Karina Wieczorek

Comparative morphology of the male genitalia of Aphididae (Insecta, Hemiptera): part 1

The present study provides new data related to the morphology of the male genitalia of Aphididae. The structure of the male genitalia of 39 species from 23 genera of Aphididae was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. In the species studied, the genitalia of males consist of a phallus composed of the sclerotized basal part with its articulation and a membranous apical part—an aedeagus as well as parameres. This state probably represents the hypothetical plesiomorphic condition of the external male genitalia of aphids. According to the results of the present study, the male genitalia vary among subfamilies (the most varied in Lachninae). Both the phallus and parameres show great variability in their form and the number of setae and may provide characters of taxonomic and diagnostic importance. The shape, size, and modification of parameres are considered in conjunction with the phylogenetic relationships among the studied taxa. Compared with Lachninae, Greenideinae, Aiceoninae, the external genitalia of Aphidinae are less specialized, having many features in common with those of drepanosiphine aphids and differing little from the hypothetical condition. In dwarfish males of Anoeciinae, Thelaxinae, Hormaphidinae, and Eriosomatinae, the miniaturization of the body size affects on the modification of genitalia, mostly parameres. However, the homology of non-modified and modified structures of parameres is not clear.

Invasive aphids of the tribe Siphini: a model of potentially suitable ecological niches

Sipha (Rungsia) maydis, Sipha (Rungsia) elegans, Sipha (Sipha) glyceriae and especially Sipha (Sipha) flava are considered to be virus vectors and serious pests of crops and pasture grasses. Ecological niche modelling, a useful tool for assessing potential geographical distributions of species, was used to predict the risk of invasion of these four species of the Siphini (Hemiptera, Aphididae) on a global scale. The maximum entropy model based on associations between unique occurrence localities and a set of environmental variables was used. Obtained models of potentially suitable habitats, based only on climatic variables, suggest that favourable conditions for each species may be present on every continent. However, S. (S.) flava appears to be potentially the most widespread species. Moreover, the resulting maps provide important information on the corridors by which invasive species are able to penetrate into new areas. A mean of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve at the levels of 0.937, 0.947, 0.968, 0.937 for S. (R.) maydis, S. (R.) elegans, S. (S.) glyceriae and S. (S.) flava, respectively, indicated a high level of discriminatory power of the maximum entropy model. A jackknife test indicated that the precipitation of the coldest quarter with the highest gain value was the most important environmental variable restricting the expansion of the studied species.

Relationships within Siphini (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea: Chaitophorinae) in light of molecular and morphological research

The aim of this paper was to further explore the phylogeny of Siphini by analysing molecular data (two mitochondrial genes and two nuclear markers), together with morphological (29) and ecological (two) characters, for comprehensive analyses concerning the evolution of Siphini, relationships within the tribe, and between Siphini and other Chaitophorinae. Nine Siphini species, which represent all the genera of this tribe, as well as 12 out‐group species (mainly Chaitophorini representatives of the genera Chaitophorus and Periphyllus), were used in the analyses. Molecular phylogenetic trees were reconstructed by the Bayesian inference (BI) phylogenetic analysis and maximum parsimony (MP) criterion. The cladistic analysis was performed using nona. The monophyly of Siphini was confirmed. Species belonging to subgenera Sipha and Rungsia were clustered together, and this clade was a sister with reference to a clade including the genera Atheroides and Chaetosiphella. Monophyly of Atheroides was confirmed by the molecular data; however, in cladistic analysis Atheroides seemed to be paraphyletic because Atheroides hirtellus was placed as sister to Atheroides serrulatus and Chaetosiphella. The monotypic genera Caricosipha and Laingia formed separate lineages, and Laingia was sister to all other Siphini. Chaitophorini was not retrieved by the molecular and combined data: Periphyllus was sister to a clade containing Chaitophorus and Siphini.

