The mycological social network a way forward for conservation of fungal biodiversity

SummaryBecause knowledge of fungal diversity is very incomplete, it is possible that anthropogenic impacts are driving species to extinction before they have been discovered. Fungal inventories are still incomplete and do not reflect the complete diversity of this large taxon. Whilst molecular advancements are leading to an increased rate of species discovery, there is still much to be done to understand the diversity of fungi, identify rare species and establish conservation goals. Citizen science via social media could play an increasingly important role in mycological research, and its continued development should be supported and encouraged. The involvement of non-professionals in data collection helps increase public awareness, as well as extending the scope and efficiency of fungal surveys. Future academic mycological research could benefit from social media interaction and engagement with the amateur mycological community, which may accelerate the achievement of more effective conservation goals.

A new species of planthopper in the genus Haplaxius (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae) on palms in Costa Rica and a new country record for Haplaxius skarphion

The genus Haplaxius is a large taxon of cixiid planthoppers that is of economic importance due to the ability of Haplaxius crudus to transmit lethal yellowing in coconut palms. Haplaxius dougwalshi sp. n. is established as a new taxon of Cixiidae in the tribe Oecleini collected from native palms in lowland tropical rainforest in Costa Rica. Placement in the genus Haplaxius is supported both by molecular evidence based on the COI and 18S genes as well as by morphological characters. This novel taxon was discovered during survey work in Costa Rica to look for phytoplasmas and document planthopper diversity on palms. Furthermore, Haplaxius skarphion was also collected from coconut palms during survey work and is reported for the first time in Costa Rica.

Earthworms (Clitellata: Acanthodrilidae, Almidae, Eudrilidae, Glossoscolecidae, Ocnerodrilidae) of the coastal region of Gamba, Ogooué-Maritime Province, southwestern Gabon

This is the first account of earthworms from the Gamba Complex of Protected Areas, a highly biodiverse coastal area ofequatorial Africa. We describe five new species of Dichogaster Beddard, 1888: Dichogaster (Diplothecodrilus)moussavoui sp. nov., D. (Diplothecodrilus) tchignoumbai sp. nov., D. (Diplothecodrilus) tobii sp. nov., D.(Diplothecodrilus) alonsoi sp. nov., and D. (Dichogaster) gambaensis sp. nov.; report several more taxa for which thematerial was not adequate to serve as the basis for new species descriptions, and present new records of several exoticspecies. Coastal Gamba is now known to have ten indigenous species and four introduced species, some of which areknown invasives. Characteristics shared by several Gamba Dichogaster conflict with characters used to define subgenera of Dichogaster, indicating that additional data are needed to resolve relationships within this large taxon.