DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5738

Authors: Oleksandr Holovachov

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5792

Authors: Ed Baker, Benjamin Price, Simon Rycroft, Martin Villet

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5793

Authors: Michael Skvarla, Amber Tripodi, Allen Szalanski, Ashley Dowling

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e6313

Authors: Angela Telfer, Monica Young, Jenna Quinn, Kate Perez, Crystal Sobel, Jayme Sones, Valerie Levesque-Beaudin, Rachael Derbyshire, Jose Fernandez-Triana, Rodolphe Rougerie, Abinah Thevanayagam, Adrian Boskovic, Alex Borisenko, Alex Cadel, Allison Brown, Anais Pages, Anibal Castillo, Annegret Nicolai, Barb Mockford Glenn Mockford, Belén Bukowski, Bill Wilson, Brock Trojahn, Carole Ann Lacroix, Chris Brimblecombe, Christoper Hay, Christmas Ho, Claudia Steinke, Connor Warne, Cristina Garrido Cortes, Daniel Engelking, Danielle Wright, Dario Lijtmaer, David Gascoigne, David Hernandez Martich, Derek Morningstar, Dirk Neumann, Dirk Steinke, Donna DeBruin Marco DeBruin, Dylan Dobias, Elizabeth Sears, Ellen Richard, Emily Damstra, Evgeny Zakharov, Frederic Laberge, Gemma Collins, Gergin Blagoev, Gerrie Grainge, Graham Ansell, Greg Meredith, Ian Hogg, Jaclyn McKeown, Janet Topan, Jason Bracey, Jerry Guenther, Jesse Sills-Gilligan, Joseph Addesi, Joshua Persi, Kara Layton, Kareina D'Souza, Kencho Dorji, Kevin Grundy, Kirsti Nghidinwa, Kylee Ronnenberg, Kyung Min Lee, Linxi Xie, Liuqiong Lu, Lyubomir Penev, Mailyn Gonzalez, Margaret Rosati, Mari Kekkonen, Maria Kuzmina, Marianne Iskandar, Marko Mutanen, Maryam Fatahi, Mikko Pentinsaari, Miriam Bauman, Nadya Nikolova, Natalia Ivanova, Nathaniel Jones, Nimalka Weerasuriya, Norman Monkhouse, Pablo Lavinia, Paul Jannetta, Priscila Hanisch, R. Troy McMullin, Rafael Ojeda Flores, Raphaëlle Mouttet, Reid Vender, Renee Labbee, Robert Forsyth, Rob Lauder, Ross Dickson, Ruth Kroft, Scott Miller, Shannon MacDonald, Sishir Panthi, Stephanie Pedersen, Stephanie Sobek-Swant, Suresh Naik, Tatsiana Lipinskaya, Thanushi Eagalle, Thibaud Decaëns, Thibault Kosuth, Thomas Braukmann, Tom Woodcock, Tomas Roslin, Tony Zammit, Victoria Campbell, Vlad Dinca, Vlada Peneva, Paul Hebert, Jeremy deWaard

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5466

Authors: Levente-Péter Kolcsár, Edina Török, Lujza Keresztes

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5708

Authors: Ricardo Moratelli, Liu Idárraga, Don Wilson

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5665

Authors: Jackson Means, Elizabeth Francis, Avery Lane, Paul Marek

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4760

Authors: Paolo Laino, Margherita Limonta, Davide Gerna, Patrizia Vaccino

Abstract: Evaluation and characterization are crucial steps in the exploitation of germplasm collections. The Sant’Angelo Lodigiano unit of the Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria (CREA) maintains a broad collection of Triticum spp, including more than 4000 genotypes of T. aestivum. Such collection represents a wide source of genetic variability for many agronomic and qualitative traits, extremely useful in modern breeding programs. The collection size, however, makes very difficult its management as a whole. A reduced subset, representing the process of wheat breeding in Italy during the last hundred years, was hence identified for an in-depth characterization. The lines were cropped in two locations over two growing seasons, and analyzed using 16 morpho-agronomic and qualitative descriptors. Most of the analysed characters showed a broad variation throughout the collection, allowing to follow the plant ideotype changes across the breeding progress in Italy during the 20th century.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5800

Authors: Maria Balsamo, Jean-Loup d`Hondt, Jacek Kisielewski, M. Todaro, Paolo Tongiorgi, Loretta Guidi, Paolo Grilli, Yde de Jong

Abstract: Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names (including important synonyms) of all living European land and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at country level (up to the Urals, excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project covers about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. This represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education.

Gastrotricha are a meiobenthic phylum composed of 813 species known so far (2 orders, 17 families) of free-living microinvertebrates commonly present and actively moving on and into sediments of aquatic ecosystems, 339 of which live in fresh and brackish waters. The Fauna Europaea database includes 214 species of Chaetonotida (4 families) plus a single species of Macrodasyida incertae sedis. This paper deals with the 224 European freshwater species known so far, 9 of which, all of Chaetonotida, have been described subsequently and will be included in the next database version. Basic information on their biology and ecology are summarized, and a list of selected, main references is given. As a general conclusion the gastrotrich fauna from Europe is the best known compared with that of other continents, but shows some important gaps of knowledge in Eastern and Southern regions.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4595

Authors: AJ Fleming, D. Monty Wood, Daniel Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs, M. Alex Smith

Abstract: We describe three new species of Trigonospila Pokorny (Tachinidae: Blondeliini) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), northwestern Costa Rica. All were reared from ­various species of ACG caterpillars during an ongoing inventory of caterpillars, their food plants and their parasitoids in dry forest, rain forest and cloud forest. By coupling morphology, photographic documentation, life history and molecular data, we provide a clear and concise description of each species. All species published as new, are known to be previously undescribed as a result of careful study of the genus by DMW. This study builds on the current knowledge of the genus by adding three new species to the current 7 described in the New World. Trigonospila edwinbermudezi sp. n., Trigonospila uniformis sp. n., and Trigonospila josemariamoragai sp. n. are all authored and described as new by Fleming and Wood, with a key to their identification. The authors also offer a new record and description of the previously unknown male of Trigonospila panamensis (Townsend), reared from ACG caterpillars.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5825

Authors: Abdulrasheed Jesmina, Sanil George

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5444

Authors: Andrey Frolov, Lilia Akhmetova

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5039

Authors: AJ Fleming, D. Wood, M. Alex Smith, Winnie Hallwachs, Daniel Janzen

Abstract: We describe three new species in the genus Ametadoria Townsend from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), Costa Rica. All three were reared from wild-caught Zygaenidae and Lacturidae caterpillars. We provide a concise description of each species using morphology, life history and molecular data, with photographic documentation. The new species are authored and described by Fleming and Wood: Ametadoria karolramosae sp. nov., Ametadoria leticiamartinezae sp. nov., and Ametadoria mauriciogurdiani sp. nov. The following are proposed by Wood as new synonyms of Ametadoria Townsend: Adidyma Townsend syn. nov., and Abolodoria Townsend syn. nov. The following new combinations occur as a result of these new synonymies: Ametadoria abdominalis (Townsend) comb. nov., Ametadoria austrina (Coquillett) comb. nov., Ametadoria humilis (Wulp) comb. nov., Ametadoria misella (Wulp) comb. nov. Ametadoria adversa (Townsend) is proposed as a junior synonym of ​Ametadoria unispinosa Townsend, syn. nov​.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5425

Authors: Markus Gastauer, Werner Leyh, João Meira-Neto

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5387

Authors: Yves Braet, Luc Bourguignon, Sofie Vanpoucke, Valérie Drome, Françoise Hubrecht

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5464

Authors: Carlo Allocca, Alexandros Gougousis

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5361

Authors: Alejandro Ruete

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5610

Authors: Marko Nieminen

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5211

Authors: Rafael Araujo, Yde de Jong

Abstract: Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names (including important synonyms) of all living European land and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at country level (up to the Urals, excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project covers about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. This represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education. For the Mollusca-Bivalvia, data from 5 families (Margaritiferidae, Unionidae, Sphaeriidae, Cyrenidae, Dreissenidae) containing 55 species are included in this paper.

