora Meigen respectively.     

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.     

Larval parasitoids of the apple ermine moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yponomeuta malinellus</Emphasis>in Korea,Japan, and China

Larval parasitoids of Yponomeuta malinellus Zell. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), the apple ermine moth (AEM), were sought in northeast Asia with the goal of identifying potential biological controls of the moth, which appeared to threaten the apple industry in Washington State, USA during the 1980s. Ten primary and four secondary parasitoids were found. Dolichogenidea delecta (Haliday) (Braconidae), Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman) (Encyrtidae), Herpestomus brunnicornis Grav. (Icheumonidae), Bessa paralella (Meigen), and Zenillia dolosa (Meigen) (Tachinidae) were the most important parasitoids. The composition of parasitoid species was more diverse in Korea and Japan than in China; two species were found in China, compared to nine in Korea and seven in Japan. A. fuscicollis caused a greater mortality in all investigated countries; 22.7, 11.0, and 9.3% in China, Korea, and Japan, respectively. There was a high similarity in the composition of the parasitoid complex between Korean and Honshu populations but the rates of parasitization were different. The polyphagous B paralella caused significantly higher parasitism in Honshu (18.2%) than in Korea (0.5%). In contrast, H. brunnicornis caused significantly higher parasitism in Korea (8.7%) than in Japan (2.4%). A. fuscicollis and H. brunnicornis, judged to be the most appropriate parasitoids for biological control of AEM moth in the USA, were collected and sent to the USA for release. A. fuscicollis established and is contributing to the control of AEM.     

Russian fauna of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysotus</Emphasis> (Diptera,Dolichopodidae): Part 1. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysotus cilipes</Emphasis> Meigen and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ch. laesus</Emphasis> Wied. species-Group

Based on examination of the collections of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Voronezh State University, a list of species of the group Chrysotus cilipes Meigen and Ch. laesus Wied. was compiled for the fauna of Russia, including 8 species: Chrysotus amurensis Negrobov, Ch. caerulescens Negrobov, Ch. cilipes Meigen, Ch. laesus (Wiedemann), Ch. parilis Parent, Ch. pennatus Lichtwardt, Ch. pseudocilipes Hollis, and Ch. suavis Loew.     

Trichopsomyia ochrozona (Stackelberg, 1952) (Diptera: Syrphidae) recorded from Iran for the first time with a key to the West Palaearctic Trichopsomyia Williston, 1888 species

The hoverfly Trichopsomyia ochrozona (Stackelberg, 1952) (Diptera: Syrphidae) is recorded for the first time from Iran. An illustrated key to the West Palaearctic species of Trichopsomyia is presented. Illustrations of the puparium of Trichopsomyia joratensis Goeldin, 1997 and the larva and puparium of T. ochrozona are given and their larval and adult habitats are described. A short discussion is given on the known larval habitat of other West Palaearctic Trichopsomyia species. Some of the synonyms have been evaluated and Pipiza melancholica Meigen, 1822 is withdrawn from synonymy of Trichopsomyia flavitarsis (Meigen, 1822) and is considered as a junior synonym of Musca viduata Linnaeus, 1758 syn. nov.     

Influence of host plant odours on invasion of the rice leaf bug Trigonotylus caelestialium into paddy fields

• 1 The host‐odour preferences of the rice leaf bug Trigonotylus caelestialium between the rice plant Oryza sativa L. and four species of graminaceous weeds, Poa annua, Alopecurus aequalis, Digitaria ciliaris and Eleusine indica, were investigated with an olfactometer aiming to clarify the influence of these odours on invasion of the bug to paddy fields at the flowering stage of rice.
• 2 Both female and male adults significantly preferred the graminaceous weed A. aequalis in the flowering stage to rice in the fifth‐leaf stage. The bugs also significantly preferred flowering P. annua and A. aequalis to rice in the panicle‐formation stage. However, the bugs showed no preferences between rice in the flowering and grain‐filling stages and the flowering graminaceous weeds P. annua, D. ciliaris and E. indica.
• 3 The preference of the rice leaf bug for the flowering graminaceous weeds before rice flowering coincides with the fact that these bugs mainly live on these weeds before rice flowering. It is considered that the bug's similar preference for flowering rice panicles as the flowering graminaceous weeds causes the intense invasion of the bug into paddy fields at this rice developmental stage.

     

Description,circumscription and phylogenetics of the new tribe Zaeucoilini (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae), including a description of a new genus

Abstract Neotropical eucoiline genera that have been included in and allied with the Zaeucoila genus group are redescribed. Following character analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction (25 taxa, 96 morphological characters, 1452 ribosomal and mitochondrial characters), this informal genus group was found to be monophyletic, and hence raised to formal recognition as a tribe of eucoilines, namely Zaeucoilini new tribe . Through phylogenetic reconstruction, Aegeseucoela Buffington was determined to be polyphyletic; the type species of Aegeseucoela, A. grenadensis (Ashmead), is transferred to Agrostocynips comb.n. ; the orphaned species, A. flavotincta (Kieffer), is transferred to Marthiella Buffington gen.n. , comb.n. Based on the examination of the holotype of Diranchis flavipes Ashmead, 1900 , this species is transferred to Rhabdeucoela comb.n. , where it is both a junior, subjective synonym of flavipes ( Ashmead, 1894 ) syn.n. and a junior, secondary homonym. Zaeucoilini contains the following genera: Agrostocynips Diaz, Dettmeria Borgmeier, Dicerataspis Ashmead, Lopheucoila Weld, Marthiella Buffington, Moneucoela Kieffer, Moritiella Buffington, Penteucoila Weld, Preseucoela Buffington, Rhabdeucoela Kieffer, Tropideucoila Ashmead and Zaeucoila Ashmead. Characters and character states applicable specifically to Zaeucoilini are defined and illustrated. Characters supporting the monophyly of each genus are discussed. The plesiomorphic host for members of the Zaeucoilini are postulated as agromyzid leaf‐mining Diptera, with one shift within the clade containing Dettmeria, Dicerataspis and Lopheucoila to fruit‐infesting Diptera. New host records are reported for species of Preseucoela, Rhabdeucoela and Zaeucoila. All known hosts for the species of each genus are reported, as are known distributions and locations of type specimens.