Primulina jiuyishanica (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Hunan, China

Primulina jiuyishanica K. Liu, D.C. Meng & Z.B. Xin, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Hunan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to Primulina fimbrisepala (Hand.-Mazz.) Yin Z. Wang, but differs in its elliptic to broadly elliptic leaf blade with broadly cuneate base, peduncle densely pubescent with sparse glandular hairs, corolla throat with no purple spots inside, the yellow patch in the throat densely glandular-pubescent and pistil densely glandular-pubescent. Photographs and descriptions of the new species are provided below.

Description of Meloidogyne minor n. sp. (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae), a root-knot nematode associated with yellow patch disease in golf courses

A relatively small root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne minor n. sp., is described and illustrated from tomato from the Netherlands. This new species is characterised by the following features: female with dorsally curved stylet, 14 μm long, with transversely ovoid knobs slightly sloping backwards from the shaft; perineal pattern rounded; male stylet 18 μm long, large transversely ovoid knobs slightly sloping backwards from the shaft; head region not set off, labial disc elevated, lateral lips prominent; and secondstage juvenile 377 μm long, with hemizonid posterior adjacent to excretory pore; tail 54 μm long; and a distinct hyaline tail terminus 16 μm long. Additionally, distinguishing information on isozymes, DNA, cytogenetics and host plants is presented. Meloidogyne minor n. sp. has so far been found on potato in the Netherlands and has been detected in the British Isles on several golf courses, associated with yellow patches, often together with M. naasi.

The Behaviour Patterns of the Dusky Moorhen, Gallinula Tenebrosa Gould (Aves: Rallidae).

Behaviour of dusky moorhens (Gallinula tenebrosa) was studied during 666 h during 3 months ending in December 1976 near Canberra, Australia. Observations were that the young were fed intensively from hatching to about 4 weeks old then with decreasing frequency to 9 weeks old. Adults of the group of up to 7 birds transferred food to the beak of the brooding adult, which passed it to the young in the nest. Older juveniles approached adults carrying food, displaying a conspicuous yellow patch of skin on the wings, and pecked towards the yellow patch on the tip of the lowered beak of the adult. The young made pecking motions from a few days old but took no food for themselves until they were at least 10 days old. At any one time only 1 or 2 adults of the group took all food they found to the young; other adults fed themselves, and only occasionally fed the young. The young remained with the parents for 5 to 8 months. Adults sometimes fed other adults, the food being exchanged more than 20 times at some encounters. For the first few weeks after hatching the main food items were molluscs, annelids and insects; vegetable matter was included gradually as the young began to feed themselves.

A NEW BUTTERFLY FROM UTAH

Melitea Maria, n. sp.—Male: Expands 1½ inches. Upper side. Primaries. The outer margin of the wing has along its edge about eight brick-red spots; internal to these is another row of yellow spots, separated from the former by a very small space. Next comes a row of yellow spots, the first four having an outward curve, and the lower three an inward curve. There then comes a row of quadrate brick-red spots, nearly parallel to the preceding yellow row. At the end of the cell are three yellow quadrate spots. The cell has in it two comparatively large red spots, outlined with black, and having a yellow patch between them and another toward the base. There is also a quadrate yellow spot with concave sides in the space below the third median nerve. The secondaries are marked in a similar manner.

NEW BEES OF THE GENERA XENOGLOSSA AND PODALIRIUS (Anthophura)

Xenoglossa patricia, n. sp.—♂. Length about 22 mm., very stoutly built; head and thorax black, densely covered with short fulvous pubescence; abdomen and legs bright chestnut red. Head broad, eyes black, orbits somewhat converging above, ocelli very large, a linear groove descending from middle ocellus, vertex obscurely tessellate; clypeus broad, yellow, its upper margin suffused with orange, and its anterior margin narrowly rufous; surface of clypeus rough so as to look like the skin of a lemon; labrum yellow, with appressed, very short, pale fulvous pubescence; mandibles long, simple, with a large yellow patch near the base, suffused outwardly into a reddish tongue, which gradually loses itself in the black of the tips. Antennæ hardly reaching beyond tegulæ, piceous, with the scape, funicle, and first and last joints of flagellum, rufescent. First joint of flagellum longer than the two following, but not so long as the three following. Sculpture of thorax cannot be seen for the pubescence.

THE SECOND ANACRABRO, AND THE SMALLEST AMERICAN OXYBELUS

Anacrabro boerhaviœ, n. sp. or var.—♂ about 7 mm. long; differs from ocellatus by the yellow markings, which are as follows:—Dorsum of prothorax and tubercles yellow, the tubercles with a black central dot. Mesothorax all black, except a small yellow spot on each side at hind border, adjacent to yellow spot of scutellum. Scutellum with a pair of large yellow spots. Postscutellum yellow. Inner side of anterior half of anterior femora yellow. Tibiæ yellow, with more or less black behind. Tarsi yellow, slightly tending to orange. Segments 1-6 of abdomen presenting a yellow spot medially, and a large yellow patch on each side. The median spot on first segment is round, that on 2-3 transversely oval, that on 4 transversely spindle shaped, that on 5 broad with truncate ends, that on 6 nearly square, but slightly constricted on each side. Lateral patches more or less bifid at their inner ends, and produced to a point below on lateral margin of abdomen. Strongly punctured, much more sparsely on pleura. Pubescence of face and cheeks silvery. Eyes very large, at least as near together on middle of face as the two upper ocelli are to one another.

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF MELITÆA FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Melitæa Augusta.Male.—Expands from 1.6 to 1.75 inch; belongs to Chalcedon group, but is an conspicuously red as the species Chalcedon is black; upper side black, the surface nearly covered with light red and pale yellow spots, disposed as in the group; the basal areas dusted with yellow scales which, on primaries, extend along both margins; costa of same wing edged red; both hind margins bordered by small red spots, varying in shape, sometimes narrow and as of a broken stripe, sometimes more or lesss rounded to ovate; the spots of second row ar small, lunular, largest of secondaries, edged with red, the interior being yellow, or they are nearly all red with a small yellow patch in middle; sometimes this yellow is thinly washed red; the third row on primaries is either wholly yellow, or yellow with red edges, particularly on the outer side; on secondaries wholly red, and often very deep, so as to make a conspicuous broad band; the fourth row on primaries is red, sometimes with the spots next the two margins either yellow or in put yellow; around the end of cell yellow spots four or five in number; in the cell spots of red and yellow alternately, four in all, the yellow one at base more or less stained red; two yellow spots below cell with black ground between, and nearer base a small duplex red one; the fourth row on secondaries is yellow, either of small spots or pretty large ones, and the three or four from costal margin are red on their outer side; a red stripe outside the cell from the end to costal margin; two small yellow spots inside cell, with a red one between them and a yellow spot below; fringes yellow, black at the tips of the nervules.