Female Morphological Characters Research Articles

Delimitation of the segmented trapdoor spider genus Luthela gen. nov., with comments on the genus Sinothela from northern China (Araneae, Mesothelae, Liphistiidae).

A new genus of the primitively segmented trapdoor spiders, which is endemic to the north of China, is described, Luthela gen. nov., and the status of Sinothela Haupt, 2003 and Sinothela sinensis (Bishop Crosby, 1932) is discussed and both are treated as nomina dubia. The new genus Luthela gen. nov. is erected based on morphology and molecular data of the type species Luthela yiyuan sp. nov. A taxonomic revision of the new genus is given. Three Sinothela species are transferred to the new genus, L. luotianensis comb. nov. and L. schensiensis comb. nov. are redescribed using our newly collected specimens, include L. heyangensis comb. nov. as a junior synonym of L. schensiensis comb. nov., and describe six new species based on both male and female morphological characters: L. badong sp. nov., L. dengfeng sp. nov., L. handan sp. nov., L. taian sp. nov., L. yiyuan sp. nov., and L. yuncheng sp. nov.

The genus Oligonychus Berlese (Acari, Prostigmata, Tetranychidae): taxonomic assessment and a key to subgenera, species groups, and subgroups.

A comprehensive taxonomic assessment of the most agriculturally important and highly diverse spider mite genus, Oligonychus Berlese (Acari: Tetranychidae) was performed. The sub-generic division, species groups, doubtful species, species complexes and the interpretation of a key generic character are discussed. Based on the orientation of the male aedeagus, only two subgenera, namely Oligonychus Berlese (aedeagus downturned) and Reckiella Tuttle & Baker (aedeagus upturned), are valid in the genus Oligonychus. The subgenera Homonychus Wainstein, Metatetranychoides Wainstein, and Wainsteiniella Tuttle & Baker are considered to be synonyms of the subgenus Oligonychus, whereas the subgenus Pritchardinychus Wainstein is proposed as a synonym of the subgenus Reckiella. Moreover, based on female morphological characters, four species groups (coffeae, exsiccator, iseilemae, and peruvianus) and 11 species subgroups (aceris, biharensis, coffeae, comptus, exsiccator, gossypii, iseilemae, peruvianus, pritchardi, smithi, and subnudus) are suggested in the subgenera Oligonychus and Reckiella. Fourteen Oligonychus species are proposed as species inquirendae, and potential cryptic species complexes in the genus Oligonychus are briefly highlighted. It is agreed that the clunal seta h1 is always absent, while the para-anal setae h2 and h3 are always present in the genus Oligonychus. A key to subgenera, species groups, and species subgroups of the genus Oligonychus is provided.

Total-evidence analysis of an undescribed fauna: resolving the evolution and classification of Australia's golden trapdoor spiders (Idiopidae: Arbanitinae: Euoplini).

In the trapdoor spider genus Euoplos Rainbow & Pulleine (tribe Euoplini), it was discovered recently that two divergent lineages occur in sympatry in eastern Australia. This challenged the monogeneric classification of the tribe and, in combination with inadequate taxonomic descriptions of some species, precluded comprehensive taxonomic revision. To resolve these issues, we conducted a total-evidence cladistic analysis on a largely undescribed continental fauna-the first such analysis on a group of Australian Mygalomorphae. We combined multilocus molecular data and/or morphological and behavioural data from all known species from eastern Australia (described and undescribed), plus a subset of Western Australian species, to produce a phylogeny for the tribe. We mapped morphological/behavioural characters onto this to identify clade-specific diagnostic characters, and applied these data to a generic reclassification of the tribe. We recovered two sympatric lineages in the Euoplini (the "wafer-door" and "plug-door/palisade" lineages), and revealed the phylogenetic position of all known eastern Australian species within these. Character mapping revealed morphological and behavioural (burrow architecture) features that allow diagnosis of the lineages and clades within them. We erect a new genus, Cryptoforis gen.n., to represent the wafer-door lineage, describe the type species, Cryptoforis hughesae sp.n., and transfer two species from Euoplos to Cryptoforis: C.tasmanica (Hickman, 1928) and C.victoriensis (Main, 1995). This study resolves phylogenetic structure within the Euoplini, and characterizes clades within the tribe to facilitate future taxonomic revisions. It also demonstrates that, whereas male morphology is more informative, female morphological characters relating to genitalia and the scopulation/spination of the anterior legs display phylogenetic signal in the Euoplini, highlighting the subtle nature of informative female characters in mygalomorph spiders.

