First Cytogenetic Study Through Conventional Staining of The Ant Genus Blepharidatta Wheeler, 1915 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini)

Blepharidatta is a rare Neotropical ant genus in the Attini tribe of the subfamily Myrmicinae. It has only four valid species and among them Blepharidatta delabiei was recently described and there is little knowledge on its biology. This study is the first cytogenetic characterization for the genus Blepharidatta and also presents the biology of B. delabiei. Cytogenetic analyses revealed a karyotype 2n = 28 with acrocentric and metacentric chromosomes and a karyotypic formula (m: metacentric, a: acrocentric): 2K = 16m + 12a. We observed that ants of this species have diurnal habits with higher foraging activity in the afternoon and are possibly omnivorous as they accepted the baits used. The distance between colonies varied from 5 to 7 meters

Genetic characterization of some neoponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) populations within the foetida species complex

The foetida species complex comprises 13 Neotropical species in the ant genus Neoponera Emery (1901). Neoponera villosa Fabricius (1804) , Neoponera inversa Smith (1858), Neoponera bactronica Fernandes, Oliveira & Delabie (2013), and Neoponera curvinodis (Forel, 1899) have had an ambiguous taxonomic status for more than two decades. In southern Bahia, Brazil, these four species are frequently found in sympatry. Here we used Bayesian Inference and maximum likelihood analyses of COI and 16S mtDNA sequence data and conventional cytogenetic data together with observations on morphology to characterize sympatric populations of N. villosa, N. inversa, N. bactronica, and N. curvinodis. Our results showed marked differences in the karyotype of these ants. Both N. curvinodis and N. inversa have chromosome number of 2n = 30. Their chromosome composition, however, is distinct, which indicates that N. curvinodis is more closely related to N. bactronica. These four species clustered into three distinct groups. The close relationship between N. bactronica and N. curvinodis deserves further investigation since it has not been fully resolved here. Our results confirm that N. inversa, N. villosa, N. bactronica + N. curvinodis indeed represent four distinct taxa within the foetida species complex

Collection data and information on <i>Simulium hirtipupa</i> populations sequenced in this study.

<p>N—number of sequences.</p

Population clusters of <i>Simulium hirtipupa</i> found by BAPS.

<p>Population codes are according to <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0190091#pone.0190091.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>.</p

Phylogeography and population diversity of <i>Simulium hirtipupa</i> Lutz (Diptera: Simuliidae) based on mitochondrial COI sequences

<div><p>High morphological homogeneity and cryptic speciation may cause the diversity within Simuliidae to be underestimated. Recent molecular studies on population genetics and phylogeography have contributed to reveal which factors influenced the diversity within this group. This study aimed at examining the genetic diversity of <i>Simulium hirtipupa</i> Lutz, 1910 in populations from the biomes Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest. In this study, we carried out phylogeographic and population genetic analyses using a fragment of the mitochondrial gene COI. The 19 populations studied were clustered into seven groups, most of which are associated with geography indicating certain genetic structure. The northern region of the state of Minas Gerais is most likely the center of origin of this species. The average intergroup genetic distance was 3.7%, indicating the presence of cryptic species. The species tree as well as the haplotype network recovered all groups forming two major groups: the first comprises groups Gr-Bahia (in which the São Francisco river has not acted as geographical barrier), Gr-Pernambuco, and Gr-Mato Grosso do Sul. The second included groups comprising populations of the states of Goiás, Tocantins, Minas Gerais, Bahia, São Paulo, and Espírito Santo. The mismatch distribution for groups was consistent with the model of demographic expansion, except for the Gr-Central-East_1 group. The diversification in this group occurred about 1.19 Mya during the Pleistocene, influenced by paleoclimatic oscillations during the Quaternary glacial cycles.</p></div

Estimate of genetic distance of <i>Simulium hirtipupa</i>.

<p>Intragroup (diagonal and bold) and intergroup (below the diagonal) genetic distances (%) based on sequencing of a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene. Analyses were conducted using the K₂P model.</p

Bayesian inference tree and posterior probabilities based on sequencing of a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene.

<p>Numbers below each node indicate Bayesian posterior probabilities. <i>Simulium guianense</i> and <i>Simulium rubrithorax</i> were used as outgroups.</p

Unrooted haplotype network of <i>Simulium hirtipupa</i> based on 651 bp of a fragment of the mitochondrial COI.

<p>Each circle in the haplotype network corresponds to one haplotype, and its size is proportional to its frequency among the samples. Colors of the circles correspond to sampling locations. Empty circles are median vector that represent intermediate haplotypes that were not sampled or extinct. On the map the circles are labeled according to the geographic origin of the haplotypes.</p

Summary of genetic diversity measures and neutrality tests for the complete set of sequences and for the seven populations of <i>Simulium hirtipupa</i>.

<p>Hp, haplotype Number; NS, polymorphic sites number; π±SD and H±SD, nucleotide and haplotype diversities, with respective standard deviations.</p

Geographic distribution and sampling sites of the populations of <i>Simulium hirtipupa</i> included in this study.

<p>A) Map of Brazil with sampling sites and the respective biomes. B) Map of Brazil showing the sampling sites in their respective river basins (Resolution n° 32, from Conselho Nacional de Recursos Hídricos, of October 15, 2003). For details on localities and population codes see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0190091#pone.0190091.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>. The Brazilian states are: BA, Bahia; ES, Espírito Santo; GO, Goiás; MS, Mato Grosso do Sul; MG, Minas Gerais; PE, Pernambuco; SP, São Paulo; TO, Tocantins.</p