Positive anemotaxis by Varroa mites: responses to bee odour plumes and single clean‐air puffs

Abstract.The stimuli and mechanisms mediating host location and host choice by the bee mite, Varroa jacobsoni (Oudemans), are currently unknown. It is shown that Varroa can use single clean‐air puffs and bee‐odour plumes in a wind tunnel as directional cues. Varroa turned nearly straight upwind in response to single 0.1‐s puffs of clean air directed at 90° to the their anterior‐posterior axis. They turned significantly further to their left side (104°) than to their right (76°), but showed no difference in latency to initiation of the turns (means of 63.3 ms vs. 62.6 ms, respectively). They also followed bee‐odour plumes in a wind tunnel. When released in odour and control plumes mid‐way between the plume's origin and the downwind end of the tunnel, mites responding to bee‐odour walked upwind in, or along the edge of, the odour plume with 38% making contact with the odour delivery tube; mites in clean air did not walk upwind along the air stream, and none made contact with the air delivery tube. Walking speeds were not different between the bee‐odour and control groups (0.28 vs. 0.29 cm s^–1); there were also no differences in the turning rates (96.85 vs. 97.16 deg s^–1 and 388.08 vs. 379.18 deg cm^–1, respectively). Under all conditions, mites walked in a zigzag fashion.     

Modeling the effects of particles,interstitials, vacancies and tip geometry on indentation-induced plasticity

In this work, which is a follow-up of an earlier work by the authors in this journal, we discuss the effects of particles, interstitials, vacancies and indenter-tip geometry on indentation-induced plasticity. A nano-indentation model based on a close-packed array of straws was used. Upon indentation with a cylindrical indenter, the results observed in situ, match qualitatively computer atomistic and finite-element simulation models. This model helps explain the phenomenon and physical reasons for annihilation of vacancies. It also shows the strong effect of interstitials on the inception of plasticity at their sites. It shows that a rigid particle acts as a stress concentrator even away from the indenter. On indentation with a flat indenter, curling of atoms at the indenter edges was observed, along with slip lines reported in the literature.     

Dose-related upwind anemotaxis and movement up odour gradients in still air in the presence of methyl eugenol by the wild tobacco fly, Bactrocera cacuminata

The behaviour of Bactrocera cacuminata (Hering) in wind varied according to the concentration of methyl eugenol (0, 95, 327 and 500 μg m^?3, respectively). General locomotor activity (as measured by mean distance moved in 5 min, regardless of direction) was not significantly different in the first two treatments but was significantly lower in the others. Most flies in the fourth treatment did not move more than one body length. In the first two treatments, the rate and pattern of movement of most flies was basically similar, with walking in tortuous paths interspersed with short flights and usually no obvious bias in direction. However, 32% of flies in the second treatment did move in a biased direction, achieving upwind anemotaxis of at least 400 mm, but only 2–8% did so in the other conditions. Flies moved up a concentration gradient to a source of methyl eugenol in still air when released at a distance of 100, 150 or 200 mm. With one exception, no more than 40% did this within 3 min of release (whether or not the olfactory stimulus was augmented by a visual one). However, 77% responded when released 100 mm from a combined olfactory and visual stimulus. Visual augmentation of an olfactory stimulus may also be responsible for far fewer flies flying out of the vicinity at distances up to 150 mm, but not 200 mm.     

Boundary layer properties of highly dissected leaves: an investigation using an electrochemical fluid tunnel

Abstract. A method for modelling heat and mass transfer by diffusion-controlled electrode reactions in a fluid tunnel is described. In this procedure, a nickelplated leaf functions as a test electrode, and the convective transfer of ions to the leaf cathode in an electrolyte-filled flow tunnel is measured as a function of flow rate. The method permits the simulation of water vapour and heat transfer, and in particular, the determination of boundary layer conductances, by analogy with observed ion transfer. The approach is applicable to many problems in modelling heat and mass transfer between leaves and their surroundings, and is especially useful in examining the properties of leaves in which surface characteristics or overall shape are complex. Using this method, the properties of the highly dissected leaves of Achillea lanulosa with regard to forced convection were investigated. The leaves showed high transfer conductances, indicating that the effective unit of heat transfer was probably the individual leaf subelements. Conductances tended to be greater and effective characteristic dimensions smaller for the larger, more open leaves of a lower altitude population in contrast with leaves from high altitude plants. While the results provide insight into the properties of these complex leaf shapes, difficulties in interpreting the findings are discussed, and a number of exploratory approaches are suggested for data analysis and interpretation.     

Flight behaviour of Encarsia formosa in response to plant and host stimuli

The flight behaviour of Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a parasitoid of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) has been studied in response to the following natural components: bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) infested with T. vaporariorum (PHC, plant host complex), host damaged bean plant from which whiteflies were removed (HDP, host damaged plant), T. vaporariorum third instar larvae (H, host), uninfested bean plant (P, plant) and T. vaporariorum empty pupal cases (EPC, empty pupal cases). A combination of chemical and visual stimuli is necessary in host location from a distance by E. formosa and seems to deeply affect the dispersal of this parasitoid. The presence of host (PHC, H) or of its parts (EPC) led to a substantial increase of oriented flights suggesting the occurrence of host derived chemicals. At a closer range, a combination of visual and chemical stimuli deriving from all the components of the plant host complex elicited the transition flying-landing and the following landing on the source.     

