Interspecific Relations Between Two Sympatric Species of Hymenoptera, Dinarmus basalis (Rond) and Eupelmus vuilleti (Crw), Ectoparasitoids of the Bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus (F)

Dinarmus basalis (Rond) and Epelmus vuilleti (Crw) are two Hymenopteran species, which are solitary ectoparasitoids of bruchid larvae. In the presence of seeds of Vigna unguiculata (Walp) containing hosts parasitized by E. vuilleti, a high percentage of D. basalis females avoided multiparasitism whatever the age of the eggs or the larvae present on the host. The least avoidance was observed when the hosts were parasitized by E. vuilleti 30 min beforehand. This avoidance behavior is adaptive and is related to the low survival chances of the D. basalis larvae when they are in interspecific competition with E. vuilleti larvae. The analysis of the behavior of D. basalis demonstrated that the avoidance of multiparasitism could be due to the perception of two signals; an external signal deposited on the surface of the seeds during the E. vuilleti oviposition phase and an internal signal due to the presence of the eggs and larvae at the surface of the hosts. E. vuilleti females did not avoid multiparasitism and multiparasitized the hosts bearing D. basalis eggs or larvae. The behavior of E. vuilleti females was not disturbed by the presence of its competitor. Under these conditions of interspecific competition, the survival chances of E. vuilleti larvae were very high whatever the age of its competitor D. basalis. The two species of parasitoids could move in a column containing healthy seeds of V. unguiculata and patches with seeds containing parasitized or unparasitized larvae. The distribution of D. basalis females introduced into these columns depended on the host quality. They avoided the patches containing the hosts parasitized E. vuilleti and were found in the patches with healthy hosts. The behavior of E. vuilleti females was very different; the distribution of the females and the parasitism and multiparasitism rates were not affected by the quality of the hosts present in the patches. The adaptive significance of the behaviors of these two species was analyzed in relation to the survival chances of their offspring.     

Helminth parasites of the Eurasian badger (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Meles meles</Emphasis> L.) in the Basque Country (Spain)

The helminthological study of 26 Eurasian badgers (Meles meles L.) in the Basque Country (northern Spain) revealed the presence of two trematode (Euryhelmis squamula and Brachylaima sp.), three cestode (Atriotaenia incisa, Mesocestoides sp. and Taenia sp.) and five nematode (Aonchotheca putorii, Physaloptera sp., Molineus patens, Uncinaria criniformis and Strongyloides sp.) species. All 15 individuals analysed for Trichinella sp. were negative. The coprological analysis (flotation and migration) revealed the excretion of strongylid, capillariid and trematode eggs, and Crenosoma sp. and Angiostrongylus sp. larvae. No sex- or age-related differences were found in the parasite burden or egg and larvae excretion. A. incisa and M. patens abundances were positively correlated, both species being negatively correlated with badger weight. The presence of adults of U. criniformis and strongylid eggs in faeces was not independent. Badgers excreting Angiostrongylus larvae were in poorer condition than those not excreting.     

Effect of Two Opiine Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Introduced for Fruit Fly Control on a Native Hawaiian Tephritid,Trupanea dubautiae(Diptera: Tephritidae)

