Tubuliferous Thysanoptera in Australia with an enlarged tenth abdominal segment (Phlaeothripidae, Idolothripinae), including six new species

Remarkable structural variation in the tenth abdominal segment of some Phlaeothripidae species is discussed, together with its behavioural significance. Two tropical genera are newly recorded from Australia: in Acallurothrips Bagnall four species are recorded, A. darumbali sp.n., A. erubi sp.n., A. yagara sp.n. and A. nogutii Kurosawa, and in Neosmerinthothrips Schmutz two species are recorded, N. barrowi sp.n. and N. turrbali sp.n. The genus Ozothrips was previously based on five species from New Zealand, but O. meanjini sp.n. is here described from Queensland. Four species of Pygothrips are recorded from Australia, a genus that is widespread in tropical countries.

Treptichnus pedumand the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary: significance and caveats

The Ediacaran–Cambrian (E-C) boundary is based on the first appearance of the ichnofossilTreptichnus pedum. Investing an ichnotaxon with such biostratigraphic pre-eminence has been the focus of criticism. Points of contention have revolved around four main issues: (1) ichnotaxonomy, (2) behavioural significance, (3) facies controls and (4) stratigraphic occurrence. First, confusion results from the fact thatTreptichnus pedumwas originally referred to asPhycodes pedumand, more recently, some authors have placed it inTrichophycusorManykodes. However, the overall geometry of these burrows indicates they belong inTreptichnus.Second, regardless of its precise mode of feeding, the behaviour involved is iconic of the Cambrian explosion. Third, objections are based on the idea that trace fossils show a closer link to facies than body fossils. Notably, in contrast to common assumptions,T. pedumis not only present in the low-energy offshore of wave-dominated marine settings, but it occurs at considerably shallower water in intertidal and shallow-subtidal zones of tide-dominated systems, as well as in mouth bars of deltaic systems and lower shoreface to offshore transition zones of wave-dominated marine settings. Its broad environmental tolerance supports evolutionary innovations rather than facies controls as the main mechanism underlying the observed vertical pattern of distribution ofT. pedumin most E-C successions comprising shallow-marine deposits. Fourth, although treptichnids have been documented below the E-C boundary,T. pedumis not known from Ediacaran rocks. The delayed appearance ofT. pedumin E-C successions should be analysed on a case-by-case basis.

Fairy wrasses perceive and respond to their deep red fluorescent coloration

Fluorescence enables the display of wavelengths that are absent in the natural environment, offering the potential to generate conspicuous colour contrasts. The marine fairy wrasse Cirrhilabrus solorensis displays prominent fluorescence in the deep red range (650–700 nm). This is remarkable because marine fishes are generally assumed to have poor sensitivity in this part of the visual spectrum. Here, we investigated whether C. solorensis males can perceive the fluorescence featured in this species by testing whether the presence or absence of red fluorescence affects male–male interactions under exclusive blue illumination. Given that males respond aggressively towards mirror-image stimuli, we quantified agonistic behaviour against mirrors covered with filters that did or did not absorb long (i.e. red) wavelengths. Males showed significantly fewer agonistic responses when their fluorescent signal was masked, independent of brightness differences. Our results unequivocally show that C. solorensis can see its deep red fluorescent coloration and that this pattern affects male–male interactions. This is the first study to demonstrate that deep red fluorescent body coloration can be perceived and has behavioural significance in a reef fish.

Behavioural responses of Cydia succedana to plant volatiles

The gorse pod moth Cydia succedana was released in New Zealand from Europe in 1992 as a biological control for gorse (Ulex europaeus) In this study the behavioural responses of the moth to lures containing different blends of plant volatiles identified from their host plants and through singlesensillum recordings were tested in a field trial at Chaneys Forest Canterbury Volatiles were placed on cotton wicks with or without the female sex pheromone of C succedana on rubber septa in delta traps Two different blends elicited behavioural responses indicated by trap catches Cydia succedana catches with the fourcomponent Blend 6pheromone lure were lower than with the pheromone alone The 10component Blend 4 lure caught more C succedana than any other blend when tested without the pheromone These results indicate the behavioural significance of host and nonhost plant volatiles and the relationship between the behaviourally active compounds and the profile of olfactory receptor neurons in C succedana