In social insects,it has been suggested that reproduction and the production of particular fertilitylinked cuticular hydrocarbons(CHC)may be under shared juvenile hormone(JH)control,and this could have been key in pre...In social insects,it has been suggested that reproduction and the production of particular fertilitylinked cuticular hydrocarbons(CHC)may be under shared juvenile hormone(JH)control,and this could have been key in predisposing such cues to later evolve into full-fledged queen pheromone signals.However,to date,only few studies have experimentally tested this“hormonal pleiotropy”hypothesis.Here,we formally test this hypothesis using data from four species of Polistine wasps,Polistes dominula,Polistes satan,Mischocyttarus metathoracicus,and Mischocyttarus cassununga,and experimental treatments with JH using the JH analogue methoprene and the anti-JH precocene.In line with reproduction being under JH control,our results show that across these four species,precocene significantly decreased ovary development when compared with both the acetone solvent-only control and the methoprene treatment.Consistent with the hormonal pleiotropy hypothesis,these effects on reproduction were further matched by subtle shifts in the CHC profiles,with univariate analyses showing that in P.dominula and P.satan the abundance of particular linear alkanes and mono-methylated alkanes were affected by ovary development and our hormonal treatments.The results indicate that in primitively eusocial wasps,and particularly in Polistes,reproduction and the production of some CHC cues are under joint JH control.We suggest that pleiotropic links between reproduction and the production of such hydrocarbon cues have been key enablers for the origin of true fertility and queen signals in more derived,advanced eusocial insects.展开更多
Figs (Moracea: Ficus) and fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chlocloids: Agaonideae) depend on each other to complete their reproduction. Monoecious fig species and their pollinating wasps are in conflict over the use of fig ov...Figs (Moracea: Ficus) and fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chlocloids: Agaonideae) depend on each other to complete their reproduction. Monoecious fig species and their pollinating wasps are in conflict over the use of fig ovaries which can either produce one seed or one wasp. From observation on Ficus virens Ait., we showed that female flowers with outer layer of ovaries (near to the wall of syconium) had no significant difference from that with inner and interval layer of ovaries (near to the syconium cavity), in which most seeds and wasps were produced. This meant that fig tree provided the same potential resource for seed and wasps production. Observation indicated that there was usually only one foundress in syconium at female flower phase and no com- petition pollinators. Measurement of the style length of female flowers and the ovipositor of pollinators indicated that most ovaries could be reached by pollinator’s ovipositor. However, at the male flower phase, production of seeds was significantly more than that of wasps including non-pollinating wasps but there was no significant difference between seed and pollinating wasp production when without non-pollinating wasps produced. This result indicated that non-pollinating wasps competed ovaries not with seeds but with pollinating wasps for ovipositing. Bagged experiment showed that the sampling fig species was not self-sterile which was important for figs and wasps to survive bad season. Seed production in self-pollinated figs was not significantly different from total wasps in- cluding non-pollinating ones. This might be related with the weaker competition among wasps since bagged figs were not easy to reach by wasps from outside.展开更多
Mud wasps are one of the most important problems that many archaeological sites suffer from in Egypt, especially in southern Egypt. Wasp’s growth increases, especially on the surface of stones or on mud-brick buildin...Mud wasps are one of the most important problems that many archaeological sites suffer from in Egypt, especially in southern Egypt. Wasp’s growth increases, especially on the surface of stones or on mud-brick buildings, which represents a major challenge to these archaeological sites. It works to hide the stone surfaces and archaeological inscriptions found on them in addition to that it works to damage the stone surfaces themselves through the nests that they build on these surfaces. It works on weakening the structure of sandstone and the study that included a study on mud wasps and Analysis of nests and studied through the use of various devices and methods, the damage and its nature have also been studied as a result of the presence of wasp nests and the reasons for their existence. Various treatment methods and the best appropriate methods for treating sandstone and stopping wasp activity have also been studied.展开更多
