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1. A taxonomic revision of the Malagasy endemic subgenus Mayria of the genus Camponotus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) based on qualitative morphology and quantitative morphometric analyses

   https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1081.71872  

   Rasoamanana, Nicole; Fisher, Brian L. (January 2022, ZooKeys)

   The subgenus Mayria of the genus Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is revised. The subgenus is endemic to Madagascar where it occupies a broad range of habitats, from deciduous and dry forest to rainforest. A taxonomic review is provided of this subgenus, integrating multiples lines of evidence including qualitative morphology and quantitative morphometry. Species hypotheses are formed by Nest Centroid clustering. In total, 36 species are treated, of which eleven are newly described: Camponotus andrianjaka sp. nov. , Camponotus antsaraingy sp. nov. , Camponotus chrislaini sp. nov. , Camponotus claveri sp. nov. , Camponotus ivadia sp. nov. , Camponotus jjacquia sp. nov. , Camponotus maintilany sp. nov. , Camponotus norvigi sp. nov. , Camponotus ihazofotsy sp. nov. , Camponotus tsimelahy sp. nov. , Camponotus zoro sp. nov. Five species are redescribed. Camponotus themistocles Forel stat. nov. , is raised to species. In addition, the subgenus is redefined to include 39 species. Twenty-two previously described species are transferred to this subgenus and thirteen species previously placed in the subgenus are transferred out of the subgenus. Nine morphologically consistent species groups are delineated to facilitate species identification within the subgenus. This revision includes a classification, a key to species groups, and an updated key to species based on the minor worker caste. 

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2. Phylogenetic relationships and the repeated loss of traits associated with sicklebill pollination in Centropogon subgenus Centropogon (Campanulaceae)

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.70016  

   Mansaray, Janet K; Bedoya, Ana M; Frost, Laura A; Degreenia, Olivia C; Lagomarsino, Laura P (March 2025, American Journal of Botany)

   Abstract PremiseCentropogonsubgenusCentropogoncomprises 55 species found primarily in midelevation Andean forests featuring some of the most curved flowers among angiosperms. Floral curvature is linked to coevolution with the sicklebill hummingbird, which pollinates most species. Despite charismatic flowers, there is limited knowledge about the phylogenetic relationships and floral evolution. MethodsWe conducted the first densely sampled phylogenomic analysis of the clade using methods that account for incomplete lineage sorting on a sequence capture dataset generated with a lineage‐specific probe set. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we test for correlated evolution of two traits central to sicklebill pollination. ResultsWe improve understanding of species relationships by more than doubling past taxon sampling. We confirm the monophyly of the subgenus and two sections, and the non‐monophyly of remaining sections. The subgenus is characterized by high gene tree discordance. Three widespread species display contrasting phylogenetic dynamics, withC. cornutusforming a clade andC. granulosusandC. solanifoliusforming non‐monophyletic, biogeographically clustered lineages. Correlated evolution of floral curvature and inflorescence structure has led to multiple putative losses of sicklebill pollination. ConclusionsCentropogonsubgenusCentropogonadds to a growing body of literature of Andean plant clades with high gene tree discordance. This phylogeny serves as a foundational framework for further macroevolutionary investigations into the environmental and biogeographic factors shaping the evolution of pollination‐related traits. 

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3. A phylogenomic monograph of West-Palearctic Nomada (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

   https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixad024  

   Straka, Jakub; Benda, Daniel; Policarová, Jana; Astapenková, Alena; Wood, Thomas J; Bossert, Silas (January 2024, Insect Systematics and Diversity)

   Hines, Heather (Ed.)

