Oriental Region Research Articles

Whether curse or blessing: A counterintuitive perspective on global pest thrips infestation under climatic change with implications to agricultural economics

The improvement and application of pest models to predict yield losses is still a challenge for the scientific community. However, pest models were targeted chiefly towards scheduling scouting or pesticide applications to deal with pest infestation. Thysanoptera (thrips) significantly impact the productivity of many economically important crops worldwide. Until now, no comprehensive study is available on the global distribution of pest thrips, as well as on the extent of cropland vulnerability worldwide. Further, nothing is known about the climate change impacts on these insects. Thus the present study was designed to map the global distribution and quantify the extent of cropland vulnerability in the present and future climate scenarios using data of identified pest thrips within the genus, i.e., Thrips, Frankliniella, and Scirtothrips. Our found significant niche contraction under the climate change scenarios and thrips may reside primarily in their thermal tolerance thresholds. About 3,98,160 km2 of cropland globally was found to be affected in the present scenario. However, it may significantly reduce to 5530 Km2 by 2050 and 1990 km2 by 2070. Further, the thrips distribution mostly getting restricted to Eastern North America, the North-western of the Indian sub-continent, and the north of Europe. Among all realms, thrips may lose ground in the Indo-Malayan realm at the most and get restricted to only 27 out of 825 terrestrial ecoregions. The agrarian communities of the infested regions may get benefit if these pests get wiped out, but on the contrary, we may lose species diversity. Moreover, the vacated niche may attract other invasive species, which may seriously impact the species composition and agricultural productivity. The present study findings can be used in making informed decisions about prioritizing future economic and research investments on the thrips in light of anticipated climate change impacts.

The oldest fossil record of Bauhinia s.s. (Fabaceae) from the Tibetan Plateau sheds light on its evolutionary and biogeographic implications

Bauhinia s.s. is a large genus in the family Fabaceae, but its evolutionary and biogeographical history is still unclear due to the scarcity of fossil records compared to the highly diverse modern species in pantropic regions. Here, we report the earliest fossil record of Bauhinia s.s., namely Bauhinia tibetensis Y. Gao et T. Su sp. nov., based on leaves from the latest Paleocene of the southern Tibetan region. Combined with palaeoecological niche simulations and ancestral state reconstruction, the new fossils suggested a Paleocene origin of Bauhinia s.s. in the Afrotropical realm that subsequently dispersed to the Neotropical and Indomalayan realms. Bauhinia tibetensis belongs to the Asian clade of Bauhinia s.s. that reached the southern Tibetan region from the Afrotropical realm via the Kohistan-Ladakh Island Arc in the early Paleocene. This clade spread to south-eastern China during the Oligocene and entered northern India during the Neogene or earlier. The discovery of the oldest Bauhinia s.s. from what is now the southern Tibetan Plateau updates our understanding of the biogeographical history of this genus and demonstrates that the Kohistan-Ladakh Island Arc is an ancient corridor for floristic interchange between Africa and India.

New Paraguayan records of Xenarthra with a review of the species present in Neembucu department

This article provides an update of the distribution of the Xenarthra fauna of Paraguay. Tamandua tetradactyla is confirmed to occur in all Paraguayan departments. New departmental records of Myrme-cophaga tridactyla are reported for Neembucu, Paraguarí, and San Pedro. Dasypus novemcinctus is reported for Neembucu department for the first time. Two previous species (Dasypus hybridus and Cabassous tatouay) considered to occur in Neembucu department based on specimens in the Basel Natural History Museum are now considered doubtful. A public interest in reports of Myrmecophagidae in Paraguay is noted and it is suggested that it could be utilized to benefit the conservation of these species in the Oriental region, where both species are rarely encountered.

‘Where is my family?’ Molecular and morphological data reveal the phylogenetic position and diversity of the enigmatic handsome fungus beetle genus Anamycetaea Strohecker, 1975 (Coleoptera, Coccinelloidea)