Biological control(biocontrol) is a safe, sustainable approach that takes advantage of natural enemies such as predators, parasitic insects or pathogens to manage pests in agroecosystems. Parasitoid wasps, a very larg...Biological control(biocontrol) is a safe, sustainable approach that takes advantage of natural enemies such as predators, parasitic insects or pathogens to manage pests in agroecosystems. Parasitoid wasps, a very large evolutionary group of hymenopteran insects, are well-known biological control agents for arthropod pests in agricultural and forest ecosystems. Here, we summarize the recent progress on the application of parasitoid wasps in biocontrol in China for the last five years. These include species diversity of parasitoid wasps, identification of dominant parasitoid wasps associated with insect pests and biocontrol practices(three types of biological control, i.e., classical, augmentative and conservation biological control) in several Chinese agroecosystems. We then treat different mass-rearing and release technologies and the commercialization of several parasitoid wasp species. We also summarize other work that may have a potential use in biocontrol, including the effect of plant volatiles on parasitoids and recent advance in the molecular mechanisms underlying the host regulation by parasitoid wasps. Future research area and applied perspectives are also discussed, noting that advances in biocontrol technologies in Chinese agriculture informs research at the global level.展开更多
Although much work has focused on non-social personality traits such as activity, exploration, and neophobia, there is a growing appreciationthat social personality traits play an important role in group dynamics, dis...Although much work has focused on non-social personality traits such as activity, exploration, and neophobia, there is a growing appreciationthat social personality traits play an important role in group dynamics, disease transmission, and fitness and that social personality traits maybe linked to non-social personality traits. These relationships are important because behavioral syndromes, defined here as correlated behavioral phenotypes, can constrain evolutionary responses. However, the strength and direction of relationships between social and non-socialpersonality traits remain unclear. In this project, we examine social and non-social personality traits, and the relationships between them, in thepaper wasp Polistes fuscatus. With a novel assay, we identify 5 personality traits, 2 non-social (exploration and activity), and 3 social (aggression, affiliation, and antennation) personality traits. We also find that social and non-social personality traits are phenotypically linked. We find apositive correlation between aggression and activity and a negative correlation between affiliation and activity. We also find a positive correlation between exploration and activity. Our work is an important step in understanding how phenotypic linkage between social and non-socialbehaviors may influence behavioral evolution. As a burgeoning model system for the study of genetic and neurobiological mechanisms of socialbehavior, Polistes fuscatus has the potential to add to this work by exploring the causes and consequences of individual behavioral variation.展开更多
We investigated how the parasitoid Torymus sp. (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) attacking galls of Schismatodiplosis lantanae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) behaves in the presence of a conspecific f...We investigated how the parasitoid Torymus sp. (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) attacking galls of Schismatodiplosis lantanae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) behaves in the presence of a conspecific female competitor in the patch. Presence of a competitor greatly changed resident exploitation behavior. Wasps alone spent more time in gall exploitation behaviors (walk-antennate and probe) and in post-oviposition behaviors (stationary and groom), and when intruders were present they spent more time walking. The attack strategy was through threatening: raising wings and pointing the antennae towards the opponent. Different from theoretical expectations, residents were not always the attacker. Number of galls in the patch and female wasp size did not affect contest outcomes, although gall exploitation time and time on leaf were significant factors for the probability of having attacks. Overall, the study highlights the fact that intruder interest in the host was the main cause of contests and also this is a unique report both in terms of the target species and the nature of the disputed resource, a gall-inducer inside a singular spatial unit, the gall.展开更多
