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Monika J. B. Eberhard - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Vibrational Communication in Heelwalkers (Mantophasmatodea)
Biotremology: Studying Vibrational Behavior, 2019Co-Authors: Monika J. B. Eberhard, Mike D. PickerAbstract:Mantophasmatodea (Heelwalkers), described in 2002, is the most recently discovered insect order. Additionally, with only 21 species described to date, it is also among the smallest insect orders known. Mantophasmatodea are 1–4 cm long, secondarily wingless predators. They inhabit bushes, herbs, shrubs, or hide within grass tussocks in open semi-arid landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa. Adult males and females use percussive signals to communicate with one another, mainly for mate localization, recognition of male vs female, and potentially also for species recognition. Females drum their entire abdomen onto the substrate, producing single pulses spaced at regular intervals. Males use a special drumming organ located on their subgenital plate to generate groups of pulses (pulse trains), also repeated at regular intervals. Although most of the species investigated thus far occur in allopatry and have limited dispersal abilities, male vibrational signals are still surprisingly distinct from each other at an interspecific level, and most species can be distinguished by the structure of the male signal. Behavioral experiments additionally suggest that some information about species identity is encoded in male and female vibratory signals. However, the signals are probably mainly used for the localization of a potential mate within the structurally complex vegetation that the heelwalkers inhabit. Moreover, Mantophasmatodea possess very sensitive scolopidial organs to detect substrate vibrations—the well-developed subgenual organ complex within the tibia of all legs is probably most sensitive to the species-specific communication signals. Despite their recent discovery, comparatively little is known about their biology, behavior, and diversity.
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Causes of variability in male vibratory signals and the role of female choice in Mantophasmatodea.
Behavioural Processes, 2019Co-Authors: Monika J. B. Eberhard, Dennis Metze, Simon C. KüpperAbstract:Communication systems that involve substrate vibrations are increasingly a focus of research since this communication mode - recently termed biotremology - has been found to be remarkably widespread in the animal kingdom. Vibrational signals are often used during courtship and therefore underlie both natural and sexual selection. Mantophasmatodea use species- and sex-specific substrate vibrational signals during courtship. We explored whether male vibrational signals of the South African heelwalker Karoophasma biedouwense vary with temperature, body condition and age, and tested female preference towards various signal pattern combinations. We recorded male signals under varying temperatures and over 3.5 weeks after onset of signaling. Our results show that the temporal structure of male signals is modified by changes in temperature, and changes with male age. Other characteristics, especially duty cycles, are less affected, but correlate with body condition. Females responded along a broad spectrum of signaling patterns, indicating that they do not favor signals of males of a certain age or condition. They were selective towards the fine structure of vibratory signals, suggesting that pulse repetition times carry species-specific information. Mantophasmatodea thus use vibrational signals to identify and localize a mating partner, but presumably not for precopulatory mate selection.
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Variable Molecular Markers for the Order Mantophasmatodea (Insecta).
Journal of Heredity, 2017Co-Authors: Serena E. Dool, Mike D. Picker, Sven Künzel, Martin Haase, Monika J. B. EberhardAbstract:The recently discovered insect order Mantophasmatodea currently comprises 19 Southern African species. These mainly occur in allopatry, have high levels of color polymorphism and communicate via species- and gender-specific vibratory signals. High levels of interspecific morphological conservatism mean that cryptic species are likely to be uncovered. These aspects of Mantophasmatodean biology make them an ideal group in which to investigate population divergence due to habitat-specific adaptation, sexual selection, and potentially sensory speciation. Lack of appropriate genetic markers has thus far rendered such studies unfeasible. To address this need, the first microsatellite loci for this order were developed. Fifty polymorphic loci were designed specifically for Karoophasma biedouwense (Austrophasmatidae), out of which 23 were labeled and tested for amplification across the order using 2-3 individuals from 10 species, representing all 4 currently known families. A Bayesian mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) topology was reconstructed and divergence dates within the order were estimated for the first time. Amplification success and levels of polymorphism were compared with genetic divergence and time since divergence. In agreement with studies on vertebrate taxa, both amplification and variability were negatively correlated with distance (temporal and genetic). The high number of informative loci will offer sufficient resolution for both broad level population genetic analysis and individual based pedigree or parentage analyses for most species in Austrophasmatidae, with at least some loci available for the other families. This resource will facilitate research into the evolutionary biology of this understudied but fascinating group.
