Paysandisia archon (Burmeister, 1980) (Lepidoptera: Castniidae) is an accidentally introduced pest that damages palm trees in the northern Mediterranean area. To our knowledge, there are no experimental studies on its mating behaviour, and little is known about its biology and ecology. In the present study, we used outdoor experiments to investigate several characteristics of the reproductive behaviour of P. archon: sexual maturity, diel periodicity of mating, occurrence of polyandry and delay between mating and laying eggs. The results indicate that 73% of the individuals studied were sexually mature three hours after adult emergence. Mating peaked between 14:00 h and 15:00 h and 87% of the females were fertilized and started laying eggs 1.25 (± 1.14) days after mating. Females were generally monandrous, but nevertheless remained attractive after mating. The results of this study provide the necessary background knowledge for studying several aspects of P. archon reproductive biology, in particular oviposition, sex pheromones and their role in mediating mating behaviour in this pest. These results are the first step in developing tools for monitoring populations of this pest., Roxane Delle-Vedove ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Polystomatid monogeneans have a wide diversity of life cycles correlated with the varied ecology and behaviour of their aquatic vertebrate hosts. Typically, transmission involves a swimming infective larva but most hosts are amphibious and invasion is interrupted when hosts leave water. A key life cycle adaptation involves a uterus that, in the most specialised cases, may contain several hundred fully-developed larvae prepared for instant host-to-host transmission. By contrast, one subfamily of the Polystomatidae - the Polystomoidinae, specific to chelonians (freshwater turtles) - has a simplified reproductive system without a uterus. Recently, Polystomoides nelsoni Du Preez et Van Rooyen, 2015 has been described with a uterus containing multiple eggs. The present study explores the exceptional interest of this parasite - for the functional biology of egg production, for the evolution of a reproductive system unique amongst ca 60 species in the subfamily, and for systematic relationships. A new genus is proposed, Uteropolystomoides gen. n., separate from the four currently-recognised genera Polystomoides Ward, 1917, Uropolystomoides Tinsley et Tinsley, 2016, Neopolystoma Price, 1939 and Polystomoidella Price, 1939 which lack a uterus. In addition, U. nelsoni (Du Preez et Van Rooyen, 2015) comb. n. has a suite of distinctive copulatory stuctures: a massive genital bulb with an exceptionally large number of very long genital spines and hyper-development of the vaginal openings. These characters set U. nelsoni apart from all other polystomoidines worldwide except Polystomoides multifalx Stunkard, 1924 and P. stunkardi Harwood, 1931. Missing data for these latter species preclude definitive assessment of inter-relationships but the distinguishing characters of U. nelsoni, especially the unique occurrence of the uterus, suggest a novel evolutionary pathway isolated from other lineages of polystomatids infecting chelonians., Richard C. Tinsley., and Obsahuje bibliografii
1_The respiratory metabolism of different polyphenic forms of the pea aphid, including wingless and winged asexual females (virginoparae), sexual females (oviparae) and winged or wingless adult males, was investigated using a micro-respirographic method. The records revealed sub-nanoliter amounts per min of O2 consumption or CO2 output. Respiratory metabolism of individuals was monitored for 3 to7 h after removal of the aphid from the food plant. Most of the recordings were for relatively large (3.5 mg), wingless asexual females (virginoparae). These aphids exhibited a continuous and very regular respiratory gas exchange (example: specimen of 3.5 mg body mass consumed 180 nl of O2 per min; released simultaneously 300 nl CO2 per min; = standard metabolic rate of 3085 µl O2 / g / h; R.Q. = 1.66). This continuous pattern of respiration occurred only when the aphids were kept at relatively high humidity. By contrast, aphids of various seasonal forms exhibited discontinuous respiratory gas exchange when kept in relatively dry air (atmospheric, room conditions). These patterns can be briefly described as follows: (a) Short and rather small micro-cycles of CO2 emission, manifested usually by the sudden expiration of 60–120 nl of CO2 once every 5 min; (b) Larger bursts of 240–480 nl of CO2 with a periodicity of one hour; (c) Enormously large, discontinuous bursts of 10–14 µl CO2, duration 10–30 min, repeated with a periodicity of several hours. There was no constant pattern of diffusive CO2 emission (DGC). The aphids exhibited a pattern of CO2 release that was appropriate for the external conditions, such as temperature and humidity, and internal physiological conditions such as metabolic activity, availability of reserve substances (carbohydrate, lipid) and water. Certain stages (wingless virginoparae) exhaled volumes of CO2 greatly in excess of their O2 consumption (R.Q. over 1.5)., 2_Sudden exhalations of CO2 from the body