Notes on the biological development of the darkling beetle Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis Seidlitz, 1893 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) / Notas sobre o desenvolvimento biológico do besouro escuro Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis Seidlitz, 1893 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Several endemic species of Blaps occur in Tunisia, and the species Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis has been reported in Moulares (urban zone in west-central Tunisia), where it lives and reproduces in home gardens and old buildings. The aim of this work is to study the life cycle of the darkling beetle, considering both field and laboratory rearing conditions. As a result, the beetle species has different developmental stages (egg, larva, prepupa, pupa, and adult) that last about 15 months. Each year during the same period, adults emerge (early summer) and expire (late autumn), larvae hatch (late summer) and pupate (early summer). There is only one generation per year. Females began laying eggs in late July. The eggs were ovoid, white, and about 2.7 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width. Embryogenesis took an average of nine days. The first instar larvae were at initially only 4.5 mm long and ivory white in color. A brief description of the newly egg hatched larva was provided; thus, the nerve fibers innervating the apical setae in the antennae and ligula were detected. Further light microscopic examination of the embryo before hatching from the egg pointed out that the antennal sensilla are protected during the embryogenesis stage.

Várias espécies endêmicas de Blaps ocorrem na Tunísia, e a espécie Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis foi relatada em Moulares (zona urbana no centro-oeste da Tunísia), onde vive e se reproduz em jardins domésticos e prédios antigos. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar o ciclo de vida do besouro escuro, considerando as condições de criação em campo e em laboratório. Como resultado, a espécie de besouro tem diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento (ovo, larva, prepupa, pupa e adulto) que duram cerca de 15 meses. Todos os anos, durante o mesmo período, os adultos emergem (início do verão) e expiram (final do outono), as larvas eclodem (final do verão) e se tornam pupas (início do verão). Existe apenas uma geração por ano. As fêmeas começaram a botar ovos no final de julho. Os ovos eram ovóides, brancos, com cerca de 2,7 mm de comprimento e 1,5 mm de largura. A embriogênese demorou em média nove dias. As larvas de primeiro instar tinham inicialmente apenas 4,5 mm de comprimento e uma cor branca marfim. Foi fornecida uma breve descrição da larva recém-eclodida; assim, as fibras nervosas que inervam as cerdas apicais nas antenas e ligulas foram detectadas. Um exame microscópico de luz posterior do embrião antes da eclosão do ovo mostrou que as sensilas antenais são protegidas durante o estágio de embriogênese.

Notes on the biological development of the darkling beetle Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis Seidlitz, 1893 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) / Notas sobre o desenvolvimento biológico do besouro escuro Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis Seidlitz, 1893 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Several endemic species of Blaps occur in Tunisia, and the species Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis has been reported in Moulares (urban zone in west-central Tunisia), where it lives and reproduces in home gardens and old buildings. The aim of this work is to study the life cycle of the darkling beetle, considering both field and laboratory rearing conditions. As a result, the beetle species has different developmental stages (egg, larva, prepupa, pupa, and adult) that last about 15 months. Each year during the same period, adults emerge (early summer) and expire (late autumn), larvae hatch (late summer) and pupate (early summer). There is only one generation per year. Females began laying eggs in late July. The eggs were ovoid, white, and about 2.7 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width. Embryogenesis took an average of nine days. The first instar larvae were at initially only 4.5 mm long and ivory white in color. A brief description of the newly egg hatched larva was provided; thus, the nerve fibers innervating the apical setae in the antennae and ligula were detected. Further light microscopic examination of the embryo before hatching from the egg pointed out that the antennal sensilla are protected during the embryogenesis stage.