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Erratum to: Evolution and Diversity of Vibrational Signals in Mantophasmatodea (Insecta)
Journal of Insect Behavior, 2014Co-Authors: Monika J. B. Eberhard, Stefan H. EberhardAbstract:The original paper of this article unfortunately contains errors. In spite of thorough proofreading, in Table 1 there is a mistake concerning the collection sites of two species of Mantophasmatodea (the locations of the two Namibian species were mixed up and one GPS-data was incorrect). The authors are hereby publishing the correct Table 1. J Insect Behav (2014) 27:838–839 DOI 10.1007/s10905-014-9472-2
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Evolution and Diversity of Vibrational Signals in Mantophasmatodea (Insecta)
Journal of Insect Behavior, 2013Co-Authors: Monika J. B. Eberhard, Stefan H. EberhardAbstract:Vibrational communication for species identification and mate location is widespread among insects. We investigated the vibrational communication signals of 13 species of the insect order Mantophasmatodea (Heelwalkers). Males and females produce percussive signals by tapping their abdomens on the substrate to locate conspecific mates. We show that male and female calls are of similar general structure but differ in temporal characteristics. Using a principal component analysis, we demonstrate that most species can be distinguished by their calls only. Mapping the calls onto an existing molecular phylogenetic tree reveals a slow diverging drift of male call pattern but no specific trend. For females, a trend from faster towards slower pulse repetition times is indicated. Two sympatric species, Karoophasma biedouwense and Viridiphasma clanwilliamense (Austrophasmatidae), exhibit very different call parameters. The latter species produces calls rather different from all other investigated species, which might hint at reproductive character displacement.
Michael S. Engel - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A unique box in 28S rRNA is shared by the enigmatic insect order Zoraptera and Dictyoptera
2016Co-Authors: Yanhui Wang, Kai Dang, José Albertino Rafael, Michael S. Engel, Ying Wang, Qiang Xie* WenjunAbstract:The position of the Zoraptera remains one of the most challenging and uncertain concerns in ordinal-level phylogenies of the insects. Zoraptera have been viewed as having a close relationship with five different groups of Polyneoptera, or as being allied to the Paraneoptera or even Holometabola. Although rDNAs have been widely used in phylogenetic studies of insects, the application of the complete 28S rDNA are still scattered in only a few orders. In this study, a secondary structure model of the complete 28S rRNAs of insects was reconstructed based on all orders of Insecta. It was found that one length-variable region, D3-4, is particularly distinctive. The length and/or sequence of D3-4 is conservative within each order of Polyneoptera, but it can be divided into two types between the different orders of the supercohort, of which the enigmatic order Zoraptera and Dictyoptera share one type, while the remaining orders of Polyneoptera share the other. Additionally, independent evidence from phylogenetic results support the clade (Zoraptera+Dictyoptera) as well. Thus, the similarity of D3-4 between Zoraptera and Dictyoptera can serve as potentially valuable autapomorphy or synapomorphy in phylogeny reconstruction. The clades of (Plecoptera+Dermaptera) and ((Grylloblattodea+Mantophasmatodea)+(Embiodea+Phasmato-dea)) were also recovered in the phylogenetic study. In addition, considering the other studies based on rDNAs, this study reached the highest congruence with previous phylogenetic studies of Holometabola based on nuclear protein coding genes or morphology characters. Future comparative studies of secondary structures across deep divergences an
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Distributional modeling of Mantophasmatodea (Insecta: Notoptera): a preliminary application and the need for future sampling
Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 2016Co-Authors: Daniel P. Silva, Zander A. Spigoloni, Lucas M. Camargos, André Felipe Alves De Andrade, Paulo De Marco, Michael S. EngelAbstract:Insects are the most diverse animal group, with remarkable and critical ecological roles, but the understanding of the taxonomic diversity, distribution, and biology of the overwhelming majority of lineages remains in its incipient stages. One means of addressing the lack of reliable distributional data for many groups is to predict probable records using species distribution models (SDMs), and this is particularly useful for generally undersampled and rarely encountered groups. Here, we use existing distribution records for species and genera of Mantophasmatodea (Insecta: Notoptera) to generate SDMs and discuss their utility for future sampling efforts. We used two different algorithms (Envelope Score and MaxEnt) to generate potential distributions and indicate areas for future field surveys for some of the genera and species of Mantophasmatodea with at least 10 unique occurrence records. The models showed good predictive capability (true skill statistics >0.9), with different taxa exhibiting variables, endemic ranges largely in southern and southwestern Africa, areas under considerable risk from climate change. South and Southwest Africa are the best places to focus sampling efforts for empirical data on current occurrences and any possible future shifts, as well as the potential for discovery of previously unknown species. These results also highlight the need to study the smaller and lesser known lineages of invertebrates that may not represent charismatic target taxa but nonetheless harbor unique life histories with unknown ecological roles.
