Description of immature stages of Platycoelia valida Burmeister, 1844 (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini)

Abstract Description of immature stages of Platycoelia valida Burmeister, 1844 (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini). Third instar larva and pupa of P. valida are described for the first time based on specimens collected in soils of yucca and coffee fields in Cundinamarca, Colombia. Illustrations of diagnostic structures and keys to the known third-stage larvae of Rutelinae tribes and Platycoelia species are included. Data on the biology and distribution of P. valida in Colombia are also commented.

Preparation of silkworm pupa polysaccharide capsules / 中成药

AIM To prepare the silkworm pupa polysaccharide capsules.METHODS The crude silkworm pupa polysaccharide was extracted by alkali-assisted ultrasonic wave.After deproteinization and decolorization,it was dialysed,and then isolated and purified by SephadexG-150 column.Single factor test was applied to optimizing three influencing factors including ethanol concentration,soild-liquid ratio and drying temperature.The polysaccharide powder's angle of repose,bulk density and critical relative humidity were determined,after which the water content,load difference and disintegration time of obtained capsules were investigated.RESULTS The optimal conditions were determined to be 90％ for ethanol concentration,1 ∶ 1 for soild-liquid ratio,and 60 ℃ for drying temperature.For polysaccharide powder,the average angle of repose was 37.74℃,the average bulk density was 0.51 g/mL,and the critical relative humidity was 63％.With 6.87％ for water content,0.132 3 g for average load,and 12.12 min for average disintegration time,the capsules were qualified according to standard requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.CONCLUSION The good formability of silkworm pupa polysaccharide capsules demonstrates that this simple,stable and controllable technology can provide an experimental basis for the development of related drugs.

Evaluación de la actividad biológica de extractos de semillas de Crotalaria pallida (cascabelito) sobre el modelo Drosophila melanogaster / Evaluation of the biological activity of extracts from Crotalaria pallida (streaked rattlepod) seeds using the Drosophila melanogaster model

Introducción: la búsqueda de metabolitos de origen natural, con actividad biológica promisoria, particularmente la actividad insecticida, es un blanco interesante en las investigaciones sobre productos naturales. Objetivos: evaluar la bioactividad de extractos de diferente polaridad de semillas de Crotalaria pallida Aiton sobre el modelo biológico Drosophila melanogaster. Métodos: la bioactividad de los extractos de diferente polaridad de semillas secas de C. pallida se evalúo por ingestión en el modelo biológico; permitiendo purificar y determinar la estructura química del principio activo usando RMN. Resultados: la bioactividad expresada resultó de dos tipos; uno causó la inhibición de los estados larvarios, evidenciada con la disminución del número de pupas de los tratamientos con respecto a los controles no tratados, la relación dosis-respuesta permitió calcular una CI 50 de 156,47 ppm; el otro efecto inhibió el paso pupa-adulto, disminuyendo el número de adultos de los tratamientos frente a los controles, estableciéndose una CI50 de 7,95 ppm. Con el uso de diferentes ensayos de RMN se determinó el alcaloide usaramina como responsable de esta actividad biológica. Conclusiones : la bioactividad de los extractos de polaridad media/baja permitió el aislamiento de un metabolito con actividad insecticida promisoria, manifestada con la inhibición del normal desarrollo del ciclo de vida de D. melanogaster, el extracto no exhibe actividad sobre la oviposición, en el intervalo de concentraciones evaluado; a bajas concentraciones inhibe la eclosión de pupas y a altas concentraciones afecta el desarrollo de las larvas; actividades que se mantienen al probar el metabolito purificado.

Introduction: the search for metabolites of natural origin with promising biological -particularly insecticidal- activity, is an interesting target for research about natural products. Objectives: evaluate the bioactivity of extracts of varying polarity from Crotalaria pallida Aiton seeds using the Drosophila melanogaster biological model. Methods: an evaluation was conducted of the bioactivity of extracts of varying polarity from dry C. pallida seeds by ingestion into the biological model, with the purpose of purifying and determining the chemical structure of the active principle through NMR spectroscopy. Results: two types of bioactivity were expressed. One caused inhibition of larval stages, evidenced in a smaller number of pupae in treatment controls with respect to non-treatment controls. The dose-response relationship allowed estimation of a CI50 of 156.47 ppm. The other effect inhibited progress from pupa to adult, reducing the number of adults in the treatment vs. control groups, with an CI50 of 7.95 ppm. With the use of various NMR assays, it was determined that the alkaloid usaramine was responsible for this biological activity. Conclusions: the bioactivity of extracts of medium / low polarity permitted the isolation of a metabolite with promising insecticidal activity, manifested in the inhibition of the normal development of the life cycle of D. melanogaster. The extract does not show any activity on oviposition in the concentration range studied. At low concentrations it inhibits the eclosion of pupae, whereas at high concentrations it affects larval development. Both activities remained when the purified metabolite was tested.

