Thysanoptera of Bulgaria

The present checklist includes data on the species composition, geographic distribution and feeding preferences of thrips species in Bulgaria. In total, 155 species in 48 genera are listed. Of these, 125 species belong to suborder Terebrantia and include 103 species of 33 genera in family Thripidae, 14 species of two genera in Aeolothripidae, seven species of two genera in Melanthripidae and one species in Fauriellidae. In suborder Tubulifera, 30 species of 10 genera in the single family Phlaeothripidae are listed. Of the 155 Bulgarian thrips species, 87.7% are phytophagous, 4.5% are obligate predators, 5.8% are mycophagous and 1.9% are with unknown feeding preferences. Fourteen pest species are listed for Bulgaria, of which Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci and Haplothrips tritici are of economic importance. The list provides detailed information on the horizontal and vertical distribution of Thysanoptera in 5 regions and 45 subregions of Bulgaria. The present paper also includes an evaluation of the biodiversity of Thysanoptera and the extent to which each region of the country has been studied.     

Taxonomic survey of fossil isocrinids with a list of the species found in the USSR

The taxonomic scheme of the two families of the order Isocrinida (Isocrinidae and Pentacrinidae) is given. The first family is divided at five subfamilies: Balanocrininae, Isocrininae, Metacrininae, Diplocrininae and Isselicrininae. Six genera are included in subfamily Balanocrininae: Balanocrinus (four species found in USSR), Laevigatocrinus (USSR: 3 species), Margocrinus (USSR: 4 species), Percevalicrinus (USSR: 5 species), Singularocrinus nov. gen. (monotypic) and Terocrinus nov. gen. (USSR: 1 species). Five fossil genera are included in subfamily Isocrininae: Chariocrinus (USSR: 1 species), Chladocrinus (USSR: 4 species), Isocrinus (USSR: 6 species), Raymondicrinus nov. gen. (Oligocene of USA : 2 species) and Tyrolecrinus nov. gen. (6 triassic species). Fossil representatives of three genera, namely, Metacrinus (Miocene-Recent), Nielsenicrinus (USSR: 4 species) and Cainocrinus (USSR: 1 species) are noted in subfamily Metacrininae. Five genera are included in subfamily Isselicrininae: Austinocrinus (USSR: 5 species), Buchicrinus (USSR: 5 species), Doreckicrinus (USSR: 1 species?), Isselicrinus (USSR: 4 species) and Praeisselicrinus (USSR: 1 species). Two genera are included in family Pentacrinidae: Pentacrinus (USSR: 1 species) and Seirocrinus (USSR: 4 species). Besides, the localities of 24 isocrinid species, systematic position of which is unknown, are listed (from Triassic upon Cretaceous). Three erroneous attributions to Isocrinida in USSR are pointed out. In the conclusion an outline of the phylogeny of the Isocrinida is discussed. For a majority of the wide-spread species in USSR figures are given.     

An unusually rich scuttle fly fauna (Diptera,Phoridae) from north of the Arctic Circle in the Kola Peninsula,N. W. Russia

64 species of Phoridae, in 6 genera, are reported from the Kola Peninsula, north of the Arctic Circle. The new species Megaselia elenae and Megaselia kozlovi are described. 33 species of Megaselia, only known from females, are given code numbers. Keys to the species of all the females of Megaselia and Phora are provided; and also a key to the males European Megaselia species with a notopleural cleft.     

Revision of the European species of Omphale Haliday (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae)

The European species of Omphale Haliday (Eulophidae: Entedoninae) are revised. The revision includes 37 species, of which eleven are newly described and the remaining 26 species are redescribed. The species are classified into six species groups, with six unplaced species. All species are fully diagnosed and thoroughly illustrated. Identification keys are provided for females and males. Two new morphological features to aid classification and identification are introduced: male genitalia and wing interference patterns (WIPs). The former has been used successfully in the classification of New World Omphale and the latter is used for the first time in a taxonomic revision. Male genitalia in Omphale have considerable interspecific variation, an unusual trait among chalcidoid Hymenoptera, and are demonstrated to be useful for classification of species and species-groups, and they also possess the only autapomorphy for Omphale. WIPs are useful to help separate some species, but cannot be used to define either the genus or species groups. Distributional data are compiled for each species and suggest a pan-european distribution for most species. Gall-midges are the known hosts for 14 species, and the absence of host overlap between species suggests that host specialization is a driving force for speciation. Several Omphale species are known only from females, or have a strong female biased sex ratio, suggesting thelytokous development. Apart from the 37 species included in this revision, the status for nine additional species (names) in species group aetius remain unsolved. For nomenclatorial stability, a neotype is designated for Eulophus lugens Nees (= Omphale lugens (Nees)). Elachestus obscurus Förster and Derostenus sulciscuta Thomson are transferred from Holcopelte to Omphale comb. n. Derostenus radialis Thomson and Achrysocharella americana Girault are synonymized with Omphale theana (Walker), and Omphale teresis Askew is synonymized with Omphale phruron (Walker), syn. n. The status of genus Pholema Graham is revised as it is removed from synonymy with Omphale and instead synonymized with Neochrysocharis Kurdjumov, syn. n., and the type species for Pholema, Pholema microstoma Graham, is transferred to Neochrysocharis, comb. n. Eugerium orbatum Szelényi, previously transferred to Omphale, is synonymized with Asecodes congruens (Nees), syn. n.     

