Oriental Region Research Articles

New records of sessile rotifers (Phylum Rotifera: Flosculariacea, Collothecacea) from Southeast Asia

Recognizing the dearth of information on the biodiversity and biogeography of Southeast Asian micrometazoa, particularly sessile rotifers, we examined two samples of submerged aquatic macrophytes (Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle and Utri cularia sp.) from different sites in Cambodia. We were able to distinguish a total of 23 taxa, three of which may represent undescribed species. Two more taxa could not unequivocally be ascribed to a known species. We further comment on the distribution of Octotrocha speciosa Thorpe, which may be much less widespread than previously thought. In addition to the three possibly new species, nine are newly recorded for the Oriental region; of these, two are recorded for the second time ever. All represent new records for the fauna of Cambodia. Our results illustrate the need for more detailed and thorough taxonomic and faunistic studies on this group of poorly known organisms.

Science, technology, and innovation in health for the next twenty years: A survey analysis in Colombia

AbstractBackgroundColombia is a Latin American country with a very complex social and political context that has not allowed the allocation of sufficient resources to the fields of science, technology, and innovation (STI). This is particularly worrying for the area of health since not enough resources are allocated for public health, research, or education.MethodsThe so‐called “Great Survey in Health 2019” was administered online through the SurveyMonkey platform to 5298 people in different regions of the country, representing the public, private, and academic sectors. The questionnaire consisted of 46 open and closed questions, including demographic inquiries. Data analysis involved textual analytics and sentiment analysis.ResultsOverall, 56% of those surveyed were women within the adult life cycle. Most respondents had a postgraduate education. Greater participation was observed in the Oriental, Bogotá, and Antioquia regions, which also concentrate the largest number of resources for STI. Among the main recommendations derived from the results, priorities include investing in research, personalised medicine, promoting the social appropriation of knowledge, addressing mental health, regulating research through a statute, promoting undergraduate research, and establishing recertification exams to pursue excellence.ConclusionThe results of this original study serve as a fundamental input to promote and strengthen the STI processes in life sciences and health. They serve as a guide to generate public policies and actions that guarantee better health and well‐being for the Colombian population, strategically proposing a clear roadmap for the next 20 years.

Phylogeny and historical biogeography of the leafhopper subfamily Coelidiinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) based on morphological and molecular data

AbstractThe phylogenetic relationships among major lineages of the globally distributed leafhopper subfamily Coelidiinae were reconstructed by analysis of 2903 nucleotide positions from two mitochondrial genes (COI and 16S), four nuclear genes (28S, H3, H2A and Wingless) and 102 discrete morphological characters, compiled for 86 species representing 52 genera within 9 coelidiine tribes broadly representative of the world fauna in addition to 12 outgroup taxa. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses yielded well‐resolved phylogenetic estimates that were highly congruent with most branches receiving strong support. The results indicate Coelidiinae sensu stricto (=Coelidiinae sensu lato without Equeefini and Macroceratogoniini), Thagriini, Tharrini, Tinobregmini and Equeefini are monophyletic. However, the two largest tribes, Coelidiini and Teruliini, are paraphyletic, as well as Youngolidiini and most genera of Oriental Coelidiini. Fossil‐calibrated molecular divergence time analysis indicates that the Coelidiinae sensu stricto originated ca. 149 Ma, prior to the complete separation of the Gondwanan continents, and the tribe‐level lineages diverged between the Lower and Upper Cretaceous (92.77–138.03 Ma). The major lineages of Coelidiinae arose in the Oriental and Neotropical regions, and Oriental Coelidiini arose as a result of dispersal and colonisation from the Afrotropical region.

