Fore Tibia Research Articles

New genus and species of ponerine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Mexican amber

ABSTRACT A new genus and species of ponerine ant from Mexican amber, Siinikaponera sulimata, is described and illustrated. The type material is an amber inclusion from the Montecristo mine in Chiapas, Mexico, which dates back to the Oligo-Miocene period. Siinikaponera sulimata gen. et sp. nov. shares traits with other ants in the subfamily Ponerinae, including the outer edges of the frontal lobes forming simple short semicircles or blunt triangles, presence of promesonotal suture, meso- and metatibia with 0–2 spurs, antenna with 12 segments, constriction between the first and second gastral tergite well impressed, presence of sting, complete wing venation, and complete cell patterns. Siinikaponera sulimata gen. et sp. nov. also has unique features that separate it from other ponerine ants, such as fore, middle and hind tibiae with two spurs each, anterior margin of clypeus with two anteriorly projecting lobes, mandible dentition pattern, posterior peduncle of petiole long, and presence of relatively long coxae. A distinctive feature of Siinikaponera sulimata gen. et sp. nov. is the presence of two projecting lobes on the anterior clypeal margin, a plesiomorphic character shared with the genus Dinoponera. Accordingly, this new fossil record offers valuable insights into the worldwide diversity and distribution of ponerine ants.

A new species of the broad-shouldered water strider genus <em>Microvelia</em> Westwood (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) from the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands, Japan.

Microvelia (Picaultia) yoshitomii sp. nov., currently considered endemic to Haha-jima Island, Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands, Japan, is described. This new taxon was previously thought to be M. (P.) douglasi Scott, 1874, but has distinctly different morphological characteristics, including (1) proportional lengths of hind tarsomere II/I in both sexes approximately 1.1; (2) apex of male fore and middle tibiae strongly projected; (3) right paramere apically rounded and not markedly narrowed in lateral view, with ventral margin almost straight in lateral view.

Vertically inherited microbiota and environment-modifying behaviors indirectly shape the exaggeration of secondary sexual traits in the gazelle dung beetle.

Many organisms actively manipulate the environment in ways that feed back on their own development, a process referred to as developmental niche construction. Yet, the role that constructed biotic and abiotic environments play in shaping phenotypic variation and its evolution is insufficiently understood. Here, we assess whether environmental modifications made by developing dung beetles impact the environment-sensitive expression of secondary sexual traits. Gazelle dung beetles both physically modify their ontogenetic environment and structure their biotic interactions through the vertical inheritance of microbial symbionts. By experimentally eliminating (i) physical environmental modifications and (ii) the vertical inheritance of microbes, we assess the degree to which (sym)biotic and physical environmental modifications shape the exaggeration of several traits varying in their degree and direction of sexual dimorphism. We expected the experimental reduction of a larva's ability to shape its environment to affect trait size and scaling, especially for traits that are sexually dimorphic and environmentally plastic. We find that compromised developmental niche construction indeed shapes sexual dimorphism in overall body size and the absolute sizes of male-limited exaggerated head horns, the strongly sexually dimorphic fore tibia length and width, as well as the weakly dimorphic elytron length and width. This suggests that environmental modifications affect sex-specific phenotypic variation in functional traits. However, most of these effects can be attributed to nutrition-dependent plasticity in size and non-isometric trait scaling rather than body-size-independent effects on the developmental regulation of trait size. Our findings suggest that the reciprocal relationship between developing organisms, their symbionts, and their environment can have considerable impacts on sexual dimorphism and functional morphology.

Morphological and Molecular Identification of Adoretus hirsutus (Ohaus, 1914) (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Rutelinae) from Erbil Governorate Kurdistan Region- Iraq

