Descriptions of the larvae of the beetle family Trogidae (Coleoptera,Scarabaeoidea) from the Russian Far East

Previously unknown larvae of Trox ussuriensis Balthasar, T. koreanus Kim, T. zoufali Balthasar, and Glyptotrox ineptus (Balthasar) of the family Trogidae are described and illustrated. The larva of T. ussuriensis differs from that of T. sabulosus (Linnaeus) in the shape of setae on the abdominal tergite I and in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule. The larva of T. koreanus differs from those of T. zoufali and T. scaber (Linnaeus) in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule, clypeus, and labrum. The larva of T. zoufali is very similar to those of T. koreanus and T. scaber but differs in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule. The larva of Glyptotrox ineptus is similar to that of G. mandli (Balthasar) but differs in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule and in the presence of furrows on the frons. An original key to the known larvae of the family Trogidae of the fauna of the Russian Far East is given.     

A description of the larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cinygmula unicolorata</Emphasis> Tshernova, 1979 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cinygmula malaisei</Emphasis> (Ulmer, 1927) (Ephemeroptera,Heptageniidae) from the Russian Far East

The larvae of Cinygmula malaisei (Ulmer, 1927) and Cinygmula unicolorata Tshernova, 1979 from the Russian Far East are described and illustrated. The larva of Cinygmula unicolorata is similar to those of Cinygmula putoranica Kluge, 1980 and Cinygmula uyka Gorovaya et Tiunova, 2013 but differs from the larva of C. uyka in the absence of gill filaments and from that of C. unicolorata in the shape of the first gill (tergalia). The upper outer margin of the first gill is rounded in the larva of C. unicolorata and almost straight in C. putoranica; the gills of C. unicolorata are matte and the trachea is poorly expressed, in contrast to the distinctly brown trachea of C. putoranica. The larvae of Cinygmula malaisei are similar to those of C. irina and C. autumnalis but differ from the latter in the presence of gill filaments. The larva of C. malaise differs from that of C. irina in the rounded outer margin of the first gill, the shape of gills VI and VII, and in the size of the leg segments.     

A new water mite species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Georgella</Emphasis> (Acariformes,Gydryphantidae)

The larva, deutonymph, female, and male of a new water mite species, Georgella samaraensis, are described and illustrated. Larvae of Georgella are similar to larvae of the genus Hydryphantes, differing in the following characters: basal cheliceral segments have no longitudinal ribs, dorso-distal prominences of the pedipalpal tibia are undeveloped, and the excretory pore is partly surrounded by the anal sclerite. The larva known as G. koenikei (Münchberg, 1936) is erroneously treated as a larva of fresh-water Georgella (Hydrachnidia). The morphology of all the active developmental phases of Georgella strongly differs from that in mites of the genus Hydryphantes. Therefore, the generic status of Georgella should be restored.     

Description of a new soldier-fly species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Adoxomyia</Emphasis> Kertész, 1907 (Diptera,Stratiomyidae), based on adults and larva from Azerbaijan

A new species of the soldier-fly genus Adoxomyia Kertesz, 1907, A. variabilis sp. n., is described from Azerbaijan. The larvae were found in the Astragalus roots damaged by larvae of the buprestid genus Sphenoptera. The adults (males and females) are proved to belong to a species closely related to A. transcaucasica Nartshuk, 2004 but differing in the structure and coloration of the antennae, in the pubescence of the eye of the female, in details of the pubescence of the head in the male, and in the structure of the male genitalia. Differences of the adults and the larva from those of the closely related species are listed.     

New data on larvae of weevils of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lixus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) from central Asia

Larvae are described for the first time for three species of the genus Lixus (L. bifasciatus, L. rubicundus, and L. subulatus). The larvae dwell in stalks of herbaceous plants. The larvae differ in the structure of the endocarina and prelabium and the chaetotaxy of the head and epipharynx. Analysis of larvae of the new and already described species of this genus has shown that the larva of L. bifasciatus shares some characters with the larvae of L. astrachanicus, and L. rubicundus, and the larva of L. subulatus, with that of L. bescrensis.     

