We revised the homology of wing base structure in Ephemeroptera (Insecta: Pterygota) proposed by Willkommen and Hörnschemeyer in a recent issue of Arthropod Structure and Development. The first free sclerite (s1) in Ephemeroptera should be homologized with a part of the first axillary sclerite (1Ax) of Neoptera, together with the second free sclerite, whereas the authors recognized s1 as a deta...

The relationships of the 3 major clades of winged insects-Ephemeroptera, Odonata, and Neoptera-are still unclear. Many morphologists favor a clade Metapterygota (Odonata +Neoptera), but Chiastomyaria (Ephemeroptera + Neoptera) or Palaeoptera (Ephemeroptera +Odonata) has also been supported in some older and more recent studies. A possible explanation for the difficulties in resolving these rela...

One of the most fascinating Bauplan transitions in the animal kingdom was the invention of insect wings, a change that also contributed to the success and enormous diversity of this animal group. However, the origin of insect flight and the relationships of basal winged insect orders are still controversial. Three hypotheses have been proposed to explain the phylogeny of winged insects: 1) the ...

While the monophyly of winged insects (Pterygota) is well supported, phylogenetic relationships among the most basal extant pterygote lineages are problematic. Ephemeroptera (mayflies) and Odonata (dragonflies) represent the two most basal extant lineages of winged insects, and determining their relationship with regard to Neoptera (remaining winged insects) is a critical step toward understand...

The type specimens of Ephemeroptera (Insecta) housed at the Zoological Museum of Hamburg (ZMH) are compiled in this document. The current nomenclature of all species is given. In total, Ephemeroptera type material of ZMH encompasses 161 species. Fifty-one holotypes and five lectotypes are present. Forty-one species are represented by syntypes, 85 by paratypes and five by paralectotypes. Materia...

Potamotrygon signata is an endemic freshwater stingray species in the Parnaíba River basin, Brazil. After its original description, only citations in systematic lists were recorded in the literature and the biology of the species remains unknown, including the feeding habits. The aim of this study is to characterize the overall diet of P. signata based on analysing stomach contents and to provi...

One new species of Indocloeon Müller-Liebenau from Brunei, I. spathasetissp. n., and one new species from Indonesia, I. timorensesp. n., are described and illustrated based on their larvae. The total number of known Indocloeon species increases from two to four and the generic attributes of the larvae are amended based on the examination of the new species. Results on the genetics of some speci...

We report on dry asphalt roads acting as 'mayfly traps'; that is, they lure swarming, mating and egg-laying mayflies in large numbers. To explain this surprising behaviour, we performed multiple-choice experiments with Ephemeroptera in the field, and measured and compared the reflection-polarization characteristics of an asphalt road and a mountain creek from which mayflies emerge. We show here...

The influence of environmental factors on the distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) immatures was investigated in streams of the Brazilian Center-West (Serra do Pireneus, Pirenópolis, State of Goiás). The insects were sampled by lifting the stones in front of a sieve (0.5 mm mesh) and then removing the insects from both the stone and the sieve. Sampling was carried out...