Some effects of organic pollution on the distribution and seasonal incidence of Chironomidae in riffles in the River Cole

SUMMARY. The effects of a sewage effluent discharge into the River Cole, Birmingham, were determined by regular collections of water and biological samples from six comparable stations, one above and five below the sewage effluent. The effluent reduced the dissolved oxygen concentration and increased the ammonia, orthophosphate and BOD concentrations in the water. The effects were much more severe during the summer.
The Chironomidae were very important constituents of the benthic macroinvertebrate community at the stations downstream of the effluent. Larval densities of over 30,000 m⁻² were recorded. Eleven species were common and of these Chironomus riparius was the most tolerant. There was considerable variation in the seasonal incidence of the different species. Brillia longifurca was most abundant in the spring while Cricotopus bicinctus was most abundant in the summer. Brillia longifurca, Paratrichocladius rufiventris, Prodiamesa olivacea, Micropsectra atrofasciata and Eukiefferiella claripennis had three peaks in numbers of larvae during the year.
The increase in the polluted state of the river in the summer resulted in changes in the chironomid populations. Some were suppressed, e.g. E. claripennis , while C. riparius extended its range and achieved maximum abundance further downstream during the summer.     

A comparative study on mouthpart morphology of certain larvae of Chironomini (Diptera: Chironomidae) with reference to the larval feeding habits

Mouthparts of six species of chironomid larvae were compared on both an intra- and inter-specific level. The species were: Chironomus riparius, Cryptochironomus defectus gr., Endochironomus albipennis, Glyptotendipes pallens, Microtendipes pedellus and Parachironomus arcuatus . The mouthpart morphology in C. defectus gr. and P. arcuatus is considerably different from the four other species and changes little between instars. Within C. riparius, E. albipennis, G. pallens and M. pedellus there is a considerable difference in the mouthpart morphology between the first instar and the remaining instars. The morphology of the mouthparts of the first instar of C. riparius, E. albipennis, G. pallens and M. pedellus resembles in many ways that found in C. defectus gr. and P. arcuatus .     

稻纵卷叶螟幼虫驯化产生的热适应能力的继代效应

摘要: 【目的】在全球不断变暖背景下,昆虫受到热胁迫的频率不断增加。短期内反复受到热胁迫会使昆虫产生热适应性,但是昆虫热驯化所产生的耐热能力的传代效应还不完全清楚。稻纵卷叶螟Cnaphalocrocis medinalis是水稻上的重要害虫,对其幼虫在特定温度下进行几代热锻炼可提高其对高温的适应能力。本研究旨在摸清稻纵卷叶螟热适应的传代能力,为在全球变暖形势下以温度因子预测其种群发展趋势提供指导。【方法】将实验室内分别经39℃和41℃连续锻炼30代建立的稻纵卷叶螟热锻炼品系HA39和HA41以及非锻炼品系HA27的1-5龄期幼虫在不同温度(36℃和41℃)下进行不同时长(1~144 h)的暴露处理,调查幼虫的存活率,确定热锻炼品系幼虫的耐热能力;采用两品系间杂交实验测定HA39和HA27各交配组合的繁殖力及后代3龄幼虫的耐热能力;对HA39停止高温锻炼,并测定停止锻炼2代后3龄幼虫的耐热能力。【结果】稻纵卷叶螟3龄幼虫经历多代次短期热锻炼不仅可提高该龄幼虫的高温适应力,而且可提高其他龄期幼虫对特定高温的耐受能力,表现为HA39和HA41在36或41℃下处理特定时长的存活率显著高于HA27。锻炼高温的不同,幼虫获得的热耐受能力也有差异。39℃下锻炼可提高4龄幼虫在36℃下暴露2和4 d以及5龄幼虫在41℃下暴露5和6 h时的存活率,但41℃下锻炼则不可。HA39和HA27的自交及杂交后代的繁殖力之间均无显著差异,杂交后代3龄幼虫在41℃下处理5和6 h时的存活率与HA39自交后代的相当,并且显著高于HA27自交后代的,幼虫通过热锻炼获得的耐热能力可从亲本遗传给后代。停止热锻炼2代后,在39℃下处理4 h时HA39 3龄幼虫的存活率显著高于HA27的,但39℃下其余处理时间以及36和41℃下处理1~7 h HA39 3龄幼虫的存活率均与HA27的无显著差异,表明幼虫热锻炼产生的耐热能力在停止锻炼后2代仍可部分保持。【结论】稻纵卷叶螟幼虫的热适应能力具有继代效应。经过长期的气候变暖适应后,稻纵卷叶螟种群的热适应能力很可能在不断增强,从而夏季高温对其种群的抑制作用减弱,其种群暴发频率增加。     

