Landscape and stational distribution of the robber flies (Diptera, Asilidae) in the Lower Volga area

The distribution of 108 species of robber flies over different landscapes and plant associations in the Lower Volga area was studied.     

Desolation comes from the sky: Invasive Hymenoptera species as prey of Chilean giant robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) through field observations and citizen science

Robber flies (Asilidae) are the main predatory fly family feeding on beetles, butterflies, other flies for true flies, and even spiders; however, Hymenoptera is the most common prey. Invasive Hymenoptera species are common in central and southern Chile; however, few predators of these are known. The hunting behavior and prey of Chilean robber fly species are also poorly known. The aim of this study is to provide the first hunting behavior records of five Chilean giant robber fly species on invasive Hymenoptera. In addition, an updated distribution of these species is provided. Records of hunting behavior were based on fieldwork collections and citizen science observations. The historical distribution was compared with citizen science observations using chi-square analyzes. Twelve predation events were recorded. Obelophorus terebratus was the most common predator. Bombus terrestris was the invasive Hymenoptera most preyed upon. Both the extension of occurrence of Lycomya germainii as Obelophorus species showed changes in his distribution. Only O. landbecki shown changes in area of occupancy. Citizen science is playing a key role in the knowledge of biological interactions and distribution of endemic and native Chilean robber fly species.     

Body temperature regulation,energy metabolism,and foraging in light-seeking and shade-seeking robber flies

Summary Robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) were studied in Panama from May through August. Of the 16 species examined, 5 perched and foraged in the sun and 11 perched and foraged in the shade. Thoracic body temperatures of light-seeking flies ranged from 35.2–40.6°C during foraging. Light-seeking flies regulated body temperature behaviorally by microhabitat selection and postural adjustments, and physiologically by transferring warmed haemolymph from the thorax to the cooler abdomen. Thoracic temperatures of shade-seeking flies passively followed ambient temperature in the shade and these flies did not thermoregulate. None of these robber flies warmed endothermically in the absence of flight. Resting oxygen consumption ( ) of both groups scaled with body mass to the 0.77 power. The factorial increment in resulting from hovering flight ranged from 12 to 56. The increased markedly with body temperature in light-seeking flies and probably explains the greater foraging effort observed in these species. Wing loading of all 16 species of robber flies scaled with body mass to the 0.39 power. Large light-seeking flies had heavier wing loading than large shade-seeking flies. The differences in body temperature and wing loading between light-seeking and shade-seeking robber flies may be related to differences in flight speed and maneuverability during foraging.     

The function of multiple anti-predator mechanisms in adult tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)

Abstract. 1. Predator avoidance mechanisms of adult tiger beetles (Cicindela spp.) were investigated in the Sulphur Springs Valley of southeastern Arizona, U.S.A.
2. The predators were found to be robber flies, lizards, and birds.
3. Effective antipredator characters included body size, orange abdomens, defence chemicals, flight and gregariousness.
4. The number of these five major antipredator mechanisms exhibited by each tiger beetle species varied with habitat.
5. The function and number of antipredator mechanisms was a complex interaction of deterrents; some were effective only in combination and some were characters that each deterred a different type of predator; in several cases, the characters that reduced the probability of attack by one type of predator simultaneously increased the probability of attack by another type of predator.     

福建省两栖类物种多样性评估

地区性物种多样性评价是当前全球生物多样性研究的重要组成部分。本文采用G-F指数对福建省两栖类物种多样性进行评估,同时利用弦距离类间平均连锁的方法对福建省22个县（市）和5个两栖动物地理省进行聚类分析。结果表时：福建省各县（市）的两栖类物种多样性差异较大,其中武夷山市两栖类物种多样性的G指数,F指数和G-F指数分别为2.978,4.863和0.388。处于华中区的3个地理省（闽北、闽东和闽西地理省）首先聚类,而后与处于华南区的闽中地理省聚类,最后与闽南地理省合并。聚类结果与福建省两栖动物地理区划大体一致,但个别县（市）不太相符,作者建议将大田县划归在华中区的闽西地理省。     

Marine biodiversity at the community level: zoogeography of sharks,skates, rays and chimaeras in the southwestern Atlantic

