Two New Species of Sucking Lice (Psocodea: Phthiraptera: Hoplopleuridae) from Chestnut Mice, Pseudomys gracilicaudatus and Pseudomys nanus (Rodentia: Muridae), in Australia.

We describe two new species of sucking lice in the genus Hoplopleura Enderlein, 1904 (Psocodea: Phthiraptera: Hoplopleuridae) from Australia: Hoplopleura gracilicaudatusa n. sp. from the eastern chestnut mouse Pseudomys gracilicaudatus (Gould) (Rodentia: Muridae), and Hoplopleura nanusa n. sp. from the western chestnut mouse Pseudomys nanus (Gould) (Rodentia: Muridae). Pseudomys Gray is the most speciose genus of rodents endemic to Australia with 24 species; however, only two Pseudomys species have been reported previously to be hosts of sucking lice. The description of the new species in the present study doubles the number of sucking louse species known to parasitize Pseudomys mice and increases the total number of sucking louse species known from endemic Australian rodents from 21 to 23. Pseudomys gracilicaudatus and P. nanus are closely related murines that diverged ~1 MYA with distinct and widely separated extant geographic distributions. The two new Hoplopleura species described in the present study share some morphological characters and likely co-evolved and co-speciated with their chestnut mouse hosts.

A Case of Linognathus setosus (von Olfers, 1816) (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) Infestation in a Dog.

This case report was prepared to give information about Linognathus setosus (von Olfers, 1816) detected on a 2-year-old male Rottweiler breed dog which was brought to a private veterinary clinic due to restlessness and itching. Lice were found especially on the head, neck and back regions of the dog in the examination for ectoparasites. Four female, 2 male and 9 nymph lice were collected from dog. The collected lice were preserved in eppendorf tubes containing 70% ethanol (C2H5OH) and were sent to the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Selçuk University for species identification. In the laboratory, the lice were left to be transparent in a 10% potassium hydroxide solution and passed through a series of alcohols (70% - 99% ethanol), glued onto the slide with Canadian balsam and examined microscopically. Lice were identified as L. setosus. Although this species has been reported in Turkey, there is no article about its morphological structure, biology and prevalence. Therefore, detailed informations about the morphological features of L. setosus are given to inform veterinarians and scientists working in this field.

A New Species of Sucking Louse (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae) From the Gray Mouse Lemur, Microcebus murinus (Primates: Cheirogaleidae), in Madagascar.

Lemurpediculus madagascariensis sp. nov. (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Polyplacidae) is described from the Gray Mouse lemur, Microcebus murinus (J. F. Miller) (Primates: Cheirogaleidae), from Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar. Lemurs were trapped using Sherman Live Traps and visually inspected for lice, which were preserved in 90% ethanol. Adults of both sexes and the third-instar nymph of the new species are illustrated and distinguished from the four previously known species of Lemurpediculus: L. verruculosus (Ward); L. petterorum Paulian; L. claytoni Durden, Blanco, and Seabolt; and L. robbinsi Durden, Blanco, and Seabolt. It is not known if the new species of louse is a vector of any pathogens or parasites.

The fern-feeder aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from China: a generic account, descriptions of one new genus, one new species, one new subspecies, and keys.

Fern-feeder aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in China are represented by 13 species in 10 genera, including a new genus, Vietaphis gen nov., a new species, Vietaphis aliquantus sp nov., from Guizhou and Tibet on Plagiogyria japonicum, and a new subspecies, Amphorophora scabripes galba ssp nov., from Guizhou on Pentarhizidium intermedium. Two genera, Amphorophora Buckton and Idiopterus Davis, and four species or subspecies, Amphorophora ampullate ben-galensis Hille Ris Lambers and Basu, Idiopterus nephrelepidis Davis, Micromyzodium polypodii Takahashi, and Myzus filicis Basu, are reported for the first time in China. Apterae and alatae of Myzus filicis are redescribed herein, and with host plant notes. The fern-feeder aphid genus Ne-omacromyzus Lee is considered a junior synonym of Idiopterus. Furthermore, Neomacromyzus cyrtomicola Lee is transferred to the genus Idiopterus, as Idiopterus cyrtomicola (Lee), comb nov., which is herein considered a junior synonym of Idiopterus nephrelepidis Davis. Keys to Chinese fern-feeder species are provided. Morphological figures and biometrical data of Vietaphis aliquantus sp nov., Amphorophora scabripes galba ssp nov., and Myzus filicis are presented.

