Edward L. Mockford

New Species, Records, and Synonymy of Florida Belaphotroctes (Psocoptera: Liposcelidae)

The present paper includes descriptions of 2 new species of psocids of the genus Belaphotroctes from Florida and notes the synonymy of the living species Belaphotroctes okalensis Mockford and the fossil species Belaphotroctes similis Mockford with Belaphotroctes ghesquierei Badonnel, the latter name having priority. A key to the Florida species is included.

PSOCOPTERAN SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH EASTERN HEMLOCK IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

Eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Car riere, comprises a vital component of biological diversity (Jordan & Sharp 1967; Lapin 1994; Tin gley et al. 2002; Buck 2004; Buck et al. 2005; Dill ing et al. 2007; Dilling et al. 2009) and economi cal (Travel Industry Association 2006; Woodsen 2001) and environmental stability (Evans 2002; Snyder et al. 2004) within its geographical range. Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), is an exotic insect species capable of rapidly reducing populations of eastern hemlock throughout the eastern United States (McClure & Fergione 1977; Buck et al. 2005; Ellison et al. 2005). As such, documenting the biodiversity of insects associated with this host tree is imperative. More than 400 insect species have been recorded to be associated with eastern

Descriptions and Records of Some Philotarsidae from Trinidad, West Indies (Psocoptera)

Four species of Philotarsidae are recorded from Trinidad, West Indies, 3 of which are new to science. Two new species of Aaroniella are described and 1 new genus is erected, Broadheadia (type B. caribe new species). Philotarsus bruchi Williner of Argentina, is transferred to Aaroniella. A key to the known species of Trinidad Philotarsidae is included.

THREE NEW SPECIES OF ARCHIPSOCUS FROM FLORIDA (PSOCOPTERA: ARCHIPSOCIDAE)

While studying the taxonomy and life histories of representatives of the genus Archipsocus in north-peninsular Florida, I have found five species in the region, three of which are new to science and are described below. A. panama Gurney is recorded in North America for the first time, and A. nomas Gurney is recorded from several localities throughout Florida. Archipsocus is a group of psocids differing from each other in minute characters. No single structure may be used to diagnose all of the species. Badonnel (1948) has listed characters useful for this purpose, but some of these present special problems not discussed by that author. For example, the relationship between lengths of antennal segments, be it expressed as a diagram or a ratio, depends to a certain extent on the way in which measurements are made. The pedicel has an emarginate apex and its lengths to the tips and to the center of the emargination differ enough to cause very different relations to lengths of the other segments. In my specimens, I have measured to the center of the emargination. The sculpture of the prothoracic epipleura is so difficult to investigate that I have not used it in my descriptions, although Badonnel included it in his. In addition to the characters listed by Badonnel, I find that details of shape of the phallic frame, though subject to some variation, are of much value in diagnosing species. The shape of the head viewed from above (figs. 5 and 6) separates A. panama from the other Florida species of its subgenus. Some characters other than those of adult morphology are of use in distinguishing species. These include mode of oviposition, color of eggs, and habitat. The names for the two species groups proposed by Badonnel (1948, p. 294, footnote) are used here with subgeneric rank. My application of these names, following Badonnels supposition, is hypothetical, for it is not known to which group the genotype should be assigned. The Florida species may be separated by the following keys:

Trichadenotecnum Circularoides (Psocoptera: Psocidae) in Southeastern United States, with Notes on its Reproduction and Immature Stages

Trichadenotecnum circularoides Badonnel, described from Angola, is recorded for the first time from the United States. Records are presented from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Thelytokous parthenogenesis is demonstrated for the species. The egg and nymph are described.

The Echmepteryx Hageni Complex (Psocoptera: Lepidopsocidae) in Florida

The Echmepteryx hageni complex in Florida includes 3 species. Two are described as new and a full description of E. hageni (Packard) is presented. In Florida, E. youngi n. sp. seems to be the only bisexual member of the complex. Males of E. intermedia n. sp. are unknown, and those of E. hageni are extremely rare. In southern Florida E. youngi occurs in most plant communities dominated by trees or shrubs but where its range overlaps that of E. hageni, it is restricted almost entirely to the sand scrub communities and occurs primarily on 2 species of pine.

Notes on Some Species of Ectopsocinae in the Western Hemisphere (Psocoptera: Peripsocidae)

The following notes include a new synonymy for Ectopsocus pumilis (Banks), synonymic notes on Ectopsocopsis cryptomeriae (Enderlein), records of three species of Ectopsocinae previously not known to occur in the Western Hemisphere, and distributional records of two others. Two of the species, Ectopsocus maindroni Badonnel and Ectopsocopsis cryptomeriae (Enderlein) are recorded for the first time from the United States, thus raising the number of species of Ectopsocinae known to occur in the United States to seven. Three of these were recorded by Mockford (1959), and references to the other four are included herein. Of general interest is a corrected identification of the form which has been called Ectopsocus pumilis (Banks). This species, exceedingly common in eastern United States, has now been shown to be Ectopsocopsis cryptomeriae (Enderlein). The name pumilis applies to another species.

Systematics of the Blaste Posticata Complex with Descriptions of Three New Species (Psocoptera: Psocidae)

This paper treats the systematics of a complex of species of Blaste (Psocidae) which occurs in southeastern United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Four species are recognized, 3 of which are described as new. The fourth, B. posticata (Banks), is redescribed.

Introduction and Probable Establishment of Hemipsocus Chloroticus (Psocoptera: Hemipsocidae) in Florida

Hemipsocus chloroticus (Hagen) is reported in the Americas for the first time. Records from Miami International Airport are cited suggesting its introduction there on orchid plants primarily from Guatemala. The first field collections of this insect in Florida were made early in 1972. Data are reviewed which suggest that the species was either absent or too scarce to be detected by collectors in southern Florida prior to 1972.

Systematics of Asiopsocidae (Psocoptera) Including Pronotiopsocus Amazonicus N. Gen. N. Sp.

Pronotiopsocus n. gen. is described with P. amazonicus n. sp. as the type species. The new genus is placed in family Asiopsocidae together with Asiopsocus Gunther and Notiopsocus Banks. The 3 genera are diagnosed. Their probable plesiomorphous characters are derived by outgroup comparison with superfamily Caecilioidea. These characters are taken to represent a hypothetical common ancestor of the Asiopsocid genera, which is used to reconstruct the phylogeny of these genera. Pronotiopsocus represents one line of the phylogeny with Notiopsocus and Asiopsocus representing a sister lineage. Geographical distributions suggest great antiquity with a Pangaean origin of the family. The furcation of the lineage bearing Notiopsocus and Asiopsocus may have coincided with the initial breakup of Pangaea. Absence of Notiopsocus from India, Madagascar, and Australia may be due to insufficient sampling of these regions or to the timing of origin and spread of the genus relative to the breakup of Gondwanaland.