Wing Venation Research Articles

Sinopyrophorinae, a new subfamily of Elateridae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with the first record of a luminous click beetle in Asia and evidence for multiple origins of bioluminescence in Elateridae.

The new subfamily Sinopyrophorinae within Elateridae is proposed to accommodate a bioluminescent species, Sinopyrophorusschimmeli Bi & Li, gen. et sp. nov., recently discovered in Yunnan, China. This lineage is morphologically distinguished from other click-beetle subfamilies by the strongly protruding frontoclypeal region, which is longitudinally carinate medially, the pretarsal claws without basal setae, the hind wing venation with a well-defined wedge cell, the abdomen with seven (male) or six (female) ventrites, the large luminous organ on the abdominal sternite II, and the male genitalia with median lobe much shorter than parameres, and parameres arcuate, with the inner margin near its apical third dentate. Molecular phylogeny based on the combined 14 mitochondrial and two nuclear genes supports the placement of this taxon far from other luminescent click-beetle groups, which provides additional evidence for the multiple origin of bioluminescence in Elateridae. Illustrations of habitus and main diagnostic features of S.schimmeli Bi & Li, gen. et sp. nov. are provided, as well as the brief description of its luminescent behavior.

The bees (Apocrita: Hymenoptera) of Dhaka city, Bangladesh

A total of 11 bee species belonging to two families Apidae and Megachilidae was identified. The identified species were Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, Apis florea, Ceratina binghami, Ceratina nigrolateralis, Xylocopa aestuans, Xylocopa violacea, Xylocopa latipes, Megachile disjuncta and Megachile umbripennis. The species were identified by using standard taxonomic keys. Details of external morphology like head, wing venation, antennal type, physical coloration etc. were used in the keys. The bees were collected from three areas of Dhaka city - Curzon Hall, Ramna Park and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University from October 2017 to May 2018. During the study period it was observed that the richness of bee species was found maximum during the month of October (31.01%) and was more abundant in Curzon Hall and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University area than the Ramna park area. The bee A. dorsata was the most abundant (about 36.23% of the total population) and M. umbripennis was the least abundant (about 1.74% of the total population) species in the study areas. It was also observed that bee species were more attracted to the yellow flowers specially Cosmos sulphureus and Tecoma stans than the other coloured flowers.
 J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2019, 5(1): 113-120

Nature's failed experiment: Long-proboscid Neuroptera (Sisyridae: Paradoxosisyrinae) from Upper Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar

Four new genera and species of long-proboscid Paradoxosisyrinae (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) are described from the Upper Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar: Buratina truncata gen. et sp. nov., Sidorchukatia gracilis gen. et sp. nov., Protosiphoniella anthophila gen. et sp. nov. and Khobotun elephantinus gen. et sp. nov. Presence of an elongated labrum is confirmed for Paradoxosisyrinae for the first time. 3D modelling was used to demonstrate how the mouthparts of B. truncata were assembled together during feeding. We show that there is considerable diversity in the morphology of mouthparts, wing venation and wing patterns of Paradoxosisyrinae. Nectar-feeding habits are suggested for Paradoxosisyrinae on the basis of microscopic examination of their stylet-like mouthpart structures. Possible reasons for evolutionary failure of long-proboscid Neuroptera are discussed.

New genus and species of the Psyllipsocidae (Psocodea: Trogiomorpha) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new genus and species, Concavapsocus parallelus gen. et sp. nov., is assigned to the Psyllipsocidae (Trogiomorpha). Claws with preapical tooth and forewing with nodulus may not be suitable for diagnostic characters of the Psyllipsocidae. Wing polymorphism increase the difficulty of taxonomic position of psocids based on barely visible wing venation, especially in the suborder Trogiomorpha. Globopsocus aquilonius Azar and Engel may belong to the Psyllipsocidae and be closely related with the new species.

