Systematics of the spider genus Metabus O. P.-Cambridge, 1899 (Araneoidea: Tetragnathidae) with additions to the tetragnathid fauna of Chile and comments on the phylogeny of Tetragnathidae

The spider genus Metabus (Tetragnathidae) previously included nine species: the type M. gravidus O. P.-Cambridge, 1899 – junior synonym of Leucauge ocellata (Keyserling) – from Central America and eight species from Chile. In this paper, the classification of the Metabus species-complex is revised, and two new genera, with three new species and five new combinations, are described. Allende gen. nov. is created for four Chilean species not congeneric with the type of Metabus : the type A. puyehuensis sp. nov. , A. patagiatus (Simon) comb. nov. , A. nigrohumeralis (F. O. P.-Cambridge) comb. nov. and A. longipes (Nicolet) comb. nov. Further additions to the Chilean fauna are under the new genus Mollemeta gen. nov. – created for M. edwardsi (Simon) comb. nov. – and three new species of Chrysometa : C. acinosa sp. nov. , C. levii sp. nov. and C. maitae sp. nov. Metabus now includes four species: M. ocellatus (Keyserling) comb. nov. , M. debilis (O. P.-Cambridge) comb. nov. , M. ebanoverde sp. nov. and M. conacyt sp. nov. All of these species were included in a phylogenetic analysis of 38 tetragnathid and 12 orbicularian outgroup terminals scored for 105 morphological and behavioural characters. The results suggest that Metabus as previously circumscribed is polyphyletic. The phylogenetic relationships within tetragnathids are briefly discussed. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 151 , 285–335.     

Taxonomic revision, phylogenetic analysis, and biogeography of the bee genus Tropidopedia (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Tapinotaspidini)

The species of the bee genus Tropidopedia stat. nov. are revised. Thirteen new species are proposed: T. carinata sp. nov. , T. caracicola sp. nov. , T. danunciae sp. nov. , T. duckeana sp. nov. , T. eliasi sp. nov. , T. flavolineata sp. nov. , T. friesei sp. nov. , T. japuraensis sp. nov. , T. nigrita sp. nov. , T. nigrocarinata sp. nov. , T. ornata sp. nov. , T. peruana sp. nov. and T. venezuelana sp. nov. Taxonomic notes are provided for another four species: Tropidopedia punctifrons (Smith, 1879) comb. nov. , T. pallidipennis (Friese, 1899) comb. nov. , T. seabrai (Michener & Moure, 1957) and T. arcuatilis (Vachal, 1909) comb. nov. , including designation of a lectotype for Tetrapedia arcuatilis Vachal. An identification key, illustrations for main diagnostic characters, and distributions maps for all species are provided. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out to evaluate the monophyly of Tropidopedia and its main species groups, as well as to position it among the related genera. Biogeographical patterns are discussed.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 151 , 511–554.     

Terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) from Brazilian caves

To date, six species of terrestrial isopods were known from Brazilian caves, but only four could be classified as troglobites. This article deals with material of Oniscidea collected in many Brazilian karst caves in the states of Pará, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, and São Paulo, and deposited in the collections of the Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, the Coleção de Carcinologia do Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, and the collection of the Natural History Museum, Section of Zoology ‘La Specola’, Florence. Three new genera have been recognized: Spelunconiscus gen. nov. and Xangoniscus gen. nov. (Styloniscidae), and Leonardoscia gen. nov. (Philosciidae). Twenty‐two species have been identified, 11 of which in the families Styloniscidae, Philosciidae, Scleropactidae, Plathyartridae, Dubioniscidae, and Armadillidae are new to science: Leonardoscia hassalli sp. nov., Metaprosekia quadriocellata sp. nov. , Metaprosekia caupe sp. nov. , Amazoniscus leistikowi sp. nov. , Novamundoniscus altamiraensis sp. nov. , Trichorhina yiara sp. nov. , Trichorhina curupira sp. nov. , and Ctenorillo ferrarai sp. nov. from Pará; Xangoniscus aganju sp. nov. from Bahia; and Spelunconiscus castroi sp. nov. and Trichorhina anhanguera sp. nov. from Minas Gerais. Four new species in the families Styloniscidae ( Spelunconiscus castroi sp. nov. and Xangoniscus aganju sp. nov. ), Philosciidae ( Leonardoscia hassalli sp. nov. ), and Scleropactidae ( Amazoniscus leistikowi sp. nov. ) with highly troglomorphic traits can be considered as troglobitic, whereas all the remaining species are either troglophilic or accidentals. Brazilian caves are now under potential threat because of recent legislation, and the knowledge of the subterranean biodiversity of the country is thus of primary importance. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

