Marine insects: genital morphology, phylogeny and evolution of sea skaters, genus Halobates (Hemiptera: Gerridae)

Five species of sea skaters, genus Halobates Eschscholtz, are the only insects to have successfully colonized the open ocean. In addition, 36 species are found in sheltered coastal waters throughout tropical Indo-Pacific. The taxonomy of the genus is relatively well known, but reliable hypotheses about phylogenetic relationships are required if the biogeography and evolution of sea skaters is to be discussed in a meaningful way. This work presents the results of a study of new characters from the genital segments, especially those of the male phallus and the female gynatrial complex, and a reinterpretation for several other characters. In total 64 characters were scored for 26 species of Halobates , two species ofAsclepios and one species of Metrocoris. With Asclepios and Metrocoris species as outgroups, the character state sets were analysed cladistically using the computer program Hennig86. After critical evaluations of both characters and clades, a phylogeny for Halobates is presented and its taxonomic implications are discussed. A number of monophyletic species groups are delimited. One genus-level synonymy and three species-level synonymies are suggested. The evolution of Halobates is discussed in the light of the reconstructed phylogeny and present knowledge of the ecology and behaviour of sea skaters. A hypothesis of ecological evolution in halobatine water striders is proposed and tested.     

Cephalidiosus: A replacement name for Stenotrachelus (Hemiptera: Tingidae)

Cephalidiosus is proposed as a replacement name for Stenotrachelus Guilbert, a genus of Tingidae from New Caledonia. New combinations are Cephalidiosus megapharsus (Guilbert) and Cephalidiosus mesopharsus (Guilbert).     

The Hemiptera (Insecta) communities of tropical rain forest in Sulawesi

The structure and composition of Hemiptera communities of tropical rain forest in Dumoga-Bone National Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia were investigated over a 1-year period. The aim was to investigate the extent to which insect samples, obtained using six different techniques, were representative of the whole community, and to explore temporal and spatial variation in Hemiptera community composition. Sampling techniques employed were Rothamsted light trapping, canopy fogging, malaise trapping at both ground and canopy level, flight interception trapping and yellow water pan trapping. Overlap between faunas collected using different techniques was surprisingly low emphasizing the limitations of using any single method to sample and thereby describe the Hemiptera community. Differences were observed at the species, family and suborder levels. Similarly, there were major differences in faunal composition between sites and diversity appeared to peak at elevations between 600–1000 m. Seasonal changes were also significant but generally lower than between methods or sites. Results are discussed in relation to factors such as food availability and host specialization and the efficacy of each sampling method is reviewed in relation to the biology of the different Hemiptera groups and the composition of the samples obtained.     

中国仰蝽科一新种及一新纪录（半翅目）

本文记述了中国半翅目仰蝽科一新种:突顶小仰蝽Anisops protracta sp. nov. 及一新记录:南小仰蝽A. exigera Horvath。对于新种进行了描述,并附特征插图8幅。     

On the mimetic association between nymphs of Hyalymenus spp. (Hemiptera: Alydidae) and ants

Nymphs of Hyalymenus , unlike adults, have a highly differentiated ant-like morphology. Both H. tarsatus and H. limbativentris feed mainly on reproductive parts of composites and solanaceous plants, respectively. Mimetic nymphs were observed on plants, together with ants, both day and night; adult Hyalymenus , however, are predominantly nocturnal. Ant-resemblance in nymphs is achieved by several structural adaptations which, when coupled with the mimic's zig-zag locomotion and constantly agitated antennae, produces a striking visual deception. Experiments in captivity showed that mimetic nymphs, but not adult Hyalymenus , are somewhat protected against attacks from the praying mantid Oxyopsis media found on their host plant. Colour and size changes through different nymphal instars of Hyalymenus allow the immature bugs to resemble, during their development, differently sized and coloured ant models. Similar-looking ant species seem to act as Mullerian mimics toward insectivorous vertebrates and invertebrates that avoid ants. It is suggested that nymphs of Hyalymenus gain Batesian protection by resembling available ant models of different Mullerian complexes. Density-dependent selection is thought to be responsible for the observed differences in mimetic morph proportions between populations of mimics, as well as for the mimetic strategy itself employed by nymphs of Hyalymenus.     

