A new species of Haplosporidium Caullery & Mesnil, 1899 in the marine false limpet Siphonaria lessonii (Gastropoda: Siphonariidae) from Patagonia

A new species of Haplosporidium Caullery & Mesnil, 1899 parasitising the pulmonate gastropod Siphonaria lessonii Blainville in Patagonia, Argentina, is described based on morphological (scanning and transmission electron microscopy) and sequence (small subunit ribosomal RNA gene) data. Different stages of sporulation were observed as infections disseminated in the digestive gland. Haplosporidium patagon n. sp. is characterised by oval or slightly subquadrate spores with an operculum that is ornamented with numerous short digitiform projections of regular height, perpendicular to and covering its outer surface. The operculum diameter is slightly larger than the apical diameter of the spore. Neither the immature nor mature spores showed any kind of projections of the exosporoplasm or of the spore wall. Regarding phylogenetic affinities, the new species was recovered as sister to an undescribed species of Haplosporidium Caullery & Mesnil, 1899 from the polychaete family Syllidae Grube from Japanese waters. The morphological characters (ornamentation of the operculum, spore wall structure, shape and size of spores, and the lack of spore wall projections) corroborate it as an as yet undescribed species of Haplosporidium and the first for the phylum in marine gastropods of South America. Siphonaria lessonii is the only known host to date.     

Observations on the Spores of Pleistophora gigantea (Thélohan, 1895) Swellengrebel, 1911, a Microsporidan Parasite of the Fish Crenilabrus melops*

SYNOPSIS. After 1914 protozoologists have generally agreed that Pleistophora gigantea (Thélohan, 1895) Swellengrebel, 1911, Ichthyosporidium giganteum (Thélohan, 1895) Swarczewsky, 1914, and I. phymogenes Caullery and Mesnil, 1905, are identical. Because no polar filament was found in the spores, however, some authors have followed Swarczewsky in considering this species to be a haplosporidan, while others have persisted in thinking it a microsporidan. Using preserved material that Swellengrebel saved from a tumor on which he based his studies, we have found a polar filament in the spores both with the PAS reaction and with the electron microscpe. This new information removes the only basis for the doubt which some authors have entertained, that Thélohan and Sweliengrebel correctly considered the parasite to belong to the Microsporida. Since Pleistophora gigantea is believed to be identical with I. phymogenes, recently selected by Sprague as type species of genus Ichthyosporidium Caullery and Mesnil, 1905, then Ichthyosporidium, originally assigned to the Haplosporida, must be regarded as a microsporidan genus. Whether it is distinct from all other microsporidan genera is a matter needing further consideration.     

Structure and Development of a Marine Actinosporean, Sphaeractinomyxon ersei n. sp. (Myxozoa)

ABSTRACT This is the first ultrastructural study of the development of a marine actinosporean and of a species belonging to the genus Sphaeractinomyxon Caullery & Mesnil, 1904. S. ersei n. sp. is described from a limnodriloidine oligochaete, Doliodrilus diverticulatus Erséus, 1985, from Moreton Bay. Queensland, Australia. Development is asynchronous, there being all stages from two-celled pansporoblasts through to mature spores present simultaneously within a host. Spores develop in groups of eight within pansporoblasts in the coelom and when mature are located also in the intestinal lumen. The primordial spore envelope and sporoplasm develop separately in the pansporoblast until the polar filament is formed within the polar capsule and the capsulogenic cell cytoplasm has begun to degrade. The sporoplasm then enters the spore through a separated valve junction. Mature spores are triradially symmetrical with three centrally located polar capsules and a single binucleate sporoplasm with about 46 germ cells. Swellings or projections of the epispore do not occur when spores exit the host and contact sea water.     

