Two New Species of Epsilonema from South Indopacific (Nemata,Epsilonematidae)

Two new species of Epsilonema are described from coral sand from Polynesia and New Caledonia. Epsilonema exoticum, with ca. 131 annules, is characterized by heterogeneous vacuolar ornamentation, small amphid, and male with small field of tiny copulatory thorns. Epsilonema enigmaticum, with ca. 168 annules and small vacuoles and ridges on the cuticle, differs from all other species of the genus by the number (10-16) of subcephalic setae.     

Three new species of the subgenus Neoribates (Neoribates) (Acari,Oribatida, Parakalummidae) from Nepal

Three new parakalummid mites of the subgenus Neoribates (Neoribates), N. (N.) parabulanovae sp. n., N. (N.) paramacrosacculatus sp. n. and N. (N.) pararotundus sp. n., are described from Nepalese soils. Neoribates (Neoribates) parabulanovae sp. n. is morphologically most similar to N. (N.) bulanovae Grishina, 2009, N. (N.) rotundus Aoki, 1982 and N. (N.) setiger Balogh & Mahunka, 1978, however, it differs from N. (N.) bulanovae by the body length, body and leg integument, morphology of bothridial setae, absence of aggenital setae, length of interlamellar setae and location of adanal setae ad₃; from N. (N.) rotundus by the body size, body integument, morphology of bothridial setae and length of interlamellar setae; from N. (N.) setiger by the body size, number of genital setae and absence of aggenital setae. Neoribates (Neoribates) paramacrosacculatus sp. n. is morphologically most similar to N. (N.) macrosacculatus Aoki, 1966, however, it differs from the latter by the body size, body integument, length and morphology of bothridial setae, number of genital setae, absence of lamellar setae and length of interlamellar setae. Neoribates (Neoribates) pararotundus sp. n. is morphologically most similar to N. (N.) rotundus, however, it differs from the latter by the number of notogastral setal alveoli, body integument and length of interlamellar setae.     

Toxoplasma gondii in wild and domestic animals from New Caledonia

Samples (serum or meat juice) collected from 205 animals in New Caledonia in April 2009 were tested for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii by ELISA using the multi-species ID Screen^® Toxoplasmosis Indirect kit (IDVET, Montpellier). Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 2% (1/49) of the pigs, in 3.3% (1/30) of the cattle, in 13.8% (4/29) of Rusa deers, in 16% (4/25) of the horses, in 32.8% (21/64) of the dogs, and in 50% (4/8) of cats. Statistically, no significant difference was observed between T. gondii seroprevalence and age or sex. No survey on the prevalence of T. gondii in animals has ever been conducted in New Caledonia and this is the first serological evidence of T. gondii in Rusa deer (Cervus timorensis russa). These results indicate an important circulation of T. gondii exists in the animal populations of New Caledonia. In view of humans being exposed, it is advisable to insist on sanitary education and on respect for good hygienic and food practice.     

The genus Scapheremaeus (Acari,Oribatida, Cymbaeremaeidae) in the oribatid mite fauna of New Zealand,with description of two new species

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Scapheremaeus (Oribatida, Cymbaeremaeidae), Scapheremaeus gibbus sp. n. and Scapheremaeus luxtoni sp. n., are described from New Zealand. Scapheremaeus gibbus sp. n. is morphologically most similar to Scapheremaeus humeratus Balogh & Mahunka, 1967, but differs from the latter by the number of notogastral, genital and adanal setae, morphology of bothridial setae, position of adanal lyrifissures and absence of humeral processes. Scapheremaeus luxtoni sp. n. is morphologically most similar to Scapheremaeus yamashitai Aoki, 1970, but differs from the latter by the morphology of notogastral and rostral setae, morphology of leg solenidia φ₂ and development of humeral processes. The species Scapheremaeus zephyrus Colloff, 2010 is recorded for the first time in New Zealand. An identification key to the known New Zealand species of Scapheremaeus is provided.     

