Three New Species of Thraulodes (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae) from Venezuela

Three new species of Thraulodes from Venezuela are described. One species is known from male and female imagines, and the other two only from male imagines. With this, the known Thraulodes species for Venezuela are four. A key for the male imagines of the known species of Thraulodes from Venezuela is provided.     

Stempellina and Zavrelia from China (Diptera,Chironomidae, Tanytarsini)

The first records of the Tanytarsini genera Stempellina and Zavrelia in the Oriental Region based on adult males are presented. Two species, Stempellina clavata sp. n. and Zavrelia clinovolsella sp. n. from southern China, are described, and the generic diagnoses of the two genera are emended to accommodate the new species. A key to the male imagines of the genus Zavrelia is given.     

中国真开氏摇蚊属一新种及一新记录种记述（双翅目：摇蚊科）

记述真开氏摇蚊属Eukiefferiella Thienemann 1新种:盖真开氏摇蚊E. celata sp. nov.和1种中国新记录种: 翘叶真开氏遥蚊E. brehmi Gouin, 1943;提出兵库真开氏摇蚊E. togaeuquinta Sasa & Okazawa, 1992为翘叶真开氏摇蚊 E. brehmi Gouin,1943的新异名。     

Habrophlebia antoninoi sp.n., a New Species from Spain,with an Account of the European Species of Habrophlebia Eaton, 1881 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae,Habrophlebiinae)

The adults and egg of Habrophlebia antoninoi sp. n. are described and illustrated from material collected in southern Spain. Although the genitalia of the new species is characteristic of Habrophlebia, the chorionic sculpturing of the egg and the shape and venation of hind wings are unique among European members of the genus. A discussion of its relationships with other European species of Habrophlebia is included and a key to male imagines of European species of Habrophlebia is provided.     

A New Species of Thraulodes (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from Mexico

A new species of Thraulodes from Mexico is described from male and female imagines. The male imagines of this species have very characteristic genitalia that allow its easy separation from the other known species of the genus.     

Investigation into the critical equilibrium humidity,active atmospheric water absorption and water content ofRhipicephalus evertsi mimeticus

The critical equilibrium humidity for fully engorged nymphs ofRhipicephalus evertsi mimeticus was shown to be between 91% and 93.5% r.h., and for adult male and female ticks to be between 82% and 84.5% r.h. Studies on gnathosoma and idiosoma by selective exposure to differing relative humidities have shown that dehydrated adult male and female ticks are capable of active uptake of atmospheric water vapor only through their mouthparts. The percentage of water content of unfed adult male and female ticks previously dehydrated was not influenced by subsequent exposure to different relative humidities, varying similarly in both sexes, male imagines between 59.6% and 63.7%, female imagines between 59.6% and 64.4%. Analogous values (62.3% and 61.1%) were obtained for the water content of male and female imagines not previously dehydrated, which were incubated at 30°C and 100% r.h. for 7 days.     

Aagaardia,a New Holarctic Orthoclad Genus (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Diagnoses of all stages of the new genus Aagaardia are given. The genus includes A. sivertseni (Aagaard), originally described in Eukiefferiella Thienemann, from Norway and Finland and described in all stages; A. protensa sp.n. from Finland and A. triangulata sp.n. from Turkey described as male imagines; and A. longicalcis sp.n. from Canada described in both sexes. The male imagines share bare eyes, strong punctation on wings, bare squama, extended costa, triangular gonostylus and two groups of extremely strong and sclerotized virga. The pupa and the female genitalia show relationship with Paratrissocladius Zav[rcirc]el, while the larva is very similar to the larvae of Psilometriocnemus Sæther and Platysmittia Sæther. Parsimony analyses suggest that Aagaardia forms the plesiomorphic sister genus to the rest of the Heterotrissocladius group combined.     

Harnischia Kieffer from China,with Emendations to the Diagnosis of the Genus (Diptera: Chironomidae)

The genus Harnischia from China is revised. Harnischia cultriata sp.nov. is described as new to science from the male imago. H. hamata Wang et Zheng is recognized as new synonym of H. angularis Albu et Botnariuc and H. longispuria Wang et Zheng is recognized as a new synonym of H. curtilamellata (Malloch). A key to male imagines is presented. The distribution of the six known Chinese species is mapped. An emended generic diagnosis is given and discussed. Variation in the phallapodeme as an important specific diagnostic character within the genus is furnished.     

