Micromyzus platycerii sp. n. (Hemiptera, Aphididae) - a new fern-feeding aphid species from Thailand

A new fern-feeding aphid species, Micromyzus platycerii, collected in Sakaerat Research Station in Thailand, is described

How do King Cobras move across a major highway? Unintentional wildlife crossing structures may facilitate movement

Global road networks continue to expand, and the wildlife responses to these landscape-level changes need to be understood to advise long-term management decisions. Roads have high mortality risk to snakes because snakes typically move slowly and can be intentionally targeted by drivers. We investigated how radio-tracked King Cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) traverse a major highway in northeast Thailand, and if reproductive cycles were associated with road hazards. We surveyed a 15.3 km stretch of Highway 304 to determine if there were any locations where snakes could safely move across the road (e.g., culverts and bridges). We used recurse analyses to detect possible road-crossing events, and used dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Models (dBBMMs) to show movement pathways association with possible unintentional crossing structures. We further used Integrated Step Selection Functions (ISSF) to assess seasonal differences in avoidance of major roads for adult King Cobras in relation to reproductive state. We discovered 32 unintentional wildlife crossing locations capable of facilitating King Cobra movement across the highway. While our dBBMMs broadly revealed underpasses as possible crossing points, they failed to identify specific underpasses used by telemetered individuals; however, the tracking locations pre- and post-crossing and photographs provided strong evidence of underpass use. Our ISSF suggested a lower avoidance of roads during the breeding season, although the results were inconclusive. With the high volume of traffic, large size of King Cobras, and a 98.8% success rate of crossing the road in our study (nine individuals: 84 crossing attempts with one fatality), we strongly suspect that individuals are using the unintentional crossing structures to safely traverse the road. Further research is needed to determine the extent of wildlife underpass use at our study site. We propose that more consistent integration of drainage culverts and bridges could help mitigate the impacts of roads on some terrestrial wildlife. © 2022 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

A new species of Arnobia (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae: Phaneropterinae) from Sakaerat, Thailand

Tan, Ming Kai, Artchawakom, Taksin (2014): A new species of Arnobia (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae: Phaneropterinae) from Sakaerat, Thailand. Zootaxa 3857 (1): 131-136, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3857.1.

Hypseloecus nigrobrevis Yasunaga, Yamada & Artchawakom, 2015, sp. nov.

<i>Hypseloecus nigrobrevis</i> sp. nov. <p>(Figs. 2 E, 5–6)</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Distinguished from any other congeners by its tiny size; almost wholly dull, dark general coloration; and both golden-brown setae and wooly, silvery setae on dorsum.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> <i>Female.</i> COLORATION AND VESTITURE: Body, including appendages, generally dull, dark brown; dorsal surface less shining, with both golden-brown, reclining setae and wooly, silvery, reclining setae.</p> <p> Head dark chestnut brown. Antenna uniformly dull grayish brown, slender. Labium shiny dark brown; segment I somewhat tinged with red. Pronotum, scutellum and pleura including ostiolar peritreme dark brown as in Fig. 6. Hemelytron fuscous; membrane dark smoky brown, with pale veins. Coxae wholly fuscous as in Table 1. Legs entirely dark brown; tibial annulations invisible. Abdomen fuscous. STRUCTURE: As in generic description (see Schuh & Menard, 2011). <i>Male</i>. Unknown.</p> <p> <b>Measurements</b>. ♀: Total body length 2.2−2.3; length from apex of clypeus to cuneal fracture 1.70−1.90; width of head across eyes 0.75−0.77; head height 0.51−0.53; width of vertex 0.36−0.39; lengths of antennal segments I −IV 0.20−0.21, 0.70−0.72, 0.32−0.36, 0.48−0.50; basal width of pronotum 0.96−0.98; maximum width across hemelytron 1.18−1.21; and length of metatibia 1.11−1.14.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> From Latin, <i>nigris</i> (= black) in combination with <i>brevis</i> (= small), referring to the dark, small shape of this new species; an adjective.</p> <p> <b>Biology.</b> Unknown; adults are attracted to light.</p> <p> <b>Holotype:</b> ♀, <b>THAILAND:</b> <i>Nakhon Ratchasima</i>: SERS, 14˚30'27”N, 101˚55'39”E, 410 m alt., light trap, 31 May 2012, T. Yasunaga (AMNH _PBI 00380243) (DOA)</p> <p> <b>Paratype.</b> THAILAND: 1♀, same locality as for holotype, light trap, 28 Oct 2008, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (AMNH _PBI 00380244) (TYCN).</p>Published as part of <i>Yasunaga, Tomohide, Yamada, Kazutaka & Artchawakom, Taksin, 2015, First Indochinese records of the plant bug genus Hypseloecus Reuter (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini), with descriptions of eight new species from Thailand, pp. 75-93 in Zootaxa 3925 (1)</i> on pages 83-84, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3925.1.5, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/287966">http://zenodo.org/record/287966</a&gt

