We review and discuss all named United States and Mexico species of Ammopelmatus Tinkham Jerusalem crickets, even if synonymized in earlier literature. We recognize as valid 12 previously named taxa: A. cahuilaensis (Tinkham), A. comanchus (Saussure & Pictet), A. davewerneri (Tinkham), A. fuscus (Haldeman), A. intermedius (David & Smith), A. kelsoensis Tinkham, A. longispinus (Brunner von Wattenwyl), A. mescaleroensis (Tinkham), A. muwu Rentz & Weissman, A. navajo (Rentz), A. nigrocapitatus (Tinkham & Rentz), and A. pictus (Scudder). We confirm A. californicus (Brunner von Wattenwyl) as a junior synonym of A. longispinus. We synonymize A. monahansensis (Stidham & Stidham) under A. mescaleroensis. We designate neotypes for A. fuscus and A. mescaleroensis. We declare the following 6 names to be nomen dubium: A. cephalotes (Walker), A. fasciatus (Thomas), A. hydrocephalus (Brunner von Wattenwyl), A. irregularis (Brunner von Wattenwyl), A. oculatus (Scudder), and A. terrenus (Rehn). We recognize 11 major clades, and 26 Groups within those 11 clades, delimited by DNA, morphology, karyotype, ecology, and calling drum pattern. In their phylogenetic tree order, we recognize (1) the Winchester Group, with 11 (possibly 12) species; (2) the Big Sur Group, with 1 species; (3) the Longispinus Group, with 12 species; (4) the Portal Group, with 2 species; (5) the Argus Group, with 5 species; (6) the Mojave Desert Group, with 8 species, 1 which is tentative; (7) the Springville Group, with 1 species; (8) the Lightfooti Group, with 10 species; (9) the Smithi Group, with 3 species; (10) the Grayi Group, with 1 species; (11) the Southern California Group #1, with 4 species; (12) the Southern California Group #2, with 4 species; (13) the Southern California/Baja California Group #3, with 9 species; (14) the Lincoln County Group, with 1 species; (15) the Utah Group, with 3 species; (16) the Fuscus Group, with 5 species, 2 of which are tentative; (17) the Mono Lake Group, with 7 species; (18) the Muwu Group, with 1 species; (19) the Pratti Group, with 1 species; (20) the Fast Drumming Group, with 13 species; (21) the Vandenberg Air Force Base Group, with 2 species; (22) the San Gabriel/ Pelona Mts Group, with 2 species; (23) the Islander Group, with 2 species; (24) the Southern California Group #4, with 3 species; (25) the Southern California Group #5, with 2 species; and (26) the Monica Mts Group, with 2 species; We describe the following 105 taxa as new: A. abelai Weissman, A. acton Weissman, A. angelusoaks Weissman, A. anzaborrego Weissman, A. argus Weissman, A. ashleighi Weissman, A. bajasur Weissman, A. bakersfield Weissman, A. ballmeri Weissman, A. ballonadark Weissman, A. bartonflats Weissman, A. bigsur Weissman, A. brachysocius Weissman, A. briani Weissman, A. brockovichi Weissman, A. bruneaudunes Weissman, A. calimesa Weissman, A. carsoncity Weissman, A. castaneus Weissman, A. catalinae Weissman, A. cathedralgorge Weissman, A. cedarview Weissman, A. chimineas Weissman, A. chinalake Weissman, A. christmasvalleydunes Weissman, A. clarki Weissman, A. coralpink Weissman, A. coyflat Weissman, A. crypticus Weissman, A. danieli Weissman, A. descansodunes Weissman, A. dogtown Weissman, A. eatoncanyon Weissman, A. ensenada Weissman, A. etiwanda Weissman, A. evansi Weissman, A. finnon Weissman, A. fisheri Weissman, A. fremontpeak Weissman, A. glacierlodge Weissman, A. glennville Weissman, A. gomezfarias Weissman, A. grahami Weissman, A. grapevine Weissman, A. grayi Weissman, A. hovorei Weissman, A. icenoglei Weissman, A. idaho Weissman, A. intermedioides Weissman, A. islander Weissman, A. joshuatree Weissman, A. juniperdunes Weissman, A. kennedymeadows Weissman, A. kennedymeadowsdos Weissman, A. kirai Weissman, A. knighti Weissman, A. kokoweef Weissman, A. lagunahanson Weissman, A. lakecachuma Weissman, A. lakesherwood Weissman, A. larumorosa Weissman, A. leei Weissman, A. lightfooti Weissman, A. lincolncounty Weissman, A. longispinoides Weissman, A. mahogani Weissman, A. monolake Weissman, A. mtpinos Weissman, A. mtshasta Weissman, A. oneillpark Weissman, A. owensvalley Weissman, A. pinnacles Weissman, A. pinyonpines Weissman, A. piute Weissman, A. portal Weissman, A. pratti Weissman, A. reno Weissman, A. rentzi Weissman, A. rusti Weissman, A. sakai Weissman, A. sandiego Weissman, A. sanfrancisco Weissman, A. sangabriel Weissman, A. sanjacinto Weissman, A. sanmartinensis Weissman, A. sanpedromartir Weissman, A. santarosaplateau Weissman, A. sierrapelona Weissman, A. skinner Weissman, A. smithi Weissman, A. sonoraensis Weissman, A. springville Weissman, A. stringfellow Weissman, A. tarcanyon Weissman, A. tehachapi Weissman, A. temblor Weissman, A. tomsplace Weissman, A. vandenberg Weissman, A. warnermts Weissman, A. westgardpass Weissman, A. whitewater Weissman, A. winnemucca Weissman, A. wrightwoodi Weissman, A. yubalake Weissman, and A. zayante Weissman. Ammopelmatus has its highest species' diversity in Southern and Central California, with most taxa having limited distributions; and with most species nearest genetic relative usually being geographically close. Six newly described taxa rank as the six heaviest insect species in California, with some adults exceeding 12 grams. Where two Ammopelmatus species are sympatric, we present data that indirectly suggest that calling song drums may act as a premating barrier; and that diploid chromosome number may act as a post mating barrier.
Sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) are medically important insects with an interesting, but poorly understood, evolutionary history. The abundance and diversity of inclusions of these flies in Myanmar (Burmese) amber provide valuable data on their geological history. In this study, a new genus and species of sand fly, Longiphlebes excelsior gen. et sp. nov., is described based on an inclusion from Cretaceous Kachin amber (northern Myanmar). The systematic position of the new genus is discussed, and its morphological characters are compared with those of selected extant and fossil Phlebotominae taxa. The morphology of the genitalia, head, and wing suggests a closer relationship to recent Old World Phlebotominae fauna than to the more derived fossil genera such as Phlebotomites or the phlebotomid-like Eophlebotomus. This discovery broadens our understanding of Cretaceous sand flies, especially their evolution and diversity.
The distribution of species of the Paramecium aurelia species complex in the Western Sudetes of Poland was investigated.Species were indentified by mating the investigated clones with mating types of the standard strains of known species.In the Western Sudetes of Poland P. biaurelia appeared most often as far as the number of investigated clones and studied habitats were concerned (43 clones/9 habitats); in P. novaurelia the respective numbers were 20/5, in P. primaurelia 20/1, and in P. triaurelia 13/1. P. triaurelia was found in Poland for the first time.The authors suggest that the applied method reflects the relationships between the described species existing in nature at the particular location at the particular time of the investigation.
