Search

The Triassic is considered a crucial period for the establishment of the modern insect fauna and fossil records from this period are fundamental for understanding the real impact that the end Permian Mass Extinction events had on these animals. Here, we review the insect fossils from one of the main deposits of this period in the world, Monte San Giorgio, which is considered one of the nine main insect Fossillagerstätten. In this Lagerstätte, located on the border between Switzerland and Italy, a total of 273 fossil insects have been collected in five localities. The fossils found in Val Mara site D, one of the two richest insect fossils sites of Monte San Giorgio, present peculiar features, such as extraordinary sizes and phosphatisation of internal tissues revealing fine internal details. In contrast, the Val Mara site VM 12 fossil record (248 specimens) is dominated by small to medium size insects, usually almost intact, preserving details such as setae on wings and compound eyes. Besides these exceptional features, these fossil insects are of extreme evolutionary importance, since they represent the first or the last occurrence for their lineage. In this regard, their use to calibrate nodes in a phylogenomic dating analysis led to backdating the origin of many insect lineages, including Diptera and Heteroptera. Up to now, a total of five species from Monte San Giorgio have been formally described, belonging to the orders Archaeognatha (†Monura and Machilidae), Ephemeroptera, Hemiptera (Tingidae) and Coleoptera (Adephaga). A further species, Merithone laetitiae (†Permithonidae) gen. et sp. nov., whose fossil is included among the recent findings in Val Mara site VM 12, is described in the present work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A subject of particular interest concerns the understanding of which biotic and/or abiotic factors shape the insect's microbiota composition and diversity. In this study, we focus our attention on the microbiota associated with leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) inhabiting a freshwater wetland in Northern Italy for investigating which factors shape it in this peculiar environment. A DNA metabarcoding approach targeting the 16S rRNA has been used to characterize the bacteria associated with seven leaf beetles species living in different zones of the wetland (trees/shrubs, meadow and emergent vegetation zones). The obtained results suggest that three factors potentially affecting microbiota diversity and composition are species membership in the first place, then living zone in the wetland and sex. Within the studied species, males were found possibly more prone to acquire bacteria from the surrounding environment, while females' microbiota of most of the species resulted dominated by symbiotic bacteria (reproductive manipulators, e.g. Wolbachia, or other symbionts with functional roles in the species, e.g. Candidatus Macropleicola in Donacia genus). The present study, even if based on a limited sample size, contributed to exploring the factors affecting the composition and diversity of bacteria associated with Chrysomelidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idaea inquinata (Scopoli) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Idaeini) is a potential pest of stored food, mainly dry herbs. In this study, the role of diet in the shaping of the I. inquinata‐associated bacterial community was investigated and its impact on insect performance (i.e., proportion of adult emergence and duration of postembryonic development). Larvae were reared on three diets with different nutritional compositions: (1) Matricaria chamomilla L. flowers, (2) Angelica archangelica L. roots, and (3) artificial diet. A DNA metabarcoding approach targeting V1‐V2 and V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA was adopted to characterize the bacterial communities associated with adults and larvae reared on different diets, and estimate their composition and diversity. The core microbiota of this species was found to include some bacterial genera commonly associated with Lepidoptera. When a coverage‐based integration of rarefaction and extrapolation of Hill numbers was used to compare groups of samples, the microbial diversity (estimated as phylogenetic diversity) differed among individuals reared on different diets, and also between larvae vs. adults. The lowest taxon diversity was found associated with individuals reared on M. chamomilla. Larvae fed with this fiber‐rich diet had also a significantly slower development. The composition of the microbial community varied among individuals with different diets, but not between adults vs. larvae. This study highlights the important role of diet in shaping I. inquinata microbiota, but also suggests that the microbiota of non‐feeding adult moths could be partially inherited from larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Chrysomelidae is a family of phytophagous insects with a highly variable degree of trophic specialization. The aim of this study is to test whether species feeding on different plants (generalists) harbour more complex microbiotas than those feeding on a few or a single plant species (specialists). The microbiota of representative leaf beetle species was characterized with a metabarcoding approach targeting V1–V2 and V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA. Almost all the analysed species harbour at least one reproductive manipulator bacteria (e.g., Wolbachia, Rickettsia). Two putative primary symbionts, previously isolated only from a single species (Bromius obscurus), have been detected in two species of the same subfamily, suggesting a widespread symbiosis in Eumolpinae. Surprisingly, the well‐known aphid symbiont Buchnera is well represented in the microbiota of Orsodacne humeralis. Moreover, in this study, using Hill numbers to dissect the components of the microbiota diversity (abundant and rare bacteria), it has been demonstrated that generalist insect species harbour a more diversified microbiota than specialists. The higher microbiota diversity associated with a wider host‐plant spectrum could be seen as an adaptive trait, conferring new metabolic potential useful to expand the diet breath, or as a result of environmental