A new species of parasitic midge (Forcipomyia (Pterobosca)) from Aldabra, with descriptions of its presumed larva and pupa and systematic notes on the subgenera of Forcipomyia (Ceratopogonidae)

Forcipomyia (Pterobosca) hutsoni n.sp. is described and figured from adults of both sexes and from putatively identified larvae and pupae. The species is common on Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean. Most adult females were taken from the wings of Odonata. Immature stages were found in Pandanus leaf axils and are the first to be described for the subgenus Pterobosca. Characters of the three stages show that biting midges of this subgenus are most closely related to the subgenera Phytohelea, Trichohelea and Rhynchoforcipomyia. The subgenera Thyridomyia, Synthyridomyia and probably Blantonia fall in a second section of the genus, while Lasiohelea forms a third and intermediate section.     

Descriptions of two new species of butterflies (Lepidoptera,Lycaenidae) from the South Sinai

Two new species of lycaenid butterflies, Strymonidia jebelia and Pseudophilotes sinaicus, are described from the high mountains of South Sinai. The foodplants and the eggs of both species are also described with notes on the habitats and adult behaviour. Their relationships with closely allied species and the possible evolutionary histories are discussed.     

Wolbachia in field populations of Forcipomyia taiwana (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Taiwan

Wolbachia pipientis is an endosymbiotic alpha-proteobacterium that is found in numerous insects and arthropods. Only a few studies have been made on Wolbachia in blood-sucking midges. In this study, we identified and determined the molecular characteristics of Wolbachia strains in Forcipomyia taiwana (Shiraki), a blood-sucking midge found in Taiwan and southern China. Our results indicate that all F. taiwana individuals captured in Nantou County, Taiwan were infected with Wolbachia strains closely related to the A-supergroup wAlbA. Moreover, 2 individuals captured at low-abundance locations were also infected with a B-supergroup Wolbachia strain. We observed that 63% F. taiwana individuals captured at the low-abundance locations harbored the wAlbA-like strain which has a particular substitution pattern (D51G, T84A, and A85V) in the Wolbachia surface protein. Taken together, our results indicate that distinct Wolbachia strains exist in F. taiwana populations in the field.     

Descriptions of a new species and the pupae of two known species of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from India

Pupa, and adult male and female of Culicoides pseudosimilis n. sp., and pupae of two known species, C. selangorensis Wirth & Hubert, and C. dryadeus Wirth & Hubert, are described and illustrated. An identification key to the Indian species of Clavipalpis and Shermani species group of male Culicoides is also provided.     

Five new species of the genus Sphaeromias Curtis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from India

Five new Indian species, Sphaeromias lineus, S.ornatipes, S.prominens, S. similineus and S.verbosus are described. There are 7 recorded in India before this investigation. With these, the number of world species of the genus is raised from 27 to 32 including 12 from India.     

Abundance and host-seeking activity of the biting midge,Forcipomyia taiwana (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The abundance and host-seeking activity of the biting midge, Forcipomyia taiwana (Shiraki), were measured in Central Taiwan at 418 locations with low, medium, and high densities using a human-bait method. Abundance estimates at 10 min after sampling commenced were comparable to longer sampling periods of 20 min, allowing a shorter 10 min sampling period to be used throughout. Host-seeking F. taiwana females were only active during daylight and biting activity did not occur after sunset. The diurnal activity of host-seeking females changed seasonally, beginning at around 07:00–08:00 during the spring equinox, summer solstice, and autumnal equinox, whereas activity began an hour later in winter. Most females were collected during 10:00–16:00, with a peak abundance during 13:00–15:00. Blood-sucking activity of female F. taiwana were positively correlated with ambient temperature with a minimum threshold of 18 °C. When different years, seasons, trapping times, environmental factors, and female adults trapped were analyzed using multiple regression model, the results showed that all these factors contributed to the regression model and the determination coefficient (R²) of this multiple regression model was 0.81.     

A new species ofAristolochia (Aristolochiaceae) from India with co-evolutionary notes onA. indica and papilionid butterflies

Aristolochia krisagathra, a new species from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India is described, illustrated and included into a key to the four Indian species of the genus. Notes on the host-relationships of these species are also provided, paticularly ofA. indica to papilionid butterflies.     

