Ceratomyxa seriolae n. sp. and C. buri n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) from the gall-bladder of cultured yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata

Ceratomyxa seriolae n. sp. and C. buri n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) were found in the gall-bladder of cultured yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel (Carangidae) in Japan. Mature spores of C. seriolae n. sp. were elongate and 6.5 (6.0-7.5) m long and 33.7 (28.0-41.5) m thick. Disporous plasmodia of C. seriolae n. sp., 40-100 m in size, were amoeboid to spherical. C. buri n. sp. were elliptical with a flattened posterior end, 6.5 (5.5-7.5) m long and 14.3 (11.0-16.5) m thick. Spherical plasmodia of C. buri n. sp., 15-20 m in diameter, were disporous. In periodical sampling of yellowtail bile from August, 1999 to February, 2000, the two new species of Ceratomyxa, as well as Myxobolus spirosulcatus Maeno, Sorimachi, Ogawa & Kearn 1995, first appeared in October, and the prevalences were very variable (20-100%) during the study period.     

Microhabitat location and niche segregation in two sibling species of Drosophilid parasitoids: Asobara tabida (Nees) and A. rufescens (Foerster) (Braconidae: Alysiinae)

Summary Olfactometer tests with Asobara tabida (Nees 1834), a larval endo-parasitoid of frugivorous Drosophilidae showed that females are attracted to the odour of host food: a suspension of living yeast. This attraction decreased as the fermenting medium grew older and became less likely to contain suitable host stages. Olfactometer tests with — what was considered to be — A. tabida from two different microhabitats (fermenting fruits and decaying plants) showed a genetically determined difference in microhabitat odour preference between the two microhabitat strains. Each strain preferred the odour of its own microhabitat. This odour preference was not modified by larval conditioning. Hybridization tests indicated that we were dealing with two sibling species: A. tabida and A. rufescens (Foerster 1862), reproductively isolated by a pre-mating isolation mechanism only. Enforced matings resulted in fertile female offspring. Some small morphological differences were detected. The two species live sympatrically, although each inhabits and is most attracted to its own microhabitat.     

Nematodes from the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel (Chile): the genera Cervonema and Laimella (Comesomatidae: Nematoda)

Five species of Cervonema and four species of Laimella are described from the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel, Chile, six species of which are new to science. Cervonema chilensisn. sp. and Cervonema hermanin. sp. are separated from other known species of Cervonema by a short cervical region (less than one head diameter from the front end to the anterior border of the amphids). Cervonema chilensisn. sp. is characterised by a tail length of 5 anal diameters with posterior half filiform; Cervonema hermani n. sp. is characterised by a tail length of 6–9 anal diameter and posterior part (75%) cylindrical. Cervonema shiaen. sp. is characterised by the cephalic seta 4 m long, amphids 9–10 m in diameter; spicules 16 m long and 0.8–0.9 abd; tail 4.7–5.4 anal diameter and 50% posterior part filiform; 4–5 minute precloacal supplements. Laimella subterminatan. sp. is characterised by the subterminal position of the buccal cavity which separates it from the other species of the genus. Laimella annaen. sp. is characterised by the head diameter 9–11 m, cephalic setae and external labial setae 9 + 5 m long, respectively, amphids 7 m in diameter; spicules 28–30 m long; tail 14–17 anal diameter and posterior part (75%) filiform; 5 precloacal supplements. Laimella sandraen. sp. is very close to Laimella annaen.sp. in having similar cephalic sensilla, amphids and spicules. Laimella sandraen. sp., however, can be separated from L.annaen. sp. by the shape of head and the structure of sperm cells, the total body length and the cylindrical part of tail. Cervonema papillatum Jensen, 1988, C. tenuicauda (Stekhoven, 1950) and L. longicauda Cobb, 1920 are found in this area as well. The key of all known species of Cervonemaand Laimellais presented.     

