The genera Coccus and Prococcus (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) in China, with two new combinations and descriptions of two new species

The Chinese soft scale species in the genus Coccus Linnaeus, 1758 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) were studied. Coccus cambodiensis Takahashi and the Malaysian species C. cameronensis Takahashi are considered to be non-congeneric with Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus, 1758, the type species of Coccus, and are transferred to Prococcus Avasthi, 1993, as Prococcus cambodiensis (Takahashi, 1942), comb. n. and Prococcus cameronensis (Takahashi, 1952), comb. n. The generic diagnosis of Prococcus is revised. In the genus Coccus, two new species are described and illustrated based on adult females: Coccus nanningensis Cao & Feng, sp. n. from Guangxi, China, on Ficus carica (Moraceae), and Coccus cephalotaxus Cao & Feng, sp. n. from Shannxi, China, on Cephalotaxus sinensis (Taxaceae). Identification keys to separate adult females of Prococcus from Coccus, the 14 species of Coccus found in China, and all three species of Prococcus are provided.

Review of Afrotropical sceliotracheline parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae)

The platygastrid subfamily Sceliotrachelinae, while represented globally by numerous biologically important taxa, is generally poorly known for the Afrotropical region. It contains a number of species of economic significance, including some that attack hemipteran pests of citrus. Here we review the taxonomy of the subfamily for the region. We revise two enigmatic, endemic South African genera, Afrisolia Masner and Huggert and Sceliotrachelus Brues, providing illustrated identification keys to the species. Afrisolia anyskop van Noort & Lahey, sp. nov., Afrisolia quagga van Noort & Lahey, sp. nov. and Afrisolia robertsoni van Noort & Lahey, sp. nov. are described for this previously monotypic genus. Sceliotrachelus was previously known only from the two male type specimens of Sceliotrachelus braunsi Brues. Two new species, Sceliotrachelus midgleyi van Noort, sp. nov. and Sceliotrachelus karooensis van Noort, sp. nov., are described from the Eastern and Western Cape, respectively. The female of S. braunsi is described for the first time and additional distribution records for the species are documented. The putatively basal species, S. karooensis, exhibits less derived morphology than the highly apomorphic S. braunsi, necessitating reassessment of the limits of the genus. The exceptional morphology exhibited by species of Sceliotrachelus is hypothesized to be an adaptation to living in leaf-litter. We also revise the Old World species of Parabaeus Kieffer, describing a remarkable new species, Parabaeus nasutus van Noort, sp. nov., and provide an illustrated and updated key to the species. Fidiobia Ashmead is currently represented in Africa by seven described species to which we add Fidiobia celeritas van Noort & Lahey, sp. nov., a charismatic new species from South Africa. The distribution of the genus Isolia is expanded to include new country records for I. hispanica Buhl (Kenya) and an undescribed species from Madagascar. To facilitate the ongoing exploration and documentation of the African platygastrid fauna, an identification key to Afrotropical sceliotracheline genera and high resolution images of exemplar species for the remaining genera are provided. An overview of known species richness and biology is also included. All images presented here as well as additional images and interactive online Lucid identification keys are available on WaspWeb at http://www.waspweb.org.

Darwin wasps of the subfamily Pimplinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Mexico: genera Apechthis Förster, Itoplectis Förster and Pimpla Fabricius

Mexican species of three pimpline genera, Apechthis Förster (one species), Itoplectis Förster (six species) and Pimpla Fabricius (20 species, including one unidentified taxon), are reviewed. Four species of Pimpla are described as new to science: P. chamela sp. nov., P. oaxacana sp. nov., P. tequila sp. nov. and P. xalapana sp. nov. Pimpla thoracica Morley, 1914 is found to be a junior synonym of P. ellopiae Harrington, 1892 (syn. nov.). Apechthis zapoteca (Cresson) is recorded for the first time from Venezuela, Pimpla dimidiata (Townes) from Mexico, P. caeruleata Cresson, P. croceiventris (Cresson), P. sanguinipes Cresson and P. sumichrasti Cresson from Honduras, P. ichneumoniformis Cresson and P. viridescens Morley from Guatemala and Honduras, and P. punicipes Cresson from Panama. The South American species Pimpla caerulea Brullé and the Nearctic species P. pedalis Cresson are excluded from the Mexican fauna. Male of Itoplectis mexicana and female of Pimpla dimidiata are recorded for the first time. Identification keys to the species of Itoplectis and Pimpla occurring in Mexico are provided.

