Reversal of heartbeat was monitored in vivo by noninvasive, multisensor, thermo-cardiographic and pulse-light, opto-cardiographic techniques. The dorsal vessel was sectioned at the beginning, in the middle and near the end of the abdomen. Changes in the heartbeat were simultaneously monitored in both the disconnected anterior and posterior sections of the heart. The results revealed the existence of a caudal regulatory cardiac centre located in the fused A₇-A₁₀ abdominal segments. Posterior sections, containing this terminal ampulla of the heart always exhibited a more or less normal heartbeat reversal, including both anterograde and retrograde pulsations. This shows that the forward-oriented as well as the reciprocal, backward-oriented peristaltic waves of the heart are both regulated from the posterior regulatory center, without involvement of the cephalic region. The cardiac pulsations in the anterior sections of the heart were paralysed and seriously impaired by the lesions. During the acute phase after the lesions, anterior sections showed only some convulsion-like, unidirectional, backward-oriented peristaltic pulsations of low frequency. Within one or two days after the lesions, isolated anterior sections of the heart developed a subsidiary heartbeat regulation associated with the oscillating, bi-directional peristaltic waves running alternatively, forward and backward in opposite directions.
After a few days, the previously paralysed anterior sections of the heart were able to develop perfectly coordinated patterns of heartbeat reversal. At this time, the two asynchronous heartbeat patterns ran separately in each of the divided sections of the heart. One or two weeks later, reversal of the heartbeat occasionally occurred synchronously along the entire length of the dorsal vessel. Sectioning of the ventral nerve cord, removal of the cephalic nervous system (brain, frontal ganglion, suboesophageal ganglion and the associated nerves) or removal of the fused terminal abdominal ganglionic mass and adjacent caudal nerves, had no effect on the pattern of heartbeat reversal. These facts indicate that the pupal heart of M. sexta operates purely myogenically, like the human heart. The myogenic pacemakers of the caudal regulatory cardiac centre (analogous to the atrio-ventricular nodes of the human heart) are autonomous, generating inherent rhythmicity without intervention from the nervous system. Development of subsidiary pacemakers regulating rhythmicity in the lesioned myocardium and restitution of the synchronized contracting integrity between the two disconnected sections of the heart are new cardiological features, which merit further investigation.

The number of species of migratory Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) reported each year at a site in the south of the UK has been rising steadily. This number is very strongly linked to rising temperatures in SW Europe. It is anticipated that further climate warming within Europe will increase the numbers of migratory Lepidoptera reaching the UK and the consequences of this invasion need urgent attention.

The oviposition sites of the xerophilous ecotype of M. alcon (= "Maculinea rebeli") were surveyed in the managed (transitional) zone of the Aggtelek National Park and Biosphere Reserve in Northern Hungary. The M. alcon population is distributed over a territory of about 3 ha. In 2001, habitat reconstruction with selective cutting of shrubs and mowing, was started in this area. The number of stems of Gentiana cruciata (the food plant for the young larvae) and M. alcon eggs layed on them were counted in a selected area within this 3 ha: before (in 1992, 1993 and 1998) and after habitat reconstruction (in 2003, 2004 and 2005). In 2004 and 2005, a detailed study was carried out in order to detect potentially significant factors influencing the egg laying behaviour of females. The average number of intact flowering stems per quadrate was 2.68 and was clearly decreasing before management started. In contrast, there were five times higher (15.06) and increasing numbers of stems per quadrate right after habitat reconstruction. The two periods also differed in the percentage of flowering stems, which was very low before habitat reconstruction. The average number of eggs per square was low (6.8) and fluctuated considerably before management started. In contrast, the egg count was high (160.3) and increased consistently after the site was managed. The short grass sward created in the area proved to be advantageous both for the growth of the host plant and for the Maculinea population. The egg laying preference of the females was positively affected by the number of stems per clump, the height of the stems, the number of whorls with flowers and the difference between the height of the stems of the host plant and the surrounding vegetation. Significantly more eggs were found on large clumps of stems than expected on the basis of their availability for egg-laying. Egg counts were strongly correlated with all the measured characteristics of the food plant, which significantly correlated with each other. The interaction term indicated that the number of whorls with flowers is slightly more influential for egg laying than the other characteristics. There were significantly more eggs on the adaxial surface of the leaves and flower buds than on other parts of the food plant.

The aphid alarm pheromone is known to trigger wing induction in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum). In reaction to alarm pheromone, aphids drop off the plant or walk away. While searching for a new feeding site they repeatedly encounter other members of the aphid colony and this increased contact rate is assumed to be important for wing induction ("pseudo-crowding" hypothesis). Because the encounter rate is a function of aphid colony size, wing induction in aphids in the presence of a predator should be a function of the number of aphids on the plant. We placed two, seven or 13 adult pea aphids on bean plants, and exposed the different-sized colonies to synthetic alarm pheromone to test the density-dependence of predator-induced wing induction. The mean percentage of winged morphs among the offspring produced on the plants ranged from 10 to 80 percent and increased both with aphid number and exposure to alarm pheromone. There was no synergy between aphid number and alarm pheromone exposure indicating that both factors are additive. The implications for aphid metapopulation dynamics are discussed.

Dead wood of arborescent Euphorbia plants in the Macaronesian islands and Morocco has a diverse fauna of wood-boring beetles. Thirty-eight species were found in four species groups of Euphorbia, including 29 species of scolytine bark beetles, six species of cossonine weevils, two species of Laemophloeidae and one of Monotomidae. All scolytines (but not cossonines and cucujoids) have narrow host preferences, using only one host group for feeding and reproduction. The number of islands on which each species was found was also limited, resulting in geographically distinct guilds for each Euphorbia host. The majority of species (26) were found on the E. lamarckii species complex, followed by E. balsamifera (13) and the succulents E. canariense (12) and E. echinus (3), while only two species were found on the rare montane species, E. longifolia, in Madeira. Up to six or seven species could be found in a single branch of E. lamarckii and E. canariense, respectively, but more than half of the plants had fewer than three species. Putative niche partitioning was indicated by the alternative utilization of different tissues in E. balsamifera and different moisture preferences in the succulent E. canariense. Several unusual features of bark beetle reproductive biology were also observed, including infrequent communal nesting and very small broods. Taken together with the phylogenetic, geographical and biological data now available for most species associated with dead Euphorbia, several of the beetle guilds should provide promising model systems for studying of species interactions and community structure.

The diapause inducement condition, cold hardiness, and flight ability in Cry1Ac-resistant (BtR) and Cry1Ac-susceptible (96S) strains of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) were compared in the laboratory. The BtR strain was derived from the 96S strain and shows 1375-fold resistance to the Cry1Ac toxin after having been selected for 52 generations. Compared with the 96S strain, the Bt-resistant strain was more likely to go into diapause under a short-photoperiod environment. At 11L : 13D, 12L : 12D and 13L : 11D photoperiods, the percentages of BtR insects entering diapause were 72.7%, 82.9% and 68.7%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the 96S strain (58.6%, 67.4% and 46.3%, respectively) under the same conditions. The supercooling points (SCP) and freezing points (FP) were not significantly different between the BtR and 96S strains. The LT₅₀ (50% lethal time) and LT₉₀ (90% lethal time) of BtR pupae were also not significantly different from those of the 96S strain at -15°C. The moths from both strains had similar flight ability when their larvae were fed with nontoxic control diet. However, the total flight distance of these BtR moths was 56.2 km whose larvae fed on normal diet, which was more than twice as much as for those feeding on Bt diet (26.2 km). Flight duration for these BtR moths was longer after feeding on normal diet (11.6 h) than after feeding on Bt diet (7.3 h).

