Seasonal abundance and biology of sporophagous thrips and notes on other thrips (Insecta, Thysanoptera) on the Mediterranean oak, Quercus rotundifolia L. in, Navarra (N Spain)

This paperrecords the seasonal abundance of four species of sporophagous thrips collected on the Mediterranean oak, Quercus rotundifolia L., in the Mediterranean area of Navarra (N Spain). The life cycles of Cornpsothrips albosignatus (Reuter), Priesneriella clavicornis (Knechtel); Megalothrips bonannii Uzel and Cryptohrips nigripes (Reuter) are reported, and notes given about habitat specificity and wing development. Notes about host specific Terebrantia thrips of the Mediterranean oak are also reported. Key words: Thysanoptera, Tubulifera, Seasonal abundance, Life cycle, Sporophagous thrips, Quercus rotundifolia.This paperrecords the seasonal abundance of four species of sporophagous thrips collected on the Mediterranean oak, Quercus rotundifolia L., in the Mediterranean area of Navarra (N Spain). The life cycles of Cornpsothrips albosignatus (Reuter), Priesneriella clavicornis (Knechtel); Megalothrips bonannii Uzel and Cryptohrips nigripes (Reuter) are reported, and notes given about habitat specificity and wing development. Notes about host specific Terebrantia thrips of the Mediterranean oak are also reported. Key words: Thysanoptera, Tubulifera, Seasonal abundance, Life cycle, Sporophagous thrips, Quercus rotundifolia.This paperrecords the seasonal abundance of four species of sporophagous thrips collected on the Mediterranean oak, Quercus rotundifolia L., in the Mediterranean area of Navarra (N Spain). The life cycles of Cornpsothrips albosignatus (Reuter), Priesneriella clavicornis (Knechtel); Megalothrips bonannii Uzel and Cryptohrips nigripes (Reuter) are reported, and notes given about habitat specificity and wing development. Notes about host specific Terebrantia thrips of the Mediterranean oak are also reported. Key words: Thysanoptera, Tubulifera, Seasonal abundance, Life cycle, Sporophagous thrips, Quercus rotundifolia

Two new Australian fungus-feeding thrips in two new Plectrothripini genera (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae)

Two new genera are erected of plectrothripine Phlaeothripidae from northern Australia, each based on a single species. One has a long stout projection ventrally on the second antennal segment, the other has a unique arrangement of the dorsal facets of the compound eyes. In both of them the thoracic ventral sclerites are extensively eroded. The tribe Plectrothripini is one of the few apparently discrete lineages within the large and complex subfamily Phlaeothripinae (Dang et al. 2014). The species in this Tribe are all fungus-feeders on dead branches, and the group is found in the tropics worldwide. Okajima (1981) provided an extensive, illustrated account of the Plectrothripini, recognising 10 genera and almost 50 species, to which Tyagi et al. (2016) added one further species. Six of these genera remain monotypic, with two genera each comprising five or six species, and Plectrothrips itself with about 30 species. This asymmetry of taxon distribution, with a high proportion of monotypic genera, is due to the presence of certain characters in unusual autapomorphic states. Phylogenetic relationships within the tribe are further confused here through the diagnosis of two new monotypic genera for species from the tropical north of Australia. One of these new species has a bizarre projection ventrally on the second antennal segment (Fig. 5), whilst the other has the structure of the compound eyes unique amongst Phlaeothripidae (Figs 7, 8). Membership of the Tribe Plectrothripini is fairly clear, with the species sharing most of the following character states as indicated by Okajima (1981): antennae 8-segmented, segment II with the campaniform sensillum on the basal half, III–IV with a variable number of short, stout sense cones, VIII elongate with narrow base. Head with posterior ocelli close to compound eyes. Pronotum commonly with sclerotised plate eroded and reduced; prosternal basantra absent; fore tarsal tooth large; apex of hind tibiae commonly with stout setae. Pelta wide at base, tergite II eroded laterally; sternites often with reticulate glandular areas

Genera of fungivorous Phlaeothripinae (Thysanoptera) from dead branches and leaf-litter in Australia