Social insects exhibit complex learning and memory mechanisms while for- aging. Vespula germanica （Fab.） （Hymenoptera： Vespidae） is an invasive social wasp that frequently forages on undepleted food sources, maki...Social insects exhibit complex learning and memory mechanisms while for- aging. Vespula germanica （Fab.） （Hymenoptera： Vespidae） is an invasive social wasp that frequently forages on undepleted food sources, making several flights between the resource and the nest. Previous studies have shown that during this relocating behavior, wasps learn to associate food with a certain site, and can recall this association 1 h later. In this work, we evaluated whether this wasp species is capable of retrieving an established association after 24 h. For this purpose, we trained free flying individuals to collect proteinaceous food from an experimental plate （feeder） located in an experimental array. A total of 150 individuals were allowed 2, 4, or 8 visits. After the training phase, the array was re- moved and set up again 24 h later, but this time a second baited plate was placed opposite to the first. After 24 h we recorded the rate of wasps that returned to the experimental area and those which collected food from the previously learned feeding station or the nonlearned one. During the testing phase, we observed that a low rate of wasps trained with 2 collecting visits returned to the experimental area （22%）, whereas the rate of returning wasps trained with 4 or 8 collecting visits was higher （51% and 41%, respectively）. Moreover, wasps trained with 8 feeding visits collected food from the previously learned feeding station at a higher rate than those that did from the nonlearned one. In contrast, wasps trained 2 or 4 times chose both feeding stations at a similar rate. Thus, significantly more wasps returned to the previously learned feeding station after 8 repeated foraging flights but not after only 2 or 4 visits. This is the first report that demonstrates the existence of long-term spatial memory in V. germanica wasps.展开更多
Although the Neotropical territorially dominant arboreal ant Azteca chartifex Forel is very aggressive towards any intruder,its populous colonies tolerate the close presence of the fierce polistine wasp Polybia reject...Although the Neotropical territorially dominant arboreal ant Azteca chartifex Forel is very aggressive towards any intruder,its populous colonies tolerate the close presence of the fierce polistine wasp Polybia rejecta(F.).In French Guiana,83.33%of the 48 P.rejecta nests recorded were found side by side with those of A.chartifex.This nesting association results in mutual protection from predators(i.e.,the wasps protected from army ants;the ants protected from birds).We conducted field studies,laboratorybased behavioral experiments and chemical analyses to elucidate the mechanisms allowing the persistence of this association.Due to differences in the cuticular profiles of the two species,we eliminated the possibility of chemical mimicry.Also,analyses of the carton nests did not reveal traces of marking on the envelopes.Because ant forager flows were not perturbed by extracts from the wasps’Dufour’s and venom glands,we rejected any hypothetical action of repulsive chemicals.Nevertheless,we noted that the wasps"scraped"the surface of the upper part of their nest envelope using their mandibles,likely removing the ants'scent trails,and an experiment showed that ant foragers were perturbed by the removal of their scent trails.This leads us to use the term"erasure hypothesis."Thus,this nesting association persists thanks to a relative tolerance by the ants towards wasp presence and the behavior of the wasps that allows them to"contain"their associated ants through the elimination of their scent trails,direct attacks,"wing-buzzing"behavior and ejecting the ants.展开更多
Fig trees are important components of tropical forests, because their fruits are eaten by so many vertebrates, but they depend on pollinating fig wasps to produce mature fruits. Disturbance to habitat structure can ha...Fig trees are important components of tropical forests, because their fruits are eaten by so many vertebrates, but they depend on pollinating fig wasps to produce mature fruits. Disturbance to habitat structure can have a major impact on insect diversity and com- position, potentially reducing fruit yields. We investigated the impact of habitat disturbance on the fig wasp community associated with male figs ofFicus tinctoria in Xishuangbanna, China. The community comprised one pollinator species Liporrhopalum gibbosae and six non-pollinating wasp species： Sycoscapter sp. 1, Philotrypesis ravii, Philotrypesis sp. 1, Neosycophila omeomorpha, Sycophila sp.1, and Walkerella sp.1. More disturbed areas were characterized by higher temperatures, less shade, and more vehicle noise. The response of the fig wasp community was complex, with no simple relationship between intensity of disturbance and pollinator abundance. However, the sex ratios （proportion of male progeny） of pollinators increased significantly in more disturbed areas. We conclude that potential changes in fig wasp community composition brought about by disturbance, are unpredictable, with unclear consequences for tropical rainforest biodiversity.展开更多
Four cynipid gall wasps belonging to three genera are reported with descriptions of their host plants and galls,i.e.,Belizinella vicina Kovalev,1965,Cerroneuroterus folimargo(Monzen,1954),C.monseni(Dettmer,1934)and Ne...Four cynipid gall wasps belonging to three genera are reported with descriptions of their host plants and galls,i.e.,Belizinella vicina Kovalev,1965,Cerroneuroterus folimargo(Monzen,1954),C.monseni(Dettmer,1934)and Neuroterus hakonensis Ashmead,1904.The genus Belizinella and three species,B.vicina,C.monseni and N.hakonensis,are recorded in China for the first time.The species B.vicina is redescribed for the missing or incongruent features from its original description.In addition,the gall host for Ufo rufiventris Wang,Guo,Wang,Pujade-Villar&Chen is also recorded here for the first time.展开更多
