Perlidae (Plecoptera) from the Paranapiacaba Mountains, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: Diversity and implications of the integrative approach and teneral specimens on taxonomy

The study of complementary sources of biological variation (e.g. morphological, molecular) has allowed a better understanding of biodiversity through the construction of an integrative taxonomy. Using this approach, specimens from the Paranapiacaba Mountains, southeastern Brazil, were studied to update the knowledge on the stonefly family Perlidae from the region, characterize the species, and make associations between nymphs and adults using a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The study also discusses the implications of integrative taxonomy and teneral specimens for the study of South American Perlidae. The molecular data were analyzed using Bayesian inference, Neighbor-joining, and delimiting species methods. Our results revealed that, in general, there was a morphological and molecular congruence between species. In the Paranapiacaba Mountains, three genera and 15 species were recorded: Anacroneuria boraceiensis Froehlich 2004, A. debilis (Pictet 1841) (new record), A. fiorentini De Ribeiro and Froehlich 2007 (new record), A. flintorum Froehlich 2002, A. iporanga Bispo and Froehlich 2004, A. itajaimirim Bispo and Froehlich 2004, A. polita (Burmeister 1913), A. subcostalis Klapálek 1921, A. tupi Bispo and Froehlich 2004 (with a description of the nymph), Kempnyia auberti Froehlich 1996, K. colossica (Navás 1934), K. flava Klapálek 1916, K. neotropica (Jacobson and Bianchi 1905) (including its new junior synonym K. petersorum Froehlich 1996), Kempnyia sp., and Macrogynoplax veneranda Froehlich 1984. COI sequences were obtained for 11 species, five of which had nymphs associated with adults. Among the five associated nymphs, the nymph of A. tupi is described here. The results of this study indicate that the color of adult teneral specimens differs from that of mature specimens. Given this, the synonym of K. neotropica and K. petersorum was proposed since these species have high morphological and molecular similarities and differ only in color patterns. In addition, the previous record of A. petersi Froehlich 2002 from the Paranapiacaba Mountains was invalidated since it was considered a teneral specimen of A. flintorum. These results suggest that the development of an integrative taxonomy is essential to continue advancing the study of Perlidae diversity in South America.

Phasmatodea (Arthropoda, Insecta) in Brazil: Status, New Record, and Proposal for Using Molecular Tools to Assist in Species Identification

Phasmatodea (Arthropoda, Insecta) comprises phytophagous insects, popularly known as stick bugs because most of them resemble dry branches. Currently, more than 3000 species are known, the majority of which can be found in tropical regions of the world. In Brazil, it is estimated that there are approximately 200 species, but these numbers may not truly reflect the group's richness. A high degree of intraspecific polymorphism, a low number of specimens sampled, a shortage of specialized literature, and having only a small number of experts have amplified the difficulties in studying this order. Therefore, this study aims to present a historical survey of the Phasmatodea studies that have been conducted in Brazil thus far, indicating gaps in knowledge and discussing perspectives to expand understanding within this group. Furthermore, to the best our knowledge, the molecular characterization of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene of mitochondrial DNA of two species of phasmids found in Brazil, Cladomorphus phyllinus Gray, 1835, and Pseudophasma missionum Piza, 1981, is presented for the first time. In addition, this study records for the first time the occurrence of P. missionum in Brazilian territory.

A New Species of Moth Lacewing from the Mesoamerican Genus Adamsiana Penny 1996 (Neuroptera: Ithonidae)

The poorly studied Mesoamerican genus Adamsiana Penny, 1996 (Neuroptera: Ithonidae) was considered monotypic for more than 20 years, containing only Adamsiana curoei Penny. However, a second species was recently discovered in the southern region of Guatemala and is described here as Adamsiana alux Ardila-Camacho, Castillo-Argaez & Martinez, sp. nov. A key to the Adamsiana species and a list of the extant New World Ithonidae species are provided. This work emphasizes the necessity for more studies about not only Ithonidae but also all entomological fauna in the Neotropics.

