Research Article |
Corresponding author: Ilya A. Gavrilov-Zimin ( coccids@gmail.com ) Academic editor: María José Bressa
© 2021 Ilya A. Gavrilov-Zimin, Snejana M. Grozeva, Dmitrii A. Gapon, Andrei S. Kurochkin, Katia G. Trencheva, Valentina G. Kuznetsova.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Gavrilov-Zimin IA, Grozeva SM, Gapon DA, Kurochkin AS, Trencheva KG, Kuznetsova VG (2021) Introduction to the study of chromosomal and reproductive patterns in Paraneoptera. Comparative Cytogenetics 15(3): 217-238. https://doi.org/10.3897/compcytogen.v15.i3.69718
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This paper opens the themed issue (a monograph) “Aberrant cytogenetic and reproductive patterns in the evolution of Paraneoptera”, prepared by a Russian-Bulgarian research team on the basis of long-term collaborative studies. In this first part of the issue, we provide the basic introductory information, describe the material involved and the methods applied, and give terminology and nomenclature of used taxonomic names.
Aphids, cicadas, lice, moss-bugs, psocids, psyllids, scale insects, thrips, true bugs, whiteflies, zorapters
The predominant reproductive strategy in eukaryotic organisms is bisexual reproduction which involves the formation and fusion of gametes, namely, sperm from the testes and eggs from the ovaries. This is also true for all major insect groups, in which, however, bisexuality is often combined with numerous aberrant modes of reproduction (
In this monograph, we attempt to summarize results of our own long-term investigations in the field and available literature data in order to give an overall picture of distribution of different reproductive characteristics within and among higher taxa of Paraneoptera. The supercohort Paraneoptera comprises about 130,000 recent species in the world fauna and is traditionally subdivided into the orders Zoraptera, Copeognatha (=Psocoptera), Parasita (=Phthiraptera), Thysanoptera, and the superorder Arthroidignatha (=Hemiptera sensu stricto) with two large orders, Heteroptera (true bugs) with about 45,000 species and Homoptera with about 66,000 species (
a–k Species from main taxonomic groups of Paraneoptera insects a imago and larvae of Clematoscenea sp. (Copeognatha), Singapore, photo and “Creative Commons” license of “Budak” (see Acknowledgements) b poultry fluff louse Goniocotes gallinae (de Geer, 1778) (Parasita), photo and “Creative Commons” license of “Da Re” (see Acknowledgements) c imago of Taeniotrips inconsequens (Uzel, 1895), Poland, photo and “Creative Commons” license of “Riszard” (see Acknowledgements) d colony of viviparous parthenogenetic females of Tuberolachus silignus (Gmelin, 1790) (Aphidinea), Samara Prov. of Russia, photo of A.S. Kurochkin e died female of Adelges sp. (Aphidinea) with developing eggs, Samara Prov. of Russia, photo of A.S. Kurochkin f adult female with wax ovisac and larvae of Icerya purchasi Maskell, 1879, Turkey, photo of A.S. Kurochkin g females of Rhodococcus sp. (Coccinea), attended by ant, Kazakhstan, photo of A.S. Kurochkin h imago and i larva of Psylla carpinicola Crawford, 1914 (Psyllinea), USA, photos and “Creative Commons” license of Katja Schulz (see Acknowledgements) j females and male of Aleyrodes lonicerae Walker, 1852 (Aleyrodinea), Samara Prov. of Russia, photo of A.S. Kurochkin k larvae of Trialeurodes lauri (Signoret, 1862), Turkey, photo of A.S. Kurochkin.
