The genus Oligonychus Berlese (Acari, Prostigmata, Tetranychidae): taxonomic assessment and a key to subgenera, species groups, and subgroups

A comprehensive taxonomic assessment of the most agriculturally important and highly diverse spider mite genus, Oligonychus Berlese (Acari: Tetranychidae) was performed. The sub-generic division, species groups, doubtful species, species complexes and the interpretation of a key generic character are discussed. Based on the orientation of the male aedeagus, only two subgenera, namely Oligonychus Berlese (aedeagus downturned) and Reckiella Tuttle & Baker (aedeagus upturned), are valid in the genus Oligonychus. The subgenera Homonychus Wainstein, Metatetranychoides Wainstein, and Wainsteiniella Tuttle & Baker are considered to be synonyms of the subgenus Oligonychus, whereas the subgenus Pritchardinychus Wainstein is proposed as a synonym of the subgenus Reckiella. Moreover, based on female morphological characters, four species groups (coffeae, exsiccator, iseilemae, and peruvianus) and 11 species subgroups (aceris, biharensis, coffeae, comptus, exsiccator, gossypii, iseilemae, peruvianus, pritchardi, smithi, and subnudus) are suggested in the subgenera Oligonychus and Reckiella. Fourteen Oligonychus species are proposed as species inquirendae, and potential cryptic species complexes in the genus Oligonychus are briefly highlighted. It is agreed that the clunal seta h1 is always absent, while the para-anal setae h2 and h3 are always present in the genus Oligonychus. A key to subgenera, species groups, and species subgroups of the genus Oligonychus is provided.

The Obs-Services and their potentials for biodiversity data assessments with a test of the current reliability of photo-identification of Coleoptera in the field

The current reliability of species identifications by the Nature Identification API (NIA) of the app ObsIdentify is tested with a Coleoptera (Insecta) sample set from Germany. Seventy-five photographic beetle records taken with a smartphone camera under “average user” conditions are analysed in terms of correctness of the app’s identification result on various taxonomic levels, the displayed confidence level of the identification and the time until validation of the results. More than 60% of samples were identified correctly at the species level, but only 53% were validated within a month. The mechanisms by which users can upload pictures of their observations to be identified by the artificial intelligence and the validation process by experts are briefly explained. Regional specifics and further opportunities for data usage as well as currently existing problems are discussed and improvements are suggested. The expert validation of records is identified as a huge quality advantage of the Obs-Services. They are generally found to be a promising tool for lay people and professional institutions, despite still existing deficiencies such as identification failure in mutilated specimens, cryptic and rare species, doubtful species rarity ratings as well as the still insufficient capacity of validation. Experts and institutions are encouraged to volunteer as validators and collaborators.

Myrcia (Myrtaceae) in the state of Paraná, Brazil

Myrtaceae is one of the largest families in number of species within the order Myrtales and one of the richest families in Brazil. Myrcia is the fourth largest genus of Myrtaceae, with approximately 770 species distributed from Central America and the Caribbean to southern South America. In Brazil Myrcia is represented by 397 species, of which 309 are endemic. In this study, we present the taxonomic treatment for all species of Myrcia that occur in Paraná state, Brazil. Analyses of herbarium specimens, online databases, and bibliography were performed. Fifty-three species of Myrcia occur in Paraná, distributed in all vegetation types. Twenty-three names were excluded from previous lists of species or listed as doubtful species. Neither of the recorded species is endemic to Paraná, but this state is the southern and northern limit of distribution of six and two species, respectively. We present an identification key, taxonomic descriptions, figures, maps, and comments on phenology, habitat, and morphology for each species.

Sansevieria pfennigii (Ruscaceae, Asparagales): Confirmation of existence, emendation of description, and tentative threat assessment

Sansevieria pfennigii, which to date has been a doubtful species, is confirmed as extant by a recent collection from the Lindi Region in southern Tanzania. The original description of the species, which is based on herbarium material only, is here emended based on additional observations recorded from living plants, including fruits that were previously unknown. Sansevieria pfennigii distinguishes from S. canaliculata, to which it was repeatedly assigned, by its capitate instead of elongate inflorescence, rough rather than smooth leaves, non-pungent instead of pungent leaf tips, dull green leaf colour, more delicate overall appearance, alongside other traits. The difference in inflorescence architecture indicates that these species belong to different groups within Sansevieria and are not closely related; the closest relatives of S. pfennigii are probably S. fischeri and S. stuckyi. Sansevieria pfennigii occurs on well-drained soil in forests, close to S. canaliculata populations. According to the extent of the population seen and the species’ overall rarity, it is tentatively assessed as critically endangered.