A comparative morphological revision of the aphid genus Myzaphis van der Goot, 1913 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae) revealed a new genus and three new species

The aphid genus Myzaphis van der Goot, 1913 from the tribe Macrosiphini is revised to include eight species. Apterous and alate viviparous females, known fundatrices and known sexual morphs (oviparous females and males) of Myzaphis bucktoni, M. juchnevitschae, M. rosarum, M. tianshanica and M. turanica are re-described and illustrated. Lectotype and paralectotypes of Myzaphis bucktoni and M. turanica are designated. The status of M. komatsubarae nomen dubium is discussed. Myzaphis avariolosa is regarded as a species belonging to the genus Ericaphis. Three new species: M. oezdemirae Kanturski & Barjadze sp. nov., M. tuatayae Kanturski & Barjadze sp. nov. from Turkey and M. rezwanii Kanturski & Barjadze sp. nov. from Iran are described and illustrated. Myzaphis bucktoni is recorded from Portugal for the first time. Diagnosis of the genus Myzaphis van der Goot, 1913 is redefined and a new genus Richardsaphis Kanturski & Barjadze gen. nov. is erected with the type species R. canadensis (Richards) comb. nov. Richardsaphis is for the first time recorded from the USA and hitherto unknown oviparous female and alate male are described and illustrated. Original keys to species of the genus Myzaphis and aphid genera of the tribe Macrosiphini with 2-2-2 first tarsal chaetotaxy are also provided.

Descriptions of little-known and unknown morphs of Periphyllus acerihabitans Zhang (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Chaitophorinae)

Periphyllus acerihabitans Zhang, 1982, associated with Acer buergerianum, is known only from the original description from China. Based on the type series and specimens collected in Japan, we re-describe apterous and alate viviparous females of P. acerihabitans and describe dimorph (aestivating nymph) and oviparous female in detail with illustrations. This is the first record of this species from Japan. The differences between P. acerihabitans and a related species P. viridis (Matsumura, 1919) are discussed. Keys to similar species: P. acerihabitans, P. viridis and P. californiensis (Shinji, 1917), associated with A. buergerianum or A. pictum subsp. mono, are provided.

Pine pest aphids of the genusEulachnus(Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae): how far can their range extend?: Pine pest aphids of the genusEulachnus

Species of the aphid genus Eulachnus (Hemiptera, Aphididae), associated with pine trees, are an example of insects reported as rare over their native geographical range in Europe and serious pine pests far from their natural distribution. To predict the risk of invasion of spotted pine aphid Eulachnus agilis (Kaltenbach, 1843), green pine aphid Eulachnus brevipilosus Börner, 1940 and narrow brown pine aphid Eulachnus rileyi (Williams, 1911) on a global scale, ecological niche modelling was applied. We used the maximum entropy model, based on associations between unique occurrence localities and a set of environmental variables. We obtained models of potentially suitable habitats, based on climatic variables and distribution of host plants, suggesting that favourable conditions for each species may be present on every continent. However, E. agilis and E. rileyi appear to be potentially the most widespread species. In Europe, models showed that the potential distribution of the representatives of the genus Eulachnus overlapped with that of the host plants. In places where they have been introduced, these aphid species have readily adapted to indigenous or introduced pines, including trees grown commercially for timber. A jackknife test indicated that annual mean temperature and mean temperature of the coldest quarter were the most important environmental variables restricting the expansion of the species under investigation. Moreover, the most important factor in the decrease in population density of the feeding aphids is the rainy season and, on a smaller scale, the presence of their natural enemies.

Geographical variation in morphology of Chaetosiphella stipae stipae Hille Ris Lambers, 1947 (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Chaitophorinae)

Chaetosiphella stipae stipae is a xerothermophilous aphid, associated with Palaearctic temperate steppe zones or dry mountain valleys, where there are grasses from the genus Stipa. Its geographical distribution shows several populations that are spread from Spain, across Europe and Asia Minor, to Mongolia and China. Geographical variation in chaetotaxy and other morphological features were the basis to consider whether individuals from different populations are still the same species. Moreover, using Ch. stipae stipae and Stipa species occurrences, as well as climatic variables, we predict potential geographical distributions of the aphid and its steppe habitat. Additionally, for Stipa species we projected current climatic conditions under four climate change scenarios for 2050 and 2070. While highly variable, our results of morphometric analysis demonstrates that all Ch. stipae stipae populations are one very variable subspecies. And in view of predicted climate change, we expect reduction of Stipa grasslands. The disappearance of these ecosystems could result in stronger separation of the East-European and Asian steppes as well as European ‘warm-stage’ refuges. Therefore, the geographic morphological variability that we see today in the aphid subspecies Ch. stipae stipae may in the future lead to speciation and creation of separate subspecies or species.