First report of Ricania speculum (Walker, 1851) in Europe (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Ricaniidae).

Ricania speculum (Walker, 1851) (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Ricaniidae) is reported for the first time in Europe. Both nymphs and adults were observed from 2009 in several municipalities of Liguria (Italy). Since the species is extremely polyphagous and is a real pest for several crops in tropical and subtropical areas, the presence of this alien insect is noteworthy, representing a new possible threat for native species and human activities. 

Do omnivorous shrimp influence mayfly nymph life history traits in a tropical island stream?

Interspecific interactions can play an important role in determining habitat selection and resource use between competing species. We examined interactions between an omnivorous shrimp and a grazing mayfly, two co-dominant taxa found in Puerto Rican headwater streams, to assess how predator presence may influence mayfly resource use and instantaneous growth in a tropical rainforest ecosystem. We conducted a series of behavioral and growth experiments to determine the effects of the freshwater shrimp, Xiphocaris elongata, on the growth rate and resource selection of mayfly nymphs in the family Leptophlebiidae. For resource choice assessments, we conducted a series of five day laboratory experiments where mayflies were given access to two resource substrate choices (cobble vs. leaves) in the presence or absence of shrimp. To assess for the effects of shrimp on mayfly fitness, we measured mayfly growth in laboratory aquaria after five days using four treatments (cobble, leaves, cobble + leaves, no resource) in the presence or absence of shrimp. In resource choice experiments, mayflies showed preference for cobble over leaf substrata (p<0.05) regardless of the presence of shrimps, however, the preference for cobble was significantly greater when shrimp were present in the leaf habitat. In growth experiments, there were no statistical differences in mayfly growth in the presence or absence of shrimp (p=0.07). However, we measured increased mayfly nymph growth in the absence of predators and when both cobble and leaves were available. Our results suggest that interspecific interactions between these taxa could potentially influence organic matter resource dynamics (e.g., leaf litter processing and export) in Puerto Rican streams. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 2): 41-51. Epub 2014 April 01.

Las relaciones interespecíficas pueden jugar un papel importante en la determinación del uso de recursos y selección de hábitat entre especies que compiten. Hemos examinado las interacciones entre un camarón omnívoro y un efemeróptero que se alimenta de vegetación , dos taxones codominantes en las partes altas de arroyos de Puerto Rico, para evaluar el efecto de los depredadores en el uso de recursos del efemeróptero y el crecimiento instantáneo en un ecosistema de selva tropical. Examinamos experimentalmente el efecto del camarón Xiphocaris elongata sobre la tasa de crecimiento y selección de recursos en ninfas efemerópteras (Leptophlebiidae). Hicimos experimentos de laboratorio de 5 días, dando a los efemerópteros acceso a dos opciones de sustrato (piedrecillas u hojas) en presencia o ausencia del camarón. Para evaluar los efectos sobre el crecimiento probamos cuatro tratamientos (piedrecillas, hojas , piedrecillas + hojas, sin ambas), en presencia o ausencia del camarón. Los efemerópteros prefirieron las piedrecillas a las hojas ( p < 0,05 ) independientemente de la presencia de los camarones. Esta preferencia fue mayor cuando junto a las hojas había camarones. Los camarones no afectaron el crecimiento de los efemerópteros (p = 0,07). Las ninfas efemerópteras crecieron mejor sin camarones y en acuarios con piedrecillas y hojas. Nuestros resultados sugieren que las interacciones interespecíficas entre estos animales podrían influir en la dinámica de la materia orgánica (por ejemplo, procesamiento de la hojarasca y su exportación) en los arroyos puertoriqueños.

Potential economic pests of solanaceous crops: a new species of Solanum-feeding psyllid from Australia and first record from New Zealand of Acizzia solanicola (Hemiptera: Psyllidae).

