Hover flies of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paragus</Emphasis> latr. (Diptera,Syrphidae) of Russia and adjacent countries

A key to 29 species of the hover-fly genus Paragus from Asia is given and provided with original figures of the male genitalia, abdomen, and head for each species. New data on the distribution of Paragus species are reported.     

A new species,a new synonym,and new records of the hover-fly genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cheilosia</Emphasis> Meigen (Diptera,Syrphidae)

A new species, Cheilosia richterae sp. n., is described in the nominotypical subgenus, being most closely related there to Ch. annulifemur Stackelberg, 1930. Two species, Ch. sootryeni Nielsen, 1970 and Ch. rufimana (Becker, 1984), are recorded from Russia for the first time. Ch. kuznetzovae Skufjin, 1977 is recorded for the first time from the Urals and western Siberia. The subgenus Nephocheila Barkalov, 2002 is synonymized with Nephomyia Matsumura, 1916. Figures of the male and female heads and the male genitalia are given for all the species.     

Asparagus beetles of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crioceris duodecimpunctata</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758) group (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from Russia and Adjacent Countries

The distribution of Crioceris duodecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) and two related species with their subspecies is defined more precisely. Crioceris orientalis tshingisana Lopatin, 1966, stat. n. and C. hypopsila demokidovi Semenov, 1909, stat. n. are treated as subspecies for the first time. Lectotypes of C. hypopsila Jacobson, 1907, C. demokidovi Semenov, 1909, and C. duodecimpunctata hypolachna Jacobson, 1907 are designated. The male and female genitalia are described and illustrated for all the species considered. A new key to the species of Crioceris without a black sutural stripe is compiled.     

Leaf Beetles of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stylosomus</Emphasis> Suffrian, 1848 (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae) of Southern Siberia

Distribution of Stylosomus Suffrian, 1848 in Southern Siberia is considered with more details. The male genitalia of S. flavus Marseul, 1875 are figured. A new key to the species of Stylosomus of Southern Siberia is composed.     

A review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysolina lineella</Emphasis> species-group of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopachys</Emphasis> Motschulsky, 1860, genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysolina</Emphasis> Motschulsky, 1860 (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae)

The Chrysolina lineella species-group of the subgenus Anopachys Motschulsky, 1860 is revised. Chrysolina watanabei Takizawa, 1970 is revalidated from the synonymy with Ch. lineigera (Jacobson, 1901). Ch. sundukovi Mikhailov, 2006 is a new junior synonym of Ch. watanabei. Special attention is paid to the infraspecific variability of the male and female genitalia. The structure of the aedeagal flagellum and the spermatheca are used as diagnostic characters. A key to species is included. Ch. watanabei is for the first time recorded from the Asian continent (Primorskii Territory of Russia and Northeastern China).     

The structure of the claspettes in the male genitalia of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ochlerotatus</Emphasis> Lynch Arribalzaga of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes</Emphasis> Meigen (Diptera,Culicidae) and their diagnostic significance

The structure of the claspettes (modified projections in the male genitalia) in species of the subgenus Ochlerotatus Lynch Arribalzaga of the genus Aedes Meigen is described in detail. A thorough investigation of the three-dimensional structure of the claspettes is necessary for identification of the Ochlerotatus species from Russia. The study of 30 species of Ochlerotatus demonstrated that frequently the use of the claspette structure as a diagnostic character was incorrect when the claspettes were described as flat structures. Examination of the three-dimensional structure of the claspettes has revealed characters differentiating Aedes diantaeus, A. intrudens and A. pullatus; A. communis, A. punctor, and A. hexodontus; A. annulipes, A. excrucians, and A. euedes, as well as some other species.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trouessartia</Emphasis> Canestrini, 1899 (Astigmata: Trouessartiidae) from passeriform birds in Brazil

Two new feather mite species of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae) are described from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Brazil: T. calcealgiana n. sp. from Philydor atricapillus (Wied) (Furnariidae), and T. gigaphallus n. sp. from Tyrannus melancholicus Vieillot (Tyrannidae). Both species have unique features, such as the large hook-like seta sR on trochanters III in T. calcealgiana, and the large male genitalia in T. gigaphallus, which are at least twice as long as normally found in most species of Trouessartia.     

