Male Genitalic Characters Research Articles

Comparative morphology of the external male genitalia in Lophogastrida, Stygiomysida, and Mysida (Crustacea, Eumalacostraca)

External organs associated with the male gonopore are described for 29 species covering for the first time all seven currently acknowledged, extant families of the orders Lophogastrida, Stygiomysida, and Mysida, and all ten subfamilies of the Mysidae (Mysida). The gonopores are located throughout on the structures of the coxa of the eighth thoracopods. The three orders are consistently differentiated based on their male genital characteristics. Species of the Stygiomysida genera Stygiomysis (Stygiomysidae) and Spelaeomysis (Lepidomysidae) share a closing apparatus formed by two laminar lobes flanking the genital orifice, an anterior setose lobe, and a posterior bare lobe; no tubular penes are developed. In contrast, the Lophogastrida are characterized by a bare, slot-like orifice without lobes; also, in this taxon, no tubular penes are developed. The gonopore is on the inner wall of the coxa without conspicuous elevation in the species of Eucopia (Eucopiidae) and Lophogaster (Lophogastridae) and on the top of an anvil-like elevation in Paralophogaster (Lophogastridae), or of a dome-shaped elevation in Gnathophausia and Neognathophausia (Gnathophausiidae). In all examined species of the Mysida, the gonopores show a closing apparatus formed by lobes; one or more of these lobes is setose in most species. Within the Mysida, the genus Hansenomysis (Petalophthalmidae) and most subfamilies of the Mysidae have well-developed paired penes with (sub) terminal orifice. Only Rhopalophthalmus (Rhopalophthalminae) lacks penes but has bilobate gonopores located without additional elevation at the inner distal corner of the strongly enlarged coxa of the eighth thoracopods; this coxa contains a large seminal vesicle. Within the variety of external male genitalia in the Eumalacostraca, the structures associated with the gonopores appear to be plesiomorphic in Lophogastrida. In the Mysida, they appear to be apomorphic and support the monophyly of this order with respect to the previously published, competing phylogenetic trees. This requires additional evidence in the case of the Stygiomysida.

Notes on the ground beetle Pterostichus togyusanus (Coleoptera: Carabidae): Phylogenetic evidence for species status and new distribution record

A flightless carabid beetle, Pterostichus bellatrix (Tschitschérine, 1895), which is endemic to the Korean Peninsula, had been thought to comprise two subspecies: the nominotypical subspecies distributed in northern and central parts of the peninsula, and the subspecies P. bellatrix togyusanusPark and Kwon, 1996, distributed in the southern part of the peninsula. A recent study upgraded these two subspecies to species level, but no convincing evidence was provided for this taxonomic change. Our comparative morphology of external and male genital characters revealed that these two species are paraphyletic with respect to Pterostichus syleusKirschenhofer, 1997, which was described from Liaoning Province, China. Thus, separate species status of P. bellatrix and P. togyusanus was confirmed phylogenetically. Although P. togyusanus has only been known from the type locality, Mt. Deogyusan, we newly record this species from Mt. Jirisan, a mountain located south of the known locality. A revised key to species of the Pterostichus opacipennis species group (=the subgenus Koreonialoe (s. str.) Park and Kwon, 1996), which now includes 14 species, is also provided.

Winklerites serbicus, a new endogean species of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Bembidiini) from southeastern Serbia

A new endogean bembidiine ground beetle species, Winklerites serbicus sp. n., from a cave in the southeastern part of Serbia is both described and diagnosed. Male and female genital structures and other taxonomically important characters are illustrated. The new species is clearly distinct from its closest congeners. Fifteen species of the genus so far known are arranged in six groups. The new species is both endemic and relict, inhabiting southeastern Serbia only.

