On the taxonomic status of the Antarctic amphipod crustacean genera Eclysis (Astyridae) and Bathypanoploea (Stilipedidae), with partial redescription of their type species and description of Bathypanoploea polarsterni n. sp.

The monotypic genus Eclysis K.H. Barnard, 1932 and its type species, E. similis Barnard, are redescribed based upon a newly discovered second specimen. The genus Bathypanoploea Schellenberg, 1939 is reviewed; B. schellenbergi Holman and Watling, 1983 is fixed as the type species. B. polarsterni n. sp. is described; Alexandrella pulchra Ren in Ren and Huang, 1991 is a new junior synonym of B. schellenbergi. The morphology of Eclysis and Bathypanoploea is examined, as well as their relationships to the Astyridae and Stilipedidae.See also Electronic Supplement at: http://www.senckenberg.de/odes/05-03.htm     

Steinernema scarabaei, an entomopathogenic nematode for control of the European chafer

A new entomopathogenic nematode species, Steinernema scarabaei, was evaluated for efficacy against two white grub species, the European chafer, Rhizotrogus majalis, and the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, in laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials. In laboratory assays, S. scarabaei caused greater mortality than Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. S. scarabaei was highly virulent with an LC₅₀ of 5.5–6.0 and 5.7 infective juveniles (IJs) per third-instar larva in R. majalis and P. japonica, respectively. In a greenhouse trial, S. scarabaei provided greater mortality of R. majalis at all application rates (0.156–1.25 × 10⁹ IJs/ha) than Steinernema glaseri and H. bacteriophora (both at 1.25 × 10⁹ IJs/ha). Combination of imidacloprid and S. scarabaei resulted in an antagonistic interaction. In a fall field trial, S. scarabaei provided 88 and 75% control of R. majalis at 2.5 × 10⁹ and 10⁹ IJs/ha, respectively, and 54% control of P. japonica at 10⁹ IJs/ha; H. bacteriophora had no effect on mortality of either white grub species. In a spring field trial, unusually cool temperatures impeded nematode activity. Against R. majalis, S. scarabaei provided moderate control (56–59%), whereas Heterorhabditis marelatus provided no control. Mortality of P. japonica was moderate (49–66%) in both S. scarabaei and H. marelatus treatments. Overwinter persistence of S. scarabaei activity was demonstrated in a spring assay of soil from fall treated plots in which nematode infection was absent from control plots and present in treated plots.     

华南吊灯花属(夹竹桃科)植物小志

通过野外调查、标本查阅及文献考证,订正了华南吊灯花属(Ceropegia Linn.)植物,将狭瓣吊灯花(C. angustilimba Merr.)从吊灯花(C. trichantha Hemsl.)的异名中予以恢复,提供了二者的形态描述,确认华南地区记录的柳叶吊灯花(C. salicifolia H. Huber)实为剑叶吊灯花(C. dolichophylla Schltr.)的错误鉴定,并提供了后者的形态描述。     

Evolutionary relationships among aquatic anamorphs and teleomorphs: Lemonniera, Margaritispora, and Goniopila

The hypothesis that similar conidial morphologies in aquatic hyphomycetes are a result of convergent evolution was tested using molecular sequence data. Cladistic analyses were performed on partial sequences of 28S rDNA of seven species of Lemonniera, one species of Margaritispora and one species of Goniopila. Lemonniera has tetraradiate conidia with long arms, whereas Margaritispora and Goniopila have typically globose (isodiametric) conidia, with short conical protuberances in a stellate or quadrangular arrangement. Lemonniera and Margaritispora have phialidic conidiogenesis and both produce dark, minute sclerotia in culture whereas Goniopila has holoblastic conidiogenesis and does not produce sclerotia in culture. Goniopila produces a microconidial phialidic synanamorph in culture. All three genera have schizolytic conidial secession. Molecular analyses demonstrate that Lemonniera species are placed in two distinct clades: one within Leotiomycetes; the other within Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes. Margaritispora is placed with Lemonniera species within Leotiomycetes. Goniopila and Lemonniera pseudofloscula are placed within Dothideomycetes. No morphological character was entirely congruent with the molecular derived phylogeny. This suggests that for the group of species studied, conidial shape is not a reliable indicator of phylogeny but more likely the result of convergent evolution in response to the aquatic environment.     