The genus Erechthias Meyrick of Ascension Island,including discovery of a new brachypterous species (Lepidoptera,Tineidae)

One previously named and two new species of the tineid genus Erechthias Meyrick are described and illustrated from the small, remote, mid-Atlantic Ascension Island. With these additions the Lepidoptera fauna of Ascension now totals 38 known species. Little is known regarding the biology of the two new species of Erechthias, and none of the species has been reared from larvae from Ascension. Erechthias minuscula (Walsingham) is a widespread, largely pantropical species first described from the West Indies. Larvae of Erechthias minuscula are known to be scavengers on a wide variety of dead plant material. Erechthias ascensionae,new species, is one of two species of Erechthias now known to be endemic to the island. The other endemic species, Erechthias grayi, new species, is further remarkable in having wing reduction occurring in both sexes. It is one of the few species of Lepidoptera known where this extreme of brachyptery involving both sexes has evolved. The larvae of Erechthias grayi are believed to be lichenivorous, and larval cases suspected to represent this species are illustrated.     

Two new species and new records of the genus Spinolyprops Pic, 1917 from the Oriental Region (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Lupropini) *

Two new species of the genus Spinolyprops Pic, 1917 (Tenebrionidae, subfamily Lagriinae Latreille, 1825) are described from Thailand and China (Spinolyprops cribricollis sp. n., Spinolyprops thailandicus sp. n.). The species characters within the genus are discussed, photographs of all seven Oriental species are added, a species key for the Oriental species is compiled, and a map with the distributional patterns is provided.     

The New Caledonian genus Caledonotrichia Sykora (Trichoptera,Insecta) reviewed,with?descriptions?of?6?new species

The New Caledonian endemic hydroptilid genus Caledonotrichia Sykora (Trichoptera) is reviewed and 6 new species are described: Caledonotrichia bifida, Caledonotrichia capensis, Caledonotrichia minuta, Caledonotrichia ouinnica, Caledonotrichia sykorai and Caledonotrichia vexilla. Together with the established species for which revised diagnoses are given, these raise to 11 the number of species known in this genus. The new species, females of 3 species, and several unusual larval cases are examined and described for further insight into relationships of this enigmatic genus. A key to species is provided.     

On the cicada genus Nipponosemia Kato,with description of one new species from China (Hemiptera,?Cicadidae)

The cicada genus Nipponosemia Kato is reviewed. Four species are illustrated, photographed and described, including three known species and one new species. A key to all species of this genusis presented, and information on the biology of Nipponosemia are provided. The systematic status of the tribe Cicadatrini and biogeography of Nipponosemia are discussed.     

New Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) records with new collection data from New Brunswick, Canada: Scaphidiinae, Piestinae, Osorinae, and Oxytelinae

Nine species of Scaphidiinae are newly reported for New Brunswick, Canada, bringing the total number of species known from the province to 12. Scaphium castanipes Kirby, Baeocera inexspectata Löbl and Stephen, Baeocera securiforma (Cornell), Scaphisoma repandum Casey, and Toxidium gammaroides LeConte are reported for the first time from the Maritime provinces. Siagonum punctatum LeConte and Siagonum stacesmithi Hatch, and the subfamily Piestinae are reported for the first time from New Brunswick. The subfamily Osoriinae is reported for the first time from New Brunswick and the Maritime provinces based on the collection of three species: Clavilispinus prolixus (LeConte), Thoracophorus costalis (Erichson), and a Lispinodes species. The Lispinodes species is also newly recorded for Canada. Six species of Oxytelinae are newly recorded from New Brunswick, bringing the total number of species of this subfamily known to the province to 20. Apocellus sphaericollis (Say) and Platystethus americanus Erichson are new to the Maritime provinces. Additional locality and bionomic data are presented for Mitosynum vockerothi Campbell, and the male genitalia are illustrated for the first time. Collection and bionomic data are presented for all included species.     

Discovery of Steninae from Ningxia,Northwest China (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae)

A study on the Steninae of Ningxia Autonomous Region is presented. Sixteen species are recognized, including new province records for 11 species and four new species: Stenus biwenxuani sp. n., Stenus liupanshanus sp. n., Dianous yinziweii sp. n., Dianous ningxiaensis sp. n. Habitus photos of the new species, illustrations of diagnostic characters of all species and a key to species of the Steninae recorded from Ningxia are provided.     

Additions to the Limoniidae and Pediciidae fauna of Morocco,with an updated checklist (Diptera,Tipuloidea)

Eighteen species of Limoniidae and two species of Pediciidae are recorded for the first time in Morocco, of which 15 species are new to North Africa. An updated checklist of Moroccan short-palped craneflies (Limoniidae and Pediciidae) is appended, containing 73 species in 25 genera.     

