Exceptionally long-lived species, including many bats, rarely show overt signs of aging, making it difficult to determine why species differ in lifespan. Here, we use DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles from 712 known-age bats, representing 26 species, to identify epigenetic changes associated with age and longevity. We demonstrate that DNAm accurately predicts chronological age. Across species, longevity is negatively associated with the rate of DNAm change at age-associated sites. Furthermore, analysis of several bat genomes reveals that hypermethylated age- and longevity-associated sites are disproportionately located in promoter regions of key transcription factors (TF) and enriched for histone and chromatin features associated with transcriptional regulation. Predicted TF binding site motifs and enrichment analyses indicate that age-related methylation change is influenced by developmental processes, while longevity-related DNAm change is associated with innate immunity or tumorigenesis genes, suggesting that bat longevity results from augmented immune response and cancer suppression.

Bats hold considerable potential for understanding exceptional longevity because some species can live eight times longer than other mammals of similar size [1]. Estimating their age or longevity is difficult because they show few signs of aging. DNA methylation (DNAm) provides a potential solution given its utility for estimating age [2-4] and lifespan [5-7] in humans. Here, we profile DNAm from wing biopsies of nearly 700 individuals representing 26 bat species and demonstrate that DNAm can predict chronological age accurately. Furthermore, the rate DNAm changes at age-informative sites is negatively related to longevity. To identify longevity-informative sites, we compared DNAm rates between three long-lived and two short-lived species. Hypermethylated age and longevity sites are enriched for histone and chromatin features associated with transcriptional regulation and preferentially located in the promoter regions of helix-turn-helix transcription factors (TFs). Predicted TF binding site motifs and enrichment analyses indicate that age-related methylation change is influenced by developmental processes, while longevity-related DNAm change is associated with innate immunity or tumorigenesis genes, suggesting that bat longevity results, in part, from augmented immune response and cancer suppression.

Aphids represent a major problem for many plant species, due to their ability to serve as pathogen vectors; the use of parasitoids as biological control agents might be a suitable option for long term control of their populations. The objective of this study was to prepare a taxonomic key in order to identify parasitoids and hyperparasitoids of aphids obtained in Costa Rica. In total, during 2008 to 2015, 3009 hymenopteran parasitoids were reared from 25 species of aphids, 2832 (94%) were primary parasitoids and 175 (6%) were hyperparasitoids. A taxonomic key was made for the identification of nine species of primary parasitoids, Braconidae-Aphidiinae, Aphelinidae, Eulophidae, and six species of hyperparasitoids in five families. In addition, the genus Quadrictonus (Aphidiinae), was included in the key and was reported for the first time in this study in Costa Rica.