We measured energy substrates in haemolymph and flight muscles of the large blister beetle Mylabris oculata at rest and after tethered, lift-generating flight. Flight of 1 min duration at an ambient temperature of 38-42°C did not effect a change in the concentration of lipids in the haemolymph, whereas a small, significant decrease in the concentrations of carbohydrates and a 3-fold larger one in the levels of proline were noted, as well as a concomitant increase in alanine. In the flight muscles, glycogen and proline concentrations were diminished slightly but significantly upon flight, whereas alanine levels were increased. Two hours of rest after a flight of 1 min completely reversed the metabolic situation in haemolymph and flight muscles to pre-flight levels. We could isolate two neuropeptides from the corpora cardiaca of M. oculata, which by retention time and mass analyses are characterised as the decapeptide Del-CC (pGlu-Leu-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Asn-Trp-Gly-Asn-NH2) and the octapeptide Tem-HrTH (pGlu-Leu-Asn-PheSer-Pro-Asn-Trp-NH2) previously fully identified from the corpora cardiaca of the blister beetle, Decapotoma lunata (Gäde, 1995). Subsequently, it was unequivocally demonstrated that low doses of Del-CC and Tem-HrTH elicited increases in the concentration of proline and carbohydrates in the haemolymph of D. lunata and M. oculata, but did not change the concentration of lipids in both species. In conclusion, the two endogenous peptides are hypertrehalosaemic and hyperprolinaemic, thus very likely regulating the mobilisation of the two important flight substrates of blister beetles, namely carbohydrates and proline., Gerd Gäde, Lutz Auerswald, and Lit
From 1994-1997 the food of Coccinella septempunctata L. was investigated on the basis of gut dissections of adults and larvae collected in the field. Additionally, the gut contents of adults fed under laboratory conditions were investigated. The likelihood of recovering different prey types during gut dissection was variable, which will be illustrated by presenting some common prey fragments. The food eaten by adult C. septempunctata throughout a year was studied at a locality in Berlin-Staaken. Ladybirds were collected from March 1994 until November 1997 in different crops and habitats on roughly a monthly basis. Aphid feeding was detectable from April until October. In May and June they were the most frequent food type. Fungal spores, in most cases the conidia of Alternaria spp., became most frequent in July. Additionally non-aphid arthropods were frequently preyed upon in July. A very common non-aphid prey item were thrips. Pollen was important in May and September. Comparing the food components of newly emerged adults with those of overwintered adults some remarkable differences were detected. In newly emerged adults non-aphid arthropods and fungal spores were much more frequent than in overwintered adults whereas aphids were less frequently found. The diet of adults and larvae was also investigated in June and July in cereal fields at two other localities, Northern Flaeming and Magdeburger Boerde. No difference in adult diet was found between the three localities. The composition of the larval diet was relatively similar to that of the adults., Holger Triltsch, and Lit
Four species of Anagrus (A. breviphragma Soyka, A. incarnatus Haliday, A. fennicus Soyka and A. obscurus Foerster sensu Soyka), that live on Carex riparia Curtis (Cyperaceae) in uncultivated areas along the Po river in the Piacenza province in Italy were analysed using RAPD markers in order to investigate their genetic relationships. High levels of RAPD polymorphism were found in the genus Anagrus, which permitted the fingerprinting of the four species. Analysis of average genetic similarities within species and comparison with average values between species confirms that A. breviphragma, A. incarnatus, A. fennicus and A. obscurus represent four genetically distinct species. A dendrogram constructed from molecular data of single families clearly clustered the four species in different groups, their mutual position reflecting morphological and biological observations., Elisabetta Chiappini, Lucia Soressi, Corrado Fogher, Marco Zanirato, and Lit
Stále citlivější a menší senzory, které odhalují nesmírně nízké koncentrace látek souvisejících se vznikem a rozvojem nemocí, choroboplodné bakterie v potravinách či různé další chemické a biologické látky kolem nás, mohou přinést zásadní pokrok v lékařské diagnostice, kotrole bezpečnosti potravin, monitorování životního prostředí a mnoha dalších oblastech. and Jana Olivová, Stanislava Kyselá.