Catalogue of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) from Continental Southeast Asia

This paper presents a catalogue of oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) recorded from Continental Southeast Asia (CSEA) covering a period of 55 years from 1965 to the first half of 2020. This subregion comprises countries that are located on the southeastern coast of the Asian continent, namely, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. For each species, information is compiled on references to the original description, subsequent re-combinations of specific name with other genera, and junior synonyms used in CSEA literature, if any, as well as type habitat, habitats recorded later, and distribution within outside CSEA. A historical review of explorations and taxonomic studies in the various countries is also provided. A total of 820 valid species including subspecies and seven doubtful species are known so far from CSEA. The valid species belong to 313 genera and subgenera, 94 families and 36 superfamilies in all of the five infraorders and two hyporders of the Suborder Oribatida. The Hyporder Brachypylina is most diverse with 620 species, followed by Mixonomata (88), Enarthronota (65), Nothrina (41), Palaeosomata (5) and Parhyposomata (1). Vietnam whose fauna has been best explored tops the records with 730 species, followed by a low second by Thailand (137), then Cambodia (37) and Myanmar (11) while the oribatid fauna of Laos is still entirely unknown. Altogether, the oribatid fauna of Southeast Asia (SEA), including its two subregions, now totals 1601 species belonging to 477 genera, 109 families and 40 superfamilies. Species that are known so far only from CSEA countries and thus probably endemic is highest at 36.4% for Myanmar, 32,1% for Thailand, 23.7% for Vietnam, 0 for Cambodia, 27.2% for CSEA, 59.0% for the Malay Archipelago, and 48.7% for SEA as a whole. About 7% of the recorded species of Thailand and Vietnam are cosmopolitan or semicosmopolitan in distribution, but their faunal elements are decidedly Oriental, with about half (43–54%) occurring also in other Oriental countries. The same countries also share in common many species with other zoogeographic regions, viz. 12–14% Palaearctic, 8–16% Australian, 8–11% Neotropical, 3–11% Ethiopian, and 1–3% Nearctic.

Revision of Eulophia (Orchidaceae) in Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo

Background and aims – The genus Eulophia (Orchidaceae) is revised for Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo. The aims are: to present a morphological characterization of the main vegetative and reproductive features of Eulophia to clarify the delimitation of the taxa within the genus in the studied countries; to provide an updated identification key and an updated checklist of the genus with nomenclatural data, distribution maps, ecological information, and preliminary conservation status. This revision may serve as a basis for future studies of the genus in other regions of Africa.Material and methods – Relevant material kept in BM, BR, FHI, HBG, K, MA, P, and WAG was examined, using standard practices of herbarium taxonomy. Vegetative and reproductive structures were analysed. MapMaker was used to produce the distribution maps.Key results – A total of 24 species are recognised in the study area. The variability of perennating organs, leaves, sepals and petals, lip (including ornamentation), spur, and anther cap are described and depicted, and were found to be informative for species recognition. A taxonomic treatment is given with an identification key, synonymy, distribution maps, preliminary conservation status, and specimen citations. Eulophia galeoloides is neotypified, E. brevipetala, E. leonensis, E. penduliflora, and Lissochilus elatus are lectotypified. According to our study, we consider E. parvula a synonym of E. pyrophila. E. sordida is considered as a doubtful species in the study area.

Comparative leaf micromorphology of Drypetes and Putranjiva (Putranjivaceae) and its taxonomic significance

