New data on the morphology and ecology of Phaonia larvae with a description of the larva of Phaonia wahlbergi (Diptera, Muscidae)

The morphology and ecology of the larva and the puparium of Ph. wahlbergi Ringd. and the puparium of Ph. taigensis Zin. were studied for the first time. Additional data on the larvae of Ph. fugax Tiensuu and Ph. gobertii (Mik) are presented. The larvae differ in the structure of the prothoracic spiracles and anal plate. Keys to the larvae and the puparia of the studied species are given.     

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the Maghreb region: A systematic review of distribution,morphology, and role in the transmission of the pathogens

BackgroundPhlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are important vectors of various human and animal pathogens such as Bartonella bacilliformis, Phlebovirus, and parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania, causative agent of leishmaniases that account among most significant vector-borne diseases. The Maghreb countries Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya occupy a vast area of North Africa and belong to most affected regions by these diseases. Locally varying climatic and ecological conditions support diverse sand fly fauna that includes many proven or suspected vectors. The aim of this review is to summarize often fragmented information and to provide an updated list of sand fly species of the Maghreb region with illustration of species-specific morphological features and maps of their reported distribution.Materials and methodsThe literature search focused on scholar databases to review information on the sand fly species distribution and their role in the disease transmissions in Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, surveying sources from the period between 1900 and 2020. Reported distribution of each species was collated using Google Earth, and distribution maps were drawn using ArcGIS software. Morphological illustrations were compiled from various published sources.Results and conclusionsIn total, 32 species of the genera Phlebotomus (Ph.) and Sergentomyia (Se.) were reported in the Maghreb region (15 from Libya, 18 from Tunisia, 23 from Morocco, 24 from Algeria, and 9 from Mauritania). Phlebotomus mariae and Se. africana subsp. asiatica were recorded only in Morocco, Ph. mascitti, Se. hirtus, and Se. tiberiadis only in Algeria, whereas Ph. duboscqi, Se. dubia, Se. africana africana, Se. lesleyae, Se. magna, and Se. freetownensis were reported only from Mauritania. Our review has updated and summarized the geographic distribution of 26 species reported so far in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, excluding Mauritania from a detailed analysis due to the unavailability of accurate distribution data. In addition, morphological differences important for species identification are summarized with particular attention to closely related species such as Ph. papatasi and Ph. bergeroti, Ph. chabaudi, and Ph. riouxi, and Se. christophersi and Se. clydei.     

Comparison of storage proteins ofPhaseolus caracalla L. with the proteins of some other representatives of the genusPhaseolus

Storage proteins of the seeds (cotyledons) of the South-American speciesPhaseolus caracalla were compared by means of immunoelectrophoretic methods with other representatives of the genusPhaseolus. These proteins most resemble the proteins of the co-called tropical group (i.e. Ph. atropurpureus, Ph. geophilus, Ph. bracteatus, Ph. semierectus) and least the so-called American endemites (Ph. vulgaris, Ph. coccineus, Ph. acutifolius, Ph. lunatus), the main globulin of which is of a completely different specificity. The proteins ofPh. caracalla are less similar to the group of the so-called Asiatic species (Ph. aureus, Ph. calcaratus, Ph. angularis, Ph. aconitifolius, Ph. trilobus) including the analyzed representatives ofVigna sinensis; their main globulin is only partly similar to that ofPh. caracalla. Some considerations on the relationship ofPh. caracalla with the so-called tropical species is presented.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmidium</Emphasis> species parasitizing species of Rosaceae in Tibet,China, with descriptions of three new species