stochastic acquisition conveyed by diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although agricultural activities can strongly affect soil biodiversity and health, with consequences on the provisioning of soil biota-mediated functions, their specific impact on soil invertebrate communities is far from being fully elucidated. In this study, the invertebrate communities associated with the soils of six habitat types, including both semi-natural and cropping systems, of one of the most intensively farmed areas in Europe, the Po Valley (North Italy), were characterized using the eDNA metabarcoding approach. The aims were to examine the variation in the taxonomic and functional diversity among the habitats and evaluate the relation between the disturbance caused by the main agronomic practices adopted in the area and the community diversity. Overall, the invertebrate communities were found to substantially differ in terms of taxonomic and functional diversity between the six habitats considered. For example, cornfield and rice paddy showed the highest diversity of annelids and the lowest one of nematodes. Woodland was found to host the most unique soil fauna, while grassland shared the majority of its soil taxa with almost all the other habitat types. The trophic groups had significantly lower diversity in specific habitats (e.g., carnivores, herbivores, microbivores in cornfield) suggesting that biological soil quality and ecosystem services provision may vary among them. Concerning agronomic practices, it was not observed an inverse relation between diversity and the disturbance they cause. In detail, while tillage and insecticide use negatively affected invertebrate diversity as a whole, specific soil taxa and trophic groups were idiosyncratically affected by the different agronomic practices (e.g., pesticide and fertilizer use was related to an increase of annelid and bacterivore diversity). In this regard, the peak of diversity observed for specific taxonomic and functional groups might be attributed to an impaired community balance. Altogether, the results obtained contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between agricultural practices and soil invertebrate communities, with implications for the awareness of soil health, ecosystem services provision and biodiversity conservation in agroecosystems. • COI and 18S rRNA markers provide different pictures of soil invertebrate community. • Grassland has the highest soil invertebrates taxonomical and functional diversity. • Agronomic practices disturbance idiosyncratically affects invertebrate diversity. • Soil community trophic network equilibrium is impaired by agronomic practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA metabarcoding is a widespread approach for the molecular identification of organisms. While the associated wet-lab and data processing procedures are well established and highly efficient, the reference databases for taxonomic assignment can be implemented to improve the accuracy of identifications. Insects are among the organisms for which DNA-based identification is most commonly used; yet, a DNA-metabarcoding reference database specifically curated for their species identification using software requiring local databases is lacking. Here, we present COins, a database of 5' region cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences (COI -5P) of insects that includes over 532 000 representative sequences of >106 000 species specifically formatted for the QIIME2 software platform. Through a combination of automated and manually curated steps, we developed this database starting from all COI sequences available in the Barcode of Life Data System for insects, focusing on sequences that comply with several standards, including a species-level identification. COins was validated on previously published DNA-metabarcoding sequences data (bulk samples from Malaise traps) and its efficiency compared with other publicly available reference databases (not specific for insects). COins can allow an increase of up to 30% of species-level identifications and thus can represent a valuable resource for the taxonomic assignment of insects' DNA-metabarcoding data, especially when species-level identification is needed https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.19130465.v1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien land planarians have been recorded in most of Europe and, in Italy, in 17 out of 20 regions. In this work, after collecting new data through a citizen-science approach, we report for the first time the presence of at least one alien planarian species in Molise, Basilicata, and Aosta Valley and we update the distribution range provided in our previous work. Amongst new sites, alien planarians were also found on a small island in Southern Italy, Pantelleria, which is included in a National Park rich in endemic species, thus deserving particular attention. Moreover, we report the first record of Dolichoplana striata in Italy. The increase of distribution range of alien planarians in Italy needs to be tightly monitored, as these introduced worms are responsible for impacts on native soil biodiversity. Accordingly, an e-mail address has been created ad-hoc (planarieitaliane@gmail.com) to collect all the records and to keep the distribution of alien species updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global biodiversity loss, molecular species delimitation approaches can be very useful for accelerating species discovery through DNA taxonomy and inventory through DNA metabarcoding. In this study, the effect of some intrinsic factors on the efficiency of various single‐marker species delimitation methods (fixed and variable nucleotide distance thresholds, ABGD, ASAP, GMYC, mPTP) was tested on more than 90 empirical data sets, derived from a set of 7,237 COI sequences attributed to 542 leaf beetles species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The considered factors were: (i) the number of haplotypes per species (as a proxy for genetic diversity), (ii) the geographic distance among conspecific collection localities (as a proxy of sampling width), (iii) the difficulty related to morphological identification of species, and (iv) the taxonomic rank. Distance‐based