The genus Anamycetaea Strohecker, 1975, established for Anamycetaea keralae, a single species from India, was originally placed in the diverse endomychid subfamily Mycetaeinae and has subsequently been considered a member of the subfamily Anamorphinae based on closed mesocoxal cavities, a postulated synapomorphy of this group. Recent molecular research resulted in raising Anamorphinae to family level and revealed this group to be distantly related to Endomychidae sensu stricto. However, Anamycetaea has been ‘neglected’ since description. Our detailed study of this genus has been possible due to new material collected from Oriental and Australian regions. Striking overall similarity to the endomychine genus Tharina and a tentorium with anterior arms fused medially (separated in almost all Anamorphidae) have raised our doubts and led to further investigation of the phylogenetic placement of this enigmatic genus within Endomychidae sensu lato (handsome fungus beetles). Phylogenetic analyses of molecular and morphological datasets were conducted under Bayesian (BI), maximum likelihood (ML) and parsimony (MP) frameworks. Our results recovered Anamycetaea as belonging to the family Endomychidae, in the subfamily Endomychinae, distant from Anamorphidae. The close affinity to Stenotarsus and allies was strongly supported in all analyses. Based on material studied, A. keralae is described in detail here and includes description of previously unknown male genitalia. Four new species are also described, extending the ragne of the genus to the Australian region: Anamycetaea borneensis sp. nov. (from Borneo), A. novoguineensis sp. nov. and A. papuensis sp. nov. (from Papua New Guinea) and A. queenslandica sp. nov. (from Australia). Illustrations of morphological details and diagnoses are provided for each species. A key to the species of the genus is also presented. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:90BAA954-7849-4FA9-997B-061FE7BB5702

Generic classification of Asian horned toads (Anura: Megophryidae: Megophryinae) and monograph of Chinese species.

The subfamily Megophryinae, as a representative batrachian group of the Oriental Realm and one of the most diverse groups of amphibians, has attracted considerable attention due to continued conjecture regarding its generic classification and failure to reach a satisfactory consensus. China boasts the richest diversity of Asian horned toads, containing some two thirds of the total species cataloged. However, most species have a complicated taxonomic history, resulting in multiple misidentifications. As such, an overall clarification of historical records and regional checklists is required. In the current investigation, we established the phylogeny of the Asian horned toads and performed detailed examinations with redefinitions of several important morphological traits. Based on the phylogenetic relationships and morphological differences, we propose a new ten-genus classification for the Asian horned toad subfamily Megophryinae: i.e., Brachytarsophrys, Atympanophrys, Grillitschia, Sarawakiphrys gen. nov., Jingophrys gen. nov., Xenophrys, Megophrys, Pelobatrachus, Ophryophryne, and Boulenophrys. Revisions on the diagnosability, distribution, and content of each genus are provided. Furthermore, we present a careful review of the taxonomic history of Asian horned toad species from China and provide a monograph of congeners, including six species of Brachytarsophrys, four species of Atympanophrys, five species of Jingophrys gen. nov., 10 species of Xenophrys, two species of Ophryophryne, and 60 species of Boulenophrys. Finally, we discuss the importance of traditional morphological traits based on multiple populations in taxonomic work as well as taxonomic inflation caused by the genetic species delimitation.

A new genus and new species of springsnails (Gastropoda, Hydrobiidae) from North-East Morocco

Recent field surveys on snails conducted in the oriental region of Morocco have led to the discovery of a new species belonging to a new genus, described here as Znassela bnisnasensis gen. et sp. nov. It can be distinguished from the other hydrobiid snails by the morphology of the shell and male anatomy. The new hydrobiid snail differs mainly by its elongated ovate shell with 4.5 whorls, slightly convex with a shallow suture, and by the penis showing a swelling near the penis tip; the latter has two penial appendices located on the same side. Znassela bnisnasensis has been found in the Béni-Snassen massif, considered a Protected Area in the north-eastern part of Morocco and which is a Site of Ecological and Biological Interest (known as SEBI or SIBE). Photographs of the holotype and paratypes are presented, with the penis morphology, habitat and information on its autecology.

Support Vector Machine: A Case Study in the Kert Aquifer for Predicting the Water Quality Index in Mediterranean Zone, Drouich Province, Oriental Region, Morocco

The expansion of urbanization and the amplification of anthropic activities in the Rif region require the establishment of wells. However, the irrational exploitation of water and natural conditions have generated the rise of the water table and the increase in pollution. Thus, the assessment of water quality has emerged as a significant concern. This study’s goal is to assess the adequacy of groundwater quality in two aquifers in the vicinity of the Mediterranean Zone - Drouich Province and Oriental Region, Morocco, for drinking water needs by taking 62 water samples of the Kert aquifer for 2019. The Water Quality Index (WQI) classifies water quality: as excellent, good, poor, very poor, etc. That is essential for conveying information about water quality to people and decision-makers in the affected area. The WQI in the Kert aquifer varies from 62.3 to 392.3. The calculation of the water quality index (WQI) of the Kert aquifer view is based that 45.16% of groundwater samples are of poor quality, making them acceptable for drinking. The study’s analysis is established with a geographic information system (GIS) setting. The index map provides decision-makers with a complete and interpretable picture for better water resource planning and management. SVM models are shown to account for 87.71% of the varying water quality score. Different statistical and intelligence models may make the index more predictable. These forecasts assist us in better managing the aquifer’s water quality.

