Work

Shedding Light on the Shadows: Hidden Diversity in the Italian Embioptera

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: In order to better understand the differences at the species level in webspinners (Embioptera), the authors applied a different approach rather than the usual slide mounting, which has been traditionally used in the study of these insects. The dissection of the male terminalia, besides avoiding the limits of definitive preparations, which prevent a complete comparison of the type material, allowed a complete understanding and comparison of these three-dimensional structures. This new method, which does not necessarily exclude the previous approach, allowed the authors to identify and describe three new species in Italy: from Tuscany (Embia specolensis sp. nov.), Ventotene Island (Embia pandateriensis sp. nov.), and Calabria (Embia brutia sp. nov.). Moreover, this charts a new path in the study of these interesting insects, which have so far been largely neglected. In addition to several new records resulting from the revision of some collections, this contribution provides an updated checklist and a provisional key for the Italian Embioptera.

Source: Insects

DOI: 10.3390/insects15110868

Authors: Fabio Cianferoni, Filippo Ceccolini

Institutions: National Research Council, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri, University of Florence

Language: English

Topic: Orthoptera Research and Taxonomy

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,955

Funders: Università degli Studi di Firenze, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca