Leydigia louisi louisi Jenkin, 1934 in the Neotropics, L. louisi mexicana n.subsp. in the Central Mexican highlands

Leydigia louisi Jenkin, 1934 was recently redescribed by Kotov (2003). We found in Guatemala and South of Mexico populations of this species, similar with the typical African form. A re-examination of Daday's (1902) specimens from Patagonia demonstrated that his material, determined as L. leydigi, was also L. louisi. At the same time, we describe a new subspecies Leydigia louisi mexicana n.subsp. from four water bodies on the central Mexican plateau (State of Mexico). Parthenogenetic females, ephippial females, juvenile and adult males are described. SEM illustrations are given for L. louisi mexicana n.sp. It differs from the nominotypical subspecies by (1) ocellus of irregular shape; (2) chitinous insertions within distal segments of swimming setae far from bases of segments; (3) on IDL, 3 bunches of very long setules; (4) setules on distal lobe of limb II long; (5) longest seta of exopodite III with long, fine setules; (6) seta 1 of exopodite IV relatively short; (7) a two-lobed body on inner margin of limb V. Features 2–6 were never used in the genus previously, but were applied in the systematics of other genera of Chydoridae. The ranges of these two subspecies are, probably, the Neotropical and Holarctic regions.     

A new species of Pseudomacrochiron Reddiah, 1969 (Crustacea: Copepoda: Macrochironidae) associated with scyphistomae of the moon jellyfish Aurelia sp. (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) off Japan

A new species of the Macrochironidae Humes & Boxshall, 1996 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida), Pseudomacrochiron aureliae n. sp., is described based on adult specimens extracted from the gastrovacular cavity of the scyphistomae of Aurelia sp. (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) collected in the Seto Inland Sea and Ise Bay off the coast of Japan. The new species differs from its congeners by having the following combination of characters: a caudal ramus with a length to width ratio of 3.1; an accessory flagellum on caudal setae II, III and VI; three apical setae on the maxillule; only setae I and II on the maxillary basis; two short spines on the female maxilliped claw (endopod); an armature of III, I, 4 on the terminal exopodal segment of leg 3; an armature of I, II, 2 on the terminal endopodal segment of leg 3; an armature of II, I, 4 on the terminal exopodal segment of leg 4; and a short free exopodal segment of leg 5 (length to width ratio of 1.4) armed with a long seta and short spine. P. aureliae n. sp. is the first member of the genus reported from off Japan and from the scyphistomae of its scyphozoan host.     

Role of the male claw sensilla in perception of female mounting sex pheromone in Dermacentor variabilis,Dermacentor andersoni and Amblyomma americanum

The foreleg claw sensilla of male D. variabilis, D. andersoni and A. americanum ticks indlude the receptors that perceive the female contact mounting sex pheromone (MSP). In all three tick species, the foreleg claw sensilla comprise six anteriorly-directed setae arranged in three symmetrical pairs, two each on the opposite sides of the apotele of the claw and one on the ventral side. Morphological study and behavioral bioassays of these setae revealed that only the dorsal and middle (=lateral) pairs of claw sensilla are mechanogustatory. While the ventral pair are strictly mechanoreceptors. The dorsal and middle sensory setae exhibit a single pore-like structure located at or near their tip, a feature characteristic of mechanogustatory sensilla. These setae are similar to those found on the palps that are believed to function as pheromone receptors. In all three tick species, male mounting and postmounting behaviors were suppressed only when the dorsal and middle pairs of claw sensilla were ablated or covered with gelatin; normal behavior was restored when the gelatin was removed. Doscresponse bioassays were conducted with D. variabilis males to authenticate the results of the gelatin tests. The results of these bioassays demonstrated that the gelatin coat was impervious to the pheromone. The characteristics of the ixodid tick mating system that distinguish it from mating processes in other arthropods are discussed.     

The ontogeny of Loxoconcha japonica Ishizaki, 1968 (Cytheroidea, Ostracoda, Crustacea)

The ontogeny of the cytheroidean species Loxoconcha japonica is documented from the earliest instar to the adult. The first instar (instar A-8) of L. japonica is different from that of cypridoidean species in that it has an additional appendage, the furca, present. From instar A-7 onwards, the appearance of the appendages is similar to that of cypridoidean and bairdioidean species. The furca is well developed in instars A-8 to A-5, and is probably an important appendage in these early instars, despite its reduced form in the adults. Some appendages of L. japonica (e.g. the antennae) gain very few setae and claws through ontogeny, compared with species from other superfamilies. This possibly reflects paedomorphic evolution of this species.     

