IMMATURE STAGES OF AUSTRALIAN ANTHOPHORINAE (HYMENOPTERA: APOIDEA)

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Immature stages of two species in each of the two tribes, Anthophorini and Melectini, of Anthophorinae found in Australia were studied for the first time. The larvae and pupa of Amegilla (Amegilla) pulchra (Smith), the mature larva and pupa of Amegilla (Asarapoda) sp., the mature larva of Thyreus lugubris (Smith) and the pupa of Thyreus caeruleopunctatus (Blanchard) are described and the larvae are figured, and information is given on their behaviour and development.     

The apid cuckoo bees of the Cape Verde Islands (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

The apid cuckoo bees of the Cape Verde Islands (Republic of Cape Verde) are reviewed and five species recognized, representing two genera. The ammobatine genus Chiasmognathus Engel (Nomadinae: Ammobatini), a specialized lineage of cleptoparasites of nomioidine bees is recorded for the first time. Chiasmognathus batelkaisp. n. is distinguished from mainland African and Asian species. The genus Thyreus Panzer (Apinae: Melectini) is represented by four species - Thyreus denoliisp. n., Thyreus batelkaisp. n., Thyreus schwarzisp. n., and Thyreus aistleitnerisp. n. Previous records of Thyreus scutellaris (Fabricius) from the islands were based on misidentifications.     

Parasitism and ant protection alter the survival of the lycaenid Hemiargus isola

Abstract. 1. Although the majority of lycaenid–ant associations is facultative, few studies have documented the protection benefits provided by ants to lycaenids that are tended facultatively (Pierce & Easteal, 1986; Peterson, 1993).
2. Larvae of Hemiargus isola (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) feeding on Dalea albiflora are tended facultatively by several species of ant. In 1999 and 2000, the levels of parasitism and the identities of attendant ants were determined for larvae of H. isola . In addition, the presence of ants was manipulated experimentally to determine the efficacy of protection provided by attendant ants to H. isola .
3. Lycaenids were parasitised by a braconid wasp, Cotesia cyaniridis (Riley), and a tachinid fly, Aplomya theclarum (Scudder). In 1999 and 2000, 62 and 65% of larvae were parasitised; the percentage of the population parasitised did not differ significantly between years. In both 1999 and 2000, parasitism by the braconid wasp C. cyaniridis accounted for > 99% of all parasitism events.
4. Four species of ant, Crematogaster sp., Dorymyrmex sp., Forelius sp., and Formica sp., were associated with 88–99% of the tended lycaenids collected in both 1999 and 2000. For both years, there was a single, numerically dominant species associated with >80% of the tended larvae collected, but the identity of this numerically dominant ant differed between years.
5. Experimental exclusion of ants from D. albiflora plants resulted in 78% larval mortality as a result of parasitism, nearly twice that of larvae that were tended by ants on unmanipulated plants.     

Insect parasites of scarabs from sugarcane fields in southern Queensland (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Data on parasitism of scarabs were collected by sampling sugarcane in the Bundaberg region of southern Queensland during 1993–1997. The scoliid Campsomeris tasmaniensis (Saussure) parasitised third instars of the melolonthines Antitrogus parvulus Britton, Lepidiota crinita Brenske, Lepidiota negatoria Blackburn and Lepidiota noxia Britton, and of the ruteline Anoplognathus porosus (Dalman). Levels of parasitism were low (< 2%). Third instars of A. porosus were also parasitised by the dexine tachinid Rutilia sp. Puparia of Prosena sp. (Tachinidae: Dexiinae) were found in soil with larvae of L. noxia . Larvae of Prosena sp. are parasites of scarab larvae elsewhere, and are probably parasites of scarabs in southern Queensland. Adults of A. parvulus , L. crinita and L. noxia were parasitised by the tachinine tachinid Palpostoma sp. at levels of 2–18.4%.     

Effect of collect time on communities of epigaeic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in areas of Eucalyptus cloeziana and cerrado

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of collect time (day and night) on ant fauna attracted to baits in areas of Eucalyptus cloeziana (Myrtaceae) and cerrado. The ants were collected in Fazenda Boa Vista, Mannesmann Fi - El Florestal Ltda, Paineiras, Minas Gerais State. Eigthteen sample units were collected: 12 in E. cloezina and six in cerrado. Each sample unit consisted of three plots (25 x 35 m each). The plot consisted of 34 baits distributed in a grid pattern at 5 m intervals. The sampling was carried out in the diurnal and nocturnal period. The results obtained revealed that both type of vegetation (cerrado x Eucalyptus) and the collect time (day x night) had a significative influence on the epigaeic ant fauna. The ordination (DCA) indicated that collect time effect was more important to fauna structuration than the vegetation effect. Brachymyrmex sp.1, Brachymyrmex sp.2, Camponotus crassus Mayr, Camponotus rufipes (Fabricius), Cephalotes pusillus (Klug) and Ectatomma brunneum Smith were indicator species of nocturnal period, and Camponotus renggeri-Emery, Camponotus atriceps (Smith), Camponotus melanoticus Emery and Paratrechina sp.1 were indicators of nocturnal period.     

