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Behavior of wasp Sapyga luteomaculata.
No full text24 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.
"March 31, 2009."
Includes bibliographical references (p. 23-24).This study describes the nesting biology of the Egyptian cleptoparasitic wasp Sapyga luteomaculata Pic, which attacks the nests of two species of bees, Osmia submicans Morawitz and Megachile minutissima Radoszkowski, both belonging to the Megachilidae. We include descriptions of the egg/mature oocyte and of the first and last larval instars. We also identify the anatomical changes in the larva that take place as it transforms through intermediate instars from a host-killing first instar to a form adapted to feeding on the stored provisions supplied by the host. Biological subjects treated are egg deposition, ovariole statistics, eclosion, larval behavior including cocoon construction and defecation, and competition with other cleptoparasites. Comparisons are made throughout with accounts of other Sapyginae. Many biological and larval anatomical similarities between Sapyga and cleptoparasitic bees are recognized, and only a few possible cleptoparasitic novelties are identified.Published by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Phylogeny and evolution of termites.
No full text27 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.
"June 25, 2009."
Includes bibliographical references (p. 18-21).Like ants, termites are entirely eusocial and have profound ecological significance in the tropics. Following upon recent studies reporting more than a quarter of all known fossil termites, we present the first phylogeny of termite lineages using exemplar Cretaceous, Tertiary, and Recent taxa. Relationships among Recent families were largely unaffected by the addition of extinct taxa, but the analysis revealed extensive grades of stem-group taxa and the divergence of some modern families in the Cretaceous. Rhinotermitidae, Serritermitidae, and the "higher" termites (family Termitidae), which comprise 84% of the world termite species, diverged and radiated entirely in the Tertiary, corresponding to a significant increase in termite individuals in the fossil record. Radiation of the higher termites may have affected the formation of terrestrial carbon reserves like oil and coal. The higher classification of Isoptera is slightly revised based on the phylogenetic results. The following new taxa are proposed: Cratomastotermitidae, new family; Euisoptera, new clade; Archotermopsidae, new family; and Neoisoptera, new clade. In addition, the families Stolotermitidae, Stylotermitidae, and Archeorhinotermitidae are newly recognized or resurrected, and the families Termopsidae and Hodotermitidae are significantly restricted in composition.American Museum of Natural History
Scorpion family Typhlochactidae.
No full text94 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 26 cm.
"Issued September 3, 2009."
Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-89).The scorpion family Typhlochactidae Mitchell, 1971, endemic to eastern Mexico, comprises nine troglomorphic species specialized for life in hypogean and endogean habitats. Due to their cryptic ecology, inaccessible habitat, and apparently low population density, Typhlochactidae are poorly known. Only 29 specimens have been collected in 40 years. Four species are known from a single specimen, two species are known only from the male and three only from the female. We provide an illustrated revision of the family based on a reexamination of most specimens in the world’s collections, including new specimens collected after the original descriptions and older specimens not previously described. Based on results of a recent cladistic analysis, Typhlochactidae are elevated, for the first time, from their former rank as subfamily, first of Chactidae and, more recently, of Superstitioniidae. Alacraninae, new subfamily is created to accommodate Alacran Francke, 1982. Stygochactas, new genus, is created to accommodate Typhlochactas granulosus Sissom and Cokendolpher, 1998 in a new combination. Sotanochactas Francke, 1986, Stygochactas and Typhlochactas Mitchell, 1971 are retained in subfamily Typhlochactinae Mitchell, 1971. Diagnoses of the family and subfamilies are presented, followed by a key to the genera and species, revised diagnoses of the genera, revised diagnoses and descriptions, tabulated meristic data, and distribution maps of the species. Descriptions and diagnoses are illustrated with ultraviolet fluorescence and visible light photographs, providing a visual atlas to the morphology of these remarkable scorpions. A review of their taxonomic history is provided, the importance of trichobothriotaxy for their systematics discussed, and several misconceptions in the literature clarified
A new species of Megacricetodon (Cricetidae, Rodentia, Mammalia) from the Middle Miocene of northern Junggar Basin, China ; American Museum novitates, no. 3602
