Phylogeny of the Augochlora clade with the description of four new species (Hymenoptera,Apoidea)

The Augochlora clade includes four genera: Augochlora Smith, Augochlorella Sandhouse, Ceratalictus Moure, and Pereirapis Moure. This is one of the richest and most widespread groups of Augochlorini bees. There are about 150 species, which occur from Argentina to Canada. The species of Augochlora clade are considered solitary to facultatively social, except Ceratalictus for which nothing is known. Wood nesting behavior arose once in the clade, in Augochlora sensu strictu. The objective of this study is to describe four new species and to present a revised phylogenetic analysis of the Augochlora clade for the placement of these species. The morphological matrix comprised 77 characters and 42 terminals, and resulted in two most parsimonious trees. The monophyly of the Augochlora clade is corroborated. Ceratalictus and Pereirapis are considered as sister groups and Ceratalictus inflexus sp. nov. came as sister to other species of Ceratalictus. Augochlora and Augochlorella are monophyletic and sister groups. Both extant subgenera of Augochlora were corroborated as monophyletic. Augochlorella comis is considered as sister group to the rest of Augochlorella species. All Augochlorella new species described belong to the Augochlorella ephyra group. Augochlorella kelliae sp. nov. is phylogenetically related to Augochlorella una. Augochlorella procliva sp. nov. and Augochlorella mavricera sp. nov. constitute a clade with Augochlorella acarinata. Including the new species, Augochlorella has 19 species and Ceratalictus 11 species. A revised key for species of Augochlorella and Ceratalictus is also presented in the Supplementary Information.     

The oldest Brentidae and Curculionidae (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from the Aptian of Bon-Tsagaan

A new tribe, Palaeoerirhinini Legalov, n. tribe, two new genera, Cretotanaos Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Cretotanaosbontsaganensis n. sp.) (Curculionidae: Erirhininae) and Palaeoerirhinus Legalov, n. gen. (type species: Palaeoerirhinusponomarenkoi n. sp. (Brentidae Apioninae) and five new species, C. bontsaganensis Legalov, n. sp., P.latus Legalov, n. sp., P. thompsoni Legalov, n. sp., P. longirostris Legalov, n. sp. and P. ponomarenkoi Legalov, n. sp. from the Bon-Tsagaan locality (Mongolia, Cretaceous, Aptian) are described.http://zoobank.org/3D42DB5C-1841-46F1-A2A0-1034DDE10490     

Cryptic speciation in the Merodon luteomaculatus complex (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the eastern Mediterranean

The Merodon aureus group is characterized by high endemism and the presence of morphologically cryptic species. Within one of its subgroups, M. bessarabicus, seven species and four more species complexes have been described to date. One of these complexes, the M. luteomaculatus, comprises new taxa that are the subject of the present study. Its members have allopatric ranges restricted to the Balkan Peninsula and Aegean islands. This complex exhibits morphological variability that could not be characterized using a traditional morphological approach. Thus, we used integrative taxonomy with independent character sets (molecular, geometric morphometric, distributional) to delimit species boundaries. Data on three molecular markers (COI, 28S rRNA, and ISSR) and geometric morphometry of the wing and male genitalia, together with distributional data, enabled recognition of six cryptic species within the complex: M. andriotes sp. n., M. euri sp. n., M. erymanthius sp. n., M. luteomaculatus sp. n., M. naxius sp. n., and M. peloponnesius sp. n. We discuss the possible influence of Aegean paleogeographical history on the speciation of this complex.     

A cladistic analysis of Erythracarinae (Acarina: Prostigmata: Anystidae), with the description of a new genus

A cladistic analysis of sixty erythracarine species is presented and used to justify recent nomenclatorial changes to the classification of erythracarine genera. Erythracarinae is redescribed, and a new diagnosis for the subfamily and a key to the included genera are presented. Neotarsolarcus is recognized as a junior synonym of Tarsolarkus, which is recorded for the first time from North America. A new genus, Pedidromus, with six new species (P. agitatus sp.n. P. curiosus sp.n., P. durongensis sp.n., P. peliculus sp.n., P. pilotrix sp.n., P. velox sp.n.) is described.     

