Mating behavior ofFlorinda coccinea (Hentz) (Araneae: Linyphiidae)

We studied the courtship and copulation ofFlorinda coccinea (Hentz) and described 18 behavioral acts for this species.F. coccinea exhibits many behaviors typical of the Linyphiidae such as web reduction, abdominal vibration, palpal jabbing, stridulation, pseudocopulation, and prolonged copulation. The numbers of palpal insertions during pseudocopulation and copulation are positively correlated to the durations of these phases. Pseudocopulation requires over three times more time on average than copulation, although females copulate longer than is required for fertilization. We found no correlation between the durations of pseudocopulation or copulation and fitness characters, and we hypothesize that lengthy pseudocopulation and copulation may function as a form of internal courtship.     

Molecular phylogeny supports a Northern Hemisphere origin of Golovinomyces (Ascomycota: Erysiphales)

Golovinomyces is a strictly herb-parasitic genus in the Erysiphaceae. Host–parasite co-speciation was reported recently between the genus Golovinomyces and Asteraceae from molecular phylogenetic analyses. The Asteraceae originated in South America and latterly expanded their geographic distribution into the Northern Hemisphere. If the co-speciation between Golovinomyces and Asteraceae originated in South America, the geographic origin of Golovinomyces could be assumed to be South America. To address this question, Golovinomyces species from hosts of the tribe Mutisieae, an asteraceous tribe endemic to South America, were collected and the ITS and 28S rDNA regions sequenced. Results indicate that Oidium mutisiae and Golovinomyces leuceriae isolated from the Mutisieae do not belong at the base of the Golovinomyces tree. Instead, they are situated separately within two different clades of Golovinomyces isolates from the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, the tribe Mutisieae is not the most early host of Golovinomyces. Present results suggest that Golovinomyces originated in the Northern Hemisphere, and not in South America. The new species Oidium reginae for the previous O. mutisiae on Mutisia decurrens is proposed.     

白背叶(大戟科)性系统和传粉生物学研究

为探讨野桐属(Mallotus)雌雄异株的进化和传粉机制,对白背叶(Mallotus apelta)野生居群的性系统和传粉生物学进行了研究。结果表明,所调查的白背叶居群均由雌性(F)、雄性(M)和少数两性(B)个体组成,平均性比为1：0.66：0.18(F：M：B);3种性别植株的基径大小差异不显著;雌株与两性植株的单花胚珠数、单果结籽数和自然结实率无显著差异;雄株与两性植株的花粉萌发率、花粉组织化学和花粉微形态特征也无显著差异,但雄株的单花花粉量是两性植株的1.26~1.63倍,且差异显著;雌株的异交结实率为96.67%,两性植株的异交结实率为76.00%,两者差异显著,说明居群内雌株的潜在种子生产力明显高于两性植株;野外观察到雄株和两性植株上的雄花具有访花者而雌株没有;雌株经套网处理后结实率超过30%而套袋处理不结实。这些表明白背叶具典型的亚雌雄异株性系统,雌株和雄株的适合度均高于两性植株;雌株以风媒传粉结实,两性植株可能兼有风媒和虫媒传粉特征。     

Species of Pleuroxus (Anomopoda,Chydoridae) from the subantarctic islands and southernmost South America: a partial unravelling of the Pleuroxus aduncus problem

