Setae and sensilla in the Iberian Myrmeleon Linnaeus, 1767 larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)

ABSTRACT Myrmeleon (tribe Myrmeleontini) is the most successful genus within Myrmeleontidae in number of species. This is probably due to its pit-building behavior, a famous adaptation of antlion larvae but present only in a few genera of the family. In the Iberian Peninsula, where only two other genera are able to construct these traps (Euroleon in tribe Myrmeleontini and Myrmecaelurus in tribe Myrmecaelurini), five species of Myrmeleon are present: M. formicarius, M. gerlindae, M. inconspicuus, M. almohadarum and M. hyalinus. There are some useful characters to tell apart the larvae of these species using optical microscope, including the disposition of digging setae or some color spots. In this work, we study the type of setae on these species in their larval stage using SEM. The type of bristles, digging setae, and the rest of sensilla found are not different in shape, surface or structure between species. All of these confer them a great equipment in their psammophilous lifestyle.

Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera).

Antlion larvae have a complex tegumentary sensorial equipment. The sensilla and other kinds of larval tegumentary structures have been studied in 29 species of 18 genera within family Myrmeleontidae, all of them with certain degree of psammophilous lifestyle. The adaptations for such lifestyle are probably related to the evolutionary success of this lineage within Neuroptera. We identified eight types of sensory structures, six types of sensilla (excluding typical long bristles) and two other specialized tegumentary structures. Both sensilla and other types of structures that have been observed using scanning electron microscopy show similar patterns in terms of occurrence and density in all the studied species (with few exceptions). The sensilla identified are: coeloconica, placoidea, basiconica, trichodea type I, trichodea type II, and campaniformia. All these sensilla have mechano- or chemosensorial functions. Some regions of the larval body have been studied using SEM for the first time, such as the surface of the food canal, which bears sensilla coeloconica, and the abdominal segment X, that bears three types of sensilla: coeloconica, basiconica, and campaniformia. Sensilla placodea are newly reported on antlion larvae, being present on the mandibular base, pronotum, mentum, and cardum. Also, new locations of sensilla coeloconica (e.g., on rastra) and sensilla campaniformia (e.g., on odontoid processes) are noted. A novel porous texture with chemoreceptor function has been identified in the base of mandibles. A mechanism of dentate-notched surfaces that anchor maxillae and mandible, reinforcing the food canal, is detailed. All these sensorial structures, in addition to ocular tubercles for light caption and their great muscular system, confer to these larvae an extraordinary predation capacity to success hunting and living in such harsh environments.

Myrmeleon almohadarum sp. nov., from Spain and North Africa, with description of the larva (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae).

A new antlion (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae Myrmeleontini), Myrmeleon almohadarum  sp. nov., is described from southern Spain and Tunisia. The new taxon is closely related  to the mostly sympatric M. inconspicuus Rambur and M. mariaemathildae Pantaleoni, Cesaroni & Nicoli Aldini but differing in body pattern, wing venation and larval chaetotaxy. The validity of the new species is also supported by a phylogenetic analysis based on COI sequences. The larva of this new species is described and compared with congeners. M. almohadarum appears to be associated with sandy environments.

Recirculant hyperthermic IntraVEsical chemotherapy (HIVEC) in intermediate-high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Purpose To examine the effectiveness of hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC™) with mitomycin-C (MMC) for patients with intermediate-high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Materials and methods From November 2010 to April 2015, 40 patients with intermediate-high-risk NMIBC received HIVEC™ treatment with a Combat BRS system. Of these patients, 24 received neoadjuvant HIVEC™ treatment (eight weekly instillations) before a transurethral resection of the bladder (TURBT) and 16 received adjuvant HIVEC™ treatment post-TURBT (four instillations weekly + six monthly). The pathological response of each tumour was evaluated after the neoadjuvant treatment. Recurrence rates and adverse effects were evaluated in both groups. Results A total of 40 patients completed the induction therapy: 24 patients received the Neoadjuvant HIVEC™ treatment. Of these patients, 15 (62.5%) showed a complete response. Eight patients (33.3%) showed a partial response, and one patient (4.1%) showed no response at all. The 4-year cumulative incidence of recurrence was 20.8%. The adjuvant HIVEC™ treatment was given to 16 patients. The 2-year cumulative incidence of recurrence was 12.5% for this group. The incidence and severity of side effects were slightly lower in the adjuvant group than in the neoadjuvant group. However, the difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.3). Most of the side effects were low grade and had virtually no effect on the treatment plan, and 97% of patients completed all of the HIVEC™ instillations scheduled. Conclusions The recirculation of hyperthermic MMC using Combat's HIVEC™ treatment is safe and effective and is capable of achieving good success rates in both neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings. This treatment seems to be appropriate for NMIBC intermediate-high-risk patients who cannot tolerate or have contraindications for standard BCG therapy or in cases in which there are supply issues or shortages of BCG.

[Analysis of budgetary impact of moderate and high risk non muscle-invasive bladder cancer by means of neoadjuvant hyperthermia chemotherapy compared to the standard adjuvant treatment with BCG]. / Análisis del impacto presupuedtario del tratamiento mediante quimiohipertermia neoadyuvante en el cáncer vesical no muúculo invasive.

OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between cost-effectiveness and budgetary impact the application of a neoadjuvant chemo-hyperthermia treatment on 15 patients with NMI multi-recurrent bladder cancer and/or whose risk of recurrence and progression is medium-high, compared with the standard neoadjuvant BCG treatment, has had on the Hospital Comarcal de Monforte de Lemos (Lugo). METHODS: A model was designed from an SNS perspective with a temporary horizon of three years to compare the costs of applying neoadjuvant chemo-hyperthermia on the patients of the clinical test (8 instillations weekly of 80 mg Mitomycin C recirculating at 43 C for an hour prior to carrying out a transurethral resection of the bladder tumor) with the costs of treating 15 patients with the same risk profile with the standard adjuvant treatment of BCG (control group). The effective available costs corresponding to drugs, disposables and those relative to TURBT, cold biopsy and tumor relapse were included. The costs of diagnostic tests and follow-up were discarded from the model because they did not vary between groups. RESULTS: The model built with effective and published cost data establishes a favourable difference in favour of the neoadjuvant treatment with chemo hyperthermia in terms of 3 year costs with a minimum global savings of 10,300€ and 687€ per patient, together with an improvement in the effectiveness of the treatment. These values could reach a minimum savings of 25,960€ and 1,731€ per patient, if a change in protocol is made after the neoadjuvant treatment, which uses the cold biopsy to check the results. Of the 15 patients pre-treated with chemo-hyperthermia, 11 high-risk and 4 medium-risk, 9 have responded completely (absence of residual tumor) and 6 partially (shrinking of the tumor). The number of expected relapses has been reduced from 8 to 2 and progression from 3 to 0. CONCLUSIONS: The neoadjuvant treatment with chemo hyperthermia constitutes a cost-effective therapeutic strategy.

A new species of Spongilla-fly from Western Africa (Neuroptera: Sisyridae).

A new species of spongilla-fly (Neuropterida, Neuroptera, Sisyridae: Sisyra) is described from Western Africa (Guinea and Ivory Coast). This new Sisyra species differs from all other known African species both in its morphology and genitalia, and it seems to be most closely related to a species in Thailand.

The larva of Tricholeon relictus Hölzel & Monserrat, 2002 a synanthropic antlion (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae).

The larva of Tricholeon relictus, a Spanish endemic antlion of Afrotropical affinities, is described and illustrated for the first time also providing a comparison with the only other European member of the tribe Dendroleontini, Dendroleon pantherinus. The larva of this species is synanthropic but probably originally lived in cave-like habitats.

The larvae of Gepus invisus Navás, 1912 and Solter liber Navás, 1912, a comparative description (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae).

The third instar larvae of Gepus invisus and Solter liber are comparatively described and illustrated for the first time with a particular emphasis on genus level characters. Larval morphology confirms a close relationship between these genera as they differ only in minor characters.

A clinical trial of neoadjuvant hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC) for treating intermediate and high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Ths paper reports a pilot/feasibility trial of neoadjuvant hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy (HIVEC) prior to transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pilot/feasibility clinical trial was performed and 15 patients with intermediate to high-risk NMIBC received HIVEC prior to TURBT. HIVEC consisting of eight weekly instillations of intravesical MMC (80 mg in 50 mL) delivered with the novel Combat BRS® system at a temperature of 43 °C for 60 min. Treatment-related adverse effects were measured and patients were followed for 2 years for disease recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 119 HIVEC treatments occurred. Grade 1 adverse events consisted of irritative bladder symptoms (33%), bladder spasms (27%), pain (27%), haematuria (20%) and urinary tract infection (UTI; 14%). Grade 2 adverse events were bladder calcification (7%) and reduced bladder capacity (7%). No grade 3 or higher toxicity was observed. At TURBT, eight patients (53%) were complete responders (pT0) while seven (47%) were partial responders. With a median follow-up of 29 months, the 3-year cumulative incidence of recurrence was 15%. CONCLUSIONS: The Combat BRS® system achieved target bladder temperatures and delivered HIVEC with a favourable side-effect profile. Our pilot trial also provides preliminary evidence of treatment efficacy.

Comparative description of larvae of the European species of Distoleon Banks: D. annulatus (Klug, 1834) and D. tetragrammicus (Fabricius, 1798) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae).

The third instar larva of Distoleon annulatus (Klug, 1834) is described for the first time and compared with the larva of the other known species of the genus in Europe: D. tetragrammicus (Fabricius, 1798). Diagnostic characters of the larvae of the genus Distoleon, as well as the interspecific differences, are provided and illustrated. Larvae of Distoleon appear to be morphologically conservative and they are mainly recognized by means of the pigmentation pattern.

Changes to the elevational limits and extent of species ranges associated with climate change.

The first expected symptoms of a climate change-generated biodiversity crisis are range contractions and extinctions at lower elevational and latitudinal limits to species distributions. However, whilst range expansions at high elevations and latitudes have been widely documented, there has been surprisingly little evidence for contractions at warm margins. We show that lower elevational limits for 16 butterfly species in central Spain have risen on average by 212 m (± SE 60) in 30 years, accompanying a 1.3 °C rise (equivalent to c. 225 m) in mean annual temperature. These elevational shifts signify an average reduction in habitable area by one-third, with losses of 50-80% projected for the coming century, given maintenance of the species thermal associations. The results suggest that many species have already suffered climate-mediated habitat losses that may threaten their long-term chances of survival.

NEUROPTERA OF THE AMAZON BASIN Part 10. Hemerobiidae

ABSTRACT Nine species of Hemerobiidae in six genera are described and their distributions given. Keys are provided for their identification and notes are given on biology and habitat preferences.