The complete mitochondrial genomes of Notiophilus quadripunctatus Dejean, 1826 and Omophron limbatum (Fabricius, 1777): New insights into the mitogenome phylogeny of the Carabidae (Insecta, Coleoptera)

The Carabidae is by far the largest family of the Adephaga, with more than 40,000 described species. Whereas their phylogeny has been extensively studied, convergences and reversals in morphological traits prevent a robust phylogenetic concept so far. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of Notiophilus quadripunctatus (Nebriinae) and Omophrom limbatum (Omophroninae) using high-throughput sequencing. Both mitogenomes consisted of a single circular DNA molecule that encoded the typical 13 protein-coding genes, two subunits of mitochondrial RNAs, 22 tRNAs and a putative control region. Our phylogenetic study placed Omophrom limbatum as sister taxon to all other analyzed ground beetle species whereas Notiophilus quadripunctatus was identified as sister to Nebria brevicollis as part of the Nebriinae. The analyses also support the monophyly of the Cicindelidae but place Trachypachus holmbergi (Trachypachidae) within the Carabidae. Nevertheless, almost all carabid subfamilies with more than one analyzed species were identified as monophyla.

Review of the New World species of Microplitis Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) attacking Sphingidae (Lepidoptera, Bombycoidea)

Microplitis Foerster is a highly diverse and cosmopolitan genus within Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea, Braconidae). Microplitis ceratomiae Riley, a widely distributed North American species, exclusively attacks sphingid caterpillars. In this paper, M. ceratomiae is reported parasitizing a caterpillar of Sphinx poecila Stephens (Sphingidae) which was collected feeding on Spiraea alba Du Roi (Rosaceae), a species of white meadowsweet native to the wet soils of the Allegheny Mountains and other portions of eastern North America. Here, we report and describe this new host-parasitoid-food plant association in southern New Hampshire, and include a distribution map for the species. Biological, ecological and phylogenetic analyses, and an identification key for the nine known species of Microplitis that attack sphingids in the New World are provided.

Calcatedessa gen.n. a new genus sister to Grammedessa Correia & Fernandes (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae, Edessinae) based on a cladistic analysis

Grammedessa Correia & Fernandes, 2016 is a genus raised to include some species of Edessa Fabricius, 1803 that is a very common group of stink bugs inhabiting only the Neotropical region. Grammedessa was proposed excluding a few species that were morphologically similar but not completely fitting in the diagnostic requirements of the genus. Grammedessa was also proposed without considering a phylogenetic context. In this work, the monophyly of Grammedessa was tested using a cladistic analysis, including all species that were originally excluded, under both Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian methods. As a result, six new species are now included in Grammedessa, which will be described in a forthcoming paper; Edessa botocudo Kirkaldy, 1909 was considered an unnecessary new name for Edessa hamata Walker, 1868 that was transferred to Grammedessa, resulting in G. hamata (Walker, 1868) comb.n. Calcatedessa gen.n., a new genus sister to Grammedessa, is here proposed to include four new species: C. anthomorpha sp.n., C. clarimarginata sp.n., C. germana sp.n. and C. temnomarginata sp.n. The Calcatedessa–Grammedessa clade and both genera were recovered as monophyletic by Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian methods. An identification key to the species of Calcatedessa gen.n. is provided. The new genus is distributed in Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana, and Brazil.

Phylogenetic biogeography of Leptohyphes (Ephemeroptera: Leptohyphidae)

Leptohyphes Eaton is one of the most species-rich American genera in Ephemeroptera, with 45 valid species distributed from south-central USA to Patagonia. Most species are distributed in central and northern Andes. Nymphs are frequent and abundant in mountain streams. We present a parsimony-based morphological phylogeny for the genus. Specific geographic records were studied using Hovenkamp’s protocol (barrier biogeography). Leptohyphes was recovered as a monophyletic group. The most ancient disjunction found in Leptohyphes separated Tepui-area from the rest of the Americas. Other interesting vicariant events were found, including the separation of eastern Atlantic mountains (Mata Atlantica) from the Andes; oriental and occidental slopes of the Andes; northern from central Andes; and northern Andes from Central and North America. An ancient tropical South American origin for the genus is supported, with a more recent diversification due to Andean orogeny. Clades and terminals reaching North America include few independent events of more recent range expansions.

Integrative taxonomic revision of the New Caledonian endemic genus Taophila Heller (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae)

