Review of Australasian spider flies (Diptera, Acroceridae) with a revision of Panops Lamarck

The Australasian spider flies (Diptera: Acroceridae) are reviewed, with all eight currently recognized genera diagnosed and figured. The panopine genus Panops Lamarck, 1804 from Australia and Indonesia is revised with four new species described, increasing the total number of species in the genus to nine: Panops aurumsp. n., Panops danielsisp. n., Panops jadesp. n. and Panops schlingerisp. n. Five species of Panops are redescribed: Panops austrae Neboiss, 1971, Panops baudini Lamarck, 1804, Panops boharti (Schlinger, 1959), comb. n., Panops conspicuus (Brunetti, 1926) and Panops grossi (Neboiss, 1971), comb. n. The monotypic genera Neopanops Schlinger, 1959 and Panocalda Neboiss, 1971 are synonymized with Panops. Keys to genera of Australasian Acroceridae and species of Panops, Helle Osten Sacken, 1896 and Australasian Pterodontia Gray, 1832 are included.     

A revision of the genus Telomerina Roháček (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae)

Abstract. The genus Telomerina Roháč;ek (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) is revised to include twelve species: five Palaearctic, five Nearctic, one Holarctic and one cosmopolitan. The five Neartic species, chillcotti, orpha, submerda, carta and pengellyi are described as new. The male of T.eburnea Roháček is described; T.gracilipennis (Spuler) is synonomized with T.flavipes (Meigen) and T.antonini Roháček is synonomized with T.levifrons (Spuler). The larva and pupa of T.flavipes are described. A phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus is presented along with a discussion of its zoogeography.     

中国地种蝇属一新种记述（双翅目;花蝇科）

黄足地种蝇,新种Ｄｅｌｉａｆｌａｖｉｐｅｓｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．（图１～４）雄体长约６５ｍｍ。本种与黄基地种蝇Ｄｅｌｉａｂｒａｃａｔａ（Ｒｏｎｄａｎｉ,１８６６）近似。但新种的足几乎全黄;前股后腹鬃列完整而强大;中胫有１前背鬃,后胫前背鬃６;腹部第５背板端部２／３橙色;侧尾叶端部１／３膨大。而后者的跗节全黑;前股后腹鬃至多３个;中胫无前背鬃,后胫前背鬃３;第５背板无橙色后缘;侧尾叶端部细,不膨大雌不详。正模♂,内蒙古阿拉善左旗牧仁高勒,海拔１４００ｍ。１９８６年６月３日,田兆丰采,副模１♂,同正模。模式标本保存于内蒙古自治区卫生防疫站     

螟黄足盘绒茧蜂复合群支序系统学研究（膜翅目：茧蜂科：小腹茧蜂亚科）

对螟黄足盘绒茧蜂复合群Cotesia flavipes complex (膜翅目：茧蜂科：小腹茧蜂亚科)分布全世界的5个种和外群侧沟茧蜂Microplitis 及荻茧蜂Diolcogaster 的25个性状,以及复合群5个种和外群螟蛉盘绒茧蜂Cotesia ruficrus、粘虫盘绒茧蜂Cotesia kariyai、粉蝶盘绒茧蜂Cotesia glomerata 的24个性状,分别进行比较研究,并运用支序分析的方法探讨该复合群内5个种种间的系统发育关系。支序分析表明螟黄足盘绒茧蜂复合群是一单系群,二化螟盘绒茧蜂C. chilonis 和大螟盘绒茧蜂C. sesamiae 近缘,芦螟盘绒茧蜂C. chiloluteelli 和汉寿盘绒茧蜂C. hanshouensis 近缘,螟黄足盘绒茧蜂C. flavipes相对独立。 以上研究表明无论是以近缘属作外群还是以同属其它种作外群,所得结果基本上都能反映螟黄足盘绒茧蜂复合群各种之间的分类地位。     

中国黄足猎蝽属厘订(半翅目:猎蝽科:盗猎蝽亚科)