New Records of the Genus Jessopocoris Carvalho, 1981 (Hemiptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae), with Descriptions of Two New Species Found in China

Three species of Jessopocoris Carvalho are presented, and J. yunnananus and J. aterovittatus, both from China, are described here as new to science. A key to species of Jessopocoris is given. Photographs of the dorsal habitus and illustrations of the dorsal view of hemelytra and the male genitalia are provided. Descriptions and illustrations of the male genitalic characters of Jessopocoris are provided for the first time.

A Taxonomic Revision of the Neotropical GenusAegimiaStål, 1874 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae)

Aegimia Stål, 1874, a Neotropical katydid genus of the Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), is revised based on the examination of 106 specimens from Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. The genus is recognized by a long sword-shaped fastigium, mid- and hindtibiae strongly flattened, and leaf-shaped tegmina. The following species are redescribed: A. catharinensis Piza, 1950, A. cultrifera Stål, 1874 and A. elongata Rehn, 1903. Two new species are described: Aegimia maculifolia sp. nov. (from Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia) and Aegimia venarecta sp. nov. (from Costa Rica). Geographic distribution of A. cultrifera is expanded to Costa Rica. The female of A. catharinensis remains unknown. A pictorial key to all species is presented and details of the male genitalic characters described and illustrated.

Taxonomic Revision of Hispaniola Tiger Beetles in the Genus Brasiella Rivalier, 1954 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Cicindelinae)

The Brasiella tiger beetle fauna on Hispaniola, the second largest island of the Greater Antilles, has more species diversity than currently recognized as all populations previously have been assigned to the insular endemic Brasiella dominicana (Mandl). A comparative study of adult morphology, particularly male genitalic and female abdominal characters, for available Brasiella specimens from populations on Hispaniola, proposes eight additional new species also endemic to this island. Except for three sympatric species in the Sierra de Baoruco in southern Dominican Republic occurring in different habitats, all the Brasiella on Hispaniola appear to be allopatric. Most species occur in the major mountainous regions of Hispaniola. Two species, however, are known only from river floodplains in the southern coastal plain of the Dominican Republic. Brasiella dominicana (Mandl) and Brasiella ocoa, new species, occur along river floodplains emanating from the eastern end of the Cordillera Central in the Dominican Republic. Two new Brasiella species, Brasiella bellorum, and Brasiella philipi, occur in the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic, the former species from central portions, and the latter species from north slopes of this mountain range, respectively. Three new Brasiella species, Brasiella rawlinsi, Brasiella iviei, and Brasiella youngi, are isolated in the Sierra de Baoruco, Dominican Republic, where each occupies a different habitat along an altitudinal gradient. The two new Brasiella species in Haiti are Brasiella darlingtoniana, in the Massif de la Selle, and Brasiella davidsoni, in the Massif de la Hotte. All nine Brasiella species on Hispaniola, along with Brasiella viridicollis (Dejean) and its two subspecies on Cuba, belong to the viridicollis species group of the genus Brasiella based on criteria presented in earlier published phylogenetic studies of Brazilian and West Indian tiger beetles. The subspecies Brasiella viridicollis fernandozayasi (Kippenhan, Ivie and Hopp) may represent a distinct species within this species group, whereas removal of Brasiella wickhami (W. Horn) from this species group seems warranted based on evidence presented. A general overview of species relationships for the Brasiella on Hispaniola are discussed, along with the current and ancestral geographic distributions of the Brasiella viridicollis species group in the West Indies.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism confirms reciprocal monophyly in Chrysomya putoria and Chrysomya chloropyga: a correction of reported shared mtDNA haplotypes

Reinvestigation of mitochondrial haplotypes previously reported to be shared between the Afrotropical blowflies Chrysomya putoria Weidemann and Chrysomya chloropyga Weidemann (Diptera: Calliphoridae) revealed an error resulting from the misidentification of specimens. Preliminary amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of the original and additional individuals again failed to find reciprocal monophyly, leading to a re-examination of the specimens for diagnostic male genitalic characters that were first described following the earlier study. Four of the original study specimens were found to have been misidentified, and definitive analysis of both mtDNA and AFLP genotypes using phylogenetic analysis and genetic assignment showed that each species was indeed reciprocally monophyletic. In addition to correcting the earlier error, this study illustrates how AFLP analysis can be used for efficient and effective specimen identification through both phylogenetic analysis and genetic assignment, and suggests that the latter method has special advantages for identification when no conspecific specimens are represented in the reference database.

