Hind Coxae Research Articles

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.

Intraspecific Variability in Trionymus aberrans Goux, 1938 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) with Description of the Second-Instar Nymph.

The morphological characteristics of adult females of Trionymus aberrans Goux, 1938 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) collected from post-industrial wastelands and other habitats in Poland and other countries were studied. Distinctive morphological variations were observed in the specimens from post-industrial wastelands in Poland. Scanning electron micrographs of the morphological characters of T. aberrans are provided. The presence of unusual pores, each with four loculi, was demonstrated for the first time in a species of Pseudococcidae. The importance of introducing additional morphological characters into the species description is discussed. New data on the frequency and host preferences of T. aberrans are also provided. This research is the first long-term study on scale insect species in post-industrial wastelands. The second-instar nymph of T. aberrans is described and illustrated and the presence of translucent pores on the hind coxae of this developmental stage is reported for the first time.

A new species of Thinophilus Wahlberg (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Hydrophorinae) from coastal India with re-description of Thinophilus tesselatus Becker (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Hydrophorinae).

A new peculiar species of marine dolichopodid fly from West Bengal, India is described: Thinophilus maritimus Mukherjee & Pramanik sp. nov. COI barcodes of the new species were compared to other available Thinophilus sequences. Despite the lack of lateral setae on its hind coxa, this species clusters within the Thinophilus group. Males of Thinophilus tesselatus Becker, 1922 were also obtained from the same area, and a detailed redescription of the species is presented here. A checklist of 70 Oriental Thinophilus species is also provided.

Priopoda macrophyae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ctenopelmatinae), a new species of parasitoid of Macrophya satoi (Tenthredinidae), a serious pest of Japanese ash tree (Oleaceae).

A new species, Priopoda macrophyae sp. nov., is described. This species is an important parasitoid of a serious pest of Japanese ash (Fraxinus japonica), Macrophya satoi Shinohara & Li, 2015. This species resembles P. otaruensis (Uchida, 1930) in the black colouration of the hind coxa, hind femur, and all metasomal tergites, but can be clearly distinguished by the length of the malar space, the smooth interspace of the punctures on the mesopleuron, the large smooth area of the speculum, the complete and strongly raised propodeal carinae, and the length of the first metasomal tergite. The bionomics of this species is also noted. The host record of this species is also the first record for Asian species of this genus.

‘Social glands’ in parasitoids? – convergent evolution of metapleural glands in Hymenoptera

AbstractFor over a century, the metapleural gland, an exocrine gland above the hind coxa, has been thought to be a unique structure for ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and regarded as a catalyst for the ecological and evolutionary success of the family. This gland is one of the most researched exocrine glands in arthropods and its anatomy, ultrastructure, and chemistry are well documented. Herein, we describe an exocrine gland from the proctotrupoid wasp Pelecinus polyturator (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae) with a similar position, structure, and chemistry to the ant metapleural gland: it is located just above the hind coxa, corresponds to an externally concave and fenestrated atrium, is composed of class 3 gland cells, and its extract contains relatively strong acids. We discover that the pelecinid gland is associated with the dilator muscle of the first abdominal spiracle, a trait that is shared with ants, but remained overlooked, possibly due to its small diameter, or obfuscation by the extensive metapleural gland. We also provide a biomechanical argument for passive emptying of the gland in both taxa. Pelecinids and ants with metapleural glands share a close association with soil. The pelecinid metapleural gland might therefore also have an antiseptic function as suggested for ants. We examined 44 other Hymenoptera families and found no glands associated with the oclusor apodeme or any signs of external modification. Our results strongly indicate that this complex trait (anatomical & chemical) evolved independently in ants and pelecinid wasps providing an exceptional system to better understand exocrine gland evolution in Hymenoptera.

Two new species of the genus Thrips Linnaeus (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) in Japan, with a revised key to Japanese species of Thrips

Thrips coxalis sp. n. and T. spiranthicola sp. n. are described from Lespedeza buergeri and Spiranthes sinensis, respectively in Japan. Variation is discussed in campaniform sensilla on metascutum and abdominal tergite IX, also the distribution of microtrichia on hind coxae within Thripidae, and a revised key to Japanese species of Thrips is provided.

A new mealybug species in the genus Dysmicoccus Ferris (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), with a key to Chinese species

A new mealybug species, Dysmicoccus lushanensis Zhang, Wang & Watson sp. n. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), collected on the branches of Rhododendron simsii Planch. (Ericaceae) in Jiangxi Province, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to another species recorded feeding on Rhododendron, D. wistariae (Green 1923), in having small conical dorsal setae and most cerarii containing more than 2 conical setae, but differs from it in having each anal lobe cerarius(C18) with more than two conical setae, and translucent pores present on the hind femur and tibia. The new species also resembles D. finitimus (Williams 1994), which is only known to feed on palms (Arecaceae), in possessing anal lobe cerarius(C18) each with more than 2 conical cerarian setae, but differs in having minute, conical dorsal setae and in lacking translucent pores on the hind coxa. In addition, D. debregeasiae (Green 1922) is recorded from China for the first time. A key to the Chinese species of Dysmicoccus is provided.

A new species of the silverfish genus Allacrotelsa Silvestri, 1935 (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae) from Crimea

Allacrotelsa taurica sp. n. is described from Crimea. New species is most similar to the Mediterranean A. kraepelini (Escherich, 1905) but differs from latter by the body size, morphological peculiarities of the structure of labial palps, pronotum, prostenum, legs, and ovipositor. New species is characterized by body length 8–11 mm (vs. about 14 mm in A. kraepelini), ratio of length to width of apical article of labial palp 1.8–2.0 (vs. about 2.4), pronotum with 5 + 5 lateral trichobotria (vs. 3 + 3 trichobotria), ratio of length to width of prosternum 1.10 (vs. 0.80), ratio of length to width of hind coxa of legs about 1.6 (vs. 1.3), and ovipositor of new species includes 31–32 articles (vs. 35–38 articles in A. kraepelini).

A new species of Dicaelotus Wesmael (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae) parasitizing Asclerobia sinensis (Lepidoptera) in seed pods of Caragana spp.

A new species of Ichneumoninae, Dicaelotus caraganae Sheng & Li, sp. nov.,is described and illustrated. Specimens were reared from the cocoon of Asclerobia sinensis (Caradja, 1937) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae), from Hangjinqi, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The new species is characterized by face very short, median length shorter than clypeus; clypeus 2.9 × as wide as long, apical margin with weak median convex; area basalis of propodeum very short, lateral carinae indistinct; hind coxa partly irregularly black; fourth and subsequent metasomal tergites black. A key to species of Dicaelotus known in China is provided.

First description of males of Ensiferothrips wallacei Mound & Tree (Thripidae: Dendrothripinae) with variation in fore wing setae

The genus Ensiferothrips now includes four described species, it is similar to Dendrothrips in the structure of the abdominal tergites and hind coxae, also the position of the fore wing cilia, but the wing apex bears a stout seta, and the costal setae are very stout. It was originally known from New Caledonia based on a single species, E. primus Bianchi, but subsequently E. secundus Mound was described from Lord Howe Island on Smilax australis [Smilacaceae](Mound 1999). More recently, Mound and Tree (2016) described two further species, E. lamingtoni from Queensland, Australia on Quintinia sieberi [Grossulariaceae] and E. wallacei from Indonesia without host plant information. A single specimen of the later species has also been recorded from Hainan, China (Zhang et al. 2018). The genus is clearly tropical in distribution, from south China to northern Australia, revealing the strong connection between south China, southeast Asia and northern Australia. Little biological information is known of these species, though they seem to live on hard mature leaves (Mound Tree 2020). In this study, a series of specimens of E. wallacei was found from Hainan on Smilax sp. The first description of the male of this species is presented here, together with interesting variation in the chaetotaxy of the fore wings.

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.

