Laboratory rearing of Hydrochus japonicus (Coleoptera: Hydrochidae) suggests larvae live at the water bottom

The aquatic larvae of the family Hydrochidae (Coleoptera) have been considered ‘mystery larvae’, because ecological knowledge about them is lacking. We discovered that Hydrochidae larvae (Hydrochus japonicus Sharp) are benthic via laboratory rearing. The larvae have a terminal spiracular atrium, but we did not observe them breathing at the water surface. The larvae fed on Naididae worms that were collected from the same habitat.     

Intranuclear disease of uncertain etiology in larvae of the blackfly,Simulium vittatum

An intranuclear disease of uncertain etiology has been found in larvae of the blackfly, Simulium vittatum (Diptera: Simuliidae). The disease, which causes little mortality, is characterized by a lack of pigmentation in the cuticle and the occurrence of melanotic deposits in the cytoplasm of fat body and midgut epithelial cells. A single, dense lacunate inclusion develops within the nuclei of these cells, ranging from 20 to 30 μm in midgut epithelial cells, and averaging 18 μm in fat body cells. The disease has been reproduced in the laboratory by feeding first-instar blackfly larvae on homogenates of diseased larvae. However, attempts to isolate a causative agent have not been successful. The cytopathology of the disease resembles the cytopathology caused by densonucleosis viruses, but particles, either free or in aggregations, typical of the virions of this virus type have not been identified in infected nuclei.     

Relationship between digestive enzymes and food habit of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) larvae: Characterization of carbohydrases and digestion of microorganisms

The sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz and Neiva, 1912) is the main vector of American Visceral Leishmaniasis. In spite of its medical importance and several studies concerning adult digestive physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, very few studies have been carried out to elucidate the digestion in sandfly larvae. Even the breeding sites and food sources of these animals in the field are largely uncharacterized. In this paper, we describe and characterize several carbohydrases from the gut of L. longipalpis larvae, and show that they are probably not acquired from food. The enzyme profile of this insect is consistent with the digestion of fungal and bacterial cells, which were proved to be ingested by larvae under laboratory conditions. In this respect, sandfly larvae might have a detritivore habit in nature, being able to exploit microorganisms usually encountered in the detritus as a food source.     

Highly‐enhanced larval growth during the cold season mediated by the basking behavior of the butterfly Parnassius citrinarius (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

Some insect species are thought to grow quickly, even in low temperatures under natural conditions, presumably by conducting basking behaviors to use sunlight. However, whether basking behavior in fact enhances developmental speed and shortens the larval period in the field has not been determined. Moreover, few studies have examined whether basking is behavioral thermoregulation or simply the result of highly‐heterogeneous heat environments in the field. To examine these issues, we conducted field observations and laboratory experiments using larvae of Parnassius citrinarius Motschulsky, which mature within a short period after the thaw in early spring. First, body temperatures of larvae were measured under sunny and cloudy conditions. Second, larval preference for warmer locations was examined. Finally, we compared the developmental speed of larvae when they basked under field conditions and when did not bask in laboratory conditions under different air temperature regimes. Under sunny conditions, larval body temperature was substantially higher than either the temperature of the host plant or the air temperature, and was equivalent to the temperature of dead leaves, which the larvae used as basking sites. In contrast, no such tendency was observed under cloudy conditions. Larvae exhibited an exclusive preference for warmer locations. Moreover, in the field, despite the low ambient temperature, larvae grew much faster than those reared in the laboratory. These results imply that the basking behavior of P. citrinarius larvae is active thermoregulation to maintain high body temperatures in the cold season.     

Comparison of the live vaccine potential of different geographic isolates of Schistosoma mansoni

We have investigated the capacity of irradiated larvae of each of six different isolates of Schistosoma mansoni to protect mice against challenge infections from the homologous or a different isolate. The isolates differed in respect of their geographic origins, and in the lengths of time they had been maintained in the laboratory. All isolates induced significant protection against unattenuated challenge infections, and neither the degree of geographic disimilarity between vaccinating and challenge parasites, nor the numbers of laboratory cycles, appeared to influence the degree of protection induced by irradiation-attenuated larvae.     

Chemistry of components in wheat and oats that influence behaviour of wheat bulb fly larvae

Chemicals produced by wheat and oats influence the behaviour of wheat bulb fly larvae; in laboratory tests, wheat extracts ‘arrest’ these larvae whereas extracts from oats (a non-host plant) have an ‘anti-arrestant’ effect. The active compounds from both types of extract have been purified and their chemistry investigated. The results suggest that the wheat ‘arrestant’ is a polyphenolic compound, possibly as a glycoside, and the oat ‘anti-arrestant’ a polyhydroxylated aliphatic material.     

