12 new species of Eastern lice discovered using advanced imaging tools

Lewis and his colleagues digitally removed the scales covering the worms’ cuticles using x-ray microtomography, a 3D imaging technique that uses x-rays to visualize cross-sections of the internal structure of objects. They found that the underlying cuticle varies significantly between species and can therefore be used for taxonomic and classification purposes. Using this technique in combination with conventional light microscopy and DNA barcoding, they discovered, described and named 12 new species of weevils from Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. These species range from 1.5 to 3.0 mm in length and are relatively small insects.

Two of these new types are available in Japan: Aphanerostethus magnus (Oo-daruma-kuchikakushi-zoumushi) And Aphanerostethus japonicus (Nippon-daruma-kuchikakushi-zoumushi). One of them is Aphanerostethus japonicusIt is also found in Yanbaru National Park in Okinawa. This is the first time x-ray microtomography has been used to remove obscuring scales to examine underlying differences in morphology for taxonomic purposes. The findings of this study were published in the journal Zookeys.

The researchers showed that removing scales using x-ray microtomography revealed significant morphological differences between species that were not easily observed using other methods. As a result, this technique may gain greater popularity as a tool for identifying new insect species, especially those covered in scales or debris.

Lewis, OIST’s Insect Collection Manager and lead author of the paper, examined specimens from collections in Canada, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Netherlands. One of the primary objectives was to investigate the use of x-ray microtomography as a tool in weevil taxonomy. genus Aphanerostethus It had been poorly studied in the past, but many undescribed species have been discovered in museum collections around the world, including two new species in Japan.

Multiple methods for finding new species

The researchers used traditional methods such as light microscopy and dissection to observe differences between species, including the shape of the elytra (dorsal), scales along the leg spines, and the shape of the rostral canal (a canal that protects the rostrum). They also used DNA barcoding to analyze their genes and create a phylogenetic tree of eight species. It was not so easy to separate some species based on morphology alone, but because gene sequences differ between species, the phylogenetic tree was informative and provided additional evidence about new species.

Although the above methods are standard practice in taxonomy, the researchers’ use of X-ray microtomography was novel and has been used successfully to study the structure of not only the latent cuticle but also the hind wings. Aphanerostethus Lice have lost the ability to fly due to the gradual reduction of their hind wings, but the degree of reduction has been shown to vary between species. Normally, specimens must be dissected to image the hindwings, but x-ray microtomography is invaluable when working with rare or valuable specimens that cannot be dissected or modified, as it allows non-destructive examination of the internal anatomy.

The presence of partially reduced wings in some species offers a fascinating glimpse into the ongoing process of evolutionary change: “Some species have almost completely lost their hindwings, while others have non-functional half-wings with vein patterns still remaining. Hindwing loss is not only useful from a taxonomy and systematics perspective, “It also shows how different species within the same group may be at different stages of losing a historically very important organ that played a crucial role in insect evolution.” explained Lewis.

Investing in Japan’s natural heritage

Discovery of new species of lice can be challenging for two main reasons. First, insects are incredibly diverse, making full cataloging time-consuming and tedious. Second, many insect species are highly host-specific, able to live only in very specific microhabitats and only be active for short periods of time as adults. For example, some species feed on a single tree species and may only occupy a certain part of the tree, such as the canopy. Additionally, some insect species are strictly nocturnal and are rarely observed during the day.

This extreme specialization and diversity in natural history means that unless researchers investigate day and night, throughout the seasons, and focus on specific parts of many different plant species, they will inevitably miss certain species.

Dr. is a research assistant at Gülbalı Institute of Applied Ecology and former leader of the Department of Environmental Science and Informatics. Dan Warren emphasized the importance of investing in specimen collections: “These specimen collections are crucial for discovering new species and documenting biodiversity changes. They arise from both human activities and natural cycles and are essential tools for scientific research and conservation biology,” he said. “If appropriate support is not provided to them and the people who protect them, we risk losing irreplaceable information about species and ecosystems, possibly without discovering them.”

“These new weevil species are part of Japan’s natural heritage, and although they are still ecologically poorly known, discovering and naming them is the first step towards understanding their biology,” Lewis added. Protected areas such as Yanbaru National Park, home to new discoveries A. japonicusIt is necessary to preserve the island’s rich and endemic biological diversity.