The Multicoloured Asian Ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is known to thrive principally in shrubby and arboreal habitats. This study focuses on the occurrence of this exotic species and its seasonal abundance in various field crops. The abundance of adults, larvae and pupae of H. axyridis was evaluated over a three-year period, from 2009 to 2011, in four important agronomical crops (wheat, corn, broad bean and potato) in Belgium. From May to September, 48 1-m² quadrats were visually inspected in each of the fields sampled on several farms every seven days. H. axyridis colonized and reproduced in all of the four crops studied, with the largest numbers recorded in corn and broad bean crops. Larvae and adults of H. axyridis were recorded mainly in corn and to a much less extent in wheat and potato crops. From 2009 to 2011, the mean weekly abundance of H. ayxridis remained constant except in corn crops, where the recorded densities of all the immature stages and adults were higher in 2011 than in 2009. The population dynamics of aphids and H. axyridis are well described by a symmetric logistic function (S-shape) of cumulative population size. H. axyridis was not always recorded where aphids were abundant, e.g. aphids were abundant on wheat where no H. axyridis were recorded. H. axyridis start reproducing after the peak in aphid population, suggesting that H. axyridis is able to complete its development by feeding on alternative prey such as larvae and pupae of the same and other species of ladybird and other aphidophagous species. H. axyridis is often considered to be bivoltine but it only completes one generation per year in field crops. The second generation generally develops late in the season in other habitats., Axel Vandereycken ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Slunéčka (Coccinellidae) se brání jedovatými alkaloidy v hemolymfě. Zároveň inzerují svoji jedovatost rozmanitým výstražným zbarvením. V laboratorním pokusu se sýkorou koňadrou (Parus major) jsme ukázali, že odmítání slunéček hmyzožravými ptáky je alespoň zčásti naučené. Důležité je červené zbarvení, méně tečkovaný vzor., Ladybirds (Coccinellidae) possess poisonous defensive alkaloids in their haemolymph. They also employ variable warning colouration. In a laboratory experiment with an avian predator – the Great Tit (Parus major) – we have shown that avoidance of ladybirds was at least partly learned. The red colour itself is most important, the spotted pattern less important for the decision., and Oldřich Nedvěd, Petr Veselý.
Recent efforts to catalogue global biodiversity using genetic techniques have uncovered a number of "cryptic" species within morphologically similar populations that had previously been identified as single species. Chlosyne lacinia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), with a range extending from the Southwest U.S. to South America, is one of the most phenotypically variable and broadly distributed butterfly species in the New World. We sampled populations of C. lacinia in two temperate locations (California and Arizona) and one tropical location (El Salvador) to determine if cryptic species were present at this scale (temperate vs. tropical). We examined mtDNA sequence variation in COI, COII, the intervening tRNA (Leucine-2), 16S, 12S and an additional intervening tRNA (Valine), accounting for approximately 20% of the mitochondrial genome (3479 bp). Among all C. lacinia individuals, sequence divergence did not exceed 0.0084 compared to a 0.06 estimated divergence between C. lacinia and congener C. leanira. We also found subclade structure which did not clearly correspond to geography or subspecific designation. Though the mitochondrial phylogeny suggests a complex evolutionary history and biogeography, we demonstrate that one C. lacinia species is distributed throughout North and Central America spanning a diverse set of temperate and tropical habitats. and Timothy C. Bonebrake, Ward B. Watt, Alejandro Perez, Carol L. Boggs.
Microscope images of scales from the wings of the male butterfly Apatura ilia of two forms (ilia and clytie) show parallel fibres with tiny transverse grooves. These can cause (due to the light interference) violet or blue iridescence on the wings, which normally have brown pigmentation. We examined the dependence of the sudden color changes on variable illumination and observation angles. and George O. Krizek a kol.
Abandoned military training ranges are important biodiversity refuges in the modern landscape. We surveyed 41 such areas across the Czech Republic in order to establish butterfly diversity and abundances. We found exceptionally high species richness, including many nationally-threatened rarities like Phengaris arion, Polyommatus dorylas and Zygaena punctum. We conclude that the high conservational value of these areas was maintained by the former army activities, which encouraged high habitat heterogeneity. and Pavel Vrba a kol.
