Lopesia indaiensis (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae), a new species of gall midge feeding on Andira fraxinifolia Benth (Fabaceae), an endemic plant in Brazil

Lopesia indaiensis (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), a new species of gall midge found causing galls on Andira fraxinifolia (Fabaceae), an endemic plant species in Brazil, is described based on larva, pupa, male and female. L. indaiensis galls were collected in Dores do Indaiá, State of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Larvae were removed from the galls and pupae and adults were obtained by rearing. The specimens were mounted on slides and the most important morphological characters were illustrated. The new species was compared to the other species of Lopesia.     

Tapeinostemon sessiliflorum (Gentianaceae), a new combination for a Guayana endemic

A new combination,Tapeinostemon sessiliflorum (Gentianaceae), is made forPsychotria sessiliflora (Rubiaceae).Tapeinostemon capitatum is placed into synonymy ofT. sessiliflorum. This rare species occurs in the Guayanan region of Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.     

Myrciamyia pterandrae (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae, Lopesiini), a new species of gall midge associated with Pterandra pyroidea A. Juss. (Malpighiaceae), an endemic plant in Brazilian Cerrado

Myrciamyia pterandrae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), a new galling species associated with Pterandra pyroidea (Fabaceae), an endemic plant species in Brazilian Cerrado, is described based on larva, pupa, male and female. M. pterandrae galls were collected in the municipality of Quartel de São João, State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Larvae were removed from the galls and pupae, and adults were obtained by rearing. The specimens were mounted on slides, and the diagnostic morphological characters were illustrated. M. pterandrae is compared to Myrciamyia maricaensis Maia, 1996 the unique, previously known species of the genus.     

On the identities of Rhinoleucophenga pallida Hendel and Rhinoleucophenga obesa (Loew) (Diptera,Drosophilidae), with description of a new sibling species from Brazil

Rhinoleucophenga pallida Hendel, 1917 (type species of the genus) is redescribed based on its female holotype and a male from a nearby locality, and Rhinoleucophenga obesa (Loew, 1872) on its two syntypes, which are designated as the male lectotype and a female paralectotype. Both are valid species. A proposal is made to establish the genus Pseudophortica Sturtevant, 1918 (type species R. obesa), a junior synonym of Rhinoleucophenga, to subgenus rank and include all species of Rhinoleucophenga described or redescribed from males except R. pallida, which is unique in having a remarkable pedunculate surstylus, among other differences. The North American R. obesa is compared to its closest sibling, the South American species Rhinoleucophenga gigantea (Thomson, 1869). The occurrence of R. obesa in Brazil is also questioned, as suggested long ago by Marshall R. Wheeler. The specimens from Brazil previously identified as such most probably belong to the new species described in the present paper as Rhinoleucophenga (Pseudophortica) cantareira sp. nov. (type locality: Parque Estadual da Cantareira, City of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil). Numerous photomicrographs of their habitus and male terminalia taken with a Smartphone's rear camera and digitally stacked to create images with greater depth of focus are provided.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Magnolia brasiliensis</Emphasis> (Magnoliaceae), a new species and new record for the Northeastern region of Brazil

A new species of Magnolia is described for the flora of Brazil, based on material from Bahia and Minas Gerais states. This species represents the first record of Magnoliaceae in the Northeastern region of Brazil. Magnolia brasiliensis differs from all other Brazilian species of Magnolia by having adaxially glossy leaves and differs from M. ovata by having a lower number of stamens and carpels. Despite its large extent of occurrence, the conservation status attributed to the new species is Endangered, mainly based on the low number of mature individuals in each subpopulation (< 50) and an area of occupancy of less than 16 km².     

The genus Nanopterodectes Mironov, 2009 (Acari, Proctophyllodidae), with descriptions of three new species from antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) in Brazil

Three new species of the recently discovered, and hitherto monotypic, feather mite genus Nanopterodectes Mironov, 2009 are described: N. acutirostris n. sp. from Stymphalornis acutirostris Bornschein, Reinert & Teixeira, N. mentalis n. sp. from Dysithamnus mentalis (Temminck), and N. leucopterus n. sp. from Pyriglena leucoptera (Vieillot). This feather mite genus is currently restricted to passerine birds of the Neotropical family Thamnophilidae in Brazil. A key to the known species of Nanopterodectes is presented for both sexes.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhynchospora rheophytica</Emphasis> (Cyperaceae), a new species from western Bahia,Brazil

A new species of Rhynchospora section Tenues, from western Bahia, Brazil, is described, illustrated, and compared to related species.     

Ellipsomyxa tucujuensis n. sp. (Myxozoa: Ceratomyxidae), a parasite of Satanoperca jurupari (Osteichthyes: Cichlidae) from the Brazilian Amazon

The present study describes a new coelozoic, eukaryotic microparasite of the genus Ellipsomyxa Køie, 2003 (Ceratomyxidae: Myxozoa) found parasitizing the gallbladder of Satanoperca jurupari Heckel, 1840 collected in the Curiaú River Environmental Protection Area in Macapá, Amapá state, Brazil. The fish were collected using mesh cast net. The gallbladders were examined, preserved in 80% alcohol for molecular analysis (SSU rDNA gene), and fixed in Davidson for histological slide preparation. The new parasite had a prevalence of 81% in the gallbladder, asymmetric plasmodia, irregular free spores in the bladder fluid, with no cyst formation. The spores are elliptical, with characteristics of the genus Ellipsomyxa, and they had a mean length of 10.11 (8.56–10.5) μm, mean width of 7.81 (5.96–9.56) μm, and thick walls. The polar capsules are sub-spherical in shape, slightly asymmetrical, with a mean length of 3.12 (2.31–3.99) μm and mean width of 2.5 (2.22–2.95) μm, containing polar filament with five or six coils perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the capsule. The Bayesian Inference assigned the new species to a subclade formed by a lineage of Ellipsomyxa species from the Amazon region. Ellipsomyxa tucujuensis n. sp. is the sixth species of this genus described in fish from the Amazon region, and the first for the state of Amapá.     