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a unique box in 28s rrna is shared by the enigmatic insect order zoraptera and dictyoptera
PLOS ONE, 2013Co-Authors: Yanhui Wang, Kai Dang, José Albertino Rafael, Michael S. Engel, Haoyang Wu, Ying Wang, Wenjun BuAbstract:The position of the Zoraptera remains one of the most challenging and uncertain concerns in ordinal-level phylogenies of the insects. Zoraptera have been viewed as having a close relationship with five different groups of Polyneoptera, or as being allied to the Paraneoptera or even Holometabola. Although rDNAs have been widely used in phylogenetic studies of insects, the application of the complete 28S rDNA are still scattered in only a few orders. In this study, a secondary structure model of the complete 28S rRNAs of insects was reconstructed based on all orders of Insecta. It was found that one length-variable region, D3-4, is particularly distinctive. The length and/or sequence of D3-4 is conservative within each order of Polyneoptera, but it can be divided into two types between the different orders of the supercohort, of which the enigmatic order Zoraptera and Dictyoptera share one type, while the remaining orders of Polyneoptera share the other. Additionally, independent evidence from phylogenetic results support the clade (Zoraptera+Dictyoptera) as well. Thus, the similarity of D3-4 between Zoraptera and Dictyoptera can serve as potentially valuable autapomorphy or synapomorphy in phylogeny reconstruction. The clades of (Plecoptera+Dermaptera) and ((Grylloblattodea+Mantophasmatodea)+(Embiodea+Phasmatodea)) were also recovered in the phylogenetic study. In addition, considering the other studies based on rDNAs, this study reached the highest congruence with previous phylogenetic studies of Holometabola based on nuclear protein coding genes or morphology characters. Future comparative studies of secondary structures across deep divergences and additional taxa are likely to reveal conserved patterns, structures and motifs that can provide support for major phylogenetic lineages.
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Rock Crawlers in Baltic Amber (Notoptera: Mantophasmatodea)
American Museum Novitates, 2006Co-Authors: Antonio Arillo, Michael S. EngelAbstract:A fourth species of rock crawler (Notoptera: Mantophasmatodea: Mantophasmatidae) is described and figured from an individual preserved in middle Eocene (Lutetian) Baltic amber. Adicophasma grylloblattoides Arillo and Engel, new species, is distinguished from its close relative, A. spinosum Engel and Grimaldi (reinstated), by the reduced pedicel, absence of spines on the maxillae, absence of mesofemoral spination, and proportions of the thoracic segments. The fossil shares with A. spinosum the presence of profemoral spination (confirmed by a new photograph of the holotype) and absence of the dorsal profemoral carina, characters that differentiate Adicophasma from the monotypic Raptophasma; it shares with all Baltic amber Notoptera the absence of the setal fan on the arolium. As noted by previous authors, the former order Mantophasmatodea is related to modern Grylloblattodea, whereas Mesozoic and Paleozoic grylloblattodeans represent a stem group to both. As such, Grylloblattodea and Mantophasmatodea are considered suborders of a single order, Notoptera Crampton (sensu novum), following the recommendation of Engel and Grimaldi (2004). The names for three rock crawlers are emended in order that the specific epithet may match the gender of the generic name: A. spinosum, Mantophasma zephyrum Zompro et al., and Tanzaniophasma subsolanum (Zompro et al.) (nomina emendata). Raptophasmatinae and Ensiferophasmatidae are new synonyms of Mantophasmatidae, while Tanzaniophasmatidae and Austrophasmatidae are newly demoted in rank to a subfamily and tribe of Mantophasmatidae, respectively. A hierarchical classification of Polyneoptera is appended.
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Evolution of the insects
2005Co-Authors: David A. Grimaldi, Michael S. EngelAbstract:Section 1. Diversity and Evolution: Introduction Species: their nature and number How many species of insects? Reconstructing evolutionary history Section 2. Fossil Insects: Insect fossilization Dating and ages Major fossil Insect deposits Section 3. Arthropods and the Origin of Insects: Onychophora: the velvet-worms Tardigrada: the water-bears Arthropoda: the jointed animals Hexapoda: the six-legged arthropods Section 4. The insects: Morphology of insects Relationships among the insect orders Section 5. Earliest insects: Archaeognatha: the bristletails Zygentoma: the silverfish +Rhyniognatha Section 6. Insects Take to the Skies: Pterygota, Wings, and flight Ephemeroptera: the mayflies +Palaeodictyopterida: extinct beaked insects Odonatoptera: dragonflies and early relatives Neoptera Section 7. The Polyneopterous Orders: Plecopterida Orthopterida Plecoptera: the stoneflies Embiodea: the webspinners Zoraptera: the Zorapterans Orthoptera: the grasshoppers, crickets, and kin Phasmatodea: the stick- and leaf insects +Titanoptera: the titanic crawlers +Caloneurodea: the Caloneurodeans Dermaptera: the earwigs Grylloblattodea: the ice crawlers Mantophasmatodea: the African rock crawlers Dictyoptera Blattodea: the roaches Citizen roach: the termites Mantodea: the mantises Section 8. The Paraneopteran Orders: Psocoptera: the 'bark'lice Phthiraptera: the true lice Fringe wings: Thysanoptera (thrips) The sucking bugs: Hemiptera Section 9. The Holometabola: problematic fossil orders The origins of complete metamorphosis On wings of lace: Neuropterida Section 10. Coleoptera: early fossils and overview of past diversity Archostemata Adephaga Myxophaga Polyphaga Strepsiptera: the enigmatic order Section 11. Hymenoptera: Ants, Bees, and Other Wasps: The Euhymenoptera and parasitism Aculeata Evolution of insect sociality Section 12. Antliophora: Scorpionflies, Flies, and Fleas: Mecopterida: mecopterans and relatives Siphonaptera: the fleas Evolution of ectoparasites and blood-feeders Diptera: the true flies Section 13. Amphiesmenoptera: The Caddisflies and Lepidoptera: Trichoptera: the caddisflies Lepidoptera: the moths and butterflies Section 14. Insects Become Modern: Cretaceous and Tertiary Periods: The Cretaceous flowering of the world: the Angiosperm Radiations Plant sex and insects: insect pollination Radiations of Phytophagous insects Austral arthropods: remnants of Gondwana? Insects, mass extinctions, and the K/T boundary The tertiary Mammalian radiations Pleistocene dispersal and species lifespans Island faunas Section 15. Epilogue: Why so many insect species? The future Glossary References Index.
Reinhard Predel - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Mantophasmatodea from the Richtersveld in South Africa with description of two new genera and species.
ZooKeys, 2018Co-Authors: Benjamin Wipfler, Tobias Theska, Reinhard PredelAbstract:Two new species and two new genera (Kuboesphasma, Minutophasma) of Mantophasmatodea that occur in the Richtersveld region of South Africa are described. Kuboesphasma compactumgen. n., sp. n. was found only in a small area near the village of Kuboes, while Minutophasma richtersveldensegen. n., sp. n. apparently inhabits a larger area in the Richtersveld. With these two new species, a total of four different Mantophasmatodeans are known to live in this area. This is a remarkable exception to the remaining representatives of this order, where even a common occurrence of only two species is rare. We discuss this sympatry in the context of the phylogeny of the group. Additionally, we provide a map of the known distributions and a table with the most important taxonomic features of the Mantophasmatodeans in the Richtersveld.
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biodiversity ecology and behavior of the recently discovered insect order Mantophasmatodea
Frontiers in Zoology, 2014Co-Authors: Steffen Roth, Jorge Molina, Reinhard PredelAbstract:The spectacular discovery of the new insect order Mantophasmatodea in 2002 was immediately followed by detailed studies on morphology and scattered information on different aspects of its behavior and general biology. A distinct feature of these predatory insects is the development of large arolia, which are typically held upright; hence, their common name is heelwalkers. The first Mantophasmatodean species were described based on two museum specimens originally collected in Tanzania and Namibia. To date, these insects have been observed at surprising levels of diversity and abundance in Namibia and South Africa. For our studies on the phylogenetic relationships within Mantophasmatodea, we collected and analyzed numerous populations that belong to all known Mantophasmatodean lineages, including East African populations. These collections not only provided a comprehensive biogeographical overview but also facilitated a comparative analysis of behavior, which was mainly analyzed under laboratory conditions. Here, we review and discuss the published data, as well as provide additional information on Mantophasmatodea distribution, evolutionary lineages, morphology, and biology, with a specific focus on reproductive biology.
