Tatiana V. Galinskaya

Pollination of Vietnamese Aspidistra xuansonensis (Asparagaceae) by female Cecidomyiidi flies: Larvae of pollinator feed on fertile pollen in anthers of anthetic bisexual flowers

UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY Aspidistra is a species-rich, herbaceous monocot genus of tropical Southeast Asia. Most species are recently discovered and apparently endangered, though virtually nothing is known about their biology. Species of the genus are primarily distinguished using flower morphology, which is enormously diverse. However, the pollination process has not been directly observed in the center of diversity of the genus (N Vietnam and S China). Indirect and partly direct data on the only widely cultivated species of the genus (A. elatior) placed it among angiosperms with the most unusual pollination biology, though these data are highly controversial, suggesting pollen transfer by mollusks, crustaceans, flies, or possibly tiny soil invertebrates such as collembolans.• METHODS Pollination of Aspidistra xuansonensis in the center of diversity of the genus was studied using visual observations and videos and light and scanning electron microscopy investigation of flowers and their pollinators. Pollinators and their larvae were molecularly barcoded.• KEY RESULTS Aspidistra xuansonensis is pollinated by female cecidomyiid flies (gall midges). They oviposit on anthers, and larvae develop among the pollen mass. Molecular barcoding proved taxonomic identity of the larvae and the flies. The larvae neither damage floral parts nor cause gall formation, but feed on pollen grains by sucking out their content. The larvae move out of the flowers before decomposition starts. Carebara ants steal developing larvae from flowers but do not contribute to pollination.• CONCLUSIONS More than one kind of myiophily is present in Aspidistra. Brood site pollination was documented for the first time in Aspidistra. The pollination system of A. xuansonensis differs from other kinds of brood site pollination in the exit of the larvae prior to the decomposition of floral parts.

Musculature of the Male Genitalia in the Tribe Ulidiini (Diptera, Ulidiidae)

The musculature of the male genitalia was studied in three species of Ulidiini (Tephritoidea: Ulidiidae): Timia erythrocephala Wiedemann, 1824, Ulidia ruficeps Becker, 1913, and Physiphora alceae (Preyssler, 1791). Previously, the male genital sclerites of this tribe were studied (Galinskaya, 2011a, 2011b, 2012, 2014). The study has shown significant similarity of the set of muscles between the species. Small differences in the sites of muscle insertion on the sclerites do not affect the functions of these muscles. The lateral hypandrial lobes are always asymmetrical in all the species studied, the right lobe being always larger than the left one. This probably results from the postabdomen rotation and may be indirectly related to flight maneuverability during copulation. Clear separation of the attachment sites of the adductor of subepandrial sclerite M3 and the adductor of surstyli M4 is noteworthy. These muscles are synergistic, as in most other representatives of Cyclorrhapha widely varying in the structure of the surstyli and subepandrial sclerite and in the attachment of M3 and M4; their contraction results in the surstyli grasping and holding the female’s abdomen during copulation. Comparative analysis shows that all the studied representatives of Tephritoidea have a similar set of the male genital muscles. The correspondence of homologous muscle designations in different classifications has been analyzed. In particular, the phallapodemic muscle M2 in Ulidiidae is shown to be homologous to muscle MUS2 in Ceratitis capitata (Tephritidae). Thus, the hypandrial origin of the lateral sclerites is confirmed.

Musculature of the male genitalia of a member of the genus Teleopsis Rondani, 1875 (Diopsidae, Diptera)

Abstract Secondary symmetry of pregenital sclerites and muscles, and also the presence of syntergosternite 7 + 8 and muscles between it and six segment in Diopsidae close this family to Psilidae and Nothybidae. Musculature of male genitalia in Teleopsis (Diopsidae, Diptera) is revealed and described for the first time. Morphology of hypandrium and its splitted muscles close this family to Nothybidae and advanced families of Cyclorrhapha, as Sciomyzidae, Scathophagidae and Calliphoridae.

Two new species of the genus Timia (Diptera: Ulidiidae) with a key to species with microtrichose black scutellum

Two new species of Timia are described and figured. Timia (Empyelocera) altaica Galinskaya sp. nov. from Altai (Russia), Timia (Empyelocera) mokhnata Galinskaya sp. nov. from Eastern Pamir (Tajikistan) and T. (E.) nigrimana (Loew, 1866) differ from all other species of Timia in having scutellum flattened superiorly, microtrichose only superiorly; anepisternum shining along the whole surface, without microtrichosity; wing entirely transparent, without spots. Timia (Empyelocera) altaica Galinskaya sp. nov. differs from both of them by the posteroapical extension of cell bcu short, 0.8 times as long as transverse section of vein Cu. Timia (Empyelocera) mokhnata Galinskaya sp. nov. is similar to T. (E.) nigrimana (Loew, 1866) in having posteroapical extension of cell bcu long, more than 2 times as long as transverse section of vein Cu; the new species differs by the frons, scutum and pleura with long (about 0.6-0.8 times as long as setae) hairs; the orbit of frons with whitish microtrichose triangular spot at its anterior margin. A key to the five species with black microtrichose scutellum, descriptions and illustrations are provided.

