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With the recent advance in molecular phylogenetics focused on the leaf insects (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae), gaps in knowledge are beginning to be filled. Yet, shortcomings are also being highlighted, for instance, the unveiling of numerous undescribed phylliid species. Here, some of these taxa are described, including Phyllium iyadaon sp. nov. from Mindoro Island, Philippines; Phyllium samarense sp. nov. from Samar Island, Philippines; Phyllium ortizi sp. nov. from Mindanao Island, Philippines; Pulchriphyllium heracles sp. nov. from Vietnam; Pulchriphyllium delislei sp. nov. from South Kalimantan, Indonesia; and Pulchriphyllium bhaskarai sp. nov. from Java, Indonesia. Several additional specimens of these species together with a seventh species described herein, Pulchriphyllium anangu sp. nov. from southwestern India, were incorporated into a newly constructed phylogenetic tree. Additionally, two taxa that were originally described as species, but in recent decades have been treated as subspecies, are elevated back to species status to reflect their unique morphology and geographic isolation, creating the following new combinations: Pulchriphyllium scythe (Gray, 1843) stat. rev., comb. nov. from Bangladesh and northeastern India, and Pulchriphyllium crurifolium (Audinet-Serville, 1838) stat. rev., comb. nov. from the Seychelles islands. Lectotype specimens are also designated for Pulchriphyllium scythe (Gray, 1843) stat. rev., comb. nov. and Pulchriphyllium crurifolium (Audinet-Serville, 1838) stat. rev., comb. nov. from original type material.

With the first large-scale Phylliidae molecular phylogeny recently published adding a great deal of clarity to phylliid diversity, several of the rarer species which could not be included were methodically and morphologically reviewed. This review resulted in identification of numerous substantial morphological features that suggest there are Melanesian clades that create polyphyletic groups within the phylliids which should instead be taxonomically recognized as unique. These rarer Melanesia species have historically been considered to be southern representatives of the Pulchriphyllium Griffini, 1898 sensu lato. However, there are notable morphological differences between the Pulchriphyllium sensu stricto and the “schultzei” group. Therefore, two new genera are erected, Vaabonbonphyllium gen. nov. from the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea and Rakaphyllium gen. nov. from New Guinea and the Aru Islands. Erection of these two new genera warrants the following new combinations: Rakaphyllium schultzei (Giglio-Tos, 1912), comb. nov., Rakaphyllium exsectum (Zompro, 2001b), comb. nov., and Vaabonbonphyllium groesseri (Zompro, 1998), comb. nov. Additionally, while reviewing material an undescribed Vaabonbonphyllium gen. nov. specimen was located and is herein described as Vaabonbonphyllium rafidahae gen. et sp. nov. from Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea. Additionally, a morphologically unique clade of several species recovered as sister to the Nanophyllium sensu stricto was recognized and their numerous unique morphological features and monophyly leads the authors to erect the new genus Acentetaphyllium gen. nov. which warrants the following new combinations: Acentetaphyllium brevipenne (Größer, 1992), comb. nov., Acentetaphyllium larssoni (Cumming, 2017), comb. nov., Acentetaphyllium miyashitai (Cumming et al. 2020), comb. nov., and Acentetaphyllium stellae (Cumming, 2016), comb. nov. With the addition of several new genera, a key to phylliid genera is included for adult males and females.

Bank et al. investigate the phylogenetic relationships of all major lineages of leaf insects, identify 15 to 20 putatively new species, and show these insects likely originated in the Australasian/Pacific region with dispersal to the mainland. This phylogenetic work is the first to include all major groups of leaf insects and highlights cryptic diversity.

