Two new species of the genus Morophagoides (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) closely related to the shiitake fungus moth,M. moriutii,from Japan

Two new species of the genus Morophagoides Petersen from Kyushu and the Kanto regions (Gunma and Tokyo Prefs.) of Honshu, Japan, are described. They have been confused with M. moriutii Robinson, a serious pest of the shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler. The new species are clearly separable not only by the male and female genitalia of adult but also by DNA barcodes.     

Genome size and determination of DNA content of the X chromosomes, autosomes, and germ line-limited chromosomes of Sciara coprophila

The unique chromosome biology of the fungus fly Sciara coprophila has fascinated investigators for over 80 years. Male meiosis exhibits a monopolar spindle, nonrandom segregation of imprinted chromosomes and nondisjunction of the X chromosome. The unusual mechanism of sex determination requires selective elimination of X chromosomes in embryogenesis. Supernumerary (L) chromosomes are also eliminated from the soma during early cleavage divisions. Distinctive DNA puffs on the larval salivary gland chromosomes are sites of DNA amplification. As a foundation for future genome studies to explore these many unusual phenomena, we have used DNA-Feulgen cytophotometry to determine genome size from hemocyte nuclei of male (X0) and female (XX) larvae and adults. The DNA content of the X chromosome is approximately 0.05 pg DNA and the autosomal complement is approximately 0.45 pg DNA. Measurements of DNA levels for individual sperm from adults showed that the DNA contribution of the germ line-limited (L) chromosomes constitutes as much as 35% of the DNA of the male gamete. A parallel study using Sciara ocellaris, a related species lacking L chromosomes, confirmed the presence of two X chromosomes in the sperm of this species.     

DNA Barcoding of Neotropical Sand Flies (Diptera,Psychodidae, Phlebotominae): Species Identification and Discovery within Brazil

DNA barcoding has been an effective tool for species identification in several animal groups. Here, we used DNA barcoding to discriminate between 47 morphologically distinct species of Brazilian sand flies. DNA barcodes correctly identified approximately 90% of the sampled taxa (42 morphologically distinct species) using clustering based on neighbor-joining distance, of which four species showed comparatively higher maximum values of divergence (range 4.23–19.04%), indicating cryptic diversity. The DNA barcodes also corroborated the resurrection of two species within the shannoni complex and provided an efficient tool to differentiate between morphologically indistinguishable females of closely related species. Taken together, our results validate the effectiveness of DNA barcoding for species identification and the discovery of cryptic diversity in sand flies from Brazil.     

北京地区7种常见嗜尸性蝇类的COI基因序列分析及DNA条形码的建立

嗜尸性蝇类在命案死亡时间和现场推断方面有着十分重要的应用, 而DNA 条形编码技术能摆脱对虫卵和幼虫的饲养以及后续物种鉴定方面专业知识的依赖, 有助于实现现场采集蝇类样本的快速鉴定。本研究采集了北京地区7个嗜尸性蝇类优势种共77个个体的样本, 测定了所有个体线粒体DNA 上细胞色素C氧化酶亚基Ⅰ（COI）基因1 120 bp的序列。基于序列的系统发生分析显示, 同一物种不同个体的序列均以高达99%的支持值聚集在一起。序列间的分歧统计表明这些蝇类在物种内的个体分歧不超过1%, 而不同物种间的净分歧均超过7.74%, 最高可达14.85%。滑动窗口分析表明, 在整个序列区段种间差异位点存在较平均的分布。通过测定COI基因的序列, 建立了北京地区7个嗜尸性蝇类优势种的DNA条形码, 据此实现了对这些物种准确、快速、简单的区分和鉴定, 同时也为后续应用于物种鉴定的种属特异性位点之筛选提供了基础数据。     

Feeding behavior of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera,Tephritidae): influence of carbohydrate ingestion

Experiments were conducted on Ceratitis capitata larvae and adults to determine the influence of sugar (glucose and sucrose) ingestion on some aspects of the feeding behavior of this species. The results indicate that larval choice of a diet containing glucose or sucrose is not influenced by the rearing diet, by carbohydrate deprivation or by previous experience (induction). Carbohydrate deprivation did not alter the discrimination threshold of the larvae for sucrose. In adult females, the discrimination threshold for sucrose was unchanged when the flies were submitted to carbohydrate deprivation during the adult phase although ingestion by deprived females was 35% higher than ingestion by the control group. However, adults submitted to carbohydrate deprivation during the larval phase suffered a profound reduction in discrimination threshold for sucrose.     