Diachasmimorpha longicaudata(Ashmead) andPsyttalia fletcheri(Silvestri) are opiine parasitoids introduced into Hawaii for control of the Oriental fruit fly,Bactrocera dorsalis(Hendel) and the melon fly,Bactrocera cucurbitae(Coquillett), respectively. Both species have recently been mass-reared and released for research in augmentative biocontrol programs. Laboratory and field sleeve cage experiments were conducted to investigate the potential impact of mass-producedD. longicaudataandP. fletcherion a native Hawaiian tephritid,Trupanea dubautiae(Bryan), infesting the flowerheads of the native composite shrubDubautia raillardioidesHillebrand. Gravid females ofD. longicaudataandP. fletcheriwere confined with bloomingD. raillardioidesflowerheads infested with late instarT. dubautiae.BothD. longicaudataandP. fletcherilacked positive oviposition responses toT. dubautiaelarvae in infested flowerheads and caused neither parasitism nor mortality to the flies. However, when larvae were removed from the flowerheads and presented in screened dishes containing artificial diet of the parasitoids' normal rearing hosts (B. dorsalisandB. cucurbitae), bothD. longicaudataandP. fletcherireadily oviposited in the test larvae. Oviposition byD. longicaudatadid not significantly affect the percentage pupation ofT. dubautiae,but did reduce the emergence of adult flies. Oviposition byP. fletcherisignificantly reduced both pupation and adult fly emergence. All progeny of both parasitoid species died as eggs or first-instar larvae. Results from our experiments demonstrate that biological control programs targeted against frugivorous tephritid pests byD. longicaudataandP. fletcherihave no harmful impact on flowerhead-infestingT. dubautiae.     

Studies on feeding in the soil predatory mitePergamasus longicornis (Berlese) (Mesostigmata: Parasitidae) using dipteran and microarthropod prey

Larvae ofMusca domestica andDrosophila melanogaster were tested as prey for adultPergamasus longicornis using soil microarthropods as controls. Fly larvae were fed upon for a longer time and almost continuously. Second-instar larvae ofM. domestica were not eaten completely. No differences were detected between the sexes of the predator. Final-instar larvae ofD. melanogaster were chosen for subsequent experimentation. New field records of soil prey are included.     

Geographical variation in encapsulation ability ofDrosophila melanogaster larvae and evidence for parasitoid-specific components

Summary The ability ofDrosophila melanogaster larvae in Europe to encapsulate the eggs of their most important parasitoids,Asobara tabida andLeptopilina boulardi, shows a large amount of geographical variation. Interestingly, encapsulation ability againstA. tabida is not correlated with encapsulation ability againstL. boulardi. This indicates that the encapsulation system ofD. melanogaster larvae has parasitoid-specific components. The variation in encapsulation ability can only partly be explained by the incidence of parasitism on the larvae. This means that factors other than the two parasitoid species must be selection pressures on the encapsulation ability ofD. melanogaster larvae.     

Chemotaxonomic studies onArachniodes (dryopteridaceae) I. Phloroglucinol derivatives of japanese species

Twelve species ofArachniodes from Japan were examined for phloroglucinol derivatives and glandularity of rhizome and petiole bases. For comparison 3 species ofDryopteris, 1 species ofCtenitis, 4 species ofPolystichum, and 1 species ofAcystopteris were also investigated. Phloroglucinol derivatives were detected for the first time by sensitive TLC in the followingArachniodes, Dryopteris andPolystichum species:A. amabilis, A. dimorphophylla, A. exilis, A. hasseltii, A. maximowiczii, A. miqueliana, A. mutica, A. nipponica, A. okinawensis, A. simplicior incl. var.major, D. hayatae, D. sparsa, andP. tsus-simense. On the other hand,A. pseudo-aristata, A. standishii, P. polyblepharum, P. pseudomakinoi, P. retroso-paleaceum, Ctenitis maximowicziana, andAcystopteris japonica were totally lacking phloroglucinols. The phloroglucinol containing species ofArachniodes andPolystichum contained external glands, whereas those ofDryopteris contained internal and/or external glands. External glands are common inDryopteris sect. Nephrocystis. In taxa lacking phloroglucinols no glands were present. The homologous iso-aspidins BB and AB were detected in ferns for the first time.     

Distribution of some anystid mites (Acari:Anystidae) in Australia and Indonesia and their role as possible predators of the cattle tick,Boophilis microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

The geographic and habitat distributions ofAnystis baccarum (Linné),A. jabanica (Berlese),A. salicinus (Linné) andA. sp. BWalzia australica Womersley andChaussieria warregense (Hirst) (Acari: Anystidae) in Australia and parts of Indonesia are presented. Laboratory trials showed thatA. baccarum will feed upon the larvae of the cattle tickBoophilus microplus, whilstA. jabanica also showed some predatory potential.Walzia australica andC. warregense had no effect on survival of tick larvae.     

Cytotaxonomic study on two putative hybrids in the genusDuchesnea (Rosaceae)

The karyotypes and chromosome associations at meiosis in two types of natural hybrids, 7x and 8x, betweenDuchesnea chrysantha (2x) andD. indica (12x) were investigated. The 7x hybrid had a haploid chromosome set from each parent plant, whereas the 8x hybrid was considered to have a full set ofD. chrysantha and half a set ofD. indica. In the two hybrids, the chromosomes ofD. chrysantha andD. indica conjugated only slightly at meiosis. It is probable that no common genome set between the diploidD. chrysantha and the dodecaploidD. indica exists. The present evidence indicates thatD. chrysantha andD. indica should be considered to be distinct species, although they have sometimes been treated as a single species.     

Response of Three Hymenopteran Parasitoids Introduced for Fruit Fly Control to a Gall-Forming Tephritid,Procecidochares alani(Diptera: Tephritidae)

The response of three larval–pupal parasitoids,Diachasmimorpha longicaudata(Ashmead),Diachasmimorpha tryoni(Cameron), andTetrastichus giffardianusSilvestri, to the Hamakua pamakani gall fly,Procecidochares alaniL., was determined in the laboratory. We also observed responses of these parasitoids to their normal rearing hosts,Bactrocera dorsalis(Hendel) andCeratitis capitata(Weidemann).D. tryonilanded on pamakani galls or on dishes containingP. alanilarvae as frequently as on dishes containingC. capitata.In contrast,D. longicaudataonly rarely landed on the galls.D. tryoniandD. longicaudataoviposited in galls in fewer than 1% of our observations.D. longicaudataprobedP. alanilarvae as frequently asB. dorsalislarvae, but no parasitoid offspring were observed.D. tryonioviposited more frequently inC. capitatathanP. alani.NoD. tryonideveloped inP. alanilarvae.T. giffardianuslanded on pamakani galls andP. alanilarvae more frequently than any other host substrate. In contrast,T. giffardianusentered galls with artificially opened windows one time in 10 observations. We observed 12% parasitism ofP. alanilarvae dissected from the galls and 20% of parasitismP. alaniin the windowed galls. We discuss the implications of our results for future augmentative or classical biological control studies.     

Biology of Cotesia ( = Apanteles) telengai (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on its natural host Agrotis segetum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The host suitability of Agrotis segetum Denis & Schiff., A. ipsilon Hufn., Spodoptera littoralis Boisd, S. exigua Hub., Mythimna loreyi Duponchel and Mamestra oleracea L. for the gregarious braconid Cotesia ( = Apanteles) telengai Tobias was determined under laboratory conditions. The parasitoid only completed its development in larvae of A. segetum. The percentage of successfully parasitized larvae and the mean duration of C. telengai egg‐larval period were inversely related to the age of the host or host instar at parasitization. The mean number of parasitoids which emerged per parasitized larva was positively correlated with the larval age. The sex ratio was consistently high (ca. eight males to one female), independent of the host instar parasitized, as compared to 1:1 as observed frequently in field populations of this wasp. The females of C. telengai were active and produced offspring at temperatures of 15, 20, 25 and 30° C. However, the mean percentage of parasitized larvae increased from 13.1 to 72% and the mean progeny per parasitoid female increased from 14.7 to 129.4 parasitoids, both significant, when the experimental temperature was raised from 15 to 30°C, while their mean development time decreased from 75.5 to 19.2 days. At 25°C, the virgin and mated females continued oviposition until days 16 and 17, with a lifetime total of progeny of 397.6 (SD ±224.7) and 611.1 (SD± 128.8) parasitoids respectively, reaching a maximum of 64.3 and 99.2 on day 2 respectively.     