Várias espécies endêmicas de Blaps ocorrem na Tunísia, e a espécie Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis foi relatada em Moulares (zona urbana no centro-oeste da Tunísia), onde vive e se reproduz em jardins domésticos e prédios antigos. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar o ciclo de vida do besouro escuro, considerando as condições de criação em campo e em laboratório. Como resultado, a espécie de besouro tem diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento (ovo, larva, prepupa, pupa e adulto) que duram cerca de 15 meses. Todos os anos, durante o mesmo período, os adultos emergem (início do verão) e expiram (final do outono), as larvas eclodem (final do verão) e se tornam pupas (início do verão). Existe apenas uma geração por ano. As fêmeas começaram a botar ovos no final de julho. Os ovos eram ovóides, brancos, com cerca de 2,7 mm de comprimento e 1,5 mm de largura. A embriogênese demorou em média nove dias. As larvas de primeiro instar tinham inicialmente apenas 4,5 mm de comprimento e uma cor branca marfim. Foi fornecida uma breve descrição da larva recém-eclodida; assim, as fibras nervosas que inervam as cerdas apicais nas antenas e ligulas foram detectadas. Um exame microscópico de luz posterior do embrião antes da eclosão do ovo mostrou que as sensilas antenais são protegidas durante o estágio de embriogênese.

Notes on the biological development of the darkling beetle Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis Seidlitz, 1893 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract Several endemic species of Blaps occur in Tunisia, and the species Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis has been reported in Moulares (urban zone in west-central Tunisia), where it lives and reproduces in home gardens and old buildings. The aim of this work is to study the life cycle of the darkling beetle, considering both field and laboratory rearing conditions. As a result, the beetle species has different developmental stages (egg, larva, prepupa, pupa, and adult) that last about 15 months. Each year during the same period, adults emerge (early summer) and expire (late autumn), larvae hatch (late summer) and pupate (early summer). There is only one generation per year. Females began laying eggs in late July. The eggs were ovoid, white, and about 2.7 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width. Embryogenesis took an average of nine days. The first instar larvae were at initially only 4.5 mm long and ivory white in color. A brief description of the newly egg hatched larva was provided; thus, the nerve fibers innervating the apical setae in the antennae and ligula were detected. Further light microscopic examination of the embryo before hatching from the egg pointed out that the antennal sensilla are protected during the embryogenesis stage.

Resumo Várias espécies endêmicas de Blaps ocorrem na Tunísia, e a espécie Blaps nefrauensis nefrauensis foi relatada em Moulares (zona urbana no centro-oeste da Tunísia), onde vive e se reproduz em jardins domésticos e prédios antigos. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar o ciclo de vida do besouro escuro, considerando as condições de criação em campo e em laboratório. Como resultado, a espécie de besouro tem diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento (ovo, larva, prepupa, pupa e adulto) que duram cerca de 15 meses. Todos os anos, durante o mesmo período, os adultos emergem (início do verão) e expiram (final do outono), as larvas eclodem (final do verão) e se tornam pupas (início do verão). Existe apenas uma geração por ano. As fêmeas começaram a botar ovos no final de julho. Os ovos eram ovóides, brancos, com cerca de 2,7 mm de comprimento e 1,5 mm de largura. A embriogênese demorou em média nove dias. As larvas de primeiro instar tinham inicialmente apenas 4,5 mm de comprimento e uma cor branca marfim. Foi fornecida uma breve descrição da larva recém-eclodida; assim, as fibras nervosas que inervam as cerdas apicais nas antenas e ligulas foram detectadas. Um exame microscópico de luz posterior do embrião antes da eclosão do ovo mostrou que as sensilas antenais são protegidas durante o estágio de embriogênese.

Sensilla of the Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera, Thripidae)

ABSTRACT The sensilla of insects play important roles in odor, taste, the feeling environment, and some sensory functions, which are closely associated with insect host locating, feeding, habitat searching, courtship, mating, and oviposition. In this study, we used a scanning electron microscope to observe the external morphology of nymph and adult Frankliniella occidentalis sensilla on antennae, compound eyes, legs, mouthparts, wings and tail. The results show that three main types of sensilla are located on the antennae: sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica, and sensilla basiconica. Among them, sensilla trichodea are the most abundant, followed by sensilla chaetica. Sensilla basiconica on antennae are divided into seven sub-styles, including longer sensilla (L-sensilla basiconica, long sensilla basiconica), shorter sensilla (angle sensilla basiconica, bud sensilla basiconica), and thicker and bigger sensilla (stick sensilla basiconica, fork sensilla basiconica, and finger sensilla basiconica). Only two fork sensilla basiconica were found, located on the dorsal part of the first flagellum subsegment and the ventral part of the second flagellum subsegment, respectively. Seven sensillum types were found on the legs: sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica, sensilla basiconica, sensilla ear washing buob-shaped, mamillary sensilla, sensilla campaniform, and Böhm bristle. About 60% of them are sensilla chaetica. Only one sensillum type was found on compound eyes: sensilla chaetica. In addition, some sensillum types were also found on the mouthparts, wings and tail, respectively. In the study, we observed the type, morphology, and distribution of sensilla on antennae, legs, compound eyes, and other regions of nymph and adult F. occidentalis, forming a base for future electrophysiological and behavior experiments on F. occidentalis.

