Araucnephia iberaensis n. sp., a neotropical black fly with a peculiar distribution (Diptera-Simuliidae)

Araucnephia Wygodzinsky & Coscarón is a Neotropical black fly genus in which only one species from Central Chile is known. Another species has now been found in Corrientes province on the eastern side of the Iberá tropical swamps of Argentina, on the western border of the mountainous region of southern Brazil. This new species, A. iberaensis, is herein described and illustrated and information on its bionomics is recorded. It is an interesting species because previous to its discovery no black fly genus or subgenus from Central Chile region has been found in tropical areas, because these two regions are separated by the Monte and Pampas realms. Similarly, no Brazilian genus or subgenus has crossed the Andes mountains to Chile. A comparison with other Neotropical, Nearctic, Ethiopian (Afrotropical) and Australian Prosimuliini (sensu Crosskey & Howard) showed Araucnephia to be a valid taxon most closely related to Araucnephioides (sympatric in Chile). Araucnephia also shows great affinities with Lutzsimulium from Southeast Brazil and Argentina and Paracnephia from South Africa.     

Phylogeny and taxonomy of Macrolepiota (Agaricaceae)

The position and composition of Macrolepiota within the Agaricaceae and its phylogenetic relationships with other members of the family were investigated, using both molecular (ITS and LSU rDNA sequences) and morphological characters. The molecular data separate the genus into two clades. The first clade comprises M. procera, M. mastoidea, M. clelandii and allies and is a sister group of Leucoagaricus and Leucocoprinus. The second, more diverse, clade, with M. rachodes and allies, M. globosa, Chlorophyllum molybdites, Leucoagaricus hortensis and Endoptychum agaricoides, is a sister group of Agaricus. The separation of the two clades is supported by morphological characters, such as the structure of the pileus covering, the stipitipellis and the shape of the germ pore and the spore apex. The two clades are regarded as genera for which the names Macrolepiota and Chlorophyllum are proposed. Macrolepiota nympharum does not belong to either clade but is assigned to the genus Leucoagaricus, close to L. leucothites. Endoptychum depressum is transferred to the genus Agaricus as A. inapertus.     

Scabropezia, a new genus of Pezizaceae (Pezizales)

Scabropezia gen. nov., with globose spores, is described with two species, viz. the type species S. scabrosa (Cooke) comb, nov., and S. flavovirens (Fuck.) comb. nov. The relationship to the globose–spored genera Plicaria Fuck, emend. Boud. and Pachyphloeus Tul. and to the genus Peziza L. ex St.–Amans is discussed. A key for the treated taxa is provided.     

THE GENUS HYPOGLOSSUM KÜTZING (DELESSERIACEAE,RHODOPHYTA) IN THE TROPICAL WESTERN ATLANTIC,INCLUDING H. ANOMALUM SP. NOV.1

Observations are made on the occurrence and distribution of the red algal genus Hypoglossum Kützing (Delesseriaceae, Ceramiales) in the tropical western Atlantic. In addition to the type of the genus, H. hypoglossoides (Stackh.) Coll. & Herv., three other species are reported: H. anomalum sp. nov., H. involvens (Harv.) J. Ag., and H. tenuifolium (Harv.) J. Ag. A key is presented to distinguish these four species. The newly described species, H. anomalum, is like other species in the genus in that its branches arise endogenously from the primary axial row but it is unique in that the branches emerge from the parent blade at some point between the midline and the margin of the blade. The new species is reported from Puerto Rico and Florida.     

Revision of Potamotrygonocotyle Mayes, Brooks & Thorson, 1981 (Platyhelminthes: Monogenoidea: Monocotylidae), with descriptions of four new species from the gills of the freshwater stingrays Potamotrygon spp. (Rajiformes: Potamotrygonidae) from the La Plata river basin

The only known monocotylid genus to parasitise Neotropical freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygonidae) is Potamotrygonocotyle Mayes, Brooks & Thorson, 1981, a monotypic genus erected to accommodate P. tsalickisi Mayes, Brooks & Thorson, 1981. For more than 20 years, no other species has been recognised in this genus, but new efforts to survey the diversity of parasites inhabiting potamotrygonids have revealed the existence of new species and the need to redefine the genus. Here, the generic diagnosis of Potamotrygonocotyle is amended, P. tsalickisi is redescribed and four new species are recognised and described based on samples collected from the gills of freshwater potamotrygonids from the La Plata river basin: Potamotrygonocotyle chisholmae n. sp. and P. dromedarius n. sp. from Potamotrygon motoro; Potamotrygonocotyle eurypotamoxenus n. sp. from Potamotrygon cf. motoro (type-host), P. castexi, P. falkneri and P. histrix; and Potamotrygonocotyle uruguayensis n. sp. from Potamotrygon brachyura. Potamotrygonocotyle is characterised by species possessing: (1) slightly sinuous sclerotised ridges on all septa; (2) two pairs of the dorsal haptoral accessory structures associated with the four posterior peripheral loculi and with anterior dorsal haptoral accessory structure bilobate or semicircular; and (3) male copulatory organ without an accessory piece.     

