Checklist of the Braulidae,Camillidae, Diastatidae and Drosophilidae of Finland (Diptera,Ephydroidea)

A checklist of the Braulidae (1 species), Camillidae (3 spp.), Diastatidae (10 spp.) and Drosophilidae (67 spp.) of Finland is presented. Campichoetinae is included as a subfamily of Diastatidae.     

Review of the planthopper genus Neodurium Fennah, 1956 (Hemiptera,Fulgoromorpha, Issidae)

The planthopper genus Neodurium Fennah is reviewed and Neodurium fennahi Chang & Chen, sp. n. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae) from China (Yunnan), is described and illustrated. A checklist of the species of Neodurium is given and a key provided for their separation. The female genitalia of Neodurium species are described for the first time.     

Annotated type catalogue of the Megaspiridae,Orthalicidae, and Simpulopsidae (Mollusca,Gastropoda, Orthalicoidea) in the Natural History Museum,London

The type status is described for 65 taxa of the Orthalicoidea, classified within the families Megaspiridae (14), Orthalicidae (30), and Simpulopsidae (20); one taxon is considered a nomen inquirendum. Lectotypes are designated for the following taxa: Helix brephoides d’Orbigny, 1835; Simpulopsis cumingi Pfeiffer, 1861; Bulimulus (Protoglyptus) dejectus Fulton, 1907; Bulimus iris Pfeiffer, 1853. The type status of Bulimus salteri Sowerby III, 1890, and Strophocheilus (Eurytus) subirroratus da Costa, 1898 is now changed to lectotype according Art. 74.6 ICZN. The taxa Bulimus loxostomus Pfeiffer, 1853, Bulimus marmatensis Pfeiffer, 1855, Bulimus meobambensis Pfeiffer, 1855, and Orthalicus powissianus var. niveus Preston 1909 are now figured for the first time. The following taxa are now considered junior subjective synonyms: Bulimus marmatensis Pfeiffer, 1855 = Helix (Cochlogena) citrinovitrea Moricand, 1836; Vermiculatus Breure, 1978 = Bocourtia Rochebrune, 1882. New combinations are: Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) Rochebrune, 1882; Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) aequatoria (Pfeiffer, 1853); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) anthisanensis (Pfeiffer, 1853); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) aquila (Reeve, 1848); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) badia (Sowerby I, 1835); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) bicolor (Sowerby I, 1835); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) caliginosa (Reeve, 1849); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) coagulata (Reeve, 1849); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) cotopaxiensis (Pfeiffer, 1853); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) filaris (Pfeiffer, 1853); Kara indentata (da Costa, 1901); Clathrorthalicus magnificus (Pfeiffer, 1848); Simpulopsis (Eudioptus) marmartensis (Pfeiffer, 1855); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) nucina (Reeve, 1850); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) ochracea (Morelet, 1863); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) peaki (Breure, 1978); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) petiti (Pfeiffer, 1846); Clathrorthalicus phoebus (Pfeiffer, 1863); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) polymorpha (d’Orbigny, 1835); Scholvienia porphyria (Pfeiffer, 1847); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) purpurata (Reeve, 1849); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) quechuarum Crawford, 1939; Quechua salteri (Sowerby III, 1890); Kuschelenia (Bocourtia) subfasciata Pfeiffer, 1853; Clathrorthalicus victor (Pfeiffer, 1854). In an addedum a lectotype is being designated for Bulimulus (Drymaeus) interruptus var. pallidus Preston, 1909. An index is included to all taxa mentioned in this paper and the preceding ones in this series (Breure and Ablett 2011, 2012, 2014).     

Genetic Redundancy,Proximity, and Functionality of lspA,the Target of Antibiotic TA,in the Myxococcus xanthus Producer Strain

We recently showed that type II signal peptidase (SPaseII) encoded by lspA is the target of an antibiotic called TA (myxovirescin), which is made by Myxococcus xanthus. SPaseII cleaves the signal peptide during bacterial lipoprotein processing. Bacteria typically contain one lspA gene; however, strikingly, the M. xanthus DK1622 genome contains four (lspA1 to lspA4). Since two of these genes, lspA3 and lspA4, are located in the giant TA biosynthetic gene cluster, we hypothesized they may play a role in TA resistance. To investigate the functions of the four M. xanthus lspA (lspA^Mx) genes, we conducted sequence comparisons and found that they contained nearly all the conserved residues characteristic of SPaseII family members. Genetic studies found that an Escherichia coli ΔlspA mutation could be complemented by any of the lspA^Mx genes in an lpp mutant background, but not in an E. coli lpp⁺ background. Because Lpp is the most abundant E. coli lipoprotein, these results suggest the M. xanthus proteins do not function as efficiently as the host enzyme. In E. coli, overexpression of each of the LspA^Mx proteins conferred TA and globomycin resistance, although LspA3 conferred the highest degree of resistance. In M. xanthus, each lspA^Mx gene could be deleted and was therefore dispensable for growth. However, lspA3 or lspA4 deletion mutants each exhibited a tan phase variation bias, which likely accounts for their reduced-swarming and delayed-development phenotypes. In summary, we propose that all four LspA^Mx proteins function as SPaseIIs and that LspA3 and LspA4 might also have roles in TA resistance and regulation, respectively.     

