Stick Insects: Parthenogenesis, Polyploidy and Beyond
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Insecta: Phasmatodea) and Their Phylogeny
insects Article Three Complete Mitochondrial Genomes of Orestes guangxiensis, Peruphasma schultei, and Phryganistria guangxiensis (Insecta: Phasmatodea) and Their Phylogeny Ke-Ke Xu 1, Qing-Ping Chen 1, Sam Pedro Galilee Ayivi 1 , Jia-Yin Guan 1, Kenneth B. Storey 2, Dan-Na Yu 1,3 and Jia-Yong Zhang 1,3,* 1 College of Chemistry and Life Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; [email protected] (K.-K.X.); [email protected] (Q.-P.C.); [email protected] (S.P.G.A.); [email protected] (J.-Y.G.); [email protected] (D.-N.Y.) 2 Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada; [email protected] 3 Key Lab of Wildlife Biotechnology, Conservation and Utilization of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China * Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] Simple Summary: Twenty-seven complete mitochondrial genomes of Phasmatodea have been published in the NCBI. To shed light on the intra-ordinal and inter-ordinal relationships among Phas- matodea, more mitochondrial genomes of stick insects are used to explore mitogenome structures and clarify the disputes regarding the phylogenetic relationships among Phasmatodea. We sequence and annotate the first acquired complete mitochondrial genome from the family Pseudophasmati- dae (Peruphasma schultei), the first reported mitochondrial genome from the genus Phryganistria Citation: Xu, K.-K.; Chen, Q.-P.; Ayivi, of Phasmatidae (P. guangxiensis), and the complete mitochondrial genome of Orestes guangxiensis S.P.G.; Guan, J.-Y.; Storey, K.B.; Yu, belonging to the family Heteropterygidae. We analyze the gene composition and the structure D.-N.; Zhang, J.-Y. -
Insects, Beetles, Bugs and Slugs of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve
Insects, beetles, bugs and slugs of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve Compiled by: Michael Fox www.megoutlook.org/flora-fauna/ © 2015-20 Creative Commons – free use with attribution to Mt Gravatt Environment Group Ants Dolichoderinae Iridomyrmex sp. Small Meat Ant Attendant “Kropotkin” ants with caterpillar of Imperial Hairstreak butterfly. Ants provide protection in return for sugary fluids secreted by the caterpillar. Note the strong jaws. These ants don’t sting but can give a powerful bite. Kropotkin is a reference to Russian biologist Peter Kropotkin who proposed a concept of evolution based on “mutual aid” helping species from ants to higher mammals survive. 4-Nov-20 Insects Beetles and Bugs - ver 5.9.docx Page 1 of 59 Mt Gravatt Environment Group – www.megoutlook.wordpress.com Insects, beetles, bugs and slugs of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve Formicinae Opisthopsis rufithorax Black-headed Strobe Ant Formicinae Camponotus consobrinus Banded Sugar Ant Size 10mm Eggs in rotting log 4-Nov-20 Insects Beetles and Bugs - ver 5.9.docx Page 2 of 59 Mt Gravatt Environment Group – www.megoutlook.wordpress.com Insects, beetles, bugs and slugs of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve Formicinae Camponotus nigriceps Black-headed Sugar Ant 4-Nov-20 Insects Beetles and Bugs - ver 5.9.docx Page 3 of 59 Mt Gravatt Environment Group – www.megoutlook.wordpress.com Insects, beetles, bugs and slugs of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve Formicinae Polyrhachis ammon Golden-tailed Spiny Ant Large spines at rear of thorax Nest 4-Nov-20 Insects Beetles and Bugs - ver 5.9.docx Page 4 of 59 Mt Gravatt Environment Group – www.megoutlook.wordpress.com Insects, beetles, bugs and slugs of Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve Formicinae Polyrhachis australis Rattle Ant Black Weaver Ant or Dome-backed Spiny Ant Feeding on sugar secretions produced by Redgum Lerp Psyllid. -
Phasmida (Stick and Leaf Insects)
