Satellite flies (Leucophora personata,Diptera: Anthomyiidae) and other dipteran parasites of the communal bee Andrena agilissima (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) on the island of Elba,Italy

Solitary and presocial aculueate Hymenoptera are parasitized by a range of dipteran species in the families Anthomyiidae, Bombyliidae, Conopidae, Phoridae, and Sarcophagidae that are likely to impact on their hosts. We undertook a study over several years of a univoltine and communal bee, Andrena agilissima, and its main dipteran parasites, in particular the satellite fly Leucophora personata (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). Behavioural and ecological data were collected from one nesting aggregation of the host bee on the island of Elba, Italy, from 1993 to 2003, and from a foraging site of the bee, ca 5?km from the nesting aggregation. Other Diptera associated with A. agilissima at the field site were the bee fly Bombylius fimbriatus (Bombyliidae), the conopid fly Zodion cinereum (Conopidae), and the scuttle fly Megaselia andrenae (Phoridae). The phenology of the Diptera broadly overlapped with that of their host across the season of activity (end of April and all of May). Diurnal activity patterns differed slightly; L. personata in particular was active at the host's nesting site before A. agilissima. Female satellite flies also showed a range of behaviours in gaining entry to a host nest. We summarize published data on this and other Leucophora species that parasitize Andrena host bees. Host bees returning to their nests occasionally undertook zig‐zag flight manoeuvres if followed by a satellite fly that were generally successful in evading the fly. Satellite flies that entered a nest, presumably to oviposit, were less likely to remain therein if another host bee entered the same nest, suggesting that one advantage to communal nesting for this host is a reduction in brood cell parasitism by L. personata. We provide the first clear evidence for parasitism by a Zodion of any Andrena host. Both L. personata and M. andrenae concentrated their parasitic activities in the zone of the host nesting aggregation with highest nest densities. Three of the Diptera, L. personata, B. fimbriatus, and Z. cinereum, seemed to have extremely low rates of parasitism whilst that of M. andrenae appeared low. Though they have refined parasitic behaviour that allows them to gain entry into host nests (L. personata, B. fimbriatus, and M. andrenae) or to parasitize adults (Z. cinereum), these parasites seem not to impact upon the dynamics of the host A. agilissima at the nesting aggregation, and the host possesses traits to reduce parasitism.     

Comparison of zooplankton community structure between impacted and non-impacted areas of Paranaguá Bay Estuarine Complex,south Brazil

We analysed the seasonal distribution of the zooplankton community in an anthropogenically impacted area (Paranaguá Bay) and a non-impacted area (Laranjeiras Bay) of the Paranaguá Bay Estuarine Complex. Large phytoplankton (> 50 μm) and zooplankton were collected every two months, between August 2003 and June 2004. The phytoplankton community was numerically dominated by diatoms (78%) and dinoflagellates (19%). Zooplankton abundance varied between 670 and 100,716 individuals m^–3, with a dominance of copepods, mainly the calanoids Acartia lilljeborgii, Acartia tonsa and Pseudodiaptomus acutus. A clear seasonal pattern was observed: copepods were significantly more abundant during the rainy than in the dry season. Significant differences in abundance between the two bays were detected only for cirripede larvae, which were more abundant in Paranaguá Bay. This lack of difference between the two areas was probably a consequence of the water circulation along the estuary, which may have diluted and dispersed the pollutants from Paranaguá Bay to other areas of the estuary.     

Diversity and life-history traits of wild bees (Insecta: Hymenoptera) in intensive agricultural landscapes in the Rolling Pampa,Argentina

The decline of bees is a major concern due to their vital role in pollinating many crops and wild plants. Some regions in South America, and especially the Pampas, are amongst those parts of the world where stressors of bee populations have been little studied. The Pampas has been intensively transformed for agriculture, being presently one of the most productive areas of agricultural commodities in the world. Here, we aim to provide first insights on the taxonomic and functional composition of bee assemblages in the Rolling Pampa, the most intensively managed part of the Pampas. Soybean (herbicide-tolerant genetically modified varieties) is the predominant crop in this region. Bees were sampled with coloured pan traps. Sampling points were located on field margins in either the cropped or the semi-natural grassland area of a farmland site devoted to annual cropping. A total of 2384 individuals were caught, representing 33 taxa [mainly (morpho)species]. The subgenus Lasioglossum (Dialictus) largely dominated captures (78% of the total abundance) and was relatively abundant in the entire study area, suggesting that some species are likely to reach their ecological requirements in cropped areas. No-till fields and field margins may provide large areas for these below-ground nesting species, while their polylectic food preferences allow them to collect pollen on a wide range of plant species, among them possibly soybean. On the contrary, the richness and the abundance of other taxa were higher in the semi-natural area than in the cropped area. Among them, above-ground nesting or oil-collecting species, which have more specialised nesting and floral requirements, were highly associated with the semi-natural area. Our findings highlight the large dominance of L. (Dialictus) species in this highly intensively managed landscape, and the urgent need of preserving semi-natural habitats to maintain species-rich and functionally diverse bee communities in the Pampas.     

