Life Sciences Commons^™

Photography-Based Taxonomy Is Inadequate, Unnecessary, And Potentially Harmful For Biological Sciences, Luis M. P. Ceríaco, Eliécer E. Gutiérrez, Alain Dubois, Rafael O. De Sá, Et Al.

Biology Faculty Publications

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per …

A New Species Of Psalidognathus Gray, 1831 From Peru (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae), Taketsune Noguchi, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Psalidognathus antonkozlovi (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae), a new species from Peru, is described and illustrated. The new species is included in a previous key.

Currently, Psalidognathus Gray, 1831 encompasses 10 species distributed from Costa Rica to northern South America (Monné 2016). The species can be included in two groups: the “modestus” group, species without a spine at the apex of the basal antennomeres; and the “friendii” group, species with a spine at the apex of the basal antennomeres. Santos-Silva and Komiya (2012) published a provisional study of the species of the “modestus” group, considering seven species in it. The key to …

Phylogeny, Systematics And Biogeography Of Short-Tailed Opossums (Didelphidae: Monodelphis), Silvia E. Pavan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Short-tailed opossums (genus Monodelphis) comprise the most species-rich genus of New World marsupials, with 25 currently recognized species. Monodelphis comprise small, terrestrial species collectively widespread in South America, which makes the group potentially informative about biogeographic processes that have shaped the continental fauna. The genus exhibits striking variation in several phenotypic characters, notably pelage coloration, behavior, and reproductive strategies. This diversity is unique among Neotropical marsupials, and makes the group particularly interesting to investigate the evolution and the adaptive significance of phenotypic trait variation. Despite this potential, missing knowledge on phylogeny and basic taxonomy precludes broader studies on evolution …

Taxonomic Supplement (2001 To 2015) To The Catalogue Of New Zealand Carabidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), André Larochelle, Marie-Claude Larivière

Insecta Mundi

A supplement to the “Carabidae (Insecta: Coleoptera): catalogue” published by Larochelle and Larivière (2001; Fauna of New Zealand 43), is provided. A total of 99 genera and 547 species and subspecies belonging to 21 tribes and 8 subfamilies of Carabidae (including Cicindelini and Rhysodini), is recorded for New Zealand. Endemism is high, with 93% of the species and subspecies as well as 62% of the genera recorded from this country only. Changes to the 2001 catalogue are documented. The synonymy and type locality of taxa described between 2001 and 2015 are also provided.

Provisional Revision Of The Genus Epimelitta Bates, 1870 And Associated Genera, With A Brief Synopsis Of The Genus Acorethra Bates, 1873 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Robin O.S. Clarke

Insecta Mundi

Abstract. Epimelitta Bates, 1870 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) is redescribed with two species: Epimelitta scoparia (Klug, 1825) and Epimelitta rufiventris Bates, 1870; Epimelitta meliponica Bates, 1870 syn. nov. and Epimelitta acutipennis Fisher, 1947 syn. nov. are considered junior synonyms of E. scoparia. Exepimelitta gen. nov. is described with five species: Exepimelitta mimica (Bates, 1873), Ex. nigerrima (Bates, 1892), Ex. consobrina (Melzer, 1931) (= Epimelitta nigerrima var. flavipubescens Fisher, 1947, syn. nov.), Ex. lestradei (Peñaherrera-Leiva and Tavakilian, 2003) and Ex. windsori sp. nov. Charisia Champion, 1892 is revalidated and redescribed with six species: Charisia euphrosyne (Newman, 1840), C. mneme (Newman, 1841), …

Shifts In Myxomycete Community Structure In Selected Microhabitats Across Nutrient Treatments In A Lowland Tropical Forest Of Panama, Laura M. Walker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) are abundant amoeboid predators of bacteria and other microorganisms. They are found worldwide, largely in association with decaying plant material in terrestrial habitats. Their consumption of bacterial prey puts microbial predators such as myxomycetes in a key position in various ecosystem processes wherein they help regulate the flow of nutrients (e.g., N and C) through the ecosystem. The importance of microbial predators in nutrient cycling and plant productivity is well established. Given the extent to which tropical ecosystems influence global nutrient fluxes, along with the ecologically significant role that myxomycetes play in these processes, there is …

