The origins of the names of Plecoptera genera and species occurring in the Italian Region

The origins of the names of the 177 species of stoneflies occurring in the Italian region are listed. These names chiefly refer to a taxonomic characteristic (56 species), then a dedication to a well-known entomologist or to the collector (52), then to either a geographical - ethnological (45) or to an ecological aspect (9). The remaining species are dedicated to someone in the author’s family (6) or to an artist or scientist (3). Finally, 6 other species have a symbolic name. In addition, we also provide an exhaustive bibliography of the original species descriptions of the Italian Plecoptera fauna.

Interrelation of Proctodrilus species (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) with lessivage and layering in European soil profiles

The objective of this paper is to relate species occurrences of the earthworm genus Proctodrilus to soil properties, in particular the horizons and layers in the soil profile. Data on the occurrence in the soil profile of the earthworm species Proctodrilus antipai (Michaelsen, 1891), P. opisthoductus Zicsi, 1985, P. thaleri Höser & Zicsi 2009, and P. tuberculatus (Černosvitov, 1935) were collected in central Germany, northern Bohemia, Hungary, and Romania. Species of Proctodrilus were collected from 138 sites in total, P. antipai from 48, P. opisthoductus from 24, P. thaleri from 4, and P. tuberculatus from 97 sites. The field data show that species inhabiting the same site do not form communities but rather inhabit different soil layers. Furthermore, species of Proctodrilus prefer to live close to the boundaries between layers, a feature that can be regarded as a taxonomic characteristic of the genus and that is probably connected with their enteronephric excretory system. The habitats of the different species differ in the degree of soil leaching. P. thaleri and P. opisthoductus are restricted to the region of recent lessivage in warm-humid parts of Europe. Occurrence of the four Proctodrilus species is therefore not related to soil type but rather to soil stratification and soil leaching. Differences in the ecological behaviour of the species can be understood as taxonomic characters.

The first detection of Eimeria Leuckarti in horses on the territory of the Russian Federation

Objective of research. The purpose of the study is to consider detection of Eimeria (Eimeria leuckarti) in horses in the Moscow region. Materials and methods. Samples of faeces were collected during the survey must reveal sport horses in ljuberetsky area of Moscow region before a scheduled deworming. Portion of samples was stored for months in a frozen state in the freezer. Faecal samples examined by flotation with saturated sodium chloride solution and sedimentation by the method of successive washings. To determine the viability of oocysts the feces were incubated in Petri dishes in the thermostat at 25 °C study of the incubated samples were determined after two weeks, one month and two months. Morphological studies of oocysts, morphometry and photographic documentation was performed using a microscope with a digital camera. Results and discussion. During routine coprological survey of sport horses in ljuberetsky area of Moscow region one 11-year-old horse in the samples of faeces were detected oocysts of coccidia Eimeria leuckarti. The intensity of invasion in koproskopicheskoe tests was low; the samples were found isolated instances of oocysts. This is the first time the detection of E. leuckarti on the territory of the Russian Federation. See the full list of countries that have so far been registered coccidia of the species.We trace the development of oocysts to sporulirovannyh stage in the laboratory. In a thermostat at 25 °C sporulation time exceeded one month. Brief description of the morphology of oocysts at different stages of development. Highlighted are unique among the coccidia peculiar structure of the shell oocysts E. leuckarti is the presence of the characteristic fossa on the inner surface of the shell opposite the micropyle pole. It is believed that it can serve as species specific taxonomic characteristic.