The oviposition deterring effects of fresh larval tracks of Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.), Ceratomegilla undecimnotata (Schneider), Cycloneda limbifer Casey, and Harmonia dimidiata (F.) on C. sexmaculata females were compared in standard laboratory choice tests. Moreover, the persistence of intraspecific effects of C. sexmaculata larval tracks were investigated. Fresh tracks of C. sexmaculata, C. limbifer and C. undecimnotata larvae effectively deterred C. sexmaculata females from ovipositing. The effect of fresh larval tracks of H. dimidiata was not statistically significant. The oviposition-deterring effects of 10 d-old conspecific larval tracks were considerably lower than those of fresh tracks, but remained significant. Clutch sizes were smaller in the blank test without larval tracks than in choice tests with fresh tracks of conspecific, C. limbifer, C. undecimnotata, H. dimidiata larvae and with 10 d-old tracks of conspecific larvae. The study indicates that semiochemicals in the tracks of conspecific and heterospecific coccinellid larvae can contribute considerably to the spacing of C. sexmaculata offspring among prey resources of differing quality and that conspecific as well as heterospecific larval tracks can influence clutch size.

At a nest site in Northern Italy of females of the weevil-hunting digger wasp Cerceris arenaria L. (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) the provisioning activity and predator-prey relationship were investigated, in particular their specialization in choice of prey. Females were active from middle of June to end of July, and from 8.00 to 19.00. The wasps made provisioning flights throughout the day, mostly in late morning and early afternoon. Individual wasps generally only hunted for 1 or 2 prey species of all those available, maybe because of their higher abundance. The size of prey, which is positively correlated with that of the female wasps, seems to be the main factor determining choice of prey. The nature of the provisioning flights seems to be related to the size of the prey, being more frequent and shorter for smaller weevils. The correlation between prey and wasp biomass is discussed in relation to the size range of the wasps.

The fecundity of the pseudococcid predators Nephus includens (Boheman) and N. bisignatus (Kirsch) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), fed on Planococcus citri Risso (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), was studied at several constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 32.5 and 35°C). With additional data for the development of the immature stages, life-fecundity tables were constructed and some population parameters calculated. The average total fecundities of N. includens at the above temperatures were 49.2, 97.8, 162.8, 108.5, 87.4 and 31.1 eggs/female, and average longevities 99.5, 84.7, 69.5, 61.1, 49.6 and 30.1 days, respectively. The net reproductive rates (R_o) were 8.0, 32.2, 60.7, 32.6, 20.7 and 2.6 females/female, and the intrinsic rates of increase (r_m) 0.014, 0.041, 0.083, 0.086, 0.077 and 0.024 females/female/day, respectively. The average total fecundities of N. bisignatus at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 32.5 ^¿C were 54.7, 72.1, 96.9, 56.0 and 22.8 eggs/female, and average longevities 116.1, 108.7, 71.8, 68.8 and 43.7 days, respectively. The net reproductive rates (R_o) were 13.9, 26.4, 31.3, 15.2 and 3.6 females/female and the intrinsic rates of increase (r_m) were 0.017, 0.035, 0.060, 0.051 and 0.024 females/female/day, respectively. The survival of females at each temperature was fitted using a Weibull distribution [S_(t) = exp(-(t/b)^c)]. Furthermore two mathematical models [Enkegaard equation: F = (a+b+x).e^(c+d.x), Analytis equation: F = a.(x-x_min)ⁿ .(x_min- x)^m] were fitted to the fecundity data.

