Chaetopterygopsis siveci sp.n. from Greece (Trichoptera,Limnephilidae)

Chaetopterygopsis siveci from near the Katara pass, Greece, is described and illustrated.     

The first European Apataniana (Trichoptera,Limnephilidae): Apataniana hellenica sp.n,from Greece

Apatanian hellenica sp.u., the first European representative of this genus, is described from Greece.     

Heterodera achilleae n. sp. (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) from Yarrow in Yugoslavia

Heterodera achilleae n. sp., a member of the H. rostochiensis group, is described and illustrated from roots of yarrow, Achillea millefolium L. in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. This new, round-cyst species differs from closely related species especially as follows: (1) from H. leptonepia, by having stouter larvae (a = 21), with longer styler (25 μ), and with outlet of dorsal esophageal gland averaging 5.7 μ from base o f styler; (2) from H. millefolii, in having excretory pore at base of neck and small, straight vulval slit of 5 μ; (3) from H. rostochiensis, in having a B/A ratio (Granek''s ratio) of 1.6 ; (4) from H. tabacum, by longer female stylet, two annules on female head, and males with outlet of dorsal esophageal gland further back (5.7 μ). In addition, H. achilleae n. sp. differs from the latter three species in having prominent longitudinal striae on the anterior half, or more, of cysts and females.     

Egg development and life cycle of Chaetopteryx villosa (Trichoptera)

Combined field and laboratory investigations showed that C. villosa was univoltine in the Breitenbach, Germany. Speed and duration of embryogenesis were determined by temperature. Lowest values of accumulated temperature occurred at 6 and 8°C, when the duration of embryogenesis was shortest, and egg mortality was low. Egg masses exposed at upstream field sites needed similar time and accumulated temperatures for embryogenesis to those expected from laboratory experiments. At a downstream site embryogenesis was accelerated, possibly depending on increased daily temperature fluctuations in spring. At all field sites the emergence period of adults lasted from September until December. Size and weight of both sexes were significantly lower at the upstream site, not necessarily as a result of temperature, but possibly caused by differences in nutrition.     

Palerasnitsynus gen. n. (Trichoptera, Psychomyiidae) from Burmese amber

Palerasnitsynus ohlhoffigen. et sp. n. is described fromBurmese amber of late Albian (Lower Cretaceous) age. This is the first record of the family Psychomyiidae from Burmese amber, and the earliest fossil record of the family. The genus Palerasnitsynusgen. n. differs from all other known psychomyiid genera by the absence of fork III in the forewings.     

Drusus sharrensis sp. n. (Trichoptera,Limnephilidae), a new species from Sharr National Park in Kosovo,with molecular and ecological notes

In this paper we describe Drusus sharrensis sp. n., from the Sharr Mountains in Kosovo. Males of the new species are morphologically most similar to Drusus krusniki Malicky, 1981, Drusus kerek Oláh, 2011 and Drusus juliae Oláh, 2011 but differ mainly in exhibiting (1) a differently shaped spinose area on tergite VIII; (2) intermediate appendages anteriorly curved in lateral view with broad tips in dorsal view; (3) inferior appendages with a distinct dorsal protrusion in the proximal half. Females of the new species are morphologically most similar to Drusus krusniki, Drusus kerek, Drusus juliae, and Drusus plicatus Radovanovic, 1942 but mainly differ in (1) segment X that is longer than the supragenital plate with distinctly pointed tips; (2) supragenital plate quadrangular with a distinct round dorsal protrusion; (3) a vulvar scale with a small median lobe. Results of phylogenetic species delimitation support monophyly of Drusus sharrensis sp. n. and recover it as sister to a clade comprising (Drusus pelasgus Oláh, 2010 + Drusus juliae + Drusus arbanios Oláh, 2010 + Drusus plicatus + (Drusus dacothracus Oláh, 2010 + Drusus illyricus Oláh, 2010)). The new species is a micro-endemic of the Sharr Mountains, a main biodiversity hotspot in the Balkan Peninsula. Main threats to the aquatic ecosystems of this part of the Balkan Peninsula are discussed.     

