Distribution and Evolution of Repeated Sequences in Genomes of Triatominae (Hemiptera-Reduviidae) Inferred from Genomic In Situ Hybridization

The subfamily Triatominae, vectors of Chagas disease, comprises 140 species characterized by a highly homogeneous chromosome number. We analyzed the chromosomal distribution and evolution of repeated sequences in Triatominae genomes by Genomic in situ Hybridization using Triatoma delpontei and Triatoma infestans genomic DNAs as probes. Hybridizations were performed on their own chromosomes and on nine species included in six genera from the two main tribes: Triatomini and Rhodniini. Genomic probes clearly generate two different hybridization patterns, dispersed or accumulated in specific regions or chromosomes. The three used probes generate the same hybridization pattern in each species. However, these patterns are species-specific. In closely related species, the probes strongly hybridized in the autosomal heterochromatic regions, resembling C-banding and DAPI patterns. However, in more distant species these co-localizations are not observed. The heterochromatic Y chromosome is constituted by highly repeated sequences, which is conserved among 10 species of Triatomini tribe suggesting be an ancestral character for this group. However, the Y chromosome in Rhodniini tribe is markedly different, supporting the early evolutionary dichotomy between both tribes. In some species, sex chromosomes and autosomes shared repeated sequences, suggesting meiotic chromatin exchanges among these heterologous chromosomes. Our GISH analyses enabled us to acquire not only reliable information about autosomal repeated sequences distribution but also an insight into sex chromosome evolution in Triatominae. Furthermore, the differentiation obtained by GISH might be a valuable marker to establish phylogenetic relationships and to test the controversial origin of the Triatominae subfamily.     

Chemical ecology of triatomine bugs: vectors of Chagas disease

Knowledge of chemical ecology of haematophagous triatomine bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) could be of practical value because this polyphyletic subfamily includes species of medical importance, such as vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), the aetiological agent of Chagas disease. For particular species of Dipetalogaster, Panstrongylus, Rhodnius and Triatoma, therefore, we review information on exocrine glands and products, interpreting their apparent roles as semiochemicals in the aggregation, alarm, defence, host-finding and sexual behaviour of these Triatominae.     

Geological Changes of the Americas and their Influence on the Diversification of the Neotropical Kissing Bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

Background

The family Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), or assassin bugs, is among the most diverse families of the true bugs, with more than 6,000 species. The subfamily Triatominae (kissing bugs) is noteworthy not simply because it is the only subfamily of the Reduviidae whose members feed on vertebrate blood but particularly because all 147 known members of the subfamily are potential Chagas disease vectors. Due to the epidemiological relevance of these species and the lack of an efficient treatment and vaccine for Chagas disease, it is more common to find evolutionary studies focusing on the most relevant vectors than it is to find studies aiming to understand the evolution of the group as a whole. We present the first comprehensive phylogenetic study aiming to understand the events that led to the diversification of the Triatominae.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We gathered the most diverse samples of Reduviidae and Triatominae (a total of 229 Reduviidae samples, including 70 Triatominae species) and reconstructed a robust dated phylogeny with several fossil (Reduviidae and Triatominae) calibrations. Based on this information, the possible role of geological events in several of the major cladogenetic events within Triatominae was tested for the first time. We were able to not only correlate the geological changes in the Neotropics with Triatominae evolution but also add to an old discussion: Triatominae monophyly vs. paraphyly.

Conclusions/Significance

We found that most of the diversification events observed within the Rhodniini and Triatomini tribes are closely linked to the climatic and geological changes caused by the Andean uplift in South America and that variations in sea levels in North America also played a role in the diversification of the species of Triatoma in that region.     