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.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the leaf-rollers (Lepidoptera,Tortricidae) of the Lower Amur Area

A list of 94 species of Tortricidae from the Lower Amur Area is presented, 14 species being recorded for Khabarovsk Terr. for the first time. Three species, Endotheina quadrimaculana, Argyroploce arbutella, and Dichrorampha obscuratana, are new to the Russian Far East. Two species monophagous on Quercus, Tortrix sinapina and Hedya inornata, have been found in the relict oak forests of the Lower Amur Area. Individual variation of the male genitalia within the Dichrorampha simpliciana species-group is revealed, and doubts are cast on the species rank of D. cancellatana and D. okui.     

To the knowledge of the herbivorous scolytid genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thamnurgus</Emphasis> Eichhoff (Coleoptera,Scolytidae)

Based on the male genitalia structure, 3 subgenera are distinguished in the genus Thamnurgus: Thamnurgus s. str. (type species Thamnurgus euphorbiae Küster; the subgenus includes also Th. characiae and Th. varipes), Parathamnurgus subgen. n. (type species Thamnurgus caucasicus Reitter; includes also Th. armeniacus, Th. kaltenbachii, Th. brylinskyi, and Th. pegani) and Macrothamnurgus subgen. n. (type species Thamnurgus delphinii Rosenhauer; includes also Th. petzi and Th. rossicus). Thamnurgus s. str. comprises species with the aedeagus lacking supporting apical structures and with unbranched apophyses. In the two other subgenera the aedeagal apophyses are branched and the apical supporting structures are differently arranged. Species of Thamnurgus s. str. are associated exclusively with Euphorbiaceae, species of Macrothamnurgus, with Ranunculaceae, and those of Parathamnurgus, with plants of several families. A key to Palaearctic Thamnurgus species based on the external and genital characters is proposed. The host plants and distribution of some species are clarified. In the aedeagus structure, the Palaearctic Thamnurgus species clearly differ from the African Thamnurgus and also from the members of Taphronurgus, Cynanchophagus, Triotemnus, and Xylocleptes. Data on the male genital structure support generic distinctness of Thamnurgus, Taphronurgus and Xylocleptes. Lectotypes of Th. armeniacus Reitter, 1897, Th. brylinskyi Reitter, 1889, Th. characiae Rosenhauer, 1878, Th. declivis Reitter, 1897, Th. delphinii (Rosenhauer, 1856), Th. pegani Eggers, 1933, and Th. petzi Reitter, 1901 are designated. Thamnurgus jemeniae Schedl, 1975 is transferred to Xylocleptes, and Th. orientalis Schedl, 1978, to Pseudothamnurgus. Based on the endophallus characters, Thamnurgus ugandensis Nunberg, 1961 and Th. lobeliae Eggers, 1939 are considered to belong to a genus distinct from the Palaearctic Thamnurgus.     

New data on the taxonomy and morphology of weevils of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plinthus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

The taxonomic composition of the genus Plinthus Germar, 1817 is considered. The procedure of dissection of the weevil genitalia, variations in the endophallus armature, proventriculus, and crop in Plinthus species are described, and the terminology for these structures is explained. The taxonomic significance of the morphological characters of the endophallus, proventriculus, and crop, as well as the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Plinthus and its subgenera are discussed. New data on the taxonomy, morphology, and distribution of species from the subgenera Plinthomeleus Reitter, 1913 and Plinthus s. str. are presented. Keys to the subgenera of Plinthus and to species groups of the subgenus Plinthomeleus are given. Plinthus squalidus is recorded from the Caucasus and Russia for the first time.     

