Description of a new species of the genus Protacallodes Morimoto (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae) from Japan, with notes on other Japanese species and a key to all known species

The author examined fossilized deer bones with forks at one or both ends which were excavated from the Gohezu cave of Ie-jima, Okinawa Prefecture, and whichhave been considered them as the result of shaping by hominids. He decided that they were not artificial, but in a much more advanced stage of bone damage due to chewing by deer himself as a result of osteophagia. So, at present, any archaeological evidences in palaeolithic age are not recognized inOkinawa Prefecture. Recently an amorphous flake industry with wedge shaped tools has been found in the layer, contained AT-tephra dated more than 20, 000 years B.P., at the Yaaya and Kisikawa, Amamioshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. The undated same industry, too, is reported from the Amangusuku, Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. The author asserts that the flake industry in final Upper Pleistocene should been widely distributed throughout the Nansei (Southeastern) Islands of Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefecture. Further, the same flake industry with wedgeshaped tools exists at the Baxian-dong caves (5, 000-15, 000ys. B.P.) in Eastern Taiwan, Lang Rongrien rockshelter (27, 000-37, 000 ys. B.P.) in Southwestern Thailand, and Devil's Lair cave (12, 000-31, 000 ys. B.P.) in Southwestern Australia. The author thinks that the prehistoric people with the flake industry had adapted themselves to coastal environment somewhere around Southeast Asia about 30, 000 years ago, because of findingsof fish bone sand fishing tools from the sites. They had known about the technology how to sail across the sea, and dispersed on each islands northward along the Nansei Islands from the cradle of flake industry in Southeast Asia until 20, 000 years ago.

A new species of Ryukyu spiny rat, Tokudaia tokunoshimensis was described in the specimens originating from Tokunoshima Island in the southernmost region of Japan. The populations of Tokudaia are separately distributed only in Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, and Okinawa-jima Islands. We have described the osteological and external morphological characteristics and clarified the osteometrical distinctions among the three populations using the skull and skin collections. All external dimensions of head and body length, tail length, hindfoot length and ear length were larger in the Tokunoshima population than in the other two in mean value. The raw osteometrical data separated the Tokunoshima Island population from the other two in all measurements except for the length of molar row in the Okinawa-jima Island population. The principal component analysis also demonstrated that the skulls from the Tokunoshima Island population were morphologically distinct from those of the other populations. Here, from th...

Two new species of the cockroach genus Eucorydia Hebard, 1929 from the Nansei Islands in Southwest Japan were compared to two closely related congeners, Eucorydia yasumatsui Asahina, 1971 and Eucorydia dasytoides (Walker, 1868). Eucorydia donanensis Yanagisawa, Sakamaki, and Shimano sp. nov. from Yonaguni-jima Island was characterized by an overall length of 12.5-14.5 mm in males. The dorsal side of the male abdomen was entirely dark purple and there was an obscure orange band running down the middle of the tegmen. Eucorydia tokaraensis Yanagisawa, Sakamaki, and Shimano sp. nov. was characterized by an overall length of 12.0-13.0 mm in males and a distinct orange band running down the middle of the tegmen. Eucorydia yasumatsui, E. donanensis, E. tokaraensis and the zonata population of E. dasytoides were divided into four lineages in a maximum-likelihood tree generated from a dataset concatenated from five (two nuclear, 28S rRNA, histone H3, and three mitochondrial, COII, 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA) genes. We recognized the three Japanese lineages E. yasumatsui, E. donanensis, and E. tokaraensis as distinct species, which were also supported by the pairwise genetic distances (5.4-7.8%, K2P) of the COI sequences. Morphometric analysis was performed on the genitalia. A principal component analysis plot revealed that the sizes of the genitalia in the three Japanese species were similar to each other and smaller than that of the zonata population of E. dasytoides. The analysis also revealed that the three Japanese species were distinguished from each other by combinations of the sizes of L3 and L7 sclerites and the shape of R2 sclerite, with some overlapping exceptions.

Two new species Celticecis insulicola Sato and Yukawa and Celticecis gracilicornis Sato and Yukawa (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) are described from Japan based on morphological comparison with other congeners in the world. The definition of the genus Celticecis is broadened to include the two new species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis supported the results of identification. C. insulicola induces bullet-shaped galls, and C. gracilicornis induces slender conical galls on the leaves of Celtis boninensis Koidzumi (Cannabaceae), a plant of the southern part of Japan, mainly on the Nansei Islands in Kagoshima and Okinawa Prefectures. Both species are univoltine, mature larvae overwintering in the galls on the ground and adults emerging in early spring. C. insulicola was found on Amami, Uke and Okinoerabu Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture, and Okinawa Island, Okinawa Prefecture. C. gracilicornis was found on Amami and Okinawa Islands.

