A revision of the Australian digger wasps in the genus Sphex (Hymenoptera,Sphecidae)

The Australian species of the sphecid wasp genus Sphex are revised. Thirty-five species are recognized, of which 11 are new: Sphex argentatissimus, Sphex brevipetiolus, Sphex caelebs, Sphex corporosus, Sphex flammeus, Sphex fortunatus, Sphex gracilis, Sphex imporcatus, Sphex jucundus, Sphex latilobus and Sphex pretiosus. A dichotomous key covering all Australian species of the genus has been generated. The geographic distribution of all species is discussed based on all available locality records in relation to the Australian climate zones.     

A new genus of fossil digger wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera,Crabronidae) from the Upper Eocene of Florissant,USA

A new digger wasp, Florimena impressa gen. et sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae, Pemphredoninae), from the Upper Eocene shales of Florissant (Colorado, United States) is described. It is distinguished from all known members of the subtribe Spilomenina by the convex frons and in regularly rounded propodeum without a distinct bend between the upper and posterior sides.     

A molecular phylogeny for digger wasps in the tribe Ammophilini (Hymenoptera,Apoidea, Sphecidae)

The evolution of parental care strategies in aculeate (stinging) wasps and bees has been much studied from a functional perspective, but relatively little phylogenetic information is available to place this in a rigorous historical context, especially at the species level. We used mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and two nuclear genes, the elongation factor‐1α and LW rhodopsin, to investigate the phylogeny of Sphecidae digger wasps. We focus particularly on the tribe Ammophilini, a clade of nonsocial apoid wasps that exhibit unusually diverse parental care strategies. We analysed a 2232 bp dataset for 40 ammophilines plus nine other taxa from within the remaining Sphecidae. Our Bayesian phylogeny provides strong support for the monophyly of Ammophilini and for the monophyly of all six individual ammophiline genera, except that the position of P. affinis within the genus Podalonia is only weakly supported. The monophyly of some, but not all, previously designated species groups within the genus Ammophila is supported. We discuss the implications of our results for the evolution of morphological traits used previously in ammophiline systematics.     

The fauna of digger wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae,Crabronidae) of Altai territory and the Republic of Altai

229 species of digger wasps from the families Sphecidae (13) and Crabronidae (216) were found in Altai Territory and the Republic of Altai. Five species are recorded for the first time for Russia: Podalonia alpina (Kohl), Spilomena differens Blüthgen, S. enslini Blüthgen, Ammoplanus serratus Tsuneki, and A. transcaspicus Gussakovskij; 36 species are recorded for the first time for West Siberia: Entomosericus kaufmani Radoszkowski, Mimesa crassipes A. Costa, Psenulus schencki (Tournier), Diodontus medius Dahlbom, D. minutus (Fabricius), Stigmus solskyi A. Morawitz, Astata jucunda Pulawski, Tachysphex latifrons Kohl, T. nitidus (Spinola), T. obscuripennis (Schenck), Nitela borealis Valkeila, Trypoxylon attenuatum F. Smith, T. deceptorium Antropov, Oxybelus aurantiacus Mocsáry, Lindenius ibex Kohl, L. parkanensis Zavadil, Crossocerus acanthophorus (Kohl), C. distinguendus (A. Morawitz), C. ovalis Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau et Brullé, Ectemnius rugifer (Dahlbom), Lestica pluschtschevskyi (F. Morawitz), Bembix bidentata Vander Linden, B. oculata Panzer, B. pallida Radoszkowski, Gorytes albidulus (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau), G. procrustes Handlirsch, Sphecius antennatus (Klug), Bracystegus scalaris (Illiger), Philanthinus quatuordecimpunctatus (F. Morawitz), Cerceris albicolor Shestakov, C. angustirostris Shestakov, C. bracteata Eversmann, C. eryngii Marquet, C. fodiens Eversmann, C. impercepta de Beaumond, C. quadricincta (Panzer), and C. scutifera Shestakov.     

Chalcid wasps of the family pteromalidae (hymenoptera,chalcidoidea) of the Kuril Islands

A list of Pteromalidae wasps of the Kuril Islands includes 84 species belonging to 47 genera of 6 subfamilies. Four genera [Seladerma Walker (Miscogasterinae), Caenacis Foerster, Isocyrtus Walker, and Synedrus Graham (Pteromalinae)] and 36 species are recorded for the first time for the Russian fauna; 8 species are new to the Russian Far East. Seladerma leleji sp. n. and Synedrus kasparyani sp. n. are described. The males of Semiotellus takadai Kamijo and Isocyrtus reticulatus Xiao et Huang are described for the first time.     