Parasitoid wasps with enlarged mandibles associated with aculeate Hymenoptera: An integrative taxonomy of Chaenotetrastichus Graham and Styotrichia LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Abstract The two genera, Chaenotetrastichus Graham and Styotrichia LaSalle (Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae), are newly recorded from the Oriental region, based on material reared from the pupae of Auplopus carbonarius (Scopoli) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) and a Pisoxylon species (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), respectively, collected using trap-nests. Styotrichia pisoxylona Cao & Zhu sp. nov. is described and illustrated as a gregarious endo-parasitoid of Pisoxylon sp. The generic diagnosis, biology, and distribution of Chaenotetrastichus and Styotrichia are updated. All described species of the two genera are reviewed and a key to them is provided. Based on morphology and available sequences of the D2 expansion region of 28S ribosomal DNA (28S D2), the relationships between the two genera and other members of the subfamily Tetrastichinae are tentatively discussed. The phylogenetic analysis of 28S D2 confirms that the two genera with enlarged mandibles, which are associated with aculeate Hymenoptera, are not closely related. DNA barcodes (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I, COI) of the newly described species and C. semiflavus (Girault) are provided and analyzed alongside publicly available COI sequences of related taxa. The result suggests that the genetic or species diversity of Chaenotetrastichus is underestimated.

Phylogenetic origin of an insect fauna at the boundary of the Palaearctic and Oriental realms: Evidence from ‘site‐based’ mitogenomics

AbstractAimKnowledge of taxonomy and species distributions in highly diverse lineages of invertebrates remains too incomplete for the study of biogeographical patterns at the global scale. This limits the understanding of processes leading to the formation and maintenance of boundaries between major biogeographical realms. Site‐based metagenomic approaches may provide an alternative source of data for inference of historical processes of in situ speciation and interchange among biogeographical regions. We applied the methodology to explore the historical biogeography of the Qinling Mountains at the boundary of the Oriental and Palaearctic regions.LocationThe focal area in the Qinling Mountains; sites in Borneo, Panama, and Spain, representing the Oriental, Neotropical and Palaearctic faunas.Time PeriodContemporary.Major Taxa StudiedChrysomelidae, a group of ~40,000 species with worldwide distribution.MethodsMass‐trapped insects were subjected to deep Illumina DNA sequencing and mitochondrial genome assembly, followed by phylogenetic analysis and historical biogeographical inference on a dated tree. The methodology produced 622 mitogenomes (304 newly sequenced) each representing a morphologically distinct species.ResultsAncestral area reconstruction revealed that the Qinling fauna is a composite of distinct clades that, respectively, have Oriental or Palaearctic ancient origins, while in situ speciation and local clade formation were limited. The global diversity of Chrysomelidae consists of regionalised deep clades at the level of the major zoogeographic realms, which remain recognisable where these realms abut in the Qinling mountains. Yet, the Qinling fauna is clearly distinct from the source areas although local lineage ages are generally <20 Ma.Main ConclusionsThe Qinling fauna is a composite of clades that have either Oriental or Palaearctic origin, indicating the important role of immigration at the realm boundary. Global site‐based phylogenetic analyses based on metagenomic sequencing can address previously intractable questions about the historical biogeography of poorly studied groups even without a fully developed taxonomy.

Redescriptions of Indian species of Nigrobaetis Kazlauskas (in Novikova & Kluge) 1987 (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae).

The European species Nigrobaetis gracilis (Bogoescu & Tabacaru 1957) and more than 19 Asian and African species of Nigrobaetis Kazlauskas (in Novikova & Kluge) 1987 belong to the subgenus Margobaetis Kang & Yang 1994, which is characterized by peculiar asymmetric eggs and narrow paraglossa of larval labium. A new synonymy is established: Nigrobaetis (Margobaetis) minutus (Mller-Liebenau 1984) = N. paramakalyani Kubendran & Balasubramanian in Kubendran et al. 2015 = N. sumbensis Kaltenbach & Gattolliat 2023, synn.n.; winged stages (male and female imagines and subimagines) and eggs of this species are described for the first time. N. (M.) minutus is widely distributed on Oriental Region, being revealed in West Malaysia, Southern India, Sumba and Sulawesi islands in Indonesia. Winged stages (male and female imagines and subimagines) and eggs of Nigrobaetis (Margobaetis) klugei Sivaruban et al. 2022 are described for the first time.

