Neotropical Osmylidae larvae (Insecta,Neuroptera): description of habitats and morphology

ABSTRACT

The larval stages of the genus Kempynus Navás, 1912 Navás, L. (1912), ‘Insectos neurópteros nuevos o poco conocidos’, Memorias de la Real Academia de Ciencias y Artes de Barcelona, 10, 135–202. [Google Scholar] (probably K. falcatus Navás, 1912 Navás, L. (1912), ‘Insectos neurópteros nuevos o poco conocidos’, Memorias de la Real Academia de Ciencias y Artes de Barcelona, 10, 135–202. [Google Scholar] based on the presence of synchronic and sympatric adults) are described for the Neotropical Region for the first time, and the larval stages of Isostenosmylus pulverulentus (Gerstaecker, 1893 Gerstaecker, C.E.A. (1893), ‘Ueber neue und weniger gekannte Neuropteren aus der familie Megaloptera Burm’, Mitt[h]eilungen aus dem Naturwissenschaftlichen Verein für Neu-Vorpommern und Rugen, 25, 93–173. [Google Scholar]) are redescribed. The external morphology of third-instar larvae of both species and their habitats are described and compared. Kempynus sp. is a water-dependent species and can be considered semi-aquatic, whereas I. pulverulentus larvae are terrestrial and live in undergrowth vegetation. The first key to identification of Neotropical Osmylidae larvae is provided, based on third-instar larvae of both species.     

Redefinition of the hypotrichous ciliate Uncinata,with descriptions of the morphology and phylogeny of three urostylids (Protista,Ciliophora)

We investigated the morphology, morphogenesis and small subunit rRNA gene-based phylogeny of three marine urostylids, Uncinata gigantea Bullington, 1940 Bullington, W. E. (1940). Some ciliates from Tortugas. Papers from the Tortugas Laboratory, 32, 179–221. [Google Scholar], Holosticha heterofoissneri Hu & Song, 2001 Hu, X., & Song, W. (2001). Morphology and morphogenesis of Holosticha heterofoissneri n. sp. from the Yellow Sea, China (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida). Hydrobiologia, 448, 171–179. doi:10.1023/A:1017553406031.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], and Holosticha cf. heterofoissneri. The dorsal morphogenesis of Uncinata gigantea shows de novo formation of two groups of anlagen near the marginal rows. Holosticha cf. heterofoissneri demonstrates fragmentation of the first dorsal kinety anlage as in Holosticha heterofoissneri. Our population of H. heterofoissneri corresponds well with previously described populations in terms of its general morphology and ciliary pattern. Uncinata gigantea can be recognized by its large and highly contractile body, yellowish to brownish cell colour, two types of cortical granules, and 20–30 transversely oriented and densely arranged cirri in the left marginal row, which often overlie the buccal vertex. Based on the new data, especially infraciliature, the genus Uncinata is here redefined. Both the morphology and phylogenetic analyses suggest that the genus Uncinata should be classified within the family Urostylidae. In addition, both morphological and morphogenetic data suggest that Holosticha bradburyae Gong et al., 2001 Gong, J., Song, W., Hu, X., Ma, H., & Zhu, M. (2001). Morphology and infraciliature of Holosticha bradburyae n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida) from the Yellow Sea, China. Hydrobiologia, 464, 63–69. doi:10.1023/A:1013901621439.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] should be transferred to Uncinata as U. bradburyae (Gong et al., 2001 Gong, J., Song, W., Hu, X., Ma, H., & Zhu, M. (2001). Morphology and infraciliature of Holosticha bradburyae n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida) from the Yellow Sea, China. Hydrobiologia, 464, 63–69. doi:10.1023/A:1013901621439.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) comb. nov., due to its possession of a characteristically prominent beak-like, leftwards curved projection and the developmental mode of the dorsal kineties. This assignment is supported by the phylogenetic analyses, which placed Uncinata gigantea in a clade with U. bradburyae (Gong et al., 2001 Gong, J., Song, W., Hu, X., Ma, H., & Zhu, M. (2001). Morphology and infraciliature of Holosticha bradburyae n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida) from the Yellow Sea, China. Hydrobiologia, 464, 63–69. doi:10.1023/A:1013901621439.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) comb. nov., and revealed only 1.13% (19 bp) difference in their SSU-rDNA gene sequence.     

