A revision of the Puerto Rican species of lepanthes (Orchidaceae)

Six species of the orchid speciesLepanthes are described as new. A seventh species,L. sanguined, previously known only from Jamaica, is reported from Puerto Rico. The current misspelling ofL. selenitepala, the only species of the genus previously reported from Puerto Rico, is corrected. A key to the eight Puerto Rican species ofLepanthes is presented, and the value of several interesting taxonomic characters is discussed. The possibility of apogamy in this genus is raised, and detailed biosystematic investigations are indicated as necessary for a complete understanding of the group.     

A taxonomic revision of granite outcrop species of Minuartia (Arenaria)

Minuartia glabra (Michx.) Mattfeld andM. uniflora (Walt.) Mattfeld are proposed as the proper taxonomic treatments ofArenaria glabra Michx. [A. groenlandica var.glabra (Michx.) Fern.] andArenaria uniflora (Walt.) Muhl. respectively. A previously unreported species,Minuartia alabamensis is described as new.Minuartia alabamensis andM. uniflora axe more closely related to one another than either is toM. glabra. Minuartia glabra is postulated to be derived from the Arcto-Tertiary flora, which invaded the Piedmont from the Appalachian Highlands.Minuartia alabamensis andM. uniflora are thought to be relicts or species derived from the Madro-Tertiary flora, which invaded the Piedmont from the Southwestern United States and Mexican Highlands.     

A revision of the Nearctic species of Liancalus Loew (Diptera,Dolichopodidae)

The genus Liancalus Loew is revised for the Nearctic Region. Seven species are documented from this region including two new species: Liancalus genualis Loew, Liancalus hydrophilus Aldrich, Liancalus limbatus Van Duzee, Liancalus pterodactyl sp. n., Liancalus querulus Osten Sacken, Liancalus similis Aldrich, and Liancalus sonorus sp. n. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: Liancalus genualis, Liancalus hydrophilus, Liancalus querulus, and Liancalus similis. The species are illustrated, a key to males and females is provided, and their distributions mapped. Adults of Liancalus are some of the largest species of Dolichopodidae and commonly occur on waterfalls and vertical seeps.     

A revision of the Peruvian species of Nasa ser. Alatae (Loasaceae)

The Nasa series Alatae is revised for Peru. Species limits in this group are re-investigated on the basis of modern collections, all types and extensive field studies. A total of 12 species are recognized, seven of them- N. dillonii, N. driesslet, N. nubicolorum, N. pascoensis, N. sagasteguii, N, anderssonii and N. urentivelutina -are described as new to science. All new, and two of the previously recognized species are illustrated by line drawings. The species of this group are from Andean habitats, mostly cloud forests, and nearly all of them are narrow endemics.     

A revision of the Greater Antillean species of Bactris (Bactridinae: Arecaceae)

Three species ofBactris are recognized in the Greater Antilles:B. cubensis (from Cuba),B. plumeriana (from Hispaniola), andB. jamaicana (from Jamaica). A cladistic analysis of the non-ocreate clade—i.e.,Bactris cubensis, B. plumeriana, B. jamaicana, B. macana, andB. gasipaes—confirmed that the Greater Antillean species ofBactris form a monophyletic group, i.e., the Antillean clade. Synapomorphies supporting the Antillean clade are mesocarp and endocarp fibers numerous, parallel, predominantly narrow, few broad, extending the entire length of the endocarp; and leaf segments 45–80 per side of rachis. The presence of fiber-sclereids in the leaf lamina, and petals of the staminate flowers ovate to ovatetrullate, with sparsely branched fibers, may represent additional synapomorphies.Bactris plumeriana andB. jamaicana are hypothesized to be sister species, a grouping weakly supported by their short anthers. Each species has at least one autapomorphy; therefore, all are considered to be a cladospecies. Noteworthy interpopulational variation occurs withinBactris plumeriana andB. cubensis.     

A revision of the western Palaearctic species of Urophora Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract A key is provided to twenty-four western Palaearctic species of Urophora Robineau-Desvoidy. The hosts of twenty-three species which attack Asteraceae are listed, including those being used or investigated as possible weed biocontrol agents. The species are divided into four species groups and the differing host relationships and types of galls induced by these groups are discussed. U.lopholomae sp.n. and U.affinis ssp. calcitrapae ssp.n., associated with Centaurea (Lopholoma) spp. and C. (Calcitrapa) spp. respectively, are described. U. algerica (Hering) and U.sjumorum (Rohdendorf) are both treated as subspecies of U. quadrifasciata (Meigen). U.pontica is given full specific status and U.hispanica is removed from synonymy. The following new synonymies are made (junior synonyms in parentheses): U. angustifascia (Hering) (= Euribia phaeocera Hering); U. cardui (Linnaeus) (= U. reaumurii Robineau-Desvoidy, lectotype designated); U. jaceana (Hering) (= E.conyzae Hering); U.maura (Frauenfeld) (= E. tecta Hering); U. mauritanica Macquart (= U. lejura Rondani, Trypeta macrura Loew); U.solstitialis (Linnaeus) (= E.sonderupi Hering, U. veruata Rondani ); U.stylata (Fabricius) (= E.pia Hering, U. vulcaanica Rondani); U. terebrans (Loew) (= E. approximata Hering, T. eriolepidis Loew, E. manni Hendel). The possibility that U. quadrifasciata is a species complex is discussed; it is also suggested that U.affinis and U.jaceana represent the morphological extremes of a complex. The misuse of the name Musca stylata Fabricius in the genus Myopites Blot is noted.     

