Megalyridia capensis (Hymenoptera: Megalyridae: Megalyridiini) a relict species endemic to South Africa

Numerous further specimens of the monotypical megalyrid species Megalyridia capensis Hedqvist have recently been collected from diverse habitats encompassing a distributional range of more than 800 km in South Africa. The male of M. capensisis recorded for the first time. We provide high-quality Numerous further specimens of the monotypical megalyrid species Megalyridia capensis Hedqvist have recently been collected from diverse habitats encompassing a distributional range of more than 800 km in South Africa. The male of M. capensisis recorded for the first time. We provide high-quality images of both sexes and a key to genera of Megalyridae occurring in the Afrotropical region. Online keys are available at: http://www.waspweb. org/Megalyroidea/Megalyridae/Keys/index.htm. The biogeography of this relict species is discussed

Afrotropical Ophioninae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae): an update of Gauld and Mitchell’s revision, including two new species and an interactive matrix identification key

The revision of the Afrotropical Ophioninae is updated, based on the examination of about 800–900 individuals in the South African and European museum collections. A robust interactive matrix key was built to provide quick and reliable identifications. The key is available online at http://www.waspweb.org. Two new species are described: Dicamptus maxipol sp. n. and Enicospilus gauldetmitchellorum sp. n. Numerous new distribution and biological records are provided, and noticeable morphological intra-specific variations are detailed. Enicospilus batus Gauld & Mitchell, syn. n. is considered as a junior synonym of E. luebberti (Enderlein)

Codivergence and multiple host species use by fig wasp populations of the Ficus pollination mutualism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The interaction between insects and plants takes myriad forms in the generation of spectacular diversity. In this association a species host range is fundamental and often measured using an estimate of phylogenetic concordance between species. Pollinating fig wasps display extreme host species specificity, but the intraspecific variation in empirical accounts of host affiliation has previously been underestimated. In this investigation, lineage delimitation and codiversification tests are used to generate and discuss hypotheses elucidating on pollinating fig wasp associations with <it>Ficus</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Statistical parsimony and AMOVA revealed deep divergences at the <it>COI </it>locus within several pollinating fig wasp species that persist on the same host <it>Ficus </it>species. Changes in branching patterns estimated using the generalized mixed Yule coalescent test indicated lineage duplication on the same <it>Ficus </it>species. Conversely, <it>Elisabethiella </it>and <it>Alfonsiella </it>fig wasp species are able to reproduce on multiple, but closely related host fig species. Tree reconciliation tests indicate significant codiversification as well as significant incongruence between fig wasp and <it>Ficus </it>phylogenies.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings demonstrate more relaxed pollinating fig wasp host specificity than previously appreciated. Evolutionarily conservative host associations have been tempered by horizontal transfer and lineage duplication among closely related <it>Ficus </it>species. Independent and asynchronistic diversification of pollinating fig wasps is best explained by a combination of both sympatric and allopatric models of speciation. Pollinator host preference constraints permit reproduction on closely related <it>Ficus </it>species, but uncertainty of the frequency and duration of these associations requires better resolution.</p

A PatchMatch-based Dense-field Algorithm for Video Copy-Move Detection and Localization

We propose a new algorithm for the reliable detection and localization of video copy-move forgeries. Discovering well crafted video copy-moves may be very difficult, especially when some uniform background is copied to occlude foreground objects. To reliably detect both additive and occlusive copy-moves we use a dense-field approach, with invariant features that guarantee robustness to several post-processing operations. To limit complexity, a suitable video-oriented version of PatchMatch is used, with a multiresolution search strategy, and a focus on volumes of interest. Performance assessment relies on a new dataset, designed ad hoc, with realistic copy-moves and a wide variety of challenging situations. Experimental results show the proposed method to detect and localize video copy-moves with good accuracy even in adverse conditions

The systematics and phylogenetics of the Sycoecinae (Agaonidae, Chalcidoidea, Hymenoptera)

The Sycoecinae are a distinct and well-defined subfamily of old world fig wasps (Agaonidae, Chalcidoidea 1 Hymenoptera) , exclusively associated with the figs of Ficus species (Moraceae). The most likely sister group of the Sycoecinae was determined to be the Sycoryctini (Sycoryctinae) based largely on synapomorphies of the underside of the head. 67 sycoecine species and 3 subspecies were recognised and included in a phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily. This analysis clearly delimited six genera (four African and two extra-African), although the phylogenetic relationships between the genera were not strongly supported and remain flexible. Comparisons of the phylogeny of the Sycoecinae with the classifications of the Agaoninae and their host fig trees (Ficus, Moraceae) suggest a degree of cospeciation sensu lato. Numerous homoplasies were detected within the Sycoecinae, some of which were shared with another group of fig wasps that also enter the fig to oviposit, the Agaoninae. The anatomy of the figs apparently provides strong selection pressures that have resulted in both parallelisms and convergences within and between the two subfamilies. Among the 67 species and 3 subspecies that were recognised, 43 species and 2 subspecies are described as new. The males of three previously recognised species are also described for the first time. One generic and two specific synonyms are established together with five new combinations. Keys are provided to the genera and species, for both sexes