针对高寒脆弱河流水环境容量受水文-生物地球化学耦合过程制约,缺乏量化研究的问题,以洮河部分河段为研究对象,基于SWAT(Soil and Water Assessment Tool)模型模拟流域径流特征,结合WASP(Water Analysis Simulation Program)模型分析河...针对高寒脆弱河流水环境容量受水文-生物地球化学耦合过程制约,缺乏量化研究的问题,以洮河部分河段为研究对象,基于SWAT(Soil and Water Assessment Tool)模型模拟流域径流特征,结合WASP(Water Analysis Simulation Program)模型分析河流水环境指标构建SWAT-WASP耦合水质模型,建立水环境容量定量计算框架,定量评估青藏高原东北缘高寒流域水环境容量时空分布特征.模型模拟结果与实测数据具有良好的一致性,在水流量、径流深等方面相关系数均达到0.6以上;Ⅰ类水质标准下BOD、TP和DO的年水环境容量分别为157.6、2.067和221.8t,而TN需放宽至Ⅳ类标准,年水环境容量为50.38t;对于BOD、TP和DO的水环境容量,空间维度显示上游为下游的9.9%~10.3%,时间维度显示1月(枯水期)为7月(丰水期)的10.1%~34.2%,分别凸显了高寒脆弱流域水动力条件和季节性水文驱动的主导作用,明确高寒脆弱流域可持续发展阈值;以TN为优先管控限制因子,提出时空协同分配策略,为高寒脆弱型水源区适应性水质管理提供科学依据.展开更多
WASP(Wallops Arc Second Pointer)是由美国国家航空航天局(NASA)开发的一种临近空间天文台亚角秒级指向系统,旨在构建可适配多类科学载荷的临近空间天文观测平台.WASP系统由指向控制系统(PCS)和星跟踪器子系统(CARDS)组成,该系统结合...WASP(Wallops Arc Second Pointer)是由美国国家航空航天局(NASA)开发的一种临近空间天文台亚角秒级指向系统,旨在构建可适配多类科学载荷的临近空间天文观测平台.WASP系统由指向控制系统(PCS)和星跟踪器子系统(CARDS)组成,该系统结合精密机械和电子组件,辅以超压气球技术,能在临近空间执行长时飞行任务,同时保持亚角秒级的指向精度.WASP系统的灵活性和标准化设计使其能够适配多种科学载荷,满足不同的任务需求.在空间科学领域,WASP系统的应用不仅拓宽了高空科学气球的研究范围,也为临近空间天文台的建设提供了创新方案,推动了对临近空间的探索.WASP系统的成功试飞和应用,为其在行星科学、天体物理学和地球观测等领域的应用奠定了基础,也为中国临近空间科学的发展提供了可靠的参考.展开更多
Observed and compared the morphological characters of various instars of Encyrtus sasakii Ishii parasitized in Eulecanium kuwanai Kanda. Microphotographs were taken of the bodies. Study shows that： Encyrtus sasakii I...Observed and compared the morphological characters of various instars of Encyrtus sasakii Ishii parasitized in Eulecanium kuwanai Kanda. Microphotographs were taken of the bodies. Study shows that： Encyrtus sasakii Ishii reproduces annually and overwinters as pupa in their host. Besides the individual differences resulting from development, the 1st and 2nd instar larvae have long breath pedicles in the end of abdomen, and with the larva molting during development, the exuvia accumulate at the end of the body, form a hollow sac called caudal sac that cover the breath pedicle during 3rd and 4th instar larvae. The scutulis of females are yellow, and foreside of wings is light fumed with a dark blotch covered by dense black thick hairs. While the males are black brown, the wing is light in color without a dark blotch.展开更多
A new species, Cerceris abdominiglabra sp. nov., from Guangxi, China, is described. One species is reported from China for the first time： C. odontophora Schletterer. A key to the species of the Cerceris bupresticida...A new species, Cerceris abdominiglabra sp. nov., from Guangxi, China, is described. One species is reported from China for the first time： C. odontophora Schletterer. A key to the species of the Cerceris bupresticida group from China is provided. The type specimen of the new species is deposited in the Insect Collections of Zhejiang University.展开更多
The genera Rakosina Boucek and Trichomalus Thomson in Pteromalinae（Hymenoptera：Pteromalidae） with two newly recorded species, Rakosina deplanata Boucek and Trichomalus posticus（Walker）, are reported for the first...The genera Rakosina Boucek and Trichomalus Thomson in Pteromalinae（Hymenoptera：Pteromalidae） with two newly recorded species, Rakosina deplanata Boucek and Trichomalus posticus（Walker）, are reported for the first time from China. Morphological descriptions, distribution and morphological figures are provided.展开更多
A new species Loboscelidia longivena Li ＆ Xu sp. nov. is described from Zhejiang, China. This new species resembles L. levigata Yao, Liu ＆ Xu but can be characterized by the triangular frontal projection, R1 shorter...A new species Loboscelidia longivena Li ＆ Xu sp. nov. is described from Zhejiang, China. This new species resembles L. levigata Yao, Liu ＆ Xu but can be characterized by the triangular frontal projection, R1 shorter, cu-a longer and mid femoral flange shorter in L. longivena sp. nov. A key to males of the Chinese species of the genus Loboscelidia is provided.展开更多
A new species of Eopompilus（Pompilidae： Pepsinae）, E. ungulivarius Ji Ma sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected on Liupanshan Mountain in Ningxia, China. A key to the species of this ge...A new species of Eopompilus（Pompilidae： Pepsinae）, E. ungulivarius Ji Ma sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected on Liupanshan Mountain in Ningxia, China. A key to the species of this genus worldwide is provided.展开更多
A new species of the subgenus Ceropales（Ceropales） in the maculata group, Ceropales（C.） longabdominalis Jiang Li sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in the north of China. A species...A new species of the subgenus Ceropales（Ceropales） in the maculata group, Ceropales（C.） longabdominalis Jiang Li sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in the north of China. A species checklist to the C.（C.） maculata group from China is provided, including a catalogue and distribution of a new record： C.（C.） solskii Radoszkowski, 1877 and 3 known species. A key to the species of the C.（C.） maculata group from China is provided.展开更多
