Host range of Cybocephalus flavocapitis and Cybocephalus nipponicus,two potential biological control agents for the cycad aulacaspis scale,Aulacaspis yasumatsui

Host-range and host-specificity tests were performed with Cybocephalus flavocapitis T. R. Smith (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae) and Cybocephalus nipponicus Endrödy-Younga (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae), two biological control candidates against the invasive cycad aulacaspis scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). Seventeen native scale species plus the invasive A. yasumatsui scale were tested in growth chambers using no-choice tests and hosts suitable for each of the two predatory beetles. The results revealed that the two Cybocephalus beetles, one imported species from Thailand and one native species, both fed on relatively similar scale prey species. Additionally, the adult beetles of these two species oviposited only on Diaspididae scales. The results showed that both Cybocephalus beetles may share a similar host niche in Taiwan.     

Life table of cycad scale,Aulacaspis yasumatsui (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), reared on Cycas in Taiwan

Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), an invasive scale insect, attacks different species of Cycas (Cycadales: Cycadaceae) in Taiwan. Development, survival and fecundity of A. yasumatsui were studied on Cycas taitungensis at 24 °C, 70 ± 10% RH, and a photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) h under laboratory conditions. Data on the life history of A. yasumatsui were analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table, to address variable development rates among individuals and between sexes. The egg incubation time was 7.26 days for both females and males and female nymphal development duration was 28.65 days. The development duration of male nymphal stages + pupal stage was 19 days. The total pre-oviposition period (TPOP) was 35.92 days. The maximum longevity of female adults was 67 days and 1 day for males. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.100 day^-1, the finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.11 day^-1, the net reproduction rate (R_o) was 111.51 offspring /individual, and the mean generation time (T) was 47.24 day. Life table data can be used to project population growth, to design mass rearing programs and to establish management tactics to control insect pests.     

Boomeranging in structural defense: Phytophagous insect uses cycad trichomes to defend against entomophagy

Plant defensive behaviors that resist arthropod herbivory include trichome-mediated defenses, and variation in plant trichome morphology and abundance provides examples of the mechanistic complexities of insect-plant interactions. Trichomes were removed from Cycas revoluta cataphylls on the island of Guam to reveal Aulacaspis yasumatsui scale infestation, and predation of the newly exposed insects by pre-existing Rhyzobius lophanthae beetles commenced within one day. The quotient of predated/total scale insects was 0.5 by day 4 and stabilized at that found on adjacent glabrous leaves in about one week. The trichome phenotype covering the C. revoluta cataphyll complex offers the invasive A. yasumatsui armored scale effectual enemy-free space in this system. This pest and predator share no known evolutionary history with C. revoluta, therefore, the adaptive significance of this plant behavior in natural habitat is not yet known.     

Two-sex life table and predation rate of Cybocephalus flavocapitis Smith (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae) reared on Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), in Taiwan

Development, survival, and fecundity of the predator, Cybocephalus flavocapitis Smith, reared on its host Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi, were studied at 24 °C, 70 ± 10% RH, and photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) h under laboratory conditions. Developmental periods for egg, larval, and pupal stages were 6.4, 12.1 and 14.3 d, respectively. The mean longevity of adults was 85.1 d. Raw life history data of all individuals were pooled and analyzed according to the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.05 d^? 1, the finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.05 d^? 1, the net reproductive rate (R₀) was 29.1 offspring, and the mean generation time (T) was 63.3 d. When we incorporated the age-stage variability of predation rate with the two-sex life table, our results indicated that the predation rates of larvae and adults were 743 eggs and 1595 scales, respectively. The net predation rate of C. flavocapitis is 1874 scales. Additionally, we compared life table results of C. flavocapitis with those of a previous life table study on Cybocephalus nipponicus because both species are currently used for the biological control of A. yasumatsui in Taiwan.     