The Meat-Farming Ants: Predatory Mutualism Between Melissotarsus Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) And Armored Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), Scott A. Schneider

Doctoral Dissertations

Ant agricultural mutualisms are common, well studied, and receive attention from scientific and public spheres due to shared similarities with human agriculture (i.e. ant/fungus ‘crop farming’ and ant/insect ‘dairy farming’). They also serve as important model systems for studying many facets of mutualism. This study reveals that the repertoire of ant agriculture may also include ‘meat farming’. Predatory mutualisms occur between Melissotarsus ants and various species of armored scale insects. This dissertation employs a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate the evolutionary history and nature of ant/diaspidid mutualisms. Chapter 1 reviews the current state of knowledge regarding species composition of these associations …

Description Of Mesocriconema Ericaceum N. Sp. (Nematoda: Criconematidae) And Notes On Other Nematode Species Discovered In An Ericaceous Heath Bald Community In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Usa, Thomas O. Powers, Peter Mullin, Rebecca Higgins, Timothy Harris, Kirsten S. Powers

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

A new species of Mesocriconema and a unique assemblage of plant-parasitic nematodes was discovered in a heath bald atop Brushy Mountain in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mesocriconema ericaceum n. sp., a species with males, superficially resembles M. xenoplax. DNA barcoding with the mitochondrial COI gene provided evidence of the new species as a distinct lineage. SEM revealed significant variability in arrangement of labial submedian lobes, plates, and anterior and posterior annuli. Three other nematodes in the family Criconematidae were characterized from the heath bald. Ogma seymouri, when analyzed by statistical parsimony, established connections with isolates from north-eastern Atlantic …

Trox Paulseni (Coleoptera: Trogidae), A New Species From Nebraska And Kansas, Usa, Brett C. Ratcliffe

Insecta Mundi

Trox paulseni Ratcliffe, new species (Coleoptera: Trogidae), is described from Nebraska and Kansas, USA. A description, diagnosis to separate it from Trox hamatus Robinson (its closest congener), distribution, and illustrations are provided.

Using Morphometrics To Evaluate Taxonomic Relationships In Eleocharis Tenuis (Cyperaceae), Lane D. Gibbons

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

North America is host to multiple complex taxa, and unresolved relationships in the genus Eleocharis (Cyperaceae). Of noteworthy significance, are lasting taxonomic uncertainties involving plants referable to E. tenuis (var. tenuis, var. verrucosa, and var. pseudoptera) of the E. tenuis species complex. Morphology of E. tenuis is traditionally recognized as being widely variable, and intermediate among taxa along a broad geographic gradient. Cytological and morphometric data however, indicate that the varieties of E. tenuis are unique in cytology, and are consistently delimited by five morphological characters. Furthermore, this study shows that cytological data correlates with unique morphological …

Integrative Taxonomy Of North American Torrent Mites (Parasitengona: Torrenticolidae: Torrenticola), Jon Ray Fisher

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mites are notorious for being under-studied and incomplete knowledge of distribution, life-history, and morphology are commonplace. They typically gain attention through the relatively few pest species that plague our crops, pets, or bodies. Despite representing a successful radiation with an estimated 3–5 million species, relatively few mite lineages attract research attention from non-acarologists. However, the largest radiation of all mites—Parasitengona—has potential to bridge the gap between specialists and non-specialists. Parasitengona are the butterflies of the mite world. Obvious are the bright red mites searching for pollen on concrete, or the large, furry velvet mites coming out to mate after spring …

Taxonomics – Next Generation Taxonomists, Ana Sofia Reboleira

Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira

Comparing Apples And Oranges?: Next Generation Sequencing And Its Impact On Microbiome Analysis, Roy D. Sleator, Aisling O'Driscoll, Et. Al.

