A new species of Youngomyia Felt from Brazil and new morphological data on Youngomyia pouteriae Maia (Insecta,Diptera, Cecidomyiidae)

Youngomyia matogrossensis Proença & Maia a new species of Cecidomyiidae (Insecta: Diptera) that induces cylindrical hairy galls on leaves of Pouteria torta (Mart.) Radlk. (Sapotaceae) is herein described and illustrated (larvae, pupal exuviae, male and female). The galler, gall and host plant were collected at Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães, in the state of Mato Grosso (Brazil). New morphological data and photographs of pupal exuviae, male and female of Youngomyia pouteriae Maia, 2001 are also provided.     

Perianal structures in myrmecophilous subterranean aphids (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae) – Comparative morphology of trophobiotic organ with its first description in Lachninae

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light stereoscopic microscopy (LSM) were used for the first time to elucidate the external morphology of the so called “trophobiotic organ” on the end of abdomen of apterous viviparous females of six aphid species (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae), representatives of the myrmecophilous, subterranean aphids from the subfamilies Anoeciinae (Anoecia furcata), Eriosomatinae (Forda formicaria, Geoica utricularia, Tetraneura ulmi), and Lachninae (Protrama flavescens, Trama troglodytes). We examined and compared the external morphology in the parthenogenetic generation living on roots of deciduous plants. FE-SEM images based on HMDS preparation techniques revealed great similarity of perianal structures even between not closely related groups. Rectangular, vertically positioned anal plate, extremely shortened cauda and setae around the anus seem to be common features of these aphids. However, some differences in the number and length of setae, their arrangement and inclination of anal plate may be observed. The discussion focuses on the adaptive importance of such modifications, with respect to underground life mode and myrmecophily, but with reservations concerning living in galls by representatives of Eriosomatinae, which is hypothesized to be a factor driving the development of such modifications of perianal structures in this group of aphids.     

Sex-biased herbivory in Ephedra trifurca: the importance of sex-by-environment interactions

We examined patterns of herbivory in the dioecious desert shrub, Ephedra trifurca (Ephedraceae), along a small watershed in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. We documented significant (p=0.002) sexual dimorphism in densities of Lasioptera ephedrae and L. ephedricola (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), with male E. trifurca supporting higher densities than did females. Densities of gall midges varied significantly (p<0.001) among four sample populations of E. trifurca arrayed along the watershed and exhibited an inverse gradient with elevation. There was also a significant (p=0.006) sex-by-site interaction such that the degree of intersexual variation in gall densities decreased down the watershed. Variation in gall densities and intersexual variation in gall densities exhibited inverse trends with variation in soil water and inorganic nitrogen concentrations along the watershed.     

Wolbachia infection in six species of gall wasps and their parasitoids

Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria that are widely present in nematodes and arthropods and sometimes have a significant impact on the evolution, ecology, and biology of their hosts. The co-occurrence of Wolbachia within both Cynipid gall wasps and their parasitoids has rarely been studied. In this study, we report the occurrence of six species of gall wasps and 10 species of their parasitoids in central China. Wolbachia detection using the wsp gene showed that Wolbachia infected two species of gall wasps as well as their parasitoids, indicating that horizontal transmission of Wolbachia occurs between gall wasps and their parasitoids. Given that parasitoids will kill their hosts, Wolbachia may be horizontally transferred from gall wasps to their parasitoids. Using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis, five new strains of Wolbachia were identified, all of which belonged to supergroup A. The strains of Wolbachia that infected gall wasps were not the same as those that infected their parasitoids. This result indicated that Wolbachia may evolve independently in parasitoids after they have been transferred from the host gall wasps.     

Dispersal and foraging behaviour of Platygaster californica: hosts can't run, but they can hide

Abstract.  1. Host–parasitoid models often identify foraging behaviour and dispersal distance as important for system persistence.
2. Laboratory observations and field trials were used to characterise foraging behaviour and dispersal capability of Platygaster californica Ashmead (Platygasteridae), a parasitoid of the gall midge Rhopalomyia californica Felt (Cecidomyiidae).
3. Although foraging parasitoids meticulously searched plants in laboratory observations, none of the laboratory trials resulted in 100% parasitism, and the proportion of parasitism declined as midge egg density increased.
4. The field trials showed that the distribution of parasitism over distance from a central release point was hump-shaped, as predicted by a simple diffusion model. Mean parasitoid dispersal distance was 4.5 m, considerably farther than the 1.7 m mean midge dispersal found in previous work.
5. Although the parasitoid appears to search thoroughly for midge eggs and to disperse farther than the midge, the results of this study show how this host–parasitoid system may persist due to spatially variable incomplete parasitism.     

