Little known leaf beetles of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysolina</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from China

Chrysolina (Semenowia) chalcea (Weise, 1889), Ch. (Pezocrosita) cyanopurpurea (Ballion, 1878), and Ch. (Chrysocrosita) fuyunica Chen, 1961 are redescribed. A male (topotype) of Ch. cyanopurpurea was examined for the first time. Ch. belousovi Lopatin, 2000 is a new junior synonym of Ch. cyanopurpurea; Ch. bienkowskii Lopatin, 2000 is a new junior synonym of Ch. chalcea. The taxonomic position of all the taxa mentioned is discussed.     

Revision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neolebouria</Emphasis> Gibson, 1976 (Digenea: Opecoelidae), with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trilobovarium</Emphasis> n. g., for species infecting tropical and subtropical shallow-water fishes

A new opecoelid trematode is reported from fishes of the Lethrinidae, Lutjanidae and Nemipteridae off Lizard Island on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The new species keys to Neolebouria Gibson, 1976 and shows strong similarity to several species of that genus, but is not consistent with the type-species, N. georgiensis Gibson, 1976, or others known from temperate/polar and/or deep-sea fishes. The new species is also phylogenetically distant from N. lanceolata (Price, 1934) Reimer, 1987, the only representative of the genus for which molecular data are available. A new genus, Trilobovarium n. g., is proposed for the new species, T. parvvatis n. sp. Eight morphologically similar species, previously recognised as belonging to Neolebouria, from shallow-water, mostly tropical/subtropical fishes, are transferred to Trilobovarium: T. diacopae (Nagaty & Abdel Aal, 1962) n. comb.; T. ira (Yamaguti, 1940) n. comb.; T. khalili (Ramadan, 1983) n. comb.; T. krusadaiense (Gupta, 1956) n. comb.; T. lineatum (Aken’Ova & Cribb, 2001) n. comb.; T. moretonense (Aken’Ova & Cribb, 2001) n. comb.; T. palauense (Machida, 2014) n. comb.; and T. truncatum (Linton, 1940) n. comb. Paramanteriella Li, Qiu & Zhang, 1988 is resurrected for five species of Neolebouria with a post-bifurcal genital pore: P. cantherini Li, Qiu & Zhang, 1988; P. capoori (Jaiswal, Upadhyay, Malhotra, Dronen & Malhotra, 2014) n. comb.; P. confusa (Overstreet, 1969) n. comb.; P. leiperi (Gupta, 1956) n. comb.; and P. pallenisca (Shipley & Hornell, 1905) n. comb. Neolebouria georgenascimentoi Bray, 2002, a species with an exceptionally long cirrus-sac, is transferred to Bentholebouria Andres, Pulis & Overstreet, 2004 as B. georgenascimentoi (Bray, 2002) n. comb., and N. maorum (Allison, 1966) Gibson 1976, an unusual species known from cephalopods, is designated a species incertae sedis. Eleven species are retained in a revised concept of Neolebouria.     

New and previously unknown Eurytomidae (Hymenoptera) species from Yemen

Ten new species of the genera Eurytoma (8 species) and Tetramesa (2 species) from Yemen are described (Eurytoma lahji Zerova, E. thoraxica Zerova, E. cyrtophorae Zerova, E. longipes Zerova, E. yemeni Zerova, E. mabari Zerova, E. tibiaspinae Zerova, E. longitarsis Zerova, Tetramesa sanai Zerova, and T. rujumi Zerova). The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the collection of the Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev.     

Clavicipitaceous entomopathogens: new species in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium</Emphasis> and a new genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nigelia</Emphasis>

In several surveys in the tropical forests in Thailand, specimens that looked morphologically similar to Metarhizium martiale and Cordyceps variegata, as well as other Metarhizium species were collected and cultured in vitro. A combined phylogeny of several genes including the small (18S) and large (28S) subunits of the ribosomal DNA, elongation factor 1-α (TEF), RNA polymerase II subunits 1 and 2 (RPB1, RPB2) genes has shown these to be new taxa in the Clavicipitaceae. Nigelia is described as a new genus closely related to Metarhizium, to the scale insect pathogens Aschersonia (Hypocrella), Samuelsia and Moelleriella, and to plant pathogens in Claviceps and Balansia, and other relatives. Nigelia comprises M. martiale and a new species Nigelia aurantiaca, which has been found infecting lepidopteran larvae and which produces pseudoimmersed, obliquely arranged, obpyriform perithecia with curved or bent ostioles and with whole (non-separating) cylindric ascospores. Metarhizium chaiyaphumense, M. kalasinense, M. prachinense, M. samlanense, and M. takense are described as new species of Metarhizium. Metarhizium martiale is transferred to Nigelia, and Paecilomyces reniformis is transferred to Metarhizium.     

