A new genus and a new species of tachinids (Diptera,Tachinidae) from the south of middle Asia

Ventoplagia gen. n. is described, with the type species Ventoplagia brevirostris sp. n. The frontal bristles extending only to the base of the pedicel, 2+3 dorsocentral bristles, 0+2 intraalar bristles, the absence of prealar bristle, the short and fine anepimeral (pteropleural) bristle, the scutellum without lateral bristles, and the welldeveloped posteroventral bristle of the hind tibia indicate that the new genus belongs to tribe Minthoini. Ventoplagia gen. n. is closely related to the genus Palmonia Kugler. The characters distinguishing these genera are given.     

Additions and amendments to the New Zealand Trichoptera

Features of the family Oeconesidae (Tillyard, 1921) are considered with special reference to the recent work of Neboiss (Australian Entomological Magazine 2(4): 79–85). Under Philopotamidae Stephens, 1829, Dolophilodes (Hydrobiosella) mixta n.sp. is described from material hitherto included in: D. (H.) stenocerca (Tillyard, 1924). Pycnocentrodes Tillyard, 1924 (in Sericostomatidae Stephens, 1836) is revised as follows: P. chiltoni Tillyard, 1924 and P. unicolor Wise, 1958 are synonymised with P. aureola (McLachlan, 1868); P. modesta n.sp. is described from material from the northern half of the North Island; and P. aeris Wise, 1958 is confirmed as a distinct species.     

Oviposition in three species of limnephiloid caddisflies (Trichoptera): hierarchical influences on site selection

1. Oviposition site selection was studied in three trichopteran species; an undescribed species of Hydatophylax (Limnephilidae), Onocosmoecus unicolor (Limnephilidae) and Neophylax rickeri (Uenoidae), in two Coastal Range streams in California, U.S.A. 2. Hydatophylax sp. egg masses were generally found at or above the water surface on substrata near the bank in pools, where undercut banks, overhanging vegetation and rocks shaded attachment sites and provided wind protection. Onocosmoecus unicolor females deposited their egg masses exclusively above the water on moist emergent wood. The egg masses of N. rickeri were almost exclusively found in high velocity areas of riffles, where females oviposited under water and attached their egg masses to the submersed undersides of unembedded, protruding stones with large emergent surfaces. 3. For Hydatophylax sp. and N. rickeri, a hierarchical selection scheme is proposed in which females use cues at three different spatial levels (stream, stream subunit, substratum) to choose oviposition sites. Females of O. unicolor seemed to choose at only two different levels of spatial resolution (stream, substratum). 4. The formation of large aggregations of egg masses in N. rickeri and O. unicolor suggests that females actively choose oviposition sites where conspecific egg masses are already attached. The clustering of egg masses may minimise the risk of predation through the dilution effect, because egg masses of N. rickeri and O. unicolor are both attacked by dipteran predators. 5. Females of the three Trichoptera species studied are able to make a clear choice of oviposition site in the heterogeneous stream environment. In comparison with other stream microhabitats, these are characterised by stable and relatively predictable environmental conditions during the time of egg development, which is seen as the main selective pressure leading to the observed egg‐laying behaviour.     

Morphogenesis and Molecular Phylogeny of a New Freshwater Ciliate,Notohymena apoaustralis n. sp. (Ciliophora,Oxytrichidae)