Acizzia credoensis sp. n. is described from a single population on the native plant, Solanum lasiophyllum, from semi-arid Western Australia. The host range of Acizzia solanicola Kent & Taylor, initially recorded as damaging eggplant, S. melongena, in commercial crops and gardens and on wild tobacco bush, S. mauritianum in eastern Australia, is expanded to include the following Solanaceae: rock nightshade, S. petrophilum, cape gooseberry, Physalis peruviana, and an undetermined species of angel's trumpet Brugmansia and Datura. New Zealand specimens of A. solanicola collected in early 2012 from S. mauritianum are the first record for this species from outside Australia, and possibly represent a very recent incursion. The potential for the solanaceous-inhabiting Psyllidae to vector Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, an economically important plant pathogen, on native Australian Solanaceae is discussed. The occurrence of A. credoensis and A. solanicola on native Australian Solanum supports the Australian origin for the solanaceous-inhabiting Acizzia psyllids.

A new gall-inducing genus and species of Eriococcidae (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea) on Sapindaceae from Brazil.

A new gall-inducing genus and species of felt scales (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) found on the leaves and twigs of Matayba guianensis (Sapindaceae) in Brazil is described: Bystracoccus Hodgson gen n. and B. mataybae Hodgson, Isaias & Oliveira sp. n.  This is the first record of an eriococcid inducing leaf and stem galls on Sapindaceae and is only the second example of a member of the Eriococcidae to induce stem galls in which the insects diapause during the dry (winter) season.  Only the adult female, second-instar female and crawler are known.  The species overwinters as the first-instar nymph in pit galls on the twigs but spends the rest of the year associated with two-chambered galls on the leaves.  It has recently become clear that South America has a rich felt-scale insect fauna many of which induce galls. It has proved very difficult to place this new genus in a family as it appears to fall between the Eriococcidae and Beesoniidae but is here placed in the eriococcids based on the similarity of the first-instar nymphs and the abundance of this family in the Neotropics.  However, the dorsum of the abdomen of the mature adult female becomes heavily sclerotised, forming a round plug-like structure that completely fills the gall orifice.  This structure shows remarkable morphological similarities to that of the beesoniid Danumococcus parashoreae Takagi & Hodgson found on Parashorea tomentella (Dipterocarpaceae) in Sabah, Malaysia, with which it is compared along with other eriococcid genera known from South America.

Hypopi of Hypodectes propus (Acari: Hypoderatidae) in two southern crowned pigeons (Goura scheepmakeri).

Necropsy of 2 4-year-old southern crowned pigeons (Goura scheepmakeri) that died from a presumed case of botulism revealed hundreds of small, cyst-like structures in the pectoral subcutaneous tissues. The structures were identified as heteromorphic deutonymphs of Hypodectes propus (Order Astigmata) of the family Hypoderatidae. The immobile, immature hypopi were individually encapsulated, mostly in adipose tissue, and evoked only a mild inflammatory infiltration of predominately macrophages with some heterophilic granulocytes. The infection was not considered a serious health problem and was interpreted as an incidental finding. To our knowledge, this is a new host record for H. propus.

Lice and ticks of the eastern rufous mouse lemur, Microcebus rufus, with descriptions of the male and third instar nymph of Lemurpediculus verruculosus (Phthiraptera: Anoplura).

Sucking lice and ticks were collected from live-trapped eastern rufous mouse lemurs, Microcebus rufus Geoffroy, in and around the periphery of Ranomafana National Park, southeastern Madagascar, from 2007 to 2009. Samples of 53 sucking lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Anoplura) and 28 hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) were collected from 36 lemur captures representing 26 different host individuals. All of the lice were Lemurpediculus verruculosus (Ward) (6 males, 46 females, 1 third instar nymph). Only the holotype female was known previously for this louse and the host was stated to be a "mouse lemur." Therefore, we describe the male and third instar nymph of L. verruculosus and confirm M. rufus as a host (possibly the only host) of this louse. All of the ticks were nymphs and consisted of 16 Haemaphysalis lemuris Hoogstraal, 11 Haemaphysalis sp., and 1 Ixodes sp. The last 2 ticks listed did not morphologically match any of the Madagascar Haemaphysalis or Ixodes ticks for which nymphal stages have been described.

Redescription of Antarctophthirus microchir (Anoplura: Echinophthiriidae) from the South American sea lion, Otaria flavescens, from Patagonia, Argentina.

