Encarsia (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) parasitoids of Bemisia species in Taiwan (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

The whitefly genus Bemisia (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is represented by five species in Taiwan, including the notorious global pest Bemisia tabaci. A catalogue of Encarsia species attacking these whiteflies, based almost entirely on previously unpublished records, is provided. A key for the identification of the 17 Encarsia species known to parasitize Bemisia species in Taiwan is provided. Three new species, E. guangxingana Shih, Ko and Polaszek sp. nov., E. lineolata Shih, Ko and Polaszek sp. nov. and E. magnalata Shih, Ko and Polaszek sp. nov., are described from Taiwan. These new species were all reared from Bemisia giffardi.     

Global species diversity

Sixteen species from the following six orders of insects have been recorded as breeding on pteridophytes of the Lycopsida: Homoptera, Thysanoptera, Mecoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera. All but one of these is from Selaginella, the exception being a pyralid moth from Lycopodium in Hawaii. Three new species are described from Selaginella eurynota in Costa Rica: Aleurotulus pteridophytae Martin sp. nov. (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae), Encarsia sueloderi Polaszek sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea), a parasitoid which was reared from the whitefly, and Echinothrips selaginellae Mound sp. nov. (Thysanoptera, Thripidae).     

A new genus of Neotropical whitefly,secreting blue-iridescent wax (Sternorrhyncha,Aleyrodidae, Aleurodicinae), and its parasitoids (Hymenoptera,Aphelinidae)

Azuraleurodicus pentarthrus Martin gen. and sp. n. is described from three different host plant families in Central and northern South America. Adults of both sexes were reared in culture and adult characters are discussed in addition to those of puparia. The systematic position of Azuraleurodicus within the Aleurodicinae is discussed. One new combination, Aleuronudus ferrisi (Sampson and Drews) comb. n., is here proposed in the course of discussion. The secretion of blue wax by whiteflies is discussed and illustrated by colour photographs. Two species of hymenopterous parasitoids, Dirphys aphania Polaszek sp. n. and Encarsiella pithecura, Polaszek sp. n. emerged from puparia of Azuraleurodicus pentarthrus and are here described.     

New species of Eretmocerus Haldeman (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) parasitizing Crenidorsum turpiniae (Takahashi) and Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Taiwan

A key to females of 11 Eretmocerus species occurring in Taiwan is provided. Two new species, E. tongxiaoensis Shih & Polaszek, sp. nov. and E. lannae Shih & Polaszek, sp. nov. found infesting Crenidorsum turpiniae (Takahashi) and Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) respectively, are described. Five more Eretmocerus species are recorded here as new to Taiwan: E. bisetae Hayat, E. flavus Krishnan & David, E. queenslandensis Naumann & Schmidt, E. rui Zolnerowich & Rose and E. trialeurodis Hayat. New host records for four of these Eretmocerus species from five whitefly species are presented. The whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) is recorded for the first time from Taiwan.     

A new species of Deoterthron (Crustacea: Tantulocarida) ectoparasitic on a deep-sea asellote from New Zealand

Summary

A new species of the recently designated crustacean class Tantulocarida (Deoterthron megacephala sp. nov.) is described from New Zealand waters, ectoparasitic on an undescribed new species of the deep sea asellote genus Haploniscus, collected by epibenthic sledge at a depth of 1386 metres. Illustrations of the new parasite include the first scanning electron microscope photographs of a tantulocaridan. The genotype, Deoterthron dentatum Bradford & Hewitt has been re-examined to clarify certain structural features.     

Apelaunothripini from the Philippines (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae)

Summary

The relationships of the phlaeothripine tribe Apelaunothripini is discussed. Four genera and thirteen species are recorded from the Philippines, including the following two new genera and nine new species: Apelaunothrips cephalicus sp. nov., A. fasciatus sp. nov., A. flavicornis sp. nov., A. marginalis sp. nov., A. philippinensis sp. nov., A. rostratus sp. nov., A. simpliceps sp. nov., Lizalothrips luzonensis gen. and sp. nov., Paradexiothrips bispinosus gen. and sp. nov. Keys are provided to the four genera included in the Apelaunothripini, and to the ten Apelaunothrips species from the Philippines.     

The braconid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) associated with seeds of Dipterocarpaceae in Malaysia

Nineteen species of Braconidae have been reared from seeds of Dipterocarpaceae (mainly Shorea species) in West Malaysia. Eleven new species (Brachistinae: Schizoprymnus mesocaudus sp. nov.; Schizoprymnus torreadoroides sp. nov.; Braconinae: Bracon nitidisoma sp. nov.; Bracon rugulifer sp. nov.; Syntomernus shoreatus sp. nov.; Spermatobracon triangulornatus sp. nov.; Cheloninae: Ascogaster cornifera sp. nov.; Ascogaster lamellifera sp. nov.; Phanerotoma divergens sp. nov.; Microgastrinae: Apanteles hemiaurantius sp. nov.; Apanteles striatus sp. nov.) and one new genus (Spermatobracon gen. nov.; type species: Spermatobracon triangulornatus gen. nov. and sp. nov.) are described and illustrated.     