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Rapid advancements in sequencing technologies along with falling costs present widespread opportunities for microbiome studies across a vast and diverse array of environments. These impressive technological developments have been accompanied by a considerable growth in the number of methodological variables, including sampling, storage, DNA extraction, primer pairs, sequencing technology, chemistry version, read length, insert size, and analysis pipelines, amongst others. This increase in variability threatens to compromise both the reproducibility and the comparability of studies conducted. Here we perform the first reported study comparing both amplicon and shotgun sequencing for the three leading next-generation sequencing technologies. These were applied to …

Morphological And Molecular Characterization Of Gracilacus Wuae N. Sp. (Nematoda: Criconematoidea) Associated With Cow Parsnip (Heracleum Maximum) In Ontario, Canada, Qing Yu, Weimin Ye, Thomas O. Powers

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Gracilacus wuae n. sp. from soil associated with cow parsnip in Ontario, Canada is described and illustrated. Morphologically, females have a long stylet ranging from 80 to 93 mmlong, the lip region not offset from the body contour, without lateral lips but with large and flat submedian lobes, the mouth opening slit-like elongated laterally and surrounded by lateral flaps, the excretory pore is anterior to the knobs of the stylet; males without stylet and the pharynx degenerated. The fourth-stage juveniles lack a stylet, the pharynx degenerated, and can be differentiated into preadult females and males based on the position of …

First Record Of The Beetle Family Throscidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), A New Species Of I>Aulonothroscus Horn, And New Species Records To The Fauna Of Peru / Primer Registro De La Familia De Escarabajos Throscidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), Una Nueva Especie De Aulonothroscus Horn Y Tres Nuevos Registros De Especies Para La Fauna De Perú, Paul J. Johnson, Caroline S. Chaboo

Publications of UNSM Staff and Affiliates

The beetle family Throscidae is documented from Peru for the first time, based on specimens collected in the regions of Cajamarca, Junín, Loreto and Madre de Dios. Aulonothroscus tambopata new species is descri­bed from Madre de Dios. Also, three additional species of Aulonothroscus are reported from Peru for the first time – A. alvarengai Cobos new country record, A. freudi Cobos new country record, and A. oculatissimus Cobos new country record. A key separating these four species is given. This report is part of the “Beetles of Peru” project.

Se documenta por primera vez la familia de …

Redescription And Identity Of Taphinella Bengalensis Jacoby, 1900(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), Jan Bezdek

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The primary type specimens of Taphinella bengalensis Jacoby, 1900 (type species of Taphinellina Maulik, 1936) were examined. The genus Taphinellina is excluded from synonymy with Charaea Baly, 1878 and newly synonymized with Cassena Weise, 1892. Taphinella bengalensis is transferred to Cassena and redescribed, and its lectotype is designated. Color photos of its habitus and drawings of both male and female genitalia are presented.

A New Species Of Ancognatha Erichson (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) From Peru, With Distributions Of Peruvian Ancognatha Species, Luis Figueroa, Brett Ratcliffe

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A new species of Peruvian Ancognatha Erichson, 1847 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) is described. A description, diagnosis, distribution, and illustrations of the new species are provided. Locality records and distribution maps for Ancognatha species occurring in Peru are given.

Se describe una nueva especie peruana de Ancognatha Erichson, 1847 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini). Se proporciona una descripción, diagnóstico, distribución e ilustraciones de la nueva especie. Se proveen localidades de captura y mapas de distribución para las especies de Ancognatha registradas en Perú.

Four New Records Of Plant Parasitic Nematodes From Iran, Somaye Alvani, Esmat Mahdikhani Moghaddam, Hamid Rouhani, Abbas Mohammadi

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In order to identify the plant parasitic nematodes associated with Berberis vulgaris, 130 soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of this plant in the South Khorasan Province of Iran during 2012-2014. Among the identified species, four species, Merlinius acuminatus, Geocenamus dobroticus, Paratylenchus vandenbrandei, and Criconemoides morgensis, are new records for the Iranian nematode fauna.

