Taxonomy, distribution and ecology of Persicaria pensylvanica in the Czech Republic are reviewed. In the Czech Republic, P. pensylvanica is an alien plant which immigrated along the Elbe river. Majority of Czech localities of the species have an ephemeral character but in two localities in the town of Litoměřice, the occurrence is more permanent.
The sterrhine loopers Timandra griseata and T. comae have been treated as distinct species since 1994. However, morphological differences between the taxa are minor and therefore their status has often been disputed. Here, we present a molecular phylogenetic study, which separates T. griseata and T. comae into different clades. Altogether, 43 Timandra specimens from eight European countries were studied. The phylogeny is based on a comparative sequence analysis of mitochondrial genes coding for the cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1). Nevertheless, a single individual of both species was assigned to the "wrong" clade. The symplesiomorphy of T. griseata and T. comae is considered to be a result of introgressive hybridization. Conditions that could lead to the hybridization of T. griseata and T. comae are discussed, as well as the likely distribution history of these taxa in Northern Europe. Results of the current analysis are in favour of retaining the species status of T. griseata and T. comae.
The genus Dasytricheta Bernhauer, 1943 is redefined. The genus Pyromecroma Cameron, 1945 is considered a new synonym of Dasytricheta. Eleven valid species are recognised in the genus: Dasytricheta spectabilis Bernhauer, 1943 (the type species of Dasytricheta), D. funesta (Broun, 1912) comb. n. (the type species of Pyromecroma, originally described in Myrmecopora Saulcy, 1864), and nine species described as new: Dasytricheta haastiana sp. n., D. hookeriana sp. n., D. intermedia sp. n., D. kapuniana sp. n., D. mahitahiana sp. n., D. periana sp. n., D. shotoveriana sp. n., D. testacea sp. n. and D. waihoana sp. n. The taxa are diagnosed, keyed and illustrated. The phylogeny of Dasytricheta is analysed using cladistic methods. The systematic position of Dasytricheta within the Aleocharinae is discussed.
The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) comb. n., is native to India, China, Korea, Japan and the Russian Far East. Its larvae are a serious pest of different species of Buxus. Recently, C. perspectalis was introduced into Europe and first recorded from Germany in 2006. This species has been placed in various spilomeline genera including Palpita Hübner, 1808, Diaphania Hübner, 1818, Glyphodes Guenée, 1854 and the monotypic Neoglyphodes Streltzov, 2008. In order to solve this nomenclatural confusion and to find a reasonable and verifiable generic placement for the box tree moth, the morphology of the above mentioned and some additional spilomeline taxa was investigated and their phylogeny analysed. The results show that C. perspectalis belongs to a monophylum that includes three of the genera in which it was previously placed: Glyphodes, Diaphania and Palpita. Within this monophylum, it is closely related to the Asian Cydalima Lederer, 1863. As a result of this analysis, Sisyrophora Lederer, 1863 syn. rev. and Neoglyphodes Streltzov, 2008 syn. n. are synonymised with Cydalima Lederer, 1863, and five species are transferred to this genus: Cydalima capriniodes (Hampson, 1912) (Glyphodes) comb. n., Cydalima decipiens (Hampson, 1912) (Glyphodes) comb. n., Cydalima joiceyi (Janse, 1924) (Margaronia) comb. n., Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Phakellura) comb. n. and Cydalima pfeifferae (Lederer, 1863) (Sisyrophora) comb. rev.
A new genus and new species of Cantacaderinae (Heteroptera: Tingidae) is described, Caledoderus monteithi. A key to genera is provided. The phylogenetic relationships among the Cantacaderinae, including this new genus and species, are revisited. The results are congruent with previous studies. However, the Ceratocaderini is a sister group of Carldrakeaninae and not Cantacaderini, even if only weakly supported by the analysis. Therefore, the status of Ceratocaderini and Cantacaderini is maintained, whereas Carldrakeanini stat. nov. is reduced to tribal level and they are all included in the Cantacaderinae., Eric Guilbert., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The genetic variation of the forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula (Pallas, 1779) from isolated populations of Russian Plain and the Caucasus was investigated using cytochrome b gene (cytb). The genetic distance calculated between these populations of forest dormouse was 9.94 %, which corresponds to the typical distance between biological species of mammals. The genetic distance of cytb between Western and Central Caucasus forest dormouse populations is also significant, 6.0 %. Probably, there was a long-term isolation of European and Caucasian areas of D. nitedula during the whole Pleistocene.