A review of the genus Scrobipalpa Janse, 1951 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) in the Afrotropical region

The genus Scrobipalpa in the Afrotropical region is revised. Thirty-six species are recognized as valid, 20 of which are described as new: S. ochroxantha sp. nov. (South Africa), S. wieseri sp. nov. (Namibia, South Africa), S. turiensis sp. nov. (Kenya), S. wolframi sp. nov. (Namibia), S. natalensis sp. nov. (South Africa), S. varivansoni sp. nov. (South Africa), S. typica sp. nov. (South Africa), S. staudei sp. nov. (South Africa), S. afromontana sp. nov. (Kenya), S. erexita sp. nov. (South Africa), S. admirabilis sp. nov. (Namibia), S. griseata sp. nov. (South Africa), S. nigristriana sp. nov. (Kenya), S. munita sp. nov. (Malawi), S. ochracea sp. nov. (South Africa), S. asantesana sp. nov. (South Africa), S. selectoides sp. nov. (Namibia, RSA), S. etoshensis sp. nov. (Namibia), S. ethiopica sp. nov. (Ethiopia), and S. agassizi sp. nov. (Kenya). Six new synonyms are established: Phthorimaea blapsigona Meyrick, 1916 and Scrobipalpa asiri Povolný, 1980 syn. nov. of Scrobipalpa concreta (Meyrick, 1914); Scrobipalpa xylochroa Janse, 1963 and S. obsoletella hospes Povolný, 1964 syn. nov. of S. obsoletella (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1841); S. vicaria (Meyrick, 1921) syn. nov. of S. geomicta (Meyrick, 1918); and Gelechia chersophila Meyrick, 1918 syn. nov. of S. portosanctana (Stainton, 1859). The following new combinations for five species previously placed in Scrobipalpa are proposed: Ephysteris cretigena (Meyrick, 1914) comb. nov., Microlechia colasta (Meyrick, 1921) comb. nov., Schizovalva costimacula (Janse, 1951) comb. nov., Gelechia trychnophylla (Janse, 1960) comb. nov. and Trychnopalpa phalacrodes (Meyrick, 1913) comb. nov. Two species, Phthorimaea pendens Meyrick, 1918 comb. rev. and Homaloxestis ocyphanes Meyrick, 1937 comb. rev., are excluded from Scrobipalpa but no current genus is available. The male genitalia of Scrobipalpa nomias (Meyrick, 1921) are described for the first time. All species are diagnosed, some of them are redescribed based on additional material. Identification keys and photographs of adults and genitalia are provided. New or additional host plants are recorded for Scrobipalpa incola (Meyrick, 1912), S. concreta, S. portosanctana, and S. ergasima (Meyrick, 1916). Scrobipalpa incola is recorded for the first time from Namibia, Tanzania, and Kenya; S. concreta is new for Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Benin and Mauritius; S. subroseata for Tanzania and Kenya; S. aptatella (Walker, 1864) and S. biljurshi Povolný, 1980 for Ethiopia; S. obsoletella and S. traganella (Chrétien, 1915) for Namibia; S. geomicta for India and Ethiopia; and S. ergasima for Benin, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Yemen.

The Neotropical genera Guadana Rheims, 2010 and Sparianthina Banks, 1929 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae)

The Neotropical genera Guadana Rheims, 2010a and Sparianthina Banks, 1929 are revised. Based on re-interpreted and newly observed characters, updated diagnoses are given for each genus. Eight new species are described, six in Guadana: G. alpahuayo sp. n. (♂♀) and G. ucayali sp. n. (♂), from Peru; G. amendoim sp. n. (♀), G. mapia sp. n. and G. muirpinima sp. n. (♀), from Brazil; G. arawak sp. n. (♂), from French Guiana, and two in Sparianthina: S. boyaca sp. n. (♀) from Colombia and S. soca sp. n. from Trinidad & Tobago. Sparianthina rufescens (Mello-Leitão, 1940) is considered incertae sedis. All new species are illustrated and photographed. Identification keys for both genera including comparative detailed illustrations of male and female characters, as well as updated distribution maps for all known species are provided.

