Ant–aphid relations in the south of Western Siberia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae; Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Aphids, the main suppliers of energy-rich honeydew, play an important role in the life of ants. However, the data on the trophobiotic ant–aphid associations in the majority of regions are still limited. We present the first data on the ant–aphid relations in the south of Western Siberia. Investigations were carried out in the most typical biotopes of forest-steppe and steppe zones in the territory of Novosibirsk and Kurgan regions (Russia) during 1993–2014. There were revealed 35 species of ants and 198 species of aphids. Detected 456 ant–aphid associations involved 28 ant species and 134 myrmecophilous aphids. Seven ant species were found to consume honeydew of 9 non-myrmecophilous aphids, scraping it from the plant. This behaviour is typical of subdominant and subordinate ants which do not protect their foraging areas. Ants associate with various numbers of aphid species. About 36% of ants attended aphid colonies of less than 5 species. The largest number of myrmecophilous aphids is associated with L. niger (Linnaeus, 1758) (103 species), Formica pratensis Retzius, 1783 (50), Formica rufa group (25–33), F. (Serviformica) fusca Linnaeus, 1758 (26) and F. (S.) cunicularia Latreille, 1798 (27). Different ants play unequal roles in the formation of trophobiotic interactions with aphids. Due to complex territorial and foraging behaviour, including high functional specialization among honeydew collectors, dominant ants of Formica s. str. are one of the leaders in this process. The role of L. niger and Formica ants of the subgenus Serviformica requires further detailed investigation.     

Control of the flat-headed root borer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capnodis tenebrionis</Emphasis> (Linné) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) with the entomopathogenic nematode <Emphasis Type="Italic">Steinernema carpocapsae</Emphasis> (Weiser) (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) in a chitosan formulation in apricot orchards

Entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae were applied in a chitosan formulation (Biorend R^®) to control the flat-headed rootborer Capnodis tenebrionis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in 5 field trials in the province of Valencia, Spain. Application was performed during spring and summer into the soil around apricot trees at densities of 1 and 1.5 million infective dauer juveniles per tree through drip irrigation, injection or by a drench. For evaluation of the control effect the roots of 106 trees were excavated, the cortex removed and living and dead insects were sampled. Dead larvae were dissected and checked for nematode infestation. Control of C. tenebrionis larvae was between 75% and 90%. No influence of the application method, nematode density or time of application on the control effect was recorded. Recovery of the infested trees was observed already in the season following nematode application. Due to the two year life cycle of the insect with egg laying from May to August, applications during spring and autumn are recommended.     

Gods in the Flesh: Learning Emotions in the Xangô Possession Cult (Brazil)

Drawing on first-hand ethnographical data from the Xang"ô, an Afro-Brazilian Cult in Recife (Brazil), I defend that learning possession means in the first place to learn to identify and react to specific emotional states in accordance with cultural representations and expectations. This emotional learning would take place through two potential processes during ritual activity. On the one hand a powerful coupling process linking “uncanny” body arousals to mythological imagination captured by the highly evocative content of songs, invocations, objects and substances during ritual activity. Ritual features such as archetypality, rigidity, regularity, redundancy and spatial and temporal delimitation are propitious for eliciting and “boosting” this coupling process. On the other hand, a social referencing process through which emotional and behavioral reactions towards possessed persons act for novices as reliable indicators of how to recognize, interpret and regulate their own emotional states associated with possession. With growing familiarity with possession's conceptual and experiential background, their emotional reactions might evolve from largely undifferentiated arousal states to “orixa´-specific” somatic signature and novices might become more active towards their own possession. They also demonstrate an increasing sensitivity to isolated emotional elicitors of possession as well as a better control over their emotional reaction.     

Spermatogenic ultrastructure in the anomalodesmatan bivalve Myochama anomioides (Mollusca: Myochamidae) – does the nucleus help position the ‘temporary’ acrosome?