New South American genus of Iassinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and additional morphological characters for two Neotropical species of Neobalinae and Nioniinae

AbstractThe new iassine leafhopper genus Ana gen. nov is described, based on the type species Ana doctrix sp. nov. from Argentina, and placed in the tribe Hyalojassini. The new genus is distinguished from other Neotropical Hyalojassini genera by setose forewings, submarginal vein evanescent apically and appendix narrower than first apical cell, male pygofer with a triangular expansion turned mesad on ventral margin, lacking hooks, styles bifid basally, and female sternite VII short, with posterior margin concave. The subfamilies Neobalinae and Nioniinae are recorded for the first time from Argentina. New female morphological characters of Calliscarta fasciata (Osborn) (Neobalinae) and the male terminalia of Nionia major (Osborn) (Nioniinae) are provided. An updated key to the 12 subfamilies of Cicadellidae present in Argentina is provided.

Opening Pandora's box of Pristocerinae: molecular and morphological phylogenies ofApenesia(Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) reveal several hidden genera

AbstractThe flat waspApenesiaWestwood is one of the largest genera in Pristocerinae with 190 species worldwide. The lack of a single diagnostic morphological character has resulted in many distinct ground plans withinApenesia. Some authors have suggestedApenesiaas polyphyletic. Here we aimed to investigate and delimit the genus based on morphological and molecular data. We analysed 163 morphological characters ontntusing ‘traditional search’, whereas Bayesian (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) inferences were performed on 1553 concatenated nucleotide base pairs from COI and 28S sequences.Apenesiawas recovered as polyphyletic in all analyses with up to 10 different lineages spread throughout the tree. We mapped female morphological characters onto the molecular tree to enlighten morphological evolution in the apterous females. Based on our morphological and molecular analyses, and on the taxonomic revision of holotypes and specimens, we propose six new genera in the Pristocerinae and revalidate the generic status of two:Acrenesiagen.n.,Austranesiagen.n.,Cleistepyrisstat. rev.,Dracunesiagen.n.,Eleganesiagen.n.,Epynesiagen.n.,Pristonesiagen.n., andPropristocerastat. rev.We also propose four new generic synonymies:Neoapenesiasyn.n.underApenesia,Dipristocerasyn.n.underCleistepyris,Afrocerasyn.n.andNeopristocerasyn.n.underPropristocera. At the species level, we indicateApenesia minorsyn.n.underPropristocera tagala. In all, 162 new combinations, eight reinstated combinations and one new name to avoid homonymy are proposed.Apenesiais now defined as flat wasps having males with the mesoscutum gibbous, the genitalia with the paramere narrow and densely hairy, and the aedeagus with the ventral apical lobe elliptical and covered with lumps. Females ofApenesiacan be distinguished from other Pristocerinae by having the head wider than the mesosoma, the antennae short, the mandible long, and the clypeus surpassing the toruli in the frons. This study reinforces the difficulties in definingApenesiaand other Pristocerinae genera.This published work has been registered in ZooBank,http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:65FB3087‐0F30‐4851‐B1BA‐ED6E4518B958.

Description of Pintomyia salomoni sp. n., a new phlebotomine species from northwest Argentina.

A new species of phlebotomine sandfly is described and illustrated using male and female specimens collected in the provinces of Jujuy and Tucumán, Argentina. Both male and female morphological characters allow the inclusion of the new species within the Pintomyia genus, Pifanomyia subgenus, serrana series (Diptera: Psychodidae). The species was denominated as Pintomyia salomoni n. sp., and is closely related to Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) torresi and Pintomyia (Piffanomyia) boliviana.

