A new species of tiger beetle from southeastern Arizona and Mexico (Coleoptera,Carabidae, Cicindelini)

A new tiger beetle species, Cicindelidia melissa Duran & Roman, sp. n., of the tribe Cicindelini, is described from high elevation montane forests of southeastern Arizona and Mexico. It appears to be most closely related to Cicindelidia nebuligera (Bates) but is distinguished on the basis of multiple morphological characters and geographic range. The new species is also superficially similar to the widespread Cicindelidia sedecimpunctata (Klug), but distinguished on the basis of multiple morphological characters and habitat. Habitus, male and female reproductive structures, and known distribution map are presented.     

Morphological and genetic differentiation of two loliginid squids, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) chinensis and Uroteuthis (Photololigo) edulis (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae), in Asia

The squids Uroteuthis (Photololigo) edulis and Uroteuthis (Photololigo) chinensis (family Loliginidae) are commercially important fishery species in many coastal regions of Asia. The morphologies of these two squids are very similar, and identification based on morphology has been inadequate. The occurrence of cryptic species in the family Loliginidae has been reported. The widely distributed U. (P.) chinensis and U. (P.) edulis are believed to comprise several cryptic species. In this study, the taxonomic status of the two species in East Asia was elucidated by morphological and genetic analyses. Analysis of U. (P.) chinensis from Hong Kong and Xiamen (China) and U. (P.) edulis from Yamaguchi (Japan) and Shanghai (China) was performed in order to determine the effectiveness of different morphometric variables in discriminating between the two species. Multivariate analysis of 27 morphometric indices revealed no new morphological characters for the taxonomic identification of the two taxa, which can be distinguished by the teeth shape and number on arm sucker rings, and the percentage of hectocotylized part of left arm IV of males. The morphometric differences between U. (P.) edulis individuals from the two localities is most probably due to differences in the maturity stages of the sampled individuals between the two localities. Genetic analysis based on the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes revealed a high divergence of 15.5% and 7.5% respectively, indicating that U. (P.) edulis and U. (P.) chinensis are distinct species.     

Two new Neuratelia Rondani (Diptera,Mycetophilidae) species from Western Palaearctic: a case of limited congruence between morphology and DNA sequence data

Two new Mycetophilidae species, Neuratelia jabalmoussae sp. n. and Neuratelia salmelai sp. n. are described on the basis of material collected from Lebanon, Estonia and Finland. Detailed figures of male terminalia and photographs of general facies are provided along with discussions of their morphological distinction from sibling species. For the first time molecular characters are used to distinguish new fungus gnat species. Molecular analysis relies on cytochrome oxidase subunit one (COI) but has additionally been corroborated by information from the 28S and ITS2 regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Situations where morphological and molecular data provide conflicting evidence for species delimitation are discussed. A new country record from Georgia is provided for Neuratelia caucasica.     

Taxonomic revision of the East Asian genus Scleropteroides Colonnelli, 1979 (Coleoptera,Curculionidae, Ceutorhynchinae)

The genus Scleropteroides Colonnelli, 1979 (Ceutorhynchinae: Scleropterini) was revised on the basis of detailed morphological observations. The genus was redefined to include three species from East Asia: S. hypocrita (Hustache, 1916) is redescribed and recorded from northeastern China and northern Korea for the first time; S. horridulus (Voss, 1958) is redescribed with new records from southern Korea; S. insularis Voss, 1971 was moved from synonymy with S. hypocrita to that with S. horridulus (syn. n.), and S. longiprocessus Huang & Yoshitake, sp. n. is described as new, sympatric with S. hypocrita in Japan. All the species are associated with woody Rubus species (Rosaceae). A key to species, habitus photographs, illustrations of important characters, and distribution maps are provided for each species.     

