On the ecology of Phaonia larvae (Diptera, Muscidae)

The composition and ecological associations of predaceous larvae of more than 20 species of the genus Phaonia Rob.-Desv. from xylobiont communities were studied. The groups of phloeobionts and xylobionts are distinguished, and their associations with the principal wood destroying insects are discussed. Data on autecology of 22 species are presented.     

Larval morphology of Panorpodes kuandianensis (Insecta,Mecoptera, Panorpodidae) and its evolutionary implications

Larval characters play a significant role in evolutionary and systematic studies of holometabolous insects. However, Panorpodidae, a derived family of Mecoptera, are largely unknown in their immature stages to date. Here, the first instar larva of the short-faced scorpionfly Panorpodes kuandianensis Zhong, Zhang & Hua, 2011 is described and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy. The larva of Panorpodes is remarkable for the absence of compound eyes on the head and the presence of seven small unpaired proleg-like processes along the midventral line on abdominal segments II–VIII. The homology of these unpaired appendage-like processes, their ecological adaptation, and the evolutionary implications of some larval characters of Panorpodidae are discussed.     

Immature stages of Meiosimyza Hendel 1925 and related genera (Diptera,Lauxaniidae)

The immature stages of Holometabolan insects can provide valuable data both for taxonomy and phylogeny, but they are well known only for a negligible proportion of the described species. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of all preimaginal stages of the lauxaniid species Meiosimyza decempunctata (Fallén 1820), M. platycephala (Loew 1847), M. rorida (Fallén 1820), M.?subfasciata (Zetterstedt 1838), Tricholauxania praeusta (Fallén 1820) and Aulogastromyia anisodactyla (Loew 1845) is presented for the first time. Detailed images of eggs and all three larval instars are provided along with illustrations of the cephaloskeleton and photos of puparia. The egg is rather simple, white, with developed longitudinal ridges. The body integument of all larval instars is smooth and uniform across species. The cephaloskeleton is slender; the mouth hooks are parallel, subhypostomal sclerites are arched and fusing to a ventral bridge. The puparium is brownish, oval, without calcareous deposits. Generally, the morphology of larvae and puparia is very conservative. On the other hand, the eggs show considerable degree of interspecific variability.     

Permissive Effect of Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) on Gonadotropin Releasing-hormone Action on In Vitro Growth Hormone Release,in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The aim of the work was to study the influence of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on GnRH-induced GH release by cultured pituitary cells of normally growing rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), collected at different stages of gametogenesis. When pituitary cells were pre-incubated with human IGF-I (10⁻⁸ M) for 48 hours they became responsive to sGnRH (10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁶ M) in the subsequent 24-hour incubation period, depending on the sexual stage, while not IGF-I pre-incubated cells were always non-responsive to GnRH. The permissive effect of IGF-I was detected in immature fish or those at the beginning of the gametogenesis, but not in mature fish. IGF-I inhibition of GH release during the preincubation period varies also with the sexual stage and is greater in immature than in mature fish. The permissive effect of IGF-I seems specific to somatotropes since IGF-I does not modify GnRH action on GtH₂ release. This work suggests that GnRH action on GH release can vary for a particular fish species depending on the physiological status.     

Morpho-Ecological Characteristics of Immature Stages of Xylobiont Species of the Genus Phaonia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Muscidae,Diptera) Inhabiting Tree Holes and Sap Accumulations

The biology of immature stages of the Diptera that accompany xylophagous insects inhabiting sap runs and tree holes was studied. Biological data are reported for the first time for 4 species and supplemented for 2 more species of the genus Phaonia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Muscidae). The main diagnostic characters of these species are given. The species differ in the life history of larvae, the morphology of the anterior and posterior spiracles, creeping welts, cephalopharyngeal apparatus, and anal plate. A key to immature stages of xylobiont species of the genus Phaonia is compiled.

     

Floral microcharacters in Lessingianthus (Vernonieae,Asteraceae) and their taxonomic implications

Micromorphological characters of 113 species of the South American genus Lessingianthus H.Rob. (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) were analyzed to evaluate their reliability as taxonomic markers. The corolla pubescence was studied in detail for the first time in the genus. Glandular and non-glandular trichomes were studied and described. The trichome types allow differentiation among related species, but do not reflect the relationships among species groups. On the other hand, the basal stylar node only occurs in a distinctive group of species within the genus. The apical appendage of the anthers is non-glandular in all species of the genus. Several character states analyzed in Lessingianthus are often widespread in other related genera of Vernonieae. Therefore, Lessingianthus can be circumscribed only by a combination of micro- and macromorphological features.     

Growth and moulting in nematodes: Changes in the dimensions and morphology of Rotylenchulus reniformis from start to finish of moulting

At a temperature of 24°C, freshly hatched second stage larvae (L₂) of Rotylenchulus reniformis take 2 weeks to complete moulting and become either adult males or immature females. Measurements of different nematode stages were made using a computer-interfaced digitizer (CID). This proved to be more rapid and reproducible than conventional techniques.Moulting and development were followed in individual living specimens viewed under Nomarski optics and oil immersion. The mean loss in body volume of these specimens from L₂ to immature female is about 17% compared with about 19% for the mean loss in body volume from L₂ to male. The mean volumes for a total of 70 randomly selected living specimens measured are 95·6 pi for L₂s, 72·9 pl for immature females and 74·2 pl for males. Mean losses in body volume during moulting calculated from these randomly selected stages were slightly higher than those observed for individuals, being about 24% for the immature female and about 22% for the male.     

