A remarkable example of symbiosis between an animal and a fungus in a new species of legless mealybug (Insecta: Pseudococcidae)

A new species and a new monotypic genus of legless mealybug, Orbuspedum machinator gen. et sp. nov., are described and illustrated, based on material collected from bamboo twigs in southern Thailand. Larvae and females of the new species each live inside an individual conical domicile constructed from densely packed fungal hyphae of the sooty mould Capnodium sp., mixed with small quantities of wax, secreted by the mealybug. The domicile is enlarged as the insect grows; the insect irrigates the hyphae with honeydew through a small orifice at the apex of the domicile. While the insect produces honeydew and feeds the fungus, the fungus grows around the insect, protects it from predators, and buttresses the soft apodal body of the mealybug. Such a remarkable example of mutualistic symbiosis between an animal and a fungus is reported for the first time.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C0A84631-C6A0-4177-BC50-A71D6281107F     

Host-plant oligosaccharins in the honeydew ofSchizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Insecta,Aphididae)

Summary The honeydew of the aphidSchizaphis graminum (Rondani) contains hetero-oligosaccharides (mol. wt>2200 D) having neutral sugar and uronic acid compositions similar to the pectic substances of the host plant,Sorghum biocolor (L.) Moench. These oligosaccharides are pectic fragments which result from the depolymerization of pectic substances in the phloem by aphid salivary polysaccharases.     

棉花粘性仪的研制

在分析棉花粘性特点、粘性测试方法的基础上,研制了棉花粘性仪,并应用该仪器对实际棉花样品进行了测定,试验结果和工厂的实际情况基本相符。证明本仪器用于测试棉花粘性是可行的。     

麦长管蚜蜜露分泌量与小麦品种的关系研究初报

麦长管蚜Macrosiphum avenae(Fab.)是山西麦田的重要害虫。通过对其在不同小麦品种上取食与排蜜量的观察研究发现,该蚜蜜露的分泌量与小麦不同品种同有密切的关系。田间蚜虫发生量大的品种,蚜虫排蜜量也大;而田间蚜虫发生量小的品种,排蜜量也小。结果表明,把蚜虫蜜露的分泌量作为一个简易的指标来鉴定和筛选小麦抗虫品种,具有一定的可靠性。