Evolution, mitochondrial DNA phylogeny and systematic position of the Macaronesian endemic Hydrotarsus Falkenström (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

Abstract.  Hydrotarsus Falkenström (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae) is the only genus of aquatic beetle considered to be endemic to the Atlantic islands of Macaronesia. Its three known species ( H. lundbladi Falkenström from Madeira, and H. compunctus (Wollaston) and H. pilosus Guignot from the Canary Islands) are revised, and their phylogenetic position studied based on sequences of the 16S rRNA and Cytochrome Oxidase I genes of mitochondrial DNA. Our results clearly indicate that the species of Hydrotarsus fall deep within the genus Hydroporus Clairville, in a clade formed by (in addition to Hydrotarsus ) species currently included in the H. fuscipennis , marginatus , nigrita and tessellatus groups, and in consequence a new synonymy is proposed: Hydrotarsus Falkenström =  Hydroporus Clairville syn.n. The origin of the species of ' Hydrotarsus ', based on molecular clock estimations, is late Miocene, relatively recent in the history of the Atlantic islands. They are therefore not palaeoendemics but highly derived, recently evolved elements in the Macaronesian fauna. The estimated ages of divergence among species are much more recent than the emergence of any of the islands on which they are found, suggesting rare long-range dispersal as the mechanism driving the diversification of the lineage. Morphological modifications of the species of ' Hydrotarsus ' are discussed, as well as those of other dytiscids from hygropetric habitats.     

Graptodytes exsanguis (Bedel, 1925) n. stat., a newly recognised species of diving beetle from North Africa,Corsica and Sardinia,with notes on other taxa of the varius/ignotus complex (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

Summary

A species of the genus Graptodytes Seidlitz, 1887 (varius/ignotus complex) is newly recognised and described based on recently sampled specimens from Corsica and Sardinia, and material in various collections from Algeria, Tunisia, Corsica and Sardinia. The name exsanguis, created by Bedel in 1925 for a variety of what he then called Hydroporus varius Aubé, 1838, is shown to be available for the newly recognised species, therefore named Graptodytes exsanguis (Bedel, 1925) n. stat. (type locality: Algeria, La Calle – nowadays El Kala). This species is similar in size and colour pattern to G. fractus (Sharp, 1882), from which it can be distinguished by strong differentiation of the male protarsal claws, features of the habitus and elytral punctation, and shape of the median lobe of aedeagus. Morphological features of G. exsanguis and G. fractus are illustrated, and pictures showing for each species the variability of habitus and median lobe are provided. For comparison, the habitus and median lobes of other species of the varius/ignotus complex are also illustrated. Habitat preferences of G. exsanguis are described based on field observations in Corsica and Sardinia, and a distribution map of validated records is presented. Analysis of a partial CO1 alignment yielded a basal and divergent position within the varius/ignotus complex for the sequenced G. exsanguis haplotypes from Corsica and Sardinia. Lectotypes are designated for Hydroporus varius var. exsanguis Bedel, 1925, Hydroporus fractus Sharp, 1882 and Graptodytes ignotus var. fallaciosus Guignot, 1932, and the latter is established as a junior synonym of G. fractus.     

Changes in structure and composition of an assemblage of Hydroporus species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) along a pH gradient

SUMMARY. 1. Patterns of total abundance and species relative abundances in an assemblage of predatory dytiscid beetles of the genus Hydroporus were examined along a pH gradient within a ditch in north-cast England.
2. During spring, total abundance of adult Hydroporus was greatest at the less acidic (pH 5.6–6.2) upstream sites, whereas total abundance of larval Hydroporus was greatest at the more acidic (pH 4.5) downstream sites. Both adults and larvae were more abundant in samples from the edge than from the middle of the ditch.
3. Species number and evenness did not differ along the pH gradient.
4. Species relative abundance patterns varied along the pH gradient, with particular species dominating at different sites. However, relative abundances of species changed discontinuously along the pH gradient.
5. Comparison of species abundance patterns along this pH gradient with published patterns of presence/absence among bodies of water with different pH revealed that species relationships with pH are often not consistent. Possible sources of this inconsistency are: geographic variation in species' pH preferences; complex responses of individual species to many factors in addition to pH; or random variation among sites due to colonization and extinction history.
6. The overall results suggest that pH is not the only, or even the most important, factor influencing Hydroporus populations and assemblage organization.     