An illustrated key is provided for the identification of 39 genera of Thysanoptera-Phlaeothripinae with species that live in association with dead branches and leaf-litter in Australia and are considered to be fungus-feeding. Seven of these gen-era are not previously recorded from this continent, including un-named species of Deplorothrips, Malacothrips, Mystro-thrips, Preeriella and Tylothrips, together with Azaleothrips lepidus Okajima and Terthrothrips ananthakrishnani Kudo. A brief generic diagnosis is provided for each genus, together with comments on systematic problems and numbers of species. Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press

Inversion of torsional oscillations for the structure and dynamics of Earth's core

Oscillations in Earth's liquid core with periods of several decades are inferred from variations in the magnetic field. The observed periods are consistent with a type of hydromagnetic wave known as torsional oscillations. These oscillations represent a set of very-low-frequency normal modes in which the internal magnetic field provides the primary restoring force. By adapting the methods of normal-mode seismology, we construct estimates for the internal structure of the magnetic field and several other key parameters, including the viscosity of the inner core. The structure of the recovered field provides useful insights into the nature of convection. We find evidence of columnar convection in the core, and estimate the strength of the field generated by these flows (≈0.3 mT). We also use the normal modes to recover the excitation source for the oscillations. Much of the excitation appears to originate near the surface of a cylinder that is tangent to the equator of the inner core. Distinct events rise above a background level of excitation, and may be related to instabilities in the geodynam

Structured lipids on a coccid wax (Coccoidea, Eriococcidae)

Maßgeschneiderte Triglyceride, die aus zwei kurzkettigen und einem langkettigen Acylrest bestehen, werden seit einigen Jahren als so genannte Designer-Lipide produziert, vorwiegend für den Einsatz in Medizin und Diätik. Zunehmend finden entsprechende Triglyceride aber auch als Zusatzstoffe für Nahrungsmittel Verwendung, um deren physikochemische Eigenschaften gezielt zu verändern. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt, dass eine Schildlausart solche Triglyceride ebenfalls funktionell einsetzt. Die Weibchen von Callococcus banksiae (MASKELL) umgeben sich, wie für Schildläuse nicht ungewöhnlich, mit einer Masse aus Wachsfäden. Diese Masse bedeckt zeitweise die Äste des ostaustralischen Kanuka-Strauches (Kunzea ericoides). Im Gegensatz zu den Wachsausscheidungen anderer australischer Schildläuse, meiden fouragierende Ameisen das Wachs von C. banksiae. Das hängt damit zusammen, dass die Wachsfäden dieser Art aufgrund ihrer besonderen Zusammensetzung „klebrig“ sind. Außerdem interessant ist, dass sich Thysanopteren der Art Teuchothrips fuscipennis (MOULTON) (Phlaeothripidae) in der Umgebung der Schildläuse und im Wachs aufhalten. Sie können sich frei und problemlos auf dem Wachs bewegen ohne festzukleben.banksiae (Maskell) (Coccoidea, Eriococcidae). These waxy masses, measuring up to 10mm in diameter, are sometimes abundant in eastern Australia on the stems of the host plant (Kunzea ericoides), and the wax is of interest biologically for two reasons. First, unlike many coccid species that secrete waxy coverings, ants do not attend C. banksiae despite often walking near them on the plant stems. Second, a particular species of thrips, Teuchothrips fuscipennis (Moulton) (Phlaeothripidae) breeds beneath the waxy mass, and the larvae and adults move quickly and freely between the wax filaments without adhering in any way. The wax surface is the subject of current investigations, for which this report on taylor-made triglycerides provides a base