Comparative labellar micromorphology of Zygopetalinae (Orchidaceae)

Background and Aims

Molecular evidence indicates that the Neotropical sub-tribe Zygopetalinae is sister to Maxillariinae. Most members of the latter sub-tribe have deceit pollination strategies, but some species produce rewards such as nectar, pseudopollen, resin and wax, and are pollinated by a range of pollinators that include stingless bees (Meliponini), wasps and hummingbirds. By contrast, relatively little is known about the pollination of Zygopetalinae species. However, some are pollinated by fragrance-gathering, male euglossine bees or employ nectar deceit strategies. The aim of this study is to describe the labellar micromorphology of Zygopetalinae and to compare it with that of Maxillariinae sensu lato (s.l.) as part of an ongoing project to record the range of labellar characters found within the tribe Maxillarieae, and to assess whether these characters represent synapomorphies or homoplasies resulting from similar pollination pressures.

Methods

The labella of 31 species of Zygopetalinae, including Cryptarrhena R. Br. and representatives of the Zygopetalum, Huntleya and Warrea clades, were examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and the range of labellar characters was recorded. These characters were subsequently compared with those of Maxillariinae s.l. which formed the subject of our previous investigations.

Key Results and Conclusions

The labellar micromorphology of Zygopetalinae is less diverse than that of Maxillariinae and does not reflect the currently accepted phylogeny of the former sub-tribe based on molecular studies. Instead, the relative uniformity in labellar micromorphology of Zygopetalinae is probably due to homoplasies resulting from similar pollinator pressures. Labellar trichomes are relatively uncommon in Zygopetalinae, but occur in certain members of both the Zygopetalum and Huntleya clades. Trichomes are unbranched, uniseriate and multicellular with rounded apices, or unbranched and unicellular, with tapering, pointed and flexuose apices. Hitherto, unicellular trichomes of this kind have been observed only for euglossophilous orchid taxa, and the adoption of a relatively limited range of pollination strategies by Zygopetalinae may have resulted in reduced investment in micromorphological labellar characters.     

A new species and record of branchial parasitic isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda: Bopyridae: Pseudioninae) of porcellanid crabs from the Philippines

Branchial bopyrids infesting porcellanid crabs from the Philippines were investigated based on intertidal collections made in 1999-2000. Crabs of the genus Petrolisthes collected from sites in the northern Philippines were examined and two parasite species were found. One new pseudionine species found infesting Petrolisthes sp. [cf. Petrolisthes asiaticus (Leach)] is described as Aporobopyrus galleonus (prevalence 6.1%); this species is distinguished from other members of the genus by a setose palp on the maxilliped of the females, barbula morphology, and male characters including the possession of pleopods. This represents the second described species of Aporobopyrus from the Philippines, and the first from porcellanid crabs. In addition, Pleurocrypta macrocephalaNierstrasz and Brender à Brandis, 1923 (originally described from Indonesia) was found infesting the same unidentified Petrolisthes sp. (prevalence 2.6%); this is the first report of the species from the Philippines.     

A new species of Hemichela Stock, 1954 from the South China Sea (Arthropoda,Pycnogonida, Ammotheidae)

A new species of pycnogonid collected by the Chinese research vessel, R/V HY IV, during deep sea cruises to the South China Sea in 2013, is described. The new species, Hemichela nanhaiensis, obtained from more than 1300 m depth, is distinguished from the other two species in the genus by the characters of the chela dactylus with 12 denticulations on the inner margin and by the presence of taller tubercles on the lateral processes.     

Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the fern genus Pteris (Pteridaceae)

Background and Aims

Pteris (Pteridaceae), comprising over 250 species, had been thought to be a monophyletic genus until the three monotypic genera Neurocallis, Ochropteris and Platyzoma were included. However, the relationships between the type species of the genus Pteris, P. longifolia, and other species are still unknown. Furthermore, several infrageneric morphological classifications have been proposed, but are debated. To date, no worldwide phylogenetic hypothesis has been proposed for the genus, and no comprehensive biogeographical history of Pteris, crucial to understanding its cosmopolitan distribution, has been presented.

