Male Genital Structures Research Articles

Two new genera and species of the Gigantometopini (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae, Isometopinae) from Borneo with remarks on the distribution of the tribe.

Two new genera, each represented by a single new species, Planicapitus luteus Taszakowski, Kim & Herczek, gen. et sp. nov. and Bruneimetopus simulans Taszakowski, Kim & Herczek, gen. et sp. nov., are described from Borneo. Detailed photographs of male habitus and genital structures are presented. The checklist with distributional records for all known taxa of Gigantometopini is also provided.

Comparative morphology of clasping structures in predator stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae): Insights into their function and evolution

Parameres are male genital structures found in many insects which are often used as clasping devices to exert dominance in copula. The asopines have evolved a remarkable additional pair of similar structures, often denominated processes, which combines with the parameres in a tweezers-like system. Processes in similar positions have also been found in other subfamilies of Pentatomidae, but smaller and less developed. Using scanning electron microscopy, we document the among-species variability found in the clasping structures in asopines. We first revealed a vast diversity of ornamentations, such as sensilla and microsculpture. When present, these ornamentations are invariably found on both, the parameres and processes, and often on the corresponding female parts, the valvifers VIII, indicating a functional role of attachment and sensory perception in copula for the ornamentations. We also show that the processes are drastically different between the Asopinae and non-asopines. Therefore, we suggest the term “pseudoclasper” for the Asopinae processes and “superior process of dorsal rim” for the remaining examined taxa. The pseudoclaspers are directly connected to and attached in the same place as the parameres in asopines, while the superior processes of dorsal rim and parameres are completely disconnected in other pentatomids. These results indicate a non-homologous origin between pseudoclaspers and superior processes of dorsal rim in Pentatomidae.

Morphological and Molecular Studies on Certain Species of Family Anthicidae (Order: Coleoptera) In Egypt

The Family Anthicidae are of the heteromerous group of beetles recognized by their superficial shape, which resembles ants and have an appearance of small carabids. Six species are compared within genera, Anthicus, Cyclodinus, Striticomus, and Omondus (Family: Anthicdae), the male genital structure used to represent morphological character and (RFLP) molecular data. The Subgenera, Cyclodinus, Striticomus, and Omondus were promoted to genera. The results revealed that the molecular data are emphasized the elevations of Cyclodinus, Striticomus, and Omondus, these subgenera to status genera. Whereas species not changed in its scientific name.

Description of immature stage and life history of Paraleprodera diophthalma (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Monochamiini), with its new distributional record

An Oriental genus Paraleprodera Breuning, 1935 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Monochamiini) is recognized for the first time in Korea, by a species Paraleprodera diophthalma diophthalma (Pascoe, 1857). We provide the description of male genital structure and immature stage of Paraleprodera. Diagnosis of the genus, redescription, biological information, and illustrations of P. diophthalma diophthalma are also provided.

Four new Australo-Oriental species of Paraneseuthia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae)

Abstract Four new species of the eutheiine genus Paraneseuthia Franz, 1986 are described: P. luzonica sp. nov. (the Philippines), P. kaibesariana sp. nov. (Indonesia: Kai Besar Is.), P. tanimbariana sp. nov. (Indonesia: Yamdena Is.), and P. morobensis sp. nov. (Papua New Guinea). Externally, these species share many characters with members of the SE Asian, Sundaland group within the genus. However, male genitalic structures of some of them resemble aedeagi of Australian Paraneseuthia, supporting previous phylogeographic hypotheses that assumed the origins of both north-eastern (Far Russian and Japanese) and south-eastern (Australian and Melanesian) Paraneseuthia from a Sundaland ancestor. The aedeagus of P. morobensis sp. nov. shows intermediary shape and structures between those of P. quadrifoveata Jałoszyński, 2010 of Borneo, Sabah, and that of P. levigata Jałoszyński, 2010 of eastern Papua New Guinea. The aedeagus of P. tanimbariana sp. nov., in turn, shows a striking similarity to that of the northern Australian P. angustifurculata Jałoszyński, 2013 and other species known to occur in Australia. The male genitalia of P. luzonica sp. nov. (the first species discovered in the Philippines), and especially of P. kaibesariana sp. nov., add unique features to the already known, great morphological diversity of the SE Asian members of Paraneseuthia that occupy the presumable evolutionary cradle of this genus.