Description of a new species of Psathyromyia Barreto (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) from Amazonas state, Brazil

A new species of phlebotomine sand fly is described and illustrated based on the male and female morphological characters of specimens collected from Tefé and Coari municipalities, Amazonas state. The phlebotomine sand flies were collected with CDC light traps used as aspirators at the base of tree trunks. Both male and female specimens collected in Tefé municipality were first identified as Psathyromyia souzacastroi. After the analysis of the holotype of Pa. souzacastroi deposited in Smithsonian Institute/Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, it was observed that the morphotypes collected in Tefé municipality belong to a distinct species, which characterization is here presented.

First record of Didicrum Enderlein (Diptera: Psychodidae, Psychodinae) from the Northern Andes bioregion, with the description of a new species

Didicrum colombensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on male and female morphological characters. The discovery of this species in Colombia represents a significant range extension for Didicrum as all previously described species of this genus are distributed in the Australasian region and the southernmost portion of South America. A checklist of the World species of Didicrum is presented.

First description of the male of Transeius avetianae (Arutunjan & Ohandjanian) (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) and redescription of the female

The male of Transeius avetianae (Arutunjan & Ohandjanian), collected in Zanjan Province, Iran is described for the first time. The female is re-described from a collection large enough (n = 67) to examine morphometric variations. The measurements of female morphological characters collected from Iran are compared with those given in the original description from Armenia. A key to the species of Transeius recorded from Iran is also given.

Integrative taxonomy of Asiopodabrus fragiliformis (Kang and Kim, 2000) (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) and its related species

Both the color patterns of the body and the structures of the male genitalia are important characters used in speciesidentification of traditional taxonomy. However, these characters are often limiting when identifying females of somespecies. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the species reality of Asiopodabrus fragiliformis which often has difficultyin being identified due to individual variation in color pattern and lack of female information. Using DNA barcoding, A.fragiliformis was represented as having three clades strongly supported by a high bootstrap value (>99%) and with over3% branch lengths having a 2.9–3.4% barcoding gap. Morphological reexamination based on the result of DNAbarcoding, demonstrated three clades: A. fragiliformis, A. kurvatovi, and A. koryeoensis n. sp., respectively, that wereclarified based on subtle difference in both male and female morphological characters. This study explicitly showed thatDNA barcoding may clearly and rapidly decide the species delineation for morpho-species in certain cases when the identification of female specimens is not clear using traditional methods.

A Taxonomic Reassessment of the <I>Phlebotomus argentipes</I> Species Complex (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

The taxonomic status of the sand fly Phlebotomus (Euphlebotomus) argentipes Annandale & Brunette 1908, which transmits Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani (Laveran & Mesnil 1903) in southern Asia, is reassessed, because variation in morphology, behavior, and distribution suggests it to be a complex of sibling species. The putative complex is composed of the nominotypical member Phlebotomus argentipes sensu stricto, Phlebotomus annandalei Sinton 1923 status revived and Phlebotomus glaucus Mitra & Roy 1953 new status. An allolectotype is designated for the female of P. argentipes as well as neotypes for the males of P. annandalei and P. glaucus. Morphological descriptions, illustrations, and keys are presented to allow identification of adult males and females. Based on female morphological characters, P. argentipes s.s., P. annandalei and P. glaucus can be distinguished from each other using principal component analysis. P. glaucus is widespread in India, occurring sympatrically with P. argentipes s.s. in L. donovani-endemic foci, whereas P. annandeli is peripatric to the type species in Chennai, southern India. "In copula" is a process of postcopulatory sexual selection occurring as correlated coevolution of male and female reproductive traits, which drives species isolation. This pattern has been implicated in reproductive isolation among the members of the P. argentipes complex. Further research on adult behavior and larval biology of the P. argentipes complex is needed to understand the epidemiology and control of visceral leishmaniasis.

Unlocking the "Black box": internal female genitalia in Sepsidae (Diptera) evolve fast and are species-specific.