Wallaceaphytis: an unusual new genus of parasitoid wasp (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) from Borneo

Wallaceaphytis Polaszek and Fusu gen. nov. (type species Wallaceaphytis kikiae Ayshford and Polaszek sp. nov.) is described from Danum Valley, Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo. Although known from just a single female individual, the genus is extremely unusual morphologically, being the only member of the large subfamily Aphelininae with four-segmented tarsi. The form of the fore wings and head are also unique in the subfamily, and its status as a new genus is confirmed by analysis of nuclear ribosomal DNA. DNA sequence analysis was undertaken by comparison with more than 60 aphelinid sequences from GenBank. The sequence for the standard DNA barcode region (cytochrome oxidase c subunit I; COI) is provided. The new genus is named in honour of Alfred Russel Wallace, co-discoverer of the theory of evolution by natural selection. The new genus and species are published on the exact date of the centenary of his death.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:700D2B2A-1586-4100-85D2-24844EFE3F90     

Marine Amphipoda (Crustacea) new to science from the Tasmanian phytal fauna

Summary

The following marine amphipods from the Tasmanian phytal fauna are described as new to science, Cypsiphimedia edgari sp. nov. (Acanthonotozomatidae), Austropheonoides splendens sp. nov., A. truganini sp. nov., Cyproidea marmorata sp. nov. (Amphilochidae), Mesoproboloides cruxlorraina sp. nov. and Raumahara judithae sp. nov. (Stenothoidae). Keys to the species are presented for appropriate genera.     

Ooencyrtus marcelloi sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an egg parasitoid of Heliconiini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) on passion vines (Malpighiales: Passifloraceae) in Central America

A new species belonging to the genus Ooencyrtus Ashmead is described. Ooencyrtus marcelloi sp. nov. has been reared from eggs of Heliconiini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) collected in Panama on Passiflora spp. The new species is compared with its closest Ooencyrtus species, i.e. O. caligo Noyes, O. neustriae Mercet, O. flavipes (Timberlake), O. camerounensis (Risbec), O. endymion Huang and Noyes and Ooencyrtus sp. “undet. C.” (from India). This represents the second record of Ooencyrtus from Heliconinae and the first record of this genus from Panama.     

Three new species of earthworms belonging to the genera Amynthas and Metaphire (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from Yunnan,China

ABSTRACT

Herein, three new species are described, all from Yunnan Province, China: Amynthas hiatus sp. nov., Amynthas recavus sp. nov. and Metaphire daliensis sp. nov. Amynthas hiatus sp. nov. belongs to the Amynthas aeruginosus-group, A. recavus sp. nov. belongs to the Amynthas corticis-group and M. daliensis sp. nov. belongs to Metaphire insulana-group. Amynthas hiatus sp. nov. and M. daliensis sp. nov. have two pairs of spermathecal pores in 7/8-8/9, A. recavus sp. nov. has four pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6-8/9. The male pores of A. hiatus sp. nov. are 1/3 circumference apart ventrally and each on top of a large, raised pulvinate pad; the male pores of A. recavus sp. nov. are 2/5 circumference apart ventrally and each on top of a raised, elliptic, collapse-topped porophore; the male pores of M. daliensis sp. nov. are 2/5 circumference apart ventrally and in the oval copulatory chambers. In this paper, the anatomical and morphological characters of these three species are described. We also sequenced COI and 12S gene fragments in order to provide an analysis of K2P distances and a neighbour-joining tree.     

A new leaf-resembling genus of bush-cricket from West Africa (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Trimusculotrema warnaki gen. et sp. nov. is described from the skin of Himantura uarank Forsskål. Trimusculotrema is distinguished from other genera in the Benedeniinae by the following combination of anatomical features: accessory sclerites and anterior hamuli small; haptor with two or three intrinsic, concentric muscle bands; haptor papillate ventrally; cirrus sac with internal seminal vesicle and spermatophore matrix reservoir; separate male and female pores opening ventrally and dorsally respectively; vagina short. On the basis of these features Benedenia micracantha Euzet and Maillard, 1967 from the skin and B. leucanthemum Euzet and Maillard, 1967 from the gills of Dasyatis marmorata Steindachner off Senegal are transferred to the new genus as Trimusculotrema micracantha comb. nov. and T. leucanthemum comb. nov. The presence of haptoral papillae, noted previously in some species of Entobdella, perhaps indicates that the new genus is more closely related to entobdellids than to benedeniids. Several living specimens of T. uarnaki had 7 (2–17) eggs in early cleavage projecting from the body, their appendages gripped in a muscular sphincter at the uterine opening. These egg bundles appear to be shed from the parasite soon after laying.     