First Indochinese records of the plant bug genus Hypseloecus Reuter (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini), with descriptions of eight new species from Thailand

Yasunaga, Tomohide, Yamada, Kazutaka, Artchawakom, Taksin (2015): First Indochinese records of the plant bug genus Hypseloecus Reuter (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini), with descriptions of eight new species from Thailand. Zootaxa 3925 (1): 75-93, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3925.1.

A new species from the genus Gorochovitettix (Tetrigidae: Metrodorinae) from Thailand

Tan, Ming Kai, Artchawakom, Taksin (2015): A new species from the genus Gorochovitettix (Tetrigidae: Metrodorinae) from Thailand. Zootaxa 3990 (3): 444-450, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3990.3.

Hypseloecus schuhianus Yasunaga, Yamada & Artchawakom, 2015, sp. nov.

<i>Hypseloecus schuhianus</i> sp. nov. <p>(Figs.5–7, 8 C–D, 11)</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Recognized by its generally fuscous and partly dark reddish brown body; antennal color pattern similar to <i>phuvasae</i>; darkened pleura, including anterior half of ostiolar peritreme; contrastingly whitish procoxa; generally darkened femora except for pale apex of profemur; and two identical processes of endosoma. This new species is considered to be the closest relative of <i>H. phuvasae</i>, from which it can be easily distinguished by the characters in the key and Table 1.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> <i>Male.</i> COLORATION AND VESTITURE: Body generally fuscous, rounded; dorsal surface less shining, with reddish parts on mesoscutum, scutellum and hemelytron. Head rather shining, chestnut brown, often with a pair of pale spots on frons near inner margins of eyes; ventral portion yellowish white. Antennal segments I and II darkened as in Table I; segment III and IV dark brown, with whitish extreme base of the former. Labium dark brown, partly reddish. Lateral margin of mesonotum and wider portion of scutellum sometimes tinged with red; pleura and coxae dark brown, with anterior half of ostiolar peritreme often darkened. Hemelytron less shining, or mat; clavus, anterior part of corium and apical part of cuneus more or less reddish brown; membrane dark smoky brown, with pale veins and irregular-shaped fascia at middle. Coxae as in Table 1; procoxa contrastingly whitish. All femora usually darkened; tibiae with rather clear, dark reddish brown annulations. Abdomen almost uniformly fuscous. STRUCTURE: Labium long; remaining structures as in generic description (see Schuh & Menard, 2011). <i>Genitalia</i> (Fig. 11): Right paramere oval. Endosoma nearly J-shaped, with two processes. <i>Female</i>. Similar in general coloration and structure to male.</p> <p> <b>Measurements</b>. ♂/♀: Total body length 2.2−2.5/ 2.2−3.0; length from apex of clypeus to cuneal fracture 1.71−1.90/ 1.90−2.30; width of head across eyes 0.85−0.96/ 0.87−0.99; head height 0.58−0.60/ 0.60−0.65; width of vertex 0.37−0.44/ 0.48−0.50; lengths of antennal segments I −IV 0.21−0.23, 0.81−0.86, 0.36−0.40, 0.36−0.47/ 0.18−0.24, 0.74−0.86, 0.37−0.46, 0.33−0.45; basal width of pronotum 1.06−1.16/ 1.22−1.34; maximum width across hemelytron 1.33−1.53/ 1.46−1.70; and length of metatibia 1.32−1.41/ 1.35−1.56.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named after Dr. Randall T. Schuh, in honor of his global contributions to the Miridae; an adjective.</p> <p> <b>Biology.</b> Unknown; all specimens were collected at light.</p> <p> <b>Holotype:</b> ♂, <b>THAILAND:</b> <i>Nakhon Ratchasima</i>: SERS, 14˚30'27”N, 101˚55'39”E, 410 m alt., light trap, light trap, 26 Feb 2009, T. Yasunaga (AMNH _PBI 00380249) (DOA).</p> <p> <b>Paratypes. THAILAND:</b> <i>Nakhon Nayok</i>: 1♀, Sarika, N14°18'39" E101°18'00", at light, 5 Mar 2009, T. Yasunaga (00380257) (TYCN); 1♀, Sarika, N14°18'07" E101°18'09", at light, 15 Dec 2011, T. Yasunaga (00380258) (TYCN). <i>Nakhon Ratchasima</i>: 4♂ 1♀, same data as for holotype (00380250–00380254) (AMNH, TYCN); 1♀, same locality, light trap, 12−14 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380255) (TYCN); 1♀, same locality, light trap, 29−31 May 2012, T. Yasunaga (00380256) (TYCN). <i>Phranakhon-Sri-Ayutthaya</i>: 1♀, Huntra, RMUTSB Campus, 14˚22'N, 100˚36'E, 11 Feb 2009, T. Yasunaga (00380259) (TYCN).</p>Published as part of <i>Yasunaga, Tomohide, Yamada, Kazutaka & Artchawakom, Taksin, 2015, First Indochinese records of the plant bug genus Hypseloecus Reuter (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini), with descriptions of eight new species from Thailand, pp. 75-93 in Zootaxa 3925 (1)</i> on pages 88-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3925.1.5, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/287966">http://zenodo.org/record/287966</a&gt

