Search Results (425)

Widespread species may exhibit considerable genetic variation among populations due to their extensive distribution ranges, and may even give rise to new species in remote areas. Integrative species delimitation via multiple types can provide a robust framework for accurate species identification and rapid discovery of cryptic diversity. The subgenus Tliponius (Hemiptera: Coreidae: Homoeocerus) has several species and three broadly distributed species across China. In this study, we selected as many geographical sample sites of widely distributed species as possible and conducted species identification based on integrated taxonomy of morphological, mitochondrial and SNP data for 28 individuals within Tliponius. Our results revealed a cryptic lineage previously subsumed under the polytypic H. unipunctatus in Yunnan Province and described as Homoeocerus (Tliponius) dianensis Liang, Li & Bu sp. nov. The presence of seven distinct species within Tliponius was supported by species delimitation and divided into two clades: (H. dilatatus + (H. marginellus + (H. unipunctatus + H. dianensis sp. nov.))) and (H. yunnanensis + (H. laevilineus + H. marginiventris). Based on our findings, extensive sampling of widespread species is highly important for the accuracy of species delimitation and the discovery of cryptic species. Full article

Some Cretaceous ants belonging to the stem group of Formicidae exhibit bizarre morphology. This wide range of unusual adaptive features is primarily related to the mouthparts and clypeus. The researchers were perplexed by their specific ecology, as modern ant lineages do not exhibit anything similar. Here, we report and describe a new genus based on an extraordinary and mysterious alate ant from Late Eocene Baltic amber. Undoubtedly, the new ant is classified within the subfamily Formicinae (one of the crown groups), yet it displays a highly specialised morphology and an unusual array of features that are not observed in any extant ant lineages. Neither recent nor extinct ants have such a combination of features. While the exact phylogenetic placement of the new ant remains uncertain, we offer a discussion of its potential affinities based on our constrained phylogenetic analyses. We propose that †Eridanomyrma gen. n. should be considered in the new tribe †Eridanomyrmini trib. n. This new taxon highlights the adaptive diversity of a highly specialised, extinct lineage of Eocene crown-group ants. We also present a 3D model based on X-ray computed microtomography (µCT). Full article

The Jilong Valley, situated in Rikaze, Xizang, China, is characterized by its complex topography and variable climatic conditions, providing a suitable habitat for Apis cerana Fabricius, 1793. To facilitate the conservation of germplasm resources and maintain genetic diversity, it is imperative to elucidate the population structure and lineage differentiation of A. cerana within this ecologically distinct region. In this study, we collected A. cerana specimens from 12 geographically disparate locations across various altitudinal gradients within the Jilong Valley, and also integrated publicly available sequencing data of A. cerana from various regions across mainland Asia. In total, our analysis encompassed sequencing data from 296 individuals. Population structure analyses based on SNP data revealed that A. cerana in Jilong represents a genetically distinct population that differs markedly from other regional A. cerana populations in terms of genetic lineage, although its subspecies identity remains to be confirmed. Through screening based on F_ST values, we identified SNP loci that contribute significantly to distinguishing between Jilong and non-Jilong A. cerana. Using these loci, the convolutional neural network model TraceNet was trained, which demonstrated specific recognition capabilities for Jilong versus non-Jilong A. cerana. This further confirmed the universality and efficiency of TraceNet in identifying honey bee lineages. These findings contribute valuable insights for the identification and conservation of A. cerana germplasm resources in specific geographical regions. Full article

Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) are small biting midges and are known as vectors for many arboviruses, including bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). Tengchong County of Yunnan Province, China, which borders Myanmar, has many private farms with goats, sheep, and cattle. To estimate the risk of Culicoides-borne viral diseases such as bluetongue (BT) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in this area, an investigation of the diversity and abundance of Culicoides in Tengchong between May 2024 and April 2025 was performed. As a result, 70 collections totaling approximately 93,000 Culicoides were carried out at five farms (cattle + Asian buffaloes, goats, and sheep, respectively). Nineteen species were identified, and eight potential cryptic species were found. A total of 13 cox1 sequences and 4 28S sequences for 13 specimens were generated. The most dominant species were Obsoletus (44.1%), C. homotomus (23.3%), and C. arakawae (12.9%) at the bovine farm; C. tainanus (68.0%), C. orientalis (12.6%), and C. newsteadi (Asia) (6.3%) at the goat farm; and C. tainanus (73.6%), C. fenggangensis (7.3%), and C. sp. nr palpifer (6.3%) at the sheep farm. In this investigation, C. tainanus, Obsoletus, and C. orientalis were the most dominant potential BTV vectors, and the period between July and October may be the main period for epidemics of Culicoides-borne viruses in Tengchong. Full article

This paper contains three newly recorded genera (Wittonola László, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2015; Aeneanola László, Ronkay & Ronkay, 2013; and Evonima Walker, 1865) and each new species (W. bicyanasp. nov., A. crassasp. nov., and E. palawanensissp. nov.) from Palawan, the Philippines. We provide illustrations of three new species and their genitalia, photographs of collecting sites, and checklists of the three genera. Full article

North Africa has a poorly and unevenly known hoverfly fauna. Xanthogramma Schiner, 1861 (Syrphinae, Syrphini) is represented in this territory by some scattered records of four species, Xanthogramma dives (Rondani, 1857), Xanthogramma evanescens Becker & Stein, 1913 (endemic to North Africa), Xanthogramma marginale (Loew, 1854), and Xanthogramma pedissequum (Harris, 1776). After examination of old Xanthogramma material collected in Tanger, Morocco, from the ‘Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain (MNCN)’, specimens with distinctive morphology were spotted and found to be different from a syntype of X. evanescens collected in the same locality. Consequently, we revised all the available material of Xanthogramma from North Africa, characterised a new species, proposed a lectotype for X. evanescens, and provided an identification key to the North African species of this genus. The new species is also found in Tunisia and differs from X. evanescens in facial width, colour of the thoracic pleura, length of mesonotum hairs, wing pollinosity, and shape of the yellow maculae on tergum 2. Full article

Insects exhibit diverse ecological characteristics, but species identification is challenging due to high morphological similarity. Traditional methods require genitalia dissection, which damages specimens and flattens three-dimensional structures, potentially losing key morphological details. In this study, we evaluate the utility of Micro-CT (Computed Tomography) as a non-destructive alternative for species identification by comparing genitalia structures obtained through Micro-CT with those obtained through traditional dissection. Micro-CT enabled three-dimensional reconstructions of male genitalia and aedeagus, providing detailed views from multiple angles without physical damage. The aedeagus was also virtually separated in a digital environment, further enhancing morphological analysis. Using this approach, we identified three new species, Casmara fulvacorona sp. nov. from Sumatra, C. falcatussica sp. nov. and C. fuscatulipa sp. nov. from Taiwan, based on genitalia characteristics. In addition, we provide a checklist of all Casmara Walker, 1863 species reported to date, including these newly described species, to confirm and clarify the distribution of this genus. Our results demonstrate that the additional use of Micro-CT in insect species identification can provide a scientific basis for reviewing and increasing confidence in species identification based on genital dissection. Full article

This paper provides a brief review of the genus Trichorondonia Breuning, 1965. A new species, Trichorondonia wenkaii sp. nov. (文凯毛郎氏天牛), is described and illustrated. Trichorondonia kabateki Viktora, 2024 is newly recorded in Hubei province, with the first description of the male. Additionally, photographs of the holotypes of three previously described species are presented. A key to the four species is given. The new species differs from T. pilosipes and T. hybolasioides in having elytra with rounded lateral apical angles and a vertex with blackish-brown pubescence medially behind the eyes. The new species can also be easily distinguished from T. kabateki by the antennae being ventrally fringed with sparse hairs only on segments 1–8, the greyish-yellow pubescence on the pronotum being unevenly distributed and particularly sparse in the posterior half, the elytra having rather thin greyish-yellow pubescence and hardly visible greyish-white pubescence, elongated blackish-brown spots on the elytral longitudinal carinae, and a small tuft of black setae at the centre of the elytral base where there is no obvious tubercle. The type specimen of the new species was collected in Dianping village, Xinhua town, Leye county, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, and deposited at Insect Collection, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China (ICYZU). Full article

Cobboldia elephantis (Oestridae: Gasterophilinae) is an obligate parasite of the alimentary tract of the Asian elephant, causing gastric myiasis. Current knowledge of its first instar larval morphology has been limited to observations under light microscopy, significantly constraining our understanding of morphological evolution within the genus Cobboldia and the broader subfamily Gasterophilinae. In this study, we provided ultrastructural and three-dimensional characterizations of C. elephantis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) based on newly hatched first instar larvae. Features of the first instar larva of C. elephantis, which are either unique or shared with C. loxodontis Brauer, 1896, include (i) three pairs of mouthhooks, (ii) posterior spiracles bearing peristigmatic tufts, (iii) anal division with two spine-clusters and a row of elongated spines, and (iv) a planed, button-like sensilla and a sensillum placodeum. We also compared the first instar larval morphology of C. elephantis with that of Cobboldia loxodontis, Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (Owen, 1830), Gasterophilus pecorum (Fabricius, 1794), Portschinskia magnifica Pleske, 1926, and Oestrus ovis Linnaeus, 1758. Species of Gasterophilinae share several unique features of the first instar larva, including (i) an anal division composed of three subdivisions, (ii) spiracular slits on the posterior spiracles, and (iii) conserved positioning of thoracic sensilla. These findings fill a key gap in our knowledge of C. elephantis larval morphology and suggest that these distinctive structures play a role in adaptation to its parasitic lifestyle. Full article

