Larvae of Lepidoptera are predominantly herbivorous, feeding mainly on plant tissues of angiosperms. Some Lithosiini larvae, however, are capable of feeding on lichens, mosses, and algae, forming a distinctive ecological association within Lepidoptera. This study presents the first comprehensive investigation of the biology and larval morphology of Miltochrista pallida, a widespread representative of Asian Lithosiini. Through laboratory rearing and detailed observations under optical and scanning electron microscopy, it was found that the egg stage lasts approximately seven days, while the larval stage spans 21–31 days and consists of five instars. Early instars were observed feeding on moss-covered bark under laboratory conditions, whereas third through fifth instar larvae accepted mulberry leaves in addition to moss. This observation should be interpreted as laboratory feeding acceptance rather than evidence of a natural host plant association. Larvae of M. pallida exhibit several distinctive features, including mandibles with a mola, the presence of secondary setae from the first instar, and uniserial mesoseries crochets. These findings provide new morphological and biological evidence for identifying Lithosiini larvae and contribute to understanding the adaptive evolution of lichen- and moss-feeding strategies within Arctiinae.

We describe two new species—Holopogon hyalopterus sp. nov. and Molobratia zhangi sp. nov.—and report the first record of Cyrtopogon centralis for Liaoning Province. Morphological identifications were supported by molecular evidence from 34 full-length (658 bp) COI barcode sequences. Both Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) and multi-rate Poisson Tree Processes (mPTP) analyses consistently delineated three distinct species, confirming the morphological conclusions. This research provides the first systematic study of Liaoning’s asilid diversity, highlighting the province’s underexplored status and its importance for understanding insect biogeography in Northeast Asia.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of Tipula (Pterelachisus) cinereocincta mesacantha Alexander, 1934, T. (P.) legalis Alexander, 1933, T. (P.) varipennis Meigen, 1818, and T. (P.) yasumatsuana Alexander, 1954 are reported, three of them being sequenced for the first time. The mitochondrial genome lengths of the four species are 15,907 bp, 15,625 bp, 15,772 bp, and 15,735 bp, respectively. All genomes exhibit a high AT base composition, with A + T content of 76.7%, 75.0%, 77.8%, and 75.4%, respectively. The newly reported mitogenomes herein show a general similarity in overall structure, gene order, base composition, and nucleotide content to those of the previously studied species within the family Tipulidae. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted to investigate the relationships within Tipulidae, using both Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference approaches. The results show that the four target species of the subgenus T. (Pterelachisus) basically form a monophyletic group within Tipulidae, clustering with species of the Tipula subgenera T. (Lunatipula), T. (Vestiplex), and T. (Formotipula); however, the genus Tipula is not monophyletic. Moreover, neither the tipulid subfamily Tipulinae nor the family Limoniidae is supported to be a monophyletic group. The monophyly of the family Tipulidae, and the sister relationship between Tipulidae and Cylindrotomidae are reconfirmed. These research findings could contribute to deep insights into the systematic and evolutionary patterns of crane flies.

The subgenus Vestiplex of the genus Tipula is one of the most species-rich groups in the family Tipulidae. Here, we present the first mitochondrial genome of the subgenus Vestiplex. The nearly complete mitochondrial genome of Tipula aestiva Savchenko, 1960 (Genbank accession number: OM287601) was 16083 bp in length and consisted of 13 PCGs, 22 tRNA and two rRNA genes. The phylogenetic the tree of family Tipulidae was reconstructed based on 13 PCGs sequences using the maximum likelihood method. The result strongly supported the monophyly of the family Tipulidae. The subgenus Vestiplex is indicated as the sister group of subgenera Pterelachisus and Formotipula.

Tipuloidea (crane flies) is one of the most species-rich groups of Diptera, including over 15,000 species worldwide, with a wide variety of habitats. However, relatively less attention has been paid to the larvae of crane flies in contrast to the better-known adults. In this study, Tipula ( Pterelachisus ) cinereocincta mesacantha Alexander, 1934 is added to the fauna of China, from larvae found beneath a piece of moss in a forest of eastern Liaoning and reared and associated with the adult stage. The external structures of the larva are described thoroughly accompanied by light microscopy photographs. In addition, with scanning electron microscopy, more detailed structures of the larval head capsule, the antenna and the mouthparts are presented for the first time for the larvae of Tipula ( Pterelachisus ). Some microscopic structures, including the paired peg-like sensilla on the central teeth of epipharynx, and a pair of cushiony lobes anterior to the teeth, are newly recorded for the larva of Tipuloidea. On the basis of the comparison of larval characters, the described larvae of Pterelachisus are roughly categorized into three groups. The variations of larval heads between T . ( P .) cinereocincta mesacantha and other related species are also discussed. This discovery will provide new data and insights for further research on the taxonomy and phylogeny of Tipuloidea, as well as some evidence on the biology and adaptions of crane fly larvae.

Fourteen species/subspecies of the subgenus Tipula (Vestiplex) Bezzi (1924) were previously known to occur in the Northwest China. Here, four species are added to the fauna of this region. Among them T. (V.) quadricorna sp. nov. and T. (V.) shaanxiana sp. nov. are described and illustrated as new; T. (V.) coquillettiana Alexander, 1924 and T. (V.) scripta Meigen, 1830 are reported from China for the first time. Furthermore, we re-described and illustrated the T. (V.) kuwayamai Alexander, 1921 based on additional morphological characters. A key to the species of Tipula (Vestiplex) from Northwest China is presented.

