Sergio García-Tejero

Three new South American species of genus Aphis (Hemiptera: Aphididae) living on species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae).

Three species of Aphis living on species of Euphorbia in Argentina and Chile are described: Aphis tehuelchis Nieto Nafría & López Ciruelos, sp. n., from viviparous females collected in the Argentinean provinces of Santa Cruz and Neuquén, Aphis maulensis Mier Durante & García-Tejero, sp. n., from viviparous females collected in the Chilean Region VII, and Aphis eucollinae López Ciruelos & Ortego, sp. n., from viviparous females, oviparous females and males collected in the Argentinean province of Mendoza. These new species may be distinguished from each other, besides other features, by the abdominal marginal tubercles: in A. tehuelchis these are present on segments 1 and 7 and on several of segments 2 to 6, in A. maulensis they are on segment 1 and on several segments 2 to 6, but lacking on segment 7, and in A. eucollinae they are only on segments 1 and 7. Differences between the new species and those currently known living on Euphorbia around the world are presented.

A New Genus and Species of Asteraceae-Inhabiting Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from Costa Rica and Mexico

ABSTRACT Ucrimyzus villalobosi Mier Durante & Pérez Hidalgo gen. n., sp. n. (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Macrosiphini) are described from apterous and alate viviparous females collected on species of genera Bidens, Schkuhria, Senecio and Stevia (Asteraceae: Asteroideae) in Costa Rica and Mexico. Principal components analysis (PCA) was done to verify that the studied aphids belong to a single species regardless of their geographical origin or host plant. Molecular analyses were carried out on the sequences of a fragment of the mitochondrial gene encoding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and of a fragment of the nuclear gene encoding elongation factor 1&agr; (EF1&agr;). The taxonomic discussion takes into account the conclusions of the molecular analyses and the morphologic study compared with other genera of Macrosiphini. The identification keys by Blackman & Eastop (2006) to aphids living on each mentioned plant genus are modified to include the new species.

Severe decline in Cantabrian Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus habitat use after construction of a wind farm

Tetrao urogallus cantabricus is the most endangered capercaillie subspecies and unlike the others it inhabits deciduous forests in the Cantabrian Mountains (north-west Spain). Its southernmost distribution occurs in Mediterranean forests outside conservation areas where wind farm construction is increasing. We surveyed Cantabrian Capercaillie presence in a wintering site one year before and four years after wind farm construction. Sign abundance greatly decreased after wind farm construction indicating a likely negative effect on Cantabrian Capercaillie habitat use. According to the precautionary principle, in order to conserve Cantabrian Capercaillie, all its range should be legally protected to avoid further wind farm construction and human disturbance.