ARPHA Preprints
Not a member yet
49208 research outputs found
Sort by
A revision of the hitherto neglected genus Topiris Walker, 1863 (Lepidoptera, Xyloryctidae) with taxonomic notes on the genus Athrypsiastis Meyrick, 1910
No full textThe genus Topiris Walker, 1863 is revised. This genus, previously neglected or deemed unrecognisable, comprised only Walker’s damaged and misrepaired type specimen of Topiris candidella Walker, 1863. Evidence is provided that this specimen was collected by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1855–56 in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The mitogenome of this specimen was assembled using low coverage whole genome sequencing (genome skimming). The COI-5P portion of this mitogenome (658 bp) differs by 1–3 bp from two haplotypes sequenced from early 1990’s Brunei specimens. Another specimen recently discovered at NHMUK with an identical label to that of the type perfectly matches the Brunei specimens in its genitalia. Based on these four specimens, we present a fuller description of the morphology of T. candidella. Topiris includes the following additional species authored by Sterling and Lees: Topiris albidella sp. nov., T. albogrisella sp. nov., T. cinderella sp. nov., T. digiticosta sp. nov., T. lacteella sp. nov., T. madonna sp. nov., T. meyricki sp. nov., T. ochrotincta sp. nov., T. schneeweissella sp. nov., T. sericella sp. nov., and T. thunbergella sp. nov. The following new combinations are also established: T. salva (Meyrick, 1932), comb. nov. and T. sampitella (Lvovsky, 2014), comb. nov. The type of Athrypsiastis salva Meyrick is confirmed as lost and so a neotype and paraneotype of this species are designated. A published mitogenome of “Linoclostis gonatias” is shown to be correctly identified as T. salva, and references to L. gonatias, identified in some literature as a pest of Theaceae, are likely misidentified. The genus Topiris is divided into three groups, the candidella group, the salva group, and the albidella group, based on characters in the male genitalia. The candidella group and albidella group are supported sub-clades of Topiris. The phylogenetic placement of Topiris and Athrypsiastis within ‘core’ Xyloryctidae (as subtended by its type species, X. luteotactella) is confirmed by analysis of COI and seven nuclear genes, whereas the genera Eumenodora Meyrick, 1906 and Izatha Walker, 1864 do not fall within this clade. The morphology of Athrypsiastis phaeoleuca Meyrick, 1910 (the type species of Athrypsiastis; Xyloryctidae) is more fully described. The following new species authored by Sterling and Lees are described: Athrypsiastis cheesmanae sp. nov., A. edelweissella sp. nov., and A. penumbrella sp. nov. Two taxa are newly combined: Athrypsiastis halmaherella (Lvovsky, 2014), comb. nov. and Paralecta rosiflora (Meyrick, 1930), comb. nov
Bambusa rushunii (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae), a new bamboo species from Guangdong, China
No full textA new bamboo species, Bambusa rushunii, from Yangjiang City, Guangdong Province, China, is described and illustrated in this paper. The new species resembles B. gibba and B. dissimulator in having branchlets specialised into weak thorns at the lower nodes of culms, but can be easily distinguished from the latter two by having one or two extremely shortened internodes at the culm base, glabrous internode, culm leaf sheath being dark brown strigose on the central part and with a nearly truncate or slightly obliquely truncate apex, relatively high culm leaf ligule, culm leaf blade base not narrowed, extending outwards and contiguous with auricles and the glabrous foliage leaf with a ciliate ligule margin
Unveiling four new taxa and Nigrosynnema natarajanensis comb. nov. in Stachybotryaceae (Hypocreales) from monocotyledon plants in Guangdong Province, China
No full textMembers of Stachybotryaceae are distributed worldwide, with certain species playing a significant role as bio-degraders and some causing diseases in plants, humans, and animals. Other species within this family can be found in soil and have been reported as saprobes in various plants. In this study (2021–2022), fungal taxa resembling Stachybotryaceae, isolated from dead leaves of Agave sisalana and a dead stem of Wurfbainia villosa in Guangdong Province, China, are identified based on morphological characteristics and molecular data. Multi-locus phylogeny based on calmodulin (cmdA), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit nuclear rDNA (LSU), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), the partial translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α), and β-tubulin (tub2) revealed that nine strains were grouped within Stachybotryaceae. Nigrosynnema guangdongense gen. et sp. nov., typical of Stachybotryaceae but having unusual olivaceous brown to black synnemata that are narrower towards the apex and produce phialidic, aseptate, slimy conidia in black and glistening heads, is introduced. Additionally, Brevistachys wurfbainiae and Sirastachys guangdongensis are introduced as new species. Stachybotrys microsporus is a new host record for Agave sisalana. The present study provides comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, and molecular data analyses of the newly discovered taxa and newly recorded species as a taxonomic and phylogenetic contribution to Stachybotryaceae. Furthermore, a new combination, Nigrosynnema natarajanensis, is proposed for the previously described Virgatospora natarajanensis
From 153-year-old records to contemporary discoveries: land snail (Mollusca, Gastropoda) diversity in Penang Hill, Malaysia
