On the structure of the aedeagus in shield bugs (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae): II. Subfamily Podopinae

This paper is the second communication in a series of papers that treats the structure of the aedeagus in the family Pentatomidae and its taxonomic applications. Inner structures of the aedeagus were examined in the completely inflated state. The structure of the aedeagus was studied on 25 species. It is impossible to offer a diagnosis of the subfamily Podopinae on the basis of the structure of the aedeagus only, because this structure is very diverse. Nevertheless, some distinguishing characters were found in each of the three tribes, currently recognized within the subfamily. On the basis of the structure of the aedeagus, the tribe Graphosomatini can be subdivided into four groups, partly corresponding to the previously recognized tribes Graphosomatini (sensu Puchkov, 1965), Ancyrosomatini, and Trigonosmatini. Three different types of the structure of the aedeagus were revealed in the tribe Podopini. Special types of the structure of the aedeagus were found in the genera Bolbocoris and Testrica with unclear taxonomic position.     

半蓝角伪叶甲的再描述（鞘翅目：拟步甲科：伪叶甲亚科）

半蓝角伪叶甲Cerogria basalis(Hope,1831)为角伪叶甲属Cerogria Borchmann,1909的1个大型种,过去仅知道分布于印度,尼泊尔,波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那,一直缺乏详细和正式的形态描述。近年来,我们从云南采集到该种的雌虫和雄虫。本文对该种雌性和雄性成虫,特别是触角、腹板和雄性外生殖器特征作了详细描述。提供了该种雌、雄两性成虫的背面观和腹面观以及生境照片,以及触角、雄性末节腹板以及雄性外生殖器特征图片。本文还讨论了种内变异。这些工作为该种的正确鉴定提供了依据。     

Host‐dependent phenotypic plasticity of aedeagus morphology in a pair of cactophilic sibling Drosophila species of the repleta group (Diptera,Drosophilidae)

The rapid evolution of male genital morphology is a characteristic feature of several animal groups. Such rapid divergence makes this trait a useful key for species identification. The aedeagus, the intromittent organ of male genitalia, is considered the main diagnostic trait in the Drosophila repleta group. In this study we analysed phenotypic plasticity and genetic variations associated with aedeagus size and shape in the cactophilic sibling species Drosophila gouveai Tidon‐Sklorz and Sene, 2001 and Drosophila antonietae Tidon‐Sklorz and Sene, 2001. Phenotypic plasticity in aedeagus morphology was evaluated in terms of the response to rearing media prepared with each species’ natural host plant, Pilosocereus machrisii Dawson, 1957 and Cereus hildmannianus Schum, 1890 respectively. Our results show that aedeagal shape differed significantly between species and that both shape and size presented host‐related phenotypic plasticity in both species. Flies reared on P. machrisii had, on average, larger aedeagi than those grown in C. hildmannianus. The general shape of aedeagus also differed significantly between flies that emerged in different host cactus. Patterns of variation in aedeagus morphology are discussed in the light of the current knowledge of evolutionary relationships and host plant use, in the D. buzzatii cluster, an assemblage of species in active cladogenesis.     

Geographical variation in the genitalia of three species of Cicadellidae (Hemiptera)

Specimens of three species of Cicadellidae, Agallia laevis Ribaut, Eupteryx stachydearum Hardy and E.urticae Fabricius, are examined from different parts of their distribution in Europe and differences in genital characters are recorded. Variation in Agallia laevis suggests a dine or stepped cline from S.E. to N.W. in the shape of the anal appendages and aedeagus, while E. stachydearum shows a N–S cline, and a similar altitudinal cline, in the length and curvature of the apical processes of the aedeagus. In E.urticae geographical variation in the size and direction of the same processes also clearly occurs, though the exact pattern is not yet clear.     

