World Species Research Articles

Three new species of Amphipoda (Crustacea: Peracarida) from the remote oceanic island of Trindade, off the coast of south-eastern Brazil

ABSTRACT Trindade is a volcanic remote island isolated some 1200 km from the nearest continental landmass. While knowledge of the island’s diversity of crustacean decapod fauna has been notably broadened by extensive investigations, knowledge about its amphipod fauna is still poor. During a 12-year survey (2012–2024) a wealth of amphipod material was obtained in Trindade from various sublittoral habitats at water depths of less than 30 m. Here, we report on three new species of the genera Colomastix Grube, 1861, Pariphinotus Kunkel, 1910 and Eusiroides Stebbing, 1888. Additionally, identification keys to the world species of Eusiroides and Pariphinotus, and to the Brazilian species of Colomastix are provided. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B17266F0-B78E-4768-8FB2-D91BA5F748CA

Foraging by predatory ants: A review.

In this review, we show that predatory ants have a wide range of foraging behavior, something expected given their phylogenetic distance and the great variation in their colony size, life histories, and nesting habitats as well as prey diversity. Most ants are central-place foragers that detect prey using vision and olfaction. Ground-dwelling species can forage solitarily, the ancestral form, but generally recruit nestmates to retrieve large prey or a group of prey. Typically, ants are omnivorous, but some species are strict predators preying on detritivorous invertebrates or arthropod eggs, while those specialized on termites or other ants often have scouts that localize their target and then trigger a raid. They can use compounds that ease this task, including chemical insignificance, mimicry, and venoms triggering submissive behavior. Army ants include 8 Dorylinae and some species from other subfamilies, all having wingless queens and forming raids. Dorylinae from the Old World migrate irregularly to new nesting sites. The foraging of most New World species that prey on the brood of other ants is regulated by their biological cycle that alternates between a "nomadic phase" when the colony relocates between different places and a "stationary phase" when the colony stays in a bivouac constituting a central place. Among arboreal ants, dominant species forage in groups, detecting prey visually, but can use vibrations, particularly when associated with myrmecophytes. Some species of the genera Allomerus and Azteca use fungi to build a gallery-shaped trap with small holes under which they hide to ambush prey.

First record of the genus Palpostilpnus Aubert (Ichneumonidae: Phygadeuontinae) from Vietnam, with descriptions of eight new species

Palpostilpnus Aubert, 1961 is a genus of the subfamily Phygadeuontinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) with 17 currently recognized species from the Oriental and Australasian regions. In this paper, this genus is reported for the first time from Vietnam. Eight new species are described, comprising: P. cattienensis, P. hoanglienensis, P. incompletus, P. melanothoracicus, P. melinhensis, P. meovacensis, P. ngoclinhensis and P. taynguyenensis. Three species, P. maculata Sheng & Sun, 2013, P. pterodactylus Reshchikov, Santos, Liu, Barthélémy, 2019 and P. tamasek Reshchikov, Santos, Liu, Barthélémy, 2019 are recorded as new from the country. The key to the world species of Palpostilpnus by Reshchikov et al. (2019) is modified to include eight new species from Vietnam.

Problems when diagnosing cutaneous leishmaniasis: a retrospective study analyzing clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) incidence in Switzerland is rising due to factors like migration and globalization. The aim of this work was to investigate CL frequency in Switzerland and identify clinical and histopathological difficulties in diagnosing CL in a non-endemic country. This retrospective study evaluated the clinical and histopathological characteristics of all CL cases from two dermatopathology laboratories between 2000 and 2022. Skin biopsies were histopathologically reviewed using HE, Giemsa, and immunohistochemical stain for CD1a and a specific Leishmania antibody (LA). PCR to detect Leishmania DNA was performed if sufficient tissue was available. 42 cases (27m, 15f) were included. The correct clinical diagnosis of CL was only made in 15 (35.7%) cases. In seven (16.6%) cases, CL was missed in the initial histopathologic evaluation. Two main histopathological patterns were observed: granulomatous and pseudolymphomatous. Immunohistochemical staining with CD1a and Leishmania-specific antibody was positive in 91% and 80% of cases, respectively. Leishmania PCR was positive in 25 of 26 cases, mainly detecting Old World species. CL is rare in Switzerland and often misdiagnosed clinically and histopathologically. CD1a and specific Leishmania antibody stainings are useful. CL should be considered in non-healing ulcers, even without a history of travel to endemic areas.