The formation and evolution of cracks during nanoindentation of fused quartz

Brittle materials such as fused quartz and other silicate glasses are commonly used in photovoltaics, semiconductors, and consumer electronics in the form of thin films. In these applications and a variety of others there is a need to understand how cracking occurs in these inherently brittle materials during contact and impact with hard, sharp objects. To this end, nanoindentation, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and focused ion beam cross-sectioning (FIB) have been used to characterize the formation and evolution of surface and subsurface cracks in fused quartz (GE 124, Momentive). A series of experiments was performed using five three-sided pyramidal indenters with varying centerline-to-face angles (35.3°, 45°, 55°, 65.3°, and 75°) and peak indentation loads ranging from 10 to 500 mN. Distinct threshold loads below which no cracking could be observed were established, and a detailed set of experiments using FIB cross-sections to examine the sub-surface behavior was performed with the 45° indenter to document how cracking evolves as a function of load from sub-threshold all the way up to spalling and chipping. Finite element simulations were used to illuminate the stresses that may influence the cracking behavior. Relevant results and observations are discussed and compared to previous indentation cracking studies conducted at larger scales using Vickers and spherical indenters. The new results are used to assess prevailing models for indentation cracking and the origin of indentation cracking thresholds Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

The work of Jaroslav Pelikan on Insects of the order Thysanoptera.

Diese Arbeit ist eine kleine Ehrung für Doc. Ing. Dr. Jaroslav Pelikán, DrSc, einen bekannten Wissenschaftler auf den Gebieten der Entomologie, Theriologie und Ökologie. Er beschrieb rund 80 neue Arten und sieben neue Gattungen von Fransenflüglern (Thysanoptera). Seine Arbeiten auf nationaler Ebene schliessen neben detaillierteren Beiträgen zur Fauna der Tschechoslowakei einige Checklisten ein. Am 22. April 2006 feierte Jaroslav Pelikán seinen 80. Geburtstag.The paper is a small tribute to Doc. Ing. Dr. Jaroslav Pelikán, DrSc, who has been a reputable scientist in the fields of entomology, theriology and ecology. He described about 80 new species of thrips as well as seven new genera of Thysanoptera. His national contributions included several checklists, together with his more complex contribution within the Fauna of Czechoslovakia. On the 22nd of April 2006 Jaroslav Pelikán celebrated his 80th birthday

Convoluted maxillary stylets among Australian Thysanoptera Phlaeothripinae associated mainly with Casuarinaceae trees

The diversity is reviewed of Phlaeothripinae in Australia with unusually long or convoluted maxillary stylets. This comprises a total of 28 species in eight genera, including Enigmathrips carnarvoni gen et sp.n., Adrothrips latrarei sp.n., A. lihongae sp.n., A. madiae sp.n., A mitcheli sp.n., A. vernoni sp.n., and A. westoni sp.n., also Heligmothrips exallus sp.n., H. macropus sp.n., H. narrabri sp.n. and H. xanthoskelus sp.n., and Iotatubothrips daguilari sp.n. Among Phlaeothripinae, such exceptionally long feeding stylets are known only from Australia and have evolved independently within the unrelated genera Adrothrips and Heligmothrips in association with the green branchlets of Casuarinaceae species. A few species appear to have diverged in their feeding habits and have adapted to fungal-hyphal feeding on the trunks of trees

Tiny but significant: on the importance of thrips as pollinators

BACKGROUND: Thrips (Thysanoptera) are minute plant and flower visitors in ecosystems across the world but are commonly viewed as notorious pests and too small to effect pollination. The role of thrips as pollinators is thus largely neglected. We provide an overview of the number of plant taxa that are pollinated by thrips, the floral traits of thrips-pollinated plants, and discuss why thrips can be effective pollinators.MAIN FINDINGS: Thrips pollination occurs in almost half of all seed plant orders, 53 families and 102 plant genera. In many taxa, thrips are the primary or only pollinator. Thrips effectiveness as pollen vectors is enhanced by enormous thrips population sizes in inflorescences, pollen loads of up to &gt;100 grains per individual, and the ability to travel in wind streams. A meta-analysis shows that thrips can significantly contribute to seed and fruit set compared with open pollination controls. A review of the floral traits of thrips-pollinated plants suggests that there is no universal "thripophily" pollination syndrome. One plant trait that stands out is a floral architecture that limits access to larger pollinators and gives thrips a refuge, such as globose or disk-like structures with small or slit-like openings. Some specialist systems exhibit characteristic floral or cone odours that attract thrips; however, too few systems have been studied in detail to cast a general description. Together, our results suggest that pollination by thrips is more common than has been historically perceived, and thrips should not be overlooked in pollination studies and as agents of selection of floral traits.</p