A new Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the reticulatus species group from Brazilian Amazon Region

A new species of the Culicoides reticulatus species group, Culicoides kuripako Felippe-Bauer, is described and illustrated based on females and male specimens from the states of Amazonas and Pará, Brazil. The new species is compared with its similar sympatric congener, Culicoides paucienfuscatus Barbosa.     

Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Leucocytozoidae) from West African birds, with descriptions of two species

Five species of Leucocytozoon were recovered from 35/828 birds of 95 species examined from 6 sites in West Africa between May 1995 and June 2001. Leucocytozoon pogoniuli n. sp. is described from the tinker barbets Pogoniulus subsulphureus and Pogoniulus atroflavus. Leucocytozoon trachyphoni n. sp. is described from the barbet Trachyphonus purpureus. No leucocytozoids have been reported previously in species of Pogoniulus. Leucocytozoon nectariniae was identified from the sunbird Nectarinia olivacea, and Leucocytozoon brimonti was recovered from 4 species of Pycnonotidae (bulbuls), all of which are new host records. We also report the first Leucocytozoon to be recovered from the phylogenetically isolated bird, Picathartes sp. (Picathartidae). This parasite is similar in appearance to Leucocytozoon sakharoffi, and probably represents a previously undescribed species. In view of the intraspecific variability and, frequently, relatively minor interspecific differences within Leucocytozoidae, we suggest that the development and application of molecular techniques would greatly advance understanding of speciation and relationships within this family.     

阿蠓属一新种及一中国新记录种（昆虫纲：双翅目：蠓科）

本研究整理了2018年至2021年海南岛采集的阿蠓属Alluaudomyia昆虫标本,结合形态学特征和DNA条形码进行物种鉴定,首次记录了环纹阿蠓种团the annulata group在我国分布,鉴定发现了该种团内一新种拟环纹阿蠓Alluaudomyia pseudannulata Wu & Li sp. nov.,及一中国新记录种环足阿蠓Alluaudomyia annulipes Wirth & Delfinado, 1964。详细描述了两种阿蠓的形态特征,提供了鉴定特征图、海南岛物种分布图以及CO I条形码。     

A new diatom (Bacillariophyceae) genus with two new species from New Mexico,USA

A new diatom (Bacillariophyceae) genus and two new species are described from the arid region of the North American southwest. The new genus, Playaensis, and new species, P. circumfimbria and P. furtiva, are distinguished by frustule morphology and autecology. Playaensis possesses unique, narrowly lunate longitudinal ribs bordering the raphe and spathulate spines, but their evolutionary relationship to known genera is unclear. In Payton Lake, New Mexico, P. circumfimbria and P. furtiva are rare in the diatom community, and their geographic and geological extent are not known, but they may be restricted to alkaline, slightly saline lakes of the region.     

Two new species and new records of biting midges of the genus Dasyhelea Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from India

Pupa, male and female adults of Dasyhelea (Prokempia) flava Carter, Ingram & Macfie, pupa and male adult of D. (Pseudoculicoides) acuta n. sp., and male adult of D. (Pseudoculicoides) comosa n. sp. are described and illustrated.     

Five new species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the Nansei Islands.

Five new species of Culicoides of the Nansei Islands are described: C. sasai sp.n. from Amami-oshima Is., C. toshiokai sp.n. from Ishigaki Is., C. iriomotensis sp.n. from Iriomote Is., C. flavipunctatus sp.n. from Yonaguni Is., and C. yaeyamaensis sp.n. from the latter three islands. C. toshiokai sp.n. and C. iriomotensis sp.n. are tree-hole breeders, such as C. dendrophilus Amosova, which is common in similar habitats extending from Okinawa to Honshu.     

Two new Culicoides of the paraensis species group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the Amazonian region of Peru

Two new species of the Culicoides paraensis species group, C. diversus Felippe-Bauer and C. peruvianus Felippe-Bauer, are described and illustrated based on female specimens from Amazonian region of Peru. A systematic key, table with numerical characters of females, and distribution of species of the C. paraensis group are given.