Lamellicorn Beetles (Coleoptera,Scarabaeoidea) of Manchuria (China): Fauna,Ecology, and Zoogeography

The species composition and taxonomic structure of lamellicorn beetles of Northeast China are considered. A total of 317 species from 86 genera, 42 tribes, 18 subfamilies, and 6 families are known to occur in the fauna of Manchuria. Seven species are recorded from China for the first time: Trox scaber (Linnaeus, 1767), Glyptotrox ineptus (Balthasar, 1931), Aegialia (Psammoporus) kamtschatica Motschulsky, 1860, Aphodius (Acrossus) superatratus Nomura et Nakane, 1951, Aphodius (Chilothorax) grafi Reitter, 1901, Maladera spissigrada (Brenske, 1897), and Valgus hemipterus hemipterus (Linnaeus, 1758); in addition, 18 species are recorded as new to the fauna of Manchuria. Among 177, 219, 208 and 226 species recorded from the Manchurian part of Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning, 20, 29, 14 and 19 species are new to the region, respectively. The ecological and zoogeographical features of Scarabaeoidea in Manchuria are analyzed. Data on the trophic structure, phenology, and distribution of all the taxa are presented.     

Description of the Larva of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Protaetia famelica</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Scarabaeoidea) from the Russian Far East

A previously unknown larva of Protaetia famelica is described and illustrated. The larva of P. famelica is similar to that of P. brevitarsis in the number of posterior epicranial setae and in the presence of anterior frontal setae but differs in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule, in the epipharynx structure, and in the number and position of spinules on the anal sternite. An original key to the known larvae of the genus Protaetia in the fauna of the Russian Far East is given.     

A description of the larva and pupa of Trox mandli (Coleoptera, Trogidae) from the Russian Far East

The previously unknown larvae of Trox mandli Balthasar of the family Trogidae are described and illustrated. The larva of T. mandli Balthasar differs from that of T. sabulosus (Linnaeus) in shape of the setae on abdominal tergite I, and from that of T. scaber (Linnaeus), in the chaetotaxy of the epipharynx. A key to the known larvae of the genus Trox Fabricius from the Russian Far East is given.     

New data on larvae of weevils of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lixus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) from central Asia

Larvae are described for the first time for three species of the genus Lixus (L. bifasciatus, L. rubicundus, and L. subulatus). The larvae dwell in stalks of herbaceous plants. The larvae differ in the structure of the endocarina and prelabium and the chaetotaxy of the head and epipharynx. Analysis of larvae of the new and already described species of this genus has shown that the larva of L. bifasciatus shares some characters with the larvae of L. astrachanicus, and L. rubicundus, and the larva of L. subulatus, with that of L. bescrensis.     

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.     

A description of the larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cinygmula unicolorata</Emphasis> Tshernova, 1979 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cinygmula malaisei</Emphasis> (Ulmer, 1927) (Ephemeroptera,Heptageniidae) from the Russian Far East

The larvae of Cinygmula malaisei (Ulmer, 1927) and Cinygmula unicolorata Tshernova, 1979 from the Russian Far East are described and illustrated. The larva of Cinygmula unicolorata is similar to those of Cinygmula putoranica Kluge, 1980 and Cinygmula uyka Gorovaya et Tiunova, 2013 but differs from the larva of C. uyka in the absence of gill filaments and from that of C. unicolorata in the shape of the first gill (tergalia). The upper outer margin of the first gill is rounded in the larva of C. unicolorata and almost straight in C. putoranica; the gills of C. unicolorata are matte and the trachea is poorly expressed, in contrast to the distinctly brown trachea of C. putoranica. The larvae of Cinygmula malaisei are similar to those of C. irina and C. autumnalis but differ from the latter in the presence of gill filaments. The larva of C. malaise differs from that of C. irina in the rounded outer margin of the first gill, the shape of gills VI and VII, and in the size of the leg segments.     

A new water mite species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Georgella</Emphasis> (Acariformes,Gydryphantidae)

The larva, deutonymph, female, and male of a new water mite species, Georgella samaraensis, are described and illustrated. Larvae of Georgella are similar to larvae of the genus Hydryphantes, differing in the following characters: basal cheliceral segments have no longitudinal ribs, dorso-distal prominences of the pedipalpal tibia are undeveloped, and the excretory pore is partly surrounded by the anal sclerite. The larva known as G. koenikei (Münchberg, 1936) is erroneously treated as a larva of fresh-water Georgella (Hydrachnidia). The morphology of all the active developmental phases of Georgella strongly differs from that in mites of the genus Hydryphantes. Therefore, the generic status of Georgella should be restored.     