Chemotaxonomic studies onArachniodes (Dryopteridaceae) II. Phloroglucinol derivatives and taxonomic evaluation

Seven species ofArachniodes from Japan and the Philippines were examined for phloroglucinol derivatives and glandularity of rhizome and petiole bases. For comparison 3 species ofDryopteris, 2 species ofNothoperanema, 3 species ofPolystichum, 1 species ofAcrophorus and 2 species ofCtenitis were investigated as well. Phloroglucinol derivatives were detected for the first time in the following taxa:Arachniodes assamica, A. cavalerii, A. tripinnata, A. yasu-inouei, Dryopteris pulvinulifera, D. cochleata, Polystichum rigens, Acrophorus nodosus, Ctenitis setosa andC. subglandulosa. The phloroglucinols ofDryopteris, Arachniodes andPolystichum are structurally related in agreement with the taxonomic relationships of these genera. On the other hand, the less related generaAcrophorus andCtenitis contain several unknown phloroglucinols not identical with those occurring in the former genera. The phloroglucinol containing species ofArachniodes, Polystichum, Acrophorus andCtenitis contain external glands, whereasDryopteris pulvinulifera andD. cochleata have both internal and external glands. The species of the genusNothoperanema seem to completely lack phloroglucinols and glands. The phloroglucinol composition of most taxa investigated is almost constant except for that inArachnoides amabilis and its varieties,A. aristata (A. exilis) andPolystichum tsus-simense. These species show varying phloroglucinol spectra in materials collected from different geographical sources.     

Larval and adult morphology ofCamallanus anabantis Pearse, 1933 andC. kulasirii (Yeh, 1960) (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from freshwater fishes,with notes on the validity of some related forms

Larvae and adults ofCamallanus anabantis andC. kulasirii, recovered from the West Bengali freshwater fishes,Anabas testudineus andOphicephalus punctatus, respectively, are described on the basis of detailed morphological studies under the light microscope. Larval forms collected fromA. testudineus are deemed to be of the third and fourth stages when compared with those from experimental studies of the life cycle ofC. anabantis. Moreover, the present fourth stage female larvae are similar to the females ofC. pearsei, both morphologically and metrically.C. pearsei is, therefore, believed to represent the fourth stage female larvae ofC. anabantis. Similarly, adult males and females recovered fromO. punctatus closely resembleC. kulasirii andC. fernandoi, respectively. The larval forms from this host are fourth stage and can be distinguished as males and females, but both possess a buccal capsule bearing beaded longitudinal ridges similar to that of adult males. The late fourth stage (just prior to the final moult) female larva is, however, found to possess a buccal capsule transitional between that of the adult male and female and also betweenC. kulasirii andC. fernandoi. C. fernandoi is, therefore, presumed to represent the females ofC. kulasirii. However,C. pearsei andC. fernandoi are regarded, for the present, asspecies inquirendae.     

Parasites of insects damaging seeds and cones of the European (Larix decidua) and Polish larches (L. polonica) in Poland

It was found thatEupelmus pullus Rusch. parasitized the larvae ofResseliella skuhravyorum Skrzypcz. in Poland. Examination of the ripening seeds and cones ofLarix decidua Mill. andL. polonica Rac. showed that the average larval parasitism was 18.0% and 19.5% respectively. Information on the other parasites of insects damaging seeds and cones ofL. decidua andL. polonica is given.     

Parasitisme multiple chezDiparopsis watersi roths. (Lep. Agrotidae)

Summary Larvae ofDiparopsis watersi roths, are parasitized in the Tchad Republic by an unspecifiedMermitidae and byCarcelia evolans wied. (Tachinidae). TheMermis is only active during the rainy season, when 40% ofD. watersi larvae are commonly parasitized. More than one individual are able to develop inside the same host, a maximum of 44 being quoted; yet, solitaryMermis are of a greater length, the biggest recorded being 325 mm long. C. evolans is found all along the active life ofD. watersi. There is usually only one dipterous larva in each host: Out of more than a hundred cases, only twice two and thrice threeTachinidae were encountered in the same host. Evolution of theseC. evolans larvae is uncertain, only one of them developping into an adult. Association ofMermis andC. evolans, though exceptional, was also observed. This was described eight times through a three years survey; again, only one of the dipterous larvae developped into adult. The most extraordinary case reported concerns threeC. evolans encountered together with two Nematoda in the same host. An explanation to the unusual multiparasitism observed may be sought in an exceptional abundance ofC. evolans, combined with a relative scarcity of the host during the month of september 1956.      

