A new genus of oak gallwasps, Zapatella Pujade-Villar & Melika, gen. n., with a description of two new species from the Neotropics (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini)

A new genus of cynipid oak gallwasp, Zapatella Pujade-Villar & Melika, gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini), with two new species, Zapatella grahami Pujade-Villar & Melika, sp. n. and Zapatella nievesaldreyi Melika & Pujade-Villar, sp. n., is described from the Neotropics. Zapatella grahami,known only from the sexual generation,induces galls in acorns of Quercus costaricensis and is currently known only from Costa Rica. Zapatella nievesaldreyi, known only from the asexual generation, induces inconspicuous galls in twigs of Quercus humboldtii, and is known only from Colombia. Diagnostic characters for both new species are given in detail. Five Nearctic species are transferred from Callirhytis to Zapatella: Zapatella cryptica (Weld), comb. n., Zapatella herberti (Weld), comb. n., Zapatella oblata (Weld), comb. n., Zapatella quercusmedullae (Ashmead), comb. n.,Zapatella quercusphellos (Osten Sacken), comb. n. (= Zapatella quercussimilis (Bassett), syn. n.). A key based on adults for the species belonging to Zapatella is also given. Generic limits and morphological characteristics of Zapatella and closely related genera are discussed.     

Pseudochakura (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), a New World genus of chalcidoids parasitic on ants

Abstract. The genus Pseudochakura Ashmead (Eucharitidae: Eucharitinae) is revised to include thirteen species which all share the complete fusion of the genae behind the mandibles and a loss of functional mouthparts. Eight Neotropical and one Nearctic species of Pseudochakura are described as new: atra (Mexico), condylus (lesser Antilles), excruciata (Brazil), frustrata (Argentina), liburna (Florida, U.S.A.), pauca (Argentina), prolata (Argentina), sculpturata (Brazil; Florida, U.S.A.), septuosa (Mexico). P. chilensis Kieffer is redescribed. The known distribution of P.nigrocyanea Ashmead is extended to Uruguay and Venezuela. The known distribution of P. americana (Howard) [comb.n.] is extended to Panama, Columbia, Ecuador, Argentina and northward into the southern tip of Florida. All three previously described Nearctic species are synonomized under the name P.gibbosa (Provancher) with P.arizonensis (Crawford) and P.californica (Ashmead) as junior synonyms. Biological information is summarized providing new information on both plant and ant hosts. A phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus is nresenteri.     

Reclassification of Epyrini (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae): a tribal approach with commentary on their genera

Epyrini (Epyrinae) are the largest and morphologically most diverse group within Bethylidae. Evans' conception of Epyrini induces misclassification of several taxa and their diagnostic features, such as median lobe of clypeus projected, and fovea in lateroposterior angle of propodeal disc, are insufficient to place species in the tribe. No previous comprehensive cladistic study has recovered Epyrini as a clade, and no synapomorphies are reported for the tribe, suggesting that the group is artificial. We infer a phylogeny based on 391 informative morphological characters for 42 terminal taxa (31 ingroup, 11 outgroup). Monophyly of Epyrini is supported by a petiole with fused root and body as an autapomorphy. Anisepyris Kieffer, Laelius Ashmead, Holepyris Kieffer, Formosiepyris Terayama, Disepyris Kieffer, Bakeriella Kieffer and Trachepyris Kieffer were retrieved as monophyletic. Epyris Westwood and Chlorepyris Kieffer are paraphyletic. The addition of new characters was essential to define Epyrini, and the ventral region of the mesosoma, petiole and male genitalia may help to better understand genera and species limits. All resulting trees indicate that Epyrinae are polyphyletic. Tribes Epyrini and Sclerodermini are revalidated to subfamily status.     

Resurrection of the genus Yezoterpnosia Matsumura (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadini) based on a new definition of the genus Terpnosia Distant

The genus Terpnosia Distant is newly defined. Terpnosia elegans (Kirby) stat. rev. is resurrected from junior synonymy with Terpnosia psecas (Walker). Seven species are now considered to belong to Terpnosia sensu stricto, including two species currently placed in this genus: T. psecas (Walker) and T. elegans (Kirby) stat. rev. Five species are transferred from Pomponia Stål to Terpnosia: T. polei (Henry) comb. nov., T. lactea (Distant) comb. nov., T. similis (Schmidt) comb. nov., T. simusa (Boulard) comb. nov., and T. graecina (Distant) comb. nov. Yezoterpnosia Matsumura stat. rev. is resurrected from junior synonymy with Terpnosia. Six species formerly in the genus Terpnosia are transferred to Yezoterpnosia: Y. nigricosta (De Motschulsky), Y. ichangensis (Liu) comb. nov., Y. shaanxiensis (Sanborn) comb. nov., Y. vacua (Olivier) comb. nov., Y. obscura (Kato) comb. nov., and Y. fuscoapicalis (Kato) comb. nov. Terpnosia is placed in the subtribe Psithyristriina of the tribe Cicadini, and Yezoterpnosia is placed in the subtribe Leptopsaltriina of Cicadini. Terpnosiina syn. nov. is synonymized with Psithyristriina.     

Morphological phylogeny and classification of Winthemiini (Diptera: Tachinidae: Exoristinae)

Winthemiini is a worldwide tribe in the subfamily Exoristinae (Diptera: Tachinidae) with 200 species in 16 genera. We confirm the monophyly of Winthemiini and examine relationships among the constituent genera based on a parsimonious analysis of adult morphological characters for 53 species representing 12 out of 16 currently recognized Winthemiini genera. As a result, Winthemiini is divided into three major clades, with relationships as follows: ((Rhaphiochaeta [Ossidingia, Nemorilla]) ((Hemisturmia [Avibrissosturmia, Triodontopyga]) ([Smidtia, Winthemia])). A revised classification system for Winthemiini is proposed, recognizing 12 genera. Four new synonymies are proposed – Diotrephes and Chesippus as junior synonyms of Smidtia, and Hemisturmiella and Parachetolyga as junior synonyms of Winthemia – along with four new combinations: Winthemia brasiliana (Guimarães) comb.n. , W. metopia (Bischof) comb.n. , Smidtia atriventris (Walker) comb.n. , and S. notialis (Reinhard) comb.n.     

Revision of the Nearctic species of the genus Stiropius Cameron (=Bucculatriplex Auct.) with the description of a new related genus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract. The New World rogadine genus Stiropius Cameron is revised for the Nearctic region and a new related genus from the Americas, Viridipyge , is decribed. Bucculatriplex Viereck is found to be a junior subjective synonym of Stiropius Cameron. Three Nearctic species are recognized: S.bucculatricis (Ashmead) comb.n., S.californicus sp.n. and S.wagneri sp.n. A single Nearctic specis of Viridipyge is described as new: V.prunicola , and a Neotropical species, V.letifer (Mann) comb.n., is found to be congeneric. The biology and systematic relationships of both genera are discussed; the two genera appear to represent a relatively basal branch of the Rogadini lineage.     

Phylogeny,classification and evolution of the water scavenger beetle tribe Hydrobiusini inferred from morphology and molecules (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Hydrophilinae)

The water scavenger beetle tribe Hydrobiusini contains 47 species in eight genera distributed worldwide. Most species of the tribe are aquatic, although several species are known to occur in waterfalls or tree mosses. Some members of the tribe are known to communicate via underwater stridulation. While recent morphological and molecular‐based phylogenies have affirmed the monophyly of the tribe as currently circumscribed, doubts remain about the monophyly of included genera. Here we use morphological and molecular data to infer a species‐level phylogeny of the Hydrobiusini. The monophyly of the tribe is decisively supported, as is the monophyly of most genera. The genus Hydrobius was found to be polyphyletic, and as a result the genus Limnohydrobius stat. rev. is removed from synonymy with Hydrobius, yielding three new combinations: L. melaenus comb.n. , L. orientalis comb.n. , and L. tumbius comb.n. Recent changes to the species‐level taxonomy of Hydrobius are reviewed. The morphology of the stridulatory apparatus has undergone a single remarkable transformation within the lineage, from a simple, unmodified pars stridens to one that is highly organized and complex. We present an updated key to genera, revised generic diagnoses and a list of the known distributions for all species within the tribe.     

