Taxonomy

Rowher (1926) Remarks on the name of one of our common yellowjackets

by Anthony Daglio

Calcareous nannofossils from the boreal Upper Campanian-Maastrichtian chalk of Denmark

by Nicolas Thibault

Thibault, N., 2010, Journal of Nannoplankton Research 31, 39-56.

All species encountered in the upper Campanian-Maastrichtian of the Boreal Realm are documented here. Nannofossil specialists may find them useful for taxonomy.

Boreal calcareous nannofossils are documented from three sections in Denmark throughout the Upper... more Boreal calcareous nannofossils are documented from three sections in Denmark throughout the Upper Campanian–Maastrichtian (nannofossils zones UC16a BP to UC20dBP): the Stevns-1 borehole, next to the K/Pg boundary section of Stevns Klint, eastern Sjælland, the Rørdal-1 borehole and the Rørdal quarry section, North Jylland. The moderately preserved nannofossil assemblages consist of a total of 138 species, comprising several rarely documented species, several species that were recently described from lower latitudes, 2 new species of heterococcoliths, Prediscosphaera borealensis and Tranolithus stemmerikii and one new combination (Staurolithites dicandidula).

Ceiba rubriflora ( Malvaceae : Bombacoideae ), a new species from Bahia, Brazil

by Jefferson Carvalho-Sobrinho

Assessment of tree species of botanic garden of National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow

by Omesh Bajpai

Co-authored with G. Kaur, A. Kumar, L. B. Chaudhary and A. K. Goel

Preliminary assessment of diversity in Indian Figs

by Omesh Bajpai

Co-authored with L. B. Chaudhary and Anoop Kumar

Assessment of diversity in genus Ficus L. (Moraceae) of Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India

by Omesh Bajpai

Co-authored with Anoop Kumar, Ashish K. Mishra, Nayan Sahu, Soumit K. Behera and L. B. Chaudhary

Specimens versus sequences [Science]

by Guanyang Zhang

Letter published in 'Science'

In his Perspective “GenBank—natural history in the 21st century?” (24 October 2008, p. 537), B. J. Strasser claims... more In his Perspective “GenBank—natural history in the 21st century?” (24 October 2008, p. 537), B. J. Strasser claims that GenBank follows the tradition of natural history studies. I argue that GenBank is inconsistent with some important aspects of the tradition of natural history and it alone does not and will not constitute natural history.

First, GenBank has been designed to store molecular information about model organisms or humans, whereas natural history serves to explore and document biodiversity. GenBank's format is incapable of handling unique aspects of biodiversity studies such as diverse and large collections of specimens, and taxonomic uncertainties and revisions. Second, GenBank does not require vouchering of specimens, DNA extracts, or other molecular products, whereas the study of natural history always anchors information with specimens. Without such anchoring, revisionary work (which is part of the tradition of natural history) cannot be conducted. As a result, GenBank contains a considerable amount of unidentified or misidentified sequences (1–3). Third, GenBank is unlikely to reach amateurs in the way that natural history has. Study of natural history generally does not require expensive equipment and is exciting and rewarding. In comparison, DNA sequencing is costly, offers little aesthetic reward or recreational value, and requires specialist knowledge. It is hard to imagine amateurs comparing or exchanging their collections of DNA sequence instead of actual specimens.

Natural history documentation has many important facets, such as specimen locality data, images of morphology, and ecological notes. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (http://www.gbif.org/) and Morphbank (http://www.morphbank.net/) are good examples. Specimen collections will continue serving as the primary record of natural history and biodiversity, while molecular data are supplementary.

