Parasitism rates and parasitoid complexes of the wheat midges, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitodiplosis mosellana</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Contarinia tritici</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haplodiplosis marginata</Emphasis>

Three species of cecidomyiid midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), whose larvae overwinter in the soil, can cause significant yield losses on wheat in Europe: the orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), the yellow wheat blossom midge, Contarinia tritici (Kirby), and the saddle gall midge, Haplodiplosis marginata (von Roser). The biological control of wheat midges by their parasitoids can contribute to reduce the midge populations. Soil samples were collected in several fields in Belgium in 2012–2014 in order to characterize the parasitism rates and parasitoid complexes in overwintering larvae. The parasitism rates varied greatly between the sampled fields: 3–100, 0–100 and 2% for S. mosellana, H. marginata and C. tritici, respectively. The parasitism rate was not related to the larval density of wheat midge. The three wheat midges have totally distinct parasitoid complexes in Belgium. Eight species (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae and Platygastridae) were found as parasitoid of S. mosellana: Macroglenes penetrans (Kirby), Amblypasis tritici (Walker), Euxestonotus error (Fitch), Euxestonutus sp. Fouts, Leptacis sp. Foerster, Platygaster gracilipes (Huggert), Platygaster nisus Walker, and Platygaster tuberosula (Kieffer). According to their abundance, M. penetrans, E. error and P. tuberosula appeared as the main parasitoids of S. mosellana in Belgium. For the two other wheat midges, only one species of the family Platygastridae was found for each midge: Platygaster equestris (Spittler) for H. marginata and Synopeas myles (Walker) for C. tritici.     

On the fauna and systematics of the Stenopelmatoidea (orthoptera) of indochina and some other territories: XI

19 new species of the subfamily Rhaphidophorinae (Stenopelmatoidea: Rhaphidophoridae) are described and illustrated. These species belong to the first group of the genus Rhaphidophora A.-Serv.; the material originates from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos and also from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India.     

Chalcididae (Hymenoptera) from rice stores in Thailand, with description of two new species

Five species of Chalcididae (Hymenoptera) were collected from rice stores in Thailand. Proconura minusa Narendran was dominant and is thought to be an important parasitoid of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier). Many individuals of Proconura caryobori (Hanna) were collected, and the host in rice stores of this species was Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton). Antrocephalus mitys (Walker) is known to parasitize C. cephalonica, but few individuals were collected; therefore, it is thought not to be important in Thailand. Notaspidiella clavata Narendran and Konishi sp. nov. and Notaspidium thailandicum Narendran and Konishi sp. nov. are described.     

老挝植物一新记录属——泽薹草属(泽泻科)(英文)

首次报道老挝泽泻科(Alismataceae)一新记录属——泽薹草属(Caldesia),及新记录种——宽叶泽薹草(Caldesia grandis)。宽叶泽薹草为旧世界广布属泽薹草属中唯一叶宽大于叶长的物种,原记载分布在中国、孟加拉国、印度和马来西亚。同时,还提供了宽叶泽薹草的描述和其原生境图片。     

Ecological factors affecting host plant and shelter preferences of Tetraponera rufonigra (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in urban ecosystem

Host-plant preferences of Tetraponera rufonigra Jerdon (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were assessed by field measurement in relation to the types of trash found in the surrounding tree perimeters. The correlations between the density of T. rufonigra and the plants (types of trash and levels of infestation) were determined based on the data gathered at 34 study sites in the Eastern part of the Penang Island to clarify the density differences of T. rufonigra among the sites. A simple linear regression analysis was also employed to assess the effects of environmental parameters i.e. UV light, temperature and humidity on the density of T. rufonigra. No significant difference was found between the infestation level at each site and the types of trash. Six species were identified as host-plant preferences of T. rufonigra i.e. Cassia fistula L., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Mimusops elengi L., Delonix regia (Hook), Cerberra odollam Gaertn and Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.). These tree species were recorded for the first time as the most preferred host trees by T. rufonigra in Malaysia. The results also identified that T. rufonigra preferred the trees with high humidity level, suitable surrounding temperature and UV light as their habitats.     