Neoaplectana Steiner, 1929 a junior synonym of Steinernema Travassos, 1927 (Nematoda; Rhabditida)

Summary A type specimen of Steinernema kraussei and a population of this nematode from the type host were compared with three species of Neoaplectana. No characters were found to separate the two genera and so Neoplectana Steiner, 1929 is considered to be a junior synonym of Steinernema Travassos, 1927. Valid species now included within the genus Steinernema are: S. kraussei (Steiner, 1923) Travassos, 1927 (type species); S. glaseri (Steiner, 1929) n.comb.; S. feltiae (Filipjev, 1934) n.comb. and S. bibionis (Bovien, 1937) n.comb. A key is given to these four species and their junior synonyms are listed.     

Revision of the genus Helastia sensu stricto with description of a new genus (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)

Abstract

Helastia Guenée, 1868 is redefined and redescribed. New Zealand species previously placed in that genus but not congeneric with the type species are reassigned to either the available genera Epyaxa Meyrick, 1883, Asaphodes Meyrick, 1885 and Xanthorhoe Hübner, [1825] or placed in a newly described genus, Gingidiobora. Six Australian species placed in Xanthorhoe are shown to be congeneric with three New Zealand species, previously placed in Helastia and here transferred to Epyaxa.

Eight new species are described in Helastia: Helastia alba n. sp.; H. angusta n. sp.; H. christinae n. sp.; H. cryptica n. sp.; H. mutabilis n. sp.; H. ohauensis n. sp.; H. salmoni n. sp.; H. scissa n. sp. The following new combinations and synonymies are proposed: Asaphodes chlorocapna (Meyrick, 1925) n. comb.; A. citroena (Clark, 1934) n. comb.; A. glaciata (Hudson, 1925) n. comb.; A. ida (Clark, 1926) n. comb; Epyaxa agelasta (Turner, 1904) n. comb.; E. centroneura (Meyrick, 1890) n. comb.;

E. epia (Turner, 1922) n. comb.; E. hyperythra (Lower, 1892) n. comb.; E. lucidata (Walker, 1862) n. comb.; E. sodaliata (Walker, 1862) n. comb.; E. subidaria (Guenée, 1857) n. comb.; E. venipunctata (Walker, 1863) n. comb.; Gingidiobora nebulosa (Philpott, 1917) n. comb.; G. subobscurata (Walker, 1862) n. comb.; Helastia clandestina (Philpott, 1921) n. comb.; H. corcularia (Guenée, 1868) n. comb. (= Larentia infantaria Guenée, 1868 n. syn.); H. expolita (Philpott, 1917) n. comb.; H. siris (Hawthorne, 1897) n. comb.; H. triphragma (Meyrick, 1883) n. comb.     

Systematics of the mealybug tribe Xenococcini (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae), with a discussion of trophobiotic associations with Acropyga Roger ants

The mealybug tribe Xenococcini (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) comprises three genera, Eumyrmococcus Silvestri, Neochavesia Williams & Granara de Willink and Xenococcus Silvestri, trophobiotically associated with ants of the genus Acropyga Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Alate Acropyga queens vertically transmit trophobionts by carrying them along on the nuptial flight, a unique behaviour termed trophophoresy. Xenococcine mealybugs have never been collected without ant associates, and putatively only associate with Acropyga. Xenococcine mealybugs are characterized by the absence of dorsal ostioles, presence of distally cup‐shaped circuli and a female pupal instar rather than a third feeding instar. The phylogeny of this tribe is derived for the first time using morphological data from adult females (53 characters) through Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony methods. Monophyly of the clade is strongly supported and a discussion of their taxonomy is included. The Neotropical genus Neochavesia was recovered as monophyletic. Eumyrmococcus, as previously defined, was recovered as paraphyletic, and thus two species are transferred to Xenococcus: Xenococcus kinomurai (Williams & Terayama) comb.n. and Xenococcus neoguineensis (Williams) comb.n . Two species groups are recognized within Eumyrmococcus: the Eumyrmococcus scorpioides species group, restricted to the eastern Mediterranean and Afrotropics, and the Eumyrmococcus smithii species group, restricted to the Orient and Indo‐Australasia. Six new species are described: Eumyrmococcus adornocapillus sp.n. from Australia; Eumyrmococcus sarnati sp.n. from Fiji; Eumyrmococcus ordinotersus sp.n. and Xenococcus baryglobosus sp.n. from the Solomon Islands; Neochavesia cephalonodus sp.n. from French Guiana; and Neochavesia linealuma sp.n. from Guyana. The systematics and biology of the xenococcine mealybugs is discussed in the context of obligate ant symbiosis.     