Novel palmicolous taxa within Pleosporales: multigene phylogeny and taxonomic circumscription

Palm fungi are highly diverse in the tropical regions of Asia. Recent investigations on these palmicolous fungi have led to the collection of astrosphaeriella-like taxa from Calamus, Caryota, and Licuala species in Thailand (Chiang Rai and Narathiwat provinces) and southwest China (Yunnan Province). This study characterizes fungal taxa, which are new to science, based on morphological examination and concatenated DNA sequence data, to infer their familial relationships. Morphological comparisons reveal six new species, viz. Astrosphaeriellopsis caryotae, Fissuroma calami, F. caryotae, Neoastrosphaeriella sribooniensis, Pithomyces caryotae, and P. licualae.Their similarities and differences to other extant species are discussed. The phylogenetic results indicate that all of these new taxa belong to Aigialaceae and Astrosphaeriellaceae (Pleosporales) and support their establishment. Astrosphaeriellopsis is assigned to Astrosphaeriellaceae and the family is amended in order to accommodate both coelomycetous and hyphomycetous asexual morphs. A generic key is presented for Astrosphaeriellaceae to delimit Astrosphaeriella, Astrosphaeriellopsis, Pteridiospora, and Pithomyces. Asexual morph connections of Pithomyces caryotae and P. licualae are established from axenic cultures derived from single ascospores. DNA-based sequence data supports the establishment of our new species; however, the affinities of Astrosphaeriella tornata to other Astrosphaeriella and Pithomyces species are unclear and warrant further investigations with increased taxon sampling.     

Contribution to Systematics of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astiphromma</Emphasis> Förster (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae: Mesochorinae) from Russia and Adjacent Countries

Material of the genus Astiphromma Förster (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae: Mesochorinae) from Russia and adjacent countries in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg has been examined. 25 species were identified, 14 of which are new records to the Russian fauna, and 10 are new to the Eastern Palaearctic Region. Four species are new to science: Astiphromma (Astiphromma) flavofaciessp. n., A. (A.) minimumsp. n., A. (A.) paradorsalesp. n., and A. (A.) styleatorsp. n. A new synonymy is established: Astiphromma (Astiphromma) albitarse (Brischke, 1880) = A. punctatum Uchida, 1933, syn. n. For Astiphromma japonense Lee, 1992 a hitherto unknown female is described.     

Morphological and molecular taxonomy of novel species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotheciaceae</Emphasis> from freshwater habitats in Yunnan,China

The diversity of lignicolous freshwater fungi of the Greater Mekong Subregion are currently being studied. In this paper, 18 fresh collections of Pleurotheciaceae from submerged wood in freshwater are characterized based on morphological characters and analyses of ITS, LSU, SSU and RPB2 sequence data. Six new species of Pleurotheciella (P. aquatica, P. fusiformis, P. guttulata, P. lunata, P. saprophytica, P. submersa), one new Phaeoisaria species (Ph. aquatica) and one new Pleurothecium species (Pl. aquaticum) are introduced based on their distinct morphology and evidence from molecular phylogeny. Pleurotheciella uniseptata, Phaeoisaria clematidis and Pleurothecium pulneyense are also redescribed and phylogenetic relationships assessed herein, these species are the first records for China.     

New <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Talaromyces</Emphasis> species from honey,pollen and nests of stingless bees

Penicillium and Talaromyces species have a worldwide distribution and are isolated from various materials and hosts, including insects and their substrates. The aim of this study was to characterize the Penicillium and Talaromyces species obtained during a survey of honey, pollen and the inside of nests of Melipona scutellaris. A total of 100 isolates were obtained during the survey and 82% of those strains belonged to Penicillium and 18% to Talaromyces. Identification of these isolates was performed based on phenotypic characters and β-tubulin and ITS sequencing. Twenty-one species were identified in Penicillium and six in Talaromyces, including seven new species. These new species were studied in detail using a polyphasic approach combining phenotypic, molecular and extrolite data. The four new Penicillium species belong to sections Sclerotiora (Penicillium fernandesiae sp. nov., Penicillium mellis sp. nov., Penicillium meliponae sp. nov.) and Gracilenta (Penicillium apimei sp. nov.) and the three new Talaromyces species to sections Helici (Talaromyces pigmentosus sp. nov.), Talaromyces (Talaromyces mycothecae sp. nov.) and Trachyspermi (Talaromyces brasiliensis sp. nov.). The invalidly described species Penicillium echinulonalgiovense sp. nov. was also isolated during the survey and this species is validated here.     

Studies in the taxonomy of the Polypores II

The following genera are redefined:Albatrellus S. F. Gray,Heterobasidion Bref.,Haploporus Bond. et Sing. ex Sing.,Fomitopsis P. Karst. andRigidoporus Murrill two new subgenera are described:Polyporus subgen.Dendropolyporus Pouz. (type:Polyporus umbellatus) andRigidoporus subgen.Neooxyporus Pouz. (type:Polyporus latemarginatus); the genusOxyporus (Bourd. etGalz.)Donk is classified as a subgenus of the genusRigidoporus,Murrill and the generaBjerkandera P. Karst. andLeptoporus quél. are classified as subgenera of the genusTyromyces P. Karst. The new subfamilyAlbatrelloideae Pouz. (genera:Albatrellus andGrifola) is described and 14 new specific combinations are made. The new genusIrpicodon Pouz. (type:Irpex pendulus) is proposed.     

A review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thinodromus lunatus</Emphasis> species-group (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae)

The Thinodromus lunatus species group is revised. The following new species are described: Thinodromus (s. str.) cattiensis sp. n. from Vietnam, Thinodromus (s. str.) forsteri sp. n. from southern Thailand, Thinodromus (s. str.) himalayensis sp. n. from Nepal and northern India, Thinodromus (s. str.) inconspicuus sp. n. from southern China, Thailand, and Vietnam, and Thinodromus (s. str.) spotus sp. n. from southern China. The following new synonymy is established: Thinodromus (s. str.) deceptor (Sharp, 1889) = Thinodromus (s. str.) gravelyi (Bernhauer, 1926), syn. n.; = Thinodromus (s. str.) reitterianus (Bernhauer, 1938), syn. n. Lectotypes are designated for Trogophloeus lunatus Motschulsky, 1857, Trogophloeus pustulatus Bernhauer, 1904, Trogophloeus socius Bernhauer, 1904, Trogophloeus sumatrensis Bernhauer, 1915, Trogophloeus lewisi Cameron, 1919, Trogophloeus gravelyi Bernhauer, 1926, Trogophloeus reitterianus Bernhauer, 1938, and Trogophloeus unipustulatus Cameron, 1941. A key is presented to all the species of the Thinodromus lunatus group.     

Redescription of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tripaphylus musteli</Emphasis> (van Beneden, 1851) (Copepoda: Sphyriidae) and the relegation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paeon</Emphasis> Wilson, 1919 to synonymy with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tripaphylus</Emphasis> Richiardi in Anonymous, 1878

Tripaphylus musteli (van Beneden, 1851) (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida, Sphyriidae) is redescribed from an adult female collected from the branchial chamber of a starry smooth-hound, Mustelus asterias Cloquet (Carcharhiniformes, Triakidae), captured in the English Channel off Portland, UK. The new account of T. musteli is the first based on a complete adult female and highlighted the lack of a robust distinction separating Tripaphylus Richiardi, in Anonymous, 1878 and Paeon Wilson, 1919 prompting us to relegate Paeon to a junior subjective synonym of Tripaphylus. In the light of this synonymy the eight former species of Paeon are transferred to Tripaphylus as follows: T. ferox (Wilson, 1919) new combination, T. elongatus (Wilson, 1932) new combination, T. vassierei (Delamare Deboutteville & Nuñes-Ruivo, 1954) new combination, T. lobatus (Kirtisinghe, 1964) new combination, T. asymboli (Turner, Kyne & Bennett, 2003) new combination, T. versicolor (Wilson, 1919) new combination, T. australis (Kabata, 1993) new combination, and T. triakis (Castro Romero, 2001) new combination. Comparisons between terminology used in this report and that in the literature indicate that all transformed adult females of Tripaphylus probably possess a full complement of cephalic appendages and maxillipeds. All limbs, with the exception of the maxillae share a general morphological similarity to the corresponding appendages of conspecific males. The maxilla of the transformed adult female of Tripaphylus is a small digitiform protuberance associated with a swelling in some species.     

