Records of Orthoclad species from the Darjeeling–Sikkim Himalayas of India (Diptera: Chironomidae), with notes on their ecology

Life stages of orthoclad species, Paracricotopus spinicornisn.sp., Parametriocnemus ornatocornis(Kieffer) and the immatures of Paraphaenocladius impensus albusalatusChaudhuri & Sinharay are described from India. A brief note on the ecology of the species is also given.     

寡脉摇蚊亚科中国新记录属——近北摇蚊属记述（双翅目：摇蚊科）

记述中国双翅目摇蚊科寡脉摇蚊亚科1新记录属--近北摇蚊属Paraboreochlus Thienemann,1939,对新记录种--冲绳近北摇蚊P.okinawanus Kobayshi&Kuranishi进行了重新描述;提供了世界上该属雄虫分种检索表和地理分布图。     

A new species of parasitic midge (Forcipomyia (Pterobosca)) from Aldabra, with descriptions of its presumed larva and pupa and systematic notes on the subgenera of Forcipomyia (Ceratopogonidae)

Forcipomyia (Pterobosca) hutsoni n.sp. is described and figured from adults of both sexes and from putatively identified larvae and pupae. The species is common on Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean. Most adult females were taken from the wings of Odonata. Immature stages were found in Pandanus leaf axils and are the first to be described for the subgenus Pterobosca. Characters of the three stages show that biting midges of this subgenus are most closely related to the subgenera Phytohelea, Trichohelea and Rhynchoforcipomyia. The subgenera Thyridomyia, Synthyridomyia and probably Blantonia fall in a second section of the genus, while Lasiohelea forms a third and intermediate section.     

Mortality of the terrestrial adult and aquatic nymphal life stages of Baetis vernus and Baetis rhodani in the Breitenbach, Germany (Insecta: Ephemeroptera)

1. The mortality of Baetis vernus Curtis and Baetis rhodani Pictet during the terrestrial-aerial and aquatic life stages was studied at the Breitenbach near Schlitz, Hesse, Germany. The number of females emerging from the stream was recorded with emergence traps. To estimate mortality of females of both species during terrestrial life, numbers of emerging females were compared with numbers of females returning to the stream for oviposition, as shown by numbers of egg masses found in the stream. 2. Mortality of female B. vernus during their terrestrial life stage was 98.8%. It was 91.2 and 96.6%, respectively, during the first and second generations of B. rhodani. 3. To estimate the mortality of both sexes of B. rhodani during the aquatic life stage, the number of eggs laid by the first generation was compared with the number of adults emerging during the second generation. 4. Mortality during the aquatic phase (both sexes combined) of B. rhodani was 91.1%. 5. Mortality during the terrestrial life stages was at least as high, if not higher than during the aquatic stages. Evidently, there is a considerable export of organic material into the terrestrial environment around the stream. Mortality during terrestrial life may be an important regulator of population size.     

Bloodmeal evacuation from the midgut of Glossina pallidipes in relation to tsetse foraging activity and trappabiIity

Abstract.

• 1 Foraging for bloodmeals is the most frequently recurrent and probably the most targetable of all activities that render tsetse vulnerable to interception with static trapping devices.
• 2 Surgical monitoring of the rnidgut every 24 h during three successive days of food deprivation, showed that a full bloodmeal, irrespective of its size or source, vacated the rnidgut of both sexes of Glossina pallidipes Austen in eight progressive stages.
• 3 Probing responsiveness in both sexes increased exponentially during the first four stages of their midgut evacuation, reaching a peak between stages 3 and 5. Thereafter it decreased, also exponentially.
• 4 Most G.pallidipes caught by NG2G traps baited with cow urine and acetone had midguts in the last three stages (6–8) of bloodmeal evacuation. The same was true of the majority of those that failed to feed on a calf shortly after entrapment.
• 5 The implications of the foregoing for tsetse foraging activity and trappability as well as for the potency of cattle urine and acetone as odour-bait for tsetse are discussed.

     

Heterotrissocladius boltoni sp.n., a new orthoclad from vernal pools and streams in Ohio,U.S.A. (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Heterotrissocladius boltoni sp.n. from Ohio, U.S.A., is described in both sexes and all stages. The species belongs in themarcidus group and is found in temporary streams and pools     

Sexual differentiation in the CNS of the moth,Manduca sexta. I. Sex and segment-specificity in production,differentiation, and survival of the imaginal midline neurons

We analyzed the development of several sets of postembryonic sex-specific motoneurons in Manduca sexta which belong to a group of homologous lineage of neurons called the imaginal midline neurons (IMNs). Adult female oviduct motoneurons and male sperm duct motoneurons are IMNs that show similar anatomical features and differentiate during metamorphosis, despite appearing in different segments: A7 for oviduct neurons, A9 for sperm duct neurons. These cells are born at the same time and, initially, similar sets are found in A7 and A9 ganglia of larvae of both sexes. The dimorphic adult pattern is generated by sex-specific production and cell death. A7 IMNs differentiate in both sexes through early pupal stages, whereupon they disappear in the male and become the oviduct motoneurons in the female. A9 IMNs are overproduced in the male, and subsequent cell death reduces male cell number and eliminates the small complement of female cells; the surviving male cells develop into the sperm duct motoneurons. Similar IMN arrays are generated in nongenital ganglia, but show non-sex-specific fates. This suggests that both the sex of these cells and their segment of residence play major roles in their subsequent differentiation. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Males vs. female meiotic prophase in a grasshopper,Arcyptera microptera (Orthoptera: Acridiae)

Female and male first meiotic prophase are analyzed in the grasshopper Arcyptera microptera with special reference to the heteropycnotic chromatin. Differences in the behaviour of the megameric and X-chromosomes, in nuclear size and in the response to C-banding treatment are described. The evidence for a distinctive meiotic prophase in both sexes is compared with results obtained in other species of grasshoppers by other authors using more advanced stages. The discussion centers around the role of the diffuse stage and the differential behaviour of the X-chromosome in the two sexes.     

The life history and descriptions of Halictophagus silwoodensis sp.n. (Strepsiptera) and its host Ulopa reticulata (Cicadellidae) in Britain

Halictophagus silwoodensis sp.n. is described and distinguished from the unique holotype of H.curtisii, the only other member of the genus known from Britain. All stages of the life history are described. Percentage parasitism exceeding 60%, and superparasitism by one or both sexes of strepsipteron, are recorded, with up to three parasitoids developing successfully in a single host individual.     

Stenopsyche kodaikanalensis: A new species of Stenopsyche from South India (Trichoptera: Stenopsychidae)

Stenopsyche kodaikanalensis sp. n. is described from a small stream in the Palni Hills, Tamil Nadu, South India. All life stages and both sexes of adults are described and illustrated. The larva and pupa aresimilar to S. griseipennis and the adult male demonstrates a close relationship to S. splendida of the simplex group.     

Association and description of males, females and larvae of two New Caledonian Xanthochorema species (Trichoptera: Hydrobiosidae) based on mitochondrial 16S and COI sequences

A method for associating larvae, females and males of Trichoptera is demonstrated for New Caledonian Hydrobiosidae species of the genus Xanthochorema, using cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S mitochondrial gene sequences. Two species, X. caledon Kimmins, 1953 and X. celadon Schmid, 1989 , previously with unknown larvae and undescribed females, were associated, and males, females and larvae of both species are described. Mitochondrial COI and 16S gene fragments are demonstrated to be useful for association of sexes and life stages of the two species, and distance measures show that the method is likely to also be useful for other species within the genus. The associations are well supported by high bootstrap and jackknife values.     

Sublethal effects of permethrin on the chemical communication system of the pink bollworm moth,Pectinophora gossypiella

Topically applied sublethal doses of permethrin can interrupt chemical communication between the sexes of Pectinophora gossypiella by affecting both the signaler and the responder. The probability of calling by females is reduced when they are treated with doses of permethrin which are much less than the LD₅₀. Similarly, key stages in the behavioral response of males to sex pheromone are effectively blocked at these low doses. Males recover from these effects 4 days after treatment, but calling by females is still significantly reduced at this time. Chemical control of P. gossypiella populations with permethrin may not be limited to mortality, and potentially includes effective control of behavioral aspects of chemical communication.     