Stress,adaptation, and speciation in the evolution of the blind mole rat,Spalax, in Israel

Environmental stress played a major role in the evolution of the blind mole rat superspecies Spalax ehrenbergi, affecting its adaptive evolution and ecological speciation underground. Spalax is safeguarded all of its life underground from aboveground climatic fluctuations and predators. However, it encounters multiple stresses in its underground burrows including darkness, energetics, hypoxia, hypercapnia, food scarcity, and pathogenicity. Consequently, it evolved adaptive genomic, proteomic, and phenomic complexes to cope with those stresses. Here I describe some of these adaptive complexes, and their theoretical and applied perspectives. Spalax mosaic molecular and organismal evolution involves reductions or regressions coupled with expansions or progressions caused by evolutionary tinkering and natural genetic engineering. Speciation of Spalax in Israel occurred in the Pleistocene, during the last 2.00–2.35 Mya, generating four species associated intimately with four climatic regimes with increasing aridity stress southwards and eastwards representing an ecological speciational adaptive trend: (Spalax golani, 2n = 54 → S. galili, 2n = 52 → S. carmeli, 2n = 58 → S. judaei, 2n = 60). Darwinian ecological speciation occurred gradually with relatively little genetic change by Robertsonian chromosomal and genic mutations. Spalax genome sequencing has just been completed. It involves multiple adaptive complexes to life underground and is an evolutionary model to a few hundred underground mammals. It involves great promise in the future for medicine, space flight, and deep-sea diving.     

Revision of the subgenus Tinotus Sharp,stat. n., of the parasitoid rove-beetle genus Aleochara Gravenhorst (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Japan,Taiwan, and the Russian Far East

The subgenus Tinotus Sharp, 1833, stat. n., of the genus Aleochara Gravenhorst, 1802 (Aleocharini: Aleocharina) from Japan, Taiwan, and the Russian Far East is revised. Tinotus is a new record from the latter two regions. Three species are recognized: Aleochara (Tinotus) morion Gravenhorst, 1802, comb. n. [Japan (new record), the Russian Far East (new record)], Aleochara (Tinotus) eoa nom. n. [replacement name for Tinotus japonicus Cameron, 1933; Japan, Taiwan (new record)], and Aleochara (Tinotus) takashii sp. n. (central Honshû, Japan). The systematic position of Tinotus is discussed. All species are (re-)described, keyed, and figured. A world checklist of Tinotus species, comprising 40 valid species, is provided in an appendix. Additional taxonomic changes are proposed, including a new synonymy, a revalidation, 13 new replacement names, and 27 new combinations.     

Proposed validation of the specific namescrenatus Bruguière, 1789, andrenggeri Oppel, 1863 (Class Cephalopoda,Order Ammonoidea) from the Oxfordian stage of the upper jurassic

Ammonites crenata Bruguière (1789) is one of the oldest species names used in modern ammonite taxonomy. This is a nomen dubium that is probably a synonym of what modern authors callCreniceras renggeri (Oppel 1863), a common species of the early Oxfordian.Ammonites crenatus Bruguière in Oppel (1863) is a stratigraphically junior taxon of the middle Oxfordian. Nevertheless, there is a possibility, however improbable it may be, thatAmmonites crenata Bruguière andAmmonites crenatus Oppel are synonyms. Therefore it is proposed here to retain the current usage of the namescrenatus Bruguière emend. d’Orbigny (1847) andrenggeri Oppel.     

Revision of the Taiwanese millipede genus Chamberlinius Wang, 1956, with descriptions of two new species and a reclassification of the tribe Chamberlinini (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae, Paradoxosomatinae)

The millipede genus Chamberlinius is basically confined to Taiwan, with only one of the four known species presumably introduced to southern Japan. Both previously known species are redescribed, based on new material: Chamberlinius hualienensis Wang, 1956 (the type species) and Chamberlinius piceofasciatus (Gressitt, 1941), the latter being a new subjective senior synonym of Chamberlinius shengmui Wang, 1957, syn. n. Two further congeners are described as new: Chamberlinius pessior sp. n. and Chamberlinius sublaevus sp. n. The genus is re-diagnosed, all of its four species are keyed, and their distributions mapped. The tribe Chamberlinini is reclassified and, based on gonopod traits, shown to comprise the following five genera: Chamberlinius Wang, 1956, Haplogonosoma Brölemann, 1916, Riukiupeltis Verhoeff, 1939, Aponedyopus Verhoeff, 1939 and Geniculodesmus Chen, Golovatch and Chang, 2008.     

