Gall midges of the supertribe stomatosematidi (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) in the Palaearctic region, with description of new taxa from the Late Eocene Rovno amber: 3. Groveromyia gen. n. analysis of biometric parameters of the recent and late eocene genera and species

The new genus Groveromyia gen. n. was described from the Late Eocene Rovno amber. The genus includes 4 species: G. occlusa sp. n., G. digna sp. n., G. astrosa sp. n., and G. concinna (Fedotova, 2005) comb. n. (Bryocrypta). Some changes in the biometric parameters of the genera and species were revealed relative to those in the recent and the Late Eocene Stomatosematidi. Keys to the recent and fossil genera of the tribe Stomatosematidi and the species of the genus Groveromyia are given.     

The genus Galumna in Nepalese oribatid mite fauna,with notes on systematic placement of some species (Acari,Oribatida, Galumnidae)

The oribatid mite genus Galumna (Oribatida, Galumnidae) is recorded for the first time in Nepal. A new species, Galumna tetraporosa sp. n., is described from soil of secondary mixed broadleaved forest. It is most similar morphologically to G. tokyoensis Aoki, 1966 and G. valida Aoki, 1994, however, it differs from both by the absence of interlamellar setae and the presence of two pairs of notogastral porose areas Aa. Galumna granalata Aoki, 1984 is redescribed on the basis of specimens from Nepal. Galumna floridae (Jacot, 1929) and G. hexagona Balogh, 1960 are transferred to the genus Notogalumna; G. mauritii Mahunka, 1978 is transferred to the genus Dimidiogalumna.     

Morphological and molecular characterization of three new species of Gyrodactylus (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) infecting Sicydium salvini (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in Mexican rivers draining into the Pacific Ocean

The genus Gyrodactylus von Nordmann, 1832 is one of the most diverse within the class Monogenea; it contains mainly parasites of freshwater and marine teleost fishes. Around 40 species of Gyrodactylus have been described from gobiid fishes; mainly in Europe, as only two species are known from the Americas. In this study, we describe three new gyrodactylids from the body surface and fins of the goby Sicydium salvini (Gobiidae, Sycydiinae), which has a wide distribution on the Pacific coast, from Mexico to Panama. We describe Gyrodactylus oaxacae n. sp., G. atoyacensis n. sp. and G. salvini n. sp. collected from rivers draining to the eastern Pacific in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Morphologically, G. atoyacensis n. sp. and G. salvini n. sp. are very similar, and both are easily differentiated from G. oaxacae n. sp. Phylogenetic hypotheses based on sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS1–5.8S-ITS2 rDNA) and the D2 + D3 domains of the large ribosomal subunit (28S rDNA) support the erection of the three new taxa; and suggest that G. atoyacensis n. sp. and G. salvini n. sp. are sister species. These gyrodactylids are the first monogeneans described from gobies of the genus Sicydium in Mexico.     

Capsalids (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) from marine fishes off Okinawa in Japan with the proposal of two new genera

Molecular studies of the Capsalidae suggested that the genus Benedenia is polyphyletic, but a taxonomic organization of the genus that reflects molecular data has not yet been proposed. As a result of molecular analysis (28S rDNA, ITS1–5.8S-ITS2, and cox1 data) including specimens of Benedeniinae newly obtained from Okinawa-jima Island in Japan, two new genera and the revival of Tareenia independent to the genus Benedenia are proposed. Gracilobenedenia n. gen. is distinguished from the other genera of Benedeniinae based on morphological characteristics. This new genus comprises 6 species: G. lutjani n. comb. (type species), G. anticavaginata n. comb., G. rohdei n. comb., G. beverleyburtonae n. comb., G. kuremibai n. gen., n. sp., and G. hichi n. gen., n. sp. Armatobenedenia n. gen. is a monotypic genus for A. armata n. comb. The present molecular phylogenetic analysis showed the independence of Tareenia, and it can be morphologically separated from the other benedeniines. Four species including two new species obtained from Okinawa-jima Island are reported: G. kuremibai n. sp., G. hichi n. sp., G. lutjani n. comb., and Metabenedeniella parva. Furthermore, in the species identification and phylogenetic analysis of capsalids, the usefulness of not only the 28S rDNA but also ITS and the cox1 regions was suggested. These genes were evaluated the efficacy of those regions in DNA barcoding, and the ITS and cox1 regions shown to be useful for DNA barcoding in capsalids compared to the 28S rDNA sequence.     