中国盲蝽科两新种六新纪录(半翅目:盲蝽科)

本文共记述盲蝽科叶盲蝽亚科(Phylinae)新种两个,计为:宽束盲蝽 Pilophorus latus sp.nov.和黄平盲蝽 Zanchius vitellinus sp.nov.。两新种的模式产地均为云南。并记录了6个中国新纪录种,计为:棕二带束盲蝽 Pilophorus alstoni Schuh、长黑束盲蝽 Pilophorus dailahn Schuh、细毛束盲蝽 Pilophorus setulosus Horvath、朝束盲蝽 Pilophorus koreanus Josifov、褐束盲蝽 Pilophorusgallicus Remane、亮束盲椿 Pilophorus lucidus Linnavuori。     

姬缘蝽科系统发育初探：（异翅亚目：缘蝽总科）

本文通过对姬缘蝽科１４属的比较形态学研究,以支序分析方法探讨了各类间的系统发育关系,３其结果证明姬缘蝽科为一明显单系群,并支持Ｃｈｏｐｒａ（１９６７）系统中大部分族的划分意见,但因支序图中玛缘蝽族和姬缘蝽亚科为并系群,从而对Ｃｈｏｐｒａ系统中亚科的划分及玛缘蝽族是否成立提出疑问,并认为已有系统中的“红缘蝽亚科”应降为族级。文中还将支序分析结果与经前作者的系统发育意见相比较,认为本文所提出的关于该科     

Source of an egg kairomone for Trissolcus basalis, a parasitoid of Nezara viridula

Abstract. The eggs of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), are successfully attacked by Trissolcus basalis (Woll.) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and are recognized as hosts by a secretion applied to the egg chorion. This secretion is produced by the follicular cells in the proximal region of the ovariole of the female pentatomid and functions as an adhesive for attaching the eggs to the oviposition substrate. The adhesive and kairomone activity could be partially removed with water. This water extract elicited host recognition behaviour in T. basalis when applied to glass beads which stuck together as the extract dried. The adhesive and kairomonal activity was removed completely with acetone since acetone-washed host eggs were not recognized by T. basalis. Application of the acetone extract to glass beads stimulated ovipositional probes by T. basalis. The adhesive appeared to be composed of a mucopolysaccharide–protein complex.     

Effect of temperature on life table parameters of Podisus nigrispinus (Het., Pentatomidae) fed with Alabama argillacea (Lep., Noctuidae) larvae

Abstract: The influence of temperature on life table parameters of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Het., Pentatomidae) fed with Alabama argillacea (Hübner) (Lep., Noctuidae) larvae was studied. This predator was kept at constant temperatures of 20, 23, 25, 28, 30 and 33±0.2°C, at relative humidity of 60±10% and photoperiod of L : D 14 : 10. Gross (GRR) and net ( R ₀) reproductive rates of P. nigrispinus ranged from 1.6 to 366.6 and from 0.02 to 189.5 females/female at temperatures of 33 and 28°C, respectively; generation time ( T  ) ranged from 33.3 (33°C) to 85.5 (20°C) days; doubling time ( D ) from 0.82 (33°C) to 17.8 (20°C) days; intrinsic rate of increase ( r _m ) from −0.13 (33°C) to 0.12 (28°C) per day; and the finite rate of increase ( λ ) from 0.88 (33°C) to 1.12 (28°C) females/female added to the population per day. The ideal age to release P. nigrispinus should be when this predator presents higher reproductive values (VR _x ); that is, its adults are about 7 days old, independent of prevailing temperature. Population growth of P. nigrispinus was affected by temperature with maximum numerical response between 28 and 30°C. The negative population growth shown at 33°C may not occur in natural conditions due to milder microclimate in the cotton agroecosystem and due to oscillations of temperature in the course of the day.     

盐长蝽亚科外部形态及其系统学意义的研究：半翅目：长蝽科

本文研究了半翅目长蝽科盐长蝽亚科（Ｈｅｎｅｓｔａｒｉｎａｅ）的外部形态,希图为长蝽总科复合体的系统发育研究提供资料。材料选用盐长蝽ＨｅｎｅｓｔａｒｉｓｏｓｃｈａｎｉｎｉＢｅｒｇｒｏｔｈ１９１９和卤长蝽ＥｎｇｉｓｔｕｓｓａｌｉｎｕｓＪａｋｏｖｌｅｖ１８７４,分别作为该亚科３个成员属中两个属（即盐长蝽属ＨｅｎｅｓｔａｒｉｓＳｐｉｎｏｌａ１８３９和卤长蝽属ＥｎｇｉｓｔｕｓＦｉｅｂｅｒ１８６４）的代表。文章还初步提出了该亚科的一些共有新征,并作了有关讨论,认为此分类单元为一单系群。