were a consequence of a bulk production and outflow of CO2 and not due to the diffusion of CO2 previously accumulated within the tracheal system. Due to their generally high metabolic activity (1142 to 6780 µl O2 / g / h), aphid tissue and organs produced relatively large amounts of metabolically formed carbonic acid. The resulting respiratory acidaemia was moderated by outbursts of gaseous CO2, liberated from liquid carbonate buffers by a regulatory mechanism based on enzymatic hydration and neutralization of carbonic acid by discontinuous formation of gaseous CO2., Karel Sláma, Pavel Jedlička., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The effects of tannic acid on mean values and genetic variation in fitness-related traits (mass, relative growth rate) and specific activities of digestive enzymes (total proteases, a-glucosidase and lipase), and genetic variation in their plasticity, were investigated in fifth instar larvae of Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) originating from two populations with different host use histories (oak and locust-tree). The two populations did not differentiate with respect to fitness-related traits, i.e. adverse effects of tannic acid were similar in both populations. However, Robinia larvae, which originated from the locust-tree forest, were characterized by higher total protease and lipase activity and lower a-glucosidase activity than Quercus larvae, which originated from the oak forest. Higher plasticity of lipase and lower plasticity of a-glucosidase in response to tannic acid were also recorded. Quantitative genetic analysis revealed mostly significant expression of genetic variation in the examined traits and trait plasticity, suggesting the potential for evolution of adaptive plastic responses to new environmental conditions and presence of a stressor. The genetic correlations observed between the environments significantly differed from “one”, which indicates there are no constraints on the evolution of trait plasticity., Marija Mrdakovic ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Various disturbances in forests often result in the formation of open habitats with characteristics that are distinctly different from those of the original forest (microclimate, illumination, stand age and composition). These disturbances affect the habitat heterogeneity in time and space and seem to drive forest succession and changes in biodiversity in forests. Little is known about how the colonization of deforested habitats by Orthoptera is influenced by environmental factors. We studied the association between the structure of orthopteran assemblages and the age of clear-cuts, vegetation structure and other environmental parameters (size, elevation, altitude). This involved 33 clear-cuts of three age categories in broadleaved forests dominated by European beech. The Orthoptera were sampled using sweep netting and by counting individuals recorded along transects that ran parallel to those used for recording the structure of the vegetation. We recorded significant differences in the number and abundance of species in the three age categories of clear-cuts. Grasshopper species were more abundant than bush-crickets in first year clear-cuts. Species capable of flight occured in all three age categories of clear-cuts (>62% of the 27 species recorded). All the species of Orthoptera identified were present in two year-old clear-cuts. The species composition and abundance of Ensifera and Caelifera differed in their association with the six vegetation parameters studied. While the Caelifera occurred in habitats with bare ground the Ensifera mainly occurred in those with a higher proportion of shrubs and trees. There was also a positive correlation between number of species of Orthoptera and area of the clear-cut regardless of its age as well between the number of species of Orthoptera and elevation., Anna Sliacka, Anton Krištín, Ladislav Naďo., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
In the present study, we critically revised the recently proposed classification of the subfamily Leishmaniinae Maslov et Lukeš in Jirků et al., 2012. Agreeing with erection of the genus Zelonia Shaw, Camargo et Teixeira in Espinosa et al., 2017 and the subgenus Mundinia Shaw, Camargo et Teixeira in Espinosa et al., 2017 within the genus Leishmania Ross, 1908, we argue that other changes are not well justified. We propose to: (i) raise Paraleishmania Cupolillo, Medina-Acosta, Noyes, Momen et Grimaldi, 2000 to generic rank; (ii) create a new genus Borovskyia gen. n. to accommodate the former Leptomonas barvae Maslov et Lukeš, 2010 as its type and only species; (iii) leave the subfamily Leishmaniinae as originally defined, but establish two infrafamilies within it: Leishmaniatae infrafam. n. and Crithidiatae infrafam. n., Alexei Y. Kostygov, Vyacheslav Yurchenko., and Obsahuje bibliografii