A revision of the treehopper genus Bubalopa Stål illuminates the systematics of Hyphinoini (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Membracidae)

Bubalopa Stål, 1869 (Darninae: Hyphinoini) is an obscure genus of treehoppers endemic to the Northern Andes. In this work, we reassess the taxonomic boundaries of Bubalopa based on primary types and comparative material. Newly reported characters from adults and nymphs expand the current concept of Hyphinoini, for which an amended diagnosis is presented. Identification keys, species redescriptions, illustrations, and distribution maps are provided for the three species that now constitute Bubalopa: B. furcata (Fairmaire, 1846), B. obscuricornis Stål, 1869 and B. iguaque sp. nov. (Cordillera Oriental, Colombia). Immatures of Hyphinoe obliqua (Walker, 1858) and B. furcata are described for the first time with notes on their life history. A nomenclatural change is proposed for Hyphinoe punctorum Buckton, 1903, previously included in Bubalopa, now considered to be a junior synonym of Eualthe punctum (Fairmaire, 1846). A lectotype is designated for Hemiptycha furcata Fairmaire, 1846, currently housed at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien.

Two new species of Inga (Fabaceae-mimosoid clade) from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Inga (Fabaceae, mimosoid clade) is an important genus in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil where there are 44 species, 60% of which are endemic. In this work, we describe two new species of Inga (I. teresensis and I. tripa) from the Atlantic Forest and provide identification keys to the species of sections Vulpinae and Leptinga in the biome. Illustrations and comments about the geographic distribution, conservation status, phenology, etymology, and taxonomy of the new species are also included. Inga teresensis is only known from the state of Espírito Santo and is categorized as Critically Endangered (CR). Inga tripa occurs in coastal areas of the states of Bahia, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Sergipe and is categorized as Learn Concern (LC).

ecoBalade, Reconnecting People to Their Bioregion

Many studies have identified that people, the stories they tell (Prévot-Julliard et al. 2014) and the products they buy (Kesebir and Kesebir 2017) are getting more and more disconnected from nature. As a side effect, it is getting harder to understand the complexity of conservation issues (Zhang et al. 2014). The result (Pyle 2003) is an inexorable cycle of disconnection, apathy, and progressive depletion of awareness. Even though remarkable progress has been made by software technologies to help us to give names to plants, birds and animals, we need a deeper connection to our environment. By permitting exploration of an ecopath and the surrounding species (thanks to the identification keys), the new version of ecoBalade aims to reconnect people to people and nature. It provides a new way for public localities to put their natural heritage in the spotlight. We also believe that this new version will showcase the local bioregions (Pezzoli and Leiter 2016, Ebach et al. 2013) and will provide a key to understanding the imbrications of local biodiversity.

A reference of identification keys to plant-parasitic nematodes (Nematoda: Tylenchida\ Tylenchomorpha)

The present review has documented a list of keys for identifying plant-parasitic nematodes at different taxonomic levels including superfamily, family, subfamily, genus, and species. It was compiled as a current source of information to assist students and professionals in the discipline of nematology for identification of this important group of soil nematodes.

Facing Phototrophic Microorganisms That Colonize Artistic Fountains and Other Wet Stone Surfaces: Identification Keys

All fountains are inhabited by phototrophic microorganisms, especially if they are functional and located outdoors. This fact, along with the regular presence of water and the intrinsic bioreceptivity of stone material, easily favors the biological development. Many of these organisms are responsible for the biodeterioration phenomena and recognizing them could help to define the best strategies for the conservation and maintenance of monumental fountains. The presence of biological growth involves different activities for the conservation of artistic fountains. This paper is a review of the phototrophic biodiversity reported in 46 fountains and gives a whole vision on coping with biodeteriogens of fountains, being an elementary guide for professionals in the field of stone conservation. It is focused on recognizing the main phototrophs by using simplified dichotomous keys for cyanobacteria, green algae and diatoms. Some basic issues related to the handling of the samples and with the control of these types of microalgae are also briefly described, in order to assist interested professionals when dealing with the biodiversity of monumental fountains.