Immature stages of three species of Blissidae from Mexico (Heteroptera: Lygaeoideae)

Chinch bugs are associated with several species of monocots, and species of Gramineae are the principal plants utilized. In Mexico, 24 species of Blissidae have been recorded. The immature stages of Ischnodemus sallei (Signoret), Toonglasa munda (Slater & Wilcox), and T. tumorosis (Slater & Wilcox) are described and illustrated. These species have been recorded from several species of bamboo. Distributional records in Mexico and the host plants of these chinch bugs are also included.     

Mexican species of the genus Stethantyx Townes (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae, Tersilochinae)

Six species of the genus Stethantyx Townes are found to occur in Mexico. One species, S. mexicana sp. n., is described as new, and four recently described Neotropical species, S. alajuela Khalaim & Broad, S. heredia Khalaim & Broad, S. osa Khalaim & Broad and S. sanjosea Khalaim & Broad, are new records from Mexico. A key to species of Stethantyx occurring in Mexico is provided.     

A new key for the species of Ateuchus Weber (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) occurring in Mexico,with a description of the first North American inquiline species from a rodent burrow (Rodentia: Geomydae) and new distribution records

The first Ateuchus Weber (Scarabaeinae) species, A. tuza sp. nov., from a rodent burrow from North America is described. Diagnostic characters are presented; photographs of an adult male and illustrations of male genitalia are included. A key for all known Mexican Ateuchus Weber species is provided. Ateuchus hornai (Balthasar) is revalidated. New distribution records from Mexico and Central America are reported.     

New species and records of Charisius Champion from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae)

The species of the genus Charisius Champion, from Mexico and Central America are reviewed. The flightless genus Narses Champion, with one included species, N. subalatus Champion, is placed in synonymy with the genus Charisius. Four new species are described and illustrated, C. granulatus and C. punctatus (from Guatemala) and C. apterus and C. howdenorum (from Mexico). Charisius subalatus (Champion) is redescribed and illustrated. The species C. interstitialis Champion is placed in synonymy with C. zunilensis Champion. The genus is redescribed to include the four new species and N. subalatus. New distributional records are presented for all other species of the genus and a revised key is presented for identification of all the species of the genus.     

A new species of Polymnia (Compositae: Heliantheae) from Mexico

Polymnia mcvaughii from Jalisco, Mexico, is described as new. This herbaceous species appears to belong in the mainstream of evolution within the genus. It exhibits marked affinities to several species, but most closely resemblesP. oaxacana Schultz-Bip. Illustrations of important features are included, along with a list of key characteristics.     

Immature stages of Pangaeus (Pangaeus) serripes (Westwood) (Hemiptera-Heteroptera: Cydnidae: Cydninae), associated with figs in Mexico

The immature stages of Pangaeus (Pangaeus) serripes are described for the first time. Immature stages are illustrated and notes about their biology are included. Morphological features of the legs of the nymphs are associated with the fossorial habit of the Cydninae. Both adults and nymphs have been reared and found feeding on fallen fruits and seeds of several species of figs in Mexico.     

Systematic status and first description of male of Dujardinia cenotae Pearse, 1936 [= Hysterothylacium cenotae (Pearse, 1936) Moravec et al., 1995] (Nematoda: Anisakidae)

A new collection of adult anisakid nematodes from the intestine of the catfish Rhamdia guatemalensis from two cenotes (= sinkholes) and a cave in the Yucatan Peninsula, southeastern Mexico, has shown that they are conspecific with those inadequately described as Dujardinia cenotae Pearse, 1936. The female is redescribed and the male is described for the first time. The morphology of this species shows that it belongs to the genus Hysterothylacium. This is the only Hysterothylacium species recorded from freshwater fishes in Mexico and it may well be endemic to cenotes and caves of the Yucatan Peninsula.     

