Abstract Chlorocyphidae (Odonata: Zygoptera) represent a family of odonates found in tropical Asia and Africa, composed of 162 species. The family is characterized by a pronounced snout-like clypeus, wings that usually extend beyond the abdomen, and striking male coloration correlated with elaborate courtship behavior. Morphological differences between species and among genera are limited. To date, there is no extensive phylogeny of the group. As a result, the current classification is primarily based on coloration and morphological features that have not been tested in a phylogenetic framework. Our taxon sampling includes 90 species (> 55% of diversity). We targeted 92 AHE genes to test previous hypotheses of chlorocyphid classification. We present an updated classification. We recover Chlorocyphidae as monophyletic and Cyrano as sister to the remaining genera. We describe two new subfamilies, increasing the number to six: Cyranoinae Fomekong-Lontchi, Kalkman and Bybee subfam. nov. and Indocyphinae Fomekong-Lontchi, Kalkman and Bybee subfam. nov. A total of 26 species are reclassified to another genus (highlighting the difficulty with Chlorocyphidae morphology and classification), of which 13 are placed in two newly described genera: Ebenocypha Fomekong-Lontchi, Kalkman and Bybee gen. nov. and Scapanocypha Fomekong-Lontchi, Kalkman and Bybee gen. nov. Also, the genera Melanocypha, Pachycypha, Sclerocypha, and Watuwila are synonymized with Libellago. This new classification provides a framework for future studies of chlorocyphid evolution, including their courtship and biogeography.
Abstract For the first time we provide embryological information for Archostemata and Myxophaga, two very small but phylogenetically crucial suborders of Coleoptera. For this purpose we used Tenomerga mucida of Cupedidae, the largest archostematan family, and Satonius kurosawai of Torridincolidae, the largest family of Myxophaga. The egg of T. mucida is cylindrical with a well-developed micropylar projection on the anterior pole of the egg. A long embryo forms on the ventral side of the egg, and with its progressive growth the segmentation rapidly proceeds, with an embryogenesis of the long-germ type. The elongated embryo then immerses into the egg, and taking a position in the egg along its anteroposterior axis, it continues to develop until blastokinesis occurs. Undergoing this process, the embryo appears on the egg surface, and with the progressive definitive dorsal closure, it acquires its definitive configuration. The first instar larva, which lacks an egg tooth, hatches, biting the chorion open with its robust mandibles. The egg of S. kurosawai is oval and lacks a micropylar projection. A small embryo forms on the ventral surface. It stretches along the egg surface, increasing its length, and successively forming the segments, with its caudal end passing the posterior end of the egg and anteriorly almost reaching near the anterior pole. In contrast to T. mucida , the embryogenesis is of the short-germ type. With the blastokinesis taking place and the definitive dorsal closure proceeding, the embryo acquires its definitive configuration. The first instar larva hatches by tearing the chorion longitudinally. Comparing the information obtained such as regarding the micropylar projections and germ types with those of other groups of beetles and Neuropterida, we discuss the phylogenetic relationships of coleopteran suborders. Our embryological study does not fit well with the sister group relationship between Archostemata and Myxophaga as suggested by recent large-scale molecular phylogenetic studies, i.e., requiring additional evolutionary steps and differing profoundly in the developmental pattern. In contrast, they are fully compatible with patterns suggested based on morphology, especially “Archostemata + (Adephaga + (Myxophaga + Polyphaga))”.
Abstract Tanaidacea contains about 1600 species across four superfamilies (Apseudoidea, Neotanaoidea, Paratanaoidea, and Tanaidoidea). Phylogenetic relationships among the four superfamilies had been investigated molecularly with one to several genes, or with transcriptome data, but not with mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) data. Mitogenome data were available only for Pseudotanais sp. (Paratanaoidea) and Arctotanais alascensis (Tanaidoidea). We sequenced and annotated a complete mitogenome sequence for Sinelobus kisui (Tanaidoidea) and nearly complete mitogenome sequences for Apseudes nipponicus , Apseudes ranma , Carpoapseudes spinigena (Apseudoidea), and Neotanais sp. (Neotanaoidea). We detected the typical two rRNA and 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) in all five species, but failed to detect one to five tRNAs in each species. The gene orders of the four superfamilies differed from the pancrustacean ground pattern and from one another. In maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees based on amino acid and nucleotide datasets for the 13 PCGs and two rRNA genes, Tanaidacea emerged as a weakly supported sister clade to Isopoda. Within Tanaidacea, a fully supported Apseudoidea was the sister group to a moderately supported clade comprising the other three superfamilies; in the latter clade, a weakly supported Tanaidoidea clade was successively sister to Paratanaoidea and then to Neotanaoidea. The mitogenome-based topology among the four superfamilies differed from previous topologies based on 18S rRNA or transcriptome data (Apseudoidea, (Paratanaoidea, (Neotanaoidea, Tanaidoidea))). This contradiction suggests possible effects of mito–nuclear discordance or long-branch attraction for Pseudotanais sp. and S. kisui .
Abstract Despite the recorded presence in Hawai'i of Cephalonomia hyalinipennis, a presumed parasitoid of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), it has never been recovered from infested coffee berries. Here we show, using morphometric and molecular data, that what has been recorded in Hawai'i as C. hyalinipennis is actually a complex of morphologically similar species, each distinct from specimens attacking the coffee berry borer in Chiapas, and from the C. hyalinipennis types from Florida. The taxon from Chiapas utilizing the coffee berry borer is also found to be distinct from C. hyalinipennis sensu stricto, and is here described as C. soconuscensis sp. nov. The five species found in Hawai'i are described as Cephalonomia lynnea sp. nov., a parasitoid of Hypothenemus eruditus; Cephalonomia luiji sp. nov.; Cephalonomia liula sp. nov., a parasitoid of a Leptophloeus sp. known to predate on the coffee berry borer; Cephalonomia kala sp. nov.; and Cephalonomia zander sp. nov., a parasitoid of an Ozognathus sp. Laboratory testing showed that C. lynnea has the ability to develop on coffee berry borer larvae, but it does not appear to do so in the wild. In addition to morphological data, DNA barcoding was used to provide further support for distinguishing species in the C. hyalinipennis species complex. The large dataset of morphometric measurements showing reliability of different ratios, and degenerate PCR primers developed to permit assembly of COI barcodes even from old museum specimens, should enable more rapid discernment within such cryptic species complexes in the future.
In the highly diverse, endemic Madagascan lineage of Syntomini, the "black-and-white" general body pattern appears to be present in a few closely unrelated clades (and in six existing genera), causing uncertainties in their systematics. Based on materials from five natural history collections, we confirm the monophyletic character of the morphologically variable and largely montane genus Tritonaclia Hampson, 1898, with six existing species, inferred from both molecular and morphological evidence. The taxonomy of the genus is revisited, with the description of two new species: T. vonifotsy Wiorek, sp. nov. and T. ombilahy Wiorek & Przyby & lstrok;owicz, sp. nov.. Naclia melania Oberth & uuml;r, 1923 syn. nov. is treated as a junior subjective synonym of Glaucopis tollini Keferstein, 1870, and lectotypes of both taxa, now placed in Tritonaclia, are designated. We provide determination keys for the genus, based on adults, and their male and female genitalia. All available data on the distribution and ecology of Tritonaclia species are presented, including new geolocalisation of some important insect collecting places in Madagascar. Additionally, we provide descriptions and illustrations of male scent scales (androconial patches) on fore- and hindwings, present in two Tritonaclia species: T. tollini and T. vonifotsy Wiorek, sp. nov. Such structures are recorded in the tribe Syntomini for the first time.
