scholarly journals Morphology of immatures of the thelytokous ant, Monomorium triviale Wheeler (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) with descriptions of the larval caste dimorphism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoto Idogawa ◽  
Ayako Gotoh ◽  
Shigeto Dobata

The ant genus Monomorium is one of the most species-rich but taxonomically problematic groups in the hyperdiverse subfamily Myrmicinae. An East Asian species, M. triviale Wheeler, W. M., produces both reproductive queens and sterile workers via obligate thelytokous parthenogenesis. Here, we describe the immature forms of M. triviale based on light and scanning electron microscopy observations, with a note on the striking caste dimorphism in the last larval instar. The last-instar queen larvae were easily recognized by their large size, "aphaenogastoroid" body shape, and rows of doorknob-like tubercles on the lateral and dorsal body surface. This type of queen-specific structure has not been found in ants in general, let alone congeneric species found in Japan. In stark contrast to the queen larvae, worker larvae showed a "pheidoroid" body shape and a body surface similar to other ants. The worker larvae were estimated to have three instars, consistent with previously described congeners. The pupae of both castes also had no cocoon, a characteristic commonly described in other Myrmicinae species. In total, the developmental period from egg to adult worker averaged 59 days under 25℃. We discuss possible functions of the tubercles of queen larvae based on previous studies.

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-207
Author(s):  
SHIVANI KASHYAP ◽  
CHANDAN KUMAR SAHU ◽  
ROHIT KUMAR VERMA ◽  
LAL BABU CHAUDHARY

Due to large size and enormous morphological plasticity, the taxonomy of the genus Astragalus is very complex and challenging. The identification and grouping of species chiefly based on macromorphological characters become sometimes difficult in the genus. In the present study, the micromorphology of the seeds of 30 species belonging to 14 sections of Astragalus from India has been examined applying scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with light microscopy (LM) to evaluate their role in identification and classification. Attention was paid to colour, shape, size and surface of seeds. The overall size of the seeds ranges from 1.5–3.2 × 0.8–2.2 mm. The shape of the seeds is cordiform, deltoid, mitiform, orbicular, ovoid and reniform. The colour of seeds varies from brown to blackish-brown to black. Papillose, reticulate, ribbed, rugulate and stellate patterns were observed on the seed coat surface (spermoderm) among different species. The study reveals that the seed coat ornamentations have evolved differently among species and do not support the subgeneric and sectional divisions of the genus. However, they add an additional feature to the individual species, which may help in identification in combination with other macro-morphological features.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyu Li ◽  
Mengzhu Shi ◽  
Yuechao He ◽  
Jianwei Fu ◽  
Lizhen Zheng

Background. Phyllotreta striolata is a worldwide pest that harms cruciferous vegetables. The use of pathogenic microorganisms to control pests is an important means of biological control. Using pathogenic microorganisms to prevent and control P. striolata has rarely been reported. Methods. In this study, the infection process of a Metarhizium strain highly pathogenic to P. striolata was observed by stereomicroscopyand scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results.The results showed that the attachment of Metarhizium strain Ma6 to the body surface varied; the conidia distribution was greatest in the tibia of the posterior leg with thick bristles and in the intersegmental abdominal membrane, and the spore distribution occurred least in the smooth and hard portions of the insect’s body. At the start of the infection, Metarhizium strain Ma6 generally grew from the body parts with gaps or connecting spaces such as mouthparts and the thoracic leg base and joints, then the spores germinated with germ tubes and penetration peg, and the penetration peg penetrated the body surface. Ten days after inoculation, the mycelia divided into conidia, and many mycelia and spores covered the entire adult insect’s body. Discussion. Spore germination occurred on the 5th day after inoculation, and many hyphae and spores covered the entire adult insect body within 10 days after inoculation. And the invasion into tissue gaps from the weaker areas is more efficient than intruding from the body hard surface. This may be the reason for the Metarhizium strain Ma6’s high virulence. This study preliminarily clarified the infection ability and invasion approach of a Metarhizium strain against P. striolata, providing evidence for evaluating the strain’s insecticidal effect and application prospect.


2022 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
GOURI SHANKAR GIRI ◽  
S. V. S. RAJU ◽  
S. D. MOHAPATRA ◽  
MUNMUN MOHAPATRA

An experiment was conducted at Research Farm, National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India to quantify the effect of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations on the biology and morphometric parameters of yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas, Pyralidae, Lepidoptera). Yellow stem borer is one of the major pest of rice in the whole rice growing regions of South East Asia. The effect of three carbon dioxide concentrations i.e. 410 ppm (ambient), 550 ppm and 700 ppm on the duration of the developmental period as well as morphometric parameters of each stage of the lifecycle of the pest was analysed. It was found that, there was an increase in the duration of the developmental period of each stage of life cycle as the concentration of CO2 increases. However, the life span of the adult moth was significantly lower under the elevated CO2 concentrations when compared with ambient CO2 concentration. Morphometric parameters viz., mean length, width and weight of each larval instar, pupa and adult were found to be significantly higher in elevated concentrations of CO2 as compared to ambient concentration.


