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The major royal jelly protein 2 (mrjp2) gene is one of the molecular markers that can discriminate between Apis cerana Fabricius and A. mellifera Linnaeus. Due to the lack of mrjp2 gene sequences registered in GenBank for Indonesian A. cerana and A. mellifera, DNA characterization and bioinformatics analysis were needed. This research aimed to characterize the exon-intron organization of mrjp2 genes for both Indonesian bee species and analyze the phylogenetic relationship with other mrjp family genes. DNA samples of Apis cerana and A. mellifera, collected from Bogor, were amplified using MF-MR primer at annealing temperatures of 47 oC and 50 oC, respectively. The length of A. cerana and A. mellifera DNA sequences were 579 and 597 bp, respectively. The DNA sequences of both species were comprised of partial exons 1, introns 1, exons 2, introns 2, and partial exon 3. The number of putative amino acids of A. cerana and A. mellifera mrjp2 genes were 111 and 123, respectively. We confirmed that the partial MRJP2 putative amino acids of both honey bees belong to the MRJP family and contained the peptide signal in the 14 first amino acid sites. Nucleotide variation of the mrjp2 gene in A. cerana was higher than A. mellifera. Phylogenetic tree construction showed that A. cerana and A. mellifera form a monophyletic clade with the A. mellifera mrjp7 gene and another mrjp family gene clustered as reported in a previous study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The patterns of richness, diversity, and abundance of an odonate assemblage from San Buenaventura, Jalisco are presented here. A total of 1087 specimens from seven families, 35 genera and 66 species were obtained through monthly samplings of five days each during a period of one year. Libellulidae was the most diverse family (28 species), followed by Coenagrionidae (21), Gomphidae (7), Aeshnidae (6), Calopterygidae (2), Lestidae (1) and Platystictidae (1). Argia was the most speciose genus. The highest species richness and Shannon diversity were found during August and September, whereas the highest abundance was observed in June and the highest Simpson diversity was recorded in September -- all of which were associated with the rainy season. The highest values of phylogenetic diversity were found from June to October. The different diversity facets of this assemblage were positively correlated with precipitation and minimum temperature, whereas maximum temperature showed no influence. In addition, we found that this odonate diversity was higher than most Mexican localities with tropical dry forest (TDF) studied. New information: We continue our efforts to describe the patterns of richness, diversity and abundance of some insect groups associated with the tropical dry forest ecosystem in Mexico, following a latitudinal gradient of the distribution of this ecosystem in the country. Our emphasis here was to evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of richness and diversity of an Odonata assemblage from Jalisco, Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Males of Leptogenys (Lobopelta) borneensis Wheeler, 1919 are described, including their genital morphology, which is important for diagnostics and morphological phylogeny of the genus Leptogenys Roger, 1861. The mtDNA COI barcoding sequence of 607 bp obtained and uploaded to GenBank and BOLD. The species was previously known from Borneo (Malaysia: Sarawak — type locality), Thailand and Vietnam and is recorded for the first time from Sumatra (Indonesia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic analyses between fossil species of the subfamily Bruchomyiinae were conducted. Based on them, a new subgenus, Palaeoglaesum (Amplissimum) subgen. nov., within the genus Palaeoglaesum is proposed. Two new species, Palaeoglaesum angustum sp. nov. and Palaeoglaesum cracoviae sp. nov., from Cretaceous Myanmar amber are described and illustrated herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drosophila sp. is a fruit fly species that can spread quickly worldwide. A short life cycle, small body size, and fast adaptation to new habitats allow fruit flies to live in various parts of the world. This study characterized the genetic variation of the cytochrome oxidase c subunit (CO1) gene in Drosophila species from different North Sulawesi regions. Methods: Fruit fly samples were collected from six districts: Central Minahasa, Southeast Minahasa, South Minahasa, North Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow, and Sitaro. DNA extracted from thoracic tissue The COI gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced by the Sanger method. Sequence characterization using BioEdit and MEGA XI programs. Result: The results showed that the consensus CO1 gene sequence length was 688 bp to 700 bp. Divergent evolution based on disparity analysis showed CO1 Bolaang had the farthest sequence characteristic differences from the other five CO1 genes in North Sulawesi. Genetic distance analysis showed that Bolaang's gene sequence has the farthest genetic distance. CO1 gene consensus alignment analysis with ClustalW showed high genetic variation. The phylogenetic construction showed that CO1 Bolaang had the most significant differences in sequence characteristics from the other five sequences in a monophyletic group with different nodes. Phylogenic reconstruction with the 21 most similar sequences from BLAST showed similarities in the four Drosophila species, namely D. atriplex, D. melanogaster, D. lacteicornis, and D. pandora. Conclusion: Based on the CO1 gene, there are significant variations in fruit flies in North Sulawesi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine) acts as a widespread neuromodulator in the nervous system of vertebrates and invertebrates. In insects, it promotes feeding, enhances olfactory sensitivity, modulates aggressive behavior, and, in the central complex of Drosophila, serves a role in sleep homeostasis. In addition to a role in sleep‐wake regulation, the central complex has a prominent role in spatial orientation, goal‐directed locomotion, and navigation vector memory. To further understand the role of serotonergic signaling in this brain area, we analyzed the distribution and identity of serotonin‐immunoreactive neurons across a wide range of insect species. While one bilateral pair of tangential neurons innervating the central body was present in all species studied, a second type was labeled in all neopterans but not in dragonflies and firebrats. Both cell types show conserved major fiber trajectories but taxon‐specific differences in dendritic targets outside the central body and axonal terminals in the central body, noduli, and lateral accessory lobes. In addition, numerous tangential neurons of the protocerebral bridge were labeled in all studied polyneopteran species except for Phasmatodea, but not in Holometabola. Lepidoptera and Diptera showed additional labeling of two bilateral pairs of neurons of a third type. The presence of serotonin in systems of columnar neurons apparently evolved independently in dragonflies and desert locusts. The data suggest distinct evolutionary changes in the composition of serotonin‐immunolabeled neurons of the central complex and provides a promising basis for a phylogenetic study in a wider range of arthropod species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Fannia (Diptera: Fanniidae) is described, Fannia adelaidae sp. nov. This new species was collected in the Patagonian region in the province of Neuquén, within the Lanín National Park using baited traps. Photographs of diagnostic characters are provided for both sexes. Its possible phylogenetic relationship with other species of the same region is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Epanycles Butler (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Ctenuchina) has been considered as monotypical for 145 years, including only Epanycles imperialis (Walker). Herein, we propose a new combination: E. satania new. comb. based on external morphology, genital morphology of males and females, morphological phylogeny, DNA barcoding, and geographical distribution. Epanycles satania was originally described for the genus Episcepsis Butler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a phylogeny of Chrysopidae inferred from combining molecular and morphological data. Apochrysinae were recovered as sister to the rest of the family (Nothochrysinae and Chrysopinae). The monogeneric tribe Nothancylini is confirmed as sister to the remaining Chrysopinae. The other four tribes are grouped in two clades: Belonopterygini + Leucochrysini and Ankylopterygini + Chrysopini. The Nineta -group is herein transferred from Chrysopini to Ankylopterygini. Within the diverse and species-rich Chrysopini we recognize five genus-group clades: Chrysopa , Chrysoperla , Chrysopodes , Eremochrysa and Meleoma generic groups. The mapping of characters, such as the parameres, the tignum, the im cell or the tibial spurs, on the phylogeny provides insights into the evolution of these traits in the family. In addition, we propose the following taxonomic changes to the classification of the family: the inclusion of Chrysopidia , Nineta and Tumeochrysa in the tribe Ankylopterygini, and the synonymization of Furcochrysa with Chrysopa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhagoletis merzi sp. n., is described and illustrated based on specimens swept and reared from Juniperus sabina L. in Switzerland. A comparative review of Palaearctic species and a key to Palearctic and Nearctic species similar to R. merzi is provided. Based on DNA sequences from the COI, CAD, 28S, period, and AATS genes (4270 bp) of 92 isolates from two outgroup species (Anastrepha ludens, Euphranta canadensis), one species of Carpomya and 35 species representing most of species groups of Rhagoletis, a MrBayes analysis recovered a monophyletic lineage of Juniper-infesting species within a monophyletic cluster of R. fausta, R. batava, as well as the suavis, cingulata, pomonella, tabellaria and juniperina groups. The juniperina group includes both Nearctic (R. juniperina and undescribed forms) and Palaearctic species (R. flavigenualis and R. merzi). Rhagoletis merzi is more similar to the Nearctic R. juniperina in both morphological characters (wing pattern, occiput, mesonotum and legs coloration, shape of male surstyli) and molecular sequences than to the Palearctic R. flavigenualis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a study on species of Ectatosticta spiders from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau identified using multilocus molecular and morphological data. Topics include the number of new species identified, locations of the previously known distribution of Ectatosticta spiders, a historical background on the discovery of several species in the genus by taxonomists since 1753, and an illustration of the phylogenetic tree and distribution of Ectatosticta species.