methods, with on average more than 70% of match with morphological identification, outperformed those relying on phylogenetic trees, with less than 59%. A high number of haplotypes per species was found to have a negative effect on delimitation efficiency, whereas large geographic distances within species had a positive effect. All methods delimitations (except for GMYC) were significantly affected by the presence of species that are difficult to be identified, decreasing their efficiency. Finally, the only method influenced by the taxonomic rank of the data set was GMYC, showing lower efficiency in data sets at the genus than at higher levels. The observed biases we highlighted affecting efficiency could be accounted for when developing input data sets for species delimitation analyses to obtain a more reliable representation of biological diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The host immunosuppression by parasitic wasps is an important component of the host regulation strategy. The venom injected at the oviposition is one of the key‐factors involved in this host alteration and, in some parasitoids, its immunosuppressive role is complemented by wasp's symbionts. Most studies in this research area are related to hosts belonging to Lepidoptera and Diptera, for which a strong immune response is observed, whereas little is known for hemimetabolous host species, characterized by apparently much weaker defense barriers. To fill this research gap, here we focus on the host–parasitoid system Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) – Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). We functionally characterized a serine protease homolog (AeSPH) protein in vivo, identified in the venom of the aphid endoparasitoid A. ervi, generating AeSPH‐depleted female wasps by RNA interference and evaluating their capacity to successfully parasitize the host. Parasitism success rate was negatively affected by AeSPH knockdown and associated with an increased phenoloxidase (PO) cascade activation in aphids, scored by measuring PO enzymatic activity and the expression of phenoloxidase activating factor 2, a proPO‐activating gene upregulated in response to A. ervi parasitism. Our results indicate that AeSPH contributes to parasitism success by inhibiting the melanization response of the host, which is therefore an important component of the defense barriers involved in the parasitoid egg suppression. The ongoing studies on other virulence factors in A. ervi venom will allow to further characterize the immunosuppression strategy and its possible broader role in the host regulation through its action on aphid symbiont development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whipple procedure is a complex operation usually performed to treat periampullary neoplasms. There are only four case reports of five pregnancies after Whipple procedure, with limited evidence about how to manage pregnancy after this surgery.Case: A 28-year-old gravida 5 Para 2022 presented to our hospital at 20 weeks with worsening depression. She had a history of Whipple for a solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas followed by two pregnancies. In the first, she underwent successful induction of labor at 38 weeks for pregestational diabetes. In her second pregnancy, she had multiple admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis. She was scheduled for induction of labor at 35 weeks but given unstable lie, underwent cesarean delivery.Conclusion: Women with a history of Whipple procedure generally have successful pregnancies with the most common antenatal complications including diabetes mellitus, abdominal pain and pancreatitis/cholangitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Perineal trauma may have a negative impact on women's lives as it has been associated with perineal pain, urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was to evaluate the effectiveness of warm compresses during the second stage of labor in reducing perineal trauma.Methods: Electronic databases were searched from inception of each database to May 2019. Inclusion criteria were randomized trials comparing warm compresses (i.e. intervention group) with no warm compresses (i.e. control group) during the second stage of labor. Types of participants included pregnant women planning to have a spontaneous vaginal birth at term with a singleton in a cephalic presentation. The primary outcome was the incidence of intact perineum. Meta-analysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration methodology with results being reported as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: Seven trials, including 2103 participants, were included in this meta-analysis. Women assigned to the intervention group received warm compresses made from clean washcloths or perineal pads immersed in warm tap water. These were held against the woman's perineum during and in between pushes in second stage. Warm compresses usually started when the baby's head began to distend the perineum or when there was active fetal descent in the second stage of labor. We found a higher rate of intact perineum in the intervention group compared to the control group (22.4% vs 15.4%; RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.74); a lower rate of third degree tears (1.9% vs 5.0%; RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.64), fourth degree tears (0.0% vs 0.9%; RR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.86) third and fourth degree tears combined (1.9% vs 5.8%; RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.56) and episiotomy (10.4% vs 17.1%; RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.74).Conclusion: Warm compresses applied during the second stage of labor increase the incidence of intact perineum and lower the risk of episiotomy and severe perineal trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alternation of glacial and interglacial cycles of the Quaternary period contributed in shaping the current species distribution. Cold-adapted organisms experienced range expansion and contraction in response to the temperature decrease and increase, respectively. In this study, a fragment of the mitochondrial marker COI was used to investigate the phylogeography of