LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 5.Septonema,Hormiactella andLylea

Three genera of lignicolousHyphomycetes Septonema Corda,Hormiactella Saac. andLylea Morgan-Jones are discussed. Illustrations and determination keys are provided. Five species ofSeptonema—S. fasciculare (Corda) Hughes,S. leptaleum (Ellis & Harkn.) Hughes,S. pinicola Hol.-Jech.,S. secedens Corda andS. laricium Hol.-Jech.—and two species ofHormiactella—H. fusca (Preuss) Sacc. andH. asetosa Hol.-Jech.—have been found in Czechoslovakia. A new speciesS. pseudobinum Hol.-Jech. is described from Romania.Septonema tetracoilum (Corda Hughes is accommodated in the genusLylea Morgan-Jones.     

A revision ofTaraxacum sect.Piesis (Compositae)

On the basis of allozyme and cultivation data, and of additional herbarium material, a taxonomic and nomenclatural revision ofTaraxacum sect.Piesis A.J. Richards exKirschner et?těpánek is provided. The section is made up of halophilous, sexually reproducing taxa. InT. stenocephalum Boiss. etKotschy,T. pindicum Kirschner et?těpánek, sp. nov., andT. perenne Kirschner et?těpánek, sp. nov., a tetraploid chromosome number has been recorded, representing the only known case of sexuality at the tetraploid level in the genus. The complex ofT. stenocephalum, includes some geographically and morphologically extreme populations treated as subspecies: subsp.gumusanicum (Soest)Kirschner et?těpánek, comb. nov., subsp.magnum Kirschner et?těpánek, subsp. nov., and subsp.daralagesicum (Schischk.)Kirschner et?těpánek, comb. nov. In addition toT. bessarabicum (Hornem.)Hand.-Mazz., a widely distributed Eurasian species,T. stenocephalum, a complex centred in Transcaucasia and Anatolia, andT. pachypodum H. Lindb., a North African endemic, four new species are described:T. salsum Kirschner et?těpánek, sp. nov., a diploid endemic confined to E Crimea,T. perenne Kirschner et?těpánek, sp. nov., a tetraploid sexual species known only from SW Crimea,T. pindicum Kirschner et?těpánek, sp. nov., a remarkable tetraploid endemic to the Pindos Mts., Greece, andT. salsitatis Kirschner, ?těpänek etYirdirimli, sp. nov., an Anatolian diploid species. Furthermore, a hybrid betweenT. salsum andT. bessarabicum from Crimea (documented on the basis of allozyme data elsewhere) is given a binomial,T. xmesohalobium Kirschner et?těpánek, nothosp. nov.     

LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 6.Spadicoides andDiplococcium

Seventeen species belonging toSpadicoides Hughes andDiplococcium Grove collected in Central Europe mostly in Czechoslovakia are described and illustrated. Two new species are described inSpadicoides—S. carpatica Hol.-Jech.,S. penatium Hol.-Jech. and three new species inDiplococcium—D. bicolor Hol.-Jech.,D. insolitum Hol.-Jech. andD. parcum,Hol.-Jech.     

LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 3.Sporoschisma,Sporoschismopsis andCatenularia

The species of three genera—Sporoschisma Berk. etBr.,Sporoschismopsis Hol.-Jech. etHennebert andCatenularia Grove are treated in this paper from Czechoslovakia:Sporoschisma juvenile Boudier,S. mirabile Berk. etBr.,Sporoschismopsis moravica Hol.-Jech. etHennebert andCatenularia cuneiformis (Richon) Mason. The studied fungi produce the conidia in basipetal succession, endogenously or subendogenously, quite internally in large phialides or only inside open swollen collarettes.     

Selected chromosome counts of the Czechoslovak flora III

Chromosome numbers compared with as yet published data are given for the following 12 Phanerogams (both native species and aliens) from Czechoslovakia:Ambrosia trifida L.,Cardamine chelidonia L.,Dephne cneorum L.,Epipactis albensis Nováková etRydlo,Linum flavum L.subsp flavum, Lunaria rediviva L.,Nepeta grandiflora M.BIEB.,Reseda luteola L.,Thlaspi montanum L.,Tithymalus salicifolius (Host)Klotzsch etGarcke,Tithymalus virgultosus (Klokov) Holub andVerbascum speciosum Schrad. subsp.speciosum. The chromosome number 2n=40 is presented for the first time in autogamousEpipactis albensis Nováková etRydlo. New chromosome numbers were found inCardamine chelidonia L. (2n=32) and inTithymalus salicifolius (Host) Klotzch etGarcke (2n=40). Known but less frequent cytotypes are reported inLinum flavum L. subsp.flavum (2n=28) and inVerbascum speciosum Schrad. subsp.speciosum (2n=30).     

