Unveiling the Mainland vs. Insular Variability of the Eumerus barbarus Species Group (Diptera: Syrphidae) in the Western Mediterranean Basin.

Comprising nearly 300 described species, Eumerus Meigen, 1822, is one of the most speciose syrphid genera worldwide, and its taxonomic diversity is remarkable in the Mediterranean basin. The Eumerus barbarus (Coquebert, 1804) group consists of four species in the western Mediterranean. Although the phenotypic variability of this species group has been commented on in previous studies, it has never been contrasted with molecular data. In the present work, the morphological variation found in 300+ specimens of this species group from the western Mediterranean is explored and tested against the COI mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The highest phenotypic disparity was found in E. barbarus and Eumerus sulcitibius Rondani 1868. The integrative approach has not revealed cryptic diversity within the species E. barbarus but in E. sulcitibius. As a result, a new species close to E. sulcitibius was discovered, Eumerus sardus Aguado-Aranda, Ricarte & Hauser sp. n., from Sardinia, Italy. The new insular species is here described, illustrated, and discussed. A total of twenty-three haplotypes of COI mtDNA were identified amongst the analyzed Mediterranean specimens of E. barbarus, whereas two and five haplotypes were distinguished in the Iberian specimens of E. sulcitibius and Eumerus gibbosus van Steenis, Hauser & van Zuijen, 2017, respectively. Moreover, the first known barcodes of E. gibbosus and Eumerus schmideggeri van Steenis, Hauser & van Zuijen, 2017 were obtained, and the distribution ranges of all species are mapped. An updated dichotomous key to the males of the E. barbarus group from the western Mediterranean is provided.

Are Appearances Deceiving? Morpho-Genetic Complexity of the Eumerus tricolor Group (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Europe, with a Focus on the Iberian Peninsula.

Eumerus Meigen, 1822 is one of the largest Syrphidae genera in the Palaearctic Region, with the highest levels of taxonomic diversity found in the Eumerus tricolor species group. Despite its high diversity, the interspecific levels of morphological variability can be low. Additionally, some species may show certain levels of intraspecific variability. Hence, species delimitation may become challenging. In this work, we assessed the diversity of the E. tricolor group in the Iberian Peninsula through an integrative analysis of nomenclature, morphology and the 5' (COI-5') and 3' (COI-3') end regions of the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Two new species, Eumerus ancylostylus Aguado-Aranda & Ricarte sp. n. and Eumerus petrarum Aguado-Aranda, Nedeljkovic & Ricarte sp. n., were described, and their intra- and interspecific variations discussed. In addition, the first barcodes of Iberian members of the E. tricolor group were obtained, and the distribution ranges of all species were mapped within the study area. The systematic position of the new species is discussed based on the resulting COI-based trees. The male genitalia of Eumerus hispanicus van der Goot, 1966 and Eumerus bayardi Séguy, 1961 were studied and illustrated. A lectotype was designated for Eumerus lateralis (Zetterstedt, 1819). An updated dichotomous key for all known European species of the E. tricolor group is provided. The egg of E. petrarum sp. n. is also described.

First few seconds for flow: A comprehensive proposal of the neurobiology and neurodynamics of state onset.

Flow is a cognitive state that manifests when there is complete attentional absorption while performing a task. Flow occurs when certain internal as well as external conditions are present, including intense concentration, a sense of control, feedback, and a balance between the challenge of the task and the relevant skillset. Phenomenologically, flow is accompanied by a loss of self-consciousness, seamless integration of action and awareness, and acute changes in time perception. Research has begun to uncover some of the neurophysiological correlates of flow, as well as some of the state's neuromodulatory processes. We comprehensively review this work and consider the neurodynamics of the onset of the state, considering large-scale brain networks, as well as dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and endocannabinoid systems. To accomplish this, we outline an evidence-based hypothetical situation, and consider the flow state in a broader context including other profound alterations in consciousness, such as the psychedelic state and the state of traumatic stress that can induce PTSD. We present a broad theoretical framework which may motivate future testable hypotheses.

Revision of the genus Pelecocera Meigen, 1822 (Diptera: Syrphidae) from France: taxonomy, ecology and distribution.

