LignicolousHyphomycetes from Czechoslovakia 5.Septonema,Hormiactella andLylea

Three genera of lignicolousHyphomycetes Septonema Corda,Hormiactella Saac. andLylea Morgan-Jones are discussed. Illustrations and determination keys are provided. Five species ofSeptonema—S. fasciculare (Corda) Hughes,S. leptaleum (Ellis & Harkn.) Hughes,S. pinicola Hol.-Jech.,S. secedens Corda andS. laricium Hol.-Jech.—and two species ofHormiactella—H. fusca (Preuss) Sacc. andH. asetosa Hol.-Jech.—have been found in Czechoslovakia. A new speciesS. pseudobinum Hol.-Jech. is described from Romania.Septonema tetracoilum (Corda Hughes is accommodated in the genusLylea Morgan-Jones.     

Biological and ecological studies of the parasitoidChelonus inanitus [Hym.: Braconidae] in Israel

Only one species ofChelonus Panzer,Chelonus inanitus (L.), was found to be widespread in all areas of Israel. The parasitoid was particularly widespread in alfalfa fields but also was present in cotton, sugar beet, artichoke and corn. Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd) andS. exigua (Hbn.) were the main hosts ofC. inanitus although it might develop in other Lepidoptera species. A study of its population showed that adults were present in the spring, summer and autumn but not during the winter. In most cases the population density of the parasitoid appeared to be related to that of the hosts. Parasitism and sex ratio ofC. inanitus in alfalfa fields were studied. The number of males (average of 75%) was higher than that of the females. Percentage of parasitism in larvae ofS. littoralis andS. exigua reached up to 39.8% and 13.5% respectively. The parasitism values in eggs ofS. littoralis were up to 71%.     

Parasitism ofPhthorimaea operculella [Lep.: Gelechiidae] larvae in Queensland

Parasitism ofPhthorimaea operculella (Zeller) larvae on potato foliage was examined intensively in the Lockyer Valley, south-eastern Queensland from 1975–78 and extensively from other hosts and areas of Queensland. The % parasitism in the Lockyer Valley exceeded 50% in 29 of the 36 collections. The parasite species were dominated by the introducedCopidosoma desantisi Annecke & Mynhardt (Encyrtidae) andOrgilus lepidus Muesebeck (Braconidae) which together accounted for 92.6% of parasite numbers recorded. In more northern areas of Queensland, the dominant parasite species found was the introducedApanteles subandinus Blanchard (Braconidae). Other hymenopterous parasites found wereMicrochelonus curvimaculatus Cameron (Braconidae), Elasmus funereus Riek (Elasmidae) andTemelucha minuta (Morley) (Ichneumonidae).     

The parasitoids ofSpodoptera littoralis [Lep.: Noctuidae] and their role in population control in Cyprus

This paper is based on 20 months survey and laboratory studies of the parasitoids ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lep.: Noctuidae) carried out in Cyprus in 1971–72. Regular sampling revealed the presence of 19 further macrolepidopterous members of the ecosystem, includingS. exigua (Hbn.),Heliothis spp. and “Plusia” spp. Attacking these were a complex of at least 37 named primary parasitoids and a single secondary parasitoid. The commonest were the ichneumonidHyposoter didymator (Thnb.) and the braconidsChelonus inanitus (L.),Meteorus unicolor (Wesm.) andMicroplitis rufiventris Kok. and notes on their hosts, hostplants and biology are given. Almost all of the parasitoids were polyphagous and this, together with a wide range of hostplants, appears to improve the carry-over of the parasitoids and permit for greater parasitism of the main pests,S. littoralis andS. exigua. The % parasitism is shown to vary greatly with the situation, being highest in unsprayed lucerne field and unsprayed market gardens, and lowest in potato fields and sprayed vegetable plots. Recommendations are made for possible reductions in crop spraying, permitting the growth of weeds, under certain conditions, mass-rearing and liberation of an endemic parasitoid (C. inanitus) and filling gaps in the parasite complex by the introduction of exotic parasitoids.     

Notes on the biology ofBrachymeria [Neobrachymeria] nosatoi and its importance in the control ofNephantis serinopa

Nephantis serinopa Meyrick is now known to be parasitised by six species ofBrachymeria, viz.,B. nephantidis Gahan,B. lasus Walk.,B. excarinata Gahan,B. (Neobrachymeria) nosatoi Habu,B. euploeae Westw., andB. hime attevae Joseph Of these,B. (N.) nosatoi is the most effective pupal parasite ofN. serinopa in Kerala. Certain aspects of the biology of this parasite have been studied.     