A new ecdysteroid and other constituents from two Dioscorea species

Phytochemical investigation of the rhizome of Dioscorea dumetorum has led to the isolation by several chromatographic steps on normal and reversed phase silica gel of a new ecdysteroid, (20R)-5β,11α,20-trihydroxyecdysone (1), and two known ecdysteroids, ajugasterone C (2) and herkesterone (3). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D-NMR (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC). This is the first report on the occurrence of phytoecdysteroids in the Dioscoreaceae family. These compounds were devoid of antifungal activity against three Candida species (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis, MIC > 200 μg/ml).     

Taxonomy ofHordeum caespitosum,H. jubatum,andH. lechleri (Poaceae: Triticeae)

Hordeum caespitosum Scribner,H. jubatum L., andH. lechleri (Steudel)Schenck are very similar in appearance and therefore until recently were mostly not recognized as separate entities. The first two are tetraploid and natives to North America, but the second occurs naturally in eastern Siberia and has been introduced in Europe and South America and may become a cosmopolitan weed. The third is hexaploid and South American. This study analyses their morphological diversity by means of selected multivariate techniques in order to determine if there is justification to recognize them as three separate morphological species. Logistic discrimination, although based on a reduced set of characters, yielded the highest percent of correct assignments. A linear discriminant function is provided and validated by 100 bootstrap repeats. Canonical discriminant analysis indicated three groups. It is subsequently concluded that the three are separate morphological species. Although a linear discriminant function is given, a traditional identification key is provided based on the palea length and triad (the group of three spikelets at each rachis node) length.     

Differences in susceptibility of introduced and native white grub species to entomopathogenic nematodes from various geographic localities

Invasive, non-native, white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) cause significant damage in urban landscapes. Although the lack of natural enemies in their new home is often suggested as an important factor in the establishment and spread of invasive species, the potential of incumbent generalist parasites and pathogens to delay their establishment and spread has not been explored. We compared the susceptibility of the introduced Popillia japonica and the native Cyclocephala borealis to 16 species and strains of entomopathogenic nematodes isolated from within or outside the geographic ranges of the two scarabs. We found large variation in the virulence of the species/strains of nematodes with over 50% mortality of P. japonica produced by Heterorhabditis zealandica strain X1 and H. bacteriophora strain GPS11 and of C. borealis by H. zealandica and H. bacteriophora strains KMD10 and NC1. Heterorhabditis indica and H. marelatus caused less than 20% mortality of both scarab species. When considered as a group the nematode species and strains from within and outside the geographic ranges of either P. japonica or C. borealis did not differ in virulence towards either scarab species. Dose response studies with selected nematode species and strains against P. japonica and two additional non-native species Anomala (Exomala) orientalis and Rhizotrogus majalis and the native C. borealis indicated that R. majalis was the least susceptible and P. japonica and A. orientalis were as susceptible as the native C. borealis. Heterorhabditis zealandica was significantly more virulent than any other species or strain against P. japonica with a LC₅₀ of 272 IJs/grub. The LC₃₀ and LC₅₀ values for H. zealandica were also the lowest among the four nematode species/strains tested against A. orientalis and C. borealis. The LC₅₀ values for H. zealandica and H. megidis (UK strain) were significantly lower for the native C. borealis than the introduced A. orientalis. H. zealandica also showed the highest penetration efficiency and the lowest encapsulation in P. japonica and C. borealis grubs. Results suggest that the introduction of the exotic H. zealandica into the front-line states with respect to the movement of P. japonica and A. orientalis should be explored as a tactic to delay their establishment and spread. The results also suggest that the manipulation of the indigenous H. bacteriophora populations may help in delaying spread and mitigating losses caused by the invasive grub species.     