Investigation on the extraction technology of Northeast tussah pupa oil with SFE-CO2 and analysis of its composition / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the extracting technology of the Northeast tussah pupa oil and analyze the composition of the oil. Methods The Northeast tussah pupa were crushed and dried at 60℃. The oil was extracted from the Northeast tussah pupa powder with super critical fluid extraction technology-CO2 (SFE-CO2) at the extracting temperature as 45 ℃,pressure as 50 MPa and operating time as 6 hours according to the results of homogeneous design. The composition of the oil was detected by gas chromatography (GC).Results The extracting rate of the oil from the Northeast tussah pupa powder was 17.93% (w/w)and the percent of compositions of the oil were C15:0 fatty acid 37.03%,hexadecanoic acid 5.63%,C17:0 fatty acid 32.81%,octadecanoic acid 1.79%,leic acid 3.75%,octadecadienoic acid 11.98% and α-1inoleic acid 7.00%. Conclusion The technology of SFE-CO2 can be used in extraction of Northeast tussah pupa with High extraction efficiency.

A new species of Stilobezzia Kieffer from the neotropical region (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) / Uma espécie nova de Stilobezzia Kieffer da Região neotropical (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae)

A new species from the Neotropical Region, Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) pseudopunctulata Cazorla & Ronderos, is described and illustrated based on male and female adults and pupal exuviae. Adults were collected in the Argentinian provinces of Chaco, Formosa, Corrientes and Buenos Aires, and in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The pupa was collected from mats of floating aquatic macrophytes in a lagoon in Ilha da Marchantería, in the vicinities of Manaus, Brazil. This new species is compared with its similar congener Stilobezzia punctulata Lane, from which it can be mainly distinguished by the wing with only two dark spots, the parameres longer and hook-shaped, the pupal respiratory organ with 11-12 pores and the very short apicolateral processes of the anal segment.

Uma espécie nova da Região Neotropical, Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) pseudopunctulata Cazorla & Ronderos, é descrita e ilustrada a partir de adultos macho e fêmea e exúvia pupal. Os adultos foram coletados nas províncias argentinas de Chaco, Formosa, Corrientes e Buenos Aires e em Santa Cruz, Bolívia. A pupa foi coletada em tapetes de macrófitas aquáticas flutuantes em um lago na Ilha de Marchantaria, nas proximidades de Manaus, Brasil. Esta espécie nova é comparada com a sua congênere semelhante Stilobezzia punctulata Lane, a partir da qual pode ser distinguida principalmente pela asa com apenas duas manchas escuras, parâmeros mais longos e em forma de gancho, órgão respiratório da pupa com 11-12 poros e processo apicolateral do segmento anal muito curto.

Effects of male silkworm pupa powder on the erectile dysfunction by chronic ethanol consumption in rats / 한국실험동물학회지

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent disorder that affects millions of men worldwide. ED is now considered an early manifestation of atherosclerosis, and consequently, a precursor of systemic vascular disease. This study was designed to investigate the effects of male silkworm pupa powder (SWP) on the levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression, nitrite, and glutathione (GSH); lipid peroxidation; libido; and erectile response of the corpus cavernosum of the rat penis. We induced ED in the study animals by oral administration of 20% ethanol over 8 weeks. The SWP-treated male rats were divided into 3 groups that were orally administered 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg. The libido of the SWP-administered male rats was higher than that of the ethanol control group. In addition, the erectile response of the corpus cavernosum was restored in males on SWP administration, to a level similar to that of the normal group without ED. The testosterone concentration did not increase significantly. The lipid peroxidation in the corpus cavernosum of the male rats administered SWP decreased significantly. In contrast, compared to the ethanol group, SWP-administered male rats showed increased GSH levels in the corpus cavernosum. The level of nitrite and NOS expression in the corpus cavernosum of SWP-administered male rats increased significantly. These results indicated that SWP effectively restored ethanol-induced ED in male rats.