Notes on some African hepatic genera 6–9

The present study deals with African species ofSyzygiella Spruce,Allisoniella Hodgs. andGymnomitriaceae Klinggr. Three species ofSyzygiella Spruce,S. geminifolia (Mitt.) Steph.,S. concreta (Gott.) Spruce and one indeterminable species with orbicular leaves (known only in sterile condition) occur in Africa.Allisoniella nigra (Rodw.) Schust. represents a genus hitherto unreported for the African flora. The present knowledge ofGymnomitriaceae Klinggr. in subsaharan Africa is summarised; five species ofMarsupella Dum., one ofGymnomitrion Corda and five ofHerzogobryum Grolle are reported. Finally, some additions to the generaIsotachis Mitt.,Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph. andLophozia (Dum.) Dum. are presented.     

Lower Cambrian tubular micro-to macrofossils from the Paseky Shale of the Barrandian area (Czech Republic)

The carbonaceous megafossil (mega-alga)Marpolia spissa Walcott 1919 is described from the Early Cambrian of the Barrandian area for the first time. Macroscopic remains of colonies ofM. spissa are compared with tubular microfossils of the same rocks. Different areas in colonies ofM. spissa are assignable to several (part-based) genera and species of microfossils. Therefore, the microfossil taxaSiphonophycus robustum (Schopf 1968)Knoll et al. 1991,S. typicum (Hermann 1974)Butterfield 1994,S. kestron Schopf 1968,S. capitaneum Nyberg &Schopf 1984,Polytrichoides lineatus Hermann 1974, emend.Knoll et al. 1991,Tortunema angusta (Kolosov 1984)Butterfield 1994 andTortunema wernadskii (Schepeleva 1960)Butterfield 1994 should only be used as form-species in the sense of an artificial taxonomy. The palaeoenvironment of the Paseky Shale and the biological assignment ofMarpolia spissa are discussed.     

Scanning electron microscopic study of anamorphs of someBasidiomycetes in culture

The anamorphs in cultures ofLepista nuda (Bull.:Fr.)Cooke,Coprinus comatus (Müll.:Fr.)S.F. Gray,Fistulina hepatica Sohaeff.:Fr.,Pholiota adiposa (Fr.)Kumm. andAsterophora lycoperdoides (Bull.)S.F. Gray, an imperfect state ofNyctalis lycoperdoides (Bull.)Schroet., were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Arthroconidia were described inLepista nuda for the first time. Examination of the fine structure of dendroid forms inCoprinus comatus revealed why those structures were not propagative.     

Notes on the taxonomy and nomenclature ofAphidius species [Hym.: aphidiidae] parasitic on the pea aphid in North America

A brief discussion is given on the taxonomy, nomenclature, distribution, and hosts of severalAphidius species attacking the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), in North America.Aphidius pisivorus Smith,A. smithi S. & S. R., andA. ervi Hal. are considered distinct species attacking the pea aphid;A. nigripes Ashm. is shown not to be a parasite of the pea aphid;A. pulcher Baker is placed in synonymy withA. nigripes. Distinguishing characters for each species are illustrated.     

Parasites of rice stemborers in Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo)

Observations on parasites were made during a study of the following rice stem-borers in Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo):Tryporyza incertulas (Walker),T. innotata (Walker),Chilo suppressalis (Walker)C. auricilia (Dudgeon), andSeamia inferens (Walker). Egg-parasitism was often high, but that of the larval and pupal stages generally very low. Between 40–80% of theTryporyza eggs were parasitised byTelenomus rowani (Gahan), while 30–50% were attacked byTetrastichus schoenobii Ferrière. About 40–90% of the eggs ofChilo were parasitised byTrichogramma? japonicum Ashmead and 5–26% byTelenomus dignus (Gahan). Only 0.4–3% of theTryporyza larvae were parasitised by a Braconid,Rhaconotus schoenobivorus (Rohwer), whileBracon chinensis Szepligeti attacked 0.2–0.7% of the larvae ofC. suppressalis. Parasitism ofSesamia larvae byApanteles flavipes Cameron was equally low, never exceeding 2%. Pupal parasitism was somewhat higher.Tetrastichus israeli (Mani & Kurian) attacked 8% and 18% of the pupae ofC. suppressalis andS. inferens, respectively, while the Ichneumonid,Xanthopimpla stemmator (Thunberg) attacked up to 3% of the pupae of the former species. The immature stages of some of these parasites are described.     

Functional response of the spiderChiracanthium mildei [Arachnida: Clubionidae] to prey density

Laboratory experiments demonstrated that the spiderChiracanthium mildei L. Koch. shows a functional response to increasing density of its prey: larvae ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.). A sigmoid curve was found to represent the preying rate.     

Cytotaxonomic study ofTragopogon L. in czechoslovakia

Karyotypes ofTragopogon orientalis L. subsp.orientalis, T orientalis L. subsp.leiocarpos (Sauter)Trnka,T. pratensis L.,T. minor Miller,T. dubius Scop. subsp.dubius andT. dubius Scop. subsp.major (Jacq.)Vollmann were studied. The occurrence in Slovakia ofT. pratensis was karyologically proved.     

Chromosome counts and chromosome morphology of some selected species

In the years 1976–1981 we studied chromosome counts and karyotypic formulae of the following 29 species of plants from 41 localities (of these 6 from Bohemia, 32 from Moravia, 3 from Slovakia):Batrachium baudotii (Godron) F. W. Schultz,Chenopodium rubrum L.,C. polyspermum L.,C. murale L.,C. ficifolium Sm.,C. opulifolium Schrader ex DC. inLam. et DC.,C. strictum Roth [subsp.strictum, subsp.glaucophyllum (Aellen)Aellen inJust etAellen, subsp.striatiforme Uotila],Arenaria grandiflora L.,Illecebrum verticillatum L.,Spergula morisonii Boreau inDuchartre,Spergularia marginata (DC. inLam. et DC.)Kittel S. marina (L.)Griseb.,S. rubra (L.) J. etC. Presl,Silene conica L.,Sisymbrium loeselii L.,S. volgense Bieb. exE. Fourn.,S. orientale L. [subsp. orientale, subsp.macroloma (A. Pomel)Dvo?ák],S. officinale (L.)Scop.,Descurainia sophia (L.)Webb exPrantl inEngler etPrantl,Nasturtium officinale R. Br. inAiton,Barbarea arcuata (Opiz inPresl J. et C.)Reichenb.,Lunaria annua L.,Soldanella montana Willd.,S. carpatica Vierh. inUrban etGraebner,Lotus tenuis Waldst. etKit. exWilld.,L. uliginosus Schkuhr,Trigonella monspeliaca L.,Geranium sibiricum L.,Lactuca tatarica (L.)C. A. Meyer.     

Ein Beitrag zur Nomenklatur sphinctozoider Schwämme (Porifera)

The sphinctozoid sponge generaFania Senowbari-Daryan 1990 andSpica Termier &Termier 1977 are preoccupied.Fania is replaced byFanthalamia nom. nov. andSpica by the younger synonymFistulispongia Termier &Termier 1977. The invalid subfamily name FaniinaeSenowbari-Daryan 1990 is replaced by Fanthalamiinae n. subfam. The invalid family and subfamily names SpicidaeTermier &Termier 1977 and SpicinaeSenowbari-Daryan 1990 respectively are replaced by FistulispongiidaeTermier atTermier 1977 and FistulispongiinaeSenowbari-Daryan 1990. The generaWaagenium de Laubenfels 1957 andCatubria Merla 1931 were previously overlooked.Waagenium DeLaubenfels 1957 is a younger synonym ofColospongia Laube 1865. The position ofCatubria Merla 1931 is uncertain. Most probablyCatubria is an alga.     

Mechanical transmission of beet yellows virus toChenopodium quinoa Willd. andChenopodium foliosum (Moench) Asch.

Beet yellows virus (BYV) was mechanically transmitted by sap from sugar-beet plants, infected with BYV, to the plants ofChenopodium quinoa Willd. and ofChenopodium foliosum (Moench) Asch. Mechanical transmission of BYV to the plants ofTetragonia expansa Murr. failed. Infectious material was homogenized in phosphate buffer with veronal and EDTA, pH 7–8. Experimental plants were darkened three days before infection and kept at a temperature of 5°C. Plants ofC. quinoa Willd. were decapitated. Back transmissions fromC. quinoa Willd. andC. foliosum (Moench) Asch. infected with BYV, to sugar-beet plants were carried out by the aveidMyzus persicae Sulz. These transmissions were positive. Filamentous particles of BYV, of an average length 1275 nm, were found in plants ofC. quinoa Willd. andC. Foliosum (Moench) Asch., infected with BYV.     

Mortality factors of satin moth,Leucoma salicis [Lep.: Lymantriidae], in aspen forests in Maine

Natural control agents of the satin moth,Leucoma salicis (L.) were examined in 2Populus grandidentata Michaux stands. Highest mortality occurred in overwintering larvae, with the causal agents 2 fungi,Paecilomyces sp. andHirsutella gigantea Petch, a factor causing death symptomatic of a pathogen, the parasiteEupteromalis hemipterus (Walker) and death from unknown causes. Mortality fromPaecilomyces sp. andE. hemipterus was reduced where overwintering sites were covered with burlap cloth. Parasites recovered from larvae and pupae included the braconidsApanteles melanoscelus (Ratzeburg) andMeteorus versicolor (Wesmeal), the ichneumonidCoccygomimus pedalis (Cresson), the tachinidsCompsilura concinnata (Meigen),Carcelia laxifrons Villeneuve,Tachinomyia variata Curran, and the sarcophagidsSarcophaga aldrichi Parker andAgria housei Shewell. Larval and pupal predators included the carabidCalosoma frigidum Kirby, pentatomids, and birds, particularly black-billed cuckoos,Coccyzus erythrophthaimus (Wilson). Eggs were parasitized by the scelionidTelenomus prob.californicus Ashmead and the trichogrammidTrichogramma minutum (Riley). Predators of adult satin moths included the hermit thrush,Hylocichla guttata (Pallas), and pentatomid bugs.