New species of scelionids (Hymenoptera,Scelionidae) of the Israel fauna

Four new species of Scelionidae of the genera Telenomus (subgenus Telenomus) and Macroteleia (Telenomus (T.) ordanus Kononova, T. (T.) lunatus Kononova, Macroteleia israiliensis Kononova, and M. simutniki Kononova) from Israel are described. T. (T.) ordanus differs from the species of the subgenus Telenomus in the presence of short rugae on abdominal tergite II, smooth and shiny abdominal stem, and yellow legs. T. (T.) lunatus, similar to T. (T.) clavatus Kozlov et Kononova, can be distinguished by the smaller size, finer body sculpture, and sculpture of abdominal tergite II. Macroteleia israiliensis differs from M. rufa Szelényi in the more slender body and its coloration, as well as in the structure of the propodeum. M. simutniki differs from M. aurea Kozlov et Kononova in the wider abdomen and in the antennal structure (the 2nd antennal segment is wider, segments of the antennal club are as long as wide).     

New species of Telenominae (Hymenoptera,Scelionidae) from the palaearctic fauna

Four new species of Telenominae of the genera Telenomus and Platytelenomus, collected in the territory of the Ukraine, Hungary, and Japan, were described: Telenomus (T.) bicolorus Kononova, T. (T.) ardens Kononova, (T.) michaylovi Kononova, and Platytelenomus mirabilis Kononova. Brief morphological characteristics of the genera Telenomus and Platytelenomus are given, and some notes concerning biology and geographical distribution of the species are presented. Telenomus (T.) bicolorus differs from all the known species of the genus Telenomus in the two-colored body: head and thorax yellow with brownish tint ventrally, mesothorax and abdomen black. The main distinguishing feature of T. (T.) ardens is its smooth shining body, T. (T.) michaylovi is similar to T. (T.) rudis Kozlov. These species can be distinguished by the structure of their antenna. The second to fourth segments of the antennal clava are transverse in T. (T.) michaylovi and are as long as wide in T. (T.) rudis. In addition, the abdominal stem and abdominal tergite II are smooth and shining, while the abdominal stem in T. (T.) rudis is striate along the entire length, and tergite II is finely striate along half of its length. Platytelenomus mirabilis is closely related to P. danubialis Szelényi, but differs in the strongly flattened body, sculpture of the abdominal stem and tergite II, and coloration of the legs. The thorax of P. mirabilis is 4–5 times as wide as high, the abdominal stem is striate along the entire length, tergite II is striate at the base, and the legs, including coxae, are yellow. The thorax of P. danubialis is 4 times as wide as high, the abdominal stem and tergite II are smooth and shining, and the legs are brown.     

New palaearctic species of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Telenomus</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera,Scelionidae, Telenominae), having the mesoscutum with parapsidal furrows

Five new species of the genus Telenomus, subgenus Telenomus [Telenomus (T.) decoratus Kononova, sp. n., T. (T.) erectus Kononova, sp. n., T. (T.) notus Kononova, sp. n., T. (T.) clarus Kononova, sp. n., and T. (T.) gratus Kononova, sp. n.], collected from the Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Russia (Kunashir Island), are described for the first time. T. (T.) decoratus differs from the species with the mesoscutum bearing parapsidal furrows in the oblong tergite II with alveolate sculpture. T. (T.) erectus is closely related to T. (T.) lachesis Kozlov et Kononova and can be distinguished by the longer thorax and abdominal tergite I with longitudinal rugae. T. (T.) notus differs from the similar T. (T.) erectus in the sculpture and shape of the abdomen and coloration of the legs. T. (T.) clarus differs from T. (T.) lineolatus Kozlov in the sculpture of the frontal depression: granulate in T. (T.) clarus and smooth and lustrous in T. (T.) lineolatus. T. (T.) gratus is similar to T. (T.) atropos; its specific features are the head much wider than long and the smooth and lustrous tergite I.     

