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Myrmeleontiformia are an ancient group of lacewing insects characterized by predatory larvae with unusual morphologies and behaviours. Mostly soil dwellers with a soft cuticle, their larvae fossilize only as amber inclusions, and thus their fossil record is remarkably sparse. Here, we document a disparate assemblage of myrmeleontiform larvae from the mid-Cretaceous amber (99 Ma) of Myanmar, evidence of a considerable diversification. Our cladistic analysis integrating extant and extinct taxa resolves the fossils as both stem- and crown-groups. Similarities between extinct and extant species permit inferences of larval ethology of the fossil species through statistical correlation analyses with high support, implying that morphological disparity matched behavioural diversity. An improved understanding of the evolutionary history of antlions and relatives supports the conclusion that hunting strategies, such as camouflage and fossoriality, were acquired early within the lineage. Larvae of the Myrmeleontiformia, which include antlions, are not well preserved in much of the fossil record. Here, Badano et al. describe a collection of predatory myrmeleontiform larvae from Cretaceous amber, resolving their evolutionary relationships and inferring their ecology.

In 2004, a new concept was introduced for simplifying identification of larvae of the common nematodes of cattle, sheep and goats that comprises estimates of the lengths of the sheath tail extensions of infective third-stage larvae (L3) of each genus and/or species to that of Trichostrongylus spp., instead of having to be dependent only on measurements in micrometre. For example, if the mean length of the sheath tail extension (the extension of the sheath caudad, beyond the caudal tip of the larva) of Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Trichostrongylus axei is assumed to be ‘X’, then that of Haemonchus contortus is 2.0–2.7 ‘X’ – a difference that is not difficult to estimate. An additional new approach suggested now, particularly for L3 of species and/or genera difficult to differentiate (such as Chabertia ovina and Oesophagostomum columbianum), is to estimate the proportion of the larval sheath tail extension comprising a terminal thin, whip-like filament. For the experienced person, it is seldom necessary to measure more than one or two sheath tail extensions of L3 in a mixed culture, because the identity of most of the remaining L3 can thereafter be estimated in relation to those measured, without having to take further measurements. The aim of this article was to present the novel approach in the form of a working guide for routine use in the laboratory. To facilitate identification, figures and a separate organogram for each of small ruminants and cattle have been added to illustrate the distinguishing features of the common L3.

Traditional metazoan phylogeny classifies the Vertebrata as a subphylum of the phylum Chordata, together with two other subphyla, the Urochordata (Tunicata) and the Cephalochordata. The Chordata, together with the phyla Echinodermata and Hemichordata, comprise a major group, the Deuterostomia. Chordates invariably possess a notochord and a dorsal neural tube. Although the origin and evolution of chordates has been studied for more than a century, few authors have intimately discussed taxonomic ranking of the three chordate groups themselves. Accumulating evidence shows that echinoderms and hemichordates form a clade (the Ambulacraria), and that within the Chordata, cephalochordates diverged first, with tunicates and vertebrates forming a sister group. Chordates share tadpole-type larvae containing a notochord and hollow nerve cord, whereas ambulacrarians have dipleurula-type larvae containing a hydrocoel. We propose that an evolutionary occurrence of tadpole-type larvae is fundamental to understanding mechanisms of chordate origin. Protostomes have now been reclassified into two major taxa, the Ecdysozoa and Lophotrochozoa, whose developmental pathways are characterized by ecdysis and trochophore larvae, respectively. Consistent with this classification, the profound dipleurula versus tadpole larval differences merit a category higher than the phylum. Thus, it is recommended that the Ecdysozoa, Lophotrochozoa, Ambulacraria and Chordata be classified at the superphylum level, with the Chordata further subdivided into three phyla, on the basis of their distinctive characteristics.

Generally, the DNA barcode relying on a short fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene is a powerful tool for facilitating species discovery and taxonomic resolution in Diptera, including black flies. However, the COI barcode lacks sufficient resolution to identify several species or infer phylogenetic relationships of black flies in the Simulium striatum species-group, whereas the fast-evolving nuclear big zinc finger (BZF) gene has been suggested as a key marker for identifying the species. In this study, a new species of black fly in the S. striatum species-group from Kamphaeng Phet province, central Thailand, was discovered and characterized through an integrated method combining morphological analysis and molecular data based on the BZF gene. The new species, Simulium (Simulium) concitatum sp. nov., was morphologically described for all life stages, excluding the egg. It shares many morphological similarities with other species of the S. striatum species-group, particularly S. thilorsuense Takaoka, Srisuka & Saeung, 2022 described from Tak province, western Thailand. Sequence analysis and phylogeny inferred from the BZF gene further confirmed that S. concitatum sp. nov. is a distinct species of the S. striatum species-group and revealed its close genetic relationship to S. wangkwaienseTakaoka, Srisuka & Saeung, 2020. The morphological differences between the new species and all known species of the S. striatum species-group documented inThailand and other countries are provided to assist in species identification. Furthermore, this study underscores the BZF gene as an effective genetic marker to differentiate the species.

