The granulate ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), and its fungal symbiont found in South Africa

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4838 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-435
Author(s):  
WILMA J. NEL ◽  
Z. WILHELM DE BEER ◽  
MICHAEL J. WINGFIELD ◽  
TUAN A. DUONG
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Morphological Characterization ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Ambrosia Beetle ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Fungal Symbiont ◽  
African Countries ◽  
First Time

Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motchulsky) is a native Asian ambrosia beetle that has been accidentally introduced to many countries of the world, presumably through the international movement of nursery, timber, and wood products. The species is known in various tropical African countries but only as far south as Tanzania on the African continent. In this study, we report X. crassiusculus and its fungal symbiont for the first time from South Africa. The species was identified using both morphological characters and COI sequence data. Xylosandrus crassiusculus were obtained from three different provinces of South Africa and represent two distinct haplotypes. The fungal symbiont, Ambrosiella roeperi, was isolated and identified using DNA sequencing and morphological characterization. 

Dryinidae of the Afrotropical region (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea)

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4630 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
MASSIMO OLMI ◽  
ROBERT S. COPELAND ◽  
SIMON VAN NOORT
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Ivory Coast ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
New Combinations ◽  
Afrotropical Region ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Union Of The Comoros ◽  
First Time

An updated revision of Afrotropical Dryinidae is presented. Nine subfamilies, 23 genera and 430 species (including 60 new species) are treated. Six new species-level synonymies and three new combinations are proposed. Descriptions, geographic distribution, known hosts, natural enemies and type material of each species are presented, together with illustrations of the main morphological characters and keys to the subfamilies, genera and species. A complete list of references concerning the Afrotropical Dryinidae and their hosts is provided. The following new species are described: Anteon ambrense, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon beankanum, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon elongatum, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon hoekense, sp. nov. (South Africa), Anteon mabibiense, sp. nov. (South Africa), Anteon majunganum, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon malagasy, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon musmani, sp. nov. (Kenya), Anteon nigropictum, sp. nov. (South Africa), Anteon nimbense, sp. nov. (Guinea), Anteon pseudohova, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon sakalavense, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon tulearense, sp. nov. (Kenya, Madagascar), Aphelopus sequeirai, sp. nov. (Kenya), Apoaphelopus fisheri, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Apoaphelopus wallacei, sp. nov. (Kenya), Bocchus forestalis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Bocchus granulatus, sp. nov. (South Africa), Bocchus harinhalai, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Bocchus nigroflavus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Bocchus parkeri, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Bocchus ruvidus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Conganteon hawleyi, sp. nov. (Kenya), Conganteon sensitivum, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Crovettia afra, sp. nov. (Kenya, Madagascar), Deinodryinus ambrensis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Deinodryinus granulatus, sp. nov. (South Africa), Deinodryinus nigropictus, sp. nov. (South Africa), Deinodryinus piceus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Dryinus bellicosus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Dryinus dentatiforceps, sp. nov. (South Africa), Dryinus erenianus, sp. nov. (Ivory Coast), Dryinus milleri, sp. nov. (Kenya), Dryinus mobotensis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Dryinus nigrithorax, sp. nov. (Ivory Coast), Dryinus teres, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Dryinus tulearensis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Dryinus whittleorum, sp. nov. (Kenya), Gonatopus avontuurensis, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus bellicosus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus comorensis, sp. nov. (Union of the Comoros), Gonatopus costalis, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus flavotestaceus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus gumovskyi, sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Gonatopus hantamensis, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus harinhalai, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus karooensis, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus koebergensis, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus marojejyanus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus minutus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus nigropictus, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus ranomafanensis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus robertsoni, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus rugithorax, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus scholtzi, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus wikstrandae, sp. nov. (Kenya), Lonchodryinus madagascolus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Madecadryinus ranomafanensis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Neodryinus bimaculatus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Neodryinus keleboensis, sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of the Congo). The ♀ of Deinodryinus danielssoni Olmi, 1998, is described for the first time. The following new synonymies are presented: Anteon fiorii Olmi, 1984 (=A. proteicolum Olmi, 2006, syn. nov.); Anteon madagascolum (Benoit, 1954) (=Anteon brooksi Olmi, 2003, syn. nov.); Anteon zairense Benoit, 1951 (=A. terminale Olmi, 2007, syn. nov.); Aphelopus incisus Olmi, 1984 (=A. himyarita Olmi & van Harten, 2006, syn. nov.); Bocchus watshami Olmi, 1987 (=Bocchus simoni Olmi, 2005, syn. nov.); Dryinus ugandanus Olmi, 1984 (=Dryinus constantiae Olmi, 2006, syn. nov.). The following new combinations are presented: Dryinus luweli (Benoit, 1951) new comb. in place of Lestodryinus luweli Benoit, 1951; Gonatopus africanus (Benoit, 1951) new comb. in place of Aphelopus africanus Benoit, 1951; Gonatopus ghanensis (Olmi, 1987) new comb. in place of Pseudogonatopus ghanensis Olmi, 1987. Gynander specimens of Deinodryinus rusticus Olmi, 2004 and Deinodryinus steineri Olmi, 1994 are described (first gynander specimens of Dryinidae from the Afrotropical region). The authors provide well-illustrated identification keys to all species of Afrotropical Dryinidae. Online Lucid Phoenix and Lucid matrix interactive keys are provided at http://www.waspweb.org. 