Allagoptera brevicalyx (Palmae), a new species from Bahia,Brazil

Allagoptera brevicalyx from Bahia, Brazil, is described. It is compared to other species ofAllagoptera and also toPolyandrococos.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinocephalus verae</Emphasis> (Eriocaulaceae), a new species from the Brazilian Campos Rupestres

We describe and illustrate the new species Actinocephalus verae (Eriocaulaceae: Paepalanthoideae). This species is endemic to the rocky outcrops of the Espinhaço range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. We make comparisons with Actinocephalus ithyphyllus and Actinocephalus ochrocephalus, the morphologically most similar species. The new species’ morphological variation, habitat, geographic distribution, and conservation status are discussed.     

A new species of Chilicola from Bahia, Brazil (Hymenoptera, Colletidae), with a key to the species of the megalostigma group

The bee genus Chilicola Spinola (Xeromelissinae) is recorded from the State of Bahia, Brazil for the first time, based on a new species of the megalostigma group of the subgenus Hylaeosoma Ashmead. Chilicola (Hylaeosoma) kevani sp. n. is described and figured from males collected in Wesceslau Guimarães, Bahia. The species can be distinguished on the basis of coloration, size, integumental sculpturing, and structure of the hidden metasomal sterna and genitalia. A revised key to the species of the megalostigma group is provided.     

Morphological and molecular characterization of Udonella brasiliensis n. sp. (Monogenoidea), an epibiont on Caligus sp. parasite of Ariidae from the southeastern coast of Brazil

The present study describes Udonella brasiliensis n. sp., an epibiont found on Caligus sp., a parasite the ariids Genidens barbus (Lacepède) and Aspistor luniscutis (Valenciennes), caught on the coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Morphological and molecular analyses (partial 18S rDNA) were carried out. The morphological data showed that U. brasiliensis n. sp. can be distinguished from current valid species by its morphometric attributes (e.g., body, pharynx, ovary and testis), while the molecular information supports the proposal of a new species. The 18S rDNA phylogenetic analysis shows a close relationship between the new species and Udonella australis Carvajal & Sepulveda, in a subclade formed of species that parasitize South American fish. Finally, this study also discusses a scenario of initial irradiation for udonellids.     

Two new species of Tribonium Saussure, 1862 (Blattodea,Blaberidae, Zetoborinae), with a key to males of the genus

This contribution describes and illustrates the male genitalia of two new species of Blaberidae collected in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil: Tribonium caldensis sp. n. resembles Tribonium neospectrum Lopes, 1978, differing in the coloration, size and genitalia; and Tribonium morroferrensis sp. n., which resembles Tribonium guttulosum (Walker, 1868) but also differs in the size and coloration of specimen and genital pieces morphology. The genital plates were removed after dissection of the posterior part of the abdomen, and were stored in microvials containing glycerin, attached to the respective exemplar in the collection of the Museu Nacional of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A key to males of the species of the genus is also presented. Illustrations of Tribonium neospectrum and Tribonium guttulosum are provided to clarify the comparisons with the new species described here.     

Rhododendron kuomeianum (Ericaceae), a new species from northeastern Yunnan (China), based on morphological and genomic data

Rhododendron kuomeianum Y.H. Chang, J. Nielsen & Y.P. Ma, a new species of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) within subsect. Maddenia in sect. Rhododendron from Yiliang County, NE Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to R. valentinianum, but it can be easily distinguished by its sparse scales on the abaxial surface of the leaf blade, fewer flowers per inflorescence and white corolla with pale red margins. There are also differences in the widths of calyx lobes, leaf blade shape and indumentum characteristics of the petiole between the new species and Rhododendron linearilobum. We confirmed that R. kuomeianum is a new species closely related to R. valentinianum and R. changii with phylogenomic studies of 10 species within this subsection based on restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) data. These phylogenomic analyses also clarified additional taxonomic problems in this subsection previously raised by morphological analysis. Our findings make a strong case for using next-generation sequencing to explore phylogenetic relationships and identify new species, especially in plants groups with complicated taxonomic problems.     

First record of Clausidium (Copepoda,Clausidiidae) from Brazil: a new species associated with ghost shrimps Neocallichirus grandimana (Gibbes, 1850) (Decapoda,Callianassidae)

A new clausidiid copepod was found living in galleries of ghost shrimps Neocallichirus grandimana (Gibbes, 1850) in Natal, Brazil. The new species resembles to Clausidium senegalense Humes, 1957 and Clausidium vancouverense (Haddon, 1912) in the armature of P2–P5 of the female, and shares with Clausidium senegalense similar segmentation and armature of the antenna and maxilla of the female. Nevertheless, it can be easily distinguished from its congeners by the unique characteristics observed in the antenna, maxilliped and first leg of males, as well as by the anal somite, maxillule and maxilliped of the females. This new species extends the group distribution to the Southwest Atlantic and represents the first record of the genus in Brazil. A key for the identification of the species based on females of Clausidium is provided.     

Aristolochia setulosa (Aristolochiaceae), a new species from northeastern Brazil

A new species, Aristolochia setulosa, is described from northeastern Brazil. Comments are given on geography and phenology, the species is illustrated, and a key to morphologically similar species is presented.