Optimum Conditions for Artificial Fruiting Body Formation of Cordyceps cardinalis

Stromatal fruiting bodies of Cordyceps cardinalis were successfully produced in cereals. Brown rice, German millet and standard millet produced the longest-length of stromata, followed by Chinese pearl barley, Indian millet, black rice and standard barley. Oatmeal produced the shortest-length of fruiting bodies. Supplementation of pupa and larva to the grains resulted in a slightly enhanced production of fruiting bodies; pupa showing better production than larva. 50~60 g of brown rice and 10~20 g of pupa mixed with 50~60 mL of water in 1,000 mL polypropylene (PP) bottle was found to be optimum for fruiting body production. Liquid inoculation of 15~20 mL per PP bottle produced best fruiting bodies. The optimal temperature for the formation of fruiting bodies was 25degrees C, under conditions of continuous light. Few fruiting bodies were produced under the condition of complete darkness, and the fresh weight was considerable low, compared to that of light condition.

External morphology of the immature stages of Neotropical heliconians: VIII. Philaethria wernickei (Röber) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) / Morfologia externa dos estágios imaturos de heliconíneos neotropicais: VIII. Philaethria wernickei (Röber) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae)

The external features of egg, larva, and pupa of Philaethria wernickei (Röber, 1906) are described and illustrated, based upon light and scanning electron microscopy.

As estruturas externas do ovo, larva e pupa de Philaethria wernickei (Röber, 1906) são descritas e ilustradas, baseadas em microscopia ótica e eletrônica de varredura.

Sobrevivência de pupas de Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) após submersão em laboratório / Survival of Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) pupae after submersion in laboratory

Entre Maio e Junho de 2008 foi observado a sobrevivência das pupas de Lucilia eximia (Diptera, Calliphoridae) após submersão em laboratório. Para este experimento foram utilizadas 480 pupas de mesma idade, sendo estas divididas em oito grupos: o controle não foi submerso e os demais grupos foram submersos de um a sete dias. O aumento do período de submersão diminui a sobrevivência, com um dia de submersão a sobrevivência é de 80 por cento, com dois dias 40 por cento, é de 30 por cento a partir do terceiro dia, no quarto dia cai para 23,34 por cento e no quinto dia fica em 10 por cento. Após este período a mortalidade sobe para 100 por cento. Este padrão pode ser explicado pela curva "U-shaped" que ocorre no consumo de O2 durante o período pupal, onde o consumo é maior no início e no final do período pupal. O tempo de submersão também afeta o tempo de desenvolvimento, aumentando o período pupal. Estes dados têm o potencial para serem utilizados em investigações envolvendo Entomologia Forense, para a estimativa do tempo de submersão de um cadáver.

Between May and June of 2008, the survival of the pupae of Lucilia eximia (Diptera, Calliphoridae) was observed after submersion in laboratory. For this experiment 480 pupae of same age were used, these were divided in eight groups: the group control was not submerged and the other groups were submerged from one to seven days. The increase of the submersion period reduces the survival, with one day of submersion the survival is of 80 percent, with two days 40 percent, of 30 percent with three days, in the fourth day it falls to 23,34 percent and in the fifth day it is 10 percent. After this period the mortality rises to 100 percent. This pattern can be explained by the curve "U-shaped" that happens in the consumption of O2 during the pupal period, where the consumption is larger at the beginning and at the end of the pupal period. The time of submersion also affects the development time, increasing the pupal period. These data are potentially useful in estimating duration of submergence of a corpse in forensic entomology investigations.

Morfologia externa dos estágios imaturos de heliconíneos neotropicais: VI. Dione moneta moneta Hübner (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) / External morphology of the immature stages of Neotropical heliconines: VI. Dione moneta moneta Hübner (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiini)

As estruturas externas do ovo, larva e pupa de Dione moneta moneta Hübner, 1825 são descritas e ilustradas, baseadas em microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura.

The external features of the egg, larva and pupa of Dione moneta moneta Hübner, 1825 are described and illustrated, based upon light and scanning electron microscopy.

Morfologia externa dos estágios imaturos de heliconíneos neotropicais: VII. Dryadula phaetusa (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) / External morphology of the immature stages of Neotropical heliconians: VII. Dryadula phaetusa (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae)

As estruturas externas do ovo, larva e pupa de Dryadula phaetusa (Linnaeus, 1758) são descritas e ilustradas, baseadas em microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura.

The external features of egg, larva and pupa of Dryadula phaetusa (Linnaeus, 1758) are described and illustrated, based upon light and scanning electron microscopy.