Susceptibility to deltamethrin in the predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus macropilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) populations in protected ornamental crops in Brazil

Knowledge of inter and intra-specific variation in the susceptibility of natural enemies to pesticides could help to better design integrated pest management strategies. The objective of this research was to evaluate the susceptibility to deltamethrin in populations of the predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) populations collected from protected ornamental crops in Brazil. The susceptibility to deltamethrin was characterized against immature and adult stages of both species. The impact of this insecticide was also measured by estimating the intrinsic rate of increase (r _i). The immature and adult stages of N. californicus were approximately 3,600 and 3,000-fold more tolerant to deltamethrin than those of P. macropilis. However, high variability in the susceptibility to this insecticide was detected among P. macropilis populations, with resistance ratios of up to 3,500-fold. The selection of deltamethrin-resistant strains of P. macropilis could be exploited in applied biological control programs.     

Systematic position of Pyloetis mimosae (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae), with redescriptions of the adults and immature stages

Morphological characters of adults and immature stages of Pyloetis mimosae (Stainton 1859) are redescribed mainly on the basis of material collected from seed pods of Leucaena leucocephala (Lem.) in the Ryukyus, Japan. Although the systematic position of this species in the family Tineidae has been problematic, we conclude that it should be placed in the subfamily Erechthiinae based on morphological characters. Pyloetis mimosae is newly recorded from Japan.     

Description of Telamoptilia grewiae sp. n. and the consequences for the definition of the genera Telamoptilia and Spulerina (Lepidoptera,Gracillariidae, Gracillariinae)

The new species Telamoptilia grewiae, reared from leafmines on Grewia biloba (Malvaceae) is described with details on adult and immature stages. The larval head and the pupa are described for the first time in Telamoptilia Kumata & Kuroko, 1988, and are illustrated with scanning electron micrographs and line drawings. Photographs of adult habitus, wing venation, male and female genitalia, as well as host plant and mines are provided. The apomorphic adult and larval characters of the new species in Telamoptilia are discussed in relation to the recognition of the genera Telamoptilia and Spulerina Vári, 1961.     

Development and morphological characterization of the immature stages of Tetrastichus giffardianus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

The gregarious endoparasitoid Tetrastichus giffardianus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a natural enemy of fruit flies. This parasitoid was previously used to successfully control Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawaii, USA. Despite its importance in the control of fruit fly pests, little is known about the development or characteristics of its preimaginal stages. The aim of this study was to observe the development and morphologically characterize the immature stages of Tetrastichus giffardianus. Tetrastichus giffardianus individuals were reared on C. capitata larvae/pupae under laboratory conditions at a temperature of 25 ± 2 °C, relative humidity of 60 ± 10%, and 12-h photophase. Third-instar C. capitata larvae were exposed to parasitism for 24 h. After parasitism, the pupae were dissected every 24 h to evaluate the stage of development attained by T. giffardianus, and to record their morphological characteristics. A stereomicroscope was used to observe all the immature stages of T. giffardianus. The complete development of T. giffardianus under these conditions was completed within 14 days as follows: egg (duration ? 1 day); first (? 1 day), second (? 1 day), and third (? 2 days) larval instars; pre-pupa (? 2 days); and pupa (? 7 days). The immature stages of T. giffardianus differed sufficiently in their shape, color, and size to allow morphological characterization.     

Rice has two distinct classes of protein kinase genes related to SNF1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which are differently regulated in early seed development

We have isolated five cDNA clones (osk1–5) for protein kinases from rice which are related to SNF1 protein kinase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on the sequence homology, these cDNAs can be classified into two groups, group 1 (osk1) and group 2 (osk2–5). The products of these genes were demonstrated to be functional SNF1-related protein kinases by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Recombinant proteins expressed from both groups of genes were fully active as protein kinases and could phosphorylate SAMS peptide, a substrate specific for the SNF1/AMPK family, as well as themselves (autophosphorylation). Moreover, expression of osk3 cDNA in yeast snf1 mutants restored SNF1 function. Northern blot analyses showed differential expression of these two gene groups; group 1 is expressed uniformly in growing tissues (young roots, young shoots, flowers, and immature seeds), whereas group 2 is strongly expressed in immature seeds. SNF1-related protein kinases have been reported from different plant species, such as rye, barley, Arabidopsis, tobacco, and potato, while the type of gene strongly expressed in immature seeds is known only in cereals such as rye, barley, and, from our findings, in rice. Expression levels of the group 2 genes were further analyzed in seeds during seed maturation. Expression is transiently increased in the early stages of seed maturation and then decreases. The expression peak precedes those of the sbe1 and waxy genes, which are involved in starch synthesis in rice. Taken together, these findings suggest that group 2 OSK genes play important roles in the early stages of endosperm development in rice seeds.