LXXIII.—Cucumaria tetracentriophora,sp. n., a new dendrochirote Holothurian from South Africa

Summary

A survey of the zoogeography of the eight constituent species of the genus Nerilla demonstrates that they are restricted to temperate and tropical coastal marine and brackish waters. The habitat substrata from which members of the genus have been recorded range in particle size from mud to small stones with an apparent preference for coarse sand and gravel. In addition to particulate substrata, collections have been made from red and green algae, ‘corallines’ and reed stems. Specific measurements of other habitat conditions have been largely limited to salinity and temperature readings.     

Leucocytozoon toddi in British sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus: observations on the dynamics of infection

Leucocytozoon infection was studied in a breeding population of sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus in the British Midlands. Almost all transmission was apparently ‘vertical’ from adults to young, at the nest site. Parasites largely disappeared from the blood between October and April, reappearing in a ‘spring relapse’ during the nesting season. Infected birds remained infected for life; there was no evidence of reduced longevity in infected birds once they had dispersed from their natal nest site. There was no assortative mating between infected or uninfected males and females. It is postulated that the concentration of birds at the nest site allows transmission by a non-specific vector breeding in the same vicinity. At other times of year the birds are more regularly dispersed and transmission in unlikely to occur.     

Spatial patterns of the semi-aquatic rodent Nectomys squamipes in Atlantic forest streams

Nectomys squamipes is a semi-aquatic rodent with a wide geographic range in Brazilian forests and savannas. This species is a host for several parasites associated with aquatic environments, especially Schistosoma mansoni, and thus its spatial pattern may influence some diseases’ patterns. Here we present important aspects of water rat spatial behaviour, including technical and ecological aspects. Water rats were studied by live trapping in rivers and in gallery forests between January 2005 and August 2008, with a total sampling effort of 9511 trap-nights. We also studied some animals through radio tracking and the spool-and-line technique. Water rat movement was distributed evenly between the terrestrial and aquatic environments. Nectomys squamipes occurrence in small tributaries was higher than in larger and lotic rivers. Both home range, the conventional two-dimensional approach, and home length, a one-dimensional approach, proved to be useful to study N. squamipes, depending on the shape of the water body used by the individual. Although Nectomys squamipes’ home length was positively correlated with body weight, sex was also important to explain home length variation; at similar body weights, males have larger home lengths than females. Males explored larger areas during the rainy season, likely in search of females, as this is the water rat reproductive season in Atlantic forest. In contrast, females explored larger areas during the dry season, likely looking for additional food supplies as a result of deficient water rat food supplies during the Atlantic forest dry season. Females overlapped home lengths with more than one male, and males with more than one female, suggesting a promiscuous mating system for this species.     

Asynchronous reproduction in three species of crocodilians in south-eastern Amazonia

We studied reproduction of three species of crocodilians, Paleosuchus trigonatus, Caiman crocodilus and Melanosuchus niger, in the Xingu River, near the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam. The periods of laying and hatching of eggs were estimated for each nest before (2013–2014) and after (2016–2017) the river was dammed and the reservoir was formed. Nesting of the three species occurred between August and December, but was largely asynchronous; nest construction peaked in September for P. trigonatus, October for M. niger and November for C. crocodilus. Reservoir filling had little effect on the laying period of any of the species. Nests of P. trigonatus and M. niger were always within 0–12 m of the bank, whereas nests of C. crocodilus, which nests later in the season when flooding is more likely, were up to 100 m from the nearest water body. There was no relationship between distance from water and the number of eggs in nests, suggesting that larger and presumably more experienced females do not lay at different distances from the bank in any of the species.     