Review of Asaphes Walker, 1834 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Asaphesinae) from Xinjiang, China.

Four species of the cosmopolitan genus Asaphes Walker, 1834 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Asaphesinae, family incerta sedis) are recorded from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, bringing the number of known species in China to eight. In addition to Asaphessuspensus (Nees ab Esenbeck), 1834 and A.vulgaris Walker, 1834, A.fuyunis Li & Zhang, sp. nov. is newly described based on females and A.californicus Girault, 1917, previously known only from North and South America, is newly recorded from China. These four species are differentiated using an integrative taxonomic approach that includes COI barcode data and morphometrics, and are illustrated using macrophotography. Additionally, the 13 described world species of Asaphes are tabulated and females of the eight recognized Chinese species are keyed.

Diversity Analysis in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) Genotypes Using Microsatellite Markers

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is commonly called as eggplant or aubergine. It is one of the most important commercial solanaceous vegetable crops grown widely in Asian and African countries. It is popular among people of all social strata and is rightly called a vegetable of masses [1, 2]. It is of substantial economic importance in Asia, Africa, and the subtropics (India, Central America), and it is also grown in some warm temperate regions (Mediterranean area, Southern USA) [3, 4]. It is an old world species and native to Indo-Chinese centre of origin [5]. The genus Solanum is morphologically hypervariable and highly diverse in number of species [6] and ecogeographical distribution [7]. Despite the economic and nutritional importance of eggplant, breeding efforts in this crop have been limited compared to other solanaceous crops, such as tomato and potato [8, 9]. In the present study 30 solanaceae specific microsatellite markers were used of which 29 showed good amplification in the 4 checks used viz state check for round and oblong to long fruit, national check for round fruit and national check for oblong to long fruit. Of these 29, primer set emi04J02 and emk03O04 did show amplification in the other genotypes. Finally, 27 markers were used for analysis. Of these 23 showed monomorphic pattern (85.1%) whereas only 4 showed some polymorphism (14.8 %). The most informative marker was eme01D03 which showed presence of 3 alleles. The low degree of polymorphism indicated a high degree of homogeneity in the genotypes which could be due to a narrow genetic base.

Taxonomic Review of the Genus Didymocorypha Wood-Mason, 1877 (Mantodea: Eremiaphilidae) with description of a new species from India

The genus Didymocorypha Wood-Mason, 1877 (Mantodea: Eremiaphilidae: Iridinae), distributed in the Oriental Region, is revised with data on morphology, ecology, distribution and life history. A new species, D. wayanadensis sp. nov., is described from three specimens from India. This new species is the first record of Didymocorypha from Kerala and Punjab states, India. A key to the world species of Didymocorypha is included.

A wide range of abiotic habitat factors and genetic diversity facilitate expansion of Trapa natans within its native range

Climate change and intense human activity are exacerbating changes in species' ranges. While the rapid spread of invasive alien species is well documented worldwide, the phenomenon of the spread of native species is poorly understood. To explain the problem of rapidly spreading species in the changing world, it is necessary to understand their ecology, genetic diversity and habitat limitation. The aim of our study was to analyze the ecological requirements and genetic diversity in the population of the macrophyte Trapa natans s. l., an invasive alien species in North America but native in Europe and Asia. We investigated the populations in its native range (Central and Northeastern Europe), where the species is defined as rare or extinct. We found the occurrence of T. natans in Northeastern Europe aquatic habitats where, up to now, it was described as an extinct species. The results of our environmental studies showed that the species has a wide range of tolerance to habitat conditions and lives in medium to highly nutrient-rich water with low and high salinity. Using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis, we revealed high genetic variability within populations with relatively limited differentiation between populations. We showed that some populations are highly diverse (possibly refugia; Central Europe) and others are homogeneous (new sites, commercial reintroduction; Northeastern Europe). Conservation status of T. natans in its native range should be reconsidered, as the species has spread rapidly in recent decades and could be detrimental to aquatic habitats. The conclusion is that expansion/invasion can start from small populations, but under favorable conditions these populations spread rapidly. The introduction of species (even native) should be done carefully, if at all, as uncontrolled introduction to new locations, e.g. private ponds, could be the start of dispersal (native habitats) or invasion (non-native area).