A revision of Japanese species of the genus Psammoecus Latreille (Coleoptera,Silvanidae)

Japanese species of the genus Psammoecus Latreille, 1829 are taxonomically revised. Four new species, P. scitus sp. n. (misidentified with P. quadrimaculatus), P. labyrinthicus sp. n., P. boreas sp. n. and P. omotoensis sp. n. are described. Psammoecus bipunctatus (Fabricius, 1792), P. trimaculatus Motschulsky, 1858 (misidentified with P. triguttatus), P. simoni Grouvelle, 1892, P. fasciatus Reitter, 1874 and P. triguttatus are redescribed. Another described species whose distribution in Japan is questionable. P. quadrimaculatus is also redescribed. Lectotype and paralectotype of P. fasciatus and P. triguttatus are designated.     

Taxonomic revision of the S. E. Asian species of Isoglossa (Acanthaceae)

A number of S. E. Asian taxa of Acanthaceae are here recognized as belonging to the prevailingly African genus Isoglossa . The reasons for doing so are briefly outlined. The synonymy, as regards S. E. Asian Isoglossa, is worked out, generic as well as specific. The following new combinations are formally made: Isoglossa clemensorum (R. Benoist) comb. nov., I. collina (T. Anderson) comb. nov., I. geoffrayi (R. Benoist) comb. nov., I. glabra (Hand.-Mazz.) comb. nov., I. inermis (R. Benoist) comb. nov., and I. subcordafa (C. B. Clarke) comb. nov. The distribution is outlined and mapped. I. dichotoma is shown to occur in Africa, where I. lactea , and I. strigosula are sunk into its synonymy.     

A taxonomic revision of the North American species of Stigmella (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae)

Abstract. A revision of the fifty-one species of the genus Stigmella from North America is presented. Thirty-one species are recorded only from the U.S.A., seventeen species and one subspecies from the U.S.A. and Canada and three species and one subspecies are known only from Canada. Five species are new: Stigmella inconspicuella (U.S.A., California); S.heteromelis (California); S.sclerostylota (Arkansas); S.longisacca (California) and S.plumosetaeella (Arizona). Life histories, mine characteristics and larval habits are given where known. These are collated from field study, material examined, breeding records and the literature. A list of host plants is also provided.
A neotype is designated for Nepticula prunifoliella Clemens, previously considered to be possibly dipterous.
Although most Stigmella species have different genital morphology, some pairs of species do not. In these pairs, however, external features and characteristics of the mine often differ – some pairs also differ in distribution or season. The taxonomic implications are discussed in the individual treatments – not all the problems, however, can be resolved without further rearing studies and collection. Species-groups have been designated on the basis of morphology. Some species are, however, structurally intermediate between species-groups and others may resemble Ectoedemia Busck in aspects of the male genitalia while their female genitalia, external features and venation are typical of Stigmella.     

A new species ofFontanesia (Oleaceae) from China and taxonomic revision of the genus

Fontanesia longicarpa K.-J. Kim is newly described from China. This distinctive species is known only from the Zhejiang province and differs from other species in the genus by the size and shape of its fruit. As currently circumscribed, the genus now consists of three taxa;F. longicarpa, F. philliraeoides Labill. var.philliraeoides andF. philliraeoides var.fortunei (Carr.) Koehne. A revisionary study of the genus is provided, including a key and pertinent synonymy.     

The effect of seasonal temperature extremes on sediment rejection in three scleractinian coral species

Sedimentation from resuspension following storm surge is a natural occurrence on coral reefs, and scleractinian corals have adapted to effectively reject sediment. However, it is unclear whether the physical ability to reject sedimentation is affected during seasonal temperature extremes. We acclimated three coral species (Montipora aequituberculata, Lobophyllia corymbosa and Fungia fungites), with different active shedding mechanisms, to three temperature treatments (winter minimum, summer maximum and mean). Corals were then exposed to a sediment rejection experiment in which we measured clearance rates and tissue inflation cycles associated with the clearance of sediment. Temperature impacted clearing rates of M. aequituberculata, which exhibited significantly faster sediment rejection under winter temperatures. Fungia fungites, on the other hand, exhibited significantly higher tissue inflation rates under summer temperatures. Although limited in scope, this study demonstrates that temperature can have a strong effect on the response of corals to sedimentation.     

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.