Male Cerci Research Articles

Melanoneura agasthyamalaica sp. n. (Odonata, Platycnemididae) from the Western Ghats, India

Melanoneura Fraser, 1922 is a genus of damselflies which was, to date, regarded as monotypic. It is represented by the nominate species, Melanoneura bilineata Fraser, 1922 which is endemic to the Western Ghats in India. We describe the population of Melanoneura in the Agasthyamalai landscape of the Western Ghats as a species new to science based on differences in the structure of male cerci, mesostigmal plates, genital ligulae, and the structure and marking of the prothorax. Subtle differences in body markings are also documented. Further, we demonstrate a significant genetic distance (7.2–7.4%) between the new species and M. bilineata, based on mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I analysis. Our study combines morphological and genetic evidence to describe a new species belonging to the genus Melanoneura, cancelling its monotypic nature.

One new species the subgenus Liara (Liara) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae: Agraeciini) from Yunnan, China

This paper describes the fourth species of the subgenus Liara (Liara) from China, which can be distinguished from other Chinese species by the shape of male cerci and male phallus. All the specimens are deposited in Guangxi Normal University.

Variation of the Tegmen and Cercus in Sinopodisma rostellocerca (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae) with Proposal of a New Synonym.

Intraspecific variation is ubiquitous from individual traits to population level and plays an important role in a variety of fields. However, it is often ignored by systematists and comparative evolutionary biologists. In view of the limited knowledge of intraspecific variation, morphology-based identification has hindered the recognition of species borders and led to a great number of problems in the field of taxonomy and systematics. In this study, the intraspecific variation of the tegmen and cercus in Sinopodisma rostellocerca was examined, the variation patterns were summarized and the relationship between S. rostellocerca and S. hengshanica was discussed. The results showed that the intraspecific variation in the tegmen and male cercus was mainly manifested in the length and shape of the apical margin and dorso- and ventro-apical angles; this substantial variation occurred not only among intrapopulation individuals but also between the different sides of the same individuals, and all types of variation in S. hengshanica fell into the range of variation in S. rostellocerca, leading to the disappearance of the boundary between the two species. Therefore, S. hengshanica was herein considered as a new junior synonym of S. rostellocerca.

Rhinoceromyia, a peculiar new genus of long-legged flies from Guinea (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Dolichopodinae)

The genus Rhinoceromyia Grichanov gen. nov. is described from the tropical forest of southeastern Guinea to accommodate a new species, Rhinoceromyia dubrovskii Grichanov sp. nov. with a peculiar horn on the male face, a very unusual character in the Empidoidea. The secondary segmentation and articulation of the male cercus is also an extraordinary character in the Dolichopodidae. The new genus is placed in the subfamily Dolichopodinae and is considered close to the Afrotropical genus Afropelastoneurus Grichanov, differing from the latter in remarkable characters of head, wing and male genitalia.

Argia sertaneja sp. nov. (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from Northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Argia sertaneja sp. nov. (BRAZIL, Minas Gerais state, Chapada Gaúcha, Grande Sertão Veredas National Park, Vereda lodging (15.iv.2023, 15°11’14.7”S 45°41’01.7”W, 807 m asl, M.M. Souza leg., Coleção Biológica de Vespas Sociais—CBVS) is described, illustrated, and diagnosed. The new species can be separated from its congeners by the wide morphology of male cercus, and shape of female hind lobe of prothorax and mesostigmal lobes.

The taxonomic status of recently described Isophya taxa from Serbia (Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae)

During recent decades, increasing research of the taxonomy of the genus Isophya resulted in taxonomic descriptions of several new species. The delimitation of these species is mainly based on oscillographic song analysis of the male song in combination with morphological characters, such as the shape of male cerci, tegmina and ovipositor. In the present paper, we used an integrative taxonomic approach in order to resolve the status of four recently described Isophya taxa from Serbia. Based on our molecular and bioacoustic analyses, all analyzed taxa belong to a single species: Isophya modestior. The majority of the morphological characters used to differentiate the taxa showed strong intra- and interpopulational variability, proving that describing new species within the genus Isophya should not rely on morphological characters alone, but needs to consider bioacoustic analyses as the main tool and a larger series of specimens.

