Microbial gut floras of eight species of tephritids

The gut bacteria of eight tephritid species were isolated and characterized. Larvae of the genus Urophora and Tephritis dilacerata proved to house no microorganisms in their digestive organs. Bacteria were isolated from adults of five fruit fly species. Most of the bacterial strains were enterobacteria. Fruit-infesting tephritid species, flower-head species and gall formers had similar gut floras consisting of bacteria widespread in the soil and on the phylloplane.     

Flies on thistles: support for synchronous speciation?

Synchronous speciation of hosts and herbivorous insects predicts a congruent topology of host and insect phylogenies and similar evolutionary ages of host and insect taxa. To test these predictions for the specialized herbivorous fly genus Urophora (Diptera: Tephritidae), we used three different approaches. (i) We generated a phylogenetic tree of 11 European Urophora species from allozyme data and constructed a phylogeny of their hosts from published sources. Superimposing the Urophora tree on the host-plant tree we found no evidence for general congruence. (ii) We correlated genetic distances (Nei distances) of the host plants vs. the genetic distances of associated Urophora species. Overall, the relationship was not positive. Nevertheless, for some pairs of Urophora species and host plants genetic distances were in the same order of magnitude. (iii) We collected allozyme data for pairs of thistle taxa and pairs of herbivores on thistles together with independent time estimates. With these data we calibrated a molecular clock. There was a non-linear relationship between phylogenetic age and genetic distance, rendering the dating of deep events in thistle–insect evolution difficult. Nevertheless the derived molecular clock showed that the split of insect taxa lagged behind the split of hosts.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 84 , 775–783.     

A new species of Urophora Robineau-Desvoidiy, 1830 (Diptera, Tephritidae) from Iran

Urophora merzisp. n. reared from flower heads of Centaurea behen Linnaeus is described from Iran. It is similar to Urophora campestris, Urophora sachalinensis, Urophora stylata, Urophora tsoii and Urophora vera in wing pattern with 3 well developed crossbands and indistinct subbasal crossband, differing in aculeus tip with two pairs of diminished preapical steps and different host plants.     

An annotated catalogue of type specimens of the land snail genus Cyclophorus Monfort, 1810 (Caenogastropoda,Cyclophoridae) in the Natural History Museum,London

The collection of land caenogastropod snails in the genus Cyclophorus Monfort, 1810 housed in the Natural History Museum, London (NHM), includes 52 type lots. Lectotypes have been designated for 43 available species-level names to stabilize existing nomenclature, two previously designated lectotype, two holotypes, one paratype, one syntype, one possible syntype and two paralectotypes are also listed. A complete catalogue of the Cyclophorus types in NHM, London is provided for the first time.     

Supercooling capacity of Urophora affinis and U. quadrifasciata (Diptera: Tephritidae) on spotted knapweed: comparisons among plants, sites, time of season, and gall densities

Larval supercooling points of Urophora affinis Frauenfeld and U. quadrifasciata (Meigen) were compared among plants, six research sites in western Montana, four fall/winter time periods, and among gall densities. These two tephritid fly species are introduced biological control agents of spotted knapweed, Centaurea maculosa Lamarck, and diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa Lamarck. Few differences in larval supercooling points for U. affinis and U. quadrifasciata were found among plants, and where differences were found, they were not consistent across fall/winter time periods. Significant differences in larval supercooling points were found among sites and across fall/winter time periods. No relationship was found between larval supercooling points and site elevation. Larval supercooling points of both U. affinis and U. quadrifasciata showed no relationship with the density of Urophora galls within spotted knapweed capitula. Mean larval supercooling points of U. affinis were consistently lower than those of U. quadrifasciata across sites and fall/winter time periods. In conclusion, temporal differences in temperature over the fall/winter time periods and microclimatic differences among sites appear to be the most important abiotic factors influencing the supercooling points in U. affinis and U. quadrifasciata.     