Description of Adult and Fourth-Stage Larva of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litomosoides navonae</Emphasis> n. sp. (Nematoda: Onchocercidae), a Parasite of Five Species of Sigmodontine Rodents from Northeastern Argentina

This study describes a new species of Litomosoides Chandler, 1931, parasitic in five different sigmodontine rodents from Misiones, Chaco and Formosa provinces of Argentina. The fourth-stage (L4) larva (male and female) is also described. L. navonae n. sp. exhibits: a bottle-shaped buccal cavity; a buccal capsule with irregularly crenate external walls; four externo-labial papillae and one ventral cephalic papilla; a well differentiated oesophagus; and sigmodontis-type spicules. The microfilaria is fusiform, with a large sheath. The L4 has a buccal capsule which is relatively longer than that of the adults, with narrower walls and a bottle-shaped lumen. It was observed in this species that the oesophagus/body-length ratio increases from larva to adult (female ratio 26.2–28.3 in larva; 88.4 in adults), and the vulva appears to move further posterior to the oesophago-intestinal junction (200–300 μm in larvae vs a mean of 600 μm in adults). L. navonae was found parasitising: Nectomys squamipes from the Reserve UNLP Valle del Arroyo Cuñá Pirú, Misiones; Oligoryzomys chacoensis, Holochilus chacarius and Akodon azarae bibianae from the marshes of Arroyo Bellaco, El Colorado, Formosa; and O. fornesi and H. chacarius from Selvas del Río de Oro (Chaco). Both N. squamipes and H. chacarius harbour other filarioids species, i.e. L. kohnae Bain, Petit &; Diagne, 1989 and L. patersoni (Mazza, 1928), respectively, throughout their range, but these filarioids are readily differentiated from L. navonae. These well-differentiated filarial species found in Nectomys and Holochilus could indicate how isolated the populations of rodents are and could be interpreted either as: (a) an early point in the speciation processes that could be taking place in these hosts; or (b) extra support for the capture phenomenon theory of the evolution of Litomosoides. New regions, such as southern Brazil and northern Argentina, need to be studied in order to clarify these alternatives.     

Materials on the flora of Bacillariophyta in aquatic ecosystems of the Yarayakha River basin (Yamal Peninsula)

The study of phytoplankton in lakes, sors, streams, and rivers of the Yarayakha River basin with the help of scanning electron microscopy has made it possible to broaden the taxonomic spectrum of Bacillariophyta; 236 specific and intraspecific taxa from 63 genera are detected. A total of 16 species and varieties that are new for the flora of Russia were documented; 30 forms from 18 genera are identified only to the species. The maximum species diversity is recorded in a stream in the Yarayakha River mouth (82 species) and in the channel of the Khureikhotarka River (105 species). Species such as Cyclotella meneghiniana, Fragilaria exiguiformis, Navicula hanseatica, Neidium bisulcatum, Stauroneis anceps, Thalassiosira inserta, and Tabellaria flocculosa are the most widespread in the waterbodies.     

The parasitic wasp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Baryscapus crassicornis</Emphasis> (Erdös) (Hymenoptera,Eulophidae) developing in larvae of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larinus</Emphasis> germar (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

Baryscapus crassicornis (Erdös) was reared from the last instar larvae of three species of Curculionidae: Larinus idoneus Gyllenhal, developing in the inflorescences of Jurinea cyanoides (L.), L. turbinatus (Gyllenhal), developing in Cirsium arvense (L.) in Russia (Ul’yanovsk Province), and L. latus (Herbst), developing in Onopordum acanthium L. and O. leptolepis DC. (Asteraceae) in Iran. Data on the parasitoid and its hosts biology, variation of morphological characters, and diagnostic notes are provided. The 3rd instar larva and the pupa of B. crassicornis are described for the first time.     

A review of the genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calotelea,Calliscelio</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oxyscelio</Emphasis> (Scelioninae,Scelionidae, Proctotrupoidea) from the Palaearctic fauna

Nine new species of scelionids collected in Japan, Israel, and the Ukraine, Calotelea shimurai Kononova et Fursov, C. japonica Kononova, C. stellae Kononova, Calliscelio recens Kononova, C. floridum Kononova, C. parilis Kononova, C. ordo Kononova, Oxyscelio florum Kononova, and O. perpensum Kononova, are described. A brief morphological characteristics of the mentioned genera and some data on the geographical distribution of these species are given. Calotelea shimurai differs from C. striola Kononova in the sculpture of the metasoma (tergites I–III striate, whereas in C. striola striation present only on tergites I and II), fore-wing venation (stigmal vein of C. shimurai 0.43 times as long as postmarginal vein and 1.75 times as long as marginal one; in C. striola, stigmal vein 0.52 times as long as postmarginal vein and 1.3 times as long as marginal one), and the length of the metasoma (in C. shimurai and C. striola, metasoma 4.0 and 2.3 times as long as wide, respectively). Calotelea shimurai parasitizes in eggs of the dragonflies Aeshna nigroflava Martin, Planaeschna milnei Selys, and Boyeria macachlani (Aeshnidae, Odonata). C. japonica is closely related to C. originalis Kozlov and Kononova, but differs from it in the sculpture of the metasoma (metasomal tergites with longitudinal wrinkles against the bright smooth background; in C. originalis, tergites I and II with longitudinal wrinkles against the alveolate background), in the coloration of fore wing (infuscate in C. japonica and dark, with dark transverse stripes in C. originalis). C. stellae differs from C. artus Kozlov and Kononova in the more flattened mesoscutum (C. artus with protruding mesoscutum) and the sculpture of the metasomal tergites (in C. stellae, only petiolus and tergite II striate, while in C. artus, such striation present on tergites I–IV). C. stellae was reared from eggs of unidentified Orthoptera. C. recens is closely related to C. parilis Kononova. It can be distinguished by the fore-wing venation (C. recens has stigmal vein, which is twice as long as marginal vein and 0.66 times as long as postmarginal one; stigmal vein of C. parilis is 3 times as long as marginal vein and 0.83 times as long as postmarginal one), by the sculpture of the metasoma, and coloration of the coxae (yellow in C. recens and black in C. parilis). C. floridum is similar to C. mediterranea Kieffer, but can be identified by the length of the postmarginal vein, which is 3 times as long as the stigmal vein, whereas C. mediterranea has the postmarginal vein, which is only twice as long as the stigmal one. C. floridum also differs in the sculpture of the metasoma (C. floridum has all the metasomal tergites with longitudinal lines, while C. mediterranea has only metasomal petiolus with the same sculpture and tergites II–IV with alveolate sculpture, tergites V and VI are slightly stippled) and in the coloration of the legs, which are yellow (as coxae), while C. mediterranea has brownish black legs. C. parilis resembles C. recens, but differs from it in the fore-wing venation, sculpture of the metasoma, and coloration of the coxae. C. ordo differs from the closely related C. ruficollis Kozlov et Kononova in the head sculpture, which is finely alveolate in C. ordo and finely granulate in C. ruficollis. Oxyscelio florum is closely related to O. perpensum, but differs from it in the coloration of the body and size of the antennal segments, stigmal and postmarginal veins, and metasomal tergites. O. perpensum is closely related to O. florum. The main distinguishing morphological characters are similar to those in O. florum. O. perpensum was reared from eggs of unidentified Orthoptera.     

Maternal care,larviparous and oviparous reproduction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypoaspis larvicolus</Emphasis> (Acari: Laelapidae) feeding on astigmatid mites

Hypoaspis larvicolus (Acari: Laelapidae) (first report from Turkey) occurred together with Sancassania polyphyllae (Acari: Acaridae) on the larvae of the scarab beetle, Polyphylla fullo (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), that were feeding on the roots of strawberry in Aydin, Turkey. Laboratory studies were conducted to (1) observe whether H. larvicolus feeds and completes its life cycle on the various stages of S. polyphyllae or other astigmatid mites, such as Acarus siro, Carpoglyphus lactis and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acaridae), and to determine its population growth when feeding on these prey, and (2) to determine development periods, longevity and fecundity of H. larvicolus feeding on C. lactis. Hypoaspis larvicolus females did not feed on S. polyphyllae, but fed, developed and reproduced when A. siro, C. lactis or T. putrescentiae were provided as prey. Hypoaspis larvicolus is larviparous as well as oviparous. The female lays eggs or gives birth to larvae. If a female gives birth to a larva, it is attached under the female’s venter for 1–2 days, a phenomenon recorded for the first time in Hypoaspis; in fact, for the first time in mites. The results of the population growth experiments revealed that H. larvicolus feeding on C. lactis produced the highest number of eggs, juveniles and adults. The developmental periods of H. larvicolus feeding on C. lactis at life-cycle path I (larva to adult) and II (egg to adult) were 12.2?±?0.3 and 15.6?±?0.6 days (females) and 19.5?±?0.2 and 20.9?±?0.4 days (males), respectively. Longevity of females versus males of H. larvicolus was 120.6?±?7.2 versus 91.6?±?13.1 days (life cycle I) and 110.0?±?27.7 versus 118.3?±?10.9 days (life cycle II), respectively.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium bibionidarum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. purpureogenum</Emphasis>: new species from Japan

Two new species of Metarhizium, M. bibionidarum and M. purpureogenum are described from Japan. Metarhizium bibionidarum is the phylogenetic sister species of M. pemphigi and a member of the M. flavoviride species complex. It is distinguished morphologically from M. pemphigi by its larger conidia. The species is based on a collection of an infected March fly larva (Diptera: Bibionidae) but is also known to occur on fruit beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) encountered in France. Metarhizium purpureogenum was isolated from soil by plating and insect baiting methods and represents a unique phylogenetic lineage placed outside the M. anisopliae and M. flavoviride species complexes. Three isolates of M. purpureogenum excreted a distinctive red-purple pigment into agar medium when co-cultured with M. robertsii or Aspergillus oryzae.     