A new species of Larsia Fittkau, 1962 (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae) from phytotelmata of Aechmea distichantha Lemaire, 1853 (Bromeliaceae) in Argentina

A new species of Larsia Fittkau, 1962 Fittkau, E.J. (1962), ‘Die Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) (Die Tribus Anatopyniini, Macropelopiini und Pentaneurini)’, Abhandlungen zur Larvalsystematik der Insekten, 6, 1–453. [Google Scholar], viz. Larsia angusticornis sp. n., is described and adults and immatures are figured. The study is based on larvae collected from phytotelmata of the bromeliad Aechmea distichantha Lemaire, 1853 Lemaire, A.C. (1853), Le Jardin Fleuriste; Journal General des Progres et des Interets Horticoles et Botaniques, 3: pl. 269. [Google Scholar] in northeastern Argentina that were reared to the adult stage. The pupa bears thoracic horns unusual for the genus, which distinguish this new species from other Larsia species.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:41DFD96D-98E2-4FFC-9CDE-C290BCA84D45     

An integrative approach underscores the taxonomic status of Lamellidens exolescens,a freshwater mussel from the Oriental tropics (Bivalvia: Unionidae)

The Oriental Region harbours the second richest fauna of freshwater bivalves in the world, including many endangered endemic taxa. However, the Oriental fauna of the Unionidae have been very poorly studied using an integrative taxonomic approach, which may provide reasonable revisions of complicated (cryptic) taxa based on morphological, molecular, biogeographic and ecological evidence. Here, we present the first example of an integrative taxonomic revision concerning the status of Unio exolescens Gould (1843 Gould, A.A. (1843). Dr. Gould had examined the shells not long since announced as having been received from the Rev. Francis Mason, missionary at Tavoy, in British Burmah. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 1, 139–141. [Google Scholar]), a nominal mussel taxon that was accepted as a valid species within the genus Trapezoideus Simpson (1900). Currently, Trapezoideus exolescens is considered the type of the genus as far as the originally designated type species, U. foliaceus Gould (1843 Gould, A.A. (1843). Dr. Gould had examined the shells not long since announced as having been received from the Rev. Francis Mason, missionary at Tavoy, in British Burmah. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 1, 139–141. [Google Scholar]), was considered to be a synonym of T. exolescens. Using nucleotide sequences obtained from mitochondrial (COI and 16S rRNA) and nuclear (28S rDNA) genes, we found that the topotypes of Unio exolescens Gould (1843 Gould, A.A. (1843). Dr. Gould had examined the shells not long since announced as having been received from the Rev. Francis Mason, missionary at Tavoy, in British Burmah. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 1, 139–141. [Google Scholar]) cluster together with representatives of another mussel genus, Lamellidens Simpson (1900). Based on these results and on morphological data, we transfer Unio exolescens Gould (1843 Gould, A.A. (1843). Dr. Gould had examined the shells not long since announced as having been received from the Rev. Francis Mason, missionary at Tavoy, in British Burmah. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 1, 139–141. [Google Scholar]) from Trapezoideus to Lamellidens and propose Lamellidens exolescens (Gould, 1843 Gould, A.A. (1843). Dr. Gould had examined the shells not long since announced as having been received from the Rev. Francis Mason, missionary at Tavoy, in British Burmah. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 1, 139–141. [Google Scholar]) comb. nov. In addition, we revisited the status of Unio foliaceus Gould (1843 Gould, A.A. (1843). Dr. Gould had examined the shells not long since announced as having been received from the Rev. Francis Mason, missionary at Tavoy, in British Burmah. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 1, 139–141. [Google Scholar]) as a valid species and the type of the genus Trapezoideus based on the morphological study of the type specimen, although a question concerning the true position of this taxon is still open because its molecular sequences are not available. Our findings highlight that an integrative taxonomic approach is an important tool, particularly when dealing with such species-rich Unionidae fauna as those of the Oriental Realm.     

