Revision of the genus Stichillus Enderlein of Japan (Diptera: Phoridae)

The genus Stichillus in Japan is revised. Three species are recognized: S. japonicus (Matsumura), S. spinosus Liu and Chou and S. cylindratus sp. nov. Stichillus brunneicornis Beyer is excluded from the Japanese fauna. These Japanese species are described and keyed. The male genitalia and the female terminalia are illustrated. Some unique characters of the male genitalia in the genus are reported, and morphology of the male genitalia and the female terminalia is discussed.     

Abaristophora sachalinensis Michailovskaya (Diptera: Phoridae) representing genitalic affinities with the genus Borophaga Enderlein

Abaristophora sachalinensis Michailovskaya is reviewed based on Japanese materials. Its male genitalia are compared with those of the genus Borophaga, which is a genus in a group of the related genera, the Borophaga subgroup. A synapomorphic character of the Borophaga subgroup including Abaristophora, the left flattened arm derived from the posterodorsal margin of the hypandrium being broadened at the base, is confirmed in A. sachalinensis. Morphology of the aedeagus in A. sachalinensis is complex and extremely asymmetric, and very similar to that of species of the genus Borophaga, but the characters observed in this study are not regarded as synapomorphic for the Borophaga subgroup.     

Revision of the termite-parasitizing genus Dicranopteron (Diptera: Phoridae)

Dicranopteron Schmitz is removed from the Metopininae and three new species are described. All species are represented by females only and come from Odontolermes and Macrotermes nests in the Orient. A key:to species) is provided. One species was observed ovipositing in the abdomens of the young stages of O. takensis.     

A new genus of scuttle-fly (Diptera: Phoridae) from England

A new genus is described for a new species, Obscuriphora sheppardi , collected in Warwickshire, England. The genus shows some resemblance to Plethysmochaeta Schmitz and Kuenburgia Schmitz. In the British fauna Obscuriphora is most likely to be confused with Conicera Meigen and Gymnoptera Lioy.     

Intra-specific variation in the morphology and the benefit of large genital sclerites of males in the adzuki bean beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis)

Rapid evolution has led to a large diversity in the sizes and morphology of male genitals across taxa, but the mechanisms driving this evolution remain controversial. In this study, we investigated the function of male genital sclerites in the adzuki bean beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis) and compared the length and morphology of genital sclerites between two populations that vary in their degree of polyandry. We found that the length of male genital sclerites was negatively correlated with copulation duration but positively correlated with the speed of matings with multiple females. Additionally, we found that the average length and number of genital sclerite spines of males from the more polyandrous population were larger than those from the less polyandrous population. We suggest that the genital sclerite of male adzuki bean beetles evolved by sexual selection, and a larger genital sclerite has a selective advantage because it allows for rapid copulations with multiple females.     

Morphology of the larvae,male genitalia and DNA sequences of Anopheles (Kerteszia) pholidotus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Colombia

Since 1984, Anopheles (Kerteszia) lepidotus has been considered amosquito species that is involved in the transmission of malaria in Colombia, afterhaving been incriminated as such with epidemiological evidence from a malariaoutbreak in Cunday-Villarrica, Tolima. Subsequent morphological analyses of femalescaptured in the same place and at the time of the outbreak showed that the speciesresponsible for the transmission was not An. lepidotus, but ratherAnopheles pholidotus. However, the associated morphologicalstages and DNA sequences of An. pholidotus from the foci ofCunday-Villarrica had not been analysed. Using samples that were caught recently fromthe outbreak region, the purpose of this study was to provide updated and additionalinformation by analysing the morphology of female mosquitoes, the genitalia of malemosquitoes and fourth instar larvae of An. pholidotus, which wasconfirmed with DNA sequences of cytochrome oxidase I and rDNA internal transcribedspacer. A total of 1,596 adult females were collected in addition to 37 larvalcollections in bromeliads. Furthermore, 141 adult females, which were captured fromthe same area in the years 1981-1982, were analysed morphologically. Ninety-five DNAsequences were analysed for this study. Morphological and molecular analyses showedthat the species present in this region corresponds to An.pholidotus. Given the absence of An. lepidotus, even inrecent years, we consider that the species of mosquitoes that was previouslyincriminated as the malaria vector during the outbreak was indeed An.pholidotus, thus ending the controversy.     

