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Differences in the male calling songs of two sibling species of Cicada (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea) in GreecePaula C. SIMÕES, Michel BOULARD, Maria T. REBELO, Sakis DROSOPOULOS, Michael F. CLARIDGE, John C. MORGAN, José A. QUARTAUEur. J. Entomol. 97 (3): 437-440, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.067 Cicada orni L. is one of the most abundant and common species of cicada in Greece. However, this species was not found during recent field work on the Greek islands of Samos and Ikaria. Instead, the very closely related C. mordoganensis Boulard was found practically everywhere on these islands. C. orni and C. mordoganensis are very closely related species which are morphologically very similar (sibling species), even the male genitalia, and the acoustic signals produced by males during courtship and pair formation have the same general pattern. In order to describe the acoustic signals produced by these sibling species, temporal and spectral analyses were made of the calling songs of the males and certain acoustic variables were measured. Based on the duration of echemes, the number of pulse units they contain, the intervals between echemes and the number of echemes per second, the song of C. mordoganensis is distinct from that of C. orni. Cluster analysis of the acoustic characteristics of C. mordoganensis from Samos and Ikaria and of C. orni from the Greek mainland (Dionysos, north of Athens) gave a clear and distinct separation of these species. |
Effects of imidacloprid on Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) larval biology and locomotory behaviorCharles VINCENT, André FERRAN, Ludovic GUIGE, Jacques GAMBIER, Jacques BRUNEur. J. Entomol. 97 (4): 501-506, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.077 The effects of imidacloprid on 1-day-old third instars of Harmonia axyridis were assessed by topical treatment and contact with treated glass plates in laboratory bioassays. When 5 µl of imidacloprid solutions were applied topically, the LD50 was 0.085 g/l per insect after 24 h. Contact with imidacloprid-treated plates had little effect on the number of third instars that became adults. Average duration of larval development was not significantly affected by duration of contact and imidacloprid concentrations. There were no significant differences in maximal larval weight, weight gain and day at maximum larval weight. There were significant differences in average weight gain per day (from third instar to prepupa) after treatments with different imidacloprid concentrations. A temporary knockdown effect was observed with higher concentrations and longer durations of contact with treated plates. Compared with untreated third instars, contact with imidacloprid-treated plates caused an increase in time spent (in seconds) on the glass plates resulting from an increase in number of stops (per second) and angular speed (degrees per second) and a decrease in linear speed, excluding stops (mm/second). The changes in locomotory behavior (i.e., duration of stay on untreated plate, number of stops and angular speed) lasted up to 24 h after contact with imidacloprid-treated plates. |
Larval morphology and biology of two species of Aphodius (Plagiogonus) from the Iberian Peninsula (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae)José R. VERDÚ, Eduardo GALANTEEur. J. Entomol. 97 (3): 395-401, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.060 The larval morphology of Aphodius (Plagiogonus) nanus Fairmaire, 1860 and A. (P.) arenarius (Olivier, 1789) are described and redescribed, respectively. The common characters of both species, and the specific diagnostic characters are provided and discussed. The most important morphological characters of the larvae of Plagiogonus Mulsant, 1842 are the longitudinal alignment of the anterior setae of the stipes, the spatulate form of the posterior-lateral setae of the glossae of the hypopharynx, the slight development of the anal lobe slit, the form of the epitorma of the epipharynx, the slight sclerotization of the pternotormae and the relative length of second antennal segment. A key to the larvae of both species of Plagiogonus is presented along with life history data and the preferred food of these species. This study shows that A. arenarius and A. nanus feeding habits are closer to saprophagy than to coprophagy. |
