The chromosome-level genome assembly of the giant dobsonfly Acanthacorydalis orientalis (McLachlan, 1899).

Acanthacorydalis orientalis (McLachlan, 1899) (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) is an important freshwater-benthic invertebrate species that serves as an indicator for water-quality biomonitoring and is valuable for conservation from East Asia. Here, a high-quality reference genome for A. orientalis was constructed using Oxford Nanopore sequencing and High throughput Chromosome Conformation Capture (Hi-C) technology. The final genome size is 547.98 Mb, with the N50 values of contig and scaffold being 7.77 Mb and 50.53 Mb, respectively. The longest contig and scaffold are 20.57 Mb and 62.26 Mb in length, respectively. There are 99.75% contigs anchored onto 13 pseudo-chromosomes. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) analysis showed that the completeness of the genome assembly is 99.01%. There are 10,977 protein-coding genes identified, of which 84.00% are functionally annotated. The genome contains 44.86% repeat sequences. This high-quality genome provides substantial data for future studies on population genetics, aquatic adaptation, and evolution of Megaloptera and other related insect groups.

Description of Neoperla philippinensis sp. nov. confirmed using integrative taxonomy and some notes on Neoperla oculata Banks, 1924 (Plecoptera: Perlidae).

I re-examine the assumed phenotypic variable Neoperla oculata Banks, 1924 (Plecoptera, Perlidae) and describe Neoperla philippinensis sp. nov. All material examined herein are collections from the Mindanao region, of which supplementary information were provided including COI mtDNA accessions, female adult associations, and egg morphology characterization.

A new species and three records of Chloroperlidae (Plecoptera) from China.

A new species of the genus Suwallia Ricker, 1943, S. rostrata sp. nov., from Xizang of southwestern China is described, illustrated and compared with similar species. Alloperla kurentzovi Zhiltzova & Zapekina-Dulkeit, 1977, A. kurilensis Zhiltzova, 1978, A. teleckojensis mal, 1939 are reported for the first time from China. The diagnostic features of these species are illustrated with color images.

Dr. Wolfram Meys Stonefly (Insecta: Plecoptera) Collection from Luzon, Philippines: Part I. Perlidae.

In this study, the Perlidae stonefly collections of Dr. Wolfram Mey from over 20 years ago have been examined. Neoperla jhoanae sp. nov. from Central Luzon Region and Neoperla nagaensis sp. nov. from Bicol Region are described herein. Additional records and information are also provided on Neoperla jewetti Sivec, 1984, Neoperla recta Banks, 1913, Neoperla pseudorecta Sivec, 1984, Neoperla oculata Banks, 1924, Neoperla nigra Sivec, 1984, Phanoperla bakeri (Banks, 1924), and Phanoperla flaveola (Klaplek, 1910).

Additional records of Neoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Yunnan Province of China, with description of a new species.

A new species of the genus Neoperla, N. donglaii sp. nov., is described from Yunnan Province of southwestern China. The new species is assigned to the N. lushana-complex of the N. (Formosita) subgenus due to the presence of paired, ventral spiny lobes of the aedeagus. The new species was compared with related species in the subgenus. Neoperla hamata Jewett, 1975 and N. idella Stark & Sivec, 2008 are newly recorded for China and N. quadrata Wu & Claassen, 1934 specifically from Yunnan Province, China. Neoperla quadrata had not been collected for 90 years.

Revision of the bark louse genus Bicuspidatus (Psocodea: Peripsocidae) with description of a new species from China.

