A review of scarabs of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nobius</Emphasis> Mulsant et Rey,genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphodius</Emphasis> Illiger (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae), of the fauna of Russia and neighboring countries

Scarab beetles of the subgenus Nobius Mulsant et Rey, genus Aphodius Illiger, distributed in Russia and neighboring countries are reviewed. A key to the species and notes on their biology are given. The three new synonymies are established: A. serotinus (Panz.),1799 = A. x-signum Reitter, 1892, syn. n.; A. gresseri Sem. 1898 = A. korgaldzhensis Nikolajev, 1987, syn. n.; A. chaldaeus Petr., 1971 = A. moreleti Baraud, 1980, syn. n. Lectotypes of A. inclusus Reitt., 1892 and A. gresseri are designated.     

The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Copris</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) in the Far East of Russia

The species of the genus Copris of the Russian Far East are reviewed. Copris tripartitus Waterhouse, 1875 is recorded for the fauna of Russia for the first time. The distribution of the Eastern Asian species of this genus in Russia is analyzed in detail. The data on their phenology, trophic associations, and habitat preferences are considered.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triodontus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Orphninae) from Southern Madagascar

A new scarab beetle species of the endemic Madagascan genus Triodontus Westwood, T. hanskii sp. n., is described from a specimen collected in Southern Madagascar. The new species differs from similar Triodontus species with two medial pronotal tubercles and simple last abdominal sternite in a distinctive shape of the parameres. The type specimen of the new species originates from the southernmost remnant of indigenous rain forest of the island.     

Description of the new subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metoporaphodius</Emphasis> subgen. n. of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphodius</Emphasis> Helw. (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) and of the larva of its type species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. plustschewskii</Emphasis> D. Kosh.

The new Irano-Turanian subgenus, Metoporaphodius subgen. n., is erected in Aphodius Helw. for A. plustschewskii D. Kosh. (type species) and A. baghlanicus Frolov. The males of Metoporaphodius subgen. n. are distinguished by the presence of a comb of dense setae on hind tibia and by the parameres with spatulate projections. The 3rd instar larva of A. plustschewskii has 2 rows of large flattened spinules on anal stemite (with 10-12 spinules in a row), and 3 spinules on the lacinial apex.     

On the synonymy of two names of species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphodius</Emphasis> Ill. (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) Described from Siberia

Based on examination of the type material, the following new synonymy is established: A. granarius (L., 1767) = A. tomskianus Balthasar, 1973, syn. n., A. granarius (L., 1767) = A. pecirkai Balthasar, 1932, syn. n.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Funastrum rupicola</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apocynaceae:</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">Asclepiadoideae</Emphasis>), a new species from Bolivia

Summary   Funastrum rupicola Goyder, a new species of Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae from Bolivia, is described and illustrated. The conservation status of this species is assessed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria khalkhalensis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linaria</Emphasis>, Scrophulariaceae), a new species from Iran

Summary   Linaria khalkhalensis Hamdi & Assadi is described as a new species from Azerbaijan and Guilan provinces (northern Iran), belonging to Linaria sect. Linaria. It is close to Linaria lineolata Boiss. and L. elymaitica (Boiss.) Kuprian., which it resembles in habit and vegetative features. However, floral and seed characters together with a distinctive geographical distribution, warrant recognition at the species rank. An illustration of the new species, a distribution map, scanning electron micrographs of seed and capsule surfaces, and an identification key are also included.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cambessedesia tiradentensis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Melastomataceae</Emphasis>), a new species from Brazil

Summary  A new and probably endemic species of Cambessedesia DC. is described from campo rupestre vegetation, as part of a floristic survey of Melastomataceae from the S?o José mountain range, Tiradentes District, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Miscellaneous  Accepted for publication April 2008.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Typhonium stigmatilobatum</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Araceae</Emphasis> tribe <Emphasis Type="Italic">Areae</Emphasis>), a new species from Vietnam

Summary   Typhonium stigmatilobatum V. D. Nguyen, a new species from Vietnam, is described and illustrated.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bulbophyllum fendlerianum</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orchidaceae</Emphasis>), a new species from Venezuela

Summary   Bulbophyllum fendlerianum is newly described based on a collection of August Fendler in Venezuela, deposited at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was previously confused with B. manarae, but differs significantly from the latter species in its petal and lip shape, particularly the callus.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Curimopsis</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Byrrhidae) from southern Kazakhstan

A new pill-beetle species, Curimopsis kolovi sp. n., is described from the sandy desert on the left bank of the Ili River, southern Kazakhstan. This species differs from the closely related C. monticola Franz, 1967 and C. medvedevi Tshernyshev, 2002 in the 2-segmented antennal club, brown body, and shape of the aedeagus.     

