Hydrodroma angelieri (Acari, Hydrachnidia: Hydrodromidae) a new water mite species from Corsica based on morphological and DNA barcode evidence

In the present study we used morphological data and DNA barcodes to describe a new species, Hydrodroma angelieri sp. nov. from Corsica, France. A high genetic distance of 17.3±0.017% K2P from its molecularly most closely related European congener, H. despiciens (Müller, 1776), supports H. angelieri sp. nov. as a distinct species. Morphologically the new species can be identified on the basis of relatively small leg claws, the presence of only one swimming seta on II-L-5 and 4-6 swimming setae on the anterior surface of IV-L-5. An updated key for the European species of Hydrodroma is provided.

BIVALVE MOLLUSCS (BIVALVIA: UNIONIDAE, DREISSENIDAE, SPHAERIIDAE) OF UDMURTIA

The results of the studies of fauna of bivalve molluscs of Udmurt Republic are summarized. The annotated check-list of species of bivalve molluscs of the waterbodies of Udmurtiya is presented. After examination of own collections and critical assessment of published data, 26 species of bivalves from 74 localities (14 rivers, 2 reservoirs, 8 pounds and 2 oxbow lakes) have been included into the final list. In studied region 11 species of bivalves are recorded for the first time. From the zoogeographical point of view most species belong to the European-Siberian faunistic group (46 %), also a considerable part of fauna are European species (26,9% of overall species composition), which are located in the region at the Eastern border of the range.

Biological Potential and Chemical Profile of European Varieties of Ilex

Plants of the genus Ilex are widespread throughout the world, with its best-known representative being Ilex paraguraiensis from South America. The European species Ilex aquifolium shows similarities in its terpenoid, sugar and phenolic acid profiles. Using aqueous extracts of Ilex aquifolium as a supplement in Wistar rats showed that, despite the lack of caffeine, it had strong hypocholesterolemic effects. In addition, a reduction in oxidative lipid degradation and a decrease in hepatic steatosis in histopathological studies were observed. The results of this study suggest that extracts from the European species Ilex aquifolium may have potential as an alternative treatment for hyperlipidemia.

Hygrophorus aurantiosquamosus (Hygrophoraceae, Agaricales), a new species of Hygrophorus section Chrysodontes from western China

In China, the European species, Hygrophorus chrysodon, is widely reported in western and northeastern provinces. After carefully comparing H. chrysodon from China and Europe, we found that the European and Chinese materials were different lineages in molecular trees, and there were also obvious differences in morphology between the two lineages. The evidence from morphology and phylogeny indicated that the presence of H. chrysodon in China is doubtful and that the Chinese material represents an undescribed species. Thus, H. aurantiosquamosus is proposed as a new species. This new taxon is characterized by its yellowish white pileus covered with golden yellow squamules, a stipe concolorous with the pileus and covered with yellow floccules, a distinct pileipellis composed of narrow hyphae with inflated terminal elements of various shapes (clavate, cylindrical, lacrymoid to subglobose), and elongate to subcylindrical basidiospores measuring 9.5–12 × 4–5.5 μm. The new species occurs in Picea forests at high elevations of western China, such as Qinghai, Sichuan, and Tibet provinces.

The “Spaghetti Project”: the final identification guide to European Terebellidae (sensu lato) (Annelida, Terebelliformia)

This paper is the conclusion of the “Spaghetti Project” aiming to revise French species of Terebellidae sensu lato (s.l.) belonging to the five families: Polycirridae, Telothelepodidae, Terebellidae sensu stricto (s.s.), Thelepodidae and Trichobranchidae. During this project, 41 species were observed, 31 of them new for science: eight species of Polycirridae, eleven species of Terebellidae s.s., three species of Thelepodidae and nine species of Trichobranchidae. We provide a comprehensive key for all European species of terebellids with a focus on the important diagnostic characters for each family. Finally, we discuss issues on taxonomy, biodiversity and cryptic and pseudo-cryptic species of polychaetes in European waters, based on results obtained during this project.

