scholarly journals Observations on the Isturgia limbaria (Fabricius, 1775) / roraria (Fabricius, 1776) complex (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 227-251
Author(s):  
Claudio Flamigni ◽  
Gabriele Fiumi

The Isturgia limbaria (Fabricius, 1775)/roraria (Fabricius, 1776) complex is analyzed, taking into consideration the external morphology of the adults (coloration and pattern of upperside and underside of wings), the morphology of the female genitalia (signum and lamella postvaginalis), of the tympanal organs and of the preimaginal stages, as well as molecular data. Based on the molecular data and morphology of signum and tympanic organs, the populations of this complex can be divided into two groups, one more western (with the taxa limbaria s. str. and delimbaria), distributed east to north-western Italy and part of Germany, and one more eastern (with the taxa roraria s. str., rablensis and anzascaria), distributed west to northern and eastern Piedmont (Italy) and north-eastern and south-eastern Germany. However, there are no consistent differences between the two groups in the diagnostic characters used until now to identify the two taxa (pattern of the wing upperside and underside). Although there is a considerable genetic distance between these two groups, the correlation between molecular differences and morphological characters (size of the signum and presence ̶ or absence ̶ of a roundish lobe in the bullae tympani) is not completely constant and the two groups of populations are not completely separated from each other: some populations of the northern Apennines (taxon delimbaria) cannot be clearly attributed to one or the other group. In the absence of constant morphological characters associated with the molecular differences and in the presence of Italian populations with intermediate characters, we suggest that the different taxa of this complex be considered as subspecies of the same species, as already proposed by Povolný and Moucha (1957, 1959). However, the data available do not allow definitive clarification of the taxonomic problem and further research is necessary.

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Dimon ◽  
Matt A. M. Renner

Recent molecular evidence supports the transfer of two Australian endemic species, Austrocynoglossum latifolium (R.Br.) R.R.Mill and Cynoglossum suaveolens R.Br., to the genus Hackelia Opiz as H. latifolia (R.R.Mill) Dimon & M.A.M.Renner, comb. nov., and H. suaveolens (R.Br.) Dimon & M.A.M.Renner, comb. nov. Hackelia latifolia comprises two morphological entities that, although sharing the procumbent-prostrate habit and production of elongated internodes and frondose bracts in the inflorescence, differ in a range of qualitative and quantitative micro-morphological characters. Hackelia latifolia has few, widely spaced, thorn-like trichomes on stems, a glabrous abaxial lamina surface, and mericarps with free glochids densely and evenly distributed over the outer surface, and a rectangular cicatrix at the mericarp apex, which is beaked. The other entity has many densely packed cellular trichomes on the stems, trichomes on the abaxial leaf lamina, and mericarps with a wing formed by basally connate glochids, and a triangular cicatrix located centrally on the inner mericarp surface. For the latter, we propose the new species Cynoglossum torvum Dimon & M.A.M.Renner, and by implication suggest that H. latifolia is polyphyletic as previously circumscribed. Whereas H. latifolia s.s. is widespread along the south-eastern coast of Australia from Tasmania to south-eastern Queensland, Cynoglossum torvum is restricted to the tablelands of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. We compare C. torvum with the other Australian Cynoglossum L. species, C. australe R.Br., confirm previous observations of variation in mericarp morphology, and suggest that further investigation to resolve species circumscription is required given this variation.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4926 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-416
Author(s):  
MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN FALAHZADAH ◽  
EBRAHIM SHOKOOHI ◽  
GHOLAM HOSSEIN MORAVEJ ◽  
PHATU WILLIAM MASHELA ◽  
ABDUL KHALID MADADI ◽  
...  

Several soil samples from different habitats in Badakhshan province of Afghanistan were collected to isolate and characterize bacteria feeding nematodes. The Galleria mellonella-baiting method was used for the isolation of the Afghan insect-associated nematodes. The nematodes were studied using morphological and morphometric data. The Oscheius specimen was characterized by a longer body (630–820 µm) and shorter pharynx (125–145 µm), whereas other morphological characters were not unusual. The Diploscapter specimen had an annulated cuticle, with lip region width 1.5 times shorter than the stoma, and had separated pharyngeal corpus from the isthmus and vulva located in the middle of the body. The molecular data were derived using three loci; 18S, 28S (D2/D3 segment), and ITS rRNA region, which were utilized to measure the genetic distance. The phylogenetic analysis was conducted to reconstruct the relationship tree. Both morphological and molecular approaches confirmed the identity of nematode isolates as Oscheius tipulae and Diploscapter coronatus. This is the first report of insect-associated nematodes from the soil of Afghanistan. Both species were capable of infecting and killing G. mellonella larvae in less than 96 h. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4995 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-128
Author(s):  
LUCIANO DIOTTI ◽  
ROBERTO CALDARA ◽  
IVO TOŠEVSKI

Two new species of the weevil genus Rhamphus from Italy are herein described: R. bavierai n. sp. (Sicily) and R. hampsicora n. sp. (Sardinia). Both are morphologically and from a molecular perspective close to R. oxyacanthae (Marsham, 1802) and R. monzinii Pesarini & Diotti, 2012. Aside from a diagnostic description and a synoptic key, distribution data and notes on the host plants of the four species are reported. Whereas R. monzinii can be distinguished by several morphological characters, the other three species are morphologically very similar to each other and separable only by the combination of a few subtle characters. On the contrary, a preliminary molecular study revealed substantial divergences of mtCOI from 6.2 to 14.9% between the species, confirming the importance of an integrative taxonomy.  


