Effect of temperature on the duration of larval and pupal stages of two species of sciomyzid flies, predators of the snail Lymnaea truncatula

The duration of larval and pupal stages of two species of predatory flies was investigated at five constant temperatures. Ilione albiseta (Scopoli): Mean duration of first and second instars was shortest at 23°C and there was 100% survival of first instar larvae at all temperatures. Mean third instar larval duration decreased from 104 days at 17°C to 27.5 days at 26°C. Total percentage larval survival was greatest at 17°C and least at 26°C. Mean pupal duration decreased as temperature increased and this occurred also under outdoor conditions. Pherbellia cinerella (Fallén): As temperature increased mean larval duration decreased but the percentage of larvae pupating also decreased (100% at 14°C, 33.3% at 26°C). There was a trend for shorter mean pupal durations at higher temperatures.

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Résumé L'action de la température a été examinée à 14, 17, 20, 23 et 26°C. Les 2 espèces sont prédatrices de L. truncatula, vecteur de la douve du foie en Irlande, où elle provoque à l'àgriculture une perte évaluée à 10 millions de livres par an. Les données recuellies en conditions contrôlées du laboratoire doivent permettre de définir les conditions optimales pour l'élevage continu de ces espèces. Ceci est indispensable pour évaluer, dans la nature leurs potentialités pour la lutte biologique. Ilione albiseta: C'est à 23°C que le développement des larves de premier et second stades sont les plus brefs; la survie du premier stade est totale à toutes les températures constantes examinées. La durée moyenne du 3ème stade décroît de 104 jours à 17°C jusqu'à 27,5 jours à 26°C. Le taux de survie total est plus élevé à 17°C qu'à 26°C. La durée moyenne de la nymphose diminue quand la température croît, et ceci se produit aussi à la température ambiante extérieure. On réduit de moitié la durée du développement de l'éclosion de l'oeuf à l'apparition de l'adulte, entre la nature et le laboratoire, en utilisant respectivement: 23°, 17° et 26°C pour les premier et second stades, le troisième stade, la nymphé. Cela devrait aider à multiplier la souche pour la lutte biologique. Pherbellia cinerella: Avec élévation de la température la durée du développement larvaire diminue, mais aussi le nombre de larves parvenant à la pupaison (100% à 14° et 33,3% à 26°C). La nymphose tendait à être plus brève aux températures les plus élevées.

     

Orientation and ingestion rates of larval Anopheles albimanus in response to floating particles

Response of fourth-instar larvae of Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann (Diptera: Culicidae) to food and inert particles floating at the water surface was studied. In a choice test, larvae aggregated at powdered organic materials (blood meal, liver powder alfalfa flour and wheat flour) but not at inert materials (kaolin, chalk or charcoal). Larvae responded positively to proteins as well as some carbohydrates, but not to cellulose. Retention of larvae at food sources found by random locomotion was found to be responsible for larval aggregation. Larvae ingested food particles 6–9 times faster than insert particles. The significance of Anopheline feeding behavior in the development of formulations of stomach toxins (bacterial agents) used in larval control is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Studie befasst sich mit Verhaltensreaktionen von Anopheles albimanus Viertlarven auf an der Wasseroberfläche schwimmende Partikel. Verteilung und Orientierung der Larven wurde in einer Wahlapparatur quantifiziert. Nach Auftrag von Alfalfamehl, Weizenmehl, Stärke, Blutmehl, Leberpulver und Fischmehl wurde Aggregation der Larven in den beköderten Fächern der Apparatur beobachtet. Sowohl Proteine (Casein) als auch einige Kohlehydrate (Amylose, Amylopectin) lösten Aggregationen der Larven aus. Im Unterschied dazu führte Auftrag von Kreide, Kaolin, Polyaethylenpulver, Talcum oder Cellulose nicht zu Aggregationen. Zur Beschreibung der Entstehung larvaler Aggregationen bei Futterstoffen wurden die Schwimmbewegungen der Larven in Anwesenheit von Weizenmehl als Ködersubstanz quantifiziert. Da keine Attraktion der Larven im Sinne einer gerichteten Schwimmbewegung beobachtet werden konnte, wird geschlussfolgert, dass sofortige Beendung der Suchaktivität der Larven bei zufällig gefundenen Futterquellen für die beobachteten Aggregationen bei organischen Substanzen verantwortlich ist.Die Fressraten der Larven bei Angebot verschiedener Substanzen im Überschuss wurde bestimmt. Larven fülten drei von insgesamt sechs Darmabschnitten innerhalb von 15–30 min bei Angebot von Futtersubstanzen, während die Füllung von nur zwei Darmabschnitten mit inerten Materialien erst nach 90–120 min zu beobachten war. Die Resultate werden in Bezug auf wasseroberflächengebundene Formulierungen von Frassgiften diskutiert. Inerte Trägersubstanzen werden wahrscheinlich wesentlich langsamer aufgenommen als Futtersubstanzen. Da An. albimanus Larven nicht von Futterquellen angezogen werden, ist eine rasche und wirksame Giftaufnahme besonders dann zu erwarten, wenn die gesamte Oberfläche der Brutgewässer mit toxinhaltigen Trägerpartikeln bedeckt werden kann.

