Effect of Temperature on Development and Fecundity of the Predaceous Plant Bug <Emphasis Type="Italic">Deraeocoris brevis</Emphasis> Reared on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ephestia kuehniella</Emphasis> Eggs

Temperature-dependent development and oviposition component models were developed for Deraeocoris brevis (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Miridae). Egg development times decreased with increasing temperature and ranged from 35.8 d at 15 °C to 6.7 d at 32 °C. Total development times of nymphs reared on frozen Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs decreased from an estimated 55.6 d at 15 °C to 9.2 d at 32 °C and 10.0 d at 34.6 °C. By fitting linear models to the data the lower developmental threshold temperatures for eggs, small nymphs (1st to 3rd instar), large nymphs (4th to 5th instar), and all nymphs combined were calculated as 10.5, 12.5, 11.8, and 11.9 °C, respectively. The thermal constants were 144.1, 90.3, 95.0, and 190.8 degree-days for each of the above stages. The non-linear model was based on a Gaussian equation, which fit the relationship between development rate and temperature well for all stages. The Weibull function provided a good fit for the distribution of development times of each stage. Adult longevity decreased with increasing temperature and ranged from 52.9 d at 21.7 to 16.8 d at 32.0 °C. D. brevis had a maximum fecundity of 471 eggs per female at 24 °C, which declined to 191 eggs per female at 32 °C. Also, three temperature-dependent components for an oviposition model of D. brevis were developed including models for total fecundity, age-specific cumulative oviposition rate, and age-specific survival rate.     

Dispersal and Predation Behavior in Larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysomya albiceps</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysomya megacephala</Emphasis> (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Chrysomya albiceps and Chrysomya megacephala are exotic blowfly species known by producing myiasis in humans and other animals and by transmitting pathogens mechanically. C. albiceps stand out by being a facultative predator of other dipteran larvae. In this paper we investigated the influence of larval predation on the dispersal of larvae of C. albiceps and C. megacephala single and double species for three photophases. An experimental acrylic channel graduated and covered with wood shavings was used to observe the larval dispersal. The results showed that C. albiceps attacks C. megacephala larvae during dispersal and keeps an aggregated pattern close to the release point, in single and double species, independently of the different photophases. Chrysomya megacephala single species exhibited the same pattern, but in double species this was changed to a random distribution.     

Specificity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anagyrus</Emphasis> sp. nov. nr. <Emphasis Type="Italic">sinope</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptomastix dactylopii</Emphasis> for six mealybug species

In order to understand better non-target effect and potential uses, the host specificity of two parasitoid species (Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope Noyes & Menezes and Leptomastix dactylopii Howard) (both Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) for six mealybug species [Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell), Phenacoccus madeirensis Green, Phenacoccus solani Ferris, Planococcus citri (Risso),Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni-Tozzetti) and Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret)] (all Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was studied through behavioral observations and laboratory rearing. The selected mealybug species represent major subfamilies and tribes of Pseudococcidae. Except for F. virgata, all mealybug species induced examinations by Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope and L. dactylopii. Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope was specific to P. madeirensis, which was the only mealybug species selected for oviposition and suitable for complete development of the parasitoid. No encapsulation of Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope in P. madeirensis was observed. Leptomastix dactylopii accepted multiple species for oviposition, with the ranking of species preference as P. citri > P. viburni > P. longispinus > P. solani > P. madeirensis. Only P. citri, P. longispinus and P. viburni supported the development of L. dactylopii. Parasitoids developing in P. longispinus and P. viburni suffered from high encapsulation rates, while no encapsulation was observed when developing in P. citri. The results of this study suggest that Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope is highly host specific. Leptomastix dactylopii, on the other hand, has a wider host range. The use of Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope in a mealybug biological control program is limited to P. madeirensis and L. dactylopii to P. citri. The results presented in this study also lead us to question the accuracy of the reported host range of L. dactylopii, which include all six mealybug species tested.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>1<Emphasis Type="Italic">/copia</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>3<Emphasis Type="Italic">/gypsy</Emphasis>-like DNA sequences in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus </Emphasis>species