Heterobucephalopsine and prosorhynchine trematodes (Digenea: Bucephalidae) from teleost fishes of Moreton Bay,Queensland, Australia,with the description of two new species

Eight species of the trematode family Bucephalidae Poche, 1907 are reported from teleost fishes in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Heterobucephalopsis yongi n. sp. is described from Gymnothorax eurostus (Muraenidae); the new form is distinguished from its congeners in the possession of a tiny cirrus-sac relative to body length, the length of the caecum, the position of the mouth and pharynx, and the position of the testes and ovary. Two known species of Dollfustrema Eckmann, 1934, D. durum Nolan, Curran, Miller, Cutmore, Cantacessi & Cribb, 2015 and D. gibsoni Nolan & Cribb, 2010, are reported from Gymnothorax pseudothyrsoideus (Bleeker) (Muraenidae); although both species were described from Australian waters, this represents the first reports from Moreton Bay and G. pseudothyrsoideus. Four species of Prosorhynchus Odhner, 1905 are reported, including one new, P. brayi n. sp., which is described from Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton) (Serranidae); P. brayi n. sp. is distinguished from its congeners in the possession of vitelline follicles in a confluent arc distinctly posterior to a conical rhynchus, uterine coils that do not extend anterior to the vitelline arc, contiguous testes, a cirrus-sac that reaches anteriorly to at least the level of the posterior testis and a short excretory vesicle. Three known species of Prosorhynchus are reported from Australia, for the first time: P. luzonicus Velasquez, 1959 and P. maternus Bray & Justine, 2006 from E. coioides and Prosorhynchus platycephali (Yamaguti, 1934) Srivastava, 1938 from Ambiserrula jugosa (McCulloch) and Inegocia japonica (Cuvier) (Platycephalidae). Skrjabiniella Issaitschikow, 1928 is re-recognised for new specimens of Skrjabiniella uniporus (Ozaki, 1924) n. comb. collected from Conger cinereus Rüppell (Congridae); three additional species of Prosorhynchus are considered members of this genus, two of which are synonymised with S. uniporus.     

Revision of the taxonomic status of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gloeoporus</Emphasis> (Polyporales,Basidiomycota) reveals two new species

Gloeoporus Mont. is characterized by an easily separated gelatinous hymenophore and a continuous hymenium over the pore mouth. Recent molecular taxonomic and phylogenetic research showed that morphological grouping of Gloeoporus is polyphyletic. The lack of comprehensive phylogenetic studies of Gloeoporus exacerbates confusion in determining the taxonomic position of the genus. To delimit the genus Gloeoporus, we performed multi-locus phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU), and the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2). The phylogenetic analyses revealed that current delimitation of Gloeoporus is not monophyletic. Gloeoporus s.s. includes mostly clamped species lacking cystidia. Some species of Gloeoporus featuring simple septa and cystidia are proposed to be renamed to Meruliopsis. Two new species of Gloeoporus were also observed and they are named Gloeoporus africanus and Gloeoporus orientalis.     

Description of the new subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metoporaphodius</Emphasis> subgen. n. of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphodius</Emphasis> Helw. (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) and of the larva of its type species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. plustschewskii</Emphasis> D. Kosh.

The new Irano-Turanian subgenus, Metoporaphodius subgen. n., is erected in Aphodius Helw. for A. plustschewskii D. Kosh. (type species) and A. baghlanicus Frolov. The males of Metoporaphodius subgen. n. are distinguished by the presence of a comb of dense setae on hind tibia and by the parameres with spatulate projections. The 3rd instar larva of A. plustschewskii has 2 rows of large flattened spinules on anal stemite (with 10-12 spinules in a row), and 3 spinules on the lacinial apex.     