No full text23 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references and index.Dental, mandibular, and postcranial specimens of Megacricetodon yei n. sp., are described. The new specimens, including the complete dentition, mandible, and partial forelimb and hindlimb, represent the most complete materials known for the genus, provide valuable information concerning the interspecific variation of the genus, and lead to the reassessment of the suprageneric position of Megacricetodon. Megacricetodon yei is characterized by having medium-size, clearly split anterocone of M1, presence of the labial spur of the anterolophule and the posterior spur of the paracone in some M1s, medium to long mesoloph in M1-2, frequent occurrences of double protolophules, transverse or posteriorly directed metalophule of M2, and single anteroconid of the m1. Megacricetodon yei is more closely related to Megacricetodon (= Aktaumys) dzhungaricus than to any other species of Megacricetodon, but is more derived than the latter. Based on the new information, the validity of the genus Aktaumys is discussed. The postcranial features of Megacricetodon yei show clear adaptations for terrestrial habits, but as in many ground-dwelling rodents living in burrows, it could also climb or dig. The associated fauna has been correlated to Tongxin fauna from the adjacent part of China and the Belometchetskya fauna of north Caucasus, equivalent to early Middle Miocene age, or MN 6 correlative. The stage of evolution of Megacricetodon yei is consistent with the faunal correlation. Dental, mandibular, and postcranial specimens of Megacricetodon yei n. sp., are described. The new specimens, including the complete dentition, mandible, and partial forelimb and hindlimb, represent the most complete materials known for the genus, provide valuable information concerning the interspecific variation of the genus, and lead to the reassessment of the suprageneric position of Megacricetodon. Megacricetodon yei is characterized by having medium-size, clearly split anterocone of M1, presence of the labial spur of the anterolophule and the posterior spur of the paracone in some M1s, medium to long mesoloph in M1-2, frequent occurrences of double protolophules, transverse or posteriorly directed metalophule of M2, and single anteroconid of the m1. Megacricetodon yei is more closely related to Megacricetodon (5 Aktaumys) dzhungaricus than to any other species of Megacricetodon, but is more derived than the latter. Based on the new information, the validity of the genus Aktaumys is discussed. The postcranial features of Megacricetodon yei show clear adaptations for terrestrial habits, but as in many ground-dwelling rodents living in burrows, it could also climb or dig. The associated fauna has been correlated to Tongxin fauna from the adjacent part of China and the Belometchetskya fauna of north Caucasus, equivalent to early Middle Miocene age, or MN 6 correlative. The stage of evolution of Megacricetodon yei is consistent with the faunal correlation
Biology and immature stages of the bee Nomioides patruelis (Halictidae, Halictinae, Nomioidini) and of its cleptoparasite, Chiasmognathus pashupati (Apidae, Nomadinae, Ammobatini), with a preliminary phylogeny of the Halictidae based on mature larvae (Apoidea) ; American Museum novitates, no. 3604
No full text23 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references.Mature larvae and pupae of Nomioides patruelis Cockerell and of its cleptoparasite, Chiasmognathus pashupati Engel, collected from the nesting site near Karachi, Pakistan, are described, providing the first account of the immature stages of the respective genera and the first such account for any Nomioidini. An egg of N. patruelis is also described. An analysis, based on both halictid specimens and descriptions from the literature, reveals that the three subfamilies (Rophitinae, Nomiinae, and Halictinae) of Halictidae can be distinguished on the basis of their mature larvae. A key is provided for their identification. Mature larvae of the tribes of the Halictinae are so similar they cannot be distinguished at present, although studies of additional representatives may yield diagnostic features particularly concerning mandibular anatomy and perhaps body size. Features of the mature larvae when mapped onto a phylogeny of the Halictidae (Pesenko, 2000) provide a hypothesis for the sequence of anatomical changes in the evolution of mature larvae. Observations during excavation of the nesting site provided detailed, if fragmentary, information concerning nest architecture, provisioning, voltinism, and nest parasites of Nomioides paturelis. These are discussed in relation to information concerning other species of Nomioidini from the literature. Chiasmognathus pashupati, like its host, is probably multivoltine. The anatomy of the mature larva is similar to that of other Nomadinae, especially that of Ammobatini; however, the pupa is distinct from those of other known Ammobatini. The mature oocyte of the related C. orientanus (Warncke) from Turkey, described previously (Rozen and Özbek, 2003), is likely to resemble that of C. pashupati
Revision of the Mexican genera Ficinus Distant and Jornandes Distant, with the description of 21 new species (Heteroptera, Miridae, Orthotylinae, Orthotylini) ; Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 309
