Morphology and multi-gene phylogeny reveal a new fungal genus and species from Hevea brasiliensis latex in Yunnan, China

During a survey of rubber tree plantations in Yunnan Province, China, a fungus growing on natural rubber latex was collected and isolated. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined ITS, LSU, SSU, tef-α and rpb2 genes showed the isolated taxon belongs to Wiesneriomycetaceae and was well separated from closely related genera with high statistical support. It can be differentiated from other genera in Wiesneriomycetaceae by synnemata with catenate conidia that are cylindrical, 0–4 to multi-septate, often with a dark brown band at the septa. Morphology, phylogenetic analyses and pairwise homoplasy index (PHI) tests provide evidence that the new isolate is a distinct genus. The genus Heveicola is introduced, with H. xishuangbannaensis as the type species. A key to the genera in Wiesneriomycetaceae is also provided.

Redescription of Paracles vulpina (Hübner, [1825]) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), with comments of the aquatic habit of larval instars

The genus Paracles Walker, 1855 is one of the most diverse genera present in Arctiinae and some species have larvae with aquatic habits. Several larvae were found swimming in flooded areas in different grasslands and were bred to adults to identify the species: Paracles vulpina (Hübner, [1825]). The current knowledge of immature stages of this species is not useful to identify and discriminate from other species of Paracles. For this reason, we proposed to redescribe adults of P. vulpina, showing for the first time the male and female genitalia, and improve the information on the immature stages and their habits. The adults can be recognized by the whitish paler brown band in the costal area in the forewing and whitish paler brown antenna. The final larval stage of P. vulpina can be differentiated from other species because it shows a body with a black pubescence except for a ferruginous subventral pubescence, blue dorsal verrucae, red lateral verrucae, and dorsal plastron with longest white setae. Because of its polyphagous feeding habit on aquatic and non aquatic plants we consider the aquatic larval habit is not a necessary strategy and could depend on the ground topography or weather of the locality.

On the genus Polypedilum, subgenus Collartomyia, with description of P. (Col.) baishanzuensis sp. nov. from Baishanzu Nature Reserve, China (Diptera, Chironomidae)

A new species of the genus Polypedilum Kieffer, 1912 is described from Baishanzu Nature Reserve, China, based on molecular and morphological data. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on standard barcode sequences confirmed a new clade of Polypedilum (Collartomyia) species. The new species is easily distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: membrane of wing with a large spot occupying 70% of the proximal area; tergite without dark brown band pigmentation; tarsi I–V dark brown; superior volsella with three outer lateral setae and six long setae along inner base; inferior volsella with setose tubercules. An updated key to adult males of the subgenus Collartomyia is also provided.

Pseudolaguvia moinensis, a new benthic miniature Asian catfish (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from Arunachal Pradesh, north-eastern India

A new species of miniature sisorid catfish is described, from the upper Brahmaputra river drainage in northeastern India. The new species is distinguished from all its congeners except P. ferruginea and P. focusa by having an elongate light brown to cream marks either side on ventro-lateral margin just above anus. Further, distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of a W-shaped dark brown band on caudal fin, thoracic adhesive apparatus extending closer to pelvic-fin base, smooth anterior margin of dorsal spine, a narrow V-shaped light brown to cream bands on side of the body, dorsal-spine length (10.7-14.7% SL), dorsal-fin base length (10.7-14.2% SL), pectoral-fin spine length (14.0-21.1% SL), pelvic-fin length (13.5-16.6% SL), caudal peduncle length (14.4-18.2% SL) and depth (7.8-9.9% SL), total vertebrae (30-31), caudal fin with a complete medial hyaline bands towards its anterior end, reaching outer margin of each lobe. Other combination of characters differentiating the new species from its congeners are provided in the respective diagnoses.

