Multiple origins of interdependent endosymbiotic complexes in a genus of cicadas.

Bacterial endosymbionts that provide nutrients to hosts often have genomes that are extremely stable in structure and gene content. In contrast, the genome of the endosymbiont Hodgkinia cicadicola has fractured into multiple distinct lineages in some species of the cicada genus Tettigades To better understand the frequency, timing, and outcomes of Hodgkinia lineage splitting throughout this cicada genus, we sampled cicadas over three field seasons in Chile and performed genomics and microscopy on representative samples. We found that a single ancestral Hodgkinia lineage has split at least six independent times in Tettigades over the last 4 million years, resulting in complexes of between two and six distinct Hodgkinia lineages per host. Individual genomes in these symbiotic complexes differ dramatically in relative abundance, genome size, organization, and gene content. Each Hodgkinia lineage retains a small set of core genes involved in genetic information processing, but the high level of gene loss experienced by all genomes suggests that extensive sharing of gene products among symbiont cells must occur. In total, Hodgkinia complexes that consist of multiple lineages encode nearly complete sets of genes present on the ancestral single lineage and presumably perform the same functions as symbionts that have not undergone splitting. However, differences in the timing of the splits, along with dissimilar gene loss patterns on the resulting genomes, have led to very different outcomes of lineage splitting in extant cicadas.

One Hundred Mitochondrial Genomes of Cicadas.

Mitochondrial genomes can provide valuable information on the biology and evolutionary histories of their host organisms. Here, we present and characterize the complete coding regions of 107 mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of cicadas (Insecta: Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadoidea), representing 31 genera, 61 species, and 83 populations. We show that all cicada mitogenomes retain the organization and gene contents thought to be ancestral in insects, with some variability among cicada clades in the length of a region between the genes nad2 and cox1, which encodes 3 tRNAs. Phylogenetic analyses using these mitogenomes recapitulate a recent 5-gene classification of cicadas into families and subfamilies, but also identify a species that falls outside of the established taxonomic framework. While protein-coding genes are under strong purifying selection, tests of relative evolutionary rates reveal significant variation in evolutionary rates across taxa, highlighting the dynamic nature of mitochondrial genome evolution in cicadas. These data will serve as a useful reference for future research into the systematics, ecology, and evolution of the superfamily Cicadoidea.

The Odonata (Insecta) of Patagonia: a synopsis of their current status with illustrated keys for their identification.

Patagonia is a vast landmass with a distinctive environmental and biotic heterogeneity. Its Odonata biodiversity is the best known of South America, and it is composed of 36 species, of which more than 50% are endemic. We summarize the main taxonomic, distributional and biological information including illustrated keys for adults and known larvae, and distributional maps.

A new Epipleoneura Williamson, 1915 (Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae) from northern Brazil and notes on E. venezuelensis Rácenis, 1955.

Epipleoneura lencionii sp. nov. is erected based on specimens from Acre State (holotype: 10º7'38.5″S; 67º38'6.7″W, 12.ix.2017, Miguel, T.B. leg). Additional material collected in Minas Gerais was also studied, but subsequently was lost in a fire at the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro. We compared the new species with E. venezuelensis Rácenis, 1955. Epipleoneura lencionii differs from E. venezuelensis by the orientation of the lateral lobes on the male epiproct and by the shape of the posterior lobe of the prothorax of the female. The distribution of the species is analyzed and notes on the reproductive behavior of the genus are provided.

Description of the last instar larva of Peristicta aeneoviridis Calvert, 1909 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

The larva of Peristicta aeneoviridis Calvert, 1909 is described for the first time, based on material from Misiones Province, Argentina. It differs from the rest of the larvae described for the genus in the shape and coloration of caudal lamellae, femur setae, lacinia teeth and coloration patterns. Additions to the description of the larva of P. forceps Hagen in Selys, 1860 are included.

A new Andiperla Aubert (Plecoptera, Gripopterygidae) species from the Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina.

