Male Genital Structures Research Articles

A new species of Corydalus Latreille from Venezuela (Megaloptera, Corydalidae)

A new species of dobsonfly, Corydalus wanningeri, from Venezuela, is described and illustrated. It superficially resembles Corydalus neblinensis Contreras-Ramos, with a uniform reddish coloration of body and wings. Yet, because of male genitalic structure it might be closely related to Corydalus crossi Contreras-Ramos. Specimens were collected from a rain forest transitional zone between the Orinoco lowlands and the Gran Sabana plateau, in Bolívar state. This is the 15th species of Corydalus to be recorded from Venezuela, rendering this the country with the highest number of documented Corydalus species. A key to the sexually dimorphic, long-mandibled Venezuelan species of the genus is provided.

Review of the Old World leafhopper genus Mimotettix Matsumura (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with description of new species

The species of the Old World leafhopper genus Mimotettix Matsumura are treated in the present paper. Among them, four species, M. distiflangentus sp. nov., M. robustistylus sp. nov., M. dorsocavatus sp. nov., and M. tibetensis sp. nov. are described as new from China, M. brevicornis sp. nov. and M. dietrichi sp. nov. are described as new from Thailand, and M. rectatus sp. nov. is described as new from Zambia. One new combination, Mimotettix alboguttulatus (Melichar) comb. nov. (from Thamnotettix) is proposed and five new synonyms are revealed, Mimotettix albomaculatus (Distant, 1908), Mimotettix kawamurae Matsumura, 1914, Mimotettix lefroyi (Distant, 1918) and Mimotettix apicalis Li & Wang, 2005 are junior synonyms of Mimotettix alboguttulatus (Melichar, 1903) syn. nov. and Mimotettix albiguttatis Li & Wang, 2005 is a junior synonym of Mimotettix curticeps Kwon & Lee, 1979 syn. nov. A key to the species of the genus based on males is given and their male genital structures are illustrated. The biogeography of the genus is discussed.

A new species of the genus Martyringa (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) from China

Martyringa hoenei, sp. nov. from North Yunnan is described. The new species is closely related to M. latipennis (Walsingham, 1882) differing by male genital structures.

Studies on external genitalia of seven Indian species of the genus Spilarctia Butler (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae: Arctiinae) alongwith the description of a new species

Seven species i.e. Spilarctia mona (Swinhoe), S. castanea (Hampson), S. bifascia Hampson, S. coorgensis sp. nov., S. obliqua (Walker), S. casigneta (Kollar) and S. todara (Moore) have been taxonomically treated from the Western Ghats of India. The external male and female genitalic structures of these species have been described and illustrated in detail. A key to the studied species is also given.

A new species of Rhagovelia in the armata group from Belize (Heteroptera: Veliidae)

Rhagovelia chac n. sp. is described from the mountains of interior Belize. This species is morphologically similar to Rhagovelia planipes Gould, which occurs in the adjacent basal section of the Yucatan Peninsula. Figures of the male and female dorsal habitus and male genitalic structures are provided, accompanied by a distribution map and a photo of the type locality.

Review of Afrotropical Thienemanniella Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae)

A new species from Ghana, Thienemanniella cavata is described and illustrated as adult male. T. antennata Freeman, 1953, T. trivittata Goetghebuer, 1935 and T. lineola Freeman, 1953 are redescribed. Additional measurements and comments are given for T. fuga Lehmann, 1979. Additional records of T. antennata from Ghana and T. fuga from South Africa and Tanzania are given. T. afra Lehmann, 1981 is tentatively transferred to the genus Corynoneurella Brundin. Male and female genital structures are discussed. A large bursa below gonapophysis VIII and the vagina is considered to be an egg-laying chamber. Keys to the known males and females of Afrotropical species of the genus Thienemanniella are given.

A taxonomic revision of the genus Metadrinomyia Shima (Diptera: Tachinidae) with descriptions of two new species

A little known tachinid genus, Metadrinomyia Shima, is revised based on four East Asian species including two new to science: M. flavifrons sp. nov. and M. xanthokolos sp. nov. The majority of the specimens used in this study were collected from low vegetation in the foothills of mountains in South Korea. The new species can be clearly distinguished from their congeners by their pruinosity, chaetotaxy and genitalic structures. A key, descriptions, photographs, and illustrations of the male genitalic structures are provided and the phylogenetic relationships among the species are investigated.

