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A new genus Nipponoluciola Ballantyne, Kawashima, Jusoh & Suzuki is proposed and described from males, females and larvae for two species of Japanese fireflies (Coleoptera, Lampyridae, Luciolinae) which have aquatic larvae. The famous Genji-botaru, the Genji firefly, formerly Luciola cruciata Motschulsky, 1854, now stands under Nipponoluciola cruciata (Motschulsky) gen. et. comb. nov. It is proposed that the original designation of this species from Java was in error and that the species is only known from Japan. The lesser known Kumejima-botaru, formerly Luciola owadai Satô & Kimura, 1994, now stands under Nipponoluciola owadai (Satô & Kimura) gen. et comb. nov. A neotype for Luciola cruciata is designated. Keys to adult males and larvae of Luciolinae genera with aquatic larvae are given. An overview of the status of the genus Luciola s. str. is given. Supplementary file addresses 1. Mitogenome analyses of the Luciolinae; 2. List of species of Luciola s. str.; 3. List of Japanese Luciolinae; 4. The identity of Luciola lateralis Motschulsky.
Bartonellae are facultative intracellular alpha-proteobacteria often transmitted by arthropods. Ixodes ricinus is the most important vector for arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe. However, its vector competence for Bartonella spp. is still unclear. This study aimed to experimentally compare its vector competence for three Bartonella species: B. henselae, B. grahamii, and B. schoenbuchensis. A total of 1333 ticks (1021 nymphs and 312 adults) were separated into four groups, one for each pathogen and a negative control group. Ticks were fed artificially with bovine blood spiked with the respective Bartonella species. DNA was extracted from selected ticks to verify Bartonella-infection by PCR. DNA of Bartonella spp. was detected in 34% of nymphs and females after feeding. The best engorgement results were obtained by ticks fed with B. henselae-spiked blood (65.3%) and B. schoenbuchensis (61.6%). Significantly more nymphs fed on infected blood (37.3%) molted into adults compared to the control group (11.4%). Bartonella DNA was found in 22% of eggs laid by previously infected females and in 8.6% of adults molted from infected nymphs. The transovarial and transstadial transmission of bartonellae suggest that I. ricinus could be a potential vector for three bacteria.