Multi-index optimization of extraction process of Fengyin Decoction based on BAS-GA-BP neural network combined with entropy weight method / 中国中药杂志

To optimize the ethanol extraction technology parameters of Fengyin Decoction by orthogonal experiment combined with beetle antennae search(BAS)-genetic algorithm(GA)-back propagation neural network(BPNN). Based on single factor investigation, the extraction temperature, ethanol volume, extraction time, and ethanol concentration were used as orthogonal experiment factors, and entropy weight method was used to calculate the comprehensive scores of aloe-emodin, glycyrrhizic acid ammonium salt, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, physcion, cinnamaldehyde, 6-gingerol, extraction ratio and fingerprint similarity. BAS-BPNN model was established, and then, GA was used to predict the optimal extraction process. The results showed that BAS-BPNN was optimized to obtain the optimal ethanol extraction process of Fengyin Decoction as follows: extraction temperature of 87 ℃, adding 9 times of 75 % ethanol, and extracting for 47 minutes, with a comprehensive score of 1.052 9. Meanwhile, the optimal process parameters obtained by orthogonal design were as follows: the extraction temperature of 80 ℃, adding 10 times of 75% ethanol, extracting for 30 minutes, with a comprehensive score of 1.003 7. The comprehensive score of the process obtained from the BAS-BPNN model was slightly better than that from the orthogonal test, indicating that the optimized process from BAS-BPNN model was more ideal, so it was finally determined as the best extraction process for Fengyin Decoction. The process of Fengyin Decoction obtained from BAS-GA-BPNN has high extraction efficiency and good stability, which provides reference for the subsequent development and quality control.

Morphology, distribution and abundance of antennal sensilla of the oyster mushroom fly, Coboldia fuscipes (Meigen) (Diptera: Scatopsidae)

ABSTRACT We investigated the distribution, morphology and abundance of antennae sensilla of Coboldia fuscipes (Meigen) using scanning electron microscopy. Antennae of C. fuscipes consisted of scape, pedicel, and flagellum with eight flagellomeres. Antennal scape and pedicel had only one type of sensillum, i.e., sensilla chaetica. Significant differences were found between the number and distribution of these sensilla. Four types of morphologically distinct sensilla on the flagellum were identified, including sensilla chaetica, sensilla trichoidea, sensilla coeloconica, and sensilla basiconica (three subtypes). Significant differences were found in the abundance and distribution of sensilla among the antennal flagella and diverse flagellomeres in both sexes. Sensilla trichoidea is the most abundant of sensilla discovered on the antennal flagellum. Sensilla chaetica is the largest and longest sensilla among all the types of sensilla found on the antennal surface of C. fuscipes. Sensilla coeloconica is widely distributed all over the flagellum surface except for the first of female. Some significant differences in the abundance and distribution were also observed among sensilla basiconica of flagellum. The probable biological function of each sensillum type was deduced based on the basis of their structure. These results serve as important basis for further studies on the host location mechanism and mating behavior of C. fuscipes.

Sistemática de Rhabdepyris Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) Amazônicos com antenas pectinadas

Rhabdepyris opistolatus sp. nov., R. longimerus sp. nov., R. pleurorrectus sp. nov., R. latimerus sp. nov. and R. pectinatus sp. nov. with ramose antennae from Brazilian Amazon rainforest are described and illustrated.

São descritas e ilustradas Rhabdepyris opistolatus sp. nov., R. longimerus sp. nov., R. pleurorrectus sp. nov., R. latimerus sp. nov. e R. pectinatus sp. nov. com antenas pectinadas da floresta amazônica brasileira.