A preliminary revision of sordidus-like species of Ilyocryptus Sars, 1862 (Anomopoda, Branchiopoda) in North America, with description of I. bernerae n. sp.

Presently the inter-generic structure of the Ilyocryptus Sars, 1862 is not clear, and we regard as `sordidus-like' all the species with (1) incomplete moulting, (2) valves without lateral horns or other remarkable structures, (3) non-distal position of anus on postabdomen, (4) long lateral setae on the postabdomen, which reaches the anus; (5) single or doubled teeth on preanal margin of postabdomen. Available material on sordidus-like forms of Ilyocryptus Sars, 1862 (Anomopoda, Branchiopoda) from North America was investigated. We also analyzed a limited amount of material similar to I. sordidus s. str., but not enough to be presented now. Three other conventional species were found and redescribed: the exclusively North American I. gouldeni Williams, 1978, as well as I. cuneatus?tifter, 1988 and I. spinosus?tifter, 1988, both described earlier from Europe. An original analysis of the differences between all species was performed. A new sordidus-like species, I. bernerae n. sp., from a single locality in South Carolina, U.S.A., is described. The main diagnostic features of this new species within sordidus-like members of the Ilyocryptusare: thin and sharp dorsal keel; exclusively single preanal teeth, greatly increasing in size in basal direction; lateral setae on postabdomen, not decreasing in size basad; absence of denticles on base of postabdomen; complete absence of any denticles on distal and middle portion of ventral margin of postabdominal claws; distalmost spine on claw base longer than basalmost; bases of antennules compressed against each other (although not touching); slightly different armature of two sides of lateral swimming setae; presence of small hooks on tips of lateral swimming setae; distal segments of setae on trunk of limb I setulated only in basal portion; sensillum on gnathobase II curved.     

A molecular phylogeny of the tribe Ochthebiini (Coleoptera,Hydraenidae, Ochthebiinae)

Ochthebiinae, with c. 650 species distributed worldwide, are the second most speciose subfamily of the aquatic beetle family Hydraenidae. They are ecologically the most diverse hydraenid subfamily, with terrestrial species as well as species in almost all types of aquatic habitats, including hypersaline waters. Ochthebiinae include the tribes Ochtheosini (four species in three genera) and Ochthebiini. We provide here the first comprehensive phylogeny of the tribe Ochthebiini, based on 186 species and four subspecies from most genera, subgenera and species groups. We obtained sequence data for a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear gene fragments including the 5′ and 3′ ends of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, the 5′ end of 16S RNA plus the leucine tRNA transfer plus 5′ end of NADH dehydrogenase subunit I, and internal fragments of the large and small ribosomal units. The analyses with maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian probabilities consistently recovered a generally well supported phylogeny, with most currently accepted taxa and species groups as monophyletic. We provide a new classification of the tribe based on our phylogenetic results, with six genera: Meropathus Enderlein, Ochthebius Leach, Protochthebius Perkins, Prototympanogaster Perkins, Tympallopatrum Perkins and Tympanogaster Janssens. The genus Ochthebius is here divided into nine subgenera in addition to Ochthebius s.s.: (1) O. (Angiochthebius) Jäch & Ribera; (2) O. (Asiobates) Thomson; (3) O. (Aulacochthebius) Kuwert; (4) O. (Cobalius) Rey; (5) O. (Enicocerus) Stephens; (6) O. (Gymnanthelius) Perkins comb.n. ; (7) O. (Gymnochthebius) Orchymont; (8) O. (Hughleechia) Perkins comb.n. ; and (9) O. (Micragasma) Sahlberg. Within Ochthebius s.s., 17 species groups are proposed, five of them newly established (3, 9, 11, 13 and 16): (1) andraei; (2) atriceps; (3) corrugatus; (4) foveolatus; (5) kosiensis; (6) lobicollis; (7) marinus; (8) metallescens; (9) nitidipennis; (10) notabilis; (11) peisonis; (12) punctatus; (13) quadricollis; (14) rivalis; (15) strigosus; (16) sumatrensis; and (17) vandykei. We elevated to species rank two subspecies of Ochthebius: O. fallaciosus Ganglbauer stat.n. (former subspecies of O. viridis Peyron) and O. deletus Rey stat.rest. (former subspecies of O. subpictus Wollaston).     