European freshwater bivalves belong to the Orders Unionoida and Cardiida. All the European unionoids are included in the superfamily Unionoidea, the freshwater mussels or naiads. The European cardiids belong to the following three superfamilies: Cardioidea, Cyrenoidea and Dreissenoidea. Among the Unionoidea there are the most imperilled animal groups on the planet while the Cardioidea includes the cosmopolitan genus Pisidium, the Cyrenoidea the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) and the Dreissenoidea the famous invasive zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). Basic information is summarized on their taxonomy and biology. Tabulations include a complete list of the current estimated families, genera and species.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5403

Authors: Shelly Aust, Dakota Ahrendsen, P. Roxanne Kellar

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5447

Authors: Olga Schmidt

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5078

Authors: Komla Abotsi, Aboudou Radji, Germinal Rouhan, Jean-Yves Dubuisson, Kouami Kokou

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5204

Authors: M. Teresa Vizoso, Carmen Quesada

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4308

Authors: Yuchen Ang, Patrick Rohner, Rudolf Meier

Abstract:

Specimens of the enigmatic, monotypic European genus Zuskamira Pont, 1987 (Sepsidae) were initially collected only from the lower central Swedish provinces of Darlana, Uppland and Västmanland. However, the same species was subsequently found much more south in Lower-Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein although Germany is overall well sampled for sepsid flies. Here we report a further (longitudinal) range expansion based on new localities in Southern Finland. New localities for Finland and Sweden are here added and we discuss briefly the habitat requirements of the species.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5228

Authors: Jukka Salmela, Kari Kaunisto

Abstract: A total of 12 gnat species are reported for the first time from Finland (3 Cecidomyiidae, 1 Keroplatidae, 8 Mycetophilidae), and the occurrence of Macrocera nigropicea Lundström in Finland is verified. All material was collected from the Finnish Lapland, mainly from the north boreal ecoregion. Two of the recorded species are likely to be pyrophilous, associated with forest fire sites. A photo of the ventral appendage of the gonocoxite of Brevicornu setigerum Zaitzev is provided for the first time. The male hypopygium of Mycetophila haruspica Plassmann is redescribed.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5296

Authors: J. Poorani

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5057

Authors: Filippo Di Giovanni, Alexey Reshchikov, Matthias Riedel, Erich Diller, Martin Schwarz

Abstract: New distributional records on 55 ichneumonids (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) from Italy are provided. Of these, 47 species are new for Italy, including representatives of the subfamily Diacritinae and of the tribes Zimmeriini (Ichneumoninae) and Pseudorhyssini (Poemeniinae); six species are new for Sardinia, one for Sicily and one for the Italian mainland. The hitherto unknown female of Baranisobas hibericus Heinrich, 1972 (Ichneumoninae) is described.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5152

Authors: Hélcio Gil-Santana, Dimitri Forero

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5176

Authors: Jeanne Wilbrandt, Paul Lee, Helen Read, Thomas Wesener

Abstract: Three populations of the pill millipede genus Trachysphaera Heller 1858 are present in Great Britain, one on the Isle of Wight, one in South Wales and one in mid-Wales. To identify and characterize the British Trachysphaera populations, the intraspecific and interspecific variation of the populations in South Wales and on the Isle of Wight were studied and evaluated in a first integrative study of members of Trachysphaera, utilizing barcoding and SEM. DNA was extracted from 28 British Trachysphaera and 10 French T. lobata (Ribaut 1954) specimens, one each of French T. cf. drescoi (Conde and Demange 1961) and T. pyrenaica (Ribaut 1908), and one of Spanish T. cf. rousseti (Demange 1959); the barcoding fragment of the COI gene was amplified and their genetic intra- and interpopulation distances compared with one another using two Italian T. spp. and one Croatian T. schmidti Heller 1858 specimens as near outgroups. To compare the genetic distances with the morphological characters, 15 characters of a total of 13 British Trachysphaera, together with two specimens of T. pyrenaica, two T. cf. drescoi and one of T. cf. rousseti were imaged, using the same individuals utilized for DNA extraction. Albeit both British populations are genetically distant, they are closely related (1.9–2.5% p-distance) to French T. lobata, corroborating results of earlier studies. Between different Trachysphaera species, genetic distance was high (16.7–18.8%). The morphological study showed the non-reliability of key taxonomic characters in Trachysphaera, with genetically identical individuals exhibiting morphological variation, especially on the telopods. The only observed morphological characters constant within and different between species were the number of rows of sclerotized bacilli on the tergites, as well as the shape of the male and female anal shield. Both, barcoding and the morphological study identify the British Trachysphaera populations as T. lobata.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5073

Authors: Sarah Oliveira, Fabiano Albertoni, Christopher Borkent, Dalton Amorim

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5216

Authors: A. Rameshkumar, J. Poorani, Naveen V

Abstract: Background and aims. The Doryctinae is a considerably diverse, poorly studied group of parasitoid wasps and one of the most diverse subfamilies within Braconidae. Taxonomic knowledge of this group remains highly incomplete, specially in the tropics. In Mexico, it has been reported as the subfamily with the highest number of recorded genera. A preliminary Barcoding study carried out in the Chamela region, located near the Mexican pacific coast in Jalisco, identified 185 barcoding species of Dorytinae assigned to 19 identified doryctine genera. This work updates the later study, representing a three years effort to assess the species richness of this subfamily for the Chamela region.

Materials and methods. Ten collecting field trips of 5 to 10 days each were carried out from June 2009 to May 2011. A 2% divergence criterion using the BIN system implemented in BOLD was followed in order to establish species boundaries among the specimens that were collected.

Results and conclusions. A total of 961 specimens were collected, from which 883 COI sequences were obtained. The sequences generated corresponded to 289 barcoding species and 30 identified genera. The most speciose genera were Heterospilus Haliday (170 spp.), Ecphylus Förster (19 spp.), Allorhogas Gahan (15 spp.) and Callihormius Ashmead (14 spp.). Addition of previously collected material increased the diversity of the subfamily in the region to 34 genera and 290 species. Paraphyly of Heterospilus with respect to Neoheterospilus and Heterospathius was again recovered. Twenty new species and two new genera (Sabinita Belokobylskij, Zaldívar-Riverón et Martínez, Ficobolus Martínez, Belokobylskij et Zaldívar-Riverón) have been described so far from the material collected in this work.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5314

Authors: Ricardo Moratelli, Maël Dewynter, Marguerite Delaval, François Catzeflis, Manuel Ruedi

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4961

Authors: Nghia Nguyen, Dang Nguyen, Tuong Ngo, Duy Nguyen

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5109

Authors: Daniela Gutiérrez-Arellano, Claudia Gutiérrez-Arellano, Alejandro Zaldívar-Riverón

Abstract: Background and aims. The Doryctinae is a considerably diverse, poorly studied group of parasitoid wasps and one of the most diverse subfamilies within Braconidae. Taxonomic knowledge of this group remains highly incomplete, specially in the tropics. In Mexico, it has been reported as the subfamily with the highest number of recorded genera. A preliminary Barcoding study carried out in the Chamela region, located near the Mexican pacific coast in Jalisco, identified 185 barcoding species of Dorytinae assigned to 19 identified doryctine genera. This work updates the later study, representing a three years effort to assess the species richness of this subfamily for the Chamela region.

