Corythauma ayyari (Insecta, Heteroptera, Tingidae) depends on its host plant to spread in Europe.

Biological invasions increase with the intensity of globalization, human activities, and climate change. Insects represent a high potential of invasive species due to their adaptability to new environment. We analysed here the potential of an Asian phytophagous bug, Corythauma ayyari (Heteroptera, Tingidae) to become widespread, recently recorded in Europe, and that depends on Jasminum spp., an ornamental plant widespread in Europe. We modelled its current distribution, projected it into the future and tested its niche overlap between native and invaded areas. When considering the host plants as environmental variables, the analysis shows that C. ayyari shifted to a new ecological niche but its distribution is restricted by its host plant distribution. Including or excluding the host plants as environmental variables has an impact on C. ayyari distribution. We recommend to consider host plant interactions when dealing with niche modelling of phytophagous species.

Arboreal camera trap reveals the frequent occurrence of a frugivore-carnivore in neotropical nutmeg trees.

Arboreal and flying frugivorous animals represent primary dispersers in the Neotropics. Studies suggest a possible compensation for the loss of large species by smaller ones with expanding rampant anthropogenic pressures and declining populations of larger frugivores. However, studies on seed dispersal by frugivores vertebrates generally focus on the diurnal, terrestrial, canopy, and flying species, with the nocturnal canopy ones being less studied. Setting camera traps high in the canopy of fruiting nutmeg trees revealed for the first time the high frequency of the kinkajou (Potos flavus, Schreber, 1774, Procyonidae), an overlooked nocturnal frugivore species (Order Carnivora) in the Guianas. The diversity of the fruit species consumed by the kinkajou calls for considering it as an important seed disperser. The overlap of the size of seeds dispersed by frugivores observed in nutmeg trees suggests that the small (2-5 kg) kinkajou may compensate for the loss of large (5-10 kg) frugivorous vertebrates in the canopy. Camera traps visualise how the kinkajou is adapted to forage in the nutmeg tree crown and grab the fruit. Such information is vital for conservation because compensation of seed dispersal by small frugivores is crucial in increasing anthropogenic stressors.

Catalogue of type specimens of Peiratinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) preserved in the Musum National dHistoire Naturelle, Paris.

An annotated catalogue is presented for the type specimens of the peiratine Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) preserved in the Musum National dHistoire Naturelle (MNHN), Paris, France. The Peiratinae collection in MNHN contains type specimens representing 58 nominal species and five varieties (including 48 species and one subspecies currently recognized as valid) of 16 genera. The great majority of the type specimens concerns taxa described by Andr Villiers and Ren Jeannel; there are also several type specimens representing species described by Johann Christian Fabricius, Gustave Fallou and, more recently, Jean-Michel Brenger. The information provided for each taxon and its type specimens includes: original data, type status, label information, type locality, current status and related remarks. Colour images of representative types and their labels are also provided. Specimens of four additional peiratine species, erroneously labelled as Type, are also listed.

Species Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationships of Olive Lace Bugs (Hemiptera: Tingidae) Found in South Africa.

Olive lace bugs (Hemiptera: Tingidae) are small sap-sucking insects that feed on wild and cultivated Olea europaea. The diversity of olive lace bug species in South Africa, the most important olive producer on the continent, has been incompletely surveyed. Adult specimens were collected in the Western Cape province for morphological and DNA-based species identification, and sequencing of complete mitogenomes. Cysteochila lineata, Plerochila australis, Neoplerochila paliatseasi and Neoplerochila sp. were found at 12 sites. Intra- and interspecific genetic divergences and phylogenetic clustering in 30 species in 18 genera of Tingidae using new and publicly available DNA barcodes showed high levels of congruity between taxonomic and genetic data. The phylogenetic position of the four species found in South Africa was inferred using new and available mitogenomes of Tingidae. Notably, olive lace bugs formed a cluster of closely related species. However, Cysteochila was non-monophyletic as C. lineata was recovered as a sister species to P. australis whereas Cysteochila chiniana, the other representative of the genus, was grouped with Trachypeplus jacobsoni and Tingis cardui in a different cluster. This result suggests that feeding on O. europaea may have a common origin in Tingidae and warrants future research on potential evolutionary adaptations of olive lace bugs to this plant host.

