Effect on predatory performance of the presence of prey after moulting in the water stick insect, Ranatra linearis

ABSTRACT. During the first 4h following moulting, Ranatra linearis L. (Heteroptera, Nepidae) perform numerous claw and femur foreleg movements, but do not then catch any prey (e.g. Daphnia ). The frequency of these movements depends on the presence of potential prey, and is significantly higher in the presence of potential prey items than in their absence. The presence or absence of prey during these four post-moult hours influenced subsequent performance. Ranatra moulting in the absence of prey showed later a lower catching success and a smaller proportion of complex predatory movements at all stages of development than did Ranatra moulting in the presence of prey, all other factors being similar. The importance of this deficit resulting from depriving Ranatra of the presence of prey during the post-moult period is discussed.     

Inter-generic variation in the male genitalia of the Braconinae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

Male genitalia belonging to representatives of a total of 72 genera of Old and New World Braconinae have been examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. On the basis of features of the volsellae (setosity), the parameres (setosity), the digitus (number of teeth, shape) and basal ring (posterior extension) it was possible to identify certain generic groupings which support the general suprageneric divisions of the subfamily based on other taxonomic characters. The male genitalia are thus shown to provide a potentially useful new set of characters for the higher level classification of the braconine genera.     

Checklist of the aquatic Hemiptera (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha) of Cambodia,with descriptions of new species of Microvelia Westwood, 1834 and Ranatra Fabricius, 1790

Based on specimens (Natural History Museum Vienna, Cambodian Entomology Initiatives at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, private collection of fourth author) and based on literature, we provide a first species list of aquatic Hemiptera (Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha) of Cambodia. We studied 38 species (37 identified) and added three reliable species records from the literature. In total, we report on 41 species in 25 genera and 11 families (Belostomatidae, Gerridae, Hebridae, Helotrephidae, Hydrometridae, Mesoveliidae, Micronectidae, Naucoridae, Nepidae, Notonectidae, Veliidae). Most of these taxa are recorded from Cambodia for the first time. We describe two species as new to science: Microvelia falcata sp. n. (Veliidae) and Ranatra cardamomensis sp. n. (Nepidae). Subspecific rank is given for Cylindrostethus costalis malayensis Polhemus, 1994 stat. n. (Gerridae) that was formerly described as a distinct species.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C95441BD-C817-42BA-87CA-01070A4B7F17     

A review of the genera of Macariini with a revised classification of the tribe (Geometridae: Ennominae)

The generic classification of moths of the tribe Macariini Guenée is reviewed critically, and a revised classification is presented. The review is based on a survey of species across the taxonomic and geographical range of the tribe. In the new framework, the number of genera is reduced considerably. Two genera are very large: Macaria Curtis (mainly New World) and Chiasmia Hübner (largely Old World) together include over half of all macariine species. Twenty-three genera are accepted in the tribe; the identity of two genera remain uncertain. No single character defines the tribe, but diagnostic features include one or more of the following: the presence of enlarged setae ('horns') on the uncus in the male genitalia; a divided valva; and a modified condition of sternum A8 in the male. The taxonomic history of the tribe is reviewed briefly and the problems of previous systems are explained mainly by the regional approach adopted. A diagnosis is presented for each genus. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 134 , 257–315.     

The Feeding Behaviour of a Sit and Wait Predator Ranatra dispar (Heteroptera: Nepidae): The Effect of Prey Density and Age Structure on the Number of Prey Eaten

Functional response experiments were performed in the laboratory to examine the effect of prey density (as observed in the field) on feeding behaviour, and to measure handling-times and attack-rates for each instar and adult of Ranatra dispar Montandon (Heteroptera: Nepidae) feeding on five size-classes of its common prey, Anisops deanei Brooks (Heteroptera: Notonectidae). The most generally applicable response was the Type 2, although for both the predator fifth instar and adult female and male feeding on the two smallest prey sizes, the asymptote or plateau was not observed even at the highest prey density given. Generally, the handling-time increased as prey-size increased, and decreased as the predator size increased. The attack-rate surface was far more complex. For the first two predator instars (I and II), the maximum attack-rate occurred on the smallest prey sizes (1 and 2). The maximum attack-rate for predator instar III was almost the same for prey sizes 1 and 2, that of predator instar IV was greater for prey size 2, while in the three largest predator sizes (V, female and male), the maximum attack-rate was found for prey size 3. Predator instar V had the largest attack-rate values over all prey sizes, and both the predator adult female and male had lower attack-rates for various prey sizes than instars V, IV and, to some degree, III. The results support the suggestion that small predator instars will usually compete with large instars for prey, unless they are spatially or temporally separated. Observations in the field indicate that a distinct age-specific spatial distribution exists in R. dispar and the prey, A. deanei, with the smallest individuals being found predominantly in the shallow (littoral zone) water, while the larger individuals are found in the deeper water.     