   Abstract We reconstruct the phylogeny of the most speciose genus of cuckoo bees, genus Nomada Scopoli, 1770, using 221 species from throughout its distribution, yet with a strong emphasis on the West Palearctic. For phylogenetic reconstruction, we sequenced ultraconserved elements, allowing robust phylogenetic estimates with both concatenation and coalescent-based methods. By integrating extensive information on Nomada host records, we study macroevolutionary patterns of host associations, transitions, and phylogenetic conservatism. Using Bayesian divergence time estimates, we assess the historical biogeography of the genus, focusing on the West Palearctic. Our results show that Nomada likely originated in the Eastern Mediterranean and Near Eastern region, and likely expanded its range to a near-global distribution from there. We recovered long-standing phylogenetic conservatism in the host usage of Nomada and provided strong statistical evidence for an ancestral host association with Andrena and its most recent common ancestor. However, host transitions occurred multiple times independently in the natural history of Nomada, and species of the genus are brood parasites in at least 5 genera and 4 different families of bees in the Old World. At last, we systematically revise the taxonomy of the Old World Nomada by integrating morphological study with our well-supported phylogenetic estimates. We re-establish the genus Acanthonomada Schwarz, 1966, stat. res., as a distinct, second genus in the tribe Nomadini. We recognize 13 subgenera for Nomada, 9 of which are described as new: Afronomada Straka and Bossert, subgen. nov., Colliculla Straka, subgen. nov., Gestamen Straka, subgen. nov., Hungias Straka, subgen. nov., Mininomada Straka, subgen. nov., Nomacolla Straka, subgen. nov., Nomonosa Straka, subgen. nov., Plumada Straka, subgen. nov., and Profuga Straka, subgen. nov. Aside from the subgenus Nomada s.s., we reinstitute 3 previously synonymized subgenera: Heminomada Cockerell, 1902, stat. res., Holonomada Robertson, 1903, stat. res., and Hypochrotaenia Holmberg, 1886 stat. res. A total of 15 subgeneric names are formally synonymized with the newly established subgeneric concepts. 

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4. An extraordinary northward range extension of the bee Andrena (Cnemidandrena) pachucensis Donovan, 1977 (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae) to New Mexico, USA

   https://doi.org/10.15560/21.6.1226  

   Zabinski, Wyatt J (December 2025, Check List)

   AndrenaFabricius, 1775 is one of the most diverse bee genera worldwide, yet the biology and distribution of many species are poorly known. Here I present the first record ofAndrena pachucensisDonovan, 1977 in the United States. This species was originally described from 11 specimens collected in the state of Hidalgo Mexico. The type specimens are housed at University of Kansas where museum records indicate there are eight not 11 type specimens. The discovery of two additional specimens in Taos, New Mexico, represents a remarkable northward range extension of about 1,900 km. 

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5. A chromosome-length genome assembly and annotation of blackberry ( Rubus argutus , cv. “Hillquist”)

   https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkac289  

   Brůna, Tomáš; Aryal, Rishi; Dudchenko, Olga; Sargent, Daniel James; Mead, Daniel; Buti, Matteo; Cavallini, Andrea; Hytönen, Timo; Andrés, Javier; Pham, Melanie; et al (November 2022, G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics)

   Pyhäjärvi, T (Ed.)

   Abstract Blackberries (Rubus spp.) are the fourth most economically important berry crop worldwide. Genome assemblies and annotations have been developed for Rubus species in subgenus Idaeobatus, including black raspberry (R. occidentalis), red raspberry (R. idaeus), and R. chingii, but very few genomic resources exist for blackberries and their relatives in subgenus Rubus. Here we present a chromosome-length assembly and annotation of the diploid blackberry germplasm accession “Hillquist” (R. argutus). “Hillquist” is the only known source of primocane-fruiting (annual-fruiting) in tetraploid fresh-market blackberry breeding programs and is represented in the pedigree of many important cultivars worldwide. The “Hillquist” assembly, generated using Pacific Biosciences long reads scaffolded with high-throughput chromosome conformation capture sequencing, consisted of 298 Mb, of which 270 Mb (90%) was placed on 7 chromosome-length scaffolds with an average length of 38.6 Mb. Approximately 52.8% of the genome was composed of repetitive elements. The genome sequence was highly collinear with a novel maternal haplotype-resolved linkage map of the tetraploid blackberry selection A-2551TN and genome assemblies of R. chingii and red raspberry. A total of 38,503 protein-coding genes were predicted, of which 72% were functionally annotated. Eighteen flowering gene homologs within a previously mapped locus aligning to an 11.2 Mb region on chromosome Ra02 were identified as potential candidate genes for primocane-fruiting. The utility of the “Hillquist” genome has been demonstrated here by the development of the first genotyping-by-sequencing-based linkage map of tetraploid blackberry and the identification of possible candidate genes for primocane-fruiting. This chromosome-length assembly will facilitate future studies in Rubus biology, genetics, and genomics and strengthen applied breeding programs. 

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