Two new species of Contracaecum Railliet & Henry, 1912 (Nematoda: Anisakidae), C. fagerholmi n. sp. and C. rudolphii F from the brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis in the northern Gulf of Mexico

DNA sequencing of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and mitochondrial rrnS and cox2 genes, and analysis of polymorphisms in restriction profiles in the ITS and rrnS, were used to characterise anisakid nematodes belonging to Contracaecum Railliet & Henry, 1912 infecting the brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis (L.) in Galveston Bay, Texas and Sarasota Bay, Florida. Molecular data led to the detection of two new species: Contracaecum fagerholmi n. sp., which was also supported by clear morphological evidence, and Contracaecum rudolphii F, a new cryptic species within the Contracaecum rudolphii Hartwich, 1964 complex. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that C. fagerholmi and C. rudolphii F form two well-separated clusters, with C. fagerholmi being closely related to Contracaecum bioccai Mattiucci et al., 2008 and C. rudolphii F being included in the C. rudolphii complex. C. fagerholmi can be readily differentiated morphologically from all of its congeners, other than C. microcephalum (Rudolphii 1809) and the five currently recognised members of the C. rudolphii complex (C. rudolphii A, B, C, D and E). C. fagerholmi differs from C. microcephalum in the length of the spicules and the shape of the distal tip of the spicules, and from C. rudolphii (sensu lato) in the shape and size of the ventro-lateral and dorsal lips and by having interlabia which are not distally bifurcate. Further studies are needed to determine which morphological characteristics can be used to distinguish the cryptic species of the C. rudolphii complex in order to assign them with formal names. The recovery of a third species, C. bioccai, from the brown pelican confirms its occurrence in this host and extends its known geographical distribution.     

New data on gastrointestinal helminths in shags (Phalacrocorax verrucosus) at Kerguelen Archipelago

To date, the knowledge of the helminth communities of Antarctic birds is scarce or fragmented. Knowledge about diseases and parasites is crucial for understanding and managing ecosystems, particularly in isolated areas where host species are more sensitive to new diseases or parasite infections. It has been showed that variations in rate of parasitism may occur between populations of host species. Two major non-exclusive hypotheses have been proposed to explain such variability: exposure to parasitism and, perhaps more important, life history strategies of hosts. We studied the helminth community of the Kerguelen Shag Phalacrocorax verrucosus, an endemic seabird species of the Kerguelen Archipelago. We provide new data on the helminths infecting this species from partial or complete digestive tracts of two birds. Two nematodes (Contracaecum rudolphii s.l. and Ingliseria cirrohamata) were found free or attached to the wall of the proventriculus of birds, while the acanthocephalan Corynosoma sp. and the cestode species Tetrabothrius sp. occurred in the intestine of the shags. The genus Tetrabothrius is reported for the first time in Kerguelen Shags and in this area. The analysis of stomach contents from 41 live Kerguelen Shag individuals revealed infection by Contracaecum nematodes. The proportion of infected birds differed between colonies, possibly in relation to differential exposure to infected fish hosts.     

Hysterothylacium simile n. sp. and H. aduncum (Rudolphi, 1802) (Nematoda: Raphidascarididae) from marine fishes in the Bohai and Yellow Sea, China, with comments on the record of H. paralichthydis (Yamaguti, 1941) from Chinese waters

Hysterothylacium simile n. sp., collected from the Japanese seabass Lateolabrax japonicus (Cuvier) (Perciformes: Lateolabracidae) in the Bohai Sea off China, is described using both light and scanning electron microscopy. The new species differs from its congeners in the presence of narrow lateral alae originating a short distance posterior to the base of the ventrolateral lips, a long intestinal caecum (60.4–79.1% of oesophageal length) and a relatively short ventricular appendix (intestinal caecum to ventricular appendix ratio 1:0.58–0.85), long spicules (2.11–2.99 mm, 4.25–7.83% of body length), the number and arrangement of the caudal papillae (32–36 pairs arranged as follows: 27–31 pairs precloacal, 1 pair paracloacal, and 4–5 pairs postcloacal with the second or third pair double) and the presence of a particular midventral precloacal papilla. Specimens originally identified as Contracaecum paralichthydis Yamaguti, 1941 [now H. paralichthydis (Yamaguti, 1941)] by Xü (1957), collected from the yellow striped flounder Pseudopleuronectes herzensteini (Jordan & Snyder) (Pleuronectiformes: Pleuronectidae) in the Yellow Sea off China, were also re-examined. Their morphology clearly revealed they belong to H. aduncum (Rudolphi, 1802), which is also redescribed based on Xü’s material. In addition, the morphological variation of caudal papillae in H. aduncum from P. herzensteini was compared, using scanning electron microscopy, with specimens collected from another three fish hosts, Lophius litulon (Jordan) (Lophiiformes: Lophiidae), Scomberomorus niphonius (Cuvier) (Perciformes: Scombridae) and Cleisthenes herzensteini (Schmidt) (Pleuronectiformes: Pleuronectidae), from the Yellow Sea off China.     

