Male Genitalic Characters Research Articles

Two new species of Cameraria Chapman (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) associated with Salix or Cornus in Japan.

Two new species of the genus Cameraria Chapman, 1902, Cameraria riparia sp. nov. and Cameraria corni sp. nov., are described from Japan. Larval setal maps, illustrations and/or photographs of wing patterns, wing venations and genitalia are provided for both species, and the systematic positions of the two species are discussed based on their morphologies. The larvae of C. riparia feed on Salix spp. and make blotch mines, whereas C. corni larvae feed on Cornus kousa subsp. kousa and make linear blotch mines. C. riparia was collected on Hokkaido and Honshu Islands, and considerable differences in the male genital characters were detected between the two populations. However, a molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the COI barcode region indicated that there was no clear genetic differentiation between the two populations (maximum divergence, 1.41%). C. corni was collected on Honshu and Kyushu Islands, and this is the first record of the trophic association of Lithocolletinae with Cornaceae.

Redescription of both Goniogryllus bistriatus Wu & Wang, 1992 and Callogryllus yunnanus Wu & Zheng, 1992 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae, Gryllinae).

Goniogryllus bistriatus Wu & Wang, 1992 was described at the end of the last century, based on the female holotype, and there have been no further studies or reports related to this species since then. Callogryllus yunnanus Wu & Zheng, 1992 also has a similar situation. Although the holotype is a male, its external genitalia have been lost. These issues pose obstacles to subsequent taxonomic research. Recently, we have successively discovered these two species in Huize County, Yunnan Province, China. To address the aforementioned taxonomic problems, this article describes the male specimens of the G. bistriatus and redescribes the female; meanwhile, since the original description of C. yunnanus lacked male genital characteristics, and we have also conducted a complete redescription of this species based on the new specimen.

A new species of minute litter bug of the genus Cryptostemma (Heteroptera: Dipsocoromorpha: Dipsocoridae) from Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe Islands)

Summary A new species of the genus Cryptostemma Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835, C. karukeraensis n. sp., was collected in several localities of the island of Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe), by prospecting the particular micro-habitats specific to the Dipsocoridae. Males and females (macropterous) and 5th instar nymphs are described and illustrated, in particular details of the pregenital abdomen, and the highly asymmetric and modified genitalia in the male. Among its American congeners, the new species shows morphological similarities with C. haywardi Wygodzinsky described from Argentina, but differs in male and female genital characters. The standard barcode DNA sequence (COI) is given for this new species, which is the third known dipsocoromorphan representative from Guadeloupe, after Ceratocombus bifenestratus Poppius, 1910 (Ceratocombidae) and Schizoptera elegans Poppius, 1910 (Schizopteridae).

A new species of Purana Distant, 1905 (Hemiptera, Cicadidae), from the Western Ghats, with comments on the erroneous records of Purana tigrina (Walker, 1850) in south India

A new species of cicada is described from south India. The new taxon, Purana cheeveeda Sadasivan sp. nov. is easily differentiated from all the other known species of the Purana tigrina species group based on its operculum apex not reaching beyond the anterior margin of sternite 3; tubercles on sternite 4 black and almost as large as those on sternite 3; relatively short rostral length reaching unction of abdominal sternite II and sternite III; the absence of dark fasciae on the transverse grooves of postclypeus, forewing venation, basal lobes of pygofer with large diverging triangular spines and the characteristic pentagonal uncus of the male. The status of Purana tigrina (Walker, 1850) from South India is discussed. The topotypes of the taxon commonly identified as P. tigrina from south India did not match the morphology of the holotype of P. tigrina. In addition, the study of the type specimen of P. tigrina demonstrated that the external morphology and male genital characters of the holotype of P. tigrina match that of P. tigrina from the Malayan region. Hence the type locality is mislabelled. This common taxon from southern India which has been traditionally misidentified is described here as a new species of Purana. As per Articles 76A.1.4 and 76A.2, of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999), the type locality of P. tigrina is hereby corrected as Malaysia. Based on the findings, P. tigrina is removed from the south Indian cicada fauna. The new species has some features common to both the Purana carmente group and Purana tigrina group, but most characters agree to Purana tigrina group, hence is tentatively placed in this group. The characters based on coloration may not be useful in species group classification in Purana, hence structural features like male genitalia and venation are taken to revise the existing species group keys. A modified key to the Purana species groups and members of the P. tigrina species group is also provided.