a–p Species from main taxonomic groups of Paraneoptera insects (continuation) a Pyrops candelaria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cicadinea, Fulgoridae), photo and “Creative Commons” license of “Sterling Sheehy” (see Acknowledgements) b Cicadetta montana (Scopoli, 1772) (Cicadinea, Cicadidae), photo of E.Yu. Kirtsideli, PhD c Cercopis vulnerata Rossi, 1807 (Cicadinea, Cercopidae), photo of E.Yu. Kirtsideli, PhD d Centrotus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cicadinea, Membracidae), photo of E.Yu. Kirtsideli, PhD e Pantinia darwini China 1962 (Coleorrhyncha, Peloridiidae), photo and “Creative Commons” license of “Sterling Sheehy” (see Acknowledgements) f Glaenocorisa propinqua (Fieber, 1860) (Heteroptera, Corixidae), photo of D.A. Gapon g Gerris sphagnetorum Gaunitz, 1947 (Heteroptera, Gerridae) h Chartoscirta elegantula (Fallén, 1807) (Heteroptera, Saldidae), photo of E.Yu. Kirtsideli, PhD i Anthocoris nemorum (Linnaeus, 1761) (Heteroptera, Anthocoridae), photo of E.Yu. Kirtsideli, PhD j Cimex hemipterus (Fabricius, 1803) (Heteroptera, Cimicidae), photo of D.A. Gapon k Hesperoctenes fumarius (Westwood, 1874) (Heteroptera, Polyctenidae), photo and “Creative Commons” license of “CBG Photography Group” (see Acknowledgements) l Cremnocephalus albolineatus Reuter, 1875 (Heteroptera, Miridae), photo of D.A. Gapon m Rhynocoris annulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Heteroptera, Reduviidae), photo of E.Yu. Kirtsideli, PhD n Aradus laeviusculus Reuter, 1875 (Heteroptera, Aradidae), photo of D.A. Gapon o Rhyparochromus phoeniceus (Rossi, 1794) (Heteroptera, Lygaeidae), photo of D.A. Gapon p Rhaphigaster nebulosa (Poda, 1761) (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae), photo of D.A. Gapon.
We hope that our review issue will be useful for specialists in entomology, cytogenetics and evolutionary biology, as well as for those in the field of plant protection, veterinary and medicine. Many scale insects and aphids as well as some thrips, psyllids and true bugs are important pests of agricultural and ornamental plants and carriers of pathogenic viruses, whereas many lice and some true bugs are ectoparasites of invertebrate and vertebrate animals, including humans. Comparative knowledge of reproductive modes generated from studies across different phylogenetic lineages of Paraneoptera is essential for a better understanding of reproductive processes and underlying cytogenetic mechanisms in Insecta as a whole.
The issue is based on the material collected mainly by authors and sometimes by their colleagues in different regions of the world including Western and Eastern Europe, Canary Islands, Morocco, Central Russia, Russian Far East, Crimea, Caucasus, Turkey, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Malacca peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, New Guinea, Bali, and Flores Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, New Zealand, Tasmania, Vietnam and some others. The collections available at the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (
Taxonomic identification of insects was mainly based on traditional morphological characters, with extensive use of the structural characters of the internal reproductive system and karyotype. In most cases, the identification was carried out using either intact insects, which are mounted on pins or mounting boards, or stored in ethanol/aceto-ethanol. To study male terminalia, the pygophore (genital segment) is detached from the abdomen and boiled for several minutes in 15–20% KOH solution. Parameres and aedeagus, removed from the pygophore using finest forceps and a dissecting needle, are examined at wet preparations. To study the structure of the endosoma (the internal membranous sac of the aedeagus), the method of its hydraulic inflation by means of glass microcapillaries is used, followed by drying the endosoma in a stream of hot air in a completely inflated state (
In the case of aphids, scale insects, whiteflies and thrips, permanent microscopic slides are prepared from insects and mounted in Canada balsam. Material processing included a different set of steps (procedures) depending on the object or on the specific purpose of the study. For example, in Thysanoptera, Aphidinea and Coccinea, studies were carried out on (ovo)viviparous females, eggs and larval instars of both sexes, respectively, whereas in Copeognatha, Parasita, Psyllinea, Cicadinea, Coleorrhyncha, and Heteroptera they were carried out mainly on males, although in some cases, females were also involved (when reproduction is parthenogenetic or when it is necessary to identify the chromosomal mechanism of sex determination in a particular species).
Preparation of permanent microscopic slides from aphids and coccids includes the following main steps (described in
Insects, cleaned of plant tissues and/or soil particles, were fixed in 96% ethanol or (more often) in a mixture consisting of 1 part of glacial acetic acid and 3 parts of 96% ethanol (a Carnoy’s fixative). In our experience, the latter fixation is preferable due to the subsequent use of acid stains, for example, staining with acid fuchsin + pink lignin dissolved in Essig’s aphid fluid (see below). The use of acetoethanol also prevents superfluous dehydration of the fixed material. The volume of fixative must significantly (20 and more times) exceed the volume of the material. Fixed material is preserved in a dark place and, if possible, in a refrigerator. The minimum fixation time is 2–3 hours.