The ultrastructure and reproduction of Amphiamblys capitellides (Microspora, Metchnikovellidae), a parasite of the gregarine Ancora sagittata (Apicomplexa, Lecudinidae), with redescription of the species and comments on the taxonomy

The ultrastructural cytology and reproduction of the hyperparasitic microsporidium Amphiamblys capitellides (Caullery and Mesnil, 1897) is described. Merogonial reproduction was not observed. The sporogony comprises two sequences: a sac-bound sporogony in close contact with the cytoplasm of the host and a free sporogony in parasitophorous vacuoles. The free sporogony, which probably precedes the sac-bound, yields a small number of rounded spores. The sac-bound sporogony is polysporoblastic, generating two rows of elongated spores. All stages have isolated nuclei. Both spore types have an extrusion apparatus of the metchnikovellidean type, with a polar sac devoid of anchoring disc, a polar filament with one manubroid and one bulbous part, and a posterior semicircular membrane fold enclosing rounded or tubular structures. Hosts are gregarines of the species Ancora sagittata living in the intestine of polychaetes of the genus Capitella, probably the species Capitella giardi. The cytology, life cycle and classification are discussed. The species is redescribed and the diagnosis of the genus Amphiamblys Caullery and Mesnil, 1914 is emended.     

辽宁老秃顶子自然保护区寄蝇科新种和新纪录(昆虫纲,双翅目)(英文)

系统地整理、分类和鉴定了辽宁老秃顶子自然保护区采集到的1500余号寄蝇科标本,其中发现并记述了3新种:祝氏喙寄蝇Mycteromyiella zhui,狭额毛瓣寄蝇Nemoraea angustifrons,桓仁突颜寄蝇Phasia huanrenensis;并报告3中国新纪录属(Mycteromyiella,寻寄蝇属Eliozeta、蛛寄蝇属Dicarca),8个中国新纪录种(三鬃菲寄蝇Phebellia triseta、毛菲寄蝇P.villica、加藤芙蕊寄蝇Phryno katoi、阿格筒腹寄蝇Cylindromyia agnieszkae、明寻寄蝇Eliozeta pellucens、高野短须寄蝇Linnaemya(Ophina)takanoi、敏阳寄蝇Panzeria laevigata、河蛛寄蝇Dicarca fluviatilis)。模式标本和其它标本均保存在沈阳师范大学昆虫标本馆。祝氏喙寄蝇,新种Mycteromyiella zhuisp.nov.(图1～7)本种外形近似于分布日本九州的缘喙寄蝇M.marginalis Shima,但区别于后者的主要特征为:额较窄,后面观肛尾叶较长,端部窄而尖,侧尾叶端部钝圆,明显宽于前种。正模♂,辽宁省桓仁县老秃顶子国家级自然保护区,2009-06-24～25,张春田采。副模15♂♂,采集地点和时间同正模,张春田和赵哲采。词源:新种名以辽宁省老秃顶子国家级自然保护区管理局祝业平科长姓氏命名,纪念他30多年来为辽宁省生物多样性保护事业所做的突出贡献。狭额毛瓣寄蝇,新种Nemoraea angustifronssp.nov.(图8～14)本种外形近似于高野毛瓣寄蝇N.takanoi(Baranov),但其别于后者的主要特征是体较小,单眼鬃细长且明显,雌、雄腹部第3背板均具4根中缘鬃和2～4对不规则的心鬃,雌性足均红黄色。正模♂,辽宁省桓仁县老秃顶子国家级自然保护区,2006-07-11,杨正卿采。副模:1♂,采集地点同正模,2006-06-01,冯立勇采;2♀♀,2009-06-25,赵哲和王强采。词源:新种名字来源于其外形特点具较窄的"angust"额"frons"。桓仁突颜寄蝇,新种Phasia huanrenensis sp.nov.(图15～21)本种外形近似于须突颜寄蝇群P.barbifrons-group中的罗氏突颜寄蝇P.rohdendorfi(Draber-Mońko),但区别于后者的主要特征是颊高较短,第1触角节较长,颜脊仅在下半部具鬃,下颚须端部和基部暗棕色,中部红黄色,前足胫节无前鬃,后胫具4～5根前背鬃,侧尾叶侧面观端部膨大。正模♂,辽宁省桓仁县老秃顶子国家级自然保护区,2006-05-30,冯立勇采。副模:4♂♂,采集地点同正模,1994-06-09,魏德采;37♂♂,5♀♀,2006-05-31和2006-06-01,张春田、刘家宇等采,6♂♂,1♀,2009-06-01,张春田、付超采。词源:新种名字源于标本采集地点辽宁省桓仁县。     