The occurrence and distribution of the various species of the genus Pelecocera Meigen, 1822 (Diptera: Syrphidae) occurring in France are revised and a new species, Pelecocera garrigae Lair Nve, 2022 sp. nov., is described from Mediterranean France. Distribution and ecological data of the six French species of Pelecocera are provided and an identification key is given to all these species. Sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) from all European Pelecocera species support the morphological species concept, except for Pelecocera scaevoides (Falln, 1817). The binomen Pelecocera lugubris Perris, 1839 is recovered to name the Pelecocera lusitanica (Mik, 1898) of authors in France.

Systematic relationships of the Taeniapterini (Diptera: Micropezidae, Taeniapterinae).

A molecular phylogeny for the Taeniapterinae is presented based on mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, COI), ribosomal (16S rRNA and 28S rRNA) and nuclear (EF-1 and CAD) genes of 48 specimens including 40 species. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference were used to analyze the total concatenated dataset of 8769 bp. The results confirm that tribal classifications in Taeniapterinae are artificial and support the separation of Paragrallomyia Hendel and Taeniaptera sensu Ferro Marshall (2020).

Revision of Tomosvaryella Aczl (Diptera: Pipunculidae) in the Middle East, with description of 19 new species.

The genus Tomosvaryella Aczl, 1939 is revised from the Middle East. Fifty-nine species are recorded and 19 of these are new to science: T. acantha Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. ampliasa Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. anahitae Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. bistounensis Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. cyprusensis Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. ellipiensis Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. emaratensis Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. hamounensis Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. kiansiae Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. nimroozensis Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. oshidae Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. osteodes Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. saudiensis Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. soziana Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. spinula Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. subtransvaalensis Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. susa Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov., T. unicorna Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov. and T. yemenensis Motamedinia Skevington sp. nov. are described and illustrated based on sequence information from the mitochondrial COI barcoding gene and morphological parameters. DNA barcodes are provided for 37 of the 59 species. Descriptions of new species, diagnoses, distribution maps and an illustrated key for all species are provided.

Revision of the Afrotropical species of the hover fly genus Mesembrius Rondani (Diptera, Syrphidae) using morphological and molecular data.

The Afrotropical representatives of the hover fly genus Mesembrius Rondani, 1857 (Diptera) are divided into two subgenera, namely Mesembrius s.s. and Vadonimyia Séguy, 1951 and, in this present work, the subgenus Mesembrius s.s. is revised. A total of 23 Mesembrius s.s. species are recognised for the Afrotropics. Known species are re-described and six species new to science are described: Mesembrius arcuatus sp. nov., M. copelandi sp. nov., M. longipilosus sp. nov., M. sulcus sp. nov., M. tibialis sp. nov. and M. vockerothi sp. nov. Mesembrius africanus (Verrall, 1898) is considered a junior synonym of M. senegalensis (Macquart, 1842), M. ctenifer Hull, 1941 a junior synonym of M. caffer (Loew, 1858), M. lagopus (Loew, 1869) a junior synonym of M. capensis (Macquart, 1842) and M. platytarsis Curran, 1929 a junior synonym of M. simplicipes Curran, 1929. The females of Mesembrius chapini Curran, 1939, M. rex Curran, 1927 and M. regulus (Hull, 1937) are described for the first time. Lectotypes are designated for Mesembrius caffer, M. capensis, M. cyanipennis (Bezzi, 1915), M. minor (Bezzi, 1915), M. senegalensis, M. strigilatus (Bezzi, 1912) and M. tarsatus (Bigot, 1883). Separate identification keys for males and females are presented. We obtained 236 DNA barcodes for 18 species. The relationships amongst the different Mesembrius species are briefly discussed, based on morphological and DNA barcode data.

Revision of Eudorylas Aczél, 1940 (Diptera, Pipunculidae) in the Middle East, with the description of four new species.