Two New Species of Taygetina With a Possible Case of ‘Juxta Loss’ in Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

Abstract The male genitalic characters of Hexapoda are well known for their great taxonomic and systematic value. Despite insect male genitalia displaying large diversity, variation, and modification across orders, some structures are consistently present, and such characters can serve as the basis for discussion regarding homology. In the order Lepidoptera, a male genitalic structure widely known as the ‘juxta’ is present in many taxa and absence or modification of this character can be phylogenetically informative at the generic or higher level. We here focus on the systematics of the so-called ‘Taygetis clade’ within the nymphalid subtribe Euptychiina, and report an unusual case of ‘juxta loss’ in a single species, Taygetina accacioi Nakahara & Freitas, n. sp., a new species from Brazil named and described herein. Additionally, we describe another west Amazonian Taygetina Forster, 1964 species, namely Taygetina brocki Lamas & Nakahara, n. sp., in order to better document the species diversity of Taygetina. Our most up-to-date comprehensive molecular phylogeny regarding ‘Taygetis clade’ recovered these two species as members of a monophyletic Taygetina, reinforcing the absence of juxta being a character state change occurring in a single lineage, resulting in an apomorphic condition, which we report here as a rare case in butterflies (Papilionoidea).

First record of Hermatobatidae from China, with description of Hermatobates lingyangjiaoensis sp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera).

The family Hermatobatidae Poisson, 1965 is recorded for the first time from China and Hermatobates lingyangjiaoensis sp. n. is described. Photographs of the male and female habitus, legs, metasternum, and male genitalic structures, and scanning electron micrographs of the male metasternum and propleuron are provided. A key to all the species currently recognized in the H. weddi species group is presented. Distribution maps for the species of Hermatobates in China and Southeast Asia are also provided. Further, a photograph documenting the feeding of Hermatobates on Halovelia is presented for the first time to serve as direct evidence of the feeding habits of Hermatobates.

Lembakaria gen. nov. – a New Genus of Selizini from Madagascar Spiny Forest Ecoregion (Hemiptera: Fulgoromoprha: Flatidae)

A new genus of flatid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae), Lembakariagen. nov., is described for Lembakaria saintemariaesp. nov. (type species) and Lembakaria mikeaesp. nov. from the island of Madagascar. Habitus, male and female external and internal genital structures of the new species are illustrated. Lembakaria is probably endemic to Madagascar where it is known to date, only from a southern part of the island and is confined to the vegetation of Spiny Forest Ecoregion.

Tartan underlies the evolution of Drosophila male genital morphology

Male genital structures are among the most rapidly evolving morphological traits and are often the only features that can distinguish closely related species. This process is thought to be driven by sexual selection and may reinforce species separation. However, while the genetic bases of many phenotypic differences have been identified, we still lack knowledge about the genes underlying evolutionary differences in male genital organs and organ size more generally. The claspers (surstyli) are periphallic structures that play an important role in copulation in insects. Here, we show that divergence in clasper size and bristle number between Drosophila mauritiana and Drosophila simulans is caused by evolutionary changes in tartan (trn), which encodes a transmembrane leucine-rich repeat domain protein that mediates cell-cell interactions and affinity. There are no fixed amino acid differences in trn between D. mauritiana and D. simulans, but differences in the expression of this gene in developing genitalia suggest that cis-regulatory changes in trn underlie the evolution of clasper morphology in these species. Finally, analyses of reciprocal hemizygotes that are genetically identical, except for the species from which the functional allele of trn originates, determined that the trn allele of D. mauritiana specifies larger claspers with more bristles than the allele of D. simulans Therefore, we have identified a gene underlying evolutionary change in the size of a male genital organ, which will help to better understand not only the rapid diversification of these structures, but also the regulation and evolution of organ size more broadly.

New record of the genus Bambusiphaga (Hemiptera: Delphacidae: Tropidocephalini) from India with description of a new species.

The genusBambusiphaga Huang Ding is recorded from India for the first time andone new species B. unispina sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to B. taiwanensis (Muir) but can be separated by the male genitalic structure.

A new species of the plant bug genus Rubrocuneocoris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae) from Vietnam.