The taxonomic significance of species that have only been observed once: the genus Gymnodinium (Dinoflagellata) as an example

by Anne Thessen

Taxonomists have been tasked with cataloguing and quantifying the Earth’s biodiversity. Their progress is measured in... more Taxonomists have been tasked with cataloguing and quantifying the Earth’s biodiversity. Their progress is measured in code-compliant species descriptions that include text, images, type material and molecular sequences.  It is from this material that other researchers are to identify individuals of the same species in future observations.  Approximately 13% to 22% (depending on taxonomic group) of described species have only ever been observed once.  Species that have only been observed at the time and place of their original description are referred to as oncers. Oncers are important to our current understanding of biodiversity.  They may be validly described species that are members of a rare biosphere, or they may indicate endemism, or that these species are limited to very constrained niches.  Alternatively, they may reflect that taxonomic practices are too poor to allow the organism to be re-identified or descriptions are unknown to other taxonomists.  If true, our current tally of species will not be an accurate indication of what we know. In order to investigate this phenomenon and its potential causes, we examined the microbial eukaryote genus Gymnodinium. This genus contains 268 extant species, 103 (38%) of which have not been observed since their original description.  We report traits of the original descriptions and interpret them in respect to the status of the species.  We conclude that the majority of oncers were poorly described and their identity is ambiguous. As a result, we limit the the genus Gymnodinium to 234 species.  Species that have been observed multiple times tend to have longer descriptions, written in English.  The styles of individual authors have a major effect, with a few authors describing a disproportionate number of oncers.  We note that the information available via the internet is incomplete, and reliance on it will not give access to all necessary information.  Three new names are presented – Gymnodinium campbelli for the homonymous name Gymnodinium translucens Campbell 1973, Gymnodinium antarcticum for the homonymous name Gymnodinium frigidum Balech 1965 and Gymnodinium chinensis for the homonymous name Gymnodinium frigidum Skvortzov 1968. 

Encyclia navarroi (Orchidaceae), a new species from Cuba

by Angel Vale

co-authored with Danny Rojas

Encyclia navarroi Vale & Rojas (Orchidaceae) is described from western Cuba. This orchid thrives in coastal... more Encyclia navarroi Vale & Rojas (Orchidaceae) is described from western Cuba. This orchid thrives in coastal vegetation on the karstic terrains in the Pinar del Río and Artemisa provinces. It co-occurs locally with congeneric species. Encyclia navarroi can be easily recognized by its erose leaf margin, the not connivent and triangular lateral lobes of the labellum, and by the round central lobe with a basal papillose area.

Taxonomic Implications of Morphological Variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and Adjacent Parts of Texas

by Keith Larson

Fritsch, P. W., A. M. Schiller, and K. W. Larson. 2009. Taxonomic Implications of Morphological Variation in Cercis canadensis (Fabaceae) from Mexico and Adjacent Parts of Texas. Systematic Botany 34:510–520. doi: 10.1600/036364409789271254.

Taxonomic treatments recognize three varieties of Cercis canadensis: with variety canadensis , widespread throughout... more Taxonomic treatments recognize three varieties of Cercis canadensis: with variety canadensis , widespread throughout the eastern United States, and varieties texensis and mexicana , found east and west of the Pecos River in Texas, respectively. The distribution of Cercis continues southward into northeastern Mexico, but complex variation in leaf shape has confounded straightforward application of varietal names to the Mexican plants. To clarify the taxonomy of Cercis in Mexico, we conducted a morphometric analysis with 281 herbarium specimens, including a representative set of samples from Texas. Correlation and principal component analysis of 12 characters recovered two groups that correspond to the presence versus absence of branchlet pubescence. These groups are geographically distinct at the northern and southern extremes of the focus area but exhibit a large central region of overlap. No other discontinuities in character states were discovered to corroborate this division. Leaf shape varies continuously from ovate-acuminate at the northern and southern extremes to subreniform in the central region, suggesting clinal adaptation to the mesic versus xeric environments in which the plants occur. Based on our data, we apply the varietal epithets mexicana and, provisionally, texensis to Mexican C. canadensis with pubescent and glabrous branchlets, respectively, the latter based on geographic proximity to plants in Texas in the absence of definitive evidence on the phenotypic distinction between varieties canadensis and texensis.