BackgroundThe species-specificity of male genitalia has been well documented in many insect groups and sexual selection has been proposed as the evolutionary force driving the often rapid, morphological divergence. The internal female genitalia, in sharp contrast, remain poorly studied. Here, we present the first comparative study of the internal reproductive system of Sepsidae. We test the species-specificity of the female genitalia by comparing recently diverged sister taxa. We also compare the rate of change in female morphological characters with the rate of fast-evolving, molecular and behavioral characters.ResultsWe describe the ectodermal parts of the female reproductive tract for 41 species representing 21 of the 37 described genera and define 19 morphological characters with discontinuous variation found in eight structures that are part of the reproductive tract. Using a well-resolved molecular phylogeny based on 10 genes, we reconstruct the evolution of these characters across the family [120 steps; Consistency Index (CI): 0.41]. Two structures, in particular, evolve faster than the rest. The first is the ventral receptacle, which is a secondary sperm storage organ. It accounts for more than half of all the evolutionary changes observed (7 characters; 61 steps; CI: 0.46). It is morphologically diverse across genera, can be bi-lobed or multi-chambered (up to 80 chambers), and is strongly sclerotized in one clade. The second structure is the dorsal sclerite, which is present in all sepsids except Orygma luctuosum and Ortalischema albitarse. It is associated with the opening of the spermathecal ducts and is often distinct even among sister species (4 characters; 16 steps; CI: 0.56).ConclusionsWe find the internal female genitalia are diverse in Sepsidae and diagnostic for all species. In particular, fast-evolving structures like the ventral receptacle and dorsal sclerite are likely involved in post-copulatory sexual selection. In comparison to behavioral and molecular data, the female structures are evolving 2/3 as fast as the non-constant third positions of the COI barcoding gene. They display less convergent evolution in characters (CI = 0.54) than the third positions or sepsid mating behavior (CICOI = 0.36; CIBEHAV = 0.45).

Gynandromorphs and intersexes: potential to understand the mechanism of sex determination in arthropods

AbstractArthropods are sexually dimorphic. An arthropod individual usually differentiates into a male or a female. With very low frequencies, however, individuals with both male and female morphological characters have repeatedly been found in natural and laboratory populations of arthropods. Gynandromorphs (i.e., sexual mosaics) are genetically chimeric individuals consisting of male and female tissues. On the other hand, intersexes are genetically uniform (i.e., complete male, complete female or intermediate in every tissue) but all or some parts of their tissues have either a sexual phenotype opposite to their genetic sex or an intermediate sexual phenotype. Possible developmental processes (e.g., double fertilization of a binucleate egg, loss of a sex chromosome or upregulation/downregulation of sex-determining genes) and causal factors (e.g., mutations, genetic incompatibilities, temperatures or endosymbionts) for the generation of gynandromorphs and intersexes are reviewed and discussed.

Revision of the goldenrod-galling Rhopalomyia species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in North America

Goldenrods (Solidago and Euthamia species) are common herbs in the eastern United States that support a large and diverse community of highly specific gall-inducing insects. The majority of these insects are gall midges, of which 16 described species are bud, leaf, stem, rhizome, or flower-head gallers belonging to the large genus Rhopalomyia Rübsaamen. The present work is a taxonomic revision of the goldenrod-associated Rhopalomyia species, which includes a key to the identification of species based on their galls and host plants and descriptions of diagnostic characters for all species. Rhopalomyia lanceolata Felt is designated as a new synonym for R. lobata Felt, and R. albipennis Felt and R. carolina Felt are designated as new synonyms for R. solidaginis Loew. Neotypes are designated for R. hirtipes Osten Sacken and R. solidaginis, and two new species are described—R. gina Dorchin n.sp. and R. guttata Dorchin n.sp. Descriptions include illustrations of galls, male and female morphological characters, and the first description of pupae, where available. New or additional detailed information is also provided on gall structure, phenology, and life history of the gall midges.