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doi: 10.3897/zookeys.166.1802
2013Co-Authors: Benjamin Wipfler, Hans Pohl, Reinhard PredelAbstract:www.zookeys.org Two new genera and two new species of Mantophasmatodea... 75 Research article A peer-reviewed open-access journal Launched to accelerate biodiversity research Two new genera and two new species of Mantophasmatodea (Insecta, Polyneoptera) from Namibi
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Peptidomics-Based Phylogeny and Biogeography of Mantophasmatodea (Hexapoda)
Systematic Biology, 2012Co-Authors: Reinhard Predel, Susanne Neupert, Wolf Huetteroth, Jörg Kahnt, Dietmar Waidelich, Steffen RothAbstract:The insect order Mantophasmatodea was described in 2002. Prior to that time, several generations of entomolo- gists had assumed that all major insect taxa were known; thus, its description was a sensation for zoologists. Since then, a surprising abundance and species diversity of this taxon have been found, particularly in the winter rainfall region of South Africa. To learn more about the evolutionary lineages, speciation, and biogeography of Mantophasmatodea, we applied an unusual peptidomics approach. We collected specimens of almost all known and novel taxa of these insects, developed methods for immediate sample preparation in the field, introduced peptide mass fingerprints for the unambiguous iden- tification of taxa, and subsequently analyzed the most extensive data set on peptide hormones ever compiled for insect taxa. To account for intraspecific variation, we analyzed several individuals per putative species. Increased taxon sampling was preferred over a further increase in the number of characters to optimize the accuracy of phylogenetic analyses. The large data set made it possible to test the validity of using neuropeptide sequences, which coevolve with their respective receptors, to analyze phylogenetic relationships among closely related taxa. Altogether, the data from 71 populations of Mantophasmatodea were sufficient to clearly separate the major clades of Mantophasmatodea, including previously un- described taxa such as Pachyphasma, Striatophasma, and Austrophasmatidae gen. et sp. nov. "RV." The data confirm the monophyly of Austrophasmatidae and show a relatively recent and extensive radiation in the winter rainfall region of South Africa but also suggest that the species-level diversification of Namibian Mantophasma is less marked than previ- ously thought. We discuss the biogeographical and ecological factors that may have resulted in different regional patterns of endemism and species diversity in Mantophasmatodea. The unique development of the neuroendocrine capa-neurons in the ventral nervous system is described as synapomorphy of Mantophasmatodea + Grylloblattodea and is a further argument for a close relationship between these insect taxa. (Biogeography; insects; Mantophasmatodea; neuropeptides; nonadaptive radiation; peptidomics; phylogeny.)
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Two new genera and two new species of Mantophasmatodea (Insecta, Polyneoptera) from Namibia.
ZooKeys, 2012Co-Authors: Benjamin Wipfler, Hans Pohl, Reinhard PredelAbstract:Two new species and two new genera (Pachyphasma, Striatophasma) of Mantophasmatodea are described from Namibia. Pachyphasma brandbergense is endemic to the Brandberg massif; Striatophasma occupies an extensive area south of the region inhabited by Mantophasma. Phylogenetic analyses (see Predel et al. in press) suggest a sistergroup relationship of Striatophasma and the South African Austrophasmatidae.
Mike D. Picker - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Vibrational Communication in Heelwalkers (Mantophasmatodea)
Biotremology: Studying Vibrational Behavior, 2019Co-Authors: Monika J. B. Eberhard, Mike D. PickerAbstract:Mantophasmatodea (Heelwalkers), described in 2002, is the most recently discovered insect order. Additionally, with only 21 species described to date, it is also among the smallest insect orders known. Mantophasmatodea are 1–4 cm long, secondarily wingless predators. They inhabit bushes, herbs, shrubs, or hide within grass tussocks in open semi-arid landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa. Adult males and females use percussive signals to communicate with one another, mainly for mate localization, recognition of male vs female, and potentially also for species recognition. Females drum their entire abdomen onto the substrate, producing single pulses spaced at regular intervals. Males use a special drumming organ located on their subgenital plate to generate groups of pulses (pulse trains), also repeated at regular intervals. Although most of the species investigated thus far occur in allopatry and have limited dispersal abilities, male vibrational signals are still surprisingly distinct from each other at an interspecific level, and most species can be distinguished by the structure of the male signal. Behavioral experiments additionally suggest that some information about species identity is encoded in male and female vibratory signals. However, the signals are probably mainly used for the localization of a potential mate within the structurally complex vegetation that the heelwalkers inhabit. Moreover, Mantophasmatodea possess very sensitive scolopidial organs to detect substrate vibrations—the well-developed subgenual organ complex within the tibia of all legs is probably most sensitive to the species-specific communication signals. Despite their recent discovery, comparatively little is known about their biology, behavior, and diversity.
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Variable Molecular Markers for the Order Mantophasmatodea (Insecta).