Molecular evidence for the occurrence of Contracaecum rudolphii A (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis (Linnaeus) (Aves: Phalacrocoracidae) from Sardinia (western Mediterranean Sea)

Specimens of Contracaecum rudolphii Hartwich, 1964 (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from Phalacrocorax aristotelis (Linnaeus) from the Archipelago of La Maddalena (Sardinia, western Mediterranean Sea) were characterised genetically and compared with C. rudolphii A sensu D’Amelio et al. 1990 and C. rudolphii B sensu D’Amelio et al. 1990 from Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (Blumenbach) from north-eastern Italy, and with C. rudolphii C sensu D’Amelio et al. 2007 from Phalacrocorax auritus (Lesson) from west-central Florida, USA. The sequencing of the small subunit of the mitochondrial ribosomal RNA gene (rrnS) and by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the same gene and of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) allowed the identification of all specimens of C. rudolphii from P. aristotelis as C. rudolphii A. The results confirmed that the definition of genetic markers, following the analysis of nuclear ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA, provides quick and practical diagnostic tools for the detection of the 3 sibling species of C. rudolphii. The occurrence of C. rudolphii in P. aristotelis is reported for the first time from the Mediterranean area, improving the picture of the dispersal patterns of the populations of these piscivorous birds, and confirming the existence of different and isolated populations between the North and South European waters.     

Molecular identification and larval morphological description of Contracaecum pelagicum (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from the anchovy Engraulis anchoita (Engraulidae) and fish-eating birds from the Argentine North Patagonian Sea

Anisakids use invertebrates as paratenic and/or intermediate hosts as a basic feature of larval transmission. The third-stage larva usually develops in invertebrates which are prey items of finfish paratenic hosts. Contracaecum larvae molt twice inside the egg and hatch as free third-stage larvae ensheathed in the second-stage larval cuticle. Copepods act as paratenic or obligatory hosts, usually ingesting these free L3 larvae, and fish act as intermediate/paratenic or metaparatenic hosts preying on infected copepods. Fish-eating birds acquire L3 larvae by ingesting infected fish where they develop into the fourth-stage larvae and adults. Objectives of this work were to establish the specific correspondence between Contracaecum pelagicum L3 larvae parasitizing the anchovy Engraulis anchoita, and the adults parasitizing the Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus and the Imperial shag Phalacrocorax atriceps through the use of molecular markers; and, to evaluate the anisakid L3 larval recruitment and infection caused by ingestion of anchovy by S. magellanicus. Sixteen specimens of Contracaecum L3 larvae were analyzed from E. anchoita from Bahía Engaño, Chubut, eight adult nematodes from S. magellanicus and six adult specimens from P. atriceps both from the Valdés Peninsula, Chubut. All nematodes were sequenced for three genes: mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 2 (mtDNA cox2), mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (rrnS), and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA region. Phylogenetic analyses were performed by using Maximum Parsimony (MP) analysis by PAUP. In addition, studies under SEM and LM were carried out on L3 larvae. All L3 individuals from E. anchoita, adults from S. magellanicus, and P. atriceps clustered in the same clade, well supported in the MP tree inferred from the mtDNA cox2, and rrnS gene sequences analyses. Further, the sequence alignments of L3 larvae and adults of C. pelagicum here obtained at the ITS-1 and ITS-2 regions of the rDNA matched the sequences of C. pelagicum previously deposited by us in GenBank. Nematode recruitment (R_o) was equal to 33.07 (7.20–91.14) L3 larvae for C. pelagicum in each penguin's meal of anchovy. The MP tree topologies obtained from mtDNA cox2 and rrnS genes demonstrated that specimens of Contracaecum L3 larvae from E. anchoita and C. pelagicum from S. magellanicus as well as from P. atriceps constitute a unique clade, well-distinct and supported from all the others formed by the Contracaecum spp. sequenced so far for these genes. Molecular markers are considered to be an effective tool to elucidate larval transmission. The Contracaecum L3 larval recruitment value showed that many worms fail to establish in the bird digestive tract, probably because they are below a critical size. Further work is needed to elucidate other factors (e.g., physiological, immunological) that control nematode populations in the penguin digestive tract.     