Convergent and divergent patterns of morphological differentiation provide more evidence for reproductive character displacement in a wood cricket Gryllus fultoni(Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

BackgroundIn ecological character displacement, traits involved in reproductive isolation may not evolve in arbitrary directions when changes in these traits are by-products of adaptation to an ecological niche. In reproductive character displacement, however, selection acts directly on reproductive characters to enhance the degree of reproductive isolation between sympatric populations. Thus, the direction of change in reproductive characters may be arbitrary in relation to changes in other morphological characters. We characterized both tegminal characters and characters indicative of body size in sympatric and allopatric populations of Gryllus fultoni, a species displaying character displacement in its calling song characters in areas of sympatry with G. vernalis populations, to infer the nature and direction of selection acting on reproductive and morphological characters in sympatry.ResultsExcept for mirror area, the number of teeth in a file, and ovipositor length of G. fultoni, all male and female morphological characters in G. fultoni and G. vernalis exhibited a uniform tendency to decrease in size with increasing latitude. There was no significant variation in female morphological characters between sympatric and allopatric G. fultoni populations. However, males of sympatric and allopatric G. fultoni populations significantly differed in head width, hind femur length, and mirror area even after controlling for clinal factors. Head width and hind femur length of G. fultoni were more similar to those of G. vernalis in sympatric populations than in allopatric populations, resulting in morphological convergence of G. fultoni and G. vernalis in sympatry. However, the mirror area of G. fultoni displayed the divergent pattern in relation to the sympatric G. vernalis populations.ConclusionDivergence-enhancing selection may be acting on mirror area as well as calling song characters, whereas local adaptation or clinal effects may explain variation in other morphological characters in sympatric populations of G. fultoni. This study also suggests that structures and behaviors that directly enhance reproductive isolation may evolve together, independently of other morphological traits.

Revision of the New World species of Craspedochaeta (Diptera: Clusiidae)

The New World species of Craspedochaeta Czerny, 1903 are revised and the first New World representative of the C. biseta group (C. argoniae spec. nov.) is described from Ecuador and Bolivia. Ten new species (C. amazonensis spec. nov., C. apsilutea spec. nov., C. candida spec. nov., C. chela spec. nov., C. feminea spec. nov., C. melanosoma spec. nov., C. pacaraima spec. nov., C. pollostos spec. nov., C. protomis spec. nov., C. weemsi spec. nov.) are described from the C. transversa species group and eight new species (C. biloba spec. nov., C. brunneivibrissa spec. nov., C. chauliodon spec. nov., C. loreto spec. nov., C. phaios spec. nov., C. pullipleura spec. nov., C. xanthonotum spec. nov., C. zongo spec. nov.) are described from the C. concinna species group. Craspedochaeta basalis brasiliensis Sóos, 1961 syn. nov. and C. piceoflava (Sóos, 1962) syn. nov. are synonymized with Craspedochaeta annulipes (Johnson, 1913) comb. nov.; C. minuta Sóos, 1962 syn. nov., C.atra (Kertesz, 1903) syn. nov. and C. albohalteria Sóos, 1962 syn. nov., are synonymized with C. concinna (Williston, 1896). Craspedochaeta sasakawai nomen nov. is provided as a replacement name for C. pleuralis (Curran, 1936), which is a junior homonym of C. pleuralis (Williston, 1896) comb. nov. Agonistic behaviour is recorded for the first time in Craspedochaeta, with photographs showing male-male interactions in the Bolivian species C. pullipleura. A key is provided for all 31 New World Craspedochaeta species and the relationships of the C. concinna and C. transversa groups are discussed on the basis of male and female morphological characters. Species of Craspedochaeta are recorded for the first time in North America, with C. weemsi found in Florida, C. concinna found in Florida and New Mexico, and C. annulipes found in Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas.

The Nearctic Species of <I>Pandivirilia</I> Irwin and Lyneborg (Diptera: Therevidae: Therevinae)

The genus Pandivirilia is widespread across the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. The Nearctic species are redescribed, including the description of two new species: Pandivirilia constricta Webb and P. rufa Webb. Their phylogenetic position among the Palaearctic species and related higher therevine genera is elucidated by cladistic analysis of male and female morphological characters. A key to the Nearctic species is provided along with maps of their distribution. A neotype is designated for P. albifrons (Say) and a lectotype is designated for Psilocephala limata Coquillett. Also, Dichoglena melampodia (Loew), Ps. conspicua (Walker), and Spiriverpa nitoris (Coquillett) are placed as new combinations within Pandivirilia. P. bussi (James) is placed as a new combination within Cliorismia, making this genus Holarctic in distribution. Ps. canadensis Cole, Ps. limata Coquillett, and Ps. pollinosa Cole are placed in synonomy under P. conspicua (Walker), P. argentifrons Cole is placed in synonomy under P. melampodia (Loew), and Thereva borealis Cole is placed in synonomy under P. albifrons (Say).