Neotype designation and redescription of Sicus indicus Kröber, 1940 (Diptera: Conopidae)

A neotype is designated for Sicus indicusKrober, 1940, the original type material of which is lost. This species is accepted as valid (rev. stat.) and is redescribed and illustrated from material collected in the Kashmir Valley of the Western Himalayas of India. Sicus indicus is distinguished from other Sicus Scopoli, 1763 species primarily by the shape and configuration of the female theca, and also by the long ventral setulae on the hind femur which are otherwise only shared with the very dissimilar S. ferrugineus (Linnaeus, 1761). Two other species with very similar-looking thecae in the female, i.e. S. abdominalisKrober, 1915 and S. ogumae (Matsumara, 1916), are distinguished by differences in colouration, dusting and setulation, the latter particularly with respect to the small sclerite at the inner hind edge of the hind coxa. Sicus indicus is the only species of the genus definitely recorded from India to date, and is confined to the Himalayan region.

A new species of Sybistroma Meigen, 1824 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from China

A new species Sybistroma genriki sp. n. from the Yunnan province of China is described. It belongs to S. incisa group of species, differing from other species in mostly yellow antenna with arista-like stylus much longer than postpedicel; postpedicel elongated, much longer than wide, acute apically; stylus apical, with dark and white apical swelling; lower postocular setae white; legs mostly yellow except mostly black mid and hind coxae and brown-black distal spot on hind femur. A key to 11 species from Sichuan and Yunnan is provided, based mainly on male secondary sexual characters. The known distribution of the dolichopodine genus Sybistroma Meigen, 1824, is briefly discussed.

A new species of the Genus Adenissus (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Caliscelidae) from United Arab Emirates

Adenissus fuscus sp. nov. is described from Wadi Wurayah National Park in Fujairah Emirate of United Arab Emirates where it was collected on light during the night. Thus currently the genus Adenissus Linnavuori, 1973 is known after three species in Arabian Peninsula and A. fuscus sp. nov. is second species of the genus recorded from UAE. According to elongate coryphe A. fuscus sp. nov. is closely related to A. isinus Dlabola, 1980 described after a female from Hormozgan Province of Iran. A. fuscus sp. nov. well differs from A. isinus by smaller body size (female – 4.6 mm), brown general coloration, and longer fore wings reaching hind margin of abdominal tergite IV. Both A. isinus Dlabola and A. fuscus sp. nov. represent a distinct group within the Adenissus differs from other species of the genus by elongate coryphe and long rostrum reaching hind margin of abdominal sternum VII (other species of the genus have rostrum reaching just hind coxae). Male of A. fuscus sp. nov. (holotype) is characterized by wide phallobase, with denticated lateral margins and many denticles on ventral side, pygofer with spine-shaped process in its upper part which arises on inner side, and suspensorium with large horn-shaped process, pointed apically. A key to distinguish A. isinus Dlabola from A. fuscus sp. nov. is given.

Discovery of Venezolanoconnus in Costa Rica (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)

Venezolanoconnus is a small glandulariine genus established by Franz (1988) to accommodate four species known to occur only in Venezuela. Jałoszyński (2012) revised Venezolanoconnus, illustrated and described its morphological structures, redefined the genus and transferred one of the Franz's species to Euconnus Thomson, 1859. Species included in this interesting genus resemble Euconnus in their general appearance and some morphological characters, but differ in the subcontiguous hind coxae, separated only by a pair of spines of the metaventral intercoxal process, single (and rudimentary) basal fovea on each elytron, and a unique structure of the aedeagus. The latter has the parameres not slender, as those in all species of Euconnus and most Glandulariini, but extremely broadened; they surround the median lobe in its proximal half and are fused to each other dorsally and meet along midline ventrally. The parameres are hyaline and their margins may be hardly discernible in ventral view; in lateral view the narrowing apical region of each paramere is well-visible, it bears several short setae distributed apically and subapically and at least partly shifted to the dorsal surface. Venezolanoconnus can also be recognized on the basis of an unusually swollen maxillary palpomere III and a very small palpomere IV; the mandibles lacking preapical teeth, the pronotum broadest behind middle, the head relatively small in relation to the pronotum and elytra, and the gradually thickened antennae.

Problematode: an enigmatic new genus of Membracidae (Hemiptera) with two new species from Venezuela

The new Neotropical genus Problematode gen. nov. is described and illustrated to accommodate two new closely related species from the Coastal Montane Forests of Venezuela, P. sakakibarai sp. nov. and P. inerme sp. nov. Problematode gen. nov. appears to be closely related to Euwalkeria Goding on the basis of the reticulate venation of the forewing and lack of posterior pronotal processes, and to Smergotomia Dietrich and Smerdalea Fowler in the configuration of the anal veins of the forewing. The widely separated mid- and hind coxae, exposing the thoracic ventral sternites, and the fused mesothoracic trochanter and femur are unique features of these taxa, which are considered of uncertain position within Membracidae.

