Mealybugs of the Mirococcus Borchsenius, 1947 genus-group (Homoptera,Coccinea: Pseudococcidae)

The genus Mirococcus Borchsenius, 1947 is revised. Longicoccus Danzig, 1975 and Polystomophora Borchsenius, 1948 are considered new subjective synonyms of Mirococcus. Nine species, Mirococcus inermis (Hall, 1925) (= Polystomophora orientalis Matesova, 1960, syn. n.; = P. arakensis Moghaddam, 2010, syn. n.), M. ostiaplurimus (Kiritshenko, 1940), comb. n., M. sphaeroides Danzig, 1975, M. clarus Borchsenius, 1949 (= M. ashtarakensis Ter-Grigorian, 1964, syn. n.; = M. affinis Ter-Grigorian, 1967, syn. n.; = M. psammophilus Koteja, 1971, syn. n.) M. longiventris (Borchsenius, 1949), M. festucae Koteja, 1971, M. oligadenatus Danzig, 1982, M. ulykpani Danzig, 1990, and M. fossor Danzig, 1983 are taxonomically discussed and illustrated. Longicoccus cerariferus Danzig, 1975 and L. divnogoricus Gavrilov, 2003 are transferred to the genus Fonscolombia Lichtenstein, 1877; thus, the new combinations Fonscolombia cerarifera, comb. n. and F. divnogorica, comb. n. are formed.     

A revision of the genus Oxytheca Nutt. (Polygonaceae)

The genusOxytheca of western North America and temperate South America consists of seven species which are keyed, described, discussed, illustrated, and mapped. They are divided among sect.Oxytheca, sect.Acanthoscyphus stat. & comb. nov., and sect.Neoxytheca sect. nov.Oxytheca dendroidea subsp.chilensis is given as a new combination, whileO. parishii var.cienegensis andO. parishii var.goodmaniana are described as new. The history and relationships of the genus are discussed. It is retained as distinct fromEriogonum and is thought to have arisen from the larger genus nearE. spergulinum, E. parishii, andE. apiculatum in subgenusGanysma. Cytological data indicatedn= 20.     

Morphological studies on two marine colepid ciliates from Qingdao, China, Nolandia orientalis spec. nov. and Pinacocoleps similis (Kahl, 1933) comb. nov. (Ciliophora, Colepidae)

Recent studies have revealed that the “lower” marine ciliates are far more diverse than previously suspected. During a survey on the ciliate fauna in coastal waters of Qingdao, northern China, we have isolated about 30 new or poorly known taxa. In the present study two colepid species are investigated, Nolandia orientalis spec. nov. and Pinacocoleps similis (Kahl, 1933) comb. nov. (basionym: Coleps similis Kahl, 1933). Their morphology and infraciliature are documented based on living observations and silver impregnations. The new species Nolandia orientalis differs from the type species N. nolandi mainly in the structure of tier plates. The structure of the tier plates was also the basis for transferring Coleps similis Kahl, 1933 to the genus Pinacocoleps and for three further new combinations: Pinacocoleps heteracanthus (Noland, 1937) comb. nov. (basionym: Coleps heteracanthus Noland, 1937), P. spiralis (Noland, 1937) comb. nov. (basionym Coleps spiralis Noland, 1937) and Pinacocoleps arenarius (Bock, 1952) comb. nov. (basionym: Coleps arenarius Bock, 1952).     

Metadenopsis Matesova, 1966 and similar mealybug genera (Homoptera,Coccinea: Pseudococcidae) from Russia and neighboring countries

Seven mealybug genera, Kalaginella gen. n., Archanginella gen. n., Metadenopsis Matesova, Metadenopus ?ulc, Glycycnyza Danzig, Inopicoccus Danzig, and Volvicoccus Goux, all with a simplified anal apparatus and lacking cerarii, are revised and illustrated. Kalaginella intermedia gen. et sp. n. and Archanginella kyzylkumica gen. et sp. n. are described from the Kara Kum and Kyzyl Kum deserts, correspondingly. Mirococcopsis stipae Borchsenius, 1949 is considered a junior synonym of Volvicoccus volvifer Goux, 1945.     

New species of grasses in Arberella,Cryptochloa, and Raddia (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Olyreae)

Two new species are described inArberella, one from Panama (Arberella lancifolia) and one from Bahia, Brazil (a. bahiensis), the latter representing a considerable extension of the known range of the genus.Cryptochloa decumbens, described from Panama, brings to ten the species recognized in this genus andRaddia angustifolia, from Bahia, increases to five the number of species in that genus. Each new species is fully illustrated and keyed.     

Corrections to forsstroemia including bryonorrisia,gen. nov. (Anomodontaceae)

Five species previously included inForsstroemia Lindb. are excluded:F. leptodontoidea Buck is a synonym ofMiyabea fruticella (Mitt.) Broth. (Thuidiaceae);F. rigida Dix. becomesNeolindbergia plicata Stark & Buck, nom. nov. (Prionodontaceae);F. dixonii Tosco & Piovano is a synonym ofLevierella fabroniacea C. Müll. (Fabroniaceae);F. filiformis M. X. Zhang becomesLeptopterigynandrum filiforme (M. X. Zhang) Stark & Buck, comb. nov. (Leskeaceae); andF. secunda Dix. & Badhw. is placed in a new genus,Bryonorrisia Stark & Buck, asB. secunda (Dix. & Badhw.) Stark & Buck, comb. nov. (Anomodontaceae).     

