Life Sciences Commons^™

Taxonomic Advances Driven By The Genomic Analysis Of Butterflies, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

This study presents new findings based on a large-scale analysis of butterfly genomic sequences. Focusing on species identification through comparative genomics, we define subspecies as populations differentiated to a lesser extent than distinct species ("species in the making"). Additionally, we propose further adjustments to the current butterfly classification. As a result, 3 subgenera, 12 species, and 4 subspecies are described as new. New subgenera are (type species in parenthesis): Hyalaus Grishin, subgen. n. (Papilio epidaus E. Doubleday, 1846) of Eurytides Hübner, [1821] (Papilionidae Latreille, [1802]) and Astria Grishin, subgen. n. (Lycaena astraea Freyer, 1851) of Glaucopsyche Scudder, 1872 …

Two New Species Of False Click Beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) From The Americas, Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

Identifications of recently collected Eucnemidae (Coleoptera: Elateroidea) borrowed from two collections have resulted in the discovery of two new species: Entomophthalmus abbreviatus Otto (Cuba) and Trigonopleurus cordobaalfaroi Otto (Guatemala and Louisiana, United States). Images of the two newly described species along with two New World Entomophthalmus Bonvouloir species for comparative purposes are included.

Resumen

Las identificaciones de Eucnemidae (Coleoptera: Elateroidea) recolectados recientemente tomados de dos colecciones han resultado en el descubrimiento de dos nuevas especies: Entomophthalmus abbreviatus Otto (Cuba) y Trigonopleurus cordobaalfaroi Otto (Guatemala y Louisiana, United States). Se incluyen imágenes de las dos especies recientemente descritas junto con …

New State Records Of Buprestidae (Coleoptera) For Idaho, Usa, Richard L. Westcott

Insecta Mundi

Five new state records for Idaho in the genera Agrilus Curtis, Anthaxia Eschscholtz, and Buprestis Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) are included herein, with brief comments thereon. Two of the species are believed to be introduced. Agrilus liragus Barter and Brown is elevated to a full species, resurrected status.

The Unbelievable Fauna Of American Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): Description Of Two New Species, Transference, And Notes In Acanthocinini, And A New Record In Calliini, Antonio Santos-Silva, Juan Pablo Botero

Insecta Mundi

Two new species and one new genus of Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are described in Acanthocinini: Embera flava new species, new genus, from Panama; and Nealcidion lingafelteri new species from Costa Rica. The species-group name of Nealcidion napoensis Nascimento and McClarin, 2018 is corrected and morphological variations in Leptostylus cristulatus Bates, 1872 are reported. Trypanidius mimicavus Carelli, Monné, and Souza, 2013 is redescribed and transferred to Carphina Bates, 1872, forming the new combination Carphina mimicavus. Colombicallia curta Galileo and Martins, 1992 (Calliini) is recorded from Panama for the first time.

Platygastroidea In The Oxford University Museum Of Natural History: Taxonomic Updates And A Photographic Catalog Of Type Specimens, Elijah J. Talamas, Jessica Awad, Francesco Tortorici, Norman F. Johnson

Insecta Mundi

High resolution images are provided for type specimens of Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera: Apocrita) in the Hope Entomological Collections, Oxford University. We formally resurrect Trissoscelio Kieffer revised status to accommodate T. bifasciata (Dodd) new combination, T. indica (Mani) new combination, T. nigriceps Kieffer revised combination, T. ruficeps Kieffer revised combination, and T. punctaticeps Kieffer revised combination. Paridris subplana (Dodd) new combination is transferred from Sceliacantha Dodd to Paridris Kieffer and treated as a senior synonym of P. coorgensis Sharma.

Analysis Of Pepsis Basifusca Lucas (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae) Taxonomy, Morphology, Biogeography, And Potential Host Spider, Frank E. Kurczewski

Insecta Mundi

A first-time analysis of taxonomically relevant characters, functional morphology, geographic distribution, ecoregion preference, and hypothetical host spiders of Pepsis basifusca Lucas (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae) is presented. This analysis is compared with other Nearctic species in Vardy’s (2005) Pepsis menechma species-group, particularly P. cerberus Lucas and P. elegans Lepeletier which are suspected parasitoids of trapdoor spiders. Pepsis basifusca females differ from females of these species in possessing a rounded gena-postgena in dorsal view; straight mid and hind tibial spurs; short hind tibial inner spur; and short, very stout, and backward slanted hind tibial bristles. Pepsis basifusca Level III Ecoregions …

