Taxonomic and morphological survey of the Lygephila lusoria (Linnaeus, 1758) species-group with description of a new species (Lepidoptera,Erebidae, Toxocampinae)

The taxa of the Lygephila lusoria (Linnaeus, 1758) species-group are revised. The genital features of all known taxa are described and illustrated with special reference to the structure of vesica. The male genitalia of L. pallida pallida (Bang-Haas, 1907) are described and illustrated for the first time. L. pallida subpicata (Wiltshire, 1971) is treated here as a species, L. pallida subpicata (Wiltshire, 1971), stat. n., distinct from L. pallida. A new species, L. minima, sp. n.,from South Russia is described. Illustrations of the holotype and its genitalia are provided; a diagnostic comparison with L. pallida is given. L. alaica Remm, 1983 is included in the L. lusoria species-group for the first time.     

Cutlassfishes of the genusLepidopus (Trichiuridae), with two new eastern pacific species

Three of the five known species ofLepidopus occur in the eastern Pacific.Lepidopus manis sp. nov. is described from a single specimen from the Galápagos Islands. The holotype ofL. xantusi Goode et Bean, 1895, supposedly from Cape San Lucas, Lower California, is shown to be conspecific withL. caudatus (Euphrasen, 1788). The species heretofore reported under the nameL. xantusi is described, and namedL. fitchi sp. nov. It ranges from Oregon to the Gulf of California and occurs disjunctly in southern Ecuador and northern Peru. A key to the described species ofLepidopus is given and certain morphological features ofL. caudatus are described. Geographic variability ofL. caudatus andL. fitchi is discussed.     

The brachiopod family Linoproductidae stehli from the lower Moscovian of the Middle Carboniferous of the Moscow Region

The phylogeny and taxonomy of the brachiopod family Linoproductidae are revised. The change in the distributional pattern of spines and distinctive structure of the median lobe of the cardinal process are shown to be the main apomorphies in the family evolution. A new subfamily, Linispininae, and the included new genera, Linispinella and Linispinus, are described. In the nominotypical subfamily Linoproductinae, a new genus Linoproductoides and two new species included in this genus are described from the Vereiskian deposits of the Moscow Region. The new species Linispinus riparius (Trautschold), L. longus sp. nov., and L. staricensis (Ivanov) are described from the Kashirskian deposits. Another new species is tentatively described as “Linoproductus” kabanovi.     

Formation of cardinal process in Ordovician strophomenids

The cardinalia of strophomenids Lynnica fragilis gen. et sp. nov. and Sowerbyella (Sowerbyella) liliifera Öpik, 1930 from the Ordovician of the Leningrad Region are described in detail for different developmental stages. The study has revealed that the cardinal process of S. liliifera is bilobed unifid and the cardinal process of L. fragilis is bilobed trifid. L. fragilis gen. et sp. nov. is described.     

Revision of the Neotropical bark mantis genus Liturgusa Saussure, 1869 (Insecta,Mantodea, Liturgusini)

The praying mantis genus Liturgusa Saussure, 1869 occurs only in Central and South America and represents the most diverse genus of Neotropical Liturgusini (Ehrmann 2002). The genus includes bark dwelling species, which live entirely on the trunks and branches of trees and run extremely fast. All species included within the genus Liturgusa are comprehensively revised with a distribution stretching from central Mexico, the island of Dominica to the southeastern regions of Brazil and southern Bolivia. All known species are redescribed to meet the standards of the new treatment of the genus (11 species). Three new genera are described including Fuga gen. n., Velox gen. n., and Corticomantis gen. n. for species previously included in Liturgusa as well as Hagiomantis. Liturgusa mesopoda Westwood, 1889 is moved to within the previously described genus Hagiomantis Audinet Serville, 1838. A total of 19 species are newly described within Liturgusa, Fuga, and Velox including L. algorei sp. n., L. bororum sp. n., L. cameroni sp. n., L. cura sp. n., L. dominica sp. n., L. fossetti sp. n., L. kirtlandi sp. n., L. krattorum sp. n., L. manausensis sp. n., L. maroni sp. n., L. milleri sp. n., L. neblina sp. n., L. purus sp. n., L. stiewei sp. n., L. tessae sp. n., L. trinidadensis sp. n., L. zoae sp. n., F. grimaldii sp. n., and V. wielandi sp. n. Four species names are synonymized: Liturgusa peruviana Giglio-Tos, 1914, syn. n. = Liturgusa nubeculosa Gerstaecker, 1889 and Hagiomantis parva Piza, 1966, syn. n., Liturgusa sinvalnetoi Piza, 1982, syn. n., and Liturgusa parva Giglio-Tos, 1914, syn. n. = Mantis annulipes Audinet Serville, 1838. Lectotypes are designated for the following two species: Liturgusa maya Saussure & Zehntner, 1894 and Fuga annulipes (Audinet Serville, 1838). A male neotype is designated for Liturgusa guyanensis La Greca, 1939. Males for eight species are described for the first time including Liturgusa cayennensis Saussure, 1869, Liturgusa lichenalis Gerstaecker, 1889, Liturgusa guyanensis La Greca, 1939, Liturgusa maya Saussure & Zehntner, 1894, Liturgusa nubeculosa Gerstaecker, 1889, Fuga annulipes (Audinet Serville, 1838), Corticomantis atricoxata (Beier, 1931), and Hagiomantis mesopoda (Westwood, 1889). The female of Fuga fluminensis (Piza, 1965) is described for the first time. Complete bibliographic histories are provided for previously described species. The spelling confusion surrounding Liturgusa/Liturgousa is resolved. Full habitus images for males and females are provided for nearly all species. Habitus and label images of type specimens are provided when possible. Diagnostic illustrations of the head and pronotum for males and females are provided for all species when possible. Illustrations of male genital structures are provided for all species for which males are known. Measurement data, including ranges and averages, are provided for males and females of all species. Combined male and female genus and species level dichotomous keys are provided with a Spanish translation. A complete table of all examined specimens lists label data, museum codes, repositories, and other specimen specific information. A KML file with all georeferenced locality records is downloadable from mantodearesearch.com for viewing in Google Earth. Natural history information is provided for species observed by the author.     