A remarkable new genus and species of Nemourinae (Plecoptera, Nemouridae) from Sichuan, China, with systematic notes on the related genera

A remarkable new genus and species of Nemourinae, Sinonemura balangshana gen. et sp. n., is described from Balang Mountains, Sichuan, southwestern China. The description is based on morphology and molecular data. The Nemourinae genera related to the new taxon are re-evaluated on the basis of comparative functional morphology of male epiproct. Notes on the Asian distribution of the Nemourinae are also given.

Evolution of Neuropeptide Precursors in Polyneoptera (Insecta)

Neuropeptides are among the structurally most diverse signaling molecules and participate in intercellular information transfer from neurotransmission to intrinsic or extrinsic neuromodulation. Many of the peptidergic systems have a very ancient origin that can be traced back to the early evolution of the Metazoa. In recent years, new insights into the evolution of these peptidergic systems resulted from the increasing availability of genome and transcriptome data which facilitated the investigation of the complete neuropeptide precursor sequences. Here we used a comprehensive transcriptome dataset of about 200 species from the 1KITE initiative to study the evolution of single-copy neuropeptide precursors in Polyneoptera. This group comprises well-known orders such as cockroaches, termites, locusts, and stick insects. Due to their phylogenetic position within the insects and the large number of old lineages, these insects are ideal candidates for studying the evolution of insect neuropeptides and their precursors. Our analyses include the orthologs of 21 single-copy neuropeptide precursors, namely ACP, allatotropin, AST-CC, AST-CCC, CCAP, CCHamide-1 and 2, CNMamide, corazonin, CRF-DH, CT-DH, elevenin, HanSolin, NPF-1 and 2, MS, proctolin, RFLamide, SIFamide, sNPF, and trissin. Based on the sequences obtained, the degree of sequence conservation between and within the different polyneopteran lineages is discussed. Furthermore, the data are used to postulate the individual neuropeptide sequences that were present at the time of the insect emergence more than 400 million years ago. The data confirm that the extent of sequence conservation across Polyneoptera is remarkably different between the different neuropeptides. Furthermore, the average evolutionary distance for the single-copy neuropeptides differs significantly between the polyneopteran orders. Nonetheless, the single-copy neuropeptide precursors of the Polyneoptera show a relatively high degree of sequence conservation. Basic features of these precursors in this very heterogeneous insect group are explained here in detail for the first time.

Active mode of excretion across digestive tissues predates the origin of excretory organs

Most bilaterian animals excrete toxic metabolites through specialized organs, such as nephridia and kidneys, which share morphological and functional correspondences. In contrast, excretion in non-nephrozoans is largely unknown, and therefore the reconstruction of ancestral excretory mechanisms is problematic. Here, we investigated the excretory mode of members of the Xenacoelomorpha, the sister group to Nephrozoa, and Cnidaria, the sister group to Bilateria. By combining gene expression, inhibitor experiments, and exposure to varying environmental ammonia conditions, we show that both Xenacoelomorpha and Cnidaria are able to excrete across digestive-associated tissues. However, although the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis seems to use diffusion as its main excretory mode, the two xenacoelomorphs use both active transport and diffusion mechanisms. Based on these results, we propose that digestive-associated tissues functioned as excretory sites before the evolution of specialized organs in nephrozoans. We conclude that the emergence of a compact, multiple-layered bilaterian body plan necessitated the evolution of active transport mechanisms, which were later recruited into the specialized excretory organs.

