Phoradendron olae Kuijt, a new species from Mexico pivotal in the taxonomy of the genus, with comments on P. californicum Nutt.

Materials are presented to the effect thatPhoradendron californicum Nutt., the nomenclatural type of the genusPhoradendron (Viscaceae), is related to southern, cataphyllous species, not to northern, acataphyllous ones. The evidence consists of the frequent occurrence of basal cataphylls in the species, variation in basal phyllotaxy, and a basically biseriate arrangement of flowers on fertile internodes. The suggestion of this southern, cataphyllous affinity is supported by the recent discovery of a strictly cataphyllous Mexican species,P. olae Kuijt, which shows median basal phyllotaxy and is in many features extremely similar toP. californicum. The nomenclatural consequences of this discovery would lead to subgen.Boreales (Trel.) Engler (and probably subgen.Aequatoriales (Trel.) Engler) being synonymized under subgen.Phoradendron, characterized by basal cataphylls (though not in all species). However, no generic subdivision of any sort is supported at this time.     

A Key and Diagnostic Compendium to the Species of the Genus Pratylenchus Filipjev, 1936 (Lesion Nematodes)

An identification key to 63 species of Pratylenchus is given. A compendium of the most diagnostic characters to be used directly in identification of species is included as a practical alternative and supplement to the key. P. tenuis, P. similis, P. impar, P. ranjani, and P. neocapitatus are recognized as valid species on the basis of study of type specimens. P. hyderabadensis Singh &Gill, 1986 is synonymized with P. dasi Fortuner, 1985. P. hexincisus Taylor &Jenkins, 1957 is confirmed as occasionally having 4 -6 lines in lateral field (instead of 6 only). Comments on the status of some species and a list of species of the genus are given.     

Distribution and nests of paper wasps of Polistes (Polistella) in northeastern Vietnam,with description of a new species (Hymenoptera,Vespidae, Polistinae)

Seven species of the subgenus Polistella Ashmead of the genus Polistes Latreille including a new species, P. brunetus Nguyen & Kojima, sp. n. described here, are recognized to occur in northeastern Vietnam, the easternmost part of the eastern slope of the Himalayas. A key to these species is provided. Their distributional records are remarked. Nests of P. delhiensis Das & Gupta, P. mandarinus de Saussure and P. brunetus are also described.     

Notes on the genus Cercestis (Araceae) and a new species from Liberia: Cercestis hepperi Jongkind sp. nov.

A new species of Cercestis (Araceae), C. hepperi Jongkind from Liberia is described and illustrated. It is characterised by comparatively long pedunculate inflorescences, very dark green leaf blade with a conspicuous yellow margin and short basal lobes and by abundant stolons with persistent scaly leaves (cataphylls). Cercestis sagittatus Engler, another species from Liberia, that was synonymised with C. dinklagei Engler by Ntépé‐Nyamè, is resurrected. A key to the species of Cercestis known from Liberia is provided.     

Monoclonal antibody against species-specific epitope of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Hsp60 protein cross-reacts with Pseudomonas stutzeri and other Pseudomonas species

In a previous study, we determined the epitope of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Hsp60 heat shock protein which is recognized by the specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2528. Subsequent investigations revealed a weak cross-reactivity of MAb 2528 with P. stutzeri, P. alcaligenes, P. mendocina and P. pseudoalcaligenes. To elucidate the molecular structure for these cross-reactions, we cloned the P. stutzeri hsp60 gene in Escherichia coli and determined the nucleotide sequence of the gene. In addition, the hsp60 gene of further Pseudomonas species was amplified and sequenced and amino acid substitutions within the epitope recognized by MAb 2528 were determined. The decapeptide QADIEARVLQ is unique to the P. aeruginosa Hsp60 protein, and cross-reaction of MAb 2528 reflects the phylogenetic relationship of Pseudomonas species as P. aeruginosa and all four cross-reacting species constitute a DNA homology group within the rRNA group I of the family Pseudomonadaceae, which belong to the γ- subclass of the Proteobacteria.     

Betaine distribution in Angiosperms

Over 140 Angiosperm species, included in 45 of the 62 orders listed by Engler, have been investigated for the presence of betaines, which were detected in 86% of the species examined and in 43 of the orders. Moreover, betaines were reported earlier in a further seven of the orders. Thus, it can be concluded that betaines are very widely distributed in Angiosperms. The most commonly detected betaines in the study were glycinebetaine and trigonelline, although others, such as prolinebetaine, trans-4-hydroxyprolinebetaine and pipecolatebetaine were found, although with a very restricted distribution. In the large majority of species tested, betaine levels were low (below 0.1%, dry weight).     

Taxonomy of the genus Peyerimhoffia Kieffer from Mainland China,with a description of seven new species (Diptera,Sciaridae)

The taxonomy of the genus Peyerimhoffia Kieffer in China was studied. Eight species were recognized, including seven new species that are herein described and illustrated: P. hamata sp. n., P. obesa sp. n., P. sparsula sp. n., P. longiprojecta sp. n., P. brachypodua sp. n., P. yunnana sp. n., and P. shennongjiana sp. n. In addition, P. vagabunda (Winnertz, 1867) is reported for the first time from China. A key to these Chinese species is provided.     

Karualona n.gen. (Anomopoda: Chydoridae), with a description of two new species,and a key to all known species

The species group of Alona karua is raised to generic rank and named Karualona. The genus is defined on the basis of a number of characters of the body and its appendages. Tentative new microcharacters are introduced, related to the type and length of selected setae of P1, P2, P3 and P4. Two new species are described, one from the island of Socotra and one from Mexico. A key to the five currently recognized species is given.     

The surface of the malaria parasite: I. Scanning electron microscopy of the oocyst

Scanning electron microscopy has been used to study surface characteristics of the early sporogonic stages of Plasmodium gallinaceum and Plasmodium berghei. Observations upon oocysts from 9-day old infections of P. gallinaceum in Aedes aegypti and 14-day old infections of P. berghei in Anopheles stephensi indicate the oocyst surface is relatively smooth, although an outline of the underlying sporozoites can easily be recognized in the mature oocyst. Although all infections with each species were the same age, the stage of development of each oocyst appeared highly variable even within an individual mosquito. Oocysts appear to be covered by the overlying basement membrane which separates them from direct contact with the hemolymph as well as hemocytes. Small buds designated as satellite bodies were often seen attached to large oocysts of P. gallinaceum. Neither their origin nor their significance is yet known. During the study, numerous observations were made of the liberated sporozoites of both species. In each species the sporozoites are comma-shaped; however, those of P. gallinaceum are shorter, more strongly curved and stouter than those of P. berghei.     

Reassessment of Paleotachina Townsend and Electrotachina Townsend and their removal from?the?Tachinidae (Diptera)

The monotypic genera Paleotachina Townsend, 1921 and Electrotachina Townsend, 1938 were originally described as fossils in amber but were later discovered to be inclusions in copal. Both taxa were originally assigned to the Tachinidae (Diptera) and this placement has continued to the present day. The holotypes of the two type species, P. smithii Townsend and E. smithii Townsend, were examined and the following taxonomic and nomenclatural changes are proposed: Paleotachina is transferred to the Muscidae and placed in synonymy with Aethiopomyia Malloch, 1921, syn. n.; P. smithii Townsend, type species of Paleotachina, is synonymized with Aethiopomyia gigas (Stein, 1906), syn. n.; Electrotachina is transferred to the Sarcophagidae and placed in synonymy with Dolichotachina Villeneuve, 1913, syn. n.; E. smithii Townsend, type species of Electrotachina, is recognized as a valid species of Dolichotachina comb. n. Images of the holotypes of P. smithii and E. smithii are provided and features that have helped place these copal inclusions in their new combinations are discussed.     

Review of the species of Paratenetus Spinola inhabiting America,north of Mexico (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae)

The North American (north of Mexico) species of the tenebrionid genus Paratenetus Spinola are reviewed and a key is presented for their identification. Five species are recognized, P. gibbipennis Motschulsky, P. fuscus LeConte, P. punctatus Spinola and two sp. n., P. exutus [type locality: Tabusintac, Nova Scotia] and P. texanus [type locality: Port Isabel, Cameron County, Texas]. Two syn. n. are proposed: P. cribratus Motschulsky, 1868 with P. gibbipennis Motschulsky, 1868 and P. crinitus Fall, 1907 with P. fuscus LeConte, 1850. A lectotype is selected for Paratenetus punctatus Spinola. A type species is designated for Storthephora Mäklin, 1875 (Storthephora denticollis Mäklin, 1875).     

THE DISTINCTION OFPUNCTELIA PERRETICULATAANDP. SUBRUDECTA(PARMELIACEAE,LECANORALES)

Punctelia perreticulata(Räsänen) G. Wilh. & Ladd is recognized as a distinct species. The only consistent differences betweenP. perreticulataandP. subrudecta(Nyl.) Krog are the shape and length of conidia. Both species are widespread in the world. InP. perreticulata, there are differences in conidial length among the European, American and Australasian samples studied, but they neither correlate with differences observed in other morphological traits nor with the substratum. An epitype is selected to support the holotype ofP. perreticulata, because its identity is uncertain due to the absence of conidia.