Erect Hairs Research Articles

A Miocene ant species of the genus Forelius Emery, 1888 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) from Mexico

The first fossil ant species of the New World genus Forelius (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) is described. The type material is a Miocene amber inclusion from the Montecristo mine near Simojovel, Chiapas, southwestern Mexico. The new species is named Forelius chenpauch sp. nov. It differs from its congeners by having a unique combination of characters: antennal scapes reaching the posterior margin of the head; pronotum with six erect hairs; mesonotum with four erect hairs; propodeum with four erect hairs; front and dorsum of head, dorsum of pronotum, dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum covered with a fine striation. Forelius chenpauch sp. nov. has a rounded spiracle, which could be considered a plesiomorphic character closely related to the Forelius group from the north of the Amazon basin. Accordingly, the current divergence estimates of Forelius as a single genus from the Leptomyrmex + Forelius + Dorymyrmex clade (ca. 27 Ma) and the occurrence of Forelius chenpauch sp. nov. in the fossil record (ca. 23 Ma), may suggest that the rounded spiracle is a plesiomorphic state probably widespread since the Miocene from southern Mexico to northern South America.

A new species of mantis (Insecta: Mantodea: Amelidae) from the Miocene Amber-Lagerstätte in Mexico

ABSTRACT A fossil species of mantis Litaneutria pilosuspedes sp. nov. (Mantodea: Amelidae) is described and illustrated from the Miocene of Mexico. The type material comprises two amber inclusions from the Estrella de Belén and Simojovel sites in Chiapas, Mexico. It differs from other mantises of the genus Litaneutria Saussure, 1892 (Amelidae: Amelinae) by the unique combination of the following characters: vertex convex; forefemur widened in proximal third with anteroventral spines equal length or decreasing in length distally, and four posteroventral spines; fore tibia with seven to nine posteroventral spines; supracoxal dilatation markedly expanded laterally at first third of pronotum, lateral margins of pronotum smooth; fore tarsomere, middle legs, hindlegs, and cerci with long erect hairs. Litaneutria pilosuspedes sp. nov. is a Miocene tropical record that extends the distribution of the genus Litaneutria to the southernmost part of North America. Zoobank LSID:urna:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5F318789-5032-4153-8F6B-B7B1C5F188C9

Massonia elandsmontana (Hyacinthaceae: Scilloideae), a new species from the Swartland of Western Cape, South Africa

Massonia elandsmontana is described for a population of plants from Elandsberg Nature Reserve at the western foot of the Elandskloof Mountains near Hermon in the Swartland of Western Cape, South Africa. The hypocrateriform white flowers with tepals lacking sigmoid basal coiling, unequal filaments with dark anthers, and small capsules, are shared with a small group of species from the West Coast and adjacent interior of Western Cape. The new species is distinguished from these and others by its foliage, the adaxial surface pubescent with soft erect hairs, 0.5–1.0 mm long and the margins densely ciliolate with minute bristles. It is one of several geophytic taxa endemic to Swartland Alluvial Fynbos vegetation on Elandsberg Nature Reserve.

Buestanmyia chiriboga gen. nov. et sp. nov. (Diptera: Tabanidae: Diachlorini) from the Ecuadorian Andes.

Buestanmyia gen. nov., is described from Pichincha Province, Ecuador with one included species, with B. chiriboga sp. nov. It is characterized by very short and scarce ommatrichia, frons wide and slightly divergent below, basal callus subquadrate with median dorsal projection reaching half the height of the frons, ocellar triangle and ocelli absent, scape 3.5x the length of the pedicel, scape and pedicel with strong and erect hairs, proboscis less than the length of the head, basicosta bare, wings slightly smoky, with clouds on the cells costal and subcostal, vein R4 with a short appendix; cell cup with short appendix.

