This report summarizes a study designed to uncover any tendency towards hyperparasitic behavior in Brachymeria pomonae (Cameron), a parasitoid of pink bollworm (PBW) (Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders) imported from Australia to California for biological control of the latter pest species. Brachymeria pomonae hyperparasitized both Apanteles oenone Nixon (ca. 10% of pupae exposed) and Cardiochiles nigriceps Viereck (ca. 23% of pupae exposed), and all hyperparasitic offspring of B. pomonae were males. However, B. pomonae's aggressive primary parasitism of several lepidopterous hosts, together with the low hyperparasitism rates and the failure to produce hyperparasitic female offspring suggested that hyperparasitism is a facultative behavior in this parasitoid. Brachymeria pomonae caused substantial mortality in A. oenone and C. nigriceps as a result of ovipositional probing. Finally, it did not attack PBW nor A. oenone pupae if they were not enclosed in a PBW cocoon, but aggressively attacked the pupae of both when enclosed in PBW cocoons. The results are of significance because B. pomonae was a candidate for release against PBW in California. Because of its facultative hyperparasitic habit, no effort was made to release it from quarantine. The basis for this decision, including the uncertain impact that hyperparasitoids may have on biological control programs, is discussed.

Phorids parasitizing Coccinella septempunctata, the seven spot ladybird, attend host prepupae and parasitize them at the point of ecdysis to the pupal stage. In this system, oviposition rates would be maximized through the choice of older pre-pupal hosts in preference to young ones. Field study revealed that old pre-pupal hosts were indeed more likely to be attended by phorids than young pre-pupae. We tested the hypothesis that this was due to a preference by simultaneously offering phorids an old and a young prepupal host in a choice test. The results suggest that phorids do indeed distinguish between host prepupae on the basis of age, choosing the older prepupa.

Pittaway A.R.: The Hawkmoths of the Western Palaearctic. Harley Books, London, 1993, 240 pp., 20 colour plates, 57 maps, 55 text figures.

Adult collembolans we:re fed with two different food types. Leaves of Taraxacum officinale and Dactylis glomerata were given as food sources in two physical forms: either as intact leaves or as powder. Foods were labelled with ¹⁵N. The ¹⁵N uptake curves were measured. Turnover rates and turnover times were calculated. Results show that Taraxacum leaves are preferred to Dactylis leaves. The physical condition of the leaves influenced the nitrogen turnover of the animals to a large extent. Fragmentation of Dactylis leaves enhanced nitrogen utilization by roughly two-fold and decreased turnover time by nearly half. Consumption of Taraxacum leaves has synergic effect on the nitrogen utilization of Dactylis leaves. Simultaneous consumption of Taraxacum and Dactylis enhanced the nitrogen uptake rate from Dactylis leaves compared to the treatment where Dactylis was the only food source.

The Galerucella nymphaeae species complex is a controversial group of leaf-consuming beetles with a Holarctic distribution. It includes several closely allied species or forms living in different habitats and utilizing different food plants. In northern Europe, two species are encountered, G. nymphaeae (L.) living on Nuphar, and G. sagittariae (Gyllenhal) living on semiaquatic or terrestrial plants, while all North American forms have been so far considered conspecific with the European G. nymphaeae. In the present study we have compared chorion polypeptides of the northern European G. nymphaeae and G. sagittariae with North American G. nymphaeae collected from Nuphar. The northern European G. nymphaeae was found to differ from both northern European G. sagittariae and North American G. nymphaeae, which were found to be virtually identical in respect to their chorion polypeptides. The present results, coupled with earlier data concerning e.g. egg morphology, structure of larval cuticle, and comparison of several life history traits, demonstrate that northern European G. nymphaeae and North American G. nymphaeae are not conspecific, and that the North American G. nymphaeae may be more closely allied to the northern European G. sagittariae.

The Oriental genus Euchilofulvius Poppius is revised. New data concerning Euchilofulvius tibialis Poppius, the first description of the male and pictures of parameres are given. Two new species are described and illustrated: Euchilofulvius heissi and E. zdzislawi. A key to the species and a brief discussion on the systematic position of the genus are also provided.