Species groups, subgroups, and key to world species of the genus Schizotetranychus Trägårdh, 1915 (Acari, Prostigmata, Tetranychidae).

After a comprehensive taxonomic assessment of descriptions/ illustrations of all known (118) species of the spider mite genus Schizotetranychus Trägårdh (Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychidae), five species groups are proposed based on the number of tactile setae on tibia II in female, i.e., vermiculatus with four setae (four spp.), schizopus with five setae (52 spp.), spireafolia with six setae (10 spp.), asparagi with seven setae (20 spp.), and bambusae with eight setae on tibia II (22 spp.). The species group schizopus is further divided into three species subgroups based on tactile setae on tibia I: schizopus with eight/ nine setae (21 spp.), andropogoni with seven setae (26 spp.), and taquarae with six tactile setae excluding the solenidion on tibia I (five spp.). Eight Schizotetranychus species were not assigned to any species group because of brief descriptions and/ or illustration and without information on the number of tactile setae on tibiae I and II. Moreover, two Schizotetranychus species, S.gausus Baker & Pritchard and S.luculentus Tseng that have six setae/ structures including a spinneret and a solenidion on the palp tarsus, are provisionally transferred to the genus Stigmaeopsis Banks. Finally, keys to species groups and subgroups of the world species of Schizotetranychus are provided.

The only terrestrial lineage in the Branchiopoda redefined: a new species of Bryospilus Frey, 1980 (Cladocera: Anomopoda) from India and adaptations of waterfleas to life on land

Abstract Only a small proportion of the world’s crustacean taxa is adapted to limno-terrestrial microhabitats that are disconnected from conventional surface waterbodies. In rare occasions, water films on terrestrial tropical and subtropical vegetation may also harbour specialised cladocerans. Bryospilus Frey, 1980 (Chydoridae) is the only genus within the class Branchiopoda that is specialised to living almost exclusively in water-saturated terrestrial moss patches, leaf litter, and phytotelms. The remarkable waterflea lineage, which has a suite of highly unusual characters within the family, has been found in terrestrial habitats in rainforests of West Africa, South and Central America, and New Zealand. We discovered a new moss-inhabiting chydorid from western India, Bryospilus (Indobryospilus) bharaticus n. sp., the first representative of the genus from the Oriental Region. Its morphology and behaviour are highly unusual for a species of Bryospilus. In comparison to its congeners, the new species can swim and it has significantly less oligomerisation, with three terminal setae on the antennal endopod instead of two and seven exopod setae on the third limb instead of six, among other features. We define a new subgenus Indobryospilus nov. and we amend the genus Bryospilus. The new species is a living evolutionary connection, characterised by a phenotype which provides us with new clues about evolutionary transitions in the only terrestrial branchiopod genus. Our results are informative beyond Cladocera, as the morphology of this species provides insights about the evolution and parallelisms of aquatic crustaceans that have specialised in limno-terrestrial habitats. We revisit the morphology of the genus, the disjunct biogeographical pattern with a potential ancient signature, and discuss the functional adaptations of these cladocerans to life on land, as well as convergences with subterranean lineages. A new key to the world species of Bryospilus species is included.

Seven new species of Spatulaphorus Rack (Acari: Pygmephoridae) phoretic on scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Seven new species of Spatulaphorus (Acari: Pygmephoridae) are described from female mites phoretic on scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), as follows: Spatulaphorus incisus sp. nov. and S. spinisetus sp. nov. from Brazil on Sulcophanaeus faunus and Dichotomius buqueti, respectively; S. brevisetosus sp. nov. from the USA on Phanaeus igneus; S. longisetosus sp. nov. from the USA on Phanaeus difformis and Ph. vindex; S. madagascariensis sp. nov. from Madagascar on Helictopleurus corruscus; S. reductus sp. nov. from Argentina on Ataenius picinus, A. platensis, and A. clavatus, and Parataenius simulator, and S. venezuelaensis sp. nov. from Venezuela from Phanaeus prasinus. Spatulaphorus imbricatipes (Mahunka, 1980) comb. nov. is moved from Pygmephorellus. A key to the world species of the genus Spatulaphorus is also provided.

Complementary description of three Amblyseius species (Acari: Mesostigmata; Phytoseiidae) and keys to the world species of duncansoni and largoensis species subgroups

Three phytoseiid species: Amblyseius excelsus Chaudhri, Akbar and Rasool, A. adhatodae Muma, and A. isuki Chant and Hansell, collected from Pakistan, are re-described with more detailed descriptions and illustrations. The species, A. bajulus Chaudhri, Akbar and Rasool, is considered as junior synonym of A. isuki instead of A. obtusus (Koch). The identification keys to the world species of duncansoni and largoensis species subgroups are presented.

New species of Binodacarus and Rhodacarus mites (Mesostigmata: Rhodacaridae) from Brazilian Cerrado biome, and a key to the world species of the genera

Binodacarus tocantinensis sp. nov. and Rhodacarus emilianoi sp. nov. are described based on the morphology of adult females collected from litter/soil in a fragment of the Cerrado biome, in Tocantins state, northern Brazil. In addition, the keys for the separation of females of the world species of Binodacarus and Rhodacarus are provided.

Phylogenetic systematics of Vigna sensu stricto in the context of Physostigma and allies.

Vigna includes economically vital crops and wild species. Molecular systematic studies of Vigna species resulted in generic segregates of many New World (NW) species. However, limited Old World (OW) sampling left questions regarding inter- and intraspecific relationships in Vigna s.s. African species, including the putative sister genus Physostigma, were comprehensively sampled within the context of NW relatives. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of the chloroplast matK-trnK and nuclear ribosomal ITS/5.8 S (ITS) DNA regions were undertaken to resolve OW Vigna taxonomic questions. Divergence dates were estimated using BEAST to date key nodes in the phylogeny. Analyses of matK and ITS data supported five clades of Vigna s.s.: subg. Lasiospron, a reduced subg. Vigna, subg. Haydonia, subg. Ceratotropis, an enlarged subg. Plectrotropis, and a clade including V. kirkii and V. stenophylla. Genome size estimates of 601 Mb for V. kirkii are near the overall mean of the genus, whereas V. stenophylla had a larger genome (810 Mb), similar to some Vigna subg. Ceratotropis or Plectrotropis species. Former subg. Vigna is reduced to yellow- and blue-flowered species and subg. Plectrotropis is enlarged to mostly all white-, pink-, and purple-flowered species. The age of the split between NW and OW Vigna lineages is ~6-7 Myr. Genome size estimates cannot rule out a polyploid or hybrid origin for V. stenophylla, potentially involving extinct lineage ancestors of Vigna subg. Ceratotropis or Plectrotropis, as indicated by network and phylogenetic analyses. Taxonomic revisions are suggested based on these results.

Venomics of Scorpion Ananteris platnicki (Lourenço, 1993), a New World Buthid That Inhabits Costa Rica and Panama.

Ananteris is a scorpion genus that inhabits dry and seasonal areas of South and Central America. It is located in a distinctive morpho-group of Buthids, the 'Ananteris group', which also includes species distributed in the Old World. Because of the lack of information on venom composition, the study of Ananteris species could have biological and medical relevance. We conducted a venomics analysis of Ananteris platnicki, a tiny scorpion that inhabits Panama and Costa Rica, which shows the presence of putative toxins targeting ion channels, as well as proteins with similarity to hyaluronidases, proteinases, phospholipases A2, members of the CAP-domain family, and hemocyanins, among others. Venom proteolytic and hyaluronidase activities were corroborated. The determination of the primary sequences carried out by mass spectrometry evidences that several peptides are similar to the toxins present in venoms from Old World scorpion genera such as Mesobuthus, Lychas, and Isometrus, but others present in Tityus and Centruroides toxins. Even when this venom displays the characteristic protein families found in all Buthids, with a predominance of putative Na+-channel toxins and proteinases, some identified partial sequences are not common in venoms of the New World species, suggesting its differentiation into a distinctive group separated from other Buthids.

