<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
    <rss version="2.0">
      <channel xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
        <title>Frontiers in Insect Science | Insect Systematics section | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/insect-science/sections/insect-systematics</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Insect Systematics section in the Frontiers in Insect Science journal | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
        <generator>Frontiers Feed Generator,version:1</generator>
        <pubDate>2026-05-07T08:00:06.564+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1814368</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1814368</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Sergentomyia (Neophlebotomus) chattiensis n. sp.: morphological and molecular description of a new sand fly species from Himachal Pradesh, India]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Harish Kumar Shah</author><author>P. A. Fathima</author><author>Manju Rahi</author><author>Prasanta Saini</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionHimachal Pradesh, an ecologically diverse state in northern India, has recently emerged as a focus of atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis. As part of a molecular xenomonitoring, systematic entomological surveillance of sand flies resulted in the reporting of a novel species, Sergentomyia (Neophlebotomus) chattiensis n. sp. (Diptera: Psychodidae), from Chatti village in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, India.MethodsA systematic cross-sectional entomological survey was carried out in the districts of Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla, and Mandi during August 2022, employing standard sand-fly collection techniques. Molecular characterization was performed using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene-based DNA barcoding, followed by phylogenetic analysis of the generated sequences.ResultsThe study reports Sergentomyia (Neo.) chattiensis as a newly recorded sand fly species and discusses its taxonomic association with other members of the subgenus Neophlebotomus. COI-based phylogenetic assessment confirmed that the collected specimens form a single taxonomic unit with negligible intraspecific genetic variation, while a genetic divergence of 12.3% from its closest congener supports its designation as a distinct species.DiscussionDespite its diverse physiography, rich biodiversity, and ecological suitability for sand fly breeding, Himachal Pradesh has lacked systematic entomological surveillance. The present study contributes to bridging this gap by expanding the existing knowledge of sand fly fauna in the state and providing comprehensive morphological and molecular characterization of this newly described species.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1778418</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1778418</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Phylogenetic insights into the diversification of cutting strategies in leaf-cutting ants]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Andrés F. Sánchez–Restrepo</author><author>Viviana A. Confalonieri</author><author>Luis A. Calcaterra</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Leaf-cutting ants are dominant herbivores in Neotropical ecosystems, yet the evolutionary origins of their cutting preferences remains unresolved. We investigated whether grass-cutting specialization emerged from a single evolutionary innovation or multiple independent origins. We compiled the predominant cutting behavior of each leaf-cutting ant species and classified them as dicot, grass, or grass–dicot cutters. Integrating these data into a time-calibrated phylogenetic framework allowed us to reconstruct the evolutionary history and diversification of leaf-cutting behavior in these ants. Divergence-time analyses date the origin of leaf-cutting ants to the early Miocene, major crown clades diversified during the late Miocene to early Pliocene, a period of increasing climatic seasonality and landscape openness in South America. The evolutionary history of these ants is strongly influenced by large-scale climatic and geological processes, as evidenced by their origin and major diversification events in close association with Miocene–Pliocene environmental changes. Phylogenetic analyses clarify the contrasting diversification dynamics of Acromyrmex, Amoimyrmex and Atta. Acromyrmex traces back to ~15 Ma and is structured into at least four major clades, with a distinct grass cutting clade. In contrast, Atta is a younger lineage characterized by rapid diversification during the Pliocene. Amoimyrmex occupies an early diverging position, indicating an independent origin of grass cutting within the group. Ancestral state reconstructions consistently indicate that dicot cutting is the ancestral condition, with grass and mixed dicot–grass cutting evolving independently multiple times. These repeated transitions coincide with the temporal expansion of open, grass-dominated habitats and likely reflect adaptive responses to new ecological opportunities. The convergent evolution of grass-cutting strategies, despite the mechanical and ecological challenges posed by silica-rich grasses, suggests that cutting preferences are evolutionarily flexible yet functionally constrained traits. Together, our results suggest that grass-cutting is not phylogenetically conserved, but rather represents a recurring adaptive response to environmental change. This highlights how major landscape transformations during the Miocene–Pliocene period promoted repeated ecological innovation in socially complex herbivores.