Anzygina, a new genus for some Australasian microleafhopper species formerly placed in the genus Zygina Fieber (Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Erythroneurini)

Species of Erythroneurini (Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) currently placed in the genus Zygina and found in Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands are transferred to the new genus Anzygina , type species Erythroneura sidnica Kirkaldy, following comparison with the type species of the genus: Typhlocyba nivea Mulsant and Rey. New combinations are Anzygina sidnica (Kirkaldy), Anzygina honiloa (Kirkaldy), Anzygina melanogaster (Kirkaldy) and Anzygina sativae (Evans) from Australia, Anzygina toetoe (Cumber), Anzygina agni (Knight), Anzygina dumbletoni (Ghauri) and Anzygina ramsayi (Knight) from New Zealand, Anzygina zealandica (Myers) from Australia and New Zealand, Anzygina jowettae (Knight) from Norfolk Island and Anzygina medioborealis (Ghauri) from Papua New Guinea. Lectotypes are designated for Erythroneura honiloa Kirkaldy and E. sidnica Kirkaldy. Anzygina billi sp.n. is described from SE Qld, and Anzygina barrattae sp.n. is described from the South Island of New Zealand. A. agni is a new record for Australia and is presumed to be Australian in origin. A. dumbletoni has a distribution which suggests that it also is introduced to New Zealand although its origins are not known. A. ramsayi, A. barrattae and A. toetoe , all of which appear to be New Zealand endemics, show affinity with each other based on aedeagal structure. A key to these species, based on males, is provided. The lack of male syntypes for Erythroneura honiala Kirkaldy and Erythroneura lubra Kirkaldy precludes establishment of their identities relative to other species of the genus, and both names are regarded as having nomen dubium status. Australian species not transferred to Anzygina are Zygina evansi (Ross) and Zygina ipoloa (Kirkaldy), both of which belong elsewhere.     

Key to the New Zealand species of Psyllaephagus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) with descriptions of three new species and a new record of the psyllid hyperparasitoid Coccidoctonus psyllae Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Abstract  This paper records seven species of wasps in the genus Psyllaephagus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) from New Zealand. All of these species are primary parasitoids of psylloids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea). Two are species previously described from New Zealand: P. acaciae Noyes and P. pilosus Noyes. Two are described Australian species which have established recently: P. bliteus Riek and P. gemitus Riek. Three new species are described here, from New Zealand: P. breviramus sp. nov., P. cornwallensis sp. nov. and P. richardhenryi sp. nov. All species are probably Australian in origin. A key to all seven Psyllaephagus species known from New Zealand is provided. An earlier first record of the Australian psyllid hyperparasitoid Coccidoctonus psyllae Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), previously first recorded from New Zealand in 2006, is noted.     

New status, species, distribution records and phylogeny for Australian mandibulate Chironomidae (Diptera)

Abstract All life-history stages of the Australian Podonominae (Chironomidae) genus Archaeochlus Brundin are revised, providing evidence for recognition of a separate clade, named here as Austrochlus Cranston. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, the clade contains two additional species: Austrochlus parabrundini Cranston, Edward and Cook sp. n. is described from Western Australia where its granite outcrop seepage habitat and geographical range is almost identical to that of the type species Austrochlus brundini Cranston, Edward and Colless (n. comb); Austrochlus centralaustralis Cranston, Edward and Cook sp. n. is described from ephemeral seepage/flows in the MacDonnell and James Ranges of central Australia. Molecular studies reported here confirm species distinctions, relationships to African taxa, and basal relationships within the Chironomidae. Modelled distributions provide evidence for range restriction by seasonal rainfall patterns.     

Five new species of Thripidae (Thysanoptera) endemic to New Zealand

Abstract

Three new species of genus Thrips are described—austellus, coprosmae, and phormiicola—which are closely related to the common New Zealand species T. obscuratus (Crawford). The systematic and zoogeographic significance of this endemic species-group is discussed. Physemothrips hadrus n.sp. is described from the South Island; the only other member of this genus is from Macquarie Island. Anaphothrips zelandicus n.sp. is described from the South Island and the Chatham and Antipodes islands, A. woodi Pitkin is recorded from New Zealand, and the relationships of these two species to the Australian fauna are discussed.     