Two New Species Of Bumblebee Scarabs (Coleoptera: Glaphyridae: Lichnanthe Burmeister) From The Central United States: A New Discovery In Wyoming Resolves A Century-Old Puzzle From The Nebraska Sand Hills, Matthew J. Paulsen

Insecta Mundi

The genus Lichnanthe Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Glaphyridae) has comprised eight Nearctic species and contains the only New World members of their family. Here, two new species of arenicolous bumblebee scarabs are described from the central United States. The recent discovery of an undescribed Wyoming species led to the reevaluation of a dubious 134-year-old Nebraska Lichnanthe specimen, indicating that it also was an undescribed species. These two species, Lichnanthe brusti new species from central Wyoming and L. bruneri new species from central Nebraska are immediately distinguishable from all existing species of the genus by their square mandibles.

A Revision Of Dyscolotaxia Horn, 1890 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Macraulacinae: Macraulacini), With The Description Of Amazotaxia New Genus From South America, Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

The Neotropical eucnemid genus, Dyscolotaxia Horn, is revised following the examination of specimens from five collections, examination of the published original description of Plesiofornax tetratoma Chassain, and from images provided by Fernanda Salazar-Buenaño (QCAZI). Dyscolotaxia championi Horn is redescribed with included descriptions of the male genitalia and a female specimen. Three new species of false click beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) are described from the Neotropical region. These new species are: Dyscolotaxia chiriquiensis (Panama), Dyscolotaxia hispaniolensis (Dominican Republic), and Dyscolotaxia picea (Ecuador). Amazotaxia new genus is described from South America for Plesiofornax tetratoma Chassain, creating Amazotaxia tetratoma (Chassain) new combination. Morphology …

Melittological Notes From Guatemala (Hymenoptera: Anthophila), 1. New Country Records For Centris Fabricius (Apidae) And Zikanapis Moure (Colletidae), Silas Bossert, José Monzón-Sierra, Richard S. Zack, Ana Cristina García, Elizabeth A. Murray

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

Three species of bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Colletidae) are newly recorded for Guatemala: Centris obscurior Michener, Centris vidua Mocsáry, and Zikanapis inbio (Michener, Engel and Ayala). We discuss aspects of their biology and circumstances of the collecting events and provide information on their presently known distribution.

Resumen

Se registran por primera vez tres especies de abejas (HymenopteraN: Apidae, Colletidae) para Guatemala: Centris obscurior Michener, Centris vidua Mocsáry, y Zikanapis inbio (Michener, Engel y Ayala). Discutimos aspectos de su biología, circunstancias bajo las cuáles fueron colectadas y se provee información en la distribución conocida actualmente.

Genomic Analysis Reveals New Species And Subspecies Of Butterflies, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Large-scale genomic sequencing of butterfly taxa reveals new findings that are presented here. While we focus on detecting species by comparative genomics and define subspecies as groups of populations genetically differentiated from each other but not as strongly as species (that is, subspecies as species in the making), we report other adjustments to butterfly classification. As a result, 4 subgenera, 11 species, and 6 subspecies are proposed as new. New subgenera are: Rapis Grishin, subgen. n. (type species Papilio rapae Linnaeus, 1758, genus Pieris Schrank, 1801) in Pieridae Swainson, 1820 and Callitera Grishin, subgen. n. (type species Eurygona? pulcherrima …

Reassessment Of Amblyscirtes Hegon (Hesperiidae) As A Complex Of Four Distinct Species Revealed By Genomic Analysis, Harry Pavulaan, Ricky Patterson, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

After the discovery of a unique phenotype in the southern United States with a different ventral ground color than nominotypical Amblyscirtes hegon (Scudder, 1863), which occurs in the northeastern United States, genomic analysis revealed that A. hegon is a species complex. Phenotypic, genitalic, and genomic differences of the complex are presented here. Four species are identified: A. hegon; A. nemoris (W. H. Edwards, 1864), stat. rest.; A. matheri Patterson, Pavulaan & Grishin, sp. n. (TL: USA, Mississippi, Warren County); and A. gelidus Grishin, Patterson & Pavulaan, sp. n. (TL: USA, Michigan, Van Buren County).

Aksakidion Odontokeras (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae: Eumolpini), A New Genus And Species In An Old Collection From Paraguay, Wills Flowers

Insecta Mundi

Aksakidion odontokeras, new genus and new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae: Eumolpini), is described from four specimens in the Bowditch Collection at Harvard University. It is dis­tinguished from all other genera in the Eumolpinae by an elongate, seta-bearing, tusk-like projection on the dorsal side of each mandible. Although locality data only mention Paraguay as the country of origin, information about the collector indicates it was collected in the late 19th century in the vicinity of Asunción.

