Embioptera (Insecta) from Brazil: New species and a taxonomic update.

Eight new species of Embioptera from Brazil are described, diagnosed, and illustrated. For Anisembiidae: Chelicercaachilata Szumik, Pereyra & Juárez, sp. nov.; Saussurembiaborba Szumik, Pereyra & Juárez, sp. nov. For Archembiidae: Archembiaoruma Szumik, sp. nov.; Embolynthaoriximina Szumik, Pereyra & Juárez, sp. nov.; Pararhagadochirbonita Szumik, Pereyra & Juárez, sp. nov., Pararhagadochirmarielleae Szumik, Pereyra & Juárez, sp. nov.; Pararhagadochirpara Szumik, Pereyra & Juárez, sp. nov. For Clothodidae: Chromatoclothodalanga Szumik, Pereyra & Juárez, sp. nov. To clarify the higher classification of the Order and to have an accurate taxonomy, a species catalog and introduction to the four families present in Brazil is also detailed, including phylogenetic relationships, taxonomic actions, composition, distributions, and records maps. Herein, several taxonomic acts are proposed: (1) the synonymy of Chelicerca Ross (= Dactylocerca Ross confirmed junior synonym; = Schizembia Ross syn nov.; = Pelorembia Ross, confirmed junior synonym; = Cryptembia Ross, syn. nov.) and Saussurembia Davis (= Stenembia Ross, syn. nov.). (2) new status and delimitation for family Archembiidae Ross, stat. rev.; subfamily Archembiinae Ross, stat. rev.; subfamily Pachylembiinaestat. rev.; subfamily Scelembiinaestat. rev., and their genera included. (3) Diradiusunicolor (Ross) (Teratembiidae) comb. nov., and (4) new locality records for previously cited species in the region.

Areas of endemism: to overlap or not to overlap, that is the question.

The concept of "areas of endemism", and the assumption that these patterns are always a consequence of vicariant events, are reviewed. This assumption is related to the idea that areas of endemism have well-defined limits and never share any surface with other areas of endemism because they must represent sister areas supported by sister taxa. Based on this idea, overlapping areas have been considered rarely, or ignored completely. Using a data set of mammals of North America, we test here whether the overlapping areas are indeed sister areas supported by sister taxa, thus evaluating whether vicariant events are commonly the factor producing areas of endemism.

The American genus Dactuliothrips (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) with three new species.

Three new species of Dactuliothrips Moulton are described, two from Mendoza, Argentina and one from Southern California, USA: D. prosopis sp.n. from Prosopis alpataco (Fabaceae), D. monttea sp.n. from Monttea aphylla (Scrophulariaceae), and D. ephedra sp.n. from Ephedra sp. (Ephedraceae). A revised diagnosis and an illustrated identification key to the nine recognized species of Dactuliothrips are also provided. Pictures and notes about the host plants for the species from Argentina are included, together with new records for D. kaszabi from Argentina.

Detecting areas of endemism with a taxonomically diverse data set: plants, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and insects from Argentina.

The idea of an area of endemism implies that different groups of plants and animals should have largely coincident distributions. This paper analyses an area of 1152 000 km2 , between parallels 21 and 32°S and meridians 70 and 53°W to examine whether a large and taxonomically diverse data set actually displays areas supported by different groups. The data set includes the distribution of 805 species of plants (45 families), mammals (25 families), reptiles (six families), amphibians (five families), birds (18 families), and insects (30 families), and is analysed with the optimality criterion (based on the notion of endemism) implemented in the program NDM/VNDM. Almost 50% of the areas obtained are supported by three or more major groups; areas supported by fewer major groups generally contain species from different genera, families, or orders. © The Willi Hennig Society 2011.

Liothrips tractabilis sp.n. (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripinae) from Argentina, a potential biocontrol agent of Weedy Campuloclinium macrocephalum (Asteraceae) in South Africa.

A new species, Liothrips tractabilis, is described from northern Argentina. Feeding by this thrips causes severe damage to the leaves of Campuloclinium macrocephalum, a plant that has been introduced to South Africa where it is a serious weed of grasslands. A key is provided to the four species of the genus Liothrips recorded from Argentina.

Liothrips tractabilis sp.n. (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripinae) from Argentina, a potential biocontrol agent of Weedy Campuloclinium macrocephalum (Asteraceae) in South Africa

A new species, Liothrips tractabilis, is described from northern Argentina. Feeding by this thrips causes severe damage to the leaves of Campuloclinium macrocephalum, a plant that has been introduced to South Africa where it is a serious weed of grasslands. A key is provided to the four species of the genus Liothrips recorded from Argentina.

Uma nova espécie, Liothrips tractabilis, é descrita do norte da Argentina. Essa espécie causa severo dano nas folhas de Campuloclinium macrocephalum, que foi introduzida à África do Sul, onde é planta daninha em pastagens. Uma chave é apresentada para as quatro espécies do gênero Liothrips registradas na Argentina.