TAXONOMICAL STUDIES ON ARGIDAE (HYMENOPTERA) OF CHINA— A NEW GENUS AND FIVE NEW SPECIES OF STERIC-TIPHORINAE*

Abstract A key is given for the known Palaearctic and Oriental genera of the family Argidae including a new genus from China. Ortasiceros gen. nov. with five new species, O. nigriceps sp. nov., O. zhengi sp. nov., O. breoicornis sp. nov., O. curvata sp. nov. and O. elevata sp. nov. are described and figured. A new tribe, Ortasicerini trib. nov., is erected for the new genus and Copidocerus Forsius 1921. The type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection of Central South Forestry University, Zhuzhou, China.     

Taxonomic review of the genus Xenolecanium Takahashi and description of the new genus Takahashilecanium Kondo (Hemiptera: Coccidae; Coccinae, Paralecaniini)

The genus Xenolecanium Takahashi is reviewed and transferred from the subfamily Myzolecaniinae to the Coccinae (tribe Paralecaniini). The type species Xenolecanium mangiferae Takahashi is redescribed, and Xenolecanium takahashii Kondo sp. nov. from Indonesia is described based on the adult female and first instar nymph. A taxonomic key is provided to separate adult females of the two species of Xenolecanium. Xenolecanium rotundum Takahashi is transferred to become the type species of a new monotypic genus, Takahashilecanium Kondo, which is also placed in the Paralecaniini. The morphological justification for placing Xenolecanium and Takahashilecanium in the Paralecaniini is discussed, and we provide a taxonomic key for separating both genera from all other members of the Paralecaniini.     

Neotapirissus gen. nov. of the tribe Issini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae) from Hainan Island

Neotapirissus gen. nov. , in the tribe Issini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae), is described from China, and type species Neotapirissus reticularis sp. nov. (China: Hainan) is described and illustrated. The female internal reproductive organs of the new species are also described and illustrated. The new genus is compared to the superficially similar genus Tapirissus Gnezdilov. The morphological diversity of the issids distributed in Hainan Island is discussed briefly.     

Mesozoic leaf beetles of the tribe Mesolpinini trib. nov. (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from the Lower Cretaceous

This publication is based on recent studies of Lower Cretaceous leaf beetles from the Yixian Formation (Liaoning, China), which are represented by five new species of one new genus Mesolpinus gen. nov. (M. antenattus sp. nov. [type species], M. adapertilis sp. nov., M. angusticollis sp. nov., M. basicollis sp. nov., and M. trapezicollis sp. nov.) assigned to a new tribe, Mesolpinini trib. nov. of the subfamily Chrysomelinae. This tribe, which includes only species from the Jehol biota, is the oldest known group of the family in the fossil record. A key to species of the genus Mesolpinus gen. nov. is provided and the position of the new tribe is discussed. A brief overview of the Mesozoic data on the subfamily Chrysomeloidea is given.     

Systematics of the mealybug tribe Xenococcini (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae), with a discussion of trophobiotic associations with Acropyga Roger ants

The mealybug tribe Xenococcini (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) comprises three genera, Eumyrmococcus Silvestri, Neochavesia Williams & Granara de Willink and Xenococcus Silvestri, trophobiotically associated with ants of the genus Acropyga Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Alate Acropyga queens vertically transmit trophobionts by carrying them along on the nuptial flight, a unique behaviour termed trophophoresy. Xenococcine mealybugs have never been collected without ant associates, and putatively only associate with Acropyga. Xenococcine mealybugs are characterized by the absence of dorsal ostioles, presence of distally cup‐shaped circuli and a female pupal instar rather than a third feeding instar. The phylogeny of this tribe is derived for the first time using morphological data from adult females (53 characters) through Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony methods. Monophyly of the clade is strongly supported and a discussion of their taxonomy is included. The Neotropical genus Neochavesia was recovered as monophyletic. Eumyrmococcus, as previously defined, was recovered as paraphyletic, and thus two species are transferred to Xenococcus: Xenococcus kinomurai (Williams & Terayama) comb.n. and Xenococcus neoguineensis (Williams) comb.n . Two species groups are recognized within Eumyrmococcus: the Eumyrmococcus scorpioides species group, restricted to the eastern Mediterranean and Afrotropics, and the Eumyrmococcus smithii species group, restricted to the Orient and Indo‐Australasia. Six new species are described: Eumyrmococcus adornocapillus sp.n. from Australia; Eumyrmococcus sarnati sp.n. from Fiji; Eumyrmococcus ordinotersus sp.n. and Xenococcus baryglobosus sp.n. from the Solomon Islands; Neochavesia cephalonodus sp.n. from French Guiana; and Neochavesia linealuma sp.n. from Guyana. The systematics and biology of the xenococcine mealybugs is discussed in the context of obligate ant symbiosis.     

