<strong><em>Zwicknia </em>gen. n., a new genus for the <em>Capnia bifrons </em>species group, with descriptions of three new species based on morphology, drumming signals and molecular genetics, and a synopsis of the West Palaearctic and Nearctic genera of Capniidae (Plecoptera)</strong>

Abstract

Zwicknia Murányi, gen. n. is erected for the Capnia bifrons species group sensu Zhiltzova, 2001 with the description of three new species based on morphology, mating call, and the mitochondrial DNA marker cytochrome c oxidase I: Z. acuta Murányi & Orci, sp. n., Z. kovacsi Murányi & Gamboa, sp. n. and Z. rupprechti Murányi, Orci & Gamboa, sp. n.. Zwicknia bifrons (Newman, 1838) comb. n. is selected as the type species and redescribed. The other three species placed into Zwicknia, gen. n., Z. sevanica (Zhiltzova, 1964) comb. n., Z. tuberculata (Zhiltzova, 1964) comb. n., and Z. turkestanica (Kimmins, 1950) comb. n. are redescribed based only on morphological characters. Comparative morphological studies and newly discovered characters of the genitalia has allowed for the first time a synopsis of the adults of the West Palaearctic and Nearctic genera of Capniidae. Arsapnia Banks, 1897 (type species: A. decepta Banks, 1897 comb. rev.) is removed from synonymy with Capnia Pictet, 1841 with new combinations, Arsapnia arapahoe (Nelson & Kondratieff, 1988) comb. n., A. coyote (Nelson & Baumann, 1987) comb. n., A. pileata (Jewett, 1966) comb. n., A. sequoia (Nelson & Baumann, 1987) comb. n., A. teresa (Claassen, 1924) comb. n., A. tumida (Claassen, 1924) comb. n., and A. utahensis (Gaufin & Jewett, 1962) comb. n. A new sensu stricto diagnosis of Capnia is proposed with comments on the taxa retained in Capnia sensu lato.

Continental drift and climate change drive instability in insect assemblages

“…Plecoptera is thus an efficient taxonomic tool with which to detect the impacts of geographical and climatic changes on the stability of regional biodiversity. Despite the relatively scarce current molecular studies on European Plecoptera do not yet allow evaluating the existence of the enormous cryptic diversity found in some other aquatic organisms33343536, we are aware that the natural diversity of Plecoptera could be larger than predicted from current taxonomical knowledge and the real distribution patterns could be slightly different, and this could lead to potential follow-up studies. Our study not only provides evidence for the profound effects of human-induced global change on regional biodiversity but also illustrates a more complete picture of biodiversity stability in the context of both spatial and temporal scales.…”

Two new species of Zwicknia Murányi, with molecular data on the phylogenetic position of the genus (Plecoptera, Capniidae)

“…n.. For the latter species, we also provide additional details on its intersexual communication signals, which were illustrated and succinctly described as the form 'Cappan' by Rupprecht (1997). Sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) of these species are analysed together with new sequences of Z. bifrons and Z. rupprechti from western and northern Europe and the data from southeastern Europe published in Murányi et al (2014).…”

Integrative taxonomy refutes a species hypothesis: The asymmetric hybrid origin of Arsapnia arapahoe (Plecoptera, Capniidae)

“…The mitochondrial contribution of female A. decepta to A. arapahoe was indicated by the absence of divergence between them, but was moot on whether this was from hybridization, recent divergence, or a faulty taxonomy. In retrospect, the combination in male A. arapahoe of many Arsapnia ‐like anatomical characters (Murányi et al, ) and a relatively long epiproct reminiscent of Capnia gracilaria (and other species of Capnia ; Nelson & Baumann, ) might have been interpreted as evidence of the hybrid origin of A. arapahoe , albeit one difficult to recognize amidst a background of morphological variability (Baumann & Stark, ). Regardless, the rise of genetic and genomic tools has made the detection of hybridization relatively straightforward, which in turn has revealed that hybridization and even hybrid speciation are a regular occurrence among many insect taxa (The Heliconius Research Consortium, ).…”