Článek shrnuje dosavadní znalosti o pavoucích zimujících v ulitách suchozemských plžů v České republice. Jde o dvě studie - jedna ze zimy 2008/2009 (2 448 prázdných ulit tří druhů suchozemských plžů: suchomilka obecná (Xerolenta obvia), páskovka žíhaná (Cepaea vindobonensis) a hlemýžď zahradní (Helix pomatia)). Druhá studie byla provedena v zimním období 2010/2011 (přes 30 000 ulit, stejné druhy jako v předchozích letech plus druhy: skalnice kýlnatá (Helicigona lapicida) a plamatka lesní (Arianta arbustorum)). Prozatím jsou souhrnně zpracována data z první studie, z druhé jsou v článku zmíněny pouze faunisticky významnější nálezy. Naše zjištění potvrzují nálezy ze zahraničí, že v ulitách přezimuje, často hojně, celá řada druhů pavouků, které považujeme za vzácné. Asi nejvýznamnější druhy jsou: skálovka šestitečná (Phaeocedus braccatus), snovačka pětitečná (Euryopis quinqueguttata), skákavka dvoutečná (Sitticus penicillatus), zápřednice Pennyova (Cheiracanthium pennyi), zápřednice karmínová (Ch. montanum) a další., This article summarises our knowledge of overwintering spiders in land snail shells in the Czech Republic. The results of two studies, based on the survey of more than 32 000 shells of 5 species, confirmed that many spider species considered rare actually overwinter in shells, often in large numbers. The most important records include Phaeocedus braccatus, Euryopis quinqueguttata, Sitticus penicillatus, Cheiracanthium pennyi and Ch. montanum., and Jana Niedobová, Vladimír Hula, Ondřej Košulič.
Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important predator of pests of horticultural crops and here its ability as a predator of Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is addressed for the first time. The percentage predation of the different aphid instars and the number partially consumed were studied. Our results, obtained using choice and no-choice tests, revealed that M. pygmaeus caught and consumed more young than later instars of A. pisum, which confirms results of previous studies using other species of aphids. We also studied the interactions between predators (male/female) foraging in the same patch. When the prey/predator ratio is kept constant at 10 : 1 the average percentage of aphids completely consumed by individual females or males does not change with increase in the number of foraging predators. However, the number of partially consumed aphids decreased when females shared the same patch. In contrast, there was an increase in the number of aphids partially consumed when two males shared the same patch. The results were discussed in terms of potential predator foraging strategies since intraspecific competition is a key factor modulating the dynamics of prey-predator systems., Juliana Durán Prieto, Vincenzo Trotta, Paolo Fanti, Cristina Castañé, Donatella Battaglia., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia (α-Proteobacteria) are the most widespread endosymbionts of insects. Host infection is usually associated with alterations in reproduction, such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, the induction of parthenogenesis and offspring sex ratio bias: all phenomena that may influence host speciation. In the present study, by using well-established molecular tools, we investigated the presence of Wolbachia in leaf beetles of the genus Crioceris and their host plants, which are various species of Asparagus. Multilocus sequence typing of bacterial genes showed that despite their occurrence in the same habitat and feeding on the same plant, two species of Crioceris, C. quinquepunctata and C. quatuordecimpunctata, are infected by two different strains of Wolbachia. C. asparagi, C. paracenthesis and C. duodecimpunctata, which are sympatric with the infected species, do not harbour the bacterium. Interestingly, DNA of Wolbachia was detected in host plant tissues that are exploited by the beetles, providing evidence for the horizontal transmission of the bacterium between beetles and their host