The weevil species Listroderes abditus Enderlein belongs in the subtribe Listroderina. This species had been previously transferred to Antarctobius, based on characters from the adult morphology. However, larval characters suggest that it was placed correctly in Listroderes. A cladistic analysis of this species and nine other rhytirrhinines for which larvae are known was performed, based on 56 morphological characters (32 from larvae and 24 from adults). According to the single cladogram obtained (78 steps, CI = 0.65, and RI = 0.72), L. abditus should be included in Listroderes rather than in Antarctobius. Larval and adult characters were also analysed separately, leading to poorer resolution in comparison with the simultaneous analysis, and suggesting that a stable classification requires the analysis of data from both life stages.

The development of a B-biotype Bemisia tabaci Italian colony was studied on bean at 9 constant temperatures (15, 16, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35°C). The developmental time from egg-to-adult varied from 70 days at 16°C to 22 at 26°C and higher temperatures. A thermal requirement for egg-to-adult development of 307 day-degrees was calculated, based on a lower developmental threshold of 11.53°C. The survival of egg, nymph and adult whiteflies was investigated at 0, 2, 4, and 6°C on broad bean for periods of 1-8 days. The adult was the most cold-sensitive stage, while the egg and nymph showed a similar level of cold resistance. The effect of sub-lethal cold stress of 4-8 days at 4°C on eggs and nymphs was studied. After exposure to low temperatures, whiteflies needed longer developmental times, from 5 to 8 days more. The presence of B. tabaci under outdoor conditions in Italy was investigated with field surveys and correlated with climatic data; the whitefly species was found in open field conditions only south of the 41° parallel, in areas characterised by less than 5 frost days per winter and by annual mean temperatures >16°C.

The relationship between web design and prey capture in orb-web spiders was examined by correlating the mean mesh height with the mean prey length per species taken from existing literature (15 species) and new data (Larinioides sclopetarius and Argiope keyserlingi). Pooling the data from all species, the results revealed no significant relationship. Analysing the data from L. sclopetarius and A. keyserlingi separately, no overall significant relationship was found. However, the analyses of the separate observation days showed that mesh height correlated significantly with prey length on one of the five observation days for A. keyserlingi, but not for L. sclopetarius. Consequently, the spacing of the sticky spiral in the orb-web can have a significant effect on the length of the captured prey under certain circumstances, which are discussed in the present paper.

The effects of hypertrehalosaemic octapeptides (peptides from AKH family) on transcription and trehalosegenesis in the fat body of adult females of Tenebrio molitor L. were examined. A synthetic hypertrehalosaemic peptide from CC of Periplaneta americana periplanetin CC-2 (Pea-CAH-II) Glp-Leu-Thr-Phe-Thr-Pro-Asn-Trp-amide (1), its new synthetic analogues Glp-Leu-Thr-Phe-Thr-Pro-Asn-Phe-amide (2), Glp-Leu-Thr-Phe-Thr-Pro-Asn-D-Trp-amide (3), Glp-Leu-Thr-Phe-Thr-Pro-Asn-D-Phe-amide (4), and an octapeptide from T. molitor Glp-Leu-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Asn-Trp-amide (Tem-HrTH) (5) were tested. Peptides 2, 3 and 5 suppress transcription in the fat body tissue measured as incorporation of [³H]-uridine into total RNA. The rate of RNA inhibition in the tissue depends on the peptide concentration. Periplanetin CC-2 (2) was inactive in this test. Endogenic T. molitor octapeptide (5) stimulates trehalose release from the fat body of females, whereas Pea-CAH-II analogues (2-4) do not increase trehalose release from this tissue.

24-hour experiments on dark-adapted compound eyes of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) show significant daily changes in absolute sensitivity to stimuli of different colors, but no daily changes in the spectral sensitivity. The absolute sensitivity is highest for all wavelengths at mid night, and lowest at noon. The daily shift of sensitivity is, however, most pronounced in the working range of the eye in the bluegreen-green region of the spectrum. The electrophysiologically measured sensitivity of the compound eye to monochromatic stimuli correlates with the size change of its superposition aperture after illumination with white light. The daily sensitivity pattern is in good agreement with the daily flight activity pattern (see Duelli, 1986).

Fianoniella stenognatha sp. n. from the Columbretes Islands (Castellón, Spain) is described and illustrated. The new species is distinguished by its longer and narrower mandibles with parallel or divergent rims in the apical half, wider clypeus, hind ocelli more separated and closer to the eyes, and longer flagellar segments. Additional notes to complete the original description of the closest species, F. laeviscutum (Horstmann), are given. A key to the European species of Fianoniella is provided.

