The Experts below are selected from a list of 2364 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Jerome Murienne - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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molecular data confirm family status for the tryonicus lauraesilpha group insecta Blattodea tryonicidae
Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 2009Co-Authors: Jerome MurienneAbstract:Family status was recently proposed for the Tryonicus–Lauraesilpha group (Insecta: Blattodea: Tryonicidae), which had been assigned to Blattidae before. In order to test this hypothesis, a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Blattodea was conducted using the 12S and H3 genes. The results show that Tryonicidae indeed form a lineage distinct from Blattidae. The results are compared to the previous classifications and phylogenetic hypotheses (morphology- and molecular-based). It is suggested that the Polyzosteriinae tribe Methanini should remain in Polyzosteriinae (Blattodea: Blattidae).
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Molecular data confirm family status for the Tryonicus–Lauraesilpha group (Insecta: Blattodea: Tryonicidae)
Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 2009Co-Authors: Jerome MurienneAbstract:Family status was recently proposed for the Tryonicus–Lauraesilpha group (Insecta: Blattodea: Tryonicidae), which had been assigned to Blattidae before. In order to test this hypothesis, a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Blattodea was conducted using the 12S and H3 genes. The results show that Tryonicidae indeed form a lineage distinct from Blattidae. The results are compared to the previous classifications and phylogenetic hypotheses (morphology- and molecular-based). It is suggested that the Polyzosteriinae tribe Methanini should remain in Polyzosteriinae (Blattodea: Blattidae).
Warren Booth - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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molecular traces of alternative social organization in a termite genome
Nature Communications, 2014Co-Authors: Warren Booth, Nicolas Terrapon, Cai Li, Hugh M Robertson, Lu Ji, Xuehong Meng, Zhensheng Chen, Christopher P ChildersAbstract:Although eusociality evolved independently within several orders of insects, research into the molecular underpinnings of the transition towards social complexity has been confined primarily to Hymenoptera (for example, ants and bees). Here we sequence the genome and stage-specific transcriptomes of the dampwood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis (Blattodea) and compare them with similar data for eusocial Hymenoptera, to better identify commonalities and differences in achieving this significant transition. We show an expansion of genes related to male fertility, with upregulated gene expression in male reproductive individuals reflecting the profound differences in mating biology relative to the Hymenoptera. For several chemoreceptor families, we show divergent numbers of genes, which may correspond to the more claustral lifestyle of these termites. We also show similarities in the number and expression of genes related to caste determination mechanisms. Finally, patterns of DNA methylation and alternative splicing support a hypothesized epigenetic regulation of caste differentiation.
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population genetic structure of the german cockroach Blattodea blattellidae in apartment buildings
Journal of Medical Entomology, 2010Co-Authors: Jonathan Crissman, Warren Booth, Richard G Santangelo, D V Mukha, Edward L Vargo, Coby SchalAbstract:ABSTRACT The German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Blattellidae), is a major residential pest with the potential to vector various pathogens and produce and disseminate household allergens. Understanding population genetic structure and differentiation of this important pest is critical to efforts to eradicate infestations, yet little is known in this regard. Using highly polymorphic microsatellite markers, we investigated patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation within and among 18 apartments from six apartment complexes located in Raleigh, NC. No departure from panmixia was found between rooms within apartments, indicating that active dispersal resulting in gene flow may occur among rooms within apartment units. Alternatively, aggregations within apartments may exist in relative isolation under a metapopulation framework, derived from a recent, common source. Thus, in the event of population control practices leading to incomplete cockroach eradication within an apartment, reco...
Dominic A Evangelista - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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an integrative phylogenomic approach illuminates the evolutionary history of cockroaches and termites Blattodea
Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2019Co-Authors: Dominic A Evangelista, Ryuichiro Machida, Benjamin Wipfler, Olivier Bethoux, Alexander Donath, Mari Fujita, Manpreet K Kohli, Frederic Legendre, Bernhard MisofAbstract:Phylogenetic relationships among subgroups of cockroaches and termites are still matters of debate. Their divergence times and major phenotypic transitions during evolution are also not yet settled. We addressed these points by combining the first nuclear phylogenomic study of termites and cockroaches with a thorough approach to divergence time analysis, identification of endosymbionts, and reconstruction of ancestral morphological traits and behaviour. Analyses of the phylogenetic relationships within Blattodea robustly confirm previously uncertain hypotheses such as the sister-group relationship between Blaberoidea and remaining Blattodea, and Lamproblatta being the closest relative to the social and wood-feeding Cryptocercus and termites. Consequently, we propose new names for various clades in Blattodea: Cryptocercus + termites = Tutricablattae; Lamproblattidae + Tutricablattae = Kittrickea; and Blattoidea + Corydioidea = SolumBlattodea. Our inferred divergence times contradict previous studies by showing that most subgroups of Blattodea evolved in the Cretaceous, reducing the gap between molecular estimates of divergence times and the fossil record. On a phenotypic level, the Blattodean ground-plan is for egg packages to be laid directly in a hole while other forms of oviposition, including ovovivipary and vivipary, arose later. Finally, other changes in egg care strategy may have allowed for the adaptation of nest building and other novelties.