Oriental bamboo leafhoppers: A new genus and two new species of Mukariinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Southwest China and notes on related group

A new genus, Tiaobeinia n. gen., and two new species, T. bisubula n. sp. and T. emeiensis n. sp., breeding on bamboo in Southwest China, are described and illustrated. Based on the nature of the face, the apical veins of forewing and hindwing, the hind femur macrosetal formula, the valve, the subgenital plate, and the style, this genus should belong to the subfamily Mukariinae. The related genus Ratfronta Chen & Li 1997, placed previously in subfamily Nirvaninae, is noted in the present paper. A new combination, F. grandis (Ishihara 1961) n. comb., transferred from the genus Mohunia Distant, is proposed. Keys to the species of the new genus Tiaobeinia and the genus Flatfronta are provided. The importance of those groups as pests on bamboo is briefly discussed.     

Adult female of Chaetocladius insolitus Caspers, 1987 (Diptera: Chironomidae) with notes on species distribution

The adult female of Chaetocladius insolitus Caspers, 1987 (Diptera, Chironomidae) is described and discussed in the context of the generic diagnosis of adult females of the genus Chaetocladius Kieffer, 1911. In addition, distributional notes on this rare chironomid species are included.     

Alesiella gen.n. and a newly discovered relict lineage of Staphylinini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

This study aimed to identify the sister group of the poorly known and morphologically isolated Burmese species Quedius lineipennis within the tribe Staphylinini (Staphylinidae: Staphylininae) using morphological characters. Phylogenetic analysis of a broad taxon sample demonstrated that this Asian species is not a member of the genus Quedius but forms the sister taxon to the Neotropical genus Quediomacrus. Both taxa were shown to be members of a hitherto unrecognized lineage with a highly disjunct distribution. The lineage is hypothesized to be Asian in origin, with dispersals to the Americas during the early Eocene climatic maximum via Beringia and to Australia via land connections in the late Miocene. The current distribution of the lineage is considered to be relictual. New phylogenetic hypotheses within ‘Quediina’ and Staphylinini as a whole are proposed and the general tree topology of Staphylinini recovered by recent morphological studies is refined. Phylogenetic relationships within the Quedius complex remain unclear. Alesiella Brunke and Solodovnikov gen.n. , is erected for Quedius lineipennis and the Quedius subgenus Quedionuchus is reinstated to genus level with new combinations as follows: Quedionuchus atl (Smetana, 1975), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus calli (Smetana, 1976), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus cipactli (Smetana, 1976), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus coatl (Smetana, 1976), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus ehacatl (Smetana, 1976), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus ollin (Smetana, 1976), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus ozomatli (Smetana, 1975), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus reitterianus (Bernhauer, 1944), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus samuraicus (Bernhauer and Schubert, 1916), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus schultzei (Smetana, 1975), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus tecpatl (Smetana, 1976), comb.n. ; Quedionuchus xochitl (Smetana, 1976). Quedius lugubris Lokay, 1913 is transferred from the subgenus Quedionuchus to the subgenus Distichalius and placed in synonymy: Quedius punctatellus (Heer, 1839) = Quedius lugubris Lokay, 1913, syn.n . This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9C7D3C90‐FCB9‐414F‐911B‐194A1A6602DE .     