A review of the genus Neogreenia MacGillivray (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Qinococcidae) with descriptions of two new species.

The species of Neogreenia MacGillivray (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Qinococcidae) are reviewed. The genus is distributed in the Oriental and Palaearctic Regions and now contains seven species. The present study provides updated generic descriptions of all the developmental stages and a brief account of the biology and life cycle of Neogreenia. The genotype, Neogreenia zeylanica (Green, 1896), is redescribed. The following are described and illustrated for the first time: the second-instar nymph, third-instar female, and male third-instar nymph and pupa of N. zizyphi Tang; the second-instar nymph of N. lonicera Wu & Nan; and the second-instar nymph of N. sophorica Wu. Two new species are described and illustrated: Neogreenia ficus Zheng & Wu, sp. n. based on the adult female and Neogreenia tangi Zheng & Wu, sp. n. based on all female instars. These new species bring the total number of described species of Neogreenia to seven. An identification key to all the developmental stages of Neogreenia, and identification keys to species based on adult females and available nymphal instars are provided.

Taxonomic review of the subtribe Masoreina (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiinae) from Cambodia

Only 3 species have been recorded in the subtribe Masoreina from Cambodia. This study provides preliminary keys to the genera and species from the Oriental region and reports 3 newly recorded species of this group from Cambodia. Due to the inadequate descriptions of this group, all species examined in this study are provided with redescriptions, including the male genitalia.

Evaluation of Weibull parameters for wind energy analysis in the eastern region of the Kingdom of Morocco

This document delves into evaluating wind power potential within Morocco’s Oriental region, encompassing an extensive study of 23 locations over 43 years. The analysis was conducted using the advanced MERRA2 data reanalysis system coupled with MATLAB software. Our comprehensive study aims to map the wind energy capabilities across these sites. We employed eight distinct algorithms to adapt the Weibull distribution for the wind speed data. Additionally, the research includes an analysis of the wind rose and assesses the Capacity Factor ([Formula: see text]) to determine the most efficient periods for wind energy production. Our findings highlight that sites S4, S7, and S11 create an ideal geographic formation for wind farm placement. Within this formation, site S8, boasting a ([Formula: see text]) of 36.97%, emerges as a critical location, especially when paired with the EWT DW54 500 wind turbine model. This investigation opens new avenues for advancing wind energy in the region.

Additional information regarding the ground beetle species of the Asia-Pacific genus Mimocolliuris Liebke, 1933 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiinae)

Ground beetles of the Genus Mimocolliuris Liebke, 1933 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiinae) are represented by 17 species globally within the three subgenera (Essora Liebke 1933, Paramimocolliuris Habu 1979, and Mimocolliuris s.str) with an exclusive distribution in the Asia-Pacific region (India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, China, Taiwan, and Japan). This study provides additional information regarding the Asia-Pacific genus Mimocolliuris by offering a supplementary note for the genus and a revised identification key to the species of the genus Mimocolliuris by including subgenera Essora Liebke, 1933, and Paramimocolliuris Habu, 1979. Additionally, this study provides the first report of the species Mimocolliuris bicoloripes Baehr, 2016 from the Oriental region (India) and also presents a modified description of the species Mimocolliuris pilifera (Nietner, 1858).

Three new species of Promicrogaster Brues & Richardson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from India.

The Indian fauna of the microgastrine genus Promicrogaster is reviewed and three new species are described: P. constricta, P. flava, and P. incompleta, all authored by Ranjith & Fernandez-Triana. Until now only one species had been reported from India. An illustrated key for the Oriental region, including all previously described species, is also provided.

