Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4030011

Authors: Wilson R. Lourenço Lucienne Wilmé

Madagascar remains one of the major hotspots of diversity and endemism in the world. Its scorpion fauna provides a striking example, with more than one hundred known species, all endemic, within a territory of only 587,000 km2. These species are associated with entirely endemic genera and, to a large extent, endemic familial lineages. While some groups are diverse and locally abundant, others are inconspicuous and occur at very low densities, as is the case for the genus Neogrosphus Lourenço, 1995. In this contribution, the distribution patterns of Neogrosphus are reassessed in light of new material and a revised eco-biogeographical framework. Until recently, this genus comprised three species: Neogrosphus griveaudi (Vachon, 1969), restricted to the dry forest formations in the southern and western portions of Madagascar; Neogrosphus blanci Lourenço, 1996, known from the central region; and Neogrosphus andrafiabe Lourenço, Wilmé & Waeber, 2015, endemic to northern dry formations. A fourth species is described here from mesic forest formations in Andohahela National Park. The current distribution of the genus is shown to be highly fragmented across a broad environmental gradient ranging from subarid to more humid conditions. This pattern is interpreted as the result of historical fragmentation processes linked to limited dispersal capacity and long-term landscape evolution. On this basis, the general framework previously proposed to explain species diversity and vicariance in Malagasy scorpions is revisited and refined.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4030010

Authors: Sabrina María Luisa Lavarías Leda Etcheverry Naomi Carolina Yacelga Villavicencio Lidwina Bertrand

The freshwater crustaceans Macrobrachium borellii and Palaemon argentinus are key components of benthic communities and are widely distributed throughout South American freshwater ecosystems. As native species, they inhabit environments frequently impacted by pollutants from agricultural activity. Due to their marked sensitivity to these chemical stressors, both species have been proposed as valuable bioindicators for monitoring freshwater pollution. The aim of this study was to synthesize available information regarding the effects of several pesticide classes on standard ecotoxicological endpoints. Specifically, the review examines lethal concentration values (e.g., LC50) and sublethal effects including metabolic disorders, histopathological alterations, and behavioral changes used as biomarkers. These biological responses were evaluated across different life stages, including embryos, larvae, and adults. Reports to date show that both species are highly sensitive to pesticides with different mechanisms of toxicity. Such biological responses are significantly influenced by concentration, exposure time, and developmental stage. The information collected on the biological and ecological characteristics of M. borellii and P. argentinus supports their suitability for ecotoxicological research and underscores their role as reliable indicator organisms for assessing the health of South American aquatic ecosystems.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4020009

Authors: Carlos A. Torres-Muñoz André F. A. Lira Edmundo González-Santillán

In this contribution, we describe a new species from the Estación de Biología Chamela (IBUNAM), located in Jalisco, Mexico. Mastigoproctus claritae sp. nov. has a stridulatory organ like M. mexicanus and M. xetame. However, it is distinguished from these species by the presence of a proventral marginal smooth keel in the chelicerae, a retrolateral surface pedipalp femur with congregated and blunt cristulae, a prodorsal margin spine S3 that is longer than the other spines in males, and symmetric, peanut-shaped spermatheca seminal receptacles in females. Mastigoproctus claritae sp. nov. represents the twenty-third species of the genus and the twelfth species documented in Mexico.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4020008

Authors: Søren Toft Marie Rosenkjær Skalshøi Line Brun-Witt Laurids Christoffersen Gautier

Balancing of macronutrient intake assumes that animals change their food preferences to increase consumption of the deficient nutrients and/or decrease consumption of nutrients in excess. Harvestmen are generalist predators that consume mostly soft-bodied insects, but they supplement this with plant-derived food such as berries (omnivory). In spite of this, they are often carbohydrate-limited in their natural habitats. As aphids have higher sugar content than most other insect prey, they are a potential source of sugar. We hypothesized that sugar-deficient harvestmen have increased preference for aphids relative to other insect prey (fruit flies) and consume more aphids than sugar-satiated harvestmen. Likewise, we hypothesized that protein-deficient harvestmen would show increased consumption of aphids relative to a pure sugar source (dried grape pulp). The former hypothesis was confirmed but the latter was not. Carbohydrate-deprived harvestmen (Leiobunum gracile) consumed 1.9 times more aphids than nutritionally balanced ones (p = 0.0004). Consumption of dried grape was increased in carbohydrate-deficient harvestmen, while protein deficiency did not increase consumption of aphids. These results indicate that aphids may be used as a carbohydrate source if no better alternative is available, but they are unable to relieve a deficiency in protein. We suggest that carbohydrate deprivation in predators may enhance aphid control.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4020007

Authors: Susan M. Dippenaar

Kroyeria species (Siphonostomatoida: Kroyeriidae) are currently represented by 20 valid species. One of these is K. minuta described from the milk shark off India. However, the original description has some uncertainties and atypical features and therefore a re-description is needed. Kroyeria species were collected from milk sharks off South Africa, and amongst these were some specimens of K. minuta as well as a new species of Kroyeria. This work therefore combines a re-description of K. minuta as well as a description of K. confusa n. sp. from the milk shark off South Africa. The most distinguishing feature of K. minuta is the structure of the legs, especially that of leg 2 in the female. The new species shares characteristics with K. rhophemophaga and K. triakos but differs mainly with respect to the morphology of the legs. Thus, the number of valid Kroyeria species is now 21, and the number of reported Kroyeria species from South African waters increases to 13 with the addition of K. confusa n. sp. and the newly reported K. minuta.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4020006

Authors: Mriya López-Galicia Roberto Cruz-Flores Laurence Mercier Eduardo Quiroz-Guzmán Jorge Cáceres-Martínez

Environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a promising, non-invasive approach for monitoring infectious agents in aquaculture. While molecular techniques for detecting shrimp pathogens are well established in host tissues, there is a lack of standardized protocols for pathogen detection from environmental samples using conventional PCR. In this study, we developed and validated a universal conventional PCR protocol for monitoring DNA from major viral and bacterial shrimp pathogens within pond water and sediment samples. The method was applied to two commercial shrimp farms in Mexico, where eDNA was extracted from field-collected water and sediment. Using published primer sets, we successfully amplified DNA sequences corresponding to six key pathogens—Infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV), Baculovirus penaei (BP), Monodon baculovirus (MBV), Shrimp hemocyte iridescent virus (SHIV), Candidatus Hepatobacter penaei (NHP-B), and Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND)-causing Vibrio spp.—in environmental samples. Sequencing of PCR amplicons confirmed 93–100% identity to previously reported pathogen strains, highlighting the method’s reliability. Pathogen detection rates varied by site, sample type, and date, with the percentage of positive samples ranging from 11.1% to 77.7%. Notably, this is the first report of SHIV DNA detection from environmental samples in the Americas, highlighting its value for pathogen surveillance even in the absence of documented outbreaks. This protocol offers a cost-effective and scalable tool for pathogen surveillance in shrimp aquaculture, enhancing early disease detection and contributing to improved biosecurity and risk assessment frameworks.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4020005

Authors: Nadine Dupérré Elicio Tapia

Five new species of Schizomida are described from the Ecuadorian Andes and the Amazonian ecoregion in three different genera: in Colombiazomus, Colombiazomus karsticus n. sp. (female); in Hansenochrus, Hansenochrus maicun. sp. (male) and Hansenochrus pastaza n. sp. (female); and in Surazomus, Surazomus colonso, n. sp. (male, female) and Surazomus yasunin. sp. (male, female). A distribution map of all newly described species is presented.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4010004

Authors: Azreen Syazana Nazaruddin Marwa Said El-Desoky Yoji Igarashi Kazutoshi Yoshitake Makoto Kakinuma Naoaki Tsutsui

In penaeids, the major yolk protein precursor vitellogenin is synthesized in both the hepatopancreas and the ovary. While ovarian vitellogenin expression is clearly regulated by hormones from the X-organ/sinus gland in the eyestalk, regulation in the hepatopancreas remains poorly understood. Here, we performed transcriptome profiling stratified by endogenous hepatopancreatic vitellogenin gene (Maj-Vg1) expression levels in immature kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus. Pathway enrichment analysis identified the insulin, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), glucagon, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways as candidate modules associated with the control of hepatopancreatic Maj-Vg1 expression. Analysis of differentially expressed genes identified slit-like (Slit) and calreticulin (Calr) as genes potentially involved in the regulation of Maj-Vg1 expression. In ex vivo hepatopancreas explants, insulin-like peptide 1 from this species induced Maj-Vg1 and was accompanied by the upregulation of lipogenic markers (Max-like protein X (Mlx) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc)), consistent with vitellogenin’s lipid-transport role. Expression patterns of Calr, tuberous sclerosis complex 1 and 2 (Tsc1 and Tsc2) suggest regulatory inputs beyond insulin signaling, indicating context-dependent regulation. Taken together, these data identify metabolic status as an important contributor to hepatopancreatic Maj-Vg1 expression and define further research targets, including mTOR, AMPK, glucagon, and the Slit/Roundabout axis, for understanding vitellogenesis in penaeids.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4010003

Authors: Marielle M. Berto Raphael de Campos Castilho Aline D. Tassi Avyla Regia de Albuquerque Barros Daniel Carrillo

A new species of Proctolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Melicharidae), Proctolaelaps ambrosiae sp. nov., is described from south Florida, USA, based on adult females found in phoretic association with ambrosia beetles infesting avocado (Persea americana) trees. Mites were removed from adults of Xyleborinus saxesenii and Xyleborus affinis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) captured in flight and were also collected from beetle galleries in infested avocado wood. The new species is diagnosed based on a combination of morphological characters and molecular markers (nuclear 28S rRNA and ITS, and mitochondrial COI), supporting its distinctiveness from related taxa. This study represents the first formal description of a Proctolaelaps species documented in phoretic association with xyleborine ambrosia beetles and their galleries, contributing to the knowledge of melicharid diversity in woody microhabitats and providing baseline data for future ecological and applied studies of ambrosia beetle systems in avocado.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4010002

Authors: Elizabeth C. Lowe Luis Mata Michael Santhanam-Martin Leo McGrane Jessica C. Lye Paul A. Umina

Insecticide resistance is a growing threat to global food security, with several major pests in Australian broad-acre systems already showing high resistance levels. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can reduce insecticide reliance and slow resistance evolution, yet adoption remains low. Using the redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor, RLEM) as a case study, we examined how knowledge gaps and risk attitudes influence insecticide use and broader pest management. An online survey of grain growers and advisors in RLEM-affected regions revealed that, despite widespread resistance to synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates, and most respondents identifying with an IPM mindset, these insecticides remain frequently used. Advisors demonstrated greater overall knowledge than growers, but substantial gaps persisted across both groups, including awareness of field resistance and familiarity with national resistance management guidelines. Risk aversion showed a stronger and more consistent influence on management decisions than knowledge, shaping both growers’ and advisors’ recommendations. These findings highlight demographic and attitudinal factors that can undermine resistance management. While centred on RLEM, the behavioural drivers identified here likely influence pest control decisions across a range of pest species and farming systems.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda4010001

Authors: Suzzet Cadenas-Amaya Francisco Riquelme Miguel Hernández-Patricio Fabio Cupul-Magaña

We present a revised catalog of the Chilopoda fossil record based on descriptions and reports published from 1854 to the present. Our compilation reveals 74 fossil occurrences encompassing five orders, 13 families, 26 genera, and 35 species. The fossil record is distributed across three geological eras: the Paleozoic (11 records), the Mesozoic (17 records), and the Cenozoic (46 records). This study provides insights into the diversity and distribution of centipedes across geological time.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3040017

Authors: Jéhan Le Cadre Diying Huang Patrick Müller Carolin Haug Joachim T. Haug

Pincushion millipedes or bristly millipedes (Polyxenida) are common and widespread around the world, yet we still lack a proper understanding of the life of these elusive animals. This limit is even more expressed when looking at their extinct counterparts. Luckily, such fossils are usually preserved in amber, which has the potential to preserve unusual details. We investigated 44 new and 6 previously published fossils of Polyxenida, starting from the Cretaceous period (~100 mya) through the Eocene (~35 mya) and Oligocene/Miocene (~23 mya) to the present. As suggested by previous research, fossil bristly millipedes in the Cretaceous period shared the same lifestyle as their extant counterparts, including aggregation behaviour of both immatures and adults. In addition, we report newly observed behaviours for the fossils such as defecation, cohabitation between representatives of Polyxenidae and Synxenidae, and the possible role of frass and exuviae as defence. Altogether these findings improve our knowledge on the intricate life of bristly millipedes, revealing not only glimpses into their past but also clues and cues on their modern-day counterparts. Bristly millipedes are not just “simple” bark-dwellers; their communities and behaviours visibly testify to a rather complex lifestyle, which remained largely unchanged for 100 million years.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3040016

Authors: Lucas Henrique da Silva e Silva Fábio Silva da Silva Daniel Damous Dias Sâmia Luzia Sena da Silva Lucia Aline Moura Reis Hanna Carolina Farias Reis Bruna Laís Sena do Nascimento Joaquim Pinto Nunes Neto

Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of reported infectious diseases worldwide and are associated with approximately 700,000 deaths annually. The main vectors include mosquitoes, moths, sand flies, black flies, and ticks. Ticks deserve special attention because they transmit a wide range of pathogens, including viruses of major medical importance, such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis) and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (Orthonairovirus haemorrhagiae), as well as animal-borne pathogens, such as African swine fever virus (Asfivirus haemorrhagiae). Recent advances in next-generation sequencing have expanded the ability to detect and characterize tick-borne viruses, revealing increasing viral diversity. However, for many of these viruses, aspects such as pathogenic potential, main vectors, and natural hosts remain unclear. To address this gap, we conducted an integrative literature review using the PubMed, SciELO, BVSalud, and Patuá-IEC databases. We analyzed 336 articles addressing various species of tick-borne viruses. The Flaviviridae, Phenuiviridae, and Nairoviridae families were the most frequently identified among the viral agents detected. Furthermore, we identified that as-yet-unclassified viruses have been frequently detected in different tick species, which sparks significant interest in investigating their potential interactions and public health implications. Investigating viral agents in tick populations is crucial for understanding viral diversity and assessing potential public health risks, especially in the current context of climate change.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3040015

Authors: Matt Edwards Charlie Ellis Frederico Batista

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) is a non-native species to Europe, but is imported as live seafood and has been identified in European waters. These introductions threaten native populations of the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) via disease introduction, competition, direct predation, and genetic introgression. Differentiating the two species and their hybrids based solely on morphological criteria can be difficult and unreliable. This study presents a real-time PCR assay targeting the cytochrome c oxidase gene 1 (cox1) for rapid detection and identification of H. americanus and H. gammarus. We have also designed a conventional duplex PCR from a previously described nuclear marker (Hgam98), which was sequenced and revealed the presence of a specific H. americanus insert downstream from a variable number tandem repeat region. The combination of these assays resulted in the accurate identification of the two lobster species and F1 hybrid specimens.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3040014

Authors: Mariana Lizbeth Jiménez-Martínez Patricio Adrián Zapata-Morin María de Lourdes Ramírez-Ahuja Manuel de Luna Ivan Meneses-Morales Gerardo de Jesús Trujillo-Rodríguez Estela Ruiz-Baca Laura Elia Martínez-Garza Cesaré Moises Ovando-Vazquez Carlos Solis-Rojas Antonio Guzman-Velasco Margarita L. Martinez-Fierro Ivan Delgado-Enciso Adriana E. Flores-Suarez Angelica Lopez-Rodriguez Iram P. Rodríguez-Sánchez

Scorpions are characterized by their venomous adaptations, including specialized stingers, and their ecological diversity. Some families, such as Buthidae, have medically significant species and their venoms possess a diverse array of chemicals. In Mexico, Centruroides suffusus and Centruroides vittatus coexist, with C. suffusus considered medically important due to its highly toxic venom. This study describes the metabolomic and microbiomic profiles of C. suffusus and C. vittatus. The metabolomic profiling (12 amino acids and 28 acylcarnitines) reveals significant differences between the two species, hinting at metabolic and ecological variations. Ornithine (ORN) and arginine (ARG) were the most abundant in C. vittatus, while tyrosine (TYR) was the most abundant amino acid molecule in C. suffusus. The microbiome analysis (by Next-Generation Sequencing of the 16S ribosomal gene) indicates similarities in gut bacteria composition between the two species (Phyla: Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Tenericutes).

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3030013

Authors: Juan Romero-Rincon Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira

A new troglobitic species of Dalodesmidae, Pleonaraius spelaeus n. sp., is described from Rolo Vergara Cave, Neuquén Province, Argentina. This species represents the fourth known troglobitic member of the family, the first troglobitic species of Dalodesmidae recorded in South America, and the first known troglobitic millipede from Argentina. Pleonaraius spelaeus n. sp. is distinguished from its congeners by the absence of cuticular pigmentation and a unique combination of gonopodal characters. Ecological notes, a key, and a distribution map of Pleonaraius species are also provided.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3030012

Authors: Douglas D. Gaffin Sofía E. Gálvez Falcón Mariëlle H. Hoefnagels

Scorpions possess unique, ornate mid-ventral sensory organs called pectines. The pectines are used to process chemo- and mechanosensory information acquired from the ground as the animal walks, and they are implicated in a variety of behaviors including navigation and detection of mates and prey. Many previous researchers have investigated pecten function by cutting the organs from the animals (full ablation) and comparing their behaviors with those of intact scorpions. This drastic approach is likely to not only cause enormous stress to the ablated animals but also change their behavior. Here, we have developed a method for gently and reversibly impairing the pectines by partially covering them to prevent them from lowering to the ground. Specifically, we fabricated small rectangles of a commercially available lightly adhesive foil tape that we placed across the pectines and secured to the body wall with a thin strip of a more strongly adhesive lab tape. Using a repeated measures design, we monitored the animals’ locomotory activity overnight in small behavioral arenas under three conditions: unmodified (intact) control, pectines restrained, and sham control. We found that scorpions with their pectines restrained had a significant increase in both the distance and duration of movement when compared to unmodified and sham control animals. Our method allows for temporary, reversible compromise of pecten function and should be useful in fully understanding the role of pectines in behavior.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3030011

Authors: Andrew K. Davis Andre Leo Kade Stewart Caitlin Phelan Alexa Schultz

Spiders and other arthropods can sometimes consume others of their kind, and this is most often associated with mating activity, whereby females cannibalize males during or after mating, or during mating attempts. Nonsexual cannibalism is less common but may be associated with food availability or territorial aggression. In the Southeastern United States, a non-native orb-weaving spider, Trichonephila clavata (the “jorō spider”), is expanding its range. Prior lab experiments indicated this species to be “shy” compared to other native spiders, based on behavioral reactions to stimuli. Here, we report descriptive observations and photo-documentation of nonsexual cannibalism by this species, including from anecdotal observations, plus findings from controlled pairings of spiders, both in the lab and in natural webs in the field. In the cases where cannibalism was witnessed, it involved one female biting and killing another, typically after a short fight. When two females of a similar size were placed together in a container (n = 25 trials), fights ensued 40% of the time. When females of different sizes were paired (n = 27 trials), fights happened 18% of the time, and the larger females were not always the aggressor. Across all the lab trials (n = 52), six bouts (9%) led to the direct killing of one female. In field trials where two females were placed on an empty web (n = 14 trials), we observed one fight (7%) where the aggressor ended up killing and wrapping the other spider in silk. Given that some of these instances happened away from any web, these observations imply that the aggression is not necessarily an act of territoriality. The intraspecific aggression could arise when females are provoked or stressed, which deserves more study.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3020010

Authors: Christian Lukhaup Rury Eprilurahman Thomas von Rintelen

Seven new species of the genus Cherax from the western region of Western New Guinea, Indonesia, are described and illustrated. All new species—Cherax veritas n. sp. from the southeastern part of Misool Island of Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua; Cherax arguni n. sp. and Cherax kaimana n. sp. from the northern part of Kaimana Regency, West Papua; Cherax nigli n. sp. from the southeastern part of Kaimana Regency, West Papua; Cherax bomberai n. sp. from the northeastern part of the Fakfak Regency, West Papua; Cherax farhadii n. sp. and Cherax doberai n. sp. from the Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua—belong to the northern group of Cherax. The new species are compared with their closest relatives, from which they can all be easily distinguished by morphological characters, such as the shape of the chelae, rostrum, body, and by their coloration. A molecular phylogeny based on a mitochondrial gene fragment, 16S, supports the morphology-based description of the seven new species, which can also be clearly distinguished by sequence differences.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3020009

Authors: Vicente Homero González-Álvarez Elena Prudente-Peláez Luis Ángel Díaz-Vargas Marco Antonio Ayala-Monter Gabriela Alvarado-Rodríguez Carmen Guzmán-Cornejo

The nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is one of only two species of armadillo found in Mexico. Among the ectoparasites reported on this mammal are ticks of the genus Amblyomma. Between December 2022 and April 2024, 52 ticks of different developmental stages (females, males, and nymphs) were collected from five D. novemcinctus. All ticks were morphologically identified as A. auricularium. This study reports for the first time the presence of this tick species in the Municipality of Santiago Llano Grande, Oaxaca.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3020008

Authors: Paulo H. Corgosinho Terue C. Kihara Amilcar Farias Nikolaos Schizas Elizabeth Neves Rodrigo Johnsson

A new genus of Ectinosomatidae is recorded in association with an Ascidia from a permanent submerged coral community in Barra Beach, Salvador City, Bahia State (Brazil). The new taxon belongs to a smaller group of genera in the family Ectinosomatidae based on the geniculate maxilla and the prehensile first swimming leg. This group is composed of Bradiellopsis, Chaulionyx, Halophytophilus, and Sigmatidium. The new genus differs from the others due to distinct aspects of the mandible gnathobasis, which features sharp processes on the pars incisiva and pars molaris followed by a short spinulated area and a serrulated seta; the presence of a two-segmented endopod of the first swimming leg, with the first endopodal segment longer than all exopodites combined; and a short, quadratic second endopodal segment with two strong curved claws. In addition, it differs from other genera due to the distinct armature of the first to fourth swimming legs and the presence of fused exopod and baseoendopod on the fifth swimming leg. Cruscollatus gen.nov. lives specifically within the digestive tract of Eudistoma vannamei Millar, 1977, an Ascidia species endemic to northeastern Brazil. This study reports the first documented association between a harpacticoid copepod of the family Ectinosomatidae (order Harpacticoida) and ascidian hosts (Ascidia).

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3020007

Authors: Rebeca Esther Da Justa Ximenes Matheus Leonydas Borba Feitosa Nancy Lo-Man-Hung Hugo Rodrigo Barbosa-da-Silva André Otávio Silva-Junior Alysson Henrique Alcântara Lins Geraldo Jorge Barbosa de Moura André Felipe de Araújo Lira

Although it has its advantages for the development of urban areas, road construction is among the greatest threats to biodiversity, due to fragmentation, habitat loss, and changes in landscape structure. This study investigated the effects of different traffic intensities on the understory spider assemblage in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Understory spiders were collected between 09:00 h–16:00 h using beating tray samples on roadside vegetation on roads with and without traffic. In total, 1616 spiders belonging to 24 families and 317 morphospecies were collected. The families Araneidae and Theridiidae were more abundant and showed a higher number of morphospecies on both roads. Understory spiders were classified into seven guilds. However, no significant differences were found in functional and taxonomic richness and abundance between the roads. These results indicate that understory spider assemblages showed no significant response to traffic intensity, suggesting potential resilience to this disturbance in the studied context. Additionally, the proximity between locations may result in the founder effect, with spiders migrating from the preserved site to the impacted site. Overall, this study indicates that traffic presence does not significantly impact the diversity and composition of understory spider assemblages in the studied region.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3020006

Authors: Leonardo Sousa Carvalho Maria Idalete Lopes Silva Priscila Emanuela de Souza Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira

The genus Troglorhopalurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is endemic to northeastern Brazil and comprises cave-dwelling species with limited distributions. Based on newly collected specimens, this study provides a description of a new cave-dwelling Troglorhopalurus species and the first detailed description of the male hemispermatophore of the genus. Troglorhopalurus iuiu n. sp. is diagnosed based on morphometric characters, distinct carapace granulation, and differences in the pedipalps and metasomal carinae and peg sensillae shape. The hemispermatophore of Troglorhopalurus is like other Centruroidinae species, with internal, external, and basal lobes. Additionally, we discuss the distribution and conservation status of Troglorhopalurus species. Troglorhopalurus lacrau distribution range is extended based on additional epigean and hypogean records. This species may be reassessed from data deficient to least concern. Based on the limited localities and declining habitat quality, we propose that T. iuiu n. sp. be considered endangered. This research underscores the importance of further sampling to explore species-specific variations and promote conservation efforts for these ecologically specialized scorpions.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3010005

Authors: Lucas Rezende Penido Paschoal Caio Santos Nogueira Fernando José Zara

Here, we confirm the presence of two species of caridean shrimps for the first time in Brazil: Latreutes parvulus and Ambidexter cochensis. During active samplings conducted in December 2023, April 2024 and September 2024 on the rocky shore of Prainha da USP (Ubatuba municipality, São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil), we captured five ovigerous females of L. parvulus and fifteen individuals of A. cochensis (five males, three non-ovigerous females and seven ovigerous females). All the females of L. parvulus exhibited eyestalks with small, truncated processes separating the cornea from the stalk, a unique feature of this species. On the other hand, all specimens of A. cochensis exhibited a unique combination of characteristics: a rostrum with an apex bifid, a stylocerite bearing a lateral spinule and a transverse row of setae between the anterior pair of spines, and three longitudinal rows of setae on the telson. Also, males of A. cochensis had the tip of their appendix masculina armed with four simple apical setae and another two setae positioned below them. All analyzed shrimps had fully developed gametes in their reproductive systems, indicating breeding populations in this area. This is the first record of L. parvulus on the Atlantic coast of South America and a new meridional distribution limit for A. cochensis.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3010004

Authors: Thaís Arrais Mota Sammy De Grave Fabrício Lopes Carvalho

The palaemonid shrimp genus Pseudopalaemon Sollaud, 1911, is endemic to South America, comprising seven freshwater and low salinity species. This study aimed to compile an overview of the genus, including an illustrated identification key for species and updated distributional data. Diagnostic morphological characters of the species were analyzed using specimens from several museums and other scientific collections. Current knowledge about the genus reveals significant knowledge gaps, particularly in species ecology. The data and insights from this study support future research and highlight a need for further studies on this group.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3010003