For more than a century, two major zoogeographic provinces have been proposed for the southwestern Atlantic: a warm water Argentinean Province from Rio de Janeiro (23°S, Brazil) to Valdés Peninsula (42°S, Argentina), and a cold water Magellanic Province from Valdés Peninsula to Cape Horn. This zoogeographic scheme has been recognized so far using data covering only parts of the whole geographic area. Here, we test the validity of this scheme by analyzing the distribution of sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras, using data from research cruises covering the entire area. We used cluster, similarity and dissimilarity analyses to identify species assemblages, and canonical correspondence analysis to identify the main environmental variables affecting the composition of the assemblages. The distribution of chondrichthyan assemblages strongly supports the current zoogeographic scheme and identifies a previously unknown and distinctive deep water zoogeographic unit off southern Brazil. Both, the Argentinean and Magellanic Provinces had extensive internal structure, with four and three subareas identified in each of them, respectively. These subareas correspond, with slight differences, to previously proposed zoogeographical districts within the Argentinean Province and confirm ecological differences within the Magellanic Province. Species composition had the highest correlation with depth and bottom water temperature. Since the distribution of anthropogenic disturbances in the region is uneven, different assemblages can be subjected to different impacts. Our results provide an objective basis to establish priority areas for the conservation of chondrichthyans in the southwestern Atlantic.     

Zoogeographic analysis of the subfossil macrozoobenthos of the Commander-Aleutian Islands in the Middle and Late Holocene

The invertebrate remains from occupation layers of three ancient Aleutian settlements on Adak Island (Aleutian Islands) were studied to reconstruct the dynamics of the zoogeographic structure of invertebrate species in the Middle and Late Holocene. The radiocarbon age of the oldest deposit is about 7000 BP. The modern littoral macrozoobenthos of the Bering and Mednyi islands (Commander Islands) and Adak Island (Aleutian Islands) was studied. It was found that the overall zoogeographic structure of the macrozoobenthos in the studied regions has not changed significantly over the last 7000 years; however, the ratio of species and their populations varied depending on the dynamics of climate conditions.     

History of the geographic ranges and migration routes of ticks in the genus Dermacentor Koch, 1844 (Ixodidae)

The mutually checking parasitological and zoogeographic criteria for the issue in question made it possible to express the viewpoint and present supporting data on the origin and spread of Dermacentor ticks. Their origin was dated back to Oligocene (38 mln years ago). Having appeared in Angar Mainland, the ticks spread by land in Europe, North America (Miocene, 25 mln years ago) and Africa (Pliocene, 5 mln years ago). The list of species according to zoogeographic regions is given.     

Behavioural thermoregulation in two species of robber flies occupying different grassland microhabitats

1. 1.|The robber flies Machimus occidentalis and Machimus formosus are ambush predators that occur sympatrically in grassland habitats of southwestern Montana, U.S.A., although the former occurs earlier in the season.

2. 2.|Early in daily foraging periods, when ambient temperatures are relatively low, the two species exhibited similar behaviours. They perched in a crouched posture on fully insolated bare soil surfaces and oriented their longitudinal and dorsoventral axes to maximize the incident solar radiation intercepted by the broad lateral surface of the thorax. Measurements of operative body temperature of flies in different locations, orientations, and postures indicate that such basking can significantly raise body temperature.

3. 3.|Their thermoregulatory tactics diverged as daily temperatures and solar radiation loads rise.

4. 4.|Like previous grassland species studied, M. occidentalis moved upward onto vegetation, where crouched postures and orientation to the sun disappeared.

5. 5.|Machimus formosus, on the other hand, took refuge in the shaded portions of ground squirrel (Citellus sp.) and badger (Taxidea taxus) burrows.

6. 6.|In both cases, the vertical movements resulted in lower body temperatures than would occur if flies remained on the fully insolated soil surfaces.

7. 7.|We compare the tactics of these two species with those of previous grassland species studied.

Zoogeographic regionalization of Southwestern Tajikistan based on the Orthoptera distribution

A new scheme of zoogeographic regionalization of Southwestern Tajikistan based on the data on the Orthoptera distribution is proposed. The main foci of species endemism are distinguished. The species diversity is higher in the plain (up to 800 m above see level) zoogeographic entities than in the mountain entities of comparable size.     