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1789891</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1789891</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) associated with fruit orchards in the province of Luya, Amazonas, Peru]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-18T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Enistein Reyna-Rivera</author><author>Vilma Aguilar-Rafael</author><author>Wagner Meza-Maicelo</author><author>Henry W. Santillan-Culquimboz</author><author>Duber Banda-Martinez</author><author>Luis Cubas-Vasquez</author><author>Santos Leiva-Espinoza</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In the province of Luya, the presence of fruit flies (Tephritidae) in fruit orchards causes significant losses to the family economy. This study aimed to identify, using morphological and molecular methods, the Tephritidae species associated with fruit hosts and to evaluate host preference. Fruits were collected from orchards at different geographic points in the province of Luya; these fruits were transferred to the laboratory under controlled conditions and placed in plastic containers on sterilized soil to favor pupation. When adults emerged, they were fed with sucrose. For morphological identification, adult females were used and pictorial keys were employed, while for molecular analysis, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (Cox1) region was amplified using the primers LCO1490/HCO2198 and LepF1/LepR1. After identification, fruit fly preference for specific fruit species was evaluated by associating the identified species with the fruits from which they emerged. Nine fruit fly species were identified, corresponding to eight species of the genus Anastrepha (Anastrepha fraterculus, A. obliqua, A. striata, A. distincta, A. grandis, A. ornata, A. leptozona, and A. nolazcoae) and one species of the genus Ceratitis (Ceratitis capitata), associated with 19 hosts from 11 botanical families. The fruits with the highest preference were Psidium guajava and Campomanesia liniatifolia. These results highlight the richness of Tephritidae in the province of Luya and represent the first records of these nine species for the Amazonas region, expanding their geographical distribution in Peru, emphasizing the utility of integrative approaches for reliable taxonomic identification.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1716183</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1716183</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Morphometric and molecular insights into Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel, 1912) (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestation on Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk. (Indian Jujube)]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kavin Palanivelu</author><author>Usharani Balakrishnan</author><author>Kamala Jayanthi Pagadala Damodharam</author><author>Suresh Krishnasamy</author><author>Sandeep Singh</author><author>Arul Dhayalan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an oriental fruit fly, commonly infesting fruit crops, especially Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) and other fruit crops in India. This study combined morphometric and molecular approaches to evaluate population variability. Eggs were creamy white, elliptical, and measured length and width of 1.30 and 0.23 mm. Mature maggots attained 7.87 and 1.94 mm, while pupae averaged 4.91 and 1.90 mm. Adults exhibited clear sexual  dimorphism, with females larger (body length 6.87 mm; wing expanse 12.48 mm) than males (body length 5.74 mm; wing expanse 10.48 mm). Principal component analysis indicated that male traits such as body length and maggot size loaded strongly on the first component, while female wing and thoracic traits contributed predominantly to the second component, cumulatively explaining over 100% of the variation. Molecular characterization using COI gene sequences revealed phylogenetic clustering patterns that were consistent with the morphometric differentiation observed among populations and indicated close phylogenetic proximity of Indian populations to B. invadens and B. kandiensis. The integration of morphometric and molecular datasets thus provides a reliable framework for distinguishing populations of B. dorsalis, which is essential for accurate diagnostics, monitoring, and region-specific management strategies.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1762540</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1762540</link>
        <title><![CDATA[First host record of stylopization of a worker ant, Ectatomma edentatum (Formicidae: Ectatomminae), by a Myrmecolacidae (Strepsiptera)]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>André L. Marambaia</author><author>Jacques H. C. Delabie</author><author>Favízia F. de Oliveira</author><author>Jeyaraney Kathirithamby</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Strepsipterans of the family Myrmecolacidae are endoparasitoid insects of ants distributed worldwide, except in the Palearctic and Antarctic regions. Despite this, knowledge about their host ants and the effects of this parasitism on their biology remains scarce. To fill this gap in Brazil, we used yellow pan traps in a fragment of Atlantic Forest in search of stylopized ants (i.e., parasitized by Strepsiptera). The present study records for the first time the observation of a stylopized worker ant of the species Ectatomma edentatum in Brazil and details the general behavior of stylopized ants. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of yellow pan traps as a collection method of stylopized ants and compare their functionality to previously employed methods.