The live morphology, infraciliature, and morphogenesis of a new oxytrichid ciliate, Notohymena apoaustralis n. sp. collected from a freshwater pond in Qingdao (Tsingtao), China, were studied in vivo and after protargol impregnation. Notohymena apoaustralis n. sp. is characterized as follows: undulating membranes in Notohymena‐pattern; cortical granules yellow‐green, grouped around the marginal cirri and dorsal bristles, and in short irregular rows elsewhere in the cell; single contractile vacuole positioned at anterior 1/3 of the body length; two macronuclear nodules and one micronucleus; about 39 adoral membranelles; 18 frontoventral transverse cirri in typical Oxytricha‐pattern; one right and one left marginal row, almost confluent posteriorly; dorsal ciliature in typical Oxytricha‐pattern; 8–10 caudal cirri arranged in three rows, one each at the posterior end of dorsal kineties 1, 2, and 4, indistinguishable from marginal cirri in life. The morphogenetic process in N. apoaustralis n. sp. is consistent with that of the type species, Notohymena rubescens Blatterer and Foissner, 1988. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit rDNA sequence data suggest a sister relationship between N. apoaustralis n. sp. and Paraurostyla weissei, which cluster in a clade with Rubrioxytricha ferruginea.     

Description of a new grylloblattidan insect from Montceau‐les‐Mines (Late Carboniferous; France) and definition of PhenopterumCarpenter, 1950

The grylloblattidan species briggsi sp.n. from the Stephanian (Late Carboniferous) deposit of Montceau‐les‐Mines (France) is described from a well‐preserved specimen exhibiting parts of both wing pairs. The forewing variability of the closely related species elongatum Sellards, 1909: 156 , from the Artinskian deposit of Elmo (KS, U.S.A.), is documented. On the basis of new data, the taxon name Phenopterum Carpenter, 1950 is associated with a definition under the cladotypic nomenclatural procedure. The species briggsi sp.n. , elongatum Sellards, 1909: 156 , unicolor Storozhenko, 1992 , elegans Handlirsch, 1911 and raketa Kukalová, 1964 belong to Phenopterum as defined. Advantages of the cladotypic nomenclatural procedure are discussed in this case. For compliance with the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, it is proposed to assign the species briggsi sp.n. to the taxon Phenopterum, which has the status of a genus under the Linnaean nomenclatural procedure.     

New deep-sea Nematoda (Enoplida,Thoracostomopsidae, Oncholaimidae,Enchelidiidae) from a manganese nodule area of the eastern South Pacific*

Five new nematode species are described from a mangancsc nodule area of the abyssal eastern South Pacific: Enoploides tyrannis sp. n., Paramesacanthion abyssorum sp. n., P. forcepssp. n. (all three Thoracostomopsidae), Phylloncholaimus immanis gen. et sp. n. (Oncholaimidac), and Eurystomina absoluta sp. n. (Enchelidiidae). They are characterized by large size (body length 5000–23000 μm), short tails (c = 17–33), and strongly cuticularizcd, barrel-shaped buccal cavities with large teeth. With the exception of one male of E. tyrannis from the surface of a manganese nodule, all other specimens were found in the sediment. The new species are sporadic in distribution and represented by few individuals.     

Pollen‐feeding in hover‐flies (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Analyses of the pollen contents of the crop and intestine of 11 species of New Zealand Syrphidae . showed that small, sparsely haired hover‐flies with unbranched hairs, short, simple bristles, and a short proboscis had ingested at least 99% anemophilous pollens, and that larger, more hairy hover‐flies with pollen‐collecting hairs, long, spirally grooved bristles, and elongate mouthparts had ingested pollens almost exclusively from nectar‐bearing flowers. Pollen‐feeding behaviour was studied in one hairy species, the drone‐fly Eristalis tenax, and in one sparsely‐haired species, Melanostoma fasciatum. Using granulated charcoal as a substitute for pollen, it was found that in E. tenax particles trapped among the body hairs are combed off by the front and hind tibiae and transferred to pollen‐retaining bristles on the front and hind tarsi respectively. Particles retained among the front tarsal bristles are ingested directly from the bristles. Those retained by the hind tarsi are transferred in flight by leg‐scraping movements to the front tarsi, from which they are subsequently eaten. E. tenax also eats pollen directly from anthers. In M. fasciatum apparently all the pollen ingested is taken directly from anther lobes or stigmas. The few pollen grains that adhere to the body of this species are combed off by the front and hind tibiae and transferred to the front and hind tarsi, but are not retained there because the bristles are short and simple. The mouthparts, hairs, and bristles of E. tenax and M. fasciatum are illustrated. Drawings of leg movements associated with pollen collection and ingestion, and photographs showing leg scraping in E. tenax are included. Morphological similarities between drone‐flies and honey‐bees, previously regarded as the result of mimicry, can be explained by convergent evolution in response to similar food‐gathering behaviour. Probably the majority of Syrphidae, and also the related Acroceridae, collect pollen by means of branched or curly‐tipped hairs.     

