Morphological Variation of the Scorpionfly Panorpa obtusa Cheng (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) with a New Synonym

Background

The overabundance of synonyms is an unavoidable by-product of taxonomic practice in insects. How to reduce or even eliminate synonymy has long been a great challenge for insect taxonomists. The scorpionflies Panorpa obtusa Cheng, 1949 and Panorpa leei Cheng, 1949 (Insecta: Mecoptera: Panorpidae) were originally described from Taibaishan in the Qinling Mountains with identical collection data and both are based on a single gender, the former on a male and the latter on two females. However, whether P. leei is conspecific with P. obtusa or a good species remains an unsolved problem.

Results

On the basis of intensive morphological comparison of 93 males and 53 females of scorpionflies collected from the type locality using light and scanning electron microscopy, we found P. obtusa has considerable morphological variation (especially the wing markings and genitalia in both male and female), and Panorpa leei is totally comprised of one of the morphs of P. obtusa.

Conclusions

In combination with identical type localities and overlapping morphological variation, P. leei Cheng is proposed as a junior subjective synonym of P. obtusa Cheng. To avoid synonyms, taxonomists should pay more attention to individual variation and base decisions on a series of specimens to describe new species.     

Notes on central American aristolochiaceae

Aristolochia pfeiferi, from Panama, andA. cruenta, from Costa Rica, are described.A. chapmaniana Standl. is placed in synonymy underA. tonduzii Schmidt,A. belizensis Lundell is placed in synonymy underA. ovalifolia Duchartre, andA. petenensis Lundell is placed in synonymy underA. bullata Pfeifer. The status ofA. steyermarkii Standl. is reevaluated.     

Life histories and mating system aspects of two Caucasian scorpionfly species: Panorpa similis Esben-Petersen and Panorpa connexa Mac Lachlan

Panorpa similis Esben-Petersen and Panorpa connexa MacLachlan are the most prominent Mecoptera in the Caucasian region. As our knowledge of mating systems and life histories of the different Panorpa species is unsatisfactory, it is the purpose of this contribution to add some interesting information on the life histories and mating behaviour of these two species. Further, we present results on successful breeding of these species, both in the field and the laboratory. Our data suggest that both species are monovoltine under the natural conditions in the Caucasian region, although our breeding experiments revealed a cryptic photoperiodic responsibility in a certain percentage of individuals of Panorpa connexa, which is completely absent in Panorpa similis. First, results on temporally and spatially differing foraging manners of the two species are presented. Male mating tactics of both species comprise copulations with one salivary mass as nuptial gift or copulations without any nuptial gift, but always without the use of force. This paper also gives information on egg deposition, egg hatching and larval development. Finally, we compare aspects of the mating systems for both species with those that have already been investigated for other Panorpa species.     

秦岭火地塘林场蝎蛉科区系研究(长翅目)

Nine species of Panorpa Linn. and one of Neopanorpa Weele were recorded from Huoditang Forest Farm in Qinling Mountains. Among them, Neopanorpa longiprocessa Hua et Chou was reported from Shaanxi for the first time; Panorpa decolorata Chou et Wang and Panorpa reni Chou were redescribed on basis of male, and Panorpa chengi Chou was redescribed on basis of female. A key to the species was provided. The habitats and biology of all the species are outlined.     

Parapsylla, a Gondwanan element in the psyllid fauna of southern Africa (Homoptera)

The genus Parapsylla (Homoptera: Psylloidea) is redescribed and placed in the Diaphorininae of the Family Aphalaridae. Its relationships within this subfamily are discussed. The genus Agmapsylla syn. nov. is placed into the synonymy of Parapsylla , and Pennavena syn. nov. and Eudiaphorina syn. nov. are placed into the synonymy of Diaphorina. The eight known species of Parapsylla are distributed in southern Africa and upland areas of East Africa. Host plant relationships are not clearly established but the genus appears to be associated with species of Maytenus (Celastraceae), Olinia (Oliniaceae) and possibly Olea (Oleaceae) and Syzygium (Myrtaceae). Parapsylla relicta syn. nov, and A. aureus syn. nov. are placed into the synonymy of Arytaina capensis. Parapsylla capensis comb. nov. is transferred from Arytaina, Parapsylla valens comb. nov. is transferred from Diaphorina , and the following new species are described: P. angolensis sp. nov., P. eafra sp. nov., P. huila sp. nov., P. marginipennis sp. nov., P. rufa sp. nov. and P. theroni sp. nov.     

天津自然博物馆收藏的四川省蝎蛉科记述（长翅目）

本文天津自然博物馆所收藏的产于中国四川省蝎蛉科昆虫共7种,其中有5个已知种,即：Neopanorpa niaritis Carpenter,N.heii Cheng,N.chelata Carpenter,Panorpa kimminsi Carpenter,P.cruva Caropenter;另外发现2新种,即Panorpa Jinchuana,sp.n.和Panorpa emeishana sp.n。     

Taxonomic notes on African Orthotrichaceae 3. New synonymy in Madagascan Macromitrium

Examination of type material of Macromitrium taxa described from Madagascar has unveiled three names to be placed in synonymy. Macromitrium nanothecium var. sublaeve Thér. was found to be conspecific with Macromitrium fimbriatum (P.Beauv.) Schwägr.; Macromitrium ancistrophyllum Cardot is placed in synonymy with M. nanothecium Cardot and Macromitrium semipapillosum Thér. & P.de la Varde is placed in synonymy with Macromitrium calocalyx Müll.Hal. Lectotypification is effected for four taxa within the genus. A range extension is reported for M. nanothecium, which is recorded here as new to Tanzania.     

Mauritiella (Palmae) Reconsidered

The palm genusMauritiella is reconsidered, and six species are placed in synonymy withMauritia.     

Taxonomic notes on African Orthotrichaceae I. New synonymy in Macromitrium

New synonymy and distribution records for the genus Macromitrium Brid. in sub-Saharan Africa are presented. Seven names are placed in synonymy, reducing the number of accepted taxa for Macromitrium in sub-Saharan Africa to 33. Macromitrium anomodictyon Cardot was found to be conspecific with M. serpens (Bruch ex Hook. & Grev.) Brid.; M. mauritianum Schwägr. and M. sanctae-mariae Renauld & Cardot are placed in synonymy with M. subtortum (Hook. & Grev.) Schwägr. and M. belangeri Müll.Hal., M. seriatum Paris & Broth., M. bequaertii Thér. & Naveau and M. trollii Dixon in Herz. are all placed in synonymy with M. sulcatum (Hook.) Brid. subsp. sulcatum. The precise lectotypification is implemented for six species within the genus. Macromitrium chloromitrium (Besch.) Wilbraham and M. orthostichum Nees ex Schwägr. are reported new to Tanzania and M. chloromitrium new to continental Africa.     

A Taxonomic Review of the Genera of the Aphelenchoidea (Fuchs, 1937) Thorne, 1949 (Nematoda: Tylenchida)

This generic level taxonomic review of the nematode superfamily Aphelenchoidea is based upon a study of specimens from 24 of the 28 described genera. The diagnoses of these genera are presented, and some are emended with new information. One new genus, Huntaphelenchoides, and five new combinations are proposed. The families Paraphelenchidae and Anomyctidae are placed in synonymy with Aphelenchidae and Aphelenchoididae, respectively. The genera Asteroaphelenchoides and Pseudaphelencboides are placed in synonymy under the genus Aphelenchoides. Rare male and/or female specimens of Peraphelenchus, Anomyctus, Laimaphelenchus, Aphelenchus, Cryptaphelenchoides, Megadorus, Tylaphelenchus, and Entaphelenchus, are redescribed and illustrated. Four plates, containing 106 original drawings of the males, females, stylets, and spicules of representatives of 22 aphelenchoid genera, are presented.     

Redescription of the neotropical Psychodidae (Diptera,Nematocera) described by Rapp and Curran

Five neotropical Psychodidae collected by Curran and described cursorily by Rapp, are redescribed and figured from the type material. Their affinities are discussed. One of Curran's species is placed in synonymy.     

Tropical fungus-feeding Thysanoptera of the genus Macrophthalmo thrips

The genus Macrophthalmothrips is redefined from a study of all the described species. One new species is described from Jamaica, five species are placed in synonymy, and a key is provided to the thirteen species now recognised. Variation in colour and antennal structure is discussed, and notes are given on the biology and distribution of the species.     