Notes on the biology ofBrachymeria [Neobrachymeria] nosatoi and its importance in the control ofNephantis serinopa

Nephantis serinopa Meyrick is now known to be parasitised by six species ofBrachymeria, viz.,B. nephantidis Gahan,B. lasus Walk.,B. excarinata Gahan,B. (Neobrachymeria) nosatoi Habu,B. euploeae Westw., andB. hime attevae Joseph Of these,B. (N.) nosatoi is the most effective pupal parasite ofN. serinopa in Kerala. Certain aspects of the biology of this parasite have been studied.     

Geographical distribution ofAphidiidae [Hym.] imported to California for biological control ofAcyrthosiphon kondoi andAcyrthosiphon pisum [Hom.: Aphididae]

A survey forAcyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji and its insect enemies was conducted in 1976–1977 in Afghanistan, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Iran, Israel and Maroc. The search was concentrated in areas having cultivated species ofMedicago. A. kondoi was found only in Afghanistan, and in Iran. It was not found inMedicago-growing areas west from Iran, but it has been reported from India and Japan. Aphidius ervi Haliday,Aphidius urticae group,Praon barbatum Mackauer andAphidius smithi Sharma & Rao, were reared fromA. kondoi constituting new parasite records. New parasite and locality records were also found forA. urticae group,A. smithi andP. barbatum onAcyrthosiphum pisum (Harris). In laboratory trials, all cultures of parasitesA. ervi andP. barbatum readily parasitized and reproduced onA. kondoi onLens esculenta Moench. Cultures ofA. urticae group andA. smithi oviposited on, but did not complete development of immatures in,A. kondoi onL. esculenta. Hyperparasites identified as species includedAsaphes suspensus (Nees),Asaphes vulgaris Walker,Aphidencyrtus aphidivorus (Mayr),Dendrocerus breadalbimensis (Kieffer),Dendrocerus carpenteri (Curtis), andPachyneuron aphidis (Bouche). Available data suggest the origin of distribution ofA. kondoi may be Central Asia, and that populations ofA. ervi may be most suitable for colonization programs againstA. kondoi.     

Mortality factors of satin moth,Leucoma salicis [Lep.: Lymantriidae], in aspen forests in Maine

Natural control agents of the satin moth,Leucoma salicis (L.) were examined in 2Populus grandidentata Michaux stands. Highest mortality occurred in overwintering larvae, with the causal agents 2 fungi,Paecilomyces sp. andHirsutella gigantea Petch, a factor causing death symptomatic of a pathogen, the parasiteEupteromalis hemipterus (Walker) and death from unknown causes. Mortality fromPaecilomyces sp. andE. hemipterus was reduced where overwintering sites were covered with burlap cloth. Parasites recovered from larvae and pupae included the braconidsApanteles melanoscelus (Ratzeburg) andMeteorus versicolor (Wesmeal), the ichneumonidCoccygomimus pedalis (Cresson), the tachinidsCompsilura concinnata (Meigen),Carcelia laxifrons Villeneuve,Tachinomyia variata Curran, and the sarcophagidsSarcophaga aldrichi Parker andAgria housei Shewell. Larval and pupal predators included the carabidCalosoma frigidum Kirby, pentatomids, and birds, particularly black-billed cuckoos,Coccyzus erythrophthaimus (Wilson). Eggs were parasitized by the scelionidTelenomus prob.californicus Ashmead and the trichogrammidTrichogramma minutum (Riley). Predators of adult satin moths included the hermit thrush,Hylocichla guttata (Pallas), and pentatomid bugs.     

The establishment of two parasites of the diamond-back mothPlutella xylostella [Lep.: Plutellidae] in Trinidad,W.I.