Effect of temperature on the development and consumption of Phaenochilus kashaya (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a predator of the cycad aulacaspis scale,Aulacaspis yasumatsui

The cycad aulacaspis scale (CAS), Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is a serious pest of ornamental cycads in the southeastern United States. In Florida, CAS was first reported in Miami in 1996 and is now present in 43 Florida counties. Chemical control of CAS can be effective, but it is expensive, and insecticides must be frequently and regularly applied. Recent surveys of natural enemies in Thailand identified a new potential biological control agent of CAS. The objective of this study was to examine the temperature requirements and consumption rates of Phaenochilus kashaya Giorgi and Vandenberg (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Survival, developmental time and number of scales consumed by P. kashaya were measured at four constant temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35°C). In addition, adult longevity and consumption were recorded at three constant temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C). Phaenochilus kashaya completed development to adulthood at temperatures ranging from 20 to 30°C. The highest survival rate (48%) was obtained at 25°C, and the accumulated degree-days for this species was 714. Phaenochilus kashaya is a voracious predator of CAS, consuming 380 scales during the larval stage and an estimated 4700 scales during the adult stage. Adult longevity varied from 59 days at 30°C to 220 days at 20°C for females, and 31 days at 30°C to 148 days at 20°C for males. The intrinsic rate of increase (r _m) was 0.34 at 20°C, which is high compared with other coccinellid species. According to this study, P. kashaya has the potential to be an effective biological control agent of the CAS in Florida.     

New Records of Korean Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Four aleyrodid species, Aleuroclava montanus (Takahashi), Asterobemisia atraphaxius (Danzig), Pentaleyrodes yasumatsui Takahashi, and Rhachisphora styraci (Takahashi) are newly recorded in the Korean fauna of whiteflies (Aleyrodidae).     

Antennal and ovipositor sensilla of Pseudoligosita yasumatsui (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Pseudoligosita yasumatsui Viggiani and Subba Rao 1978 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is a common egg parasitoid of rice insect pests. The surface morphology of the antenna and ovipositor on P. yasumatsui was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The antenna of P. yasumatsui is geniculate in shape, hinged at the scape-pedicel joint, approximately 190 μm in length and consists of seven antennomeres. In total, the male and female antennae have ten different types of sensilla: trichoid sensilla type 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, campaniform sensilla, basiconic sensilla, and placoid sensilla type 1 and 2. The flagellum of the female antenna is covered with cuticular pores, which are absent on the male antennal flagellum. The distal extremity of its ovipositor stylet has campaniform sensilla and styloconic sensilla. Trichoid sensilla found on its apical abdomen part may play a role in the host detection and egg placement. The types and distribution of antennal and ovipositor sensilla on the parasitoid were discussed.     

Abalone myoglobins evolved from indoleamine dioxygenase: The cDNA-derived amino acid sequence of myoglobin fromNordotis madaka

The cDNA for the unusual 41 kD myoglobin of the abaloneNordotis madaka was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the cDNA-derived amino acid sequence of 378 residues was determined. As with the myoglobin of the related abaloneSulculus diversicolor (Suzuki and Takagi,J. Mol. Biol. 228, 698–700, 1992), the sequence ofNordotis myoglobin showed no significant homology with any other globins, but showed high homology (35% identity) with vertebrate indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, a tryptophan degrading enzyme containing heme. The amino acid sequence homology betweenNordotis andSulculus myoglobins was 87%. These results support our previous idea that the abalone myoglobins evolved from a gene for indoleamine dioxygenase, but not from a globin gene, and therefore all of the hemoglobins and myoglobins are not homologous. Thus, abalone myoglobins appear to be a typical case of convergent evolution.     

The Identity of Specimens of the Anastrepha fraterculus Complex (Diptera, Tephritidae) with Atypical Aculeus Tip

Several specimens collected in Paraguay along with Anastrepha fraterculus (sensu lato) have an aculeus tip similar to species from the fraterculus complex, but the teeth of the aculeus of these specimens are poorly defined. As Anastrepha species identification is based mostly on subtle differences in the aculeus tip, we studied these specimens with atypical aculeus tips (with poorly defined teeth) that slightly differs from the aculeus tip of species of the fraterculus complex (with well-developed blunt teeth), to determine if this is due to intraspecific variation or if it can characterize a full species. The Paraguayan specimens were separated in six groups under stereomicroscope according to variation in their aculeus tip. Specimens within each group were studied by means of morphometrics (traditional and geometric) and gene sequence analysis (COI and ITS1). Morphometric analyses were significant, but no clear groups were formed by the discriminant analyses of the aculeus and wing, and the COI and ITS1 sequence analysis clustered specimens with all six aculeus variations. Therefore, the subtle morphological differences observed in the aculeus tip of Paraguayan specimens are intraspecific variations and the Paraguayan specimens were more genetically closely related to Anastrepha sp. 3 from the fraterculus complex.     