Differences in the virulence of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema scarabaei to three white grub species: The relative contribution of the nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria

Because susceptibility of white grub species to entomopathogenic nematodes differs, we compared the virulence of Photorhabdus temperata and Xenorhabdus koppenhoeferi, the symbiotic bacteria of the nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema scarabaei, respectively, to the three white grub species, Popillia japonica, Rhizotrogus majalis, and Cyclocephala borealis. Both bacteria were pathogenic to all three grub species even at 2 cells/grub. However, the median lethal dose at 48 h post injection and median lethal time at 20 cells/grub showed that P. temperata was more virulent than X. koppenhoeferi to C. borealis. Although H. bacteriophora is less pathogenic than S. scarabaei to R. majalis and P. japonica, their symbiotic bacteria did not differ in virulence against these two grub species, and they also showed similar growth patterns both in vitro and inside R. majalis larvae at 20 °C. We then tested the pathogenicity of oral- and intrahemocoel-introduced H. bacteriophora to R. majalis to determine whether nematodes are able to successfully vector the bacteria into the hemolymph. Hemocoel injected H. bacteriophora was pathogenic to R. majalis indicating successful bacterial release, but orally introduced H. bacteriophora were not. Dissection of grubs confirmed that the orally introduced H. bacteriophora were unable to penetrate into the hemolymph through the gut wall. We conclude that the low susceptibility of R. majalis to H. bacteriophora is not due to the symbiotic bacteria but rather to the nematode’s poor ability to penetrate through the gut wall and the cuticle to vector the bacteria into the hemolymph.     

A molecular phylogeny of Hebeloma species from Europe

In order to widen the scope of existing phylogenies of the ectomycorrhizal agaric genus Hebeloma a total of 53 new rDNA ITS sequences from that genus was generated, augmented by sequences retrieved from GenBank, and analysed using Bayesian, strict consensus and neighbour joining methods. The lignicolous Hebelomina neerlandica, Gymnopilus penetrans, and two species of Galerina served as outgroup taxa. Anamika indica, as well as representatives of the genera Hymenogaster and Naucoria, were included to test the monophyly of Hebeloma, which is confirmed by the results. Hebeloma, Naucoria, Hymenogaster and Anamika indica cluster in a strongly supported monophyletic hebelomatoid clade. All trees largely reflect the current infrageneric classification within Hebeloma, and divide the genus into mostly well-supported monophyletic groups surrounding H. crustuliniforme, H. velutipes, H. sacchariolens, H. sinapizans, and H. radicosum, with H. sarcophyllum being shown at an independent position; however this is not well supported. The section Indusiata divides with strong support into three groups, the position of the pleurocystidiate Hebeloma cistophilum suggests the possible existence of a third subsection within sect. Indusiata. Subsection Sacchariolentia is raised to the rank of section.     

疏花长柄山蚂蝗复合体(豆科)的修订

通过文献、标本研究,结合野外考察及数据统计分析,确认疏花长柄山蚂蝗复合体包括4种1亚种,讨论了各分类群的重要性状,并给出了新的检索表。将湘西长柄山蚂蝗(Hylodesmum laxum subsp.falfolium)处理为原亚种的新异名;订正了《中国植物志》和《Flora of China》等著作中该类群的几个错误的地理分布,记载了我国几个省区的分布新记录,并给出了凭证标本。     

Evaluation of antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activities of the resin glycosides and the other metabolites of Scrophularia cryptophila

