Morphological variation in British Folsomia quadrioculata Tullberg (Collembola: Isotomidae): a multivariate study

Abstract. Morphological variation among freshly caught specimens resembling Folsomia quadrioculata Tullberg was examined using principal components analysis and canonical variates analysis. Two distinct groups were identified corresponding with F. quadrioculata and F.manolachei Bagnall. Previous workers have questioned the specific status of F.manolachei and regarded these two species as inseparable using morphometric characters. A study of specimens previously identified as F. quadrioculata suggested that many were mis-identified and that F.manolachei is more abundant in the British Isles than is usually thought. Variation in some characters traditionally used to identify Folsomia species was examined and a method for distinguishing adult and juvenile F.quadrioculata from F.manolachei is provided. The synonomy of F.nana Gisin with F.manolachei is supported. The separation of F.diplothalma Axelson from F. quadrioculata is discussed, concluding that no characters are known which can reliably separate British specimens of these species.     

Redefinition of the genus Allonychiurus Yoshii, 1995 (Collembola, Onychiuridae) with description of a new species from China

In this paper, we describe a new species of the genus Allonychiurus Yoshii, 1995, characterized by the presence of an apical swelling on the fourth antennal segment as well as a combination of chaetotaxic and pseudocellar characters. The genus Allonychiurus is redefined. Four of its species are considered as incertae sedis: Allonychiurus michelbacheri (Bagnall, 1948), Allonychiurus spinosus (Bagnall, 1949), Allonychiurus caprariae (Dallai, 1969) and Allonychiurus sensitivus (Handschin, 1928). The three species Allonychiurus borensis (Beruete, Arbea & Jordana, 1994), Allonychiurus sensilatus (Thibaud & Massoud, 1979) and Allonychiurus vandeli (Cassagnau, 1960) are removed from Allonychiurus and placed in Micronychiurus Bagnall, 1949, Thalassaphorura Bagnall, 1949 and Spinonychiurus Weiner, 1996 respectively. The synonymy of Thibaudichiurus Weiner, 1996 with Allonychiurus is rejected and Allonychiurus foliatus (Rusek, 1967) and Allonychiurus mariangeae (Thibaud & Lee, 1994) are re-allocated to Thibaudichiurus. List and identification key to the world species of the genus are given.     

Taxonomy of European species of Cassagnaudiella and Bourletiella (Collembola, Symphypleona, Bourletiellidae)

The taxonomy of the European members of Cassagnaudiella and Bourletiella (Collembola, Symphypleona, Bourletiellidae) is reviewed. The subgenus Cassagnaudiella Ellis, 197.5 is raised to generic rank with a new definition. Specimens earlier considered to represent a transformed form of Bourletiella radula Gisin, 1946 are referred to Cassagnaudiella , and the application of 'phenotypic neutralization' within the group is Considered erroneous. Four Bourletiella species and six Cassagnaudiella species are described, five of the latter which are new: C. cœnigouensis sp. n., C. luteovernalis sp. n., C. cadiensis sp. n., C. canigouensis sp. n., and C. trichroma sp. n., A key to species is provided.     

橘园蓟马的种类、发生规律及防治研究

本文以我国柑橘主产区当阳和赣州为试验基地,系统调查了橘园中蓟马为害的严重性及其发生规律;经鉴定发现我国柑橘主产区橘园内蓟马有11种:包括蓟马科中的茶黄蓟马Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood、褐三棕蓟马Lefroyothrips lefroyi(Bagnall)、花蓟马Frankliniella intonsa(Trybom)、八节黄蓟马Thripsflavidulus(Bagnall)、黄胸蓟马T.hawaiiensis(Morgan)、棕榈蓟马T.palmi Karny、色蓟马T.coloratus Schmutz和管蓟马科中的边腹曲管蓟马Rhaebothrips lativentris Karny、华简管蓟马Haplothrips chinensis Priesner、桔简管蓟马H.subtilissimus(Haliday)、狭翅简管蓟马H.tenuipennis Bagnall;并对蓟马进行药剂防治试验,结果表明,吡虫啉、敌百虫和阿维菌素3种药剂都能有效的减少蓟马的虫口数目,在柑橘花期之前和柑橘花期施药可以有效的降低蓟马对果实的为害率。     

Characterization of a genetic resource collection for Miscanthus (Saccharinae,Andropogoneae, Poaceae) using AFLP and ISSR PCR