Phragmidum spp. are rust fungi that are serious pathogens of plants in the Rosaceae. We characterized 15 Phragmidium species from Tibet, including 12 previously described and 3 new species. All the taxa, including the three new species (Ph. chayuensis, Ph. cibanum, Ph. zangdongii) are described and illustrated based on morphological characteristics. These taxa have multi-celled teliospores with firm pedicels. Phragmidium chayuensis is characterized by (5)7–9-celled teliospores with short papillae. Phragmidium cibanum is characterized by smooth teliospores that are distinctly constricted at the septa. Phragmidium zangdongii is characterized by large uredinia and 11–13-celled teliospores. Five types of urediniospore-surface structures were identified based on the gross shape of ornamentations and their distribution on the urediniospore wall. Molecular sequence data from the LSU rDNA analysis showed that the new taxa formed distinct clades independent from previously recorded species represented by LSU rDNA sequence data. The phylogenetic tree indicated that Phragmidium species are highly host specific.     

A review of the weevil subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metaphyllobius</Emphasis> Smirnov (Coleoptera,Curculionidae, Entiminae) from Eastern Europe and Siberia

A review of the subgenus Metaphyllobius Smirnov of the weevil genus Phyllobius Germ. is given. The name Ph. maculatus Tournier, 1880 is restored from synonymy with Ph. pomaceus fessus Boheman, 1843. A new synonymy is established: Ph. maculatus Tournier, 1880 (= jacobsoni Smirnov, 1913, syn. n.). Ph. fessus Boheman, 1843 is downgraded to a subspecies of Ph. pomaceus Gyllenhal, 1834—Ph. pomaceus fessus Boheman, 1843, stat. n. Data on the distribution and hosts of, and a key to European and Siberian species of the subgenus Metaphyllobius are given.     

A comparative characterization of immature stages of the species of the Phaonia palpata group (Muscidae, Diptera)

The morphology of immature stages of the xylobiont Phaonia palpata Stein, Ph. tiefii Schn., and Ph. ishizuchiensis Shin. et Kano was studied. Differences in the structure of the cephalopharyngeal organ of the larvae and of the ultimate puparial segment were found. Keys to the species considered are given.     

New and little-known crickets of the subfamily phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae). 9. The african genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaeophilacris</Emphasis>

The genus Phaeophilacris Walk. is divided into two subgenera: Phaeophilacris s. str. and Speluncacris Sjöst. The latter name, originally proposed as a generic one and synonymized with Phaeophilacris s. l., is restored as a subgeneric name. The former genera Opilionacris Sjöst. and Cavernacris Sjöst. previously synonymized with Phaeophilacris s. l. are considered as synonyms of the subgenus Speluncacris. Four new species (Ph. (S.) malawi sp. n., Ph. (S.) boldyrevi sp. n., Ph. (S.) dmitrievi sp. n., and Ph. (S.) gigantea sp. n.) and three new subspecies (Ph. (S.) bredoides mangochi subsp. n., Ph. (S.) bredoides mutinondo subsp. n., and Ph. (Ph.) townsendi aethiopica subsp. n.) of the genus Phaeophilacris are described.     

An inspection into the class of bis(alkyne)-undecacarbonyl-quadro-tetraruthenium complexes. Crystal structure and dynamic behaviour of Ru4(CO)11 (μ4, η2-MeC2Ph)2

The reactions of the butterfly complex Ru₄(CO)₁₂(MeC₂Ph) with several alkynes give the quasiplanar derivatives Ru₄(CO)₁₁(MeC₂Ph)(Alkyne) in almost quantitative yields.The structure of Ru₄(CO)₁₁(MeC₂Ph)₂ has been determined by X-ray methods. Crystals are monoclinic, space group C2/c, with Z = 4 in a unit cell of dimensions a 22.383(16), b 9.048(8), c 18.268(12) Å, β = 127.25(4)°. The structure has been solved from diffractometer data by Patterson and Fourier methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares to R = 0.034 for 1420 observed reflections. The complex, having an imposed C₂ symmetry, presents a tetranuclear metal cluster in which the Ru atoms are in a tetrahedrally-distorted square arrangement. Ten carbonyls are terminal and one symmetrically bridges an edge of the cluster. Each of the two alkyne ligands is σ-bonded to two Ru atoms on the opposite vertices of the cluster and π-bonded to the other two. The organometallic cluster has a Ru₄C₄ core in which the metal and carbon atoms occupy the vertices of a triangulated dodecahedron.     