Bicuspidatus is a small genus of the family Peripsocidae, erected by Li (1993) with B. pulchipunctatus as the type species. Adults of this genus can be easily distinguished from other peripsocids by the phallosome with bicuspid apical process in males or by the subgenital plate with modestly elongated, distally bilobed posterior lobe in females. Bicuspidatus currently comprises three species: B. guangdongensis Li, 1993, B. pulchipunctatus Li, 1993 and B. sigillatus Li, 1993, all are known only from Guangdong Province, China. According to previous studies, these three species can be distinguished by the markings on the forewings and a few characteristics of phallosome (Li 1993, 2002). In this study, we present a taxonomic revision of Bicuspidatus based on examination of 40 specimens collected from various localities, including the type specimens of B. guangdongensis, B. pulchipunctatus and B. sigillatus. Furthermore, 12 of them were used for molecular analyses based on partial sequences of COI gene. As a result, B. guangdongensis and B. sigillatus are here considered as junior synonyms of B. pulchipunctatus. We redescribe B. pulchipunctatus and describe a new species from Xizang Autonomous Region, China. An updated distribution map and a revised key to the species of Bicuspidatus are also provided.

Identity on Filchneria heteroptera (Wu, 1938) (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) with a new record of Paraleuctra cercia (Okamoto, 1922) from China.

Filchneria heteroptera (Wu, 1938) is rediscovered from Heilongjiang Province of northeastern China. A supplementary description and illustrations including aedeagal structures based on newly collected specimens are provided. Filchneria dongruihangi Chen, 2020 is considered here as a junior synonym of F. heteroptera (Wu, 1938). Paraleuctra cercia (Okamoto, 1922) is reported from Liaoning and Heilongjiang provinces, China for the first time.

A remarkable new species and one newly recorded species of genus Oxyartes Stl, 1875 (Phasmida, Lonchodidae, Necrosciinae) from China.

The genus Oxyartes currently comprises 17 taxa, of which 12 are found in China, representing the high diversity in China. This list includes the two species from China as described in this paper. The first is a new remarkable species O. bouxraeuz sp. nov. collected from Gulinqing township, Yunnan. The second is a newly recorded species, O. cresphontes. This species is reported from Mdog, Xizang, China. A key to this genus from China is presented. Type specimens are deposited in the Yunnan Agricultural University (YNAU).

The only species of Calvisia (Phasmatodea, Necrosciinae) from China, with a new synonymy and additional descriptions.

Calvisia is a colorful winged stick insect genus consisting of 6 subgenera and 44 species widely distributed in temperate and tropical Asia. C. medogensis syn. nov. was discovered in Mdog, Xizang (Tibet), China and is so far the only species recorded from China. We here propose that C. medogensis syn. nov. is a synonym of C. fuscoalata after checking type specimens of both species. New materials studied are deposited in Yunnan Agricultural University, China (YNAU).

A new species of the genus Embia Latreille, 1825 (Insecta, Embioptera) from the Madonie Regional Natural Park (Sicily, Italy).

Embia minapalumboi n. sp., a new species of the genus Embia Latreille, 1925, was collected during an excursion in the Madonie Regional Natural Park that took place at the conclusion of the XXVII Italian National Congress of Entomology celebrated in Palermo from 12 to 16 June 2023. In the location of discovery, at an elevation of just under 1400 m and therefore unusual for European Embioptera, the new species was found to be very rare and for this reason most of the few juvenile specimens found were kept in breeding by the author. The new species was compared with all 36 species known to date for the genus and in particular with the 21 species from the Mediterranean area and the 8 known from Europe. The author also presents the general distribution of all species of the genus. Embia tyrrhenica, Stefani, 1953 is also reported for the Madonie and reconfirmed for Sicily.

Sensory pathway in aquatic basal polyneoptera: Antennal sensilla and brain morphology in stoneflies.

