Daniel Burckhardt

Cospeciation of psyllids and their primary prokaryotic endosymbionts.

ABSTRACT Psyllids are plant sap-feeding insects that harbor prokaryotic endosymbionts in specialized cells within the body cavity. Four-kilobase DNA fragments containing 16S and 23S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were amplified from the primary (P) endosymbiont of 32 species of psyllids representing three psyllid families and eight subfamilies. In addition, 0.54-kb fragments of the psyllid nuclear genewingless were also amplified from 26 species. Phylogenetic trees derived from 16S-23S rDNA and from the host winglessgene are very similar, and tests of compatibility of the data sets show no significant conflict between host and endosymbiont phylogenies. This result is consistent with a single infection of a shared psyllid ancestor and subsequent cospeciation of the host and the endosymbiont. In addition, the phylogenies based on DNA sequences generally agreed with psyllid taxonomy based on morphology. The 3′ end of the 16S rDNA of the P endosymbionts differs from that of other members of the domainBacteria in the lack of a sequence complementary to the mRNA ribosome binding site. The rate of sequence change in the 16S-23S rDNA of the psyllid P endosymbiont was considerably higher than that of other bacteria, including other fast-evolving insect endosymbionts. The lineage consisting of the P endosymbionts of psyllids was given the designation Candidatus Carsonella (gen. nov.) with a single species, Candidatus Carsonella ruddii (sp. nov.).

New Species in the Old World: Europe as a Frontier in Biodiversity Exploration, a Test Bed for 21st Century Taxonomy

The number of described species on the planet is about 1.9 million, with ca. 17,000 new species described annually, mostly from the tropics. However, taxonomy is usually described as a science in crisis, lacking manpower and funding, a politically acknowledged problem known as the Taxonomic Impediment. Using data from the Fauna Europaea database and the Zoological Record, we show that contrary to general belief, developed and heavily-studied parts of the world are important reservoirs of unknown species. In Europe, new species of multicellular terrestrial and freshwater animals are being discovered and named at an unprecedented rate: since the 1950s, more than 770 new species are on average described each year from Europe, which add to the 125,000 terrestrial and freshwater multicellular species already known in this region. There is no sign of having reached a plateau that would allow for the assessment of the magnitude of European biodiversity. More remarkably, over 60% of these new species are described by non-professional taxonomists. Amateurs are recognized as an essential part of the workforce in ecology and astronomy, but the magnitude of non-professional taxonomist contributions to alpha-taxonomy has not been fully realized until now. Our results stress the importance of developing a system that better supports and guides this formidable workforce, as we seek to overcome the Taxonomic Impediment and speed up the process of describing the planetary biodiversity before it is too late.

Psyllid Host-Plants (Hemiptera: Psylloidea): Resolving a Semantic Problem

Abstract Evolutionary and biological patterns can be obscured by inadequate or ill-defined terminology. An example is the generally very specific relationship between the sap-feeding hemipteran group, psyllids, and their breeding plants, commonly called host-plants. The literature is clogged with references to so called ‘hosts’, which are often merely plants on which psyllids were found accidentally, and no immature development was detected. Recently the term host has also been applied by some authors to any plant on which immature or adults feed. Here we propose a terminology to clarify associated plant definitions, and we suggest restricting the use of the term host-plant to plants on which a psyllid species completes its immature to adult life cycle. For the other plant associations we suggest the terms overwintering or shelter plant (plants on which adult psyllids overwinter and on which they may feed), food plant (plants on which adult psyllids feed, but do not breed and do not spend an extended period of time) and casual plant (plants on which adult psyllids land but do not feed).

Systematics and biology of the Rhinocolinae (Homoptera: Psylloidea)

Based on a cladistic analysis, the subfamily Rhinocolinae is redefined to comprise 13 genera and 39 species, of which two genera and eight species remain unnamed. Four new genera and 14 new species are described; one subfamily and one genus are synonymized, and two species are recombined; one lectotype is designated. The subfamily is divided into two groups, one with a Gondwanan distribution comprising four genera in Australia, New Zealand, South America and Africa, and another with Laurasian distribution in the Palaeotropics, the Western Palaerctic and North America comprising nine genera. Twenty-one species develop on host plants in the Rutales, three on Asteraceae, three on Cistaceae and one on Zygophyllaceae. The genus Pistacia (Anacardiaceae) in particular hosts six species whose biology is discussed.