The influence of photoperiod on the thermal requirements for development was discovered for the first time in insects during experiments on the linden-bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus. The effect of photoperiod on the duration of linden-bug development at five constant temperatures (20, 22, 24, 26 and 28°C) was measured and the thermal requirements for development at three photoperiods (14, 17 and 20 h light per day) were calculated. Bugs from four geographic populations were used in these experiments: Pyatigorsk (44°02´N, 43°04´E), Borisovka (50°36´N, 36°01´E), Mikhailov (54°15´N, 39°0´E) and Ryazan (54°36´N, 39°42´E). From the values of individual development times at different temperatures the coefficient of linear regression of development rate (the inverse of the duration) on temperature and the thermal threshold for development were calculated. Both these parameters were found to decrease significantly with decrease in day-length for all four populations studied. It means that at shorter day-lengths nymphal development is less dependent on temperature compared to the development at longer day-lengths. These effects seem to be adaptive. The development times of nymphs at relatively high temperatures (above 24-25°C) are shorter under long-days than under short days which should be advantageous at the height of summer when the days are long and the weather is warm. In the contrast, at relatively low temperatures (below 24-25°C) the nymphs develop significantly faster under short-days than under long days, which is advantageous at the end of summer as it allows the nymphs to reach the adult stage, the only stage capable of overwintering. The influence of photoperiod on the thermal reaction norm appeared to be more or less gradual, i.e. the shorter the day-length the shallower the slope of the regression line of development rate on temperature and the lower the thermal threshold for development. An analysis of the literature shows that this effect of photoperiod on the thermal requirements for development is widespread among insects but has been overlooked by previous authors. The authors conclude that the variation in the development time observed in insects at different seasons, photoperiods or food regimes, or from different populations, etc., are generally due to some modification of the thermal reaction norms and more specifically to differences in the thermal requirements for development.

A fragment encoding melittin cDNA from Apis cerana cerana fused with glutathione S-transferase gene was inserted into the multiple cloning site of the pBacFastHTb to construct a recombinant donor plasmid, pBacHT-GSTAccM, which was transposed to the target bacmid in E. coli (DH10) by Tn7 transposition function. Then the recombinant baculovirus Bacmid-GSTAccM was transfected into Tn-5B1-4 cells of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, mediated by lipofectin. The expressed protein of about 34 kDa was detected by Western blotting and triple antibody sandwich ELISA, indicating that the recombinant protein is the fusion protein of GSTAccM. Thin layer scanning showed that the expression level of GSTAccM was about 7% of the total cell protein. Purified and recovered recombinant melittin of A. c. cerana showed bioactivity in activating rabbit platelets to aggregate.

Protomyrmeleon daohugouensis sp. n. and Protomyrmeleon lini sp. n., two new species of Protomyrmeleontidae from the Middle Jurassic of Jiulongshan Formation are the first Chinese representatives of this Mesozoic odonatopteran family. The type specimen of P. lini is exceptionally well preserved, showing several particular wing and body structures that were unknown, viz. unique shape of tarsal claws, extreme thoracic skewness, presence of three pairs of long spurs on all femora and tibiae. The type "A" (sensu Nel et al., 2005) of wing venation (i.e. with a very long bridge between IR2 and RP3/4) corresponds to that of the protomyrmeleontid fore wing. The nearly complete absence of the meso-metathoracic interpleural suture, newly discovered in the Protomyrmeleontidae, can be considered as a synapomorphy of the clade Protozygoptera + Odonata.

The mouthparts of the spoon-winged lacewing Nemoptera sinuata are adapted for the uptake of pollen and nectar. Form and function of the mouthparts are described, and the technique of food uptake is discussed in context with flower-visiting behaviour and floral architecture of the preferred flowers. The maxillae are the main organs for food uptake. The brush-shaped laciniae, galeae and maxillary palpi form a functional unit which can be extended by the action of the cardo-stipes joint. Video analyses of the mouthpart movements distinguished different patterns of maxillary motions which occur in nectar feeding or pollen collecting. The flower-visiting behaviour and the specialised mouthparts of the Nemopteridae are derived traits which probably evolved from predatory and biting/chewing mouthparts within the Neuroptera.