Cryptocephalus barii, a cold-adapted alpine leaf beetle species endemic of Orobie Alps, northern Italy. The relationships among populations, their divergence time, and the most probable migration model were estimated and are discussed in light of the Pleistocene climate oscillations. Through a species distribution modelling analysis, the current habitat suitability was assessed and the distribution in a future global warming scenario predicted. The main divergence events that led to the actual population structure took place from ~750,000 to ~150,000 years ago, almost following the pattern of the climate oscillations that led to the increase of the connections between the populations during cold periods and the isolation on massifs in warm periods. The most supported migration model suggests that the species survived to past adverse climatic conditions within refugia inside and at the limit of the actual range. The species distribution modelling analysis showed that C. barii is extremely sensitive to air temperature variations, thus the increase of temperature caused by global warming will reduce the suitable areas within the species range, leading to its possible extinction in the next 50 years. Cryptocephalus barii is a representative case of how cold adapted and limited distributed species have been and could be affected by climate change, that highlights the implementation of conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flea beetles (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), with ~8,000 species worldwide, include pest species causing substantial economic damage to crops. The genera Phyllotreta and Chaetocnema include both pest and non‐pest species. An accurate and fast taxonomic identification approach is required for discriminating among taxa for non‐expert taxonomists; moreover, the utility of this approach spans from biodiversity conservation to the monitoring of pest species. DNA barcoding represents a reliable and easy identification tool based on the use of short DNA sequences. In this study, 45 new COI sequences of 13 Phyllotreta and five Chaetocnema species, representing ~30% and ~20% of the Turkish species belonging to these genera, were provided. These sequences increased by ~18% and ~25% the number of species of these genera whose sequences are available in BOLD. In order to test DNA barcoding efficiency in Phyllotreta and Chaetocnema species identification, we created a data set consisting of sequences belonging to species present in the Middle East and available in BOLD plus the sequences developed in this study (36 species). The efficiency of species identification, estimated using best close match analysis (with the ad hoc calculated optimal distance threshold of 1.5%), was 99%. The overall intraspecific and interspecific mean nucleotide divergences were 1.4% and 20%, respectively. Interestingly, COI sequences of Phyllotreta nigripes clustered into two well‐separated groups with a high value of the between‐group nucleotide distance (11.4%), which suggests the presence of cryptic species. In addition, information was provided on the crops exploited by the collected organisms and the observed damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentatomid insects harbour an obligate gut symbiont, vertically transmitted via egg smearing by the females. The disruption of symbiont acquisition can be exploited for pest management, by spraying the egg surface with anti-symbiont agents, yet the insect response to symbiont deprivation remains a determining aspect of the success of this strategy. Here the effect of anti-symbiont egg masses treatment was assessed in an Italian population of the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula under field and laboratory conditions. In soybean fields, N. viridula was poorly affected by treatment, whereas in laboratory, nymphs deriving from treated egg masses underwent increased mortality and symbiont abundance decline. The primary symbiont dominated the microbiome of non-treated nymphs showing low mortality. Conversely, dysbiosis was recorded in treated samples as well as in control nymphs with high mortality. Nonetheless, dysbiosis induced by treatment was not in all cases associated with high mortality, and symbiont was missing in some non-treated samples as well. Five variants of a Pantoea symbiont were found, with higher variant diversity in untreated samples with low mortality. Altogether, our results provide information about the gut microbiota dynamics in the early nymphal instars of N. viridula and suggest a still incomplete dependence on the symbiont. However, egg masses anti-symbiont treatment increased mortality, therefore symbiont-targeted control may be used against N. viridula as a supplementary tool under high pest pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 1951–1958, most of the Hula Lake and its surrounding swamps in the Upper Jordan River (Rift) Valley of Israel were drained with the supposed purposes to eliminate malaria and to reclaim land for agriculture; both reasons later proved to be unnecessary decisions. With the paucity of biological knowledge of the Hula region, especially its aquatic invertebrates, accurate assessment of the environmental damage from this drainage is still being realized. Based on natural history museum collection specimen records, the pre-drainage presence of some aquatic insect species has been verified. Among these was Donacia bicolora, a member of a semi-aquatic subfamily (Donaciinae) of Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae) and whose Israeli populations were thought to have gone extinct because of the drainage of the Hula and other locations. Recently this species was rediscovered in two populations. However, the molecular identification of two of these recently collected specimens from one population revealed that the identity of this species is actually Donacia simplex. In this work, the re-discovery of this species is detailed, and its conservation importance discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selected type and non-type material belonging to the genus Orthocladius van der Wulp, 1874 (Diptera: Chironomidae) sensu GOETGHEBUER (1940-1950), deposited in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), originally