Current state of knowledge of the Korean Cynipini: subspecies description,new combinations and checklist (Hymenoptera,Cynipidae)

Prior to this study, only 8 species of oak gall-forming wasps were known from Korea. After material examination and an exhaustive bibliographic revision, a total of 17 oak gall wasps species have been reported. The following species correspond to new records: Andricus hakonensis (Ahmead); A. pseudocurvator Tang & Melika; A. songshui Tang & Melika; Cerroneuroterus folimargo (Monzen); C. monzeni (Dettmer); C. vonkuenburgi (Dettmer); Neuroterus hakonensis Ashmead, Trichagalma acutissimae (Monzen), T. formosana Melika & Tang. It was impossible to obtain adult specimens for all the species, and and the following species are recorded only based on galls: Andricus kashiwaphilus Abe; A. mukaigawae (Mukaigawa); A. pseudoflos (Monzen); A. targionii Kieffer; Cerroneuroterus folimargo (Monzen); C. monzeni (Dettmer); Neuroterus hakonensis Ashmead; Trichagalma acutissimae (Monzen). The species Dryocosmus kunugiphagus Ide & Abe, 2015 is transferred to the genus Plagiotrochus: Plagiotrochus kunugiphagus (Ide & Abe, 2015) n. comb. Additionally a new subspecies of Trichagalma formosana is described to include the material from Korea and Mainland China, closely related but morphologically different to the Taiwan populations. For each species live cycle, morphology of galls, hosts, phenology, and distribution are commented. In some of them taxonomic or morphological comments are mentioned and a key of agamic Trichagalma with dark smoky pigmented spots in the forewing is added. All galls are illustrated. An up-to-date checklist of the Korean Cynipini is provided. The previously reported species from Korea (Andricus noliquercicola Shinji, 1938; Aphelonyx crispulae Mukaigawae, 1920; Neuroterus narae Shinji, 1941 and Neuroterus nawai Ashmead, 1904) are here excluded from the Korean species list.     

The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saphonecrus</Emphasis> Dalla Torre et Kieffer, 1910 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in China,with descriptions of two new species

Two new species of the genus Saphonecrus Dalla Torre et Kieffer, 1910, S. flavitibilis sp. n. and S. tianmushanus sp. n., are described and illustrated, and a key to the Chinese species of genus Saphonecrus is provided.     

Clarifying the Taxonomic Identity of a Phylogenetically Important Group of Eukaryotes: Planomonas is a Junior Synonym of Ancyromonas

ABSTRACT. Ancyromonas was first described in 1882 by Saville Kent, with the modern concept of the genus dating from 1979 with the work of Hänel. Since then, organisms assigned to Ancyromonas have been found to be common in diverse ecosystems, and the group's isolated phylogenetic placement renders it of considerable evolutionary interest. However, in 2008 Cavalier‐Smith et al. concluded that all modern accounts of Ancyromonas were of a different organism from that described by Saville Kent, and erected the new genus Planomonas to encompass modern observations of Ancyromonas, and several new species. We critique the rationale for creating this new genus, reexamining the original sources and making additional observations using light and electron microscopy. We find that almost all the differences between the genera are mistaken or insubstantial. In particular, (1) Cavalier‐Smith et al. characterized Ancyromonas sensu Saville Kent as anchoring and Planomonas as gliding, while we find that each type of organism actually does both, and (2) it was claimed that Planomonas is flattened while Ancyromonas sensu Saville Kent is not, but this argument is inconsistent. We treat Planomonas as a junior synonym of Ancyromonas, and Planomonas mylnikovi as a junior synonym of Ancyromonas sigmoides. We transfer Planomonas cephalopora, Planomonas micra, Planomonas howeae and Planomonas limna to Ancyromonas. The genus Ancyromonas therefore includes: A. sigmoides, Ancyromonas cephalopora n. comb., Ancyromonas melba, Ancyromonas sinistra, Ancyromonas micra n. comb., Ancyromonas howeae n. comb., and Ancyromonas limna n. comb.     

