The arthropodBundenbachiellus giganteus from the Lower Devonian Hunsrück Slate, Germany

The large Hunsrück Slate arthropodBundenbachiellus giganteus (Broili, 1929) has been interpreted as a myriapod, a possible arthropleurid, and most recently as a distorted specimen of the arachnomorph arthropodCheloniellon. The Single specimen lacks the head region and is characterised by a narrow trunk bearing a series of biramous appendages with a segmented endopod and filamentous exopod. A reinvestigation demonstrates that it is not referable toCheloniellon but represents a distinct taxon of whichEschenbachiellus wuttkensis Briggs &;Bartels, 2001, also based on a Single Hunsrück Slate specimen, is a junior synonym. Minor features ofStürmer &;Bergström’s (1978) reconstruction ofCheloniellon, which were based on the holotype ofBundenbachiellus giganteus, are revised.     

The parasite complex ofSaissetia nigra in Malaysia

The percentage parasitism ofSaissetia nigra (Nietner) by chalcidoid parasites and the relative abundance of individual parasites were studied in the field usingHibiscus rosa-sinensis L. as the host plant. In order of abundance (on the basis of percentage recorded) the primary parasites wereAnysis saissetiae Ash.,Aneristus ceroplastae How., andMicroterys newcombi (Gir)., while the hyperparasites wereMarietta exitiosa Comp.,Cheiloneurus saissetiae Noyes & Chua andEupelmus catoxanthae Ferr. The efficiency ofA. saissetiae (the larvae of which feed on the scale eggs) to control the scale population is doubtful because it is often parasitised by all 3 hyperparasites mentioned and each larva during development causes only 58% egg mortality of the parasitised host, leaving many scale eggs unconsumed.A. ceroplastae appears to be more useful parasite because it attacks the 2nd instar scales which cause significant damage to the host plant and it is free from attack by hyperparasites.     

Taxonomic and biostratigraphic re-evaluation ofPerisphinctes internispinosus Krantz, 1926 (Upper Jurassic, Ammonoidea)

The lectotype ofPerisphinctes internispinosus Krantz, 1926, type species ofWindhauseniceras Leanza, 1945, from the upper Middle Tithonian of Cerro Lotena (Neuquén-Mendoza Basin, Argentina) is designated. The type series, housed in the Paläontologisches Institut der Universität Bonn, was originally illustrated by hand-drawings of two of the eleven specimens. The lectotype is illustrated by a photograph for the first time. The specimen is probably a large microconch; the most likely corresponding macroconch appears to beH. aff.steinmanni (Steuer, 1897) from Cerro Lotena.Windhauseniceras internispinosum is the index and guide species of theInternispinosum Biozone, upper Middle Tithonian, most probablyPonti Zone in age. The occurrence in Arroyo del Yeso (Mendoza) below a succession ofMicracanthoceras species includingM. mirum (Leanza, 1945) which is very close toM. microcanthum, strongly supports this correlation. The species occurs throughout the Neuquén-Mendoza Basin and probably also in the Tarapacá Basin, Northern Chile.     

Evolution alpiner Populationen vonEuphrasia (Scrophulariaceae): Die tetraploideE. minima

A systematic analysis of the variable and probably allotetraploidE. minima is presented, its infraspecific taxonomy is discussed.E. tatrae is provisionally included intoE. minima although some differences may exist;E. mendonçae may be a relic of a formerly wider distribution ofE. minima; E. willkommii seems to be closer toE. stricta s. lat. than toE. minima. 4x-E. minima is supposed to be derived from phylogenetic lines close to extant dwarf alpine forms of 2x-E. alpina (including its yellow flowering subsp.christii;Vitek 1985b) and 2x-E. hirtella (vgl.Vitek 1985a). Some characteristics (e.g., its small flowers) could have been introduced through hybrid introgression from other 2x-species, particularlyE. inopinata and/orE. sinuata (vgl.Ehrendorfer & Vitek 1984).     

Determination of host range in relation to systematics forPeristenus stygicus [Hym.: Braconidae], A parasitoid ofMiridae

Peristenus stygicus Loan develops inMirinae speciesLygus hesperus,Knight,L. lineolaris, (Palisot de Beauvois) andPolymerus basalis (Reuter),Orthotylinae speciesLabopidicola geminata (Johnston),Phylinae speciesPseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter) and partially develops in the mirineDichrooscytus sp. The parasitoids attackMicrophylellus maculipennis (Knight) (Phylinae) and another orthotyline species, but do not develop in these.Taedia johnstoni (Knight) (Mirinae), 2 species ofBrycorinae and 3 species ofLygaeidae are not acceptable as hosts. Olfactometer studies show the parasites are significantly more attracted to lygus nymphs whenPhaseolus vulgaris L. is present than either the nymphs or bean alone. Host color, mobility, size, previously infested plant material, and host plant species are rejected as host selection criteria.     

Reclassifications and new names for some European Phanerogams

On the basis of taxonomic and nomenclatural revisions of various plant groups 37 new nomenclatural combinations are proposed mostly for European phanerogamous taxa (21 for species, 14 for subspecies, 2 for hybrids.)Medicula Medicus,Pseudofumaria Medicus andThlasidia Rafin. are accepted as taxonomically justified genera and correct generic names.Dactylorhiza longebracteata (F. W. Schmidt)Holub is proposed instead ofD. fuchsii (Druce) Soó, andHylotelephium triphyllum (Haworth) Holub isstead ofH. purpureum (L.)Holub.     

LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 8.Endophragmiella andPhragmocephala

Thirteen species and one variety ofEndophragmiella Sutton and three species ofPhragmocephala Mason etHughes collected by the author in Czechoslovakia, and occasionally in other regions of Europe are described and illustrated. Four new species and one new variety are described inEndophragmiella—E. aseptata Hol.-Jech.,E. fatrensis Holt.-Jech.,E. ramificata Hol.-Jech.,E. similis Hol.-Jech. andE. uniseptata (Ellis) Hughes var.pusilla Hol.-Jech..