The influence of host intrapatch spatial distribution on parasitoid host acceptance behavior was investigated with Trichogramma principium parasitizing eggs of grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella. Single females were placed in Petri dishes, each containing 60 host eggs arranged either as a compact patch or partitioned into 60 or 12 clusters each consisting of 1 or 5 eggs, respectively. Partitioned patches provoked parasitization more often than compact patches. The percentage of ovipositing females (i.e., females parasitizing at least one of 60 host eggs) increased with the number of clusters, while it was independent of the intercluster distance over intervals of 2.5-15 mm. The mean number of eggs parasitized by ovipositing females during 48 h was almost independent of the host egg spatial pattern. As a result, the rate of parasitization was higher when the hosts were sparsely distributed within a patch than when they were aggregated., Nataliya D. Voinovich, Taisiya Ya. Umarova, Sergey Ya. Reznik, and Lit
We investigated the effects of genetic differences and host plant density on population development of the rose-grain aphid Sitobion avenae (F.) (Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) in winter wheat stands. Aphid numbers on ears were recorded on 11 cultivars (6 years) and on plots where crop density was varied by thinning (12 years). Crop density significantly affected whole plant, tiller and ear mass, number of tillers, and leaf area and chlorophyll content. The duration and rate of aphid population growth, and the maximum numbers of aphids were ascertained by weekly counts. Maximum abundances increased with the length of time available for the growth of aphid populations while the rate of population growth was less important. Variation of maximum numbers of S. avenae on different cultivars was not significant, probably due to the small variation in the period available for the development of aphid populations. By contrast, there was a significant Variation of aphid performance associated with host plant density. Aphid populations on solitary plants persisted longer and became more abundant than in dense stands. The prolonged survival of aphid populations was probably caused by an extended period of tillering and lower average age of tillers of solitary plants. There was large annual variation in aphid abundance. It is likely that modifications of host plant development caused by differences in winter weather may contribute to this variation., Alois Honěk, Zdenka Martinková, and Lit
A. schneideri and A. grossulariae clones from southern Poland produced fertile hybrid eggs under experimental conditions. Established hybrid clones expressed normal parthenogenetic reproduction but bisexual generations were not obtained, though a few sexuales developed in some cases. Morphological features of A. schneideri and host-specificity of A. grossulariae tended to dominate in the majority of hybrid clones. Independent inheritance of the studied morphological characters and host specificity can therefore be presumed.
Present results do not exclude the possibility of natural hybridisation of studied aphid species. Natural crosses might cause taxonomic and currant pest management problems., Rimantas Rakauskas, and Lit
Insect peptidyl-dipeptidase A [angiotensin I - converting enzyme (ACE)] is a soluble single-domain peptidyl-dipeptidase that has many properties in common with the C-domain of mammalian somatic ACE and with the single-domain mammalian ACE. In agreement with a variety of insects, immunocytochemical studies reveal the presence of an ACE-like protein in Locusta migratoria. ACE-like immunoreactivity is present in neurosecretory cells of the pars intercerebralis. These cells have axons projecting into the nervus corporis cardiaci I and into the storage part of the corpus cardiacum, a neuroendocrine organ directly releasing into the aorta. The localisation of ACE in neurosecretory cells is consistent with its proposed role as a processing enzyme that is involved in the generation of active peptide hormones., Dirk Veelaert, Liliane Scoofs, Nathalie Macours, Anick Vandingenen, Arnold De Loof, Elwyn Isaac, Michel Salzet, Roger Huybrechts, and Lit
Two anti-peptide antisera (anti-A and anti-B) raised against Gryllus bimaculatus allatostatin A1 (Grb-AST A1) and B1 (Grb-AST B1), respectively, were applied in the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemical technique on complete series of sections from the brain, suboesophageal ganglion, corpora cardiaca (CC), and corpora allata (CA) of G. bimaculatus. Both antisera yielded intense staining of numerous cells and nerve fibres. Serial sections, alternately stained with anti-A and anti-B confirmed that the anti-B generally stained more cells and nerves. Extensive immunoreactivity in the retrocerebral complex suggests that the CC and CA may represent a storage and/or release site for both allatostatin types or allatostatin-like molecules produced in the brain., Günther Witek, Peter Verhaert, Matthias W. Lorenz, Klaus H. Hoffmann, and Lit