comprising specimens dry pinned or stored in isinglass, were mounted on microscope slides and re-examined. Other chironomids present in the RBINS collection belonging to other genera were also examined. Fifty slides were prepared and identified to species, or to generic level when the condition of the specimens did not allow species identification. The following types, representing taxa formerly considered as nomina dubia, were examined and the concerned species are stated here as valid: Georthocladius collarti (Goetghebuer, 1941) comb. nov., Georthocladius scaturiginis (Goetghebuer, 1940) comb. nov., Lapposmittia succinea (Goetghebuer, 1942) comb. nov., Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) tolleti Goetghebuer, 1944 (new subgenus placement), Orthocladius (Orthocladius) timoni Goetghebuer & Timon-David, 1939, Pseudorthocladius hockaiensis (Goetghebuer, 1933). Orthocladius (Orthocladius) mitisi Goetghebuer, 1938, previously stated as junior synonym of Orthocladius (Orthocladius) glabripennis (Goetghebuer, 1921), is reinstated as valid species. The following new synonyms are proposed: Georthocladius (Georthocladius) collarti = Parachaetocladius retezati Albu, 1972: 19, syn. nov.; Cricotopus (Paratrichocladius) rufiventris (Meigen, 1830) = Orthocladius franzi Goetghebuer, 1949, syn. nov.; Cricotopus (Paratrichocladius) skirwithensis Edwards, 1929 = Orthocladius nigritus Goetghebuer, 1938, syn. nov. = Paratrichocladius spiesi Ashe & O'Connor, 2012; Hydrobaenus distylus (Potthast, 1914) = Orthocladius antennalis Goetghebuer, 1944, syn. nov. Lectotypes of Orthocladius collarti Goetghebuer, 1941, Orthocladius antennalis Goetghebuer, 1944, Orthocladius timoni Goetghebuer & Timon-David, 1939, and Orthocladius hockaiensis Goetghebuer, 1933 are designated. Non-type material assigned to Orthocladius was also mounted on slides and identified. Although a list of the non-Orthocladius taxa is also provided, no taxonomic changes are proposed for the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean Region is one of the world's biodiversity hot-spots, which is also characterized by high level of endemism. Approximately 2100 species of leaf beetle (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae) are known from this area, a number that increases year after year and represents 5/6% of the known species. These features, associated with the urgent need to develop a DNA-based species identification approach for a broad spectrum of leaf beetle species, prompted us to develop a database of nucleotide sequences, with a solid taxonomic background, for all the Chrysomelidae Latreille, 1802 sensu latu inhabiting the Mediterranean region. The Mediterranean Chrysomelidae Barcoding project, which has started in 2009, involves more than fifty entomologists and molecular biologists from different European countries. Numerous collecting campaigns have been organized during the first seven years of the project, which led to the collection of more than 5000 leaf beetle specimens. In addition, during these collecting campaigns two new allochthonous species for Europe, namely Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986 and Colasposoma dauricum Mannerheim, 1849, were intercepted and some species new to science were discovered (e.g., Pachybrachis sassii Montagna, 2011 and Pachybrachis holerorum Montagna et al., 2013). DNA was extracted from 1006 specimens (~13% of the species inhabiting the Mediterranean region) and a total of 910 cox1 gene sequences were obtained (PCR amplification efficiency of 93.8%). Here we report the list of the barcoded subfamilies, genera and the number of species for which cox1 gene sequences were obtained; the metadata associated with each specimen and a list of problematic species for which marker amplification failed. In addition, the nucleotide divergence within and between species and genera was estimated and values of intraspecific nucleotide divergence greater than the average have been discussed. Cryptocephalus quadripunctatus G. A. Olivier, 1808, Cryptocephalus rugicollis G. A. Olivier, 1791 and Exosoma lusitanicum Linnaeus, 1767) are representatives of these cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants generate energy flows through natural food webs, driven by competition for resources among organisms, which are part of a complex network of multitrophic interactions. Here, we demonstrate that the interaction between tomato plants and a phytophagous insect is driven by a hidden interplay between their respective microbiotas. Tomato plants colonized by the soil fungus Trichoderma afroharzianum, a beneficial microorganism widely used in agriculture as a biocontrol agent, negatively affects the development and survival of the lepidopteran pest Spodoptera littoralis by altering the larval gut microbiota and its nutritional support to the host. Indeed, experiments aimed to restore the functional microbial community in the gut allow a complete rescue. Our results shed light on a novel role played by a soil microorganism in the modulation of plant–insect interaction, setting the stage for a more comprehensive analysis of the impact that biocontrol agents may have on ecological sustainability of agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are a highly diverse group of organisms and constitute more than half of all known animal species. They have evolved an extraordinary range of traits, from flight and complete metamorphosis to complex polyphenisms and advanced eusociality. Although the rich insect fossil record has helped to chart the appearance of many phenotypic innovations, data are scarce for a number of key periods. One such period is that following the End-Permian Extinction, recognized as the most catastrophic of all extinction events. We recently discovered several 240-million-year-old insect fossils in the Mount San Giorgio Lagerstätte (Switzerland-Italy) that are remarkable for their state of preservation (including internal organs and soft tissues), and because they extend the records of their respective taxa by up to 200 million years. By using these fossils as calibrations in a phylogenomic dating analysis, we present a revised time scale for insect evolution. Our date estimates for several major lineages, including the hyperdiverse crown groups of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera: Heteroptera and Diptera, are substantially older than their currently accepted post-Permian origins. We found that major evolutionary innovations, including flight and metamorphosis, appeared considerably earlier than previously thought. These results have numerous implications for understanding the evolution of insects and their resilience in the face of extreme events such as the End-Permian Extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: Pregnancy is a risk factor for urinary disorders, mainly in the third trimester. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are often underreported by health care professionals and significantly impact the quality of life of pregnant women. Our objective is to analyse lower urinary tract function during the third trimester of pregnancy and assess the impact of traditional risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunctions on bladder health in pregnant women. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a multicentre cross-sectional study. Third-trimester pregnant women aged 18 years or older anonymously filled in the "Italian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire for pregnant and postpartum women" questionnaire, validated for pelvic floor disorders in pregnancy and postpartum. Results: A total of 927 pregnant patients completed the questionnaire. Among them, 97.3% complained of at least one urinary disorder. Frequency was the symptom reported most often (77.3%), whereas nocturnal enuresis was the least reported (17%). Despite the high prevalence of LUTS in our sample, only 13.4% reported that they negatively impact their quality of life. Overweight and obesity, advanced maternal age, smoking, family history of pelvic floor disorders and poor pelvic floor contraction capacity were confirmed to be risk factors for the onset of LUTS, even in our population. Conclusions: Urinary symptoms are extremely common in the third trimester and significantly affect the quality of life of pregnant women. Since overweight, obesity, smoking and reduced pelvic floor contractility emerged as modifiable risk factors for the development of these symptoms, prevention and adequate counselling are cornerstones of pregnancy care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The main aim of this study was to fill a gap in barcoding data of the European Chironomidae of the Balkan region, developing and testing the efficiency of a reference DNA barcode library for ancient Lake Skadar basin species (Montenegro/Albania), a region of Europe never before subjected to barcoding studies on Chironomidae. Another aim was to test the efficiency of DNA barcoding for the identification of European Chironomidae, including the estimation of optimal identification thresholds, using >12,000 barcodes. Location: Lake Skadar basin and adjacent area (Montenegro/Albania). Methods: Through this study, 770 individuals of Chironomidae from the Lake Skadar region were barcoded, both at adult and pre‐imaginal stages. Adults were morphologically identified, while larvae were assigned to species by molecular identification, using different methods, of which the efficiency was tested, for a total of 97 different barcoded species. Results: The identification efficiency of the reference dataset developed for the Lake Skadar region was 98.6%, a value in line with that obtained when the identification efficiency for European Chironomidae was evaluated (95.8%), which confirms the accuracy of DNA barcoding for the identification of these insects. Moreover, we found that the optimal threshold for the molecular identification of the family is 1.6% nucleotide distance, though more specific thresholds are suggested for the identification of species belonging to Chironomidae subfamilies, since they are related to lower identification errors than to the use of a general threshold. The analysis of inconsistency between molecular and morphological identification shed light on taxonomic issues within European Chironomidae. Previously postulated species synonyms were confirmed, and also further cases requiring deeper investigation were detected. Main conclusions: Our de novo DNA barcode library was shown to have a high identification efficiency. Taxon‐specific thresholds increase the efficacy of molecular identification. Hypothesized species synonyms could be validated through molecular techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Wing shape variation of four anopheles species was describe by UMAP algorithm. • HDBSCAN found 13 morphotypes in An. Daciae sp. inq and 4 in An. maculipennis s.s. • All morphotypes showed a similar pattern of variation in the wing veins. • Shape variability might results from constrains related to wing functionality. Geometric morphometric analysis was combined with two different unsupervised machine learning algorithms, UMAP and HDBSCAN, to visualize morphological differences in wing shape among and within four Anopheles sibling species (An. atroparvus , An. melanoon, An. maculipennis s.s. and An. daciae sp. inq.) of the Maculipennis complex in Northern Italy. Specifically, we evaluated: (1) wing shape variation among and within species; (2) the consistencies between groups of An. maculipennis s.s. and An. daciae sp. inq. identified based on COI sequences and wing shape variability; and (3) the spatial and temporal distribution of different morphotypes. UMAP detected at least 13 main patterns of variation in wing shape among the four analyzed species and mapped intraspecific morphological variations. The relationship between the most abundant COI haplotypes of An. daciae sp. inq. and shape ordination/variation was not significant. However, morphological variation within haplotypes was reported. HDBSCAN also recognized different clusters of morphotypes within An. daciae sp. inq. (12) and An. maculipennis s.s. (4). All morphotypes shared a similar pattern of variation in the subcostal vein, in the anal vein and in the radio-medial cross-vein of the wing. On the contrary, the marginal part of the wings remained unchanged in all clusters of both species. Any spatial-temporal significant difference was observed in the frequency of the identified morphotypes. Our