Two New Species of the Genus Plectrocnemia Stephens (Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae) from the Russian Far East

Two new species of the genus Plectrocnemia Stephens, Plectrocnemia levanidovae, sp. n., from Sakhalin Island and the southern Kuril Islands, and Plectrocnemia martynovae, sp. n., from southern Primorye, are described and illustrated. The new species belong to the P. tortosa Group and are the sister species of P. tortosa Banks, from China, and P. appensata Mey, from Vietnam.     

Pipunculidae (Diptera) of the 1934 Swedish Expedition to Burma

Hardy, D. E. (Department of Entomology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hi., USA.) Pipunculidae (Diptera) of the 1934 Swedish expedition to Burma. Zool. Scripta 1(3–4): 121–138, 1972.–The collection of Pipunculidae made in Burma by Rene Malaise contained approximately forty species in five genera and four subgenera and is probably a thorough sampling of the species which occur in the Kambaiti area of N.E. Burma. Eleven new species are being described: Dorylomorpha latifrons sp.n., D. stenozona sp.n., Pipunculus (Cephalops) dolosus sp.n., P. (Cephalops) fimbriatus sp.n., P. (Cephalops) validus sp.n., P. (Cephalosphaera) reduncus sp.n., P. (Cephalosphaera) tingens sp.n., P. (Eudorylas) burmanicus sp.n., P. (Eudorylas) colossus sp.n., P. (Eudorylas) giganteus sp.n., and P. (Eudorylas) malaisei sp.n. Several other species, probably new ones, are indicated but not being described until further specimens can be studied. The majority of the species are new records for Burma.     

Three new species of Penicillium belonging to Subgenus Biverticillium Dierckx,isolated from different substrates

P. samsonii, n.sp., isolated from apples damaged by indeterminate insects, P. rademirici, n.sp., isolated from air, and P. pittii, n.sp., isolated from clayed soil, were found to be different from previously described species and therefore are proposed as new taxa.     

Profilicollis novaezelandensis n. sp. (Polymorphidae) and two other acanthocephalan parasites from shore birds (Haematopodidae and Scolopacidae) in New Zealand,with records of two species in intertidal crabs (Decapoda: Grapsidae and Ocypodidae)

Profilicollis novaezelandensis n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae) is described from the South Island pied oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus finschi Martens (Haematopodidae) and the intertidal crab Hemigrapsus crenulatus (Milne Edwards) (Brachyura: Grapsidae) from the South Island of New Zealand. The new species can be distinguished from all the other species of the genus by a combination of the following characters: long neck (13% of total body length for adults) and a subspherical proboscis with 14–16 longitudinal rows of 7–8 hooks. The mud crabs Helice crassa Dana (Grapsidae) and Macrophthalmus hirtipes (Heller) (Ocypodidae) were also harbouring cystacanths and the bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica (Linnaeus) (Scolopacidae) juveniles of P. novaezelandensis. This is the first record of brachyuran decapods as intermediate hosts of Acanthocephala from New Zealand. P. antarcticus is recorded from three crab species (Helice crassa, Hemigraspus crenulatus and Macrophthalmus hirtipes) and two bird species (Haematopus o. finschi and Limosa lapponica) in New Zealand. An unidentified species of Plagiorhynchus was also found in two bird species (H. o. finschi and H. unicolor Forster). P. antarcticus and P. novaezelandensis are the first records of Profilicollis from New Zealand.     