The larva of Libellula foliata (Kirby, 1889) (Odonata: Libellulidae)

The larva of Libellula foliata (Kirby) is described based upon mature larvae from the Biosphere Reserve of ??El Triunfo?? in the state of Chiapas. It belongs to the small group of species without dorsal protuberances, L. composita (Hagen), L. comanche Calvert and L. saturata Uhler. The following combination of characters permits the separation of L. foliata larva from the other aforementioned larvae: tergites 6?C10 uniformly colored, no lateral spines on segments 8?C9, 5?C6 palpal setae and 3 long premental setae. After this finding, only the larvae of Libellula gaigei Gloyd and L. nodisticta Hagen remain undiscovered for the Mexican species of Libellula.     

Grassflies of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polyodaspis</Emphasis> Duda (Diptera,Chloropidae) in the fauna of southeast Asia

Over 200 specimens of Polyodaspis from Vietnam and Thailand (project TIGER) were studied. Variations in the color of the body and, especially, of the setae and setulae of the head, scutellum, and abdomen are demonstrated. The following new synonymy is established: Polyodaspis ruficornis (Macquart, 1835) = P. ruficornis var. tarsalis Frey, 1923, syn. n.; = P. flavipila Duda, 1934, syn. n.; = P. endogena de Meijere, 1938, syn. n.; = P. flavisetosa Nartshuk, 1991, syn. n.; = P. similis Nartshuk, 1991, syn. n.     

A Phylogenetic Analysis of Ilyocryptus Sars, 1862 (Cladocera: Ilyocryptidae)

Kotov and Štifter (2006) revised the taxonomy of the genus Ilyocryptus Sars, 1862 (Branchiopoda: Anomopoda: Ilyocryptidae) and concluded that 28 species can be recognized as valid for the world fauna. In order to test phylogenetic relationships between the species and to contribute to a better understanding of the genus, a cladistic (using branch‐and‐bound search) analysis was conducted for 25 Ilyocryptus species (two of them with two subspecies). In total, 32 morphological characters were used. An evolutionary‐morphological interpretation of the results was also made. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Ilyocryptus elegans is an earlier derived member of the genus, while other species are separated into two main branches: agilis ‐ and sordidus ‐lines (without reference to type of moulting). Species with incomplete moulting and species with complete moulting do not form separate clusters, suggesting an independent origin of incomplete moulting within different species groups. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The ontogeny of the cypridid ostracod Eucypris virens (Jurine, 1820) (Crustacea,Ostracoda)

The chaetotaxy (shape, structure and distribution of setae) of appendages and valve allometry during the post embryonic ontogeny of the cyprididine ostracod Eucypris virens are described. It is shown that the basic ontogenetic development of E. virens is very similar to that of other species of the family Cyprididae. During ontogeny, the chaetotaxy shows continual development on all podomeres of the limbs with the exception of the last podomere on the antennulae. The long setae on the exopodite and protopodite of the antennae have a natatory function until the actual natatory setae develop in later instars. Aesthetascs (presumed chemoreceptors) ya and y3 are the first to develop and may have an important function in the first instars. Cyprididae require a pediform limb in the posterior of the body presumably to help them to attach to substrates and this is reflected by the pediform nature of one limb at all times throughout all instars. This study has also shown that the fifth limb is most probably of thoracic origin and hence ostracods have only one pair of maxillae.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allothrombium</Emphasis> (Acari: Trombidiidae) from Montenegro

Allothrombium clavatum sp. n. with reduced inner claw of tarus III, one seta on coxa II, clavate dorsal idiosomal setae and 3-lobed posterior margin of scutum, collected as ectoparasite of an undetermined aphid, is described and illustrated from the central part of Montenegro (Balkan Peninsula). A key to world species of Allothrombium (larva) is presented.     

Variabilität, Verbreitung und Systematik der Arten und Unterarten in der Gattung Pungitius Coste, 1848 (Pisces, Gasterosteidae)