Molecular analysis of selected paramphistome isolates from cattle in southern Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 784-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dube ◽  
M.S. Sibula ◽  
Z. Dhlamini
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Data ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Morphological Characterization ◽  
Its2 Sequence ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Its2 Rdna ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Rdna Sequences ◽  
The Individual

AbstractParamphistomes are parasites of domestic and wild ruminants, the effects of which in animal health remain underestimated. Very few studies in Africa have been done using molecular techniques to resolve situations associated with taxonomical groupings and epidemiology of these parasites. In this study, the genetic variability of nine representative paramphistome isolates collected from southern African countries, namely Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, was assessed using both morphological and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA sequence data. Morphological characterization and identification were carried out using median sagittal sections of the paramphistomes. DNA of the individual paramphistomes was isolated, the ITS2 rDNA was amplified, purified and sequenced. The sequences were submitted to GenBank, which assigned them the following accession numbers: KP639631, KP639630, KP639632, KP639633, KP639634, KP639635, KP639636, KP639637 and KP639638. These sequences were used for phylogenetic analysis using MEGA 6. Morphological characterization revealed three species of paramphistomes belonging to three different sub-families: one Stephanopharynx compactus isolate, a member of the Stephanopharyngidae sub-family; one Carmyerius dollfusi isolate, a member of the Gastrothylacidae sub-family; and seven Calicophoron microbothrium isolates belonging to the Paramphistomidae sub-family. ITS2 sequence analysis using BlastN results indicated that this is the first report of S. compactus (KP639630) and C. dollfusi (KP639636). Phylogenetic reconstruction of the paramphistome isolates revealed three separate clades representing the three species. However, the clade with all the C. microbothrium isolates was the only one that was supported by a higher bootstrap value of 92%, although there was no differentiation of the isolates according to geographical locations. The low divergence values on the ITS2 sequences of the C. microbothrium isolates indicate that ITS rDNA sequences can be used as a molecular tool to infer knowledge for resolving taxonomic groupings.