The diamond-back moth,Plutella xylostella (L.) is a major pest of cruciferous crops in Trinidad, West Indies. Pesticides are applied as a control measure but it is now resistant to several of them. Indigenous parasitesApanteles aciculatus (Ashm.),Apanteles sp. (glomeratus group),Spilochalcis hirtifemora (Ashm.) andTrichogramma brasiliensis (Ashm.) are unable to exert economic control.Apanteles plutellae (Kurdj.) andTetrastichus sokolowskii Kurdj. were introduced and are now well established. It is recommended to introduce additional parasitesMacromalon sp. andThyraeella collaris (Grav.) in order to obtain complete biological control.     

Parasites of bark beetles [Col.: Scolytidae] on pine and cypress in Israel

Ten species of hymenopterous parasites were reared from logs of pine and cypress, naturally infested with 5 species of bark beetles,viz., Orthotomicus erosus Woll.,Pityogenes calcaratus Eichh., andTomicus destruens Woll. — on pine;Phloeosinus armatus Reitt. andP. aubei Perris — on cypress, in Israel. The parasites were:Dendrosoter chaenopachoides Rusch,D. hartigii (Ratz.),D. middendorfi (Ratz.),D. protuberans Nees (Braconidae), Eurytoma morio Boheman (Eurytomidae), Cerocephala eccoptogastri Masi,Heydenia pretiosa F?rster,Metacolus unifasciatus F?rster,Rhaphitelus maculatus Walker andRoptrocerus xylophagorum (Ratz.) (Pteromalidae). The most common wereM. unifasciatus on pine and cypress,D. chaenopachoides andR. xylophagorum on pine, andD. protuberans on cypress, occurring in samples collected during most seasons. Less common wasE. morio, which was reared from both conifers.D. middendorfi was found on pine, and only during winter. The other species were found only occasionally.     

Ploidy variation in the group ofMyosotis palustris andM. laxa in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

In 74 natural populations of theMyosotis palustris andM. laxa groups from former Czechoslovakia three euploid and one aneuploid cytotypes were found that belong to the following species:M. nemorosa Besser, 2n=22,M. palustris (L.)Nath. em.Reichenb. inSturm, 2n=66,M. laxiflora Reichenb., 2n=66,M. radicans Opiz, 2n=66(64),M. brevisetacea (Schuster) Holub, 2n=66(64), andM. caespitosa C.F. Schultz, 2n=88. With the exception ofM. nemorosa, the chromosome numbers are published for the first time for the Czech Republic. The chromsome numbers, 2n=66, 2n=64 are found inM. brevisetacea, are new for the literature. The correlation between pollen size and ploidy level has been studied as well, and statistically significant differences were found between cytotypes belonging to different ploidy levels.     

The trilobiteProtostygina and the composition of the Styginidae, with two new genera

The Styginidae is regarded as an exclusively Ordovician family of trilobites, separate from the Scutelluidae. The hitherto poorly known genusProtostygina Prantl &P?ibyl, 1949 is revised. It is recorded with certainty only from the Llanvirn of the Czech Republic, and the type species is a senior synonym of“Raymondaspis” rubensi rubensi P?ibyl &VANěK, 1968 and“R.” rubensi lybar ?najdr, 1976. Two new styginid genera are proposed:Cyrtocybe, with type species“Raymondaspis” turgida Whittington, 1965, is known from the upper Arenig and lower Llanvirn of Newfoundland, Maine and Norway; andPromargo, with type speciesP.forteyi n. sp., occurs in the Arenig of Newfoundland and Spitsbergen.Turgicephalus Fortey, 1980 is regarded as a junior synonym ofRaymondaspis P?ibyl inPrantl &P?ibyl, 1949. Three genera are excluded from the Styginidae:Kirkdomina Tripp, 1962,Pseudostygina Zhou inZhou et al., 1982 andStyginella P?ibyl &Vaněk, 1971.     