2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-34
Author(s):  
I. V. Dolinskaya

Abstract Larval cranial setae of each larval instar of 66 species belonging to 35 genera of Palaeartic Notodontid moths from Ukraine and Far East of Russia (Primorskii krai) was examined with the use of a scanning electron microscope. A comparison with outgroup species - Lasiocampoidea (Lasiocampidae), Sphingoidea (Sphingidae) and Noctuoidea (Erebidae: Lymantriinae, Arctiinae; Noctuidae) is conducted. Main kinds of setae during larval development and their transformation are discussed. Possible apomorphic and plesiomorphic states of the different characters are discussed in relation to the different taxa.


2004 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Sugaya ◽  
Shûhei Nomura ◽  
Daniel Burckhardt

AbstractThe hispidus species group is formed for four new species from East Asia of the genus Plagiophorus Motschulsky: P. hispidussp. nov., P. hlavacisp. nov., P. serratussp. nov., and P. grandoculatussp. nov. Uncoated specimens were examined using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and micrographs of the holotypes are presented. Keys to the species groups of the genus occurring in East Asia and to the species of the hispidus group are given. The hispidus group is probably monophyletic, having peculiar spinous setae on the male metasternum. The chaetotaxy of the labrum and clypeus is useful for distinguishing species of Plagiophorus.


Parasite ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weishan Zhao ◽  
Can Li ◽  
Dong Zhang ◽  
Runqiu Wang ◽  
Yingzhen Zheng ◽  
...  

Balantidium grimi n. sp. is described from the rectum of the frog Quasipaa spinosa (Amphibia, Dicroglossidae) from Lishui, Zhejiang Province, China. The new species is described by both light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a molecular phylogenetic analysis is also presented. This species has unique morphological features in that the body shape is somewhat flattened and the vestibulum is “V”-shaped, occupying nearly 3/8 to 4/7 of the body length. Only one contractile vacuole, situated at the posterior body, was observed. The phylogenetic analysis based on SSU-rDNA indicates that B. grimi groups together with B. duodeni and B. entozoon. In addition, the genus Balantidium is clearly polyphyletic.


Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3189 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSE F. GÓMEZ ◽  
JOSE LUIS NIEVES-ALDREY

A comparative study of the larval morphology and biology of Arthrolytus glandium Bouček, Cecidostiba fungosa Geof-froy in Fourcroy, Cecidostiba geganius (Walker), Pteromalus bedeguaris (Thomson), Pteromalus hieracii (Thomson),Pteromalus isarchus Walker, Rivasia fumariae Askew & Nieves-Aldrey and Stinoplus lapsanae Graham (Pteromalidae)is presented. These eight species are all parasitoids of gall wasps in Europe and are components of communities associatedwith different gall-wasp food guilds: galls on herbs, shrubs and oaks. Special attention was paid to larval body shape, headcapsule characters, the mouthparts and especially the mandibles and the chaetotaxy of the head. Diagnostic characters ofthe genera are provided and except for R. fumariae the terminal instar larvae of all studied species are described and illus-trated for the first time with scanning electron photomicrographs. Information on the biology of each species, including new rearing records, is given.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4531 (4) ◽  
pp. 567
Author(s):  
RAMON A. CARRENO

Thelastomatoid nematodes from the hindguts of several species of insects were collected in 4 localities in Mississippi, U.S.A. Protrellus browni n. sp. is described from Ischnoptera deropeltiformis (Blattaria: Ectobiidae) using light and scanning electron microscopy. This species is distinguished on the basis of its large size as well as its large eggs having one broad end tapering toward the opposite pole and with the presence of small spines on part of the shell. Protrellus aurifluus (Chitwood, 1932) Basir, 1956 was found in Parcoblatta fulvescens (Blattaria: Ectobiidae). Four other species of blattarians sampled were negative for pinworms. Additional nematodes recovered from other hosts included Zonothrix columbianus Adamson & Buck 1989 (Thelastomatoidea: Pseudonymidae) from Tropisternus blatchleyi blatchleyi and Tropisternus collaris (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae), Hystrignathus rigidus Leidy, 1850 and Xyo pseudohystrix Travassos & Kloss, 1958 (Thelastomatoidea: Hystrignathidae) from Odontotaenius disjunctus (Coleoptera: Passalidae). These findings include several new host and geographical records. 


2013 ◽  
Vol 320 ◽  
pp. 226-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Hui Ma ◽  
Xing Hua Zhang ◽  
Xue Guang Chen

Different fixation methods have significant influence on observation of samples by scanning electron microscopy when non conductive samples are processed by plasma spudtter coating method. Non conductive powder samples using different treatments are observed on Philips XL30 scanning electron microscope and Hitachi S-4800 field emission scanning electron microscope. For the small size samples processed by two fixation methods, Sample shape were observed more clearly by the ultrasonic dispersion preparation on scanning electron microscope and had less interference of ion sputtering thermal effect. The effect is not obvious for the large size samples, and the effect of observation for non conducting samples is better on field emission scanning electron microscope at low accelerating voltage.


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