Two new species of Tingidae (Insecta: Heteroptera) from Papua New Guinea.

Two species of Tingidae (Heteroptera) sampled by fogging at Baiteta, Papua New Guinea, are described as new to science. Comments on their distribution and host-plants as well as an identification key to species of the genera concerned are provided.

New species of Tingidae (Insecta: Heteroptera) from Madagascar.

Surveys of Madagascar discovered five species new to science, described herein. A key to all species within the genera of these new species is provided, and the distribution of Malagasy Tingidae species is discussed.

Surface water quality assessment in a semiarid Mediterranean region (Medjerda, Northern Tunisia) using partial triadic analysis.

A range of methods have been developed specifically to analyze several tables of data simultaneously (variable × space × time) in the field of ecological research, although they have been less widely used to examine water quality. In this study, we assessed the spatiotemporal variability of water quality in the Medjerda River basin (Northern Tunisia). Partial triadic analysis (PTA) provides an effective framework for the assessment of spatiotemporal variability of water quality in the Medjerda River basin (Northern Tunisia). Fourteen physicochemical variables were monitored from 12 sampling sites monthly during 2013. PTA allowed correlations among different physicochemical parameters to be identified and to assess overall water quality in the Medjerda River. Salinity (S), Cl-, SO42-, Ca2+, and Mg2+ ions were associated with intensive agricultural activities (agricultural pollution sources) leading to salinization. However, NH4+, PO43-, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) we more strongly associated with polluted urban sites. PTA helped illustrate that strong links exist between land uses and adjacent water quality. The advantages of this multi-table method approach for water quality monitoring include as follows: (1) identifying common multivariate spatial structures and problems associated with maintaining water quality, (2) allowing identification of consistent patterns in water chemistry, and (3) allowing analysis on the temporal variability of water chemistry.

First report of the lace bug Neoplerochila paliatseasi (Rodrigues, 1981) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) infesting cultivated olive trees in South Africa, and its complete mitochondrial sequence.

Olive lace bugs are small phytophagous Hemipteran insects known to cause agricultural losses in olive production in South Africa. Plerochila australis (Distant, 1904) has been reported as the species responsible for damage to olive trees; however, the diversity of olive lace bug species in the region has lacked attention. Adult olive lace bugs were collected incidentally from wild and cultivated olive trees in the Western Cape Province, and identified as P. australis and Neoplerochila paliatseasi (Rodrigues, 1981). The complete mitochondrial genome of a representative specimen of N. paliatseasi was sequenced, and used for comparative mitogenomics and phylogenetic reconstruction within the family. Furthermore, the value of DNA barcodes for species identification in Tingidae was assessed using genetic clustering and estimates of genetic divergence. The patterns of genetic clustering and genetic divergence of COI sequences supported the morphological identification of N. paliatseasi, and the utility of DNA barcoding methods in Tingidae. The complete mitogenome sequence had the typical Metazoan gene content and order, including 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and an AT-rich non-coding region. A+T content was high, as commonly found in Tingidae. The phylogenetic reconstruction recovered Agramma hupehanum (Drake Maa 1954) as basal to Tingini, and as a sister species to N. paliatseasi. Stephanitis Stål 1873 and Corythucha Stål 1873 were monophyletic, but Metasalis populi (Takeya 1932) was not recovered as sister to Tingis cardui (Linnaeus 1746), as expected. The mitochondrial phylogeny of the family Tingidae has been recovered inconsistently across different studies, possibly due to sequence heterogeneity and high mutation rates. Species diversity of olive lace bugs in South Africa was previously underestimated. The presence of P. australis was confirmed in both wild and cultivated olives, and N. paliatseasi is reported in cultivated olives for the first time. These results warrant further investigation on the diversity and distribution of olive lace bugs in the Western Cape to inform pest control strategies.

Coevolution between male and female genitalia in Belostoma angustum Lauck, 1964 (Insecta, Heteroptera, Belostomatidae): disentangling size and shape.

Sexual and natural selection mechanisms might drive variation in the genitalia of male animals. All aforementioned mechanisms are known to predict the coevolution of male and female genital morphology. Belostoma angustum is known to have subtle variation in the male and female genitalia of its members. In this species, phallosoma with dorsal arms and ventral diverticulum are assumed to be intromittent male genital traits that interact with the female genital chamber. We thus evaluated the existence of variation after disentangling the size from the shape of male genitalia in B. angustum. Body and genitalia dimensions and photographs of phallosoma with dorsal arms, ventral diverticulum and lateral views of the right paramere (the non-intromittent part) were obtained. Semi-landmarks and landmarks were used to capture phenotypic variation, by eliminating all non-shape variation with a Procrustes superimposition. Male and female specimens collected from the same location or immediate vicinity were grouped, and 12 groups originating from 12 locations were used to conduct two block-Partial Least Squares analyses (PLS). Group structures were also taken into account by adopting a multilevel approach. The male and female genital traits had similarly shallow static allometry slopes, as well as the dispersion values around the mean (i.e. coefficient of variation) and the standard error of the estimate. The correlation between the pooled within-locality covariance matrix of the symmetric component of phallosoma with dorsal arms and the female genital chamber was significant (r-PLS=0.37), as well as that with male body dimensions (r-PLS=0.36), even after controlling for allometry. Specimens with lower PLS shape scores had narrower phallosoma with dorsal arms, with poorly curved outer margins of the dorsal arms, whereas specimens with higher PLS shape scores had slightly shorter dorsal arms, with strongly curved outer margins. Lower shape scores were associated with narrower and especially shorter and narrower female genital chambers. Similar shallow allometric curves among sexes and the correlation between intromittent male parts and the female genital chamber, as well as male dimensions, suggest the coevolution of these contact structures in size and in shape.

Nothing else matters? Tree diameter and living status have more effects than biogeoclimatic context on microhabitat number and occurrence: An analysis in French forest reserves.

Managing forests to preserve biodiversity requires a good knowledge not only of the factors driving its dynamics but also of the structural elements that actually support biodiversity. Tree-related microhabitats (e.g. cavities, cracks, conks of fungi) are tree-borne features that are reputed to support specific biodiversity for at least a part of species' life cycles. While several studies have analysed the drivers of microhabitats number and occurrence at the tree scale, they remain limited to a few tree species located in relatively narrow biogeographical ranges. We used a nationwide database of forest reserves where microhabitats were inventoried on more than 22,000 trees. We analysed the effect of tree diameter and living status (alive or dead) on microhabitat number and occurrence per tree, taking into account biogeoclimatic variables and tree genus. We confirmed that larger trees and dead trees bore more microhabitats than their smaller or living counterparts did; we extended these results to a wider range of tree genera and ecological conditions than those studied before. Contrary to our expectations, the total number of microhabitat types per tree barely varied with tree genus-though we did find slightly higher accumulation levels for broadleaves than for conifers-nor did it vary with elevation or soil pH, whatever the living status. We observed the same results for the occurrence of individual microhabitat types. However, accumulation levels with diameter and occurrence on dead trees were higher for microhabitats linked with wood decay processes (e.g. dead branches or woodpecker feeding holes) than for other, epixylic, microhabitats such as epiphytes (ivy, mosses and lichens). Promoting large living and dead trees of several tree species may be a relevant, and nearly universal, way to favour microhabitats and enhance the substrates needed to support specific biodiversity. In the future, a better understanding of microhabitat drivers and dynamics at the tree scale may help to better define their role as biodiversity indicators for large-scale monitoring.

A new species of Zetekella Drake from Ecuador with comments on Zetekella and Minitingis Barber (Heteroptera, Tingidae).

Zetekella and Minitingis (Heteroptera, Tingidae) are morphologically similar genera, each comprising two species. The latter was already considered a junior synonym of the former, but was revalidated on the basis of the number of cephalic spines, projections on the paranotal edge, length of the rostrum, presence of an abdominal groove and distributional pattern. Here, a new species of Zetekella is described from Ecuador, the diagnoses for both genera reassessed, new records for Z.pulla and Z.zeteki reported, and a key to the species of both genera provided.