A new species of Micragasma J. Sahlberg, 1900 (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from Crete

We describe a new species of Micragasma J. Sahlberg, 1900 (Coleoptera, Hydraenidae), which is here treated as a subgenus of Ochthebius Leach, 1815 Leach, W.E. (1815), ‘Entomology’, in The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia (Vol. 9), ed. D. Brewster, Balfour: Edinburgh, pp. 57–172. [Google Scholar]. The new species, O. (Micragasma) minoicus sp. n., was found at the margins of a coastal rockpool in the island of Crete. The species differs from the other two known species of Micragasma in both external and genital characters, but shares with them the presence of small setiferous tubercles on the surface of the head, pronotum and elytra, and a strong medial gibbosity on the head. In some characters, such as the structure and shape of the aedeagus, O. (M.) minoicus sp. n. is similar to other species of the genus Ochthebius, in particular of the subgenus Cobalius Rey, 1886 Rey, C. (1886), ‘Histoire naturelle des coléoptères de France (suite)’, Annales de la Société Linnéenne de Lyon, 32, 1–187, pl. 1–2.[Crossref] , [Google Scholar], typical of coastal rockpools.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BCEAE1EE-7C5E-4017-A753-559738221502     

Behaviour and dispersal in adult Taeniopteryx nebulosa (Linnaeus, 1758) and Perlodes microcephalus (Pictet, 1833) (Plecoptera) in Denmark

Adult Taeniopteryx nebulosa (Linnaeus, 1758 Linnaeus, C. (1758), Systema Naturae (10th ed.), Tom 1, Holmiae. [Google Scholar]) and Perlodes microcephalus (Pictet, 1833 Pictet, J., (1833), ‘Memoire sur la Metamorphoses des Perles’, Annales des Sciences Naturelles, XXVII, 44–55. [Google Scholar]) emerge late winter to early spring in Danish streams. Based on 13 years of study, we have provided new data and discussed little-known aspects of biology of these two species. Taeniopteryx nebulosa male deposits a spermatophore on the female gonopore. Both species are poor fliers and seek high posts for take-off, where they thermoregulate by basking in a pre-flight sun posture for heating flight muscles. Oviposition flight is erratic and short. The females skim back to land. Taeniopteryx nebulosa eggs drift a long distance as single eggs before adhering to vegetation. Perlodes microcephalus eggs drift a short distance as intact eggpackets before they fasten and disintegrate on the bottom. Perlodes microcephalus females select oviposition sites on or close to upstream a riffle. This is critical in ensuring that eggs fasten on stable gravel and stone bottoms. The fast recolonisation of P. microcephalus in Danish streams following restoration measures indicates efficient dispersal ability despite poor flight performance. Adults of both species adhere to clothes, feather and fur. Taeniopteryx nebulosa tarsomeres have many hooked setae, P. microcephalus tarsomeres have some hooked setae and a dense cover of microtrichia. They may disperse by hitchhiking on birds and mammals.     

