Trail-Based Communication in Social Caterpillars of Eriogaster lanestris (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Caterpillars of Eriogaster lanestris (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) mark trails as they move between feeding sites and their communal tent. They prefer new trails over aged ones. Hungry caterpillars prefer trails marked by fed caterpillars returning to the tent. Thus successful foragers direct tentmates to profitable food finds, in a manner similar to that of Malacosoma americanum. E. lanestris readily follows trails prepared from 5-cholestane-3-one, a component of the trail marker of M. americanum, when applied at a rate of 10^–10 g/cm. In choice tests, they preferred more highly concentrated over weaker trails. New trails are always established in groups, and the velocity increases from early to late caterpillars traversing a new trail.     

Tent-based thermoregulation in social caterpillars of Eriogaster lanestris (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae): behavioral mechanisms and physical features of the tent

(1) We investigated thermoregulatory behavior of social tent building caterpillars of Eriogaster lanestris.

(2) The silk layers of the tent shield most of the incoming radiation and reduce heat exchange with the surroundings by convective heat loss.

(3) As a consequence its interior provides a wide range of temperatures.

(4) By changing their position inside or on the tent caterpillars are able to stabilize their body temperatures at 30–35°C over a wide range of ambient temperatures as long as solar irradiation is sufficiently strong.

(5) Overall behavioral thermoregulation takes precedence over the tent's physical features.     

菊科紫菀属3种植物的核型分析

菊科紫菀属密毛系(Aster Series Vestiti Ling)含3个物种:密毛紫菀(A.vestitus Franch.)、灰枝紫菀(A.poliothamnus Diels)和西固紫菀(A.sikuensis W.W.Smith et Farr.),新近的分子系统学研究对密毛系是否单系提出质疑。该文采用常规根尖压片法,对紫菀属密毛系3种植物4个居群的核型进行观察分析。结果显示:3种植物的核型公式均为2n=2x=18=14m+4sm(2SAT);密毛紫菀居群2个的核型属于1A型,灰枝紫菀和西固紫菀为2A型。密毛紫菀和西固紫菀的核型资料为首次报道。灰枝紫菀的染色体数目、基数和不对称性等核型资料与先前唯一的相关报道结果(体细胞染色体数目为32,核型公式2n=2x=32=26sm+6st,属4A型,染色体中未发现随体)迥然不同。3种植物的核型结果不支持保留密毛系,而核型不对称性类型支持该实验室先前提出的亚属划分。3种植物随体的大小属于紫菀亚族型,这支持欧亚紫菀属与北美紫菀类没有密切亲缘关系的观点。     

Foraging behavior of the communal spider,Philoponella republicana (Araneae: Uloboridae)

The communal orb-weaving spider, Philoponella republicana,was observed in the subtropical moist forest of Southeast Peru. These spiders live in colonies of conspecifics whose individual orbs are connected by silk. The wrapping of a prey prior to feeding is a large component of the prey capture process because P. republicanahas no venom with which to kill an insect. Wrapping time was the only aspect of prey capture that was strongly correlated with the size of the insect captured. Occasionally we observed several individuals working together to wrap a prey item. These joint efforts were more frequent on prey larger than the capturing spider. Although group captures accounted for only 5.5% of captures, they represented 14.7% of the biomass obtained. A comparison of the relationship between wrapping time and prey size for solitary and group efforts suggested that, by working together, the spiders reduced their total handling time. In most cases only one spider fed on the captured prey.     

Further Study on the Esterase Patterns of Sibling Species in the Drosophila saltans Subgroup (saltans Group): Intraspecific and Interspecific Variations in the Development

Twenty of the 32 esterase bands previously detected in the adults of D. prosaltans, D. saltans and D.␣austrosaltans were found in larvae and pupae studied in this work. The results showed that, in addition to expressing the highest number of esterase bands, the adult stage of the three species exhibited the highest degree of expression (amount of synthesis) for most of the bands. Differences between larval and pupal stages were detected in the degree of expression (amount of synthesis) of the bands and in the frequency of samples expressing them. The frequencies of expression of the bands corresponding to genes in loci 1–3 were greater in pupae than in larvae while the frequencies of expression of the bands corresponding to genes in loci 4–9 were predominantly expressed in larvae or were equal in both developmental stages. Like the adults, larvae, pupae and empty pupal cases (which were also studied in this work) showed specific esterases. Taken together, the observations showed that, in the species studied, every developmental stage is characterized by specific bands and by specific frequency and degree of expression of the bands shared with other stages.     

