Higher Level Phylogeny and the First Divergence Time Estimation of Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) Based on Multiple Genes

Heteroptera, or true bugs, are the largest, morphologically diverse and economically important group of insects with incomplete metamorphosis. However, the phylogenetic relationships within Heteroptera are still in dispute and most of the previous studies were based on morphological characters or with single gene (partial or whole 18S rDNA). Besides, so far, divergence time estimates for Heteroptera totally rely on the fossil record, while no studies have been performed on molecular divergence rates. Here, for the first time, we used maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) with multiple genes (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, 16S rDNA and COI) to estimate phylogenetic relationships among the infraorders, and meanwhile, the Penalized Likelihood (r8s) and Bayesian (BEAST) molecular dating methods were employed to estimate divergence time of higher taxa of this suborder. Major results of the present study included: Nepomorpha was placed as the most basal clade in all six trees (MP trees, ML trees and Bayesian trees of nuclear gene data and four-gene combined data, respectively) with full support values. The sister-group relationship of Cimicomorpha and Pentatomomorpha was also strongly supported. Nepomorpha originated in early Triassic and the other six infraorders originated in a very short period of time in middle Triassic. Cimicomorpha and Pentatomomorpha underwent a radiation at family level in Cretaceous, paralleling the proliferation of the flowering plants. Our results indicated that the higher-group radiations within hemimetabolous Heteroptera were simultaneously with those of holometabolous Coleoptera and Diptera which took place in the Triassic. While the aquatic habitat was colonized by Nepomorpha already in the Triassic, the Gerromorpha independently adapted to the semi-aquatic habitat in the Early Jurassic

Engytatus passionarius sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Miridae), a new natural enemy of the invasive stinking passion flower Passiflora foetida L.

The new plant bug Engytatus passionarius sp. nov. from Formosa province in northern Argentina is described. This new dicyphine was always found in association with the sticky herbaceous vine Passiflora (Dysosmia) foetida L. (Passifloraceae), a species native to the Americas and an important invasive weed in some countries including Australia. The apparent host specificity, the ability to traverse the adhesive exudates of the glandular trichomes and the damage caused by nymphal and adult feeding make E. passionarius sp. nov. an interesting option for further research as a biological control agent. In this paper, a diagnosis, description and illustrations of adult, including the male genitalia, of this new species, as well as a key to the Argentinian species of Engytatus are provided.Fil: Minghetti, Eugenia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Maestro, Mariano. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; ArgentinaFil: Dellapé, Pablo Matías. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentin

A new genus and species of Apseudomorpha (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) from the Mar del Plata submarine Canyon, South West Atlantic, and replacement of the preoccupied name Hoplomachus Guţu 2002

A new apseudomorph tanaidacean, Deidamiapseudes poseidon n. gen., n. sp., is fully described and illustrated based on many specimens collected in the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon, South West Atlantic, at 1144 m depth. The new genus Deidamiapseudes is closely related to the genus Hoplomachus Guţu, 2002, from which it can be distinguished by the lack of ommatidia, and by having antennule accessory flagellum of three articles, antenna with small scale, and pleopods with a few setae. In addition, Deidamiapseudes poseidon n. gen., n. sp. was found in deep-sea waters, whereas Hoplomachus is a shallow water genus. The uncertain family position of these two genera is discussed. The name Hoplomachus Guţu, 2002, preoccupied by Hoplomachus Fieber, 1858, is replaced with the name Hoplopolemius.Fil: Sganga, Daniela Eliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Roccatagliata, Daniel Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentin