Forewing Research Articles

Sebaran dan Karakter Morfologi Lebah Madu Hutan Apis dorsata (F.) di Pulau Sermata Kabupaten Maluku Barat Daya

This study aims to determine the distribution and morphological characteristics of the forest bee (Apis dorsata F.) on Sermata Island, Southwest Maluku Regency. The research was conducted in Pupliora Village, Mahaleta Village, Rumkisar Village and Batu Gajah Village on Sermata Island from November to December 2021. The method used in this study was a survey methode on each nest of A. dorsata [F.] forest honeybees on Sermata Island. The results showed that the distribution of Apis dorsata F. forest honey bee hives found on Sermata Island was 51 active nest colonies and 37 inactive nests, at an altitude of 38-215 m asl, with nesting sites found, namely mango trees, breadfruit trees, banyan trees, salawaku trees and rock cliffs. For heights from the ground surface ranging from 4-29 m. The average size of the morphometric characters of Apis dorsata worker bees found was body length 2.0-2.2 cm, head width 0.4-0.5 cm, body length 2.0-2.2 cm, head width 0.4-0.5 cm, head 0.4-0.6 cm. Front wing length 1.3-1.4. The size of the hind wings is 0.9 cm, and the length of the hind legs is 1.1-1.2 cm.

A gynandromorph of the stonefly Amphinemura zonata (Okamoto, 1922) (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) from Japan.

A gynandromorph of Amphinemura zonata (Okamoto, 1922) collected from Matsubara-izumi Pond in Japan is described and illustrated as the first report in the genus. The specimen exhibits bilateral gynandromorphism on abdominal sterna 79 and the paraprocts. Male features occur on the right half and female features on the left half. In addition, the gynandromorph is predominantly female as it retains female features on the dorsal male half of the abdomen, has eggs in the abdomen, has female-length fore wings, and lacks main male features such as an epiproct and a hypoproct on sternum 9.

Caradiophyodidae, a New Family of Micro-Wasps (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea) Based on the Description of Caradiophyodus saradae gen. et sp. nov. in Mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber.

The female micro-wasp in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described as a new genus and species in the extinct family Caradiophyodidae fam. nov. (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea). Features of the specimen are its small body size (1.3 mm), no elbows, elongated, 15-segmented antennae, a deep cleft in the top of its head, a tarsal formula of 5-5-5, a reduced venation with a small pterostigma but no uncus in the forewing, no anal lobe in the hind wing, and a possible coiled ovipositor in the metasoma. Large unidentified expanded structures, considered to be possible seeds, plant secretions, or host eggs, are attached to each antenna.

A new and unusual Digonocryptus Viereck (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae,Cryptinae), with notes on two other rare species.

Digonocryptus magnus sp. nov., from French Guyana, is described and illustrated, and new records, morphological and morphometric data are presented for two other rare species, D. coloratus (Szpligeti, 1916), registered for the first time from Colombia, and D. zatheos Aguiar & Santos, 2012. The new species is characterized by having the apical margin of the clypeus straight, medially with a small tooth, propodeal apophyses stout, scale-shaped, fore wing with ramellus, areolet about as wide as high, nearly quadrate, 2r-m as long as the mostly spectral 3r-m, T1basally with a distinct lateral rounded flange, and the longest ovipositor of the genus. The study employs morphological character coding combined with a reanalysis of published molecular data to investigate the phylogenetic placement of D. magnus. The results suggest that it may represent a borderline species within Digonocryptus or potentially a new genus, although further investigation is required due to limited available material and inconclusive data.

