No abstract

Mediterranean representatives of the galling aphid tribe Fordini (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Eriosomatinae) are usually grouped under the subtribe term Fordina. Aphids within Fordina display two‐year life cycles, alternating between Pistacia shrubs, where they induce conspicuous galls, and roots of Poaceae species. The high number of morphs present in a given species, the lack of knowledge of the complete cycle in some species, and the similarity between homologous morphs observed in different species pose many taxonomic problems in this group. We present results of a survey to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among Fordini species present in the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands. Sequences from the nuclear long‐wavelength opsin (LWO) and translation elongation factor 1α (EF‐1α) genes and from a region of the mitochondrial DNA containing the genes encoding the subunits six and eight of the F‐ATPase were used to infer relationships among 10 Fordina species, namely Smynthurodes betae, Aploneura lentisci, Baizongia pistaciae, two Geoica species (G. utricularia and G. setulosa), three species of Forda and two of Paracletus. Relationships between and within representatives of the genera Forda and Paracletus, both exemplifying taxonomic and ecological problems, were investigated in greater depth through extensive sampling and morphometric analysis. A total of eight, six and six samples from F. formicaria, F. marginata and F. riccobonii, respectively, were included in the survey, along with 40 and 4 samples classified initially as P. cimiciformis and P. donisthorpei, respectively. Our results are relevant to current studies on the evolution of host selection by aphids and on the evolution of gall morphology. Our phylogeny suggests that the group can be divided into two main clades. One clade is composed of aphids inducing small, low‐capacity galls on either P. atlantica or P. terebinthus (Smynthurodes betae and genera Forda and Paracletus). The second clade is composed of species inducing larger galls on P. lentiscus and P. terebinthus (Aploneura lentisci, Baizongia pistaciae and Geoica species). Our results suggest that revision of diagnostic characters used in the taxonomy of Paracletus is needed, and suggest Forda rotunda as a new synonym of Paracletus cimiciformissyn.n.

The present paper represents a contribution to the knowledge of the taxonomy of Monoctonia Starý aphid parasitoids obtained using the barcoding region of the mitochondrial COI gene. We discuss the phylogenetic position of the genus within the subtribe Monoctonina, redescribe known species, and describe Monoctonia japonica sp. n. from Japan in the association Pemphigus matsumurai Monzen/Populus maximowiczii. A key for species identification is provided. Also, we review and discuss the host records, origin, and geographical distribution of Monoctonia species. It is hypothesized that the genus Monoctonia evolved in Paleogene forests of the temperate (and subtropical) belt, most probably in the European part of the Mediterranean region, which is also the center of origin of their host plants.

No abstract

The check-list of species in the Tribe Aphidini (Hemiptera, Aphididae: Aphidinae) recorded to date from the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Isles is presented, 139 species are listed. A list of the countries (Andorra, Spain and Portugal) and provinces (Spanish) or districts (Portuguese) where each species and subspecies is known is also included. Five species are mentioned for the first time in Iberian-Balearic territory: Aphis callunae Theobald, A. comosa (Börner) IntroductionTo date, 142 aphid species belonging to the Tribe Aphidini Latreille, 1802 (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in the taxonomical sense of Remaudière & Remaudière (1997), have been recorded from the IberianBalearic territory, with 13 species recorded from Andorra (Seco Fernández et al., 1998), 70 from continental Portugal (Ilharco, 1996;Aldryhim & Khalil, 1996;Ilharco, 2002) and 135 from peninsular Spain and the Balearic Isles (Nieto Nafría et al., 1984;Blackman & Eastop, 1984;Stroyan, 1984;Nieto Nafría et al. 1986;Meliá Masiá, 1986;Arcos & Cabello, 1988;Nieto Nafría et al., 1987;Mier Durante et al., 1989;Nieto Nafría et al., 1990a;Nieto Nafría et al., 1990b;Meliá Masiá, 1991;Nieto Nafría et al., 1991;Tizado Morales, 1991;Tizado Morales & Nieto Nafría, 1991;Meliá Masiá, 1995;Mier Durante et al., 1996;García Prieto & Sanchís Segovia, 1998;Michelena et al., 1998;Meliá Masiá, 2003).Within the framework of the research programme on Iberian-Balearic aphid fauna Nieto Nafría et al., 2003), we have reviewed the specimens belonging to the subtribe Aphidini (in the taxonomical sense according to Remaudière & Remaudière, 1997) in the aphid collection of Leon University [Department of Animal Biology], as well as the bibliographical references for specimens in other collections, some of which we have been able to study. ResultsAs a result of the study:(a) 5 species are included in the Iberian-Balearic check-list of Aphidini: Aphis callunae Theobald, 1915, A. comosa (Börner, 1950 THE IBERIAN-BALEARIC CHECK-LIST OF SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES BELONGING TO THE TRIBE APHIDINIThe provinces (in Spain) and districts (in Portugal) where they are known are listed. The national, provincial or district first record is indicated with an asterisk (*). For species with two or more subspecies the list of provinces and districts where the species was recorded includes those related to all its subspecies and also those corresponding to records without reference to subspecies.The Spanish provinces and Portuguese districts are given in Spanish and Portuguese, respectively. Different contributions for several species (on faunistics, morphology, taxonomy, bionomics or nomenclature) are given at the end of the list in "notes on the check-list".

Trophobiosis between aphids (Aphididae, Hemiptera) and ants (Formicidae, Hymenoptera) is considered to provide an important source of nutrition for ants by aphid honeydew and aphids themselves used as prey. However, little is known about nutrient fluxes and the relative importance of trophobiosis for different ant species. Combining direct contact observations between ants and aphids with stable isotope analyses of distinct multitrophic sample sets (soil, plant, aphid, and ant), we aimed at disentangling the importance of trophobiosis in a Mediterranean food web and possible feedbacks on the functional diversity of ants in a species-rich organic Citrus plantation. We analyzed d 13 C-and d 15 N-values of sample sets for fertilized and natural soil, using the fertilizer as natural isotope label. The results showed trophic relationships between 18 host plant species, 22 aphid species, and 7 ant species. Direct observation revealed at least 40 different plant-aphid combinations and 25 aphid-ant combinations with a marked range of d 15 N-values. However, the d 13 C and d 15 N isotope ratios still reflected the trophic levels. A significant correlation occurred between the isotope ratios of aphids and their host plants. However, no relationship was found between aphids and ants or between plants and ants revealing that many ant species do not exhibit a close relationship with their trophobiotic partners. Isotopic data allowed us to separate ant species into trophic functional groups and showed the relevance of other food resources. The applied fertilizer shifted the isotopic baseline for the whole trophic system. By combining the stable isotope analysis with the exact origin of the samples, we avoided a misleading interpretation of the high isotopic range of species. Thus, we emphasize the importance of considering a baseline in stable isotope food web studies.

Prociphilus (Meliarhizophagus) fraxinifolii is recorded for the first time on Fraxinus pennsylvanica in Spain. The species, which is of Nearctic origin, is also present in Europe in Hungary (from 2003), Serbia (from 2006) and Bulgaria (from 2007).

The new species Rhopalosiphum chusqueae Pérez Hidalgo & Villalobos Muller, is described from apterous viviparous females caught on Chusquea tomentosa in Cerro de la Muerte (Costa Rica). The identity of the species is supported both by the morphological features and by a molecular phylogenetic analysis based on a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA containing the 5’ region of the cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) and on the nuclear gene coding for the Elongation factor-1 alpha (EF1α). The taxonomic position of the new species is discussed. An identification key to the Aphidinae species living on plants of Bambusoideae (Poaceae) is presented.