Ovipositor Internal Microsculpture in the Relic Silverfish Tricholepidion gertschi

The microsculpture on the inside surface of the ovipositor of the relic silverfish Tricholepidion gertschi (Wygodzinsky, 1961) (Insecta: Zygentoma) was studied with scanning electronic microscopy for the first time. Both the first and second valvulae of T. gertschi bear rather diverse sculptural elements: (1) microtrichia of various shapes and directed distally, (2) longitudinal ridges, (3) smooth regions, and (4) scattered dome-shaped sensilla. As in several other insects, the distally directed microtrichia most likely facilitate unidirectional movement of the egg during egg laying. Involvement of the ovipositor internal microsculpture also in the uptake of male genital products is tentatively suggested. From a phylogenetic point of view, the presence of internal microsculpture appears an ancestral peculiarity of the insect ovipositor

Regular Egg-Positioning by an Aeshnid Species (Odonata, Aeshnidae) with Comments on its Phylogenetic Value

Prolarvae and first-instar larvae of an aeshnid anisopteran, probably Aeshna sp. or Anaciaeschna isoceles, were reared from an endophytic egg-clutch with eggs positioned in line and zigzag orders in stems and flowerstems of Myriophyllum spicatum in central Ukraine. Descriptions of the prolarva and the first-instar larva, the distance between neighbouring eggs in the clutch, as well as discussion on evolution of the endophytic egg-laying behaviour in Odonata, are provided.В стеблях и цветоносах Myriophyllum spicatum были обнаружены кладки стрекоз, содержащие расположенные линейно и зигзагом яйца. Из них в условиях лаборатории получены предличинки и личинки первого возраста стрекоз из семейства Aeshnidae (Anisoptera), возможно относящиеся к виду Anaciaeschna isoceles или роду Aeshna sp. В работе приведены описания морфологии яйца, личиночных стадий и кладок. Кратко обсуждается эволюция эндофитной откладки яиц у стрекоз

Gold Allocation Forms in Sulfide Ore and Products of their Processing Enrichment

Gold in sulfide ores and technogenic formations after their processing is concentrated in the form of micro-dispersed particles. This article presents a study on the composition of the ultrafine gold particles, their size distribution, and some predicted gold properties. The studies were carried out using copper pyrite ore as an example. It was found that the content of metallic impurities in Au particles, which may appear during their formation under natural conditions, increases with a decrease in their size. The presence of copper in gold particles significantly lowers the melting point of the alloy. The data obtained are used to develop a technology for utilizing gold from technogenic formations of a similar type. Keywords: gold particles, copper, metallic impurities, alloy, radius of particl

The First Nest Records of the Wasp Eumenes punctaticlypeus kostylevi (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) and Notes on its Distribution in Crimea

Two nest records of the rare solitary wasp Eumenes punctaticlypeus kostylevi Kurzenko, 1976 are described for the first time. One non-completed nest was built in a stone surface and another one was attached to a bush stem; the latter one consisted of six cells. Nest cells are arranged in a cluster and have common internal walls. All cells are spirally disposed around the stem and theirs collars look at different directions. A male was reared in the first cell and three females in the second to fourth cells. Examination of the collection materials revealed that the distribution area of the species in Crimea embraces zones of Foothills and South Coast.Впервые приведено описание гнезд Eumenes punctaticlypeus kostylevi Kurzenko, 1976, основанное на двух находках. Одно неоконченное гнездо было построено на поверхности камня, другое — прикреплено к стеблю кустарника и состояло из шести ячеек. Ячейки гнезда были собраны в группу и имели общие внутренние стенки. Все ячейки располагались по спирали вокруг стебля, и их горлышки были направлены в разные стороны. Из первой ячейки гнезда вывелся самец, а из 2–4-й ячеек — 3 }. Исследования коллекционного материала показали, что область распространения вида в Крыму охватывает зоны южного берега и предгорий