Kangaraneus, a new genus of orb-weaving spider from Australia (Araneae, Araneidae)

A new Australian genus in the orb-weaving spider family Araneidae Clerck, 1757 is described,Kangaraneusgen. nov., withK. arenaceus(Keyserling, 1886)comb. nov.(New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia) as the type species and also including two other species:Kangaraneus amblycyphus(Simon, 1908)comb. nov.(Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia) andK. farhanisp. nov.(Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania). The new genus is included in the informally termed Australasian ‘backobourkiine’ clade due to the presence of its putative synapomorphies, specifically a single patellar macroseta on the male pedipalp and its median apophysis forming an arch over the radix. It includes medium-sized orb-weaving spiders (total length 3–12 mm) with distinct humeral humps on the almost triangular abdomen. Therefore, within the backobourkiines, it is somatically most similar toNovakiellaCourt & Forster, 1993 but differs considerably in male genitalic characters, including a C-shaped median apophysis with an acute tip. Genitalia are most similar to those inQuokkaraneusCastanheira & Framenau, 2023 from which the new genus differs by the lack of the white colouration and the shape of the abdomen.

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.

From the Ethiopian Bale Mountains hotspotFilopalpinae subfam. nov., a new taxon of Laniatorean harvestmen based on external and genital morphology (Arachnida, Opiliones, Assamiidae).

Filopalpinae subfam. nov. is proposed as a new subfamily within family Assamiidae based on a new genus, Filopalpus gen. nov. and on five new species: F. joschmidti sp. nov., F. bale sp. nov., F. kakaensis sp. nov., F. altomontanus sp. nov. and F. niger sp. nov. All originate from the highlands of Ethiopia, namely the Bale Mountains and adjacent volcanoes in Oromia State. Species of the new subfamily are characterized by dense body cover with pointed tubercles causing a hedgehog appearance of the body (dorsal side, partly ventral side), extreme sexual dimorphism in pedipalps (in males thread-like long and thin surpassing body length by about four to six times, devoid of apophyses and thorns; in females short and stout about body length, with a distal grasping hand formed by apophyses and strong setae of tibia and tarsus, and tarsal claw). Male genital morphology is characterized by a hemolymph-pressure system of truncus penis and glans, a dorsal sub-distal tube-like glans with an inner prickly funnel, which is everted by hemolymph pressure during courtship. These male genital characters place the present species in Assamiidae, but external morphology points to a strongly different separate evolutionary unit within this family. The five species known to date were secured at altitudes between 2830 and 4100 m. At least two of the collecting areas are now devoid of forest due to human impact. To secure the present specimens at high-altitude localities was possible only by searching in remote microhabitats unavailable for cattle and man-made fire. A perspective on current subfamilies of Assamiidae and on pedipalpal morphology and evolution is presented.

Clarifying the identity of two resembling hoverfly species, Betasyrphus serarius and B. nipponensis (Diptera: Syrphidae: Syrphini), based on morphology and DNA barcoding

• Identity of resembling Betasyrphus serarius and B. nipponensis is investigated. • Additional diagnostic characters are proposed for B. serarius and B. nipponensis. • Betasyrphus nipponensis is recorded for the first time in Korea. • Nine available Betasyrphus species are recognized as a robust barcode cluster. • Australian, Pakistan and Malaysian barcodes as distinct species near serarius. The two Palaearctic members of the hoverfly genus Betasyrphus , B. serarius (Wiedemann, 1830) and B. nipponensis (Goot, 1964), closely resemble each other, except for their male genitalic characters. For this reason, these two species have been often mistaken for each other. In Korea, only B. serarius has been recognized as a sole species based on mixed specimens from these two species. In the present study, we attempted to define B. serarius and B. nipponensis more precisely and identify additional diagnostic characteristics to distinguish these species. We examined external morphological characters including the genitalic structures, the wing microtrichia distributions (WMDs), as well as the wing interference patterns (WIPs). In addition, we analyzed the DNA barcode sequences of individuals, covering as many morphological variants as possible, to distinguish the females of these two species. As a result, we found some additional diagnostic male genitalic and WMD characters. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, females of these two species remain undistinguishable. DNA barcoding analysis did not reveal any significant differences between B. serarius and B. nipponensis . Our analysis based on 20 Korean samples and 486 Syrphidae sequences retrieved from BOLD Systems (ver. 4) and GenBank showed that the nine available Betasyrphus species including the type species formed a robust barcode cluster. Betasyrphus serarius and B. nipponensis together with three unidentified species from Pakistan, Australia and Malaysia also formed a strong sub-cluster. In addition, we provide an identification key, diagnoses, and descriptions with color photographs.