On the systematics and the evolution of variation and distributional patterns in the species and subspecies of the genus Pungitius Coste, 1848 (Pisces, Gasterosteidae) 1. In the genus Pungitius (similarly as in Gasterosteus) there seems to be of some interest the bony armature, especially from the zoogeographical point of view. These lateral bony shields are developed in the skin (instead of scales which are completely lacking in the family of Gasterosteidae) and are more or less present just as to the provenance of the individuals. 2. Preponderantly with respect to this bony armature several species and subspecies have been distinguished in the genus Pungitius, the variability, distribution and systematics of which are critically reviewed and compared in the present paper on the basis of museum material and data from the literature. 3. For the sake of adequate interpretation of modern distributional patterns there may be assumed an originally fully armoured type at the end of the Tertiary from which (after having escaped the ice by southward migration) during the Pleistocene period in several refugial areas new species or subspecies have derived, partially by reduction of the bony armature under freshwater conditions. During postglacial times these subspecies penetrated different areas but in some localities also produced mixed populations ofter having contacted within the same region. At least in some cases this may have led to subsequent hybridization. 4. The species P. platygaster in its modern distribution in the ponto-caspi-aralic region is now geographically isolated from the holarctic-circumpolarly distributed P. pungitius in its recent subspecies pungitius with reduced bony armature. Of this latter (originally fully armoured) species populations are assumed to have penetrated, at latest during the penultimate (= Riß) glaciation the Caspian Sea and subsequently the Black Sea and Lake Aral. These populations are the assumed ancestors of the nowaday still fully armoured P. platygaster. A decision as to the real degree of differentiation between the recent P. pungitius and P. platygaster has to be left to future crossbreeding experiments the results of which will possibly lead to a subspecies concept only. 5. In contrast to the foregoing the fully plated original type of P. pungitius underwent a serious reduction in its bony armature especially in the Southwest European refugium which led to a total loss of bony shields in the subspecies P. p. laevis. 6. As may be concluded from the now occurring types, this reduction seems to have been generally less pronounced in the East Asiatic refugium. We are confronted here, probably as a result of postglacial spread with the occurrence of three subspecies within the same area, i. e. the fullyarmoured P. p. sinensis on the one hand, and P. p. tymensis with reduced lateral plates (and also reduced lateral processes of the pubic bones in the pelvis girdle) and the holarctic-circumpolarly distributed P. p. pungitius with likewise reduced bony armature on the other hand. Of these subspecies the fully plated sinensis seems in its appearance to approach best what we perhaps may imagine as the original type of P. pungitius at the end of the Tertiary.     

Two new species of Diaphanosoma Fischer, 1850(Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Cladocera) from the United States

Two new species of the genus Diaphanosoma, D. oligosetum and D. dorotheae, from Louisiana and North Carolina respectively, are described. The former species has large head with protruding dorsal part, large lanceolate spine on the basipodite's distal outer end, an extremely reduced number of antennal setae, up to six in adult specimens, and unique armament of valve margin. On the whole, it shows the pronounced combination of primitive and specialized morphological traits. D. dorotheae is a member of D. brachyurum species group differing from its other known representatives in presence of a small but very conspicuous spine on the end of proximal segment of antennal exopodite and a variable number of setae (seven or eight) on the distal segment of the branch. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Composition of external setae during regeneration and transformation of the bilaterally asymmetric claws of the snapping shrimp,Alpheus heterochelis

The paired thoracic chelipeds or claws of adult snapping shrimp, Alpheus heterochelis, are bilaterally asymmetric, consisting of an enlarged and elaborate, sound-producing major (snapper) claw and a much smaller minor (pincer) claw. These paired claws vary in the composition of their external sensilla. Both possess long serrulate and simple short setae but the snapper also have plumose setae and long serrulate setae on the plunger. The pincers differ in having short serrulate setae and, in males alone, a prominent fringe of plumoserrate setae. During regeneration of each claw type, these setal structures are gradually added over three molts to reach the pristine condition. The long serrulate and simple short setae appear first, being seen in intermolt limb buds and commonly in both claws. Setae exclusive to each claw, i.e., plumoserrate and short serrulate in the pincer and plumose and long serrulate on the plunger in the snapper, appear sparsely in either the regenerated 1st or 2nd postmolt claw, they proliferate in the subsequent 2nd or 3rd postmolt claw. Transformation of the pincer claw to the snapper type begins in the 1st postmolt stage with the loss of pincer setae and addition of snapper setae and is completed by the 3rd postmolt stage. Since changes in composition of the external sensilla are restricted to postmolt stages, the underlying hypodermis is presumably being remodeled during proecdysis.     

Phylogenetic and population systematics of the Mangabeys (primates: Cercopithecoidea)

On the basis of original craniological studies, it is concluded that recently published claims based on blood proteins that the Mangabeys are diphletic are valid, and it is proposed to divide them into two distinct genera:Cercocebus (with three species:torquatus (includingatys),agilis, andgaleritus), which belongs to the Cercocebini but has a somewhat isolated position in this tribe, andLophocebus (with one species,albigena: includingaterrimus as a subspecies), which is closer toPapio. The inter-relationships within each genus are discussed, with particular reference to the problem of subspeciesvs. allopatric species. A new subspecies is named and described,Lophocebus albigena osmani, and the anomalous position of the poorly-known subspeciesL.a. opdenboschi is extensively discussed.     