The insects were taken out of the fixative, put on the object glass in a drop of ethanol or distilled water and cut along the lateral body margin using a small blade.
The insects were placed in 8–15% water solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH) and heated in a water bath or on any hot plate (about 60 °C) until the cuticle becomes translucent. The time of heating was selected experimentally for each object. With weakly sclerotized females (most mealybugs), 10–20 minutes of heating is usually enough. Heavily sclerotized and pigmented specimens demand 1–1.5 hours of heating. On the other hand, delicate soft females of Xylococcinae (Margarodidae s.l.) can be simply clarified in cold KOH or NaOH (about 20 °C) during several hours.
Specimens were placed in a small amount of hot potash, and all internal organs were removed by light pressure on the cuticle using thin hooks. This is usually needed to change potash (hot or cold) several times until all the body internal content is removed. The specimens were then transferred to water for complete removing the potash.
The most common method was originally developed for aphids (
An older, but simpler and cheaper method of staining is based on the use of only fuchsin diluted in distilled water or in 96% ethanol until saturation. You can also take 1 g of basic fuchsin in 100 ml of 96% ethanol or 0.5 g of acid fuchsin in 25 ml of 10% water solution of 30% HCl and 300 ml of distilled water. The stain mixture by Dr. Jean-François Germain (Montpellier, France) consisting of acid fuchsin diluted until saturation in the mixture of distilled water, lactic acid (80–90% solution) and glycerol (1:1:1) also gives excellent results (
After staining of any type, the material should be washed several times in 96% ethanol until the excess stain is removed.
Canada balsam, which is usually used for the preparation of permanent slides, does not mix with water or ethanol. The specimens need, therefore, to be impregnated with an intermediate fluid, which can mix with both. This can be either a clove or bergamot oils, but other plant oils can also be tested if needed. The specimens should be placed in oil for 20–30 min while can be preserved in it for a longer time. If the acceptable oils are absent, it is possible (but undesirable!) to use xylene, toluene or something similar as an intermediate fluid. It is well known that a small amount of 96% ethanol can be mixed with a large amount of xylene or toluene. Therefore, the specimens can be get out of ethanol, air dried for several seconds and placed then in xylene or toluene for 20–30 min.
Following the oil or xylene/toluene impregnation, the specimens should be placed on a clean slide and excess oil must be removed with filter paper. Dorsal and ventral sides of the specimens, which were previously cut along the entire body margin, should be placed in the same plane. Then, a small drop of Canada balsam is dripping on the specimen(s) and covered with a cover slip. The slides are now ready for study, but care must be taken during several weeks until the slide is completely dried. Either thermostat or a drying box can be used to speed up drying. Dried slides can be stored in a dust-free place for an unlimited time at temperatures not higher than 35–40 °C.
Microscopic preparations were also prepared to study the reproductive biology, genetic systems and karyotypes of scale insects and aphids. With adult insects, both laid eggs and larval instars were fixed in acetoethanol (1:3) for at least 24 hours. The specimens were then dissected under a stereomicroscope and anatomized in a drop of 45% acetic acid. The simplest method for preparation of chromosome slides is based on staining with acetoorcein or acetocarmin or (better) with lactic acid solutions of these stains. This method gives acceptable results even for not well fixed material, being usually used for temporary slides only. For example, young embryos or gonads are stained by squashing in a drop of lactoacetorcein (50 ml 85% lactic acid : 2 g orcein : 50 ml glacial acetic acid). The cover slip can be fringed with rubber glue/cement, the slide will then be acceptable for study during a long time, especially if stored in the refrigerator. More complicated methods are based on staining with hematoxylin (see, for example,
The recent studies of chromosomes and internal reproductive organs of Paraneoptera insects other than Aphidinea and Coccinea, i.e. Zoraptera, Copeognatha, Parasita, Coleorrhyncha, Heteroptera, Cicadinea, and Psyllinea, were carried out using a different and wider range of methods and procedures.
