The intraspecific morphological variability of Styloperla Wu, 1935 (Plecoptera: Styloperlidae).

Intraspecific morphological variability of four Styloperla Wu, 1935 species are described and discussed in this paper. The males of each species have variable specializations present at their basal cercal process, including the variable number of branches or differing degrees of curvature at the apical spines. A generalization on the species definition of Plecoptera, especially a new concept of conspecificity is also provided herein.

The First Study of Mating Mistakes in Stoneflies (Plecoptera) from China, with Remarks on Their Biological Implications.

Currently, information on the biology of Plecoptera from China is scarce, particularly on mating behavior. In this paper, the existence of mating mistakes (erroneous mating attempts) involving 13 Chinese stonefly species (belonging to nine genera and three families) is reported. These erroneous mating behaviors can be included into three different categories: mating attempts between conspecific males (including the formation of erroneous mating balls), mating attempts between different taxa (including displacement attempts during copulation), and mating-related behaviors with non-living objects. From these behaviors, some aspects of stoneflies during mating, such as the physical competition between males, the sensorial mechanisms implied in triggering a mating behavior, the conditions favoring the mating mistakes, and the possible consequences of interspecific mating in the hybrid production, are discussed.

New Synonym and New Species Record of Filchneria (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) from China with a Morphological, Phylogenetic and Biogeographic Study on This Genus.

The type species of Filchneria Klapálek, 1908, F. mongolica (Klapálek, 1901), is based on a single female collected from Mongolia, but it was considered the same as another species, F. songi from Qinling, China, when the genus Filchneria was proposed. This study narrates the story of these two species, which have been confused for a century. Until now, the distribution of F. mongolica has been confirmed only in Mongolia and Russia, and we recently recorded it for the first time in Inner Mongolia as a new species record in China. Additionally, the genus Sinoperlodes is a junior synonym of Filchneria, as demonstrated by both the morphological and molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analysis based on the subfamily Perlodinae is provided, along with morphological and biogeographic comparisons of Filchneria and its relatives.

A new species of Rhopalopsole Klaplek, 1912 with preliminary female identifications in this genus.

Although some females of Plecoptera are described in taxonomic literature, they are difficult to morphologically distinguish among regional congeners, and identifications are often made through inference only. Therefore, females of many species are unknown and it is often difficult to match males and females correctly. Recently, we reviewed the specimens of the genus Rhopalopsole Klaplek, 1912 that we collected and found that differentiation between female subgenital plates is significant and very helpful for the identification of species. A new species of this genus from Sichuan Province, Rhopalopsole singiplatta Yang Du, sp. nov., is established based on morphological and molecular data. In addition, we used modern tree- and genetic distance-based phylogenetic methods to positively associate females with males for six species in total.

Comparative Mitogenome Analyses of Subgenera and Species Groups in Epeorus (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae).

Epeorus Eaton, 1881 is a diverse mayfly genus in Heptageniidae comprising more than 100 species which are further divided into nine subgenera and several species groups. However, the classification and the phylogenetic relationships among them are still uncertain. Here, 15 complete mitochondrial genomes of Epeorus were sequenced and compared together with six available ones of same genus in the NCBI database. Based on morphological classification, the 21 mitogenomes were classified into six subgenera (Proepeorus, Epeorus s.str., Belovius, Iron, Caucasiron and Siniron) and four species groups (G1, G2, montanus and longimanus). Among all analyzed mitogenomes, the gene rearrangement of trnI-trnM-trnQ-NCR-ND2 was first found occurring in three species of group G1, whereas the gene block trnI-trnM-trnQ-trnM-ND2 was observed in all other mitogenomes of Epeorus. Furthermore, the genetic composition and codon usage of species in group G1 were also significantly different from all other Epeorus species, except group longimanus. The intergenic spacer between trnA and trnR, which has the stem-loop secondary structure, occurred in all 21 mitogenomes, and the sequences of stems and loops were conserved within species groups. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analyses strongly support the monophyly of all species groups, although three of six recognized subgenera Proepeorus, Belovius, and Iron, were shown as the non-monophyletic groups.

