Male Parameres Research Articles

Two anomalous new species of Rhagovelia (Heteroptera: Veliidae) from southern New Guinea

Two new species of Rhagovelia are described from southern New Guinea: R. kiunga from the Fly River basin of Papua New Guinea, and R. timikana from the Iweka River basin of Indonesian New Guinea. These species are placed in a newly defined R. kiunga species group on the basis of shared distinctive morphological character states. Photographic figures of the dorsal habitus in both sexes and other key morphological characters are provided for both species, along with line drawings of the male parameres and a distribution map.

Thirty-four new species of Rhagovelia (Heteroptera: Veliidae) from the East Papua Composite Terrane, far eastern New Guinea.

Thirty-four new species of Rhagovelia are described from the East Papua Composite Terrane of far eastern New Guinea. The new taxa described from this area are as follows: R. yela, R. woa, and R. mbo from Rossel Island; R. tagula, R. kolukolu, and R. riu from Tagula Island; R. bwagabwaga from Misima Island; R. suloga from Woodlark Island; R. torrenticola and R. elongata from Goodenough Island; R. awaetowa from Fergusson Island; R. dibuwa from Normanby Island; R. basima from Fergusson and Normanby islands; R. kalawai from Sideia and Basilaki islands; R. guiagoila from Basilaki, Sideia and Sariba islands; R. tufi, R. bowutu, R. obscura, R. upalai, R. antap, R. goilala, R. udabe, R. watuti, R. peninsularis, R. auga, R. aviavi, R. tekadu, R. sapoi, R. mimani, R. dinga, R. ivimkana, R. loriae, R. grisea, and R. cheesmanae from the Owen Stanley Range of eastern New Guinea. Redescriptions are also provided for five previously described species occurring in this portion of New Guinea: R. peggiae Kirkaldy, R. hirsuta Lansbury, R. priori Lansbury, R. caesius Lansbury and R. aureospicata Lansbury. A regional key is provided for these 39 species of Rhagovelia occurring in the Papuan Peninsula and adjacent island groups, accompanied by figures of the male parameres and other diagnostic morphological structures, and distribution maps for all species.

A New Species of Spelaeometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Hydrometridae) from a Hotspot of Troglobites in Brazil, Serra do Ramalho Karst Area.

Spelaeometra Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Hydrometridae) is a monotypic and troglobitic genus, recently described based on material collected in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. From specimens collected in the Gruna do Enfurnado Cave in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, municipality of Coribe, state of Bahia, Brazil, we describe Spelaeometra hypogea Cordeiro & Moreira, sp. nov. and compare it with Spelaeometra gruta Polhemus & Ferreira, 2018. The new species is diagnosed by the general body color being pale-yellow to light-brown; antennal segments I and II being subequal in length; the reduced gular lobe, not covering any labial segment; the male proctiger without apical projections; and the male paramere with convex dorsal margin after the curvature, with a narrow hook-like apex.

NEW SPECIES OF BRISTLETAILS OF THE FAMILY MACHILIDAE (MICROCORYPHIA) FROM TAJIKISTAN

Two new species from the bristletai family Machilidae are described from Tajikistan, Central Asia: Allopsontus sogdianus sp. n. and Silvestrichilis perfectus sp. n. Allopsontus sogdianus sp. n. seems to be particularly similar to A. pulchellus (Kaplin 1982), a species of the subgenus Anisopsontus from the Dzhungarsky Alatau Mountains, southeastern Kazakhstan, as their males share many small, dark, specialized bristles on the ventral surface of articles 2–7 of the maxillary palps. Allopsontus sogdianus sp. n. differs from A. pulchellus by the length of the body, the structure of the antennae, the number of articles in the distal parts of the antennae, the color and structure of the eyes and paired ocelli, the maxillary palps, the sensory field on the femora of the male forelegs, the relative length of the styli on the males and females urites VIII and IX, the number of articles of the ovipositor and male parameres. Males of Silvestrichilis perfectus sp. n. are with 4–5 almost vertical, thickened, needle-like bristles on the second articles of the fore, middle and hind tarsi, this being one of the main morphological features of this genus. Silvestrichilis perfectus sp. n. differs from other species of the genus first of all by the presence of sensory fields on the fore and middle femora of males.

