Aulacidea manchuria Nastasi sp. nov., a new herb gall wasp from China – our latest publication
Nastasi LF, Deans AR (2024) Aulacidea manchuria Nastasi sp. nov., a new herb gall wasp from China (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Aulacideini), with commentary on hawkweed (Asteraceae: Hieraciinae) gall wasps. Zootaxa 5492 (4): 582–588 https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5492.4.6
Abstract.—We describe Aulacidea manchuria Nastasi sp. nov., a new species of herb gall wasp from China and the second species of Aulacidea Ashmead, 1897 to be described from the country. Based on morphological data, A. manchuria belongs to the Aulacidea hieracii group, which is known to induce galls on the stems, leaves, and stolons of Hieracium L. and Pilosella Hill; we provide a key to Eastern Palearctic females of this species group to better enable identification of these species. We discuss records of herb gall wasps from China, the recognition of hawkweed gall wasp species, and further issues with taxonomy of this species group and of Aulacidea.
Cryptic or underworked? – our latest open access publication
Nastasi LF, Tooker JF, Davis CK, Smith CN, Frey TS, Hatfield MJ, Presnall TM, Hines HM, Deans AR (2024) Cryptic or underworked? Taxonomic revision of the Antistrophus rufus species complex (Cynipoidea, Aulacideini). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 97: 399-439. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.121918
Abstract.—Cryptic species present challenges across many subdisciplines of biology. Not all “cryptic” species, however, are truly cryptic; many are simply underexplored morphologically. We examined this idea for the Antistrophus rufus species complex, which previously contained three species thought to be morphologically cryptic. To determine whether the A. rufus complex are truly cryptic species, we assessed species boundaries of members of the A. rufus species complex using morphological, ecological, and DNA barcode data, and tested whether a set of 50 morphological characters could adequately diagnose these species. We revealed that this complex includes five species, and that there are useful phenotypic diagnostic characters for all members of this species complex. This enabled redescription of four species and the description of Antistrophus laurenae Nastasi, sp. nov., which induces externally inconspicuous galls in stems of Silphium integrifolium Michx., a host not associated with other members of the complex. We use these new diagnostic characters to construct a key to the five species of the rufus complex. We conclude that the A. rufus complex was not a true case of cryptic species. Our Bayesian analysis of DNA barcode data suggests possible cospeciation of members of the rufus complex and their Silphium host plants, but further study is necessary to better understand the evolution of host use in the lineage.
Diversity and complexity of arthropod references in haiku – our latest open access publication
Deans AR, Porturas L (2024) Diversity and complexity of arthropod references in haiku. PLOS ONE 19(4): e0298865. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298865
Abstract.—Haiku are short poems, each composed of about 10 words, that typically describe moments in nature. People have written haiku since at least the 17th century, and the medium continues to be popular with poets, amateurs, educators, and students. Collectively, these poems represent an opportunity to understand which aspects of nature—e.g., which taxa and biological traits—resonate with humans and whether there are temporal trends in their representation or the emotions associated with these moments. We tested this potential using a mix of linguistic and biological methods, in analyses of nearly 4,000 haiku that reference arthropods. We documented the taxa and the life history traits represented in these poems and how they changed over time. We also analyzed the poems for emotion and tone. Our results reveal a mix of predictable trends and compelling surprises, each of which stand to potentially inform engagement strategies. At least 99 families of arthropods, in 28 orders, are represented in these haiku. The eight most commonly referenced taxa, from highest to lowest number of references, include: Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Araneae, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, and Odonata. Several common, conspicuous orders were never referenced, including Trichoptera, Plecoptera, and Megaloptera. The most commonly referenced traits relate to ecology (especially habitat, phenology, time of day), behavior (especially sound production), phenotype (especially color), and locomotion (especially flight). The least common traits in haiku relate to arthropod reproduction and physiology. Our analyses revealed few obvious temporal trends in the representations of taxa, biological traits, or emotion and tone. The broader implications of these results and possible future directions are discussed.