Recent compilations of species richness for 54 European countries and large islands and linear spatial autocorrelation modelling were used to infer the influence of area and environmental variables on the number of species of clearwing moths (Sesiidae) in Europe. Area corrected species richness of rhizophagous Sesiidae peaked at about 40°N and decreased towards higher and lower latitudes. Most species rich was Greece (45 species), Bulgaria (37), Italy (35) and Romania (35). The area corrected species richness of xylophagous Sesiidae peaked at about 45°N with France (24) and Italy (22) being most species rich. Species richness was significantly positively correlated with area and the average yearly difference in temperature, and significantly negatively correlated with latitude. Island and mainland SAR slopes did not differ significantly, however island species richness per unit area appeared to be about 2 to 2.5 times lower than mainland species richness.

It is speculated that the wasps that attack the seeds of gymnosperm trees (conifers) before they are fertilized can induce unfertilized seeds to accumulate storage material whereas those that attack after the seeds are fertilized selectively oviposit in fertilized seeds. Moreover, in the case of the wasps that oviposit after fertilization of seed, the presence of unfertilized seeds and seedless fruit may increase plant fitness via reduced parasitism of the viable seed. To determine the relationship between the two strategies, host manipulation or selective oviposition, and the time of fertilization of the seeds of angiosperm host plants, fertilized seed of Ilex integra Thunb. was dissected out of berries either immediately after the flight of the seed wasp Macrodasyceras hirsutum Kamijo in the field or the death of adults in the laboratory. The wasps oviposited mostly in fertilized seeds and rarely in unfertilized seeds. Unfertilized seeds, produced by flowers enclosed in pollen exclusion bags, and then exposed to wasps did not contain immature wasps or storage material, which indicates that the wasp did not oviposit in unfertilized seeds. These results support the above mentioned hypothesis and indicate that the substantial proportion of seedless berries do not function as an egg sink.

The predatory lacewing Dichochrysa prasina Burmeister can feed and reproduce on various aphid species. However, other species such as the two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch may serve as an alternative prey for this predator in the field in periods when the population density of aphids is low. In peach orchards in Northern Greece D. prasina larvae are often found during the summer months on leaves infested with T. urticae. The development and reproduction of D. prasina fed on T. urticae at a series of different constant temperatures were studied. The percentages of D. prasina larvae that completed their development when fed on T. urticae ranged from 12 to 60% depending on the temperature over the range from 20 to 30°C, whereas at temperatures above 33°C no larvae survived. Longevity and egg production of D. prasina females fed during the larval stages on T. urticae were also determined and certain demographic parameters such as the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m), mean generation time and net reproductive rate were estimated. Over the range of temperatures from 20 to 27°C, the r_m values were not significantly different and varied from 0.06629 to 0.07030. Based on the results of the present study, the possible effect of the availability of T. urticae as prey for D. prasina during summer, when its main prey species is scarce, is discussed.

The pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus) is one of the most important insect pests of oilseed rape (Brassica napus), and extensive use of insecticides is required to protect crop yields. To meet the challenges set by agricultural demands for more sustainable production and changing climate more information about pest biology and population genetics is needed. Using genomic Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis, DNA polymorphism was studied in 14 field populations of pollen beetles, collected during 2004 in six European countries (Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Sweden, and UK). Using one primer combination 410 polymorphic DNA fragments were obtained based on analysis of single beetles. AFLP profiles were analysed with similarity measures using the Nei and Li coefficient and dendrograms generated. Dendrograms constructed from distance matrices revealed clustering by population origin and assignment analysis generally supported the genotype classification. Principal component analysis of the fourteen groups resulted in wide dispersion but also connections between some groups. Statistical analysis using AMOVA showed that the levels of genetic variation within populations explained most of the variation. Migrant analysis suggested a low level of gene flow between pollen beetle populations at different geographical locations indicating little long range dispersal of pollen beetles. However, a Mantel test found no correlation between genetic and geographical distance. Apparently genetic differentiation among populations has a complex background and may involve factors such as local adaptation and founder effects.