BACKGROUND: The Middle Eastern species of Eudorylas Aczél, 1940 are revised through an integrative taxonomic approach by combining morphological and sequence data from the mitochondrial COI barcoding gene. Four new species of the genus Eudorylas are described, males and females of three species are associated, DNA sequence data of 11 Middle Eastern Eudorylas species are provided and 15 additional species are discussed. To facilitate their recognition, we provide diagnoses, descriptions, an identification key and distributional maps for all species. NEW INFORMATION: The following new species are described from the Middle East: E. avis Motamedinia & Skevington sp. n., E. bihamatus Motamedinia & Skevington sp. n., E. corniculans Motamedinia & Skevington sp. n., E. nasicus Motamedinia & Skevington sp. n.

Taxonomic revision of Dasydorylas Skevington, 2001 (Diptera, Pipunculidae) in the Middle East.

Species of the distinctive and cosmopolitan genus Dasydorylas Skevington, 2001 in the Middle East are revised. Seven species are documented, and three new species, Dasydorylas dactylos sp. nov., D. forcipus sp. nov. and D. parazardouei sp. nov., are described, and one synonym, D. derafshani Motamedinia & Kehlmaier, 2017, syn. nov. is proposed, based on sequence information from the mitochondrial COI barcoding gene and morphological parameters. Diagnoses, illustrations and distributional data are provided for all studied species. Descriptions of new species as well as an identification key to all known species in the Middle East are also provided.

Revision of the Neotropical hoverfly genus Peradon Reemer (Diptera, Syrphidae, Microdontinae).

The species of the Neotropical hoverfly genus Peradon Reemer, 2013 are revised, based on morphological characters with aid of mitochondrial DNA barcodes. The resulting number of valid species is increased to 31, of which the following seven are described as new: P. ballux Reemer, sp. nov., P. brevis Reemer, sp. nov., P. costaricensis Reemer, sp. nov., P. notialus Reemer, sp. nov., P. palpator Reemer, sp. nov., P. pompiloides Reemer, sp. nov., and P. surinamensis Reemer, sp. nov. Two new synonymies are established: Microdon langi Curran, 1925, syn. nov. and Microdon flavomarginatum Curran, 1925, syn. nov. are both junior synonyms of Mulio bidens Fabricius, 1805. A neotype is designated for Microdon diaphanus Sack, 1921. This neotype, which has been reared from an ant nest, also represents the first case of a larval record for this genus. In some species, most notably in P. bidens (Fabricius) and P. normalis (Curran), discrete and distinct colour morphs are recognized, with strongly differing colouration of wings and abdomen.

Revision of Claraeola (Diptera, Pipunculidae) in the Middle East based on morphology and DNA barcodes.

The Middle East species of Claraeola Aczél (Diptera, Pipunculidae) are revised based on morphological characteristics and sequence data from the mitochondrial COI barcoding gene, using a novel COI mini-barcode protocol. Four new Claraeola species are described: C. bousynterga Motamedinia & Skevington, sp. nov., C. heidiae Motamedinia & Skevington, sp. nov., C. khuzestanensis Motamedinia & Skevington, sp. nov., and C. mantisphalliga Motamedinia & Skevington, sp. nov. Eudorylas thekkadiensis Kapoor, Grewal & Sharma, 1987 is transferred to Claraeola, C. thekkadiensis (comb. nov.). Diagnoses, illustrations, an identification key, and a distributional map are given for the Middle East species.

Biogeography and systematics of endemic island damselflies: The Nesobasis and Melanesobasis (Odonata: Zygoptera) of Fiji.