本文记述黄足猎蝽属一新种——黑胸黄足猎蝽Sirthenea melanota sp.nov.,并与两个已知种——黄足猎蝽S.flavipes(Stal)及半黄足猎蝽S.dimidiata Horvath——进行了详细的比较。除黄足猎蝽外,其发音沟及雄性外生殖器构造均为首次记载。此外,指出S.clavata Miller可能是黄足猎蝽apicalis变型的同物异名。新种的鉴别特征是:黑色,光亮;头背面全为红黄褐色,前胸背板全为黑色;近似S.leonina Horvath,但其前翅色斑区别明显;体躯量度见表2;模式标本保存于西北农业大学昆虫博物馆。     

Colony genetic organization and colony fusion in the termite Reticulitermes flavipes as revealed by foraging patterns over time and space

Temporal and spatial analyses are seldom utilized in the study of colony genetic structure, but they are potentially powerful methods which can yield novel insights into the mechanisms underlying variation in breeding systems. Here we present the results of a study which incorporated both of these dimensions in an examination of genetic structure of subterranean termites in the genus Reticulitermes (primarily R. flavipes). Most colonies of this species (70%) were simple families apparently headed by outbred primary reproductives, while most of the remaining (27% of the total) colonies contained low effective numbers of moderately inbred reproductives. Mapping the spatial distribution of colony foraging sites over time revealed that despite the high colony density, the absolute foraging boundaries of most R. flavipes colonies were persistent and exclusive of other conspecific colonies, which suggests that this species is more territorial than has been implied by laboratory studies of intraspecific aggression. Nevertheless, we found a single colony (3% of all colonies) which contained the offspring of more than two unrelated reproductives. Although other studies have also described subterranean termite colonies with a similarly complex genetic composition, we demonstrate here that such colonies can form under natural conditions via the fusion of whole colonies. This study underscores how repeated sampling from individual colonies over time and space can yield information about colony spatial and genetic structure that cannot be obtained from conventional analyses or sampling methods.     

Neriidae (Diptera: Schizophora) of the Brazilian Amazon: new records of genera and species, and key to species

The present study brings together survey data from collection in several localities in the Brazilian Amazon and specimens from the Entomological Collection of Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG-Belém). The flies were collected over organic decomposing matter (bananas and bovine meat) baits. The genus Odontoloxozus Enderlein, with the species Odontoloxozus peruanus Hennig, is recorded from Brazil for the first time. The species Glyphidops (Glyphidops) flavipes (Widemann), G. (Oncopsia) flavifrons (Bigot), G.(O.) durus (Cresson) and G. (O.) dipsar (Hennig) are new occurrences for Brazil. The species G. (O.)carrerai Aczél and N. plurivittatus Bigot are new occurrences from Brazilian Amazon. A key to Brazilian Amazon species is provided.     

Phylogenetics and genetic diversity of the Cotesia flavipes complex of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), biological control agents of lepidopteran stemborers

The Cotesia flavipes complex of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are economically important for the biological control of lepidopteran stemboring pests associated with gramineous crops. Some members of the complex successfully parasitize numerous stemborer pest species, however certain geographic populations have demonstrated variation in the range of hosts that they parasitize. In addition, the morphology of the complex is highly conserved and considerable confusion surrounds the identity of species and host-associated biotypes. We generated nucleotide sequence data for two mtDNA genes (COI, 16S) and three anonymous nuclear loci (CfBN, CfCN, CfEN) for the C. flavipes complex. To analyze genetic variation and relationships among populations we used (1) concatenated mtDNA and nDNA data, (2) a nDNA multilocus network approach, and (3) two species tree inference methods, i.e. Bayesian estimation of species trees (BEST) and Bayesian inference of species trees from multilocus data with (*)BEAST. All phylogenetic analyses provide strong support for monophyly of the complex and the presence of at least four species, C. chilonis (from China and Japan), C. sesamiae (from Africa), C. flavipes (originating from the Indo-Asia region but introduced into Africa and the New World), and C. nonagriae (from Australia and Papua New Guinea). Haplotype diversity of geographic populations relates to historical biogeographic barriers and biological control introductions, and reflects previous reports of ecological variation in these species. Strong discordance was found between the mitochondrial and nuclear markers in the Papua New Guinea haplotypes, which may be an outcome of hybridization and introgression of C. flavipes and C. nonagriae. The position of Cotesia flavipes from Japan was not well supported in any analysis and was the sister taxon to C. nonagriae (mtDNA, (*)BEAST), C. flavipes (nDNA) or C. flavipes+C. nonagriae (BEST) and, may represent a cryptic species. The concatenated five gene phylogenetic analyses did not support the overall separation and monophyly of clades associated with different host species, although some clades did show specific host associations, possibly due to localized host availability, rather than host specificity. Our results provide a framework for assessing whether distinct lineages represent cryptic species, and for examining parasitoid-host evolution and compatibility more generally. Given the limitations of morphological based identification for members of this complex, molecular identification is recommended prior to any biological control introductions.     