Authors: Brigitte Schoenemann

Trilobites, as typical euarthropods, possess compound eyes. In 1901, Lindström was the first to describe them in detail; on the one hand, we reconsider his descriptions of the different modes of trilobite eyes; on the other hand, we expand this by compiling the observations that have been possible in recent years. There are two, perhaps three kinds of trilobite compound eyes. The first are the primordial holochroal eyes, which are actually apposition compound eyes, similar to those of many modern diurnal crustaceans and insects. The abathochroal eyes, often referred to as the second form, are probably a subtype of the holochroal eyes. Consequently, the second is the schizochroal eye of phacopid trilobites, which are hyper-compound eyes composed of numerous small compound eyes below each of the big lenses, which appear from outside as one big lateral eye each. Thirdly, one may call the maculae light-sensitive organs, but this is still uncertain. Comparing what are probably the oldest trilobite eyes described so far with other forms, it is possible to conclude that the sensory apparatus is much older than the fossil record of trilobite eyes and probably developed in Precambrian times. The refractive apparatus, however, was developed later and separately within the systematic groups. This explains why, for example, the mandibulates have a lens and a crystalline cone. Still, the chelicerate xiphosurans, such as horseshoe crabs or eurypterids, possess a lens cylinder with an index gradient but no crystalline cone. Furthermore, this can explain why the calcite character of trilobites is unique in the arthropod kingdom. An important discovery is the probably epidermal, lens-building cells encompassing a prospective lens of Schmidtiellus reetae Bergström 1973 from the early Lower Cambrian of Estonia. We reconsider the morphology of hypostome maculae and interpret them as a potential phylogenetic relict and a potential predecessor of all arthropod ommatidial compound eyes. It will be of great relevance for future research to understand the evolution of compound eyes and vision because we witness the emergence of the first lenses in the trilobite, if not the arthropod kingdom.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3010002

Authors: Daniel Castro-Pereira Ricardo Pinto-da-Rocha Lorenzo Prendini

Mastigoproctus Pocock, 1894, is the most speciose genus in the thelyphonid subfamily Mastigoproctinae Speijer, 1933, with eighteen described species distributed from the Southern United States to Colombia and Venezuela. Ten of these species occur in Mexico. In the present contribution, Mastigoproctus spinifemoratus, sp. nov., is described based on an adult male and two juveniles from Eastern Nuevo León and Southwestern Tamaulipas, Mexico. It differs from five other species of Mastigoproctus, in which spiniform tubercles are present on the retrolateral surface of the pedipalp femur, in the ventrally directed epistome of the carapace, and the absence of an accessory spine on the prodorsal margin of the pedipalp trochanter. The new species raises the number of Mastigoproctus species to nineteen and the number in Mexico to eleven.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda3010001

Authors: Renzo Gonçalves Tavares Lucas Rezende Penido Paschoal Fernanda Jordão Guimarães Simone Nunes Brandão Erminda da Conceição Guerreiro Couto

Rock shrimps (Sicyonia dorsalis and Sicyonia typica) are commonly caught as bycatch during shrimp trawling along the Brazilian coast, but are not commercially exploited due to their small size and hard carapace. This study evaluated their spatio-temporal distribution, size classes, and sex ratio near the Almada River Estuary, Ilhéus, Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, and tested correlations between environmental factors and species abundance. Samples were collected monthly using double-rig trawl nets in the estuary and along transects at depths of 5–35 m. Bottom water and sediment samples were obtained for analyses of environmental factors. In total, 5336 individuals of S. dorsalis and 303 individuals of S. typica were collected. No individuals were recorded in the estuary. Both species were significantly more abundant between 25 and 35 m, where fine sediment with high levels of organic matter occurred. Considering the temporal variation, their abundance decreased during the rainy season, coinciding with increased river flow. Organic matter content, salinity, and water transparency were the primary environmental factors influencing abundance. Females were generally larger and predominant compared to males, likely due to life cycle dynamics. Despite being congeneric and sympatric, the species exhibited distinct population patterns, possibly to avoid niche overlap and competition.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2040019

Authors: Christian Lukhaup Rury Eprilurahman Thomas von Rintelen

Two new species of the genus Cherax are described and illustrated. Cherax rayko n. sp., endemic to the Bian River drainage basin in the Muting District, in the northern part of the Merauke Regency, South Papua, Indonesia, is described, figured, and compared with its closest relatives, Cherax alyciae, Lukhaup, Eprilurahman & von Rintelen, 2018, and Cherax peknyi Lukhaup & Herbert, 2008. The new species may be easily distinguished from both by the shape of the rostrum, the shape of the chelae, the shape of the scaphocerite, and the coloration. Cherax phing n. sp., endemic to the Kali Ombak River drainage basin in the western part of the Kepala Burung (Vogelkop) Peninsula, Southwest Papua, Indonesia, is described, figured, and compared with its closest relatives, Cherax pulcher Lukhaup, 2015a, Cherax boesemani Lukhaup & Pekny, 2008, Cherax wagenknechtae Lukhaup and Eprilurahman, 2022, and Cherax gherardii Patoka, Bláha & Kouba, 2015. The new species may be easily distinguished from the latter species by the shape of the chelae, rostrum, and body and by the coloration. A molecular phylogeny based on a mitochondrial gene fragment, 16S, supports the morphology-based description of the two new species, which can also be clearly distinguished by sequence differences.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2040018

Authors: Natalia Jiménez-Conejo Paul E. Hanson Eduardo Chacón-Madrigal Geovanna Rojas-Malavasi

Parasitoidism strongly influences the structure of the spiders’ populations, and it can be affected by environmental factors such as those caused by anthropogenic actions. We studied the prevalence of parasitoids in egg sacs and the proportion of eggs parasitized in each egg sac of two synanthropic spider species, one native to the American continent (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) and another recently introduced to the Americas (Latrodectus geometricus). We conducted the study at two scales, along an urban gradient (from highly urbanized to rural sites) and in the vegetation surrounding each sampling site (microscale). We expected to find a larger prevalence of parasitoids in the most urbanized sites and around sampling sites with more vegetation. However, we saw more parasitized egg sacs at the intermediate urbanized site for both species, and the vegetation surrounding the sampling sites did not affect the number of parasitized egg sacs. Therefore, conditions in the site with intermediate urban development favored parasitoids. We also found more parasitized egg sacs in P. tepidariorum than in L. geometricus, which is likely a consequence of native parasites not being adapted to a new host. The proportion of eggs parasitized was similar for both species in all sites, which may be related to the behavior (e.g., searching behavior) and number of spider eggs a female parasitoid can parasitize.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2040017

Authors: Danniella Sherwood Victoria Tang Julien Tchilinguirian Ludivine Lamare Seth Croffy Mark Stockmann Jay Keller Valerio Gerace

Eighteen new cases of teratology and other abnormalities within scorpions are presented, representing new cases of metasomal duplication, mesosomal anomaly, telson anomaly, albinism, and abnormal pigmentation. Furthermore, recently published literature on other scorpion anomalies are tabulated to update the recent 2023 checklist of scorpion teratology which charted all known literature up to the aforementioned work.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2030016

Authors: Farhana Afrose Swarna Tasfia Hayder Shreema Mandal Barsa Powlomee Mondal Tetsuo Gotoh Mohammad Shaef Ullah

The red spider mite, Tetranychus macfarlanei, is a serious pest of many cultivated crops in Bangladesh and other East-Asian and South-East Asian countries, in the Afrotropical, Oriental, and Palearctic regions. Sublethal concentration of pesticides, such as LC15 and LC30 (the concentrations that result in 15 and 30 percent lethality, respectively) impact reproduction, behavior, development, and physiology. This study assessed the effects of different concentrations of spirotetramat, an insecticide that disrupts lipid production, on the biological traits of T. macfarlanei. The LC15, LC30, LC50, and LC90 values were 2.16, 6.57, 20.54, and 332.81 mg·L−1, respectively. Sublethal concentrations (LC15 and LC30) slightly reduced female fecundity but did not significantly affect development duration, pre-oviposition, oviposition period, or longevity compared to the untreated control group. Life table parameters differed between the treated and control groups, with significant reductions in the intrinsic rate of increase (r), the net reproductive rate (R0), and the finite rate of increase (λ) for LC15 and LC30. LC15 and LC30 had negative effects on the intrinsic rate of increase for females. This study demonstrated that lower lethal concentrations of spirotetramat compromised survivability and negatively impacted the life-table parameters of subsequent generations of T. macfarlanei. These findings highlight the importance of sublethal effects in pest control, offering valuable insights for developing more effective and sustainable integrated pest management strategies.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2030015

Authors: Nikki van Bel J. van Lieverloo Antonie Verschoor Leonie Pap-Veldhuizen Wim Hijnen Edwin Peeters Julia Wunderer