Postembryonic Morphology in Epsilonematidae, with a Discussion on the Variability of Caudal Gland Outlets

A new species of Akanthepsilonema and the first-stage juvenile of Glochinema trispinatum are described. Furthermore, additional morphological information is provided for Triepsilonema tripapillata. Animals originate from a cold-water coral degradation zone in the Porcupine Seabight area (North-East Atlantic Ocean). Akanthepsilonema sinecornibus sp. n. differs from A. heUeouetae in number of body annules, sexual dimorphism in amphid size, absence of copulatory thorns in males, absence of large spines and horns, shape of the copulatory apparatus, and position of ambulatory setae relative to vulva in females. The genus diagnosis for Akanthepsilonema is adjusted to incorporate the new species. Akanthepsilonema mainly differs from every other genus in the family by the combination of six rows of ambulatory setae situated around the vulva in females and eight subcephalic setae not displaced toward the anterior part of the head capsule. Small differences between the Papua New Guinea and the Porcupine Seabight populations of T. tripapillata indicate minimal intraspecific variability. Second-stage juveniles from Papua New Guinea have two rows of three ambulatory setae, whereas Porcupine Seabight specimens have two rows of four ambulatory setae. First- and fourth-stage juveniles of T. tripapillata are described for the first time. Literature data and personal observations showed that the molting of first-stage juveniles into second-stage juveniles and of third-stage juveniles into fourth-stage juveniles involves a decrease in the number of body rings, resulting in a loss of flexibility which is possibly compensated for by the development (I-II) or the doubling of the number of rows (III-IV) of ambulatory setae. This decrease is also linked with the formation of the head capsule and the smooth tail tip, although intergeneric variability is evident. The molting of second-stage juveniles into third-stage juveniles and of fourth-stage juveniles into adults is also subject to intergeneric variability. The variability in the number and orientation of caudal gland outlets among different nematode taxa is discussed. The presence of separate outlets for the caudal glands seems to be widespread within the family Epsilonematidae and has also been observed in various other, unrelated taxa of free-living aquatic nematodes, although their arrangement in Epsilonematidae is opposite. This aberrant arrangement is probably related to the aberrant locomotory pattern in this family.     

The earliest fossil record of Panorpidae (Mecoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of China

The early history of Panorpidae (Mecoptera) is poorly known due to sparse fossil records. Up to date, only nine fossil species have been described, all from the Paleogene, except the Early Cretaceous Solusipanorpa gibbidorsa Lin, 1980. However, we suggest S. gibbidorsa is too incompletely preserved to permit even family classification. A new genus with two new species, Jurassipanorpa impunctata gen. et sp. n. and Jurassipanorpa sticta sp. n., are described based on four well-preserved specimens from the late Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. These two new species are the earliest fossil records of Panorpidae. The new genus is erected based on a combination of forewing characters: both R₁ and Rs₁ with two branches, 1A reaching posterior margin of wing distad of the forking of Rs from R_1, and no crossveins or only one crossvein between veins of 1A and 2A. In all four specimens, long and robust setae ranging from 0.09 to 0.38 mm in length and pointing anteriorly, are present on anal veins of forewings. The function of these setae is enigmatic.     

Extreme convergence in stick insect evolution: phylogenetic placement of the Lord Howe Island tree lobster