Impact of predation by the robber fly Proctacanthus milbertii (Diptera: Asilidae) on grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) populations

The impact of predation by the robber fly Proctacanthus milbertii Macquart on populations of adult grasshoppers from grasslands of the Nebraska sandhills was estimated. Densities of P. milbertii were estimated at 437 individuals per hectare (2 se=122). Overall densities of 23 species of grasshoppers were estimated to be 64,000 individuals per hectare with the most abundant species (Ageneotettix deorum) having a population size of approximately 15,000 individuals per hectare. Based on three estimates of predation level (ranging from 0.5 to 2 prey per day per robber fly), P. milbertii may take from 0.5% to 2% of the adult grasshoppers per day. Species of grasshoppers were taken by P. milbertii in about the same proportion in which they occurred at the study site and no size-selective component of predation was detectable.     

中国瓢蜡蝉科昆虫区系分析(半翅目:蜡蝉总科)

为了解中国瓢蜡蝉科昆虫的区系结构及起源特性,本文对中国已知瓢蜡蝉科昆虫3族45属187种进行区系分析,结果表明:中国瓢蜡蝉科昆虫在世界动物地理区划中计3式区系型;东洋界区系型呈现主导优势,计179种,占总数95.72%;中国动物地理区划中计14式区系型,其中华南区系型所占比重最大,计121种,占总数64.71%;华南区成为现生中国瓢蜡蝉的集中与分化中心,并与华中区的联系最强;中国瓢蜡蝉科昆虫具有较强的北方起源性,这与大陆漂移和板块运动密切相关,且燕山运动等地质事件造就了该类昆虫属种水平的分异与演化;该科族级水平演化关系为:瓢蜡蝉族Issini Spinola,1839最为原始,铲头瓢蜡蝉族Parahiraciini ChengYang,1991次之,球瓢蜡蝉族Hemisphaeriini Melichar,1906最为进化;通过聚类分析,中国瓢蜡蝉科昆虫区系可分成3个区:即A区(东北区+华北区+蒙新区)、B区(华南区+华中区+西南区)和C区(青藏区),这可能与中国动物地理区划复杂的地理环境以及瓢蜡蝉自身飞行能力较差等原因相关。     

Did incumbency play a role in maintaining boundaries between Late Ordovician brachiopod realms?

Studies of ecosystem level changes in the geological record have found that the major extinction events eliminated many incumbent clades that had been ecologically dominant for long intervals. Surviving clades that had not been able to compete with the extinct incumbents were then able to evolve adaptations that allowed them to move into the niches vacated by the incumbents. Underlying this pattern is the inability of clades that do not occupy a particular niche to evolve adaptations that would permit them to compete with incumbent clades that are already successfully occupying that niche. The zoogeographic distributions of brachiopods in the Late Ordovician of Laurentia may also have been maintained by incumbency, which was disrupted by the end-Ordovician extinction event. Following the extinction event, an Early Silurian zoogeographic reorganization occurred, during which surviving clades evolved into the vacated epeiric sea niches in the Early Silurian. Just as incumbency plays a role in long-term evolutionary patterns, zoogeographic realms and provinces are also partially maintained by incumbency.     

Macrozoobenthos of two different catchment areas of the tatra mountain lakes with a special reference on the effects of acidification

The structure of macrozoobenthos of two different high-mountain Tatra lakes, namely Starolesnianske pleso (strongly acidified) and Ni?né Terianske pleso (reference site) is described. The latter is characterised by a large catchment and total area, and is relatively deep with strong inlet and outlet. It is not affected by acidification. Univoltine species of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies dominate in the littoral, mainly scrapers. Predators are represented by stoneflies. Shredders dominate in the lake outlet. From the zoogeographic point of view, Carpathian endemites and Central European species prevail. Forty percent of species are sensitive to acidification. The former has a smaller catchment and total area, and is relatively shallow, without inlet. It is strongly affected by acidification. Semivoltine species, mainly predators (beetles) and shredders prevail. From the zoogeographic point of view Palaearctic species dominate. Species sensitive to acidification are missing. Emergence of water insects has two peaks during spring and fall circulation.     

Effects of U.V. light and temperature on the melanization and the formation of daily growth layers of Sarcophaga falculata.