Playing hide-and-seek with the tiny dragonfly: DNA barcoding discriminates multiple lineages of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nannophya pygmaea</Emphasis> in Asia

We examined the utility of DNA barcode data for assessing genetic diversity of the tiny dragonfly Nannophya pygmaea Rambur in Asia. Data analyses inferred from the barcode region of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) were performed with Malaysian N. pygmaea, along with the existing COI haplotypes distributed in Asia. We applied four species delimitation analyses [automatic barcode gap discovery (ABGD), generalised mixed yule coalescent (GMYC), poisson tree processes maximum likelihood (PTP_ML) and poisson tree processes simple heuristic solutions (PTP_sh)] to investigate potential lineages in this geographically widespread species. Based on our dataset, we provisionally recognize four distinct lineages or operational taxonomic units of N. pygmaea, which were represented by the taxa from Japan/Korea, China/Laos/Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses showed two well-supported assemblages of N. pygmaea: one restricted to the taxa from Malaysia and Vietnam; and the other covering all populations further north (i.e., China, Japan, Korea, Laos and Taiwan). An extraordinarily high degree of genetic distance (up to >12 %) was detected between these two assemblages—suggesting they represent two separate species.     

Chromosomes of Asian cyprinid fishes: Variable karyotype patterns and evolutionary trends in the genus Osteochilus (Cyprinidae, Labeoninae, “Osteochilini”)

The Cyprinidae family is a highly diversified but demonstrably monophyletic lineage of cypriniform fishes. Among them, the genus Osteochilus contains 35 recognized valid species distributed from India, throughout Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesian archipelago to southern China. In this study, karyotypes and other chromosomal characteristics of five Osteochilus species occurring in Thailand, namely O. lini, O. melanopleura, O. microcephalus, O. vittatus and O. waandersii were examined using conventional and molecular cytogenetic protocols. Our results showed they possessed diploid chromosome number (2n) invariably 2n = 50, but the ratio of uni- and bi-armed chromosomes was highly variable among their karyotypes, indicating extensive chromosomal rearrangements. Only one chromosome pair bearing 5S rDNA sites occurred in most species, except O. melanopleura, where two sites were detected. In contrast, only one chromosomal pair bearing 18S rDNA sites were observed among their karyotypes, but in different positions. These cytogenetic patterns indicated that the cytogenomic divergence patterns of these Osteochilus species were largely corresponding to the inferred phylogenetic tree. Similarly, different patterns of the distributions of rDNAs and microsatellites across genomes of examined species as well as their different karyotype structures indicated significant evolutionary differentiation of Osteochilus genomes.     

东方人类血吸虫及其螺蛳宿主交互感染的研究

以我国安徽及菲律宾莱特岛的日本血吸虫、湄公血吸虫、马来西亚类似日本血吸虫以及中华血吸虫交互感染其螺蛳宿主。结果表明日本血吸虫及钉螺与湄公血吸虫、马来西亚类似日本血吸虫及其螺蛳宿主亲缘关系较疏远。而湄公血吸虫与马来西亚类似日本血吸虫及其螺蛳宿主有较近的亲缘关系。交互感染结果为马来西亚类似日本血吸虫及钙河罗氏螺的分类问题提供了新的依据。     

Distribution of 18S rDNA sites and absence of the canonical TTAGG insect telomeric repeat in parasitoid Hymenoptera