Journal of Heredity, 2017Co-Authors: Serena E. Dool, Mike D. Picker, Sven Künzel, Martin Haase, Monika J. B. EberhardAbstract:The recently discovered insect order Mantophasmatodea currently comprises 19 Southern African species. These mainly occur in allopatry, have high levels of color polymorphism and communicate via species- and gender-specific vibratory signals. High levels of interspecific morphological conservatism mean that cryptic species are likely to be uncovered. These aspects of Mantophasmatodean biology make them an ideal group in which to investigate population divergence due to habitat-specific adaptation, sexual selection, and potentially sensory speciation. Lack of appropriate genetic markers has thus far rendered such studies unfeasible. To address this need, the first microsatellite loci for this order were developed. Fifty polymorphic loci were designed specifically for Karoophasma biedouwense (Austrophasmatidae), out of which 23 were labeled and tested for amplification across the order using 2-3 individuals from 10 species, representing all 4 currently known families. A Bayesian mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) topology was reconstructed and divergence dates within the order were estimated for the first time. Amplification success and levels of polymorphism were compared with genetic divergence and time since divergence. In agreement with studies on vertebrate taxa, both amplification and variability were negatively correlated with distance (temporal and genetic). The high number of informative loci will offer sufficient resolution for both broad level population genetic analysis and individual based pedigree or parentage analyses for most species in Austrophasmatidae, with at least some loci available for the other families. This resource will facilitate research into the evolutionary biology of this understudied but fascinating group.
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First chromosomal study of Mantophasmatodea: Karyotype of Karoophasma biedouwense (Austrophasmatidae)
European Journal of Entomology, 2015Co-Authors: Dorota Lachowska-cierlik, Anna Maryańska-nadachowska, Valentina G. Kuznetsova, Mike D. PickerAbstract:We have investigated for the first time the chromosomes of Karoophasma biedouwense, a species belonging to the Mantophasmatodea, a recently discovered order of carnivorous insects. Our study has revealed that males of this species display testes with numerous seminal tubes (follicles), as in other Polyneoptera, and short tubular seminal vesicles embedded in a utricular gland. The karyotype consists of 2n = 12A + X monocentric and biarmed, meta/submetacentric chromosomes (fundamental number of arms: FN = 26) with blocks of heterochromatin around centromeres. The autosomes are classified into two size groups, one represented by a single, very large pair of autosomes, the other by five smaller pairs which constitute a continuous series gradually decreasing in size. Among "monocentric" orders of Polyneoptera, K. biedouwense shares its low chromosome number, 2n = 13, as also found with some Orthoptera (Acridoidea, Grylloidea, Gryllacridoidea). Male meiosis is of the classical pre-reductional type and the X(0) sex determination system is probably an ancestral state. Use of FISH along with an 18S rDNA probe revealed multiple ribosomal clusters, which most likely represent an apomorphic condition. We identified the ancestral insect telomeric sequence (TTAGG)n in the terminal areas of the chromosomes. Currently available data on the polyneopteran orders putatively related to Mantophasmatodea showed a wide variability of cytogenetic characteristics within and between them. The only character allowing some tentative inference to be made on the ancestry of K. biedouwense is its low chromosome number, the karyotypic pattern so far unreported for the Polyneoptera except in certain Orthoptera.
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Sympatry in Mantophasmatodea, with the description of a new species and phylogenetic considerations
Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 2011Co-Authors: Monika J. B. Eberhard, Mike D. Picker, Klaus-dieter KlassAbstract:We describe a new genus of Mantophasmatodea, Viridiphasma gen. n. (Austrophasmatidae), represented by one new species, V. clanwilliamense sp. n. The new species differs from previously described species in features of the male and female postabdomen including the genitalia, in morphometrics and details of colouration. The new species occurs syntopically with another austrophasmatid, Karoophasma biedouwense Klass et al., 2003; this is the first well-documented case of sympatry of two Mantophasmatodean species. We therefore survey the morphological differences between these two species, document the absence of any morphological evidence of hybridisation, and also report on differences in life history. While a previous molecular phylogeny using COI and 16S genes ambiguously placed V. clanwilliamense sp. n. near the base of Austrophasmatidae (but not as sister to all other Austrophasmatidae), morphological characters strongly support V. clanwilliamense sp. n. to be the sister taxon of a clade comprising all remaining Austrophasmatidae. This phylogenetic placement challenges the current hypothesis of a linear north-to-south diversification of Austrophasmatidae.
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Structure and sensory physiology of the leg scolopidial organs in Mantophasmatodea and their role in vibrational communication.
