Host discrimination by Elasmus schmitti (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) and Latibulus argiolus (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), parasitoids of colonies of Polistes wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

The ability to discriminate parasitized and non-parasitized hosts allows the parasitoids to avoid intraspecific and often interspecific competition. In 2005–2009, the incidence of mixed infestation of Polistes nimpha (Christ) colonies by parasitoids Elasmus schmitti Ruschka (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) and Latibulus argiolus (Rossi) (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) was analyzed. In settlements of different types, the frequencies of mixed infestation deviated from the values expected in case of random distribution. The presence or absence of discrimination ability cannot be confirmed unequivocally based on our material. The data obtained are discussed in relation to the biological features of parasitoids.     

Pulp partitioning and worker specialization in polistine wasps (Hymenoptera,Vespidae, Polistinae)

The character of pulp partitioning was studied in three Palaearctic polistine wasps (Polistes dominula and P. gallicus in the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve, and Polistes nimpha in the Lugansk Nature Reserve, Ukraine) and in five Neotropical species (P. lanio, P. versicolor, Mischocyttarus injucundus, M. alfkeni, Metapolybia cingulata, and Protopolybia exigua in Trinidad). In independent-founding Polistes and Mischocyttarus species, all cases of pulp partitioning were connected with aggression on the part of the foundresses. An experimental increase of nesting density of P. dominula led to changes in the relative abundance of workers in the polyethic task groups. Some workers practically stopped hunting and switched over to pulp delivery; some of these workers possessed well-developed ovaries and were able to lay eggs. The experimentally removed part of the nest envelope in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia cingulata was restored only in colonies that included young workers. The specific features of nest building activity in independent-founding and swarm-founding polistine wasps are discussed.     

Expressions of Recombinant Venom Allergen, Antigen 5 of Yellowjacket (Vespula vulgaris) and Paper Wasp (Polistes annularis), in Bacteria or Yeast

Antigen 5 is a major allergen of vespid venom. It has partial sequence identity with proteins from diverse sources. The biologic function of Ag 5 and its related proteins is not known. We are interested in the expression of Ag 5 with the native conformation of the natural protein since its B cell epitopes are mainly of the discontinuous type. When expressed in bacteria, recombinant Ag 5 formed an insoluble intracellular product, and it did not translocate from cytoplasm to periplasm by the addition of a pelB leader sequence to the cloned protein. When expressed in yeast Pichia pastoris, Ag 5 was secreted because the cloned protein contained a yeast α signal leader sequence. Recombinant Ag 5 from yeast was shown to have the native structure of the natural protein and the recombinant Ag 5 from bacteria did not. This was shown by comparison of their solubility, electrophoretic behavior, disulfide bond content, CD spectrum, and binding of IgE antibodies from allergic patients and IgG antibodies from mice immunized with natural Ag 5 or recombinant Ag 5s from yeast or bacteria. These studies were made with Ag 5s from yellowjacket (Vespula vulgaris) and paper wasp (Polistes annularis).     

Origin of the subgeneraCyclampterium, Paralampterium andSciadiopeplus fromLophocyrtis (Lophocyrtis) (Radiolaria, Theoperidae)

Work on the exceptionally well-preserved, rapidly accumulating Bath Cliff Section, Barbados and supplementary Deep Sea Drilling Project samples, has revealed the evolutionary origins of three stratigraphically useful species in theCryptoprora ornata Zone straddling the Eocene/Oligocene boundary and demonstrated the origin of the genusCyclampterium. Elucidation of the origin ofCyclampterium milowi necessitates a revision of the generaLophocyrtis andCyclampterium.Lophocyrtis (Lophocyrtis)jacchia is the ancestor ofL. (Cyclampterium)hadra, the earliest member in the subgenusCyclampterium which comprises the anagenetic lineage leading fromL. (C.)hadra toL. (C.)neatum. The monotypic subgenusSciadiopeplus branches off from an early member in theCyclampterium lineage. The new speciesL. (L.)exitelus andL. (S.)oberhaensliae terminate the subgeneraLophocyrtis andSciadiopeplus, respectively. During the investigation it also became clear that morphotypes resembling earlyL. (C.)milowi could be found in mid and high latitude assemblages in the late Early and late Middle Eocene. The origin of one these morphotypes was also traced toL. (Lophocyrtis)jacchia giving rise to the new subgenusParalampterium. This lineage includes the new speciesL. (Paralampterium)dumitricai and two species questionably assigned to it,L. (Paralampterium)?longiventer and the new speciesL. (Paralampterium) ?galenum. The relationship ofL. (P.)dumitricai toL. (P.) ?longiventer andL. (P.) ?galenum is unknown.     

