Developmental plasticity of thermal performance curve for reproduction in Drosophila melanogaster.

In ectotherms, body temperature is a crucial determinant of performance and fitness, as captured by thermal performance curves (TPCs). Since survival in variable environments is often facilitated by phenotypic plasticity, to reliably assess an organism's ability to cope with thermal changes, it is necessary to characterize not only TPCs but also their reaction norms. While previous studies have investigated plasticity in TPCs, these studies focus only on selected parameters and a few developmental temperatures. They may, therefore, overlook the complexity of developmental plasticity in TPCs. Here, we examined the full extent of thermal developmental plasticity in TPCs for fecundity and hatchability in Drosophila melanogaster. By employing a factorial design with ten developmental and twelve adult temperatures, our study enabled a comprehensive characterization of reaction norms of all key TPC parameters. We found that developmental temperature had a significant impact on the egg production rate, with minor effects on other TPC parameters. Nonoptimal developmental temperatures negatively affected most TPC parameters, whereas development at 22-26 °C maximized reproductive fitness. We also revealed that developmental plasticity for the maximum reproductive performance might be predominantly caused by developmentally-induced changes in ovariole number. Our results in conjunction with previous studies on intraspecific variation suggest that any changes in TPC for reproduction primarily involve the egg production rate, indicating that adaptive evolution and phenotypic plasticity followed the same pathway. Overall, our findings underscore the limitations of developmental plasticity in enhancing reproductive fitness, suggesting that while certain traits, such as egg production rate, may be relatively plastic, these changes may not be sufficient to enable effective adjustment to environmental shifts.

Neotropical Melyroidea group cockroaches reveal various degrees of (eu)sociality.

Eusociality in its various degrees represents an animal social system characterised by cooperative brood care, differentiation into castes and generational overlap. The fossil record indicates that eusociality is likely to have originated in hymenopterans and blattodeans during the Cretaceous. In this study, we present findings from surveys in Peruvian (Villa Carmen) and Ecuadorian (Rio Bigal, El Reventador) cloud forests revealing the first extant cockroach species living in complex, structured groups (n = 90-200 individuals, ˃ 20 adults). We observed and described behaviours that suggest the existence of cooperative care, nest guarding, nest chamber preparation within hardwood Casearia sp. (Salicaceae) and bamboo (Bambusoideae), multiple overlapping generations ('different stages of' instars), colony translocation, possibly a sole reproductive female (1.25 times larger white 'queen', but no potential 'king' observed), and morphologically diversified immature stages. In order to define the lineage where this type of sociality originated and occurs, the forms of Melyroidea magnifica Shelford, 1912, M. ecuadoriana sp. n., M. mimetica Shelford, 1912 and an undescribed species from Peru are also described in a separate section of this study. Blattoid morphological characteristics such as typical styli suggest categorisation within distinct Oulopterygidae (Rehn, 1951), outside Corydiidae Saussure 1864. Transitional advanced sociality or semisociality in related Aclavoidea socialis gen. et sp. n. is documented in a rotting stump (n = 80 individuals, few adults). Close phylogenetic relation between the genera, conserved morphology of numerous characters and their diverse feeding strategies generally lacking specialisation suggests a rather recent origin of a social way of life in this group. Eusociality in invertebrates and vertebrates can thus originate in various phylogenetical and ecological trajectories including predation, parasitism, care for herbs and the new one, documented through diet shift from detritivory to fungivory and algaevory. Interdisciplinary approaches reveal the low degree of knowledge of rainforest ecosystems, with fundamental groups remaining still systematically and also behaviourally undescribed.

New genus and species of cockroaches from the tribe Brachycolini (Blattaria: Blaberidae: Blaberinae) and redescription of the Hormetica strumosa.

From the tribe Brachycolini Beier, 1961 new genus with one species Quadrihormetica onorei Vidlicka, gen. et sp. n. and species Lucihormetica yasuniana Vidlicka, sp. n. from the region Oriente (Amazon), Ecuador are described. The new genus is clearly distinguished from all other genera by specific shape of pronotum. The male of Hormetica strumosa is redescribed and illustrated; his female is the first time described.

New genus and species of cavernicolous cockroach (Blattaria, Nocticolidae) from Vietnam.

The new, small cavernicolous species Helmablatta louisrothi gen. et sp. n. (Nocticolidae) from the Tan-Phu cave (Vietnam) is one of the most morphologically interesting cockroaches. The extremely modified upstanding tergal gland composite from three tergites and may serve for gripping the female head during copulation. This presumption is supported by the presence of a central big hook on tergite 8. Furthermore, both wing pairs are uncommonly adapted to help releasing sex pheromones without raising the wings. Histone 3 DNA-based maximum likelihood analyses indicate a recent origin and close phylogenetic relationship between Nocticola spp. and Helmablatta sp.-consistent with the Quaternary age of the source lava tubes.

Origin of origami cockroach reveals long-lasting (11 Ma) phenotype instability following viviparity.

