A new genus and species of African Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), with data on its ecology,bioacoustics and chromosomes

A new genus is proposed for a new East African Phaneropterinae species, Lunidia viridis, occurring on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Based on 33 records, notes on distribution and habitat are given, as well as acoustical data provided. Climate and vegetation parameters obtained along several transects on Mt. Kilimanjaro were evaluated describing the ecological niche of the new species. This interdisciplinary approach allows not only a profound characterisation of the ecological demands of the new genus but also predictions of the potential distribution area, which is tested for the first time for an African bush cricket species. Lunidia viridis n. gen. n. sp. occurs within humid and perhumid forests and Chagga home gardens, avoiding subhumid conditions on the mountain. It is found from 1,330 m upwards on the southern slopes, whereas the same ecological conditions are expressed from 1,930 m upwards on the drier northern slopes. Lunidia viridis has an unusually complex and variable song, which is described from field and laboratory recordings. The FISH technique for characterizing chromosomes is applied for the first time for an African species; L. viridis exhibits a karyotype typical for most Tettigoniidae.     

A new genus of African Karniellina (Orthoptera,Tettigoniidae, Conocephalinae,Conocephalini): integrating morphological,molecular and bioacoustical data

Melanoscirtes gen.n. is established within Karniellina. The members of this subtribe are small conocephaline bush crickets, confined to Africa. Melanoscirtes is erected on Phlesirtes kibonotensis, a species restricted to forest clearings and forest edge in the submontane and montane zones of Mt. Kilimanjaro. A subspecies, M. kibonotensis uguenoensis, is described from the North Pare mountains, a mountain range of the Eastern Arc adjacent to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Further species of Melanoscirtes occur on other mountain ranges of the northern branch of the Eastern Arc mountains of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. The South Pare mountains harbour M. shengenae; the West Usambaras, M. usambarensis, and the Taita Hills, M. taitensis. All species and subspecies of Melanoscirtes exhibit a similar morphology and occupy analogous habitats on the respective mountains. The song patterns for all species found within this genus are very similar, and this, together with evidence from molecular data, suggests that allopatric speciation is the reason for the biogeographic pattern found in this genus. A key for the subspecies and species of Melanoscirtes is provided.     

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Isolation and characterization of 10 tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in an enigmatic East African bird, the spot-throat (Modulatrix stictigula)

We describe the isolation of 10 tetranucleotide microsatellites from the spot-throat using an enrichment protocol. All loci were highly variable with the number of alleles ranging from six to 20 and observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.410 to 0.940. Although all loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, locus Mst95 showed significant homozygote excess in both surveyed populations, possibly a consequence of the presence of null alleles at this locus. These loci will be used to determine the extent to which spot-throat populations are isolated in order to help set conservation priorities for this ancient African lineage.     

Revised classification and phylogeny of an Afrotropical species group based on molecular and morphological data,with the description of a new genus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Onthophagini)

The worldwide distributed Onthophagus genus comprises at present more than 2000 species, that often show a complicated and uncertain systematic history. In particular, the many Afrotropical species included in this genus have never been entirely reviewed after the division into 32 species groups proposed by d’Orbigny in 1913, although subsequent researches focusing on some of these species suggested that Onthophagus constituted a nonmonophyletic taxon. In order to highlight their phylogenetic relationships, the various Afrotropical species groups of d’Orbigny must thus be examined, and it would be advisable to study them separately to avoid misunderstanding. In this framework, the taxonomic position of the three species currently included in the 21st d’Orbigny group was examined. Both morphological and biomolecular analyses contributed in confirming that these species (i.e., Onthophagus caffrarius d’Orbigny, 1902; Onthophagus quadraticeps Harold, 1867; and Onthophagus signatus Fåhraeus, 1857) constituted a well-defined monophyletic group that cannot be maintained within the genus Onthophagus. Therefore, the Kurtops gen.n. is here described to accommodate these Afrotropical species, that are nevertheless always included within the Onthophagini tribe. On the basis of the phylogenetic relationships here elucidated, it was also emphasized that the new genus is strictly related to Digitonthophagus and Phalops; thus, it was proposed to include the three genera into a single clade of suprageneric rank naming it as Phalops complex.     