Phylogeny and biogeography of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): molecular evidence of a New World origin of the Asiatic clade

The most representative sample of molecular data, especially 16S and 12S rDNAs, is used to study the phylogeny and evolution of 57 species of three tribes, Rhodniini, Linshcosteini, and Triatomini, of the subfamily Triatominae. For the first time both New World and Old World species are brought together in a single phylogenetic analysis. Maximum-parsimony and distance estimation place both the Asiatic representatives, Linshcosteus and Triatoma rubrofasciata, as sister groups. The Linshcosteus-T. rubrofasciata clade nests firmly within Triatomini, in most analyses branching as a basalmost lineage, thus supporting a monophyletic origin of Triatominae. A paraphyly of "Triatoma" with respect to Linshcosteus, Dipetalogaster, Eratyrus, and Panstrongylus and the paraphyly of "Rhodnius" with respect to Psammolestes is observed in most of the analyses. Reinterpretation of triatomine biogeography points to the origin of Triatominae in northern areas of South America, in Central America, or in the southern region of North America. A few taxonomic changes are proposed: (1) reinclusion of Linshcosteus in Triatomini, (2) inclusion of Psammolestes in Rhodnius, (3) elevation of the "T. flavida complex" to the full genus Nesotriatoma (including N. flavida, N. bruneri, and N. obscura), (4) inclusion of the "T. spinolai complex" in Mepraia (including M. spinolai, M. gajardoi, M. eratyrusiformis, and M. breyeri), and (5) inclusion of "T." dimidiata in Meccus (M. dimidiatus).     

Phylogeny of Triatomine Vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi Suggested by Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

The subfamily Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) comprises hematophagous insects, most of which are actual or potential vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan agent of Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis). DNA sequence comparisons of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among 32 species of the subfamily Triatominae, 26 belonging to the genus Triatoma and six species of different genera. We analyzed mtDNA fragments of the 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA genes (totaling 848-851 bp) from each of the 32 species, as well as of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI, 1447 bp) gene from nine. The phylogenetic analyses unambiguously supported several clusters within the genus Triatoma. In the morphological classification, T. costalimai was placed tentatively within the infestans complex while T. guazu was not included in any Triatoma complex. The placement of these species in the molecular phylogeny indicated that both belong to the infestans complex. We confirmed with a strong support the inclusion of T. circummaculata, a member of a different complex based on morphology, within the infestans complex. On the other hand, the present phylogenetics analysis did not support the monophyly of the infestans complex species as it was suggested in our previous studies. While no strong inference of polyphyly of the genus Triatoma was provided by the bootstrap analyses, the other species belonging to Triatomini analyzed could not be distinguished from the species of Triatoma.     

DNA‐based phylogeny of the marine genus Heterodrilus (Annelida,Clitellata, Naididae)

Heterodrilus is a group of marine Naididae, common worldwide in subtropical and tropical areas, and unique among the oligochaetes by their tridentate chaetae. The phylogenetic relationships within the group are assessed from the nuclear 18S rDNA gene, and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rDNA genes. Sequence data were obtained from 16 Heterodrilus species and 13 out‐group taxa; 48 sequences are new for this study. The data were analysed by Bayesian inference. Monophyly of the genus is corroborated by the resulting tree, with Heterodrilus ersei (a taxon representing a small group of species with aberrant male genitalia) proposed to be outside all other sampled species. Although earlier regarded as a member of the subfamily Rhyacodrilinae, both molecular and morphological data seem to support that Heterodrilus is closely related to Phallodrilinae. However, the results are not conclusive as to whether the genus is the sister group of, or a group nested inside, or separate from this latter subfamily. The studied sample of species suggests at least two major clades in Heterodrilus with different geographical distributions, in one of the clades, most species are from the Indo‐West Pacific Ocean, while in the other, the majority are from the Western Atlantic Ocean. Morphological characters traditionally used in Heterodrilus taxonomy are optimized on the phylogenetic tree, revealing a high degree of homoplasy.     

Competitive displacement in Triatominae: the Triatoma infestans success

Brazil has just been certificated by Pan American Health Organization as 'free of Chagas disease transmission due to Triatoma infestans'. During the early 1980s, this species of blood-sucking bug alone was considered responsible for approximately 80% of Chagas disease transmission. But it was not always so. The species originally abundant in houses of central and eastern Brazil was Panstrongylus megistus, which seems to have been progressively displaced from houses by T. infestans during the past century. Indeed, T. infestans seems able to displace other Triatominae in artificial environments. Recent studies suggest that it might simply be because T. infestans feeds more efficiently than its Triatominae competitors.     