A new species of the genus Carebara Westwood, 1840 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmecinae) inhabits a cave in Thailand

A new species Carebara panhai Jaitrong, Pitaktunsakul et Jantarit, sp. n., closely related to C. pygmaea (Emery, 1887), is described from Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand based on the worker caste. The new species is easily distinguished from the closely related species (C. rubra (F. Smith, 1860), C. transversalis (F. Smith, 1860) and C. pygmaea) by the presence of erect hairs on the dorsum of body. New species was found nesting in the twilight zone of a cave. The major and minor workers of C. pygmaea are described and illustrated also.

How honey bees dip nectar: Dynamic spacing of tongue hairs facilitates to collect nectar of various viscosities

A honey bee can dip nectar of viscosity across two orders of magnitude, by viscous lapping technique using a segmental tongue covered with erectable hairs. The drinking technique suffers risks of leakage occurring between tongue hairs, and the amount of leakage is related to hair spacing as well as nectar viscosity. When lapping, tongue segments are elongated, which enlarges the hair spacing in longitudinal direction. Experimental observations show that the hair spacing of tongue increases with respect to sucrose solution concentration until it reaches the maximum extension when sucrose solution concentration is above 35%. Considering leakage occurring in the hairy tongue, we hypothesize that the dynamical extension of hair spacing may help honey bees minimize the effects of leakage to reach maximal nectar intake rate. A mathematical model is developed for determining the optimal hair spacing that can meet the demands of both augmenting the nectar intake rate and reducing the risk of leakage. Theoretical prediction and experimental measurements demonstrate honey bees are able to adjust the tongue to meet the optimal hair spacing when dipping nectar of concentration more dilute than 35% and maintain a maximum extension to improve the nectar intake rate when concentration is greater than 35%. We then give the prediction of concentration preferences of three bee species, and discuss effects of dipping frequency and gravity on the leakiness between tongue hairs. This work may not only gain insights into adaptive feeding strategy in insects, but inspire the design of adaptive microfluidic transport devices with dynamic brushy surfaces.

New Species of Malachite Beetles (Coleoptera, Dasytidae) in Baltic Amber

Four new species of malachite beetles (Coleoptera, Dasytidae) are described from Late Eocene Baltic amber, namely two species of the genus Aplocnemus Stephens, 1830 and a species of the genus Aploceble Majer, 1998, both from the tribe Aplocnemini Majer, 1987 of the subfamily Rhadalinae Leconte, 1862, and a species of the genus Dasytes Paykull, 1799 from the tribe Dasytini Leech, 1817 and subfamily Dasytinae Laporte de Castelnau, 1840. The new species Aplocnemus (Aplocnemus) hoffeinsorum sp. nov. is characterized by flabellate antennae and yellowish-brown legs. The new species resembles the Central Pyrenean endemic species A. (A.) temperei Constantin, 2007 in a suite of characters, but can easily be distinguished by its flabellate antennae, larger body size, coarse puncturation of the surface and elytra slightly widened posteriorly. Aplocnemus (Ischnopalpus) baltiensis sp. nov. differs in the triangular serrate middle antennomeres, wide triangular last palpomere, and surface with strong, dense puncturation, covered with long black erect hairs. Aploceble (Aploceble) lateantennata sp. nov. has dark-brown legs, which allow comparison with A. (A.) fuscipes Majer, 2008, which has light-brown legs, but the new species differs in the wide triangular middle antennomeres, which from the 4th to the 10th are wider than long, as well as in the coarse sparse puncturation of the dorsal surface. Characters to distinguish the new species from its congeners are given in the key to Aploceble species. The new species Dasytes (Mesodasytes) ochraceus sp. nov. can easily be recognized from its congeners by the yellow-brown coloration of the body with narrow black stripes on the apical antennomeres, the inner margins of the femora and the apices of the tarsomeres. In outward appearance it is similar to Dasytes (Mesodasytes) croceipes Kiesenwetter, 1866 which has the legs partly yellow-orange, but differs in the elongate 3rd antennomere, the distinct carina above the epipleura, and the lateral margins of the pronotum depressed posteriorly.