Two new species of Valleriola (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Leptopodidae) and taxonomic notes on the tribe Leptopodini Brullé, 1836 from East and Southeast Asia

Two species of the genus ValleriolaDistant, 1904 (Heteroptera: Leptopodomorpha: Leptopodidae: Leptopodinae: Leptopodini) are described as new: Valleriola asiatica sp. nov. from Laos and Hainan Island of China, and Valleriola bui sp. nov. from Laos and Thailand. In addition, Leptopus riparius Hsiao, 1964 is newly recorded for Vietnam, Valleriola javanica Drake & Hottes, 1951 is newly recorded for Laos, and additional records are provided for Leptopus riparius, Valleriola javanica and Valleriola buenoi (Usinger, 1942). Photographs of the dorsal habitus, heads, hemelytra, fore femora, male parameres and live specimens are provided, accompanied by a distribution map for the species of Leptopodini occurring in East and Southeast Asia.

New species and notes on Paravelia Breddin, 1898 (Heteroptera: Veliidae) from South America.

The new species Paravelia ameliae (Heteroptera: Veliidae) is described based on macropterous specimens from the Department of Putumayo, in the Amazonian region of Colombia. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners mainly by the bicolored pronotum (dark-brown on the anterior two-thirds and light-brown posteriorly); the absence of distinct pruinosity or silvery patches on the anterior lobe of the pronotum; the basal macula of the forewing small and roughly ovate; the grasping comb of the male fore tibia occupying more than half of its length; the male hind femur with a row of 15 spines on the basal two-thirds; and the male paramere notched basally on its dorsal surface. Furthermore, this species displays sexual dimorphism in body shape and in hind tibial length, with males having a slightly constricted mid-abdominal region and hind tibia distinctly longer than in females. Also, in order to describe external morphological characteristics not mentioned in previous studies, supplemental descriptions are provided for P. albotrimaculata (Kirkaldy, 1899), P. loutoni Polhemus, 2014, P. nieseri Moreira Barbosa, 2012, and P. rotundanotata (Hungerford, 1930). Illustrations and a distribution map of all species treated here are presented.

SECAMIENTO DE Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov POR LA CHINCHE DE LOS PASTOS Blissus leucopterus Say EN EL SUR DE VERACRUZ

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Damage that causes the drying out of grasses of the species <em>Pennisetum clandestinum</em> was reported in the south of Veracruz, which results in economic losses in the livestock sector. <strong>Objective:</strong> To taxonomically identify the bug species that causes the drying out of <em>P. clandestinum</em>. <strong>Methodology:</strong> We collected grass bugs across a surface of twenty hectares with an entomological net. The insects were placed in containers with 70% alcohol and were subsequently quantified. We performed the taxonomic identification under a stereo microscope by observing the morphological characteristics and comparing them with those described in the literature. We dissected the abdomen of the insects in order to extract the male and female genitalia. <strong>Results.</strong> The presence of the chinch bug <em>Blissus leucopterus</em> Say was confirmed in the grasses based on the taxonomic characteristics of the adults and the genitalia, as well as on the shape of the male parameres and aedeagus. The chinch bug caused characteristic damage to the grasses, such as stunted growth, yellowing, spotted wilt, and necrotic lesions. <strong>Implications.</strong> A correct identification of the insect will allow the implementation of appropriate management strategies. <strong>Conclusion. </strong>The chinch bug <em>B. leucopterus</em> Say was taxonomically identified, this plague is responsible of the drying out of <em>P. clandestinum </em>in Hidalgotitlan, Veracruz.</p>

New Afrotropical species of the genus Coridiellus J.A. Lis, 1990 with a key to its species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Dinidoridae).

Coridiellus pseudocyclopeltus, a new species of the dinidorid subfamily Dinidorinae, is described from Zaire and is compared with Coridiellus cyclopeltus (Distant, 1890). It is the seventh species of this genus known from Afrotropical Region. A key to all the species of the genus Coridiellus is also provided. Male parameres are used for identification and their photographs are given for the first time for all species of the genus.

A review of the genus Blaps (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) of Central and South Kazakhstan with description of two new species

A taxonomic review of the 32 species and subspecies of the genus Blaps Fabricius, 1775 from Central and South Kazakhstan is given. Two new species are described: Blaps skopini sp. n. and Blaps fouquei sp. n. The first species is most similar to Blaps granulata Gebler, 1825, B. granulipennis Skopin, 1966 and B. tsharynensis Skopin, 1961 but differs from these lastly mentioned species in the longer caudal extension of the elytra (mucro), shape and punctation of pronotum, structure of the male parameres and female genital tubes. Blaps fouquei sp. n. is most similar to B. seriata Fischer von Waldheim, 1820, and differs in the longer antennae, elytra flattened along suture, structure of the male parameres and female genital tubes. Blaps turcomanorum Seidlitz, 1893 is recorded for Kazakhstan for the first time. A key to all species known from the area under consideration is presented. Lectotypes of B. gigantea Motschulsky, 1845 and B. confusa Menetries, 1832 are designated. The most species are illustrated for the first time.