Pselaphotumulus,a new genus of pselaphine endemic to New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Pselaphitae)

ABSTRACT

Pselaphotumulus Owens and Carlton, gen. nov., is described as the sixth genus in the tribe Pselaphini known from New Zealand. Three new species are described: Pselaphotumulus aorerei, sp. nov., Pselaphotumulus dubius, sp. nov. and Pselaphotumulus unus, sp. nov.. Three species, Pselaphus cavelli (Broun 1893), Pselaphus oviceps (Broun 1917) and Pselaphus urquharti (Broun 1917) are transferred to Pselaphotumulus, nov. combs. Lectotypes from type series in the New Zealand Broun Collection (Natural History Museum, London) are designated for these three species. Habitus photographs, distributional maps and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided for each species. A key to species is provided. Searches of museum collections have not yielded representatives outside of New Zealand, suggesting that this is the first endemic genus in the tribe Pselaphini described from the New Zealand’s main islands, specifically, the South Island. Pselaphotumulus species exhibit restricted distribution patterns that approximately coincide with the Pacific/Indo Australian Plate boundary.     

Revision of genus Argyrophenga (Lepidoptera: Satyridae)

Abstract

The endemic New Zealand genus Argyrophenga Doubleday is revised. The genus is shown to consist of three species, antipodum Doubleday, harrisi n.sp., and janitae n.sp. Wing pattern, wing coloration, and male genitalia of all species are described and illustrated. Keys to species are given for both sexes. Taxonomic conclusions are supported by biometric and distributional data. Flight behaviour is described. A brief comparison is made between Argyrophenga and the other endemic New Zealand satyrid genera.     

A new genus of Aeolothripidae (Thysanoptera) from New Zealand and New Caledonia

Desmidothrips n.gen. is described from New Zealand, with walkerae n.sp. as type‐species. Aeolothrips inauditus Bianchi from New Caledonia is transferred to this new genus. Desmidothrips is related to the Australian genus Desmothrips, and is the only member of the Aeolothripidae native to New Zealand.     

Botryocladius gen.n.: a new transantarctic genus of orthocladiine midge (Diptera: Chironomidae)

A new genus of orthocladiine Chironomidae, Botryocladius (type species B. grapeth sp.n. from eastern Australia) is described and illustrated in all life history stages. All thirteen included species are described as new, six from eastern Australia (B. grapeth, B. brindabella, B. mdfrc, B. collessi, B. tasmania, B. australoalpinus), two from Western Australia (B. bibulmun and B. freemani), one from ephemeral streams in Australia (B. petrophilus) and four from Patagonian Argentina and Chile (B. edwardsi, B. glacialis, B. mapuche and B. tronador). All Australian species are known from at least pupal exuviae, most from adult males and several from larvae. In contrast, only B. edwardsi amongst Neotropical species is known from the adult male; all others are described from pupal exuviae. The immature stages are lotic in Australian permanent and temporary streams and Patagonian glacial streams and rivers, and lentic in Neotropical glacial-fed and Australian subalpine lakes. Botryocladius appears to belong with a grouping centred on two formally undescribed taxa from Australia. The genus evidently demonstrates a vicariant distribution with at least two sister-group relationships between South American and Australian taxa, providing a minimum dating for the clade of 38 Ma., with apparent absence from New Zealand indicating a maximum date of 80 Ma.     

Eriorhynchidae, a new family of Prostigmata (Acarina), with a cladistic analysis of eupodoid species of Australia and New Zealand

A new family of eupodine Prostigmata, Eriorhynchidae fam.n. , is established to accommodate Eriorhynchus gen.n. , and five species from Australia: E.australicus (Womersley), E.hades sp.n. , E.ramosus sp.n. , E.walteri sp.n. and E.womersleyi sp.n. The new family is unique in the possession of 15–34 setae on the gnathosomatic base, a naso-prodorsal process with 9–28 setae and a palp tibia with 6 or 7 setae. A key to the families of Eupodoidea is provided. A cladistic analysis of twenty-seven eupodoid species from Australia and New Zealand is presented. Results indicate that the genus Eriorhynchus gen.n. (thus Eriorhynchidae) is monophyletic, and the Australian and New Zealand species of Halotydeus Berlese, Penthaleus C. L. Koch, Rhagidia Thorell and Stereotydeus Berlese form separate monophyletic goups, while the Penthaleidae are not monophyletic. The new family Eriorhynchidae is a sister group to a clade consisting of Penthaleus and Chromotydaeus quartus Qin & Halliday.     