     

The life cycle of Anguina agrostis: Development in host plant

Bird A.F. and Stynes B.A. 1981. The life cycle of Anguina agrostis: Development in the host plant. Internationaljournal for Parasitology11: 431–440. The growth and development of the infective second stage “dauer” larvae (DL₂) of Anguina agrostis into adults have been followed under field conditions in rye grass (Lolium rigidum). Three moults were observed to occur during the parasitic phase of development. From the third (second parasitic) moult onwards, there was much more variability in the size of the female nematodes than in the males and sexual dimorphism became very pronounced. The transition from the DL₂ to the second stage parasitic larva (PL₂) is marked by the disappearance of the numerous lipid storage granules which are characteristic of the DL₂, and the development in the PL₂ of an intestine which becomes more pronounced in each succeeding stage, particularly in the adult female. Anguina agrostis is unusual among parasitic nematodes in that the DL₂ has the thickest cuticle of all stages, including adults. The L₄ and adult males have thicker cuticles than the females at the same stages of development. Moulting appears to involve resorption of the innermost basal zone of the shed cuticle as well as morphological and chemical changes to the epicuticle.     

Reproduction and larval development of the gastropodAlaba vladivostokensis in Vostok Bay, the Sea of Japan

The reproduction and development of the prosobranch gastropodAlaba vladivostokensis Bartsch were studied. In Vostok Bay,A. vladivostokensis reproduces in the warmest season at water temperatures of 19–23°C. The females lay egg masses in the shape of flat, coiled bands on eelgrass leaves and on sargosso thalluses. The total period of development from egg laying to larval settling takes 25–27 days. The reproduction and development patterns and larval morphology ofA. vladivostokensis are similar to that ofAustralaba picta (A. Adams), which inhabits the coast of Japan. It is suggested that the population ofA. vladivostokensis in Peter the Great Bay should considered as part of the wide geographical range ofA. picta.     

Comparative embryogenesis of Mecoptera and Lepidoptera with special reference to the abdominal prolegs

The eruciform larvae of holometabolous insects are primarily characterized by bearing a varying number of abdominal prolegs in addition to three pairs of thoracic legs. However, whether the prolegs are evolutionarily homologous among different insect orders is still a disputable issue. We examined the embryonic features and histological structure of the prolegs of the scorpionfly Panorpa byersi Hua and Huang (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) and the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to investigate whether the prolegs are homologous between these two holometabolous insect orders. In the scorpionfly, paired lateral process primordia arise on abdominal segments I–VIII (A1–A8) in line with the thoracic legs in early embryonic stages, but degenerate into triangular protuberances in later stages, and paired medial processes appear along the midventral line before dorsal closure and eventually develop into unjointed, cone‐shaped prolegs. Histological observation showed that the lumina of the prolegs are not continuous with the hemocoel, differing distinctly from that of the basic appendicular plan of thoracic legs. These results suggest that the prolegs are likely secondary outgrowths in Mecoptera. In the armyworm, lateral process primordia appear on A1–A10 in alignment with the thoracic legs in the early embryonic stages, although only the rudiments on A3–A6 and A10 develop into segmented prolegs with the lumina continuous with the hemocoel and others degenerate eventually, suggesting that the prolegs are true segmental appendages serially homologous with the thoracic legs in Lepidoptera. Therefore, we conclude that the larval prolegs are likely not evolutionarily homologous between Mecoptera and Lepidoptera. J. Morphol. 277:585–593, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Preliminary report on the effects of salinity on the early development of Stylochus mediterraneus (Turbellaria: Polycladida)