Male and female specimens, both newly emerged and older larvae, collected in the field, were fixed immediately in a freshly prepared Carnoy’s fixative (3:1) and refrigerated then in the laboratory at 4 °C until needed. If it was possible, some insects were brought to the laboratory alive. These were given a short hypotonic treatment with 1% tri-sodium citrate solution (Na3C6H5O7) for 5 min before the specimens were fixed in a fresh Carnoy’s.
The study was carried out on both live and fixed insects. In both male and female specimens, the abdomen was separated from the body and opened on a microscope slide in a drop of 45% acetic acid. The testes and ovaries were dissected out and analyzed under a stereomicroscope. In our anatomical research, we confined ourselves mainly to studying the number of testicular follicles and ovarioles, their shape and position on the sperm duct and oviduct, respectively. In separate cases, we studied the male internal reproductive system in general, with reference to the structure of the testes, presence/absence and shape of seminal vesicle(s), accessory glands and some additional associated structures. In psyllids and zorapters, we also analyzed the arrangement of spermatocytes within the follicle and the sequential stages of sperm formation. For this purpose, follicles were put on the slide in a drop of 45% acetic acid; coverslip was put on the drop and was allowed to settle without squashing. When all streaming was ceased, the slide was squashed gently allowing the spermatocytes to remain intact and retain their original location within the follicle.
Chromosome preparations from the male specimens (fixed in a Carnoy’s fixative) were made and stained as follows: testes were removed from the abdomen in 45% acetic acid. In some cases (when specimens were not fixed), they were removed in 1% tri-sodium citrate solution (Na3C6H5O7) for 5 min, fixed in a fresh Carnoy’s fixative and transferred then into a drop of 45% acetic acid on a slide. Testes were counted and cut into pieces (if large), mature sperms were largely removed, and squash preparations were made. The preparations were first examined by phase contrast to assess their quality and the presence of chromosomal divisions. After freezing off the coverslips in dry ice (a dry-ice technique by
Air-dried slides were stained according to the Schiff-Giemsa protocol first developed by
As it will be discussed in subsequent parts (papers) of the monograph, almost all Paraneoptera insects have holokinetic chromosomes that display a very limited number of distinctive characters (markers) making it difficult and often completely impossible to identify homologues in the karyotype and trace the behavior of chromosomes in meiosis and reproductive cycles in general. The search for chromosomal markers in “holokinetic insects” is therefore of particular importance. In these insects, including objects of this study, such techniques as C-banding, AgNOR-staining, DNA specific fluorochrome banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are widely used. Below, we will provide a brief description of these approaches and note their capabilities and goals in studies of karyotypes and gametogenesis in Paraneoptera.
Chromosomes are known to consist of euchromatin and heterochromatin, which have different staining properties. C-banding technique detects blocks of constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) consisting of satellite DNAs, which are highly repetitive sequences of DNA with no known genes, and remain condensed all throughout the cell cycle. In monocentric chromosomes, C-bands are present mainly in the centromeric regions, although they may also occur at any other position along the chromosomes. In holokinetic chromosomes, C-bands are mainly confined to terminal portions of the chromosomes, although they are also present in nucleolar constrictions occupying one or both sides of the constriction (NOR-associated heterochromatin) and sometimes also in interstitial regions of the chromosome. In our studies, we used a slight variation of the conventional C-banding procedure which was developed by
Nucleolus organizer regions (NORs), which give rise to the interphase nucleoli, are defined as nucleolar components containing ribosomal genes and the argyrophilic NOR-associated proteins (AgNOR proteins), which bind silver ions. AgNOR proteins are selectively stained by impregnation with silver nitrate (AgNO3) and can be identified by light microscopy as well-defined black dots exclusively localized on the NOR-carrying chromosomes and throughout the nucleolar area in interphase nuclei. The NORs stained by silver are called “AgNORs”. In our studies, we used a “one-step” silver-staining method by
Fluorochrome banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are excellent molecular cytogenetic tools which provide various possibilities in the study of chromosome structure and genome organization and contribute to a better characterization of the karyotype and meiosis.