Two new species of Paratrigona Schwarz and the male of Paratrigona ornaticeps (Schwarz) (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Two distinctive new species of the Neotropical stingless bee genus Paratrigona Schwarz from Ecuador and Paraguay are described and figured. The Ecuadorian species, Paratrigona scapisetosa sp. n.,belongs to the haeckeli-lineatifrons group and is easily distinguished from its congeners by the unique shape and pubescence of the antennal scape, which is distinctly convex on its outer margin and bears thick, long, simple hairs along its inner margin. The Paraguayan species, Paratrigona wasbaueri sp. n.,belongs to the lineata group and is easily distinguished by the pattern of body pubescence in both sexes and male genitalic characters. The male of the Mesoamerican species Paratrigona ornaticeps (Schwarz) is described and figured. New geographical records for Paratrigona impunctata and Paratrigona opaca, and an updated key to the haeckeli-lineatifrons and lineata species groups are provided.

A new synonym, a new male description and new geographical records for three Ceraeochrysa species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Ceraeochrysa Adams is the largest genus in Chrysopini with 62 valid species distributed in the New World. The taxonomy of this group is complex and largely based on male genitalic characters. There are still serious complications, especially with the species that have been described solely from female specimens. The male of C. montoyana (Navás, 1913), unknown previously, is herein described for the first time, and compared with its closest relative, C. claveri (Navás, 1911). Ceraeochrysa acutipuppis Adams & Penny, 1985 is designated as a junior synonym of C. fairchildi (Banks, 1946) based on the evidence that both species share external morphological features uncommon in other species of the genus. The species C. claveri, C. fairchildi and C. montoyana are recorded from Venezuela for the first time. External morphology and genitalia of these insects are described and illustrated.

Systematics of Bulbostyla, a new subgenus of Sarcophaga Meigen, and change of status for Robackina Lopes (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Sarcophaga (Bulbostyla) subgen. nov. is described as a new subgenus of Sarcophaga Meigen to accommodate some species previously assigned to the subgenus S. (Neobellieria) Blanchard. Sarcophaga (Bulbostyla) contains nine species: S. airosalis sp. nov., S. cadyi sp. nov. (type species), S. cuautla sp. nov., S. fattigina sp. nov., S. ironalis sp. nov., S. semimarginalis Hall, S. sternalis (Reinhard), S. subdiscalis Aldrich and S. yorkii Parker. All species are described and illustrated and a key to the species is provided. The species within the subgenus are morphologically uniform externally and are distinguished mostly on male genitalic characters. Phylogenetic relationships within Bulbostyla are unresolved based on morphological characters and will require consideration of additional characters, such as molecular sequence data. The genus-group taxon Robackina Lopes is removed from synonymy with the subgenus Sarcophaga (Neobellieria) and reinstated as a valid subgenus of Sarcophaga (stat. nov.) to accommodate the single New World species Sarcophaga triplasia Wulp. A lectotype is designated for S. triplasia. The subgenus and species are redescribed and illustrated.

The genus Manota Williston (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) in New Zealand

Manota spp. are quite common in all kinds of indigenous forest in New Zealand. Five species are present: M. maorica Edwards, M. granvillensis sp. n., M. birgitae sp. n., M. purakaunui sp. n., and M. regineae sp. n. They can be distinguished from one another by male genitalic characters, in particular those of gonostylus. New Zealand Manota form a monophyletic group though their relationship to Manota spp. outside New Zealand is unclear.

Towards a phylogeny of the flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae): morphology and phylogenetic implications of the acrophallus in the subfamily Sarcophaginae

The morphology of the acrophallus, the distal portion of the male phallus carrying the phallotreme, was studied in 72 exemplar species representing 56 genera and subgenera of the flesh fly subfamily Sarcophaginae. For 42 of those species, scanning electron microscopy was used to clarify the phallic morphology. Terms used to describe the male genitalia were updated based on new interpretations of homology. Male genitalic characters, combined with other morphological characters of adult males and females and of larvae, were used to construct a phylogeny. The monophyly of the subfamily was supported, and some generic-level sister-group relationships proposed in the literature, but without previous cladistic analyses, were also supported. The genus Blaesoxipha Loew, as currently recognized, was not monophyletic in our analysis. The genus Helicobia Coquillett is synonymized with Sarcophaga Meigen syn. nov. and treated as a subgenus of the latter. The Sarcophaga subgenera Neobellieria Blanchard and Mehria Enderlein were not monophyletic. Many of the clades in the analysis were supported primarily or exclusively by male genitalic character states, highlighting the importance of the male genitalia as a source of morphological characters for sarcophagine phylogeny.

Phylogeny of Utetheisa s. str. (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae:Arctinae) with comments on the evolution of colour, hind wing scales and origin of New World species

Species of Utetheisa Hübner incorporate pyrrolizidine alkaloids into their defence strategy where they are protective against both invertebrate and vertebrate predators, and courtship behaviours by males incorporate the alkaloids into their pheromones. Although Utetheisa’s chemical ecology is well understood, the systematics is less clear. A phylogeny of Utetheisa was constructed based on adult morphology. The final data matrix consisted of 29 species and 105 characters (268 states) from adults scored from both nongenitalic and genitalic characters as follows: 3 head (8 states), 4 leg (8 states), 21 wing (49 states), 44 male abdominal and genitalic characters (124 states), and 33 female abdominal and genitalic characters (79 states). The resulting parsimony and Bayesian analyses demonstrated that Utetheisa s. str. is monophyletic and sister to U. Pitasila (Moore). UtetheisaAtasca (Swinhoe) is more closely related to outgroup taxa than it is to other Utetheisa species. Monophyly of Utetheisa s. str. is strongly supported by a posterior probability of 0.98. Colour was lost once and male wing androconia evolved independently in several species, all of which feed on hosts in Boraginaceae. Forbes’ hypothesis of an Old World origin for the genus is corroborated and two origins for New World species are supported.

A Revised Phylogenetic Analysis for the Spider Genus Clitaetra Simon, 1889 (Araneae, Araneoidea, Nephilidae) with the First Description of the Male of the Sri Lankan Species Clitaetra thisbe Simon, 1903

Abstract In this study, we describe the previously unknown male of the spider Clitaetra thisbe Simon, 1903, from Sri Lanka and provide some data on its natural history. In light of this new information, we present results from the first cladistic analyses of Clitaetra species that include male morphological characters of C. thisbe and DNA sequence data for representatives of all nephilid genera and a broad sample of outgroups. The monophyly of Clitaetra and the basal position of C. thisbe within the genus are corroborated. Our results also support the hypothesis that Nephila is a sister group to the clade Herennia + Nephilengys, which challenges the current hypothesis for nephilid relationships that has been used extensively for the study of genitalic and web evolution in Nephilidae. We also discuss some of the previously proposed interpretations and primary homology statements for several male genitalic characters in nephilids.

Description of the Australian Plant Bug Genus Jiwarli, n. gen. (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae)

Abstract A new genus and four new species of Phylini Carvalho, 1958, from Australia are described. Jiwarli, new genus, differs from other Phylini by the relatively large size and elongate ovoid shape, distinct coloration, and male genital characters. The four new species show a broad distribution in Australia and mostly occur on widespread plants. Jiwarli exmaculae, n. sp., was collected on the Asteraceae Chrysocephalum apiculatum, Jiwarli heliotropium, n. sp., on the Boraginaceae Heliotropium ammophilum, Jiwarli ptilotus, n. sp., on the Amaranthaceae Ptilotus obovatus, and Jiwarli solanum, n. sp., on the Solanaceae Solanum ellipticum, S. orbiculatum, and S. lasiophyllum.