plants. Moreover, Wolbachia was detected in species of Crioceris that are not closely related., Michał Kolasa, Matteo Montagna, Valeria Mereghetti, Daniel Kubisz, Miłosz A. Mazur, Łukasz Kajtoch., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Patogeny lýkožroutů (kůrovců) zahrnují široké spektrum druhů z různých skupin od prvoků, mikrosporidií a hub až po zelené řasy. Napadené jedince lze poznat až na základě pitvy a analýzy pod mikroskopem, nevykazují žádné vnější projevy onemocnění. U většiny druhů patogenů navíc neznáme konkrétní vlivy na napadené jedince, snad s výjimkou nemocí rozkládajících tukové těleso, kdy dochází k úhynu hostitele během přezimování nebo v požerku. Často se uvádí možný význam patogenů pro využití v biologickém boji proti kůrovcům, praktická aplikace je však stále problematická vzhledem ke kryptickému způsobu života brouků pod kůrou a obtížné (i nákladné) kultivaci., Pathogens of bark beetles (Scolytinae) include a broad spectrum of species from different groups of protozoa, microsporidia and fungi to green algae. Individuals with infection can only be recognized after dissection and microscopic analysis; they show no external signs of disease. In addition, we don't know the effects of most pathogen species on the infested individuals, perhaps with the exception of diseased decomposing fat body, which leads to the death of the host during hibernation or in the breeding system. Potential use of pathogens in biological control against bark beetles is often discussed in the literature, but practical application is still problematic due to the cryptic nature of beetles' life under the bark and difficult (and expensive) cultivation of pathogens., and Karolina Lukášová, Jaroslav Holuša.
Někteří zástupci třídy hmyzu patří k chladově nejodolnějším organismům na Zemi. Přežijí podchlazení až pod -50°C nebo kompletní zmrznutí (přeměnu tělní vody na led). Dokonce je dokážeme, jako celé komplexní organismy, téměř neomezeně dlouho skladovat v kapalném dusíku. Výzkum principiální podstaty této výjimečné schopnosti hmyzu může přinést poznatky využitelné pro praktické technologie kryokonzervace biologického materiálu., Some insects are to the most cold-tolerant organisms on Earth. They survive supercooling down to -50°C or complete freezing (transition of body water to ice). Moreover, we can store the insect organism in its whole complexity in liquid nitrogen almost indefinitely. Research on the principles behind this exceptional ability of insects can provide knowledge that will be useful for the development of practical protocols for the cryopreservation of biological material., and Vladimír Košťál.
Varanovec bornejský (Lanthanotus borneensis) patří k nejvzácnějším a nejméně známým plazům. V článku je popsána historie jeho objevů a její průběh ve 20. století, dále jeho anatomie, osteologie, morfologie a fylogeneze. Jsou podány i vzácné informace o jeho ekologii. Je v něm popsán i první nález tohoto druhu ve Východním Kalimantanu (Borneo, Indonésie) a první poznatky z chovu a chování varanovce v podmínkách terária v japonské zoo. Kameraman Stano Slušný a etnolog Miroslav Nožina viděli v roce 2001 uloveného živého varanovce ve vsi Respen na břehu řeky Sesayap v okrese Malinau na severu indonéské provincie Východní Kalimantan. Z literatury vyplývá, že šlo o první pozorování varanovce bornejského nejen v této provincii, ale v té době dokonce o první nález tohoto druhu na území Indonésie., The Earless Monitor Lizard (Lanthanotus borneensis) is one of the rarest and least known of all reptiles. This article describes the history of discoveries throughout the 20th century, as well as its anatomy, osteology, morphology and phylogenesis. Valuable information on its ecology is also provided. The first discovery of this species in Eastern Kalimantan (Borneo, Indonesia) – Respen by Sesayap river in 2001 – by Czech travellers and the first findings from breeding and rearing of these lizards in terrarium conditions at a zoo in Japan are also reported., and Ivan Vergner.