Seven new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceratomyxa</Emphasis> Thélohan, 1892 (Myxozoa) from the gall-bladders of serranid fishes from the Great Barrier Reef,Australia

Ceratomyxa spp. from the gall-bladder of five members of the family Serranidae were examined for their taxonomic identity. This paper describes seven new ceratomyxid species, i.e. C. brayi n. sp. and C. whippsi n. sp from Cephalopholis boenak (Bloch); C. cutmorei n. sp. from Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål); C. gleesoni n. sp. from Plectropomus leopardus (Lacépède); C. hooperi n. sp. and C. nolani n. sp. from E. quoyanus (Valenciennes); and C. yokoyamai n. sp. from E. maculatus (Bloch). Each species is characterised morphologically and small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences. All seven new species have so far been found in only a single host species.     

Multigene phylogeny reveals a new species and novel records and hosts in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ramularia</Emphasis> from Iran

Ramularia is a species-rich genus in the order Capnodiales (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) that includes numerous phytopathogenic taxa, several of which are economically important plant pathogens. In this study, six isolates of Ramularia were recovered from leaf spot symptoms on six herbaceous and woody plants from Guilan, East and West Azarbaijan provinces in the north and northwest of Iran. The isolates were studied by a polyphasic approach involving morphological and cultural data, and multi-gene phylogeny (ITS, TEF1-α, ACT, HIS, RPB2 and GAPDH). The isolates were grouped in three species clades of the R. eucalypti species complex. Of these, R. mali is recorded for the first time in Asia and R. glennii represents a new record for the mycobiota of Iran. Ramularia taleshina on Alnus subcordata is described as a new species. Ramularia taleshina is phylogenetically related to R. mali, but they can be differentiated by morphological and cultural characters as well as molecular data. Acalypha australis, Ficus carica and Platanus sp. are reported as new hosts of R. glennii, and Prunus cerasus and Vitis vinifera as new hosts of R. mali.     

Four new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paradiscogaster</Emphasis> Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Faustulidae) from batfishes (Perciformes: Ephippidae) on the Great Barrier Reef,Australia

Examination of three species of batfishes (Teleostei: Epphippidae) from off Lizard and Heron Islands on the Great Barrier Reef led to the discovery of specimens of the trematode genus Paradiscogaster Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Faustulidae). Morphological analysis demonstrated that the new specimens represented four morphotypes which we interpret to be new species: Paradiscogaster martini n. sp., P. vichovae n. sp. and P. brayi n. sp. from Platax orbicularis (Forsskål) and P. pinnatus (Linnaeus) off Lizard Island, and P. nitschkei n. sp. from P. teira (Forsskål) off Heron Island. Published material was re-examined and the specimens identified as P. chaetodontis okinawensis Yamaguti, 1971 from P. pinnatus from Okinawa, Japan, actually represent the new species P. brayi n. sp., demonstrating that some species of Paradiscogaster have wide geographical distributions. ITS2 rDNA data for the four morphotypes differ by 4–39 base pairs confirming the delineation of the four species proposed. A feature of this study is the recognition of Platax spp. as an important host group for Paradiscogaster, with the new species placing them as the second richest host group for these parasites after the Chaetodontidae.     

Revision of the shield-bug genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Holcostethus</Emphasis> Fieber and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peribalus</Emphasis> Mulsant et Rey (Heteroptera,Pentatomidae) of the Palaearctic Region

A complex of the heteropteran genera centering around Peribalus Mulsant et Rey and Holcostethus Fieber is considered. The genus Dryadocoris Kirkaldy reveals no relationship with the above genera and is believed to represent a separate clade of the family Pentatomidae. The genera Peribalus and Holcostethus are revised. The former includes three subgenera: Peribalus s. str. with two species, Asioperibalus subgen. n. (type species Cimex inclusus Dohrn) with six species, and Tianocoris subgen. n. (type species Holcostethus manifestus Kiritshenko) with two species. Holcostethus embraces two subgenera: Holcostethus s. str. and the monotypic Enigmocoris subgen. n. (type species H. fissiceps Horváth). Two new species are described: Peribalus tianshanicus sp. n. from the Tien Shan Mts. and P. przewalskii sp. n. from the northern part of China (Huan He River). P. capitatus Jakovlev and P. vernalis (Wolff) are downgraded to subspecies of P. strictus (F.). P. ovatus Jakovlev is synonymized with P. inclusus (Dohrn). Two new monotypic genera related to the revised complex of genera are established, Paraholcostethus gen. n. (type species Peribalus breviceps Horváth) and Himalayastethus gen. n. (type species H. pilosus sp. n. from Kashmir). A key to, and morphometric characters for all the taxa considered are provided. The key characters, including both male and female genitalia, are illustrated, and distributional maps are given.     