Leptoceridae (Insecta, Trichoptera) from Serra da Canastra Mountain Range, Southeast Brazil: Diversity, Distribution, and Description of Two New Species

The Brazilian savanna, also known as Cerrado, is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, covering about 22% of the country. Nevertheless, this region has been suffering an accelerated process of degradation due to the agribusiness expansion. This study contributes to increasing knowledge on the Leptoceridae fauna of the Serra da Canastra Mountains at the Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Herein, we illustrate and describe two new species of Leptoceridae, Notalina franciscana sp. nov. and Oecetis catagua sp. nov., and provide additional data on the richness and distribution of Leptoceridae species in the Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra and surrounding areas. Furthermore, ten species are firstly recorded from Minas Gerais State, increasing the number of Leptoceridae species recorded in the state from 30 to 42.

The legs of "spider associated" parasitic primary larvae of Mantispa aphavexelte (Mantispidae, Neuroptera) - Attachment devices and phylogenetic implications

The legs of the primary larva of Mantispa aphavexelte, parasite in egg sacks of spiders, were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histology and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The leg morphology is described in detail, including intrinsic muscles. Functional adaptations of the leg attachment devices are discussed, especially regarding the material composition. For example, a sole-like flexible ventral tarsal surface containing resilin is combined with sclerotized pseudo-claws. This likely enables the larvae to cope with surface structures on the spider's body, with substrates on the ground, and also with various structural elements in the spider's nest. The leg morphology is evaluated with respect to phylogenetic affinities. A trumpet-shaped, elongated empodium has likely evolved early in the evolution of Neuroptera and may consequently belong to the groundplan of a large subgroup of the order. It characterizes most groups of the hemerobiform lineage and is also present in the myrmeleontiform Psychopsidae. The presence of a tarsal protrusion resembling a pretarsus confirms the monophyletic origin of Mantispoidea. A single fixed tooth and a specific surface structure are potential autapomorphies of Mantispidae. A distal tibial subunit partly separated from the main part of the leg segment is an apomorphy only described for larvae of M. aphavexelte.

Insight into higher-level phylogeny of Neuropterida: Evidence from secondary structures of mitochondrial rRNA genes and mitogenomic data

It is well known that the rRNA structure information is important to assist phylogenetic analysis through identifying homologous positions to improve alignment accuracy. In addition, the secondary structure of some conserved motifs is highly stable among distantly related taxa, which can provide potentially informative characters for estimating phylogeny. In this paper, we applied the high-throughput pooled sequencing approach to the determination of neuropteran mitogenomes. Four complete mitogenome sequences were obtained: Micromus angulatus (Hemerobiidae), Chrysoperla nipponensis (Chrysopidae), Rapisma sp. (Ithonidae), and Thaumatosmylus sp. (Osmylidae). This allowed us to sample more complete mitochondrial RNA gene sequences. Secondary structure diagrams for the complete mitochondrial small and large ribosomal subunit RNA genes of eleven neuropterid species were predicted. Comparative analysis of the secondary structures indicated a closer relationship of Megaloptera and Neuroptera. This result was congruent with the resulting phylogeny inferred from sequence alignments of all 37 mitochondrial genes, namely the hypothesis of (Raphidioptera + (Megaloptera + Neuroptera)).

Molecular phylogeny of Polyneoptera (Insecta) inferred from expanded mitogenomic data

The Polyneoptera represents one of the earliest insect radiations, comprising the majority of hemimetabolous orders, in which many species have great economic importance. Here, we sequenced eleven mitochondrial genomes of the polyneopteran insects by using high throughput pooled sequencing technology, and presented a phylogenetic reconstruction for this group based on expanded mitochondrial genome data. Our analyses included 189 taxa, of which 139 species represent all the major polyneopteran lineages. Multiple results support the monophyly of Polyneoptera, the monophyly of Dictyoptera, and the monophyly of Orthoptera. Sister taxon relationships Plecoptera + Dermaptera, and Zoraptera + Embioptera are also supported by most analyses. Within Dictyoptera, the Blattodea is consistently retrieved as paraphyly due to the sister group relationship of Cryptocercus with Isoptera. In addition, the results demonstrate that model selection, data treatment, and outgroup choice can have significant effects on the reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of Polyneoptera.