Abstract.In the last few years we have described over 70 new incipient sibling limnephild species applying the discovered Trichoptera speciation traits of the paraproct and paramere for species recognition and delimitation. In this revision on Drusinae subfamily, comprising 177 species, we have applied these subtle, but rapid and stable speciation traits and described 49 new sibling species from the "well studied" European mountain ranges. Discussing the theoretical background we have elaborated and adapted a new character state ranking system of phenomics to revise the long-neglected taxonomy of the Drusinae subfamily and synonymised the Cryptothrix, Monocentra, Metanoea, Leptodrusus, Anomalopterygella, Hadimina genera with the Drusus genus. These old genera of artificial constructs were established exclusively by divergences of secondary sexual traits known already to have only species level ranking value. According to our new character ranking system in the Drusinae subfamily, beside the Drusus genus, only the Ecclisopteryx genus has been retained having robust generic level divegences of paraproct loss and ancestral duplication of spine organising centre on the paramere pattern. Speciation trait function of the peg-packed surface on the paraproct head in Drusus genus moved to the gonopod apices and integrated into variously shaped stimulatory organ in the Ecclisopteryx genus. In the Drusus genus the ancestral divergence of the single spine organising centre has integrated 11 species groups with remarkably stable paramere spine pattern. Based upon ancestral divergences in the paraproct architecture we have differenciated 28 species complexes inside the 11 species groups. The delineation of the 163 mostly incipient siblings species, inside the 28 species complexes with 44 new Drusus species, was based primarily on the divergences of speciation trait, that is in the stimulatory head shape of the apical arms on the dorsal branches of the paraproct. In the Ecclisopteryx genus with 14 species we have established two independent lineages both with a single species, as well as two species complexes with five new species applying the speciation trait of the genus, that is the shape divergence of the stimulatory organ on the dorsoapical surface of the gonopods.Based on the Darwinian natural selection, we do not understand how the discovered 70+49 new European incipient phylogenetic species of limnephilid caddisflies have been evolved in the isolated sky island habitats of high mountain ranges. This isolation induced speciation represents a challenge to the mechanistic reductionist concept of the natural selection. Our first trial to extract information from various disciplines to answer this question is presented in a brief theoretical discourse: (1) rethinking the status of natural selection towards postdarwinism; (2) teleology or teleonomy; (3) limits and potentials in understanding reality; (4) organisation of universe by integration; (5) what are and how the organising forces are powered to work in the emerging en...

Mesozoic lepidopteran wing scales shed light on the early evolution of moths and structural colors.

No abstract

Galls induced by the larval stage of cecidosids (Lepidoptera: Cecidosidae) are complex, multi-trophic systems, still poorly studied. They may be associated with other insect feeding guilds, including inquilines, kleptoparasites, cecidophages, parasitoids, and predators. By causing death of the gall inducer early in life and altering the gall phenotype, inquilines may lead to misidentification of the true gall inducers. Here, we describe through light and scanning electron microscopy Cecidonius pampeanus, a new genus and species of cecidosid moth, from the Pampa biome, south Brazil. It induces unnoticed, small galls under swollen stems of Schinus weinmannifolius Mart. ex Engl. (Anacardiaceae). Such galls are severely attacked early in ontogeny either by unidentified parasitoids belonging to Lyrcus Walker (Pteromalidae) that feed upon the inducer, or by inquiline wasps of the genus Allorhogas Gahan (Braconidae). The inquilines modify the galls into large ones that last longer and promptly call attention. Free-living galls are rare and dehiscent, pupation of C. pampeanus occurring on the ground. Due to these reasons the true inducer has been overlooked in this case for more than a century. Additionally we inferred a phylogeny for Cecidosidae using sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear loci, and characterized genetic variation and gene flow across ten populations. Despite its natural history similarities with the African genus Scyrotis, Cecidonius is a much younger lineage, more closely related to the Neotropical cecidosids. C. pampeanus populations, which are now confined to a few mountain areas within its distribution range due to habitat destruction, are also genetically isolated, requiring conservation measures.

