Showing papers on "Lepidoptera genitalia published in 2003"
01 Jan 2003
68 citations
TL;DR: The data show that when Arabidopsis plants are infested with a leaf tissue‐damaging Herbivore they emit a volatile blend that attracts C. rubecula females and the wasps only discriminate between a host and non‐host herbivore when the type of damage is different (chewing vs. piercing).
Abstract: In this study we investigated whether in a two-choice set-up the parasitoid Cotesia rubecula (Marshall) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) distinguishes between volatiles emitted by Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. (Brassicaceae) infested with its host, Pieris rapae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and Arabidopsis infested with non-host herbivores. Four non-host herbivore species were tested: the caterpillars Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), both chewing insects, the spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae), which punctures parenchymal cells, and the aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea), which is a phloem-feeder. Compared with undamaged plants, C. rubecula females were more attracted to Arabidopsis plants infested by P. rapae, P. xylostella, S. exigua, or T. urticae, but not to plants infested by M. persicae. The parasitoids preferred host-infested plants to spider mite- or aphid-infested plants, but not to plants infested with non-host caterpillars (P. xylostella or S. exigua). The data show that when Arabidopsis plants are infested with a leaf tissue-damaging herbivore they emit a volatile blend that attracts C. rubecula females and the wasps only discriminate between a host and non-host herbivore when the type of damage is different (chewing vs. piercing). When Arabidopsis is infested with a herbivore that hardly damages leaf tissue, C. rubecula females are not attracted. These results may be explained by differences in the amount of damage and in the relative importance of different signal-transduction pathways induced by different types of herbivores.
64 citations
TL;DR: The present study represents the first attempt to survey genome size variation in lepidopteran genome sizes, giving estimates for more than 50 species and increasing the coverage of the order to 15 families.
Abstract: Little information is available on genome size diversity among insects, even in otherwise well-studied groups such as the Lepidoptera. In fact, only six lepidopteran species have been studied to da...
45 citations
TL;DR: Wettable, highly processed kaolin, a reflective white mineral, has been shown to reduce boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, damage to cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., squares and foliage.
40 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a set of ESTs from the Sf9 cell line of Spodoptera frugiperda is presented for the first time, and the ESTs display both housekeeping and developmentally regulated genes.
Abstract: MOTIVATION A whole set of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) from the Sf9 cell line of Spodoptera frugiperda is presented here for the first time. By this way we want to identify both conserved and specific genes of this pest species. We also expect from this analysis to find a class of protein sequences providing a tool to explore genomic features and phylogeny of Lepidoptera. RESULTS The ESTs display both housekeeping as well as developmentally regulated genes, and a high percentage of sequences with unknown function. Among the identified ORFs, almost all ribosomal proteins (RPs) were found with high EST redundancy and hence sequence accuracy. The codon usage found among RP genes is in average surprisingly much less biased in Lepidoptera than in other organisms. Other Spodoptera genes also displayed a low bias, suggesting a general genome expression feature in this Lepidoptera. We also found that the L35A and L36 RP sequences, respectively, display 40 and 10 amino-acid insertions, both being present only in insects. Sequence analysis suggests that they are probably not subjected to a strong selective pressure and may be good phylogenetic markers for Lepidoptera. Most interestingly, the Lepidoptera sequences of 9 RP genes displayed a specific signature different from the canonical one. We conclude that the RP family allows valuable comparative genomics and phylogeny of Lepidoptera. AVAILABILITY All EST sequence data are available from the private 'Spodo-Base' upon request.
39 citations
TL;DR: The recovery of several hymenopteran and dipteran parasitoid species from the Lepidoptera species surveyed suggests that a high incidence of parasitism may be the major factor limiting population increases of most of the moth species.
30 citations
TL;DR: The size of male genitalia in O. latipennis is more stable than the size of somatic traits against changes in body size, which supports Eberhard et al.'s (1998) hypothesis which states that the low genital allometry in insects and spiders is caused by sexual selection.