INITIAL DATA ON ARBOREAL ORIBATID MITES (ACARI, ORIBATIDA) FROM VIETNAM

Our study is based on oribatid mite materials collected from the Dipterocarpus alatus, Haldina cardifolia and Ochrocarpos siamensis tree species in the Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam. A list of identified taxa includes 44 species/subspecies from 31 genera and 22 families. Of these, seven species are recorded for the first time from Vietnam, and two species are recorded for the first time from the Oriental region. Sixteen species of oribatid mites were collected from tree boles, 36 species, from tree crowns. The Jaccard index, measuring faunistic similarity, was equal to 0.18 for the mite communities of both zones.

Spatio-Temporal Evolutionary Patterns of the Pieridae Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) Inferred from Mitogenomic Data.

Pieridae is one of the largest and almost cosmopolitan groups of butterflies, which plays an important role in natural ecosystems; however, to date, its phylogeny and evolutionary history have not been fully resolved. In this study, we obtained the complete or nearly complete mitochondrial genomes of 100 pierid taxa (six newly sequenced, sixty extracted from the whole-genome data, and thirty-four directly available from GenBank). At the same time, for the first time, we conducted comparative mitogenomic and phylogenetic analyses based on these mitogenomic data, to further clarify their spatio-temporal evolutionary patterns. Comparative mitogenomic analysis showed that, except for cox2, the GC content of each of the 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) in the rapidly diverging subfamily Pierinae was higher than in its sister group Coliadinae. Moreover, the dN/dS values of nine genes (atp6, atp8, cox1, cox3, cob, nad1, nad3, nad5, and nad6) in Pierinae were also relatively higher than those in its sister group, Coliadinae. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the resultant phylogenetic trees were generally in agreement with those of previous studies. The Pierinae family contained six clades in total with the relationship of (Leptosiaini + (((Nepheroniini + Arthocharidini) + Teracolini) + (Pierini + Elodini))). The Pieridae originated in the Palearctic region approximately 72.3 million years ago in the late Cretaceous, and the subfamily Pierinae diverged from this family around 57.9 million years ago in the Oriental region, shortly after the K-Pg mass extinction event; in addition, the spatio-temporal evolutionary patterns of Pierinae were closely correlated with geological events and environmental changes, as well as the host plant coevolutionary scenario in Earth's history. However, some incongruencies were observed between our results and those of previous studies in terms of shallow phylogenies for a few taxa, and should be further investigated.

The Ant Genus Cardiocondyla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): The Species Groups with Oriental and Australasian Origin

The world-wide fauna of the genus Cardiocondyla is assessed to have 79 currently recognized species and is subdivided into 14 informal species groups plus three monotypical clades. It is argued that the phylogenetic placement of Cardiocondyla next to the genus Ocymyrmex Emery, 1886 as proposed by Blaimer et al. (2018) is doubtful. The main body of the paper is a species-level taxonomic revision of those six species groups and the one monotypical clade which have their centers of origin in the Oriental and Australasian regions. The fauna of this area comprises 26 species eleven of which are described as new: Cardiocondyla schulzi n.sp., C. argentea n.sp., C. semiargentea n.sp., C. argyrotricha n.sp., C. latifrons n.sp., C. micropila n.sp., C. allonivalis n.sp., C. excavata n.sp., C. goroka n.sp., C. subspina n.sp. and C. sulcata n.sp. Recognized as junior synonyms were: Cardiocondyla tsukuyomi Terayama, 1999 and C. breviscapus Seifert, 2003 of C. minutior Forel, 1899 and C. brevispinosa (Donisthorpe, 1948) of C. paradoxa Emery, 1897. Each confirmed species is characterized by verbal descriptions, 18 numerically recorded phenotypic characters, z-stack images in three viewing positions, the key, a differential diagnosis and, if available, a brief life history. Exploratory and hypothesis-driven data analyses of phenotypic characters support the separation of the cryptic species Cardiocondyla minutior Forel, 1899, C. goa Seifert, 2003 and C. tjibodana Karavajev, 1935, two of which have dispersed as tramp species to the New World. Missing development of postzygotic isolation due to very strong prezygotic barriers is indicated in the closely related species Cardiocondyla latifrons n.sp. and C. micropila n.sp. which produce fertile hybrids in laboratory rearings but apparently do not hybridize in a natural context even if nesting in close neighborhood. The strong prezygotic isolation is supposed to be generated by the prevalence of intranidal mating and the difficulty for a mated heterospecific gyne to become accepted in a foreign colony.

