Genomic insights into the chromosomal elongation in a family of Collembola.

Collembola is a highly diverse and abundant group of soil arthropods with chromosome numbers ranging from 5 to 11. Previous karyotype studies indicated that the Tomoceridae family possesses an exceptionally long chromosome. To better understand chromosome size evolution in Collembola, we obtained a chromosome-level genome of Yoshiicerus persimilis with a size of 334.44 Mb and BUSCO completeness of 97.0% (n = 1013). Both genomes of Y. persimilis and Tomocerus qinae (recently published) have an exceptionally large chromosome (ElChr greater than 100 Mb), accounting for nearly one-third of the genome. Comparative genomic analyses suggest that chromosomal elongation occurred independently in the two species approximately 10 million years ago, rather than in the ancestor of the Tomoceridae family. The ElChr elongation was caused by large tandem and segmental duplications, as well as transposon proliferation, with genes in these regions experiencing weaker purifying selection (higher dN/dS) than conserved regions. Moreover, inter-genomic synteny analyses indicated that chromosomal fission/fusion events played a crucial role in the evolution of chromosome numbers (ranging from 5 to 7) within Entomobryomorpha. This study provides a valuable resource for investigating the chromosome evolution of Collembola.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of Prosopocoilus inquinatus Westwood, 1848 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae).

Lucanidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are fascinating beetles exhibiting significant dimorphism and are widely used as beetle evolutionary study models. However, lacking high-quality genomes prohibits our understanding of Lucanidae. Herein, we proposed a chromosome-level genome assembly of a widespread species, Prosopocoilus inquinatus, combining PacBio HiFi, Illumina, and Hi-C data. The genome size reaches 649.73 Mb, having the scaffold N50 size of 59.50 Mb, and 99.6% (647.13 Mb) of the assembly successfully anchored on 12 chromosomes. The BUSCO analysis of the genome exhibits a completeness of 99.6% (n = 1,367), including 1,362 (98.5%) single-copy BUSCOs and 15 (1.1%) duplicated BUSCOs. The genome annotation identifies that the genome contains 61.41% repeat elements and 13,452 predicted protein-coding genes. This high-quality Lucanidae genome provides treasured genomic information to our knowledge of stag beetles.

Revision of Eupyrochroa Blair, 1914 (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae) based on morphological comparison and molecular phylogenetics.

Eupyrochroa Blair, 1914 is a small genus of fire-colored beetles (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae) with two putative species recorded from limited historical distributions in China. The two species, E. insignita (Fairmaire, 1894) and E. limbaticollis (Pic, 1909), have been distinguished on the basis of color differences in the pronotum and scutellum, characters now known to exhibit significant variability. In the present study, adult morphology of the two species was compared, and partial fragments of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) from 36 samples representing 14 pyrochroid species were obtained by extraction and a GenBank search. Nucleotide composition, genetic distance, and phylogeny were analyzed. The results of morphological and molecular analyses indicate consistency, suggesting that the two species are indistinguishable by any significant measure. Therefore, Eupyrochroa limbaticollis (Pic, 1909) is proposed as a junior synonym of E. insignita (Fairmaire, 1894). The species is also redescribed and illustrated, including both adults and larvae.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the snakefly Mongoloraphidia duomilia (Raphidioptera: Raphidiidae).

Raphidioptera (snakeflies) are a holometabolan order with the least species diversity but play a pivotal role in understanding the origin of complete metamorphosis. Here, we provide an annotated, chromosome-level reference genome assembly for an Asian endemic snakefly Mongoloraphidia duomilia (Yang, 1998) of the family Raphidiidae, assembled using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C data from female specimens. The resulting assembly is 653.56 Mb, of which 97.90% is anchored into 13 chromosomes. The scaffold N50 is 53.50 Mb, and BUSCO completeness is 97.80%. Repetitive elements comprise 64.31% of the genome (366.04 Mb). We identified 599 noncoding RNAs and predicted 11,141 protein-coding genes in the genome (97.70% BUSCO completeness). The new snakefly genome will facilitate comparison of genome architecture across Neuropterida and Holometabola and shed light on the ecological and evolutionary transitions between Neuropterida and Coleopterida.