A review of the genus Aleurolobus Quaintance and Baker (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Taiwan, based mainly on pupal morphology with a description of a new species

The whitefly species of the genus Aleurolobus Quaintance and Baker are reviewed from Taiwan. A total of nine species are included. Aleurolobus shiiae Takahashi is new to Taiwan. Aleurolobus osmanthi Young is considered as a junior synonym of Aleurolobus taonabae (Kuwana). A new species, Aleurolobus rubus Dubey and Ko, is described, and the puparia of the new species are diagnosed in a combination of characters: the dorsal pores scattered over dorsum; each located on a large subcircular, chitinised cuticular dorsal marking; faint eye spots; broader submargin; and the vasiform orifice set anterior to the caudal end of puparium by nearly twice of its own length. The record of Aleurolobus philippinensis Quaintance and Baker, and Aleurolobus setigerus Quaintance and Baker from Taiwan is discussed. The puparial diagnosis of each species, identification key to species so far known from Taiwan and illustrations for each species are provided.     

Comparative morphology of three South African Triviidae (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) with the description of a new species

Three species of Trivia were collected from subtidal habitats in the Cape of Good Hope Peninsula, South Africa. The morphology of T. ovulata (Lamarck, 1811), T. millardi (Cate, 1979) and T. verhoefi sp. nov. is described. Each species can be distinguished by a unique pattern of mande coloration, conchological characters of the fossula and shape of the radular teeth. The central nervous system was examined and found to be of the same configuration in die diree South African spe Trivia ovulata and T. verhoefi appear to be gonochoric while T. millardi is a protandric hermaphrodite. Trivia ovulata and T. millardi also differ in the position of the receptaculum seminis. Differences in internal morphology reported in previous work and the present study are discussed. The fact that the central nervous system of Trivia is euthyneurous is reconfirmed. Trivia ovulata and T. millardi were associated with colonial tunicates as previously recorded for other members of the genus.     

Phylogeny of the Neotropical cichlid fish tribe Cichlasomatini (Teleostei: Cichlidae) based on morphological and molecular data, with the description of a new genus

Phylogenetic relationships among cichlasomatine cichlids were studied using an extensive taxon sampling and both morphological and molecular data sets. A new genus, Andinoacara n. gen. with six species ( A. pulcher-rivulatus group of previous authors) from trans-andean South America and NW cis-andean South America, is described based on results of phylogenetic and diagnosability analyses and tests of alternative topologies Our results demonstrate that cichlasomatine cichlid diversity is divided into five principal lineages composed of eleven genera and three suprageneric clades: the [( Bujurquina , Tahuantinsuyoa ), ( Andinoacara ) (BAT) clade; the ( Cleithracara , ( Nannacara , Ivanacara )] clade (NIC) plus Laetacara and 'Aequidens' hoehnei ; and the ( Aequidens , Cichlasoma ) clade, where Aequidens is paraphyletic to Cichlasoma . Two former Aequidens species are additionally transferred into Krobia ( K. potaroensis , K. paloemeuensis ). 'Aequidens' hoehnei probably represents a unique evolutionary lineage and would thus qualify for a separate generic status. Molecular data are yet not available for this species and its generic status requires further study. Relationships between the three suprageneric clades and between Acaronia and Krobia could not be convincingly resolved with our data set of two mitochondrial (16S and cyt b ) and two nuclear (S7 and RAG1) molecular markers and 96 morphological characters.     

The phylogeny of Orthoptera inferred from mtDNA and description of Elimaea cheni(Tettigoniidae:Phaneropterinae)mitogenome

The complete 15,831 bp nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome from Elimaea cheni(Phaneropterinae)was determined.The putative initiation codon for cox1 was TTA.The phylogeny of Orthoptera based on different mtDNA datasets were analyzed with maximum likelihood(ML)and Bayesian inference(BI).When all 37 genes(mtDNA)were analyzed simultaneously,the monophyly of Caelifera and Ensifera were recovered in the context of our taxon sampling.The phylogeny of Orthoptera was largely consistent with previous phyl...     