Do Holarctic ant species exist? Trans‐Beringian dispersal and homoplasy in the Formicidae

AbstractAimContinents harbour unique faunas, and only a small percentage of species naturally inhabit more than a single continent. This pattern is most evident in the insects, a morphologically small and extremely diverse group. Nevertheless, 12 species of ants have traditionally been recognized as native to both North America and Eurasia, the Holarctic region. Since intercontinental dispersal is presumably rare in ants, allopatric speciation in the absence of gene flow can be expected over evolutionary time. Here, we reassess the existence of Holarctic ant species and reconstruct their biogeographical history.LocationThe Holarctic.TaxonAll known ant species with purportedly Holarctic distributions.MethodsWe reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships, biogeographical history and reassessed the taxonomic status of all known ants with Holarctic distributions using genetic data based on one mitochondrial and three nuclear genes and an ancestral area reconstruction of 310 specimens and 73 species (the 12 Holarctic species plus outgroup taxa).ResultsContrary to the currently accepted hypothesis, only three ant species have Holarctic native ranges, while six taxa separate into distinct Palearctic and Nearctic species. Four species are shown to be recent introductions from Europe to North America by human activity, one of which was thought to be native. Genetic diversity is considerably higher within the North American than within European species as currently defined.Main conclusionsThe Formicidae have repeatedly dispersed through Beringia, during and after land bridge formation, and in both directions between the Palearctic and Nearctic regions. However, only three cold‐tolerant species crossed the Bering Strait in relatively recent time. Our results highlight the potential existence of many unknown Nearctic ant taxa. Reliance on an evolutionarily labile morphological character, erect hairs, seems to have obscured species delimitation in these ant taxa. Based on our investigation, the typical time for speciation in allopatry for ants is 2–5 Ma.

A Revision of thephalangiumSpecies Complex of the Ant GenusAphaenogaster(Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

ABSTRACT Discriminate analysis and canonical correlation analysis were used to separate the Aphaenogaster phalangium species complex into 5 species of tropical New World ants: A. araneoides Emery, A. brevicollis Forel, A. inermis Forel (=Aphaenogaster araneoides var. nitidiventris new synonymy), Aphaenogaster (Deromyrma) araneoides var. canalis new synonymy), A. mexicana (Pergande) and A. phalangium Emery. This complex is easily recognized as a long necked group of Aphaenogaster found primarily in tropical forests. Aphaenogaster araneoides, distributed from El Salvador to Panama, can be recognized by the relatively elongated neck, lack of erect hairs on the dorsum of the posterior femur, and in that the sculpture of the head is similar to that of the dorsum of the first tergum of the gaster. Aphaenogaster brevicollis, known only from northern Panama, is a robust, relatively large species with a short neck. Aphaenogaster inermis is a smaller species found from Nicaragua south into Colombia, with numerous s...

Novitates Bruneienses, 5. Polyalthia watui (Annonaceae), a new tree species from Brunei, Borneo

A new species, Polyalthia watui, is described. It resembles Polyalthia bullata King in having bullate leaves with a cordate base, but is distinguished by its flowers with shorter pedicels, longer sepals and petals, subsessile monocarps with long stiff erect hairs; and broad-obovate leaves with fewer pairs of secondary veins. The new species is only known from Brunei's Belait and Tutong districts and is very likely endemic to the Belait geosyncline that includes these areas.

Observations and temporal model of a honeybee's hairy tongue in microfluid transport

Nectarivorous insects are endowed with specific mouthparts, which provide an inspiration for the design of micropumps. We combined the postmortem examination and high-speed imaging to observe the kinematics of the honeybee's tongue. We found an asynchronization between the tongue movement and the glossa hair erection. We propose a physical model to describe the feeding process considering the trade-off between nectar-intake volume and energy consumption. This asynchronization is validated to be effective in maximizing the nectar-intake amount by theoretically figuring out the optimal moment when the glossal hairs began to erect. Our results reveal that the honeybee not only develops a subtle tongue with erectable glossal hairs but also preforms a highly evolved scheduled coordination between tongue movements and hair erection, which could serve as valuable models for developing miniature pumps that are both extendable and have dynamic surfaces.