Taxonomic review of the genus Copelatus Erichson (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in Korea

A taxonomic review of the genus Copelatus Erichson (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in Korea is presented. In the present study, five species of Copelatus are recognized from Korea, including one unrecorded species, C. kammuriensis. We provide a key to the Korean species of Copelatus, diagnosis of one unrecorded species, habitus photographs, scanning electron micrographs of the elytron, and illustrations of the aedeagus.     

Systematic and morphological studies of the genus Chaetopleurophora Schmitz (Diptera: Phoridae) occurring in Japan

Japanese species of the genus Chaetopleurophora are reviewed. All belong to the C. erythronota group. The following three species from Japan are described: C. rhomboidea sp. nov., C. pygidialis Schmitz and C. dividua sp. nov. The male and female genitalia are studied and further examples of unique characters of the genus including asymmetric features are added. The male aedeagus of the genus is illustrated for the first time. The aedeagus of the species treated in this study consists of only two components, the inner core plate and the outer jacket plate. The jacket plate wraps sinistrally around the core plate. The combination of the core plate and the jacket plate forms complex, asymmetric features of the aedeagus in the Phoridae. The structure around the genital opening in the female genitalia protrudes posteriorly under the segment IX + X, and shows asymmetric features in C. rhomboidea sp. nov. with a bilaterally different degree of sclerotization, shifted genital opening to the right side and a membranous ribbon just on the left side. In addition, C. dividua sp. nov. is different from most of the species in the C. erythronota group, and very closely related to C. multiseriata (known in North America) in the male and female genitalia, wing venation and bristle formation on the scutellum. It is suggested that C. dividua sp. nov. forms a monophyletic group with C. multiseriata and the related species.     

Evolution of the male genitalia: morphological variation of the aedeagi in a natural population of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila mediopunctata</Emphasis>

To investigate the size and shape of the aedeagus of Drosophila mediopunctata, we used basic statistics and geometric morphometrics. We estimated the level of phenotypic variation, natural and laboratory heritability as well as the phenotypic correlations between aedeagus and wing measures. The wing was used as an indicator for both body size and shape. Positive significant correlation was obtained for centroid size of aedeagus and wing for field parents and their offspring reared in the laboratory. Many positive significant phenotypic correlations were found among linear measures of both organs. The phenotypic correlations were few for aedeagus and wing shape. Coefficients of variation of the measures were on average larger in the aedeagus than in the wing for offspring reared in laboratory, but not for flies coming from the field. Significant “natural” heritabilities were found for five linear measures of the aedeagus and only one for the wing. Few significant heritabilities were found for aedeagus and wing shape, mostly ones concerning the uniform components. In an exploratory analysis, we found that inversion DS-PC0 is associated with both uniform and nonuniform components of shape, respectively, in the wing and aedeagus. Our results do not support the lock-and-key hypothesis for the male genitalia evolution, but cannot refute the sexual selection and pleiotropy hypotheses.     

Description of Ochthebius (Asiobates) irenae sp. n. (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from the Iberian Peninsula,with Notes on its Ecology

Ochthebius irenae sp. n. is described from Albacete (SE Spain, Iberian Peninsula). The external morphology of the new species is close to O. bonnairei, O. ferroi and O. heydeni, although the structure of the aedeagus places it in an isolated position. The species was found in a shallow temporary pond close to a saline lagoon over gypsiferous soils.     

New species of the genus Attagenus (Coleoptera, Dermestidae) from the Palaearctic fauna

Attagenus arboreus sp. n. differs from A. silvaticus Zhant. in the structure of the antennae and aedeagus. A. cuneatus sp. n. may be distinguished from A. turcomanus Zhant. by the enlarged eyes and by the structure of the male antennae and aedeagus; A. gilanicus sp. n. differs from the two preceding species in the dark elytra and in the structure of the aedeagus, and from A. turcomanus, in addition, in the structure of the antennae of the male. A. fortis sp. n. differs from A. steinbergi Zhant. in the shape of the body and structure of the male antennae and aedeagus. A. doricus sp. n. differs from A. posticalis Fairm. and A. lynx Muls. et Rey in the fine pubescence, absence of distinct pale elytral bands, and the structure of the aedeagus. A. omanicus may be distinguished from the species mentioned above mainly by the structure of the aedeagus.     

