The American scale insect genus Udinia De Lotto (Coccidae)

Udinia, an Ethiopian coccid genus, is redefined and a key is given to the thirteen species now recognised: bruncki sp. n. , catori (Green) comb. n. [= Lecanium subhirsutum Newstead syn. n. ], farquharsoni (Newstead) [= U.exoleta (De Lotto) syn. n. ], glabra De Lotto, ikoyensis sp. n. , lobayana (Balachowsky & Ferrero) comb. n. , newsteadi sp. n. , nigeriensis sp. n. , pattersoni sp. n. , paupercula De Lotto, pterolobina De Lotto, scitula De Lotto, setigera (Newstead). Five species are described as new and three species are redescribed and for these lectotypes are designated. The morphological characters used are discussed and listed and intraspecific variations shown by two of the species are tabulated. The distribution of all the species is recorded on two maps and the literature dealing with associations between ants and Udinia and related coccid genera is briefly reviewed.     

Insect natural enemies of coffee green scales [Hemiptera: Coccidae] in Kenya and their potential for biological control ofCoccus celatus andC. viridis in Papua New Guinea

Coffee green scales,Coccus celatus De Lotto andC. viridis (Green), are major pests of coffee in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Surveys for insect natural enemies of coffee green scales were conducted in Kenya to find species suitable for introduction to PNG. Natural enemy communities in Kenya were found to be diverse, particularly those located in the central highlands where 3 primary parasitoids,Metaphycus stanleyi Compere,M. baruensis Noyes andDiversinervus stramineus Compere (Encyrtidae), were dominant onC. celatus andC. alpinus De Lotto. It is suggested that these 3 parasitoids may be potential biological control agents forC. celatus. Several insect predators were found associated withC. celatus in the central highlands but most were only common in ant-free scale populations. An aphelinid primary parasitoid,Coccophagus rusti Compere, was the only natural enemy ofC. viridis located. This species, however, could be of potential as a biological control agent, especially in view of its previous use in biological control against soft scales.      

Two new species of Tipula (Lunatipula) Edwards (Diptera: Tipulidae) from Turkey

Two new species in the acuminata group of subgenus Tipula (Lunatipula), Tipula (Lunatipula) oosterbroeki sp. n. and T (L) jaroslavi sp. n., were described and illustrated from Southwest part of Asian Turkey.     

Ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of Alnus acuminata from Calilegua National Park (Argentina)

The objective of this study was to determine patterns of ectomycorrhizas (ECM) and arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) colonization associated with Alnus acuminata (Andean alder), in relation to soil parameters (electrical conductivity, field H₂O holding capacity, pH, available P, organic matter, and total N) at two different seasons (autumn and spring). The study was conducted in natural forests of A. acuminata situated in Calilegua National Park (Jujuy, Argentina). Nine ECM morphotypes were found on A. acuminata roots. The ECM colonization was affected by seasonality and associated positively with field H₂O holding capacity, pH, and total N and negatively associated with organic matter. Two morphotypes (Russula alnijorullensis and Tomentella sp. 3) showed significant differences between seasons. Positive and negative correlations were found between five morphotypes (Alnirhiza silkacea, Lactarius omphaliformis, Tomentella sp. 1, Tomentella sp. 3, and Lactarius sp.) and soil parameters (total N, pH, and P). A significant negative correlation was found between field H₂O holding capacity and organic matter with AM colonization. Results of this study provide evidence that ECM and AM colonization of A. acuminata can be affected by some soil chemical edaphic parameters and indicate that some ECM morphotypes are sensitive to changes in seasonality and soil parameters.     

Leaf gall polymorphism and molecular phylogeny of a new Bruggmanniella species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Asphondyliini) associated with Litsea acuminata (Lauraceae) in Taiwan,with ecological comparisons and a species description

Two types of cecidomyiid leaf galls, cup‐shaped and umbrella‐shaped, occur on Litsea acuminata (Lauraceae) in Taiwan. Based on the concept of gall shapes as “extended phenotypes” of gall inducers, these two types could be induced by different gall midge species. However, galls with intermediate shapes between the two types were recently discovered, which implies that possible genetic exchanges occur between the gall inducers of both types. To clarify the taxonomic status of gall midges responsible for the two types of galls on L. acuminata, we undertook taxonomic, molecular phylogenetic and ecological studies. Our findings show that the two gall types are induced by the same Bruggmanniella species and the species is new to science. We describe the species forming this range of galls as Bruggmanniella litseae sp. n. , and compare their geographical distribution, galling position and morphometry. Based on our results, a possible evolutionary scenario of B. litseae sp. n. is discussed.     

