---Revision--- of--- the ---genus ---Dimophora ---Förster--- (Hymenoptera:--- Ichneumonidae:--- Cremastinae) ---from--- Japan.

The genus Dimophora Förster is recorded from Japan for the first time. Japanese species of the genus are revised and three new species, Dimophora japonica n. sp., D. nigra n. sp. and D. parva n. sp., are recognizerd and described. Male genitalia of D. japonica and D. nigra are described and these are the first description of male genitalia for the genus. A key to the Palearctic species is provided.

Ecological aspect of the larval parasitoid Diadegma hiraii (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) as a potential biological control agent of soybean pod borer Leguminivora glycinivorella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

The larval parasitoid Diadegma hiraii (Kusigemati) was evaluated as a potential biological control agent of the soybean pod borer, Leguminivora glycinivorella (Matsumura). The timing of adult emergence after overwintering was ascertained, and land-use factors that enhance population density were analyzed. Host cocoons were collected and exposed to different temperatures and photoperiod regimes. Subsequently, the emergence of parasitoid was monitored. Land-use types were categorized into 4 land-use types (Poaceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, and forest). Adult parasitoid emergence was dependent on temperature, but largely unaffected by photoperiod. The estimated emergence time of parasitoid was 3 months before the occurrence of the host, suggesting that the overwintered generation may lay eggs in alternate hosts. Parasitism rate was positively correlated with the area covered by Poaceae plants within a 500-m radius of the soybean field. Based on the results of the overwintering ecology and landscape analysis, D. hiraii probably completes its life cycle in the agroecosystems. The parasitoid's effectiveness as a biological control agent may be influenced by the arrangement of land-use types in the agroecosystems surrounding soybean fields. However, the pest control provided by D. hiraii is limited because of approximately 30% of parasitism rate. Consequently, a combination of this species and cultural control and/or other biological control agents is suggested for sustainable soybean cultivation.

Notes on the genus Netelia, subgenus Parabates (Ichneumonidae, Tryphoninae), with description of a new species from Oriental Region.

The characters that define the subgenus Parabates of the genus Netelia are investigated. The shape of the basal apodeme of the aedeagus is considered to be a synapomorphy of this subgenus, suggesting the monophyly of Parabates. A new species, Netelia (Parabates) fusciapicalis n. sp. belonging to the ishiharai group is described from Taiwan, Vietnam and Laos. This is the sixth extant species of the subgenus, the first record of the genus Netelia from Vietnam and Laos, and the first record of the subgenus Parabates from Taiwan.

A taxonomic revision of the genus Linycus Cameron, 1903 from Japan.

The Japanese species of the genus Linycus Cameron are examined with two species recognized. A Holarctic species, L. exhortator (Fabricius) is newly collected from Japan [Hokkaido, Honshû, Shikoku, Kyûshû], and a new species, L. kyoheii sp. nov., is described from Yamanshi Pref., Honshû. The two Japanese species can be distinguished by a white spot on scutellum (present in L. kyoheii vs. absent in L. exhorator), and sculpture of area between gastrocoeli (weakly rugose-punctate in L. kyoheii vs. clearly rugose in L. exhortator). We also compared the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (CO1) of Japanese L. exhortator with European L. exhortator. The p-distances between Japanese and European subspecies exhortator were about 2%, whereas between Japanese and Nearctic ssp. thoracius (Cresson) were about 5%. Here we provisionally treat Japanese L. exhorator as nominotypical subspecies. The intra-specific DNA barcode divergence and allopatric color variations are discussed.

A revisional study of the genus Aulacus Jurine (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae) of Japan.

Japanese species of the genus Aulacus Jurine are revised and seven species are recognized. Two new species, A. davidi sp. n. and A. shizukii sp. n. are described. In addition, A. flavigenis Alekseev and A. sinensis He Chen are newly recorded from the Japanese archipelago. Male genitalia of three species, i.e., A. davidi, A. flavigenis and A. sinensis, are described for the first time. An identification key for Japanese species and DNA barcoding data for A. davidi, A. machaerophorus Kuroda, Kikuchi Konishi and A. sinensis are also provided.

A review of the genus Apophysius Cushman (Ichneumonidae: Phygadeuontinae), with descriptions of six new species.

The phygadeuontine genus Apophysius (Ichneumonidae) is reviewed for the first time. Six new species are described, A. baolocensis Pham, Matsumoto Broad sp. nov., A. constrictus Pham, Matsumoto Broad sp. nov. and A. taynguyenensis Pham, Matsumoto Broad sp. nov. from the Central Highlands of Vietnam, A. latus Pham, Matsumoto, Konishi, Sheng Broad sp. nov. from China and Vietnam, A. takasukai Pham, Konishi Broad sp. nov. from the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, and A. pentaceratops Broad sp. nov. from Sarawak, Malaysia. A key to the nine known species of the genus Apophysius is included.

A new genus of the subfamily Hybrizontinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from Japan.

Neohybrizon gen. nov. is described from Japan (type species: Neohybrizon mutus sp. nov.). This new genus is characterized by much reduced mouth parts, long mesoscutum, absence of epicnemial carina, depressed posterocentral area of mesoscutum, slender stigma, short RS+M of fore wing, entirely straight M of fore wing, slender hind wing, long hind femur which is over 5.5 × as long as trochanter, and using the ant Myrmica kotokui Forel, 1911 as its host. A key to genera of Hybrizontinae is also provided.

Two new species of the genus Pristaulacus (Hymenoptera, Evanioidea, Aulacidae) from Japan.

Two new species of the genus Pristaulacus, P. ohishii sp. nov. and P. uenoi sp. nov. are described from Japan. The former species belongs to the comptipennis species group in having the strongly concaved occipital margin, and is peculiar in the species group in having the combination of the interrupted occipital carina and a broadly rounded and shallow occipital medial groove. The latter species resembles P. ryukyuensis in having the occipital carina not interrupted, the anterior margin of mesoscutum in lateral view acute and veins M+Cu, r-m and Cu of hind wing not pigmented, but they can be easily distinguished by the coloration of mesosoma and the dark spots of fore wing.

Two new species of Dentilabus Heinrich (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae) from Japan and Korea, with redefinition of the genus.

We discovered Dentilabus Heinrich (Icneumoninae: Platylabini) for the first time from the Eastern Palearctic region. Two new species, D. nigripodus sp. n. [Japan and Korea] and D. iyoensis sp. n. [Japan] are described. Dentilabus nigripodus resembles its Western Palearctic congener, D. variegatus (Wesmael), but they can be easily distinguished by the uniformly black hind femora in D. nigripodus. With the inclusion of D. iyoensis, we also redefine the generic limits of Dentilabus. A key to Palearctic species of the genus is provided.

A revision of the subgenus Bessobates of the genus Netelia from Japan (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Tryphoninae).

Japanese species of the genus Netelia of the subgenus Bessobates are revised. Fourteen species are recognized. Four new species, N. (B.) longipad, N. (B.) nigridorsalis, N. (B.) nodai and N. (B.) yakushimensis, are described. Six species, N. (B.) comitor Tolkanitz, 1974, N. (B.) frenata Tolkanitz, 1981, N. (B.) gansuana (Kokujev, 1906), N. (B.) kiuhabona (Uchida, 1928), N. (B.) nanaki Kaur & Jonathan, 1979 and N. (B.) pallescens (Schmiedeknecht, 1910) are recorded from Japan for the first time and redescribed based on Japanese specimens. Male genitalia of N. (B.) yamatoensis (Uchida, 1934) are figured and described for the first time. Netelia (Bessobates) odaiensis (Uchida, 1934) is removed from synonym with virgata and treated as species incertae sedis. Three species, N. (B.) cristata (Thomson, 1888), N. (B.) latungula (Thomson, 1888) and N. (B.) virgata (Geoffroy, 1785) are redescribed based on Japanese specimens. A key to 14 Japanese species is given.

Primer design for identifying economically important Liriomyza species (Diptera: Agromyzidae) by multiplex PCR.