The ‘tree lobsters’ are an enigmatic group of robust, ground-dwelling stick insects (order Phasmatodea) from the subfamily Eurycanthinae, distributed in New Guinea, New Caledonia and associated islands. Its most famous member is the Lord Howe Island stick insect Dryococelus australis (Montrouzier), which was believed to have become extinct but was rediscovered in 2001 and is considered to be one of the rarest insects in the world. To resolve the evolutionary position of Dryococelus, we constructed a phylogeny from approximately 2.4 kb of mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data from representatives of all major phasmatodean lineages. Our data placed Dryococelus and the New Caledonian tree lobsters outside the New Guinean Eurycanthinae as members of an unrelated Australasian stick insect clade, the Lanceocercata. These results suggest a convergent origin of the ‘tree lobster’ body form. Our reanalysis of tree lobster characters provides additional support for our hypothesis of convergent evolution. We conclude that the phenotypic traits leading to the traditional classification are convergent adaptations to ground-living behaviour. Our molecular dating analyses indicate an ancient divergence (more than 22 Myr ago) between Dryococelus and its Australian relatives. Hence, Dryococelus represents a long-standing separate evolutionary lineage within the stick insects and must be regarded as a key taxon to protect with respect to phasmatodean diversity.     

Four new species of the mite genus Bakerdania (Heterostigmata, Pygmephoridae) from Russia

Four new mite species (Bakerdania palustris, B. taymyrica, B. mycophila, and B. littoralis) from different regions of Russia are described. Bakerdania palustris sp. n. is most similar to B. janetscheki Mahunka, 1970, differing in the presence of adjoining bases of setae ps ₂ and ps ₃ (in B. janetscheki, ps ₃ is separated from ps ₂) and also by shorter smooth setae 2b (in B. janetscheki, setae 2b are serrate and distinctly longer). Bakerdania taymyrica sp. n. is most similar to B. heisseli Mahunka, 1970, differing in the presence of the brush-like setae 1a (that are trichoid and serrate in B. heisseli); shorter setae tc′ on the tibiotarsus I, that are almost half as long as setae pl′ (in B. heisseli, tc′ is much longer, nearly as long as pl′). Bakerdania mycophila sp. n. is most similar to B. racki (Mahunka, 1967), differing in the presence of significantly longer ventral setae and the separate solenidion ω₁ (in B. racki, the latter is fused with the tibiotarsus). Bakerdania littoralis sp. n. is most similar to B. racki, differing from the latter in the shape of setae 1a, 2a, 3a, 3b, 4a that are basally thickened; in the shape of setae ps ₁ (trichoid in B. racki); and in the presence of the non-furcated setae 1b (in B. racki, these setae are bifurcate).     

First record of the genus Gratia Thomas (Ephemeroptera,Baetidae) from China with the description of a new species

A new species of Baetidae, Gratia baibungensis sp. n., is described and illustrated based on nymphal stage collected from the southeastern Tibet (Xizang) and the genus is reported for the first time from China. This new species can be readily differentiated from its congeners by the absence of a protuberance on the posterior margin of the abdominal tergum X, glabrate simple submarginal setae on the labrum, and the posterior margin of sterna VI–IX having much longer spatulate setae.     

Two new species of oribatid mites of Lasiobelba (Acari,Oribatida, Oppiidae) from Nepal,including a key to all species of the genus

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Lasiobelba (Oribatida, Oppiidae), Lasiobelba (Lasiobelba) daamsae sp. n. and Lasiobelba (Antennoppia) nepalica sp. n., are described from eastern Nepal. Lasiobelba (L.) daamsae sp. n. is most similar to L. (L.) remota Aoki, 1959 and L. (L.) gibbosa (Mahunka, 1985), however, it differs from both by the anterior part of pedotecta I specifically curved, rostrum pointed and exobothridial setae not shorter than bothridial setae. Lasiobelba (Antennoppia) nepalica sp. n. is most similar to L. (A.) granulata (Mahunka, 1986), however, it differs from the latter by the larger body size, exobothridial setae longer than rostral setae and bothridial setae not longer than interlamellar setae. An identification key to known species of Lasiobelba is given.     

The oribatid mite genus Macrogena (Acari,Oribatida, Ceratozetidae), with description of two new species from New Zealand

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Macrogena (Oribatida, Ceratozetidae) are described from alpine soils of the South Island of New Zealand. Macrogena brevisensilla sp. n. and Macrogena abbreviata sp. n. differ from all species of this genus by the tridactylous legs and by the comparatively short interlamellar setae, respectively. New generic diagnosis and an identification key to the known species of Macrogena are provided.     