Genetic diversity of black soldier flies in Vietnam based on DNA COI sequence

Abstract. Nguyen TN, Tran TBN, Tran HN. 2023. Genetic diversity of black soldier flies in Vietnam based on DNA COI sequence. Biodiversitas 24: 6727-6732. The Black Soldier Fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758), is found in temperate and tropical regions of the world. In recent years, BSF has been cultivated as fodder in some areas of Vietnam. The genetic diversity of BSF in Vietnam has not yet been assessed. This study aimed to investigate the nucleotide diversity in COI sequences of BSF in Vietnam. We examined the COI nucleotide sequences of 22 BSFs using flies or larval tissue samples for DNA extraction and subsequent sequencing. Our analysis showed that the nucleotide composition of BSF consisted of 25.36% A, 36.04% T, 21.25% C, and 17.35% G, with a significant prevalence of A+T nucleotides of 61.40% compared to 38.60% for G+C nucleotides. Among 22 individual BSFs samples collected from ten provinces and cities, spanning seven agro-ecological regions in Vietnam, we identified 9 different haplotypes, which were distributed in five clades but mainly clustered in two main clades: E and F. Clade E, prominently represented by branch E, showed a higher abundance in Asia, while Clade F has been identified in Europe, Uganda, South Korea, Oceania and North America. Our results highlight the relatively high genetic diversity of the Vietnamese BSF population. In addition, the COI nucleotide sequences of these Vietnamese BSF samples were similar to those of Asian and Australian countries, showing significant similarities to the Palearctic and Oriental regions. These results provide valuable insights to inform BSF breeding and development in Vietnam.

Four new species of Triraphis Ruthe, 1855 (Braconidae, Rogadinae) from a Mexican tropical dry forest and morphological descriptions of T. bradzlotnicki Sharkey, 2021 and T. davidwahli Sharkey, 2021

The koinobiont endoparasitoid genus Triraphis Ruthe, 1855 (Rogadinae Foerster, 1863) is a group of braconid wasps that contains 74 species distributed along the Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental and Palearctic regions. We amplified a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) for 19 specimens of Triraphis from the Chamela Biological Station (CBS), a region mainly composed of tropical dry forest near the Pacific coast of Jalisco, Mexico. Based on genetic distances among specimens of Triraphis from the CBS and all COI sequences of BINs assigned to Triraphis and Rogas Nees, 1819 available in the BOLDSYSTEMS database, we identified three clusters in the CBS that correspond with T. bradzlotnicki Sharkey, 2021, T. davidwahli Sharkey, 2021 and T. defectus Valerio, 2015, which were previously described from Costa Rica. Based on morphology, we identified individuals of T. fusciceps Cresson, 1869 and provided COI sequences of this species for the first time. Four genetic clusters of Triraphis correspond to four new species that are described here: T. kardia sp. nov., T. ocellatus sp. nov., T. divergens sp. nov. and T. luzabrilae sp. nov. Since T. bradzlotnicki and T. davidwahli were exclusively described with molecular data (COI), we morphologically described them based on Mexican specimens.

Environmental Awareness in the Oriental region of Morocco: A review

Our environment is in the process of being profoundly degraded, following global planetary change. This degradation is caused by the abusive use of natural resources, by an ever-increasing world population, in order to meet needs. Economic and social ever greedier. One of the Millennium Development Goals signed by UN Member States in September 2000 is the preservation of the environment. To increase awareness on the importance of the preservation of the environment and maintaining the longterm exploitation of resources while maximizing social benefits and minimizing environmental impacts, this paper highlights the most important problems faced the natural resources in Morocco with an example of its Oriental region. We also share a description of one of the important efforts that have been made in the context of environment awareness in the Oriental region.

Discovery of a new soft-bodied click-beetle genus from Namibia with a unique morphology leads to a modified diagnosis of Drilini (Coleoptera, Elateridae).

