Première mention pour la Martinique et l’Amérique d’un sclérogibbide africain, Caenosclerogibba probethyloides Olmi, 2005 (Hymenoptera, Sclerogibbidae)

First record for Martinique and America of the African sclerogibbid Caenosclerogibba probethyloides Olmi, 2005 (Hymenoptera, Sclerogibbidae). Caenosclerogibba probethyloides Olmi, 2005, a species known from Africa south of Sahara, is recorded for the first time from the America. It has been collected in Martinique.

Malaria - The Formidable Enemy of Humanity

Malaria, a disease caused by protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium, is an ancient enemy of the human race. Despite enormous efforts to control, it is still a main cause of morbidity and mortality in many endemic countries of the world, particularly Africa, South of Sahara. Malaria seems to be unstoppable due to lack of an effective vaccine, acquisition of drug-resistance by malaria parasite, and insecticide resistance by Anopheles mosquitoes. In this scenario, along with search for novel preventive approaches, adequate health facilities, health literacy and awareness among people are required to control and eliminate this formidable disease from society.

Taxonomy of Podoscirtinae (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). Part 4: African Podoscirtini and geography of the tribe

Eight genera belonging to a generic group with the modified male genitalia (similar to those of the Indo-Malayan genus Truljalia) are characterized. They are distributed only in Africa south of Sahara. Four new genera, 13 new species, and unknown male of one species are described; some other African genera and species are considered (i.e., type material is revised, a lectotype for Dolichogryllus camerunensis Bol. is designated, and information on the systematic position of some forms is given). The distribution of the Podoscirtini genera is considered; 7-8 regions with almost endemic generic composition are outlined. Preliminary hypotheses for the origin of the Podoscirtini faunas of these regions are proposed. New replacement names (Valiatrella, nom. n. and Stenotrella, nom. n.) are proposed for the genera Valia Gorochov, 1985 (non Alexeev, 1979) and Stenogryllodes Chopard, 1952 (non Chopard, 1936), respectively.

Sclerospora graminicola. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

A description is provided for Sclerospora graminicola. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Pennisetum typhoides, Setaria italica, S. viridis (type), and other hosts: (?) Agrostis alba, Echinochloa crusgalli, E. crusgalli var. frumentacea, (?) Eleusine indica, Euchlaena mexicana, Panicum miliaceum, Pennisetum leonis, Saccharum officinarum (inoculation), Setaria lutescens, S. mugna, S. verticillata, Zea mays (particularly 'popcorn' but rare in general on maize). Green ear disease of Pennisetum typhoides[Pennisetum glaucum]. DISEASE: 'Graminicola downy mildew' of Gramineae. Symptoms vary according to host, time of their expression and ambient conditions. The disease is entirely systemic in pearl millet, most Setaria spp. and maize, with pallid continuous laciniate areas or stripes on leaf blades, starting at base of any leaf, being latent in plant before that and becoming more extensive on successive leaves; eventually oospores appear in chlorotic areas and leaves of Setaria, but not pearl millet or maize, shred. If symptoms start early, plants are severely stunted and chlorotic and may die: if symptoms are delayed, dwarfing may yet occur; some shoots may escape disease. White down (sporulation) appears on chlorotic areas before dawn if dews occur at night; sporangia are actively ejected and germinate immediately, producing zoospores, or else die within a few hours. Sporangiophores collapse. On maize there is a closed system of stripes on thickened, corrugated, brittle leaves. Tillering is excessive: the spike of pearl millet and occasionally the inflorescences of Setaria spp. and maize may be transformed into leafy growth ('green ear') with oospores within, sometimes with no other symptoms present. In S. magna and S. verticillata, linear chlorotic local lesions form and in S. italica occasionally spot-like lesions. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION Widespread (CMI Map 431, ed. 1, 1967; with additions and deletions here). Africa: all West Africa south of Sahara; Niger, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Rhodesia, South Africa (all on pearl millet). Asia: Israel (on pearl millet, rarely maize), Iran (on Setaria glauca[Setaria pumila]) Pakistan, Khazakstan (on pearl millet), India (on pearl millet and Setaria spp.), northern China, Manchuria, Korea, Taiwan, Japan (on Setaria spp.). Europe: Spain, Southern France, Switzerland, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Rumania, southern Russia, Ukraine, Caucasus (all principally or entirely on Setaria spp.). N. America midwestern and eastern USA, midwestern Canada and Ontario (on Setaria spp., rarely maize and Panicum). Oceania: Hawaii. The record on maize in Bulgaria and Argenlina as well as that on 'grass plots' with Ophiobolus in the Netherlands can undoubtedly be referred to Sclerophthora macrospora. TRANSMISSION: Initial infection is by oospores in soil, which may remain viable a number of years. Transmission by mycelial-infected seed reported (53, 2547) but most seed-borne infection is by oospore infestation. Oospores are still infective after passage through digestive system of cattle. Optimum temp, for infection of Setaria, 20-21°C, min. 12-13°C, max. 30°C. Optimum for sporangium production 25°C, min. c. 10°C (35, 602). Although zoospores from sporangia germinate, they have not been shown to induce infection under natural conditions (45, 3567; Safeeulla, 1970), except for local lesioning in a few species of Setaria, and the disease can be very severe in absence of high humidity and sporulation.