Whereas previously all populations of Pleuroxus (now P.) known from the subantarctic islands and southernmost South America were considered to belong to a subspecies of P. aduncus (described from France), now there are five distinct species, only one of which resembles P. aduncus to any significant extent, but even it is a good species. Thus, the taxa are all distinctly different, and none of them could possibly be considered an infraspecies of P. aduncus sens. str. P. macquariensis from Macquarie Island and P. paroplesius and P. varidentatus from South America are new. Of the five species, P. varidentatus resembles P. aduncus most closely, but is separated from it by a number of significant characters. P. wittsteini is presently known from five islands in the south Indian Ocean, but there is considerable uncertainty as to whether all these populations really are the same taxon, because they differ somewhat in the shape of the labrum and in the intensity of sculpturing of the carapace and head. P. scopuliferus from South America is the most distinctive species of the group, having 9 gnathobasic filter setae on trunklimb III instead of the usual 8, a weak ridge on the shell, and a recurved rostrum extending beyond the tip of the labrum. No species of Pleuroxus (or of P., another subgenus of animals formerly assigned simply to Pleuroxus are known from the islands in the Scotia Arc between South America and Antarctica. The patterns of distribution cannot be explained by an on-going passive dispersal of resting eggs. No populations of species on the subantarctic islands are known from any of the southern land masses. Conditions on these islands intuitively must have been more severe during the glacial ages than during the present interglacial, suggesting that any anomopods present were eliminated during the severe glacial periods. Yet, the presence of isolated populations of endemic species on some islands and the complete lack of Pleuroxus on others (e.g. those in the Scotia Arc) argues that conditions, although more severe, still provided opportunities for the maintenance of active populations. Moreover, the morphological differences between populations of P. wittsteini on islands from a few hundred to several thousand kilometers apart likewise argue for genetic isolation over a very long period of time. Deceased     

香姜,越南植物一新记录种

据已有文献记载,香姜(姜科)(Alpinia coriandriodora D. Fang)仅分布于广西,现首次在越南发现其分布。该种在形态上与竹叶山姜(A. bambusifolia D. Fang)相近,但其叶片椭圆状披针形、唇瓣浅黄色及带红褐色条纹和花药附属体三角状而与后者有别。提供该种详细的形态学描述以及图版,亦包括在越南的分布及生态的资料。凭证标本保存于越南国立自然博物馆(VNMN)和中国科学院华南植物园(IBSC)。     

Host range of Ceutorhynchus assimilis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a candidate for biological control of Lepidium draba (Brassicaceae) in the USA

Ceutorhynchus assimilis has been selected as a potential biological control agent of Lepidium draba, which is a Eurasian invasive weed in North America. Preliminary studies indicated specificity of this weevil collected in southern France on L. draba. This result was in discord with the pest status of C. assimilis found in the literature. Host-specificity tests based both on field and laboratory experiments showed heterogeneity in the host spectrum of the weevils reared from different host-plants as determined by larval development. However, no distinguishable morphological differences could be visually detected between the populations feeding on different host-plants. All sampled populations of weevils were polyphagous as adults. Weevils reared from L. draba were specific to this plant for their complete larval development. Conversely, populations living on other wild and cultivated Brassicaceae species were not able to use L. draba as a host plant. Such differentiation is further highlighted by other biological aspects such as plant infestation rates, sex-ratio, duration of larval development, and differences in the timing of their life cycles. These results demonstrate that C. assimilis, an insect species formerly considered as a pest of Brassicaceae, is characterized by its host-range variability, with one population being potentially useful in the biological control of L. draba. Moreover, this example points to the need to test multiple populations of biological control agents in assessing risk.     

Female lesser kestrel ( falco naumanni ) also accepts extra-pair copulation

The lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) is considered a socially monogamous species in which extra-pair copulation occurs at a low rate. A wide study of extra-pair mating behaviour carried out on this species found that mated females do not solicit extra-pair copulation and reject all copulation attempts elicited by extra-pair males. In fact, the infrequent instances of extra-pair fertilization found were attributed either to re-mating after divorce, or polygyny. Here I describe an observation indicating that females also promote and accept promiscuous mating, attaining and consummating extra-pair copulation. I suggest the possibility that promiscuous behaviour could vary among different populations in this species, as it has not yet been reported, in spite of the extensive work performed in this respect.     

Observation of brown-throated three-toed sloths: mating behaviour and the simultaneous nurturing of two young

Bradypus variegatus is a member of the Order Pilosa, Family Bradypodidae, and is distributed in many subtropical and tropical countries in South and Central America. However, studies on this species in the wild are relatively limited and many aspects of its reproductive behaviour are unknown or unclear. The current report presents new observations of the reproductive behaviour of B. variegatus in its natural environment. These include details of both a male–female copulation and the simultaneous nurturing of two young sloths.     

Effects of different Beauveria bassiana isolates on field populations of Lygus lineolaris in pigweed (Amaranthus spp.)

