Shape Of Male Genitalia Research Articles

A new species of Quilessa Fennah from Saint Martin (Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoroidea: Kinnaridae: Prosotropini)

A new Kinnaridae species, Quilessa martinensis sp. nov. is described from Saint Martin in the Dutch Antilles. The new species differs from its congeners mainly in the shape of male genitalia, notably the shape of the aedeagus and anal tube. As in most other Quilessa species, the new species is an island-endemic. The high percentage of island-endemism suggests a higher species diversity in the Caribbean than is currently known.

A new species of Tapajosa Melichar from Curaçao, Lesser Antilles (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Proconiini)

A new species of the Neotropical genus Tapajosa Melichar 1924 from Curaçao is proposed, described, and illustrated. Tapajosa arawaka sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus mainly in the shape of male genitalia. Its close morphological affinity with Tapajosa spinata Young, 1968 suggests that ancestors of the new species migrated from mainland Venezuela.

Taxonomic review of Palearctic Eurypogon Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Artematopodidae), with a redescription of the only European species and descriptions of three new species from China

Eurypogon Motschulsky, 1860 is a small genus in the beetle family Artematopodidae distributed in the Holarctic region. Here, we review the Palearctic members of this genus, with main emphasis on the dark-colored species. We redescribe E. cribratus (Hampe, 1867) from Italy and describe three new species from China: E. pubescens sp. nov. from Shaanxi province, E. ruzickai sp. nov. from Yunnan province, and E. turnai sp. nov. from Hubei province. This brings the total number of Eurypogon species to 16. Additionally, we provide morphological diagnoses and photographs of selected characters for all previously described East Palearctic species as well as an updated identification key for the species of mainland China. We discuss the variability of main diagnostic characters, including the shape of pronotum, the surface and punctation of elytra, and the shape of male genitalia.

Taxonomy of West-Palaearctic Lampromeloe (Coleoptera: Meloidae) with the description of a new species

Widely distributed phoretic blister beetles usually display unstructured geographic patterns of genetic diversity within species, resulting from recurrent long-dispersal events across their range. To investigate the extent of this pattern in the phoretic genus Lampromeloe, and particularly in western Mediterranean and European populations of L. variegatus, we performed: (1) a phylogeographic analysis based on fragments of the mitochondrial genes COI and 16S, and (2) a morphological revision based on qualitative and morphometric traits. Two allopatric lineages were recovered within L. variegatus, one distributed across Europe and the other in North Africa. These lineages are readily distinguishable based on morphological traits. We conclude that these lineages constitute two diagnosable evolutionary units and, consequently, we describe the North African populations as a new species, Lampromeloe pantherinus sp. nov. The new species is closely related to L. variegatus, from which it differs mainly by the elytral macrosculpture and by the shape of male genitalia. The elytral macrosculpture of L. pantherinus is somewhat similar to that of L. cavensis, a species widely distributed in the lowlands of the Mediterranean Basin. However, these two non-sister species can be distinguished by the morphology and macrosculpture of the pronotum and by the shape of the male genitalia.

An enigma of Handianus Ribaut, 1942 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Athysanini): identical host preferences and male calling signals in two morphologically distinctive sympatric species

Handianus eurotiae and H. fartilis distinctly differ in the forewing venation and the male genitalia shape, but have strongly overlapping ranges, do not differ in ecological preferences, feed on the same host plant, Krascheninnikovia ceratoides, and produce almost identical male calling signals. They were never found in the same biotope, although the mechanism of such vicariation is not clear. According to Mayr's biological species concept, such taxa are good species, but Paterson's species recognition concept is inapplicable in this case. Similar examples in Orthoptera and Auchenorrhyncha are considered.

A new species of Eurypogon Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Artematopodidae) from China, with notes on E. sanzang Wang & Liu.

Eurypogon Motschulsky, 1859 is a small artematopodid genus from the Nearctic and Palaearctic realms, with only three species known from mainland China. Here, we describe Eurypogon schuhi Packova & Kundrata, sp. nov. from the Hubei province in China, which is similar in the black body coloration to the recently described Eurypogon sanzang Wang & Liu, 2021 from the Henan province. Both species differ mainly in the ratio of basal antennomeres, elytral surface and proportions, and shape of male genitalia. We report populations of E. sanzang from the Qinling Shan in the Shaanxi province (a new province record) and from the Xiong'er Shan in the Henan province. Additionally, we describe the female of E. sanzang and discuss intraspecific variability in male genitalia. We provide images of main diagnostic characters for both species.