Density-dependent egg mortality in early stages of gall induction by the fruit gall midge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Asphondylia aucubae</Emphasis> Yukawa and Ohsaki

Density-dependent mortality has been considered a symptom of intraspecific competition. We examined the occurrence of such mortality in the early stages of gall induction by the gall midge Asphondylia aucubae Yukawa et Ohsaki (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Female midges deposit eggs into young fruit of the dioecious shrub Aucuba japonica Thunberg to induce gall formation. Each host fruit received 0–67 eggs (mean 18.5 eggs) from multiple females, whereas established galls each contained one to ten larvae. Midges suffered intense mortality (65–90%) at the egg stage. Egg mortality occurred even in fruit in which no larvae had hatched, suggesting that this mortality cannot be wholly attributed to larval interference. Egg mortality was affected by fruit size, i.e., resource capacity. Midges distributed more eggs in larger fruit. Egg mortality increased as the per-fruit density increased relative to fruit size. In contrast, the mortality of hatchlings was density-independent. Our results suggest that A. aucubae intensely compete for gall-induction substrates, which are spatiotemporally rare resources.     

Early subcellular responses of susceptible and resistant Vitis taxa to feeding by grape phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae

Species, varieties, and hybrids of Vitis are differently susceptible to feeding by the aphid Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch) (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae). The differing levels of susceptibility were examined in Vitis riparia × V. rupestris cv. C-3309, V. vinifera × V. labrusca cv. Weiβe Amerikaner, and V. vinifera cv. Portugieser Weiβherbst by characterizing early subcellular changes to aphid feeding. We examined the fifth and sixth layers of mesophyll parenchyma between 3 and 48 h after introducing neonate nymphs of D. vitifoliae on to those leaves. In the susceptible variety C-3309, activated and metaplasied cells appeared in 3–6 h of feeding by D. vitifoliae and developed into nutritive tissue in the next 24–48 h. On the contrary, cells of the resistant variety Portugieser Weiβherbst accumulated phenolic materials indicating a hypersensitive response; those of Weiβe Amerikaner showed a mixed response of developing a nutritive tissue and a concurrent accumulation of phenolic materials especially in cells away from the nutritive tissue, indicating that this hybrid could tolerate D. vitifoliae. Galls developed on the leaves of C-3309 in 21 days, whereas no gall development occurred on the leaves of Portugieser Weiβherbst and Weiβe Amerikaner. D. vitifoliae nymphs introduced on the leaves of Portugieser Weiβherbst died in 3–4 days, whereas on the leaves of Weiβe Amerikaner, nymphs lived up to 21 days. Thus early subcellular changes in leaf tissues determined the feeding activity of nymphs on leaves and the susceptibility of plants to insect feeding.