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), is a pest of various fruit, vegetable, fiber, and seed crops; including cotton. Lygus spp. populations often build on alternate host plants before moving to cotton, and in the midsouthern U.S. wild host plants, such as pigweed (Amaranthus spp.), play a major role in L. lineolaris population development. Three isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) were evaluated for L. lineolaris control in redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.): one from L. lineolaris in Mississippi (TPB3); one from Lygus hesperus (Knight) in California (WTPB2); and one commercial isolate from Mycotrol^® (GHA). Fungal applications resulted in moderate to high mycosis in adults (33 to 80%) and moderate mycosis in nymphs (36 to 53%) that were collected from field plots at 2 days post-treatment and incubated under laboratory conditions. Although TPB3 was previously found to be more pathogenic in laboratory bioassays, there was not a consistent separation of this isolate from the other two isolates in field trials. Where differences in adult mycosis or mortality were observed, TPB3 was the most pathogenic. However, in one field trial 7 day mortality for nymphs treated with GHA was higher than those treated with TPB3 or WTPB2. Infection rates at 2, 7, and 14 days post-treatment from caged and non-caged adults suggested that movement of adults among plots occurred, which could have masked some treatment effects. Fungal treatments did not significantly reduce populations relative to controls. This may have been caused by delayed mortality rates under field conditions and/or difficulties with estimating population change under field conditions characteristic of wild host plant populations (e.g., heterogeneous populations, adult movement, and small plot size). Further work evaluating time–dose–mortality over dynamic temperatures, spring and fall field trials on this and other wild hosts, and improved methods for estimating populations on wild hosts are needed.     

孟连苞叶兰(兰科)的重新发现与形态特征增补

孟连苞叶兰(Brachycorythis menglianensis)自2001年发表以来,再也没有被发现和记录过。由于能够用于分类学参考的仅为模式标本和依据标本绘制的素描图,加之原始文献的描述不够细致,以致于Henrik Æ Pedersen将其作为长叶苞叶兰(B. henryi)的异名处理。时隔十五年后,我们在该种的模式产地进行野外兰科植物考察时,有幸重新发现了该种。通过对其新鲜带花植株的详细比对之后,发现孟连苞叶兰与长叶苞叶兰在形态上具有明显的差异,如孟连苞叶兰叶片卵圆形,叶片大小(2.5- 4.7 × 1.7-2.3 cm)、唇瓣密被疣状突起且先端缺刻或2裂等特征,明显有别于长叶苞叶兰。因此,在该研究中支持孟连苞叶兰的分类学地位,同时对该种的形态特征、生境以及生存现状等信息进行了增补。     

Distribution, host specificity, and overwintering of Celatoria bosqi Blanchard (Diptera: Tachinidae), a South American parasitoid of Diabrotica spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)

The genus Diabrotica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) includes a great number of pest species, including some of the most important crops pests of the Americas. However, only five parasitoid species have been recorded for it. The parasitoid Celatoria bosqi Blanchard was the first parasitoid described from Diabrotica spp. in South America, where substantial parasitism has been observed. C. bosqi has been collected almost throughout the South American distribution of its main host, Diabrotica speciosa (Germar), in an area that includes temperate and tropical lowlands, and semiarid to humid highlands. Three Diabrotica species were found to host the parasitoid, D. speciosa (Germar), Hystiopsis sp., and Diabrotica viridula (F.), with a total parasitism of 2.60, 5.55, and <0.02%, respectively. Laboratory experiments with field beetles and puparia, reared in the laboratory, indicate that C. bosqi overwinters obligatorily in overwintering adult host beetles, remaining quiescent in its live host below developmental temperatures. Based on the known climatic range of C. bosqi, and its requirement of adult overwintering hosts, a potential distribution in North America is projected.     

Caught in the act: pollination of sexually deceptive trap-flowers by fungus gnats in Pterostylis (Orchidaceae)

Background and Aims Pterostylis

is an Australasian terrestrial orchid genus of more than 400 species, most of which use a motile, touch-sensitive labellum to trap dipteran pollinators. Despite studies dating back to 1872, the mechanism of pollinator attraction has remained elusive. This study tested whether the fungus gnat-pollinated Pterostylis sanguinea secures pollination by sexual deception.