Verbeitung einiger seltenen und subendemischen Arten der griechischen Flora mit taxonomischen und chorologischen Betrachtungen

The taxa very rare in Greece,Gentianella bulgarica (Velen.)J. Holub andPrimula elatior (L.)Hill subsp.intricata (Gren. etGodron)Lüdi Balkan-South Carpathian and mountain subendemic taxon of South and South-Central Europe also the oreophytesGentiana asclepidaea L. andAndrosace villosa L. rare in Greece at high altitudes endemic species of Central Europe and arcto-alpic element both extending South as far as Central Italy and Central Greece as well as the relatively rare species in Greece,Crocus biflorus Mill. which exists in South Europe from Sicily and eastwards and finally four otherIridaceae, i.e.: the South Balkan Asia-Minor subendemic speciesCrocus olivieri Gay andC. pulchellus Herbert, the South Balkan endemic speciesC. veluchensis Herbert and the Mediterranean and mostly East-para-mediterranean subendemic speciesHermodactylus tuberosus (L.)Miller are reported and investigated. However new habitats and records in the Greek area of the investigated species are given, their distribution is discussed, while the existence of the taxa most rare in GreecePrimula elatior (L.)Hill subsp.intricata (Gren. etGodron)Lüdi inHegi,Gentianella bulgarica (Velen.)J. Holub,Gentiana asclepiadea L.,Androsace villosa L. andCrocus biflorus Mill. are presented in the form of a dot map and thus the southernmost limits of their spreading in the Balkan peninsula or in S.E. Europe are elucidated.     

Biological control of the beanfly,Ophiomyia phaseoli [Dipt.: Agromyzidae], byOpius spp. [Hym.: Braconidae] in the Hawaiian Islands

Attention is drawn to the transfer of the beanfliesMelanagromyza phaseoli (Tryon) andM. spencerella Greathead to the genusOphiomyia Braschnikov bySpencer (1973). The confusion over the nomenclature of theOpius spp. parasites is discussed and it is shown that the namesO. phaseoli Fischer andO. importatus Fischer should be used. Their introduction into Hawaii and establishment is briefly discussed in relation to their effectiveness as biological control agents. It is shown that they show a high degree of consistency of parasitism which has resulted in an acceptable degree of control ofOphiomyia phaseoli although there is no evidence that they act in a density dependent manner.     

Survey and distribution ofCybocephalidae [Coleoptera] in Israel

Nine species ofCybocephalus were found in a survey conducted throughout Israel:C. micans (Reitter),C. nigriceps nigriceps (J. Sahiberg),C. nigriceps sinister Endrödy-Younga,C. aegyptiacus Endrödy-Younga,C. mediterraneus Endrödy-Younga,C. pullus Endrödy-Younga,C. fodori minor Endrödy-Younga,C. membranaceus (Reitter) andCybocephalus sp. n.C. micans andC.n. nigriceps are the most prevalent: the former in the Coastal Plain on citrus and the latter in the Arava region on date palms. In most cases the population density of the predator appeared to be related to that of the prey. Armoured scale insects(Homoptera: Diaspididae) were the main prey ofCybocephalus.     

A revision of the genusOlpitrichum Atk

A revision of the genusOlpitrichum Atk. was undertaken, revealing three species:O. macrosporum (Farlow exSacc.)Sumstine,O. patulum (Sacc etBerl.)Hol.-Jech. andO. tenellum (Berk. etCurt)Hol.-Jech.O. macrosporum andO. tenellum occur on decayed cotton bolls,O. patulum on dead rotten wood and bark. Aspergilliform phialosporous state has been found inO. macrosporum andO. patulum.     

Notes on some African hepatic genera 6–9

The present study deals with African species ofSyzygiella Spruce,Allisoniella Hodgs. andGymnomitriaceae Klinggr. Three species ofSyzygiella Spruce,S. geminifolia (Mitt.) Steph.,S. concreta (Gott.) Spruce and one indeterminable species with orbicular leaves (known only in sterile condition) occur in Africa.Allisoniella nigra (Rodw.) Schust. represents a genus hitherto unreported for the African flora. The present knowledge ofGymnomitriaceae Klinggr. in subsaharan Africa is summarised; five species ofMarsupella Dum., one ofGymnomitrion Corda and five ofHerzogobryum Grolle are reported. Finally, some additions to the generaIsotachis Mitt.,Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph. andLophozia (Dum.) Dum. are presented.     

LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 1.Brachysporium

Four species of the genusBrachysporium Sacc. emend.Mason etHughes are treated in this paper from Czechoslovakia:B. nigrum (Link)Hughes,B. obovatum (Berk.)Sacc. and two new species,B. abietinum Hol.-Jech. andB. brevius Hol.-Jech.