基金This research was funded by the Research Foundation Flanders to C.A.O.(postdoctoral fellowship FWO-12V6318N,international mobility grant FWO V449117N and research grant 1513219N)R.C.d.S.was funded by the S~ao Paulo Research Foundation(FAPESP)under the grant 2018/22461-3 and Coordenac¸~ao de Aperfeic¸oamento de Pessoal de Nı´vel Superior,Brasil(CAPES),Finance Code 001+1 种基金C.A.O.,H.M.F.,and T.W.were funded by the research grant(FWO-G064120N)All authors were funded by Bilateral grant FWO-FAPESP(FWO GOF8319N and FAPESP 2018/10996-0)。
文摘In social insects,it has been suggested that reproduction and the production of particular fertilitylinked cuticular hydrocarbons(CHC)may be under shared juvenile hormone(JH)control,and this could have been key in predisposing such cues to later evolve into full-fledged queen pheromone signals.However,to date,only few studies have experimentally tested this“hormonal pleiotropy”hypothesis.Here,we formally test this hypothesis using data from four species of Polistine wasps,Polistes dominula,Polistes satan,Mischocyttarus metathoracicus,and Mischocyttarus cassununga,and experimental treatments with JH using the JH analogue methoprene and the anti-JH precocene.In line with reproduction being under JH control,our results show that across these four species,precocene significantly decreased ovary development when compared with both the acetone solvent-only control and the methoprene treatment.Consistent with the hormonal pleiotropy hypothesis,these effects on reproduction were further matched by subtle shifts in the CHC profiles,with univariate analyses showing that in P.dominula and P.satan the abundance of particular linear alkanes and mono-methylated alkanes were affected by ovary development and our hormonal treatments.The results indicate that in primitively eusocial wasps,and particularly in Polistes,reproduction and the production of some CHC cues are under joint JH control.We suggest that pleiotropic links between reproduction and the production of such hydrocarbon cues have been key enablers for the origin of true fertility and queen signals in more derived,advanced eusocial insects.
基金Supported by the Knowledge Innovation Research Program,Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-SW-105)
文摘Figs (Moracea: Ficus) and fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chlocloids: Agaonideae) depend on each other to complete their reproduction. Monoecious fig species and their pollinating wasps are in conflict over the use of fig ovaries which can either produce one seed or one wasp. From observation on Ficus virens Ait., we showed that female flowers with outer layer of ovaries (near to the wall of syconium) had no significant difference from that with inner and interval layer of ovaries (near to the syconium cavity), in which most seeds and wasps were produced. This meant that fig tree provided the same potential resource for seed and wasps production. Observation indicated that there was usually only one foundress in syconium at female flower phase and no com- petition pollinators. Measurement of the style length of female flowers and the ovipositor of pollinators indicated that most ovaries could be reached by pollinator’s ovipositor. However, at the male flower phase, production of seeds was significantly more than that of wasps including non-pollinating wasps but there was no significant difference between seed and pollinating wasp production when without non-pollinating wasps produced. This result indicated that non-pollinating wasps competed ovaries not with seeds but with pollinating wasps for ovipositing. Bagged experiment showed that the sampling fig species was not self-sterile which was important for figs and wasps to survive bad season. Seed production in self-pollinated figs was not significantly different from total wasps in- cluding non-pollinating ones. This might be related with the weaker competition among wasps since bagged figs were not easy to reach by wasps from outside.
文摘Mud wasps are one of the most important problems that many archaeological sites suffer from in Egypt, especially in southern Egypt. Wasp’s growth increases, especially on the surface of stones or on mud-brick buildings, which represents a major challenge to these archaeological sites. It works to hide the stone surfaces and archaeological inscriptions found on them in addition to that it works to damage the stone surfaces themselves through the nests that they build on these surfaces. It works on weakening the structure of sandstone and the study that included a study on mud wasps and Analysis of nests and studied through the use of various devices and methods, the damage and its nature have also been studied as a result of the presence of wasp nests and the reasons for their existence. Various treatment methods and the best appropriate methods for treating sandstone and stopping wasp activity have also been studied.