A new genus and four new species of felt scales on Eucalyptus (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) in south-eastern Australia

Abstract  A new Australian eriococcid genus Fragorbis gen. n. (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) is described for ' Sphaerococcus ' pustulans Green and four new species, F. fructus sp. n., F. pseudopustulans sp. n., F. stipites sp. n. and F. superfacies sp. n. Four of the five species are known only from Victoria and the fifth species from the High Country east of Tumut in New South Wales. All species feed on Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), either in blister galls, or under or on the bark. The adult female of each species and the first-instar nymph of F. pseudopustulans sp. n. are described and illustrated. Keys are provided to the adult females of the eriococcid genera found on Eucalyptus and Corymbia , and to the species of Fragorbis gen. n.     

Antechiniscus in Australia: Description of Antechiniscus moscali sp. n. and Redescription of Antechiniscus parvisentus (Horning & Schuster, 1983) (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae)

Two species of the genus Antechiniscus have been found in Nothofagus forests in Australia. The new species A. moscali sp. n. is described. The New Zealand species A. parvisentus (Horning & Schuster, 1983) is redescribed from type material and from the new material from Australia. The taxonomic status of the two species within the genus is discussed.     

Rotoitidae, a curious new family of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) from New Zealand

Abstract. A new chalcidoid family, Rotoitidae fam.n., is described from New Zealand. The probable systematic affinities of Rotoitidae are discussed and the type genus and a single included species, Rotoita basalis gen. et sp.n., are described and illustrated.     

Thinempis, a new genus from Australia and New Zealand (Diptera: Empididae), with notes on the tribal classification of the Empidinae

The genus Thinempis (Diptera: Empididae) is newly described and includes six species, four from Australia – T.austera sp.n., T.esperance sp.n., T.minuta sp.n., and T.turimetta sp.n., and two from New Zealand – T.otakouensis (Miller) comb.n., and T.takaka sp.n. It occurs in coastal habitats and is defined by a unique synapomorphy, a modified triangular female oviscapt (tergum 10). However, the genus shows variable expression in characters considered to be of higher taxonomic importance in the Empidinae. The tribes Hilarini and Empidini are discussed and redefined.     

Two unusual Chironomini (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Australian rainforest streams: One new genus and a neotropical genus new for the region

Two genera of chironomine Chironomidae are reported: Anuncotendipes , gen. n., type species Anuncotendipes australotropicus sp. n. and included Anuncotendipes kakadu sp. n., and Nandeva Wiedenbrug, Reiss and Fittkau as new to Australia for the species Nandeva fittkaui sp. n. The pupa and adults are known for each genus, but the larvae only for Anuncotendipes . The female of Nandeva is described for the first time. Pupal exuviae of both genera occur in smaller streams in the wet tropics of Far North Queensland, and A. kakadu is lotic in the Northern Territory. Phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily Chironominae at generic level suggests that Anuncotendipes is a sister genus to Rheomus in the Harnischia -complex of genera. Nandeva shows convergent resemblance to the tribe Tanytarsini, but more likely belongs to an austral radiation of Chironomini including Nilodosis Keiffer, Fissimentum Cranston and Nolte and Imparipecten Freeman. These genera show tropical Gondwanan tracks linking Australia with the Afrotropics and Neotropics.     

Charipinae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) from Australia: revision of the genus Thoreauana Girault, 1930 and description of Dilapothor n. gen.

Abstract  The Australian genus Thoreauana Girault is revised: the three known species are redescribed and Thoreauana giraulti sp. n. is described. A new genus of Charipinae from Australia, Dilapothor n. gen., is described. The diagnostic characters for the tribe Charipini are discussed and a key to the Charipini genera is provided.     