Temperature induced bacterial virulence and bleaching disease in a chemically defended marine macroalga

Host-pathogen interactions have been widely studied in humans and terrestrial plants, but are much less well explored in marine systems. Here we show that a marine macroalga, Delisea pulchra, utilizes a chemical defence - furanones - to inhibit colonization and infection by a novel bacterial pathogen, Ruegeria sp. R11, and that infection by R11 is temperature dependent. Ruegeria sp. R11 formed biofilms, invaded and bleached furanone-free, but not furanone-producing D. pulchra thalli, at high (24°C) but not low (19°C) temperatures. Bleaching is commonly observed in natural populations of D. pulchra near Sydney, Australia, during the austral summer when ocean temperatures are at their peak and the chemical defences of the alga are reduced. Furanones, produced by D. pulchra as a chemical defence, inhibit quorum sensing (QS) in bacteria, and this may play a role in furanone inhibition of R11 infection of furanone-free thalli as R11 produces QS signals. This interplay between temperature, an algal chemical defence mechanism and bacterial virulence demonstrates the complex impact environmental change can have on an ecosystem.     

Can imperfect host discrimination explain partial patch exploitation in parasitoids?

1. Host discrimination by Aphidius rhopalosiphi (De Stefani Perez) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was first studied on the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Females tended to avoid oviposition in hosts parasitised 3 h earlier. No evidence of host discrimination ability on freshly parasitised hosts was suggested, however, and ovipositional experience had no effect on host discrimination. 2. The effects of host discrimination ability on the exploitation strategy of patches containing different proportions of unparasitised hosts and hosts parasitised for 3 h were studied. Females spent less time on patches with a higher proportion of parasitised hosts, reflecting the females' ability to perceive the potential profitability of the patch. This ability may be based on the nature of the hosts encountered (unparasitised or parasitised). 3. Incomplete exploitation of unparasitised hosts was also observed. It seems that this partial exploitation is related to the inability of A. rhopalosiphi to recognise freshly parasitised hosts. As a female may experience a risk of self‐superparasitism during patch depletion, this could promote early departure from incompletely exploited patches. 4. The effect of previous experience on the patch exploitation strategy was also assessed. Females were tested twice on two patches of the same quality. Results suggested that the experience acquired during a previous visit led the females to leave the patch sooner and to lay fewer eggs in parasitised hosts. 5. Patch exploitation strategy may therefore be the result of different factors such as host discrimination and experience. The evolutionary consequences of the results are discussed.     

The genus Neurosema (Psocoptera, Calopsocidae) from New Guinea

Abstract Three species of Neurosema are recognized: N.apicalis McLachlan (redescribed, lectotype designated), N. sp. ( N.apicalis sensu Enderlein – mis-identification) and N.pulchra sp.n., and a key to these is given. Separation of genera in the Calopsocidae is briefly discussed.     

The distribution, abundance and host plant relationships of Salix- feeding psyllids (Homoptera: Psylloidea) in arctic Alaska

Abstract. 1. Five species of psyllid occurred on seven species of Salix at Meade River, Alaska. Studies were made on the two common species Psylla pclmeni Löw and P.phlebophyllae Hodkinson. The former feeds on the phanerophy tes Salix pulchra, S.lanata, S.alaxensis and S.glauca , the latter on the chamaephytes S.phlebophylla and S.reticulata.
2. Both P.palmeni and P.phlebophyllae had a 1-year life cycle and nymphal development took place on the female Salix catkin. The life cycle was generally closely synchronized with the period of catkin development. However, only a few eggs were laid on S.glauca
3. Seasonal perturbation of the host plant by flooding, ice movement and blown sand prevented psyllids breeding in certain areas colonized by the host plant.
4. In P.palmeni densities and 'feeding pressure', measured as biomass of psyllids per gram of catkin, on the different host plants followed the sequence S.pulchra>S.lanata> S.alaxensis > S.glauca. In P.phlebophyllae densities and feeding intensities were similar on S.phlebophylla and S.reticulata and grazing intensity was comparable with P.palmeni on S.pulchra.
5. A highly significant negative correlation was found between psyllid density and catkin dry weight in S.pulchra, S.phlebophylla and S.reticulata , suggesting that psyllid feeding is affecting catkin growth.
6. Predation of psyllid nymphs by syrphid larvae was heavy but there was no evidence of parasitism.
7. The life history strategies of the five psyllid species are discussed within the context of the constraints imposed by the arctic environment.     