基金supported by the Key Program(31630060)Fund for Excellent Young Scholars(31230068)General Program(31672079 and 31501700) of the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘Biological control(biocontrol) is a safe, sustainable approach that takes advantage of natural enemies such as predators, parasitic insects or pathogens to manage pests in agroecosystems. Parasitoid wasps, a very large evolutionary group of hymenopteran insects, are well-known biological control agents for arthropod pests in agricultural and forest ecosystems. Here, we summarize the recent progress on the application of parasitoid wasps in biocontrol in China for the last five years. These include species diversity of parasitoid wasps, identification of dominant parasitoid wasps associated with insect pests and biocontrol practices(three types of biological control, i.e., classical, augmentative and conservation biological control) in several Chinese agroecosystems. We then treat different mass-rearing and release technologies and the commercialization of several parasitoid wasp species. We also summarize other work that may have a potential use in biocontrol, including the effect of plant volatiles on parasitoids and recent advance in the molecular mechanisms underlying the host regulation by parasitoid wasps. Future research area and applied perspectives are also discussed, noting that advances in biocontrol technologies in Chinese agriculture informs research at the global level.
基金supported by the University of Michigan,National Geographic Society,and the National Science Foundation Grants IOS 1557564 and 2134910。
文摘Although much work has focused on non-social personality traits such as activity, exploration, and neophobia, there is a growing appreciationthat social personality traits play an important role in group dynamics, disease transmission, and fitness and that social personality traits maybe linked to non-social personality traits. These relationships are important because behavioral syndromes, defined here as correlated behavioral phenotypes, can constrain evolutionary responses. However, the strength and direction of relationships between social and non-socialpersonality traits remain unclear. In this project, we examine social and non-social personality traits, and the relationships between them, in thepaper wasp Polistes fuscatus. With a novel assay, we identify 5 personality traits, 2 non-social (exploration and activity), and 3 social (aggression, affiliation, and antennation) personality traits. We also find that social and non-social personality traits are phenotypically linked. We find apositive correlation between aggression and activity and a negative correlation between affiliation and activity. We also find a positive correlation between exploration and activity. Our work is an important step in understanding how phenotypic linkage between social and non-socialbehaviors may influence behavioral evolution. As a burgeoning model system for the study of genetic and neurobiological mechanisms of socialbehavior, Polistes fuscatus has the potential to add to this work by exploring the causes and consequences of individual behavioral variation.
文摘We investigated how the parasitoid Torymus sp. (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) attacking galls of Schismatodiplosis lantanae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) behaves in the presence of a conspecific female competitor in the patch. Presence of a competitor greatly changed resident exploitation behavior. Wasps alone spent more time in gall exploitation behaviors (walk-antennate and probe) and in post-oviposition behaviors (stationary and groom), and when intruders were present they spent more time walking. The attack strategy was through threatening: raising wings and pointing the antennae towards the opponent. Different from theoretical expectations, residents were not always the attacker. Number of galls in the patch and female wasp size did not affect contest outcomes, although gall exploitation time and time on leaf were significant factors for the probability of having attacks. Overall, the study highlights the fact that intruder interest in the host was the main cause of contests and also this is a unique report both in terms of the target species and the nature of the disputed resource, a gall-inducer inside a singular spatial unit, the gall.
文摘Social insects exhibit complex learning and memory mechanisms while for- aging. Vespula germanica （Fab.） （Hymenoptera： Vespidae） is an invasive social wasp that frequently forages on undepleted food sources, making several flights between the resource and the nest. Previous studies have shown that during this relocating behavior, wasps learn to associate food with a certain site, and can recall this association 1 h later. In this work, we evaluated whether this wasp species is capable of retrieving an established association after 24 h. For this purpose, we trained free flying individuals to collect proteinaceous food from an experimental plate （feeder） located in an experimental array. A total of 150 individuals were allowed 2, 4, or 8 visits. After the training phase, the array was re- moved and set up again 24 h later, but this time a second baited plate was placed opposite to the first. After 24 h we recorded the rate of wasps that returned to the experimental area and those which collected food from the previously learned feeding station or the nonlearned one. During the testing phase, we observed that a low rate of wasps trained with 2 collecting visits returned to the experimental area （22%）, whereas the rate of returning wasps trained with 4 or 8 collecting visits was higher （51% and 41%, respectively）. Moreover, wasps trained with 8 feeding visits collected food from the previously learned feeding station at a higher rate than those that did from the nonlearned one. In contrast, wasps trained 2 or 4 times chose both feeding stations at a similar rate. Thus, significantly more wasps returned to the previously learned feeding station after 8 repeated foraging flights but not after only 2 or 4 visits. This is the first report that demonstrates the existence of long-term spatial memory in V. germanica wasps.
