Jurassic scorpionflies (Mecoptera) with swollen first metatarsal segments suggesting sexual dimorphism.

Background: Sexual dimorphism is widespread in insects. The certain specialized structures may be used as weapons in male-male combats or as ornaments to enhance mating opportunities.

Results: We report striking swollen first tarsal segments in two families, four genera and six species of scorpionflies from the Middle Jurassic Yanliao Biota of Northeastern China.

ANTIBODY PREVALENCE TO AFRICAN SWINE FEVER VIRUS, MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS, FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS, RIFT VALLEY FEVER VIRUS, INFLUENZA A VIRUS, AND BRUCELLA AND LEPTOSPIRA SPP. IN FREE-RANGING WARTHOG (PHACOCHOERUS AFRICANUS) POPULATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) can be used as a model for investigating disease transmission at the human, wildlife, and livestock interface. An omnivore and scavenger, a warthog moves freely between natural ecotypes, farmland, and human communities and is susceptible to diseases of zoonotic, agricultural, and conservation concern. A retrospective study using 100 individual serum samples collected from May 1999 to August 2016 was performed to determine antibody prevalence to seven pathogens in warthogs from five locations in northeastern South Africa.

Joint effects of patch edges and habitat degradation on faunal predation risk in a widespread marine foundation species.

Human activities degrade and fragment coastal marine habitats, reducing their structural complexity and making habitat edges a prevalent seascape feature. Though habitat edges frequently are implicated in reduced faunal survival and biodiversity, results of experiments on edge effects have been inconsistent, calling for a mechanistic approach to the study of edges that explicitly includes indirect and interactive effects of habitat alteration at multiple scales across biogeographic gradients. We used an experimental network spanning 17 eelgrass (Zostera marina) sites across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Mediterranean Sea to determine (1) if eelgrass edges consistently increase faunal predation risk, (2) whether edge effects on predation risk are altered by habitat degradation (shoot thinning), and (3) whether variation in the strength of edge effects among sites can be explained by biogeographical variability in covarying eelgrass habitat features.

Two new species of the genus Casey (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Anillini) from the southern United States.

Two new species of blind ground beetles are described from the southern United States. One species, (type locality: E of Oneonta, Blount County, Alabama), based on the structure of male genitalia, is similar to Texan , in particular to the endogean Jeannel. The second species, (type locality: 4 mi SW Jackson, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana), is superficially similar to the endogean Jeannel from Roane County, Tennessee, and represents the first record of the genus for the state of Louisiana.

The taxonomic status of (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) and new insights on the diversity of Caribbean .

currently comprises two subspecies. The nominate subspecies () occurs on the Caribbean islands of Curaçao and Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, whereas is known from mainland South America in northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. Our Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome-b gene sequences recovered as a paraphyletic group, with and as non-sister lineages.

Developmental processes in Ediacara macrofossils.

The Ediacara Biota preserves the oldest fossil evidence of abundant, complex metazoans. Despite their significance, assigning individual taxa to specific phylogenetic groups has proved problematic. To better understand these forms, we identify developmentally controlled characters in representative taxa from the Ediacaran White Sea assemblage and compare them with the regulatory tools underlying similar traits in modern organisms.

A phylogenomic approach resolves the backbone of Prunus (Rosaceae) and identifies signals of hybridization and allopolyploidy.

The genus Prunus, which contains 250-400 species, has ample genomic resources for the economically important taxa in the group including cherries, peaches, and almonds. However, the backbone of Prunus, specifically the position of the racemose group relative to the solitary and corymbose groups, remains phylogenetically uncertain. Surprisingly, phylogenomic analyses to resolve relationships in the genus are lacking.

A 313 plastome phylogenomic analysis of Pooideae: Exploring relationships among the largest subfamily of grasses.

In this study, we analyzed 313 plastid genomes (plastomes) of Poaceae with a focus on expanding our current knowledge of relationships among the subfamily Pooideae, which represented over half the dataset (164 representatives). In total, 47 plastomes were sequenced and assembled for this study. This is the largest study of its kind to include plastome-level data, to not only increase sampling at both the taxonomic and molecular levels with the aim of resolving complex and reticulate relationships, but also to analyze the effects of alignment gaps in large-scale analyses, as well as explore divergences in the subfamily with an expanded set of 14 accepted grass fossils for more accurate calibrations and dating.

A switch to feeding on cycads generates parallel accelerated evolution of toxin tolerance in two clades of caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).

We assembled a complete reference genome of , an aposematic cycad-eating hairstreak butterfly that suffered near extinction in the United States in the last century. Based on an analysis of genomic sequences of and 19 representative genera, the closest relatives of are and We report natural history information for , , and Using genomic sequences for each species of , , and (and three outgroups), we trace the evolution of cycad feeding, coloration, gregarious behavior, and other traits. The switch to feeding on cycads and to conspicuous coloration was accompanied by little genomic change.

Maternally derived hormones, neurosteroids and the development of behaviour.

In a wide range of taxa, there is evidence that mothers adaptively shape the development of offspring behaviour by exposing them to steroids. These maternal effects have major implications for fitness because, by shaping early development, they can permanently alter how offspring interact with their environment. However, theory on parent-offspring conflict and recent physiological studies showing that embryos rapidly metabolize maternal steroids have placed doubt on the adaptive significance of these hormone-mediated maternal effects.

Progress in the use of DNA barcodes in the identification and classification of medicinal plants.

DNA barcoding is an emerging molecular identification and classification technology that has been applied to medicinal plants since 2008. The application of this technique has greatly ensured the safety and effectiveness of medicinal materials. In this paper, we review the application of DNA barcoding and some related technologies over the past 10 years with respect to improving our knowledge of medicinal plant identification and authentication.

(Euphorbiaceae, Plukenetieae), a new genus of Tragiinae from the Amazon rainforest of Venezuela and Brazil.

L.J.Gillespie & Card.

Lorence & W.L.Wagner (Lamiaceae), a new species from Guam, Mariana Islands.

While undertaking a botanical survey of the Andersen Air Force Base on Guam (Mariana Islands) in 1994, botanists from the National Tropical Botanical Garden collected an unusual suffrutescent, non-aromatic member of the Lamiaceae family growing on limestone cliffs in the northeastern part of the island. Based on morphology and molecular data (, ), it was determined to belong to the genus Desf., a genus previously unknown from the Micronesian, Melanesian, and Polynesian region.

New insights into the phylogeny and evolution of lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) by extensive sampling of genes and species.

Ladybirds (family Coccinellidae) are one of the most diverse groups of beetles and globally comprise over 6000 species. Despite their scientific and economic significance, the taxonomy of Coccinellidae remains unstable, and we still know little about their evolutionary history. By using a small number of genes, previous phylogenetic analyses have not reliably resolved the relationships among major ladybird lineages.

A phylogeny of species near supporting the recognition of two new genera, and (Poaceae, Pooideae, Agrostidinae) from Europe.

Based on a molecular DNA phylogeny of three plastid (, intron, and ) and nuclear ITS regions investigating 32 species of Agrostidinae, we describe two new genera, with a single species and with four species; provide support for five species in a monophyletic ; and include a small sample of 12 species of a monophyletic s.s. (including the type and most species of ), that separates into two clades corresponding to A.

A new species of (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) from coastal areas in northeastern Brazil.

A new species of (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) from coastal areas in the northeastern Brazilian states of Alagoas and Bahia is described and illustrated. inhabits Atlantic coastal forest and is found principally on sandy soils in restinga vegetation. It is most similar morphologically to .

A new species of (Paullinieae, Sapindaceae) from the Amazon and its phylogenetic placement.

is a Neotropical genus of lianas with approximately 12 species and is the only genus in tribe Paullinieae with actinomorphic flowers. During a taxonomic revision of the genus and fieldwork in south-western Amazonia, we found a new species that appears similar to (ex ) because of its racemiform inflorescence. However, before describing the new species, we had to confirm that was congeneric with so we could place the new species in the correct genus.

First monk seal from the Southern Hemisphere rewrites the evolutionary history of true seals.

Living true seals (phocids) are the most widely dispersed semi-aquatic marine mammals, and comprise geographically separate northern (phocine) and southern (monachine) groups. Both are thought to have evolved in the North Atlantic, with only two monachine lineages-elephant seals and lobodontins-subsequently crossing the equator. The third and most basal monachine tribe, the monk seals, have hitherto been interpreted as exclusively northern and (sub)tropical throughout their entire history.

A new non-mammalian eucynodont from the Chinle Formation (Triassic: Norian), and implications for the early Mesozoic equatorial cynodont record.

The Upper Triassic tetrapod fossil record of North America features a pronounced discrepancy between the assemblages of present-day Virginia and North Carolina relative to those of the American Southwest. While both are typified by large-bodied archosaurian reptiles like phytosaurs and aetosaurs, the latter notably lacks substantial representation of mammal relatives, including cynodonts. Recently collected non-mammalian eucynodontian jaws from the middle Norian Blue Mesa Member of the Chinle Formation in northeastern Arizona shed light on the Triassic cynodont record from western equatorial Pangaea.

(Poaceae): A common new species in the complex from the Drakensberg Mountain Centre of Floristic Endemism, southern Africa, with key and notes on taxa in the complex including the overlooked .

We present taxonomic notes on the complex from southern Africa that includes description and illustration of the new species from the Drakensberg Mountain Centre of Floristic Endemism of South Africa and Lesotho. can be differentiated from s.l.

Studies on the related Neotropical genera Acrogymnia Malaise and Dacrogymnia, n. gen. (Hymenoptera: Argidae).

Twenty species of Acrogymnia Malaise and five species of Dacrogymnia Smith Malagón-Aldana, n. gen., both exclusively Neotropical genera, are treated.

Four new species of the genus Anillinus Casey (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Anillini) from Alabama, U.S.A., with a revised key to the Alabama species.

Four new species of anilline ground beetles are described from Alabama. Two species from Jackson County, Anillinus clinei new species, and Anillinus folkertsioides new species, are troglobitic and litter species, respectively. Anillinus hildebrandti new species, is a troglobitic species from a cave in Morgan County.

Revision and Phylogeny of the Eccritotarsine Plant Bug Genus Caulotops Bergroth, with Descriptions of Four New Genera and 14 New Species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae) Associated with Agave (Agavoideae: Asparagaceae) and Related Plant Genera.

The bryocorine genus Caulotops Bergroth (Miridae: Eccritotarsini), originally described to accommodate its only species C. puncticollis Bergroth, is shown not to be congeneric with all other species now included in the genus from North, Central, and northern South America. Consequently, four new genera are established for the following 20 species, including five new combinations and 14 species described as new: Agaveocoris n.

Tephritidae flies associated with Chuquiraga avellanedae (Asteraceae) in Patagonia, Argentina.

In Patagonia, knowledge about the interaction among tephritids and the native flora is very scarce. In this study we identified for the first time two tephritid species (Cecidochares sp. and Neosphaeniscus m-nigrum) associated with the capitula of Chuquiraga avellanedae.