A Survey of the Distribution and Phylogenetic Relationships of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Silvestrichilis</Emphasis> Group of Genera and of the Species of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Silvestrichilis</Emphasis> Wygodz. (Archaeognatha,Machilidae) with Description of a New Species from South Ossetia

Review of the six genera of the Silvestrichilis group (Dilta Strand, Haslundiella Janetschek, Silvestrichilis Wygodzinsky, Silvestrichiloides Mendes, Haslundichilis Wygodzinsky, and Himalayachilis Wygodzinsky) and of the 17 species of the southern Palaearctic genus Silvestrichilis was performed for the first time with a discussion of their phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary trends based on comparative analysis of the geographic distribution of the species and of the distribution of plesiomorphic and apomorphic states of their main morphological features. Haslundichilis quadrii Wygodzinsky, 1952 from northwestern India and H. lindbergi Wygodzinsky, 1962 from western Afghanistan are transferred to the genus Haslundiella, and new combinations Haslundiella quadrii (Wygodzinsky, 1952), comb. n. and Haslundiella lindbergi (Wygodzinsky, 1962), comb. n. are established. A new species, Silvestrichilis polinaesp. n., differs from all the congeners in the strongly dilated fore femur of the male and female, in the maxillary palpus chaetotaxy, and in the structure of the sensory field on the fore femur of the male.     

The Antioxidant Activity of the Russian Far East Representatives of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spiraea</Emphasis> L. (Rosaceae Juss.) Genus

Biologically active substances and antioxidant activity of extracts from leaves and inflorescences of nine representatives of the genus Spiraea L. growing on the territory of the Far East of Russia were investigated. Widespread species of the genus Spiraea (S. salicifolia, S. media var. media, S. betulifolia and S. ussuriensis subsp. ussuriensis) have the highest levels of biologically active substances. The inflorescences of spiraeas there contain more flavonols (up to 3.9%), oxycinnamic acids (up to 1.2%), catechins (up to 5.7%) and saponins (up to 5.1%) compared to their leaves, and there are more tannins (up to 11.6%) in the leaves. Among the Far Eastern representatives of the genus Spiraea, S. betulifolia and S. beauverdiana (section Calospira), S. humilis and S. salicifolia (section Spiraria), S. pubescens and S. media var. media (section Chamaedryon) are promising antioxidants. Plants of the genus Spiraea probably contain water-soluble antioxidant compounds of phenolic type, because the antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts in the leaves and inflorescences of spiraeas is higher (0.16–2.79 mg/g) than that of water-alcoholic compounds (0.06–2.54 mg/g). The antioxidant activity in the leaves of spiraeas is generally higher than that in the inflorescence. A reliable positive correlation is observed between the antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts from the organs of spiraeas and a content of oxycinnamic acids.     

New species of chalcidoid wasps of the family Eurytomidae (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea) from arid Palaearctic regions

Five new species of chalcidoid wasps of the family Eurytomidae are described: four from Israel and one from Kazakhstan. Tetramesa pavliceki Zerova, sp. n. (cylindrica species group) is closely related to T. scheppugi Schlecht., but differs in the more elongate flagellar segments, longer genae, and smooth metasomal tergites. Eurytoma nevoi Zerova, sp. n. is similar to E. sabulosa Erd. and E. bicolorata Zer. (phragmiticola species group), differs from these species in the longer marginal vein, punctate propodeum, and longer flagellar segments. E. oreni Zerova, sp. n. belongs to the fumipennis species group. It is closely related to E. monticola Zer., but differs in the more convex scape, longer postmarginal vein, and yellow legs. E. simutniki Zerova, sp. n. belongs to the robusta species-group. It resembles E. heriadi Zer., but differs in the longer flagellar segments of the female and in the shorter postmarginal vein. Nikanoria mamayevi Zerova, sp. n. is similar to N. stigma Zer., but differs in the more elongate metasoma, longer flagellar segments of both sexes, and larger yellow spots on the pronotum.     

A review of species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diaphorus</Emphasis> (Diptera,Dolichopodidae) in the Palaearctic Region

The history of studying the genus Diaphorus is described. Seventeen species have been studied. A key to species of the genus Diaphorus of the Palaearctic fauna, including 37 species, and a catalogue of the Palaearctic species with synonyms are given. Diaphorus oldenbergi Parent, 1925 is regarded as a synonym of the species D. nigrotibia Strobl, 1893 (syn. n.). The new species Diaphorus sublautus sp. n. from Azerbaijan is described. Lectotypes of D. dolichocercus Stackelberg, D. parenti Stackelberg, D. ussuriensis Stackelberg, and D. varifrons Becker are designated.     

