1,720,979 research outputs found
The species-level phylogeny of archostematan beetles-where do Micromalthus debilis and Crowsoniella relicta belong?
No full textA species-level phylogenetic analysis comprising 37 of the 45 known extant species of archostematan beetles and a total of 110 morphological characters from adults and larvae is presented. For the first time, characters of the male genitalia are included in a phylogenetic analysis of Archostemata. The dataset is analysed with parsimony as well as with Bayesian algorithms. Analyses with differently arranged datasets, with larval characters included or excluded, and including or excluding Micromalthus debilis and Crowsoniella relicta are conducted. The resulting hypothesis of the species-level phylogeny of Archostemata confirms Cupedidae and Ommatidae as monophyletic taxa. Within Cupedidae, the South American Paracupes and the North American Priacma together are the sister group to all remaining Cupedidae. Among the latter, the identification of a clade comprising Rhipsideigma, Cupes capitatus and Tenomerga leucophaea renders Tenomerga polyphyletic. Ascioplaga scalena comb. nov. is transferred from Adinolepis. Characters of the male genitalia support phylogenetic affinities of Micromalthus debilis with Ommatidae and of Crowsoniella relicta with Cupedidae.DAAD [D/96/05967
The species-level phylogeny of archostematan beetles-where do Micromalthus debilis and Crowsoniella relicta belong?
No full textA species-level phylogenetic analysis comprising 37 of the 45 known extant species of archostematan beetles and a total of 110 morphological characters from adults and larvae is presented. For the first time, characters of the male genitalia are included in a phylogenetic analysis of Archostemata. The dataset is analysed with parsimony as well as with Bayesian algorithms. Analyses with differently arranged datasets, with larval characters included or excluded, and including or excluding Micromalthus debilis and Crowsoniella relicta are conducted. The resulting hypothesis of the species-level phylogeny of Archostemata confirms Cupedidae and Ommatidae as monophyletic taxa. Within Cupedidae, the South American Paracupes and the North American Priacma together are the sister group to all remaining Cupedidae. Among the latter, the identification of a clade comprising Rhipsideigma, Cupes capitatus and Tenomerga leucophaea renders Tenomerga polyphyletic. Ascioplaga scalena comb. nov. is transferred from Adinolepis. Characters of the male genitalia support phylogenetic affinities of Micromalthus debilis with Ommatidae and of Crowsoniella relicta with Cupedidae.DAAD [D/96/05967
The thorax morphology of Epiophlebia (Insecta: Odonata) nymphs - including remarks on ontogenesis and evolution
No full textThe species of Epiophlebia are unique among the recent Odonata in showing a mixture of morphological characters of dragonflies (Anisoptera) and damselflies (Zygoptera). The status of the four described extant species of Epiophlebia is disputable from a genetic as well as from a morphological point of view. Here we present an analysis of the thoracic musculature of different nymphal instars of Epiophlebia laidlawi and Epiophlebia superstes to elucidate their morphology and ontogenetic development. In total, 75 muscles have been identified in the thorax of Epiophlebia. This represents the highest number of thoracic muscles ever found in any odonate. It includes six muscles that are reported for the first time for Odonata, and three of these are even new for Pterygota. In total, our results indicate that Epiophlebia has the most ancestral thoracic morphology among Odonata
How long can insect species exist? Evidence from extant and fossil Micromalthus beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) (vol 158, pg 300, 2010)
No full textThe thorax musculature of Anisoptera (Insecta: Odonata) nymphs and its evolutionary relevance
No full textBackground: Among the winged insects (Pterygota) the Odonata (dragon- and damselflies) are special for several reasons. They are strictly aerial predators showing remarkable flight abilities and their thorax morphology differs significantly from that of other Pterygota in terms of the arrangement and number of muscles. Even within one individual the musculature is significantly different between the nymphal and adult stage. Results: Here we present a comparative morphological investigation of the thoracic musculature of dragonfly (Anisoptera) nymphs. We investigated representatives of the Libellulidae, Aeshnidae and Cordulegasteridae and found 71 muscles: 19 muscles in the prothorax, 26 in the mesothorax and 27 in the metathorax. Nine of these muscles were previously unknown in Odonata, and for seven muscles no homologous muscles could be identified in the neopteran thorax. Conclusion: Our results support and extend the homology hypotheses for the thoracic musculatures of Odonata and Neoptera, thus supplementing our understanding of the evolution of Pterygota and providing additional characters for phylogenetic analyses comprising all subgroups of Pterygota.Open-Access-Publikationsfonds 201
How long can insect species exist? Evidence from extant and fossil Micromalthus beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera)
No full textHörnschemeyer, Thomas, Wedmann, Sonja, Poinar, George (2010): How long can insect species exist? Evidence from extant and fossil Micromalthus beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 158 (2): 300-311, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00549.x, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00549.