The monotypic genus Seychellesius Carvalho is transferred from the subfamily Cylapinae to Deraeocorinae, tribus Termatophylini Renter. Redescriptions and illustrations of the genus and its single species Seychellesius niger (Distant) are given.

One new genus and seven new species of Phoridae (Diptera) are described from Bialowieska Forest in Poland, namely Poloniphora Disney & Durska gen, n. with the species P. bialoviensis Disney sp. n., Megaselia henrydisneyi Durska sp. n., M. joannae Disney sp. n., M. marekdurskii Disney sp. n., M. teresamajewskae Disney sp. n.: M. trojani Disney sp. n., Phora michali Disney sp. n., The new genus shows affinity with Australasian genera, Beckerina Malloch and Eocene fossils erroneously assigned to Megaselia in the past.

Pistacia palaestina (Anacardiaceae) is a common tree in the natural forest of Mt. Carmel, Israel, and the primary host of five common species of gall-forming aphids (Sternorrhyncha: Aphidoidea: Pemphigidae: Fordinae).

After a forest fire, resprouting P. palaestina trees, which are colonized by migrants from outside the burned area, become \"ecological islands\" for host-specific herbivores.
A portion of the Carmel National Park was destroyed by fire in September of 1989. The same winter, thirty-nine resprouting trees that formed green islands in the otherwise barren environment were identified and marked. Tree growth was extraordinarily Vigorous during the first year after the fire, but shoot elongation declined markedly in subsequent years. Recolonization of the 39 \"islands\" by the Fordinae was studied for six consecutive years. Although the life cycle of the aphids and the deciduous phenology of the tree dictate that the \"islands\" must be newly recolonized every year, the results of this study show that trees are persistently occupied once colonized. This is probably due to establishment of aphid colonies on the roots of secondary hosts near each tree following the first successful production of a gall.
Differences in colonization success of different species could be related to both the abundance of different aphid species in the unburned forest and the biological characteristics of each aphid species.

Skuhravý V.: The Needle-Shortening Gall Midge Thecodiplosis Brachyntera (Schwägr.) on the Genus Pinus. Rozpravy ČSAV 10, Ser. Mathematics and Natural Science, Academia, Praha, 1991, 104 pp., 32 Figs.

The univoltine leaf miner Chromatomyia fuscula (Zetterstedt) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a regular cereal pest in Scandinavia. The fly and its most important parasitoids were studied in a 15.5 ha organically-grown field in southern Norway. Each year (1992-1997), one Malaise trap was placed in the spring barley part (2.5 ha) of the field, and (except for 1994) another along the nearest wooded boundary for the whole season. Because of crop rotation, the traps changed position every year. C. fuscula and 15 parasitoid species previously reared from C. fuscula were sorted from the catches.
Few C. fuscula were trapped in the boundary, suggesting that at least the lower vegetation strata were unimportant for the overwintering fly (C. fuscula overwinters as an adult). The parasitoid complex was remarkably stable over years, and 13-15 of the species were: found each year (habitats combined); 0-6 of the species were not found in both habitats each year. Only 4 species attained fractions higher than 10% of the total annual catches in both habitats during the 6 years: the larval parasitoids Diglyphus begini (Ashmead) and Hemiptarsenus unguicellus (Zetterstedt), and the pupal parasitoids Cyrtogaster vulgaris Walker and Chrysocharis pubicornis (Zetterstedt). In the boundary, C. vulgaris dominated every year (43-83%). In the crop, this species alternated with D. begini (1992, 1994) or H. unguicellus (1997) as the dominant species.
In most years, the catches of both the leaf miner and its parasitoids were larger in the crop than in the boundary, but the species number and composition were fairly similar in the two habitats. The parasitoid diversity (Shannon-Wiener H') tended to be higher in the crop (0.8-2.0) than in the boundary (0.8-1.8). Correspondingly, the evenness (both Shannon-Wiener J' and species rank on In abundance) was higher, and the dominance (Berger-Parker) lower, in the crop than in the boundary. Every year, overwintered C. fuscula invaded the crop, but only in 1993 and 1997 did the trapping reveal a distinct next generation, suggesting a very high pre-adult mortality the other years. In 1993 and 1997, C. vulgaris and D. begini had rather similar abundances in the crop, and the lowest combined fractions (less than 60%) of the years, leading to the highest diversity and the lowest dominance through the 6 years (in both habitats).
Our results indicate that the boundary was part of the parasitoids' foraging/overwintering area, and that the boundary was more important to the parasitoids than to their leaf miner host. Boundaries therefore seem to be important for the control of C. fuscula.

