Revision of the Embolemidae of Japan (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea), with description of a new genus and two new species.

Seven species of Embolemidae are recognized in Japan. They belong to two genera: Embolemus Westwood 1833 and Trogloembolemus Olmi, Mita et Guglielmino, gen. nov. (type species T. fujiei Olmi, Mita et Guglielmino, sp. nov.) Embolemus honshuensis Olmi, Mita et Guglielmino, sp. nov. (Japan, Honshu) and Trogloembolemus fujiei Olmi, Mita & Guglielmino, sp. nov. (Japan, Honshu) are described and figured. A key to the genera and species of Japan is presented. Trogloembolemus fujiei sp. nov., collected in the soil at a depth of two metres and almost blind, is the first species of Embolemidae with troglobitic habitus. 

Taxonomy of Perissosega Krombein (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae, Amiseginae), with description of a new species from Japan.

Perissosega sulcata sp. nov. is newly described on the basis of the two females collected from Iriomote Island, the Ryukyus, Japan. A new combination is proposed for Calosega flavipes (Kimsey, 1995), comb. nov. from Perissosega Krombein, 1983. The diagnostic characters of Calosega Terayama, 1999 and Perissosega are revised.

DNA barcoding of Sclerogibbidae and confirmation of the opposite sexes of Sclerogibba berlandi Benoit (Hymenoptera: Sclerogibbidae).

The female and male of Sclerogibba berlandi Benoit, 1963 (Hymenoptera: Sclerogibbidae), collected in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and characterized by a pronounced sexual dimorphism, were associated for the first time by mitochondrial COI sequences. A comparison with COI sequences of S. crassifemorata Riggio De Stefani-Perez, 1888 and S. talpiformis Benoit, 1950 from Abu Dhabi proved the diversity of S. berlandi. The COI sequence of a female of S. rossi Olmi, 2005 from Japan, Okinawa-jima, was analyzed for the first time and compared with the other sequences.

Differences in functional trait responses to elevation among feeding guilds of Aculeata community.

The response of communities to environmental change is expected to vary among feeding guilds. To evaluate the response of guilds to environmental factors without considering the taxonomic specificities, it is useful to examine Aculeata bees and wasps, which consist of closely related taxa including different guilds, pollinators, predators, and parasitoids. In this study, we evaluated changes in species diversity (SD) and functional traits of each feeding guild along an elevational gradient in a boreal forest in northern Japan. We used yellow pan traps to collect Aculeata bees and wasps at 200-1600 m above sea level. We investigated six functional traits (trophic level, seasonal duration, body size, elevational range, nesting position, and soil dependency) and the horizontal distribution of the species. The SD of all Aculeata, predators, and parasitoids decreased with an increase in elevation; however, the SD of pollinators did not show any specific trend. Although the functional trait composition of all Aculeata species did not show any trend, that of each feeding guild responded to elevation in different ways. Pollinators increased in body size and showed a decrease in seasonal duration with increasing elevation, suggesting that tolerance and seasonal escape from physical stress at high elevations are important for shaping pollinator communities. Predators increased their elevational range and the proportion of above-ground nesting species increased with increasing elevation, suggesting that the ability to live in a wider range of environments and avoid unsuitable soil environments at high elevations might be important. Parasitoids changed their hosts and displayed variable traits with increasing elevation, suggesting that brood parasitoids have difficulty in surviving at high elevation. The traits for each guild responded in different ways, even if they were dominated by the same environmental factors. Our findings imply that differences in the responses of functional traits would produce different community assembly patterns in different guilds during further climate change.

Taxonomic study of Baeosega and its allies, with description of a new species of Nipponosega (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae, Amiseginae).

Three related genera of Asian Amiseginae, Baeosega Krombein, Nipponosega Kurzenko & Lelej, and Okinawasega Terayama are revised. The male of N. yamanei Kurzenko & Lelej and the female of O. eguchii Terayama are newly described. The following new synonymies are proposed: Baeosega humida Krombein, 1984 = B. laticeps Krombein, 1984, syn. nov.; Nipponosega yamanei Kurzenko & Lelej, 1994 = N. kantoensis Nagase, 1995, syn. nov. A new species of Nipponosega, N. lineata sp. nov. is described based on a female from Thailand. A key to genera and species of Baeosega, Nipponosega and Okinawasega is given.

A review of the subfamily Methochinae from Taiwan (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae) with description of a new species and redescription of the known species.

Eleven species of Methocha Latreille from Taiwan are revised. Methocha cirrhocrus Narita Mita, sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The previously unknown male of M. maai Lin, 1966 is described. Methocha taoi Lin, 1966 is newly synonymized under Methocha areolata Lin, 1966. The genus Karlissa Krombein, 1979 is newly recorded from Taiwan, and a new combination is proposed for Methoca (sic!) tricha Strand, 1913, which is transferred to the genus Karlissa Krombein. A key to the species based on males and females is given.

Application of DNA barcoding confirms the female, male, larva and host of Bocchus scobiolae Nagy (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae).

Bocchus scobiolae Nagy (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae, Bocchinae) was reared in Szeged, Hungary. The female, male and immature larva were associated by mitochondrial COI sequences. B. scobiolae, previously known only from Romania, is recorded for the first time from Hungary, Moldova, and Turkey. Caliscelis wallengreni (Stål) (Hemiptera: Caliscelidae) is mentioned for the first time as host of B. scobiolae. B. vernieri Olmi is indicated for the first time from Hungary. Helegonatopus rasnitzyni (Trjapitzin, 1963) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), recorded for the first time from Hungary, was reared from B. scobiolae (new record).