Antarctophthirus microchir was originally described from Phocarctos hookeri on the basis of 1 female and 1 male only. We redescribe adults and describe, for the first time, the 3 nymphal stages from specimens collected from Otaria flavescens from Patagonia, using light and scanning electron microscopy. The present material can be distinguished from other Antarctophthirus species by the presence of a fringe of setae on the back of the head, only present in Antarctophthirus trichechi and Antarctophthirus callorhini. However, A. trichechi also possess a prominent proboscis with large hooks, and A. callorhini presents less abundant and nonuniform abdominal scales in shape and size. Other differential features of A. microchir are the pattern of ovoid and uniform scales and longitudinal grooves in the surface of spines. Nymphal stage 1 differs from 2 and 3 mainly by the absence of scales and thorax without ventral spines or hairs. Nymphal stages 2 and 3 may be distinguished by the disposition of the occipital apophyses. Antarctophthirus microchir has been reported from 5 sea lion species from both hemispheres. Considering the conservative morphology, and ecological and evolutionary features of sucking lice, we raise the question of whether A. microchir from different sea lion hosts may represent a complex of cryptic species.

Perissophlebiodes flinti Savage (Ephemeroptera; Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae): novo registro, distribuição e comentários sobre sua identificação / Perissophlebiodes flinti Savage (Ephemeroptera; Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae): new occurrence, distribution and comments about its identification

Perissophlebiodes flinti Savage 1982, described from the State of Rio de Janeiro, and without new records since 1977, is now recorded for the State of São Paulo. Comments on distribution and suggestions for identification of two-winged neotropical leptophlebiids are made.

Perissophlebiodes flinti Savage 1982, descrita para o Estado do Rio de Janeiro, e sem registros desde 1977, é agora registrada para o Estado de São Paulo. São feitos comentários sobre a distribuição e sugestões para identificação das ninfas de Leptophlebiidae neotropicais com duas asas.

Comparison of feeding and defecation patterns between fifth-instar nymphs of Triatoma patagonica (Del Ponte, 1929) and Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1934) under laboratory conditions / Comparação dos padrões alimentar e de defecação em ninfas de quinto estádio de Triatoma patagonica (Del Ponte, 1929) e Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1934), em condições de laboratório

Among the vectors of Chagas disease, Triatoma patagonica is a species in the process of adaptation to the human environment. However, its vector competence is not well known. This study had the aim of evaluating and comparing feeding and defecation patterns among fifth-instar nymphs of Triatoma patagonica and Triatoma infestans that were fed ad libitum. The results showed that nymphs of Triatoma patagonica had a feeding pattern similar to that of Triatoma infestans. Sixty nine percent and 58 percent of nymphs of Triatoma patagonica and Triatoma infestans, respectively, produced their first defecation within five minutes after being fed. Triatoma patagonica defecated during feeding, with an average time until first defecation that was shorter than that of Triatoma infestans (3.4 and 6.2 min, respectively). The nymphs of Triatoma patagonica were capable of defecating during or immediately after feeding.

Entre os vetores da doença de Chagas, Triatoma patagonica é uma espécie que se encontra em processo de adaptação ao ambiente humano; embora sua competência vetorial não seja bem conhecida. O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e comparar padrões de alimentação e defecação em ninfas de quinto estádio de Triatoma patagonica e Triatoma infestans ad libitum. Os resultados mostraram que as ninfas de Triatoma patagonica apresentou padrõe de alimentação semelhante a Triatoma infestans. Sessenta e nove por cento e 58 por cento das ninfas de Triatoma patagonica e Triatoma infestans respectivamente, realizaram a primeira defecação cinco minutos após de serem alimentadas; sendo que a primeira defecou durante a alimentação, com um tempo médio de dejeção menor do que para Triatoma infestans (3,4 vs 6,2 respectivamente). As ninfas de Triatoma patagonica foram capazes de defecar durante ou imediatamente após de se alimentarem.

[Demonstration of two twin species A and B of the Aedes detritus (Haliday, 1833) complex from the Atlantic coast of France]. / Mise en évidence des deux espèces jumelles A et B du complexe Aedes detritus (Haliday, 1833) sur le littoral atlantique français.

The electrophoretic analysis of five natural populations of Aedes detritus has shown that the two sibling species A and B of the complex, described in 1977 in an other geographical area by Pasteur et al., cohabit on Atlantic coastline in France.