2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt A. M. Renner ◽  
Nicolas Devos ◽  
Elizabeth A. Brown ◽  
Matt J. von Konrat

The current paper presents molecular data from three chloroplast markers (atpB–rbcL spacer, trnG G2 intron, trnL–trnF intron and spacer); morphological data, and geographic data to support the recognition of nine species belonging to Radula subg. Odontoradula in Australasia. R. ocellata, the subgeneric type from the Wet Tropics bioregion, is maintained as distinct from its sister species, R. pulchella, from south-eastern Australian rainforests; both species are Australian endemics. Reinstatement of R. allisonii from synonymy, under R. retroflexa, is supported by molecular data and morphological characters, including the absence of triradiate trigones on leaf-lobe cell walls, the apex of lobules on primary shoots not being turned outwards, the oblong-elliptic female bracts, and the perianths having a pronounced wing. Reinstatement of R. weymouthiana, from synonymy under R. retroflexa, is also supported by molecular data and morphological characters, including the presence of a single low dome-shaped papilla over each leaf-lobe cell, and the large imbricate lobules on primary shoots. R. weymouthiana occurs in Tasmania and New Zealand, whereas R. allisonii is a New Zealand endemic. Australian R. retroflexa exhibits differentiation into epiphytic and rheophytic morphs, interpreted as ecotypes. Australian individuals, comprising both epiphytic and rheophytic morphs, are monophyletic and nested within a clade containing individuals from other regions. R. novae-hollandiae is newly reported for the New Zealand Botanical Region, from Raoul Island in the Kermadecs. R. novae-hollandiae exhibits decoupling of morphological and molecular divergence, with Australian individuals forming two clades reflecting geography (a Wet Tropics bioregion clade and a south-eastern Rainforest clade). These clades exhibit equivalent levels of molecular divergence, as observed in R. pulchella and R. ocellata, but no morphological differences. Similar levels of molecular divergence were observed in trans-Tasman populations of R. tasmanica. The New Zealand endemic, R. plicata, is excluded from the Australian flora, and R. cuspidata replaces R. dentifolia for the New Zealand endemic species formerly known by both names.


Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJARTE H. JORDAL

A new species of the Malagasy genus Dolurgocleptes Schedl, 1965 is described and illustrated. This is the second species known for the genus, which is restricted to the montane rainforests of north-eastern Madagascar. Dolurgocleptes is transferred from the tribe Dryocoetini to Polygraphini and placed near Polygraphus Erichson, based on examination of internal and external morphological characters and molecular data from Elongation Factor-1α and Cytochrome Oxidase I.


Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3490 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANGELICA CROTTINI ◽  
AURÉLIEN MIRALLES ◽  
FRANK GLAW ◽  
D. JAMES HARRIS ◽  
ALEXANDRA LIMA ◽  
...  

We describe a new Brookesia species from a forest fragment located 13 km south of Ambalavao in the southern part ofMadagascar's central high plateau. Brookesia brunoi sp. nov. is one of the few arid-adapted Brookesia species inhabitingdeciduous forests on the western slope of the central high plateau of the island (around 950 m a.s.l.). So far the species hasonly been observed in the private Anja Reserve. The species belongs to the Brookesia decaryi group formed by arid-adapt-ed Brookesia species of western Madagascar: B. bonsi Ramanantsoa, B. perarmata (Angel), B. brygooi Raxworthy &Nussbaum and B. decaryi Angel. Brookesia brunoi differs from the other four species of the group by a genetic divergenceof more than 17.6% in the mitochondrial ND2 gene, and by a combination of morphological characters: (1) nine pairs oflaterovertebral pointed tubercles, (2) absence of enlarged pointed tubercles around the vent, (3) presence of poorly definedlaterovertebral tubercles along the entire tail, (4) by the configuration of its cephalic crest, and (5) hemipenial morphology.Based on our molecular phylogeny this species is sister to a clade containing B. brygooi, B. decaryi, and probably B. bonsifor which no ND2 sequences were available. Our molecular data also confirm the presence of a divergent mitochondriallineage in the Tsingy de Bemaraha, which might be assigned to either B. bonsi or B. decaryi, and point to the need of more research on this population.