Unconditioned and conditioned responses to colour in the predatory coccinellid, Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)Edward B. MONDOR, Jessie L. WARRENEur. J. Entomol. 97 (4): 463-467, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.071 We determined if mature ladybirds use colour to initially find suitable host plants. We also determined whether ladybird beetles are capable of associating characteristics such as colour with the presence of prey. Here, we show that the multicoloured Asian ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis, has a differential response to yellow compared to green colours. Naive ladybirds, of both sexes, make significantly more visits and spend more time on yellow vs. green coloured pillars. After pairing yellow and green colours with the presence or absence of aphid prey, ladybirds alter their foraging behaviour. Beetles conditioned to having food on both pillar colours exhibited the same responses as naive beetles, while beetles conditioned to only yellow or green pillars did not exhibit a preference for visiting or spending time on different colours. However, there was a trend towards females spending more time on pillar colours on which they received reinforcement, and males spending more time foraging on colours opposite to that which they were reinforced. Thus, H. axyridis is capable of responding to cues such as colour, and its foraging behaviour can be altered as a result of prior experience. |
Effects of structural heterogeneity of a laboratory arena on the movement patterns of adult Eriopis connexa and Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)Audrey A. GREZ, Paula VILLAGRÁNEur. J. Entomol. 97 (4): 563-566, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.088 We asked if the structural heterogeneity of a laboratory arena differentially affected the abandonment of the plot, residence time, locomotory rate, pause duration and turning rate of adult Eriopis connexa and Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). We simulated an increase in heterogeneity by distributing vertically-oriented toothpicks in a circular arena: one control (without toothpicks), one uniform plot (toothpicks every 1 cm) and one random plot (randomly distributed toothpicks). No food was provided inside the arena. Coccinellids were released individually in the centre of each plot and their movement was videotaped. Fewer H. variegata adults left the plots as these become more heterogeneous. E. connexa did not discriminate between plots in their residence time, but H. variegata remained longer in the uniform and longest in the random plots. H. variegata only stayed longer than E. connexa in the random plots. This resulted because adults of H. variegata were stationary for longer periods, moved more slowly and less linearly and explored a higher number of toothpicks than adults of E. connexa in more heterogeneous environments. Thus, the physical structure of the environment differentially affects the movement patterns of insects. Eriopis connexa seems to be less sensitive to structural heterogeneity than H. variegata. |
Adaptive preferential selection of young coccinellid hosts by the parasitoid wasp Dinocampus coccinellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)Michael E.N. MAJERUS, Irene E. GEOGHEGAN, Tamsin M.O. MAJERUSEur. J. Entomol. 97 (2): 161-164, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.030 Dinocampus coccinellae females which eclose in mid-summer have the opportunity to oviposit in overwintered or in newly eclosed coccinellid hosts. Given the short further longevity of overwintered hosts, offspring fitness would be increased by ovipositing preferentially in young hosts. Laboratory choice tests show that female D. coccinellae do exhibit such a preference. |
Improved methods of testing and release of Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) for aphid control in glasshousesJeroen Van SCHELT, Sandra MULDEREur. J. Entomol. 97 (4): 511-515, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.079 The gallmidge Aphidoletes aphidimyza is used commercially to control aphids infesting greenhouse crops such as sweet pepper and tomato. In this study we investigated several different ways of improving its use as a biocontrol agent. In the laboratory there was a very strong relation between the availability of spider's webs and successful mating. When mated in cages containing spider's webs a greater proportion of the females were mated and the females laid more eggs compared to the females in cages without spider's webs. As adults emerging from cocoons can crawl up through 15 cm of vermiculite it is possible to transport and release them from bottles, which can be placed open in a greenhouse instead of having to spread the material around the plants. Dispersal of adults from the bottles was measured by placing sentinel plants around a single release point. Eggs of the gallmidge were found on plants at distances up to 45 m from the release point. Intraguild predation of the eggs of the gallmidge by the mites Amblyseius degenerans and Amblyseius cucumeris was also assessed. |
Description of the early stages of Anomalipus plebejus plebejulus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Zimbabwe with notes on the classification of the OpatrinaeDariusz IWAN, Stanislav BEČVÁŘEur. J. Entomol. 97 (3): 403-412, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.062 Immature stages of a South African tenebrionid beetle, account is the first modern description of the egg and first and older larval instars of the genus Anomalipus and the subtribe Anomalipina. The significance of larval characters of Anomalipus and other relevant taxa for classification of the subfamily Opatrinae sensu Medvedev (1968) [= "opatrine lineage: Opatrini" sensu Doyen & Tschinkel (1982)] are discussed. A synopsis of Anomalipus plebejus plebejulus Endrödy-Younga, 1988, of the tribe Platynotini are described and illustrated. This Platynotini larvae is presented. |
Egg distribution in the large copper butterfly Lycaena dispar batavus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): Host plant versus habitat mediated effectsMark R. WEBB, Andrew S. PULLINEur. J. Entomol. 97 (3): 363-367, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.055 The large copper butterfly, Lycaena dispar batavus, a subspecies of much conservation interest, is host-specific to the great water dock, Rumex hydrolapathum, but little is known of the relationship between herbivore and host in wild populations. This study investigated the distribution of both R. hydrolapathum plants and L. d. batavus eggs in four different habitat types within the Weerribben National Park, The Netherlands, during the summer of 1993. As expected, host plant distribution strongly influenced that of its herbivore. Further, both species had significantly aggregated distributions, and that of R. hydrolapathum was in agreement with the negative binomial model. Host plant selection for oviposition showed no significant relationship with physical plant characteristics, such as plant height and the number of leaves, and at the scale studied, habitat type was of only limited influence. The possible influence of the vegetational architecture surrounding host plants is discussed. |
Measuring and reporting life-cycle duration in insects and arachnidsHugh V. DANKSEur. J. Entomol. 97 (3): 285-303, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.046 Some previous work on arthropod development is insufficiently detailed or incompletely reported. Much of the published information in this area is of limited use for the general analysis of life cycles. These difficulties arise primarily because many experiments do not control fully for the strain of the material (and even its specific identity) nor for rearing conditions, do not adequately take account of the complexity of life cycles and their stages, or are restricted to only part of the life cycle. For example, 285such factors as variable numbers of instars, sexual differences, abbreviated or hidden stages and dormancies may mean that the "average durations" reported apply to an unknown mixture of developmental types. Nor are experiments always designed or results reported and analysed in a logical and transparent manner. Undefined terms may obscure what actual developmental intervals were measured. Highly derived developmental or demographic measures may obscure core data. Statistical information may be inadequate. Such pitfalls are reviewed here, suggesting ways to ensure that results on the duration of development are both valid for specific studies and more widely useful. General experimental difficulties, recommended background information that should be provided, recommended life-cycle intervals and their terminology, and recommended ways to report numerical and statistical information are briefly summarized in tabular form. |
Male calling, mating and oviposition in Isoperla curtata (Plecoptera: Perlodidae)José Manuel TIERNO DE FIGUEROA, Julio Miguel LUZÓN-ORTEGA, Antonino SÁNCHEZ-ORTEGAEur. J. Entomol. 97 (2): 171-175, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.032 The reproductive biology (drumming call, mating behaviour, fecundity and egg structure) of Isoperla curtata, an endemic species from the Southern Iberian Peninsula, is described. The male's mating call has a diphasic pattern, with a mean of 17.3 beats per call (range = 8-27; SD = 4.7) and a duration of 792.9 ms per call (range = 228-1312; SD = 307.9). This call differs from that of other species of Isoperla in having two distinct phases with different millisecond intervals, and is species-specific. Mating lasts between 131 and 3864 seconds (mean = 2180.9 s and SD = 1027.8). Since males and females mate more than once (mean number of matings per female was 1.85 and per male 2.25), the species is polyandric and polygynic. The position adopted by the male during mating is different from that described for other stonefly species. Other mating behaviours are interpreted as displacement manoeuvers, tactile stimulation and possibly sexual selection by cryptic female choice. There was a statistically significant correlation between size and the number of matings in females (r = 0.849; p = 0.016), but not in males. Each female laid between one to four egg masses composed of an average of 88.7 eggs. Maximum fecundity was 319 eggs. The mean egg volume was 80.5 × 105 µm3 which is very similar to that of other Isoperla species. An outstanding morphological characteristic of the egg is the lobed outline of the chorion cells. |
