ABSTRACT
Indochinese species of the genus Bolbelasmus (Coleoptera, Geotrupidae, Bolboceratinae) are reviewed. Three new species, Bolbelasmuschifengi Wang & Li, sp. nov., Bolbelasmusconcavisuturalis Li & Wang, sp. nov. and Bolbelasmusyutangi Li & Wang, sp. nov., are described and illustrated. An annotated checklist and modified key to species of the genus are provided. Information for each species in the checklist includes literature review, synonymy, distribution and type locality.
ABSTRACT
The genus Bolbochromus Boucomout, 1909 from the Philippines is reviewed for the first time. Six species in two subgenera, Metabolbochromus Krikken & Li, 2013 and Bolbochromus, including three new species, Bolbochromus (Bolbochromus) jengi Li & Krikken, sp. n., Bolbochromus (Bolbochromus) luzonensis Li & Krikken, sp. n., and Bolbochromus (Bolbochromus) setosifrons Li & Wang, sp. n., are described with diagnoses, illustrations, distributional data and remarks. A key for the identification of Philippine species is provided. An annotated checklist of the genus in the Philippines is given with information for each species including literature review, synonymy, distribution, and type locality.
ABSTRACT
The neurology of male sexuality has been poorly studied owing to difficulties in studying brain circuitry in humans. Dopamine (DA) is essential for both physiological and behavioural responses, including the regulation of sexuality. Previous studies have revealed that alterations in DA synthesis in dopaminergic neurons can induce male-male courtship behaviour, while increasing DA levels in the protocerebral posteriolateral dopaminergic cluster neuron 2ab (PPL2ab) may enhance the intensity of male courtship sustainment in Drosophila. Here we report that changes in the ability of the PPL2ab in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce DA strongly impact male-male courtship in D. melanogaster. Intriguingly, the DA-synthesizing abilities of these neurons appear to affect both the courting activities displayed by male flies and the sex appeal of male flies for other male flies. Moreover, the observed male-male courtship is triggered primarily by target motion, yet chemical cues can replace visual input under dark conditions. This is interesting evidence that courtship responses in male individuals are controlled by PPL2ab neurons in the CNS. Our study provides insight for subsequent studies focusing on sexual circuit modulation by PPL2ab neurons.
Subject(s)
Dopamine/metabolism , Dopaminergic Neurons/metabolism , Drosophila melanogaster/physiology , Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology , Animals , Central Nervous System/metabolism , Central Nervous System/physiology , Courtship , Dopaminergic Neurons/physiology , Drosophila Proteins/metabolism , Drosophila melanogaster/metabolism , Male , Sexuality/physiologyABSTRACT
The genus Megistophylla (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) was first reported from Taiwan with the descriptions and illustrations of two new species, Megistophylla formosana Wang & Li, new species () and Megistophylla xitoui Li & Wang, new species (). An annotated checklist and modified key for the species in the genus are provided. The information in checklist for each species includes: literature review, synonymy, distribution, and type locality.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Checklist , Coleoptera/anatomy & histology , Coleoptera/growth & development , Ecosystem , Female , Male , Organ Size , TaiwanABSTRACT
The six Miridiba Reitter, 1902 species, including Miridiba taoi Li & Wang, new species, Miridiba huesiotoi Li & Yang, new species, and Miridiba taipei Wang & Li, new species from Taiwan are reviewed. A key for the identification of adults is provided. The following information is provided for each species: literature review, synonyms, diagnoses, data of material used, description or redescription, illustrations, distributional data, and remarks.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Coleoptera/anatomy & histology , Coleoptera/growth & development , Female , Male , Organ Size , TaiwanABSTRACT
Three new species of the Oriental bolboceratine genus Bolbochromus Boucomont 1909, Bolbochromus minutus Li and Krikken, sp. n. (Thailand), Bolbochromus nomurai Li and Krikken, sp. n. (Vietnam), and Bolbochromus malayensis Li and Krikken, sp. n. (Malaysia), are described from continental Southeast Asia with diagnoses, distributions, remarks and illustrations. The genus is discussed with emphasis on continental Southeast Asia. A key to species known from Indochina and Malay Penisula is presented. An annotated checklist of Bolbochromus species is presented.
ABSTRACT
Two new species of the Oriental scarab genus Tocama Reitter, 1902, Tocama laosensissp. n. and Tocama procerasp. n., are described from Indochina with diagnoses, distributions, remarks and illustrations. A key to the species of the genus is provided with a checklist with several nomenclatural changes: Hoplosternus tonkinensis Moser, 1913 is transferred to Tocama; Hoplosternus pygidialis Moser, 1915 syn. n., Tocama atra atra Keith, 2006 syn. n. and Tocama atra reichenbachi Keith, 2007 syn. n. = Tocama tonkinensis (Moser).
ABSTRACT
Frequent gene duplications in the genome incessantly supply new genetic materials for functional innovation presumably driven by positive Darwinian selection. This mechanism in the desaturase gene family has been proposed to be important in triggering the pheromonal diversification in insects. With the recent completion of a dozen Drosophila genomes, a genome-wide perspective is possible. In this study, we first identified homologs of desaturase genes in 12 Drosophila species and noted that while gene duplication events are relatively frequent, gene losses are not scarce, especially in the desat1-desat2-desatF clade. By reconciling the gene tree with species phylogeny and the chromosomal synteny of the sequenced Drosophila genomes, at least one gene loss in desat2 and a minimum of six gene gains (resulting in seven desatF homologs, alpha-eta), three gene losses and one relocation in desatF were inferred. Upon branching off the ancestral desat1 lineage, both desat2 and desatF gained novel functions through accelerating protein evolution. The amino acid residues under positive selection located near the catalytic sites and the C-terminal region might be responsible for altered substrate selectivity between closely related species. The association between the expression pattern of desatF-alpha and the chemical composition of cuticular hydrocarbons implies that the ancestral function of desatF-alpha is the second desaturation at the four carbons after the first double bond in diene synthesis, and the shift from bisexual to female-specific expression in desatF-alpha occurred in the ancestral lineage of Drosophila melanogaster subgroup. A relationship between the number of expressed desatF homologs and the diene diversification has also been observed. These results suggest that the molecular diversification of fatty acid desaturases after recurrent gene duplication plays an important role in pheromonal diversity in Drosophila.