Viviparity evolved in bacteria, plants, ˃141 vertebrate lineages (ichthyosaurs, lizards, fishes, mammals, and others), and in 11 of 44 insect orders. Live-birth cockroaches preserved with brood sac (3D recovered two times optically) included Diploptera vladimir, Diploptera savba, Diploptera gemini spp.n., D. sp.1-2, and Stegoblatta irmgardgroehni from Green River, Colorado; Quilchena, Republic; McAbee, Canada; and Baltic amber, Russia (49, 54, and 45 Ma). They evolved from rare and newly evolved Blaberidae; they radiated circumtropically, later expanded into SE Asia, and have now spread to Hawaii and the SE USA. Association of autapomorphic characters that allow for passive and active protections from parasitic insects (unique wing origami pleating identical with its egg case-attacking wasp) suggest a response to high parasitic loads. Synchronized with global reorganization of the biota, morphotype destabilization in roaches lasted approximately 11-22 Ma, including both the adaptation of novel characters and the reduction of others. Thus, while viviparity can be disadvantageous, in association with new Bauplans and/or behaviors, it can contribute to the evolution of taxa with viviparous representatives that are slightly selectively preferred.

New cockroach species of the genus Panchlora Burmeister (Blaberidae, Panchlorinae) from Ecuador.

The genus Panchlora includes 49 species, but only 45 are widely distributed in Central and South America. Most of them are green. The new species herein described presents an ornamental coloration markedly different of all until now described species. Panchlora kozaneki sp. n. is similar to Panchlora pulchella Burmeister, 1838. The number of species known from Ecuador is increased to eight.

Description of Helicoconis tatricus sp. n. (Neuroptera, Coniopterygidae) from Slovakia (Central Europe) and key for determination of all Palaearctic species of subgenus Helicoconis.

A new species of dustywings, Helicoconis tatricus sp. n., is described from the foothills of the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia. The new species differs from other species of the subgenus Helicoconis by structure of male genitalia-unfurcated styli and wide and short apophyses. The key for determination of all Palaearctic species of the subgenus Helicoconis is added and the distribution of Palaearctic species is discussed. 

Cockroaches probably cleaned up after dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs undoubtedly produced huge quantities of excrements. But who cleaned up after them? Dung beetles and flies with rapid development were rare during most of the Mesozoic. Candidates for these duties are extinct cockroaches (Blattulidae), whose temporal range is associated with herbivorous dinosaurs. An opportunity to test this hypothesis arises from coprolites to some extent extruded from an immature cockroach preserved in the amber of Lebanon, studied using synchrotron X-ray microtomography. 1.06% of their volume is filled by particles of wood with smooth edges, in which size distribution directly supports their external pre-digestion. Because fungal pre-processing can be excluded based on the presence of large particles (combined with small total amount of wood) and absence of damages on wood, the likely source of wood are herbivore feces. Smaller particles were broken down biochemically in the cockroach hind gut, which indicates that the recent lignin-decomposing termite and cockroach endosymbionts might have been transferred to the cockroach gut upon feeding on dinosaur feces.

Paleocene origin of the cockroach families Blaberidae and Corydiidae: Evidence from Amur River region of Russia.

Morphna paleo sp. n., the earliest winged representative of any living cockroach genus and the earliest representative of the family Blaberidae, is described from the Danian Arkhara-Boguchan coal mine in the Amur River region (Russian Far East). The branched Sc and A suggest Ectobiidae (=Blattellidae) probably is not the ancestral family because Blaberidae were derived directly from the extinct family Mesoblattindae. The associated Danian locality Belaya Gora yielded Ergaula stonebut sp. n., the earliest record of the family Corydiidae. Both species belong to genera codominant in the Messel locality, thus validating their dominance in early Cenozoic assemblages.

New species of Macrophyllodromia (Blattaria, Blattellidae) from Ecuador and a key to males of the genus.

Representatives of the cockroach genus Macrophyllodromia are widely distributed in Central and South Americas. The genus involves 10 species, including one new species described here, that are divided into 3 species groups--splendida, amabile and maximiliani. Macrophyllodromia onorei sp. n. is described as the fourth species of this genus from Ecuador. A key is provided for males of all known species of Macrophyllodromia and a species distribution map is presented.

Cockroaches (Blattaria) of Ecuador-checklist and history of research.

Cockroaches are an understudied group and the total number of described taxa increases every year. The last checklist of Ecuador species was published in 1926. The main aim of this study was to complete a new checklist of cockroach species recorded in Ecuador supplemented with a research history of cockroaches (Blattaria) on the territory of continental Ecuador. In addition, the checklist contains comments on Ecuadorian faunistic records, including the Galápagos Islands. A total of 114 species (105 in continental Ecuador and 18 in Galápagos Islands) belonging to 6 families and 44 genera are listed. Forty species (38.1 %) occur solely in continental Ecuador and five (27.8 %) are endemic on Galápagos Islands. The results indicate that further research on the cockroach fauna of Ecuador as well as determination of museum collections from this territory is needed.