During a recent visit to the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University (MCZ) to study type mate­rial of Neotropical Chrysomelidae, a short series …

The Stick Insects (Insecta: Phasmatodea) From The Cloud Forest Of The Chicaque Natural Park, Colombia, Andres David Murcia, Oscar J. Cadena-Castañeda

Insecta Mundi

A faunal study for the order Phasmatodea of the Chicaque Natural Park is presented, including a list of species found, descriptions, redescriptions, and biological notes. A total of nine species were found and studied; two new genera: Ramandeun new genus, Nubilophasma new genus, and four new species: Atrato­morpha jorgei new species, Isagoras franciscoverai new species, Nubilophasma chicaquensis new genus and new species, and Ramandeum coronatum new genus and new species are described. The description of the eggs of the new taxa, of the previously unknown eggs of Paraceroys quadrispinosus (Redtenbacher, 1906), and the redescription of …

Defensive Behaviors Of The Mealybug Nipaecoccus Nipae (Maskell, 1893) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) And The Green Lacewing Ceraeochrysa Claveri (Navás, 1911) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), With Videos Of Dorsal Packet Loading And Mealybug Ostiole Function, Erin C. Powell

Insecta Mundi

The interactions between the lacewing Ceraeochrysa claveri (Navás) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) larva and the coconut mealybug Nipaecoccus nipae (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) were recorded. The third-instar lacewing larva constructed a dorsal packet using mealybug wax from both male pupal cases and the bodies of adult females. Surprisingly, live nymphs were also frequently placed into the dorsal packet. Prey mealybugs were discarded and not incorporated into the packet after consumption. When disturbed, adult female mealybugs reflex bled from their dorsal ostioles, contacting the mouthparts of the lacewing. The lacewing quickly retreated to clean the mouthparts on the substrate, providing further evidence that ostiolar …

Predicting The Potential Distribution In South Korea Of Two Mealybug Species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Intercepted On Pineapples In Quarantine, S Bin Kim, Soo-Jung Suh

Insecta Mundi

Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) and Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley are major pests of pine­apples, ornamentals, and vegetable crops in many countries around the world. The potential distribution of these mealybug pests into South Korea remains a prime concern because of their high incidence in intercep­tions screened during inspection. Hence, these species prompted a modelling effort to assess their potential risk of introduction. Potential risk maps were developed for these pests with the CLIMEX model based on occurrence records under environmental data. The potential distribution of these pests in South Korea in the 2020s, 2050s and 2090s is projected based on the RCP …

A New Species Of Colyphus Spinola (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) From Veracruz, Mexico, Jacques Rifkind

Insecta Mundi

Colyphus lostuxtlas new species (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) is described from Veracruz, Mexico.

With the addition of the new species described herein, the genus Colyphus Spinola now comprises 27 species, distributed from Mexico to Panama (Ekis 1977; Rifkind 1997, 2014, 2020, 2023; Rifkind and Barr 2011). The spe­cies described herein is known only from a cloud forest reserve (part of La Reserva Biosfera Los Tuxtlas) on the lower slopes of Volcán San Martín in Veracruz, Mexico. Other Colyphus species with distributions in cloud forests include the Costa Rican species C. hansoni Rifkind, C. irazu Ekis, and C. ska Rifkind and Barr, …

Genomics-Based Taxonomic Rearrangement Of Achlyodini And Carcharodini (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Pyrginae), Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

Insecta Mundi

Genomic analysis of Pyrginae Burmeister, 1878 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae Latreille, 1809) with an emphasis on the tribes Achlyodini Burmeister, 1878 and Carcharodini Verity, 1940 reveals many incon­sistencies between the resulting phylogeny and the current classification. These problems are corrected by proposing new taxa, changing the ranks of others, or synonymizing them, and transferring species between genera. As a result, five subtribes, one genus, 20 subgenera, and one species are proposed as new: Cyclo­semiina Grishin, new subtribe (type genus Cyclosemia Mabille, 1878), Ilianina Grishin, new subtribe (type genus Iliana E. Bell, 1937), Nisoniadina Grishin, new subtribe (type genus Nisoniades Hübner, [1819]), …

Can The Vegetation Structure And Composition In Urban Green Spaces Determine Diversity Of Green Lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)?, Jose I. Martinez, Raiza J. Castillo, Adrián Ardila-Camacho, Charles V. Covell, José Isabel López-Arroyo, Francisco Javier Nava-Guízar

Insecta Mundi

Green spaces represent the only natural areas in several cities around the world, providing good shelters for the local fauna. Based on this premise, many ecological studies have been conducted focused on these areas. Most of these works are about insects, particularly butterflies and beetles. Our study is centered on a different group: green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). These insects exhibit a similar feeding behavior to some other groups, such as beetles. We estimated diversity, richness, distribution, abundance and similarity employing two methods: sweep netting and suction trapping. Also, oviposition hosts were identified in 20 different green spaces. Approximately 740 specimens …

An Illustrated Type Catalog Of Trichodesma Leconte, 1861 (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) From Mexico, With Description Of A New Species, Kyle E. Schnepp

Insecta Mundi

Trichodesma nancyae, new species (Coleoptera: Ptinidae), is described from Mexico. The species is illustrated and diagnosed, bringing the total number of extant species in the genus to 73. Lectotypes for Trichodesma beyeri Fall, Trichodesma scripta Champion, and Trichodesma texana Schaeffer are here designated. Habitus and label photographs are provided for types of 12 of the 13 species occurring in Mexico.

New Plagiosarus Bates, 1880 (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Acanthoderini) From Costa Rica And Notes On P. Melampus Congestus Bates, Josef Vlasak, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Plagiosarus transversus Vlasak and Santos-Silva, new species (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Acanthoderini), is described from Costa Rica. The rank of Plagiosarus melampus congestus Bates, 1885 is discussed.

Descriptions Of One Hundred New Species Of Hesperiidae, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Nick V. Grishin

Insecta Mundi

A century and a half since the time of Hewitson, we are experiencing a renaissance in species discovery fueled by whole genome sequencing. A large-scale genomic analysis of Hesperiidae Latreille, 1809 (Lepidoptera), including primary type specimens, reveals a deluge of species new to science. One hundred of them (one in a new genus) are described here from the New World (type localities are given in parenthesis): Drephalys (Drephalys) diovalis Grishin, new species (Ecuador: Napo), Euriphellus panador Grishin, new species (Ecuador: Esmeraldas), Euriphellus panamicus Grishin, new species (Panama: Panama), Cecropterus (Thorybes) viridissimus Grishin, new species (Ecuador: Zamora-Chinchipe), …

Taxonomic Review Of The North American Dung Beetle Genus Melanocanthon Halffter, 1958 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Deltochilini), W. D. Edmonds

Insecta Mundi

This paper presents a taxonomic review of the genus Melanocanthon Halffter, a group of ball-roll­ing (telocoprid) dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) endemic to eastern North America. The genus comprises five species, each keyed, diagnosed, illustrated and presented with information on dis­tribution, relationships, and biology: Melanocanthon punctaticollis (Schaeffer), M. granulifer (Schmidt), M. nigricornis (Say), M. bispinatus (Robinson) and Melanocanthon vulturnus Edmonds, new species.

This paper is a sequel to the recent taxonomic study of Boreocanthon (Edmonds 2022). Melanocanthon and Boreo­canthon are very closely related, distinct phylogenetic lineages with affinities to the pilularius species group of Canthon (Halffter 1961) and the …

Pepsis Elegans Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae)—A Secretive Spider Wasp And Century-Long Conundrum, Frank E. Kurczewski

Insecta Mundi

After 105 years of study and 425 recent natural photographs, the host spider and nesting behavior of Pepsis elegans Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae) remain a mystery. Pepsis elegans is the only species in the large and impressive genus Pepsis Fabricius that lives east of the Mississippi River, mainly in the southern U.S. The other 14 Nearctic Pepsis species inhabit the southern U.S. west of the Mississippi River and northern Mexico. They capture and provision their nests with large, hairy, heavy-bodied, stout-legged tarantulas of the genus Aphonopelma Pocock (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae), the only native theraphosid genus in this region. There are …

New State Records For 33 Species Of Round Fungus Beetles, Small Carrion Beetles And Mammal Nest Beetles (Coleoptera: Leiodidae) In Ohio, Usa, Ken D. Karns

Insecta Mundi

New state records for 33 species of Leiodidae (Coleoptera) are reported from Ohio, with the major­ity of records from one locality in the southeastern portion of the state. This doubles the known members of the family in Ohio to 66 species in 20 genera.