Materials and methods. Ten collecting field trips of 5 to 10 days each were carried out from June 2009 to May 2011. A 2% divergence criterion using the BIN system implemented in BOLD was followed in order to establish species boundaries among the specimens that were collected.

Results and conclusions. A total of 961 specimens were collected, from which 883 COI sequences were obtained. The sequences generated corresponded to 289 barcoding species and 30 identified genera. The most speciose genera were Heterospilus Haliday (170 spp.), Ecphylus Förster (19 spp.), Allorhogas Gahan (15 spp.) and Callihormius Ashmead (14 spp.). Addition of previously collected material increased the diversity of the subfamily in the region to 34 genera and 290 species. Paraphyly of Heterospilus with respect to Neoheterospilus and Heterospathius was again recovered. Twenty new species and two new genera (Sabinita Belokobylskij, Zaldívar-Riverón et Martínez, Ficobolus Martínez, Belokobylskij et Zaldívar-Riverón) have been described so far from the material collected in this work.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5063

Authors: Jeremy Miller, Donat Agosti, Lyubomir Penev, Guido Sautter, Teodor Georgiev, Terry Catapano, David Patterson, David King, Serrano Pereira, Rutger Vos, Soraya Sierra

Abstract: Specimen data in taxonomic literature are among the highest quality primary biodiversity data. Innovative cybertaxonomic journals are using workflows that maintain data structure and disseminate electronic content to aggregators and other users; such structure is lost in traditional taxonomic publishing. Legacy taxonomic literature is a vast repository of knowledge about biodiversity. Currently, access to that resource is cumbersome, especially for non-specialist data consumers. Markup is a mechanism that makes this content more accessible, and is especially suited to machine analysis. Fine-grained XML (Extensible Markup Language) markup was applied to all (37) open-access articles published in the journal Zootaxa containing treatments on spiders (Order: Araneae). The markup approach was optimized to extract primary specimen data from legacy publications. These data were combined with data from articles containing treatments on spiders published in Biodiversity Data Journal where XML structure is part of the routine publication process. A series of charts was developed to visualize the content of specimen data in XML-tagged taxonomic treatments, either singly or in aggregate. The data can be filtered by several fields (including journal, taxon, institutional collection, collecting country, collector, author, article and treatment) to query particular aspects of the data. We demonstrate here that XML markup using GoldenGATE can address the challenge presented by unstructured legacy data, can extract structured primary biodiversity data which can be aggregated with and jointly queried with data from other Darwin Core-compatible sources, and show how visualization of these data can communicate key information contained in biodiversity literature. We complement recent studies on aspects of biodiversity knowledge using XML structured data to explore 1) the time lag between species discovry and description, and 2) the prevelence of rarity in species descriptions.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4912

Authors: Regina Wetzer

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5021

Authors: C. Selvakumar, K.G. Sivaramakrishnan, S. Janarthanan

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5085

Authors: Rehanon Pampell, Derek Sikes, Alberto Pantoja, Patricia Holloway, Charles Knight, Richard Ranft

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4162

Authors: Rupert Collins, Emanuell Duarte Ribeiro, Valéria Nogueira Machado, Tomas Hrbek, Izeni Farias

Abstract: The Rio Nhamundá is a poorly-known clearwater river draining the southern Guiana Shield of Brazil. In this study we report the findings of a preliminary ichthyological survey, focusing on catfishes (Siluriformes). We identify a total of 36 species (31 genera, seven families) from the Nhamundá, including 11 species already recorded from the river. Overall, our survey results show that even rapid surveys can provide important information on Amazon fish biodiversity, suggesting potential new species, providing range extensions for nominal species, and additionally highlighting taxa in need of taxonomic revision and genetic study. As well as the traditional forms of data collected on biodiversity surveys (i.e. preserved specimen vouchers), our study also provides "new" types of data in the form of DNA barcodes and images of fishes exhibiting colouration in life, information that will be invaluable in future work addressing difficult groups.

O Rio Nhamundá é um rio de água clara, pouco conhecido, que drena parte do Escudo das Guianas em território brasileiro. Nesse estudo, nós reportamos os resultados de um levantamento ictiofaunístico preliminar dessa área, tendo como foco os bagres (Siluriformes). Nós identificamos um total de 36 espécies (31 gêneros, sete famílias) provenientes de nossa coleta, e adicionamos 11 espécies já conhecidas para o rio. De maneira geral, os resultados de nossa pesquisa mostram que mesmo levantamentos rápidos podem gerar informações importantes sobre a biodiversidade de peixes amazônicos, sugerindo potenciais espécies novas, ampliando a área de distribuição de espécies, além de apontar a necessidade de revisões taxonômicas e estudos genéticos para alguns taxa. Para além das formas tradicionais de dados coletados em pesquisas de biodiversidade (i.e. espécimes preservados), nosso estudo fornece "novas" formas de dados, como DNA barcodes e imagens com o padrão de coloração dos espécimes vivos, informações essas que serão de valor inestimável para futuros estudos que abordem grupos taxonômicos difíceis.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4902

Authors: Joshua Copus, Cassie Ka'apu-Lyons, Richard Pyle

Abstract: Luzonichthys seaver, n. sp., is described from two specimens, 42-46 mm standard length (SL) collected from Pohnpei, Micronesia. Collections were made by divers on mixed-gas closed-circuit rebreathers using hand nets at depths of 90-100 m. Luzonichthys seaver is distinct from all other species of the genus in the characters of lateral line scales, gill rakers, pelvic fin length, caudal concavity and coloration. Of the six species of Luzonichthys, it appears to be morphologically most similar to L. earlei and L. whitleyi.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5004

Authors: Takafumi Nakano, Tatjana Dujsebayeva, Kanto Nishikawa

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4981

Authors: Tadashi Ishikawa, Masayuki Saito, Keiko Kishimoto-Yamada, Toshihide Kato, Osamu Kurashima, Motomi Ito

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4831

Authors: Hartmut Hilger, Werner Greuter, Victoria Stier

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4834

Authors: Ümit Şirin, Hakan Çalışkan, Yalçın Şahin

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4900

Authors: John Wood, Fabio Moretzsohn, James Gibeaut

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4830

Authors: Ulrike Aspöck, Horst Aspöck, Agostino Letardi, Yde de Jong

Abstract: Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names of all living European land and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at country level (up to the Urals, excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project covers about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. This represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education.

For Neuropterida, data from three Insect orders (Raphidioptera, Megaloptera, Neuroptera), comprising 15 families and 397 species, are included.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4913

Authors: Isabelle Cordeiro, Felipe Moreira

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4735

Authors: Stylianos Chatzimanolis

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4750

Authors: Paolo Audisio, Miguel-Angel Alonso Zarazaga, Adam Slipinski, Anders Nilsson, Josef Jelínek, Augusto Taglianti, Federica Turco, Carlos Otero, Claudio Canepari, David Kral, Gianfranco Liberti, Gianfranco Sama, Gianluca Nardi, Ivan Löbl, Jan Horak, Jiri Kolibac, Jirí Háva, Maciej Sapiejewski, Manfred Jäch, Marco Bologna, Maurizio Biondi, Nikolai Nikitsky, Paolo Mazzoldi, Petr Zahradnik, Piotr Wegrzynowicz, Robert Constantin, Roland Gerstmeier, Rustem Zhantiev, Simone Fattorini, Wioletta Tomaszewska, Wolfgang Rücker, Xavier Vazquez-Albalate, Fabio Cassola, Fernando Angelini, Colin Johnson, Wolfgang Schawaller, Renato Regalin, Cosimo Baviera, Saverio Rocchi, Fabio Cianferoni, Ron Beenen, Michael Schmitt, David Sassi, Horst Kippenberg, Marcello Zampetti, Marco Trizzino, Stefano Chiari, Giuseppe Maria Carpaneto, Simone Sabatelli, Yde de Jong

Abstract: Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names (including synonyms) of all living European land and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at country level (up to the Urals, excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project covers about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. This represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education.

