Egg predation within the nests of social wasps: a new genus and species of Phlaeothripidae,and evolutionary consequences of Thysanoptera invasive behaviour

The insects known as thrips are commonly thought of as flower‐living and pestiferous organisms, but we report here a novel interaction between a phlaeothripine thrips species, Mirothrips arbiter gen. et sp. nov. and three species of social paper wasps in Brazil. This thrips species breeds inside the wasp colonies, and larval and adult thrips feed on wasp eggs, which become severely damaged. Infested nests can contain up to 300 M. arbiter gen. et sp. nov. individuals. The closest relatives of M. arbiter are two presumably predaceous species: Mirothrips bicolor sp. nov. , which inhabits abandoned Cecidomyiidae galls, and Mirothrips analis comb. nov. , described from individuals collected in the silken bags of the caterpillars of Psychidae moths. The behaviour exhibited by M. arbiter represents one of the most evolutionarily advanced lifestyles known among Thysanoptera, and we predict that other polistine species serve as hosts for this thrips in Brazil. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109 , 332–341.     

Consistent and variable leaf anatomical characters in Carex (Cyperaceae)

The anatomy and morphology of leaves in Carex have the potential to be taxonomically useful. However, studies on the variability of leaf characteristics in the genus are sparse. Researchers therefore risk using leaf anatomical characters without the knowledge of whether they are consistent in a species. We examined 22 qualitative and seven quantitative leaf anatomy characters from transverse leaf sections to test their consistency across 11 Carex spp. The characters were clearly described and primarily microscopic. Some characters were found to exhibit high levels of intraspecific variation, whereas other characters exhibited high levels of consistency in a species, including the shape of the leaf section, the density of papillae and the size of epidermal cells. Caution must be applied when choosing leaf anatomy to delimit taxa because of the intraspecific variability found in some characters, but sufficient numbers of invariant characters exist to provide useful taxonomic separation. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 172 , 371–384.     

Ferutinin promotes proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation in human amniotic fluid and dental pulp stem cells

AimsThe phytoestrogen Ferutinin plays an important role in prevention of osteoporosis caused by ovariectomy-induced estrogen deficiency in rats, but there is no evidence of its effect on osteoblastic differentiation in vitro. In this study we investigated the effect of Ferutinin on proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of two different human stem cells populations, one derived from the amniotic fluid (AFSCs) and the other from the dental pulp (DPSCs).Main methodsAFSCs and DPSCs were cultured in a differentiation medium for 14 or 21 days with or without the addition of Ferutinin at a concentration ranging from 10^? 11 to 10^? 4 M. 17β-Estradiol was used as a positive drug at 10^? 8 M. Cell proliferation and expression of specific osteoblast phenotype markers were analyzed.Key findingsMTT assay revealed that Ferutinin, at concentrations of 10^? 8 and 10^? 9 M, enhanced proliferation of both AFSCs and DPSCs after 72 h of exposure. Moreover, in both stem cell populations, Ferutinin treatment induced greater expression of the osteoblast phenotype markers osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), collagen I, RUNX-2 and osterix (OSX), increased calcium deposition and osteocalcin secretion in the culture medium compared to controls. These effects were more pronounced after 14 days of culture in both populations.SignificanceThe enhancing capabilities on proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation displayed by the phytoestrogen Ferutinin make this compound an interesting candidate to promote bone formation in vivo.     

Drosophila TRP channels and animal behavior

Multiple classes of cell surface receptors and ion channels participate in the detection of changes in environmental stimuli, and thereby influence animal behavior. Among the many classes of ion channels, Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) cation channels are notable in contributing to virtually every sensory modality, and in controlling a daunting array of behaviors. TRP channels appear to be conserved in all metazoan organisms including worms, insects and humans. Flies encode 13 TRPs, most of which are expressed and function in sensory neurons, and impact behaviors ranging from phototaxis to thermotaxis, gravitaxis, the avoidance of noxious tastants and smells and proprioception. Multiple diseases result from defects in TRPs, and flies provide an excellent animal model for dissecting the mechanisms underlying “TRPopathies.” Drosophila TRPs also function in the sensation of botanically derived insect repellents, and related TRPs in insect pests are potential targets for the development of improved repellents to combat insect-borne diseases.     

New ichnotaxon Megascolytinus zherikhini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from upper cretaceous deposits of mongolia

Gallery systems of Scolytinae on a petrified Araucaria trunk fragment from the Late Cretaceous of Gobi, Mongolia, similar to those of extant members of the supertribe Hylesininae, but exceptionally large (estimated body length of the beetle about 20 mm), are described as a new ichnotaxon, Megascolytinus zheriknini.     

Genome features and GC content in prokaryotic genomes in connection with environmental evolution

The GC content and genome size are integral genomic characteristics limiting potential range of licenses (environments) of prokaryotic taxa. In silico, associations of these characteristics and taxa deviating from the general trend are revealed. Relationships with ecology and early prokaryotic evolution are discussed.     

AVIAN NOMENCLATURAL ISSUES ARISING FROM THE PUBLICATION OF ROOKMAAKER'S THE ZOOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA 1650–1790

Clancey, P. A. & Brooke, R. K. 1990. Avian nomenclatural issues arising from the publication of Rook-maaker's The Zoological Exploration of Southern Africa 1650–1790. Ostrich 61:143-145.

Rookmaaker (1989) has drawn the attention of taxonomists to the existence of a range of long overlooked senior ornithological synonyms which, if adopted in terms of the Law of Priority, would result in changes to long established names. As such extensive changes of name are patently undesirable, we propose a course of action which would entail as little disruption as possible to current usage, and obviate the necessity for the submission of cases to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.     

COMPARISON OF THE DIET OF BREEDING AND NONBREEDING CAPE GANNETS MORUS CAPENSIS

Berruti, A. 1991. Comparison of the diet of breeding and nonbreeding Cape Gannets Morus capensis. Ostrich 62:8-12.

The effects of breeding status on the diet composition of Cape Gannets Morus capensis were tested at two colonies in the western Cape, South Africa. At both colonies, there were no significant differences in the species composition of the diet, but the mean energy content of regurgitations of breeders was significantly greater. Although the regurgitations of breeders were heavier and contained more fish at both colonies, only the number of fish per regurgitation from breeders at one colony was significantly greater. Birds feeding chicks at Malgas Island took significantly shorter fish than nonbreeders. The small effect of breeding status on prey species composition shows that temporal and geographical variation in prey availability is more important than breeding status in affecting diet cornposition of the Cape Gannet.     

OBSERVATIONS ON THE BREEDING OF THE WOOLLYNECKED STORK

Scott, J. A. 1975. Observations on the breeding of the Woollynecked Stork. Ostrich 46: 201–207.

Little is known about the breeding of the Woollynecked Stork Ciconia episcopus in Africa. This paper discusses breeding, adult and nestling behaviour, nests and sites. Seasonal movements are discussed briefly. Eight nests were studied during 1970 to 1974. At one nest incubation was established at 30 to 31 days and the fledging period 55 to 65 days. No feeding of the young was observed at any time, though one eight hour observation period was undertaken. Few mating displays were seen and none away from the nest.