Twelve species of the subgenus Vestiplex (Diptera, Tipulidae) were previously known to occur in Tibet (= Xizang), China. Here, six species are described and illustrated as new to science: Tipula (Vestiplex) bucera sp. nov., Tipula (Vestiplex) magatama sp. nov., Tipula (Vestiplex) motuoensis sp. nov., Tipula (Vestiplex) nayogabuensis sp. nov., Tipula (Vestiplex) platyphylla sp. nov. and Tipula (Vestiplex) uncinella sp. nov. The following three species are redescribed: Tipula (Vestiplex) himalayensis Brunetti, 1911, Tipula (Vestiplex) nigroapicalis Brunetti, 1911 and Tipula (Vestiplex) zayulensis Alexander, 1963. A key to the species of Tipula (Vestiplex) from Tibet is presented.

One new species of the subgenus Eriocera Macquart,1838, Hexatoma (Eriocera) xizangensissp. nov. is described and illustrated from Xizang, China. The following four species are re-described and reported from Xizang for the first time: H. (E.) latigrisea Alexander, 1971, H. (E.) nepalensis (Westwood, 1836), H. (E.) paragnava Alexander, 1973 and H. (E.) perhirsuta Alexander, 1973. A key to the species of Eriocera from Xizang is presented.

Only seven species of the genus Tipula Linnaeus were previously known to occur in Laos. Here one new species is added to the fauna of Laos, Tipula (Nippotipula) champasakensis sp. nov. Tipula (unplaced) cladomera Alexander, 1936 is designated as a synonym of T. (unplaced) reposita Walker, 1848, syn. nov. A key to species of the genus Tipula from Laos is presented.

2019年11月16至18日,在云南省西双版纳傣族自治州勐腊县勐仑镇中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园先后两次观察和拍摄到一种鹎科鸟类.经查文献并与所观察记录到鸟的形态特征进行比对,鉴定为白眉黄臀鹎(Pycnonotus goiavier),为中国新记录鸟种.

利用光学和扫描电子显微镜对采自武陵山区澧水的1种中国新记录硅藻——喙状比利牛斯山微小曲壳藻进行了形态研究。该种的鉴定特征为壳面线形披针形,具有喙状的末端,有壳缝壳面末端线纹呈略微会聚状或近平行排列,孔纹膜为筛状。该研究结果扩展了对喙状比利牛斯山微小曲壳藻形态结构和地理分布的认识。

The genus Tipula Linnaeus, 1758 is a large group of crane flies with more than 2400 known species from 41 subgenera. In this study, we report the first complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequence of the subgenus Tipula (Yamatotipula), which is a circular molecule of 15,668 bp with an AT content of 77.2%. The mt genome contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a long non-coding region. Three conserved overlapping regions, 8 bp between tRNA(Trp) and tRNA(Cys), 7 bp between ATP8 and ATP6, and 7 bp between ND4 and ND4L, are found. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the Tipulomorpha includes the family Trichoceridae and the Trichoceridae is sister-group to the remaining Tipulomorpha.

Cochliobolus lunatus (teleomorph: Curvularia lunata) is an important plant pathogenic fungus that causes the maize foliar spot, resulting in serious yield losses. In ascomycetes, a single mating-type (MAT) locus with two idiomorphs controls sexual development. The structure and arrangement of the MAT genes were examined to understand the MAT locus of C. lunatus. MAT loci were MAT1–1-1 or MAT1–2-1, flanked upstream and downstream by regions encoding GTPase activating protein, pyridoxamine phosphate oxidase domain, and β-glucosidase. A MAT1–1 or MAT1–2 idiomorph was identified in single isolate, and sexual reproduction in vitro indicated that the species was heterothallic. In vitro crossing between isolates with opposite MATs produced perithecia, asci, and ascospores. A multiplex MAT-specific PCR method was developed and used to test mating-type genes in 177 C.lunatus isolates collected from China. The ratio of isolates of each mating-type in China was consistent with a 1:1 ratio.

Nine novel compounds, six euphane triterpenes, Euphorol A-D (1-4), H (8) and I (9), and three tirucallane triterpenes, Euphorol E-G (5-7) including four nortriterpenes, together with seven known compounds (10-16) have been isolated from the methanol extraction of Euphorbium. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive analyses of their HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR methods. A putative biogenetic relationship to these compounds was proposed. The cytotoxicity of all these isolates against MCF-7, U937 and C6 cancer cell lines was evaluated. Compounds 1-3, 10, 11 and 13-16 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities.

The genus Elephantomyia from China is reviewed. Two species, E. laohegouensis sp. nov. and E. tianmushana sp. nov., are described as new to science. One species, E. inulta Alexander, 1938, is recorded for China for the first time. Seven known Chinese species/subspecies are redescribed and illustrated. A key to the species of the genus Elephantomyia from China is given.

The genus Toxorhina Loew from China is reviewed. Seven species belonging to the subgenus Ceratocheilus Wesche are recognized, of which three species, T. (C.) huanglica sp. n., T. (C.) omnifusca sp. n. and T. (C.) univirgata sp. n., are described as new to science, T. (C.) fuscolimbata Alexander is recorded from China for the first time, and three known species are redescribed and illustrated.