Bionomics and morphological and molecular characterization of Elasmus schmitti and Baryscapus elasmi (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae), parasitoids associated with a paper wasp, Polistes dominulus (Vespoidea, Vespidae)

Elasmus schmitti and Baryscapus elasmi have been recorded in southern Ukraine as gregarious parasitoids in the nests of the paper wasps Polistes dominulus and Polistes nimphus. Polistes dominulus nests infested with E. schmitti were less productive than uninfested nests in only one year (2004) of the three years of the present study, when an increase in the host population size occurred. Females of E. schmitti are synovigenic, and they lay their eggs on the skins of P. dominulus last instar larvae, without paralyzing the host. Rather, the parasitoid larvae feed on young host pupae. The pupae of E. schmitti are isolated from the host remnants by a thin fecal partition as in Elasmus polistis and Elasmus japonicus, other paper wasp parasitoids. Baryscapus elasmi is a pupal endoparasitoid of E. schmitti. The females of B. elasmi emerge without mature eggs in their ovaries and mate with males. They penetrate the paper wasp’s cells with their ovipositor and feed on the extracted hemolymph exudate. Pupation of B. elasmi occurs inside or outside the pupa of the host, E. schmitti. If inside, then the cranial end of the pupa and the adult emergence hole of B. elasmi are situated in the caudal ends of the pupae of their hosts. Comparative notes and illustrations on the morphology of adults are provided, and DNA sequences of three genes (nuclear 28S D2 rDNA, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I, and mitochondrial cytochrome b) were obtained for both parasitoid species. The similarity of the 28S D2 sequences of E. schmitti and E. polistis relative to other available Elasmus sequences suggests a single origin of parasitism on paper wasps in this genus.     

The oral apparatus of tadpoles of Rana dalmatina, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, and Bufo viridis (Anura)

The morphology and development of the larval oral apparatus of Rana dalmatina, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, and Bufo viridis are described and compared using scanning electron microscopy. The species show different arrangements of the mouthparts. The small oral apparatus of R. dalmatina larvae has three labial tooth rows on the upper labium, while there are four tooth rows on the lower labium with a medial gap in row proximal to the mouth. The margins of the oral apparatus are defined by papillae that encircle the lower labium. B. variegata tadpoles have two upper labial tooth rows and three lower labial tooth rows that are uninterrupted, unlike the ones of R. dalmatina. The mouth is encircled by papillae that are larger than those of R. dalmatina. The oral discs of tadpoles of both B. bufo and B. viridis are similar. They are defined by two upper labial tooth rows (the second of which is interrupted by a medial gap) and by three lower tooth rows that differ in lengths in the two Bufo species. Both species develop papillae on the mouth angles and in two rows on the upper labium. Some morphological differences among the oral discs of R. dalmatina, B. variegata, B. bufo, and B. viridis tadpoles can be attributed to phylogenetic differences, but most can be related to their varying feeding habits and/or to their dietary specializations.     