Male and female genitalia in some Libyan species of Acrididae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea)

A comparative study of male and female genitalia was carried out in thirty‐seven Libyan species representing twenty genera of the family Acrididae. An attempt has been made to describe and illustrate the different structures, namely, epiphallus, aedeagus, subgenital plate, supra‐anal plate and cerci of the male, and spermatheca, ovipositor, subgenital plate, supra‐anal plate and cerci of the female, in Acridids, with an aim to discover their significance in order to make the identification of genera and species, together with other generic characters, more perfect and convenient. Distinct family characters are shield or bridge‐shaped condition of epiphallus; presence or absence of dorso‐lateral appendices, oval sclerites and lophi on epiphallus; divided, undivided or flexured condition of aedeagus; presence or absence of gonopore process on aedeagus; condition of apical and pre‐apical diverticula of spermatheca; presence or absence of glandular pouches of Cornstock and Kellog on female subgenital plate; and rudimentary or well developed condition of egg‐guide. Stable characters for separating the subfamilies are taken to be presence or absence of ancorae on epiphallus, long or short condition of aedeagal sclerites; elongate, slender or short and broad condition of ovipositor valves: presence or absence of Jannone's organs and setae on posterior margin of female subgenital plate; and shape of diverticula of spermatheca. Useful generic characters are shape of male subgenital plate, supra‐anal plate and cerci, broad or narrow condition of bridge, presence or absence of branch of bridge connecting lophi with bridge of epiphallus; mono‐, bi‐ or tri‐lobate condition of lophi of epiphallus, length and upcurved or downcurved condition of apical valve of aedeagus, shape of posterior margin of female subgenital plate, presence of setae on the whole posterior margin or confined to lateral margins only; and toothed, tuberculate or smooth condition of ovipositor valves, length of the lateral apodeme in relation to the dorsal valves. Specific characters are shape of egg‐guide of female subgenital plate, shape of ovipositor valves and apical tips, shape of male supra‐anal plate and cerci, size of anterior and posterior lobes of lophi of epiphallus, size and shape of ancorae, shape of apical valves of aedeagus; and size of apical and pre‐apical diverticula and presence of protuberance on pre‐apical diverticulum.     

Naturally occurring egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in a pomegranate orchard in Tunisia

Four Trichogramma species were found in a pomegranate orchard in Gabès, an arid region of Tunisia, from parasitized eggs of Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), an economically important insect pest. Identification based on assessment of male genitalia and internal transcribed spacer 2 ( ITS 2) sequences showed that they were T. bourarachae Pintureau and Babault, 1988, T. oleae Voegelé and Pointel, 1979, T. cacoeciae Marchal, 1927 and T. evanescens Westwood, 1833. Trichogramma evanescens is reported for the first time in Tunisia. Trichogramma cacoeciae was the largely dominant species in the analyzed samples, whereas T. bourarachae was present in a minor portion of 1.38%. The implications of these results for attempts at controlling E. ceratoniae are discussed.     

Taxonomy and preliminary phylogeny of the parasitic genus Apocephalus, subgenus Mesophora (Diptera: Phoridae)

Abstract. The species of Apocephalus , subgenus Mesophora , are revised and twenty-eight species are recognized, including the following twenty-two new to science: from the Nearctic Region A. brunnipes, A. gemursus, A. pristinus, A. setialvus and A. unitarsus , and from the Neotropical Region A. absentis, A. adustus, A. anfractus, A. angustistylus, A. bisetus, A. brevicercus, A. curtus, A. gracilis, A. hansoni, A. leptotarsus, A. longistylus, A. micrepelis, A. moraviensis, A. prolatus, A. trisetus, A. tritarsus and A. truncaticercus. Additionally, three species known only from female specimens are described but not formally named. A lectotype is designated for A. mortifer Borgmeier, and immature stages of A. borealis, A. antennatus and A. mortifer are described. Unlike larvae of other Apocephalus species, all of which are parasites of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), those of Mesophora species are parasites of various other hosts.     

The male postabdomen and reproductive system of Bibio marci Linnaeus, 1758 (Hexapoda: Diptera: Bibionidae)

The male postabdomen and the internal parts of the male genital system of Bibio marci (Bibionomorpha) were examined and reconstructed 3‐dimensionally. Several features differ from the presumptive dipteran groundplan. The bases of the gonopods are fused with each other and with tergite IX. The penis is not tube‐shaped and only sclerotized on the ventral side. The vasa deferentia are S‐shaped, and two pairs of accessory glands are present. In contrast to these characteristics, the arrangement of the internal parts is probably close to the ancestral condition. With its specific shape, the penis is well suited for the transfer of a spermatophore. The dorsal sclerite of the copulatory organ probably represents the medially fused parameres. A cladistic analysis of 27 characters of the postabdomen yielded two most parsimonious trees, with the strict consensus as follows: Nannochoristidae (outgroup) + (Culicidae [Culicomorpha] + ((Nymphomyiidae + (Tipulidae + Trichoceridae)) + (Tabanidae [Brachycera] + (Bibionidae, Anisopodidae, Axymyiidae [Bibionomorpha])))). Potential synapomorphies of Bibionomorpha (including Axymyiidae) and Brachycera are the fusion of sternum IX with the gonocoxites, the fusion of the parameres forming the dorsal sclerite and the presence of an entire series of postabdominal muscles (M4, M20, M23, M26, M27, M31, M35 and M37). The results of the analysis are preliminary as it is based on a single‐character system with a limited taxon sampling. However, the main result – a clade Bibionomorpha + Brachycera – is fully compatible with current hypotheses on dipteran phylogeny.     