Additional new species of Grouvellinus Champion 1923 (Insecta,Coleoptera, Elmidae) discovered by citizen scientists and DNA barcoded in the field applying a novel MinION-based workflow

ABSTRACT

Four new species, Grouvellinus nigerquadratus sp. nov., G. cruxniger sp. nov., G. luciaensis sp. nov., and G. borneensis sp. nov., are described from Borneo and illustrated in detail. Two additional species of the genus which remain undescribed are briefly diagnosed. The material was collected during Taxon Expeditions’ field course which involved citizen scientists, students and taxonomists. Specimens were collected at altitudes between 270 m and 750 m above sea level using fine-meshed hand-nets and blacklight traps. The morphological species delimitation based on morphology was supplemented and congruent with mtDNA sequences which are the first DNA barcodes for the genus from Borneo. They were obtained in the field using a newly developed rapid and accurate MinION-based workflow. The inter – and intraspecific genetic distances and the problems regarding cryptic species delimitation are discussed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4B1D0F3D-B303-46A5-86B4-C23454192327     

“Typhloplanoida” (Platyhelminthes: Rhabdocoela) from the Indian Ocean,with the description of six new taxa

Seven typhloplanoids from the Indian Ocean are discussed; six of them are new to science. We place four of the new species within the Trigonostomidae. Gandalfia bilunata gen. nov. sp. nov. is characterized by a tubiform stylet and two semilunar structures in the afferent duct. Mahurubia clava gen. nov. sp. nov. has a gutter‐shaped stylet and a club‐shaped mouthpiece on the bursa. Parapharyngiella involucrum gen. nov. sp. nov. is characterized by a stylet in the form of a question mark and a bursal mouthpiece with a club‐shaped and a barrel‐shaped part. Poseidoplanella halleti gen. nov. sp. nov. is characterized by an unpaired ovary, a funnel‐shaped stylet connected with a plate, and a small, tubular bursal mouthpiece. Furthermore, new data are given on Ceratopera axi. The two other new species belong to the Typhloplanidae. Aegira annabellae gen. nov. sp. nov., a marine species, is characterized by a box‐shaped stylet and a long, pseudocuticularized ejaculatory duct. Castrada trispina sp., a freshwater species, has a copulatory bursa with three spines. Mahurubia clava gen. nov. sp. nov. and Parapharyngiella involucrum gen. nov. sp. nov. occur at Zanzibar, Tanzania. The other five species have been found on Kerguelen.     

Six new species of the genus Pseudostegana (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from the Oriental region

Six new species are described from China and Indonesia, belonging to the latiparma and zonaria species groups: Pseudostegana acutifoliolata sp. nov., Pseudostegana bilobata sp. nov., Pseudostegana bipartita sp. nov., Pseudostegana insularis sp. nov., Pseudostegana minutipalpata sp. nov. and Pseudostegana silvana sp. nov.. Updated keys to the species of the latiparma and zonaria groups are provided.     

Cave-dwelling Fulgoroidea (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha) from the Canary Islands

Examination of Fulgoroid specimens collected in several caves of volcanic origin on the Canary Islands (Tenerife, El Hierro) has revealed the existence of at least two undescribed troglobitic Fulgoroid species. These are apparently the first records of troglobitic Auchenorrhyncha, not only from the Middle Atlantic Islands, but from the Palaeartic Region. These cavernicolous taxa belong to the families Cixiidae (Tachycixius lavatubus sp. nov.) and Meenoplidae (Meenoplus cancavus sp. nov.). Possible pathways towards the evolution of troglobitic forms in Auchenorrhyncha and ways of speciation—sympatric or allopatric—for T. lavatubus sp. nov. and its epigean relative Tachycixius canariensis (Lindberg) are discussed. These findings suggest that cavernicolous Homoptera are more widely distributed over the world than was previously assumed.     

Depressorotunda gen. nov., a new remarkable Uropodina mite genus from South-East Asia with description of four new species (Acari: Mesostigmata)

A new genus Depressorotunda gen. nov. and four new species are described from South-East Asia, namely Depressorotunda malayana sp. nov. and Depressorotunda seticaudata sp. nov. from Malaysia, Depressorotunda thailandica sp. nov. from Thailand and Depressorotunda mirifica sp. nov. from Vietnam. A key to the species of the genus Depressorotunda is provided with 28 original drawings and scanning micrographs.     

Hairworms found in Scottish agricultural land,with descriptions of two new species of Gordionus Muller (Nematomorpha: Gordiidae)

Three species of Nematomorpha were found in a survey of the ground beetles of Scottish agricultural land, Gordionus violaceus (Baird) and two undescribed new species, G. linourgos sp. nov. and G. diligens sp. nov. The morphology of all three species is studied with the aid of SEM, and the characteristics of the cuticle and the male terminal lobes described in detail. All species were found to be parasitic in ground beetles of the family Carabidae, in nine different species (Nebria brevicollis (Fabricius), Harpalus latus (Linnaeus), four species of Pterostichus, and three species of Calathus). Gordionus violaceus is also reported to be a parasite of the spider Arctosa alpigena (Lycosidae). Up to four specimens were found in the same host, typically one adult and several juvenile forms. Parasitized hosts had severe alterations of their reproductive, digestive and secretory systems. The three species of Gordionus were mostly found in grasslands and coniferous forest, most abundantly in June and July.