Taxonomic review of the genus Orius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) in the Korean Peninsula

A total of five species the genus Orius are revised from the Korean Peninsula, containing four native species, O. minutus (Linnaeus 1758), O. sauteri (Poppius 1909), O. nagaii Yasunaga 1993 and O. strigicollis (Poppius 1914), and an introduced species for biological control, O. laevigatus Fieber 1860. Orius laticollis Reuter 1884, formally recorded in the Korean Peninsula, is deleted from the Korean fauna registry. The preparation of the macerated slide specimen was applied to this group for the first time, which is confirmed to be effective to identify the Orius species, especially the female specimens whose genital structures have been hardly observed in the traditional dissection method. Observing macerated specimens, new taxonomical characters are documented.     

Ozone prediction on the basis of neural networks,support vector regression and methods with uncertainty

The article presents modeling of daily average ozone level prediction by means of neural networks, support vector regression and methods based on uncertainty. Based on data measured by a monitoring station of the Pardubice micro-region, the Czech Republic, and optimization of the number of parameters by a defined objective function and genetic algorithm a model of daily average ozone level prediction in a certain time has been designed. The designed model has been optimized in light of its input parameters. The goal of prediction by various methods was to compare the results of prediction with the aim of various recommendations to micro-regional public administration management. It is modeling by means of feed-forward perceptron type neural networks, time delay neural networks, radial basis function neural networks, ε-support vector regression, fuzzy inference systems and Takagi–Sugeno intuitionistic fuzzy inference systems. Special attention is paid to the adaptation of the Takagi–Sugeno intuitionistic fuzzy inference system and adaptation of fuzzy logic-based systems using evolutionary algorithms. Based on data obtained, the daily average ozone level prediction in a certain time is characterized by a root mean squared error. The best possible results were obtained by means of an ε-support vector regression with polynomial kernel functions and Takagi–Sugeno intuitionistic fuzzy inference systems with adaptation by means of a Kalman filter.     

Host-Adapted Cryptosporidium spp. in Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)

The prevalence and distribution of Cryptosporidium spp. in the fecal droppings of the free-living waterfowl Canada geese were examined at 13 sites in Ohio and Illinois. On the basis of the analysis of the small-subunit rRNA gene by PCR, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing, 49 (23.4%) of 209 fecal specimens collected from 10 sites (76.9%) were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. The following five Cryptosporidium species and genotypes were identified: Cryptosporidium goose genotype I (in 36 specimens), Cryptosporidium goose genotype II (in 9 specimens), Cryptosporidium duck genotype (in 1 specimen), Cryptosporidium parvum (in 4 specimens), and C. hominis (in 2 specimens). Cryptosporidium goose genotype I was the most prevalent parasite and was found at all five Cryptosporidium-positive sites in Ohio and at four of five positive sites in Illinois, followed by Cryptosporidium goose genotype II, which was found at two of five positive sites in Ohio and at four of five positive sites in Illinois. Cryptosporidium goose genotype II was detected for the first time, and it is phylogenetically related to goose genotype I and the duck genotype. All three genotypes have not so far been reported in humans, and their pathogenicity in geese has not been determined. Only 10.2% of the Cryptosporidium-positive specimens had C. parvum and C. hominis. The results of this study indicate that Canada geese might only serve as accidental carriers of cryptosporidia infectious to humans and probably play a minor role in the animal-to-human transmission cycle of the pathogen.     

Menegazzia subsimilis,a widespread sorediate lichen

Studies of type specimens and other specimens of Menegazzia subsimilis and M. dissecta have shown that they are referable to the same taxon. Thus, M. dissecta is reduced to synonymy with M. subsimilis, which is characterized by lacerate soralia protruding from lobe apices or vertical lobules (protuberances), small perforations and the presence of the stictic acid complex in the medulla. It has 2-spored asci. The synonymy implies that M. subsimilis has a much wider distribution range than previously known. It is reported here from Oceania (Hawaii, Solomon Islands), Asia (Japan, Papua New Guinea, Russia), Europe (Austria, Germany, Portugal), South America (Ecuador, Peru), the Caribbean (Dominican Republic, Jamaica) and North America (Canada, USA).     