A new species of Acantothereva Séguy, 1935, from Tunisia (Diptera: Therevidae: Therevinae): taxonomic consequences and phylogenetic implications

A new Tunisian species of Acantothereva Séguy is described, reducing several diagnostic characters for this North African genus to interspecific differences among the three included species. An expanded vertex and frons were formerly considered diagnostic for the genus, but the new species, A. oblata, sp. nov., has a vertex lower than the dorsal eye margin and a non-dilated ocellar tubercle. Previously recognized male genitalic characters, however, support the hypothesis that Acantothereva is a monophyletic group. The ability to recognize Acantothereva using external characters is marginally reduced with respect to therevine genera due to the inclusion of the new species, notably relative to Neotherevella Lyneborg. The apparent close phylogenetic relationship among Acantothereva, Acrosathe Irwin & Lyneborg, Irwiniella Lyneborg, and Neotherevella Lyneborg species are discussed herein, based on recent molecular phylogenetic analyses and the morphology of the Tunisian Acantothereva species. A key to the North African therevine genera is included; head and genitalia illustrations and a key to the three Acantothereva species are also presented.

The Genus Chelipoda Macquart (Diptera, Empididae, Hemerodromiinae) in Chile

Chilean species of Chelipoda Macquart, 1823 (Diptera, Empididae, Hemerodromiinae) are reviewed and a key provided to all known species. Six new species are described; Chelipoda ceraphoron sp. n., C. deletrix sp. n., C. interfectrix sp. n., C. kolua sp. n., C. lentiginosa sp. n. and C. perditrix sp. n. Lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated for C. fimbriata Collin, 1933, C. obtusipennis Collin, 1933 and C. remissa Collin, 1933 and a lectotype is designated for C. subflava Collin, 1933. Cladistic analysis resolved two distinct clades defined largely on male genitalic characters. Habitat, biogeography and occurrence of secondary sexual characters are briefly discussed. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

A taxonomic review of the Old World leafhopper genus Changwhania Kwon (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Paralimnini)

The Old World leafhopper genus Changwhania Kwon is reviewed and three of its four species are illustrated and male genital characters are provided. One new species from China, Changwhania digitata Zhang and Duan, is described. A key to species is also provided.

Fissiphalliidae, a new family of South American laniatorean harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones)

Fissiphalliidae, a new family of the Opiliones suborder Laniatores, is described in the superfamily Gonyleptoidea, based on a new genus (Fissiphallius n. gen.) und 3 new species (F. sturmi n. sp., F. spinulatus n. sp., F. sympatricus n. sp.) from Colombia. Most emphasized are the male genitalic characters, unique in Opiliones: A honzontally split truncus which results in a long movable (glans) and an immovable finger (distal part of the truncus). Both hide the extremely long stylus with the seminal opening at its end. In an expanded state, the movable finger is bent dorsally by an erectile vesicle. It is shown that male genitalic characters in Opiliones display clear functional and constructional traits on the family level. Those characters, if used appropriately, will demonstrate that several families in gonyleptoid Laniatores are polyphyletic and should be divided into several taxa of the family level.

Six new species of Agalliopsis from Southeastern Brazil (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Agalliinae)

Six new species of Agalliopsis Kirkaldy, 1907 are described from the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil (Minas Gerais State): A. variegata sp. nov., A. dutrai sp. nov., A. chaelata sp. nov., A. pentaspinata sp. nov., A. mutabilis sp. nov., and A. felixi sp. nov. Illustrations of external features and male and female genitalic characters that distinguish the new taxa are given. Variation in the color pattern and male genitalic characters of A. mutabilis is recorded. The new taxa are assigned to species complexes within Agalliopsis.