Amblyomma vikirri n. sp. (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae), a parasite of the gidgee skinkEgernia stokesii (Reptilia: Scincidae) from South Australia

All active stages of the tickAmblyomma vikirri n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae) are described from the gidgee skinkEgernia stokesii, a widely distributed lizard in South Australia, western New South Wales, western Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Thus far, the tick has been collected from this host only in the Flinders and Gawler Ranges of South Australia, plus a single record from Mt Dare in the far north of South Australia. Adults attach primarily on the tail and hind-back ofE. stokesii, while the larvae and nymphs prefer the ears and between the toes.     

A New Species of Acrodipsas Sands (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Inland New South Wales and Southern Queensland

Acrodipsas mortoni sp.n. from inland New South Wales and southern Queensland is described, figured, contrasted with the related A. arcana (Miller and Edwards) and assigned to the illidgei species-group.     

东亚小花蝽对西方花蓟马和二斑叶螨的捕食选择性

多食性天敌对猎物的捕食选择性及猎物密度对天敌捕食的干扰作用直接影响到天敌对不同猎物的控制作用.在实验室条件下研究了东亚小花蝽对西方花蓟马和/或二斑叶螨不同虫态的捕食选择性,以及两猎物中一种猎物的密度变化对小花蝽取食另一种猎物的影响.结果如下:东亚小花蝽5龄若虫和成虫对西方花蓟马2龄若虫的捕食选择性均强于对其成虫,对二斑叶螨的选择性为雌成螨>若螨>幼螨.实验中西方花蓟马2龄若虫是东亚小花蝽最喜好的虫态.二斑叶螨雌成螨密度固定为60头/19.63cm2,西方花蓟马若虫密度从10增加到60时显著地减少了东亚小花蝽对二斑叶螨的取食.反之,固定西方花蓟马同样密度,增加二斑叶螨密度却没有显著改变小花蝽对西方花蓟马的取食.此结果进一步表明,西方花蓟马是东亚小花蝽更喜好的猎物.     

Phenology of weight, moisture and energy reserves of Australian monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus

Abstract. 1. In the Sydney area of New South Wales, dry weights of reproductive monarch butterflies averaged 156 mg and were higher during winter than in other seasons. Dry weights of non-reproductive monarchs ranged from 216 to 324 mg and declined by 15–25% during over wintering.
2. Fat in reproductive butterflies ranged from 0.009 to 0.017g/0.1g dry weight and was lower during winter than in other seasons. Fat content of non-reproductive monarchs was higher (0.019–0.037 g/0.1g) and declined by 24–51% during over wintering.
3. Lean dry weights of reproductive monarchs were lower than those of non-reproductive individuals. Lean dry weights of non-reproductive butterflies increased rapidly at the beginning of over wintering and remained high throughout the winter. Analysis of protein content indicated the higher lean weight of non-reproductive monarchs was due to greater protein levels.
4. Moisture content of monarchs did not vary with season or reproductive status and appeared to be correlated with ambient humidity.
5. Non-reproductive monarch butterflies in New South Wales adjust bio chemically during over wintering. Energy reserve dynamics of these butterflies are comparable to those that occur in non-reproductive monarchs in North America.     

The taxonomic status of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Opegaster</Emphasis> Ozaki, 1928 and the description of four new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Opecoelus</Emphasis> Ozaki, 1925 (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from marine teleosts in Australian waters

