Fore Coxae Research Articles

Morphotaxonomic Studies and Abundance of Simulium damnosumTheobald (Diptera: Simuliidae) Complex in Two Local Government Areas of Ogun State

The sibling species composition of Simulium damnosum sensulato and abundance of these sibling species in two communities (Opeji and Imala-Odo) of Ogun State south-western Nigeria was carried out in the wet months (May to October). Morphological identification of black flies using standard protocol was done from 07:00hr-18:00hr twice every two weeks. Climatic data like temperature, rainfall and relative humidity were documented for each month. A total of 1543 flies were dissected, 1228(79.6%) in Opeji and 315(20.4%) in Imala-Odo with a statistical significance (p<0.05). The result revealed an allopatric existence of forest dwelling flies. All the flies identified had dark fore coxa but there was variation in the colours of their wing tuft where wing tuft grade 05 was predominant and no fly had wing tuft grade 01 and there was significant difference (p<0.05) in the wing tuft colours observed among the flies. In Opeji, 477(38.8%) flies were parous while 155(49.2%) parous flies were recorded in Imala-Odo. However, no black fly was infected with the larva of Onchocerca volvulus. Relative diurnal distribution of flies caught revealed a bimodal peak between 10:00-11:00hr and 15:00-16:00hr in both communities. Monthly data on abundance also revealed a bimodal peak in the study sites in June and September with a significant difference (p<0.05) in the abundance across the months. Highest biting rate was recorded in June (Opeji=4492.5; Imala-Odo=780) while August recorded the lowest monthly biting rates (Opeji=284; Imala-Odo=62). The relationship between flies abundance and climatic data showed no significant relationship in both communities (p>0.05). This study revealed that there is high abundance of forest black flies during wet season which have epidemiological implication on humans living in these areas and efforts should be made towards constant monitoring of the siblings species

A New Species of the Genus Solva (Diptera: Xylomyidae) and First Report of Solva javana (Meijere, 1907) from the Tropical Forest of Andaman Island

A new species of wood-soldier fly under the genus Solva Walker, 1859 (Diptera: Xylomyidae) (Solva andamanensis sp. n. Pramanik, Naskar & Banerjee) is described from the tropical forest of Andaman Island, India. Males can be distinguished from other species by a combination of characters, specifically the ochre yellow antenna; snow-white cylindrical palpi; yellow fore coxa, one antero-dorsal bristle in fore femur, black scutellum and black hind coxa. Male terminalia is illustrated here. Furthermore, Solva javana (Meijere, 1907) (Diptera: Xylomyidae) is reported for the first time from Andaman Island as well as India. The difference in habitus characters between these two species is also illustrated in this study.

First record of the tribe Oecleini in Australia (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) with the description of a new genus and species

A new genus and species, Apollo maculiceps gen. & sp. nov., in the planthopper family Cixiidae is described from south Western Australia. It can be distinguished from all other Australian Cixiidae by the presence of a denticle on the distal part of the fore coxa, a character that is shared with some other Oecleini genera. Large numbers of Apollo maculiceps gen. & sp. nov. were observed feeding on a native Australian cycad Macrozamia riedlei (family Zamiaceae). This is the first record of the economically important tribe Oecleini from Australia. A revised key to the tribes of the Australian Cixiidae is presented.

A widespread new genus of Baetidae (Baetidae, Ephemeroptera) from Southeast Asia.

