scholarly journals The Scent of Ant Brood: Caste Differences in Surface Hydrocarbons of Formica exsecta Pupae

Author(s):  
Unni Pulliainen ◽  
Nick Bos ◽  
Patrizia d’Ettorre ◽  
Liselotte Sundström

AbstractChemical communication is common across all organisms. Insects in particular use predominantly chemical stimuli in assessing their environment and recognizing their social counterparts. One of the chemical stimuli used for recognition in social insects, such as ants, is the suite of long-chain, cuticular hydrocarbons. In addition to providing waterproofing, these surface hydrocarbons serve as a signature mixture, which ants can perceive, and use to distinguish between strangers and colony mates, and to determine caste, sex, and reproductive status of another individual. They can be both environmentally and endogenously acquired. The surface chemistry of adult workers has been studied extensively in ants, yet the pupal stage has rarely been considered. Here we characterized the surface chemistry of pupae of Formica exsecta, and examine differences among sexes, castes (reproductive vs. worker), and types of sample (developing individual vs. cocoon envelope). We found quantitative and qualitative differences among both castes and types of sample, but male and female reproductives did not differ in their surface chemistry. We also found that the pupal surface chemistry was more complex than that of adult workers in this species. These results improve our understanding of the information on which ants base recognition, and highlights the diversity of surface chemistry in social insects across developmental stages.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 272-276
Author(s):  
C.S. Oaya

Abstract. Study on the biology of groundnut bruchid, Caryedon serratus Olivier was carried out in the Laboratory of the Department of Agricultural Technology, Adamawa State College of Agriculture, Ganye, Adamawa State from June to September, 2015. The sex of the bruchid (male and female) was assigned the sub-treatment while the period of development was the main treatment and was replicated three times. The work considered the pre-oviposition stage, incubation stage, larval stage, pupal stage, adult stage and the total life cycle of the bruchid (male and female). The experiment was carried out under Laboratory conditions at 30-35°C temperature and 70-90% relative humidity. After the experiment was established, weekly counting of the total number of eggs laid was carried out at intervals. The results showed that, the mean developmental stages in both female and male bruchids were: 6.50 and 6.00 days; 17.00 and 18.00 days; 13.50 and 13.50 days; 12.00 and 13.50 days; 48.00 and 50.00 days for incubation stage, larval stage, pupal stage, adult stage and total life cycle of the bruchids, respectively. Moreover, the mean pre-oviposition and oviposition stages in female adult bruchid were 1.50 and 5.50 days, respectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Insha YOUSUF ◽  
Abdul A. BUHROO

<p>Pomegranate fruit borer,<em> Deudorix epijarbas</em> (Moore, 1858) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) is a destructive pest of pomegranate affecting the quality as well as quantity of its fruits. The pest and its other allied species are nuisance to pomegranate cultivation throughout India, particularly in hilly state of Jammu &amp; Kashmir. The aim of present investigation was to study the bionomics of pomegranate fruit borer in laboratory, which included the studies on its morphometry and extent of different developmental stages in the life cycle of pest, for developing a sound management plan against it. The results revealed that the eggs are laid by females singly on fruits, stalks, leaves and flower buds. On hatching, emerging larva bores in to fruits and feed on its pulp thus rendering them unfit for trade. The pest passed through five larval instars of different duration and the total larval period was 32.20 ± 1.87 (SD) days. The larval stage was followed by pupal stage which lasted for 9.50 ± 1.84 (SD) days. Furthermore, the longevity of adult male and female butterflies was recorded as 9.20 ± 1.73 (SD) and 13.20 ± 1.43 (SD) days respectively. The study thus provides information necessary for development and implementation of different control strategies in IPM of pomegranate fruit borer.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Kamylla Balbuena Michelutti ◽  
Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso ◽  
William Fernando Antonialli-Junior

