Six new species of Alchemilla series Calycinae (Buser) Rothm. (Rosaceae) from the Caucasus

Descriptions and illustrations of the key morphological characters for six new species of Alchemilla ser. Calycinae (A. bezengiensis, A. kazbekensis, A. longipedicellata, A. muldaschevii, A. pseudotranscaucasica, A. ptyschensis) are presented. A. bezengiensis (A. aggr. ellenbergiana) differs from related species by hairy stems throughout and/or densely hairy hypanthia, and/or hairy lower leaf surface. A. kazbekensis (A. aggr. dura) is formally close to A. ser. Elatae by having patent indumentum of stems and petioles that differs it from all other Calycinae. A. longipedicellata (A.aggr. abchasica) is distinguished from most members of the aggregate by fewer leaf lobes and/or glabrous hypanthia, from other Calycinae – by numerous teeth of leaf blades and/or slightly dissected leaves. The three last species belong to A. aggr. transcaucasica being quite similar by appearance. A. muldaschevii differs from relatives by having entirely glabrous stems and orbicular upper radical leaves with overlapped basal lobes. A. pseudotranscaucasica, in comparison with others, has evenly hairy leaves beneath and stems hairy throughout, but glabrous hypanthia. A. ptyschensis is distinguished from other species of the aggregate by stems hairy only at the lowermost internode; from other Calycinae – besides the stem indumentum by longer truncate leaf lobes and glabrous at the base main veins of leaf blades.

Glossoloma wiehleri (Gesneriaceae), a new species from the northwestern Andes of Ecuador

A new species of Glossoloma is described from the western Andean slopes of the Pichincha Province in northern Ecuador. Glossoloma wiehleri J.L.Clark & Tobar is differentiated from all other congeners by an epiphytic habit, elongate scandent shoots that exceed four meters in length, and coriaceous leaves with a velutinous indument on the lower leaf surface. The new species is illustrated, featured with field images from recent expeditions, and assigned the category of Endangered (EN) according to IUCN Criteria.

Damage and spatiotemporal dynamics of the Ngaio flat mite, Brevipalpus ferraguti (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), with observations on the development of the female insemination system

We studied the Ngaio flat mite, Brevipalpus ferraguti Ochoa & Beard, on Myoporum laetum (Scrophulariaceae), a common introduced plant used as hedgerows in gardens and green areas of the Mediterranean, where the mite causes considerable damage. We first describe the damage, and then the patterns of mite seasonal abundance and spatial distribution. Finally, we address the development of the female insemination system at the population level. Damage occurs on both sides of the leaves, starting with a uniform stippling and bronzing and ending in the leaves drying out and extensive defoliation that coincides with summer. Mite population peaked between June and August, maintained moderate levels in autumn and winter and reached its lowest density in early spring. Active motile immatures and eggs were present throughout the year. Females and motile immature forms were more abundant on the abaxial (lower) leaf surface, but eggs were deposited on both surfaces indistinctly, suggesting that females actively move to the adaxial (upper) surface in summer to oviposit. All the developmental stages were aggregated on the leaves throughout the year regardless of their population density. Our study suggests that a binomial or presence-absence sampling, examining only the number of females on the abaxial surface, can accurately estimate the total mite density levels. Only 23.5% of females possessed a fully developed spermatheca, whereas in 76.5% of the cases the seminal receptacle was not present or not developed. Females with a complete spermatheca were less abundant in summer. Average temperatures and host plant species affected the occurrence of this reproductive structure.

Three new species of the family Eriophyidae (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from South China

In this paper, three new species of eriophyoid mites of the family Eriophyidae from South China are described and illustrated. They are: Stenacis cryptomeris sp. nov. infesting Cryptomeria japonica (Thunb. Ex L.f.) D.Don (Cupressaceae), Tetra guizhouensis sp. nov. infesting Caesalpinia sp. (Leguminosae), and Nothopoda schimae sp. nov. infesting Schima superba Gardner & Champ. (Theaceae). All of these three new species are vagrants on lower leaf surface and causing no apparent damages to their host plants.

Ectopic growth of the fungal symbiont (Chaetothyriales) on Ipomoea carnea

Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, is an alpha-mannosidase and mannosidase II inhibitor that alters glycoprotein processing and causes lysosomal storage disease. Swainsonine is the toxic principle in several plant species worldwide and causes severe toxicosis in livestock grazing these plants. All swainsonine-containing plant taxa investigated to date are associated with fungal symbionts that produce swainsonine. Among the swainsonine-containing convolvulaceous species, Ipomoea carnea is associated with a seed transmitted symbiont belonging to the fungal order Chaetothyriales. The nature of this association was unclear therefore this association was investigated further using microscopy. Macroscopic and microscopic data reported here demonstrate that the Chaetothyriales symbiont associated with I. carnea grows ectopically on the adaxial (upper) surface of leaves as lacy mycelia in plants that contain swainsonine and was not present on plants lacking swainsonine that were derived from fungicide treated seeds. Hyphae were not observed on the surface of any other tissues including the abaxial (lower) leaf surface, petiole, and stem. Mycelia were not visible in internal tissues below the epidermis and there did not appear to be any hyphal extensions within the fibrovascular bundles or stomata. Longitudinal and/or cross sections of the stems or petioles did not show evidence of hyphae growing between cells. These results suggest an epibiotic growth habit of the Chaetothyriales symbiont in association with I. carnea.