A reinvestigation of type and other material of Baetisjavanicus Ulmer, 1913 and Baetissabahensis Müller-Liebenau, 1984, together with new material from Southeast Asia revealed a new genus, Branchiobaetis gen. nov. The above species are formally assigned to the new genus Branchiobaetis gen. nov. It is characterized by the presence of accessory gills ventrally near fore coxa and at the base of maxillae, a peculiar folding of the gonostyli developing under the cuticle of last instar male larvae, together with a unique combination of other larval characters. Besides the two formerly described species, five new species are identified using a combination of morphology and molecular characters (COI, Kimura 2-parameter distances), four species from Sumatra and one from the Philippines. They are described and illustrated at the larval stage. Additionally, a complementary description of larva and adult stages of the generic type species B.javanicus comb. nov. as well as the first description of the eggs are provided. Furthermore, new reports of B.javanicus comb. nov. and B.sabahensis comb. nov. are indicated. The distribution of Branchiobaetis gen. nov. includes the Indonesian Sunda Islands, Borneo, and the Philippines. A key to the larval stage of all species is provided.

Description of nymph of Brasilocaenis atawallpa Lima, Molineri, Vieira, Pinheiro & Salles, 2019 (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) and notes on its taxonomic status

Brasilocaenis atawallpa was recently described based on male imago from Colombian Amazon. The original description does not contain a designation of type specimens or locality, and it just states that the type series was studied in order to perform the cladistic analysis. In this context, we herein designate the lectotype and paralectotypes of B. atawallpa and describe its nymphal stage. The nymphs were associated to B. atawallpa by the male genitalia extracted from mature nymphs. The nymphal stage of B. atawallpa can be differentiated from others known nymphs of the genus by absence of pointed microspines on opercular gill, fore coxa without projection, middle coxa with well-developed and semicircular projection, hind coxa with finger-like projection, fore and middle tarsal claws without denticles and hind margin of the ninth sternite almost straight.

Some new species of Phaneroptera, Eulioptera and Scolocerca (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) from West Tropical Africa.

The author describes Phaneroptera abdita n. sp., characterized by only two apical spurs; two new species of Eulioptera, E. iolandae n. sp. with unarmed fore coxae, E. atypica n. sp., with atypical opaque tegmina; and Scolocerca thomasi n. sp., all from West Tropical Africa. In addition, he discusses on the probable only African distribution of Phaneroptera sparsa Stål, 1857, and transfers Dithela longicaudata Massa, 2017 to the genus Eulioptera Ragge, 1956.

Sympatric occurrence of forest and savannah morphotypes of Simulium damnosum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Osun State, Nigeria

Simulium damnosum Theobald complex is a group of black flies which vector filarial worms that cause onchocerciasis in Africa. Studies were conducted to investigate the morphological composition of adult S. damnosum complex in three ecological zones of Osun State, Nigeria. Adult black flies were sampled between October 2014 and September 2016, and the wing tufts, antennae, fore coxae and other morphotaxonomic characters were observed and classified following standard methods. The results revealed a sympatric occurrence of both forest- and savannah-dwelling groups (morphotypes) of black flies at each zone with the Guinea savannah zone (Iwo) having significantly higher abundance of forest than savannah black flies. The derived savannah (Ede) had higher abundance of savannah than forest black flies while the rainforest (Obokun) had more forest than savannah black flies but there was no significant difference between them. In Iwo, the highest abundance of forest flies was obtained in October and June while savannah flies were highest in November. The monthly abundance of each morphotype of black flies was significantly different in Ede but not in Obokun. Wing tuft colours among forest flies varied significantly in Iwo and Ede. This study indicates that there is substantial morphological diversity among sibling species of black flies which is useful for identification and could be exploited in black fly control. The presence of savannah flies in the three zones calls for surveillance for potential incursion of blinding parasite strain which migrant savannah flies could introduce to the communities.

New species and new records of Lygistorrhina Skuse from Mexico (Diptera: Lygistorrhinidae)

Lygistorrhina (Probolaeus) acahuizotla sp. nov., es descrita e ilustrada basada en adultos procedentes de la localidad de Acahuizotla, en el estado de Guerrero, México. Esta especie está relacionada a Lygistorrhina (Probolaeus) alexi Huerta & Ibáñez-Bernal. El macho se distingue principalmente de otras especies congenéres por la presencia de un par de sedas preapicales en el mediotergito, coxa anterior pálida amarilla con pigmentación parda medialmente y tegmen en forma de “U”. Nuevos registros de Lygistorrhina (Probolaeus) alexi Huerta & Ibáñez-Bernal de Tecpan de Galeana, para el estado de Guerrero y para la Estación Biológica de Chamela, en el estado de Jalisco, ambos registros son incluidos al occidente de México. Se proporciona una clave para las especies de Lygistorrhina de México.