Moscovian fossils shed light on the enigmatic polyneopteran families Cacurgidae and Eoblattidae (Insecta: ‘Eoblattida’, Archaeorthoptera)

Based on description of the new species Cacurgus avionensis sp. nov., the genus Cacurgus and the family Cacurgidae are revised, excluded from Gerarida, and restored in Panorthoptera. Cacurgidae are restricted to the single genus Cacurgus. Protodictyon pulchripenne is redescribed, excluded from Cacurgidae, and put in the archaeorthopteran stem group of the Panorthoptera. We restore two genera, Kochopteron and Protoblattina, in Paoliidae. The genera Suksunus, Ideliopsis and Kitshuga, currently placed in Cacurgidae, are not Archaeorthoptera but Polyneoptera of uncertain positions, to be revised in the future. The type genus Eoblatta of the family Eoblattidae and of the superorder Eoblattida, is also restored to Archaeorthoptera. The whole set of Eoblattida taxa needs complete revision based on accurate homologies of wing venation. Lastly, Aviologus is excluded from ‘Cnemidolestina’ and restored to Archaeorthoptera. Westphalopsocus is restored in the Acercaria: Psocodea. We propose Paleoischnoptera nom. nov. as a replacement name for Ischnoptera Béthoux & Nel, 2005 (non Ischnoptera Burmeister, 1838).http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C0CC0AC6-30B7-4331-8B96-34F47B16F7B0

New data on the distribution, biology and morphology of Asemum tenuicorne Kraatz, 1879 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), with new records from Poland

We report the discovery of the pyrophilous species, Asemum tenuicorne (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the Białowieża Primeval Forest (NE Poland) in 2009 and 2016. This species was previously known only from Southern Europe and one locality detached from the main range on the island of Gotska Sandön in Southern Sweden. Information on its northern spread and current distribution is summarized and critically analyzed and new data on its biology are provided. The morphology of A. tenuicorne adults was studied using 46 specimens from different localities and compared with 63 specimens of the widely distributed Asemum striatum. Differences between the two species are presented and illustrated using external features, morphometric measurements, shape of the male copulatory organs and wing venation.

Maternal Inheritance in Hybrids of Three Honey Bee Subspecies

Abstract The identification of honey bee (Apis mellifera) subspecies is often based on the measurements of workers’ fore-wings. The interpretation of the measurements can be difficult because the phenotype of workers is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. Moreover, it is not clear how the phenotype is affected by maternal inheritance. We have used the methodology of geometric morphometrics to verify if hybrids of honey bee subspecies and their backcrosses are more similar to either the father or mother colony. The comparison was based on fore-wing venation of three honey bee subspecies: A. m. carnica, A. m. caucasica, A. m. mellifera. First generation hybrids and backcrosses of those subspecies were obtained through instrumental insemination. Workers of the hybrids were compared with their parental colonies. The shape of wing venation was more similar to the maternal than to parental colony. This phenomenon was particularly visible in first generation of hybrids but it was also present in backcrosses. There were also symptoms of genetic dominance of some subspecies but this effect interacted with maternal inheritance and was difficult to interpret.

The wing venation of the Protomyrmeleontidae (Insecta: Odonatoptera) reconsidered thanks to a new specimen from Molteno (Triassic; South Africa)

ABSTRACT Wing venation homologies of the Protomyrmeleontidae, a widespread group of damselfly-like stem-Odonata during the Triassic, are debated. The two main interpretations essentially disagree on the identification of RP branches. Indeed, Protomyrmeleontidae display a very complex wing venation necessarily involving, in a way or another, fusions of the concave RP branches with the convex intercalary veins. As a consequence, vein elevations in the radial area are challenging to interpret. Here, we present a new Triassic specimen from the Molteno Formation (Karoo Basin, South Africa), Moltenagrion koningskroonensis gen. et sp. nov. It displays a unique venation pattern supporting a new, alternative interpretation involving a pair of supplementary intercalaries. The systematic implications of this wing venation interpretation are then discussed. The new species is assigned to the new family Moltenagrionidae fam. nov., itself considered sister-group of the family Protomyrmeleontidae, as previously delimited, both composing the super-family Protomyrmeleontoidea. Diagnoses of these taxa are revised according to our new interpretation. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6AF81E13-E57B-4EF8-BBBB-5392EF439E87

Description of Walkeriella miraculosa, gen. n. et sp. n. from South-East Peru(Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae).