Karyotypes of six species belonging to three main clades of parasitoid Hymenoptera, the superfamilies Ichneumonoidea (Ichneumonidae: Ichneumon amphibolus), Cynipoidea (Cynipidae: Diplolepis rosae) and Chalcidoidea (Eurytomidae: Eurytoma robusta, Eu. serratulae and Eu. compressa, and Torymidae: Torymus bedeguaris) were studied using FISH with 18S rDNA and telomeric (TTAGG)_n probes. Haploid karyotypes of D. rosae, Eu. robusta and Eu. serratulae carried the only 18S rDNA hybridization signal, whereas those of I. amphibolus and Eu. compressa carried three and two rDNA clusters respectively. In addition, three rDNA sites were visualized in the aneuploid female of T. bedeguaris. The number of rDNA clusters in parasitoid Hymenoptera generally correlates to the chromosome number. Apart from the overwhelming majority of the studied species of aculeate Hymenoptera, no hybridization signals were obtained from FISH with the telomeric (TTAGG)_n probe in the examined parasitoid species. These data suggest absence of the canonical (TTAGG)_n insect telomeric motif in the Ichneumonoidea, Cynipoidea and Chalcidoidea, and perhaps in parasitoid Hymenoptera in general.     

Population genetic structure of the Staphylococcus intermedius group: insights into agr diversification and the emergence of methicillin-resistant strains

The population genetic structure of the animal pathogen Staphylococcus intermedius is poorly understood. We carried out a multilocus sequence phylogenetic analysis of isolates from broad host and geographic origins to investigate inter- and intraspecies diversity. We found that isolates phenotypically identified as S. intermedius are differentiated into three closely related species, S. intermedius, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, and Staphylococcus delphini. S. pseudintermedius, not S. intermedius, is the common cause of canine pyoderma and occasionally causes zoonotic infections of humans. Over 60 extant STs were identified among the S. pseudintermedius isolates examined, including several that were distributed on different continents. As the agr quorum-sensing system of staphylococci is thought to have evolved along lines of speciation within the genus, we examined the allelic variation of agrD, which encodes the autoinducing peptide (AIP). Four AIP variants were encoded by S. pseudintermedius isolates, and identical AIP variants were shared among the three species, suggesting that a common quorum-sensing capacity has been conserved in spite of species differentiation in largely distinct ecological niches. A lack of clonal association of agr alleles suggests that assortive recombination may have contributed to the distribution of agr diversity. Finally, we discovered that the recent emergence of methicillin-resistant strains was due to multiple acquisitions of the mecA gene by different S. pseudintermedius clones found on different continents. Taken together, these data have resolved the population genetic structure of the S. intermedius group, resulting in new insights into its ancient and recent evolution.     

Identification of Staphylococcus intermedius Group by MALDI-TOF MS

The Staphylococcus intermedius Group includes S. intermedius, S. pseudintermedius and S. delphini, coagulase-positive bacteria commonly isolated from animals. The identification of organisms belonging to this group is presently carried out using molecular methods. This study assessed the suitability of MALDI-TOF MS for their identification. 69 strains of different biological and geographic origins, identified by partial hsp60 gene sequencing as S. intermedius (n = 15), S. pseudintermedius (n = 32) and S. delphini (n = 22), were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS. The estimated sensitivity, specificity and efficiency were calculated. In addition we computed the agreement between the outcome of MALDI-TOF MS identification and partial hsp60 gene sequencing. The sensitivity of MALDI-TOF MS was higher for S. intermedius [0.95 (95% CI: 0.68-0.99)], than for S. pseudintermedius [0.78 (95% CI: 0.60-0.90)] and S. delphini [0.64 (95% CI: 0.41-0.83)], whereas the specificity was 1 for S. intermedius and S. delphini and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.86-0.99) for S. pseudintermedius. The Cohen's kappa coefficient indicated almost perfect agreement between MALDI-TOF MS and hsp60 gene sequencing for the identification of S. intermedius [0.96 (95% CI: 0.87-1.04)], and substantial agreement for S. delphini and S. pseudintermedius [0.70 (95% CI: 0.52-0.89) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.616-0.92), respectively]. The overall efficiency of the proteomic identification ranged between 0.88 (95% CI: 0.78-0.95) for S. pseudintermedius and S. delphini and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.92-0.99) for S. intermedius. MALDI-TOF MS is thus a valuable and reliable tool for the rapid and accurate identification of bacteria belonging to the S. intermedius Group.     