To understand the evolution of insect gut symbionts it is important to determine how they are passed on to the next generation. We studied this process in Erwinia species bacteria that inhabit the gut of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). This is a polyphagous herbivore and a world-wide pest in agricultural crops. With bacteria in the gut, the thrips larval development time can be shorter and its oviposition rate higher compared to bacteria-free thrips. Bacteria are not directly transmitted from mother to offspring, but larvae acquire bacteria from the leaves right after they hatch. These gut bacteria are present on the leaves on feeding sites used by other thrips before the larvae arrive, probably because these other thrips have deposited bacteria via faeces or regurgitation. In this study we addressed the question whether the transmission route of symbiotic bacteria influences the thrips feeding behaviour, and determined the feeding and oviposition preference of thrips, by giving them a choice between leaves with and leaves without prior grazing by other western flower thrips. This was studied for thrips with and thrips without gut bacteria. Young larvae prefer to feed on leaves that where grazed before by other thrips and females prefer to oviposit on these grazed leaves. These results are in contradiction to earlier studies that have found that thrips larvae fitness is lower on thrips damaged plants than on clean plants. This behaviour does however promote the establishment of gut bacteria in the thrips. The factors determining the preference for thrips-damaged leaves may be the physical leaf damage or odours that are produced by the plant, the bacteria or both.

The Tachyusa coarctata species group is revised. The species group is defined on the basis of the distinctly asperate punctation on elytra, the dense punctation on tergites III-V with interstices between punctures 1.5-2.0 times their diameter, and the dense, subrecumbent pubescence on the abdomen. The T. coarctata species group is composed of twenty three species restricted in occurrence to the Holarctic and Africa, including one new species described from Iran: Tachyusa frischi sp.n. A revised key to the species in this group is provided. An analysis of the phylogeny of the Tachyusa coarctata species group based on cladistic methods is presented and the phylogenetic relationships among species are discussed.

Six microsatellite markers were developed for the larch budmoth Zeiraphera diniana Guénée 1845, using two enrichment protocols. The number of alleles ranged from 3 to 15 per locus and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.09 to 0.98 for the 69 individuals genotyped. Using these markers significant genetic differentiation between one population from Poland and samples from Alpine populations in France and Switzerland (overall F_ST = 0.0298) was detected. However, the two Alpine samples did not differ significantly. These microsatellite markers are valuable tools for studying the population genetics of Zeiraphera diniana.

Habitat specificity is the most important factor affecting the regional distribution of dragonflies. Nevertheless, species with the highest specificity are not always the scarcest. Several important determinants of dragonfly density-distribution relationships were identified. Altitude preference and altitude range are significantly associated with dragonfly distribution. Some of the species that are habitat specialists but occur over a wide range of altitudes should be classified as rare but not endangered. This very simple principle is based on the assumption that habitat specialists have a very limited number of suitable biotopes. Obviously, dragonflies with a marginal distribution prefer a narrow range of altitudes (especially in terms of temperature limitation) and biotopes (effect of biogeography, marginality). Surprisingly, there is no "critical" life stage that is significantly associated with the regional distribution of dragonflies, although most species spend most time in the larval stage. Knowledge of the dispersal ability of particular species is limited, although it could significantly affect species survival and distribution.

The initially phytophagous caterpillars of Maculinea alcon and M. rebeli complete their development in Myrmica ant colonies as social parasites. Recent genetic studies show no differences at the species level among various populations of each butterfly taxa. Usually M. alcon and M. rebeli are identified by habitat and larval food plants (Gentianaceae) and host ant specificity is also considered to be an important feature. However most of the ecological characteristics overlap at least in some parts of their distributions. The developmental and survival characteristics of caterpillars reared by different Myrmica species were compared in laboratory experiments and in the field. Morphologically indistinguishable M. alcon and M. rebeli, which originated from Polish populations, are very similar in terms of host specificity i.e. larvae survived both with M. scabrinodis and M. sabuleti. However they showed different growth characteristics. The earlier flight period of M. rebeli, which is synchronized with the phenology of Gentiana cruciata, resulted from the quick growth of caterpillars in Myrmica nests in the pre-winter phase, when they gained about half of their final body biomass. After the end of winter they recommenced growth almost immediately. M. alcon larvae entered diapause shortly after adoption by ants and began to increase in weight significantly just one month after the onset of spring, which synchronized their development with that of their larval food plant, G. pneumonanthe. Therefore neither population group is transferable between habitats and should still be regarded, at least, as distinct conservational units.

