Sugar‐feeding status alters biting midge photoattraction

The biting midge Culicoides sonorensis Wirth and Jones (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) transmits pathogens to both livestock and wildlife. Biting midge surveillance relies heavily on light traps for collection; however, little is known about the light spectra preferences of C. sonorensis midges. A light assay arena was constructed and light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) of various light spectra were used as light sources to evaluate midge photoattraction. A comparison of responses to light spectra indicated the highest proportions of C. sonorensis were attracted to ultraviolet (UV) light and that midges differentiated 10‐nm differences in wavelength. Stronger intensities of UV light resulted in greater attraction. Midges exhibited both sugar‐seeking and escape behaviours under different conditions of sugar supplementation before and during the experiment. These behaviours occurred with lights of 355 nm and 365 nm in wavelength. Based on the results of this study, the attraction of C. sonorensis to light traps can be improved through the use of bright LEDs at 355 nm or 365 nm.     

Frequency-dependent conspecific attraction to food patches

In many ecological situations, resources are difficult to find but become more apparent to nearby searchers after one of their numbers discovers and begins to exploit them. If the discoverer cannot monopolize the resources, then others may benefit from joining the discoverer and sharing their discovery. Existing theories for this type of conspecific attraction have often used very simple rules for how the decision to join a discovered resource patch should be influenced by the number of individuals already exploiting that patch. We use a mechanistic, spatially explicit model to demonstrate that individuals should not necessarily simply join patches more often as the number of individuals exploiting the patch increases, because those patches are likely to be exhausted soon or joining them will intensify future local competition. Furthermore, we show that this decision should be sensitive to the nature of the resource patches, with individuals being more responsive to discoveries in general and more tolerant of larger numbers of existing exploiters on a patch when patches are resource-rich and challenging to locate alone. As such, we argue that this greater focus on underlying joining mechanisms suggests that conspecific attraction is a more sophisticated and flexible tactic than currently appreciated.     

MALE PEACH APHID ATTRACTION IN THE FIELD BY SEX PHEROMONES1)

Abstract Field trials by sex pheromone of aphid to trap peach aphids Myzus persicae have been carried out in 1995 and in 1996. Suitable time and the effect of ratio of two components nepetalactone and nepetalactol to apply the lure have been observed.     

Behavioral,physiological, and morphological components of dominance and mate attraction in male green iguanas

This study investigated the morphological, physiological, and behavioral components of social dominance important for mate attraction in male green iguanas (Iguana iguana). A group of 9 male and 11 female adult green iguanas was studied in a large semi-natural enclosure during one reproductive season (October–January). Four of the nine males never initiated aggressive encounters; the other five were observed to display aggressively toward each other and were ranked in a linear dominance hierarchy. Head size was the most important factor influencing fighting success. Head size and display frequency were positively correlated with plasma testosterone levels. Dominance rank directly influenced ability to monopolize areas containing resources used by females. The quality of a male's home range, measured as his access to a large basking rock in the enclosure, was related to the proportion of potential mates found within his home range. One male greatly surpassed the others in his ability to defend a home range of high quality and attract potential mates. These data suggest that physiological and morphological factors, through their influence on social behavior, may ultimately affect male reproductive fitness. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Attraction between social crab spiders: silk pheromones in Diaea socialis

The snare web is used as a medium for communication betweenindividuals within colonies of social spiders and has thereforebeen suggested as necessary for the evolution of sociality inthe Araneae. The social spider Diaea socialis (Thomisidae) isan exception because it does not build a snare web. Experimentsdemonstrate that silk attracts all spiders and that a chemicaldeposited onto the silk attracts adult female spiders, suggestingthat the group living of this species is mediated by a pheromone.The pheromone attracts spiders differentially: females are notattracted to juvenile silk, and it repels gravid females. Thepheromone appears to be stable but volatile, is ether-soluble,and retains its viability after dissolution. Molecular-ionicmasses for 7-8 different compounds were found in the range 220–281atomic units; the pheromone may be one or a combination of severalof these.     

具有节点偏置的高阶神经网络模型

在汪涛文献基础上提出了一个具有节点偏置的高阶神经网络模型、给出了模型的哈密顿量和学习算法,证明了学习算法的收敛性,该模型能对每一神经元自动引入一个节点偏置使得网络能够存储所有学习图样包括相关图样,其存储容量远高于Hebb—rule—like学习算法下的高阶神经网络模型.对由30个神经元组成的二阶神经网络进行了计算机仿真,结果证实了上述结论.此外,对初始突触强度对学习效果的影响和不同存储图样数目下的平均吸引半径进行了仿真计算并分析了所得结果.新模型的特点使其具有良好的应用前景     

黄山雄性短尾猴换群行为的研究

１９８６至１９９２年对安徽黄山一群短尾猴连续进行７年的换群行为研究表明：雄性的换群行为发生在临近交配期开始前后,大多数为成年个体;这些个体与换群前的顺位无关,且未受到迁入新群的其它个体更多的攻击,迁入雄体还倍受雌体青睐。据此推测,外群雌性的性吸引是雄性短尾猴换群的直接原因。雄性短尾猴换群的结果,降低了种群的近亲繁殖率,增加了不同种群间的基因交流,对种群遗传多样性的保存和发展具有重要意义．因此,进化选择压力有利于换群行为的发展。     

Do anthocorid predators respond to synomones from Psylla-infested pear trees under field conditions?

