Tropical phytoplankton taxa in Aquitaine lakes (France)

In the last decades, numerous exotic species of microalgae have been found in the continental waters of Europe. In three natural shallow lakes located in the southwest of France, several planktonic species typically encountered in tropical areas were observed during 2006 and 2007. The most representative taxa were Planktolyngbya microspira Kom. & Cronb. P. circumcreta (G. S. West) Anagn. & Kom., Cyanodictyon tropicale Senna, Delazari & Sant’Anna and Staurastrum excavatum var. planctonicum Krieg. These species had so far only been reported from African lakes and other tropical areas, but in this study they accounted for up to 58 and 12% of the total abundance and biomass, respectively, during spring and summer. Some of these lakes were studied in the 1970s and only exotic desmids were reported; but at that time, the three cited cyanobacteria were not described yet. Waterfowl are considered as the main dispersers because they migrate over long distances, transporting algae on the feet and feathers or in the digestive tract. In fact, the Aquitaine Region is one of the main bird migration corridors in Europe. Survival of cyanobacteria, diatoms and desmids carried by birds could be possible due to resting stages, sheaths investments or vegetative cells. In addition, global warming may have contributed to the success of these tropical species in temperate lakes. Indeed, minimal temperatures have increased significantly in the Aquitaine region over the last 30 years and could have played a key role in algal survival through winter.     

Thymidylic Acid Synthesis in Eimeria tenella (Coccidia) Cultured In Vitro*

The source of thymidylic acid for DNA synthesis in 1st generation stages of Eimeria tenella cultured in vitro was investigated using 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine, a thymidine analog, and 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine, an inhibitor of de novo thymidylic acid synthesis. Results show that the parasite is unable to utilize either exogenous thymidine or 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine but is dependent upon the methylation of deoxyuridylic acid via the thymidylate synthetase reaction to supply thymidine for DNA synthesis.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the Cenozoic family Sieblosiidae (Insecta: Odonata), with description of new taxa from Russia, Italy and France

We describe the following Sieblosiidae: an unamed “gen. and sp. A” from the Miocene of Italy, Miostenolestes zherikhini nov. gen., nov. sp., Paraoligolestes stavropolensis nov. sp., Stenolestes fasciata nov. sp. (all from the Miocene of North Caucasus), Stenolestes (?) adygeianensis nov. sp. (Oligocene of North Caucasus), and Stenolestes cerestensis nov. sp. (Oligocene of France). The genus Sieblosia Handlirsch, 1906 is restored. A new phylogenetic analysis of the Sieblosiidae is proposed. The two taxa “gen. and sp. A” and Oligolestes fall in most inclusive positions in the same clade with the Sieblosiidae. Within the Sieblosiidae sensu stricto, the two clades (Paraoligolestes + (Parastenolestes + Stenolestes)) and (Parastenolestes + Stenolestes) are the best supported. The family Sieblosiidae seems to be restricted to the Oligocene-Miocene of Europe.     

Discheramocephalini,a new pantropical tribe of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae): description of new taxa and phylogenetic analysis

Abstract Two new genera and eight new species of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) possessing a remarkable horizontal perforation of the mesoventral keel are described: Skidmorella vietnamensis sp.n. (Vietnam), S. memorabilis sp.n. (Indonesia), S. serrata sp.n. (Vietnam), Fenestellidium capensis gen. et sp.n. (South Africa, type species), F. kakamegaensis sp.n. (Kenya), Cissidium okuensis sp.n. (Cameroon), Dacrysoma usambarensis gen. et sp.n. (Tanzania, type species) and D. felis sp.n. (Madagascar). A phylogenetic analysis of 24 taxa and 37 parsimony‐informative characters supports the hypothesis of a single origin of the mesoventral perforation, thus uniting Discheramocephalus, Skidmorella, Africoptilium, Fenestellidium, Cissidium and Dacrysoma into a pantropically distributed clade, for which a new tribe Discheramocephalini (type genus Discheramocephalus) is proposed. Identification keys to Discheramocephalini genera and, in some cases, to species are provided. Each new species is illustrated with scanning electron microscopy images.     