First fossil larvae of Berothidae (Neuroptera) from Baltic amber, with notes on the biology and termitophily of the family
No full textFour fossil larvae of Berothidae (Neuroptera) from Baltic amber are described in detail, and the main characters of a fifth larva are discussed briefly. Two first instars very probably belong to the Berothinae; the subfamilial affinities of three other (probably full-grown) larvae are unclear. The latter are characterized by features not found so far in extant taxa of Berothidae: antennae and labial palps with six to seven segments; ecdysial cleavage lines consist of only frontal and coronal sutures (the lateral suture is absent); pronotal sclerites large and very close to each other along midline. However, these larvae belong with certainty to Berothidae as indicated by the structure of their mouthparts, and their general appearance. Morphological and biological data on the larvae of Berothidae are summarized and analyzed. It is presumed that termitophily might have evolved during the Cretaceous (or in the early Cenozoic), and only in Berothinae (or in subfamilies closely related to this group). The Baltic amber berothid assemblage apparently included both termitophilous and non-termitophilous larvae.DFG Heisenberg grant [HO 2306/6-1
On the head morphology of Tetraphalerus, the phylogeny of Archostemata and the basal branching events in Coleoptera
No full textInternal and external features of Tetraphalerus bruchi were studied using X-ray microtomography (mu-CT) and other techniques, and head structures were described in detail. mu-Ct is highly efficient for the assessment of anatomical data. A data matrix with 90 morphological characters of recent and fossil beetles was analyzed with different approaches (parsimony, Bayesian analysis). The results of the parsimony analysis resulted in the following branching pattern: (dagger Tshekardocoleidae + (dagger Permocupedidae, dagger Rhombocoleidae + (dagger Triadocupedidae + ((Adephaga + (Myxophaga + Polyphaga))) + Archostemata s.str. [including Jurodidae]))). Sikhotealinia is placed as sister group of dagger Jurodes (Jurodidae), and Jurodidae as sister group of the remaining Archostemata (Bayesian analysis) or of a clade comprising Micromalthidae, Crowsoniellidae, dagger Ademosynidae, dagger Schizophoridae and dagger Catiniidae. The monophyly of Ommatidae and Cupedidae is well supported and Priacma is placed as the sister group of all other Cupedidae. Important events in the early evolution of Coleoptera are the shortening of the elytra and the transformation of the elytral venation (Coleoptera excluding dagger Tshekardocoleidae), the formation of a closed subelytral space (Coleoptera excluding dagger Tshekardocoleidae and dagger Permocupedidae), the reduction of two apical antennomeres, and the loss of the broad prothoracic postcoxal bridge (Coleoptera excluding dagger Tshekardocoleidae, dagger Permocupedidae and dagger Rhombocoleidae). Plesiomorphic features preserved in extant Archostemata are the tuberculate cuticle, the elytral pattern with parallel longitudinal ribs and window punctures, a mesoventrite with a transverse ridge, triangular mesocoxae with a distinct meron, and the exposed metatrochantin. The fossils included in the analyses do not only contribute to the reconstruction of character evolution but also influence the branching pattern. An understanding of the major evolutionary events in Coleoptera would not be possible without considering the rich fossil record of Permian and Mesozoic beetles. (C) The Willi Hennig Society 2007
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