Dopamine acts as a neurohormone and neurotransmitter in the insect nervous system and controls a variety of physiological processes. Dopaminergic neurons also innervate the central complex (CX), a multisensory center of the insect brain involved in sky compass navigation, goal‐directed locomotion and sleep control. To infer a possible influence of evolutionary history and lifestyle on the neurochemical architecture of the CX, we have studied the distribution of neurons immunoreactive to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate‐limiting enzyme in dopamine biosynthesis. Analysis of representatives from 12 insect orders ranging from firebrats to flies revealed high conservation of immunolabeled neurons. One type of TH‐immunoreactive neuron was found in all species studied. The neurons have somata in the pars intercerebralis, arborizations in the lateral accessory lobes, and axonal ramifications in the central body and noduli. In all pterygote species, a second type of tangential neuron of the upper division of the central body was TH‐immunoreactive. The neurons have cell bodies near the calyces and arborizations in the superior protocerebrum. Both types of neuron showed species‐specific variations in cell number and in the innervated areas outside and inside the CX. Additional neurons were found in only two taxa: one type of columnar neuron showed TH immunostaining in the water strider Gerris lacustris, but not in other Heteroptera, and a tritocerebral neuron innervating the protocerebral bridge was immunolabeled in Diptera. The data show largely taxon‐specific variations of a common ground pattern of putatively dopaminergic neurons that may be commonly involved in state‐dependent modulation of CX function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic analyses testing the monophyly of the tribe Hydrobiusini and the relationships among its genera are performed based on a data matrix including characters of larval morphology and morphometrics, larval chaetotaxy and adult morphology, including eight of the nine hydrobiusine genera plus 15 outgroup taxa. The head chaetotaxy of six genera of the tribe Hydrobiusini is described (Ametor , Hybogralius , Hydramara , Limnohydrobius , Limnoxenus and Sperchopsis). Morphometric characters derived from the head capsule and mouthparts are included. All characters are illustrated in detail. The analyses performed on the above datasets and their combinations reveal the monophyly of the Hydrobiusini except for Hybogralius , and reconstruct the internal topology of the tribe, largely corresponding to results of previous molecular analyses. Hybogralius groups with genera having larvae adapted to underwater feeding in all analyses. The position of the genus Tritonus within the Laccobiini is questioned by our analyses, which suggest a closer relationship with the tribes Hydrophilini or Hydrobiusini. Larval characters are revealed as highly homoplastic, with chaetotaxic characters performing slightly worse than usual larval morphology. Nonetheless, they are phylogenetically informative and useful for testing phylogenetic hypotheses resulting from analyses of molecules or adult morphology. A key to larvae of the genera of the Hydrobiusini is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wolbachia is an endosymbiont common to most invertebrates, which can have significant evolutionary implications for its host species by acting as a barrier to gene flow. Despite the importance of Wolbachia, still little is known about its prevalence and diversification pattern among closely related host species. Wolbachia strains may phylogenetically coevolve with their hosts, unless horizontal host-switches are particularly common. We address these issues in the genus Erebia, one of the most diverse Palearctic butterfly genera. Results: We sequenced the Wolbachia genome from a strain infecting Erebia cassioides and showed that it belongs to the Wolbachia supergroup B, capable of infecting arthropods from different taxonomic orders. The prevalence of Wolbachia across 13 closely related Erebia host species based on extensive population-level genetic data revealed that multiple Wolbachia strains jointly infect all investigated taxa, but with varying prevalence. Finally, the phylogenetic relationships of Wolbachia strains are in some cases significantly associated to that of their hosts, especially among the most closely related Erebia species, demonstrating mixed evidence for phylogenetic coevolution. Conclusions: Closely related host species can be infected by closely related Wolbachia strains, evidencing some phylogenetic coevolution, but the actual pattern of infection more often reflects historical or contemporary geographic proximity among host species. Multiple processes, including survival in distinct glacial refugia, recent host shifts in sympatry, and a loss of Wolbachia during postglacial range expansion seem to have jointly shaped the complex interactions between Wolbachia evolution and the diversification of its host among our studied Erebia species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf beetle genus Suinzona, consisting of over 20 species, is mainly known for species from Southwest China, and its closely related genus Potaninia, with only two species, is widely distributed in South China and upper Southeast Asia. Despite recent morphological studies, the status of these taxa has long been controversial. Here, we investigated the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships of the genera Suinzona and Potaninia within Chrysomelinae using molecular, morphological and ecological data. Molecular phylogenetic analysis supported that they should be regarded as distinct genera, which is consistent with morphological evidence, e.g., well-developed/reduced hind wings. Based on combined evidence from examination of larval and adult morphology, host plants and mitochondrial genomes, we demonstrate that P. cyrtonoides should be placed in the genus Suinzona and that specimens from South Korea represent a new species. Suinzona borowieci sp. nov., occurring in narrow strips of habitat, shows high levels of genetic divergence and distantly related host plants between populations. The population differentiation seems to be correlated with its non-functional wings causing reduced dispersal ability and genetic isolation. Several populations have declined dramatically over the last few decades due to loss of habitat and thus are in need of protection as conservation units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A taxonomic revision of all Australian species of Metopia Meigen (Sarcophagidae: Miltogramminae) is completed using an integrated approach combining molecular and morphological data. Metopia nudibasis (Malloch) is redescribed as a species complex and a new endemic Australian species, Metopia sputnik sp. n. is described. Evidence is presented that Metopia sauteri (Townsend) is absent from Australia and this species is therefore removed from the known Australian fauna. Molecular phylogenetics is used to reconstruct interspecific and generic relationships and support morphology-based species hypotheses. Phylogenetic analysis splits Metopia Meigen into two clades, separated by Aenigmetopia Malloch, rendering the former genus nonmonophyletic. The implications of this are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notomicrinae (Coleoptera: Noteridae) is a subfamily of minute and ecologically diverse aquatic beetles distributed across the Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. We investigate the evolution of Notomicrinae and construct the first species-level phylogeny within Noteridae using five nuclear and mitochondrial gene fragments. We focus on the genus Notomicrus Sharp (Coleoptera: Noteridae), sampling 13 of the 17 known Notomicrus species and an additional 11 putative undescribed species. We also include Phreatodytes haibaraensis Uéno (Coleoptera: Noteridae). Datasets are analyzed in Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian frameworks. With these, we 1) estimate divergence times among notomicrine taxa and reconstruct the biogeographical history of the group, particularly testing the hypothesis of Gondwanan vicariance between Old World and New World Notomicrus ; 2) additionally, we assess ecological plasticity within Notomicrinae in the context of the phylogeny; and 3) finally, we test the monophyly of tentative species groups within Notomicrus and place putative new taxa. We recover a monophyletic Notomicrinae, with Phreatodytes sister to Notomicrus. We estimate the crown age of Notomicrinae to be ca. 110 Mya. The crown age of Notomicrus is recovered as ca. 75 Mya, there diverging into reciprocally monophyletic Old and New World clades, suggesting Gondwanan vicariance. Our phylogenetic estimate indicates a strong degree of ecological plasticity within Notomicrinae, with habitat switching occurring in recently diverging taxa. Finally, we recover five main species groups in Notomicrus , one Old World, Four New World, with tentative affirmation of the placement of undescribed species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here the discovery of a remarkable new monotypic mygalomorph spider genus, known only from one geographical location along the central coast of California. The single relict species comprising Cryptocteniza kawtak n. gen. n. sp. , is morphologically distinct and geographically isolated from other related genera, with its closest phylogenetic relatives found much further to the east in New Mexico and Arizona. Using a phylogenomic approach employing anchored hybrid enrichment, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of the family Euctenizidae Raven, 1985 to explore relationships among genera, affirmatively place previously undescribed taxa, explore rates of diversification, and reconstruct the group's biogeography. A biogeographic analysis shows that extinction likely played a significant role in shaping the observed disjunct modern-day distribution of Cryptocteniza and its sister taxa. Our extinction hypothesis is further bolstered by a diversification rate analysis identifying considerably higher rates of speciation in other euctenizid lineages like Aptostichus Simon, 1891. Consequently, changes in environmental conditions (or other related biotic and/or abiotic factors) may have spurred an adaptive radiation in related genera now widely distributed across the California Floristic Province biodiversity hotspot, with concomitant extinction in Cryptocteniza following the Miocene and establishment of a Mediterranean climate. Owing to its phylogenetic distinctiveness, incredibly narrow distribution and age, we show that Cryptocteniza meets all the criteria of an 'Endangered Living Fossil' and is consequently of grave conservation concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryphalini Lindemann, 1877 are a speciose group of mostly miniscule beetles. The tribe Cryphalini is reviewed here which resulted in taxonomic and nomenclatural changes. This revision follows a recent molecular phylogenomic re-analysis focused on the tribe and related scolytine taxa. The analysis demonstrated that the tribe is polyphyletic, as found in other molecular phylogenies. To ensure monophyletic classification, we present a revision of the former tribe with two tribes resurrected, one described, and several genera transferred to other existing tribes. Additionally, extensive generic synonymy, and new combinations are presented. A key, photographs, and illustrations are provided to enable an accurate determination of genera. The revised Cryphalini contains only Cryphalus Erichson, 1836 (= Hypocryphalus Hopkins, 1915 syn. nov. ; Margadillius Hopkins, 1915 syn. nov.). Coriacephilini Johnson trib. nov. contains only Coriacephilus Schedl, 1939. Ernoporini Nüsslin, 1911 stat. res. contains Eidophelus Eichhoff, 1876 (= Scolytogenes Eichhoff, 1878 syn. nov. ; Ptilopodius Hopkins, 1915 , syn. nov. ; Ernoporicus Berger, 1917 , syn. nov. ; Cryphalogenes Wood, 1980 , syn. nov.); Ernoporus Thomson, 1859 (= Ernocladius Wood, 1980 , syn. nov. ; Allothenemus Bright and Torres, 2006 , syn. nov.); Hemicryphalus Schedl, 1963; and Procryphalus Hopkins, 1915. Trypophloeini Nüsslin, 1911 stat. res. includes the genera Afrocosmoderes Johnson and Jordal gen. nov. ; Atomothenemus Bright, 2019 ; Cosmoderes Eichhoff, 1878 (= Allernoporus Kurentsov, 1941 , syn. nov.); Hypothenemus Westwood, 1834 (= Periocryphalus Wood, 1971 , syn. nov.); Macrocryphalus Nobuchi, 1981 , stat. res.; Microcosmoderes Johnson and Jordal gen. nov. ; Microsomus Bright, 2019 ; Pygmaeoborus Bright, 2019 ; and Trypophloeus Fairmaire, 1864. Xyloterini LeConte, 1876 is maintained, containing Indocryphalus Eggers, 1939; Trypodendron Stephens, 1830 and Xyloterinus Swaine, 1918. Acorthylus Brèthes, 1922 , Cryptocarenus Eggers, 1937 , Neocryphus Nunberg, 1956, Stegomerus Wood, 1967, and Trypolepis Bright, 2019 are transferred to Corthylini LeConte, 1876. Stephanopodius Schedl, 1963 is transferred to Xyloctonini Eichhoff, 1878. As a consequence of generic synonymy, the following new or resurrected combinations are proposed: Cosmoderes euonymi (Kurentsov, 1941) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus aciculatus (Schedl, 1939) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus afiamalus (Schedl, 1951) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus angustior Eggers, 1927 comb. res. ; Cryphalus asper (Broun, 1881) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus bakeri (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus basihirtus Beeson, 1929 , comb. nov. ; Cryphalus bidentatus (Browne, 1980) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus brevior (Schedl, 1943) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus carinatus (Browne, 1980) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus confusus (Hopkins, 1915) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus corpulentus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus cylindripennis (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus cylindrus (Browne, 1950) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus densepilosus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus dilutus Eichhoff, 1878 comb. res. ; Cryphalus discrepans (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus discretus Eichhoff, 1878 comb. res. ; Cryphalus erythrinae (Hopkins, 1915) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus fici (Browne, 1986) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus glabratus (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus granulatus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus imitans (Schedl, 1951) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus interponens (Schedl, 1953) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus kalambanganus (Schedl, 1943) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus laevis (Browne, 1980) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus laticollis (Browne, 1974) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus longipennis (Browne, 1970) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus longipilis (Browne, 1981) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus magnus (Browne, 1984) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus malayensis (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus mangiferae Stebbing, 1914 , comb. res. ; Cryphalus margadilaonis (Hopkins, 1915) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus mindoroensis (Schedl, 1943) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus minor (Schedl, 1943) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus minutus (Hopkins, 1915) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus mollis Schedl, 1955 comb. res. ; Cryphalus moorei (Schedl, 1964) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus nigrosetosus (Schedl, 1948) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus nitidicollis (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus obscurus (Hopkins, 1915) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus ovalicollis (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus papuanus (Schedl, 1973) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus piliger (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus polynesiae (Schedl, 1979) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus quadrituberculatus (Schedl, 1963) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus reflexus (Browne, 1980) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus robustus Eichhoff, 1872 comb. res. ; Cryphalus rotundus (Hopkins, 1915) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus sandakanensis Schedl, 1937 comb. res. ; Cryphalus spathulatus (Schedl, 1938) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus striatulus (Browne, 1978) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus striatus (Hopkins, 1915) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus sumatranus (Schedl, 1939) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus triangularis (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Cryphalus tutuilaensis (Schedl, 1951) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus absonus (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus afer (Schedl, 1970) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus africanus (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus aitutakii (Beaver and Maddison, 1990) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus alniphagus (Nobuchi, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus alternans (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus amanicus (Eggers, 1919) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus ankius (Schedl, 1979) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus apicalis (Schedl, 1971) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus approximatus (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus aspericollis (Eichhoff, 1878) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus ater (Eggers, 1923) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus australis (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus badius (Nobuchi, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus bambusae (Browne, 1983) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus bangensis (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus basilaris (Wood, 1960) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus birosimensis (Murayama, 1958) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus braderi (Browne, 1965) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus brimblecombei (Schedl, 1972) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus buruensis (Eggers, 1926) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus camelliae (Nobuchi, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus candidus (Nobuchi, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus capucinus (Schedl, 1971) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus caucasicus (Lindemann, 1877) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus ceylonicus (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus cicatricosus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus coccotrypanoides (Schedl, 1939) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus communis (Schaufuss, 1891) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus confragosus (Sampson, 1914) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus corni (Kurentsov, 1941) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus corpulentus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus corrugatus (Schedl, 1950) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus creber (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus crenatus (Sampson, 1914) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus cylindricus (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus darwini (Eichhoff, 1878) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus devius (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus dubiosus (Wood, 1960) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus eggersi (Schedl, 1962) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus euphorbiae (Wood, 1980) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus excellens (Schedl, 1979) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus exiguus (Wood, 1980) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus exilis (Yin, 2001) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus eximius (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus expers (Blandford, 1894) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus fagi (Fabricius, 1798) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus fijianus (Schedl, 1950) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus formosanus (Browne, 1981) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus fugax (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus fujisanus (Nobuchi, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus fulgens (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus fulgidus (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus fulvipennis (Nobuchi, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus ghanaensis (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus glabratus (Yin, 2001) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus gracilis (Schedl, 1950) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus granulatus (Wood, 1960) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus grobleri (Schedl, 1962) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus hirtus (Wood, 1974) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus hobohmi (Schedl, 1955) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus hylesinopsis (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus incultus (Yin, 2001) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus indicus (Wood, 1989) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus insularis (Nobuchi, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus insularum (Krivolutskaya, 1968) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus jalappae (Letzner, 1849) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus javanus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus kanawhae (Hopkins, 1915) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus landolphiae (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus leprosulus (Browne, 1974) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus longipennis (Eggers, 1936) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus magnocularis (Yin, 2001) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus marquesanus (Beeson, 1935) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus mauritianus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus micans (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus minor (Eggers, 1927) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus minutissimus (Schedl, 1943) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus mus (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus nanulus (Wood, 1960) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus nigellatus (Schedl, 1950) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus nubilus (Wood, 1960) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus ocularis (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus onyanganus (Schedl, 1941) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus opacus (Schedl, 1959) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus pacificus (Schedl, 1941) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus papuanus (Schedl, 1974) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus papuensis (Wood, 1989) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus paradoxus (Wood, 1992) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus parvus (Hopkins, 1915) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus pityophthorinus (Schedl, 1943) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus pleiocarpae (Schedl, 1957) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus polisquamosus (Yin, 2001) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus praeda (Browne, 1978) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus puerarae (Choo and Woo, 1989) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus pumilionides (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus pumilus (Wood, 1960) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus punctatulus (Nobuchi, 1976) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus punctatus (Schedl, 1951) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus puncticollis (Schedl, 1950) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus pygmaeolus (Schedl, 1971) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus quadridens (Browne, 1983) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus ramosus (Beeson, 1935) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus robustus (Schedl, 1955) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus rugosus (Schedl, 1943) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus rusticus (Wood, 1974) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus semenovi (Kurentsov, 1941) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus separandus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus setifer (Wood, 1974) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus sodalis (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus spessivtzevi (Berger, 1917) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus spirostachius (Schedl, 1958) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus splendens (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus squamatilis (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus squamosus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus squamulosus (Eggers, 1936) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus stephegynis (Hopkins, 1915) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus takahashii (Nobuchi, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus tarawai (Beaver, 1990) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus tonsus (Schedl, 1969) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus tricolor (Lea, 1910) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus trucis (Wood, 1974) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus uncatus (Schedl, 1971) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus usagaricus (Eggers, 1922) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus varius (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus venustus (Schedl, 1953) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus yunnanensis (Yin, 2001) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus zachvatkini (Krivolutskaya, 1958) comb. nov. ; Ernoporus corpulentus (Sampson, 1919) comb. nov. ; Ernoporus exquisitus (Bright, 2019) comb. nov. ; Ernoporus guiboutiae (Schedl, 1957) comb. nov. ; Ernoporus minutus (Bright and Torres, 2006) comb. nov. ; Hypothenemus attenuatus (Eggers, 1935) comb. nov. ; Hypothenemus loranthus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Hypothenemus novateutonicus (Schedl, 1951) comb. nov. ; Hypothenemus pullus (Wood, 1971) comb. nov. Following assessment of diagnostic characters, the following species were transferred to a different genus: Afrocosmoderes madagascariensis Schedl, 1961 comb. nov. ; Afrocosmoderes caplandicus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. ; Afrocosmoderes grobleri (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. ; Afrocosmoderes niger (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. ; Afrocosmoderes pellitus (Schedl, 1953) comb. nov. ; Afrocosmoderes pennatus (Schedl, 1953) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus concentralis (Schedl, 1975) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus inermis (Browne, 1984) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus insignis (Browne, 1984) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus kinabaluensis (Bright, 1992) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus philippinensis (Schedl, 1967) comb. nov. ; Eidophelus podocarpi (Bright, 1992) comb. nov. ; Ernoporus imitatrix (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov. ; Ernoporus minor (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Ernoporus parvulus (Eggers, 1943) comb. nov. ; Indocryphalus sericeus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov. ; Macrocryphalus elongatus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. ; Macrocryphalus punctipennis (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. ; Microcosmoderes shoreae (Schedl, 1953) comb. nov. ; Stegomerus parvatis (Wood, 1974) comb. nov. ; Stephanopodius dubiosus (Schedl, 1970) comb. nov. Twenty-nine secondary homonyms were created following genus synonymy, and are designated replacement names: Afrocosmoderes schedli Johnson nom. nov. (= Euptilius madagascariensis Schedl, 1963 syn. nov.); Cryphalus amplicollis Johnson nom. nov. (= Cryphalus laticollis Browne, 1984 syn. nov.); Cryphalus eggersi Johnson nom. nov. (= Cryphalus confusus Eggers, 1927 syn. nov.); Cryphalus fuscus Johnson nom. nov. (= Cryphalus cylindrus Browne, 1984 syn. nov.); Cryphalus gracilis Johnson nom. nov. (= Cryphalus laevis Browne, 1984 syn. nov.); Cryphalus luteus Johnson nom. nov. (= Margadillius fulvus Browne, 1984 syn. nov.); Cryphalus minusculus Johnson nom. nov. (= Hypocryphalus minutus Browne, 1980 syn. nov.); Cryphalus ozopemoides Johnson nom. nov. (= Hypocryphalus montanus Schedl, 1974 , syn. nov.); Cryphalus pellicius Johnson nom. nov. (= Hypocryphalus pilifer Schedl, 1979 syn. nov.); Cryphalus punctistriatulus Johnson nom. nov. (= Cryphalus striatulus Browne, 1981 , syn. nov.); Cryphalus schedli Johnson nom. nov. (= Hypocryphalus formosanus Schedl, 1952 syn. nov.); Cryphalus solomonensis Johnson nom. nov. (= Margadillius terminaliae Browne, 1984 syn. nov.); Cryphalus spissepilosus Johnson nom. nov. (= Cryphalus densepilosus Schedl, 1943 , syn. nov.); Cryphalus storckiellae Johnson nom. nov. (= Cryphalus striatus Browne, 1974 , syn. nov.); Cryphalus takahashii Johnson nom. nov. (= Euptilius exiguus Browne, 1984 syn. nov.); Eidophelus alstoniae Johnson nom. nov. (= Chiloxylon sumatranus Schedl, 1970 syn. nov.); Eidophelus brighti Johnson nom. nov. (= Hemicryphalus minutus Bright, 1992 , syn. nov.); Eidophelus brownei Johnson nom. nov. (= Euptilius papuanus Browne, 1983 syn. nov.); Eidophelus furvus Johnson nom. nov. (= Cryphalophilus ater Schedl, 1972 syn. nov.); Eidophelus levis Johnson nom. nov. (= Eidophelus gracilis Browne, 1984 syn. nov.); Eidophelus lucidus Johnson nom. nov. (= Lepicerinus pacificus Schedl, 1959 syn. nov.); Eidophelus minusculus Johnson nom. nov. (= Eidophelus minutissimus Schedl, 1962 syn. nov.); Eidophelus niger Johnson nom. nov. (= Ernoporicus ater Nobuchi, 1975 , syn. nov.); Eidophelus parvulus Johnson nom. nov. (= Cryphalus parvus Browne, 1984 syn. nov.); Eidophelus rhododendri Johnson nom. nov. (= Hemicryphalus squamosus Bright, 1992 , syn. nov.); Eidophelus schedli Johnson nom. nov. (= Cryphalomorphus ceylonicus Schedl, 1959 syn. nov.); Eidophelus yinae Johnson nom. nov. (= Scolytogenes venustus Yin, 2001 , syn. nov.); Hypothenemus marginatus Johnson nom. nov. (= Periocryphalus sobrinus Wood, 1974 syn. nov.); Hypothenemus squamosulus Johnson nom. nov. (= Ptilopodius squamosus Schedl, 1953 syn. nov.). Two replacement names are now unnecessary: Cryphalus striatulus (Browne, 1978) stat. res. (= Hypothenemus brownei Beaver, 1991 , syn. nov.); Macrocryphalus oblongus Nobuchi, 1981 , stat. res. (= Hypothenemus nobuchii Knížek, 2011 , syn. nov.). We also acknowledge the original description of several species by Eichhoff, 1878a which have been widely referenced as a later description (Eichhoff, 1878b). The following taxonomic changes are provided to acknowledge the changes: Cryphalus horridus Eichhoff, 1878a (= Cryphalus horridus Eichhoff, 1878b , syn. nov); Cryphalus numidicus Eichhoff, 1878a (= Cryphalus numidicus Eichhoff, 1878b , syn. nov); Cryphalus submuricatus Eichhoff, 1878a (= Cryphalus submuricatus Eichhoff, 1878b , syn. nov); Eidophelus aspericollis (Eichhoff, 1878a) (= Eidophelus aspericollis Eichhoff, 1878b , syn. nov); Hypothenemus arundinis (Eichhoff, 1878a) (= Hypothenemus arundinis Eichhoff, 1878b , syn. nov); Hypothenemus birmanus (Eichhoff, 1878a) (= Hypothenemus birmanus Eichhoff, 1878b , syn. nov); Hypothenemus fuscicollis (Eichhoff, 1878a) (= Hypothenemus fuscicollis Eichhoff, 1878b , syn. nov); Hypothenemus rotundicollis (Eichhoff, 1878a) (= Hypothenemus rotundicollis Eichhoff, 1878b , syn. nov). Subjective species-level changes are minimal. The following synonymies are proposed: Cryphalus papuanus (Schedl, 1973) (= Ernoporus antennarius Schedl, 1974 syn. nov.); Eidophelus concentralis (Schedl, 1975) (= Margadillius concentralis Schedl, 1975 syn. nov.). A neotype for Periocryphalus sobrinus Wood, 1974 and its replacement name Hypothenemus marginatus nom. nov. is designated at USNM due to the holotype being lost and replaced with a different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

String sequence analysis revealed that silk spinning behavior of adult female Embioptera varies from species-specific to individualistic. This analysis included 26 species from ten taxonomic families with a total of 115 individuals. Spin-steps, 28 possible positions of the front feet during spinning, were scored from hour-long DVD recordings produced in the laboratory. Entire transcripts of hundreds to thousands of spin-steps per individual were compared by computing Levenshtein edit distances between all possible pairs of subsequences, with lengths ranging from 5 to 25—intraspecific similarity scores were then computed. Silk gallery characteristics and architecture, body size, climatic variables, and phylogenetic relationships were tested as possible drivers of intraspecific similarity in spinning behavior. Significant differences in intraspecific similarity aligned most strongly with climatic variables such that those species living in regions with high temperature seasonality, low annual precipitation, and high annual temperatures displayed more species-stereotypical spinning sequences than those from other regions, such as tropical forests. Phylogenetic signal was significant but weakly so, suggesting that environmental drivers play a stronger role in shaping the evolution of silk spinning. Body size also appears to play a role in that those of similar size are more like each other, even if not related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Figs and their associated mutualistic and parasitic wasps have been a focus of intensive ecological and evolutionary research due to their diversity, unusual reproductive biology, and highly coevolved interspecific relationships. Due to the ecological dependence of their interactions, fig wasps were once considered to be fig-species specific and to cospeciate with their hosts, however, a growing body of evidence reveals mixed support for species specificity and the importance of additional evolutionary processes (e.g. host switching) structuring these long-term interactions. Our research on the genus Idarnes Walker, 1843 (Hymenoptera, Agaonidae), a common non-pollinating wasp of New World fig flowers, reveals a community in which multiple wasp species coexist on the same host in space and time. Using both molecular and morphological data, we identify five distinct Idarnes lineages associated with a single host fig species, Ficus petiolaris Kunth, 1817 (Rosales, Moraceae). A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis including Idarnes species from numerous host fig species reveals that the lineages associated with F. petiolaris do not form a monophyletic group but are distantly related, suggesting multiple independent colonization events and subsequent diversification. Morphological and ecological data provide support that the wasps are partitioning niches within the figs, explaining the coexistence of these diverse lineages on the same host fig. These results, coupled with a growing body of research on pollinating and non-pollinating fig wasps, bring into focus a more dynamic picture of fig and fig wasp coevolution and highlight how wasp lineage divergence and niche partitioning contributes to increased species diversity and community structure on a single fig host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rasopone Schmidt and Shattuck is a poorly known lineage of ants that live in Neotropical forests. Informed by phylogenetic results from thousands of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and mitochondrial DNA barcodes, we revise the genus, providing a new morphological diagnosis and a species-level treatment. Analysis of UCE data from many Rasopone samples and select outgroups revealed non-monophyly of the genus. Monophyly of Rasopone was restored by transferring several species to the unrelated genus Mayaponera Schmidt and Shattuck. Within Rasopone , species are morphologically very similar, and we provide a 'bird guide' approach to identification rather than the traditional dichotomous key. Species are arranged by size in a table, along with geographic range and standard images. Additional diagnostic information is then provided in individual species accounts. We recognize a total of 15 named species, of which the following are described as new species : R. costaricensis , R. cryptergates , R. cubitalis , R. guatemalensis , R. mesoamericana , R. pluviselva , R. politognatha , R. subcubitalis , and R. titanis. An additional 12 morphospecies are described but not formally named due to insufficient material. Rasopone panamensis (Forel, 1899) is removed from synonymy and elevated to species. The following species are removed from Rasopone and made new combinations in Mayaponera : M. arhuaca (Forel, 1901), M. becculata (Mackay and Mackay, 2010), M. cernua (Mackay and Mackay, 2010), M. conicula (Mackay and Mackay, 2010), M. longidentata (Mackay and Mackay, 2010), and M. pergandei (Forel, 1909). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic analysis of ITS rDNA sequences of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae Filipjev, 1934 (Wouts, Mráček, Gerdin and Bedding, 1982) was used to infer intraspecific genetic variability of this rhabditid nematode. Nucleotide intraspecific differences among S. feltiae isolates reached the level of 19 base pairs per ITS rDNA region, i.e. up to 2.9%. Several weakly or moderately supported intraspecific clades were detected. Sicilian and Swiss isolates of S. feltiae were found clustering together. Swiss strain 'St. Bernard' has been isolated on the St. Bernardino mountain pass in Switzerland in 2000. Phylogenetic relationships among S. feltiae isolates were inferred by using three different methods (maximum parsimony, neighbor joining and maximum likelihood). The topologies of the phylogenetic trees were identical and thus only ML tree is presented. ML tree revealed that S. feltiae isolates from Israel and Armenia grouped at the basal position of the tree, while in the spanning network obtained with POPART software, Iranian and Ukrainian isolates were the closest to the outgroup. In all methods of analyses, the European and Siberian strains of S. feltiae occupied terminal positions. Thus, further studies on the intraspecific genetic variability of entomopathogenic nematodes is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larval characters of Eucnemidae are re-evaluated. Tribe Schizophilini Muona, 1993 is considered to merit subfamily rank as Schizophilinae Muona new status. Larval characters congruent with previously used adult morphological characters support the earlier published sister-group hypotheses for lignicolous eucnemids with one exception, Pseudomeninae, which is here split resulting in the following evolutionary hypothesis: (Pseudomeninae (Schizophilinae (Paleoxeninae (Melasinae, Eucneminae, Macraulcinae)))). The position of three remaining clades, Anischiinae, Perothopinae and Phyllocerinae remain ambiguous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of functional abdominal spiracles in pupae of Coleoptera is reviewed based on published descriptions and original observations. Aquatic Coleoptera typically have strong modifications, generally including dramatic reductions in the number of functional spiracles and often their modification into either spiracular gills or snorkels, as a response to their environment. But pupae of the great majority of Coleoptera, which are terrestrial, show broad stability across higher taxa. Most terrestrial beetles have at least the first five pairs of abdominal spiracles functional, up to and including a full set of eight pairs. However, the number is unexpectedly low in Scarabaeoidea and within Staphyliniformia, where Histeridae and all Staphylinoidea have a confirmed maximum of four pairs of spiracles. The relation between pupal size and number of functional spiracles in terrestrial pupae is explored, and it is suggested that those groups with an unexpectedly small number of functional spiracles may have passed through a "small-size bottleneck" in their ancestry. However, this hypothesis does not explain why several families of very small beetles in other groups of Coleoptera do not show a similar reduction, and little evidence was found to support a strong relation between pupal size and number of functional spiracles at lower taxonomic levels (below family). Whether pupae are exarate or obtect apparently also has little correlation with the number of functional spiracles. However, the consistency and stability of spiracular reductions in the above groups suggests that deep historical factors are involved and thus the reductions may be of phylogenetic significance. It is urged that establishing the number of functional spiracles in beetle pupae become as standard a feature of pupal descriptions as chaetotaxy and whether they are exarate or obtect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Naupactini (Curculionidae: Entiminae) endemic to Brazil, Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais states, is herein described. It resembles the monotypic genus Hadropus Schoenherr in its general appearance, particularly in the shape of the elytra, and the color of the vestiture, but the results of a cladistics analysis herein conducted suggest that it belongs to the genus Stenocyphus Marshall. This genus ranges in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, mainly in the Atlantic forest of Brazil, and includes three other species. Stenocyphus costae sp. nov., distinguishes from the remaining species of Stenocyphus by the green iridescent scaly vestiture, having long stiff setae on the two pairs of elytral tubercles; the more slender rostrum; the shorter antennae; the convex disc of the pronotum; and the shorter and broader elytra. This paper includes a cladogram of the Naupactini genera showing the phylogenetic position of the new species, its complete description, photographs of male and female habitus, line drawings of genitalia of both sexes, and a key of the Stenocyphus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genera Empis Linneus, 1758 and Rhamphomyia Meigen, 1822 (Empidoidea, Empididae Latreille, 1809) are two large genera of flies commonly named dagger flies. They are widely distributed in the world with most species described from the Palearctic Region. Empis comprises about 810 described species and Rhamphomyia comprises about 610 described species, together they represent one third of the known species diversity in Empididae. Two recent studies on the phylogeny of the two genera using Sanger sequencing on a few genetic markers, did not support monophyly of them. In this study high throughput sequencing of target enriched molecular data of ultraconserved elements or UCEs was used to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of included representatives of the genera. This method has proven useful on old and dry museum specimens with high amounts of degraded DNA, which was also tested herein. For this purpose, a commercially synthesized bait kit has previously been developed for Diptera which this study was the first one to test. Three out of nine old and dry museum specimens were successfully sequenced, one with an age of at least 154 years. Higher DNA concentration yielded a greater number of reads. Analyses conducted in the study confirmed that both Empis and Rhamphomyia are non-monophyletic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In this study, binding between the immunodominant membrane protein Imp of the 16SrV‐D phytoplasma associated with Flavescence dorée disease (FD‐Dp) and insect proteins of vectors and non‐vectors of FD‐Dp was tested. Methods and Results: Six Auchenorrhyncha species, from distantly related groups were selected: Scaphoideus titanus, Euscelidius variegatus, Macrosteles quadripunctulatus, Zyginidia pullula (Cicadomorpha), Ricania speculum and Metcalfa pruinosa (Fulgoromorpha). The vector status of each species was retrieved from the literature or determined by transmission trials in this study. A His‐tagged partial Imp protein and a rabbit polyclonal antibody were synthesized and used for Western and Far‐Western dot Blot (FWdB) experiments. Total native and membrane proteins (MP) were extracted from entire bodies and organs (gut and salivary glands) of each insect species. FWdB showed decreasing interaction intensities of Imp fusion protein with total proteins from entire bodies of S. titanus, E. variegatus (competent vectors) and M. quadripunctulatus (non‐vector), while no interaction signal was detected with the other three species (non‐vectors). A strong signal detected upon interaction of FD‐D Imp and MP from guts of closely related insects supports the role of this organ as the first barrier to ensure successful transmission. Conclusions: Our results showed that specific Imp binding, correlated with vector status, is involved in interactions between FD‐Dp and insect proteins. Significance and Impact of the Study: Integrating knowledge on host–pathogen protein–protein interactions and on insect phylogeny would help to identify the actual range of vectors of phytoplasma strains of economic importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phylogeny of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) using anchored hybrid enrichment data is presented. Using this phylogenomic approach, we analysed 137 kb of sequence data (with < 10% missing) for 82 species in 50 genera of Chrysopidae under Bayesian and maximum likelihood criteria. We recovered a strongly supported tree topologically congruent with recently published phylogenies, especially relationships amongst higher‐level groups. The subfamily Nothochrysinae was recovered as paraphyletic, with one clade sister to the rest of Chrysopidae, and the second clade containing the nominal genus (Nothochrysa Navás) as sister to the subfamily Apochrysinae. Chrysopinae was recovered as a monophyletic with the monobasic Nothancylini tribe n. sister to the rest of the subfamily. Leucochrysini was recovered sister to Belonopterygini, and Chrysopini was rendered paraphyletic with respect to Ankylopterygini. Divergence times and diversification estimates indicate a major shift in rate in ancestral Chrysopini at the end of the Cretaceous, and the extensive radiation of Chrysopinae, the numerically dominant clade of green lacewings, began in the Mid‐Paleogene (c. 45 Ma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jumping plant lice (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) are known for a few deleterious pest species worldwide, yet the phylogeny of the group has been poorly understood until very recently. Here, we reconstruct the higher‐level phylogeny for the superfamily Psylloidea based on multilocus DNA sequences, three mitochondrial (COI‐tRNAleu‐COII, 12S, 16S) and five nuclear (18S, 28S D2, 28S D3, 28S D6–7a, 28S D9–10) gene fragments, using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference phylogenetic frameworks. Our results are largely congruent with the recent phylogenomic study and partly support prior classification of Psylloidea based mainly on morphology, with the following major exceptions: the family Calophyidae is revealed as polyphyletic, Aphalaridae as paraphyletic with respect to most other taxa of Psylloidea, and Liviidae as paraphyletic with respect to Calophyinae, Psyllidae and Triozidae. Our phylogenetic hypothesis identifies Phacopteronidae and the genus