The genus Grypoctonus Speiser, 1928 (Diptera: Asilidae) is a fuzzy-looking assassin fly, and adults have only been observed in autumn and winter. Currently containing four described species, this genus is readily distinguished from other Chinese asilids by the presence of two r-m crossveins. Through integrative taxonomic analysis of over 200 specimens from multiple Chinese provinces, we combined morphological assessment with DNA barcoding and four species delimitation methods (ABGD, ASAP, mPTP, and GMYC). Four species are newly described: G. aureus sp. nov., G. sagittatus sp. nov., G. solarius sp. nov., and G. yongshani sp. nov. (the latter described solely from morphological examination of historical specimens). Genetic analyses revealed distinct barcoding gaps, with an interspecific distance of 1.38–7.07% versus an intraspecific distance of no more than 0.92%. We revised the generic diagnosis, provided a distribution map, and a revised key to all known species of Grypoctonus. Full article

Chionea is classified within the Tipuloidea superfamily and predominantly inhabits cold regions. However, its phylogenetic relationships remain contentious. In this study, the first three mitogenomes of Chionea (Diptera: Limoniidae) sampled in northeastern China (Jilin region) were sequenced, and their phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed by integrating these sequences with 30 additional Tipuloidea mitogenomes retrieved from NCBI. Unlike other Tipuloidea species, which are predominantly distributed in relatively warmer regions, this research investigates whether positive selection has acted on the mitogenomes of these three Chionea species due to environmental pressures, thereby elucidating key evolutionary drivers for Chionea. The three mitogenomes of Chionea exhibit characteristic features typical of insect mitogenomes, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (16S rRNA and 12S rRNA), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNA), and a single non-coding control region (D-loop). Notably, the secondary structure of trnS1 lacks the DHU arm in all three samples, and UUA (Leu) emerges as the most frequently utilized codon. Furthermore, the COX2 and ND5 genes utilize incomplete stop codons “T”. Utilizing these 13 PCGs, we reconstructed the internal phylogenetic relationships within Tipuloidea, revealing that Chionea tianhuashana and C. sphaerae form sister branches, while (C. tianhuashana + C. sphaerae) constitutes a sister branch to C. crassipes. Moreover, our analysis confirms the monophyly of Tipulidae, Tipula, and Nephrotoma as well as the polyphyly of Tipulinae, Chioneinae, and Limoniidae. In the branch site model analysis, three positively selected sites were detected when Chionea was designated as the foreground branches: COX3 (at position 242), ND5 (at position 535), and ND6 (at position 138). Full article

Representatives of Dermestidae (skin, larder, and carpet beetles) play a crucial role as decomposers in global ecosystems, facilitating the recycling of animal and plant biomass to sustain nutrient cycling. Despite their widespread ecological presence and functional importance, the fossil record of their larval stages has remained sparse, with previous documentation limited to occasional discoveries. This study significantly expands the larval fossil record by identifying 36 amber-preserved specimens from the Cretaceous, Eocene, and Miocene time slices, obtained from deposits distributed globally. By challenging the historical view of larval fossil rarity, we reveal morphological changes in defensive setae over geological time, demonstrating that Cretaceous and later fossil larvae possess significantly longer absolute and relative setal lengths compared to their extant counterparts. These findings, bolstered by quantitative comparisons of setal and body dimensions across fossil and extant representatives, indicate evolutionary adaptations in defensive structures dating back at least 100 million years. Our results offer new insights into the paleobiology of the group Dermestidae, highlighting how the morphology of larvae potentially reflects historical ecological pressures and resources availability. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating fossil evidence with comparative morphology to elucidate the evolutionary trajectories and functional roles of larvae in ancient terrestrial ecosystems. Full article

This study presents a taxonomic revision of the genus Macrima Baly, 1878 to advance the understanding of suprageneric, non-monophyletic “Monoleptites”. Through comprehensive morphological examinations of all type specimens, including detailed analyses of male and female genitalia and the structure of the cavitous anterior part of the head, we propose M. roseofulva Medvedev, 2011 and M. ferrugina Jiang, 1990 as new synonyms of M. aurantiaca (Laboissière, 1936), M. bifida Yang, 1992 a new synonym of M. cornuta (Laboissière, 1936), and M. yunnanensis (Laboissière, 1936) as a new synonym of M. pallida (Laboissière, 1936). In addition, M. costatipennis Jacoby, 1896 is transferred to Hoplosaenidea Laboissière, 1933 (comb. nov.). Color photos of habitus, body details, and genitalia are presented for all species. Full article