Arthropod Structure & Development, 2010Co-Authors: Monika J. B. Eberhard, Mike D. Picker, Dirk M. Lang, Brian D. Metscher, Günther Pass, Harald WolfAbstract:Individuals of the insect order Mantophasmatodea use species-specific substrate vibration signals for mate recognition and location. In insects, substrate vibration is detected by mechanoreceptors in the legs, the scolopidial organs. In this study we give a first detailed overview of the structure, sensory sensitivity, and function of the leg scolopidial organs in two species of Mantophasmatodea and discuss their significance for vibrational communication. The structure and number of the organs are documented using light microscopy, SEM, and x-ray microtomography. Five scolopidial organs were found in each leg of male and female Mantophasmatodea: a femoral chordotonal organ, subgenual organ, tibial distal organ, tibio-tarsal scolopidial organ, and tarso-pretarsal scolopidial organ. The femoral chordotonal organ, consisting of two separate scoloparia, corresponds anatomically to the organ of a stonefly (Nemoura variegata) while the subgenual organ complex resembles the very sensitive organs of the cockroach Periplatena americana (Blattodea). Extracellular recordings from the leg nerve revealed that the leg scolopidial organs of Mantophasmatodea are very sensitive vibration receptors, especially for low-frequency vibrations. The dominant frequencies of the vibratory communication signals of Mantophasmatodea, acquired from an individual drumming on eight different substrates, fall in the frequency range where the scolopidial organs are most sensitive.
Klaus-dieter Klass - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The morphology of tarsal processes in Mantophasmatodea
Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 2013Co-Authors: Gerda Buder, Klaus-dieter KlassAbstract:Processes located at the dorsodistal margins of tarsomeres 2 and 3 (tp2, tp3; bearing campaniform sensilla scf-tp2/-tp3) and a campaniform sensillum (scf-mt4) located dorsally in the membrane distad of tarsomere 4 were studied in 113 specimens of Mantophasmatodea representing most of the known extant species. All three elements were found in all Mantophasmatodeans but not in the examined notopteran and are thus possibly autapomorphies of Mantophasmatodea. Processes tp2 and tp3 likely perceive movements of the following tarsomeres. Observed variation in their degree of (a)symmetry likely reflects different stages of their passive deformation, which focally occurs around the campaniform sensilla. Process tp3 varied with regard to overall shape, the presence of dorsal polygonal fields, the extension of its apical denticulation, and the location of its campaniform sensilla. Similar variation in process tp2 was less clear-cut due to its poorly-defined structure. Sensillum scf-mt4 showed variation in shape and in the microspination upon the peripheral ring-wall. Structural characteristics, including the aforementioned ones, showed much intra-specific variation combined with inter-specific overlap of ranges of variation. These tarsal structures are thus of little use in taxonomic and phylogenetic work on Mantophasmatodea. However, they either further support the monophyly of Mantophasmatodea, or could bear information on inter-ordinal phylogenetic relationships if detected in other insect orders. (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
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65 (1) 73–100 © Museum für Tierkunde Dresden, eISSN 1864-8312 The Potential Value of the Mid-Abdominal Musculature and Nervous System in the Reconstruction of Interordinal Relationships
2012Co-Authors: Arthropod Systematics, Rebecca Klug, In Lower Neoptera, Klaus-dieter KlassAbstract:The mid-abdominal musculature and its innervation are compared for several lower neopteran “orders”; data on Embioptera and Mantophasmatodea are presented for the first time. For the sclerotisations, the musculature, and the nervous system of the mid-abdomen general descriptions are given, and general aspects of homologisation in these elements are explained; for the lateral muscles the distinction of three groups innervated by the T-, B-, or C-nerves is confirmed. Differences in the musculature and nervous system of the lower neopteran lineages are discussed and evaluated with regard to their phylogenetic implications. Conditions in Ephemeroptera, Megaloptera, and Zygentoma are partly included in the discussion. Several characters were found to be informative on interordinal relationships. Plecoptera have features probably plesiomorphic at the neopteran level: the origin of nerve A in front of the ganglion and the innervation of intrasegmental lateral muscles by nerve A; this may support the monophyly of a taxon comprising all other Neoptera. The hyperneural muscle found in many Dictyoptera also appears as a uniquely plesiomorphic structure (at the pterygotan level). The co-occurrence of two specific lateral muscles supplied by nerve B as well as certain subdivisions in the lateral muscles may support a clade Phasmatodea + Embioptera. We also point to character systems that appear informative on the internal phylogeny of order-level taxa, such as the relationships between nerves T and M in Plecoptera, the ventral musculature in Ensifera, the dorsal musculature in Dermaptera, and details of the hyperneural muscle in Dictyoptera. Besides the very low number of taxa studied so far, majo
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Sympatry in Mantophasmatodea, with the description of a new species and phylogenetic considerations
Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 2011Co-Authors: Monika J. B. Eberhard, Mike D. Picker, Klaus-dieter KlassAbstract:We describe a new genus of Mantophasmatodea, Viridiphasma gen. n. (Austrophasmatidae), represented by one new species, V. clanwilliamense sp. n. The new species differs from previously described species in features of the male and female postabdomen including the genitalia, in morphometrics and details of colouration. The new species occurs syntopically with another austrophasmatid, Karoophasma biedouwense Klass et al., 2003; this is the first well-documented case of sympatry of two Mantophasmatodean species. We therefore survey the morphological differences between these two species, document the absence of any morphological evidence of hybridisation, and also report on differences in life history. While a previous molecular phylogeny using COI and 16S genes ambiguously placed V. clanwilliamense sp. n. near the base of Austrophasmatidae (but not as sister to all other Austrophasmatidae), morphological characters strongly support V. clanwilliamense sp. n. to be the sister taxon of a clade comprising all remaining Austrophasmatidae. This phylogenetic placement challenges the current hypothesis of a linear north-to-south diversification of Austrophasmatidae.