New Apioninae (Coleoptera: Brentidae) in Dominican amber

The following new species of Apioninae weevils (Coleoptera: Brentidae) are described from Dominican amber. Toxorhynchus leptorhinusn. sp., Toxorhynchus robustusn. sp., Toxorhynchus amphioculusn. sp., Toxorhynchus atriartusn. sp., Toxorhynchusatriantenusn. sp. and Toxorhynchus hispaniolicusn. sp. are members of the Toxorhynchus decoloratum species group. Toxorhynchus microsomusn. sp., Toxorhynchus stenelytrusn. sp., Toxorhynchus dominicanusn. sp., Toxorhynchus convexusn. sp., Toxorhynchus fuscocorpusn. sp., Toxorhynchus hispidulusn. sp. and Toxorhynchus convexoculusn. sp. are members of the Toxorhynchus sordidum species group. A new subtribe, Stenapiina n. subtribe of the tribe Toxorhynchini, is erected. New species Apionion homochrononn. sp.,Apionion kallimosumn. sp.,Apionion formoculusn. sp. and Stenapion levigatumn. sp. are described. The dominate species of the genus Toxorhynchus and especially those in the Toxorhynchus decoloratum and Toxorhynchus sordidum species groups in Dominican amber are now absent from the West Indies. A systematic update of extant representatives of Apioninae in Hispaniola is provided.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2D4A59DB-E804-4B45-8773-C027A8AD5A02     

Blackmania gen. nov. and the related genus Acaudella (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Aphidinae)

The aphid genus Blackmania gen. nov. is described. In the genus, B. eastopi sp. nov. associated with Polygonum equisetiforme (Polygonaceae) from Israel and Cyprus is described and illustrated. Morphologically, the new genus is similar to the genus Acaudella in respect to the lack of a cauda. Acaudella puchovi, associated with Atraphaxis caucasica (=A. buxifolia) and A. spinosa (Polygonaceae) from Uzbekistan and Israel, is re‐described and the apterous viviparous female is figured for the first time. The lectotype and paralectotypes of A. puchovi are also designated. An identification key to known species of the tribe Macrosiphini without cauda is provided. The morphological separation of B. eastopi gen. nov., sp. nov. from A. puchovi is visualized using principal component analysis.     

Pipunculidae (Diptera) of the 1934 Swedish Expedition to Burma

Hardy, D. E. (Department of Entomology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hi., USA.) Pipunculidae (Diptera) of the 1934 Swedish expedition to Burma. Zool. Scripta 1(3–4): 121–138, 1972.–The collection of Pipunculidae made in Burma by Rene Malaise contained approximately forty species in five genera and four subgenera and is probably a thorough sampling of the species which occur in the Kambaiti area of N.E. Burma. Eleven new species are being described: Dorylomorpha latifrons sp.n., D. stenozona sp.n., Pipunculus (Cephalops) dolosus sp.n., P. (Cephalops) fimbriatus sp.n., P. (Cephalops) validus sp.n., P. (Cephalosphaera) reduncus sp.n., P. (Cephalosphaera) tingens sp.n., P. (Eudorylas) burmanicus sp.n., P. (Eudorylas) colossus sp.n., P. (Eudorylas) giganteus sp.n., and P. (Eudorylas) malaisei sp.n. Several other species, probably new ones, are indicated but not being described until further specimens can be studied. The majority of the species are new records for Burma.     

New moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae) from Turkey

Specimens of moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae) were sampled in southwest Anatolia and the European part of Turkey between 2003 and 2009. Samples contained nine species new to science: Ulomyia asiaminorica sp. n., Pneumia pellucida sp. n., Berdeniella turcica sp. n., B. aktashi sp. n., Clytocerus thracicus sp. n., Jungiella afyonica sp. n., J. geniculatoides sp. n., J. barlasi sp. n., and Telmatoscopus remotus sp.n. The new species are described and illustrated. Distributional data for a total of 45 species are provided. 63 species of Psychodinae are now known to occur in Turkey.     

Taxonomic status of Amebachia Uchida in the genus Netelia Gray (Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae; Tryphoninae) with descriptions of four new species from Japan

The lectotype of Amebachia baibarana Uchida, 1928, which is the type species of Amebachia Uchida, was re‐examined. Though this species was synonymized with Netelia (Netelia) laevis (= Paniscus laevis Cameron, 1905) and Amebachia has been synonymized under the subgenus Netelia of the genus Netelia, it is concluded that A. baibarana is a distinct species from N. laevis and Amebachia should be a subgenus of the genus Netelia. Netelia laevis is transferred from the subgenus Netelia to Apatagium. Four new species of Netelia (Amebachia), N. (A.) yoshimatsui sp. nov., N. (A.) rasilella sp. nov., N. (A.) fulvistigma sp. nov., and N. (A.) vicinalis sp. nov. are described from Japan, and a key to the species of this subgenus is provided.     

Description of Four New Species of Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthaegilips</Emphasis> Ashmead, 1897 (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Anacharitinae) from Colombia

There are four new species of the Neotropical Anacharitinae genus Acanthaegilips Ashmead, 1897: A. boyacensis sp. n., A. curvis sp. n., A. timidus sp. n., and A. truncatus sp. n. The diagnostic characters of this new species and data about their morphological variability and similarities with other Acantahegilips species are discussed. An updated key of genus Acanthaegilips is included.     

Taxonomic revision and phylogenetic relationships of the bee genus Parapsaenythia Friese (Hymenoptera,Apidae, Protandrenini), with biogeographic inferences for the South American Chacoan Subregion

The bee genus Parapsaenythia Friese (Apidae, Protandrenini) is restricted to South America and characterized by the strongly punctate integument and hairy eyes. In the present work, the species of Parapsaenythia are revised, with seven species recognized, of which three are described as new: P. carinulata sp.n. (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay), P. inornata Moure (Brazil), P. lanata sp.n. (Brazil), P. paspali (Schrottky) (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay), P. puncticutis (Vachal) (Argentina, Bolivia), P. scutellaris sp.n. (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay) and P. serripes (Ducke) (Argentina, Brazil). Lectotypes are designated for Psaenythia (Parapsaenythia) argentina Friese, Anthrenoides paspali Schrottky and Parapsaenythia paraguayae Brèthes. Floral records, distribution maps, illustrations and an identification key are provided. The cladistic analysis of 11 terminal species (all species of Parapsaenythia plus four outgroup species), based on 45 characters of external morphology and male terminalia, produced a single most parsimonious tree. Parapsaenythia was recovered as monophyletic, with the relationships among its species as follows: (P. inornata (P. carinulata sp.n. (P. lanata sp.n. (P. scutellaris sp.n. (P. serripes, P. paspali, P. puncticutis))))). Based on these relationships plus the available distributional data, a cladistic biogeographic analysis was performed, and area cladograms for the Chacoan subregion are presented and discussed.     

