Habitat expansion of an exotic lace bug, Corythucha marmorata (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Tingidae), on the Kii Peninsula and Shikoku Island in western Japan

Habitat expansion of an exotic lace bug Corythucha marmorata (Uhler) was observed on the Kii Peninsula in 2003–2004, and on Shikoku Island between 2004 and 2007. The bug was first sighted in Nishinomiya City in Hyogo Prefecture in 2000, and then further south in central Kii Peninsula in 2003 before reaching the southern tip of the peninsula by 2004. The bug was first observed in the Tokushima and Ehime Prefectures of Shikoku Island in 2004, after which the range expanded and extended across the entire island by 2007. In this study, six wild Asteraceae species were identified as the host plants to the lace bug.     

Ophioglossaceae: a hypothetical archetype for the angiosperm carpel

KATO, M., 1990.Ophioglossaceae: a hypothetical archetype for the angiosperm carpel. In the light of a recently proposed phylogenetic position of Ophioglossaceae as living progymnosperms, a new archetype model for the angiosperm carpel is proposed. The three-dimensional construction of ophioglossoid fertile leaves with epiphyllous sporophores may be comparable to angiosperm carpels with adaxial ovules. The orientation of erect sporangia on young sporophores dorsiventrally facing the trophophores resembles that of anatropous ovuleS. Glossopterid fructifications may be interpreted as having the same construction as ophioglossoid leaveS. In the present hypothesis, the adaxial position of the ovules arose prior to the evolutionary process leading from gymnospermy to angiospermy. Previous hypotheses involving origins from Caytonia and Glossopteris are criticized.     

Spatial variability and major controlling factors of CO2 sink strength in Asian terrestrial ecosystems: evidence from eddy covariance data

Asian terrestrial ecosystems cover an extensive area characterized by a large variety in climates and ecosystem properties. The observations of ecosystem CO₂ flux in this area are increasing both in duration and spatial density, but no synthesis has yet been conducted. We surveyed CO₂ flux observation data obtained by eddy covariance methods at 49 sites in terrestrial Asia. The measurements at most sites (44 of 49) began after 2000. The net ecosystem uptake of CO₂ (NEE) varied greatly among sites and years and averaged −132.6±73.7, −250.1±206.1, and −180.1±361.7 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹, in boreal, temperate, and tropical Asia, respectively, and the coefficient of variation among sites increased from boreal to tropical Asia. The site-averaged annual NEE was correlated linearly with the mean annual temperature (T_air) and also correlated logarithmically with the precipitation. Multiple regression analysis and stepwise analysis indicated that photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and T_air were the most significant predictors of the annual NEE. The study results suggest that Asian terrestrial ecosystems are currently significant net CO₂ sinks and that the sink strength is largely controlled by temperature, moisture, and light conditions.     

MAINTENANCE OF PHENOTYPIC PROPERTIES BY CHONDROCYTES CULTURED IN SUSPENSION*

Sternal chondrocytes obtained from 13-day-old chick embryos could be cultured in suspension without any mechanical agitation for 8 weeks. The cells in suspension retained all characteristics of chondrocytes when examined from morphological, histochemical and biochemical points of view. The floating cells were round in shape, rich in Golgi apparatus-associated vesicles. Each cell was covered with a thin coat of matrix showing metachromasia when stained with toluidine blue. Autoradiographic studies suggested an active synthesis of proteochondroitin sulfates by the individual floating cells. The biochemical analyses revealed that the floating cells continued to synthesize type H proteochondroitin sulfate and type II collagen, both of which are known to be characteristic products of differentiated chondrocytes.     

Role of photoperiod and temperature in seasonal morph determination of the butterfly Eurema hecabe

ABSTRACT. Environmental cues affecting seasonal morph determination of the pierid butterfly Eurema hecabe L. were examined in laboratory experiments and in the field. A sexual difference exists in the photoperiodic response for seasonal morph determination: in short days at 25C the proportion of the autumn morph is higher in females than in males, and as the rearing temperature is decreased the proportion of autumn morphs increases in both sexes. A 5C drop in temperature during the final larval stadium induces 100% autumn morph production in short-day animals. This increase in autumn morph production induced by temperature decrease explains the seasonal morph change of this butterfly occurring in early autumn in the field. The role of this sex-linked photoperiodic response is discussed as a seasonal strategy of reproduction.     

Wolbachia‐induced feminisation newly found in Eurema hecabe,a sibling species of Eurema mandarina (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

1. Complete feminisation of genetic males into functional females, a unique case among insects, is known in Eurema mandarina (former Eurema hecabe Y type) that are infected with two strains of Wolbachia, wCI^Em and wFem^Em. 2. Here, we newly found that a proportion of wild‐caught E. hecabe (former E. hecabe B type) produced only female offspring. Cytogenetic observations indicated that individuals of E. hecabe displaying the all‐female trait were genetically male (i.e. feminisation). 3. Multilocus sequence typing analyses demonstrated that the feminised individuals of E. hecabe were infected with two Wolbachia strains, wCI^Eh and wFem^Eh, that were indistinguishable from wCI^Em and wFem^Em, respectively. 4. Even identical strains of Wolbachia can be regulated differently depending on the host genetic background. Therefore, we compared the infection densities and vertical transmission efficiencies of Wolbachia between feminised E. mandarina and E. hecabe, but detected no significant differences in these traits. 5. The possible routes by which the two Wolbachia strains have transferred between E. mandarina and E. hecabe are discussed.     

Removal and subsequent ingestion of rivals' semen during copulation in a tree cricket

ABSTRACT. A novel combination of adaptations resulting from sperm competition is demonstrated for the tree cricket Truljalia hibinonis (Matsumura) (Podoscirtinae: Gryllidae: Orthoptera). 87.5% of the semen of previous males is displaced onto the penis of the copulating male and is removed at the end of copulation. Semen thus removed is ingested during post-copulatory oro-genital grooming. No overt morphological adaptations for sperm removal were observed and, on the basis of anatomical evidence, it is suggested that rivals' semen is flushed out of the female?s sperm storage organ by the semen of the last male.