Bomi torchwort (Phlomoides bomiensis) grows at elevations of 3400-4200 meters in China

NEWS - The researchers report and describe a new species, Phlomoides bomiensis, from Bomi, Xizang, China, and describe Phlomoides longidentata, previously known only from Nepal and Bhutan, from Dingri, Xizang, China. This species often grows to more than 1 meter tall.

The phylogenetics of both species were analyzed using nine plastid DNA markers (atpB-rbcL, psbA-trnH, rpl16, rpl32-trnL, rps16, trnK, trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG, trnT-trnL) with brown-black trichomes in the upper corolla lip and nested in the same subclade of Clade II.

The flowers of P. bomiensis differ from those of P. nyalamensis by having truncated or slightly notched calyx teeth, posterior filaments with folded appendages at their bases, and petals with distinct petioles. The flowers also differ from P. breviflora in that the corolla is longer than 2 cm and the seeds are oblong.

A perennial herbaceous species with strong roots and a linear tuberous shape. The stem is 0.5-1.8 meters high, subrectangular, strong, the lower part of the stem is glabrous, the upper part with simple trichomes. They grow in forests and forest edges at an elevation of 3400-4200 meters.

Flowers from August to September and fruits from October to November. The specific epithet refers to the name of Bomi County in Xizang Autonomous Region, where the new species was discovered. The Chinese name is cháng bō mì cǎo cāo sū (波密草糙苏).

Phlomoides was first described by Conrad Moench or Konrad Mönch (1744-1805) in Methodus: 403 (1794). This species with 14 synonyms has more than 110 species to date.

Original research

Zhao Y, Chen Y-P, Bai R-Z, Pendry CA, Sukhorukov AP, Xiang C-L (2024) A new species and a new record of Phlomoides (Lamiaceae) from Xizang, China. PhytoKeys 246: 15-26. DOI:10.3897/phytokeys.246.129057

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Sweetpotato bug (Physomerus grossipes)

Kutu ketela or sweetpotato bug ( Physomerus grossipes ) is an insect species in Coreidae, brown with black legs, adults growing about 2 cm long, oval shaped, segmented antennas, heavily veined membranes, metathoracic odor glands and enlarged rear tibia. P. grossipes generally live in Leguminosae and Convolvulaceae especially sweet potato ( Physomerus grossipes ), pink morning glory ( Ipomoea carnea ), purple beans ( Vigna unguiculata ), Asian pigeonwings ( Clitoria ternatea ) and common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). Sweetpotato bugs suck liquid from the stem which causes plants to wither and disrupt fruit production. P. grossipes places eggs at the bottom of the leaves or stems or grass around them. Females are very protective of their children, keeping eggs and nymphs from predators as the most famous example of maternal care in Coreidae. Even so, about 20% of eggs are eaten by predators such as ants and 13% are lost by parasitoid predation by chalcid wasps which lay eggs in egg...

Javan broadhead planarian (Bipalium javanum)

Cacing palu or Javan broadhead planarian ( Bipalium javanum ) is a species of animal in Geoplanidae, hermaphrodite, living on the ground, predators, often called only hammerhead or broadhead or shovel worms because of wide heads and simple copulatory organs. B. javanum has a slim stature, up to 20 cm long, up to 0.5 cm wide, head wide up to 1 cm or less, small neck, widening in the middle and the back end is rounded, all black and shiny. Javan broadhead planarians walk above ground level by raising their heads and actively looking left, right and looking up using strong neck muscles. Move swiftly, track meander, climb to get through all obstacles or make a new path if the obstacle is too high. Cacing palu track and prey on earthworms and mollusks. They use muscles and sticky secretions to attach themselves to prey to lock in. The head and ends of the body are wrapped around and continue to close the body to stop prey reactions. They produce tetrodotoxins which are very strong...

Dlium