Spermatogenic ultrastructure in the marine bivalve mollusc Myochama anomioides (Myochamidae) is described and contrasted with other bivalves, especially other euheterodonts. Small (0.1 μm diameter), primary proacrosomal vesicles produced in spermatocytes give rise to much larger (0.4 μm diameter) secondary proacrosomal vesicles in early spermatids, which in turn form the dished‐shaped, definitive acrosomal vesicle (diameter 1.0 μm) of later spermatids. The acrosomal vesicle acquires a deposit of subacrosomal material and comes to lie close to or in contact with the plasma membrane. The acrosomal complex (acrosomal vesicle + subacrosomal material) initially positions itself at the apex of the condensing, fibrous nucleus (the so‐called temporary acrosome position), but subsequently begins to move posteriorly. The condensing nucleus becomes markedly folded so that its apex is posteriorly orientated towards the migrating acrosomal complex and the midpiece (mitochondria and centrioles). The close spatial relationship of nuclear apex to acrosomal complex during this folding strongly suggests that acrosomal migration in M. anomioides is assisted, at least in part, by movement of the late spermatid nucleus. Similar nuclear folding has previously been demonstrated in an early stage of fertilization in another anomalodesmatan (Laternula limicola) raising the possibility that one event might be a reversal of the other.     

Integral role of the I′-helix in the function of the “inactive” C-terminal domain of catalase–peroxidase (KatG)

Catalase–peroxidases (KatGs) have two peroxidase-like domains. The N-terminal domain contains the heme-dependent, bifunctional active site. Though the C-terminal domain lacks the ability to bind heme or directly catalyze any reaction, it has been proposed to serve as a platform to direct the folding of the N-terminal domain. Toward such a purpose, its I′-helix is highly conserved and appears at the interface between the two domains. Single and multiple substitution variants targeting highly conserved residues of the I′-helix were generated for intact KatG as well as the stand-alone C-terminal domain (KatG^C). Single variants of intact KatG produced only subtle variations in spectroscopic and catalytic properties of the enzyme. However, the double and quadruple variants showed substantial increases in hexa-coordinate low-spin heme and diminished enzyme activity, similar to that observed for the N-terminal domain on its own (KatG^N). The analogous variants of KatG^C showed a much more profound loss of function as evaluated by their ability to return KatG^N to its active conformation. All of the single variants showed a substantial decrease in the rate and extent of KatG^N reactivation, but with two substitutions, KatG^C completely lost its capacity for the reactivation of KatG^N. These results suggest that the I′-helix is central to direct structural adjustments in the adjacent N-terminal domain and supports the hypothesis that the C-terminal domain serves as a platform to direct N-terminal domain conformation and bifunctionality.     

Fragmentation in the clouds? The population genetics of the native bee <Emphasis Type="Italic">Partamona bilineata</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) in the cloud forests of Guatemala

Habitat fragmentation and loss are important drivers of genetic differentiation, often leading to a decrease in genetic diversity. Yet, natural populations of tropical bees often show a lack of differentiation, even in fragmented landscapes, suggesting resilience to deal with unfavourable land use. It is not clear what leads to this lack of differentiation, but large population sizes, high rates of dispersal and stable demography likely play important roles. Here, we investigate the population genetic structure and infer the present and historic demography of the eusocial stingless bee Partamona bilineata from tropical montane cloud forests in Guatemala. We used microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA to test for genetic differentiation, to infer migration rates, and to evaluate the effects of landscape. We also used demographic modelling to trace population sizes over time. We found that six populations of P. bilineata exhibited only subtle differentiation, with the exception of one site at the edge of the cloud forest, which was clearly distinct from all others. Effective population sizes (number of colonies) appeared to be rather small (18?±?6 colonies) compared to the original sample size (N?=?51?±?9), but stable over time, and inferred rates of gene flow were low; yet, no genetic bottleneck was detected. A statistical model including elevation was the best in explaining the observed pattern of differentiation. We find that P. bilineata does not exhibit strong genetic structure, making it a resilient species for provision of pollination services. But, at the same time, our data point to the potential vulnerability of this and similar species, as effective population sizes appear to be low and hence populations may be easily affected by future environmental change. As such, P. bilineata may be representative of many other tropical stingless bees, for which lack of differentiation has been invoked.     