Aquatic insects represent a great portion of Arthropod diversity and the major fauna in inland waters. The sensory biology and neuroanatomy of these insects are, however, poorly investigated. This research aims to describe the antennal sensilla of nymphs of the stonefly Dinocras cephalotes using scanning electron microscopy and comparing them with the adult sensilla. Besides, central antennal pathways in nymphs and adults are investigated by neuron mass-tracing with tetramethylrhodamine, and their brain structures are visualized with an anti-synapsin antibody. No dramatic changes occur in the antennal sensilla during nymphal development, while antennal sensilla profoundly change from nymphs to adults when switching from an aquatic to an aerial lifestyle. However, similar brain structures are used in nymphs and adults to process diverging sensory information, perceived through different sensilla in water and air. These data provide valuable insights into the evolution of aquatic heterometabolous insects, maintaining a functional sensory system throughout development, including a distinct adaptation of the peripheral olfactory systems during the transition from detection of water-soluble chemicals to volatile compounds in the air. From a conservation biology perspective, the present data contribute to a better knowledge of the biology of stoneflies, which are very important bioindicators in rivers.

Mitochondrial genomes provide insights into the Euholognatha (Insecta: Plecoptera).

BACKGROUND: Euholognatha is a monophyletic group within stoneflies comprised by a superfamily Nemouroidea and a family Scopuridae. Based on morphological data, the family-level phylogenetic relationships within Euholognatha are widely accepted, but there is still controversy among different molecular studies. To better understand the phylogeny of all six extant euholognathan families, we sequenced and analyzed seven euholognathan mitogenomes. RESULTS: The sequence heterogeneity analysis observed a low degree of compositional heterogeneity in euholognathan mitogenomes. Meanwhile, leuctrid mitogenomes were more heterogeneous than other euholognathan families, which may affect the phylogenetic reconstruction. Phylogenetic analyses with various datasets generated three topologies. The Leuctridae was recovered as the earliest branching lineage, and the sister relationship of Capniidae and Taeniopterygidae was supported by most tree topologies and FcLM analyses. When separately excluding sparsely sampled Scopuridae or high heterogeneity leuctrid taxa, phylogenetic analyses under the same methods generated more stable and consistent tree topologies. Finally, based on the results of this study, we reconstructed the relationships within Euholognatha as: Leuctridae + (Scopuridae + ((Taeniopterygidae + Capniidae) + (Nemouridae + Notonemouridae))). CONCLUSION: Our research shows the potential of data optimizing strategies in reconstructing phylogeny within Euholognatha and provides new insight into the phylogeny of this group.

A new species of Jeremia Redtenbacher (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae: Cladomorphinae), a stick insect from the northern Brazilian Amazon Basin.

A new species of Jeremia Redtenbacher (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae: Cladomorphinae) is described based on both male and female specimens from the northern Brazilian Amazon Basin and named Jeremia megaplax sp. nov. The new species can be differentiated from other species of this genus by the length of the female subgenital plate, which is two times longer than the length of tergites 810. Photos and description from subadult male and not fully developed eggs are also provided. The studied material is deposited at the Invertebrate Collection of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amaznia (INPA).

Synopsis of the Ptiloneuropsis Roesler, 1940 (Psocodea: Psocoptera: Ptiloneuridae), with a new cave-dwelling species from Brazil.

A new cave-dwelling species of Ptiloneuropsis from southeastern Brazil, is here described based on both sexes, illustrated and named as: Ptiloneuropsis krenaki sp. nov. This new species differs from Ptiloneuropsis immaculata Roesler, 1940 and Ptiloneuropsis diamantina Silva-Neto, Garca Aldrete & Rafael, 2018 in details of the hypandrium and phallosome. In addition to the third new species of the Ptiloneuropsis, descriptions of variation in the fore and hindwings veins are also given. The diagnosis of Ptiloneuropsis is updated, and P. immaculata is redescribed. Furthermore, the first identification key for Ptiloneuropsis species, based on males, is presented.

Notes on the genus Dictyogenus Klaplek, 1904 (Plecoptera, Perlodidae) in the Austrian, Italian, Slovenian and Swiss Alps, with the description of six new species.

Six new species of Dictyogenus Klaplek, 1904, from the Austrian, Italian, Slovenian, and Swiss Alps, are described and illustrated from adults and nymphs. The species Dictyogenus alpinum (Pictet, 1841) and topotypical Dictyogenus fontium (Ris, 1896) are re-described.