A new species of Gorgoderina (Digenea: Gorgoderidae) from Rana berlandieri in Los Tuxtlas tropical rainforest,Mexico, with the elucidation of its life cycle

Species in the genus Gorgoderina Looss, 1902 are parasites of the urinary bladder of amphibians and include around 50 species described globally. Molecular data on species of the genus are scarce, as is the information of their life-cycle patterns. During a survey on the genetic characterization of the frog trematodes in the tropical rain forest of Los Tuxtlas, in the Gulf of Mexico slope of Mexico, specimens of two morphotypes of Gorgoderina were sampled from the Rio Grande leopard frog, Rana berlandieri. One of them represented an undescribed species which is described herein as Gorgoderina rosamondae n. sp., whereas the other one was morphologically very similar to an apparently widely distributed North American species, G. attenuata, which has been previously reported in the same geographical area. Specimens of both morphotypes were sequenced for two nuclear and one mitochondrial genes. Phylogenetic trees corroborated the distinction of the new species, and data on the internal transcribed spacer 2 revealed genetic differences between G. attenuata sequenced from frogs in USA and specimens of Gorgoderina sp. from Los Tuxtlas, indicating the possibility that they also represent an undescribed species. COI sequences showed high genetic divergence values between the new species and Gorgoderina sp. from Los Tuxtlas (8.63–9.99%). Additionally, COI sequences of the larval forms (sporocyst, cercariae and metacercariae) sampled in the same locality from their first and second intermediate hosts (Pisidium sp. and Agriogomphus tumens, respectively) showed conspecificity, and the 3 host life-cycle of the new species was elucidated.     

New data on the fauna of the tenebrionid beetle genus Agnaptoria Rtt. (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) of China

Eight new species of the genus Agnaptoria are described from the eastern part of the Tibet Highland: A. minuta sp. n., A. crassa sp. n., A. lauta sp. n. (Sichuan), A. kunda sp. n., A. proba sp. n. (Gansu), A. shangmengi sp. n., A. danbaensis sp. n. (Sichuan), and A. amdoensis sp. n. (Quinghai). A new material on A. shamaevi G. Medv., A. abdita G. Medv., and A. anthracina G. Medv. is reported with data on the variation of the anatomy of male genitalia and spermatheca in the latter species.     

Description of Ortheziolamameti tranfagliai new species (Hemiptera,Coccoidea, Ortheziidae) from India

This paper describes a new Ortheziolamameti species from the Oriental region (India), namely Ortheziolamameti tranfagliai Konczné Benedicty, sp. n. The examined material was extracted from forest litter from India, using Berlese funnels. With this new species the genus Ortheziolamameti now includes six species. An identification key and distribution map are provided.     

New species of parasitoid wasps of the family Eurytomidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) from the United Arab Emirates

Two new species of the genus Eurytoma, Eu. emirata Zerova, sp. n. and Eu. cornutella Zerova, sp. n., and two new species of the genus Nikanoria, N. globosa Zerova, sp. n. and N. cuspidata Zerova, sp. n., are described from the United Arab Emirates. This is the first record of genera and species of Eurytomidae from the United Arab Emirates. Holotypes and paratypes of the new species are deposited in the collection of Institute of Zoology, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kiev).     

A new genus and two new nematode species (Drilonematoidea: Ungellidae: Synoecneminae) parasitic in two morphs of Drawida ghilarovi Gates,endemic earthworm from the Russian Far East