Prevalence and Morphological Characterization ofCheilospirura hamulosa, Diesing, 1861 (Nematoda: Acuarioidea), from Partridges in Iran

This study reports data on the prevalence, morphology, and morphometry of the nematodeCheilospirura hamulosaon the basis of light and stereoscopic microscopy and also camera lucida. Specimens were recovered after necropsies of 100 partridges (Alectoris chukar) from Taleqan County in Alborz Province, Iran. The prevalence ofC. hamulosain partridges was of 30% with a mean intensity of 3.9 and range of infection of 1–12. The mean length and width of females were17.5±2.14and0.39±0.04 mm, while those of males were12.2±0.67and0.3±0.06 mm, respectively. The characteristic digitiform tail was observed in females, and the unequal spicules, caudal alae, and ten pairs of caudal papillae were seen in males. The taxonomic characteristic longitudinal cordons and muscular and glandular oesophagus were observed in both sexes. Ratio between cordons and body length in males and females was 1 : 1.33 and 1 : 1.68, respectively. Ratio between long and short spicules in males was 1 : 2.3. The average size of embryonated eggs was51.25×29.5 μm. In the present study,C. hamulosa(Nematoda: Acuarioidea) is recorded for the first time from partridges in Iran. Therefore, the morphological characters described in this study will be useful in the future diagnostic and taxonomic studies of Acuarioidea family.

Pollen morphology of Prototulbaghia Vosa: A comparative palynological study of the Southern African Alliaceae.

The Southern African Alliaceae Borkh. is represented by four genera (Allium L., Nothoscordum Kunth, Tulbaghia L. and Prototulbaghia Vosa) and 28 species. The pollen morphology of the endangered monotypic genus Prototulbaghia has not been described before. A comparative study of the pollen morphology of Prototulbaghia siebertii Vosa, Nothoscordum borbonicum Kunth, Tulbaghia simmleri P.Beauv. and T. violaceae Harv. is presented in this article. Scanning electron microscopy, as well as light microscopy, were used to examine the pollen. The pollen morphology of the species can be described as perprolate and monosulcate, and the surface sculpture as reticulate and heterobrochate. However, the pollen of Prototulbaghia siebertii displays a unique characteristic as the grains are folded in their breadth with the tips touching, hence causing the grain to display a triangular and disulcate appearance. It might be possible to ascribe this fold to the process of harmomegathy or a still unknown event that occurs during the development of the pollen grain. This phenomenon should be further investigated to determine the cause of folding and whether it is a unique taxonomic characteristic of this genus, and if it could be of evolutionary significance for the Alliaceae.

On Roncus almissae n. sp., R. krupanjensis n. sp., and R. radji n. sp., three new pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisiidae) from Croatia and Serbia, respectively

Three new species of the pseudoscorpion genus Roncus L. Koch (Neobisiidae) are described from Croatia (from nr. Omis, Dalmatia: R. almissae n. sp.) and Serbia (near the town of Krupanj, north-western Serbia, Lukica Pecina Cave and nr. Izvor: R. krupanjensis n. sp., and R. radji n. sp.), and their diagnostic characteristics are illustrated. Their interrelations with phenetically close congeners are analyzed; in addition, the presence/absence of microsetae proximal to the trichobothria eb and esb is established as an important taxonomic characteristic.

The Haemoproteidae (Apicomplexa: Haemosporina) of the avian families Fringillidae and Emberizidae s.l.

The haemoproteids of the avian passeriform families Fringillidae and Emberizidae s.l. are reviewed. In the Fringillidae, Haemoproteus fringillae of the Fringillinae is redescribed from the type host; within the Carduelinae, H. chloris is redescribed from the type host, and four species, H. globulosus, H. macropigmentatus, H. serini, and H. tartakovskyi, are synonymized with it. In the Emberizidae s.l. Haemoproteus quiscalus is redescribed from the type material, H. mazzai of the Cardinalinae is redescribed, and H. hedymelis is synonymized with it; H. coatneyi of the Emberizinae, H. paruli of the Parulinae, H. coereba of the Coerebinae, and H. thraupi of the Thraupinae are described as new species. A single taxon is recognized from each subfamily, and specificity at the subfamilial level is the primary taxonomic characteristic. The haemoproteid species involved are pleomorphic and are morphologically similar to one another.