Neotropical taxa referable to acrolophus (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)

Abstract. The new World genus Acrolophus , with about 225 species, has alreay twenty-six generic synonyms. a further four genera, Daulia Walker, 1863 [norm. praeocc., nec Walker, 1859] (monobasic), Brachysymbola Meyrick (monobasic), Orothyntis Meyrick (two species) and Psephocrita Meyrick (monobasic) are here synonmized with Acrolophus. Daulia indecora Walker, Brachysymbola sepulcralis Meyrick, Orothyntis scruopulata Meyrick, O.torata meyrick and Psephocrita melanodoxa Meyrick are transferred to Acrolophus. Acrolophus reflexa (Fabricius) and its genitalia are figured from recently collected materila.     

The male genitalia in the subfamily Agathidinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Morphological information of species on generic level

The morphology of the male genitalia of 46 Agathidinae species belonging to 20 genera has been investigated. Samples from various geographical regions were used to discover the evolution of the male genitalia within the subfamily Agathidinae. Those male genitalia may contain important phylogenetic information at least in certain groups of Braconidae. For the New World, three of four investigated species of Cremnops (C. haematodes, C. montrealensis and C. vulgaris) could suggest the form of the new genus with the other members of New World Cremnops, partly because of the deviating morphology of the male genitalia. Comparative morphology of the male genitalia of Bassus confirms that it is polyphyletic. The status of Lytopylus (L. erythrogaster) is again actualised. Once synonymised as Aerophilopsis, this species could be excluded from other Lytopylus species. The statistical analysis showed that smaller specimens (<6.67 mm) give less details on the morphology of the male genitalia comparing to larger.     

油茶新害虫南方锦天牛形态特征和生物学特性研究(英文)

南方锦天牛Acalolepta speciosa属鞘翅目天牛科沟胫天牛亚科锦天牛属昆虫,是近年在油茶Camellia oleifera上新出现的一种蛀干害虫.本文首次对该天牛的形态特征,包括雌雄生殖器结构进行了详细的描述,以期为该虫的鉴定提供可靠的依据,并首次报道了该虫生物学特性.     

Water scorpions (Heteroptera, Nepidae) and giant water bugs (Heteroptera, Belostomatidae): sources of new members of the adipokinetic hormone/red pigment-concentrating hormone family

Two novel octapeptide members of the AKH/RPCH family have been identified from the corpora cardiaca (CC) of two species of water bugs. The giant water bug Lethocerus indicus (family: Belostomatidae) contains a peptide code-named Letin-AKH with the sequence pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Tyr-Trp amide, and the water scorpion Nepa cinerea (family: Nepidae) has the peptide code-named Nepci-AKH with the sequence pGlu-Leu/Ile-Asn-Phe-Ser-Ser-Gly-Trp amide. The sequences were deduced from the multiple MS(N) electrospray mass data from crude CC extracts. Synthetic peptides were made and co-elution on reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with the natural peptide from crude gland extract confirmed the accuracy of the deduced sequence for Letin-AKH and demonstrated that Nepci-AKH contains a Leu residue at position 2 and not an Ile residue. A previously characterized member of the AKH/RPCH family was identified in the stick water scorpion Ranatra linearis by mass spectrometry: Grybi-AKH (pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Thr-Gly-Trp amide) has the same mass (919 Da) as Nepci-AKH and differs in two positions from Nepci-AKH (residues 2 and 6). The apparent function of the peptides is to achieve lipid mobilization in the species under investigation; indications for this came from conspecific bioassays using the appropriate synthetic peptides for injecting into the insects. This function is very likely linked to dispersal flight metabolism of water bugs. Swimming activity in N. cinerea also results in an increase in lipid concentration in the hemolymph.     

Taxonomic review of Spiladarcha Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Urodoidea: Urodidae) with a new species from Venezuela

Spiladarcha adamskii sp. nov. is described from Venezuela and is compared to S. derelicta, the type species of the genus. Spiladarcha is characterized by the features of male genitalia, which have not been known previously for the genus. Spiladarcha are distinguished from its sister genus Wockia in having raised scales of small black spots along the upper surface of the forewing veins, a pair of setal zones on the apical part of the tegumen in the male genitalia, and a linguiform antrum and a zone of longitudinal pleats on the ductus bursae in the female genitalia.