True Bugs Tuesday!

Dear fellow heteropterists,

We are back, after a long summer break with lots of travel! Our next True Bugs Tuesday will take place on Tuesday October 29th at 9:00AM in Los Angeles, noon New York, 1PM in Rio de Janeiro, 7PM St. Petersburg (Russia), and Wednesday October 30th at 3AM in Sydney. Please mark your calendar for the correct time in your timezone!

We have one presentation lined up for this meeting: Dr. Anna Namyatova will speak about the influence of climate change on selected plant bug species. The Zoom info is below, as is the flyer.

We are currently busy filling speaker slots for the True Bug Tuesdays on November 26th and December 17th. If you are interested in presenting in 2025, please get in touch!

This series of talks is free for IHS members and non-members and is meant to enhance communication among researchers and students interested in heteropteran systematics and biodiversity, attract new members to the IHS, and enhance inclusivity. We aim to maximize diversity and inclusivity of speakers and talks with respect to geography, ethnicity, gender, taxonomic group, and research questions and approaches.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://ucr.zoom.us/j/94671793082?pwd=r2KX6EumgU8W3Xa4Amrj33oOVNj6ba.1

New paper!

Lis J.A. et al. "New Molecular Phylogenetic Evidence Confirms Independent Origin of Coxal Combs in the Families of the ‘Cydnoid’ Complex (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea)".

Four families (Cydnidae, Parastrachiidae, Thaumastellidae, and Thyreocoridae) in the superfamily Pentatomoidea are morphologically defined by a similar body outline and the presence of a series of stout setae on the distal margin of the coxae. These structures, called coxal combs, are thought to protect the coxal–trochanteral articulation from damage caused by soil and sand particles and have not been observed in other true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Therefore, they have been consistently considered a synapomorphy for these four families. However, their
independent origin in these families has been suggested by nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence analysis (28S rDNA and 18S rDNA). This study investigated whether the analysis of mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA sequences would confirm these results. In addition, we examined whether any group of species possessing the coxal combs could be considered a well-supported independent monophylum.

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/10/792

New paper!

Arslan H. & Candan S. "Morphological structure of salivary glands, alimentary canal, and Malpighian tubules in adult Eurydema spectabilis Horváth, 1882 (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)".

Eurydema spectabilis (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) has a piercing-sucking mouth type and feeds on plant sap. In this study, the morphological structure of the salivary glands, alimentary canal, and Malpighian tubules of E. spectabilis was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. Salivary glands consist of the principal and accessory salivary glands. In E. spectabilis, digestion begins in the mouth and ends in the anus. Alimentary canal is divided into three parts: foregut, midgut, and hindgut. The foregut consists of pharynx, esophagus, and proventriculus. The esophagus connects to the proventriculus and resembles a narrow tube. The wall of the proventriculus has a recessed structure and is surrounded by a single cylindrical layer of epithelium and muscle. The midgut is divided into three regions: the first, second, and third ventricles (V1-V3). V1 and V2 consist of single-layered cylindrical epithelium. V3 contains a single layer of cuboidal epithelium. Gastric caeca were found in the midgut. The hindgut consisted of a pylorus followed by a well-developed rectum. The wall of the rectum consists of a single-layer cuboidal epithelium and muscle. Its lumen contains numerous bacteria and uric acid crystals. The pylorus consists of a single-layered cylindrical epithelium. It is also the origin of Malpighian tubules. Malpighian tubules consist of two regions: proximal and distal. The morphological structure of the salivary glands, alimentary canal, and Malpighian tubules of E. spectabilis, which has not been studied before, was examined and discussed in comparison with other orders. It is also aimed to contribute to future studies.

https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jemt.24684?af=R