New species of Southeast Asian Dwarf Tarantula from Thailand: Phlogiellus Pocock, 1897 (Theraphosidae, Selenocosmiinae)

A new record of the tarantula genus Phlogiellus Pocock, 1897 from Thailand is described. Distributional data, natural history, morphological characters, and illustrations of male and female are provided. The Thai specimens belong to a new species, Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. The diagnosis of the new species and related species are discussed

New species of Southeast Asian Dwarf Tarantula from Thailand: Phlogiellus Pocock, 1897 (Theraphosidae, Selenocosmiinae)

A new record of the tarantula genus Phlogiellus Pocock, 1897 from Thailand is described. Distributional data, natural history, morphological characters, and illustrations of male and female are provided. The Thai specimens belong to a new species, Phlogiellus longipalpus sp. n. The diagnosis of the new species and related species are discussed

A new species of the genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861, subgenus Euscorpiops Vachon, 1980 from Thailand (Scorpiones, Scorpiopidae)

A new species, Scorpiops (Euscorpiops) krachan sp. nov., belonging to the family Scorpiopidae Kraepelin, 1905 is described based on three adult males and one adult female collected in the Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi Province, Thailand. The new species presents most features exhibited by scorpions of the subgenus Euscorpiops and can be characterized notably by a very small size, a sexual dimorphism strongly marked with male pedipalps elongated, a distinct trichobothrial pattern and other morphological features. This new taxon may represent one endemic element for the scorpion fauna of Thailand. Aspects of the ecology and distribution of the new species are discussed and compared with that of other relative Scorpiops species

Detecting introgressive hybridization to maintain genetic integrity in endangered large waterbird: a case study in milky stork

Hybridization between milky stork (Mycteria cinerea) and painted stork (M. leucocephala) occurs frequently in captivity. Dusit Zoo is a captive breeding facility where storks with phenotypically ambiguous patterns have recently been observed, and their status remaining inconclusive. Here, we used a combination of phenotypic characters and genetic markers (cytochrome b and 14 microsatellite markers) to distinguish and identify hybrids from the two parental species (n = 114). Haplotype analysis revealed asymmetric mtDNA introgression from M. cinerea to M. leucocephala, with twelve morphologically classified M. leucocephala individuals carrying heterospecific mtDNA. Comprehensive biparental genetic assessments identified 33% of all three genetic clusters as admixed individuals, of which most were either F2 hybrids, backcrosses with M. leucocephala, or hybrids of unknown generation, implying weak premating isolation with the absence of intrinsic postzygotic isolation between parentals. Morphological analysis demonstrated that the absence or indistinctness of a black bar across the breast is the most noticeable trait to identify these hybrids. The endangered M. cinerea was found to have genomic contamination from M. leucocephala and vice versa, with at least 41 hybrid individuals being identified. These findings provide critical information for detecting hybrids and identifying suitable breeding stocks with genetic purity for future reintroduction and conservation management

Geographic variation in polyandry of the Eastern Honey Bee, Apis cerana, in Thailand

The repeated evolution of extreme polyandry in advanced social insects is exceptional and its explanation has attracted significant attention. However, most reported estimates of the number of matings are derived from limited sampling. Temporal and geographic variation in mating behavior of social insects has not been sufficiently studied. Worker offspring of 18 Eastern Honey Bee (Apis cerana Fabr.) queens from three populations across Thailand were genotyped at five microsatellite markers to test for population differences of mating behavior across three different ecosystems. The number of matings decreased from a northern, more seasonal environment to a southern tropical population and was lowest in a tropical island population. Our study confirms earlier findings that social insect mating behavior shows biogeographic variation and highlights that data from several populations are needed for reliable species-specific estimates of the number of matings. Detailed studies of populations that show significant differentiation in the number of matings may be able to discriminate effectively among the different hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the evolution of polyandry in honey bees and other advanced social insects

Seven new species of the segmented spider genus Liphistius (Mesothelae, Liphistiidae) in Thailand and Myanmar

Seven new species of the primitive segmented spider genus Liphistius are described and assigned to species groups based on characters of the male palp and vulva plate. The bristowei group includes L. dawei Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♂♀) from southeastern Myanmar, L. choosaki Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♀) from northwestern Thailand, and L. lansak Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♀) from western Thailand; the trang group (Complex A) contains L. kaengkhoi Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♂♀), L. hintung Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♂♀), L. buyphradi Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♂♀), and L. champakpheaw Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♂♀) from central Thailand

Biological systematics of the genus Ceratina, subgenus Ceratinidia (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Apidae)

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of Kansas, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2007.The Oriental species of the genus Ceratina, subgenus Ceratinidia are revised, based on a study of approximately 3,100 specimens. Thirty-seven species are recognized, with three described as new. All species are fully described and diagnosed, except for C. incertula and C. maai. Identification keys for both sexes are provided. The new species are C. chiangmaiensis, C. malukuensis, and C. rugosoclypeata. Ceratina alpicola Shiokawa and C. taiwanensis Shiokawa are elevated from subspecies status, and C. incertula and C. lepida var. sutepensis Cockerell are elevated from junior synonymy. The following names are relegated to synonymy: C. alexandrae Baker under C. carinifrons Baker, C. bowringi Baker under C. hieroglyphica Smith, and C. lepida var. sublepida Cockerell under C. sutepensis. Lectotypes are designated for C. bicuneata Cockerell, C. cognata Cockerell, C. selangorensis Cockerell, C. compacta Smith, C. flavipes Smith, C. hieratica Baker, C. interrupta Alfken, C. rugifrons Smith, C. simillima Smith, C. lepida var. sutepensis Cockerell, C. lepida var. sublepida Cockerell. In addition, a specific-level cladistic analysis of Ceratinidia species is presented. One hundred and twenty characters of adult external morphology are identified and coded for 31 species, along with 5 outgroup taxa. The resulting topology (from the use of 84 out of 120 characters) is used in the formation of a species-group classification of the subgenus. Five species-groups are recognized: tropica, bryanti, flavipes, accusator, and compacta. Two Ceratina subgenera previously not included in Ceratinidia, Lioceratina and Xanthoceratina, are placed under the accusator species-group, but the species formerly placed in these subgenera are not treated in detail. The geographical distribution and dispersal of Ceratinidia species are discussed herein

Opportunities and challenges in Asian bee research and conservation

The challenges of bee research in Asia are unique and severe, reflecting different cultures, landscapes, and faunas. Strategies and frameworks developed in North America or Europe may not prove applicable. Virtually none of these species have been assessed by the IUCN and there is a paucity of public data on even the basics of bee distribution. If we do not know the species present, their distribution and threats, we cannot protect them, but our knowledge base is vanishingly small in Asia compared to the rest of the world. To better understand and meet these challenges, this perspective conveys the ideas accumulated over hundreds of years of cumulative study of Asian bees by the authors, including academic, governmental, and other researchers from 13 Asian countries and beyond. We outline the special circumstances of Asian bee research and the current state of affairs, highlight the importance of highly social species as flagships for the lesser-known solitary bees, the dire need for further research for food security, and identify target research areas in need of further study. Finally, we outline a framework via which we will catalyze future research in the region, especially via governmental and other partnerships necessary to effectively conserve species.SCOPUS: sh.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe