<Emphasis Type="Italic">Wolbachia</Emphasis>-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility in Japanese populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus urticae</Emphasis> (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia (alpha Proteobacteria) induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in many arthropod species, including spider mites, but not all Wolbachia cause CI. In spider mites CI becomes apparent by a reduced egg hatchability and a lower daughter:son ratio: CI in haplodiploid organisms in general was expected to produce all-male offspring or a male-biased sex ratio without any death of eggs. In a previous study of Japanese populations of Tetranychus urticae, two out of three green-form populations tested were infected with non-CI Wolbachia strains, whereas none of six red-form populations harbored Wolbachia. As the survey of Wolbachia infection in T. urticae is still fragmentary in Japan, we checked Wolbachia infection in thirty green-form populations and 29 red-form populations collected from a wide range of Japanese islands. For Wolbachia-infected populations, we tested the effects of Wolbachia on the reproductive traits and determined the phylogenetic relationships of the different strains of Wolbachia. All but one green-form populations were infected with Wolbachia and all strains belonged to the subgroup Ori when the wsp gene was used to determine the phylogenetic relationships of different strains of Wolbachia. Six out of 29 red-form populations harbored Wolbachia and the infected strains belonged to the subgroups Ori and Bugs. Twenty-four of 29 infected green-form populations and five of six infected red-form populations induced CI among the hosts. Thus, CI-Wolbachia strains are widespread in Japan, and no geographical trend was observed in the CI-Wolbachia. Although three red-form populations harbored other intracellular bacteria Cardinium, they did not affect host reproduction.     

帚状漏斗蛛模式标本的再研究(蜘蛛目:漏斗蛛科)

本文重新描述了保存于湖南省生物研究所的帚状漏斗蛛Agelena scopulata Wang, 1991的模式标本,并提供了鉴别特征及生殖器官形态结构图。     

Antagonistic effects of the endophytic fungus Meira geulakonigii on the citrus rust mite Phyllocoptruta oleivora

AIMS: The fungus Meira geulakonigii has been shown to reduce populations of citrus rust mite (CRM; Phyllocoptruta oleivora) on citrus leaves and fruits, in both the field and laboratory. However, attempts to isolate the fungus from leaves and fruits have been unsuccessful. The aims of this study were therefore to determine whether M. geulakonigii is a citrus endophyte, and to assess possible mechanisms involved in its mite-antagonist activity. METHODS AND RESULTS: A quantitative real-time PCR and regular PCR approaches were developed to detect M. geulakonigii in both the field and laboratory. The fungus was detected throughout. Different methods revealed that M. geulakonigii is an endophyte, which colonizes both the peel of grapefruits. Applications of conidia protected the grapefruits against CRM, and fungal secretions extracted from growth media caused 100% CRM mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Meira geulakonigii is a beneficial endophyte of grapefruits that colonizes the fruit's peel, and protects it from CRM. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Findings from this study demonstrate the endophytic nature of M. geulakonigii in its interaction with grapefruits. In addition, a molecular approach was developed to specifically detect the fungus inside the grapefruit peel. This approach can be used to assess the natural occurrence of M. geulakonigii in grapefruit.     

Molecular detection of various rickettsiae in mites (acari: trombiculidae) in southern Jeolla Province, Korea

This study revealed the presence of various rickettsial agents in mites from wild rodents collected in Southern Jeolla Province, Korea, by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis of a partial citrate synthase and rickettsia outer membrane protein B genes. Rickettsial agents closely related to the Rickettsia species TwKM02, R. australis, and the Rickettsia species Cf15 were successfully identified in this study, for the first time in Korea, and R. japonica, R. akari, R. conorii, R. felis, and R. typhi were also detected, as previously described. The data presented in this paper extend knowledge on the geographic distribution of SFG rickettsiae in eastern Asia and it may necessary to consider the role of mites in rickettsial transmission.     

Assaying three new fungi against citrus mites in the laboratory,and a field trial

The Basidiomycotine fungi Meira geulakonigii, Meira argovae and Acaromyces ingoldii were assayed in the laboratory against five species of herbivorous mites: Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Eriophyidae), Panonychus citri, Eutetranychus orientalis, Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus cinnabarinus (all four Tetranychidae). All fungi caused significantly high mortality rates (as compared to controls) after 14 days, some after 1 week. Phyllocoptruta oleivora was the most susceptible, showing >80% mortality even after 1 week. In a field trial, grapefruits sprayed either once a month or once a season with M. geulakonigii had significantly fewer P. oleivora and less damage than unsprayed fruit. These results suggest that M. geulakonigii may protect grapefruits against the injurious P. oleivora.     