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Zusammenfassung  Bl?tter verschiedener Rebsorten reagieren unterschiedlich auf den Befall mit der Reblaus Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch). Hier wurde die Reaktion der Sorten Vitis riparia × V. rupestris cv. C-3309, V. vinifera × V. labrusca cv. Weiβe Amerikaner und V. vinifera cv. Portugieser Weiβherbst (kurz: C-3309, Weiβe Amerikaner und Portugieser Weiβherbst) verglichen, um die unterschiedliche Empfindlichkeit zu verstehen. Dazu wurden frühe subzellul?re Ver?nderungen der Blattgewebe in aseptischen Dualkulturen aus Vitis und D. vitifoliae charakterisiert. Da die Stechborsten der jungen Nymphen von D. vitifoliae bis in die fünfte oder sechste Mesophyllschicht von C-3309 eindringen, wurden Zellen dieser Schichten bei allen drei Rebsorten 3–48 Stunden nach Zugabe der Nymphen beobachtet. Bei der Sorte C-3309 erfolgte eine Differenzierung von aktivierten und metaplasierten Zellen 3–6 Stunden nach dem Befall. In den folgenden 24–48 Stunden entwickelten sich diese Zellen zu einem N?hrgewebe; somit erfolgte eine kompatible Reaktion. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigten die Zellen der Sorte Portugieser Weiβherbst eine hypersensitive Reaktion mit Akkumulation phenolischer Verbindungen. Zellen der Sorte Weiβe Amerikaner reagierten sowohl mit der Bildung von N?hrzellen als auch mit der Akkumulation phenolischer Verbindungen ausserhalb der N?hrzellen; dies ist ein Zeichen für Toleranz. Die Entwicklung typischer Gallen erfolgte in 21 Tagen ausschliesslich an den Bl?ttern der Sorte C-3309. An Portugieser Weiβherbst starben die Nymphen innerhalb von 3–4 Tagen ab, an Bl?ttern von Weiβe Amerikaner überlebten sie bis zum 21 Tag, ohne dass eine Gallbildung erfolgte. Die frühen subzellul?re Ver?nderungen der Blattgewebe bestimmten somit die Frasst?tigkeit der Nymphen und die Empfindlichkeit der drei Rebsorten auf den Insektenbefall.

     

The advantage of attending ants and gall aggregation for the gall wasp Andricus symbioticus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)

Summary Gall clusters of Andricus symbioticus secrete a sweet and sticky food attractive to ants. An ant exclusion experiment demonstrated the selective advantage of attending ants and gall aggregation for A. symbioticus. This gall wasp interacts with the gall-attending ants only through the host plant. Evolution of this symbiotic relationship seems to be associated with gall aggregation.Contribution from Laboratory of Entomology Kyoto Prefectural University, No. 249     

Gall formation by a spittlebug, Aphelaenus nigripectus (Aphrophoridae: Auchenorrhyncha; Homoptera)

Few spittlebug species are gall formers, but the Homoptera as a whole contain many gall‐forming species in many families. Nymphs of a spittlebug, Aphelaenus nigripectus (Aphrophoridae, Auchenorrhyncha, Homoptera), were observed to induce leaf‐roll galls on cherry trees (Prunus speciosa, P. × yedoensis and P. pendula cv. pendula (Rosaceae)) in late April in Kyoto, Japan. Aphelaenus nigripectus nymphs aggregated on the ventral surface of the young leaves, fed on the ventral (abaxial) midvein, and excreted masses of froth in the rolled leaves. In a field experiment, it was discovered that feeding of A. nigripectus nymphs can induce rolling of the cherry leaves, and that the rolled leaves may provide protection from desiccation to A. nigripectus nymphs. This is the first record of gall‐forming habits in Japanese spittlebugs.     

Molecular mapping of gene Gm-6(t) which confers resistance against four biotypes of Asian rice gall midge in China

The Chinese rice cultivar Duokang #1 carries a single dominant gene Gm-6(t) that confers resistance to the four biotypes of Asian rice gall midge (Orseolia oryzae Wood-Mason) known in China. Bulked segregant analysis was performed on progeny of a cross between Duokang #1 and the gall midge-susceptible cultivar Feng Yin Zhan using the RAPD method. The RAPD marker OPM06₍₁₄₀₀₎ amplified a locus linked to Gm-6(t). The locus was subsequently mapped to rice chromosome 4 in a region flanked by cloned RFLP markers RG214 and RG163. Fine mapping of Gm-6(t) revealed that markers RG214 and RG476 flanked the gene at distances of 1.0 and 2.3 cM, respectively. Another gall midge resistance gene, Gm-2, mapped previously to chromosome 4, is located about 16 cM from Gm-6(t), to judge by data from a segregating population derived from a cross between Duokang #1 and the Indian cultivar Phalguna that carries Gm-2. We developed a PCR-based marker-assisted selection kit for transfer of the Gm-6(t) gene into Ming Hui 63 and IR50404, two parental lines commonly used in hybrid rice production in China. The kit contains PCR primer pairs based on the terminal sequences of the RG214 and RG476 clones. Polymorphism between Duokang #1 and the hybrid parental lines was found at these markers after digestion of the PCR products with specific restriction endonucleases. The kit will accelerate introduction of gall midge resistance into hybrid rice in China. Received: 18 May 2000 / Accepted: 9 March 2001