In the foothill zone—Sabanejewia balcanica (Karaman 1922), in the lowland zone—Sabanejewia bulgarica (Drensky, 1928): Myth or reality?

The status of golden loaches (genus Sabanejewia) in the region of Central Europe and Balkans is still ambiguous. The greatest controversy is caused by species Sabanejewia balcanica and S. bulgarica. Both species are characterized by a wide spectrum of morphological variability and overlapping of distinguishing features, which then lead to difficulties in their determination. Previous phylogenetic studies aimed on the resolving of their taxonomic status did not include samples from their type localities and so led to a lack of their true distribution in this region. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to identify taxonomic status of golden loaches populations in the region of the middle Danube basin and adjacent areas on the model territory of Slovakia. For this purpose, we used novelty approach (morphological, molecular, and microhabitat) and we also included the missing samples from the type localities of both species. Based on mtDNA all the Slovakian samples reflected haplotype richness revealed on the type locality of S. bulgarica, although the genetic distances from other representatives of the genus Sabanejewia occurring are not significant. Within the morphology, we have revealed a great measure of variability in studied populations, which is largely caused by different habitat conditions and thus representing a phenotypic plasticity of these fish.     

Monitoring the invasion of the aquatic bug <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichocorixa verticalis verticalis</Emphasis> (Hemiptera: Corixidae) in the wetlands of Doñana National Park (SW Spain)

We have detected the presence of the North American native corixid Trichocorixa verticalis verticalis (Fieber, 1851) in Doñana wetlands (SW Spain). We have collected data from different research projects done in the area during the period of 2001–2007. We have sampled 134 different sites in Doñana and we found the exotic corixid in 66 occasions. We have found two reproductive populations that might act as sources for the colonization of other waterbodies in the area. When reproduction occurred T. v. verticalis outcompeted native corixids. Its presence out of the waterbodies where we detected reproduction was in small numbers and probably due to vagrant individuals.     

Ultrastructure of the accessory gland in the parthenogenetic thrips heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouché) (Thysanoptera : Thripidae)

The fine structure of the reproductive accessory gland of the parthenogenetic thrips Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Thysanoptera : Thripidae) is reported. It consists of an apical bulb and a fine gland duct. The former consists of an epithelium with secretory and duct-forming cells surrounding a large gland lumen lined with a thin cuticle and filled with dense secretion. Spent secretory cells degenerate and are eliminated from the epithelium. The gland duct is characterized by an irregular, branched lumen surrounded by a very flat epithelium. A valve controls the opening of the duct lumen. The proximal gland duct runs through a cuticular papilla that opens between the dorsal ovipositor valves. The secretions may serve for ovipositor valve lubrication and possibly to protect laid eggs. Observations of serial sections through the vagina exclude the presence of a spermatheca in this species.     

Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in citrus in the State of Paraná, Brazil

Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Meyrick) is associated with various fruit species in South America. This tortricid was first detected in citrus, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, in Brazil, in commercial groves in northern Paraná, during the 1994/95-crop season. The aim of this work was to study the biology of this lepidopteran under laboratory conditions (28 +/- 2 degrees C, 70 +/-10% UR, 14h photofase) using the citrus cultivar Pêra. Larvae obtained from egg masses collected in a commercial citrus grove in Rolandia, PR, were individually placed on citrus terminal leaves inside glass shell vials (8.5 x 2.5 cm) until adulthood. A male and a female moth were then transferred to acrylic cages (13 x 10 cm) containing inside a bouquet made with new citrus flush to serve as oviposition substrate. Adults were fed daily with a 10% honey solution. The biological parameters evaluated were duration of development of egg, larval and pupal stages; pupae weight; duration of pre-oviposition and oviposition periods, fecundity and longevity. The length of the egg to adult stage was around 36 days. The pre-oviposition period was almost two days, the oviposition period approximately ten days and the embryonary period around six days. Adult longevity was almost 15 days for females and nine days for males, and the lifetime fecundity was slightly over 180 eggs.     

Sooty Shearwater (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Puffinus griseus</Emphasis>) on Guafo Island: the largest seabird colony in the world?

Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) is the most common Procellariiform seabird along the south-eastern South American coast. In recent years the wintering population off California has declined noticeably. This decline has been confirmed on the breeding grounds in New Zealand. In Chile, knowledge of the population is limited. Investigations on Isla Guafo were carried out during two seasons (03/04 and 04/05), beginning an ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the breeding population of this species in southern South America. On Isla Guafo we estimate a population of about 4 million birds that nest above 150 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.) under a forest without understory. Sooty Shearwaters on Isla Guafo prefer north and western slopes that we hypothesise protect them from the predominantly southerly winds. Population of the species from New Zealand and Australia are compared with the Isla Guafo population and the state of its conservation is discussed.     

Forever in the dark: the cave-dwelling?azooxanthellate reef coral Leptoseris troglodyta sp. n. (Scleractinia,?Agariciidae)

The coral species Leptoseris troglodyta sp. n. (Scleractinia, Agariciidae) is described as new to science. It is the first known azooxanthellate shallow-water agariciid and is recorded from the ceilings of caves at 5-35 m depth in West Pacific coral reefs. The corals have monocentric cup-shaped calices. They may become colonial through extramural budding from the basal coenosteum, which may cause adjacent calices to fuse. The size, shape and habitat of Leptoseris troglodyta are unique compared to other Leptoseris species, many of which have been recorded from mesophotic depths. The absence of zooxanthellae indicates that it may survive well in darkness, but endolithic algae in some corals indicate that they may be able to get some light. The presence of menianes on the septal sides, which may help to absorb light at greater depths in zooxanthellate corals, have no obvious adaptive relevance in the new species and could have been inherited from ancestral species that perhaps were zooxanthellate. The new species may be azooxanthellate as derived through the loss of zooxanthellae, which would be a reversal in Leptoseris phylogeny.     

Chemical Defense in Millipedes (Myriapoda,Diplopoda): Do Representatives of the Family Blaniulidae Belong to the ‘Quinone’ Clade?

The defensive secretions of two blaniulid millipedes, Nopoiulus kochii and Cibiniulus phlepsii, were characterized by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses, which showed the presence of a complex mixture of benzoquinones, hydroquinones, and oleates. Altogether, 13 compounds were identified. The major compound in the secretions of both analyzed species was 2‐methyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone (toluquinone). The second major constituent in the N. kochii secretion was 2‐methyl‐3,4‐(methylenedioxy)phenol, while in that of C. phlepsii, it was 2‐methoxy‐3‐methyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone. The defensive secretion of N. kochii also showed a high content of hydroquinones (13.5%) in comparison to that of C. phlepsii (0.8%). Hexyl oleate and octyl oleate were detected for the first time in defensive millipede fluids. The chemical composition of the defensive secretions supports the chemotaxonomic position of the family Blaniulidae in the ‘quinone’ millipede clade.     

Heterogeneity in shore flies – the case of Glenanthe Haliday (Diptera: Ephydridae) in the Old World

Old World species of the genus Glenanthe are treated comprehensively with an emphasis on the unusually diverse morphological heterogeneity discovered in structures of the male terminalia. As perspective for this treatment, the tribe Lipochaetini, in which Glenanthe is placed, is characterized and discussed, and an annotated key to the four included genera is provided to facilitate their identification. Glenanthe is demonstrated to be a monophyletic lineage within Lipochaetini. Seven Old World species of Glenanthe are now known, including two new Afrotropical species as follows (type locality in parenthesis): G. namibia n. sp. (Namibia. Mukwe: Divuju: Okavango River [18°04’04”S, 21°28’51”E] and G. danielssoni n. sp. (Republic of South Africa. Cape Province: De Hoop Nature Reserve [34°27’S, 28°25’E]. The identity of G. fuscinervis Becker, revised status (raised from synonymy with G. ripicola (Haliday)), is clarified, and found to be conspecific with Hydrina ochracea Oldenberg, which is recognized as a junior synonym. Papp’s synonymy of Glenanthe fasciventris Becker with Hydrellia (Glenanthe) ripicola Haliday is confirmed, and herein we relegate G. iranica Canzoneri & Rampini also as junior synonym of G. ripicola. The remarkable diverse structures of the male terminalia of all included species are described and illustrated and distribution maps are also provided.     