New record of Borniochrysa Brooks & Barnard, 1990 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) from China, with description of two new species

Borniochrysa Brooks & Barnard, 1990 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Chrysopinae: Chrysopinae) is a green lacewing genus, with five species previously recorded from the Australian, Oriental, and Afrotropical regions. Here we report the first record of Borniochrysa from China, and describe two new species, Borniochrysa kamayaria sp. nov. and Borniochrysa zhenxiana sp. nov. The standard DNA barcoding region of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of these two new species was sequenced. An identification key to the Borniochrysa species is also provided.

The unexpected discovery of the Afrotropical genus Tricorythus Eaton, 1868 (Ephemeroptera: Tricorythidae) from the Oriental region with description of a new species

Tricorythus meenakshi sp. n., is described based on all the stages from Tamil Nadu, Southern India. This new Indian species is most closely related to the Afrotropical species T. discolor Burmeister and T. tener Kluge. The new species can be separated from others in the genus by: In male imago, i) body dorsally with a colorless median stripe from head to abdomen; ii) femur and base of the tibia of all legs dark, rest mostly colorless; and iii) penis shape; and in the larva, i) body slender with a light median stripe as in adult; ii) protoptera dark in both sexes; iii) mouthparts details; iv) tarsal claws denticulation; and v) shape of denticles on hind margins of abdominal terga. Previously, the genus Tricorythus Eaton was known only from the Afrotropical realm; this is the first record of this genus from the Oriental realm.

Idiocerine leafhopper genus Paraidioscopus Maldonado-Capriles (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae) in the Indian subcontinent with description of one new species

Genus Paraidioscopus Maldonado-Capriles is rediagnosed. One new species, Paraidioscopus andamanicus sp. nov. (Andaman & Nicobar Is: Diglipur) is described and illustrated. One new combination Paraidioscopus unimaculatus (Melichar) comb. nov. is proposed for Idiocerus unimaculatus Melichar from Sri Lanka and it is redescribed and illustrated. A key to known species of Paraidioscopus from the Oriental region is given.

A new Darwin wasp genus, Soliga (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Metopiinae), from India

Metopiinae is a relatively large subfamily of Darwin wasps with a cosmopolitan distribution. Species of this subfamily can be distinguished by a convex, and mostly undivided face and clypeus. Among 113 species in 24 genera of the Oriental region, only 24 species in eight genera are reported from India. Here, we describe and illustrate a new genus, Soliga, based on collections made from the Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas, two important biodiversity hotspots. The combination of absence of epicnemial carina on dorsolateral part of mesopleuron, absence of propodeal carinae and dorsal carinae of first metasomal tergite differentiates the new genus from other metopiine genera. An illustrated key to the Indo-Australian metopiine genera is provided along with comments on new generic placement and character variability of metopiines.

Fruits used in two rural communities of the Sierra Madre Oriental region, Mexico to feed captive Myadestes spp. birds for their acclimation

The diet of wild and captive slate-colored solitaire (Myadestes unicolor) and brown-backed solitaire (M. occidentalis) had not been studied before. In the Sierra Madre Oriental region in México, people from rural communities involved in the capture, maintenance in captivity, and sale of these birds (known as pajareros) have ethnobotanical knowledge of fruits that provide food for wild populations of solitaires, which they also use to feed the birds during their acclimation in captivity. To contribute to the biological knowledge of these birds, we identified the fruits used by bird keepers for feeding captured solitaires during their acclimation. Using ethnobiological methods, in August 2016 and June 2017 we identified the fruits through guided tours and informal conversations in the rural communities of Roca de Oro, Veracruz, and Amixtlan, Puebla, and defined the bird trader’s socioeconomic profiles through interviews held in 2013 and 2016. Fruits were identified in interviews and by collection of plants during field exploration guided by key informants, including four bird-capturer men and one bird-keeping woman at each community. 23 families, 32 genera, and 36 species of plants, most of them native, were used. The information about the diet of these little studied Neotropical bird species is part of the traditional ecological knowledge of local people and contributes to the nutritional biology of wild populations of solitaires.

DNA barcoding unveils a high diversity of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (West Java; Indonesia).

Trichoptera are one of the most diverse groups of freshwater insects worldwide and one of the main bioindicators for freshwater quality. However, in many areas, caddisflies remain understudied due to lack of taxonomic expertise. Meanwhile, globally increasing anthropogenic stress on freshwater streams also threatens Trichoptera diversity. To assess the Trichoptera diversity of the area within and around the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (MHSNP or Taman Nasional Gunung Halimun Salak) in West Java (Indonesia), we conducted a molecular-morphological study on Trichoptera diversity using larvae from a benthic survey and adults from hand-netting. In addition to morphological identification, we applied four different molecular taxon delimitation approaches (Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent, Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes, Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery and Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning) based on DNA barcoding of Cytochrome-C-Oxidase I (COI). The molecular delimitation detected 72 to 81 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU). Only five OTUs could be identified to species level by comparing sequences against the BOLD database using BLAST, and four more to the genus level. Adults and larvae could be successfully associated in 18 cases across six families. The high diversity of Trichoptera in this area highlights their potential as bioindicators for water quality assessment. This study provides an example of how molecular approaches can benefit the exploration of hidden diversity in unexplored areas and can be a valuable tool to link life stages. However, our study also highlights the need to improve DNA barcode reference libraries of Trichoptera for the Oriental region.

Genetic characterization of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) indica and Haemaphysalis (Segalia) montgomeryi ticks (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae)

Haemaphysalis species are medically important hard ticks (Ixodidae) that parasitize nearly all domestic as well as wild hosts, mostly in the Oriental region. Genetic diversity of Haemaphysalis ticks in South Asia has gained little attention, despite its economic, medical, and veterinary importance. The purpose of this study was to genetically characterize Haemaphysalis indica and Haemaphysalis montgomeryi ticks to obtain their preliminary phylogenetic relationship. A total of 1171 ticks were collected from Indian mongooses (Herpestes javanicus and Herpestes edwardsii), sheep and goats in Pakistan. The collected ticks were morphologically identified as H. indica (n = 121, 10.3%) from mongooses and H. montgomeryi (n = 1050, 89.7%) from sheep and goats. Phylogenetic trees inferred from 12S rDNA, 16S rDNA, cox1, and ITS2 sequences revealed an evolutionary relationship of H. indica with the tick species belonging to the subgenus Rhipistoma, and H. montgomeryi with the tick species belonging to the subgenus Segalia, validating the described taxonomy based on the morphological descriptions of these ticks. Further genetic studies are essential to overcome morphology-based systematic issues associated with Haemaphysalinae ticks.

Description of Male, Redescription of Female, Host Record, and Phylogenetic Position of Haemaphysalis danieli.

Haemaphysalis ticks are globally distributed with the greatest diversity in the Oriental region. This study aimed to primarily provide information on the morphology, host record, and preliminary phylogenetic position of a poorly known tick Haemaphysalis danieli. Herds comprised of goats and sheep were examined for this tick species in Upper Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 127 ticks, including males (n = 15, 11.8%) and females (n = 112, 88.2%), were collected, and morphologically identified as H. danieli. The morphological identification was confirmed through the 16S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase (cox1) sequences. Phylogenetic analysis inferred based on 16S rDNA and cox1 showed a close evolutionary relationship of H. danieli with a conspecific from China and an undetermined Haemaphysalis sp. from China and Anatolia. A total of 32/223 (14.3%) goats in two different herds were the only host infested by H. danieli. The earliest study provided the morphological description of H. danieli male, host record, and phylogenetic position. The information provided herein could assist in minimizing the knowledge gap regarding the systematic and taxonomy of Haemaphysalis species.

First reliable record of the genus Micromorphus Mik, 1878 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from the Oriental Region, with the description of a new species from India

First reliable record of the genus Micromorphus Mik, 1878 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from the Oriental Region, with the description of a new species from India

Description of ontogenetic instars of Scapheremaeus marati sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Cymbaeremaeidae) from Vietnam

A new species of the genus Scapheremaeus (Oribatida, Cymbaeremaeidae)—S. marati sp. nov.—was collected from bark of different trees in Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam, is described based on adult and juvenile instars. The identification keys to known adults of Scapheremaeus from the Oriental region, as well as to larvae and nymphs of known scapheremaeid species are presented.