Crane flies (Diptera, Tipuloidea) from southern Neotropical salt marshes: survey with DNA barcoding

Abstract

Crane flies are the most diverse group within Diptera, but they are rarely studied in coastal ecosystems. Considering the scarcity of information on the biology and ecology of this group in the Neotropics, and the sparse literature available for taxonomic identification, we developed a descriptive checklist that incorporates morphology and DNA barcoding. We also created a generic identification key for crane flies of southern Brazilian salt marshes. We sampled crane flies continuously at three areas along the Patos Lagoon salt marshes over one year. A total of 14 genera/subgenera, 6 species, and 12 morphotypes belonging to Limoniidae and Tipulidae were identified. Distribution ranges of Symplecta cana (Walker, 1848) and two Ormosia Rondani, 1856 species were expanded. mtDNA COI sequences were compared to the BOLD and NCBI databases, but were matched only at the family level. Therefore, we provided sequences to both platforms, updated to the genus level. We found low (0.00-0.03) intraspecific and high (0.11-0.25) interspecific molecular differences indicating that the mtDNA COI region is adequate for distinguishing species within the Tipuloidea. The Dicranomyia Stephens, 1829 species complex showed low genetic difference, indicating that they could be one species with high morphological plasticity. This study will serve as a basis for future research on insects of Neotropical salt marshes.

New finding of Toxorhina (Ceratocheilus) limoniid fly in Eocene Baltic amber and the biogeographical context of the genus

“…All subgenera of Toxorhina are characterized by elongated rostrum, exceeding half of body length, or the entire body or wing length, bearing the reduced mouthparts at the tip. The biology of the group is known very little, adults use the long mouthparts to probe a variety of flowering plants for nectar 10 , 11 . The immature stages were found in slimy, well rotten wood and branches, under leaf litter, in the saturated soil of swamps and in the liquid between fibers in petioles of rotten palm fronds 11 , 12 .…”

Construction of Molecular Transporter Based on DNA Structure Regulation

“…This is due to not only the unique biocompatibility of DNA as an endogenous substance in life but also some specific advantages compared with other materials, such as precise base pairing principle, sequence programmability, structure diversity and controllability, mature synthesis technology, and easy modification . In recent years, with the rapid development of DNA nanotechnology, various molecular machines based on DNA structure regulation have been successfully constructed, such as DNA tweezers (DNA tweezer), , DNA gear (DNA gear), , DNA crane, , DNA walker, , DNA motor, − DNA robot, , and so on. In various DNA molecular machines, based on the Watson–Crick base complementary pairing and the principle of minimum free energy, − through appropriate sequence design and conditional control (such as strand replacement, environmental stimuli), DNA units realize the controllable transformation between different conformations as the role of hydrogen bonds, the interactions of noncovalent bonds, electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals forces, and so on.…”