First description of the female of Sarcophaga (Sarcorohdendorfia) gracilior (Chen, 1975) (Diptera,Sarcophagidae)

Sarcophaga (Sarcorohdendorfia) gracilior (Chen, 1975) is documented from specimens collected in Hubei Province, China, using morphological characters and wing interference patterns (WIPs). The female of S. (S.) gracilior is described for the first time, the male is redescribed, and both sexes are photographed. The distribution of the species is updated.     

Revision of the fossil cylindrotomidae (Diptera,Nematocera) from florissant and White River,USA

Fossil species of the genusCyttaromyia Scudder (Diphtera, Cylindrotomidae) described by Scudder in 1877 and 1894 from the Eocene of White River Basin and the Lower Oligocène of Florissant, Colorado, are revised.Cyttaromyia fenestrata Scudder from White River andCyttaromyia princetoniana Scudder are redescribed; the remaining species: C.cancellata Scudder, C.clathrata Scudder and C.oligocena Scudder are regarded as junior synonyms of C.princetoniana.     

New species and records of Charisius Champion from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae)

The species of the genus Charisius Champion, from Mexico and Central America are reviewed. The flightless genus Narses Champion, with one included species, N. subalatus Champion, is placed in synonymy with the genus Charisius. Four new species are described and illustrated, C. granulatus and C. punctatus (from Guatemala) and C. apterus and C. howdenorum (from Mexico). Charisius subalatus (Champion) is redescribed and illustrated. The species C. interstitialis Champion is placed in synonymy with C. zunilensis Champion. The genus is redescribed to include the four new species and N. subalatus. New distributional records are presented for all other species of the genus and a revised key is presented for identification of all the species of the genus.     

Leptosomatides brevicaudatus n. sp. and a Redescription of Leptosomatides marinae Platonova, 1967 (Enoplida: Leptosomatidae)

The free-living marine nematodes Leptosomatides brevicaudatus n. sp. and L. marinae were described and redescribed, respectively, from material collected in the northwest Pacific. Leptosomatides brevicaudatus n. sp. from Simushir Island differs from L. marinae in the ratio c8 (body length divided by tail length measured on the chord) and the length of the spicules. Leptosomatides marinae is redescribed from light microscopy (LM) observations of the type specimens and LM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of specimens from Hokkaido, Japan. It appears to be impossible to distinguish among some species of Leptosomatides because they are either insufficiently described or known only from females. Secondary sexual characters of males are essential for purposes of identification.     

Taxonomic notes on the genus Eupoa ?abka, 1985 (Arachnida,Araneae, Salticidae)

The south-east Asian genus Eupoa is redescribed and diagnosed. Seven new species are diagnosed, described and illustrated: E. daklak sp. n. (♀) from Viet-Nam; E. lehtineni sp. n. (♂♀) from India, Thailand and Viet-Nam; E. lobli sp. n. (♂) from Malaysia; E. pappi sp. n. (♂) from Thailand; E. pulchella sp. n.(♂) from Thailand; E. schwendingeri sp. n. (♂♀) from Thailand; and E. thailandica sp. n. (♂♀) from Thailand. Eupoa prima Żabka, 1985 and E. yunnanensis Peng & Kim, 1997 are redescribed and illustrated on the basis of type and/or newly collected materials. The female of E. yunnanensis Peng & Kim, 1997 is found and described for the first time.     

Redescription of a rare flathead,Onigocia grandisquama (Regan, 1908) (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae)

A rare platycephalid,Onigocia grandisquama (Regan), is redescribed in detail from the holotype and an additional specimen collected from the Gulf of Thailand, western Pacific. The species is characterized by the following combination of characters: 11 anal fin rays, 32–34 lateral line scales, anteriormost 3–5 or 3–6 lateral line scales with a distinct spine, 1–2 preocular spines, broad and flat ocular flap, and long head (42.4–44.7% of standard length).     

The ant genus Carebara Westwood in the Arabian Peninsula (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

The ant genus Carebara of the Arabian Peninsula is revised. Carebara abuhurayri Sharaf & Aldawood, 2011 is synonymized under Carebara arabica Collingwood & van Harten, 2001. Carebara arabica is redescribed and a Neotype is fixed based on a specimen collected from southwestern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A new species, C. fayrouzae sp. n. is described from Saudi Arabia based on queens, major and minor workers. Keys to major and minor workers of the two Arabian Carebara species are given.     

The male of Megacormus granosus (Gervais, 1844) with comments on its hemispermatophore (Scorpiones,Euscorpiidae)

The male of Megacormus granosus is described for the first time and the female redescribed. A homology scheme proposed recently is applied to hemispermatophore structures. The specimens were collected in an oak forest from Pico de Orizaba Volcano at an average altitude of 2340 m. All adult males were collected by pitfall traps, whereas all adult females and both sex immatures were collected using Berlese funnels, suggesting that males are comparatively more mobile within the leaf litter layer, probably due to mating season.     