● Phasmida (Stick and leaf insects) Class Insecta Order Phasmida Number of families 8 Photo: A leaf insect (Phyllium bioculatum) in Japan. (Photo by ©Ron Austing/Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced by permission.) Evolution and systematics Anareolatae. The Timematodea has only one family, the The oldest fossil specimens of Phasmida date to the Tri- Timematidae (1 genus, 21 species). These small stick insects assic period—as long ago as 225 million years. Relatively few are not typical phasmids, having the ability to jump, unlike fossil species have been found, and they include doubtful almost all other species in the order. It is questionable whether records. Occasionally a puzzle to entomologists, the Phasmida they are indeed phasmids, and phylogenetic research is not (whose name derives from a Greek word meaning “appari- conclusive. Studies relating to phylogeny are scarce and lim- tion”) comprise stick and leaf insects, generally accepted as ited in scope. The eggs of each phasmid are distinctive and orthopteroid insects. Other alternatives have been proposed, are important in classification of these insects. however. There are about 3,000 species of phasmids, although in this understudied order this number probably includes about 30% as yet unidentified synonyms (repeated descrip- Physical characteristics tions). Numerous species still await formal description. Stick insects range in length from Timema cristinae at 0.46 in (11.6 mm) to Phobaeticus kirbyi at 12.9 in (328 mm), or 21.5 Extant species usually are divided into eight families, in (546 mm) with legs outstretched. Numerous phasmid “gi- though some researchers cite just two, based on a reluctance ants” easily rank as the world’s longest insects. -
About the Book the Format Acknowledgments
About the Book For more than ten years I have been working on a book on bryophyte ecology and was joined by Heinjo During, who has been very helpful in critiquing multiple versions of the chapters. But as the book progressed, the field of bryophyte ecology progressed faster. No chapter ever seemed to stay finished, hence the decision to publish online. Furthermore, rather than being a textbook, it is evolving into an encyclopedia that would be at least three volumes. Having reached the age when I could retire whenever I wanted to, I no longer needed be so concerned with the publish or perish paradigm. In keeping with the sharing nature of bryologists, and the need to educate the non-bryologists about the nature and role of bryophytes in the ecosystem, it seemed my personal goals could best be accomplished by publishing online. This has several advantages for me. I can choose the format I want, I can include lots of color images, and I can post chapters or parts of chapters as I complete them and update later if I find it important. Throughout the book I have posed questions. I have even attempt to offer hypotheses for many of these. It is my hope that these questions and hypotheses will inspire students of all ages to attempt to answer these. Some are simple and could even be done by elementary school children. Others are suitable for undergraduate projects. And some will take lifelong work or a large team of researchers around the world. Have fun with them! The Format The decision to publish Bryophyte Ecology as an ebook occurred after I had a publisher, and I am sure I have not thought of all the complexities of publishing as I complete things, rather than in the order of the planned organization. -
ARTHROPODA Subphylum Hexapoda Protura, Springtails, Diplura, and Insects
NINE Phylum ARTHROPODA SUBPHYLUM HEXAPODA Protura, springtails, Diplura, and insects ROD P. MACFARLANE, PETER A. MADDISON, IAN G. ANDREW, JOCELYN A. BERRY, PETER M. JOHNS, ROBERT J. B. HOARE, MARIE-CLAUDE LARIVIÈRE, PENELOPE GREENSLADE, ROSA C. HENDERSON, COURTenaY N. SMITHERS, RicarDO L. PALMA, JOHN B. WARD, ROBERT L. C. PILGRIM, DaVID R. TOWNS, IAN McLELLAN, DAVID A. J. TEULON, TERRY R. HITCHINGS, VICTOR F. EASTOP, NICHOLAS A. MARTIN, MURRAY J. FLETCHER, MARLON A. W. STUFKENS, PAMELA J. DALE, Daniel BURCKHARDT, THOMAS R. BUCKLEY, STEVEN A. TREWICK defining feature of the Hexapoda, as the name suggests, is six legs. Also, the body comprises a head, thorax, and abdomen. The number A of abdominal segments varies, however; there are only six in the Collembola (springtails), 9–12 in the Protura, and 10 in the Diplura, whereas in all other hexapods there are strictly 11. Insects are now regarded as comprising only those hexapods with 11 abdominal segments. Whereas crustaceans are the dominant group of arthropods in the sea, hexapods prevail on land, in numbers and biomass. Altogether, the Hexapoda constitutes the most diverse group of animals – the estimated number of described species worldwide is just over 900,000, with the beetles (order Coleoptera) comprising more than a third of these. Today, the Hexapoda is considered to contain four classes – the Insecta, and the Protura, Collembola, and Diplura. The latter three classes were formerly allied with the insect orders Archaeognatha (jumping bristletails) and Thysanura (silverfish) as the insect subclass Apterygota (‘wingless’). The Apterygota is now regarded as an artificial assemblage (Bitsch & Bitsch 2000). -
Rare Parthenogenic Reproduction in a Common Reef Coral, Porites Astreoides Alicia A
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by NSU Works Nova Southeastern University NSUWorks HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations HCNSO Student Work 1-26-2018 Rare Parthenogenic Reproduction in a Common Reef Coral, Porites astreoides Alicia A. Vollmer [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd Part of the Marine Biology Commons, and the Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons Share Feedback About This Item NSUWorks Citation Alicia A. Vollmer. 2018. Rare Parthenogenic Reproduction in a Common Reef Coral, Porites astreoides. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (464) https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/464. This Thesis is brought to you by the HCNSO Student Work at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thesis of Alicia A. Vollmer Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science M.S. Marine Biology M.S. Coastal Zone Management Nova Southeastern University Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography January 2018 Approved: Thesis Committee Major Professor: Nicole Fogarty Committee Member: Joana Figueiredo Committee Member: Xaymara Serrano This thesis is available at NSUWorks: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/464 HALMOS COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND OCEANOGRAPHY RARE PARTHENOGENIC REPRODUCTION IN A COMMON REEF CORAL, PORITES ASTREOIDES By Alicia A. Vollmer Submitted to the Faculty of Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science with a specialty in: Marine Biology and Coastal Zone Management Nova Southeastern University January 26, 2018 Thesis of Alicia A. -
Analysis of the Stick Insect (Clitarchus Hookeri) Genome Reveals a High Repeat Content and Sex- Biased Genes Associated with Reproduction Chen Wu1,2,3* , Victoria G
Wu et al. BMC Genomics (2017) 18:884 DOI 10.1186/s12864-017-4245-x RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Assembling large genomes: analysis of the stick insect (Clitarchus hookeri) genome reveals a high repeat content and sex- biased genes associated with reproduction Chen Wu1,2,3* , Victoria G. Twort1,2,4, Ross N. Crowhurst3, Richard D. Newcomb1,3 and Thomas R. Buckley1,2 Abstract Background: Stick insects (Phasmatodea) have a high incidence of parthenogenesis and other alternative reproductive strategies, yet the genetic basis of reproduction is poorly understood. Phasmatodea includes nearly 3000 species, yet only thegenomeofTimema cristinae has been published to date. Clitarchus hookeri is a geographical parthenogenetic stick insect distributed across New Zealand. Sexual reproduction dominates in northern habitats but is replaced by parthenogenesis in the south. Here, we present a de novo genome assembly of a female C. hookeri and use it to detect candidate genes associated with gamete production and development in females and males. We also explore the factors underlying large genome size in stick insects. Results: The C. hookeri genome assembly was 4.2 Gb, similar to the flow cytometry estimate, making it the second largest insect genome sequenced and assembled to date. Like the large genome of Locusta migratoria,the genome of C. hookeri is also highly repetitive and the predicted gene models are much longer than those from most other sequenced insect genomes, largely due to longer introns. Miniature inverted repeat transposable elements (MITEs), absent in the much smaller T. cristinae genome, is the most abundant repeat type in the C. hookeri genome assembly. -
The Biology of the Three Species of Phasmatids (Phasmatodea) Which Occur in Plague Numbers in Forests of Southeastern Australia K