Anopheles baileyi species D of the Baileyi Complex, subgenus Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand is diagnosed and formally named An. inthanonensis Somboon & Harbach, n. sp. Morphological characters of the adults, and the pupal and larval stages with their chaetotaxy, are provided and compared with other species of the complex. Phylogenetic analysis of COI sequences revealed that An. inthanonensis appears to be more closely related to An. monticola in Bhutan and China than it is to other members of the Baileyi Complex.

The cosmopolitan ascidian Ciona intestinalis is the most common model species of Tunicata, the sister-group of Vertebrata, and widely used in developmental biology, genomics and evolutionary studies. Recently, molecular studies suggested the presence of cryptic species hidden within the C. intestinalis species, namely C. intestinalis type A and type B. So far, no substantial morphological differences have been identified between individuals belonging to the two types. Here we present morphometric, immunohistochemical, and histological analyses, as well as 3-D reconstructions, of late larvae obtained by cross-fertilization experiments of molecularly determined type A and type B adults, sampled in different seasons and in four different localities. Our data point to quantitative and qualitative differences in the trunk shape of larvae belonging to the two types. In particular, type B larvae exhibit a longer pre-oral lobe, longer and relatively narrower total body length, and a shorter ocellus-tail distance than type A larvae. All these differences were found to be statistically significant in a Discriminant Analysis. Depending on the number of analyzed parameters, the obtained discriminant function was able to correctly classify > 93% of the larvae, with the remaining misclassified larvae attributable to the existence of intra-type seasonal variability. No larval differences were observed at the level of histology and immunohistochemical localization of peripheral sensory neurons. We conclude that type A and type B are two distinct species that can be distinguished on the basis of larval morphology and molecular data. Since the identified larval differences appear to be valid diagnostic characters, we suggest to raise both types to the rank of species and to assign them distinct names.

Vector control remains a key strategy in reducing mosquito-borne disease transmission. Understanding mosquito species distribution, diversity, and breeding habitat ecology is crucial for effective surveillance and to define targeted vector control interventions. We conducted a study to understand the diversity and habitat preferences of mosquito larvae across Cambodia during the rainy season from July to September 2024. Mosquito larvae were collected from a variety of breeding habitats located around households across all 25 provinces. The national sampling was conducted once during the rainy season in urban (city) and rural (village) areas within each province. Collected larvae were reared to adult emergence in the insectarium for morphological identification, further confirmed with molecular techniques. We found 37 mosquito species in the households, of which 12 are vectors of pathogens such as dengue and Japanese encephalitis viruses, and Plasmodium species, representing 93% of all collected mosquitoes. Larvae were predominantly found in anthropized artificial breeding habitats, accounting for 98% of all larvae collected. Notably, the two primary dengue vectors, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus , were recorded from all 52 sampling locations. In addition, our study identified the presence of Aedes vittatus in 12 provinces, a new confirmed vector of dengue in Cambodia. We also recorded eight Japanese encephalitis vectors, with at least one species from all sampling sites. There were no statistically significant differences in larval mosquito biodiversity (relative abundance, number of species, Shannon and Simpson diversity indices) between cities and villages, with 15 species occurring in both environments, representing 41% of the species and 99% of all mosquitoes collected. The widespread and predominant presence of dengue and Japanese encephalitis vectors in every household confirms the endemic circulation of these diseases in Cambodia.

Myiasis is a parasitic infestation of soft vertebrate tissues by larval stages of Diptera. We briefly described the lesion-causing genus Cordylobia Grünberg (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Three Polish travelers to Uganda, Gambia, and Senegal returned with furuncular myiasis. To identify the third-instar larvae removed from their skin, we examined the morphological features of the 3 specimens and sequenced a 5’ barcoding fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI-5P). One larva was identified as C. rodhaini Gedoelst, and 2 larvae were identified as C. anthropophaga (Blanchard). We were the first to submit the COI-5P of C. rodhaini to GenBank and the Barcode of Life Database. This is the first record of the importation of C. anthropophaga and the second record of the importation of C. rodhaini to Poland.

Precise identification of insect species and their developmental stages (instars) on human remains is crucial for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) and detecting potential body tampering. However, larvae of many common species can only be reliably identified using molecular techniques, which are not always possible. Furthermore, determining the instar stage is even more challenging, as features necessary for precise identification are often poorly documented. Oiceoptoma thoracicum (Linnaeus, 1758) is a common necrophagous beetle in the Palearctic region from the Western Europe to Japan. The species is also frequently found on cadavers of large vertebrates, including human remains, making it a promising candidate for use as a bioindicator in forensic entomology. Adults can be easily distinguished from other species; however, larvae have never been thoroughly described. The identification of O. thoracicum based on immature stages, or the differentiation of instars of this species is therefore not yet possible. The aim of this study was to provide reliable morphological characters that would allow the identification of larvae and instar stages in O. thoracicum. Quantitative and qualitative morphological characters for instar and species identification are described and illustrated. A list of described immature stages of the genus Oiceoptoma is provided.