An observation on the ecology and behaviour of Metallyticus splendidus on a dead dipterocarp tree in Sabah, Malaysia (Mantodea, Metallyticidae)

Metallyticus is a genus of rare mantids, occurring mostly in SouthEast Asia. Five species have been described. However, their ecology and behaviour remain virtually unknown. In this study, we describe a small population of Metallyticus splendidus Westwood, 1889 on a dead dipterocarp tree standing in disturbed tropical rainforest around Danau Girang Field Centre, Sabah, Malaysia. At dawn, in the afternoon and at night, four individuals, two adults and two nymphs, were monitored. Our findings confirm earlier behavioural observations: they hold their bodies flat when running. We did not observe any lurking behaviour: the mantids were walking fast across the tree stem and in tree holes. M. splendidus was found at dawn, in the afternoon, and at night only on this single dead tree in a plot of 50 X 50 m. This suggests that M. splendidus is day and night-active and that its habitat is restricted to dead standing trees. We failed to find other individuals on other dead as well as living trees. Our findings show that the habitat of M. splendidus could be restricted to large dead trees, giving novel insights into the ecology of Metallyticidae.Microbial Biotechnolog

Mántidos (Insecta: Mantodea) de la Reserva de la Biósfera Selva El Ocote, Chiapas, México

The objective of this work was to analyze the diversity of mantids in four localities of the Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve: a) Emilio Rabasa, b) Veinte Casas, c) Nuevo San Juan Chamula, and d) San Joaquín El Progreso, grouping them in sites of conservation (a, b) and disturbed sites (c, d). Eight field trips of five days each one were made, divided into the seasons with and without rain precipitation, from February to August 2016. The fieldwork of mantids was done using light traps (black and white), in addition to direct manual capture. In total, 38 individuals were captured, five genera and seven species within three families. In addition, four new records of these insects were made for Chiapas (17 in total), which represents 23.6% of the known mantids in the country. The conservation sites presented high diversity, while the localities with more shared species were Veinte Casas and Nuevo San Juan Chamula. In April and July more mantids were collected compared to the other dates. The contribution of ecological-taxonomic data in this study is of importance to enrich the knowledge of this group of insects.Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo analizar la diversidad de mántidos en cuatro localidades de la Reserva de la Biósfera Selva El Ocote: a) Emilio Rabasa, b) Veinte Casas, c) Nuevo San Juan Chamula y d) San Joaquín El Progreso, agrupándolos en sitios de conservación (a, b) y sitios perturbados (c, d). Se realizaron ocho salidas de campo de cinco días de duración cada una, divididas en las estaciones con precipitación pluvial y sin ella, de febrero a agosto de 2016. La recolecta de mántidos se efectuó usando trampas de luz (negra y blanca), además de colecta manual directa. En total se capturaron 38 individuos, cinco géneros y siete especies de tres familias. Con ello, se realizaron cuatro nuevos registros de estos insectos para Chiapas (17 en total), lo que representó el 23.6% de los mántidos conocidos en el país. Los sitios de conservación presentaron mayor diversidad, mientras que las localidades con más especies compartidas fueron Veinte Casas y Nuevo San Juan Chamula. En abril y julio se recolectaron más mántidos con respecto a las otras fechas de recolecta. La aportación de datos ecológicos-taxonómicos en este estudio es de importancia para enriquecer el conocimiento de este grupo de insectos

Life history and biogeography of the enigmatic mantid Nilomantis floweri (Mantodea, Nanomantidae)

The biology and distribution patterns of the Sahelian mantid species Nilomantis floweri are still insufficiently known. For the first time, records are confirmed of this species from Iran and the distribution map of its native range is updated. Records are compiled from the Sahel zone of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Iran. Detailed information on its biology, oothecal characteristics, male genitalia variation, and intraspecific molecular diversity in the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase are provided, and ecological niche modelling was used to gain insight into the overall species distribution and understand its climatic niche limits. Genetic analysis revealed only one haplotype shared between Iran and Oman. The Iranian populations likely represent two distinct clusters, both more related to the diverse Oman haplotypes than to each other. Based on new data, N. floweri appears to be mostly associated with coastal areas in southwestern Asia, with the vast majority of records found along the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Oman Gulf coasts. This distribution contrasts markedly with N. floweri records in the Sahel, where most collections have been reported in the transitional zone between the southern Sahara and arid thorn savannah, far off the coast. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of this still enigmatic mantid species

Los mántidos (insecta: mantodea) del sector occidental de la Sierra nevada de Santa Marta (Colombia)