Summary

The effects have been studied of different salinities on the early stages of development of the Turbellarian Polyclad Stylochus mediterraneus Galleni. Optimal salinities are about 30%o. Variation away from this value increases the incidence of unhatched embryos, even if development is not greatly altered. On the contrary, at the highest tested salinities (50%o; 60%o) and the lowest (18%o), embryos are affected by great alterations in their morphology.     

Anabolia anatolica sp. n., a New Species of Genus Anabolia Stephens (Trichoptera,Limnephilidae) from Southern Anatolia

In the present study a new species of the genus Anabolia, A. anatolica sp. n. from the Taurus Mountains in southern Anatolia is described and illustrated. The new species is related to A. laevis Zetterstedt, 1840 from northern Europe and is a glacial relict species of Pleistocene origin.     

The life history of Labiostrongylus eugenii, a nematode parasite of the Kangaroo Island wallaby (Macropus eugenii): development and hatching of the egg and the freeliving stages

Smales L. R. The life history of Labiostrongylus eugenii, a nematode parasite of the Kangaroo Island Wallaby (Macropus eugenii): development and hatching of the egg and the free living stages. International Journal for Parasitology7: 449–456. Labiostrongylus eugenii (Trichonematidae) occurs in the stomach of the Kangaroo Island Wallaby. Egg morphology is similar to that of other strongyloids. When incubated at 25°C embryogenesis is completed in about 30 h. An incomplete moult occurs within the egg, and larvae hatch at a sheathed second-stage $\text{43}\text{1}\text{2}\text{–83}\text{1}\text{2}$ h later. Development occurred at all temperatures between 2° and 37°C with an optimum about 25°C and an upper limit near 37°C. The hatching process is very rapid, taking about 2 min. It is signalled by increased larval activity followed by a change in shell permeability. The larva hatches at that pole of the shell which has become plastic.The sheathed second-stage larva measures 659.50 ± 22.54 μm by 27.98 ± 1.22 μm. Its internal structures are concealed by a mass of opaque granules which were demonstrated as neutral lipid by oil red O staining. A second incomplete moult at 3–4 days results in a doubly sheathed infective larva from which the lipid gradually disappears. The mouth never appears patent and the larvae neither feed nor grow but rather decrease in size with age. Optimal temperatures for larvae range between 15°–25°C with 37°C about the upper limit. The significance of this developmental pattern is discussed.     

河鲈胚胎及卵黄囊期仔鱼发育

为探究河鲈(Perca fluviatilis)早期生活史和发育生物学,采用体视解剖镜、显微镜仔细观察、测量、描述、绘图的方法,连续观察了6个批次河鲈胚胎及卵黄囊期仔鱼发育状况,进行比较分析。结果显示:(1)在水温8~13℃时,胚胎期约需265h,有效积温2540~2880℃.h;水温11~13℃时,卵黄囊期约需6d,有效积温1750~2120℃.h;(2)辐射状次级卵膜将受精卵连成长带形单层网片状,每个胚胎周围有6个胚胎,排列很有规则。胚胎卵黄囊表面有一个大圆形油球。出膜前期可见眼球色素、胸鳍突起;(3)胚胎出膜的不同步主要是由于出膜前期长短不一和孵化水温较低所致。     

A Revision of South American Austroperlidae (Plecoptera)

The South American Austroperlidae are revised. Klapopteryx kuscheli and Penturoperla barbata are redescribed. The male and nymph of K. armillata are described and figured for the first time and the female genitalia redescribed. K. costalis is declared a junior synonym of K. armillata. K. barilochensis is transferred to Andesobius new genus and redescribed. New family and generic diagnoses and keys to genera and species are given.