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1757219</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1757219</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Review of the genus Hierodula Burmeister (Mantodea: Mantidae) in Iran]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Zohreh Mirzaee</author><author>Martin Wiemers</author><author>Thomas Schmitt</author><author>Valeriy Govorov</author><author>Evgeny Shcherbakov</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionHierodula is a morphologically conservative mantid genus with a complex taxonomic history and several problematic species-level concepts across its native and invaded ranges. In Iran, four nominal Hierodula species have historically been reported (H. macrostigmata, H. tenuidentata, H. transcaucasica, and “H. trimacula”), but their validity and distributions have remained uncertain due to overlapping diagnostic characters and limited molecular data.  This study addresses these issues by reassessing all available Iranian material within an integrative framework.MethodsThe revision combines: Morphological examination of type and non-type material from Iran, India, Pakistan, and Oman, including detailed study of external characters and male genitalia. Mitochondrial COI barcoding of Hierodula specimens from multiple Iranian provinces and Pakistan, analyzed with Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, and model-based genetic distance estimation. Compilation and critical validation of distributional data from museum collections, literature, and iNaturalist records, followed by mapping in QGIS.ResultsMorphological comparisons show that the holotype of H. macrostigmata and recently collected southern Iranian specimens are indistinguishable from H. coarctata in forewing stigma, pronotal shape, and male genitalia, supporting their synonymy. COI phylogenies and TN93 genetic distances recover two deeply divergent, well-supported clades corresponding to H. coarctata and the H. tenuidentata complex, with minimal intraspecific divergence and no separation between Iranian “H. macrostigmata” and Indian/Pakistani H. coarctata. Re-examination of specimens and literature demonstrates that records of “Hierodula/Sphodromantis trimacula” from Iran lack verifiable material, while male genital characters place the species unambiguously in Sphodromantis and confirm its absence from the Iranian fauna.DiscussionThe integrative evidence indicates that only H. coarctata and H. tenuidentata are currently valid Hierodula species in Iran, with H. macrostigmata as a junior synonym of H. coarctata and previous Iranian reports of S. trimacula rejected.  The clear molecular separation between H. coarctata and the H. tenuidentata complex, combined with broad morphological variability in traits such as forefemoral spine coloration, underscores the need to abandon historically overemphasized colour characters and highlights the utility of COI barcoding in resolving conservative mantid lineages.  Remaining uncertainty regarding the status of H. transcaucasica versus H. tenuidentata at a broader Eurasian scale calls for a forthcoming multi-locus, range-wide revision to formally resolve their taxonomy.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1670763</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2026.1670763</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Dataset on the fauna and biology of flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in the region of European Russia]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Data Report</category>
        <author>Stjepan Krčmar</author><author>Alexander B. Ruchin</author><author>Mikhail N. Esin</author><author>Irina G. Esina</author><author>Anatoliy A. Khapugin</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The dataset presents results from studies of Sarcophagidae conducted in 2008, 2013, 2014, and 2016–2024 in the central part of European Russia (Republic of Mordovia). A total of 2,162 males representing 58 species and 10 genera were reliably identified. The highest species diversity of Sarcophagidae was recorded in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve. For the first time in Russia, a new species — Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) slovaca (Povolný and Slamečková, 1967) — was documented. The highest species diversity of Sarcophagidae was recorded in forest glades and floodplains (39 species each). Sarcophaga (Sarcophaga) variegata (Scopoli, 1763) reached its highest abundance in meadows and was relatively common along forest edges. Sarcophaga (Sarcotachinella) sinuata Meigen, 1826 and Sarcophaga (Mimarhopocnemis) granulata Kramer, 1908 predominated in deciduous forests. Metopia grandii Venturi, 1953 and Metopia argyrocephala (Meigen, 1824) were most abundant in burned forest areas. In terms of collection methods, the greatest number of both specimens and species was obtained using yellow pan traps and Malaise traps.