scholarly journals A new species of planthopper from Costa Rica in the genus Oropuna from palms in lowland tropical rainforest

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5081 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-130
Author(s):  
BRIAN W. BAHDER ◽  
MARCO A. ZUMBADO ECHAVARRIA ◽  
EDWIN A. BARRANTES BARRANTES ◽  
ERICKA E. HELMICK ◽  
CHARLES R. BARTLETT

The derbid genus Oropuna is a small taxon of Neotropical planthoppers in the tribe Cenchreini comprised of three species. Recent survey work on palms for planthoppers in Costa Rica resulted in the discovery of a fourth species, Oropuna halo sp. n. In this study the new species is described and a key to the four species is provided along with sequence data for the cyctochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 18S rRNA gene for the novel taxon.  

Nematology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 653-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg Gorgadze ◽  
Elena Fanelli ◽  
Manana Lortkhipanidze ◽  
Alberto Troccoli ◽  
Medea Burjanadze ◽  
...  

Summary A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema borjomiense n. sp., was isolated from the body of the host insect, Oryctes nasicornis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in Georgia, in the territory of Borjomi-Kharagauli. Morphological characters indicate that the new species is closely related to species of the feltiae-group. The infective juveniles are characterised by the following morphological characters: body length of 879 (777-989) μm, distance between the head and excretory pore = 72 (62-80) μm, pharynx length = 132 (122-142) μm, tail length = 70 (60-80) μm, ratio a = 26.3 (23.0-29.3), H% = 45 (40-51), D% = 54 (47-59), E% = 102 (95-115), and lateral fields consisting of seven ridges (eight incisures) at mid-body. Steinernema borjomiense n. sp. was molecularly characterised by sequencing three ribosomal regions (the ITS, the D2-D3 expansion domains and the 18S rRNA gene) and the mitochondrial COI gene. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that S. borjomiense n. sp. differs from all other known species of Steinernema and is a member of the monticolum-group.


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4779 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRIAN W. BAHDER ◽  
MARCO A. ZUMBADO ECHAVARRIA ◽  
EDWIN A. BARRANTES BARRANTES ◽  
GERNOT KUNZ ◽  
ERICKA E. HELMICK ◽  
...  

An ongoing survey to document planthopper diversity on palms (Arecaceae) is being conducted in Costa Rica. During these efforts a new species of derbid planthopper belonging to the genus Agoo was found on Astrocaryum alatum Loomis in the Heredia province at La Selva Biological Station and is described here as Agoo luzdenia Bahder & Bartlett sp. n., bringing the genus to four described taxa—A. dahliana, A. luzdenia Bahder & Bartlett sp. n., A rubrimarginata, and A. xavieri. Sequence data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 18S genes was generated for the novel taxon and strongly supports its placement in the genus Agoo. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaotian Luo ◽  
Jie Huang ◽  
William A. Bourland ◽  
Hamed A. El-Serehy ◽  
Saleh A. Al-Farraj ◽  
...  

Two oxytrichid ciliates collected from China, Oxytricha lithofera Foissner, 2016 and Rubrioxytricha haematoplasma (Blatterer and Foissner, 1990) Berger, 1999 were investigated based on living observations, protargol preparations, and molecular analyses. The Chinese population of O. lithofera shares highly distinctive features with the type population, e.g., lithosomes, abutting macronuclear nodules, straight undulating membranes, and long dorsal bristles. The morphology and morphogenesis of our new isolate of R. haematoplasma corresponds well with the type population. The 18S rRNA gene sequences of both species were obtained, and the molecular phylogeny of the genera Oxytricha Bory de Saint-Vincent in Lamouroux et al., 1824 and Rubrioxytricha Berger, 1999 was analyzed. In addition, we found that the Guangzhou population of R. haematoplasma described by Chen et al. (2015) can be distinguished from the type population and our isolate by the reddish-brown cortical granules (vs. lemon yellowish to greenish) and mitochondria-like granules present (vs. absent), as well as the slightly red cytoplasm (vs. slightly orange) and the marine or brackish water habitat (vs. freshwater). In addition, a 20-bp divergence in their 18S rRNA gene sequences indicates that they are not conspecific. Thus, we establish a new species, Rubrioxytricha guangzhouensis, for R. haematoplasma sensu Chen et al. (2015).