Notes on some plant-inhabiting fungi collected from the Nansei Islands (3)

Notes on some plant-inhabiting fungi collected from the Nansei Islands (3)

We measured adult mandibles of Ryukyu wild pig (Sus scrofa riukiuanus) from Tokunoshima Island and compared the osteometrical data with those from six Nansei Islands. The mandibles in Tokunoshima Island were larger than those from Amami-Oshima and Okinawa Islands in some measurements. We concluded that the size cline was not statistically recognized among populations. In the principal component analysis, the size cline was also denied, and the separation could be made among island populations in female. It is suggested that the populations in Tokunoshima and Okinawa Islands may be different from those in Amami-Oshima, Kakeroma, Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands in skull proportion.

Japanese species of the genus Pygophora Schiner, 1868 are reviewed, with redescription of the following species: P. boninensis Snyder, 1965; P. confusa, 1915; P. immaculipennis Frey, 1917; P. lepidofera (Stein, 1915); P. longicornis (Stein, 1918); P. macularis (Wiedemann, 1830); P. maculipennis Stein, 1909; P. respondens (Walker, 1859); P. unicolor (Stein, 1920). New occurrence records are presented to P. macularis (Wiedemann, 1830), P. respondens (Walker, 1859), and P. unicolor (Stein, 1920). Pygophora trimaculata Karl, 1935 is excluded from Japanese species, as it had been based on a misidentification. The male and female terminalia are illustrated, and an identification key to the Japanese species is provided.

SummaryThe Palaearctic burrower bug genus Canthophorus Mulsant & Rey, 1866 (Heteroptera: Cydnidae) is revised. New data on the morphology and distribution are given. Structures of the female internal ectodermal terminalia and the completely inflated aedeagi in all species of the genus are described and illustrated for the first time. An extended differential diagnosis as a comparison with representatives of all Palearctic genera of the tribe Sehirini is given for the genus. Based on characters of the external morphology and terminalia of both sexes, new taxa are described: C. dubius sanigarum n. ssp., C. melanopterus mariae n. ssp., C. impressus hajastanicus n. ssp., and C. wagneri hyrcanicus n. ssp.; C. hissaricus Asanova, 1964 is downgraded to a subspecies level and included in C. mixtus Asanova, 1964. C. melanopterus niger (Vidal, 1950) is placed in synonymy with C. melanopterus melanopterus (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835). A wide variability of the terminalia, especially in females, was found in C. melanopterus melanopterus; in the latter, six forms are described differing in the shape and size of sclerites in posterior pouches of the gynatrial sac and distributed mainly in the Mediterranean region. A key allowing identification of the species not only by males, but also by females, was compiled for the first time. It is shown that C. aeneus (Walker, 1867) [= Sehirus fuscipennis Horváth, 1899] and C. maculipes (Mulsant & Rey, 1852) have very significant differences from other species of Canthophorus in the male and female terminalia, and at the same time share some characters with the genus Adomerus Mulsant & Rey, 1866, including unique characters shared with several species of this group; therefore, the mentioned two species are transferred to the genus Adomerus.

First record of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in Diplothrix legata (Rodentia: Muridae) in Tokunoshima Island, Japan.

The Ryukyu long-furred rat, Diplothrix legata, is a large rodentdistributed only on Amami-ohshima Island, Tokuno-shima Island and Okinawa-jima Island,Japan. This animal is endangered as a result of deforestation, predation by introducedcarnivores and mortality caused by vehicles. We performed theriogenological examinationsof 32 male and 25 female Ryukyu long-furred rats carcasses collected from wild populationson northern Okinawa-jima Island from December 2005 to September 2013. Adult males hadremarkably large preputial glands. Seminiferous diameter of adult was significantly small(136 ± 28 µm, n=8) from April to August. Numerous spermatozoa wereobserved from September through February, and seminiferous diameter was significantlylarge (216 ± 27 µm, n=12) during this time in adults; testes lengthchanged in a similar pattern. These findings indicate that the mating season may occurfrom September through February. Size (body length) at sexual maturity was estimated to be>560 mm in both sexes. From observation of corpora lutea and placental scars, littersize was estimated to range from 2 to 12 (average=6, n=4). These results providefundamental knowledge that will be beneficial for in situ and exsitu conservation of this rare species.