中国锈革孔菌科新种及值得注意的种

本文报道了产于我国云南西双版纳热带雨林的多孔菌一新种,版纳嗜蓝孢层孔菌 Ｆｏｍｉｔｉｐｏｒｉａ ｂａｎｎａｅｎｓｉｓ Ｙ．Ｃ． Ｄａｉ,该菌具有平伏的子实体较小的担孢子及大量的子实层刚毛这些特征很容易使该新种区别于同属的其它种,对与其它近似种的不同也进行了讨论锈革孔菌科的另外两种悦目小集毛菌Ｃｏｌｔｒｉｃｉｅｌｌａ　 ａｂｌｅｃｔａｂｉｌｉｓ（Ｌｌｏｙｄ） Ｋｏｔｌ, Ｐｏｕｚａｒ＆ Ｒｙｖａｒｄｅｎ和杜氏齿革菌 Ｈｙｄｎｏｃｈａｅｔｅ ｄｕｐｏｒｔｉｉ Ｐａｔ．被报道为中国新记录种,并根据我国的材料对这两种进行了详细描述。三个种被重新进行了组合它们是 Ｆｏｍｉｔｉｐｏｒｉａ ｓｏｎｏｒａ（Ｇｌｉｂ．）Ｙ．Ｃ． Ｄａｉ, Ｆｏｍｉｔｉｐｏｒｉａ　 ｓｕｂｌａｅｖｉｇａｔａ（Ｃｌｅｌａｎｄ　＆ 　Ｒｏｄｗａｙ） Ｙ．Ｃ． Ｄａｉ和 Ｏｎｎｉａ　ｆｌａｏｖｉｄａ（Ｂｅｒｋ．） Ｙ．Ｃ． Ｄａｉ．     

Novel mandibular gland volatiles from Apterostigma ants

The fungus-farming ants are a well-studied evolutionary radiation within the subfamily Myrmicinae that associate with a web of symbionts that span kingdoms. Members of the Apterostigma pilosum species group cultivate unique basidiomycete fungi belonging to the coral-mushroom family Pterulaceae, a family of fungi that is distantly related to the Agaricaceae (Leucoagaricus and Leucocoprinus) fungi grown by most fungus-farmers including other members in the genus Apterostigma (A. auriculatum group and A. megacephala). A chemical analysis using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy of the mandibular gland volatiles of two species – A. dentigerum and A. manni – revealed the presence of an extraordinary diversity of natural products. Many of these compounds are new to Arthropoda, such as a homologous series of 3-methyl-2-alkanones, 2-methyl-2-alkenals, and 1-phenyl-2-propanone in A. dentigerum and 1-phenyl-2-propanol in A. manni. These results identify a remarkable divergence of compounds across the fungus-growing ants and other members in Myrmicinae. Functions of these natural products are proposed and discussed.     

A REVISION OF THE DEEP-WATER OCTOPUS GENUS SCAEURGUS (CEPHALOPODA: OCTOPODIDAE) WITH DESCRIPTION OF THREE NEW SPECIES FROM THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC OCEAN

Deep-water trawl surveys on seamounts around New Caledonia yielded62 specimens of the little-known genus, Scaeurgus. Members ofthis genus of octopuses typically occur at depths of 200–500m in temperate and tropical latitudes worldwide. Prior to thisstudy, Scaeurgus was considered to contain one to two species.The new material from New Caledonia contained a surprising diversityof Scaeurgus species from a small area: three distinct new speciesare described and limited material of a further two taxa isreported. A pygmy member of this genus is reported for the firsttime. Distributions of these new taxa are consistent with reportsof high endemism on the seamount systems in this region. Fifty-eightof the 62 specimens were collected from seamounts, with fourof the five taxa unique to a single seamount. (Received 12 January 2004; accepted 28 January 2005)     

