The effect of starvation on haemolymph metabolites,fat body and ovarian development in Oxya japonica (Acrididae: Orthoptera)

Haemolymph volume does not change significantly during 96 hr of starvation. Haemolymph and fat body metabolites are depleted significantly in insects denied food for 96 hr. The percentage of oöcyte resorption is increased considerably by starvation. Differences in the utilization of lipid and protein under conditions of starvation between adult Oxya and adult locusts may be attributed to the migratory habit of the latter.     

Light and electron microscope studies of chromosome pairing in relation to chiasma localisation in Stethophyma grossum (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The relationship of chromosome pairing to chiasma localisation in the grasshopper Stethophyma grossum was investigated by a combined light and electron microscope study. Observations on the extent of synaptonemal complex formation in spermatocytes suggest that pairing is complete in all chromosome regions and that localised chiasmata do not therefore follow from localised pairing of homologues. This study also revealed an unprecedented variant of synaptonemal complex structure. Each bivalent was found to contain an asymmetrical region within which one lateral element was enormously enlarged while the other lateral element retained normal dimensions. This asymmetrical region is probably confined to one end of each bivalent and seems to extend constantly about 4 from the nuclear membrane attachment site. The possible significance of this variant of synaptonemal complex structure is briefly discussed.     

Antennal sensilla of grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in relation to food preferences and habits

The external structure, i.e. number and distribution of sensillae on male and female antennae of 12 species of grasshoppers belonging to Pamphaginae, Catantopinae, Oedipodinae and Gomphocerinae in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Five major types of antennal sensillae were detected - trichoid, long basiconic, short basiconic, slender and short basiconic, and coeloconic sensillae. Total number of antennal sensillae varied among different sexes, subfamilies, feeding groups, life forms and eco-forms. Males showed significantly more sensillae than females, due to presence of more short basiconic and coeloconic sensillae. Species under Catantopinae showed more long basiconic sensillae than the others. The Oedipodinae had the highest number of slender and short basiconic sensillae and coeloconic sensillae, followed by Catantopinae and Gomphocerinae; while Pamphaginae had the fewest. The total number of sensillae showed the same trend for these two types amongst the subfamilies as well, species which prefer habits on the ground possessed fewer antennal sensillae than species which prefer to stay on plants. The maximal number of antennal sensillae were observed in hygrophytous species,Chorthippus albomarginatus, in the 12 grasshopper species investigated, although the data is not statistically significant. The general trend which emerged was that species feeding on grass possessed more antennal sensillae, particularly coeloconic sensillae, compared to other feeding group species.     

The B-chromosomes of Neopodismopsis abdominalis (Orthoptera,Acrididae)

As an extension of an earlier study, the behaviour of two kinds of supernumerary chromosomes has been re-examined in populations of Neopodismopsis abdominalis (Acrididae) from Ontario. One of these is minute and metacentric (B^S); the other is large and heterochromatic (B^L). The B^S has a 40% probability of undergoing precocious separation when present as a univalent. This separation may lead to restitution and subsequently to macrospermatid formation. The frequency of macrospermatids was a power function of the number of precocious B^S elements per cell and approached 20% in 4B^S-individuals. Individuals with high numbers of B^S occur in slight excess of Poisson expectation possibly reflecting a mechanism which compensates for the detrimental effects of the B^S. The B^L, by contrast, does not undergo precocious division and neither micro- nor macro-spermatids ascribable to the B^L were seen. Non-disjunction of B-chromosomes occurred very rarely and was seen in only three B^S individuals out of 141 examined and in only two B^L individuals out of 33. Moreover it was equally frequent in caeca and gonad and did not result in a net loss or a net gain of B-chromosomes in the germ line.     

Take-off activity in caged desert locusts,Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.) (Orthoptera,Acrididae) in relation to meteorological disturbances

Take-off activity of the desert locust,Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.), phasegregaria, was studied in a temperature-controlled laboratory environment and possible relationships with certain meteorological factors were analysed. A statistically significant relationship between the passage of cold fronts and an increased take-off rate was found. The reaction of the locusts could not be correlated to changes in VLF electromagnetic radiation or to the atmospheric pressure.     

飞蝗雌成虫脂肪体G蛋白偶联受体鉴定及其在卵发育中的功能

【目的】本研究旨在鉴定飞蝗Locusta migratoria雌成虫脂肪体中表达的G蛋白偶联受体(G protein-coupled receptor, GPCR)基因,揭示其在飞蝗卵发育和卵巢生长中的功能。【方法】基于前期获得的第1个促性腺周期内飞蝗雌成虫脂肪体转录组数据,鉴定和聚类分析GPCR基因;qRT-PCR检测GPCR基因在卵黄发生期飞蝗雌成虫脑、胸腹神经节、脂肪体、卵巢和中肠的组织特异性表达模式;通过RNAi实验分析GPCR基因在卵发育和卵巢生长中的功能。【结果】在飞蝗雌成虫脂肪体转录组中新鉴定到了29个GPCR基因。qRT-PCR分析显示,PTH/PTHrPR1和MSR分别在飞蝗雌成虫脂肪体和胸腹神经节中显著高表达,Mthl4,Mthl6和GPR119L在中肠中显著高表达,Octβ1R,CrzR,CCAPR,LGR2,mGluR和GABABR在脑中的表达水平显著高于在其他组织中的。RNAi筛选发现敲降5个GPCR基因CCAPR,PTH/PTHrPR1,ADGRL3,Mthl15和DHR的表达显著抑制飞蝗初级卵母细胞发育和卵巢生长。【结论】本研究结果有助于揭示昆虫高繁殖力的...     

Development of secretory activity in the long hyaline gland of the male migratory grasshopper,Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fabr.) (Orthoptera : Acrididae)

Changes in the ultrastructure of epithelial cells from long hyaline glands of male Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fabr.) (Orthoptera : Acrididae) have been examined during sexual maturation and after allatectomy. In newly emerged males, the long hyaline gland epithelium is composed of 1–3 cell layers. The cells contain almost no rough endoplasmic reticulum, inconspicuous Golgi complexes, and large numbers of free ribosomes and polysomes. Within 24 hr, the cells undergo considerable reorganization to form a 1-cell-thick layer. Changes in cytostructure include proliferation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the development of several elaborate Golgi complexes. The developing lumen contains a coarse fibrous material. By 3 days postemergence, columnar epithelial cells are clearly capable of considerable synthesis and export of secretory protein. Rough endoplasmic reticulum, and large, elaborate Golgi complexes are the major structural features of the cytoplasm. From day 3 to sexual maturity (day 7), no major ultrastructural changes occur, although massive accumulation of secretion in the lumen causes the epithelium to become cuboidal or flattened. Isoelectric focusing of soluble proteins from long hyaline gland secretions shows that maturing glands contain increasing numbers and quantities of secretory proteins.Allatectomy has minor effects on long hyaline gland ultrastructure. A reduction in the density of rough endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes suggests that glands from operated males are metabolically less active. This is confirmed by qualitative and quantitative changes in the amount of secretion as revealed by isoelectric focusing. The observations are discussed in terms of the juvenile hormone control of long hyaline gland maturation.     

温度对意大利蝗呼吸代谢的影响

【目的】意大利蝗Calliptamus italicus L.是新疆荒漠、半荒漠草原的主要危害种类,前期研究表明其发生与新疆气候变暖显著相关,本研究进一步探讨气候变暖条件下意大利蝗的呼吸代谢适应机制。【方法】应用多通道昆虫呼吸仪测定了15, 20, 25, 30和35℃不同温度条件下意大利蝗成虫的呼吸率、代谢率、CO₂释放率、Q₁₀(每升高10℃呼吸率的变化幅度)及呼吸商并分析其变化特征。【结果】15℃时意大利蝗成虫的呼吸率、代谢率、CO₂释放率均显著低于其他温度（P<0.01）, 35℃时3项指标值显著高于其他温度（P<0.01）,表明低于15℃和高于35℃的温度条件都对意大利蝗的呼吸代谢产生明显影响;在20~30℃之间,意大利蝗的呼吸率、代谢率及CO2释放率变化幅度小且平稳,差异均不显著（P>0.01）,表明该温度范围是意大利蝗生长发育的适宜温度条件。不同温度下意大利蝗呼吸率的Q₁₀值显示, 20~30℃温度范围内的 Q₁₀值最小,为1.03, 15~25℃的Q10值为1.43, 25~35℃的Q10值最大,为2.42,说明意大利蝗的呼吸代谢活动对温度变化敏感,并表明20~30℃是意大利蝗生长发育的适宜范围。各温度条件下意大利蝗呼吸商的差异不显著（P>0.01）,平均为0.9450,判断意大利蝗呼吸代谢消耗的底物主要为糖类物质。【结论】意大利蝗生长发育的适宜温度范围是20~30℃,预示着在气候持续变暖背景下,意大利蝗仍将是新疆草原最重要的生物灾害之一。     

Neuroendocrine control of oocyte development in Poecilocera picta (Insecta: Orthoptera)

The neuroendocrine control of oocyte development in Poecilocera picta Fab. has been described. The secretory activity of the A type of neurosecretory cells has been correlated with ovarian development. In P. picta during the first four days after emergence the neurosecretory material is seen passing down the axons but the cells are largely devoid of neurosecretory material. When the oocytes are developed the A type cells are with stored neurosecretory material.
In P. picta the mature males do not appear to accelerate the process of maturation in females. The females which are reared without males or with castrated males also mature at the same time as the females which are reared with males. The corpus allatum also enlarges and decreases at the same period. The number of resorptive bodies is much more in the females which are reared with castrated males or without males. There appears to be some correlation in the secretion of the neurosecretory material, copulation, and the appearance of resorptive bodies. In P. picta the role of the mature male is only in copulation which very likely allows the cell to synthesize and secrete and release a large amount of neurosecretory material whose discharge in the haemolymph enables a successful development of the oocyte. Corpus allatum appears to be controlled by a precursor from the brain.
Cautery of the cerebral neurosecretory cells, allatectomy and sectioning of the nerves have been done to find out the role of neurosecretory material.