RSBL-2014-0417_Tampa_FL_USA_Bird_sex_ESM

Host sex and species identification of mosquitoes collected from wetlands in Tampa, Florida, USA, 2011-2013

Regressions of nestedness (<i>N</i>; angular transformed) on species richness (log transformed).

<p>Closed circles  =  ectoparasite-vertebrate host networks (this study); open circles  =  mutualisms (plant-pollinator and plant-seed disperser networks) <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0007873#pone.0007873-Bascompte2" target="_blank">[17]</a>; closed triangles  =  food web networks <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0007873#pone.0007873-Bascompte2" target="_blank">[17]</a>.</p

Hypothetical network of perfect nestedness for 17 ectoparasites and 76 hosts.

<p>Drawn using UCINET.</p

Hypothetical network of random interactions for 17 ectoparasites and 76 hosts.

<p>Drawn using UCINET.</p

Ectoparasite-vertebrate host networks analyzed for this study.

<p>M = mammals, B = birds, R = reptiles, A = amphibians, and F = fish.</p>†<p>Indicates that network specifically included humans.</p

Identification of Communal Oviposition Pheromones from the Black Fly <i>Simulium vittatum</i>

<div><p>The suite of pheromones that promote communal oviposition by <i>Simulium vittatum</i>, a North American black fly species, was identified and characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, electrophysiological, and behavioral bioassays. Behavioral assays demonstrated that communal oviposition was induced by egg-derived compounds that were active at short range and whose effect was enhanced through direct contact. Three compounds (<i>cis</i>-9-tetradecen-1-ol, 1-pentadecene, and 1-tridecene) were identified in a non-polar solvent extract of freshly deposited <i>S</i>. <i>vittatum</i> eggs that were capable of inducing the oviposition response. Electroantennography demonstrated that two of these three compounds (1-pentadecene and 1-tridecene) actively stimulated antennal neurons. Identification of the oviposition pheromones of this family may be helpful in developing control measures for nuisance black flies and for medically-important species such as <i>Simulium damnosum sensu lato</i>.</p></div

The behavioral responses of gravid <i>S</i>. <i>vittatum</i> to fresh conspecific eggs in the binary choice chamber assay.

<p>Panel A: Oviposition preference of gravid <i>S</i>. <i>vittatum</i> on a substrates containing or lacking eggs. Values significantly different from the control are denoted by an asterisk [*] (Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test, <i>P</i> = 0.002). Panel B: Orientation response represented the number of flies located after landing on a substrate with eggs or lacking eggs. Values significantly different from the control are denoted by an asterisk [*] (t-test, <i>P</i> < 0.05).</p

Comparison of traps for collecting the onchocerciasis vector <i>Simulium ochraceum</i> s.l. in the community of Las Golondrinas, Chiapas in Mexico.

<p>Traps were operated simultaneously, with positions rotated daily. Panel A: Mean females captured at each sampling time (1100 h, 1400 h, 1700h) over six days. Panel B: Percentage of total females captured each day by traps over six days. Letters denote significant differences among traps for the percentage of total flies captured each day.</p

Isolation and characterization of compounds present in hexane crude extracts of <i>S</i>. <i>vittatum</i> eggs.

<p>Panel A: Gas chromatographic analysis of hexane crude extracts. Numbers highlight the major peaks. The minor peaks were identified in blank runs as well as in the egg extract and were therefore attributed to contamination. Panel B: Oviposition response in the Petri dish assay of gravid <i>S</i>. <i>vittatum</i> to the individual compounds identified in the hexane crude extracts (1-hexadecene, 1-pentadecene, 1-tridecene, and <i>cis</i>-9-tetradecen-1-ol). Numbers under the x- axis correspond to the peaks shown in Panel A. Compounds were tested at 3 different dilutions (1:1000, 1:100, 1:10 w/v). Response values of the individual compounds that were significantly different than the solvent control are indicated by a single asterisk [*](Fisher’s exact test, <i>P</i> < 0.05) or a double asterisk [**](Fisher’s exact test, <i>P</i> < 0.005). Because different numbers of flies were used in the tests of the individual compounds and the blends, the data are presented as the percentage of flies ovipositing on the substrate. Blend = a mixture of pentadecene, hexadecene, <i>cis</i>-9-tetradecen-1-ol and tridecene at a ratio of 7.8: 2.3: 2.3: 1.0 (the ratio found in the hexane extract; see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0118904#pone.0118904.s001" target="_blank">S1 Text</a>).</p

Oviposition responses of gravid <i>S</i>. <i>vittatum</i> egg extracts in the Petri dish assay.

<p>The response values of the crude extracts were compared to their respective solvent controls. A significant difference between the solvent control and the extract is indicated by an asterisk [*] (Fisher’s exact test, P < 0.05). Each column represents an assay run on 60 individual flies.</p