Arthropod Structure & Development最新文献

Trilobites were extremely abundant and diverse euarthropods from the Paleozoic Era, but our understanding of their non-biomineralized ventral morphology is restricted to localities with exceptional fossil preservation. The Ordovician-aged Walcott-Rust Quarry in New York State preserves exceptional trilobite fossils as calcite casts in three-dimensions with little to no deformation, providing a valuable view of their ventral morphology. Appendages of the two most abundant trilobites, Ceraurus pleurexanthemus and Flexicalymene senaria, have been known for over 150 years but the original preparation of the specimens as thin sections has led to significant disagreement about their anatomy. Ceraruus pleurexanthemus is more abundant in the thin section collections (157 specimens) and features nearly complete appendages including a subtriangular protopodite with stud-like gnathobases along the medial edge and long endites ventrally. The exopodite consists of a long proximal article bearing dumbbell-shaped lamellae (in cross section) and a shorter distal article, closely resembling that of the cheirurid Anacheirurus adserai from the Lower Ordovician Fezouata Shale biota of Morocco. The appendages of F. senaria (37 specimens) are less well preserved. The exopodite bears up to 40 dumbbell shaped lamellae (in cross section) and is proportionally longer relative to the endopodite of C. pleurexanthemus. The close morphological similarity observed between the exopodites of C. pleurexanthemus and A. adersai, despite originating from paleogeographically distant latitudes and temporally separated by over ca. 20 million years, shows that the proposed “Cambrian type” exopodite persisted through the majority of the Ordovician. The morphology of the endopodites between C. pleurexanthemus and A. adersai is more variable when compared to the organization of the exopodites, may reflect selective pressures from locomotion and feeding between these species.

Schizomida is an enigmatic group of arachnids that is traditionally considered the dwarfed sister to Thelyphonida. Schizomids are of interest for evolutionary morphology, because they show a number of features like a tripartite prosoma dorsal shield (pro-, meso-, metapeltidium), formation of three sterna, a complex prosoma–opisthosoma transition and a metasoma. By analyzing the body organization of Schizomida and comparing it to Thelyphonida and other arachnids, this article provides evidence for independent evolution of some of these features in Schizomida. This supports the idea that, among arachnids, multiple and independent evolutionary pathways have resulted in similar morphologies, that conventionally have been considered shared similarities. – The analysis of serial microscopic sections and μCT-imaging of segmental indicator muscles of the prosoma evidences that the propeltidium covers prosoma segments 0–4, and the metapeltidium covers segments 5 and 6. The mesopeltidium is a dorsolateral sclerotization of the pleural membrane, not assigned to a segment, and therefore not a tergite. The topographic association of segmental musculature and sclerites of the tripartite dorsum of the prosoma differs from other taxa with such external body organization, e.g., Palpigradi and Solifugae, suggesting independent evolutionary origin. – The prosoma–opisthosoma transition integrates the first opisthosoma segment into the prosoma. The sternite of the first opisthosoma segment forms the metasternum between the coxae of the fourth pair of walking legs. The morphology of the prosoma–opisthosoma transition is similar to Uropygi and Amblypygi, but is less complex. – The morphology of the metasoma (opisthosoma segments X-XII) of Schizomida and Thelyphonida differs from that of all other arachnids carrying a metasoma, thus providing support for multiple independent evolutionary origins of metasomata.

Sea spiders (Pycnogonida) are marine chelicerates. Current pycnogonid phylogeny based on molecular data remains uncertain and contradicts traditional morphological perspectives. To resolve this conflict, understanding their inner anatomy is crucial. The reproductive system of sea spiders shows promise as a source of phylogenetic signal, yet our knowledge in this area is limited. This study presents the first description of the whole female reproductive system of a sea spider at the ultrastructural level. We suggest a more detailed functional regionalization of the ovary based on the ovarian wall ultrastructure and distribution of oocyte developmental stages. Meiosis begins in the germarium, and oocytes progress to the vitellarium through a transportational zone. Vitellogenic oocytes extend through the vitellarium wall, connected with it by a stalk – specialized cells. Balbiani bodies are present in early vitellogenic oocytes but dissipate later. The formation of the vitelline envelope, yolk, and fertilization envelope involves functionally diverse RER vesicles. The study also identifies a reproductive sinus as a separate haemocoel compartment that may enhance nutrient concentration near vitellogenic oocytes. Additionally, oviduct and gonopore glands are described in the female of P. femoratum, although their specific functions and prevalence in other sea spider species remain unclear.

Permopsocids are small acercarian insects with mouthparts specialized for sucking. They are closely related to Hemiptera and Thysanoptera. The earliest known representatives are from the Early Permian. Here evidence is presented that the Permopsocida occurred even earlier in Pennsylvanian (Moscovian) deposits in the Piesberg quarry near Osnabrück (Lower Saxony, Germany). This material is assigned to the Permian family Psocidiidae; Carbonopsocus mercuryi gen. et sp. nov., based on the wing venation diagnosed by the unique branching pattern of the main veins, the shape of the areola postica being longer than wide, the angular shape of the pterostigma, the ir crossvein directed proximally mid of pterostigma (apomorphy) and the vannus formed by the three veins of PCu, A1 and A2. The shape of the veins, with a Y-vein formed by the distal fusion of PCu with A1, could be a putative symplesiomorphy of the Psocodea with Permopsocida and Hemiptera. C. mercuryi gen. et sp. nov. is the first appearance date for Permopsocida and roots the Acercaria tree. In addition, another specimen of Dichentomum cf. arroyo (Psocidiidae) from Carrizo Arroyo is presented and figured, confirming the presence of the genus Dichentomum near the Carboniferous-Permian boundary and linking it to the Artinskian species from Elmo in Kansas, USA.

