Systematic revision of the yucca moths in the Tegeticula yuccasella complex (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae) north of Mexico

The yucca moths (Tegeticula and Parategeticula) are of great importance in studies of coevolution because of their obligate mutualism with their yucca hosts. Historically, three species of Tegeticula have been recognized. One of them, T. yuccasella, has been regarded as the pollinator of all but two yucca species, but morphological, molecular and biological data show that this is a large complex of monophagous and oligophagous species that differ greatly in their biology. It also includes derived ‘cheater’ species that do not pollinate their hosts and oviposit into fruits rather than flowers. Here the yuccasella complex north of Mexico is revised. The nominotypic pollinator species yuccasella is redescribed, and ten new pollinator species described: altiplanella, baccatella, carnerosanella, cassandra, elatella, maderae, mojavella, rostratella, superficiella and treculeanella. Two non-pollinating cheater species are recognized. One such species originally misidentified as a Prodoxus species, then synonymised with yuccasella, is re-erected as the non-pollinating intermedia. In addition, the new non-pollinator species corruptrix is described.     

Ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea: Argasidae,Ixodidae) of China

This paper presents results of an investigation and listing of tick species found in China during a survey in all 28 provinces. This will be a step towards a definitive list of tick species and their distribution. To date, the tick fauna of this area consists of 117 species in the following families: Argasidae-Argas (7 species), Carios (4 species) and Ornithodoros (2 species); Ixodidae-Amblyomma (8 species), Anomalohimalaya (2 species), Dermacentor (12 species), Haemaphysalis (44 species), Hyalomma (6 species), Ixodes (24 species) and Rhipicephalus (8 species). Some well known ticks carrying and transmitting many infectious agents to man and domestic animals are also found in China. These include Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. (Boophilus) microplus and Hyalomma asiaticum. It is worth mentioning that Ixodes rangtangensis Teng and Haemaphysalis xinjiangensis Teng should be relegated to a synonym of I. moschiferi and Hae. danieli, respectively. The distribution of ticks over the provinces of China is also discussed. The information on ticks in some areas such as Henan is not exhaustive.     

Known and two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhytisma</Emphasis> (Rhytismatales,Ascomycota) from China

Three species of Rhytisma are described based on recently collected specimens from the Anhui province, China. Rhytisma anhuiense is a new species causing a serious tar spot disease on Rhododendron simsii. Rhytisma yuexiense is a new species, which develops its stromata only on fallen leaves of Rhododendron ovatum. Rhytisma himalense on Ilex fargesii is a known species and probably widely distributed in China. Including the two new species, 11 species of Rhytisma are known from China which are presented in a key.     

A new pelagic predatory pike cichlid (Teleostei: Cichlidae: Crenicichla) from the C. mandelburgeri species complex with parallel and reticulate evolution

The Crenicichla mandelburgeri species complex from the Middle Paraná shows parallel evolution of ecomorphs to the unrelated C. missioneira species complex from the Uruguay River. In this article, we describe a new species from the C. mandelburgeri species complex that has evolved a parallel morphology and ecology to an unrelated species from the C. missioneira species complex (C. celidochilus). The new species is a pelagic predator that feeds predominantly on fishes and together with C. celidochilus is the only known pelagic species in the large riverine genus Crenicichla. The new species is endemic solely to a small tributary (the Urugua-í) of the Middle Paraná River where it is sympatric and partly syntopic with two other closely related endemic species that, however, differ strongly in their ecomorphologies (one is a generalistic invertivore and the other a specialized molluscivore). Mitochondrial DNA phylogeny finds the new species nested within the widespread C. mandelburgeri. Reduced genome-representation ddRAD analyses, however, demonstrate that this new species is of a hybrid origin and shares ancestry with C. ypo, one of the two studied sympatric species.