The similarities between Opecoelus Ozaki, 1925, Coitocaecum Nicoll, 1915, Opegaster Ozaki, 1928 and Paropecoelus Pritchard, 1966 and the difficulty of separating Opecoelus and Opegaster are discussed. It is proposed that Opegaster be reduced to synonymy with Opecoelus and the diagnosis of the latter amended to accommodate both forms. Four new species of Opecoelus are described from marine teleosts in Australian waters. These are Opecoelus woolcockae n. sp. from Acanthopagrus butcheri and A. australis from off South Australia, New South Wales and southern Queensland, O. pomatomi n. sp. from Pomatomus saltatrix off New South Wales, O. crowcrofti n. sp. from Atherinomorus ogilbyi off southern Queensland and O. queenslandicus n. sp. from Apogon fasciatus off southern Queensland. The following new combinations are formed: Opecoelus gonorhynchi (Gavrilyuk, 1979) n. comb., O. elongatus (Yamaguti, 1959) n. comb., O. pentadactylus (Manter, 1940) n. comb., O. apogonichthydis (Yamaguti, 1938) n. comb., O. cameroni (Caballero & Caballero, 1969) n. comb., O. dendrochiri (Yamaguti, 1970) n. comb., O. hawaiiensis (Yamaguti, 1970) n. comb., O. jamunicus (Srivastava, 1968) n. comb., O. longivesiculus (Yamaguti, 1952) n. comb., O. mastacembalii (Harshey, 1937) n. comb., O. mehrii (Harshey, 1937) n. comb., O. synodi (Manter, 1947) n. comb., O. tamori (Yamaguti, 1938) n. comb., O. bothi (Yamaguti, 1970) n. comb., O. caulopsettae (Manter, 1954) n. comb., O. beliyai (Pande, 1937) n. comb., O. brevifistulus (Ozaki, 1928) n. comb., O. cryptocentri (Yamaguti, 1958) n. comb., O. dactylopteri (Yamaguti, 1970) n. comb., O. dermatogenyos (Yamaguti, 1970) n. comb., O. ditrematis (Yamaguti, 1942) n. comb., O. gobii (Yamaguti, 1952) n. comb., O. hippocampi (Shen, 1982) n. comb., O. iniistii (Yamaguti, 1970) n. comb., O. lobulus (Wang, 1977) n. comb., O. macrorchis (Yamaguti, 1938) n. comb., O. parapristipomatis (Yamaguti, 1934) n. comb., O. pritchardae (Overstreet, 1969) n. comb., O. syngnathi (Yamaguti, 1934) n. comb., O. lutiani (Bravo-Hollis & Manter, 1957) n. comb., O. ovatus (Ozaki, 1928) n. comb., O. plotosi (Yamaguti, 1940) n. comb. and O. rectus (Ozaki, 1928) n. comb.; all the new combinations were previously species of Opegaster.     

亚洲柑橘木虱成虫和5龄若虫在感染黄龙病的柑橘上的取食行为及获菌效率比较

【目的】亚洲柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri是柑橘的毁灭性病害——黄龙病亚洲种‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’(‘C las’)的主要传播媒介。本研究的目的是明确木虱成虫和5龄若虫的取食行为、获菌效率是否有差异,以及寄主感染黄龙病是否对5龄若虫取食产生影响。【方法】利用直流型刺吸电位仪(DC-EPG Giga-4)记录柑橘木虱成虫和5龄若虫在携带黄龙病的酸橘Citrus reticulata cv.Sunki嫩梢上10 h的取食行为,用qPCR单头检测其获得黄龙病病原菌的效率,并比较5龄若虫在感病和健康植株嫩梢上的取食行为。【结果】柑橘木虱成虫与5龄若虫在感染黄龙病的酸橘上的取食行为有显著差异。5龄若虫比成虫更快地开始在韧皮部和木质部进行吸食,口针在韧皮部的总过程以及吸食时间显著长于成虫。此外,5龄若虫和成虫在EPG测定(同时饲菌)10 h后获菌率分别为37.5%和20.0%,若虫明显高于成虫。寄主植物感染黄龙病对5龄若虫的取食行为有一定的影响,表现在感病植株上的刺探次数、唾液分泌次数和韧皮部吸食次数都显著少于健康植株,而两者分泌唾液和韧皮部吸食时间没有显著差异。另外,在感病植株上首次韧皮部取食出现时间较在健康植株上要早。【结论】在同等时间下,柑橘木虱5龄若虫比成虫在感染黄龙病的酸橘上的取食能力更强、取食量更大、获菌率更高,原因可能是若虫需要更多的营养物质供其生长发育所致。寄主感染黄龙病对木虱5龄若虫的取食有利,使其更快地开始取食,而且更改取食位点次数变少,推测可能与黄龙病菌破坏了植物的防御有关。     

Dispersion patterns and sampling plans for Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in citrus

The abundance and spatial dispersion of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) were studied in 34 grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macfad.) and six sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] orchards from March to August 2006 when the pest is more abundant in southern Texas. Although flush shoot infestation levels did not vary with host plant species, densities of D. citri eggs, nymphs, and adults were significantly higher on sweet orange than on grapefruit. D. citri immatures also were found in significantly higher numbers in the southeastern quadrant of trees than other parts of the canopy. The spatial distribution of D. citri nymphs and adults was analyzed using Iowa's patchiness regression and Taylor's power law. Taylor's power law fitted the data better than Iowa's model. Based on both regression models, the field dispersion patterns of D. citri nymphs and adults were aggregated among flush shoots in individual trees as indicated by the regression slopes that were significantly >1. For the average density of each life stage obtained during our surveys, the minimum number of flush shoots per tree needed to estimate D. citri densities varied from eight for eggs to four flush shoots for adults. Projections indicated that a sampling plan consisting of 10 trees and eight flush shoots per tree would provide density estimates of the three developmental stages of D. citri acceptable enough for population studies and management decisions. A presence-absence sampling plan with a fixed precision level was developed and can be used to provide a quick estimation of D. citri populations in citrus orchards.     