A new genus of Mantispidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Eocene of Germany, with a review of the fossil record and palaeobiogeography of the family

A new mantispid genus and species Symphrasites eocenicus gen. sp. nov. is described from the Middle Eocene of the Messel Pit fossil site, Germany. It has been placed, with confidence, in the subfamily Symphrasinae, the fossils of which were previously unknown. A review of the known fossil species of Mantispidae is provided, and their systematic placements are discussed. Liassochrysa stigmatica Ansorge & Schlüter, 1990 is assigned to Mantispidae, and therefore Liassochrysidae is a new synonym of Mantispidae; a second, more complete specimen of Mesomantispa sibirica Makarkin, 1997 is described from the Early Cretaceous Baissa locality, Russia; Mantispidiptera Grimaldi, 2000 is excluded from the family; Vectispa Lambkin, 1986 is referred to subfamily Mantispinae; and the assignment of Whalfera Engel, 2004 to Rhachiberothidae is validated. The origin and palaeobiogeography of the mantispids are briefly discussed: the concept of ousted relicts – which assumes that former widely distributed taxa were replaced with groups originating in the tropics – is assumed to best explain the present distribution of the family.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 149 , 701–716.     

Towards a revision of the genus Halectinosoma (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Ectinosomatidae): new species from the North Atlantic and Arctic regions

This paper contributes to a revision of the genus Halectinosoma . Four new species are described, based on examination of ectinosomatid material from localities in western Europe, eastern Canada and the Arctic. Halectinosoma mandibularis sp. nov. is distinguishable from other species by the reduced setation of the mouthparts and enlarged mandibular gnathobase. Halectinosoma latisetifera sp. nov. bears an affinity with H. cooperatum but is easily distinguished by the shape of the setae on the female fifth leg. A species previously erroneously ascribed to H. finmarchicum (Scott) by several authors is described here as Halectinosoma kliei sp. nov. Halectinosoma gothiceps (Giesbrecht) is redescribed and the closely related Halectinosoma paragothiceps sp. nov. is described and distinguished from H. gothiceps . It is considered likely that some previous records of H. gothiceps are in error.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 149 , 453–475.     

A revision of the Cossulinae of Costa Rica and cladistic analysis of the world species (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

The Cossidae are an economically important family of moths consisting of six subfamilies and more than 700 species globally. Their larvae are often of serious concern to forestry and horticulture in that they are known to bore in the branches and trunks of a wide range of trees and shrubs. Cossulinae is one of the six subfamilies of Cossidae and is restricted to the New World. As a result of this revision, the Costa Rican Cossulinae has been found to consist of five genera and 18 species. The phylogenetic relationships of all Cossulinae genera were analysed using the computer programs WinClada and NONA. Glandular organs new to Cossidae and the Lepidoptera have also been discovered. Four genera, Biocellata gen. nov. , Magulacra gen. nov. , Simplicivalva gen. nov. and Spinulata gen. nov. , and the following nine species are described as new: Biocellata bifida sp. nov. , Biocellata davisorum sp. nov. , Cossula buspina sp. nov. , Cossula duplexata sp. nov. , Cossula longirostrum sp. nov. , Cossula minutiloba sp. nov. , Simplicivalva ampliophilobia sp. nov. , Spinulata oblongata sp. nov. and Spinulata quasivinnea sp. nov. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 154 , 222–277.     