The family Phryganeidae (Insecta,Trichoptera) from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic of Asia (with a brief worldwide overview of the fossil caddisfly fauna)

The following new taxa of the family Phryganeidae are described: Proagrypnia sinitsae gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Jurassic or Lower Cretaceous of Russia (Chernovskie Kopi locality) and Baissophryganoides popovi sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia (Anda-Khuduk locality). A larval case of Folindusia (Acrindusia) phryganoides sp. nov. from the Paleocene of Russia (Arkhara–Boguchan brown coal field) is described. A worldwide overview of the records of fossil adult insects and larval cases of Phryganeidae is presented.     

Catatropis chilinae n. sp. (Digenea: Notocotylidae) from Chilina dombeiana (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) and notes on its life-cycle in Patagonia,Argentina

A new species of Catatropis from a freshwater pulmonate snail of the family Chilinidae, which is endemic to South America, is described. Naturally infected Chilina dombeiana were collected from several localities in Andean Patagonia. The characteristics of the larval stages are presented. Experimentally reared adults, located in the distal portion of the intestinal caeca, were recovered from chickens and ducks. Adults of Catatropis chilinae n. sp. can be distinguished from all other species in having 9-11 (10) ventral glands, a cirrus-sac extending between the first third and the middle of the body, a metraterm slightly shorter or equal to the cirrus-sac, vitelline follicles reaching forward to the middle of the body, lobed testes, and a genital pore closely posterior to the caecal bifurcation. Eggs bear polar filaments only at the anopercular end. Rediae have only one or two cercariae. Shed cercariae are trioculate with a long tail and encyst in the environment, and metacercariae become infective 72 hours after encystment. This species is widely distributed between 40°10 S and 43°09 S and it is the first Catatropis species recorded for the Chilinidae and for Argentina.     

Dendromonocotyle lasti n. sp. from the skin and Monocotyle caseyae n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) from the gills of Himantura sp. (Dasyatidae) in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia

Seven specimens of rays of the genus Himantura which could not be identified to species were collected from waters near Dunwich, Stradbroke Island, Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. The five smallest specimens of Himanturasp. (disc width 218-302 mm; four female, one male) had a banded tail and the dorsal surface was uniformly grey/brown. The two largest individuals of Himantura sp. (disc widths 460, 533 mm; female and male, respectively) also had a banded tail but the grey/brown dorsal surface had white spots. Two new monogenean species (Monocotylidae: Monocotylinae) are described from both the plain and white-spotted specimens of Himantura. Dendromonocotyle lastin. sp. is distinguished from other species in the genus by the number of papillae on the haptor, by the morphology of the male copulatory organ and by the morphology of the proximal portion of the vagina. The muscular sheath which surrounds the male copulatory organ is also unique having sclerotised spines at the distal end. Dendromonocotyle species are skin parasites, but a total of five juvenile specimens of D. lasti were found on the gills of four rays. Monocotyle caseyae n. sp. from the gills is characterised by the morphology of the male copulatory organ and its accessory piece. One specimen of M. spiremae Measures, Beverley-Burton & Williams, 1990, originally described from the gills of Himantura fai Jordan & Seale off Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia, was also found on the gills of one Himantura specimen. The site and host-specificity of the parasites and the identity of the hosts are discussed.     

Repeated larval diapause and diapause-free development in geographic strains of the burnet moth Zygaena trifolii Esp. (Insecta,Lepidoptera)

Summary Zygaena trifolii is a long-day insect with temperature-dependent photoperiodic responses. All larval instars are sensitive to photoperiod; however, diapause may occur at the third larval stage or any subsequent larval instars. There were quantitative differences within populations in the threshold photoperiod for diapause induction. The diapause response was polymorphic, so that larvae might enter diapause at different instars under the same culture conditions. Furthermore, decreasing photoperiods below a critical daylength shifted the diapausing instar towards earlier stages. Geographic strains of Z. trifolii showed discontinuous clinal variation. Near the northern edge of the distribution [Cologne (Köln), FRG], there is first an obligatory diapause, mainly during early instars, and additional facultative (repeat) diapauses during later larval instars in subsequent years. In the southern part of its distribution, this burnet moth is partially bivoltine in the field with a facultative first developmental arrest and a decreased capacity for repeated diapause (Valencia, Spain; Marseille, France). Further experiments indicated that the photoperiodically controlled diapause reaction is also influenced by the number of photoperiodic cycles experienced during the period spent in each larval instar, which depends on temperature. The adaptive significance of obligatory and facultative repeated diapause, varying even among the offspring of a single female, may be to buffer the populations against the more extreme and, from year to year, unpredictable fluctuations in climatic conditions at the northern edge of the distribution.Abbreviations L₃ feeding 3rd larval instar - L₄D diapausing 4th larval instar - L₅D2 repeat-diapausing larval instar with second diapause at the 5th larval stage - LD light-dark cycle - KT shortday conditions (e.g. LD 8:16) - LT long-day conditions (e.g. LD 16:8)     

Goussia chalupskyi n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the chub Leuciscus cephalus (Cyprinidae)

Oöcysts of Goussia chalupskyi n. sp. are described from the faeces of the chub Leuciscus cephalus (Cyprinidae) from Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic. The oöcysts are spherical, 11.0 (10.5–11.5) m in diameter. The sporocysts are broadly oval to subspherical, 7.7 (7.0–8.5) × 5.7 (5.0–6.5) m, with a sporocyst residuum composed of 2–4 granules. Merogonial and gamogonial stages were found in the posterior part of the intestine.     

Study of the Insects Associated with the Floodwater Mosquito Ochlerotatus Albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and their Possible Predators in Buenos Aires Province,Argentina

Insects associated with the floodwater mosquito Ochlerotatus albifasciatus(Diptera: Culicidae) were studied from intermittent puddles in temperate Argentina in an attempt to detect the main predators. Forty-one taxa occurred in the puddles from spring to fall. Coleoptera and Diptera were dominant and diverse. Ephemeroptera and Odonata were scarce in numbers and species, and Heteroptera occurred in low numbers of species and high abundance of individuals. The main predators of immature O. albifasciatus were detected on the basis of relative abundance (ISA index), ecological dominant groups, and species association (I index). Liodessus sp. and Rhantus signatus signatus(Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) were the most abundant predators in the puddles and Liodessus sp., Lancetes marginatus(Dytiscidae) and Psorophora ciliata(Culicidae) were the most frequent. Liodessus sp. and O. albifasciatus were the best associated species in all seasons. Liodessus sp. was indistinctly associated with all larval instars and pupae, while R. signatus signatus, L. marginatus and Psorophora ciliata were more associated with the pupal stage of the mosquito. Desmopachria concolor(Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), Tropisternus lateralis limbatus and Tropisternus setiger(Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) were other potential predators inhabiting the puddles, but their relevance was minor.     

New or rare species of Diacyclops Kiefer, 1927 (Copepoda,Cyclopoida) from different groundwater habitats in Italy

Diacyclops paralanguidoides sp.n., Diacyclops paolae sp.n., Diacyclops maggii sp.n. and Diacyclops sardous sp.n., all belonging to the languidoides-group of species, are described from groundwaters (wells, hyporheic habitats) in Italy.New localities are reported, from the same country, for other remarkable species of the genus, viz. Diacyclops clandestinus (Kiefer) and Diacyclops zschokkei (Graeter).The absence of a vestigial exopod and the armature of the basipodite of the antenna are considered as useful diagnostic characters for species demarcations.Research supported by a M.P.I. 60% grant. Gruppo Nazionale C.N.R.-Biologia Naturalistica.Contribution to the knowledge of the underground water fauna in central and southern Italy: XXXVIII.     

