The imago of Baetodes traverae Mayo, 1972 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae), with a redescription of the nymph

Male imago of Baetodes traverae is described and its nymph is redescribed. The male imago is distinguished from the other known species of the genus by (1) abdominal tubercles absent, (2) turbinate eyes moderately large and not contiguous apically, (3) segment II of forceps without constriction, (4) coxal gills absent, and (5) abdominal tubercles absent. Baetodes traverae nymph is redescribed, with new illustrations aiming to improve the original description done by Mayo (1972). Its nymph has the following characters: (1) terminal filament very short, less than half the length of abdominal segment X, (2) labium with glossae very short, less than half the length of paraglossae, (3) labrum expanded laterally, with submarginal row of four setae, (4) coxal gills absent and (5) abdominal tubercles absent.

Taxonomic study of the genus Tenupalpa Lee et Li, 2021 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae: Thiotrichinae) from China, with descriptions of fifteen new species

Tenupalpa Lee et Li, 2021 (Gelechiidae: Thiotrichinae) was recently proposed based on a molecular and morphological study of the subfamily. It currently includes six species mainly known from Russia, Japan and India. In this paper, 15 new species from China are described: T. acutata sp. nov., T. acutimedia sp. nov., T. angulosa sp. nov., T. breviaedeaga sp. nov., T. zhengi sp. nov., T. crassimedia sp. nov., T. dissimilis sp. nov., T. falcata sp. nov., T. fuscalata sp. nov., T. immaculata sp. nov., T. isabellina sp. nov., T. magniguttata sp. nov., T. latifasciata sp. nov., T. perparviloba sp. nov. and T. uncativalva sp. nov. Also, T. xanthodora (Meyrick, 1923) comb. nov., and the original combination for Thiotricha glenias Meyrick, 1908 stat. rev. are proposed. Five species—Tenupalpa angustella (Omelko, 1984), T. biformis (Omelko, 1984), T. flavitermina (Kyaw, Yagi & Hirowatari, 2019), T. nephodesma (Meyrick, 1918) and T. venustalis (Omelko, 1984)—are reported from China for the first time, and two species—T. angustella and T. venustalis—are newly recorded from Korea. Photographs of adults, genitalia, and the eighth abdominal segment of males are illustrated, and a key to all known Tenupalpa species are provided based on external characters and male genitalia.

Ischnura praematura sp. nov. (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae): a species from Yunnan (China) whose females mate in the teneral state

Ischnura praematura sp. nov. (Holotype ♂, China, Yunnan, Lijiang, 26º31´03.54”N, 100º13’38.89”E, 2396 m, 04 xii 2015, I. Sanmartín-Villar & H. Zhang leg.) is morphologically described, illustrated and compared with close species of the genus. Ischnura praematura can be mainly distinguished from its congeners I. aurora, I. rubilio and I. asiatica by its abdominal and thoracic morphology and colouration. The posterior lobe of the prothorax is elevated in I. praematura and the mesostigmal plates possess dorsal triangular protuberances. Ischnura praematura shows pointed paraprocts, internalised wide cerci and lacks a dorsal tuberculum in the tenth abdominal segment. The blue abdominal colouration is present in the last three segments (incomplete for segment eight and ten in some individuals). No female polychromatism was detected and all females observed possessed different colouration than male (gynochrome). Morphological distinctiveness of the species is supported by genetic analyses, which show that I. praematura forms a well-supported, monophyletic clade, with I. asiatica, I. ezoin and I. pumilio as the most closely related species. In the field, mature females show strong reluctance to mate, and males were observed mating with newly emerged females.

Spontaneous Drainage of Lower Lip Abscess by Insect Sting in the Prediabetic Male: A Case Report

Most insects have a stinging apparatus at the tail end of their abdominal segment and can deliver venom. The venom can usually result in pain, erythema, abscess, or allergic reaction in human tissues such as the skin and even the lips. The presentation of lip abscess, especially in the vermilion, is rare and needs to be appropriately managed. A 39-year-old prediabetic male presented with a swollen right lower lip stung by an insect six days before the consult. The swelling started as a vesicle which became bigger, then burst, exuding a yellowish fluid and blood. The swollen area became more significant, and pain was felt. The clinical presentation was that of a lower lip abscess. Adequate antibiotics were prescribed along with a corticosteroid and a topical antiseptic. The treatment was essential to prevent the dissemination of infection and the likelihood of tissue necrosis. This case report is presented as a rare clinical case of a lower lip abscess due to an insect sting with spontaneous drainage after treatment in a prediabetic male. The dentist and clinician needed to identify this condition and to manage the case properly.