Two New Species Of Trechnites (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) Fromchina And A Key To Chinese Species, Guohao Zu, Chengde Li

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Trechnites brevivalvus sp. Nov. And Trechnites verticalis sp. Nov. Are described and illustrated as new to science from China. A key to all known species from China based on females is presented. Three species of the genus Trechnites are now known from China.

First Record Of The Family Proctotrupidae (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea)From Iran, With Five New Species Records, Mohammad Izadizadeh, Ali Asghar Talebi, Victor A. Kolyada, Ehsan Rakhshani

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This survey was conducted to investigate the occurrence of the family Proctotrupidae in Iran. The specimens were collected using Malaise traps from northern Iran during 2010 and 2011. The family Proctotrupidae (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea) is recorded from Iran for the first time. Five species belonging to four genera were identified: Proctotrupes gravidator (Linnaeus, 1758); P. Brachypterus (Schrank, 1780); Cryptoserphus aculeator (Haliday, 1839); Disogmus obsoletus Brues, 1905; and Mischoserphus arcuator (Stelfox, 1950). All genera and species are new records for the fauna of Iran. An identification key for the genera of Proctotrupidae is provided.

Investigating Ichneumonidae: Insights Into Species Identification And Venom Composition, Victoria G. Pook

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Parasitoid wasps are hyperdiverse, with current estimates suggesting that they may account for up to 20% of all insect species. Though their ecological significance and their importance in integrated pest management cannot be denied, these taxa remain understudied and, due to their small size, are often overlooked. However, recent advances in molecular techniques are helping to reverse this trend by providing tools which scientists can use to better understand species limits and host interactions.

Parasitoid wasps are often morphologically cryptic and their accurate delimitation requires the analysis of DNA sequence data from fast-evolving genes in addition to morphological characters. The …

Two New Species Of South American Glaresidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea), M. J. Paulsen

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Two new species of South American Glaresidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) are described: Glaresis smithi Paulsen, new species from Argentina, and Glaresis mondacai Paulsen, new species from Chile and Peru. The species are compared to their closest congener, Glaresis fritzi Martínez et al., and a key is provided for the known South American species of the genus Glaresis Erichson.

Two New Eburiini From Mexico (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae), Stéphane Le Tirant, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Two new species of Eburiini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae) are described from Mexico (Guerrero): Susuacanga boteroi; and Eburia (Eburia) girouxae. Both are included in previous keys.

World Checklist Of Hornworts And Liverworts, Lars Söderström, Anders Hagborg, Matt Von Konrat, Sharon Bartholomew-Began, David Bell, Laura Briscoe, Elizabeth Brown, D. Christine Cargill, Denise P. Costa, Barbara J. Crandall-Stotler, Endymion D. Cooper, Gregorio Dauphin, John J. Engel, Kathrin Feldberg, David Glenny, S. Robbert Gradstein, Xiaolan He, Jochen Heinrichs, Jörn Hentschel, Anna Luiza Ilkiu-Borges, Tomoyuki Katagiri, Nadezhda A. Konstantinova, Juan Larraín, David G. Long, Martin Nebel, Tamás Pócs, Felisa Puche, Elena Reiner-Drehwald, Matt A.M. Renner, Andrea Sass-Gyarmati, Alfons Schäfer-Verwimp, José Gabriel Segarra Moragues, Raymond E. Stotler, Phiangphak Sukkharak, Barbara M. Thiers, Jaime Uribe, Jiří Váňa, Juan Carlos Villarreal, Martin Wigginton, Li Zhang, Rui-Liang Zhu

Biology Faculty Publications

A working checklist of accepted taxa worldwide is vital in achieving the goal of developing an online flora of all known plants by 2020 as part of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. We here present the first-ever worldwide checklist for liverworts (Marchantiophyta) and hornworts (Anthocerotophyta) that includes 7486 species in 398 genera representing 92 families from the two phyla. Th e checklist has far reaching implications and applications, including providing a valuable tool for taxonomists and systematists, analyzing phytogeographic and diversity patterns, aiding in the assessment of floristic and taxonomic knowledge, and identifying geographical gaps in our understanding of …

A New Eupromerini Galileo And Martins, 1995, From French Guiana (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), Pierre -Henri Dalens

Insecta Mundi

Eupromera pascali sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Lamiinae) is described from French Guiana. The species is illustrated and compared to close species. A key for species of Eupromera is updated.