Description of Adult and Fourth-Stage Larva of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litomosoides navonae</Emphasis> n. sp. (Nematoda: Onchocercidae), a Parasite of Five Species of Sigmodontine Rodents from Northeastern Argentina

This study describes a new species of Litomosoides Chandler, 1931, parasitic in five different sigmodontine rodents from Misiones, Chaco and Formosa provinces of Argentina. The fourth-stage (L4) larva (male and female) is also described. L. navonae n. sp. exhibits: a bottle-shaped buccal cavity; a buccal capsule with irregularly crenate external walls; four externo-labial papillae and one ventral cephalic papilla; a well differentiated oesophagus; and sigmodontis-type spicules. The microfilaria is fusiform, with a large sheath. The L4 has a buccal capsule which is relatively longer than that of the adults, with narrower walls and a bottle-shaped lumen. It was observed in this species that the oesophagus/body-length ratio increases from larva to adult (female ratio 26.2–28.3 in larva; 88.4 in adults), and the vulva appears to move further posterior to the oesophago-intestinal junction (200–300 μm in larvae vs a mean of 600 μm in adults). L. navonae was found parasitising: Nectomys squamipes from the Reserve UNLP Valle del Arroyo Cuñá Pirú, Misiones; Oligoryzomys chacoensis, Holochilus chacarius and Akodon azarae bibianae from the marshes of Arroyo Bellaco, El Colorado, Formosa; and O. fornesi and H. chacarius from Selvas del Río de Oro (Chaco). Both N. squamipes and H. chacarius harbour other filarioids species, i.e. L. kohnae Bain, Petit &; Diagne, 1989 and L. patersoni (Mazza, 1928), respectively, throughout their range, but these filarioids are readily differentiated from L. navonae. These well-differentiated filarial species found in Nectomys and Holochilus could indicate how isolated the populations of rodents are and could be interpreted either as: (a) an early point in the speciation processes that could be taking place in these hosts; or (b) extra support for the capture phenomenon theory of the evolution of Litomosoides. New regions, such as southern Brazil and northern Argentina, need to be studied in order to clarify these alternatives.     

New species of the bristletail families Ateluridae and Lepismatidae (Zygentoma) from Abkhazia and Adygea

Four new species of the bristletail families Ateluridae (Atelura abkhazica sp. n. and Nipponatelurina caucasica sp. n.) and Lepismatidae (Lepisma xylophila sp. n. and L. adygei sp. n.) are described. Atelura abkhazica sp. n. differs from the other species of the genus Atelura in a smaller size, smaller number of ovipositor divisions, in the presence of apical sensory cones on the male parameres, which are absent in the other species of the genus, and in a fewer number of lateral pegs on urotergite X. The genus Nipponatelurina comprises two species (N. kurosai Mendes et Machida, 1994 and N. caucasica sp. n.). The distinguishing features of N. caucasica sp. n. include a significant number of short minute thin cilia on the head capsule, a longer ultimate segment of the maxillary palp, and a fewer number of setae at the posterior margin of urosternites IV–VII. Lepisma xylophila sp. n. differs from L. saccharinum and L. chlorosoma in the distribution of epidermic pigment and in the urotergites chaetom. Lepisma adygei sp. n. is most closely related to the synanthropic species L. saccharinum, but differs in the size of the body, color of scales on the upper surface of the body, and in the structure of the labial palps, urotergite X, ovipositor, and parameres.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Idaea pseudoaversata</Emphasis>, a new species of geometrids (Lepidoptera,Geometridae) from the Southeastern Asian part of Russia

A new species, Idaea pseudoaversata, is described from the Far East. According to the coloration and wing pattern, the new species is similar to I. straminata (Borkhausen, 1794). The species is closely related to I. aversata (Linnaeus, 1758), but differs in the presence of seven cornuti in the aedeagus. The type material of the new species is deposited in the Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences (Novosibirsk, Russia).     

Musculature of the Male Abdominal Segments and Terminalia in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Musca autumnalis</Emphasis> De Geer, 1776 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrellia rapax</Emphasis> (Harris, 1780) (Diptera,Muscidae: Muscini)

The structure of the abdominal and pregenital segments and genitalia of males was studied in Pyrellia rapax (Harris, 1780) and Musca autumnalis De Geer, 1776 (Muscidae, Muscini). The musculature of these species is compared with that in Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Muscidae) and Scathophaga stercoraria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Scathophagidae), previously investigated by O.G. Ovtshinnikova. Morphological analysis of sclerites and muscles of abdominal and pregenital segments and genitalia of males in Pyrellia rapax, Musca autumnalis, and M. domestica demonstrates processes of reduction in Musca as compared with P. rapax and S. stercoraria.