RESUMO
Latin American and the Caribbean regions (LAC) harbor one of the most biodiverse areas of the world, the Neotropics. True bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) are a diverse lineage of insects, with more than 45,000 species, particularly speciose in the Neotropical region. True bugs are fundamental in the dynamics of natural and modified ecosystems, with several species critical to agriculture and public health. We compiled Heteroptera research in LAC from 1998-2022 using bibliographic databases. Productivity, collaborative networks, and the main topics studied were analyzed. A total of 1,651 Heteroptera studies from LAC were found, with continuous growth being 2021 the most prolific. Four categories (Taxonomy of extant species, Faunistic inventories and new records, Pest species biology, and Community ecology) represent most of the published research. About 60 percent of the records evaluated correspond to five families (Pentatomidae, Reduviidae, Coreidae, Miridae, and Rhyparochromidae). We emphasize the need to keep working on Heteroptera taxonomy because it will allow further advances in other areas such as phylogenetic analyses, biogeography, ecology, and natural history, among others. The results of our analyses characterize the current state of heteropterology in the region, establishing a baseline for future studies and efforts to broaden the knowledge of the group.
Assuntos
Heterópteros , América Latina , Animais , Região do Caribe , Heterópteros/classificação , Pesquisa/tendências , Pesquisa/classificação , BibliometriaRESUMO
Stink bugs (Pentatomidae) are a speciose group of insects that feed mostly on plants. Many species are considered agricultural pests of economically important crops around the globe. Mitochondrial genomes are valuable for evolutionary and phylogenetic studies, but have been little explored for Pentatomidae. Here, we characterized the mitochondrial genomes of four pentatomid species (Diceraeus melacanthus, Euschistus heros, Piezodorus guildinii, and Stiretrus anchorago) and performed a comparative analysis for this family and its subfamilies. Stink bug mitogenomes disclosed a conserved gene order and content, although we detected two uncommon armless tRNAs in E. heros and D. melacanthus. Phylogenetic results indicate that Pentatominae is polyphyletic, showing that internal relationships of Pentatomidae should be further investigated. Stink bug mitochondrial genes are under strong purifying selection, except for ATP8 which showed signs of positive selection.
Assuntos
Genoma Mitocondrial , Hemípteros , Heterópteros , Animais , Hemípteros/genética , Heterópteros/genética , FilogeniaRESUMO
'We advise the authors to find a native English speaker to proofread the manuscript'. This is a standard feedback journals give to non-native English speakers. Journals are justifiably concerned with grammar but do not show the same rigour about another step crucial to biological research: specimen identification. Surveying the author guidelines of 100 journals, we found that only 6% of them request explicitly citation of the literature used in specimen identification. Authors hamper readers from contesting specimen identification whenever vouchers, identification methods, and taxon concepts are not provided. However, unclear taxonomic procedures violate the basic scientific principle of reproducibility. The scientific community must continuously look for practical alternatives to improve taxonomic identification and taxonomic verification. We argue that voucher pictures are an accessible, cheap and time-effective alternative to mitigate (not abolish) bad taxonomy by exposing preventable misidentifications. Voucher pictures allow scientists to judge specimen identification actively, based on available data. The popularization of high-quality image devices, photo-identification technologies and computer vision algorithms yield accurate scientific photo-documentation, improving taxonomic procedures. Taxonomy is timeless, transversal and essential to most scientific disciplines in biological sciences. It is time to demand rigour in taxonomic identifications.
Assuntos
Reprodutibilidade dos TestesRESUMO
The Carpocorini are distributed worldwide, and it is one of the most speciose tribes within the Pentatomidae with 127 genera and more than 500 valid species. Recently, Adustonotus Bianchi was described to contain eight species formerly placed within Euschistus Dallas. Among them, Adustonotus grandis (Rolston) and Adustonotus latus (Dallas) are remarkable for their large size. Herein, the phylogenetic position of a new taxon is inferred by a total evidence analysis based on 85 morphological characters and four molecular markers. Adustonotus graziae sp. nov. is described, and is recovered in a polytomic lineage, including A. grandis and A. latus. These species share a solid combination of features that enable them to be separated from the other Adustonotus species (e.g., large size, the humeral angles spatulate and exceptionally produced, and the capsula seminalis shortened). Illustrations of external and internal genitalia, and a distributional map are provided.