Phylogenetic reassignment of basal cyclostome braconid parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) with description of a new, enigmatic Afrotropical tribe with a highly anomalous 28S D2 secondary structure

2020 ◽  
Vol 190 (3) ◽  
pp. 1002-1019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald L J Quicke ◽  
Sergey A Belokobylskij ◽  
Yves Braet ◽  
Cornelis van Achterberg ◽  
Paul D N Hebert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Data ◽  
Elongation Factor ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
Elongation Factor 1 Alpha ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Molecular Dataset ◽  
First Time

Abstract A new tribe of braconid wasps provisionally included in the Rhyssalinae, Laibaleini trib. nov., type genus Laibalea gen. nov. (type species Laibalea enigmatica sp. nov.), from Kenya and the Central African Republic, is described. A molecular dataset, with emphasis on basally derived taxa based on four gene fragments (28S D2–D3 expansion region, COI barcode, elongation factor 1-alpha and 16S ribosomal DNA), was analysed both alone and in combination with a morphological dataset. Molecular phylogenetic placement of the new species into an existing subfamily is complicated by the extreme sequence divergence of the three sequences obtained for Laibalea. In both the combined sequence analysis and the combined DNA plus morphological tree, Laibalea is recovered as a sister group to the Rhyssalinae plus all non-cyclostome lineage braconids excluding Mesostoinae, Maxfischeriinae and Aphidiinae. A consensus of morphological characters and molecular analyses suggests inclusion of Laibalea either in the otherwise principally Holarctic subfamily Rhyssalinae or perhap more basally, in the principally Gondwanan Mesostoinae s.l., although we cannot exclude the possibility that it might represent a separate basal lineage. We place Laibalea in its own tribe, provisionally included in Rhyssalinae. The DNA sequence data are presented for several genera for the first time. Avga, the type genus of Avgini, is shown not to belong to Mesostoinae s.l. or Hormiinae, but its exact relationships remain uncertain. The generic compositions of Rhyssalinae and Mesostoinae s.l. are revised. Anachyra, Apoavga, Neptihormius, Neoavga and Opiopterus are shown to belong to Mesostoinae s.s. A key to the tribes of Rhyssalinae is provided.

scholarly journals Diversity of Diatrypaceae Species Associated with Dieback of Grapevines in South Africa, with the Description of Eutypa cremea sp. nov.

Plant Disease ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 220-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Providence Moyo ◽  
Lizel Mostert ◽  
Christoffel F.J. Spies ◽  
Ulrike Damm ◽  
Francois Halleen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽  
Canker Pathogen ◽  
Grapevine Canker ◽  
First Time

Recent studies in grape-growing areas including Australia, California, and Spain have revealed an extensive diversity of Diatrypaceae species on grapevines showing dieback symptoms and cankers. However, in South Africa, little is known regarding the diversity of these species in vineyards. The aim of this study was, therefore, to identify and characterize Diatrypaceae species associated with dieback symptoms of grapevine in South Africa. Isolates were collected from dying spurs of grapevines aged 4 to 8 years old, grapevine wood showing wedge-shaped necrosis when cut in cross section as well as from perithecia on dead grapevine wood. The collected isolates were identified based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and β-tubulin gene. Seven Diatrypaceae species were identified on grapevine, namely Cryptovalsa ampelina, C. rabenhorstii, Eutypa consobrina, E. lata, E. cremea sp. nov., Eutypella citricola, and E. microtheca. The dying spurs yielded the highest diversity of species when compared with the wedge-shaped necrosis and/or perithecia. C. ampelina was the dominant species in the dying spurs, followed by E. citricola, whereas E. lata was the dominant species isolated from the wedge-shaped necroses and perithecia. These results confirm E. lata as an important grapevine canker pathogen in South Africa, but the frequent association of C. ampelina with spur dieback suggests that this pathogen plays a more prominent role in dieback than previously assumed. In some cases, more than one species were isolated from a single symptom, which suggests that interactions may be occurring leading to decline of grapevines. C. rabenhorstii, E. consobrina, E. citricola, E. microtheca, and E. cremea are reported for the first time on grapevine in South Africa.

scholarly journals Two new Chrysomyxa rust species on the endemic plant, Picea asperata in western China, and expanded description of C. succinea