<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Barrmaelia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Entosordaria</Emphasis> in Barrmaeliaceae (fam. nov., Xylariales) and critical notes on <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Anthostomella</Emphasis>-like genera based on multigene phylogenies

Phylogenetic analyses of a combined DNA data matrix containing ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tub2 sequences of representative Xylariales revealed that the genus Barrmaelia is a well-defined monophylum, as based on four of its described species (B. macrospora, B. moravica, B. oxyacanthae, B. rhamnicola) and the new species B. rappazii. The generic type of Entosordaria, E. perfidiosa, is revealed as the closest relative of Barrmaelia, being phylogenetically distant from the generic type of Clypeosphaeria, C. mamillana, which belongs to Xylariaceae sensu stricto. Entosordaria and Barrmaelia are highly supported and form a distinct lineage, which is recognised as the new family Barrmaeliaceae. The new species E. quercina is described. Barrmaelia macrospora, B. moravica and B. rhamnicola are epitypified and E. perfidiosa is lecto- and epitypified. Published sequences of Anthostomella and several Anthostomella-like species from the genera Alloanthostomella, Anthostomelloides, Neoanthostomella, Pseudoanthostomella and Pyriformiascoma are evaluated, demonstrating the necessity of critical inspection of published sequence data before inclusion in phylogenies. Verified isolates of several species from these genera should be re-sequenced to affirm their phylogenetic affinities. In addition, the generic type of Anthostomella should be sequenced before additional generic re-arrangements are proposed.     

More white verticillium-like anamorphs with erect conidiophores

This study focuses on the former Verticillium section Albo-erecta that included white or whitish species with verticillium-like, erect conidiophores. Its type species was Verticillium fungicola, which was transferred to Lecanicillium, a genus that otherwise contains species with prostrate conidiophores. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS, 18S and 28S rDNA sequences revealed that this group is heterogeneous and its members belong to at least three families. The present study is a first step to its resolution. Supported by analyses of 68 sequences of ITS, 23 sequences of 18S and 43 sequences of 28S ribosomal DNA, the species are distributed over three families. In the Cordycipitaceae, Leptobacillium gen. nov. is described with L. leptobactrum comb. nov. and its new variety, calidius. In the Hypocreaceae, Hypomyces is treated with one new combination from former Nectriopsis, H. tubariicola, and two new anamorphic species, H. ellipsosporus and H. subglobosus; in Sphaerostilbella, one new anamorphic species, S. parabroomeana, is described. In the Bionectriaceae, anamorphic isolates of Nectriopsis requiring a new combination, N. lindauiana, and a new species, N. fuliginicola, are described. Parsimony analysis of the LSU suggests that Ovicillium gen. nov. with four new species, O. attenuatum, O. oosporum, O. subglobosum and O. napiforme, is a member of the Bionectriaceae by 93 % bootstrap support. Of uncertain family classification are Chlamydocillium gen. nov. with one new soil-borne species, C. cyanophilum, and Chlorocillium gen. nov. based on Acremonium griseum Petch. A few further white verticillium-like anamorphs, particularly V. biguttatum, could not yet be reclassified.     

New data on the Pteromalid wasps (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) of the Russian Far East

Fourteen genera (Ardilea Graham, Glyphognathus Graham, Rhicnocoelia Graham, Eulonchetron Graham, Habritys Thomson, Heteroprymna Graham, Janssoniella Kerrich, Lyubana Bou?ek, Muscidifurax Girault et Sanders, Nazgulia Hedqvist, Notoglyptus Masi, Oxysychus Delucchi, Platygerrhus Thomson, and Stenetra Masi) and 81 species are recorded for the first time for the fauna of Russia; in addition, 13 species are new to the fauna of the Russian Far East.     

New and little-known crickets of the subfamily phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae). 9. The african genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaeophilacris</Emphasis>

The genus Phaeophilacris Walk. is divided into two subgenera: Phaeophilacris s. str. and Speluncacris Sjöst. The latter name, originally proposed as a generic one and synonymized with Phaeophilacris s. l., is restored as a subgeneric name. The former genera Opilionacris Sjöst. and Cavernacris Sjöst. previously synonymized with Phaeophilacris s. l. are considered as synonyms of the subgenus Speluncacris. Four new species (Ph. (S.) malawi sp. n., Ph. (S.) boldyrevi sp. n., Ph. (S.) dmitrievi sp. n., and Ph. (S.) gigantea sp. n.) and three new subspecies (Ph. (S.) bredoides mangochi subsp. n., Ph. (S.) bredoides mutinondo subsp. n., and Ph. (Ph.) townsendi aethiopica subsp. n.) of the genus Phaeophilacris are described.