The genus Rubrocuneocoris Schuh is recognized from Vietnam for the first time, with a new species, R. vietnamensis n. sp. The new species is described and documented with images of the habitus and male genitalic structures. Male and female genitalic structures are described for R. albescens Yasunaga. Species of Rubrocuneocoris described from Taiwan are herein transferred to Atractotomoidea Yasunaga and the following new combinations are accordingly proposed: Atractotomoidea falcis (Lin 2006) n. comb., A. maculosus (Lin 2006) n. comb., A. nodus (Lin 2006) n. comb., and A. trifidus (Lin 2006) n. comb. A revised checklist of Rubrocuneocoris is presented.

New and rarely found species of asynaptine Porricondylinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in northern Europe.

An ongoing taxonomic inventory of mycophagous gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) in Sweden has revealed several previously unnamed species of asynaptine Porricondylinae, which are described here on the basis of male adults mostly from Malaise trap catches. The new species are classified and named as follows: Asynapta inflatoides sp. nov., A. rickebasta sp. nov., A. taigensis sp. nov., Camptomyia capitata sp. nov., C. hedmarki sp. nov., C. oldhammeri sp. nov., C. rhynchostylata sp. nov., and Stackelbergiella sikorai sp. nov. Specimens studied here prove the presence of both Asynapta inflatoides and A. taigensis in Finland, and of Stackelbergiella sikorai in Estonia. Other species new to the Finnish fauna are Asynapta thuraui Rübsaamen and Camptomyia ulmicola Mamaev, whereas Asynapta inflata Spungis has to be deleted from the Finnish checklist. Males of two species recorded in Sweden for the first time, and three species whose Swedish distribution is reconfirmed here, are redescribed: Asynapta baltica Spungis; A. inflata; Camptomyia fulva Mamaev; C. piptopori Panelius; and C. ulmicola. New junior synonyms recognized here are Niladmirara Fedotova syn. nov. (of Camptomyia Kieffer) and Asynapta panzari Jaschhof Jaschhof syn. nov. (of A. breviata Spungis). The genitalic morphology of male Asynaptini is reinterpreted to include two pairs of parameres in the ancestral ground pattern. The extraordinary diversity of male genitalic structures found in asynaptine genera is highlighted, along with considerations of how this source of information can be exploited for the benefit of classification. Small-area remnants of ancient, naturally grown forest are shown to support populations of previously unnamed species of Asynaptini.

Biological control of Gonipterus: Uncovering the associations between eucalypts, weevils and parasitoids in their native range

The study was initiated by the relative failure of the parasitoid Anaphes nitens in controlling the eucalypt weevil Gonipterus platensis on the Iberian Peninsula. Our aim was to gain insight into the community of Gonipterus egg parasitoids occurring in Tasmania. During surveys in 2016 and 2017, adult weevils and egg pods were collected from Eucalyptus trees in Tasmania. The weevils were identified using male genital structure and DNA extracted from hatched larvae. Parasitoids that emerged from the egg pods were identified, and trophic associations of egg parasitoids, weevils and host plants were analyzed. Five species of the Gonipterus scutellatus complex, to which G. platensis belongs, were found, including Gonipterus sp. 2, which is reported for the first time from Tasmania. Molecular analysis corroborated previous phylogenetic studies of this group of species. A sixth species, G. notographus, was also collected. Most species were found to overlap in distribution in Tasmania and, despite being oligophagous, to display selectivity among Eucalyptus species used as hosts: G. platensis and G. pulverulentus were mainly found on E. ovata, Gonipterus sp. 1 on E. nitens and E. globulus and G. notographus on ‘peppermint’ species (E. amygdalina and E. pulchella). Five egg parasitoid species were found associated with these Gonipterus species: Anaphes inexpectatus, A. nitens, A. tasmaniae, Cirrospilus sp. and Euderus sp., with no apparent host specialization. Anaphes nitens, Cirrospilus sp. and Euderus sp. were more frequently found on E. ovata, possibly associated with G. platensis and G. pulverulentus, which were dominant on this host species. Conversely, A. inexpectatus was dominantly found on peppermints (43%), suggesting a main association with G. notographus. Anaphes nitens was found at 23 locations out of 117 and in 2017 was the most abundant parasitoid obtained, with an average 20% parasitism rate, indicating that this species is undergoing a geographical and population expansion since its first report from Tasmania in 2012. These findings contribute to the understanding of the parasitoid-Gonipterus-Eucalyptus trophic relationship and stand to improve future classical biological control programs against G. platensis and other invasive Gonipterus species.