Species of Haliotrema Johnston & Tiegs, 1922 (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) from Zanclus cornutus (L.) (Teleostei: Zanclidae) and Acanthurus nigrofuscus (Forssk?l) (Teleostei: Acanthuridae) in the South China Sea

Four species of Haliotrema Johnston & Tiegs, 1922, including three new taxa, are described from the gills of two species of coral reef fishes, Zanclus cornutus (Linnaeus) and Acanthurus nigrofuscus (Forssk?l), off the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea. Haliotrema dongshaense n. sp., from Z. cornutus, is differentiated from other existing congeneric species by its peculiar male copulatory organ, comprising a harp-shaped copulatory tube and a cup-shaped base, and two groups of short longitudinal muscles lying on either side of the vaginal vestibule. Haliotrema zigmoidocirrus n. sp. from Z. cornutus and H. nigrofusci n. sp. from A. nigrofuscus are differentiated from other congeneric species by their male copulatory organ, which has a cup-shaped base, bell-shaped middle and Z-shaped distal part, and the latter can be readily differentiated from the former by its distinctively wider haptor and longer connecting bars. Haliotrema sicklocirrus Wang, 2007, from Z. cornutus, is redescribed with additional details, including the sinistral position of the accessory piece of the male copulatory organ, the absence of eyespots and the morphology of the connecting bars.     

The marine Tubificidae (Oligochaeta) of the barrier reef ecosystems at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, and other parts of the Caribbean Sea, with descriptions of twenty-seven new species and revision of Heterodrilus, Thalassodrilides and Smithsonidrilus

Fifty-nine species of Tubifieidae are recorded from Belize on the Caribbean side of Central America. Twenty-five are new to science: Ainudrilus geminus sp.n., Heronidrilus gravidus sp.n., Heterodrilus flexuosus sp.n., H. ranus sp.n., H. modestus sp.n., Coralliodrilus rugosus sp.n., C. randyi sp.n., Phallodrilus compactus sp. n., P. singularis sp.n., P. vicinus sp.n., P. nasutus sp.n., P. bipartitus sp.n., Inanidrilus reginae sp.n., Olavius finitimus sp.n., O. vacuus sp.n., O. (Olavius) pravus sp.n., Bathydrilus vetustus sp.n., B. egenus sp.n., Thalassodrilides bruneti sp.n., Limnodriloides anxius sp.n., L. major sp.n., L. sacculus sp.n., L. adversus sp.n., Smithsonidrilus appositus sp.n., S. involutus sp.n. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Heterodrilus Pierantoni, 1902, Thalassodrilides Brinkhurst & Baker, 1979, and Marcusaedrilus Righi & Kanner, 1979, are paraphyletic taxa as previously defined. They are therefore revised to include also apomorphic species earlier attributed to separate genera; in so doing, Marcusaedrilus becomes a junior synonym of Smithsonidrilus Brinkhurst, 1966. Smithsonidrilus pauper sp.n. (Peru), and S. multiglandularis sp.n. (Florida and Puerto Rico) are also described, and Limnodriloides claviger Erséus, 1982 is regarded as a synonym of L. pierantonii (Hrabě, 1971).     

Monograph of the Afrotropical species of Scelio Latreille (Hymenoptera,Platygastridae), egg parasitoids of acridid grasshoppers (Orthoptera,Acrididae)