A remarkable palaeodiversity of the lacewing family Corydasialidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the mid-Cretaceous of northern Myanmar

Corydasialidae is one of the extinct families of Neuroptera, currently comprising four genera and six species from several Cretaceous and Eocene deposits. Here we describe two new genera, Paracratochrysa gen. nov. and Simplicorydasialis gen. nov., and four new species, Paracratochrysa ternaria sp. nov., Paracratochrysa bifurcata sp. nov., Simplicorydasialis fangyuani sp. nov. and Simplicorydasialis simplicivenia sp. nov., of Corydasialidae from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. Paracratochrysa gen. nov. resembles Cratochrysa Martins-Neto, 1994, but it differs from the latter genus by the costal crossveins distally forked. Simplicorydasialis gen. nov. can be distinguished from the other genera by the forewing MP1 and MP2 separated slightly proximal or distal to the origin of RP, and the RP with most branches simple in the fore- and hind wing. Furthermore, the male and female genitalia of the new corydasialids provide further evidence supporting the placement of Corydasialidae into Chrysopoidea.

Study of lift enhancing mechanisms via comparison of the flapping trajectory of tandem flapping foil

Designing an aero/hydrovehicle that mimics natural swimmers such as fish is a challenging task. In the present study, an attempt has been made to mimic the fish tail motion that generates the lift energy. Two fishtail trajectories are replaced with two National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 0012 foils in a tandem configuration for energy extraction. The energy induced due to lift force of the hind wing while flapping along fishtailed trajectory in single and tandem configurations is determined and compared with that of the simple flapping foil having heave and pitch motion only. The impact of various factors such as foil gap (G), phase angle (φ), and influence of Strouhal number (St) on the energy extraction performance is also investigated at a Reynolds (Re) number of 1173. The results show that a fishtail motion trajectory and foil gap ratio of 3c–4c (c being chord length) would enhance the energy extraction performance of the hindwing. The present research provides a new vision for the improvement of biomimetic power generators, as it aims to improve energy efficiency through the use of wake vortices.

The oldest dustywing (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) from the Lower Jurassic of Germany

Toarciconiopteryx dipterosimilis gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Lower Toarcian of Grimmen (Western Pomerania, Germany) based on a hind wing. This enigmatic wing superficially resembles a dipteran forewing, but analysis in detail establishes that it belongs to the Neuroptera. We assign it to the Coniopterygidae with great confidence by its great concordance with the hind wings of that family, but a small possibility remains that it might belong to the Dipteromantispidae, although the very derived haltere-like hind wings of all its known members are entirely unlike it. We, therefore, consider it to be the oldest record of Coniopterygidae. We create the new subfamily Toarciconiopteryginae subfam. nov. for it, which is distinguished from other Coniopterygidae by its hind wings possessing two branches of RP and a proximal forking of M. These conditions are also known in some Sialidae (Megaloptera), supporting the hypothesis that Coniopterygidae is the sister group of all other Neuroptera, as Megaloptera is considered by most authors to be sister to Neuroptera. New interpretations of some aspects of the Coniopterygidae venation are proposed.

Characteristics Morphology and Morphometry Lepidotrigona terminata (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in Central Sulawesi

Stingless bees are eusocial bees belonging to the Apidae family and the Meliponini subfamily. This study aims to describe the morphological and morphometric and nest structure characteristics of Stingless bee Lepidotrigona terminata from Parigi Moutong Regency. This study used the roaming method with a purposive sampling technique. Obtained morphological and morphometry data were analyzed using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method with PAST4 software. The morphological characters of Lepidotrigona terminata had a dominant black body, on the thorax, black scutum and scutellum covered with brown hair and yellow packaging on the edges. The tegula is brown, the tibia on the legs is black, the hind tibia is slightly hairy (plumose), antennae with 11 flagellomeres, the number of hamuli is 8. The most dominant character in the formation of seven groups of stingless bees in this study were Hamuli Number (HN), Fore Wing Length (FWL), and Length of Forewing Including Tegula (WL1). There are differences in character size compared to the same or different species in other areas.

