First Record Of Trophobiotic Interaction Between A Ponerine Ant And A Cicadelid Bug

The interactions of the ant Odontomachus bauri with nymphs of the sap-sucking bug Xedreota tuberculata (Cicadellidae: Ledrinae) were studied on Sipanea aff. (Rubiaceae) along a trail in an upland forest in the Ecological Reserve of Anavilhanas, AM, Brazil. Five complete interactions at day and at night (about 60 minutes) were analyzed. The care of cicadelid nymphs ranged between 12 and 961 seconds. © 2010 T. S. Souza and R. B. 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Evolutionary Strategies Of Chemical Defense In Aposematic Butterflies: Cyanogenesis In Asteraceae-feeding American Acraeinae

American Acraeinae butterflies often ingest large amounts of dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) from their Asteraceae hostplants in both larval and adult stages, but do not normally store these compounds for defence, instead biosynthesizing large amounts of the cyanogenic glucoside linamarin in all stages. This defence syndrome (rejection of plant toxins and de novo synthesis of protective chemicals) is considered to be the most evolved among aposematic (unpalatable mimicry-model) butterflies, as are the Acraeinae and Heliconiini which also synthesize cyanogens. Storage or minimal processing of larval hostplant-derived defensive chemicals is widespread and characterizes the most primitive model groups; an intermediate series (Danainae/Ithomiinae) also obtains the principal defensive chemicals (PAs) from plants, but mostly in the adult stage. These syndromes are discussed and contrasted with the pattern seen in Chrysomelidae beetles, where de novo synthesis is widespread and considered primitive. © 1990 Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart Stuttgart.12525

Field evaluation of recycled plastic lumber (RPL) pallets. Final project report

One significant component of the waste stream, discarded plastic products and packaging, continues to be a growing portion of the municipal solid waste (MSW). There has been considerable work done in characterizing the quantity and types of plastics in different waste streams, collection methods, separation, sorting as well as technologies for processing post-consumer mixed plastics. The focus in recent years has been the development of markets for recycled plastic products, which constitutes the second half of the material flow diagram cycle shown in Figure 1. One key product that holds significant promise for plastics recycling to be both technically feasible and economically viable is Recycled Plastic Lumber (RPL). The contents of this report forms the second phase of a two-phase pilot project on developing specifications and standards for a product fabricated from RPL. Such standards and specifications are needed to prepare procurement guidelines for state and federal agencies interested in purchasing products made from recycled materials. The first phase focused on establishing a procedure to evaluate RPL product,s such as pallets, in a laboratory setting while this phase focuses on field evaluation of RPL pallets in service. This effort is critical in the development of new markets for RPL products. A brief summary of the findings from Phase 1 of this effort is presented next