Methods

The literature was used to establish criteria for confirming sexual deception as a pollination strategy. Observations and video recordings allowed quantification of each step of the pollination process. Each floral visitor was sexed and DNA barcoding was used to evaluate the degree of pollinator specificity. Following observations that attraction to the flowers is by chemical cues, experimental dissection of flowers was used to determine the source of the sexual attractant and the effect of labellum orientation on sexual attraction. Fruit set was quantified for 19 populations to test for a relationship with plant density and population size.

Key Results

A single species of male gnat (Mycetophilidae) visited and pollinated the rewardless flowers. The gnats often showed probing copulatory behaviour on the labellum, leading to its triggering and the temporary entrapment of the gnat in the flower. Pollen deposition and removal occurred as the gnat escaped from the flower via the reproductive structures. The labellum was the sole source of the chemical attractant. Gnats always alighted on the labellum facing upwards, but when it was rotated 180 ° they attempted copulation less frequently. Pollination rate showed no relationship with orchid population size or plant density.

Conclusions

This study confirms for the first time that highly specific pollination by fungus gnats is achieved by sexual deception in Pterostylis. It is predicted that sexual deception will be widespread in the genus, although the diversity of floral forms suggests that other mechanisms may also operate.     

A new species of Acanthosyris (Santalaceae) from Bolivia and a key to the woody South American Santalaceae

Acanthosyris asipapote, a new species from the vicinity of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, is described and illustrated. It is most similar to A. paulo-alvinii Barroso, known only from the state of Bahia, Brazil, but differs by leaf characters, pilose filaments, and smaller seeds. A key to the five woody genera and nine species of Santalaceae in South America is provided. Cervantesia, Jodina, and Myoschilos are probably monotypic; Santalum (in South America) has a single species, and Acanthosyris has five species.     

Bird pollination in South African species ofSatyrium (Orchidaceae)

Field observations showed that three South African orchid species,Satyrium carneum, S. coriifolium andS. princeps, are pollinated by sunbirds. Foraging sunbirds insert their bills into the labellum chamber of the flowers and suck nectar from the labellum spurs with their tongues. The column overarches the entrance to the labellum and pollinaria become affixed to the upper mandible of the bill. Birds often attempt to remove pollinaria by rubbing their bills against a branch, but are mostly unsuccessful due to the large plate-like viscidia which attach the pollinaria very firmly to the bill. Other modifications for bird pollination in theseSatyrium species may include the red, carmine or orange colour of the flowers, sturdy inflorescence stems used for perching and large amounts of dilute nectar in the spurs. EachSatyrium species was pollinated by several species of sunbird, and despite some differences in flowering time, occasional hybrids occur at a site whereS. carneum andS. coriifolium share the same sunbird pollinators.     

Segregation analysis and RFLP mapping of the R1 and R3 alleles conferring race-specific resistance to Phytophthora infestans in progeny of dihaploid potato parents

Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary is the most important fungal pathogen of the potato (Solanum tuberosum). The introduction of major genes for resistance from the wild species S. demissum into potato cultivars is the earliest example of breeding for resistance using wild germplasm in this crop. Eleven resistance alleles (R genes) are known, differing in the recognition of corresponding avirulence alleles of the fungus. The number of R loci, their positions on the genetic map and the allelic relationships between different R variants are not known, except that the R1 locus has been mapped to potato chromosome V The objective of this work was the further genetic analysis of different R alleles in potato. Tetraploid potato cultivars carrying R alleles were reduced to the diploid level by inducing haploid parthenogenetic development of 2n female gametes. Of the 157 isolated primary dihaploids, 7 set seeds and carried the resistance alleles R1, R3 and R10 either individually or in combinations. Independent segregation of the dominant R1 and R3 alleles was demonstrated in two F₁ populations of crosses among a dihaploid clone carrying R1 plus R3 and susceptible pollinators. Distorted segregation in favour of susceptibility was found for the R3 allele in 15 of 18 F₁ populations analysed, whereas the RI allele segregated with a 1:1 ratio as expected in five F₁ populations. The mode of inheritance of the R10 allele could not be deduced as only very few F₁ hybrids bearing R10 were obtained. Linkage analysis in two F₁ populations between R1, R3 and RFLP markers of known position on the potato RFLP maps confirmed the position of the R1 locus on chromosome V and localized the second locus, R3, to a distal position on chromdsome XI.     