Application of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to cloning differentially expressed cDNA inDunaliella salina (chlorophyta) under hyperosmotic shock

Two subtracted cDNA libraries ofDunaliella salina (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae) under different hyperosmotic shock were constructed using the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) method. The mRNA isolated from algae grown without stress was used as a “driver”, and the mRNAs isolated from algae 16 h (short-term treatment) or 7 d (long-term treatment) after salt stress were used as “testers”. The differentially expressed cDNA fragments inD. salina under salt stress were identified by screening these 2 libraries. Two cDNA fragments,D27 andD114, were identified from clones pL27 and pL114 after the long-term treatment. Three cDNA fragments,D21, D39, andD88, were identified from clones pSh21, pSh39, and pSh88 after the short-term treatment. The homology analysis revealed that D27 was highly similar (91%) to the subunit V of PS I reaction center inChlamydomonas reinhardtii. D21 was similar to fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase (78.4%). After searching GenBank with the sequences ofD39, D88, andD114, no similar sequences were found. Northern analysis revealed that the expression levels of all 5 cDNAs were increased significantly after salt stress. This means that SSH can be used in cloning differentially expressed cDNAs inD. salina under salt stress. The expression ofD27, D21, andD88 wasde novo induced by salt stress, and the expression ofD114 andD39 was increased from a relatively lower level; this indicates that all 5 cDNAs might exert an influence on the alga under hyperosmotic shock.     

The effect of dung beetle activity on the discharge ofPilobolus (Fungi,mucorales) sporangia in cattle,sheep and horse faeces

The effect ofAphodius sphacelatus andA. ater activity in cattle faeces andSphaeridium bipustulatum in sheep and horse faeces on the discharge ofPilobolus sporangia was investigated under laboratory conditions. In five trials, the median number of sporangia produced was significantly less (P<0.01) in experimental chambers (with 1 or 2 beetles/g faeces) than in control chambers (without beetles). In addition, median percentage reduction of sporangia was significantly higher (P<0.01) forA. sphacelatus (80.9%) than forA. ater (56.9%) at 1 beetle/g cattle faeces.

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Résumé L'effet de l'activité d'Aphodius spacelatus et deA. ater dans les bouses de vaches et deSphaeridium bipustulatum dans les fèces de moutons et de chevaux, sur la libération de sporanges parPilobolus a été étudié en conditions de laboratoire. Sur 5 essais le nombre médian de sporanges libérés dans des cellules expérimentales (avec 1 ou 2 bousiers/g fèces) était significativement inférieur (P<0.01) à celui obtenu dans des cellules témoins (sans bousier). De plus, le pourcentage médian de réduction des sporanges est significativement plus élevé (P<0,01) pourA. sphacelatus (80,9%) que pourA. ater (56,9%) à la densité de 1 bousier/g de bouse.

     

Consumption rates and utilization efficiencies of four species of polyphagous Lepidoptera feeding on sycamore leaves

Summary Four species of Geometridae showed similar consumption rates and approximate digestibilities (100 x ingestion-egestion/ingestion) of sycamore leaves (Acer pseudoplatanus L.). A significant decline in E.C.I. (100 x growth/ingestion) and E.C.D. (100x growth/ingestion-egestion) with increasing larval weight is reported. The earlier descent from the sycamore canopy ofErannis defoliaria Cl. andOperophtera brumata L. larvae, to pupate in the soil, in comparison withAlsophila aescularia D. and S. andAgriopis aurantiaria Hb. larvae is discussed in relation to small differences in the utilization efficiencies of final instar larvae. Later descending species suffered greater predation by wood-ants in the field site studied.     

