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  1. New record of Carnidae (Diptera) from Taiwan and potential challenges in DNA barcode amplification due to pseudogene
    Chen HP, Chan FT, Shiao SF, Chiu MC
    Biodivers Data J, 2024;12:e137532.
    PMID: 39552916 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.12.e137532
    BACKGROUND: The genus Carnus Nitzsch, 1818 comprises small ectoparasites that feed on the blood of juvenile avians. They are characterised by dealated adults with setose abdominal intersegmental membranes. Carnusorientalis Maa, 1968 was previously recorded in Malaysia and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, parasitising two owl species: Ketupaketupu (Horsfield, 1821) and Otuselegans (Cassin, 1852). This study confirms the occurrence of C.orientalis in Taiwan and presents a new host record, along with COI barcode sequences. Additionally, the study also elucidates the difficulties posed by blood meal contamination and pseudogene amplification as confounding factors intrinsic to the molecular taxonomic delineation of C.orientalis via universal DNA barcoding primers.

    NEW INFORMATION: The following new information regarding C.orientalis is provided in this study: Carnusorientalis is first recorded in Taiwan, filling the gap in its East Asian distribution. This is also the first record of Carnidae from Taiwan.Otuslettia (Hodgson, 1836) (Aves, Strigidae) is reported as a new host for C.orientalis, identified on a fallen fledgling.Co-amplification of the host's COI is reported in this study using the universal PCR primer set LCO1490/HCO2198. Additionally, the amplification of a COI-like pseudogene using a newly-designed primer set is detected through abnormal translated amino acid sequences and the occurrence of a stop codon.New specific primers for the COI gene of Carnus were designed in this study. The new distribution and ecological data of C.orientalis enhance our understanding of this species. The provision of new COI primers is anticipated to contribute to future studies employing DNA barcoding in bird-parasitic flies.

  2. Anthropogenic Influence on the Distribution of the Longlegged Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
    Lum JY, Chiu MC, Tseng SP, Scotty Yang CC, Lee CY
    J Econ Entomol, 2023 Apr 24;116(2):520-528.
    PMID: 36715608 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad010
    The longlegged ant Anoplolepis gracilipes (Smith) is a highly invasive tramp ant species known for its deleterious effects on native ecosystems. While tramp ants are associated with human activity, information on how different intensities of human activity affect their distribution is limited. This study investigated how anthropogenic activities affected the distribution of A. gracilipes in Penang, a tropical island in northern peninsular Malaysia. Three study sites (Youth Park, Sungai Ara, and Bukit Jambul/Relau) were selected, containing four sub-locations corresponding to different levels of human activity (low, moderate, high, and very high), determined by the average number of passersby observed over 30 min. Baited index cards were placed at each sub-location to evaluate ant abundance and distribution. The results demonstrated that A. gracilipes worker abundance was highest in areas of moderate human activity, as opposed to areas with low and higher human activity. The low abundance of A. gracilipes in comparatively undisturbed localities may be attributed to unsuitable microclimate, lack of propagule pressure, and diminished honeydew availability. In contrast, its exclusion from more urbanized localities could be explained by high interspecific competition with other tramp species and the absence of preferred nesting sites.
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