Aagaardia,a New Holarctic Orthoclad Genus (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Diagnoses of all stages of the new genus Aagaardia are given. The genus includes A. sivertseni (Aagaard), originally described in Eukiefferiella Thienemann, from Norway and Finland and described in all stages; A. protensa sp.n. from Finland and A. triangulata sp.n. from Turkey described as male imagines; and A. longicalcis sp.n. from Canada described in both sexes. The male imagines share bare eyes, strong punctation on wings, bare squama, extended costa, triangular gonostylus and two groups of extremely strong and sclerotized virga. The pupa and the female genitalia show relationship with Paratrissocladius Zav[rcirc]el, while the larva is very similar to the larvae of Psilometriocnemus Sæther and Platysmittia Sæther. Parsimony analyses suggest that Aagaardia forms the plesiomorphic sister genus to the rest of the Heterotrissocladius group combined.     

The management of metabolic energy storage during the life cycle of mayflies: a comparative field investigation of the collector-gatherer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ephemera danica</Emphasis> and the scraper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhithrogena semicolorata</Emphasis>

The concentration and seasonal dynamics of the major energy storage components, triglycerides and glycogen, were measured in two species of mayfly (Rhithrogena semicolorata and Ephemera danica) with contrasting life cycle strategies living in a small mountain stream. E. danica is a burrowing, semivoltine collector-gatherer; R. semicolorata is univoltine and scrapes periphyton from stones. This is the first publication which focuses on the role of metabolic energy sources during the larval life span of two mayfly species until the larvae emerge. Although triglycerides are the major energy reserve in both species (>84% of total energy storage) throughout the whole larval development their seasonal dynamic differed considerably. In R. semicolorata the triglyceride concentration declined during the last weeks prior to emergence in both sexes. The same pattern was found in female larvae of E. danica, but not in male E. danica. It is suggested that females use triglycerides in the last larval stages for egg maturation, which is completed in the last larval instar. In male E. danica the triglyceride concentrations remained high until emergence, presumably due to their high energy demands as adults for their swarming flights. Glycogen concentrations did not show such a difference between species and sexes. Its significance as a storage substrate for energy is rather low; however, concentrations decreased in both species and sexes prior to emergence.     

Reproductive biology of the southern thorny skate Amblyraja doellojuradoi (Chondrichthyes,Rajidae)

The total lengths (L_T) of 193 males (209–556 mm) and 130 females (275–515 mm) of Amblyraja doellojuradoi, a commercial by‐catch species on the Argentinean continental shelf, which are increasingly retained, were analysed. No sexual dimorphism was observed in the L_T at which 50% of individuals were sexually mature; males matured at 448 mm and females at 411 mm, c. 80 and 82% of maximum L_T. The hepato‐somatic index was similar among sexes, but significantly different between maturity stages, being lower in mature than immature specimens. Males had no seasonal difference in the hepato‐somatic index and females had the lowest index in autumn. The gonado‐somatic index was lower in males than in females and significantly higher in mature than immature specimens of both sexes. Males had the highest index in autumn and females had no seasonal difference. Collectively, these results would indicate that A. doellojuradoi breeds in autumn.     

Spectral preferences of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)

Many insects prefer lights with certain spectral properties, and such preferences may be associated with behavioral contexts such as mating, host finding or dispersal. Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) is a newly invasive species in Korea and is spreading rapidly. It is diurnal and may rely on visual cues for orientation. We conducted a series of three phototaxis experiments to understand spectral preferences in L. delicatula: light/dark choice, UV/white light choice, and color preference experiments. Nymphs of the third and final stages as well as adults were used for these experiments. In the light/dark choice, the orientation of L. delicatula was bimodal between the white light and darkness, for all stages and both sexes. In a choice of UV (395–410 nm wavelengths) vs. white light, L. delicatula of both sexes and all stages preferred the UV light. In the color preference experiment where insects had a choice of four colors in a circular arena, L. delicatula stayed significantly longer in the blue light than in white, yellow or green lights. Overall, nymphs and adults of L. delicatula oriented toward lights with shorter wavelengths, and this orientation was consistent throughout all stages, regardless of sex. It is necessary to investigate the behavioral contexts under which L. delicatula prefers the UV and blue lights.     