Taxonomy, host specificity and dietary implications of Hurleytrematoides (Digenea: Monorchiidae) from chaetodontid fishes on the Great Barrier Reef

Five new and five previously described species of Hurleytrematoides are reported from 19 of 34 chaetodontid species examined from the Great Barrier Reef; new species are H. faliexae n. sp., H. galzini n. sp., H. loi n. sp., H. morandi n. sp., and H. sasali n. sp. Previously described species are H. coronatum, H. fijiensis, H. prevoti, H. bartolii, and H. zebrasomae. The genus is rediagnosed in the light of morphological variation of the new species; the degree of spination and shape of the terminal genitalia distinguish individual species. Species of Hurleytrematoides infect almost every clade of the family Chaetodontidae found on the Great Barrier Reef, but obligate corallivores are not infected. All ten species were found at Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef, but only six at Lizard Island on the northern Great Barrier Reef. For three of the four species not present at Lizard Island, the absence appears to be statistically significant. Although all species are apparently restricted to chaetodontids on the GBR, specificity within the family varies from oioxenous to euryxenous; a core/satellite host paradigm explains the distribution of several species.     

Contribution to the blackfly fauna (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Iran

A collection of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from western Iran was examined, four species were recorded. Three new species are described: Tetisimulium iranicum sp. n., Wilhelmia lurestanica sp. n., and Crosskeyellum zagros sp. n. The presence of Tetisimulium coarctatum (Rubzov, 1940) in Iran is confirmed.     

Four new xarifiid copepods (Poecilostomatoida) associated with the scleractinian coral <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pavona</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">explanulata</Emphasis> (Lamarck) from off Taiwan

Four new xarifiid copepods are described. They were found in association with the scleractinian coral Pavona explanulata (Lamarck) occurring in shallow water reefs off Yenliao in northern Taiwan. The four species are: Xarifia capillata n. sp., X. parva n. sp., X. pavonae n. sp. and X. taiwanensis n. sp. They were found together in a single washing of the host coral. Previously, 13 species of copepods have been found in association with nine species of Pavona Lamarck. More than half (7/13) of these symbionts are members of Xarifia Humes, 1960.     

Species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neohaliotrema</Emphasis> Yamaguti, 1965 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) from the pomacentrid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abudefduf vaigensis</Emphasis> (Quoy &; Gaimard) off Pulau Langkawi,Malaysia, with a revised diagnosis of the genus and a key to its species

Four new and one unidentified species of Neohaliotrema Yamaguti, 1965 were obtained from the gills of the Indo-Pacific sergeant Abudefduf vaigensis (Quoy & Gaimard) off Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia. The five species, N. malayense n. sp., N. bombini n. sp., N. andamanense n. sp., N. parvum n. sp. and an unidentified Neohaliotrema sp. (similar to N. macracanthum Zhukov, 1976), are described and distinguished based mainly on features of the haptor. Species of this genus are divisible into two groups, the ‘maomao group’, with two pairs of morphometrically modified ‘marginal’ hooks and a fenestrated haptor, and the ‘gracile group’, with morphologically similar marginal hooks and an entire haptor. With the exception of N. bombini n. sp., the species described fit within the ‘maomao group’. It is suggested that the more complex Neohaliotrema species of the ‘maomao group’ have modified hooks 1 and 2 on a haptoral ‘isthmus’ between two large apertures, i.e. ‘windows’, whereas the less complex species lacking these features are those of the ‘gracile group’. Neohaliotrema spp. have only a single pair of pigmented eye-spots. A fenestrated haptor is unique to the Neohaliotrema spp. of the ‘maomao group’. The generic diagnosis of Neohaliotrema is amended to include new data and a key to its known species is presented.     

Six new and two newly recorded species of Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) in Korea

Adult chironomids were collected by light trap operations, sweeping grasses with insect nets, and aspiration of light‐attracted adults at various localities. All collected specimens were slide‐mounted and identified. Six species new to science were found and named: Rheotanytarsus pseudopentapoda n. sp., Cricotopus byeonsanensis n. sp., Cricotopus parajogantertius n. sp., Limnophyes bukhandecimus n. sp., Limnophyes simensis n. sp. and Orthocladius jeongnungensis. Two species, Ainuyusuroka tuberculatum (Tokunaga) and Pseudosmittia nishiharaensis Sasa and Hasegawa, are found for the first time in Korea. All species are fully described with illustrations. This is the first report of the genus Ainugusurika in Korea.     