The use of mean instead of smallest interspecific distances exaggerates the size of the “barcoding gap” and leads to misidentification [Systematic Biology]

by Guanyang Zhang

Published in 'Systematic Biology'

Matching dimorphic sexes and immature stages with adults: resolving the systematics of the Bekilya group of Malagasy assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae) [Systematic Entomology]

by Guanyang Zhang

Published in 'Systematic Entomology'

The Madagascar endemic assassin bugs Bekilya Villiers and Hovacoris Villiers were described from macropterous male... more The Madagascar endemic assassin bugs Bekilya Villiers and Hovacoris Villiers were described from macropterous male specimens with striking colour patterns, and are currently monotypic. Mutillocoris Villiers, with two species from Madagascar, was based on brachypterous female specimens that resemble female mutillid wasps. To investigate the validity of the three genera, recently collected specimens from Madagascar were studied with both morphological and molecular techniques. Morphology alone appeared to be of limited value for associating males with females, and immature stages with adults, because of drastic differences between the sexes and the life stages. However, the use of morphology in conjunction with molecular data resolved these associations and showed that species of Mutillocoris represent females of Bekilya and Hovacoris, which we transfer accordingly to these two genera and refer to them as the Bekilya group. The type species of Mutillocoris belongs in Bekilya, resulting in the synonymy of these two genera (Mutillocorissyn.n.). The Bekilya group is diagnosed and several new species are described: Bekilya mahafalyasp.n., Bekilya tenebrasp.n., Bekilya tulearasp.n., Hovacoris bicolornotumsp.n., Hovacoris melanocepssp.n. and Hovacoris rufiventrissp.n. A total of ten species are recognized within the Bekilya group. The monophyly of Bekilya, Hovacoris and the Bekilya group is confirmed by morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses.

Ectoparasites of small mammals in Malaysia. 2010

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Ixodes granulatus and Leptotrombidium deliense are of known medical importance.

http://www.tm.mahidol.ac.th/seameo/2011-42-4/06-4984.pdf

A total of 16 animals comprising 5 species of hosts were caught and examined for ectoparasites. The hosts examined... more A total of 16 animals comprising 5 species of hosts were caught and examined for ectoparasites. The hosts examined were Maxomys rajah, Maxomys whiteheadi, Leopoldamys sabanus, Lariscus insignis and Tupaia glis. Of these hosts, 9 genera, consisting of 14 species of ectoparasites were extracted. Three species of ticks (Ixodidae), 7 species of mesostigmatid mites (Laelaptidae), 3 species of chiggers (Trombiculidae) and 1 species of listrophorid mites (Listrophoriidae) were identified. The infestation rate of ectoparasites observed ranged from 12.5% to 62.5%. Among the ectoparasites found, Ixodes granulatus and Leptotrombidium deliense are of known medical importance.

Keywords: ectoparasites, small mammals, wildlife reserves, Peninsular Malaysia.

A Madinah, A Fatimah, A Mariana and MT Abdullah

Redescription of the Neotropical genus Aristathlus (Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae)

by Dimitri Forero

Co-authored with: GIL-SANTANA, H. R. & VAN DOESBURG, P. H.
Published in: Pp. 85-103. In: Grozeva, S. and Simov, N. (eds.). Advances in Heteroptera Research. Festschrift in Honour of 80th Anniversary of Michail Josifov. Pensoft Publishers, Sofia. Series Faunistica No 82. (2008)

Th e Neotropical genus Aristathlus Bergroth 1913, is redescribed. Digital dorsal habitus photographs for A.... more Th e Neotropical genus Aristathlus Bergroth 1913, is redescribed. Digital dorsal habitus photographs for A. imperatorius Bergroth and A. regalis Bergroth, the two included
species, are provided. Selected morphological structures are documented with scanning electron micrographs. Male genitalia are documented for the first time with digital photomicrographs and line drawings. New distributional records in South America are given for species of Aristathlus.