Invertebrates, including Asellidae, are part of the natural ecosystem of the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) and are known to cause a nuisance to consumers. In addition, recently, the potential role of the species Asellus aquaticus (L. 1758) in the regrowth of Aeromonas bacteria was published. Aeromonas is included in the Dutch drinking water guidelines as a process parameter, and the guideline values are regularly exceeded. Although neither A. aquaticus nor Aeromonas is associated with health risks, the Evides drinking water utility shows a strong interest in the possible reasons for these exceedances and possible control measures. In surface waters, Asellidae feed mainly on decaying leaves that are abundantly present. These food sources are not present in the DWDS. Therefore, we determined suitable food sources for A. aquaticus in the DWDS. Laboratory experiments show that A. aquaticus individuals survive on biofilm on pipe wall material and loose deposits (sediments) collected from DWDS. Growth and survival rates on these loose deposits were even higher than on the positive control (decaying leaves). As the basis of these loose deposits is inorganic (iron deposits, sand, and pipe particles), the organic matter (living and decaying bacteria, protozoans, fungi, and invertebrates) must be their substrate. These experiments validate hypotheses that Asellidae can grow and survive on organic matter in deposits in DWDS.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2030014

Authors: Liyang Zhou Leonid Tsynman Kamesan Kanapathipillai Zahir Shah Waheed Bajwa

Lyme disease, the leading vector-borne ailment in the U.S., annually affects an estimated 476,000 individuals, predominantly in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. Despite its increasing incidence, the evaluation of risk within U.S. cities, including natural public lands, remains inadequate. This study focuses on blacklegged tick occurrences and Borrelia burgdorferi infection prevalence in 24 Staten Island parks, aiming to assess Lyme disease exposure risk. Monthly acarological risk index (ARI) calculations from 2019 to 2022 revealed elevated values (0.16–0.53) in specific parks, notably Wolfe’s Pond Park, High Rock Park, Clay Pit Pond Park, Clove Lake Park, and Fair View Park. June (0.36) and November (0.21) consistently exhibited heightened ARIs, aligning with peak tick collection months. Despite stable yearly infection rates at 28.97%, tick densities varied significantly between parks and years. Identifying a high transmission risk in specific parks in Staten Island, a highly urbanized part of New York City, emphasizes the continuous necessity for Lyme disease risk management, even within the greenspaces of large cities.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2020013

Authors: Stefani Cruz-Rosa Ángel S. Estruche-Santos Omar Pérez-Reyes

The family Atyidae is composed of species whose existence has been known since the seventeenth century. Widely found in the Caribbean, Atya lanipes is a freshwater scraper/filter feeder shrimp with an amphidromous complex life cycle. Hunte (1975) described the first larval (zoeal) stage of the species. However, no scientific study has described the early larval development of this species after the first stage. This study aimed to document the early larval development of Atya lanipes under laboratory conditions and compare its larval development with other previously described species of the Atyidae family. Larval development was recorded by taking daily photos and videos of larval (zoeal) growth using a stereo microscope. Larvae were also preserved in ethanol for further morphological analysis. The results revealed that the best conditions for Atya lanipes development were 30 ppm water salinity, constant gentle aeration, and 27 °C water temperature. Nine stages were identified for the description of the early larval development of Atya lanipes. Early larval stages differ primarily in interstage larval size, the appearance and development of the telson, appendage appearance, growth of antennae and antennules, and pigmentation. The present contribution represents the first study that describes the larval development of the Caribbean shrimp Atya lanipes.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2020012

Authors: Antoine Flandroit Louis Simon Guillaume Caulier

Limb anomalies are widespread and diversified in arthropods. From trilobites to insects, they range from the loss to the addition or fusion of legs and may appear congenitally or be induced experimentally (e.g., amputation or injury). Basal chelicerates pycnogonids, or sea spiders, also show deformities. Despite being understudied compared to other arthropods, quite a high diversity of limb malformations has been reported in the literature. The present study reports the leg anomalies of two adult females Ammothea hilgendorfi (Böhm, 1879) observed with duplicated leg podomeres. Both individuals were described ethologically and morphologically. Although the current knowledge on pycnogonids is limited, the anomaly is likely due to a problem in the molting process; the specimens were unable to totally remove their old exuviae, which then stacked after the proximal leg segments. The second specimen also showed other leg deformities, hinting at a problem during the molting process itself. The discussion emphasizes that understanding how pycnogonids normally molt would not only help our understanding of how the abnormal patterns appeared but also put pycnogonids into perspective with other arthropods, a phylum in which they have a key taxonomic position.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2020011

Authors: Valentin de Mazancourt Hendrik Freitag Kristina von Rintelen Marivene Manuel-Santos Thomas von Rintelen

There was a mistake in Supplementary Table S1 as published in the original publication [...]

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2020010

Authors: Ana Francisca Tamburus Ivana Miranda Bárbara Benati Naves Fernando Luis Mantelatto

Ocypode Weber, 1795 (Brachyura: Ocypodidae) is popularly known as ghost crab, and encompasses 21 valid species, including Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787). This species has wide distribution along the Atlantic coast of America, from the USA (Massachusetts) to Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), Central America, and Antilles. Such distribution, along with some biological characteristics of its life cycle and the presence of geographic barriers, could lead to genetic structuring. Herein, we evaluate the hypothesis of the presence of geographic barriers using COI and 16S partial gene fragments. The Maximum Likelihood tree suggests the monophyly of O. quadrata, while the values of intraspecific genetic distance along with the star-shaped haplotype network suggested a lack of genetic structure in Brazilian, Panama, and French Guiana populations, probably caused by larval dispersion. USA and Mexico populations may be a new lineage, but we cannot say it with few sequences and with no morphological characters.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2020009

Authors: Matthew R. Graham Carlos E. Santibáñez-López Jessica R. Zehnpfennig Dylan S. Tillman Barbara Murdoch

While originally intending to explore the venom gland microbiome of the desert hairy scorpion Hadrurus arizonensis Ewing, 1928, nanopore sequencing serendipitously recovered complete mitochondrial genomes for this iconic arachnid. Phylogenetic analysis of these high-quality genomes places Hadrurus as sister to Uroctonus, in agreement with some phylogenomic hypotheses. Additionally, we reveal significant genetic variation among individuals from the same population, highlighting the potential of mitogenomics for population genetics and phylogeography. This study showcases the effectiveness and affordability of nanopore sequencing for research with non-model organisms, opening new avenues for investigating arachnid biodiversity, evolution, and biogeography.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2010008

Authors: Werner Klotz Thomas von Rintelen Kristina von Rintelen

Three new species of the genus Caridina are described from the northernmost part of Australia. Caridina darwin n. sp. resembles Caridina temasek Choy and Ng, 1991 but differs in the armature of the rostrum, the development of epipods on the pereiopods and the absence of an appendix interna on the male first pleopods. Caridina magnovis n. sp. resembles Caridina serratirostris de Man, 1892 but differs in the armature of the ventral margin of the rostrum, a shorter stylocerite, a stouter carpus of the first pereiopod, the number and size of spiniform setae on the third and fifth pereiopods, the shape of the preanal carina and the size of the embryos (referred to as “eggs” in most previous publications). Caridina wilsoni n. sp. resembles Caridina gracilirostris de Man, 1892 but differs in the size of the embryos and in some length to width ratios of the segments of the pereiopods. Detailed morphological descriptions of all three new species are given. A molecular phylogeny (mt DNA 16S) supports the morphospecies hypothesis and illustrates the phylogenetic relationship with morphologically similar species from outside Australia.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2010007

Authors: Tanay Dakarapu Markus Friedrich

Horseshoe crabs represent the most ancestral chelicerate lineage characterized by marine ecology and the possession of lateral compound eyes. While considered living fossils, recent studies reported an unusual number of Pax6 genes in the Atlantic horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus. Pax genes encode ancient metazoan transcription factors, which comprise seven subfamilies. Among these, the members of the Pax6 subfamily confer critical functions in the development of the head, the visual system, and further body plan components. Arthropods are generally characterized by two Pax6 subfamily homologs that were discovered in Drosophila and named eyeless (ey) and twin of eyeless (toy). However, whole genome sequence searches uncovered three homologs of ey and two homologs of toy in L. polyphemus. These numbers are explained by the occurrence of likely three whole genome duplications in the lineage to the last common ancestor of L. polyphemus and the three additional members of the extant horseshoe crab species cluster. Here, we report that all five L. polyphemus Pax6 paralogs are conserved in the approximately 135-million-year-old horseshoe crab species cluster and that they evolve under strong purifying selection. Largely homogenous protein sequence diversification rates of ey and toy paralogs suggest subfunctionalization as the likeliest preservation trajectory. However, our studies further revealed evidence that the horseshoe crab ey1 and ey2 paralogs share a derived splice isoform that encodes a unique five amino acid-long insertion in helix 3 of the homeodomain. This suggests that the exceptional expansion of the horseshoe crab Pax6 gene family repertoire was also associated with regulatory diversification and possibly innovation.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2010006