Effects of leaf conditions and flight activity on the behaviour of Platypus quercivorus (Murayama) (Coleoptera: Platypodidae)

The important role of semiochemicals in the interactions between plants and insects has been extensively investigated. The volatiles produced by oak trees are thought to attract the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus (Murayama), which causes wilt disease in Quercus trees, resulting in widespread damage. In the present study, we hypothesized that (a) P. quercivorus is attracted to the leaf volatiles emitted by host trees and (b) the response of P. quercivorus to leaf volatiles is affected by flight. An experiment was performed to survey the preferences of both sexes of P. quercivorus for the leaf volatiles of Quercus crispula Blume at various stages of leaf deterioration, represented by different number of days after cutting. Additionally, the effect of flight on both sexes was evaluated by testing the beetle flight on a flight mill. The results showed that P. quercivorus was attracted to the volatiles emitted from fresh leaves and was not attracted to those emitted from dry leaves. This suggests that leaf volatiles from healthy hosts are primary attractants for P. quercivorus. Further, males exhibited increased olfactory responses to leaf volatiles as their flight duration increased, whereas the opposite pattern was observed in females. These results suggest that the different ecological roles of the sexes contribute to differences in olfactory responses.     

Wineries,drosophila, alcohol,and Adh

Summary Previous workers (McKenzie and Parsons, 1972, 1974; McKenzie, 1974; Briscoe et al., 1975) have found anomalous distributions of species of Drosophila, of sexes of D. melanogaster, and of Adh alleles in and around wineries in Australia and Spain. Field studies in California's Sonoma Valley provide evidence that the explanations advanced for these distributions may incorrect. The anomalous distribution of species was attributed to alcohol, either as a selective agent or as a behavioral stimulus. We find a virtually identical species distribution in the absence of environmental alcohol. The anomalous sex ratio was attributedd to differential survivall of the sexes when raised on alcohol. We present crude evidence thatehe difference may simply be a behavioral response to some product of fermentation, which need not be alcohol. Finally, the allele frequency difference reported from Spain was attributed to differential adult mortality on alcohol. We do not find an allele frequency difference even when alcohol is exposed, and therefore suggest that selection is occurring in pre-adult stages.     

Relevance of forage fish in the diet of Magellanic penguins breeding in northern Patagonia,Argentina

We quantified the trophic niche of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) breeding and moulting in Golfo San Jorge, Argentina, through conventional stomach content and stable isotope analysis. A total of 112 adults were flushed during the early and late chick stages of 2011 and 2012 at Isla Vernacci Norte, and at least 15 prey taxa were found, including fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans and polychaetes. Overall, Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) showed the highest contribution in terms of importance by mass (68.1–85.3%, depending on chick stage and year), except for the old chick stage in 2011 when the shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) was the main prey consumed (56.0%). Based on carbon and nitrogen isotopic values from a total of 256 blood samples, corresponding to young and old chicks and to adults of both sexes sampled throughout the incubation, chick and moult stages at the above mentioned colony and years, Bayesian mixing model outputs showed that Argentine anchovy was always the main prey (48–86%). Bayesian mixing model outputs obtained from adults of both sexes and their chicks during the late chick stage of 2013 at Isla Vernacci Norte, Isla Tova and Isla Leones also showed that Argentine anchovy was the main prey consumed. This is the first comprehensive assessment of Magellanic penguin diet composition in northern Patagonia, quantifying the relative contribution of prey in the diet of adults and chicks at different stages of the annual cycle and years, and confirms the relevance of a forage fish such as the Argentine anchovy in its trophic ecology.     

Ontogenetic and tissue-specific expression of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) and its receptors in Catla catla

Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) is an RFamide peptide, and its role in reproduction is well studied from fish to mammals, but very few reports are available about the function of GnIH during larval development. In this study, we examined the GnIH and GnIH receptors (GnIHRs) expression from embryogenesis to adult stage and tissue-specific expression in adult Catla catla using quantitative real-time (qRT) PCR. The qRT PCR analysis of GnIH mRNA during ontogenetic development showed the increasing trend from early developmental stages to the adult stage with the highest expression in 24 months fish. However, the expression of two GnIH receptors, GnIHR1 and GnIHR2 also increased from larval stages to the adults with a peak at 17 days post-hatching, while GnIHR3 showed the higher mRNA expression during embryogenesis and then decreasing gradually. Tissue distribution analysis of GnIH showed the highest mRNA expression of GnIH in the brain, followed by gonads of both the sexes. GnIHR1 and GnIHR2 were also highly expressed in the brain and gonads of both the sexes, while GnIHR3 showed the highest expression in gonads of both the sexes without any expression in the brain. These results suggest that the brain is the primary site of action for GnIH, GnIHR1 and GnIHR2, while gonads for GnIHR3.