Hojun Song | USGS Science

USGS2024

Orthoptera-specific target enrichment (OR-TE) probes resolve relationships over broad phylogenetic scales

Phylogenomic data are revolutionizing the field of insect phylogenetics. One of the most tenable and cost-effective methods of generating phylogenomic data is target enrichment, which has resulted in novel phylogenetic hypotheses and revealed new insights into insect evolution. Orthoptera is the most diverse insect order within polyneoptera and includes many evolutionarily and ecologically interesting species. Still, the order as a whole has lagged behind other major insect orders in terms of transitioning to phylogenomics. In this study, we developed an Orthoptera-specific target enrichment (OR-TE) probe set from 80 transcriptomes across Orthoptera. The probe set targets 1828 loci from genes exhibiting a wide range of evolutionary rates. The utility of this new probe set was validated by generating phylogenomic data from 36 orthopteran species that had not previously been subjected to phylogenomic studies. The OR-TE probe set captured an average of 1037 loci across the tested taxa, resolving relationships across broad phylogenetic scales. Our detailed documentation of the probe design and bioinformatics process is intended to facilitate the widespread adoption of this tool.

Scientific Reports↗

USGS2024

Phylogenomics, male internal genitalia, a new species, and other notes on New World Stenopelmatus Jerusalem crickets (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatoidea: Stenopelmatini)

Based on past and expanded DNA sampling, the orthopteran families Stenopelmatidae and Anostostomatidae, as currently structured, are shown to be non-monophyletic. The splay-footed cricket genus Comicus is confirmed to be genetically distinct from all Stenopelmatidae. We add two specimens to our previously published phylogenetic tree for New World Stenopelmatus Jerusalem cricket species and report the first multilocus DNA recovery for S. ater from Costa Rica. Male internal genitalia may be of systematic value in Jerusalem crickets, but we believe they should be analyzed when in their unfolded, “physiologically functional” configuration, where morphological characters can be seen in more detail when compared to their preserved, folded state. We describe Stenopelmatus nuevoguatemalae n. sp. from Guatemala.

Zootaxa↗

USGS2021

Generic relationships of New World Jerusalem crickets (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatoidea: Stenopelmatinae), including all known species of Stenopelmatus

The New World Jerusalem crickets currently consist of 4 genera: Stenopelmatus Burmeister, 1838 , with 33 named entities; Ammopelmatus Tinkham, 1965 , with 2 described species; Viscainopelmatus Tinkham, 1970 , with 1 described species, and Stenopelmatopterus Gorochov, 1988 , with 3 described species. We redefine the generic boundaries of these 4 genera, synonymize Stenopelmatopterus under Stenopelmatus , and synonymize Viscainopelmatus under Ammopelmatus. We then discuss, and illustrate, all the types of the species of Stenopelmatus, all of which only occur south of the United States’ border. We recognize as valid the following 5 described Mexican and Central American species: S. ater, S. piceiventris, S. sartorianus, S. talpa, and S. typhlops. We declare the following 13 described Mexican and Central American Stenopelmatus taxa as nomen dubium: S. calcaratus, S. erythromelus, S. guatemalae, S. histrio, S. lessonae, S. lycosoides, S. mexicanus, S. minor, S. nieti, S. sallei, S. sumichrasti, S. toltecus, and S. vicinus. We designate a neotype for S. talpa and lectotypes for S. ater, S. guatemalae, S. histrio, S. lessonae, S. mexicanus, S. minor, S. nieti, S. sallei, S. sumichrasti, and S. toltecus . We assign a type locality for S. piceiventris. We concur with the previous synonymy of S. politus under S. sartorianus. We describe 14 new species of Stenopelmatus from Mexico, Honduras and Ecuador, based on a combination of adult morphology, DNA, calling song drumming pattern, distribution, and karyotype: S. chiapas sp. nov. , S. cusuco sp. nov. , S. diezmilpies sp. nov ., S. durango sp. nov. , S. ecuadorensis sp. nov. , S. faulkneri sp. nov. , S. honduras sp. nov. , S. hondurasito sp. nov. , S. mineraldelmonte sp. nov. , S. nuevoleon sp. nov. , S. perote sp. nov. , S. saltillo sp. nov. , S. sanfelipe sp. nov. , and S. zimapan sp. nov . We transfer the following 16 described United States taxa, plus S. cephalotes from the “west coast of North America”, from Stenopelmatus to Ammopelmatus: A. cahuilaensis, A. californicus, A. cephalotes, A. fasciatus, A. fuscus, A. hydrocephalus, A. intermedius, A. irregularis, A. longispinus, A. mescaleroensis, A. monahansensis, A. navajo, A. nigrocapitatus, A. oculatus, A. pictus, and A. terrenus, along with the Mexican taxon A. comanchus : these species will be discussed in a subsequent paper (Weissman et al. in prep). We believe that all new Jerusalem cricket species descriptions should include, at a minimum, calling drum (most important) and DNA information.

Zootaxa↗