基金this study was provided by an“Investissement d’Avenir”grant managed by the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche(CEBA,ref.ANR-10-LABX-25-01).
文摘Although the Neotropical territorially dominant arboreal ant Azteca chartifex Forel is very aggressive towards any intruder,its populous colonies tolerate the close presence of the fierce polistine wasp Polybia rejecta(F.).In French Guiana,83.33%of the 48 P.rejecta nests recorded were found side by side with those of A.chartifex.This nesting association results in mutual protection from predators(i.e.,the wasps protected from army ants;the ants protected from birds).We conducted field studies,laboratorybased behavioral experiments and chemical analyses to elucidate the mechanisms allowing the persistence of this association.Due to differences in the cuticular profiles of the two species,we eliminated the possibility of chemical mimicry.Also,analyses of the carton nests did not reveal traces of marking on the envelopes.Because ant forager flows were not perturbed by extracts from the wasps’Dufour’s and venom glands,we rejected any hypothetical action of repulsive chemicals.Nevertheless,we noted that the wasps"scraped"the surface of the upper part of their nest envelope using their mandibles,likely removing the ants'scent trails,and an experiment showed that ant foragers were perturbed by the removal of their scent trails.This leads us to use the term"erasure hypothesis."Thus,this nesting association persists thanks to a relative tolerance by the ants towards wasp presence and the behavior of the wasps that allows them to"contain"their associated ants through the elimination of their scent trails,direct attacks,"wing-buzzing"behavior and ejecting the ants.
基金Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Professor Jean-Yves Rusplus for identifying the fig wasps of Ficus tinctoria. We wish to thank Stephen Compton for providing help with statistical methods and revising the manuscript. We also thank Iain Taylor, Paolo Pelosi, Roy Turkington, Loren Bell and Kari Malen and anonymous referees for good suggestions and reviewing the manuscript. The authors also thank Zhen-Ji Wang, Jun-Ming Guan, Pei Yang and Yi Zhao for their help with the fieldwork. The study was funded by the Chinese Natural Science Foundation （30571507, 30670358）.
文摘Fig trees are important components of tropical forests, because their fruits are eaten by so many vertebrates, but they depend on pollinating fig wasps to produce mature fruits. Disturbance to habitat structure can have a major impact on insect diversity and com- position, potentially reducing fruit yields. We investigated the impact of habitat disturbance on the fig wasp community associated with male figs ofFicus tinctoria in Xishuangbanna, China. The community comprised one pollinator species Liporrhopalum gibbosae and six non-pollinating wasp species： Sycoscapter sp. 1, Philotrypesis ravii, Philotrypesis sp. 1, Neosycophila omeomorpha, Sycophila sp.1, and Walkerella sp.1. More disturbed areas were characterized by higher temperatures, less shade, and more vehicle noise. The response of the fig wasp community was complex, with no simple relationship between intensity of disturbance and pollinator abundance. However, the sex ratios （proportion of male progeny） of pollinators increased significantly in more disturbed areas. We conclude that potential changes in fig wasp community composition brought about by disturbance, are unpredictable, with unclear consequences for tropical rainforest biodiversity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31472032,31071970)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars(LR14C040002)。
文摘Four cynipid gall wasps belonging to three genera are reported with descriptions of their host plants and galls,i.e.,Belizinella vicina Kovalev,1965,Cerroneuroterus folimargo(Monzen,1954),C.monseni(Dettmer,1934)and Neuroterus hakonensis Ashmead,1904.The genus Belizinella and three species,B.vicina,C.monseni and N.hakonensis,are recorded in China for the first time.The species B.vicina is redescribed for the missing or incongruent features from its original description.In addition,the gall host for Ufo rufiventris Wang,Guo,Wang,Pujade-Villar&Chen is also recorded here for the first time.
