Distinguishing features of immature stages of Panchaetothripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) known in New Zealand

Diagnostic morphological characters of the juvenile Panchaetothripinae in New Zealand are illustrated. Keys developed enable colonies with only immature stages to be identified without needing to rear adults. Live larvae or larvae in ethanol are distinguished by the presence of expanded tips of body setae (Parthenothrips dracaenae), the absence of setae at the abdomen tip (Hercinothrips bicinctus), setae at abdomen tip not longer than abdominal tip width (Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis) and abdominal tip setae longer than abdominal tip width (Sigmothrips aotearoana, endemic species). The presence or absence of spine-like setae on abdominal segments 9 and 10, and the number and length of setae on the wing buds, enable identification of pupae. Abdominal spine-like setae were on the prepupa and pupa of H. bicinctus and S. aotearoana, species that pupate off the plant, and are probably defensive structures. This is the first record of spine-like setae on segment 10 of terebrantian pupae.     

A multi‐locus approach resolves the phylogenetic relationships of the Simulium asakoae and Simulium ceylonicum species groups in Malaysia: evidence for distinct evolutionary lineages

A multi‐locus approach was used to examine the DNA sequences of 10 nominal species of blackfly in the Simulium subgenus Gomphostilbia (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Malaysia. Molecular data were acquired from partial DNA sequences of the mitochondria‐encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes, and the nuclear‐encoded 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes. No single gene, nor the concatenated gene set, resolved all species or all relationships. However, all morphologically established species were supported by at least one gene. The multi‐locus sequence analysis revealed two distinct evolutionary lineages, conforming to the morphotaxonomically recognized Simulium asakoae and Simulium ceylonicum species groups.     

Mixacarus (Phyllolohmannia) pectinatus sp. n. (Acari,Oribatida, Lohmanniidae), a new species of oribatid mites from India

A new species of oribatid mites (adult and juvenile instars), Mixacarus (Phyllolohmannia) pectinatus sp. n., is described from India. The new species differs from the majority of species of the subgenus in the absence of distally dilated setae and narrower leaf-shaped setae on dorsal and ventral body sides.     

Density dependent shifts in attachment site by the ectosymbiotic chironomid Nanocladius asiaticus on its megalopteran host Protohermes grandis

Intraspecific interactions among ectosymbionts may occur when suitable attachment sites are limited to specific parts of their hosts. In this study, we examined attachment site selection by the ectosymbiotic chironomid Nanocladius (Plecopteracoluthus) asiaticus. Larvae and pupae of this chironomid attach to larvae of the megalopteran Protohermes grandis: they feed on algae and detrital materials caught on the chironomid's silken nets and on the body surface of the host. Sampling at approximately monthly intervals in central Japan revealed that the proportion of hosts with chironomids was relatively high and stable during the 2 year study period. When attached singly, larvae were usually found on the ventral side of the host's mesothorax. However, when two or more larvae were attached to a host, the mesothorax was occupied by only one larva (usually a large individual) and the other(s) were attached to the ventral side of the abdomen. Density dependent shifts in attachment sites were confirmed by a reattachment experiment in which a larva was removed from its host and released onto a new host with or without symbiosis by another individual. All of the larvae released singly on a host devoid of symbionts attached to the thoracic region and survived, whereas those released in pairs and not occupying this site were frequently lost. Thus, the thorax (particularly the mesothorax) is the most suitable attachment site, and there is a possibility that chironomid larvae compete for this site.     

Position and definition of the genus Paegniodes Eaton, 1881 based on redescription on the type species Paegniodes cupulatus (Eaton, 1871) (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae)

The genus Paegniodes Eaton, 1881 and its type species P. cupulatus (Eaton, 1871) have never been described in detail completely. In this article, all stages are described and photographed. Compared to other heptageniid genera, the adults of P. cupulatus have a more colourful body, smaller hindwings but larger titillators. The nymphs of this species have no setae or tubercles on the body and no emarginations on the head capsule. They have smaller lamellae of the first gills, a wider labrum with a median notch, mandibles without setae on outer margins, maxillae with a row of setae and scattered setae on the ventral surface, cerci with mesal setae, and a median filament with setae on both sides. Both imaginal and nymphal stages of the genus have unique characters, so the taxon Paegniodes is recognized at the rank of genus here. It appears closely related to Rhithrogena Eaton, 1881.     