Coleoptera represent a huge assemblage of holometabolous insects, including as a whole more than 200 recognized families and some 400,000 described species worldwide. Basic information is summarized on their biology, ecology, economic relevance, and estimated number of undescribed species worldwide. Little less than 30,000 species are listed from Europe. The Coleoptera 2 section of the Fauna Europaea database (Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga and Polyphaga excl. the series Elateriformia, Scarabaeiformia, Staphyliniformia and the superfamily Curculionoidea) encompasses 80 families (according to the previously accepted family-level systematic framework) and approximately 13,000 species. Tabulations included a complete list of the families dealt with, the number of species in each, the names of all involved specialists, and, when possible, an estimate of the gaps in terms of total number of species at an European level. A list of some recent useful references is appended. Most families included in the Coleoptera 2 Section have been updated in the most recent release of the Fauna Europaea index, or are ready to be updated as soon as the FaEu data management environment completes its migration from Zoological Museum Amsterdam to Berlin Museum für Naturkunde.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4701

Authors: Jere Kahanpää, Tadeusz Zatwarnicki

Abstract: The recent checklist of the Ephydridae of Finland by Zatwarnicki and Kahanpää (2014) mentioned 13 ephydrid species as new for Finland without further details. This paper presents detailed records for those species and a few other species of interest. Four species are recorded for the first time from Russia. Trimerina indistincta Krivosheina, 2004 is herein considered as a new junior synonym of Trimerina microchaeta Hendel, 1932, syn. nov.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4447

Authors: Aijaz Wachkoo, Himender Bharti

Abstract: Taxonomy and distribution of the ant species Cataglyphis setipes (Forel, 1894) is herewith detailed. C. setipes is redescribed, based on workers, queens, and males. Photomontage images of all castes are provided. Information on the distribution and ecology of this species is also given. A key to the Indian species of Cataglyphis is presented.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4878

Authors: Siddharth Kulkarni, Swara Yadav

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4178

Authors: Robert Perger, Fernando Guerra

Abstract: The jewel beetle species Chrysobothris desmaresti (Laporte & Gory, 1836) and Hiperantha stempelmanni Berg, 1889, have been recorded in Bolivia for the first time. Both species were collected on xeric Acacia trees. As indicated by their presence on Acacia and previous records, both species may be endemic to the arid intermountain valleys of the Southern Bolivian and Northern Argentinean Andes as well as the Chaco lowland forests.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4597

Authors: AJ Fleming, D. Monty Wood, Daniel Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs, M. Alex Smith

Abstract: We describe seven new species of Spathidexia (Diptera: Tachinidae) reared from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), northwestern Costa Rica. All were reared from ­various species of ACG caterpillars during an ongoing inventory of caterpillars, their food plants and their parasitoids. By coupling morphology, photographic documentation, life history and molecular data, we provide a clear and concise description of each species. All are known to be previously undescribed as a result of a comprehensive study of the genus by DMW. Spathidexia atripalpus sp. n., Spathidexia juanvialesi sp. n., Spathidexia marioburgosi sp. n., Spathidexia luisrobertogallegosi sp. n., Spathidexia luteola sp. n., Spathidexia hernanrodriguezi sp. n. and Spathidexia aurantiaca sp. n. are all authored and described by Fleming and Wood. Minthodexiopsis Townsend is proposed by Wood as a new synonym of Spathidexia. A new combination proposed by Wood as a result of the new synonymy is S. flavicornis (Brauer & Bergenstamm) comb. n.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4186

Authors: Mircea-Dan Mitroiu, John Noyes, Aleksandar Cetkovic, Guido Nonveiller, Alexander Radchenko, Andrew Polaszek, Fredrick Ronquist, Mattias Forshage, Guido Pagliano, Josef Gusenleitner, Mario Bartalucci, Massimo Olmi, Lucian Fusu, Michael Madl, Norman Johnson, Petr Jansta, Raymond Wahis, Villu Soon, Paolo Rosa, Till Osten, Yvan Barbier, Yde de Jong

Abstract: Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names (including important synonyms) of all living European land and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at country level (up to the Urals, excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project covers about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies. This represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education.

Hymenoptera is one of the four largest orders of insects, with about 130,000 described species. In the Fauna Europaea database, ‘Hymenoptera - Apocrita (excluding Ichneumonoidea)’ comprises 13 superfamilies, 52 families, 91 subfamilies, 38 tribes and 13,211 species. The paper includes a complete list of taxa dealt with, the number of species in each and the name of the specialist responsible for data acquisition. As a general conclusion about the European fauna of Hymenoptera, the best known countries in terms of recorded species are those from northwestern Europe, with the least known fauna probably in the more eastern and southeastern parts of Europe.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4327

Authors: Alexey Reshchikov

Abstract: Lathrolestes fiedleri sp. n. is described from Peru. This is the first record of the tribe and the genus for the country.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4493

Authors: Varpu Vahtera, Jyrki Muona, Ari Linna, Ilari Sääksjärvi

Abstract: Thirteen genera of Eucnemidae containing forty species were collected from the Iquitos region in Peru. Nine of the genera are new to the country: Rhagomicrus Fleutiaux, 1902, Adelorhagus Horn, 1890, Adelothyreus Chevrolat, 1867, Microrhagus Dejean, 1833, Dyscharachthis Blackburn, 1900, Heterotaxis Bonvouloir, 1871, Spinifornax Fleutiaux, 1926, Serrifornax Fleutiaux, 1926 and Maelodrus Fleutiaux, 1928. The previous eucnemid record from Peru contained eleven species in ten genera. Only one of the forty species caught, Entomophthalmus americanus Bonvouloir, was previously known and described from the country. Dyscharachthis, Maelodrus and Adelorhagus are recorded from South America for the first time. Many of the collected species seem to favor white-sand forest as their habitat. Possible reasons for this are discussed. A list of eucnemids from Peru is included, containing taxa already recorded from the country and also taxa that are likely to occur there. A key to the Peruvian genera is included.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4692

Authors: A. Rameshkumar, J. Poorani, M. Anjana

Abstract: Dicopus longipes (Subba Rao) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Mymaridae) is recorded from India for the first time. New additional distribution records of Mymaridae from the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala are documented.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4567

Authors: Paula Rozo-Lopez, Ximo Mengual

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4653

Authors: Panu Kunttu, Elina Varis, Sanna-Mari Kunttu

Abstract: Six myxomycete species new to the Åland Islands are presented: Comatricha elegans, Cribraria intricata, Didymium minus, Hemitrichia clavata, Licea variabilis and Trichia favoginea. The record of Cribraria intricata is the third in Finland. Specimens were collected in September 2014. Altogether the number of myxomycete species found from the Åland Islands is now 55.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4368

Authors: Brian Brown, Wendy Porras

Abstract: The behavior of females of a species of Megaselia is described. Females perch on leaves and occasionally "dance", fluttering their wings while rapidly running on the leaf surface. During this dance, they evert bright white abdominal sacs that apparently constitute part of a visual display to attract males. The evolutionary basis of these behaviors is discussed.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4606

