The natural history of the parasitic wasp Trogus pennator (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae): Host‐finding behaviour and a possible host countermeasure

The parasitic wasp Trogus pennator (Ichneumonidae) attacks the larvae of swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae). Female T. pennator were followed in the field as they searched for larvae of the zebra swallowtail butterfly, Eurytides marcellus (Papilionidae), feeding on Asimina (Annonaceae) in central Florida, USA. Predictions of host‐finding theory and interactions with the host were thus investigated in a natural setting. Wasps seldom flew to plants other than Asimina and apparently recognized the plants by visual cues. Plants were attractive regardless of host presence, as the wasps approached plants lacking E. marcellus feeding damage twice as often as they approached damaged plants. However, wasps approached damaged plants at a rate greater than their frequency in the Asimina population, indicating that they can detect host damage before they approach the plants. After approaching within 0.5?m of plants, wasps tended not to land on plants lacking feeding damage. A comparison of the plants they landed on, however, showed no consistent preferences for damaged plants. The weaker trends in the latter data indicate that the presence of feeding damage was not the sole criterion for landing, although it evidently influenced behaviour. After landing, wasps spent more time searching damaged plants than undamaged plants. Butterflies preferred to oviposit on plants shorter than those searched by T. pennator. Possible adaptive consequences of this phenomenon are discussed.     

The function of the sphragis in Cressida cressida (Fab.) (Lepidoptera,Papilionidae): a visual deterrent to copulation attempts

During mating, males of Cressida cressida (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) form a large external mating plug or sphragis that covers the female's copulatory opening and physically prevents remating. The sphragis has lateral and distal projections that make it an obvious structure. We tested experimentally the hypothesis that the sphragis acts as a signal of female mating status. Males pursue mated females with an intact sphragis only briefly and rarely make physical contact with them. When the sphragis of a mated female is removed or reduced in size, males are significantly more likely to physically contact the female and initiate the aerial takedown that preceeds a copulation attempt. These results suggest that the sphragis deters male sexual interest at a distance and thus functions as a signal of female mating status. The discussion focuses on the fitness consequences for females and their mates of the signal function of the sphragis.     

中国纹凤蝶属一新记录种补记

补充记述了采自中国广西凤蝶科纹凤蝶属Paranticopsis Wood-Mason et de Nicéville一新记录种:尾纹凤蝶P.phidias(Oberthür,1896),澄清了几种文献记载的世界纹凤蝶属已知种数,改编了中国纹凤蝶属已知种的分种检索表.标本存放在广西植物所.     

Tanypodine midges of the genus Ablabesmyia Johannsen (Diptera: Chironomidae) from West Bengal with a note on their seasonal incidence and sex ratios

Summary

A key to the species of the subgenus Ablabesmyia occurring in India is provided. Four new species of Ablabesmyia, alba, ensiceps, maculitibialis and transversus are described. Systematic positions of paivai (Kieffer) and photophilus (Kieffer) in the genus are confirmed and is placed in the subgenus Karelia Roback previously unrecognised in the Oriental region. Seasonal incidence and sex ratio of some species are given.     

A cyanoglucoside stored by aSedum-feeding Apollo butterfly,Parnassius phoebus

A bitter tasting cyanoglucoside, sarmentosin, was isolated from an aposematic Apollo butterfly,Parnassius phoebus, and from its plant-host,Sedum stenopetalum. The content of sarmentosin in the body tissues was as high as 500 g/insect, suggesting a defensive role for this substance; a high concentration was detected in the wings. Sarmentosin was also present in the eggs.     

金斑喙凤蝶广西亚种生活史研究

报道金斑喙凤蝶广西亚种(Teinopalpus aureus guangxiensisChou et Zhou)自然条件下的生活史,描述了各时期虫态的形态特征。该蝶在广西大瑶山自然保护区1年发生2代,成虫每年4月下旬至6月上旬和7月上旬至9月上旬活动。卵期14~15 d。幼虫5龄,各龄期为:1龄8~9 d,2龄7~8 d,3龄9~10 d,4龄9~10 d,5龄16~18 d。夏蛹期2~3个月,越冬蛹6~7个月。     

山东凤蝶的分类研究

山东地区所分布的凤蝶均隶属于凤蝶科的凤蝶亚科和锯凤蝶亚科2个亚科,共5个属。其中丝带凤蝶属的丝带凤蝶为世界唯一种,金凤蝶和柑橘凤蝶分别为凤蝶属中凤蝶亚属和华凤蝶亚属唯一在中国分布的种类。     

郑州地区丝带凤蝶形态、生物学特性和生活史研究

通过野外观察、室内饲养等方法对郑州地区丝带凤蝶的生活史及生物学习性进行研究,记录了丝带凤蝶卵、幼虫、蛹、成虫等各虫态、各虫龄的发育历期和生物学习性.结果表明:丝带凤蝶在郑州地区一年发生4代,以蛹在石缝、落叶或土中越冬.卵、幼虫、蛹、成虫发育历期分别为:5~7d,19~24d,7~9d,12~15d,其中1~5龄幼虫发育历期分别为:3~5d、3~4d、4~7d、4~6d、5~7d.以蛹越冬,越冬蛹期190~220d.初孵幼虫无取食卵壳行为,低龄幼虫有群集取食习性.另外,对各虫态、各虫龄的外部形态也进行了详细描述.     

琼山地区凤蝶种类及其季节性变化

报道了1993-1998年期间对琼山地区的凤蝶种类、种群数量及季节性变化进行调查的结果.共记录了凤蝶科昆虫7属18种,其中柑橘凤蝶为海南岛新纪录,金裳凤蝶为国家保护的种类.研究表明该地区蝶类发生最盛期为9月下旬、12月上旬,与热带山地雨林有明显区别.植被类型及季节性变化是决定该地区蝴蝶种类组成与分布的关键因素.