Extracellular Laccases from Cerrena unicolor 059, Cerrena unicolor 0784, and Pleurotus oastreatus 0432: A Comparative Assay

Laccases of the basidiomycetes Cerrena unicolor 059, C. unicolor 0784, and Pleurotus oastreatus 0432 were subjected to a comparative study. The enzymes were isolated as homogeneous preparations with molecular weights of 55, 56, and 57 kD, respectively. The three enzymes were found to be glycoproteins. The carbohydrate moiety of the glycoproteins included mannose, galactose, and N-acetylglucosamine. The carbohydrate moieties of the laccases from C. unicolor 059, C. unicolor 0784, and P. oastreatus 0432 accounted for 17, 23, and 24%, respectively. The pH optima of the enzymes corresponded to 4.0, 3.75, and 5.6, respectively. Thermal stability tests (carried out at 40°C) demonstrated that the laccase of C. unicolor 0784 was characterized by the highest temperature resistance (the enzyme retained 25% activity after 172 h of incubation). The values of the Michaelis constant (K _M) were determined for the reactions of oxidation of pyrocatechol, hydroquinone, and potassium ferrocyanide catalyzed by the laccases of the basidiomycetes.     

Lepocreadiidae (Digenea) from the batfish of the genus Platax Cuvier (Teleostei: Ephippidae) from the southern Great Barrier Reef,Queensland, Australia

The following species are described from Platax spp.: Neomultitestis aspidogastriformis n. sp., from P. teira, off Heron Island, Queensland, which can be distinguished from its congeners by the transversely elongate ventral sucker divided into three loculi and probably by testis number; Multitestis magnacetabulum Mamaev, 1970, from P. teira, off Heron Island, Queensland; Diploproctodaeum rutellum (Mamaev, 1970), from P. teira, off Heron Island, Queensland; Diploproctodaeum tsubameuo n. sp., from P. batavianus, from the Swain Reefs, off Queensland, which differs from its congeners in its overlapping, posteriorly attenuated testes and 38-55 ovarian lobes; and Diplocreadium sp., from P. batavianus, from the Swain Reefs, off Queensland.     

Morphology and morphogenesis of a new oxytrichid ciliate,Notohymena limus n. sp. (Ciliophora,Oxytrichidae) from Delhi,India

The morphology and morphogenesis of a new oxytrichid ciliate, Notohymena limus n. sp. were studied in vivo and after protargol impregnation. The new ciliate was isolated from the sewage sludge at Delhi Jal Board Sewage Treatment Plant located at Rithala, Delhi, India, using the non-flooded Petri dish method. N. limus n. sp. is characterized as follows: flexible dorsoventrally flattened ellipsoidal body; Notohymena-pattern undulating membranes; adoral zone of membranelles (AZM) occupied about 39% of the body length, and consists of around 26 membranelles; large and deep buccal cavity; colorless subpellicular granules present in groups and arranged around the bases of dorsal bristles; 4 macronuclear nodules; 2 micronuclei; 18 fronto-ventral-transverse (FVT) cirri in typical Oxytricha-pattern; 6 dorsal rows of bristles; 3 caudal cirri; about 16 right and 15 left marginal cirri; N. limus n. sp. is a new species on the basis of the combination of morphological, morphometric and morphogenetic characteristic features.     

Descriptions of a broad-nosed weevil (Eudiagogini: Curculionidae) and false ladybird beetle (Nilionini: Nilionidae) in Dominican amber

A broad-nosed weevil, Promecops tumidirostris n. sp. (Eudiagogini: Curculionidae), and a false ladybird beetle, Nilio dominicana n. sp. (Nilionini: Nilionidae), are described from Dominican amber. P. tumidirostris can be distinguished from extant species by the greatly swollen apical portion of its rostrum, large eyes almost meeting on top of its head and a V-shaped suture separating the first and second abdominal sternites. N. dominicana differs from extant species by its small size and 18 elytral striae with small interstrial punctures. Neither tribe is represented in Hispaniola today, supporting earlier studies showing a greater biodiversity in the region during the mid-Tertiary than at present.     

