Erichsonella attenuata is a free-living marine isopod distributed across the Gulf of Mexico; however, quantitative information on its population structure and reproductive biology remains limited. We examined 2315 individuals collected in Tamiahua Lagoon, Veracruz, Mexico, to describe body-size structure, reproductive activity, and reproductive output. Males exhibited a broader body-size distribution and attained larger maximum sizes than females. Gravid females occurred only above a minimum body-size threshold, and the probability of being gravid increased significantly with total length. Reproductive-structure counts were analyzed separately for females containing coelomic reproductive structures and those carrying marsupial embryos. Marsupial embryo counts increased significantly with female body size, whereas no significant relationship was observed for coelomic reproductive structures. Reproductive-structure counts also differed significantly between the two anatomical categories, supporting their treatment as separate reproductive conditions rather than as a single measure of reproductive output. Reproductive activity was observed during six of the seven sampling dates. These findings provide one of the first quantitative descriptions of the population structure and reproductive biology of E. attenuata from the Gulf of Mexico and provide a baseline for future studies of reproductive ecology in valviferan isopods.
Copepods are widely recognized as biologically superior live prey for many marine fish larvae, yet their routine large-scale production remains a major bottleneck in aquaculture. Within this context, the harpacticoid genus Tigriopus has attracted increasing attention because it combines broad environmental tolerance, ease of culture, and promising nutritional and biotechnological value. This review critically examines the current state of knowledge on the genus Tigriopus, with particular emphasis on its aquaculture relevance, while integrating the biological, ecological and ecotoxicological framework needed to interpret the specific case of the Mediterranean species T. fulvus. The available literature shows that in aquaculture, the potential of this copepod genus is supported by complementary evidence across species. T. californicus currently provides the strongest proof of concept for pilot-scale biomass production and biochemical valorization, particularly as a source of omega-3- and astaxanthin-rich biomass. T. japonicus contributes most clearly to culture optimization and live-feed application, especially with respect to feeding performance and stocking-density effects. Tigriopus fulvus, in contrast, remains an earlier-stage but credible Mediterranean candidate, showing promising diet-dependent naupliar production and survival, although its culture technology is still underdeveloped. Overall, Tigriopus should be regarded as a genus of growing relevance for aquaculture, not only as live prey but also as a potential source of functional biomass. Future progress will depend on improved mass-culture methods, feeding optimization, harvesting efficiency, and a comparative species-level framework linking biological traits to specific aquaculture applications.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Balancing of macronutrient intake assumes that animals change their food preferences to increase consumption of the deficient nutrients and/or decrease consumption of nu-trients 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 sug-ar-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. Carbohy-drate-deprived harvestmen (Leiobunum gracile) consumed more aphids than nutritionally balanced ones. 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 protein deficiency. We suggest that carbohydrate deprivation in predators may enhance aphid control.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