Abstract: In species of several insect orders and spiders, it has been shown that the size of male genitalia relative to body size decreases as the body becomes larger (negative allometry), while the relative size of other morphological traits tends to be constant. Such a contrast between genital and somatic traits suggests stabilizing sexual selection on male genitalia: males with small or large genitalia are prone to fail to inseminate females due to incompatibility of their genitalia. In the present study, we tested the contrast between genital and somatic traits for males of a lepidopteran insect, Ostrinia latipennis. We examined allometry of five genital and 11 somatic traits for each of three local populations of O. latipennis. Of the 15 allometric slopes for genital traits, 14 showed significantly negative allometry, whereas none of the 33 slopes for somatic traits represented negative allometry. These results showed that the size of male genitalia in O. latipennis is more stable than the size of somatic traits against changes in body size. This study supports Eberhard et al.'s (1998) hypothesis which states that the low genital allometry in insects and spiders is caused by sexual selection. Based on currently available information on genital morphology and sexual communication in O. latipennis, it seems unlikely that the lock-and-key hypothesis is responsible for the stable genital size in this species.
27 citations
TL;DR: Geographic variation in the susceptibility of the striped stem borer in China to Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crystal proteins Cry1Ac and Cry1Ab was studied to establish baseline information for comparing the future response of populations with increased exposure to Bt products.
Abstract: Geographic variation in the susceptibility of the striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in China to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal crystal proteins Cry1Ac and Cry1Ab was studied to establish baseline information for comparing the future response of populations with increased exposure to Bt products. Rice is the major host of C. suppressalis, and Bt rice may be released in China in the near future. Twelve populations of the pest were collected from the major rice-growing regions of China. LC50 estimates were determined for all populations for Cry1Ac and for eight populations for Cry1Ab. The bioassay results indicated that the range of LC50 in neonate larvae to Cry1Ac and Cry1Ab was from ≈15 to ≈157 mg (AI)/L and ≈2 to ≈34 mg (AI)/L, respectively. LC50 values were lower for Cry1Ab than for Cry1Ac, and there was a significant positive correlation between the two toxins tested.
24 citations
TL;DR: The identification of a defensin‐like molecule active against Gram positive bacteria is described for the first time in Lepidoptera and shows between 43% and 59% homology with group A defensins from other dipteran and hymenopteran species.
22 citations
TL;DR: The sex ratio, number of parasitoids per egg, and longevity of individuals of these two populations of T. maxacalii were investigated, which found the population collected in São Paulo produced a larger number of individuals per egg of the host A. kuehniella and lived longer when fed.
Abstract: Individuals of two populations of Trichogramma maxacalii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were collected from eggs of Euselasia apisaon (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), a lepidopteran defoliator of Eucalyptus, in plantations in the states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil. This study investigated the sex ratio, number of parasitoids per egg, and longevity of individuals of these two populations of T. maxacalii, when this parasitoid was reared receiving eggs of the factitious host Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in different periods after emergence, and with or without honey. Sex ratio of T. maxacalii varied from 0.44 to 0.60, and was affected by the interaction between populations, availability of food (honey), and length of time in which the parasitoid stayed without host eggs after their emergence. The population of T. maxacalii collected in Sao Paulo produced a larger number of individuals per egg of the host A. kuehniella and lived longer when fed.
21 citations
01 Jan 2003
TL;DR: Throughout this long period of predominately warming climate in Europe, those insect species which have been expanding their ranges have done so in steadily increasing numbers, especially since 1975, thus coinciding with the marked increase in temperatures worldwide associated with the anthropogenic greenhouse effect.
Abstract: The apparent influence of climatic change on recent changes of range by European insects (Lepidoptera, Orthoptera) For several years I have been collecting data concerning changes in the ranges of European insects, especially Lepidoptera and Orthoptera. The vast majority of those species which have altered their ranges since 1850 have spread to the north, north-west or west (e.g. 96% of the Lepidoptera expanding their ranges). Of the smaller number of species where the range has contracted, the majority (e.g. 75% of the Lepidoptera) have retreated southwards, south-westwards or south-eastwards. I have attempted to correlate these range changes with the main climatic fluctuations from 1850 to the present. Throughout this long period of predominately warming climate in Europe, those insect species which have been expanding their ranges have done so in steadily increasing numbers, especially since 1975, thus coinciding with the marked increase in temperatures worldwide associated with the anthropogenic greenhouse effect.
TL;DR: A pyraustine species of the genus Ostrinia Hübner collected at Shigakogen, central Honshu, Japan is described as new to science under the name of OStrinia ovalipennis sp.
