Austral Entomology最新文献

We describe Pseudotermitoecia kungarakan Zilberman & Moreno, sp. nov., a new species of the termitophilous rove beetle genus Pseudotermitoecia Kistner, 1985 (Termitusini: Termitospectrina) from Australia. This discovery expands the known diversity of the genus, previously represented solely by Pseudotermitoecia kakaduensis Kistner, 1985. Unlike P. kakaduensis, which was found in association with Nasutitermes eucalypti (Mjöberg, 1920) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), P. kungarakan Zilberman & Moreno, sp. nov. is associated with Schedorhinotermes actuosus (Hill, 1933) (Rhinotermitidae), a relationship in the subtribe previously documented only for Termitoecia Bernhauer, 1920. This new host for the genus, along with modern knowledge on termite evolution, challenges previous hypotheses on the coevolution of the subtribe Termitospectrina and their hosts, herein discussed.

No abstract is available for this article.

Zygaenula Doleschall, 1858 and Mesoctenia Enderlein, 1924 syn. nov. are small genera restricted to the Australasia region. Here, both genera are considered synonymous, supported by the synapomorphy width of frons, in relation to height, more than two times. A new species, Zygaenula mcalpinei sp. nov. is described from the Manu Island, Admiralty Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. Zygaenula australis (McAlpine, 1973) comb. nov., Z. celyphoides (Walker, 1859) comb. nov., Z. coalescens Hendel, 1914 comb. reinstat., Z. hilaris Hendel, 1914 comb. reinstat., and Z. paradoxa Doleschall, 1858 are redescribed. The lectotype and paralectotype are designated for specimens of Z. celyphoides comb. nov. In addition, an updated identification key and a distribution map are presented. The hypothesised phylogenetic relationship of the Zygaenula species is represented by the following parenthetical notation: (Z. paradoxa (Z. coalescens comb. reinstat.. (Z. hilaris comb. reinstat. (Z. mcalpinei sp. nov. (Z. australis comb. nov. and Z. celyphoides comb. nov.))))).

Parasitism is a strong selective agent that affects host fitness, and parasitism may be variable across often broad landscapes and ecological gradients. However, variation may also occur within small geographic areas due to local differences in habitat and climate. Here, we quantified the prevalence and intensity of ectoparasitic water mites (Arrenurus sp.) and endoparasitic gregarines (Apicomplexa: Protozoa) in Australian common bluetail damselflies (Ischnura heterosticta), between sexes and across three populations in Cairns, Australia. We found that more than 42% of the damselflies were coinfected with water mites and gregarines. The prevalence of both parasite taxa differed between sexes, being higher in females, and also varied among the three populations. Furthermore, we investigated whether parasitism was correlated with damselfly body size, mass and lipid content. Water mite parasitism was negatively correlated with host body mass and lipid content; however, gregarine-infected males and females had better body condition, as estimated by body length, mass and lipid content. In conclusion, our study suggests that damselflies with a larger body size have a higher prevalence of gregarine infection; however, the impact on body mass and lipid content may vary with parasite type.

Among the Aleocharinae rove beetles, the tribe Athetini is one of the most diverse and morphologically poorly delimited, obviously non-monophyletic groups, with approximately 4000 described species. Despite overlapping morphological diagnoses of Athetini and other tribes such as Oxypodini, as well as many poorly delimited genera in Athetini, this study describes Daimophyllon gen. nov. with two new species, Daimophyllon ozzyosbournei gen. et. sp. nov. and Daimophyllon dio gen. et. sp. nov. from southeastern Brazil, placed in this tribe. The new genus has some morphological characters shared with the satisfactorily delimited genus Seeversiella Ashe, 1986, but several distinct characters set both genera apart. Notable diagnostic characters for Daimophyllon gen. nov. include the three-processed spinose tergite III, the distinctive occipital suture, and additional morphological divergences described herein. These new taxa expand the morphological diversity of Athetini in Latin America, especially in Brazil, and stress the continuing need for the taxonomic exploration of this group. The establishment of Daimophyllon gen. nov. highlights the importance of morphological delimitation within hyperdiverse groups such as Aleocharinae.

Rhopalosomatidae (Hymenoptera, Vespoidea) are rare ectoparasitoid wasps that parasitize crickets (Grylloidea), with few records documented in the literature, which originate from the Nearctic and Australian regions. Here, we report the first record of Rhopalosomatidae larvae parasitizing crickets of the family Phalangopsidae in the Neotropics. Specimens of Ubiquepuella telytokous Fernandes, 2015 were collected in Minas Gerais (cave) and in Rio de Janeiro (tree trunks in Atlantic Forest fragments), Brazil, harbouring rhopalosomatid larvae. Parasitized specimens of Eidmanacris Chopard, 1956 were also observed in caves in Minas Gerais. This new host-parasitoid association provides insights into the diversity and ecological interactions of these wasps in the Neotropics, where knowledge remains scarce. Additionally, we highlight the potential of citizen science platforms, such as iNaturalist, for expanding the documentation of parasitoid-host relationships, as online records revealed other possible cases of parasitism in Brazil and Costa Rica. Our findings emphasise the need for further research on Rhopalosomatidae in the Neotropical region, particularly regarding their host specificity, life cycle and parasitoid–host relationships.