Authors: Sayajirao Gaikwad, Ramchandra Gore, Sonali Randive

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4541

Authors: Ramchandra Gore, Sayajirao Gaikwad

Abstract: The present paper provides an enumeration of leguminous taxa of Balaghat Ranges of Maharashtra along with their habits, phenological deta and voucher specimen numbers. During the present work, a total of 123 species, 4 subspecies and 17 varieties of Fabaceae have been recorded for Balaghat Ranges of Maharashtra, of which 119 taxa are occurring in wild while 25 are under cultivation. The members of Fabaceae are dominant in herbaceous vegetation of the Balaghat Ranges. There are more species in genera like Crotalaria (23 taxa), Indigofera (16 taxa), Alysicarpus (14 taxa), Vigna (11 taxa) and Desmodium (8 taxa). Twelve taxa are endemic to India of which Indigofera deccanensis falls into Critically Endangered IUCN Red data category. The legumes of Balaghat Ranges have many actual and potential uses such as food, fodder and sources of edible oil, natural dyes, industrial lubricants, timber and medicines. About 19 leguminous taxa are wild relatives of food and fodder crops have resistance to pests and diseases, and abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, can be used for crop improvement.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4652

Authors: Torsten Dikow

Abstract: The southern African assassin-fly genus Anasillomos Londt, 1983 is reviewed. A new species, Anasillomos juergeni sp. n., is described from the Namib desert and represents the second species in the genus. Descriptions/re-descriptions, photographs, and identification keys are provided to aid in the identification. Distribution, occurrence in biodiversity hotspots sensu Conservation International, and seasonal incidence are discussed.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4078

Authors: Rodolphe Rougerie, Carlos Lopez-Vaamonde, Thomas Barnouin, Julien Delnatte, Nicolas Moulin, Thierry Noblecourt, Benoît Nusillard, Guillem Parmain, Fabien Soldati, Christophe Bouget

Abstract: Saproxylic beetles – associated with dead wood or with other insects, fungi and microorganisms that decompose it – play a major role in forest nutrient cycling. They are important ecosystem service providers and are used as key bio-indicators of old-growth forests. In France alone, where the present study took place, there are about 2500 species distributed within 71 families. This high diversity represents a major challenge for specimen sorting and identification.

The PASSIFOR project aims at developing a DNA metabarcoding approach to facilitate and enhance the monitoring of saproxylic beetles as indicators in ecological studies. As a first step toward that goal we assembled a library of DNA barcodes using the standard genetic marker for animals, i.e. a portion of the COI mitochondrial gene. In the present contribution, we release a library including 656 records representing 410 species in 40 different families. Species were identified by expert taxonomists, and each record is linked to a voucher specimen to enable future morphological examination. We also highlight and briefly discuss cases of low interspecific divergences, as well as cases of high intraspecific divergences that might represent cases of overlooked or cryptic diversity.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4507

Authors: Markus Gastauer, Werner Leyh, Angela Miazaki, João Meira-Neto

Abstract: Campos rupestres are rare and endangered ecosystems that accommodate a species-rich flora with a high degree of endemism. Here, we make available a dataset from phytosociological surveys carried out in the Itacolomi State Park, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. All species in a total of 30 plots of 10 x 10 m from two study sites were sampled. Their cardinality, a combination of cover and abundance, was estimated. Altogether, we registered occurrences from 161 different taxa from 114 genera and 47 families. The families with the most species were Poaceae and Asteraceae, followed by Cyperaceae. Abiotic descriptions, including soil properties such as type, acidity, nutrient or aluminum availability, cation exchange capacity, and saturation of bases, as well as the percentage of rocky outcrops and the mean inclination for each plot, are given. This dataset provides unique insights into the campo rupestre vegetation, its specific environment and the distribution of its diversity.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4251

Authors: Joko Pamungkas

Abstract: The aims of this research were to: (1) investigate the species richness of wawo worms, and to (2) analyze macronutrient content of the worms. Wawo worms were sampled using a fishing net on March 18^th-19^th, 2014, from Ambonese waters, Maluku. As many as 26 wawo species belonging to 5 families were identified. Palola sp. was identified as the most abundant species of wawo, followed by Lysidice oele, Horst 1905, Eunice spp. and nereidids. Results of the proximate analysis reveal that female epitokes of Palola sp. contain 10.78 % ash, 10.71 % moisture, 11.67 % crude fat, 54.72 % crude protein and 12.12 % carbohydrate.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4421

Authors: Thais Almeida, Alexandre Salino

Abstract: Thirteen fern species are reported for the first time for Brazil. Among the new records, eight are from Acre state (Cyathea subincisa, Cyclodium trianae, Elaphoglossum stenophyllum, Hypoderris brauniana, Pleopeltis stolzei, Thelypteris arcana, Thelypteris comosa, Thelypteris valdepilosa), two are from Pará state (Polypodium flagellare, Tectaria heracleifolia), one from Minas Gerais state (Alsophila salvinii), one from Ceará state (Campyloneurum costatum) and one from Bahia state (Thelypteris rolandii). Part of the species shows a disjunct occurrence or illustrates floristic relations between Brazilian and Andean Mountains or Central American Mountains.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4660

Authors: Jérôme Rousselet, Alain Roques, Jacques Garcia, Jean-Pierre Rossi

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4187

Authors: Thomas Pape, Paul Beuk, Adrian Pont, Anatole Shatalkin, Andrey Ozerov, Andrzej Woźnica, Bernhard Merz, Cezary Bystrowski, Chris Raper, Christer Bergström, Christian Kehlmaier, David Clements, David Greathead, Elena Kameneva, Emilia Nartshuk, Frederik Petersen, Gisela Weber, Gerhard Bächli, Fritz Geller-Grimm, Guy Van de Weyer, Hans-Peter Tschorsnig, Herman de Jong, Jan-Willem van Zuijlen, Jaromír Vaňhara, Jindřich Roháček, Joachim Ziegler, József Majer, Karel Hůrka, Kevin Holston, Knut Rognes, Lita Greve-Jensen, Lorenzo Munari, Marc de Meyer, Marc Pollet, Martin Speight, Martin Ebejer, Michel Martinez, Miguel Carles-Tolrá, Mihály Földvári, Milan Chvála, Miroslav Barták, Neal Evenhuis, Peter Chandler, Pierfilippo Cerretti, Rudolf Meier, Rudolf Rozkosny, Sabine Prescher, Stephen Gaimari, Tadeusz Zatwarnicki, Theo Zeegers, Torsten Dikow, Valery Korneyev, Vera Richter, Verner Michelsen, Vitali Tanasijtshuk, Wayne Mathis, Zdravko Hubenov, Yde de Jong

Abstract: Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names (including important synonyms) of all extant multicellular European terrestrial and freshwater animals and their geographical distribution at the level of countries and major islands (east of the Urals and excluding the Caucasus region). The Fauna Europaea project comprises about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. Fauna Europaea represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing taxonomic specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many user communities in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education. The Diptera–Brachycera is one of the 58 Fauna Europaea major taxonomic groups, and data have been compiled by a network of 55 specialists.

Within the two-winged insects (Diptera), the Brachycera constitute a monophyletic group, which is generally given rank of suborder. The Brachycera may be classified into the probably paraphyletic 'lower brachyceran grade' and the monophyletic Eremoneura. The latter contains the Empidoidea, the Apystomyioidea with a single Nearctic species, and the Cyclorrhapha, which in turn is divided into the paraphyletic 'aschizan grade' and the monophyletic Schizophora. The latter is traditionally divided into the paraphyletic 'acalyptrate grade' and the monophyletic Calyptratae. Our knowledge of the European fauna of Diptera–Brachycera varies tremendously among families, from the reasonably well known hoverflies (Syrphidae) to the extremely poorly known scuttle flies (Phoridae). There has been a steady growth in our knowledge of European Diptera for the last two centuries, with no apparent slow down, but there is a shift towards a larger fraction of the new species being found among the families of the nematoceran grade (lower Diptera), which due to a larger number of small-sized species may be considered as taxonomically more challenging.