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.     

斜脉蝠蛾幼虫分类特征研究

本文研究报道了冬虫夏草主要寄主之一斜脉蝠蛾Hipialus oblifurcus Chu et Wang幼虫头、胸、腹各部分的形态特征、颜色、毛序及各龄幼虫的头宽和体长,可作为鉴别种类的依据。     

Three new species of Tricorythopsis (Ephemeroptera: Leptohyphidae) from southeastern Brazil

Three new species of Tricorythopsis Traver (Ephemeroptera: Leptohyphidae) are described and illustrated based on nymphs from southeastern Brazil. These new species can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the following characters: Tricorythopsis araponga sp. n.: (1) femora with long setae; (2) abdominal segments 5–7 with dorsal tubercles; (3) tarsal claws with 4–6 marginal denticles and 7 + 4 submarginal denticles. Tricorythopsis baptistai sp. n.: (1) tarsal claws with 4–5 large marginal denticles and one submarginal denticle on each side; (2) abdominal colour pattern; (3) abdomen without tubercles; (4) coxae without projections. Tricorythopsis pseudogibbus sp. n.: (1) abdominal segments 6–8 with small dorsal tubercles; (2) tarsal claws with four large marginal denticles, and 3 + 1 or 2 submarginal denticles; (3) coxae dorsally projected; (4) femora broad and with short setae; (5) pronotum with anterolateral projection.     

Discovery of swimming larvae in Elmidae (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea)

The aquatic larvae of the family Elmidae (Coleoptera) have been considered unable to swim because they lack swimming setae on their body and legs. We discovered that riffle beetle larvae (Leptelmis gracilis Sharp) are in fact able to swim. After opening the tuft‐like gills on the last abdominal segment they swim by repeatedly bending the abdomen into a U‐shape very quickly and in a wavy manner, while their head and thorax move anteriorly, resulting in a sigmoidal body shape. The flat bodies of L. gracilis larvae could be advantageous for swimming compared to the cylindrical or semicylindrical bodies of larvae in related genera.     

Larvae of scarab beetles of the subfamily Trichiinae (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) from the Russian Far East

Previously unknown larvae of three species (Osmoderma davidis Fairmaire, Gnorimus subopacus Motschulsky, and Lasiotrichius succinctus (Pallas)) of the subfamily Trichiinae are described and illustrated. Original keys to larvae of the subfamilies Trichiinae, Cetoniinae, and Valgiinae and to the genera of the subfamily Trichiinae of the Russian fauna are compiled. The larva of Osmoderma davidis differs from that of O. barnabita Motschulsky in the shape of the frontal sutures and chaetotaxy of the frontal triangle and clypeus. The larvae of Gnorimus subopacus differ from those of G. nobilis (L.) and G. octopunctatus (F.) in the position of symmetrical rows of setae on the anal sternite. The larvae of representatives of the genus Lasiotrichius Reitter, described for the first time, differ from those of all the other genera of the subfamily Trichiinae in the smooth head capsule and in the absence of tubercles on the labrum. These larvae differ from those of the genus Trichius in the completely pale brown basal membrane at the antennae (the membrane of Trichius bears black stripe).     

Taxonomic review of the subgenus Uroleucon (Uromelan) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the Korean peninsula

Until now, five species of the subgenus Uroleucon (Uromelan) have been recognized in Korea. This is the first report of Uroleucon (Uromelan) adenophorae (Matsumura, 1918) occurring on Adenophora triphylla (Campanulaceae) in Gangwon-do, South Korea. Host plants are reviewed and an identification key to species is presented for six Uroleucon (Uromelan) species from the Korean Peninsula.     

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.     