Cecidopsylla Kieffer as the very basal taxa within extant Psylloidea. Sister‐group relationships of Rhinocolinae with Togepsyllinae and of Pachypsyllinae with Homotomidae are also suggested. We present specific discussions for each group of interest recovered in our phylogenetic analysis. One nomenclatorial change is proposed: Spanioneura longicauda (Konovalova) comb.n., from Psylla Geoffroy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Old World tribe Syntomini is the most neglected of the three major groups of the subfamily Arctiinae – the most megadiverse lineage (c. 11 000 species) of the superfamily Noctuoidea, comprising about a quarter of its entire species diversity. In none of the previous morphogenetic studies was Syntomini (which are often conspicuously spotted, aposematic moths) sampled adequately enough to provide information about the tribe's systematic diversity and relationships above species level. As such data are of crucial importance for a comprehensive understanding of arctiine diversity and evolution, we have investigated the relationships of the major lineages of Syntomini based on up to eight mitochondrial and nuclear genes and 91 species, representing 39 genera. We cover most of the known genera and major geographic regions, including, for the first time, Madagascar, where there is a significant syntomine radiation. We find that the thyretines, in particular, which are restricted to the Afrotropical region, are paraphyletic. As a result we propose to treat Thyretina syn.n. (Thyretini sensu Przybyłowicz, 2009) as an artificial assemblage and synonymize it under Syntomini. Thyretes Boisduval and Pseudothyretes Dufrane stand on their own close to the Madagascan radiation, whereas all but one of the Madagascan syntomines comprise a monophylum, with the genus Fletcherinia Griveaud instead being related to at least one species of Ceryx Wallengren in Africa. Also surprising from a biogeographical point of view is that the genus Dysauxes Hübner, which includes the European Handmaiden moth, is nested within the Madagascan radiation. Our study also makes it clear that much more detailed studies are needed to revise not only Ceryx from Asia and Africa but the Afrotropical syntomine genera, many of which do not form clades in our phylogenetic reconstruction, and to further inventory the diversity that is present in the Afrotropics. Based on our results, we consider Thyretarctia Strand stat. rev.,Daphaenisca Kiriakoff stat.n. and Callobalacra Kiriakoff stat.n. as valid genera. We also move Anapisa Kiriakoff and return Meganaclia Aurivillius and Nacliodes Strand to Syntomini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five finely preserved termites from the mid‐Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber of Myanmar provide new information allowing a reanalysis of the phylogeny of basal termites. The Mastotermitidae family is recovered as monophyletic, and a redefined Hodotermitidae sensu lato is also monophyletic to include Archotermopsidae, Hodotermitidae and Stolotermitidae. Such a phylogenetic relationship agrees with the results from previous molecular phylogeny. Alongside these findings, there are many taxa that can only be shown to be termites with no other phylogenetically informative data. These form a comb of 'grade groups' emerging in the Late Jurassic. The new amber specimens are described as two new species. Anisotermes xiaigen. et sp.n. is described from multiple castes and has symplesiomorphic characteristics: large body size, a broad pronotum, well‐developed reticulated veins, and a large anal lobe of the hindwings. It shares wing features with the other new species, Mastotermes monostichussp.n. Both new taxa are assigned to the Mastotermitidae, as they are shown to have synapomorphies that unite the family. This published work has been registered on ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1AD5CECA‐27B7‐48D5‐88DC‐CEC5150962D7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a time‐calibrated phylogeny of the charismatic green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Previous phylogenetic studies on the family using DNA sequences have suffered from sparse taxon sampling and/or limited amounts of data. Here we combine all available previously published DNA sequence data and add to it new DNA sequences generated for this study. We analysed these data in a supermatrix using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods and provide a phylogenetic hypothesis for the family that recovers strong support for the monophyly of all subfamilies and resolves relationships among a large proportion of chrysopine genera. Chrysopinae tribes Leucochrysini and Belonopterygini were recovered as monophyletic sister clades, while the species‐rich tribe Chrysopini was rendered paraphyletic by Ankylopterygini. Relationships among the subfamilies were resolved, although with relatively low statistical support, and the topology varied based on the method of analysis. Greatest support was found for Apochrysinae as sister to Nothochrysinae and Chrysopinae, which is in contrast to traditional concepts that place Nothochrysinae as sister to the rest of the family. Divergence estimates suggest that the stem groups to the various subfamilies diverged during the Triassic‐Jurassic, and that stem groups of the chrysopine tribes diverged during the Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Bombycidae (sensu Minet, 1994) is a diverse group of species belonging to the superfamily Bombycoidea. It is an economically important group of moth species, containing well‐known silk‐producing insects, as well as many pests of agriculture and forestry. The morphology‐based hypothesis of Minet (1994) on the composition of Bombycidae is in conflict with subsequent phylogenetic hypotheses for the superfamily based on nuclear genes. In this paper, the complete mitochondrial genomes of nine species of Bombycidae are presented for the first time. Based on these genomes, four dataset partitions and three gblocks parameter settings, phylogenetic relationships among Bombycidae were reconstructed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. Bombycidae was confirmed as a polyphyletic group, with the traditional subfamilies Prismostictinae and Oberthueriinae forming a single well‐supported clade that is distant to Bombycinae. The phylogenetic relationships within Bombycoidea were supported as ((((Bombycinae, Sphingidae), Saturniidae), (Prismostictinae, Oberthueriinae)), Eupterotidae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different components of biological diversity of larval Chironomidae, typically the most abundant and the most diverse of all lotic zoo-benthos, were assessed to determine their suitability in prediction of the environmental quality. Animals were collected as 73 samples at 62 riverine sites on the territory of Poland and identified morphologically. The analysis of nonlinear regression was used to compare the suitability of the seven indices of diversity. Traditional indices of taxonomic diversity (taxonomic richness, Margalef and Shannon indices) and indices of taxonomic distinctness were found to be unsuitable for this purpose because of the unimodal type of response of their values along with the gradient of the environmental quality. Contrary to them, values of two measures of phylogenetic diversity monotonically increased along with the values of environmental quality measured by official index MMI (Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index) and were considered highly useful. The best fitted functions estimating relationships between MMI and both indices of phylogenetic diversity (total phylogenetic distance and quadratic entropy) were statistically highly significant and have high values of the fit-accuracy parameters. Original index of phylogenetic diversity ChiPDi based on total phylogenetic diversity, quadratic entropy and taxonomic richness has been presented as well as the proposal of related procedure using barcoding methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is one of the major invasive insect pests on solanaceous crops. T. absoluta distribution is observed in European, North African Mediterranean basin and Asian countries. The tomato leaf miner is spreading fast and affecting tomato production in both closed and open-field conditions. This insect pest has recently reported in various tomato growing regions of India and causing significant loss of production. In the present study, occurrence of a tomato leaf miner was studied by undertaking an extensive survey in tomato growing regions of India during September 2017 to May 2018. The infestation of T. absoluta was recorded in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Severe incidence of T. absoluta infestation was recorded in Maharashtra (Nashik district) and Telangana (Mahabubnagar district) followed by Karnataka (Kalaburgi and Raichur districts). The moths collected during the survey were characterized using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene analysis. The T. absoluta samples showed maximum genetic similarity with KU565720 Kenya, KT452897 Oman, KY212128 South Africa, KY619687 India, KP814057 India and KJ657679 Florida. Nine T. absoluta populations were grouped under a single clade revealing no genetic variation within populations and showed high genetic homogeneity thereby the ideal candidate for sterile insect technique application. Further studies are required on population dynamics, host range, local and area-wide biological control management strategies for the effective management of T. absoluta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • We sequence 11 nuclear loci from 110 ant species to address rooting of the ant tree. • Among-taxon compositional heterogeneity can bias phylogenetic inference in ants. • The Martialinae plus Leptanillinae clade is likely sister to all other extant ants. • Fossilized birth-death process dating suggests a Lower Cretaceous origin of ants. Abstract Knowledge of the internal phylogeny and evolutionary history of ants (Formicidae), the world's most species-rich clade of eusocial organisms, has dramatically improved since the advent of molecular phylogenetics. A number of relationships at the subfamily level, however, remain uncertain. Key unresolved issues include placement of the root of the ant tree of life and the relationships among the so-called poneroid subfamilies. Here we assemble a new data set to attempt a resolution of these two problems and carry out divergence dating, focusing on the age of the root node of crown Formicidae. For the phylogenetic analyses we included data from 110 ant species, including the key species Martialis heureka. We focused taxon sampling on non-formicoid lineages of ants to gain insight about deep nodes in the ant phylogeny. For divergence dating we retained a subset of 62 extant taxa and 42 fossils in order to approximate diversified sampling in the context of the fossilized birth-death process. We sequenced 11 nuclear gene fragments for a total of ∼ 7.5 kb and investigated the DNA sequence data for the presence of among-taxon compositional heterogeneity, a property known to mislead phylogenetic inference, and for its potential to affect the rooting of the ant phylogeny. We found sequences of the Leptanillinae and several outgroup taxa to be rich in adenine and thymine (51% average AT content) compared to the remaining ants (45% average). To investigate whether this heterogeneity could bias phylogenetic inference we performed outgroup removal experiments, analysis of compositionally homogeneous sites, and a simulation study. We found that compositional heterogeneity indeed appears to affect the placement of the root of the ant tree but has limited impact on more recent nodes. Our findings have implications for outgroup choice in phylogenetics, which should be made not only on the basis of close relationship to the ingroup, but