Research Article |
Corresponding author: Xin Qi ( qixin0612@163.com ) Academic editor: Fabio Laurindo da Silva
© 2020 Chao Song, Xinhua Wang, Wenjun Bu, Xin Qi.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Citation:
Song C, Wang X, Bu W, Qi X (2020) Morphology lies: a case-in-point with a new non-biting midge species from Oriental China (Diptera, Chironomidae). ZooKeys 909: 67-77. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.909.39347
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Morphological traits are generally indicative of specific taxa, and particularly function as keys in taxonomy and species delimitation. In this study, a non-biting midge species with an Einfeldia-like superior volsella makes it hard to accurately determined based on its morphological characteristics. Molecular genes of two ribosomal genes and three protein-encoding genes were compiled to construct a related genera phylogeny and to address the taxonomic issues. Phylogenetic inference clearly supports the undetermined species as belonging to Kiefferulus. Therefore, a new species classified in the genus Kiefferulus is described and figured as an adult male from Oriental China. The species could be easily distinguished from other species in having an Einfeldia-like superior volsella and a triangular tergite IX.
COI, CAD, Kiefferulus, morphology, phylogeny, PGD, taxonomy
For hundreds of years, taxonomists have been mainly focused on morphological characteristics for classification, taxonomy, and species identification. The most essential part of traditional taxonomy is based on similarities and differences to create systematics.
With the burgeoning of molecular technology, there have been heated debates among scientists on whether the traditional system should be retained (
Chironomidae is a large family of diverse flies and commonly called non-biting midges. It is the most widely distributed of all aquatic insect families occurring in all zoogeographical region of the world, including Antarctica (
Kiefferulus was described by Goetghebuer (1922) to accommodate Tanytarsus tedipediformis from Belgium (Chaudhuri and Ghosh 1986). However, it was later recognized as a subgenus of Pentapedilum Kiefer by Edwards (1929) and of Chironomus Meigen by
Herein, we used sequences from two ribosomal genes (18S and 28S ribosomal DNA), three protein-encoding genes [cytochrome oxidase I (COI), CPSase region of carbamol-phosphate synthase-aspartate transcarbamolylase-dihydroorotase (CAD), and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD)] to explore the undetermined chironomid species’ systemic position. Through phylogenetic relationships, it is recognized as a new species of Kiefferulus based on molecular phylogeny analysis. We also discuss whether morphological traits can be independently used to define species within non-biting midges. Finally, Kiefferulus trigonum sp. nov. is presented and described.
The morphological nomenclature follows
Digital photographs were captured with a Leica DFC420 camera using a Leica DM6000 B compound microscope and under the application of the software Leica Suite at the NTNU university Museum, NTNU (Trondheim, Norway). Photograph post-processing were done in Adobe photoshop and Illustrator (Adobe Inc., California, USA).
Tissues for total genome DNA extraction were removed from the thorax, heads of adult, and abdomen of larvae. The extraction procedure followed the Qiagen DNeasy Blood and Tissue kit except for elusion buffer ranging from 100–150 µl according to different body sizes. After extraction, the exoskeletons were cleared and mounted to corresponding voucher numbers. We amplified two ribosomal genes (18S and 28S) and four protein coding gene segments including fragments of one mitochondrial gene (COI-3P), two sections of the CPSase region of carbamoylphosphate synthase-aspartate transcarbamoylase-dihydroorotase (CAD1 and CAD4), and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD). Besides, universal primers LCO1490 and HCO2198 were used for the standard COI barcode sequences.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplifications were done in a 25 µl volume including 12.5 µl 2 × Es Taq MasterMix (CoWin Biotech Co., Beijing, China), 0.625 µl of each primer, 2 µl of template DNA and 9.25 µl deionized H2O, or 2.5 µl 10× Takara ExTaq buffer (CL), 2 µl 2.5 mM dNTP mix, 2 µl 25 mM MgCl2, 0.2 µl Takara Ex Taq HS, 1 µl 10 µM of each primer, 2 µl template DNA and 14.3 µl ddH2O. PCR was performed on a PowerCylcer Gradient SL (Biometra Gmbh, Göttingen, Germany). For the mitochondrial gene, the program was set as follows: an initial denaturation step of 95 °C for 5 min, then followed by 34 cycles of 94 °C for 30 s, 51 °C for 30 s, 72 °C for 1 min and final extension at 72 °C for 3 min. The program of ribosomal genes and nuclear protein coding genes were referred to
DNA sequences were edited and assembled with BioEdit 7.0.1 (
Maximum likelihood (ML) trees were constructed in raxml-GUI v1.5b2 (
The initial sequences of genes are CAD1 909bp, CAD4 846 bp, PGD 747 bp, 18S 933 bp, COI3P 826 bp, and 28S 743 bp (DOI: dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-KIFFER). To reduce the effects of missing data, we trimmed the beginning and end of the protein coding genes and delete highly variable regions of 18S and 28S and finally concatenated to 4335 bp (CAD1 828 bp, CAD4 760 bp, PGD 747 bp, COI3P 662 bp, 18S 852 bp, 28S 455 bp) (SI). Both ML and BI inference show the same topology (Fig.
The new species was not identified using morphological taxonomic keys for adult Chironomidae (
To clearly illustrate the species’ systemic position, it was included in the molecular phylogeny of related genera. Surprisingly, the morphologically identified species fall within the clade of Kiefferulus (Fig.
When defining a species new to science, almost no taxonomists would test its systemic position, which would be time-consuming and costly. Hierarchical classifications based on appropriate morphological characters provide a main backbone of the life tree, while molecular data provide corroboration, resolution, and support (
Holotype (BDN No. 041685) 1♂, China, Fujian Province:Longyan City, Shanghang County, Buyun Town, Qiushan, 25.03N, 116.24E, 6.V.1993, Wang XH, light trap. Paratypes: 1♂ same as holotype; 3♂, Fujian Province: Sanming City, Jianning County, 25. IX.2002, Liu Z, light trap; 1♂, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Nanning City, 9. V.1986, Wang XH; 2♂, Guizhou Province: Libo County, 7.VIII.1995, Bu WJ, light trap; 1♂, Hainan Province: Ledong City, Jianfengling National Forest Park, Song C, light trap.
From Latin, trigonum means triangle, referring to the triangular tergite IX.
The male adults could be obviously distinguished from other Kiefferulus species by the triangular IX tergite, superior volsella with projection and basal part of inferior volsella wider than distal part.
Male imago (N = 9). Total length 4.78–5.90, 5.30 mm; wing length 2.13–2.85, 2.46 mm; total length/ wing length 1.95–2.38, 2.16; wing length / length of profemur 1.98–2.33, 2.12.
Coloration. Head, thorax and abdomen brown, legs yellowish except distal fore femur and tarsus I light brown.
Head. Frontal tubercle absent. AR 3.07–3.69, 3.25. Temporal setae 15–25, 20; Clypeus with 20–33, 26 setae;
Palpomere lengths (in μm): 38–55; 47; 115–153, 128; 123–163,141; 170–245, 208. Length of 5th palpomere / 3rd palpomere 1.42–2.04, 1.61.
Wing
(Fig.
Thorax. Dorsocentrals 8–13, 12; acorstichals 20–28, 23; prealars 5–7, 6; scutellum 10–18, 12 setae.
Legs.
Tarsomere 1 of Mid and hind leg with 9–20, 14 and 6–17, 10 sensilla chaetica respectively. Front scale bluntly rounded; Spurs of mid tibia 23–38, 29 μm, and 25–33, 29 μm long, of hind tibia 28–38, 32 μm, and 25–35, 29 μm. Width at apex of front tibia 75–98, 85 μm, of mid tibia 83–95, 89 μm, of hind tibia 90–110, 98 μm. Lengths and proportions of legs as the Table
fe | ti | ta1 | ta2 | ta3 | ta4 | |
p1 | 1050–1325, 1161 | 825–1050, 919 | 1150–1500, 1322 | 720–860, 779 | 630–800, 712 | 540–690, 611 |
p2 | 950–1250, 1078 | 820–1100, 956 | 520–650, 582 | 300–380, 337 | 230–300, 263 | 160–200, 180 |
p3 | 1075–1350, 1203 | 1050–1375, 1194 | 470–940, 777 | 420–540, 472 | 360–480, 418 | 220–280, 251 |
ta5 | LR | BV | SV | BR | ||
p1 | 230–300, 262 | 1.38–1.52,1.44 | 1.37–1.49, 1.44 | 1.53–1.63, 1.57 | 3.67–6.89, 5.44 | |
p2 | 110–130, 119 | 0.58–0.65, 0.61 | 2.80–3.06, 2.93 | 3.32–3.67, 3.49 | 2.32–4.86, 3.53 | |
p3 | 140–170, 154 | 0.66–0.69, 0.68 | 2.35–2.58, 2.47 | 2.87–3.10, 2. 97 | 3.24–6.50, 4.09 |
Hypopygium
(Figs
Larva and female unknown.
Fujian Province, Guizhou Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Hainan Province (Oriental China).
Morphological characters such as the anal point narrow basally, distally broad, the superior volsella with microtrichia, and the gonostylus distally constricted positively and molecular phylogeny provide clues indicating the genus Kiefferulus. Morphologically, the new species shows great similarity with Einfeldia species with pad-like microtrichose and setose bases and a finger-like projection inwards to the apex of the anal point that clearly distinguishes them from species of Kiefferulus.
This paper forms part of the project “Phylogeny of the subfamily Chironominae”. The first author is indebted to Elisabeth Stur and Torbjørn Ekrem (NTNU University Museum, Trondheim, Norway) when studying in Trondheim. Many thanks to Yu Xue, who did a lot of work on Kiefferulus and Mingxuan Hong for figures drawing in preparing the manuscript. Financial support is acknowledged from Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (LY17C040001) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31672264).
The concatenated DNA dataset used for phylogenetic analyses.
Data type: NEX file