Apotrachelocerca arenicola (Kahl, 1933) n. g., comb. n. (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Trachelocercidae): morphology and phylogeny

During faunistic study on psammophilic ciliates along the coast of Qingdao, China, a population of Trachelocerca arenicola Kahl, 1933 was found and then investigated using silver staining and gene sequencing methods. The results indicated that it represented a new genus Apotrachelocerca characterized by uninterrupted circumoral kineties composed of two rows of dikinetids and no brosse or ciliary tuft in the oral cavity. This new genus should be assigned to the family Prototrachelocercidae Foissner, 1996. Based on the small subunit rRNA gene sequence, phylogenetic trees revealed that Apotrachelocerca arenicola occupied a basal position to other trachelocercids.     

Immature Stages of Neotropical Enochrus (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae): E. (Methydrus) lampros Knisch, 1924 and E. (Hugoscottia) tremolerasi Knisch, 1922

The preimaginal stages of the Neotropical species E. (M.) lampros Knisch, and Enochrus (H.) tremolerasi Knisch, are described and illustrated for the first time. They are compared to the immatures of the Neotropical species E. (M.) vulgaris (Steinheil) and E. (Hugoscottia) scutellaris (Bruch), the Nearctic E. (M.) fimbriatus (Melsheimer) and E. (M.) pygmaeus nebulosus Say, and the Australian E. (M.) maculiceps (MacLeay). Bionomical notes on the two species are included.     

Scyphophyllidium uruguayense n. sp. (Eucestoda: Tetraphyllidea) in Mustelus mento (Cope, 1877) (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) from La Paloma, Uruguay.

A new species of Scyphophyllidium inhabits Mustelus mento near La Paloma, Uruguay. It resembles Scyphophyllidium giganteum from the Atlantic Ocean and specimens identified as S. giganteum from California by having anapolytic strobilae 155-258 mm long, 250-300 craspedote proglottids, scoleces 1.2-1.4 mm wide, necks 34-41 mm long, immature and mature proglottids wider than long, gravid proglottids wider than long to longer than wide, genital pores averaging 28% of proglottid length from the anterior end, relatively flat ovaries with digitiform lobes reaching the lateralmost extent of the testicular field, vitellaria in 2 fields converging toward the proglottid midline, straight and short cirrus sacs, and postvaginal vas deferens. The bothridia of the new species have accessory bothridial suckers that are smaller than those of California specimens; European specimens reportedly lack accessory bothridial suckers. The new species possesses a uterine duct that joins the uterus at the level of the genital atrium and ventral osmoregulatory ducts medial rather than lateral to the dorsal ducts, an arrangement described for Californian but not European specimens. It differs from both European and Californian specimens by having longer cirri, more testes per proglottid, prominent scales covering the neck, and vaginae and uterine ducts coiled immediately preovarially. Pithophorus, Marsupiobothrium, and Scyphophyllidium may form a clade.     

Polylekithum percai n. sp. (Trematoda: Allocreadiidae) from Percichthys trucha (Perciformes: Percichthydae) in Patagonia,Argentina, and a redescription of Homalometron papilliferum (Szidat, 1956) n. comb.

Two species of Digenea are recorded from the intestine of Percichthys trucha (Percichthydae) from Patagonian water bodies. Polylekithum percai n. sp. (Allocreadiidae) is distinguished by its body size, the relative size of the suckers, the anterior extension of the vitelline fields, the number of eggs in the uterus and the different species of fish host from the two previously described species of Polylekithum. Homalometron (= Austrocreadium) papilliferum (Szidat, 1956) n. comb. is redescribed. Due to its spined tegument and the absence of a cirrus-sac, this species is considered a member of the family Apocreadiidae.     

Pterigodermatites (Paucipectines) spinicaudatis n. sp. (Nematoda: Rictularidae) from Dromiciops australis (Marsupialia: Microbiotheriidae) in Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina. Biogeographical distribution and host-parasite relationships.

Pterigodermatites (P.) spinicaudatis sp. n. from Dromiciops australis is proposed and described. The simple morphology of the ovijector and the presence of a well developed spine between the two cuticular projections at the caudal extremity of the female distinguish the studied nematode from the remainder species of the genus parasitizing South American Edentata, marsupials and cricetid rodents. The distribution area of the hosts of the different species of P. (P.) are given. The studied genus does not parasitize any Australian marsupials. It was found in the endemic South American Microbiotheriidae. This fact suggests from a parasitological point of view that D. australis is not related to the Australian marsupials but to the South American ones.     

Taxonomic status, redescription, and surface ultrastructure of Ascocotyle (Phagicola) pindoramensis n. comb. (Digenea: Heterophyidae)

Pygidiopsis pindoramensis Travassos, 1928, is redescribed from the holotype and specimens obtained from experimental infections of hamsters with metacercariae of the naturally infected poeciliids Poecilia vivipara and Phalloptychus januarius from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ascocotyle (Phagicola) pindoramensis (Travassos, 1928) n. comb. is proposed, based on the presence of a solid, tapering muscular posterior prolongation of the oral sucker and Ascocotyle (Phagicola) mollienisicola (Sogandares-Bernal and Bridgman, 1960) is synonymized with A. (P.) pindoramensis because of the identical morphology and measurements of adults and metacercariae, similar spectrum of fish intermediate hosts (poeciliids), and the same site of infection of the metacercariae. Trematodes designated as Pygidiopsis pindoramensis, previously reported from Argentina and Mexico, represent another species of Pygidiopsis Looss, 1907, because they possess circumoral spines and their oral sucker is devoid of the posterior muscular prolongation. Data on the surface morphology of metacercariae and adults of A. (P.) pindoramensis are inferred from scanning electron microscopy observations.     