Walkeriella miraculosa gen. n. et sp. n. (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae) is based on two specimens collected from rainforest southwest of Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, Madre de Dios department, southeastern Peru. The distinct genitalia and wing venation separate this taxon from other genera of Hepialidae although four derived characters states are shared in common with the cibyrine clade. The holotype male is deposited in the collection of the Museo de Historia Natural, Lima, Peru.

A silent orchestra: convergent song loss in Hawaiian crickets is repeated, morphologically varied, and widespread.

Host-parasite interactions are predicted to drive the evolution of defences and counter-defences, but the ability of either partner to adapt depends on new and advantageous traits arising. The loss of male song in Hawaiian field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus) subject to fatal parasitism by eavesdropping flies (Ormia ochracea) is a textbook example of rapid evolution in one such arms race. Male crickets ordinarily sing to attract females by rubbing their forewings together, which produces sound by exciting acoustic resonating structures formed from modified wing veins (‘normal-wing’). The resulting song is the target of strong sexual selection by conspecific females. However, male song also attracts female flies that squirt larvae onto males or nearby female crickets; the larvae then burrow into, consume, and ultimately kill the host. The flies thus impose strong natural selection on male song, producing silent males, which have spread rapidly in populations on two islands – Kauai and Oahu. On both islands, song loss is caused by genetic mutations that drastically reduce or eliminate sound-producing structures on the male forewing by feminising wing venation – these males are called ‘flatwing’. On recent visits to parasitized cricket populations, we discovered two additional wing phenotypes – ‘small-wing’ and ‘curly-wing’. These two phenotypes differ noticeably from flatwing, and from each other, but all have the effect of eliminating or reducing acoustic signals that attract the parasitoid fly. These discoveries illustrate how the evolutionary process can repeatedly, and through a remarkable variety of independent mechanisms, drive adaptation to the same selection pressure.

The first representative of the fly genus Trentepohlia subgenus Mongoma in amber from the Miocene of Sumatra (Diptera: Limoniidae)

ABSTRACT The limoniid fly Trentepohlia (Mongoma) pouilloni n. sp. Ngô-Muller, Garrouste & Nel, is the first fossil insect to be described from Sumatra. On the basis of its wing morphology and venation, it is very similar to the extant Sumatran species Trentepohlia (Mongoma) pennipes (Osten Sacken, 1888), supporting a Miocene rather than older age for the amber. By comparison with the few available data on the biology of the extant species of the subgenus Mongoma, it probably lived in a warm and humid forest where it was trapped in dipterocarpacean resin. The wide Cenozoic distribution of the subgenus Mongoma in Europe and South-East Asia is in accordance with its extant circumtropical distribution.

Teratology in the solitary wasp family Sphecidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

In this study, forewing teratology in 42 species of solitary wasps belonging to the family Sphecidae (Hymenoptera) collected from various provinces of Turkey were investigated for the first time. In total, 20 cases of wing venation anomalies, classified as: a) irregular vein course, b) supernumerary veins, c) defective veins and d) supernumerary cells, were observed in 112 of 1682 specimens. The most encountered wing venation anomalies were: a spur protruding from 1 m-cu to 1st discoidal cell (n = 42, 37.50%), an incomplete 1r-m cross-vein (n = 21, 18.75%), and completely reduced 1r-m cross-vein (n = 10, 8.92%). The anomalies were rather common in the species Podalonia fera (n = 19, 36.53%), P. luffi (n = 11, 33.33%), P. hirsuta (n = 18, 33.33%) and Chalybion walteri (n = 1, 33.33%). In general, anomalies were more frequently observed in male wasps (n = 65, 58.03%). Teratology could be caused by genetic, environmental or pathogenic factors.