Constitutive heterochromatin (C-heterochromatin; see above) can be enriched with G-C (guanine-cytosine) or A-T (adenine-thymine) base pairs of DNA. The most widely used base-specific fluorochromes, CMA3 (chromomycin A3) and DAPI (4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole), are fluorescent dyes that bind strongly to GC-rich and AT-rich regions in DNA, respectively, and reveal, thus, the molecular composition of C-heterochromatin. Comparative patterns of fluorochrome banding allow the identification of homologous chromosomes in the karyotype. In our studies, we carried out DAPI/CMA3 double staining following mainly
FISH technique, developed about 50 years ago (
The target chromosome preparations were prepared some time prior to hybridization to allow thorough drying and aging of the chromatin on the slide by incubation at 60 °C for at least a few hours. The 18S rDNA probe was amplified by PCR and labelled with biotin-11-dUTP (Fermentas, Vilnius, Lithuania) using genomic DNA of the true bug Pyrrhocoris apterus (Linnaeus, 1758): an initial denaturation period of 3 min at 94 °C was followed by 33 cycles of 30 s at 94 °C, annealing for 30 s at 50 °C and extension for 1.5 min at 72 °C, with a final extension step of 3 min at 72 °C. The telomere probe (TTAGG)n was amplified by PCR and labeled with rhodamine-5-dUTP (GeneCraft, Köln, Germany): an initial denaturation period of 3 min at 94 °C was followed by 30 cycles of 45 s at 94 °C, annealing for 30 sec at 50 °C and extension for 50 sec at 72 °C, with a final extension step of 3 min at 72 °C. The chromosome preparations were treated with 100 μg/ml RNase A and 5 mg/ml pepsin solution to remove excess RNA and proteins. Chromosomes were denatured in the hybridization mixture containing labeled 18S rDNA and (TTAGG)n probes with an addition of salmon sperm DNA blocking reagent and then hybridized for 42 h at 37 °C. 18S rDNA probes were detected with NeutrAvidin-Fluorescein conjugate (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA). The chromosomes were mounted in an antifade medium (ProLong Gold antifade reagent with DAPI, Invitrogen) and covered with a glass coverslip.
Considering that the terminology used to describe different aspects of reproductive biology and ontogenesis is not very well known to entomologists, and in the same time the meaning of individual terms varies in the literature, below we provide an annotated list of the most important terms used in this field.
Arrhenotoky – parthenogenetic mode where females produce only males from unfertilized eggs). There are two forms: haplodiploidy (males are haploid due to direct development from haploid eggs) and diploid arrhenotoky (males develop from diploid eggs, similar to automictic thelytoky).
Contagious parthenogenesis – a process involving rare functional males produced by a parthenogenetic lineage, which mate with bisexually reproducing females resulting in fertile parthenogenetic offspring.
Cyclic parthenogenesis – the regular alternation of bisexual and parthenogenetic reproduction in the same species.
Deuterotoky – parthenogenetic mode where females and males are produced from unfertilized eggs.
Exuviatrium – sclerotized larval exuvium, which is used by the next larva-like instar (including neotenic female) as a shelter. Exuviatrial female has minute, rudimentary legs and lays eggs just inside exuviatrium. The term was introduced by
Gynandromorphism – the phenomenon by which an individual is a sexual mosaic exhibiting characters of both sexes in various parts of the body; bilateral gynandromorphs are insects with male and female tissues distributed nearly bilaterally.
Larva – preadult instar of postembryonal development. Different instars are usually designated by numbers (I, II, III, IV, etc.) according to the number of molts which the animal underwent after the birth.
Neoteny – bisexual reproduction of preimaginal instars. The term was originally introduced by Kollmann (1884) for salamanders, but now is widely used for different vertebrate and invertebrate animals.
Nymph – larval instar with wing buds (protoptera). These instars can also be named as primo-, secundo-, tertio-, ultimo-, penultimo-nymphs, etc.
Occasional eggs retention – occasional cases of starting the embryonic development inside mother’s body due to unpredictable reasons, such as premature death of the mother, sudden change of environmental conditions, etc.
Oviparity – laying eggs before starting of embryogenesis; all embryonal development occurs outside the mother’s body.