Drag Reduction in the Mouthpart of a Honeybee Facilitated by Galea Ridges for Nectar-Dipping Strategy

Some nectarivorous animals have evolved highly specialized tongues to gather nectar from flowers. Here we show that the Italian honeybee, Apis mellifera ligustica, uses the uniformly-distributed ridges on the internal wall of the mouthpart to reduce drag while drinking nectar. We discovered that the tip of the tongue is covered with bushy setae and resembles a brush, and the ridges are parallel distributed on the inner wall of the galeae. Using high-speed camera, we recorded the morphology of the mouthpart when dipping the sucrose water. Considering the ridges and the movement rule of the glossa, we proposed a model for analyzing the mechanism of drag reduction. Theoretical estimation of the friction coefficient with respect to the dipping frequency indicates that the erectable bushy hairs and the ridges can significantly reduce friction when a honeybee drinks nectar. Results show that dimensions of the ridges play a key role in reducing friction. It can be concluded that the ridges on the galeae of honeybee's mouthpart can reduce the friction coefficient by 86% compared with the case of the transverse distribution coefficient S = 40. Finally, the capability of drag reduction in the mouthpart of honeybee may inspire a creative concept for designing efficient viscous micropumps.

Switchable Wettability of the Honeybee's Tongue Surface Regulated by Erectable Glossal Hairs.

Various nectarivorous animals apply bushy-hair-equipped tongues to lap nectar from nectaries of flowers. A typical example is provided by the Italian honeybee (Apis mellifera ligustica), who protracts and retracts its tongue (glossa) through a temporary tube, and actively controls the erectable glossal hairs to load nectar. We first examined the microstructure of the honeybee’s glossal surface, recorded the kinematics of its glossal hairs during nectar feeding process and observed the rhythmical hair erection pattern clearly. Then we measured the wettability of the glossal surface under different erection angles (EA) in sugar water of the mass concentration from 25 to 45%, mimicked by elongating the glossa specimens. The results show that the EA in retraction approximately remains stable under different nectar concentrations. In a specific concentration (35, 45, or 55%), the contact angle decreases and glossal surface area increases while the EA of glossal hairs rises, the glossa therefore could dynamically alter the glossal surface and wettability in foraging activities, not only reducing the energy consumption for impelling the nectar during tongue protraction, but also improving the nectar-trapping volume for feeding during glossa retraction. The dynamic glossal surface with switchable wettability regulated by erectable hairs may reveal the effective adaptation of the honeybee to nectar intake activities.

Inheritance of mature leaf properties in grapevine progeny obtained by crossing Muscat Hamburg and Villard Blanc cultivars

and inheritance mode of six properties of the mature leaf (size of blade, number of lobes, shape of teeth, general shape of petiole sinus, density of prostrate and erect hairs between veins on the lower side of blade) were analyzed in 90 seedlings of the F1 generation from the crossing combination of Muscat Hamburg x Villard Blanc. The properties analyzed were classified according to the OIV system of classification and ?2 test was used to determine the inheritance mode. A substantial variability of the analyzed characteristics was recorded in the hybrid progeny. Size of blade, number of lobes, shape of teeth and general shape of petiole sinus were most probably affected by a great number of genetic factors. Monogenic inheritance was determined with regard to the density of prostrate and erect hairs between veins on the lower side of blade.

Erection pattern and section-wise wettability of honeybee glossal hairs in nectar feeding.

The honeybee's tongue (glossa) is covered with bushy hairs and resembles a mop or a brush. We examined the dimensions of glossal hairs of the Italian honeybee (Apis mellifera ligustica) and found that the average length of hairs increased from the proximal segment to the distal end. The glossal dynamic surface of a honeybee in drinking cycles was captured by a specially designed high-speed camera system, and we discovered that the glossal hairs erected rhythmically when drinking nectar; specifically, hairs on the proximal segment erected earlier than those on the distal end of a honeybee's tongue, which was identified as the phenomenon of asynchronous hair erection. Moreover, by measuring the wettability of the tongue, we found that the flabellum was the most hydrophilic and the root of the tongue was hardest to be wetted. According to our observations, we suggest that the honeybee has an optimal hair-erection pattern that could balance nectar intake and viscous drag. These results will be helpful to understand the liquid-feeding mechanism of honeybees, especially the role of erectable glossal hairs.