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prayers for fossil mantis unfulfilled prochaeradodis enigmaticus piton 1940 is a cockroach Blattodea
Geodiversitas, 2018Co-Authors: Dominic A Evangelista, Olivier BethouxAbstract:The fossil species Prochaeradodis enigmaticusPiton, 1940, from Menat (France, Paleocene) has been regarded as a crown-Mantodea (praying mantis) and was subsequently used as one of the very few temporal calibration points relevant for the order. Ambiguities in previous descriptions prompted us to re-examine the type material. Based on our new observations and a broad comparative analysis across Dictyoptera, we recognized three independent morphological character states supporting an unequivocal placement of the fossil within Blattodea (cockroaches and termites). These states are: 1) in forewing, the AA area has intercalary veins; 2) in forewing, ScP is short and oblique; and 3) in hind wing, CuA has many posterior branches not reaching the posterior wing margin but the cubital furrow. This new placement discounts the use of this fossil as a Mantodea tree calibration point.
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new and enigmatic cockroaches dictyoptera Blattodea of guyana
Journal of Natural History, 2016Co-Authors: Dominic A Evangelista, Erdine Sylvain, Ciara Mae Mendoza, Kimberly GuzmanAbstract:ABSTRACTWe report Blattodean taxa collected from three regions in Guyana. Our analyses associated with these specimens provide new geographic records, species descriptions, ecological information and genetic information. We report on the genera Lamproblatta, Eublaberus, Epilampra, Dasyblatta, Ischnoptera, Xestoblatta, Dendroblatta and Euphyllodromia. These include two new species, nine new records for Guyana and four new records for the Guiana Shield entirely. We also provide photographs, measurements, and some new biological information for our specimens.
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species richness estimates of Blattodea s s insecta dictyoptera from northern guyana vary depending upon methods of species delimitation
Systematic Entomology, 2014Co-Authors: Dominic A Evangelista, Godfrey R Bourne, Jessica L WareAbstract:Cockroaches (Order: Blattodea) comprise a taxon that, although very abundant in tropical forests, remains largely unstudied. Making sense of the diversity of species is a challenging task hindered by the large numbers of species and the abundance of cryptic or polymorphic forms. Here, we estimated species richness of cockroaches (s.s.) from northern Guyana while applying a method to deal with these confounding factors. We utilized two interpretations of abundance data, the first using only morphological information, and the second using both morphological and genetic barcode information. The two methods of species delimitation greatly influenced the resulting estimates of species richness. When incorporating genetic barcodes, our total species richness estimate decreased by 26%. Our results emphasize the importance of using independent datasets to delimit species boundaries and expert identification of specimens when possible.
Bernhard Misof - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the power of neuropeptide precursor sequences to reveal phylogenetic relationships in insects a case study on Blattodea
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2020Co-Authors: Marcel Blaser, Bernhard Misof, Reinhard PredelAbstract:Recent state-of-the-art analyses in insect phylogeny have exclusively used very large datasets to elucidate higher-level phylogenies. We have tested an alternative and novel approach by evaluating the potential phylogenetic signals of identified and relatively short neuropeptide precursor sequences with highly conserved functional units. For that purpose, we examined available transcriptomes of 40 Blattodean species for the translated amino acid sequences of 17 neuropeptide precursors. Recently proposed intra-ordinal relationships of Blattodea, based on the analysis of 2370 protein-coding nuclear single-copy genes (Evangelista et al., 2019), were corroborated with maximum support. The functionally different precursor units were analyzed separately for their phylogenetic information. Although the degree of information was different in the different sequence motifs, all precursor units contained phylogenetic informative data at the ordinal level, and their separate analysis did not reveal contradictory topologies. This study is the first comprehensive exploitation of complete neuropeptide precursor sequences of arthropods in such a context and demonstrates the applicability of these rather short but conserved sequences for an alternative, fast and simple analysis of phylogenetic relationships.