Kryptosega Kimsey, 1986 (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae) is newly recorded genus from Oriental Region, with description of one new species.

The genus Kryptosega Kimsey 1986 was described in the subfamily Amiseginae with two new species, K. anomala Kimsey and K. kaindeana Kimsey from New Guinea (Kimsey 1986). Later third species K. mweramwera Villemant was described from Vanuatu (Villemant et al. 2012). The genus resembles Indothris Krombein, 1957 by having head with occipital carina, mesopleuron without scrobal sulcus, and hind coxa without dorsobasal carina, but differs from the latter by having metanotum without median enclosure, and propodeum rounded posterolaterally (Kimsey & Bohart 1991). Amiseginae are the parasites of the eggs of walking stick insects (Phasmida) and can be found in the low vegetation or leaf litter (Kimsey & Bohart 1991). However, the biology of Kryptosega is still unknown (Villemant et al. 2012).

Beetles (Coleoptera) of Peru: A Survey of the Families. Carabidae

Diversity: 23 tribes, 131 genera, 721 species. The family Carabidae, commonly known as “Ground Beetles,” is one of the ten largest beetle families and is the largest family in the coleopteran suborder Adephaga. This family was erected by Latreille in 1802 at which time it contained 29 genera. Today, the Carabidae contains an estimated 39,000 described species, in ca. 100 tribes and 1860 genera (Lorenz, 2005). Modern classifications of the Carabidae include groups that were previously ranked as families, such as Cicindelidae, Omophronidae, Paussidae, and Rhysodidae. Recognition: All adult carabids possess three features which distinguish them from other terrestrial beetles: the hind coxae are fixed in place, the hind coxae divide the first visible sternite of the abdomen, and they have an internal pair of glands in the abdomen used for generating defense chemicals. These glands cannot be seen externally; however, their use produces distinctive and powerful sprays and odors in many carabid lineages. Two carabid lineages, the Brachinini and Paussinae, are known as “Bombardier and False bombardier beetles, respectively” since they have the ability to explosively discharge defensive chemicals at temperatures of 55–100uC (Aneshansley et al., 1969). This type of defensive system is unique among the beetles (Bousquet and Larochelle, 1993).

Three new species of the subfamily Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Vietnam

Three new species of the subfamily Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Vietnam

Jumping mechanisms in flatid planthoppers (Hemiptera, Flatidae)

The jumping performance of three species of hemipterans from Australia and Europe belonging to the family Flatidae was analysed from images captured at a rate of 5000 s(-1). The shape of a flatid was dominated by large triangular or wedge-shaped front wings, which, when folded, covered and extended above and behind the body to give a laterally compressed and possibly streamlined appearance. The body lengths of the three species of adults ranged from 7 to 9 mm and their mass from 8 to 19 mg. The propulsive hind legs were 30% longer than the front legs but only 36-54% of the body length. Jumps with the fastest take-off velocities of 2.8-3.2 m s(-1) had acceleration times of 1.4-1.8 ms. During such jumps, adults experienced an acceleration of 174-200 G: . These jumps required an energy expenditure of 76-225 μJ, a power output of 13-60 mW and exerted a force of 9-37 mN. The required power output per mass of jumping muscle in adults ranged from 24,000 to 27,000 W kg(-1) muscle, 100 times greater than the maximum active contractile limit of normal muscle. The free-living nymphs were also proficient jumpers, reaching take-off velocities of 2.2 m s(-1). To achieve such a jumping performance requires a power amplification mechanism. The energy store for such a mechanism was identified as the internal skeleton linking a hind coxa to the articulation of a hind wing. These pleural arches fluoresced bright blue when illuminated with UV light, indicating the presence of the elastic protein resilin. The energy generated by the prolonged contractions of the trochanteral depressor muscles was stored in distortions of these structures, and the rapid elastic recoil of these muscles powered the synchronous propulsive movements of the hind legs.