Identification and localization of volatile hairpencil components in maleAmauris ochlea butterflies (Danaidae)

Summary By gas-chromatography and mass-spectroscopy 7 volatile substances have been found on the abdominal hairpencils ofAmauris ochlea males. 6 substances have been identified. The spatial distribution of compounds is correlated to the 5 types of hairs comprising the scent organ.Acknowledgments. We thank our colleagues M. Kaib and P. Lounibos for their continous effort to supply us with danaids from Kenya. Support by a research grant from the National Institute of Health (AI 12020) is acknowledged with pleasure.     

Evidence for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) as transmitter in the penis retractor muscle ofHelix pomatia L.

Summary Microchromatography of dansylated substances was used to estimate the serotonin content of the penis retractor muscle (PRM) ofHelix pomatia. Pharmacological data in connection with the biochemical results suggest that 5-HT plays a role in the regulation of the mechanical activity of the PRM.     

Defensive use of an acquired substance (carminic acid) by predaceous insect larvae

Larvae of two insects, a coccinellid beetle (Hyperaspis trifurcata) and a chamaemyiid fly (Leucopis sp.), feed on cochineal insects and appropriate their prey's defensive chemical, carminic acid, for protective purposes of their own.H. trifurcata discharges the chemical with droplets of blood (hemolymph) that it emits when disturbed;Leucopis sp. ejects the compound with rectal fluid. Ants are thwarted by these defenses, which are compared with the previously-described defense of a pyralid caterpillar (Laetilia coccidivora) that disgorges carminic acid-laden crop fluid. The defensive fluid of all three larvae contains carminic acid at concentrations spanning a range (0.2–6.2%) proven deterrent to ants. Many insects are known to appropriate defensive substances from plants. Insects that acquire defensive chemicals from animal sources may be relatively rare.Paper No. 124 in the series Defense Mechanisms of Arthropods; No. 123 is Epstein et al., J. Lepid. Soc. (in press).     

Increase in the total reducing substances in the hemolymph of the freshwater crab,Barytelphusa guerini,produced by a pesticide (DDT) and an indolealkylamine (serotonin)

Summary DDT and serotonin produced significant increases in the total reducing substances in the hemolymph of intact crabs,Barytelphusa guerini, apparently by triggering release of the hyperglycemic hormone.     

Organization of the multifunctional neural network regulating visceral organs inHelix pomatia L (Mollusca,Gastropoda)

Summary InHelix pomatia L. the overlapping neuronal network was found to regulate the visceral functions (e.g. cardiorenal, respiratory and genital functions). The neural network is organized around the multifunctional interneurons, which take part in forming both afferent and efferent pathways. The interneurons are sensitive to a wide range of neurotransmitters or transmitter candidates including low molecular weight substances (ACh, 5HT, DA, octopamine, glutamate) and several oligopeptides. In this system both selection of information and modification of membrane properties (for example habituation) are carried out by a combination of simultaneously liberated active agents.     

Die Carbohydrasen der SpinnmilbeTetranychus urticae Koch (Acari,Tromb{ie307-1}diformes,Tetranychidae)diformes,Tetranychidae)

Summary In preparations of crushed whole spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch), the enzymes capable of hydrolyzing carbohydrates were identified. The products of the enzymic hydrolysis were detected by paper chromatography. The following substrates were hydrolyzed: Starch, maltose, sucrose, trehalose, melibiose, lactose, melezitose and raffinose. Not attacked were: Cellobiose, cellulose, pectin and pectic acid. In the homogenates there must be present an amylase, an -glucosidase, a -h-fructosidase, an - and -galactosidase. There is no indication for the presence of a -glucosidase, a cellulase, a pectinase and polygalacturonase.     

Secretion of the Dufour gland of the antNothomyrmecia macrops (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Summary The Dufour gland of the primitive Australian antNothomyrmecia macrops contains microgram quantities in total of linear alkanes and alkenes from C₁₃ to C₃₀ with heptadecene the major component (66%). In all, 50 substances, including methyl-branched hydrocarbons, aldehydes and acetates, -farnesene and -springene in low nanogram amounts, were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.     

Infection of frog tadpoles (Amphibia) by insect parasitic nematodes (Rhabditida)

Summary Infective stage juveniles ofNeoaplectana carpocapsae (Steinernematidae) andHeterohabditis heliothidis (Heterorhabditidae) were able to penetrate through the alimentary tract of young tadpoles ofHyla regilla (Hylidae) andXenopus laevis (Pipidae) and enter the body cavity. Some infectives ofN. carpocapsae were able to release their symbiotic bacterium,Xenorhabdus nematophilus inside the host and in two cases, the nematodes developed into adult females before they perished. Tadpole mortality was associated with foreign bacteria entering the penetration holes made by the invading nematodes. The infective stage juveniles of both nematodes frequently encountered a host defense reaction upon reaching the tadpole's infective stage juveniles of both nematodes frequently encountered a host defense reaction upon reaching the tadpole's coelom.     

First identification of a trail pheromone of an army ant (Aenictus species)

Totally blind army ants carry out massive and highly organised foraging raids, apparently guided by chemical stimuli. Until now, this phenomenon has not been closely analysed. The existence of a trail pheromone in a postpygidial gland of anAenictus species has been demonstrated and the substances identified as methyl anthranilate and methyl nicotinate The pheromone consists of two parts: a primer effect, caused by methyl nicotinate, which prepares workers to follow trails, but is not itself followed, and a releaser effect, due to methyl anthranilate, which causes trail-following only in conjunction with the primer substance.     

