A new species of Youngomyia Felt from Brazil and new morphological data on Youngomyia pouteriae Maia (Insecta,Diptera, Cecidomyiidae)

Youngomyia matogrossensis Proença & Maia a new species of Cecidomyiidae (Insecta: Diptera) that induces cylindrical hairy galls on leaves of Pouteria torta (Mart.) Radlk. (Sapotaceae) is herein described and illustrated (larvae, pupal exuviae, male and female). The galler, gall and host plant were collected at Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães, in the state of Mato Grosso (Brazil). New morphological data and photographs of pupal exuviae, male and female of Youngomyia pouteriae Maia, 2001 are also provided.     

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.     

Lopesia leandrae (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae), a new species of gall midge associated with Leandra ionopogon (Mart.) Cogn. (Melastomataceae), a native plant to Brazil

Lopesia leandrae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), a new galling species associated with Leandra ionopogon (Melastomataceae), a native plant species to Brazil, is described based on larva, pupal exuvia, male and female. L. leandrae galls were collected in an area of Atlantic Forest in Bertioga, state of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. The new species was compared to the other species of Lopesia.     

New record of Machaeriobia machaerii (Kieffer, 1913) (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) in Brazil and association with host–plant species

The geographical distribution of Machaeriobia machaerii (Kieffer, 1913) (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), previously known only from Tubarão, Santa Catarina State, Brazil is extended to São Paulo State, Brazil. Illustrations of diagnostic characters of the male, pupa, and larva are provided, and the association with the species of host plant, Machaerium hirtum (Vell.) Stellfeld (Fabaceae) is established.     

Insect galls on Bauhinia cupulata (Fabaceae): morphotypes characterization and description of a new species of Schizomyia (Cecidomyiidae,Diptera)

Galls on Bauhinia cupulata (Fabaceae) were investigated in two physiognomies of the Cerrado, riparian and dry forest, in the municipality of Barreiras (Western Bahia, Brazil) from October 2012 to July 2014. Four insect gall morphotypes were found. They were characterized based on shape, color, indumentum, plant organ of occurrence and galling taxon. A new galling species, Schizomyia barreirensis, is described, illustrated (larva, pupa, male, female and gall) and compared to other Neotropical congeneric species.     

Checklist of the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) of Finland

A list of the 356 species of Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) recorded from Finland is presented, which comprises 6 Lestremiinae, 156 Micromyinae, 16 Winnertziinae, 69 Porricondylinae, and 109 Cecidomyiinae. The faunistic knowledge of Finnish Winnertziinae, Porricondylinae and Cecidomyiinae is regarded as particularly poor. Based on species numbers known from other countries in Europe, a conservative estimate is 700–800 species of Cecidomyiidae actually occurring in Finland.     

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.     

A new key for the species of Ateuchus Weber (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) occurring in Mexico,with a description of the first North American inquiline species from a rodent burrow (Rodentia: Geomydae) and new distribution records

The first Ateuchus Weber (Scarabaeinae) species, A. tuza sp. nov., from a rodent burrow from North America is described. Diagnostic characters are presented; photographs of an adult male and illustrations of male genitalia are included. A key for all known Mexican Ateuchus Weber species is provided. Ateuchus hornai (Balthasar) is revalidated. New distribution records from Mexico and Central America are reported.     

Revision of the species of the Tychus rufus group (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)

The species belonging to Tychus rufus group are revised. Eleven species are recognized, described and illustrated and a key to their identification is provided. Nine taxa are new to science: Tychus carpathius n. sp. from Karpathos island (Greece); T. torticornis n. sp. from Lesbos Island (Greece); T. pisidicus n. sp. and T. inermis n. sp. from southwestern Turkey; T. antiocheus n. sp. and T. effeminatus n. sp. from southeastern Turkey; T. artvinensis n. sp. from northeastern Turkey, and T. sidonicus n. sp. and T. libanus n. sp. from Lebanon.     

Phylogeny of the Baldratiina (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) inferred from morphological, ecological and molecular data sources, and evolutionary patterns in plant-galler relationships

The phylogeny of the gall-midge subtribe Baldratiina (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) was reconstructed from molecular (partial sequence of the mitochondrial 12S rDNA), morphological and ecological data sets, using 16 representative species of most of the genera. The morphological and ecological data were combined in a single character matrix and analyzed separately from the molecular data, resulting in an eco-morphological cladogram and a molecular cladogram. Attributes of galls and host associations were superimposed on the molecular cladogram in order to detect possible trends in the evolution of these traits. The cladograms resulting from the two independent analyses were statistically incongruent, although both provide evidence for the monophyly of the genera Baldratia and Careopalpis and the paraphyly of the genera Stefaniola and Izeniola. The results suggest a minor impact of the morphological characters traditionally used in the classification of the Baldratiina, whereas ecological data had a major impact on the phylogenetic inference. Mapping of gall and host attributes on the molecular cladogram suggests that multi-chambered stem galls constitute the ancestral state in the subtribe, with several subsequent shifts to leaf galls. It is concluded that in contrast to other studied groups of gall insects, related baldratiine species induce different types of galls, attesting to speciation driven by gall-type shifts at least as often as host shifts.     