The Stegana (sensu stricto) species from China,with morphological and molecular evidence (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Four new species of the subgenus Stegana (sensu stricto) were found and described from China: S. (S.) antha sp. nov., S. (S.) latiorificia sp. nov., S. (S.) huangjiai sp. nov. and S. (S.) nigrifoliacea sp. nov. Three known Stegana (s. str.) species from China: S. (S.) antlia Okada, 1991, S. (S.) cheni Sidorenko, 1997 Sidorenko, V. S. (1997). New Asian species and new records of the genus Stegana Meigen (Diptera, Drosophilidae). I. Subgenera Oxyphortica Duda and Stegana s. str. Annales d la Société Entomologique de France (N. S.), 33, 65–79.[Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] and S. (S.) emeiensis Sidorenko, 1997 Sidorenko, V. S. (1997). New Asian species and new records of the genus Stegana Meigen (Diptera, Drosophilidae). I. Subgenera Oxyphortica Duda and Stegana s. str. Annales d la Société Entomologique de France (N. S.), 33, 65–79.[Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] are redescribed as supplementary information. A key to the species, based on morphological characters, is provided. The phylogenetic relationships among 14 species of the subgenus Stegana are reconstructed with the combined sequences of the mitochondrial genes, ND2 (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2) and COI (cytochrome c oxidase, subunit I). Moreover, the intra- and interspecific pairwise K-2P (Kimura's two-parameter) distances among these species are summarized, and the availability of mitochondrial markers in the species identification of the subgenus Stegana are further discussed.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:368C55C3-B101-457C-BD61-BDD8F1B780E5     

Tyr(less) kinase signaling during mitosis

Tyrosine phosphorylation is rare, representing only about 0.5% of phosphorylations in the cell under basal conditions. While mitogenic tyrosine kinase signaling has been extensively explored, the role of phosphotyrosine signaling across the cell cycle and in particular during mitosis is poorly understood.

Two recent, independent studies tackled this question from different angles to reveal exciting new insights into the role of this modification during cell division. Caron et al.¹ Caron D, Byrne DP, Thebault P, Soulet D, Landry CR, Eyers PA, Elowe S. Mitotic phosphotyrosine network analysis reveals that tyrosine phosphorylation regulates Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). Sci Signal 2016; 9:rs14; PMID:27965426; http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aah3525[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar] exploited mitotic phosphoproteomics data sets to determine the extent of mitotic tyrosine phosphorylation, and St-Denis et al.² St-Denis N, Gupta GD, Lin ZY, Gonzalez-Badillo B, Veri AO, Knight JD, Rajendran D, Couzens AL, Currie KW, Tkach JM, et al. Phenotypic and interaction profiling of the human phosphatases identifies diverse mitotic regulators. Cell Rep 2016; 17:2488-501; PMID:27880917; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.10.078[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar] identified protein tyrosine phosphatases from all subfamilies as regulators of mitotic progression or spindle formation. These studied collectively revealed that tyrosine phosphorylation may play a more prominent and active role in mitotic progression than previously appreciated.     

Restrictions on the Production of Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers by Gallionella sp.

The enzymatic oxidization of dissolved Fe(II) to Fe(III) by neutrophilic Fe-oxidizing bacteria plays a significant role in biological cycling of iron by inducing the precipitation of Fe(III) oxyhydroxide in aqueous environments. Among the diverse neutrophilic Fe-oxidizing bacteria, the genus Gallionella has received wide attention for its production of unique twisted extracellular stalks. Hallberg and Tai (2014 Hallberg R, Tai CW. 2014. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes and nanofibers in Gallionella. Geomicrobiol J 31(9):764–768.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) recently reported the detection of multi-wall carbon nanotubes on the twisted-stalks, and they viewed those carbon nanotubes as being biologically produced by Gallionella. We scrutinized Gallionella-produced biofilms collected from natural environments by scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Ferrihydrite and lepidocrocite were the only nano-scaled minerals observed on the stalk, while there were nanometer-sized sheet-like graphitic contaminants on the grid in the vicinity of the sample which showed the same morphology as Hallberg and Tai (2014 Hallberg R, Tai CW. 2014. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes and nanofibers in Gallionella. Geomicrobiol J 31(9):764–768.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) observed. Moreover, similar materials on an empty grid and a grid loaded with randomly selected synthesized materials were also observed. Based on the current knowledge of carbon nanotube syntheses, none of the three known synthesizing methods including root-growth, rolling-up and bottom-up could be biochemically produced by any life because of the significant kinetic and energy obstacles. The carbon nanomaterials reported by Hallberg and Tai (2014 Hallberg R, Tai CW. 2014. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes and nanofibers in Gallionella. Geomicrobiol J 31(9):764–768.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) were clearly contaminations from amorphous carbon film on the grids for holding samples for transmission electron microscopic observations.     