Disparity in productive binding mode of the slow-reacting enantiomer determines the novel catalytic behavior of Candida antarctica lipase B

In the context of specifying the origin of enzyme enantioselectivity, the present study explores the lipase enantioselectivity towards secondary alcohols of similar structure from the perspective of substrate binding. By carrying out molecular mechanics minimization as well as molecular dynamics simulation on tetrahedral reaction intermediates which are used as a model of transition state, we identify an unconventional productive binding mode (PBM)—M/H permutation type for Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB). The in silico results also indicate that different PBMs of the slow-reacting enantiomer do exist in one lipase even when there is little structural differences between substrates, e.g. compounds with Ph or CH₂CH₂Ph group display the M/H permutation type PBM while molecules with CH₂Ph show the M/L permutation type PBM. By relating the PBMs of substrates to the experimentally determined E-values obtained by Hoff et al. [16], we find that disparity in PBM of the slow-reacting enantiomer determines why E-values of substrates with CH₂Ph were lower than E-values of substrates with Ph or CH₂CH₂Ph group. The modeling results also suggest that the “pushed aside” effect of the F atom and Br atom accommodates the medium size substituent of the substrate better in the stereospecificity pocket of the enzyme.     

Synthesis and structure of the lithium, zirconium and hafnium N-silyl-N′-benzyl-benzamidinates

The interaction of LiN(SiMe₃)CH₂Ph with one equivalent of benzenitrile gave the N-silyl-N′-benzyl-benzamidinato-lithium compound [{Me₃SiNC(Ph)N(CH₂Ph)}Li(Et₂O)]₂ (1). The derivative zirconium and hafnium compounds were produced by the treatment of 1 with ZrCl₄ or HfCl₄ in tetrahydrofuran or diethyl ether at ambient temperature, respectively, with the general formula [Me₃SiNC(Ph)N(CH₂Ph)]₃MCl (M = Zr (2), Hf (3)). Compounds 1, 2 and 3 were also characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction and NMR analysis.     

The parasitoid complex (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) of the leafminer Phyllonorycter issikii (Kumata) (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) from the Middle Volga Basin

In the Middle Volga Basin, Phyllonorycter issikii, an invasive species new to Europe, is attacked by many native parasitoids of the family Eulophidae (the percentages of infestation are given in parentheses): Sympiesis gordius (42), Minotetrastichus frontalis (20), Chrysocharis laomedon (11), Pnigalio soemius (10), S. sericeicornis (8), Apanteles sp. (4), Hissopus geniculatus (4), Entedon sp. (0.4), Aprostocetus sp., Cirrospilus lyncus, C. diallus, C. viticola, and Pteromalidae (0.2). Six species of parasitoids: Aprostocetus sp., C. lyncus (Walker 1838), C. diallus (Walker 1838), C. viticola (Rondani 1877), H. geniculatus (Hartig 1838), and Apanteles sp. (Braconidae), are recorded for the first time. The number of ectoparasitoids is 5.5 times that of endoparasitoids. The second generation of Ph. issikii is reduced by 22% due to parasitoids, and its propagation rate also decreases. However, the climate warming may level the pressure of parasitoids and promote development of the third generation in Ph. issikii.     

Distribution of the protein “phaseolin“ in some representatives ofViciaceae

Using immunochemical methods the authors investigated the evolutionary taxonomic distribution of the reserve seed protein “phaseolin” in cultivars ofPhaseolus vulgaris, in a series of species ofPhaseolus, and in representatives of some additional genera ofViciaceae. “Phaseolin” is typical of the seed ofPhaseolus vulgaris L.: it was detected in all 658 investigated cultivars — and also in species related toPhaseolus vulgaris L.(Ph. vulgaris L. ssp.aborigineus Burk.,Ph. polyanthus Green,Ph. dumosus Macf.,Ph. coccineus L., and in an undescribed species from the group ofPh. vulgaris L. -Ph. coccineus L.). A protein immunochemically somewhat similar to ?phaseolin“ occurs inPh. acufifolius A. Gray. In all other taxa“phaseolin” is absent.     