甜菜夜蛾幼虫饲养技术的改进

利用一次性塑料杯饲养甜菜夜蛾SpodopteraexiguaH櫣bner,一次性接入初孵幼虫,直至化蛹不再转移,也不再更换饲料。与已报道的方法相比,该方法操作简单,省工省时,可以提高工作效率。在各项饲养指标中,除平均蛹重略微偏低之外,其余指标均与已报道的数据基本一致。试验证明,采用该方法可以满足室内甜菜夜蛾的继代繁殖和批量饲养。     

‘Direct PCR’ optimization yields a rapid,cost‐effective,nondestructive and efficient method for obtaining DNA barcodes without DNA extraction

Macroinvertebrates that are collected in large numbers pose major problems in basic and applied biodiversity research: identification to species via morphology is often difficult, slow and/or expensive. DNA barcodes are an attractive alternative or complementary source of information. Unfortunately, obtaining DNA barcodes from specimens requires many steps and thus time and money. Here, we promote a short cut to DNA barcoding, that is, a nondestructive PCR method that skips DNA extraction (‘direct PCR’) and that can be used for a broad range of invertebrate taxa. We demonstrate how direct PCR can be optimized for the larvae and adults of nonbiting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae), a typical invertebrate group that is abundant, contains important bioindicator species, but is difficult to identify based on morphological features. After optimization, direct PCR yields high PCR success rates (>90%), preserves delicate morphological features (e.g. details of genitalia, and larval head capsules) while allowing for the recovery of genomic DNA. We also document that direct PCR can be successfully optimized for a wide range of other invertebrate taxa that need routine barcoding (flies: Culicidae, Drosophilidae, Dolichopodidae, Sepsidae; sea stars: Oreasteridae). Key for obtaining high PCR success rates is optimizing (i) tissue quantity, (ii) body part, (iii) primer pair and (iv) type of Taq polymerase. Unfortunately, not all invertebrates appear suitable because direct PCR has low success rates for other taxa that were tested (e.g. Coleoptera: Dytiscidae, Copepoda, Hymenoptera: Formicidae and Odonata). It appears that the technique is less successful for heavily sclerotized insects and/or those with many exocrine glands.     

The influence of eclosion timing on winter survival and triacylglycerol accumulation in four temperate species of Drosophila

Abstract. Diapause incidence, winter survival and triacylglycerol content were studied in temperate species of Drosophila by outdoor rearing in Sapporo (a cool-temperate region), northern Japan. In strains of D.subauraria and D.triauraria (cool-temperate species) from northern Japan, diapause was induced in adults having eclosed after early September, but in those having eclosed after mid October in strains of D.rufa and D.lutescens (warm-temperate species) from southern Japan. A subtropical strain of D.triauraria did not enter diapause. In the strains of cool-temperate species from northern Japan, about 70% survived until spring when eclosed in mid autumn, whereas when eclosed earlier and later flies had a lower ability to overwinter. The warm-temperate species and a subtropical strain of D.triauraria also survived longer when eclosed in mid autumn than when eclosed later, but they were unable to survive until spring. The triacylglycerol content was higher in the cool-temperate species from northern Japan than in the warm-temperate species and a subtropical strain of D.trauraria. In each species the triacylglycerol content of adults was higher when they eclosed in early and mid than in late autumn. It is assumed that triacylglycerol plays an important role in overwintering of these Drosophila species and the low triacylglycerol level is the primary cause of the low overwintering capacity of individuals eclosing in late autumn.     

Dietary wheat germ oil and age influences fatty acid compositions in adult oriental fruit flies

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a serious pest of fruit crops in Asia, several Pacific Islands and sometimes the western United States, particularly California. Sterile insect technique programs have been developed for management of several tephritid fruit fly pests. These programs are based on continuous production of adult fruit flies. The high expense of mass-rearing oriental fruit flies drives research to improve the cost effectiveness of rearing programs. One recent improvement for mass rearing oriental fruit flies involves adding wheat germ oil (WGO) to the larval culture medium, which improved several parameters of biological performance. The performance enhancing influence of WGO is due to the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), some of which are nutritionally essential for many insect species. We considered the issue of whether WGO supplementation of the larval culture medium influences the fatty acid make up of adult tissues. We report that WGO supplementation led to substantial increases in adult tissue C18 PUFAs. Unlike the outcomes of unrelated nutritional studies on moths, the PUFA components of WGO did not improve adult fruit fly performance. Taken with recent publications reporting that WGO in larval diets influences gene expression, we conclude that dietary WGO improves biological performance of adults through changes in tissue C18 PUFAs and gene expression.     