Comparative anatomy, morphology, and molecular phylogenetics of the African genus Satanocrater (Acanthaceae)

? Premise of the study: Anatomical and morphological features of Satanocrater were studied to test hypotheses of xeric adaptations in the genus, which is endemic to arid tropical Africa. These features, together with molecular data, were used to test the phylogenetic placement of Satanocrater within the large plant family Acanthaceae. ? Methods: We undertook a comparative study of four species of Satanocrater. Carbon isotope ratios were generated to test a hypothesis of C(4) photosynthesis. Molecular data from chloroplast (trnG-trnS, trnG-trnR, psbA-trnH) and nuclear (Eif3E) loci were used to test the placement of Satanocrater within Acanthaceae. ? Key results: Anatomical features reflecting xeric adaptations of species of Satanocrater included a thick-walled epidermis, thick cuticle, abundant trichomes and glandular scales, stomata overarched by subsidiary cells, tightly packed mesophyll cells, and well-developed palisade parenchyma on both leaf surfaces. Although two species had enlarged bundle sheath cells, a feature often implicated in C(4) photosynthesis, isotope ratios indicated all species of Satanocrater use the C(3) pathway. Molecular data resolved Satanocrater within tribe Ruellieae with strong support. Within Ruellieae, our data suggest that pollen morphology of Satanocrater may represent an intermediate stage in a transition series. ? Conclusions: Anatomical and morphological features of Satanocrater reflect adaptation to xeric environments and add new information about the biology of xerophytes. Morphological and molecular data place Satanocrater in the tribe Ruellieae with confidence. This study adds to our capacity to test hypotheses of broad evolutionary and ecological interest in a diverse and important family of flowering plants.     

A new genus of Decticinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from the Middle East

A new genus, Raggeana, is erected for Metrioptera bodenheimeri Uvarov, and the hitherto unknown female of this species is described.     

Cytogenetics studies in thirteen brazilian species of Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera: Tettigonioidea: Tettigoniidae): main evolutive trends based on their karyological traits

The thirteen species of Phaneropterinae here studied can be arranged in four different groups according to their basic karyological traits. All of them share the same kind of chromosomal sex determining mechanism with X0 (male sign) and XX(female sign). The X chromosome differs among species and always appears heteropycnotic during prophase I, it is the largest in the set and segregates precociously during anaphase I. Among the species, the karyotypes varies in fundamental number between 31 to 21. The meaning of these significant changes in the karyotypes in relation to the phylogeny within some large taxonomic group of species is discussed.     

Notes on the genus Sinocapritermes (Isoptera: Termitidae) from China, with description of a new species

Abstract. The genus Sinocapritermes is briefly reviewed, and a new species described. A key is also provided to the twelve species of Sinocapritermes recorded from China to date.     

A new genus and species of larval mite (Acari: Prostigmata: Microtrombidiidae) parasitising Orthoptera (Tettigoniidae) from the Sierra Nevada, Spain

Nevada capileirarum n. g., n. sp. (Acari: Microtrombidiidae: Microtrombidiinae) is described from ectoparasitic larvae parasitising two endemic species of Orthoptera (Tettigoniidae), Baetica ustulata (Rambur) and Pycnogaster inermis (Rambur) from the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Granada, Spain. A key to the larvae of microtrombidiine genera with three dorsal scuta and a coxal setal formula of 2-1-1 is presented.     

The genus Arctorthezia Cockerell (Hemiptera,Ortheziidae) with the description of a new species

This paper describes a new species of Arctorthezia Cockerell (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Ortheziidae) from the Palaearctic region. The specimens were extracted from forest litter in the collections of Muséum d’histoire Naturelle de Genève, Switzerland, using Berlese funnels. Three further species, Arctorthezia cataphracta (Olafsen), Arctorthezia occidentalis (Douglas) and Arctorthezia pseudoccidentalis Morrison, are redescribed and re-illustrated. The genus Arctorthezia now contains five species. An identification key, diagnostic illustrations, photographs of unmounted females and new locality records of the Arctorthezia species currently known are provided.     

Crinipellis brasiliensis, a new species based on morphological and molecular data

Crinipellis perniciosa infects a diversity of hosts causing severe damage to T. cacao production in many Brazilian growing regions. We compared isolates of Crinipellis from different geographic origins and hosts in Brazil by structural analysis using light (LM) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), as well as RFLP and sequence data based on the nuclear rDNA ITS region. Statistical analyses of morphometric data of basidia and basidiospores revealed a distinct group of isolates of Crinipellis obtained from Heteropterys acutifolia when compared to representatives from Theobroma cacao, Solanum lycocarpum and Heteropterys nervosa. A similar distinction also was observed based on sequence data of the ITS region such that combined results allowed for the segregation of a new species within the genus Crinipellis.