Using an integrative taxonomic approach to delimit a sibling species, Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos sp. nov. (Formicidae: Attini: Attina)

The fungus-growing ant Mycetomoellerius (previously Trachymyrmex) zeteki (Weber 1940) has been the focus of a wide range of studies examining symbiotic partners, garden pathogens, mating frequencies, and genomics. This is in part due to the ease of collecting colonies from creek embankments and its high abundance in the Panama Canal region. The original description was based on samples collected on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. However, most subsequent studies have sampled populations on the mainland 15 km southeast of BCI. Herein we show that two sibling ant species live in sympatry on the mainland: Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos Cardenas, Schultz, & Adams and M. zeteki. This distinction was originally based on behavioral differences of workers in the field and on queen morphology (M. mikromelanos workers and queens are smaller and black while those of M. zeteki are larger and red). Authors frequently refer to either species as “M. cf. zeteki,” indicating uncertainty about identity. We used an integrative taxonomic approach to resolve this, examining worker behavior, chemical profiles of worker volatiles, molecular markers, and morphology of all castes. For the latter, we used conventional taxonomic indicators from nine measurements, six extrapolated indices, and morphological characters. We document a new observation of a Diapriinae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) parasitoid wasp parasitizing M. zeteki. Finally, we discuss the importance of vouchering in dependable, accessible museum collections and provide a table of previously published papers to clarify the usage of the name T. zeteki. We found that most reports of M. zeteki or M. cf. zeteki—including a genome—actually refer to the new species M. mikromelanos

Venom Alkaloids from Some Monomorium Species

Volume: 18Start Page: 145End Page: 15

The chemical defense of the Texas cave harvestman Chinquipellobunus madlae: first report on the family Stygnopsidae and on a North American troglobiont harvestman (Opilones: Gonyleptoidea)

Volume: 38Start Page: 126End Page: 12

If you've got it, flaunt it: Ingested alkaloids affect corematal display behavior in the salt marsh moth, -4

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "If you've got it, flaunt it: Ingested alkaloids affect corematal display behavior in the salt marsh moth, "</p><p>Journal of Insect Science 2005;5():-.</p><p>Published online 4 Feb 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1283882.</p><p>Copyright © 2005. Open access; copyright is maintained by the authors.</p

If you've got it, flaunt it: Ingested alkaloids affect corematal display behavior in the salt marsh moth, -2

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "If you've got it, flaunt it: Ingested alkaloids affect corematal display behavior in the salt marsh moth, "</p><p>Journal of Insect Science 2005;5():-.</p><p>Published online 4 Feb 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1283882.</p><p>Copyright © 2005. Open access; copyright is maintained by the authors.</p>ehavior in isolated PA-free females (n = 20)

If you've got it, flaunt it: Ingested alkaloids affect corematal display behavior in the salt marsh moth, -0

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "If you've got it, flaunt it: Ingested alkaloids affect corematal display behavior in the salt marsh moth, "</p><p>Journal of Insect Science 2005;5():-.</p><p>Published online 4 Feb 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1283882.</p><p>Copyright © 2005. Open access; copyright is maintained by the authors.</p

If you've got it, flaunt it: Ingested alkaloids affect corematal display behavior in the salt marsh moth, -1

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "If you've got it, flaunt it: Ingested alkaloids affect corematal display behavior in the salt marsh moth, "</p><p>Journal of Insect Science 2005;5():-.</p><p>Published online 4 Feb 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1283882.</p><p>Copyright © 2005. Open access; copyright is maintained by the authors.</p>l inflation in isolated PA-free males (n = 20)

Investigating Photo-Degradation as a Potential Pheromone Production Pathway in Spotted Lanternfly, <i>Lycorma delicatula</i>

Since its discovery in North America in 2014, the spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, has become an economic, ecological, and nuisance pest there. Developing early detection and monitoring tools is critical to their mitigation and control. Previous research found evidence that SLF may use pheromones to help locate each other for aggregation or mating. Pheromone production necessitates specific conditions by the insects, and these must be investigated and described. A chemical process called photo-degradation has been described as a final step in the production of pheromones in several diurnal insect species, in which cuticular hydrocarbons were broken down by sunlight into volatile pheromone components. In this study, photo-degradation was investigated as a possible pheromone production pathway for SLF. Extracts from SLF mixed-sex third and fourth nymphs and male or female adults were either exposed to simulated sunlight to produce a photo-degradative reaction (photo-degraded), or not exposed to light (crude), while volatiles were collected. Behavioral bioassays tested for attraction to volatiles from photo-degraded and crude samples and their residues. In third instars, only the volatile samples from photo-degraded mixed-sex extracts were attractive. Fourth instar males were attracted to both crude and photo-degraded residues, and volatiles of photo-degraded mixed-sex extracts. Fourth instar females were attracted to volatiles of crude and photo-degraded mixed-sex extracts, but not to residues. In adults, only males were attracted to body volatiles from crude and photo-degraded extracts of either sex. Examination of all volatile samples using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that most of the identified compounds in photo-degraded extracts were also present in crude extracts. However, the abundance of these compounds in photo-degraded samples were 10 to 250 times more than their abundance in the crude counterparts. Results from behavioral bioassays indicate that photo-degradation probably does not generate a long-range pheromone, but it may be involved in the production of a short-range sex-recognition pheromone in SLF. This study provides additional evidence of pheromonal activity in SLF