Spinicauda voltaensis n.sp. (Nematoda: Heterakoidea) from a toad of Upper Volta,Africa

Summary Spinicauda voltaensis n.sp. is described from a toad, Bufo sp., from Upper Volta, Africa. It differs from other Spinicauda spp. in the number, distribution and size of caudal papillae in males, in the lack of a gubernaculum, and in the possession of markedly elongate spicules and a relatively short male tail. S. mathevossianae Skarbilovich, 1950, is probably a synonym of Aplectana acuminata (Schrank, 1788) (Cosmocercidae). S. komodoensis Pinnell & Schmidt, 1977, is transferred to Moaciria.     

A new species of Mombasinia (Hom.: Pseudococcidae) from South Africa

The monotypic genus Mombnsinia was established by the writer (De Lotto, 1964) for the inclusion of Pseudococcus pulcherrimus De Lotto, 1960; a very peculiar mealy bug collected in Mombasa, Kenya, on the underside of leaves of Flacourtia indica L. To the genus is referred here the following new species, very closely related to the type, which has recently been collected in South Africa on a host belonging to the same plant family.     

Seven new species and two new subspecies of Sclerocypris SARS, 1924 from Africa,with new records of some other Megalocypridinids (Crustacea,Ostracoda)

Sclerocypris dayae n.sp., S. dedeckkeri n.sp., S. dumonti n.sp., S. zelaznyi n.sp. and S. zelaznyi etoshensis n.ssp. are described from South — West Africa (Namibia). S. exserta makarikarensis n.ssp. originates from the endorheic pan system Makarikari in Botswana. S. woutersi n.sp. was described from Lake Albert where it is quite common. S. virungensis n.sp. is known from the Virunga National Park, south of Lake Edward (Zaire). The latter two species are closely related and from part of the flabella-species group. S. longisetosa n.sp., described from a marsh near Kisumu (Kenya), is an enigmatic species, holding an isolated position in the genus due to an aberrant T1.Present address: Rijksuniversiteit Gent, Laboratorium voor ecologie der dieren, zoögeografte en natuurbehoud (Institute for Ecology), K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B9000 Gent, Belgium.     

Morphology and Morphogenesis of Onychodromus quadricornutus n. sp. (Ciliophora,Hypotrichida), an Extraordinarily Large Ciliate with Dorsal Horns1

The morphology and the morphogenesis of the freshwater hypotrich ciliate Onychodromus quadricornutus n. sp. have been investigated using living organisms, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy. Some preliminary and supplementary results about the morphogenesis of O. grandis and Laurentiella acuminata are included. The new species is unique among all described hypotrichs in having four dorsal horns, whose function is unknown. In addition, O. quadricornutus is probably the most voluminous hypotrich ciliate known (2 times 10^-6-5 times 10⁶μm³). Its morphogenetic pattern resembles the oxytrichids O. grandis and L. acuminata. The strongest apomorphic character, which unites these three species, is probably the multiple fragmentation of the dorsal primordia during morphogenesis. This fragmentation causes the characteristic high number and more or less irregular distribution of the dorsal kineties in the non-dividing individuals.     

Ectomycorrhizas of Cortinarius helodes and Gyrodon monticola with Alnus acuminata from Argentina

Field ectomycorrhizas of Cortinarius helodes Moser, Matheny & Daniele (sp. nov) and Gyrodon monticola Sing. on Alnus acuminata Kunth (Andean alder, aliso del cerro) are described based on morphological and anatomical features. Ectomycorrhizal roots were sampled beneath fruitbodies of C. helodes and G. monticola from two homogeneous A. acuminata forest sites located in Tucumán and Catamarca Provinces in Argentina. C. helodes ectomycorrhizas showed a thick white to beige mantle exuding a milky juice when injured, were bluish toward the apex, and had hyphal strands in the mantle. G. monticola ectomycorrhizas showed some conspicuous features like highly differentiated rhizomorphs, inflated brown cells on the mantle surface, and hyaline and brown emanating hyphae with dolipores. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer provided a distinctive profile for each of the collections of fruitbodies and the mycorrhizal morphotypes.     

OBSERVATIONS ON NITELLA ACUMINATA FROM SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES AND NORTHERN MEXICO1

Morphological and cytological analyses of several specimens of the genus Nitella suggest that species described as N. stellaris, N. lindheimeri, N. gollmeriana, and N. mexicana and some forms reported as N. acuminata var. subglomerata represent a single taxon in the N. acuminata species group. Cytological examination revealed a chromosome number of n = 9 in the specimens from the study area but N. acuminata is known to display n = 18 chromosomes in other regions of North America and on oilier continents. Hypotheses regarding the origin and significance of this polyploidy are discussed. The habitats supporting N. acuminata (n = 9) in the study area show some features which are in contrast to those of habitats supporting the species (n = 18) in other areas of North America.     

Response of Pseudomonas tolaasii,the causal agent of mushroom brown blotch disease to the volatile compounds produced by endofungal bacteria

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by bacteria have significant potential to control phytopathogens. In this study, the VOCs produced by endofungal bacteria Pseudomonas sp. Bi1, Bacillus sp. De3, Pantoea sp. Ma3 and Pseudomonas sp. De1 isolated from wild growing mushrooms were evaluated in vitro for their antagonistic activity against Pseudomonas tolaasii Pt18, the causal agent of mushroom brown blotch disease. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis revealed that strains Pseudomonas sp. Bi1, Pseudomonas sp. De1, Bacillus sp. De3 and Pantoea sp. Ma3 produced eight, sixteen, nine, and twelve VOCs, respectively. All antagonistic endofungal bacteria produced VOCs which significantly reduced brown blotch symptoms on mushroom caps and inhibited the growth of P. tolaasii Pt18 at the varying levels. Scanning electron microscopy revealed severe morphological changes in cells of P. tolaasii Pt18 following exposure to the VOCs of Pseudomonas sp. Bi1 and De1. Furthermore, The VOCs produced by endofungal bacteria significantly reduced swarming, swimming, twitching, chemotaxis motility and biofilm formation by P. tolaasii Pt18 cells, which are essential contributors to pathogenicity. This is to first report about the inhibition effects of VOCs produced by antagonistic bacteria on virulence traits of P. tolaasii. Our findings provide new insights regarding the potential of antibacterial VOCs as a safe fumigant to control mushroom brown blotch disease.

     

A phylogenetic analysis of the genera of Aphelininae (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), with a generic key and descriptions of new taxa

The genera of Aphelininae (Aphelinidae) are reviewed on a worldwide basis. Identification keys and a phylogenetic hypothesis are presented for 16 genera, of which four are new (Mashimaro n.g. , Neophytis n.g. , Punkaphytis n.g. , Saengella n.g. ) and Paraphytis is resurrected. Newly described species are Mashimaro hawksi n.sp. , Mashimaro lasallei n.sp. , Neophytis myartsevae n.sp. , Neophytis munroi n.sp. , Punkaphytis erwini n.sp. and Punkaphytis hayati n.sp. New combinations from Aphytis include Neophytis melanosticus (Compere) and N. dealbatus (Compere), and Paraphytis acutaspidis (Rosen & DeBach), P. angusta (Compere), P. anomala (Compere), P. argenticorpa (Rosen & DeBach), P. australiensis (DeBach & Rosen), P. benassyi (Fabres), P. breviclavata (Huang), P. capillata (Howard), P. ciliata (Dodd), P. cochereaui (DeBach & Rosen), P. costalimai (Gomes), P. densiciliata (Huang), P. fabresi (DeBach & Rosen), P. haywardi (De Santis), P. hyalinipennis (Rosen & DeBach), P. maculatipennis (Dozier), P. maculata (Shafee), P. mandalayensis Rosen & DeBach, P. nigripes (Compere), P. noumeaensis (Howard), P. obscura (DeBach & Rosen), P. peculiaris (Girault), P. perplexa (Rosen & DeBach), P. transversa (Huang), P. vittata (Compere) (revived status) and P. wallumbillae (Girault). A parsimony analysis of 50 morphological characters for 54 species in 21 genera, including four outgroups (Coccophagus, Eunotiscus, Euryishomyia and Eriaphytis), resulted in three equally parsimonious trees supporting monophyly of all genera except Neophytis. Neophytis was paraphyletic to a monophyletic Aphytini but is monophyletic in unpublished molecular analyses. Three tribes are recognised (Aphelinini, Aphytini and Eutrichosomellini). The questionable inclusion of Eretmocerus (Eretmocerini) within Aphelininae is discussed.     