Comments on the genus Aphilenia weise in Reitter, 1889 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae), with a description of a new species from Russia

A review of species of the genus Aphilenia is given. The genera Aphilenia and Atomyria are transferred from the tribe Bromiini to the tribe Nodinini. A new species, Aphilenia astakhovi sp. n. from Russia (Astrakhan Prov.), is described. Aphilenia interrupta var. unicolor Rtt. is upgraded to a species and is transferred to the subgenus Pseudaphilenia Lop. Aphilenia hauseri Wse. is a new synonym of A. unicolor Rtt.; A. inornata Chen is transferred to the genus Chloropterus.     

The cladistics and biology of the Callajoppa genus-group (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae)

A cladistic analysis is presented for the genera of the former ichneumonine tribe Trogini. The tribe Heresiarchini is paraphyletic with respect to the Trogini, and so maintaining Trogini as a separate tribe is unsatisfactory. Within Heresiarchini, the following changes are made: (a) the subtribes Apatetorina and Heresiarchina are referred to as the Apatetor and Heresiarches genus‐groups, (b) the genera of the paraphyletic subtribe Protichneumonina are treated as incerta sedis within Heresiarchini, and (c) the Trogini are referred to as the Callajoppa genus‐group, with the former subtribe Trogina referred to as the Trogus subgroup. Thirty‐five genera are recognized as valid within the Callajoppa genus‐group. Catadelphops, Catadelphus, Cobunus, and Facydes are transferred to this group; Holojoppa is removed and is incertae sedis within Heresiarchini. Three new synonyms are proposed: Araeoscelis and Cryptopyge are junior synonyms of Macrojoppa, and Neamblyjoppa is a junior synonym of Catadelphops. Trogus latipennis Cresson is transferred to Pedinopelte from Macrojoppa, and Trogus mactator Tosquinet and its related species (T. bicolor Radoszkowski, T. heinrichi Uchida, and T. tricephalus Uchida) are transferred to Holcojoppa. Tricyphus is redefined and a neotype is designated for Tricyphus cuspidiger Kriechbaumer, the type‐species of the genus. Thirteen new genera are described (authorship of all is Wahl & Sime): Charmedia (type‐species: Charmedia chavarriai Wahl & Sime, sp. n.) , Daggoo (type‐species: Daggoo philoctetes Wahl & Sime, sp. n.), Dothenia (type‐species: Dothenia hansoni Wahl & Sime, sp. n.), Humbert (type‐species: Humbert humberti Wahl & Sime, sp. n.), Laderrica (type‐species: Laderrica feenyi Wahl & Sime, sp. n.), Mokajoppa (type‐species: Tricyphus respinozai Ward & Gauld), Metallichneumon (type‐species: Metallichneumon neurospastarchus Wahl & Sime, sp. n.), Myocious (type‐species: Myocious orientalis Wahl & Sime, sp. n.) , Quandrus (type‐species: Trogus pepsoides Smith, transferred from Callajoppa), Queequeg (type‐species: Gathetus flavibasalis Uchida, transferred from Neofacydes), Saranaca (type‐species: Trogus elegans Cresson; includes Trogus apicalis Cresson, Tricyphyus ater Hopper, and Tricyphus floridanus Heinrich), Tashtego (type‐species: Tashtego janzeni Wahl & Sime, sp. n.), and Xanthosomnium (type‐species: Xanthosomnium froesei Wahl & Sime, sp. n.). A key to the genera of the Callajoppa genus‐group is provided. The evolution of biological traits within the Callajoppa genus‐group is discussed with reference to the elucidated phylogeny. The groundplan biology is parasitism of Sphingidae, with oviposition into a host pupa/prepupa. There have been two transitions to butterfly parasitism within the Trogus subgroup: one a transition to Papilionidae (followed by a switch to Nymphalidae at Psilomastax) and the other to Nymphalidae (followed by a switch to Papilionidae within Macrojoppa). ©2002 The Linnean Society of London. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 134 , 1–56.