Small snails in a big place: a radiation in the semi‐arid rangelands in northern Australia (Eupulmonata,Camaenidae, Nanotrachia gen. nov.)

Continuing the revision of the Camaenidae in the Australian Monsoon Tropics, we employed comparative analyses of morphological features (with a focus on shell and penial anatomy) and genetic markers (with a focus on mitochondrial COI and 16S sequences) to address the systematic relationships of land snails from the Victoria River District, Northern Territory, and adjacent East Kimberley (Western Australia). These analyses revealed that the species under study represented the previously undescribed genus Nanotrachia. This genus differs from all other camaenid genera known from north‐western Australia most conspicuously by its small, flat, and ribbed shell. Six species are identified as members of the new genus, four of them new species ( Nanotrachia costulata sp. nov. , Nanotrachia carinata sp. nov. , Nanotrachia coronata sp. nov. , Nanotrachia levis sp. nov. ). Two further species have already been described previously but assigned to different genera. These species, Ordtrachia intermedia (as the type species of Nanotrachia) and Mouldingia orientalis, are here transferred to Nanotrachia. Like other camaenids from the Australian Monsoon Tropics, species of Nanotrachia are characterized by essentially allopatric distributions, regional endemism, and a patchy distribution across their range. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

On the Paleozoic bryozoans of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascopora</Emphasis> Trautschold

Based on the study of the neotype and the astogeny of the type specimens of the species Ascopora nodosa (Fischer von Waldheim, 1837), the diagnosis and species composition of the genus Ascopora Trautschold, 1876 are emended. The genus Ascopora and three species out of the five included in this genus—A. nodosa (Fischer von Waldheim, 1837); A. sokolovae Schulga-Nesterenko, 1955; and A. latiaxis Schulga-Nesterenko, 1955—are described. A new genus, Tetrasella gen. nov., with the type species T. blanda sp. nov. is described. This genus comprises five species, transferred from the composition of the genus Ascopora. An emended diagnosis of the genus Ascoporella Krutchinina, 1986, is provided. This genus comprises nine species, of which two, A. lecta sp. nov. and A. mera sp. nov., are described as new species.     

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.     

New species of Lonchaeidae (Diptera: Schizophora) from Japan and a re‐evaluation of genus Setisquamalonchaea Morge

Three new species of Lonchaeidae are described from material reared from fig syconia in Japan: Silba inubiwa sp. nov., S. ishigaki sp. nov. and S. japonica sp. nov. Based on the taxonomy of these and similar species the boundaries of the genus Silba are re‐evaluated, and, as a result, it is considered that Setisquamalonchaea Morge is synonymous with Silba Macquart. A revised key and generic notes on the tribe Lonchaeini are provided.     

New click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) from the cretaceous of Russia and Kazakhstan

A new tribe, two new genera, and seven new species of click beetles are described: Pollostelaterini, trib. nov., Pollostelater baissensis, gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia (Baisa locality), five new species in the genus Cryptocoelus Dolin et Nel C. sinitshenkovae, sp. nov. (Romanovka locality), C. shcherbakovi, sp. nov., C. baissensis, sp. nov., C. lukashevichae, sp. nov., C. dolini, sp. nov. (all from Baisa locality), and Turonelater giganteus, gen. et sp. nov. from the Turonian of Southern Kazakhstan (Kzyl-Dzhar locality).     

