Observations on the oviposition behaviour of frit fly (Oscinella frit L. dipt. chloropidae)

Two separate groups of stimuli (1) originating from the plant, (2) proprioceptive, have been found to mediate egg laying. An artificial shoot has been devised to investigate oviposition behaviour.

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Zusammenfassung Die Eiablage wird durch eine Anzahl von Reizen ausgelöst, die nacheinander wirken, jedoch im einzelnen nicht genauer identifiziert wurden. Sie lassen sich jedoch in zwei Gruppen trennen: (1) Reize, die von der Wirtspflanze selbst ausgehen und (2) solche, die wahrscheinlich propriorezeptiv wirken und auf der Notwendigkeit einer geeigneten Haltung der Beine und des Legeapparates während des Eiablageaktes beruhen.Die propriorezeptiven Reize scheinen die Fliegen häufig von den Keimpflanzen weg und zur Ablage ihrer Eier auf dem Boden zu führen, was darauf hindeutet, daß die Eier im Freien in ähnlicher Weise in den Erdboden abgelegt werden.Ein Extrakt aus in Wasser zerriebenen Haferpflanzen scheint in Verbindung mit einer geeigneten Oberfläche (z.B. Erdboden oder Sand) Eiablageverhalten auszulösen. Verschiedene Resultate wurden mit glatt oder rauh strukturierten Oberflächen und in Abhängigkeit von Gegenwart oder Abwesenheit des Extraktes erhalten. Die Reaktion der Fliegen scheint mit dem physiologischen Zustand des Gewebes zu variieren, das den Fliegen geboten wird, und das Eiablageverhalten ist schwach, wenn den Fliegen alte oder absterbende Pflanzenteile geboten werden. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, daß Reize, welche Nahrungsaufnahme, und solche, die Eiablage hervorrufen, ursprünglich nicht die gleichen sind, ist nur gering.Eine künstliche Keimpflanze, die von den Fliegen zur Eiablage ebenso angenommen wurde wie eine junge, gesunde, lebende, wurde dadurch hergestellt, daß ein dreieckiges Stück Fließpapier mit Haferextrakt befeuchtet und in das Innere einer 2,5×2,5 cm Glastube gesteckt wurde.

     

Differential migration of the sexes in Oscinella frit (Diptera: Chloropidae)

In the spring female frit flies (Oscinella frit) migrate more than males. This is concluded as aerial populations and those on young oat crops show a preponderance of females, whilst in the grasslands where they have emerged there is an excess of males. Laboratory and field studies confirm that at emergence the proportions of males and females in the population are equal. The excess of males at the emergence sites will increase the probability of females being inseminated soon after emergence and hence having a high reproductive value when they migrate.

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Résumé Au cours de nombreuses années, différentes méthodes de piégeage ont été utilisées pour capturer des frit flies (Oscinella frit) dans les prairies (d'où elles ont émergé), en vol (de 1,2 mètres à 8,9 mètres) et sur les jeunes plantes d'avoine.Tandis que la proportion des sexes à l'émergence des pupes est de 1/1, il y a une majorité de mâles dans les populations capturées dans les prairies. Les mouches migratrices, ou colonisant les jeunes plantations d'avoine, sont pour la plupart femelles.On peut conclure qu'au printemps, les femelles ont une activité migratrice plus élevée que les mâles; que l'excès de mâles au lieu d'émergence augmente la probabilité d'insémination des femelles peu après l'éclosion et leur potentiel reproducteur au moment de leur émigration.

     

Flight of Oscinella frit L. (diptera, chloropidae) females in relation to age and ovary development

Prit fly females were flown on pins at a temperature of 25–28° in a headwind of 5 mph (2.2 m/sec.) Females flown once only, flew for the longest periods when they were about 4 days old. Individuals that flew every second day failed to fly after they were 2–3 weeks old. Tethered flight in early adult life shortened the preoviposition period. Egg production and life-time were not affected by a single flight.Females caught in suction traps in the field were dissected and classified according to ovary development. Very young females occurred in equal numbers at all heights, but those with fully developed eggs were more abundant at higher altitudes.