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and inter-simple sequence repeat markers were employed to characterize a genetic resource collection of Miscanthus, a grass under trial in Europe as a biomass crop. The 26 polymorphic markers produced by two ISSR fingerprinting primers were able to discriminate taxa and identify putative clones. AFLP fingerprints were fully reproducible and produced a larger number of markers for the three primer pairs tested, of which 998 were polymorphic (representing 79.3% of all bands). AFLP markers distinguished species, infra-specific taxa (varieties and cultivars) and putatively clonal material. They were also used to assess the inter-relationships of the taxa, to investigate the origin of important hybrid plants and to estimate the overall level of genetic variation in the collection. They were useful for assessing the species status of certain taxa such as M. transmorrisonensis, an endemic from Taiwan that was clearly distinct from M. sinensis; whereas other taxa of disputed species status, such as M. condensatus and M. yakushimanum were not genetically distinct from M. sinensis. The AFLP markers detected a high degree of infra-specific variation and allowed subdivisions of the genetic resource collection to be made, particularly within M. sinensis.     

FTIR spectroscopy of the reaction center of Chloroflexus aurantiacus: photoreduction of the bacteriopheophytin electron acceptor

Mid-infrared spectral changes associated with the photoreduction of the bacteriopheophytin electron acceptor H(A) in reaction centers (RCs) of the filamentous anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium Chloroflexus (Cfl.) aurantiacus are examined by light-induced Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The light-induced H(A)(-)/H(A) FTIR (1800-1200cm(-1)) difference spectrum of Cfl. aurantiacus RCs is compared to that of the previously well characterized purple bacterium Rhodobacter (Rba.) sphaeroides RCs. The most notable feature is that the large negative IR band at 1674cm(-1) in Rba. sphaeroides R-26, attributable to the loss of the absorption of the 13(1)-keto carbonyl of H(A) upon the radical anion H(A)(-) formation, exhibits only a very minor upshift to 1675cm(-1) in Cfl. aurantiacus. In contrast, the absorption band of the 131-keto C=O of H(A)(-) is strongly upshifted in the spectrum of Cfl. aurantiacus compared to that of Rba. sphaeroides (from 1588 to 1623cm(-1)). The data are discussed in terms of: (i) replacing the glutamic acid at L104 in Rba. sphaeroides R-26 RCs by a weaker hydrogen bond donor, a glutamine, at the equivalent position L143 in Cfl. aurantiacus RCs; (ii) a strengthening of the hydrogen-bonding interaction of the 131-keto C=O of H(A) with Glu L104 and Gln L143 upon H(A)(-) formation and (iii) a possible influence of the protein dielectric environment on the 131-keto C=O stretching frequency of neutral H(A). A conformational heterogeneity of the 133-ester C=O group of H(A) is detected for Cfl. aurantiacus RCs similar to what has been previously described for purple bacterial RCs.     

A revision of the Neotropical species of Bolitogyrus Chevrolat,a geographically disjunct lineage of Staphylinini (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae)

The Neotropical species of the rarely collected genus Bolitogyrus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae: Staphylinini) are revised. The genus exhibits an uncommon, disjunct distribution between the Neotropical and Oriental Regions and is of unknown phylogenetic position within Staphylinini. Morphological evolution remarkable for Staphylinini was discovered within Bolitogyrus, including sexually dimorphic modifications of the pronotum that may be involved in male competition for females. rSEM interactive animations were used to establish morphological species boundaries between two highly variable species and are provided to illustrate diagnostic characters of the genitalia in unconventional views. The genus is redescribed based on the world fauna and twenty-eight Neotropical species are considered valid. Of these, nineteen are described as new to science: Bolitogyrus ashei sp. n.; B. apicofasciatus sp. n.; B. brevistellus sp. n.; B. bufo sp. n.; B. cheungi sp. n.; B. cornutus sp. n.; B. divisus sp. n.; B. falini sp. n.; B. gracilis sp. n.; B. inexspectatus sp. n.; B. longistellus sp. n.; B. marquezi sp. n.; B. newtoni sp. n.; B. pseudotortifolius sp. n.; B. pulchrus sp. n.; B. silex sp. n.; B. thomasi sp. n.; B. tortifolius sp. n.; and B. viridescens sp. n. Bolitogyrus sallei (Kraatz), stat. r. is removed from synonymy with B. buphthalmus (Erichson) and the following new synonyms are proposed: Cyrtothorax cyanescens Sharp, 1884, syn. n. = Quedius buphthalmus Erichson, 1840; C. nevermanni Scheerpeltz, 1974, syn. n. = C. costaricensis Wendeler, 1927. A summary of all available bionomic and distributional data, as well as an illustrated identification key to and diagnoses of all Neotropical species are provided.     

