Nest architecture in polydomous grass-cutting ants (Acromyrmex balzani)

Acromyrmex balzani is a grass-cutting ant species frequently found in Cerrado areas. However, little is known about the architecture of the polydomous nests of this ant. Fifteen A. balzani nests located in a cerrado region in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, were studied. The polydomous nests were studied in three ways. First, we investigated the architecture in nests moulded with cement and without moulding. Second, we performed an aggressiveness test among workers in different subnests and nests. Third, we excavated the nest and collected the colony to measure the population, verifying the existence or not of a queen in all nests. A cement mould was made of seven nests to permit better visualization of internal structures such as chambers and tunnels. Eight nests were excavated without moulding and white neutral talc was used to highlight the parts of the nests. After excavation, the depth and dimensions (length, width and height) of the chambers were measured. The results showed that the nests had a single entrance hole whose structure consisted of straw and other plant residues in winter. Mounds of loose soil, if present, were found 6–48 cm from the hole. The number of chambers containing fungus ranged from one to five, with the first being found a few centimetres beneath the ground surface (4 cm) and the last up to a maximum depth of 160 cm. The length of the tunnels ranged from 12 to 28 cm. These tunnels were built in a vertical or inclined position, leading to the chambers. No waste chambers were found, with the waste being deposited externally. Additionally, the polydomous nests contained one to eight subnests. In the aggressiveness test, when concolonial workers were confronted, no aggressiveness was observed. In contrast, when allocolonial workers were confronted, there was a high incidence of aggression among them. Excavation of polydomous nests showed only one queen for each polydomous nest, i.e. subnests with a single queen. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the so far unknown nest architecture of the polydomous grass-cutting ant A. balzani.     

Microorganism-associated variation in host infestation efficiency in a parasitoid wasp,Trichogramma bourarachae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

InTrichogramma bourarachae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), the infestation efficiency presents important variation among strains: 60 eggs/5 days/female in the High (H) strain and 25 eggs/5 days/female in the Low (L) strain. Crosses show that between-strains variation is inherited by the matrocline route. Antibiotic and heat treatments reduce infestation efficiency in the H strain and have no effect on the L strain. The hypothesis of cytoplasmic-symbiotic microorganisms accounting for the higher infestation efficiency in the H strain is supported by microscopic observations. The origin and the significance of this between-strains variation are discussed.     

厦门市林业有害生物普查结果及防控对策

2004—2005年，通过对厦门市林业有害生物的全面普查，共调查厦门市寄主树种130多种，查清了共有外来林业有害生物22种，本土有害生物25种。其中外来有害昆虫（线虫）4种，发生总面积246912．5亩；本土林业有害昆虫13种，发生总面积230273．5亩；外来有害植物18种，本土有害植物7种；本土有害危险性病原微生物5种。论述了厦门市林业有害生物发生原因，并提出厦门市目前的防控策略。     

大气污染对森林昆虫种群动态的影响研究进展

概述了大气污染对森林昆虫种群时空动态的影响以及可能的作用机制，指明了今后的研究方向。目前我国大气污染严重，应重视和加强大气污染对森林昆虫种群动态影响的研究。     

青藏高原服饰类文物虫害菌害的化学防治

虫害、菌害对文物有着极为严重的危害，必须采用科学的方法和手段进行防治．本文主要介绍文物科学保护中薰蒸剂的特点和使用方法．     

Insect behavior at the leaf surface and learning as aspects of host plant selection

Summary Direct observations on the feeding behavior of insect herbivores are uncommon, but important. The important aspects of host-plant selection by phytophagous insects that have been revealed by such observations are the role of chemicals in the leaf surface, and learning. There are few detailed reports of behavior at the leaf surface, but these indicate that many, if not all, insects exhibit behavior pattenrs that can be interpreted as an examination of the quality of the surface and acceptance or rejection may follow without further testing. A number of experiments show that chemicals from the leaf surface commonly contribute to the acceptability or otherwise of a plant and in most cases so far the active chemicals are of widespread occurrence, not having a specific association with the host plant. Some experiments show that the association between surface chemicals and plant palatability is learned, but in other cases there is evidence of an innate response. Habituation to deterrent chemicals has been demonstrated in the laboratory, but not in the field. Food aversion learning also occurs and may be important in dietary switching by polyphagous insects.     

泰山药用昆虫的研究及应用

择要介绍了13个目、16个科、44种分布于泰山的药用昆虫的形态特征、生物学习性、药用价值,为药用昆虫的开发提供了生物学依据,使泰山昆虫资源研究得以持续发展和利用.     

黄瓜山寄生于昆虫内微孢子虫的分布调查

微孢予虫可以侵染大多数的昆虫,包括经济昆虫和农业害虫,并对其造成一定程度甚至是毁灭性的影响．了解微孢子虫在本地区的分布对于农作物害虫的防治和经济昆虫的防疫具有重要意义．本文介绍了黄瓜山地区微孢子虫在昆虫中的分布调查情况,对害虫防治和经济昆虫微孢子虫病的防疫提供了一定的参考和依据．     

微生物农药的研究

以苏云金杆菌和防线菌为例,研究了微生物农药的制作原理、菌种组合选择、制剂配方与制作技术,介绍了微生物农药的实际应用,指出微生物农药的应用既达到了杀虫防病的目的,又降低了化学农药对环境的污染。     

我省用敌虫块防治储粮害虫的应用研究

本文介绍了研制敌虫块防治储粮害虫的试验及应用过程。着重讨论了敌虫块的杀虫范围和有效期,充分肯定了该药块的应用前景。