First record of Discleroderma Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from China and Republic of the Congo, with description of two new species

The genus Discleroderma Kieffer is recorded from China and Republic of the Congo for the first time. Two new species are described and illustrated: D. congoense sp. nov., D. xizangense sp. nov. from Republic of the Congo and China, respectively. An updated key to the world species of this genus is provided.

Re-description of Chevalia aviculae Walker, 1904, five new species and new records of Chevaliidae from Australia and New Zealand (Crustacea: Peracarida: Amphipoda: Senticaudata)

The amphipod family Chevaliidae Myers & Lowry, 2003 (Amphipoda: Senticaudata) contains two genera: Chevalia Walker, 1904 (13 species), and Bryoconversor Lörz, Myers & Gordon, 2014 (1 species). Chevalia is a marine genus with a cosmopolitan distribution in circumtropical and temperate waters. Prior to this study, records of Chevalia from Australian waters were limited. Here, we describe five new species of Chevalia from Australian waters, C. bardi sp. nov., C. burrewarra sp. nov., C. csiro sp. nov., C. freycinet sp. nov. and C. sprightly sp. nov. The original description of Chevalia aviculae no longer adequately defined the species and is redescribed based on syntypic material from East Cheval Paar, Sri Lanka. Additionally, new distribution records are provided for the New Zealand species Bryoconversor tutus Lörz, Myers & Gordon, 2014. Material reported is from both shallow and deep-water samples from 1–660 m depth. The prevalence of various gender and intersex states within specimens of chevaliids is discussed. An updated key to the 19 world species of Chevaliidae and a field guide to the seven known Australian and New Zealand species is provided.

A new species of the genus Mullederia (Acari: Stigmaeidae) from China, including a key to world species of the genus

The genus Mullederia (Acariformes: Stigmaeidae) are free-living predatory mites with six species known in the world. In this paper, we describe and illustrate a new species, Mullederia hainanensis sp. nov., from deciduous broad-leaved plants and evergreen broad-leaved plants in Hainan Province, China. Moreover, an identification key is provided for the known species of this genus.

New World Orphanostigma Guenée, 1854, including a new species from Costa Rica (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae)

Orphanostigma haemorrhoidalis Guenée, 1854, was described from Brazil and introduced worldwide for the biological control of Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae). Orphanostigma futilalis (Barnes & McDunnough, 1914), rev. stat., described from south Texas, United States, is removed from synonymy with O. haemorrhoidalis. We designate lectotypes for O. futilalis, new lectotype, and O. haemorrhoidalis, new lectotype, to stabilize the names of these species. We describe Orphanostigma eugeniephillipsia Solis, sp. nov., from Costa Rica and provide adult and genitalia images for all three New World species.

A new species of Diolcogaster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Brazil of potential use in the biological control of the pest Hypercompe brasiliensis (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae).

Species of Diolcogaster parasitize Lepidoptera pests of commercial plants. The diversity of this genus is high, but few species of Diolcogaster have been described. The description of a new Diolcogaster species provides information for the biological control using this insect. This study presents the description and key notes on the biology of a new Diolcogaster parasitoid wasp. This species was reared from a caterpillar of Hypercompe brasiliensis collected after feeding on a Gloxinia perennis plant important to floriculture. Two complementary identification analyzes were performed on Diolcogaster adult bodies. The first was the analyses of its external morphology and the second its molecular analysis (mitochondrial DNA). The morphological analysis defined the insect as a new species of Diolcogaster, named Diolcogaster joanesi sp. nov. A maximum-likelihood (ML) analysis partially confirmed the morphological analysis, placing D. joanesi within a cluster including a previously identified species (Diolcogaster choi) and seven other morphospecies. The proximity of D. joanesi to D. choi is discussed and an updated key for all New World species of the xanthaspis group is provided. Twenty-eight adult wasps were obtained (22 females and six males) out of 50 cocoons which larvae emerged from the caterpillar host. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of Diolcogaster in the Neotropics and its potential for the biological control of lepidopteran defoliators.