should also take into account sequence divergence and other properties relative to the ingroup. We put forward a hypothesis regarding the rooting of the ant phylogeny, in which Martialis and the Leptanillinae together constitute a clade that is sister to all other ants. After correcting for compositional heterogeneity this emerges as the best-supported hypothesis of relationships at deep nodes in the ant tree. The results of our divergence dating under the fossilized birth-death process and diversified sampling suggest that the crown Formicidae originated during the Albian or Aptian ages of the Lower Cretaceous (103–124 Ma). In addition, we found support for monophyletic poneroids comprising the subfamilies Agroecomyrmecinae, Amblyoponinae, Apomyrminae, Paraponerinae, Ponerinae, and Proceratiinae, and well-supported relationships among these subfamilies except for the placement of Proceratiinae and (Amblyoponinae + Apomyrminae). Our phylogeny also highlights the non-monophyly of several ant genera, including Protanilla and Leptanilla in the Leptanillinae, Proceratium in the Proceratiinae, and Cryptopone , Euponera , and Mesoponera within the Ponerinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe two new species and report new occurrences for six species of eriophyid mites (Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) in Crimea: Abacarus denticulifern. sp. from Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. (Poaceae), Aceria aculiformisSukhareva 1986 from Melica ciliata L. (Poaceae), Aceria peucedani (Canestrini 1891) from Seseli tortuosum L. (Apiaceae), Anthocoptes recki (Bagdasarian 1972) n. comb. (from Tegonotus) from Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) (Anacardiaceae), Epitrimerus inulaeFarkas 1963 from Inula germanica L. (Asteraceae), Phyllocoptes sanctusn. sp. from Potentilla recta subsp. obscura (Willd.) (Rosaceae), Phyllocoptes bilobospinosus Chetverikov 2019 (in Chetverikov et al. 2019) from Tamarix spp. (Tamaricaceae), Tegoprionus dentatus (Nalepa 1891) from Galium verum L. (Rubiaceae). For an Indian phyllocoptine mite species associated with Apluda mutica L. (Poaceae), a new combination was proposed: Abacarus muticus (Sur & Chakrabarti 2017) n. comb. (from Mesalox). Mitochondrial COI and D2 28S rDNA sequences of three phyllocoptine species from Crimea were obtained: A. denticulifern. sp. (GenBank accession numbers MK415989 and MK408623), P. bilobospinosus (MK408624), and P. sanctusn. sp. (MK415988 and MK408622). Comparison of all COI and D2 28S sequences of Eriophyoidea from GenBank showed that sequences JF920111 and JF920110 Aceria tulipae are identical to JF920101 Aceria tosichella, and D2 28S sequence KP297379 Tegolophus sp. is identical to KM111079 Shevtchenkella sp., which indicates either one or more misidentifications or sample contamination. Molecular phylogenetic analyses (a) confirmed the morphology-based assignment of A. denticulifern. sp. to the Abacarus hystrix s.l. species complex, (b) supported the monophyly of Abacarus hystrix s.l., (c) revealed that the genera Phyllocoptes, Epitrimerus, and Calepitrimerus are paraphyletic, and (d) indicated that Phyllocoptini (including P. sanctusn. sp.), which are associated with Rosaceae and Caprifoliaceae, are monophyletic. The position of P. bilobospinosus was uncertain in all analyses. Based on the results of our study, it is recommended that descriptions of new species in large, putatively paraphyletic genera of Eriophyoidea include comparisons with mite species associated with the same plant family. Our work also provides new evidence that a species in a large complex of cryptic species could have evolved a distinct morphology if it is associated with an endemic plant host restricted to a geographically isolated area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new tick species of the genus Ornithodoros (Acari: Argasidae) was described from larvae collected on the toad Rhinella arenarum in a locality from Argentina belonging to the Monte Biogeographic Province. Ornithodoros montensis n. sp. was described based on morphological traits and sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. The diagnostic characters for this species are a combination of idiosoma oval, dorsal plate pyriform with posterior margin slightly concave, dorsal surface with 17 pairs of setae (7 anterolateral, 4 to 5 central and 5 to 6 posterolateral), ventral surface with 6 pairs of setae and 1 pair on anal valves, three pairs of sternal setae, postcoxal setae absent, and hypostome pointed apically with dental formula 3/3 in the anterior half and 2/2 posteriorly almost to base. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences and a principal component analysis based on morphometric characters provided additional support to the description of O. montensis as an independent lineage within the genus Ornithodoros. Larvae of O. montensis are phylogenetically closely related to O. puertoricensis, O. rioplatensis, O. talaje s.s., O. guaporensis, O. hasei and O. atacamensis, all of them belonging to the "O. talaje group". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In insects, olfaction plays a critical role in locating hosts, recognizing mates, and selecting oviposition sites. The Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky) feeds on 43 species of trees in 15 families, but its chemosensory mechanisms are poorly understood. Herein, genes encoding 61 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) were identified from the published genome and our previous A. glabripennis transcriptomic data. To investigate their physiological functions, we performed expression profiling of all Agla OBPs in the antennae, legs, and maxillary palps of both sexes. Phylogenetic analysis clustered A. glabripennis OBPs into four subgroups, comprising 29 Minus-C OBPs, 15 Antennae-binding proteins (ABPIIs), 10 Classic OBPs, and one Plus-C OBP. 12 Agla OBP genes were expressed specifically in antennae, and Agla OBP3, Agla OBP18, Agla OBP21, Agla OBP33, Agla OBP41, Agla OBP45, and Agla OBP47 were particularly highly expressed in male antennae. These proteins may function in the detection of female sex pheromones. Agla OBP23 and Agla OBP44 were preferentially expressed in maxillary palps. Expression profiling suggests that many OBPs may be involved in olfaction and gustation, in addition to carrying hydrophobic molecules. The Agla OBPs family has acquired functional diversity concurrently with functional constraints, and further investigation could provide insight into the roles of OBPs in chemoreception. Highlights • glabripennis OPBs were identified and revised from the genome and previous transcriptomic data. • Phylogenetic analysis clustered A. glabripennis OBPs into four subgroups. • Expression profiling revealed numerous antennae-specific OBPs, especially in males. • OBPs may function in olfaction and gustation, besides carrying hydrophobic molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Muscidae, commonly known as house flies and their close relatives, is one of the dipteran insects of recognized medical, veterinary, and ecological importance. Mitochondrial genomes (Mitogenomes) have been widely used for exploring phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic diagnosis due to the difficulty in distinguishing them morphologically. In this study, our complete mitogenomes of muscid flies were sequenced and aligned, which ranged from 15,117 bp (Synthesiomyia nudiseta) to 16,089 bp (Musca sorbens) in length, and contained a typical circular molecule comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and a non-coding control region. The order and orientation of genes were identical with that from the ancestral insects. The phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial genes indicated that the subfamily relationships within Muscidae were reconstructed as (Mydaeinae (Muscinae (Reinwardtiinae + Azeliinae))). Similar tree topologies were recovered from both Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) analysis. Furthermore, we compared the phylogenetic analyses that were constructed using internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), elongation factor-1α (EF-1α), 13 PCGs and 13 PCGs + ITS2 + EF-1α , respectively. Combined analysis of nuclear gene partitions improved support and resolution for resulting topologies but the positions of branches were obviously inconsistent due to limited species. More mitogenomes should be sequenced representing various taxonomic levels, especially close related species, which will enhance our understanding of phylogenetic relationships among muscids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Andrena is a large bee genus of >1500 species, which includes many important pollinators of agricultural systems. In this study, we present three mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of Andrena species, which are the pollinators of Camellia oleifera. Compared with putative ancestral gene arrangement of insects, the three mitogenomes present identical gene rearrangement events, including local inversion (trnR) and gene shuffling (trnQ / trnM , trnK / trnD , and trnW / trnC - trnY). Most PCGs initiate with standard ATN codon and share the stop codon of TAA or TAG, whereas truncated stop codon T was detected in the atp6 gene of A. chekiangensis. Furthermore, the nad4 gene end with a single T in all three Andrena species. All tRNAs could be folded into clover-leaf secondary structure except for trnS1 , with the dihydrouracil (DHU) arm forming a simple loop. Phylogenetic analysis is performed on 17 Andrena mitogenomes. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods generate identical topology, in which A. hunanensis and A. striata form a group and are close to A. camellia. Although A. chekiangensis is also difficult to be distinguished from A. camellia by morphological methods, A. chekiangensis and A. haemorrhoa form a clade and are grouped with the other taxa of the genus Andrena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphipyrinae have long been a catchall taxon for Noctuidae, with most members lacking discernible morphological synapomorphies that would allow their assignment to one of the many readily diagnosable noctuid subfamilies. Here data from seven gene regions (> 5500 bp) for more than 120 noctuid genera are used to infer a phylogeny for Amphipyrinae and related subfamilies. Sequence data for 57 amphipyrine genera – most represented by the type species of the genus – are examined. We present here the first large‐scale molecular phylogenetic study of Amphipyrinae and the largest molecular phylogeny of Noctuidae to date; several proposed nomenclatural changes for well‐supported results; and the identification of areas of noctuid phylogeny where greater taxon sampling and/or genomic‐scale data are needed. Adult and larval morphology, along with life‐history traits, for taxonomic groupings most relevant to the results are discussed. Amphipyrinae are significantly redefined; many former amphipyrines, excluded as a result of these analyses, are reassigned to other noctuid subfamily‐level taxa. Four genera, Chamaeclea Grote, Heminocloa Barnes & Benjamin, Hemioslaria Barnes & Benjamin and Thurberiphaga Dyar, are transferred to the tribe Chamaecleini Keegan & Wagner tribe n. in Acontiinae. Stiriina is elevated to Stiriinae rev. stat., Grotellina is elevated to Grotellinae rev. stat. and Annaphilina is elevated to Annaphilini rev. stat.Acopa Harvey is transferred to Bryophilinae, Aleptina Dyar is transferred to Condicinae, Leucocnemis Hampson and Oxycnemis gracillinea (Grote) are transferred to Oncocnemidinae, Nacopa Barnes & Benjamin is transferred to Noctuinae and Narthecophora Smith is transferred to Stiriinae. Azenia Grote (and its subtribe Azeniina), Cropia Walker, Metaponpneumata Möschler, Sexserrata Barnes & Benjamin and Tristyla Smith are transferred to Noctuidae incertae