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Zusammenfassung Weibchen der Fritfliege wurden mit dem Thoraxrücken an Nadelspitzen angeklebt und bei einer Temperatur von 25–28° mit einem Luftstrom von 2.2 m/sec angeblasen, so daß sie flogen. Die längsten Flüge wurden von 4 Tage alten Fliegen ausgeführt. Nach dieser Zeit nahm das Flugvermögen allmählich ab. Einzelne Weibchen konnten mehrere Flüge unternehmen, aber wenn sie an jedem zweiten Tag geflogen wurden, verloren sie nach 2–3 Wochen ihr Flugvermögen, obwohl sie noch 10–15 Tage lebten und Eier legten. Besonders bei sehr jungen Weibchen hatte das Fliegen eine Abkürzung der Praeovipositionsperiode zur Folge. Die Produktion von Eiern und die Lebensdauer wurden von einem einzigen solchen Flug nicht beeinflußt.Fritfliegen-Weibchen, die in verschiedenen Höhen in Saugfallen (suction traps) gefangen worden waren, wurden seziert, um Alter und Ovarentwicklung festzustellen. Sehr junge Weibchen kamen in allen Höhen in gleichem Verhältnis vor, während solche mit reifen Eiern in den höher aufgestellten Fallen häufiger waren.

     

The identification of chemicals involved in the interaction of Oscinella frit with Avena sativa

Oscinella frit have been reared in large numbers over a 2-year period using oat plants as host. The attraction between frit fly and oat shoots can be said to be partly visual and partly chemical. Extraction of oat plants with four solvent systems, e.g. 80% ethanol, acetone, chloroform: methanol and chloroform enabled an active fraction to be obtained which attracts frit fly. A synergistic interaction between the lipid and non-lipid fraction of oats is reported for the first time. The lipid material has been separated and the substance suspected to be responsible for the attraction of frit fly has been classified as a hydroxybetadiketone.

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Résumé Oscinella frit a été élevé en grand nombre pendant une période de 2 ans sur pieds d'avoine. L'influence des pousses d'avoine sur la Mouche de Hesse peut être considérée comme partiellement visuelle et partiellement chimique. L'extractio par quatre types de solvants (éthanol à 80%, acétone, chloroforme-éthanol, chloroforme) permet d'obtenir une fraction active attirant les mouches. Une interaction synergique entre les fractions lipidiques ou non des pousses d'avoine, a été observée pour la première fois. La partie lipidique a été analysée et la substance vraisemblablement attractive a été identifiée comme une hydroxybetadiketone.

     

Sensitivity of Aedes aegypti adults (Diptera: Culicidae) to the vapors of Eucalyptus essential oils

Vapors of essential oils extracted from various species of Eucalyptus (E. gunnii, E. tereticornis, E. grandis, E. camaldulensis, E. dunnii, E. cinerea, E. saligna, E. sideroxylon, E. globulus ssp. globulus, E. globulus ssp. maidenii, E. viminalis and the hybrids E. grandis × E. tereticornis and E. grandis × E. camaldulensis) and their major components were found to be toxic to Aedes aegypti adults, the yellow fever mosquito.An aliquot of each oil was placed in a cylindrical test chamber and the number of knocked-down mosquitoes was recorded as function of time. Knockdown time 50% was then calculated. Results showed that E. viminalis had the fastest knockdown time at of 4.2 min, on the same order as dichlorvos, a standard knockdown agent. A correlation was observed between the content of 1,8-cineole in the Eucalyptus essential oils and the corresponding toxic effect.The correlation between KT₅₀ values and calculated vapor pressures of the essential oil components showed that the fumigant activity of simple organic compounds in insects is correlated with their volatility.     