New weevils (Curculionidae) in Baltic amber

The new subtribes Palaeorhamphina subtrib. nov. of the tribe Rhamphini and Eocenesibiniina subtrib. nov. of the tribe Tychiini, new genera Archaeoeugnomus gen. nov. (type species A. balticus sp. nov.), Palaeorhamphus gen. nov. (type species P. primitivus sp. nov.), and Eocenesibinia gen. nov. (type species E. prussica sp. nov.), new subgenus Palaeoleiosoma subgen. nov. (type species L. klebsi sp. nov.) of the genus Leiosoma Stephens, and new species Leiosoma klebsi sp. nov., Caulophilus rarus sp. nov., C. squamosus sp. nov., Ceutorhynchus alekseevi sp. nov., C. electrinus sp. nov., Dorytomus nudus sp. nov., Pachytychius eocenicus sp. nov., Archaeoeugnomus balticus sp. nov., Palaeorhamphus primitivus sp. nov., Orchestes tatjanae sp. nov., and Eocenesibinia prussica sp. nov. are described. Electrotribus Hustache, 1942 placem. nov. is transferred from the tribe Derelomini of the subfamily Curculioninae to the tribe Acicnemidini of the subfamily Molytinae. Succinostyphlus erectosquamata (Rheinheimer, 2007) placem. nov. et comb. nov. is transferred from the genus Electrotribus Hustache, 1942 to the genus Succinostyphlus Ku?ka, 1996. These are the first records of representatives of the tribes Plinthini, Acicnemidini, Eugnomini, and Rhamphini in the Baltic amber.     

New species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macclintockia</Emphasis> (Angiosperms) from the Campanian of the Ugol’naya Bay (Northeastern Russia)

New species of angiosperms are described as members of the genus Macclintockia from the Ugol’naya Bay area, in northeastern Russia: M. barykovensis Moiseeva, sp. nov., M. gigantea Moiseeva, sp. nov., and M. terranea Moiseeva et Herman, sp. nov. Leaves of this genus are considerably variable, which hampers differentiation between particular species. The study of new material has allowed the author to trace the morphological variability of these species and revised on this ground the composition of the species M. ochotica Vachr. et Herman and M. beringiana Herman. The composition of Macclintockia is discussed, as well as its occurrence during the Late Cretaceous.     

New conodonts of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygnathus</Emphasis> from the Evlanovian and Livnian (Upper Devonian) of the Voronezh Anteclise (central Devonian Field)

New conodont species of the genus Polygnathus (P. krutoensis sp. nov., P. makhlinae sp. nov., P. menneri sp. nov., P. obruchevae sp. nov.) are described from the Evlanovian-Livnian (Upper Devonian) deposits of the Voronezh Anteclise (central regions of the Rassian platform). The ontogenetic series of the new species are presented.     

Ammonites of Tethyan origin in the Ryazanian stage of the Russian platform: Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Riasanella</Emphasis> gen. nov.

A new ammonite genus Riasanella is described from the Ryazanian Stage of the Russian Platform (type species R. rausingi sp. nov.). The new species R. plana sp. nov., R. olorizi sp. nov., and R. riasanitoides sp. nov. are described. These species come from the lower, strongly condensed beds of the Riasanites rjasanensis Zone of the Moscow Region. The upper subzone of this zone in the Ryazan Region contains specimens of Riasanella, identified in open nomenclature. The new genus is assigned to the family Himalayitidae; one of its species is a possible ancestor of Riasanites Spath.     