The Epicopeiidae: phylogeny and a redefinition,with the description of new taxa (Lepidoptera: Drepanoidea)

Amana banghaasi Hering, a poorly known species from central China (described in the “Epiplemidae”, now Epipleminae [Uraniidae]), is transferred to a new genus, Deuveia, which belongs to the Epicopeiidae (Drepanoidea). This taxon turns out to be the sister-group of a clade consisting of all other members of the family. Another new epicopeiid genus, Burmeia, is proposed for B. leesi n. sp., a species described from northern Burma. Quite clearly, there is a sister-group relationship between Burmeia and Psychostrophia, but these genera differ markedly in certain characters, for example in the course of vein M2: in both pairs of wings, M2 arises distinctly closer to M3 than to M1 in Burmeia, unlike the condition found in all other Epicopeiidae. A key is provided for the identification of the species in these two genera. A manually derived cladogram may correctly sum up the phylogeny of the Epicopeiidae, a family now composed of nine genera. It matches exactly one of the two most parsimonious trees found with computer programs such as Hennig86 or PAUP (the second tree of minimal length being similar, except for the affinities of the monotypic genus Amana). For the software-based analyses, all the 34 (imaginal) characters taken into account were polarized and given equal weight. The “robustness” of each branch of the preferred cladogram was assessed by calculating the corresponding Bremer’s support index, but also with non-quantifiable criteria. Six genera may form a clade, within which the following sister-group relationships can be considered well established: Chatamla/Parabraxas, Nossa/Epicopeia, and Schistomitra/Nossa + Epicopeia (whereas Chatamla + Parabraxas is only tentatively regarded as sister to Amana). Owing to the basal position of Deuveia within the Epicopeiidae, the morphology of this genus is of great significance to identify the autapomorphies of the Drepanoidea and those of the Epicopeiidae (respectively 5 and 12 in number at this stage of the investigations). With regard to the Drepanidae, an apomorphy of the male genitalia can be added to the definition of the family, whose basalmost lineage probably is the subfamily Cyclidiinae. The composition of the Thyatirinae is briefly discussed.     

Comparative In Vitro Development of Precocious and Normal Strains of Eimeria tenella (Coccidia)

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria tenella strain Wis-F is known to develop in chickens with a significantly shortened prepatent period and its pathogenicity is virtually completely attenuated. In vitro development of this strain paralleled development of the control (Wisconsin) strain through the first asexual generation. Instead of entering 2nd generation schizogony, however, most of the Wis-F merozoites developed into microgamonts or macrogamonts. Wall-forming bodies were prominent in developing macrogametes at 80–88 hr and began coalescing into the oocyst wall by 88 hr. Microgamete development paralleled that of macrogametes, with the appearance of multinucleate, immature forms at 72–80 hr and with recognizable, spermlike microgametes being prominent at 88–96 hr. Pathogenicity attenuation and reduction of the length of the prepatent period clearly resulted from omission of a portion of the life cycle (2nd generation schizogony).     

A review of the morphologically diverse leafhopper subfamily Stegelytrinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with description of new taxa

Abstract. The morphologically diverse leafhopper subfamily Stegelytrinae is reviewed and its biology and biogeography are discussed as well as its classification, monophyly and relationship to Deltocephalinae s.l. In addition, the first stegelytrine is recorded east of Wallace's and Weber's lines, extending the distribution of the subfamily outside the Oriental and Palaearctic regions. A checklist and key to the genera of the subfamily are given. The following new genera and species are described: Honguchia rubrofascia Wei & Webb, gen.n & sp.n. from Sabah; H. superba Wei & Webb, sp.n. from Sumatra; Yaontogonia flavopicta Wei & Webb, gen.n & sp.n. from Brunei and Sabah; Y. darjeelingensis Wei & Webb, sp. n. from West Bengal; Sychentia breviata Wei & Webb, gen.n & sp.n. from Malaysia; Louangana stellata Wei & Webb, gen.n & sp.n. from Laos; Shangonia sarawakensis Wei & Webb, gen.n & sp.n. from Sarawak; Quiontugia fuscomaculata Wei & Zhang, gen.n. & sp.n. from Hainan; and Neophansia wallacei Wei & Webb, gen.n & sp.n. from New Guinea.     

Seven New Eimeria spp. (Protozoa,Coccidia) from Freshwater Fishes of Canada*

Seven new species of Eimeria are described and figured from the freshwater fishes of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. They are Eimeria catostomi sp. n. and E. fernandoae sp. n. from Catostomus commersoni (Lacépède), E. etheostomae sp. n. from Etheostoma exile (Girard), E. hoffmani sp. n. from Umbra limi (Kirtland), E. micropteri sp. n. from Micropterus dolomieui Lacépède E. pungitii sp. n. from Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus), and E. salvelini sp. n. from Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill). Furthermore, 2 new host records and 2 new distribution records for North America are reported for E. anguillae Léger & Hollande, 1922 and E. truttae Léger & Hesse, 1919 respectively. Finally, morphologically similar oocysts found in various cyprinids are regarded as belonging to E. iroquoina Molnar & Fernando, 1974.