Many insects masquerade as parts of plants, such as bark or leaves, or mimic poisonous organisms in order to defend themselves against predators. However, recent studies indicate that plants may mimic insects and other arthropods to deter herbivores. Here, I report visually similar white structures of plants and arthropods in Japan and suggest they are part of a mimicry complex. Young shoots covered with white trichomes or waxy substances may mimic wax-producing insects, such as woolly aphids, coccids and caterpillars, potentially resulting in reduced herbivory. Since wax-producing insects would reduce plant quality and quantity, be distasteful and attract natural enemies, herbivorous insects and mammals may avoid such white shoots. Furthermore, fungus-infected insects, gregarious braconid cocoons, spider egg sacs and froth made by froghopper nymphs or blasticotomid sawfly larvae are also conspicuously white and impose risks for herbivorous insects. Thus, these white structures may be mimicry models for white shoots and are likely to be part of a defensive mimicry complex. Although this study focuses on defence against herbivores, there are simultaneous physiological roles for white colouration that will not be discussed in depth here., Kazuo Yamazaki., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Během několika uplynulých tisíciletí byla Malta – středozemní souostroví se dvěma velkými a osídlenými ostrovy Malta a Gozo – zcela zbavena lesních porostů s převládajícími borovicí halebskou (Pinus halepensis) a dubem cesmínovitým (Quercus ilex). Současná planě rostoucí vegetace, tvořená převážně degradovanou macchií a formacemi garrigue a frygana, je nyní soustavně potlačována šířícími se sídlišti. Nicméně stojí za to navštívit Maltu a seznámit se s její květenou vyšších rostlin, čítající kolem jednoho tisíce druhů (včetně 36 zajímavých orchidejí), a to zejména v časně jarním období., Malta, a Mediterranean archipelago with two large, inhabited islands, has over the past millennia been totally deprived of forests with dominating Allepo Pine (Pinus halepensis) and Holm Oak (Quercus ilex). The contemporary wild vegetation – mainly of degraded macchia, garrigue and phrygana is being continuously suppressed by urban explosion. Nevertheless, the Maltese wild flora numbering around 1,000 vascular plant species (including 36 interesting orchids) makes a visit to Malta worthwhile, particularly in the early springtime., and Jan Čeřovský.
This area in Central Bohemia is characterized by predominantly limestone bedrock and fully-developed karstic phenomena – the main reasons for its high botanical di - versity and occurrence of many rare and endangered species. In the center of the area, well-developed broad-leaved forests are found, as well as xerothermophilous non-forest vegetation. At the borders of the area, acidophilous, basiphilous and serpen - tinophilous plants occur on non-calcareous rocks (e. g. slates, basaltoids, picrites). and Pavel Špryňar.