Larval morphology of the scorpionfly Dicerapanorpa magna (Chou) (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) and its adaptive significance

Larval morphology can provide valuable characters for taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses of insects and reflect the adaptations to various living habits. Compared with the adult stages, larval study has lagged far behind in Mecoptera. Although several genera of Panorpidae have been studied for their larval stages, the larva of Dicerapanorpa Zhong and Hua, 2013 basically remains unclear. Here the larva of Dicerapanorpa magna (Chou) is described and illustrated in detail for the first time using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The larva is eruciform, with eight pairs of abdominal prolegs in addition to three pairs of thoracic legs, as in other Panorpidae. The most remarkable characteristics of the larvae include a pair of erect subdorsal annulated processes each on abdominal segments I–IX (A1–A9) and a single middorsal annulated process on A10, as well as a pair of prominent compound eyes composed of over 40 ommatidia, which distinguish this genus from other genera of Panorpidae. The annulated processes may have adaptive significance for fossorial and soil-living habits.     

Phylogeny of Psephenidae (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea) based on larval, pupal and adult characters

Abstract.  We conducted the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Psephenidae, based on 143 morphological characters of adults, larvae and pupae and coded for 34 taxa, representing three outgroups and 31 psephenid genera, including four undescribed ones. A strict consensus tree calculated (439 steps, consistency index = 0.45, retention index = 0.75) from the two most-parsimonious cladograms indicated that the monophyly of the family and subfamilies is supported, with the exception of Eubriinae, which is paraphyletic when including Afroeubria . Here a new subfamily, Afroeubriinae ( subfam.n. ), is formally established for Afroeubria . The analysis also indicated that the 'streamlined' larva is a derived adaptive radiation. Here, suprageneric taxonomy and the evolution of some significant characters are discussed. Keys are provided to the subfamilies and genera of Psephenidae considering larvae, adults and pupae.     

Changes in the timing of mantle formation and larval life history traits in linguliform and craniiform brachiopods

The distribution of embryonic and larval mantles is documented in linguliform and craniiform brachiopods. Criteria are presented for identifying these mantle types. The mantle type is related to planktotrophic and lecithotrophic larval life history patterns. In the Linguliformea and Craniiformea, all Lower Palaeozoic families with adequate preservation had larval mantles, indicating the presence of a planktotrophic larva. Heterochronic changes in the time of mantle origin, from the larval to the embryonic stage of development, has occurred several times. In the Lingulidae this change appears to have taken place at about the time the family originated in the Devonian and has been retained in extant genera. The family Discinidae has also retained a planktotrophic larval stage from the Lower Palaeozic to the present. The extant genus Crania in the Craniidae has a short-lived lecithotrophic larva that lacks a mantle. Through the Lower Jurassic, this family had planktotrophic larvae with a larval shell. During the Upper Jurassic, genera with a lecithotrophic larva that lacked a larval shell began to appear; however, the last genera in this family with a planktotrophic larva and a larval shell did not become extinct until the Tertiary.     

Revision of the Neotropical ant subfamily Leptanilloidinae

Abstract. The rare Neotropical ant subfamily Leptanilloidinae is revised and its internal phylogeny and biogeography discussed. A new genus, Asphinctanilloides gen.n., including three new species, A. amazona, A. anae and A. manauara, and three new species of Leptanilloides , L. improvisa, L. legionaria and L. sculpturata are described. The only previously known species of the subfamily, L . biconstricta Mann (1923) , is redescribed, and the larva of L. legionaria sp.n. is described. Keys to the genera and the species, and a phylogeny of the group are provided. Emphasis has been placed on the study of abdominal and sting characters.     

Discovery of the Quedius antipodum Sharp larva from New Zealand: phylogenetic test of larval morphology for Staphylinini at the intratribal level (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Quedius antipodum Sharp is an endemic species from New Zealand. Here we describe its larva, the first of the species‐rich group of the south temperate ‘Quedius’ spp. This finding throws light on the controversy between the conventional systematics of Quedius Stephens and newer phylogenetic analyses, both of which are based on non‐larval characters only. We compare the larva of Q. antipodum with those of the north temperate Quedius (Quediina), where it was traditionally placed, and with the known larvae of Amblyopinina, a group where Q. antipodum was placed by recent phylogenetic studies. Sister‐group relationships of Q. antipodum within the tribe Staphylinini are explored based on larvae by means of parsimony analysis: 77 morphological characters scored for 20 species from 17 genera. Consistent with the adult morphology and DNA sequences, larvae‐based cladistic analysis confirms that Q. antipodum should not be placed in the north temperate genus Quedius. However, larval analysis alone remains dubious with respect to finding the exact sister relationships of that species.     