Effect of insectary rearing on host preference and oviposition behavior of the fruit fly parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata

Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) has been produced in the laboratory for >160 generations on the larvae of oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), the propagation hosts raised routinely on a semi-synthetic wheat diet formulation. Choice tests using modified stinging units were conducted in the laboratory to investigate whether insectary rearing had altered the host seeking and oviposition behavior of female parasitoids. Results showed that fruit fly larvae that developed in papaya, Carica papaya L. var. solo, were less preferred for oviposition than fruit fly larvae that developed on wheat diet when both were exposed concurrently to naive D. longicaudata females (= females without prior oviposition experience). The substrates (pureed papaya or wheat diet) in which treatment larvae were exposed to parasitoids did not affect oviposition preference of gravid D. longicaudata for wheat diet-reared fruit fly larvae. Our study demonstrated the possibility that rearing in an insectary system may have modified the parasitization behavior of female D. longicaudata.     

Genetic control ofHylemya antiqua III. Differences in pupation ability between two strains

Some relevant traits of a wild (L) and a laboratory (C) strain of Hylemya antiqua (Meigen ), determining differences in their pupation ability under experimental conditions have been investigated in relation to genetic control. The wild strain showed an intrinsic higher pupation ability than the laboratory strain. The minimum feeding period was 0.6 days longer for the C strain. The minimum larval dry weight was different for the two strains. With a normal feeding period C larvae pupated on average 1.63 days later than L larvae. By the shortening of the larval feeding period an acceleration of the larval development of both strains was observed: the acceleration of development was more marked for the wild strain. This result has been contrasted with published works on Drosphila. The consequences of these differences as far as the competitive ability of each strain is concerned, have been discussed in relation to genetic control.     

Nematode-trapping fungi against parasitic cattle nematodes

Interactions between larvae of bovine gastrointestinal nematode parasites and nematode-trapping fungi, such as Arthrobotrys and Duddingtonia species and strains have been studied in Denmark. In this article J?rn Gr?nvold, Jens Wolstrup, Peter Nansen and Svend Aage Henriksen discuss how these fungi are able to grow, trap and kill parasitic nematode larvae, both on agar in the laboratory and in cattle faeces in the field.     

Modified Behavior in Baculovirus-Infected Lepidopteran Larvae and Its Impact on the Spatial Distribution of Inoculum

Quantifying the rate of dispersal of target insects when infected with a disease agent will aid the development of biorational pest control programs. The effect of nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) infection on the mobility of second and fourth instarMamestra brassicaelarvae was investigated in the laboratory and field. NPV infection altered larval mobility, with the changes in behavior varying with the timecourse of infection. Diseased larvae moved three to five times further than healthy ones during the middle stages of infection. By the 7th day postinfection diseased larvae were less mobile than healthy counterparts. The same pattern of modified behavior was observed in both instars. Fourth instar larvae moved further than second instars under laboratory and field conditions. In the field, infected larvae tended to die on the apex of the cabbage leaves. Bioassay of the leaves showed a linear decrease in inoculum from central to peripheral plants within the plots, which occurred to the same extent for second and fourth instars. Leaves from plots where infected fourth instar larvae had been introduced had higher inoculum density than those from plots with second instars.     

A natural flightless mutation in the ladybird, Harmonia axyridis

A homozygous flightless strain, obtained by selection from a laboratory population of Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), has been reared under controlled conditions since 1982 after sampling in China. The adults of this flightless strain have normal elytra and wings but drop almost vertically when they attempt to fly. The origin of this mutation, whether laboratory or natural, is discussed. As the mutation does not affect the fitness of the beetles, this flightless strain can be used in biological control. Releasing flightless adults rather than larvae should provide the potential for more continuous control of aphids by both larvae and adults.     

Biology and immature stages of Helosciomyza subalpina (Diptera: Helosciomyzidae), an ant-killing fly from New Zealand

Abstract

Biological features of adults and immature stages of Helosciomyza subalpina Tonnoir & Malloch are discussed. Information on habitat, geographical distribution, larval behaviour and feeding habits, natural enemies, and phenology are presented. The species is found in marshy areas in the South Island and on the Chatham Islands. In the laboratory, newly hatched larvae feed on a variety of freshly killed insects, and apparently lap up liquids from the integument of live ant larvae. Older fly larvae feed on decaying as well as freshly killed insects, and are overt predators of ant larvae. In the field, fly larvae and puparia have been found in association with ant nests; many puparia have also been found well away from ant nests. The egg, three larval instars, and the puparium are described. The taxonomic position of the Helosciomyzidae is discussed in the light of these new data on biology and morphology.     

Kin distribution of amphibian larvae in the wild

According to kin selection theory, the location of an individual with respect to its relatives can have important ramifications for its fitness. Perhaps more than any other vertebrate group, anuran amphibian larvae have been the subject of many experiments on this topic. Some anuran species have been shown in the laboratory to recognize and associate with their siblings and half-siblings. However, due to the difficulty of identifying sibships, no kinship studies with anuran larvae have been conducted in the wild. Here, we use microsatellite analysis to show that wood frog (Rana sylvatica) tadpoles were nonrandomly distributed in two ponds with respect to their relatives. In one pond, the tadpoles were significantly clumped with their siblings or half-siblings as expected from other published laboratory studies on this species. However, in another pond, the tadpoles were significantly nonrandomly dispersed from their siblings or half-siblings. This is the first example of kin repulsion of nonreproductive animals in the wild and the first time a species has been shown to display both aggregation and repulsion under different circumstances. These results suggest that kin distribution is context dependent and demonstrate the importance of testing kin selection hypotheses under natural conditions.     

Growth and development of Atlantic mud crab larvae fed natural Zooplankton prey

Atlantic mud crab larvae (Panopeus herbstii H. Milne Edwards) were fed either brine-shrimp nauplii or natural Zooplankton in the laboratory and in large, field-deployed enclosures. Larvae developed fastest in 1440-1, field-deployed enclosures. By 9 days post hatching, more than 90% of the enclosure larvae had reached zoea Stage IV compared to only 50% of the larvae that were fed brine shrimp in small bowls. Larvae fed natural Zooplankton in either 40-1 tanks developed more slowly and were still in zoea Stage II after 9 days. Larvae that were fed natural Zooplankton in small bowls lost weight during the course of the experiment. Even though larvae developed most rapidly in field-deployed enclosures, there was no significant difference between the rate of dry-weight growth of larvae fed brine shrimp in 50-ml bowls and larvae fed natural zooplankton in enclosures. The greater stage-specific dry weight of larvae fed brine shrimp may have been related to the relative energy content of the two diets, while differences in the rates of development may have been related to the respective spatial scales of the different culture techniques. Diel cycles in temperature within the enclosures may have also had an effect on the rate of development.     

Condition and size of damselflies: a field study of food limitation

Summary Based on evidence from field manipulations, several authors have recently suggested that interference competition among larval odonates reduces individual growth rates and biomass by reducing foraging rates. This study was designed to test the effects of food shortage on condition (relative mass per unit head width) of larval Ischnura verticalis (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) under laboratory conditions and to use these results to estimate the degree of food shortage of larvae under naturally occurring field conditions. In the laboratory, there were marked differences in condition of larvae fed diets ranging from ad libitum feeding with worms to ad libitum feeding with Daphnia 1 day out of every 8. Condition of larvae collected from May through October from 17 different sites in southern Ontario indicated that, for most of the year, larvae had conditions similar to those fed ad libitum with Daphnia in the laboratory. There was no evidence that larval condition was related to population density. Condition of larvae in most sites during July was similar to that of larvae fed poor diets in the laboratory. It is unlikely that the low conditions were due to competition as there were no correlations with density across sites and population densities during July were at their lowest. Adult head widths showed a seasonal decline from mid June to the end of the flight season. There was no evidence that head widths were related to population density although there was some evidence that head widths of males were positively related to larval condition. My results do not support the hypothesis that competition is important in affecting foraging rates and subsequent development of larvae. Contrasts between my results and other studies may stem from difficulties with the interpretation of field experiments, that densities in my study may have been low due to fish predation, and/or that I. verticalis larvae are slow moving relative to other larvae and thus less likely to interact.     

稻纵卷叶螟经济阈值的研究

本文研究了稻纵卷叶螟(Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee不同龄幼虫取食量,田间水稻不同品种接种不同密度幼虫后小区产量、空壳率、千粒重和损失率,不同剑叶受害面积与产量损失关系,天敌参数,以及施药防治的成本估计等。查明田间幼虫密度(x)与产量损失率(y)呈正相关,分品种建立了线性回归方程。综合上述因素求出平均济济闭值为百丛虫口45.67±6.02头,平均经济损失水平为百丛虫口60.0±7.92头;天敌参数为17.91±0.61头;平均防治行动阈值为百丛虫口63.57±6.63头;早稻第二代幼虫防治行动阈值为百丛虫口67.24±4.97头,晚稻第四代幼虫防治行动阈值为百丛虫口59.91±4.47头。     

Behavioral Responses of Walleye Pollock, Theragra Chalcogramma, Larvae to Experimental Gradients of Sea Water Flow: Implications for Vertical Distribution

Walleye pollock larvae under controlled laboratory conditions were exposed to vertical gradients of sea water flow in low and high light. Whether flow originated from the surface or the bottom, larvae responded by altering depth distribution, showing attraction to low flows, avoidance of higher flows and when flow was above a threshold level, loss of ability to orient, swim and feed. These results demonstrate that walleye pollock have the capability for responding to gradients of flow by adjusting their vertical distribution. Walleye pollock and many other pelagic fish larvae have weak swimming capabilities and are generally unable to directly control horizontal distributions in the sea by swimming in higher flow regimens. However, using vertical migration, larvae may select conditions of flow direction and speed which are favorable for feeding and predator avoidance and which indirectly allow them to control transport, aggregation and dispersion.     

An improved technique for experimental infections with skin penetrating nematode larvae (Necator americanus)

An improved technique for experimental infections with skin penetrating nematode larvae (Necator americanus). International Journal for Parasitology16: 461–464. Conventional techniques for infecting experimental animals with skin penetrating nematode larvae create inconsistencies and variation in parasite establishment. A method is described which has been used to improve considerably the degree of uniformity of infection of laboratory rodents with the larvae of N. americanus. Infective larvae were placed onto the gauze of a surgical plaster and attached to the shaved backs of adult hamsters and mice. These were secured with a further layer of tape encircling the animal and removed 24 h later.