As part of an ongoing project through the Ohio Coleopterists Society to obtain records for a future checklist of the beetles of Ohio, the Leiodidae (Coleoptera) present an exceptional case. The family Leiodidae is represented by 38 genera and 382 species in North America north of Mexico (Peck and Newton 2017). In their annotated catalog of …

Examination Of The Status Of Phyciodes Tharos Distincta Bauer, 1975, Confirming It As A Valid Subspecies, Harry Pavulaan

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

The subspecific status of Phyciodes tharos distincta is reexamined. A specimen series from southern Arizona reveals that distincta shows a distinct, unique phenotype dissimilar from eastern North American nominotypical P. t. tharos. Subspecies distincta occupies a very limited range in extreme southeastern California, southern Arizona, and northwestern Mexico. A lectotype is designated.

First Record Of Paratelenomus Saccharalis (Dodd, 1914) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) A Natural Enemy Of The Invasive Species Brachyplatys Subaeneus (Westwood, 1837) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) In Panama And The Neotropical Region, Jean Carlos Abrego, José A. Rivera, Carelos Vargas H., Annette Garrido, Julio Gutiérrez L., Miguel A. Osorio-Arenas, Pedro A. Arauz L., Luis A. Jaén, Rubén Collantes G., Alonso Santos-Murgas

Insecta Mundi

Paratelenomus saccharalis (Dodd) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) parasitizing Brachyplatys subaeneus (Westwood) eggs is reported for the first time for Panama. Brachyplatys subaeneus is an invasive species from Asia and is regarded as an important agricultural pest in the Americas.

The family Plataspidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) contains 66 genera and 606 species described (Rider et al. 2018), all distributed in the Old World, with the greatest diversity in Asia and Africa. Within this family, the genus Brachyplatys Boisduval, 1835 (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) has an Asian distribution with about 50 described species. The species Brachyplatys subaeneus (Westwood, 1837) is distributed in the Indo-Malay biogeographic region, being …

Butterfly Classification And Species Discovery Using Genomics, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Genomic sequencing of worldwide butterfly fauna followed by phylogenetic analysis of protein-coding genes informs butterfly classification throughout the taxonomic hierarchy, from families to species. As a rule, we attribute the same taxonomic rank to more prominent clades of comparable divergence (that is, at the same level in the tree). For species delimitation, we use criteria based on relative genetic differentiation and the extent of gene exchange between populations. We analyze the current taxonomic classification of butterflies in the light of genomic phylogenies and encounter clades that correspond to yet unnamed taxa. As a result, 11 tribes, 33 subtribes, 2 genera, …

Acmaeodera (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): A New Species Of Acmaeodera Eschscholtz, 1829 From The Southwestern United States, With Three New Synonymies, New State And Host Records, And A Key To Species Occurring East Of The Rocky Mountain States, Jason A. Hansen

Insecta Mundi

Acmaeodera natlovei new species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is described from the southwestern United States. Details of phenology, geographic range, larval, flower and adult host plants, and similar spe­cies are discussed. Acmaeodera yuccavora Knull, 1962 is newly synonymized with Acmaeodera conoidea Fall, 1899. Acmaeodera thoracata Knull, 1974 and A. bryanti Van Dyke, 1953 are newly synonymized with Acmaeodera neoneglecta Fisher, 1949. New state and host records are reported for United States. A key to the 46 species of Acmaeodera occurring east of the Rocky Mountain states is provided.

Acmaeodera Eschscholtz, 1829 is one of the most speciose buprestid genera in America …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology: Master Bibliography, Sue Ann Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology Textbook

Master bibliography for the open educational resource/open access textbook Concepts in Animal Parasitology, Scott L. Gardner and Sue Ann Gardner, editors, published by Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 2024. This includes the references from literature cited and suggested supplemental reading.

Chinese Species Of The Genus Tricondyla Latreille, 1822 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) And A New Record For The Country, Xinxin Xiong, Jürgen Wiesner

Insecta Mundi

Tricondyla wiesneri Naviaux, 2002 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) is reported from China for the first time. Photographs, short descriptions, and an identification key for all six taxa of the genus Tricondyla La­treille, 1822 known from China are given.

The first author recently received several specimens of Tricondyla wiesneri Naviaux, 2002 that had been collected in Yingjiang County, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The second author compared them with the type specimens and confirmed the identification. The species was originally described from Laos, Louang Namtha province (Naviaux 2002: 48), later reported from Vietnam, Dien Bien province (Wiesner 2022: 191), …