A remarkable new species of cavernicolous Collartidini from Madagascar (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae).

Mangabea troglodytes sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) is described based on four specimens collected in a cave of the Namoroka Karstic System, Madagascar, and deposited in the Collection of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. The dorsal habitus as well as diagnostic characters of male and female genitalia are extensively illustrated and imaged. A key to species of the genus Mangabea Villiers, 1970 is provided and the degree of cave specialization of the new species is discussed.

New species and new records of Tingidae (Hemiptera. Heteroptera) from Thailand.

Eight species new to science are described from Thailand and 35 species new to Thailand are recorded. The fauna of Thailand, represented formerly by 12 species is increased to 52 species here. Comments on their distribution are added. Most of the species recorded come from material collected in the mid XXth century and deposited in Museums and from recent collecting surveys.

A new species of Tingidae from Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Hemiptera, Heteroptera).

From the Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber, only three genera and species of Tingidae, (Spinitingis ellenbergeri and Burmacader multivenosus Heiss Guilbert, 2013; Tingiometra burmanica Heiss et al. 2015), are reported to date. A new species Burmacader lativentris sp.nov. is described and illustrated.

New species and new records of Tingidae (Insecta: Heteroptera) from Vietnam.

In the frame of recent field collecting surveys, four species of Tingidae (Insecta: Heteroptera) new to Vietnam are recorded and three species new to science are described, namely Nectocader vietnamensis, Cetiothucha constanti, and Oncophysa hae. The diversity and richness of Vietnamese Tingidae is discussed, considering the locations visited versus the number of species discovered.

Ancestrality and evolution of trait syndromes in finches (Fringillidae).

Species traits have been hypothesized by one of us (Ponge, 2013) to evolve in a correlated manner as species colonize stable, undisturbed habitats, shifting from "ancestral" to "derived" strategies. We predicted that generalism, r-selection, sexual monomorphism, and migration/gregariousness are the ancestral states (collectively called strategy A) and evolved correlatively toward specialism, K-selection, sexual dimorphism, and residence/territoriality as habitat stabilized (collectively called B strategy). We analyzed the correlated evolution of four syndromes, summarizing the covariation between 53 traits, respectively, involved in ecological specialization, r-K gradient, sexual selection, and dispersal/social behaviors in 81 species representative of Fringillidae, a bird family with available natural history information and that shows variability for all these traits. The ancestrality of strategy A was supported for three of the four syndromes, the ancestrality of generalism having a weaker support, except for the core group Carduelinae (69 species). It appeared that two different B-strategies evolved from the ancestral state A, both associated with highly predictable environments: one in poorly seasonal environments, called B1, with species living permanently in lowland tropics, with "slow pace of life" and weak sexual dimorphism, and one in highly seasonal environments, called B2, with species breeding out-of-the-tropics, migratory, with a "fast pace of life" and high sexual dimorphism.

Understanding heat patterns produced by vehicular flows in urban areas.

Vehicular traffic has strong implication in the severity and degree of Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in a city. It is crucial to map and monitor the spatio-temporal heat patterns from vehicular traffic in a city. Data observed from traffic counting stations are readily available for mapping the traffic-related heat across the stations. However, macroscopic models utilizing traffic counting data to estimate dynamic directional vehicular flows are rarely established. Our work proposes a simple and robust cell-transmission-model to simulate all the possible cell-based origin-destination trajectories of vehicular flows over time, based on the traffic counting stations. Result shows that the heat patterns have notable daily and weekly periodical circulation/pattern, and volumes of heat vary significantly in different grid cells. The findings suggest that vehicular flows in some places are the dominating influential factor that make the UHI phenomenon more remarkable.

Revision of the Belostoma dentatum group sensu Nieser (Insecta, Heteroptera, Belostomatidae).