A review of the genus Colias Fabricius, 1807 (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from Qinghai with descriptions of a new subspecies of Colias thrasibulus Fruhstorfer, 1910.

The Colias fauna of Qinghai province, China is reviewed, chiefly based upon the reliable specimens collected by the junior author during his 23 explorations in the past 17 years, with only C. felderi not re-discovered. The male genitalia morphology of the Chinese Colias species is investigated in detail; it proves that male genital characters are useless for the taxonomy in most cases as stated by previous researchers. Colias adelaidae is first reported from Central Qinghai, close to C. arida in distribution, with the diagnostic differences among C. arida cakana, C. wanda wanda and C. adelaidae adelaidae clarified. The taxonomy of C. wanda yangguifei is discussed, with its male holotype figured in color for the first time. The type localities of C. wanda yangguifei and C. grumi aljinshana (synonym of C. grumi) are clarified. Colias aegidii is considered as either a synonym (syn. nov.) or an ecological form of C. sifancia, with the first reliable specimen recorded from Qinghai. More specimens of the very rare Colias thrasibulus fasciata are reported from the type locality, Yushu, SE. Qinghai. Colias thrasibulus angustomarginata ssp. nov. is described from Central Qinghai. Altitude distributions and flight periods are recorded, biotopes are figured and collecting localities are mapped for most Colias species from Qinghai. Subspecies of C. nebulosa are discussed, with two new populations of C. nebulosa karoensis recorded by senior author from Luozha and Cuomei, Shannan Prefecture, Tibet.

A reappraisal of the taxonomy of Neotropical Sialidae (Insecta: Megaloptera): with the description of a new genus from Cuba

The unique Neotropical species of the alderfly genus Protosialis van der Weele, 1909, P. bifasciata (Hagen, 1861), is herein transferred to the newly described genus Caribesialis gen. nov. This new taxon is proposed to be sister to the clade Protosialis + Sialis Latreille, 1802, after a phylogenetic analysis that included male genital characters scored on a previous morphological matrix of the family. Also, Ilyobius nigrocephalus sp. nov., a remarkable new species from Ecuador, is described and its phylogenetic position is discussed. Furthermore, Ilyobius bimaculatus (Banks, 1920) from Bolivia, known solely from the female holotype, is redescribed. Based on the present study, the Neotropical fauna of Sialidae is proposed to be constituted by two genera, one insular (Cuba) and one continental (Mexico to Chile and Argentina).

Taxonomic Revision of the Leafhopper Genus Macropsis Lewis from Korea (Homoptera: Cicadellidae).

Korean species of the genus Macropsis Lewis are revised taxonomically, primarily based on the abdominal apodemes, male genitalia, and 2nd valvulae of the female ovipositor. Previously only three species were erroneously recorded from Korea. Among them, Macropsis notata (Prohaska, 1923) was previously misidentified as Macropsis prasina (Boheman, 1852). Two other European species, Macropsis scutellata (Boheman, 1845) and Macropsis illota (Horvth, 1899), are removed from the list of Korean fauna based on the examination of previously identified specimens that revealed only superficial resemblance to allied species. As a result, a total of 7 species are recognized in this revision, including 2 species new to science. Descriptions and distributional data are provided for all the species. Illustrations of both male and female genitalic characters as well as apodeme structures are provided, and an identification key to species from Korea is also given.

Taxonomic notes on the genus Ischnobaena (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

The previously known species of the thread-legged bug genus Ischnobaena Stål, 1871 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae: Metapterini), namely I. dohrnii Stål, 1871, I. macerrima Stål, 1871 and I. staliana Wygodzinsky, 1966, are reviewed and diagnosed. Lectotypes are designated for I. dohrnii and I. macerrima. A new species, I. castroae sp. nov., from Mindanao Island in the Philippines is described and photographed. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners primarily by the unicolored fore tarsus and several male genital characters. A revised key to species of Ischnobaena is provided.