Revision of the genus Macroscytus (Heteroptera: Cydnidae) in Madagascar and adjacent islands, with description of four new speciesLIS J.A.Eur. J. Entomol. 96 (4): 427-437, 1999 A revision of species of the genus Macroscytus Fieber distributed in Madagascar and adjacent islands is presented. Four previously known species [M. fryeri Distant, M. lobatus Signoret, M. madagascariensis (Signoret), M. privignus Horváth] are redescribed, and lectotypes are designated for three of them. Four new species (M. mayottensis sp. n., M. simulans sp. n., M. tamatavei sp. n., and M. viettei sp. n.) are described and compared with their congeners. A key to all species of the genus known from Madagascar and adjacent islands is also provided. |
Release of Aphidius rhopalosiphi (Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae) for cereal aphid control: field cage experimentsAmandine LEVIE, Pierre DOGOT, Thierry HANCEEur. J. Entomol. 97 (4): 527-531, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.081 The potential of the parasitoid Aphidius rhopalosiphi for controlling cereal aphids was tested in 16 m2 field cage experiments in 1998 and 1999. In the first year, aphids and parasitoids were released in cages containing naturally occurring populations of aphids and their natural enemies. In the second year, aphids and parasitoids were released in cages which had been cleared of insects by applying insecticide. The growths of the aphid populations in the different cages were analysed and compared. In 1998, the release of 50 pairs of parasitoids per cage had no significant effect on aphid population growth relative to that in the control cages. Even though the aphid population growth rates were less than 60% of that in the control cages, in the cages in which 100 pairs and 200 pairs of parasitoids were released, it was not possible to show they statistically differed. The aphid populations in these three cages were held below 10 aphids per tiller. In 1999, the aphid density was higher and the population grew faster than in 1998. The release of 100 and 200 parasitoids per cage significantly reduced aphid population growth. A. rhopalosiphi seemed to be a good control agent in field cages, provided they were released at the beginning of aphid population growth. |
New genus and species of Oriental Meligethinae with new observations on the genera Cryptarchopria and Kabakovia (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)Josef JELÍNEKEur. J. Entomol. 97 (3): 413-418, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.063 A new genus and species, Horakia kubani gen. n., sp. n., of Meligethinae from Thailand are described and compared with the closely related genus Cryptarchopria Jelínek. Cryptarchopria infima (Grouvelle) is recorded from the islands Ambon and Seram (Maluku, Indonesia), and its association with flowers of the palm Areca catechu L. is established for the first time. Diagnostic characters of the genus Kabakovia Kirejtshuk, 1979 are discussed, and Kabakovia latipes (Grouvelle, 1908) is recorded from Nepal for the first time. |
Assessing spider community structure in a beech forest: Effects of sampling methodKlaus HÖVEMEYER, Gabriele STIPPICHEur. J. Entomol. 97 (3): 369-375, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.056 The spider community of a beech forest on limestone was studied for one year using four sampling techniques: emergence traps, pitfall traps, soil samples, and arboreal eclectors. 87 spider species were recorded. Emergence traps and arboreal eclectors were particularly efficient in detecting spider species. Dominance identity (percentage similarity) was highest for catches from emergence traps and pitfall traps. Species recorded were assigned to various ecological groups. In terms of proportional abundance, representation of the ecological groups varied and appeared related to the sampling method used. Stratum type and type of prey capture strategy accounted for >60% of the variance in the catch results (canonical correspondence analysis). Proportional abundance of funnel-web spiders was much higher in pitfall trap catches (31.7%) than in any other method (1.0-11.6%). |
Galaicodytes caurelensis gen. n., sp. n., the first troglobitic species of Platynini (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichinae) from the western Palaearctic regionVicente M. ORTUÑO, José M. SALGADOEur. J. Entomol. 97 (2): 241-252, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.041 This study describes Galaicodytes (gen. n.) caurelensis (sp. n.) which was captured in a limestone cave in the lower Cambric of NW Spain. It is the first known cave-dwelling Platynini in the western Palaearctic region and shows unique morphological adaptations to cave life. The taxonomic position is based on comprehensive character analysis, including external anatomical, male genitalic, and female genitalic and reproductive tract characters. Certain problems concerning its taxonomic position in relation to other genera are discussed and different ecologic and biogeographic aspects are analysed. |