Taxonomic revision of the New World big-eyed minute litter bug genusOmmatides Uhler (Hemiptera: Schizopteridae).

Hypselosomatinae, the big-eyed minute litter bugs, are diagnosed among Schizopteridae (infraorder Dipsocoromorpha) by the large eye, 4-segmented labium, and distinct wing venation. The group was recovered as sister taxon to all remaining Schizopteridae in recent molecular phylogenetic analyses. Described species diversity of Hypselosomatinae (13 extant genera prior to this study) is greatest in the Old World and in particular the Australian region, while only five monotypic or small genera are currently described from the New World (Glyptocombus Heidemann, Ommatides Uhler, Williamsocoris Carpintero Dellapé, Hypsohapsis Hoey-Chamberlain Weirauch, and Hypselosomops Hoey-Chamberlain Weirauch). Based on examination of 60 specimens of Hypselosomatinae from South America, we here synonymize Ommatides that includes one described species from the Lesser Antilles with the monotypic genus Williamsocoris Carpintero Dellapé from Argentina, describe seven new species of Ommatides (O. duodentis sp. nov., O. nudus sp. nov., O. parvidentis sp. nov., O. pillcopata sp. nov., O. pristis sp. nov., O. tridentis sp. nov., O. yoderi sp. nov. and O. zanderij sp. nov.) from various locations in South America, and redescribe Ommatides. We provide thorough documentation of morphological features using macroimages, SEM, and line drawings for new taxa and Ommatides insignis Uhler and a distribution map for all currently known New World Hypselosomatinae.

A new species of Clinodiplosis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) causing galls on Banisteriopsis membranifolia (Malpighiaceae), an endemic plant in Brazil

Clinodiplosisquartelensis sp. nov. (holotype male in MNRJ: Brazil, Minas Gerais State), a new gall midge species causing leaf galls on Banisteriopsismembranifolia (A. Juss.) B. Gates (Malpighiaceae), an endemic liana in Brazil, is described based on larva, pupa, adult male and female and its gall is characterized. Galls were collected in Quartel de São João, state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Larvae were removed from the galls and pupae and adults were obtained by rearing. Pupation takes place in the gall. The most important morphological characters were illustrated. The new species is compared with other Neotropical species of Clinodiplosis and belongs to the group with simple tarsal claws, curved beyond tarsus midlength. Clinodiplosisquartelensis sp. nov. shares the male cercus secondarily lobed, the 12th female flagellomere with setulose apical process, the deeply bilobed male hypoproct with convergent lobes, pupa lacking dorsal spines on abdominal segments, and larva with four pairs of setose terminal papillae with C.bellum from that might be distinguished by size of palpus, wing venation, level of sclerotization of eighth abdominal segment in the adults, as well as, by the pupal cephalic dorsal plate and larval spatula.

Response to Trueman and Rowe (2019) ‘The wing venation of Odonata. International Journal of Odonatology”

Trueman and Rowe (2019) claimed that they have finally solved the wing venation homologies for the Odonatoptera, refuting the previous models, and especially that of Riek and Kukalova-Peck (1984). ...

†Bittacopsocus-a new bizarre genus of †Permopsocida (Insecta) from Burmese Cretaceous amber.

A new insect species (†Bittacopsocus megacephalus Beutel, Prokop, Müller et Pohl gen. et sp. nov.) is described, based on a single small male (ca. 2.5 mm) embedded in mid Cretaceous Burmese amber. The species shows some resemblance with the mecopteran family Bittacidae, mainly due to strongly elongated and thin legs. However, the structural affinities are apparently due to convergency. Different features, but especially the mouthparts and the pattern of wing venation, indicate that the species belongs to the extinct order †Permopsocida (?Archipsyllidae). However, it differs markedly from all species previously described in this extinct group. The very thin and strongly elongated legs are probably autapomorphic. A very unusual feature is the antenna with only seven segments and extremely elongated flagellomeres. The two pairs of wings are unusually narrow. M and CuA are basally fused. Proximal rows of spines, two series of closed cells, and a distinctly increased number of terminal branches of M are present in the forewings, in contrast to other archipsyllid genera. It is conceivable that Bittacopsocus megacephalus used its long legs to rest suspended in the vegetation like Bittacus. The head structures tentatively suggest predatory behavior but the feeding habits are unclarified yet.