The Nesting Biology of Tachysphex puncticeps Cameron, 1903 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)

The nesting biology of Tachysphex puncticeps Cameron is described for the first time. The female observed dug its nest in a groove of a house wall. The excavated nest consisted of three nearly elliptical cells, each provisioned with 8–9 acridid grasshopper nymphs placed head inward and venter up. The wasp egg was laid on the largest grasshopper which appeared to be placed in the middle of the cell. The nest entrance was left open during the provisioning period. The wasp brought prey in flight and directly entered the nest without releasing its grip on the prey. The wasp egg, curved, yellowish, 2.1 mm long and 0.4 mm wide, was attached rather firmly between the fore coxae of the prey just near the base of the left coxa, extending across the sternum and protruding between the foreand mid-femora on the left side and it hatched about one day after being laid. It took the immature larva 3–4 days to consume all the provision. The mature larva stage lasted about one day; the prepupa stage lasted 3 days; the period between pupation and emergence of the adult wasp was 13 to 14 days under laboratory conditions with the temperature about 28°C and the humidity around 80%. The total development time of T. puncticeps was 22 days for the male.

Five new species of the Simulium decuplum subgroup of the Simulium (Gomphostilbia) batoense species-group (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Thailand and their phylogenetic relationships

Five new species of black flies, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) chiangraiense, S. (G.) huaikaeoense, S. (G.) khaokhoense, S. (G.) maeklangense, and S. (G.) pamiangense, are described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from Thailand. These five species are similar to one another and are placed in the S. decuplum subgroup of the S. batoense species-group by having the male fore coxae darkened, ventral plate flat and transverse; pupal gill with 10 short filaments; and larval postgenal cleft deep approaching or reaching the posterior margin of the hypostoma. Simulium (G.) chiangraiense sp. nov. and S. (G.) pamiangense sp. nov. differ from the three other new species by the much longer pupal gill filaments and darkened dorsal surface of abdominal segments 1 and 2. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish these five new species from five other related species. The phylogenetic positions of these new species in the S. decuplum subgroup are presented based on the mitochondrial COI gene. Simulium (G.) pamiangense sp. nov. and S. (G.) huaikaeoense sp. nov. are highly similar to each other genetically, showing a sister relationship, though they are clearly different morphologically. On the contrary, S. (G.) khaokhoense sp. nov. is distantly positioned from S. (G.) huaikaeoense nov., though it is almost indistinguishable morphologically from the latter.

Simulium hiroyukii, a new species of the subgenus Gomphostilbia (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Mount Murud, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) hiroyukii is described based on females, males, pupae and larvae collected in Mount Murud, Sarawak, Malaysia. This new species is assigned to the Simulium darjeelingense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia, and is characterized by the darkened fore coxae and the pupal gill with eight long filaments, of which middle and dorsal triplets have elongated primary and secondary stalks, respectively.

Two new Species of Simulium (Simulium) (Diptera: Simuliidae) From Mount Murud, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Two new species of black flies, Simulium (Simulium) murudense and Simulium (Simulium) cheedhangi, are described on the basis of females, males, pupae, and larvae collected in Mount Murud, Sarawak, Malaysia. Both species belong to the Simulium melanopus Edwards species group. S. (S.) murudense sp. nov. is distinguished from most known species by a combination of the haired basal portion of the radial vein and the darkened fore coxae, and S. (S.) cheedhangi sp. nov. is characterized in the female by having a medium-sized claw tooth and in the pupa by six somewhat inflated gill filaments. Notes are given on the S. melanopus species-group in Sarawak and Sabah.