The genus Scelio is a cosmopolitan and speciose group of solitary parasitoids of the eggs of short-horned grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae). A number of these hosts are important pests, including plague locusts of the genus Schistocerca. Species of Scelio are recognized as potentially important biological control agents, but this possibility has yet to be fully realized, in part because the species-level taxonomy is still incompletely developed. The species of the pulchripennis group have been recently revised. As a continuation of this effort, here we revise the Afrotropical species of Scelio, excluding the pulchripennis species group. Sixty two (62) species are treated, 48 of which are new. Species are classified into the following species groups: ernstii (12 species, 9 new), howardi (23 species, 19 new), ipomeae (6 species, 5 new), irwini (4 species, 3 new), simoni (3 new species) and walkeri (12 species, 9 new). Keys to species groups and to the species within each group are provided. New species described are: S. albatus Yoder, sp. n., S. aphares Yoder, sp. n., S. apospastos Yoder, sp. n., S. ardelio Yoder, sp. n., S. aurantium Yoder, sp. n., S. balo Valerio & Yoder, sp. n., S. bayanga Yoder, sp. n., S. bubulo Yoder, sp. n., S. cano Yoder, sp. n., S. clypeatus Yoder, sp. n., S. concavus Yoder, sp. n., S. copelandi Yoder, sp. n., S. crepo Yoder, sp. n., S. destico Yoder, sp. n., S. dupondi Yoder, sp. n., S. effervesco Yoder, sp. n., S. erugatus Yoder, sp. n., S. exophthalmus Yoder, sp. n., S. fremo Valerio & Yoder, sp. n., S. gemo Yoder, sp. n., S. grunnio Yoder, sp. n., S. harinhalai Yoder, sp. n., S. igland Yoder, sp. n., S. impostor Yoder, sp. n., S. irwini Yoder, sp. n., S. janseni Yoder, sp. n., S. latro Yoder, sp. n., S. memorabilis Yoder, sp. n., S. modulus Yoder, sp. n., S. mutio Yoder, sp. n., S. ntchisii Yoder, sp. n., S. parkeri Yoder, sp. n., S. phaeoprora Yoder, sp. n., S. pilosilatus Yoder, sp. n., S. pipilo Yoder, sp. n., S. quasiclypeatus Yoder, sp. n., S. retifrons Yoder, sp. n., S. ructo Yoder, sp. n., S. scomma Yoder, sp. n., S. simoni Yoder, sp. n., S. simonolus Yoder, sp. n., S. somaliensis Yoder, sp. n., S. susurro Yoder, sp. n., S. tono Yoder, sp. n., S. transtrum Yoder, sp. n., S. tritus Yoder, sp. n., S. ululo Yoder, sp. n., S. vannoorti Valerio & Yoder, sp. n. The following species are redescribed: S. afer Kieffer, S. chapmani Nixon, S. howardi Crawford, S. ipomeae Risbec, stat. n., S. mauritanicus Risbec, S. philippinensis Ashmead, S. remaudierei Ferrière, S. striatus Priesner,S. taylori Nixon, and S. zolotarevskyi Ferrière. The genus Lepidoscelio Kieffer is treated as a junior synonym of Scelio Latreille, syn. n.; its type species, Lepidoscelio fuscipennis Kieffer, 1905 is transferred to Scelio, renamed Scelio obscuripennis Johnson, nom. n. (preoccupied by Scelio fuscipennis Ashmead, 1887), and redescribed. The following additional species are transferred from Lepidoscelio to Scelio: S. cayennensis (Risbec), comb. n., S. insularis Ashmead, rev. comb., S. luteus (Cameron), comb. n., S. thoracicus Ashmead, rev. comb. Lectotypes are designated for S. africanus Risbec, S. ipomeae Risbec, S. mauritanicus Risbec, S. remaudierei Ferrière, S. sudanensis Ferrière, and S. zolotarevskyi Ferrière. Scelio gaudens Nixon is a junior synonym of Scelio striatus Priesner, syn. n.; Scelio africanus Risbec and Scelio clarus Fouts are both junior synonyms of Scelio afer Kieffer, syn. n.; Scelio sudanensis Ferrière and Scelio cheops Nixon are both junior synonyms of Scelio zolotarevskyi Ferrière, syn. n.; Scelio cahirensis Priesner is a junior synonym of Scelio mauritanicus Risbec, syn. n. The name Scelio chapmanni Nixon is an incorrect original spelling, requiring an emendation to S. chapmani. Digital versions of the identification keys are available at http://www.waspweb.org/Platygastroidea/Keys/index.htm     