Abstract: A pyraustine species of the genus Ostrinia Hubner collected at Shigakogen, central Honshu, Japan is described as new to science under the name of Ostrinia ovalipennis sp nov This species is morphologically similar to the Far Eastern knotweed borer, Ostrinia latipennis, but is distinguishable from O latipennis in wing marking and male genitalia Larvae of O ovalipennis feed on the knotweed, Reynoutria sachalinensis (Polygonaceae), as do larvae of O latipennis In Shigakogen, adults of the two knotweed-boring species co-occur in the same season Adults of O ovalipennis were captured only in July, suggesting that this species is univoltine The fact that O ovalipennis shares several morphological and ecological features with O latipennis suggests that the species is the closest relative of O latipennis
01 Jan 2003
TL;DR: An overview of current knowledge of the evolution of the genitalia of insects, chelicerates and Myriapoda is offered, suggesting that three aspects of sexual selection play a crucial role: Fisherian sexual selection by female choice, sperm competition, and male-female antagonistic coevolution.
Abstract: This paper offers an overview of current knowledge of the evolution of the genitalia of insects, chelicerates and Myriapoda. The overcomplexity and extreme interspecific divergence of (especially the male) genitalia, can not be explained by either a function as 'lock-and-key' to prevent hybridisation, or a pleiotropic 'byproduct' of other evolutionary changes during speciation. Instead, current theory and empirical evidence strongly suggests that three aspects of sexual selection play a crucial role: Fisherian sexual selection by female choice, sperm competition, and male-female antagonistic coevolution. Probably the evolution of genitalia is a mosaic of the effects of all three. The data at hand do not offer a clear impression of how rapidly genitalia normally evolve, but it appears that their divergent evolution is relevant in speciation. Let us begin with a random example from systematic entomology: the beetle genus Ptomaphaginus. Currently, 70 species are known in this Southeast-Asian taxon, and many still await description (Schilthuizen & Perreau, 2003). In spite of this large number of recognised species, their external appearance is remarkably uniform. Most are between two and three millimeters long, brown, ovoid in habitus, and no special markings can usually be seen on their bodies. There are slight differences in the proportions of their antennal segments, and in the outline of pronotum and elytra, that is all. The bulk of their morphological diversity is, however, internal: the penis, especially its apex, is shaped in wildly different ways among the different species. Compared with the external morphology, genital diversity is so large and characteristic, that some authors do not even illustrate other parts of the body. Ptomaphaginus is in no way exceptional. Great divergence in genitalia morphology among species is the rule in insects, and in most groups, taxonomists use genitalia (especially male genitalia) for species identification and classification. A perusal of four recent issues of the Tijdschrift voor Entomologie (Netherlands Journal of Entomology) reveals that out of 26 taxonomic papers, genitalia played a prominent role in 23. A well-known examples of the value of genitalia in recognising species, are the honeybees, where males carry bizarre and widely disparate 'prongs' and spiny, evertible 'sacs' on and in their genitals (Simpson, 1970), but any taxonomic revision would serve to illustrate the phenomenon of extreme genital diversity at the species level. Not only are genital systems diverse within taxa, they are also anatomically complex. Not rarely are they composed of a large number of interconnected and articulating pegs, plates, springs, and levers. The males of various species of flea (Siphonaptera), for example, carry large and complicated structures inside their abdomens that seem inordinately complex for the relatively simple task of fertilizing a female. The terminology in use by specialists is also indicative of a large morphological complexity. At least six terms (median lobe, paramere, apical orifice, internal sac, median stylet, ligula) are needed to describe distinguishable parts of the male genitalia of the above-mentioned genus Ptomaphaginus, whereas orthopterologists need the same number (phallus, epiproct, paraproct, cercus, gonotreme, and titillator; Gwynne, 1998) in discussions of the male genitalia of crickets and grasshoppers. Eberhard (1985) has pointed out the resemblance of such elaborate structures to 'Rube Goldberg-machines'. The cartoonist Rube Goldberg is famous for inventing absurdly intricate contraptions for carrying out very simple tasks (like a pencil sharpener made up of no less than 19 components). If the penis is only a sperm-injecting organ, then both its complexity and its diversity would be as redundant as a Rube Goldberg machine. Several explanations have been offered for this conundrum. In this paper I will give an overview of the more recent developments in this field, largely based on the seminal works by Eberhard (1985; 1996), which dealt with animal genitalia in general, updated with more recent
TL;DR: A list of 26 species embracing 673 specimens of the family Scythrididae collected during 13.–29.VI.2002 from southern Buryatia is presented and seven new species are described.