Japanese species of the genus Nipponomyia Alexander, 1924 are revised. Two new species, Nipponomyia okinawensis Kolcsár & Kato, sp. nov. and N. yakushimensis Kolcsár & Kato, sp. nov. are described from the Ryukyu Islands. Images of habitus and wings, illustrations of male and female terminalia, and distribution maps are provided for the Japanese species. A key to the world species of Nipponomyia is added. DNA barcodes of three Japanese Nipponomyia are provided, representing the first barcodes from the genus.

Japanese species of the subgenera Oreophila Lackschewitz and Parormosia Alexander of the genus Ormosia Rondani (Limoniidae) are revised. Two new species Ormosia (Oreophila) komazawai Kato & Kolcsár, sp. nov. and Ormosia (Parormosia) phalara Kato & Kolcsár, sp. nov. are described. The identities of all Japanese species of the two subgenera are clarified and redescribed with images of habitus and wings, and drawings of male and female terminalia. The first DNA barcode sequences of the species Ormosia (Parormosia) diversipes Alexander and Ormosia (Parormosia) phalara Kato & Kolcsár, sp. nov. are also provided. A key to, and distribution maps of, the Japanese species are provided.

Simple SummaryWe naturally bred the endangered Anderson’s crocodile newt (Echinotriton andersoni) and tested a laboratory farming technique using near-biotopic breeding cages with several male and female pairs collected from Okinawa, Amami, and Tokunoshima Islands. This is the first published report of successfully propagating an endangered species by using breeding cages in a laboratory setting for captive breeding. Our findings on the natural breeding and raising of larvae and adults are useful in breeding this endangered species, and can be applied to the preservation of other similarly wild and endangered species.Anderson’s crocodile newt (Echinotriton andersoni) is distributed in the Central Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, but environmental degradation and illegal collection over the last several decades have devastated the local populations. It has therefore been listed as a class B1 endangered species in the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is at high risk of extinction in the wild. The species is also protected by law in both Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures. An artificial insemination technique using hormonal injections could not be applied to the breeding of this species in the laboratory. In this study we naturally bred the species, and tested a laboratory farming technique using several male and female E. andersoni pairs collected from Okinawa, Amami, and Tokunoshima Islands and subsequently maintained in near-biotopic breeding cages. Among 378 eggs derived from 17 females, 319 (84.4%) became normal tailbud embryos, 274 (72.5%) hatched normally, 213 (56.3%) metamorphosed normally, and 141 (37.3%) became normal two-month-old newts; in addition, 77 one- to three-year-old Tokunoshima newts and 32 Amami larvae are currently still growing normally. Over the last five breeding seasons, eggs were laid in-cage on slopes near the waterfront. Larvae were raised in nets maintained in a temperature-controlled water bath at 20 °C and fed live Tubifex. Metamorphosed newts were transferred to plastic containers containing wet sponges kept in a temperature-controlled incubator at 22.5 °C and fed a cricket diet to promote healthy growth. This is the first published report of successfully propagating an endangered species by using breeding cages in a laboratory setting for captive breeding. Our findings on the natural breeding and raising of larvae and adults are useful in breeding this endangered species and can be applied to the preservation of other similarly wild and endangered species such as E. chinhaiensis.

Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is known in tropical and subtropical regions to cause serious damage to various species of Erythrina (Fabaceae) by inducing stem, petiole, and leaf galls. In Japan, the existence of galls on Erythrina variegata Linnaeus was first recorded in Okinawa Prefecture in 2005, but galls were not found in that year on Amami Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. In our field survey from December 2006 to February 2007, we found that 65 (16.8%) of 323 trees of E. variegata bore galls on Amami Island and 118 (85.5%) of 138 trees of E. variegata and E. crista-galli Linnaeus on Tokunoshima Island, which is located about 49 km south of Amami Island. Because Erythrina trees were more heavily damaged on Tokunoshima Island, Q. erythrinae seems to have invaded the island earlier than Amami Island. In addition to possible multiple invasions, Q. erythrinae may have spread quickly through both islands by low-density dispersal. Up to 2007, no galls had been found on Kikai Island located east of Amami Island.