On the sytematics of Eremocossus vaulogeri (Staudinger, 1897) sensu lato (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

Eremocossus kravchenkoisp. nov. is described from Egypt and Israel. For Eremocossus jordana (Staudinger, 1897) and Eremocossus saharae (Lucas, 1907) the species status is restored. The genitals structures of E. jordana and E. saharae are described and illustrated for the first time. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AE437743-328E-42DD-B927-69942ACD95EF

Reconstrucción tridimensional de la musculatura F-actina de Dorvillea kastjani (Dorvilleidae: Polychaeta) por medio de marcado con phalloidina y cLSM

This paper is part of a series investigating the muscular architecture of various “Polychaeta”, aiming to ascertain the presence of circular muscles in the body wall, which have recently been thought to be lacking more often than hitherto known. The F-actin muscular subset of Dorvillea kastjani was labelled with phalloidin and the architecture three-dimensionally reconstructed by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy. Three pairs of longitudinal, two transverse and numerous radial muscles ensure shape and flexibility of the prostomium. Mobility of the sub-biramous parapodia and their chaetae is achieved by seven different muscle types. The body wall contains transverse and bracing muscles and in total five longitudinal muscle strands: two dorsolateral, two ventral and one ventromedial. Numerous transverse fibres extend from the dorsal side peripherally and ventrally and become concentrated into six or seven pairs of bundles per segment on the ventral side. They terminate before reaching the midline, leaving a gap of only a few micrometres between them. Within the intersegmental furrows these fibres form complete rings in a supralongitudinal postion. Thus, true circular fibres exist in D. kastjani but are weakly developed.Este trabajo forma parte de una serie de trabajos que investigan la arquitectura muscular de diferentes especies de Poliquetos con el objetivo de comprobar la presencia de musculatura circular en su cuerpo; recientemente se piensa que dicha musculatura podría estar ausente más a menudo de lo hasta ahora pensado. La musculatura F-actina de Dorvillea kastjani fue marcada con phalloidina y su arquitectura reconstruida tridimensionalmente por medio de microscopia de scanning laser confocal. Tres pares longitudinales, dos tranversales y numerosos músculos radiales aseguran la flexibilidad y la forma del prostómio. La mobilidad de los parápodos sub-biramios y sus quetas se obtiene gracias a siete diferentes tipos de músculos. La cavidad del cuerpo contiene musculos tranversales y diagonales y en total cinco ramas de músculos longitudinales: dos dorsolaterales, dos ventrales y una medioventral. Numerosas fibras transversales se extienden desde la zona dorsal periféricamente y centralmente y se concentran en seis o siete pares de paquetes por segmento en la cara ventral. Estos terminan antes de alcanzar la línea central dejando un vacio de unas micras entre ellos. Entre los surcos entre segmentos, las fibras forman anillos completos en una posición supralongitudinal. Además, verdaderas fibras circulares existen en Dorvillea kastjani pero están débilmente desarrolladas. &nbsp

An experimental approach for investigating many-body phenomena in Rydberg-interacting quantum systems

Recent developments in the study of ultracold Rydberg gases demand an advanced level of experimental sophistication, in which high atomic and optical densities must be combined with excellent control of external fields and sensitive Rydberg atom detection. We describe a tailored experimental system used to produce and study Rydberg-interacting atoms excited from dense ultracold atomic gases. The experiment has been optimized for fast duty cycles using a high flux cold atom source and a three beam optical dipole trap. The latter enables tuning of the atomic density and temperature over several orders of magnitude, all the way to the Bose-Einstein condensation transition. An electrode structure surrounding the atoms allows for precise control over electric fields and single-particle sensitive field ionization detection of Rydberg atoms. We review two experiments which highlight the influence of strong Rydberg--Rydberg interactions on different many-body systems. First, the Rydberg blockade effect is used to pre-structure an atomic gas prior to its spontaneous evolution into an ultracold plasma. Second, hybrid states of photons and atoms called dark-state polaritons are studied. By looking at the statistical distribution of Rydberg excited atoms we reveal correlations between dark-state polaritons. These experiments will ultimately provide a deeper understanding of many-body phenomena in strongly-interacting regimes, including the study of strongly-coupled plasmas and interfaces between atoms and light at the quantum level.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures; submitted to a special issue of 'Frontiers of Physics' dedicated to 'Quantum Foundation and Technology: Frontiers and Future

Plume moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) of Ethiopia. Part 2

The article describes three Pterophoridae species new to science, from Ethiopia: Platyptilia anjuta Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov., Platyptilia roberti Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov. and Stenoptilia monikae Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov. We give new faunal data on the distribution of the species previously unknown for Ethiopia

