The ant-parasitic genus Rhipipalloidea Girault (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), with a description of a new species

The genus Rhipipalloidea Girault (1934 ), from the Australian region is revised. Rhipipalloidea gruberi Girault (1940 ) is synonymised with R. mira Girault 1934 . A new species, R. madangensis , is described from Papua New Guinea. This species is separated from R. mira from Australia by the distinct striation on the head, and ramose, 12-segmented antennae of the females. Males and a host for the genus are described for the first time.     

One new genus and three new species of Orsillinae (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) from Australia

Abstract  Two new species of Nysius Dallas, N. orarius sp. n. and N. tasmaniensis sp. n. are described from New South Wales and Tasmania (Australia), respectively. A new monotypic genus, Reticulatonysius , with type-species R. queenslandensis sp. n. is described from Queensland, and its systematic relationship with other orsilline genera is discussed.     

Botryocladius gen.n.: a new transantarctic genus of orthocladiine midge (Diptera: Chironomidae)

A new genus of orthocladiine Chironomidae, Botryocladius (type species B. grapeth sp.n. from eastern Australia) is described and illustrated in all life history stages. All thirteen included species are described as new, six from eastern Australia (B. grapeth, B. brindabella, B. mdfrc, B. collessi, B. tasmania, B. australoalpinus), two from Western Australia (B. bibulmun and B. freemani), one from ephemeral streams in Australia (B. petrophilus) and four from Patagonian Argentina and Chile (B. edwardsi, B. glacialis, B. mapuche and B. tronador). All Australian species are known from at least pupal exuviae, most from adult males and several from larvae. In contrast, only B. edwardsi amongst Neotropical species is known from the adult male; all others are described from pupal exuviae. The immature stages are lotic in Australian permanent and temporary streams and Patagonian glacial streams and rivers, and lentic in Neotropical glacial-fed and Australian subalpine lakes. Botryocladius appears to belong with a grouping centred on two formally undescribed taxa from Australia. The genus evidently demonstrates a vicariant distribution with at least two sister-group relationships between South American and Australian taxa, providing a minimum dating for the clade of 38 Ma., with apparent absence from New Zealand indicating a maximum date of 80 Ma.     

A new genus and species of Chironominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) with wood-mining larvae

Abstract  Xylochironomus kakadu , a new genus and species of wood-mining chironomid, is described from northern Australia. Formerly known by a code 'unknown genus K1', the larvae mine soft immersed timber in tropical Australia. The basal striae on the larval mandible are observed otherwise only in Chironomus Meigen and likely close relatives currently placed in Einfeldia Kieffer. The adult male could key as a tanytarsine, and all stages superficially resemble Polypedilum Kieffer, except for the bare squama and the non-tapered male tergite VIII, and the dorsal larval head sclerites. However, analyses of a morphological data matrix derived from all life history stages support no such relationships. Instead, a relationship to Paralauterborniella Lenz and Apedilum Townes, and at one remove, to Fissimentum Cranston & Nolte and Imparipecten Kieffer is postulated. Larval wood-mining among the early branching Chironomini is evidently frequent, but taxa appear not to form a monophyletic clade.     

New genus and five new species of heat-tolerant tiphiid wasps from Western Australia (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae: Thynninae)

Abstract Thynnine wasps are a dominant part of the Australian insect fauna. They are parasites of soil-dwelling scarab-beetle larvae. These wasps are found during the spring and summer months and some are active during the hottest hours of the summer day. The new genus Beithynnus, from Western Australia, is one of these heat-tolerant groups. The genus is based on the new species B. sulfureus , and four additional new species, B. amplus , B. moorensis, B. multimaculatus , and B. tinkeri .     

A new genus of trans-Tasman midge: Anzacladius gen. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae)

Based on larvae, pupae and adults of Australian and New Zealand Orthocladiinae (Chironomidae) midges, a genus new to science, Anzacladius , is described. Two species, A. numbat Cranston sp. n. and A. kangaroo Cranston sp. n., are described from temperate Australia (both western and south-eastern). A. kiwi Cranston sp. n. is described from both North and South Islands, New Zealand: association of the pharate pupa with its putative larva used sequence similarity of the CO1 ( cytochrome oxidase 1 ) gene. Pupal exuviae, the major stage for species recognition, show the genus occurs in running waters, especially in Australian acidic and sandy-bedded creeks, and Anzacladius species are found also in perched lakes of Queensland's Cooloolla region and Fraser Island. Previous morphological phylogenetic studies (under the code 'SO3') indicate a relationship to austral genera Botryocladius Cranston & Edward, Naonella Boothroyd and Echinocladius Cranston.     