In Vitro Rearing of the Parasitoid Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) on Meat Homogenate-Based Diets

The tachinid Exorista larvarum (L.), a polyphagous gregarious larval endoparasitoid of Lepidoptera, was reared from egg to fecund adult on media containing commercial meat homogenates for babies as the main ingredient. Four media, each containing a diverse homogenate supplemented with extract of Galleria mellonella L. pupae, were tested first. Despite the difference in nutrient content, the kind of homogenate did not significantly affect the adult yields (30.2 to 40.7%) or puparial weights. Two other diets free of host materials (I and II) were then tested. Both were based on Gerber veal homogenate combined with different amounts of yeast extract and chicken egg yolk and were supplemented with wheat germ (I) or saccharose (II). Adult yields (28.7 to 32.7%) and puparial weights did not differ significantly between the two diets. Fly longevity and fecundity of the females obtained on diet I were comparable to those of the females emerged from puparia formed in G. mellonella larvae. Male and female puparial weights were, however, higher and development times longer on the diet than in the host.     

Angreifende Wacholderdrosseln(Turdus pilaris L.)

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

中国瑟寄蝇属种类纪要（双翅目：寄蝇科）

研究了我国蜗寄蝇族瑟寄蝇属Cyrtophleba(双翅目:寄蝇科)2种,其中茹瑟寄蝇Cyrtophleba ruricola 分布于辽宁,山西,宁夏,新疆;变瑟寄蝇Cyrtophleba vernalis为中国新记录种,分布于辽宁。给出了上述2种的鉴别特征及变瑟寄蝇头和雄性尾器的特征图。研究标本分别保存于沈阳师范大学昆虫标本室(SYNU),中国科学院动物研究所(IZCAS)和国家林业局森林病虫害防治总站(GSFPM)。     

Micromorphological and chemical characterisation of Stachys recta L. subsp. serpentini (Fiori) Arrigoni in comparison to Stachys recta L. subsp. recta (Lamiaceae)

Stachys recta L. is a very polymorphous species in which numerous subspecies were recognised. S. recta L. subsp. serpentini (Fiori) Arrigoni is a typical endemism growing on serpentine soils in northern Apennines and particularly in Tuscany (Italy). In order to contribute to a better knowledge of this plant and to its differentiation with respect to S. recta L. subsp. recta, the micromorphological characters (non-glandular and glandular trichomes) and the essential oil composition of the two subspecies were investigated. Micromorphological characters were studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, while light microscopy was used for histochemical observations. Essential oil analysis was carried out by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.In the two examined taxa, the morphology and distribution of glandular and non-glandular trichomes, and the different essential oil composition, may be considered distinctive characters at subspecies level. This is consistent with the taxonomic classification considering S. recta subsp. serpentini a subordinate taxon of S. recta.     

MEC: A transposable element from Chironomus thummi (Diptera)

Summary Two genomic clones, pC1.2 and p20D (containing inserts of 2.0 and 1.6 kb, respectively) were isolated from the A2b region to polytene chromosome IV of Chironomus thummi thummi salivary gland cells. Upon in situ hybridization to polytene chromosomes of C. thummi thummi and C. thummi piger, p20D DNA hybridized mainly over the A2b region of chromosome IV, whereas pC1.2 DNA hybridized to at least 90 sites distributed over all the chromosomes. A partial nucleotide sequence analysis showed that these clones were very similar and allowed the detection of a 596 by insert in the pC1.2 clone. This insert possesses all of the essential features of a Class II transposable element and was called MEC. It carries a nearly perfect 107 by terminal inverted repeat containing one mismatch and is flanked by a 5 by direct repeat. The 372 by central region contains a short open reading frame with a coding capacity of 58 amino acids.     

禾本科燕麦属植物的地理分布

为探讨燕麦属(Avena L.)植物的地理分布,通过野外调查及查阅标本和文献资料,对燕麦属植物的地理分布进行整理和研究。结果表明,燕麦属植物约有29种,主要分布在欧洲、地中海地区、北非、西亚、东亚和美洲。中国有4种,分布于华北、西北、西南各省(区)的高海拔地区。燕麦属下分7个组,分别是多年生燕麦组[sect.Avenotrichon(Holub)Baum]、偏凸燕麦组(sect.Ventricosa Baum)、耕地燕麦组(sect.Agraria Baum)、软果燕麦组(sect.Tenuicarpa Baum)、埃塞俄比亚燕麦组(sect.Ethiopica Baum)、厚果燕麦组(sect.Pachycarpa Baum)和真燕麦组(sect.Avena)。其中,埃塞俄比亚燕麦组分布在埃塞俄比亚、沙特阿拉伯、也门,其他6个组分布在欧洲、地中海、西北非洲、西亚、东亚和美洲地区。地中海、西北非洲、西亚地区分布有除埃塞俄比亚燕麦组之外的所有6个组,因此推断该地区可能是燕麦属的现代分布中心和多样性中心,而燕麦属的起源地尚需确证。     