韩国枝尺蛾亚科三种幼虫记述（鳞翅目：尺蛾科）

在韩国已记录527种尺蛾科成虫,本科的大多数幼虫是林业和农业害虫。本文详细记述了枝尺蛾亚科白厚尺蛾Pachyligia dolosa Butler、蜻蜓尺蛾Cystidia stratonice(Stoll)及角子尺蛾Planociampa antipala Prout幼虫的形态特征,并提供了形态特征图。标本存放在韩国江源大学校山林科学大学森林资源保护学科标本室。     

韩国波尺蛾亚科三种幼虫记述（鳞翅目：尺蛾科）

本文详细地记述了波尺蛾亚科Eupithecia abietaria debrunneata Staudinger, E. spadix Inoue 及Telenomeuta punctimarginaria (Leech) 幼虫的形态特征.     

Parasitism of orangestriped oakworm (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) eggs in the urban landscape

Orangestriped oakworm, Anisota senatoria (J. E. Smith), has caused widespread defoliation of oak trees in the urban landscape of southeastern Virginia since 1985. Egg masses were collected from 1988 to 1990 to determine the impact of native egg parasites on A. senatoria populations. The most abundant egg parasite was Aprostocetus new sp. and mean egg mass parasitism was 24.6%. The eupelmid Anastatus hirtus (Ashmead), a new host record, parasitized a mean of 11.7% of A. senatoria egg masses. The encyrtid Ooencytrus sp., a new host record, had a mean egg mass parasitism of 0.09%. Inundative releases of Trichogramma minutum (Riley) in 1989 and 1990 did not increase parasitism rates and mean egg mass parasitism was 2.3%. Parasitism of first generation A. senatoria egg masses was higher compared with second generation. The four egg parasites collected in this study parasitized 30% of A. senatoria egg masses and within egg mass parasitism was 7.9%. These relatively low parasitism rates may partially explain the presence of consistently high A. senatoria populations in southeastern Virginia.     

中国丛螟亚科三种幼虫记述（鳞翅目：螟蛾科）

本文详细记述了中国丛螟亚科樟叶瘤丛螟Orthaga achatina Butler,橄榄锄须丛螟Macalla sp．和漆树缀叶丛螟Locastra muscosalis（Walker）幼虫的形态特征,并绘制了形态特征图,记述了为害习性。所有标本均保存在中国计量学院生命科学学院标本室。     

3种百合鳞茎中多酚类物质的抗氧化活性分析

以野生百合渥丹、山丹和传统食用的兰州百合为研究对象,对其鳞茎中多酚类物质、11种单体酚的含量及抗氧化活性(ABTS自由基、超氧阴离子、羟自由基的清除能力,铜离子还原能力以及抑制脂质过氧化活性)进行了分析。结果表明:两种野生百合鳞茎中的多酚类物质含量及抗氧化活性均显著高于兰州百合。3种百合鳞茎中单体酚的种类也有所不同,但均含有没食子酸、矢车菊素-3-芸香糖苷、儿茶素、表儿茶素、杨梅酮、芦丁、对香豆酸、山奈酚。相关性分析显示,除对羟自由基的清除力外,各酚类物质总量与不同抗氧化指标之间呈显著正相关关系。试验结果认为,野生百合鳞茎可作为天然抗氧化资源应用于食品和医药业,具有一定的开发应用前景。     

中国松毛虫属八个种和亚种亲缘关系的DNA指纹证据

利用DNA指纹谱方法探讨了中国松毛虫属8个种和亚种〔马尾松毛虫Dendrolimus punctatus punctatus (Walker),德昌松毛虫D. punctatus tehchangensis Tsai et Liu,文山松毛虫D. punctatus wenshanensis Tsai et Liu,思茅松毛虫D. kikuchii Matsumura,赤松毛虫D. spectabilis Butler,油松毛虫D. tabulaeformis Tsai et Liu,落叶松毛虫D. superans (Butler),云南松毛虫D. houi Lajonquiere之间的亲缘关系。13个随机引物在8种松毛虫中共检测到168个多态分子标记。分析表明,这8个种间的遗传距离的变化范围为0.3780～0.7360;马尾松毛虫与其亚种德昌松毛虫的遗传距离最近,为0.3780,与其另一亚种文山松毛虫以及油松毛虫的遗传距离次之,皆为0.5233;赤松毛虫、落叶松毛虫、云南松毛虫与马尾松毛虫的遗传距离则再次之,分别为0.6362,0.6770和0.6944;与马尾松毛虫遗传距离最远的是思茅松毛虫,为0.7360。8种松毛虫间具体的亲缘关系为: (D. superans (D. tabulaeformis (D. p. wenshanensis (D. p. tehchangensis, D. p. punctatus)(D. Kikuchii (D. spectabilis, D. houi))。     