     

Taxonomy and phylogeny of Puccinia lagenophorae: a study using rDNA sequence data, morphological and host range features

Puccinia lagenophorae is a rust fungus originating from Australasia which has spread throughout the world. A phylogenetic analysis of taxa related to this species was performed using rDNA (LSU, ITS) sequence data. The analyses revealed a well-supported cluster including all specimens of P. lagenophorae. By evaluating morphological and sequence data, the species is taxonomically re-defined and a list of synonyms is provided. Puccinia distincta on Bellis perennis, a species recently separated from P. lagenophorae, P. saccardoi, a species on the Goodeniaceae, and P. byliana, a species so far only known from South Africa, are reduced to synonymy in P. lagenophorae, as are several other species. Our analysis indicates that P. lagenophorae is likely not derived from the northern hemisphere species P. obscura, but from a species from Australia host-alternating between Asteraceae (aecial host) and Cyperaceae/Juncaceae (telial host). Another related species, P. stylidii (on Stylidium sp., Stylidiaceae) may have been derived from the same parental species as P. lagenophorae. From ontogenetical and morphological studies, the presence of pycnia could not be confirmed in the life cycle of this species, and the width of the pedicel of teliospores at the point of attachment was found to be highly variable and not a taxonomic character. The number of known host species is approximately 150, including 41 new host plants recorded herein.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of New Zealand mosquito species

ABSTRACT

Taxonomic information for New Zealand mosquito species is predominantly morphological with very few molecular data available to date. In this study, the mitochondrial COI gene and nuclear ITS1 were amplified and sequenced from DNA templates representing 17 species; 15 previously known New Zealand species, a newly discovered undescribed Aedes species from the Chatham Islands and a recently eradicated invader, Ae. camptorhynchus. This paper provides DNA barcoding sequences for the entire known New Zealand mosquito fauna, the first for the majority of these species. Phylogenetic analysis of COI and ITS1 indicated that the endemic species are all genetically distinct from the exotic species examined including vector species of pathogens of human diseases. The genus Opifex is distant from the genus Aedes based on analysis of ITS1 sequences, and Ae. chathamicus is more closely related to species within Aedes than to the genus Opifex. Results show Culex asteliae to be a valid species but Cx. rotoruae is not necessarily so. The Aedes species appears to be closely related to Ae. subalbirostris. The introduced Cx. quinquefasciatus was clearly shown to be related to Cx. pipiens; however, the endemic Cx. pervigilans was not. No evidence of population variation based on geographic location was detected.     

A New Species of Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) from Patagonia Related to C. sociabilis

The genus Ctenomys includes a high number of taxa, with at least ten species from Patagonia and three recently described species for northeastern Chubut Province (Argentina). Ctenomys sociabilis is a social species of the genus Ctenomys and is currently distributed in the surrounding area of Sierra Cuyin Manzano (Neuquén Province), with a recently extinct population that occurred in Laguna Nahuelquir (Cushamen, Chubut Province). Molecular analyses have placed C. sociabilis at the base of Ctenomys clade, as the sister species to all other Ctenomys. Based on a morphological assessment (qualitative and quantitative) and DNA sequencing, we describe a new species of Ctenomys from Esquel, Chubut Province. Phylogenetic analysis shows the new species to be closely related to C. sociabilis, with evidence of solitary behavior. This new species is the first reported to be closely related phylogenetically to Ctenomys sociabilis at the base of the Ctenomys phylogeny. We provide anatomical comparisons between the new species and other species of Ctenomys from Patagonia, especially C. sociabilis.

     

Molecular phylogeny of Macrolycus (Coleoptera: Lycidae) with description of new species from China

Macrolycus is a genus of net‐winged beetles with 69 species distributed in the eastern Palearctic and northernmost part of the Oriental region. The first molecular phylogeny of Macrolycus was produced using an rrnL + tRNA‐Leu + nad1 mtDNA fragment. The major lineages and species limits were identified with morphology and molecular data. We propose that Cerceros is a subgenus of Macrolycus to enable identification of all adult specimens in the genus without DNA sequencing. Two species groups are proposed in Macrolycus s. str. and six in Cerceros. Additionally, twelve Macrolycus species are newly described from China: M. aquilinus, M. baihualingensis, M. bicolor, M. guangxiensis, M. jianfenglingensis, M. kuatunensis, M. lizipingensis, M. parvus, M. phoeniceus, M. rhodoneurus, M. rosaceus and M. sichuanensis. Macrolycus holzschuhi is proposed to be a junior subjective synonym of M. jeanvoinei. The highest diversity of Macrolycus is found in southern China. The species from the main islands of Japan are placed in two species groups: M. excellens is a sister to remaining species of the M. murzini group and the M. flabellatus group is a monophylum of closely related species in a sister position to the M. bicolor group.     