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 292 (3) ◽  
pp. 218 ◽  
Author(s):  
JING CAO ◽  
CHENGMING TIAN ◽  
YINGMEI LIANG ◽  
CHONGJUAN YOU
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Western China ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
Species Cluster ◽  
Picea Asperata ◽  
First Time

Two new rust species, Chrysomyxa diebuensis and C. zhuoniensis, on Picea asperata are recognized by morphological characters and DNA sequence data. A detailed description, illustrations, and discussion concerning morphologically similar and phylogenetically closely related species are provided for each species. From light and scanning electron microscopy observations C. diebuensis is characterized by the nailhead to peltate aeciospores, with separated stilt-like base. C. zhuoniensis differs from other known Chrysomyxa species in the annulate aeciospores with distinct longitudinal smooth cap at ends of spores, as well as with a broken, fissured edge. Analysis based on internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) partial gene sequences reveals that the two species cluster as a highly supported group in the phylogenetic trees. Correlations between the morphological and phylogenetic features are discussed. Illustrations and a detailed description are also provided for the aecia of C. succinea in China for the first time.

Phylogeny and evolution of male genitalia within the praying mantis genus Tenodera (Mantodea:Mantidae)

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Jensen ◽  
Gavin J. Svenson ◽  
Hojun Song ◽  
Michael F. Whiting
Keyword(s):  
Male Genitalia ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Optimality Criteria ◽  
Praying Mantis ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogeny And Evolution ◽  
First Time

The mantis genus Tenodera is composed of several species distributed across Africa, Asia and Australasia, along with recent human introductions to North America. Species of the genus are morphologically similar and utilise equivalent habitats across their distribution. Relationships among these species and the morphological characters used to diagnose them have never been formally tested, leaving authors to disagree as to the species composition of Tenodera. With DNA sequence data from five molecular loci and morphological characters from male genitalia, we reconstructed the phylogeny of Tenodera using multiple optimality criteria. All included species were found to be monophyletic in analyses of the combined data. Tenodera sinensis and T. bokiana were both supported as distinct species recovered in separate clades, resolving confusion as to their placement and classification. Our analysis identified a previously undescribed species of Tenodera collected in India, recovered as sister to T. aridifolia and T. sinensis, and exhibiting distinct male genital morphology. In light of the phylogeny, we characterise for the first time, and investigate the evolution of, the male genitalia, which allowed us to discover several transitions in structural forms. We also consider the connection of these transitions to sexual cannibalism and how this behaviour may have led to rapid evolution of the male genitalia.

scholarly journals New host associations and a novel species for the gall-inducing acacia rust genus Ravenelia in South Africa

MycoKeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malte Ebinghaus ◽  
Wolfgang Maier ◽  
Michael J. Wingfield ◽  
Dominik Begerow
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Novel Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Rust Fungi ◽  
New Host ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic

Trees in the genusVachellia(previouslyAcacia) are commonly infected by the gall-inducing rustsRaveneliamacowanianaandR.evansii. Rust galls bearing aecial infections and relating uredinial and telial infections on the leaves of nineVachelliaspecies not previously recorded to be infected byRaveneliaspp. have recently been collected in South Africa. The rust fungi causing these infections were characterised using molecular phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data of the LSU and ITS rDNA regions as well as morphological examinations. The host range ofR.macowanianaandR.evansiiwas thus re-assessed and extended from four to nine species and from one to three species, respectively. Application of Principal Component Analyses (PCA) of telial morphological characters provided evidence of an effect of the host species on the teliospore morphology inR.evansii, but only minor effects inR.macowaniana. A novel gall-inducingRaveneliasp. closely related toR.macowaniana, was found onVachelliaxanthophloeaand it is described here asR.xanthophloeae.

scholarly journals Africa and the Commonwealth: What Relationship Since 1994?