New species of Pseudopoda J?ger, 2000 from Southern?China (Araneae,Sparassidae)

Four new species of the huntsman spider genus Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 are described from Southern China: Pseudopoda acuminata sp. n. from Suiyang County, Guizhou Province, P. emei sp. n. from Emei Mountain, Sichuan Province, P. lacrimosa sp. n. from Fugong County and Tengchong County, Yunnan Province, and P. robusta sp. n. fromJinyun Mountain, Chongqing Municipality.     

Middle–Late Eocene Nummulites (N. burdigalensis group) from Gebel Hafit,along the United Arab Emirates and Oman borders,Arabian Peninsula

A Middle–Late Eocene diagnostic larger foraminiferal assemblage is described and illustrated from carbonates of the uppermost Dammam Formation, on both sides of Gebel Hafit anticline in the Northern Oman Mountains in the United Arab Emirates. The Middle Eocene carbonates yielded Nummulites obesus d'Archiac, 1852, N. ismaili Boukhary, Hamdan & Bahr n. sp., N. papazzonii Boukhary, Hamdan & Bahr n. sp. and N. kenawyi Boukhary, Hamdan & Bahr n. sp. (a species of the N. burdigalensis group). In addition, N. cf. boussaci Rozlozsnik, 1924, N. cf. lorioli De La Harpe, 1879, N. hottingeri Schaub, 1981, N. strougoi Boukhary, Hamdan & Bahr n. sp. (of the N. partschi group), N. ansaryi Boukhary, Hamdan & Bahr n. sp. (of the N. gizehensis group), N. cf. praebullatus Schaub, 1981, N. cizancourti Sander, 1962 (of the group of N. fabianii), N. cf. stamineus Nuttall, 1927 (of the N. discorbinus group), N. maculatus Nuttall, 1926 (of the N. laevigatus group) and Assilina gigantea De La Harpe, 1926 are recorded. On the top of the sequence, an assemblage with N. hottingeri Schaub, 1981, which was assigned by Schaub 1981 to the Biarritzian ( = Bartonian), was found associated with N. ptukhiani, Silvestriella tetraedra (Gümbel, 1870) and Pellatispira madaraszi (Hantken, 1875); these findings suggest that this association should be assigned to the Priabonian stage, confirming for the sampled succession of a Late Eocene age for sediments deposited in an inner-shelf environment, which was possibly related to the eustatic fall of sea level at the end of the Priabonian.

http://zoobank.org/2EBD2891-293F-465A-AE1C-F419F0CDB970     

Characterization of Dinophysis spp. (Dinophyceae,Dinophysiales) from the mid-Atlantic region of the United States1

Due to the increasing prevalence of Dinophysis spp. and their toxins on every US coast in recent years, the need to identify and monitor for problematic Dinophysis populations has become apparent. Here, we present morphological analyses, using light and scanning electron microscopy, and rDNA sequence analysis, using a ~2-kb sequence of ribosomal ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, and LSU DNA, of Dinophysis collected in mid-Atlantic estuarine and coastal waters from Virginia to New Jersey to better characterize local populations. In addition, we analyzed for diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins in water and shellfish samples collected during blooms using liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and an in vitro protein phosphatase inhibition assay and compared this data to a toxin profile generated from a mid-Atlantic Dinophysis culture. Three distinct morphospecies were documented in mid-Atlantic surface waters: D. acuminata, D. norvegica, and a “small Dinophysis sp.” that was morphologically distinct based on multivariate analysis of morphometric data but was genetically consistent with D. acuminata. While mid-Atlantic D. acuminata could not be distinguished from the other species in the D. acuminata-complex (D. ovum from the Gulf of Mexico and D. sacculus from the western Mediterranean Sea) using the molecular markers chosen, it could be distinguished based on morphometrics. Okadaic acid, dinophysistoxin 1, and pectenotoxin 2 were found in filtered water and shellfish samples during Dinophysis blooms in the mid-Atlantic region, as well as in a locally isolated D. acuminata culture. However, DSP toxins exceeded regulatory guidance concentrations only a few times during the study period and only in noncommercial shellfish samples.     