Faunistic, Ecological, Zoogeographical, and Systematic Evaluation of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) of the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey

In this study, the faunistic, ecological, and zoogeographical properties of Cerambycidae of the eastern Black Sea Region and also male genitalic structures of some species were examined for the first time in detail. In total, 62 species, 20 tribes, and 36 genera were identified. The Cerambycidae fauna of the eastern Black Sea region share many species with the Middle East and European part of the Western Palearctic.

Experimental evolution reveals divergence in female genital teeth morphology in response to sexual conflict intensity in a moth.

The rapid evolutionary divergence of male genital structures under sexual selection is well documented. However, variation in female genital traits and the potential for sexual conflict to drive the coevolution between male and female traits has only recently received attention. In many lepidopterans, females possess genital teeth (collectively, signa). Comparative studies suggest these teeth, involved in the deflation of spermatophores, may have coevolved with male spermatophore thickness via sexually antagonistic coevolution in a contest over the rate of deflation of spermatophores within the reproductive tract. We tested the hypothesis that sexual conflict should generate coevolution between genital teeth and spermatophore morphology by examining these traits under experimental manipulation of sexual conflict intensity. Using micro-CT scanning, we examined spermatophore and teeth morphology in populations of the Indian moth, Plodia interpunctella, which had been evolving for 110 generations under different adult sex-ratio biases. We found divergence in female signa morphology in response to sexual conflict: females from female-biased populations (reduced sexual conflict) developed wider signa. However, we found no evidence of coevolution between signa traits and spermatophore thickness as reported from comparative studies.

The systematics of Mantodea revisited: an updated classification incorporating multiple data sources (Insecta: Dictyoptera)

SummaryAfter a brief synopsis of the history of mantodean classification, a re-organized systematic arrangement of extant praying mantids is provided. To overcome past homoplasy problems, a phylogenetic framework based on male genital structure was used, supplemented by published morphological, chromosomal and molecular data. As already noticed by previous authors, external morphology is highly homoplastic and does not provide useful systematic tools above subfamily level. In contrast, the morphology of male external genitalia is largely congruent with the results of recent molecular phylogenies, but contradicts the most widely used past systems. Additionally, some genital structures widely used for taxonomic purposes could be shown to be not homologous, most notably the distal process. Evolutionary transitions of the distal process and the phalloid apophysis across the mantodean phylogenetic tree are identified and named. The phalloid apophysis of many derived mantodeans shows a tendency towards bifurcation into an anterior and a posterior lobe. This and other observed genital traits are hypothesized to be an adaptation of males towards a stable copulatory grasp in groups exhibiting increased sexual dimorphism, associated with an increased risk for the male to be cannibalized during copulation. Genital characters allowed most genera to be unambiguously assigned to the major clades (superfamilies) recovered by our genital and previous molecular data. The few exceptions concern genera with secondarily simplified genitalia lacking diagnostic structures. Taxonomic literature is very heterogeneous, and several subfamilies yet lacking any modern revisionary treatment will need further refinement. To account for phylogenetic constraints, i.e. correct for past polyphyletic groupings, the number of families was elevated to 29, and the number of subfamilies to 60. We establish the new family Leptomantellidae, the new subfamilies Brancsikiinae and Deiphobinae, the new tribes Leptomiopterygini, Hagiomantini, Gonypetellini, Bolbellini, Epsomantini, Neomantini, Amantini, Armenini, Danuriellini, Deiphobini, Cotigaonopsini, Didymocoryphini, Oxyelaeini, Heterochaetulini, Rhodomantini and Pseudoxyopsidini, and the new subtribes Amphecostephanina, Bolbina, Tricondylomimina, Gonypetyllina, Antistiina, Toxomantina and Tarachomantina. New morphological diagnoses are provided for the currently recognized families. Despite a few yet to be solved problems, this work offers the urgently needed working base for future studies in Mantodean systematics, life history and ecology.

Functional morphology of Trichadenotecnum male and female genitalia analyzed using μCT (Insecta: Psocodea: Psocomorpha).

