Ultrasonic songs and stridulum anatomy of Asiophlugis crystal predatory katydids (Tettigonioidea: Meconematinae: Phlugidini)

The behavioural ecology of ultrasonic-singing katydids is not well understood, and the general bioacoustics, barely known for a few Neotropical Meconematinae, tends to be overlooked for species from Southeast Asia. These include Asiatic species of Phlugidini, commonly known as crystal predatory katydids. One of its genera, Asiophlugis consists of 16 species for which acoustic signals and stridulum anatomy are broadly unknown. These characters can be used to understand species boundaries. Here, we sampled Asiophlugis from five sites in Malay Peninsula and Borneo Island, recorded the acoustic signals of five species plus one subspecies using ultrasound sensitive equipment, and examined their stridulum anatomy. The calling songs of the taxa involved were documented for the first time. We found that the stridulum anatomy (e.g., tooth distributions, tooth length and tooth density) is distinct between species, but less so between subspecies. In contrary, songs of different taxa are different based on acoustic parameters (e.g., pulse duration, peak frequency) and descriptive patterns, even between the subspecies. We also did not observe that song signals are more different in sympatry than in allopatry. Whether this can be generalised requires further sampling, highlighting the need for more research on the ultrasonic acoustic communication in Asiatic katydids

Les maîtres parisiens et la genèse de l’Université (1200-1231)

It was in the first quarter of the 13th century, particularly between 1208 and 1215, that the Parisian schools developed into a full-fledged university complete with the requisite institutions and privileges. Interpretations of this relatively rapid phenomenon have so far relied on mainly general factors such as the discovery of a new Aristotle in the West (H. Grundmann), the opening of new careers to magistri (P. Classen), the will of the crown or the papacy (J. Verger) or the desire for reform of the schools (S.C. Ferruolo). This study, which is based on a prosopographic file of some 150masters known to have taught in Paris between 1200 and 1231, develops the hypothesis that the birth of the university is closely linked to human factors peculiar to the Parisian schools. In effect we are also likely to find among the determining factors the social profile of the masters in the Capetian capital.C’est dans le premier quart du XIIIe siècle, en particulier entre 1208 et 1215, que les écoles parisiennes se sont muées en une université dotée de l’essentiel de ses institutions et privilèges. Pour interpréter ce phénomène relativement rapide, les spécialistes ont jusqu’à présent invoqué des facteurs assez généraux, tels que la découverte du nouvel Aristote en Occident (H. Grundmann), les nouvelles carrières ouvertes aux magistri (P. Classen), la volonté des pouvoirs royal et pontifical (J. Verger) ou une volonté de réforme des écoles (S.C. Ferruolo). S’appuyant sur un fichier prosopographique de quelque cent cinquante maîtres connus pour avoir enseigné à Paris entre 1200 et 1231, cette étude développe l’hypothèse selon laquelle la naissance de l’université de Paris est étroitement liée à des facteurs humains propres aux écoles parisiennes. En effet, le profil social des maîtres dans la capitale capétienne a sans doute été également déterminant

New and little known taxa of the genus Calopsyra Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1891 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) from Indo-Malayan Region

A new material on the Indo-Malayan genus Сalopsyra Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1891 from the tribe Holochlorini is reviewed. This genus is divided into three subgenera: Calopsyra s. str., Parapsyra Carl, 1914, stat. n. (previously considered as a distinct genus) and Rhodopsyra subgen. n. Eight new combinations are proposed: C. (P.) notabilis (Carl, 1914), comb. n., C. (P.) nigrovittata (Xia et Liu, 1992), comb. n., C. (P.) midcarina (Liu et Kang, 2006), comb. n., C. (P.) nigrocornis (Liu et Kang, 2006), comb. n., C. (P.) fuscomarginalis (Liu et Kang, 2006), comb. n., C. (P.) brevicauda (Liu, 2011), comb. n., С. (Rh.) muricetincta (Karny, 1926), comb. n., C. (Rh.) laticauda (Karny, 1926), comb. n. Two new species from Borneo and Sumatra are described: C. (C.) sexmaculata sp. n. and C. (Rh.) roseoalata sp. n. The neotype for C. (C.) octomaculata (Westwood, 1848) is designated, and this species is redescribed in accordance with new data

New taxa of the subfamily Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from Africa: the tribes Otiaphysini and Preussiini

Te new material on the following African genera of the subfamily Phaneropterinae is considered: Drepanophyllum Karsch, 1890 and Tetraconcha Karsch, 1890 belonging to the tribe Otiaphysini; Enochletica Karsch, 1896 and Weissenbornia Karsch, 1888 belonging to the tribe Preussiini. Four new species and two new subspecies are described: Drepanophyllum irisovi sp. n. (Cameroon), Drepanophyllum corrosifolium ugandense subsp. n. (Uganda), Tetraconcha bicolor sp. n. (Uganda), Tetraconcha unicolor sp. n. (Uganda), Enochletica simulata sp. n. (Uganda), and Weissenbornia praestantissima aurea subsp. n. (Uganda). All these species and subspecies are distinguished from each other and from all other representatives of the genera studied by the structure and colouration of their tegmina, as well as by some features of the stridulatory vein teeth, the shape of the male cerci and/or the structure of the male genital plate

Tocilizumab in COVID-19 therapy: who benefits, and how?