Mate choice and male–male combat over successful mating often cause disproportionate exaggeration of male trait relative to body size. However, the exaggeration is often not the only trait involved with male–male combat and mate choice: suites of co-expressed traits may function together as a coordinated unit. When this occurs, dimorphism may be expected for these additional, non-exaggerated, structures. S. femorata males have disproportionately large hind-legs used in male–male combat over females. During the fights, fore- and mid-legs are used to keep males in positions where advantageous for leverage. Because use of the exaggerated hind-legs is coordinated with the other legs, they will coevolve as a functional unit. Here, we show that 1) S. femorata has sexual size differences in all three legs; 2) males show positive allometry in the relative sizes of all three legs; and 3) microstructures of tarsi on the fore- and mid-legs are also sexually dimorphic. Despite these differences in the tarsal microstructure, 4) adhesion forces of the tarsi had no sexual difference in flat surface. The microstructure would be specialized on attaching elytra surface. These results suggest that the three pairs of legs function together during fighting behavior, with hind-legs employed primarily for fighting, and the fore- and mid-legs functioning to grip females, keeping males positioned on the back of the female during combat.

One of the least studied eyes of any beetle taxon are those of the scarabaeoid family Passalidae. Some members of this family of around 600 species worldwide are known to have superposition eyes (Aceraius grandis; A. hikidai) while others have apposition eyes (Cylindrocaulus patalis; Ceracupes yui). In C. yui of nearly 3 cm body length (this paper) the retinal layer is very thin and occupies approximately half of an ommatidium's total length, the latter amounting to 284 and 266 μm in the respective dorsal and ventral eye regions. The two eye regions are almost completely separated by a prominent cuticular canthus, a feature usually associated with the presence of a tracheal tapetum, a clear-zone between dioptric and light-perceiving structures and a regular array of smooth facets. In C. yui the facets are smooth (but not very regular) and a tracheal tapetum and a clear-zone are absent. The rhabdoms, formed by 8–9 retinula cells, are complicated, multilobed structures with widths and lengths of around 15 and 80 μm, respectively. The combination of some superposition and mostly apposition eye features, e.g., extensive corneal exocones, relatively small number of ommatidia, absence of a clear-zone and tracheal bush, suggest an adaptation of this species' eye to the fossorial lifestyle of C. yui, and, thus, a manifestation of the passalid eye's plasticity.

Acoustic behaviour plays a significant role in insect communications, but is rarely reported in their immature stages. Larvae of Lucanidae bear paired stridulatory organs on their thoracic legs, which could produce sounds as communicational signals. However, the species-specific differences on stridulatory organs and acoustic signals are far from fully investigated. In this study, the larval acoustic behaviours of three lucanid species, Lucanus dybowski, Prosopocoilus confucius and P. girafa were recorded and compared for the first time. The sound producing mechanism was described in detail based on video recordings, morphological observations, and acoustic analyses. The larvae of all three species are able to produce sounds by scraping the plectrum on the metatrochanter against the pars stridens on the mesocoxa during disturbance. The sounds exhibit species-specific differences in terms of acoustic parameters: the larvae of L. dybowski produce short-duration (140–200 ms), single-pulse and low-frequency (∼210 Hz) sounds; P. confucius produce long-duration (500–800 ms), triple-pulse and low-frequency (∼280 Hz) sounds; P. girafa produce long-duration (500–560 ms), double-pulse and low-frequency (∼260 Hz) sounds. The amounts and arrangements of the teeth on stridulatory organs also exhibit differences on specific level. The acoustic signals and stridulatory organs were compared using principal component analysis.

Beside the more than two thousand normal specimens of Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775) yielded by rearing experiments, there was one perfectly bilateral dichromatic individual first considered to be gynandrous. On the basis of analysing genitalia traits, wing surface covering scale micromorphology, and the spectral characteristics of the blue colour generated by the cover scales, the gender of the specimen has been identified as female. This exemplar was investigated in comparison with gynandrous specimens from the collections of the Hungarian Natural History Museum exhibiting various degrees of intermixing of blue and brown coloration. Focus stacking microscopy for detailed scale morphology and UV–visible reflectance spectroscopy was used for the characterization of the optical properties. Inspecting literature references and the Lycaenidae collection of the museum, further examples have been found for female bilateral dichromatism in the closely related polyommatine lycaenid species Lysandra bellargus (Rottemburg, 1775) and Lysandra coridon (Poda, 1761) what suggests that polyommatine female dichromaticity may be displayed by the manner of bilaterality and mosaicism, phenomena hitherto solely connected to gynandromorphy.

The ultrastructural study on the female reproductive system of the beetle M. brevicauda (Mordellidae) confirmed the positive correlation between the length of the sperm and the size of the female seminal receptacle (Spermatheca).

The spermatheca of the species is characterized by an apical bulb-like structure where the spermathecal duct forms numerous folds filled with sperm. At this level many bacterial cells are present intermingled with the duct folds. Some are organized in large structures, such as bacteriomes, while other are single bacteriocytes. The latter are often found near the basal lamina of duct epithelium. In addition, some bacteria are visible in the cytoplasm of the duct epithelial cells. Interestingly, bacterial cells have never been observed in the duct lumen. The possible function of the bacterial cells is discussed.

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.