Immune function, parasitization and extended phenotypes in colour polymorphic pygmy grasshoppers

Ecological and evolutionary consequences of host–parasite interactions have attracted considerable attention from evolutionary biologists. Previous studies have suggested that immune responsiveness may be genetically or developmentally linked with colour pattern, such that the evolution of animal colour patterns may be influenced by correlated responses to selection for parasite resistance. We studied interactions between the endoparasitic fly Leiophora innoxia (Meigen) (Diptera: Tachinidae) and its colour polymorphic pygmy grasshopper host Tetrix undulata (Sow.) (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) to test for morph‐specific differences in parasitization and immune defence, and host‐induced variation in parasite phenotypes. Our results revealed that c. 2 and 30% of adult grasshoppers collected from the same natural population in two subsequent years, respectively were parasitized. Parasite prevalence was independent of host sex and colour morph. Pupae were larger if the parasite had developed in a female than in a male host, possibly reflecting host resource value or a physical constraint on larval growth imposed by host body size. Pupal size was also associated with host colour morph, with individuals that had developed in dark morphs being smaller at pupation compared to those that developed in paler morphs. However, immune defence, measured as the encapsulation response to a novel antigen, did not differ among individuals belonging to alternative colour morphs or sexes. Darker morphs warm up more quickly and prefer higher body temperatures than paler ones. Encapsulation was not influenced by maintenance temperature (15 vs. 30 °C), however, suggesting that indirect effects of coloration on parasite resistance mediated via differential body temperature are unlikely. The dependence of parasite body size on host colour morph may thus reflect plasticity of growth and development of the larvae in response to differential host body temperature, rather than variable host immune defence. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 85 , 373–383.     

广西左江地区蚱总科四新种记述(直翅目)

记述采自广西壮族自治区左江地区蚱总科昆虫4新种,即黑瘤大磨蚱Macromotettix nigrituberculus sp.nov.,白斑蚱 Tetrix albomaculatus sp.nov.,白纹悠背蚱Euparatettix caadidistris sp.nov.及褐胫悠背蚱Euparatettix avellanitibis.nov..模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所昆虫标本室.     

用RAPD标记研究蚱属五个种间的亲缘关系

用RAPD技术对蚱属5种蚱基因组DNA的多态性进行研究。在事先优化的反应条件下用12个随机引物扩增, 共得到84条清晰稳定的多态性片段,片段长度为200～2 000 bp。统计这些片段,根据扩增片段的共享度计算出相对遗传距离指数,然后用UPGMA和NJ聚类方法对其进行分析,构建系统树,确定了它们相互间的亲缘关系。     

长白山地区蚱属一新种(直翅目,蚱总科)

报道采自长白山地区蚱属昆虫一新种,长白山蚱Tetrix changbaishanensis sp．nov．。模式标本保存在东北师范大学生命科学学院动物标本室。     

云南东部蚱属一新种记述（直翅目：蚱总科：蚱科）

记述采自云南东部地区蚱属1新种,即南盘江蚱Tetrix nanpanfiangensis,sp．nov．。该新种近似于桂北蚱Tetrix guibeiensis Zheng,Lu and Li,2000,主要区别为本新种：1）侧观头顶与颜面隆起成直角形;2）颜面隆起在侧单眼处略凹陷;3）前胸背板前缘平直：4）侧观背板上缘肩前弧形,其后平直;5）肩部不具1对短纵隆线;6）第1跗节下之第3垫大于第1、2垫。新种与丁氏蚱Tetrix tinkhami Zheng et Liang,1998也近似,但新种后翅不到达后突的顶端,中足股节宽度明显狭于前翅宽。 正模：♂,云南陆良县,25．1°N,103．8°E,2000m,2006-Ⅷ-10,邓维安采;副模：3♂♂,9♀♀,同正模;3♂♂,3♀♀,云南沾益县,25．6°N,103．8°E,2000m,2006-Ⅷ-12,邓维安采：4♂♂,4♀♀,云南宣威市,26．2°N,104．1°E,2000m,2006-Ⅷ-14,邓维安采。 模式标本保存在陕西师范大学动物研究所标本室（7♂♂10♀♀）和河池学院动物标本室（3♂♂7♀♀）。     

中国蚱科三新种记述（直翅目）

本文记述采自云南和四川省刺翼蚱亚科二新种,钝叶瘤蚱Ｔｈｏｒａｄｏｎｔａ ｏｂｔｕｓｉｌｏｂａｔａ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,横刺瘤蚱Ｔｈｏｒａｄｏｎｔａ ｔｒａｓｓｐｉｃｕｌａ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,及采自新疆蚱亚科一新种,新疆蚱Ｔｅｔｒｉｘ ｘｉｎｊｉａｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．。     

青海省蚱属一新种记述(直翅目,蚱科)

记述采自青海省蚱属1新种,即黑胫蚱Tetrix nigrotibialis sp.nov.。新种近似于二斑蚱Tetrix bipunctata(Linnaeus)及拟二斑蚱Tetrixparabi punctata Zheng,其与上述2种的主要区别:1)前胸背板前缘平直;2)触角长于前足股节长的1.3倍;3)侧面观前胸背板上缘弧形隆起,中部平直;4)肩部之间不具1对短纵隆线;5)前胸背板后突到达后足股节顶端;6)后足股节下侧及后足胫节黑色。模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所昆虫标本室(正模)及青海师范大学生命与地理科学学院(副模)。     

广西九万山地区蚱属一新种(直翅目:蚱总科)

记述采自广西九万山地区蚱科蚱属Tetrix昆虫1新种,即断隆蚱Tetrix interrupta sp.nov..该新种近似于金沙江蚱Tetrix jinshajiangensis Zheng,2001,主要区别为:(1)头顶前缘平直,不突出于复眼之前;(2)触角着生于复眼下缘之下;(3)肩部之间不具一对短纵隆线;(4)中足股节下缘近平直,密具细毛;(5)中足股节的宽度与前翅能见部分的宽度相等;(6)后足股节上侧中隆线具较大的锯齿.模式标本保存在陕西师范大学动物研究所标本室.     

滇东南地区蚱属一新种记述(直翅目,蚱科)

记述采自云南省东南部地区蚱属1新种,白条蚱Tetrix albistriatus sp.nov..模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所昆虫标本室.