A new genus and species of geometrid moths from Tadjikistan is described and its position in the taxonomic structure of the subfamily Larentiinae is analysed. The new genus is grouped, based on the parsimony analysis of 38 morphological characters, to coniferous-feeding genera of the tribe Cidariini as follows: (Thera (Pennithera (Protothera (Pljushtchia gen. n. Heterothera)))). Pljushtchia is characterised by the antennae, unipectinate in males and flat, serrate in females, by a reduced haustellum, the venation of wings and the structure of the genitalia. The Thera firmata species group is validated as a genus Protothera. The tribe Cidariini includes four groups of related genera and is most speciose in southeastern Asia.
The occurrence in the Mediterranean part of Europe of the African species Potamogeton schweinfurthii is recorded for the first time. So far, this native but overlooked species has been found on five major Mediterranean islands: Corsica, Sardinia, Malta, Kefallinía (Ionian Islands, Greece) and Crete. The species is most similar and presumably closely related to the mainly Eurasian P. lucens, with which it has been partly confused. The nomenclature and a description of P. schweinfurthii are provided, and its taxonomy and how it differs from similar taxa discussed. All known localities are listed, together with voucher specimens preserved in the major European herbaria. A distribution map of P. schweinfurthii in the Mediterranean region is presented.
The recognition of hybrids of linear-leaved taxa of Potamogeton (sect. Graminifolii;) based on morphology is difficult and often debatable. As a consequence, currently only a few hybrid taxa are considered valid and many linear-leaved hybrids described in the past are not now recognized. On the other hand, the use of molecular tools has recently allowed more efficient tests of the origin of morphological forms and the tracking of hybridization events in Potamogeton systematics. In this paper, Potamogeton ×maëmetsiae Zalewska-Gałosz et M. Ronikier nothosp. nov. (Potamogetonaceae), a hybrid between two linear-leaved species, P. friesii and P. rutilus, is described and illustrated. Hybrid plants were collected from two Central-European populations growing in Lake Skaidrys (Lithuania) and Soitsjärv (Estonia). The hybrid origin of the new entity was identified based on a morphological survey and independently confirmed using nuclear (ITS, 5S-NTS) and chloroplast (rpl32-trnL intergenic spacer) DNA sequence data and AFLP analysis of genetic structure. Differences between P. ×maëmetsiae and similar taxa are outlined and other relevant details of the new hybrid discussed.
Quametopia gen. n. is established on the basis of recent phylogenetic analysis of taxa formerly assembled under the genus Mumetopia Melander, 1913 to include M. terminalis (Loew, 1863) and two new closely related Nearctic species of Anthomyzidae. The new genus is diagnosed and its phylogenetic relationships discussed. Quametopia terminalis (Loew, 1863) comb. n. is transferred from Mumetopia and redescribed based on revision of the type material (lectotypes of Anthophilina terminalis Loew, 1863 and its synonym Mumetopia nitens Melander, 1913 are designated) and other extensive material. Quametopia clintonia sp. n. and Q. amplistylus sp. n. (both from Canada, USA) are described and relationships of all three Quametopia species discussed. Immature stages of Q. terminalis and Q. clintonia sp. n. obtained by means of adult-to-adult rearing are described (1st- and 2nd-instar larvae for the first time in the family Anthomyzidae) and illustrated. Keys to adults, eggs, larvae and puparia of Quametopia species are presented. Biology (habitat and host-plant associations, life history) of Q. terminalis and Q. clintonia sp. n. are studied in detail and their ecological separation demonstrated. Distribution of all Quametopia species is reviewed. and Jindřich Roháček, Kevin N. Barber.