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

Scientific Reports
Rafaela L FalaschiCassius Stevani

Abstract

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 bo...Continue Reading

References

Nov 1, 2011·Zoological Science·Yuichi ObaTakema Fukatsu
Feb 24, 2012·Systematic Biology·Fredrik RonquistJohn P Huelsenbeck
Aug 1, 2012·Nature Methods·Diego DarribaDavid Posada
Oct 18, 2013·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Koichiro TamuraSudhir Kumar
Jul 28, 2016·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·Stephen C TrowellRodney W Rickards
Aug 4, 2018·Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences : Official Journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology·Vadim R VivianiRafaela L Falaschi

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