The relationships within the Chaitophorinae and Drepanosiphinae (Hemiptera, Aphididae) inferred from molecular-based phylogeny and comprehensive morphological data

The Chaitophorinae is a bionomically diverse Holarctic subfamily of Aphididae. The current classification includes two tribes: the Chaitophorini associated with deciduous trees and shrubs, and Siphini that feed on monocotyledonous plants. We present the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the subfamily, based on molecular and morphological datasets. Molecular analyses were based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear gene elongation factor-1α (EF-1α). Phylogenetic inferences were obtained individually on each of genes and joined alignments using Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum likelihood (ML). In phylogenetic trees reconstructed on the basis of nuclear and mitochondrial genes as well as a morphological dataset, the monophyly of Siphini and the genus Chaitophorus was supported. Periphyllus forms independent lineages from Chaitophorus and Siphini. Within this genus two clades comprising European and Asiatic species, respectively, were indicated. Concerning relationships within the subfamily, EF-1α and joined COI and EF-1α genes analysis strongly supports the hypothesis that Chaitophorini do not form a monophyletic clade. Periphyllus is a sister group to a clade containing Chaitophorus and Siphini. The Asiatic unit of Periphyllus also includes Trichaitophorus koyaensis. The analysis of morphological dataset under equally weighted parsimony also supports the view that Chaitophorini is an artificial taxon, as Lambersaphis pruinosae and Pseudopterocomma hughi, both traditionally included in the Chaitophorini, formed independent lineages. COI analyses support consistent groups within the subfamily, but relationships between groups are poorly resolved. These analyses were extended to include the species of closely related and phylogenetically unstudied subfamily Drepanosiphinae, which produced congruent results. Genera Drepanosiphum and Depanaphis are monophyletic and sister. The position of Yamatocallis tokyoensis differs in the molecular and morphological analyses, i.e. it is either an independent lineage (EF-1α, COI, joined COI and EF-1α genes) or is nested inside this unit (morphology). Our data also support separation of Chaitophorinae from Drepanosiphinae.

A new species of the nearctic gall-forming genus Tamalia Baker (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Tamaliinae)

The apterous viviparous female and alate oviparous female of a new aphid species, Tamalia milleri sp. nov., a representative of a nearctic relict genus Tamalia and associated with Arctostaphylos columbiana, is described and figured in detail from specimens collected in California and Oregon (USA) and deposited in the Natural History Museum, London (UK). The differences between T. milleri and a related species, T. dicksoni Remaudière & Stroyan as well as other taxa of this genus are discussed. The distribution of Tamalia and a key to identification of the known species of the genus are provided.

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidomorpha) of the Botanic Garden of the Jagiellonian University, Kraków.

Abstract The paper presents results of faunistic investigations of aphids (Aphidomorpha) in the Botanic Garden of the Jagiellonian University, Kraków, in the Kraków – Wieluń Upland. During two seasons of research (2011, 2012) two aphid species from the family Adelgidae and 50 species from the family Aphididae, associated with 66 host plants were recorded. The following species – Eriosoma anncharlotteae Danielsson, 1979, Capitophorus elaeagni (Del Guercio, 1894), Rhopalosiphoninus (Neorhopalosiphoninus) staphyleae staphyleae (Koch, 1854), Eulachnus brevipilosus Börner, 1940 and E. cembrae Börner, 1950 – are new for the Kraków – Wieluń Upland. Seven of the species recorded are regarded as alien to Poland.