Questa (Annelida, Polychaeta, Orbiniidae) from Pacific regions — new species and reassessment of the genus Periquesta

On the basis of new material from various Pacific regions we critically evaluate the characters for the taxonomy of the genus Questa and the former Questidae, a taxon now concluded to be a lineage within the family Orbiniidae. Two new species, Questa retrospermatica sp. n. from Hawaii (with similar forms also from New Caledonia and China), and Questa fijiensis sp. n. from Fiji, are described, and the morphological character patterns and phylogeny of the genus are revisited on the basis of a cladistic analysis. The finding of Hawaiian material of a new species, Levinsenia hawaiiensis sp. n., similar to Periquesta canariensis Brito & Nunez, 2002 (=Levinsenia canariensis comb. n.), challenges the view that Periquesta Brito & Nunez, 2002 is closely related to Questa; rather, it belongs to Paraonidae as a junior synonym of Levinsenia Mesnil, 1897.     

Six new deep-water sternaspid species (Annelida,Sternaspidae) from the Pacific Ocean

Most sternaspid species have been described from shallow water, and Caulleryaspis Sendall & Salazar-Vallejo, 2013 includes one deep water species: C. gudmundssoni Sendall & Salazar-Vallejo, 2013 from Iceland. In Sternaspis Otto, 1821, the most speciose genus, most species were described from shallow water and only three thrive in deep water: S. maior Chamberlin, 1919 from the Gulf of California, S. princeps Selenka, 1885 from New Zealand, and S. riestchi Caullery, 1944 from Indonesia. The study of some deep sea sternaspids from the Pacific Ocean in the collections of six research institutions resulted in the discovery of six undescribed species, and for three of them there were abundant materials showing ventro-caudal shield development. Caulleryaspis fauchaldi sp. n. is described based on specimens from Oregon and California; it differs from the known species because it has a shield with rounded anterior margins and its peg chaetae form thin, small spines. Caulleryaspis nuda sp. n. was collected off Oregon; it is unique because its shield lacks a layer of sediment particles firmly attached, but has instead a thin layer of small particles loosely attached. Four other species are newly described in Sternaspis: S. annenkovae sp. n. was collected east off the northern Kurile Islands in about 4,000 m depth; it differs from other species by having a bicolored body, with the introvert darker than the abdomen, and its ventro-caudal shield plates are divergent resulting in a divided fan. The second species, S. maureri sp. n. was found off Peru in 1296–6489 m water depths and in the Southwestern Pacific in 795–3830 m; it resembles S. williamsae sp. n. but differs because its shield has better-developed ribs, the fan has a shallow or indistinct median notch and has lateral notches well-developed. The third species, S. uschakovi sp. n., was found in the Okhotsk Sea in 592–1366 m, off California in 1585 m, Gulf of California in 1200–1274 m, and Western Mexico in 2548 m; it resembles S. africana Augener, 1918 and S. andamanensis Sendall & Salazar-Vallejo, 2013 in having shields with a denticulate posterior margin; the latter two species live in shallow water and they differ from each other and from the new species by a combination of shield and papillae features. The fourth species, S. williamsae sp. n., was found off Oregon in 1000–2400 m, and off California in 878–1246 m; it resembles S. annenkovae because both species have shields with fans narrower than the anterior margin width, but differ in the relative development of shield features and in the relative size of prostomium and mouth; as stated above it also resembles S. maureri sp. n. but its shield has poorly-developed ribs, its median notch is distinct, and the lateral notches are poorly developed or indistinct. Keys to identify all species of Caulleryaspis and Sternaspis are also included.     