Pest species of a fungus gnat genus Bradysia Winnertz (Diptera: Sciaridae) injuring agricultural and forestry products in Japan,with a review on taxonomy of allied species

Agricultural and forestry pest species of the Bradysia tilicola group from Japan were revised taxonomically after examination of the type specimens. A sciarid pest of Welsh onion occurred from northern Saitama, Japan since 2014 and later from south‐eastern Gunma, Japan, was identified as B. odoriphaga Yang & Zhang, 1985, sp. rev. It was removed from synonymy of B. cellarum Frey, 1948, being the first record of the species from Japan. Bradysia agrestis Sasakawa, 1978, was assigned to be a junior synonym of B. impatiens (Johannsen, 1912). Bradysia paupera Tuomikoski, 1960, sp. rev. , was removed from synonymy of B. impatiens and was recognized as a distinct species. We also compiled their host plants and fungi hitherto reported from Japan. Bradysia impatiens was here recorded from an indoor facility of cloud ear fungus, Auricularia polytricha (Montagne) Sacc., for the first time. At least 19 cultural crops belonging to 12 plant and fungal families were reported as actual and potential hosts of B. impatiens. We suggested that B. impatiens and B. paupera might have been confused in studies of mushroom production in Japan. Further survey of distribution of B. paupera in Japan needs to be done.     

Development of Copris tripartitus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Two Different Rearing Media

ABSTRACT Like many other sub-social insects, Copris tripartitus Waterhouse requires parental care during the development period in the brood balls. Mass-rearing is achieved by using indoor rearing systems and adding more dung after taking away the brood balls containing eggs. Without parental care, larvae are often affected by desiccation, as well as by fungal or sciarid fly intrusion of the brood balls. This study developed a good substitute for brood ball rearing medium. A significantly greater number of progeny survived to adulthood from broods produced by beetles reared on vermiculite medium (90.69±10.98%) than on peat moss medium (44.82±13.92%). Results of the study suggest that to protect the brood balls from desiccation and to produce healthy adults, 15-20% moisture content vermiculite must be used as brood ball rearing medium for most species reared in the laboratory.     

A new variety of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cortinarius subalboviolaceus</Emphasis> (Sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sericeocybe</Emphasis>) from Japan

Cortinarius subalboviolaceus var. niigatensis var. nov., which grows in deciduous forests, is described and illustrated from Niigata and Gunma prefectures, Japan. It differs from C. subalboviolaceus var. subalboviolaceus mainly in its more distinct violet coloration and somewhat larger size of the basidiocarp.     

Aspergillus bombycis genotypes (RFLP) from silkworm cultivation

 Eighteen isolates of Aspergillus bombycis from samples of dust, insect frass, and soil collected from eight silkworm rearing facilities in Japan, as well as single silkworm rearing facilities in Indonesia and Malaysia, were subjected to DNA fingerprinting. PstI digests of total genomic DNA from each isolate were probed using the pAF 28 repetitive sequence. Among 18 isolates analyzed, 7 distinct DNA fingerprint groups were identified, including GTAb-2 isolated from rearing facilities in four prefectures of Japan. Aspergillus bombycis isolates share several features in common with domesticated yellow-green aspergilli, the koji molds used in traditional Oriental food fermentations, including a loose and deep colony texture, smooth-walled stipes, and the absence of sclerotia. Although aflatoxin is unknown from koji molds, all isolates of A. bombycis produced B and G aflatoxins. Aflatoxin has been linked to increased virulence in Aspergillus disease of silkworms, and there should be strong selection for aflatoxin production among clonal populations of A. bombycis adapted to silkworm cultivation. A hypothesis is offered that A. bombycis isolates from silkworm cultivation represent highly adapted forms of yet to be discovered “wild” populations that may infect Bombyx mandarina. Received: December 24, 2002 / Accepted: March 10, 2003 RID="*" ID="*" Disclaimer: Names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the products, and the use of the name by USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable Acknowledgments We thank Dr. Akira Nakagiri, Institute for Fermentation, Osaka, for providing Aspergillus cultures isolated from diseased silkworms.     

DNA Barcoding for Species Assignment: The Case of Mediterranean Marine Fishes

Background

DNA barcoding enhances the prospects for species-level identifications globally using a standardized and authenticated DNA-based approach. Reference libraries comprising validated DNA barcodes (COI) constitute robust datasets for testing query sequences, providing considerable utility to identify marine fish and other organisms. Here we test the feasibility of using DNA barcoding to assign species to tissue samples from fish collected in the central Mediterranean Sea, a major contributor to the European marine ichthyofaunal diversity.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A dataset of 1278 DNA barcodes, representing 218 marine fish species, was used to test the utility of DNA barcodes to assign species from query sequences. We tested query sequences against 1) a reference library of ranked DNA barcodes from the neighbouring North East Atlantic, and 2) the public databases BOLD and GenBank. In the first case, a reference library comprising DNA barcodes with reliability grades for 146 fish species was used as diagnostic dataset to screen 486 query DNA sequences from fish specimens collected in the central basin of the Mediterranean Sea. Of all query sequences suitable for comparisons 98% were unambiguously confirmed through complete match with reference DNA barcodes. In the second case, it was possible to assign species to 83% (BOLD-IDS) and 72% (GenBank) of the sequences from the Mediterranean. Relatively high intraspecific genetic distances were found in 7 species (2.2%–18.74%), most of them of high commercial relevance, suggesting possible cryptic species.

