scholarly journals Phylogenomic and Morphological Reevaluation of the Bee Tribes Biastini, Neolarrini, and Townsendiellini (Hymenoptera: Apidae) With Description of Three New Species of Schwarzia

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silas Bossert ◽  
Robert S Copeland ◽  
Trevor J L Sless ◽  
Michael G Branstetter ◽  
Jessica P Gillung ◽  
...  

Abstract Bees of the tribes Biastini, Neolarrini, and Townsendiellini are cleptoparasites in the subfamily Nomadinae (Hymenoptera, Apidae) and parasitize solitary bees. Understanding their phylogenetic relationships has proven difficult for many decades. Previous research yielded ambiguous results because of conflicting phylogenetic signals of larval and adult morphological characters. Molecular data settled some of this disparity but our knowledge remains fragmented due to limited taxon sampling and the discovery of a new lineage associated with Biastini: the enigmatic Schwarzia Eardley, 2009. Schwarzia has unusual morphological features and seems transitional between previously established taxa. This puts limits on our ability to diagnose the groups, understand their antiquity and biogeography, and study the evolution of host-choice. To address this, we integrate phylogenomics and morphology to establish a fossil-calibrated phylogeny for the tribes Biastini, Neolarrini, and Townsendiellini. We show that Schwarzia is indeed closely related to Biastes Panzer, 1806, but Biastes itself is paraphyletic in respect to Neopasites Ashmead, 1898, and even Biastini is paraphyletic due to Townsendiella Crawford, 1916, which is sister to Rhopalolemma Roig-Alsina, 1991. To ensure monophyly, we lower Neopasites to subgeneric rank within Biastes and resurrect Melittoxena Morawitz, 1873 as a third subgenus. We then assess the diagnosability of different tribal concepts and establish an expanded tribe Neolarrini that includes Biastini and Townsendiellini as new synonyms for Neolarrini. Neolarrini in this new, expanded sense likely originated in the Nearctic in the mid-Eocene and is, as far we know, composed exclusively of parasites of oligolectic hosts. Lastly, our continued efforts to find the rare Schwarzia in Eastern Africa led to the discovery of three new species, which are described herein.


ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 886 ◽  
pp. 113-126
Author(s):  
Chengcheng Feng ◽  
Yucheng Lin

The current paper expands knowledge of the genus Coddingtonia Miller, Griswold & Yin, 2009. Based on morphological characters and molecular data, three species are documented as new to science: C. erhuan Feng & Lin, sp. nov. (♀) from China, C. lizu Feng & Lin, sp. nov. (♀) from China, and C. huifengi Feng & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀) from Indonesia. The type of C. euryopoides Miller, Griswold & Yin, 2009 is also reexamined. DNA sequences (COI), detailed illustrations of habitus, male palp and epigyne are provided for these four species, as well as a key and a distribution map for Coddingtonia species.



Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5052 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-379
Author(s):  
JULIO C.C. FERNANDEZ ◽  
MARIANELA GASTALDI ◽  
GERMÁN ZAPATA-HERNÁNDEZ ◽  
LUIS M. PARDO ◽  
FABIANO L. THOMPSON ◽  
...  

Here, we describe four new species of Crellidae Dendy, 1922 and discuss characters and relationships from published molecular phylogenies including crellid sponges. New species proposed are Crella (Pytheas) chiloensis Fernandez, Gastaldi, Pardo & Hajdu, sp. nov., from southern Chile (15 m depth), C. (P.) desventuradae Fernandez, Gastaldi, Zapata-Hernández & Hajdu, sp. nov., from Desventuradas Archipelago (10–20 m depth), Crella (P.) santacruzae Fernandez, Gastaldi, Thompson & Hajdu, sp. nov., from deep waters off Argentina (750 m depth) and Crellomima sigmatifera Fernandez, Gastaldi & Hajdu, sp. nov., from the Chilean fjords region (ca. 20 m depth). These new species are set apart from each other and from known species mainly due to aspects of their spiculation. Chelae microscleres and acanthostyles supply characters that might be used to infer phylogenetic relationships and to verify the monophyly of Crella Gray, 1867 and Crellidae, which has seemingly been contradicted by preliminary molecular data available in the systematics’ literature. Our own interpretation of phylogenetic affinities, in the light of morphological characters from previous taxonomic studies, argues for a classification reassessment of materials (vouchers) included in these molecular phylogenies, especially in the case of Crella incrustans (Carter, 1885). We argue that currently available molecular phylogenetic outcomes for crellid sponges are not supportive of the polyphyly of Crella and Crellidae.  