study demonstrated that machine learning algorithms are a useful tool combined with geometric morphometrics and suggest to deepen the analysis of inter and intra specific shape variability to evaluate evolutionary constrains related to wing functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This multicenter study aimed to evaluate risk factors, prevalence and severity of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) as well as their consequences on women's emotional well-being, using a questionnaire validated specifically for pregnancy and postpartum. Methods: Prospective study conducted in eight teaching hospitals in Italy and Italian-speaking Switzerland. Pregnant and postpartum women completed the Italian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire for Pregnancy and Postpartum anonymously. Prevalence of, severity of, and risk factors for PFDs were evaluated for all the four domains considered: bladder, bowel, prolapse, and sexual function. Results: A total of 2007 women were included: 983 of the patients were bothered by at least one kind of PFD: bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction were more frequently reported. There were no significant differences in PFD prevalence between pregnancy and postpartum, except for bladder disorders, which were more prevalent in pregnancy. Familiarity for PFDs, pelvic floor contraction inability, cigarette smoking, body mass index more than 25 (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters), and age more than 35 years were confirmed risk factors for the development of PFDs during pregnancy and postpartum. Conclusion: Almost half of the women included in the study suffered from PFD-related symptoms with important consequences on quality of life. Validated questionnaires are fundamental in early diagnosis and treatment of PFDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The biodiversity study and conservation are primary objectives in preventing loss of species consequent to global climatic change. The present contribution adds information to a key taxon, a holometabolous insect belonging to Order Diptera, family Chironomidae, whose larvae are members of freshwater macroinvertebrate fauna and are considered good indicators of water quality. The larvae of some species of the subgenus Orthocladius s. str. (Diptera, Chironomidae) are here described for the first time with corrections and additions to the descriptions of adult males and pupal exuviae. The identification of larvae is generally not possible without association with pupal exuviae and/or adult males, so the descriptions here are based only on reared material or on pupae with the associated larval exuviae. Usually, Chironomidae larvae can be separated on the basis of morphometric characters, the most discriminant ones are: (1) the ratio between the width of median tooth of mentum (Dm) and the width of the first lateral tooth (Dl) = mental ratio (DmDl), (2) the ratio between the length of the first antennal segment (A1) and the combined length of segments 2–5 (A2–5) = antennal ratio (AR). The shape of mandible, maxilla, and other body parts are almost identical in all the species considered in this study. The larva of Orthocladius (Symposiocladius) lignicola is very characteristic and can be separated by the shape of mentum and the larvae of all the known species of Symposiocladius are characterized by the presence of large Lauterborn organs on antennae and of tufts of setae on abdominal segments. The larvae of Orthocladius (Orthocladius) oblidens and Orthocladius (Orthocladius) rhyacobius can be distinguished from other species basing on their large Dm and to each other by AR. A principal component analysis was carried out using 5 characters: (1) Dm, (2) Dl, (3) length of A1, (4) width of A1 (A1W), (5) combined length of segments 2–5 (A2–5). The most discriminant characters were Dm and A1, confirming that DmDl and AR can be used to separate species at larval stage, but the large superposition of morphometric characters in different species confirms that association with pupal exuviae is in any case needed to identify larvae. In future perspective, the development of reference DNA barcodes from specimens identified by specialists is recommended since possibly the best tool for larvae identification, but association of barcodes with morphotypes is in any case fundamental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aedeagus and spermatheca structures of Chrysomela collaris Linnaeus, 1758, Chrysomela populi Linnaeus, 1758, Chrysomela saliceti (Weise, 1884), Chrysomela tremula Fabricius, 1787 and Chrysomela vigintipunctata (Scopoli, 1763) species, widespread in Turkey, have been studied. Relationships between species by observing the structure of aedeagus and spermatheca which allow their accuracy species-level identification are detaily included in the study. A dichotomous key for the species of the genus Chrysomela Linnaeus,1758 present in Turkey, the first one for the country, is also provided (including genitals photos). Accordingly to what was observed in this study, aedeagus and spermatheca related characters can be used to easily distinglush the species of the genus Chrysomela present in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a highly polyphagous invasive beetle originating from Japan. This insect is highly resilient and able to rapidly adapt to new vegetation. Insect‐associated microorganisms can play important roles in insect physiology, helping their hosts to adapt to changing conditions and potentially contributing to an insect's invasive potential. Such symbiotic bacteria can be part of a core microbiota that is stably transmitted throughout the host's life cycle or selectively recruited from the environment at each developmental stage. The aim of this study was to investigate the origin, stability and turnover of the bacterial communities associated with an invasive population of P. japonica from Italy. Our results demonstrate that soil microbes represent an important source of gut bacteria for P. japonica larvae, but as the insect develops, its gut microbiota richness and diversity decreased substantially, paralleled by changes in community composition. Notably, only 16.75% of the soil bacteria present in larvae are