The Protohermes fruhstorferi species group (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae), with description of a new species from Vietnam

A new species group, the Protohermes fruhstorferi group of the dobsonfly genus Protohermes, is recognised. Three species belonging to the new species group are described and illustrated, including one new species from northern Vietnam.     

Systematics of the dobsonfly subfamily Corydalinae (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)

Abstract. The genera of Corydalinae are redefined, and representative characters are figured for each genus. New character sources, such as mouthparts and internal female genitalia, are investigated, as well as traditional male genitalia and wings. Allohermes is synonymized with Protohermes, Doeringia with Platyneuromus . Intergeneric relationships are hypothesized on the basis of a cladistic analysis. Acanthacorydalis and the New World genera form a monophyletic group, as do Protohermes and Neurhermes , and Neuromus and Neoneuromus. Chloroniella belongs in the Acanthacorydalis - New World lineage, but exact placement is uncertain. A phyletic sequence classification is proposed on the basis of the cladistic analysis.     

Systematics and biogeography of the dobsonfly genus Nevromus Rambur (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae) from the Oriental realm

The Asian endemic dobsonfly genus Nevromus Rambur is revised. Six species of Nevromus are described or re‐described, and illustrated. Nevromus aspoeck Liu, Hayashi & Yang sp.n. , Nevromus austroindicus Liu & Viraktamath sp.n. and Nevromus gloriosoi Liu, Hayashi & Yang sp.n. are described from southernmost Yunnan of China and northern Thailand, southern India, and Borneo, respectively. A new combination Nevromus intimus (McLachlan) comb.n. is also identified. An interspecific phylogeny of Nevromus is reconstructed based on the adult morphological data, resulting in identification/recognition of two main clades, i.e. the mainland clade and the insular clade. Combining this phylogeny and the updated geographical distribution, an Indian origin and a historically widespread distribution in southern Eurasia is proposed for Nevromus. The deep divergence between the mainland and insular clades within Nevromus might have happened during the separation of Sundaland from Eurasia. The Tertiary orogenic events after the collision between the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia probably affected the speciation within the mainland clade of Nevromus, whereas the island formation of Borneo, Java and Sumatra shaped the fauna within the insular clade of this genus. The biogeographical pattern of Nevromus revealed in this study appears to have more general significance for understanding the faunal origin and diversification of the habitat‐specific or poorly dispersing insects from the Oriental realm.     

Notes on the genus Neochauliodes Weele (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) from Henan, China

The species of the genus Neochauliodes from Henan are reviewed. Three species are described as new to science: Neochauliodes digitiformis sp. nov., Neochauliodes parasparsus sp. nov. and Neochauliodes sparsus sp. nov. A key to the species from Henan is presented.     

A revision of the genus Neoneuromus in China (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)

Lake Illawarra, is a typical shallow intertidal coastal barrier lagoon in New South Wales, Australia. This paper reports the first examination of photosynthetic characteristics of benthic microalgae and seagrass in this lake by measuring the oxygen exchange procedure (flux) using sediment-core incubations in the laboratory. Photosynthesis vs irradiance relationships (P–I curves) were generated from measurements made at nine irradiances for microphytobenthos (MPB) at five different water depths (sites) during September 2002. Maximum benthic gross primary production (GP_max) for MPB in this lake tended to decrease with the increasing water depth from Site 5 (about 0.2 m deep) to Site 1 (about 3.0 m deep), and was correlated with decreasing surface sediment Chl-a concentrations.     

Evolutionary history of the complex polymorphic dobsonfly genus Neoneuromus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)

The dobsonfly genus Neoneuromus van der Weele is endemic to the Oriental region. Species possess highly variable body and wing colouration and markings, not only among species but also among conspecific individuals of certain species. This stark polymorphism hinders accurate species identification, and obscures an undocumented species diversity as well as our understanding of the evolutionary history of this genus. We used multiple methods of molecular identification combined with morphological evidence to delimitate species, circumscribing a total of 13 species in Neoneuromus . Five new species are herein described: Neoneuromus indistinctus Liu, Hayashi & Yang, sp.n. , Neoneuromus maculatus Liu, Hayashi & Yang, sp.n. , Neoneuromus niger Liu, Hayashi & Yang, sp.n. , Neoneuromus similis Liu, Hayashi & Yang, sp.n. and Neoneuromus vanderweelei Liu, Hayashi & Yang, sp.n. The dated phylogeny with reconstructed ancestral areas indicates an initial divergence of Neoneuromus during the mid‐Eocene. A broad area including northeastern India and northern Indochina could be a centre for early divergence of the genus, while complex dispersal and vicariance events dating from the late Eocene to the Pliocene probably shaped the present diversity and distribution of the genus. Our ancestral character state reconstruction suggests that the pale and dark colour forms among different species, or conspecifics, could evolve rapidly and that changes in colouration could be driven by species‐specific mate recognition.     