Establishment and spread of the invasive mite, Tetranychus gloveri Banks (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) in Kerala, India

Tetranychus gloveri Banks was first recorded as Tetranychus okinawanus Ehara in India on an ornamental plant, Adenium obesum from Thrissur district, Kerala state, during 2016 (Zeity et al. 2016). Recently, Sharkey et al. (2022) synonymized T. okinawanus with T. gloveri based on morphological and molecular data. In Kerala, T. gloveri has emerged as a predominant species of mite infesting major agricultural and horticultural crops in the district (Arunima et al. 2018). In order to investigate the distribution and host range of the mite species in Kerala, periodical surveys were conducted in different agricultural ecosystems across the state during March 2020 to June 2022. Spider mite infested samples were collected from fruit crops, vegetables, ornamental plants, medicinal plants and other non-crop plants from different localities, kept in polythene bags. The GPS data of the locality and host plants were recorded. In the laboratory, a single gravid female from each sample was used to establish isoline culture providing unique accession number. Male and female specimens from each isoline culture were slide mounted on Hoyer’s medium and morphological characterization of the slide mounted mite specimens were carried to establish the species identity. Characters such as chaetotaxy of hysterosoma and legs, structure of empodium and pattern of dorsal striae between e1 and f1 of female were used for genus level identification, while the shape of male genitalia, aedeagus, was used for species level identification. In this study, T. gloveri was recorded from a wide host range of 35 host plants in 24 plant families viz., Malvaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Amaranthaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae, Musaceae, Moraceae, Anacardiaceae, Caricaceae, Adoxaceae, Rosaceae, Compositae, Gentianaceae, Convolvulaceae, Balsaminaceae, Orchidaceae, Asparagaceae, Goodeniaceae, Apocyanaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Oxalidaceae, Lamiaceae and Pontederiaceae. The mite species was distributed in seven districts covering northern, central and southern regions viz., Wayanad, Malappuram, Thrissur, Palakkad, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala. Curry leaf, country kreat (Exacum bicolor), sunflower, Victoria corn plant (Dracaena sp.), Calotropis gigantea, little tree plant (Biophytum sensitivum), holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) and the aquatic pickerel weed (Monochoria vaginalis) are new host records for T. gloveri. The study confirms that the mite species has established and spread across Kerala by widening its host range and expanding its geographical area of distribution, within a short span after its introduction into the state.

New and little-known mute Trigonidiinae species from China (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Trigonidiidae).

We provide a key to mute Trigonidiinae species from China, and provide morphological features of some nondescript species in brown color. We established a new genus, Zilingxi He gen. nov. with two new species Z. danmai He sp. nov. and Z. dian He sp. nov. from China. The new genus possesses a black line above clypeus; pseudepiphallic paramere of male genitalia possessing 23 branches; ovipositor shorter than other genera. Two new species are very similar in morphology, but different in the color pattern in frontal rostrum, and the shape of male genitalia. The type specimens are deposited in Museum of Biology, East China Normal University (ECNU).

Review of the Gargara genistae (Fabricius, 1775) species group (Hemiptera: Membracidae) from Russia and adjacent territories.

In Russia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia the Gargara genistae species group includes three species differing from each other in the male calling signal patterns, but almost indistinguishable in external appearance and the male genitalia shape. Illustrated descriptions of morphology and the male calling signals, and data on host plants and distribution for all species are given. Considerations concerning possible modes of species divergence in this group are provided.

Study on Pterostichus neglectus A. Morawitz, 1862 (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Two forms of the carabid beetle Pterostichus (Phonias) neglectus A. Morawitz, 1862 are disclosed in Amur region of the Russian Far East. These forms differ by the color of legs and palpus, as well as by the shape of male genitalia. Probably, these forms belong to the separated species.

Morphological variation of the parasitic wasp Paracentrobia subflava (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) emerged from different leafhopper species

The parasitic wasp Paracentrobia subflava (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) develops within the eggs of the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), one of the most important pests in maize throughout the Americas. The aim of the present study was to determine whether variation occurs in female and male body size and male genitalia of P. subflava emerged from eggs of D. maidis and two other host species: Dalbulus elimatus (Ball), and Dalbulus quinquenotatus (DeLong and Nault), representing different species groups within the genus. Body variation of the emerged adult parasitoids was evaluated using traditional morphometrics and male genitalia shape variation was assessed using geometric morphometrics. Female parasitoids emerged from D. elimatus eggs had significantly larger hind tibiae, wings and ovipositor. Most antennal variables also exhibited significant differences in females emerged from D. elimatus. In contrast, little differentiation was found among parasitoid males emerged from the different Dalbulus hosts. Accordingly, shape of male genitalia was similar when P. subflava developed in each of the three Dalbulus host eggs. Egg size differs among the examined Dalbulus species, but does not seem to be associated with patterns of variation in parasitoid size. Implications of this morphological variation for parasitoid identification and its relationship with host egg size and structure are discussed.