DEVELOPMENTAL PARAMETERS OF TRILOCHAVARIANS (LEPIDOPTERA: BOMBYCIDAE); A PEST OF WEEPING FIG, FICUSBENJAMINA IN PAKISTAN

The developmental parameters of Trilochavarianswere studied on weeping fig, Ficusbenjamina at 26°C ± 1.0 temperature and 65±5% relative humidity. The study showed that female laid 160-270 eggs in 2-6 layers on the dorsal side of the leaves. Some unmated female also laid 15-183 eggs in groups which never developed into larvae. 24 hours prior to hatching, the eggs turned black. Egg incubation period was 3.46±1.22 days on F. benjamina. The high fecundity increased the survival rate of T. varians.There were five larval instars which recorded in this study period. Last two instars caused more damage due to resemblance to hosts parts such as bark. There was a short, fleshy horn on the ninth abdominal segment. The developmental time of first, second, third, fourth and fifth larval instars was 2.44±0.82, 3.56±0.53, 3.72±0.26, 4.54±0.79 and 6.20±0.78 days, respectively. Boat shaped and yellow silken pupation was usually observed. The male and female mean longevity was 6.0 ± 1.171 and 11.4 ± 1.70 days. The dorsal side of the female forewings had pale reddish brown lines. The thorax, head, and abdomen of the female had darker reddish brown coloring than those of the male. Adult hind wings had reddish brown outer edges and were grayish in color. The average lifespan for male and female was 6.23±2.09 and 10.01±0.99 days, respectively. Thecurrent paper will lead to proper management practices for this pest

An extraordinary case of elytra loss in Coleoptera (Elateroidea: Lycidae): discovery and placement of the first anelytrous adult male beetle

AbstractInsects are one of the few groups of animals that developed the ability of active flight. Such mobility allowed the group to successfully explore and thrive in nearly all kinds of ecological niches. At the same time, during the evolutionary history of insects, due to high costs of wing development, flight was lost independently in many groups. In beetles, the reduction or complete loss of hind wings has been reported in multiple lineages, especially in several extreme paedomorphic and larviform females, mainly in Elateroidea, in which not only the hind wings but also the elytra are lost. However, the complete absence of elytra in adult males was hitherto unknown, despite nearly half a million described species in Coleoptera. In this study, we report the discovery of Xenomorphon baranowskii gen. et sp. nov., the first completely anelytrous and wingless adult male beetle, belonging to the family Lycidae (Coleoptera: Elateroidea). Xenomorphon baranowskii is illustrated, described, and provisionally placed in Calopterini, based on our morphology-based phylogenetic analyses. We discuss the possible scenarios that could lead to such a rare event, when a beetle loses its elytra, and its evolutionary consequences.

Body size-dependent effects on the distribution patterns of phoretic mite species assemblages on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790).

Phoretic mites attach to different body parts of the red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790), to disperse. However, the question of how the patterns of attachment sites are formed remains intriguing. Here, we examined RPW-associated phoretic mites in four districts in Northern Portugal (macrohabitat), and investigated the patterns of mite distribution on six body parts of RPW (microhabitat). At the macrohabitat level, we detected seven phoretic mite taxa using the RPW host in each of the four studied districts, all documented for the first time in association with this invasive exotic species in Portugal. However, their relative abundance (species evenness) varied between districts, as did species diversity. All examined weevils carried mites, and the prevalence of the different taxa did not differ between districts or sex of weevils. Measured by mean abundance and degree of aggregation, Centrouropoda sp. proved to be the dominant taxon, while Acarus sp. and Curculanoetus rhynchophorus were considered common subordinate taxa and Uroovobella sp., Mesostigmata, Nenteria extremica and Dendrolaelaps sp. sparse taxa. At the microhabitat level, all taxa were present on all body parts of the RPW; the highest abundance was in a region encompassing the inner surface of the elytra and the membranous hind wings (subelytral space). Analysis of niche overlap revealed that the distribution patterns of phoretic mite taxa on the RPW were not randomly structured. In the subelytral space, interspecific coexistence of mites increased as a function of body size difference with the dominant Centrouropoda sp. We found that in the subelytral space the large dominant species Centrouropoda sp. displaced the larger species Uroobovella sp. and the similarly sized species Nenteria extremica, but coexisted with smaller taxa.