Descriptions of the mature larva and adult female of Pseudopyrochroa girardi Young from Southwest China (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae), with natural history observations.

Larvae of Pseudopyrochroa girardi were collected beneath bark and in coarse, decaying woody debris of dead logs in Yaan City, Sichuan Province, China. The species association was confirmed by rearing both males and females to the adult stage. The last instar larva is described and illustrated, along with the first description of the adult female. Observations relating to the larval/pupal macro- and microhabitats and natural history are also provided and illustrated. A brief discussion of the significance of such discoveries is presented in relation to the Mountains of Southwest China global biodiversity hotspot and conservation implications relating to forests and saproxylic species like Pyrochroidaae.

A new species of Pseudopyrochroa Pic, 1906 from Southwest China (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae) based on the last instar larva and adults, with natural history observations.

A new species of the fire-colored beetle genus Pseudopyrochroa Pic, 1906, P. euryfoveata Zhan & Young, sp. n., is described and illustrated from Sichuan Province, Southwest China, based on the last larval instar (exuviae) as well as adult male and female specimens. Observations relating to the larval macro- and microhabitats and natural history notes are provided.

Descriptions of the mature larva and pupa of Pseudopyrochroa facialis (Fairmaire) from Southwest China (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae), with redescriptions of adult stages and notes on natural history.

Larvae and pupae of Pseudopyrochroa facialis were collected beneath bark and in coarse, decaying woody debris of a standing, dead Cyclobalanopsis glauca tree in Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China. The species association was confirmed by rearing both males and females to the adult stage. This represents the first record of a mainland Chinese species of Pseudopyrochroa to be reared in order to establish species association and identity. The mature larva and pupa are described and illustrated along with descriptions and illustrations of reared and additional adult males and females. Observations relating to the larval/pupal macro- and microhabitats and natural history are provided.

New color patterns and new synonym of Odontolabis sinensis (Westwood, 1848) (Coleoptera: Lucanidae): insights from a multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation.

Taxonomy of Odontolabis sinensis (Westwood, 1848) and Odontolabis fallaciosa Boileau, 1901 has long been a controversial issue due to their highly morphological similarity except for elytral color patterns. In the present work, we assessed their taxonomic status by combining molecular phylogeny and species delimitation based on multilocus datasets (COI, 16S rDNA, Cytb, CAD, Wingless). Phylogenetic analyses under both Maximum Likelihood inference and Bayesian inference recovered identical topologies. All the examined individuals in the clade of O. sinensis and O. fallaciosa formed into five subclades belonging to four color patterns, respectively. The Kimura-2-Parameter (K2P) genetic distance analysis yielded a low mean value (0.0108-0.0295). The multiple species delimitations (ABGD, PTP and GMYC) reinforced them to be one MOTU. Our results suggest that these clades belong to the same species, and thus we propose O. fallaciosa to be a junior subjective synonym of O. sinensis. We also found two new color patterns corresponding to two clades from Southwestern China (north of 20°N and east of 105°E), respectively displaying the reddish-orange, slenderly rimmed patch and brownish-orange broad patches along the elytral edge, which was probably attributable to both historical and ecological factors in this particular region.

[Purse-string suture of imbrication of SMAS and malar fat pad technique for midface and lower face lift].

Objective: To discuss the rhytidectomy technical improvements and clinical efficacy and safety, using the purse-string imbrication suture in midface and lower face lift. Methods: The absorbable purse-string suture was used in a pure antigravitational direction for correction of the aging middle and lower parts of the face. The volume of cheeks and jowls was repositioned in a cranial direction with a first, slightly oblique purse-string suture on SMAS. To correct the nasolabial fold, the face-lift was performed by adding a second malar vertical purse-string suture between the paracantbal area and the malar fat pad. Results: From July 2009 to May 2014,52 patients underwent this technique for facial rejuvenation with obvious effect and high satisfactory rate. There was only two minor complication of hematoma. Conclusions: The Purse-string imbrication suture in the rhytidectomy produces a natural face lifting through a better correction of the sagging tissue and restoration of the volume of the face. This is a simple technique with good results, short down-time, and high patient satisfactory rate.