Multiple Parasitism by Cotesia sesamiae and Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Busseola fusca (Fuller) is one of the most important pest of cereals in sub-Saharan Africa. Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) is the predominant parasitoid attacking B. fusca larvae in many parts of Africa. An exotic parasitoid, Cotesia flavipes Cameron, was introduced into Kenya in 1993 for the control of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). Laboratory studies indicated that although C. flavipes would search for, and attack B. fusca , it was not able to complete its development in this host. The aim of the present study was to investigate the outcome of multiple parasitism of B. fusca by the two Cotesia species. The study showed that when both parasitoid species stung a B. fusca larva at the same time, both parasitoids emerged from more than half of the host larvae, C. flavipes alone emerged from 17%, and C. sesamiae alone emerged from 9%. When the larvae were parasitized by C. sesamiae first, and then 2 h later by C. flavipes , and vice versa, most of the progeny were C. flavipes . However, when B. fusca larvae were stung by C. sesamiae three days before oviposition by C. flavipes , significantly more C. sesamiae emerged from the larvae. When C. flavipes oviposited first, no larvae produced C. flavipes only. The interaction of parasitoids and the host immune system, and the implications of these results for the biological control of stem borers in East Africa are discussed.     

Ontogenic potentialities of the worker caste in two sympatric subterranean termites in France

In termites, the capacity of workers to differentiate into neotenic reproductives is an important characteristic that deserves particular attention. To gain insight into the differentiation pathway, the potentialities of workers and the endocrinal changes during the formation of neotenics were compared in two sympatric termites, Reticulitermes flavipes and Reticulitermes grassei. After 1 year of development, 100% of R. flavipes worker groups produced neotenics against only 63% of R. grassei groups. The average production of female neotenics was significantly higher in R. flavipes worker groups compared with R. grassei groups and R. flavipes produced a greater proportion of female neotenics. Moreover, R. flavipes produced more offspring, not only because there were more females, but also because R. flavipes females were more productive. Moreover, the offspring produced by R. flavipes grew faster than the offspring of R. grassei. Both ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone (JH) titers varied significantly during the development of neotenics. The two species showed similar ecdysteroid titer variation patterns. However, the JH titer variation patterns strongly differed: in R. grassei, the concentration of JH increased in maturing neotenics then dropped in mature neotenics, whereas in R. flavipes, the level of JH was significantly higher than in R. grassei and remained constantly high in mature neotenics. Overall, these results suggest that these two species differ strongly in many life-history traits as well as in the physiological control of their caste differentiation system. Possible origins and mechanisms of such interspecific variations are discussed, as well as their evolutionary and ecological consequences.     

Revision of the enigmatic Australasian genus Miropotes Nixon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), with comments on the phylogenetic importance of the female ovipositor system

Abstract. The endemic Australasian microgastrine genus Miropotes Nixon, previously known from two species, M. creon Nixon from Tasmania and M. petiolaris (Szépligeti) from N.S.W., is revised. A further eight species are described as new (M. burringbaris, M. boothis, M. chookolis, M. goobitis, M. kilkulunis, M. cadgeis, M. katois and M. thuraris) , two of which represent the first record of the genus outside continental Australia (viz New Guinea, New Hebrides and New Caledonia). A key to species is presented along with information on the first host record for the genus. Relationships between Miropotes and other microgastrine genera are discussed, particularly in reference to the structure of the ovipositor and hypopygium, which have bearing on the current tribal classification of the subfamily.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Aspergillus species using DNA sequences from four loci

