Haplocauda, a New Genus of Fireflies Endemic to the Amazon Rainforest (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Most firefly genera have poorly defined taxonomic boundaries, especially in the Neotropics, where they are more diverse and more difficult to identify. Recent advances that shed light on the diversity of fireflies in South America have focused mainly on Atlantic Rainforest taxa, whereas lampyrids in other biomes remained largely unstudied. We found three new firefly species endemic to the Amazon basin that share unique traits of the male abdomen where sternum VIII and the pygidium are modified and likely work as a copulation clamp. Here we test and confirm the hypothesis that these three species form a monophyletic lineage and propose Haplocauda gen. nov. to accommodate the three new species. Both maximum parsimony and probabilistic (Bayesian and maximum likelihood) phylogenetic analyses confirmed Haplocauda gen. nov. monophyly, and consistently recovered it as the sister group to Scissicauda, fireflies endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest that also feature a copulation clamp on abdominal segment VIII, although with a different configuration. We provide illustrations, diagnostic descriptions, and keys to species based on males and females. The three new species were sampled from different regions, and are likely allopatric, a common pattern among Amazonian taxa.

Three new species of Byrsopteryx Flint microcaddisflies from Peru (Insecta: Trichoptera) including DNA-based larval associations

In this paper, we have described and illustrated three new species of Byrsopteryx from Peru: Byrsopteryx inti, sp. nov. Byrsopteryx mamaocllo sp. nov., and Byrsopteryx mancocapac sp. nov. Larvae of the latter two were also associated to male specimens based on comparison of a fragment of COI gene and pharate male identification. Byrsopteryx inti sp. nov. and Byrsopteryx mamaocllo sp. nov. share a unique feature: a semi-dome process formed by a thickened area on male forewings. The three species can be easily identified by wing coloration and male genitalia. Furthermore, Byrsopteryx inti sp. nov. can be recognized by its sternum VIII with a median digitate process on posterior margin, slightly capitate; and by long dorsolateral processes from segment VIII, which cross each other apically in dorsal view. Byrsopteryx mamaocllo sp. nov. can be distinguished by sternum VIII bearing a pair of short, posterior, spinelike processes, which are curved inwards and bordered by a rounded, membranous structure, and by a pair of short, heavily sclerotized, dorsolateral processes. Byrsopteryx mancocapac sp. nov. can be distinguished by strong spine-like processes arising dorsally from subgenital plate and by sternum VIII with posterior margin divided into two plate-like lobes. Larvae of B. mamaocllo sp. nov. and B. mancocapac sp. nov. are similar to other Byrsopteryx larvae known. They can be distinguished from each other by the shape of the operculum formed by terga VIII and IX, and number of setae on the second abdominal pleurite. Maximum likelihood analyses of 20 COI sequences, including nine Byrsopteryx species, placed B. inti sp. nov. and B. mamaocllo sp. nov. as sister species and related to a clade including B. gomezi, B. tapanti, and B. esparta, while B. mancocapac sp. nov. was found as sister to B. abrelata. Despite the close phylogenetic relationship found between B. inti sp. nov. and B. mamaocllo sp. nov., they are separated by 14.9% minimum K2P divergence of COI. The highest intraspecific distance observed was 1.4% for B. mancocapac sp. nov. individuals. Although the Peruvian caddisfly fauna has around 320 known species and almost a third of them are microcaddisflies, in this paper we present the first descriptions of Byrsopteryx species for the country.

Modified median hepatic fissure approach for resection of liver tumours located in the angle between the root of the middle and right hepatic veins

Background Liver tumours between the root angle of the middle and right hepatic veins are a special type of liver segment VIII tumour. In this study, we designed a modified median hepatic fissure approach to remove these tumours. The safety and effectiveness of the approach were evaluated. Materials and methods From April 2015 to November 2019, 11 patients with liver tumours between the angle of the middle and right hepatic veins underwent this modified median hepatic fissure approach. We retrospectively analysed data from the perioperative periods of these 11 patients, including general condition, operation time, intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative complications. Disease-free survival and overall survival were assessed. Results Of the 11 patients, 9 patients had primary hepatocellular carcinoma and 2 had colorectal liver metastases. The average intraoperative blood loss was 285 mL (150–450 mL). Two patients developed postoperative bile leakage, but there were no significant serious complications, such as intraabdominal bleeding and liver failure, in any of the patients. The liver function returned to the normal range on the 5th day after surgery. Of the 11 patients, 5 have survived for more than 3 years (45.5%), and 4 have been disease-free for more than 3 years (36.3%). Conclusions For liver tumours between the root angle of the middle and right hepatic veins, the modified median hepatic fissure approach is a safe and feasible method.

Litotetothrips Priesner (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae); an Asian genus newly recorded from Australia with two new species and one new combination

Relationships are discussed among the five genera related to Liothrips in which species have antennal segment VIII long and slender. Litotetothrips is the oldest of these generic names and is used here for three species newly recorded from Australia: L. caledonensis (Bournier) comb.n., L. gallicola sp.n. and L. tareei sp.n.

Segment VIII-Dependent Intrathoracic Accessory Liver

Abnormally positioned liver tissues are usually incidental findings diagnosed during imaging studies or surgical procedures. Most of the cases described are of congenital origin. We present a case corresponding to a 21-year-old young man with this entity.

Thoracoscopic Transdiaphragmatic Approach to Segment VIII Resection as Part of Combination Treatment in a Patient with a Colorectal Liver Metastasis. Case Report

The article presents a rare case report about the use of thoracoscopic transdiaphragmatic approach to resection of a solitary segment VIII metastasis in the liver (1.5 × 1.2 cm). Taking into account the difficulty of laparoscopic resection of postero ‑superior segments of the liver, a decision was made to refrain from laparotomy and to perform a safe minimally invasive surgery using an approach, which is rare at the current stage. The article also presents the analysis of published literature and discussion of a non‑ standard approach in this clinical case.

Character state variation among species of Thrips genus (Thysanoptera) in Malaysia, with one new species and two new records

Thrips korbuensis sp.n. is described from a high elevated area in Peninsular Malaysia. It shares many character states with Thrips coloratus but has 8-segmented antennae and abdominal segment VIII–X uniformly dark. It also shares some features with Thrips florum, and variation in some character states used to distinguish species in the Thrips hawaiiensis group are discussed. Two species, Thrips brevistylus and Thrips subnudula, are recorded for the first time from Malaysia, and an updated checklist is provided of 27 species of the genus Thrips recorded from Malaysia.