Ovoviviparity – laying eggs with fully or partly developed embryo inside; embryo starts to develop inside the mother’s body; egg is covered with a chorion and contains sufficient yolk to nourish the embryo until hatching without receiving aliment from the maternal organism.
Complete ovoviviparity – laying eggs with fully developed embryo inside; hatching of the primolarva occurs just after the oviposition.
Incomplete ovoviviparity – laying eggs with partly developed embryo inside; hatching of the primolarva occurs sometimes after oviposition.
Facultative ovoviviparity – individual and geographical variation at the stage of the embryonal development inside of laying egg, from cleavage divisions to complete embryogenesis.
Obligate ovoviviparity – invariable laying egg at a certain stage of embryonal development in all specimens of a taxon.
Paedogenesis – parthenogenetic reproduction of preimaginal instars. The term was introduced by
Paternal genome elimination (PGE) – a mode of reproduction where only the female genome is transmitted to offspring (sometimes also referred to as pseudo-arrhenotoky or parahaploidy). Paternal genome set is eliminated or inactivated in early embryogenesis (males are somatically haploid) or during spermatogenesis (males are somatically diploid; however, the paternal genome is eliminated, partly or totally inactivated by chromatin condensation, also referred to as paternal genome heterochromatinization).
Ploidy restoration – a process accompanying meiosis during automictic parthenogenetic development. There are three mechanisms known to date: premeiotic doubling of chromosomes with standard meiosis afterwards; postmeiotic restoration where haploid ootids fuse and produce a diploid nucleus (also known as ‘central fusion’); and meiotic restoration – fusion of secondary oocytes with second polar body following second meiotic division.
Protopteron (plural protoptera) – wing buds, flattened structures possessed by nymphs from which the wings will develop into imago. The term was introduced by
Pseudopuparium – immovable apodal ultimolarva of whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodinea); this pseudopuparium does not have protoptera (wing buds), but molts to a winged imago having well-developed legs and antennae. In contrast to the true puparium (Cyclorrhapha and Strepsiptera; Diptera), there is no pupa inside ultimolarval exuvium of whiteflies, and imaginal cuticle is forming just under larval cuticle.
Puparium – larval exuvium which covers a pupa, quiescent instar which molts to imago.
Thelytoky – parthenogenetic mode where females produce only females from unfertilized eggs. There are two forms described in animals – apomixis and automixis.
- apomixis – a mode where a single mitotic-like division in unfertilized eggs results in genetic identity of the mother and her offspring (=ameiotic parthenogenesis).
- automixis – a mode where egg cells are produced by meiosis, the diploid state of the offspring being restored by the fusion of meiotic products.
Viviparity – laying primolarvae, which are not covered by a chorion (Fig.
The system of higher taxa names, used in this monograph, follows hierarchical rank and typified (for superfamily and lower rank names) nomenclature. For taxa of rank above the suborder, circumscriptional names are used, based on their priority. For taxa of the suborder and infraorder ranks, circumscriptional names are used inside Copeognatha, Parasita, and Thysanoptera, whereas the typified names are used inside Arthroidignatha (=Hemiptera sensu stricto). The system and comments are adopted mainly from
The widely known name Paraneoptera Martynov, 1923 was originally introduced with an uncertain inclusion of Zoraptera Silvestri, 1913, but subsequently
The name Copeognatha Enderlein, 1903 is only one year older than the name Psocoptera Shipley, 1904, used for the same taxon. Another widely used name Corrodentia Burmeister, 1839 was proposed originally for a polyphyletic taxon including not only psocids, but also unrelated Polyneoptera and Neuroptera insects (Isoptera + Embioptera and Conyopterigidae, respectively).