Limnebius alibeii sp. n. (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from Morocco

Limnebius alibeii sp. n. is described from the Moroccan Atlas. The new species is closely related to L. fretalis Peyerimhoff, from which can be separated for its slightly smaller size and the structure of the aedeagus.     

Sexual Selection on Accessory Glands, Genitalia and Protarsal Pads in the Whirligig Beetle Dineutus nigrior Roberts (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae)

Sexual selection is a potent force in the evolution of morphology in sexually reproducing species. When large size in a trait is favored by sexual selection the trait often exhibits positive allometry. Mating behavior in whirligig beetles consists of males attempting to grasp reluctant females using enlarged protarsi (protarsal pads). Here we use allometry and a mating experiment to investigate sexual selection pressures on accessory glands, intromittant genitalia (aedeagus), and protarsal pads in males of the whirligig beetle Dineutus nigrior Roberts. Accessory gland size exhibited positive allometry and males with larger accessory glands were more likely to copulate suggesting that larger size in this trait is favored by sexual selection. Males with larger accessory glands attempted to copulate more often but did not exhibit fewer failed mating attempts before copulating. This suggests that the increased probability of mating in males with large accessory glands is due to higher mating attempt frequency and not to increased ability to overcome female resistance. The length of the aedeagus exhibited negative allometry and males with a longer aedeagus did not have increased mating success. This is consistent with stabilizing selection favoring an intermediate size in this trait. The allometric slope of the protarsal pad did not differ from isometry and males with larger protarsal pads did not have increased mating success. This suggests that larger protarsal pads are not favored by sexual selection.     

中国绿芫菁属一新种（鞘翅目：芫菁科）

记述采自中国河北的绿芫菁属Lytta Fabricius 1 新种:周氏绿芫菁Lytta choui sp. nov.。新种外形与绿边绿芫菁L. suturella (Motschulsky, 1860)十分相似,但新种:1)头部黄色额斑菱形;2)前足胫节末端 2 距,外距细小,内距大而弯;3)第8节背板锐角凹陷;4)前胸前缘凹陷较浅;5)中茎腹钩发达,阳茎细长等特征可与后者区别。文中还给出了新种的成虫和形态特征图。模式标本保存于河北大学博物馆。     

The spermatozoon of arthropoda. XXIV. Sperm metamorphosis in the diplopod Polyxenus

Specimens, representative of each of the major taxa of mosquitoes, were fixed in copula and the external genitalia examined by scanning electron microscopy. The periphery of the basin-like everted aedeagus of Aedus aegypti precisely matches that of the everted atrial membrane of the female. These structures are appressed during coitus and sealed by pressure of the paraprocts, aedeagal pouch and proctiger. When everted, the aedeagus of male Culex pipiens reveals a ridged dome that surrounds the genital opening. This dome seals itself laterally into a gutter formed by pad-like extensions of the female's genital lips and is sealed dorsally by pressure of the aedeagal apodeme. The aedeagus of another culicine species, Wyeomyia smithii, bears the gonopore at the apex of a spined tube. This tube is inserted between the female's genital lips and is sealed within the genital atrium. The aedeagus of the toxorhynchitine species Toxorhynchitis brevipalpus is immobile and is inserted deep within the genital atrium of the female where it is sealed by pressure of the atrial walls. Males of each of these mosquitoes deliver a mixture of semen and sperm to the copulatory bursa of the female. After withdrawal of the aedeagus, sperm is transferred to the spermathecae. In contrast, sperm of Anopheles quadrimaculatus are delivered directly to the spermathecal duct. The tube-like aedeagus is positioned by its leaflets during sperm transfer and is driven deep into the atrium, where a mixture of semen and sperm is ejaculated. The significance of mechanical barriers to mating between species is discussed.     