A phylogenetic overview of the family Pyronemataceae (Ascomycota, Pezizales)

Partial sequences of nuLSU rDNA were obtained to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of Pyronemataceae, the largest and least studied family of Pezizales. The dataset includes sequences for 162 species from 51 genera of Pyronemataceae, and 39 species from an additional 13 families of Pezizales. Parsimony, ML, and Bayesian analyses suggest that Pyronemataceae is not monophyletic as it is currently circumscribed. Ascodesmidaceae is nested within Pyronemataceae, and several pyronemataceous taxa are resolved outside the family. Glaziellaceae forms the sister group to Pyronemataceae in ML analyses, but this relationship, as well as those of Pyronemataceae to the other members of the lineage, are not resolved with support. Fourteen clades of pyronemataceous taxa are well supported and/or present in all recovered trees. Several pyronemataceous genera are suggested to be non-monophyletic, including Anthracobia, Cheilymenia, Geopyxis, Humaria, Lasiobolidium, Neottiella, Octospora, Pulvinula, Stephensia, Tricharina, and Trichophaea. Cleistothecial and truffle or truffle-like ascomata forms appear to have evolved independently multiple times within Pyronemataceae. Results of these analyses do not support previous classifications of Pyronemataceae, and suggest that morphological characters traditionally used to segregate the family into subfamilial groups are not phylogenetically informative above the genus level.     

Inhibition of Host Queen Reproductive Capacity by the Obligate Social Parasite Polistes atrimandibularis (Hymenoptera,Vespidae)

Polistes atrimandibularis is the obligate and permanent parasite of the social paper wasp Polistes biglumis bimaculatus. This parasite lives together with the host foundress for a considerable period on the invaded nest. Ovarian development was measured in females of the host species (foundresses and, when present, workers) from 18 parasitized and 14 non-parasitized colonies. The reproductive capacity of foundresses from parasitized nests decreased faster than that of foundresses from non-parasitized nests. These results indicate that the presence of the parasite lowers reproductive capacity of the host queen. Simultaneously, the fertility of the host worker is inhibited.     

Isolation and characterization of 10 microsatellite loci in the paper wasp Polistes rothneyi (Hymenoptera; Vespidae)

We developed 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Japanese paper wasp Polistes rothneyi using the magnetic particle method. Eight of the 10 loci tested were highly polymorphic, having four to eight alleles in P. rothneyi with an expected heterozygosity of 0.60–0.75. They also appeared to be applicable to other related species such as Polistes jokahamae. These loci can be used to study parameters concerning genetic relatedness such as worker reproduction and kin structure.     

Intradiurnal periodicity of fungal spore concentrations (Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Didymella, Ganoderma) in Cracow, Poland

Aerobiological monitoring enables the definition of seasonal fungal spore concentrations and also intradiurnal time when the highest concentrations of spores could cause or increase allergy symptoms. These data are useful to estimate symptoms of disease, duration of infection and how advanced the illness is in people suffering from fungal allergens. The aim of the study was to compare the concentrations of fungal spores (Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Didymella, Ganoderma) during dry and rainy periods and to analyse their intradiurnal changes. Average daily spore concentrations in dry and rainy periods were compared, using z test, separately for each taxon, season and for a combined 3-year period. Intradiurnal periodicity of fungal spore concentrations was analysed on the basis of three complementary diagrams. These spore concentrations were presented using three curves for all, dry and rainy days in 1997–1999 (April–November). The spore percentage in particular hours was normalized in relation to the daily spore sum accepted as 100%. Two further diagrams enabled the more precise analysis of the highest concentrations in dry days. Daily Botrytis and Cladosporium spore concentrations did not show significant differences between dry and rainy periods. In the case of Didymella and Ganoderma spore concentrations, there were no significant differences between both weather types in the single years, although there was a significant difference when a 3-year period was considered. The differences between daily concentrations of Alternaria spores in dry and rainy periods occurred in 1997 and in a 3-year period. Intradiurnal periodicity of spore concentrations was different for ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ fungal spores. Dry spores are released from the spore-producing parts of the fungus under conditions of decreasing humidity and increasing airflow. Examples of dry spores are those from Alternaria, Cladosporium and Botrytis. Wet spores, such as those from many Ascomycetes (Didymella) and Basidiomycetes (Ganoderma), are released into the atmosphere by processes related to humidity conditions or rain. The highest concentrations of ‘dry’ spores were observed early in the afternoon, while highest values of ‘wet’ spore concentrations occurred in the predawn hours. Statistically non-significant differences between daily spore concentrations in dry and rainy periods of single seasons were found except for Alternaria. Statistically significant differences could occur when the studied period was longer than one season (Alternaria, Didymella, Ganoderma). The highest concentrations of Alternaria, Botrytis and Cladosporium spores were recorded at noon and early in the afternoon. Concentrations of Didymella and Ganoderma spores were highest in the predawn hours.     