南方红豆杉迁地保护小种群适应性进化机制研究

为了解南方红豆杉迁地保护种群的适应性进化机制,以南京中山植物园内南方红豆杉迁地保护栽培种群和扩散的衍生种群为材料,以引种初始地江西野生种群为对照,对南方红豆杉群落的结构、遗传多样性及遗传结构进行分析和研究。结果表明,南方红豆杉野生种群和迁地保护种群均维持着较高水平的遗传多样性,其中野生种群遗传多样性稍高于迁地保护小种群,但迁地保护种群中南方红豆杉个体密度大于野生种群。同时,种群内的遗传变异所占比例大于种群间的。整体来看,南方红豆杉迁地保护种群还处于演替早期,存在不明显的奠基者效应,有进一步演替发展的可能。     

中国新发现外来入侵害虫——南美番茄潜叶蛾(鳞翅目:麦蛾科)

2017年8月,在新疆维吾尔自治区伊犁哈萨克自治州露地鲜食番茄上发现一种鳞翅目害虫,以幼虫潜食叶肉、蛀食果实,经鉴定为南美番茄潜叶蛾。该害虫原产南美洲的秘鲁,2006年入侵欧洲的西班牙,截至2017年5月,已在南美洲、欧洲、非洲、中美洲和亚洲的80多个国家和地区发生,严重危害鲜食番茄、加工番茄和樱桃番茄/圣女果,产量损失最高可达80%～100%。本文提供了南美番茄潜叶蛾的危害情况及主要形态鉴定特征,提出了防范其进一步扩散危害的措施建议以及今后应开展的主要研究方向,包括植物检疫、发生分布调查、生物学生态学特性研究、天敌资源挖掘利用等,以为积极应对南美番茄潜叶蛾对我国农业生产安全的威胁提供参考。     

Catapyrenium (Verrucariaceae) species from South America

13 species of the lichen genusCatapyrenium are reported from South America. Five species (C. analogicum, C. andicolum, C. exaratum, C. lachneoides, andC. podolepis) are described as new. A key to the species known from South America is presented. Remarks on taxonomy, ecology and distribution of the species are given.Studies on the lichen genusCatapyrenium (Verrucariaceae) III. For second part seeBreuss (1991).     

基于SSR标记的紫花风铃木群体遗传多样性分析

为揭示紫花风铃木(Handroanthus impetiginosus)的群体遗传变异特征,对广东省6市12个群体72份种质材料进行遗传多样性和群体遗传结构分析。结果表明,9对引物共扩增出123个等位基因位点,引物的平均多态信息量为0.754,具有较高的多态性。12个群体均具有较高的遗传多样性,群体间平均有效等位基因数为3.272个,平均Shannon指数为1.159。AMOVA分析表明群体间遗传分化程度相对较低,群体内遗传分化程度较高。群体的总体遗传分化系数为0.077,处于中等程度。基于Structure分析、主坐标分析和NJ聚类分析均可将12个群体分为2大类群,分组结果具有一定相似性,表明供试紫花风铃木群体遗传结构较为简单。这为紫花风铃木优良种质资源的利用、遗传变异和科学育种提供了理论参考。     

The effect of feeding status on sexual attractiveness of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) females

Sexual attractiveness of unengorged, semiengorged and fully engorged females of both field and laboratory populations of Ixodes ricinus was studied under laboratory conditions by means of a computerised video tracking system. A male and a female were allowed to walk freely in a glass arena during 1 h and their behavioural interactions were observed. Obtained results revealed that the feeding status of I. ricinus females affects their sexual attractiveness. The highest attractiveness was observed in engorged females, the lowest in unengorged females of the field population. Copulation occurred in all experimental groups with the highest frequency observed in the unengorged virgin laboratory females. Despite engorged females being highly attractive for males on distance, the frequency of copulation was low. Differences between field and laboratory populations were found in both behavioural parameters and frequency of copulation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.