The study of island fauna has greatly informed our understanding of the evolution of diversity. We here examine the phylogenetics, biogeography, and diversification of the damselfly genera Nesobasis and Melanesobasis, endemic to the Fiji Islands, to explore mechanisms of speciation in these highly speciose groups. Using mitochondrial (COI, 12S) and nuclear (ITS) replicons, we recovered garli-part maximum likelihood and mrbayes Bayesian phylogenetic hypotheses for 26 species of Nesobasis and eight species/subspecies of Melanesobasis. Biogeographical patterns were explored using lagrange and bayes-lagrange and interpreted through beast relaxed clock dating analyses. We found that Nesobasis and Melanesobasis have radiated throughout Fiji, but are not sister groups. For Nesobasis, while the two largest islands of the archipelago-Viti Levu and Vanua Levu-currently host two distinct species assemblages, they do not represent phylogenetic clades; of the three major groupings each contains some Viti Levu and some Vanua Levu species, suggesting independent colonization events across the archipelago. Our beast analysis suggests a high level of species diversification around 2-6 Ma. Our ancestral area reconstruction (rasp-lagrange) suggests that both dispersal and vicariance events contributed to the evolution of diversity. We thus conclude that the evolutionary history of Nesobasis and Melanesobasis is complex; while inter-island dispersal followed by speciation (i.e., peripatry) has contributed to diversity, speciation within islands appears to have taken place a number of times as well. This speciation has taken place relatively recently and appears to be driven more by reproductive isolation than by ecological differentiation: while species in Nesobasis are morphologically distinct from one another, they are ecologically very similar, and currently are found to exist sympatrically throughout the islands on which they are distributed. We consider the potential for allopatric speciation within islands, as well as the influence of parasitic endosymbionts, to explain the high rates of speciation in these damselflies.

Anchored enrichment dataset for true flies (order Diptera) reveals insights into the phylogeny of flower flies (family Syrphidae).

BACKGROUND: Anchored hybrid enrichment is a form of next-generation sequencing that uses oligonucleotide probes to target conserved regions of the genome flanked by less conserved regions in order to acquire data useful for phylogenetic inference from a broad range of taxa. Once a probe kit is developed, anchored hybrid enrichment is superior to traditional PCR-based Sanger sequencing in terms of both the amount of genomic data that can be recovered and effective cost. Due to their incredibly diverse nature, importance as pollinators, and historical instability with regard to subfamilial and tribal classification, Syrphidae (flower flies or hoverflies) are an ideal candidate for anchored hybrid enrichment-based phylogenetics, especially since recent molecular phylogenies of the syrphids using only a few markers have resulted in highly unresolved topologies. Over 6200 syrphids are currently known and uncovering their phylogeny will help us to understand how these species have diversified, providing insight into an array of ecological processes, from the development of adult mimicry, the origin of adult migration, to pollination patterns and the evolution of larval resource utilization. RESULTS: We present the first use of anchored hybrid enrichment in insect phylogenetics on a dataset containing 30 flower fly species from across all four subfamilies and 11 tribes out of 15. To produce a phylogenetic hypothesis, 559 loci were sampled to produce a final dataset containing 217,702 sites. We recovered a well resolved topology with bootstrap support values that were almost universally >95 %. The subfamily Eristalinae is recovered as paraphyletic, with the strongest support for this hypothesis to date. The ant predators in the Microdontinae are sister to all other syrphids. Syrphinae and Pipizinae are monophyletic and sister to each other. Larval predation on soft-bodied hemipterans evolved only once in this family. CONCLUSIONS: Anchored hybrid enrichment was successful in producing a robustly supported phylogenetic hypothesis for the syrphids. Subfamilial reconstruction is concordant with recent phylogenetic hypotheses, but with much higher support values. With the newly designed probe kit this analysis could be rapidly expanded with further sampling, opening the door to more comprehensive analyses targeting problem areas in syrphid phylogenetics and ecology.

A phylogenetic analysis of relationships among genera of Conopidae (Diptera) based on molecular and morphological data.

Members of the family Conopidae (Diptera) have been the focus of little targeted phylogenetic research. The most comprehensive test of phylogenetic support for the present subfamily classification of Conopidae is presented here using 66 specimens, including 59 species of Conopidae and seven outgroup taxa. Relationships among subfamily clades are also explored. A total of 6824 bp of DNA sequence data from five gene regions (12S ribosomal DNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, cytochrome b, 28S ribosomal DNA and alanyl-tRNA synthetase) are combined with 111 morphological characters in a combined analysis using both parsimony and Bayesian methods. Parsimony analysis recovers three shortest trees. Bayesian analysis recovers a nearly identical tree. Five monophyletic subfamilies of Conopidae are recovered. The rarely acknowledged Zodioninae is restored, including the genera Zodion and Parazodion. The genus Sicus is removed from Myopinae. Morphological synapomorphies are discussed for each subfamily and inter-subfamily clade, including a comprehensive review of the character interpretaions of previous authors. Included are detailed comparative illustrations of male and female genitalia of representatives of all five subfamilies with new morphological interpretation.