Uma nova espécie de Orthoderella Giglio-Tos (Mantodea, Mantidae, Photinainae) do Brasil

A new species of Orthoderella Giglio-Tos (Mantodea, Mantidae, Photinainae) from Brazil. The Neotropical genus Orthoderella Giglio-Tos includes four species recorded in Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, and from central western, southern, and southeastern Brazil. Orthoderella caatingaensis sp. nov., from the Caatinga biome in northeastern Brazil, is described here. This new species can be recognized by having a black spot on the inner face of the fore coxae, which extends to its posterior external face; phalloid apophysis of the left dorsal phallomere trapezoidal in shape with the right margin sinuous and a laminate anterior process; and a ventral phallomere with a sclerotized and rugous distal process. An identification key, in both Portuguese and English, to the five species of Orthoderella is presented.

Rhaphium Meigen (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) from the Taimyr Peninsula (Russia), with description of a new species

Eight species of Rhaphium Mg. are recorded from the southern tundra of the Taimyr Peninsula (Russia), including the description of a new species, Rhaphium borisovi Negrobov, Barkalov & Selivanova sp. nov. The new species is similar to Rhaphium gruniniani Negrobov and differs from it by yellow fore coxa, equal length of hind tarsomeres 1–2 and broader inner lobe of cercus. The female of Rhaphium beringiense Negrobov & Vockeroth is described. A key to Siberian species (exclusive of Far East species) of the genus Rhaphium is presented and morphological characters of all species are illustrated.

On the usefulness of ratios for the identification of some Mediterranean species of the genus Ameles Burmeister, 1838 (Insecta, Mantodea)

Identification of Ameles species is a difficult task requiring much experience because of ambiguous descriptions with fewdrawings and great intraspecific morphological variability. Our objective was to find characteristics that could be reliablyused for species identification and would be independent of experience. We identified 12 to 60 specimens of each of 5target species, A. spallanzania (Rossi), A. decolor (Charpentier), A. africana Bolivar, A. picteti (Saussure), A. heldreichiBrunner and 1 to 4 specimens of 7 additional species, A. nana Charpentier, A. kervillei Bolivar, A. modesta Bolivar, A.maroccana Uvarov, A. dumonti Chopard, A. fasciipennis Kaltenbach and A. poggii Lombardo, from the Mediterraneanarea and based on traditional keys. For our analysis, we focused on ten morphological characteristics (lengths of body,pronotum, supracoxal dilatation, fore coxa, fore femur, fore tibia, tegmina, width of the head, minimum width of thepronotum, and maximum width of the fore femur) and five ratios (length to width of the frontal sclerite, pronotum, femur,subgenital plate, and hypophallus), analysed with non-metric multidimensional scaling and linear discriminant analysis.Fewer mis-assignments of species resulted when ratios were used instead of absolute measurements. Among the targetspecies, A. decolor was seldom mis-assigned as another species; A. spallanzania was often mis-assigned as A. africana,while the opposite occurred less frequently; A. picteti was also frequently mis-assigned as A. heldreichi. For the targetspecies, we devised an identification key based on ratios along with morphometric descriptions that appears to work well,because ratios are easily applicable and independent of specimen size. Furthermore, we confirm the synonymy of A.spallanzania and A. africana, recognize that Ameles nana is not a synonym of A. spallanzania, and find that A. poggii is more similar to A. spallanzania than to similar to A. picteti.

