A new species of the genus Mycterodus Spinola (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Issidae) from Iran defining southern boundary of generic distribution

Mycterodus meridionalis sp. n. is described from Kerman Province of southern Iran. This is one of the most southern species of the genus Mycterodus Spinola known from between 29º and 30º of northern latitude.

Evaluating the Accuracy of RANS Wind Flow Modeling Over Forested Terrain—Part 1: Canopy Model Validation

This study uses the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations to validate a canopy model by computing a fully developed wind flow within and above a horizontally homogeneous dense forest as in the work of Dalpé and Masson. The model is paired with a modified k–ε turbulence closure. A set of boundary conditions (BCs) that rely on the law of the wall for a sustainable atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is used. All simulations are conducted in the open source software OpenFOAM v.2.4.0 (OpenCFD Ltd (ESI Group)). Two practical aspects are considered in the validation process. First, an accurate leaf area index (LAI) integration to exactly fit the wind shear is evaluated. Since the physical foliage parameters may not be accessible for all type of forests, a generic leaf area density α distribution is tested. The results of this test show that a generic distribution is sufficient for preliminary analyses to improve accuracy of wind flow predictions over forested terrain. Second, the approach of Dalpé and Masson is limited to cyclic BCs which are not practical for real sites. For cases without cyclic BCs, imposing a proper slope on the inlet velocity profile is of high importance. This condition can be achieved through adjustment of the roughness length at the inlet.

Five new cave-dwelling species of Hemirrhagus Simon 1903 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae), with notes on the generic distribution and novel morphological features

The suborder Mygalomorphae is generally poorly represented in the cave faunas of the world. The genus Hemirrhagus is endemic to Mexico and has 22 described species. It is the only one with epigean, troglophile and troglobitic species. Lack of urticating setae, loss of eye pigmentation and ocular reduction are interpreted as evolutionary reversals related to their troglobitic habits. From five troglobitic species in the genus, only the male of Hemirrhagus stygius is known. Five new troglobitic species are described with both sexes: Hemirrhagus akheronteus sp. nov., Hemirrhagus billsteelei sp. nov., Hemirrhaugus diablo sp. nov., Hemirrhagus kalebi sp. nov. and Hemirrhagus sprousei sp. nov. The female of Hemirrhagus chilango is described for the first time. Hemirrhagus akheronteus sp. nov. has a group of spinose setae on the opisthosoma; this setal modification was never reported in any other theraphosid spiders. Females of Hemirrhagus kalebi sp. nov. and Hemirrhagus sprousei sp. nov. lay fixed hammock egg sacs, which is an unusual behavior among species in Theraphosinae. Two stridulating setae previously reported only in epigean species are present on some of the new troglobites.

Annea gen. nov. (Detarieae, Caesalpinioideae, Leguminosae): a home for two species long misplaced in Hymenostegia sensu lato

A new genus Annea is described to accommodate two tropical African legume species previously misplaced in Hymenostegia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, Detarieae). Annea gen. nov. is widespread in tropical Africa but has an unusual disjunct generic distribution, occurring in both upper and lower Guinea but absent from Gabon. Annea afzelii accounts for the generic range in Upper Guinea extending as far east as Equatorial Guinea in the Lower-Guinea region whereas A. laxiflora occupies the southern part of Lower Guinea and shows a preference for drier habitats than the more wide ranging A. afzelii. Hymenostegia dinklagei, a synonym of A. afzelii is neotypified. Neither species of Annea qualifies for a category of threat and both are assessed here as Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN criteria. Scorodophloeus, another exclusively tropical African genus is sister to Annea. Two tables of characters are included, one comparing the morphologies of Annea, Scorodophloeus and Hymenostegia sensu stricto and another providing morphological characters that can be used to separate the two species of Annea. A distribution map of Annea, an illustration of A. afzelii and photographs of A. laxiflora are presented.