With every molecular review involving Chitoniscus Stål, 1875 sensu lato samples from Fiji and New Caledonia revealing polyphyly, the morphology from these two distinct clades was extensively reviewed. Morphological results agree with all previously published molecular studies and therefore Trolicaphyllium gen. nov. is erected to accommodate the former Chitoniscus sensu lato species restricted to New Caledonia, leaving the type species Chitoniscus lobiventris (Blanchard, 1853) and all other Fijian species within Chitoniscus sensu stricto. Erection of this new genus for the New Caledonian species warrants the following new combinations: Trolicaphyllium brachysoma (Sharp, 1898), comb. nov., Trolicaphyllium erosus (Redtenbachher, 1906), comb. nov., and Trolicaphyllium sarrameaense (Größer, 2008a), comb. nov. Morphological details of the female, male, freshly hatched nymph, and egg are illustrated and discussed alongside the Chitoniscus sensu stricto in order to differentiate these two clades which have been mistaken as one for decades.

Abstract We previously showed that the physiological concentration of 17β-estradiol in the vaginal environment is sufficient to affect the membrane dynamics and adhesion phenotype of the Lactobacillus crispatus strain CIP104459. However, L. crispatus is a heterogeneous species. Here, we investigated the effect of 17β-estradiol on the recently isolated L. crispatus vaginal strain V4, related to a cluster distant from CIP104459 and at the limit of being a different subspecies. Grown in the same medium, the two strains expressed a highly similar pool of proteins. However, in contrast to CIP104459, L. crispatus V4 showed high aggregation potential and 17β-estradiol promoted this phenotype. This effect was associated with large changes in cell-surface polarity and Lewis acid/base properties. In addition, we observed no effect on the membrane dynamics, contrary to CIP104459. These results can be explained by differences in the properties and organization of the S layer between the two strains. However, as for CIP104459, 17β-estradiol increased biosurfactant production of L. crispatus V4 and their adhesion to vaginal cells. This suggests that 17β-estradiol agonists would be valuable tools to favor a stable re-implantation of L. crispatus in the vaginal mucosa.

A new genus and species of exaggerated antennae Coreidae is described from Myanmar amber of the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian stage). Ferriantenna excalibur gen. et sp. nov. appears related to another Cretaceous coreid with exaggerated antennae, Magnusantenna Du & Chen, 2021, but can be differentiated by the fourth antennal segment which is short and paddle-like, the undulating shape of the pronotum and mesonotum, and the shorter and thicker legs. The new coreid, with elaborately formed antennae and simple hind legs instead of the typical extant coreid morphology with simple antennae and elaborately formed hind legs, begs the question: why were the elaborate features of the antennae lost in favor of ornate hind legs? Features that are large and showy are at higher risk of being attacked by predators or stuck in a poor molt and subjected to autotomy and are therefore lost at a higher rate than simple appendages. We hypothesize that because elaborate antennae play an additional significant sensory role compared to elaborate hind legs, that evolutionarily it is more costly to have elaborate antennae versus elaborate hind legs. Thus, through the millenia, as coreid evolution experimented with elaborate/ornate features, those on the antennae were likely selected against in favor of ornate hind legs.

Abstract Lactobacilli and estrogens play essential roles in vaginal homeostasis. We investigated the potential direct effect of 17β-estradiol on a vaginal strain of Lactobacillus crispatus, the major bacterial species of the vaginal microbiota. 17β-estradiol (10–6 to 10–10 M) had no effect on L. crispatus growth, but markedly affected the membrane dynamics of this bacterium. This effect appeared consistent with a signal transduction process. The surface polarity and aggregation potential of the bacterium were unaffected by exposure to 17β-estradiol, but its mean size was significantly reduced. 17β-estradiol also promoted biosurfactant production by L. crispatus and adhesion to vaginal VK2/E6E7 cells, but had little effect on bacterial biofilm formation activity. Bioinformatic analysis of L. crispatus identified a membrane lipid raft–associated stomatin/prohibitin/flotillin/HflK domain containing protein as a potential 17β-estradiol binding site. Overall, our results reveal direct effects of 17β-estradiol on L. crispatus. These effects are of potential importance in the physiology of the vaginal environment, through the promotion of lactobacillus adhesion to the mucosa and protection against pathogens.