maintained until the adult stage. We further identified the micro‐environments of different gut sections as an important factor shaping microbiota composition in this species, likely due to differences in pH, oxygen availability and redox potential. In addition, P. japonica also harboured a stable bacterial community across all developmental stages, consisting of taxa well known for the degradation of plant material, namely the families Ruminococcacae, Christensenellaceae and Lachnospiraceae. Interestingly, the family Christensenallaceae had so far been observed exclusively in humans. However, the Christensenellaceae operational taxonomic units found in P. japonica belong to different taxonomic clades within this family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In insects, morphological species identification is often challenging. The discrimination of closely related species may be hampered when only subtle differences in phenotypic characters or a continuum in their variability are present. This is exemplified in the Cryptocephalus flavipes species complex (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae) where, until now, the species have been discriminated only by the yellow pattern on frons, pronotum, and epipleurae. In the present study, the phylogeny of the C. flavipes species complex was resolved through a multi-locus sequence approach, and the inclusion in the group of the phenotypically similar Cryptocephalus quadripustulatus Gyllenhal, 1813 was evaluated. Subsequently, the C. flavipes species complex was used to test the usefulness of DNA-based approaches for species recognition and identification. All previously described morphospecies were recovered by means of species delimitation approaches. In addition, lineages of Cryptocephalus flavipes Fabricius, 1781 and Cryptocephalus bameuli Duhaldeborde, 1999, which have not evolved clear morphological differences, were found to form genetically well-isolated groups. A new taxon from Turkey was recognized as a separate lineage by DNA-based methods, and morphological diagnostic characters are reported. Through this study, new morphological diagnostic characters were discovered and the suitability of the meta-episternal shape in species discrimination was tested by a geometric morphometric approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Integrative approach adopted to explain phylogeny of flat bark beetles. • C. haematodes found to be complex of four taxa incl. C. tulliae and C. muelleri. • American species needs to be split into two species: C. clavipes and C. puniceus. • Calabrian clade of C. cinnaberinus deserves subspecies status. • Climatic changes in Pleistocene and Holocene determined distribution of Cucujus beetles. Recent progress in the taxonomy of flat bark beetles (Cucujidae), specifically, in the genus Cucujus , has revealed great diversity in subtropical Asia, but the seemingly well-known temperate and boreal taxa need further attention because of their conservation status. Here, we used an integrative approach using morphology, DNA, and species distribution modelling to disentangle phylogenetic relations, verify the number of species, and understand the historical biogeography of Palearctic and Nearctic Cucujus beetles, particularly the C. haematodes species group. Species distinctiveness was supported for C. cinnaberinus , but present-day C. haematodes turned out to be a species complex made up of separate lineages in the western, middle and eastern parts of its Palearctic range. Cucujus muelleri was a member of that complex, being sister to Asian C. haematodes. Moreover, C. haematodes caucasicus was found to be phylogenetically closely related to Italian C. tulliae , and both to be sister to European C. haematodes. North American C. clavipes clavipes and C. c. puniceus resulted to be enough divergent to be considered different species. Interestingly, western American C. puniceus turned out to be closely related to the C. haematodes complex, whereas eastern American C. clavipes constituted a separate lineage, being distantly related to both C. puniceus and C. cinnaberinus. These patterns suggest former trans -continental connections among the ancestors of extant flat bark beetle species. Moreover, a divergent lineage of C. cinnaberinus was found in Calabria, which should be regarded at the very least as a subspecies. The ancestor of C. hameatodes group originated in mid-Miocene, and next, ca. 6.2 Mya, a line leading to C. cinnaberinus had split. Speciation of the American lineages occurred during Pliocene (4.4 Mya for C. clavipes and 3.3 Mya for C. puniceus). Species classified as C. haematodes , C. tulliae and C. muelleri , as well as distinct lineages within C. cinnaberinus split during mid Pleistocene (ca. 1.5 Mya). A comparison of species climatic requirements and their present distribution allowed to identify glacial refugia in south-eastern areas of North America (C. clavipes), south-western areas of North America (C. puniceus), and the Mediterranean and Caspian Sea Basins (European Cucujus species), or south-eastern areas of Asia and the foothills of the central Asian mountains (eastern C. haematodes). Subsequent climatic changes in the Holocene forced these beetles to move their ranges northwards along the coasts of the Pacific (C. puniceus) or Atlantic (C. clavipes), north-eastwards to central, northern, and eastern Europe (C. cinnaberinus and European C. haematodes) or Siberia (Asian C. haematodes). The combined use of molecular, morphological and climatic data allows a comprehensive understanding of the phylogenetic relations and past distributions of Cucujus beetles, highlighting the complexity of C. haematodes species group evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs) include all mucinous tumors of the appendix without an infiltrative histological pattern, either confined to the appendix or that have spread to the peritoneum (pseudomyxoma peritoneii), according to the WHO Classification1 (Suppl 1). The ovarian involvement from LAMN is not uncommon and in most cases is the first evidence of primitive LAMNs. Metastatic LAMNs to the ovary are more indolent and have a better prognosis than metastatic appendiceal adenocarcinomas.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]