Aims  To record and elucidate the phylogeny and biogeography of a species swarm of the genus Hydropsyche (Insecta, Trichoptera) in the Philippines. All species belong to the hamifera group. Location  The Philippines and neighbouring areas. Methods  A phylogenetic analysis based on variation of morphological characters of the male phallic apparatus. Results  The species swarm is differentiated into three clades of different age. Conclusion  Alternative dispersal and vicariance hypotheses are considered in an attempt to explain the colonization of the Philippine archipelago and the subsequent ramification of the group. The vicariance hypothesis based on the late Miocene accretion of continental fragments to the Philippines appears to be the most parsimonious. The evolution of the swarm occurred on the Philippines. Later on species dispersed to Borneo, Sulawesi and the Moluccas. The species swarm has undergone an adaptive radiation which enabled the simultaneous occurrence of species in the same streams.

No abstract

Abstract. Based on a total of 14 inclusions from Burmese amber the new insect order Tarachoptera is established. The family Tarachocelidae previously described from Burmese amber and then placed in Amphiesmenoptera incertae sedis is assigned to this new order. The genus Kinitocelis gen. nov. is established to accommodate three new fossil species: K. hennigi spec. nov., K. divisinotata spec. nov. and K. brevicostata spec. nov. The new genus differs from Tarachocelis gen. nov. by the absence of androconial scales on the wings and the loss of Cu2 in the forewings. The species are described in detail and the critical characters are illustrated by line drawings and photos. Both males and females were described. The species can be distinguished by traits in the wing venation. The new order Tarachoptera is placed in the superorder Amphiesmenoptera based on the presence of seven amphiesmenopteran apomorphies and nine tarachopteran apomorphies. Apomorphic characters of Trichoptera and Lepidoptera could not be disclosed, which suggests an independent origin and evolution from an amphiesmenopteran ancestor which was not the ancestor of the TrichopteraLepidoptera clade. The species of Tarachoptera are tiny insects with a wing span of 2.3-4.5 mm but highly specialized according to their aberrant morphology. Aspects of the presumed life history of the adults were deduced from some of the derived morphological traits that could be interpreted as adaptations to a highly structured micro-environment.

On the parasitization of the Pear Leaf Blister Moth, Leucoptera malifoliella (Costa) (Lep., Lyonetiidae) in the fruit‐growing area Havelländisches Obstbaugebiet A total of 16 parasitoid species had been reared from larvae and pupae of the leafmining host. They belong to the families Eulophidae (11), Pteromalidae (2) and Braconidae (2). The species are listed in systematical order. Additional informations about bionomics and rearing experiences are included. Chrysocharis nitetis Walk. is the most frequent parasitoid of the larvae. The parasitization had been investigated in sprayed and unsprayed orchards as well as in abandoned localities, distributed over the whole region. The percent parasitism rate was very low at all sites in the first generation. In contrast to the summer time the parasitoid induced mortality reached high values in the second generation, often exceeding 50%. These alternating levels of parasitization between the generations turned out to be stable during 3 successive years of the research period. In sprayed orchards the parasitization of the host populations remained generally low during all the time. All the identified species are polyphagous parasitoids, and thus not restricted to single habitats. Consequently, the host — parasitoid interaction must be considered on a much wider spatial scale, including landscape elements outside the orchards. Zusammenfassung Der Parasitoidenkomplex der Pfennigminiermotte Leucoptera malifoliella Costa umfaßte im Havelländischen Obstbaugebiet im Untersuchungszeitraum 16 Arten der Ordnung Hymenoptera. Davon waren die Eulophidae mit 11 Arten vertreten. Wichtigster Larvenparasitoid war Chrysocharis nitetis Walk. Mit Phänologiediagrammen der häufigsten Arten werden die Schlupf‐ und Flugzeiten dargestellt. Die Parasitierung der Larven und Puppen war in der 1. Generation sehr gering. In der 2. Generation wurden Werte über 50 % an Standorten ohne Pestizideinstz erreicht. Dieser alternierende Wechsel blieb im Untersuchungszeitraum über 3 Jahre erhalten. In den Intensivanlagen war die Parasitierung ständig sehr gering und stellte einen völlig unbedeutenden Mortalitätsfaktor dar. Da die Parasitoide überwiegend polyphage Arten sind und eine geringe Habitatbindung besitzen, muß das Parasitierungsgeschehen in größeren räumlichen Dimensionen als bisher betrachtet werden, um zu einem kausalen Verständnis zu gelangen.