DNA sequences were determined for beta tubulin (BT2), calmodulin (CF), ITS and lsu rDNA (ID) and RNA polymerase II (RPB2) from ca. 460 Aspergillus isolates. RPB2 and rDNA sequences were combined and analyzed to determine relationships in the genus and in the family Trichocomaceae. Eupenicillium species form a statistically supported clade with origins among the Aspergillus clades. A. crystallinus, A. malodoratus and H. paradoxus are members of the Eupenicillium clade. A. zonatus, A. clavatoflvus and W. spinulosa occur in a clade along with Hamigera sp. Other than these exceptional species, Aspergillus species and sections occur on three strongly supported clades that descend from a polytomy. Section Versicolores as a monophyletic group includes only A. versicolor and A. sydowii and is superfluous. The other sections were retained but modified. All four loci were used in genealogical concordance analysis of species boundaries. Fennellia flavipes and F. nivea are not conspecific with their supposed anamorphs A. flavipes and A. nivea. Synonymies were found for some species and more than 20 undescribed taxa were identified in genealogical concordance analysis. Newly discovered taxa will be described elsewhere. Possibly paralogous gene fragments were amplified with the BT2 primers in sections Nidulantes, Usti and Nigri. Use of nonhomologous sequences in genealogical concordance analysis could lead to false conclusions and so BT2 sequences were not used in analysis of those sections.     

中国纩蚜属研究及新种新亚种记述(同翅目:纩蚜科)(英文)

通过对中国纩蚜属的研究,作者提出纩蚜属的现代地理分布呈岛状分布的格局;并推测该属的起源中心可能在欧洲,现代分化中心可能在中国的横断山脉地区。从动物地理的角度,探讨了该属内的系统发育关系。同时,发现一新种,即云杉纩蚜Mindaurspiceasuctusspnov.。正模为无翅孤雌蚜,副模为5只有翅孤雌蚜和8只无翅孤雌蚜,分布在云南省昆明市,辽宁省沈阳市和熊岳县。一新亚种,即冷杉纩蚜三圈亚种M.abietinustriprimesensorissp.nov.,正模为有翅孤雌蚜,副模为3只有翅孤雌蚜,分布在云南省丽江市玉龙山。一新纪录种,即冷杉纩蚜指名亚种M.abietinusabietinusKoch1856。并且给出种的检索表,模式标本存放在中国科学院动物研究所标本馆。     

A Novel Strain of Steinernema riobrave (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) Possesses Superior Virulence to Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Subterranean termites are major global pests of wood structures and wood products. Among the most economically important subterranean termite species in the US are Heterotermes aureus, Reticulitermes flavipes, and Coptotermes formosanus. In prior studies, the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema riobrave strain 355, exhibited a high level of virulence to H. aureus compared with other nematode species. However, S. riobrave 355 was reported to be poorly or only moderately virulent to R. flavipes and C. formosanus, respectively. We hypothesized that other strains of S. riobrave may possess a high level of virulence to all three termite species. Under laboratory conditions we compared three novel strains of S. riobrave (3-8b, 7-12, and TP) with the 355 strain for virulence to H. aureus, R. flavipes, and C. formosanus workers. H. aureus was very susceptible to all the S. riobrave strains, and termites in all nematode treatments were dead after 4 d. The TP strain of S. riobrave caused greater mortality in R. flavipes and C. formosanus compared to the other nematode strains. Specifically, the TP strain caused 75% and 91% mortality in R. flavipes and C. formosanus, respectively, which was more than 300% and 70% higher than the mortality caused by other strains. Additional studies are warranted to determine the ability of S. riobrave (TP) to control the targeted termite species under field conditions.     

Molecular phylogeny of parabasalids based on small subunit rRNA sequences, with emphasis on the Trichomonadinae subfamily

We determined small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences from three parabasalid species, Trichomitus batrachorum strain R105, Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, and Pentatrichomonas hominis belonging to the Trichomonadinae subfamily. Unrooted molecular phylogenetic trees inferred by distance, parsimony, and likelihood methods reveal four discrete clades among the parabasalids. The Trichomonadinae form a robust monophyletic group. Within this subfamily T. gallinarum is closely related to Trichomonas species as supported by morphological data, with P. hominis and Pseudotrypanosoma giganteum occupying basal positions. Our analysis does not place T. batrachorum within the Trichomonadinae. Trichomitus batrachorum (strains R105 and BUB) and Hypotrichomonas acosta form a well-separated cluster, suggesting the genus Trichomitus is polyphyletic. The emergence of T. batrachorum precedes the Trichomonadinae-Tritrichomonadinae dichotomy, emphasizing its pivotal evolutionary position among the Trichomonadidae. A third cluster unites the Devescovinidae and the Calonymphidae. The fourth clade contains the three hypermastigid sequences from the genus Trichonympha, which exhibit the earliest emergence among the parabasalids. The addition of these three new parabasalid species did not however resolve ambiguities regarding the relative branching order of the parabasalid clades. The phylogenetic positions of Tritrichomonas faetus, Monocercomonas sp., Dientamoeba fragilis, and the unidentified Reticulitermes flavipes gut symbiont 1 remain unclear.     

