Systematic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the South American genus Chlorus (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Melanoplinae)

The South American grasshopper genus Chlorus (Melanoplinae, Dichroplini) from Bolivia, southern Brazil and Paraguay is revised. Cladistic analysis of morphological characters indicates that Chlorus constitutes a monophyletic group whose generic relationships remain unsolved. If the external morphology is considered, Chlorus showed to be related to Dichromatos , while characters from the male genitalia support the relationship between Chlorus and Eurotettix. Seven species are recognised for Chlorus with three of them described as new: Chlorus spatulus, Ch. chiquitensis and Ch. attenuatus . Keys to the species of the genus and a review of the morphological characters defining the taxa are provided.     

Phylogeny and classification of the Catantopidae at the tribal level (Orthoptera, Acridoidea)

The grasshopper family Catantopidae is a well-known group, whose members include some of the most notorious agricultural pests. The existing classifications of the family are mostly utilitarian rather than being based on phylogenetic analysis and therefore unable to provide the stability desired for such an economically important group. In the present study, we present the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the family based on morphology. By extensively sampling from the Chinese fauna, we included in the present analysis multiple representatives of each of the previously recognized tribes in the family. In total, we examined 94 genera represented by 240 species and evaluated 116 characters, including 84 for external morphology and 32 for male genitalia. The final matrix consists of 86 ingroup taxa and 88 characters. Our phylogenetic analyses resulted in a high resolution of the basal relationships of the family while showed considerable uncertainty about the relationships among some crown taxa. We further evaluated the usefulness of morphological characters in phylogeny reconstruction of the catantopids by examining character fit to the shortest trees found, and contrary to previous suggestions, our results suggest that genitalia characters are not as informative as external morphology in inferring higher-level relationship. We further suggest that earlier classification systems of grasshoppers in general and Catantopidae in particular most probably consist of many groups that are not natural due the heavy reliance on genitalia features and need to be revised in the light of future phylogenetic studies. Finally, we outlined a tentative classification scheme based on the results of our phylogenetic analysis.     

Review of the Eospilarctia yuennanica group (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) from the Indo - Himalayan region, with description of two new species and one subspecies

Twonew Eospilarctia species and one new subspecies from China, Myanmar and Vietnam, respectively, are described. Superficially the new species Eospilarctia maciaisp. n., Eospilarctia naumannisp. n. and Eospilarctia yuennanica fansipanassp. n. resemble related congeners but they can be distinguished by the differences in wing pattern, genitalia and distribution provided. Eospilarctia yuennanica guangdonga Dubatolov, Kishida & Wang, 2008 is upgraded to species level. A checklist of the genus Eospilarctia and a key to the Eospilarctia yuennanica (Daniel, 1943) species-group, based on external characters and male genitalia, is presented.     

Review of the genus Nuntiella Kuznetzov (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), with description of a new species from China

The genus Nuntiella Kuznetzov is reviewed. Nuntiella bidigitata sp. nov. is described as new with illustrations of adult male and female genitalia provided. The three previously described species are summarized with detailed references, distribution information, and diagnostic characters. A key to all the species of Nuntiella is given based on the characters of male genitalia.     

A revision of the lygaeid genus Pseudopachybrachius (Hemiptera)

Abstract. The rhyparochromine lygaeid genus Pseudopachybrachius is revised. Four species are recognized in the perplexing vinctus-gvoup (viz capicola, reductus, vinctus and guttus) based on the genitalia details and external features. One new species, P.concepcioni sp.nov., is described from the West Indies and South America. New distributional records are given for all species. Pamera dubia Reuter 1882 is synonymized with Pseudopachybrachius reductus (Walker, 1872) and a neotype is designated for Rhyparochromus inconspicuus Dallas, 1852. A key and diagnostic characters of seven species are given. Phylogenetic and zoogeographic relationships are discussed. Illustrations of the genitalia, a cladogram and diagnostic external features are included.     

Evidence for lock-and-key mechanisms in the internal genitalia of the Apamea moths (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)

Abstract. Fifty of the fifty-six species of the genus Apamea known from North America and three Palaearctic species were analysed for lock-and-key characters in their internal genitalia, mainly in the male vesica and the female bursa copulatrix. There were an average of 4.5 such characters per species, structurally corresponding in the two sexes. Anatomically they form a postcopulatory but prezygotic isolation mechanism. In some closely related species, the internal genitalia are very similar, but these species have a precopulatory isolation mechanism in the presence or absence of male abdominal coremata. Closely related species did not have more lock-and-key characters than unrelated species, which is taken to indicate absence of character displacement. The anatomical distribution of the lock-and-key characters was examined and the organs of eight species are illustrated.
The lock-and-key hypothesis has been abandoned by several earlier authors but mainly on consideration of external genitalia. In Apamea the invariable functional correspondence between sexes in the sperm transferring organs, and the overall species-specifity of characters but non-existence of interspecific differences under a precopulatory mechanism indicate that (a) lock-and-keys are functioning and (b) they act as isolation mechanisms. Alternative hypotheses of genitalic evolution are reviewed.     