The mitochondrial genome of the land snail Camaena cicatricosa (Müller, 1774) (Stylommatophora,Camaenidae): the first complete sequence in the family Camaenidae

The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the snail Camaena cicatricosa (Müller, 1774) has been sequenced and annotated in this study. The entire circular genome is 13,843 bp in size and represents the first camaenid mt genome, with content of 31.9%A, 37.9%T, 13.5%C and 16.7%G. Gene content, codon usage and base organization show similarity to a great extent to the sequenced mt genome from Stylommatophora, whereas, gene order is different from them, especially the positions of tRNA^Cys, tRNA^Phe, COII, tRNA^Asp, tRNA^Gly, tRNA^His and tRNA^Trp. All protein coding genes use standard initiation codons ATN except for COII with GTG as start signal. Conventional stop codons TAA and TAG have been assigned to all protein coding genes. All tRNA genes possess the typical clover leaf structure, but the TψC arm of tRNA^Asp and dihydrouridine arm of tRNA^Ser(AGN) only form a simple loop. Shorter intergenic spacers have been found in this mt genome. Phylogenetic study based on protein coding genes shows close relationship of Camaenidae and Bradybaenidae. The presented phylogeny is consistent with the monophyly of Stylommatophora.     

Microsatellite assessment of the genetic diversity in indigenous populations of curimba (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prochilodus argenteus</Emphasis>) in the São Francisco river (Brazil)

The freshwater fish curimba (Prochilodus argenteus) is an endemic species of the São Francisco River basin, with great aquaculture potential. The construction of several hydroelectric power dams along the river, and the pulsed releases of water from these dams altered and degraded the native fish habitats, which led to the development of a hatchery-reared fingerling restocking program. A comprehensive genetic baseline evaluation of the indigenous populations of curimba and of a hatchery stock was done using microsatellite markers. Pairwise F _ST values, Bayesian analysis and the number of migrants per generation were used to illustrate the genetic structure of the curimba populations along almost 3000 km of the river, suggesting the existence of three units of conservation: one in the Upper, a second in the Middle and a third including part of the Middle, Submiddle and Lower stretches. We have analyzed the genetic contribution of hatchery stock releases in two stretches of the river using individual admixture coefficients; and the results showed that admixture makes a negligible contribution to indigenous recruitment. We discussed about supplementation programs for this river from the perspective of three units of conservation and the risks associated with using domesticated fish.     

Why get big in the cold? Size–fecundity relationships explain the temperature‐size rule in a pulmonate snail (Physa)

Most ectotherms follow a pattern of size plasticity known as the temperature‐size rule where individuals reared in cold environments are larger at maturation than those reared in warm environments. This pattern seems maladaptive because growth is slower in the cold so it takes longer to reach a large size. However, it may be adaptive if reaching a large size has a greater benefit in a cold than in a warm environment such as when size‐dependent mortality or size‐dependent fecundity depends on temperature. I present a theoretical model showing how a correlation between temperature and the size–fecundity relationship affects optimal size at maturation. I parameterize the model using data from a freshwater pulmonate snail from the genus Physa. Nine families were reared from hatching in one of three temperature regimes (daytime temperature of 22, 25 or 28 °C, night‐time temperature of 22 °C, under a 12L : 12D light cycle). Eight of the nine families followed the temperature‐size rule indicating genetic variation for this plasticity. As predicted, the size–fecundity relationship depended upon temperature; fecundity increases steeply with size in the coldest treatment, less steeply in the intermediate treatment, and shows no relationship with size in the warmest treatment. Thus, following the temperature‐size rule is adaptive for this species. Although rarely measured under multiple conditions, size–fecundity relationships seem to be sensitive to a number of environmental conditions in addition to temperature including local productivity, competition and predation. If this form of plasticity is as widespread as it appears to be, this model shows that such plasticity has the potential to greatly modify current life‐history theory.