Resin glycosides are secondary metabolites exclusive to the convolvulaceous plants. In this study, crypthophilic acids A–C (1–3), the first resin glycosides occurring in another family (Scrophulariaceae), and the other constituents of Scrophularia cryptophila were examined for in vitro antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial potentials. Except for crypthophilic acid B (2), all tested compounds exhibited growth-inhibitory effect against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, with l-tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7) being the most potent ones (IC₅₀'s 4.1 and 9.7 μg/ml). In contrast, the activity towards Trypanosoma cruzi was poor, and only crypthophilic acid C (3), 6 and 7 were trypanocidal at concentrations above 40 μg/ml. With the exception of 2 and 6, all compounds were active against Leishmania donovani. Harpagide (4) and 3 emerged as the best leishmanicidal agents (IC₅₀'s 2.0 and 5.8 μg/ml). Only compounds 3, 6 and 7 showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC₅₀ values of 4.2, 16.6 and 22.4 μg/ml. Overall the best and broadest spectrum activity was presented by compounds 3 and 7, as they inhibited all four parasitic protozoa. None of the isolates had significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MICs >100 μg/ml) or were toxic towards mammalian (L6) cells. This is the first report of antiprotozoal activity for natural resin glycosides, as well as for harpagide (4), acetylharpagide (5), tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7).     

Molecular evidence for species level divergence in African Nile Crocodiles Crocodylus niloticus (Laurenti, 1786)

Relationships of the newly discovered dwarf crocodiles from Mauritania were inferred from mitochondrial 12S sequences. Specimens from 13 different Crocodylus niloticus populations (from East Africa, West Africa and Madagascar) were compared. Additional representatives of the genus Crocodylus (one from Africa and one from Australia), the African genus Osteolaemus and the South American alligatorid Paleosuchus palpebrosus (as outgroup) were included in the analysis. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses yielded relationships that were strikingly different from currently prevailing phylogenetic hypotheses. Both analyses consistently revealed two groups, one consisting of the monophyletic West- and Central African populations and the other of a paraphyletic group containing the East African and Madagascan populations. High genetic divergence between those groups indicates separation on the species level. Furthermore ‘C’ cataphractus is clearly shown not to be a member of the genus Crocodylus. The resulting nomenclatural changes are discussed. To cite this article: A. Schmitz et al., C. R. Palevol 2 (2003).     

Phthalide mono- and dimers from the radix of Angelica sinensis

Phytochemical investigation of the radix of Angelica sinensis has led to the isolation and identification of a new phthalide dimer, (3Z)-(3aR,6S,3′R,8′S)-3a.8′,6.3′-diligustilide (1), along with three known phthalide dimers, including riligustilide (2), levistolide A (3), senkyunolide O (4), and three known phthalide monomers, including 3,9-dihydroxyl-ligustilide (5), (Z)-butylidene phthalide (6), (Z)-ligustilide (7). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including IR, NMR (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY) and MS. Meanwhile, the possible biosynthesis pathways of compounds 1 and 5 were hypothesized.     

Rove beetles of the subtribe Scopaeina Mulsant & Rey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in the West Palaearctic: Phylogeny, biogeography and species catalogue

