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Knowledge about the taxonomy and distribution of the monogeneric polychaete family Longosomatidae Hartman, 1944 is limited in all parts of the world. A new species of the genus Heterospio Ehlers, 1874 (Annelida, Longosomatidae) is described from the Indian Ocean. Heterospio indica sp. nov. is mainly characterised by the conspicuous flattening of the distal half of capillary chaetae located in anterior elongated segments. Several body characters of high taxonomic relevance in the genus are examined under the SEM and discussed. The 18S SSU rDNA and COI genes were sequenced and represent the first sequencing of a species of Heterospio, and the sequences have been deposited in GenBank.
We review the genus Cyclargus Nabokov (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) based on detailed comparative analyses of wing patterns, genitalia, and mitochondrial COI DNA barcode sequences, and suggest that Cyclargus is composed of four species: C. thomasi (Clench), C. woodruffi (W. Comstock and Huntington), C. ammon (Lucas), and C. dominica (Möschler). The following new subjective synonyms are proposed: C. erembis Nabokov syn. n. and C. kathleena K. Johnson and Matusik syn. n. are C. thomasi noeli (W. Comstock and Huntington); C. sorpresus K. Johnson and Matusik syn. n. and C. shuturn K. Johnson and Bálint syn. n. are C. ammon; and Cyclargus oualiri Brevignon syn. n. is C. woodruffi. Additionally, we report the discovery of C. thomasi noeli in Cuba (where this taxon was previously confused with C. ammon), report C. ammon from Hispaniola for the first time, and document the widespread sympatry of C. thomasi and C. ammon in the northern Caribbean (including south Florida, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Hispaniola, Lucayan Archipelago). Finally, we provide a provisional synonymic list of Cyclargus taxa, which may serve as a taxonomic framework to assist efforts to conserve the Miami blue (C. thomasi bethunebakeri (W. Comstock and Huntington)), a taxon listed as "Endangered" under the Endangered Species Act in the United States.
Four new species of the genus Willowsia Shoebotham, 1917 are described from China: W. fascia Zhang & Pan sp. nov., W. pseudoplatani Zhang & Pan sp. nov., W. pseudobuskii sp. nov., and W. similis sp. nov. Willowsia qui Zhang, Chen & Deharveng, 2011 is re-described based on types and fresh material. All five species possess the pointed body scales with basal ribs longer than distal ones. These scales are absent on antennae, legs, ventral tube and furca. Colour pattern and dorsal chaetotaxy are the main diagnostic characters for these species. DNA barcodes of four species are also provided, with genetic distances compared. A key to the Willowsia species having scales of the long basal rib type is given.
In this study, we examine 500 specimens of Anaplecta collected from China, of which 26 samples were used for COI sequencing. We confirm eight new species, i.e., Anaplecta corneola Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta staminiformis Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta arcuata Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta strigata Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta furcata Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta cruciata Deng & Che sp. nov., Anaplecta nigra Deng & Che sp. nov. and Anaplecta bicolor Deng & Che sp. nov. based on morphological and molecular data using ABGD and GMYC analyses. The results of ABGD and GMYC were basically consistent with the morphospecies of Anaplecta. The intraspecific and interspecific genetic distances of Anaplecta ranged from 0 to 6.6% and 16.8% to 31.8%, respectively. We found the male genitalia of Anaplecta to exhibit intraspecific variation, especially in the phallomeres.
Five species of the cheiracanthiid spider genus Cheiracanthium C.L. Koch, 1839 collected from China are diagnosed and described as new to science based on morphological characters: Cheiracanthium arcilongum sp. nov. (♂♀) from Yunnan, C. circulum sp. nov. (♂♀) from Yunnan, C. digitatum sp. nov. (♂♀) from Anhui, C. jiuquan sp. nov. (♂♀) from Guangxi and C. xinjiangense sp. nov. (♂♀) from Xinjiang. In addition, the photos of the habitus, copulatory organs and distribution map are provided for all species. However, DNA barcodes information is only provided for four species.
New taxa and new records of Winnertziinae and Porricondylinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from Germany
(2024)
Winnertziinae and Porricondylinae are two subfamilies of mycophagous Cecidomyiidae (gall midges). An earlier census in 2021 found the German fauna of both groups to comprise 53 species and 28 genera – only a small proportion of the nearly 400 species and 75 genera known from all of Europe. A 24-month inventory in 2021‒2023, whose most significant taxonomic and faunistic outcomes are presented here, yielded evidence of an additional 142 species and 24 genera present in Germany, more precisely 41 species and three genera of Winnertziinae, and 101 species and 21 genera of Porricondylinae. Included in these numbers are 30 new species (six Winnertziinae, 24 Porricondylinae) and one new genus (of Porricondylinae) described and named here. The number of potentially new species discovered during the project is considerably larger (85+), but the too poor condition of the specimens and various other circumstances do not permit their taxonomic description at this stage. New taxa named in the present paper are Johnsonomyia szadziewskii sp. nov., Rhipidoxylomyia bilobata sp. nov., Winnertzia haushoferorum sp. nov., Winnertzia incrassata sp. nov., Winnertzia macrodens sp. nov., Winnertzia subdentata sp. nov., all Winnertziinae, Asynapta doczkali sp. nov., Asynapta falcata sp. nov., Bryocrypta longissima sp. nov., Camptomyia serrata sp. nov., Cassidoides rainensis sp. nov., Cassidoides riparius sp. nov., Claspettomyia gracilostylus sp. nov., Claspettomyia parvidentata sp. nov., Divellepidosis bavarica sp. nov., Lamellepidosis luderbuschensis sp. nov., Neurepidosis hartschimmelhofensis sp. nov., Neurepidosis simplex sp. nov., Parepidosis lobata sp. nov., Porricondyla acutistylata sp. nov., Porricondyla insolita sp. nov., Porricondyla oblonga sp. nov., Porricondyla ornata sp. nov., Porricondyla pilosoides sp. nov., Porricondyla plana sp. nov., Porricondyla pumila sp. nov., Schistoneurus paraimpressus sp. nov., Schistoneurus subimpressus sp. nov., Spungisomyia germanica sp. nov., Wohllebenia gen. nov., and Wohllebenia hybrida gen. et sp. nov., all Porricondylinae. Taxonomic descriptions are based on both the morphology of males and, if available, CO1 (DNA barcode) sequences, using specimens collected by Malaise traps in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the two southernmost federal states of Germany. Released here are 150 BINs new to BOLD as well as 145 species names for previously unidentified BINs in BOLD. Redescriptions of male morphology are provided for Camptomyia heterobia Mamaev, 1961, Claspettomyia carpatica Mamaev, 1998, Dicerura scirpicola Kieffer, 1898, and Winnertzia betulicola Mamaev, 1963. The state of knowledge of Germany’s fauna of mycophagous gall midges is discussed.
A new species of the spider genus Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805 from Mexico is described based on an integrative taxonomic approach. Latrodectus occidentalis Valdez-Mondragón sp. nov. is described using the molecular markers cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), morphology of male and female specimens, and Species Distribution Models (SDM). Four molecular methods for species delimitation were implemented. The new species is characterized by having a unique dorsal coloration pattern on the abdomen. Latrodectus occidentalis sp. nov. is considered a distinct and valid species for four reasons: (1) it can be distinguished by morphological characters (genital and somatic); (2) the average interspecific genetic variation is > 2%; (3) 12 haplotypes were recovered within the species, being separated by the next close haplogroup of L. hesperus Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935 (30 mutations); and (4) congruence was observed among the four molecular methods. The number of recorded species of Latrodectus from Mexico increases to four: Latrodectus mactans (Fabricius, 1775), L. hesperus Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935, L. geometricus C.L. Koch, 1841 (introduced), and L. occidentalis sp. nov. The diversity of the genus Latrodectus from Mexico is surely underestimated, and more sampling is needed from the different biogeographical provinces and ecoregions to fill in these gaps.
Sweat bees in the subgenus Lasioglossum (Dialictus) are one of the most diverse and abundant bee taxa, and a critically important component of bee biodiversity. Yet, the most basic taxonomic knowledge of these bees is lacking in many regions. As a step towards a better understanding of the L. (Dialictus) of the western Nearctic region, a revision of the ‘red-tailed’ L. (Dialictus) species was completed. Thirty-six species were revised, 20 of which are described as new, and two names are treated as junior subjective synonyms. Descriptions, figures, distribution maps, floral hosts, and keys to species for females and males are provided. The following 20 species are described as new: Lasioglossum (Dialictus) arenisaltans sp. nov., L. (D.) argammon sp. nov., L. (D.) austerum sp. nov., L. (D.) cactorum sp. nov., L. (D.) cembrilacus sp. nov., L. (D.) clastipedion sp. nov., L. (D.) clavicorne sp. nov., L. (D.) decorum sp. nov., L. (D.) festinum sp. nov., L. (D.) imbriumbrae sp. nov., L. (D.) julipile sp. nov., L. (D.) lilianae sp. nov., L. (D.) meteorum sp. nov., L. (D.) miltolepoides sp. nov., L. (D.) minckleyi sp. nov., L. (D.) perditum sp. nov., L. (D.) rufornatum sp. nov., L. (D. ) spivakae sp. nov., L. (D.) tessellatosum sp. nov., and L. (D.) torrens sp. nov. Previously unknown males of L. (D.) clematisellum (Cockerell, 1904), L. (D.) droegei Gibbs, 2009, L. (D.) kunzei (Cockerell, 1898), and L. (D.) pallidellum (Ellis, 1914) are described and figured for the first time. Lasioglossum (Dialictus) clarissimum (Ellis, 1914) (= Halictus clarissimus Ellis, 1914) and L. (D.) perexiguum (Sandhouse, 1924) (= Halictus (Chloralictus) perexiguus Sandhouse, 1924) are new subjective junior synonyms of L. mesillense (Cockerell, 1898) (= Halictus nymphalis var. mesillensis Cockerell, 1898). A lectotype specimen is newly designated for L. mesillense, for which the location of the type material has not previously been known. The following five new records for Mexico are reported: L. clematisellum, L. droegei, L. eophilus (Ellis, 1914), L. kunzei, and L. pallidellum.
