Spatial stratification of host-seeking Diptera in boreal forests of northern Europe

The stratification of haematophagous Diptera was assessed in two boreal forests in northern Sweden by placing traps baited with carbon dioxide at 1.5 m, 5.0 m and 10.0 m above the ground. More than 40 000 specimens were captured, including 617 biting midges (Ceratopogonidae), 4029 mosquitoes (Culicidae) and 36 092 black flies (Simuliidae). Catches at the various trap heights reflected the general vertical distribution of the preferred hosts, with mammalophilic flies predominating (68.6%) in catches at 1.5 m and ornithophilic flies (42.4%) in catches at 10.0 m; however, most flies that use host birds at ground level were caught in the lowest traps (e.g. 85.1% of Simulium annulus were collected at 1.5 m). Within-species variation in vertical patterns between forests suggests plasticity in responses to environmental factors such as vegetative structure.     

Interacting effects of aromatic plants and female age on nest-dwelling ectoparasites and blood-sucking flies in avian nests

Some avian species incorporate aromatic plants to their nests. The "nest protection hypothesis", which posits that volatile secondary compounds contained in these plants may have antiparasite properties, has not received full support. All previous tests of this hypothesis have only considered effects on nest-dwelling ectoparasites, but not on blood-sucking flies. The "drug hypothesis" posits that aromatic plants may stimulate nestling immune system, development, or condition. We tested these hypotheses experimentally in wild blue tits, Cyanistes caeruleus, a species that adds aromatic plants to their nests. We supplemented aromatic plants to half of a sample of nests, while adding grass to the other half of nests. We quantified abundance of two groups of blood-sucking flies (blackflies and biting midges) at two different stages of the reproductive period, and abundance of three nest-dwelling ectoparasites (fleas, mites, and blowflies). Experimental supplementation of aromatic plants reduced abundance of fleas only in nests of yearling females and not in nests of older females. Blackflies and biting midges were both more numerous in nests of yearling females than in nests of older females. Mass of aromatic plants added by females was negatively related with abundance of fleas in control nests but not in experimental nests supplied with aromatic plants. Mass of plants added by females was also positively related with abundance of blackflies during the nestling stage. Finally, aromatic plants did not affect nestling growth or immune responses. We conclude that several factors such as female experience and their ability to add plants to the nest interact to explain effects of aromatic plants on different parasites.     

海南霸王岭发现库蠓属二新种(双翅目:蠓科)

2009年在海南霸王岭(19.0°N,109.0°E)的昆虫调查采集中,采获许多蠓类,经分类研究,发现其中有二种库蠓新种,分别命名为霸王岭库蠓Culicoides bawanglingensis Yu,Wang and Chen,sp.nov.和曲囊库蠓Culicoides reduncutheca Yu,Wang and Tan,sp.nov.。这2种库蠓属新种的模式标本珍藏于医学昆虫标本馆(北京丰台东大街20号,100071)。     

四川省毛蠓属二新种：双翅目：蠓科

本文报导采自四川省的毛蠓二新种,即西部毛蠓Ｄ．ｏｃｃａｓｕｓ,ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ。和泸定毛蠓Ｄ．ｌｕｄｉｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ,ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ。新种的模式标本保存在北京医学昆虫标本馆。     

中国西南地区蠛蠓属四新种描述（双翅目：蠓科）

本文描述了采自中国西南地区的蠛蠓属Ｌａｓｉｏｈｅｌｅａ４新种,分别是采自四川的细小蠛蠓Ｌ．ｐａｒｖｉｔａｓｓｐ．ｎｏｖ,竹林蠛蠓Ｌ．ｂｏｍｂｕｓａ,ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ采自云南的山栖蠛蠓Ｌ．ｏｒｅｉｔａ,ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．及采自西藏的孟氏蠛蠓Ｌ．ｍｅｎｇｉ,ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ。模式标本保存于北京医学昆虫标本馆。     

中国广西裸蠓二新种(双翅目:蠓科)(英文)

1985年在广西发现裸蠓属Atrichopogon二新种,分别命名为冠毛裸蠓A.cristatussp．nov,采自靖西龙邦;细瘦裸蠓A.gracilissp．nov,采自龙州。     

中国山东省铗蠓属小蠓亚属一新种(双翅目:蠓科)(英文)

1987年9月11日,在山东威海市郊采获铗蠓属小蠓亚属一新种,命名为威海铗蠓。该新种模式标本收藏于军事医学科学院医学昆虫标本馆。     

TWO NEW SPECIES OF ATRICHOPOGON (DIPTERA:CERATOPOGONIDAE) FROM GUANGXI, CHINA

Abstract  Two new species of the genus Atrichopogon from Guangxi, China, A. cristatus sp. nov. and A. gracilis sp. nov. are described.     

A NEW SPECIES OF FORCIPOMYIA (MICROHELEA) FROM SHANDONG PROVINCE, CHINA (DIPTERA:CERATOPOGONIDAE)

Abstract  This paper reports a new species of Forcipomyia ( Microhelea ) weihaiensis from Weihai City, Shandong Province, China. The types of the new species are deposited in the Medical Ento mology Collection Gallery. Beijing, 100071, China.