Molecular detection of Leishmania infection in sand flies in border line of Iran–Turkmenistan: Restricted and permissive vectors

A molecular study was carried out to incriminate sand fly vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in rural areas of Sarakhs district, Khorassane-Razavi Province, northeastern Iran, in 2011. Sand flies of Sergentomyia with three species and Phlebotomus with six species respectively comprised 73.3% and 26.7% of the specimens. Phlebotomus papatasi was the most common Phlebotomine species in outdoor and indoor resting places. Leishmania infection was found at least in 17 (22%) specimens including Ph. papatasi (n = 9 pool samples), Phlebotomus caucasicus (n = 6), Phlebotomus alexandri (n = 1), and Sergentomyia sintoni (n = 1). The parasites were found comprised Leishmania major (n = 5), Leishmania turanica (n = 10), and Leishmania gerbilli (n = 4). Infection of Ph. papatasi with both L. major and L. turanica supporting the new suggestion indicating that it is not restricted only with L. major. Circulation of L. major by Ph. alexandri, and both L. gerbilli and L. turanica by Ph. caucasicus, in addition to previous data indicating the ability of Ph. alexandri to circulate Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani, and Ph. caucasicus to circulate L. major, suggests that these two species can be permissive vectors. The results suggest that Ph. papatasi and Ph. alexandri are the primary and secondary vectors of CL where circulating L. major between human and reservoirs, whereas Ph. caucasicus is circulating L. turanica and L. gerbilli between the rodents in the region.     

Re-classification of Pheopolykrikos hartmannii as Polykrikos (Dinophyceae) based partly on the ultrastructure of complex extrusomes

Athecate, pseudocolony-forming dinoflagellates have been classified within two genera of polykrikoids, Polykrikos and Pheopolykrikos, and different views about the boundaries and composition of these genera have been expressed in the literature. The photosynthetic polykrikoid Pheopolykrikos hartmannii, for instance, was originally described within Polykrikos and is now known to branch closely with several Polykrikos species in molecular phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal gene sequences. In this study, we report the first ultrastructural data for this species and demonstrate that Ph. hartmannii has all of the features that characterize the genus Polykrikos, including the synapomorphic “taeniocyst-nematocyst complex”. We also demonstrate that the ultrastructure of the chloroplasts in Ph. hartmannii conforms to the usual peridinin-containing chloroplasts of most photosynthetic dinoflagellates, which improves inferences about the origin(s) and evolution of photosynthesis within the genus. After taking into account all of the ultrastructural data on polykrikoids presented here and in the literature, this species is re-classified to its original status as Polykrikos hartmannii.     

Donor-substituted allenylidene(carbonyl)(XR3)chromium complexes (X=P, As, Sb) - synthesis and properties