Species of Belostoma in the dentatum and subspinosum groups are large and closely related, and have been combined by some authors into a single group, the dentatum group, comprising 15 species. This group is recognized by the scutellum reaching the nodal line and the ventral diverticulum of the phallus with distinct dorsal caudal and ventroapical protuberances. Previously, each group included five and 10 species, respectively; members of the dentatum group ranged in length from 38.0 to 52.0 mm, whereas those of the subspinosum group ranged from 26.0 to 40.0 mm. The following species of the dentatum group, now reformulated, include: Belostoma anurum (Herrich-Schäffer), B. asiaticum (Mayr), B. bordoni De Carlo, B. cummingsi De Carlo, B. columbiae Lauck, B. dallasi De Carlo, B. dentatum (Mayr), B. elongatum Montandon, B. ellipticum Latreille, B. foveolatum (Mayr), B. guianae Lauck, B. harrisi Lauck, B. malkini Lauck, B. porteri De Carlo, B. pseudoguianae Roback & Nieser, B. subspinosum Palisot de Beauvois, and B. venezuelae Lauck. Belostoma bordoni is herein included in the dentatum group based on male genitalic morphology, and the subspecies B. subspinosum subpinosum (Palisot de Beauvois) and B. subspinosum cupreomicans (Stål) are synonymized as a single valid species, B. subspinosum. Belostoma peruvianum De Carlo is synonymized with B. dentatum. Based on the study of male genitalic characteristics, B. cachoeirinhensis Lanzer-de-Souza appears to be conspecific with B. cummingsi; however, because we could not borrow types of B. cachoeirinhensis, we do not synonymize it. Sketches of specimens identified either as B. boscii (Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau & Serville) or B. anurum by A.L. Montandon from Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle are provided with comments in order to show the variation of male genitalia through the B. subspinosum complex. Our findings suggest that the dorsal arms of the phallotheca curved apically to be diagnostic of this complex. No firm conclusion is possible because of the great variation in the male genitalia; however, the general aspect of the ventroapical protuberance together with the dorsal arms provide some definition of B. subspinosum. A key to these species is also given, deeply modified after D.R. Lauck and N. Nieser.

Molecular Species Delimitation and Morphology of Aquatic and Sub-Aquatic Bugs (Heteroptera) in Cameroon.

Aquatic and semi-aquatic bugs (Heteroptera) represent a remarkable diversity and a resurging interest has been given to documenting at the species level these insects inhabiting Cameroon in Central Africa due to their potential implication in the transmission of the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causal agent of Buruli ulcer, an emerging human disease. A survey was carried out over two years in Cameroon. Morphological analyses were done in two steps. A first step consisted in separating the specimens based on broadly shared characters into morphotypes. The specimens were then separated into two independent batches containing each the same representation of each morphotype. One batch (309 specimens) was used by taxonomy experts on aquatic bugs for species level identification and/or to reconcile nymph with their corresponding adult species. The second batch (188 specimens) was used to define species based on the COI DNA sequences (standard sequence used for "DNA barcoding") and using the Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) method. The first morphological analysis step separated the specimens into 63 different morphotypes (49 adults and 14 nymphs), which were then found to belong to 54 morphological species in the infra-orders Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha based on the species-level morphological identification, and 41-45 putative molecular species according to the gap value retained in the ABGD. Integrating morphology and "DNA barcoding" reconciled all the specimens into 62 aquatic bug species in Cameroon. Generally, we obtained a good congruence between species a priori identified based on morphology from adult morphotypes and molecular putative species. Moreover, molecular identification has allowed the association of 86% of nymphs with adults. This work illustrates the importance of integrative taxonomy.

Morphological and behavioral convergence in extinct and extant bugs: the systematics and biology of a new unusual fossil lace bug from the eocene.

The bug Gyaclavator kohlsi Wappler, Guilbert, Wedmann et Labandeira, gen. et sp. nov., represents a new extinct genus of lace bugs (Insecta: Heteroptera: Tingidae) occurring in latest early Eocene deposits of the Green River Formation, from the southern Piceance Basin of Northwestern Colorado, in North America. Gyaclavator can be placed within the Tingidae with certainty, perhaps it is sistergroup to Cantacaderinae. If it belongs to Cantacaderinae, it is the first fossil record of this group for North America. Gyaclavator has unique, conspicuous antennae bearing a specialized, highly dilated distiflagellomere, likely important for intra- or intersex reproductive competition and attraction. This character parallels similar antennae in leaf-footed bugs (Coreidae), and probably is associated with a behavioral convergence as well.