Evolution of fossil and living spider flies based on morphological and molecular data (Diptera, Acroceridae)

AbstractThe phylogeny of spider flies is presented based on an analysis of DNA sequence data combined with morphological characters for both living and fossil species. We sampled 40 extant and extinct genera across all major lineages of Acroceridae, which were compared with outgroup taxa from various lower brachyceran families. In all, 81 morphological characters of 60 extant and 10 extinct ingroup species were combined with 7.1 kb of DNA sequences of two nuclear (CAD and 28S rDNA) and two mitochondrial genes (COI and 16S rDNA). Results strongly support the monophyly of Acroceridae, with major clades contained within classified here in five extant subfamilies (Acrocerinae, Cyrtinae stat. rev., Ogcodinae stat. rev., Panopinae and Philopotinae) and one extinct subfamily, Archocyrtinae. The evolution of important spider fly traits is discussed, including genitalia and wing venation. The status of the enigmatic Psilodera Gray and Pterodontia Gray as members of the Panopinae is confirmed based on both molecular and morphological data.

The Trichopterygini (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) of Austral South America: description of new species from Chile.

Four new species belonging to the genera Hoplosauris Butler, Butleriana Parra, Warrenaria Parra, and Fueguina Parra from south-central Chile are described. The species are H.morenoi Ramos-González & Parra, sp. n., B.phoenix Ramos-González & Parra, sp. n., W.onca Ramos-González & Parra, sp. n., and F.araucana Ramos-González & Parra, sp. n. The genus Aloba Warren is reassigned to tribe Trichopterygini and A.carolinae Ramos-González & Parra, sp. n. is described. Comparative diagnosis for all new species are provided, and illustrations of genitalia and the wing venation of the males for all new described species are given.

Myanmaro primus gen. et sp. nov., the first orthoclad (Diptera: Chironomidae)from Cretaceous Burmese amber.

A fossil genus Myanmaro gen. nov., with a species M. primus sp. nov. (Diptera, Chironomidae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (~100 Ma). The adult male of the new species shows the wing venation pattern lacking a cross-vein MCu, the fore leg ratio lower than 1, and the gonostylus folded inwards - features typical of the subfamily Orthocladiinae. A bifid gonostylus, with an articulate, likely movable inner branch, is the character indicating a close relationship between Myanmaro and Diplocladius Kieffer, 1908, the latter genus previously postulated as an early lineage in Orthocladiinae. Several characters, i.e. the structure of tergite IX and the anal point, are defined as generic autapom orphies for Myanmaro. A combination of the shape of hypopygial volsellae (or their absence) and the lack of tibial combs also separate this genus from related extant Orthocladiinae and from the only known Cretaceous extinct orthoclad genus Lebanorthocladius Veltz, Azar et Nel, 2007.

Geometric morphometrics of wing venation to differentiates new species of Scaura Schwarz populations (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

Scaura Schwarz, 1938 is a small Neotropical genus of stingless bees widely distributed in Brazil. The new species of Scaura is a widespread species, and its wide distribution may suggest that it is a species complex. In order to differentiate populations that could compose cryptic species, we studied the wing venation variation using geometric morphometrics in 56 workers, 23 of these from remaining of Atlantic Forest in Ceará state and 33 from the Amazon region. Bees from Atlantic Forest differed of the bees from Amazon region, corresponding to 38.05% of total variation (principal components analysis), 100% of canonical variation and 52.93% of canonical variation between localities, with significant difference between populations in discriminant function analysis (p<0.001). The results suggest that the Atlantic Forest bees may be a new species. However, it is necessary more detailed morphological studies, and/or a molecular analysis to confirm this possibility.