Effects of Bt maize-fed prey on the generalist predator <Emphasis Type="Italic">Poecilus cupreus</Emphasis> L. (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

We investigated the effects of transgenic maize (Zea mays) expressing Bacillus thuringienses toxin (Bt maize) on larval and adult Poecilus cupreus carabid beetles in laboratory studies. In no-choice trials, neonate P. cupreus larvae were fed exclusively with Spodoptera littoralis caterpillars, which had been raised on Bt maize. S. littoralis raised on conventional maize or high quality Calliphora sp. pupae were fed to the beetle larvae in two control treatments. Bt-maize-fed caterpillar prey increased mortality to 100 within 40days. The experiment was repeated with 10-day-old beetle larvae. Bt treatment resulted in fewer pupae than in both controls, and in a higher mortality than in the Calliphora control. S. littoralis was suitable as exclusive prey in no-choice tests, at least for 40days, although prey quality seemed to be low compared to Calliphora pupae. The observed effects are most likely indirect effects due to further reduced nutritional prey quality. However, direct effects cannot be excluded. In the second part of the study, exposure of P. cupreus to Bt intoxicated prey was examined in paired-choice tests. Adult beetles were offered a choice between different prey conditions (frozen and thawed, freshly killed or living), prey types (S. littoralis caterpillars, Calliphorasp. pupae, cereal aphids) and prey treatments (raised on Bt or conventional maize). Living prey was preferred to frozen and dead prey. Caterpillars were only preferred to fly pupae and aphids when living. Prey treatment seemed to be least important for prey selection. The tests showed that P. cupreus ingested caterpillars readily and there was no evidence of them avoiding Bt containing prey, which means exposure in the field could occur. The presented protocols are a first step towards ecological risk assessment for carabid beetles.     

Wardium canarisi n. sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) parasite de Arenaria melanocephala (Aves: Charadrii) d'Alaska

The authors describe and illustrate Wardium canarisi n. sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae), an intestinal parasite of Arenaria melanocephala (Aves: Charadrii) from Alaska, characterised by a strobila 20–40 mm long, 10 aploparaksoid hooks 19–21 m long, a short cylindrical cirrus (40 m) covered with very minute spines (0.2 m), and a short (8–18 m) and extremely narrow (1 m) copulatory vagina. These characters have no equivalent, even approximate, among the 27 species of Wardium parasitic in the Charadrii which are reviewed. The genus Debrosia Spassky, 1987 appears to be justified.     

Five new species of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Madagascan chameleons (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae)

Coprological examination of 19 Madagascan chameleons of the genera Furcifer and Brookesia revealed the presence of five new coccidian species. Isospora brygooi n. sp. from Furcifer pardalis has spherical to subspherical oöcysts with a slightly pitted wall, 20.7 (17–24.5) × 19.3 (16–23) m and broadly ellipsoidal sporocysts, 12.2 (11.5–13) × 8.1 (8–8.5) m, with Stieda and substieda bodies. Oöcysts of Eimeria glawi n. sp. from Furcifer pardalis are cylindrical to ellipsoidal, 27.7 (26–29.5) × 18.4 (17–19) m, with ellipsoidal sporocysts, 7.3 (6.5–8) × 5.2 (5–5.5) m. E. vencesi n. sp. described from F. pardalis has spherical to subspherical oöcysts, 14.3 (13–15.5) × 13.0 (12–13) m, with small granules, one to three globular polar granules and ellipsoidal sporocysts, 7.3 (6.5–8) × 5.2 (5–5.5) m. E. worthi n. sp., described from Furcifer oustaleti has spherical oöcysts, 17.9 (17.5–19.0) × 15.0 (14.5–16.0) m without a polar granule and ellipsoidal to cylindroidal sporocysts, 8.2 (7.0–9.5) × 5.8 (5.0–6.5) m. Oöcysts of E. brookesiae n. sp. from Brookesia decaryi are cylindrical, 25.6 (23–27) × 15.0 (13–16) m with ellipsoidal sporocysts, 10.1 (9–11) × 6.9 (6–7) m. Endogenous development of E. vencesi is confined to the intestine, while that of E. glawi occurs in the gall-bladder.     