Adult Sarcophaga flies, immediately after eclosion, were subjected to different temperature régimes or irradiated with u.v. light. The effect of the treatment on cuticular melanization was studied by comparison with specimens of control series or by comparing the areas of cuticle on the thoracic phragma of the same specimen that were deposited at different times under different conditions. The cuticle of flies that were tanned at 15 or 31°C was less melanized than that of control flies at 26°C. Irradiation with long wave u.v. light suppressed mainly the melanization whereas both the melanization and sclerotization processes were inhibited by short wave u.v. A decrease in adult melanization was caused also by exposure to u.v. of the heads of pharate adults 24 hr before eclosion.     

视觉和嗅觉信号对果蝇食物搜寻行为的协同作用

为了探索视觉和嗅觉信号在昆虫食物搜寻过程中的作用, 本研究利用杨梅和橘子为引诱物, 在实验室条件下测定了嗅觉和视觉信号诱集到的黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster数量, 分析了嗅觉经历对果蝇嗅觉和视觉食物搜寻的影响。发现同源性嗅觉和视觉信号存在的杨梅诱集到的果蝇数量显著大于单一的视觉信号和嗅觉信号, 但异源性嗅觉和视觉信号组合诱集到的果蝇数量和单独的嗅觉信号相似。嗅觉信号预处理不仅能够显著增加嗅觉信号诱集到的果蝇数量, 其中杨梅嗅觉信号对杨梅预处理果蝇的吸引能力与视觉和嗅觉信号存在的杨梅相似, 而且异源性嗅觉和视觉信号组合诱集到的预处理果蝇数量也不低于视觉和嗅觉信号存在的杨梅。另外杨梅嗅觉信号预处理也能够显著增强杨梅视觉信号诱集到的果蝇数量。但嗅觉预处理并不会改变同源性视觉和嗅觉信号组合诱集到的果蝇数量。本研究表明, 果蝇同时利用视觉和嗅觉信号进行食物搜寻, 因此同源性视觉和嗅觉信号在果蝇诱集过程中具有协同作用。另外果蝇具有较强的记忆和学习能力, 能够将记忆中的嗅觉信号应用于食物搜寻。本研究结果不仅有利于我们了解果蝇在自然状态下的食物搜寻机制, 而且有利于开发更有效的果蝇新型诱捕器。     

The Relation of Energy Metabolism and Body Weight in Bivalves (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

On the basis of experimental and published data, the interspecific and intraspecific (ontogenetic) dependence of energy metabolism on body weight in bivalves was calculated. Changes in the parameters of intraspecific allometric dependence under the effect of environmental factors were analyzed. The rate of comparable standard metabolism (coefficient a at k = 0.76) was shown to vary in different taxonomic and zoogeographic groups of bivalves.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Grey-cheeked Fulvetta (Alcippe morrisonia) of China and Indochina: a case of remarkable genetic divergence in a "species"

The Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia, is a polytypic species of Quaker babbler (Timaliidae) occurring mainly in highlands from Burma across southern China to Taiwan. To examine gene flow among populations, we sequenced the mitochondrial ND2 gene of 39 individuals of six of the seven subspecies, plus multiple individuals of three outgroup Alcippe species. A lack of shared haplotypes and high FST values suggested no gene flow among populations. The nucleotide divergence between geographically juxtaposed subspecies ranged from 0.8% between Guangdong and Hainan to 9.4% between Yunnan and Vietnam. Phylogenetic analysis of the populations yielded a well resolved tree with two major clades. One clade consisted of the geographically central subspecies schaefferi and davidi, which are located largely in the "Mid-central" zoogeographic region of China's "Oriental" realm. The other clade, the geographically peripheral group, consisted of all other A. morrisonia subspecies, as well as an erstwhile outgroup, the Mountain Fulvetta (Alcippe peracensis annamensis) from central Vietnam. This peripheral group was further divided into two clades, one consisting of taxa occurring in China's "Southwest" zoogeographic region (fratercula and A. p. annamensis), and one occurring in China's "Southern" region (morrisonia, rufescentior, and hueti). These three geographic and phylogenetic groups represent at least four different species based on plumage differences and genetic differentiation. The phylogeny provides the first avian molecular evidence of area relationships among China's zoogeographic zones. It also highlights a remarkable and unexpected amount of genetic divergence and structure in a Sino-Indian "species". If such diversity occurs in other groups of birds with similar distribution, the ramifications are important for conservation planning.