Mycoflora of cave cricket Troglophilus neglectus cadavers

By using different techniques and media, microfungi were isolated from cadavers of the cave cricket Troglophilus neglectus, collected on the walls of a Slovenian cave. The isolated mycobiota was consistently different for adult and larval stages of T. neglectus cadavers. Fungi isolated with the highest frequency from the larval stage were represented by five different species of the genus Mucor, the prevailing one being a newly described species, M. troglophilus. The dominating fungus isolated from the adult stage was the well-known fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana. The other isolated fungi were mainly primary and secondary saprotrophic colonizers. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A generic revision of the Dorvilleidae (Polychaeta), with six new species from the deep North Pacific

PETER A. JUMARS
The Dorvilleidae are divided into eight genera: Dorvillea, Schistomeringos (new name), Protodorvillea, Meiodorvillea (new genus), Exallopus (new genus), Ophryotrocha, Parophryotrocha , and Apophryotrocha (new genus). Periodic maxillary replacement is found to occur in a manner which makes many often cited maxillary characters taxonomically unreliable. Therefore, the pharyngeal characters of all the type-species are redescribed or newly described. The discovery of new forms and the present interpretation of hard jaw parts permit construction of a phylogenetic scheme with Dorvillea as the most primitive genus containing living species. Suggestions are given for the advantageous use of the phenomenon of maxillary replacement in autecoiogical investigation.
Evidence is presented against the cosmopolitan distribution of Schistomeringos rudolphi , a species often noted in nearshore pollution studies. Newly described species are Dorvillea batia, Schistomeringos mediofurca, Meiodorvillea apalpata, Exallopus cropion, Ophryotrocha profunda , and Apophryotrocha mutabiliseta , all from the deep North Pacific. A key to the genera is provided, as are listings of all the known species within each genus.     

穿孔线虫属分类研究进展(综述)

穿孔线虫属Radopholus是一类多寄主寄生的危险性植物线虫,其中以世界性危害的相似穿孔线虫R. similis为典型代表。但穿孔线虫属的分类学研究迄今仍不完善,形态描述粗糙,分子序列匮乏。本文列出穿孔线虫属的最新种类名录,归纳了27种穿孔线虫（双卵巢类型）的主要形态分类特征,并综述该属分子亲缘进化关系研究进展,为穿孔线虫属的分类和相似穿孔线虫的准确鉴定提供形态学基础和技术支持,同时也为该属线虫分类学的研究方向提出建议。     

Cladistic analysis of the Sepsidae (Cyclorrhapha: Diptera) based on a comparative scanning electron microscopic study of larvae

The result of a phylogenetic analysis of the Sepsidae based on larval characters is presented. It is shown that cyclorrhaphan larvae can be as rich a source of characters as Nematocera immatures when investigated using an SEM. The cladistic analysis comprised fifty-two species in sixteen genera of the Sepsidae and five outgroup species and used fifty-seven morphological characters. It found seven parsimonious trees which only differed with respect to the arrangement of some species within the genus Themira. The basal dichotomies of the phylogenetic trees are particularly well supported, indicating the conservative nature of larval characters. Orygma is confirmed as the sister group of all the remaining sepsids, the Sepsinae. There is good larval evidence that Ortalischema is the sister group of all remaining Sepsinae and that the Toxopodinae constitute an early radiation within the Sepsidae. According to larval data, some genera are paraphyletic ( Themira, Palaeosepsis ), but adult characters appear to contradict these findings. Among the traditionally recognized higher taxa within the Sepsidae, Hennig's Themira species-group and Steysbal's Sepsini have to be rejected as polyphyletic. However, Hennig's Sepsis species-group is confirmed as monophyletic and will probably constitute one major element of a future phylogenetic system of the Sepsidae. States of the strongly modified fore-legs of some adult sepsid males are mapped onto the phylogenetic tree, largely confirming Šulc's ideas about the evolution of these features. The origin and evolution of male sternites with brushes and a gland on the tibiae of the males ('osmeterium') are discussed. Whereas adult characters point to a sister-group relationship between the Sepsidae and the Ropalomeridae, larval characters appear to indicate a sister-group relationship between the Coelopidae and the Sepsidae. The evidence for both hypotheses is critically evaluated.     

Phenetic and ecological relationships between species of the subgenus Hercostomus (Gymnopternus) in western Europe with the description of two new species (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)

As revised here, the subgenus Gymnopternus Loew of the genus Hercostomus (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) comprises nine western European species. H. aerosus, H. metallicus and H. assimilis are re-described, and H. silvestris and H. blankaartensis are described as new. Keys to males and females are given which include all western European species of this subgenus. A phenogram based on twenty-seven morphological attributes is compared with cluster analyses based on the habitat preferences and seasonal activity patterns. The results are discussed in the light of the niche separation versus coexistence principles.     