A new species Megabruchidius sophorae (Coleoptera, Bruchidae), feeding on seeds of Styphnolobium (Fabaceae) new to Bruchidae

A new species Megabruchidiussophorae (Insecta, Coleoptera) is described from Japan (Honshu). The larval host of this bruchid is the seeds of the tree legume 'enju', or chinese scholar tree, Styphnolobium japonicum (a senior synonym of Sophora japonica), which is a new host genus to Bruchidae. Styphnolobium is positioned basally in molecular phylogeny of the leguminous subfamily Papilionoideae. Other members of Megabruchidius are known to feed on Gleditsia, the tree legumes that belong to the most ancestral subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Therefore, Megabruchidius utilizes ancestral groups of legumes as its host plants. Megabruchidius has been inferred to be ancestral, based on its behavior. The character state of the host for this third Megabruchidius species supports that the genus is ancestral, at least in the subfamily Bruchinae. We also reviewed the genera closely related to Megabruchidius, i.e., Bruchidius and Sulcobruchus in Bruchidini, and wrote a key to the species in the genus Megabruchidius.     

Occurrence of Panstrongylus guentheri Berg (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

The first occurrence of Panstrongylus guentheri Berg in Brazil is presented. This species had been reported only in the territories of Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay. We have extended the geographic distribution of this Triatominae, with two specimens captured in Bodoquena and Itapor? cities, both in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. These specimens were found in the intradomestic environment.     

Trapping Triatominae in silvatic habitats

Large-scale trials of a trapping system designed to collect silvatic Triatominae are reported. Live-baited adhesive traps were tested in various ecosystems and different triatomine habitats (arboreal and terrestrial). The trials were always successful, with a rate of positive habitats generally over 20% and reaching 48.4% for palm trees of the Amazon basin. Eleven species of Triatominae belonging to the three genera of public health importance (Triatoma, Rhodnius and Panstrongylus) were captured. This trapping system provides an effective way to detect the presence of triatomines in terrestrial and arboreal silvatic habitats and represents a promising tool for ecological studies. Various lines of research are contemplated to improve the performance of this trapping system.     

Pameridea (Hemiptera: Miridae): Predaceous bugs specific to the highly viscid plant genus Roridula

Abstract. The South African genus Pameridea and its two species are redescribed. The tribe Pamerideini, founded for this genus only, is removed from synonymy with Mirini (subfamily Mirinae) and transferred to Dicyphini (subfamily Bryocorinae), falling as a synonym of the subtribe Dicyphina. The bugs live only on intensely viscid small shrubs of the genus Roridula. This plant genus is the only member of its family but the bug genus is closely related to two widespread tropical dicyphine genera.     

Phylogenetic footprints of an Antarctic radiation: The Trematominae (Notothenioidei, Teleostei)

The teleost suborder Notothenioidei is restricted to the Southern Ocean and has been described as a species flock spanning the whole of it. Within the suborder, the subfamily Trematominae is important for coastal Antarctic ecosystems. The eleven Trematomus species occupy a large range of ecological niches. The genus is monophyletic if the genus Pagothenia (two additional species) and Cryothenia amphitreta, also nested within it, are included. Although the Trematominae have received much interest, the relationships among these fourteen species are still unclear. Several recent studies have tried to resolve these interrelationships; however no complete and clear picture has emerged, probably because of the use of a low number of insufficiently variable markers. The only common results places T. scotti as the sister-group of the rest of the subfamily and T. loennbergi close to T. lepidorhinus. We use here more variable markers. Four nuclear markers, two of which are new, and a mitochondrial marker for the biggest trematomine sampling ever gathered (14 species, 78 specimens). We found that several nuclear haplotypes are shared by several species (mostly in very closely related species). The haplotype patterns coupled with the cytogenetics of the subfamily suggest that a phenomenon of incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) is likely to be at play. Using a calibration linked to fossil evidence, we evaluate the relative ages of each clade within the Trematominae to assess the proximity of the speciation events to one another. The main trematomine diversification was recent and sudden.     