Description of Photuris fulvipes (Blanchard) immatures (Coleoptera, Lampyridae, Photurinae) and bionomic aspects under laboratory conditions

Larvae and pupae of the cryptic firefly Photuris fulvipes (Blanchard,1837) are described. They were reared to adult stage from eggs laid by a female collected in São Luiz do Paraitinga, São Paulo, Brazil. Additionally, adult diagnosis and some bionomic data observed in the laboratory are presented. The bionomical and morphological characteristics of P. fulvipes were compared to other unidentified species of the genus and to Bycellonycha sp. from literature. At moment, the data are insufficient to propose a diagnosis for the species, but some characteristics appear to define species group or, at least, they may have generic value.

Larva e pupa de Photuris fulvipes (Blanchard, 1837), criadas a partir de ovos de uma fêmea coletada em São Luiz do Paraitinga, São Paulo, são descritas. São apresentados uma diagnose do adulto e alguns dados bionômicos observados durante a criação em laboratório. Esses dados e a morfologia dos imaturos foram comparados aos de outras espécies não identificadas do gênero e a Bycellonycha sp., descritos na literatura. Nesse momento, os dados são insuficientes para propor uma diagnose para a espécie, mas algumas características parecem ser importantes para definir grupos de espécies ou, pelo menos, para diagnosticar o gênero.

Descrição dos imaturos e primeiro registro de planta hospedeira de Charidotis gemellata Boheman (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae) / Description of immatures and first record of host plant for Charidotis gemellata Boheman (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae)

O ovo, a larva de quinto instar e pupa de Charidotis gemellata são descritos e ilustrados. O material examinado foi coletado no Campus do Centro Politécnico (UFPR), Curitiba/PR, Brasil; onde foram encontrados adultos de Charidotis gemellata Boheman sobre folhas de Pithecoctenium crucigerum Gentry L. (Bignoniaceae). Este é o primeiro registro de planta hospedeira para C. gemellata e também o primeiro registro para o estado do Paraná.

The egg, fifth instar larva and pupa of Charidotis gemellata are described and illustrated. The examined material was collected in Centro Politécnico Campus of the Universidade Federal do Paraná in Curitiba/PR, Brazil, where adults of Charidotis gemellata were found on the leaves of Pithecoctenium crucigerum Gentry L. (Bignoniaceae). This is the first record of a host plant for C. gemellata and also the first record for the Paraná state (Brazil).

The immature stages of Paramallocera hirta kirby, 1818 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Elaphidionini)

Last instar larva and pupa of Paramallocera hirta Kirby, 1818 are described and illustrated based on specimens reared in the laboratory from neonate larvae on Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus logs and on an artificial diet. Characteristics of possible diagnostic value are also presented in this paper.

Neste trabalho, se descrevem a larva do último instar e a pupa do Paramallocera hirta Kirby, 1818, com base em espécimes criados em laboratório a partir de larvas neonatas em toras de Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus e com uma dieta artificial. Apresentam-se, também, características com possível valor diagnóstico.

Electrophoretic protein pattern and acid phosphatase activity in the midgut extracts of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) during metamorphosis / Padrão eletroforético de proteínas e atividade de fosfatase ácida em extratos do intestino médio de Apis mellifera L. durante a metamorfose

The electrophoretic pattern of proteins and the activity of acid phosphatase were described in the midgut extracts during the post-embryonic stages of Apis mellifera L. in order to stablish a correlation with the metamorphosis events. The results show the greatest variation in proteic electrophoretical bands during prepupal stage and the smallest variation during the brown eyed pupae stage. The acid phosphatase activity was higher during the larval last instar and lower in white eyed pupae. The greatest variety of bands during the prepupal stage coincides with the histolysis of the larval midgut epithelium and the lowest variability in the brown eyed pupa coincides with the end of the midgut differentiation. In another hand, the greatest phosphatase activity in the last larval stage must reflect this enzyme actuation in the histolysis of the larval epithelium

Foram pesquisadas variações no padrão eletroforético das proteínas e da atividade da fosfatase ácida contidas em extratos do intestino médio de Apis mellifera L. durante o último estágio larval e pupação com a finalidade de estabelecer um paralelo entre os resultados e os eventos da metamorfose. Verificou-se maior variedade de bandas protéicas durante o estágio de pré-pupa e menor na pupa de olho marrom. A atividade da fosfatase ácida foi maior durante o último estágio larval e menor na pupa de olho branco. A maior variedade de bandas protéicas na pré-pupa coincide com a histólise do epitélio larval e reconstituição do epitélio pupal, enquanto a menor variabilidade na pupa de olho marrom coincide com o fim da diferenciação do intestino médio. A maior atividade fosfatásica no último estágio larval pode ocorrer em razão da sua função na histólise do epitélio