Interaction of the bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila (Enterobactericeae) and Bacillus subtilis (Bacillaceae) with the hemocytes of larval Malacosoma disstria (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Malacosoma disstria larvae are a pest of deciduous trees. Little is known on the interaction of bacteria with the immediate hemocytic antimicrobial responses of these insects. Incubating dead Xenorhabdus nematophila and Bacillus subtilis with a mixture of serum-free granular cells and plasmatocytes in vitro revealed differential bacterial-hemocyte adhesion and differential discharge of lysozyme and phenoloxidase but not total protein. Although active phenoloxidase adhered equally to both bacterial species, X. nematophila limited enzyme activation whereas B. subtilis enhanced activation. Serum with active phenoloxidase (as opposed to tropolone-inhibited phenoloxidase) and purified insect lysozyme increased bacterial-hemocyte adhesion of both bacterial species. An apolipophorin-III-like protein when incubated with hemocytes, limited their responses to glass slides and bacterial adhesion. However, initial binding of the protein to both bacteria increased granular cell levels with bacteria while lowering the plasmatocyte levels with adhering procaryotes. The protein also increased lysozyme and phenoloxidase activities. Although B. subtilis in vivo elicited a nodulation-based decline in total hemocyte counts and did not affect hemocyte viability, dead X. nematophila elevated hemocyte counts and damaged the hemocytes as lipopolysaccharide levels increased and X. nematophila emerged into the hemolymph. Apolipophorin-III-like protein once bound to the bacteria slowed their removal from the hemolymph.     

韩国斑蛾科三种幼虫的形态记述(鳞翅目)

在韩国己记述的斑蛾科昆虫有17种,这些斑蛾的幼虫主要食叶或卷叶,多数为害果树和林木等。幼虫身体短粗,头缩于前胸内,体上常有毛瘤或毛簇,腹足趾钩为单序中带。本文详细地记述了韩国斑蛾科Illiberis tenuis(Butler),Chalcosia remota(Walker)和Pryeria sinica Moore老熟幼虫的形态特征,并提供了形态特征图。     

Efficacy of inoculative releases of Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) against European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in field corn

We evaluated the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to control European corn borer [Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)] in field corn in 2001 and 2002. Inoculative releases of 75,000 T. ostriniae/ha occurred in New York and Virginia in 5–10 cornfields per state when corn was at mid-whorl. Incidence of egg mass parasitism, number of stalk tunnels, incidence of ear damage, and whole-plant yield were evaluated. Parasitism of European corn borer egg masses ranged from 0 to 75% in release plots and was greater in release plots than in control plots. Individual comparisons between paired release and control plots showed no reductions in either stalk or ear damage. However, when data were combined across both years and fields, stalk and ear damage were significantly reduced in New York. In Virginia, no significant differences were detected using data obtained from one year. There were no differences in yield between release and control plots. Low densities of European corn borer, drought conditions in 1 year, and a larger plant canopy in field corn are possible reasons why T. ostriniae releases provided less control than has been observed in previous trials in sweet corn. Additional research focused on improved timing and frequency and number of releases is warranted.     

中国四川报春花属一新种

报道了中国四川报春花属(Primula L.)一新种——小繸瓣报春(P.hydrocotylifolia G.Hao,C.M.Hu&Y.Xu)。小繸瓣报春植株无毛、无粉,叶片多少呈圆形,具纤细的叶柄,开花期叶丛基部无鳞片,球形蒴果藏于宿存花萼,成熟时裂成不规则碎片,显然属于脆蒴报春组(sect.Petiolares Pax)革叶报春亚组(subsect.Chartacea W.W.Sm.&Forrest),并与该亚组的川西繸瓣报春(P.veitchiana Petitm.)最为接近,但后者植物体的各部分均远大于此新种,花序多花,花亦较大,二者之间无过渡类型。     

Foraging Area Marking in Two Related Tetramorium Ant Species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The related ants Tetramorium caespitum and T. impurum mark their foraging area in a species-specific, home range and short-lasting manner. Indeed, ants reaching a new area have a slow linear speed which increases during the marking. Conspecific ants are arrested and attracted by marked areas, while heterospecific ants are reluctant to visit them. However, when the latter do visit marked areas, they move more quickly and less sinuously than conspecific ants and do not stay on the areas. The marking is performed in about 3 min by T. caespitum and in 3 to 6 min by T. impurum. If not reinforced, the marking vanishes in the same time intervals. Neither poison gland nor last sternite extracts reproduce the activity of naturally marked areas, whereas a Dufour gland extract does exactly that. Foraging ants touch the ground with the tip of their gaster. Consequently, we can postulate that the workers mark their foraging area with the contents of this gland, which is associated with the sting apparatus, and that they deposit with the extremity of the gaster. Alien conspecific ants are seldom aggressive to one another, even on marked areas. When encountering each other on unmarked areas, heterospecific ants present some aggressive reactions. On marked areas, their aggressiveness is enhanced and intruder ants are restless, while resident ones walk freely. On ground marked by T. impurum, ants of this species are more aggressive than antagonistic T. caespitum workers. The marking of foraging areas thus induces defense against heterospecifics but not against conspecific ants.