Antipathogenic Activity of Acroporid Bacterial Symbionts Against Brown Band Disease-Associated Bacteria

The coral reefs’ condition in most regions in Indonesia has been declining due to coral diseases, such as Brown Band Disease (BrBD). A treatment for BrBD involves the use of biological control agents that have antagonistic properties against disease-causing agents. This study aimed to isolate bacteria from healthy hard coral, those associated with BrBD, and those that had bioactivities against BrBD. Sampling and identification of corals and BrBD were carried out in March 2015 at the Marine National Park of Karimunjawa. Bacteria from healthy and infected corals were isolated and purified. The isolates were subjected to antipathogenic assay using overlay and agar diffusion methods. Finally, molecular identification of active bacteria was carried out using the 16S rRNA gene amplification. As many as 57 bacterial isolates were obtained from healthy coral, as well as four bacterial isolates from coral with BrBD symptoms. A total of 15 bacterial isolates (26%) showed antipathogenic activity against BrBD-associated bacteria. Three isolates with the strongest antipathogenic activities, i.e., GAMSH 3, KASH 6, and TAPSH 1 were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequences. The results showed that they were aligned to Virgibacillus marismortui (97%), Oceanobacillus iheyensis (97%), and Bacillus cereus (96%), respectively.

Tagalis graziae, a new species of Saicinae from the Chocó biogeographic region in Colombia (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Tagalis graziae sp. nov., is described from a specimen collected in Risaralda, Colombia, in an area considered part of the Chocó biogeographic region. Among the species of Tagalis with a large and nearly horizontal posteromedial process of the pygophore, T. graziae sp. nov. can be recognized by its coloration pattern, in particular by having the profemur with a basal and apical dark brown band, the apex of the meso and metafemur with an apical narrow dark brown band, and the supracoxal lobes dark brown. Digital images of external morphological characters and of the genitalia are provided. An updated key to the species of Tagalis is presented to facilitate the identification of the new species.

PREVALENSI DAN KELIMPAHAN PENYAKIT KARANG DI PERAIRAN DESA BUTON KABUPATEN MOROWALI SULAWESI TENGAH

Penyakit karang sekarang ini sudah menjadi perhatian utama para peneliti karang. Banyak kasus dilaporkan penyakit karang menjadi penyumbang terbesar kematian karang di sebuah perairan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui prevalensi dan kelimpahan penyakit karang di Perairan Desa Buton, Kabupaten Morowali, Sulawesi Tengah. Metode pengambilan data prevalensi dan kelimpahan penyakit karang menggunkan belt transect (transek sabuk) dengan luas 180m2 yang ditarik sejajar garis pantai pada 3 (tiga) titik stasiun. Hasil penelitian menunjukan ditemukan sebanyak 5 (lima) jenis penyakit karang (White Band Disease, Brown Band Disease, Ulcerative White Spot, Bleaching, dan Black Band Disease dan 3 (tiga) jenis gangguan kesehatan karang (Fish bites, Crown-of-Thorn-Starfish (COTS), dan Tube formers). Secara umum total prevalensi penyakit karang di lokasi penelitian sebesar 78,7% (52,3% penyakit karang dan 26,4% berupa gangguan kesehatan karang) dengan kasus tertinggi terdapat di stasiun 1 (satu). lebih lanjut kelimpahan rata-rata penyakit karang sebesar 0,65 koloni/m2. Kelimpahan penyakit karang tertinggi ditemukan pada stasiun I yaitu sebesar 0,32 koloni/m2.Kata Kunci: Penyakit Karang, Prevalensi, Kelimpahan, Perairan Desa Buton

A new Occidozyga from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo (Anura: Dicroglossidae)

We found a uniquely colored dicroglossid frog of the genus Occidozyga from western Sarawak, East Malaysia. It is divergent from other congeners in morphology and mtDNA sequences. In a molecular phylogeny, this species is the sister lineage to the continental species O. lima and O. martensii with weak support. The species is small with SVL 16–18 mm in males and 18–19 mm in females, without dorsolateral fold but with transverse wrinkles on dorsum, tips of fingers lacking disks but of toes with disks, only first and second toes webbed to disks, and orange-brown dorsum with dark brown band. We thus describe it as a new species.

A NEW SPECIES OF Lankascincus GREER, 1991 (REPTILIA : SCINCIDAE) FROM THE RAKWANA HILLS OF SRI LANKA

A new species of the endemic scincid lizard genus Lankascincus from the Rakwana hills of Sri Lanka, is described. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by possessing the following combination of characters: maximum SVL less than 35.0 mm, prefrontals in broad contact, seven supralabials, last supralabial scale split, 24 mid-body scale rows, 46–48 paravertebrals, 49–51 ventrals, 13–16 lamellae on fourth toe, and a conspicuous dark brown band from snout to mid-tail, gradually fading posteriad. The number of palpebral scales around eye is used as a meristic character in the genus Lankascincus for the first time.