Pollination Biology of Anisomeles indica and A. malabarica (Lamiaceae)

Abstract The flowers of Anisomeles indica and A. malabarica are zygomorphic, bilabiate, gulletshaped and nectariferous, and are visited by insects as well as birds for nectar and/or pollen. The bees Xylocopa latipes, X. Pubescens, Amegilla sp., Apis florea and Megachile sp., and the sunbirds of the genus Nectarinia are the principal pollinators of A. indica , while the former three and the last and the wasp Rhynchium metallicum are for A. malabarica. Pollination by Xylocopa and Nectarinia is nototribic and that by Apis, Megachile, Amegilla is noto- and/or sternotribic. The small bodied Trigona, Pseudapis and Ceratina collected pollen sternotribically. It is concluded that adaptation of both species to insect and bird pollination and to a flexible breeding system involving both selfing and crossing, safeguards their survival under changing environments.     

Intraspecific competition between healthy and parasitised hosts in a host–parasitoid system: consequences for life-history traits

Abstract  1. In two different treatments, groups of healthy hosts ( Ephestia kuehniella ) or hosts parasitised by Venturia canescens competed for a limited amount of food. The larva to adult survival in each group, as a function of the initial number of hosts and treatment, was fitted to the generalised Beverton and Holt and generalised Ricker survival functions, and a number of life-history traits of the parasitoids was measured.
2. Intraspecific competition was scramble-like, and the parasitised hosts were less susceptible to competition than were their healthy counterparts.
3. For both the healthy and the parasitised hosts, the number of larvae surviving to adulthood gave a good fit to both the generalised Beverton and Holt and generalised Ricker models, but the values of all the parameters differed between the two treatments.
4. Parasitoid size, egg load, and adult survival time decreased significantly with the initial host number.
5. Previous theoretical work suggests that both lower susceptibility to competition by parasitised hosts and scramble competition contribute to the dynamical instability of host–parasitoid systems. Changes registered in life-history traits may also affect host–parasitoid dynamics. These changes have not yet been incorporated into host–parasitoid models.     

Contrasting frequencies of parasitism and host mortality among phorid and conopid parasitoids of bumble-bees

Abstract 1. Phorid (Diptera, Phoridae) and conopid (Diptera, Conopidae) parasitism among four North American bumble-bee (Hymenoptera, Apidae) species was investigated. Male bumble-bees experienced a significantly higher incidence of parasitism by the phorid, Apocephalus borealis Brues, and a significantly lower incidence of parasitism by the conopid, Physocephala texana Williston, than did workers.
2. The incidence of parasitism by A. borealis and P. texana varied between bumble-bee sexes and species in patterns that did not reflect differences in relative host abundance. Differences in foraging behaviour between bumble-bee workers and males, as well as between species, may explain these results.
3. Bumble-bee workers and males parasitised by A. borealis had significantly shorter lifespans than unparasitised bees. Based on previous estimates of bumble-bee mortality, A. borealis parasitism may reduce worker lifespans by up to 70%. In contrast, the mortality rate of bees parasitised by P. texana was not significantly different from that of unparasitised bees.
4. These results contrast with previous work highlighting the importance of conopid parasitism to bumble-bee populations, and suggest that phorid parasitism may impose greater costs to bumble-bees than does conopid parasitism in local populations.     

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.     

中国细胸蚁属一新种及一新纪录种(膜翅目,蚁科)(英文)

描述细胸蚁属Leptothorax1新种,即郑氏细胸蚁L.zhengiZhouetChen,sp.nov.,报道另1中国新纪录种,堆土细胸蚁L.acervorum(Fabricius,1793)。郑氏细胸蚁,新种Leptothorax zhengiZhouet Chen,sp.nov.(图1~2)新种与堆土细胸蚁L.acervorum(Fabricius,1793)相似,但头部背面明显纵向隆起,侧面观头部背缘至腹缘很厚;头部具粗糙纵皱纹,并腹胸背面具粗糙网纹和刻点;体色深红褐色。正模工蚁,内蒙古贺兰山沙塘子监测站,2010-07-29,陈志林采。副模3工蚁,内蒙古贺兰山水磨沟,2010-07-26,陈志林采。词源:新种种名以郑哲民教授姓氏命名,以示对郑哲民教授对昆虫分类学研究所做出显著贡献的敬意。堆土细胸蚁Leptothorax acervorum(Fabricius,1793)中国新纪录(图3~4)Formica acervorum Fabricius,1793:358.检测标本:20工蚁,黑龙江大兴安岭,2007-08-07,彭一良采;4工蚁,内蒙古贺兰山牧人遗址,2010-07-31,陈志林采。分布:中国(黑龙江,内蒙古);日本,韩国,朝鲜,美国,丹麦。     