Case of mistaken identity: resolving the taxonomy between Trioza eugeniae Froggatt and T. adventicia Tuthill (Psylloidea: Triozidae).

The 'Eugenia psyllid' or 'Lilly pilly psyllid', widely recognized in Australia and in the USA as Trioza eugeniae Froggatt (Hemiptera: Triozidae), is not T. eugeniae, but rather T. adventicia Tuthill. In this study we assessed morphological comparisons of materials from throughout the native and introduced ranges and re-examined original descriptions of both taxa, together with Froggatt's type specimens of T. eugeniae. Furthermore, through DNA barcoding analyses, we confirmed the validity of both T. adventicia and T. eugeniae as separate species. We re-described both species to include additional characters not previously included and designated a lectotype for T. eugeniae. T. eugeniae has smaller fore wings that are slightly more elongate. These lack infuscation around veins R and R1, vein Rs is relatively longer, meeting the costa closer to the wing apex; with certain veins bearing long, fine divergent setae, a character not previously described. It has consistently three inner and one outer metatibial spurs. The male parameres appear narrowly pyriform with a weak dorsolateral lobe and weakly sclerotized apices. T. adventicia has larger fore wings that are slightly more ovate with dark infuscation around veins R and R1; vein Rs is relatively shorter, meeting the costa further from the wing apex, with veins lacking long, fine divergent setae. The usual configuration of two inner and one outer metatibial spurs, previously used to separate the two species, appears inconsistent. The male parameres appear a little more broadly pyriform with slightly more sclerotized apices. T. eugeniae refers to a distinct species which has a restricted distribution only in its native range in southern subcoastal New South Wales, Australia. T. adventicia refers to a separate species, with a natural distribution in eastern subcoastal Australia, but has been introduced widely in southern Australia, to New Zealand and the USA. This study elucidates a long history of misidentification of T. eugeniae in the nursery industry and in almost 30 years of literature on its biological control in the USA. Regardless, the biological control program, unknowingly, targeted the correct species of psyllid, T. adventicia, in its foreign exploration and importation of the appropriate parasitoid as a biocontrol agent in the USA. Despite being firmly entrenched in both the nursery trade and scientific literature, the name T. eugeniae is misapplied. While the acceptance of the valid name, T. adventicia, might be regarded as both problematic and protracted, this is the correct taxonomical attribution.

Description of two new species of the genus Cacopsylla Ossiannilsson, 1970 (Hemiptera, Psylloidea) from northern Fennoscandia recognized by morphology, cytogenetic characters and COI barcode sequence

Based on chromosomal, molecular and morphological analyses, two new Cacopsylla Ossiannilsson, 1970 species are described, C. lapponica S. Nokkala & Ch. Nokkala, sp. nov. and C. borealis S. Nokkala et Ch. Nokkala, sp. nov. (Hemiptera, Psylloidea). C. lapponica is a rare bisexual alpine species living on Vaccinium uliginosum Linnaeus, 1753 above tree line on northern hills, where it forms sympatric populations with C. myrtilli W. Wagner, 1947. So far, the species has been found in northern Finland, Utsjoki and Kilpisjärvi, and in northern Sweden, Abisko. The chromosome number in males is 2n = 12+X(0), characteristic of psyllids. The species is easily distinguished from C. myrtilli by its conspicuously smaller size mainly due to difference in wing size. Additional morphological differences are found in the length of antennae, female genital plates and male parameres. C. borealis, in turn, is a relatively common apomictic parthenogenetic species with 5n = 60 + XXXXX living on the same host plant, Ledum palustre Linnaeus, 1753, as C. ledi (Flor, 1861) and occasionally forming sympatric populations with it. No males have been recorded in C. borealis. Its distribution range reaches at least from northern Fennoscandia to Lake Baikal in the East. C. borealis can be distinguished from C. ledi by differences in the length and width of antennae, dark brown markings on the wing and female terminal structures. For molecular analysis, a 638 bp fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene was sequenced. C. lapponica differs from the cohabitating C. myrtilli by 20 fixed nucleotide substitutions (uncor rected p-distance 3.13 %), while C. borealis differs from C. ledi by 21 fixed nucleotide substitutions (uncorrected p-distance 3.29 %). Molecular phylogeny construction (ML and BI) reveals two highly divergent clades, one comprising two bisexual species, C. lapponica and C. fraudatrix Labina & Kuznetsova, 2012, and the other clade comprising the parthenogenetic species C. borealis, C. myrtilli, and C. ledi. Within this clade, C. borealis is more closely associated with C. myrtilli than with C. ledi.