Two new species of the genus Cryptopimpla Taschenberg (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Banchinae) with an updated key to African species

A revised illustrated key to Afrotropical species of the genus Cryptopimpla Taschenberg is provided, with the inclusion of two new South African species, C. orenji Reynolds &amp;amp; van Noort, sp. nov. and C. hoerikwagga Reynolds &amp;amp; van Noort, sp. nov., which are described and illustrated. The recovery of the first female specimens of Cryptopimpla goci Reynolds &amp;amp; van Noort in samples from Fernkloof and Grootbos nature reserves, and subsequent morphological reassessment of generic affinity based on female characters, no longer supports the placement of this species in Cryptopimpla. The transfer of C. goci to Lissonota Gravenhorst is proposed here: Lissonota goci (Reynolds &amp;amp; van Noort), comb. nov., and the female is described. New Afrotropical distributional records for the previously described Cryptopimpla species are presented and notes on the distribution and diversification of the species are also provided. Online interactive Lucid keys to the 11 Afrotropical Cryptopimpla species are available at: http://www.waspweb.org

Sneaky African fig wasps that oviposit through holes drilled by other species

Watshamiella Wiebes species (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae: Sycoryctinae) were observed to engage, monitor and subsequently use oviposition holes made by other parasitoid fig wasp genera (Apocrypta Coquerel and Sycoryctes Mayr) to oviposit into host figs (Moraceae, Ficus) through the fig wall. They may be inquilines, klepto-parasitoids, or hyper-parasitoids; however, further biological investigations of larval diet are required to establish their life history strategy. Watshamiella species are morphologically robust, with enlarged fore femora and tibia, and aggressively interact with other fig wasps and ants. Our observations contribute towards unravelling the complex suite of behavioural adaptations and interactions involved in the community ecology of the obligate mutualism that exists between fig wasps and their host figs

Review of Afrotropical Figitinae (Figitidae, Cynipoidea, Hymenoptera) with the first records of Neralsia and Lonchidia for the region

The cynipoid subfamily Figitinae is poorly represented in the Afrotropical region with two genera (Figites Latreille and Xyalophora Kieffer) and six species currently known. Here we record an additional two genera (Neralsia Cameron and Lonchidia Thomson) for the region and describe three new species: Neralsia haddocki sp. n.; Xyalophora tedjoansi sp. n.; Xyalophora tintini sp. n. Benoit’s species described in 1956 are synonymized under Figites aciculatus (Benoit, 1956): Figites effossus syn. n.; Figites favonius syn. n.; Figites furvus syn. n.; Figites fraudator syn. n. Identification keys to the figitine genera and species occurring in the Afrotropical region are provided. Online interactive Lucid Phoenix and Lucid matrix keys are available at: http://www.waspweb.org/Cynipoidea/Keys/index.ht

Brittleness index of machinable dental materials and its relation to the marginal chipping factor

OBJECTIVES: The machinability of a material can be measured with the calculation of its brittleness index (BI). It is possible that different materials with different BI could produce restorations with varied marginal integrity. The degree of marginal chipping of a milled restoration can be estimated by the calculation of the marginal chipping factor (CF). The aim of this study is to investigate any possible correlation between the BI of machinable dental materials and the CF of the final restorations. METHODS: The CERECTM system was used to mill a wide range of materials used with that system; namely the Paradigm MZ100TM (3M/ESPE), Vita Mark II (VITA), ProCAD (Ivoclar-Vivadent) and IPS e.max CAD (Ivoclar-Vivadent). A Vickers hardness Tester was used for the calculation of BI, while for the calculation of CF the percentage of marginal chipping of crowns prepared with bevelled marginal angulations was estimated. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that Paradigm MZ100 had the lowest BI and CF, while IPS e.max CAD demonstrated the highest BI and CF. Vita Mark II and ProCAD had similar BI and CF and were lying between the above materials. Statistical analysis of the results showed that there is a perfect positive correlation between BI and CF for all the materials. CONCLUSIONS: The BI and CF could be both regarded as indicators of a material’s machinability. Within the limitations of this study it was shown that as the BI increases so does the potential for marginal chipping, indicating that the BI of a material can be used as a predictor of the CF