Effects of wing-pad removal and corpus allatum implantation on development of wings, flight muscles, and related structures in the striped ground cricket, Allonemobius fasciatus

ABSTRACT. Removal of a hindwing pad from late instar nymphs of the striped ground cricket, Allonemobius fasciatus DeGeer (Gryllidae) inhibits the formation of long-winged adults. All nymphs become short-winged when their hindwing pad is removed during the sixth (penultimate) instar or during the first 2 days of the seventh instar. When a hindwing pad is removed on day 4 of the seventh instar or later, there is no effect on wing development and at least 50% of the crickets emerge as long-winged adults as in controls.
The period sensitive for removal of a hindwing pad varies among different structures, e.g. elytra, hindwings, flight muscles, and the acrotergite of the first abdominal segment. As a result, some intermediate forms are produced when a hindwing pad is removed in the middle of the seventh instar.
Implantation of corpora allata (CA) into late instar nymphs also inhibits formation of long-winged adults. When CA are implanted on day 2 or 3 of the seventh instar, some of the resulting adults have abnormally short elytra. Implantation of CA at an earlier stage produces supernumerary (eighth instar) nymphs.     

Correlation between larval weights,endocrine gland activities and competence period during differentiation of workers and soldiers in Macrotermes michaelseni (Isoptera:Termitidae)

Correlations were established between corpora allata and prothoracic gland activities, changes in fresh weights and competence period for soldier formation in a higher termite species, Macrotermes michaelseni. There was a time-course differential increase in fresh weights observed in pairs of female third (final)-instar larvae of the same age previously adopted by a pair of female reproductives from incipient colonies. A bimodal distribution of these larvae according to weights was evident from the first day of the instar. Heavier larvae were associated with higher corpora allata and prothoracic gland volumes (activities), and differentiation into presoldiers, while lighter larvae had considerably less-active corpora allata and prothoracic glands and developed into workers. The peak in the activities of these glands in both cases marked the end of the competence period.The chain of events that may precede caste differentiation is discussed briefly and the significance of the findings outlined.     

Glow-worm larvae bioluminescence (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) operates as an aposematic signal upon toads (Bufo bufo)

It is an established fact that the spectacular bioluminescentdisplays of adult fireflies and glow-worms are used as courtshipsignals; however, the survival value of the glowing behaviorof their larvae remained the subject of speculation for manyyears. Our study is the first that demonstrates that lampyridlarvae use luminescence to signal unpalatability to nocturnal,visually guided predators. Wild-caught toads (Bufo bufo) weremore reluctant to attack luminescent artificial prey, and weshow that avoidance learning increased this reluctance. Afterbeing exposed to glow-worm larvae (Lampyris noctiluca), whichthe toads experienced as disagreeable, attack latencies to luminescentprey increased, but not those to nonglowing prey. Not all toadsshowed avoidance learning to the same extent, because of eitherdifferences in previous experience with glow-worms or differencesin memory.     

Larval head anatomy of Heterogynis penella (Zygaenoidea, Heterogynidae), and a general discussion of caterpillar head structure (Insecta, Lepidoptera)

The internal head anatomy (and the peculiar integumental structure of the epicranial notch region) of Heterogynis penella larvae are described; special attention is paid to the skeleto‐muscular and nervous systems and to the cephalic glands. Transverse ligaments connect the apodemes of the mandibular adductor muscles of both sides and the anterior maxillo‐labial articulations of both sides. The two ligaments are linked to each other by a thin, apparently acellular membrane. An accessory, trilobed mandibular gland is present. A putative stretch receptor, connecting the oblique dorsal cibarial dilators of both sides, is described for the first time in a lepidopterous larva and its importance in assessing the homology of these muscles is discussed. The presence of cibarial sensilla, previously predicted in other caterpillars on the basis of behavioural experiments and observations of the nerve pattern, is confirmed. The structural diversity of larval head anatomy in ditrysian Lepidoptera is discussed, with particular emphasis on the innervation of the corpora cardiaca and corpora allata and of the sensilla of the head capsule.     

Vitellogenin induced in adult male Diploptera punctata by juvenile hormone and juvenile hormone analogue: Identification and quantitative aspects

The effect of the juvenile hormone analogue hydroprene on the appearance in the haemolymph of the yolk-protein precursor vitellogenin in male Diploptera punctata has been assessed using rocket immuno-electrophoresis. Vitellogenin was induced in a dose-dependent fashion, with a minimum dose of 10 μg hydroprene required for its appearance. Implantation of male corpora allata into male and female hosts also resulted in the appearance of vitellogenin in the haemolymph of the hosts, with females showing apparent greater sensitivity to the implantation.The identity of vitellogenin in male haemolymph was further confirmed using Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion and SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of immunoprecipitates. The electrophoretic pattern of immunoprecipitated haemolymph from females and hydroprene-treated males was similar, further confirming that the immunoprecipitable product was in fact vitellogenin.     

蜜蜂蜂王与工蜂级型分化研究进展

蜜蜂ApismekiferaL .是典型的社会性昆虫 ,蜂王和工蜂都是由受精卵发育而来的二倍体成蜂 ,但是在形态、生理、行为等方面有明显的差异 ,属于不同的级型。蜂王和工蜂的级型分化的关键时期发生在幼虫的 4龄末至 5龄止。分化是由分化基因调控的 ,幼虫期食物的质和量是分化的外部决定因子。JH对两级型中卵巢的分化有非常重要的调控作用。蜜蜂脑或其它组织中可能有分泌调控CA的咽侧体调节激素 ,它们通过对CA中JH的合成和分泌的调控而参与了分化的调控。章鱼胺等生物胺也参与了分化调控过程。     

Does ‘gliding while gravid’ explain Rensch's rule in flying lizards?

Among species with sexual size dimorphism (SSD), taxa in which males are the larger sex have increasing SSD with increasing body size, whereas in taxa in which females are the larger sex, SSD decreases with body size: Rensch's rule. We show in flying lizards, a clade of mostly female‐larger species, that SSD increases with body size, a pattern similar to that in clades with male‐biased SSD or more evenly mixed SSD. The observed pattern in Draco appears due to SSD increasing with evolutionary changes in male body size; specifically divergence in body size among species that are in sympatric congeneric assemblages. We suggest that increasing body size, resulting in decreased gliding performance, reduces the relative gliding cost of gravidity in females, and switches sexual selection in males away from a small‐male, gliding advantage and toward selection on large size and fighting ability as seen in many other lizards. Thus, selection for large females is likely greater than selection for large males at the smaller end of the body size continuum, whereas this relationship reverses for species at the larger end of the continuum. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 113 , 270–282.     

昆虫神经肽allatostati与allatotropin的研究新近展

Recently, two families of insect neuropeptides, the allatostatin, andallatotropin, have been identified. All allatostatins and allatotropins identified so farare neurosecretory polypeptides. A 13-amino acid allatotropin has been identifiedfrom adult Manduca sexta. A group of five structurally related allatostatins has beenidentified from Diploptara punctata. They either inhibit (allatostatin) or stimulate(allatotropin) the production of JH by CA. In this paper recent advances in researchon insect neuropeptides AS and AT and their biological significance are reported.     

昆虫神经肽allatostatin与allatotropin的研究新近展

昆虫神经肽ａｌｌａｔｏｓｔａｔｉｎ与ａｌｌａｔｏｔｒｏｐｉｎ的研究新近展关雪辰（中国科学院动物研究所北京１０００８０）昆虫神经激素是肽类激素,它控制昆虫许多关键的生理过程,例如生长、变态、生殖和行为等。保幼激素（ＪＨ）对昆虫的卵子发生成熟起着重要的调...