Evaluation of Resistance Pattern to Fenpyroximate and Pyridaben in Tetranychus Urticae collected from Ggreenhouses and Apple Orchards using Lethal Concentration-slope Relationship

This study aimed to monitor the present and future developments of the resistance of Tetranychus urticae Koch to fenpyroximate and pyridaben, using the relationship of the LC₅₀ and slope of the concentration-mortality line in a probit model, for the provision of reliable resistance management tactics. Tetranychus urticae populations were collected from 16 commercial greenhouses, where various crops were cultivated, as well as from 10 apple orchards throughout Korea. The resistance to fenpyroximate and pyridaben of each population was estimated by calculating the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀), resistance ratio (RR) and slope of the concentration-mortality regression. Most of the greenhouse populations exhibited moderate levels of resistance, whereas the apple orchard populations showed only low levels, indicating that T. urticae populations in greenhouses were more strongly selected than those in apple orchards. Four population groups were established based on either the habitats (greenhouse and apple orchard) or acaricides (fenpyroximate and pyridaben). To test the hypothesis, “the slope is greatest at low and high levels of resistance,” the slopes were regressed as a function of the LC₅₀, and fitted to a polynomial regression. The polynomial regression model explained this relationship well for the four population groups (p < 0.05), indicating that the development of resistance toward fenpyroximate or pyridaben was consistent with the gradient. A laboratory selection study agreed with the results from both acaricide field populations. These results suggest that the gradient was a good indicator of the susceptibility of T. urticae to genetic variations, which was related to the LC₅₀. The application of these findings is also discussed in relation to the resistance management of T. urticae.     

Microstructure of the silk apparatus of the comb-footed spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum (Araneae: Theridiidae)

The microstructural organization of the silk‐spinning apparatus of the comb‐footed spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum, was observed by using a field emission scanning electron microscope. The silk glands of the spider were classified into six groups: ampullate, tubuliform, flagelliform, aggregate, aciniform and pyriform glands. Among these, three types of silk glands, the ampullate, pyriform and aciniform glands, occur only in female spiders. One (adult) or two (subadult) pairs of major ampullate glands send secretory ductules to the anterior spinnerets, and another pair of minor ampullate glands supply the median spinnerets. Three pairs of tubuliform glands in female spiders send secretory ductules to the median (one pair) and posterior (two pairs) spinnerets. Furthermore, one pair of flagelliform glands and two pairs of aggregate glands together supply the posterior spinnerets, and form a characteristic spinning structure known as a “triad” spigot. In male spiders, this combined apparatus of the flagelliform and the aggregate spigots for capture thread production is not apparent, instead only a non‐functional remnant of this triad spigot is present. In addition, the aciniform glands send ductules to the median (two pairs) and the posterior spinnerets (12–16 pairs), and the pyriform glands feed silk into the anterior spinnerets (90–100 pairs in females and 45–50 pairs in males).     

Regeneration and autotomy exhibited by the Black Widow spider,Latrodectus variolus walckenaer

Summary Crustaceans, insects and to a lesser degree arachnids have been employed in regeneration studies. Amputation and ligation of the legs was used to determine occurring in a Black Widow spider complied with the developmental gradient model of regeneration. The occurrence of autotomy in this species was also documented. Amputation indicated the most proximal point from which regeneration of the leg could occur was the femoral mid-point. Amputation proximal to that area did not result in leg regeneration. Autotomy following amputation was not observed. Ligation of the legs resulted in autotomy when applied at and proximal to the mid-point of the tibia, increasing in frequency as more proximal segments were ligated. Autotomy always occurred at the trochanter-coxa joint. Autotomized legs did not regenerate. The regeneration observed complied with the developmental gradient model.     

Allelic Combinations of Promoter and Exon 2 in <Emphasis Type="Italic">DQB1</Emphasis> in Dogs and Wolves

Polymorphism of PBRs of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes is well recognized, but the polymorphism also extends to proximal promoter regions. Examining DQB1 variability in dogs and wolves, we identified 7 promoter variants and 13 exon 2 alleles among 89 dogs, including a previously unknown DQB1 exon 2 allele, and 8 promoter variants and 9 exon 2 alleles among 85 wolves. As expected from previous studies and from a close chromosomal location, strong linkage disequilibrium was demonstrated in both wolves and dogs by having significantly fewer promoter/exon 2 combinations than expected from simulations of randomized data sets. Interestingly, we noticed weaker haplotypic associations in dogs than in wolves. Dogs had twice as many promoter/exon 2 combinations as wolves and an almost 2-fold difference in the number of exon 2 alleles per promoter variant. This difference was not caused by an admixture of breeds in our group of dogs because the high ratio of observed to expected number of haplotypes persisted within a single dog breed, the German Shepherd. Ewens-Watterson tests indicated that both the promoter and exon 2 are under the balancing selection, and both regions appear to be more recently derived in the dog than in the wolf. Hence, although reasons for the differences are unknown, they may relate to altered selection pressure on patterns of expression. Deviations from normal MHC expression patterns have been associated with autoimmune diseases, which occur frequently in several dog breeds. Further knowledge about these deviations may help us understand the source of such diseases.     