On the significance of genital characters in supraspecific systematics of the elaterid subfamily agrypninae (Coleoptera,Elateridae)

The genital characters of some click beetles from the tribes Agrypnini and Conoderini of the subfamily Agrypninae are reviewed. The structural features of male sternite IX, aedeagus, and bursa copulatrix are shown to have great diagnostic value for supraspecific taxa. Based on these characters, the distinctness of the genus Compsolacon Rtt. is confirmed and the taxonomic position of some species from the tribe Conoderini is clarified. Agrypnus cordicollis (Cand.) is recorded for the Russian fauna for the first time.     

Integration of cytochrome c oxidase I barcodes and geometric morphometrics to delimit species in the genus Gnopharmia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae,Ennominae)

We tested the hypothesis of species taxonomy in the genus Gnopharmia (Macariini, Ennominae) that was recently established in a review based on discrete morphological characters. For this objective we integrated both DNA‐based and morphometric approaches in order to infer species boundaries. A 658‐bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) (DNA barcode) was analysed from populations of five species distributed throughout the Middle East to assess their consistency with traditionally defined morphospecies. Signals in the morphological variation of the aedeagus of all relevant populations were evaluated using geometric landmarks. Consistent groupings compatible with the current taxonomic classification were found with both approaches. The results strongly support the distinction of seven closely related species. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Morphological and mitochondrial DNA analyses indicate the presence of a hybrid zone between two species of leaf beetle (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae) in Southern Spain

The present study reports a case where the survey of morphological and mitochondrial DNA variation among populations of a species complex of leaf beetle, the Gonioctena variabilis complex, has lead to the identification of a hybrid zone between two species of the complex in Southern Spain. The complex is divided into four species distributed around the western Mediterranean region. The four species, G. variabilis, Gonioctena aegrota, Gonioctena gobanzi, and Gonioctena pseudogobanzi, are traditionally determined by differences in the morphology of the male genitalia (aedeagus). To gain insight into the history of the speciation process within this species complex, we sampled populations in Portugal, Spain, Southern France, and Northern Italy. We sequenced a portion of the mitochondrial control region of each individual collected. A haplotype network of these sequences was found to comprise four distinct groups of sequence types, separated by a relatively large number of mutations. Moreover, in most of the samples for which morphological and molecular variation is available, there is a one‐to‐one correspondence between haplotype group, defined by mitochondrial sequence variation, and morphological groups defined on the basis of the aedeagus, showing evidence of four historically independent evolutionary units. This supports the use of the aedeagus morphology as a taxonomically informative trait in this species complex and a recent taxonomic revision upgrading four formerly subspecies, corresponding to the evolutionary units identified in the present study, to species status. However, some of the individuals from our samples in Southern Spain, morphologically identified as G. aegrota, were found to possess mitochondrial sequences typical of G. pseudogobanzi. The opposite case was also found. This suggests the presence of a zone of contact and hybridization between G. aegrota and G. pseudogobanzi. The location of this hybrid zone appears to be unusual. We identify historical scenarios that may explain our observations. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 94 , 105–114.     

A new tropiduchid planthopper genus and species from China with descriptions of in copula genitalic structures (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)

Abstract The new planthopper taxon, Garumnella bella gen.n. , sp.n. , from Xizang, China, is described and illustrated, including external morphology of adult and eggs and structures of the male and female genitalia. The new genus is compared with Garumna Melichar and Paragarumna Muir, resulting in Paragarumna ( syn.n. ) being placed as a junior synonym of Garumna, with two new combinations, i.e. Garumna pseudolepida (Muir) comb.n. and Garumna melichari Baker comb.rev. New locality records for Garumna species are given. The morphology of the genitalia and egg of a copulating pair of the new genus is investigated. The female has a ventrally sclerotized posterior vagina forming a torsion groove, an unusual long membranous anterior vagina and an enlarged common oviduct. During copulation both the aedeagus and the torsion groove appear tightly interlocked, which may help to maintain the copulatory position. The aedeagus is observed in the bursa copulatrix.