A revision of the genus Centranthus DC. (Valerianaceae)

Centranthus DC. is a mediterranean genus comprising 17 taxa (including 9 species and 7 subspecies). Two new subspecies, namely C. longiflorus subsp. atlanticus and C. calcitrapae subsp. trichocarpus , are described. Affinities within the genus are discussed and four species are newly circumscribed; five new infraspecific combinations are made. Vicariance is demonstrated with the aid of two dot maps.     

A revision of the genus Oxytheca Nutt. (Polygonaceae)

The genusOxytheca of western North America and temperate South America consists of seven species which are keyed, described, discussed, illustrated, and mapped. They are divided among sect.Oxytheca, sect.Acanthoscyphus stat. & comb. nov., and sect.Neoxytheca sect. nov.Oxytheca dendroidea subsp.chilensis is given as a new combination, whileO. parishii var.cienegensis andO. parishii var.goodmaniana are described as new. The history and relationships of the genus are discussed. It is retained as distinct fromEriogonum and is thought to have arisen from the larger genus nearE. spergulinum, E. parishii, andE. apiculatum in subgenusGanysma. Cytological data indicatedn= 20.     

A revision of the genus Dinofelis (Mammalia, Felidae)

This paper consists of a taxonomic and systematic revision of the extinct felid genus Dinofelis (Felidae, Ma-chairodontinae) and an analysis of its ecomorphology and evolution. Dinofelis has a broad distribution, with material from all northern continents and Africa, the latter of which was the apparent centre of evolution of the genus. We describe new material of Dinofelis from a number of sites in eastern Africa and reconsider all previously described material. We name two new species and identify several other distinct species-level taxa but refrain from naming these due to a paucity of well-preserved material. At the same time, we synonymize the two named Asian species, D. cristata and D. abeli , of which the former has priority. There are few characters useful in systematic analysis, but we can suggest at least one migration from eastern to southern Africa. Ecomorphological analysis of both craniodental and postcranial characters suggests that Dinofelis in many respects converged on modern pantherine cats in morphology and behaviour, a trend culminating in the South African D. barlowi and the Asian D. cristata , which are the most pantherine-like of all machairodont felids. This trend is reversed in the evolution of the youngest species, D. piveteaui , which is also the most machairodont in its ecomorphology. The timing of the extinction of Dinofelis is difficult to determine. Outside Africa material is scarce at all times, while in Africa the apparent extinction of Dinofelis at about 1.4 Mya coincides with the end of the good, semi-continuous fossil record present in eastern Africa from about 4 Mya onwards. Dating of Kanam East (with D. piveteaui) to the Jaramillo Subchron (1.070-0.990 Mya) suggests possible survival considerably later. Thus, the extinction datum for Dinofelis cannot at present be firmly established.     

A new tribe of fossil digger wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera,Crabronidae) from the Rovno amber,Eocene of Ukraine

A new tribe of digger wasps, Protomicroidini trib. nov. (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), including a single known species Protomicroides sororius gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Upper Eocene Rovno amber, Ukraine. The new tribe combines features characteristic of several tribes of the Crabroninae and is a sister group of the extant tribe Oxybelini. The most distinctive characters of the new tribe include nonelongate propodeum with strongly developed lateral keel and enclosed dorsal area; semioval postscutellum with a lamellate border; absence of pygidial plate, psammophores, and digging tarsal rakes; and considerably reduced forewing venation.     

A revision of the genus Naroma (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

A key is given to the four species of Naroma now recognised. The species are redescribed and their distribution is listed. The early stages of N.varipes and N.signifera are described by D.G.Sevastopulo.     

A revision of the genus Sclerosperma (Arecaceae)

Summary  A taxonomic revision of the palm genus Sclerosperma (Arecaceae) is presented. Three species are recognised: S. mannii H. Wendl., which is relatively widespread from Liberia to the Democratic Republic of Congo; S. walkeri A. Chev., which is apparently confined to the interior of Gabon and a band along the Congo River; and S. profiziana, a new species previously considered conspecific to S. mannii that is found in southwest Ghana, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. The taxonomic history, morphology, distribution and conservation status of the genus and each species are discussed.     

A revision of the genus Triplaris (Polygonaceae)

The neotropical genus Triplaris Loefl. ex L. is revised. A total of 73 taxa had previously been described. In the present revision 17 species, 1 subspecies, and 1 variety are recognized. A new combination Triplaris melaenodendron (Bertol.) Standl. & Steyerm. ssp. colombiana (Meisner) Brandbyge is made, and a new variety T. setosa Rusby var. woytkowski Brandbyge is proposed. Keys based on both pistillate and staminate specimens are presented.     

A revision of the genus Phaeonychium (Brassicaceae)

Phaeonychium consists of six species distributed in Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kashmir, Nepal, and Tajikistan. The new combinations P. villosum and P. kashgaricum are proposed. Phaeonychium jafrii is described as new. The limits and relationships of Phaeonychium are discussed.