A revision of the genus Homoeogenus Waterhouse with notes on the immature stages of H.laurae sp.n. (Coleoptera: Psephenidae: Eubriinae)

Abstract. The genus Homoeogenus Waterhouse is revised. H.punctatum Waterhouse is redescribed, and two new species, H.chinensis sp.n. (Szechuan) and H.laurae sp.n. (Taiwan), are described. The morphology of the immature stages and the ecology of H.laurae are described. A key to the Oriental genera of Eubriinae is included.     

心功能不全大鼠心脏α_1－肾上腺素受体亚型的变化

本文通过主动脉和左肾动脉缩窄复制心功能不全大鼠模型，并采用放射配基结合实验和半定量逆转录－聚合酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ），从蛋白质和基因转录水平上观察在心功能不全时大鼠心脏α１－肾上腺素受体三种亚型的改变。Ｓｃａｔｃｈａｒｄ分析结果显示，在心功能不全组与对照组，大鼠心脏组织１２５Ｉ－ＢＥ与α１－肾上腺素受体结合的亲和性（２２９±３２与１９５±１５ｐｍｏｌ／Ｌ）和数量（１０２±１２与９６±１７ｆｍｏｌ／ｍｇ）均无显著差异。但ＷＢ４１０１对１２５Ｉ－ＢＥ的竞争性抑制实验显示在心功能不全组高亲和性位点所占百分比较对照组显著增高（５１±７％与２２±５％）。ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ的结果显示，在心功能不全大鼠心脏α１Ａ－ＡＲ的ｍＲＮＡ水平高于对照组，但α１Ｂ－ＡＲ的ｍＲＮＡ水平低于对照组，而α１Ｄ－ＡＲ的ｍＲＮＡ水平在两组之间没有显著差异。综合上述结果可知，在心功能不全大鼠，心脏α１Ａ－ＡＲ增加，α１Ｂ－ＡＲ下降，而α１Ｄ－ＡＲ则没有显著改变。     

Phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships of the Polypedates leucomystax complex (Amphibia)

Kuraishi, N., Matsui, M., Hamidy, A., Belabut, D. M., Ahmad, N., Panha, S., Sudin, A., Yong, H. S., Jiang, J.‐P., Ota, H., Thong, H. T. & Nishikawa, K. (2012). Phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships of the Polypedates leucomystax complex (Amphibia). —Zoologica Scripta, 42, 54–70. We investigated the phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships and estimated the history of species diversification and biogeography in the Asian rhacophorid genus Polypedates, focusing on the Polypedates leucomystax complex, whose members are notoriously difficult to classify. We first estimated phylogenetic relationships within the complex using 2005‐bp sequences of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA, tRNA^val and 16S rRNA genes with maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian methods of inference. Polypedates exhibits well‐supported monophyly, with distinct clades for P. otilophus, P. colletti, P. maculatus and the P. leucomystax complex, consisting of P. macrotis, and the Malay (Polypedates sp. from Malay Peninsula), North China (P. braueri), South China (Polypedates cf. mutus 1), Indochina (P. megacephalus), Sunda (P. leucomystax) and Laos (Polypedates cf. mutus 2) clades. In a subsequent phylogenetic analysis of 4696‐bp sequences of the nuclear brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), sodium/calcium exchanger 1 (NCX), POMC, Rag‐1, Rhod and Tyr genes using Bayesian methods of inference, all of these clades were recovered. Some clades of the P. leucomystax complex occur sympatrically and show high genetic diversity or morphological and acoustic differences. Similar tendencies were observed between some allopatric clades. Therefore, we consider each of these groups to be distinct specifically. We also estimated absolute divergence times within the genus using Bayesian methods. Divergence in Polypedates began with the divergence of a primarily South Asian Clade from the common ancestor of secondarily South‐East Asia P. maculatus and South‐East Asian members. The divergence between the latter occurred much later. The P. leucomystax complex diverged in the Pliocene, much later than other congeners, and seems to have been greatly affected by human‐related dispersal after the Pleistocene.     

中国原白蚁属及两新种记述(等翅目:原白蚁科)

N.Holmgren(1911)首先设立Hodotermopsis属,并发表了在越南(河内)采的H.sjostedti。次年又报道在日本(奄美大岛)采的另一种H.japonicus.S.Hozawa(1915)又对H.japonicus的兵蚁、工蚁作了详细描述。Teiso Esaki(1956)首次采到并补充了H.japonicus的雄虫描述。而H.sjosiedti至今未见进一步的报道。     

The role of biofoam in shielding spittlebug nymphs (Insecta,Hemiptera, Cercopidae) against bright light

1. Biofoam in spittlebugs has traditionally been seen as a defence against predation and a microclimate that reduces the risks of overheating and drying out. This study addresses the possible role of the foam as a light attenuator. 2. Nymphs exhibit higher mortalities when reared under brighter light (1800–2000 lux) than under less bright light (600–800 lux). At all developmental stages, photoavoidance is strongest when the nymphs are depleted of foam covers. First‐ and second‐instar nymphs appear to be the most vulnerable to exposures by bright light. 3. Smaller bubbles are more effective as light attenuators than are larger ones. As younger instars possess smaller canals from which bubbles are released and, furthermore, exhibit higher concentrations of proteins in bubble liquid, they can produce smaller‐sized bubbles and their foams are more effective at reducing light than are those of older nymphs. 4. The findings of this study show that most of the visible and UV radiation is reflected by the foam: transmittance of visible light was 15% at 600 nm and 12% at 350 nm. 5. These results demonstrate that spittlebug foam also possesses properties that render it an effective barrier against potentially damaging solar radiation.     

A new tropiduchid planthopper genus and species from China with descriptions of in copula genitalic structures (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)

Abstract The new planthopper taxon, Garumnella bella gen.n. , sp.n. , from Xizang, China, is described and illustrated, including external morphology of adult and eggs and structures of the male and female genitalia. The new genus is compared with Garumna Melichar and Paragarumna Muir, resulting in Paragarumna ( syn.n. ) being placed as a junior synonym of Garumna, with two new combinations, i.e. Garumna pseudolepida (Muir) comb.n. and Garumna melichari Baker comb.rev. New locality records for Garumna species are given. The morphology of the genitalia and egg of a copulating pair of the new genus is investigated. The female has a ventrally sclerotized posterior vagina forming a torsion groove, an unusual long membranous anterior vagina and an enlarged common oviduct. During copulation both the aedeagus and the torsion groove appear tightly interlocked, which may help to maintain the copulatory position. The aedeagus is observed in the bursa copulatrix.