Revision of the European species of the genus Hincksina Norman, 1903 (Bryozoa, Cheilostomatida, Flustridae)

Four Atlantic species of the flustrid genus Hincksina Norman, 1903, which were introduced during the 19th and early 20th century, are redescribed and imaged: Hincksina flustroides (Hincks, 1877) from Great Britain, Hincksina sceletos (Busk, 1858) from Madeira as well as Hincksina neptuni (Jullien in Jullien & Calvet, 1903) n. comb. and Hincksina alice (Jullien in Jullien & Calvet, 1903) n. comb. from the Azores, the latter two of which were hitherto placed in the cribrilinid genus Membraniporella Smitt, 1873. Lectotypes are designated for all species. A new species, Hincksina synchysia n. sp., is introduced for the Mediterranean taxon previously referred to as Hincksina flustroides f. crassispinata Gautier, 1962. In contrast to species from the continental shelf, which have simple cylindrical or flattened spines, some of the species from the oceanic islands of Madeira and the Azores are particularly characterised by falciform and variably formed palmicorn spines. Moreover, whilst most Hincksina species have avicularia with a relatively short, (sub)rounded rostrum and mandible, the two Azorean species have elongated, curved and pointed avicularia. The relationship between Gregarinidra Barroso, 1949, which also has pointed avicularia, and Hincksina is commented upon. Based on several shared diagnostic characters, the genus Cribralaria Silén, 1941 is here transferred from the Cribrilinidae Hincks, 1879 to the Flustridae Fleming, 1828.

Taxonomic and faunistic remarks on European Ptilomyia Coquillett (Diptera: Ephydridae)

The number of species of Ptilomyia Coquillett, 1900 occurring in Europe is confirmed as three, with two previously recorded species being synonymised and one species being newly added: Ptilomyia shoka Mathis & Zatwarnicki, 2017 is herewith reported from Georgia for the first time. The available type material of European Ptilomyia species was examined and resulted in two new synonyms: Ptilomyia kairensis (Becker, 1903) = Atissa orsovana Enderlein, 1922 (syn. nov.) = Ptilomyia madeirensis Stuke 2012 (syn. nov.). The known distribution of all three valid European species is discussed, and records are listed from Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates. A key to the European species is provided and the male terminalia of all three species are illustrated.

Phylogeny of Pyrus and their relationships inferred from sequences of nuclear NIA-i3 intron and chloroplast ndhC-trnV and trnR-atpA

Background: Pear (Pyrus L.) belongs to subtribe Malinae, tribe Maleae, family Rosaceae. According to the geography distribution, it could be divided into Oriental pear and Occidental pear. Though the phylogeny of Pyrus was complicate, previous study referring to morphology, nuclear genes and chloroplast genes made the relationships clear gradually. However, they had lower sequence divergence and less information, therefore it hardly solved the phylogeny of Pyrus. Results: A total of 100 accessions from Oriental and Occidental pears were used to elucidate the phylogeny of Pyrus by one nuclear NIA-i3 intron and two chloroplast regions (ndhC-trnV and trnR-atpA) with higher polymorphism. The Neighbor-Net phylogenetic network indicated that the phylogenetic relationships were complicate based on ndhC-trnV and trnR-atpA. Oriental pear and Occidental pear were separated in the tree of NIA-i3, P. betulaforlia, P. pashia (except P. pashia ‘P10-3’_1 and P. pashia ‘P23-4’_1) were monophyly; several P. ussuriensis were closely related with P. xerophila. However, the phylogenetic relationships of Chinese White Pear, P. pyrifolia and some P. ussuriensis still could not be well solved; West Asian species and European species were mingled together. Occidental pear P. caucasica 684，P. pyraster 989，P. elaeagrifolia 2817 might be hybrids between Oriental pear and Occidental pear.Conclusions: The phylogenetic relationships of Pyrus were still complicate because interspecies and intraspecies of Oriental pear and Occidental pear respectively were intercrossed. More genes and more accessions were needed to solve the phylogenetic relationships in Pyrus and to explore the possible parents.

LoopTag FRET Probe System for Multiplex qPCR Detection of Borrelia Species

Background: Laboratory diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis refers to some methods with known limitations. Molecular diagnostics using specific nucleic acid probes may overcome some of these limitations. Methods: We describe the novel reporter fluorescence real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) probe system LoopTag for detection of Borrelia species. Advantages of the LoopTag system include having cheap conventional fluorescence dyes, easy primer design, no restrictions for PCR product lengths, robustness, high sequence specificity, applicability for multiplex real-time PCRs, melting curve analysis (single nucleotide polymorphism analysis) over a large temperature range, high sensitivity, and easy adaptation of conventional PCRs. Results: Using the LoopTag probe system we were able to detect all nine tested European species belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) complex and differentiated them from relapsing fever Borrelia species. As few as 10 copies of Borrelia in one PCR reaction were detectable. Conclusion: We established a novel multiplex probe real-time PCR system, designated LoopTag, that is simple, robust, and incorporates melting curve analysis for the detection and in the differentiation of European species belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. complex.