Is gene activity in plant cells affected by UMTS-irradiation? A whole genome approach

Mobile phone technology makes use of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields transmitted through a dense network of base stations in Europe. Possible harmful effects of RF fields on humans and animals are discussed, but their effect on plants has received little attention. In search for physiological processes of plant cells sensitive to RF fields, cell suspension cultures of Arabidopsis thaliana were exposed for 24 h to a RF field protocol representing typical microwave exposition in an urban environment. mRNA of exposed cultures and controls was used to hybridize Affymetrix-ATH1 whole genome microarrays. Differential expression analysis revealed significant changes in transcription of 10 genes, but they did not exceed a fold change of 2.5. Besides that 3 of them are dark-inducible, their functions do not point to any known responses of plants to environmental stimuli. The changes in transcription of these genes were compared with published microarray datasets and revealed a weak similarity of the microwave to light treatment experiments. Considering the large changes described in published experiments, it is questionable if the small alterations caused by a 24 h continuous microwave exposure would have any impact on the growth and reproduction of whole plants

Field experiments of Anopheles gambiae attraction to local fruits/seedpods and flowering plants in Mali to optimize strategies for malaria vector control in Africa using attractive toxic sugar bait methods

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Based on recent studies in Israel demonstrating that attractive toxic sugar bait (ATSB) methods can be used to decimate local anopheline and culicine mosquito populations, an important consideration is whether the same methods can be adapted and improved to attract and kill malaria vectors in Africa. The ATSB approach uses fruit or flower scent as an attractant, sugar solution as a feeding stimulant, and an oral toxin. The ATSB solutions are either sprayed on vegetation or suspended in simple bait stations, and the mosquitoes ingesting the toxic solutions are killed. As such, this approach targets sugar-feeding female and male mosquitoes. This study examines the attractiveness of African malaria vectors to local fruits/seedpods and flowering plants, key biological elements of the ATSB approach for mosquito control.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Three field experiments were conducted at sites in Mali. The attraction of <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>s.l. to 26 different local fruits and seedpods was determined at a site in the semi-arid Bandiagara District of Mali. Wire mesh glue traps with fruits/seedpods suspended on skewers inside were set along a seasonal lagoon. Seven replicates of each fruit/seedpod species were tested, with a water-soaked sponge and a sugar-soaked sponge as controls. The attraction of <it>An. gambiae </it>s.l. to 26 different types of flowering plants was determined at a site near Mopti in Mali. The flowering plants held in a water-filled buried container were tested using the same glue traps, with controls including water only and sugar solution. Six replicates of each selected plant type were tested on transects between rice paddies. Additional studies using CDC light traps were done to determine the relative densities and periodicity of <it>An. gambiae </it>s.l. attraction to branches of the most highly attractive flowering plant, branches without flowers, human odor, and candescent light.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 26 fruits and seedpods tested, 6 were attractive to <it>An. gambiae </it>s.l. females and males, respectively. Guava (<it>Psidium guajava</it>) and honey melon (<it>Cucumis melo</it>) were the two most attractive fruits for both females and males. Of the 26 flowering plants tested, 9 were significantly attractive for females, and 8 were attractive for males. <it>Acacia macrostachya </it>was the most attractive flowering plant. Periodicity studies using this plant showed peaks of <it>An. gambiae </it>s.l. attraction between 1930 and 2200 h and 0400-0500 h, which differed considerably from the response to human odors, which expectedly peaked at around midnight.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These field experiments in Mali highlight that female and male <it>An. gambiae </it>s.l. have pronounced differences in attraction for diverse types of indigenous fruits/seedpods and flowering plants. The identification of attractive fruits and seedpods shows that a variety of indigenous and locally abundant natural products could potentially be used as juices to make ATSB solution for mosquito control. As well, the simple methods used to identify the most attractive flowering plants provide valuable insights into the natural history of sugar feeding for <it>An. gambiae </it>s.l. These observations can be used to guide future strategies for employing ATSB methods for malaria vector control in Africa. They also provide a basis for subsequent chemical analysis and development of attractive baits for mosquito control.</p

Application of time-lapse camera situated near a light source, for registration insects’ rhythm of attraction to light (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Camera traps are an efficient means of biodiversity assessments. however, the employment of camera traps for the study of insects is still in its beginning. Accurate counting and recognition of flying insects are also of great importance in pest control. In this paper, we present a new method combining a time-lapse camera, and a light source, designed to estimate macro-Lepidoptera species composition, occurrence and also daily rhythms of their attraction to light. The advantage of the system is that it enables to monitor the species assemblages distantly. The rhythms to light attraction discussed for six Noctuidae species