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4282 (2) ◽  
pp. 324 ◽  
Author(s):  
KEIICHI KAKUI ◽  
DAISUKE SHIMADA

We describe Tanaopsis japonica sp. nov. from intertidal and nearshore habitats around Hokkaido Island, northern Japan. This species closely resembles T. chotkarakde Bird & Bamber, 2000 and T. rawhitia Bird, 2011 in having the uropod with the endopod biarticulate and the exopod uniarticulate, but differs from them in the following characters: pereonite 4 as long as pereonite 5; mandibles lacking the molar; the number of simple setae on the antenna, propodal palm, and dactylus of pereopods 1–3; the number of spiniform setae on the cutting surface of the chelipedal dactylus; and the number of setae on the pleopods. We also determined a nearly complete nucleotide sequence for the 18S rRNA gene in T. japonica. In both sexes, Tanaopsis japonica sp. nov. bears serial ridges and grooves on the chela, antennule, and antenna. Parallel, fringed hatch marks on the chelipedal dactylus may function in stridulation. A series of denticulate ridges on the dorsal surface of antennal article 2 faces the ventral side of article 1 of the antennule, where there is a ventral series of slight grooves. Although the ranges of motion of the antennule and antenna were unclear, the ridges and grooves on the antenna and antennule may also function in producing sound. Two outer series of ridges on the chela, together with an outer furrow on the chela, may function in digging, by allowing bottom-sediments to be efficiently pushed aside. 


Parasitology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. C. GRISARD ◽  
N. R. STURM ◽  
D. A. CAMPBELL

Trypanosomes isolated from South American bats include the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi. Other Trypanosoma spp. that have been found exclusively in bats are not well characterized at the DNA sequence level and we have therefore used the SL RNA gene to differentiate and characterize kinetoplastids isolated from bats in South America. A Trypanosoma sp. isolated from bats in southern Brazil was compared with the geographically diverse isolates T. cruzi marinkellei, T. vespertilionis, and T. dionisii. Analysis of the SL RNA gene repeats revealed size and sequence variability among these bat trypanosomes. We have developed hybridization probes to separate these bat isolates and have analysed the DNA sequence data to estimate their relatedness. A new species, Trypanosoma desterrensis sp. n., is proposed, for which a 5S rRNA gene was also found within the SL RNA repeat.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4374 (4) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
CALEB OFORI-BOATENG ◽  
ADAM D. LEACHÉ ◽  
BRIGHT OBENG-KANKAM ◽  
N’GORAN GERMAIN KOUAMÉ ◽  
ANNIKA HILLERS ◽  
...  

We describe a new species of Phrynobatrachus from the eastern part of the Upper Guinea forest region, Ghana, West Africa. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from all of its congeners by the combination of a slender body, short and pointed snout, a relatively warty dorsum, a black-spotted throat in both sexes, a gular flap in males, a dark spotted chest, a white-greyish venter with occasional blackish spots, rudimentary pedal webbing, none to slightly dilated finger tips and strongly delated toe tips, presence of both inner and outer metatarsal tubercles and absence of a dark face mask, eyelid tubercles and longer dorsal ridges. We collected mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data from the 16S rRNA gene to measure the genetic diversity of the new species, and to estimate phylogenetic relationships. The new species is a distinct and monophyletic evolutionary lineage most closely related to Phrynobatrachus gutturosus, P. fraterculus and P. maculiventris. The discovery of this new species highlights that the biodiversity of West African forests is still incompletely known and that the few remaining forests need urgent protection. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4763 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-60
Author(s):  
EDWIN A. BARRANTES ◽  
MARCO A. ZUMBADO ECHAVARRIA ◽  
CHARLES R. BARTLETT ◽  
ERICKA E. HELMICK ◽  
PAIGE CUMMINS ◽  
...  