Seasonal dynamics and larval drift of Chironomus riparius (Diptera) in a metal contaminated lowland river

Chironomus riparius is one of the insect species which inhabit polluted rivers in large densities, indicating a high adaptive capacity. Previous studies showed that this capacity is expressed by the occurrence of adapted strains in metal polluted rivers. Differences in life history between metal-exposed and non-exposed midges have been demonstrated in laboratory experiments, and therefore a comparative field study of seasonal dynamics was carried out at two metal polluted sites and one reference site. Just downstream from a massive metal discharge, seasonal dynamics were almost identical to the upstream reference site. Circa four generations per year were produced. Further downstream, lower larval densities were recorded, especially during the second half of the sampling period. The influx of upstream C. riparius larvae into polluted sites was estimated by measuring larval drift just upstream from the point source of metal contamination and indicated a massive input to the standing stock downstream. It is concluded that drift of non-tolerant larvae is dominating the seasonal dynamics of midges downstream. Accordingly, genetic uniformity of chironomids inhabiting upstream and downstream sites is expected most of the time. However, research performed during the last decade, demonstrated that genetically adapted strains of C. riparius may develop at certain stages in the seasonal cycle. However, a stable metal-adapted C. riparius population at the first downstream site, is most likely present on rare occasions only.     

Expression of Chironomus riparius serine-type endopeptidase gene under di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) exposure

Environmental stressors can induce changes in gene expression that can be useful as biomarkers. To identify potential biomarkers of water quality, we characterized full-length cDNA sequences of the serine-type endopeptidase (SP) gene from Chironomus riparius. Their expression was analyzed during different life-history stages and in response to treatment with various concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) for short and long periods of time. A comparative molecular and phylogenetic investigation was then conducted among different orders of insects using sequence database analysis. The sequence of the C. riparius SP gene was found to be most closely related to the sequence of SPs isolated from Aedes aegypti. In addition, the basal level of C. riparius SP mRNA was more highly expressed in larvae than in other life-history stages. However, the expression of C. riparius SP was primarily limited to the gut in larvae. When the effects of short-term exposure to DEHP were evaluated, C. riparius SP gene expression decreased within 1 h of treatment, regardless of dose. We also investigated expression of the C. riparius SP gene following long-term DEHP exposure (10 days) and found that it decreased significantly across all DEHP dosages. Finally, the response of the SP gene was more sensitive in C. riparius that were exposed to low concentrations of DEHP than in those that were exposed to high concentrations. These results show that suppression of the C. riparius SP gene by DEHP is as a potential biomarker that could be useful for monitoring aquatic quality.     

The speciation of coliform genera from above and below a sewer outfall and their susceptibilities to antimicrobial agents

The occurrence of coliforms in a small water course was shown to increase by a factor of thirty six below the outfall of a sewage treatment plant. Speciation of the bacteria from above and below the sewer outfall showed thatEscherichia coli andEnterobacter species predominated. Drug resistance levels were significant in microorganisms from both sampling sites and the occurrence of a significant number of multiple-resistant microorganisms, particularlyE. coli, is reported. BothE. coli andEnterobacter species from below the sewer outfall show a statistically significant increase in resistance to ampicillin andE. coli from below the outfall also shows a statistically significant increase in resistance to sulphamethoxazole as compared with isolates from above the outfall.     