A new species of Parapanteles Ashmead, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) parasitic on Charaxes athamas (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in India

A new species of gregarious endoparasitoid, Parapanteles athamasae n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), parasitising caterpillars of Charaxes athamas (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) on the host plant Senegalia catechu (=Acacia catechu) (L.f.) Hurter & Mabb., is described from Maharashtra, India. Diagnostic characters of the new species include: propodeum with areola 0.93× longer than wide, legs yellow, hind tibia 4.30× as long as ovipositor, ovipositor sheaths exerted, first metasomal tergal plate 1.24× longer than wide, with coarse sculpture merging with longitudinal striations at 3/4 of the apical region. This is the first time a species of the family Nymphalidae Rafinesque is recorded in association with Parapanteles Ashmead, 1900. A key to the Indian species of Parapanteles based on females is also provided.     

Systematic observations on tropical Asian medakas or ricefishes of the genusOryzias, with descriptions of four new species

The so-calledOryzias melastigma (McClelland, 1839), reported from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Malaysia by numerous authors beginning with Day (1877), is based mainly or entirely onAplocheilus panchax (Hamilton, 1822). India and Bangladesh have two species ofOryzias, both large. The deeper-bodied of these two species is reported for the first time asO. dancena (Hamilton, 1822). The other is identified asO. carnaticus (Jerdon, 1849). Myanmar has one large species,O. dancena, and one tiny species,O. uwai new species.Oryzias minutillus Smith, 1945 andO. uwai differ from all otherOryzias in having 4/5 instead of 5/6 principal caudal fin rays.Oryzias uwai differs fromO. minutillus in being more conspicuously pigmented and having large, 6-rayed pelvic fins often extending to anal fin origin instead of much smaller and shorter 5-rayed pelvic fins. In Thailand (including its part of the Mekong basin) three species are known: a large estuarine species tentatively identified asO. javanicus (Bleeker, 1854) and two tiny inland species,O. mekongensis Magtoon & Uwa, 1986, andO. minutillus. Oryzias minutillus from many localities are more or less melanoproctic, i.e. have a darkly pigmented genital or vent area not seen in other species. The Mekong basin in Laos has two large species,O. latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) andO. pectoralis new species, distinguished by a prominent black blotch on the pectoral fin base, both recently collected in the Nam Theun watershed in central Laos; and two tiny species,O. mekongensis andO. minutillus. Only one species ofOryzias is known from the Mekong delta in Vietnam, the small moderately deep-bodiedO. haugiangensis new species, with 19–22 anal and 9–10 pectoral fin rays. The Indonesian island of Java has one large species,O. javanicus (Bleeker, 1852) with 21–25 anal and 11 pectoral fin rays, and one small species,O. hubbsi new species, with only 17–21 anal and 9 pectoral fin rays.     

A short-term response of macroalgae to potential competitor removal in a mid-intertidal habitat in Korea

Interspecific interactions among three dominant macroalgae, Pterocladia capillacea (Rhodophyta), Hizikia fusiformis (Heterokontophyta) and Chondracanthus intermedius (Rhodophyta), were experimentally investigated on the rocky mid-intertidal zone of Sungsan, Jeju Island, Korea from March 1998 to June 1999. Each of the potentially competing species was removed in permanent plots (20 × 20 cm), and percent covers of non-manipulated species were measured by an image analyzing method using a digital camera. Pterocladia capillacea was the most abundant during all seasons, except for winter. Its abundance was lowered by the removal of the turf-forming alga C. intermedius, indicating that turf had a positive effect on P. capillacea. Conversely, there was a negative effect of P. capillacea on the abundance of C. intermedius. Interactions between C. intermedius and P. capillacea can probably be explained as a consequence of the water-trapping ability of the former and the canopy-forming ability of the latter. There was, however, no apparent effect related to H. fusiformis since the abundance of this alga remained low. This study supports that both negative and positive effects between same pair of species could be common depending on the morphological differences of algae and particular habitat conditions.     