Molecular phylogeny of parabasalids based on small subunit rRNA sequences, with emphasis on the Trichomonadinae subfamily

We determined small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences from three parabasalid species, Trichomitus batrachorum strain R105, Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, and Pentatrichomonas hominis belonging to the Trichomonadinae subfamily. Unrooted molecular phylogenetic trees inferred by distance, parsimony, and likelihood methods reveal four discrete clades among the parabasalids. The Trichomonadinae form a robust monophyletic group. Within this subfamily T. gallinarum is closely related to Trichomonas species as supported by morphological data, with P. hominis and Pseudotrypanosoma giganteum occupying basal positions. Our analysis does not place T. batrachorum within the Trichomonadinae. Trichomitus batrachorum (strains R105 and BUB) and Hypotrichomonas acosta form a well-separated cluster, suggesting the genus Trichomitus is polyphyletic. The emergence of T. batrachorum precedes the Trichomonadinae-Tritrichomonadinae dichotomy, emphasizing its pivotal evolutionary position among the Trichomonadidae. A third cluster unites the Devescovinidae and the Calonymphidae. The fourth clade contains the three hypermastigid sequences from the genus Trichonympha, which exhibit the earliest emergence among the parabasalids. The addition of these three new parabasalid species did not however resolve ambiguities regarding the relative branching order of the parabasalid clades. The phylogenetic positions of Tritrichomonas faetus, Monocercomonas sp., Dientamoeba fragilis, and the unidentified Reticulitermes flavipes gut symbiont 1 remain unclear.     

凤实蝇属的分类厘订 (双翅目: 实蝇科: 实蝇亚科)

在实蝇亚科Trypetinae内，由于凤实蝇属Felderimyia Hendel与邻实蝇属Ptilona van der Wulp在诸多形态特征和雌性外生殖器构造方面十分近似，因此此属应归隶于刺脉实蝇族Acanthonevrini。对凤实蝇属进行了重新界定，详细描述中国1新纪录种：黑翅凤实蝇F.fuscipennis Hendel，并提供分种检索表和特征图。     

PSEUDOFAGUS IDAHOENSIS,N. GEN. ET SP. (FAGACEAE) FROM THE MIOCENE CLARKIA FLORA OF IDAHO

A new genus and species of Fagaceae are established for compressed leaves and attached fruits which represent one of the dominant taxa in the rich Miocene Clarkia flora of northern Idaho. The leaf and fruit morphology, cuticular and pericarp anatomy, and leaf phytoliths fall within the range of variation of the subfamily Fagoideae. The unique fruit consists of a large, exposed, distinctly keeled, trigonous nut and a diminutive basal cupule. The cupule has an apical frill of free, petiolate, leaflike appendages but lacks other ornamentation, and there is no evidence of a distinct Valvation. As no other genus of the Fagaceae has fruits with this combination of characters, a new genus is established and is referred to the subfamily Fagoideae. The Miocene genus seems most closely related to the extant genus Fagus.     

基于线粒体Cyt b基因的线蛱蝶亚科的系统发育

基于线粒体Cytb基因部分序列,以波蛱蝶为外群,采用邻接法、最大简约法和贝叶斯法分别构建了中国线蛱蝶亚科10属25种蝶类的系统发育树,探讨了各主要类群间的系统发育关系。其结果表明,所有线蛱蝶亚科聚为两大枝:第一枝包括环蛱蝶属、菲蛱蝶属、蟠蛱蝶属和缕蛱蝶属,其中缕蛱蝶属与环蛱蝶族亲缘关系较近;第二枝包括丽蛱蝶属、穆蛱蝶属、线蛱蝶属、带蛱蝶属、律蛱蝶属和翠蛱蝶属,其中线蛱蝶属为非单系群,翠蛱蝶属和律蛱蝶属则为单系发生,并构成姐妹群。     

The Gomphaeschninae (Odonata: Aeshnidae): new fossil genus, reconstructed phylogeny, and geographical history

ABSTRACT. Three new species of fossil Anisoptera (dragonflies) are reported from Tiffanian (Late Palaeocene) sediments of the Paskapoo Formation, near Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. The three species are all assigned to the new genus Alloaeschna , which is classified in the subfamily Gomphaeschninae.
Phylogenetic analysis of gomphaeschnine wing venation suggests that the subfamily is paraphyletic, with derived gomphaeschnines such as Boyeria and Linaeschna more closely related to the Brachytroninae and Aeshninae than are other gomphaeschnines. One of the most primitive gomphaeschnines, and the oldest fossil form, is the Jurassic Morbaeschna. Parallelism, convergence and reversal in the evolution of features of the wing venation is common.
The new genus Alloaeschna is at about the same evolutionary grade as the old-world genus Oligoaeschna and the new-world genus Gomphaeschna , and is one of the more primitive known members of the Gomphaeschninae. The new species are the first recorded Palaeocene gomphaeschnines and the oldest known gomphaeschnines from the Americas.
Several extant genera have fossil representatives on continents different from those on which they now survive, suggesting repeated crossing of land bridges and/or widespread ancestral species prior to the separation of the continents, and subsequent extinction leading to present relict distributions.     