Morphological and molecular characterization ofAquaticheirospora and phylogenetics of Massarinaceae (Pleosporales)

A morphologically interesting hyphomycete was collected from submerged wood in a stream in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Thailand. It is described as Aquaticheirospora lignicola gen. and sp. nov., and is characterized by euseptate conidia with divergent arms, which are vertically inserted in different planes to a basal cell. The genus differs from other chirosporous genera in having synnematous conidioma and conidia that are produced on conidiogenous cells borne at the apices of synnemata. The morphological characterization of this new fungus is reported and compared with similar chirosporous genera. To investigate the teleomorphic and phylogenetic relationships of this new taxon, three different regions of the ribosomal gene [18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) including 5.8S] were sequenced and analysed. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 18S, 28S, and partial ITS including 5.8S rDNA, employing different tree-making methods, indicate that Aquaticheirospora lignicola is closely related to the ascomycetes family Massarinaceae (Order: Pleosporales). The Massarinaceae as currently circumscribed is monophyletic. Massarina australiensis and M. bipolaris , however, appear to belong to the Lophiostomataceae.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 283–296.     

A new species of Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) from Espinhaço Range, Bahia, Brazil

A new species, Ilex mucugensis Groppo sp. nov. (Aquifoliaceae), is described and illustrated. The species is known only from 'campos rupestres' (vegetation of rock outcrops at high altitude) in the vicinity of Mucugê, Bahia State, Brazil, in the mountains of the Espinhaço Range. Comments on affinities, geographical distribution and phenology of the new species are also provided.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 153–156.     

Three new species of Fissarcturus (Isopoda, Antarcturidae) from the Southern Ocean

Fissarcturus bathyweddellensis sp. nov. and Fissarcturus sandwichi sp. nov. are described from the abyssal Southern Ocean near the Antarctic Peninsula and Fissarcturus rossi sp. nov. is described from the shallow Ross Sea. A list of all described species of Fissarcturus is given. The new species differ from recognized species of the genus in the following respects: F. bathyweddellensis can be distinguished based on spination on the dorsum of the body, which is described in detail herein. It is most similar to F. emarginatus Brandt, 1990, but this has, for example, a shorter and less stout second cephalic spine. F. rossi can also be distinguished from F. bathyweddellensis based on spine pattern. Whereas all dorsal spines of F. bathyweddellensis are smooth, those of F. rossi are covered with spinules. F. sandwichi can be distinguished from the other species of the genus by the strong frontally bent supraocular spines (females with second cephalic spines) and dorsal body surface, which is covered with flat, cauliflower-like elevations in submedial, lateral and coxal rows.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 149 , 263–290.     

Revision of Rogneda Uljanin, 1870 (Rhabditophora, Eukalyptorhynchia, Polycystididae) with the description of seven new species

A morphological and taxonomical account of the taxon Rogneda is given. A new interpretation of the stylet morphology is presented and a new terminology pertaining to these hard parts is proposed. All known species are discussed and additional information is provided when necessary. Seven new species are described. Five of these are from the Mediterranean: R. colpaerti sp. nov. , R. licyae sp. nov. , R. schaereri sp. nov. , R. valckei sp. nov. and R. vangronsveldi sp. nov . R. verveckeni sp. nov . is from the Atlantic coast of Spain (Galicia). The seventh, R. martensi sp. nov. , is from Indonesia and is the first species of Rogneda to be found outside the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean. All new species can be recognized based on the morphology of the stylets in the male system. A discussion on the similarities and differences of the 22 species is provided, resulting in the grouping of the species into seven morphological groups: the capulata -group, the falcata -group, the hibernica -group, the polyrhabdota -group, the steueri -group, the tripalmata -group and the westbladi -group. R. minuta cannot be placed into any of these groups and therefore stands alone within the taxon. An identification key is provided to facilitate further study of the taxon Rogneda .  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 153 , 1–28.     