Drasico n. g. is erected to accommodate two new species of nematode, Drasico nemoralis n. sp. and D. paludigenus n. sp., recovered from coelomic cavities of Drawida ghilarovi Gates, endemic earthworms of the Russian Far East. The new genus is characterised by the following unique for the Synoecneminae characters: apical portion of the head attenuated, cephalic hooks displaced to the base of attenuated portion, amphids displaced posterior to cephalic hooks, excretory duct short and weak, males possessing several genital papilliform sensilla. The new species are differentiated by the size, number and disposition of the male genital sensilla (larger and more numerous in D. nemoralis n. sp.); the body shape of females (with thinner neck and wider mid-body in D. paludigenus n. sp.) and the ovarian tube arranged in transversal folds in D. paludigenus (vs longitudinal folds in D. nemoralis n. sp.). Nucleotide sequences of D2–D3 expansion segment of 28S rDNA for the two new species differed at 13 positions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close relationships of Drasico n. g. with species of Siconema Timm, 1966. The host species was represented by two morphs (blue-grey forest and tar-black meadow-swamp morph) with intraspecific divergence of 16–17% for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene, and each host morph was found infected by a different nematode species. A co-infection with the plectid nematode Creagrocercus drawidae Ivanova & Spiridonov, 2011 was recorded together with D. nemoralis n. sp. in the blue-grey forest morph.     

Umashtanchaeviella plethotricha,a new genus and species of the family Tetracondylidae (Acari,Oribatida)

A new genus of oribatid mites of the family Tetracondylidae, Umashtanchaeviella gen. n., with type species Umashtanchaeviella plethotricha sp. n., is proposed and described from forest litter, the Bu Gia Map National Park, southern Vietnam. The new genus is distinguishable from other otocepheoid genera by the presence of notogastral plethotrichy.¹     

Then there were five: a reexamination of the ant genus Paratrechina (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

The ant genus Paratrechina is reexamined based on the discovery of two new species from Madagascar (P. ankarana sp. n. and P. antsingy sp. n.). Paratrechina kohli, a species known from central Africa, is transferred to Paratrechina from Prenolepis based on a new morphological interpretation of the genus and an updated morphological diagnosis of the genus is provided. This means that other than the widespread P. longicornis, whose origins remain uncertain, all Paratrechina are restricted either to the Afrotropical or Malagasy regions. It would also appear that of the five Paratrechina species now known, three are from dry forest habitats. With this reexamination of the genus, the possible origins of P. longicornis are discussed. A key to the genera of the Prenolepis genus-group is provided, as is a key to the workers of Paratrechina. In addition, we also designate a lectotype for Paratrechina kohli.     

Description of two new Ecuadorian Zilchistrophia Weyrauch, 1960, with the clarification of the systematic position of the genus based on anatomical data (Gastropoda,Stylommatophora, Scolodontidae)

Two new species of the genus Zilchistrophia Weyrauch, 1960 are described from Eastern Ecuadorian rain forest: Zilchistrophia hilaryae sp. n. and Zilchistrophia shiwiarorum sp. n. These two new species extend the distribution of the genus considerably northwards, because congeners have been reported from Peru only. For the first time we present anatomical data (radula, buccal mass, morphology of the foot and the genital structure) of Zilchistrophia species. According to these, the genus belongs to the family Scolodontidae, subfamily Scolodontinae (=“Systrophiini”). The previously assumed systematic relationship of Zilchistrophia with the Asian Corillidae and Plectopylidae based on the similarly looking palatal plicae is not supported.     

The description of a new species of the Neotropical land crab genus Gecarcinus Leach, 1814 (Crustacea,Decapoda, Brachyura,Gecarcinidae)

In this contribution a new species of the land crab genus Gecarcinus Leach, 1814, from the Neotropical Pacific coast of South America is described and illustrated. In addition to its unique body color, Gecarcinus nobilii sp. n. is distinguished from congeners by a distinctly wider carapace front and differences in the shape of the infraorbital margin. The new species is not isolated from Gecarcinus populations from the Pacific coast of Central America by an insurmountable geographic barrier. Considering the closure of the Panamanian Isthmus as a calibration point for morphological divergence between the trans-isthmian mainland populations of Gecarcinus, the virtual lack of morphological differentiation (other than color) between them and the distinctness of G. nobilii sp. n. suggests that G. nobilii sp. n. evolved from a common ancestor before the Isthmus closed.     

