Expression and function of two olfactory-related genes in response to methyl salicylate in the wolf spider Pardosa pseudoannulata (Araneae: Lycosidae)

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  Expression and function of two olfactory-related genes in response to methyl salicylate in the wolf spider Pardosa pseudoannulata (Araneae: Lycosidae) The wolf spider ( Pardosa pseudoannulata ) is common in rice fields. Olfaction is crucial for perceiving chemical information, and our previous research indicated that methyl salicylate (MeSA), a common herbivore-induced plant volatile (HIPV), significantly attracts P. pseudoannulata . However, few studies have examined the functions of spiders' olfactory-related genes and their interactions with HIPVs. This study aimed to identify olfactory-related genes associated with MeSA in P. pseudoannulata . Transcriptome analysis revealed four differentially expressed olfactory-related genes in response to MeSA in P. pseudoannulata . Subsequent molecular docking analysis indicated that MeSA had a strong predicted binding affinity with proteins of two key olfactory-related genes ( PpseNPC2-7 and PpseSNMP2 ). These two genes were cloned, and...

The poorly-known amblypygid fauna (Arachnida, Amblypygi) of Honduras, Central America: an overview

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The poorly-known amblypygid fauna (Arachnida, Amblypygi) of Honduras, Central America: an overview

Abstract

A significant study of the amblypygid fauna of Honduras is lacking. Historically, species were misidentified and data on distribution, natural history and conservation status of the known species are lacking or insufficient. In this contribution, an overview on the amblypygids of Honduras, including taxonomy, distribution, natural history and comments on their conservation are provided. In a review of the literature of the Honduran amblypygids, we examined 21 works, including books, unpublished thesis, articles, the World Amblypygi Catalogue (2023), as well as the website Arácnidos de Centroamérica and the citizen-science websites Alamy, iNaturalist and Flicks. Only the family Phrynidae, with the genera Paraphrynus Moreno, 1940 and Phrynus Lamarck, 1801, is known to occur in Honduras. A total of seven species have been recorded, but only four [Paraphrynus laevifrons (Pocock, 1894), Phrynus palenque Armas, 1996, Ph. similis Armas, Víquez & Trujillo, 2017 and Ph. whitei Gervais, 1842] have been positively identified. No endemic species are known, but available data suggest that some undescribed new species may be restricted to Honduras. In order to understand the amblypygids of Honduras, sampling within the country must be conducted and revisionary studies will be needed. This paper examines our current knowledge of the fauna.

de Armas LF, Cubas-Rodríguez AM (2024) The poorly-known amblypygid fauna (Arachnida, Amblypygi) of Honduras, Central America: an overview. In: Lipińska M, Lopez-Selva MM, Sierra JM (Eds) Biodiversity research in Central America. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 19(2): 137-148. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.19.e113507