New records of polycentropodid caddisflies from Korea (Insecta: Trichoptera)

Four species of the family Polycentropodidae –Plectrocnemia baculifera, P. kusnezovi, Paranyctiophylax hjangsanchonus and Polyplectropus nocturnus– are recorded from Korea. Polyplectropus nocturnus is newly recorded from the Korean peninsula. The other three species are recorded from the Republic of Korea for the first time.     

The genus Plectrocnemia Stephens of Japan (Trichoptera; Polycentropodidae)

The Japanese species of the genus Plectrocnemia Stephens (Trichoptera; Polycentropodidae) are revised based on examination of male material. Five new species are described: P. divisa, P. suzukii, P. corna, P. scoparia, and P. odamiyamensis. P. levanidovae Vshivkova et al. is recorded from Japan for the first time and redescribed. P. wui (Ulmer), P. tochimotoi Schmid, P. tsukuiensis (Kobayashi), and P. okiensis Kobayashi are redescribed. Arctopsyche hirayamai Matsumura is transferred to Plectrocnemia and redescribed. P. asuana Kobayashi, P. kadowakii Kobayashi, and P. makiensis Kobayashi are transferred to the genus Nyctiophylax Brauer.     

Polytrichum commune Hedw. and Polytrichadelphus magellanicus (Hedw.) Mitt. used as decorative material on New Zealand Maori cloaks

Abstract

Confirmation of the occurrence of the moss Ptychomnion densifolium on the main islands of New Zealand is provided and the features which separate it from the more common P. aciculare are outlined. A brief account of the history of P. densifolium in New Zealand is given and its morphology there is discussed. A key to the two species in New Zealand is provided and habitat differences between them outlined. New Zealand material differs from type locality (Tristan d' Acunha) material in having longer and more twisted acumens, and in this respect is similar to New Zealand material of P. aciculare. New Zealand populations of P. densifolium are recognisable in having stem leaves reflexed from an oblong sheathing base, and well developed basal leaf plications. It is a relatively widespread species in New Zealand, occurring in mostly upper elevation, open sites.     

Notes on the genus Polystichum (Dryopteridaceae) in Bolivia, with descriptions of ten new species

We describe ten new species ofPolystichum (Dryopteridaceae, Pteridophyta) from Bolivia, provide brief notes on the other eleven species of the genus in the country, and present a key to all species, New species are:P. albomarginatum, P. amboroense, P. bachii, P. chaparensis, P. congestum, P. giganteum, P. lepidotum, P. paramicola, P. rufum, andP. solomonii.     

Sperm structure of Trichoptera. III. Hydropsychidae,polycentropodidae and philopotamidae (Annulipalpia)

Spermatozoa from 9 species belonging to 3 families of trichopteran suborder Annulipalpia (Philopotamidae : Philopotamus ludificatus, P. montanus, Wormaldia occipitalis, W. copiosa; Polycentropodidae: Plectrocnemia geniculata, Polycentropus mortoni, P. irroratus, Cyrnus trimaculatus; Hydropsychidae: Hydropsyche pellucidula) were studied by light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. The absence of axonemal dynein arms and a consequent sperm immotility are characteristic of the species studied. The presence of 7, rather than 2, central microtubules is shared by Polycentropodidae and some Philopotamidae. A greater variability in the sperm axoneme was found within Philopotamidae than in the other families. The species of the genus Wormaldia have an axial vesicle rather than microtubules and their axonemes have a 9 + 9 + 0 or 13 + 13 + 0 pattern. Hydropsychidae have spermatozoa provided with numerous finger-like appendages containing microtubular doublets. The progressive loss of sperm flagellum and motility within the group is discussed.     

Pallial systems in the Athoracophoridae (Gastropoda: Pulmonata)

Abstract

Pallial systems are described for 10 athoracophorid species: Athoracophorus bitentaculatus, Pseudaneitea dendyi, P. gigantea, P. papillata, P. pallida, P. aspera, P. schauinslandi, P. multistriata, and Palliopodex verrucosus from the New Zealand and sub antarctic area; and Triboniophorus graeffei from Australia. In the New Zealand and subantarctic species the kidney is invariably bilobed, the ureter is extensively folded and connected to the intestine by an elongate tubule running initially through the lung, and the pneumostome, anus, and excretory pores are widely sepamted. Triboniophorus graeffei has the pneumostome, anus, and excretory pore closely associated, a compact kidney, and a more simply folded ureter. The New Zealand and subantarctic representatives are considered to be more advanced. Reasons for the development of the features they display are discussed, as is the function and evolution of the entire pallial system. An account of the variation in the pallial complex of Athoracophorus bitentaculatus is included.     