皱胸尖裂姬蜂对机敏异漏斗蛛的拟寄生行为及其发育特征

寄生蜂是蜘蛛的主要天敌类群之一,但寄生于漏斗蛛的寄生蜂种类较少,且缺乏相关寄生蜂的详细研究报道。我们研究了皱胸尖裂姬蜂(Oxyrrhexis rugosus)对机敏异漏斗蛛(Allagelena difficilis)的拟寄生,旨在揭示蜘蛛寄生蜂的拟寄生行为及其发育特征。显微镜下观察了12头机敏异漏斗蛛头胸部背面的皱胸尖裂姬蜂卵,并以均值法统计了皱胸尖裂姬蜂各发育阶段的历期,进一步观察了皱胸尖裂姬蜂寄生机敏异漏斗蛛后对寄主的影响。交配后的雌性皱胸尖裂姬蜂经过寻找、降落、蛰刺蛛体后伺机将卵产在机敏异漏斗蛛的头胸部背面后部;孵化后的皱胸尖裂姬蜂幼虫头部形成一个特殊摄食导管,通过摄食导管获取蛛体的营养;幼虫随着龄期增长,体色由浅变深,历期约10 d;幼虫老熟后在蛛网的漏斗状管道内结茧化蛹,蛹期约为12 d;成体雌、雄蜂寿命约为11 d,皱胸尖裂姬蜂的平均生活史周期约为33 d。皱胸尖裂姬蜂寄生后对寄主蜘蛛的行为和生活状态造成了严重的影响,随着幼虫龄期增长被寄生机敏异漏斗蛛不再进食、蜕皮,活动减少,蛛体逐渐萎缩,直至老熟幼虫离开蛛体时,蜘蛛死亡。该研究不仅增加了漏斗蛛寄生性天敌的已知种类,而且初步了解了以漏斗蛛为寄主的姬蜂的产卵行为、后代的发育特征以及对寄主蜘蛛的影响,这将为研究蜘蛛寄生蜂及其与寄主蜘蛛之间的化学通讯和协同进化提供重要的基础资料。     

Multiple host shifts by the emerging honeybee parasite,Varroa jacobsoni

Host shifts are a key mechanism of parasite evolution and responsible for the emergence of many economically important pathogens. Varroa destructor has been a major factor in global honeybee (Apis mellifera) declines since shifting hosts from the Asian honeybee (Apis cerana) > 50 years ago. Until recently, only two haplotypes of V. destructor (Korea and Japan) had successfully host shifted to A. mellifera. In 2008, the sister species V. jacobsoni was found for the first time parasitizing A. mellifera in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This recent host shift presents a serious threat to world apiculture but also provides the opportunity to examine host shifting in this system. We used 12 microsatellites to compare genetic variation of V. jacobsoni on A. mellifera in PNG with mites on A. cerana in both PNG and surrounding regions. We identified two distinct lineages of V. jacobsoni reproducing on A. mellifera in PNG. Our analysis indicated independent host shift events have occurred through small numbers of mites shifting from local A. cerana populations. Additional lineages were found in the neighbouring Papua and Solomon Islands that had partially host shifted to A. mellifera, that is producing immature offspring on drone brood only. These mites were likely in transition to full colonization of A. mellifera. Significant population structure between mites on the different hosts suggested host shifted V. jacobsoni populations may not still reproduce on A. cerana, although limited gene flow may exist. Our studies provide further insight into parasite host shift evolution and help characterize this new Varroa mite threat to A. mellifera worldwide.     

Reproductive isolation between two populations of Aglaoctenus lagotis,a funnel‐web wolf spider

Aglaoctenus lagotis (Lycosidae: Sosippinae) is a spider that, in contrast to the predominant wandering habit of the family, constructs funnel webs. The species is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics and is credited with high levels of intraspecific variation. Here, we evaluate whether reproductive isolating barriers operate between some populations of A. lagotis. We used heterotypic encounters between individuals from two distant localities: southern Uruguay (SU) and Central Argentina (CA). Additionally, we used spiders from an intermediate locality, western Uruguay (WU), where both forms of the species overlap (SU.WU was used to describe individuals from WU reminiscent of those from SU; and CA.WU was used to describe individuals from WU reminiscent of those from CA). No copulations occurred between SU and CA individuals, whereas a single and atypical copulation occurred between SU.WU and CA.WU individuals. Attacks (only by females on males) were rare. In tests of choice based on silk cues, SU males did not prefer homotypic cues but almost did not court CA females, whereas CA males preferred homotypic cues but usually courted heterotypic females. These findings, with a previously reported temporal asynchrony between populations, suggest the occurrence of reproductive isolation between both spider forms and a speciation process favoured by the wide distribution and plasticity of the species. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 114 , 646–658.