Morphometry of stingless bees (Hymenoptera:Apidae:Meliponini) of the genus Lisotrigona indicates presence of more than one species in India

Morphometry of 53 stingless bees of the genus Lisotrigona collected from seven places in India by using 36 morphological parameters was studied. The data set also included morphometry data of primary types of L. cacciae, L. chandrai and L. revanai for comparison and was subjected to Factor and Canonical Discriminant analysis. All the bees collected from five places formed two distinct clusters in the Factor analysis and five clusters in Canonical Discriminant analysis. In both the methods of analysis primary types of L. cacciae, L. chandrai and L. revanai were placed well separated from each other as well as from other bees. The bees from seven places also differed from the three known species in morphometry and ratios of length and width of parts of the body. Based on these results it is concluded that Indian stingless bees of the genus Lisotrigona consists of more than one species besides L. cacciae. The action of synonymizing L. mohandasi, L. chandrai and L. revanai with L. cacciae appears arbitrary; these three species should be considered valid until supported by male genital morphology or molecular characters.

Further studies on genus Artaxa Walker (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Lymantriinae) from India

ABSTRACT Three species of Artaxa Walker, A. guttata Walker, A. vitellina (Kollar) comb. nov. and A. digramma (Boisduval) have been studied in detail. The taxonomic status of the genus has been updated. The various significant external morphological features like wing maculation, venation and, particularly, the genitalic features have been studied in detail. In the present studies, the species vitellina Kollar has been placed under genus Artaxa Walker, making a new combination as Artaxa vitellina (Kollar) and its placement is justified on the basis of external morphology, and particularly the distinct male and female genitalic characters. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C0F058FC-A66E-4159-82B7-9F2B92FE1A38

Revision of the genus Miridiba Reitter, 1902 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae): genital morphotypes and new taxonomic data

The genus Miridiba Reitter, 1902, of phytophagous chafers from Asia, is revised based on external morphological and genital (male and female) characters. In this study, a total fifty-eight species of Miridiba were examined, and the genus is redescribed. Male genital characters of Miridiba, especially the morphology of parameres and endophallus, are studied in depth herein. The female genitalia of Miridiba are studied and described in detail for the first time. According to genital characters, nine genital morphotypes, including fifty-four species, are established under the genus Miridiba. Sixty-seven type specimens are studied. Miridiba gressitti (Frey, 1970) comb. nov., Miridiba borneensis (Moser, 1918) comb. nov., Miridiba coxalis (Arrow, 1944) comb. nov., Miridiba rugaticollis (Moser, 1913) comb. nov., Miridiba nigrescens (Moser, 1916) comb. nov., Miridiba scutata (Reitter, 1902) comb. nov., Miridiba ciliatipennis (Moser, 1903) comb. nov. and Miridiba brunneipennis (Moser, 1916) comb. nov. are transferred from Holotrichia. Holotrichia dalatensis Frey, 1970 is transferred to Miridiba as a synonym of Miridiba sinensis (Hope, 1842). Four junior subjective synonyms are proposed: Miridiba pilosella (Moser, 1908) (= Holotrichia formosana Moser, 1909), Miridiba sinensis (= Holotrichia dalatensis Frey, 1970), Miridiba scutata (= Holotrichia scutulata Dalla Torre, 1912 and Miridiba lassallei Keith, 2010). Miridiba frontalis (Fairmaire, 1886) is resurrected as a valid species. A key to 51 of the 58 valid species of Miridiba is presented.

Ultramorphological study of immature stages and male genitalia of forensically significant flesh fly Sarcophaga dux thomson, 1868 (Diptera: Sarchophagidae)

ObjectiveSarcophaga dux Thomson is a well-known flesh fly species of medicinal and forensic importance and remain active throughout the year. Female of this fly lays first instars directly onto the carcass or on wounds of living host as it causes myiasis. Use of S. dux in forensic investigations is limited because identification of immature stages as well as adults by conventional means is very challenging. MethodsTo overcome this limitation, the adults of S. dux were collected and reared under laboratory conditions. Immature stages were analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy and male genitalic characters were analyzed by light microscopy. Adults were identified on the basis of male genitalic characters whereas, immature stages like larva and pupa were identified on the basis of various taxonomic characters i.e. cephaloskeleton, anterior and posterior spiracles, appearance of spiracular cavity, papillae on the caudal segments and shape/arrangements of spines. Results and ConclusionThrough present study an effort was made for accurate identification of immatures and adults of this flesh fly species of medical and forensic importance. Illustrations presented here will help in forensic investigations in cases involving this flesh fly species.

Rhodnius micki, a new species of Triatominae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) from Bolivia.