A revision of the genus Paronthobium from New Caledonia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Epilissini)

A revision of the New Caledonian genus Paronthobium Paulian 1984 is presented. Anonthobium Paulian 1984 is synonymized with Paronthobium Paulian 1984 after evaluating the diagnostic characters originally introduced by Paulian to separate them. Upon examination of the type specimens, Onthobium caledonicum Paulian 1935 is separated from O. simplex Fauvel 1903 and restored as valid. Anonthobium moui Paulian 1984 is synonymized with Anonthobium micros Paulian 1984. Fifteen new species are described: P. adio n. sp., P. daghfousi n. sp., P. dierkensi n. sp., P. farino n. sp., P. iac n. sp., P. julieni n. sp., P. memaoya n. sp., P. minutum n. sp., P. nasutum n. sp., P. orientale n. sp., P. peckorum n. sp., P. petchecara n. sp., P. subdentatum n. sp., P. taom n. sp. and P. tchingou n. sp. The genus Paronthobium is now composed of 22 species. Illustrations of parameres and of male protibiae are provided for each species. Distribution maps and a key to species are given.     

Nomenclatural changes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lithospermum</Emphasis> (Boraginaceae) and related taxa following a reassessment of phylogenetic relationships

Lithospermum (Boraginaceae) comprises approximately 40 species in both the Old and New Worlds, with a center of diversity in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Using ten cpDNA regions, a phylogeny of Lithospermum and related taxa was reconstructed. Lithospermum (including New World and Old World species) and related New World members of Lithospermeae form a monophyletic group, with Macromeria, Onosmodium, Nomosa, Lasiarrhenum, and Psilolaemus nested among species of Lithospermum. New World Lithospermeae also is a monophyletic group, with Eurasian species of Lithospermum sister to this group. Because Lithospermum is not monophyletic without the inclusion of the other New World genera, species from these genera are transferred to Lithospermum, and appropriate nomenclatural changes are made. New combinations are Lithospermum album, Lithospermum barbigerum, Lithospermum dodrantale, Lithospermum exsertum, Lithospermum helleri, Lithospemum leonotis, Lithospermum notatum, Lithospermum oaxacanum, Lithospermum pinetorum, Lithospermum rosei, Lithospermum trinverium, and Lithospermum unicum; new names are Lithospermum chiapense, Lithospermum johnstonii, Lithospermum macromeria, Lithospermum onosmodium, Lithospermum rzedowskii, and Lithospermum turneri.     

A new species of Pleuridium from Australia

Abstract

A new species, Pleuridium curvisetum, is described. It has an arched seta similar to that of P. arnoldii and was collected, sometimes in association with that species, in alpine country in Australia. P. arnoldii was first recorded from New Zealand. A comparison of the two species revealed some features, including a bistratose margin to the leaf subula, not previously reported for P. arnoldii.     

Pselaphotumulus,a new genus of pselaphine endemic to New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Pselaphitae)

ABSTRACT

Pselaphotumulus Owens and Carlton, gen. nov., is described as the sixth genus in the tribe Pselaphini known from New Zealand. Three new species are described: Pselaphotumulus aorerei, sp. nov., Pselaphotumulus dubius, sp. nov. and Pselaphotumulus unus, sp. nov.. Three species, Pselaphus cavelli (Broun 1893), Pselaphus oviceps (Broun 1917) and Pselaphus urquharti (Broun 1917) are transferred to Pselaphotumulus, nov. combs. Lectotypes from type series in the New Zealand Broun Collection (Natural History Museum, London) are designated for these three species. Habitus photographs, distributional maps and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided for each species. A key to species is provided. Searches of museum collections have not yielded representatives outside of New Zealand, suggesting that this is the first endemic genus in the tribe Pselaphini described from the New Zealand’s main islands, specifically, the South Island. Pselaphotumulus species exhibit restricted distribution patterns that approximately coincide with the Pacific/Indo Australian Plate boundary.     