Study of Resistance of Musa acuminata to Fusarium oxysporum using RAPD markers

Suckers collected from different populations of Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis were found to be highly resistant to race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC) suggesting that local wild banana populations co-evolved with the pathogen. Seedlings from these wild banana plants segregated for resistance to the pathogen. The infected seedlings were characterized based on external and internal symptoms and the variable response to FOC was mainly due to the genetic factors. Using the technique of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), 96 major amplification products from 15 primers were identified. Only 10 out of 96 markers were monomorphic and shared among the seed progenies, whereas the remaining 86 were highly polymorphic. Three primers showed banding patterns specific to resistant or susceptible seedlings. These results showed the great potential of the wild Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis as a source for banana improvement and also for the synthesis of segregating populations for linkage mapping, gene cloning and DNA markers related to FOC resistance.     

Beetles with ‘trochantelli’: phylogeny of Cephenniini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) focussing on Neotropical genera

Neotropical genera of Cephenniini characterized by an additional leg ‘segment’ (‘trochantellus’) are revised, and the following new taxa are described: Shyri gen.n. , Shyri pichincha sp.n. (type species of Shyri) (Ecuador), Shyri perversus sp.n. (Ecuador), Shyri quitu sp.n. (Ecuador), Shyri microphthalmus sp.n. (Ecuador), Monstrophennium gen.n. (type species: Cephennium spinicolle Schaufuss), Furcodes gen.n. , Furcodes apicalis sp.n. (type species of Furcodes) (Mexico), Furcodes tutule sp.n. (Honduras), Paracephennium pumilio sp.n. (Costa Rica), Pseudocephennium iwokramanum sp.n. (Guyana), Pseudocephennium trilineatum sp.n. (Guyana), Pseudocephennium araguanum sp.n. (Venezuela), Pseudocephennium maximum sp.n. (Venezuela), Pseudocephennium peruvianum sp.n. (Peru), Pseudocephennium cochabambanum sp.n. (Bolivia), Pseudocephennium saramaccanum sp.n. (Suriname) and Pseudocephennium brokopondonum sp.n. (Suriname). Pseudocephennium spinicolle (Schaufuss) is transferred to Monstrophennium. Cladistic analysis of characters from adult morphology of all genera of Cephenniini and a large outgroup sample from Cyrtoscydmini, Eutheiini, Scydmaenini, Clidicini and Mastigini strongly supported the monophyly of Cephenniini. However, only the Cephennomicrus group comprising nine genera was strongly supported as a monophyletic clade, while only weak support was found for the previously suggested Cephennodes group and Cephennium group. Two alternative hypotheses concerning the phylogeny of Cephenniini are put forward and discussed: (i) the Cephennium group is sister to all remaining Cephenniini; or (ii) the Cephennomicrus group is sister to all remaining Cephenniini. The Neotropical genera with ‘trochantellus’ form a well‐supported clade derived from the ancestral lineage of the Cephennodes group.     

The genus Pnyxiopalpus gen.n. (Diptera: Sciaridae)

Pnyxiopalpus gen.n. (type-species P. raptor sp.n.), Oriental in distribution, includes the following species: P. acanthipes sp.n. (Malay Peninsula), P. aculeatus sp.n. (Borneo), P. adebratti sp.n. (Borneo), P. aphrodite sp.n. (Sumatra), P. dentaneus sp.n. (Sulawesi), P. fossor sp.n. (Borneo), P. fuscinellus sp.n. (Borneo), P. hamatus sp.n. (Borneo), P. latifalx sp.n. (Borneo), P. macrocellus sp.n. (Malay Peninsula), P. microdon sp.n. (Sumatra), P. nepenthophilus sp.n. (Malay Peninsula), P. noona sp.n. (Palawan), P. raptor sp.n. (Borneo), P. reticulatus sp.n. (Malay Peninsula) and P. simplex sp.n. (Borneo). Males and females are keyed and described. Pnyxiopalpus has a number of characters previously unknown in Sciaridae. In contrast to other Sciaridae, interspecific morphological variation is greater for the females compared to the males. Based on a parsimony analysis of sixty-four morphological characters, Pnyxiopalpus is monophyletic, and its sister group appears to be Spathobdella Frey + {[Peyerimhoffia Kieffer + (Faratsiho Paulian + Pnyxia Johannsen)] + [Hyperlasion Schmitz + (Hermapterosciara Mohrig & Mamaev + Parapnyxia Mohrig & Mamaev)]}. According to the most parsimonious solution, the monophyly of Hyperlasion, Lycoriella Frey and Plastosciara Berg in their current sense is questioned. Aptery and one-segmented maxillary palp, usually regarded as important in sciarid classification, show a lot of homoplasy.