Most of Europe is highly industrialised and has a high human population density, and the more fertile habitats are extensively cultivated. This has undoubtedly increased the extinction risk for numerous species of brachyceran flies, yet with the recent re-discovery of Thyreophora cynophila (Panzer), there are no known cases of extinction at a European level. However, few national Red Lists have extensive information on Diptera.

For the Diptera–Brachycera, data from 96 families containing 11,751 species are included in this paper.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4451

Authors: Siddharth Kulkarni, Todd Lewis

Abstract: The male sex of Tylorida sataraensis Kulkarni, 2014 is described based on specimens from the type locality. The distinguishing characters from its closest species Tylorida ventralis (Thorell, 1877) are detailed. An interesting behaviour of going underwater by T. sataraensis, on disturbance is recorded and tested for significance. The surveys have shown sighting of this species only to the perennial streams of the rocky outcrops in Satara region. The potential threats to this species and the possible conservation status based on known distribution are discussed.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e1325

Authors: Carlos Ortiz-Yusty, Juan Daza, Vivian Paez, Brian Bock

Abstract: Northwestern South America harbors one of the richest herpetofauna in the world. The connection among several biogeographic provinces along with climatic and orographic complexity makes this region an important contributor to the Neotropical biodiversity. Despite of this importance, the amphibian and reptile fauna in this area remains largely unknown as few herpetological collections has been made in recent decades. Motivated by this, the Herpetological Museum at the Universidad de Antioquia (Medellín, Colombia) has been increasing the collection in the last 16 years to better understand the herpetofaunal diversity and thus contribute to ecological, systematic, biogeographic and conservation research in the Neotropics. Here, we present the results of this effort and highlight how future collection will impact our understanding of the Neotropical herpetofauna.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4284

Authors: Anh Pham, Dzung Le, Son Nguyen, Thomas Ziegler, Truong Nguyen

Abstract: We report six new records of skinks from northwestern Vietnam: Eutropis macularius, Scincella devorator, S. monticola, S. ochracea, Sphenomorphus cryptotis and S. indicus. Our new findings increase the species number of skinks (Scincidae) to nine in Dien Bien Province and to 14 in Son La Province. We also provide additional natural history data of aforementioned species.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4343

Authors: Eliomar Menezes, Freddy Bravo

Abstract: A second species of the Neotropical mantid genus Margaromantis Piza, 1982, Margaromantis nigrolineata sp. n. is described from Bahia, Brazil. This new species can be recognized by the presence of a transverse black strip between compound eyes in the vertex; fore femora exhibiting black calluses on the inner face; lacking yellowish strips over the transverse veins on the metathoracic wings; left dorsal phallomere with rectangular ventral lamina, elongated and grooved lateral process, and a flattened, but not twisted apical process that is upwardly recurved.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4180

Authors: Joshua Copus, Richard Pyle, John Earle

Abstract: Neoniphon pencei, n. sp., is described from thirteen specimens, 132-197 mm standard length (SL) collected from mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) at Rarotonga, Cook Islands by divers using mixed-gas closed-circuit rebreathers. It differs from all other species of the genus in number of lateral line scales, scales above and below lateral line, elements of life color, and in COI and cytochrome b DNA sequences. Of the five other known species of Neoniphon, it is most similar to the Indo-Pacific N. aurolineatus and the western Atlantic N. marianus both morphologically and genetically.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4301

Authors: Klemen Čandek, Matjaž Gregorič, Rok Kostanjšek, Holger Frick, Christian Kropf, Matjaž Kuntner

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4552

Authors: Jeremy Miller, Teodor Georgiev, Pavel Stoev, Guido Sautter, Lyubomir Penev

Abstract:

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4306

Authors: Ivailo Dedov, Vera Antonova

Abstract: We give the results from the first investigation focused on the land snail fauna in Srebarna Nature Reserve in Bulgaria. A total of 23 localities were studied and 27 species of terrestrial gastropods were found, 23 of which were new observations for the Reserve.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4404

Authors: Roberto Leonan Novaes, Daniel Rosa, Davor Vrcibradic, Leonardo Avilla

Abstract: Bat species richness in Neotropical localities is generally higher than that of any other group of mammals, and surveys of local bat assemblages may provide useful data for conservation management plans. Although the bat fauna of the Rio de Janeiro state is currently one of the best known in Brazil, there are several localities not adequately surveyed yet, and most of them are in the mountainous regions and in the northern portion of the state. From January 2008 to November 2009, we conducted surveys of bats in three localities in the state of Rio de Janeiro (municipalities of Varre-Sai, Sumidouro, and Cantagalo), and our fieldwork constitutes the first assessment of the bat assemblages of these localities. Surveys were conducted using mist nets in four different habitat types in each locality (forest interior, forest edge, riparian forest, and open areas [pastures]). We captured a total of 148 individuals in 17 species, 14 genera and 3 families. Among them, 11 species were recorded in Sumidouro, seven in Cantagalo, and nine in Varre-Sai. Although species richness was low compared with previous surveys in other close localities, we recorded species that have been rarely sampled in Southeastern Brazil (e.g., Macrophyllum macrophyllum [Phyllostomidae]). The results reinforce the importance of sampling different habitats in short surveys to improve the number of species registered.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4282

Authors: Krushnadeoray Garad, Ramchandra Gore, Sayajirao Gaikwad

Abstract: The present paper provides the first systematic and comprehensive account of the flora of Solapur district of Maharashtra (India). The flora of this region demonstrates a wide range of species diversity and growth forms. The vegetation of the district mainly represents tropical dry deciduous forests, thorny open scrub and vast grasslands. During the present work, a total of 1441 taxa belonging to 699 genera and 125 families of flowering plants were recorded. A new species Crinum solapurense Gaikwad et al. is described. Fabaceae is the dominant family with 210 taxa, followed by Poaceae (157 taxa), Asteraceae (85 taxa), Malvaceae (68 taxa) and Euphorbiaceae (48 taxa). Acacia is the largest genus with 25 taxa, followed by Euphorbia (23), Cyperus (22), Crotalaria (19) and Ipomoea (19). The herbaceous flora of the district is notable as it amounts to 56.21% of the whole of flora. The ratio of indigenous woody to herbaceous components is 1:1.28. The proportion of indigenous taxa (978) to the cultivated ones (460) is 1.35: 0.5 in the district.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4297

Authors: Milcho Todorov

Abstract: The ultra-structure of the shell and the morphometric variability of soil inhabiting testate amoeba Lamtopyxis callistoma from Madagascar were studied by using light- and scanning electron microscopy. The biometrical characteristic of the species was made on the basis of 75 specimens measured. In addition to the diameter of the shell, six other shell characters were described biometrically for the first time. The analysis of the variation coefficients shows that the studied population of L. callistoma is comparatively homogeneous and almost all measured characters are weakly to moderate variable (CV less than 10%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies on the shell ultra-morphology show that it has a smooth apertural surface with a thick layer of porous and fibrous organic cement and a rough dorsal surface composed of bigger and angular pieces of quartz. The shell wall has a thickness of about 5-6 µm and is composed of three layers. Unlike the previously accepted opinion that species is characterized by the presence of four teeth, this study shows that population of L. callistoma from Madagascar is comprised of both, specimens with four teeth and specimens with three teeth, in ratio of about 60% to 40%. Taking into account the restricted geographical distribution, large sizes and characteristic apertural morphology of L. callistoma it is assumed that this species, like some bryophilic ‘Nebelas’ with circumaustral distribution (e.g. Apodera vas, Alocodera cockayni, Certesella certesi, Certesella martiali, etc.), can be used as an example that in free-living microbial eukaryotes ‘not everything is everywhere’.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4300

Authors: Thomas Simon, Charles Morris, Joseph Robb, William McCoy

Abstract: The National Wildlife Refuge system is a vital resource for the protection and conservation of biodiversity and biological integrity in the United States. Surveys were conducted to determine the spatial and temporal patterns of fish, macroinvertebrate, and crayfish populations in two watersheds that encompass three refuges in southern Indiana. The Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge had the highest number of aquatic species with 355 macroinvertebrate taxa, six crayfish species, and 82 fish species, while the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge had 163 macroinvertebrate taxa, seven crayfish species, and 37 fish species. The Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge had the lowest diversity of macroinvertebrates with 96 taxa and six crayfish species, while possessing the second highest fish species richness with 51 species. Habitat quality was highest in the Muscatatuck River drainage with increased amounts of forested habitats compared to the Patoka River drainage. Biological integrity of the three refuges ranked the Patoka NWR as the lowest biological integrity (mean IBI reach scores = 35 IBI points), while Big Oaks had the highest biological integrity (mean IBI reach score = 41 IBI points). The Muscatatuck NWR had a mean IBI reach score of 31 during June, which seasonally increased to a mean of 40 IBI points during summer. Watershed IBI scores and habitat condition were highest in the Big Oaks NWR.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4299

Authors: Brian Brown, Giar-Ann Kung, Wendy Porras

Abstract: The genus Dohrniphora is a hyperdiverse group of phorid flies, a family whose species are commonly characterized as generalized scavengers. The lifestyle of most species of Dohrniphora is unknown, although one cosmopolitan, synanthropic species, D. cornuta (Bigot) fits the general scavenger mold. Here we show that flies of the D. longirostrata species group exhibit highly specific “headhunting” behavior in which injured Odontomachus ants are decapitated, the heads dragged away, and females either feed on their contents or lay an egg nearby. Since most females studied lacked eggs in their ovaries, we conclude that this bizarrely specialized feeding is necessary to provide nutrients for reproduction in these flies. Our study provides further evidence that injured ants are a common, stable resource in tropical ecosystems that support a wide array of phorid flies. Such narrowly constrained lifestyles, as exemplified by exclusively feeding on and breeding in the head contents of certain ponerine worker ants, could allow the co-existence of a huge community of saprophagous flies.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4272

Authors: Elidiomar Da-Silva, Luci Coelho, Paulo Sérgio Ferreira

Abstract: Gypona reversa DeLong & Martinson, 1972 has its ovipositor described and illustrated based on the examination of specimens from its type locality. This is the first species of Gypona Germar, 1821 to have the female genitalia detailed description published.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4237

Authors: Pavel Starkevich, Sigitas Podenas

Abstract: Based on examination of type specimens a crane fly species Tipula (Vestiplex) hugueniniana Alexander, 1971 is proposed as junior synonym of Tipula (V.) wahlgrenana Alexander, 1968. The new synonymy is based on similarity of male genitalia.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4188

Authors: Dang Nguyen, Nghia Nguyen, Duy Nguyen, Tri Dinh, Dinh Le, Duong Dinh

Abstract: The Laotian Rock Rat Laonastes aenigmamus Jenkins, Kilpatrick, Robinson & Timmins, 2005 was originally discovered in Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2005. This species has been recognized as the sole surviving member of the otherwise extinct rodent family Diatomyidae. Laonastes aenigmamus was initially reported only in limestone forests of Khammouane Province, Central Lao. A second population was recently discovered in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park (PNKB NP), Quang Binh Province, Central Vietnam in 2011. The confirmed distribution range of L. aenigmamus in Vietnam is very small, approximately 150 km², covering low karst mountains in five communes of Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province, at elevations between 250 and 400 m asl. The Laotian Rock Rat inhabits the lower part of steep karst towers with many rock boulders and crevices under tall limestone evergreen forest. They use small rock crevices for their dens. The natural habitat of this species in PNKB NP has been affected by selected timber harvesting, however, a complex 3-4 layer forest structure is retained. The Laotian Rock Rat is omnivorous, feeding on parts (leaves, buds, fruits and roots) of 18 plant species and also some insects (cicada, mantis, grasshopper). The population of this species in PNKB NP is seriously threatened with extinction due to its very restricted distribution, high hunting pressure, and habitat disturbance. Laonastes aenigmamus is listed in the IUCN Red List as endangered and in the Wildlife and Aquatic Red List of Lao, however, this species has not been listed in the Red Data Book or any conservation legislative documents of Vietnam.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4244

Authors: Sébastien Cally, Pierre Solbès, Bernadette Grosso, Jérôme Murienne

Abstract: This dataset provides information on specimens of harvestmen (Arthropoda, Arachnida, Opiliones) collected in French Guiana. Field collections have been initiated in 2012 within the framework of the CEnter for the Study of Biodiversity in Amazonia (CEBA: www.labex-ceba.fr/en/). This dataset is a work in progress. Occurrences are recorded in an online database stored at the EDB laboratory after each collecting trip and the dataset is updated on a monthly basis. Voucher specimens and associated DNA are also stored at the EDB laboratory until deposition in natural history Museums. The latest version of the dataset is publicly and freely accessible through our Integrated Publication Toolkit at http://130.120.204.55:8080/ipt/resource.do?r=harvestmen_of_french_guiana or through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility data portal at http://www.gbif.org/dataset/3c9e2297-bf20-4827-928e-7c7eefd9432c.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4281

Authors: Sayajirao Gaikwad, Ramchandra Gore, Sonali Randive, Krushnadeoray Garad

Abstract: A new species of Vigna Savi, subgenus Ceratotropis (Piper) Verdc., Vigna yadavii S.P. Gaikwad, R.D. Gore, S.D. Randive & K.U. Garad, sp. nov. is described and illustrated here. It is morphologically close to Vigna dalzelliana (Kuntze) Verdc. but differs in its underground obligate cleistogamous flowers on positively geotropic branches, hairy calyx, small corolla, linear style beak and dimorphic seeds with shiny seed coat.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4221

Authors: Cherian Mathew, Anton Güntsch, Matthias Obst, Saverio Vicario, Robert Haines, Alan Williams, Yde de Jong, Carole Goble

Abstract: The compilation and cleaning of data needed for analyses and prediction of species distributions is a time consuming process requiring a solid understanding of data formats and service APIs provided by biodiversity informatics infrastructures. We designed and implemented a Taverna-based Data Refinement Workflow which integrates taxonomic data retrieval, data cleaning, and data selection into a consistent, standards-based, and effective system hiding the complexity of underlying service infrastructures. The workflow can be freely used both locally and through a web-portal which does not require additional software installations by users.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4238

Authors: Jukka Salmela, Kari Kaunisto, Varpu Vahtera

Abstract: The subgenus Idiopyga Savchenko, 1987 is a northern hemisphere group of short-palped crane flies (Diptera, Limoniidae). In the current article we describe a new species, Dicranomyia (I.) boreobaltica Salmela sp.n., and redescribe the male and female post-abdomen of a closely related species, D. (I.) intricata Alexander. A standard DNA barcoding fragment of 5′ region of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene of the new species is presented, whilst the K2P minimum distances between the new species and 10 other species of the subgenus were found to range from 5.1 to 15.7 % (mean 11.2 %). Phylogenetic analyses (parsimony and maximum likelihood) based on COI sequences support the identity of the new species and its close relationship with D. (I.) intricata and D. (I.) esbeni (Nielsen). The new species is known from the northern Baltic area of Finland. The new species has been mostly collected from Baltic coastal meadows but an additional relict population is known from a calcareous rich fen that was estimated to have been at sea level circa 600-700 years ago. Dicranomyia (I.) intricata (syn. D. suecica Nielsen) is a Holarctic species, occurring in the north boreal and subarctic vegetation zones in Fennoscandia.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e3999