A new species of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Thyreus from northern Yemen and southwestern Saudi Arabia (Hymenoptera,Apidae)

A new species of cleptoparasitic bee of the genus Thyreus Panzer (Apinae: Melectini) is described and figured from northern Yemen and southwestern Saudi Arabia. Thyreus shebicus Engel, sp. n. is a relatively small species superficially similar to the widespread and polytypic species T. ramosus (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau) and T. ramosellus (Cockerell) but more closely allied to various African forms on the basis of the male genitalia. The species is distinguished from its congeners on the basis of coloration pattern, male hind leg structure, and particularly male terminalia.     

江淮棉区棉大卷叶螟主要寄生性天敌的寄生作用

通过大田调查与室内饲养观察结果表明,江淮棉区棉大卷叶螟Sylepta derogataFabricius的主要寄生蜂(蝇)有7种:卷叶螟绒茧蜂Apanteles derogatae(Watanabe)、叶卷蚁形蜂Goniozus japonicus(Ashmead)、卷叶螟姬小蜂Sympiesissp.、菲岛扁股小蜂Elasmus philippinensis(Ashmead)、广黑点瘤姬蜂Xanthopimplapunctata(Fabricius)、广大腿小蜂Brachymeria lasus(Walker)和玉米螟厉寄蝇Lydella grisescens(Robineau-Desvoidy)。其中,卷叶螟绒茧蜂和卷叶螟姬小蜂为棉大卷叶螟幼虫期优势寄生蜂种,广大腿小蜂为幼虫-蛹跨期优势寄生性天敌。自然情况下,棉大卷叶螟的被寄生率高达25.7%,寄生性天敌对棉大卷叶螟种群起着重要的控制作用。     

Species richness and parasitism in an assemblage of parasitoids attacking maize stem borers in coastal Kenya

Abstract. 1. Parasitoids were reared from four species of lepidopteran stem borer collected in maize in southern coastal Kenya from 1992 to 1999. The stem borers included three native species, Sesamia calamistis Hampson, Busseola fusca Fuller, and Chilo orichalcociliellus (Strand), and one exotic borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). A total of 174 663 caterpillars was collected, of which 12 645 were parasitised.
2. Twenty-six primary parasitoid species were reared from the exotic borer, C. partellus , indicating a rapid accumulation of native parasitoids on the alien borer.
3. The three most abundant parasitoids were the larval parasitoids Cotesia sesamiae Cameron, Cotesia flavipes (Cameron), and the pupal parasitoid Pediobius furvus Gahan. The pupal parasitoid Dentichasmias busseolae Heinrich and the larval parasitoid Goniozus indicus Ashmead were also common. All used an ingress-and-sting method of attack.
4. Cotesia flavipes , introduced into Kenya in 1993, was found in all seasons from 1997 onwards, and has become the most abundant stem borer larval parasitoid in the area. A native congener, Cotesia sesamiae , appeared in all seasons from 1992 to 1999. Together, these two parasitoids accounted for 83.3% of the parasitised borers.
5. Thirty parasitoid species were recovered in Kilifi district, 27 in Kwale, and 15 in Taita Taveta. Parasitism was much greater in Taita Taveta district than in Kilifi or Kwale districts.     

An electrophysiological and behavioural study of insect antifeedant properties of natural and synthetic drimane-related compounds

ABSTRACT. A range of drimane-related natural and synthetic compounds have been tested in behavioural and electrophysiological screens against larvae of Spodoptera exempta (Walker), S. littoralis (Boisduval), S. frugiperda (J. E. Smith), Heliothis armigera (Hubner) and H. virescens (Fabricius). The most effective compounds are identified and their potential as antifeedants and metabolic poisons is assessed. A consideration of structure in relation to function allows the identification of important functional groups within molecules.     

Chromadorida (Nematoda) from Guadeloupe and Polynesia with evidence of intersexuality

Spirobolbolaimus boucherorum sp.n. (Microlaimidac) and Sabatieria maboyae sp.n. (Comesomatidae) arc described, and Dorylaimopsis pellucidum (Cobb, 1920) is discussed. Intersex specimens have been found in all three species. Spirobolbolaimus boucherorum sp.n. is characterized by its multispiral amphidcal fovea, number and localization of the cervical setae arranged in six rows posterior to the amphids, and large banana-shaped sperm. Sabatieria maboyae sp.n., a member of the S. pulchra group, possesses long posteriorly located cervical setae and long spicules.