Female Sternite Research Articles

Discovery of a new black fly species in the Simulium (Simulium) striatum species-group (Diptera: Simuliidae) from northeastern Thailand and its phylogenetic relationships with seven Thai related species

The female, male, pupa and mature larva of Simulium (Simulium) poolpholi sp. nov. collected from a large and seasonal stream in northeastern Thailand are described. This new species is placed in the S. striatum species-group by the female sternite 8 concave posteromedially in form of the inverted-U shape, ovipositor valve with a ventrally produced process along its inner margin, male ventral plate saddle-shaped, style with a basal protuberance, and pupal gill with 10 filaments. It is morphologically similar to S. (S.) phraense Takaoka, Srisuka & Saeung from northern Thailand by lacking annular ridges on the surface of pupal gill filaments but it is distinguished from the latter species by the arrangement of pupal gill filaments. Molecular analysis using the fast-evolving nuclear big zinc finger (BZF) gene shows that S. (S.) poolpholi sp. nov. formed a distinct clade, being separated from the seven other Thai species of this species-group by a genetic distance of 1.84–4.55%. Our discovery increases the number of species in the S. striatum species-group in Thailand to nine.

A new species of the sharpshooter genus Soosiulus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini) from the Brazilian Amazon Forest, with notes on a putative complex of species

Soosiulus belterrensissp. nov. is described and illustrated from the Amazon Forest of the state of Pará, northern Brazil. Both the male and female terminalia are treated in detail, in addition to color features. With the addition of this new taxon, the diverse Neotropical genus Soosiulus Young, 1977 now comprises 28 species. The new species is the first one proposed for Soosiulus after the original generic description. It appears to be included in a complex with eleven other Soosiulus species, all of them sharing a very similar color pattern. Among the members of this putative complex, the aedeagus of S. belterrensis sp. nov. is most similar to those of S. hastatus Young, 1977 and S. ruber Young, 1977, due to the presence of a pair of conspicuous dorsoapical processes. However, in S. hastatus and S. ruber the aedeagus has also a retrorse ventroapical process originated from a lobe; both process and lobe are not present in the new species. In addition, the female sternite VII in S. hastatus and S. ruber is convex posteriorly, whereas it has a distinct median emargination in the new species.

A new species and an additional record of Pseudotachinus Cameron from China (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae).

Pseudotachinus bilobus Yin and Li, new species, is described from the border of Guizhou and Guangxi, southern China, with habitus and diagnostic features illustrated. The new species is distinct, and can be readily separated from all other congeners by the complete lack of microsculpture on the dorsal surface of the body, strongly transverse elytra, and unique forms of male and female sternites VIII. In addition, P. assingi Schülke is recorded from a new locality in Yunnan. The latest identification key and distributional map of Pseudotachinus are modified to include the new data.

Taxonomic notes on three species of the genus Agonischius (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Elaterinae, Elaterini) with a new species from Taiwan.

Agonischius yokoyamai sp. nov. is described and represents the first record of Agonischius from Taiwan. This species resembles A. lateritius and A. insolitus, but is distinguished from the former by an orange body, yellowish-brown setae, longer antennae, and longer female sternite and tergite VIII, and from the latter by a wider body and differences in the male and female terminalia. Mouth-parts, abdominal terminalia and genitalia of this genus are described in detail and illustrated for the first time. These observations reveal that female sternite VIII and tergite VIII may be useful for species identification of Agonischius.

A new species and new records of Tachygerris Drake, 1957 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) from Colombia.

A new species of the genus Tachygerris Drake, 1957 (Gerrinae: Tachygerrini) is described from the Amazon region of Colombia. Tachygerris tucanensis sp. nov. is differentiated from other species of the genus by features of the male genitalia and of last abdominal sternite of female. New records of T. adamsoni, T. celocis, and T. opacus are also presented.

On the identification of two Brazilian leafhoppers: redescription of Scoposcartula frontaliana comb. nov. and description of the female of S. talitae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini)

This paper deals with two species of Scoposcartula Young, 1977 that are very similar to each other externally (form and color pattern): S. frontaliana (Metcalf, 1955) comb. nov. (from the state of Bahia, NE. Brazil) and S. talitae Leal, Mejdalani & Cavichioli, 2005 (from the state of Espirito Santo, SE. Brazil). The former species, previously positioned in Amblyscarta Stal, 1869, is redescribed and a male specimen is selected as the lectotype. The previously unknown female of the latter species is described for the first time. Scoposcartula frontaliana can be distinguished from S. talitae by features of the male and female genitalia. The most remarkable difference is in the male pygofer, which has a conspicuously concave posterior margin in S. frontaliana, whereas it is convex in S. talitae. The posterior margin of the female sternite VII is convex in S. frontaliana, whereas in S. talitae it has a pair of shallow concavities and a median dentiform projection.

New subgenus and new species of Oriental Omophorus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Metatygini)

The genus Omophorus Schoenherr, 1835 is recorded for the first time from the Oriental Region and a new subgenus and species, Omophorus (Sinomophorus subgen. n.) rongshu sp. n. is described from Yunnan province (P.R. China). The new subgenus differs from the subgenus Omophorus by the longer antennal club, the bifid vestiture of the ventral parts, the elongate subtrapezoidal scutellum, the very small size of sclerotizations in the endophallus, the absence of styli in the ovipositor and the absence of the spiculum ventrale on the VIII female sternite, and from the subgenus Pangomophorus Voss, 1960 by the developed metatibial uncus and the lack of a subhumeral tubercle. A detailed description and figures are provided to allow interpretation of characters in ongoing phylogenetic analyses.