Beyond winglets: evolutionary scaling of flight-related morphology in stick insects (Phasmatodea)

Abstract The first winged insects evolved from a wingless ancestor, but details of the transition to a fully-winged morphology remain unclear. Studying extant pterygotes with partial wings, such as the stick insects (order Phasmatodea), may help us to understand such a transition. Here, we address how a series of flight-related morphological parameters may correlate with flight evolution by studying different phasmids representing a volancy continuum ranging from miniaturized to full-sized wings. Variation in phasmid wing shape, venation, wing mass and the mass of flight muscle can be described by specific scaling laws referenced to wing length and wing loading. Also, the mass distribution of the body-leg system is conserved in spite of a wide range of variation in body shape. With reduced wing size and increased wing loading, the longitudinal position of the wing-bearing thoracic segments is shifted closer to the insects’ centre of body mass. These results demonstrate complex reconfiguration of the flight system during wing morphological transitions in phasmids, with various anatomical features potentially correlated with reduced flight performance attained with partial wings. Although these data represent phasmid-specific features of the flight apparatus and body plan, the associated scaling relationships can provide insight into the functionality of intermediate conditions between wingless and fully-winged insects more generally.

Origin of insect wings, metamorphosis, pupae and the maj or insect orders.

Although most discussions on the origin and evolution of insect wings and metamorphosis have assumed that the ancestors of winged insects were terrestrial, it now seems possible that they were actually aquatic. Changing the basic assumptions affects our interpretations of the origin of metamorphosis and our understanding of insect diversity. It is argued that the ancestors of winged insects were similar to primitive mayflies, developing from aquatic larvae into terrestrial adults, and that metamorphosis originated as an inevitable consequence of an amphibiotic life cycle. It is suggested that the first pupae resembled those of Megaloptera.

Morphological study of the cotton seed bug, Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa, 1847) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) in some localities of Kurdistan region– Iraq

This study introduces a morphological description of cotton seed bug, Oxycarenus hyalinipennis Hemiptera – Lygaeidae, which were collected in some localities of Kurdistan region- Iraq through the period of April till December of 2021. The species identified according to same diagnosed characters; mouthparts approximately dark brown. Piercing sucking type mouthpart with elongate proboscis extending in the middle of 3rd abdominal sternite. Maxilla needle shaped, slightly curved and the apical part. Labium four segmented, dark brown. Antennae nearly filamentous shaped with four antennomeres, 2nd antennomere tubular shaped, two times as long as the1st, 4th antennomere elongated oval,1.1 times as long as 3rd antennomere. Fore wings hemielytron type, the membranous part whitish color with four or five veins. Parameres nearly hook shaped. The important body parts antenna; rostrum; mouthparts, labrum, mandible, maxilla, labium; pronotum; fore wing; fore leg; eighth abdominal sternite and male genitalia were take pictures. Locations and date of collection were mentioned.

Two new genera and one new species of the tribe Adeshini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae) from India and South Africa.

Two new genera and one new species of the Braconinae tribe Adeshini are described and illustrated: Crenuladesha Ranjith & Quicke, gen. nov., type species Adeshanarendrani Ranjith, 2017, comb. nov. from India, and Protadesha Quicke & Butcher, gen. nov., type species Protadeshaintermedia Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov. from South Africa. The former lacks the mid-longitudinal propodeal carina characteristic of the tribe, and the latter displays less derived fore wing venation with two distinct abscissae of vein 2CU. A molecular phylogenetic analysis is included to confirm their correct placement. Since neither of the two new genera displays all of the characters given in the original diagnosis of the Adeshini a revised diagnosis is provided, as well as an illustrated key to the genera.

New petalurid dragonfly (Odonata: Aktassiidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of northern China

A new species Pseudocymatophlebia bisecta sp. nov. (Odonata: Aktassiidae) is described from the Lower Cretaceous of China. It is assigned to this family by the typical very dense wing venation with a distinctly increased number of cells in the regions of R and M, the area between RP3/4 and MA widened near the posterior wing margin on forewing, with more than three rows of cells; RP3/4 undulate and distally diverging from MA. Pseudocymatophlebia bisecta sp. nov. differs from the other two species of this genus by discoidal triangle two-celled, elongate and wide in both fore- and hind wings. In addition, a revision of the genus Pseudocymatophlebia has been proposed.

Host selection behavior of tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta (Drury) for oviposition

Aim: Seed production is the backbone of sericulture in India. In order to cater for the increased demand for seed (egg), the already prevailing seed production techniques need to replace with new and robust techniques. Therefore, the present study was designed to understand the oviposition preference of Antheraea mylitta and selected suitable host plants for future improvement of seed production. Methodology: Choice (nylon net cage) and no-choice (earthen cup) experiments were conducted to study the oviposition preference of A. mylitta on Shorea robusta, Terminalia tomentosa, T. arjuna, Ziziphus mauritiana, Careya arborea, Syzygium cumini and Buchanania lanzan. Mated female moths were released freely into the nylon cage to observe their oviposition preference in the choice test. Whereas, half of both fore wings and hind wings of mated female moths were excised and individually placed in an earthen cup for oviposition. The total number of eggs laid on the host plants in both experiments was recorded and analysed. Results: Mated females released freely within the cage have laid the majority of their eggs on the floor and net instead of their host plants. Among the host plants, the highest number of oviposition was recorded on the S. robusta, T. tomentosa and T. arjuna compared to other host plants. The highest number of eggs per moth was observed on T. tomentosa and followed by S. robusta, T. arjuna and Z. mauritiana, and exceeded the numbers of eggs in the control in the no-choice experiment. Interpretation: The study revealed that both S. robusta and T. tomentosa were highly preferred host plants of A. mylitta for oviposition. Therefore, the volatiles or feeding supplements of S. robusta and T. tomentosa may be identified and applied to A. mylitta during rearing and grainage to enhance seed production. Key words: Host plants, Oviposition preference, Sericulture, Tasar silkworm, Terminalia tomentosa

Fulgora

‘Fulgora’ sets aside identity politics to think through the production of gender and sexuality through a medium-based approach. It considers how gender and sexuality are communicated through the formal resonances and materiality of film and video. As a video artist and curator my practice critiques established ways of looking and classificatory logics. I understand gender as constituted in relationality and through shifting social worlds. This article outlines my latest curatorial project in which I critically embrace the figure of the fulgora (a species of winged insect) to generate idiosyncratic taxonomies that disrupt the presumed epistemological and ontological foundations of gender and sexuality.

Dumpyawnus hpungwanus gen. et sp. nov., the second genus and species of Katlasidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridoidea) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, northern Myanmar

The second genus and species of the planthopper family Katlasidae, Dumpyawnus hpungwanus gen. et sp. nov., is described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin (Burmese) amber. It can be definitely attributed to Katlasidae mainly based on its tegminal structure (e.g., costal area absent, clavus closed, tegmen widened at membrane, multiplied forked of ScP + RA, MP and CuA2, single CuA1, nodal line absent) and hind wing venation (e.g., ScP + RA, RP, MP and CuA with 3–5 terminals), but the new genus is clearly different from Katlasus Luo, Jiang et Szwedo, 2020, the type genus of Katlasidae, according to its wing venation (e.g., terminals of ScP + RA usually forked, MP with less terminals). The morphological features and placement of the new taxon are briefly discussed.

Cell lineage analysis reveals signal tracing and compartment characterisation in Drosophila haltere.

Insect halteres, as specialised hind wings, play an important role during aerial manoeuvres. In Drosophila, halteres and wings are homologous appendages with different morphology. Previous studies have focused on the metamorphosis of halteres, while current knowledge about its cell lineage and regional compartmentalization is still limited. In this study, we performed cell-lineage tracing of canonical landmark signals in halteres and present a simple model for haltere development. Cell lineage tracing in wings was used as a reference. The nub showed wing-like expressions in halteres, whereas hth and pnr exhibited different expressions in adult wings and halteres. The lineage tracing revealed that the pouch region gives rise to end-bulb, and hinge cells contribute to proximal haltere formation. Moreover, we demonstrated that twi-expressing cells participate in the cell population of the distal end-bulb. Haematoxylin and eosin staining indicated that muscle cells were present at the distal end-bulb. These results indicated that adult halteres displayed unique cell lineage patterns and the muscle cells are important components of end-bulbs.