Feeding behaviour and digestion in Camponotus herculeanus (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Results of analyses for digestive enzymes in the glands and midgut of Camponotus herculeanus (L.) indicate that carbohydrases are associated with the foregut, and lipases and proteinases are confined to the midgut. As the content of the crop can be regurgitated, carbohydrate digestion may occur extra-orally. The worker ants cannot ingest solid particles and, because the brood is fed on regurgitated food, the entire protein requirements of a colony are apparently supplied by the haemolymph and water-soluble protein of the prey.

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Zusammenfassung Beobachtungen über das Verhalten von Camponotus herculeanus (L.) bei der Nahrungsaufnahme zeigten, daß die Arbeiterinnen nach dem Anschneiden der Kutikula ihrer Beute nur die austretende Körperflüssigkeit aufnahmen. Sobald der Ausfluß dieser Körperflüssigkeit aufhörte, begannen sie den Kropfinhalt in die Wunde zu erbrechen und sich dieses Material anschließend sofort wieder einzuverleiben.Analysen der Verdauungsfermente zeigten, daß die Maxillardrüsen Invertase und Amylase und die Speicheldrüsen Amylase produzierten. Der Mitteldarm lieferte Protease, Lipase und Spuren von Invertase.Fütterungsversuche ergaben, daß im Kropf keine Eiweißverdauung stattfindet, demnach also kein Zufluß von Verdauungsfermenten aus dem Mitteldarm nach dem Vorderdarm erfolgt.In den Postpharyngealdrüsen wurden keine nennenswerten Mengen von Verdauungsfermenten gefunden. Es wird vermutet, daß die Hauptfunktion dieser Drüse mit der Trophallaxis verbunden ist.

     

Studies on the secretion of digestive enzymes in Locusta migratoria L.

At the beginning of the last nymphal instar or of adult life of Locusta there is a small production of invertase in the tissues of the midgut and caeca, which appears to be under hormonal control. This ceases after a few days if food is withheld. From then on the production of enzyme is probably dependent on the gut being continuously filled with food.

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Zusammenfassung Der Invertase-Gehalt der Gewebe des Mitteldarms und der Blinddärme von Locusta migratoria wurde in Beziehung zu Fraß- und Fastenperioden untersucht, so wie sie im natürlichen Verlauf der Entwicklung oder künstlich hervorgerufen eintreten. Sowohl im fünften Larvenstadium wie zu Beginn des Imaginalstadiums weisen die Heuschrecken einen zu vernachlässigenden Enzymgehalt auf. Innerhalb der ersten 24 Stunden tritt eine endogene Enzymsekretion ein, die nach 48 Stunden ein Maximum erreicht, aber keine weitere Verstärkung erfährt, wenn keine Nahrung gereicht wird. In diesem Faktor liegt demnach eine Begrenzungsmöglichkeit. Es bestehen einige Anzeichen, daß diese Phase der Enzymproduktion unter der Kontrolle eines Hormons steht, das in der Kopfregion ausgeschieden wird. Nahrungsaufnahme verursacht eine gesteigerte Rate der Enzymsynthese, die in der Imago dauernd bestehen bleibt, in der Larve aber mit Einsetzen des Fastens vor der Häutung beendet wird.Wenn Larven oder Erwachsene drei Tage lang kein Futter erhalten haben, genügt eine kurze, halbstündige Mahlzeit nicht, um die Enzymsekretion in Gang zu setzen. Doch führt die Wiederaufnahme normaler Fraßtätigkeit zu erneuter Enzymbildung, wobei Invertase viel rascher als Proteinase auftritt. In dieser Phase scheint beständige Anwesenheit von Nahrung im Darm die Voraussetzung für die Enzymproduktion zu sein.

