The Oriental leaf hopper genus Doda Distant (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae)

The Oriental genus Doda Distant, its type species D. laudata Distant and D. taiwanensis Zhang & Webb sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Details of the male genitalia of the genus are provided for the first time and the genus is transferred to Stegelytrinae. The previously uncertain whereabouts of one of the two type localities for D. laudata is established.     

Genus Carvaka Distant in Australia (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Selenocephalinae)

Abstract  The leafhopper genus Carvaka Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Selenocephalinae) in Australia is reviewed in light of recent publications on the subfamily Selenocephalinae in the Oriental region. The genus Exitianellus Evans is transferred from the subfamily Deltocephalinae to the Paraboloponini and synonymised with Carvaka . Carvaka elegantula (Evans) comb. nov. is redescribed and three new species, C. mouldsorum , C. maculata and C. flava are added to the genus. A key for the separation of the Australian species of Carvaka is provided. The Australian fauna represents all three recognised species groups of the genus. The significance of this to the biogeographical origins of the Australian fauna is discussed.     

中国瓢蜡蝉科一新记录属--德里瓢蜡蝉属

报道了瓢蜡蝉科中国1新记录属——德里瓢蜡蝉属Delhina Distant及中国新记录种德里瓢蜡蝉D.eurybrachydoides Distant,绘制了其主要外形特征,首次描记雄性外生殖器特征。     

哈颖蜡蝉属Hamba Distant中国种类记述（同翅目：颖蜡蝉科）

记述了中国颖蜡蝉科哈颖蜡蝉属３种,其中包括１新记录种和２新种,模式标本保存在西北农林科技大学昆虫博物馆。     

Allozymic Differentiation Among Geographically Distant Populations of Patella vulgata (Mollusca, Patellogastropoda)

Patella vulgata is a boreal cold temperate species and is the dominant limpet in northern Europe. Few works have focussed on the population genetics of this species. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess the degree of genetic and morphological differentiation of P. vulgata on a macroscale by using 20 allozyme loci and 6 morphological variables. Samples were taken from the following locations: Dingle Peninsula (Southwest Ireland), Port Erin (Southwest Isle of Man), St. Bees Head (north Cumbria, England), St. Agnes Head (north Cornwall, England), Cellar Beach (south Devon, England), Whitley Bay (north Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England), Sines (Portugal), and Pointe de Chanchardon, La Rochelle (Bay of Biscay, France). Morphological variables were analysed by the multivariate Canonical discriminant analysis. Genetic variation was assessed by diversity measures such as polymorphism and heterozygosity; genetic subdivision of P. vulgata population was determined by the estimator θ of F _ST, and the genetic similarity between populations was measured by Nei’s genetic identity. No significant morphological differentiation was observed among samples. Moderate genetic population subdivision was observed (θ = 0.137±0.074) despite great geographic distances. The minimum genetic identity observed was between Ireland and France (I = 0.942) and maximum was observed between Portugal and north-east England (I=0.998). Two main groups were shown by UPGMA cluster analysis (I = 0.965). One formed by Irish, Manx, north Cumbria, and curiously, south Devon samples, while the second includes Portuguese, French, north-Newcastle-upon-thyne, and north Cornwall samples. No association (g = 0.956; p>0.050) was found between pair-wise genetic divergence and geographic distance separating subpopulations, mainly due to an unexpected pattern of genetic heterogeneity found in Southwest England.     

Size and Partner Choice in Dysdercus maurus Distant (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae)

This study investigates whether females of Dysdercus maurus (Hemiptera) are considering male’s sizes in order to make their reproductive partner choice. Morphometric and biomass measurements were obtained from single males and copulating pairs. Positive correlations were identified for both sizes and weights between males and females in copula. The average ratios established between the couples sizes/weight were around 1.66. Female choice may operate in such a way that each female has her own optimal male size for mating, resulting from a trade-off between the negative influence of large partner size in female fecundity and the advantages of large male size for offspring fitness. Thus, the best choice for a D. maurus female may be a male of average size in relation with her own size.     