2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard A. Huber ◽  
Kai R. Caspar ◽  
Jonas Eberle

Representatives of the Southeast Asian pholcid spider genus Uthina Simon, 1893 have been thought to be very homogeneous in their ecology and morphology. The 14 previously known species all inhabit near-ground microhabitats and cave entrances, and range from pale to dark brown in colour. Even their genitalia are partly very similar, with some species pairs being barely distinguishable based on morphological characters. Here we describe three new species from Bali, Java and Sulawesi that represent three further microhabitats and demonstrate considerable ecological and morphological diversity within the genus: U. maya, sp. nov. from Bali is a large dark species on tree trunks; U. hylobatea, sp. nov. from Bali and eastern Java is a pale leaf-dwelling species that exhibits colour dimorphism; and U. mimpi, sp. nov. is a pale troglomorphic species collected in the aphotic zones of two South Sulawesi caves. In addition, we present new data for five previously described species, including ultrastructure, natural history, new records, taxonomic notes and a description of the previously unknown female of Uthina khaosokensis Yao, Li & Jäger, 2014. Molecular data suggest that all previously described species are very closely related to each other (constituting the monophyletic luzonica-group), and that the three new species represent separate clades within the genus. However, the basal trichotomy could not be resolved: U. maya + (U. hylobatea + U. mimpi) + luzonica-group.



Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3219 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN FIKÁČEK ◽  
FENGLONG JIA ◽  
ALEXANDER PROKIN

The Asian species of the genus Pachysternum Motschulsky, 1863 are revised and redescribed. Three new species are de-scribed: Pachysternum kubani sp. nov. (Laos, China: Sichuan), P. rugosum sp. nov. (China: Gansu, Shaanxi) and P. san-dacanum sp. nov. (Malaysia: Sabah, Sarawak). Three new synonyms are established: Megasternum gibbulumMotschulsky, 1866 and Pachysternum sibiricum Kuwert, 1890 are junior synonyms of Pachysternum haemorrhoumMotschulsky, 1866; Pachysternum nigritum Jia, Wu & Pu, 1998 is a junior synonym of P. stevensi Orchymont, 1926.Pachysternum keralense Hebauer, 2002 is transferred to the pilocnemoides group of the genus Australocyon Hansen,1990. Megasternum japonicum Shatrovskiy, 1989 is resurrected from the synonymy with M. gibbulum and considered asa valid name. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: Pachysternum apicatum Motschulsky, 1863, P. curva-tum Orchymont, 1925, P. haemorrhoum Motschulsky, 1866, P. nigrovittatum Motschulsky, 1863, P. sibiricum Kuwert,1890, Megasternum gibbulum Motschulsky, 1866 and M. distinctum Sharp, 1873. All Pachysternum species are diag-nosed, relevant morphological characters are illustrated, and an updated identification key is provided. Pachysternum api-catum is interpreted as a polymorphic species exhibiting high geography-based variation and possibly consisting of somesibling taxa; diagnosing of these taxa requires more material and additional (ideally molecular) characters and is therefore left unresolved at the present time.



ZooKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1037 ◽  
pp. 57-71
Author(s):  
Zhaoyang Chen ◽  
Dengqing Li ◽  
Daiqin Li ◽  
Xin Xu

We diagnose and describe three new species of the primitively segmented spider genus Songthela from Guizhou Province, China, based on morphological characters and molecular data: S. liuisp. nov. (♂♀), S. tianzhusp. nov. (♂♀), and S. yupingsp. nov. (♂♀). We provide the genetic distances within and among the three new species based on the DNA barcode gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) to support our descriptions. We also provide the COI GenBank accession codes for the three new species for future identification.



2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Laura S. Delapieve ◽  
Pablo Lehmann A ◽  
Roberto E. Reis

ABSTRACT The discovery of three new taxa of Hypoptotopomatini with ambiguous generic assignment prompted a reanalysis of the phylogenetic relationships of the tribe. The analysis focused on a data matrix of 56 terminals and 107 morphological characters comprising the three new taxa, most species of Hypoptopoma and Otocinclus, and all other species of the tribe. The 162 maximally parsimonious trees of 382 steps, consistency index of 0.41, and retention index of 0.83 were then summarized in a strict consensus tree. The results confirm the monophyly of the Hypoptopomatini, recover four genera as monophyletic (Acestridium, Hypoptopoma, Niobichthys, and Otocinclus), revealed Hypoptopoma and Oxyropsis to be non-monophyletic; and revealed two new genera within Hypoptopomatini. Additionally, Otocinclus was found to be sister to a group with all remaining genera of the tribe; Acestridium and Niobichthys were found to be sister to each other and that clade sister to a group formed by ((Leptotocinclus + Hypoptopoma [part]) + (Nannoxyropsis (Oxyropsis + Hypoptopoma [part]))). Based on this framework, changes to the classification and the taxonomy of the Hypoptopomatini are suggested and the new taxa are described.



Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4276 (4) ◽  
pp. 479
Author(s):  
FRANCESCO BALLARIN ◽  
PAOLO PANTINI

A new species of the genus Amaurobius C.L. Koch, 1837, Amaurobius pesarinii sp. n., from the Apennine Mountains (Italy) is described on the basis of both sexes. The male of A. pavesii Pesarini, 1991, previously unknown, is also described. Females of A. pavesii and both sexes of the similar A. scopolii Thorell, 1871 are re-described. Detailed description of morphological characters allow clear separation between these species and the closely related A. ferox (Walckenaer, 1820). Their phylogenetic relationships among the most common Italian Amaurobius species are discussed on the basis of molecular data (partial fragments of the genes COI, 16S and H3), together with their distribution across the Italian Peninsula. This is the first contribution to a multi-locus phylogenetic tree of European Amaurobius species. The synonymy of A. sciakyi Pesarini, 1991 with A. ruffoi Thaler, 1990 is proposed based on morphological characters. 