中国橐吾属(菊科-千里光族)的分类学研究(四):康定橐吾和Senecio ficariifolius的名实订正(英文)

将康定橐吾(Ligularia kangtingensis S.W.Liu)处理为细茎橐吾[L.hookeri(C.B.Clarke)Hand.-Mazz.]的异名。Senecio ficariifolius H.Lév.Vaniot长期以来被处理为细茎橐吾的异名,但我们检查模式材料后发现其头状花序盘状,与头状花序辐射状的细茎橐吾明显不同,而与头状花序盘状的贵州橐吾[L.leveillei(Vaniot)Hand.-Mazz.]没有区别,故将其处理为贵州橐吾的异名。     

Taxonomical notes on selected freshwater fish species described from northern and central Vietnam(Cypriniformes:Balitoridae,Cobitidae,Cyprinidae,Nemacheilidae; Perciformes:Channidae,Osphronemidae;Synbranchiformes:Mastacembelidae)

Selected,little known taxa of northern and central Vietnamese freshwater fish species are reviewed.Nomenclatural acts are taken:Hemibarbus lehoai is placed in synonymy of H.maculatus,Paracobitis hagiangensis in synonymy of Schistura caudofurca.A neotype of Micronemacheilus bacmeensis is assigned.The name Channa hanamensis is treated as a nomen nudum.Two labeonine species described from China are nomenclaturally affected:Garra findolabium is transferred to Vinagarra and its specific epithet is treated as a noun in apposition;the specific epithet of Sinigarra napoense is corrected to napoensis.     

中国毛茛科翠雀属的分类学研究(十):须弥翠雀花二新异名

标本室和野外观察表明匙苞翠雀花(Delphinium subspathulatum W. T. Wang)和吉隆翠雀花(D. tabatae Tamura)与须弥翠雀花(D. himalayae Munz)属于同一种植物,故将前二者均处理为须弥翠雀花的异名。     

Status of the subfamily names Charipinae and Alloxystinae (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)

Abstract. The Alloxystinae (= Allotriinae) comprises three genera ( Alloxysta, Phaenoglyphis and Lytoxysta ) of secondary parasites on aphids. Charipinae comprises a single monobasic genus ( Dilyta # Charips = Glyptoxysta ), a primary parasite of a psyllid. The relevant subfamily and generic synonymies are listed. Lectotypes are designated for Dilyta subclavata Förster and Charips microcera Haliday which are newly placed in synonymy.     

Luthrobium (Tetartopeus): natural history, phylogeny and revision of the nearctic species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Abstract. The eleven species of Lathrobium subgenus Tetartopeus from the Nearctic Region are revised. Thirteen specific names are placed in synonymy, Lconvolutum sp.n. is described, and Deratopeus Casey is synonymized with Tetartopeus . A cladistic analysis suggests that Tetartopeus is monophyletic, and that five monophyletic species-groups are represented in the Nearctic Region.     

Systematics and phylogeny of Parapholidoptera (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae)

Genus Parapholidoptera is revised and three species, P. yoruka sp.n., P. bolkarensis sp.n. and P. salmani sp.n., are described. Parapholidoptera delineata Stolyarov is placed in synonymy with P. ziganensis Karaba?. Parapholidoptera bodenheimeri Karaba? and P. distincta bodenheimeri Karaba? are placed in synonymy with P. distincta (Uvarov). Parapholidoptera flexuosa Karaba?, previously a subspecies of P. castaneoviridis (Brunner von Wattenwyl), is recognized as a separate species. A key to world species is provided. Cladistic analysis revealed the monophyly of the genus with two major clades. A short account of distribution is presented.     

New species and records of Charisius Champion from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae)

The species of the genus Charisius Champion, from Mexico and Central America are reviewed. The flightless genus Narses Champion, with one included species, N. subalatus Champion, is placed in synonymy with the genus Charisius. Four new species are described and illustrated, C. granulatus and C. punctatus (from Guatemala) and C. apterus and C. howdenorum (from Mexico). Charisius subalatus (Champion) is redescribed and illustrated. The species C. interstitialis Champion is placed in synonymy with C. zunilensis Champion. The genus is redescribed to include the four new species and N. subalatus. New distributional records are presented for all other species of the genus and a revised key is presented for identification of all the species of the genus.     

A taxonomic study of the Penicillium chrysogenum series

The taxonomy of the Penicillium chrysogenum series is reconsidered. On account of the observations of the available type strains and numerous isolates mainly obtained from food products, Penicillium notatum Westling, P. meleagrinum Biourge and P. cyaneofulvum Biourge are placed in synonymy with P. chrysogenum Thom. Synonymy and variability of the species are discussed.