Pilophorus saovapruki Yasunaga, Yamada & Artchawakom, 2014, new species

<i>Pilophorus saovapruki</i> new species <p>(Figs. 2 A–C, 4, 5, 7)</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Recognized by its rather small size, ocherous brown basic coloration, shiny pronotum, a bunch of scalelike setae on each corner of scutellum, matt anterior 2/3 of hemelytron with two streaks of scalelike setae on middle clavus and anterior corium, and nearly confluent posterior band of scalelike setae, a circular patch of scalelike setae on cuneus, paired dark maculae on ventral surface of abdomen, and form of male genitalia.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Body generally ocherous brown, partly tinged with red or sanguineous, rather small, moderately constricted (HCR = 0.70–0.84); dorsal surface shining, except for matt anterior 2/3 of two-toned hemelytron. Head shiny chestnut brown, with uniformly distributed, silky, short, semierect setae. Antenna pale brown; segment II with chestnut apical half, weakly incrassate toward apex; apex (and sometimes base) of segment III narrowly darkened. Labium shiny reddish brown, reaching or slightly exceeding apex of mesocoxa. Pronotum shiny chestnut brown, tumid posteriorly, with uniformly distributed, silky, short, semierect setae; pleura shiny pale brown to fuscous, with two bunches of scalelike setae on epimeron; scutellum somewhat arched, with a bunch of scalelike setae at each corner. Hemelytron two-toned (ocherous and matt anteriorly whereas shiny chestnut brown posteriorly), with uniformly distributed, simple, semierect setae; anterior ochrous region with 4 streaks of scalelike setae medially and a nearly confluent band at posterior border; cuneus with a patch of scalelike setae; membrane smoky brown. Coxae and legs pale brown, partly tinged with red; apical parts of (especially meso and meta) femora widely darkened; basal 1/3−1/2 of each tibiae reddish or dark brown. Abdomen shiny yellowish brown, ventrally with paired, dark reddish brown, large maculae sometimes fused together mesally. Male genitalia (Figs. 5, 7): Left paramere with a moderate-sized dorsal protuberance. Endosoma C-shaped, medially with a long flagellum.</p> <p> <b>Measurements</b>. ♂/♀: Total body length 2.6−2.7/ 2.7−2.9; length from apex of clypeus to cuneal fracture 2.07−2.17/ 2.12−2.28; width of head across eyes 0.68−0.71/ 0.69−0.72; head height 0.58−0.62/ 0.61−0.63; width of vertex 0.27−0.35/ 0.33−0.35; lengths of antennal segments I −IV 0.20−0.24, 0.75−0.84, 0.32−0.26, 0.36−0.41/ 0.24−0.26, 0.81−0.84, 0.36−0.37, 0.36−0.38; basal width of pronotum 0.78−0.80/ 0.78−0.81; minimum width across hemelytron 0.69−0.72/ 0.73−0.75; maximum width across hemelytron 0.84−0.87/ 0.98−1.04; and length of metatibia 1.32−1.35/ 1.42−1.47.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named in honor of Mr. Youngwut Saovapruk (the Governor of Thailand Institute of Scientific & Technological Research) who strongly supports the SERS.</p> <p> <b>Biology.</b> Although two male adults of this new species were found on leaves of <i>Macaranga</i> trees (Euphorbiaceae), its breeding host is yet to be confirmed. The adults are collected almost throughout a year, and frequently attracted to light.</p> <p> <b>Holotype:</b> ♂, <b>THAILAND: Nakhon Ratchasima:</b> SERS, 14˚30'27”N, 101˚55'39”E, 410 m alt., light trap, 25 Sep 2013, T. Yasunaga (AMNH _PBI 00380170) (DOA).</p> <p> <b>Paratypes. THAILAND: Nakhon Nayok:</b> 1♂, Sarika near Waterfall, 14˚18'32”N 101˚15'20”E ~ 14˚18'09”N 101˚15'38”E, on leaf of <i>Macaranga</i> sp., 17−18 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (AMNH _PBI 00380190) (TYCN); 1♂, Nakhon Nayok: Sarika, Ban Wang Taklai, 14˚19'48.5”N 101˚18'19.5”E, on leaf of <i>Macaranga</i> sp., 23 Mar 2010, T. Yasunaga (00380191) (TYCN). <b>Nakhon Ratchasima</b>: 1♂, same data as for holotype (00380171) (TYCN); 1♂ 1♀, SERS, same data except for date, 23 Sep 2013 (00380172−00380173) (TYCN); 5♂ 2♀, same locality, light trap, 19−21 Aug 2008, T. Yasunaga, B Shishido (00380174−00380177) (TYCN); 1♂ 1♀, same locality, light trap, 27 Oct 2008, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380178) (TYCN); 2♂ 2♀, same locality, light trap, 25−27 Feb 2009, T. Yasunaga (00380179−00380180) (TYCN); 8♂ 3♀, same locality, light trap, 12−14 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380181−00380187) (AMNH, TYCN); 2♂, same locality, light trap, 31 May & 2 Jun 2013, T. Yasunaga (00380188−00380189) (TYCN); 12♂ 3♀, same locality, light trap, 21−24 Mar 2014, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380208−00380214) (AMNH, TYCN).</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> This new species appears to be most closely related to <i>P. formosanus</i> Poppius, judging from the general appearance and basic form of the endosoma; <i>C. saovapruki</i> is distinguished from the latter by the presence of silvery, scalelike setae on the median clavus and inner cuneus, and much longer flagellum of the endosoma, in addition to the allopatric distribution.</p> <p>A male individual shown in Fig. 2 B (AMNH_PBI 00380173) has an aberrant right antenna that seems to lack the segment III.</p>Published as part of <i>Yasunaga, Tomohide, Yamada, Kazutaka & Artchawakom, Taksin, 2014, Additional records and descriptions of the ant-mimetic plant bug genus Pilophorus from Thailand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini), pp. 1-15 in Zootaxa 3795 (1)</i> on pages 9-10, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3795.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/286014">http://zenodo.org/record/286014</a&gt