Although the great genital diversity of the barklouse genus Trichadenotecnum has been described in previous studies, the specific function of the genital structures during the copulation process has received less investigative attention. We reconstructed 3D-models of each structure of the male and female genitalia of Trichadenotecnum incognitum in copula and those of uncopulated male and female of Trichadenotecnum pseudomedium. By comparing the changes in male and female genital structures and related muscles in copulated and uncopulated states, the function of each genital structure can be described. During the copulation, we found that the female subgenital plate was hooked into the male body by the distal process on the male paraproct and was fixed by the male epiproct, hypandrium and phallosome. In addition, sexual coevolution was suggested by tightly contacting structures, that is, thorny male hypandrium and thickened membrane around the female spermapore plate. These results not only give us a new understanding copulation process of Trichadenotecnum, but also explain the reasons why genital structures are so divers in the genus.

Population structure and genetic differentiation of tea green leafhopper, Empoasca (Matsumurasca) onukii, in China based on microsatellite markers

The tea green leafhopper, Empoasca (Matsumurasca) onukii Matsuda, is one of the dominant pests in major tea production regions of East Asia. Recent morphological studies have revealed variation in the male genitalic structures within and among populations. However, the genetic structure of this pest remains poorly understood. This study explores the genetic diversity and population structure of this pest in nineteen populations from the four main Chinese tea production areas using microsatellite markers, with one Japanese population also examined. The results show low to moderate levels of genetic differentiation with populations grouped into four clusters, i.e. the Jiangbei group, the Southwest group 1, the Southwest group 2 and the South China group. Populations from China have a close phylogenetic relationship but show significant isolation by distance. Lower genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of E. (M.) onukii were found in the Kagoshima population of Japan. Evidence for genetic bottlenecks was detected in the South China and Jiangnan populations. Population expansion was found in the Southwest, Jiangbei and Kagoshima populations. This is the most extensive study of the population genetics of this species and contributes to our understanding of its origin and evolutionary history.

Diving beetles of the genus Liodessus Guignot, 1953 in Colombia, with description of three new species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

The Colombian species of the diving beetle genus Liodessus Guignot, 1939 are revised. Liodessus bogotensis Guignot, 1953 is re-described. Three higher altitude species are new to science: Liodessus azufralis sp. n., L. quillacinga sp. n. and L. quimbaya sp. n. We also introduce two new subspecies, L. quillacinga cochaensis ssp. n. and L. quillacinga cumbalis ssp. n. We delineate the species using morphological structures such as male genital structure and beetle size, shape and colour pattern. Mitochondrial cox1 sequence data provided an additional character source. All the new species occur on higher altitudes above 2700 m and were collected in shallow, exposed peatland pools and puddles, mostly in Páramo. Liodessus obscurellus (LeConte, 1852), not yet recorded from Colombia, is included into the key due to its presence in nearby Costa Rica and Ecuador. The known distribution and habitat preferences of each species are outlined briefly.

Combined molecular and morphological phylogeny of Myrtlemiris, evolution of endosomal spicules, description of two new species and Neomyrtlemiris, gen. nov. (Insecta : Heteroptera : Miridae : Orthotylinae)

The mirid subfamily Orthotylinae is hyperdiverse in Australia but poorly described; this work is part of a series of papers on the documentation of this fauna. Two new species of the Australian endemic plant bug genus Myrtlemiris Cheng, Mututantri & Cassis (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae: Orthotylini) are described as new to science: Myrtlemiris kararensis, sp. nov., and M. lochada, sp. nov. The new Australian genus and species Neomyrtlemiris picta gen. nov. et sp. nov. are also described. Myrtlemiris is analysed phylogenetically using 32 morphology-based characters, as well as molecular alignments (COI, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA; including 1958 base pairs) with the genus found to be monophyletic based on molecular, morphological and combined analyses. Neomyrtlemiris is the sister to Myrtlemiris. Host plant association analysis demonstrated constraints to the myrtaceous tribe Chamelaucieae, with Malleostemon and Calytrix recovered as ancestral host plants. Ancestral state reconstructions were carried out on male genitalic structures, demonstrating the phylogenetic value of endosomal spicules. This work demonstrates that the Orthotylinae are a rich component of Australia’s biodiversity, particularly in the south-west of Western Australia.