The effect of prey size and prey density on the functional response,survival, growth and development of a predatory pentatomid bug,Podisus maculiventris say

Two experiments on the nymphal predation of Podisus maculiventris were conducted using Spodoptera litura larvae as prey. First experiment: The predator nymphs divided into three groups were reared individually from second instar to adult in a small vessel. Each nymph in the groups 1, 2 and 3 was allowed to attack the serially growing larvae (these were supplied at the rate of one per day) from 3-, 5- and 7-day old after hatching, respectively. The first prey used for the group 1 was so small that it was not only insufficient to satiate the predator but also was difficult to be searched out. But these disadvantages were soon recuperated due to the rapid growth of the prey and all nymphs could survive to adults. The survival rate of third and fourth instar nymphs in the group 3 was severely affected by vigorous counterattack of older prey larvae. Second experiment: The predator nymphs were individually reared either in a small vessel or in a large one at various rates of food supply (the prey larvae of 7-day old were used). The functional response curves obtained for each instar of the predator took a saturation type within a certain range of the prey density. The saturation level specific to each instar was generally higher for the predator reared in the large vessel than in the small one. The functional response of fourth and fifth instar nymphs was accelerated at a high prey density, viz. 16 larvae per vessel. Even at the low rate of food supply, viz. one larva per day per predator, the predator nymphs could survive to adults, but the size of resultant adults were abnormally small.     

Effects of season and area on ectoparasites of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Mississippi

Nine species of ectoparasites (4 Acari, 2 Mallophaga, 1 Anoplura, 1 Diptera, and 1 Siphonaptera) were recovered from 126 white-tailed deer collected in northern, central, and southern Mississippi. Intensity and prevalence of adults of Ixodes scapularis and larvae, nymphs, and adults of Amblyomma americanum varied significantly over collection periods, but not between host sexes. Lipoptena mazamae occurred on deer from only one study area. Although individual deer were heavily parasitized by Tricholipeurus parallelus and T. lipeuroides, their prevalence was limited. Hoplopsyllus sp., Solenopotes sp., Amblyomma maculatum, and Dermacentor albipictus had prevalences of less than 10% and were not tested for area, host sex, and seasonal effects. The potential pathogenicity of these ectoparasite species are related to white-tailed deer in Mississippi.     

A New Species of Acrodipsas Sands (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Southern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

Acrodipsas aurata sp.n. from the Blue Mountains, the southern highlands of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is described, figured and contrasted with the polymorphic A. cuprea (Sands) with which it has been previously considered to be con-specific. A. aurata is assigned to the myrmecophila species-group, based on leg morphology. Nine species are now recognised in the genus Acrodipsas Sands.     

A new genus and four new species of felt scales on Eucalyptus (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) in south-eastern Australia

Abstract  A new Australian eriococcid genus Fragorbis gen. n. (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) is described for ' Sphaerococcus ' pustulans Green and four new species, F. fructus sp. n., F. pseudopustulans sp. n., F. stipites sp. n. and F. superfacies sp. n. Four of the five species are known only from Victoria and the fifth species from the High Country east of Tumut in New South Wales. All species feed on Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), either in blister galls, or under or on the bark. The adult female of each species and the first-instar nymph of F. pseudopustulans sp. n. are described and illustrated. Keys are provided to the adult females of the eriococcid genera found on Eucalyptus and Corymbia , and to the species of Fragorbis gen. n.     