Andiperla morenensis n. sp. is described from the Perito Moreno Glacier, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. The new species differs from its only congener, A. willinki, Aubert, 1956 by tergum X produced into an acute lobe directed posteriorly and by the presence of a small epiproct. The18S rRNA and COI gene sequence of A. morenensis n. sp. is provided.

A new species of Mycomya Rondani (Diptera, Mycetophilidae, Mycomyinae) from Argentinean Patagonia.

Mycomya bowiei n. sp. is described based on male and female specimens from Argentinean Patagonia. Additionally, we provide a redescription of Mycomya bifida Freman (1951) and new records of three species of Mycomya previously unrecorded from either Chubut Province or Argentina.

Redescription of Chilenoperla puerilis (Gripopterygidae: Plecoptera) from the eastern Andes of Patagonia.

The male and the last instar larva of Chilenoperla puerilis Illies (Gripopterygidae) are redescribed from Chubut Province, Argentinean Patagonia. Wing venation previously not described, differs from other described species in the genus. The larva is separable from that of C. elongata Vera and C. puelche Vera. Comments on the generic and specific position of the material studied and similarities and differences among the genera Chilenoperla Illies and Pelurgoperla Illies are included. Until new systematic and phylogenetic evidence becomes available no taxonomic changes are proposed.

Description of the last instar larva of Anacroneuria tucuman Stark (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from northern Argentina.

The last instar larva of Anacroneuria tucuman Stark is described based on material from the Yungas Forest in Jujuy Province, Argentina. This is the first record of the species for the Province.

Synopsis of Epipleoneura (Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae, "Protoneuridae"), with emphasis on its Brazilian species.

A revision of the known species of Epipleoneura is presented. Material of all Brazilian species was examined. Two new species are described: E. ottoi (Holotype: Brazil, Goiás State, São Bartolomeu river) and E. susanae (Holotype: Brazil, Mato Grosso State, São Lorenzo river), and the male of E. humeralis and the female of E. kaxuriana are described for the first time. With the exception of E. protostictoides, diagnoses, morphological characterizations, and illustrations of all species including known females are presented. The genital ligula of 25 species is described or redescribed. Morphological intraspecific variation is presented for E. machadoi, E. metallica, and E. venezuelensis. 

Three new species of Peristicta Hagen in Selys (Odonata: Zygoptera: Protoneuridae) from Brazil.

Three new species of Peristicta Hagen in Selys from Brazil are described and illustrated: P. janiceae from Minas Gerais State (Diamantina, Gouvêa, Lagoa Santa, Serra do Caraça, Serra do Cipó, Urobotanga), P. jalmosi from Goiás State (Chapada dos Veadeiros, Reserva da Universidade de Brasília) and Minas Gerais State (Urobotanga, Lagoa Santa, Ponte Nova, São João del Rey,) and P. muzoni from Mato Grosso State (Serra da Bodoquena). An identification key for males of Peristicta is presented.

Three new species of Peristicta Hagen in Selys (Odonata: Zygoptera: Protoneuridae) from Brazil

Three new species of Peristicta Hagen in Selys from Brazil are described and illustrated: P. janiceae from Minas Gerais State (Diamantina, Gouvêa, Lagoa Santa, Serra do Caraça, Serra do Cipó, Urobotanga), P. jalmosi from Goiás State (Chapada dos Veadeiros, Reserva da Universidade de Brasília) and Minas Gerais State (Urobotanga, Lagoa Santa, Ponte Nova, São João del Rey,) and P. muzoni from Mato Grosso State (Serra da Bodoquena). An identification key for males of Peristicta is presented.

São descritas e ilustradas três novas espécies de Peristicta Hagen in Selys do Brasil: P. janiceae de Minas Gerais (Diamantina, Gouvêa, Lagoa Santa, Serra do Caraça, Serra do Cipó, Urobotanga), P. jalmosi de Goiás (Chapada dos Veadeiros, Reserva da Universidade de Brasília) e Minas Gerais (Urobotanga, Lagoa Santa, Ponte Nova, São João del Rey) e P. muzoni de Mato Grosso (Serra da Bodoquena). Apresenta-se uma chave de identificação para machos das espécies de Peristicta.