While the leaf insects (Phylliidae) are a well-supported group within Phasmatodea, the genus Phyllium Illiger, 1798 has repeatedly been recovered as paraphyletic. Here, the Phyllium (Phyllium) celebicum species group is reviewed and its distinctiveness from the remaining Phylliini genera and subgenera in a phylogenetic context based on morphological review and a phylogenetic analysis of three genes (nuclear gene 28S and mitochondrial genes COI and 16S) from most known and multiple undescribed species is shown. A new genus, Cryptophyllium gen. nov., is erected to partially accommodate the former members of the celebicum species group. Two species, Phyllium ericoriai Hennemann et al., 2009 and Phyllium bonifacioi Lit & Eusebio, 2014 morphologically and molecularly do not fall within this clade and are therefore left within Phyllium (Phyllium). The transfer of the remaining celebicum group members from Phyllium Illiger, 1798 to this new genus creates the following new combinations; Cryptophyllium athanysus (Westwood, 1859), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium celebicum (de Haan, 1842), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium chrisangi (Seow-Choen, 2017), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium drunganum (Yang, 1995), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium oyae (Cumming & Le Tirant, 2020), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium parum (Liu, 1993), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium rarum (Liu, 1993), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium tibetense (Liu, 1993), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium westwoodii (Wood-Mason, 1875), comb. nov.; Cryptophyllium yapicum (Cumming & Teemsma, 2018), comb. nov.; and Cryptophyllium yunnanense (Liu, 1993), comb. nov. The review of specimens belonging to this clade also revealed 13 undescribed species, which are described within as: Cryptophyllium animatum gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Quang Nam Province; Cryptophyllium bankoi gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Quang Ngai, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Gia Lai, Quang Nam, and Dak Nong Provinces; Cryptophyllium bollensi gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Ninh Thuan Province; Cryptophyllium daparo gen. et sp. nov. from China: Yunnan Province; Cryptophyllium echidna gen. et sp. nov. from Indonesia: Wangi-wangi Island; Cryptophyllium faulkneri gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Quang Ngai and Lam Dong Provinces; Cryptophyllium icarus gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Lam Dong and Dak Lak Provinces; Cryptophyllium khmer gen. et sp. nov. from Cambodia: Koh Kong and Siem Reap Provinces; Cryptophyllium limogesi gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Lam Dong, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong Provinces; Cryptophyllium liyananae gen. et sp. nov. from China: Guangxi Province; Cryptophyllium nuichuaense gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Ninh Thuan Province; Cryptophyllium phami gen. et sp. nov. from Vietnam: Dong Nai and Ninh Thuan Provinces; and Cryptophyllium wennae gen. et sp. nov. from China: Yunnan Province. All newly described species are morphologically described, illustrated, and molecularly compared to congenerics. With the molecular results revealing cryptic taxa, it was found necessary for Cryptophyllium westwoodii (Wood-Mason, 1875), comb. nov. to have a neotype specimen designated to allow accurate differentiation from congenerics. To conclude, male and female dichotomous keys to species for the Cryptophyllium gen. nov. are presented.

After successful laboratory rearing of both males and females from a single clutch of eggs, the genus Nanophyllium Redtenbacher, 1906 (described only from males) and the frondosum species group within Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) Griffini, 1898 (described only from females) are found to be the opposite sexes of the same genus. This rearing observation finally elucidates the relationship of these two small body sized leaf insect groups which, for more than a century, have never been linked before. This paper synonymizes the frondosum species group with Nanophyllium Redtenbacher, 1906 in order to create a singular and clearly defined taxonomic group. Five species are transferred from the Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) frondosum species group and create the following new combinations: Nanophyllium asekiense (Größer, 2002), comb. nov.; Nanophyllium chitoniscoides (Größer, 1992), comb. nov.; Nanophyllium frondosum (Redtenbacher, 1906), comb. nov.; Nanophyllium keyicum (Karny, 1914), comb. nov.; Nanophyllium suzukii (Größer, 2008), comb. nov. The only taxon from this species group not transferred from the frondosum species group to Nanophyllium is Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) groesseri Zompro, 1998. Based on protibial exterior lobes, this species belongs in the schultzei species group as described in Hennemann et al. 2009 and is therefore excluded from further discussion here. The rearing of Nanophyllium also yielded the male Nanophyllium asekiense (Größer, 2002), comb. nov. thus, enabling comparison of this male to the other previously known Nanophyllium species. Two new species of nano-leaf insects are described within, Nanophyllium miyashitai sp. nov., from Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, and Nanophyllium daphne sp. nov., from Biak Island, Papua Province, Indonesia. With such distinct sexual dimorphism in Nanophyllium between sexes, which have only now been matched up via captive rearing, illustrated within are numerous specimens which might represent the unknown opposite sexes of the many currently known species of Nanophyllium. Due to pronounced sexual dimorphism in Nanophyllium, only future captive rearing or molecular analysis will match up the many unknown sexes. To conclude, with the description of two new Nanophyllium species, dichotomous keys to species for known males and females are presented.