Biology of Synopeas myles, a parasitoid of the swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii, in Europe

Synopeas myles (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) is a parasitoid of the swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii (Kieffer) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), in Europe. We conducted the first thorough investigation of this parasitoid’s biology. Contrary to the biology reported for all platygastrids to date, exposure of late-instar host larvae to parasitism as opposed to eggs or early larvae yielded more S. myles offspring. Superparasitism was relatively common in the field and among groups of females in the laboratory, but was much less common among single females, providing preliminary evidence for self-discrimination. Observation of immature stages of S. myles inside living hosts revealed that supernumerary larvae in superparasitized hosts were probably eliminated by physical combat soon after hatching. With increasing levels of superparasitism, sex ratios of offspring became more female-biased and their mean development time increased. The probability that offspring would emerge from a host and the size of offspring were unaffected by increasing levels of superparasitism.     

Taxonomic and nomenclatural rearrangement in the Hookeriales with notes on West Indian taxa

The Hookeriales are evaluated to discern familial limits. Five families are recognized in the order: Hookeriaceae, Leucomiaceae, Daltoniaceae, Callicostaceae, and Adelotheciaceae fam. nov. Chaetomitrium Dozy & Molk., Chaetomitriopsis. Fleisch., Dimorphocladon Dix., and Elharveya Crum are transferred to the Hypnaceae. Hookeriopsis (Besch.) Jaeg. is split into four genera: Hookeriopsis s. str., Brymela Crosby & Allen, Thamniopsis (Mitt.) Fleisch., and Trachyxiphium Buck, gen. nov. The following new combinations are proposed to coincide with the recognition of these four genera rather than Hookeriopsis s. lat.: Brymela acuminata, B. callicostelloides, B. cuspidata, B. fissidentoides, B. fluminensis, B. obtusifolia, B. parkeriana, B. rugulosa, B. websteri, Thamniopsis cheiloneura, T. cruegeriana, T. diffusa, T. incurva, T. langsdorffii, T. pappeana, T. purpureophylla, T. secunda, T. sinuata, T. terrestris, T. undata, T. utacamundiana, T. versicolor, Trachyxiphium aduncum, T. guadalupense, T. heteroicum, T. hypnaceum, T. pernutans, T. subfalcatum, T. tenue, T. vagum, and T. variable. Excluded species are treated as Isopterygium plumicaule, Schizomitrium cirrhosum, and S. subsecundum. Schizomitrium belangerianum (Besch.) Buck, comb. nov. is considered distinct from S. depressum (Hedw.) Buck & Steere, and S. pallidum (Hornsch.) Crum & Anders. is shown to have a smooth seta sometimes. The taxonomy of the aquatic species of Cyclodictyon Mitt. and Lepidopilum (Brid.) Brid. is clarified, resulting in the recognition of three species, Cyclodictyon subtortifolium (Bartr.) Buck, comb. nov., C. roridum (Hampe) Kuntze and L. tortifolium Mitt. Two new combinations are proposed in Calyptrochaeta Desv., C. setigera and C. albescens.     

New records,synonyms and combinations for oriental Sarcophagidae (Diptera), with updated checklists for Cambodia,India, Taiwan,Thailand and Vietnam

Faunistic records of 29 flesh fly species are presented, and the following new country-level records are provided: 12 species (Senotainia albifrons, Eremasiomyia macularis, Asceloctella calicifera, Pseudothyrsocnema caudagalli, Liosarcophaga dux, L. kohla, L. scopariiformis, L. tuberosa, Parasarcophaga misera, Sarcosolomonia harinasutai, S. shinonagai, Seniorwhitea princeps) new to Cambodia, one species (S. shinonagai) new to India, one species (Brachicoma devia) new to Taiwan, two species (Myorhina thinhi, L. tuberosa) new to Thailand, and two species (E. macularis, P. caudagalli) new to Vietnam. Based on critical revision of all published records and on new data presented herein, 215 species of Sarcophagidae are listed from Cambodia (16 species), India (138), Taiwan (63), Thailand (98) and Vietnam (49). One new subjective generic synonym is proposed: Shinonagaella Verves, 1997 = Lehisca Kurahashi and Tan, 2012, syn. nov. Altogether, total of 21 new subjective synonyms and 16 new combinations are proposed.     