中国彩步甲属研究(鞘翅目,步甲科)

彩步甲属Mastax Fischer von Waldheim在中国分布8种,分别为:布氏彩步甲M.brittoni Quentin,1952、台湾彩步甲M.formosana Dupuis,1912、盖氏彩步甲M.gestroi Bates,1892、宽斑侧步甲M.latefaciata Liebke,1931、饰彩步甲M.ornata Schmidt-Gobel,1846、杂彩步甲M.poecila Schaum,1863、美彩步甲M.pulchella Dejean,1831和大彩步甲M.thermarum(Steven,1806),其中饰彩步甲和大彩步甲为中国新纪录种.依据成虫形态特征编制了中国彩步甲属的分种检索表.     

Tunneling and mortality of eastern and Formosan subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in sand treated with thiamethoxam or fipronil

Thiamethoxam and fipronil were examined for their termiticidal properties against the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Concentrations > or =8 ppm thiamethoxam and > or =1 ppm fipronil provided an effective barrier against C. formosanus and R. flavipes. Sand was penetrated to some degree at all concentrations of thiamethoxam (0-800 ppm for C. formosanus and 0-1000 ppm for R. flavipes) and fipronil (0-64 ppm for both C. formosanus and R. flavipes) tested, indicating that both termiticides are nonrepellent. Thiamethoxam was found to be more toxic against C. formosanus than R. flavipes whereas fipronil showed similar toxicity for both species. Higher mortality prevented termites from penetrating the entire 5-cm segment of treated sand.     

In situ morphology of the gut microbiota of wood-eating termites [Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) and Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki].

Light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine the in situ morphology of the gut microbiota of Reticulitermes flavipes and Caoptotermes formosanus. Laboratory-maintained termites were used and, for R. flavipes, specimens were also prepared immediately after collection from a natural infestation. The latter endeavor enabled a study of different castes and developmental stages of R. flavipes and revealed differences in the microbiota of field versus laboratory specimens. The termite paunch microbiota consisted of an abundance of morphologically diverse bacteria and protozoa. Thirteen bacterial morphotypes in the paunch were described in detail: seven were observed only in R. flavipes, three were observed only in C. formosanus, and three were common to both termite species. The paunch epithelium was densely colonized by bacteria, many of which possessed holdfast elements that secured them tightly to this tissue and to other bacterial cells. Besides bacteria, the protozoan Pyrsonympha vertens adhered to the paunch epithelium of R. flavipes by means of an attachment organelle. Cuplike indentations were present on the paunch epithelial surface and were sites of bacterial aggregation. Ultrastructural features of cups suggested their involvement in ion absorption. In addition to the paunch, the midgut was also colonized by bacteria that were situated between epithelial microvilli. Results suggest that bacteria are an integral part of the gut ecosystem.     

Evidence of the establishment of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of cereal stemborers,and its host range expansion in Ethiopia

Three lepidopteran cereal stemborers, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Crambidae), Busseola fusca Fuller, and Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Noctuidae) were collected from maize and sorghum in Ethiopia. The noctuid stemborers are indigenous to Africa while C. partellus is an introduced species from Asia. In 1999, the Asian stemborer parasitoid, Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Braconidae) was found to be widespread in Ethiopia, even though it had never been released in the country. In addition to attacking Chilo partellus, Cotesia flavipes was reared from B. fusca and S. calamistis. The origin of C. flavipes in Ethiopia may have been Somalia where it was released in 1997 near the border with eastern Ethiopia. Percent parasitism of borers by C. flavipes was higher in eastern Ethiopia than other surveyed regions, and parasitism was higher in 2000 than 1999. Parasitism was higher when cereals were intercropped with other plants and when wild grass hosts of stemborers were present.