Cuticular hydrocarbons are found in the epicuticle of insects and act during interactions between nestmates in social insects. Among the classes of these compounds, branched alkanes stand out acting as flags during intracolonial interactions, therefore, varying significantly intraspecificaly. However, there is evidence that linear alkanes can also act as signals in these interactions and therefore would also be important to assess intraspecific differences in colonies of social insects. Thus, the hypothesis of this study is that linear alkanes can be used as a tool to establish intraspecific relationships in a species of social wasp. Linear alkanes of all developmental stages were evaluated from colonies of the species Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikán (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). 21 linear alkanes were detected, with the majority ranging from n-C26 to n-C33. There is significant variation between the compounds of all developmental stages, both from samples of different colonies and populations. Therefore, the results validate the hypothesis that variation in composition of linear alkanes can be useful to assess intraspecific differences in social wasps.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Samy Sayed ◽  
Sayed-Ashraf Elarrnaouty ◽  
Saad AlOtaibi ◽  
Mohamed Salah

This study aimed to estimate the virulence of an indigenous Beauveria bassiana on all developmental stages of two indigenous coccinellids; Coccinella undecimpunctata and Hippodamia variegata through three application methods; direct spray, contact method, and feeding on aphids treated with the fungus (ingestion). Also, indirect effect on all developmental stages resulted from 1st larval instar treated with these application methods. All treatments were done with a concentration of 1 × 105 which was recommended in previous studies for different aphid species with a control of 0.02% Tween 80 (v/v). The mortality of 1st larval instar of both H. variegata and C. undecimpunctata and pupal stage of C. undecimpunctata were significantly increased with spray method only. Also, contact method achieved significantly higher mortality on 1st larval instar of C. undecimpunctata only. Regard to indirect effect, except of mortality of 1st larval instar of both predators and 2nd larval instar of H. variegata, other developmental instars/stages of both predators were not affected by B. bassiana through the three tested application methods in the mortality, duration, survival, cumulative survival male and female longevity, and fecundity. Therefore, both tested predatory coccinellids could be compatible with this indigenous isolate of B. bassiana where, in general, there are no negative effects of the fungus on both predators.


1991 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Webb ◽  
R. A. Sanders

Caprenin (CAP) is a triglyceride that primarily contains caprylic (C8:0), capric (C10:0), and behenic (C22:0) acids. This study was undertaken to determine whether or not CAP is qualitatively digested, absorbed, and rearranged like other dietary fats and oils that contain these medium-chain and very long-chain fatty acids. In vitro results showed that neat CAP, coconut oil (CO) and peanut oil (PO) were hydrolyzed by porcine pancreatic lipase. All of the neat triglycerides also were digested in vivo by both male and female rats. This was shown by the recovery of significantly more extractable lymphatic fat than with fat-free control animals and by the recovery of orally administered triglyceride-derived fatty acids in lymph triglycerides. However, substantially more PO (74%) and CO (51%) were recovered in lymph relative to CAP (10%). These quantitative differences are consistent with the fatty acid composition of each triglyceride and primary routes of fatty acid uptake. The 24-h lymphatic recovery of CAP-derived C8:0, C10:0, and C22:0 averaged 3.9%, 17.8%, and 11.2%, respectively, for male and female rats. The C8:0 and C10:0 results approximated those obtained with CO (2.0% and 16.3%, respectively). In contrast, the 24-h absorbability of C22:0 in CAP was significantly less than that seen in PO (55.4%). Finally, there was no evidence of significant rearrangement of the positions of fatty acids on glycerol during digestion and absorption. Those fatty acids recovered in lymphatic fat tended to occupy the same glyceride positions that they did in the neat administered oils. However, the lymph fats recovered from all animals dosed with fat emulsions were enriched with endogenous lymph fatty acids. It is concluded that CAP is qualitatively digested, absorbed, and processed like any dietary fat or oil that contains medium-chain and very long-chain fatty acids.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Pollo ◽  
Nathan W Burke ◽  
Gregory I Holwell