Factors were examined that could be responsible for the predominance of Coccinella septempunctata (C7) in most habitats of the Palaearctic and for its successful invasion of the Nearctic Region. C7 is euryphagous, but less polyphagous than Harmonia axyridis or Coleomegilla maculata in that it cannot develop or reproduce on non-aphid food. The intraguild status of C7 is intermediate. Although adult size is large, preimaginal stages are palatable to those of H. axyridis and Adalia bipunctata, whereas it is not an intraguild predator of these species. Although these traits appear to be neutral or negative, many aspects of population plasticity are advantageous for C7, often acting in concert with a bet-hedging strategy. Given its high mobility and eurytopy, the inhibition of oviposition in the presence of conspecific larval trails represents an adaptive advantage that favors increased egg dispersal and lowers the risk of offspring mortality due to cannibalism. The ability to temporarily suspend oviposition, combined with heterogenous voltinism and diapause tendencies, enable a portion of C7 populations to feed and reproduce on unpredictably occurring aphid populations. An absence of reproductive diapause in males and pre-hibernation mating are other significant adaptations, along with the tendency to produce offspring in excess of the carrying capacity of local food resources. We suggest that one explanation for the broad geographic success of C7 resides in an ecological plasticity that is based on both genetic and phenotypic polymorphisms.

A water balance study was conducted on newly-emerged adults of seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, to explore how South India strain survives longer than Brazil strain in laboratory cultures. No difference between strains was noted with regard to dehydration tolerance, and water conservation features confirm classification of this species as xerophilic. There was no evidence for critical transition temperature (CTT), thereby safeguarding against excessive water loss as the temperature rises, or for critical equilibrium humidity (CEH), indicating that water is imbibed as a liquid. In contrast to the Brazil strain, adults of the South India strain were distinguished by a larger body size, resulting in a lower net transpiration rate with suppressed activation energy (E_a, permeability constant) for water loss, and a lower percentage body water content due to a higher dry mass (fat). These modifications for water balance of the South India strain link enhancing time for reproduction and distribution spread in the adult with the higher seed consumption/respiratory rate trait that has been previously reported for larvae of this strain.

A particular case of the alteration of the organization of a developmental module is presented, viz. mixed gynandromorphism in Creobroter gemmatus, in which a male exhibits the usual fore- and hind wing venation and shape of its sex, but patterns of coloration typical of females. Homologies between corresponding areas of the fore- and hind wings are suggested. "Feminization" is defined as the occurrence of traits typical of the female phenotype in a male, and is suggested as a plausible way in which insect wing morphology may be transformed.

A new genus, Trurlia Jałoszyński, in the tribe Cephenniini (Scydmaenidae: Scydmaeninae) is described. The type species is T. insana sp. n. from Sumatra; females of an undescribed species are also reported to occur in W Malaysia. Trurlia most closely resembles Cephennomicrus Reitter, but it is the first genus of the Scydmaenidae with entirely fused antennomeres 10 and 11, forming a large, oval, abruptly separated club. Based on a disarticulated female of Trurlia sp., the detailed morphology of the new genus is described and illustrated, and possible relationships with other genera of the tribe are discussed. Comments on evolution, polarity of characters and feeding strategy of the Cephenniini are included.

