Michanthidium almeidai, a new species from northeastern Brazil (Hymenoptera, Megachilinae)

A new species of Michanthidium Urban (Hymenoptera, Megachilinae)is described and figured from Sergipe and Bahia States, northeastern Brazil. An identification key, illustrations, and a distribution map for the three species of the genus are presented. The male genitalia of Michanthidium almeidaisp. n. and Michanthidium albitarse are illustrated and compared for the first time.     

A taxonomic revision of the genus Pachyrhizus (Fabaceae -Phaseoleae)

The genus Pachyrhizus is revised in order to establish the distribution of the species and their variation. Three species in cultivation ( P. erosus, P. tuberosus and P. ahipa ) and two species only occurring in the wild ( P. ferrugineus and P. panamensis ) are recognized. P. strigosus is considered conspecific with P. erosus . All the infraspecific taxa proposed by Clausen are considered untenable. The new combination P. ferrugineus is made for what was previously know as P. vernalis .     

A revision of the genus Kaszabister Mazur (Histeridae, Histerinae, Exosternini)

We revise the four species of Kaszabister Mazur, 1972, one of which, Kaszabister barrigaisp. n., is described as new. The other species in the genus are Kaszabister rubellus (Erichson, 1834), Kaszabister ferrugineus (Kirsch, 1873) and Kaszabister carinatus (Lewis, 1888). The species are principally known from the subtropics of South America, with one in Central America. Lectotypes are designated for Kaszabister rubellus and Kaszabister ferrugineus, and a key is provided for all the species. Ants of the genus Solenopsis Westwood, mainly Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis saevissima (Smith), are documented as hosts of three of the four species.     

Five new species of Pedibothrium (Tetraphyllidea: Onchobothriidae) from the tawny nurse shark, Nebrius ferrugineus, in the Pacific Ocean

The spiral intestines of 7 Tawny nurse sharks (Nebrius ferrugineus; Rhincodontidae) from Australia and French Polynesia were examined for tapeworms. These sharks hosted 5 new species of Pedibothrium. The 5 species were prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy. Whereas 3 of the species exhibit the bipronged hooks typical of members of Pedibothrium, 1 species was found to possess tiny unipronged hooks or to lack some, or all, hooks, and all individuals of the fifth species appeared to lack bothridial hooks entirely. Nonetheless, the otherwise remarkable similarities between these species and the species of Pedibothrium bearing bipronged hooks were considered to be sufficient to justify the placement of these 2 species in this genus. All 5 species possess proglottid features typical of Pedibothrium, including a uterus that extends anteriorly only to the level of the cirrus sac and a cirrus sac that is bent anteriorly and is crossed by the vagina. All 5 species also exhibit uniloculated bothridia. Of particular note was the fact that all 5 species exhibit bladelike spinitrichs with elongated distal tips, a form of microthrix currently known only from species of Pedibothrium. As a consequence, these species were treated as possessing modified hooks or as having lost hooks. The diagnoses of Pedibothrium and Onchobothriidae were emended to include these species. Each of the 5 new species bears a strong resemblance to 1 or more species of Pedibothrium hosted by a species of rhincodontid shark other than N. ferrugineus. Much of Southwell's type and voucher material of Pedibothrium was located and used to verify the identity of Pedibothrium kerkhami and many of the hosts from which Southwell's material of Pedibothrium was collected. This material suggests that P. kerkhami parasitizes Stegostoma fasciatum and not N. ferrugineus.     