A population study of Galathea intermedia (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) in the German Bight

The objectives of this study were to assess population biology and dynamics of the squat lobster Galathea intermedia. On the basis of nearly regular monthly samples taken with a 2-m beam trawl in the Helgoland trench (HTR) during the period of 1985 until 1992, sex ratio, length composition, relative growth and reproduction were studied. The overall sex ratio deviates significantly from 1:1 with 1[male ]:1·8[female] (P[les ]0·001). On average, sexes are equally large, but adult females attain a slightly larger size than adult males. No sex-specific differences in the length–weight relationship were found. Relative growth of the first abdominal segment is clearly of sexual-dimorphic character. On the basis of the length–frequency distributions, the life cycle of the HTR population lasts between one and two years. According to the appearance of ovigerous females and juveniles, reproduction and recruitment are clearly seasonal. Recruitment takes place between July and December. The main reproduction begins in April and ends in September, with a peak between June and August. A significant increase of specimens showing both male and female morphological characters, referred to as morphological hermaphrodites (P[les ]0·001), and males (P[les ]0·05) respectively, was detected.

Using adult female morphological characters for differentiating Tetrancyhus urticae complex (Acari: Tetranychidae) from greenhouse tomato crops in UK

Variation in seven female morphological characters were examined for 18 populations of spider mites of the Tetranychus urticae and T. cinnabarinus complex from greenhouse tomatoes in various locations in the UK. Tetranychus cinnabarinus could be readily separated from T. urticae by variation in the number of setae on tibia I (10-13 setae, or addition of 1-3 solenidia normally present in males) in females and this difference was correlated with those of previously studied characters (shape of dorsal lobe in female and shape of aedeagus in male) and additional characters examined in this paper. Several populations of mites identified as T. cinnabarinus in this study were green in colour. Hyper-necrotic responses in tomato plants were present in most T. cinnabarinus populations with variation in the number of setae on tibia I but absent in T. cinnabarinus population without variation in the number of setae on tibia I (i.e. 13 setae).

Cladistic analysis of Coenosiini (Diptera: Muscidae: Coenosiinae)

SummaryThe phylogenetic relationships among world genera of Coenosiini (Diptera: Muscidae: Coenosiinae) were investigated using parsimony. The analysis involved forty‐six ingroup terminal taxa, representing 100% of the genera currently assigned to this tribe, three outgroups and sixty‐seven adult male and female morphological characters. The monophyly of Coenosiini is confirmed by the position of the three katepisternal bristles, equidistant from each other and placed at the points of an equilateral triangle. Genera Andersonosia, Agenamyia, Anthocoenosia, Drepanocnemis, Pachyceramyia and Rhabdotoptera are removed from Coenosiini and temporarily placed in Limnophorini. The other genera fall into two groups: the Lispocephala‐group, comprised of genera with mainly Old World species and the Nearctic genus Pentacricia; and the Coenosia‐group, with the highest level of generic diversity in South America. Each group is defined by synapomorphies of its constituent genera: Lispocephala‐group by the presence of a posteroventral apical seta on the hind tibia, the presence of two arms in male sternite 6 (not forming a ring) and the short or very short female ovipositor; the Coenosia‐group by the presence of a developed epiproct and narrow sternites 6 and 7 of the female ovipositor. The following new generic synonymies are proposed (junior synonyms in parentheses): Lispocephala Pokorny (=Pectiniseta Stein), Coenosia Meigen (=Tenuicosta Stein; Dexiopsis Pokorny), Neodexiopsis Malloch (=Haroldopsis Albuquerque), Pilispina Albuquerque (=Levallonia Albuquerque; Noelia Albuquerque; Parvomusca Medeiros; Cholomyioides Albuquerque), Apsil Malloch (=Raymondomyia Malloch), Stomopogon Malloch (=Angolia Malloch; Angolina Pont) and Pygophora Schiner (=Chouicoenosia Cui & Xue).