Leafminer flies, especially, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae and Liriomyza trifolii, are quarantine species in many countries. Their morphological similarity makes identification difficult. To develop a rapid, reliable, sensitive and simple molecular identification method using multiplex PCR, we newly sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) genes of Liriomyza bryoniae, Liriomyza chinensis, L. huidobrensis, L. sativae, L. trifolii, Chromatomyia horticola and four parasitoid species. We aligned them with all the COI sequences of the leafminer flies found in the international DNA nucleotide sequence databases (DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank). We then designed species-specific primers to allow us to differentiate between L. bryoniae, L. chinensis, L. huidobrensis, L. sativae, and L. trifolii.

Diversity of Aulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) in the oceanic Ogasawara Islands (Japan), with description of a new species from Anijima Island.

In the context of the biodiversity conservation of the oceanic Ogasawara Islands, the parasitoid species of Aulacidae are reviewed. We examined material from eight islands with or without invasion of the introduced lizard Anolis carolinensis (Voigt 1832) (green anoles): two species of Pristaulacus Kieffer 1900, P. boninensis Konishi, 1989, and P. anijimensis sp. nov., are recognized. The former species is widely distributed in the islands, whereas the latter species is found from a single island only, Anijima Island. Although this island appears to be currently well preserved, the recent introduction of green anoles will probably affect the conservation status of many species, including the endemic P. anijimensis sp. nov. A description of the new species, detailed drawings and descriptions of genitalia of both recognized species, an updated key to Japanese Aulacidae, and a brief discussion on the conservation aspects of Aulacidae in the Ogasawara Islands are provided.

A highly sensitive detection method for somatic mutations in p53 gene.

A simple and highly sensitive detection method for somatic mutations, which is applicable to diagnostic samples is developed. This method detects somatic mutations that are lower than several percent in abundance. The unique feature with this method is that single-nucleotide primer extension is carried out in the absence of dye terminators that carry respective bases in the wild type gene. Data of mutation sites and bases in the target genes are obtained from databases. Primers of different nucleotide length are designed so that electrophoreses of the single-nucleotide primer extension products allow identification of respective mutations. Based on somatic mutation data in IARC TP53 mutation database, this method was applied to p53 somatic mutations. Results showed that extension reactions in 5 separate tubes allowed detection of mutations in human p53 gene for the most frequent 12 mutations in a nucleotide sequence of 14,049-14,522, which cover hot spot regions in exons 7 and 8. Confirming these results, reported mutations of p53 in human culture cells, MiaPaCa2, TE-6, RPMI8226, DLD1, and PC-3 are detected at 5% relative abundance in the sample DNA.

Substrate regulation of calcium binding in Ca2+-ATPase molecules of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. I. Effect of ATP.

The effect of ATP on calcium binding of the Ca2+-ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum has not been clarified. By comparing the calcium dependence of the ATPase activity and of phosphorylation of the ATPase molecules with that of calcium binding in the absence of ATP, we show the existence of two types of regulatory site of the enzyme molecules at which ATP binding variously improves the calcium binding performance of the molecules depending on the aggregation state of the molecules and pH; the two regulatory sites bind ATP at submillimolar (0.25 mm) and millimolar (5 mm) ATP, respectively. The results are discussed based on a model of two conformational variants (A and B forms) of the chemically equivalent ATPase molecules (Nakamura, J., and Furukohri, T. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 30818-30821). For example, in the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane at pH 7.40, submillimolar ATP converted the calcium binding manner of the A form from noncooperative (Hill number (n(H)) of approximately 1) to cooperative (n(H) approximately 2), concurrent with a decrease in the apparent calcium affinity (K(0.5)) from 2-6 to 0.1-0.3 microm. The binding of the A form became almost the same as that of the B form (n(H) approximately 2, K(0.5) approximately 0.2 microm), which was not affected by ATP. Millimolar ATP further decreased the K(0.5) of the cooperative binding of the two forms to approximately 0.05 microm. Regulation of the calcium binding performance by ATP is discussed in terms of monomeric and oligomeric pathway models.