Redescriptions of Nereis oligohalina (Rioja, 1946) and N. garwoodi González-Escalante & Salazar-Vallejo, 2003 and description of N. confusa sp. n. (Annelida,Nereididae)

Type material of several polychaete species described by Enrique Rioja from Mexican coasts are lost, and the current status of some species is doubtful. Nereis oligohalina (Rioja, 1946) was described from the Gulf of Mexico, but it has been considered a junior synonym of Nereis occidentalis Hartman, 1945, or regarded as a distinct species with an amphiamerican distribution. On the other hand, Nereis garwoodi González-Escalante & Salazar-Vallejo, 2003, described from Chetumal Bay, Caribbean coasts, could be confused with Nereis oligohalina. In order to clarify these uncertainties, Nereis oligohalina is redescribed based on specimens from the Mexican Gulf of Mexico, including a proposed neotype; further, Nereis garwoodi is redescribed including the selection of lectotype and paralectotypes, and Nereis confusa sp. n. is described with material from the Gulf of California. A key for the identification of similar species and some comments about speciation in nereidid polychaetes are also included.     

A new Planthopper (Insecta: Hemiptera: Nogodinidae) from Chiapas amber, middle Miocene of Mexico

A new species of Planthopper, Nogodina chiapaneca sp. nov. from the Mexican Chiapas amber (southeast Mexico) is described. The new species belongs to Nogodinidae: Nogodinini: Nogodinina. This is the second nogodinid species described from Mexican amber. Both species belong to Nogodinina, a taxon with a Neotropical distribution. The only recent species of Nogodina, N. reticulata, ranges from Honduras to Brazil and is unknown from Mexico yet.     

A new species of Psathyrella (Agaricales,Coprinaceae) from Mexico with discussions on the known species

Psathyrella hypertropicalis, a new species, is described from a high mountain (Cofre de Perote) in the State of Veracruz, Mexico above the subtropical zone. This species is intermediate betweenP. velutina of the temperate regions andP. sepulchralis from the subtropical regions of Mexico. A list of the 26 species ofPsathyrella of Mexico is presented, of which 21 are from the tropics and subtropics, three from the temperate regions (P. velutina, P. spadicea, andP. hypertropicalis), and two with a broad distribution (P. candolleana andP. disseminata). Eleven are only known from Mexico.     

Molecular link between the metacercariae and adults of four species Haematoloechus (Digenea: Plagiorchioidea), including scanning electron microscopy characterization

Haematoloechus comprises a species-rich genus of trematodes commonly found in the lungs of amphibians across the globe. Of the approximately 70 species reported worldwide, Mexico stands out as a biodiversity hot spot for the genus, with 16 species described. In Los Tuxtlas tropical rainforest, in south-eastern Mexico, three species have been reported, two of them endemic of the frog species occurring in the area. Here, we added the record of a fourth species in the area, and partially elucidated the life cycle of these species using DNA sequence data from the 28S rRNA and the COI genes. Frogs, and a diverse array of species of aquatic insects were sampled in two lakes within the tropical rain forest. Adults and metacercariae of Haematoloechus were obtained. Both developmental stages were linked molecularly contributing to our understanding of their transmission pathways, and probable host-specificity patterns. Each of the four species of Haematoloechus were sampled in a particular species of anisopteran odonate, and therefore were considered as specialists towards their second intermediate host. We validated the presence of H. complexus in the region of Los Tuxtlas because their metacercariae, sampled in the anisopteran dragongly Agriogomphus tumens, matched with sequences of H. complexus from Nebraska and Illinois in USA. We further described the ultrastructure of the tegument of three of the four species of Haematoloechus, sampled from their definitive host (Rana vaillanti, Rana berlandieri), to contribute with characters that can be reliable for species delimitation of the genus.     

The genus hampea(Malvaceae)

The genusHampea Schlecht. is included in the Malvaceae, tribe Gossypieae, rather than in the Bombacaceae where it was originally placed. Discussion includes the morphology, geography (central Mexico to western Colombia), reproductive cycle, utilization and vernacular names, and cytology (n = 13) of the genus. Three species have perfect flowers; the remainder are dioecious. The 16 species (and one variety) that are accepted are divided into three sections, one of which is further subdivided into three series. The following taxa are described as new:H. nutricia, H. mexicana, H. sphaerocarpa, andH. appendiculata var.longicalyx.     

Ipomopsis sancti-spiritus (Polemoniaceae), a new species from northern New Mexico

Ipomopsis sancti-spiritus, a new species in sect.Ipomopsis, from the mountains of northern New Mexico is described and illustrated. The purplish calyx, pink corolla, and a short pistil with the stigma situated below the included stamens represent a unique combination of characters. The new species is similar toI. arizonica but differs primarily in corolla color and in length of the pistil.     

