Macropelopia excavata and Macropelopia quadrimacula with black spots on tergites

NEWS - The researchers report two new species that are particularly related to the presence of four distinctive black spots found on the tergites. Macropelopia excavata comes from “excavatus” meaning concave on the posterior edge of tergite IX and Macropelopia quadrimacula comes from “quartri” and “macula” meaning “four” and “spots”, “stains” or “marks” respectively.

Xiangliang Fang, Zigang Xu and Yue Fu from Huanggang Normal University in Huanggang City, and Yuanyuan Yao from Tianjin Natural History Museum in Tianjin City described the new species based on genetic distance and morphological characteristics.

M. excavata is characterized by two thick, elongated and prominent spots in the middle of tergites II to IV, wings with brown markings on the distal end of Cu1 and the base of the an cell. In addition, tergites from V to IX display a brown hue. The posterior edge of tergite IX is concave and lacks an anal point.

The gonostylus is markedly curved at a right angle. Length 4.69 mm, thorax length 1.45 mm, wing length 2.66 mm, TL/WL 1.76 and WL/Pfe 2.19. This new species occurs in Hubei Province, East China.

M. quadrimacula has two short longitudinal striped spots on each side of tergites II to V, and two elliptical spots in the middle. Wings with brown markings on the apical Cu1, M3+4 and the base of the an cell. Tergite IX with a triangular anal spot outside the border of tergite IX.

Gonostylus curved inward for two-thirds of its length, and apex strongly pointed. Length 4.49–5.55, 5.02 mm, Wing length 2.72–3.27, 2.99 mm, TL/WL 1.65–1.76, 1.71, WL/Pfe 2.08–2.59, 2.34. This new species occurs in Hubei Province, East China.

M. excavata is closely related to M. kibunensis and occurs on the same tree branch. Findings consistent with similar morphological characteristics, such as tergite color, lack of anal spot and thoracic features. M. quadrimacula is closely related to M. excavata and M. kibunensis with distinguishing features on the hypopygium and dorsal stripe on the tergite.

Interestingly, M. kibunensis has yellow femora and wings with dense setae. Both new species have brown femora and dorsal stripe on the tergite. Thus, Macropelopia has the main criteria for morphological classification including hypopygium characteristics and dorsal stripe pattern on the tergite, followed by wing markings and macrotrichia, coloration and leg features.

Macropelopia was first formally described by August Friedrich Thienemann (1882–1960) in 1916 in Thienemann & Kieffer, Arch. Hydrobiol., Suppl., 2. This genus has more than 30 species with two BOLDs and most of the specimens were collected in Europe.

Original research

Fang X, Xu Z, Yao Y, Fu Y (2024). Two new species of Macropelopia (Diptera, Chironomidae) from Oriental China, delineated with morphology and COI sequences. ZooKeys, 1210: 287-298. DOI:10.3897/zookeys.1210.127183

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 ...

False nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica)

False nettle ( Boehmeria cylindrica ) is a species of plant in the Urticaceae family, a herb or small shrub, up to 160 cm tall, usually monoecious but rarely dioecious. The leaves are paired or alternate, and the inflorescence is a spikelet with a cluster of small bracts at the tip. B. cylindrica generally grows to a height of 50-100 cm. Spine-like hairs form in the leaf axils. The leaves are oval and up to 10 cm long and 4 cm wide. The flowers are green or greenish-white and emerge from the upper leaf axils. Male and female flowers usually grow on separate plants. Male flowers are more numerous among the spikes in clusters. Female flowers are less evenly distributed along the spikes. The small, oval seeds are covered with small, hook-like hairs. Ripe seeds are dark brown. The inflorescence resembles a spike and is up to 3 cm long. This species can be found in moist to mesic deciduous forest habitats, growing abundantly along streambanks, floodplains, and lowlands. B. cylindrica is ...

Alexandrian Laurel (Calophyllum inophyllum)

Alexandrian Laurel ( Calophyllum inophyllum ) is a species of plant in the Calophyllaceae family. It is a low-branching, slow-growing, spreading tree with a wide, irregular crown. It grows up to 30 meters tall, has a cylindrical trunk, and thick, black, and fissured bark. The leaves are thick, oval, with rounded tips, even margins, and a smooth surface. The upper side is dark green and glossy, the underside is bright green, with a central vein in bright green. The leaves are up to 27 cm long, 13 cm wide, and have a 1 cm petiole. Flowers bloom throughout the year, but typically from April to June and October to December. Flowers are 30 mm in diameter and occur in racemose or paniculate inflorescences of four to 15 flowers. The flowers have a sweet aroma and attract numerous pollinating insects. The fruit is round, green, up to 4 cm in diameter, with a large seed in the center. When ripe, the fruit wrinkles and turns yellow to brownish. The fruit is light, with thin, spongy flesh and a...

Dlium