Variability of the grass Phragmites australis in relation to the behaviour and mortality of the gall-inducing midge Giraudiella inclusa (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae)

Summary Variability within and between shoots of the grass Phragmites australis proved to be important for both survival (successful gall induction) and reproduction (larval weight) of the gall-inducing midge Giraudiella inclusa. The ovipositing females and the migrating first instar larvae chose a predictable microhabitat within shoots and within internodes characterized by a high nutritional quality (nitrogen, mineral content, sugar, water) and reduced palnt defense properties (silicate). Clutch size increased with the shoot diameter, larval scramble competition could not be detected. Female shoot selection was random, although the chances of successful gall induction greatly differed between shoots. Thick and intact shoots (6 mm) led to a high larval mortality. But thick shoots destroyed apically by stem-mining caterpillars (of the noctuid moth Archanara geminipuncta) had on average large gall clusters. Accordingly, the adjustment of the clutch size to the shoot diameter resulted in an advantage for the gall midge females only when shoots were thin and short (i.e. stressed by water and nutrient deficiency) or heavily damage (i.e. stressed) by caterpillars. Thus, the monophagous gall maker G. inclusa did not compensate for all features of intershoot variation of P. australis, although grasses are well-known for their simple plant architecture and their low diversity and low concentration of secondary compounds.     

Phylogeny of the Augochlora clade with the description of four new species (Hymenoptera,Apoidea)

The Augochlora clade includes four genera: Augochlora Smith, Augochlorella Sandhouse, Ceratalictus Moure, and Pereirapis Moure. This is one of the richest and most widespread groups of Augochlorini bees. There are about 150 species, which occur from Argentina to Canada. The species of Augochlora clade are considered solitary to facultatively social, except Ceratalictus for which nothing is known. Wood nesting behavior arose once in the clade, in Augochlora sensu strictu. The objective of this study is to describe four new species and to present a revised phylogenetic analysis of the Augochlora clade for the placement of these species. The morphological matrix comprised 77 characters and 42 terminals, and resulted in two most parsimonious trees. The monophyly of the Augochlora clade is corroborated. Ceratalictus and Pereirapis are considered as sister groups and Ceratalictus inflexus sp. nov. came as sister to other species of Ceratalictus. Augochlora and Augochlorella are monophyletic and sister groups. Both extant subgenera of Augochlora were corroborated as monophyletic. Augochlorella comis is considered as sister group to the rest of Augochlorella species. All Augochlorella new species described belong to the Augochlorella ephyra group. Augochlorella kelliae sp. nov. is phylogenetically related to Augochlorella una. Augochlorella procliva sp. nov. and Augochlorella mavricera sp. nov. constitute a clade with Augochlorella acarinata. Including the new species, Augochlorella has 19 species and Ceratalictus 11 species. A revised key for species of Augochlorella and Ceratalictus is also presented in the Supplementary Information.     

Description of a new species and redescription of two species of the genus Limoniscus Reitter (Coleoptera,Elateridae, Dendrometrinae) from Japan

We presented a revised taxonomy of two allied species, Limoniscus mitokiiKishii, 2004 and L. ogatai (Kishii, 1985), from western Japan. Through this revision, we found a new species, L. spelunca sp. n., from the type series of L. ogatai. The new species is different in its frons, antennae, prosternum, and aedeagus compared with L. mitokii and L. ogatai. We also reviewed the current understanding of Japanese Limoniscus species, and provided a key to the 23 Limoniscus species found in Japan. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:56104650-EAA9-42E9-AFC3-91D7DCA53938.     

A new species of Pelomus Reiss, 1989 (Diptera: Chironomidae: Chironominae) from the Neotropical Region,with emendation of the generic diagnosis

A new species of Pelomus Reiss, 1989 Reiss, F. 1989. ‘Pelomus gen. nov., ein weiterer potamobionter Vertreter des Harnischia-Komplexes aus dem Amazonasbecken (Diptera, Chironomidae)’. Acta Biologica Debrecina Oecologia Hungarica, 2: 305–314.  [Google Scholar] (Diptera: Chironomidae: Chironominae), P. sophiae sp. n., is described and figured as male, pupa and larva. Diagnoses for male and pupa of the genus are emended. The larvae, reared in the laboratory to obtain all life stages, were collected on bottom sand of reservoir and ponds, in southeast Brazil.     

Description of the larva, diagnosis of the nymph and female based on scanning electron microscopy, hosts, and distribution of Ixodes (Ixodes) venezuelensis

Abstract. The larva, nymph, and female of Ixodes (Ixodes) venezuelensis are diagnosed using scanning electron microscopy, and the larva is described for the first time. This ixodid tick is recorded from the northern neotropics as a parasite of five species of didelphid marsupials and eighteen species of rodents (one sciurid, two heteromyids, eleven murids, two dasyproctids, and two echimyids). Collection records of I. venezuelensis are presented for Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama and Venezuela, with the Costa Rican records being new and extending the known range of this tick by at least 300 km. Altitudinally, I. venezuelensis has been collected between elevations of 24 and 2410 m with most collections between 100 and 800m. The possibility that I. venezuelensis may be partheno-genetic is discussed.