The life cycle and natural history of the tropical aphid Cerataphis fransseni (Homoptera: Aphididae: Hormaphidinae), with reference to the evolution of host alternation in aphids

We describe the life cycle and general biology of the tropical cerataphidine aphid Cerataphis fransseni. We demonstrate that this aphid migrates between trees of Styrax benzoin and various species of palms; palm-feeding populations have previously been known as C. variabilis and C. palmae, which now become synonyms of C. fransseni. On S. benzoin the fundatrix induces a relatively simple gall which can contain >6000 aphids at maturity with a large number of reproductively sterile soldiers that protect the gall from predators. These galls are apparently produced throughout the year. Colonies on the secondary host plants, palms, are apparently obligately tended by ants whereas colonies within galls on Styrax are never tended by ants. We discuss the life cycle of this tropical aphid with respect to hypotheses for the evolution and maintenance of host alternation.     

Reproduction,phenology and mortality sources of a species of Physalaemus (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

Physalaemus cf. fuscomaculatus is a foam-nesting frog of seasonally dry environments of south-eastern Brazil. We report on the reproduction and other natural history features of this species. Population parameters were based on trapped specimens. The advertisement call is described. The calling and spawning season is coincident with the rainy period. Calling and spawning were performed in ponds. Most of the adults were trapped in October and the juveniles during wetter months and the beginning of the dry season. At the end of the reproductive season, the median size of adults lowered. Egg clutches averaged 2350 eggs, each egg being about 1.4?mm in diameter. Males were more abundant than females in traps. Communal foam nests were frequent, involving up to 40 individual nests. Tadpoles entered the water within about 40?h. Maggots (Diptera) infested egg clutches; water bugs and mammals preyed upon adults. In this region, the dry/cold season may be so difficult for survival that early maturation at small size would be advantageous. The male-biased sample may be related to the greater motility of males. The rapid abandonment of the foam by the tadpoles and communal nesting may help to reduce predation by maggots. Skin toxins were not effective in deterring predation upon adults. The call of P. cf. fuscomaculatus differs from that of other species in the biligonigerus group and can help to define the specific status of the studied population.     

Metazoan parasites of Calophysus macropterus (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in the Acre and Iaco rivers in the western Amazon region of Brazil: diversity,similarity and seasonal variation

ABSTRACT

The diversity, similarity and seasonal variation of metazoan parasite communities in Calophysus macropterus in the Acre and Iaco rivers, in the western Amazon (Brazil), was investigated. Parasites from 13 taxa were collected from C. macropterus in both rivers: four species of monogeneans, four nematodes, two cestodes, one digenean, one crustacean and one pentastomid. In hosts from the Acre river, Cucullanus pinnai predominated; while in hosts in the Iaco river, Monticellia amazonica predominated. The component communities of the parasites among the hosts in the two rivers presented high similarity (100%). Prevalence of Alinema amazonicum was higher in hosts in the Acre river; while the prevalence of C. pinnai was higher in hosts in the Iaco river and the mean prevalence and abundance of M. amazonica were higher in fish from the Iaco river. Regarding C. macropterus from the Acre river, infection levels by A. amazonicum were higher during the rainy season, while Demidospermus pinirampi only occurred in the dry season and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus only occurred in the rainy season. In hosts from the Iaco river, infections by larvae of Anisakidae gen. sp. were higher during the dry season, while infection by Rudolphiella piracatinga and Sebekia sp. only occurred in the rainy season. However, P. (S.) inopinatus, Ergasilus callophysus, Ameloblastella unapi, Demidospermus luckyi, Demidospermus macropteri and D. pinirampi only occurred in the dry season. High similarity of the component communities of the parasite was observed between the rainy and dry seasons. These results suggest that factors other than location and seasonality were influencing the communities and infracommunities of the parasites found. Lastly, C. macropterus is a new host for almost 50% of the parasite species found. In addition, the results from the present study have expanded the geographical range of these 13 species of parasites to the western Amazon region.     

Asymmetric larval competition between two species of neotropical foam‐nesting frogs: Leptodactylus fuscus and Engystomops pustulosus

Larval competition was investigated in foam‐nesting frogs with contrasting breeding strategies. Leptodactylus fuscus nests in burrows with moderate numbers of large eggs, mainly on dry nights; Engystomops pustulosus makes floating nests with large numbers of small eggs, mainly on wet nights. Both use the same temporary pools in open habitat over an extended breeding season. Larval growth to metamorphosis was assessed in a semi‐natural experiment and in the laboratory. Tanks contained either single species or equal numbers of both species. Inter‐specific competition was asymmetric; L. fuscus survived as well as or better in competition with E. pustulosus than in intra‐specific competition. Leptodactylus fuscus attained larger sizes with E. pustulosus present. In interspecific competition E. pustulosus showed worse survival and grew slower and to a smaller size. Outdoors, both species tolerated water temperatures that often rose to 42°C and reached metamorphosis in very short times: 14 days after oviposition in L. fuscus and 17 days in E. pustulosus.     