Life history correlates and reproductive biology of Laelius pedatus (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) in The NetherlandsPeter J. MAYHEW, Wijnand R.B. HEITMANSEur. J. Entomol. 97 (3): 313-322, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.048 Bethylid wasps are a medium sized family of parasitic Hymenoptera, with biological control potential, which have recently proved excellent model systems for testing evolutionary and life history theory. We report observations on a species of Laelius from The Netherlands. The species is morphologically indistinguishable from Laelius pedatus, previously reported only from the New World. Reciprocal crosses between the Dutch wasps and L. pedatus from Madison, Wisconsin, USA confirmed that the Dutch population belongs to L. pedatus. We compared the life history of the Dutch wasps with those from Madison by rearing them on Trogoderma glabrum, but found no significant differences. The Dutch wasps successfully parasitize Trogoderma angustum, an invasive museum and domestic pest found in situ, but suffer high developmental mortality on T. glabrum. Wasp egg size was positively correlated with the size of ovipositing female, which was also negatively correlated with the developmental mortality of offspring. Larger wasps also carried more mature eggs. Time taken to lay the clutch increased with the size of the eventual clutch laid and was longer in unmated than mated females. When some wasps died before completing development, surviving members of the brood grew to a larger size and took longer to complete development. The number of males per brood increased with previous oviposition experience, an indication of sperm depletion through life. We discuss the implications of these trends for parasitoid life history theory. |
Manipulation of plant odour preference by learning in the aphid parasitoid Aphelinus abdominalis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)Gunnar MÖLCK, Helga PINN, Urs WYSSEur. J. Entomol. 97 (4): 533-538, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.082 Aphelinus abdominalis Dalman (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a solitary endoparasitoid of cereal aphids [e.g. Sitobion avenae (F.)] and aphids in greenhouses [e.g. Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas)] is available as biological control agent against aphid pests in greenhouses. As little is yet known about its long-range host location after release, the in-flight orientation of female A. abdominalis was investigated with regard to the effects of post-emergence experience, using a wind tunnel bioassay. In no-choice tests experienced females responded to the odour of M. euphorbiae-infested sweet pepper and aubergine plants while naive females exhibited mostly random flights. In a choice test, offering infested and uninfested plants of the same species, experienced wasps were able to recognize the plant-host complex (PHC) and selected it as landing site. In contrast to uninfested plants, host-damaged plants (infested plants with aphids removed) attracted experienced females just as well as infested plants. When the responses of groups of parasitoids with experience on two different plant-host complexes were studied, specifically trained wasps were observed to orientate significantly better towards the infested target plant than wasps with previous experience on the non-target plant. A final choice test, with an infested pepper and an infested aubergine plant as odour sources, showed that females trained on one of the offered plant-host combinations significantly preferred the odour of the learnt PHC to that of the different PHC. The results suggest that A. abdominalis females employ specific volatile signals emitted by host-infested plants (synomones) during long-range host location. These odours must be learnt, e.g. in association with a successful oviposition. |
African-Arabian and Asian-Pacific "Mocis frugalis": Two distinct species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)Alberto ZILLIEur. J. Entomol. 97 (3): 419-426, 2000 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2000.064 It is shown that under the name Mocis frugalis (F., 1775), considered to represent a widespread pest of graminaceous crops in the Eastern hemisphere and the Pacific, two species have been hitherto confused. Populations from Africa and Arabian Peninsula are described as Mocis proverai sp. n. The main characters which distinguish the African-Arabian M. proverai from M. frugalis of Asia and the Pacific are found in the genitalia, especially the configuration of the male vesica and female bursa copulatrix. |
Cytogenetic analysis of some aradid species (Heteroptera: Aradidae)GROZEVA S.Eur. J. Entomol. 94 (3): 421-424, 1997 Known sex chromosome mechanisms in Aradidae are XX : XY or compound X(XnY). The present paper adds data obtained from studying testes of adults and stage IV and V larvae of four aradid species. The number of chromosomes and their behaviour during spermatogenesis (in Aradinae for the first time) were documented and illustrated: Aradus cinnamomeus Panter -2n = 35 (32 + X1X2Y); Aradus corticalis corticalis (L.) -2n = 28 (26 + XY); Aradus conspiculus Herrich-Schaffer 2n = 28 (26 + XY); Aneurus avenius Dufour -2n = 27 (24 + X1X2Y). Mechanisms which could have played a role in karyotype evolution in the family are discussed in the context of this study and data from literature. |