DNA barcoding of Nothybidae (Diptera)

Abstract We have for the first time performed DNA barcoding of the Nothybidae family (Diptera). DNA barcoding may be successfully used to distinguish Nothybidae species. At present time, the intraspecies allopatric differentiation processes go on in the family and may potentially lead to the new species formation. This can be confirmed by the differences in the nucleotide sequences received for the Nothybus kuznetsovorum obtained at the two sites quite distant from each other and separated by the mountain ranges. The study of the Nothybidae male genitalia morphology revealed two plesiomorphic characters, which are the presence of caudal processes on hypandrium and the absence of sclerites connecting hypandrium with postgonites. By its morphology, the Nothybidae family is close to the Diopsidae and Psilidae. On the molecular dendrograms Nothybidae do not group together with any representatives of Diptera, which may be accounted for by the family’s extremely primitive state caused by its high divergence from the main Acalyptratae stem.

New species of Nothybus Rondani, 1875 (Diptera: Nothybidae) from Vietnam with a key to Vietnamese species of the genus

This study is part of an ongoing series of studies on the Vietnamese cyclorrhaphous fauna. One new species from Vietnam, Nothybus kuznetsovorum sp.nov., is described and figured. A key to species of Nothybus is provided. Genital structures are described and figured.

DNA barcoding of Palaearctic Ulidiidae (Diptera: Tephritoidea): morphology, DNA evolution, and Markov codon models

BackgroundHere, for the first time, we report a barcoding survey of the dipterian family Ulidiidae (with two subfamilies Ulidiinae and Otitinae) coupled with morphology. To date, this is the first comprehensive analysis of the family that relies on molecular data. To reconstruct probable higher-level phylogenetic relationships between the genera of Ulidiidae, we exploited maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference, and additionally, we utilized a modern Markov model of codon substitutions for protein-coding genes coupled with the maximum likelihood approach to establish more realistic evolutionary scenarios connecting Ulidiinae and Otitinae.ResultsThough we found morphological synapomorphic characters that clearly distinguish two groups of genera, formerly relating to two subfamilies, the monophyly of the clade Otitinae was not firmly supported by molecular phylogenetic reconstructions. The subfamily Ulidiinae was recovered as the basal likely paraphyletic group with high reliability. Overall, our results suggest the inclusion of the genera Homalocephala and Seioptera into the tribe Seiopterini (Otitinae). Three genera of Ulidiinae (Physiphora, Timia, Ulidia), eight genera of Otitinae (Ceroxys, Herina, Melieria, Myennis, Otites, Pseudotephritis, Seioptera, Tetanops), and the genus of Homalocephala with still unconfirmed systematic status were included in the analysis.ConclusionsOn all phylogenetic trees obtained in our survey, there is a clear tendency of clustering at the genus level with separation of (Physiphora + (Timia + Ulidia)) (Ulidiinae) and (Otitinae + Homalocephala). The genus Homalocephala takes basal or subbasal position relatively to Otitinae. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on Markov models of codon evolution provided a good resolution for our limited dataset.

Musculature of the male genitalia in Rivellia (Diptera: Platystomatidae).

Abstract The musculature of male genitalia was studied hitherto only in two species of Tephritidae, one species of Platystomatidae, one species of Pallopteridae, and three species of Ulidiidae of the superfamily Tephritoidea. The split of the hypandrium from one structure into three (the hypandrium and two lateral sclerites) is traced. The hypandrial origin of the lateral sclerites of the hypandrial complex is shown based on the localization of muscle attachment sites. The subepandrial origin of the inner lobes of the surstyli is also confirmed.

X-ray microtomography (microCT) of male genitalia of Nothybus kuznetsovorum (Nothybidae) and Cothornobata sp. (Micropezidae)

Abstract The results of manual dissection of the musculature of the male genitalia in Nothybus kuznetsovorum are fully confirmed by the modern methods of Micro-CT. A comparative analysis of Neria commutata and Cothornobata sp. shows that an increase in the flexion in the genitalia of males and the displacement of syntergosternite VII to the ventral side in Cothornobata sp. caused the disappearance of the muscles ITM6–7r and ITM7–8r. In addition, this increase in flexion apparently caused the fusion of the M18 muscles into one bundle. The muscle ISM5-6c goes on to moving the second segment of the forcipate appendages of sternite V.

Pollination Ecology of Two Co-occurring Species of Balanophora: Differences in Range of Visitors and Pollinators

Premise of research. Inflorescences of Balanophora species emit a sweet smell, produce nectar, and are visited by many different insects. All previous studies of the pollination biology of Balanophora included observation of one species of the holoparasite in one location. In the present study, we investigated and compared pollination systems of two co-occurring and coflowering Balanophora species: B. harlandii and B. fungosa ssp. indica. Methodology. The floral biology of Balanophora was studied using day and night visual observations as well as video and photo monitoring. Pollen grains, flowers, and captured pollinators were investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Pivotal results. It was found that flies (Drosophilidae, Syrphidae), wasps, and harvestmen (Phalangidae) pollinate B. harlandii, while B. fungosa is pollinated by flies (Calliphoridae, Drosophilidae, Limoniidae, Syrphidae) and harvestmen (Phalangidae). It was determined here for the first time that harvestmen are facultative pollinators of Balanophora. Conclusions. Both Balanophora species possess a generalist pollination strategy. However, B. harlandii is adapted mostly to day pollination, whereas B. fungosa is more likely adapted to day and night pollination. In the present study, wasps are the main pollinators of B. harlandii, whereas drosophilid flies are the main pollinators of B. fungosa. The small range of visitors for B. harlandii may be caused by the territorial behavior of wasps.