Differentiated use of pollen sources by two sympatric species of oil-collecting bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

We identified the food niche breadth of two sympatric species of oil-collecting bees, Centris (Heterocentris) analis (Fabricius, 1804) and Centris (Hemisiella) tarsata Smith, 1874, based on pollen analyses of larval food. We tested differences in the use of pollen sources considering the anther type and pollen size of the flowers. The species presented a low similarity in the use of pollen sources and C. analis had a wider niche breadth than C. tarsata. Centris analis mainly used Heteropterys spp. and other flowers with non-poricidal anthers. In contrast, C. tarsata commonly used Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil., as well as other flowers with poricidal anthers. Despite the differences in pollen composition of larval food, both species predominantly used medium-sized pollen grains. Although C. analis and C. tarsata are sympatric species, belonging to the same functional group and presenting an overlap in nesting periods, they used different pollen sources, which suggests the occurrence of food niche partitioning.     

Ecology and field biology of two dominant Camponotus ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Brazilian savannah

Camponotus renggeri and C. rufipes are very abundant in Brazilian cerrado savannah, where they feed extensively on liquid rewards and commonly associate with plants bearing extrafloral nectaries and honeydew-producing insects. Here, we provide a qualitative and quantitative field account on the natural history and ecology of these two ant species. The study was carried out in a cerrado reserve in south-eastern Brazil across a rainy/hot season (summer) and a dry/cold season (winter). The ants were found in two vegetation physiognomies: all nests of C. rufipes were located in the cerrado sensu stricto (scrub of shrubs and trees, 3–8 m tall), whereas C. renggeri occurred mostly in the cerradão (forest with more or less merging canopy, 10–12 m tall). Both species nested in fallen or erect dead trunks, as well as underground. In addition, C. rufipes built nests using dead plant material arranged or not around shrub bases. Colonies of C. rufipes were generally more populous than those of C. renggeri, and both species had colonies with more than one dealated queen. Both species were active mainly at night and foraged for resources near their nests, mainly extrafloral nectar and hemipteran honeydew (aphids and mealybugs). The average size of the home ranges of C. renggeri in cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão varied from ≈ 2.8 to 4.0 m² and apparently were not affected by season. In C. rufipes, however, foraging grounds in cerrado sensu stricto showed a twofold increase from dry/cold (≈ 4.5 m²) to rainy/hot season (≈ 9.8 m²). Our study highlights the importance of natural history data to understand the foraging ecology and role of these ants in cerrado savannah.     

Biology of a nocturnal bee,Megalopta atra (Hymenoptera: Halictidae; Augochlorini), from the Panamanian highlands

Bees of the genus Megalopta have gained attention as a result of their social nesting and nocturnal foraging. Seventeen nests of Meglaopta atra from the highlands of Chiriqui Province, Panama, were collected at the end of the dry season when brood rearing is expected to be at its peak. Most nests contained single females; within multifemale nests only one female possessed enlarged ovarioles, although some non‐reproductive individuals were inseminated. In two of these nests reproductive individuals were clearly larger in body size than nestmates, but body size variation and macrocephaly were equivalent to those found in other Neotropical augochlorines. There was no evidence of a non‐reproductive worker‐like caste and multifemale nests did not appear to be more productive than solitary nests, which may represent pre‐reproductive assemblages. Megalopta atra appears to be isolated by altitude from co‐geners common in Panama, this is discussed in comparison with temperate halictine bees, in which environmental clines separate solitary from social populations.     