A key to the genera of Ricaniidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) recorded in Australia with notes on the Australian fauna, including a new species of Epithalamium Kirkaldy

Abstract  A key to the genera of Ricaniidae occurring in Australia is provided along with an annotated checklist of the described species in each genus. Taxonomic changes include transfer of Privesa pronotalis Distant to Aprivesa Melichar as Aprivesa pronotalis (Distant) comb. nov. and transfer of Busas Jacobi to the Tropiduchidae: Gaetuliini. Ricania fusconebulosa Lallemand and R. pedicellata Jacobi are both transferred to the genus Euricania Melichar as Euricania fusconebulosa (Lallemand) comb. nov. and Euricania pedicellata (Jacobi) comb. nov. Epithalamium moirae sp. nov. is described from Western Australia. The known Australian Ricaniidae fauna includes 29 species in 10 genera.     

A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANORBIDAE (GASTROPODA: HETEROBRANCHIA: PULMONATA) FROM NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

A new genus and species of Planorbidae, Kessneria papillosa n.gen.and sp. from the Northern Territory, Australia, are described.The new genus is morphologically most similar to Leichhardtia,another genus restricted to Northern Australia, from which itdiffers in a number of important shell and anatomical characters.The shell of the new genus differs from all other planorbidsin having a raised, papillate protoconch, and is also uniqueamongst Australian high-spired genera in being umbilicate and inhaving a sinuate outer lip. (Received 12 May 2000; accepted 25 September 2000)     

Charipinae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) from Australia: revision of the genus Thoreauana Girault, 1930 and description of Dilapothor n. gen.

Abstract  The Australian genus Thoreauana Girault is revised: the three known species are redescribed and Thoreauana giraulti sp. n. is described. A new genus of Charipinae from Australia, Dilapothor n. gen., is described. The diagnostic characters for the tribe Charipini are discussed and a key to the Charipini genera is provided.     

Two unusual Chironomini (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Australian rainforest streams: One new genus and a neotropical genus new for the region

Two genera of chironomine Chironomidae are reported: Anuncotendipes , gen. n., type species Anuncotendipes australotropicus sp. n. and included Anuncotendipes kakadu sp. n., and Nandeva Wiedenbrug, Reiss and Fittkau as new to Australia for the species Nandeva fittkaui sp. n. The pupa and adults are known for each genus, but the larvae only for Anuncotendipes . The female of Nandeva is described for the first time. Pupal exuviae of both genera occur in smaller streams in the wet tropics of Far North Queensland, and A. kakadu is lotic in the Northern Territory. Phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily Chironominae at generic level suggests that Anuncotendipes is a sister genus to Rheomus in the Harnischia -complex of genera. Nandeva shows convergent resemblance to the tribe Tanytarsini, but more likely belongs to an austral radiation of Chironomini including Nilodosis Keiffer, Fissimentum Cranston and Nolte and Imparipecten Freeman. These genera show tropical Gondwanan tracks linking Australia with the Afrotropics and Neotropics.     

Phylogenetic analysis of a group of palaeonemerteans (Nemertea) including two new species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Sundberg, P., Gibson, R. & Olsson, U. (2003). Phylogenetic analysis of a group of palaeonemerteans (Nemertea) including two new species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. — Zoologica Scripta, 32, 279–296.
Based on 18S rDNA nucleotide sequences and morphological characters, we reconstruct the phylogeny for a group of palaeonemerteans estimated to be monophyletic. Two new palaeonemertean species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia are included in the phylogenetic analysis. The results confirm that one of the species, Cephalothrix queenslandica sp. n., is part of the Cephalothrix–Cephalotrichella–Procephalothrix group. These genera are redefined phylogenetically under the name Cephalothrix based on the cladistic analysis. The other species, Balionemertes australiensis gen. et sp. n., is placed in a new genus which forms a sister taxon to Cephalothrix . The morphology of both new species is described in detail.     

New species of the myrmecophile Polyplocotes Westwood (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) from South Australia

Six new species of the Australian myrmecophilous ptinid genus Polyplocotes are described from South Australia. Three are from the deserts of central Australia, one from the Franklin Islands in the Great Australian Bight, one from Eyre Peninsula and one from the Riverland region. Morphologically, the majority of these new species are conventional Polyplocotes , but two are less typical. The characters uniting the genus are explored in the discussion, and comparisons are made to related genera. Although the six new species described here have not been observed in the field, the species of this genus are known to be myrmecophilous, and ant – beetle interactions similar to those seen in other spider beetles might occur between these new species and their host ants.     