Host-specificity of Candidate Agents for the Biological Control of Onopordum spp. Thistles in Australia: an Assessment of Testing Procedures

This paper describes a series of host-specificity tests carried out to evaluate the safety of eight insects for release in Australia as biological control agents of Onopordum spp. thistles; Larinus latus L., Lixus cardui Ol. and Trichosirocalus briesei Alonso-Zarazaga & Sanchez-Ruiz (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Tephritis postica Loew and Urophora terebrans Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae), Botanophila spinosa Rondani (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), Tettigometra sulphurea Mulsant & Rey. (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidae) and Eublemma amoena (Hbn.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Preliminary tests were first carried out against key test plants in the country of origin to determine whether it was worth proceeding with formal testing under quarantine conditions in Australia. In the formal testing procedure, the test plant list was based solely on phylogenetic relationships. The life-stage of each insect tested was selected with respect to its biology and behaviour, e.g. only oviposition was tested for insect species with immobile endophagous larvae, while larval host utilization was tested for those with mobile larval stages. The initial laboratory experiments for each species used were caged no-choice tests, as confinement without choice can elicit extreme behavioural responses, making negative results extremely robust. Where positive results occurred, insects where re-exposed to the plant, but this time given a choice between the target and non-target plants. The results of these tests, plus data from open-field preliminary tests in the country of origin, helped interpret results and determine the risk posed by each candidate biological control agent to non-target plant species. Following submission, all eight candidates were approved for release by the Australian plant biosecurity and conservation authorities. Based on a comparison of the eight species tested, it is recommended that host-specificity testing be kept flexible and pragmatic, rather than moving towards a formulaic risk assessment procedure. Moreover, given the improved state of knowledge of plant phylogenies and the evolution of host utilization, it is time to base testing procedures purely on phylogenetic grounds, without the need to include less related test species solely because of economic or conservation reasons.     

The proper latin designation of Duvaucel’s gecko,with comments on specimens of historical note

Abstract

Duvaucel’s gecko is properly referred to as Hoplodactylus duvaucelii; other renderings of the specific epithet are incorrect. The existence of some historically important specimens of the species, including a newly rediscovered syntype, is noted.     

The type-species of Lindingaspis MacGillivray (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Diaspididae)

Melanaspis samoana Lindinger the type-species of Lindingaspis is re-described and illustrated from syntype specimens and a lectotype is selected.     

Heterogeneity and density dependence in a field study of a tephritid-parasitoid interaction

Abstract.

• 1 The spatial distributions of two tephritid flies (Urophora stylata (Fabricius) and Terellia serratulae L.) attacking thistle flower heads and the levels of parasitism from their associated parasitoid guilds were studied over a 7-year period.
• 2 Using these data it is possible to seek both temporal, density dependent relationships between average levels of parasitism and host density per generation, and also any spatial patterns of parasitism contributing to stability that may be operating within the same field system.
• 3 Parasitism by the two most important generalist parasitoids of T.serratulae is a direct function of average T.serratulae density per year. There is little evidence of any stabilizing heterogeneity arising from the spatial distribution of parasitism within generations.
• 4 Temporal density dependence of Urophora stylata cannot be confirmed from the 7 years of study but there is evidence of spatial heterogeneity which may have an important effect on the dynamics of the host population.

     

Taxonomic status and type specimens of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platycephalus bataviensis</Emphasis> Bleeker 1853 (Teleostei: Platycephalidae)

Taxonomic status and type specimens of Platycephalus bataviensis Bleeker 1853, described based on two syntypes (110 and 140 mm TL) from Batavia (= Jakarta), are discussed. Four platycephalid specimens have been recognized as possible syntype(s) of P. bataviensis. Of them, a specimen of 140.5 mm TL deposited at Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, identified as Inegocia japonica, is regarded to be the larger syntype and is designated as the lectotype of P. bataviensis in this study, while the paralectotype of the species is not identified. As a result, P. bataviensis becomes a junior synonym of I. japonica.     