A new species of Sparsorythus Sroka & Soldán, 2008 (Ephemeroptera: Tricorythidae) from Tamil Nadu, India

Sparsorythus srokai sp. nov. is described from the Veerapandi River, Theni district, Tamil Nadu, India based on nymphs of both sexes. The nymphs of Sparsorythus srokai sp. nov. can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: i) presence of lateral setae in each segment of caudal filaments, ii) dorsal surface of labrum entirely covered with scattered ribbon-like bristles, iii) posterior margin of mesonotum reaching abdominal segment III in both sexes, and iv) left prostheca with several pointed teeth apically. The new species is compared with other Indian species: S. gracilis Sroka & Soldán, 2008, S. sivaramakrishnani Sivaruban, Srinivasan, Barathy, Rosi & Isack, 2021 and S. nanjangudensis Muthukatturaja & Balasubramanian, 2021. The distributional map and key to the genus Sparsorythus in Southern India are also given.

A new species of Sparsorythus Sroka & Soldán, 2008 (Ephemeroptera: Tricorythidae) from Western Ghats, Southern India

A little stout crawler mayfly Sparsorythus nanjangudensis sp. nov., is described based on nymphs and male adult from Western Ghats, southern India. The new species is differentiated from all known species on the basis of the extended anterolateral margin of pronotum, absence of subapical teeth on claws and wing pads reaching abdominal segment III. Distribution and ecological notes are provided for the new species.

Ubx-Collier signaling cascade maintains blood progenitors in the posterior lobes of the Drosophila larval lymph gland

Drosophila larval hematopoiesis occurs in a specialized multi-lobed organ called the lymph gland. Extensive characterization of the organ has provided mechanistic insights into events related to developmental hematopoiesis. Spanning from the thoracic to the abdominal segment of the larvae, this organ comprises a pair of primary, secondary, and tertiary lobes. Much of our understanding arises from the studies on the primary lobe, while the secondary and tertiary lobes have remained mostly unexplored. Previous studies have inferred that these lobes are composed of progenitors that differentiate during pupation; however, the mechanistic basis of this extended progenitor state remains unclear. This study shows that posterior lobe progenitors are maintained by a local signaling center defined by Ubx and Collier in the tertiary lobe. This Ubx zone in the tertiary lobe shares several markers with the niche of the primary lobe. Ubx domain regulates the homeostasis of the posterior lobe progenitors in normal development and an immune-challenged scenario. Our study establishes the lymph gland as a model to tease out how the progenitors interface with the dual niches within an organ during development and disorders.

The Puzzling Falcomurus Mandal (Collembola, Orchesellidae, Heteromurinae): A Review

Falcomurus Mandal is currently a monotypic genus of Heteromurinae described from India in 2018. Its key characters are the first antennal segment subdivided, the second undivided and the third annulated; the first abdominal segment lacking macrochaetae; and the presence of a sinuous modified macrochaeta on the proximal dens. Some details of its morphology were recently put in doubt, and so its genus status and affinities remain uncertain. Here, we revise the genus based on the type material of Dicranocentrus litoreus Mari-Mutt, as well as provide the description of two new species from Australian archipelagos and a reinterpretation of the chaetotaxy of Falcomurus chilikaensis Mandal and D. halophilus Mari-Mutt. After our revision, Falcomurus shows a well-conserved chaetotaxy and overall morphology, which allowed us to provide an updated generic diagnosis. While the antennae morphology of Falcomurus resembles that of Dicranocentrus Schött, its dorsal sensillar and macrochaetotaxy suggest it is closely related to Heteromurus Wankel, as originally stated by Mandal. The main features useful to separate Falcomurus species are the head, mesothorax and fourth abdominal segment chaetotaxy. We also provide a key to its five species, a comparative table and notes on the affinities and distribution of Falcomurus.

Description of the second- and third-instar larvae of Hydrovatus crassulus Sharp, 1882 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydrovatini)

The second- and third-instar larvae of the diving-beetle species Hydrovatus crassulus Sharp, 1882 are described and illustrated, including detailed morphometric and chaetotaxic analyses of the cephalic capsule, head appendages, legs, last abdominal segment and urogomphi. Larvae of this species lack the parietal pore PAo, the premental seta LA3 and the urogomphal seta UR8, and have the sensillum MN2 shaped as a short hair-like seta and the ventral surface of the abdominal segments II–V sclerotized. All these characteristics are shared with the other species of Hydrovatus Motschulsky, 1853 known in detail (H. caraibus Sharp, 1882) and therefore are considered diagnostic for the genus. Hydrovatus crassulus also characterizes by the presence of a small galea, which reinforces the hypothesis that this structure is part of the ancestral condition of Hydrovatus. Larvae of H. crassulus differ from those of H. caraibus in having a smaller size, a smaller ratio U/LAS, and a larger ratio U1/U2, and also in the presence (in most cases) of a secondary seta on the anteroventral surface of femur.