Taxonomic review of the genera Trigoniophthalmus Verhoeff and Coryphophthalmus Verhoeff (Archaeognatha, Machilidae) with descriptions of two new species of the genus Coryphophthalmus from Serbia.

A redescription of Trigoniophthalmus Verhoeff, 1910 and descriptions of its subgenera Trigoniophthalmus s. str. and Silvestrius subgen. nov., along with revalidation and redescription of the genus Coryphophthalmus Verhoeff, 1910, and descriptions of its subgenera, Coryphophtalmus s. str. and Verhoeffius subgen. nov., are given on the basis of comparative analysis of the main morphological features and distribution of 33 described species. Coryphophthalmus obscurus sp. nov. and C. serbicus sp. nov., in the subgenus Verhoeffius subgen. nov., are described from Serbia. Coryphophthalmus obscurus sp. nov. differs from other species of this subgenus in the relatively short body and antennae, elongated compound eyes, tarsus with numerous spine-like setae and ovipositor with more divisions than other species. Coryphophthalmus serbicus sp. nov. is most similar to C. longitarsus (Kaplin) from Abkhazia. The main differences between these species consist in the line of eye contact, structure of the paired ocelli, labial palps, legs, urocoxites IX, ovipositor and male parameres.

First Mesozoic brachypsectrid beetles in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Elateroidea: Brachypsectridae)

With nine described species in two genera, Brachypsectridae is a small and widespread elateroid family. Fossil brachypsectrids have been confined to the Baltic and Dominican ambers, and very little is known about the early evolution of Brachypsectridae in the Mesozoic era. Here we describe and illustrate the first Mesozoic brachypsectrid, Vetubrachypsectra burmitica gen. et sp. nov., based on a male adult entombed in the mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar, approximately 99 million years ago. Vetubrachypsectra has a close affinity to the extant Brachypsectra, but primitively retains many plesiomorphic characters, including long antennae, tibial spurs 2-2-2 and male parameres without hook. Our discovery of a new Mesozoic brachypsectrid species pushes back the fossil record of Brachypsectridae by approximately 55 million years, which has great significance for further dating of phylogenetic trees of beetles.

Two unusual new genera of cavernicolous Hydrometridae (Insecta: Heteroptera) from eastern Brazil

Two new genera of cavernicolous Hydrometridae are described from limestone caves in northeastern Brazil: Spelaeometra n. gen., with type species S. gruta n. sp., from the Lapa D’Água do Zezé, Lapa do Nestor, Lapa do Saco Velho, and Lapa do Caboclo caves in Minas Gerais state; and Cephalometra n. gen., with type species C. pallida n. sp., from the Natividade cave in Tocantins state. Both new taxa are flightless, possess reduced eyes, and exhibit other reductional character states linked to life in underground ecosystems. The new taxa are interpreted to be highly aberrant members of the family Hydrometridae, based on the possession of eyes set well forward on the head capsule, the posterior pair of cephalic trichobothria arising from distinct tubercles, the presence of an apical invagination on the fourth antennal segment, and the structure of the male parameres. They are provisionally placed in the subfamily Hydrometrinae based on the apical articulation between the first and second antennal segments. On the basis of a preponderance of shared apomorphic character states these new genera appear most closely allied to Veliometra schuhi Andersen, which is also endemic to Brazil, although currently placed in a different subfamily. Color habitus photographs and line drawings of key characters are provided for both new taxa, accompanied by maps and photographs of the caves in which the species occur.

Metrocoris sikkimensis sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) from northeastern India, with a key to species of the compar group occurring in India.

Metrocoris sikkimensis sp. nov. is described from Sikkim, northeastern India, compared with similar species, included in an identification key and its geographical distribution is mapped. This species is assigned to the Metrocoris compar group based on the venter of the body entirely blackish and the male fore femur slender and unarmed. It can be distinguished from other species of the group based on the dark mesosternum without yellow markings, by the apically curved male paramere without setae, and by the structure of male endosomal sclerites.