The venom apparatus and other morphological characters of the ant Martialis heureka (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Martialinae)

We describe and illustrate the venom apparatus and other morphological characters of the recently described Martialis heureka ant worker, a supposedly specialized subterranean predator which could be the sole surviving representative of a highly divergent lineage that arose near the dawn of ant diversification. M. heureka was described as the single species of a genus in the subfamily, Martialinae Rabeling and Verhaagh, known from a single worker. However because the authors had available a unique specimen, dissections and scanning electron microscopy from coated specimens were not possible. We base our study on two worker individuals collected in Manaus, AM, Brazil in 1998 and maintained in 70% alcohol since then; the ants were partially destroyed because of desiccation during transport to São Paulo and subsequent efforts to rescue them from the vial. We were able to recover two left mandibles, two pronota, one dismembered fore coxa, one meso-metapropodeal complex with the median and hind coxae and trochanters still attached, one postpetiole, two gastric tergites, the pygidium and the almost complete venom apparatus (lacking the gonostylus and anal plate). We illustrate and describe the pieces, and compare M. heureka worker morphology with other basal ant subfamilies, concluding it does merit subfamilial status.

Mating system in a population of the wasp Polistes dominulus (Christ) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

The specific features of mating females and males of different morphs collected from a population of the wasp P. dominulus in Southern Ukraine were studied. Data analysis of mating individuals in experiments indicated a random mate choice by size and assortative mating by coloration. The most actively copulating males in the experiments had light-colored mesopleuron, sternite, and fore and middle coxae. They were similar in the color pattern and size to resident males, which defend their territories in the habitat. Most P. dominulus females mated only once. In their coloration, those females represented the majority of the individuals in the population. The color variability of the foundresses was shown to change in a cyclic pattern. The possibility that such variability may result from selective or assortative mating is discussed. The color and pattern traits of P. dominulus females and males could serve as markers of their reproductive strategies and their reproductive success on the whole.

A review of the Palaearctic species of the genus Eurytoma, belonging to the E. robusta species-group (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae), with description of two new species

A review of Palaearctic species of the Eurytoma robusta group is given. This group includes 46 species. A key to these species is provided. Two new species, Eurytoma ibaraca Zerova, sp. n. from Japan and E. clarissae Zerova, sp. n. from Israel, are described. E. ibaraca is close to E. armenica Zer., but differs from it in the longer metasoma of the female, longer funicular segments, longer postmarginal vein, and sharp prominence on the fore coxa. E. clarissae is similar to E. asiatica Zer., but differs from it in the bulging fore coxa and longer postmarginal vein. The type material is deposited in the collection of the Shmalhausen Zoological Institute, National Ukrainian Academy of Sciences (Kiev).

Description of a new species of Rhytidothorax (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) from India

Diagnostic features Female: Length, 1.22 1.37mm. Body completely dark brown, with dull metallic shine; fronto-vertex dull violet, with bluishgreen tinge, pronotum and mesoscutum mainly dark violet and bronzy; scutellum metallic, with bluish-green shine; metanotum, propodeum, pleura and gaster dark brown, with violet, gaster with some bronzy shine; tegulae brown. Antennal radicle, basal half to two-thirds of scape, pedicel except extreme apex, and F1 5 (fifth segment lightly) infuscate brown to nearly dark brown, rest of antenna testaceous yellow to yellow. Fore wing very lightly infuscate, with a yellow tinge, hind wing hyaline. Legs, including fore coxae, testaceous yellow; mid coxa dark brown as mesopleura; hind coxa testaceous to brown.

Revision of the Neotropical genus Syntomoneurum Becker (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)

AbstractThe Neotropical genus Syntomoneurum Becker is revised. The genus is defined within the subfamily Dolichopodinae on the basis of the possession of a strong basiventral seta on the fore femur, a single notopleural seta, and very reduced pulvilli on the midleg and hindleg in both sexes. Males also possess a cluster of 2-3 strong setae on both the fore femur and mid coxa. One new species, Syntomoneurum giganteum Brooks is described and the three previously known species (S. alatum Becker, S. anale Parent, S. beckeri Parent) are redescribed. A lectotype is designated for S. alatum. A key to the species is provided. Evidence supporting the placement of Syntomoneurum in the subfamily Dolichopodinae near Tachytrechus Haliday is discussed.