The behaviour of Cotinis nitida Linnaeus,the green June beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), on mowed lawns makes them especially vulnerable to bird predators

ABSTRACT

Males of the green June beetle Cotinis nitida are regularly attacked by birds as they search for females on lawns but which bird species feeds on the beetle changes from year to year. In 2018 for the first time on a farm in northern Virginia, brown thrashers (Toxostomum rufum) joined blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) as major predators of the beetles. The two species employed very different tactics when hunting for June beetles, with the thrashers searching while walking forward on the mowed lawn while the jays scanned for beetles when perched in trees about the lawn. The beetles became very scarce at the lawn in early July in 2017 and 2018 and their predators apparently moved elsewhere. Subsequently, male beetles were occasionally observed patrolling a nearby hayfield in search of mates with rare copulations recorded after July 15. Because predatory birds could not exploit the beetles in the tall grass of the hayfield it seems likely that the mowed lawn constituted an evolutionarily novel ecological trap which made searching beetles conspicuous and easily captured by beetle-hunting birds.     

Predatory behaviour in Deltochilum: convergent evolution or a primitive character within a clade?

We present data on predatory behaviour in Deltochilum cupreicolle viridescens, which belongs to the subgenus Aganhyboma, and we contrast it with the behaviour of a species from the subgenus Deltohyboma. By this comparison we can investigate whether the predatory behaviour in Deltochilum could have appeared independently in these two subgenera, or if the behaviour is so similar that it suggests a single origin in a possible ancestor exclusive to those two groups. These laboratory studies on the behaviour of Deltochilum c. viridescens individuals on diplopods are described and divided into the following stages: (1) approach and recognition of the diplopod; (2) attack and death of the prey; (3) on-site feeding; (4) transport of the diplopod. The results found here strengthen the hypothesis of a primitive and highly specialized behaviour within a possible clade formed by the predatory species of Diplopoda.     

橡胶支座水平剪切弹塑性力学性能试验研究

通过对铅芯橡胶支座剪切弹塑性力学性能试验,发现铅芯橡胶支座的滞回曲线与加载时程密切相关,在同一水平应变下,水平剪切刚度随加载次数的增多有所减小,最后趋于稳定;在不同应变下,水平剪切刚度随应变的增大而减小.试验还表明铅芯橡胶支座不仅在大应变存在着小应变滞回特性,而且在小应变也存在着小应变滞回特性.     

Early life history of the sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus) (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionoida)

Managing a rare species can be improved with knowledge of its natural history. The sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus) is a freshwater mussel recently listed by the US as federally endangered. We used standard methods to study P. cyphyus brooding behaviour, host fishes in the laboratory and under natural conditions, and glochidial morphology. We monitored a population of P. cyphyus in the Chippewa River, WI during spring and summer 2007–2009 and 2011 and found brooding animals between mid-May and early August. Gravid individuals ranged between 5 and 27 yr (mean age ± 1 s.d. = 13 ± 4 yr). Plethobasus cyphyus brooded glochidia in outer gills, which varied in colour from red, orange, pink, cream, or white. We observed mature glochidia more commonly in individuals with cream or white gills and these glochidia were released in a clear, adhesive, mucus matrix. In laboratory trials we found several minnow and topminnow species (29 spp.) served as productive suitable native hosts. The mean number of juvenile mussels released per cyprinid per day was significantly higher for trials conducted at 22–25°C compared with those at 18–20°C, and 83% of trials conducted at 18–20°C using suitable host species produced no juveniles. Glochidia had a unique outline and shell morphometrics that distinguished P. cyphyus from seven other Chippewa River mussel species that produce similar sized glochidia. Using morphometrics we determined that mimic shiners (Notropis volucellus) were natural hosts for P. cyphyus, round pigtoe (Pleurobema sintoxia), and Wabash pigtoe (Fusconaia flava). Releasing mucus-bound glochidia has evolved in a variety of mussel species and may be more common than is currently realized. Our data show that P. cyphyus is a cyprinid host specialist, and propagation efforts for this species can be strengthened through improved access to mature glochidia by using females with cream-coloured gills and increased juvenile production through warmer fish holding temperatures.     

带有强迫项的具分布型时滞的非线性系统的渐近性

研究了一类带有强迫项的具有连续型滞量的非线性微分方程组解的渐近性，进一步推广了文[6]中的主要结果，得到了系统的解趋于零的充分条件。     

The puparia of some West African species of Mepachymerus and Steleocerellus (Diptera: Chloropidae)

The puparia of two species of Mepachymerus and three species of Steleocerellus (Diptera: Chloropidae, Chloropinae), reared from wild grasses in West Africa, are described.     

Breeding biology of the rapids frog Limnomedusa macroglossa (Anura: Cycloramphidae) in southern Brazil

Limnomedusa is a monotypic genus that occurs in association with rocky outcrops and stream beds. Based on observational and mark–recapture fieldwork from 2005 to 2008, we report the breeding biology of Limnomedusa macroglossa in southern Brazil. The reproductive season lasted from late August to early February. Tadpoles were recorded from early September to late February. A clear pattern of emergence/recruitment was observed in juveniles. The occurrence of reproductive activities was clearly related to the longest photoperiods, when the highest temperatures occur. Males called from rocky or concrete substrates, mostly under rocks. Amplexus was axillary and the operational sex ratio was nearly even. Spawn occurred in lentic water bodies but tadpoles also completed their development in slow‐flowing water. Although using similar habitats for reproduction, L. macroglossa reached lower levels of specialization toward terrestriality than did the cycloramphids Cycloramphus and Thoropa. We classify L. macroglossa as a breeding habitat specialist that would be threatened by river damming.     

兖州煤加氢液化性能的评价

用两种间隙式小型高压釜,在不同条件下考察了究州煤的加氢液化性能,並与联邦德国加氢原料煤Wester holt煤和美国的Illinois 6号煤进行了对比。试验结果表明:兖州煤具有较高的加氢反应活性,它略高于后一种煤,明显高于前一种煤。以循环油为溶剂,拜尔赤泥为催化剂,在氢初压9MPa,435℃和60min条件下,兖州煤的转化率达84%:油产率为46%。     

观察箱内成年雄性布氏田鼠间的行为和行为序

研究了不同大小观察箱内布氏田鼠（Ｍｉｃｒｏｔｕｓ ｂｒａｎｄｔｉ）陌生成年雄性个体间的行为和行为序。在大，小观察箱内，除了追逐行为，优势鼠，从属鼠的行为没有明显的差别。在观察期内，虽然一对鼠中优势鼠的非社会，社会探究，攻击行为都明显地高于从属鼠，但它们在遭遇后的第１个回合的交往中，２只鼠的社会行为没有显示的区别，社会探究，争斗行为之间相互独立，为负相关关系，而其各自内部均为正相关关系，其中社会探究