New species of chalcidoid wasps of the family Eurytomidae (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea) from arid Palaearctic regions

Five new species of chalcidoid wasps of the family Eurytomidae are described: four from Israel and one from Kazakhstan. Tetramesa pavliceki Zerova, sp. n. (cylindrica species group) is closely related to T. scheppugi Schlecht., but differs in the more elongate flagellar segments, longer genae, and smooth metasomal tergites. Eurytoma nevoi Zerova, sp. n. is similar to E. sabulosa Erd. and E. bicolorata Zer. (phragmiticola species group), differs from these species in the longer marginal vein, punctate propodeum, and longer flagellar segments. E. oreni Zerova, sp. n. belongs to the fumipennis species group. It is closely related to E. monticola Zer., but differs in the more convex scape, longer postmarginal vein, and yellow legs. E. simutniki Zerova, sp. n. belongs to the robusta species-group. It resembles E. heriadi Zer., but differs in the longer flagellar segments of the female and in the shorter postmarginal vein. Nikanoria mamayevi Zerova, sp. n. is similar to N. stigma Zer., but differs in the more elongate metasoma, longer flagellar segments of both sexes, and larger yellow spots on the pronotum.     

Characterization of phosphate solubilizing rhizobacteria associated with pea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis> L.) isolated from two agricultural soils

Phosphorous (P) availability is a major concern in European agriculture where reserves are limited. In the case of pea (Pisum sativum L.), one of the most important legumes in the human diet, P has specific effects on nodulation and N₂ fixation. Therefore, when biofertilization schemes are considered for pea cropping, it is very important to include symbiotic dinitrogen-fixing bacteria as well as phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB). In this study sixteen PSB were isolated from the rhizosphere of two pea cultivars in two French soils with different characteristics. They were phenotypically and genotypically diverse displaying 9 different Two Primers-Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (TP-RAPD) patterns. The 16S rRNA gene analysis of representative strains showed that they belong to four highly divergent phylogenetic groups. Most of the PSB strains belonged to the genus Pseudomonas and were closely related to Pseudomonas baetica, P. lutea, P. azotoformans, P. jessenii and P. frederiksbergensis. Other strains from the genus Burkholderia were closely related to B. caledonica and those from the genus Rhizobium to R. grahamii. The single strain of genus Bacillus was close to Bacillus toyonensis. Some phylogenetic groups to which our PSB strains belong are widely distributed in plant rhizospheres in different countries and continents. This is particularly interesting in the case of strains from the phylogenetic group of P. fluorescens which includes PSB strains with high ability to solubilize phosphate indicating that they may be used as biofertilizers in many soils.     

New tempospondyl amphibians from the basal Triassic of the Obshchii Syrt Highland,Eastern Europe

Two new genera (monotypic Samarabatrachus gen. nov. (S. bjerringi sp. nov.) and Syrtosuchus gen. nov. (including S. samarensis (Sennikov, 1981) and S. morkovini sp. nov) and a new species of the genus Selenocara Bjerring (S. rossica sp. nov.) are described based on revision of the original material of the form previously known as Wetlugasaurus samarensis. The genera Selenocara and Samarabatrachus gen. nov. positioned at the base of radiation of Triassic capitosaurids are combined into a new subfamily, Selenocarinae subfam. nov. The genus Syrtosuchus gen. nov., which is undoubtedly a derivative of early capitosaurids (Selenocara or a closely related genus), shows some typical benthosuchid features and is assigned to a separate benthosuchid subfamily, Syrtosuchinae subfam. nov. The diagnoses of the genera Wetlugasaurus Riabinin and Selenocara are amended. For the territory of the Obschii Syrt Highland, the genera Selenocara, Samarabatrachus gen. nov., and Syrtosuchus gen. nov. are regarded as key members of a separate Early Triassic tetrapod assemblage (Selenocara–Syrtosuchus Fauna), which is intermediate between the Tupilakosaurus and Benthosuchus faunas and dated Late Induan (Dienerian).     

Identification of the di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butyl phthalate-biodegrading strains and the biodegradation pathway in strain LMB-1

DNA isolated from a greenhouse soil (Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China) was suitable for PCR amplification of gene segment coding for the 16S rRNA. Diverse PCR products were characterized by cloning and sequencing, and analysis of bacterial colonies showed the presence over 26 phyla. The most bacteria belonged to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes. Furthermore, after the enrichment procedure of DBP-degrading microorganisms, 4 strains were isolated from the soil sample with di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) biodegradability, and they were identified to be Rhizobium sp., Streptomyces sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Acinetobacter sp. Analysis of the degradation products by LC-MS led to identification of metabolites of DBP in strain LMB-1 (identified as Rhizobium sp.) which suggests that DBP was degraded through β-oxidation, demethylation, de-esterification and cleavage of aromatic ring.