Drilini are soft-bodied predatory click beetles with incompletely metamorphosed females. Approximately 150 described species are distributed in the Afrotropical, Palaearctic and Oriental realms, with the highest diversity known from sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we describe Namibdrilusalbertalleni gen. et sp. nov. from Namibia which brings the total number of genera in Drilini to 16. The discovery of this unique taxon sheds new light on the diversity and evolution of the enigmatic paedomorphic beetle lineage and is interesting for several reasons. This new species is the only known representative of Drilini that has unidentate mandibles and lacks a hook on the dorsal part of the aedeagal median lobe, two of the few characters heretofore used for the unambiguous identification of members of this group. Furthermore, based on its morphology it belongs to a group of genera (Drilus clade) which heretofore contained only taxa from the Palaearctic Realm. We provide an updated diagnosis of the tribe Drilini, as well as an updated diagnosis and an identification key for the genera of the Drilus clade based on adult males. Further, we explain how to easily recognize adult Drilini from similar-looking soft-bodied elateroids like Elateridae: Omalisinae, Rhagophthalmidae, and Lampyridae: Ototretinae.

Semperula wallacei (Mollusca, Veronicellidae) um hospedeiro natural recém-descoberto de Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda, Angiostrongylidae) na Bacia do Pacífico.

Semperula wallacei (Issel, 1874) is a species of terrestrial slug that occurs in southeast China and the Pacific Basin and is the only species of its genus that occurs beyond the Oriental region and to the east of Wallace's line in the Australian region, where it has probably been introduced. In this study, we report for the first time S. wallacei as an intermediate host for Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935) based on histological and molecular analyses of slugs from Tuamasaga, Samoa, deposited at the Medical Malacological Collection (Fiocruz-CMM). DNA was obtained from the deparafinized tissues scraped from specimen slides. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) targeted to the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region were carried out using the restriction enzyme Cla I. The RFLP profile observed for our larval specimen of S. wallacei was identical to the profile previously established for A. cantonensis, demonstrating that S. wallacei can be naturally infected with A. cantonensis and is likely to be an intermediate host for this parasitic nematode species in the field. The potential for geographical range expansion of S. wallacei in the Pacific Basin, its small size, and the general role of veronicellids as crop pests and hosts of nematodes, indicate the significance of S. wallacei as an invasive species in the Pacific Basin. Our work also highlights the importance of biological collections for investigating the environmental impact of invasive species on agriculture, public health, and biodiversity conservation.

INVASI UDANG AIR TAWAR Macrobrachium lanchesteri DI DANAU BOLANO TOGA, TOLI-TOLI, SULAWESI TENGAH

Sulawesi Island has long been known as one of the regions in Indonesia that holds a wealth of freshwater shrimp species in both lentic and lotic waters. One of the lentic waters in Sulawesi is Lake Bolano Tago which is located in Toli-Toli Regency, Central Sulawesi. This research aims to reveal the population and abundance of freshwater shrimp in the lake. Sampling was carried out in April 2022 along the lake's littoral zone which was divided into 7 stations using purposive sampling and sweep methods. Sampling effort at each station was carried out for 4 hours. Environmental physicochemical factors measured include water temperature, brightness, dissolved oxygen levels, and water acidity levels. Specimen identification was carried out at the Animal Biosystematics and Evolution Laboratory, Biology Department, FMIPA, Tadulako University. Identification was carried out based on morphological characters by following the identification key of Wowor et al (2004). The results of this research revealed that of the freshwater shrimp collected as many as 1,165 individuals in the lake, all consisted of one species, namely Macrobrachium lanchesteri. This species belonging to the Palaemonidae family is not native to Indonesia but comes from the Oriental region. Macrobrachium lanchesteri was first described based on a type specimen originating from Thailand. Its presence in Lake Bolano Toga is quite worrying because of its invasive nature. With the abundant presence of the M. lanchesteri species at all stations, it can be confirmed that the Macrobrachium lanchesteri species has invaded Lake Bolano Toga

