Immature stages of Chinavia musiva (Berg, 1878): a unique pattern in the morphology of Chinavia Orian, 1965 (Hemiptera,Pentatomidae)1

Specimens of Chinavia musiva were collected in Parque Estadual do Espinilho (Barra do Quaraí County, RS, Brazil). Insects were reared under controlled conditions (24±1°C; RH 70±10%; 12h L:12h D), and fed on green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Eggs of C. musiva differ from the pattern observed in other species of the genus due to chorion colour and surface, and aero‐micropylar processes, number and shape. Exclusive features of the species in the nymphal stage are head and thorax dull; variegated pattern of abdomen, and openings of the scent glands in conspicuous tubercles. Developmental time was, on average, 52 days; females laid more frequently egg masses with 14 or 42 eggs. Females collected from the field as nymphs exhibited higher reproductive performance than females reared on green beans as nymphs and adults, suggesting that wild hosts could be essential for the species life cycle.     

Microstructures and nanostructures of high Andean Penaincisalia lycaenid butterfly scales (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): descriptions and interpretations

The scales of one high Andean eumaeine lycaenid butterfly species with pale dorsal coloration and four species with vivid dorsal colour were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The micro‐ and nanostructures are illustrated, described, measured, and interpreted. The vivid colours in the species are caused by a pepper‐pot nanostructure of Urania‐type scales. This nanostructure is a three‐dimensional lattice within the body of the individual scale. The scales of the non‐vivid orange species are lacking this nanostructure and the surfaces of their scales show high microstructure irregularities. This absence of vivid colour may be correlated with thermal regulation. The irregularity of the scale microstructures suggests a heavy environmental pressure on the populations sampled. Previously unknown structural variations of Urania‐type scales are also described. The existence of closed scale microcell structures, explained as an apomorphic character in the tribe Eumaeini, most probably evolved independently several times. It is hypothesized that scale micro‐ and nanostructure modifications develop syntopically within a population, which in turn can lead to rapid diversification.     

Identification of Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) (Diptera: Phoridae) in mummified human body from Itacambira (MG), Brazil,using scanning electron microscopy and cuticular hydrocarbons

Insect puparia were found adhered to the ribs and other tissues in the abdominal cavity of a natural male mummy found in Itacambira (State of Minas Gerais, Brazil) dating to the Colonial Period. They were collected for identification by scanning electron microscopy, and for comparison of several morphological features with those described in the literature. The puparia were found open and dorsoventrally flattened, making it difficult to visualize the dorsal projections. The tegument is covered by tapered spines and contains rows of small tubercles on the dorsal and lateral regions of the puparium. The posterior spiracle consists of four parallel openings arranged in pairs. These results are indicative that the specimens belong to the species Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) (Diptera: Phoridae). Additionally, cuticular hydrocarbons of the puparia were analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and compared with the profile of M. scalaris reared in the laboratory.     

Elytro-tergal stridulation in weevils (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionoidea)

Many Curculionidae, Scolytidae and Platypodidae stridulate by rubbing a plectrum on tergite VII against a subapical file on the elytral underside. The file on the right elytron may be smaller than that on the left, or absent; on either elytron it usually comprises a series of parallel ridges. The plectrum generally consists of one or more pair of setiferous tubercles, although other structures are sometimes employed. This stridulatory system (‘type 1’) is found in members of 14 curculionid subfamilies and in Scolytidae. Platypodidae have a similar and probably homologous organ, although the morphology of the file differs somewhat from that found elsewhere and the plectrum is a simple flange. Within Curculionidae three other elytro-tergal stridulatory systems have been found. Firstly, in some Cossoninae and Molytinae, the file is a row of tubercles on tergite VII and the plectrum is a ridge on the elytron (‘type 2’); this is newly reported here. Secondly, females of Ithyporini, some Camptorhinini and some Cryptorhynchini have part of the wing binding patch on tergite VII modified to act as a file, with a plectrum on the elytra (‘type 3’). Thirdly, some Amycterinae have a file of ridges on tergite VII and a plectrum on the elytra (‘type 4’), apparently an autapomorphy of a restricted group of species. In addition, some Curculionidae have a plectrum on the hind femur and a file on the abdominal sternum (some Cryptorhynchinae) or elytron (some Otidocephalinae). Scolytidae have at least three other stridulatory organs: two on the head and one involving the elytra and sternum VIII. Some systematic conclusions are drawn: the clear homology of the type 1 structures in Scolytidae and the majority of the stridulating Curculionidae indicates that the Curculionidae is paraphyletic with respect to the Scolytidae; Scolytidae should therefore be treated as a subfamily of Curculionidae. The structure of the platypodid file and plectrum provide equivocal information and do not aid resolution of the phylogenetic placement of this family. Monophyly of some Ithyporini and Camptorhinini is suggested by the distribution of type 3, but there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate paraphyly of the Cryptorhynchini. The distribution of type 2 does not indicate monophyly of the Cossoninae and Molytinae since the structures in the two are almost certainly homoplastic. All known records of elytro-tergal stridulatory organs in the Scolytidae, Platypodidae and Curculionidae are listed.     

