Systematic re‐appraisal of the gall‐usurping wasp genus Synophrus Hartig, 1843 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini)

Several unanswered questions remain regarding the taxonomy and phylogeny of inquiline gallwasps (Cynipidae: Synergini), obligate inhabitants of plant galls induced primarily by other gallwasps (Cynipidae: Cynipini and Diplolepidini). Here we use morphological and molecular data to revise the inquiline genus Synophrus, members of which are notable for extensively modifying the structure of galls induced by oak gallwasp hosts on oaks in the section Cerris of Quercus subgenus Quercus in the Western Palaearctic. Previous taxonomic treatments have recognized three Western Palaearctic species of Synophrus: S. pilulae, S. politus and S. olivieri. Our results support the establishment of four additional Western Palaearctic species: Synophrus hungaricus sp.n. , S. libani sp.n. , S. syriacus sp.n. and S. hispanicus sp.n. We describe and diagnose these new taxa, analyse their phylogenetic relationships, and show that Synophrus inquilines are able to impose their own gall phenotypes on those of their hosts. We provide an updated key to Synophrus.     

Phylogeography and phylogenetic relationships of Malagasy tree and ground boas

Three species of boid snakes are recognized in Madagascar, namely the genus Sanzinia (one species and two subspecies) and the genus Acrantophis (two species). In the present study, we studied the patterns of genetic variation of these species across Madagascar using a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene in 77 specimens. To support the phylogenetic relationships of the lineages identified, three further gene fragments (cytochrome b, 12S rRNA and c‐mos) were analyzed in a reduced but representative set of samples. The results obtained corroborate that the genus Sanzinia includes two highly divergent mitochondrial lineages that evolved independently from each other on the east versus the west side of Madagascar. Each of these lineages presents a further subdivision that separates northern from southern groups. The nuclear marker showed no variation among the Malagasy boas, indicating either very low substitution rates in this gene or relatively recent speciation events coupled with high mitochondrial substitution rates. Because the broad geographic sampling detected no admixture among haplotypic lineages within Sanzinia, it is hypothesized that these may represent distinct species. Deviant haplotypes of snakes morphologically similar to Acrantophis dumerili indicate that this taxon may be a complex of two species as well. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 640–652.     

Oviposition preferences of Maculinea alcon as influenced by aphid (Aphis gentianae) and fungal (Puccinia gentianae) infestation of larval host plants

Abstract 1. The influence of infestation of the larval host plant Gentiana cruciata on the egg‐laying preferences of the xerophilous ecotype of Alcon Blue butterfly (Maculinea alcon) was studied in a semi‐dry grassland area (Aggtelek Karst Region, Northern Hungary). 2. We examined whether oviposition patterns of females differed when G. cruciata stems were uninfested compared with when they were infested by an aphid (Aphis gentianae) or a rust (Puccinia gentianae) species. 3. Females laid more than 90% of their eggs on fertile, uninfested G. cruciata stems, although these stems comprised only ～ 50% of the total stems available. Stems infested by aphids were similar to uninfested ones in properties that had a strong correlation with egg numbers, and yet there were significantly fewer eggs on infested stems than on intact ones. 4. Females never laid eggs on parts of Gentiana stems infested by aphids, and the presence of Lasius paralienus ants, which have a mutualistic interaction with Aphis gentianae, did not increase the repulsive effect of aphids. Infection of Gentiana by Puccinia did not influence the egg‐laying behaviour of females, even though the flowers and buds of infested stems exhibited a delayed development. 5. Aphid infestation can influence butterfly oviposition patterns through both direct and indirect effects. The presence of aphids directly excluded oviposition, but our data also indicated the possibility of an indirect effect of aphid infestation. Stems that had no aphids at the last egg counting, but were infested prior to it, had significantly fewer eggs than those that were never infested.     

Relationships within the Melitaea phoebe species group (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): new insights from molecular and morphometric information

The genus Melitaea consists of about 80 species, divided into ten species groups, which are all restricted to the Palaearctic region. The Melitaea phoebe group was defined by Higgins based on morphological characters such as wing pattern and genital structures. According to his interpretation, the M. phoebe group included seven species: M. phoebe, M. sibina, M. scotosia, M. aetherie, M. collina, M. consulis and M. turkmanica. The taxonomy of the phoebe species group has been poorly resolved and recent results on the species composition within the group suggest the need for a re‐evaluation. In this study molecular sequences (5985 bp) including one mitochondrial (COI) and up to six nuclear (CAD, EF‐1α, GAPDH, MDH, RpS5 and wingless) gene regions from 38 specimens of the Melitaea phoebe species group sensu Higgins and some closely related taxa from the Palaearctic region were analysed. The possible evolution of the processus posterior of the male genitalia was also reconstructed based on a shape mapping technique. The analysis of the combined data shows a very clear pattern and almost all relationships are highly supported. Based on the combined Bayesian tree and the shape of the processus posterior of the male genitalia, four main groups are recognised: (i) collina group, (ii) arduinna group, (iii) aetherie group and (iv) phoebe group. The status of M. ornata, M. zagrosi and M. scotosia as species is confirmed, and the results also indicate that M. telona (s.s.) from Israel is a separate species.