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2025.1727384</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2025.1727384</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Wings on concealed corpse: the forensic importance of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae)]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-19T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Yali Guo</author><author>Yifei Luo</author><author>Yuting Ma</author><author>Afito Luciano</author><author>Jingjing Huang</author><author>Ye Li</author><author>Shiwen Wang</author><author>Yuequn Niu</author><author>Zhou Li</author><author>Jifeng Cai</author><author>Fanming Meng</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Forensic entomology focuses on insects associated with decomposing remains to provide clues for forensic investigations. Among those insects, scuttle flies are uniquely capable of colonizing enclosed spaces and underground burial sites where other insects cannot access, often serving as the sole entomological “witnesses” to provide crucial evidence in forensic practice. This review highlights the forensic significance of scuttle flies, including the biological characters, diversity and behaviors of scuttle flies from forensic aspects based on reported cases. We investigate the biological and environmental factors influencing their utility in forensic investigation, and scuttle fly species commonly found on corpses were also summarized. Additionally, suggestions on future research directions of scuttle flies and how their biological characteristics can enhance their application in forensic entomology are also provided.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2025.1695789</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2025.1695789</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Biosystematics of Angulitermes dehraensis in the Northwestern Indomalayan region by integrating morphometrics and distributional data with DNA barcoding]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-10-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Xiuhua Lv</author><author>Xiaoxia Zhang</author><author>Rashid Azad</author><author>Maid Zaman</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Termites are eusocial and economically important insects which are found in the world’s tropical regions as a harmful or beneficial organism. They play a dual role, both as pests damaging crops and urban structure and as an ecological engineer sustaining the ecosystem. Pakistan is part of the Indomalayan realm hosting diverse flora and fauna including termites; however, the status (diversity, distribution, feeding hosts, pest and non-pest) of the genus Angulitermes in the northwestern region (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan) has been largely neglected. Termite cultures were collected from diverse ecosystems, cleaned, and preserved in alcohol-filled vials for subsequent morphometric identification and DNA barcoding. Coordinates with relevant ecological data were also recorded. Soldiers were used for capturing refined images and morphometric identification through available literature, which resulted as an Angulitermes dehraensis and a new locality record. A revised and updated world’s species list for the genus was made along with the distribution map of this study via ArcGIS. The identified representative soldier’s leg was processed for mtDNA extraction followed by amplification and sequencing. The received sequence was subjected to BLASTn search, and only top 15 sequences via BLASTn search and then via manual search for taxon Angulitermes were retrieved from GenBank. Aligned and trimmed sequences were processed for phylogenetic tree (neighbor-joining and maximum-likelihood) construction and validation of understudy species sequence analogy. A novel sequence was submitted to GenBank for accession number (PX423737). Based on the available and recorded feeding host substrate data, it is a pest species which needs management.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2025.1613264</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2025.1613264</link>
        <title><![CDATA[State of the ant: how broad is our recent knowledge of Neotropical ant behavior?]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-09-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Rosannette Quesada-Hidalgo</author><author>Yorlenis González</author><author>Dumas Gálvez</author><author>Peter R. Marting</author><author>Armando Castillo-Pimentel</author><author>Jane Aguilar</author><author>Stephen Cox</author><author>Carrie Smith</author><author>Sabrina Amador-Vargas</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Over the years, most scholarly published papers have studied vertebrates, despite invertebrates’ higher species diversity and number of individuals. This has led to an inaccurate representation of global biodiversity patterns in scientific publications. Furthermore, the bias for studying vertebrates is also evident when comparing studies conducted in the tropics vs. temperate zones. We investigated whether similar taxonomic and geographical biases are maintained in recent years when studying the behavior of Neotropical ants. We searched for papers published between 2015 and 2022 with the words “ant” OR “ants” OR formicidae; tropic* OR neotropic* and behav* AND tropic* OR neotropic*. We found that recently published papers studying ants cover only ~10% of the Neotropical ant species, with a primary focus on economically damaging and/or invasive ants. Our results revealed that studies on ant behavior in the Neotropics are dominated by four species, which represent less than 0.15% of the ant species in the Neotropics, and that 50% of the focal species were mentioned only once or twice in studies regarding behavior. Moreover, recent ant behavior studies cover only approximately 8% of the Neotropical ant biodiversity. We found that the Neotropical countries where most ants have been collected for behavioral studies are Brazil, Panama, and Costa Rica. In contrast, other Central American countries are absent from the recent ant literature. Our results reveal concerning patterns of taxonomic and geographical inequity in the study of Neotropical ant behavior, despite its potential role in managing ant invasions and ensuring effective conservation measures. We highlight the need to broaden behavioral studies in the Neotropics and urge researchers to investigate relatively unknown ant species, and include understudied countries with limited scientific resources to fill this critical gap in current ant research.