Moravecia australiensis n. g., n. sp. (Dracunculoidea: Guyanemidae) from the gills of the green porcupine fish Tragulichthys jaculiferus (Cuvier) in Australia

A new dracunculoid genus and species, Moravecia australiensis, is described from gill-filaments of the green porcupine fish Tragulichthys jaculiferus (Cuvier) (Tetraodontiformes: Diodontidae) from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Abundant mobile larvae and a few adult males with females occurred in the gill-filament between the epithelial basement membrane and efferent artery. Gills of all 69 fish examined contained larvae. Eleven harboured adult nematodes of a previously undescribed species belonging to the family Guyanemidae. The new species is placed within a newly proposed genus because it differs from the four existing genera in the family in possessing fine cuticular transverse striations, two forward protruding cephalic elevations, a circumoral elevation, a small triangular mouth surrounded by six cephalic papillae arranged in two lateral clusters of three each and a pair of large lateral amphids. Males have two pairs of pedunculate caudal papillae supporting the caudal alae. A key to the genera of the Guyanemidae is presented.     

Revision of the rove beetle genus Antimerus (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae), a puzzling endemic Australian lineage of the tribe Staphylinini

The genus Antimerus Fauvel, 1878, endemic to eastern Australia and Tasmania and a phylogenetically enigmatic member of the large rove beetle tribe Staphylinini, is revised. The genus and each of its four previously known species are redescribed, and a lectotype is designated for Antimerus punctipennis Lea, 1906. Five species are described as new: Antimerus metallicussp. n., Antimerus jamesrodmanisp. n., Antimerus gracilissp. n., Antimerus bellussp. n. and Antimerus monteithisp. n., so that the number of known species in this genus now totals nine. For the first time Antimerus larvae are described, tentatively identified as Antimerus smaragdinus Fauvel, 1878, Antimerus punctipennis and Antimerus metallicus. Available distributional and bionomic data are provided for each species and summarized in the discussion. Adult and larval morphology of Antimerus and its distribution patterns are discussed in the broader context of new data on the evolution of the entire tribe Staphylinini, and with respect to the formation of the Australian fauna of this tribe. The phylogenetic position of Antimerus within Staphylinini remains unresolved pending a targeted formal study. However, a majority of currently available data suggests that it could be a basal member of the recently recovered monophyletic clade of Staphylinini tentatively called "Staphylinini propria".     

A New Species of Riella from Australia

Abstract

Riella halophila Banwell, sp.nov., a salt-marsh or salt-lake plant from Victoria, Australia, is described and figured. The genus being new to Australia, the extension of range is discussed, and other general notes are given.     

The genus Unixenus Jones, 1944 (Diplopoda, Penicillata, Polyxenida) in Australia

The penicillate genus Unixenus Jones, 1944 is widespread, with species found in Africa, Madagascar, India and Australia. Each of the two Australian species was originally described from single samples from Western Australia. In this study, collections of Penicillata from museums in all states of Australia were examined to provide further details of the two described species, to revise the diagnoses for both the genus and the species, and to better understand the distribution of the two species in Australia. In addition, two new species Unixenus karajinensissp. n. and Unixenus corticolussp. n. are described.     

A new species of Trichosporonoides isolated from sweetened orange/mango drink in Australia

Trichosporonoides australiense sp. nov.: a basidiomycetous yeast-like fungus is described and illustrated with information on some physiological characteristics based on a single strain isolated from sweetened orange/mango in Australia. The differences between it and already described members of the genus are discussed. The new species may be distinguished principally by its inability to ferment sucrose and maltose. A dichotomous key to all described members of the genus is provided.     

Distribution and phylogenetic relationships of Australian glow-worms Arachnocampa (Diptera, Keroplatidae)

Glow-worms are bioluminescent fly larvae (Order Diptera, genus Arachnocampa) found only in Australia and New Zealand. Their core habitat is rainforest gullies and wet caves. Eight species are present in Australia; five of them have been recently described. The geographic distribution of species in Australia encompasses the montane regions of the eastern Australian coastline from the Wet Tropics region of northern Queensland to the cool temperate and montane rainforests of southern Australia and Tasmania. Phylogenetic trees based upon partial sequences of the mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase II and 16S mtDNA show that populations tend to be clustered into allopatric geographic groups showing overall concordance with the known species distributions. The deepest division is between the cool-adapted southern subgenus, Lucifera, and the more widespread subgenus, Campara. Lucifera comprises the sister groups, A. tasmaniensis, from Tasmania and the newly described species, A. buffaloensis, found in a high-altitude cave at Mt Buffalo in the Australian Alps in Victoria. The remaining Australian glow-worms in subgenus Campara are distributed in a swathe of geographic clusters that extend from the Wet Tropics in northern Queensland to the temperate forests of southern Victoria. Samples from caves and rainforests within any one geographic location tended to cluster together within a clade. We suggest that the morphological differences between hypogean (cave) and epigean (surface) glow-worm larvae are facultative adaptations to local microclimatic conditions rather than due to the presence of cryptic species in caves.