Influences of Habitat Isolation on Invertebrate Colonization of Sporadanthus ferrugineus in a Mined Peat Bog

This study experimentally tested the impact of peat bog habitat loss and isolation on the invertebrate community associated with Sporadanthus ferrugineus (Restionaceae), a dominant indigenous plant species in peat bogs. Potted S. ferrugineus plants were exposed to invertebrates at various distances up to 800 m from an intact habitat (the source population) over 18 weeks. Invertebrates rapidly colonized the experimental plants, with all major orders and trophic groups present on S. ferrugineus within 6 weeks. However, with increasing distance away from the undisturbed habitat, there was a significant decrease in total species richness and abundance of invertebrates associated with the potted plants. Of the total taxa captured, only 38% were found on potted S. ferrugineus plants at 800 m compared with 62% found on potted plants 30 m from the intact peat bog. Predator species richness and the predator–prey ratio changed significantly with time available for colonization of potted plants but, more importantly, prey (herbivores and detritivores) and predator (including parasitoids) species richness, as well as the predator–prey ratio, declined significantly with increasing isolation from the peat bog. Thus, the degree of isolation of restoration areas from undisturbed habitat has a major impact on the rate and patterns of recovery in invertebrate community structure. The current recommended practice of restoring the mined area by establishing raised "habitat islands" 30 m apart should result in colonization by most invertebrates associated with S. ferrugineus , but only if the restoration islands are placed as stepping stones outward from existing areas of intact habitat.     

Proposal of Pseudorhodobacter ferrugineus gen nov,comb nov,for a non-photosynthetic marine bacterium,Agrobacterium ferrugineum,related to the genus Rhodobacter

The marine gram-negative non-photosynthetic bacterium, Agrobacterium ferrugineum IAM 12616(T) forms one cluster with the species of the photosynthetic genus Rhodobacter in phylogenetic trees based on molecules of 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA and DNA gyrases. Agrobacterium ferrugineum and Rhodobacter species are similar in that growth occurs without NaCl in the culture medium (optimal NaCl concentration for growth of P. ferrugineus is 1%) and their major hydroxy fatty acid compositions are 3-hydroxy decanoic acids (3-OH 10:0) and 3-hydroxy tetradecanoic acids (3-OH 14:1). However, A. ferrugineum differs from Rhodobacter species in G+C content (58 mol% in A. ferrugineum versus 64-73 mol% in Rhodobacter species), in having an insertion in its 16S rRNA gene sequence, and in lacking photosynthetic abilities, bacteriochlorophyll a and intracytoplasmic membrane systems. Furthermore, experiments using PCR and Southern hybridization show that A. ferrugineum does not have puhA gene and puf genes localized near the opposite ends of the photosynthesis gene cluster of Rhodobacter capsulatus. It suggests that A. ferrugineum may not have any genes for photosynthesis. We propose the transfer of A. ferrugineum IAM 12616(T) to the genus Pseudorhodobacter gen. nov. as Pseudorhodobacter ferrugineus comb. nov. Although Pseudorhodobacter ferrugineus disturbs the phylogenetic monophyly of the genus Rhodobacter, this taxonomic proposal seems adequate until it has been clarified whether P. ferrugineus possesses an incomplete photosynthetic apparatus.     

Bee species and their associated flowers in the French West Indies (Guadeloupe,Les Saintes,La Désirade,Marie Galante,St Barthelemy and Martinique) (Hymenoptera: Anthophila: Apoidea)

A list of 25 bee species in the families Apidae and Megachilidae is provided for the French West Indies (FWI) along with floral host records from 260 plant species in 71 families. Four species are newly recorded for some islands, as follows: Coelioxys abdominalis Guérin, 1844, new island record for Marie-Galante and Martinique, Centris decolorata Lepeletier, 1841, new island record for Marie-Galante, Melissodes rufodentatus Smith, 1854, is newly recorded from Guadeloupe and Mesoplia azurea (Lepeletier & Serville, 1825) from La Désirade. The bee fauna of the FWI is mostly composed of species that occur (or may be expected to occur) throughout much of the West Indies, combined with species that are widely distributed on the mainland and a proportion of regionally endemic species. In addition to these elements, there appear to be at least a few locally endemic species. A few species of bees appear to be oligolectic; their host plants, however, are visited by a wide variety of bees and other insects. There is only one intentionally introduced bee in Guadeloupe, the European honey bee Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, and three non-native bees that reached the FWI from other parts of the Caribbean and the mainland: Megachile (Pseudomegachile) lanata (Fabricius, 1775), M. (Callomegachile) rufipennis (Fabricius, 1793) and M. (Eutricharaea) concinna Smith, 1879. Honey bees are often extremely abundant, and dominate nectar and pollen resources in ways that are disruptive to native bees. Although it is easy to observe individual honey bees displacing individual native bees on flowers, there are no data on the ecological effects of honey bees on native pollinators in the FWI.     

Diets of sympatric flatfishes, Hippoglossoides platessoides, Pleuronectes ferrugineus, Pleuronectes americanus, from Sable Island Bank, Canada

Prey exploitation was documented for Hippoglossoides platessoides, Pleuronectes ferrugineus , and P. americanus collected from southeast Sable Island Bank in February and June 1989. Diets varied significantly by sample and with fish species and length. Of 239 species consumed by flatfishes, 66 were determined to be principal prey. Crustaceans, particularly amphipods, were the most frequently exploited prey of all three flatfish species. Small H. platessoides fed on suprabenthic fauna, while larger fish exploited epifauna and hyperiid suprafauna. P. ferrugineus exploited epibenthic fauna, consuming crustaceans and tunicates when small and polychaetes when larger. P. americanus preyed on epifauna; smaller fish exploited polychaetes while larger fish usually consumed crustaceans associated with ectoproct colonies. Feeding intensity was dramatically lower in February, food being found in stomachs of only 36% of H. platessoides and 49% of P. ferrugineus , and lacking in the stomachs of P. americanus . In June, stomachs of 86% of H. platessoides , 94% of P. ferrugineus and 96% of P. americanus contained food. Results indicate that prey resources for the three flatfish species are partitioned by specific habitat and prey type preferences.     

Lower temperature thresholds for oviposition and egg hatching of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in a Mediterranean climate

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an economically important pest of palms worldwide. To better understand the phenology of R. ferrugineus populations in the Mediterranean basin, the objective of the present work has been to estimate the effect of temperatures within the range 10-25°C on the reproductive parameters of R. ferrugineus and to determine its lower temperature thresholds for oviposition and egg hatching. Our results confirm that oviposition in R. ferrugineus is strongly affected by temperature. Lower thresholds for oviposition and egg hatching (15.45° and 13.95°C, respectively) are below the mean monthly temperatures registered in winter in most of the northern shore of the Mediterranean basin. Under these circumstances, new palm infestations would be difficult during most of the winter. These results should be taken into account when planning some palm management practices, such as pruning or pesticide treatments, in areas under a Mediterranean climate.     

EUGLOSSINE BEE POLLINATION OF THE ORCHID,COCHLEANTHES LIPSCOMBIAE: A FOOD SOURCE MIMIC

Cochleanthes lipscombiae is pollinated by large male and female euglossine bees. The flowers lack pollinator rewards, but attract bees searching for nectar. The euglossines extend their long tongues and crawl into the gullet-flower. The bees probe the back-swept lateral sepals for nectar. Pollination occurs as a pollinarium laden bee backs out, deposits pollinia on the stigma, and obtains a new pollinarium load by dislodging the anther. Some related orchid species have similar morphological characteristics as those essential to the pollination mechanism of C. lipscombiae. These features may have taxonomic significance at the generic level. Cochleanthes lipscombiae may be a floral mimic of a sympatric legume, but may also receive exploratory visits by bees searching for food resources. The latter may be young, recently emerged naive bees, or individuals seeking new nectar hosts during a period of rapid host species turnover.     

Foraging ecology of a local wild bee community in an abandoned Satoyama system in Kanazawa, Central Japan

Satoyama is a traditional land management system in Japan that emphasizes the importance of a harmonious relationship between humans and their environment. It has been in a state of abandonment and destruction since the late 1960s. In 2000, the Japanese government initiated a new environment policy encouraging the use of Satoyama in biodiversity reservation areas. Before the initiation of active restoration works, an assessment of the potential of the Satoyama system is needed. To assess this potential, a study that focused on the foraging ecology of wild bees in a small abandoned Satoyama terraced paddy was carried out from June to October 2003. A total of 372 foraging bees belonging to 35 species in nine families was collected: two species of social bee ( Apis cerana and Bombus diversus ) and two of solitary bee ( Lasioglossum japonicum and Lasioglossum ohei ) dominated. The foraging activities of wild bees were highly influenced by the requirement of food for the colony and the active time of solitary bees. In the study, most wild bees showed a strong preference for abundant flowering plant species that produced a large number of flowers ( Achyranthes japonica and Polygonum thunbergii ). The results showed that an abandoned Satoyama system was an agricultural system that benefited pollinating bees. Careful and planned restoration practices to increase the diversity of foraging resources, microenvironment diversity and potential nesting areas for wild bees are needed to improve the ability of the Satoyama system to support more diverse and abundant wild bee populations.     

Plant–pollinator interactions in the understory of a lowland mixed dipterocarp forest in Sarawak

Pollination biology of 41 plants species of 21 families blooming in the forest understory was investigated in a lowland mixed diplerocarp forest in Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak. Among these species, 29 species (71%) were pollinated by bees, four (10%) by nectariniid birds, three by small dipterans, and others by moths, butterflies, syrphid flies, wasps, and beetles. The 29 bee-pollinated species consisted of five distinct pollination guilds: ten species pollinated by medium traplining bees (two Amegilla species), nine by small traplining bees (three halictid and a xylocopine species), two by stingless bees and beetles, seven by stingless bees, and one by megachilid bees. The bees constituting the first two guilds were shade-loving, swiftly flying, long-tongued trapliners. Proboscis lengths of these pollinators correlated with flower depth of the host plant. Pollination systems in the forest understory were distinguished from that in the canopy by the prevalence of specific interactions, the number of traplining solitary bees, and lack of pollination systems by mass-recruiting eusocial bees, large Xylocopa bees, thrips, bats, and wind. These characteristics are largely similar between the Palaeotropics and the Neotropics through convergence of nectarivorous birds (spiderhunters vs. hummingbirds) and traplining bees (Amegilla vs. euglossine bees).     

Resource overlap and possible competition between honey bees and wild bees in central Europe

Evidence for interspecific competition between honey bees and wild bees was studied on 15 calcareous grasslands with respect to: (1) foraging radius of honey bees, (2) overlap in resource use, and (3) possible honey bee effects on species richness and abundance of flower-visiting, ground-nesting and trap-nesting wild bees. The grasslands greatly differed in the number of honey bee colonies within a radius of 2 km and were surrounded by agricultural habitats. The number of flower-visiting honey bees on both potted mustard plants and small grassland patches declined with increasing distance from the nearest apiary and was almost zero at a distance of 1.5–2.0 km. Wild bees were observed visiting 57 plant species, whereas honey bees visited only 24 plant species. Percentage resource overlap between honey bees and wild bees was 45.5%, and Hurlbert’s index of niche overlap was 3.1. In total, 1849 wild bees from 98 species were recorded on the calcareous grasslands. Neither species richness nor abundance of wild bees were negatively correlated with the density of honey bee colonies (within a radius of 2 km) or the density of flower-visiting honey bees per site. Abundance of flower- visiting wild bees was correlated only with the percentage cover of flowering plants. In 240 trap nests, 1292 bee nests with 6066 brood cells were found. Neither the number of bee species nor the number of brood cells per grassland was significantly correlated with the density of honey bees. Significant correlations were found only between the number of brood cells and the percentage cover of shrubs. The number of nest entrances of ground-nesting bees per square metre was not correlated with the density of honey bees but was negatively correlated with the cover of vegetation. Interspecific competition by honey bees for food resources was not shown to be a significant factor determining abundance and species richness of wild bees. Received: 22 March 1999 / Accepted: 24 September 1999     

Rural avenues as a refuge for feral honey bee population

Several honey bee (Apis mellifera) subspecies are in danger of local extinction because their feral population have almost completely disappeared. An important threat to the feral populations of bees is loss of habitat and loss of woodlands. In many places the only habitat suitable for honey bee nesting are rows of trees along roadsides. We studied a feral population of honey bees inhabiting avenues in northern Poland. We inspected 142 km of avenues and found 45 feral colonies. The estimated density of feral population inhabiting the avenues was 0.10 nest km^?2. Honey bees preferred to build their nests in trees with a thick trunk and a somewhat weak state of health. There was no strong preference of bees to any species of trees. We stress the importance of protection of existing avenues and creating new ones. This can provide suitable habitat not only for honey bees but also for other endangered species.     

Suitable areas for the invasion expansion of Xylocopa bees in South America

The introduction of exotic species into native ecosystems can be a cause for concern when those species are invasive. Invasive species cause ecological problems and have socio-cultural impacts on human health and the economy; for example, invasive bees may negatively impact their introduced ecosystem by spreading diseases or outcompeting native pollinators. Xylocopa spp. bees are diverse and distributed throughout the Neotropics. However, Xylocopa augusti (Lepeletier, 1841) and Xylocopa splendidula (Lepeletier, 1841) are not native to Mediterranean Chile. This study aimed to evaluate the invasive potential of these exotic species and predict the potential macroecological effects of their invasions. We also aimed to pinpoint possible distributions for these species throughout South America. We correlated biogeographic occurrence data with climatic variables for each species to model their potential distribution in both current and future scenarios. The models provide strong evidence that both species are changing their distributions: their ranges are expanding towards western South America, particularly Bolivia, Chile and Peru. We demonstrate an increase in niche overlap between these species and show there are new geographic areas vulnerable to the establishment of these invasive bees under current and future climate conditions. These data suggest that these bees may adapt their geographic distribution as the climate changes and pose a threat to native pollinators in new geographic areas.     

Physiological dormancy broken by endozoochory: Austral parakeets (Enicognathus ferrugineus) as legitimate dispersers of calafate (Berberis microphylla) in the Patagonian Andes

种子由动物内携传播是植物再生和新种群建立的重要过程。具有休眠的种子经过传播者肠道传代作用后可能特别受益。然而，肠道 传代作用如何影响具有生理休眠植物的萌发尚不清楚。在本研究中，我们实验性地评估了南鹦哥(Enicognathus ferrugineus)作为小檗属植 物(Berberis microphylla)传播者的互惠共生。Berberis microphylla是一种多刺的灌木，栖息在南美洲温带森林的下层，其种子具有深度生 理休眠的特性。本研究通过四种处理：(1)种子消化处理，(2)粪便提取物消化处理，(3)果实种子完整处理和(4)包含果肉果实种子完整 处理，测定了从粪便和完整果实中提取的B. microphylla种子的发芽成功率和活力。研究结果表明，大约65%的南鹦哥的粪便中含有B. microphylla种子。不同处理的种子存活率无显著差异。然而，消化后的种子萌发率显著高于完整果实种子，而粪便和果肉提取物处理之间没有差异。粪便和果肉都没有为种子提供任何提高发芽能力的生态优势，但在萌发时间上确实造成了一些劣势。由于持续降雨和巴塔哥尼亚安第斯山脉春季融雪带来的严重冲刷，种子附近的粪便在雪下几个月后就会完全缺失。消化种子较高的发芽能力和较快的发芽速度验证了南鹦哥和B. microphylla之间具有合理互惠共生的假设。因为消化和非消化种子发芽能力的差异，我们假设通过传播者的肠道传代作用可能打破种子的生理休眠。我们的研究结果强调了在具有高度季节性的环境下，具有生理休眠的植物物种中与动物内携传播的相关作用。     

中国奥盲蝽属及盲蝽亚科新分类单元(半翅目:盲蝽科)

报道奥盲蝽属Orthops Fieber共4种,对锈褐奥盲蝽O.ferrugineus(Reuter)和纹头奥盲蝽O.viticeps(Reuter)提供了补充鉴别特征,为黑唇厘盲蝽Liistonotus melatostoma(Reuter)首次提供雄性外生殖器特征。记述2新种：香榧硕丽盲蝽Macrolygus torreyae Zheng,sp.nov.,模式产地为浙江建德,吸食香榧幼果,造成危害,双纹猥盲蝽Tinginotum bilineatum Zheng,Sp.nov。模式产地为海南吊罗山,记载中国新纪录5种：点缘拟猥盲蝽Argenis incisuratus(Walker,1873),带胸猥盲蝽Tinginotum perlatum linnavuori,1961,马来皱斑盲蝽Hyqlopeplinus malayensis Carvalho et Gross,1979,尖角透翅盲蝽Hyalopeplus(Hyalopeplus)clavatus Distant,1909,班楔透翅盲蝽Hyalopeplus(Adhyalopeplus)similis(Poppius,1912),模式标本除注明者外,均存南开大学生物系标本室。     

A molecular phylogeny of the genus Apis suggests that the Giant Honey Bee of the Philippines,A. breviligula Maa,and the Plains Honey Bee of southern India,A. indica Fabricius,are valid species

Two new taxa have been added to the existing molecular phylogenies of the genus Apis. The new phylogeny supports the accepted phylogenetic relationships of {dwarf honey bees [giant honey bees (cavity‐nesting honey bees)]}. Based on Bayesian and maximum parsimony trees, our analysis supports recognition of Apis indica, the Plains Honey Bee of south India, as a separate species from A. cerana. Our analysis also supports recognition of the Giant Philippines Honey Bee, A. breviligula, as a separate species from A. dorsata.     

EVOLUTION OF PLANT POLLINATION SYSTEMS: HYPOTHESES AND TESTS WITH THE NEOTROPICAL VINE DALECHAMPIA

The results of pollination and mating-system studies were integrated with a phylogenetic study of 40 Neotropical species of Dalechampia L. (Euphorbiaceae) to reconstruct the history of evolutionary change in pollination systems. The results of this analysis were treated as a hypothesis and tested for circularity problems and robustness in the face of changes in the data set. The historical hypothesis was used to make specific predictions about details of pollination ecology and reward biochemistry; the predictions were supported by independent observations. I conclude that pollination systems in Dalechampia have been evolutionarily labile, relative to most morphological features, with repeated parallelisms and reversals. Transitions among the three pollination systems evolved by Dalechampia (pollination by resin-collecting bees, fragrance-collecting male euglossine bees, and pollen-collecting bees) have been facilitated by biochemical exaptation (preadaptation). Pollination by male euglossine bees is relatively rare in the genus but has originated independently three to four times. In contrast, pollination by resin-collecting female bees is very common, but has originated only once. Eighty-six to 97% of transitions between pollination systems involved an intermediate phase during which both old and new pollinators were effective, but 3 to 14% of transitions may have been “instantaneous,” lacking the intermediate phase. Clades of species secreting resin rewards are about 10 times as species rich as clades of species secreting fragrance rewards; circumstantial evidence suggests that different extinction rates may be responsible for this difference. Relatively allogamous (cross-pollinating) species have evolved from more autogamous (self-pollinating) species up to 13 times, and autogamous species have evolved from more allogamous ones up to 11 times. Species occurring in disturbed habitats are facultatively autogamous, whereas species of undisturbed habitats are often highly allogamous.