No full text87 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-85).The predominately Mexican endemic genera Ficinus Distant, 1893 and Jornandes Distant,1884 are revised. Rhinocapsidea Reuter, 1908 is treated as a junior synonym of Jornandes. Two species of Ficinus are recognized, including one new species from Guerrero. Twenty-five species of Jornandes are recognized, including 20 new species, predominately from the southern edge of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt near the conjunction of the Balsas Basin and the Sierra Madredel Sur of Guerrero, Puebla, and Oaxaca. The new combinations, Jornandes albipes (Kelton,1969) (Scalponotatus), Jornandes genetivus (Distant, 1884) (Rhinocapsidea), Jornandes sinaloa(Carvalho, 1987) (Rhinocapsidea) are proposed. Jornandes dissimulans Distant, 1983 and J. nordestina (Carvalho and Wallerstein, 1978) (Rhinocapsidea) are considered species incertaesedis. Keys to all recognized species are included. Illustrations of the male genitalia, dorsalhabitus color photographs of both sexes (except for J. championi Distant, 1884), and new distributional records of all species are provided. Host records, where known, are listed. Scanning electron micrographs are presented to document the cuticular sculpturing of thecorium, lateral view of the head, thorax, mesothoracic spiracle, and metathoracic scent-efferentsystem of representative species. The female genitalia of F. sagittarius and three species of Jornandes are documented with photographs
Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Hadronema group (Miridae, Orthotylinae, Orthotylini), with descriptions of new genera and new species, and comments on the neotropical genus Tupimiris ; Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 312
Get PDF172 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 164-169).Aoplonema Knight, Daleapidea Knight, Hadronema Uhler, and Hadronemidea Reuter are revised. Aoplonema nigrum, sp. nov., A. rubrum, sp. nov., Hadronema incognitum, sp. nov., and H. mexicanum, sp. nov. are described. Hadronemidea echinata, comb. nov. is proposed for Hadronema echinata Gruetzmacher and Schaffner, 1977. Aoplonemella, gen. nov. is described to accommodate Hadronema festiva Van Duzee, 1910; and Origonema, gen. nov. is described to accommodate Hadronema splendida Gibson, 1918. Scutomiris setosus, gen. et sp. nov. are described from Baja California Sur, Mexico. This new genus is superficially similar to the Neotropical genus Tupimiris. Male genitalic characters not mentioned in the original description of T. scutellatus are illustrated and compared with those of S. setosus, showing that the two are not related. Aoplonema, Aoplonemella, Daleapidea, Hadronema, Hadronemidea, Origonema, and Scutomiris form a monophyletic group herein denominated the Hadronema group. Dorsal habitus color photographs of all the species, scanning electron micrographs of selected species for each genus, and illustrations of male and female genitalic characters are provided for all species. Keys to separate the genera and species treated in this paper are presented. A phylogenetic hypothesis of relationships among the genera is proposed, and host-plant associations are discussed
Revision of Coridromius
No full text95 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-95).The plant bug genus Coridromius Signoret is revised. Twenty-one new species from Australia, the South Pacific, Asia and Africa are described (bicolor, boianotum, bulbopella, chenopoderis, confusus, crassus, drepanopenis, ephippius, epithema, falsicoleus, hermosus, lestoni, marmoreus, monotocopsis, pilbarensis, prolixipenis, pteraulos, ruwenzorii, sommelieri, tahitiensis, and thalame). Ten previously described species are redescribed (schuhi is excluded, as the type material is presumed lost and Linnavuori's original description and illustrations [Linnavuori, 1994] are not sufficient to distinguish schuhi from most other species). The genus Coridromoides Carvalho is synonymized with Coridromius, and its sole species, Coridromoides carinatus Carvalho, 1956, is transferred to Coridromius. A key to species, color habitus figures, illustrations of male genitalia, photographs of paragenital dissections, and scanning electron micrographs of structural details are provided. Detailed locality information and distribution maps of all species are included. Host plant data is provided for some species
An atlas of book lung fine structure in the order Scorpiones (Arachnida). (Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 316)
Get PDFThe fine structure of the book lungs of scorpions is diverse and phylogenetically informative, but has not been comprehensively investigated across the major lineages of the order. In this contribution, we present a fully illustrated atlas of the variation in book lung fine structure among 200 exemplars from 100 genera and 18 families of extant scorpions. We document variation in the surface sculpturing of the respiratory lamellae, the edges of the lamellae in the atrial chamber, and the posterior valvelike edges of the spiracles. These data provide insights into the phylogenetic relationships among Recent scorpions at several branches of the tree
Evolution and development of self-regulation (James Arthur lecture on the evolution of the human brain, no. 77, 2007).
No full text25 p. : ill. ; 23 cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. 22-25)