藻寄生环足摇蚊亚属东洋区首次记录 （双翅目：摇蚊科）

首次记录产自东洋区的环足摇蚊属藻寄生环足摇蚊亚属,并依据中国标本对该亚属的洛格环足摇蚊Cricotopus(Nostocoladius)lygropis Edwards进行了重新描述,编制了世界本亚属雄成虫分种检索表。经检视模式标本和核对原始描述,将Cricotopus(Nostocoladius)seiryuabeus Sasa,SuzukiSakai(1998)处理为Cricotopus(Nostocoladius)lygropis的次异名。     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stempellinella</Emphasis> (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Hiroshima,Japan

Stempellinella coronata sp. n. is described and illustrated based on male imagines. The new species can be separated from other Stempellinella species by its small size, low antennal ratio, high front leg ratio, minute frontal tubercles, a comparatively long median volsella, lacking median tergal setae, and lacking well-developed anal crests on the tergite IX. The generic diagnosis of Stempellinella is emended mainly to accommodate S. coronata. The species has so far been collected only from autumn to winter at pools in the unpolluted upper to mid reaches and was recorded first from the Ohta River system, Hiroshima, Japan.     

Polypedilum ( Cerobregma ) Sæther & Sundal from China (Diptera: Chironomidae)

P. (C.) cyclus sp. n. and P. (C.) jii sp. n. are described as male imagines. P. (C.) kamotertium Sasa and P. (C.) okigrandis Sasa are new records to China. A key to known adult males of the subgenus is presented. The subgeneric diagnosis is emended.     

Two new species of the orientalis group of Rheocricotopus (Psilocricotopus) from China (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Rheocricotopus (Psilocricotopus) calviculus sp. n. and R. (P.) villiculus sp. n. from China are described as male imagines. The species are closely related to the previously described R. (P.) orientalis Wang forming a new group, the orientalis group, which eventually may deserve the rank of subgenus or even genus. The group is distinguished by lacking a humeral pit, numerous sensilla clavata on third palpomere, cuneiform wings, no or few setae on squama, long legs, banded abdomen, very long inferior volsella, gonocoxite with apical extensions, and gonostylus with a median triangular projection.     

XENOCHIRONOMUS TUBEROSUS SP. NOV. FROM SOUTHERN CHINA,WITH EMENDATION TO THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE GENUS (DIPTERA: CHIRONOMIDAE)*

Abstract Xenochironomus tuberosus sp. nov. from southern China is here described and illustrated as male imagines. The new species is separated from other known species of this genus in having frontal tubercle, unusual stout setae on tergite VI, characteristic chaetotaxy on tergite IX and unique superior volsela. Based on the new species, an emendation to the diagnosis of the genus is given. This paper is the first record of genus Xenochironomus from China.     

DNA Taxonomy and the identification of immature insect stages: the true larva of Tauriphila argo (Hagen 1869) (Odonata: Anisoptera: Libellulidae)

For many insect taxa, larval morphology plays a decisive role in various fields like taxonomy, phylogeny or ecology. However, species identification is usually based on imaginal characters and the identification of larvae depends upon an established link to unequivocally identified imagines. This taxonomic correspondence of larvae and imagines is far from being established in many odonate species. We have employed a molecular approach to link larval and adult specimens in Tauriphila argo (Hagen, 1869). The sequenced mt SSU gene fragments of the reared female, supposedly a T. argo female, and a clearly identified male specimen of the species were identical. However, the larva of the reared female clearly differed from the described T. argo larva, previously matched to the species. From this observation, we conclude that the previously described larva of T. argo does not belong to this species because of too many phenotypic differences that far exceed the generally observed intraspecific variation.

It can be foreseen that the molecular approach will prove to be effective in identifying unknown larvae in many insect species. Additionally, the discrimination of sibling species or the linkage of allotypes and holotypes will become feasible with this approach.     

Taxonomy of Electrogena antalyensis (Kazanci & Braasch, 1986) (Ephemeroptera,Heptageniidae)

Female imagines, subimagines, eggs and larvae of Electrogena antalyensis (Kazanci & Braasch) from Turkey are described for the first time. The results of a thorough analysis of larvae, based on the standard set of diagnostic characters for the identification of Electrogena species, are reported. The peculiarity of several characters places E. antalyensis in an isolated position within the genus Electrogena.     