The sciarid fauna of the British Isles (Diptera: Sciaridae), including descriptions of six new species

The results of a revision of the Sciaridae (Diptera: Nematocera) from the British Isles are presented, carried out as a preliminary to the preparation of a new Handbook for the identification of the British and Irish fauna of this family. A total fauna of 263 species is confirmed, including many species new to the British Isles: 111 new to Great Britain and 32 new to Ireland. Epidapus ( Pseudoaptanogyna ) echinatum Mohrig & Kozánek, 1992 , hitherto known only from North Korea, is newly recorded from Europe. Six species are described as new to science: Bradysia austera Menzel & Heller sp. nov. , Bradysia ismayi Menzel sp. nov. , Bradysia nigrispina Menzel sp. nov. , Corynoptera flavosignata Menzel & Heller sp. nov. , Corynoptera uncata Menzel & Smith sp. nov. and Epidapus subgracilis Menzel & Mohrig sp. nov . The following new synonymies are proposed: Leptosciarella nigrosetosa (Freeman, 1990) =  Leptosciarella truncatula Mohrig & Menzel, 1997 ; Sciara nursei Freeman, 1983 =  Sciara ulrichi Menzel & Mohrig, 1998. Many misidentifications in the previous literature are corrected. Details of the collection data and location of specimens examined are provided under each species. The localities from which Sciaridae were collected in the British Isles are documented by modern county and grid references and the habitat indicated where known, to assist in assessing the ecological requirements of each species.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 146 , 1–147.     

First record of fossil Mesozoic Ctenopoda (Crustacea, Cladocera)

Pre-Pleistocene representatives of the crustacean order Ctenopoda Sars, 1865 are unknown. Here we describe Mesozoic fossil specimens of ctenopods from two localities in Mongolia: Khotont (Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary, about 145 Mya) and Khutel Khara (Lower Cretaceous, about 129 Mya). All specimens apparently belonged to the tribe Latonini Korovchinsky, 1986 of the subfamily Sidinae Baird, 1850. At the Khotont site, ctenopods were the most numerous microscopic animal fossils. We assigned these cladocerans to a new genus and species Archelatona zherikhini gen. nov., sp. nov. Our findings support a pre-Cretaceous origin for cladocerans.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 146 , 269–274.     

Two new basal crocodylomorph archosaurs from the Lower Jurassic and the monophyly of the Sphenosuchia

We report on and name two new taxa of basal crocodylomorph archosaurs from the Lower Jurassic, Litargosuchus leptorhynchus gen. et sp. nov. , from the upper Elliot Formation (Stormberg Group) of South Africa, and Kayentasuchus walkeri gen. et sp. nov. , from the Kayenta Formation (Glen Canyon Group) of Arizona, USA. Examination of this material led to a reconsideration of basal crocodylomorph interrelationships. A phylogenetic analysis found no support for the monophyly of Sphenosuchia.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 136 , 77–95.     

New gammaroid family, genera and species from subterranean waters of Japan, and their phylogenetic relationships (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

Luciobliviidae, a new family in the superfamily Gammaroidea (Amphipoda: Crustacea), is described on the basis of species in the genus Lucioblivio gen. nov. from subterranean waters of Japan. Mesogammaridae Bousfield, 1977 is rediagnosed; Octopupilla gen. nov. from subterranean waters of Japan is described and Eoniphargus (Uéno, 1955) from subterranean waters of Japan and Korea is included. The members of Lucioblivio , Octopupilla and Eoniphargus share several characters, including reduced eyes, a setose body, reduced coxae, feeble appendages and pedunculate coxal gills. To elucidate the phylogeny of the three genera among others, a sequence analysis of the 28S rRNA gene was conducted for 14 species in six families, including the three genera, from the superfamilies, Gammaroidea, Crangonyctoidea and Hadzioidea. The tree from a neighbour-joining analysis and the strict consensus tree from a maximum-parsimony analysis indicate monophyly of Mesogammaridae. Luciobliviidae is embedded within a clade of taxa belonging to the superfamily Gammaroidea. These results and the occurrence of gammarid-type calceoli in species of the new family indicate that Luciobliviidae should be placed within the superfamily Gammaroidea. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 149 , 643–670.