Taxonomic notes on Japanese species of the Nomada furva species group (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The furva species group of the genus Nomada in Japan is taxonomically revised and the following three species are recognized: N. okubira Tsuneki, 1973, stat. nov., N. pulawskii Tsuneki, 1973, and N. taicho Tsuneki, 1973. Nomada okubira is raised to species rank, and N. etigonis Tsuneki, 1986, is synonymized under N. okubira. Detailed illustrations of male terminalia are provided for N. okubira and N. taicho. A key to the Japanese species is provided.     

A NEW SPECIES OF NITELLA (CHARACEAE) BELONGING TO THE NITELLA FLEXILIS SPECIES GROUP IN NORTH AMERICA12

A new species of Nitella belonging to the N. flexilis species group is described. The neiu species shows definite relationships to N. flexilis, N. opaca, N. missouriensis, and N. mirabilis. Relationships of the new species to N. acuminata are also discussed.     

A chemically defined medium for rearing Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract

The endemic New Zealand genus Neolimnia is redescribed, and a key is given to the 14 species now included. Four new species are described - Neolimnia raiti, N. pepekeiti, N. ura, and N. repo. Two new synonymies are proposed; N. ocellata Tonnoir &; Malloch with N. castanea (Hutton); and N. dubiosa Tonnoir &; Malloch with N. irrorata Tonnoir &; Malloch. Lectotypes are designated for N. tranquilla (Hutton), N. castanea (Hutton), N. obscura (Hutton), and N. striata (Hutton). Male postabdomens of all species are illustrated. Character variation and generic, subgeneric, and species relationships are discussed briefly.     

Revision of the species group Napaeus variatus (Gastropoda,Pulmonata, Buliminidae) from the Canary Islands,with description of five new species*

The Napaeus variatus (Webb & Berthelot, 1833) species group from the Canary Islands is reviewed from literature information, types, other museum specimens, and newly collected material. Anatomy data is newly provided for six species. Five new species are described: N. elegans and N. esbeltus from Tenerife, N. orientalis and N. beguirae from La Gomera, and N. exilis from Gran Canaria. Eight species lack a diverticulum and are referred to the subgenus Napaeus (Napaeus) Albers, 1850, whereas five species are provided with a diverticulum and arc referred to Napaeus (Napaeinus) Hesse, 1933. Four species cannot be assigned to a subgenus due to a lack of information. Keys of species from the different islands are provided.     

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.     

The freshwater calanoida (crustacea : copepoda) of Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia

The systematics and geographical distribution of Malaysian and Singapore freshwater calanoid copepods are discussed in details. Neodiaptomus handeli Brehm, N. laii Kiefer, N. blachei (Brehm), N. botulifer Kiefer, N. mephistopheles Brehm, Pseudodiaptomus (Schmackeria) dauglishi Sewell, P. (S.) tollingerae Sewell and Tropodiaptomus spp. Kiefer are all present in the northwestern part of the Peninsula. There are only 4 species, namely, N. handeli, N. botulifer, N. meggitti Kiefer and Tropodiaptomus sp. in the southern half of the Peninsula. The whole of the east coast also has 4 species, i.e. N. handeli, N. malaindosinensis (n.n.), P. (S.) tollingerae and one species of Tropodiaptomus. The only species that cut across a wide range of geographical barriers are N. handeli and Tropodiaptomus.     

Paleofloristic assemblage from the Paleogene Río Guillermo Formation,Argentina: preliminary results of phylogenetic relationships of Nothofagus in South America

Hünicken's paleobotanical collection is one of the most important in South America because it was the first one to be related to a documented stratigraphic profile. This floristic assemblage (Oligocene) recovered from Río Guillermo Formation, at Estancia Tres Marías, Río Guillermo Valley, Santa Cruz, Argentina, is described by the first time in this paper. Five species of genus Nothofagus (N. subferruginea, N. serrulata, N. crenulata, N. elongata and N. variabilis) together with Myrcia bagualense are components of the assemblage. The presence of Acaena brandmayri is confirmed for the first time for the area. Paleoenviromental and paleoclimate implications are also discussed. Characteristic species from a temperate-cold climate such as the genus Nothofagus are present in the material studied. A phylogenetic study of the fossil species herein described and the extant South American species of Nothofagus is presented. The preliminary results support the hypothesis that fossil species of Nothogafus are closely related to the modern species.     