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an integrative phylogenomic approach illuminates the evolutionary history of cockroaches and termites Blattodea
Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2019Co-Authors: Dominic A Evangelista, Ryuichiro Machida, Benjamin Wipfler, Olivier Bethoux, Alexander Donath, Mari Fujita, Manpreet K Kohli, Frederic Legendre, Bernhard MisofAbstract:Phylogenetic relationships among subgroups of cockroaches and termites are still matters of debate. Their divergence times and major phenotypic transitions during evolution are also not yet settled. We addressed these points by combining the first nuclear phylogenomic study of termites and cockroaches with a thorough approach to divergence time analysis, identification of endosymbionts, and reconstruction of ancestral morphological traits and behaviour. Analyses of the phylogenetic relationships within Blattodea robustly confirm previously uncertain hypotheses such as the sister-group relationship between Blaberoidea and remaining Blattodea, and Lamproblatta being the closest relative to the social and wood-feeding Cryptocercus and termites. Consequently, we propose new names for various clades in Blattodea: Cryptocercus + termites = Tutricablattae; Lamproblattidae + Tutricablattae = Kittrickea; and Blattoidea + Corydioidea = SolumBlattodea. Our inferred divergence times contradict previous studies by showing that most subgroups of Blattodea evolved in the Cretaceous, reducing the gap between molecular estimates of divergence times and the fossil record. On a phenotypic level, the Blattodean ground-plan is for egg packages to be laid directly in a hole while other forms of oviposition, including ovovivipary and vivipary, arose later. Finally, other changes in egg care strategy may have allowed for the adaptation of nest building and other novelties.
Thomas Bourguignon - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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historical biogeography of the termite clade rhinotermitinae Blattodea isoptera
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2019Co-Authors: Menglin Wang, Nathan Lo, Ales Bucek, Jan Sobotnik, David Sillamdusses, Theodore A Evans, Yves Roisin, Thomas BourguignonAbstract:Abstract Termites are the principal decomposers in tropical and subtropical ecosystems around the world. Time-calibrated molecular phylogenies show that some lineages of Neoisoptera diversified during the Oligocene and Miocene, and acquired their pantropical distribution through transoceanic dispersal events, probably by rafting in wood. In this paper, we intend to resolve the historical biogeography of one of the earliest branching lineages of Neoisoptera, the Rhinotermitinae. We used the mitochondrial genomes of 27 species of Rhinotermitinae to build two robust time-calibrated phylogenetic trees that we used to reconstruct the ancestral distribution of the group. Our analyses support the monophyly of Rhinotermitinae and all genera of Rhinotermitinae. Our molecular clock trees provided time estimations that diverged by up to 15.6 million years depending on whether or not 3rd codon positions were included. Rhinotermitinae arose 50.4–64.6 Ma (41.7–74.5 Ma 95% HPD). We detected four disjunctions among biogeographic realms, the earliest of which occurred 41.0–56.6 Ma (33.0–65.8 Ma 95% HPD), and the latest of which occurred 20.3–34.2 Ma (15.9–40.4 Ma 95% HPD). These results show that the Rhinotermitinae acquired their distribution through a combination of transoceanic dispersals and dispersals across land bridges.
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phylogenetic position of the enigmatic termite family stylotermitidae insecta Blattodea
Invertebrate Systematics, 2018Co-Authors: Liwei Wu, Jan Sobotnik, Thomas Bourguignon, Weiren Liang, Houfeng LiAbstract:Termites are eusocial insects currently classified into nine families, of which only Stylotermitidae has never been subjected to any molecular phylogenetic analysis. Stylotermitids present remarkable morphology and have the unique habit of feeding on living trees. We sequenced mitogenomes of five stylotermitid samples from China and Taiwan to reconstruct the phylogenetic position of Stylotermitidae. Our analyses placed Stylotermitidae as the sister group of all remaining Neoisoptera. The systematic position of Stylotermitidae calls for additional studies of their biology, including their developmental pathways and pheromone communication, which have the potential to change our understanding of termite evolution.