sedis. Hemigrotella Barnes & McDunnough (formerly in subtribe Grotellina) is retained in Amphipyrinae. Argentostiria Poole and Bistica Dyar are retained in Stiriini but removed from incertae sedis position. This published work has been registered on ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4A140782‐31BA‐445A‐B7BA‐6EAB98ED43FA. Fifty‐seven genera from Amphipyrinae are sequenced and found to belong in ten separate subfamily‐level taxa, including one entity that might represent an unrecognized subfamily (for Cropia).Stiriinae is elevated to full subfamily status, as is Grotellinae, and a new tribe (Chamaecleini) in Acontiinae is described.Metoponiinae is greatly re‐evaluated, with the implication that Cydosiinae, a showy group of noctuids, being embedded in Metoponiinae, will need to be pulled back to a tribe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first phylogenomic analysis of the antlions is presented, based on 325 genes captured using anchored hybrid enrichment. A concatenated matrix including 207 species of Myrmeleontoidea (170 Myrmeleontidae) was analysed under maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Both Myrmeleontidae (antlions) and Ascalaphidae (owlflies) were recovered as paraphyletic with respect to each other. The majority of the subfamilies traditionally assigned to both Myrmeleontidae and Ascalaphidae were also recovered as paraphyletic. By contrast, all traditional antlion tribes were recovered as monophyletic (except Brachynemurini), but most subtribes were found to be paraphyletic. When compared with the traditional classification of Myrmeleontidae, our results do not support the current taxonomy. Therefore, based on our phylogenomic results, we propose a new classification for the antlions, which synonymizes Ascalaphidae with Myrmeleontidae and divides the family into four subfamilies (Ascalaphinae, Myrmeleontinae, Dendroleontinae and Nemoleontinae) and 17 tribes. We also highlight the most pressing issues in antlion systematics and indicate taxa that need further taxonomic and phylogenetic attention. Finally, we present a comprehensive table placing all extant genera of antlions and owlflies in our new proposed classification, including details on the number of species, distribution and notes on the likely monophyly of each genus. A new phylogenomic framework is provided for the family Myrmeleontidae. Comprehensive sampling (207 species across all Myrmeleontoidea families) and genomic data (325 genes captured using anchored hybrid enrichment) were analysed under maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference.Both Myrmeleontidae (antlions) and Ascalaphidae (owlflies) were recovered as paraphyletic with respect to each other. The majority of the subfamilies traditionally assigned to both Myrmeleontidae and Ascalaphidae were also recovered as paraphyletic.A new classification for Myrmeleontidae is proposed based on our results, which includes the synonymization of Ascalaphidae under Myrmeleontidae [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae is among the most diverse groups of organisms, with conservative estimates suggesting that it contains more species than all vertebrates together. However, ichneumonids are also among the most severely understudied groups, and our understanding of their evolution is hampered by the lack of a robust higher‐level phylogeny of this group. Based on newly generated transcriptome sequence data, which were filtered according to several criteria of phylogenetic informativeness, we developed target DNA enrichment baits to capture 93 genes across species of Ichneumonidae. The baits were applied to DNA of 55 ichneumonids, with a focus on Pimpliformes, an informal group containing nine subfamilies. Phylogenetic trees were inferred under maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches, at both the nucleotide and amino acid levels. We found maximum support for the monophyly of Pimpliformes but low resolution and very short branches close to its base, strongly suggesting a rapid radiation. Two genera and one genus‐group were consistently recovered in unexpected parts of the tree, prompting changes in their higher‐level classification: Pseudorhyssa Merrill, currently classified in the subfamily Poemeniinae, is transferred to the tribe Delomeristini within Pimplinae, and Hemiphanes Förster is moved from Orthocentrinae to Cryptinae. Likewise, the tribe Theroniini is resurrected for the Theronia group of genera (stat. rev.). Phylogenetic analyses, in which we gradually increased the numbers of genes, revealed that the initially steep increase in mean clade support slows down at around 40 genes, and consideration of up to 93 genes still left various nodes in the inferred phylogenetic tree poorly resolved. It remains to be shown whether more extensive gene or taxon sampling can resolve the early evolution of the pimpliform subfamilies. Based on newly generated transcriptome data for several ichneumonid taxa, we developed DNA enrichment baits to capture 93 genes across species of pimpliform parasitoid wasps.Assessments of phylogenetic informativeness of the different genes and in‐depth phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that Pimpliformes underwent a very rapid radiation – perhaps the most rapid one demonstrated to date in parasitoids.Our results have implications for subfamily classification, especially for the genera Hemiphanes and Pseudorhyssa, and for the Theronia genus‐group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many insect species named by the Danish entomologist J.C. Fabricius remain enigmatic due to loss of the original type specimens, sketchy descriptions and lack of illustrations, but even some well‐illustrated taxa remain unrecognized. This is the case for Hesperia busiris, a 'butterfly' illustrated by W.J. Jones, the identity of which has puzzled experts for 225 years. Here we argue that the description and illustrations of this species are a perfect fit to a colourful moth later described by F. Walker as Eusemia contigua. Furthermore, we present evidence that Walker unwittingly based his name on the same specimen as Fabricius, and that this is the only known example of this species. An extraordinary sequence of misconceptions led the geographic origin of this specimen to become thoroughly confused, so that it is currently unknown where on Earth this species may occur (although a substantial body of evidence points to West Africa) and if it is even still extant. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3D148142‐C738‐4368‐9CA8‐69789A6D3E6A. Fabricius described in 1793 a 'butterfly', Hesperia busiris, of which only paintings done by Jones around 1787 exist.Alternatively considered to be an Asiatic or an American member of family Hesperiidae, we discovered that it corresponds to Heraclia contigua, an agaristine noctuid moth known only after one specimen.Ownership history and features of this specimen show that it is the same as the original of H. busiris and that this species is most likely West African, and is possibly extinct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neotropical tribe Dorynotini is characterized by a conspicuous tubercle or spine adorning the elytra, which, along with a few other characters, has been used to differentiate its recognized five genera and two subgenera. However, relationships among these taxa and the evolutionary origin of the pronounced tubercle remain speculative. Here we present the first total-evidence phylogenetic reconstruction of Dorynotini to investigate the homology and evolution of the elytral tubercle. Our analyses are based on 89 discrete morphological characters and DNA sequence data from three gene regions. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony. Our analyses support the respective monophyly of Dorynotini and its genera and subgenera, except the paraphyletic Dorynota s.s. Species endemic to the Greater Antilles form a clade with three distinct morphotypes. Omoteina aculeata (Boheman, 1854) nov. comb. is transferred from the genus Dorynota, and Paratrikona Spaeth, 1923 nov. syn. is found to be congeneric with Omoteina Chevrolat, 1836. The spiniform projection is found to be plesiomorphic within Dorynotini and convergently reduced/lost in different lineages of the tribe. Some morphological characters defining dorynotine taxa are homoplastic, requiring re-evaluation guided by molecular analyses for more accurate classification and an improved understanding of taxon evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assassin bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Reduviidae) have diverse and complex morphological and behavioral adaptations for prey capture. Several of these morphological adaptations occur on the proleg. The prolegs of Emesinae are typically raptorial and they are used for grooming, grasping and hunting prey. Several morphological characters that define Emesinae as a group are found on the proleg, such as the anterior opening of the acetabula, the elongation of the procoxa, and the lateral (campaniform) sensilla on the protibia. Metapterini comprises 28 genera and approximately 280 described species, and are characterized by a conspicuous basal process of the anteroventral series of the profemur, and highly modified pretarsal structures. In this study, structures of the proleg are documented for 13 genera of Metapterini, using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Detailed descriptions and digital macrophotographs are provided for most of the genera for the first time, and from this morphological documentation 38 phylogenetic characters are coded, presented as a data matrix, and analyzed cladistically, and their potential usefulness for resolving relationships among Metapterini is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biogeography of colletid bees as a whole can be explained by several South American‐Australian trans‐Antarctic interchanges. Within Colletidae, neopasiphaeine bees form a large group that has not been adequately studied, even though they are interesting both from the biogeographical viewpoint for fitting well the austral Gondwanan track and for their associations to host plants. The present paper integrates phylogenetic, biogeographic and paleontological data to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Neopasiphaeinae, with special emphasis on the New World taxa, relating the evolution of these bees to changes, such as the Andes uplift and expansion of open vegetation biomes. First, we propose a phylogenetic hypothesis for the Neopasiphaeinae using one mitochondrial and five nuclear loci. Phylogenetic relationships and divergence time estimation were simultaneously inferred in a Bayesian framework, and the tempo of neopasiphaeine diversification was investigated using lineage‐through‐time plots. The historical biogeography of neopasiphaeine bees was investigated in a likelihood framework. The clade represented by Neopasiphaeinae is strongly supported within Colletidae, and the bulk of their genera can be divided into two major sister‐clades that diverged during the Eocene: one endemic to the Australian region and the other to the Neotropical region. Divergence times among most neotropical genera of Neopasiphaeinae indicate that they differentiated and started their diversification during the Miocene. Our results depict a complex process of geographic evolution in the Neotropical clade, which probably relates to important changes in the neotropical climates and biota beginning at the Oligocene and became more marked in the Miocene. We present a scenario of the neotropical Neopasiphaeinae initially associated with areas of open vegetation in subtropical and temperate portions of South America, followed by multiple separations of lineages east and west of the Andes, and more recent occupations of habitats in tropical portions of the continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]