Self-repair in a bidirectionally coupled astrocyte-neuron (AN) system based on retrograde signaling.

In this paper we demonstrate that retrograde signaling via astrocytes may underpin self-repair in the brain. Faults manifest themselves in silent or near silent neurons caused by low transmission probability (PR) synapses; the enhancement of the transmission PR of a healthy neighboring synapse by retrograde signaling can enhance the transmission PR of the "faulty" synapse (repair). Our model of self-repair is based on recent research showing that retrograde signaling via astrocytes can increase the PR of neurotransmitter release at damaged or low transmission PR synapses. The model demonstrates that astrocytes are capable of bidirectional communication with neurons which leads to modulation of synaptic activity, and that indirect signaling through retrograde messengers such as endocannabinoids leads to modulation of synaptic transmission PR. Although our model operates at the level of cells, it provides a new research direction on brain-like self-repair which can be extended to networks of astrocytes and neurons. It also provides a biologically inspired basis for developing highly adaptive, distributed computing systems that can, at fine levels of granularity, fault detect, diagnose and self-repair autonomously, without the traditional constraint of a central fault detect/repair unit.

Species boundaries and host range of tortoise mites (Uropodoidea) phoretic on bark beetles (Scolytinae), using morphometric and molecular markers.

Understanding the ecology and evolutionary history of symbionts and their hosts requires accurate taxonomic knowledge, including clear species boundaries and phylogenies. Tortoise mites (Mesostigmata: Uropodoidea) are among the most diverse arthropod associates of bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae), but their taxonomy and host associations are largely unstudied. We tested the hypotheses that (1) morphologically defined species are supported by molecular data, and that (2) bark beetle uropodoids with a broad host range comprise cryptic species. To do so, we assessed the species boundaries of uropodoid mites collected from 51 host species, across 11 countries and 103 sites, using morphometric data as well as partial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S). Overall, morphologically defined species were confirmed by molecular datasets, with a few exceptions. Twenty-nine of the 36 uropodoid species (Trichouropoda, Nenteria and Uroobovella) collected in this study had narrow host ranges, while seven species had putative broad host ranges. In all but one species, U. orri, our data supported the existence of these host generalists, which contrasts with the typical finding that widespread generalists are actually complexes of cryptic specialists.

Cryptic species of mites (Uropodoidea: Uroobovella spp.) associated with burying beetles (Silphidae: Nicrophorus): the collapse of a host generalist revealed by molecular and morphological analyses.

Uroobovella (Mesostigmata: Uropodoidea: Urodinychidae) species are among the most common mites associated with carrion-feeding Nicrophorus (Silphidae) beetles. Previous taxonomic understanding suggests that a single host generalist, U. nova, disperses and lives with Nicrophorus species worldwide (reported from at least seven host species). Using morphometrics and morphological characteristics, as well as partial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and the entire internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) markers, we tested whether this apparent generalist is truly a generalist or rather a complex of cryptic species with narrower host ranges. Based on deutonymph mites collected from 14 host species across six countries and 17 provinces or states, we show that U. nova represents at least five morphologically similar species with relatively restricted host ranges. Except for one species which yielded no molecular data (but did exhibit morphological differences), both molecular and morphological datasets were congruent in delimiting species boundaries. Moreover, comparing the mite phylogeny with the known ecology and phylogenetic relationships of their host species suggests that these mites are coevolving with their silphid hosts rather than tracking ecologically similar species.

Band-cutting no more: A method for the isolation and purification of target PCR bands from multiplex PCR products using new technology.

A procedure for the isolation of target PCR bands from multiplex PCR products using the E-Gel iBase Power System, an E-Gel Safe Imager Real-Time Transilluminator, and E-Gel CloneWell 0.8% SYBR Safe agarose cassettes is presented. The collected isolates are suitable for direct use in sequencing reactions without need of further purification. Reductions in time spent per sample and cost per sequence produced compared to traditional "band-cutting" methods are demonstrated. An added benefit is that the new procedure does not require exposure to ethidium bromide or ultraviolet radiation.