New records of the carabidicolous laboulbeniales (Ascomycetes) of Japan

Six carabidicolous species of Laboulbeniales are reported as new for the Japanese mycoflora. They areDixomyces stomonaxi, Laboulbenia picardii, L. tenera, L. slackensis, L. aristata andL. kwangjuensis. Two forms ofD. stomonaxi are distinguished, one form of which resemblesD. nigromarginatus. A remarkable ornamentation consisting of a coillike pattern occurs on the receptacle ofL. picardii. InL. tenera andL. slackensis, the outer appendage has somewhat constricted, blackened septa near the base.Laboulbenia aristata andL. kwangjuensis have spirally arranged outer wall cells. Antheridia were observed inL. tenera, L. slackensis, L. aristata andL. kwangjuensis.     

Variation in hydraulic architecture and gas-exchange in two desert sub-shrubs,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Hymenoclea salsola</Emphasis> (T. &; G.) and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Ambrosia dumosa</Emphasis> (Payne)

Adjustment of hydraulic architecture in response to environmental conditions was studied in two warm-desert sub-shrubs, Hymenoclea salsola and Ambrosia dumosa, both at the level of genetic adaptation along a climatic gradient and plastic response to immediate growth conditions. Individuals of both species originating from southern populations developed higher leaf-specific hydraulic conductance in the common greenhouse than individuals from northern populations. Hydraulic conductance was higher in plants grown at high temperature, but did not vary as a function of growth relative humidity. Hydraulic conductance was not correlated within species with individual variation in vessel diameter, cavitation vulnerability, or root:shoot ratio, but was strongly, negatively correlated with the fraction of total plant biomass allocated to leaves. For both species, stomatal conductance (g _s) at high leaf-to-air vapor pressure difference (ν) was tightly correlated with variability in hydraulic conductance, as was the sensitivity of stomatal closure to increasing ν. Experimentally increasing shoot water potential by soil pressurization, under conditions where high ν had already caused stomatal closure, led to substantial stomatal reopening in both species, but recovery was significantly higher in H. salsola. Hydraulic conductance was higher in H. salsola than A. dumosa. H.salsola also differed from A. dumosa by being a representative of a highly specialised group of desert shrubs which use the twigs as a major photosynthetic organ. The southern population of H. salsola produced far fewer leaves and relied much more heavily on twig photosynthesis than the northern population. At the whole-plant level, increased reliance on twig photosynthesis was associated with higher leaf-specific hydraulic conductance, but equivalent whole-plant photosynthesis on either a dry weight (μmol CO₂ g^–1) or nitrogen basis (μmol CO₂ g^–1)). This suggests that twig photosynthesis might be one way of increasing hydraulic conductance per unit photosynthetic canopy by increasing allocation to an organ which simultaneously performs photosynthetic, support, and transport functions. Received: 13 December 1999 / Accepted: 31 March 2000     

Mutations in tumour suppressor genes,l(2)gl andl(2)gd,alter the expression ofwingless inDrosophila

To understand the roles of two well known tumour suppressor genes.l(2)gl andl(2)gd in normal imaginal disc development inDrosophila, we have initiated a study to examine effect of mulations of these genes on the expression of genes involved in the patterning of the imaginal discs. In this study we show that the expression ofwingless, theDrosophila orthologue of the mammalian oncogeneWnt, is affected in the imaginal discs ofl(2)gl ⁴ andl(2)gd ¹ mutant individuals. In the tumourous wing imaginal discs froml(2)gl mutant larvae, the pattern ofwingless expression was progressively disrupted with an increase in the area of expression, Tumourous wing imaginal discs froml(2)gd homozygous individuals exhibited progressive broadening and extension of the wingless expressing domains. We suggest thatl(2)gl andl(2)gd might be involved in regulating post embryonic expression ofWingless.