Las mantis (orden Mantodea) se caracterizan por poseer una cabeza triangular, patas protorácicas raptoras y ser voraces depredadores en los ecosistemas. Colombia ocupa el segundo lugar con mayor número de especies de mántidos en el Neotrópico, pero zonas como el Chocó Biogeográfico y la región Caribe han sido pobremente estudiadas, destacando en esta última a la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo estudiar a las especies de Mantodea distribuidas en el sector occidental de la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Se revisaron 96 individuos de los cuales 58 estaban depositados en el Centro de Colecciones Biológicas de la Universidad del Magdalena y 38 fueron recolectados en campo. Se identificaron 14 especies de mántidos y se delimitaron 2 morfoespecies, distribuidas en 5 familias, 9 subfamilias y 13 géneros; a partir de estas se elaboraron descripciones taxonómicas las cuales incluyen fórmulas espinales y medidas morfométricas para cada una. Las familias con mayor número de especie fueron Thespidae y Mantidae (seis y cinco respectivamente); mientras que la mejor representada en número individuos fue Thespidae (52 individuos). Las especies mejor representadas en número de individuos fueron Liturgusa maya, Musonia surinama, M. lineata y Stagmatoptera septentrionalis. Promiopteryx simplex es un nuevo reporte para el país; los géneros Phasmomantis y Vates, al igual que la especie perteneciente a este último género y dos especies más de los géneros Angela y Pseudomiopteryx corresponden a nuevos registros para la Región Caribe y siete especies de los géneros Mantoida, Liturgusa, Stagmomantis, Parastagmatoptera, Musonia y Thespis lo son para el departamento del Magdalena. Las muestras de la colección aportaron aproximadamente el 63% de las especies identificadas en este estudio. Los resultados sugieren que los bosques de la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta pueden albergar una diversidad de mántidos considerablemente alta en comparación con otras zonas de la región, como por ejemplo el departamento del Atlántico; no obstante, se necesitan estudios a mayor escala temporal y geográfica para alcanzar una mejor comprensión de la riqueza, composición y abundancia de este grupo de insectos. Palabras clave: Mantis religiosas, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Mantidofaun

Jurassic scorpionflies (Mecoptera) with swollen first metatarsal segments suggesting sexual dimorphism

Background: Sexual dimorphism is widespread in insects. The certain specialized structures may be used as weapons in male–male combats or as ornaments to enhance mating opportunities. Results: We report striking swollen first tarsal segments in two families, four genera and six species of scorpionflies from the Middle Jurassic Yanliao Biota of Northeastern China. Swollen tarsal segments are restricted to male specimens and to hind leg tarsi. The geometric morphometric analyses reveal that the degree of swelling within the orthophlebiid species possessing swollen first metatarsal segments is species-specific, which can be used as a diagnostic character for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. Conclusions: The new findings indicate that swollen first metatarsal segments are relatively common in the family Orthophlebiidae during the Middle Jurassic. The tarsal swellings are considered to be sexually dimorphic, potentially associated with sexually display by males and/or camouflage of a “nuptial gift” in the mating process

Three-dimensional modelling, disparity and ecology of the first Cambrian apex predators

Radiodonts evolved to become the largest nektonic predators in the Cambrian period, persisting into the Ordovician and perhaps up until the Devonian period. They used a pair of large frontal appendages together with a radial mouth apparatus to capture and manipulate their prey, and had evolved a range of species with distinct appendage morphologies by the Early Cambrian (approx. 521 Ma). However, since their discovery, there has been a lack of understanding about their basic functional anatomy, and thus their ecology. To explore radiodont modes of feeding, we have digitally modelled different appendage morphologies represented by Anomalocaris canadensis, Hurdia victoria, Peytoia nathorsti, Amplectobelua stephenensis and Cambroraster falcatus from the Burgess Shale. Our results corroborate ideas that there was probably a significant (functional and hence behavioural) diversity among different radiodont species with adaptations for feeding on differently sized prey (0.07 cm up to 10 cm). We argue here that Cambroraster falcatus appendages were suited for feeding on suspended particles rather than filtering sediment. Given the limited dexterity and lack of accessory feeding appendages as seen in modern arthropods, feeding must have been inefficient and ‘messy’, which may explain their subsequent replacement by crown-group arthropods, cephalopods and jawed vertebrates

Phylogenetic analysis with morphological characters of the tribe metapterini STÅL, 1859 and taxonomic revision of the genusGhilianella Spinola, 1850 (HEMIPTERA: REDUVIIDAE: EMESINAE)