Behaviours that are consistent across contexts (also known as behavioural syndromes) can have evolutionary implications, but their role in scenarios where the sexes conflict, such as sexual cannibalism, is poorly understood. The aggressive spillover hypothesis proposes that cannibalistic attacks during adulthood may depend on female aggressiveness during earlier developmental stages, but evidence for this hypothesis is scarce. Male activity may also influence sexual cannibalism if males approach females quickly and carelessly, yet this has not been explored. Here we use the Springbok mantis, Miomantis caffra, to explore whether male activity levels and female aggressiveness can explain high rates of sexual cannibalism prior to copulation. We show that male and female personality traits affect male mating decisions, but not sexual cannibalism. Females that were aggressive as juveniles were not more likely to cannibalize males when adult, but these females were approached by males more frequently. More active males were more likely to approach females, but they were neither faster at doing so nor were they more likely to be cannibalized. We also found that size and age influenced mating decisions of both sexes: young females were more like to cannibalize males while young and large males took longer to approach females. Taken together, our results suggest that several traits, including personality, play a role in sexual encounters in M. caffra. Our study further highlights the importance of examining the traits of both sexes when assessing mating dynamics, especially in the context of sexual cannibalism.


2020 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-48
Author(s):  
Hanen Jendoubi ◽  
Ferran Garcia-Mari ◽  
Agatino Russo ◽  
Pompeo Suma

AbstractPest control is easier and more effective when pests are correctly identified. The Black Parlatoria Scale, Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas, 1853) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) is an important invasive pest in citrus-growing countries. This diaspidid has historically been difficult to control, because its immature stages are difficult to identify due to confusion with similar Parlatoria species. No field descriptions of female or male developmental stages are available for P. ziziphi. We provide the first description of field characteristics of the developmental stages of P. ziziphi. Colonies were reared in the laboratory on sour orange plants and lemon fruits to illustrate the distinctive features of each instar. An illustrated field guide of all life-cycle stages of male and female P. ziziphi is provided for correct species identification and better pest management. This tool is designed to help recognize P. ziziphi in field-scouting programmes or quarantine inspections, without the need for taxonomic expertise in identifying the Parlatoria group.


1978 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bitman ◽  
Joan R. Weyant ◽  
D. L. Wood ◽  
T. R. Wrenn

1. The effect of vitamin B12 on growth was studied in young male and female rats fed on diets sufficient (+B12) or deficient (−B12) in vitamin B12 containing 30% of the dietary energy as fat, either maize oil (CO) or triundecanoin (TUD).2. Vitamin B12 deficiency severely depressed growth. After 6 weeks the weight gain of CO(−B12) rats was only 72% of that of CO(+B12) rats and the gain of TUD(−B12) rats was only 47% of TUD(+B12) rats.3. After fasting 24 or 96 h TUD-fed rats, both + B12 and −B12, had greater glycogen reserves and higher plasma glucose levels than CO-fed rats.4. It is concluded that vitamin B12 is required for the metabolism and utilization of both an odd-carbon-number medium-chain fat, TUD, and an even-C-number long-chain fat, CO, during growth in rats.


2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-81
Author(s):  
M Hasina Arju ◽  
Md Kowser Miah ◽  
Nousheen Parven ◽  
MA Bashar

Developmental stages of pierid butterfly (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) Eurema hecabe, duration and survival rate of developmental stages was studied in laboratory condition under 29 ± 3ºC temperature with RH 78 ± 2%. Egg, five larval instars and pupal stage were distinct. The average duration from egg to adult, incubation period, larval and pupal period was recorded 22.0 ± 0.7, 5.7 ± 6, 10.5 ± 0.4 and 6.5 ± 0.4 days, respectively. Twenty seven out of 34 larvae were successfully completed their whole 5 instars. Positive correlation among the larval instars, amount of food consumption and excretion of faeces were observed. About 65% pupae emerged as adult at laboratory condition. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 24(1): 73-81, 2015 (January)


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