Molecular phylogeny and systematics of Acrotoma (Gastropoda: Clausiliidae) from the Caucasus

The land snail genus Acrotoma (Clausiliidae) from the western Greater Caucasus is revised and a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genus is presented. Shells and, as far as known, genitalia of 13 species are described and figured. Two species are described as new to science, i.e., A. vespa sp. nov. and A. enguriensis sp. nov. The diagnostic characteristics are summarized in a table. All locality records are listed and shown in distribution maps. Based on Bayesian, Maximum likelihood and Maximum parsimony analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences we revise the classification of the genus and suggest a division into three subgenera, Iliamneme, Acrotomina and Acrotoma s. str. The radiation of the Acrotoma species in the Pliocene and Quaternary might have been triggered by the orogenesis of the Greater Caucasus, which created habitats, such as canyons and alpine environments, to which the Acrotoma species adapted.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6B14BE68-0E07-42EF-B08D-A75B2138B72F     

Monogeneans of the catfish Pimelodus blochii Valenciennes (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from the Brazilian Amazon,with a description of a new species of Ameloblastella Kritsky,Mendoza-Franco & Scholz, 2000 (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae)

Ameloblastella amazonica n. sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) collected on the gills of Pimelodus blochii Valenciennes (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from Rivers Acre and Iaco, State of Acre (Brazil) is described. The new species differs from the congeners mainly by the morphology of the dorsal bar, i.e. slightly U-shaped bearing a posteriorly directed flap, arising from the anterior edge of its middle third. The most morphologically similar congeners, A. paranaensis (França, Isaac, Pavanelli & Takemoto, 2003) and A. satoi Monteiro, Kritsky & Brasil-Sato, 2010, resemble A. amazonica n. sp. regarding the general structure of the copulatory complex; however, besides other features, they also differ from the new species because their hooks are similar in size (vs hooks with three different sizes). In addition to the dorsal bar lacking a flap, A. amazonica n. sp. can be differentiated from all congeners based on the combination of the following features: size of hooks (one or two different sizes), shape of the dorsal bar (other than slightly U-shaped), anchor points largely passing the level of superficial root (vs not or slightly passing it), number of MCO rings (other than 3–4) and structure of the articulation between the MCO base and the accessory piece (other than thick, medium-sized, smooth and tubular). Demidospermus leptosynophallus Kritsky & Gutierrez, 1998 and Scleroductus yuncensi Jara & Cone, 1989 were also found infesting P. blochii, both representing new host and locality records.

     

Phylogeny of the bee genus Agapostemon (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Abstract. A phylogeny for genus Agapostemon (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) is reconstructed from morphological characters, using all species, with four representatives of Agapostemonini as outgroup taxa. Parsimony analysis using 150 unordered characters resulted in eighteen equally parsimonious trees, a strict consensus of which is highly resolved for Agapostemon. Based on this analysis, Agapostemonoides Roberts & Brooks is returned to generic status, and a new subgenus is described: Notagapostemon, which includes the rhopalocerus, heterurus, atrocaeruleus, erebus, kohliellus, nasutus and intermedius groups of Moure & Hurd. Species groups are proposed for Notagapostemon and revised in A. (Agapostemon). Agapostemon cockerelli Crawford is synonymized with A. obliquus (Provancher), A. epichryseus (Morelos) with A. leunculus Vachal, A. inca Roberts with A. heterurus Cockerell, A. hispaniolicus Roberts female with A. centratus (Vachal) and A. hispaniolicus Roberts male with A. alayoi Roberts. Optimization of known behaviours suggests communal ancestry for the genus and infers the prevalence of this behaviour in Agapostemon. Optimization of geographical range suggests a Central American or Caribbean origin of Agapostemon, with one invasion of North America and multiple invasions of South America and the Caribbean. One invasion of the Caribbean suggests arrival from North America via Florida.