Subcortical life, evolution of flattened body, and constrained mating posture in the earwig Platylabia major (Insecta: Dermaptera: "Anisolabididae").

Many animals take advantage of the shaded, humid, and protected environments in subcortical spaces, i.e., thin spaces under the loosened bark of dead trees. Permanent inhabitants of subcortical spaces often show specialized morphologies, such as a miniaturized or dorsoventrally flattened body. However, the evolutionary consequences of these specialized morphologies on behavioral, ecological, and life-history traits have been little studied. We studied the mating biology and anatomy of Platylabia major (usually placed in the family Anisolabididae), which is an obligate inhabitant of subcortical spaces with a paper-like flattened body, and compared them with those of two thicker, spongiphorid earwigs, Nesogaster amoenus and Paralabellula curvicauda. Mating trials in various settings showed that Pl. major requires thin spaces sandwiched by two planes to accomplish genital coupling and insemination. In contrast, the thicker species, although also frequently found in subcortical spaces, could mate on a single horizontal plane due to the ability of the male to twist its abdomen through approximately 180°. Examination by micro-computed tomography and a reagent-based clearing technique revealed no substantive differences in the configuration of mid-abdominal musculature between the species. The dorsal and lateral muscles of Pl. major, which are almost parallel to the antero-posterior body axis for accommodation within the thin abdomen, seemed incapable of producing the power to twist the abdomen. The abdominal musculature conforms to a simple pattern in both male and female earwigs, which is repeated in each of the pregenital segments. We conclude that small differences in the range of motion of each abdominal segment can result in large differences in possible mating postures and positions. Surgical experiments also demonstrated that both right and left penises of Pl. major are competent and used for insemination with no lateral bias, as in most other earwigs with twin penises studied to date.

Sperm models in European Plecoptera.

Systematic issues regarding Plecoptera are still debated, and the molecular data seem to be unable to definitively clarify the relationships within the order. Spermatozoa are under constant evolutionary pressure, and comparative spermatology can be useful in carrying systematic and phylogenetic information. In the present paper we describe the sperm structure, using light, scanning and transmission electron and immunofluorescence microscopy, of six Euholognatha species belonging to genera not analyzed in our previous studies, i.e. Capnopsis, Amphinemura, Rhabdiopteryx, Tyrrhenoleuctra, Zwicknia and Protonemura. The spermatozoa of all the species examined are fîliform and have a flagellum characterized by an axoneme with 9 + 9+2 pattern and two mitochondrial derivatives. Their ultrastructure shows a degree of heterogeneity within the order. On the contrary, morphological features of sperm are well conserved inside a single Euholognathan family, and the species share a general family sperm model, even if different interspecific or intergeneric characters can be identified and used for systematic inferences. Among Nemouroidea, Taeniopterygidae, showing a peculiar sperm model, seems to have an isolated phylogenetic position. Nemouridae, with a mono-layered acrosome, are isolated among the remaining families, while we can hypothesize a sister taxa relationship between Leuctridae and Capniidae. As regards Perloidea, the sperm characters suggest a closer relationship between Chloroperlidae and Perlodidae, rather than between Perlidae and Perlodidae, as commonly hypothesized.

Taxonomic Contributions on Macrogynoplax Enderlein and Enderleina Jewett (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Brazil, Including a New Species Supported by Molecular and Morphological Data.