No full textThis study highlights the diversity of land snails in Penang Hill, a non-limestone hill in Peninsular Malaysia. A systematic survey of land snails in Penang Hill was conducted, inventoried, and compared with those specimens collected by Stoliczka (1872, 1873) in 1869. Based on the 33 sampling plots established in this study, the differences in species composition along the elevation gradient (75 m to 770 m a.s.l.) and between three different habitats on Penang Hill were examined: disturbed forests with anthropogenic activities, undisturbed forests, and orchards with various crops. A total of 54 species were recorded from the sampling plots and random observations, of which only 20 overlapped with Stoliczka’s list; 34 were new records for Penang Hill, and 12 previously recorded species were not found in this study. Most of the new records were micro-snails smaller than 5 mm. Species richness was highest in disturbed forests and showed no correlation with elevation. There was no clear grouping of plots by species composition across habitat types, except for those in orchards. Indicator species analysis revealed strong associations between a few land snail species and disturbed forests and orchards. The number of species in Penang Hill increased from 32 to 66, with species richness comparable to the high numbers usually found in limestone habitats and higher mountains in Malaysia
First record of the genus Cochleopsaltria Pham & Constant (Hemiptera, Cicadidae, Cicadinae) from China, with a description of the second species
No full textCochleopsaltria Pham & Constant, 2017 (Hemiptera, Cicadidae, Cicadinae) is no longer monospecific: C. huboliao sp. nov. from Fujian Province of China is described and illustrated. A key to the two species of Cochleopsaltria is presented
The usefulness of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation - An explorative study into its shortcomings and challenges
No full textThe Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)1 aims to enhance transparency and curb greenwashing by standardizing sustainability disclosures. Despite its ambitious goals, the SFDR faces challenges and criticisms regarding its practical implementation and effectiveness. This article delves into these issues through an exploration of the European Commission consultations, articles, and recommendations from entities such as the Platform on Sustainable Finance (PSF), the European Sustainable Investment Forum (Eurosif), and the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). Our study identifies key areas where the SFDR currently falls short while suggestions for improving the effectiveness of disclosures are provided
The impact of Shareholder Rights Directive II on the level and structure of CEO compensation
No full textOver the last decade, CEO pay has increased drastically. The Shareholder Rights Directive II (“SRD II”) enacted by the EU is considered one solution to reduce potentially excessive executive pay but its effectiveness is unclear. To this end, this study investigates the impact of SRD II on the level and structure of CEO compensation in German and Austrian firms, compared to Swiss firms that did not experience a change in compensation-related regulation. Findings reveal that SRD II is not effective in reducing executive pay levels but promotes the use of deferred pay
Sponges (Porifera) associated with the decorator crab Macrocoeloma nodipes (Desbonne in Desbonne & Schramm, 1867): three new records for Mexican waters
No full textSponges and decapods share diverse ecological interactions, including epibiosis in which sponges colonize crab carapaces. We report three sponge species—Stelletta kallitetilla (Laubenfels, 1936), Hymeniacidon heliophila (Wilson, 1911), and Haliclona (Reniera) manglaris Alcolado, 1984—on the decorator crab Macrocoeloma nodipes (Desbonne in Desbonne & Schramm, 1867) collected from the Campeche Bank (southern Gulf of Mexico), presenting new records for Mexican waters. Our research highlights the importance of describing ecologically associated species and offers insights into the presence of sponge species not previously reported in Mexico
First report of subfamily Scydmaeninae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from Shanghai, with description of two new species
No full textThe subfamily Scydmaeninae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) is reported from Shanghai, China for the first time. Three species of the genus Euconnus Thomson were recognized: E. (s. str.) dulcis Sharp, 1886, E. (s. str.) imparitus sp. nov. (type locality: Waigang Town, Jiading District), and E.(s. str.) magnoculus sp. nov. (type locality: Shanghai Zoo, Hongqiao District). The new species are described, and diagnoses and illustrations of the habitus and important diagnostic features for all taxa are provided for ready identification. Furthermore, Euconnus cerastiventris Vit, 2006, syn. nov. is placed as a junior synonym of E. dulcis. A key to Euconnus species that occur in Shanghai is provided
Rorippa daguanensis (Brassicaceae), a new species from eastern China
No full textRorippa daguanensis W.Zhang & K.Zhao (Brassicaceae), a new species from Anhui and Hubei Provinces of eastern China, is described. Its floral morphology resembles R. dubia, with its fruit morphology similar to R. cantoniensis. However, it can be readily distinguished from R. dubia by its inconspicuous stems, oval silicle and from R. cantoniensis by the absence of petals and bracts on its flowers. The complete plastid genome of this new species is 155,594 bp in length. Phylogenetic analyses, based on whole plastid genome sequences of Rorippa species, revealed that R. daguanensis is sister to R. cantoniensis