Eumerus purpurariae, described from the Canary Islands (Atlantic), has been reared from the stems (platyclades) of the cactus Opuntia maxima (the first known host) on Nueva Tabarca, a Mediterranean island close to the Iberian coast. The egg, larva and puparium of E. purpurariae, as well as its life cycle on the above host-plant are described. The feeding behaviour of the larva in relation to the cephalopharyngeal skeleton morphology is analysed. Based on the present data, comparative table containing the main morphological characteristics of the injurious Eumerus species of the Palaearctic region is presented.

Screening for puparium formation accelerating activity of neuropeptides and/or analogues belonging to 14 different peptide families revealed the strong activity of members and analogues of the pyrokinin/PBAN (pheromone biosynthesis activating neurohormone) family that all share the common C-terminal sequence, FXPRLamide (X = V, T, S, or G). Both pupariation behaviour and cuticular tanning can be accelerated by a C-terminal pentapeptide fragment composed of only the FTPRLamide sequence. Truncation of the C-terminal sequence to the tetrapeptide TPRLa did not diminish either aspect of the activity. Markedly reduced, but still significant, activity was observed after further truncation to the pyrokinin C-terminal tripeptide. The RLa terminal fragment showed no activity. Thus the C-terminal tripeptide appears to be the active core for pupariation acceleration. The core sequence for a maximum response is the C-terminal tetrapeptide TPRLa. This represents a major difference from the activity profile observed in other pyrokinin assays, in which the C-terminal pentapeptide is required. The C-terminal amide group is also of great importance to pupariation acceleration activity, as LPK acid induces a large drop in threshold activity. Periviscerokinin-2 contains a C-terminal tripeptide sequence (PRVamide) that is quite similar to the pyrokinin C-terminal tripeptide PRLamide and, accordingly, elicits a lower level pupariation acceleration activity. The locust pyrokinin Lom-MT-TV preferentially promotes acceleration of the behavioural over the tanning aspects of pupariation and can therefore, in large measure, provide a means of separating the two aspects. Ligation experiments demonstrated that the effect of the LPK analogues on pupariation behaviour is likely mediated through the CNS, while the action on cuticular tanning is of a peripheral nature.

The development of the Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande; Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was studied at six temperatures between 10 and 35°C. Developmental rate increased linearly as rearing temperature increased. It was estimated that 268 degree-days, above a threshold temperature of 7.9°C, were required to complete development from egg to adult. These data were related to records of field temperatures in the West Midlands region of the UK, to estimate the potential number of generations per year that could complete development in outdoor conditions. Using this data, a maximum of between three and five generations could have developed annually between 1986 and 1995, (in the absence of factors impairing continuous development). The application and relevance of this data as an indicator of the potential range of F. occidentalis is discussed.

First and third instar larvae of Aepopsis robini (Laboulbène, 1849) are studied, redescribed, and illustrated. The larvae are characterised by three unique and likely autapomorphic character states within known members of the supertribe Trechitae: (1) apex of antennomere 4 has only one conical sensillun 1; (2) setae FR₁₀ and FR₁₁ on frontale are removed basally on dorsal surface from the apical margin; (3) terga of meso- and metathorax lack pore ME_a, and abdominal terga 1-8 lack pore TE_a.