Beilschmiedia osacola (Lauraceae) a new species from the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

We describe and illustrate a new species of Beilschmiedia, from the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. It is distinguished by its small flowers, which are turbinate to campanulate, with six fertile stamens and pubescent ovary, in addition it has alternate leaves along the twigs, with the lower leaf surface glabrous and not glaucous. In the field, it can be recognized by its stature, a very large tree, with the bark reddish, and peeling in large plates. Among described congeners it is superficially similar to B. hexanthera, from French Guiana, which also has six fertile stamens, and staminodes of whorl III columnar, but differs in having a pubescent ovary and larger, more branched inflorescences.

How do silicious trichomes influence leaf decomposition by meso- and macrofauna?

<p>Decomposition of plant leaves is influenced by multiple traits, however, discrete structures of Si such as silicious trichomes on the leaf surface have been overlooked, although similarly to defense against insect herbivores, trichomes are thought to protect leaves from decomposers. This study hypothesized that silicious trichomes slow down leaf decomposition by soil meso- and macrofauna. We used two mesh bags (<0.2 mm and 5 mm) and examined ash-free mass loss of green leaves of <em>Broussonetia papyrifera</em> and <em>Morus australis</em>, closely related Moraceae species apparently different in trichome size and density, after 25 days of decomposition in a common garden. We also measured 10 traits of initial leaves and performed microscopic observation of the leaf surface with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer. Of the leaf traits, trichome density on the lower leaf surface differed greatly between the two species. Our microscopic observation showed that short trichomes densely arranged on the lower leaf surface of <em>B. papyrifera</em> were highly silicified and that some of long trichomes were also composed of calcium. Ash-free mass loss of <em>M. australis</em> was greater in 5-mm mesh bag than in <0.2-mm mesh bag, while that of <em>B. papyrife</em>ra did not differ by mesh size, which represents a suppressive effect of silicious trichomes on decomposition by meso- and macrofauna. The trichomes of <em>B. papyrifer</em>a remained apparently intact on the decomposed surface, supporting a view of their continuously deferring influence on the large decomposers during the experimental period. For the meso- and macro-detritivore community, three taxa (Acari, Collembola and Isopoda) showed high population density in the common garden. Overall, our results suggest that distinct forms of Si bodies in plants such as trichomes are worth considering in better understanding of leaf decomposition by meso- and macrofauna.</p>

Two new species of diptilomiopid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from China

Two new species of the family Diptilomiopidae (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from China are described and illustrated. They are Catarhinus sanguinalus sp. nov. on Digitaria sanguinalis (Poaceae) and Rhyncaphytoptus mandshuricae sp. nov. on Fraxinus mandshurica (Oleaceae). Both new species are vagrant on lower leaf surface. No apparent damage to the host was observed. In addition to the descriptions, a key to Catarhinus species was provided.

A new phytoptid mite from iconic Gondwanan plant: description of Solenocristus nothofagalis n. sp. (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae) from Argentina supplemented with sequences of nuclear ribosomal genes of Nothofagus pumilio (Nothofagaceae)

Plants of the genus Nothofagus (Fagales, Nothofagaceae) has ancient South American-Australasian disjunctive distribution and represent a perspective model for biogeographical studies in Eriophyoidea. Among six currently known eriophyoid genera reported from Nothofagus (Acalitus, Aceria, Austracus, Cymoptus, Rectalox, and Nothacus) only genus Cymoptus was registered in western and eastern distribution areas of Nothofagus. In this paper we describe a new vagrant species, Solenocristus nothofagalis n. sp. (Phytoptidae, Sierraphytoptinae) collected from lower leaf surface of Nothofagus pumilio in Los Glaciares National Park (Patagonia, Argentina). Because all mite specimens in the sample were dead, amplification of three marker genes (COI, 18S, 28S) performed ten days after collecting data was unsuccessful. Morphological identification of the host plant was confirmed using PCR method and resulted in new sequences of 18S (MT164471) and ITS1‒5.8S‒ITS2 region (MT164174) of N. pumilio, deposited in GenBank.

Description and population dynamics of a new eriophyoid mite (Acari: Prostigmata) on Euonymus maackii (Celastraceae)

Eriophyoid mites are highly specific to host plants. In this study we identified a new species (Phyllocoptes maackis sp. nov.) from Euonymus maackii Rupr. (Celastraceae) and explored its population dynamics and relationship with abiotic factors (i.e., temperature and rainfall). We determined that P. maackis sp. nov. is vagrant on lower leaf surface and does not damage the host plant. Additionally, it was first detected in June. Its population peaked in July and decreased in August. The mites were undetectable on leaves in September. Thus, P. maackis sp. nov. was active in the summer when conditions were suitable (e.g., most of the leaves were young and full of moisture), with peak activity in July under high-temperature conditions. Its activity decreased under suboptimal conditions, such as low temperatures and heavy rainfall. The abundance of eriophyoid mites varied over time. The increase and decrease in the number of eriophyoid mites during the study period was basically consistent with the temperature changes.