硬毛猕猴桃（猕猴桃科）名称后选模式的指定

根据对保存于中国科学院植物研究所植物标本馆（PE）合模式标本的研究,对硬毛猕猴桃(Actinidia chinensis Planch. var. hispida C. F. Liang)的名称作后选模式指定。     

Genus Thubana Walker in Indonesia, with descriptions of four new species (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) and a world catalog of the genus

The genus Thubana Walker (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae: Torodorinae) in Indonesia is reviewed, with three known species from Java and four additional new species: Th. raphidodea sp. nov. from Sulawesi, Indonesia and Malaysia; and Th. erycinae sp. nov., Th. apiculalis sp. nov. and Th. sellarius sp. nov. from Sumatra, Indonesia. The previously known species from Java, Th. costimaculella (Snellen), is redescribed for the wing venation and genitalia of both sexes; however, the syntype of Th. heylaertsi (Snellen) is observed only by its photograph. No specimens of Th. heylaertsi and Th. xylogramma Meyrick were found during this study. Photos of all known species, except Th. xylogramma Meyrick, and a key to species are provided. A catalog for the genus with all 46 known species in the world is given.     

卵叶茜草(茜草科)名称的后选模式指定

根据对保存于西北植物研究所植物标本馆(WUK)的合模式标本进行研究,对卵叶茜草(Rubia ovatifoliaZ.Y.Zhang)的名称作出后选模式指定。     

A new combination in Matelea (Asclepiadaceae) and lectotypification of M. parvifolia

Vegetative similarities as well as a syntype specimen with discordant elements have evidently misled botanists to equateLachnostoma hastatulum withGonolobus parvifolius. Both species are considered representatives of a broadly interpreted genusMatelea, subgenusChthamalia. A new combination,M. hastatula, is proposed, andG. parvifolius is lectotypified.     

Orthotrichum courtoisii(苔藓植物),丛生木灵藓的一个新异名

经过模式标本与普通标本的查检,确认华东木灵藓Orthotrichum courtoisii Broth．＆ Paris是丛生木灵藓D．consobrinum Card．的一个新异名;基于丛生木灵藓的模式标本,对该种进行了详细的描述,绘制了其详图。     

Dispersal of the thistle gallfly Urophora cardui and its endoparasitoid Eurytoma serraiulae (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae)

Abstract. 1. The dispersal of the gall-forming tephritid Urophora cardui L. (Diptera: Tephritidae) and its endoparasitoid Eurytoma serratulae Latr. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) from an experimental colony were investigated over a period of 4 years.
2. The dispersal rate for both fly and endoparasitoid was one to two magnitudes higher than in previous studies, which found 100 m per generation maximally. The dispersal rate of the endoparasitoid was not less than that of its host. Most newly founded colonies were small and had high extinction rates.
3. The viability of colonies of U. cardui did not correlate with the distance from the dispersal centre.
4. The dispersal rates observed are high enough to allow a multiple spread and extinction in mid-Europe in the post-pleistocene period.     

Primers for identification of type and other archived specimens of Aphrodes leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae)

Primers were developed for leafhoppers of the genus Aphrodes amplifying 84-244 bp fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene. DNA was extracted from legs of over 100-year-old archived museum specimens, amplified and sequenced. The fragments contain sufficient variation to unequivocally identify the different species. The majority of the analysed museum specimens, including three specimens of the syntype series for the UK endemic species A. aestuarina (Edwards 1908), were found to have been assigned to the wrong species. This work clearly underlines the need to validate museum specimens using molecular methods where identity is in doubt, based on reliable standards for species discrimination.     

Salmo macrostigma (Teleostei,Salmonidae): Nothing more than a brown trout (S. trutta) lineage?

We examined specimens of the macrostigma trout Salmo macrostigma, which refers to big black spots on the flanks, to assess whether it is an example of taxonomic inflation within the brown trout Salmo trutta complex. Using new specimens, publicly available data and a mitogenomic protocol to amplify the control and cytochrome b regions of the mitochondrial genome from degraded museum samples, including one syntype specimen, the present study shows that the macrostigma trout is not a valid species. Our results suggest the occurrence of a distinct evolutionary lineage of S. trutta in North Africa and Sicily. The name of the North African lineage is proposed for this lineage, which was found to be sister to the Atlantic lineage of brown trout, S. trutta.