Authors: Danniella Sherwood Ray Gabriel

Herein, we redescribe Neostenotarsus guianensis (Caporiacco, 1954) nearly seven decades after its original description. In the original description of Neostenotarsus scissistylus Tesmoingt & Schmidt, 2002, we found characters incongruent with N. guianensis, namely, the purported presence of serration on the prolateral keels of the palpal bulb; a narrower apical third of the embolus; the absence of a patch of bristles on the retrolateral face of the palpal tibia and of a baso-retrolateral protuberance on metatarsus I; and a shorter and more apically situated megaspine on the retrolateral branch of the tibial apophyses. The characters from its original description are discussed. N. scissistylus stat. rev. has been revalidated until such time as the type material, or topotypic material, can be examined by future workers.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2010005

Authors: Jorn R. Claassen Yosephine Tuti Sancia E. T. van der Meij

Coral-dwelling gall crabs (Cryptochiridae) are common inhabitants of scleractinian corals. Several species have been described as new in recent years, including Lithoscaptus doughnut, which was described from Hong Kong based on a single female retrieved from the coral Plesiastrea peroni. Here we extend the distribution range of L. doughnut with nine additional localities throughout the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea to the Coral Triangle and Japan. We describe a male specimen of L. doughnut for the first time, based on a specimen from Malaysia, and provide photographs of life and preserved material. Haplotype networks based on COI mtDNA (n = 12) and 16 rRNA sequences (n = 12) were created. We retrieved eleven COI haplotypes and six 16S haplotypes, however no clear geographic distribution pattern was discerned. Intraspecific variation in L. doughnut was 1.4% for COI and 0.2% for 16S. Lastly, the first colour photos and records of associated parasites of this species are provided.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2010004

Authors: Andrew K. Davis Kade Stewart Caitlin Phelan Alexa Schultz

An invasive orb-weaving spider from east Asia is now spreading through the southeastern United States; Trichonephila clavata (the “jorō spider”) makes large, imposing webs seemingly everywhere, including in urban landscapes, and even next to busy roads. However, areas near roads come with frequent disturbances, including auditory and vibrational, which for many animals, leads to physiological or behavioral changes. Here we tested if varying levels of road traffic affect the prey–capture behavior of jorō spiders in northeast Georgia. We visited roadsides that ranged in traffic density and exposed nearby jorō spiders to a simulated prey (a tuning fork at 128 hz frequency, touched to the web), and recorded whether or not the spider attacked it. Out of 357 total trials across 20 different roads, jorō spiders attacked the simulated prey 59% of the time, but at the local scale, there was high variability in this rate; at some roadsides, over 80% of the spiders attacked, while at others, less than 30% did. When all roads were considered collectively, there was a small but significant (negative) correlation between daily road traffic and spider attack rates. Put another way, spiders near moderate- to heavy-traffic roads were slightly less likely to attack than those near low-traffic roads (51% vs. 65%). Jorō spiders appear to be able to live near roads, but this does come with a cost in terms of prey capture. However, spiders near busier roads did not weigh less than those in other sites, suggesting they may be able to compensate for the disturbance. These findings add to the accumulating evidence around this species that points to its ability to exist in human-dominated landscapes, which will likely aid its spread in the introduced range.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2010003

Authors: Wahidah Ahmad Dini Umi Fatimah M. Yusoff Zetty Norhana Balia Yusof Norulhuda Mohamed Ramli Artem Y. Sinev Tatsuki Toda

A study was conducted to evaluate zooplankton species composition, abundance, and diversity in both natural and artificial lakes with varying trophic levels and to determine the relationship between zooplankton community structure and lake environmental conditions. This study hypothesized that correlations exist between zooplankton community structures and environmental parameters associated with eutrophication in natural and artificial lakes. Sampling was conducted across 16 distinct freshwater lentic ecosystems in Malaysia, including natural lakes/swamps, reservoirs, constructed lakes/ponds, and old mining lakes, spanning a range of trophic levels from mesotrophic to hypereutrophic conditions. Physicochemical parameters were measured in situ, while water and zooplankton samples were collected for nutrient analyses, as well as for zooplankton identification and enumeration. Throughout this study, a total of 58 zooplankton species, consisting of 36 species of rotifers, 12 species of cladocerans, and 10 species of copepods, were recorded. The highest zooplankton density (365.7 ± 13.7 ind L−1) was recorded in constructed lakes/ponds while the lowest density was recorded in natural shallow lakes/swamps (200.5 ± 25.5 ind L−1). On the other hand, significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean species diversity was observed in natural lakes/swamps (H’ = 2.2 ± 0.0); whereas, the lowest diversity was in old mining lakes (H’ = 1.5 ± 0.1). The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) scores indicated that Polyarthra vulgaris and Chydorus ventricosus were the discriminating species in natural shallow lakes/swamps associated with high water transparency. Meanwhile, the small-sized cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia cornuta) and rotifers (Keratella spp., Brachionus spp., and Trichocerca spp.) were the most discriminating species in lakes with high turbidity, nutrients, and chlorophyll a concentrations, which are the main features of reservoirs and constructed lakes/ponds. Low density and diversity in old mining lakes were due to a low species number and the dominance of two species, Lophocharis curvata (38.8%) and Ptygura libera (39.7%). Overall, the high dominance of a specific zooplankton species resulted in lower biodiversity in artificial ecosystems compared to natural ecosystems. This study elucidated that zooplankton community structure in lakes was significantly influenced by the environmental conditions related to the lake trophic status.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2010002

Authors: Christopher B. Boyko Peter K. L. Ng

In the American Museum of Natural History, New York, there is an old specimen labelled as “Holodromia harrisonwilliamsi Boone, MS name” that was collected from Cocos Island in 1925. This name has never been published. An examination of the specimen shows that it is a juvenile specimen of Homolodromia robertsi Garth, 1973, a species described from Peru, which has since been reported from Chile and off the coast of Ecuador. This paper reports on the specimen Homolodromia robertsi Garth found in Costa Rica for the first time, a discovery that extends the known range of this species northwards.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda2010001

Authors: Gloria Ortiz-Ramírez Elix Hernández Solimar Pinto-Pacheco Elvira Cuevas

Coastal wetlands, vital for ecological diversity, have been significantly altered by anthropogenic activities, particularly in the Caribbean. These changes have created a complex mosaic of habitats and physicochemical conditions, further stressed by climate variability and sea-level rise. This study, conducted in Las Cucharillas Natural Reserve, a tropical urban coastal wetland in Puerto Rico, aimed to determine the effects of spatiotemporal variations in phreatic levels and salinity on soil mesofauna assemblages, crucial bio-indicators of environmental change. In 2020 and 2021, soil samples were collected from five diverse habitat types during different hydroperiods. Each sample was taken under four randomly selected plant types and processed using lighted Tullgren–Berlese extractors. Phreatic level and salinity were also measured. A total of 43 families were quantified, underscoring distinct habitat differences, similarities, and overall ecosystem diversity. Moderate correlations between phreatic levels, salinity, and mesofauna richness and abundance were determined. Peak richness and abundance were quantified at shallow (−0.03 to −0.07 m) and slightly moderate (−0.12 to −0.17 m) phreatic levels where oligohaline salinity (>0.5 to 5.0 ppt) prevails. The study highlights the adaptability of mesofauna to environmental shifts and their potential as biosensors for effective coastal wetland management amid climatic and anthropogenic pressures.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1040022

Authors: Arthur Anker

Salmoneus sultanus sp. nov. is described based on several specimens collected on the exposed shores of Masirah Island and Dhofar, Oman, a region characterised by seasonal upwellings cooling water temperature to less than 23 °C. The new species is compared with the morphologically most similar congeners present in the north-western Indian Ocean, e.g., S. latirostris (Coutière, 1897), S. cristatus (Coutière, 1897), S. serratidigitus (Coutière, 1897), and S. chadwickae Ďuriš and Horká, 2016; the latter species is recorded for the first time from Oman. The conspicuous colour pattern of S. sultanus sp. nov. appears to be diagnostic, differing greatly from that of S. latirostris, S. cristatus, S. serratidigitus, and S. chadwickae.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1040021