Five Trichoptera species, representing four different families of three suborders, have been examined for sex chromatin status in relation to their sex chromosome system. These were Hydropsyche sp., Polycentropus flavomaculatus (Pictet), Rhyacophila sp., Anabolia furcata Brauer and Limnephilus decipiens (Kolenatý). None of the species displayed sex-specific heterochromatin in highly polyploid nuclei of the Malpighian tubule cells. Such sex chromatin is a characteristic trait of the heterogametic female sex in the sister order Lepidoptera; it is derived from the heterologous sex chromosome W. Hence, the absence of sex chromatin in somatic nuclei of Trichoptera females indicated the lack of a W chromosome in their karyotype. Correspondingly, diploid chromosome sets of the females consisted of an odd chromosome number, two sets of autosomes and one sex chromosome Z. Thus, the Z/ZZ chromosome mechanism of sex determination has been confirmed. In pachytene and postpachytene oocytes, the Z chromosome having no pairing partner formed a univalent. In Hydropsyche sp., the Z-univalent was distinct as a compact, positively heteropycnotic element. Whereas, in two other caddis-flies, P. flavomaculatus and L. decipiens, it formed a negatively heteropycnotic thread. In postpachytene nuclei of nurse cells of A. furcata, two sister chromatids of the Z chromosome separated as a result of chromosome degeneration and formed a negatively heteropycnotic pseudobivalent. The species-specific differences in pycnosis may reflect a transcriptional activity/inactivity of the Z chromosome during meiotic prophase. The absence of sex chromatin and the sex chromosome system in Trichoptera are characters in common with the "primitive" Lepidoptera. This supports a hypothesis that the comm

The first detailed description of larvae of Ptecticus Loew is presented for P. brunettii and P. flavifemoratus from West Malaysia. There are pronounced morphological and behavioural differences between the last larval instar, inside whose cast cuticle the pupa remains, and earlier instars. The larval mouthparts are similar to those of other known Stratiomyidae larvae but may display a set of autapomorphic characters. The structure of the mandibular-maxillary complex suggests that larvae of Ptecticus are micropantophagous scavengers that feed chiefly upon microorganisms. The larvae of both species are associated with decaying bamboo shoots; P. brunettii inhabits the space between the culm sheaths and P. flavifemoratus lives in water-filled shoot stumps. This is the first record of aquatic Sarginae larvae and egg plastron in the Stratiomyidae. The life cycle and behaviour of P. brunettii and P. flavifemoratus is described and the resource partitioning of stratiomyids and xylomyids associated with bamboo is discussed.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the indirect effects of soil salinity on a caterpillar that induces gall formation on a non-halophilic plant. Larvae of Epiblema scudderiana (Clemens) were allowed to feed on potted goldenrods (Solidago altissima L.) treated with 3 concentrations of NaCl (0, 8,000, 16,000 PPM). Experiments were also carried out with the larvae of two species of leaf beetles, Trirhabda borealis Blake, a leaf-chewer, and Microrhopala vittata F., a leaf-miner, to determine the influence of feeding guild. Adding salt to the soil affected both the plant and insect herbivores. The biomass of roots and shoots as well as root/shoot ratios of salt-stressed plants were lower, relative to controls. The biomass of the fully grown larvae and galls were decreased for the plants treated with the highest salt concentration. The percentage of biomass allocated to the gall was increased by soil salinity. All gall-inducing larvae completed their development (from second to final instar) even though their biomass was significantly reduced in the 16,000 PPM treatment. Soil salinity increased nitrogen concentrations in both gall and stem (normal) tissues but the levels were always higher in the gall. The salt treatments also increased sodium and potassium concentrations in galls and stems. Interestingly, sodium concentrations as well as the ratio of sodium ions to potassium ions increased more rapidly in the stem compared with the gall. Responses of folivorous insects to salt-stressed plants varied. Leaf-chewing larvae ate smaller amounts of plant tissue with high salt content compared with control, which also resulted in shorter feeding periods. The performance of the leaf-mining insect was not affected. However, it was able to complete its larval development within a smaller portion of the leaves. This study showed that soil salinity has a strong negative effect on S. altissima, especially on root development. Conversely, salt stress effects seemed to be progressively decreasing from the stem to the gall to the gall-inducer, which suggests that the gall tissue might act as a buffer against drastic changes in the mineral balance of the host plant. Nevertheless, it seems that unless the host plant dies, larvae of E. scudderiana can always produce a gall in which they can complete their development. On the other hand, leaf-chewing insects appeared to be sensitive to salt-rich tissues since they were deterred by them. Leaf-miners could complete their development with fewer food without any effect on their growth, suggesting that the peculiar tissues on which they feed within leaves became more abundant or nutritious in salt-treated plants.