Three new species of Orphninotrichia Mosely (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from Barrington Tops, New South Wales, a distribution extended, and remarks on generic placement

Abstract Three new species are described in the endemic Australian microcaddisfly genus Orphninotrichia Mosely (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae: Hydroptilinae), all collected in the Barrington Tops area of north-eastern New South Wales: Orphninotrichia bilobata sp. n., O. claviculata sp. n. and O. dundungra sp. n. From the same area, Orphninotrichia papillata Wells, described from central Victoria, is newly recorded and noted for the atypical presence of a large gland on the dorsum of the male head. Comments are made on the still unresolved affinities of the genus Orphninotrichia , and a key to males of all species is provided.     

A New Species of Acrodipsas Sands (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Southern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

Acrodipsas aurata sp.n. from the Blue Mountains, the southern highlands of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is described, figured and contrasted with the polymorphic A. cuprea (Sands) with which it has been previously considered to be con-specific. A. aurata is assigned to the myrmecophila species-group, based on leg morphology. Nine species are now recognised in the genus Acrodipsas Sands.     

Gondwanan Gymnochilini (Coleoptera: Trogossitidae): generic concepts,review of New Zealand species and long‐range Pacific dispersal

Members of Leperina Erichson (Trogossitidae: Gymnochilini) from New Zealand, New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island are morphologically similar to members of the endemic Juan Fernandez Island genus Phanodesta Reitter, sharing at least one obvious character, elytral carinae that are beaded and contain well‐defined punctures. To test the monophyly of Leperina and Phanodesta, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of the genera of the tribe Gymnochilini by a cladistic analysis of 22 terminals and 47 adult characters rooted with one genus of trogossitine. Leperina is rendered paraphyletic by the placements of Seidlitzella Jakobson and Phanodesta. Kolibacia n.gen. (type species Leperina tibialis Reitter) is described for east Palaearctic species included formerly in Leperina (two new combinations); New Zealand Leperina and other species from New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island (Ostoma pudicum Olliff) are transferred to Phanodesta (six new combinations); and the remaining species are retained in Leperina. The following species are described as new: Phanodesta carinata n.sp., P. manawatawhi n.sp., P. oculata n.sp. and P. tepaki n.sp. Leperina ambiguum Broun is transferred to Grynoma Sharp resulting in a new combination and three new synonymies for New Zealand trogossitines: Leperina interrupta Brookes n.syn. and Leperina sobrina (White) n.syn. [= Phanodesta farinosa (Sharp)], and Trogosita affinis White n.syn. (= Tenebroides mauritanicus Linnaeus). A key to the New Zealand species and a checklist for the species of the Kolibacia, Leperina and Phanodesta are provided. The derived placement of Juan Fernandez Phanodesta in the phylogeny is evidence for long‐distance dispersal from Australasia. A tally of all Juan Fernandez Islands Coleoptera shows derivation mostly from Chile and South America, with few from the southern Pacific region, rarely from Australasia.     

New gall midge taxa (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from Australian Chenopodiaceae

Abstract  Five new species and a new genus of gall midge are described from flower galls on native chenopod plants in Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. Asphondylia vesicaria sp. n. induces galls on Atriplex vesicaria ; A. mcneilli sp. n. on Sclerolaena diacantha ; and A. tonsura sp. n. on Enchylaena tomentosa . Infested flowers develop into galls and produce no seeds. DNA analysis of part of the cytochrome-c oxidase subunit I mitochondrial gene supported the morphological and biological differences between each of the new species and the previously described A. floriformis (Veenstra-Quah & Kolesik) and A. sarcocorniae (Veenstra-Quah & Kolesik) that induce galls on leaves and branches, respectively, of Sarcocornia quinqueflora (Chenopodiaceae) in Australian salt marshes. A new genus, Dactylasioptera gen. n. and two new species of Lasiopterini, D. adentata sp. n. and D. dentata sp. n. are described – both were reared from galls of A. mcneilli and A. tonsura .