Micropygomyia (Coquillettimyia) nahua sp. nov., a new Phlebotominae sand fly from Mexico (Diptera, Psychodidae).

Micropygomyia (Coquillettimyia) nahua sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on male and female characteristics. Specimens were collected in the Municipality of Naolinco, state of Veracruz, Mexico. This new species of phlebotomine sand fly has characteristics corresponding to the series vexator Fairchild of Galati, with male similar to Micropygomyia (Coquillettimyia) apache (Young & Perkins), Mi. (Coq.) oppidana (Dampf) and Mi. (Coq.) vexator (Coquillett), but recognized by the male paramere structure and simple apex of aedeagal ducts in the male, the later exception for this species series. Female can be confused with Mi. (Coq.) vexator, Mi. (Coq.) oppidana and Mi. (Coq.) apache, but is distinguishable by the cibarial armature combined with the long and very slender individual spermathecal ducts. Keys for male and female species of Micropygomyia (Coquillettimyia) are provided.

A New Black Fly Species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) From Thailand.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) fukudae sp. nov. is described based on females, males, pupae, and larvae from Thailand. This new species is placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of Simulium (Gomphostilbia). It is characterized by the female frons almost bare, male paramere covered with minute setae, pupal gill composed of six slender filaments, pupal terminal hooks cone-shaped, and cocoon with an anterodorsal projection. Taxonomic notes are given to separate this new species from the most similar species, Simulium (G.) sextuplum Takaoka & Davies and Simulium (G.) paukatense Takaoka, both from Malaysia.

New species of the bristletail families Ateluridae and Lepismatidae (Zygentoma) from Abkhazia and Adygea

Four new species of the bristletail families Ateluridae (Atelura abkhazica sp. n. and Nipponatelurina caucasica sp. n.) and Lepismatidae (Lepisma xylophila sp. n. and L. adygei sp. n.) are described. Atelura abkhazica sp. n. differs from the other species of the genus Atelura in a smaller size, smaller number of ovipositor divisions, in the presence of apical sensory cones on the male parameres, which are absent in the other species of the genus, and in a fewer number of lateral pegs on urotergite X. The genus Nipponatelurina comprises two species (N. kurosai Mendes et Machida, 1994 and N. caucasica sp. n.). The distinguishing features of N. caucasica sp. n. include a significant number of short minute thin cilia on the head capsule, a longer ultimate segment of the maxillary palp, and a fewer number of setae at the posterior margin of urosternites IV–VII. Lepisma xylophila sp. n. differs from L. saccharinum and L. chlorosoma in the distribution of epidermic pigment and in the urotergites chaetom. Lepisma adygei sp. n. is most closely related to the synanthropic species L. saccharinum, but differs in the size of the body, color of scales on the upper surface of the body, and in the structure of the labial palps, urotergite X, ovipositor, and parameres.

The function and evolution of male and female genitalia in Phyllophaga Harris scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

Genitalia diversity in insects continues to fuel investigation of the function and evolution of these dynamic structures. Whereas most studies have focused on variation in male genitalia, an increasing number of studies on female genitalia have uncovered comparable diversity among females, but often at a much finer morphological scale. In this study, we analysed the function and evolution of male and female genitalia in Phyllophaga scarab beetles, a group in which both sexes exhibit genitalic diversity. To document the interaction between male and female structures during mating, we dissected flash-frozen mating pairs from three Phyllophaga species and investigated fine-scale morphology using SEM. We then reconstructed ancestral character states using a species tree inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear loci to elucidate and compare the evolutionary history of male and female genitalia. Our dissections revealed an interlocking mechanism of the female pubic process and male parameres that appears to improve the mechanical fit of the copulatory position. The comparative analyses, however, did not support coevolution of male and female structures and showed more erratic evolution of the female genitalia relative to males. By studying a group that exhibits obvious female genitalic diversity, we were able to demonstrate the relevance of female reproductive morphology in studies of male genital diversity.

New Genera and New Species of Ozophorini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Rhyparochromidae: Rhyparochrominae) from the Neotropics

Abstract. Two new genera of Ozophorini (Lygaeoidea) are described, each containing a single new species: Cryptotrophora limonensis from Costa Rica, and Neolonginischus bocononus from Venezuela. Dorsal habitus for each are illustrated and photographed, and drawings of the male genital capsule and paramere of C. limonensis are provided.