Four new species of the genus Phlugiolopsis (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae) from Guangxi, China

After examining newly obtained specimens and all the known species from Guangxi, we proposed four new species. They can be distinguished from other species by the male cerci and subgenital plates of both sexes. Based on the specimens deposited in Guangxi Normal University, the illustrations of all new species are provided.

A new species of Conocephalus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae) from Argentina with extraordinarily broad-band ultrasound calling song

Conocephalus tuyu sp. nov. belonging to Xenocerculus subgen. nov., is described from grassland among the sand dunes of the Atlantic coast of Buenos Aires Province. The unique species can be recognized by its extremely short wings, the reddish brown dorsal band, and the curious male cerci with a very long, inward-pointing spine at the tip. The entirely ultrasound calling song of the male shows an extraordinarily broad spectrum reaching 90 kHz. Ecology and possible distribution are discussed.

A new genus of Phlugidini (Insecta, Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Meconematinae) from the Atlantic Forest.

In the Neotropical Region, Phlugidini is the most diverse tribe of Meconematinae, with 62 valid species in 10 genera, six of them recorded from Brazil. Brachyphlugis gen. nov. is described herein based on two new species, Brachyphlugis longicercalis sp. nov. (type species) and Brachyphlugis curvata sp. nov., collected in Parque Nacional do Itatiaia and Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, both in the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro State. The new genus is most similar to Neophlugis, but it can be distinguished from the latter and other neotropical Phlugidini by the following combination of characteristics: (1) mandibles symmetrical; (2) tegmen extending beyond metanotum; (3) pronotal disk posterior margin convex; (4) tenth tergite strongly projected and downcurved; (5) male cercus pronounced with a larger base and acuminate apex; (6) paraproct modified with developed spine; (7) male subgenital plate with two distolateral projections connected to a pair of styles; and (8) female subgenital plate wider than long, posterior margin with two projections. An up-to-date key to neotropical Phlugidini genera is also provided.

Integrated taxonomy of the genus Atlanticus Scudder, 1894 in East China and re-evaluation of morphological characters of eight species (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae)

Abstract In previous taxonomic studies, identification of Atlanticus species was mainly based on male morphological features, such as cercus, tenth abdominal tergum and subgenital plate. In this study, we systematically revise eight Atlanticus species (61 individuals) in East China. We sequence COI genes of all samples for identification, and compare morphologies and male calling songs. The classification based on male cerci, calling songs, and COI genes is consistent. In contrast, the morphologies of male tenth abdominal tergum and subgenital plate varied among species. In addition, we regard A. jiangyei Liu, Wang & Cheng, 2016 as a junior synonym of A. pieli Tinkham, 1941, and A. helleri Liu, Wang & Cheng, 2016 as a junior synonym of A. kiangsu Ramme, 1939.

A new species of Asiophlugis (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phlugidini) from Misamis Oriental (Philippines, Mindanao)

A new species of Asiophlugis Gorochov, 1998 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Phlugidini) is described from southern Philippines, in Mindanao, Misamis Oriental, Gingoog City: Asiophlugis spatulata sp. nov. This new species is characterised by the long, slender and flattened male cercus, with a basal process spatulated at the apex, and with a tooth-like medial process produced along the inner margin; as well as the male tenth abdominal tergite with two long cylindrical latero-apical processes pointing dorsad and externally. This new species represents the second species of Asiophlugis to be recorded from the Philippines.

Four new species of the genus Thinophilus Wahlberg, 1844 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) with new records and a key to species known from India and adjacent regions

Four new species from India, Thinophilus calangutensis sp. n., T. poinguinimensis sp. n., T. sambharensis sp. n., and T. somnathensis sp. n., are described and illustrated. The new species differ from other similar congeners in the morphology of the male cercus and surstylus, as well as in the male secondary sexual characters on the legs. Four species are new for the fauna of India, two new for Malaysia, two new for Sri Lanka, and two species new for Thailand. An identification key to 11 species of Thinophilus known from India and adjacent countries is also provided.

Taxonomy of the Iberian species of Pseudochelidura (Dermaptera: Forficulidae)

Male cerci variability was used as the main source of information to separate taxonomic units in the genus Pseudochelidura. Based on these data it was considered that three species of Pseudochelidura coexisted in the Pyrenees: P. sinuata, P. minor and P. montuosa. However, our phylogeographic and phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data (mitochondrial cytb and nuclear ITS2) do not support those conclusions. Combining these analyses with morphological studies we concluded that: 1) the Pyrenees are inhabited by a single evolutionary unit: P. sinuata (Germar, 1825) (= P. minor Steinmann, 1979 syn. nov., = P. montuosa Steinmann, 1981 syn. nov.). 2) Cantabrian and Pyrenean populations are reciprocally monophyletic and morphologically diagnosable representing two independent evolutionary units: Pseudochelidura cantabrica Cuesta-Segura, Jurado-Angulo & García-París sp. nov. and P. sinuata. And, 3) their conservation status needs to be evaluated in the light of current taxonomic changes. We have shown that the use of male cerci for species identification is problematic. Patterns of variation possibly affected by sexual selection (e.g., intrapopulational variability) appear to be very difficult to separate from variation driven by natural selection or genetic drift (i.e., character divergence in geographical isolation). The large sequence divergence observed between Pyrenean and Cantabrian populations of Pseudochelidura suggest a lasting genetic and geographic isolation between them, rendering difficult to ascertain their phylogenetic relationships.

A new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from the Brahmagiri Hills, Kerala, India

A new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 is described from Brahmagiri hills of Coorg landscape of the Western Ghats in Peninsular India. The new species Protosticta francyisp. nov., is a congener of P. antelopoides Fraser, 1931 and P. ponmudiensis Kiran, Kalesh & Kunte, 2015, occupying a similar microhabitat, but distributed north of the major biogeographical divide, the Palghat Ga p. The new taxon is distinguished from all other Protosticta of Western Ghats by the presence of long prothoracic spines in the males, the structure of the tip of the male cerci and genital ligula. A revised key to the species of Protosticta of Western Ghats is provided based on mature males.

Revision of the genus Philmontis Willemse, 1966 and description of a new genus Philmontoides gen. nov. from New Guinea (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Conocephalinae).

The genera Philmontis Willemse, 1966 and Philmontoides gen. nov. are revised. Both genera are of similar general appearance and share a similar color pattern. They differ in the length of the male pronotum that covers the stridulatory area in Philmontis but leaves it free in Philmontoides, by the length of the prosternal spines, by the absence or presence of spines on the inner margin of the hind femur and the hind knees being provided with a single or with two apical spines. The male titillators of Philmontis are often elongate and rather simple, but always terminate into a small sclerotized disc that is missing in Philmontoides and in which the titillators of most species show striking modifications of the apical areas differing among species. The ovipositor is regularly curved to an acute end in Philmontis but has the dorsal valves expanded around mid-length in Philmontoides. The affinity of Nicsara forcipata Willemse, 1966 with the type species of Philmontis (P. nigrofasciatus Willemse, 1966) is confirmed on basis of the homology of the male cerci and titillators in both species. P. minimus Willemse, 1966, originally described as forma of P. nigrofasciatus, is given full species status. Eleven species are described as new in the genus Philmontis Willemse, 1966: Philmontis angustus sp. nov., P. murmur sp. nov., P. banz sp. nov., P. flexus sp. nov., P. extensus sp. nov., P. spinosus sp. nov., P. angulatus sp. nov., P. profusus sp. nov., P. robustus sp. nov., P. pandus sp. nov. and P. pumilus sp. nov.Lobaspis hageni Dohrn, 1905 is selected as type species of the genus Philmontoides gen. nov. Two species, Nicsara affinis Willemse, 1966 and Philmontis lobatus Naskrecki Rentz, 2010, are newly combined with Philmontoides. Six species are described as new in that genus: Philmontoides globosus sp. nov., P. disjunctus sp. nov., P. striatus sp. nov., P. geminus sp. nov., P. commodus sp. nov., P. wau sp. nov.

Description of a New Species of the Genus Yalvaciana Ciplak, 2002 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae) from Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir India.

A new species, Yalvaciana taylaniensis Shah & Usmani is described from Kashmir, India. This is the third species in the genus Yalvaciana. The new species is differentiated from other two species in the absence of spine on the apex of male cerci and 10th abdominal tergite; the shape of female subgenital plate and last abdominal tergite is different from other two species. Brief discussion about morphology and distribution is given. We include a key to species in the genus Yalvaciana. The holotype has been deposited in the Museum of Zoology Department, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh Uttar Pradesh, India.

A new genus and two new species of Azeliinae from China (Diptera: Muscidae).