A new caddisfly of the fossil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Archaeotinodes</Emphasis> (Insecta: Trichoptera: Ecnomidae) from the Baltic amber

A new caddisfly species of the fossil genus Archaeotinodes, A. igneusaper sp. nov., is described from the Upper Eocene Baltic amber. The new species is close to A. pauper Ulmer, 1912 and A. lanceolata Ulmer, 1912 from the Baltic amber, differing from these in the structure of the male genitalia.     

New data on the fauna,taxonomy and ecology of praying mantises (Dictyoptera,Mantodea) from Russia

Two little-known species of praying mantises, Severinia turcomaniae (Saussure, 1872) and Rivetina nana Mistshenko, 1967, are reported for the faunas of Russia and Europe for the first time based on the material collected in Astrakhan Province of Russia. New data on the morphology, ecology, and distribution of these species are given. The male genitalia of S. turcomaniae and the female of R. nana are described for the first time. The lectotype of Oxythespis turcomaniae Saussure, 1872 is designated and deposited in the collection of the Zoological Museum of the Moscow University. The synonymy of O. turcomaniae and Mantis wagneri Kittary, 1849 is shown to be insufficiently justified; M. wagneri is provisionally placed in the genus Severinia Finot, 1902. Since R. nana Lindt, 1968 is most probably not a synonym of R. nana Mistshenko, 1967 but a separate species, a substitute name R. pseudonana Shcherbakov nom. n. is proposed for the former. Some characters traditionally used for the identification of Rivetina species are shown to be significantly variable and thus unreliable. A key to 11 praying mantis species of the Russian fauna is provided. The recent discovery of S. turcomaniae and R. nana in the northern Caspian Sea region is assumed to reflect the expansion of the natural ranges of thermophilic species caused by increasing aridity of the climate.     

New and little-known taxa of the family Cixiidae (Homoptera,Fulgoroidea)

Six new genera and eight new species are described from South and Central Americas, South Africa, and Southeastern Asia. Illustrations of the male genitalia of the type species of the genera Duiliopsis Bergevin and Perindus Emeljanov are given. The generic name Duiliopsis is synonymized with Duilius Stål. The synonymy of the generic name Hemitropis Fieber with Duilius is supported.     

Two New Species of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tshurtshurnella</Emphasis> Kusnezov (Hemiptera,Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoroidea: Issidae) from Eastern Anatolia

Tshurtshurnella bicolorata sp. n. and T. curtulum sp. n. are described from Elaz?? and Malatya provinces of Turkey. T. bicolorata sp. n. is well distinguished from the other species of the genus by the presence of two color forms in males and females and T. curtulum sp. n., by darkly colored females and pale males. Also these new species differ from the other species of the genus in the characters of the structure of the male genitalia.     

Differential Rates of Male Genital Evolution in Sibling Species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis>

Genital morphology in animals with internal fertilization is considered to be among the fastest evolving traits. Sexual selection is often proposed as the main driver of genital diversification but the exact selection mechanisms involved are usually unclear. In addition, the mechanisms operating may differ even between pairs of sibling species. We investigated patterns of male genital variation within and between natural populations of the cactophilic fly Drosophila koepferae ranging its entire geographic distribution and compared them with those previously observed in its sibling species, D. buzzatii. Using both mtDNA and nDNA markers we found that genital shape variation in D. koepferae is more restricted than expected for neutral evolution, suggesting the predominance of stabilizing selection. We also detected dissimilar patterns of divergence between populations of D. koepferae that were allopatric and sympatric with D. buzzatii. The constrained evolution inferred for D. koepferae’s genitalia clearly contrasts with the rapid divergence and higher morphological disparity observed in the populations of D. buzzatii. Finally, different possible scenarios of male genital evolution in each species and within the radiation of D. buzzatii cluster are discussed.