Insects identified by unqualified scientists: multiple “new” records from the Murmansk oblast of Russia are dismissed as false

A recently published book authored by six botanists (Rak NS, Goncharova OA, Poloskova EY, Litvinova SV, Zotova OE, Lipponen IN. 2018. Bioecological analysis of introducents of the family Rosaceae Juss. Kola Science Centre, Apatity, 87 pp.) reports information on 19 species of insects that are declared to damage woody Rosaceae plants in the central part of the Murmansk oblast of Russia. Examination of photographs published in this book revealed that 15 of these 19 species were identified incorrectly and that several of the illustrated species are unlikely to damage woody Rosaceae plants. The most striking examples are errors in determination at the order level: a syrphid fly (Diptera) identified as a leafcutter bee (Hymenoptera), and a sawfly (Hymenoptera) identified as a psyllid (Hemiptera). I provide correct identifications of the insects illustrated in the cited book in order to prevent the spread of erroneous information across future publications and databases.

Extreme Differences in Recombination Rate between the Genomes of a Solitary and a Social Bee

Social insect genomes exhibit the highest rates of crossing over observed in plants and animals. The evolutionary causes of these extreme rates are unknown. Insight can be gained by comparing recombination rate variation across the genomes of related social and solitary insects. Here, we compare the genomic recombination landscape of the highly social honey bee, Apis mellifera, with the solitary alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata, by analyzing patterns of linkage disequilibrium in population-scale genome sequencing data. We infer that average recombination rates are extremely elevated in A. mellifera compared with M. rotundata. However, our results indicate that similar factors control the distribution of crossovers in the genomes of both species. Recombination rate is significantly reduced in coding regions in both species, with genes inferred to be germline methylated having particularly low rates. Genes with worker-biased patterns of expression in A. mellifera and their orthologs in M. rotundata have higher than average recombination rates in both species, suggesting that selection for higher diversity in genes involved in worker caste functions in social taxa is not the explanation for these elevated rates. Furthermore, we find no evidence that recombination has modulated the efficacy of selection among genes during bee evolution, which does not support the hypothesis that high recombination rates facilitated positive selection for new functions in social insects. Our results indicate that the evolution of sociality in insects likely entailed selection on modifiers that increased recombination rates genome wide, but that the genomic recombination landscape is determined by the same factors.

Unusual nesting behavior in Megachile (Eutricharaea) rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

The Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, Megachile (Eutricharaea) rotundata (Fabricius), is one of the most studied solitary bees in the world. Although its nesting biology is well documented, it has not yet been reported nesting in cavities that expose the nests to open environments. Reported here for the first time is evidence of this species nesting in an unusual manner which would subject the natal cells to exposure and increased parasite attack.

A new species of Megachile (Litomegachile) from Cuba, the Antilles (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

A new species of leafcutter bee, Megachile (Litomegachile) droegei Sheffield & Genaro, new species, is described from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Megachile droegei is one of 12 species in this New World subgenus, and is part of the M. brevis species group (with M. brevis Say, M. onobrychidis Cockerell, and M. pseudobrevis Mitchell). This is the first record of the subgenus Litomegachile from the Antilles. A diagnosis for distinguishing this species from other species of Litomegachile, and full descriptions of the female and male with illustrations are provided. In addition, the male of M. pankus Bzdyk is described, and M. cleomis Cockerell is recognized as a valid species (new status) based on 1.45% divergence in COI (cytochrome c oxidase, subunit 1) from M. texana Cresson, and eastern (M. texana) /western (M. cleomis) distributions. Based on morphological data and COI sequence data, four distinct species groups are recognized within Litomegachile. Putative synapomorphies that support the monophyly of these groups are also discussed.RESUMEN: Se describe una especie nueva de abeja cortadora de hojas, Megachile (Litomegachile) droegei, para la Bahía de Guantánamo, Cuba. Megachile droegei es una de las 12 especies pertenecientes al subgénero del Nuevo Mundo, Litomegachile y es parte del grupo de especies de M. brevis (junto a M. brevis Say, M. onobrychidis Cockerell y M. pseudobrevis Mitchell). Este constituye el primer registro del subgénero Litomegachile para Las Antillas. Se provee una diagnosis para separar a la especie nueva del resto de las especies del mismo subgénero, asícomo descripciones completas e ilustraciones de ambos sexos. Además, se describe el macho de M. pankus Bzdyk y se reconoce M. cleomis Cockerell como una especie válida (nuevo estado) basado en una divergencia del COI (citocromo coxidasa, subunidad 1) de 1,45 %, respecto a las distribuciones con M. texana Cresson, y poblaciones del Este (M. texana) /Oeste (M. cleomis). Basado en datos morfológicos y datos de la secuencia de COI, cuatro grupos de especies son reconocidos en Litomegachile. Tambiense discuten posibles sinapormofias que apoyan la monofilia de estos grupos.