Putranjivaceae are a pantropically distributed but poorly known glucosinulate-producing family of three genera (Drypetes, Putranjiva and Sibangea), previously included in Euphorbiaceae subfamily Phyllanthoideae. Characters of the leaf epidermis were previously suggested as being of infrafamilial taxonomic relevance, but epidermal features of the three genera have not so far been compared in the light of the phylogenetic relationships recovered by molecular data. Therefore, we compared the leaf micromorphology of 44 (out of c. 200) Drypetes spp. and two (out of three) Putranjiva spp. using light microscopy. Our findings revealed that there are more stomata types than previously reported in both genera. We also present a new record of stomatal complexes and epidermal cell characteristics. The cell wall ornamentation character on both surfaces of the epidermis is useful for distinguishing D. aframensis subsp. aframensis. Based on a combination of the studied characters, doubtful species of Drypetes and Putranjiva are recognizable as belonging to the two genera, and this will require taxonomic and nomenclatural adjustments. Other taxonomically useful characters are trichome distribution and types and leaf areole shape and tertiary veins branching patterns that appear to be relatively constant across the two genera. Oil droplets located within the cell lumen in Putranjiva differentiates it from Drypetes, where they inwardly streak the epidermal walls among other features. Thus, our study provides evidence that the investigated leaf micromorphological characters are useful for distinguishing the species of the two genera, and they corroborate the existing infrageneric classification of Drypetes that was based on exomorphology.

A synopsis of Bambusoideae (Poaceae) in Lombok, Indonesia

Damayanto IPGP, Rustiami H, Miftahudin, Chikmawati T. 2020. A Synopsis of Bambusoideae (Poaceae) in Lombok, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 4489-4500. There is little documentation of bamboo on Lombok. Non-native Indonesian bamboos have been reported occurring in Lombok. As such, suspicious bamboo specimens and information in those reports need to be examined and possibly re-determined. This study aimed to provide updated taxonomical information of bamboo species in Lombok and to investigate the accuracy of previous studies regarding the existence of several non-native Indonesian bamboo species on the island (i.e. they do not have original distribution in Indonesia). Data from fieldwork were combined with specimens in Herbarium Bogoriense to create a synopsis of bamboo in Lombok and to develop an identification key to the species. Eleven species of bamboos in Lombok were reported from this study, namely Bambusa glaucophylla, B. maculata, B. multiplex, B. spinosa, B. vulgaris, Dendrocalamus asper, Gigantochloa apus, G. atter, Schizostachyum brachycladum, S. lima, and Thyrsostachys siamensis. Several doubtful species (B. albustiata, B. ventricosa, Guadua angustifolia, S. jaculans, Pseudosasa japonica) were presented to clarify the existence of a non-native Indonesian bamboo in Lombok. Moreover, there is not enough evidence to state Dinochloa sp. occurred in Lombok. The results of this study can be used by stakeholders for bamboo identification and as the baseline taxonomic account for future studies and conservation of bamboo species in Lombok.

A taxonomic revision of Trigonostemon (Euphorbiaceae) outside Malesia

The Trigonostemon species outside Malesia are taxonomically revised based on herbarium collections and fresh material. The research history in the concerning regions, i.e., the Indian subcontinent (including S India, SriLanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar), China, Thailand, Indochina, NE Australia and New Caledonia, is briefly summarised. A total of 32 species are accepted (including one doubtful species) and 17 names are newly treated as synonyms. Trigonostemon montanus is newly described for India. Regional identification keys, nomenclature, descriptions, geographic distributions and taxonomic notes are provided. Together with our previous work, the genus is now fully revised. A total of 59 species are accepted. A full identification list of all Trigonostemon collections seen is presented.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Flemingia (Leguminosae) from Indo-Chinese floristic region

In present research, we revised the taxonomy of Flemingia for the whole Indochinese floristic region, which consist of 24 species and one variety. China was the most diversified country with 18 species of Flemingia and one variety, followed by Myanmar (16 species), Thailand (13 species and one variety), Vietnam (12 species and one variety), Laos (12 species and one variety), and Cambodia (5 species). Flemingia weii is newly described from China, F. sootepensis and F. nana are new records for China, F. kerrii and F. mengpengensis are new records for Myanmar, and F. semialata is a new record for Vietnam and China. Based on the identity of morphological characters, we synonymized F. ferruginea var. eglandulosa, F. yunnanensis, F. kradungensis, F. tiliaceae under F. kerrii, F. macrophylla, F. kweichowensis, F. strobilifera, respectively. Furthermore, the lectotype of F. ferruginea var. eglandulosa and F. lineata var. hirtella are designated here. For each species, accepted names, literature, synonyms, type specimens, full description, iconography citation, ecology, phenology, distribution and taxonomic notes with morphologically characters have been studied in detials. In order to facilitate species identification and delimitation, a dichotomous key to the known species of Flemingia within the Indochinese floristic region was provided. Additionally, some doubtful species were also discussed.