Conclusion/Significance

We emphasize the discriminatory power of COI barcodes and their application to cases requiring species level resolution starting from query sequences. Results highlight the value of public reference libraries of reliability grade-annotated DNA barcodes, to identify species from different geographical origins. The ability to assign species with high precision from DNA samples of disparate quality and origin has major utility in several fields, from fisheries and conservation programs to control of fish products authenticity.     

The effects of acclimation and rearing conditions on the response of tropical and temperate populations ofDrosophila melanogaster andD. simulans to a temperature gradient (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

The effects of rearing and acclimation on the response of adultDrosophila to temperature were investigated in a gradient.D. melanogaster flies preferred a higher mean temperature and were distributed over a wider range of temperatures thanD. simulans flies. Acclimating adults at different temperatures for a week did not influence the response of either species. Adults reared at 28°C as immatures had a lower mean preference than those reared at cooler temperatures, suggesting that flies compensated for the effects of rearing conditions. Adults from tropical and temperate populations ofD. melanogaster andD. simulans did not differ in the mean temperature they preferred in a gradient, suggesting little genetic divergence for this trait within species. The species differences and environmental responses may be related to changes in optimal physiological conditions for the flies.     

Male-specific transfer and fine scale spatial differences of newly identified cuticular hydrocarbons and triacylglycerides in a Drosophila species pair

We analyzed epicuticular hydrocarbon variation in geographically isolated populations of D. mojavensis cultured on different rearing substrates and a sibling species, D. arizonae, with ultraviolet laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (UV-LDI MS). Different body parts, i.e. legs, proboscis, and abdomens, of both species showed qualitatively similar hydrocarbon profiles consisting mainly of long-chain monoenes, dienes, trienes, and tetraenes. However, D. arizonae had higher amounts of most hydrocarbons than D. mojavensis and females of both species exhibited greater hydrocarbon amounts than males. Hydrocarbon profiles of D. mojavensis populations were significantly influenced by sex and rearing substrates, and differed between body parts. Lab food-reared flies had lower amounts of most hydrocarbons than flies reared on fermenting cactus substrates. We discovered 48 male- and species-specific hydrocarbons ranging in size from C(22) to C(50) in the male anogenital region of both species, most not described before. These included several oxygen-containing hydrocarbons in addition to high intensity signals corresponding to putative triacylglycerides, amounts of which were influenced by larval rearing substrates. Some of these compounds were transferred to female cuticles in high amounts during copulation. This is the first study showing that triacylglycerides may be a separate class of courtship-related signaling molecules in drosophilids. This study also extends the kind and number of epicuticular hydrocarbons in these species and emphasizes the role of larval ecology in influencing amounts of these compounds, many of which mediate courtship success within and between species.     

DNA barcoding of tropical black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Thailand

The ecological and medical importance of black flies drives the need for rapid and reliable identification of these minute, structurally uniform insects. We assessed the efficiency of DNA barcoding for species identification of tropical black flies. A total of 351 cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 sequences were obtained from 41 species in six subgenera of the genus Simulium in Thailand. Despite high intraspecific genetic divergence (mean = 2.00%, maximum = 9.27%), DNA barcodes provided 96% correct identification. Barcodes also differentiated cytoforms of selected species complexes, albeit with varying levels of success. Perfect differentiation was achieved for two cytoforms of Simulium feuerborni, and 91% correct identification was obtained for the Simulium angulistylum complex. Low success (33%), however, was obtained for the Simulium siamense complex. The differential efficiency of DNA barcodes to discriminate cytoforms was attributed to different levels of genetic structure and demographic histories of the taxa. DNA barcode trees were largely congruent with phylogenies based on previous molecular, chromosomal and morphological analyses, but revealed inconsistencies that will require further evaluation.     

Utility of GenBank and the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) for the identification of forensically important Diptera from Belgium and France

Fly larvae living on dead corpses can be used to estimate post-mortem intervals. The identification of these flies is decisive in forensic casework and can be facilitated by using DNA barcodes provided that a representative and comprehensive reference library of DNA barcodes is available.We constructed a local (Belgium and France) reference library of 85 sequences of the COI DNA barcode fragment (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene), from 16 fly species of forensic interest (Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Fanniidae). This library was then used to evaluate the ability of two public libraries (GenBank and the Barcode of Life Data Systems – BOLD) to identify specimens from Belgian and French forensic cases. The public libraries indeed allow a correct identification of most specimens. Yet, some of the identifications remain ambiguous and some forensically important fly species are not, or insufficiently, represented in the reference libraries. Several search options offered by GenBank and BOLD can be used to further improve the identifications obtained from both libraries using DNA barcodes.