Two repeated DNA sequences isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of Helianthus annuus, p HaS13 and p HaS211, were shown to represent portions of the int gene of a Ty3 /gypsy retroelement and of the RNase-Hgene of a Ty1 /copia retroelement, respectively. Southern blotting patterns obtained by hybridizing the two probes to BglII- or DraI-digested genomic DNA from different Helianthus species showed p HaS13 and p HaS211 were parts of dispersed repeats at least 8 and 7 kb in length, respectively, that were conserved in all species studied. Comparable hybridization patterns were obtained in all species with p HaS13. By contrast, the patterns obtained by hybridizing p HaS211 clearly differentiated annual species from perennials. The frequencies of p HaS13- and p HaS211-related sequences in different species were 4.3x10(4)-1.3x10(5) copies and 9.9x10(2)-8.1x10(3) copies per picogram of DNA, respectively. The frequency of p HaS13-related sequences varied widely within annual species, while no significant difference was observed among perennial species. Conversely, the frequency variation of p HaS211-related sequences was as large within annual species as within perennials. Sequences of both families were found to be dispersed along the length of all chromosomes in all species studied. However, Ty3 /gypsy-like sequences were localized preferentially at the centromeric regions, whereas Ty1/ copia-like sequences were less represented or absent around the centromeres and plentiful at the chromosome ends. These findings suggest that the two sequence families played a role in Helianthusgenome evolution and species divergence, evolved independently in the same genomic backgrounds and in annual or perennial species, and acquired different possible functions in the host genomes.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Galleria</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">mellonella</Emphasis> are Resistant to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pneumocystis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">murina</Emphasis> Infection

Studying Pneumocystis has proven to be a challenge from the perspective of propagating a significant amount of the pathogen in a facile manner. The study of several fungal pathogens has been aided by the use of invertebrate model hosts. Our efforts to infect the invertebrate larvae Galleria mellonella with Pneumocystis proved futile since P. murina neither caused disease nor was able to proliferate within G. mellonella. It did, however, show that the pathogen could be rapidly cleared from the host.     

Evaluation of protein <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">in vitro</Emphasis> digestibility of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Palmaria palmata</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Gracilaria verrucosa</Emphasis>

Palmaria palmata and Gracilaria verrucosa are edible red seaweeds and potential protein sources for human or animal nutrition, so studies were conducted on their in vitro protein digestibility. After 30 min predigestion by pepsin followed by 6 h digestion into a cell dialysis containing porcine pancreatin, the in vitro protein digestibility of P. palmata and G. verrucosa, expressed in regard to casein digestibility, was 4.9% and 42.1%, respectively. The level of protein digestibility seems to be related to the amount of soluble fibre, which was 45.3% and 30.5%, respectively.     

Revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis> species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penstemon</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccanthera</Emphasis> subsection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis>

A revision of Penstemon sect. Saccanthera subsect. Serrulati includes a new species (P. salmonensis), a new variety (P. triphyllus var. infernalis), and the elevation of a subspecies to species (P. curtiflorus), bringing the total number of species to eight, which are keyed and described, complete with nomenclature and type citations.     

Oviposition Sites of the Cypress Seed Bug <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orsillus maculatus</Emphasis> and Response of the Egg Parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Telenomus</Emphasis> gr. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Floridanus</Emphasis>

Phytophagous insects have many strategies to escape parasitoids, for example by hiding eggs into plant tissues, but oviposition in holes made by another insect is rather scarce. The cypress seed bug Orsillus maculatus Fieber (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) is strictly dependent on the availability of cones of Cupressus sempervirens L. to oviposit. Females lay eggs either in exit holes cut through the cone scale by emerging adults of the cypress seed chalcid, Megastigmus wachtli Seitner (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), or on the inner side of scales of partly open cones. A recently discovered egg parasitoid belonging to the genus Telenomus has been shown to attack bug eggs in both oviposition sites. In this paper we investigated the parasitoid performance according to oviposition sites. Field samplings were conducted in two evergreen cypress orchards located in the south of France. The distribution and condition of the egg patches were compared between the two locations and oviposition sites. Seed bugs preferred to oviposit in emergence holes of M. wachtli, and parasitoid performance was higher in eggs laid on cone scales. The chalcid emergence holes seemed to ensure bug eggs with enemy-free space. Oviposition site selection could be an adaptive strategy to escape parasitoid attack.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of callus cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crataegus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aronia</Emphasis>

A genetic transformation system has been developed for callus cells of Crataegus aronia using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Callus culture was established from internodal stem segments incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5 mg l⁻¹ Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA). In order to optimize the callus culture system with respect to callus growth and coloration, different types and concentrations of plant growth regulators were tested. Results indicated that the best average fresh weight of red colored callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.5 mg l⁻¹ kinetin (Kin) (callus maintenance medium). Callus cells were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium harboring the binary plasmid pCAMBIA1302 carrying the mgfp5 and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hptII) genes conferring green fluorescent protein (GFP) activity and hygromycin resistance, respectively. Putative transgenic calli were obtained 4 weeks after incubation of the co-cultivated explants onto maintenance medium supplemented with 50 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin. Molecular analysis confirmed the integration of the transgenes in transformed callus. To our knowledge, this is the first time to report an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system in Crataegus aronia.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">briggsae</Emphasis> genome contains active <Emphasis Type="Italic">CbmaT1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tcb1</Emphasis> transposons

The maT clade of transposons is a group of transposable elements intermediate in sequence and predicted protein structure to mariner and Tc transposons, with a distribution thus far limited to a few invertebrate species. We present evidence, based on searches of publicly available databases, that the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae has several maT-like transposons, which we have designated as CbmaT elements, dispersed throughout its genome. We also describe two additional transposon sequences that probably share their evolutionary history with the CbmaT transposons. One resembles a fold back variant of a CbmaT element, with long (380-bp) inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) that show a high degree (71%) of identity to CbmaT1. The other, which shares only the 26-bp ITR sequences with one of the CbmaT variants, is present in eight nearly identical copies, but does not have a transposase gene and may therefore be cross mobilised by a CbmaT transposase. Using PCR-based mobility assays, we show that CbmaT1 transposons are capable of excising from the C. briggsae genome. CbmaT1 excised approximately 500 times less frequently than Tcb1 in the reference strain AF16, but both CbmaT1 and Tcb1 excised at extremely high frequencies in the HK105 strain. The HK105 strain also exhibited a high frequency of spontaneous induction of unc-22 mutants, suggesting that it may be a mutator strain of C. briggsae.     

Veligers from the nudibranch <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendronotus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">frondosus</Emphasis> show shell growth and extended planktonic period in laboratory culture

The planktonic period of planktotrophic veliger larvae from the nudibranch Dendronotus frondosus was characterized by laboratory culture methods. Larvae in culture successfully metamorphosed at 73–86 days after hatching. These veligers have Type 2 (Thompson) larval shells that significantly increased in length over the first 7–14 days after hatching. Direct observations of the development of nudibranch larvae with Type 2 protoconchs are limited, and these data help clarify previous attempts to correlate shell type and growth with minimum planktonic periods. Although these are not absolute values for the planktonic period of D. frondosus larvae, these data show the potential for extended larval dispersal and may help explain reports of an extensive geographic range in north-temperate waters for this species.     

New combinations and typifications in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bistorta</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Persicaria</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygonum,</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex</Emphasis> (Polygonaceae)

New combinations are proposed in anticipation of the Polygonaceae treatment in the forthcoming volume of Intermountain Flora: Polygonum kelloggii var. esotericum, P. kelloggii var. watsonii , Rumex densiflorus var. pycnanthus , R. salicifolius var. utahensis, and R. occidentalis var. tomentellus. Typifications are proposed to facilitate ongoing studies in Polygonaceae and to maintain current usage.     

Dispersal and Burial Behavior in Larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysomya megacephala</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysomya albiceps</Emphasis> (Diptera,Calliphoridae)

Blowflies use discrete and ephemeral substrates to feed their larva. After they run out of food, the larvae begin to disperse in order to find adequate places for pupation or additional food sources, a process named post-feeding larval dispersal. Briefly state the aspects and why they are important were studied in a circular arena of 25 cm in diameter and covered with wood shavings to a height of 40 cm allowing post-feeding dispersal from the center of the arena. Larvae of both Chrysomya albiceps and C. megacephala were used in five experiments for each species. For each pupa location, determined as distance from the center, depth, and weight were evaluated. Statistical tests were done to verify the relation between weight, depth and distance for pupation and for larvae of two species shows that the media distance is significantly different for two species and for C. megacephala this distance is greater than the distance for C. albiceps. The depth too is different for each species, as the larvae of C. megacephala buries deeper than C. albiceps. With relation of weight, there is no statistic evidence that have any difference between weights for pupation for each species.     

Putative Host Volatiles Used by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Habrobracon hebetor</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to Locate Larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plodia interpunctella</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a post-harvest pest of grains, milled and processed food, processing plants, warehouses and bakeries. The parasitoid, Habrobracon hebetor (Say) is among the most important natural enemies of Pyralidae infesting stored grains and grain products. Many parasitoids use semiochemicals originating from their hosts, or host’s habitat as cues to locate hosts, hosts’ food or habitat. The authors used Y-tube and four-way olfactometers to assay responses to stimuli with the moth host and thereby understand the role of host-associated semiochemicals in host location by H. hebetor. Responses of mated parasitoid females were assayed to the following stimuli: P. interpunctella sex pheromone, female adults, larvae, or hexane extracts of residue of the rearing medium. Generally, host-related odor sources generated stimuli that elicited better responses than those to blank controls. Previous exposure to odor sources from the host shortened latency periods and response times compared to naïve females. Odors emanating from live moth larvae elicited the strongest responses. When responses from the four odor sources were compared in a four-way olfactometer, it was confirmed that volatiles from larval moths elicited the strongest attraction to the parasitoid. The involvement of host-specific chemical cues in both long and short range host location by female parasitoid is discussed.     