Description of a new species of Aoplonema (Hemiptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae) with a biogeographic analysis and reassessment of the phylogeny of the genus.

by Dimitri Forero

Co-authored with: MICHAEL D. SCHWARTZ
Published in: Entomologica Americana 115(1): 67-76. (2009)

Aoplonema lopidium sp. nov. is described from the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, representing the first... more Aoplonema lopidium sp. nov. is described from the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, representing the first records of this genus from mainland Mexico. A summary of the hypothesized phylogenetic species relationship is (A. princeps (A. lopidium (A. rubrum + A. nigrum))). A biogeographical analysis proposes that the Sierra Madre del Sur is the sister area to the rest of the areas occupied by the other species of Aoplonema.

Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Hadronema group (Miridae: Orthotylinae: Orthotylini), with descriptions of new genera and new species, and comments on the Neotropical genus Tupimiris

by Dimitri Forero

Published in: Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 312: 1-172. (2008)

Aoplonema Knight, Daleapidea Knight, Hadronema Uhler, and Hadronemidea Reuter are revised. Aoplonema nigrum, sp. nov.,... more Aoplonema Knight, Daleapidea Knight, Hadronema Uhler, and Hadronemidea Reuter are revised. Aoplonema nigrum, sp. nov., A. rubrum, sp. nov., Hadronema incognitum, sp. nov., and H. mexicanum, sp. nov. are described. Hadronemidea echinata, comb. nov. is proposed for Hadronema echinata Gruetzmacher and Schaffner, 1977. Aoplonemella, gen. nov. is described to accommodate Hadronema festiva Van Duzee, 1910; and Origonema, gen. nov. is described to accommodate Hadronema splendida Gibson, 1918. Scutomiris setosus, gen. et sp. nov. are described from Baja California Sur, Mexico. This new genus is superficially similar to the Neotropical genus Tupimiris. Male genitalic characters not mentioned in the original description of T. scutellatus are illustrated and compared with those of S. setosus, showing that the two are not related. Aoplonema, Aoplonemella, Daleapidea, Hadronema, Hadronemidea, Origonema, and Scutomiris form a monophyletic group herein denominated the Hadronema group. Dorsal habitus color photographs of all the species, scanning electron micrographs of selected species for each genus, and illustrations of male and female genitalic characters are provided for all species. Keys to separate the genera and species treated in this paper are presented. A phylogenetic hypothesis of relationships among the genera is proposed, and host-plant associations are discussed.

Kiskeya palassaina, new genus and new species of Saicinae (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) from the Dominican Republic

by Dimitri Forero

Co-authored with: CHRISTIANE WEIRAUCH
Published in: Zootaxa 1468: 57–68 (2007)

A new genus and a species of Saicinae, Kiskeya palassaina, n. gen., n. sp., are described from the Dominican Republic.... more A new genus and a species of Saicinae, Kiskeya palassaina, n. gen., n. sp., are described from the Dominican Republic. The armature of the fore leg of the nine apterous female specimens are unique among genera of Saicinae in consisting of spines on the fore femur, but of stiff setae on the fore tibia. A key to the New World genera is given. Digital macrophotographs, scanning electron micrographs, and illustrations are provided.

Taxonomical and biological notes on Neotropical Apiomerini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae)

by Dimitri Forero

Co-authored with: HÉLCIO R. GIL-SANTANA
Published in: Zootaxa 2331: 57–68 (2010)

New occurrences of Apiomerini species are recorded: Apiomerus arnaui Costa Lima, Seabra & Hathaway and Apiomerus... more New occurrences of Apiomerini species are recorded: Apiomerus arnaui Costa Lima, Seabra & Hathaway and Apiomerus gallegoi Costa Lima, Seabra & Hathaway from Brazil, and Heniartes scutellatus Wygodzinsky from Surinam. Remarks on the color variation of Agriocleptes bahianus Wygodzinsky, Apiomerus evanidus Distant, Apiomerus gallegoi, and Heniartes scutellatus are given. Based on color variation within a single population and the absence of structural differences between the two forms, Heniartes australis Wygodzinsky is placed in synonymy with Heniartes jaakkoi Wygodzinsky. Observations on sticky substances on fore legs of live nymphal instars of Apiomerus mutabilis and Heniartes jaakkoi are provided. Occurrence of eggs of Tachinidae on adults of Heniartes jaakkoi and Apiomerus mutabilis Costa Lima, Seabra & Hathaway is recorded for the first time for the tribe Apiomerini.

