Light-gall tephritid (Aciurina luminaria), a new species via multi-trait integrative taxonomy

NEWS - Researchers investigated a unique gall morphotype in New Mexico and Colorado that was previously described as a variant induced by Aciurina bigeloviae (Cockerell, 1890). They found several consistent features that distinguish it from A. bigeloviae and described it as light-gall tephritid (Aciurina luminaria Baine).

Integrative taxonomic analyses that combine multiple lines of evidence for species delimitation improve understanding of intraspecies, interspecies variation, and biodiversity. However, the expanded phenotype remains underutilized despite its potential as a set of species-specific extracorporeal morphological and life-history traits.

The practice of relying on wing pattern variation has led to taxonomic confusion within the genus Aciurina, a gall-inducing fly of Asteraceae plants in western North America. However, the species exhibit distinct morphologies that are important for species identification.

A. luminaria is univoltine, with a life cycle and phenology similar to A. bigeloviae and A. trixa. Eggs are laid singly in leaf buds on distal plant stems. Galls form at the egg-laying site and the developing larvae feed on the tissue surrounding the central chamber.

In the fall, the galls reach full size, the larvae reach their final instar and chew through the outer layer to create a circular trap door. The larvae stop feeding and overwinter within the gall, then pupate in the spring. The adults hatch in the summer and emerge to find mates.

Host plants include Ericameria nauseosa subsp. ammophila L.C. Anderson which is restricted to the sand dunes and sand flats of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. A flower specimen from a galled plant.

The species epithet is a noun derived from the Spanish word for "light" which is particularly used in the southwestern United States for small decorative lanterns traditionally displayed during the winter months leading up to Christmas.

Original research

Baine Q, White B, Martinson VG, Martinson EO (2024) Discovery of a new gall-inducing species, Aciurina luminaria (Insecta, Diptera, Tephritidae) via multi-trait integrative taxonomy. ZooKeys 1214: 217-236, DOI:10.3897/zookeys.1214.130171

Dlium theDlium

Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica)

Cogon grass ( Imperata cylindrica ) is a species of plant in the Poaceae, an annual grass, sharp leaves, long and scaly shoots, creeping underground, white or purplish flowers, very adaptive and grows in all climates. I. cylindrica has sharply pointed shoot tips that emerge from the ground, up to 3 meters high, short stems, rising above the ground surface. Leaves are long ribbon-shaped, pointed tip, narrow base, up to 100 cm long, very rough and sharply serrated edges, long hairs at the base and wide veins. Inflorescences in panicles, up to 28 cm long, spikes long-haired and white to 1 cm. The seeds spread quickly with the wind or via rhizomes that quickly penetrate the soil. This species grows in tropical to subtropical areas, elevation up to 2000 meters, temperature 20-40C, rainfall 500-3500 mm/year, pH 4-7.5, lots of sunlight to a bit of shade. This plant dominates open land, former forests, dry rice fields, roadsides and so on. This plant contains mannitol, glucose, sacharose...

Liberian coffee (Coffea liberica)

Liberian coffee ( Coffea liberica ) is a species of plant in the Rubiaceae family, a tree up to 20 meters tall, with numerous, radial and irregular branches, brown bark, and linear fissures. The leaves are oval, thick, up to 35 cm long, up to 20 cm long, shiny green, and have petioles up to 1 cm long. The fruit is round to oval, irregular, and up to 2 cm wide. TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Gentianales Family: Rubiaceae Subfamily: Ixoroideae Tribe: Coffeeae Genus: Coffea L. in Sp. Pl.: 172 (1753) Species: Coffea liberica W.Bull in Nursery Cat. (William Bull) 97: 4 (1874) HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS Coffea abeokutae Cramer in Meded. Dept. Landb. Ned.-Indië 11: 286, 396 (1913) Coffea abeokutae var. camerunensis A.Chev. in Encycl. Biol. 22: t. 44 (1942) Coffea abeokutae var. indeniensis (Siebert) A.Chev. (1942) Coffea abeokutae var. longicarpa Portères in Ann. Agric. Afrique Occ. 1(2): 224 (1937) Coffea abeokutae var. macrocarpa...

A deep-sea isopod Bathyopsurus nybelini adapted to feed submerged Sargassum algae

NEWS - Incredible footage shows a marine species, Bathyopsurus nybelini , feeding on something that sinks from the ocean’s surface. Researchers using the submersible Alvin found the isopod swimming 3.7 miles down using its paddle-like legs to catch an unexpected food source: Sargassum. Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the University of Montana, SUNY Geneseo, Willamette University and the University of Rhode Island found the algae sinking, while the isopod waited and adapted specifically to find and feed on the sinking nutrient source. The Sargassum lives on the surface for photosynthesis. The discovery of a deep-sea animal that relies on food that sinks from the waters miles above underscores the close relationship between the surface and the deep. “It’s fascinating to see this beautiful animal actively interacting with sargassum, so deep in the ocean. This isopod is extremely rare; only a handful of specimens were collected during the groundbreaking Swedis...

Dlium