A new type of scent organ in Lepidoptera: a giant thoracic pheromone-disseminating structure in a male incurvarioid moth (Lepidoptera,Adelidae).

Scent organs in male Lepidoptera are sources of pheromones, and have been found in many species belonging to various higher taxa. Here I report the discovery of a unique scent-producing structure in the male of Ceromitia chalcocapna Meyrick (Adelidae). This is the first record of a male scent organ in any family of the Incurvarioidea, a superfamily of the clade Neolepidoptera of the suborder Glossata. At the same time this is the first case of a highly specialized male scent organ to be found on the modified posterior part of the thorax in Lepidoptera. Club-like scent scales, densely packed on the two enlarged, hemispherical surfaces of the metepimeron, metameron and metacoxa, are incorporated within a scent-disseminating apparatus which also comprises modified abdominal segments and the thoraco-abdominal articulation.     

Aylax hypecoi Trotter (Hymenoptera,Cynipidae) in Europe: Redescription,with taxonomic and biological notes

Aylax hypecoi (Trotter) (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Aylacini), a poorly known cynipid wasp inducing galls on Hypecoum species (Papaveraceae), was described from North Africa and also doubtfully recorded from Greece about a century ago. The species has now been found in Bulgaria and thus its presence in Europe is confirmed for the first time. The species is redescribed and illustrated with SEM pictures of the adult female; galls are also described and illustrated. Data on distribution and biology are given, and its taxonomic and phylogenetic position are discussed. Aylax spirorhynchusii Diakontshuk, , another aylacine species, recorded from Transcaucasus and Middle Asia as a gall‐inducer on Spirorhynchus sabulosus Kar. and Kir. (Brassicaceae) is a synonym of Aylax hypecoi and the host plant record stated is a possible misidentification.     

A note on the food of Callibaetis (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae)

Callibaetis nymphs in Rattlesnake Springs, Hanford Reservation, Washington, feed almost exclusively on fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) collected from the stream bottom.     

Secondary sexual characters in Celaenorrhinus and the delimitation of the genus (Lepidoptera,Hesperiidae)

Summary

Scent producing organs involving parts of the thorax as well as of the abdomen in males of Calaenorrhinus and some related genera are described. The unique character of abdominal pouches with scent hairs is applied to delimit the genus Celaenorrhinus Hübner, 1819, the only pantropical genus of the Hesperiidae. As a consequence, the genera Orneates Godman and Salvin, 1894, and Charmion de Nicéville, 1894, are placed in synonymy. Two species without secondary sexual characters are also considered to belong to Celaenorrhinus, viz., Plesioneura aurivittata Moore, 1865, and Plesioneura jao Mabille, 1889, the latter being placed in Celaenorrhinus for the first time. The evolution of the described scent organs is discussed in relation to their geographic distribution.     

The atyid shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) rostrum: phylogeny versus adaptation,taxonomy versus trophic ecology

Cave shrimps of the subgenus Troglocaris (Atyidae), exhibit high variability in rostral length and dentition. In shrimp populations that co-occur with the amphibian predator Proteus anguinus, longer rostra armed with more numerous teeth are recorded. These shrimps are also larger than those living in a presumably Proteus-free environment. Discrepancies between molecularly established phylogenetic relationships and distributions of rostral length, as well as body size, directed our search towards possible environmental influences. These discrepancies suggest that rostral shape is not a reliable taxonomic character in some generic and many specific diagnoses in Atyidae. We discuss some taxonomic consequences of sexual and ontogenetic rostral differences with regard to the molecular phylogenetic tree. In preliminary laboratory observations, no frontal attack by Proteus was successful on shrimps with long rostra. Proteus also needed more time to swallow shrimps with long rostra.     

