New protodiplatyids (Insecta: Dermaptera) from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of northeastern China

A new genus Barbderma gen. nov. with a new species, Barbderma oblonguata sp. nov., and a new species, Sinoprotodiplatys ellipsoideuata sp. nov., of the family Protodiplatyidae are described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation at the Huangbanjigou Village, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, China. Both new species are assigned to Protodiplatyidae mainly based on their diagnostic characters of antenna, pronotum, tegmina, tarsi and the distinct long, slender, multi-segmented cerci. These findings of fossil Protodiplatyidae provide more evidence to confirm the existence of these basal earwigs in the Early Cretaceous. Key diagnostic characters for genera of Protodiplatyidae are compared to highlight the generic variations and similarities. Evolutionary trend of cerci morphology suggests that it is likely that the cerci were evolved from long, slender and segmented to the stout terminal forceps without segmentation.     

麦棉套作主要虫害发生与气象条件的关系

根据危害棉花最重的棉蚜、棉红蜘蛛、棉铃虫和棉盲蝽象4大害虫的生物学特性、发生时段的气候条件和麦棉套种棉田生态因素,分析了4大害虫大发生的原因及预测预报,并提出了防治措施。     

A new tyrannosaurine specimen (Theropoda: Tyrannosauroidea) with insect borings from the Upper Cretaceous Honglishan Formation of Northwestern China

A large theropod ilium was recently collected from the Upper Cretaceous Honglishan Formation in the Sangequan area of the northern Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, China, which represents the first officially reported dinosaur fossil from this formation. Several morphological features, including robust supracetabular ridge, reduced supracetabular crest, concave anterior margin of the pubic peduncle, ventral flange on the pubic peduncle, converging dorsal surface of the iliac blades, laterally visible cuppedicus shelf, and ventral flange on the posterior surface of pubic peduncle, suggest that this specimen can be referred to Tyrannosaurinae, and furthermore, a few differences between this specimen and other tyrannosaurines in particular the contemporary Asian tyrannosaurine Tarbosaurus suggest that IVPP V22757 may represent a new tyrannosaurine species. However, in the absence of extensive data that would make it possible to properly evaluate these differences, we refrain from naming a new taxon based on this specimen. Some insect borings are also identified in this specimen, and are referable to the ichnogenus Cubiculum, which is interpreted as the insect pupichnia. This new fossil documents the presence of a gigantic theropod in the Upper Cretaceous of Junggar Basin, adding new information on its poorly studied ecosystems.     

遥感与GIS在蝗虫灾害防治研究中的应用进展

蝗虫是给农作物和草场造成严重危害的昆虫。长期以来,蝗虫的灭治一直依靠化学药剂喷洒,生物防治还处于刚刚起步阶段。从20世纪70年代起,就已在北非、澳大利亚等地,开始应用卫星遥感图像Landsat/MSS、TM及NOAA/AVHRR对蝗虫栖息、生长和繁殖的生境进行监测,研究蝗虫生境的绿度,以推断可能发生蝗灾的区域。进入20世纪90年代以来,遥感技术与地理信息系统(GIS)技术的结合,在蝗虫的监测中正得到日益广泛的应用。扼要论述了这些方面的研究进展。     

长江中下游杨树抑螺防病林昆虫多样性的初步研究

对安庆市南埂林场长江沿岸杨树抑螺防病林3年生、8年生和20年生林地上空间昆虫群落的种群组成和多样性进行了调查。结果表明,在3种不同林龄林分之间,地上空间昆虫种群组成的差异表现为,在目一级分类单元组成上,3种不同林龄林分具有很高的共性,在科和种的单元上,不同林龄林分之间的差异大小依次为:3年生与20年生林分之间>3年生与8年生林分之间>8年生与20年生林分之间。随着林分林龄的增加,林内地上空间昆虫丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener指数明显降低。不同林龄林分地上空间昆虫种群的均匀度指数与林分林龄无明显的相关性,其中20年生林分昆虫种群的均匀度指数显著低于8年生和3年生的林分,而8年生和3年生林分之间没有显著差异。     

Boreal peatland margins as repository sites of long-term natural disturbances of balsam fir/spruce forests

A multidisciplinary, high-resolution paleoecological study (Lepidoptera and plant remains, macroscopic charcoal, pollen) was conducted on a 4000-yr peat monolith extracted from the margin of an ombrotrophic peatland on Anticosti Island (Gulf of St. Lawrence, eastern Canada) to reconstruct the long-term natural disturbances (insect outbreaks, forest fires) of a balsam fir/spruce forest. We hypothesized that an activity of insect defoliators (spruce budworm, hemlock looper) was the main disturbance factor of conifer forests during the Late Holocene. The earliest remains of spruce budworm and hemlock looper were found ca. 3220 and 2350 cal yr BP, respectively. Peaks of insect head capsules occurred from ca. 1640 to ca. 625 cal yr BP. Low balsam fir pollen concentrations during this period suggest a lengthy episode ( 1000 yr) of high insect activity, resulting in extensive fir dieback and mortality. The long-term dynamics of the pristine balsam fir/spruce forests were mainly governed by the activity of insect defoliators. The limited extent and possibly the low occurrence of forest fires in the maritime environment of Anticosti Island allowed the development of mature coniferous stands propitious for insect infestations. Insect head capsules appeared to be a useful and effective tool for establishing insect presence and activity during the Holocene.     

A New Fossil Hangingfly (Mecoptera: Cimbrophlebiidae) from the Early Cretaceous of China

A new species, Cimbrophlebia rara sp. nov., in the family Cimbrophlebiidae（Mecoptera） is described and illustrated. This specimen was collected from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation at Liutiaogou in Inner Mongolia, China. This is the first record of a cimbrophlebiid from the Jehol biota. A key to all species of Cimbrophlebia is given. A preliminary review of published taxa data indicates that from the Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous, Mecoptera became less diverse and less abundant in northeastern China at familiar level（from 11 to 6）, generic level（from 32 to 8） and specific level（from 44 to 14）.     

High fidelity preservation of fossil insects from the Crato Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of Brazil

Fossil insects from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation of north-east Brazil are preserved as goethite replacements in laminated limestones of lacustro-lagoonal origin. They display remarkable degrees of morphological detail down to the macromolecular level in some examples. We document the fidelity of preservation and reveal an astonishing variety of morphological detail comparable in some instances with that found in amber inclusions.     

Biological control reduces growth, and alters water relations of the saltcedar tree (Tamarix spp.) in western Nevada, USA

We monitored the impacts of a biological control agent, the saltcedar leaf beetle (Diorhabda carinulata), on the saltcedar tree (Tamarix spp.) at two sites (Humboldt and Walker rivers) in Nevada, USA. At the Humboldt site trees that had experienced three to four defoliation events had more negative water potentials and lower foliar Δ¹³C than trees farther from the release site that had experienced only one defoliation event. We established paired trees (exposed to D. carinulata and sprayed with insecticide) at both sites and monitored impacts. Beetles reduced stem growth during the first year of defoliation at both sites but not in the second year at the Humboldt site. Defoliation did not affect midday water potentials, or leaf gas exchange during the first two years of defoliation of paired trees at either site. Furthermore there was no difference in foliar Δ¹³C in either year at the Humboldt site but defoliation during the first year lead to higher foliar Δ¹³C at the Walker site. These results suggest that initial defoliation by D. carinulata reduces growth but not water relations of saltcedar. However, repeated defoliation, potentially acting through reduced root growth, leads to an overall reduction in the water status of this invader.