A revision of the west Palaearctic pear psyllids (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

The status and taxonomy of the west Palaearctic Pyrus -feeding psyllids are reviewed, and keys for the identification of adults and larvae are given. The species, now referred to the genus Cacopsylla , have been much confused. They are shown to comprise seven distinct species: C. pyrisuga (Forster), C. pyri (L.) (summer form pyrarboris , winter form pyri ), C. pyricola (Forster) (summer form pyricola , winter form simulans ), C. bidens (Sulc) (summer form vasilevi syn. n., winter form bidens ), C. notata (Flor) sp. rev., C. permixta sp. n. (= simulans sensu Loginova and Gegechkori nec Forster) and C. fera (Baeva). Psylla horvathii Sulc and P. vicina Sulc are synonymized with C. pyricola; P. picta is regarded as a nomen dubium. Information is given on the host-plants and distribution of each species.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Vertically Transmitted Psyllid Endosymbionts (Candidatus Carsonella ruddii) Based on atpAGD and rpoC: Comparisons with 16S–23S rDNA-Derived Phylogeny

Psyllids are insects that harbor endosymbionts (Candidatuus Carsonella ruddii) within specialized cells found in the insects body cavity. Previous phylogenetic analyses based on endosymbiont 16S–23S ribosomal DNA and a host gene were concordant (M.L. Thao, et al., Appl. Env. Microbiol. 66:2898, 2000). Additional analyses with atpAGD and rpoBC gave similar trees showing the agreement expected from organisms that evolve through vertical transmission with no gene exchange.

Rove beetles of the subtribe Scopaeina Mulsant & Rey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in the West Palaearctic: Phylogeny, biogeography and species catalogue

Abstract A cladistic analysis of the West Palaearctic Scopaeina Mulsant & Rey, 1878 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Paederinae) is presented along with bionomic and biogeographic information. A total of 76 morphological characters were coded for the 88 currently known West Palaearctic species, except for S. bifossicapitata (Outerelo & Oromi, 1987). Results show that Scopaeina comprises two well-supported monophyletic groups in the West Palaearctic, Micranops Cameron, 1913 and Scopaeus Erichson, 1840, which are considered to represent distinct genera. Phylogenetic relationships to Orus Casey, 1884, distributed in North and South America, are briefly discussed. Whereas Micranops is only represented by M. pilicornis (Baudi, 1869) in the region under study, 87 species of Scopaeus are currently known from the West Palaearctic. Within Scopaeus , the cladistic analysis yielded many well-supported monophyletic species groups, most of which are restricted to the West Palaearctic. However, except for Hyperscopaeus Coiffait, 1984, they are not in agreement with the widely used subgeneric concept sensu Coiffait (1952–1984). The following polyphyletic subgenera are consequently synonymized: Alloscopaeus Coiffait, 1968, Anomoscopaeus Coiffait, 1968, Geoscopaeus Coiffait, 1960, and Hyposcopaeus Coiffait, 1960 synn. n. = Scopaeus Erichson, 1840. Nivorus Herman, 1965, and Microscopaeus Coiffait, 1981 synn. n. = Micranops Cameron, 1913. The monotypical genus Coecoscopaeus Coiffait, 1984, established for C. coecus (Peyerimhoff, 1906), is excluded from Scopaeina. Scopaeus mitratus perroti Ochs, 1953 is raised to species rank, and S. nigellus Wollaston, 1864, formerly a synonym of S. minimus Erichson, 1939, is revalidated. Finally, we present a catalogue of species and synonyms of West Palaearctic Scopaeina along with distributional data and five new synonymies of species group names: S. bordei Peyerimhoff, 1914 syn. n. = S. portai Luze, 1910; S. tassiliensis Jarrige, 1958, S. mauretanicus Coiffait, 1960 synn. n. = S . crassipes Wollaston, 1867; S. saoudiensis Coiffait, 1981 = S. sinaicus Coiffait, 1970; S. mateui Coiffait, 1953 syn. n. = S. didymus Erichson, 1840. A lectotype is designated for S. didymus Erichson, 1840. See also Electronic Supplement (Parts 13) at http://www.senckenberg.de/odes/02-02.htm

Gall-inducing jumping plant-lice of the Neotropical genus Baccharopelma (Hemiptera, Psylloidea) associated with Baccharis (Asteraceae)

The genus Baccharopelma (new replacement name for Neopelma Burckhardt, 1987 nec Sclater, 1860; and for its replacement name Burckhardtia Straube and Miretzki, 1999 nec Frech, 1907 nec Brown and Hodkinson, 1988) is revised to include five named species and possibly two undescribed species. The junior homonym Burckhardtia Brown and Hodkinson nec Frech is replaced by Hodkinsonia nom. n. The introduction of the two generic replacement names necessitates two new combinations. Four species are described as new. Keys for the identification of adults and the last instar larva are provided along with species diagnoses and illustrations of taxonomically relevant structures. The galls and known biological features are briefly discussed for each species and the phylogenetic relationships among the species are analysed. Baccharopelma spp. are monophagous on Baccharis spp. (Asteraceae) on which they induce galls. The temperate South American genus has one species restricted to Chile, three to Brazil and one occurring in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

Calophya latiforceps , a New Species of Jumping Plant Lice (Hemiptera: Calophyidae) Associated with Schinus terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae) in Brazil

ABSTRACT Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, is a perennial woody plant native to Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay that is recognized as one of the most invasive weeds in Florida. A new species of leaflet galling psyllid was discovered attacking Brazilian peppertree in Bahia, Brazil in March 2010. In this paper, a formal morphological description of the new psyllid Calophya latiforceps sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Calophyidae) is presented along with molecular evidence confirming new species designation. This previously unknown natural enemy may have potential as a biological control agent for the Brazilian peppertree.

Systematics and biology of the Aphalara exilis (Weber & Mohr) species assemblage (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

The species of an ill-defined assemblage centred around Aphalara exilis are revised. Two species, viz. A. siamensis and A. taiwanensis, are described as new and three species are synonymised (A. soosi with A. exilis, A. kunashirensis with A. itadori, and A. augusta with A. fasciata). A neotype is designated for Tettigonia exilis, a lectotype is designated for Aphalara rumicis Mally, and Aphalara ulicis is removed from synonymy with Aphalara calthae. The species are diagnosed, illustrated and keyed. The revision of types of A. polygoni, the type species of Aphalara, showed that it had been misinterpreted and that it corresponds to A. rumicicola Klimaszewski which is synonymised with it. A. polygoni auct. nec Foerster is described as A. freji sp. n. A list is given of the 37 currently recognised valid species of Aphalara with their distributions and host plants, and of 4 nomina dubia. A cladistic analysis using PAUP yielded 5 most parsimonious trees suggesting that Aphalara contains six monophyletic species groups (the itadori (2 spp.), siamensis (1 sp.), exilis (7 spp.), rumicis (2 spp.), maculipennis (4 spp.) and calthae (21 spp.) groups). Biogeographical aspects are analysed in terms of area relationships (BPA), ancestral areas (methods of Bremer and Ronquist) and dispersal (cladistic subordinateness). Four species groups are restricted to the palaearctic, one to the nearctic and only one occurs in both. It is concluded that vicariance events may have occurred in the palaearctic but that the presence in the nearctic is probably due to dispersal. The east palaearctic is likely to have been part of the ancestral area of Aphalara. Three of the species groups are monophagous on Polygonum, two on Rumex and one is polyphagous on Polygonaceae (Polygonum, Rumex), Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Primulaceae and Ranunculaceae. Polygonum is the likely ancestral host association of Aphalara; Rumex has been colonised independently at least three times.