Because Y-tube olfactometer experiments in the laboratory showed a response of anthocorid bugs to odour fromPsylla-infested leaves, it was of interest to assess its relevance under field circumstances. This was done by measuring the density of predatory bugs on pear trees adjacent toPsylla-infested or control trees that were covered with fine mesh gauze-screens. In this way odours from these caged trees could spread through the screen, while contact with thePsylla prey in the cage was prevented. The density of anthocorid predators around cages with heavily infested trees was significantly higher than around uncaged control trees and around cages containing uninfested or little infested trees. Covering a cage withPsylla-infested trees by an airtight plastic sheet led to an immediate drop in the density of anthocorid predators, whereas removal of the sheet led to predator aggregation again. The results of these field experiments strongly support the hypothesis that anthocorid predators respond to volatile chemicals emanating fromPsylla-infested pear trees.     

Etude olfactométrique de l'action de diverses substances allélochimiques végétales dans la recherche de l'hote par Diadromus pulchellus (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae)

Résumé La recherche de l'habitat d'un hôte potentiel par D. pulchellus, endoparasite considéré comme spécialiste des nymphes d'A. assectella, est abordée chez les adultes femelles et mâles, en olfactométrie, par l'étude de leur comportement locomoteur. L'activité locomotrice et l'attraction sont ainsi analysées en présence de substances allélochimiques issues ou non de végétaux pouvant abriter un hôte. Que les composés soufrés testés soient stables ou non, ils ne déclenchent pas d'attraction chez les hyménoptères quel que soit leur sexe et le type d'olfactomètre utilisé, contrairement aux imagos du phytophage-hôte, A. assectella, attirés par les composés soufrés instables spécifiques du poireau. L'activité locomotrice des hyménoptères des deux sexes est stimulée par divers composés volatils soufrés de synthèse ou émis naturellement par les Crucifères et par les Allium consommés par les larves d'A. assectella. Les substances efficaces sont généralément stables et sont caractérisées par le groupement actif R-S-, à condition que R ne soit pas un allyle. Par ailleurs, des composés volatils non soufrés contenus dans des végétaux autres que les Allium et les Crucifères ne stimulent pas le comportement locomoteur des hyménoptères. Ces différentes observations permettent d'envisager que D. pulchellus est un spécialiste inféodé à des microlépidoptères s'alimentant sur des végétaux soufrés et non sur les seuls Allium.

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Summary Searching the host habitat by the endoparasite wasp Diadromus pulchellus, considered to be a specialist of Acrolepiopsis assectella nymphs, is studied in females and males by analysis of locomotory behaviour in olfactometers. Thus, locomotor activity and attraction are studied in the presence or absence of air-borne volatiles emitted by plants able to shelter a potential host-moth. Stable and unstable sulphur compounds used do not release attraction in female and male ichneumonids whatever the type of olfactometer used. By contrast, phytophagous host adults are attracted by unstable specific sulphur compounds of the leek. Locomotor activities of D. pulchellus females and males are stimulated by various volatile sulphur compounds of synthetic origin or naturally occurring in Allium eaten by A. assectella larvae and in Crucifera. The effective compounds generally are stable and characterized by the active group R-S — in which the alkyl moiety must not be an allyl one. On the other hand, volatiles without sulphur, emitted by plants which do not belong to Cruciferae or Allium, do not stimulate the hymenopteran locomotor activity. These observations suggest that D. pulchellus is oligophagous, attracted to microlepidoptera developing on plants containing sulphur compounds and not only on Allium.

     

Interrelationship of Meloidogyne hapla and Ditylenchus dipsaci on Resistant and Susceptible Alfalfa

Simultaneous inoculations of alfalfa with Meloidogyne hapla larvae and Ditylenchus dipsaci at 16, 20, 24, and 28 C did not depress penetration of either nematode in ''Nev Syn XX'' -a selection resistant to M. hapla and D. dipsaci, ''Vernal 298'' -a selection resistant to M. hapla and susceptible to D. dipsaci, ''Lahontan'' -a cultivar resistant to D. dipsaci and susceptible to M. hapla, and ''Ranger'' -a cultivar susceptible to both M. hapla and D, dipsaci. Infection with D. dipsaci depressed growth of susceptible ''Vernal 298'' and ''Ranger'' at all soil temperatures, except for ''Vernal 298'' at 16 C. Infection with M. hapla alone did not depress growth of any of the alfalfas. A combination of M. hapla and D. dipsaci resulted in a synergistic weight depression on ''Ranger'' at all soil temperatures. Inoculation of the four alfalfas with D. dipsaci 2, 4, 6, and 8 wk before inoculation with M. hapla at 16, 20, 24, and 28 C did not influence the resistance or susceptibility of ''Nev Syn XX,'' ''Lahontan,'' or ''Ranger.'' However, galling of ''Vernal 298'' by M. hapla was affected by soil temperature, plant age, and inoculation with D. dipsaci.