First fossil record of the mayfly family Vietnamellidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) from Burmese Amber confirms its Oriental origin and gives new insights into its evolution.

The small, monophyletic mayfly family Vietnamellidae Allen, 1984 has so far only been known from a few extant species of the genus Vietnamella Tshernova, 1972, which are all distributed in the Oriental Realm (Vietnam, Thailand, China, and India). Herein we report the first fossil record of Vietnamellidae based on a male and female imago from Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. We establish the new genus Burmellagen. nov. to accommodate these two new Mesozoic specimens. Their attribution to Vietnamellidae is supported by the rounded shape of the hind wings with arched outer margin, the course of thoracic sutures, and characteristics of venation, especially of MP and Cu of the forewings and associated intercalary veins of the cubital field. At the same time, Burmellagen. nov. clearly differs from Vietnamella by a diminished number of longitudinal and cross veins in the hind wings, and by the different shape of male genitalia. This first fossil record of Vietnamellidae supports an age of at least 100 Ma for this taxon.

Species delimitation of the praying mantis emHierodula/em empatellifera/em (Audinet-Serville) based on morphological and molecular characters (Mantodea: Mantidae).

An integrative taxonomic analysis of Hierodula patellifera (Audinet-Serville) is presented based on morphological and molecular characters (COI, 28S rDNA). During repeated trips to the Korean peninsula, we collected unusual specimens from Wanju-gun. They were similar to H. patellifera, but can be distinguished by a larger body size, the number and shape of spines on foreleg, and the shape of male genitalia. To examine the phenotypes and delimit H. patellifera from fourteen sampled populations, we used forecoxal spines and male genitalia as key morphological characters, as well as molecular data including gene tree monophyly and genetic divergence data. The molecular analyses (p-distance, neighbor-joining, and parsimony analyses) did not separate the specimens as two distinct species. The diagnostic characters of H. patellifera are illustrated with habitus images.

Remarks on the genus Tachycines Adelung, 1902 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae) with description of eight new species from caves in southern China.

This paper describes eight new cave-dwelling species of the genus Tachycines from Guizhou, Hunan, Guangxi and Sichuan, i.e. Tachycines (Gymnaeta) liboensis sp. nov., Tachycines (Gymnaeta) bifolius sp. nov., Tachycines (Gymnaeta) tuberus sp. nov., Tachycines (Gymnaeta) paradoxus sp. nov., Tachycines (Gymnaeta) umbellus sp. nov., Tachycines (Gymnaeta) nulliscleritus sp. nov., Tachycines (Gymnaeta) taenus sp. nov. and Tachycines (Gymnaeta) latiliconcavus sp. nov. The females of T. (G.) ferecaecus (Gorochov, Rampini Di Russo, 2006) and T. (G.) proximus (Gorochov, Rampini Di Russo, 2006) are first recorded. Moreover, we consider T. (G.) aspes (Rampini Di Russo, 2008) as a valid species instead of a synonym of T. (G.) proximus (Gorochov, Rampini Di Russo, 2006) according to obviously different reduction of fastigium verticis and eyes, higher number of spines on the hind tibia and the shape of male genitalia. Furthermore, Eutachycines crenatus (Gorochov, Rampini Di Russo, 2006) should be retransferred to the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta) due to the diagnosis of genus Eutachycines: dorsal sclerite of male genitalia with a protuberance in the upper part. Therefore, it should still belong to the subgenus Tachycines (Gymnaeta). In addition, morphological photographs of the eight new species and five known species are provided, including eyeless species.

Description of a new species of the genus Pycanum (Hemiptera: Heteroptera:Tessaratomidae: Tessaratomini) from India with comments and key to extant species of the genus.

A new species of a tessaratomid bug, namely Pycanum occidentale sp. nov, is described with comments on the other species of the genus found in India. This species can be easily distinguished from the other species of Pycanum by the shape of male genitalia, especially pygophore and parameres. This becomes the fourth species of Pycanum in India and the first one from western India. A key to the extant species of the genus is also provided along with diagnostic images of pygophores and parameres for three species found in India.

Coevolution between male and female genitalia in Belostoma angustum Lauck, 1964 (Insecta, Heteroptera, Belostomatidae): disentangling size and shape

Sexual and natural selection mechanisms might drive variation in the genitalia of male animals. All aforementioned mechanisms are known to predict the coevolution of male and female genital morphology. Belostoma angustum is known to have subtle variation in the male and female genitalia of its members. In this species, phallosoma with dorsal arms and ventral diverticulum are assumed to be intromittent male genital traits that interact with the female genital chamber. We thus evaluated the existence of variation after disentangling the size from the shape of male genitalia in B. angustum. Body and genitalia dimensions and photographs of phallosoma with dorsal arms, ventral diverticulum and lateral views of the right paramere (the non-intromittent part) were obtained. Semi-landmarks and landmarks were used to capture phenotypic variation, by eliminating all non-shape variation with a Procrustes superimposition. Male and female specimens collected from the same location or immediate vicinity were grouped, and 12 groups originating from 12 locations were used to conduct two block-Partial Least Squares analyses (PLS). Group structures were also taken into account by adopting a multilevel approach. The male and female genital traits had similarly shallow static allometry slopes, as well as the dispersion values around the mean (i.e. coefficient of variation) and the standard error of the estimate. The correlation between the pooled within-locality covariance matrix of the symmetric component of phallosoma with dorsal arms and the female genital chamber was significant (r-PLS=0.37), as well as that with male body dimensions (r-PLS=0.36), even after controlling for allometry. Specimens with lower PLS shape scores had narrower phallosoma with dorsal arms, with poorly curved outer margins of the dorsal arms, whereas specimens with higher PLS shape scores had slightly shorter dorsal arms, with strongly curved outer margins. Lower shape scores were associated with narrower and especially shorter and narrower female genital chambers. Similar shallow allometric curves among sexes and the correlation between intromittent male parts and the female genital chamber, as well as male dimensions, suggest the coevolution of these contact structures in size and in shape.

A contribution to the taxonomy of the genus Pentacentrus Saussure(Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Pentacentrinae).

A key and a distribution map of the Chinese species of the genus Pentacentrus Saussure are provided. Pentacentrus dulongjiangensis sp. nov. is described from Yunnan, China. The new species is similar to P. medogensis Zong, Qiu Liu, 2017 from Xizang, China, but differs from the latter by the shape of male genitalia and the color of the tegmina.

A new Platambus from Sichuan, with new records of species of the P. sawadai group from China (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Agabinae).

Platambus binliui sp. nov. from Sichuan Province, China, is described and illustrated. It belongs to the P. sawadai species group sensu Nilsson (2000). The new species differs from other species of this group by the larger body, punctation of the dorsal surface and shape of male genitalia. New records of members of the P. sawadai group from China are provided: Platambus micropunctatus Nilsson, 2003 (Guangdong), P. punctatipennis Brancucci, 1984 (Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Zhejiang), P. regulae Brancucci, 1991 (Yunnan), representing a new species for Chinese fauna, and P. wangi Brancucci, 2006 (Hubei). Habitus and median lobe photographs for all mentioned species are provided.

A New Species ofDima(Coleoptera: Elateridae: Dimini), with a Checklist and Identification Key to the Chinese Species

Dima tianmuensis Qiu and Kundrata sp. nov. is described from Zhejiang, China. This species differs from its congeners from mainland China and Taiwan by the coloration, length ratio of the basal antennomeres, relatively longer elytra, and shape of male genitalia. Photographs of the habitus and main diagnostic characters of the new species are provided. Altogether, 11 species of Dima are known from mainland China and Taiwan. An identification key and a distribution map for the Chinese Dima species are given.

An innovative ovipositor for niche exploitation impacts genital coevolution between sexes in a fruit-damaging Drosophila.

Limited attention has been given to ecological factors influencing the coevolution of male and female genitalia. The innovative ovipositor of Drosophila suzukii, an invading fruit pest, represents an appealing case to document this phenomenon. The serrated saw-like ovipositor is used to pierce the hard skin of ripening fruits that are not used by other fruit flies that prefer soft decaying fruits. Here, we highlight another function of the ovipositor related to its involvement in genital coupling during copulation. We compared the morphology and coupling of male and female genitalia in this species to its sibling species, Drosophila subpulchrella, and to an outgroup species, Drosophila biarmipes These comparisons and a surgical manipulation indicated that the shape of male genitalia in D. suzukii has had to be adjusted to ensure tight coupling, despite having to abandon the use of a hook-like structure, paramere, because of the more linearly elongated ovipositor. This phenomenon demonstrates that ecological niche exploitation can directly affect the mechanics of genital coupling and potentially cause incompatibility among divergent forms. This model case provides new insights towards elucidating the importance of the dual functions of ovipositors in other insect species that potentially induce genital coevolution and ecological speciation.