Pilophorus alstoni Schuh

<i>Pilophorus alstoni</i> Schuh <p>(Figs. 2 D–F, 4, 7)</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Recognized by its medium-sized, fuscous, rather broad body (length 2.6−3.0, width 0.9−1.2), generally shiny dorsum, club-like antennal segment II that is longer than basal width of pronotum, two nearly confluent scalelike setae, moderately constricted hemelytron (HCR = 0.75−0.80), reddish brown medial clavus and anterior corium, and 3-branched process on endosoma (Fig. 7). Further diagnostic characters and a description were provided by Schuh (1984).</p> <p> <b>Biology.</b> In Thailand, the adults of this species have been collected by light traps as well as found from the inflorescences of various plants (both herbs and broad-leaved trees). The immature form is yet to be discovered, however.</p> <p> <b>Specimens examined. THAILAND: Chaiyaphum:</b> 1♂, Chulabhom Dam, 16˚32−33'N, 101˚38−39'E, 760−780 m, 16 Apr 2013, T. Yasunaga (AMNH_PBI 00380198) (TYCN). <b>Nakhon Nayok:</b> 1♂, Sarika, in front of Wat Tham Sarika (Buddhist temple), teak (<i>Tectona grandis</i> L.f.) flower, 14°17'22"N, 101°16'25"E, 18 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga (00380199) (TYCN); 1♂ 1♀, Sarika near Sarika Waterfall, 14˚18'32”N, 101˚15'20”E ~ 14˚18'09”N, 101˚15'38”E, on flowers of <i>Macaranga</i> sp. (Euphorbiaceae), 17−18 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380200) (TYCN). <b>Nakhon Ratchasima:</b> 1♂ 1♀, SERS near dam, 14˚29'49”N, 101˚54'57”E, 500 m alt., on flowers of <i>Mallotus</i> sp. (Euphorbiaceae), 20 Aug 2008, T. Yasunaga (00380201) (TYCN); 1♂, same locality, on fabaceous flowers, 17 Sep 2008, T. Yasunaga (00380202) (TYCN); 1♂ 1♀, same locality, 28 Oct 2008, T. Yasunaga (00380203) (TYCN); 1♂ 1♀, SERS, 14˚30'27”N, 101˚55'39”E, 410 m alt., light trap, 25−27 Feb 2009, T. Yasunaga (00380204) (TYCN); 1♂, same locality, light trap, 12−14 Jun 2009, T. Yasunaga, K. Yamada (00380205) (TYCN); 2♀, same locality, light trap, 31 May 2012, T. Yasunaga (00380206) (TYCN); 1♂, same locality, light trap, 23 Sep 2013, T. Yasunaga (00380207) (TYCN).</p>Published as part of <i>Yasunaga, Tomohide, Yamada, Kazutaka & Artchawakom, Taksin, 2014, Additional records and descriptions of the ant-mimetic plant bug genus Pilophorus from Thailand (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Pilophorini), pp. 1-15 in Zootaxa 3795 (1)</i> on page 4, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3795.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/286014">http://zenodo.org/record/286014</a&gt