Biogeography of Hysterangiales (Phallomycetidae, Basidiomycota)

To understand the biogeography of truffle-like fungi, DNA sequences were analysed from representative taxa of Hysterangiales. Multigene phylogenies and the results of ancestral area reconstructions are consistent with the hypothesis of an Australian, or eastern Gondwanan, origin of Hysterangiales with subsequent range expansions to the Northern Hemisphere. However, neither Northern Hemisphere nor Southern Hemisphere taxa formed a monophyletic group, which is in conflict with a strictly vicariant scenario. Therefore, the occurrence and importance of long-distance dispersal could not be rejected. Although a pre-Gondwanan origin of Hysterangiales remains as a possibility, this hypothesis requires that Hysterangiales exist prior to the origin of the currently recognized ectomycorrhizal plants, as well as the arrival of mycophagous animals in Australia. This also requires that a basal paraphyletic assemblage represents parallel evolution of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, or that Hysterangiales was mycorrhizal with members of the extinct flora of Gondwana. Regardless, models for both ancient and more recent origins of Hysterangiales are consistent with truffle-like fungi being capable of transoceanic dispersal.     

Trophic relations between vespid wasps (Hymenoptera,Vespidae) and flowering plants in the Crimea

The results of the study of trophic relations between nectar-feeding adult wasps and flowering plants in the Crimea are given. In 2002–2009, a total of 55 wasp species were observed on flowers of 74 plant species belonging to 25 families. The highest number of plant species was visited by Polistes dominulus (36), Ancistrocerus nigricornis (18), Polistes nimphus (16), P. gallicus (13) and Dolichovespula sylvestris (13); these plants belonged to the families Apiaceae (15), Lamiaceae (10), Scrophulariaceae (8), Rosaceae (8) and Asteraceae (7). Plants of the families Scrophulariaceae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, and Fabaceae were visited by 25, 24, 22, 11, and 11 wasp species, respectively. Other plant families were visited by 10 or less wasp species. The highest number of wasp species were observed on flowers of Scrophularia umbrosa (22), Mentha longifolia (12), Bupleurum fruticosum (10), Laserpitium hispidum (10), Koelreuteria paniculata (10), Sambucus ebulus (10), Dorycnium herbaceum (9), Foeniculum vulgare (8), Limonium platyphyllum (7), Torilis arvensis (7), Marrubium peregrinum (7), Butomus umbellatus (7), Eryngium campestre (6), Cynanchum acutum (6) and Scrophularia scopolii (6). One to five wasp species were recorded on flowers of plants belonging to other families. Two wasp species (Polistes nimphus and Vespula germanica) were registered as visitors of the nectarless flowers of the orchid Steveniella satyrioides.     

Mating systems in representatives of Parmeliaceae, Ramalinaceae and Physciaceae (Lecanoromycetes, lichen-forming ascomycetes)

The progeny of meiosis of eight Parmeliaceae, two Ramalinaceae and seven Physciaceae were subjected to fingerprint analysis using RAPD-PCR applied to single spore isolates. The sample set included common and widespread rarely fertile species (Parmelia sulcata, Pseudevernia furfuracea, Physcia tenella), local to common, infrequently fertile species (Melanelixia glabra, Parmelina tiliacea, Xanthoparmelia conspersa, X. stenophylla, Anaptychia runcinata, Diploicia canescen, Physconia distorta), local to rare, infrequently or regularly fertile species with declining distributions (Parmelina carporrhizans, P. quercina, Ramalina fastigiata, R. fraxinea, Anaptychia ciliaris), and local to common, regularly fertile species (Physcia aipolia, P. stellaris). All species turned out to be heterothallic, polymorphisms among RAPD markers ranging from 10–87 %. The significance of these findings for population genetics and conservation biology, and potential reasons for infrequent ascoma formation in some of the species are discussed.     