Biological markers in feeding experiments of mosquito larvae (Culex (Lutzia) raptor)

Zusammenfassung Die in Laborzuchten kannibalistischen Larven der MückeCulex (Lutzia) raptor ernähren sich bei freier Wahl von Larven anderer Mückenarten (Präferenzfolge:Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, Culex fatigans). Versuche mit einer gelben Mutante vonC. fatigans zeigen, dassA. aegypti wegen ihrer gelben Naturfarbe allen anderen Arten vorgezogen wird. Auch die Bewegungsintensität der Larven scheint eine Rolle zu spielen.     

The action of Di-(p-chlorophenyl) trichloromethylcarbinol (DTMC) and Di-(p-chlorophenyl) trifluoromethylcarbinol on houseflies

Résumé L'action des carbinols di-(p-chlorophenyl) trifluorométhyl et di-(p-chlorophenyl) trichlorométhyl (DTMC) a été déterminée sur une souche très résistante de mouches par la méthode de contact. Le premier composé semble agir probablement grâce à de faibles propriétés fumigantes, alors que le second est toxique par contact. L'action toxique de ce dernier est sensiblement augmentée par l'addition du DDT, DDE ou autre composé organique de la série du DDT.

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Chemical development of DTMC.

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Biological evaluation.     

I cromosomi di alcuniPipidae (Amphibia Salientia)

Summary The karyotype of the African PipidHymenochirus boettgeri (2n=24, all meta- or submetacentric chromosomes) is different from the one of the African PipidXenopus laevis (2n=36). The karyotype of the American PipidPipa (Protopipa)parva (2n=30, all acrocentric chromosomes) is very primitive and different from the karyotypes of the African Pipids and from that ofPipa pipa; the male meiotic chromosomes ofP. parva, usually with 1 procentric chiasma, show a clear difference from the male bivalents of the other Pipids, all with 2 terminal chiasmata.     

Flavonoids ofArctium minus (Compositae)

Zusammenfassung Die hauptsächlichen Flavonoide ausArctium minus (Compositae) sind Isoquercetrin und Rutin. Zusätzliche Flavonoide sind Kaempferol-3-o-Glukosid und 3-o-Rhamnoglukosid, Quercetin-7-o-Glukosid, 3-o-Arabinosid und ein 3-o-Glukosid das mit Isoquercetin isomer ist.     

(R)-(Z,E)-9,11-octadecadien-13-olide: An intriguing lactone fromHeliconius pachinus (Lepidoptera)

Summary A fourteen-membered lactone,(R)-(Z,E)-9,11-octadecadien-13-olide, was isolated from extruded abdominal glands of a Neotropical, nymphalid butterfly,Heliconius pachinus (Lepidoptera). This compound was obtained from mature adults of both sexes, but was not detected in young adults or pupae.     

Experimental modification of direction-finding inTalitrus saltator (Montagu) andTalorchestia deshayesei (Aud.) (crustacea-amphipoda)

Riassunto Talitrus saltator (Montagu) eTalorchestia deshayesei (Aud.) (Crustacea-Amphipoda), allontanati dalla sabbia umida della spiaggia, sono in grado di ritornarvi, mantenendo una direzione di fuga praticamente costante in base alla posizione azimutale del Sole. La regolazione dell'angolo di orientamento col Sole nel corso del giorno è basata sul senso del tempo, come dimostrano esperienze simili a quelle recentemente eseguite daHoffmann per gli Storni. È possibile ottenere una significativa deviazione della direzione di fuga, sottoponendo gli animali a temperature relativamente alte prima di saggiare il loro orientamento.     

Die Struktur der Cadmiumhydroxyhalogenide CdCl0,67(OH)1,33, CdBr0,6(OH)1,4, CdJ0,5(OH)1,5

Summary The crystal structure of CdCl_0,67(OH)_1,33, CdBr_0,6(OH)_1,4 and CdJ_0,5(OH)_1,5 is determined, the first crystalizes in the C-19-, the latter in the C-6-type. The dimensions of the lattice of the named compounds and of CdCl_0,67(OH)_1,33 are tabulated together with those of Cd(OH)₂ and of the halogenides. It follows that when in Cd(OH)₂ OH-ions are substituted by halogen-ions, the distancea of the Cd-ions in the layers are changed very little, while the distance of the layersc is increased according to the size of the halogen-ion.     

Isolierung fluoreszierender Stoffe ausAstacus fluviatilis

Summary We succeeded in isolating three fluorescent substances fromAstacus fluviatilis (crayfish) which were recently found also inDrosophila melanogaster. These compounds are Isoxanthopterin (2-amino-6, 9-dioxypterin), 2-amino-6-oxypterin and HB₂.     

Endotoxin-like activity inPseudomonas paucimobilis (group IIK biotype 1) andFlavobacterium multivorum (group IIK biotype 2)

Summary 7 strains ofPseudomonas paucimobilis and 7 strains ofFlavobacterium multivorum (formerly groups IIK biotype 1 and biotype 2, respectively) showed endotoxin-like activity in vitro by the limulus amoebocyte lysate test.     

Analyse des akustischen Geschlechtererkennungsmechanismus (Befreiungsrufe) bei Kröten (GenusBufo)

Summary The release calls of male European toads (B. bufo L.,B. calamita Laur.,B. viridis Laur.) have been described and recorded in the form of spectrograms and oscillograms. While only 1 type of release call is uttered byB. bufo, inB. viridis andB. calamita 2 and 3 types respectively were found. The latter 2 species show a close relationship,B. calamita being the most highly developed toad in Europe.