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The first record of the invasive cricket species Velarifictorus micado (Saussure, 1877) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Gryllinae) for Transcaucasia (Georgia)

A few crickets specimens collected in Georgia turned out to belong to the genus Velarifictorus Randell, 1964 and to the species micado, which is widely distributed in East Asia. The species is common in urban surroundings in Japan, China and Korean Peninsula, known in the South of Russian Far East and in some countries of South-East Asia. Velarifictorus micado is known for its expansion potential; it has invaded a large part of the United States of America after introduction in 1959. The species has not been observed in Europe so far, but now it is recorded for the first time in Georgia. Invasion of adherent Turkish and Russian lowland territory is to be expected. Consequences of the introduction are debated

Estudio taxonómico preliminar de los Grylloidea de España (Insecta, Orthoptera)

In the present paper a taxonomic and faunistic study of the superfamily of Grylloidea of Spain including the Balearic and Canary Islands is carried on. Sixty species and subspecies are reported for the study area, six of them new to science: Petaloptila (P.) fermini, P. (P.) isabelae, P. (Zapetaloptila) venosa, P. (Z.) barrancoi, Paramogoplistes dentatus sp. n. and Grylloderes orlovskajae adventicius subsp. n.; likewise are erected two new subgenera Italoptila and Zapetaloptila. One correct synonymy of the genus Grylloderes Bolívar, 1894 (=Platygryllus Chopard, 1961, syn. dist.), seven specific synonymies are established: Gryllomorpha (G.) dalmatina (Ocskay, 1832) (=Gryllomorpha dalmatina strumae Andreeva, 1982, syn. n.), Petaloptila (P.) aliena (Brunner-Wattenwyl, 1882) (=Discoptila eitschbergeri Harz, 1976, syn. n.), Acheta hispanicus Rambur, 1839 (=Gryllus erythrospilus Walker, 1869, syn. n., Gryllus hispanicus var. fusculus Bolívar, 1927, syn. n.), Eumodicogryllus bordigalensis (Latreille, 1802) (=Gryllodes ferdinandi Bolívar, 1899, syn. n., Gryllus chinensis var. intermedia Bolívar, 1927, syn. n.), Eugryllodes pipiens (Dufour, 1820) (=Gryllodes pipiens var. provincialis Azam, 1901, syn. n.) and besides five new status and one new combination. Three species [Eumodicogryllus theryi (Chopard, 1943), Sciobia natalia Gorochov, 1985 and Oecanthus dulcisonans Gorochov, 1993] are recorded for the first time for the Iberian Peninsula, being the former two also new for Europe, one (Svercus p. palmetorum Krauss, 1902) for Peninsular Spain, three [Natula averni (Costa, 1855), comb. n., Acanthogryllus acus Gorochov, 1988, under this name, and Pseudomogoplistes vicentae Gorochov, 1996], for the Canary Islands, being latter recorded also for the first time for Algeria and Modicogryllus (M.) algirius (Saussure, 1877) is also recorded for the first time for France. On the other hand, we recognise Eugryllodes panteli (Cazurro, 1888) as a good species. An identification key with figures for the species of the genus Petaloptila is presented. The male genitalia of several species is also studied for the first time. The type series of Gryllodes macropterus Fuente, 1894 and Gryllotalpa septemdecimchromosomica Ortiz, 1958 and two paratypes of Gryllomorpha adspersa merobricensis Fernandes, 1959, stat. n. are localized. Lectotypes and paralectotypes of 17 taxons are designated. The distribution of all species is revised.En el presente trabajo se realiza un estudio taxonómico y faunístico de la superfamilia Grylloidea de España, incluyendo las islas Baleares y Canarias. Se examinan las 60 especies y subespecies que se han encontrado hasta ahora en este país, siendo seis de ellas nuevas para la ciencia: Petaloptila (P.) fermini, P. (P.) isabelae, P. (Zapetaloptila) venosa, P. (Z.) barrancoi, Paramogoplistes dentatus sp. n. y Grylloderes orlovskajae adventicius subsp. n.; asimismo se crean dos nuevos subgéneros Italoptila y Zapetaloptila. Se establece una sinonimia correcta del género Grylloderes Bolívar, 1894 (=Platygryllus Chopard, 1961, syn. dist.), así como siete sinonimias específicas: Gryllomorpha (G.) dalmatina (Ocskay, 1832) (=Gryllomorpha dalmatina strumae Andreeva, 1982, syn. n.), Petaloptila (P.) aliena (Brunner-Wattenwyl, 1882) (=Discoptila eitschbergeri Harz, 1976, syn. n.), Acheta hispanicus Rambur, 1839 (=Gryllus erythrospilus Walker, 1869, syn. n., Gryllus hispanicus var. fusculus Bolívar, 1927, syn. n.), Eumodicogryllus bordigalensis (Latreille, 1802) (=Gryllodes ferdinandi Bolívar, 1899, syn. n., Gryllus chinensis var. intermedia Bolívar, 1927, syn. n.), Eugryllodes pipiens (Dufour, 1820) (=Gryllodes pipiens var. provincialis Azam, 1901, syn. n.), y además cinco estatus nuevos y una combinación nueva. Se citan por primera vez para la Península Ibérica tres especies [Eumodicogryllus theryi (Chopard, 1943), Sciobia natalia Gorochov, 1985 y Oecanthus dulcisonans Gorochov, 1993], las dos primeras de las cuales, lo son también para Europa; para la España peninsular una (Svercus p. palmetorum Krauss, 1902) y tres para las islas Canarias [Natula averni (Costa, 1855), comb. n., Acanthogryllus acus Gorochov, 1988, bajo este nombre, y Pseudomogoplistes vicentae Gorochov, 1996], esta última además se cita por primera vez para Argelia; así como Modicogryllus (M.) algirius (Saussure, 1877), para Francia. Por otra parte, se vuelve a considerar como buena especie Eugryllodes panteli (Cazurro, 1888). Asimismo se presenta una clave de identificación acompañada de figuras para las especies del género Petaloptila. También se estudia por primera vez la genitalia del macho de varias especies. Además, se han localizado las series tipo de Gryllodes macropterus Fuente, 1894 y Gryllotalpa septemdecimchromosomica Ortiz, 1958, así como dos paratipos de Gryllomorpha adspersa merobricensis Fernandes, 1959, stat. n. Se designan lectotipos y paralectotipos de 17 taxones y se revisa la geonemia de todas las especies

