Searching behaviour of polyphagous predators

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A preliminary catalogue of the moths (Lepidoptera except Papilionoidea) of Tobago, West Indies

This catalogue comprises records of 355 species of moths (non-papilionoid Lepidoptera) from Tobago, of which 15 are partially identified. Of this total, all except 17 (5%) are known from Trinidad, although not all these records from Trinidad are published yet. Of these 17, eleven are expected to occur in Trinidad as they also occur on the mainland of South America and two are only known from Tobago but will probably also occur in Trinidad. This leaves just four species (1% of the total) that are known from the Lesser Antilles and are currently not known from further south than Tobago. The families represented by the most species are Erebidae, Crambidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae and Sphingidae, which between them account for 73% of records. Taxonomic changes are made as follows. Podalia farmbri (Kaye, 1925) sp. rev. (Megalopygidae) is removed from the synonymy of P. nigrescens Schaus, 1905. Podalia walkeri Hopp, 1935 and P. dimidiata (Walker, 1865) are syn. nov. of P. farmbri Kaye, 1925. Renia bipunctata (Kaye, 1901) (Erebidae) is a comb. nov. for Zanclognatha bipunctata. Aristaria trinitalis Schaus, 1906 (Erebidae) is a syn. nov. of Renia bipunctata Kaye, 1901. Aglaonice deldonalis Walker, 1859 sp. rev. (Erebidae) is removed from the synonymy of A. hirtipalpis Walker, [1859]. Plusiodonta cupristria Kaye, 1923 (Erebidae) is a syn. nov. of Oraesia excitans Walker [1858]. Oroscopa abluta (Schaus, 1912) (Erebidae) is a comb. nov. for Freilla abluta Schaus, 1912, which is a new combination in common use, but not previously published. Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797) (Erebidae) is a comb. nov. for Noctua auct. dorsalis Fabricius, a new combination already in use, but not formally published. I endorse the unpublished conclusion of I.W.B. Nye that Ptichodis basilans (Guenée, 1852) is a syn. nov. of Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797). Ptichodis agrapta Hampson, 1913 is also a syn. nov. of Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797). Este catálogo incluye registros de 355 especies de polillas de Tobago, de las cuales 15 han sido parcialmente identificadas. Del total de especies, sólo 17 (5%) no se han identificado en Trinidad, aunque no todos estos registros han sido publicados todavía. De estas 17 especies, once se espera que estén presentes en Trinidad ya que también ocurren en tierra firme en Sudamérica y tan sólo dos se ha identificado en Tobago pero es probable que también esté presente en Trinidad. De tal modo, tan sólo cuatro especies (1% del total) que ocurren en las Antillas Menores no se han identificado más al sur de Tobago. Las familias más representadas son Erebidae, Crambidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae and Sphingidae, correspondiendo al 73% de los registros. Se realizan los siguientes cambios taxonómicos. Podalia farmbri (Kaye, 1925) sp. rev. (Megalopygidae) se elimna como sinónimo de P. nigrescens Schaus, 1905. Podalia walkeri Hopp, 1935 y P. dimidiata (Walker, 1865) son syn. nov. de P. farmbri Kaye, 1925. Renia bipunctata (Kaye, 1901) (Erebidae) es una comb. nov. para Zanclognatha bipunctata. Aristaria trinitalis Schaus, 1906 (Erebidae) es un syn. nov. de Renia bipunctata Kaye, 1901. Aglaonice deldonalis Walker, 1859 sp. rev. (Erebidae) se elimina como sinónimo de A. hirtipalpis Walker, [1859]. Plusiodonta cupristria Kaye, 1923 (Erebidae) es un syn. nov. de Oraesia excitans Walker [1858]. Oroscopa abluta (Schaus, 1912) (Erebidae) es un comb. nov. para Freilla abluta Schaus, 1912, la cual es una combinación nueva de uso común, pero que no ha sido publicada anteriormente. Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797) (Erebidae) es una comb. nov. para Noctua auct. dorsalis Fabricius, una nueva combinación ya en uso pero que no se ha publicado formalmente. Apoyo la conclusion no publicada de I.W.B. Nye afirmando que Ptichodis basilans (Guenée, 1852) es un syn. nov. de Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797). Ptichodis agrapta Hampson, 1913 es también un syn. nov. de Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797)

A preliminary catalogue of the moths (Lepidoptera except Papilionoidea) of Tobago, West Indies