Reproduction of Aphelinus albipodus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on Russian wheat aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) hostsBERNAL J.S., WAGGONER M., GONZALEZ D.Eur. J. Entomol. 94 (1): 83-96, 1997 Reproduction in Aphelinus albipodus (Hayat & Fatima) from China on Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko) hosts was studied in the laboratory. Studies were conducted at three constant temperatures, 10.0, 21.1, and 26.7°C (± 1.0°C), 14L : 10D photoperiod, and 50-70% R.H. The longevity of both males and females was greatest at 10.0°C (26.0 and 41.5 d, respectively); differences in longevity were not significant (p > 0.05) between 21.1 and 26.7°C in both sexes (males 13.1 vs. 10.0 d, females 20.9 vs. 16.4 d, respectively). Fecundity was greater at 26.7 (294.7 ± 27.6 mummies) and 21.1°C (214.8 ± 33.5 mummies) than at 10.0°C (569 ± 11.7 mummies), but was not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the former two temperatures. Aphelinus albipodus did not successfully develop to adulthood at 10°C, thus rm and Ro values were zero, and Tc (generation time) could not be estimated. At 21.1°C, rm = 0.188, Ro = 68.9, and Tc = 23.9 d; those values were 0.288, 67.4, and 15.2 d, respectively, at 26.7°C. The offspring sex ratio (females) was male-biased at all three temperatures: 0.364 ± 0.061 at 10.0°C, 0.437 ± 0.029 at 21.1°C, and 0.341 ± 0.002 at 26.7°C. Moreover, daily offspring sex ratio decreased with the age of the female parent at all three temperatures (p < 0.05). A pre-oviposition period of 1.5 d was observed in A. albipodus at 10° C, and female offspring were not produced during the first 7.5 d of adult life of mated females. The limited number of ovarian eggs, 6.5 ± 2.5, in newly emerged females (< 6 h old) together with their fecundity schedule indicated synovigeny in A. albipodus. Results are discussed in relation to the colonization in North America of A. albipodus for biological control of D. noxia. |
Autosomal recessive mutations affecting body colour in Pyrrhocoris apterus (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae)SLAMA K.Eur. J. Entomol. 95 (1): 17-26, 1998 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. |
Book Review: Poluzhestkokrylye Nasekomye (Heteroptera) Sibiri.STYS P.Eur. J. Entomol. 95 (1): 26, 1998 Vinokurov N.N. & Kanyukova E.V.: Poluzhestkokrylye Nasekomye (Heteroptera) Sibiri (Heteroptera of Siberia). Nauka Novosibirsk, 1995, 238 pp. (in Russian). |
Stimulation of locomotion in Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae) is wing-morph independent and correlated with lipid mobilization by adipokinetic hormoneSOCHA R.*, KODRIK D., ZEMEK R.Eur. J. Entomol. 96 (4): 459-461, 1999 The effects of 5 pmols of adipokinetic hormone (Lom-AKH-I) on both the locomotion and mobilization of lipids were studied in 10-day-old diapausing adult females of the short-winged (brachypterous) morph of Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.). The results revealed that AKH stimulation of locomotion in this bug is wing-morph independent. The stimulatory effect of AKH on locomotion was shown to be positively correlated with its effect on lipid mobilization. |
Effect of host plant on body size of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and its correlation with reproductive capacityDE KOGEL W.J.*, BOSCO D., VAN DER HOEK M., MOLLEMA C.Eur. J. Entomol. 96 (4): 365-368, 1999 The effect of different host plants on Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) body size was investigated. Thrips from three different populations, from the Netherlands, Italy, and USA, achieved greater body sizes when reared on cucumber than on bean. The same thrips grew larger when reared on susceptible than on resistant cucumber. On the latter, reproduction was reduced, suggesting that smaller thrips have a lower reproduction. However, no evidence was found for a correlation between size and reproduction in experiments with thrips from four different populations, from the Netherlands, New Zealand, France, and USA that differed significantly in body size. Also when individual thrips from the four populations were tested, there was no correlation between size and reproduction. It is concluded that resistant cucumber affects both size and reproduction of F. occidentalis. However, lower reproduction in general is not associated with smaller body size. |
Host spatial pattern influences induction of parasitization by Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)VOINOVICH N.D., UMAROVA T.Y., REZNIK S.Y.*Eur. J. Entomol. 96 (4): 369-373, 1999 The influence of host intrapatch spatial distribution on parasitoid host acceptance behavior was investigated with Trichogramma principium parasitizing eggs of grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella. Single females were placed in Petri dishes, each containing 60 host eggs arranged either as a compact patch or partitioned into 60 or 12 clusters each consisting of 1 or 5 eggs, respectively. Partitioned patches provoked parasitization more often than compact patches. The percentage of ovipositing females (i.e., females parasitizing at least one of 60 host eggs) increased with the number of clusters, while it was independent of the intercluster distance over intervals of 2.5-15 mm. The mean number of eggs parasitized by ovipositing females during 48 h was almost independent of the host egg spatial pattern. As a result, the rate of parasitization was higher when the hosts were sparsely distributed within a patch than when they were aggregated. |