Japanese species of the Longibrachiatum Clade of Trichoderma

The Longibrachiatum Clade of the genus Trichoderma in Japan was examined, among which two new species and three new records are herewith reported. The new species, T. tsugarense and T. kunigamense were isolated from a bed log (cultivation of Lentinula edodes) and volcanic ash soil, respectively. These species are distinguished from closely related species by growth and morphological characteristics and in phylogenetic analysis. Additional species new to Japan were T. ghanense, T. parareesei and T. sinense. The significance of their distribution is discussed. Most species of the Longibrachiatum Clade are tropical rather than temperate in distribution. Their in vitro optimum growth tends to be >35 °C but the optimum temperature for some Japanese species was lower. Some species are endophytes of temperate plant species, some of which are endemic in Japan.     

A new genus and species of pennatulacean octocoral from equatorial West Africa (Cnidaria,Anthozoa, Virgulariidae)

A new genus and species of sea pen or virgulariid pennatulacean from the Gulf of Guinea in the tropical eastern Atlantic is described, and a key to the genera of the Virgulariidae is included. The new genus and species described here adds to the previously described five other genera of the family. It is distinguished by unique sclerite and polyp leaf characters from the superficially-similar genus Virgularia, which lacks conspicuous sclerites in the polyp leaves and coenenchyme (other than minute oval bodies that are generally <0.01 mm in length).     

Asiaontsira gen. nov., a new tropical genus of the subfamily Doryctinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Vietnam and South‐East China

A new genus, Asiaontsira gen. nov., and two new species, A. cucphuongi sp. nov. (type species) and A. cantonica sp. nov., are described from tropical and subtropical areas of South‐East China and North Vietnam. This genus is compared to the closely related Australian Ontsirospathius Belokobylskij, Iqbal and Austin, 2004 as well as the similar and almost cosmopolitan genus Ontsira Cameron, 1900. A key to both species of Asiaontsira gen. nov. is provided.     

The lichen genus Sclerophyton in India

Abstract:Sclerophyton is reported for the first time from India and two species of this genus, namely S. elegans Eschw. and a new species S. indicum U. V. Makhija & B. A. Adawadkar are recorded.     

Studies in African Cyperaceae 35. Kyllinga carinalaevis sp. nov. from west tropical Africa

A minute new species of Kyllinga, i.e. K. carinalaevis Lye & Mesterházy, from Benin in west tropical Africa is described. It is one of three or four annual species of the genus, and the characters separating it from two other annual species are given. The species is ephemeral and occurs in a vegetation type which belongs to a Nanocyperion association. The species is probably critically endangered as it was found in a single locality out of the numerous sites that have been investigated in Benin in recent years.     

Taxonomic notes on Polygonaceae from southern tropical Afkica

As part of taxonomic studies of the family Polygonacrae For the Flora Zambesiaca project, two new species from southrrn tropical Africa are described: Persicaria nogueirae S. Ortiz & Paiva, from Zambia and Angola, and Oxygonum annuum S. Ortiz & Paiva, from Zambia. In addition, two new combinations are proposed: Polygonum glomertum Dammer is transferred to the genus Persicaria as Persicaria glomerata (Dammrr) S. Ortiz & Paiva, and Persicaria attemtata (R. Br.) Soják subsp. africana K.L. Wilson is renamed Persicaria madagascariensis (Meisn.) S. Ortiz & Paiva.     

A survey of the tribe Ectinoderini (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) of China,with the description of a new Ectinoderus species

The two resin assassin bugs belonging to the tribe Ectinoderini (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) occurring in China are documented: Amulius malayus Stål, 1867 is redescribed and Ectinoderus sinicus Chen & Cai, sp. nov. is described as new. The discovery of the new species extends the distribution of the genus and the tribe northwards from tropical Southeast Asia to southern mainland China. A key to the two ectinoderine genera and species from China is provided to facilitate their identification. DNA barcodes and bionomic data are provided for the species concerned, and their conservation is briefly discussed.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A7F7402E-E9A8-4FAD-B72A-4B1C9B2A7276.     

A new species of Andricus oak gallwasp from China (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini)

As part of a study on the cynipids (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipinae) in the Chinese fauna, we report in the present paper two species of Andricus Hartig from the tribe Cynipini, including one new species, namely, A. deqingis sp. n. from that country. In addition to new species, we also provide illustrated keys to east Palaearctic and Oriental species of this genus. The type specimens are deposited in the Hymenoptera Collection, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin’an, China.