Recent findings of Phlebotomus neglectus Tonnoir, 1921 in Italy and its western limit of distribution

During the sand fly season of 2001, sand flies were collected in two different regions of Italy to investigate the northern distribution of Phlebotomus neglectus. The study areas were two provinces of northern Italy, Ivrea and Verona, in Piedmont and Veneto regions respectively. Sticky traps and CDC miniature light traps were used both inside and outside domestic and peri-domestic environments. Sand flies were also collected in domestic resting sites with mouth and electric aspirators. Of 1,295 sand fly specimens collected, 855 were from the Veneto region and 440 were from the Piedmont region. Five species of the genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia were identified. S. minuta (66.3%) was the most abundant sand fly followed by P. perniciosus (22.2%), P. neglectus (10.3%) and P. papatasi (1.2%). Only one specimen of P. mascittii was caught in Piedmont region. P. neglectus was found in 9 out of 15 (60%) of the sites where sand flies were found with a prevalence of 1.5% to 45.8%; the highest value was recorded in Piedmont region. P. neglectus was mostly associated with peridomestic and domestic sites. The results confirm previous observations on the presence of P. neglectus in northern Italy and suggest that this species is probably widespread in the area. From a review of all previous published and unpublished records of P. neglectus, it appears that this species is present in only two areas of the country, namely in the regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto and Piedmont in northern Italy and the regions of Calabria, Apulia and Sicily in southern Italy. The apparent absence of P. neglectus in Central Italy is discussed and the resulting settlement through two probable migration routes from the East is analysed.     

On the phylogeny of the Arminidae (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia, Nudibranchia) with considerations of biogeography

In the past, the different genera of the family Arminidae have been diagnosed (mostly) on the basis of plesiomorphic characters and therefore their monophyly is questionable. The Arminidae are characterized by the autapomorphies 'possession of marginal sacs' and 'rhinophores with longitudinal lamellae'. The genus Heterodoris is excluded from the family. Two possible hypotheses about the phylogenetic relationships within the Arminidae are presented.
The Arminidae probably originated in the western Pacific, near Japan and have distributed in a westerly direction. The most primitive species ( Dermatobranchus ) are restricted mainly to the western Pacific region while the more derived species ( Armina ) have a world-wide distribution.     

Systematics of the genus Cidaria Treitschke (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae)

The genus Cidaria Treitschke is revised. Eight species of the genus which occur widely in the Palaearctic and northern India, are recognized, of which one, Cidaria luteata sp. nov. , is described as new while two subspecies of C. fulvata (Forster) are elevated to species, C. nugata Felder stat. rev., and C. distinctata Staudinger stat. nov. C. ochripennis Prout is proposed as a junior synonym of C. ochreata Staudinger. C. deletaria Hampson is excluded from the genus. All species of Cidaria and their genitalia are described and illustrated. The cladistic analysis of these eight species of Cidaria is carried out using two data matrices, the first comprising morphological characters alone and the second morphological and distributional characters. The most parsimonious cladogram of Cidaria is selected, and its monophyly defined. The character analysis shows that some distribution characters contribute to resolving the in group node. The choice of multiple trees is discussed.     

Mayflies of the Northern Levant (Insecta: Ephemeroptera)

Abstract

For 31 species of mayflies, new records on their distribution are presented. Most of them are new to the Middle East or to the northern Levant (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon). The fauna is composed for the most part of species widespread in Europe (63%), a relatively high number (26%) of endemic species, and a few Caucasian (8%) and South European (3%) species. Using the genus Prosopistoma as an example, it is shown that the mayfly fauna of the northern Levantine has been isolated from the faunas of Africa and Asia for a very long period.     

A taxonomic revision of the Hilara maura-group (Diptera: Empididae) in Europe

Abstract. The European species of the Hilara maura-group are revised. Three species are described as new to science, namely, H.nitidorella sp.n., H.discalis sp.n. (both temperate Central and Western Europe) and H.mauroides sp.n. (Caucasus, male only). A further five species, H.hybrida Collin, H.femorella Zetterstedt, H.sulcitarsis Strobl, H.tyrolensis Strobl and H.bartaki Straka are redescribed, and H.eumera Loew, 1873 becomes a new synonym of H.nitidula Zetterstedt, 1838. Seven lectotypes are designated. All IS European species are keyed, the main differential characters are illustrated, and additional data on biology and distribution are given. The Hilara maura-group is recognized as a monophyletic group within the genus, characterized by a set of apomorphous characters, and the hypothetical phylogenetic relationships of the species, classified into four natural complexes, are demonstrated.     

Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the New World genus Neoclypeodytes Young (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Bidessini)

The western North American and northern Central American genus Neoclypeodytes Young is revised. Twenty‐five valid species are recognized in the genus. One additional name, N. luctuosus (Guignot) is treated as species of uncertain status. Eleven new species are described: N. amybethae, N. anasinus, N. astrapus, N. challeti, N. edithae, N. haroldi, N. megalus, N. nanus, N. roughleyi, N. similis and N. tumulus. Six new synonymies are established: N. centralis (Sharp) = N. cinctellus (LeConte); N. substriatus (Sharp) = N. discedens (Sharp); N. americanus (Guignot), N. decoratus (Fall) and N. quadrisignatus (Sharp) = N. fryii (Clark); and N. rugulosus (Guignot) = N. obesus (Sharp). Lectotypes are designated for N. curtulus (Sharp), N. discedens, N. discretus (Sharp), N. lynceus (Sharp), N. obesus, N. ornatellus (Fall), N. pictodes (Sharp), N. plicipennis (Crotch), N. quadrinotatus (Sharp), N. quadripustulatus, N. quadrisignatus and N. substriatus. A key is provided for the known species of Neoclypeodytes. Distribution maps, illustrations of important morphological features and natural history notes are provided for each species. A single possible synapomorphy was found supporting the monophyly of Neoclypeodytes, a pattern of two maculae on each elytron. The perplexing and unresolved relationships of Neoclypeodytes to other bidessine genera are discussed. A cladistic analysis using twenty‐two characters of adult morphology is presented for twenty‐five species of Neoclypeodytes, with Uvarus lacustris (Say) and Liodessus affinis (Say) as outgroup taxa (rooted at U. lacustris). A single most parsimonious cladogram was obtained.     

Revision of the Neotropical Genus Hemibidessus Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Bidessini)

The genus Hemibidessus Zimmermann, 1921 is revised. Six species are recognized in the genus. Two new species are described, H. spirodiscus sp. n. from Bolivia and H. spangleri sp. n. from Argentina. A key for identifying the species is presented. The female genitalia are thoroughly illustrated and described for the first time for any species of Bidessini. Other important diagnostic structures are also illustrated including the male genitalia. A cladistic analysis is presented for 8 species (6 ingroup and 2 outgroup species) and 13 characters. A single most parsimonious cladogram was found.     

Serotaxonomy and systematic relationships of the genus Adenocarpus (Genisteae – Fabaceae)

The storage proteins extracted from the seeds of five species of the genus Adenocarpus and of four subspecies or varieties of the type species A. complicates were studied serologically and compared with the homologous proteins extracted from 20 other species of Genisteae and allied tribes. All taxa of Adenocarpus reacted strongly with an antiserum to A. complicates ssp. complicates; only slight differences were observed between subspecies and between species. Adenocarpus was shown to be isolated from all other Genisteae. However, it was more similar to the Genisteae than to species of other tribes. The highest similarity toward Adenocarpus was presented by Argyrolobium , by some primitive unspecialized genera (Laburnum, Cytisophyllum) , and by such isolated genera as Cytisanthus, Spartium, Echinospartum. Retama and Lupinus were most dissimilar. It is concluded that Adenocarpus , a very uniform and isolated genus, belongs to the Genisteae; it shares many characters with the bulk of primitive genera of the Genisteae; its evolutionary line is independent from all others, but is not very distant from that of Argyrolobium.     

A review of the North American genus Epimartyria (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae) with a discussion of the larval plastron

The indigenous North American micropterigid genus Epimartyria Walsingham,1898 is revised. Three species are recognized, including Epimartyria auricrinella Walsingham, 1898 which occurs widely over much of the northeastern United States and Canada, a new species, Epimartyria bimaculella Davis & Landry from northwestern United States and Canada, and Epimartyria pardella (Walsingham, 1880) from northern California to northern Oregon. The larva of Epimartyria auricrinella is described in detail, supplemented with illustrations of the external structure of the larval integument. The larval plastron is described and illustrated for Epimartyria, and this is compared with the plastrons of Neomicropteryx Issiki, 1931 and Micropterix Hübner, 1825. COI barcode sequences show that the three species are genetically distinct, congruent with morphological differences. Marked haplotype divergence within some Epimartyria auricrinella populations appears to be unrelated to morphology, geography or phenology.