Phylogeny of the radula-less dorids (Mollusca, Nudibranchia), with the description of a new genus and a new family

This paper studies the phylogenetic relationships of the nudibranch dorids that lack a radula. Numerous specimens belonging to 29 different species, representing all genera of this group and other related taxa, were examined anatomically. Details of the foregut were examined with SEM. From this anatomical study a total of 62 characters were considered. These characters have been polarized using the genus Berthella as the outgroup. Eight species of dorids with a radula and the genus Armina have been also included in the analysis for comparative purposes. The phylogeny obtained supports the hypothesis that the radula has been lost once in the Doridina and that the radula-less dorids are a monophyletic group. Cryptobranchia is monophyletic when the radula-less dorids are included. The new genus Mandelia , introduced on the basis of a new species from South Africa, is the sister group of the rest of the radula-less dorids, and is described as a new family, Mandeliidae. The radula-less dorids (currently placed in a separate superfamily) actually constitute an internal branch of other cryptobranch dorids. Phyllidia has no synapomorphies that distinguish if from Fryeria , which has one autoapomorphy, the ventral position of the anus. Therefore, both genera are regarded as synonyms. The evolution of several characters among the radula-less dorids is discussed, and the present phylogeny is compared with prior studies.     

A new species of Corydalus Latreille from Venezuela (Megaloptera, Corydalidae)

A new species of dobsonfly, Corydalus wanningeri, from Venezuela, is described and illustrated. It superficially resembles Corydalus neblinensis Contreras-Ramos, with a uniform reddish coloration of body and wings. Yet, because of male genitalic structure it might be closely related to Corydalus crossi Contreras-Ramos. Specimens were collected from a rain forest transitional zone between the Orinoco lowlands and the Gran Sabana plateau, in Bolívar state. This is the 15(th) species of Corydalus to be recorded from Venezuela, rendering this the country with the highest number of documented Corydalus species. A key to the sexually dimorphic, long-mandibled Venezuelan species of the genus is provided.     

Comparative mitochondrial genomics and phylogenetics among species of the Oriental dobsonfly genus Neoneuromus van der Weele, 1909 (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)

The dobsonfly genus Neoneuromus van der Weele, 1909 represents one of the megalopteran lineages with large body-size, and comprises 13 species all endemic to the Oriental region. In the present study, the mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of 12 species of this genus were determined and analyzed for the first time. The mitogenome of the genus-type, Neoneuromus fenestralis (McLachlan, 1869), as a representative of these congeneric species, is herein described in detail. All of the mitogenomes of Neoneuromus are composed of 37 encoded genes and a control region. The evolutionary rates of the protein coding genes (PCGs) of the 13 species of Neoneuromus as well as different genera of Corydalinae are estimated. All the transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) have the typical clover-leaf secondary structure except trnS1 (AGN). Interspecific relationships within Neoneuromus were reconstructed based on different datasets generated from mitogenomic sequences. Our results indicate that tRNA and ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) of Neoneuromus species contribute phylogenetic signal when being concatenated with the PCGs, thus should be kept during phylogenetic analysis. The results sheds light on understanding the evolution of these aquatic and predatory insects.     

