The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Lepidotrigona flavibasis (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) and High Gene Rearrangement in Lepidotrigona Mitogenomes.

We reported the sequence and characteristics of the complete mitochondrial genome of an ecologically important stingless bee, Lepidotrigona flavibasis (Hymenoptera: Meliponini), that has suffered serious population declines in recent years. A phylogenetic analysis based on complete mitogenomes indicated that L. flavibasis was first clustered with another Lepidotrigona species (L. terminata) and then joined with the other two Melipona (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) stingless bees (M. scutellaris and M. bicolor), forming a single clade of stingless bees. The stingless bee clade has a closer relationship with bumblebees (Bombus) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) than with honeybees (Apis) (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Extremely high gene rearrangements involving tRNAs, rRNAs, D-loop regions, and protein-coding genes were observed in the Lepidotrigona mitogenomes, suggesting an overactive evolutionary status in Lepidotrigona species. These mitogenomic organization variations could provide a good system with which to understand the evolutionary history of Meliponini.

Bioactive icetexane and abietane diterpenes from Isodon phyllopodus.

A new icetexane diterpenoid, 11, 12, 20α-trihydroxyl-7ß-methoxyicetexa-8, 11, 13-triene-19, 10-lactone [Phyllane A (1)], and a new abietane diterpenoid, 7ß, 20-epoxy-3ß, 17-acetoxy-abieta-8, 11, 13-teriene-11, 12-diol [phyllane B (2)], along with two known compounds (3 and 4) were isolated from the methanol (MeOH) extract of twigs and leaves of the folk medicinal Isodon phyllopodus. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses including 2 D NMR spectral data, and further confirmed by X-ray single crystal diffraction. Moreover, the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and anti-HIV activities, and phyllane A showed anti-HIV activity with an IC50 value of 15.7 µM, but phyllane B was found to be cytotoxic to the A549 host cells with a CC50 value of 108.5 µM.

Culicoides Latreille biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the Dongzhaigang mangrove forest, Hainan Province, China.

The biting midge fauna of Dongzhaigang Mangrove Forest, Hainan Province, China was sampled on 14 October 2015 using three methods: a pan light trap operated from dusk until dawn the following morning and sweep net and human landing collections performed between 16:15-17:15 hr. Eight species, including two new records for China, Culicoides palawanensis and C. niphanae, and one new record for Hainan, C. circumbasalis, were collected. A key to assist with identification of specimens of these species is provided. DNA barcodes supported the morphological identification of some of these species and identified the potential presence of cryptic species and/or deep population structure in others. The newly recorded species were morphologically similar to species previously reported from Hainan, highlighting the need for further investigation into the taxonomy of biting midges in this region. Species composition and abundance varied considerably between the three collection techniques suggesting that multiple techniques likely provide a more comprehensive sample of biting midge fauna.