Revision of the crassipes and pictipes species groups of Apiomerus Hahn (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae)

by Dimitri Forero

Co-authored with: LILY BERNIKER, SIGURD SZERLIP, & CHRISTIANE WEIRAUCH
Published in: Zootaxa 2949: 1-113 (2011)

Within the genus Apiomerus Hahn, 1831, the crassipes and the pictipes species groups are described. In the crassipes... more Within the genus Apiomerus Hahn, 1831, the crassipes and the pictipes species groups are described. In the crassipes species group, three species are redescribed: Apiomerus crassipes (Fabricius, 1803), Apiomerus rufipennis (Fallou, 1889) and Apiomerus spissipes (Say, 1825); one subspecies is raised to species level and redescribed: Apiomerus cooremani Costa Lima, Campos Seabra & Hathaway, 1951; and six species are described as new: Apiomerus californicus Berniker & Szerlip, sp. nov., Apiomerus cazieri Berniker & Szerlip, sp. nov., Apiomerus floridensis Berniker & Szerlip, sp. nov., Apiomerus montanus Berniker & Szerlip, sp. nov., Apiomerus peninsularis Berniker & Szerlip, sp. nov. and Apiomerus wygodzinskyi Berniker & Szerlip, sp. nov. In the pictipes species group, two species are redescribed, Apiomerus flaviventris Herrich-Schaeffer, 1846 and Apiomerus pictipes Herrich-Schaeffer, 1846, and one subspecies, Apiomerus pictipes pittieri Costa Lima, Campos Seabra, & Hathaway, 1951 is synonymized with Apiomerus pictipes. Neotypes are designated for Apiomerus flaviventris, Apiomerus pictipes, and Apiomerus spissipes. Lectotypes are designated for Apiomerus cooremani and Apiomerus crassipes. The composition of the species groups are different from those originally proposed by Sigurd Szerlip in his PhD dissertation. The crassipes group has one additional member, Apiomerus rufipennis. Furthermore, Apiomerus barrocoloradoi Forero, Berniker & Szerlip, 2010 and the two manuscript names “Apiomerus panther” and “Apiomerus tigris” were removed from the pictipes group. A key to the species is provided, as well as photographs of habitus and diagnostic features for both males and females. Intraspecific polychromatism is discussed as it relates to species identification and species delimitation.

Description of a new species of Liaghinella (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) from the Colombian Andes, with notes on its feeding habits and conservation status

by Dimitri Forero

Published in: Zootaxa 1502: 55-68. (2007)

Liaghinella andina sp. nov. is described from the eastern Colombian Andes. Until now, the genus Liaghinella... more Liaghinella andina sp. nov. is described from the eastern Colombian Andes. Until now, the genus Liaghinella Wygodzinsky, 1966 included only L. farri Wygodzinsky, 1966, described from Jamaica. To find this new species for the first time in continental South America and at so high an altitude is remarkable. The new species is close to L. farri, but differs in color pattern, and in the structure of the head, male genitalia, and fore leg armature. For the first time a female of Liaghinella is described and sexual differences are highlighted. Keys to separate the related genera and the two known species of Liaghinella are provided. Biological information on the new species’ feeding habits on spiders is presented and discussed. Dorsal habitus photographs, in addition to photographs and illustrations of other morphological structures, are provided. Finding this new species in the remnants of an Andean montane forest adjacent to urban areas highlights the necessity of local conservation efforts in the Colombian Andes.