This study provides a detailed description of Adoretus hirsutus (Ohaus, 1914) (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae), as a first record in Iraq. Between March and July 2022, we collected specimens from various weed flowers in different locations within the Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. According to molecular analysis, Adoretus hirsutus was used as a source of samples for PCR amplification of the fragments (710 bp) of the mtCOI gene for phylogenetic analysis. To compare the nucleotide sequence with those of other insect species, a section of the mtCOI gene from the collected insect was aligned with the NCBI GenBank database using the BLAST tool. The BLAST results showed that the second record in the NCBI GenBank identity of insects. The COI sequence of Adoretus hirsutus was submitted to GenBank with accession numbers OQ4288117, OQ428818, and OQ428819. The morphological diagnostic characteristics of the species are; Labrum nearly cup shaped, lateral margins moderately concave with a row of small spines, median apical projection overhanging the mentum. Mandibles irregular shaped, apically with single oval shaped tooth. Terminal maxillary palpomere 1.5 times as long as the 2nd. Antenna brown, consisting of 10 antennomeres ending in a unilateral three lamellated club, equal in length. Outer margin of fore tibia with three acute teeth. Aedagaeus moderately curved, parameres elongated oval, apical part is very acute. Some important parts such as labrum, mandible, antenna, fore legs, elytra, pygidium and male genitalia have been photographed.

Are the recently described fossil Mole Crickets of Myanmar amber real gryllotalpids? (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae & Gryllidae).

We report five new Myanmar amber specimens attributable to "Mole Cricket" †Pherodactylus rectanguli n. comb., hitherto regarded as a Mole Cricket (Orthoptera: Grylloptalpidae). The new material includes two adult males, two adult females, and one nymph. The specimens are redescribed, and additional new characters are provided for their delimitation and corresponding species identification. We carry out a comparison between these new specimens with other taxa of mole crickets from Myanmar amber and extant true crickets. The result indicates that some species merely represent different nymphal development stages or adults of †Pherodactylus rectanguli n. comb., however, they were misidentified as different species. We also treated genera †Tresdigitus n. syn. and †Chunxiania n. syn. as synonyms of genus †Pherodactylus Poinar, Su & Brown, 2020, and treat †Tresdigitus gracilis Jiang, Xu, Jarzembowski & Xiao, 2022 n. syn. and †Chunxiania fania n. syn. as synonyms of †Pherodactylus rectanguli n. comb. †Burmagryllotalpa longa is valid, because its shape of the pronotum curved without lateral carinae. The morphological convergences and specializations of subterranean dwelling species are discussed. The robust fore tibia and long apical spurs of †P. micromorphus, †P. rectanguli n. comb. and †B. longa are insufficient evidence for an assignment to the family Gryllotalpidae. Instead, we suggest place them into the subfamily Gryllinae (Gryllidae), tribe Sclerogryllini, and group them into their own subtribe Pherodactylina n. subtr.. A key to the identification of recent and fossil Sclerogryllini is also provided. Their taxonomy and morphology are discussed.

A cis-regulatory sequence of the selector gene vestigial drives the evolution of wing scaling in Drosophila species.

Scaling between specific organs and overall body size has long fascinated biologists, being a primary mechanism by which organ shapes evolve. Yet, the genetic mechanisms that underlie the evolution of scaling relationships remain elusive. Here, we compared wing and fore tibia lengths (the latter as a proxy of body size) in Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila simulans, Drosophila ananassae and Drosophila virilis, and show that the first three of these species have roughly a similar wing-to-tibia scaling behavior. In contrast, D. virilis exhibits much smaller wings relative to their body size compared with the other species and this is reflected in the intercept of the wing-to-tibia allometry. We then asked whether the evolution of this relationship could be explained by changes in a specific cis-regulatory region or enhancer that drives expression of the wing selector gene, vestigial (vg), whose function is broadly conserved in insects and contributes to wing size. To test this hypothesis directly, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to replace the DNA sequence of the predicted Quadrant Enhancer (vgQE) from D. virilis for the corresponding vgQE sequence in the genome of D. melanogaster. Strikingly, we discovered that D. melanogaster flies carrying the D. virilis vgQE sequence have wings that are significantly smaller with respect to controls, partially shifting the intercept of the wing-to-tibia scaling relationship towards that observed in D. virilis. We conclude that a single cis-regulatory element in D. virilis contributes to constraining wing size in this species, supporting the hypothesis that scaling could evolve through genetic variations in cis-regulatory elements.

Mangrovomyia, a new genus of long-legged flies from Iranian mangroves (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Hydrophorinae)

The genus Mangrovomyia Grichanov et Gilasian gen. nov. is described from Iran, including two new species, M. naserzadehae Grichanov et Gilasian sp. nov. and M. mofidii Grichanov et Gilasian sp. nov. The new genus is believed to be most closely related to the genera Hydrophorus Fallén, Epithalassius Mik and Paraliptus Bezzi in the subfamily Hydrophorinae, differing in peculiar characters of body setation, antenna, wing and male genitalia. The most distinct synapomorphies appear to be the very short and thick arista-like stylus; trapezoidal postpedicel with oblique transverse furrow; frons, face and clypeus covered with numerous setae, and anterior half of mesonotum covered with a field of numerous short setae and devoid of strong bristles. Mangrovomyia mofidii sp. nov. differs from M. naserzadehae sp. nov. in femora yellow (vs. black), fore tibia with thick and golden-brown (vs. thin and black) apical spine-like setae, katepisternum entirely covered with numerous setae (vs. without setae), and other features. Mangrove habitats of the new species are briefly discussed.

A new remarkable cimicoid genus and species (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Cimicomorpha) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, with implications for its aberrant male genitalia

A new genus and species of cimicoid true bug,Ecpaglocoris ditomeusYamada & Yamamoto,gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated from mid-Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Albian) amber in the Kachin State of northern Myanmar (Burma). This new fossil genus and species is reminiscent of members of Anthocoridae by the strongly flattened and elongated body, four-segmented labium, distinct costal fracture and presence of fossula spongiosa on fore tibiae, but should not be ascribed to this family. The new taxon cannot be placed in any extant cimicoid families, based upon hemelytral, male genital and other morphological structures. Based on the hemelytral membrane venation and presence of dorsal laterotergites on abdominal segments I to VIII, it can be assumed that this new genus belongs to the extinct family Vetanthocoridae.Ecpaglocoris ditomeusgen. et sp. nov.has aberrant male genitalia characterised by sickle-shaped left and right parameres and grooves running throughout the paramere. This characteristic indicates that traumatic insemination occurred in this genus. The peculiar combination of male genital characteristics seen inEcpaglocorisgen. nov.prevents its placement in any of the extant cimicoid families.

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

New species of awl-head katydids, Cestrophorus and Acanthacara, from the Andes of Ecuador (Orthoptera, Conocephalinae, Cestrophorini)

The Cestrophorini are small katydids of Ecuador’s montane rainforest bearing a prominent awl-shaped fastigium verticis. They are unusual among Conocephalinae in lacking pre-tympanic ear chambers: their eardrums are exposed on their fore tibiae. There are presently two genera, Cestrophorus Redtenbacher, 1891 and Acanthacara Scudder, 1869. Awl-head habitat includes both climax forest and anthropogenically disturbed areas (e.g., pastures, roadsides) on lower slopes in the drainage of the volcanoes Aliso, Chiles and Tungurahua. At night, males perch on low vegetation and stridulate to attract females. To three extant species, we add a further seven, two in Cestrophorus and five in Acanthacara. Male calling songs were recorded and analyzed for all three Cestrophorus species and for three of the Acanthacara spp. We describe and discuss the waveforms of their sinusoid and transient sound pulses in time and frequency domains.

Morphometric tools to solve species complexes: The case of Rhagovelia angustipes (Hemiptera: Veliidae)

The riffle bugs of the Rhagovelia angustipes complex have presented problems in taxonomy due to high intra-specific variability. Here we identified variation in the complex with morphometric techniques. We analyzed variation of the characters and performed a phylogenetic analysis of a combined matrix of linear measurements, geometric configurations, and discrete characters. We found that characters such as head length, metanotum length, femur width, and the evaluated shape of four characters (head, abdomen, fore tibia, hind femur) were important for the delimitation of species. In particular, we identified the metanotum length as a character that had not been previously considered in the taxonomy of the complex. The phylogenetic reconstruction allowed us to recover some relationships established for the taxonomy of the complex for the salina group, except for the species R. colombiana that was closer to R. calceola and R. calopa. This may be due to a similar natural history, since they share areas of distribution, while the R. bisignata and R. hambletoni groups could not be recovered, showing their low morphological support. In general, the geometric morphometric characters showed high levels of homology, with the head and the anterior tibia being the ones that had the best performance in the tree. Finally, the use of morphometric tools proved to be a powerful input for the taxonomic resolution of species complexes that have problems in their delimitation.

New species and notes on Paravelia Breddin, 1898 (Heteroptera: Veliidae) from South America.

The new species Paravelia ameliae (Heteroptera: Veliidae) is described based on macropterous specimens from the Department of Putumayo, in the Amazonian region of Colombia. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners mainly by the bicolored pronotum (dark-brown on the anterior two-thirds and light-brown posteriorly); the absence of distinct pruinosity or silvery patches on the anterior lobe of the pronotum; the basal macula of the forewing small and roughly ovate; the grasping comb of the male fore tibia occupying more than half of its length; the male hind femur with a row of 15 spines on the basal two-thirds; and the male paramere notched basally on its dorsal surface. Furthermore, this species displays sexual dimorphism in body shape and in hind tibial length, with males having a slightly constricted mid-abdominal region and hind tibia distinctly longer than in females. Also, in order to describe external morphological characteristics not mentioned in previous studies, supplemental descriptions are provided for P. albotrimaculata (Kirkaldy, 1899), P. loutoni Polhemus, 2014, P. nieseri Moreira Barbosa, 2012, and P. rotundanotata (Hungerford, 1930). Illustrations and a distribution map of all species treated here are presented.

A new genus with a new species of cricket from mid-Cretaceous Burmese Kachin amber (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae)

A new genus and a new species of Trigonidiidae, Curvospurus huzhengkun gen. et sp. nov., is described on the basis of a cricket specimen in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Its attribution to Trigonidiidae can be inferred by small body size, strong setae over the whole body (especially in the head and pronotum), hind tibia with spurs but without spines, hind basitarsomere not serrulated. However, the features of four apical spurs on fore tibia and two veins across harp on forewing distinguishes this genus from Trigonidiinae or Nemobiinae. The new species has novel morphological features such as two curved dorsal inner spurs on hind tibia, which probably indicates the original of female chewing tibial spur behavior or competition between males.

A New Species of the Genus Bibio Geoffroy, 1764, B. kurentzovi sp. n., Close to B. consanguineus Loew, 1869 (Diptera, Bibionidae)

Diagnostic characters of Bibio consanguineus Loew, recorded for the first time from the North Caucasus, are precised. A new species, Bibio kurentzovisp. n. is described from Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East. Both species have darkened brownish wings but differ in the structure of the spurs on the fore tibia, in the wing venation, and in the morphology of the male genitalia.

Anormalousliu sp. nov.: a first record and a new species of the genus Anormalous Liu, 2011 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae) from India.

The Phaneropterinae, commonly known as the bush katydids, are among the most diverse tettigoniids in the world. A new species Anormalousliusp. nov. is described from Kashmir, India. This is the second species in the short-winged genus Anormalous. It is differentiated from the other species from China by the absence of posterior apical spurs on the fore and mid tibiae, the male subgenital plate with two long cylindrical lobes fused with each other and blunt at the apices, and the male stridulatory area longer than broad. We include a key to species in the genus Anormalou. The holotype has been deposited in the Museum of Zoology Department, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh Uttar Pradesh, India.

A new genus from Madagascar with strongly enlarged labium (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae)

A new genus of Baetidae, Megalabiopsgen. nov., and a new species, M. madagasikarasp. nov., are described from Madagascar based on nymphs. The new genus is characterized by having a strongly enlarged mentum; pedicelli with many long, stout, pointed setae; a brush of dense, short setae between prostheca and mola of both mandibles; an apically pointed maxillary palp with a stout seta at the tip; and a labium with many long, simple setae ventrally on glossae. The patellotibial suture is absent on the fore tibia and present on middle and hind tibiae. The claw is strongly elongated with two rows of denticles. The imago remains unknown and the relationships with other African genera of Baetidae are tentative. Despite being easily identifiable, only two nymphs were found in two highly sampled localities in Madagascar.