Barnebya,A new genus of Malpighiaceae from Brazil

The new genusBarnebya is described and illustrated and its systematic position in the Malpighiaceae is discussed, especially its similarity in some respects to the primitive subfamily Byrsonimoideae and in other respects to the Old World genusAcridocarpus. Two species are recognized,B. dispar comb. nov. andB. harleyi sp. nov.; these are described and illustrated and a key is provided for their distinction.     

New and reconsidered species of tropical American Melastomataceae

Two species of berry-fruited Melastomataceae are described as new: Blakea unguiculata from the Caribbean lowlands of Panama, and Miconia mcphersonii from the Caribbean lowlands of Panama and lowland forests on the western slope of the Cordillera Occidental of Colombia. Discussions, distributional data, diagnostic illustrations, and a conservation assessment are provided for each of the new species. Meriania hoyosii, comb. nov. and M. compressicaulis , nom. nov. are proposed to effect the transfer of two species of Adelobotrys (A. hoyosii and A. panamensis respectively) to the genus Meriania. A revised key to the Mesoamerican species of Meriania is also provided.     

Monopera,a new genus of scrophulariaceae from South America

Monopera is described as a new genus in the Scrophulariaceae, subfamily Scrophularioideae, tribe Angeloneae. Two species are transferred fromAngelonia,Monopera micrantha andMonopera perennis. These species are described and illustrated, and a key is provided.     

Two new species of Bejaria (Ericaceae) from South America

Two new species ofBejaria,B. zamorae from Ecuador andB. infundibula from Peru, are described, illustrated, and compared with other species of the genus.     

Revision of the genus Neometopina (Hemiptera,Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae) from China

The planthopper genus Neometopina Yang (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae: Delphacinae: Delphacini) is revised to include 2 species: Neometopina penghuensis Yang, 1989 (China: Guizhou: Maolan), and Neometopina orientalis (Qin & Zhang) comb. n. (China: Hainan: Bawangling) (transferred from Laminatopina Qin & Zhang). The included species are described and illustrated, and a key to species is provided.     

Revision of the Asian species of genus Xyalaspis Hartig, 1843 (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Anacharitinae)

A revision of genus Xyalaspis (Hymenoptera: Anacharitinae) in Asia is given. Xyalaspis lituricis Belizin, 1965 is synonymized with Xyalaspis hyalina Belizin, 1951. Four new species are described: Xyalaspis esbelta n. sp., Xyalaspis dimorphica n. sp., Xyalaspis orientalis n. sp., and Xyalaspis siamensis n. sp. Diagnostic characters are illustrated and data about biology, distribution and morphological variability of the studied species are discussed. A key to the Asian species of this genus is included.     

Four new species of Trembleya (Melastomataceae: Microlicieae) from Serra do Cabral, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Nine species of the Brazilian endemic genus, Trembleya, were collected during a floristic survey of the tribe Microlicieae on Serra do Cabral, an isolated mountain range in north-central Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Four of these are newly described and illustrated here: Trembleya inversa, T. purpurascens, T. rubra, and T. serrulata, represent new taxa for the genus. These new species appear to be endemic to Serra do Cabral where they occur in campo rupestre and cerrado vegetation. Serra do Cabral has the distinction of harboring more species of Trembleya than any other mountain range in Brazil.     

A new species and subgenus of Desmanthodium (Compositae,Helianheae) from southern Mexico

Desmanthodium congestum, a new species from Chiapas, Mexico, is described and illustrated. Its morphological features are clearly distinguishable from other species of the genus, so much so that this taxon forms a new subgenus withinDesmanthodium, subgenusMultiaggregata.     

Proposal to replace the illegitimate genus name Prescottia Jones et al. 2013 with the genus name Prescottella gen. nov. and to replace the illegitimate combination Prescottia equi Jones et al. 2013 with Prescottella equi comb. nov

Recently we proposed that Rhodococcus equi (Magnusson 1923) Goodfellow and Alderson 1977 be transferred to a novel genus, Prescottia, as Prescottia equi comb. nov. However, in accordance with Principle 2 and Rule 51b(4) of the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision), the bacterial genus name Prescottia Jones et al. 2013 is deemed illegitimate as this name has been used previously for a plant genus within the family Orchidaceae. Consequently, a new genus name, Prescottella gen. nov. is proposed for the bacterial taxon and a new combination Prescottella equi comb. nov. is proposed for the type species.     

A Peculiar New Helina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Muscidae) from Mexico and Panama

Helina sinaloensis n. sp. (Diptera: Muscidae) is described and illustrated from Mexico and Panama. The new species shows a unique combination of characters and can be distinguished from the other species of the genus by the prosternum with lateral cilia, pre-alar seta absent, anepimeron bare, katepimeron setulose, postalar wall setulose and scutellum with setulae on lateroventral margin.     

A new species of Thenardia (Apocynaceae,Apocynoideae) from Chiapas,Mexico, with notes on the genus

A new species,Thenardia chiapensis, is described and illustrated. The new species is the first taxon in the genus to have its fruits, two fused follicles, described and illustrated. In addition, observations ofT. floribunda specimens have revealed the existence of a novel character, coiled filaments, previously undescribed for the genus.     

Taxonomic study of the planthopper genus Lacusa St?l, 1862 (Hemiptera,Fulgoromorpha, Lophopidae)

The planthopper genus Lacusa Stål, 1862 is reviewed. All species are illustrated and male genital characters are provided, and including two new species: L. digitata sp. n. and L. producta sp. n. from Yunnan Province, China. The species L. orientalis Liang, 2000 is removed from this genus based on the frons with median carina and fore femur and tibia flattened but not foliaceous. A key to species is also given. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).