Cricotopus (Cricotopus) nevadensis sp. n. (Diptera,Chironomidae) from Sierra Nevada (southern Spain)

Male and female imagines, and pupal exuviae of Cricotopus (C.) nevadensis sp. n. are described. A discussion on the systematic position, a differential diagnosis and notes on the ecology of this new species are given.     

The larvae of the burrowing mayfly genus Tortopus (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae)

The larval stage of Tortopus is redescribed based on three species: T. puella from North America, the only species of the genus previously known from larva, and the larvae of T. obscuripennis and T. sarae from South America described here. Generic characters of the larva include: relatively large finger-like gill near base of maxilla, inner margin of mandibular tusks with a subdistal tubercle, straight or weakly convex frontal ridge present between antennae, reduced unilamellated gill on abdominal segment I. Additionally the male imagines of both Neotropical species are described for the first time, and T. obscuripennis is recorded from Bolivia. Diagnoses, SEM photographs, and illustrations are given for the new stages described and for the identification of the three Tortopus species known as larvae.     

Afrotropical Polypedilum subgenus Tripodura, with a review of the subgenus (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Vårdal, H., Bjørlo, A. & Sæther, O. A. (2002). Afrotropical Polypedilum subgenus Tripodura, with a review of the subgenus (Diptera: Chironomidae). —Zoologica Scripta, 31, 331–402. A subgeneric diagnosis for all stages of the subgenus Tripodura Townes, 1 945 of the genus Polypedilum Kieffer, 1 912 is given. Nine new Afrotropical species of Tripodura are described: P.(T.)chelum Vårdal sp. n., P.(T.)amplificatus Bjørlo sp. n., P.(T.)patulum Bjørlo sp. n., P.(T.)spinalveum Vårdal sp. n., P.(T.)ewei Bjørlo sp. n., P.(T.)ogoouense Bjørlo sp. n., P.(T.)akani Bjørlo sp. n., P.(T.)dagombae Bjørlo sp. n., and P.(T.)amputatum Bjørlo sp. n.; all as male imagines only. P.(T.)alboguttatum Kieffer, P.(T.)albosignatum Kieffer, P.(T.)tropicum Kieffer, P.(T.)pruina Freeman, P.(T.)quinqueguttatum Kieffer, P.(T.) aegyptium Kieffer, P.(T.) tridens Freeman, P.(T.)allansoni Freeman, P.(T.)longicrus Kieffer, P.(T.)annulatipes Kieffer and P.(T.)abyssiniae Kieffer are re‐described as male and female imagines, while P.(T.)majiis Lehmann, P.(T.)subovatum Freeman, P.(T.)griseoguttatum Kieffer, P.(T.)aferum Lehmann and P.(T.)kijabense Freeman are re‐described as male imagines only. Keys to the male and the known female imagines of the 30 Afrotropical species in the subgenus are presented. A phylogenetic analysis based on all available information on Tripodura from all over the world (135 species) is presented and discussed. The monophyly of the subgenus Tripodura is confirmed. The subgenus can be divided into 20 groups with the acifer group forming the sister group of two larger assemblages of groups in the order acifer (titicacae (ginzansecundum ((aferum (ewei (malickianum (floridense (halterale, pullum)))))) (subovatum (labeculosum ((parascalaenum (allansoni (apfelbecki (udominatum, parvum))))) ((((alboguttatum, aegyptium) quinqueguttatum) annulatipes)). Only in the titicacae, halterale, pullum and apfelbecki groups are the larvae of more than one species described, while one larva is known in each of the subovatum, parascalaenum, aegyptium and quinqueguttatum groups. Three or more pupae are known only from the halterale, pullum, apfelbecki and aegyptium groups. Thus, the tentative nature of the group divisions is obvious. Geographical co‐evolutionary analyses (Brooks parsimony analyses) of the subgenus as a whole and of the major groups are performed and the areas most likely to be part of the original areas estimated. Most probably, eastern South America and Africa were part of the ancestral area. There are multiple sister‐group relationships and generalized tracks between South and East Asia and Africa, between Africa and the Palaearctic region, between South and East Asia, between tropical Brazil and Africa, between East Asia and North America across a former Beringian land bridge, and between the Indo‐West Pacific region and New Zealand, but no evidence for transantarctic relationships.