A review of chromosome cytology in Hyacinthaceae subfamily Ornithogaloideae (Albuca, Dipcadi, Ornithogalum and Pseudogaltonia) in sub-Saharan Africa

The chromosome cytology of Hyacinthaceae subfamily Ornithogaloideae is reviewed within the framework of a recent molecular-based classification, with particular emphasis on its center of diversity in sub-Saharan Africa. We also provide new chromosome counts for sections that are unknown or poorly known cytologically. Albuca subgen. Namibiogalum (9 spp.) probably has an ancestral base number of x = 10 but subgen. Albuca (± 70 spp), subgen. Monarchos (9 spp.) and subgen. Osmyne (36 spp.) have x = 9. The pattern in subgen. Urophyllon (3 spp.) is remarkable: although x = 6 is likely, the species in the section exhibit a range of 2n = 12, 10, 8, 6 and 4 (exclusive of polyploidy). All karyotypes have three large chromosome pairs and a variable number of small chromosomes. Pseudogaltonia (2 spp.) has x = 9 and Dipcadi (26 spp.) possibly x = 9 in series Uropetalum and x = 6 in series Dipcadi, which exhibits a pattern of descending dysploidy leading to n = 3 in D. marlothii. In Ornithogalum (± 130 spp.) chromosome numbers are known for only 24 of the ± 84 sub-Saharan species, mostly from subgen. Aspasia and subgen. Ornithogalum sect. Linaspasia, both of which have x = 6, and from subgen. Galtonia, which has x = 8. In contrast, x = 7 is basic for the Eurasian sects. Honorius and Melophis, and x = 18 seems likely for sect. Cathissa. Sect. Ornithogalum, the cytology of which we does not examine in detail, may have x = 9. Polyploidy is apparently rare in the sub-Saharan African ornithogaloids, in marked contrast to the high frequency of polyploidy among Eurasian species. In Albuca just 3 or possibly 4 sub-Saharan species (9% or 13% of those counted) are exclusively polyploid and 5 more have diploid and polyploid races; and in sub-Saharan Ornithogalum, only the tropical O. gracillimum is exclusively polyploid, and the western southern African O. hispidum has diploid and polyploid races.     

Molecular phylogeny of the genus Stereocaulon (Stereocaulaceae, lichenized ascomycetes)

In the present study phylogenetic relationships of the genus Stereocaulon (lichenized ascomycetes) were examined using DNA sequences from the ITS1–5.8 S–ITS2 rDNA gene cluster and from the protein-coding β-tubulin gene. In addition to the fruticose species traditionally classified in Stereocaulon, representatives of the crustose species that have recently been transferred to the genus were included. Muhria, a monotypic genus that is morphologically similar to Stereocaulon, differing only in apothecia ontogeny, was also incorporated. The analyses included 101 specimens from the ingroup representing 49 taxa. Sequences from both DNA regions were analysed simultaneously using direct optimization under the parsimony optimality criterion. The results support the inclusion of the crustose species and Muhria in Stereocaulon, while the current infrageneric classification is not supported. As Muhria is securely nested within Stereocaulon the new combination Stereocaulon urceolatum comb. nov. (syn. Muhria urceolata) is made. Further, species concepts need to be re-examined, as some species do not appear as monophyletic entities in the phylogeny.     