Genetic identity and relationship between four Anagrus species (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) using RAPD analysisCHIAPPINI E.*, SORESSI L., FOGHER C., ZANIRATO M.Eur. J. Entomol. 96 (4): 393-400, 1999 Four species of Anagrus (A. breviphragma Soyka, A. incarnatus Haliday, A. fennicus Soyka and A. obscurus Foerster sensu Soyka), that live on Carex riparia Curtis (Cyperaceae) in uncultivated areas along the Po river in the Piacenza province in Italy were analysed using RAPD markers in order to investigate their genetic relationships. High levels of RAPD polymorphism were found in the genus Anagrus, which permitted the fingerprinting of the four species. Analysis of average genetic similarities within species and comparison with average values between species confirms that A. breviphragma, A. incarnatus, A. fennicus and A. obscurus represent four genetically distinct species. A dendrogram constructed from molecular data of single families clearly clustered the four species in different groups, their mutual position reflecting morphological and biological observations. |
Plumbagin and azadirachtin deplete hemolymph ecdysteroid levels and alter the activity profiles of two lysosomal enzymes in the fat body of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)JOSEPHRAJKUMAR A., SUBRAHMANYAM B.*, SRINIVASAN S.Eur. J. Entomol. 96 (4): 347-353, 1999 The profile of hemolymph ecdysteroid was studied in the gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera, during larval-pupal transformation. The changes closely correspond to the developmental events occurring at metamorphosis. Two insect growth regulators, plumbagin and azadirachtin, significantly depleted the content and altered the profile of ecdysteroids at crucial stages, when applied at ED50 doses. The activity profiles of two fat body lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase and b-galactosidase, were also significantly affected by the insect growth regulators. It is suggested that plumbagin and azadirachtin treatments primarily modify the ecdysteroid titer, which in turn leads to changes in lysosomal enzyme activity causing overt morphological abnormalities during the metamorphic molt. |
Food remains in the guts of Coccinella septempunctata(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) adults and larvaeTRILTSCH H.Eur. J. Entomol. 96 (4): 355-364, 1999 From 1994-1997 the food of Coccinella septempunctata L. was investigated on the basis of gut dissections of adults and larvae collected in the field. Additionally, the gut contents of adults fed under laboratory conditions were investigated. The likelihood of recovering different prey types during gut dissection was variable, which will be illustrated by presenting some common prey fragments. The food eaten by adult C. septempunctata throughout a year was studied at a locality in Berlin-Staaken. Ladybirds were collected from March 1994 until November 1997 in different crops and habitats on roughly a monthly basis. Aphid feeding was detectable from April until October. In May and June they were the most frequent food type. Fungal spores, in most cases the conidia of Alternaria spp., became most frequent in July. Additionally non-aphid arthropods were frequently preyed upon in July. A very common non-aphid prey item were thrips. Pollen was important in May and September. Comparing the food components of newly emerged adults with those of overwintered adults some remarkable differences were detected. In newly emerged adults non-aphid arthropods and fungal spores were much more frequent than in overwintered adults whereas aphids were less frequently found. The diet of adults and larvae was also investigated in June and July in cereal fields at two other localities, Northern Flaeming and Magdeburger Boerde. No difference in adult diet was found between the three localities. The composition of the larval diet was relatively similar to that of the adults. |
Recurrent photoperiodic response in Graphosoma lineatum (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)NAKAMURA K., HODEK I., HODKOVA M.Eur. J. Entomol. 93 (3): 519-523, 1996 Photoperiodic response was studied in a pentatomid bug, Graphosoma lineatum (L.). When insects were reared from eggs under constant temperature of 26°C and long-day (18L : 6D) conditions, they developed into reproductive adults and started oviposition about 30 days after ecdysis. Short-day (12L : 12D) conditions and 26°C induced adult diapause. Both diapausing and reproductive adults displayed the photoperiodic response. Reproductive adults stopped oviposition about 10 days after the transfer to short-day conditions, and diapause adults started oviposition about 40 days after the transfer to long-day conditions. |