Current Disposition Of Earwigflies, Merope Tuber Newman And Austromerope Poultoni Killington (Mecoptera: Meropeidae), In The Florida State Collection Of Arthropods, James C. Dunford, Louis A. Somma, David Serrano

Insecta Mundi

We provide the current holdings of Meropeidae in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA). To date, FSCA holds a well-curated collection of extant meropeids representing 17 U.S. states and Western Australia (n = 316 Merope tuber Newman, five Austromerope poultoni Killington). Merope tuber records from Vermont, Texas, and South Carolina are published here for the first time. A total of 298 pinned M. tuber and four pinned A. poultoni; six M. tuber specimens preserved in 95% ethanol; and 12 M. tuber and one A. poultoni sputter-coated with gold-palladium for SEM are available for researchers interested in studying this unique …

Two New Vaejovis C.L. Koch 1836 From Highlands Of The Sierra Madre Occidental, Durango, Mexico (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae), W. David Sissom, Matthew R. Graham, Taylor G. Donaldson, Robert W. Bryson

Insecta Mundi

Two new species of the mexicanus group of Vaejovis C.L. Koch are described from the Madrean pine-oak forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental in the state of Durango, Mexico. These species, Vaejovis sierrae sp. nov. and Vaejovis mcwesti sp. nov., are distinguished from each other and the only other species of the mexicanus group known from this mountain range, Vaejovis montanus Graham and Bryson, by morphometrics, carinal development of the pedipalps, granulation of the metasoma, and body size. A key to the species of the mexicanus group from the Sierra Madre Occidental is provided.

New Species Of Neocompsa And Tropidion From Bolivia (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Neoibidionini), James E. Wappes, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Two Neoibidionini from Bolivia are described as new: Neocompsa schneppi sp. nov. and Tropidion

nancyae sp. nov. The new species are compared to closely related species and previous keys by Martins and Galileo

(2007, 2009) are modifi ed to include them. Illustrations of dorsal, ventral and lateral habitus, as well as head

structures are included for both species. Comments are also included on color and pattern variation of each species.

New Records Of Basidiomycota From Trabzon, Tokat, And İstanbul Provinces In Turkey, Ertuğrul Sesli̇, İbrahi̇m Türkekul, Ilgaz Akata, Tuula Ni̇skanen

Turkish Journal of Botany

Basidiomata were collected from Trabzon, Tokat, and İstanbul provinces between 2011 and 2015. Standard methods were used during collecting and microscopic investigations. Cantharellus ianthinoxanthus (R.Maire) Kühner, Cortinarius humicola (Quél.) Maire, Cortinarius obtusorum Rob.Henry, Cortinarius rubicundulus (Rea) A.Pearson, Cortinarius sordescens Rob.Henry, Crinipellis subtomentosa

On The Distribution And Taxonomy Of Bats Of The Myotis Mystacinus Morphogroup From The Caucasus Region (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), Petr Benda, Suren Gazaryan, Peter Vallo

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Due to the combination of general morphological similarity among representatives of particular populations and/or taxa, the taxonomy of the Myotis mystacinus morphogroup is traditionally considered to be one of the most complex topics of bat systematics. We used a combination of genetic and morphological approaches to identify which taxa of the morphogroup inhabit the broader Caucasus region (i.e. the territory between Crimea, Southern Russia, Northern Anatolia, and Northern Iran, incl.) and to define the relationships of these taxa to other Palaearctic populations of the morphogroup. Based on the genetic identification (complete sequence of the cytochrome b gene) of 56 specimens …