Global domination by crazy ants: phylogenomics reveals biogeographical history and invasive species relationships in the genus Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Nylanderia (Emery) is one of the world's most diverse ant genera, with 123 described species worldwide and hundreds more undescribed. Fifteen globetrotting or invasive species have widespread distributions and are often encountered outside their native ranges. A molecular approach to understanding the evolutionary history and to revision of Nylanderia taxonomy is needed because historical efforts based on morphology have proven insufficient to define major lineages and delimit species boundaries, especially where adventive species are concerned. To address these problems, we generated the first genus-wide genomic dataset of Nylanderia using ultraconserved elements (UCEs) to resolve the phylogeny of major lineages, determine the age and origin of the genus, and describe global biogeographical patterns. Sampling from seven biogeographical regions revealed a Southeast Asian origin of Nylanderia in the mid-Eocene and four distinct biogeographical clades in the Nearctic, the Neotropics, the Afrotropics/Malagasy region, and Australasia. The Nearctic and Neotropical clades are distantly related, indicating two separate dispersal events to the Americas between the late Oligocene and early Miocene. We also addressed the problem of misidentification that has characterized species-level taxonomy in Nylanderia as a result of limited morphological variation in the worker caste by evaluating the integrity of species boundaries in six of the most widespread Nylanderia species. We sampled across ranges of species in the N. bourbonica complex (N. bourbonica (Forel) + N. vaga (Forel)), the N. fulva complex (N. fulva (Mayr) + N. pubens (Forel)), and the N. guatemalensis complex (N. guatemalensis (Forel) + N. steinheili (Forel)) to clarify their phylogenetic placement. Deep splits within these complexes suggest that some species names – specifically N. bourbonica and N. guatemalensis – each are applied to multiple cryptic species. In exhaustively sampling Nylanderia diversity in the West Indies, a ‘hot spot’ for invasive taxa, we found five adventive species among 22 in the region; many remain morphologically indistinguishable from one another, despite being distantly related. We stress that overcoming the taxonomic impediment through the use of molecular phylogeny and revisionary study is essential for conservation and invasive species management.     

Notopentorchis cyathiformis (Frölich, 1791) n. comb. and N. iduncula (Spassky, 1946) (Cestoda: Paruterinidae) from Palaearctic swifts (Aves: Apodiformes), with a review of the genus Notopentorchis Burt, 1938

The type-specimens of Notopentorchis cyathiformis (Frölich, 1791) n. comb. from Apus apus are redescribed. N. iduncula (Spassky, 1946) is redescribed on the basis of specimens from A. apus and A. pallidus from the Kurish Spit (USSR), Great Britain and Morocco. A re-definition of the genus Notopentorchis Burt, 1938 is presented and it is considered to include all the known species of paruterinid cestodes from swifts (Apodiformes: Apodidae and Hemiprocnidae). The valid species recognised are N. collocaliae Burt, 1938 (type-species), N. javanica (Hübscher, 1937), N. micropus Singh, 1952, N. iduncula [Syn. N. isonciphora (Dollfus, 1958), syn. nov.], N. cyathiformis and N. bovieni (Hübscher, 1937). N. vesiculigera (Krabbe, 1882) is considered a species inquirenda, as are Sphaeruterina dikeniensis Mokhehle, 1951, Dilepis cypselina Neslobinsky, 1911 and Neoangularia micropusi Gupta & Sinha, 1985, which probably belong also to Notopentorchis. Notopentorchis hindia Johri, 1950 from Coraciiformes and N. kherai Duggal & Gupta, 1986 from Passeriformes are regarded as species incertae sedis.     

On Neodiaptomus schmackeri (Poppe & Richard, 1892) (Crustacea,Copepoda)

Neodiaptomus schmackeri and related species are redescribed. The synonymy of this species with N. strigilipes and N. handeli is discussed.     