Procesům adaptace na život v lidských sídlech podléhají mnohé druhy ptáků nejenom v Evropě, ale i v Latinské Americe. Během několika cest po tropických zemích Nového světa od Mexika po Argentinu autoři zaznamenali v tamních městech i na venkově několik desítek ptačích druhů se sklonem k synantropnímu způsobu života. V sumáru 57 druhů z patnácti čeledí, které byly zařazeny do článku, dominují pěvci (41 druhů). Přestože jde o subjektivní výběr a jednotlivé druhy ptáků nebylo možné podrobněji charakterizovat, uvedené informace mohou návštěvníkům této oblasti usnadnit orientaci při setkání se zástupci avifauny latinskoamerických sídel., Many bird species are involved in processes of adaptation to life in human settlements, not only in Europe, but also in Latin America. During several trips to tropical countries in the New World, from Mexico to Argentina, the authors noted several dozen bird species in the cities and the countryside that tended to adopt a synanthropic lifestyle. Songbirds predominate (with 41 species) in a list of 57 species from the 15 families presented. The article may help visitors to the region find their bearings among the birdlife in Latin American conurbations., and Jozef Májský, Stanislav Chudý.
The oldest butterfly fossil known, which was formed about 55 Ma in what is now Denmark, is described. The fragments of its forewing venation indicates it belongs to the Hesperiidae. Further reconstruction indicates that it fits in the Coeliadinae and is close to the extant genera Hasora and Burara. It is here described as Protocoeliades kristenseni gen. et sp. n. It is the first butterfly fossil found on a continent (Europe) where its closest relatives do not currently occur. Its position on the phylogenetic tree of the Coeliadinae and its importance in understanding the time dimension in the evolution of butterflies, and their ecological and biogeographic implications are discussed., Rienk De Jong., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Several studies address the question of which forest attributes are most important for the conservation of biodiversity. Unfortunately, there are no unequivocal answers because the response of a biological group to changes in forest structure depends on its natural history and scale of organization. It is important to increase our knowledge of the potential relationships between under studied groups of species and forest variables in order to adopt timber harvesting strategies not detrimental to biodiversity, especially in old-growth forests. We assessed the importance of 10 forest attributes and old-growth for Psychidae (Lepidoptera) species and communities. Research was carried out in 12 forest stands in a mountainous beech dominated landscape in southern Italy, in the middle of the Mediterranean Basin. Samples were collected in 2001 and 2013 and data were merged after pairwise comparison analyses that confirmed the long term stability of communities. Correspondence Analysis, Cluster Analysis and non-parametric Spearman Rank Order Correlation were used to identify determinants of Psychidae abundance and diversity. We collected 2,732 Psychidae belonging to 8 species. Correspondence analysis identified old-growth as the main determinant of communities. Most significant attributes for individual species were beech dominance, diameter at breast height and its standard deviation. For Taleporia defoliella there were positive correlations with these forest parameters, whereas for Psyche crassiorella the correlations were negative. This study underlined the importance of forest attributes associated with old-growth forests for sustaining biodiversity. These findings indicate the need to incorporate these attributes in forest planning, especially those aspects that are easily recognizable such as the number of large trees., Stefano Scalercio, Teresa Bonacci, Rosario Turco, Vincenzo Bernardini., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Gender-specific reproductive roles are important factors determining sexual dimorphism. Here, we investigate the effects of sex-based differences and reproductive status on the defence of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) against infection by Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev, 1934) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae). Female and male beetles, either virgin or post-copulation, were exposed individually to nematodes. Individuals were then sampled every 12 h, dissected, and checked for the presence of nematodes; we also measured their phenoloxidase (PO) activity. Reproductive status affected resistance to nematodes and PO activity as infected virgin individuals had a higher PO activity and lower mortality than reproducing individuals, with no differences between sexes. Mortality also increased with time, while PO activity did not change. Parasite load was related to reproductive status and sex, with reproducing females with the highest parasite loads in all treatments, and virgin males with more nematodes than sexually active males. Our results indicate that the costs of reproduction impair the immunological system of T. castaneum similarly in both sexes. It is possible, however, that other components of the immunological system that we did not measure, such as lysozyme activity, are impaired by infection with S. feltiae in a sex-specific way., Paulina Kramarz, Dariusz Małek, Maria Gaweł, Szymon M. Drobniak, Joanna Homa., and Obsahuje bibliografii