Phylogeny of the Polycentropodidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) based on protein-coding genes reveal non-monophyletic genera

We tested the previous hypotheses of the phylogenetic position and monophyly of the caddisfly family Polycentropodidae. We also tested previous hypotheses about the internal generic relationship within the family by including 15 ingroup genera, many of them also represented by the genotype. All families that were previously taxonomically associated with the polycentropodids were included in the analysis. The total data set of 2225bp representing sequences of combined nuclear and mitochondrial genes and 171 taxa, was analyzed using Bayesian inference. We found strong support for a monophyletic Polycentropodidae with Ecnomidae as the closest sister group. The recently erected families Kambaitipsychidae and Pseudoneureclipsidae were monophyletic and distantly related to the Polycentropodidae. Within Polycentropodidae, monophyly and validity of the genera Neucentropus, Neureclipsis, Cyrnus, Holocentropus, Tasmanoplegas, Pahamunaya, Cernotina and Cyrnellus was strongly supported, while the genera Polycentropus, Polyplectropus, Plectrocnemia, Placocentropus and Nyctiophylax were all polyphyletic. The New Caledonian species were polyphyletic and represented three distinct clades. The sister group to the New Caledonian clades are from Australia, New Zealand and Chile, respectively. The Vanuatu species evolved after dispersal from the Fiji Islands. New internal primers for cytochrome oxidase I sequences of Trichoptera are introduced.     

Web-invasion and araneophagy by New Zealand and Australian pholcid spiders

Abstract

Pholcus phalangioides, Pholcus ancoralis, and Psilochorus sphaeroides were observed in the field in New Zealand (first species only) and Australia (all three species) to invade the webs of other species. P. phalangioides was observed to feed on spiders in alien webs. Webs of each species were frequently contiguous with webs of other spiders and P. sphaeroides sometimes invaded neighbouring webs in pursuit of insects.     

Pseudoneureclipsinae in Dipseudopsidae (Trichoptera: Hydropsychoidea), with Descriptions of Two New Species of Pseudoneureclipsis from East Asia

A phylogenetic analysis of all known life history stages of Hydropsychoidea implies that Pseudoneureclipsinae should be removed from Polycentropodidae and placed in Dipseudopsidae. Two synapomorphies especially informative for this conclusion are the fused condition of female sternum VIII sclerites and the presence of a long larval spinneret without labial palpi. A new species, Pseudoneureclipsis tiani Li, sp. n., is described, representing the first report of this genus from China. A male lectotype and two male paralectotypes of P. ussuriensis Martynov are designated from the Primorye Region of Far East Russia and distinguished from specimens described but not named by Botosaneanu in 1970 from Korea. These latter are herein named Pseudoneureclipsis botosaneanui Morse, sp. n.     

The Powelliphanta gilliesi — traversi — hochstetteri — rossiana — lignaria — superba ring species (Mollusca: Pulmonata)

Abstract

An alternative classification of the New Zealand rhytidid genus Powelliphanta O'Connor, 1945 is presented. P. gilliesi (Smith, 1880) and P. hochstetteri (Pfeiffer, 1862) are recognised as species, and the following subspecies are recognised within hochstetteri: h. superba (Powell, 1930); h. lignaria (Hutton, 1880); h. rossiana (Powell, 1930); h. fiordlandica (Climo, 1971). A model is explained which suggests that all described species and subspecies of Powelliphanta are part of a complex ring species. This developed as a result of glacial disjunction of South Island populations and hybridisation across a Cook Strait land bridge formed during the last Pleistocene glaciation.     

New biting midges from the Cretaceous amber of Lebanon (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

New Ceratopogonidae from the Early Cretaceous amber of Hammana (Central Lebanon) are studied. Five new species (Lebanoculicoides daheri sp. nov., Protoculicoides krzeminskii sp. nov., Archiaustroconops annae sp. nov., Archiaustroconops hammanensis sp. nov., and Archiaustroconops dominiakae sp. nov.) are characterized, described, illustrated, and compared with other Cretaceous taxa. New keys for species of the three genera Lebanoculioides, Protoculicoides, and Archiaustroconops, but also for all genera of Lebanese fossil biting midges, are proposed.     

Protrellus dixoni n. sp. (Nematoda: Thelastomatidae) from the cockroach Drymaplaneta variegata

Abstract

In New Zealand, Protrellus dixoni n. sp. occurs in the hind gut of the introduced Australian cockroach Drymaplaneta variegata. It is distinguished from all other Protrellus species by its morphology. Females have a well developed muscular ovijector with a sphincter, and a conical tail with a filiform projection; males have four, not three, tail papillae. The taxonomic history of the genus is discussed and the generic diagnosis emended. New combinations include Protrellus eurycotesi, P. ischnopterae, P. ituana, and P. gurri. The population structure of P. dixoni in adult hosts is described: there are never more than one adult male, and usually few (one to three) adult females per host.     