A new genus and species of Caprellidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Kiribati

ABSTRACT

Luisacaprella eliae gen. nov, sp. nov. (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Caprellidae) is described bwct ased on specimens collected from Kiribati, Pacific Ocean. The new genus is close to Aciconula but can be mainly distinguished by the following characteristics: (1) pereonites 6 and 7 are fused in Luisacaprella gen. nov. while they are separated in Aciconula; (2) the setal formula of mandibular palp is 2-x-1 in Luisacaprella and 1-x-1 in Aciconula; (3) pereopods 3 and 4 are two-articulate in males and females of Luisacaprella, whereas there is sexual dimorphism in Aciconula, and males have pereopods 3 and 4 two-articulate while females have pereopod 3 two- or three-articulate and pereopod 4 four-articulate. The new species L. eliae is additionally characterised by its tiny size (<3 mm). The new taxon was collected from dead branching coral of shallow waters (3–32 m). Further studies targeting small caprellids which could easily be overlooked from substrates such as sediments and dead corals are needed to properly understand the global caprellid diversity of tropical and temperate areas.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F5A24BE-A7AC-4D3C-A087-F7284F84A2DC     

Effect of tropical monsoon on fishery abundance of Indian squid (Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii)

Indian squid, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii (Loliginidae) constitute an important component of the inshore cephalopod fisheries along the eastern Arabian Sea. Local environmental variation plays an important role in species–environment interactions in neritic squids, which inhabit nearshore/coastal waters. Such ‘active’ and ‘passive’ responses of squids to environmental changes is crucial in understanding their relationships and influence on the biological processes, distribution and abundance of the fast-growing short-lived coastal loliginids. The empirical relationship between squid abundance and the variability in rainfall and sea surface temperature (SST) were explored in a tropical monsoon fishery. Monthly catch rates (catch per fishing hour) of squids in commercial trawl during 1987–2009 were used as the abundance index. Linear regression models with ARIMA errors were fitted with catch per unit hour time series as dependent variable and rainfall and SST as exogenous variables. While rainfall was observed to have a negative effect on squid abundance, the SST recorded a positive impact. ARIMA models provided satisfactory fit to observed data and forecast of 22 months. Given that the squid life-cycle is a function of their environment, this result is relevant in forecasting squid biomass for the management of tropical monsoon fisheries.     

Larval development of Apiomithrax violaceus (A. Milne Edwards, 1868) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Pisidae) reared in laboratory conditions,and a review of larval characters of Pisidae

Apiomithrax violaceus (A. Milne Edwards, 1868 Milne Edwards A 1868 Observations sur la faune carcinologique des Iles du Cap-Vert Nouvelles Archives du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, 4, 49–68, pls 16–18  [Google Scholar]) is a pisid majoid crab occurring in tropical and subtropical coastal waters of the eastern and western South Atlantic. Larval development consists of two zoeal stages and a megalopa. Beginning with the first zoea, the duration of each larval stage at 24°C was 3–8 (5±1), 3–5 (4±0.5) and 9–15 (11±2) days, the megalopa and first crab instar appearing 9–11 (10±1) and 20–27 (23±2) days after hatching, respectively. Larval characters agree with those proposed for the Majoidea, in having nine or more setae on the scaphognathite in the first zoea and well-developed pleopods in the second zoea. However, larvae of A. violaceus do not fit larval pisid features. Zoeal stages differ from most other Pisidae in having lateral spines, a long rostral spine extending beyond the antenna, two spines per telson fork and a dorsolateral process on the third abdominal somite. The megalopa differs in having a spine dorsally on the carapace and on the basial segment of the second pereiopod. Two characters that are potentially unique to Apiomithrax include a zoeal antenna with an exopod that is much longer than the protopod, and a rostral spine that is longer than the dorsal spine. These characters should facilitate the identification of this taxon and could also be useful for phylogenetic studies. A review of larvae of 28 species among 14 genera indicated that there is no apparent single larval character that differentiates the Pisidae, with more limited phylogenetic analyses suggesting that this is a paraphyletic group. Apiomithrax, Eurynolambrus, Pisoides, Rochinia and Scyra have the most divergent morphological characters within the family. The analysis and inclusion of additional taxa is likely to shed more light on the sister-group relationships of the Pisidae. However, based on the extent of morphological interspecific variability of known larvae it is likely that the group, as presently defined by adult morphology, is not monophyletic.     

Observations on the nesting behaviour of the spider wasp Eragenia congrua (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), with the first record of the host

We describe, for the first time, the nesting behaviour of an Eragenia spider wasp, Eragenia congrua, based on field observations in the Brazilian Amazon. This species was observed nesting in holes at the base of the trunk of a Jacaranda copaia tree and provisioning nests with both amputated and non-amputated species of undetermined Corinna sp. (Corinnidae) spiders. The spiders are carried forward and grasped at the base of the chelicerae. Nesting is gregarious with females nesting in the same small area on successive days.