Medium for development of bee cell cultures (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis>: Hymenoptera: Apidae)

A media for the production of cell cultures from hymenopteran species such as honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) was developed. Multiple bee cell cultures were produced when using bee larvae and pupae as starting material and modified Hert–Hunter 70 media. Cell culture systems for bees solves an impasse that has hindered efforts to isolate and screen pathogens which may be influencing or causing colony collapse disorder of bees. Multiple life stages of maturing larvae to early pupae were used to successfully establish cell cultures from the tissues of the head, thorax, and abdomen. Multiple cell types were observed which included free-floating suspensions, fibroblast-like, and epithelia-like monolayers. The final culture medium, WH2, was originally developed for hemipterans, Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, and leafhopper, Homalodisca vitripennis cell cultures but has been shown to work for a diverse range of insect species such as bees. Bee cell cultures had various doubling times at 21–23°C ranging from 9–15 d. Deformed wing virus was detected in the primary explanted tissues, which tested negative by rt-PCR for Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Kashmir bee virus, acute bee paralysis virus, and black queen cell virus. Culture inoculation with IAPV from an isolate from Florida field samples, was detectable in cell cultures after two subcultures. Cell culture from hymenoptera species, such as bees, greatly advances the approaches available to the field of study on colony collapse disorders.     

A NEW SPECIES OF THE SUBGENUS PAPIRIOIDES FROM CHINA (COLLEMBOLA: DICYRTOMIDAE)

Abstract  A new species of the subgenus Ptenothrix (Papirioides) is described from Anhui Province, China. It shares many characters with the Hawaiian species serrata Snider and is most similar to the Asian species aequituberculata Stach from North Vietnam except its variable facial setal patterns, larger setae on anterior dorsum of great abdomen and constant setal pattern of ventral dens.     

Invertebrate Species with Nonpelagic Larvae Have Elevated Levels of Nonsynonymous Substitutions and Reduced Nucleotide Diversities

Under a nearly neutral model in which most amino acid substitutions are slightly deleterious, variation in demography, population structure, and other ecological factors among closely related species can potentially modify the effective population size or the selective regime, leading to differences in the rate of nonsynonymous substitution. Ratios of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (d_N/d_S) between species were analyzed in a sea star genus (Patiriella) and a molluscan genus (Littorina), each with diverse modes of reproduction, including multiple lineages with pelagic and nonpelagic larvae. In both genera, lineages with nonpelagic larvae had significantly higher d_N/d_S ratios than lineages with pelagic larvae. The hypothesis that the elevated d_N/d_S ratios in species with nonpelagic larvae was due to reduced effective population size was tested by comparing nucleotide diversities in three genera of gastropod mollusks (Littorina, Crepidula, and Hydrobia), each with several modes of reproduction. Overall, there was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in nucleotide diversity in species with nonpelagic larvae compared to species with pelagic larvae.     

Description of Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) brazilorum sp. nov. a new fossil species from the Dominican Republic (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

A sand fly fossil was found in amber; a vegetal resin, which allows all the external phlebotomine structures to be seen. The piece that contains the new species is 14 mm long x 8 mm wide x 3 mm high. All the structures from the head, thorax, and abdomen were examined under the microscope and measured with a calibrated micrometric eyepiece. The morphological aspects of the new species suggest its inclusion in the Pintomyia genus, Pifanomyia subgenus though it is not possible to include it in any of the series known for this subgenus. The presence of two atrophied spines on the gonostyles and gonocoxites without tufts of setae permit the exclusion of the new species from the other species of the subgenus Pifanomyia. The new species is named Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) brazilorum sp. nov.     

Three new species of the subgenus Parapenthecia from the Oriental Region (Diptera: Drosophilidae: Apenthecia)

Three new species of the subgenus Parapenthecia of the genus Apenthecia are reported from the Oriental Region: A. (P.) heterochaeta Chen and Toda, sp. nov. from Indonesia, and A. (P.) hispida Chen and Toda, sp. nov. and A. (P.) litongi Cao and Chen, sp. nov. from south China. Interestingly, the last species lacks a very peculiar character, the swollen or scale‐like orbital setae, which are commonly seen in all other species of the genus Apenthecia. A key to all species of the subgenus Parapenthecia is provided.