Revision of two species of Sinopotamon Bott, 1967 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Potamidae) endemic to China: a new combination and a new synonym.

The systematics of two problematic potamid species, Sinopotamonkoatenense (Rathbun, 1904) and Sinopotamonwuyiensis Li, Lin, Cheng & Tang, 1985, both originally described from the Wuyi Mountains are resolved in this study. Sinopotamonkoatenense is transferred to the genus Huananpotamon Dai & Ng, 1994, as the new combination Huananpotamonkoatenense comb. nov. The new combination differs from its congeners in the form of the carapace, male pleon, male first gonopod, and vulvae. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences support the identification of Huananpotamonkoatenense comb. nov. and a redescription is also provided. In addition, S.wuyiensis is confirmed as a junior synonym of Sinopotamonfukienense Dai & Chen, 1979 based on morphological similarities and phylogenetic lineages.

A review of Leuctridae (Insecta, Plecoptera) in Wuyi Mountains, China.

Background: Wuyi Mountains are located in the northern Oriental Region and the edge of the southern Palaearctic Region. They have a unique geographical location, complex landform and superior climatic conditions, providing a good ecological environment for Leuctridae species. However, due to the damage of some holotypes in the 20th century, limited drawings and lack of colour figures, it is necessary to reorganise and supplement the preserved Leuctridae specimens from Wuyi Mountains. New information: In this study, we found that there are twelve species of Leuctridae recorded in Wuyi Mountains, accounting for about 20% of the recorded species of Leuctridae in China. These records include two genera and five new distribution records species: one species of the genus Paraleuctra Hanson, 1941: Paraleuctraorientalis (Chu 1928) and eleven species of the genus Rhopalopsole Klapálek, 1912, including five new distribution records to Wuyi Mountains: Rhopalopsolefengyangshanensis Yang, Shi & Li, 2009; Rhopalopsolesinensis Yang & Yang, 1993; Rhopalopsoleyangdingi Sivec & Harper, 2008; Rhopalopsoleflata Yang & Yang, 1995; Rhopalopsolebasinigra Yang & Yang, 1995. Now a total of twelve species of Leuctridae have been recorded from Wuyi Mountains, Fujian Province of south-eastern China. In this paper, we also provide a key to the male, new images and some notes of these twelve species, except Rhopalopsolerecurvispina (Wu, 1949) and Rhopalopsolespiniplatta (Wu, 1949). We failed to collect these two species and we regard R.recurvispina as a nomen dubium, because there are no distinctive features that can be used to distinguish this species.

Taxonomic study on the genus Stenochironomus Kieffer from the Baishanzu Nature Reserve, China (Diptera, Chironomidae).

During the summer of July to September 2020, a biodiversity survey on Chironomidae of Baishanzu Nature Reserve, China was made. In total, five Stenochironomus taxa/species were discovered, of which two belong to undescribed species and one (S.okialbus Sasa, 1990) is reported for the first time from China. The male adults of two new species are described and illustrated. Stenochironomusannulus Song & Qi sp. nov. is distinguished in having a wing with two dark spots restricted to the fork area of FCu and RM, the mid- and hind-femur each with a brown annulus, and the inferior volsella with two setae and one strong terminal spine. Stenochironomusbaishanzuensis Song & Qi sp. nov. is distinguished by a combination of characters: a single dark spot on the middle part of the wing, fore legs brown to dark brown except for the basal 3/4 of femur, and the inferior volsella with four long setae and one stout terminal spine. The neighbour-joining tree based on public COI barcodes formed distinct clades with clear support for the new species. An updated key to known male adults of Stenochironomus from China is also provided.

Review of Kamimuria (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, China, with notes on the morphological variability of K. tienmushanensis Wu, 1938.