New species of Lenticulina (Foraminifera) from the Upper Triassic of Kotelnyi Island,New Siberian Islands,Russia

Late Triassic foraminifers of Kotelnyi Island (New Siberian Islands) are studied. Four new lenticuline species (Lenticulina kotelnensis sp. nov., L. triassica sp. nov., L. septentrionalis sp. nov., and L. sakhaensis sp. nov.) are described. Their distribution in the Upper Triassic deposits of Kotelnyi Island is discussed.     

Four species from western Mexico new to Lobelia (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae)

Lobelia knoblochii, L. mcvaughii, andL. villaregalis are described and referred, withHeterotoma macrocentron Benth., toLobelia “grex Eriniformes” Wimmer. All are narrow endemics occurring on volcanic soils in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico.Lobelia macrocentron, L. mcvaughii, andL. villaregalis are known only from the type localities.     

New beetle species of the genus Lasiosyne (Coleoptera, Lasiosynidae) from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of Russia and Mongolia

Six new species of the genus Lasiosyne Tan et al., 2007, the type genus of the family Lasiosynidae Kirejtshuk et al., 2010, are described from Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous deposits of Mongolia and East Siberia: L. shartegiensis sp. nov., L. insculpta sp. nov., L. longitarsa sp. nov., L. cataphracta sp. nov., L. punctata sp. nov., and L. decora sp. nov. A modified diagnosis of the genus is proposed.     

New data on larvae of weevils of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lixus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) from central Asia

Larvae are described for the first time for three species of the genus Lixus (L. bifasciatus, L. rubicundus, and L. subulatus). The larvae dwell in stalks of herbaceous plants. The larvae differ in the structure of the endocarina and prelabium and the chaetotaxy of the head and epipharynx. Analysis of larvae of the new and already described species of this genus has shown that the larva of L. bifasciatus shares some characters with the larvae of L. astrachanicus, and L. rubicundus, and the larva of L. subulatus, with that of L. bescrensis.     

Four new Brazilian species of Lonchocarpus (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Millettieae)

Lonchocarpus castaneifolius, L. grazielae, L. longiunguiculatus, and L. montanus from Brazil are described and illustrated based on field and herbarium studies. The first species belongs to Lonchocarpus sect. Punctati and is restricted to northeastern Brazil (Bahia state). The other three are included in sect. Laxiflori. Lonchocarpus grazielae is restricted to the southern coastal region (Santa Catarina state), L. montanus is found in northeastern Brazil (Bahia and Piauí states), the west-central region (Goiás and Tocantins states) and the southeast (Minas Gerais state), and L. longiunguiculatus occurs in northeastern (Bahia state) and southeastern (Minas Gerais state) Brazil.     

Conocephalum salebrosum (Marchantiopsida, Conocephalaceae) – a new Holarctic liverwort species

Detailed analysis of 270 specimens of Conocephalum conicum (L.) Dumort., mainly from the POZW Herbarium revealed some diagnostic differences between two cryptic species originally detected on the basis of isozyme studies. Several diagnostic characters were found in the structure of the archegoniophore, sporophyte and sterile thallus. The most reliable diagnostic features are size and structure of stomatal apparatus of the archegoniophore ‘heads’, type of junction of the air chamber walls with epidermal cells, and the thallus surface details. On the basis of morphological and anatomical diagnostic characters, two formerly cryptic species are recognized following the rules of formal taxonomy. The lectotype of C. conicum preserved in FI was found to possess characteristics of cryptic species C. conicum- species L. Accordingly, the species previously named as C. conicum–species L must bear the name Conocephalum conicum (L.) Dumort. No published name was related to C. conicum – species S, which is therefore described as a new species: Conocephalum salebrosum Szweykowski, Buczkowska &; Odrzykoski. Both species are fully described and their diagnostic characters are illustrated. Distribution maps for both species are given.     