Host specialization and species diversity in the genus Stylops (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae), revealed by molecular phylogenetic analysis

Host specialization is an important ecological characteristic of parasitic species. The identification of the parasitic strategy of the genus Stylops (Strepsiptera; Stylopidae) is, however, ambiguous. According to the number of recognized species based on existing taxonomy, highly specialized and supergeneralistic species exist in this genus. Our research aims to clarify the concept of host specialization in the genus Stylops, in which all of the members are parasites of Andrena bees. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the parasites (mostly females) and the mapping of hosts onto the phylogenetic tree, we tested three hypotheses of host specialization: (1) each species of the genus Stylops is associated with a single host species; (2) Stylops species are specialized to a group of closely related hosts; and (3) a single Stylops species is a generalist, parasitizing all host Andrena species in this particular region. Our evidence clearly shows a close relationship between the parasite and the host: one species of Stylops attacks one or a few host species of Andrena bees, usually from a single subgenus. Moreover, a moderate generalistic strategy is also likely in a few Stylops species. According to our results, the species diversity of the strepsipteran parasites of bees must be reconsidered. A single European species of Stylops should be divided into a higher number of valid species. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthocephalum</Emphasis> Linton, 1890 (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) from dasyatid stingrays of the Gulf of California

Three new species of Anthocephalum Linton, 1890 are described from dasyatid stingrays collected in the Gulf of California. Anthocephalum michaeli n. sp. is described from Dasyatis longus (Garman). This species most closely resembles A. alicae Ruhnke, 1994, but differs from this species in proglottid number. A. lukei n. sp. is also described from D. longus. This new species is most similar to A. cairae Ruhnke, 1994, but differs from that species in marginal loculi number and number of proglottids. The third new species, A. currani n. sp., is described from D. brevis (Garman). This species is most similar to A. centrurum (Southwell, 1925) Ruhnke, 1994, but differs from that species in marginal loculi number, number of testes and ovarian length. Phyllobothrium kingae Schmidt, 1978 is also consistent in morphology with species of Anthocephalum and is transferred to this genus, forming the new combination Anthocephalum kingae n. comb. This species most closely resembles A. michaeli n. sp., but differs in testicular shape. This brings the total number of species of Anthocephalum to nine. The transfer of the species Phyllobothrium arctowskii Wojciechowska, 1991, P. georgiense Wojciechowska, 1991, P. rakusai Wojciechowska, 1991 and P. siedleckii Wojciechowska, 1991 to Anthocephalum is not warranted, as these four species lack a posteriorly recurved cirrus-sac and a sinuous vagina, and have vitelline follicles uninterrupted by the ovary. Of the nine known species, all are parasitic in batoid fishes, and six are found in species of Dasyatis Garman. The phylogenetic status of Anthocephalum species in relationship to Rhinebothroides Mayes, Brooks & Thorson, 1981, Pararhineothroides Zamparo, Brooks & Barriga, 1999 and other rhinebothriin taxa is discussed.     

隔指孢属分类评述及其一新种

本文报道了隔指孢属(Dactylella Grove)一新种—云南隔指孢(D. yunnanensis);并对隔指孢属的分类进行了评述;重新修订了隔指孢属的特征。列出了捕食和非捕食种类共计34种。其中包括了6个新组合,并制作了检索表。     