This catalogue comprises records of 355 species of moths (non-papilionoid Lepidoptera) from Tobago, of which 15 are partially identified. Of this total, all except 17 (5%) are known from Trinidad, although not all these records from Trinidad are published yet. Of these 17, eleven are expected to occur in Trinidad as they also occur on the mainland of South America and two are only known from Tobago but will probably also occur in Trinidad. This leaves just four species (1% of the total) that are known from the Lesser Antilles and are currently not known from further south than Tobago. The families represented by the most species are Erebidae, Crambidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae and Sphingidae, which between them account for 73% of records. Taxonomic changes are made as follows. Podalia farmbri (Kaye, 1925) sp. rev. (Megalopygidae) is removed from the synonymy of P. nigrescens Schaus, 1905. Podalia walkeri Hopp, 1935 and P. dimidiata (Walker, 1865) are syn. nov. of P. farmbri Kaye, 1925. Renia bipunctata (Kaye, 1901) (Erebidae) is a comb. nov. for Zanclognatha bipunctata. Aristaria trinitalis Schaus, 1906 (Erebidae) is a syn. nov. of Renia bipunctata Kaye, 1901. Aglaonice deldonalis Walker, 1859 sp. rev. (Erebidae) is removed from the synonymy of A. hirtipalpis Walker, [1859]. Plusiodonta cupristria Kaye, 1923 (Erebidae) is a syn. nov. of Oraesia excitans Walker [1858]. Oroscopa abluta (Schaus, 1912) (Erebidae) is a comb. nov. for Freilla abluta Schaus, 1912, which is a new combination in common use, but not previously published. Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797) (Erebidae) is a comb. nov. for Noctua auct. dorsalis Fabricius, a new combination already in use, but not formally published. I endorse the unpublished conclusion of I.W.B. Nye that Ptichodis basilans (Guenée, 1852) is a syn. nov. of Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797). Ptichodis agrapta Hampson, 1913 is also a syn. nov. of Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797). Este catálogo incluye registros de 355 especies de polillas de Tobago, de las cuales 15 han sido parcialmente identificadas. Del total de especies, sólo 17 (5%) no se han identificado en Trinidad, aunque no todos estos registros han sido publicados todavía. De estas 17 especies, once se espera que estén presentes en Trinidad ya que también ocurren en tierra firme en Sudamérica y tan sólo dos se ha identificado en Tobago pero es probable que también esté presente en Trinidad. De tal modo, tan sólo cuatro especies (1% del total) que ocurren en las Antillas Menores no se han identificado más al sur de Tobago. Las familias más representadas son Erebidae, Crambidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae and Sphingidae, correspondiendo al 73% de los registros. Se realizan los siguientes cambios taxonómicos. Podalia farmbri (Kaye, 1925) sp. rev. (Megalopygidae) se elimna como sinónimo de P. nigrescens Schaus, 1905. Podalia walkeri Hopp, 1935 y P. dimidiata (Walker, 1865) son syn. nov. de P. farmbri Kaye, 1925. Renia bipunctata (Kaye, 1901) (Erebidae) es una comb. nov. para Zanclognatha bipunctata. Aristaria trinitalis Schaus, 1906 (Erebidae) es un syn. nov. de Renia bipunctata Kaye, 1901. Aglaonice deldonalis Walker, 1859 sp. rev. (Erebidae) se elimina como sinónimo de A. hirtipalpis Walker, [1859]. Plusiodonta cupristria Kaye, 1923 (Erebidae) es un syn. nov. de Oraesia excitans Walker [1858]. Oroscopa abluta (Schaus, 1912) (Erebidae) es un comb. nov. para Freilla abluta Schaus, 1912, la cual es una combinación nueva de uso común, pero que no ha sido publicada anteriormente. Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797) (Erebidae) es una comb. nov. para Noctua auct. dorsalis Fabricius, una nueva combinación ya en uso pero que no se ha publicado formalmente. Apoyo la conclusion no publicada de I.W.B. Nye afirmando que Ptichodis basilans (Guenée, 1852) es un syn. nov. de Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797). Ptichodis agrapta Hampson, 1913 es también un syn. nov. de Ptichodis dorsalis (Fabricius, 1797)

Annotated checklist and biogeographic composition of the Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera) of Trinidad, West Indies

A revised annotated checklist for the butterfl y family Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera) of Trinidad is presented, updating nomenclature, and indicating synonyms from earlier lists and papers. The checklist includes 131 species of Lycaenidae, comprising 127 species of 49 genera of Eumaeini, Theclinae, and four species of three genera of Polyommatinae. There are more than 30 new island records. No lycaenid species is endemic to Trinidad, and the fauna consists primarily of widespread species (71%) that occur from Central America to the Amazon Basin. However, the primary biogeographic affi nity is the Amazon Region, where 94% of the Trinidad lycaenid fauna also occurs. Corrections are made to the literature cited in the fi rst author’s earlier checklists on other Trinidad butterfl ies. Resumen. Se presenta una lista anotada para la familia de mariposas Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera) de Trinidad, actualizando la nomenclatura e indicando sinónimos de listas y artículos prévios. La lista incluye 131 especies de Lycaenidae, que comprende 127 especies de 49 géneros de Eumaeini, Theclinae, y cuatro especies de tres géneros de Polyommatinae. Se presentan más de 30 nuevo registros procedente de la isla. Ninguna especies de lycaenido es endémico de Trinidad, y la fauna consiste principalmente de especies de amplia distribución (71%) que ocurren desde Centroamérica hasta la Cuenca del Amazonas. Sin embargo, la principal afi nidad biogeográfi ca es la Región Amazónica, donde el 94% de la fauna de lycaenidos de Trinidad ocurren. Se hacen correcciones en la literatura citada de las listas anotadas anteriores del primer autor sobre otras mariposas de Trinidad