A new genus, Chuntiania Xue, gen. nov., including two new species, namely Chuntiania scutiseta Xue, sp. nov. and Chuntiania fuchaooi Xue Yang, sp. nov., is described from China. A key to the genera of Azeliinae of China is provided, and a morphological comparison diagram of the male cercus of Chuntiania gen. nov. and Potamia Robineau-Desvoidy is added.

Nuevo registro estatal de Skalistes lugubris (Dohrn, 1862) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) para México

The earwig Skalistes lugubris (Dohrn, 1862) is reported for the first time within the Estado de México, Mexico. The taxonomic importance structures and allometry of the male cerci are illustrated.

Six new species of Amblypsilopus Bigot (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Sciapodinae) and a key to species of the Afrotropical mainland

Six new species of Amblypsilopus Bigot, 1888 from the Afrotropical region are described and illustrated: A. gabonensis sp. nov. from Gabon, A. martini sp. nov., A. mufindiensis sp. nov. and A. udzungwensis sp. nov. from Tanzania, A. milleri sp. nov. from South Africa, and A. spiniscapus sp. nov. from Ivory Coast. Amblypsilopus gabonensis sp. nov. and A. spiniscapus sp. nov. are remarkable in having a setose antennal scape. Amblypsilopus martini sp. nov. and A. mufindiensis sp. nov. are peculiar in bearing very long setae on the antennal pedicel, mesonotum and scutellum. Amblypsilopus milleri sp. nov. is considered a member of the South African A. fasciatus species group despite its unmodified wing venation. The new species differ also from other similar representatives of the genus in the morphology of the male cercus and the male secondary sexual characters on the legs. The male of A. bevisi (Curran, 1927) is described for the first time. The following species described from females are considered doubtful (nomina dubia): A. flavicollis (Becker, 1923), A. rectangularis (Parent, 1937), A. sudanensis (Parent, 1939) and A. tropicalis (Parent, 1933). Amblypsilopus subfascipennis (Curran, 1926) has a strongly sinuate wing vein dm-m and is transferred to Chrysosoma Guérin-Méneville, 1831 (comb. nov.). Chrysosoma ungulatum Parent, 1941 from Príncipe with an almost straight vein dm-m is transferred to Amblypsilopus (comb. nov.). Chrysosoma centrale Becker, 1923 from Tanzania also has a straight wing vein dm-m and modified fore tarsus, being very close in habitus to A. steelei Grichanov, 1996, and is also transferred to Amblypsilopus (comb. nov.). Chrysosoma asperum Parent, 1933 from South Africa has the same characters, is almost identical to South African A. bevisi and is also transferred here to Amblypsilopus (comb. nov.) and newly synonymized with A. bevisi (syn. nov.). Presently, 66 reliable species of Amblypsilopus are known from the Afrotropical region, including 37 from the Afrotropical mainland. A revised identification key to males of species of the Afrotropical mainland is provided. New records are given for some known species. The species diversity of the Afrotropical fauna and variability of morphological characters in the genus Amblypsilopus are briefly discussed.

A taxonomic outline of the Poecilimon affinis complex (Orthoptera) using the geometric morphometric approach

The genus Poecilimon contains 145 species, widely distributed in the Palaearctic, among which the Poecilimon ornatus group has the greatest diversity in the Balkans. Despite several revisions of the genus, the systematics of the species group, and in particular, of the taxa associated with the species Poecilimon affinis, is still unsolved. Due to morphological similarity, P. affinis with its subspecies, P. nonveilleri and P. pseudornatus form the Poecilimon affinis complex. The aim of this study is to test the hypotheses of an outlined species complex, namely the P. affinis complex, within the P. ornatus group using morphological data. Geometric analysis was conducted to explore variation in the structure of the male tegmen, ovipositor, male cercus, and male pronotum. The number of teeth and stridulatory file measurements provided additional information on morphological variation within the complex. A phylogenetic tree based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) was used for comparison with the morphological data. Canonical variate analysis showed that male tegmen and male cercus are good morphostructures to distinguish the taxa belonging to the P. affinis complex from other species in the P. ornatus group. This may confirm our assumption for the designation of the P. affinis complex. The results of the principal component analysis of stridulatory file measurements, molecular data, and CVA of the ovipositor suggest adding two additional species to the complex: P. ornatus and P. hoelzeli.