Influence of generation and photoperiod on larval development of Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The influence of generation (under field conditions) and photoperiod (under laboratory conditions) on Lobesia botrana larvae development was studied. Some larvae were collected during three annual generations in two grape-growing areas of northeastern Italy, and others were individually reared in the laboratory from egg to pupa on an artificial diet under two different photoperiod conditions (respectively, daylight 16 h/d [long day {LD}] and 14 h/d [short day {SD}]). The mandible lengths of collected larvae were measured and the data analyzed morphometrically to determine the number of larval instars. In the laboratory study, the number of larval moultings, the mandible length of each instar, the development time from hatching larva to pupa, and the pupal weight were considered. The measurement of mandible lengths of larvae collected in the field indicated the existence of five larval instars in all three annual generations, but the size of the two oldest larval instars was significantly higher for third-generation larvae than for the previous generations. Under laboratory conditions, the larvae usually exhibited five instars, but the mandible lengths of larvae and the pupa size were greater for individuals reared under SD. These also took a greater number of days to develop from hatching larvae to pupae. Because a larger size of the final larval instar occurs in individuals that produce diapausing pupae under SD in both the laboratory and the field, a positive association between larval size and the probability of surviving the winter can be inferred.     

Evidence for the presence of a threshold weight for entering diapause in the yellow-spotted longicorn beetle, Psacothea hilaris

Under long-day conditions larvae of Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) pupate after the 4th or 5th instar, while under short-day conditions they undergo 2-4 nonstationary supernumerary molts and eventually enter diapause. To explore the possibility of a threshold weight for entering diapause, P. hilaris larvae were deprived of food on days 0 (day of ecdysis), 4 or 8 of the 4th, 5th and 6th instars under short-day conditions. Within the first 40 days of starvation, 60% of the larvae starved starting on day 0 of the 4th instar died, but all the larvae starved at later stages survived. The incidence of diapause in these survivors was determined by the occurrence of pupation after a temporary chilling at 15 degrees C for 15 days. Diapause incidence increased as the onset of starvation was delayed; from 11% in the larvae starved on day 0 of the 5th instar to 100% in the larvae starved on day 4 and day 8 of the 6th instar. Analysis of the relationship between the initial weight of a respective larva at the onset of starvation and its pupation success revealed that none of the larvae weighing 690 mg did. This finding suggests the presence of a threshold weight (about 600 mg), below which larvae are incapable of entering diapause. We discuss these findings with reference to the life history of P. hilaris.     

THE ECOLOGY OF ANISOPUS FENESTRALIS SCOP. (DIPTERA) IN SEWAGE BACTERIA BEDS

The assessment of populations of Anisopus fenestrate (Scopoli, 1763) in sewage bacteria beds by the trapping of adults at the surface has been previously proved to be unsatisfactory. Methods were therefore developed for determining the numbers of egg masses, larvae and pupae as well as the total organic matter in a unit volume of bed. The relative larval populations of three areas under investigation were related to the loading of the beds as measured by the sewage strength and rate of application. In the upper 2 ft. 6 in. the numbers of larvae and pupae per unit volume of bed decreased with depth. There was no evidence of any vertical migration of the larvae before pupation. The horizontal distribution of larvae was found to be affected by the method of distribution. In beds served with fixed spray jets larvae are more abundant nearer the jets than at some distance away. In beds served with travelling distributors the larvae are more abundant in the zones below the jets than in the drier intermediate zones. In both cases relatively higher percentages of pupae in the drier zones might indicate a horizontal migration of larvae before pupating or of the pupae themselves.
The incidence of the larvae throughout 1949 in all three beds showed recurring peaks. In the following year a more intensive investigation on one area showed that this was due to successive generations of the fly; the proximity of the peaks is determined mostly by temperature and their size by the amount of food available in the bed during the larval grazing phase.
In the area not treated with insecticide intraspecific competition during a period when food was limiting, due to depletion by the previous generation, resulted in a natural reduction in the population. In the area treated with insecticide the food was retained and this natural control was thereby delayed.     

Adaptation to an acid environment in Chironomus riparius (Diptera, Chironomidae) from Smoking Hills, NWT, Canada

The Smoking Hills in the North West Territories, Canada have burnt for centuries causing long term acidification of ponds in the vicinity. Chironomus riparius , a red chironomid larva dominated the bottom fauna in the ponds. It was investigated if it was the buffering capacity of the hemolymph rather than the oxygen binding capacity of its hemoglobin that gave these larvae a selective advantage and explained their high abundance. Canadian C. riparius larvae were compared with larvae of the same species from Sweden and with larvae of Chironomus plumosus and C. anthracinus also from Sweden. The Canadian strain of C. riparius survived 7 d exposure to pH 3.5 much better than the others. Titration curves on the hemolymph showed that the Canadian larvae had the highest buffering capacity. Within the pH range 6.0–7.0 it was 17–18 meq pH⁻¹ 1⁻¹ as compared with 13–15 meq pH⁻¹ 1⁻¹ for the others. The hemoglobin content of the Canadian larvae was found to be twice as high as that of the same species from Sweden.     

千屈菜一种新害虫——肾毒蛾

肾毒蛾Cifuna locuples Walker是2007年在武汉发现危害千屈菜(Lythrumsalicaria L.)的一种新害虫,幼虫能取食千屈菜叶片和花朵。室外观察和室内饲养结果表明,肾毒蛾在武汉市1年发生3代,以低龄幼虫越冬,次年3～4月开始为害。5月初越冬代成虫出现,6月下旬第1代成虫羽化,8月中旬第2代成虫羽化。成虫羽化1d后即可分多次产卵于叶背,卵粒数十几到两百多粒。幼虫有5龄,初孵幼虫群集为害,2龄以后分散取食,4～5龄取食量大。幼虫在叶背吐丝结稀疏的薄茧化蛹。     

Effect of Temperature on Development and Immature Survival in the Scale Insect Predator, Chilocorus nigritus (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Developmental and immature survival rates of the coccidophagous coccinellid Chilocorus nigritus (F.) were examined under constant, cycling and glasshouse temperatures in order to determine its suitability for use as a biological control agent in temperature glasshouses. First instar larvae did not complete development at 18 C. However, within the range 20-30 C, the developmental rate increased with rising temperature. The theoretical lower thermal threshold for development was found to be 16.6 C. Thermal summation and polynomial regression methods were used to predict developmental periods under glasshouse conditions. The predictions were accurate to within a mean of 10% in relation to observed data. Under laboratory conditions, immature survival rates were highest 28 C (52%) and lowest at (and below) 20 C (17%). First instar larvae suffered the highest mortality rates, while pupae had the lowest. Under glasshouse conditions, the survival rates were much lower (9% in the winter months and 20% throughout the remainder of the year), but the species was considered to be a suitable biocontrol agent if mean daily temperatures were maintained at levels above 20 C.     

Studies on the biology of Chaoborus flavicans (Meigen) (Diptera: Chaoboridae) in a fish-free eutrophic pond,Japan

Population dynamics of Chaoborus flavicans larvae of various instars was studied from November 1986 to December 1987 in a eutrophic, fish-free pond, Japan. First and 2nd instar larvae were observed from late April to late October, indicating a reproductive period of about half a year. C. flavicans overwintered in the 4th instar larvae. In water column samples, total density of all instars was 680–23680 m^-2, and pupal density 0–2600 m^-2; larvae of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd instars showed 5–6 density peaks in 1987, suggesting that 5–6 generations occur during a year (peaks of the 4th instar larvae were not clear, probably due to their longer development than those of younger instars). In sediment samples, no 1st and 2nd instar larvae were found, 3rd instar larvae were found occasionally but density of the 4th instar larvae was 280–18600 m^-2, and pupal density varied between 0–502 m^-2. Fouth instar larvae accumulated in sediment in the cold season and in the water column in the warm season; high temperature and low oxygen concentration were the most important factors limiting the distribution of larvae in the sediment in summer in the NIES pond. The dry weight of total C. flavicans larvae was 0.08–4.2 g m^-2 in sediment samples and 24–599 μg l^-1 (0.10–2.40 g m^-2) in water column samples. Comparisons of maximum densities in the NIES pond in different years and in waters of different trophic status show that density is generally higher in eutrophic than in oligotrophic habitats. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Habitat selection by chironomid larvae: fast growth requires fast food

1. Sediments have been considered as a habitat, a cover from predators and a source of food, but also as a source of potential toxic compounds. Therefore, the choice of a suitable substrate is essential for the development of chironomids. 2. For the midge Chironomus riparius (Meigen 1804) the growth rate of larvae has often been related to the food quality in sediments rather than to the amount of toxicants in the sediment. Both food quality and sediment-bound toxicants have been reported to determine the field distribution of chironomid larvae. 3. We therefore studied the habitat selection by C. riparius larvae of floodplain lake sediments, differing in both food quality and concentrations of sediment-bound toxicants. We offered the different sediments pairwise to the chironomid larvae in a choice experiment and their settlement in the paired sediments was determined after 10 days. 4. It was observed that larvae showed a clear preference for sediments with higher food quality, which also provided better growth conditions, and that the food quality overruled avoidance of the sediments with higher toxicant concentrations. 5. Our observations correspond with the persistence of this fast growing opportunistic chironomid species in organically enriched aquatic ecosystems independent of the contamination level.     

Desiccation resistance in pre-diapause, diapause and post-diapause larvae of Choristoneura fumiferana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Desiccation resistance was examined in pre-diapause, diapause and post-diapause larvae of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens), in terms of passive water evaporation under three desiccation conditions: freeze-drying, desiccant-drying at 2 degrees C and desiccant-drying at 18 degrees C. Diapausing second instar larvae and post-diapause non-feeding second instar larvae showed strongest desiccation resistance: a significant amount of water was retained after repeated drying under desiccating conditions, while pre-diapause first instar larvae and post-diapause feeding second instar larvae lost almost all their water content after one or two drying cycles. A hibernaculum covering had no effect on water evaporation. While dead larvae tended to lose significantly more water than their living counterparts, particularly among first instar larvae, such an impact was much weaker among diapausing second instar larvae. Desiccation resistance was lost when post-diapause second instar larvae were allowed access to water while the level of desiccation resistance was maintained or enhanced when the larvae did not have access to water. These results are discussed in the context of overwintering ecology of the species and possible mechanisms for the desiccation resistance are also discussed.     

Characterization of Hsp70 gene in Chironomus riparius: expression in response to endocrine disrupting pollutants as a marker of ecotoxicological stress

We characterized the Hsp70 cDNA in Chironomus riparius and evaluated its expression profile under different environmental stressors. It is highly conserved, at both DNA and protein levels, displaying many of the hallmarks of Hsps and sharing 80-96% of overall amino acid identities with homologous sequences from other diptera. The changes are mainly concentrated in the C-terminal domain of the protein. Phylogenetic analysis was consistent with the known classification of insects. The Hsp70 gene was located by in situ hybridization in region III-3A at the third polytene chromosome, a locus activated upon heat shock as shown by RNA pol II binding. As C. riparius is widely used in aquatic ecotoxicology testing, we studied Hsp70 gene induction in fourth instar aquatic larvae submitted to heat shock and selected environmental pollutants classified as potential endocrine disruptors. RT-PCR analysis showed that Hsp70 mRNA levels increased significantly (p<0.05) after short-term acute exposures to a temperature shift (HS), cadmium chloride (Cd), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), bisphenol A (BPA), 4-nonylphenol (NP) and ethinylestradiol (EE). However, neither pentachlorophenol (PCP) nor tributyltin (TBTO) treatments were able to activate the Hsp70 gene. The cognate form, Hsc70, was also analysed and, unlike Hsp70, was not altered by any of the different treatments assayed. Moreover, at the times tested, there was no significant mortality of the larvae. The rapid upregulation of the Hsp70 gene suggests that it is sensitive and selective for different environmental pollutants, and could be used as an early molecular endpoint in ecotoxicological studies.     