Genetic divergence and larval dispersal in two spider crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda)

The spider crabs Inachus dorsettensis (Pennant) and Hyas coarctatus Leach are widespread in subtidal areas of muddy sand or gravel around western Europe. Both species have a life cycle with an obligatory planktonic larval phase of several weeks, which might be expected to cause widespread larval dispersal and consequent genetic homogeneity over considerable distances. However, earlier work on both taxa has indicated differences in growth pattern between populations separated by tens of kilometres. This study was undertaken to determine whether these differences were purely environmental or whether, despite the short distances involved, differences may have a genetic basis. A study of gene frequencies, as indicated by allozymes in samples of adults collected off the Isle of Man (northern Irish Sea), indicates significant genetic differentiation between populations over a geographical distance of only about 40 km in both Inachus dorsettensis ( = 0.086 ± 0.048) and Hyas coarctatus ( = 0.023 ± 0.017). Variability measures differed between species, showing I. dorsettensis to have a mean number of alleles per locus of 2.5–2.6 and a range of gene diversity of 0.216–0.241, while H. coarctatus showed lower values of mean number of alleles (1.9–2.0) and a range of gene diversity from 0.122 to 0.124. Given the high expected larval mobility of the two species the results are most surprising. Possible explanations are discussed in relation to population discontinuities and patterns of larval drift.     

Reduction of Cr(VI) by Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Microbacterium sp.

Many industrial wastes contain Cr(VI), a carcinogen and mutagen, the toxicity of which can be ameliorated by reduction to Cr(III). Microbacterium sp. NCIMB 13776 andDesulfovibrio vulgaris NCIMB 8303 reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(III) anoxically using 25 mM sodium citrate buffer (pH 7), with 25 mM sodium acetate and 25 mM sodium formate as electron donors at 30 °C, under which conditions the rates of reduction of 500 M sodium chromate were 77 and 6 nmol h^–1 mg dry cell wt for D. vulgaris and Microbacterium sp., respectively, these being increased to 127 and 17 nmol h^–1 mg dry cell wt in the presence of 20 mM MOPS/NaOH buffer.     

Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) hispanica sp. nov., a new daphnid (Cladocera) from Spain

Daphnia (C.) hispanica n. sp. has thoracic limbs of A D. (C.) atkinsoni type and is very similar toD. chevreuxi Richard, 1896. With this speciesD. (C.) hispanica shares the presence of a soft accessory seta on the outer side of the trunk of the first thoracic limb, apparently unique among the genusDaphnia. Although other morphological characteristics are very similar in this two species, a detailed comparison reveals that they can easily be separated as different species. The most useful features in differentiating both species are:D. (C.) hispanica has a dorsal crest in the head, its rostrum is longer, its accesory seta of the first thoracic limb is more developed, the juveniles are not helmeted and its male postabdomen lacks individual denticles on the anal and preanal margin.The new species is, up to now, restricted to Spain and inhabits the temporary and low mineralized waters of the steppe regions.     

Gyrodactylus neili n. sp. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae), a parasite of chain pickerel Esox niger Lesueur (Esocidae) from freshwaters of New Brunswick, Canada

Gyrodactylus neili n. sp. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) is described from the fins and body surface of Esox niger Lesueur (chain pickerel) (Esocidae) from the St. Croix River drainage, New Brunswick, Canada. G.␣neili n. sp. resembles most closely G. fryi Cone & Dechtiar, 1984, a parasite of E. masquinongy in North America, in having relatively large thin hamuli, well-developed marginal hook sickles with a relatively long, wide blade and short handle, a ventral bar with small antero-lateral processes and tongue-shaped membrane, and a cirrus with many small spines in two rows. The new species is easily separated from G. fryi by the length of the hamuli (70-76 m versus 92 m, respectively), by the distal width of the sickle (7–9 versus 14-16 m, respectively) and by subtle differences in the shape of the toe and heel of the marginal hook sickle. Sequence data (922 bp) of rDNA (internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 and 5.8S) of G. neili n. sp. returned no identical matches in GenBank. The 5.8 sequence alone, however, was identical to morphologically similar gyrodactylids of the subgenus Gyrodactylus from cyprinid fishes in Eurasia. The discovery of G. neili n. sp. and features of its genetic makeup support the idea that this lineage parasitised ancestral cyprinids and that it radiated, possibly through predator/prey interactions, to an ancestor of contemporary Esox. It is concluded that DNA comparison of monogeneans on Holarctic freshwater hosts, such as E.␣lucius, may shed light on the nature of speciation of these parasites.