This document has been scanned from hard-copy archives for research and study purposes. Please note not all information may be current. We have tried, in preparing this copy, to make the content accessible to the widest possible audience but in some cases we recognise that the automatic text recognition maybe inadequate and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. sL.df /0 fl.u I /4r~ / FORESTRY COMMISSION OF N.S.W. DIVISION OF FOREST MANAGEMENT RESEARCH NOTE No. 20 Published January, 1967 THE BIOLOGY OF THE THREE SPECIES OF PHASMATIDS (PHASMATODEA) WmCH OCCUR IN PLAGUE NUMBERS IN FORESTS OF SOUTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA AUTHORS K. G. CAMPBELL, D.F.C., B.Se.(For.), Dip.For., M.Se. and P. HADLINGTON, B.Se.Agr. G771 ~- Issued under the authority of -J The Hon. J. G. Beale, M.E., M.L.A., Minister for Conservation, New South Wales THE BIOLOGY OF THE THREE SPECIES OF PHASMATIDS (PHASMATODEA) WHICH OCCUR IN PLAGUE NUMBERS IN FORESTS OF SOUTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA K. G. CAMPBELL AND P. HADLINGTON FORESTRY COMMISSION OF N.S.W. INTRODUCTION Most species of the Phasmatodea usually occur in low numbers, but some species have occurred in plagues and in such instances serious defoliation of trees has resulted. Plagues have been recorded from the D.S.A. by Craighead (1950), from Fiji by O'Connor (1949) and from the highland areas of southeastern Australia by various workers. The species involved in the defoliation of the eucalypt forests of southeastern Australia are Podacanthus wilkinsoni Mac!., Didymuria violescens (Leach) and Ctenomorphodes tessulatus (Gray). -
Parthenogensis
PARTHENOGENSIS Parthenogenesis is the development of an egg without fertilization. (Gr.Parthenos=virgin; gensis=birth). The individuals formed by parthenogenesis are called parthenotes. Parthenogenesis may be of two types. They are natural parthenogenesis and artificial parthenogenesis. 1. NATURAL PARTHENOGENESIS When parthenogenesis occur spontaneously, it is said to be natural parthenogenesis. Parthenogenesis is a regular natural phenomenon in a few groups of animals. Some animals reproduce exclusively by parthenogenesis. 1 In some other species, parthenogenesis alternates with sexual reproduction. Based on this, natural parthenogenesis is divided into two groups, namely complete parthenogenesis and incomplete parthenogenesis. 1) Complete Parthenogenesis In certain animal parthenogenesis is the only method of reproduction. This type of parthenogenesis is called complete or total or obligatory parthenogenesis. Populations exhibiting total parthenogenesis consist entirely of females. There are no males. E.g. Lacerta (lizard). 1) Incomplete Parthenogenesis In some animals parthenogenesis reproduction and sexual reproduction occur alternately. This is called incomplete or cyclical parthenogenesis. 2 Example a. In gallflies, there is one parthenogenetic reproduction and one sexual reproduction per year (P,S,P,S, (P,S,………). b. In aphids, daphnids and rotifers one sexual reproduction occurs in summer after many parthenogenetic reproductions, (P,P,P,P,P,S,…..P,P,P,P,P,S……..P,). Natural parthenogenesis is further classified into two types. They are haploid parthenogenesis or arrhenotoky and diploid parthenogenesis or thelytoky. A. Haploid Parthenogenesis or Arrhenotoky It is the development of a hyploid egg into a haploid animal. All the haploid individulas are males. Arrhenotoky occur in insects, rotifers and arachnids. 3 i. Haploid Parthenogenesis in insects: In insects haploid parthenogenesis is exhibited by hymenoptera, homoptera, colepters and thysanoptera. -
Insects, Extatosoma Tiaratum (Macleay, 1826) by David S
The Phasmid Study Group JUNE 2013 NEWSLETTER No 130 ISSN 0268-3806 Extatosoma tiaratum © Paul Brock See Page 11. INDEX Page Content Page Content 2. The Colour Page 9. Phasmid Books – Gray 1833 3. Editorial 10. My Little Friends 3. PSG Membership Details 11. PSG Winter Meeting 19.1.13 3. The PSG Committee 12. Sticks go to School 4. PSG Website Update 13. Development of Phasmid Species List Part 5 4. Contributions to the Newsletter 15. A New Leaf Insect Rearer’s Book 4. Diary Dates 16. X-Bugs 5. PSG Summer Meeting Agenda 16. Dad! It’s Raining Stick Insects 6. PSG Summer Meeting 17. BIAZA Big Bug Bonanza 6. Livestock Report 17. Stick Talk 7. PSG Merchandise Update 18. Holiday to Colombia 7. Newsletter Survey Results 19. Questions 8. National Insect Week @ Bristol Zoo Gardens 20. Macleay’s Spectre It is to be directly understood that all views, opinions or theories, expressed in the pages of "The Newsletter“ are those of the author(s) concerned. All announcements of meetings, and requests for help or information, are accepted as bona fide. Neither the Editor, nor Officers of "The Phasmid Study Group", can be held responsible for any loss, embarrassment or injury that might be sustained by reliance thereon. THE COLOUR PAGE! Acrophylla titan female. Picture on left, becomes picture on right. Unknown species. See page 18. See page 9. Ctenomorpha Acanthoxyla spp, brown version. See page 8. Acanthoxyla spp, green version. See page 8. marginipennis. See page 10. Pictures on the left are from when Sir David Attenborough went to Bristol Zoo Gardens on 21st May 2013 to film for his “Natural Curiosities” series, where he focused on butterflies (regarding metamorphosis) with a short piece on parthenogenesis – hence the Phyllium giganteum he is holding in the photo. -
Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, a Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex Determination
life Article Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes in Eublepharid Geckos, A Lineage with Environmental and Genotypic Sex Determination Eleonora Pensabene , Lukáš Kratochvíl and Michail Rovatsos * Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic; [email protected] (E.P.); [email protected] (L.K.) * Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] Received: 19 November 2020; Accepted: 7 December 2020; Published: 10 December 2020 Abstract: Geckos demonstrate a remarkable variability in sex determination systems, but our limited knowledge prohibits accurate conclusions on the evolution of sex determination in this group. Eyelid geckos (Eublepharidae) are of particular interest, as they encompass species with both environmental and genotypic sex determination. We identified for the first time the X-specific gene content in the Yucatán banded gecko, Coleonyx elegans, possessing X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y multiple sex chromosomes by comparative genome coverage analysis between sexes. The X-specific gene content of Coleonyx elegans was revealed to be partially homologous to genomic regions linked to the chicken autosomes 1, 6 and 11. A qPCR-based test was applied to validate a subset of X-specific genes by comparing the difference in gene copy numbers between sexes, and to explore the homology of sex chromosomes across eleven eublepharid, two phyllodactylid and one sphaerodactylid species. Homologous sex chromosomes are shared between Coleonyx elegans and Coleonyx mitratus, two species diverged approximately 34 million years ago, but not with other tested species. As far as we know, the X-specific gene content of Coleonyx elegans / Coleonyx mitratus was never involved in the sex chromosomes of other gecko lineages, indicating that the sex chromosomes in this clade of eublepharid geckos evolved independently. -
Insect Egg Size and Shape Evolve with Ecology but Not Developmental Rate Samuel H
ARTICLE https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1302-4 Insect egg size and shape evolve with ecology but not developmental rate Samuel H. Church1,4*, Seth Donoughe1,3,4, Bruno A. S. de Medeiros1 & Cassandra G. Extavour1,2* Over the course of evolution, organism size has diversified markedly. Changes in size are thought to have occurred because of developmental, morphological and/or ecological pressures. To perform phylogenetic tests of the potential effects of these pressures, here we generated a dataset of more than ten thousand descriptions of insect eggs, and combined these with genetic and life-history datasets. We show that, across eight orders of magnitude of variation in egg volume, the relationship between size and shape itself evolves, such that previously predicted global patterns of scaling do not adequately explain the diversity in egg shapes. We show that egg size is not correlated with developmental rate and that, for many insects, egg size is not correlated with adult body size. Instead, we find that the evolution of parasitoidism and aquatic oviposition help to explain the diversification in the size and shape of insect eggs. Our study suggests that where eggs are laid, rather than universal allometric constants, underlies the evolution of insect egg size and shape. Size is a fundamental factor in many biological processes. The size of an 526 families and every currently described extant hexapod order24 organism may affect interactions both with other organisms and with (Fig. 1a and Supplementary Fig. 1). We combined this dataset with the environment1,2, it scales with features of morphology and physi- backbone hexapod phylogenies25,26 that we enriched to include taxa ology3, and larger animals often have higher fitness4.