担子菌门总革菌科中国新记录种紫黑点壳菌

[背景] 在陕西省的毛泡桐腐木桩上观察和采集到一株绒毛状真菌子实体,编号为HMNWAFU-CF-HS002。[目的] 为了确定该菌的分类地位,对其进行形态观察及分子鉴定。[方法] 获取宏观彩色图像并对显微结构进行测量、统计和绘图。此外,用PDA培养基分离纯化该菌的培养物,并结合最大似然法、最大简约法和贝叶斯法进行rDNA ITS分子系统学研究。[结果] HMNWAFU-CF-HS002的形态特征与Punctularia atropurpurascens高度相似。系统发育分析将HMNWAFU-CF-HS002聚在P.atropurpurascens的单系分支中。[结论] 结合形态学特征与系统发育结果,HMNWAFU-CF-HS002被鉴定紫黑点壳菌（Punctularia atropurpurascens）,为中国的新记录种。此外,毛泡桐为其新记录寄主。至此,Punctularia属下的3个种,均在中国有分布记录。     

Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) chimalapasensis n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from the freshwater fish Awaous banana (Valenciennes) (Gobiidae) in Mexico

Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) chimalapasensis n. sp. (Eoacanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) is described from the intestine of Awaous banana (Valenciennes) (Pisces: Gobiidae) collected in the Río Negro, a tributary in the upper Río Coatzacoalcos basin, Santa María Chimalapa, Oaxaca State, Mexico. It is the third species of Neoechinorhynchus Stiles & Hassall, 1905 described from Mexican freshwater fishes, although 36 other species are known from freshwater fishes in the Americas. Like four other species of Neoechinorhynchus from freshwater fishes in North America and Mexico, N. (N.) limi Muzzall & Buckner, 1982, (N.) rutili (Müller, 1780) Stiles & Hassall, 1905, N. (N.) salmonis Ching, 1984 and N. (N.) roseus Salgado-Maldonado, 1978, males and females of the new species are less than 20 mm in length, lack conspicuous sexual dimorphism in size, have a small proboscis of about 0.1 mm in length with the largest hooks being the anteriormost, about 30–90 μm in length and of equal size, and have subequal lemnisci, larger than the proboscis receptacle but still relatively short and, in males, generally restricted to a position considerably anterior to the testes. The new species is closest to N. (N.) roseus, but it is distinguished from it by having: (1) a slightly larger cylindrical proboscis with almost parallel sides versus a globular proboscis with a rounded tip which is shorter and somewhat wider in N. (N.) roseus; (2) smaller but robust anterior proboscis hooks that do not reach the equatorial level or extend beyond the hooks of the middle circle as in N. (N.) roseus; and (3) the female gonopore situated ventrally subterminal, as opposed to being a significant distance anteriorly to the posterior extremity in N. (N.) roseus.     

Molecular phylogeny and evolution of the genus Neoerysiphe (Erysiphaceae, Ascomycota)

The genus Neoerysiphe belongs to the tribe Golovinomyceteae of the Erysiphaceae together with the genera Arthrocladiella and Golovinomyces. This is a relatively small genus, comprising only six species, and having ca 300 species from six plant families as hosts. To investigate the molecular phylogeny and evolution of the genus, we determined the nucleotide sequences of the rDNA ITS regions and the divergent domains D1 and D2 of the 28S rDNA. The 30 ITS sequences from Neoerysiphe are divided into three monophyletic groups that are represented by their host families. Groups 1 and 3 consist of N. galeopsidis from Lamiaceae and N. galii from Rubiaceae, respectively, and the genetic diversity within each group is extremely low. Group 2 is represented by N. cumminsiana from Asteraceae. This group also includes Oidium baccharidis, O. maquii, and Oidium spp. from Galinsoga (Asteraceae) and Aloysia (Verbenaceae), and is further divided into four subgroups. N. galeopsidis is distributed worldwide, but is especially common in western Eurasia from Central Asia to Europe. N. galii is also common in western Eurasia. In contrast, the specimens of group 2 were all collected in the New World, except for one specimen that was collected in Japan; this may indicate a close relationship of group 2 with the New World. Molecular clock calibration demonstrated that Neoerysiphe split from other genera of the Erysiphaceae ca 35–45 M years ago (Mya), and that the three groups of Neoerysiphe diverged between 10 and 15 Mya, in the Miocene. Aloysia citriodora is a new host for the Erysiphaceae and the fungus on this plant is described as O. aloysiae sp. nov.