Two poorly known species of Kamimuria Klapálek, 1907, K. simplex (Chu, 1929) and K. tienmushanensis Wu, 1938, are redescribed and newly recorded for Mt. Wuyi, Fujian. Kamimuria cheni Wu, 1948 and K. crassispina Wu, 1948 are removed from the species list of Fujian. The morphological variability of K. tienmushanensis from different locations is also discussed in this paper.

On the genus Polypedilum, subgenus Collartomyia, with description of P. (Col.) baishanzuensis sp. nov. from Baishanzu Nature Reserve, China (Diptera, Chironomidae).

A new species of the genus Polypedilum Kieffer, 1912 is described from Baishanzu Nature Reserve, China, based on molecular and morphological data. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on standard barcode sequences confirmed a new clade of Polypedilum (Collartomyia) species. The new species is easily distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: membrane of wing with a large spot occupying 70% of the proximal area; tergite without dark brown band pigmentation; tarsi I-V dark brown; superior volsella with three outer lateral setae and six long setae along inner base; inferior volsella with setose tubercules. An updated key to adult males of the subgenus Collartomyia is also provided.

New illustrations, new species and new combination of Hemacroneuria Enderlein (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from China.

Hemacroneuria violacea Enderlein, 1909 is discovered and re-described from four provinces of southern China. A similar new species of Hemacroneuria from the Nanling Mountains is proposed. Meanwhile, Brahmana flavomarginata Wu, 1962 is transferred into Hemacroneuria, and the status of Kiotina spatulata Wu, 1948 is discussed in this paper.

Notes on Neoperla sinensis Chu, 1928 and Neoperla anjiensis Yang amp; Yang, 1998, with descriptions of new species of Neoperla from China (Plecoptera: Perlidae).

The identity of Neoperla sinensis Chu, 1928 is confirmed in this paper. Two new species of Neoperla, N. huangshana Huo, Du Zhu, sp. nov. and N. pangi Huo, Du Zhu, sp. nov. are proposed from Anhui Province, southeast China, closely related to N. sinensis. Neoperla anjiensis Yang Yang, 1998 is newly recorded in Anhui Province.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Callionymus olidus (Perciformes Callionymidae).

In this study, we present the complete mitogenome and a phylogenetic analysis of Callionymus olidus, determined by long PCR and primer walking methods. The complete mitochondrial genome is a circular molecule of 16,491 bp in length and contains the same set of 37 mitochondrial genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA)), and a control region as other bony fishes. The base composition of the entire mitogenome showed a slight excess of AT bias. The entire mitogenome data produced in this study provides the genomic resources available for future evolutionary studies.

Synergetic approach for simple and rapid conjugation of gold nanoparticles with oligonucleotides.

Attaching thiolated DNA on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been extremely important in nanobiotechnology because DNA-AuNPs combine the programmability and molecular recognition properties of the biopolymers with the optical, thermal, and catalytic properties of the inorganic nanomaterials. However, current standard protocols to attach thiolated DNA on AuNPs involve time-consuming, tedious steps and do not perform well for large AuNPs, thereby greatly restricting applications of DNA-AuNPs. Here we demonstrate a rapid and facile strategy to attach thiolated DNA on AuNPs based on the excellent stabilization effect of mPEG-SH on AuNPs. AuNPs are first protected by mPEG-SH in the presence of Tween 20, which results in excellent stability of AuNPs in high ionic strength environments and extreme pHs. A high concentration of NaCl can be applied to the mixture of DNA and AuNP directly, allowing highly efficient DNA attachment to the AuNP surface by minimizing electrostatic repulsion. The entire DNA loading process can be completed in 1.5 h with only a few simple steps. DNA-loaded AuNPs are stable for more than 2 weeks at room temperature, and they can precisely hybridize with the complementary sequence, which was applied to prepare core-satellite nanostructures. Moreover, cytotoxicity assay confirmed that the DNA-AuNPs synthesized by this method exhibit lower cytotoxicity than those prepared by current standard methods. The proposed method provides a new way to stabilize AuNPs for rapid and facile loading thiolated DNA on AuNPs and will find wide applications in many areas requiring DNA-AuNPs, including diagnosis, therapy, and imaging.