НОВАЯ ТРИБА ХРУЩЕЙ ИЗ ВЬЕТНАМА (COLEOPTERA, SCARABAEIDAE, MELOLONTHINAE)

A new genus and two new species of Melolonthinae are described from Dalat Highlands of Vietnam at altitude 750-800 m. Together with the monotypic genus Pseudoisonychus Frey, 1971 it is separated in the new tribe Langbianellini. Diagnoses of the new taxa: Langbianellini trib. n.: Labrum horizontal, on the same plane with clypeus to forming labroclypeus; maxillae with a long pubescence reminiscent a “sucking brush” of Valgines; antennae 8- or 10-articulated, with small 3-jointed club; anterior margin of pronotum with membranous border; propygidium strongly enlarged and inflated, fused with 5th sternite; pygidium reduced; metacoxae narrow, legs gracile; metatibial spurs closely spaced, attached below metatarsus; claws symmetrical. Langbianella g. n.: Antennae 8-joined, 3rd joint of club somewhat reduced in size, with a slit-like stripe of microsensillae; anterior margin of labrum concave; pronotum broadest at base; elytrae with 10 striae, all reaching to apex; body with a specialized setosity; all claws splitting. L. auricomes sp. n.: simple punctures between the setigerous punctures of pronotum very fine and sparse, umbilicate punctures lacking setae present at the lateral thirds of the pronotal base only; punctate rows of elytra with simple hairs; basal two-thirds and apical part of the 1st elytral interspace with patches of very long bright erect hairs in several rows; elytrae, pygidium and propygidium without microsculpture; pygidium uniformly covered with setigerous punctures; scutellum with sparse and irregular small punctures; middle third of 5th abdominal sternite uniformly covered with umbilicate setigerous punctures; abdomen reddishbrown. L. pterolepis sp. n.: simple punctures between the setigerous punctures of pronotum dense and rough, umbilicate punctures lacking setae present at the posterior part of the pronotal disc and along the pronotal base; punctate rows of elytra together with an additional punctate row in each of the odd interspaces bearing the modified dorsally expanded setae; elytrae, pygidium and propygidium with rough shagreen-like microsculpture; pygidium with bald medial stripe; scutellum with sharp and confluent puncturation; middle third of 5th abdominal sternite with a single row of umbilicate setigerous punctures near its distal edge; abdomen black.

Effects of erectable glossal hairs on a honeybee's nectar-drinking strategy

With the use of a scanning electron microscope, we observe specific microstructures of the mouthpart of the Italian bee (Apis mellifera ligustica), especially the distribution and dimensions of hairs on its glossa. Considering the erection of glossal hairs for trapping nectar modifies the viscous dipping model in analyzing the drinking strategy of a honeybee. Theoretical estimations of volume intake rates with respect to sucrose solutions of different concentrations agree with experimental data, which indicates that erectable hairs can significantly increase the ability of a bee to acquire nectar efficiently. The comparison with experimental results also indicates that a honeybee may continuously augment its pumping power, rather than keep it constant, to drink nectar with sharply increasing viscosity. Under the modified assumption of increasing working power, we introduce the rate at which working power increases with viscosity and discuss the nature-preferred nectar concentration of 35% by theoretically calculating optimal concentration maximizing energetic intake rates under varying increasing rates. Finally, the ability of the mouthparts of the honeybee to transfer viscous nectar may inspire a concept for transporting microfluidics with a wide range of viscosities.