Description ofGerres chrysops sp. nov. From Thailand and redescription ofGerres setifer (Hamilton, 1822) andG. Decacanthus (Bleeker, 1865) (perciformes: Gerreidae)

Gerres chrysops, a new gerreid species from the Gulf of Thailand, is described on the basis of 29 specimens, 58–83 mm in standard length (SL). A small-sized species (less than 100 mm SL), it is characterized by a silvery-gold sheen on the head and trunk, vivid yellow or yellowish-hyaline fins in life, two supraneural bones (formula 0/0/2/) and dorsal fin rays usually IX, 10. The new species is similar toG. decacanthus (Bleeker, 1865) andG. setifer (Hamilton, 1822), which are redescribed. being similarly small valid gerreid species characterized by two supraneural bones. Together, the three species comprise “theGerres setifer complex.”Gerres chrysops differs from bothG. decacanthus andG. setifer in life and fresh colors, the body being silvery-gold with vivid yellow or yellowish dorsal, caudal, anal and pelvic fins, and yellowish-hyaline pectoral fins (vs. silver body with hyaline fins in the latter two species).Gerres setifer differs fromG. chrysops andG. decacanthus in having the last dorsal fin spine longer than the penultimate spine (vs. almost same length or shorter), usually ten dorsal fin spines and nine soft dorsal rays (vs. usually IX, 10), and 8 or 9 lower series gill rakers (vs. usually 7).Gerres decacanthus differs fromG. chrysops andG. setifer in having a shorter head, lesser body depth at the first anal fin spine base, lesser body width at the pectoral fin base, and shorter second dorsal and third anal fin spines. The new species is currently known only from Angsilla, near Bangsaen, and around Si Chang Island, northeastern Gulf of Thailand.Gerres decacanthus inhabits southern Chinese waters andG. setifer is currently known from the Bay of Bengal to the Andaman Sea.     

Paralepidapedon ostorhinchi (Korotaeva, 1974) n. comb. (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) in Oplegnathus woodwardi (Waite) (Teleostei: Perciformes: Oplegnathidae) from off Rottnest Island,Western Australia

The digenean originally designated Lepidapedon (Lepidapedon) ostorhinchi is redescribed from its type-host, Oplegnathus woodwardi [= Ostorhinchus conwaii], from the waters off Western Australia. The discovery of a uroproct indicates that the generic designation is wrong and the worm should be Paralepidapedon ostorhinchi (Korotaeva, 1974) n. comb. It is distinct from its nearest relative, P. hoplognathi (Yamaguti, 1938), in having: a prominent post-oral ring; a distinct oesophagus; short anterior diverticula on the caeca; a long external seminal vesicle, ensheathed in a membrane bound gland-cell mass; and less anteriorly extensive vitellarium.     

Relationships betweenApanteles flavipes (Hym.: Braconidae) andNosema bordati (Microspora,Nosematidae) parasites ofChilo partellus (Lep.: Pyralidae)

A laboratory study was conducted on the relationships betweenNosema bordati Goudegnon andApanteles flavipes (Cameron) when they simultaneously parasitiseChilo partellus (Swinhoe). The results indicate thatN. bordati is highly pathogenic to the immature instars of the parasitoid. Lightly infected adults ofA. flavipes are able to transmit the Microsporidian.     

Cicesetrema unami n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae: Cryptogoniminae) from Paralichthys californicus (Ayres, 1859) (Osteichthyes: Pleuronectiformes: Paralichthydae) in San Quintin Bay, Baja California, Mexico

Cicesetrema unami n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae) is described from the intestine of the California halibut, Paralichthys californicus, from San Quintin Bay, Baja California, Mexico. The new genus is distinguished from other members of the Cryptogoniminae in having vitellaria that form asymmetric bunches of follicles and extend in lateral fields from the level of the ovary posteriad beyond the testes. In addition, the species in the new genus possess a subterminal, funnel-shaped oral sucker that is prominent when protruded but usually retracted in a fold at the anterior end.     

First record of Cotesia scotti () (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) comb. nov. parasitising Spodoptera cosmioides (Walk, 1858) and Spodoptera eridania (Stoll, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil

This is the first report of Cotesia scotti (Valerio and Whitfield) comb. nov. in Brazil, attacking larvae of the black armyworm, Spodoptera cosmioides, and the southern armyworm, S. eridania. The moth larvae were found respectively, infesting a protected cropping of organic tomato in Hidrolândia, Goiás, Brazil, and a transgenic soybean crop in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil. Biological, molecular and morphological characters were used to confirm the identity of the specimens. Parasitoid identification presented a challenge since the species has most diagnostic characters of the genus Cotesia Cameron, but few in the poorly defined genus Parapanteles Ashmead. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, we transfer Parapanteles scotti to the genus Cotesia. The new combination is discussed by comparison with morphologically similar species and available molecular data.