Tetraploids inLuzula multiflora (Juncaceae) in Ireland: Karyology and meiotic behaviour

Populations ofLuzula multiflora s.l. in Ireland were examined karyologically. Plants from 14 populations were invariably tetraploid with 2n=24. Chromosomes of the tetraploid are of AL type (true tetraploidy). Meiosis of the tetraploids is of the same type as described for otherLuzula taxa in the literature. In meiosis, 12 bivalents are regularly formed. A hypothesis based on the morphological and allozyme data, that the tetraploids are of alloploid origin, is supported by the present results. Meiosis in an artificial hybrid between the presumed parental taxa,L. campestris andL. pallidula, was studied; a certain tendency towards chromosome doubling was observed. The geographical distribution of theL. multiflora cytotypes is also discussed.     

Type studies in the Lejeuneaceae. II. Pteryganthus,a new subgenus of Lopholejeunea

Lopholejeunea subgenusPteryganthus is described as new based upon the Mauritian plantL. sphaerophora (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Steph.Lopholejeunea utriculata Steph. from Madagascar is included as well.Lopholejeunea sinuata (Mitt.) Steph. is reduced to synonymy withL. sphaerophora. The two species of subgenusPteryganthus are compared withL. herzogiana Verd. andL. pullei Verd., two Malaysian species, with superficially similar lobule construction, but not of thePteryanthus type.     

Taxonomical studies on Oriental Platygastridae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea)

14 species new to science are described, viz. Amblyaspis joenssoni, Euxestonotus sabahensis, Leptacis cheyi (all from Malaysia), L. jani (from Laos), L. maliauensis (from Malaysia), L. ongkudoni (from Malaysia), L. pederseni (from Laos), L. reticulaticeps (from Malaysia), L. solodovnikovi, L. vilhelmseni (both from Laos), Sacespalus viklundi (from Malaysia), Synopeas laosianum (from Laos), S. opaciceps and S. waidii (both from Malaysia). The following species described in Leptacis by Ushakumari, R., Narendran, T.C., 2007. A taxonomic revision of Leptacis Foerster (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) of India. Rec. Zool. Surv. India 107, 7–32 are transferred to Synopeas: L. aeros, L. alus, L. asiaticus, L. benazeer, L. diversus, L. manii, L. mustus, L. nuperus and L. scaposus. Synopeas saltaense is a nom. nov. for S. intermedius Buhl, 2005 preoccupied by S. intermedius (Ushakumari, R., 2004. Diversity of Platygaster Latreille (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) of Kerala. In Rajmohana, K., Narendran, T.C., Perspectives on biosystematics and biodiversity: Prof. T. C. Narendran commemoration volume. Systematic Entomology Research Scholars Association, University of Calicut, Kozhikode, India, pp. 573–591). New locality records for 20 already known Oriental platygastrid species are given.     

Leptosomatides brevicaudatus n. sp. and a Redescription of Leptosomatides marinae Platonova, 1967 (Enoplida: Leptosomatidae)

The free-living marine nematodes Leptosomatides brevicaudatus n. sp. and L. marinae were described and redescribed, respectively, from material collected in the northwest Pacific. Leptosomatides brevicaudatus n. sp. from Simushir Island differs from L. marinae in the ratio c8 (body length divided by tail length measured on the chord) and the length of the spicules. Leptosomatides marinae is redescribed from light microscopy (LM) observations of the type specimens and LM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of specimens from Hokkaido, Japan. It appears to be impossible to distinguish among some species of Leptosomatides because they are either insufficiently described or known only from females. Secondary sexual characters of males are essential for purposes of identification.     

Insight into the structure and chemistry of glandular trichomes of Labiatae, with emphasis on subfamily Lamioideae

Glandular trichomes of Labiatae are among the most investigated secretory structures. Most species studied belong to subfamily Nepetoidae, including plants with aromatic properties, while so far a few species of subfamily Lamioideae were examined. In this work, we studied the micromorphology, ultrastructure, type and release of secretion of the glandular trichomes present on leaves and flowers of several species belonging to subfamily Lamioideae, (Stachys alopecuros (L.) Bentham subsp. alopecuros, S. officinalis (L.) Trevisan subsp. officinalis, S. germanica L. subsp. germanica, S. germanica L. subsp. salviifolia (Ten.) Gams, S. sylvatica L., S. heraclea All., S. plumosa Griseb., S. annua L., Prasium majus L., Sideritis romana L.) and one to the sister group Scutellarioideae (Scutellaria galericulata L.). Besides the well-known peltate and small capitate trichomes, widely described in the literature, other types of glandular trichomes were encountered; stalked peltate hairs and large capitate hairs. In particular, a new type of capitate trichome, exclusive of calices and corollas, which presents a mode and release of secretion never described before, is reported.     

Composition of the genus Leptosagitta of the family Sagittidae (Chaetognatha) with descriptions of four new species from coastal waters of the Northwestern Sea of Japan

Keys for the identification of the presently known species of the genus Leptosagitta (fam. Sagittidae) are presented. Four new species of this genus found in shallow waters of Vostok Bay, Amursky Bay (Peter the Great Bay), and Kievka Bay (all of the Sea of Japan) are described in detail: L. kiyashkoi sp. n., L. latyshevi sp. n., L. magna sp. n., and L. pauca sp. n.