An update on the status of native and exotic freshwater fishes of Italy

An updated, corrected checklist of both native and established alien freshwater fish species in Italy is given based on molecular, morphological and biogeographical data. Some 12 native species, reported as conspecific with transalpine species in official Italian ichthylogical literature, are in fact endemics. Previous taxonomic confusion has resulted in the introduction of several alien species, either with official stockings or mixed in as impurities. Rehabilitated species include the cyprinids Scardinius hesperidicus, Scardinius scardafa and Telestes savigny from northern Italy, as well as Squalius ruffoi and the Telestes comes from southern Italy. Squalius albus is a junior synonym of S. squalus. The endemic gudgeon, previously assigned to the genus Romanogobio, is returned to the genus Gobio (G. benacensis). Phoxinus lumaireul is a junior synonym of P. phoxinus. Among the Salmonidae, Salmo cenerinus is a junior synonym of S. marmoratus, while Salmo farioides represents the trout species of the Adriatic lineage for which a neotype is designated. Thymallus aeliani represents the endemic lineage of grayling of the Adriatic populations. The esocid Esox cisalpinus is an endemic pike species and Esox flaviae is a junior synonym; the extensive exportation as well as the presence of this species throughout Europe is possibly due to humans. Among sculpins, Cottus scaturigo and C. ferrugineus are junior synonyms of C. gobio. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categories for native species of Italy are updated. At present, 52 native freshwater fish species are listed: 2 are extinct (Acipenser sturio and Huso huso), 12 are critically endangered, 7 endangered, 10 vulnerable, 3 near‐threatened, 15 low concern and 3 data‐deficient; 35 species are the result of human transfers. Among the 51 introduced species, 6 are recently established (Leuciscus leuciscus, Oreochromis niloticus, Poecilia reticulata, Xiphophorus helleri, Amatitlania nigrofasciatus, Hemichromis sp.), 37 are already established, 5 are probably established and 3 are non‐established Chinese carp, maintained in the wild by intensive stockings. The family most involved is the Cyprinidae, with 22 alien and 20 native species.     

Phylogeny,species diversity and biogeographic patterns of the genus Tricleocarpa (Galaxauraceae,Rhodophyta) from the Indo-Pacific region,including T. confertus sp. nov. from Taiwan

Among four different genera in Galaxauraceae, species diversity of the genus Tricleocarpa Huisman & Borowitzka is underestimated and requires further examination. In this study, we explored a molecular phylogeny of Tricleocarpa with an emphasis on Taiwan species and reassessed species diversity of the genus from the Indo-Pacific region based on analyses of rbcL and COI-5P sequences and morphological observations. The molecular analyses showed that species of Tricleocarpa examined are grouped into seven clades: six clades in the T. cylindrica group (the T. cylindrica complex, T. confertus, T. jejuensis, T. natalensis and two uncharacterized T. ‘cylindrica’ clades) and one clade as the T. fragilis group. Overall, at least 12 species in Tricleocarpa were detected from the Indo-Pacific region, including a new species, T. confertus S.-L. Liu & S.-M. Lin, from Taiwan. Among them, T. confertus can be separated from other species of Tricleocarpa by a thallus consisting of dichotomous or trichotomous, articulated and moniliform branches with smooth surfaces, constrictions at nodes and slightly anti-triangular in shape. The cystocarp morphology of T. confertus is similar to the T. cylindrica group by having paraphyses intermixing with gonimoblast filaments. Recognition of this new species from other species is also supported by the DNA-based, algorithmic species delimitation approaches. With the combination of molecular phylogeny and species diversity reassessment, our phylogeographic analysis supported a trend that species in the T. fragilis group are restricted in their distribution to subtropical and tropical areas whereas species in the T. cylindrica group have a wide distribution, ranging from temperate through to tropical areas.     

A new Indian species of Riccia L. with connections to northern Australia

Introduction. During a recent explorative field trip to the Western Ghats a new species of Riccia was discovered with possible links to the northern Australian species, Riccia caroliniana Na-Thalang.

Key Results. Morphological similarities between the new species, R. sahyadrica and R. caroliniana include the ventral positioning of the photosynthetic tissue in the ventral section of the thallus in specialised structures known as ventral lamellae. These form a v-shaped patterning along the ventral surface of the thallus and are unique to these two species. Both species also bear similar spores with differences in the micro-ornamentation. Differences between the two species also extend to sexual condition, whereby R. caroliniana is dioicous and R. sahyadrica is monoicous.