Ross Sea Mollusca from the Latitudinal Gradient Program: R/V Italica 2004 Rauschert dredge samples

Information regarding the molluscs in this dataset is based on the Rauschert dredge samples collected during the Latitudinal Gradient Program (LGP) on board the R/V “Italica” in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) in the austral summer 2004. A total of 18 epibenthic dredge deployments/samplings have been performed at four different locations at depths ranging from 84 to 515m by using a Rauschert dredge with a mesh size of 500μm. In total 8,359 specimens have been collected belonging to a total of 161 species. Considering this dataset in terms of occurrences, it corresponds to 505 discrete distributional records (incidence data). Of these, in order of abundance, 5,965 specimens were Gastropoda (accounting for 113 species), 1,323 were Bivalvia (accounting for 36 species), 949 were Aplacophora (accounting for 7 species), 74 specimens were Scaphopoda (3 species), 38 were Monoplacophora (1 species) and, finally, 10 specimens were Polyplacophora (1 species). This data set represents the first large-scale survey of benthic micro-molluscs for the area and provides important information about the distribution of several species, which have been seldom or never recorded before in the Ross Sea. All vouchers are permanently stored at the Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), Section of Genoa, enabling future comparison and crosschecking. This material is also currently under study, from a molecular point of view, by the barcoding project “BAMBi” (PNRA 2010/A1.10).     

Silicified Polybessurus from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation records microbial activities within marine sediments

Polybessurus, as a common element of the late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic microfossil assemblages, has yet no confirmed record from post-Cryogenian strata. In this study, we report Polybessurus sp. from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation chert nodules in western Hubei Province, South China. Polybessurus specimens from the Doushantuo Formation are identical to their pre-Cryogenian counterparts in morphology (stacked concave lamellae), composition (organic matter), and preservational mode (silicification). The Doushantuo specimens generally have large tubes (average diameter ~157 μm, maximum diameter ~450 μm), and are often preserved separately and parallel to the bedding plane, whereas the pre-Cryogenian specimens have relatively small tubes (mostly thinner than 100 μm in diameter), and are often preserved gregariously and perpendicular to the bedding plane. Polybessurus may be formed by a variety of benthic micro-organisms, mainly cyanobacteria, e.g., stalk forming taxa like Cyanostylon and endolithic taxa like Solentia, that are capable of secreting EPS (extracellular polymeric substance) unidirectionally to push itself forward in the sediment. The producers of Polybessurus may have played a role in the benthic microbial community by making microburrows, affecting textures and microenvironments of inshore sediments. As the first unambiguous record of Polybessurus from Ediacaran strata, our new findings extend its distribution from the late Mesoproterozoic–early Neoproterozoic to the late Neoproterozoic.     

Genetic utility of natural history museum specimens: endangered fairy shrimp (Branchiopoda,Anostraca)

We examined the potential utility of museum specimens as a source for genetic analysis of fairy shrimp. Because of loss of their vernal pool habitat, some fairy shrimp (including Branchinecta sandiegonensis and Branchinecta lynchi) are listed as threatened or endangered in Southern California by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Management of those species requires extensive population genetics studies and the resolution of important genetic complexity (e.g. possible hybridization between endangered and non-endangered species). Regulations mandating deposition of specimens of listed species have resulted in thousands of specimens accessioned into the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County that have been preserved in a variety of solutions. We subsampled those specimens, as well as other Anostraca with known collection and preservation histories, to test their potential for genetic analysis by attempting DNA extraction and amplification for mt16SrDNA. Fixation and preservation in not denatured ethanol had a far greater sequencing success rate than other (and unknown) fixatives and preservatives. To maximize scientific value we recommend field preservation in 95% not denatured ethanol (or, if pure ethanol is unavailable, high-proof drinking spirits, e.g. Everclear™, or 151 proof white rum), followed by storage in 95% not denatured ethanol.     

A new species of the genus Anteon Jurine (Hymenoptera,Dryinidae) from Thailand

A new species of Anteon Jurine, 1807 is described from Thailand, Nan Province: Anteon huettingeri sp. n. Morphologically the new species is similar to Anteon borneanum Olmi, 1984, Anteon jurineanum Latreille, 1809, Anteon insertum Olmi, 1991, Anteon yasumatsui Olmi, 1984, Anteon sarawaki Olmi, 1984, Anteon thai Olmi, 1984 and Anteon krombeini Olmi, 1984, but it is clearly different for the numerous sensorial processes present on the inner side of the paramere; these processes are absent in the other above species. Published identification keys to the Oriental species of Anteon are modified to include the new species.