A new lyonetiid moth, a pest of winged-bean

. Leucoptera psophocarpella sp.n., a minute lyonetiid moth (wing-span ±4 mm) whose larvae damage the leaves of winged-bean ( Psophocarpus tetragonolobus DC.) (Leguminosae) in Papua New Guinea, is described from the adult, larva and pupa. This species is known locally as the 'winged-bean blotch miner' because of the characteristic damage caused by the larvae. Figures are given of the diagnostic external, venational and genitalic characters of the adult and chaetotactic and morphological characters of the larva and pupa.     

淮南八公山区不同生境条件下的土壤动物类群比较

2010年3月—4月对淮南市八公山区4种生境土壤动物进行了调查,获得各类土壤动物1965只,隶属4门12纲27目。其中优势类群为膜翅目和近孔寡毛目,常见类群为等足目、鞘翅目幼虫、鞘翅目成虫、柄眼目、鳞翅目幼虫、蜘蛛目和山蛩目,其余类群为稀有类群。研究结果表明:植被类型对土壤动物群落的结构特征有一定影响,不同植被条件下土壤动物个体及群落类群数存在差异。土壤动物多样性与均匀度指数呈正相关,与优势度呈负相关。4种生境的土壤动物群落之间都达到了中等相似水平。从土壤动物群落数量的垂直分布来看,0 cm~5 cm土壤层数量最大,有明显的表聚现象。     

Nematodes transmitted to man by fish and aquatic mammals

Zoonotic nematodes may cause disease in man through migrating larva (larva migrans), through direct infection or possibly through allergic responses. The parasitic genera Ancylostoma, Uncinaria, Bunostomum and Toxocara can cause larva migrans. The cod worm (Phocanema decipiens) a parasite found in fish and seals, can infect man, as can Anisakis, Dioctophyme renale and Gnathostoma hispidium larvae obtained from eating raw fish.     

The callajoppine parasitoids of sphingids in Central America (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Abstract. An illustrated key is presented to the three genera of the ichneumonine subtribe Callajoppina that are known to occur in Central America. A new species, Tricyphus respinozai , is described from north-western Costa Rica and brief notes are given about its biology as a larval/pupal parasitoid of Manduca dilucida Hiibner (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). The cephalic capsules of the final instar larva and a preultimate instar larva of T.respinozai are described.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini) based on morphological characters of the larvae

A phylogenetic hypothesis of the fungus-growing ants (subfamily Myrmicinae, tribe Attini) is proposed, based on a cladistic analysis utilizing forty-four morphological characters (109 states) of the prepupal worker larva. The fifty-one attine species analysed include representatives of eleven of the twelve currently recognized attine genera, excluding only the monotypic workerless parasite Pseudoatta ; the non-attines include two outgroups (species of the basal myrmicine genera Myrmica and Pogonomyrmex ), two myrmicine species presumed to be distantly related to the attines, and twelve species representing taxa that have been proposed by prior workers as possible sister groups of the Attini. There is strong character support for the monophyly of the Attini and for a sister-group relationship of the Attini and the Neotropical Blepharidatta brasiliensis. The Attini are divided into two distinct lineages, an 'apterostigmoid' clade (containing Apterostigma and Mycocepurus) and an 'attoid' clade (containing all other attine genera except Myrmicocrypta). The attine genus Myrmicocrypta appears to be paraphyletic with respect to these two groups; the species M.buenzlii in particular retains many attine plesiomorphies.
These results indicate that the fungus-growing behaviour had a single evolutionary origin in the ants. They also indicate that mycelium cultivation is plesiomorphic and that yeast cultivation is derived within the Attini, overturning the long-standing assumption that the yeast-growing Cyphomyrmex species are the most primitive Attini. Behavioural and ecological investigations into the origin and evolution of the fungus-growing behaviour might more profitably focus on species in the attine genus Myrmicocrypta , as well as those in the closely related non-attine genera Blepharidatta and Wasmannia.     