The altitudinal limit of Leptohyphes Eaton, 1882 and Lachlania Hagen, 1868 (Ephemeroptera: Leptohyphidae,Oligoneuriidae) in Ecuadorian Andes streams: searching for mechanisms

We explored mechanisms determining the upper altitudinal limit of ephemeropterans from two different genera: Leptohyphes Eaton, 1882 Eaton, A.E. (1882), ?An Announcement of New Genera of the Ephemeridae?, The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 18, 207–208. [Google Scholar] (Leptohyphidae) and Lachlania Hagen, 1868 Hagen, H.A. (1868), ?On Lachlania Abnormis: A New Genus and Species from Cuba Belonging to the Ephemerina?, Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 11, 372–375. [Google Scholar] (Oligoneuriidae). For this, we (1) surveyed the two taxa in 165 stream sites along a wide altitudinal gradient; (2) sampled benthic fauna at short altitudinal intervals along a stream, from 2780 to 3150 m above sea level; (3) collected adults at the lowest and highest sites; and (4) transplanted nymphs from the lowest to the highest study site in our stream to determine survival over time. Densities of the two taxa declined gradually with altitude and both disappeared between 2950 and 3080 m a.s.l. The upper altitudinal limit in the stream seemed to be most closely related to mean oxygen saturation, temperature, and current velocity. Adults were collected where the nymphs were found, but not at the upstream site where the nymphs were absent, implying limited upstream dispersal of adults and some of the altitudinal constraint lying at the adult stage. Short-term survival of transplanted nymphs was lower than that of controls, suggesting that the distribution was limited at the juvenile stage, and that at least some of the altitudinal constraint is related to the abiotic stream environment.     

Molecular identity,morphology and taxonomy of the Rhynchospio glutaea complex with a key to Rhynchospio species (Annelida,Spionidae)

Rhynchospio glutaea (Ehlers, 1897 Ehlers, E. 1897. Polychaeten. Ergebnisse der Hamburger Magalhaensischen Sammelreise 1892/93. L. Friederichsen & Co., Hamburg, Germany. [Google Scholar]), Rhynchospio arenincola Hartman, 1936 Hartman, O. 1936. New species of Spionidae (Annelida Polychaeta) from the coast of California. University of California Publications in Zoology 41, 45–52. [Google Scholar] and Rhynchospio arenincola asiatica Chlebovitsch, 1959 Chlebovitsch, V.V. 1959. Species of Polychaeta worms from the Kurile Islands, which are new or recorded for the first time in the USSR fauna. Zoologichesky Zhurnal 38, 167–181. [Google Scholar], originally described from Strait of Magellan, California, and South Kurile Islands respectively, appear similar to each other in adult morphology. These species and subspecies have been considered by some authors as subjective synonyms and are here referred to as members of the R. glutaea complex. Sequence data of four gene fragments (2465 bp in total) of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA, nuclear 18S and 28S rDNA, and Histone 3 have shown that R. glutaea complex individuals from the South West Atlantic (Argentina), North East Pacific (British Columbia and Oregon) and North West Pacific (South Korea) were genetically distant and not conspecific. These data also indicate that R. arenincola from North America and R. aff. asiatica from South Korea are more closely related to each other, and both are closer to R. glutaea from South America than to R. nhatrangi from Vietnam: nhatrangi (glutaea (arenincola-aff. asiatica)). Adults of the R. glutaea complex are hermaphrodites and the arrangement of gametes is suggested to be a crucial reproductive character for distinguishing these species. Based on this character, two species of the complex are apparent in the North West Pacific: R. asiatica Chlebovitsch, 1959 Chlebovitsch, V.V. 1959. Species of Polychaeta worms from the Kurile Islands, which are new or recorded for the first time in the USSR fauna. Zoologichesky Zhurnal 38, 167–181. [Google Scholar] stat. nov. from the Kurile Islands (not analysed here) and an unnamed species from the mainland coast of Asia (here referred to as R. aff. asiatica). Adult morphology of R. asiatica stat. nov. is briefly described and illustrated. The lectotype and the type locality of the species on Iturup Is. are established for the first time. An identification key is provided to the 10 currently recognized Rhynchospio species.     