2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 1119-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Anderson Ribeiro Leite ◽  
Mirna Martins Casagrande ◽  
Olaf Hermann Hendrik Mielke

The purpose of this study was to highlight the morphological components of the head, its appendages and the cervical region of the adults of Heraclides anchisiades capys (Hübner, [1809]), looking for a comparative focus with the other Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea. The most relevant morphological characters were: presence of transclipeal band, laterofacial suture in ventral view near the half of the ocular margin of convex aspect, presence of rudimental maxillary palp; union of the cervical sclerites ventromedially and ventral sclerite situated before the merger of the lateral sclerites.


2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Gibson ◽  
Barry J. Conn ◽  
Jeremy J. Bruhl

A phenetic study of morphological characters of the Drosera peltata complex (Droseraceae) supports the recognition of the following taxa: D. peltata from wetlands of south-eastern Australia; D. auriculata from south-eastern Australia and New Zealand; the morphologically variable D. hookeri from south-eastern Australia and northern New Zealand; the widespread D. lunata from southern and South-East Asia, as well as northern and north-eastern Australia; and the new species D. yilgarnensis R.P.Gibson & B.J.Conn is here described, from around granite outcrops of south-western Australia. D. bicolor from south-western Australia is recognised as a distinct species outside of the D. peltata complex. D. insolita, considered until recently as a distinct species, is reduced to synonymy of D. lunata. Phenotypic plasticity, vegetative similarity and fleetingly produced diagnostic floral and seed characters within the complex pose significant challenges in understanding the taxonomy of these taxa.


2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 672-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ghesini ◽  
M. Marini

AbstractTaxonomy and phylogeny of termites of the genus Reticulitermes in central and eastern Mediterranean lands are poorly understood, partly due to insufficient sampling. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of east Mediterranean termites by presenting morphological and molecular data on Reticulitermes from Cyprus. Samples from 15 colonies were collected throughout the island. Qualitative and quantitative morphological characters were analyzed for alate and soldier castes. Partial sequences of the mitochondrial genes COII and 16S were used to evaluate genetic diversity of Cypriot colonies and to determine their phylogenetic relationships with taxa from central and eastern Mediterranean areas.Cypriot alates have some morphological features in common with the Israeli R. clypeatus: an enlarged postclypeus and a wide unpigmented margin of the eye. They are larger than R. clypeatus but smaller than western European species, such as R. banyulensis, R. lucifugus corsicus and R. grassei. For Cypriot soldiers, two size groups were identified, possibly in relation with the age of their mother colonies.Phylogenetic analysis shows that, contrary to what might be expected, the samples with the highest affinity with Cypriot samples are not those from the nearby mainland (south Turkey, Israel), but from north-eastern Greece. Comprehensive sampling in the nearby mainland is lacking, so the possibility that populations exist it that region with an affinity towards Cypriot Reticulitermes sp. cannot be ruled out. Together with samples from the Halkidiki peninsula, north-eastern Greece, northern Turkey and Crete, Cypriot Reticulitermes form a well-supported north-eastern Mediterranean clade.


ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 898 ◽  
pp. 121-158
Author(s):  
Natdanai Likhitrakarn ◽  
Sergei I. Golovatch ◽  
Irina Semenyuk ◽  
Boris D. Efeykin ◽  
Somsak Panha

The genus Orthomorpha is shown to currently be represented in Vietnam by ten species or varieties, including new records of O. arboricola (Attems, 1937), O. coarctata (de Saussure, 1860), O. rotundicollis (Attems, 1937) and O. scabra Jeekel, 1964, and two new species, O. caramelsp. nov. and O. vietnamicasp. nov. A key to all eight Orthomorpha species and two varieties known to occur in Vietnam is provided. Although the morphological characters that have been traditionally used for Orthomorpha taxonomy are here considered superior to molecular ones, molecular-based phylogenetic relationships and taxon assignments within the tribe Orthomorphini are provisionally analyzed using fragments of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene. The preferred phylograms, both rooted and unrooted, demonstrate the monophyly of the tribe Orthomorphini, but due to the special, uncertain or even controversial position of O. coarctata, which occurs closer to the genera Antheromorpha and Hylomus, the genus Orthomorpha in current usage appears to be polyphyletic. However, if O. coarctata is to be treated within the monotypic genus Asiomorpha, the monophyly of Orthomorpha becomes manifest. On the other hand, a cautious approach is followed to avoid descriptions of suspicious new taxa/species. Thus, solely because the average genetic distance between O. rodundicollis subrotundicollisvar. nov. and O. rodundicollis, as well as that between O. scabra grandisvar. nov. and O. scabra, are both found to be negligibly small, the statuses of the sympatric and closest yet morphologically different varieties are treated only as such, i.e., infrasubspecific categories. The apparent discord observed between morphological and molecular data is obviously due to only partial and single-gene topologies used, possibly also to hybridization already known to occur in some closely related and sympatric paradoxosomatid species or even genera.


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