Methods

A molecular phylogeny of Pteris is presented for 135 species, based on cpDNA rbcL and matK and using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference approaches. The inferred phylogeny was used to assess the biogeographical history of Pteris and to reconstruct the evolution of one ecological and four morphological characters commonly used for infrageneric classifications.

Key Results

The monophyly of Pteris remains uncertain, especially regarding the relationship of Pteris with Actiniopteris + Onychium and Platyzoma. Pteris comprises 11 clades supported by combinations of ecological and morphological character states, but none of the characters used in previous classifications were found to be exclusive synapomorphies. The results indicate that Pteris diversified around 47 million years ago, and when species colonized new geographical areas they generated new lineages, which are associated with morphological character transitions.

Conclusions

This first phylogeny of Pteris on a global scale and including more than half of the diversity of the genus should contribute to a new, more reliable infrageneric classification of Pteris, based not only on a few morphological characters but also on ecological traits and geographical distribution. The inferred biogeographical history highlights long-distance dispersal as a major process shaping the worldwide distribution of the species. Colonization of different niches was followed by subsequent morphological diversification. Dispersal events followed by allopatric and parapatric speciation contribute to the species diversity of Pteris.     

Reevaluation of the odd chrysidid genus Atoposega Krombein (Hymenoptera,Chrysididae, Amiseginae)

The south Asian amisegine genus Atoposega Krombein, 1957, is reevaluated. Three new species, A. rufithorax, A. striata and A. thailandica are described from Thailand and the previously described species, A. lineata (Krombein, 1957) from Borneo, A. rieki (Krombein, 1957) from Myanmar and A. simulans Kimsey, 1986 from Malaysia are redescribed. The species, A. decorata Kimsey, 1995, was found to lack the generic characters diagnostic for Atoposega. Atoposega is only known from females.     

Status of the enigmatic Oriental genus Rhithrogeniella Ulmer, 1939 (Ephemeroptera,Heptageniidae)

Based on historic collections and new material from Sumatra and Java, the species Rhithrogeniella ornata Ulmer, 1939, type species of the genus Rhithrogeniella, is reinvestigated. The nymph is described for the first time and is closely related to the continental Southeast Asian species Rhithrogeniella tonkinensis Soldán and Braasch, 1986. Rhithrogeniella belongs to the subfamily Ecdyonurinae, and is related to the genera Nixe Flowers, 1980 and/or Paracinygmula Bajkova, 1975 based on characters of the nymphal stage. Species described from Taiwan in the genus Nixe are transferred to the genus Rhithrogeniella: Rh. littoralis (Kang and Yang, 1994) comb. n., Rh. mitifica (Kang and Yang, 1994) comb. n. and Rh. obscura (Kang and Yang, 1994) comb. n.     

The morphology of the larval stages of three species (Arrenurus mediorotundatus Thor, 1898; Arrenurus conicus Piers 1894; and Arrenurus cylindratus Piers, 1896) of the Megaluracarus subgenus (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Arrenuridae)

The morphology of the larval stages of three species (Arrenurus mediorotundatus, Arrenurus conicus and Arrenurus cylindratus) belonging to the Megaluracarus subgenus is described. Particular attention is paid to the common characters of the three species in which they differ from the other species belonging to the other subgenera. These are: the shape of the excretory pore plate, the shape of the dorsal plate, the length of coxal plate II medial margin and the C1-CpI, C4-CpIII distances. Other characters differ between the three species also. These are: the shape of the dorsal plate, the shape of coxal plate III, the shape of excretory pore plate and the presence or absence of secondary setae of the IFe3 setae.     

