Systematics of Bitheca, a new genus of New World Sphaeroceridae (Diptera)

Abstract. The genus Bitheca is described for a distinctive clade of small Limosininae whose range extends from Canada south to Ecuador. The following twelve species are described as new: agarica, boleta, caballa, dispar, ejuncida, fundata, grossa, horrida, involuta, jubilata, kappa and lambda. A key to the species of Bitheca is provided and their phylogeny is discussed. Pterogramma steyskali Deeming and Minilimosina masoni Marshall are moved into the genus Bitheca. A cladogram is provided and its derivation explained in detail, with a discussion of the use of character weighting in cladistics.     

Bezzimyia— a genus of native New World Rhinophoridae (Insecta, Diptera)

The New World genus Bezzimyia Townsend, 1919 is revised and the following 15 new species are described: B. barbarista sp. n., B. bisecta sp. n., B. bulbosa sp. n., B. floridensis sp. n., B. hansoni sp. n., B. jamaica sp. n., B. lapidicina sp. n., B. orestes sp. n., B. pittieri sp. n., B. platina sp. n., B. ramicornis sp. n., B. setifax sp. n., B. sternothrix sp. n., B. thompsonorum sp. n. and B. yepezi sp. n. The oviposition, egg and first instar larva are described for Bezzimyia yepezi from Venezuela. It is argued that Bezzimyia is a member of the family Rhinophoridae, which was previously considered to be represented in the New World only through two immigrant Palaearctic species.     

Psednotrichia, a genus of the tribe Senecioneae hitherto misplaced in the Astereae (Asteraceae)

Anderberg, A. A. & Karis, P. O. 1995. Psednotrichia , a genus of the tribe Senecioneae hitherto misplaced in the Astereae (Asteraceae). — Nord. J. Bot. 15: 375–379. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107–055X.
The tribal position for the little known genus Psednorrichia , is established. This monotypic genus, hitherto placed in the tribe Astereae, is a congener of Xyridopsis of the tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). The two species of Xyridopsis are here transferred to Psednotrichia and the new combinations P. xyridopsis and P. newtonii are made. A brief discussion of the morphology of the genus, and its systematic position within the tribe Senecioneae is provided.     

A monograph of the genus Ornithoglossum (Liliaceae)

An account is given of the morphology and taxonomy of the African genus Ornithoglossum Salisb. The genus belongs to the Liliaceae–Wurmbeoideae, a phytochemi–cally distinct taxon sometimes treated as a separate family, the Colchicaceae. Ornithoglossum belongs to the tribe Iphigenieae, which is here amended to include the former tribe Glorioseae. Within the genus Ornithoglossum 8 species are here recognized, 3 of which are new, viz. O. parviflorum B. Nord., O. vulgare B. Nord. and O. gracile B. Nord. Two varieties of O. parviflorum are recognized. O. zeyheri (Baker) B. Nord. is a new combination. The chromosome number 2n = 24 is recorded for four species. The genus is believed to have originated in formerly arid regions of tropical Africa. Because of a climatic change, an increase in humidity, a south– and southwestward migration took place, followed by speciation in response to factors in the new environment. Sympatric speciation may have been promoted by the development of differences in flowering times and by specialization to different pollinators. The evolution of the nectary region of the tepals is particularly illuminating, and taxonomically useful. The proposed taxonomy is further supported by ultrastructural features of the seeds and pollen grains.     

Two New Species of Liliaceae from Anhui,China

Two new species of the Liliaceae are described from Anhui Province, China. i. e. Fritillaria qimenensis D. C. Zhang et J. Z. Shao and Lilium anhuiense D. C. Zhang et J. Z.Shao.     

Revision of the aberrant New World genus Coenosopsia Diptera: Anthomyiidae, with a discussion of anthomyiid relationships

Abstract. Morphological evidence from the adults males, females corroborates the recent transfer of the problematic New World genus Coenosopsia from the Muscidae to the Anthomyiidae. It is argued that the calyptrate families Anthomyiidae and Muscidae are sister­groups, and that a Neotropical anthomyiid clade, Coenosopsia Malloch + Phaonantho Albuquerque, constitutes the sister-group of the remaining Anthomyiidae. At present, this clade is largely confined to tropical forests of South and Central America, i.e. an environment avoided by practically all other members of this pronouncedly cold-adapted, boreal family. The first, earliest Coenozoic, biotic exchange between North and South America and subsequent biotic isolation are proposed to lie behind the primary dichotomy of the Anthomyiidae. Five species of Coenosopsia , with apparently perfectly allopatric ranges, are recog nized: the Neotropical C.prima Malloch from Ecuador to SE Mexico, C.peruviana sp.n. from Peru, C.brasiliensis sp.n. from Brazil, and C.mexicana sp.n. from SW Mexico, and the Nearctic C.floridensis sp.n. from N Mexico and SE United States.     

A taxonomic revision of the New World genus Oropodes Casey (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae)

The genus Oropodes is characterized and revised with 18 species being treated. Members of this genus are found in temperate forests to desert brush lands from Oregon to Baja California, but are associated primarily with dry forests and shrub lands of California. Keys to males and females, where known, are provided. Seven species are redescribed: Oropodes arcaps (California), Oropodes dybasi (Oregon), Oropodes ishii (California), Oropodes nuclere (California), Oropodes orbiceps (California), Oropodes rumseyensis (California), Oropodes yollabolly (California). The name Oropodes raffrayi (California) is raised from synonymy and the species is redescribed, NEW STATUS. Ten new species are described: Oropodes aalbui (California), Oropodes bellorum (California), Oropodes casson (California), Oropodes chumash (California), Oropodes esselen (California), Oropodes hardyi (California), Oropodes serrano (California), Oropodes tataviam (California), Oropodes tongva (California), and Oropodes tipai (Baja California, Mexico), NEW SPECIES. These species are placed into three species groups: the arcaps-group, the orbiceps-group, and the raffrayi-group. Data for a new record of Euplecterga fideli are given, and a list of the unassociated Oropodes females with distinctive genitalia is included with their label data.     