Description of the larva of Lopesia spinosa Maia (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) and new occurrences of the species

The hitherto unknown larva of Lopesia spinosa Maia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is described and the geographical distribution of the species is extended in Brazil to Delfinópolis in Minas Gerais; Altinópolis and Jundiaí in São Paulo. Diagnostic characters of the species and illustration of the larva are presented.     

Description of the larva and pupa of Parnops glasunovi (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

The last instar larva and pupa of Parnops glasunovi Jcbs. are described for the first time. A key to genera of the subfamily Eumolpinae from Middle Asia is given.     

Anopheles halophylus,a new species of the subgenus Nyssorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Brazil

Anopheles halophylus n.sp. is described from Central Brazil. It is distinguished from An. triannulatus (Neiva and Pinto) by morphological and morphometric characters, especially in the male genitalia, larva and egg. Illustrations of the male and female genitalia, egg, larva and pupa, and discussion of the status of names associated with An. triannulatus are provided.     

Phylogeny for genera of Nematodirinae (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina)

Monophyly for the Nematodirinae, with 5 genera, Murielus, Rauschia, Nematodiroides, Nematodirus, and Nematodirella was confirmed based on comparative morphology and phylogenetic analysis of structural characters. This concept for the nematodirines excludes the monotypic Lamanema chavezi, but otherwise corroborates generic-level diversity as defined in prior studies. Exhaustive analysis resulted in 1 most parsimonious tree (36 steps; consistency index [CI] = 0.94; retention index [RI] = 0.93; excluding phylogenetically uninformative characters, CI = 0.92). As an inclusive or monophyletic group, Nematodirinae was diagnosed by 8 synapomorphies (7 are unequivocal): (1) large eggs, (2) long filiform spicules, (3) basal division of the dorsal ray, (4) symmetrical membrane enveloping the spicule tips, (5) fused structure of the spicule tips, (6) absence of the gubernaculum, (7) development of the third-stage larva within the egg, and (8) ornamentation in the form of discrete bosses on the bursa. Exclusion of Lamanema will require new assessments of historical biogeography and the evolution of host associations for the nematodirines.     

A description of preimaginal stages of Pseudaspidapion botanicum Alonso-Zarazaga & Wang, 2011 (Apionidae,?Curculionoidea)

The preimaginal stages including egg, mature larva and pupa of Pseudaspidapion botanicum Alonso-Zarazaga & Wang, 2011 were described and figured, diagnostic characters of larva and pupa were discussed, and corresponding biological information was supplied. The nomenclature of frontal setae in the larva compared with curculionid weevils, the absence of the hypopharyngeal bracon in the larva, and the metafemoral setae in the pupa were discussed. Common and different characters among the larvae of Pseudaspidapion botanicum, Aspidapion radiolus (Marsham, 1802) and Aspidapion aeneum (Fabricius, 1775) were also provided.     

23种伞形科植物果实形态及其分类学意义

该实验采用徒手切片法对伞形科17属23种植物的果实进行了外部形态和解剖特征的观察,结果表明:伞形科果实有背腹压扁、两侧压扁和不压扁3种类型;侧棱有宽、有窄;油管的分布有棱槽单油管型和棱槽多油管型;花柱基多数为圆锥状,少数种的花柱基为扁平垫状;萼齿明显或不明显。通过进一步对属间和属内果实解剖特征的比较得出:(1)果实表面被钩刺或刚毛及果棱特征在属间差异明显,在属内表现出一致性,可作为伞形科属间分类的依据。(2)果实横切面的形状、胚乳腹面的凹凸以及萼齿的形态特征在属内种间的分类研究中有重要的意义。基于果实形态特征,编制了17属23种植物的分种检索表。     

氨基酸和微量元素在虫草菌感染虫草蝠蛾幼虫中的影响

本文收集了虫草蝠蛾2—6龄五个龄期组幼虫,四组处于不同发育阶段的虫草菌丝体、被虫草菌感染后的僵虫体、全虫草体及子实体共计12组样品的氨基酸,微量元素分析资料,应用聚类分析方法对各样品变量的分类单元及其贡献值进行初步探讨。结果显示:各样品间的氨基酸、微量元素组成水平各不相同,5、4龄幼虫的总体组成水平在比例关系上更接近全虫草体,虫草菌丝体愈培养至晚期就愈接近子实体的组成。分析认为,5、4龄虫易被感染与其氨基酸、微量元素的组成背景值有关;以培养至晚期的菌丝体或有性生殖孢子更易感染幼虫。