A revision of the South American taxa Elnoretta Alexander, Euvaldiviana Alexander and Valdiviana Alexander (Diptera: Tipulidae), with a discussion on their phylogeny

Abstract The South American tipulid taxa Elnoretta, Euvaldiviana and Valdiviana are revised. Type material of all described species was examined. Euvaldiviana is raised from subgeneric to generic rank. The synonymy of Valdiviana synempora and V. neuquenensis is established. Details of the genitalia of the five recognized species as well as external characters are illustrated. A phylogeny is presented of a monophyletic group containing Elnoretta, Euvaldiviana and Valdiviana together with the genera Acracantha (Australia) and Austrotipula (New Zealand).     

Taxonomic study of the genus Stericta Lederer (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae: Epipaschiinae) from China

The genus Stericta Lederer,1863 is reviewed in China.Of the ten species treated,two species are described as new:S.corollina sp.nov.and S.digitata sp.nov.Photographs of adults and genitalia are provided.Keys to the available species are given,based on superficial characters and male genitalia.     

中国爻蛱蝶属与耳蛱蝶属(鳞翅目,蛱蝶科)分类地位探讨

通过对耳蛱蝶Eulaceura osteria与爻蛱蝶Herona marathus的成虫形态特征、雌雄外生殖器解剖特征、地理分布的比较研究,并结合闪蛱蝶亚科系统发育分析结果,表明耳蛱蝶与爻蛱蝶成虫外部形态特征及雌雄外生殖器解剖特征存在许多相同之处,地理分布相互重叠;系统发育分析结果该2种并入同一支系,互为姊妹群关系;建议将耳蛱蝶归入爻蛱蝶属中,同时将耳蛱蝶属作为爻蛱蝶属的异名处理。     

Polycentropus cianficconiae sp. n. from Sicily and Descriptions of the Females of the Polycentropus Species Found in Sicily (Trichoptera,Polycentropodidae)

The male and female of Polycentropus cianficconiae sp. n. (Peloritani Mountains, Northeast Sicily) are described. This new species is related to P. divergens Mosely, 1930, of which the variability of some characters of male genitalia is examined. Female genitalia of the new species are compared to those of P. divergens, P. malickyi Moretti, 1981 and P. mortoni Mosely, 1930. The characters of female genitalia are useful for evaluating the relatedness and differences among the species. They agree with the findings of the study on male genitalia.     

Asymmetric female genitalia and other remarkable morphology in a new genus of cobweb spiders (Theridiidae, Araneae) from Madagascar

Symmetry is such a conspicuous feature of life that asymmetries draw our immediate attention. While not uncommon in bilateral organisms in general, asymmetry in spiders is rare. Here I report the first case of antisymmetry in external female genitalia in spiders, in the new genus Asygyna (Theridiidae: Araneae) from Madagascar. In the nearly 39 000 species of spiders described to date, the external structure of the female genitalia is symmetric. In entelegyne spiders paired external copulatory openings each lead to an internal copulatory duct, whose roughly symmetrical trajectories terminate in paired receptacles, the spermathecae. In Asygyna , here exemplified by two new species, A. huberi and A. coddingtoni , laterality is evident in the internal and external female genitalia. A single copulatory opening leads (either to the left or right depending on the individual) to a single copulatory duct with a distinctly asymmetric trajectory. The duct splits terminally shortly before entering the two spermathecae. The males are symmetric, but possibly only one palp can be used in copulation with each female. If adaptive, the selective forces behind this asymmetry are perplexing, as male access to females seems reduced. However, if males are plentiful, asymmetry may benefit the female by reducing insertion times and thus shortening copulation time, and by tightening her control over which males sire her offspring. Asygyna has a range of other bizarre sex-related morphologies, including prosomal pits and a well developed stridulatory mechanism in both sexes, a male proboscis, and simplified palps. A phylogenetic analysis, including 63 taxa and 242 morphological characters, places Asygyna in Pholcommatinae, sister to the enigmatic genus Carniella .  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 87 , 211–232.     

Phylogenetic studies of the subgenus Nialoe (s. lat.) (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Genus Pterostichus), part 1: Homology of the component parts of male genitalia and higher phylogeny

A phylogenetic hypothesis of the subgenus Nialoe (s. lat.) of genus Pterostichus is proposed based on a cladistic analysis of seventeen morphological characters. Through comparative studies of the sclerites on the endophallus of male genitalia, it became apparent that the arrangement of these sclerites reflects seven different origins. The results show that Nialoe (s. lat.) is monophyletic and composed of four clades, while some traditional taxa are para- or polyphyletic, and are defined only by symplesiomorphies. Pterostichus (Nialoe) mosaicus sp. nov., which is indispensable for tracing the homology of sclerites in this subgenus, is described.     