东洋区短胸叶蝉属研究（同翅目：叶蝉科）

本文对东洋区的短胸叶蝉属Kunasia Distant及其模式种白痕短胸叶蝉Kunasia nivosia Distant进行了再描记.另外,记述了采自马来西亚的1个新种脊唇短胸叶蝉K. carina, sp. nov.,新种模式标本保藏于英国自然历史博物馆.该属现被归于Stegelytrinae亚科.1. 白痕短胸叶蝉K. novisa Distant,中国新记录,泰国新记录(图1～9)Kunasia novisa Distant, 1907339, Fig. 216.体长(包括前翅)♂5.4 mm, ♀6.5 mm.分布 缅甸(德林达依,密达);中国(云南);泰国(昌迈).观察标本 1♂,中国云南,勐海～车里途中,1000 m,1957-Ⅳ-23,臧令超采; 1♀, Thailand, Phuping Palace, Chang Mai Province, 1984-Ⅳ-30, M. Hayashi采.2. 脊唇短胸叶蝉Kunasia carina, 新种 (图10～17)体长(包括前翅)♂6.6 mm.正模 ♂, Sarawak Gunong Mulu Nat. Park; Low secondary MV on river bank; Site 17. May, Nr. long Melinau, 50 m. 313441; J.D. Holloway, RGS Mulu exped., B.M., 1978-206.该新种与白痕短胸叶蝉K. nivosa Distant相似,但新种后唇基中央具长纵脊,尾节突起较粗壮,下生殖板略长,阳茎端部两分叉,易与前者相区别.     

Taxonomic Review of Creontiades Distant in Australia (Hemiptera: Miridae: Mirinae)

The two species of Creontiades Distant occurring in Australia, C. dilutus (Stål) (Australian endemic) and C. pacificus (Stål) (China, several countries in the Oriental and Australian regions including Tahiti and Micronesian islands) are redescribed, illustrated and their distributions are mapped. Megacoelum modestum (Distant) and C. virescens Reuter are synonymised with C. dilutus , and C. pallidifer (Walker) with C. pacificus. Available host plant information is provided for both species. C. dilutus , commonly known as green mirid, is a pest of cotton, potato, stone fruit, lucerne and other crops in certain parts of Australia. the generic limits of Creontiades and the closely related, world-wide distributed Megaceolum Fieber are reviewed based on examination of Australian species and the type species.     

Ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of Psammotettix striatus (Linnaeus) and Exitianus nanus (Distant) (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae)

Previous studies of insect spermatozoa indicate that these specialized cells have undergone significant morphological evolution and exhibit traits useful for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships. Although leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) are among the largest and most economically important insect families, few comparative studies of their spermatozoa have been published. Here, the ultrastructure of mature spermatozoa of two leafhoppers Psammotettix striatus (Linnaeus) and Exitianus nanus (Distant), representing two different tribes of the largest leafhopper subfamily, Deltocephalinae, was examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. The shape and ultrastructure of spermatozoa of the two species are very similar to those of other Cicadellidae as well as other Auchenorrhyncha, comprising a conical acrosome invaginated to form a subacrosomal space, a filiform homogeneously condensed nucleus, a lamellate centriolar adjunct connecting the nucleus with the mid-piece/flagellum, a long flagellum with a 9 + 9 + 2 axoneme pattern and two symmetrical mitochondrial derivatives with an orderly array of peripheral cristae, and two drop-shaped accessory bodies. They may be distinguished by the size of the sperm, and the shape of the nucleus, accessory bodies, and paracrystalline region of mitochondrial derivatives. The fine morphology and ultrastructure of spermatozoon in P. striatus and E. nanus are illustrated, along with a brief discussion of the implications for classification and phylogenetic analyses of the subfamily.     

Distant homology detection using a LEngth and STructure-based sequence Alignment Tool (LESTAT)

A new machine learning algorithm, LESTAT (LEngth and STructure-based sequence Alignment Tool) has been developed for detecting protein homologs having low-sequence identity. LESTAT is an iterative profile-based method that runs without reliance on a predefined library and incorporates several novel features that enhance its ability to identify remote sequences. To overcome the inherent bias associated with a single starting model, LESTAT utilizes three structural homologs to create a profile consisting of structurally conserved positions and block separation distances. Subsequent profiles are refined iteratively using sequence information obtained from previous cycles. Additionally, the refinement process incorporates a "lock-in" feature to retain the high-scoring sequences involved in previous alignments for subsequent model building and an enhancement factor to complement the weighting scheme used to build the position specific scoring matrix. A comparison of the performance of LESTAT against PSI-BLAST for seven systems reveals that LESTAT exhibits increased sensitivity and specificity over PSI-BLAST in six of these systems, based on the number of true homologs detected and the number of families these homologs covered. Notably, many of the hits identified are unique to each method, presumably resulting from the distinct differences in the two approaches. Taken together, these findings suggest that LESTAT is a useful complementary method to PSI-BLAST in the detection of distant homologs.     