Authors: Osvaldo Villarreal Adriano B. Kury

The former subfamily Prostygninae was recently elevated to family rank, and its phylogenetic relationships were investigated based on molecular data. In this study, we provide a revised morphological diagnosis for the family, focusing on characters from the exomorphology and male genital morphology. Morphological data supporting their inclusion in the MECO clade are provided. Additionally, a key to the genera is presented, and Prostygnus stellatussp. nov., a new Ecuadorian species, is described. The geographic distribution of prostygnid species is mapped. An overview of the inclusion and exclusion of genera formerly within Prostygninae, but currently in Gonyleptoidea incertae sedis, is presented, and the following new familial assignments are proposed: Binamballeus Roewer, 1952 and Puna metatarsalis (Kury, 1994) comb. nov. (transferred to Cranaidae), Sclerostygnellus Roewer, 1943 (transferred to Manaosbiidae) and Globitarsus Roewer, 1913, Lisarea Roewer, 1943, Meridanatus Roewer, 1943, Micropachylus Roewer, 1913, Prostygnidius Roewer, 1915, and Troya Roewer, 1914 (all transferred to Nomoclastidae). Three subjective synonyms of Troya are proposed: Peladoius Roewer, 1914 syn. nov., Prostygnellus Roewer, 1914 syn. nov., and Minyssus Roewer, 1943 syn. nov., combining their species with Troya and, finally, Prostygnellus riveti Roewer, 1914 is considered as a junior secondary homonym of Troya riveti Roewer, 1914 syn. nov.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1040020

Authors: Sammy De Grave Peter Wirtz Arthur Anker

A new species of the rare shrimp genus Bresilia is described and illustrated from shallow-water lava tubes in Cabo Verde. Characteristics differentiating the new species from its three known Atlantic congeners are listed and discussed. Scanning electron images (SEM) are provided of the peculiar chela ornamentation of the first pereiopod in the genus.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1040019

Authors: Karl J. Wittmann

Why do the eyes remain comparatively large, whereas the cornea is reduced in most troglobiont mysids? Are there any important organ size-dependent functions served by non-visual eye rudiments? This issue was approached by measuring eye structures in five troglobiont species of Mysida and two Stygiomysida compared with 14 troglophiles and 49 trogloxene Mysida species. The Organ of Bellonci (OB) was found in all Mysida and, as first records, also in Stygiomysida. The length of OBs increased with individual body length (BL) and eye length (EL) in four examined species: from postnauplioid larvae to adult stage in a troglophile and a trogloxene mysid species examined; and from juveniles to adults in a troglobiont mysid and a troglobiont stygiomysid. At the interspecific level, EL was, on average, 26% shorter at a given BL, while the OB was 40% longer at a given BL and 54% longer at a given EL, respectively, in adult troglobionts compared with trogloxene mysids. The OB is clearly proliferating, while the cornea is reduced in troglobionts. This points to sensory functions (possibly together with other functions). The sensory pore organ was found in all 15 Mysida species whose eyes were mounted on slides, and the first record of this organ was also found in Stygiomysida.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1040018

Authors: Charles Fransen Peter Wirtz

A new shrimp species of the genus Periclimenes is described based on specimens collected in the Bissagos Islands, Guinea-Bissau. Specimens were collected from an unidentified octocoral. This is the ninth species in the genus known to be from the East Atlantic and Mediterranean.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1040017

Authors: John Gould Jose. W. Valdez

Among spiders, movement in aquatic environments, including below the water’s surface or on the surface film, is completed using a variety of techniques that do not involve the use of silk, including swimming, walking, and rowing. The use of silk to assist with aquatic locomotion has been explored only to a limited extent. In this study, we report on observations of a long-jawed spider (Family: Tetragnathidae) from Australia, Tetragnatha nitens, moving across the surface film in two different manners, one of which involves the use of silk. The first observation was of a female T. nitens walking across the water’s surface when prompted by a predation attempt: the spider used its front three pairs of legs for propulsion while the back pair remained motionless on the water, likely for stabilization. The second observation featured a male T. nitens utilizing a silk line to reel itself towards emergent vegetation while gliding across the water. Our findings support work on other long-jawed spiders, revealing that individual species can exploit several strategies for moving across water, including those that involve the use of silk. This study sheds light on the remarkable adaptability of spider silk and its potential use in aquatic systems.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1040016

Authors: Arthur Anker

Synalpheopsis gen. nov. is established for a remarkable new alpheid species, Synalpheopsis laureae sp. nov., presently known only from the male holotype collected at 111–162 m east of La Désirade, Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles. Synalpheopsis gen. nov. peculiarly combines features of two genera, Alpheopsis Coutière, 1897 and Synalpheus Spence Bate, 1888; however, it is presumably closer to the former genus. The new genus is characterised by the moderately developed orbital hoods, well-developed rostrum and orbital teeth, sixth pleonite without articulated flap, tip of the third maxilliped with crown of spiniform setae, chelipeds with two strong teeth on distolateral margin and lacking snapping mechanism on finger cutting edges, and gill formula without mastigobranchs and setobranchs.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1040015

Authors: Valentin de Mazancourt Hendrik Freitag Kristina von Rintelen Marivene Manuel-Santos Thomas von Rintelen

Following recent expeditions to Mindoro Island, the Philippines, numerous samples of atyid shrimps were collected and then studied in an integrative taxonomy framework. A total of 16 species belonging to 4 genera are hereby reported, including 8 new records for the island and/or the Philippines: Atydina atyoides, Caridina bruneiana, C. celebensis, C. elongapoda, C. papuana, C. parvirostris, C. typus, C. zhujiangensis, and one new species, Caridina leptopoda sp. nov. Sequences of 16S rRNA have been produced for all of the species and taxonomical notes are provided. To account for the morphological variability across its range, C. bruneiana Choy, 1992 is herein re-described based on specimens from Mindoro. All of the species reported here from Mindoro have small eggs and are considered amphidromous, which suggests that they all potentially occur in other localities. This contrasts with other islands of the Philippines such as Bohol or Luzon where endemic species with large eggs can be found.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1040014

Authors: Hossein Ashrafi Chia-Wei Lin Zdeněk Ďuriš

During a faunal investigation using SCUBA in Taiwan in 2014, a single ovigerous specimen of an alpheid shrimp belonging to the genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955, was collected. Notably, the specimen stood out due to its extremely robust major cheliped compared to other species within the genus. Detailed examination of the specimen unveiled its morphological distinctiveness from all known Salmoneus species, confirming its novelty to science. Apart from the remarkably inflated major cheliped devoid of depressions along the ventral margin, the characteristics of S. chelocrassus sp. nov., include the markedly reduced arthrobranch on the third maxilliped and the absence of microserrulate setae on the propodus of the fifth pereiopod.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1030013

Authors: Christopher B. Boyko

Details regarding the synonymy of Nesaea Leach, 1814 and Dynamene Leach, 1814 are given and a type species is selected for Dynamene. The genus Heteruropus Verhoeff, 1942 is shown to be the senior objective synonym of Harrieta Kensley, 1987 and an expanded synonymy list for the type species, Heteruropus faxoni (Richardson, 1905) is provided.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1030012

Authors: Sancia E. T. van der Meij

A new species of gall crab collected from elegance coral, Catalaphyllia jardinei, is described in this paper. The male holotype was collected from a reef tank in Germany in 2016, and it is described here using integrative taxonomy. This species, named Lithoscaptus aquarius sp. nov., is the thirteenth assigned to the genus. It is morphologically and phylogenetically closest to Lithoscaptus semperi, a cryptochirid associated with Trachyphyllia geoffroyi. Like L. semperi, it has a large, broad W-shaped depression on the anterior half of the carapace, but the carapace surface of L. aquarius sp. nov. is smooth overall, lacking spines or tubercles. This new species is so named because it was found in a reef tank after searching in vain for material during fieldwork campaigns over the course of several years.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1030011

Authors: Marco Meyer Anna-Christin Joel

Typical orb webs with glue droplets are renewed regularly, sometimes multiple times per night. Such behaviour, however, is rarely found with cribellate spiders. The adhesive portion of their capture threads consist of nanofibres instead of glue, and the fibres interact with the cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of their insect prey for adhesion. Many of these spiders often only add new threads to their existing webs instead of completely reconstructing them. In testing the adhesion force of aged capture threads of three different cribellate species, we indeed did not observe an overall decline in adhesion force, even after a period of over a year. This is in line with the (formulated but so far never tested) hypothesis that when comparing gluey capture threads to nanofibrous ones, one of the benefits of cribellate capture threads could be their notable resistance to drying out or other ageing processes.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1030010

Authors: Nadine Dupérré Elicio Tapia Jason E. Bond

The genus Linothele (Araneae: Dipluridae) from Ecuador is reviewed. A total of 38 new species are described; from the Andes: L. alausi n. sp. (♀), L. anabellecitae n. sp. (♀♂), L. angamarca n. sp. (♀♂), L. banos n. sp. (♀♂), L. canirasi n. sp. (♀), L. carchi n. sp. (♀), L. cayambe n. sp. (♀♂), L. cuencana n. sp. (♀♂), L. guacamayos n. sp. (♀), L. gualaquiza n. sp. (♀), L. guallupe n. sp. (♀), L. ilinizas n. sp. (♀♂), L. ireneae n. sp. (♀), L. jarrini n. sp. (♀), L. javieri n. sp. (♀), L. kaysi n. sp. (♀), L. lacocha n. sp. (♀), L. lloa n. sp. (♀♂), L. milleri n. sp. (♀♂), L. molleturo n. sp. (♀), L. otokiki n. sp. (♀), L. peguche n. sp. (♀♂), L. podocarpus n. sp. (♀), L. pomona n. sp. (♀), L. pristirana n. sp. (♀♂), L. pseudoquori n. sp. (♀♂), L. rionegro n. sp. (♀♂), L. sigchila n. sp. (♀♂), L. uvalino n. sp. (♀), L. victoria n. sp. (♀), L. yunguilla n. sp. (♀♂); from the Pacific region: L. costenita n. sp. (♀♂), L. troncal n. sp. (♀); and, from the Amazonian region: L. amazonica n. sp. (♀), L. archidona n. sp. (♀), L. condor n. sp. (♀♂), L. jatunsacha n. sp. (♀), L. otoyacu n. sp. (♀♂). All previously known Ecuadorian species are re-illustrated, and the males of L. cavicola, L. pukachumpi, and L. tsachilas are described for the first time. The geographical distribution of the genus Linothele through mainland Ecuador is discussed, and short-range endemic species are proposed. Distribution maps are provided for all species found in Ecuador. Finally, the synonymy of L. megatheloides under L. sericata is rejected.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1020009

Authors: Andrew K. Davis Amitesh V. Anerao

The jorō spider (Trichonephila clavata, originally from east Asia) has been introduced in the southeastern United States, and is rapidly expanding this range, leading to questions about what facilitates this spread. Meanwhile, its cousin, the golden silk spider (T. clavipes), already has a range that covers most of the southeast. In an ongoing effort to understand the behavior of jorō spiders in their introduced range, we undertook the current project to evaluate how they react to perceived threats, which can inform us on how a species interacts with conspecifics, or how well it can tolerate anthropogenic disturbances. We collected mature females of both Trichonephila species, plus three locally common orb-weaving species in Georgia, and we evaluated the time spent immobile after experiencing a mild disturbance (a brief puff of air). We also collected similar “air puff response” data for five other North American species from the published literature. Collectively, the dataset totaled 453 observations of freezing behavior across 10 spider species. Comparing these data across species revealed that most spiders remained immobile for under a minute after the stimulus. Meanwhile, both Trichonephila spiders remained immobile for over an hour, which appears to be unprecedented, and suggests that spiders in this genus are the “shyest” ever documented. This reaction could also allow Trichonephila spiders to tolerate urban environments by remaining motionless throughout each disturbance instead of fleeing.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1020008

Authors: Alexis B. Merchant Douglas D. Gaffin

Many sand scorpions are faithful to the burrows they dig; however, it is unknown how these animals get back home after hunting excursions. Of the many mechanisms of homing that exist, path integration (PI) is one of the more common tools used by arachnids. In PI, an animal integrates its distance and direction while leaving its home, enabling it to compute an approximate homebound vector for the return trip. The objective of our study was to test whether scorpions use PI to return home under absolute darkness in the lab. We first allowed the animals to establish burrows in homing arenas. Then, after they left their burrow, we recorded the scorpion’s location in the homing arena before we transferred it to the center of the testing arena. We used overhead IR cameras to record its movements in the testing arena. If scorpions exhibited PI, we predicted they would follow a vector in the test arena that approximated the same angle and distance from the capture point to their burrow in their home arena. However, under the conditions of this experiment, we found no evidence that scorpions moved along such homebound vectors. We speculated that scorpions may need a reliable reference cue to accommodate path integration.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1010007

Authors: Sammy De Grave

As Editor-in-Chief, I am delighted to announce the launch of Arthropoda [...]

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1010006

Authors: Maria A. Minor Sergey G. Ermilov Omid Joharchi Dmitriy A. Philippov

Monitoring of peatlands is an important conservation issue. We investigated communities of soil mites (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) inhabiting a relatively undisturbed European boreal mire characterized by a mosaic of oligotrophic and meso-eutrophic areas. We assess the potential of using remote sensing approach as a mapping and predictive tool for monitoring productivity and arthropod biodiversity in a peat bog. In georeferenced plots, Acari biodiversity, water table level, water pH and plot productivity class on the oligotrophic-eutrophic gradient were recorded. Data from the Landsat 8 OLI sensor were used to calculate several spectral indices known to represent productivity and surface moisture gradients in terrestrial ecosystems. We then explored the relationship between spectral indices, environmental gradients and biodiversity of mites. We found that several spectral indices were significantly and consistently correlated with local environmental variables and biodiversity of soil mites. The Excess Green Index performed best as a predictor of plot trophic class on the oligotrophic-eutrophic gradient and showed significant relationship with Oribatida diversity in 2016. However, following hot summer in 2019, there was no significant relationship between abundance and species richness of Oribatida and remotely sensed data; there was a weak correlation between abundance of Mesostigmata and spectral indices which represent surface moisture gradient (e.g., Normalised Difference Moisture Index). We discuss advantages and challenges of using spectral indices derived from remote sensing imagery to map biodiversity gradients in a peatland.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1010005

Authors: Neelendra K. Joshi Kathleen Demchak David Biddinger

Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a major invasive pest of caneberries (e.g., blackberries and raspberries) and other thin-skinned fruit crops. In recent years, it has been reported as an economically important fruit pest in many countries. In caneberries, the timely detection and management of invasive insect pests such as D. suzukii is important to maintain profitability and avoid fruit export restriction. Invasions by such new pest species in commercial crop production often changes pesticide use patterns and frequency as growers try to control pest populations on their farms. In this study, we examined the seasonal population of D. suzukii and pesticide use patterns before and after D. suzukii invasion in primocane-fruiting raspberry and floricane-fruiting blackberry crop production in Pennsylvania. The results of seasonal monitoring conducted over two years showed higher populations of D. suzukii fruit flies during the settle period. The evaluation of crop-specific pesticide programs showed an increase in pesticide use frequency compared to the crop season before D. suzukii invasion in the blackberry planting. Similarly, over a five-fold increase in pesticide application was recorded in the raspberry planting in the year following invasion. The implications of increased pesticide use patterns in blackberry and raspberry production are discussed.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1010004

Authors: Iluany Silva-Costa Nubia França Silva Giehl Ully Mattilde Pozzobom Anderson André Carvalho-Soares José Max Barbosa Oliveira-Junior Helena Soares Ramos Cabette Karina Dias-Silva

The modification of landscapes surrounding water bodies leads to changes in limnological characteristics and decreased aquatic biodiversity, such as fish and macroinvertebrates. Aquatic insects are sensitive to changes in aquatic ecosystems and quickly respond to those changes. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the relationship between the compositions of aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera with environmental variables along an environmental gradient in streams at the headwaters of the Xingu River, Brazil. We collected samples from 12 streams belonging to the Suiá-Miçú river basin and tributaries of the Xingu River, in September (dry season), 2008. The Suiá-Miçú river is one of the tributaries on the right bank of the Xingu River, and it is located in the ecotone between the Cerrado and the Amazon rainforest in the area characterized as the “arc of deforestation’’. Insects were sampled in fixed 100 m transections and divided into 20 segments of 5 meters each. To assess the habitat integrity in each stream, the habitat integrity index (HII) was applied. The following environmental variables were measured: electrical conductivity, turbidity, depth, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The ordering of species composition was performed with the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), and the relationship between environmental variables and composition was performed using a Mantel test. Of the 263 individuals collected, distributed in 8 families, there were 20 genera, of these, 12 were from Nepomorpha and 8 from Gerromorpha. The most abundant genera were Limnocoris (n = 121) and Rhagovelia (n = 32). Naucoridae was the most diverse family. Together, the environmental variables explained ~50% of the species distribution (r = 0.49; p = 0.001). These results reinforce the efficacy of aquatic Heteroptera to monitor environmental conditions. Here, in particular, the responses of this group to variations in landscape metrics, environmental integrity, and water variables together demonstrate that it can be useful to indicate the quality of habitat in streams.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/arthropoda1010001

Authors: Giulia Stefenelli

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Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/entomology1010002

Authors: Sebastián Pita Pablo Mora Mirko Rojas-Cortez Teresa Palomeque Pedro Lorite Francisco Panzera

The complete mitogenome of Triatoma boliviana Martínez, Chávez, Sossa, Aranda, Vargas and Vidaurre, 2007 was assembled using next generation sequencing data. The 16,719 bp long genome contains 13 protein coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs, and a control region. This mitogenome showed similar nucleotide composition, gene order and orientation than other triatomines. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on available complete mitogenomes from Reduviidae supported that Triatominae is a monophyletic group and that T. boliviana is basal to the two main Triatomini clades: North and South American. In addition, the analysis of a fragment of the 16S mitochondrial gene among Triatomini species, including species of the dispar lineage, supports the inclusion of T. boliviana in this group.

Arthropoda doi: 10.3390/entomology1010001

Authors: Giulia Stefenelli Enric Sayas Shu-Kun Lin

MDPI has been publishing Insects (ISSN: 2075-4450) [...]