黄河下游农业景观中景观结构和生境特征对林表生蜘蛛多样性的影响

以捕食者来进行"自上而下"的生物防治是有效而经济的。蜘蛛作为农业景观中重要的捕食者,在不同的尺度上研究景观和环境要素对其多样性的影响是十分必要的。目前,有关黄河下游农业景观研究中,关于蜘蛛多样性的研究报道较少。针对黄河下游农业景观中林地生境的蜘蛛多样性展开研究,于2014年4月和7月采用陷阱法调查林地生境中蜘蛛种群的分布及其多样性,分析了对蜘蛛多样性影响最强烈的环境因子,以及不同蜘蛛种群对草本植被盖度的不同选择。结果发现:研究区林地生境内蜘蛛的优势种群为星豹蛛(Pardosa astrigena)、单带希托蛛(Hitobia unifascigera)、类水狼蛛(Pirata piratoides)和陕西近狂蛛(Drassyllus shaanxiensis)。不同尺度上的景观要素和环境要素(解释变量)对蜘蛛多样性的影响存在差异,且在不同的季节均为100 m尺度上的解释变量对蜘蛛多样性的影响最大。在100 m尺度上,不同的解释变量对蜘蛛多样性的影响也不同,春季林地中的植被盖度对其影响最大,路距和林地面积也有较为明显的影响,夏季林地中的植被高度和植被盖度对其影响最大,其余解释变量的影响则极小。不同的蜘蛛种群对草本植被盖度大小的偏好不同,多数蜘蛛偏好高的植被盖度,如星豹蛛和白纹舞蛛(Alopecosa albostriata)等,也有部分蜘蛛种群偏好中、低植被盖度,如赫氏花蟹蛛(Xysticus hedini Schenkel)、白斑猎蛛(Evarcha albaria)和皮雄红螯蛛(Araneae)。研究表明,黄河下游农业景观林地生境中,不同的景观要素和环境要素在不同尺度和不同季节上对蜘蛛多样性的影响具有显著的差异,草本植被对蜘蛛多样性的影响极为显著。因此在研究区内合理规划林地的建设,加强草本植被的保护,提高林地捕食者的数量,有助于生物防治工作的发展和生物多样性保护工作的进行。     

Habitat,diet, and activity patterns of free-ranging woolly spider monkeys (Brachyteles arachnoides E. Geoffroy 1806)

Results of a 10-month study of the ecology and behavior of free- ranging woolly spider monkeys (Brachyteles arachnoides)in Brazil show that these animals are strongly folivorous. Leaf-eating accounted for more than 50% of the total feeding time in all samples but one and accounted for more than 80% of the total feeding time in three samples. Mature foliage was routinely eaten. Woolly spider monkeys consistently spend more than 50% of each day quietly resting and sleeping. Animals travel little except when actively feeding and show low levels of social interaction. Such an activity profile suggests that woolly spider monkeys may often be living near the limits of their energetic resources. The social organization of the species is unusual for a folivorous primate in that small groups of females and associated immature animals confine their activities to discrete home-range areas, whereas males are itinerant, traveling over the home ranges of various female groups. Animals sharing a common home-range area show no permanent daily pattern of association other than that of mother-dependent offspring. Foraging alone or with few conspecifics should maximize each individual’s returns from foraging by minimizing the day range that must be traveled each day to locate foods while simultaneously lowering interference competition for higher-quality dietary resources.     

New species of the myrmecophile Polyplocotes Westwood (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) from South Australia

Six new species of the Australian myrmecophilous ptinid genus Polyplocotes are described from South Australia. Three are from the deserts of central Australia, one from the Franklin Islands in the Great Australian Bight, one from Eyre Peninsula and one from the Riverland region. Morphologically, the majority of these new species are conventional Polyplocotes , but two are less typical. The characters uniting the genus are explored in the discussion, and comparisons are made to related genera. Although the six new species described here have not been observed in the field, the species of this genus are known to be myrmecophilous, and ant – beetle interactions similar to those seen in other spider beetles might occur between these new species and their host ants.     

中国稻田蜘蛛群落结构研究初报

通过近３０ａ的调查研究，中国稻田蜘蛛群落的物种组成，经不断分类鉴定，有２２科、１０８属、３７５种，其中已定出种名的有３３７种，未定种名的３８种。２２科中有优势科８个，优势属１３个，及１７个优势种，但优势科中不一定都含有优势属或优势种。