Penetration of soil aggregates of finite size

Summary Maximum penetrometer pressure was measured on artificial soil aggregates of finite size (2–29 mm) using blunt probes (total cone angle 60°) driven at 3 mm min⁻¹. Maximum penetrometer pressure increased asymptotically with increase in dimensionless aggregate radius,b/a, wherea andb are the probe and aggregate radii, respectively. A theory was developed for penetration of blunt probes into soil aggregates of finite size. The theory assumed that plastic failure occurs out to a radius,R, and that beyond this only elastic straining occurs. This theory can be applied to estimate the radial and tangential stresses adjacent to a blunt probe. The estimated radial and tangential stresses increased with increase in dimensionless aggregate radius,b/a. The radius of the plastic front,R, around the probe is predicted to increase with increased aggregate size. The results also demonstrate the effect of soil shear cohesion and internal friction angle onR. The results are discussed with reference to root penetration.     

无缝线巩膜隧道瓣小梁切除联合白内障超声乳化人工晶体植入术治疗青光眼合并白内障的临床疗效

目的:探讨无缝线巩膜隧道瓣小梁切除术与白内障超声乳化人工晶体(IOL)植入术联合治疗青光眼伴白内障患者的疗效。方法:将88例青光眼伴白内障患者,随机分为观察组与对照组,44例每组。观察组行无缝线巩膜隧道瓣小梁切除术+白内障超声乳化摘除术+IOL植入术,对照组行经典小梁切除术+白内障超声乳化摘除术+IOL植入术,对比两组的疗效。结果:术后6个月,观察组视力提高率为86.36%,视力0.5率为81.82%,显著高于对照组的72.73%、68.18%(P0.05);观察组术后眼压和散光度显著低于对照组(P0.05);观察组的功能滤泡形成率为84.09%,显著高于对照组的70.45%(P0.05);观察组术后角膜内皮细胞丢失率为4.629%,显著低于对照组的14.760%(P0.05);观察组的并发症发生率为4.55%,显著低于对照组的22.73%(P0.05)。结论:无缝线巩膜隧道瓣小梁切除术与白内障超声乳化IOL植入术联合治疗青光眼伴白内障较经典三联术式具有更好的疗效,可有效改善视力、降低眼压、保护角膜内皮、降低术后并发症,值得推广应用。     

Response of wheat restricted‐tillering and vigorous growth traits to variables of climate change

The response of wheat to the variables of climate change includes elevated CO₂, high temperature, and drought which vary according to the levels of each variable and genotype. Independently, elevated CO₂, high temperature, and terminal drought affect wheat biomass and grain yield, but the interactive effects of these three variables are not well known. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of elevated CO₂ when combined with high temperature and terminal drought on the high‐yielding traits of restricted‐tillering and vigorous growth. It was hypothesized that elevated CO₂ alone, rather than combined with high temperature, ameliorates the effects of terminal drought on wheat biomass and grain yield. It was also hypothesized that wheat genotypes with more sink capacity (e.g. high‐tillering capacity and leaf area) have more grain yield under combined elevated CO₂, high temperature, and terminal drought. Two pairs of sister lines with contrasting tillering and vigorous growth were grown in poly‐tunnels in a four‐factor completely randomized split‐plot design with elevated CO₂ (700 µL L^?1), high day time temperature (3 °C above ambient), and drought (induced from anthesis) in all combinations to test whether elevated CO₂ ameliorates the effects of high temperature and terminal drought on biomass accumulation and grain yield. For biomass and grain yield, only main effects for climate change variables were significant. Elevated CO₂ significantly increased grain yield by 24–35% in all four lines and terminal drought significantly reduced grain yield by 16–17% in all four lines, while high temperature (3 °C above the ambient) had no significant effect. A trade‐off between yield components limited grain yield in lines with greater sink capacity (free‐tillering lines). This response suggests that any positive response to predicted changes in climate will not overcome the limitations imposed by the trade‐off in yield components.     

Attraction of pepper weevil to volatiles from damaged pepper plants

Pioneer herbivorous insects may find their host plants through a combination of visual and constitutive host‐plant volatile cues, but once a site has been colonized, feeding damage changes the quantity and quality of plant volatiles released, potentially altering the behavior of conspecifics who detect them. Previous work on the pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), demonstrated that this insect can detect and orient to constitutive host plant volatiles released from pepper [Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae)]. Here we investigated the response of the weevil to whole plants and headspace collections of plants damaged by conspecifics. Mated weevils preferred damaged flowering as well as damaged fruiting plants over undamaged plants in a Y‐tube olfactometer. They also preferred volatiles from flowering and fruiting plants with actively feeding weevils over plants with old feeding damage. Both sexes preferred volatiles from fruiting plants with actively feeding weevils over flowering plants with actively feeding weevils. Females preferred plants with 48 h of prior feeding damage over plants subjected to weevil feeding for only 1 h, whereas males showed no preference. When attraction to male‐ and female‐inflicted feeding damage was compared in the Y‐tube, males and females showed no significant preference. Wind tunnel plant assays and four‐choice olfactometer assays using headspace volatiles confirmed the attraction of weevils to active feeding damage on fruiting plants. In a final four‐choice olfactometer assay using headspace collections, we tested the attraction of mated males and virgin and mated females to male and female feeding damage. In these headspace volatile assays, mated females again showed no preference for male feeding; however, virgin females and males preferred the headspace volatiles of plants fed on by males, which contained the male aggregation pheromone in addition to plant volatiles. The potential for using plant volatile lures to improve pepper weevil monitoring and management is discussed.