Mycologia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
White ◽  
Guàrdia Valle ◽  
Lichtwardt ◽  
Siri ◽  
Strongman ◽  
...  

We consolidate and present data for the sexual stages of five North American species of Orphella, fungal members of trichomycetes previously classified within Harpellales. Three species emendations accommodate the newly recognized characters, including not only the coiled zygospores and accompanying cells but also other morphological traits not provided in the original descriptions for O. avalonensis, O. haysii, and O. hiemalis. We describe three new species, Orphella cataloochensis from both the Smoky Mountains in USA and two provinces in Canada as well as O. pseudoavalonensis and O. pseudohiemalis, both from the Cascade Range, in Oregon, USA. Key morphological features for all known species are summarized and reviewed, with illustrations of some of the North American taxa to update and supplement the literature. The entire suite of morphological characters is discussed, with emphasis on species relationships and hypotheses on possible vicariant origins. We also present a molecular phylogeny based on nuc rDNA 18S and 28S, which supports Orphella as a lineage distinct from Harpellales, and we establish a new order, Orphellales, for it. With the combination of sexual features, now known for 12 of the 14 species of Orphella, and new molecular data, the group is now better characterized, facilitating and hopefully also promoting future studies toward a better understanding of their relationships, origins, and evolutionary history as stonefly gut–dwelling fungi.



Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4664 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZHU YUAN ◽  
YAN DONG ◽  
JIBAO JIANG ◽  
JIBAO JIANG ◽  
QI ZHAO ◽  
...  

Earthworm specimens collected from Yunnan Province, China were found to represent three new species of Megascolecidae: Amynthas demptus sp. nov., Amynthas lacustris sp. nov. and Metaphire reclusa sp. nov. A. demptus belongs to Amynthas hawayanus-group and has three pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6–7/8. A. lacustris belongs to Amynthas morrisi-group and has two pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6–6/7. M. reclusa has no spermathecal pores. A. demptus has no male pores. The male pores of A. lacustris are about 1/3 body circumference ventrally apart, with a presetal and a postsetal papilla medial to each pore, surrounded with two circular folds. The male pores of M. reclusa are in copulatory chambers at XVIII, with openings of copulatory chambers about 1/3 body circumference ventrally apart. In this paper, the morphological characters of the three new species are described. We also sequenced COI and 12S gene fragments of the holotypes and selected paratype specimens to provide molecular data. 



2018 ◽  
Vol 160 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans R. Feijen ◽  
Frida A.A. Feijen ◽  
Cobi Feijen

Madagopsina gen. n. and Gracilopsina gen. n. are described as endemic Diopsidae taxa for Madagascar. Three Madagascan Diopsidae, earlier alternately placed in Diopsis, Eurydiopsis or Cyrtodiopsis (also as Teleopsis), are now referred to Madagopsina gen. n., while two of these three species proved to be conspecific. This gives rise to Madagopsina apollo (Brunetti) comb. n. and Madagopsina apographica (Séguy) comb. n. = anjahanaribei (Vanschuytbroeck) syn. n. The two species are redescribed. Madagopsina apographica proved to have a mixed type series. Three new species are allocated to the genus as Madagopsina freidbergi sp. n., Madagopsina parvapollina sp. n. and Madagopsina tschirnhausi sp. n. For Eurydiopsis vadoni Vanschuytbroeck (later also placed in Cyrtodiopsis and Teleopsis) the genus Gracilopsina gen. n. is erected, leading to Gracilopsina vadoni (Vanschuytbroeck) comb. n. Gracilopsina vadoni is redescribed and is shown to have a mixed type series. One new species is allocated to the genus as Gracilopsina sinespina sp. n. A key is presented to the two genera and seven species. Madagascar now counts five Diopsidae genera and 12 species, of which two genera and 11 species are endemic. The genus Cladodiopsis is no longer an endemic Madagascar genus as it also occurs in the Comoros. The phylogenetic position of Madagopsina gen. n. is discussed based on molecular data. The intra- and intergeneric phylogeny of both new genera is discussed based on morphology and geometric morphometrics analyses of wing shape. Data are presented on sexual dimorphism with respect to eye span in the genera. The resulting allometric lines (eye span/body length) are also included in the phylogenetic analysis. The allometric lines for the closely related M. parvapollina sp. n., and the much larger M. apollo are compared and discussed. Allometric slopes and intercepts are identical for females of both species, while in males allometric slopes are identical, but intercepts differ considerably. An identical phenomenon was found in two closely related East African Diopsis species with a small and a large species. Various morphological characters, including eggs, are discussed. The importance of intersternite 1–2 and synsternum 7+8 as differential characters is indicated.



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