The conflict between optimisation and orderliness in building behaviour of the caddis fly,Chaetopteryx villosa Fabr.(Limnephilidae: Trichoptera), larvae

The Optimal Foraging Theory predict that an animal should restrict its searching activity to those patches of environment, where the ratio of gain to time and energy spent is maximal. Experimenters usually verify the prediction against the null hypothesis of random activity distribution between patches. As animals always prefer profitable patches to some degree, experimental results can always be interpreted as confirmation of the theory. In opposite to this approach, we put forward the "regularity hypothesis". According to this hypothesis, the finding of a profitable item in some patch makes an animal to stay and test more items within the patch. The readiness to test decreases if the profitability of these items is low, and the animal eventually leaves the patch. It also searches in other patches less carefully. As a result, positive and negative responses to items are repeated by ordered series. In general, this regularity of responses helps animals to choose profitable patches. However, animals may also ignore some profitable patches because of the regularity, so that the behavioural optimazation fails. The regularity hypothesis have been tested in experiment with the search of building material and patch choice by caddisfly larvae. The first of two experimental patches contained egg shell fragments (profitable building material) mixed with a sand (unprofitable). The second patch contained sand only. Larva stayed within the first patch after a shell had been found, so that the probability to find more shells increased. However, larvae started walking after they had found several sand particles. Once starting to walk, they found new shell fragments and tested them, but tended to reject them and eventually leave the patch. Moreover, upon returning to the first patch, larvae also might reject fragments and leave the patch again. Rejections are accounted for by the fact that the duration of testing was too short to identify fragments correctly. As a result, negative responses were repeated to a certain degree independently of the profitability of building material, and the patch choice was not optimal. These results are agreed with the regularity hypothesis. It is argued that the hypothesis can be used as an alternative to the Optimal Foraging Theory.     

Alona hercegovinae n. sp. (Cladocera: Chydoridae), a blind cave-inhabiting Cladoceran from Hercegovina (Yugoslavia)

Two interesting chydorid Cladocera were found in caves of Hercegovina and are described here. The pantropical Alona diaphana King, 1853 was already known in this part of Europe, but was found in a cave environment for the first time. Alona hercegovinae n. sp. is an eyeless and stygobiontic species, and was found in three caves.     

Structures on the antennal flagellum of a caddisfly,frenesia missa (Trichoptera,Limnephilidae)

Non-innervated macrotrichia and microtrichia, thick-walled chemoreceptors and three kinds of thin-walled chemoreceptors are present on the antennal flagellum of Frenesia missa. One of the thin-walled receptors, the plate organ, is of a type not previously recorded for any insect. About four times as many plate organs are present on the flagellum of the male as on that of the female. They occur also on the maxillary and labial palps.     

Influence of temperature, photoperiod and nutrition on growth and consumption of Chaetopteryx villosa (Trichoptera)

Chaetopteryx villosa Fabr. is uni- or semivoltine. The species was reared at 6°C and 10°C (8 h light, 16 h dark = LD 8/16) and at 10°C and 14°C (LD 14/10). Larval instar duration and pupal period decreased with increasing temperature. Instars II-IV were completed within 2-5 wk. Vth instar larvae pupated after two to twelve months. Pupal development required between one and three months. At 6°C no specimens pupated. At 10°C, LD 14/10 accelerated the development of instars II, IV, V and pupae. Head capsule widths were different between laboratory and field specimens. Relative consumption rate (RCR) ranged between 3.07 ± 1.12 (instar II, 14°C) and 0.09 ± 0.05 (instar V 6°C) mg mg^-1 d^-1. Growth rate, relative growth rate and efficiency of conversion were calculated. In a field experiment fine particulate versus coarse particulate organic material were tested as food sources. FPOM-fed specimens were smaller than those fed with FPOM + CPOM. Pupation was initiated earlier in the FPOM fed group and lasted longer than in the other groups.     