Electrophoresis of isoenzymes of 16 western shrubs: technique development

Wildland shrubs have gained considerable attention in recent years due to increasing recognition of their values as animal feed, as wildlife habitat, and for land reclamation. Better management of the shrub resource will be possible through clearer taxonomic identification and better understanding of phylogenetic relationships. This study applied polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and further developed this technique to address genetic relationships among 16 paired shrub species (genera: Artemisia, Chrysothamnus, Atriplex, Ceratoides, Sarcobatus, Purshia, Cowania, and Cercocarpus [Compositae, Chenopodiaceae, Rosaceae]). Cluster analysis of similarity values for total protein and 14 isoenzyme systems gave patterns of species relationships expected from classical morphological grounds with two minor exceptions. Isoenzyme analyses showed promise for solving taxonomic, phylogenetic, and population genetics problems.     

Environmental control versus phylogenic fingerprint in ontogeny: The example of the development of the stalk in the genus Guillecrinus (stalked crinoids,Echinodermata)

The stalk morphology of the deep‐sea stalked crinoid Guillecrinus changes a lot from juvenile to adult. As a result of its unusual morphology among the extant crinoids, its taxonomic and phylogenetic affinities remain unsettled. Distinctive morphological changes characterize the various growth stages in stalked crinoids. We conduct and discuss a detailed ontogenetic analysis of the stalk of the two species (Guillecrinus neocaledonicus and G. reunionensis) of this Indo‐Pacific genus, which was observed in its environment during submersible dives off New Caledonia. Analyses examined (1) morphological changes, (2) the degree of change in morphology, (3) architectural constraints, and (4) the functional constraints related to environmental factors. The relations between three levels of integration were examined: the ossicle (columnal), the stalk, and the complete individual. The changes in level of organization were estimated. The analysis reveals that the external stalk morphology of Guillecrinus goes from a pronounced xenomorphic type in juveniles, characterized by diversified columnal articulations, which provide the proximal and distal part of the stalk with a considerable degree of flexibility, to a dominant homeomorphic type in adults, characterized by columnal articulations which allow little or no movement. This ontogenetic change through a mosaic of heterochronic developments corresponds with a change in the hydrodynamic environment, from a turbulent to a laminar water flow, and from nutritional contraints. The extensive development of deep ligament fossae in adults and in the distal stalk of juveniles corresponds to a relatively low allocation of energy to the skeleton, rather than a functional necessity. Proximal columnals in juvenile Guillecrinus display characteristics of adult Hyocrinidae. Distal columnals exhibit the typical morphology observed in Bourgueticrinina. Juveniles stages of both proximal and distal columnals show a high degree of specialization (derived characters). Well‐supported classifications have typically placed the Bourgueticrinina and the Hyocrinidae in two very dissimilar groups. Specific characteristics from the three very different families Bathycrinidae, Guillecrinidae and Hyocrinidae appear to be expressed either separately (Hyocrinus or Bathycrinus) or together (Guillecrinus). Their expression appears to depend on functional and environmental constraints. The transformation of columnals from juvenile to adult shows the important role of hypermorphic processes. However, no evidence of phylogenetic recapitulation was observed. Does the evidence presented here support or disprove current taxonomic interrelationships? How does morphology relate to ontogeny? Is heterochrony involved?     

The larval development of the spider crab Rochinia gracilipes (Crustacea: Majoidea: Epialtidae: Pisinae) reared in the laboratory

The larval development of the spider crab Rochinia gracilipes Milne-Edwards, 1875 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Epialtidae: Pisinae) is described and illustrated from laboratory-reared larvae. Development consisted of two zoeal stages and one megalopa, following the typical pattern in Majoidea. Zoea I of R. gracilipes, R. debilis and R. carpenteri differed in lengths of the rostral spine of the carapace, in the number of setae and aesthetascs of several head appendages (exopods of antennules, endopods of maxillules, and endopods and scaphognathites of maxillae) and in the length of posterolateral processes of abdominal somites; lateral carapace spines were present only in R. carpenteri and pleopod buds only in R. debilis. Megalopae of Rochinia gracilipes and R. carpenteri differed in several notable characters: a dorsal spine and long rostrum of the carapace, as well as spines in coxa and ischium of pereiopods, appeared only in R. carpenteri, and podobranchiae of the 3rd maxilliped appeared only in R. gracilipes; they also differed in setation of abdomen and pleopods. The comparison of the available information on Pisinae larval development suggested that larval morphology would not help to accurately understand the phylogenetic relationships of this subfamily of spider crabs.     

