New Achillea-feeding species of the aphid genus Uroleucon (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from Bulgaria

An apterous viviparous female of a new aphid species Uroleucon (Uroleucon) bulgaricum sp. n. is described and compared with the similar species U. (Uroleucon) achilleae (Koch, 1865). The new species was collected by the late J. Holman in the Blagoevgrad region (SE Bulgaria), where it is associated with Achillea coarctata Poiret in Lam. (Asteraceae). The similarities and differences between other Achillea-feeding Uroleucon species are discussed. A morphological key to the species of the subgenus Uroleucon Mordvilko, 1914 in Bulgaria is presented. A modified key to the Achillea-feeding Uroleucon aphids of Blackman and Eastop is also provided.

Two new species of the aphid genus Uroleucon (Hemiptera: Aphididae) living on Grindelia in the USA

Here, we present descriptions of two new aphid species of the genus Uroleucon Mordvilko, 1914 (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Macrosiphini), which are associated with the plant genus Grindelia Willd. (Asteraceae). An apterous viviparous female of Uroleucon (Lambersius) robinsoni sp. nov. from Oregon and apterous and alate viviparous females of Uroleucon (Lambersius) grindeliae sp. nov. from Colorado are described and illustrated. Taxonomical notes of the new and other Grindelia-feeding taxa of Uroleucon are given and an updated key to the apterae of the Grindelia-feeding species of Uroleucon in the world is provided.

A further contribution to the knowledge of Uroleucon species (Hemiptera, Aphididae) living on Adesmia (Fabaceae) in southern South America, with description of a new species from Chile

Uroleucon (Hemiptera, Aphididae, Macrosiphini) is a highly diverse and widely distributed genus. Most of its species are hosted by plants of the Asteraceae or Campanulaceae, but three species from the southern end of South America have specialized to live on plants of the genus Adesmia (Fabaceae). New morphological and chorological data are provided for U. adesmiae Mier Durante and Ortego and U. naheulhuapense Nieto Nafría & von Dohlen, with a description of the alate viviparous female of the latter species. U. australe Nieto Nafría & Mier Durante, sp. n. is described from apterous viviparous females, oviparous females and males from four localities in the Chilean regions of Aysén and Magallanes; it is very close to U. nahuelhuapense, both morphologically and genetically. Contrary to what is typical for aphids, the males of U. australe have a greater number of distinguishing characters than are found in viviparous females. A modification of the identification key to the apterous viviparous females of the known Uroleucon species in South America by Nieto Nafría et al. (2019) is presented.

Facultative oviparity in a viviparous skink ( Saiphos equalis )

Facultative changes in parity mode (oviparity to viviparity and vice versa) are rare in vertebrates, yet offer fascinating opportunities to investigate the role of reproductive lability in parity mode evolution. Here, we report apparent facultative oviparity by a viviparous female of the bimodally reproductive skink Saiphos equalis —the first report of different parity modes within a vertebrate clutch. Eggs oviposited facultatively possess shell characteristics of both viviparous and oviparous S. equalis , demonstrating that egg coverings for viviparous embryos are produced by the same machinery as those for oviparous individuals. Since selection may act in either direction when viviparity has evolved recently, squamate reproductive lability may confer a selective advantage. We suggest that facultative oviparity is a viable reproductive strategy for S. equalis and that squamate reproductive lability is more evolutionarily significant than previously acknowledged.

European species of the aphid genus Eulachnus Del Guercio, 1909 (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae): revision and molecular phylogeny

The aphid genus Eulachnus in Europe is revised to include 12 species, using an integrative taxonomy approach, based on morphometric, molecular and biological traits. Fundatrix, apterous and alate viviparous female of a new species–Eulachnus stekolshchikovi Kanturski sp. nov. are described. Neotypes are designated for E. agilis, E. brevipilosus and E. nigricola. Lectotypes are designated for E. alticola, E. cembrae, E. rileyi and E. tuberculostemmatus. New synonyms are proposed: E. abameleki syn. nov. (= Cinara pini), E. cretaceus syn. nov. (= E. agilis), E. tauricus syn. nov. (= E. rileyi), E. pallidus syn. nov. (= E. tuberculostemmatus). Eulachnus mingazzinii (near Cinara piniphila) and E. nigrofasciatus (near C. brauni) are regarded as incertae sedis. Full species status is given for E. garganicus stat. nov. and E. ibericus stat. nov. Apterous viviparous female of E. cembrae; apterous and alate viviparous females of remaining species are redescribed. Sexual morphs of E. agilis, E. alticola, E. cembrae, E. intermedius, E. nigricola, E. rileyi and oviparous female of E. tuberculostemmatus are fully redescribed and figured for the first time. Fundatrices of E. agilis, E. brevipilosus, E. cembrae, E. rileyi and E. tuberculostemmatus, sexuales of E. brevipilosus and the alate male of E. tuberculostemmatus are described and figured. A new host plant–Pinus cembra for E. brevipilosus is reported, and this species is recorded for the first time from Czech Republic. Eulachnus tuberculostemmatus is reported for the first time from Croatia. Phylogenetic studies, based on the COI and ITS2 molecular markers, are provided to visualize and discuss the relationships within the European species. COI barcodes are provided for seven species.

Capitophorus wojciechowskii – a new aphid species from Iran (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Aphidinae: Macrosiphini)

A new aphid species – Capitophorus wojciechowskii sp. n. – from northern Iran, associated with Hippophae rhamnoides and Hippophae sp., belonging to the tribe Macrosiphini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is described. The fundatrix, apterous viviparous female, oviparous female and apterous male are described and illustrated. Similarities and differences with other Capitophorus species living on Elaeagnaceae are discussed. A key to Elaeagnaceae feeding aphids from the genus Capitophorus is also provided.

Wojciechaphis andrei gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Aphidomorpha, Drepanosiphidae, Phyllaphidinae), a new aphid genus from Baltic amber

Here we describe a new aphid genus and species Wojciechaphis andrei gen. et sp. nov. belonging to the extant family Drepanosiphidae, also known from Baltic amber (Eocene). The first adult apterous viviparous female of Mengeaphis glandulosa (Menge, 1856) is described too.

Periphyllus californiensis Shinji, 1917 (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) - an invasive aphid species new to Poland

Periphyllus californiensis Shinji, 1917 (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) - an invasive aphid species new to Poland Periphyllus californiensis Shinji, 1917, an aphid species associated with Acer palmatum and A. japonicum, was recorded in the Botanic Garden of the Jagiellonian University, Kraków, in 2009 and 2010. This invasive species, new to Poland, is presented (apterous viviparous female, alate viviparous female) and described in detail. A key to the Polish species of the genus Periphyllus van der Hoeven, 1863 is provided.