厦门市松墨天牛生物学特性Ⅰ:生活史

于2002—2004年在厦门同安设立试验点对松墨天牛进行饲养及观察。结果表明,松墨天牛在厦门以2a发生3代为主,少数1a发生2代,世代重叠现象明显,几乎全年可见幼虫,以3—5龄幼虫在蛀道内越冬或以低龄幼虫在韧皮部越冬。2a发生3代的松墨天牛有3个羽化高峰,1a发生2代的有2个高峰期,二者的第1个羽化盛期在4月相叠加,所以4月份的成虫数量最多,占全年羽化成虫总数的31％,此后一直到8月下旬,都有较多的成虫羽化。     

三化螟自然种群生命表的研究

１９８４—１９８８年,在广东省四会县以生命表方法,进行了三化螟自然种群动态的研究,共获９个生命表．从生命表看出,各世代均以初孵幼虫入侵死亡率为最高,中后期幼以初孵幼虫入侵死亡率（ｋ５）为最大,冲后期幼虫转株死亡率（ｋ９）次之,但经图解法和回归法分析结果证实,中后期幼虫转株死亡率是影响三化螟种群数量变动的第１关键因素,而初孵幼虫入侵死亡率乃是第２关键因素．     

Fly Larvae in Wastewater Discharges: A Potential Source of Food and Organochlorine Contaminants for some Southern California Fishes

A widely recognized pathway for uptake and accumulation of organic contaminants by demersal fishes is through consumption of infaunal organisms (i.e., those having direct contact with contaminated sediments). Recent studies indicate that demersal fishes near a large sewage outfall in southern California consume larvae of a terrestrial fly, Clogmia albipunctata, which are entrained with the treated effluent and discharged to the ocean. Fly larvae consumption represents a possible method for accumulation of organic contaminants that is unique to marine fishes with non-selective feeding habits that occur near the ocean outfall. An estimated 37–138kg (wet weight) of fly larvae are discharged daily during summer to the ocean via the Orange County Sanitation Districts (OCSD) wastewater outfall; winter discharges are expected to be lower due to lower production and temperature limitations of the fly life cycle. Fly larvae were present in the guts of ten demersal and pelagic fish species collected near the outfall between July 1993 and August 1998. The highest frequencies of fly larvae (up to 100%) occurred in the guts of white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, and chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus. Because infauna are still abundant and diverse near the outfall, fly larvae consumption appears to represent a feeding preference instead of a response to lower prey abundances. Fly larvae tissues collected at the wastewater treatment plant contained sub-part-per-million levels of organochlorine compounds, including PCB and DDT. However, lipid-normalized organochlorine concentrations in fly larvae tissues were not appreciably higher than levels in infauna or zooplankton tissues. Although the study design provided only limited sample sizes for some sample types, this initial study suggests that fish consumption of fly larvae represents a mechanism for direct transfer of contaminants and may contribute to uptake and accumulation of lypophyllic organochlorines in fish near the outfall.     

Effects of temperature,photoperiod and soil humidity on induction of pseudopupal diapause in the bean blister beetle Epicauta gorhami

Larvae of the bean blister beetle Epicauta gorhami Marseul (Coleoptera: Meloidae) feed on grasshopper eggs in soil and undergo hypermetamorphosis. This beetle undergoes larval diapause in the fifth instar as a pseudopupa, a form characteristic of hypermetamorphosis in meloid beetles. The effects of temperature, photoperiod and soil humidity on larval development of E. gorhami are examined in a population in Miyazaki, Japan, using egg pods of Locusta migratoria L. as food. At lower temperatures (20 and 22.5 °C), all larvae become pseudopupae, regardless of the photoperiod. By contrast, at higher temperatures (27.5 and 30 °C), almost all larvae pupate at the end of the fourth instar, again regardless of the photoperiod. A long‐day photoperiodic response occurs only at an intermediate temperature (25 °C): under an LD 12 : 12 h photocycle, all larvae enter diapause, although the diapause incidence tends to decrease as the day length becomes longer. Pseudopupae are immobile and remain in diapause for ≥120 days when they are kept under the same conditions, except that diapause terminates within a relatively short time at 30 °C. Although lower soil humidity retards post‐feeding development, soil humidity has no effect on the diapause incidence. On the basis of the short developmental period and diapause avoidance under summer conditions, it is suggested that this beetle partially produces two generations a year in southwestern Japan.