Observations on White Grubs Affecting Sugar Cane at the Juba Sugar Project, South-Western Somalia, in the 1980s, and Implications for Their Management

The article reports some observations on white grubs affecting sugarcane at the Juba Sugar Project, in South-Western Somalia, in the 1980s, and the implications for their management.Maqaalku wuxuu ka hadlayaa arrimo la xiriira dixiriyaha cad ee waxyeeleeyo qasabka sonkorta ee mashruuca sonkorta ee Jubba. Baaritaankaas waxaa lagu sameeyey koofur-galbeed ee Soomaaliya sannadka 1980.L'articolo riporta alcune osservazioni su larve bianche che colpiscono la canna da zucchero nell'ambito del Juba Sugar Project, svoltosi nel sud-ovest della Somalia negli anni 1980, e le relative implicazioni per la loro gestione

Computing fuzzy rough approximations in large scale information systems

Rough set theory is a popular and powerful machine learning tool. It is especially suitable for dealing with information systems that exhibit inconsistencies, i.e. objects that have the same values for the conditional attributes but a different value for the decision attribute. In line with the emerging granular computing paradigm, rough set theory groups objects together based on the indiscernibility of their attribute values. Fuzzy rough set theory extends rough set theory to data with continuous attributes, and detects degrees of inconsistency in the data. Key to this is turning the indiscernibility relation into a gradual relation, acknowledging that objects can be similar to a certain extent. In very large datasets with millions of objects, computing the gradual indiscernibility relation (or in other words, the soft granules) is very demanding, both in terms of runtime and in terms of memory. It is however required for the computation of the lower and upper approximations of concepts in the fuzzy rough set analysis pipeline. Current non-distributed implementations in R are limited by memory capacity. For example, we found that a state of the art non-distributed implementation in R could not handle 30,000 rows and 10 attributes on a node with 62GB of memory. This is clearly insufficient to scale fuzzy rough set analysis to massive datasets. In this paper we present a parallel and distributed solution based on Message Passing Interface (MPI) to compute fuzzy rough approximations in very large information systems. Our results show that our parallel approach scales with problem size to information systems with millions of objects. To the best of our knowledge, no other parallel and distributed solutions have been proposed so far in the literature for this problem

An updated and annotated checklist of the larger butterflies (Papilionoidea) of Trinidad, West Indies: Papilionidae, Pieridae and Nymphalidae

A revised checklist for the butterfly families Papilionidae, Pieridae and Nymphalidae of Trinidad (Trinidad and Tobago) is presented, bringing nomenclature in line with modern usage, indicating synonyms from earlier lists and adding new records since the last checklist was published in 1970. Migrant and vagrant species are provisionally recognised, and records considered incorrect are discussed. The checklist includes 204 species: 15 Papilionidae, 29 Pieridae and 160 Nymphalidae. The only taxonomic change is to treat Hamadryas feronia insularis (Fruhstorfer) as a synonym of H. f. feronia (Linnaeus), syn. nov., and not as a synonym of H. feronia farinulenta (Fruhstorfer)

Building a locally diploid genome and transcriptome of the diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus

The genome of the cold-adapted diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus is characterized by highly diverged haplotypes that intersperse its homozygous genome. Here, we describe how a combination of PacBio DNA and Illumina RNA sequencing can be used to resolve this complex genomic landscape locally into the highly diverged haplotypes, and how to map various environmentally controlled transcripts onto individual haplotypes. We assembled PacBio sequence data with the FALCON assembler and created a haplotype resolved annotation of the assembly using annotations of a Sanger sequenced F. cylindrus genome. RNA-seq datasets from six different growth conditions were used to resolve allele-specifc gene expression in F. cylindrus. This approach enables to study differential expression of alleles in a complex genomic landscape and provides a useful tool to study how diverged haplotypes in diploid organisms are used for adaptation and evolution to highly variable environments

Strategies for Biological Control of Invasive Insects

The most widely used of the various approaches to biological control of invasive insects is so-called “conventional” biological control, which consists in introducing natural enemies (parasitoids, predators or pathogens) that originate from the same region as the insect. This approach is particularly well-suited to controlling forest insects because they reduce the pest population directly and lastingly all over the invaded territory. In addition to providing a description of the various stages of a biological control programme, the presentation provided answers to questions often brought up about this type of biocontrol, concentrating particularly on forest tree and woody plant pests. Information supplied by two databases was presented: the BIOCAT2010 base that records all introductions of parasitoids and predators for the purpose of controlling the insects. Another base relating to the entomopathogens used against insects. Up to 2010, more than 6 000 introductions of parasitoids and predators were carried out, targeting 588 species of insects, achieving control over 172 of those insects. Approximately 55 % of these introductions targeted woody plant pests. The rate of establishment of the natural enemies and success rates were higher for woody plant pests than for other pests. The presentation compared the success rates under various production systems and for various groups of woody plants for different orders of insect pests and for different categories of natural enemies. Trends over time since the beginning of conventional biological control at the end of the 19th century were also presented, together with the economic benefits, the risks of the strategy and the measures implemented to limit the latter. Finally, the outlook and obstacles relating to future biocontrol practices in Europe were discussed