The epigean Australasian species of Neobidessodes gen.n. diving beetles—a revision integrating morphology, cybertaxonomy, DNA taxonomy and phylogeny (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Bidessini)

We use mitochondrial DNA sequence data and morphology to the reassess taxonomy and phylogeny of Australasian diving beetles previously assigned to Bidessodes Régimbart, 1900 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Bidessini). Bidessodes was described for a South American species. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of a set of the morphologically rather homoplastic Bidessini shows that Australasian Bidessodes form a clade distant from the Neotropical species and are thus assigned the new generic name Neobidessodes Hendrich & Balke gen.n. The seven Australian Bidessodes species known to date are transferred: Neobidessodes bilita (Watts, 1978), comb.n.; N. denticulatus (Sharp, 1882), comb.n.; N. flavosignatus (Zimmermann, 1922), comb.n.; N. grossus (Zimmermann, 1922), comb.n.; N. gutteridgei (Watts & Humphreys, 2003) (stygobitic species), comb.n.; N. limestonensis (Watts & Humphreys, 2003) (stygobitic species) comb.n. and N. mjobergi (Zimmermann, 1922), comb.n. The epigean species are re-described. Lectotypes for Bidessus flavosignatus Zimmermann, 1922; Bidessus grossus Zimmermann, 1922 and Bidessus mjobergi Zimmermann, 1922 are designated, and two new species, Neobidessodes samkrisi Hendrich & Balke sp.n. from southern New Guinea (Merauke, West Papua) as well as Neobidessodes thoracicus Hendrich & Balke sp.n. from the Kimberley region, the Northern Territory and northern Queensland, are described. We delineate the species using traditionally employed morphological structures such as male genital structure and beetle size, shape and colour pattern. Illustrations based on digital images are provided here and as online resources. Cox1 data for 42 individuals were used too as characters for DNA taxonomy (or barcoding). The signal is mixed. Of the nine species, all retrieved as monophyletic groups or clusters. N. samkrisi sp.n. and N. flavosignatus are morphologically strongly divergent, yet cox1 distance only amounts to 0.85– 1.14%, while intraspecific distances for N. denticulatus are 0.0–1.28%. The epigean species of the genus are distributed from southern New Guinea, tropical and subtropical north of Australia, and along the east coast south to Victoria. All species occur in small streams, creeks, and pools of intermittent rivers or billabongs with sandy or gravelly bottom. The morphologically highly derived, blind and wingless stygobitic species are endemic to the Three Rivers calcrete in the Yilgarn, Western Australia. Important species characters (median lobes, parameres (in part) and colour patterns) are illustrated. A key to all seven epigean species is provided. The known distribution and habitat preferences of each species are outlined briefly.

Morphology of the external male genitalia of five Indian geometrid species (Lepidoptera)

External male genital structures of five common Indian Geometrid species have been studied.

Experimental demonstration of possible cryptic female choice on male tsetse fly genitalia

A possible explanation for one of the most general trends in animal evolution – rapid divergent evolution of animal genitalia – is that male genitalia are used as courtship devices that influence cryptic female choice. But experimental demonstrations of stimulatory effects of male genitalia on female reproductive processes have generally been lacking. Previous studies of female reproductive physiology in the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans suggested that stimulation during copulation triggers ovulation and resistance to remating. In this study we altered the form of two male genital structures that squeeze the female's abdomen rhythmically in G. morsitans centralis and induced, as predicted, cryptic female choice against the male: sperm storage decreased, while female remating increased. Further experiments in which we altered the female sensory abilities at the site contacted by these male structures during copulation, and severely altered or eliminated the stimuli the male received from this portion of his genitalia, suggested that the effects of genital alteration on sperm storage were due to changes in tactile stimuli received by the female, rather than altered male behavior. These data support the hypothesis that sexual selection by cryptic female choice has been responsible for the rapid divergent evolution of male genitalia in Glossina; limitations of this support are discussed. It appears that a complex combination of stimuli trigger female ovulation, sperm storage, and remating, and different stimuli affect different processes in G. morsitans, and that the same processes are controlled differently in G. pallidipes. This puzzling diversity in female triggering mechanisms may be due to the action of sexual selection.