A review of the Afrotropical Plagiozopelma Enderlein, 1912 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae), with the description of a new species from Cameroon

A new species of Plagiozopelma from Cameroon is described and illustrated: Plagiozopelma mezamense sp. nov. Males of the new species differ reliably from other congeneric Afrotropical species by the simple antennal stylus, simple apical bristles on fore tibia and presence of one row of long posteroventral bristles on fore tarsomeres 1 and 2, two to three times longer than width of segments. Plagiozopelma piliseta (Parent, 1936) is illustrated and reported from Burundi for the first time. Plagiozopelma ramiseta (Parent, 1939) is recorded from Liberia for the first time. A new identification key for all the 17 Afrotropical species of genus is provided.

Pedicelliops gen. nov., a new genus from West Africa with striking antennae (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae)

A new genus of Baetidae, Pedicelliopsgen. nov., and a new species, P. capillifersp. nov., are described from Guinea (West Africa) based on larvae. The new genus is characterized by having strongly enlarged pedicelli and very short flagella, a brush of dense, short setae between prostheca and mola of both mandibles, a small rectangular labrum, an apicolaterally pointed maxillary palp, a labial palp with a small distolateral protuberance and long setae ventrally on glossae and paraglossae. The femora of all legs are covered with numerous long, fine setae. The patellotibial suture is absent on the fore tibia and present on middle and hind tibiae. The claw is pointed with two rows of denticles. No spines are present on the posterior margins of the abdominal tergites. The imago remains unknown and the relationships with other African genera of Baetidae remains tentative. Despite being easily identifiable and of a fairly large size (body length ca. 5 mm), only two larvae were found in two highly sampled localities in West Africa.

Evolution and plasticity of morph-specific integration in the bull-headed dung beetle Onthophagus taurus.

Developmental and evolutionary processes underlying phenotypic variation frequently target several traits simultaneously, thereby causing covariation, or integration, among phenotypes. While phenotypic integration can be neutral, correlational selection can drive adaptive covariation. Especially, the evolution and development of exaggerated secondary sexual traits may require the adjustment of other traits that support, compensate for, or otherwise function in a concerted manner. Although phenotypic integration is ubiquitous, the interplay between genetic, developmental, and ecological conditions in shaping integration and its evolution remains poorly understood. Here, we study the evolution and plasticity of trait integration in the bull‐headed dung beetle Onthophagus taurus which is characterized by the polyphenic expression of horned (‘major’) and hornless (‘minor’) male morphs. By comparing populations subject to divergent intensities of mate competition, we tested whether mating system shifts affect integration of traits predicted to function in a morph‐specific manner. We focussed on fore and hind tibia morphology as these appendages are used to stabilize major males during fights, and on wings, as they are thought to contribute to morph‐based differences in dispersal behavior. We found phenotypic integration between fore and hind tibia length and horn length that was stronger in major males, suggesting phenotypic plasticity in integration and potentially secondary sexual trait compensation. Similarly, we observed that fore tibia shape was also integrated with relative horn length. However, although we found population differentiation in wing and tibia shape and allometry, populations did not differ in integration. Lastly, we detected little evidence for morph differences in integration in either tibia or wing shape, although wing allometries differed between morphs. This contrasts with previous studies documenting intraspecific differentiation in morphology, behavior, and allometry as a response to varying levels of mate competition across O. taurus populations. We discuss how sexual selection may shape morph‐specific integration, compensation, and allometry across populations.

The mitochondrial genome of Hemipenthes neimengguensis (Diptera: Bombyliidae)

The species of genus Hemipenthes can be easily identified by the following characters: wing with extensive infuscate pattern reaching hind margin basally and at least half as long as wing; antennal flagellum onion-shaped and not segmented; fore tibia smooth or with a few weak bristles. In this study, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the bee fly, Hemipenthes neimengguensis, has been annotated for the first time in the subfamily. The circular genome is 15,405 bp in length with an A + T content of 72.7%, and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, and a partial control region (573 bp). All genes have similar locations and strands with that of other published Diptera. Phylogenetic analysis shows that Hemipenthes neimengguensis + Geron pallipilosus (Bombyliidae) were herein corroborated to be a sister group. And they have very closely related to Leptogaster longicauda and Satanas sp. which belong to the family Asilidae. Our results show the location of genus Hemipenthes in Bombyliidae and the location of the family in Brachycera, and provide data for further study of phylogeny in Diptera.