A description of preimaginal stages of Pseudaspidapion botanicum Alonso-Zarazaga & Wang, 2011 (Apionidae,?Curculionoidea)

The preimaginal stages including egg, mature larva and pupa of Pseudaspidapion botanicum Alonso-Zarazaga & Wang, 2011 were described and figured, diagnostic characters of larva and pupa were discussed, and corresponding biological information was supplied. The nomenclature of frontal setae in the larva compared with curculionid weevils, the absence of the hypopharyngeal bracon in the larva, and the metafemoral setae in the pupa were discussed. Common and different characters among the larvae of Pseudaspidapion botanicum, Aspidapion radiolus (Marsham, 1802) and Aspidapion aeneum (Fabricius, 1775) were also provided.     

Five new cryptic freshwater gastropod species from New Caledonia (Caenogastropoda,Truncatelloidea, Tateidae)

During the course of a project aiming at the reconstruction of the colonization of the South Pacific islands by tateid gastropods based on molecular data we discovered five new species on New Caledonia belonging to the genera Hemistomia and Leiorhagium, respectively. We describe these species based on morphological, anatomical and genetic data. All five species are morphologically cryptic as they closely resemble or are even indistinguishable from known species stressing the importance of a comprehensive taxonomic approach integrating several methods. As a consequence of their small and fragmented geographic ranges and the rapidly progressing anthropogenic land cover changes on New Caledonia, all five species qualify as critically endangered according to the criteria of the IUCN.     

Two new species of Pergalumna (Acari,Oribatida, Galumnidae) from Costa Rica,including a key to all species of the genus from the Neotropical region

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Pergalumna (Oribatida, Galumnidae), P. elongatiporosa sp. n. and P. striatiprodorsum sp. n., are described from leaf litter of a secondary forest in Costa Rica. Pergalumna elongatiporosa sp. n. is most similar morphologically to P. horvathorum P. Balogh, 1997 and P. sura P. Balogh, 1997, however, it differs from both by the body size, body surface ornamentation and morphology of notogastral porose areas A1 and A3. Pergalumna striatiprodorsum sp. n. is most similar morphologically to P. hawaiiensis hawaiiensis (Jacot, 1934) and P. strigulata Mahunka, 1978, however, it differs from P. hawaiiensis by the length of interlamellar setae and surface ornamentation of the prodorsum; from P. strigulata by the surface of ornamentation of the notogaster, length of interlamellar setae and morphology of bothridial setae. An identification key to known species of Pergalumna from the Neotropical region is given.     

Integrative taxonomy of New Caledonian beetles: species delimitation and definition of the Uloma isoceroides species group (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Ulomini), with the description of four new species

New Caledonia is an important biodiversity hotspot with much undocumented biodiversity, especially in many insect groups. Here we used an integrative approach to explore species diversity in the tenebrionid genus Uloma (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Ulomini), which encompasses about 150 species, of which 22 are known from New Caledonia. To do so, we focused on a morphologically homogeneous group by comparing museum specimens with material collected during several recent field trips. We also conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses based on a concatenated matrix of four mitochondrial and three nuclear genes for 46 specimens. The morphological study allowed us to discover and describe four new species that belong to the group of interest, the Uloma isoceroides group. Molecular analyses confirmed the species boundaries of several of the previously described species and established the validity of the four new species. The phylogenetic analyses also provided additional information on the evolutionary history of the group, highlighting that a species that was thought to be unrelated to the group was in fact a member of the same evolutionary lineage. Molecular species delimitation confirmed the status of the sampled species of the group and also suggested some hidden (cryptic) biodiversity for at least two species of the group. Altogether this integrative taxonomic approach has allowed us to better define the boundaries of the Uloma isoceroides species group, which comprises at least 10 species: Uloma isoceroides (Fauvel, 1904), Uloma opacipennis (Fauvel, 1904), Uloma caledonica Kaszab, 1982, Uloma paniei Kaszab, 1982, Uloma monteithi Kaszab, 1986, Uloma robusta Kaszab, 1986, Uloma clamensae sp. n., Uloma condaminei sp. n., Uloma jourdani sp. n., and Uloma kergoati sp. n. We advocate more studies on other New Caledonian groups, as we expect that much undocumented biodiversity can be unveiled through the use of similar approaches.     