Revision of the genus Trogulus Latreille: the morphologically divergent Trogulus torosus species‐group of the Balkan Peninsula (Opiliones: Dyspnoi: Trogulidae)

Within the species‐rich European harvestman genus Trogulus Latreille, 1802, the Balkan Trogulus torosus species‐group as defined by Schönhofer and Martens is revised. The group is remarkable because it includes the world's largest Opiliones species, Trogulus torosus Simon, 1885, and Trogulus ozimeci sp. nov. is the first member of the family showing obvious adaption to subterranean life. According to nuclear 28S and mitochondrial cytochrome b gene data, the T. torosus species‐group and the Trogulus hirtus species‐group form a monophyletic unit. Only the former is treated here as a paraphyletic group. Despite this paraphyly, the T. torosus species‐group members share a number of morphological, morphometric, geographical, and ecological traits and are treated here as a unit for revisional work. Morphometric data are shown to be not only useful for species discrimination but also for species‐group delineation. Within the T. torosus species‐group six species are recognized: Trogulus banaticus Avram, 1971, Trogulus setosissimus Roewer, 1940, and T. torosus are re‐described; Trogulus megaligrava sp. nov. , T. ozimeci sp. nov. , and Trogulus tenuitarsus sp. nov. are described as new. Unusually within Trogulus, strong affiliations with subterranean habitats exist and are discussed. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Ammonites of Tethyan origin from the Ryazanian of the Russian platform: Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Subalpinites</Emphasis> Mazenot

The ammonite genus Subalpinites is known from the Berriasian of southern and central Europe, North Africa, Mangyshlak, and Ryazanian Stage of Central Russia. New species are described: S. gruendeli sp. nov., S. faurieformis sp. nov., S. remaneiformis sp. nov. These species and also S. krischtafowitschi Mitta characterize the lower subzone of the Riasanites rjasanensis Zone in the Moscow Region. The upper subzone of this zone in the Ryazan Region contained members of Subalpinites identified in open nomenclature.     

MOLECULAR AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF TEN POLAR AND NEAR‐POLAR STRAINS WITHIN THE OSCILLATORIALES (CYANOBACTERIA)1

An approximately 1400‐bp region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced for 10 polar or near‐polar strains putatively placed in the Oscillatorialean genera Oscillatoria, Phormidium, and Lyngbya obtained from the University of Toronto Culture Collection to assess phylogenetic relationships. The strains were also examined for thylakoid structure and cell division type with TEM as well as traditional morphology with LM. Phylogenetic trees constructed using parsimony, distance, and maximum likelihood methods were similar in topology. If the original epithets applied to the sequenced strains (both polar and those from GenBank) were used, it was clear that taxa were not monophyletic. However, using the revised taxonomic system of Anagnostidis and Komárek, we were able to reassign these strains to their current correct taxa (species, genus, and family). When these assignments were made, it was determined that the molecular sequence data analyses were congruent with morphology and ultrastructure. Nine of the polar strains were found to be new species, and eight were described as such: Arthronema gygaxiana Casamatta et Johansen sp. nov., Pseudanabaena tremula Johansen et Casamatta sp. nov., Leptolyngbya angustata Casamatta et Johansen sp. nov., Phormidium lumbricale Johansen et Casamatta sp. nov., Microcoleus glaciei Johansen et Casamatta sp. nov., Microcoleus rushforthii Johansen et Casamatta sp. nov., Microcoleus antarcticus Casamatta et Johansen sp. nov., Microcoleus acremannii Casamatta et Johansen sp. nov. Some genera (Leptolyngbya and Microcoleus) were clearly not monophyletic and require future revision.     

First mesozoic representative of the subfamily tenebrioninae (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae) from the lower cretaceous of Yixian (China,Liaoning)

A new genus and a new species of the tenebrionine tribe Alphitobiini, Alphitopsis initialis gen. et sp. nov. is described from Yixian (Liaoning Province, China). The new genus is the oldest member of the subfamily Tenebrioninae and it is most similar to Metaclisa Jacquelin du Val, 1861, but differs from all the genera of the tribe Alphitobiini in the structure of elytral epipleura and antennae.