A time-sequence functional analysis of mating behaviour and genital coupling in Drosophila: role of cryptic female choice and male sex-drive in the evolution of male genitalia

Male genitalia in Drosophila exemplify strikingly rapid and divergent evolution, whereas female genitalia are relatively invariable. Whereas precopulatory and post-copulatory sexual selection has been invoked to explain this trend, the functional significance of genital structures during copulation remains obscure. We used time-sequence analysis to study the functional significance of external genitalic structures during the course of copulation, between D. melanogaster and D. simulans. This functional analysis has provided new information that reveals the importance of male-driven copulatory mechanics and strategies in the rapid diversification of genitalia. The posterior process, which is a recently evolved sexual character and present only in males of the melanogaster clade, plays a crucial role in mounting as well as in genital coupling. Whereas there is ample evidence for precopulatory and/or post-copulatory female choice, we show here that during copulation there is little or no physical female choice, consequently, males determine copulation duration. We also found subtle differences in copulatory mechanics between very closely related species. We propose that variation in male usage of novel genitalic structures and shifts in copulatory behaviour have played an important role in the diversification of genitalia in species of the Drosophila subgroup.     

Natural history and description of Aphiura breviceps Schmitz, a scuttle fly (Diptera: Phoridae) whose larvae prey on the eggs of frogs (Anura: Myobatrachidae) in Western Australia

Abstract The eggs of the burrow-nesting frogs Heleioporus albopunctatus Gra y and H. eyrei Gray are predated by the larvae and females of the scuttle fly Aphiura breviceps . The morphology of the female fly and natural history of the species (adult and larva) are described for the first time.     

Three species of the genus Ilyocryptus (Anomopoda, Branchiopoda) occurring in Japan

Three species of Ilyocryptus, Ilyocryptus sp., I. cuneatus Stifter 1988, and I. spinifer Herrick 1882, are newly recorded from the Japanese islands. The first two species were found separately at two sites in Hokkaido and the third at eight sites in Honshu and Kyushu. Their morphological features are briefly described based on parthenogenetic females. Received: May 21, 2001 / Accepted: July 23, 2001     

New records of Megaselia (Diptera: Phoridae) reared from fungus sporophores in Japan,including five new species

Megaselia donaldsonae Disney sp. nov., M. flava (Fallén), M. gotoi Disney, M. kanekoi Disney, M. margaretae Disney sp. nov., M. nakayamai Disney sp. nov., M. salteri Disney sp. nov. and M. stepheni Disney sp. nov. were reared from sporophores of fungi.     

Male differentiation patterns in two polyphenic sister species of the genus Onthophagus Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): a geometric morphometric approach

This paper focuses on morphological (both shape and size ) differences that quite similar polyphenic sister species evolve during divergence processes. Traits were analysed using a geometrical morphometric approach, which has the ability to evidence also very subtle differences in shape. As a case study, we considered males of the dung beetle sister species pair Onthophagus taurus and Onthophagus illyricus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae); these species represent a typical example of polyphenic trait expression concerning the facultative development of horns and considerable body size differences. External shape morphology failed to discriminate O. taurus from O. illyricus , whereas the reproductive system shape showed significant interspecific discrimination power. However, the head of O. taurus was significantly larger than that of O. illyricus and the reverse was true for the elytra. The two species also showed different allometric values of the head with respect to body size. This complex pattern of interspecific morphological divergence is discussed in the light of the differential trait divergence rate hypothesis. In both species, differences between major and minor forms concern the overall shape of head and pronotum: we suggest that such different forms, which likely reflect morphological readjustment to accommodate horns of considerable bulk and disproportionate length, may be nevertheless advantageously used by the two male morphs in their alternative reproductive tactics. Male genitalia sizes were virtually constant with respect to body size; however, the ratio between phallotheca and body size was significantly higher in minor males, in keeping with the hypothesis of a higher investment in genitalia borne by this morph.