Pseudochakura (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), a New World genus of chalcidoids parasitic on ants

Abstract. The genus Pseudochakura Ashmead (Eucharitidae: Eucharitinae) is revised to include thirteen species which all share the complete fusion of the genae behind the mandibles and a loss of functional mouthparts. Eight Neotropical and one Nearctic species of Pseudochakura are described as new: atra (Mexico), condylus (lesser Antilles), excruciata (Brazil), frustrata (Argentina), liburna (Florida, U.S.A.), pauca (Argentina), prolata (Argentina), sculpturata (Brazil; Florida, U.S.A.), septuosa (Mexico). P. chilensis Kieffer is redescribed. The known distribution of P.nigrocyanea Ashmead is extended to Uruguay and Venezuela. The known distribution of P. americana (Howard) [comb.n.] is extended to Panama, Columbia, Ecuador, Argentina and northward into the southern tip of Florida. All three previously described Nearctic species are synonomized under the name P.gibbosa (Provancher) with P.arizonensis (Crawford) and P.californica (Ashmead) as junior synonyms. Biological information is summarized providing new information on both plant and ant hosts. A phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus is nresenteri.     

Hybridity as a main evolutionary force in the genus Gagea Salisb. (Liliaceae)

Abstract

The important role of hybridity in the evolution of the genus Gagea is becoming clear, through morphological, karyological and molecular evidences. Several species were recently inferred or hypothesized to be of hybrid origin; especially in sect. Didymobulbos, sect. Fistulosae and sect. Gagea. Representative case studies, such as G. luberonensis J.-M. Tison, G. polidorii J.-M. Tison and G. pomeranica Ruthe, are presented and discussed.

Since many Gagea species show very reduced or null sexual reproduction vs. a massive vegetative propagation, there are several problems in distinguishing hybrids from hybridogenous species in this genus. The actual trend is to consider them at specific level because of their ability to stabilize, at least through vegetative propagation by bulblets and/or bulbils.     

The New World species of the water-beetle genus Notomicrus (Noteridae)*

Eight species of Notomicrus Sharp are recognized and described or partially redescribed with figures of dorsal outlines and external male genitalia: brevicomis Sharp, gracilipes Sharp, huttoni sp.n., malkini sp.n., nanulus (LeConte), reticulatus Zimmermann, sharpi Balfour-Browne, traili Sharp. A key for identification is given, but the main reliance for recognition of the species is on the external male genitalia. New distribution records are given for all species.     

Leaf flavonoid patterns in the genus Tricyrtis (Tricyrtidaceae sensu stricto, Liliaceae sensu lato)

In a leaf flavonoid aglycone survey of 19 Tricyrtis species, the flavone lulcolin was detected in 16% of the taxa and the flavonols myricetin, qucrcetin, kaempfcrol and isorhamnetin in 32%, 63% and 68% and 58% of the sample, respectively. Kaempfcrol occurred more frequently than qucrcetin in sections Hirtae and Tricyrtis. Section Brachycyrtis was characterized by the presence of lulcolin, while flavoncs were absent from sections Flavae, Hirtae and Tricyrtis. Myricetin was found only in T J'ormosana and T. hirta (section Hirtae) and in T affirm and T. macropoda (section Tricyrtis). This is the first report of myricetin in Tricyrtis and in the Liliales. Also the co-occurrence of flavones and flavonols within the same plant, as in 7. ishiiana var. surugensis and T macrantha , is a rare event in this order. The flavonoid data are congruent with data from morphology, anatomy and molecular analysis in indicating the separation of section Brachycyrtis from the other three sections and in supporting a close relationship between sections Hirtae and Tricyrtis.     

Molecular phylogeny and ecological diversification in a clade of New World songbirds (genus Vireo)

We constructed a molecular phylogeny for a clade of eye-ringed vireos ( Vireo flavifrons and the V . solitarius complex) to examine existing hypotheses of speciation and ecological diversification. Complete sequences of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene were obtained from 47 individuals of this group plus four vireonid outgroups. Mean levels of sequence divergence in the clade varied from 0.29% to 5.7%. Differences were greatest between V . flavifrons and four taxa of ' V . solitarius '. The latter separated into three taxonomic, geographical and ecological groups: V . plumbeus plumbeus, V . cassinii cassinii , and V . solitarius solitarius plus V . solitarius alticola . These differed by an average of 2.6–3.2%. Populations within each group revealed low levels of sequence variation ( x- = 0.20%) and little geographical structuring. The mtDNA data generally corroborate results from allozymes. V. plumbeus shows a loss of yellow-green carotenoid pigmentation from the ancestral condition. The occupancy of relatively dry habitats by this species and V . cassinii represents a derived ecological shift from more-humid environments occupied by other species of vireonids. Ecological divergence in this clade occurred in allopatry and is associated with generic-level stability in morphometrics and foraging styles. Migratory behaviour and seasonal habitat shifts apparently evolved multiple times in vireos breeding in temperate environments. Present geographical and ecological distributions, and low levels of intrataxon genetic divergence, are hypothesized to be the result of postglacial regionalization of climate–plant associations and rapid northward expansion of breeding ranges.