The oldest name covered all lice is Parasita Latreille, 1796, which has priority over the frequently used names Anoplura Leach, 1815 and Phthiraptera Haeckel, 1896. Moreover, the last name was originally proposed for sucking lice only being, thus, a junior synonym of Siphunculata Latreille, 1802 (see for details
The name Hemiptera Linnaeus, 1758, frequently used in the literature as an order name for all “rhynchotous” insects, is nowadays a very ambiguous term since: 1) this name was used by C. Linnaeus for “rhynchotous” + thrips together; therefore it is an older synonym for Condylognatha Börner, 1904; 2) for many years up to now, this name has been used by numerous authors for true bugs (Heteroptera) only; 3) there are at least two separate orders (Heteroptera and Homoptera) within the “order Hemiptera” accepted by different authors. A similar taxonomic ambiguity concerns the well-known and widely used name Rhynchota Burmeister, 1835, which originally also included Siphunculata. Moreover, this name is preoccupied by Rhynchota Billberg, 1820 (=Aphaniptera Kirby et Spence, 1815) (
As for the widely known and frequently discussed order name Homoptera Latreille, 1810, there is no good reason to reject it. It originally covered all hemipteroid insects without true bugs but with thrips. However, all subsequent authors accepted this group without thrips, and
Concerning the frequently used name Sterno(r)rhynch(i)(a) (= Coccinea + Aphidinea + Aleyrodinea + Psillinea), we are not sure about the commonly discussed synapomorphies of this group. For example, according to the Shcherbakov and Popov’ scheme (2002), Sternorhynchi are polyphyletic. Moreover, Sternorhynchi Amyot et Serville, 1843 is a junior synonym of Plantisuga Dumeril, 1805 (
Summarizing all of the above, we recognize scale insects, aphids, psyllids, whiteflies and cicadas as suborders of the order Homoptera sensu Westwood, 1838, and use the ending “-nea” for all typified suborder names within Homoptera (Aphidinea, Coccinea, Aleyrodinea, Psyllinea, Cicadinea) following
Supercohors Paraneoptera Martynov, 1923
Ordo Zoraptera Silvestri, 1913
Cohors Acercaria Börner, 1904
Superordo Panpsocoptera Crampton, 1938
Ordo Copeognatha Enderlein, 1903 (= Psocoptera Shipley, 1904)
Ordo Parasita Latreille, 1796
Subcohors Hemiptera Linnaeus, 1758 (= Condylognatha Börner, 1904, non Hemiptera auct.)
Ordo Thysanoptera Haliday, 1836
Superordo Arthroidignatha Spinola, 1850 (= Hemiptera auct., non Linnaeus, 1758;
= Rhynchota auct., non Burmeister, 1835)
Ordo Coleorrhyncha Meyers et China, 1929
Ordo Heteroptera Latreille, 1810 (= Hemiptera auct., non Linnaeus, 1758)
Ordo Homoptera sensu Westwood, 1838, non Latreille, 1810 (= Homopterida Pearce, 1936)
Subordo Cicadinea Batsch, 1789
Subordo Psyllinea Latreille, 1807
Subordo Aleyrodinea Newman, 1834
Subordo Aphidinea Latreille, 1802
Superfamilia Phylloxeroidea Herrich-Schaeffer, 1854
Superfamilia Aphidoidea Latreille, 1802
Subordo Coccinea Fallén, 1814 (= Coccoidea auct., Gallinsecta De Geer, 1776)
Superfamilia Orthezioidea Amyot et Serville, 1843 (=Paleococcoidea Borchsenius, 1950; = Archeococcidea Bodenheimer, 1952)
Superfamilia Coccoidea Fallén, 1814 (=Neococcoidea Borchsenius, 1950; = Neococcidea Bodenheimer, 1952)
I.G.-Z. and V.K. contributed equally to the paper; they conceived and designed the project and prepared the manuscript draft. I.G.-Z. also wrote the section “Higher classification and nomenclature”. S.G. edited and commented on the draft manuscript and also prepared some paragraphs in the section Material & Methods. D.G. and A.K. collected and identified part of the material, provided some illustrations and made several additions to the text. K.T. collected and identified part of the material.
We thank the photographers who provided “Creative Commons” license for their nice colour photos, used in the Introduction section of this monograph. The authorship and original location of the photos are the following:
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We also thank E.Yu. Kirtsideli (PhD) for providing some photos used in this article.
Financial support for this study was provided by the bilateral Russian-Bulgarian research grant no. 19-54-18002 from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and from the National Science Fund of Bulgaria (Ministry of Education and Science). Part of the studied material (morphological preparations of insects) was prepared for the collection of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences due to the state projects nos. AAAA-A19-119020790106-0 and AAAA-A19-119020690101-6.