New paper!

Stefanello F., Carpintero D.L. & Mulieri P.R.: "A new species of Belostoma Latreille (Insecta: Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Brazil long-housed at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”"

Belostoma utiaritiensis Stefanello sp. nov. (Insecta: Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) is described and illustrated based on a specimen long-housed at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”. The specimen was collected in Mato Grosso, central-western Brazil in 1966. This new species is diagnosed by an elevated prosternal keel with apex pointed, article II of labium shorter than III, abdominal pubescence entirely covering the connexiva and mediosternites, dorsal arms of the phallosoma convergent at the apex, and the diverticulum folded at the apex forming an apicoventral protuberance. The new species is assigned to the Belostoma fittkaui species group and compared with its congeners. Additionally, a key to the species of the group is provided. Thus, the number of species of Belostoma recorded from Brazil increases from 49 to 50, from 18 to 19 in the state of Mato Grosso, and from three to four within the B. fittkaui group.

https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5661.2.9

New paper!

Zhang P. et al.: "A new harpactorin hemipteran insect from the Miocene Dominican amber with fossula spongiosa on all three pairs of legs".

A new genus and species of fossil harpactorin (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), Trispongiosus hui Zhang, Yao, & Liu gen. et sp. nov., is described from Miocene Dominican amber, representing the third fossil record of Harpactorinae. The new species is remarkable for exhibiting fossula spongiosa on all three pairs of legs, which is not only the first report in Harpactorinae but also rare within Reduviidae. This structure is considered to be related to the locomotor capabilities of assassin bugs, potentially enhancing their attachment and agility in navigating complex surfaces and vegetation. Furthermore, the present study suggests that fossula spongiosa exhibits remarkable plasticity within Reduviidae by integrating fossil and extant perspective.

https://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app012252024.html

New paper!

Takeda K. et al.: "Unusual Occurrence of Syncytial Epithelia in the Male Accessory Glands of Shore Bugs (Leptopodomorpha in Hemiptera)".

(1) Background: The insect male accessory gland (MAG) produces seminal fluid components crucial for male reproduction, analogous to the mammalian prostate. While some insect MAGs exhibit binucleate epithelial cells for luminal volume plasticity, the diversity of cellular arrangements and their functional implications across insects remain largely unknown. (2) Methods: We investigated the cellular architecture of MAG epithelia in various shore bug species (infraorder Leptopodomorpha, Hemiptera) and their mechanisms of multinucleation and potential MAG volume regulation. (3) Results: The MAG epithelia of shore bugs comprise a small number of large, plastic syncytial cells with varying nuclear numbers. We hypothesize that these syncytia facilitate effective MAG volume expansion post-eclosion. Uniquely, MAG shrinkage involves the localized contraction of limited muscle fibers, unlike the systematic contraction of circular muscles in most other insects. We further describe sequential cell fusion during the nymphal stage as the mechanism of multinucleation. (4) Conclusions: The unique syncytial organization of Leptopodomorpha MAG epithelia represents an evolutionary divergence from typical binucleate or mononucleate structures in other insects; it is likely that this enables distinct mechanisms for reproductive fluid storage and evacuation. This study highlights the evolutionary diversity of male reproductive organ morphology and function within insects.

https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/7/481