ABSTRACT
The genus Myzocallis Passerini (Hemiptera, Aphididae, Calaphidinae, Myzocallidini) is a rather primitive group of aphids currently comprising 45 species and 3 subspecies, subdivided into ten subgenera, three of them having a West Palaearctic distribution. The majority of the species inhabit Fagales plants and some of them are considered pests. Despite their ecological interest and the presence of some taxonomic controversies, there are only a few molecular studies on the group. Here, the main aims were to develop a DNA barcodes library for the molecular identification of West Palaearctic Myzocallis species, to evaluate the congruence among their morphological, ecological and DNA-based delimitation, and verify the congruence of the subgeneric subdivision presently adopted by comparing the results with those obtained for other Panaphidini species. These study findings indicate that Myzocallis (Agrioaphis) leclanti, originally described as a subspecies of M. (A.) castanicola and M. (M.) schreiberi, considered as a subspecies of M. (M.) boerneri, should be regarded at a rank of full species, and the subgenera Agrioaphis, Lineomyzocallis, Neomyzocallis, Pasekia were elevated to the rank of genus, while Myzocallis remain as such.
ABSTRACT
The aphid Myzocallis macrolepidis sp. n. is described from the Apulia region, Italy, where it was collected on Quercus macrolepis. The new taxon has a pale-yellow colour in life as alate viviparous females and paler nymphs. Its life cycle remains unknown at present, as sexual morphs were not yet collected; nevertheless, being the aphid host plant a deciduous oak species, very probably the insect performs a monoecious holocycle. Morphologically most similar aphids are M. occidentalis and M. schreiberi from which the new species can be mainly distinguished by the different ratio of last rostral joint to second hind tarsomer and a few other morphological and ecological features. The molecular analysis also confirms the genetic difference of the new taxon from the other allied congeneric species, and molecular differences are briefly discussed.
Subject(s)
Aphids , Quercus , Animals , Aphids/anatomy & histology , Aphids/genetics , DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic , Female , Italy , Nymph , Quercus/geneticsABSTRACT
Apterous and alate viviparous females and the alate males of Macrosiphum eastopi Barjadze & Blackman sp. n. living on Oberna multifida Ikonn. (=Silene multifida Rohrb.) (Caryophyllaceae) are described from the Republic of Georgia (Caucasus). Type specimens are deposited at the Institute of Zoology, Ilia State University (IZISU), Tbilisi, Georgia; the Natural History Museum (BMNH), London, U.K.; and the University of Catania (UCI), Sicily, Italy. Apterous and alate viviparous females of its close relative M. hartigi Hille Ris Lambers, 1947, living on Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke and Stellaria holostea L. (Caryophyllaceae) are redescribed, based on co-types and other material from Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland. The hitherto unknown fundatrix, oviparous females and alate males of M. hartigi are described from Italy and Switzerland. Macrosiphum eastopi sp. n. is differentiated from the morphologically similar M. hartigi and compared with other Macrosiphum species living on Caryophyllaceae. A key is provided to apterous viviparous females of all aphid species recorded on Oberna multifida.
Subject(s)
Aphids , Animals , Austria , Caryophyllaceae , Female , France , Georgia (Republic) , London , Male , Sicily , SwitzerlandABSTRACT
A new species of aphid, belonging to the genus Macrosiphoniella Del Guercio, 1911, is described using three samples collected in Iran on Helichrysum armenium (Asteraceae, Inuleae) by the late Prof. G. Remaudière. Both apterous and alate viviparous females of the new taxon, Macrosiphoniella remaudiereisp. n., are described and compared to corresponding morphs of the closely allied Macrosiphoniella aetnensis and to other congeneric aphid species on Helichrysum in the Palaearctic region. Type specimens are now stored in the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris.