Nina Alexeeva , Ekaterina Bogomolova , Yuta Tamberg
{"title":"Excretory glands of sea spiders (Pycnogonida, Nymphonidae)","authors":"Nina Alexeeva , Ekaterina Bogomolova , Yuta Tamberg","doi":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101403","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101403","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>All major arthropod taxa possess excretory glands — a type of filtration nephridium considered ancestral for this group. Pycnogonids form a basal branch of the arthropod phylogenetic tree and are ancient aquatic chelicerates, but they were believed to lack specialised excretory organs, except for <em>Nymphopsis spinosissimum</em> (Ammotheidae). Whether this condition is unique or common remained unknown due to lack of anatomical data for many species. Here we examined four nymphonids: <em>Nymphon brevirostre</em>, <em>Nymphon grossipes</em>, <em>Nymphon serratum</em> and <em>Pentanymphon antarcticum</em> using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as well as light microscopy. In adults of all four species, we found excretory organs and describe ultrastructural details of all their parts: sacculus, reabsorption channel, excretory channel and the pore. In addition to the definitive (adult) excretory organs, we also detected some larval and juvenile transitory ones and were able to trace the origin of the sacculus podocytes from the non-epithelial mesoderm of the horizontal septum. All excretory organs are located in the appendages of the first three postocular segments of the cephalosoma (although not necessarily in all of them at once) because these areas can maintain the high hemolymph pressure necessary for ultrafiltration. The ultrastructure and development of the sacculus point toward the secondary nature of this cavity, although the coelomic status of the sacculi in sea spiders and other arthropods is still unclear.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55461,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod Structure & Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101403"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142781895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The male reproductive system of the sea spider Phoxichilidium femoratum (Rathke, 1799)","authors":"Maria Petrova, Ekaterina Bogomolova","doi":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101404","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sea spiders (Pycnogonida) are marine chelicerates. As a sister clade to Euchelicerata, Pycnogonida are an interesting group for comparative anatomy, however data on pycnogonid anatomy and biology remain scarce. This research provides a detailed account of the complete male reproductive system, gametogenesis, and sperm structure of a sea spider at the ultrastructural level. The male reproductive system of <em>P. femoratum</em> includes the testis, femoral, and ovigeral glands. The testis is typical of Pycnogonida: U-shaped with pedal outgrowths, opening with gonopores on legs 2–4. The testis lays within the horizontal septum, separated from it by ECM. The reproductive sinus is reduced. The ventral wall of the testis is germinative, spermatogenesis proceeds in cysts, all stages are evenly distributed throughout the whole testis. Sperm of <em>P. femoratum</em> is a typical sperm of animals with fertilization in mucus but without an acrosome. It lacks apomorphic euchelicerate features such as an acrosomal filament and implantation fossa. Femoral and ovigeral glands are sex-specific and likely related to reproduction. Ovigeral glands possibly secrete a fungicide substance, while the function of femoral glands remains obscure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55461,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod Structure & Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101404"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142787962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emma J. Long , Gregory D. Edgecombe , Paul Kenrick , Xiaoya Ma
{"title":"Cuticle ultrastructure of the Early Devonian trigonotarbid arachnid Palaeocharinus","authors":"Emma J. Long , Gregory D. Edgecombe , Paul Kenrick , Xiaoya Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101392","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101392","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cuticle is a key evolutionary innovation that played a crucial role in arthropod terrestrialization. Extensive research has elucidated the chemical and structural composition of the cuticle in extant arthropods, while fossil studies have further informed our understanding of cuticle evolution. This study examines the three-dimensionally preserved cuticular structure of the Early Devonian trigonotarbid arachnid genus <em>Palaeocharinus</em>, from the Rhynie chert of Scotland (∼408 Ma). Trigonotarbids, an extinct group of tetrapulmonate arachnids, are among the earliest known unequivocally terrestrial arthropods, and thus may shed light on the evolution of terrestriality. Using high-resolution Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), we reveal detailed morphological features at the nanometre level. The external cuticle surface of <em>Palaeocharinus</em> is characterized by polygonal scales, sensilla, and small pores identified as the openings of dermal glands and wax canals. Internally, the cuticle exhibits polygonal clusters of pore canals, through which wax was transported from the epidermis to the cuticular surface. The pore canals twist along their vertical axes, reflecting the \"twisted plywood\" or Bouligand arrangement of chitin-protein microfibril planes characteristic of modern arthropod cuticles. Overall, the cuticle of <em>Palaeocharinus</em> is characteristically thick relative to those of other extinct and extant chelicerates, such thickening being a possible adaptation to terrestrial life.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55461,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod Structure & Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101392"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142481639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The eyestalk photophore of Northern krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica (M. Sars) (Euphausiacea) re-investigated: Innervation by specialized ommatidia of the compound eye","authors":"Jakob Krieger , Torsten Fregin , Steffen Harzsch","doi":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101393","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101393","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Members of the Euphausiacea (“krill”) generate bioluminescence using light organs, the so-called photophores, including one pair associated with the eyestalks, two pairs on the thoracic segments, and four unpaired photophores on the pleon. The photophores generate light <em>via</em> a luciferin–luciferase type of biochemical reaction in light-emitting cells comprised in a photophore compartment called “lantern”. The behavioral significance of bioluminescence in krill is discussed controversially, and possible functions include a defensive function, camouflage by counter-shading, and intra-specific communication. Light production of all krill photophores is controlled by hormonal and neuronal pathways but our knowledge about the nature of these pathways is still rudimentary. Here, we provide a detailed description of the eyestalk photophore's histology in Northern krill <em>Meganyctiphanes norvegica</em>, and used immunohistochemistry combined with confocal laser-scan microscopy to explore this organ's serotonergic innervation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the photophore is innervated by a distinct photophore nerve that originates from a specialized cluster of ca. 30 highly modified ommatidia at the dorsal rim of the compound eye that are optically isolated from the other ommatidia. Our findings suggest the compound eye – photophore link as a major anatomical axis to adjust the photophore activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55461,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod Structure & Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101393"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142481642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pyotr N. Petrov, Natalia I. Reshetnikova, Sergey E. Farisenkov, Alexey A. Polilov
{"title":"Evolution of and structures involved in wing folding in featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae)","authors":"Pyotr N. Petrov, Natalia I. Reshetnikova, Sergey E. Farisenkov, Alexey A. Polilov","doi":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101394","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101394","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ability to fold the wings is an important phenomenon in insect evolution and a feature that attracts the attention of engineers who develop biomimetic technologies. Beetles of the family Ptiliidae (featherwing beetles) are unique among microinsects in their ability to fold their bristled wings under the elytra and unfold them before flight. The folding and unfolding of bristled wings and of the structures involved in these processes varies among ptiliids, but only one species, <em>Acrotrichis sericans,</em> has been analyzed in detail<em>.</em> In this study, we analyze in detail the wing folding pattern and the mechanism of the folding and unfolding of the wings in species of different lineages of Ptiliidae, using scanning electron, сonfocal laser scanning, and optical microscopy, and compare the wing-folding patterns of Ptiliidae with those of the sister group, Hydraenidae, to reconstruct the evolution of the involved structures. We confirm that the two subfamilies of Ptiliidae have two distinct patterns of wing folding: Nossidiinae has retained the ancestral (‘agyrtid’) asymmetrical pattern with overlapping wings and with folds at different angles to the wing axis, while Ptiliinae, which includes the smallest of all known beetles, has evolved a symmetrical pattern with non-overlapping wings and folds perpendicular to the wing axis, with one additional oblique fold in the genus <em>Ptenidium</em>. Ptiliids have a longer alacrista, which helps to lock the elytra at rest, and a more complex set of structures involved in wing folding on abdominal tergites. These genus-specific structures, which include setae and wing-folding patches on some of the tergites and the palisade fringe of setae on the posterior margin of tergite 7, help the insect to tuck the wing under the elytron and fold it after flight. The symmetrical wing-folding pattern is simpler than the wing folding patterns of most larger beetles. The obtained data on the mechanisms and patterns of the folding and unfolding of the wings in Ptiliidae elucidate the evolution of wing folding as an adaptation protecting the wings at rest. Structures involved in wing folding can be used as distinguishing characters in taxonomy. The wing-folding mechanisms of Ptiliidae may eventually be used for developing miniature biomimetic robots.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55461,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod Structure & Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101394"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142481640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Morphology of lecithotrophic postlarvae of genus Austropallene (Arthropoda: Chelicerata) with some notes on reproductive strategy","authors":"Nina Alexeeva, Daria Martynova","doi":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The family Callipallenidae Hilton, 1942 belongs to the superfamily Nymphonoidea Pocock, 1904 together with other family, Nymphonidae. The lecithotrophic postlarvae hatch from the eggs of the callipallenid sea spiders, but the data on this life stage are very scarce and fragmentary. This gives a very limited understanding of larval anatomy, morphology, and diversity. The larvae of <em>Austropallene bucera</em> Pushkin, 1993, <em>Austropallene calmani</em> Gordon, 1944, and <em>Austropallene cristata</em> Bouvier, 1911 have been studied and described for the first time by the methods of light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The main morphometry parameters have been determined in larvae and adult egg-bearing males. The general plan of the postlarvae is presented together with its specific features. The postlarvae of the studied <em>Austropallene</em> species combine the features of lecithotrophic and free-living pycnogonid larvae. The diversity of larvae in the Nymphonoidea superfamily has been analysed considering original and published data, and a morphological series has been developed. The complex of lecithotrophic larvae, like postlarvae of Callipallenidae, should be considered as primary for the entire superfamily. It is also suggested that sea spiders with lecithotrophic larvae tend to follow the K-strategy, but they care for their offspring to varying degrees.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55461,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod Structure & Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101395"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142481641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wan-Ruo Ma, Lu Liu, Ge Wang, Jia-Li Bai, Bao-Zhen Hua
{"title":"Ultrastructure of the larval rectum of the scorpionfly Panorpa liui (Mecoptera: Panorpidae)","authors":"Wan-Ruo Ma, Lu Liu, Ge Wang, Jia-Li Bai, Bao-Zhen Hua","doi":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The rectum is an important part of the alimentary canal responsible for ion and water reabsorption of insects. However, it has rarely been studied in the larvae of Panorpidae, the largest family in Mecoptera. Here, we investigated the ultrastructure of larval rectum of the scorpionfly <em>Panorpa liui</em> Hua, 1997 using light and transmission electron microscopy. The rectum comprises tracheal muscular layers, connective tissue, non-cellular basal lamina, junctional cells, rectal epithelium, cuticle with irregular outlines, and a central lumen. The rectal epithelium is infolded to form six longitudinal rectal folds, which are distinct from rectal pads or papillae. In each rectal fold, the apical and basal plasma membranes of epithelial cells are infolded and the lateral plasma membranes form septate and scalariform junctions. The well-developed rectal folds are postulated to be closely associated with reabsorption of ions and water in the larvae. The associations of rectal folds with larval behaviors are briefly discussed in Mecoptera.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55461,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod Structure & Development","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 101383"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142146959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Martina Lento , Maria Luigia Vommaro , Simone Flaminio , Pietro Brandmayr , Anita Giglio
{"title":"Morphology and distribution of antennal sensilla in five species of solitary bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea)","authors":"Martina Lento , Maria Luigia Vommaro , Simone Flaminio , Pietro Brandmayr , Anita Giglio","doi":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Solitary bees play a crucial role in ecological systems, contributing to the pollination of crops and wild plants. All females are reproductive, and their habitat requirements include nesting sites, food resources and nesting materials. Although these activities require the ability to detect biotic and abiotic stimuli in the environment, the sensory system of these species is poorly studied. In this study, the antennal sensilla of five solitary bee species belonging to three Apoidea families were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. These included two species of stem-nesting bees, <em>Ceratina cucurbitina</em> (Rossi, 1792) (Apidae) and <em>Osmia scutellaris</em> (Morawitz, 1868) (Megachilidae), and three species of ground-nesting bees, <em>Lasioglossum brevicorne</em> (Schenck, 1870), <em>Lasioglossum leucozonium</em> (Schrank, 1781), and <em>Lasioglossum villosulum</em> (Kirby, 1802) (Halictidae). Thirteen different types of antennal sensilla were identified in females based on their morphological characteristics: sensilla trichodea (subtypes STI, II, III), chaetica (subtypes SchI, II), basiconica (subtypes SBI, II, III, IV), placodea, campaniformia, coeloconica, and ampullacea. Their functional role was discussed and morphology was compared among the species and within the antennal segments in each species. The results provide a baseline for further physiological and behavioural studies to determine the role of antennal sensilla in habitat selection, food search and nesting site selection.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55461,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod Structure & Development","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 101382"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142146958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coevolution of spermatozoa and spermathecae in Lonchopteridae (Diptera)","authors":"Michael Tröster , Marion Kotrba , Martin Heß","doi":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101385","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101385","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Across the species of spear-winged flies (Diptera: Lonchopteridae) there is a remarkable variation in size of the female reproductive tract, especially of the spermathecae. In this family there are two tubular spermathecae, which are divided into four morphologically and histologically distinct sections of different lengths and functions. The dimensions of the spermathecae and their individual sections were examined across 11 <em>Lonchoptera</em> species and related to the dimensions of the respective spermatozoa. 3D reconstructions from serial sectioning made it possible to include the volume in these considerations, which is a new approach in this context. Results show that the spermathecae are always longer than the respective spermatozoa. There is a highly significant positive linear correlation between the length of the spermatozoa and the length of the spermathecae in total as well as some of the individual spermathecal sections, suggesting a coevolution of these characters. Moreover, the volume of the spermathecae is much larger in those species with longer and more voluminous spermatozoa, but the volume increase is not sufficient to keep constant the number of spermatozoa that fit within. The observed patterns are discussed with respect to their functional and evolutionary implications, including a new hypothesis on the possible selective advantage of increased spermatozoon length.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55461,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod Structure & Development","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 101385"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1467803924000550/pdfft?md5=e3e1b66572e0381459443308d38ece77&pid=1-s2.0-S1467803924000550-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142168934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Genomics investigation of the potentially invasive firefly Photinus signaticollis Blanchard 1845: Complete mitochondrial genome, multigene phylogenies and obtention of the luciferase and luciferin-regenerating genes","authors":"Marcel Koken , Romain Gastineau","doi":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101384","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.asd.2024.101384","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A genomic investigation of the potentially invasive firefly <em>Photinus signaticollis</em> Blanchard1845 has been performed and led to the obtention of its complete 16,411 bp long mitochondrial genome. The mitogenome encodes 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes and 2 rRNA genes. With other species of the <em>Photinus</em> complex it shares several premature terminations of some protein-coding genes and also an overlap between <em>cox1</em> and <em>tRNA-Tyr</em>. By data-mining, the complete luciferase and luciferin-regenerating genes were also identified from the contigs file and compared with existing data, in addition to <em>WG</em> and CAD, two genes used in pioneering phylogenetic studies on fireflies. Three maximum likelihood phylogenies were derived from all these data. The multigene phylogeny based on all mitochondrial protein-coding genes strongly associates <em>P. signaticollis</em> with <em>Photinus pyralis</em> Linnaeus, 1758 and the lantern-less daily “winter firefly”, <em>Photinus corruscus</em> Linnaeus, 1767. A second phylogeny based on concatenated sequences of the <em>cox1</em>, <em>WG</em> and <em>CAD</em> genes positions <em>P. signaticollis</em> as a sister clade to a large cluster of species containing the 7 sub-groups previously evidenced among the North American species of the <em>Photinus</em> complex. A third phylogeny based on the amino-acid sequence of the luciferase protein associates <em>P. signaticollis</em> to <em>Photinus scintillans.</em> The analysis presented here will most certainly help to come to a better understanding of the very complex inter-relationships in the very large <em>Photinus</em> genus.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55461,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod Structure & Development","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 101384"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142241875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}