Parasitoids and hyperparasitoids of Mythimna convecta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae infesting late-maturing maize in southern New South Wales

Abstract  After several reports of late-maturing maize in Murrumbidgee valley, southern New South Wales, Australia, being severely damaged by armyworm, five crops were surveyed for the presence of larvae in April 2003. Mythimna convecta Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was the only species successfully reared from armyworm larvae collected in the field. Ninety-six per cent of armyworm larvae collected were parasitised. Five parasitoid species, Cuphocera sp. nr pilosa (Malloch), Ceromya horma (Malloch), Tritaxys scutellate (Macquart), Chaetophthalmus sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) and Netelia sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were reared from M. convecta larvae. Cuphocera sp. nr pilosa was the most frequently encountered parasitoid being reared from 83% of M. convecta larvae collected. Examination of maize plants at each collection site showed high numbers of tachinid puparia adhering to plants. Cuphocera sp. nr pilosa was the only species reared from these puparia. Of the Cu . sp. nr pilosa puparia collected, 23–83% were parasitised by five parasitoid wasps: Trichomalopsis sp. Crawford (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Brachymeria sp. Westwood, Eupelmus sp. Dalman (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), Perilampus sp. Latreille (Hymenoptera: Perilampidae) and a species belonging to the family Diapriidae.     

A new genus of trans-Tasman midge: Anzacladius gen. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae)

Based on larvae, pupae and adults of Australian and New Zealand Orthocladiinae (Chironomidae) midges, a genus new to science, Anzacladius , is described. Two species, A. numbat Cranston sp. n. and A. kangaroo Cranston sp. n., are described from temperate Australia (both western and south-eastern). A. kiwi Cranston sp. n. is described from both North and South Islands, New Zealand: association of the pharate pupa with its putative larva used sequence similarity of the CO1 ( cytochrome oxidase 1 ) gene. Pupal exuviae, the major stage for species recognition, show the genus occurs in running waters, especially in Australian acidic and sandy-bedded creeks, and Anzacladius species are found also in perched lakes of Queensland's Cooloolla region and Fraser Island. Previous morphological phylogenetic studies (under the code 'SO3') indicate a relationship to austral genera Botryocladius Cranston & Edward, Naonella Boothroyd and Echinocladius Cranston.     

Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman): larval responsesto prey and humidity, nymphal feeding drive and nymphal predation on phytoseiid eggs

Are Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) both specialized predators of spider mites? As part of a series of studies made to answer this question, responses by larvae were assessed in treatments either with or without prey (Tetranychus urticae Koch) and with either moderate or high relative humidities (a factor that may distinguish between these two morphologically similar species). Neoseiulus fallacis larvae had more feeding, ambulatory activity and jerking (intra– or interspecific communication) in all treatments than N. californicus. The percent egg hatch was less and development took longer for N. fallacis larvae than for N. californicus larvae without prey at moderate humidity levels. The nymphs of both mites showed similar drives to feed 1–2>h after being held 12–48 h without food and then given eggs of T. urticae. Neoseiulus californicus nymphs fed more on the eggs of either phytoseiid and thereafter became adults than did N. fallacis nymphs. These data indicate that N. californicus may be a less specialized predator of spider mites than is N. fallacis.     

Global biodiversity of Scorpionflies and Hangingflies (Mecoptera) in freshwater

Seven species and one sub-species of Mecoptera are aquatic as larvae and pupae. All aquatic species are classified in two genera of the family Nannochoristidae and have very restricted geographic ranges, with three species confined to extreme southern South America, three species and one sub-species confined to New South Wales or Tasmania in Australia, and one species confined to the South Island of New Zealand. Guest editors: E. V. Balian, C. Lévêque, H. Segers & K. Martens Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment     

Three homopteran pests of citrus as prey for the convergent lady beetle: suitability and preference

The convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is an important predator of soft-bodied insect pests in many regions of the United States, but generally uncommon in Florida citrus. Certain citrus producers in Florida recently initiated releases of commercially available H. convergens from California against the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, vector of Huanglongbing or citrus greening disease. However, there is little information on potential efficacy of this predator against the psyllid or other pests of citrus. Preference, development, and reproduction by H. convergens was evaluated on freshly collected nymphs of D. citri, brown citrus aphid Toxoptera citricida Kirkaldy, green citrus aphid Aphis spiraecola Patch, and frozen eggs of the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller. Larvae preferred D. citri over T. citricida in two-way choice tests and consumed more D. citri or A. spiraecola than T. citricida in no-choice tests. Adults consumed equal numbers of all three species in both tests. Development times of larvae at 25.5±0.05°C on A. spiraecola were longer than on the other three diets. Larval survival and pupation times did not differ among diets. Females lived longer than males irrespective of diet, and longevity of both genders was greatly increased on E. kuehniella compared with D. citri and A. spiraecola. Life table analysis indicated that H. convergens should increase on all three species, with a greater potential on psyllids than aphids. Further studies are warranted to assess establishment and persistence of this potential biological control agent in the Florida citrus environment.     

Development of Iphiseiodes quadripilis (Banks) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on pollen or mite diets and predation on Aculops pelekassi (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae) in the laboratory

Development and reproduction of Iphiseiodes quadripilis (Banks) were evaluated on single food diets of pollen (Malephora crocea Jacquin [ice plant] or Quercus sp. [oak]), spider mites, [Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) or Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae)], or the citrus rust mite Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead) (Acari: Eriophyidae). Experiments were conducted in an environmental chamber at 28 degrees +/- 1 degrees C, 14:10 (L:D) daylength, and 45% RH. I. quadripilis completed development and laid viable eggs that subsequently hatched on diets of either ice plant or oak pollen or eggs and motile stages of E. banksi. P. citri was acceptable as prey, but survival of larvae to adults was only 36%, whereas survival on E. banksi, ice plant pollen, and oak pollen was 48, 60, and 68%, respectively. The webbing produced by P. citri seemed to inhibit foraging behavior of I. quadripilis larvae and nymphs. Larvae of I. quadripilis developed only to the second nymphal instar on a diet of P. oleivora alone or water alone. Starved I. quadripilis females and deutonymphs were observed preying on the pink citrus rust mite, Aculops pelekassi (Keifer) (Eriophyidae). During 4-min observation trials, two series of I. quadripilis fed on 1.8 +/- 0.47 and 3.5 +/- 0.45 A. pelekassi motile stages after being starved for 6 and 24 h, respectively. I. quadripilis females did not prey on P. oleivora in arenas containing both rust mite species.     

Three new species of the genusNeopolystoma (Monogenea) from river tortoises in Australia

Summary Neopolystoma kreffti n.sp. from the mouth and pharyngeal cavity ofEmydura krefftii (Pleurodira, Chelidae) in southern Queensland,N. macleayi n.sp. from the cloacal bursa, andN. australis n.sp. from the mouth and pharyngeal cavity ofEmydura sp. in New South Wales are described. The new species differ from other species of the genus mainly in the number and shape of the genital hooks. New locality records ofN. chelodinae fromChelodina longicollis and ofPolystomoides australiensis fromE. krefftii are given. ac]19821026     

Competence of the African tortoise tick, Amblyomma marmoreum (Acari: Ixodidae), as a vector of the agent of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium)

The ability of the African tortoise tick, Amblyomma marmoreum, to acquire and transmit Cowdria ruminantium infection was investigated experimentally with transmission trials and with a C. ruminantium-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection assay. Laboratory-reared A. marmoreum larvae and nymphs were fed on small ruminants with clinical heartwater. After molting, the resultant nymphs were fed on Cowdria ruminantium-naive sheep (n = 3), and the adults were ground and inoculated intravenously into sheep (n = 5). Fatal heartwater developed in the 5 recipient animals, demonstrating larvae-nymph transmission and nymph-adult acquisition of infection. Cowdria ruminantium infection was also detected in adult A. marmoreum by PCR analysis, although at lower frequency (10%) than in Amblyomma hebraeum ticks (43%), the major vector of C. ruminantium in southern Africa, which had been fed simultaneously on the infected animals (P<0.0001). Amblyomma marmoreum, therefore, can be an effective vector of C. ruminantium. The potential role of this species in heartwater epidemiology and in the spread of the disease to new areas is highlighted by these results and by the fact that immature stages of this tick feed readily on domestic and wild animals susceptible to C. ruminantium.     

NORTHERN RECORDS OF THE GENUS CULISETA FELT IN AUSTRALIA WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

i
Culiseta arenivaga sp.n., described from females from Fraser Island, Queensland, provides the northernmost record of Culiseta in Australia. C. arenivaga has postspiracular setae and it is compared in text and figures with the other species known from Queensland, C. antipodea Dobrotworsky, and with the other species possessing postspiracular setae, C. littleri (Taylor), C. inconspicua (Lee), and C. atra (Lee), of which the first two are the only species known from New South Wales. Postspiracular setae are reported in C. inconspicua for the first time. C. littleri is recorded from northern New South Wales and geographical variation in this species is discussed. The unusual palmate empodium of C. antipodea females is described and figured. Relationships within the genus are considered and an austral origin for the genus is suggested.