Using molecular tools to differentiate closely related blackfly species of the genus Simulium
(2008)
Biodiversity data are the foundation for conservation and managemet and taxonomy provides the reference system, skills and tools used to identify organisms. Species level data such as species richness, composition and diversity are common metrics. However, species level identification of organisms tends to be neglected within ecological work, especially within monitoring programmes, but also in conservation biology (Giangrande, 2003). This is because collection of species level data is time consuming, with identification of species-specific characteristics traditionally involving lengthy examination of samples using microscopy. In addition it is costly and species level data is almost impossible to collect if the taxa involved are species rich and difficult to identify (Báldi 1999). Other reasons why species level identification is neglected include the fact that sample collection can damage organisms, so diagnostic morphological features are lost, or that individuals may be in a life history stage or of a sex that does not have diagnostic morphological characteristics. Furthermore, the numbers of available expert taxonomists needed for species identification are in decline and have been for several decades. Species identification using molecular taxonomy where DNA is used as a marker is championed as a tool for resolving a range of morphological problems, such as the association of all life history stages, correlating male and female specimens to the same species and identifying partial specimens. Traditional taxonomy is built around morphological variations between species, with systematic inferences based upon shared physical characters. In molecular taxonomy on the other hand, proteins and genes are used to determine evolutionary relationships. ’DNA barcoding’ aims to provide an efficient method for species-level identification and it is thought that it will provide a powerful tool for taxonomic and biodiversity research (Hajibabaei et al. 2007). Cited strengths of a molecular based approach to species identification include the potential universality and objective nature of DNA data as taxonomic information, the usefulness of molecular data in animal groups characterized by morphological cryptic characters and the use of DNA sequence information to determine otherwise ‘unidentifiable’ biological material (such as incomplete specimens or immature specimens). Its aim is to increase the speed, precision and efficiency of field studies involving diverse and difficult to identify taxa and it has the potential to be automated to provide a rapid and consistently accurate supplementary identification system to traditional taxonomy. This project was a proof-of-concept study that investigated the feasibility of using DNA barcodes to differentiate closely related blackfly species of the genus Simulium. The longer term objective would be to apply such molecular approaches to organisms used in water quality monitoring and to biodiversity studies to provide a quick, robust but practical and cost effective tool for species identification. Great Britain is currently home to 33 morphospecies of blackfly many of which are morphologically close to other species and have been the cause of much systematic revision. In addition to evaluating the use of DNA barcodes in species identification, a non-destructive DNA extraction method was developed to preserve voucher pecimens that will allow a complete morphological classification to be carried after DNA extraction. Using molecular tools to differentiate closely related blackfly species of the genus Simulium v Finding an effective DNA barcode for an individual species involves accurate taxonomic identification and the retention of voucher specimens for future morphological studies. A rapid non-destructive method for DNA extraction from small insects was developed where no clean-up step was required prior to amplification and it was possible to extract DNA of sufficient quality in minutes retaining diagnostic morphological characteristics. For any molecular tool used for species discrimination, an important consideration is defining the specific genetic loci (e.g. the position of genes on a chromosome) to be monitored. All blackfly species in this study were successfully amplified with the standard barcoding coxI gene primer pair LCO1490 5'-GGT CAA CAA ATC ATA AAG ATA TTG G-3' and HCO2198 5'-TAA ACT TCA GGG TGA CCA AAA AAT CA-3' (Folmer et al. 1994) and we did not need to optimise or redesign the primer sequence.