New species and new records of Oriental Campopleginae and Nesomesochorinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Oriental species of the subfamilies Campopleginae and Nesomesochorinae of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) are treated. Hyposoter ara sp. nov., Hyposoter djalai sp. nov., and Venturia dayang sp. nov. are described from Malaysia. Casinaria leo Maheshwary et Gupta, 1977 is reported for the first time from Vietnam, Macrulus areolaris Horstmann, 1978 is reported for the first time from Malaysia (representing its first record from the Oriental region), and Chriodes chinensis Gupta et Maheshwary, 1974, Chriodes javensis Gupta et Maheshwary, 1974, Chriodes orientalis Gupta et Maheshwary, 1974, and Klutiana townesi (Baltazar, 1961) are reported for the first time from Thailand.

Revision of the Oriental species of the hoverfly genus Paramixogaster Brunetti, 1923 (Diptera, Syrphidae, Microdontinae).

The species of the hoverfly genus Paramixogaster Brunetti, 1923 from the Oriental Region are revised. The resulting number of valid species is 15, of which the following four are described as new: P.halmaherensis Reemer, sp. nov., P.jubata Reemer, sp. nov., P.kodaiana Sankararaman & Reemer, sp. nov., and P.sulawesiana Reemer, sp. nov. Three new synonymies are established: Paramicrodondecipiens de Meijere, 1917, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Microdonvespiformis de Meijere, 1908; Paramixogasterwegneri Keiser, 1964, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Ceratophyaindica Doleschall, 1857; Microdonsubpetiolatus Thompson, 2020, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Microdoncontractus Brunetti, 1923. Paramixogasterhuoi Reemer, nom. nov. is introduced as a replacement name for P.trifasciatus Huo & Zhao, 2022, which is a primary homonym of P.trifasciatus Ssymank & Reemer, 2016. Neotypes are designated for Paramixogastericariiformis Pendlebury, 1927 and Myxogastervariegata Sack, 1922, and a lectotype is designated for Microdonvespiformis de Meijere, 1908. An identification key to the species and diagnoses for all species are provided.

Intraguild predation and cannibalism between two co-occurring ladybird species (Coccinella septempunctata and Menochilus sexmaculatus): A fight for supremacy

<p><em>Coccinella septempunctata</em> L. (<em>C7</em>) and <em>Menochilus sexmaculatus</em> (Fabricius)<em> (Ms) </em>are aphidophagous ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), which dominates the ladybird fauna of Oriental region. Since these species co-occur and are highly predaceous on various aphids, it was hypothesized that in the scarcity or absence of aphids, i.e., extraguild prey, one ladybird species will start attacking and killing the other one, which will endanger their co-occurrence. Thus, we aim to determine, which ladybirds’ larvae will subdue the other; their attack rates (rate at which a superior individual attacks the inferior one), escape rates (rate at which an inferior individual escapes from the attack of superior one) and predation rates (rate at which a superior individual eats the inferior one) were investigated, as they indulged in cannibalism and intraguild predation. Larvae of <em>C7</em> were slightly bigger and heavier than those of <em>Ms</em>, thereby they gained a slight competitive advantage. This enabled <em>C7 </em>a better attacker and an escapist when confronted with larvae of <em>Ms</em> in a predatory guild, which resulted in lesser larval mortality due to intraguild predation by <em>Ms </em>larvae. However, <em>C7 </em>successfully preyed upon the larvae of <em>Ms. </em>The highest rate of cannibalism and intraguild predation was executed by <em>C7 </em>which made it a potent cannibal and an intraguild predator. Despite being outplayed by <em>C7</em>, the inferior <em>Ms</em> larvae didn’t suffer much loss during the intraguild combat due to their armoured morphological features in the form of spines and rough texture. This is the reason why <em>Ms</em> still exists as the second most commonly occurring ladybird in the field.</p>