Semiaquatic bugs: phylogeny and classification of the Hebridae (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) with revisions of Timasius, Neotimasius and Hyrcanus

Various characters of semiaquatic bugs belonging to the family Hebridae are analysed with respect to their taxonomic and phylogenetic importance. The cladistic relationships of the genera are discussed and a cladogram included. A classification is presented which divides the family into two sub-families and resurrects Lipogomphus Berg as a valid taxon (to include L. lacuniferus Berg (type-species), L.accola (Drake & Chapman) comb.n. for Merragata accola, L.brevis (Champion) comb.n. for Merragata brevis, and L.leucosticta (Champion) comb.n. for Merragata leucosticta). The following new taxa of hygropetric hebrids are described: Timasius livens sp.n. (Thailand), T.minor sp.n. (Pakistan, N. India), T.miyamotoi sp.n. (Thailand), T.major sp.n. (N.India), T.ventralis sp.n. (N. India), T. miyamotoi sp.n. (S. India), T.rupestris sp.n. (N. India), T.falcifer sp.n. (N. India), T.championi sp.n. (N. India), T.himalayensis sp.n. (N. India), Neotimasius orientalis gen.n., sp.n. (S. India), Hyrcaninae subfam.n. , Hyrcanus dispar sp.n. (N. India), H.saxatilis sp.n. (Thailand) and H.varicolor sp.n. (Java, Sumatra). Other species of the genera Timasius and Hyrcanus are redescribed and the generic position of one species changed: Hebrus (s.str.) atratus (Distant) comb.n. for Timasius atratus.     

Mulberry improvements via plastid transformation and tissue culture engineering

The in vitro tissue culture and micropropagation studies for Morus spp., a pivotal sericulture plant, are well established. The rapid and reproducible in vitro response to plant growth regulator treatments has emerged as an essential complement of transformation studies for this plant species. A major area of study is the use of protoplast culture and fusion techniques where advantages to mulberry improvement can be applied. The advancements in genetic transformation of mulberry are reviewed, and a section on strategy for transforming plastids (chloroplasts) of mulberry is included. A role for mulberry in “molecular farming” is envisioned. The conclusions and future prospects for improvement of this economically important tree species are proposed.Key words: molecular farming, Morus spp., plastid transformation, protoplast electrofusion, sericultureThe importance of silk production is well recognized in sericulture industry that involves cultivation of host plants for silkworm rearing. India is one of the countries where sericulture is an important agro-based cottage industry involved in production of five different silk types—mori, muga, eri, tasar and oak types. This classification comes from type of host plant that act as feed for silkworm, and thus sericulture industry largely depends on the availability of host plant species. Bombyx mori (mulberry silkworm) feeds on mulberry leaves, Philosomia ricini (eri silkworm) on castor leaves, Anthraea assama (muga silkworm) on som and soalu leaves, Anthraea proylei (temperate/oak tasar silkworm) on oak leaves, and Anthraea mylitta (tropical tasar silkworm) on Terminalia leaves. A systematic and proper cultivation of novel primary and/or secondary host plants showing high yield, suitability to silkworm rearing, and resistance to different abiotic stress conditions i.e., tolerance to water stress, alkalinity and salinity are recommended for sericulture improvement.The genus Morus (commonly known as mulberry) belongs to the family Moraceae, is a group of dioecious woody trees/shrubs. Many varieties of these species are cultivated on a commercial scale in India, China, Japan and Korea for the sericulture industry.¹ In India, six species are found, namely, M. alba L., M. indica L., M. nigra L., M. atropurpurea Roxb., M. serrata Roxb. and M. laevigata Wall.² Due to higher economic return and greater employment potential, attempts are been made to increase productivity by developing high yielding mulberry varieties. At present, Mysore local, Bomaypiasbari, Kanva-2 (K2), Bilidevalaya, Kajli, Sujanpur-1 (S1), BC (2) 59, C776, RFS-175, S36 and Victory-1 are being cultivated extensively in different parts of India.