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2025.1536160</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2025.1536160</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Unravelling the complete mitochondrial genomes of Thrips tabaci Lindeman and Thrips parvispinus Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and their phylogenetic implications]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-02-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>P.S. Soumia</author><author>Dhananjay V. Shirsat</author><author>Vadivelu Karuppaiah</author><author>Pratap A. Divekar</author><author>Vijay Mahajan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Onion (Allium cepa Linnaeus) is an important vegetable crop valued for its nutritional properties and economics worldwide. Onion cultivation faces serious threats from pests and diseases, particularly onion thrips (Thrips tabaci), which cause substantial yield losses. Recently, Black thrips (Thrips parvispinus), an invasive key pest of chili, have been reported to cause severe damage in onion crop and is likely to devastate the onion cultivation in near future. Therefore, this study was conducted to address the knowledge gap concerning the genetic basis and evolutionary history of T. tabaci and T. parvispinus through sequencing of their mitochondrial genomes. T. tabaci and T. parvispinus were collected from different locations in Maharashtra, India, and reared in the laboratory. The mitochondrial genomes of T. tabaci and T. parvispinus were sequenced to a length of 15,277 and 15,285 bp, respectively. Both genomes exhibited similar gene organization with regard to thirteen protein-coding genes and two rRNA genes. T. tabaci contained 19 tRNA genes whereas T. parvispinus contained 18 tRNA genes. The evolutionary positions of T. tabaci and T. parvispinus within the Thysanoptera order were elucidated through phylogenetic analysis of the mitogenomes of 15 thrips species. These findings provide crucial insights into the genetic makeup and evolutionary dynamics of both the thrips species, thereby aiding the development of novel and sustainable pest management strategies to mitigate their impacts on crops in the changing climate scenario.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2024.1465794</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2024.1465794</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A DNA-based approach to infer species diversity of larvae and adults from the white grub genus Phyllophaga (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae)]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-11-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ariel W. Guzmán-Franco</author><author>Maribel Rivero-Borja</author><author>Antonio Marín-Jarillo</author><author>Fernando Tamayo-Mejía</author><author>Nayra Guzmán-Santillán</author><author>Tania Guzmán-Santillán</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Scarabaeoidea is a diverse and widely distributed insect group; many are agricultural pests including species within the genus Phyllophaga. Species diversity studies in this taxonomic group are done mainly using morphological identification. However, despite existing taxonomic keys for adults and larvae, identification may be difficult due to their complex morphology. Molecular taxonomy can increase the value and accuracy of morphological species identification of larvae and adults. To test this, larvae collected from soil close to maize plants were identified using molecular taxonomy, and compared with adults captured using light traps. The larvae (2021) and adults (2022) were sampled on maize at the same locations in central Mexico. Molecular identification was achieved using three regions within the Cytochrome oxidase gene (cox), two in the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), Cytochrome b (CytB) and 28S rDNA. Cox gene information was more useful than nuclear information (28S). Combined morphological and molecular taxonomy of adults distinguished between seven Phyllophaga species. Although two closely related species, P. polyphyla and P. ravida, were distinguished using cox gene information, greater resolution was obtained using CytB. All analyses identified cryptic species within P. vetula. Species found amongst sampled adults were similar to those found amongst larvae. However, the number of species was greater in adults than in larvae at the same locations. Larval information showed Phyllophaga community structure changed over time. Our findings will contribute to a better understanding of Phyllophaga’s ecology in maize.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2023.1327005</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2023.1327005</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Grand challenges in insect systematics]]></title>
        <pubdate>2023-11-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Specialty Grand Challenge</category>
        <author>Michael S. Engel</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2023.1230363</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2023.1230363</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Allometric approach to the two male morphs in the Japanese firefly Luciola parvula]]></title>
        <pubdate>2023-07-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Opinion</category>
        <author>Yutaka Iguchi</author>
        <description></description>
      </item>
      </channel>
    </rss>