Imitation forecast of railway system operation in a macroregion

The article describes an analytical and information system that was used for forecasting the operation parameters of the railway system in a macroregion of Russia - the Far North. Its economy is focused on the extraction and processing of hydrocarbons, metal production, construction materials, and generate large volumes of exports and inter-regional cargo flows. The region covers an expansive territory and is characterized by harsh weather, an extreme environment, and uneven development of the transportation network. Research into the transportation issues of economic development in such areas presents a challenging task because the region is unique, statistical data are incomplete and classified; there is a hierarchy of businesses and organizations operating in the region that have their own goals and objectives and compete against its other; the region is plagued with social and environmental problems and a lack of administrative integration between individual districts. Using rigorous mathematical tools for assessing transportation infrastructure projects under such conditions is only limited to finding solutions to stand-alone problems and scenario comparison. A model of the applied system that is outlined in the article makes it possible to analyze specific projects of regional railway system development that take into account strategic priorities and goals of the state, social and economic development problems experienced by the neighboring regions, the oil and gas sector and major employers, as well as corporate goals of the sustainable development of railway companies. The application of the model over an extended period of time showed that the analysis of the structure of cargo flows and customers bound to junctions of the transportation network makes it possible to suggest what aspects of the railway infrastructure should be reorganized in line with the development dynamics of economic entities that consume transportation services. The study is built upon a number of projects that were implemented in the north of Tyumen Region and the Yamal- Nenets and Khanty-Mansi autonomous areas of Russia. © 2018 WIT Press.ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The work was supported by Act 211 Government of the Russian Federation, contract № 02.A03.21.0006

Information and simulation model for complex regional transport

The main difficulties related to the economic study of traffic problems are caused by the large number of interrelated factors, hierarchical and competing goals of economic subjects, social and environmental problems of the territory, the degree of administrative independence of its individual parts, as well as the importance of regional economy within the country. The application of rigorous mathematical tools to assess trends in the development of transport infrastructure in these conditions is very limited and is usually reduced to the justification of a few scenarios. The paper offers specific methodological approaches, analytical apparatus with a number of the analyzed conditions and factors, a logical basis for the formation of scenarios in the design of transport systems, including the railway infrastructure of the region. The novelty of the approach used is a combination of accounting features of the territory from the perspective of mineral resources development, and quantification of long-term needs in the freight made on the balance calculations basis. © 2015 WIT Press

Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) have been avoiding leaf veins during oviposition for at least 52 million years

Plant-insect interactions can provide extremely valuable information for reconstructing the oviposition behavior. We have studied about 1350 endophytic egg traces of coenagrionid damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera) from the Eocene, identifying triangular or drop-shaped scars associated with them. This study aims to determine the origin of these scars. Our behavioral study of about 1,800 endophytic eggs from recent coenagrionids indicates that these scars were caused by ovipositor incisions, but without egg insertion. The scar correlates (χ2-test) with leaf veins in both fossil and extant species. We infer that a female would detect the proximity of a leaf vein and avoid egg-laying, generating a scar that also fossilizes. For the first time, a scar produced by the ovipositor has been identified, indicating the existence of undesirable areas for oviposition. Accordingly, we recognize that Coenagrionidae damselflies (narrow-winged damselflies or pond damselflies) have been avoiding leaf veins for at least 52 million years

Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) have been avoiding leaf veins during oviposition for at least 52 million years

Plant-insect interactions can provide extremely valuable information for reconstructing the oviposition behavior. We have studied about 1350 endophytic egg traces of coenagrionid damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera) from the Eocene, identifying triangular or drop-shaped scars associated with them. This study aims to determine the origin of these scars. Our behavioral study of about 1,800 endophytic eggs from recent coenagrionids indicates that these scars were caused by ovipositor incisions, but without egg insertion. The scar correlates (χ2-test) with leaf veins in both fossil and extant species. We infer that a female would detect the proximity of a leaf vein and avoid egg-laying, generating a scar that also fossilizes. For the first time, a scar produced by the ovipositor has been identified, indicating the existence of undesirable areas for oviposition. Accordingly, we recognize that Coenagrionidae damselflies (narrow-winged damselflies or pond damselflies) have been avoiding leaf veins for at least 52 million years.Fil: Romero Lebrón, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinar de Biología Vegetal (P). Grupo Vinculado Centro de Relevamiento y Evaluación de Recursos Agrícolas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Fernández García, Marcos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Matushkina, Natalia. Taras Shevchenko National University Of Kyiv; UcraniaFil: Delclos Martinez, Xavier. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Gleiser, Raquel M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinar de Biología Vegetal (P). Grupo Vinculado Centro de Relevamiento y Evaluación de Recursos Agrícolas y Naturales; Argentin