Metapterini Stål, 1859 pertence à Emesinae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), apresenta ampla distribuição, e morfologicamente se caracteriza pelo conspícuo processo basal da série póstero-ventral do profemur e pela presença de polimorfismo alar. Na tribo há alta proporção de gêneros com espécies micropteras e ápteras. A única hipótese filogenética disponível para a subfamília assumiu Metapterini como monofilético, embora nunca tenha sido formalmente testado com metodos cladísticos. Além disso, conjuntos de dados moleculares não publicados sugerem parafilia do grupo. Ghilianella Spinola, 1850 é o gênero mais diversificado dentro de Metapterini, exclusivamente Neotropical, e com 72 espécies válidas. Morfologicamente se caracteriza pela série anteroventral do profemur composta por processos espiniformes misturas com setas simples, e genitália do macho simétrica, entre outros caracteres. Os objetivos desta tese são: 1) Testar o monofiletismo de Metapterini usando caracteres morfológicos numa análise cladística; 2) explorar a informatividade filogenética de caracteres morfológicos aqui propostos; 3) avaliar as relações filogenéticas entre os gêneros de Metapterini; 4) hipotetizar as relações filogenéticas entre os gêneros Ghilianella, Ghinallelia e Liaghinella, taxonomicamente problemáticos, para ajudar as suas delimitações e parentesco; e 5) apresentar a revisão taxonômica de Ghilianella explorando novos caracteres morfológicos para ajudar a delimitar as espécies.The assassin bug tribe Metapterini belongs to the subfamily Emesinae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Morphologically, it is characterized by the conspicuous basal process of the postero ventral series in the foreleg and the presence of the wing polymorphism, with high proportion of genera with micropterous and apterous species. The only available phylogenetic hypothesis for the subfamily assumed that Metapterini is monophyletic, although it has never been formally tested. In addition, unpublished molecular data sets suggest that this group might be paraphyletic. The genus Ghilianella Spinola, 1850 is the most diversified genus of the Metapterini, exclusively Neotropical with approximately 72 species. Morphologically, it is characterized by having the anteroventral and posteroventral setal series on the two distal thirds of the fore femur, the anteroventral series composed by spines and setae and not interrupted in the base, conspicuous posteroventral process located far from the base of the article, both process of the fore femur to the apical extreme end with acute dentiform process, symmetric phallus, among other characters. The goals of this study are to: 1) evaluate the monophyly of the tribe Metapterini with morphological characters; 2) explore novel morphological characters that may be informative for the phylogenetic analysis; 3) assess the phylogenetic relationships among the genera of Metapterini; 4) resolve the phylogenetic relationships among taxonomically problematic genera Ghilianella, Ghinallelia, and Liaghinella; and 5) undertake the taxonomic revision of the large genus Ghilianella exploring novel morphological characters to help delimit the species

Manual of praying mantis morphology, nomenclature, and practices (Insecta, Mantodea)

This study provides a comprehensive review of historical morphological nomenclature used for praying mantis (Mantodea) morphology, which includes citations, original use, and assignment of homology. All referenced structures across historical works correspond to a proposed standard term for use in all subsequent works pertaining to praying mantis morphology and systematics. The new standards are presented with a verbal description in a glossary as well as indicated on illustrations and images. In the vast majority of cases, originally used terms were adopted as the new standard. In addition, historical morphological topographical homology conjectures are considered with discussion on modern interpretations. A new standardized formulation to present foreleg femoral and tibial spines is proposed for clarity based on previous works. In addition, descriptions for methods of collection, curation, genital complex dissection, and labeling are provided to aid in the proper preservation and storage of specimens for longevity and ease of study. Due to the lack of consistent linear morphometric measurement practices in the literature, we have proposed a series of measurements for taxonomic and morphological research. These measurements are presented with figures to provide visual aids with homologous landmarks to ensure compatibility and comparability across the Order. Finally, our proposed method of pinning mantises is presented with a photographical example as well as a video tutorial available at http://mantodearesearch.com

Systematics and Evolution of the Family Chrysopidae (Neuroptera), with an Emphasis on their Morphology

Chrysopidae, commonly known as ‘green lacewings,’ are worldwide-distributed insects that are integral to sustainable agricultural practices, acting as important biological control agents. With approximately 1,400 species segregated in 80 genera, the green lacewings comprise one of the largest groups in the order Neuroptera, rivaling the antlions (Myrmeleontidae). The group is widely studied not only for their agricultural benefits, but also as models for cryptic or sympatric speciation, complex communication systems, and peculiar behaviors linked to specific anatomical traits. As such, the group has attracted much attention and previous studies have attempted to resolve relationships within the family, but for varying reasons these studies have had their limitations. In the present dissertation, phylogenetic relationships among the major linages of green lacewings are reconstructed with the inclusion of a variety of data sources. A detailed morphological data set, based on diverse sampling is the core of this work, and was combined with molecular data including seven loci and mitogenomic data, in order to infer a comprehensive phylogeny of the family Chrysopidae. We provide the results of several phylogenetic analyses, primarily using Bayesian inference, covering the entire family as well as detailed analyses of the subfamilies and tribes. Divergence times of the major groups in Chrysopidae were estimated, and the evolution of several morphological characters is investigated. On the basis of the resulting phylogenetic hypotheses, we provide a revised classification of the subfamilies, tribes, genera, and subgenera of Chrysopidae. The dissertation has a strong focus on morphology, and the basis for the combined data phylogeny was a revision of the homology statements of all external and genitalic charcaters of Chrysopidae. As an examplar for the family, we here describe the morphological characters of Chrysopa oculata Say, and provide a revised ontology for the family. The wings of Chrysopidae are unique among lacewings given the high amount of vein fusion. This trait is further investigated and set into a comparative morphological framework in Neuropteroida