蒙瓢蜡蝉属Mongoliana Distant的分类研究(同翅目: 蜡蝉总科: 瓢蜡蝉科)

综述蒙瓢蜡蝉属的分类研究历史,记述中国蒙瓢蜡蝉属Mongoliana Distant 7种,其中包括5新种矛尖蒙瓢蜡蝉Mongoliana lanceolata, sp. nov.,三角蒙瓢蜡蝉Mongoliana triangularis, sp. nov.,锯缘蒙瓢蜡蝉Mongoliana serrata, sp. nov.,褐斑蒙瓢蜡蝉Mongoliana naevia, sp. nov. 和曲纹蒙瓢蜡蝉Mongoliana sinuata, sp. nov.;绘制了雄性外生殖器及前翅主要特征图,并列有分种检索表.新种模式标本均保存在西北农林科技大学昆虫博物馆.     

Comparative Population Biology of Critically Endangered Dracocephalum austriacum (Lamiaceae) in Two Distant Regions

Our study aims to compare the population dynamics of critically endangered species, Dracocephalum austriacum, in two distant regions (Czech and Slovak Karst) with similar habitat conditions, and to evaluate if conclusions concerning factors affecting population performance in one region could help in understanding species dynamics in the other region. Transition matrix models were used to examine population dynamics of the species. Results show that populations in the Slovak Karst are performing better than populations in the Czech Karst. The transitions contributing most to the population growth rates were those of stasis in the small and large adult plant stage. These transitions are, however, stable between populations and years, suggesting that they are not very sensitive to the ongoing changes. Transitions that contribute most to variations in population growth rate include seed and seedling production by large adult plants, seed germination and stasis and growth of small adult plants. These transitions seem to be affected by habitat conditions (soil depth and bare rock cover), genetic parameters of the populations, climate fluctuations (especially severe droughts), and shrub expansion. The transitions contributing most to the population growth rates are very similar between the regions except for contributions of seedling growth and stasis of large adults. These differences need to be considered before using information about the most important life cycle transitions in other regions. We suggest that similar results would be found for other species with narrow habitat requirements occupying very similar habitats, even in very distant regions.     

中国角蝉科耳角蝉属一新种(半翅目:角蝉科)

本文记述了中国角蝉科耳角蝉属1新种——未来耳角蝉Maurya dreamonia,sp．nov．模式标本保存于四川大学生命科学学院动物标本馆。 未来耳角蝉Maurya dreamonia Zeng,新种 体中型,体长6．5mm,褐色,肩角间宽2．5mm,上肩角间宽3．2mm。近似于脊顶耳角蝉M．verticicarinalis Yuan,1988和瘤耳角蝉Mparadoxa（Lethierry,1876）,新种最显著特征在于上肩角发达,无弯曲,直伸向外上方：后突起中部更为拱起。与脊顶耳角蝉相比,新种前翅翅脉还具有小瘤结颗粒。 正模：♀,四川卧龙自然保护区（1980m）,2004-Ⅶ-06,曾昱采。     

广西结角蝉属一新种(半翅目:角蝉科)

记述半翅目角蝉科结角蝉属1新种：双峰结角蝉Antialcidas binodulus Caiel Xu,sp．nov．,标本产自广西罗城。模式标本保存在苏州大学农业科学与技术学院园艺系。     

中国颜袖蜡蝉属一新种（半翅目：袖蜡蝉科）

综述了颜袖蜡蝉属Vivaha Distant,1906的分类研究历史,提供了分种检索表。记述中国颜袖蜡蝉属1新种——洁颜袖蜡蝉Vivaha rectificata,sp.nov.,模式标本保存在西北农林科技大学昆虫博物馆。     

A new gene for resistance to green leafhopperNephotettix virescens (Distant) in rice

The mode of inheritance of resistance to green leafhopper in 12 cultivars of riceOryza saliva L. was studied. Seedlings of parent and hybrid populations were artificially infested with second- and third-instar virus-free green leafhopper nymphs. Seedling reaction was scored when TNI, the susceptible check, was completely killed. The results revealed that single dominant genes confer resistance in six varieties, two independent dominant genes in four varieties, and single recessive genes in two varieties. The single dominant genes in Sri Gaya, ARC 7320, and T23 and one of the two genes in Aswina and Bhura Rata 2 are allelic toGlh-1; while Bhawalia hasGlh-5 gene. The second gene of Bhura Rata 2 is allelic to IR28 gene. Resistance in Chamar is controlled by two independent genes one of which is allelic toGlh-5 and the other allelic to IR28 gene. Bazal hasGlh-2 andGlh-5. The single recessive gene in ARC 7012 is allelic toglh-4 but the single recessive gene in DV85 is nonallelic to and independent ofglh-4. This new recessive gene is designated asglh-8. The single dominant genes of Dumai, Gadur, and the second gene of Aswina are nonallelic to all the known genes for resistance.