Contribution to the knowledge of the Japanese Milichiidae (Diptera), with descriptions of two new species

The Japanese Milichiidae are taxonomically revised with four newly recorded genera (Milichia, Madiza, Neophyllomyza, and Leptometopa). Two new species of Milichia and Neophyllomyza are described: Milichia yafusoae sp. nov. was discovered on guano of the Southeast Asian long-fingered bat (Mineopterus fuscus Bonhote) in a limestone cave of Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Archipelago; Neophyllomyza nishidai sp. nov. was collected from flowers of Aristolochia debilis Siebold et Zucc. (Aristolochiacea) which have trap-and-release mechanisms for using flies as pollinators in Honshu. Two species, Leptometopa latipes (Meigen) and Madiza glabra (Fallén), are recorded from Japan for the first time. Bionomic remarks for each species and a key to the genera and species of the Japanese Milichiidae are also provided.

Effects of smoke water and karrikin on seed germination of 13 species growing in China

Plant-derived smoke water (SW), derived from combusted plant material, has been shown to stimulate seed germination and improve seedling vigor of a number of plant species from fire-dependent Mediterranean-type climate areas. The effects of SW on seed germination of 13 plant species from southern tropical and subtropical monsoon climate regions of South China are reported for the first time in this study using laboratory and pot trials. Among the 13 species tested, only Aristolochia debilis showed a significant positive response to commercial SW when diluted 1:10. Seed germination of A. debilis was also stimulated by 1–100 nM 3-methyl-2H-furo [2, 3-c] pyran-2-one (karrikin 1 or KAR1) and by 10–1000 µM gibberellic acid (GA3). GA3 stimulated seed germination of Santalum album and significantly elongated the radicles of A. debilis while SW could not. The functions and/or metabolic pathways of Kar1 and GA3 are likely to be separate and/or distinct.