Oviposition Behavior of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pheropsophus aequinoctialis</Emphasis> L. (Coleoptera: Carabidae): A Natural Enemy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scapteriscus</Emphasis> Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

In the southeastern United States, South American Scapteriscus mole crickets are serious pests of turf and pasture grasses and vegetable seedlings. The larval stage of Pheropsophus aequinoctialis L. is a specialist predator of Scapteriscus mole cricket eggs and is currently under evaluation as a potential biological control agent. The objective of this study was to understand the oviposition behavior of P. aequinoctialis. The results indicated that in two-choice substrate oviposition arenas, female P. aequinoctialis significantly preferred to lay eggs in sand with mole cricket tunnels compared with artificially created tunnels or sand without tunnels. Physical tunnel presence influenced oviposition depth, but was not the only factor influencing oviposition. The reproductive strategy and behavior of P. aequinoctialis is discussed in relation to its specialized life history and to other carabid beetles displaying close host associations.     

Electrostatic attraction between cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">bc</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript> and cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> affects kinetics of cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> reduction

The kinetics of the ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase reaction was examined using membrane fragments and purified bc(1) complexes derived from a wild-type (WT) and a newly constructed mutant (MUT) strains of Paracoccus denitrificans. The cytochrome c(1) of the WT samples possessed an additional stretch of acidic amino acids, which was lacking in the mutant. The reaction was followed with positively charged mitochondrial and negatively charged bacterial cytochromes c, and specific activities, apparent k(cat) values, and first-order rate constant values were compared. These values were distinctly lower for the MUT fractions using mitochondrial cytochrome c but differed only slightly with the bacterial species. The MUT preparations were less sensitive to changes of ionic strength of the reaction media and showed pure first-order kinetics with both samples of cytochrome c. The reaction of the WT enzyme was first order only with bacterial cytochrome c but proceeded with a non-linear profile with mitochondrial cytochrome c. The analysis of the reaction pattern revealed a rapid onset of the reaction with a successively declining rate. Experiments performed in the absence of an electron donor indicated that electrostatic attraction could directly participate in cytochrome c reduction.     

Ectomycorrhizae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuber huidongense</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. liyuanum</Emphasis> with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Castanea mollissima</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus armandii</Emphasis>

Tuber huidongense and T. liyuanum are common commercial white truffles in China that belong to the Rufum and Puberulum groups of the genus Tuber, respectively. Their mycorrhizae were successfully synthesized with two native trees—Castanea mollissima and Pinus armandii—under greenhouse conditions. The identities of the mycorrhizae were confirmed through internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses, and their morphological characteristics were described. All of the obtained mycorrhizae have an interlocking pseudoparenchymatous mantle, which is a typical feature of truffle mycorrhizae. The mycorrhizae of T. huidongense on the two trees have hyaline branched emanating hyphae, similar to the documented mycorrhizae of the Rufum group. The unramified, spiky, and hyaline cystidia on the mycorrhizae of T. liyuanum with both C. mollissima and P. armandii further confirmed that this characteristic is constant for the mycorrhizae of the Puberulum group. The successful mycorrhizal syntheses on the two nut-producing trees will be of economic importance in the cultivation of the two truffles.     

In planta transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Notocactus scopa</Emphasis> cv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Soonjung</Emphasis> by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>

Notocactus scopa cv. Soonjung was subjected to in planta Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation with vacuum infiltration, pin-pricking, and a combination of the two methods. The pin-pricking combined with vacuum infiltration (20-30 cmHg for 15 min) resulted in a transformation efficiency of 67-100%, and the expression of the uidA and nptII genes was detected in transformed cactus. The established in planta transformation technique generated a transgenic cactus with higher transformation efficiency, shortened selection process, and stable gene expression via asexual reproduction. All of the results showed that the in planta transformation method utilized in the current study provided an efficient and time-saving procedure for the delivery of genes into the cactus genome, and that this technique can be applied to other asexually reproducing succulent plant species.