Aphis hieracii Schrank (apterous and alate viviparous female, ovipara, male) is defined, along with description of three new species: A. heiei sp. n. (apt. and al; viv. fem.) on Hieracium umbellatum from Denmark, A. curtiseta sp. n. (apt. viv. fem., fundatrix, ovipara and male) on Hieracium (Pilosella) spp. from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Moldova and the Ukraine (Crimea), and Aphis mohelnensis sp. n. (apt. and al. viv. fem.) on H. (P.) echioides from the Czech Republic, H. (P.) bauhinii from Bulgaria and H. virosum from Uzbekistan. The latter species differs from A. hieracii in having a long ultimate rostral segment, shorter processus terminalis and, in alate females, more numerous secondary rhinaria. Additonal notes on taxonomy, host plants and distribution of A. hieracii and A. pilosellae are given. Records of Aphis fabae s. lat, and A. frangulae s. lat, on Hieracium spp., are reviewed and a key to the seven species of Aphis on Hieracium is provided.

Genetic characteristics of the first three mutants found in P. apterus L.; white (w/w) 1965, yellow (y/y) 1966 and melanotic (m/m) 1973 have been described in detail. Exact Mendelian proportions of 1 : 1 and 3 : 1 in all standard test crosses and absence of sexual linkage revealed that each of these mutations was inherited as a single autosomal recessive gene. The dihybrid and trihybrid crosses showed that the w gene is epistatic over y. The absence of linkage shows that each of the described mutant genes is situated on a different chromosome. During 30 years of sustained rearings of P. apterus, the white (w/w) and yellow (y/y) mutants never originated de novo, whereas the melanotic (m/m) mutants originated independently from the macropterous strain three times. Triple recessive (w y m) white melanotic strain has been maintained and used for some genetic investigations for over 20 years.

Frenae are forewing-holding ridges situated in the Heteroptera parallel to the lateral sides of mesoscutellum, and covered by a squamiform, overlapping, glabrous microsculpture. The situation found in Rectilamina sp. (Dipsocoromorpha: Schizopteridae: Hypselosomatinae) suggests that each single squamiform element is homologous to a strongly modified microtrichium, and that, at least in this case, there is no basic difference between microtrichium and acanthus.

Taxonomic limits of the family Anthomyzidae are prescribed. Two fossil genera are affirmed, viz. Protanthomyza Hennig, 1965 (Baltic amber) and Grimalantha gen. n. (type species: G. vulnerata sp. n.) described from Dominican amber. Fourteen extant genera are recognized, including Chamaebosca Speiser, 1903 (= Penquistus Kieffer, 1906 syn. n.) and Apterosepsis Richards, 1962. New diagnoses of the latter two genera and redescriptions of their type species are given and their relationships are discussed. Chamaebosca cursor (Kieffer, 1906) becomes a new combination. The monotypic genus Echidnocephalodes Sabrosky, 1980 is removed from Anthomyzidae, newly diagnosed and its type species E. barbatus (Lamb, 1914) redescribed and a lectotype designated. Echidnocephalodes is considered to be related to Periscelididae and/or Aulacigastridae, particularly to those genera with symmetrical male postabdomen. The inferred phylogeny of the Anthomyzidae, based on cladistic analysis, is presented. The Opomyzidae are confirmed as a sister-group of the Anthomyzidae, while Protanthomyza is found to be the most primi tive anthomyzid genus forming a sister-group to all recent genera plus the fossil Grimalantha gen. n. The monophylies of the latter group of genera, and of the Anthomyzidae as a whole, are demonstrated. The genus Protanthomyza is classified in a new subfamily Protanthomyzinae, and all remaining genera are placed in the subfamily Anthomyzinae Frey, 1921. An annotated world checklist of the family Anthomyzidae is appended.

Certain alkanes or their mixture present on the surface of ladybird elytra is important in the recognition of potential mates. Similar chemicals are present in the tracks of larvae, which deter conspecific female ladybirds from laying eggs in aphid colonies already being attacked by larvae. Finally, the shell of ladybird eggs is covered with alkanes that deter other species of ladybirds from eating the eggs. In each case the alkanes are similar although they fulfil different functions. There are, therefore, indications that ladybirds exploit their natural product with parsimonious versatility.

Two aeshnid dragonflies are described from the Lower Miocene deposits in the Bílina mine in the north of the Czech Republic, including a new genus and species of Anactini, Merlax bohemicus gen. n., sp. n., and a further specimen assigned to the genus Aeshna.