Pupal morphogenesis of Lucilia cuprina in different constant temperatures and its significance in Forensic Medicine / 中国法医学杂志

Objective To study the chronology of development within puparia to determine the postmortem interval(PMI).Methods The necrophagous fly Lucilia cuprina was reared successively in constant temperatures(16℃,20℃,24℃,28℃,32℃).Sample,dissecte,and observe the pupal morphologic changes with the stereomicroscope.Results 7 morphological changes within the puparium can be used as age-markers and the pupal period of Lucilia cuprina can be divided into 9 developmental stages.The time required for each pupal stage was inversely proportional to the temperature.Conclusion Pupal developmental stages can be used as reference to the estimation of PMI.

Growth disruption, abnormalities and mortality of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) caused by Azadirachtin / Redução do crescimento, deformidades e mortalidade de Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) causadas por Azadiractina

Azadirachtin is the most effective compound of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, with insecticidal and growth disruption properties on several species of insects. Its effects on the development and survival of Spodoptora littoralis (Boisduval) were studied under laboratory conditions. Third-instar larvae were individually fed on artificial diet treated with azadirachtin (from 0.01 ppm to 1 ppm wt/v), for two days, and transferred to plain diet. Survival, duration of stages and deformities were recorded daily. In a second experiment, the effects of azadirachtin on 3rd instar larvae and on last instar larvae were compared, by feeding the larvae with treated diet (0.3 ppm, 0.6 ppm and a control group), during the same period. A two-day feeding period promoted prolongation of the larval instars, reduction in the Mean Relative Growth Rate (MRGR), moulting disruption, morphological anomalies and mortality of S. littoralis in a dose-dependent manner. When higher concentrations were applied, the effects appeared shortly after treatment and mortality was higher. Many insects died after remaining inactive for several days or during prolonged moulting. At lower concentrations, if moulting was achieved, growth disruption and abnormalities were then likely to occur at the next moulting cycles. When azadirachtin was fed to last-instar larvae, larva-pupa intermediates were formed and the mortality was higher then for 3rd-instar larvae. Azadirachtin showed promissing for the control of the species not only for causing mortality but also for disrupting the development and for causing deformities involved in vital activities like feeding, walking or flying, making the insect vulnerable to several sorts of mortality agents or prevent them from causing damage to the crop.

A azadiractina é o composto mais eficiente extraído da planta Azadirachta indica A. Juss, com propriedades insecticidas e que afetam o crescimento de diversas espécies de insetos. Seus efeitos no desenvolvimento e na sobrevivência de Spodoptora littoralis (Boisduval) foram estudados em condições de laboratório. Larvas de terceiro ínstar foram aliementada individualmente em dieta artificial tratada com azadiractina (de 0,01 ppm a 1 ppm p/v), por dois dias, e transferidas para dieta pura. A sobrevivência, a duração dos estágios e deformidades foram observados diariamente. Em um segundo experimento, os efeitos da azadiractina sobre lagartas de terceiro ínstar e lagartas de último ínstar foram comparados, após alimentar as lagartas por dois dias, utilizando-se 0,3 ppm e 0,6 ppm do composto e uma testemunha (água). O período de dois dias de alimentação prolongou os ínstares larvais, reduziu a taxa média de crescimento relativo (MRGR), impediu a ecdise, provocou anormalidades morfológicas e causou mortalidade em S. littoralis, de forma dependente da dose. Quando as concentrações mais altas foram empregadas, os efeitos aparecerem logo após o tratamento e a mortalidade foi mais elevada. Muitos insetos morreram após permanecerem inativos por vários dias ou durante ecdises prolongadas. Em concentrações mais baixas, se a ecdise foi completada, alterações no crescimento e anormalidades geralmente ocorreram nos estádios subseqüêntes. Quando a azadiractina foi oferecida às lagartas de último ínstar, intermediários "larva-pupa" foram produzidos e a mortalidade foi mais alta do que para as lagartas de terceiro ínstar. A azadiractina se mostrou promissora para o controle de S. littoralis não apenas por causar mortalidade, mas também por afetar o desenvolvimento e por causar deformidades envolvidas em atividades vitais dos insetos como alimentar-se, caminhar ou voar, o que pode torná-los vulneráveis a diversos tipos de agentes de mortalidade ou evitar ...