Stoneflies (Plecoptera) are aquatic insects widely used in ecological and monitoring studies as indicators of environmental quality due to their high sensitivity to pollution. Among Brazilian Plecoptera, Perlidae is the most diverse family, with four genera (Anacroneuria Klapálek 1909, Enderleina Jewett 1960, Kempnyia Klapálek 1914, and Macrogynoplax Enderlein 1909) and about 150 species. Herein, based on data from the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and morphological characters, we studied specimens of Enderleina and Macrogynoplax, mainly from the Brazilian Savanna. Our alignment with a total length of 608 base pairs included 23 COI sequences, of which 10 are new and 13 were obtained from GenBank. The sequences and congruence of the obtained species clusters were analyzed using neighbor joining. As a result, we describe a new species of Enderleina, the first of this genus in the Brazilian Savanna, and update the geographic distribution of some Macrogynoplax species. A new record was included for Macrogynoplax veneranda Froehlich 1984 in São Paulo state and the first record of M. yupanqui Stark 1996 in Brazil was also included. First records were made for Macrogynoplax matogrossensis Bispo and Neves 2005 and a Macrogynoplax specimen in Goiás and Bahia states, respectively. Consequently, we expanded the distribution of the genus in the Brazilian Savanna and Atlantic Forest. In addition, we provide observations on the morphological differences found among these species, discuss about the distribution of the genera, present molecular data discussing their contributions to the knowledge of the genus, and comment on the recommendations for future research considering a scenario of integrative approaches. Lastly, we present a key to identify the adult males of Enderleina.

Efficient symptomatic treatment and viral load reduction for children with influenza virus infection by nasal-spraying Bacillus spore probiotics.

Influenza virus is a main cause of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in children. This is the first double-blind, randomized, and controlled clinical trial examining the efficacy of nasal-spraying probiotic LiveSpo Navax, which contains 5 billion of Bacillus subtilis and B. clausii spores in 5 mL, in supporting treatment of influenza viral infection in pediatric patients. We found that the nasal-spraying Bacillus spores significantly shortened the recovery period and overall treatment by 2 days and increased treatment effectiveness by 58% in resolving all ARTIs' symptoms. At day 2, the concentrations of influenza virus and co-infected bacteria were reduced by 417 and 1152 folds. Additionally, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-6 in nasopharyngeal samples were reduced by 1.1, 3.7, and 53.9 folds, respectively. Compared to the standard control group, treatment regimen with LiveSpo Navax demonstrated significantly greater effectiveness, resulting in 26-fold reduction in viral load, 65-fold reduction in bacterial concentration, and 1.1-9.5-fold decrease in cytokine levels. Overall, nasal-spraying Bacillus spores can support the symptomatic treatment of influenza virus-induced ARTIs quickly, efficiently and could be used as a cost-effective supportive treatment for respiratory viral infection in general.Clinical trial registration no: NCT05378022 on 17/05/2022.

Promising application of probiotic microorganisms as Pickering emulsions stabilizers.

The purpose of this work was to study the ability of nineteen food-grade microorganisms as Pickering emulsion (PE) stabilizers. Medium-chain triacylglycerol (MCT) oil-in-water (50:50) PEs were fabricated by 10 wt% or 15 wt% of thermally-inactivated yeast, cocci, Bacillus spp. and lactobacilli cells. The characteristics of microorganisms related to "Pickering stabilization" including morphology, surface charge, interfacial tension, and "contact angle" were firstly studied. After that, the cells-stabilized PEs were characterized from both kinetic and thermodynamic viewpoints, microstructure and rheological properties. The interfacial tension and "contact angle" values of various microorganisms ranged from 16.33 to 38.31 mN/m, and from 15° to 106°, respectively. The mean droplet size of PEs ranged from 11.51 to 57.69 µm. Generally, the physical stability of cell-stabilized PEs followed this order: lactobacilli > Bacillus spp. > cocci > yeast. These variations were attributed to the morphology and cell wall composition. Increasing the microorganism concentration significantly increased the physical stability of PEs from a maximum of 12 days at 10 wt% to 35 days at 15 wt% as a result of better interface coverage. Shear-thinning and dominant elastic behaviors were observed in PEs. Physical stability was affected by the free energy of detachment. Therefore, food-grade microorganisms are suggested for stabilizing PEs.