A new species of Amphoropsyche (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae) from Ecuador, with a key to the species in the genus

A new species of Amphoropsyche Holzenthal is described from Ecuador. It is similar to a group of species with dorsomesal processes on the preanal appendages (i.e., Amphoropsyche woodruffi Flint & Sykora, Amphoropsyche refugia Holzenthal, and Amphoropsyche aragua Holzenthal), but can be distinguished from these and other members of the genus by the short, digitate dorsomesal processes on the preanal appendages and the broad lateral processes of tergum X of the male genitalia. A key to males of the 14 species now known in the genus is presented based on characters of the genitalia.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the Neotropical riodinid butterfly genera Juditha, Lemonias, Thisbe and Uraneis, with a revision of Juditha (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae: Nymphidiini)

Abstract. A cladistic analysis is presented for all twenty-four species in the Neotropical riodinid butterfly genera Juditha Hemming, Lemonias Hübner, Thisbe Hübner and Uraneis Bates based on sixty-nine characters of male and female morphology and external facies, and utilizing Audre domina Bates as the outgroup. All characters are illustrated. The analysis confirms the monophyly of Juditha and Uraneis , but indicates that Lemonias is polyphyletic and Thisbe is paraphyletic with respect to Uraneis , leading us to synonymize Uraneis with Thisbe (syn.n.). Juditha is found to be the sister clade to true Lemonias + ( Thisbe + Uraneis ). A revision of Juditha is presented which includes discussions on the taxonomy, biology and distribution of its species, and illustrations of the adults and male and female genitalia of all taxa and the early stages of an exemplar, J. caucana . Eight species are recognized in Juditha , including two, J. naza and J. inambari , which are described as new. The following new generic combinations are made: rubigo Bates is transferred from Juditha to Pachythone Bates; agave Godman & Salvin and leucogonia Stichel are transferred from Lemonias to Pseudonymphidia Callaghan; ochracea Mengel, theodora Godman and albofasciata Godman are transferred from Audre Hemming to Lemonias; fenestrella Lathy is transferred from Thisbe to Synargis Hübner; hyalina Butler, ucubis Hewitson and incubus Hall, Lamas & Willmott are transferred from Uraneis to Thisbe; and odites Cramer (= phylleus Auctt.) is transferred from Synargis to Juditha (comb.n.).     

小腹茧蜂亚科的雄外生殖器及族级单元系统发育的研究

对分布在东洋区和古北区的小腹茧蜂亚科 (膜翅目: 茧蜂科)21个属的67个种及外群折脉茧蜂属 (膜翅目: 茧蜂科) 2个种的雄外生殖器的5个性状进行了比较研究。在形态学研究的基础上,通过选用头部、胸部和腹部(包括雌雄外生殖器的性状) 等34个性状,运用支序分析的方法探讨了分布在东洋区和古北区的小腹茧蜂亚科21个属以及它们所属的族间的系统发育关系,并对Mason (1981) 的分类系统进行了重新评价。雄外生殖器和支序分析基本上证实并恢复了由Mason (1981) 确定的2个主要分支,即绒茧蜂族Apantelini+小腹茧蜂族Microgastrini和拱茧蜂族Fornicini+盘绒茧蜂族Cotesiini+侧沟茧蜂族MicroplitinI。绒茧蜂族Apantelini、拱茧蜂族Fornicini和侧沟茧蜂族Microplitini为单系群也被支持,但小腹茧蜂族Microgastrini和盘绒茧蜂族Cotesiini是否为单系群尚难于在树形图中体现,而且族内各属间的分支关系有变动。因此,尽管Mason的族级分类单元有一些欠缺,但仍是可信、实用的,不同意Walker等 (1990) 认为不应再使用Mason分族系统的观点。     

中国圆点小卷蛾属研究及一新种记述(鳞翅目,卷蛾科,小卷蛾亚科)(英文)

记述了我国圆点小卷蛾属EudemisHbner的种类,共4种,其中包括1新种:郑氏圆点小卷蛾E.zhengi sp.nov.。提供了分种检索表、新种的形态特征图和生殖器图。模式标本保存在南开大学昆虫标本室。郑氏圆点小卷蛾,新种Eudemis zhengi sp.nov.(图1~2)新种与杨梅圆点小卷蛾E.gyrotis(Meyrick)相似,但可通过下列特征区别:雄性外生殖器之颚形突中部的突起宽短,同时侧缘还具尖角状突起并被细齿,抱器瓣仅在抱器腹近基部具1簇刺丛;后者颚形突中部的突起长指状,侧缘无突起,抱器瓣腹缘具3簇刺丛,分别位于抱器腹基部和端部及抱器端基部2/5处。正模♂,云南勐腊补蚌(21°29′N,101°33′E;海拔650m),25Aug.2005,任应党采;玻片号YHL05159。词源:新种种名以郑哲民教授的姓氏命名,以示对郑先生在我国昆虫系统学研究领域做出显著贡献的敬意。