Rhadinoscelidia lixa sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae, Loboscelidiinae) found on an ant nest in Thailand.

Rhadinoscelidia lixa sp. nov. is described from Thailand. It is the fifth species of the genus and second species from Thailand. A biological note on the species with its associated ants is provided.

A taxonomic study of Dinapsis Waterson, 1922 from Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Megalyridae, Dinapsini): crested wasps of the hirtipes species-group.

Five new species, Dinapsis albicauda, n. sp., D. cresta, n. sp., D. luteus, n. sp., D. planifrons, n. sp., and D. scriptus, n. sp. are described from the island of Madagascar. The Dinapsis hirtipes species-group is proposed based on D. hirtipes Hedqvist, 1967 and the five newly described species. A key to species of the D. hirtipes species-group is provided.

Rediscovery of Lustrina Kurian (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae), with redescription of L. assamensis Kurian.

The genus Lustrina Kurian, 1955 is discussed and Lustrina assamensis Kurian, 1955 is redescribed based on the examination of type specimen as well as a specimen recently collected.

Taxonomic additions of Embolemidae and Sclerogibbidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) from Japan, with description of a new species of Trogloembolemus.

Ampulicomorpha thauma Rasnitsyn Matveev (Hymenoptera: Embolemidae) and Sclerogibba rossi Olmi (Hymenoptera: Sclerogibbidae) were newly recorded from Japan. Females of Embolemus walkeri Westwood were found in the soil together with nymphs of Cixiidae. Trogloembolemus okanoi sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The holotype ♀ was collected in the soil at a depth of one meter. A key to species of Japanese Embolemidae was updated.

Two new species of the genus Methocha from Laos (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae).

Two new species of Methocha, M. cariniventris and M. granulosa are described from Laos.

A new species of Ceratoteleas Kozlov (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) from Japan, with a description of the male of Ceratoteleas.

Ceratoteleas cornus sp. n. is described from Japan. The male of the genus is described for the first time.

New species of the genus Mahinda Krombein, 1983 (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae, Amiseginae).

Three new species of Mahinda are described, bo from Vietnam, borneensis from Malaysian Borneo and sulawesiensis from northern Sulawesi. A key to the three known species is provided including the previously described species, saltator Krombein, 1983.

First report of Cheiloneurus exitiosus (Perkins, 1906) and Helegonatopus dimorphus (Hoffer, 1954) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) from Japan, with remarks on their abundance in rice paddies.

BACKGROUND: Encyrtid secondary parasitoids of Delphacidae have not been recorded in Japan. However, they may play an important role in the rice ecosystem because they can reduce the number of Dryinidae, the natural enemies of rice planthoppers. NEW INFORMATION: We found two encyrtid species, Cheiloneurus exitiosus (Perkins, 1906) and Helegonatopus dimorphus (Hoffer, 1954), from rice paddies and the surrounding environment. Haplogonatopus oratorius (Westwood, 1833) and Anteon sp. were newly recognized as hosts of He. dimorphus. Parasitism of C. exitiosus was rare, but He. dimorphus was common in Kumamoto Prefecture. The sex ratio (male proportion) and clutch size of He. dimorphus was estimated as 0.19 and 4.95, respectively.

Discovery of the genus Formosiepyris Terayama, (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) in Vietnam, with a description of a new species.

Formosiepyrisvietnamensis sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is described based on material collected from Da Lat, southern Vietnam. This is the first record of Formosiepyris Terayama from Vietnam. The new species can be distinguished from other Formosiepyris species by a narrow and rounded clypeus; a mandible with three teeth; a second metasomal tergite having small, sparsely distributed punctures and smooth interspaces, except for anterior 2/5, which is microreticulate; and a head length : width aspect ratio of 10 : 11. A key to the Oriental species of Formosiepyris is provided.

A taxonomic study on the genus Ettchellsia Cameron, with descriptions of three new species (Hymenoptera, Megalyridae, Dinapsini).

Three new species of Ettchellsia Cameron, namely, Ettchellsia ignitasp. n. from Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, Ettchellsia nigripessp. n. from Sulawesi and Ettchellsia reidisp. n. from Borneo are described and illustrated. A key to the species of Ettchellsia is provided based on females.

Three-month exercise and weight loss program improves heart rate recovery in obese persons along with cardiopulmonary function.

OBJECTIVE: Heart rate recovery (HRR) after exercise is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality, and it is well known to be modifiable by weight loss. We investigated whether HRR was mainly improved by better cardiopulmonary function or by alteration of the metabolic profile. METHODS: The weight loss program included 2h of group exercise per week and individual dietary instruction by a qualified dietician every week. Clinical assessment (including HRR) was done before and after the 3-month program. PATIENTS: The subjects were 125 obese persons without a past history of stroke, cardiovascular events, or use of medications who participated in and completed our exercise plus weight loss program. RESULTS: HRR (35.61+/-12.83 to 45.34+/-13.6 beats/min, p<0.0001) was significantly faster after the program. The change in HRR was significantly correlated (p<0.05) with the changes in body weight, body mass index, percent body fat, waist circumference, hip circumference, resting heart rate, peak exercise heart rate, exercise time, maximal work load, physical working capacity divided by body weight (PWC75%HRmax/weight), subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and leptin. Multivariate analysis showed that the change in HRR was significantly correlated (p<0.05) with the changes in resting heart rate, peak exercise heart rate, and PWC75%HRmax/weight. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated that HRR can be improved in obese subjects by a 3-month exercise and weight loss program. Improvement in cardiopulmonary function by exercise seems to be the main contributor to the increment of HRR.