Rediscovery of the Tagragra Tracksite (Maastrichtian,Agadir, Morocco): Agadirichnus elegans Ambroggi and Lapparent 1954 is Pterosaurian Ichnotaxon

ABSTRACT

Discovered in 1954 by Ambroggi and Lapparent, the Tagragra tracksite (Maastrichtian, Agadir, Morocco) yielded tracks of theropod dinosaurs, birds and enigmatic forms tentatively attributed to Lacertilia under the name Agadirichnus elegans. The original specimens are today considered to be lost, and the status of A. elegans has been questioned, even though these footprints can retrospectively be referred to pterodactyloid pterosaur tracks. In order to discuss the status of these foot prints, the historical site has been actively sought and recently rediscovered by one of us (MdD). New material confirms the presence of pterodactyloid footprints, with two morphotypes, in two different facies, respectively associated with bird and theropod tracks. Morphotype I is tentatively conferred to Pteraichnus Stokes 1957 Stokes, W. L. 1957. Pterodactyl tracks from the Morrison Formation. Journal of Palaeontology, 31:952–4.[Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], which extends the stratigraphical distribution of this ichnotaxon to the Maastrichtian. Morphotype II corresponds to the original ichnospecies A. elegans Ambroggi and Lapparent 1954 Ambroggi, R., and A. F. de Lapparent 1954. Les empreintes de pas fossiles du Maestrichtien d'Agadir. Notes du Service Géologique du Maroc, 10:43–6. [Google Scholar], which is here reassessed as a valid ichnotaxon, with the designation of a neotype. Thus, A. elegans Ambroggi and Lapparent 1954 Ambroggi, R., and A. F. de Lapparent 1954. Les empreintes de pas fossiles du Maestrichtien d'Agadir. Notes du Service Géologique du Maroc, 10:43–6. [Google Scholar] is historically the first pterosaurian ichnotaxon ever described.     

Secondary production and seasonal development of epiphytic Enallagma civile Hagen, 1861 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) in a newly constructed urban wetland floodway ecosystem

Secondary production and seasonal development of the damselfly Enallagma civile Hagen, 1861 Hagen, H. (1861), Synopsis of the Neuroptera of North America, Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Miscellaneous Collection.[Crossref] , [Google Scholar] were determined as part of an epiphytic macroinvertebrate study in the Dallas Floodway Extension Trinity River Project Lower Chain of Wetlands, Dallas, TX, USA. These wetlands were constructed to mitigate flooding of the Trinity River, but also provided quality wildlife habitat and removal of wastewater effluent contaminants. Variations in life history were observed between two macrophytes and three different wetlands of varying age, effluent source, and vegetation establishment. Mean annual production of E. civile was 1393 mg/m²/year, standing stock biomass was 1376 mg/m²/year, cohort production/biomass (P/B) ratio was 4.30/year, and annual P/B was 10.18/year. These values are in the upper range of known Odonata production values from a lentic system. Enallagma civile biomass growth rates were observed to be higher from populations on the better established macrophyte (Potamogeton nodosus Poiret, 1816) and in the longest established wetland.