Falaschi RL et al. (2019), Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. (Diptera: K...

ECB-ART-47363

Sci Rep 2019 Aug 05;91:11291. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47753-w.

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Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. (Diptera: Keroplatidae) is the first record of a bioluminescent fungus-gnat in South America.

Falaschi RL , Amaral DT , Santos I , Domingos AHR , Johnson GA , Martins AGS , Viroomal IB , Pompéia SL , Mirza JD , Oliveira AG , Bechara EJH , Viviani VR , Stevani CV .

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Blue shining fungus gnats (Diptera) had been long reported in the Waitomo caves of New Zealand (Arachnocampa luminosa Skuse), in stream banks of the American Appalachian Mountains (Orfelia fultoni Fisher) in 1939 and in true spore eating Eurasiatic Keroplatus Bosc species. This current report observes that similar blue light emitting gnat larvae also occur nearby the Betary river in the buffer zone of High Ribeira River State Park (PETAR) in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, where the larvae were found when on fallen branches or trunks enveloped in their own secreted silk. The new species is named Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. (Diptera: Keroplatidae: Keroplatinae: Keroplatini) based on a morphological analysis. Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. larvae emit blue bioluminescence that can be seen from their last abdominal segment and from two photophores located laterally on the first thoracic segment. When touched, the larvae can actively stop its luminescence, which returns when it is no longer being agitated. The in vitro bioluminescence spectrum of N. betaryiensis nov. sp. peaks at 472 nm, and cross-reactivity of hot and cold extracts with the luciferin-luciferase from Orfelia fultoni indicate significant similarity in both enzyme and substrate of the two species, and that the bioluminescence system in the subfamily Keroplatinae is conserved.

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Genes referenced: LOC115925287 LOC579597 LOC587333 wasl

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References [+] :

Darriba, jModelTest 2: more models, new heuristics and parallel computing. 2012, Pubmed

	Figure 1. Different locations and habitats where larvae of Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. were photographed. (A) Decaying log where larvae were collected. (B) Larvae on the surface of the log surrounded by a web-like mucus. (C) Association of a larva with a Favolus brasiliensis (Fr.) Fr. mushroom raised in a terrarium. (D) Photo of a typically translucid N. betaryiensis sp. nov. (E) Details of the larva head and (F) last abdominal segment.
	Figure 2. Life cycle of Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. (A) Pupal stage. (B) Emerged adult female. (C) Emerged adult male.
	Figure 3. Bioluminescence of Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. larvae. (A) Light emission under illumination and (B) in the dark. (C) Detailed view of the two photophores located laterally on the first thoracic segment.
	Figure 4. Parasitized unidentified luminous dipteran larva. (A) Larva under illumination and (B) light emission from the entire body. (C) Ichneumonid parasitic wasp that emerged from the pupa.
	Figure 5. Chemiluminescence spectrum obtained from the reaction of luciferase and hot extracts of Orfelia fultoni (gray) and Neoceroplatus betaryiensis nov. sp. cold extract plus O. fultoni hot extract (black).
	Figure 6. Phylogenetic tree of Keroplatidae bioluminescent and non-bioluminescent species using mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI). Species surrounded by a grey rectangle are bioluminescent. Species whose name is displayed in pale blue share the same specific luciferin and SBF and the species with name in dark blue, share the same specific luciferase and luciferin.