New and little known species of the family Saldidae (heteroptera) from india and adjacent countries

Data on 13 species of the family Saldidae distributed in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Vietnam are reported. Two new species, Macrosaldula indica sp. n. (Himachal Pradesh) and Saldula pericarti sp. n. (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh), are described from the Himalayas. Macrosaldula indica is similar to the dark specimens of M. scotica (Curtis, 1835) and M. variabilis variabilis (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835) of the scotica group, but differs in a shorter body and in the structure of the genitalia. The montane Middle Asian M. tadzhika (Kiritshenko, 1912) is larger and differs from the new species in the color pattern of its fore wing and in a short and arched paramere. An isolated dark spot on the fore tibia and a pale pattern on the corium identify Saldula pericarti sp. n. as a member of the saltatoria group, but the species differs from the other members of this group in the presence of erect hairs on the head, antennae, pronotum, and wings (the character of the orthochila group). New records of Micracanthia minor Hamid et Sultana, 1972, comb. n., are made in Western and Eastern Pakistan. Micracanthia ornatula (Reuter, 1882) is found for the first time in Nepal and Vietnam, Saldula burmanica Lindskog, 1975 and S. palustris (Douglas, 1874), in Pakistan, and S. pilosella (Thomson, 1871), in Afghanistan.

A new species of Aristobrotica Bechynéand a checklist of the genus (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae)

A new species of Aristobrotica Bechynéand a checklist of the genus (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae). A new neotropical species of the Section Diabroticites (Luperini, Diabroticina) is described and illustrated. Aristobrotica capillosa sp. nov., from the state of Amazonas, northern Brazil, is the only species of the genus with elytra densely covered by erect hairs. The genus Aristobrotica Bechyné, 1956 now comprises 17 species, with only one occurring in Central America, Aristobrotica allardi (Jacoby, 1887) from Panama, and the remaining 16 are South American. A checklist of Aristobrotica species and their geographic distribution is also provided.

Clitenella yunnana (Yang and Li, 1997), New Combination (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)

Galeruca yunnana Yang and Li was described from a single male specimen collected in Menglun, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China (Yang et al. 1997). The original description is clear, and a drawing of the habitus of the holotype is included. It is an unusual species because it is purplish to bluish black. Species of Galeruca are usually brown, black, or sometimes yellow. Our study of the holotype revealed that this species should be assigned to another genus. The holotype is a male, from China, Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna, Menglun, 650 m, 20 iv 1994, Xu Huan-li leg. [label in Chinese] and is deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. A vial attached to the pin with the specimen contains the aedeagus. The left antenna is incomplete with segments 8 to 11 lacking. The left front leg is missing and both elytra show clefts on the apical part. In Galeruca yunnana, the front coxal cavities are open posteriorly; the elytra have small erect hairs sparcely scattered over the surface, without a dense cover of hairs; and the epipleura are developed almost to the apex of the elytra. These characters justify assignment of Galeruca yunnana to Clitenella. Therefore we propose the combination Clitenella yunnana (Yang and Li), new combination. Clitenella yunnana superficially resembles the blue form of Clitenella fulminans (Faldermann, 1835), from which it clearly differs in the color of the legs and antennae. Clitenella fulminans has the legs and antennae dark metallic. In C. yunnana, the antennae and legs are testaceous. Antennal segments 7 to 11 are short and broader than the preceding ones in C. fulminans. In C. yunnana, antennal segments 7 to 11 are elongate and are similar in width to preceding segments. Although the drawing of the habitus of Clitenella yunnana in Yang et al. (1997) is good, we present a drawing of the dorsal view of the pronotum which shows margins on all borders (Fig. 1). We also illustrate the aedeagus (Fig. 2). The aedeagus of C. fulminans also is illustrated to show the differences (Fig. 3). Yang et al. (1997) compared Galeruca yunnana with Galeruca tarsalis Baly, 1879, a species from Assam, India. We haven not seen specimens of Galeruca tarsalis and can not reconsider its generic assignment. According to the Latin description it is a pale brown species with a silken shine, and, in that respect, it is not similar to Clitenella yunnana. This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30600057) and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (20080431255).