Assuntos
Heterópteros , Animais , Genitália , Hemípteros , Heterópteros/classificação , FilogeniaRESUMO
Accurate taxonomic identifications and species delimitations are a fundamental problem in biology. The complex taxonomy of Nematoda is primarily based on morphology, which is often dubious. DNA barcoding emerged as a handy tool to identify specimens and assess diversity, but its applications in Nematoda are incipient. We evaluated cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) efficiency as a DNA barcode for nematodes scrutinising 5241 sequences retrieved from BOLD and GenBank. The samples included genera with medical, agricultural, or ecological relevance: Anguillicola, Caenorhabditis, Heterodera, Meloidogyne, Onchocerca, Strongyloides, and Trichinella. We assessed cox1 performance through barcode gap and Probability of Correct Identification (PCI) analyses, and estimated species richness through Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD). Each genus presented distinct gap ranges, mirroring the evolutionary diversity within Nematoda. Thus, to survey the diversity of the phylum, a careful definition of thresholds for lower taxonomic levels should be considered. PCIs were around 70% for both databases, highlighting operational biases and challenges in nematode taxonomy. ABGD inferred higher richness than the taxonomic labels informed by databases. The prevalence of specimen misidentifications and dubious species delimitations emphasise the value of integrative approaches to nematode taxonomy and systematics. Overall, cox1 is a relevant tool for integrative taxonomy of nematodes.
Assuntos
Código de Barras de DNA Taxonômico , Complexo IV da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons , Nematoides , Animais , DNA de Helmintos , Complexo IV da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/genética , Nematoides/genética , FilogeniaRESUMO
The genus Euschistus Dallas includes 67 species restricted to the New World, and several species are registered on cultivated plants in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. In South America, most Euschistus species are completely overlooked due to the lack of information to allow accurate identification. Here, we redescribed Euschistus taurulus Berg, including for the first time, characterization of the internal and external genitalia of both sexes. We also report original information on bionomics, review and update information on geographical distribution and host plants records. Additionally, we provide DNA barcoding sequences for E. taurulus and three other morphologically similar key-agriculture pest species in South America: Euschistus heros (Fabricius), Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas), and Dichelops furcatus (Fabricius). We discuss means for correct identification of E. taurulus and its phylogenetic position within Euschistus and other similar stink bugs; the potential economic importance of the E. taurulus is also addressed.
Assuntos
Heterópteros , Agricultura , Animais , Feminino , Masculino , Filogenia , América do SulRESUMO
Euschistus Dallas is comprised of 66 species in three subgenera. Species of the nominate subgenus occur mainly in Central and North America. Some groups of species have been proposed to Euschistus (Euschistus) based on general external and male genitalic morphologies. Here, we review the sulcacitus group providing illustrations and descriptions of the internal and external genitalia of both sexes, illustrating females for the first time. A new species, Euschistus (Euschistus) tacitus sp. nov. Bianchi & Grazia, from Mexico and Costa Rica is described. We also provide an identification key to species of the group.
Assuntos
Heterópteros , Animais , Costa Rica , Feminino , Genitália Feminina , Masculino , México , América do NorteRESUMO
Three new species of the Carpocorini are described: Euschistus (Euschistus) baranowskii Eger & Bianchi sp. nov. from Jamaica, Euschistus (Mitripus) saramagoi Bianchi, Cioato & Grazia sp. nov. from Brazil, and Ladeaschistus borgesi Bianchi, Cioato & Grazia sp. nov. from Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. Comparative illustrations of external and internal genitalia of the species are provided.
Assuntos
Heterópteros/classificação , Distribuição Animal , Estruturas Animais/anatomia & histologia , Estruturas Animais/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Argentina , Tamanho Corporal , Bolívia , Brasil , Feminino , Heterópteros/anatomia & histologia , Heterópteros/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Jamaica , Masculino , Tamanho do ÓrgãoRESUMO
Contributions to the knowledge of Banasa Stål (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomidae): Banasa chaca Thomas. The male of Banasa chaca Thomas is described with emphasis on external and internal genitalia and the female internal genitalia is described. Banasa chaca is newly recorded from Buenos Aires Province (Argentina).
Contribuições ao conhecimento de Banasa Stål (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae): Banasa chaca Thomas. O macho de Banasa chaca Thomas é descrito com ênfase na genitália externa e interna, também é descrita a genitália interna da fêmea. Banasa chaca é registrada pela primeira vez na província de Buenos Aires (Argentina).