Revision of the fishfly genus Ctenochauliodes van der Weele (Megaloptera, Corydalidae)

The first taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Oriental fishfly genus Ctenochauliodes van der Weele, 1909 is presented. Except for C. punctulatus , where the male is unknown, all species of Ctenochauliodes and two outgroups ( Archichauliodes chilensis Kimmins and Protochauliodes bullocki Flint) were scored for 24 adult morphological characters, 21 of which were obtained from the male genitalia. The monophyly of Ctenochauliodes is corroborated by a series of synapomorphic characters. The pectinate female antenna was proposed as a diagnostic character. Two main clades within Ctenochauliodes were found based on the present phylogenetic analysis. All 12 Ctenochauliodes species are keyed, described and illustrated, with five species new to science. Ctenochauliodes forcipatus Kimmins is a junior synonym of C. friedrichi Navás, and C. moganshanus Yang & Yang is a junior synonym of C. griseus Yang & Yang. All Ctenochauliodes species were recorded from southern China, including 11 endemic species. Hence, there is no doubt that southern China should be acknowledged as the distribution centre of Ctenochauliodes .     

Campbellenchinae (Nematoda: Tylodoridae), a new subfamily from campbell Island,with a description of two new species

The first paragraph of the Introduction serves as an Abstract.

Specimens of an undescribed subfamily of Tylodoridae Paramonov, 1967 were found in each of 50 soil samples collected since 1951 from around the roots of native plants on Campbell Island, New Zealand. This taxon, Campbellenchinae n.subfam., its type‐genus, Campbellenchus n.gen., and 2 new species, C. poae and C. filicauda, are described. The diagnostic characters of the new subfamily include a lip region without a labial disc, a stylet of moderate length, a characteristic zone of cuticular annulation anterior to the stylet knobs, a slit‐like amphidial opening, a single ovary, and a filiform tail.     

Six New Species of Dobsonflies from Venezuela (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae)

Six new species of dobsonflies (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae) from Venezuela are described and illustrated, two in the Neotropical genus Chloronia and four within the New World genus Corydalus. Chloronia contains 15 previously described species. The new species Chloronia gaianii and C. marthae, each from the southern tepui and Andean regions, appear to be most closely related to C. hieroglyphica (Rambur) and C. mirifica Navás, respectively. Corydalus contains 30 previously described species. The new species Corydalus clavijoi, of Andean affinity, appears most closely related to C. tesselatus Stitz; C. crossi, from Auyán-tepuí, might be closely related to C. nubilus Erichson; and both C. hayashii and C. mayri, from westernmost Guayana Shield area and Aracamuni tepuis, respectively, clearly belong in the distinct and monophyletic C. arpi Navás species group. Keys for identification of the Venezuelan species of both genera are provided.     

The First Mitochondrial Genome for the Fishfly Subfamily Chauliodinae and Implications for the Higher Phylogeny of Megaloptera

Megaloptera are a basal holometabolous insect order with larvae exclusively predacious and aquatic. The evolutionary history of Megaloptera attracts great interest because of its antiquity and important systematic status in Holometabola. However, due to the difficulties identifying morphological apomorphies for the group, controversial hypotheses on the monophyly and higher phylogeny of Megaloptera have been proposed. Herein, we describe the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of a fishfly species, Neochauliodes punctatolosus Liu & Yang, 2006, representing the first mt genome of the subfamily Chauliodinae. A phylogenomic analysis was carried out based on the mt genomic sequences of 13 mt protein-coding genes (PCGs) and two rRNA genes of nine Neuropterida species, comprising all three orders of Neuropterida and all families and subfamilies of Megaloptera. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses highly support the monophyly of Megaloptera, which was recovered as the sister of Neuroptera. Within Megaloptera, the sister relationship between Corydalinae and Chauliodinae was corroborated. The divergence time estimation suggests that stem lineage of Neuropterida and Coleoptera separated in the Early Permian. The interordinal divergence within Neuropterida might have occurred in the Late Permian.     

A review of the alderfly genus Leptosialis Esben-Petersen (Megaloptera, Sialidae) with description of a new species from South Africa

The monotypic South African alderfly genus Leptosialis Esben-Petersen, 1920 is reviewed and Leptosialis africana Esben-Petersen, 1920 is redescribed. In the process a new species of alderfly Leptosialis necopinatasp. n. from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa is recognised and described. Within Sialidae the new species most closely resembles Leptosialis africana. A key to the two species of Leptosialis using both adult and larval characters is provided.     