New representatives of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nahublattella</Emphasis> Bruijning, 1959 (Dictyoptera,Blattellidae) from Central and South America

The following nine new species of the genus Nahublattella Bruijning, 1959 are described from Ecuador and Mexico: N. cuyabeno sp. n., N. alexandri sp. n., N. incurvata sp. n., N. maya sp. n., N. plena sp. n., N. bispina sp. n., N. ultima sp. n., N. beikoi sp. n., and N. reticulata sp. n. The structure of the male genitalia of the new species is described in detail. The genus diagnosis is discussed.     

Notes on some poorly known species of the genus Neocheyletiella Baker, 1949 (Acari,Cheyletidae) with a key to the genus

Summary The genus Neocheyletiella Baker, 1949 is redefined and the following species are redescribed and figures given for the first time: N. media Fain, 1972; N. avicola Fain, 1972; N. amandavae Fain, 1972; N. pittae Fain, 1972; N. siva Fain, 1972. N. oudemansi Volgin, 1969 is placed in the synonymy of N. microrhynchus (Berlese & Trouessart, 1889). N. heteropalpus (Megnin, 1878) is presumed to belong to the genus Apodicheles Fain, 1979 although the type material of that species is probably lost. A new nomenclature for the idiosomal chaetotaxy is proposed for the males of Neocheyletiella spp. and of Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans. A key is given to the females and males of the species of genus Neocheyletiella. ac]19800106     

Materials towards the revision of the genus Triplophysa rendahl, 1933 (Cobitoidea: Balitoridae: Nemacheilinae): A revision of nominal taxa of Herzenstein (1888) described within the species “Nemachilus” stoliczkae and “N.” dorsonotatus, with the description of the new species T. scapanognatha sp. nova

This study reviews the nominal taxa within the species “Nemachilus” stoliczkae and “N.” dorsonotatus, described by Herzenstein (1888). N. dorsonotatus, N. d. retropinnis, and N. plagiognathus are reviewed within the species Triplophysa stoliczkae; it is suggested that this species is represented by at least 5 subspecies. N. stoliczkae brevicauda, N. s. leptosoma (synonym, N. s. productus), and N. s. crassicauda are considered as valid species, the last 2 are related to the group including the species T. tenuis, T. choprai, T. tenuicauda, and T. yasinensis rather than with T. stoliczkae. It was shown that the “stoliczkae” species group (sensu Prokofiev, 2001) should be divided into three species groups: “stoliczkae” (s. str.), “tenuis,” and “robusta”; their diagnoses and the species composition are presented. A new species from the “stoliczkae” group is described (T. scapanognatha sp. nova), related to T. tanggulaensis (Zhu, 1982). Original Russian Text ? A.M. Prokofiev, 2007, published in Voprosy Ikhtiologii, 2007, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 5–25.     

Effect of Radiation Spectral Composition on Nicotiana spp. Seedlings Grown in vitro

The aim of this work was to assess the responses of seedlings of five species of Nicotiana genus to red and far red radiation. N. acuminata exhibits positive photoblastic behaviour and germination was completely inhibited under far red and darkness. In N. glauca germination was reduced under far red and darkness, but the other species showed neutral behaviour. The hypocotyl elongation was inhibited in N. glauca and N. tabacum under white and far red radiation. In N. langsdorffii and N. debneyi hypocotyl was elongated under far red radiation. Only in N. acuminata red radiation promote greater hypocotyl elongation than dark condition. On the phylogenetic tree obtained from restriction analysis N. glauca and N. acuminata are grouped in one branch, while the other species, N. langsdorffii, N. debneyi and N. tabacum, are grouped in the other branch cluster. Moreover, the N. debneyi behaviours under different radiation treatments were similar to those of N. tabacum. These two species are allopolyploid members of the genus Nicotiana, as also was confirmed by this study. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

OBSERVATIONS ON NITELLA ACUMINATA FROM SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES AND NORTHERN MEXICO1

Morphological and cytological analyses of several specimens of the genus Nitella suggest that species described as N. stellaris, N. lindheimeri, N. gollmeriana, and N. mexicana and some forms reported as N. acuminata var. subglomerata represent a single taxon in the N. acuminata species group. Cytological examination revealed a chromosome number of n = 9 in the specimens from the study area but N. acuminata is known to display n = 18 chromosomes in other regions of North America and on oilier continents. Hypotheses regarding the origin and significance of this polyploidy are discussed. The habitats supporting N. acuminata (n = 9) in the study area show some features which are in contrast to those of habitats supporting the species (n = 18) in other areas of North America.     

