Phylogenetic position of Odorrana macrotympana (Yang, 2008) (Anura, Ranidae) and extension of its geographical distribution

Based on a 16S rRNA gene fragment, a molecular phylogeny for the genus Odorrana Fei, Ye & Huang, 1990 was reconstructed, the validity of the poorly-known ranid species O. macrotympana (Yang, 2008) was confirmed and its phylogenetic position was evaluated. In addition, we report the first country record of O. macrotympana from Myanmar, based on our new records from Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary, Sagaing Division and present a supplementary description of this species. This report also constitutes the first record of O. macrotympana from outside of China.

Molecular analysis reveals Latonius planus Kononova to be a derived species of Trissolcus Ashmead

The monotypic genus Latonius Kononova, 1982 (Platygastroidea, Scelionidae), was described from a single female specimen collected in southern Ukraine. It somewhat resembles Trissolcus Ashmead but has a distinctive claval formula. The only species in the genus, Latonius planus Kononova, 1982, is lacking any details regarding biology, sexual dimorphism, intraspecific variability, or distribution. Based on recently collected specimens the present study clarifies the position of Latonius within the Telenominae, provides a comprehensive description accompanied by high quality images, and compares Latonius and Trissolcus. Five molecular markers were amplified, and sequences of L. planus were analyzed using a data set for the molecular phylogeny of Telenominae (Taekul et al. 2014) and a molecular phylogeny of Trissolcus (Talamas et al. 2019). We dissected the metasoma, tarsi, antennae, and ovipositor and performed SEM imaging. The genera Latonius and Ioseppinella Mineo, O’Connor & Ashe, 2010, are treated as junior synonyms of Trissolcus and the type species of Latonius and Ioseppinella are considered to be conspecific (syn. nov.).

Molecular phylogeny of Lytorhynchus diadema (Reptilia, Colubridae) populations in Saudi Arabia

This study presents the molecular phylogenetic relationships among Lytorhynchus diadema (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) populations in Saudi Arabia relative to populations from Africa and Asia. This phylogenetic analysis was based on mitochondrial 16S and 12S rRNA partial gene fragments using Neighbor-joining, Maximum Parsimony, and Bayesian methods. The results strongly support the monophyly of Lytorhynchus based on two concatenated genes and the 12S rRNA gene separately. Also, a significant separation is observed between the Arabian samples from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman, and the African populations from Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco.

Two new species in the fern genus Lomariopsis (Lomariopsidaceae) from East Asia

Two East Asian Lomariopsis (Lomariopsidaceae, Polypodiales) species, Lomariopsis moorei and Lomariopsis longini, which were previously misidentified as L. spectabilis, are here described as new species based on evidence from morphological characters and a molecular phylogeny. The two species differ from the three other described species in East Asia by their venation, pinna shapes, and perine morphology. A phylogeny based on a combined dataset of three chloroplast regions (rbcL+ rps4-trnS + trnL-L-F) showed that L. moorei and L. longini each formed a well-supported monophyletic group which was distantly related to both L. spectabilis and the other morphologically similar East Asian species, L. boninensis.

Molecular phylogeny of heritable symbionts and microbiota diversity analysis in phlebotominae sand flies and Culex nigripalpus from Colombia

Background Secondary symbionts of insects include a range of bacteria and fungi that perform various functional roles on their hosts, such as fitness, tolerance to heat stress, susceptibility to insecticides, reproduction. These endosymbionts could have the potential to shape microbial communites and high potential to develop strategies for mosquito-borne disease control. Methodology/Principal findings The relative frequency and molecular phylogeny of Wolbachia, Microsporidia and Cardinium were determined of phlebotomine sand flies and mosquitoes in two regions from Colombia. Illumina Miseq using the 16S rRNA gene as a biomarker was conducted to examine the microbiota. Different percentages of natural infection by Wolbachia, Cardinium, and Microsporidia in phlebotomines and mosquitoes were detected. Phylogenetic analysis of Wolbachia shows putative new strains of Lutzomyia gomezi (wLgom), Brumptomyia hamata (wBrham), and a putative new group associated with Culex nigripalpus (Cnig) from the Andean region, located in Supergroup A and Supergroup B, respectively. The sequences of Microsporidia were obtained of Pi. pia and Cx. nigripalpus, which are located on phylogeny in the IV clade (terrestrial origin). The Cardinium of Tr. triramula and Ps. shannoni were located in group C next to Culicoides sequences while Cardinium of Mi. cayennensis formed two putative new subgroups of Cardinium in group A. In total were obtained 550 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and 189 taxa to the genus level. The microbiota profiles of Sand flies and mosquitoes showed mainly at the phylum level to Proteobacteria (67.6%), Firmicutes (17.9%) and Actinobacteria (7.4%). High percentages of relative abundance for Wolbachia (30%-83%) in Lu. gomezi, Ev. dubitans, Mi. micropyga, Br. hamata, and Cx. nigripalpus were found. ASVs assigned as Microsporidia were found in greater abundance in Pi. pia (23%) and Cx. nigripalpus (11%). An important finding is the detection of Rickettsia in Pi. pia (58,8%) and Bartonella sp. in Cx. nigripalpus. Conclusions/Significance We found that Wolbachia infection significantly decreased the alpha diversity and negatively impacts the number of taxa on sand flies and Culex nigripalpus. The Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) is consistent, which showed statistically significant differences (PERMANOVA, F = 2.4744; R2 = 0.18363; p-value = 0.007) between the microbiota of sand flies and mosquitoes depending on its origin, host and possibly for the abundance of some endosymbionts (Wolbachia, Rickettsia).

Reconstruction of intrageneric relationships within the Indo-West Pacific littoral crab genus Metopograpsus (Decapoda, Brachyura, Grapsidae): an alternative speciation order according to a 28S rDNA molecular phylogeny

The genus Metopograpsus H. Milne Edwards, 1853 is widespread throughout the Indo-West Pacific and currently consists of seven species that can only be separated by minor morphological differences. Therefore, it represents a good example for the usefulness of genetic analyses for identification and classification. In order to obtain phylogenetic information at both lower and higher evolutionary levels, it is best to use a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear molecular markers. Here we present for the first time a molecular phylogeny based on a relative long fragment of the 28S rRNA nuclear gene for the genus Metopograpsus, after application of newly developed primers. Our data suggest an alternative intrageneric speciation order, with M. thukuhar and M. cannicci holding a basal position and a monophyletic grouping of M. frontalis, M. oceanicus and M. quadridentatus, which differs from prior phylogenetic reconstructions. Previously recognized intraspecific phylogeographic patterns in M. latifrons and M. quadridentatus could not be confirmed, due to limited variability of this conserved nuclear gene and due to an incomplete geographic coverage of the corresponding species. In contrast, the previously indicated phylogenetic subdivision within the formerly widespread species M. thukuhar, which led to the recent description of M. cannicci, is here supported.