Caruncle in Megalomma Johansson, 1925 (Polychaeta: Sabellidae) and the description of a new species from the Eastern Tropical Pacific

The presence of a caruncle in the polychaete family Sabellidae is documented. It is placed dorsally above the mouth, between the dorsal lips, supported with hyaline cartilage constituted by a homogeneous eosinophilic matrix and it is innervated directly from the cerebral ganglion. The caruncle surface has four longitudinal ciliated bands; the cilia from the lateral bands are hypertrophied, wider distally, tongue‐like, forming a ciliated curtain or membranella. The genus Megalomma is emended based on the presence of a caruncle, a long dorsalmost radiolar pair, a high number of radiolar skeletal cells, and the presence of interramal eyespots. We describe a new species from Acapulco in the Tropical Eastern Pacific –Megalomma carunculata sp. nov. It has a caruncle, subtriangular ventral lappets, well developed dorsal pockets, compound eyes in all radioles, and interramal eyespots in the thoracic and abdominal segments.     

On neotropical Temnocephala (Platyhelminthes)

Fourteen of the 19 recorded species of neotropical Temnocephala are re-examined for new taxonomic characters and all records are tabulated. Autapomorphies found are eyespots with red, fugacious pigment, a characteristic pattern of syncytial epidermal plates and excretory pores enclosed within the boundaries of the paired post tentacular (‘excretory’) plates. The worms are rather homogeneous with regard to the genital structures (although T. brenesi has only one pair of testes) and appear to hold their tentacles in a consistent pattern. This suite of species is homogeneous, differing from worms from Australia currently assigned to the genus. Since the type of the taxon Temnocephalida, Temnocephala chilensis (Moquin-Tandon, 1846), has the suite of characters shown here, a new genus (Temnosewellia gen. nov.) is proposed to accommodate Australian representatives formerly in Temnocephala.     

Ciplakastacus gen. nov., a primitive genus of Leptastacidae (Copepoda,Harpacticoida) from the Mediterranean coast of Turkey

Both sexes of Ciplakastacus mersinensis gen. et sp. nov. (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Leptastacidae) are described in detail based on intertidal material collected from the Mediterranean coast of Turkey (Mersin Province). Plesiomorphic character states displayed by the antenna and P1–P2 indicate Ciplakastacus diverged before the crown group Leptastacidae diversified. The new genus is placed in a basal clade (currently encompassing Archileptastacus and Meloriastacus) defined by eight synapomorphies: (1) caudal ramus with strongly developed seta I flanked by two elongate spinules; (2) caudal ramus with posteriorly directed spinous outgrowth of outer distal corner; (3) caudal ramus seta III vestigial; (4) P5 exopod and baseoendopod forming single plate in both sexes; (5) P2–P4 exp‐3 with one outer spine; (6) dorsal posterior margin of anal somite bilaterally serrate; (7) rostrum triangular or bell‐shaped, and (8) sexually dimorphic ornamentation on the anal somite. Within this clade Ciplakastacus appears most closely related to Meloriastacus on account of the shared presence of the extremely elongate second antennulary segment, an allobasis on the antenna, the strongly reduced accessory seta on the maxillipedal endopod, the subcylindrical sternal process between the maxillipeds and P1, and paired laterodorsal, posteriorly directed, serrate extensions on the anal somite. Both genera can be distinguished from each other by P5 morphology (both sexes), armature of P4 enp‐2 and abdominal hyaline frill structure. The phylogenetic relationships between the basal taxa of the Leptastacidae are briefly outlined.     

The effect of the environment and copulatory movements on the taxonomic characters of three species of Ecdyonurus (Ephemeroptera)

The majority of characters used to separate the nymphs of Ecdyonurus dispar, venosus and torrentis are related to the relative proportions of parts of the body. Extensive measurements suggest that at least certain of these characters are the consequence of heterogonic growth and are not of taxonomic significance. The characters of importance in the taxonomy of the imagines appear to be related either to the effect of the environment during nymphal development on the subsequent pigmentation, limb and body size of the adult, or to the changing spatial relationships between the sclerites of the genitalia during copulatory movements, relationships which are retained when the imago is killed.