The anamorphic genus Monotosporella (Ascomycota) from Eocene amber and from modern Agathis resin

The anamorphic fungal genus Monotosporella (Ascomycota, Sordariomycetes) has been reco-vered from a piece of Early Eocene Indian amber, as well as from the surface of extant resin flows in New Caledonia. The fossil fungus was obtained from the Tarkeshwar Lignite Mine of Gujarat State, western India, and was part of the biota of an early tropical angiosperm rainforest. The amber inclusion represents the second fossil record of Sordariomycetes, as well as the first fossil of its particular order (either Savoryellales or Chaetosphaeriales). The fossil fungus is distinguished from extant representatives by possessing both short conidiophores and small two-septate pyriform conidia, and is described as Monotosporella doerfeltii sp. nov. Inside the amber, the anamorph is attached to its substrate, which is likely the degraded thallus of a cladoniform lichen. The extant New Caledonian species is assigned to Monotosporella setosa. It was found growing on semi-solidified resin flows of Agathis ovata (Araucariaceae), and is the first record of Monotosporella from modern resin substrates.     

A new species of Jesogammarus from the Iki Island,Japan (Crustacea,Amphipoda, Anisogammaridae)

A new species of anisogammarid amphipod, Jesogammarus (Jesogammarus) ikiensis sp. n., is described from freshwaters in the Iki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, based on results of morphological and molecular analyses. The new species is distinguished from all members of the genus by the combination of small number of setae on dorsal margins of pleonites 1–3, short and small number of setae on posterior margins of peduncular articles of antennae, mandibular article 1 without setae, well developed posterior lobes of accessory lobes of coxal gills on gnathopod 2 and pereopods 3–5, and pectinate setae on palmar margin of female gnathopod 2. A key to all the species of Jesogammarus is provided.     

Phylogeny of Celastraceae tribe Euonymeae inferred from morphological characters and nuclear and plastid genes

The phylogeny of Celastraceae tribe Euonymeae (∼230 species in eight genera in both the Old and New Worlds) was inferred using morphological characters together with plastid (matK, trnL-F) and nuclear (ITS and 26S rDNA) genes. Tribe Euonymeae has been defined as those genera of Celastraceae with generally opposite leaves, isomerous carpels, loculicidally dehiscent capsules, and arillate seeds (except Microtropis). Euonymus is the most diverse (129 species) and widely cultivated genus in the tribe. We infer that tribe Euonymeae consists of at least six separate lineages within Celastraceae and that a revised natural classification of the family is needed. Microtropis and Quetzalia are inferred to be distinct sister groups that together are sister to Zinowiewia. The endangered Monimopetalum chinense is an isolated and early derived lineage of Celastraceae that represents an important component of phylogenetic diversity within the family. Hedraianthera is sister to Brassiantha, and we describe a second species (Brassiantha hedraiantheroides A.J. Ford) that represents the first reported occurrence of this genus in Australia. Euonymus globularis, from eastern Australia, is sister to Menepetalum, which is endemic to New Caledonia, and we erect a new genus (Dinghoua R.H. Archer) for it. The Madagascan species of Euonymus are sister to Pleurostylia and recognized as a distinct genus (Astrocassine ined.). Glyptopetalum, Torralbasia, and Xylonymus are all closely related to Euonymus sensu stricto and are questionably distinct from it. Current intrageneric classifications of Euonymus are not completely natural and require revision.     

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).