锦鸡儿属植物4个种的核型分析

对4种锦鸡儿属(CaraganaFabr.)植物的核型进行了分析,得出4种染色体核型:秦晋锦鸡儿(C.purdom iiRehd.)染色体数为2n=16,其核型公式为2n=16=16 m(4 SAT);小叶锦鸡儿(C.m icrophyllaLam.)染色体数为2n=16,其核型公式为2n=16=14 m(2 SAT) 2 M;中间锦鸡儿(C.interm ediaKuang et H.C.Fu)染色体数为2n=18,其核型公式为2n=18=16 m(4 SAT) 2 M;树锦鸡儿(C.arborescensLam.)染色体数为2n=20,其核型公式为2n=20=20 m(4 SAT)。由此可推测:中间锦鸡儿可能为小叶锦鸡儿和树锦鸡儿或秦晋锦鸡儿和树锦鸡儿的中间类型或杂交种,也可能是具有递增染色体基数的不同种。     

A revision of the Oriental stonefly genus Phanoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae)

The genus Phanoperla (=Dyaperla Banks, 1939) (Plecoptera: Perlidae: Perlini) is revised and generic diagnoses are provided for adults and larvae. Diagnostic and constitutive characters of the tribe Neoperlini are discussed, and Chinoperla Zwick, 1980, is shown to be the closest relative of Phanoperla. Many past misidentifications of Phanoperla species have been corrected by the use of characters recently recognized as important, namely the structure of the internal genitalia of male and female specimens and particularly the complex pattern of spines on the male penial sac made visible by eversion of this structure, and details of sculpturing of the egg chorion.
The following species of Phanoperla are recognized: amorpha sp.n.; anomala (Banks, 1939); bakeri (Banks, 1924); ceylonica Kawai, 1975; comuta sp.n.; flaveola (Klapálek, 1921), comb.n. ( =clarissa (Banks, 1913), syn.n.), (=Neoperla hageni Banks, 1920, syn.n.), (= N.consimilis Banks, 1924, syn.n.); guttata sp.n.; himalayana Zwick, 1977 (= siwalika Harper, 1977); limosa (Hagen, 1858); maculata sp.n.; maindroni (Navas, 1926), comb.n.; malayana sp.n.; minutissima (Enderlein, 1909); nana sp.n.; nervosa Banks, 1939; nuwara Kawai, 1975; omega sp.n.; pallipennis (Banks, 1938); parva sp.n.; pumilio (Klapálek, 1921), comb.n.; peniculus Kawai, 1969a; schmidi sp.n.; sertispina Jewett, 1975; srilanka sp.n.; sumatrae sp.n.; testacea (Hagen, 1858); wedda sp.n. P.claggi (Banks, 1938) is a nomen nudum.
All species are (re-)described and figured; all primary types have been examined. A key to species is provided. Most species can be assigned to one of seven species groups which are defined.
Phanoperla is endemic to the Oriental Region. Species groups are generally widespread, but individual species are in most cases known only from restricted areas.     

Rove beetles of the subtribe Scopaeina Mulsant & Rey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in the West Palaearctic: Phylogeny, biogeography and species catalogue

A cladistic analysis of the West Palaearctic Scopaeina Mulsant & Rey, 1878 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae: Paederinae) is presented along with bionomic and biogeographic information. A total of 76 morphological characters were coded for the 88 currently known West Palaearctic species, except for S. bifossicapitata (Outerelo & Oromi, 1987). Results show that Scopaeina comprises two well-supported monophyletic groups in the West Palaearctic, Micranops Cameron, 1913 and Scopaeus Erichson, 1840, which are considered to represent distinct genera. Phylogenetic relationships to Orus Casey, 1884, distributed in North and South America, are briefly discussed. Whereas Micranops is only represented by M. pilicornis (Baudi, 1869) in the region under study, 87 species of Scopaeus are currently known from the West Palaearctic. Within Scopaeus, the cladistic analysis yielded many well-supported monophyletic species groups, most of which are restricted to the West Palaearctic. However, except for Hyperscopaeus Coiffait, 1984, they are not in agreement with the widely used subgeneric concept sensu Coiffait (1952–1984). The following polyphyletic subgenera are consequently synonymized: Alloscopaeus Coiffait, 1968, Anomoscopaeus Coiffait, 1968, Geoscopaeus Coiffait, 1960, and Hyposcopaeus Coiffait, 1960 synn. n. = Scopaeus Erichson, 1840. Nivorus Herman, 1965, and Microscopaeus Coiffait, 1981 synn. n. = Micranops Cameron, 1913. The monotypical genus Coecoscopaeus Coiffait, 1984, established for C. coecus (Peyerimhoff, 1906), is excluded from Scopaeina. Scopaeus mitratus perroti Ochs, 1953 is raised to species rank, and S. nigellus Wollaston, 1864, formerly a synonym of S. minimus Erichson, 1939, is revalidated. Finally, we present a catalogue of species and synonyms of West Palaearctic Scopaeina along with distributional data and five new synonymies of species group names: S. bordei Peyerimhoff, 1914 syn. n. = S. portai Luze, 1910; S. tassiliensis Jarrige, 1958, S. mauretanicus Coiffait, 1960 synn. n. = S. crassipes Wollaston, 1867; S. saoudiensis Coiffait, 1981 = S. sinaicus Coiffait, 1970; S. mateui Coiffait, 1953 syn. n. = S. didymus Erichson, 1840. A lectotype is designated for S. didymus Erichson, 1840.See also Electronic Supplement (Parts 13) at http://www.senckenberg.de/odes/02-02.htm     