Neotropical Monogenoidea. 46. Three new species from the gills of introduced aquarium fishes in India,the proposal of Heterotylus n. g. and Diaphorocleidus n. g., and the reassignment of some previously described species of Urocleidoides Mizelle & Price, 1964 (Polyonchoinea: Dactylogyridae)

Three new species of the Dactylogyridae are described from aquarium fishes collected in India and two new genera are proposed: Heterotylus heterotylus n. g., n. sp. from Hypostomus sp. (Loricariidae), Diaphorocleidus armillatus n. g., n. sp. from Gymnocorymbus ternetzi (Characidae) and Urocleidoides vaginoclaustrum n. sp. from Xiphophorus helleri (Poeciliidae). Heterotylus n. g. is characterised by species having overlapping gonads (testis posterodorsal to the ovary), a mid-ventral vaginal aperture, a copulatory complex consisting of a relatively straight copulatory organ unarticulated to a complex accessory piece, erect acute hook thumbs, unexpanded hook shanks, dorsal and ventral anchor/bar complexes and absence of well-defined basal roots of the ventral anchors. Diaphorocleidus n. g. includes species with overlapping gonads (testis posterodorsal to the ovary), submarginal sinistral vaginal pore, a copulatory complex comprising a coiled (counterclockwise) copulatory organ unarticulated to an accessory piece, protruding depressed hook thumb, hook shank with two subunits (proximal subunit expanded), dorsal and ventral anchor/bar complexes and V-shaped bars. The following new combinations are proposed: D. affinis (Mizelle, Kritsky & Crane, 1968) n. comb. (syn. U. affinis Mizelle, Kritsky & Crane, 1968), D. kabatai (Molnar, Hanek & Fernando, 1974) n. comb. (syn. U. kabatai Molnar, Hanek & Fernando, 1974) and D. microstomus (Mizelle, Kritsky & Crane, 1968) n. comb. (syn. U. microstomus Mizelle, Kritsky & Crane, 1968).     

The opercular moult in Spirorbis spirorbis (L.) and S. pusilloides Bush (Polychaeta: Serpulidae)

Opercular moult has been examined in two spirorbids, the tube-incubating Spirorbis spirorbis (L.) and the opercular incubating Spirorbis pusilloides Bush. In both species epithelial ingrowth cuts off the old operculum and a new one differentiates on the proximal side of the constriction. The immediate fate of the severed tissues differs in the two species; in S. spirorbis the epithelia slowly wither as the platelike operculum finally breaks away by rupture of the cuticle while in S. pusilloides there is a cataclysmic autolysis of the epithelial tissues although the cuticle is retained and functions as an incubation chamber which ruptures at the close of incubation to release the larvae and is then shortly discarded.Opercular moult, rare in the immature animal in either species, normally begins with the onset of breeding. In S. pusilloides it is an essential preliminary to brooding and throughout the breeding season opercular moult rigidly alternates with brood incubation to produce a new incubation chamber for each successive brood. In S. spirorbis there is also some evidence of a partial correlation between brooding and opercular moult but the two events overlap and moulting is less frequent than the production of broods. A brief consideration is given to the evolution of the brooding habit and the tentative conclusion reached that opercular incubation has evolved twice in the Spirorbinae.     

Six new cavernicolous cixiid planthoppers in the genus Solonaima from Australia (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea)

Abstract The monophyletic genus Solonaima , endemic to northern Queensland, is reviewed and six new species are described: S.sullivani sp.n., S.pholetor sp.n., S.stonei sp.n., S.halos sp.n., S.irvini sp.n. and S. baylissa sp.n. The previously known epigean species, S.solonaima Kirkaldy and S.pallesens (Distant) are illustrated and redescribed. The six new species represent four separate independent cave invasions and nearly double the number of known cavernicolous cixiids in the world. This is the first report of a closely related group of cave-dwelling Homoptera showing varying degrees of cave adaptation. One facultative cave species, S.sullivani , shows virtually no modification from surface relatives. Two species, S.pholetor and S.stonei , show some eye, colour, and wing-reduction, but they are still flighted and are considered facultative cave species. S.halos and S. irvini are nearly blind and have reduced, non-functional wings and are considered obligate cave species. S. baylissa , the most remarkable obligate cave species, is highly modified: eyeless, nearly wingless and colourless. The evolutionary trends displayed in cave adaptation are illustrated and discussed. These include reduction in body colour, eyes and wings, alteration of head and thorax shape, and possibly simplification of the male genitalia. The geology of the caves is complex and ranges from greater than 5-million-year-old caves in Silurian-aged metamorphosed limestone to 190,000-year-old lava tubes. The facultative species are generally found in the most open caves, the two intermediate obligate species are found in deeper caves, and the most highly modified species is restricted to damp cave passages with high CO₂ levels. There is no correlation between the ages of the caves and the degree of cave adaptation.     