Antarcturus bovinus n. sp., a new Weddell-Sea Isopod of the family arcturidae (Isopoda: Valvifera)

Summary Antarcturus bovinus n. sp. (Isopoda, Valvifera) is described from the Antarctic Peninsula and the western and southern Weddell-Sea. This species can easily be recognized by the absence of large spines, the spine armature of the dorsal surface characteristic of other species is lacking. Only A. antarcticus Bouvier, 1910, A. coppingeri Miers, 1881, A. granulosus Nordenstam, 1933 and A. lillei Tattersall, 1921 are similar, but A. bovinus n. sp. can be discerned from these by the presence of blunt supraocular spines.Abbreviations used in text and figures A 1,2 antenna 1,2 - Hy hypopharynx - Md mandible - Md left mandible - Mx 1,2 maxilla 1,2 - Mxp maxilliped - P 1-7 pereopods 1-7 - Plp 1-5 pleopods 1-5 - rMd right mandible - Urp uropod     

Morphology and Phylogenetic Placement of Three New Zoothamnium species (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) from Coastal Waters of Southern China

The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system of three peritrichous ciliates, Zoothamnium bucciniiformum sp. n., Zoothamnium florens sp. n., and Zoothamnium zhanjiangense sp. n., were investigated based on both living and silver‐stained specimens. Zoothamnium bucciniiformum sp. n., collected from coastal waters (salinity 30‰) off Zhanjiang, southern China, can be distinguished by the following characters: dichotomously branched stalk, peristomial lip with medial circumferential infolding, contractile vacuole apically positioned, 32–49 silverlines between the anterior end and the aboral trochal band, 15–26 between the aboral trochal band and the scopula; two kineties in peniculus 3, not parallel to each other. Zoothamnium florens sp. n., collected from a mangrove wetland (salinity 13‰) off Zhanjiang, is characterized by its large conical zooid, tuberculate peristomial lip, asymmetrical dichotomously branched colony, 59–81 silverlines between the anterior end and the aboral trochal band and 29–36 between the aboral trochal band and the scopula. Zoothamnium zhanjiangense, collected from a mangrove wetland (salinity about 9.5‰) off Zhanjiang, differs from its congeners by the alternately branched stalk, peristomial lip with medial circumferential infolding, 40–63 silverlines from the peristomial area to the aboral trochal band and 13–24 from the aboral trochal band to the scopula. The comparison and analysis of SSU rDNA sequences also support present identifications.     

Entodiniomorph Ciliates from the Stomach of Hippopotamus amphibius, with Descriptions of Two New Genera and Three New Species

Entodiniomorph ciliates, belonging to the family Cycloposthiidae, are described from the stomach contents of Hippopotamus amphibius. Monoposthium acanthum gen. n., sp. n., with typical cycloposthiid structure, differs from other genera in having only 1 caudalium. Parentodinium gen. n., represented by P. africanum sp. n. and P. ostrea sp. n., although superficially resembling Entodinium, is considered to be a relatively unspecialized cycloposthiid.     

New species and records of Pelycidion P. Fischer in de Folin & Périer, 1873 (Gastropoda: Pelycidiidae) from temperate Australia

Four new species of Pelycidion P. Fischer in de Folin & Périer, 1873 are described from temperate Australia on the basis of shells: Pelycidion eukyrtos n. sp. from central Victoria, P. caperovertex n. sp. and P. kratycylindros n. sp. from southwest Australia and P. meizonarchei n. sp. from southern Tasmania. Two additional congeneric specimens are known from the region and discussed; one of these, from the Tasman Sea, is illustrated and likely represents a new species. Collectively, these specimens are the first members of the genus and family to be recorded from temperate Australia. A brief overview of the described species of Pelycidion is given.