A new subgenus, Walaphyllium subgen. nov., is described within Phyllium Illiger, 1798 to accommodate three leaf insect species. One of the species included is newly described herein as Phyllium (Walaphyllium) lelantos sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea. This new subgenus of Phyllium can be diagnosed by a following combination of features. This new species is compared to the two additional new subgenus members, Phyllium zomproi Größer, 2001 and Phyllium monteithi Brock & Hasenpusch, 2003. Also for the first time the male morphology of Phyllium zomproi is described and illustrated. To conclude, a brief biogeographical view of the leaf insects on either side of the Torres Strait is presented, as well as a key to species and a distribution map to the known species of Phyllium (Walaphyllium) subgen. nov.

Within the last two years, the leaf insects of the genus Phyllium of both the islands of Java and Sumatra have been reviewed extensively based on morphological observations. However, cryptic species which cannot be differentiated morphologically may be present among the various populations. Since it has frequently been demonstrated that analyses based on molecular data can bring clarity in such cases, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on three genes (nuclear gene 28S and mitochondrial genes COI and 16S) from the Phyllium species of these islands. The results show distinct molecular divergence for several populations and suggest the presence of two new cryptic species, morphologically inseparable from Phyllium hausleithneri Brock, 1999. From Sumatra, the population originally thought to be a range expansion for Phyllium hausleithneri, is now here described as Phyllium nisus sp. nov., with the only consistent morphological difference being the color of the eggs between the two populations (dark brown in P. hausleithneri and tan in P. nisus sp. nov.). Further, an additional population with purple coxae from Java was morphologically examined and found to have no consistent features to separate it morphologically from the other purple coxae species. This cryptic species from Java was however shown to be molecularly distinct from the other purple coxae populations from Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia and is here described as Phyllium gardabagusi sp. nov. In addition, Phyllium giganteum is here officially reported from Java for the first time based on both historic and modern records of male specimens.

With the recent advance in molecular phylogenetics focused on the leaf insects (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae), gaps in knowledge are beginning to be filled. Yet, shortcomings are also being highlighted, for instance, the unveiling of numerous undescribed phylliid species. Here, some of these taxa are described, including Phyllium iyadaon sp. nov. from Mindoro Island, Philippines; Phyllium samarense sp. nov. from Samar Island, Philippines; Phyllium ortizi sp. nov. from Mindanao Island, Philippines; Pulchriphyllium heracles sp. nov. from Vietnam; Pulchriphyllium delislei sp. nov. from South Kalimantan, Indonesia; and Pulchriphyllium bhaskarai sp. nov. from Java, Indonesia. Several additional specimens of these species together with a seventh species described herein, Pulchriphyllium anangu sp. nov. from southwestern India, were incorporated into a newly constructed phylogenetic tree. Additionally, two taxa that were originally described as species, but in recent decades have been treated as subspecies, are elevated back to species status to reflect their unique morphology and geographic isolation, creating the following new combinations: Pulchriphyllium scythe (Gray, 1843) stat. rev., comb. nov. from Bangladesh and northeastern India, and Pulchriphyllium crurifolium (Audinet-Serville, 1838) stat. rev., comb. nov. from the Seychelles islands. Lectotype specimens are also designated for Pulchriphyllium scythe (Gray, 1843) stat. rev., comb. nov. and Pulchriphyllium crurifolium (Audinet-Serville, 1838) stat. rev., comb. nov. from original type material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]