Transient association of the first intermediate during the refolding of bovine carbonic anhydrase B.

Many proteins which aggregate during refolding may form transiently populated aggregated states which do not reduce the final recovery of active species. However, the transient association of a folding intermediate will result in reduced refolding rates if the dissociation process occurs slowly. Previous studies on the refolding and aggregation of bovine carbonic anhydrase B (CAB) have shown that the molten globule first intermediate on the CAB folding pathway will form dimers and trimers prior to the formation of large aggregates (Cleland, J. L.; Wang, D. I. C. Biochemistry 1990, 29, 11072-11078; Cleland, J. L.; Wang, D. I. C. In Protein Refolding; Georgiou, G., De-Bernardez-Clark, E., Eds.; ACS Symposium Series 470; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1991; pp 169-179). Refolding of CAB from 5 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) was achieved at conditions ([CAB]f = 10-33 microM, [GuHCl]f = 1.0 M) which allowed complete recovery of active protein as well as the formation of a transiently populated dimer of the molten globule intermediate on the refolding pathway. A kinetic analysis of CAB refolding provided insight into the mechanism of the association phenomenon. Using the kinetic results, a model of the refolding with transient association was constructed. By adjusting a single variable, the dimer dissociation rate constant, the model prediction fit both the experimentally determined active protein and dimer concentrations. The model developed in this analysis should also be applicable to the refolding of proteins which have been observed to form aggregates during refolding. In particular, the transient association of hydrophobic folding intermediates may also occur during the refolding of other proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Species of the genus Thrips from India (Thysanoptera)

Abstract. The species of Thrips Linnaeus from the Indian region are revised, and a key is provided to the thirty-three valid species, including eight new species and one new subspecies, Eight species customarily included in Taenio-thrips Amyot & Serville are here included in Thrips and six species are newly placed in synonymy: Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan) (= Thrips exilicornis Hood from Africa); Thrips palmi Karny (= leucadophilus Priesner from Sudan); Thrips brunneus Anan. & Jaga. ( =speratus zur Strassen from South West Africa); Thrips tabaci Lind.(= kallarensis (Anan.) from India); Thrips sumatrensis Priesner (= lucaenae Moulton from Guam); Thrips simplex (Morison) (= Taeniothrips quinani Moulton from South Africa). Isoneurothrips Bagnall is regarded as a synonym of Thrips , and Isothrips is treated as a synonym rather than as a sub-genus. Two nominal species, beharensis (Ram. & Marg.) and rostratus (Ram. & Marg.) are considered unrecognizable at present.     

Complete genome sequence of the filamentous gliding predatory bacterium Herpetosiphon aurantiacus type strain (114-95(T))

Herpetosiphon aurantiacus Holt and Lewin 1968 is the type species of the genus Herpetosiphon, which in turn is the type genus of the family Herpetosiphonaceae, type family of the order Herpetosiphonales in the phylum Chloroflexi. H. aurantiacus cells are organized in filaments which can rapidly glide. The species is of interest not only because of its rather isolated position in the tree of life, but also because Herpetosiphon ssp. were identified as predators capable of facultative predation by a wolf pack strategy and of degrading the prey organisms by excreted hydrolytic enzymes. The genome of H. aurantiacus strain 114-95(T) is the first completely sequenced genome of a member of the family Herpetosiphonaceae. The 6,346,587 bp long chromosome and the two 339,639 bp and 99,204 bp long plasmids with a total of 5,577 protein-coding and 77 RNA genes was sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute Program DOEM 2005.     

Species composition and structure of Thysanoptera communities in different microhabitats at the Parque Estadual de Itapu?, Viam?o, RS.