A fake Heliconius (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Four ‘doubtful species’ are listed in catalogues of the genus Heliconius. All are non–existent: (1) H. Carolina (Herbst) is a forgery made from trimmed fragments of at least three butterflies, the two identifiable ones both beingH. erato; (2) H.cinereo–fuscus (Goeze) is a faded specimen of H.ricini; (3) H.arcuatus (Goeze) is so inadequately described that its identity cannot be determined, although it is apparently some species of heliconiine or ithomiine;(4)H.euclea (Godart) is the valid senior name of an ithomiid in the genus Hypothyris.     

Microsatellites for the Neotropical ant,Camponotus leydigi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are dominant social insects that play important ecological roles in terrestrial ecosystems. Camponotus leydigi (Forel) is widely distributed in the Neotropical region and is frequently found in the Brazilian cerrado savanna interacting with plants and other insects. Field observations indicate that C. leydigi has a polydomous nesting habit, but little is known about the genetic relationship among workers. In this study, we identify the first nine microsatellite loci for C. leydigi that will allow further investigation on its genetic diversity. We used a microsatellite-enriched library method. According to this method, repetitive sequences are captured with (CT)₈ and (GT)₈ biotin-linked probes, with subsequent recovery by streptavidin magnetic-coated beads. We observed that eight loci were polymorphic. The mean (± standard error) observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.55 ± 0.23 and 0.73 ± 0.28, respectively. The rarified allelic richness ranged from 1 to 5.32. The polymorphism contents were similar to diversity estimates found in markers previously developed for other Camponotus ants. These markers will be useful for future studies on population genetics and ecology of Camponotus ants in cerrado, including nesting ecology, colony structure, dispersal and conservation.     

Cryptic speciation in the narrow‐headed vole Lasiopodomys (Stenocranius) gregalis (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Recent study on Lasiopodomys (Stenocranius) gregalis has revealed four clear mitochondrial lineages with differences exceeding the species level. The most divergent is the clade from south‐eastern Transbaikalia. Multilocus (six nuclear genes), morphological (dental characters of m1 and M3) and behavioural (breeding experiments) analyses were conducted to test the hypothesis that L. gregalis is a complex of two cryptic species. All of the applied methods distinguish the independent status of voles from south‐eastern Transbaikalia. This clade occupies a portion of the distribution range of the currently valid subspecies L. g. raddei including its terra typica. According to the results of cyt b analysis, the lectotype of L. g. raddei belongs to the Transbaikal clade. We re‐establish the species status for the taxon Lasiopodomys raddei including populations from south‐eastern Transbaikalia, as a cryptic species of the narrow‐headed vole complex.     

A new species of Peltidium Philippi, 1839 (Crustacea,Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from the Pacific coast of Mexico

During the analysis of phytal meiobenthic samples collected from a rocky-sandy beach in the state of Nayarit, in the Mexican Pacific, several specimens of harpacticoid copepods were obtained and taxonomically examined. These specimens were found to represent an undescribed species of the peltidiid genus Peltidium Philippi, 1839. The new species, Peltidium nayarit sp. n. is described herein. It resembles Peltidium nichollsi Geddes and Peltidium lerneri Geddes from Bahamas but also the widespread Peltidium speciosum Thompson & Scott and Peltidium purpureum Philippi. The new species from the Mexican Pacific differs from its known congeners by its possession of a unique combination of characters, including a modified pectinate seta on the antennary exopod, three terminal setae on the second endopodal segment of leg 1, third exopodal segment of leg 1 with three elements, inner terminal claw twice as long as outer claw, female fifth leg with 5 exopodal setae, exopodal setae I-III stout, spinulose and seta IV being as long as seta V. This is the second species of the family known to be distributed in the Eastern Tropical Pacific and in Mexico. Pending additional data, the distribution of this species appears to be restricted to this area of the Mexican Pacific.     

Evolution of antennules of cytheroidean ostracods (Crustacea)

Phylogenetic analysis and fossil records indicate that antennules with whip-like setae are the most plesiomorphic state in cytheroidean ostracods and that antennulae with claw-like setae are derived from antennulae with whip-like setae. Character distributions on the 18S rDNA molecular phylogenetic tree suggest that two phenotypic features of cytheroidean antennules (W/L ratio and claw-like/whip-like setae) have morphological plasticity. These features have evolved as an ethological adaptation rather than due to phylogenetic constraints such as the evolution of shell outline in cytheroideans. However, the species of the Leptocytheridae–Trachyleberididae clade generally have stout, robust antennules, indicating a phylogenetic constraint. The character state of setae (claw/whip) in cytheroidean ostracods is reflected more through their ethology than the W/L ratio of the antennules. On the basis of the present analysis and the fossil record, diversification in the morphology of the antennules seems to have occurred during the early Mesozoic.