This paper reports the collecting of adult beetles and third-instar larvae of Coelocorynus desfontainei Antoine, 1999 in Cameroon and provides new data on the biology of this high-altitude Afromontane genus. It also presents the first diagnosis of this genus based on larval characters and examination of its systematic position in a phylogenetic context using 78 parsimony informative larval and adult characters. Based on the results of our analysis we (1) support the hypothesis that the tribe Trichiini is paraphyletic with respect to both Valgini and the rest of the Cetoniinae, and (2) propose that the Trichiini subtribe Cryptodontina, represented by Coelocorynus, is a sister group of the Valgini: Valgina, represented by Valgus. The larvae-only analyses were about twofold better than the adults-only analyses in providing a phylogenetic resolution consistent with the larvae + adults analyses. Only one of the ten clades was consistently supported by the analyses of both the larval and adult datasets, while the remaining nine were invariably strongly supported by one but not the other analysis, thus highlighting the importance of employing different data sources.

The role of predators and parasitoids in the regulation of insect populations is widely reported in the context of both pest and non-pest insects. However, this is not the case for pathogens (entomopathogens). Indeed, most studies on insect life history refer only to predators and parasitoids when considering natural enemy guilds, even though naturally occurring entomopathogens are undoubtedly more diverse and widespread. This is certainly the case with the Coccinellidae; the natural enemies of coccinellids have been the subject of a number of review articles but pathogens receive only brief mention. In this review we attempt to address the balance and consider the interactions of natural populations of Coccinellidae with entomopathogenic fungi. Most research on entomopathogens and Coccinellidae focuses on the non-target impact of biorational insecticides against coccinellids and the impact of fungal infections upon aggregations of overwintering coccinellids; with the former overwhelmingly dominating the literature. Given the prominence of coccinellids in classical and conservation biological control, it is surprising that studies have not measured the natural impact of pathogenic fungi upon introduced species or natural populations of Coccinellidae, as has been done with numerous insect pest species. Here we review the literature on the intriguing interactions between coccinellids and fungal pathogens. We examine the literature on direct infection (sub-lethal and lethal) of coccinellids by pathogenic (Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus) or parasitic (Hesperomyces virescens). We also consider the role of intra-guild predation (on the aphid-specific fungus Pandora neoaphidis and Beauveria bassiana) and finally indirect interactions such as coccinellids dispersing P. neoaphidis. We suggest that fungal pathogens are all too often forgotten natural enemies and future research should address the profound absence of knowledge in this field.

Qualitative and quantitative differences in prey are known to affect the life histories of predators. A laboratory study was used to evaluate the suitability of three aphid prey, Aphis gossypii, Aphis craccivora and Lipaphis erysimi, for the ladybird beetle, Anegleis cardoni (Weise). Development was fastest on A. gossypii followed by A. craccivora and L. erysimi. Percentage pupation, immature survival, adult weight and the growth index were all highest when reared on A. gossypii and lowest on L. erysimi. Similarly, oviposition period, lifetime fecundity and egg viability were all highest on a diet of A. gossypii, lowest on L. erysimi and intermediate on A. craccivora. Age-specific fecundity functions were parabolic. Adult longevity, reproductive rate and intrinsic rate of increase were all highest on A. gossypii and lowest on L. erysimi. Life table parameters reflected the good performance on A. gossypii and poor performance on L. erysimi. Estimates of individual fitness values for the adults reared on A. gossypii and A. craccivora were similar and higher than that of adults reared on L. erysimi. Thus, the three species of aphid can all be considered essential prey for A. cardoni.

The effect of multiple matings on the readiness with which mating occurred, fecundity, egg viability and adult longevity in the aphidophagous ladybird beetle, Coelophora saucia (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), was investigated under laboratory conditions. The time to onset of mating after previous pairing was found to decrease with increase in the number of matings. Multiply mated females had a higher fecundity and egg viability than single mated females. The trends in the results were analyzed using both binomial regression and the Gompertz equation. The best fitting curve was that based on the binomial equation, which indicates that 95% of the maximum theoretical fecundity was attained after mating 11 times and 95% of the maximum theoretical egg viability after mating 3 times. Unlike previous studies on ladybirds, a slight but statistically significant increase in female longevity was observed with increase in number of matings indicating that the male ejaculate might provide a supply of nutrients.