Revision of the genus Menevia Schaus, 1928 (Lepidoptera,Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with the description of 11 new species

The Neotropical genus Menevia Schaus, 1928 is revised to include 18 species, 11 of which are new. Two species, Menevia ostia comb. n. and Menevia parostia comb. n. are transferred from Pamea Walker, 1855 to Menevia. Four species-groups are diagnosed for the first time based on external characters and male genitalia morphology. The following new species are described: Menevia rosea sp. n., Menevia torvamessoria sp. n., Menevia magna sp. n., Menevia menapia sp. n., Menevia mielkei sp. n., Menevia australis sp. n., Menevia vulgaris sp. n., Menevia franclemonti sp. n., Menevia vulgaricula sp. n., Menevia cordillera sp. n., and Menevia delphinus sp. n.. A neotype is designated for Mimallo plagiata Walker, 1855, which has since been placed in Menevia. Mimallo saturata Walker, 1855 is interpreted to be a nomen dubium.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the Carabus (Archiplectes) satyrus Kurnakov, 1962, species complex in Abkhazia (Coleoptera,Carabidae, Carabini)

This study is based on a comparative analysis of extensive material of Carabus (Archiplectes) satyrus Kurnakov, 1962, its various forms and related taxa recently collected by the authors and some other collectors in Abkhazia. The status or specific affiliations of several subspecies are changed and a subspecies is described. Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus Kurnakov, 1972, stat. n. is treated as a separate species housing six hitherto established subspecies in addition to the nominal type: Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus mtsaranus Kurnakov, 1972, Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus duripshensis Kurnakov, 1972, Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus napraensis Belousov & Zamotajlov, 1993, Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus dsychvensis Kurnakov, 1972, Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus adzinbai Retezár, 2013, and Carabus (Archiplectes) besleticus resheviensis subsp. n. Carabus (Archiplectes) satyrus is treated as monotypical while the specific status of Carabus (Archiplectes) pseudopshuensis Zamotajlov, 1991, earlier proposed by Fominykh and Zamotajlov (2012), is confirmed based on the morphological and morphometric data.     

Synthesis of a branched d-glucotetraose,the repeating unit of the extracellular polysaccharides of Grifola umbellate,Sclerotinia libertiana,Porodisculus pendulus,and Schizophyllum commune fries

The synthesis of d-glucotetraose, 3-O-[3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-6-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-α (and β)-d-glucopyranose, the repeating unit of the extracellular polysaccharides of Grifora umbellata, Sclerotinia libertiana, Porodisculus pendulus, and Schizophyllum commune Fries, is described.     

AnCF, the CCAAT Binding Complex of Aspergillus nidulans, Contains Products of the hapB, hapC, and hapE Genes and Is Required for Activation by the Pathway-Specific Regulatory Gene amdR

CCAAT binding factors (CBFs) positively regulating the expression of the amdS gene (encoding acetamidase) and two penicillin biosynthesis genes (ipnA and aatA) have been previously found in Aspergillus nidulans. The factors were called AnCF and PENR1, respectively. Deletion of the hapC gene, encoding a protein with significant similarity to Hap3p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, eliminated both AnCF and PENR1 binding activities. We now report the isolation of the genes hapB and hapE, which encode proteins with central regions of high similarity to Hap2p and Hap5p of S. cerevisiae and to the CBF-B and CBF-C proteins of mammals. An additional fungus-specific domain present in HapE was revealed by comparisons with the homologs from S. cerevisiae, Neurospora crassa, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The HapB, HapC, and HapE proteins have been shown to be necessary and sufficient for the formation of a CCAAT binding complex in vitro. Strains with deletions of each of the hapB, hapC, and hapE genes have identical phenotypes of slow growth, poor conidiation, and reduced expression of amdS. Furthermore, induction of amdS by omega amino acids, which is mediated by the AmdR pathway-specific activator, is abolished in the hap deletion mutants, as is growth on γ-aminobutyric acid as a sole nitrogen or carbon source. AmdR and AnCF bind to overlapping sites in the promoters of the amdS and gatA genes. It is known that AnCF can bind independently of AmdR. We suggest that AnCF binding is required for AmdR binding in vivo.     

A new species of the genus Nihonotrypaea Manning & Tamaki, 1998 (Crustacea,Decapoda, Axiidea,Callianassidae) from the South China Sea

A new species of the genus Nihonotrypaea Manning & Tamaki, 1998, Nihonotrypaea hainanensis sp. n., collected from the South China Sea, is described and illustrated. It is distinguishable from Nihonotrypaea harmandi (Bouvier, 1901), Nihonotrypaea japonica (Ortmann, 1891), Nihonotrypaea thermophila Lin, Komai & Chan, 2007 and Nihonotrypaea makarovi Martin, 2013 by having the elongated carpus of the male and female major cheliped. The new species is distinguishable from Nihonotrypaea petalura (Stimpson, 1860) by the proximolower margin of the carpus of the male major cheliped bearing several small denticles.