Authors: Izabella Nery, Natalia Carvalho, Henrique Paprocki

Abstract: In order to contribute to the butterflies’ biodiversity knowledge at Serra do Intendente State Park - Minas Gerais, a study based on collections using Van Someren-Rydon traps and active search was performed. In this study, a total of 395 butterflies were collected, of which 327 were identified to species or morphospecies. 263 specimens were collected by the traps and 64 were collected using entomological hand-nets; 43 genera and 60 species were collected and identified.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4174

Authors: AJ Fleming, D Wood, M Smith, Daniel Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs

Abstract: We describe a new species of Cordyligaster Macquart (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. Cordyligaster capellii sp. n., is described and photographed. All specimens of C. capellii were reared from Syngamia florella (Stoll, 1781) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Spilomelinae), a leaf-rolling caterpillar collected in ACG rain forest. By coupling morphology, photographic documentation, life history and molecular data, we provide a clear and concise description of this new species. In addition the authors provide new distribution and host records for C. fuscipennis (Macquart) reared in ACG.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4127

Authors: Harpreet Kaur, Srinivasulu Chelmala, Bhargavi Srinivasulu, Tariq Shah, Gundena Devender, Aditya Srinivasulu

Abstract: Durga Das’s leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros durgadasi Khajuria, 1970 is endemic to India, and was known only from Katanga, Katangi, and Richhai villages, in Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh. During surveys conducted in Kolar district, Karnataka, India, we successfully mist-netted a few individuals belonging to the bicolor species group which, upon detailed external, craniodental and bacular studies were identified as Durga Das’s leaf-nosed bat. This paper reports the presence of this species in southern India, extending its distribution range by almost 1300 km. We also provide a detailed morphological description for this species.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4140

Authors: Halil Ibrahimi, Agim Gashi, Astrit Bilalli, Milaim Musliu, Linda Grapci Kotori, Ferdije Zhushi Etemi

Abstract: New faunistic data on Trichoptera from Kosovo based on sampling carried out during the autumn of 2013 and first half of 2014 are presented. Limnephilus bipunctatus was found in a small stream in Kaqandoll village located in northern Kosovo and in Shtuticë village located in central Kosovo. Two male specimens of Limnephilus decipiens were found at Gurrat e Hasan Agës Springs and Bistrica e Lloqanit River, an alpine area in the Lloqan mountains, which belong to the Bjeshkët e Nemuna mountains. A single male specimen of Limnephilus stigma was found in Klinë, located in central Kosovo. All three species are rare in Kosovo. A preliminary checklist of eight species of Limnephilus from Kosovo is provided along with biogeographical and ecological notes. This paper is a further contribution to the faunistic list of Trichoptera of Kosovo, one of the least explored countries in Europe.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4200

Authors: Rob Deady, Kai Heller, Timothy Work, Lisa Venier

Abstract: A new species of black fungus gnat from Canada, Peyerimhoffia jaschhoforum sp. n., is presented with a description, illustrations, biotope information and a brief discussion of the placement and concept of the genus Peyerimhoffia. P. jaschhoforum is characterized by a unique gonostylar structure where the apex is hollowed but not enclosed and contains a mass of mega setae housed within. P. jaschhoforum was reared from decomposing jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) deadwood using both in-situ and ex-situ photoeclectors. We documented three additional specimens originating from Fennoscandia that resemble P. jaschhoforum but differ based on a broader tegmen, placement of setigerous papillae behind the tegmen and the fused intercoxal area. Based on this, these specimens are assigned to a new subspecies, Peyerimhoffia jaschhoforum fennoscandica ssp. n.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4015

Authors: Alessandro Minelli, Boris Sket, Yde de Jong

Abstract: Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names (including important synonyms) of all living European land and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at country level (up to the Urals, excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project covers about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. This represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education.

Hirudinea is a fairly small group of Annelida, with about 680 described species, most of which live in freshwater habitats, but several species are (sub)terrestrial or marine. In the Fauna Europaea database the taxon is represented by 87 species in 6 families. Two closely related groups, currently treated as distinct lineages within the Annelida, are the Acanthobdellea (2 species worldwide, of which 1 in Europe) and the Branchiobdellea (about 140 species worldwide, of which 10 in Europe). This paper includes a complete list of European taxa belonging to the Hirudinea, Acanthobdellea and Branchiobdellea. Recent research on a limited number of taxa suggests that our current appreciation of species diversity of Hirudinea in Europe is still provisional: on the one hand, cryptic, unrecognised taxa are expected to emerge; on the other, the status of some taxa currently treated as distinct species deserves revisiting.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4168

Authors: Kalsum Yusah, Tom Fayle

Abstract: Flies in the family Milichiidae are often myrmecophilic. We document the first record of a fly from this family interacting with an ant of the genus Polyrhachis. In lowland riparian rainforest in Sabah, Malaysia, we observed a female of the genus Milichia following an ant of the species of P. illaudata, and repeatedly attempting to make close contact. Our observation suggests that the dipteran may have been attempting to feed kleptoparasitically from the Polyrhachis worker, since members of this ant genus often feed on liquid carbohydrate-rich food resources. This is the first time an interaction has been observed between a fly of this family and an ant of this widespread old world tropical genus.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4167

Authors: Jose Fernandez-Triana, James Whitfield, M. Alex Smith, Winnie Hallwachs, Daniel Janzen

Abstract: The New World genus Venanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) is a small group of parasitoid wasps that includes two Nearctic and seven Neotropical species. Here two additional species, authored by Fernández-Triana & Whitfield, are described from Costa Rica: V. johnnyrosalesi sp. n. from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) and V. randallgarciai sp. n. from Area de Conservación Cordillera Volcanica Central. They represent the first record of the genus for Mesoamerica. A previous key to all known Venanus (Whitfield et al. 2011) is modified to include the new species. The Costa Rican species were collected at altitudes of 1,400–1,460 m, but nothing is known of their biology. DNA barcodes were obtained for both species and are included as part of the description along with extensive photos. This paper is part of a series inventorying the diversity of Microgastrinae in ACG.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4117

Authors: Eduardo Marabuto

Abstract: The recent growing interest on the Mantodea fauna of southern Europe and Portugal in particular, has enabled the discovery of two geographically separated populations of hitherto unknown species in Europe. Analysis of specimens shows that they belong to two Afrotropical mantids: Miomantis caffra Saussure, 1871 and Miomantis paykullii Stal, 1871, thus raising the number of known species in Europe to 39 and in Portugal to 11.

While these are remarkable findings, they also represent the first alien mantis species recorded from this continent. As yet, these species appear to be confined to artificial humanised gardened areas but call for more attention to the problem of biological invasions and the need for better bio-security measures for the conservation of natural ecosystems.

In the absence of recent revisionary work on the Mantodea of Portugal and given the need to provide an accessible identification tool, both a checklist and a key to species are provided for all species in the country.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.2.e4112

Authors: J. Poorani

Abstract: Micraspis pusillus sp. n. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is described and illustrated from the northeastern region of India. It is unusual in possessing very large eye canthus and is the smallest species of the genus known from India so far.

HTML

XML

PDF