Two Species of the Genus Phasia Latreille (Insecta: Diptera: Tachinidae) New to Korea

As a result of an ongoing systematic study of the genus Phasia Latreille in Korea, we have discovered P. aurigera and P. takanoi for the first time in Korea. We here provide detailed redescriptions and illustrations with their diagnostic characters indicated. Phasia aurigera can be distinguished from other congeners by the combination of the following characteristics: 1)scutum with distinct yellow pruinose spot; 2) male abdominal tergite 5 posteromarginally with V-shaped yellow pruinosity; 3) distiphallus divided into anterior and posterior processes; 4) female sternite 7 short, as long as or slightly longer than sternite 6 (visible part); and 5) female sternite 8 (ovipositor) bent dorsally. Phasia takanoi can also be distinguished by the combination of the following characteristics: 1) abdominal tergites strongly shiny; 2) surstylus strongly bent upward; and 3) posterior margin of female sternite 7 straight in ventral view.

Brazilian sharpshooters of the genus Homalodisca Stål, 1869 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae): notes, new records, key to species, first description of the male of H. ignota Melichar, 1924, and a new Northeastern species

Four species of the sharpshooter genus Homalodisca Stål are known to occur in Brazil: H. ignota Melichar; H. ignorata Melichar; H. lucernaria (Linnaeus), a senior synonym of the type-species Cicada triangularis Fabricius; and the new species H. spottii sp. nov. described from Bahia and Sergipe states. H. spottii sp. nov. is probably involved in the transmission of Citrus variegated chlorosis in Northeastern Brazil and is easily distinguished from other Homalodisca species by the (1) dark dorsum mottled with yellow; (2) contrasting yellow mesoscutellum; (3) broadly concave female sternite VII; and (4) aedeagal atrium not expanded dorsally and with 2 pairs of straight spiniform processes. Males and the female genitalia of H. ignota are described and illustrated for the first time (including an undistorted view of the female sternite VII). A sclerotized female internal sternite VIII in H. ignota and H. spottii sp. nov. is newly recorded for this genus. Homalodisca species are newly recorded for following Brazilian states: H. ignota from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo; H. ignorata from Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, and Santa Catarina; and H. lucernaria from Pará and Roraima. A taxonomic key and notes on Brazilian species are also given.

A New Species of Zorotypus from Central Amazonia, Brazil (Zoraptera: Zorotypidae)

A new species of zorapteran (Polyneoptera: Zorotypidae: Zorotypus) is described and figured from alates and apterous individuals captured in Central Amazonia, Brazil. Zorotypus amazonensis Rafael and Engel, new species, is distinguished from related neotropical species by the setation of the male vertex, the peculiar development of the male cerci, female metafemoral ornamentation, female sternites, and presence of a true Cu vein in the hind wing base (permitting for the first time an accurate homologization of hind wing veins in Zoraptera). The Brazilian zorapteran fauna is briefly summarized and the homology and phylogenetic implications of cepahlic and wing venational traits are discussed. The Embiodea + Zoraptera clade is dubbed mirorder Mystroptera Engel.

Pseudaparopion, new genus of Curculionidae from southern Caspic region (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Molytinae)

region (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Molytinae). - A new genus, Pseudaparopion, from southern Caspic region, is described. It includes two species: P. aequale (Reitter, 1883) from Lenkoran (Azerbajdzan) and P kadleci sp. n. from Mazandaran (Iran). P aequale was originally described by Reitter (1883) as Aparopion aequale but clearly does not belong in that genus on the basis of intervals not raised and structure of VIII sternite of female. A lectotype and paralectotype are here designated for P. aequale; this species is transferred from genus Aparopion as Aparopion aequale. Drawings of male and female genitalia for all species are provided. Taxonomic account and an identification key to the species are given.

The systematics of the Hydiae (Pseudoscorpionida : Neobisioidea)

The Hyidae are redefined and three new synapomorphies are recognised which define the family: basi-dorsal mound on femora I and 11; minute setae on female sternite 11; and 2–3 stout setae on the pedipalpal femur. Three genera are included: Hya Chamberlin, with H. rninuta (Tullgren) and H. chamberlini, sp, nov.; Indohya Beier, with I. besucheti Beier, I. caecata Beier, I. panops, sp. nov., I. beieri, sp, nov., I. pusilla, sp. nov. and I. typhlops, sp. nov.; and Hyella, gen. nov., with H. humphreysi, sp. nov. (type species), the first known cavernicolous species of the family. Hya heterodonta Chamberlin is considered a junior synonym of Ideobisium minutum Tullgren. The Hyidae are divided into two subfamilies, Hyinae for Hya, and Indohyinae, subfam. nov., for Indohya and Hyella. A new distribution record is given for Tyrannochthonius krakatau Harvey (Chthoniidae), based on part of the type series of I. minutum.

A NEW SPECIES OF BLACK-FLY FROM KYUSHU, JAPAN (SIMULIIDAE : DIPTERA)

The adult and immature stages of a new species of the black-fly, Simulium (Gnus) kyushuense are described based on specimens collected from lowland rivers in Kumamoto, the central part of Kyushu Island, Japan.This new species is assigned to the subvariegatum group of the subgenus Gnus Rubzov and has a close affinity to S. (G.) nacojapi Smart, from which it differs by the deep postgenal cleft of larva and unbranched macrosetae on the 7th sternite of female.