Review and redescription of species in the Oecetis avara group,with the description of 15 new species (Trichoptera,Leptoceridae)

The O. avara group of Oecetis is formally defined to include 4 described species, O. avara (Banks), O. disjuncta (Banks), O. elata Denning & Sykora, and O. metlacenis Bueno-Soria, and 15 new species. Oecetis marquesi Bueno-Soria, previously considered a member of the O. avara group, is treated as incertae sedis to species group, but is also redescribed and treated in the current work. New species described here (with their respective distributions) include: O. acciptrina (Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador), O. agosta (Mexico), O. angularis (Guatemala to Ecuador), O. apache (SW USA), O. campana (Ecuador), O. constricta (Mexico to Ecuador, Venezuela, and Trinidad), O. houghtoni (North America), O. maritza (Costa Rica), O. mexicana (Mexico to Ecuador), O. patula (Guatemala, Nicaragua), O. protrusa (Mexico to Ecuador), O. sordida (Mexico, USA, Canada), O. tumida (Costa Rica), O. uncata (Costa Rica), and O. verrucula (Mexico to Costa Rica). A key to the species is also provided.     

Revision of the Plant Bug Genus Tytthus (Hemiptera,Heteroptera, Miridae,Phylinae)

The phyline plant bug genus Tytthus Fieber, previously containing 19 species, is revised. Isoproba Osborn and Drake, 1915, incorrectly placed in the subfamily Bryocorinae, tribe Dicyphini, is synonymized as a junior synonym of Tytthus Fieber, syn. n.; the only included species, Isoproba picea Osborn and Drake is transferred to Tytthus, comb. n., as the senior synonym of Tytthus hondurensis Carvalho, syn. n.; and Tytthus koreanus Josifov and Kerzhner, 1972 is synonymized with Tytthus chinensis (Stål 1860), syn. n.; and a lectotype for Tytthus parviceps is designated. The six new species Tytthus femoralis from Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, and Peru,Tytthus fuscicornis from New Mexico (USA), Tytthus mexicanus from Mexico, Tytthus pallidus from Brazil and Panama, Tytthus uniformis from Arizona and New Mexico (USA), and Tytthus wheeleri from the eastern United States are described, bringing the total number of species for the genus to 24. A color adult habitus illustration of Tytthus wheeleri, color photographs for each species (except Tytthus juturnaiba Carvalho and Wallerstein), illustrations of male genitalia, scanning electron photomicrographs of selected structures of certain species, and an identification key are provided to facilitate species recognition. A phylogenetic analysis is offered to help infer relationships.     

Three new species of Dasylirion (Nolinaceae) from Mexico and a clarification of the D. longissimum complex

Three new species ofDasylirion and a new variety ofD. longissimum Lem. from the mountains of northern Mexico are described and illustrated. Two of the new species are from northwestern Mexico:D. gentryi, with large, rosecolored fruits and glossy, non-waxy leaves; andD. sereke, characterized by roundish fruits with an unusuall large style.Dasylirion miquihuanense is a new species from northeastern Mexico with narrow, strictly upright leaves and widely separated marginal prickles. TheDasylirion longissimum complex consists of two species,D. quadrangulatum S. Wats andD. longissimum Lem., characterized by narrow, quadrangulate leaves with reduced or absents marginal prickles. Distinguishing features of these two species, which have often been confused, are presented andD. longissimum var.treleasei, characterized by small flowers and fruits, is described.     

A brachylaimid trematode from marsupial mice with observations on its life cycle

A species of digenetic trematode, Brachylaime antechini (Family Brachylaimidae), is described from adult worms recovered from the intestine and rectum of two species of marsupial mice, Antechinus stuartii(10 of 56 infected) and Antechinus swainsonii (2 of 5 infected). On experimental evidence unencysted metacercariae from the kidney of a terrestrial gastropod, Strangesta capillacea, are considered to be larval stages of Brachylaime antechini. Miracidia, sporocysts and cercariae have not been recovered, but circumstantial evidence suggests that Strangesta capillacea fulfils the role of first intermediate host. Brachylaime antechini most closely resembles Brachylaime chiapensis, a parasite of deer mice in Mexico.