Ochoterenella esslingeri n. sp. (Nematoda: Onchocercidae: Waltonellinae) from Bokermannohyla luctuosa (Anura: Hylidae) in Minas Gerais,Brazil, with notes on Paraochoterenella Purnomo & Bangs, 1999

The waltonelline Ochoterenella esslingeri n. sp., a filarial parasite of the anuran Bokermannohyla luctuosa in Minas Gerais, Brazil is described. Several characters distinguish this new species from the 15 species presently included in the genus: the cuticular ornamentation of the female that is restricted to the posterior region of the body, the irregular arrangement of the small, rounded bosses, the postoesophageal vulva, the short glandular oesophagus, the size and shape of the microfilariae, the long left spicule and high spicular ratio. Irregularly arranged, tiny, rounded bosses are common in the monotypic genus Paraochoterenella from an Indonesian ranid, which is not well defined but likely valid. In the Neotropical Realm, the type hosts of the species of Ochoterenella are Hylidae (O. esslingeri n. sp.), Leptodactylidae (two species) and the remaining 13 species were described from the giant toad Rhinella marina (Bufonidae).     

An unusual new species of paguroid (Crustacea,Anomura, Paguridae) from deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico

A new hermit crab species of the family Paguridae, Tomopaguropsis ahkinpechensis sp. n., is described from deep waters (780–827 m) of the Gulf of Mexico. This is the second species of Tomopaguropsis known from the western Atlantic, and the fifth worldwide. The new species is morphologically most similar to a species from Indonesia, Tomopaguropsis crinita McLaughlin, 1997, the two having ocular peduncles that diminish in width distally, reduced corneas, dense cheliped setation, and males lacking paired pleopods 1. The calcified figs on the branchiostegite and anterodorsally on the posterior carapace, and the calcified first pleonal somite that is not fused to the last thoracic somite, are unusual paguroid characters. A discussion of the affinities and characters that define this new species is included, along with a key to all five species of Tomopaguropsis.     

Strelkovimermis spiculatus n. sp. (Mermithidae: Nematoda) Parasitizing Aedes albifasciatus Mac. (Culicidae: Diptera) in Argentina

Strelkovimermis spiculatus n. sp. (Mermithidae: Nematoda), a parasite of the mosquito Aedes albifasciatus Mac. in Argentina, is described. Diagnostic characters of this species include a ventrally shifted mouth opening and spicules fused at the tips. The mermithid has been reared on Culex pipiens L. larvae in the laboratory.     

First Record of Cosmocephalus obvelatus (Acuariidae) in Common Gulls (Larus canus) from Gangneung,Korea

A nematode species belonging to the genus Cosmocephalus was collected from the stomach of 2 common gulls, Larus canus. The common gulls were found dead on the seaside of Gangneung City, the Republic of Korea. The worms were identified and classified by light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the basis of important taxonomic characters. The nematodes were characterized by a body length 9.1-9.3 mm (males) and 15.5-15.9 mm (females) and cordons recurrent in anterior direction and anastomosing laterally at about the level of anterior quarter of the buccal cavity. The salient bicuspid deirids were located on the posterior to the cordons. Lateral alae were well-developed, extending from the level just posterior of deirids to the level about middle of the body. LM and SEM observations identified the worms as C. obvelatus. This is the first reported case of C. obvelatus infection in common gulls in Korea.     

Differentiation of body form of Gustavioidea (Acari: Oribatida) in the light of ontogeny of three species

Differentiation of body form of Gustavioidea in the light of ontogeny of Dorycranosus curtipilis (Liacaridae), Ceratoppia sphaerica and Ceratoppiaquadridentata (Peloppiidae) was investigated, and morphology of juveniles of these species was described and illustrated for the first time. The juveniles of D. curtipilis differ distinctly from those of Ceratoppia species mainly by stronger chelicerae, more elongated body, and convex gastronotum, oval cross section, small and clavate sensillus, and rather thin, and pliable setae. The protonymphs of all these species lose gastronotal setae of d-series, and these setae are absent in subsequent nymphs and adult. The adult loses further notogastral setae, such that 11 pairs remain in D. curtipilis, but only two pairs in Ceratoppia species. Diagnoses of these species are enriched with morphological characters of juveniles, and the morphology of Ceratoppiabipilis is briefly compared, as are aspects of Gustaviafusifer (Gustaviidae).