2021 ◽  
pp. 22-32
Author(s):  
Modupeolu Faseke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Historical Research ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Symbiotic Relationship ◽  
African Continent ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Multilateral Organizations ◽  
The Relationship

The Commonwealth is a global organisation with some unique and important characteristics that complement other global multilateral organizations. Its peculiarities, most especially its networking and informal qualities, have endeared the organization until recently to her members.  In this age of internet in which smartness and alertness are highly valued, some of its traits are now becoming a thing of an anathema, regarded as a cog in the wheel of progress. African continent alone has over thirty percent of Commonwealth membership.  This paper examines Commonwealth relations with Africa since 1994 when apartheid ended in South Africa and Africans had a renewed relationship with the organization after both parties had endured a tenuous relationship in the preceding years. The study has the objective of assessing the economic and political gains Africa has derived from membership of the Commonwealth as well as to ascertain whether or not the relationship is mutually beneficial. The essay is qualitative and adopts the historical research methodology, detailing the evolution and progression in Commonwealth’s relationship with Africa during the period of study. The essay complements the use of secondary sources with primary sources. Data was therefore composed of official documents from the |Commonwealth Secretariat as well as documents from some African countries. The study concludes that Africa has benefitted immensely from the Commonwealth since 1994, despite some aspects of its relationship needing improvements. It recommends, therefore, that both parties will have to work towards a symbiotic relationship in order to enjoy a more robust partnership that is effective and impactful in the interest of all.

scholarly journals The skull of StW 573, a 3.67 Ma Australopithecus skeleton from Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald J Clarke ◽  
Kathleen Kuman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Competitive Exclusion ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
The South ◽  
Dental Wear ◽  
Hominid Fossil ◽  
First Time

Here we present the first full anatomical description of the 3.67 million-year-old Australopithecus skull StW 573 that was recovered with its skeleton from the Sterkfontein Member 2 breccia in the Silberberg Grotto. Analysis demonstrates that it is most similar in multiple key morphological characters to a group of fossils from Sterkfontein Member 4 and Makapansgat that are here distinguished morphologically as A. prometheus. This taxon contrasts with another group of fossils from those sites assigned to A. africanus. The anatomical reasons for why these groupings should not be lumped together (as is frequently done for the South African fossils) are discussed in detail. In support of this classification, we also present for the first time a palate (StW 576 from Sterkfontein Member 4) newly reconstructed by RJC, which has a uniquely complete adult dentition of an A. africanus. The StW 573 skull also has certain similarities with other earlier Australopithecus fossils in East Africa, A. afarensis and A. anamensis, which are discussed. One of its most interesting features is a pattern of very heavy anterior dental wear unlike that found in A. africanus but resembling that found in A. anamensis at 4.17 Ma. While StW 573 is the only hominid fossil in Sterkfontein Member 2, we conclude that competitive exclusion probably accounts for the synchronous and sympatric presence of two species of Australopithecus in the younger deposits at Makapansgat and Sterkfontein Member 4. Because the StW 573 skull is associated with a near-complete skeleton that is also described for the first time in this special issue, we are now able to use this individual to improve our understanding of more fragmentary finds in the South African fossil record of Australopithecus.

Two species and a genus new for Thailand, with description of a new species of Neurolarthra Fischer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) 

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4438 (3) ◽  
pp. 551
Author(s):  
JUNLI YAO ◽  
CORNELIS VAN ACHTERBERG ◽  
MICHAEL J. SHARKEY ◽  
ERIC G. CHAPMAN ◽  
JIAHUA CHEN
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
New Species ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Key To Species ◽  
Coi Sequences ◽  
First Time ◽  
A New Species

Neurolarthra Fischer, 1976, is a small braconid genus with two described species. The genus is revised using morphological characters and a phylogenetic analysis of COI sequence data; GenBank accession numbers of seven COI sequences from two species are included. A new species from Thailand is described and illustrated: N. karensharkeyae Yao n. sp. Neurolarthra Fischer and N. procera are reported for the first time from Thailand. A key to species of the genus Neurolarthra is presented. 

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