A revisionary study revealed two species of monogeneans, Dactylogyrus crucis Rogers, 1967 and Dactylogyrus lythruri sp. n., parasitising Lythrurus Jordan (formerly a subgenus of Notropis Rafinesque, 1818). New records and updated taxonomy of seven of 12 known minnows of the genus of Lythrurus are provided for D. crucis. A record of Dactylogyrus attenuatus Mizelle et Klucka, 1953 (syn. Dactylogyrus umbratilus [Kimpel, 1939], nomen nudum) on Lythrurus umbratilis (Girard) is referrable to D. crucis. Dactylogyrus lythruri is described from eight species of Lythrurus. It most closely resembles Dactylogyrus beckeri Cloutman, 1987, but is distinguished by having a smaller base of the male copulatory organ (MCO) and lacking a ventral enlargement of the distal end of the basal process. Previous reports of Dactylogyrus banghami Mizelle et Donahue, 1944 and Dactylogyrus cf. beckeri Cloutman, 1987 from Lythrurus atrapiculus (Snelson) and Lythrurus bellus (Hay) from Alabama, and Dactylogyrus confusus Mueller, 1938 from L. umbratilis in Illinois are herein relegated to D. lythruri. Four species of Lythrurus appeared not to be infected with Dactylogyrus., Donald G. Cloutman, Andrew B. Adrian, Chris T. McAllister, Bruce W. Stallsmith, Thomas J. Fayton and Henry W. Robison., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The planthopper genus Pseudoparicana Melichar, 1914 is revised. Three previously known species, P. curvifera (Distant, 1907), P. sanguinifrons Muir, 1931 and P. tepida Melichar, 1914 are re-described and P. analoga Wang & Malenovský sp. n. is described as new. Lectotypes are designated for P. curvifera and P. tepida. An identification key and illustrations of diagnostic characters, including male and female genitalia, are provided for all taxa and the systematic position of this genus and the asymmetry of the genitalia of the species are briefly discussed. As far as known, the distribution of Pseudoparicana is restricted to New Guinea and the Aru Islands., Rong-Rong Wang ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Collections of parasitic nematodes of fishes from some freshwater and brackish-water localities in Honshu, Shikoku and Hokkaido, Japan, carried out in 1996-2009, yielded the following eight species: Hysterothylacium haze (Machida, Takahashi et Masuuchi, 1978) (Anisakidae), Paraquimperia sp., Pingus sinensis Hsü, 1933 (both Quimperiidae), Heliconema anguillae Yamaguti, 1935 (Physalopteridae), Rhabdochona angusticaudata sp. n., Rhabdochona zacconis Yamaguti, 1935 (both Rhabdochonidae), Ascarophis arctica Polyanskiy, 1952 (Cystidicolidae) and Eustrongylides sp. larvae (Dioctophymatidae). The new species, R. angusticaudata sp. n., described from the intestine of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica Temminck et Schlegel in the Renjoji River, Shikoku, is mainly characterised by the presence of 14-16 anterior prostomal teeth, non-bifurcated deirids with rounded ends, the length of the left spicule (300-384 µm long), the right spicule with a dorsal barb and non-filamented eggs. The species of Paraquimperia Baylis, 1934 and A. arctica are reported from Japan for the first time. Based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations, some new morphological data on H. haze, H. anguillae, R. zacconis and A. arctica are provided., František Moravec, Kazuya Nagasawa., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_Neotropical freshwater stingrays (Batoidea: Potamotrygonidae) host a diversity of parasites, including some, like their hosts, that are marine-derived. Among the parasites of potamotrygonids, the cestode fauna is the most diverse, with multiple genera having been reported, including genera endemic to the freshwaters of the Neotropics and genera that have cosmopolitan distributions. Recent efforts have been made to document the diversity of cestodes of this host-parasite system and to refine the taxonomy of parasite lineages. The present study contributes to our knowledge of Rhinebothrium Linton, 1890, a diverse cosmopolitan genus of rhinebothriidean cestode, with 37 species reported from marine batoids, one species from a freshwater stingray in Borneo and six species from potamotrygonids. Rhinebothrium jaimei sp. n. is described from two species of potamotrygonids, Potamotrygon orbignyi (Castelnau) (type host) and Potamotrygon scobina Garman, from Bahía de Marajó of the lower Amazon region. It can be distinguished from most of its marine congeners via multiple attributes, including its possession of two, rather than one, posteriormost loculi on its bothridia and the lomeniform shape of its bothridium that is wider anteriorly. In addition, R. jaimei sp. n. can be distinguished from the six Rhinebothrium species described previously from potamotrygonids based on a unique combination of morphological features. Despite extensive stingray cestode sampling efforts throughout all major Neotropical river systems, we found that unlike most species of potamotrygonid Rhinebothrium species, which are widespread, R. jaimei sp. n. is restricted to the Bahía de Marajó., a2_The discovery of this new species of Rhinebothrium in Bahía de Marajó, an area in which potamotrygonids occur sympatrically with some species of euryhaline batoids (e.g. Dasyatis spp.) and share some trophic resources, suggest that modern ecological processes may be contributing to the distribution patterns of cestodes infecting potamotrygonids., Fernando P. L. Marques, Florian B. Reyda., and Obsahuje bibliografii