Typification of the genus Dileptus Dujardin, 1841 (Ciliophora,Rhynchostomatia)

In their monograph of the dileptids, Vďačný and Foissner (2012) could not clarify the type species of the genus Dileptus Dujardin, 1841. Thus, they suggested that the problem be referred to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. However, recently we discovered that Dujardin (1841) has originally typified Dileptus with Amphileptus anser sensu Ehrenberg (1838) which is in fact a misidentified Amphileptus margaritifer Ehrenberg, 1833, a common species also originally classified in Dileptus. Under Article 70.3.2 of the Code, Dileptus margaritifer (Ehrenberg, 1833) Dujardin, 1841, thoroughly redescribed by Foissner et al. (1995), is now the type of Dileptus. This has the great advantages of historical continuity and that new combinations (names) are not required.     

Taxonomic revision of the East Asian genus Scleropteroides Colonnelli, 1979 (Coleoptera,Curculionidae, Ceutorhynchinae)

The genus Scleropteroides Colonnelli, 1979 (Ceutorhynchinae: Scleropterini) was revised on the basis of detailed morphological observations. The genus was redefined to include three species from East Asia: S. hypocrita (Hustache, 1916) is redescribed and recorded from northeastern China and northern Korea for the first time; S. horridulus (Voss, 1958) is redescribed with new records from southern Korea; S. insularis Voss, 1971 was moved from synonymy with S. hypocrita to that with S. horridulus (syn. n.), and S. longiprocessus Huang & Yoshitake, sp. n. is described as new, sympatric with S. hypocrita in Japan. All the species are associated with woody Rubus species (Rosaceae). A key to species, habitus photographs, illustrations of important characters, and distribution maps are provided for each species.     

Reclassification of the Genus Chitinotylenchus (Micoletzky, 1922) and a Redescription of C. paragracilis (Micoletzky, 1922) (Nematoda: Tylenchoidea)

The holotype of Chitinotylenchus paragracilis (Micoletzky, 1922) is redescribed and illustrated. Chitinotylenchus is proposed as a synonym of Ditylenchus Filipjev, 1936 and C. paragracilis as Ditylenchus paragracilis (Micoletzky, 1922) new comb. The four other species in the genus Chitinotylenchus are considered species inquirendae.     

A Redescription of Calicotyle australis Johnston, 1934 (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) from the Type-host Trygonorrhina Fasciata (Rhinobatidae) off Adelaide, South Australia, Including Descriptions of Live and Silver Stained Larvae

Calicotyle australis Johnston, 1934 (Monogenea Monxocotylidae) is redescribed from the cloaca of the type-host, the southern fiddler ray Trygonorrhina fasciata (Rhinobatidae) off Adelaide, South Australia. Lobed glands joining the oötype are reported for the first time and may be characteristic of the genus. The presence of an appendix associated with the seminal vesicle in C. australis, previously reported as absent, is confirmed. The anatomy of the oncomiracidium of C. australis is described from observations of live larvae, and the number and distribution of ciliated epidermal cells and sensilla, revealed by silver staining larvae, is also described. Use of larval characters to distinguish between species of Calicotyle Diesing, 1850 and other closely related monocotylids is discussed.     

Egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) of Amrasca biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on Okinawa Island,a pest of okra in Japan

The fairyfly Anagrus (Anagrus) japonicus Sahad (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is identified for the first time as an egg parasitoid of the okra leafhopper Amrasca (Sundapteryx) biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on Okinawa Island, Japan. Amrasca biguttula is a serious pest of okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (Malvaceae), both in Okinawa and Bonin Islands. Female of A. japonicus is redescribed, and its previously unknown male is described, based on the reared specimens from Okinawa. Prior to this study, host associations of A. japonicus were unknown. Another species of Mymaridae, Arescon enocki (Subba Rao and Kaur), also emerged from eggs of A. biguttula on okra in Okinawa, albeit in much smaller numbers.     

Atherospio guillei (Laubier and Ramos, 1974) comb. nov. (Polychaeta: Spionidae) and closest relatives

Atherospio guillei (Laubier and Ramos, 1974) comb. nov. is redescribed based on new material collected during a benthic survey in the German Bight, North Sea. Main characteristics of this species are a deeply incised prostomium, modified neurochaetae on chaetiger 5 superior to a small bundle of capillaries, branchiae fully fused to notopodial lamellae with digitiform distal process from chaetiger 7 over a limited number of succeeding chaetigers, predominately unidentate curved hooks with closely applied sheath from chaetiger 13-15 and a pygidium surrounded by several pairs of lateral cirri. Atherospio is closely related to Pygospiopsis and Pseudatherospio. Interrelationships of these genera are discussed.