Ten polymorphic microsatellite loci isolated from the alpine caddisfly Allogamus uncatus Brauer (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae)

Here we report the development of 10 microsatellite loci for the alpine caddisfly, Allogamus uncatus. Polymorphism as detected in 24 individuals ranged from three to 17 alleles per locus, and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.087 to 0.864. These primers will enable research on the genetic population structure of this species, the extent of gene flow among alpine permanent and temporary streams, and the genetic consequences of extinction/recolonization events.     

The response of Melampophylax mucoreus (Hagen) (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) to rapid sedimentation

The larvae of Melampophylax mucoreus were buried with either 5 mm or 10 mm of four sediment size classes and their response recorded. The majority of individuals (63.8%) were able to extract themselves from the sediment within the 900 second (15 minute) experimental period. Body length was significantly greater in those larvae which excavated themselves compared to those that did not. Sedimentation/burial with finer sediment size classes to a greater depth significantly increased the escape time of larvae. The results are discussed in relation to the impact of sedimentation on larval trichopterans and other benthic organisms.     

Polycentropus cianficconiae sp. n. from Sicily and Descriptions of the Females of the Polycentropus Species Found in Sicily (Trichoptera,Polycentropodidae)

The male and female of Polycentropus cianficconiae sp. n. (Peloritani Mountains, Northeast Sicily) are described. This new species is related to P. divergens Mosely, 1930, of which the variability of some characters of male genitalia is examined. Female genitalia of the new species are compared to those of P. divergens, P. malickyi Moretti, 1981 and P. mortoni Mosely, 1930. The characters of female genitalia are useful for evaluating the relatedness and differences among the species. They agree with the findings of the study on male genitalia.     

Anagnorisma chamrani sp. n. (Lepidoptera,Noctuidae) from Iran

A new Anagnorisma species, Anagnorisma chamrani sp. n., is described from Binaloud Mountains of Khorasan-e-Razavi province in north-eastern Iran, and compared with its sister species, Anagnorisma eucratides (Boursin, 1960). The adults, and male and female genitalia of both species are illustrated in 11 figures. The genus Anagnorisma is recorded for the first time for the fauna of Iran.     

Parvicapsula bicornis n. sp. and P. limandae n. sp. (Myxozoa, Parvicapsulidae) in Pleuronectidae (Teleostei, Heterosomata) from Denmark

Two species of Parvicapsula were found in the kidney tubules and the urinary bladder of 2 pleuronectid fish from the northern Oresund, Denmark. The coelozoic, spherical, disporic trophozoites of both species are 10 to 12 pm in diameter. The myxospores of both species are elongate, asymmetrical and slightly curved, and have spherical polar capsules. Parvicapsula bicornis n. sp. (6-8 x 5-6 microm, polar capsule 2.5 microm in diameter) occurs in Pleuronectes platessa. The polar capsules of P. bicornis are arranged symmetrically on either side of the longitudinal axis and its spores differ from other species of Parvicapsula in having two 2-3 microm long posterior processes of different length. Parvicapsula limandae n. sp. (8-11 x 4-5 pm, polar capsule 1.6 microm in diameter) is found in Limanda limanda. The polar capsules are arranged along the longitudinal axis. It differs from Parvicapsula unicornis Kabata, 1962, recorded from L. limanda, in the arrangement of the polar capsules and in the absence of a posterior horn-like projection. The phylogenetic relationship between P. bicornis n. sp., P. limandae n. sp. and other Parvicapsula spp. was examined with their partial small subunit rDNA (SSU rDNA) sequences. P. limandae n. sp. and P. asymmetrica appear to be closely related, while P. bicornis n. sp. and P. minibicornis are the most divergent members of the genus.     

Lecane segersi n.sp. (Rotifera, Lecanidae) from Thailand

Lecane segersi n.sp. collected from a swamp in Udornthani province, northeastern part of Thailand, is described and figured. It is closely related to the common, warm-stenotherm Lecane papuana (Murray), but distinguished by the presence of inwardly directed antero-lateral spines.