An ongoing survey for planthoppers associated with palms in the Caribbean basin is being conducted with current efforts on the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. In an expedition in June of 2019, a derbid was found on coconut palms in Alajuela province and was determined to be a new species belonging to the genus Anotia. The novel taxon is described and named Anotia firebugia Bahder & Bartlett sp. n. Additionally, molecular barcode data (COI) is provided for the newly described taxon. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4577 (3) ◽  
pp. 501 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRIAN W. BAHDER ◽  
CHARLES R. BARTLETT ◽  
EDWIN A. BARRANTES BARRANTES ◽  
MARCO A. ZUMBADO ECHAVARRIA ◽  
ALESSANDRA R. HUMPHRIES ◽  
...  

An ongoing survey for novel phytoplasmas and viruses that affect palms (Arecaceae) is being conducted in Costa Rica along with potential vectors. During that survey, a new species of derbid planthopper (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) in the genus Omolicna Fennah was detected from Heredia and Limón State and is here described as Omolicna xavieri sp. n. This new taxon was first found on declining coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) and subsequently on healthy coconut palms in Tortuguero National Park. Also, two additional species of Omolicna, O. brunnea and O. triata, were collected on coconut in the same habitat and represent new country records. There are no previously published records of Omolicna from Costa Rica. Sequence data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the 18S ribosomal RNA gene were obtained. In addition, novel 18S primers specific to auchenorrhynchan insects were developed and presented. The molecular data show high pairwise distances between O. xavieri sp. n. and other Omolicna species (24% to 31% and 10% using COI and 18S, respectively). Based on both morphological and sequence data, we erect and briefly describe the new subgenus Agoo for the new species to reflect the observed differences. A checklist of Omolicna species is presented. 


Parasitology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (5) ◽  
pp. 646-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
GASTÓN MORÉ ◽  
NIKOLA PANTCHEV ◽  
DALAND C. HERRMANN ◽  
MAJDA GLOBOKAR VRHOVEC ◽  
SABINE ÖFNER ◽  
...  

SUMMARYSarcocystisspp. represent apicomplexan parasites. They usually have a heteroxenous life cycle. Around 200 species have been described, affecting a wide range of animals worldwide, including reptiles. In recent years, large numbers of reptiles have been imported into Europe as pets and, as a consequence, animal welfare and species protection issues emerged. A sample of pooled feces from four confiscated green pythons (Morelia viridis) containingSarcocystisspp. sporocysts was investigated. These snakes were imported for the pet trade and declared as being captive-bred. Full length 18S rRNA genes were amplified, cloned into plasmids and sequenced. Two differentSarcocystisspp. sequences were identified and registered asSarcocystissp. fromM. viridisin GenBank. Both showed a 95–97% sequence identity with the 18S rRNA gene ofSarcocystis singaporensis.Phylogenetic analysis positioned these sequences together with otherSarcocystisspp. from snakes and rodents as definitive and intermediate hosts (IH), respectively. Sequence data and also the results of clinical and parasitological examinations suggest that the snakes were definitive hosts forSarcocystisspp. that circulate in wild IH. Thus, it seems unlikely that the infected snakes had been legally bred. Our research shows that information on the infection of snakes withSarcocystisspp. may be used to assess compliance with regulations on the trade with wildlife species.


2014 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Presswell ◽  
S. Evans ◽  
R. Poulin ◽  
F. Jorge

AbstractParasitic nematodes of the family Mermithidae were found to be infecting the introduced European earwig Forficula auricularia (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand. Adult females were later collected from various garden plants while depositing eggs. These mermithid specimens were identified morphologically as Mermis nigrescens Dujardin, 1842. A genetic distance of 0.7% between these specimens and a M. nigrescens isolate from Canada (18S rRNA gene), suggests that they have diverged genetically, but there are currently no available comparable sequences for the European M. nigrescens. Two additional nuclear fragments were also amplified, the 28S rRNA and the ribosomal DNA first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1), providing a basis for future studies. Bearing in mind the morphological similarity with other reported M. nigrescens and the lack of sequence data from other parts of the world, we retain the name M.nigrescens, and suggest that the species may be found to represent a complex of cryptic species when more worldwide data are available. Herein, we present a brief description of the post-parasitic worms and adult females, along with an inferred phylogeny using 18S rRNA gene sequences.


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