The pre-impoundment distribution of certain trichoptera larvae in the North Tyne river system (Northern England), with particular reference to current speed

A pre-impoundment survey of the River North Tyne recorded nine species of caseless caddis larvae of the families Hydropsychidae, Rhyacophilidae and Polycentropodidae. 83% of the total numbers collected comprised two species-Hydropsyche siltalai and H. Pellucidula. An analysis was carried out on the distributions of five species with respect to flow rate, from which it appears that the main species-pair H. siltalai, H. pellucidula coexist partly by exhibiting different flow preferences. The possible influence of river impoundment upon flow regimes and invertebrate distributions is briefly discussed.     

Bispiculum inaequale n. gen. & sp. (Nematoda: Tetradonematidae) from New Zealand wood-boring beetles (Curculionidae: Platypodinae )

Abstract

A monotypic new genus, Bispiculum, is erected for B. inaequale n.sp. from the haemocoel of Platypus apicalis, P. caviceps, and P. gracilis, ambrosia beetles indigenous to New Zealand. B. inaequale is characterised by its possession of a pair of spicules and three rows of anal papillae in the male, and ‘escape-form’ juveniles. This is the first record of a tetradonematid in New Zealand, and the first of a tetradonematid from the Curculionidae. All stages are described, and the life history is discussed. The diagnosis of the Tetradonematidae is emended, the family is reviewed, and a key to species is provided.     

The Chironomidae and Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) of New Zealand’s subantarctic islands

Abstract

A taxonomic study of midges collected in the subantarctic islands of New Zealand yielded 22 species of Chironomidae and 4 of Ceratopogonidae. Only four of the chironomids occur elsewhere, three on ‘mainland’ New Zealand and one on The Snares islands. Of the 15 species found on the Auckland Islands, 11 on Campbell Island, and 5 on the Antipodes Islands, respectively 9, 4, and 2 are endemic. Nine new species are proposed in existing genera: Parochlus rennelli, P. reductus, P. gressitti, P. brevis, Telmatogeton antipodensis, Eukiefferiella heveli, Cricotopus aucklandensis, Chironomus antipodensis, and C. subantarcticus. Gressittius n.gen. is proposed for Corethra antarctica Hudson (type-species). Semiocladius n.gen. is proposed for Camptocladius crassipennis Skuse, and S. kuscheli n.sp. is described. Eight further new genera are proposed, with the following new species as type-species: Kuschelius dentifer, Mecaorus elongatus, Pterosis wisei, Hevelius carinatus, Gynnidocladius pilulus, Nesiocladius gressitti, Nakataia cisdentifer, and Maryella reducta. Genera Halirytus Eaton and Psamathiomya Deby are synonymised with Telmatogeton Schiner. Gressittius antarcticus (Hudson), Ablabesmyia mala (Hutton), Telmatogeton magellanicus (Jacobs), T. amphibius (Eaton), T. macquariensis (Brundin), Semiocladius crassipennis (Skuse), S. endocladiae (Tokunaga), and Calopsectra funebris (Freeman) are new combinations. Of the ceratopogonids, only one species occurs elsewhere in New Zealand. Three species, only one of them endemic, were found on the Auckland Islands; two were found on Campbell, of which only one is endemic. Forcipomyia kuscheli and Dasyhelea aucklandensis are proposed as new species.     

New species of Pachycotes Sharp and Xylechinus Chapuis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae,Tomicini) from New Caledonian Araucaria spp. (Coniferales: Araucariaceae)

Abstract

Three new bark beetle species, Pachycotes grandis sp. n., P. engelsi sp. n., and Xylechinus araucariae sp. n. (Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Tomicini), are described and illustrated. Brief notes on their life histories are given. The beetles were collected from dead branches and logs of Araucaria laubenfelsii and A. muelleri trees in New Caledonia. In addition, a key for all nine known Pachycotes species (P. araucariae Schedl, P. australis Schedl, P. clavatus Schedl, P. grandis sp. n., P. engelsi sp. n., P. kuscheli Schedl, P. minor Wood, P. peregrinus (Chapuis), and P. villosus Schedl) is presented.