     

Seed germination and dormancy in the medicinal woodland herbs Collinsonia canadensis L. (Lamiaceae) and Dioscorea villosa L. (Dioscoreaceae)

We used a double germination phenology or “move-along” experiment (sensu Baskin and Baskin, 2003) to characterize seed dormancy in two medicinal woodland herbs, Collinsonia canadensis L. (Lamiaceae) and Dioscorea villosa L. (Dioscoreaceae). Imbibed seeds of both species were moved through the following two sequences of simulated thermoperiods: (a) 30/15 °C→20/10 °C→15/6 °C→5 °C→15/6 °C→20/10 °C→30/15 °C, and (b) 5 °C→15/6 °C→20/10 °C→30/15 °C→20/10 °C→15/6 °C→5 °C. In each sequence, seeds of both species germinated to high rates (>85%) at cool temperatures (15/6 and 20/10 °C) only if seeds were previously exposed to cold temperatures (5 °C). Seeds kept at four control thermoperiods (5, 15/6, 20/10, 30/15 °C) for 30 d showed little or no germination. Seeds of both species, therefore, have physiological dormancy that is broken by 12 weeks of cold (5 °C) stratification. Morphological studies indicated that embryos of C. canadensis have “investing” embryos at maturity (morphological dormancy absent), whereas embryos of D. villosa are undeveloped at maturity (morphological dormancy present). Because warm temperatures are required for embryo growth and cold stratification breaks physiological dormancy, D. villosa seeds have non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Neither species afterripened in a 6-month dry storage treatment. Cold stratification treatments of 4 and 8 weeks alleviated dormancy in both species but C. canadensis seeds germinated at slower speeds and lower rates compared to seeds given 12 weeks of cold stratification. In their natural habitat, both species disperse seeds in mid- to late autumn and germinate in the spring after cold winter temperatures alleviate endogenous dormancy.     

Map position of Aldox (Aldehyde-oxidase) and Adh (Alcohol dehydrogenase) loci on autosome II of Musca domestica L.

The Aldox and Adh structural loci of Musca domestica L. belong to autosome II. They code for the enzymes aldehyde oxidase and alcohol dehydrogenase. Both these enzymes have allelic variants with specific electrophoretic mobility, which, on cellogel, are seen as single bands. The Aldox and Adh loci encompass a large map interval, which includes the morphological markers ar, cm, and car. The recombination frequencies between these five loci indicate the alignment Aldox-ar-cm-car-Adh.

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Localisation chez Musca domestica L. des gènes Aldox et Adh codant les enzymes ald\;ehyde oxydase (AO) et alcool déshydrogénase (ADH)

Résumé Chez la mouche, les enzymes AO et ADH, observées par électrophorèse sur cellogel, présentent toutes 2 des formes alléliques exprimées par des bandes ayant une mobilité anodique propre.Les gènes structuraux Aldox et Adh, codant ces formes, sont liés entre eux et situés sur le chromosome 2. Ils se recombinent avec une fréquence élevée d'interchange; ils sont donc séparés par un intervalle important dans lequel sont compris les caractères visibles ar, cm, car. La fréquence des recombinaisons entre caractères visibles et gènes enzymatiques indique l'ordre suivant sur ce segment du deuxième chromosome de la mouche: Aldox, ar, cm, car, Adh.

     