The Stenopodainae (Hemiptera,Heteroptera) of Argentina

In Argentina, 10 genera and 33 species of Stenopodainae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) have been recorded. Diagnoses of the genera, subgenera and species are given, and an illustrated key to genera is provided. Six species are new records for Argentina and an additional seven species represent new records for provinces.     

New records,synonyms and combinations for oriental Sarcophagidae (Diptera), with updated checklists for Cambodia,India, Taiwan,Thailand and Vietnam

Faunistic records of 29 flesh fly species are presented, and the following new country-level records are provided: 12 species (Senotainia albifrons, Eremasiomyia macularis, Asceloctella calicifera, Pseudothyrsocnema caudagalli, Liosarcophaga dux, L. kohla, L. scopariiformis, L. tuberosa, Parasarcophaga misera, Sarcosolomonia harinasutai, S. shinonagai, Seniorwhitea princeps) new to Cambodia, one species (S. shinonagai) new to India, one species (Brachicoma devia) new to Taiwan, two species (Myorhina thinhi, L. tuberosa) new to Thailand, and two species (E. macularis, P. caudagalli) new to Vietnam. Based on critical revision of all published records and on new data presented herein, 215 species of Sarcophagidae are listed from Cambodia (16 species), India (138), Taiwan (63), Thailand (98) and Vietnam (49). One new subjective generic synonym is proposed: Shinonagaella Verves, 1997 = Lehisca Kurahashi and Tan, 2012, syn. nov. Altogether, total of 21 new subjective synonyms and 16 new combinations are proposed.     

A taxonomic study of Chinese species of the alberti group of Metaphycus (Hymenoptera,Encyrtidae)

Ten alberti-group species of the genus Metaphycus Mercet from China are reviewed. Six species Metaphycus dorsalis sp. n., Metaphycus chinensis sp. n., Metaphycus wui sp. n., Metaphycus stylatus sp. n., Metaphycus fusiscapus sp. n. and Metaphycus fusiformis sp. n. are described as new to science. Four known species from China are redescribed. A key to the females of the Chinese species is given and photomicrographs are provided to illustrate morphological characters of these species. All specimens unless otherwise specified are deposited in the National Zoological Museum of China Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing.     

Xerotolerant Cladosporium sphaerospermum Are Predominant on Indoor Surfaces Compared to Other Cladosporium Species

Indoor fungi are a major cause of cosmetic and structural damage of buildings worldwide and prolonged exposure of these fungi poses a health risk. Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium species are the most predominant fungi in indoor environments. Cladosporium species predominate under ambient conditions. A total of 123 Cladosporium isolates originating from indoor air and indoor surfaces of archives, industrial factories, laboratories, and other buildings from four continents were identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and a part of the translation elongation factor 1α gene (TEF) and actin gene (ACT). Species from the Cladosporium sphaerospermum species complex were most predominant representing 44.7% of all isolates, while the Cladosporium cladosporioides and Cladosporium herbarum species complexes represented 33.3% and 22.0%, respectively. The contribution of the C. sphaerospermum species complex was 23.1% and 58.2% in the indoor air and isolates from indoor surfaces, respectively. Isolates from this species complex showed growth at lower water activity (≥ 0.82) when compared to species from the C. cladosporioides and C. herbarum species complexes (≥ 0.85). Together, these data indicate that xerotolerance provide the C. sphaerospermum species complex advantage in colonizing indoor surfaces. As a consequence, C. sphaerospermum are proposed to be the most predominant fungus at these locations under ambient conditions. Findings are discussed in relation to the specificity of allergy test, as the current species of Cladosporium used to develop these tests are not the predominant indoor species.     

Taxonomic review of genus Diaparsis Förster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae) from South Korea

Eleven species of the genus Diaparsis, including two unidentified species, are recorded from South Korea. One new species, D. koreana Khalaim, et al., sp. nov., is described, and six species, D. carinifer (Thomson), D. convexa Khalaim, D. egregia Khalaim, D. hyperae Kusigemati, D. jucunda (Holmgren) and D. neoplicator Khalaim, are recorded from this country for the first time. Diaparsis hyperae and D. pulchra are the most abundant species of the genus in the Korean fauna. A key to eleven species of Diaparsis occurring in South Korea is provided.     

DNA barcoding of euryglossine bees and the description of new species of Euhesma Michener (Hymenoptera,Colletidae, Euryglossinae)

This paper launches an open access DNA barcoding project “AUSBS” under the Barcoding of Life Datasystems (BOLD). The aims of the project are to help scientists who lack the necessary morphological knowledge to identify known species using molecular markers, to aid native bee specialists with the recognition of species groups that morphologically are difficult to define, and, eventually, to assist with the recognition of new species among known species. Using integrative taxonomy, i.e. morphological comparison to type specimens in Australian museum collections combined with phylogenetic analysis of a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene sequences led to the recognition of four new species of Euhesma Michener (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Euryglossini) collected during intensive surveys in remote Australian conservation areas, which are described. The new species are Euhesma micans, Euhesma lyngouriae, and Euhesma aulaca in a species group associated with Eremophila flowers, and Euhesma albamala in the walkeriana species group.