Antibody diversity in IVIG: Therapeutic opportunities for novel immunotherapeutic drugs

Significant progress has been made in the elucidation of human antibody repertoires. Furthermore, non-canonical functions of antibodies have been identified that reach beyond classical functions linked to protection from pathogens. Polyclonal immunoglobulin preparations such as IVIG and SCIG represent the IgG repertoire of the donor population and will likely remain the cornerstone of antibody replacement therapy in immunodeficiencies. However, novel evidence suggests that pooled IgA might promote orthobiotic microbial colonization in gut dysbiosis linked to mucosal IgA immunodeficiency. Plasma-derived polyclonal IgG and IgA exhibit immunoregulatory effects by a diversity of different mechanisms, which have inspired the development of novel drugs. Here we highlight recent insights into IgG and IgA repertoires and discuss potential implications for polyclonal immunoglobulin therapy and inspired drugs

Functional morphology of tegmina-based stridulation in the relict species Cyphoderris monstrosa (Orthoptera: Ensifera: Prophalangopsidae)

Male grigs, bush-crickets and field crickets produce mating calls by tegminal stridulation: the scraping together of modified forewings functioning as sound generators. Bush- (Tettigoniidae) and field-crickets (Gryllinae) diverged some 240 million years ago, with each lineage developing unique characteristics in wing morphology and the associated mechanics of stridulation. The grigs (Prophalangopsidae), a relict lineage more closely related to bush crickets than to field-crickets, are believed to retain plesiomorphic features of wing morphology. The wing cells widely involved in sound production, such as the harp and mirror, are comparatively small, poorly delimited and/or partially filled with cross-veins. Such morphology is similarly observed in the earliest stridulating ensiferans, for which stridulatory mechanics remains poorly understood. The grigs, therefore, are of major importance to investigate the early evolutionary stages of tegminal stridulation, a critical innovation in the evolution of the Orthoptera. The aim of this study is to appreciate the degree of specialisation on grig forewings, through identification of sound radiating area areas and their properties. For well-grounded comparisons, homologies in wing venation (and associated areas) of grigs and bush-crickets are re-evaluated. Then, using direct evidence, this study confirms the mirror cell, in association with two other areas (termed ‘neck’ and ‘pre-mirror’), as the acoustic resonator in the grig Cyphoderris monstrosa. Despite the use of largely symmetrical resonators, as found in field-crickets, analogous features of stridulatory mechanics are observed between C. monstrosa and bush-crickets. Both morphology and function in grigs represents transitional stages between unspecialised forewings and derived conditions observed in modern species