Comparison of the suitability of Liriomyza chinensis and L. trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) as hosts for Neochrysocharis okazakii (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Effective parasitoid production or mass-rearing is one of the key components in practicing biological control with parasitoids. Selection of host species for rearing parasitoids is a major approach to improve the production efficiency. The stone leek leafminer Liriomyza chinensis (Kato) is a destructive pest of onion crops in many Asian countries, which is difficult to control with chemicals. The present study examined whether the production of Neochrysocharis okazakii Kamijo, a promising native biological agent of L. chinensis, could be effective if kidney bean-Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) system was used as an alternative rearing procedure. The suitability of L. chinensis and L. trifolii as hosts of N. okazakii was investigated in the laboratory. Neochrysocharis okazakii completed its development on both two host species, and the total development time was similar on these hosts. Longevity of N. okazakii females provided with L. chinensis was longer than those on L. trifolii. There were no significant differences in fecundity and offspring sex ratio when females had been provided with these two host species. The adult parasitoids emerged from L. chinensis were significantly larger than those from L. trifolii. However, the intrinsic rate of increase was higher, and mean generation time was lower, for L. trifolii than L. chinensis. Thus, mean net reproductive rate (Ro) was higher when L. trifolii was used as host. Although the two host species were equally suitable as host for N. okazakii, our findings suggested that L. trifolii and kidney bean is an ideal system for N. okazakii production.     

中国毛茛科翠雀属的分类学研究(四):五花翠雀花的名实订正

通过标本室和野外观察,发现根据云南中甸标本描述的毛茛科五花翠雀花(Delphinium quinqueflorum W.T.Wang)与当地颇为常见的澜沧翠雀花(D.thibeticum Finet&Gagnep.)没有本质区别,仅为其稍矮小的植株,故将前者处理为后者的异名。     

Feeding behaviour of Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on Luffa aegyptiaca

Observations on adult Epilachna vigintioctopunctata Fabr. on Luffa aegyptiaca show that these insects prefer flowers in light and leaves and flowers in dark. Probably physical and chemical stimuli, originating from the flowers, guide beetles to them in light. In darkness the insects' comparatively greater preference to leaves and flowers suggests that the attractants and arrestants present in both these parts of the plant are mainly in the form of chemical stimuli bearing equal intensity. These insects prefer to feed on the corolla of the flower of L. aegyptiaca. This preference is affected by stimulants in these parts of the plant. The nature and characteristics of these stimuli are unknown.

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Comportement alimentaire d'Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera, coccinellidae) sur Luffa aegyptiaca

Résumé Cette étude expose les résultats d'observations sur l'orientation et sur le préférendum alimentaire de la coccinelle Epilachna vigintioctopunctata Fabr. à l'égard des diverses parties de sa plante hôte: Luffa aegyptiaca. Les expériences réalisées sont décrites et les données numériques obtenues ont été soumises au calcul statistique. Il a été établi que dans des conditions d'obscurité les insectes se portent en nombre presque égal sur les fleurs et sur les feuilles, alors qu'à la lumière, les fleurs sont nettement plus attractives. En ce qui concerne leur alimentation, les insectes préfèrent se nourrir aux dépens de la corolle de la fleur.Les divers facteurs, chimiques ou visuels, pouvant intervenir dans l'orientation de l'insecte et dans son comportement alimentaire, sont discutés.

     

Phylogeography of Chrysanthemum indicum L. (Compositae) in China based on trnL-F sequences

Using chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) trnL-F sequences, we studied the phylogeographic pattern and demographic history of Chrysanthemum indicum with 81 individuals from 27 populations representing the partial geographic range in China. Fifteen haplotypes were identified based on nucleotide variation. Relatively high levels of haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.783) and low levels of nucleotide diversity (Pi = 0.00521) were detected in C. indicum. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most of the genetic variation (59.9%, P < 0.001) was partitioned within populations. Genetic differentiation among populations was high (F_ST = 0.35), suggesting that there is little gene flow among populations. Nested clade analysis showed that 15 haplotypes formed twelve 1-step clades, five 2-step clades and two 3-step clades, with four clades showing significant geographical association. We concluded that contiguous range expansion and restricted gene flow/dispersal but with some long distance dispersal seemed to have shaped the present-day distribution of the haplotypes of C. indicum in China.     

中国毛茛科翠雀属的分类学研究(十二):竞生翠雀花的名实订正

通过标本室和野外观察,发现根据云南西北部中甸标本描述的毛茛科竞生翠雀花（Delphinium yangii W.T.Wang）与此前记载分布于该地及四川西南部（康定、小金、汶川）的宝兴翠雀花（D.smithianum Hand.-Mazz.）属于同一分类实体,故将前者处理为后者的异名。