Evaluation of different models to describe egg and pupal development of Xyleborus fornicatus Eichh, （Coleoptera： Scolytidae）, the shot-hole borer of tea in Sri Lanka

Development data of eggs and pupae ofXyleborusfornicatus Eichh. （Coleoptera： Scolytidae）, the shot-hole borer of tea in Sri Lanka, at constant temperatures were used to evaluate a linear and seven nonlinear models for insect development. Model evaluation was based on fit to data （residual sum of squares and coefficient of determination or coefficient of nonlinear regression）, number of measurable parameters, the biological value of the fitted coefficients and accuracy in the estimation of thresholds. Of the nonlinear models, the Lactin model fitted experimental data well and along with the linear model, can be used to describe the temperature-dependent development of this species.     

Distribution of ground-dwelling beetles （Coleoptera） across a forest-clearcut ecotone in Wolong Natural Reserve, southwestern China

Abstract The influence of edge effect on ground-dwelling beetles (Coleoptera) across a forest-clearcut ecotone was studied in Wolong Natural Reserve, southwestern China. During the field research, a total of 30 739 beetles were collected with pitfall traps along transects, which extending 100 m from the edge into the forest interior and 100 m into the clearcut. Of the collection, Carabidae comprised 92%, Staphylinidae 3%, Curculionidae 2%, and Tenebrionidae 2%, and these four families can be considered as abundant groups. Family richness, Shannon diversity and equitability display a significant decrease from forest interior, edge to clearcut. Based on the family composition and abundance, ground-dwelling beetles of the forest interior can be separated from those in the clearcut by Principal coordinate analysis ordination, and beetle assemblages in the forest edge were more similar to forest assemblages than to those found in the clearcut by cluster analysis. Seasonal dynamics of family richness showed a monotone peak in the middle season, with a highest value in the forest interior and a lowest value in the clearcut. Family abundance showed two peaks in the middle season, always with more individuals in the clearcut than in the forest interior or in the edge. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the cover of shrub and litter were the two most important factors in determining family richness, Shannon diversity, equitability and abundance. Our results show that the forest edge and clearcut have obviously different composition and diversity of ground-dwelling beetles from forest interior at the family level. However, more edges have been formed due to increasing forest fragmentation (clearcutting or logging), so it is necessary to preserve large and intact forest to protect the diversity of ground-dwelling beetles in Wolong Natural Reserve.     

中国步甲科两新记录属

In the present paper two genera and species,Rugiluclivina wrasei Balkenohl,1996,and Pseudoclivina memnonia(Dejean,1831),are reported in China for the first time.Morphological features and illustrations for the genera and species are provided.     

Circadian rhythms of feeding, oviposition, and emergence of the boll weevil （Coleoptera： Curculionidae）

Circadian rhythm of feeding, oviposition, and emergence of boll weevil adults were determined at five different photophases （24, 14, 12, 10, and 0 hours） and a constant 27℃ temperature, 65% RH in the laboratory. Squares from Petri dishes, where they were exposed to boll weevil females, were removed and examined for feeding and oviposition punctures every 4 hours during daylight （0700-1900 h） and every 12 h at night （1900-0700 h） over eight consecutive days. Cohorts of randomly selected egg-punctured squares were sampled from ovipositing females at 0700, 1100, 1500, and 1900 during 24 hours and under different photophase treatments, and maintained in Petri dishes at 27 ＋ I℃, 65% RH. Dishes were observed twice daily （1900 and 0700 h） for adults emerging at day or night. Circadian rhythm of oviposition was not affected by the length of the photophase. The boll weevil has round-the-clock circadian rhythm of oviposition, with a daytime preference. We observed that 82.4%-86.0% of the boll weevil eggs were deposited between 0700 and 1900 h, and 14.0%-17.6% between 1900 and 0700 h during a 24-h period. Feeding of boll weevil females in photoperiods 24：0 h （complete light） and 0：24 h （complete darkness） did not significantly change between 0700-1900 h versus 1900-0700 h, while the d .ally cycle of light and darkness in other photoperiods significantly increased the feeding punctures from 0700-1900 compared with 1900-0700 h. The circadian rhythm of emergence depended significantly on the time of oviposition and the length of the photophase. Investigation of boll weevil circadian rhythm provides a better understanding of boll weevil ecology and reveals potential weak links for improving control technologies targeting their reproductive strategies.     

矮牡丹传粉生物学的初步研究

对山西省南部矮牡丹3个居群连续两年的野外观察和实验研究表明,共有5种蜂和4种甲虫参 与矮牡丹的传粉。电镜观察和人工控制昆虫传粉试验证明,蜂类,特别是地蜂类是矮牡丹的主要传粉 者,而甲虫类只是一种不稳定的传粉者。矮牡丹花无蜜液,但可散发气味,主要以花粉吸引昆虫。矮牡 丹不存在无融合生殖,也没有自动自花结实现象,但同株异花能产生少量种子,具微弱的自交性。在花 少的居群中自然结实率与人工异交结实率近相等。矮牡丹的结实率低,平均只有近1／4的胚珠发育成种子。     

四种植物淬取物对尼日利亚仓贮甲虫的生物活性

Acute food shortage due to the inability to protectand preserve crops fromquality and quantity deteriora-tion arising from microbial,vertebrate and insect pestinfestations has been a pri mordial problem confrontingNigeria and other developing countries in the tropics(Talukder&Howse,1994;Adedire,2001).Insect pests cause a great deal of losses of storedfood products,especially in the tropics where foodproducts usually are susceptible to attack during thestorage phase of the crops(Sighamony et a…