There are 96 endemic species of Eumolpinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) described from New Caledonia, but some estimates propose that the actual number could be at least twice this figure. Not surprisingly, when a particular species assemblage has been revised, the number of species in that group increases significantly. Here, we revise the New Caledonian endemic genus Taophila Heller, 1916, the best studied in this fauna and currently known to include eleven species, one in the subgenus Jolivetiana Gómez-Zurita & Cardoso, 2014, and ten in the nominal subgenus. The analysis of morphological differences in a large sample of Taophila and the validation of the resulting species hypotheses in an integrative fashion based on a phylogenetic analysis of partial mtDNA sequences (cox1 and rrnS) resulted in the addition of eleven more taxa. Taxonomic splits mainly reinterpreted the previous observation of mtDNA paraphyly affecting T. subsericea Heller, 1916, shown to represent a complex of species mostly distinguishable by diagnostic differences among females. The new species described are: T. bituberculata n. sp., T. carinata n. sp., T. dapportoi n. sp., T. davincii n. sp., T. draco n. sp., T. goa n. sp., T. hackae n. sp., T. samuelsoni n. sp., T. sideralis n. sp., T. taaluny n. sp. and T. wanati n. sp. These additions and the synonymy T. subsericea Heller = Stethotes mandjeliae Jolivet, Verma & Mille, 2010 n. syn., bring to 21 the total number of species in Taophila. Moreover, we also found the first evidence of mtDNA introgression between species of New Caledonian Eumolpinae, resulting from putative recent hybridization of T. subsericea and T. dapportoi where these species coexist. We describe a model incorporating the mtDNA genealogy of T. subsericea about the conditions that may have favored the secondary geographic encounter required for the hybridization of these species.

Revision of the Neotropical genus Sturmiodexia Townsend, 1919 (Diptera: Tachinidae), with a new synonymy and combinations

The monotypic genus Sturmiodexia Townsend, 1919 is a poorly known Neotropical taxon. Herein a new generic synonymy is proposed for this genus: Platyrrhinodexia Townsend, 1927 syn. nov. Two new combinations are assigned for Sturmiodexia: S. moyobambensis (Townsend, 1929) comb nov. and S. punctulata (Townsend, 1927) comb nov. Redescriptions were done for S. punctulata, S. rubescens Townsend 1919 and S. muscaria (Walker 1853). With these new propositions, Sturmiodexia is left with four species. In addition, the male and female terminalia, and the first instar larva, are described and illustrated for the first time for S. punctulata. Finally, a diagnose for Sturmiodexia and a key to all species is given.

Phylogenetic analysis and trait evolution of ant cocoons

Most ant species have lost the ability to spin cocoons. To explore the evolution of cocoon loss within Formicidae, we perform an ancestral state reconstruction of cocooned pupae across a genus-level phylogeny and use a sister clade analysis to determine the impact of cocoon evolution on ant speciation. Then, we fit models of correlated evolution between cocoon status and several other organismal traits. We find that the re-emergence of cocoons is rare and that “naked” lineages display an increased rate of speciation in 5 out of 9 sister group comparisons. Models of correlated evolution with cocoon status were favored for metapleural gland and worker polymorphism. Metapleural gland favored rates of evolution were inconclusive, while worker polymorphism displayed a higher transition rate towards polymorphism coupled with cocoon loss. These results suggest that cocoon loss may allow for other complex traits to develop and may represent a novel example of relaxed selection.

New genera and species of Ptiliini (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) with a tribal revision and key to genera

The list of genera in the polyphyletic tribe Ptiliini, used as a dumping ground for difficult genera of Ptiliidae by several generations of Coleopterists, is brought up to date with recent additions and omissions, and figures and a key to the genera are provided to aid their determination. 29 new species and 3 new genera are added. It was hoped to be able to determine some generic groups within the tribe but that work must depend on further cladistical and DNA research in the future. The new genera are Cingulum gen.n., Iloptila gen.n. and Numa gen.n. and the new species are Actidium cooteri sp.n., A. minimum sp.n., A. nigrum sp.n., Cingulum orsippus gen.n. sp.n., Dipentium bicolor sp.n., D. punctissimum sp.n., D. spinosum sp.n., Gomyella intricata sp.n., G. nicoya sp.n., G. profunda sp.n., G. tripla sp.n., Greensladella cicra sp.n., G. similata sp.n., Iloptila modica gen.n. sp.n., Micridium circulatum sp.n., M. dembickyi sp.n., M. hirsutum sp.n., M. juara sp.n., M. novum sp.n., Millidium karnatakense sp.n., Numa carmen gen.n. sp.n., Ptiliodes kanchiporam sp.n., Ptiliola bennetti sp.n., P. nigra sp.n., P. peruviensis sp.n., Ptilium lisae sp.n., P. longum sp.n., P. pallidulum sp.n. and P. piceum sp.n.

First record of female pleasing lacewings of Berothellinae (Neuroptera: Dilaridae) with a description of two new species of Berothella Banks from China

Pleasing lacewings (Neuroptera: Dilaridae) are a group of Neuroptera well known for the sexually dimorphic antennae (unipectinate in male, filiform in female). However, in the dilarid genus, Berothella Banks, 1934, the male antennae are not pectinate but thickly filiform. The genus is the sole representative of the recently established subfamily Berothellinae Liu, U. Aspöck & H. Aspöck, 2017, and includes three species from the Oriental region. So far each of the three species is known by a single male specimen. Here we describe two new species of Berothella, i.e., B. falcata sp. n. and B. wenii sp. n. from China based on morphological characters and molecular evidence. Moreover, we report on the first female of Berothellinae based on specimens of the newly discovered species. The female genital characters of Berothellinae are compared in detail with those of the other dilarid subfamilies. The distribution data of Berothellinae is updated.