Abstract: A list of 26 species embracing 673 specimens of the family Scythrididae collected during 13.–29.VI.2002 from southern Buryatia is presented. Seven new species are described: Scythris erinacella sp. n., S. gorbunovi sp. n., S. hamardabanica sp. n., S. malozemovi sp. n., S. ninae sp. n., S. potatorella sp. n. and S. sinevi sp. n. Two unknown species are mentioned but not described because only females are available. In addition, S. penicillata Chrétien, 1900 is reported as new for Russia, S. emichi (Anker, 1870) as new for the Asiatic part of Russia and seven further species as new for the Baikal region. The known distribution range of each species is given as well as further notes on some poorly known taxa.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: This was the first study to determine the Lepidoptera fauna of Duzce province and the family Geometridae was represented by the highest number of species (20), followed by Noctuidae (19), Lycaenidae and Nymphalidae (12).
Abstract: The lepidopteran species of Duzce province were investigated. To collect specimens, a sweep net and light traps were used. A total of 109 species belonging to 17 families of the order Lepidoptera were identified. The family Geometridae was represented by the highest number of species (20), followed by Noctuidae (19), Lycaenidae (12) and Nymphalidae (12). This was the first study to determine the Lepidoptera fauna of Duzce.
01 Jan 2003
01 Jan 2003
TL;DR: Sex differentiation of the pupal stage of dogwood borer has never been described specifically, but a generalized description of pupae of sesiid species by Eichlin & Duckworth (1988) indicates that pupae are highly modified to facilitate extrication from host plant tissue.
Abstract: The dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), has the broadest host range of all species of Sesiidae and is an economically important pest of numerous ornamental, fruit and nut trees (Engelhardt 1932; Eichlin & Duckworth 1988; Johnson & Lyon 1991). Dogwood borer has become an important indirect pest of apple in the eastern United States and Canada (Riedl et al. 1985; Warner & Hay 1985; Weires 1986; Pfeiffer & Killian 1999; Kain & Straub 2001) due to increased plantings on clonal, sizecontrolling rootstocks in high-density apple orchards (Riedl et al. 1985; Kain & Straub 2001). These rootstocks promote formation of adventitious root primordia or burr knots near the graft union at the base of the tree (Rom 1970, 1973) that appear to be preferred oviposition sites for female dogwood borer (Riedl et al. 1985; Warner & Hay 1985; Kain & Straub 2001). Continuous infestations lead to larval feeding over consecutive seasons resulting in consumption of burr knot tissue and feeding in the cambial layer, ultimately leading to tree death from girdling (Weires 1986). The increasingly important pest status of dogwood borer has led to recent research efforts into management options (Kain & Straub 2001) as well as refinement of the pheromone-based monitoring system (Bergh & Leskey 2003). Adult male and female dogwood borers can be differentiated by the more robust abdomen with mostly yellow coloration on ventral segments four, five and six, and the more yellow brush-like anal tuft of females (Eichlin & Duckworth 1988). Sex differentiation of the pupal stage of dogwood borer has never been described specifically, but a generalized description of pupae of sesiid species by Eichlin & Duckworth (1988) indicates that pupae are highly modified to facilitate extrication from host plant tissue, with double rows of posteriorly projecting spines on abdominal segments 2-6 and on segment 7 of males, and single rows on remaining segments 8-10. Pupae and pupal exuviae of dogwood borer were obtained by excavating larvae from burr knot tissue of apple trees with obvious signs of infestation including frass and entry wounds in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties, WV, USA. Larvae were reared individually in the laboratory on general purpose Lepidopteran diet (Bioserv, Frenchtown, NJ) in an environmental chamber at 25°C and 14L:10D. We followed 20 pupae to adulthood and determined the sex of moths, as described by Eichlin & Duckworth (1988). The pupal exuviae left by each moth was then examined under Leica GZ4 (7-30 × ) and Nikon SMZ 1500 (7.5-112.5 × ) stereomicroscopes for sex-related differences in pupal characteristics. These differences were then confirmed on live pupae. Microscopic examination revealed distinct differences between sexes in the
TL;DR: Three species of the genus Issikiopteryx Moriuti, I. taipingensis sp.
Abstract: A species of the genus Issikiopteryx Moriuti, I. taipingensis sp. nov. and two species of the genus Torodora, T. rectilinea sp. nov. and T. chinanensis sp. nov. are described from Taiwan, with illustrations of adults and their genitalia.
TL;DR: Large numbers of the pyralid moth, Pyla fusca Haworth, 1811, in late July 2002 on Ossiansarsfjellet are reported and it is suggested that a resident colony is established.
Abstract: Over 300 species of insect (including Collembola) are recorded from Svalbard. These include 11 species of Lepidoptera, the majority of which are occasional summer immigrants (Coulson and Refseth 2003). Those for which locality data are available are summarised in Table 1. It has been suggested that Apamea maillardi (Geyer, 1834) [=zeta (Duponchel, 1854) (Mikkola and Goater 1988)] and Plutella xylostella (L., 1758) may be resident (Kaisila 1973) but no overwintering stages have yet been found. Here we report large numbers of the pyralid moth, Pyla fusca Haworth, 1811, in late July 2002 on Ossiansarsfjellet and suggest that a resident colony is established.
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TL;DR: La structure genetique des populations acoriennes de la legionnaire uniponctuee Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae), a ete etudiee a l'aide d'enzymes separees par electrophorese sur gel de polyacrylamide.
Abstract: The genetic structure of populations of the true armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in the Azores archipelago was studied using polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis
Journal Article•
31 Jan 2003
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Female terminalia of Necrotaulius resem- bling the ovipositor indicate that these insects laid their eggs rather in soil than in water.
Abstract: Amphiesmenopterans are represented in the Lower Toarcian marine insect ta- phocoenoses of Germany by stem group members (Necrotaulius HANDLIRSCH, 1906, Mesotrichopteridium HANDLIRSCH, 1906). Female terminalia of Necrotaulius resem- bling the ovipositor indicate that these insects laid their eggs rather in soil than in water. One species of genuine Trichoptera (Liadotaulius HANDLIRSCH, 1939) exhibited sexual dimorphism. At least two species of Lepidoptera related to Micropterygidae were found.
TL;DR: The Elachistidae fauna of the southern Ural area, Russia, is outlined and 14 species are reported as new to Russia, four of which remain unidentified to species level.
Abstract: The Elachistidae fauna of the southern Ural area, Russia, is outlined. A total of 51 species are listed, four of which remain unidentified to species level. Six species are described as new: Elachista (Aphelosetia) olschwangi Kaila sp. n., E. (A.) arduella Kaila sp. n., E. (A.) gibbera Kaila sp. n., E. (A.) chamaea Kaila sp. n., E. (A.) acutella Kaila sp. n. and E. (Elachista) devexella Kaila sp. n. Four species are reported for the first time from Europe and illustrated: Perittia sibirica Sinev, Elachista (Hemiprosopa) altaica (Sinev), E. (E.) megagnathos Sruoga and E. (E.) baikalica Kaila. The previously unknown female of E. megagnathos is described. Fourteen species are reported as new to Russia. Further illustrations and notes on some poorly known species are given.
TL;DR: Based on its broad host range in the United States and on its development of insecticide resistance in Japan, A. fuscocupreanus poses a threat to the fruit and nursery industries in North America.
Abstract: Archips fuscocupreanus Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is an eastern Asian leafroller that recently was detected in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Based on males captured in pheromone traps between 1998 and 2000, A. fuscocupreanus inhabits five northeastern coastal states between Massachusetts and New Jersey. In Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, larvae had a broad host range, feeding on 87 plants in 15 families. Fifty-nine hosts (67.8%) were in the Rosaceae, the plant family that includes economically important pome and stone fruits. In outdoor cages, adult females laid a similar number of egg masses on five different species of potted fruit trees that are grown widely. At The Arnold Arboretum in Massachusetts, larval abundance was highest on Ilex verticillata (L.) Gray (3.4 larvae per plant) although it was statistically similar to that on four rosaceous species (1.0–1.8 larvae per plant), and significantly higher than that on another 12 rosaceous trees (0–0.5 larvae per plant). In an insecticide-free apple orchard at Hamden, Connecticut, males flew for 4–5 wk between mid-June and mid-July 2000–2001. Based on its broad host range in the United States and on its development of insecticide resistance in Japan, A. fuscocupreanus poses a threat to the fruit and nursery industries in North America.
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TL;DR: A new species of Torodora Meyrick, T. pseudogalera sp.
Abstract: A new species of Torodora Meyrick, T. pseudogalera sp. nov. is described from Taiwan. Photos of adult and the male and female genitalia are provided.