Two new species of the genus Pliciloricus (Loricifera, Pliciloricidae) from the Faroe Bank, North Atlantic

Five cruises to the Faroe Bank in the northeast Atlantic revealed a rich loriciferan fauna inhabiting shell gravel to fine carbonate sand. This paper describes two new species of Pliciloricus found at depths of 120-260 m. Currently, only six species of this genus have been described from various localities around the world, but several new species are currently being described. The diagnosis of the genus Pliciloricus is emended to include the two new taxa. The first of the two new species Pliciloricus leocaudatus sp. n. is characterized by having four new kinds of scalids in the second row and an additional row of alternating plates in the eighth row. The second species Pliciloricus shukeri sp. n. is characterized in having a secondary double organ in the third row. The morphology of the two species, including the new structures, has been investigated using LM and scanning electron microscopy. Conclusively, the scalid pattern of the introvert of Pliciloricus has been re-evaluated, due to the finding of the new structures. Additionally, a discussion of the life cycle of the genus Pliciloricus is given, since the postlarval stage is reduced in both new species.     

The “Falcatae”, a new Gondwanan species group of Gieysztoria (Platyhelminthes: Dalyelliidae), with the description of five new species

GieysztoriaRuebush and Hayes, 1939, the most species-rich genus of limnic rhabdocoels (Platyhelminthes: Dalyelliidae), is subdivided into several groups based on stylet morphology. Most taxa are known from the Palearctic and the Neotropics. Very little is known about limnic, free-living flatworms in other tropical and subtropical regions. In this contribution five new species of Gieysztoria are described from India, Australia and South Africa, all former Gondwanan fragments. Gieysztoria garudae n. sp., G. ashokae n. sp. and G. ramayana n. sp. were collected in Goa (India), G. stokesi n. sp. in the Northern Territory (Australia) and G. zuluensis n. sp. in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). All these new species share a typical, very complex stylet morphology, which deviates strongly from that of the groups into which the bulk of the other species within this genus are classified. Therefore a new subgroup, the “Falcatae”, is erected. In addition, four known species could also be included in this subgroup. Possible homologies, common ancestry and biogeographic distribution patterns are discussed.     

Two new species of the genus Abrus Dai & Zhang, 2002 (Hemiptera,Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae) from China

Two new species of leafhoppers: Abrus damingshanensis sp. n. (from Guangxi) and A. expansivus sp. n. (from Guizhou) are described and illustrated from China. A map showing the geographic distribution of the two new species is given. Taxonomic notes on species of the genus Abrus is also provided.     

Integrative revision of the giant pill-millipede genus Sphaeromimus from Madagascar,with the description of seven new species (Diplopoda,Sphaerotheriida, Arthrosphaeridae)

The Malagasy giant pill-millipede genus Sphaeromimus de Saussure & Zehntner, 1902 is revised. Seven new species, S. titanus sp. n., S. vatovavy sp. n., S. lavasoa sp. n., S. andohahela sp. n., S. ivohibe sp. n., S. saintelucei sp. n., and S. andrahomana sp. n. were discovered, in one case with the help of sequence data, in the rainforests of southeastern Madagascar. The species are described using light- and scanning electron microscopy. A key to all 10 species of the genus is presented. All but one (S. andohahela) of the newly discovered species are microendemics each occurring in isolated forest fragments. The mitochondrial COI barcoding gene was amplified and sequenced for 18 Sphaeromimus specimens, and a dataset containing COI sequences of 28 specimens representing all Sphaeromimus species (except S. vatovavy) was analyzed. All species are genetically monophyletic. Interspecific uncorrected genetic distances were moderate (4–10%) to high (18–25%), whereas intraspecific variation is low (0–3.5%). Sequence data allowed the correct identification of three colour morphs of S. musicus, as well as the identity of a cave specimen, which although aberrant in its morphology and colouration, was genetically identical to the holotype of S. andrahoma.     

Gall midges of the supertribe Stomatosematidi (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) in the Palaearctic Region,with descriptions of new taxa from the Late Eocene Rovno amber: 1. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stomatosema,Vanchidiplosis, Clarumreddera</Emphasis> gen. n.

Three recent genera are included in the supertribe Stomatosematidi: Stomatosema (16 species), Vanchidiplosis (4 species), and Didactylomyia (3 species). Seven species of the genus Stomatosema and two species of the genus Vanchidiplosis occur in the Palaearctic Region. No reliable findings of representatives of the supertribe were known in fossilized condition. One new genus and 3 new species are described from amber of the Late Eocene age (Rovno Region): Stomatosema iljieteugeniae sp. n., Clarumreddera korneyevi gen. n. et sp. n., and C. conceptiva sp. n.