文摘针对高寒脆弱河流水环境容量受水文-生物地球化学耦合过程制约,缺乏量化研究的问题,以洮河部分河段为研究对象,基于SWAT(Soil and Water Assessment Tool)模型模拟流域径流特征,结合WASP(Water Analysis Simulation Program)模型分析河流水环境指标构建SWAT-WASP耦合水质模型,建立水环境容量定量计算框架,定量评估青藏高原东北缘高寒流域水环境容量时空分布特征.模型模拟结果与实测数据具有良好的一致性,在水流量、径流深等方面相关系数均达到0.6以上;Ⅰ类水质标准下BOD、TP和DO的年水环境容量分别为157.6、2.067和221.8t,而TN需放宽至Ⅳ类标准,年水环境容量为50.38t;对于BOD、TP和DO的水环境容量,空间维度显示上游为下游的9.9%~10.3%,时间维度显示1月(枯水期)为7月(丰水期)的10.1%~34.2%,分别凸显了高寒脆弱流域水动力条件和季节性水文驱动的主导作用,明确高寒脆弱流域可持续发展阈值;以TN为优先管控限制因子,提出时空协同分配策略,为高寒脆弱型水源区适应性水质管理提供科学依据.
文摘WASP(Wallops Arc Second Pointer)是由美国国家航空航天局(NASA)开发的一种临近空间天文台亚角秒级指向系统,旨在构建可适配多类科学载荷的临近空间天文观测平台.WASP系统由指向控制系统(PCS)和星跟踪器子系统(CARDS)组成,该系统结合精密机械和电子组件,辅以超压气球技术,能在临近空间执行长时飞行任务,同时保持亚角秒级的指向精度.WASP系统的灵活性和标准化设计使其能够适配多种科学载荷,满足不同的任务需求.在空间科学领域,WASP系统的应用不仅拓宽了高空科学气球的研究范围,也为临近空间天文台的建设提供了创新方案,推动了对临近空间的探索.WASP系统的成功试飞和应用,为其在行星科学、天体物理学和地球观测等领域的应用奠定了基础,也为中国临近空间科学的发展提供了可靠的参考.
基金This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30471398)the Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi, China (20051066)
文摘Observed and compared the morphological characters of various instars of Encyrtus sasakii Ishii parasitized in Eulecanium kuwanai Kanda. Microphotographs were taken of the bodies. Study shows that： Encyrtus sasakii Ishii reproduces annually and overwinters as pupa in their host. Besides the individual differences resulting from development, the 1st and 2nd instar larvae have long breath pedicles in the end of abdomen, and with the larva molting during development, the exuvia accumulate at the end of the body, form a hollow sac called caudal sac that cover the breath pedicle during 3rd and 4th instar larvae. The scutulis of females are yellow, and foreside of wings is light fumed with a dark blotch covered by dense black thick hairs. While the males are black brown, the wing is light in color without a dark blotch.
基金supported by the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (20115302120001)National Natural Science Foundation of China (31402009)+1 种基金Science and Technology Development Plan of Weifang, China (201301156)the Scientific Research Foundation of Weifang University of Science and Technology, China (W13K018)
文摘A new species, Cerceris abdominiglabra sp. nov., from Guangxi, China, is described. One species is reported from China for the first time： C. odontophora Schletterer. A key to the species of the Cerceris bupresticida group from China is provided. The type specimen of the new species is deposited in the Insect Collections of Zhejiang University.
基金supported by the Presidential Foundation of the CAS, Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2011FY120200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31372238, U1170305)
文摘The genera Rakosina Boucek and Trichomalus Thomson in Pteromalinae（Hymenoptera：Pteromalidae） with two newly recorded species, Rakosina deplanata Boucek and Trichomalus posticus（Walker）, are reported for the first time from China. Morphological descriptions, distribution and morphological figures are provided.
文摘A new species Loboscelidia longivena Li ＆ Xu sp. nov. is described from Zhejiang, China. This new species resembles L. levigata Yao, Liu ＆ Xu but can be characterized by the triangular frontal projection, R1 shorter, cu-a longer and mid femoral flange shorter in L. longivena sp. nov. A key to males of the Chinese species of the genus Loboscelidia is provided.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31172138)
文摘A new species of Eopompilus（Pompilidae： Pepsinae）, E. ungulivarius Ji Ma sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected on Liupanshan Mountain in Ningxia, China. A key to the species of this genus worldwide is provided.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31172138)
文摘A new species of the subgenus Ceropales（Ceropales） in the maculata group, Ceropales（C.） longabdominalis Jiang Li sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in the north of China. A species checklist to the C.（C.） maculata group from China is provided, including a catalogue and distribution of a new record： C.（C.） solskii Radoszkowski, 1877 and 3 known species. A key to the species of the C.（C.） maculata group from China is provided.