A review of the fauna of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Troginus</Emphasis>, genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carpelimus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae), from tropical Africa

The review includes seven species, three new species are described: Carpelimus maliensis, C. neuterus, and C. xenosus spp. n. The names Trogophloeus variegatus Cameron, 1944, T. ruandanus Cameron, 1956, and Carpelimus maroccanus Gildenkov, 2004 are synonymized with Carpelimus atomus (Saulcy, 1864). Carpelimus rondaensis is downgraded to the subspecies C. boops rondaensis (Fagel, 1957). Lectotype of Trogophloeus dundoensis Cameron, 1950 is designated. New data on the morphology and distribution of Carpelimus (Troginus) species are given.     

A new species of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otiorhynchus</Emphasis> germ., subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dibredus</Emphasis> Rtt. (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Entiminae), from Southeastern Turkey

Otiorhynchus schuberti sp. n. (subgenus Dibredus Reitter, 1912) is described from Kahramanmara? Province in Southeastern Turkey. It is closely related to O. nudiformis Reitter, 1914 and, less closely, to O. rufimanus Hochhuth, 1847, but differs from both in a small bidentate tooth on the fore femur.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaphoglossum mickeliorum</Emphasis> (Dryopteridaceae), a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaphoglossum</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polytrichia</Emphasis> from Peru

Elaphoglossum mickeliorum, a new species from the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes, is here described and illustrated. It belongs to E. sect. Polytrichia, which is characterized by the presence of subulate scales and absence of hydathodes on the sterile leaves of adult sporophytes. Herbarium specimens of this new species were first collected by Alwyn H. Gentry ca. 40 years ago, but these got readily confused with E. erinaceum and went undescribed since then. The new species differs from members of the E. erinaceum complex by having a nearly continuous band of planar, nonsubulate scales along the laminar margins of sterile leaves. Based on this character, E. mickeliorum resembles species such as E. glaziovii, E. ornatum, and E. scolopendrifolium. It differs from these by the presence of minute glandular hairs on petioles and costae. A distribution map and a figure with line drawings are also provided. For comparative purposes, the line drawing includes E. blepharoglottis, which is here illustrated for the first time.     

On the synonymy of two species names of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphodius</Emphasis> Ill. (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) described by S. M. Iablokoff-Khnzorian

Based on examination of the type material, names of two Aphodius species are placed in synonyms: A. edgardi Solsky, 1876 = A. sartus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1971, syn. n.; and A. putridus Geoffroy, 1785 = A. avetissiani Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1964, syn. n.     

Revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis> species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penstemon</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccanthera</Emphasis> subsection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis>

A revision of Penstemon sect. Saccanthera subsect. Serrulati includes a new species (P. salmonensis), a new variety (P. triphyllus var. infernalis), and the elevation of a subspecies to species (P. curtiflorus), bringing the total number of species to eight, which are keyed and described, complete with nomenclature and type citations.     

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.     

A new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dactylella</Emphasis> species from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orbilia alba</Emphasis>

A new Dactylella species, Dactylella alba was isolated from the ascospores of Orbilia alba collected in Wenshan County, Yunnan Province, China. Conidiophores were either not branched or occasionally branched, bearing divergent sterigmata on the tip with single conidium on each. Conidia were elongated ellipsoids, 1–2 septate, mostly 1 septate. By combining the ITS sequence with morphological characteristics, a new anamorphic species is described and illustrated together with its teleomorph.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phuphanochloa,</Emphasis> a new bamboo genus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Poaceae</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bambusoideae</Emphasis>) from Thailand

Summary  A new monotypic bamboo genus Phuphanochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from north-eastern Thailand is described, together with a new species, P. speciosa.     

A new species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orphnus drumonti</Emphasis> sp. n. (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae), from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Three new scarab-beetle species are described. Aphodius moronensis sp. n. (northern Mongolia) and A. kozlovi sp. n (eastern Tibet) with modified spurs on fore tibiae in males are placed in the falcispinis group of the subgenus Agolius but are similar to the grafi group of the subgenus Chilothorax in the shape of parameres and elytral pattern. The new species differ from A. falcispinis in the shape of the spur; A. moronensis sp. n. also differs in the shape of the body and parameres. Orphnus transvaalensis sp. n. is the second apterous Orphnus species found in Southern Africa. It differs from the closely related O. harrisoni in the shape of parameres, position of the hornlike clypeal process, and in a smaller body size.