Revision of Acanthocyrtus (Collembola: Entomobryidae), with description of a new genus from eastern Asia

In this paper, we reassess the status of the two genera of scaled Entomobryinae with dental spines (Acanthocyrtus and Acanthurella) and we erect a new genus ( Sinhomidia ) on the basis of scale morphology and scale distribution. Scales are partially pointed in Acanthocyrtus and all rounded in Acanthurella. The new genus, Sinhomidia , has pointed scales, but lacks dental scales contrary to Acanthurella and Acanthocyrtus; in addition, it exhibits a unique dorsal macrochaetotaxy. Three new species of Acanthocyrtus are described ( Acanthocyrtus yolngui sp. nov. , Acanthocyrtus loftyensis sp. nov. , Acanthocyrtus barrowensis sp. nov. ) and two are redescribed [Acanthocyrtus spinosus (Schött, 1917), Acanthocyrtus lineatus Womersley, 1934]. One species (Acanthocyrtus bicolor Yosii, 1965 ) of the genus is redescribed and transferred to the new genus Sinhomidia . A key to the scaled Entomobryinae genera with dental spines and a key to the eight known Acanthocyrtus species are provided. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 157 , 495–514.     

Phylogeny of Grumichellini Morse, 1981 (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) with the description of a new genus from southeastern Peru

Osflintia manu, new genus, new species, of long-horned caddisfly (Leptoceridae: Triplectidinae: Grumichellini) is described and illustrated from southeastern Peru. The phylogeny of Grumichellini Morse (Leptoceridae: Triplectidinae) is revisited and hypotheses of homology of some morphological characters are reconsidered. The monophyly of the tribe is corroborated and the phylogenetic relationships of its included genera are inferred to be (Triplexa (Gracilipsodes ((Grumichella, Amazonatolica) (Atanatolica, Osflintia, n. gen.)))) from adult and larval characters. Diagnostic characters of the new genus include the following: reduced tibial spur formula (2, 2, 2), loss of forewing crossvein sc-r1, hind wing discoidal cell closed, hind wing fork IV present, pair of long setae on tergum IX of the male genitalia, and pair of processes on the apex of segment X.     

A reappraisal of the family Comasteridae A. H. Clark, 1908 (Echinodermata: Grinoidea), with the description of a new subfamily and a new genus

The family Comasteridae is divided into four subfamilies on the basis of syzygy positions in the division series and proximal arm. Use of this character results in major differences in perceived relationships between genera compared with that obtained when traditional subfamilial characters are used. The primary character previously used to determine comasterid subfamilies, cirrus ornamentation, is rejected as unimportant in recognizing taxa any higher than species. Seventeen genera, including a new genus from the tropical western Atlantic, and 99 species are now recognized in the Comasteridae. Four of these genera and five species cannot be placed within the newly diagnosed subfamilies. Characters of generic importance are considered to be pinnule comb form, mouth position and, to a lesser extent, the characters traditionally used to distinguish genera.     

Systematics and biogeography of the fishfly genus Parachauliodes (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) endemic to the east Asian islands

Abstract.  The fishfly genus Parachauliodes van der Weele, 1909 comprises six species from Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, ranging along the east Asian islands. Herein, all the Parachauliodes species are described, including two new species, namely P. asahinai sp.n. and P. niger sp.n . A cladistic analysis based on adult and larval morphological characters was conducted to reconstruct the interspecific phylogeny of the Parachauliodes species. Two main clades within Parachauliodes were obtained from the cladistic analysis, namely ' P. asahinai  + P. continentalis ' and '( P. japonicus  +  P. yanbaru ) + ( P. nebulosus  +  P. niger )'. Based on the present interspecific phylogeny and distribution patterns of Parachauliodes , its ancestor might have invaded the east Asian islands by a land bridge from Taiwan via Ryukyu to the Japanese archipelago about 10−5 million years ago.     

Phylogeny of the genus Pythium and description of new genera

Phylogeny of the genus Pythium is analyzed based on sequences of the large subunit ribosomal DNA D1/D2 region and cytochrome oxidase II gene region of Pythium isolates and comprehensive species of related taxa belonging to the Oomycetes. The phylogenetic trees show that the genus Pythium is a highly divergent group and divided into five well- or moderately supported monophyletic clades. Each clade is characterized by sporangial morphology such as globose, ovoid, elongated, or filamentous shapes. Based on phylogeny and morphology, the genus Pythium (s. str.) is emended, and four new genera, Ovatisporangium, Globisporangium, Elongisporangium, and Pilasporangium, are described and segregated from Pythium s. lato.