Photolysis of the allenylidene pentacarbonyl chromium complexes [(CO)₅CrCCC(R¹)R²] (R¹=NMe₂, NPh₂; R²=NMe₂, OMe, Ph) in THF in the presence of equimolar amounts of XR₃ (XR₃=various phosphanes, P(OMe)₃, AsPh₃, SbPh₃) affords cis-allenylidene tetracarbonyl XR₃ complexes, cis-[(CO)₄(XR₃)CrCCC(R¹)R²]. When in the photolysis of [(CO)₅CrCCC(NMe₂)Ph], the phosphanes PR₃ (R=C₆H₄F-p, C₆H₄Cl-p, OMe) are used in excess (three equivalents) two carbonyl ligands are displaced and the mer-tricarbonyl complexes mer-[(CO)₃(PR₃)₂CrCCC(NMe₂)Ph] are formed both PR₃ ligands being mutually trans. The structure of the new complexes is established by IR, NMR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, that of cis-[(CO)₄(PPh₃)CrCCC(NMe₂)Ph] additionally by an X-ray structural analysis. As indicated by the spectroscopic data of the compounds, these complexes are best described as hybrids of allenylidene and zwitterionic alkynyl complexes with delocalization of the electron pair at nitrogen bonded to the C_γ atom of the allenylidene ligand towards the metal center. The relative contribution of the allenylidene and zwitterionic alkynyl resonance forms is influenced by XR₃. Increasing the donor properties of XR₃ favors the allenylidene resonance form.     

Salicaceae-Feeding Leaf-Mining Insects in Siberia: Distribution,Trophic Specialization,and Pest Status

This paper provides an overview of the leaf-mining insect community feeding on willows (Salix spp.) and poplars (Populus spp.) in Siberia. According to published data and our own observations, 50 leaf-mining insect species (i.e., 24 species of Lepidoptera, 15 Coleoptera, 6 Diptera, and 5 Hymenoptera) feed on those two plant genera in Siberia. Using an integrative approach combining field work, morphological and DNA barcoding analyses, we identified 32 leaf-mining insect species from 14 regions across Siberia (i.e. 64% of all leaf-mining species known on Salicaceae in this part of Russia). Among them, 26 species most often found in parks and botanical gardens, represented new faunistic records for several poorly explored regions of Siberia. We have more than doubled the list of Salicaceae-feeding leaf-mining insects in Tomsk oblast, Altai krai, and the Republic of Tuva, and for the first time provided data on leaf-miners for the Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug. The micromoth Phyllocnistis gracilistylella (Gracillariidae), recently described from Japan, was found on a new host plant (Salix caprea) in the south of Krasnoyarsk krai, is new for Russia. Eight leafmining insect species (i.e., five gracillariids: Phyllocnistis labyrinthella, Ph. unipunctella, Phyllonorycter apparella, Ph. sagitella, and Ph. populifoliella; two beetles: Zeugophora scutellaris and Isochnus sequensi; and one sawfly: Heterarthrus ochropoda) can outbreak on poplars, most often in urban plantations, botanical gardens, and plant nurseries in Siberia, and can also affect natural stands. Forty-five species of 50 leaf-mining insects known to feed on willow and poplar in Siberia also occur in Central and Eastern Europe. The remaining five species (Phyllocnistis gracilistylella, Phyllonorycter sibirica, Heterarthrus fasciatus, Tachyerges dauricus, and Isochnus arcticus) are recorded in Asia only. Species richness of the family Gracillariidae, the most diverse on Salicaceae in Siberia, displays 80% similarity to that in the European part of Russia and 71% to the Russian Far East. We discuss the faunal similarity of these regions and highlight the importance of applying an integrative approach combining ecological, morphological analyses, and DNA barcoding to explore and characterize the insect fauna of poorly studied regions of Asian part of Russia.     

Protein characters and relationship betweenPhaseolus vulgaris ssp.Aborigineus Burk. and related taxons of the genusPhaseolus

Both quantitative and qualitative immunochemical methods were used for studying the mutual relationships of several spocies and the subspecies of the genusPhaseolus: Ph. vulgaris L. ssp.vulgaris, Ph. vulgaris L. ssp.aborigineus Burk.,Ph. coccineus L.,Ph. acutifolius A. Gray,Ph. lunatus L. (American endemites) andPh. aureus L. (a typical Asian bean). Protein characters of cotyledons (i.e., ?storage” proteins) of the above species were compared with the aid of antisera prepared against seed (cotyledon) proteins ofPh. vulgaris L. ssp.vulgaris, cv. Veltruská Saxa, using

1. (a)
   the whole complex of cotyledon protein,