Rhodnius Stål, 1859 is the second largest genus of Triatominae after Triatoma Laporte, 1832, and includes several important Chagas vectors. Genitalia in Reduviidae are frequently used for species identification, but the current use of terminology for it is inconsistent in Triatominae. Here, Rhodnius mickisp. nov., is described from Bolivia and considered as belonging to the pictipes group based on its morphological characters and distribution. Detailed documentation of the genitalia of Rhodnius mickisp. nov. is provided with emphasis on its everted phallus, especially the endosomal sclerites, which are potentially useful as species-level diagnostic features in Rhodnius. To further verify the validity of this species, the head shapes and wing venation patterns of five species in Rhodnius are compared with morphometric analysis. After reviewing taxonomic and comparative morphology papers of assassin bugs, a vocabulary with a terminology of morphological characters, especially of external male genitalic characters, is assembled with the preferred terms and the synonyms listed. Establishing a consistent terminological framework will greatly facilitate future research on the homology of these structures across Triatominae and will ultimately contribute to our understanding of the evolution of these groups.

Overlooked cryptic diversity inMuschampia(Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) adds two species to the European butterfly fauna

AbstractCryptic species represent a challenge for documenting global biodiversity. Even in well-studied groups, such as European butterflies, the application of integrative approaches has allowed the recognition of an unexpected number of cryptic taxa. Here, we combine the analysis of mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase I, COI) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer 2, ITS2) markers with geometric morphometrics of the male genitalia to study diversity within the butterfly Muschampia proto. The nuclear marker reveals three well-supported and deeply diverged lineages, which are also detected based on mitochondrial DNA, although the latter recovers one of them as paraphyletic with poor support. These lineages also present distinct male genital characters, which allow blind assignment of > 97% of specimens when applying a jackknife procedure. We conclude that M. proto comprises three cryptic species that started to differentiate ~2 Mya: M. proto, distributed in northern Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and southern France; Muschampia alta comb. & stat. nov., occurring in southern Italy and the Balkan Peninsula; and Muschampia proteides, present in the easternmost part of Europe, the Near East and Iran. This discovery adds two new species to the European butterfly fauna and highlights the necessity to continue investigating potential cryptic diversity.

Molecular phylogeny, species delimitation and biogeographic history of theStegana(Steganina)shirozuispecies group (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from East Asia

AbstractThe Stegana (Steganina) shirozui species group is mainly distributed in East Asia. In the present study, the molecular phylogeny of the S. shirozui group was investigated based on mitochondrial (COI and ND2) and nuclear (28S rRNA) markers. The resulting trees support the S. shirozui group as monophyletic and indicate that in this group, species associated with closer affinities show higher structural homogeneity in male genitalia. Molecular species delimitation assess most species limits and recognize four new species in the S. shirozui group from south-west China: S. alianya sp. nov., S. diodonta sp. nov., S. zebromyia sp. nov. and S. zopheria sp. nov. One new synonym was also recognized. Additionally, three typical male genital characters of the S. shirozui group were placed on the molecular phylogenetic framework. The outcome of both divergence-time estimation and ancestral area reconstruction suggests that the S. shirozui group likely originated in south-west China in the Middle Miocene.

First record of flesh fly Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) aegyptica (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) from India

Accurate identification of insect specimens is an essential requirement in forensic entomology. This study aimed to collect adult sarcophagid flies and to identify them based on the male genitalic characters. Its the first report of Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) aegyptica from India. The fly has collected, from pig carcasses placed in indoor, outdoor, and aquatic environments during bloated & advanced decay stages of decomposition. The carcasses have placed for decomposition during winter (2015) and spring (2017) seasons in the rural area of Punjab (India). S. (L.) aegyptica belongs to subgenus Liosarcophaga of Superfamily Sarcophagidae, and Salem first reported it from Egypt in 1935. S. (L.) aegyptica is a subtropical thermophilous species that has a wide distribution in the Eastern Hemisphere. The species is infrequent and generally attracted to meat and feces. Their larvae feed and develop on vertebrates carcasses. The species show peculiarity from other species of this genus by the structure of inner forceps of genitalia, which is straight and slightly widened at the subterminal end. Another disparity is in the process of the apical plate of paraphallus, which is pointed at the end. This family has great importance in the field of forensic entomology as they visited immediately on carcasses after Calliphoridae. The fly is of medical importance as these flies are responsible for causing myiasis in humans and animals; hence, they are of medical importance and useful in the estimation of post mortem interval (PMI).