Taxonomy is a fundamental discipline for biology, especially for the effective conservation of biodiversity. Here, we performed a review of Petrocerus Callaghan, 1979, an endangered and hitherto monotypic butterfly genus endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Museomics revealed a new, overlooked and potentially endangered species from southern Brazil (Santa Catarina), Petrocerus kaingang Dias, Dolibaina & Kaminski sp. nov., while field work conducted on hilltops and genomic data revealed a new species from southeastern and northeastern Brazil (Espírito Santo and Bahia), Petrocerus ardilosa Dias, Dolibaina & Kaminski sp. nov. Additionally, a lectotype is designated for Calydna catiena Hewitson, 1875. Genomic data confirm the classification of Petrocerus in Theopina (Nymphidiini), a subtribe that includes species that live in symbiosis with ants. The presence of greasy wings, an annual life cycle and an apparent association of adults with bamboo patches (in P. catiena and P. ardilosa sp. nov.) suggest that these butterflies have complex life cycles with ants and trophobionts, as observed in one species of the sister genus Pseudotinea Hall & Callaghan, 2003. Unravelling these aspects of the natural history of Petrocerus is the next step towards the conservation of this rare group of butterflies.

The spread of novel pesticide resistances in arthropod pests poses a growing threat to agricultural industries worldwide. In this study, we developed a framework to assess the risk of novel pesticide resistance incursions into Australia, using the grains industry as a case study. By integrating data on overseas pest resistance patterns and international trade volumes, we identified key pathways and countries that pose significant biosecurity risks to Australia. To validate our generalised approach, we estimated propagule pressures for green peach aphids (Myzus persicae) using Australian border interception data from 2010 to 2017. Our analysis identified 20 arthropod species with novel resistances occurring overseas that have the potential to spread to Australia. We estimated the greatest risk of resistance incursion is associated with the trade of live plant material, particularly cut flowers and fresh produce, due to both high import volumes and the suitability of these commodities as hosts for many important pest species. Among the countries analysed, China poses the highest risk due to its substantial trade volumes of suitable host material imported to Australia, as well as the large number of pest species with novel resistances in that country. Our framework provides a valuable tool for guiding biosecurity efforts aimed at minimising the entry of novel pesticide resistances, with potential applications beyond the grains industry. The entry and spread of pesticide-resistant biotypes present a significant and growing threat to Australian agriculture, particularly for industries that rely heavily on chemicals for pest control.

Stygnids represent one of the most diverse harvestman families, with many endemic species in the Area of Endemism of Pernambuco, a pattern increasingly evident by intensified sampling in the region over the years. The area is also recognised for hosting a group of understudied minute leaf-litter dwellers stygnids, represented by the following monotypic genera: Gaibulus Roewer, 1943; Iguarassua Roewer, 1943; and Kaapora Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997. In this study, we describe a male specimen of Iguarassua schubarti Roewer, 1943; describe two new Iguarassua species, Iguarassua brejoensis sp. nov. and Iguarassua villarreali sp. nov.; examine the type series of Kaapora minutissimus (Roewer, 1943); and discuss the overall relationships of the leaf-litter Stygnidae in the Northern Atlantic Forest. We propose K. minutissimus syn. nov. to be a junior synonym of I. schubarti, thereby synonymising Kaapora syn. nov. under Iguarassua, and identify key diagnostic characters related to pedipalp setae curvature and penis morphology, indicating that all current Atlantic Forest leaf-litter stygnids, including Gaibulus, are possibly monophyletic, likely placed in Stygninae and are most closely related to Pickeliana Mello-Leitão, 1932.

Bucerocaputis Souza-Gonçalves & Lopes-Andrade, gen. nov., a new genus with two species, Bucerocaputis kapinawa Souza-Gonçalves & Lopes-Andrade, gen. et sp. nov. from the Caatinga biome and Bucerocaputis timbira Souza-Gonçalves & Lopes-Andrade, gen. et sp. nov. from the Cerrado biome, is described based on individuals collected in the states of Bahia, Maranhão, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte, Northeast Region of Brazil. The genus shares some morphological affinities with members of Acanthocis Miyatake, 1954, Falsocis Pic, 1916, Plesiocis Casey, 1898, Porculus Lawrence, 1987 and Pseudeuxestocis Lawrence 2016; however, it can be distinguished mainly by the combination of the following features: the robust body; single pronotal and elytral punctation; antennae with 10 antennomeres; apical maxillary palpomere inflated with a large circular sensory area at the apex; prosternum biconcave with a relatively broad, strongly curved prosternal process, projecting below the plane of the prosternum disc; and male anterocephalic and anterior pronotal edge quadridentate. We also provide information on its host fungi and briefly discuss its geographical distribution.