Studies on the chromosomes of genusNycticebus

The karyotypes of three species (N. coucang, N. intermedius, andN. pygmaeus) of genusNycticebus, collected from the southern Yunnan of China, have been studied. All individuals from three species possess 2n=50 chromosomes, and all chromosomes in their complement are biarm chromosomes. The karyotype of slow loris (N. coucang) is characterized by having a secondary constriction and Ag-NORs in the short arms of pair No. 1. The G-banding patterns of three species are very similar. Three species are found to have multiple Ag-NORs. InN. coucang, NORs were observed on five pairs (Nos. 1, 6, 9, 15, and 23) and inN. intermedius andN. pygmaeus, NORs were found on four pairs (Nos. 6, 9, 15, and 20). This finding indicates that slow lorises, as primitive primates, also have multiple NOR-bearing chromosomes. Finally, the classification of genusNycticebus by karyotype analysis is discussed, and our results suggest that there are at least two valid species, namely:N. coucang andN. pygmaeus.     

Redescription of Nesomachilis (Arcliaeognatha : Meinertellidae), with descriptions of new species from the Australian region

Abstract

Nesomachilis Tillyard and its type-species N. maorica (Tillyard) are redescribed, the latter from a topotypical paratype. N. blumi (Irian Jaya), N. howensis (Lord Howe Island), AT. novaecaledoniae (New Caledonia), N. queenslandica, N. tamborino, and N. watsoni (Australia) are described as new species. Structures diagnostic of the genus are discussed, and a key to species is given.     

Role of interspecies transfer of chromosomal genes in the evolution of penicillin resistance in pathogenic and commensal Neisseria species

Summary The two pathogenic species of Neisseria, N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae, have evolved resistance to penicillin by alterations in chromosomal genes encoding the high molecular weight penicillin-binding proteins, or PBPs. The PBP 2 gene (penA) has been sequenced from over 20 Neisseria isolates, including susceptible and resistant strains of the two pathogenic species, and five human commensal species. The genes from penicillin-susceptible strains of N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae are very uniform, whereas those from penicillin-resistant strains consist of a mosaic of regions resembling those in susceptible strains of the same species, interspersed with regions resembling those in one, or in some cases, two of the commensal species. The mosaic structure is interpreted as having arisen from the horizontal transfer, by genetic transformation, of blocks of DNA, usually of a few hundred base pairs. The commensal species identified as donors in these interspecies recombinational events (N. flavescens and N. cinerea) are intrinsically more resistant to penicillin than typical isolates of the pathogenic species. Transformation has apparently provided N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae with a mechanism by which they can obtain increased resistance to penicillin by replacing their penA genes (or the relevant parts of them) with the penA genes of related species that fortuitously produce forms of PBP 2 that are less susceptible to inhibition by the antibiotic. The ends of the diverged blocks of DNA in the penA genes of different penicillin-resistant strains are located at the same position more often than would be the case if they represent independent crossovers at random points along the gene. Some of these common crossover points may represent common ancestry, but reasons are given for thinking that some may represent independent events occurring at recombinational hotspots. Offprint requests to: B.G. Spratt     

Serological relationships of Fraction I proteins from species in the genusNicotiana

The serological relationships of Fraction I proteins from 62 species of the genusNicotiana have been determined by qualitative double diffusion in agar gels, using antisera raised against crystalline Fraction I proteins from four species,N. glauca, N. glutinosa, N. gossei, andN. tabacum. The relationships obtained are, in most cases, similar to the relationships of the species based on morphological and cytogenetic criteria. In general, Fraction I proteins from species within the same section are serologically identical. However, serological examination of Fraction I proteins draws attention to certain species, for example,N. glauca, N. sylvestris, andN. acaulis, whose classification by traditional methods has been difficult.