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.     

Five new species of Rhinonyssidae (Mesostigmata) and one new species of Dermanyssus (Mesostigmata: Dermanyssidae) from birds of Alberta and Manitoba, Canada

Three major lineages of mites are parasitic in the nasal passages of birds, i.e., Rhinonyssidae (Mesostigmata), Ereynetidae (Prostigmata), Cytoditidae, and Turbinoptidae (Astigmata). The most diverse family of avian nasal mites is Rhinonyssidae, which include obligate hematophagous endoparasites of nonratite birds worldwide. Nasal mites have been surveyed extensively in the United States, yet there has never been a Canadian survey. There are only 4 published, and 3 unpublished, rhinonyssid species records from birds in Canada. While surveying the nasal mites associated with birds of Alberta and Manitoba (western Canada), 1 new species of Dermanyssus and 5 new species of Rhinonyssidae were recovered. Herein, I describe and illustrate Dermanyssus diphyes n. sp., Ptilonyssus calvaria n. sp., P. nivalis n. sp., P. pinicola n. sp., P. plesiotypicus n. sp., and Sternostoma setifer n. sp.     

A revision of the genus Trixa Meigen （Diptera： Tachinidae）

The genus Trixa Meigen, 1824 is revised. Dexiotrix Villeneuve, 1936 and Trixella Mesnil, 1980, each of which was sometimes treated as a distinct genus, are treated as junior synonyms of Trixa Meigen. Two species from Sichuan and Yunnan, China, are described as new to science, viz. Trixa chinensis sp. nov. and T. chaoi sp. nov. T. alpina Meigen is treated as a junior synonym of T. caerulescens Meigen. T. nox (Shima) and T.pubiseta (Mesnil) are newly recorded from China. Males of T. pubiseta (Mesnil) and T.longipensis (Villeneuve) are described for the first time. Diagnoses, figures and a key to twelve species in Trixa are given.     

Revision of the Australian Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). Part 3. Tribe Sukunahikonini

Abstract  The Australian members of the circumtropical coccinellid tribe Sukunahikonini are revised and placed in three genera: Scymnomorphus Weise (five species), Pharellus Sicard (two species) and Paraphellus Chazeau (two species). Scymnus rostratus Lea, 1929 is transferred to Paraphellus as P. rostratus (Lea) comb. n. The following new species are described from Australia: Pharellus glabratus sp. n., P. popei sp. n.; Paraphellus magnopunctatus sp. n.; Scymnomorphus fulvus sp. n., S. hirtus sp. n., S. ker sp. n., S. luteus sp. n., S. storeyi sp. n. Nomenclatural history, diagnoses and distribution are provided for each species. Keys to the genera and species are included.     

Spirorbinae (Polychaeta:Serpulidae) from Chios (Aegean Sea)

Twelve species are described, of which two are new, viz. Spirorbis (Janua) gnomonicus and Spirorbis (J.) parvulus, and three others have been recognized only very recently, viz. S. (Pileolaria) clavus, S. (P.) endoumensis, S. (P.) heteropoma. Some such as 5. (jf.) corrugatus and S. (P.) koehleri were widely distributed between depths of 0–60 m, but others showed a tendency towards depth zonation, with S.(J.)pagenstecheri abundant in shallow and S. (Spirorbis) cuneatus in somewhat less shallow water. 5. (P.) pseudomilitaris and S. (Marsipospira) striatus were confined to greater depths except where the former occurred amongst ships fouling and the latter in a dark cave. 5. (P.) militaris seems rather uncommon.
A remarkably high percentage of the species (over 80%) are opercular incubators. Outside the Mediterranean, the only areas known to have similar percentages are Ceylon and the West Indies, suggesting that the habit may have originated in the Sea of Tethys.