Experimental modifications imply a stimulatory function for male tsetse fly genitalia, supporting cryptic female choice theory

One of the most sweeping of all patterns in morphological evolution is that animal genitalia tend to diverge more rapidly than do other structures. Abundant indirect evidence supports the cryptic female choice (CFC) explanation of this pattern, which supposes that male genitalia often function to court females during copulation; but direct experimental demonstrations of a stimulatory function have been lacking. In this study, we altered the form of two male genital structures that squeeze the female's abdomen rhythmically in Glossina pallidipes flies. As predicted by theory, this induced CFC against the male: ovulation and sperm storage decreased, while female remating increased. Further experiments showed that these effects were due to changes in tactile stimuli received by the female from the male's altered genitalia, and were not due to other possible changes in the males due to alteration of their genital form. Stimulation from male genital structures also induces females to permit copulation to occur. Together with previous studies of tsetse reproductive physiology, these data constitute the most complete experimental confirmation that sexual selection (probably by CFC) acts on the stimulatory properties of male genitalia.

Systematics of the Protohermes parcus species group (Megaloptera: Corydalidae), with notes on its phylogeny and biogeography

A species group, the Protohermes parcus group of the dobsonfly genus Protohermes, is proposed by the unique male genitalic structures. Five species belonging to the proposed species group from China and Nepal are described and illustrated, including three species new to science. A cladistic analysis is conducted to reconstruct the interspecific phylogeny within the proposed species group based on the morphological data. The biogeography of the proposed species group is also discussed.

First record of the genus parydra stenhammar (Diptera: Ephydridae) in Korea

In this paper, three species of the shore fly genus Parydra Stenhammar newly reported from Korea are treated: Parydra (Chaetoapnaea) albipulvis Miyagi, P. (Chaetoapnaea) quadripunctata (Meigen) and P. (Parydra) aquila (Fallén). Key to Korean species and diagnoses are given. Photographs on external features and illustrations of male and female genitalic structures are also provided.

First record of the genus ochthera latreille (diptera: Ephydridae) in Korea

In this paper, two species of the shore fly belonging to the genus Ochthera Latreille are newly reported from Korea: Ochthera circularis Cresson and 0. japonica Clausen. A key to Korean species and diagnoses are given. Photographs on external features and illustrations of male genitalic structures are also provided.

A study on the oriental weevil genus Episomus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Twenty species of the genus Episomus Schoenherr of the family Curculionidae, Coleoptera from India and nearby countries are included in the study. Two varieties are raised to subspecific status. An annotated checklist of the 106 species known from the world is given. The descriptions of the twenty already known species are supplemented with the characters of elytral vestiture. Female and male genitalic structures of nine and ten species respectively, are described. A key to the 20 species known from the region is provided.

The principal structure of male genital sclerites and muscles of bombycoid moths, with special reference to Anthelidae (Lepidoptera: Bombycoidea)

Male genital structures and muscles of bombycoid moths have repeatedly been misidentified in the literature. Furthermore, the genital structures of some bombycoid families, such as the poorly known Australo-New Guinean Anthelidae, have essentially remained unstudied. Based on comparative morphology, this study details the principal arrangements of male genital sclerites and muscles in all bombycoid families, with particular focus on basic structures and their modifications in Anthelidae. Emphasis is placed on the homology of and fusions between these structures and their function, providing a basis for the interpretation of modifications in future phylogenetic and taxonomic studies. This includes the unique fusion of gnathos and valvae in several bombycoid families, the arrangement and extent of the fused tegumen and vinculum, as well as the homology of the “transtilla”. Further, a modification of the valve adductor muscle (the segment IX sternum to valva muscle, m4) widely regarded as a synapomorphy of Bombycoidea is demonstrated to be non-existent, as is the presumed presence of the valve abductor muscle (the segment IX tergum to valva muscle, m2) in Saturniidae.

New records of West Palaearctic Limoniidae, Pediciidae and Cylindrotomidae (Diptera) from the collections of the Zoological Museum, Amsterdam

Records of altogether 85 species of the families Limoniidae, Pediciidae and Cylindrotomidae (Diptera) are published, based on the material from the collections of the Zoological Museum, Amsterdam, representing various additions to their distribution in West Palaearctic countries. For Euphylidorea crocotula (Séguy, 1941) a lectotype is designated and figures are provided of male genital structures of this and two other species of Euphylidorea, as well as two species of Gonomyia.

Redescription of the Female and Variability of Cryptocephalus (Asionus) Pseudoreitteri Tomov, 1976 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae) in Turkey

Abstract Cryptocephalus (Asionus) pseudoreitteri Tomov, 1976 is a poorly known species. Recently, seven additional specimens of this rare species were collected out of the type locality. The little known female of this species is redescribed in detail and also males are redescribed on the basis of 7 specimens (4 males and 3 females) collected from Kayseri and Aksaray provinces of Central Anatolia. The male and female genital structures, abdomen, variations of the pronotal and elytral patterns are illustrated.

Hidden diversity in small brown moths ‐ the systematics of Edosa (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) in Sundaland

This paper is an account of the species of Edosa (Perissomasticinae) inhabiting Sundaland, the area of South‐East Asia that comprises the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, Palawan and Balabac. Edosa is highly diverse; its members are mostly small to medium‐sized brown moths with a characteristic resting posture. They run rapidly with a lurching, scuttling gait, and are commonly encountered in light‐collecting throughout the region, but their biology is otherwise unknown. The genus is redefined and its previous taxonomic history and its biological and morphological characteristics are reviewed. Fifty‐two species are described, illustrated and keyed; 45 species are new, and one of the seven previously known species, Edosa trita Meyrick, is treated as incertae sedis. The impossibility of associating male and female of the same species (except in a few instances) has necessitated a taxonomy based upon males; females are only described formally where they can be confidently identified, and that applies to very few species. The genitalia of a few tentatively identified females are illustrated also to give some idea of morphological variation. A phylogenetic analysis including representatives of all perissomasticine genera indicates that Neoepiscardia, Cylicobathra and Phalloscardia are groups subordinate within a monophyletic Edosa with which they are here synonymised. Edosa is diagnosed by the male and female genital structure: in the male the uncus has a broad, shouldered base and the bulbus ejaculatorius has a sharp bend at about one‐half its length, with the distal region abruptly differentiated into a ‘cup’ which is reflexed caudally back onto the preceding length of the bulbus; females have a complex colliculum consisting of transverse or oblique rings or flanges which are invaginated in many species to form an elongate digitate internal process or pair of processes. It is suggested that, with some 250 species recognised of which 160 are described, Edosa is the most species‐rich genus of the Tineidae.

Redescription of the genus Costarcha Hampson (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae: Lithosiinae)

Genus Costarcha was proposed as a monotypic genus by HAMPSON (1891) for its type species C. indistincta HAMPSON collected in Nilgiris. The same nomenclature was followed by the same author in 1900 and by STRAND (1922). During the present studies, five representatives of C. indistincta were collected from a single locality, the Kodanadu in Nilgiris. The specimens have been compared by the junior author with the syntypes housed in Natural History Museum, London (NHM 5/89-129; HAMP.coll; Nilgiris). HAMPSON (1894) mentioned and depicted that vein 6 (M1) in forewing is absent in this genus. However, the position of vein M1 was shown correctly on illustrations in his other publications (HAMPSON, 1891, 1900). In the present studies vein M1of forewing is found to be present in all the representatives of the species discussed. Moreover, HAMPSON (1894) stated that, “hind wing with vein 4 (M3) and 5 (M2) originate from angle of cell; vein 3 (Cu1) and 6 (M1) absent.” But the diagrammatic view of hindwing veins given by HAMPSON (1894, 1900) completely matches with the presently studied species in which only vein 5 (M2) is absent in hindwing whereas all other veins are present. Therefore, the diagnosis of the genus given by HAMPSON (1894, 1900) is here revised with inclusion of the male genitalic structures and corrections of the wing venation.