Conclusions. A new species, Riccia sahyadrica Manju & Cargill is described and illustrated and compared to the only other morphologically similar species, R. caroliniana endemic to northern Australia. Both species possess the unique characteristic of bearing ventral photosynthetic tissue in contrast to the dorsal position typically seen in all other Riccia species.     

Species‐specific mitochondrial gene rearrangements in biting midges and vector species identification

Abstract Partial mitochondrial gene sequences of 16 Culicoides species were determined to elucidate phylogenetic relations among species and to develop a molecular identification method for important virus vector species. In addition, the analysis found mitochondrial gene rearrangement in several species. Sequences of the mitochondrial genome region, cox1–trnL2–cox2 (1940–3785 bp) of 16 Culicoides and additional sequences were determined in some species, including whole mitochondrial genome sequences of Culicoides arakawae. Nine species showed common organization in this region, with three genes cox1–trnL2–cox2 and a small or no intergenic region (0–30 bp) between them. The other seven species showed translocation of tRNA and protein‐coding genes and/or insertion of AT‐rich non‐coding sequences (65–1846 bp) between the genes. The varied gene rearrangements among species within a genus is very rare for mitochondrial genome organization. Phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of cox1+cox2 suggest a few clades among Japanese Culicoides species. No relationships between phylogenetic closeness and mitochondrial gene rearrangements were observed. Sequence data were used to establish a polymerase chain reaction tool to distinguish three important vector species from other Culicoides species, for which classification during larval stages is not advanced and identification is difficult.     

Independent origins of tetraploid cryptic species in the fern <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceratopteris thalictroides</Emphasis>

Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn is a tetraploid fern species that contains at least three cryptic species, the south, the north and the third type. In this study we combined data from both chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and nuclear DNA sequences of three diploid species and three cryptic species of C. thalictroides to unravel the origin of the cryptic species, particularly of the reticulate relationships among the diploid and tetraploid taxa in the genus Ceratopteris. Of the three diploid species examined, C. cornuta had cpDNA identical to that of the tetraploid third type plants, and this diploid species is a possible maternal ancestor of the tetraploid third type. Analysis of the homologue of the Arabidopsis thaliana LEAFY gene (CLFY1) identified ten alleles in the genus Ceratopteris, with six alleles found in C. thalictroides. The unrooted tree of the CLFY1 gene revealed four clusters. Each cryptic species showed fixed heterozygosity at the CLFY1 locus and had two alleles from different clusters of the CLFY1 tree. Consideration of the cpDNA sequences, CLFY1 genotypes of the cryptic species and CLFY1 gene tree in concert suggested that the cryptic species of C. thalictroides had originated through independent allopolyploidization events involving C. cornuta and two unknown hypothetical diploid species.     

New species of alderfly genus Sialis (Megaloptera: Sialidae) from China and Vietnam,with a key to species of Sialis from Asia

The alderfly genus Sialis is the most species‐rich group of the family Sialidae. However, discovery of new Sialis species is becoming difficult because of previous good faunal exploration. In this paper, we describe two new Sialis species from the southern part of East Asia, S. australis and S. jiyuni, based on materials from historical and recent collections. These two species are closely related to the insular species S. kumejimae and are among the early diverged species within Sialis. Presently, 32 species of Sialis are recorded from Asia. A key to all the Sialis species from Asia is provided.     

New clade of silicified bolidophytes that belong to Triparma (Bolidophyceae,Stramenopiles)

The small phytoplankton genus Triparma belongs to the class Bolidophyceae and contains two distinct forms: silicified species and naked flagellated species (formerly Bolidomonas). Recent studies showed that four silicified species/strains (Triparma laevis f. inornata, T. laevis f. longispina, T. strigata, and T. aff. verrucosa) belong to a single clade that is paraphyletic, because it also contains an unclassified flagellated strain, and is sister to a flagellated species, T. eleuthera. In this study, we isolated and characterized two new strains of silicified species to test the phylogenetic unity of silicified bolidophytes. The isolates were identified as T. retinervis strains because they possessed fine areolation on the cell wall. 18S rDNA and rbcL phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that T. retinervis formed a new silicified clade that is sister to the flagellated species T. pacifica. This reveals that there are at least two distinct clades including both silicified and flagellated Triparma species.