A cladistic analysis of the West Palaearctic Scopaeina Mulsant & Rey, 1878 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Paederinae) is presented along with bionomic and biogeographic information. A total of 76 morphological characters were coded for the 88 currently known West Palaearctic species, except for S. bifossicapitata (Outerelo & Oromi, 1987). Results show that Scopaeina comprises two well-supported monophyletic groups in the West Palaearctic, Micranops Cameron, 1913 and Scopaeus Erichson, 1840, which are considered to represent distinct genera. Phylogenetic relationships to Orus Casey, 1884, distributed in North and South America, are briefly discussed. Whereas Micranops is only represented by M. pilicornis (Baudi, 1869) in the region under study, 87 species of Scopaeus are currently known from the West Palaearctic. Within Scopaeus, the cladistic analysis yielded many well-supported monophyletic species groups, most of which are restricted to the West Palaearctic. However, except for Hyperscopaeus Coiffait, 1984, they are not in agreement with the widely used subgeneric concept sensu Coiffait (1952–1984). The following polyphyletic subgenera are consequently synonymized: Alloscopaeus Coiffait, 1968, Anomoscopaeus Coiffait, 1968, Geoscopaeus Coiffait, 1960, and Hyposcopaeus Coiffait, 1960 synn. n. = Scopaeus Erichson, 1840. Nivorus Herman, 1965, and Microscopaeus Coiffait, 1981 synn. n. = Micranops Cameron, 1913. The monotypical genus Coecoscopaeus Coiffait, 1984, established for C. coecus (Peyerimhoff, 1906), is excluded from Scopaeina. Scopaeus mitratus perroti Ochs, 1953 is raised to species rank, and S. nigellus Wollaston, 1864, formerly a synonym of S. minimus Erichson, 1939, is revalidated. Finally, we present a catalogue of species and synonyms of West Palaearctic Scopaeina along with distributional data and five new synonymies of species group names: S. bordei Peyerimhoff, 1914 syn. n. = S. portai Luze, 1910; S. tassiliensis Jarrige, 1958, S. mauretanicus Coiffait, 1960 synn. n. = S. crassipes Wollaston, 1867; S. saoudiensis Coiffait, 1981 = S. sinaicus Coiffait, 1970; S. mateui Coiffait, 1953 syn. n. = S. didymus Erichson, 1840. A lectotype is designated for S. didymus Erichson, 1840.See also Electronic Supplement (Parts 13) at http://www.senckenberg.de/odes/02-02.htm     

Horizontal transmission of a microsporidium from the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), to three coccinellid species of Nova Scotia

Convergent lady beetles, Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, are a popular choice for aphid control in North America. An unidentified microsporidium was found in H. convergens adults that were purchased from a commercial insectary in 2004. This study examined egg cannibalism and egg predation as a means of horizontal transmission of the unidentified microsporidium among H. convergens larvae and three coccinellid species found in Nova Scotia: Coccinella septempunctata (seven-spotted lady beetle), C. trifasciata perplexa (three-banded lady beetle), and Harmonia axyridis (multicolored Asian lady beetle). The microsporidium was transmitted with 100% efficiency when first instars fed on microsporidia-infected eggs. Mean spore count data from smear preparations of infected beetles suggest that the infection was as heavy in C. trifasciata perplexa (a native coccinellid) (11.2 ± 0.96 spores/100 μm²) as it was in H. convergens (the natural host) (12.8 ± 1.16) but lighter in the introduced species C. septempunctata (7.5 ± 0.65) and H. axyridis (0.8 ± 0.11). For all of the beetle species examined, larval development was significantly longer for microsporidia-infected individuals than for their uninfected cohorts. The microsporidium had no effect on larval mortality. Based on the results of this study, field-collected H. convergens should be examined for microsporidia and uninfected individuals should be used to rear individuals for release in biological control programs. However, this is unlikely to happen because H. convergens are relatively easy and inexpensive to collect from their overwintering sites for redistribution.     

Phylogenetic analysis of questionable tetraploid species in Roegneria and Pseudoroegneria (Poaceae: Triticeae) inferred from a gene encoding plastid acety1-CoA carboxylase

To evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of questionable tetraploid species Roegneria alashanica Keng, Roegneria magnicaespes (D.F. Cui) L.B. Cai, Roegneria elytrigioides C. Yen et J.L. Yang, Roegneria grandis Keng and Pseudoroegneria geniculata (Trin.) Á. Löve, the single copy sequences of the plastid acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene (Acc1) were analyzed among the five species and the related diploid and tetraploid species. The results indicated that: (a) R. alashanica contained one set of modified St genome which was closely related to the E^e genome, and the other set of genome was closely related to the P genome; (b) R. magnicaespes contained one set of St genome, the other set of genome might be closely related to the P genome. There are close affinities between R. magnicaespes and R. alashanica; (c) R. elytrigioides contained two sets of St genomes, and it is reasonable to be treated as Pseudoreogneria elytrigioides (C. Yen et J.L. Yang) B.R. Lu; (d) the genome of R. grandis should be designed as St^gY. The St^g genome was a differentiated form of the St genome in Pseudoroegneria and was homoeologous with the Y genome in Roegneria; (e) the genomic constitution of P. geniculata was similar to that of R. magnicaespes and R. alashanica and distinctly related to P. geniculata ssp. scythica (E^eSt). They should be treated as different species in different genera; and (f) the Y genome was possibly originated from the St genome, and was sister to the St, E^e, E^b and W genomes.     

Negative dietary effects of Colorado potato beetle eggs for the larvae of native and introduced ladybird beetles

Aphidophagous ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are attracted to and feed heavily on aphids, but many species will also feed opportunistically on other prey that they encounter. In potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Washington State, USA, coccinellids feed on both green peach aphids (“GPA,” Myzus persicae Sulzer) and eggs of the Colorado potato beetle (“CPB,” Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say). The guild of aphidophagous ladybirds includes two native species, Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville and Coccinella transversoguttata Brown. Recently, an introduced species, Coccinella septempunctata L., has invaded and apparently displaced its native congener. A second exotic, Harmonia axyridis Pallas, has colonized the area and is becoming more abundant. We compared larval development of each species on a monotypic diet of GPA, a monotypic diet of CPB eggs, or a mixed diet of both GPA and CPB eggs. Our goal was to answer two questions: (1) do larvae of the four ladybird species benefit from including CPB eggs in their diet and (2) do the four ladybird species differ in their ability to utilize CPB eggs as prey? No larva of any species completed development on a pure diet of CPB eggs, and survivorship was highest for all species when they fed on a pure diet of GPA. One native species, H. convergens, and one exotic species, H. axyridis, exhibited significantly lower survivorship on a mixed diet of both CPB eggs and GPA, compared to a pure GPA diet; H. axyridis also took longer to develop from egg to adult when both prey were provided. Survivorship of the two Coccinella spp. was not altered by the inclusion of CPB eggs with GPA, although CPB eggs lengthened the development time of C. transversoguttata. Adult size was not consistently affected by diet for any of the coccinellids. Overall, no ladybird species benefited from the inclusion of potato beetle eggs in its diet. The two Coccinella species responded similarly to the inclusion of CPB eggs, and so we would not expect any difference in the success of coccinellid larval development in potato fields following the replacement of C. transversoguttata by C. septempunctata. Hippodamia convergens and H. axyridis, the two species whose survivorship was depressed by combining CPB egg and aphid prey, were also the two species that consumed the greatest number of CPB eggs during successful larval development. A comparison of total egg consumption by each species cohort suggested that displacement of the other species by H. axyridis would not alter CPB biological control, because the higher per capita feeding rate by H. axyridis larvae compensated for individuals’ greater mortality risk on a diet including CPB eggs.     

斯勒卷瓣兰，中国云南南部兰科一新种（英文）

描述并绘制了云南南部兰科石豆兰属一新种：斯勒卷瓣兰(Bulbophyllum dresslerianum Z. D. Han & H. Wang)。该新种属于双叶卷瓣兰组(section Tripudianthes Seidenf.),在形态上与该组的4种,即狄氏卷瓣兰(B. dickasonii)、堪布里石豆兰(B. kanburiense)、皱掌卷瓣兰(B. rugosisepalum)和拟双叶卷瓣兰(B. tripudians)近似,主要区别在于该种唇瓣前缘具囊泡,侧面及腹面被稀疏的短腺毛;侧萼片棕黄色,表面光滑。编制了斯勒卷瓣兰及其近缘种的检索表。目前,该种仅在云南南部墨江县发现一个居群,濒危状况有待评估。