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Surface structures of the antenna of Mantophasmatodea (Insecta)
Zoologischer Anzeiger – A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 2010Co-Authors: Kai Drilling, Klaus-dieter KlassAbstract:Abstract The cuticular fine structure of the antenna in Mantophasmatodea (Austrophasmatidae: Hemilobophasma montaguense , Austrophasma gansbaaiense ) is described based on SEM images. The armature of sensilla (=s.) on the basiflagellum (14 basal flagellomeres, the distal ones of which are subdivided) and distiflagellum (7 distal flagellomeres) differs strongly. A basiflagellomere has a sporadic vestiture of prominent s. chaetica B as well as distal s. scolopidia and scattered s. coeloconica. The distiflagellum also bears scattered s. chaetica B and s. coeloconica but is also densely covered with sensilla of various other types: numerous s. trichodea and s. basiconica, sporadic s. coelocapitula, and a probably new type of branched sensilla; the distiflagellum is probably the main sensory region, including gustatory and olfactory chemoreception, mechanoreception, and hygroreception. The scape and pedicel also bear s. chaetica B, and s. chaetica A arranged in 4 (scape) or 2 (pedicel) hair-plates. Terminal s. campaniformia are only found on the pedicel. A ‘dark spot’ is present apically on distiflagellomeres 6 (as reported previously) and 1. The two spots are of similar structure and are possibly associated with glands; each comprises a complicated external aperture and a larger internal pouch enclosing a cavity; projections protrude from the pouch walls into the cavity. The surface structure of the basiflagellomeres shows differences that are possibly species specific. An overview is given on antennal apomorphies in Mantophasmatodea.
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Postembryonic development of the unique antenna of Mantophasmatodea (Insecta)
Arthropod Structure & Development, 2009Co-Authors: Dorit Hockman, Klaus-dieter Klass, Mike D. Picker, Leonie PretoriusAbstract:The postembryonic antennal development and life cycle of a member of the insect order Mantophasmatodea (Lobatophasma redelinghuysense) was investigated using a series of annulus counts and a time sequence of head capsule measurements. The life cycle comprised six instars. Females achieved significantly larger head capsules from instar 2 onwards, resulting in adult females having a larger mean head capsule diameter (2.58 mm) than males (2.27 mm). Antennae of first instar larvae comprised a smooth four-segmented basiflagellum and a seven-segmented, sensilla-rich distiflagellum. Lengthening of the basiflagellum was achieved by the addition of two annuli per moult, generated by division of the basal annulus (meriston). Annulus number and the unique annulation pattern of the distiflagellum remained constant until adulthood. The segmentation pattern of adult antennae (comprising a basiflagellum and a distiflagellum of 14 and seven annuli respectively) and mode of antennal elongation was consistent for all 11 species examined. Subdivisions in basiflagellar annuli were observed in adults of all species examined, although they are not considered to be true annular divisions. The structure of the Mantophasmatodean antenna appears to be autapomorphic within Insecta, bearing little resemblance to that of Grylloblattodea, Dictyoptera or Phasmatodea, all putative sister groups of the Mantophasmatodea. However, the mode of flagellar elongation most closely resembles that of Isoptera, Blattaria and Dermaptera.