Rozsáhlý materiál bráněnek (Stratiomyidae, Diptera) byl studován z různých částí orientální oblasti včetně chráněných území (národních parků a rezervací). V letech 1994–2012 bylo popsáno více než 60 nových druhů a mnoho dalších druhů revidováno na základě typových jedinců uložených v různých světových sbírkách. Probíhal také sběr larev bráněnek a jejich odchov v laboratorních podmínkách. Jejich ústní ústrojí a povrchové struktury byly studovány s ohledem na jejich potravní specializaci., Extensive material of soldier flies (Stratiomyidae) was examined from different parts of the Oriental region including protected areas (Nature Parks and Reserves). During the 1994–2013 period more than 60 oriental species were described and many further species were revised on the basis of type specimens deposited in various world collections. In addition to the study of adults, mainly phytosaprophagous larvae were collected and reared under laboratory conditions. Their mouthparts and surface structures were examined with regard to their food preference., and Rudolf Rozkošný.
Tropical rainforest can be divided into several altitude levels, which vary in light conditions and also in the nature of their flora and fauna. In terms of the occurrence of typical groups of butterflies, we can define these levels by their height range and typical butterfly groups that form mimetic (unilateral and reciprocal) protective complexes there, even though numerous other species also live there which do not belong to these complexes. This issue is described based on the example of lowland tropical forests in South and Central America. and George O. Krizek.
Ovaries of Puto superbus and Ceroputo pilosellae are composed of numerous short telotrophic ovarioles that are arranged around the distal part of the lateral oviduct. An individual ovariole consists of a distal trophic chamber (= tropharium) and proximal vitellarium. The tropharia enclose individual trophocytes (= nurse cells) and early previtellogenic oocytes termed arrested oocytes. A single oocyte develops in each vitellarium. Analysis of serial sections has shown that ovarioles of P. superbus contain from 16 to 51 germ cells (13–43 trophocytes, 2–7 arrested oocytes, 1 developing oocyte) while those of C. pilosellae from only 8 to 10 germ cells (5–7 trophocytes, 0–2 arrested oocytes, 1 developing oocyte). The classification and phylogeny of scale insects are discussed taking into consideration the results of this study., Anna Michalik ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Molekulární genetika vstoupila na antropologické kolbiště koncem 60. let, ale teprve přímá analýza archaické DNA (aDNA) z fosilních pozůstatků od 80. let umožnila přesnější vhled do evoluce našeho druhu ve středním a mladém pleistocénu. Navzdory různým „Jurským parkům“ totiž DNA po smrti organismu rychle degraduje a časové okno její možné analýzy je poměrně omezené. Navíc jsou vzorky kontaminovány DNA okolních organismů. Nicméně velice záhy se pozornost paleogenetiků soustředila na naše příbuzné - neandertálce. Analýza jejich genomu ukázala, že ~2 % jejich DNA se vyskytuje v genomu anatomicky moderního člověka s výjimkou subsaharské Afriky a celkový rozsah tohoto přenosu může dosahovat až 20 %. Křížení s neandertálci lidem zřejmě umožnilo snadnější adaptaci na chladnější podmínky eurasijského kontinentu, současně však přineslo i výskyt některých chorob. Překvapení přinesla sekvence aDNA izolovaná z článku prstu nalezeného v Denisově jeskyni na Altaji. Ukázalo se, že tento jedinec patřil k neznámému druhu odlišnému jak od moderních lidí, tak i od neandertálců. I tito hominini přispěli až 6 % svojí DNA do genomu některých současných populací člověka (JV Asie, Oceánie). Podle nejnovějších poznatků byl tok genů mezi homininy středního a mladého paleolitu poměrně složitý, byla např. detekována příměs neandertálské DNA v genomu denisovců, kteří navíc získali další sekvence od dalšího, blíže neurčeného druhu hominina. Posledním příspěvkem paleogenetiky do obrazu naší evoluce je sekvence mitochondriální DNA získaná ze zhruba 400 tisíc let starých fosilních pozůstatků heidelberského člověka (Homo heidelbergensis) ze Sima de los Huesos (Šachty kostí) z krasové oblasti Atapuerca ve Španělsku, která ukazuje na příbuznost tohoto druhu., Molecular genetics entered the arena of anthropology at the end of the 1960s, but only direct analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) from fossils since the 80s has permitted a better insight into the evolution of our own species. Despite the rapid decomposition of DNA starting immediately after death, molecular geneticists are now able to retrieve and sequence aDNA tens or even hundreds of thousands years old. Paleogenetic studies of ancient humans and their relatives have revealed a rather complex picture of Middle and Upper Pleistocene hominins (Neanderthals, Denisovans, ante-Neanderthals etc.) and gene flow among them. New and exciting findings changing our views of the evolution of our own species are appearing with an accelerating pace., Miloš Macholán., and Obsahuje seznam literatury