Megalara garuda, a new genus and species of larrine wasps from Indonesia (Larrinae, Crabronidae, Hymenoptera)

A new genus and species, Megalara garuda is described from Sulawesi (Indonesia). The new species is one the largest known members of the crabronid subfamily Larrinae. It has a unique suite of putatively apomorphic morphological characters and is most closely related to the genus Paraliris. We found indications of a significant allometric variation in body size and mandibular length and shape in male Megalara, and the presence of acarinaria at least in females of the new genus. Allometric variation and acarinaria have previously been shown to occur in Paraliris, which is another indication for a close relationship of Megalara and Paraliris.     

现生毛猬Neotetracus属与Hylomys及Neohylomys属齿系和颅骨的比较(英文)

鼩猬属Neotetracus是毛猬亚科Hylomyinae中一个个体小、对其知之甚少的成员。本文对其齿系(包括乳齿)和颅骨的特征进行了描述,并与毛猬属Hylomys及毛猬类其他近亲的齿系和颅骨形态进行了相应比较。由于现生的鼩猬属为一单型属,其惟一的种Neotetracus sinensis被一些研究者归入毛猬属,本文之所以进行这样的比较,目的是为了弄清楚这种归并是否合理。Neohylomys hainanensis是毛猬类的另一属种,亦有学者将其归入Hylomys属。尽管这一属种的材料不多,在此同样作了比较研究。比较表明,毛猬亚科上述三属间在齿列上的几乎每一颗牙齿和某些头骨形态上都有明显的差别,研究的结果为保留Neotetracus,Neohylomys和Hylomys属的独立存在提供了证据,并根据这三个属在形态上的差异对其相互间的进化水平进行了评估。现代的毛猬亚科动物生活在亚洲东南部一个相对小的地区,总共有5属6种。地史上,特别是在中、晚中新世期间,这一亚科几乎散布整个北半球,从亚洲到欧洲和北非,从旧大陆到新大陆都有其踪迹。那时的种类也比现在的多,迄今描述的化石已有9属47种。因此,有理由认为毛猬亚科是一类孑遗动物。毛猬亚科分布地区缩小的原因还不清楚,为了探讨和认识这一有意思的课题,本文对其历史和分布做了简要的阐述。     

Fourfold polyphyly of the genus formerly known as Upucerthia, with notes on the systematics and evolution of the avian subfamily Furnariinae

The traditional avian subfamily Furnariinae, a group of terrestrial ovenbirds typical of the Andean and Patagonian arid zones, consists of the genera Furnarius, Cinclodes, Geositta, Upucerthia, Chilia, and Eremobius. We investigated phylogenetic relationships within the Furnariinae, with particular attention to the nine species of the genus Upucerthia, using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences from all genera in the subfamily. Upucerthia was found to be highly polyphyletic, its constituent species forming four non-sister clades: (1) a basal lineage consisting of two Upucerthia species, U. ruficaudus and U. andaecola, as well as the monotypic genera Eremobius and Chilia; (2) a lineage consisting of U. harterti and U. certhioides, two species behaviorally divergent from other Upucerthia species; (3) a lineage consisting of U. serrana, which is not closely related to any other Upucerthia species; and (4) a lineage, sister to Cinclodes, consisting of the four Upucerthia species U. dumetaria, U. albigula, U. validirostris, and U. jelskii. The larger Furnariinae was also found to be highly polyphyletic; the terrestrial open country ecotype characteristic of this subfamily occurs in four unrelated clades in the family Furnariidae, including a basal lineage as well as derived lineages. Although the large degree of divergence among Upucerthia clades was not previously recognized, owing to ecological, behavioral, and morphological similarities, the groupings correspond closely to relationships suggested by plumage. This is in contrast to studies of other avian genera in which plumage patterns have been shown to be extensively convergent. The generic names Upucerthia and Ochetorhynchus are available for two of the former Upucerthia clades; new generic names may be warranted for the other two.