Although thrips are known as inhabitants of flowers, they are also abundant and diverse in other microhabitats. There is an information gap concerning them, especially related to the native fauna in southern Brazil. The structure and composition of the thysanopteran community in different microhabitats was studied at the "Parque Estadual de Itapu?" (30 degrees 22' S 51 degrees 02' W), RS, southern Brazil. Between June 1999 and May 2001, branches (n = 1,274), flowers (n = 774), grass tussocks (n = 596) and leaf litter (n = 603) were sampled systematically in 20 points of four trails (T1 - Pedreira beach, T2 - Ara?á beach, T3 - Lagoinha, and T4 - Grota hill). We found 2,197 adult thrips determined in 73 species in 41 genera, of which 37 could be nominated. Four families are represented, Thripidae, Phlaeothripidae, Heterothripidae and Merothripidae, with the first the most abundant (N = 1,599) and with the highest species richness (S = 32). The highest thrips abundance occurred in flowers N = 1,224 and the highest number of exclusive species occurred in the leaf litter (27). Frankliniella rodeos Moulton, 1933, Frankliniella gemina Bagnall, 1919 and Smicrothrips particula Hood, 1952 comprise 49.4% of the total sampled. Regarding T2, we obtained the highest abundance (N = 935) and highest species richness (S = 43). The composition of the faunas in each kind of environment proved very particular.     

A Second Species of the Genus Australothrips Bagnall (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

A second member of the Australian endemic genus Australothrips Bagnall (Thripidae: Panchaetothripinae) is described. This species, Australothrips aliceae , was found at sites near Darwin, Northern Territory on the leaves of Calytrix brownii (Myrtaceae). It is of systematic interest because it approaches in structure the members of the palaeotropical genus Phibalothrips Hood that live only on grasses.     

The sexspiaosa-group of the ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith (Hym. Formicidae)

The sexspinosa-group of Polyrhachis is revised. Twelve species are recognised, two of which are described as new. Sixteen synonyms are recognised, mostly of infra-specific taxa. A key to the species and diagnostic notes of each species are included.     

pH-induced alteration and oxidative destruction of heme in purified chromaffin granule cytochrome b(561): implications for the oxidative stress in catecholaminergic neurons

The transmembrane hemoprotein, cytochrome b(561) (b(561)), in the neuroendocrine secretory vesicles is shown to shuttle electrons from the cytosolic ascorbate (Asc) to the intravesicular matrix to provide reducing equivalents for the dopamine beta-monooxygenase (DbetaM) reaction. Intravesicular Asc may also play a role in relieving catecholamine-induced oxidative stress in catecholaminergic neurons. In the present study, we have examined the alteration of purified oxidized b(561) (b(561,ox)) under mild alkaline conditions to probe the structural and functional characteristics of the protein, using UV-vis and EPR spectroscopic and kinetic techniques. Our results show that low spin heme in oxidized b(561) (b(561,ox)) readily transforms to an altered high spin form and then slowly to an Asc nonreducible form, in a pH-, temperature-, and time-dependent manner, which can be described by single-exponential rate equations, A(t) = A(o)(1- e (-kt)) and A(t) = A(o)e(-kt), respectively. More than half of the Asc nonreducible altered b(561) could be converted back to the native b(561) by pH adjustment followed by dithionite reduction, suggesting the reversibility of the process. The heme center of the transformed Asc nonreducible protein is completely bleached instantaneously by dithionite in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, which appears to be mediated by molecular oxygen and/or hydrogen peroxide. These results demonstrate that the heme centers of the protein are susceptible to the pH-induced alteration and oxidative destruction, raising some questions regarding the proposed one alkaline labile, two-heme model of b(561) [Tsubaki, M.; Nakayama, M.; Okuyama, E.; Ichikawa, Y. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 23206-23210]. The pH-induced alteration and the destruction of heme under oxidative conditions may play a significant role in the amplification of oxidative stress in catecholaminergic neurons.     

Polyclonal antibodies to chlorosome proteins as probes for green sulfur bacteria.

We found that polyclonal antibodies raised against chlorosome polypeptides from green sulfur bacteria reacted to Chlorobium tepidum, Chlorobium limicola, and Chlorobium phaeobacteroides but not to Chloroflexus aurantiacus. These antibodies successfully labeled only green sulfur species in marine microbial mat samples. Our results suggest that these antibodies may be useful as immunohistochemical probes.     

First Record of Elixothrips brevisetis (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Brazil

Elixothrips brevisetis (Bagnall), a species exotic to Brazil, is first recorded in the country. Individuals were collected on banana fruits (Musa sp.) (Musaceae) in July 2010 in the municipality of Luís Alves, state of Santa Catarina, causing rusting on the fruit peel in several bunches of bananas.