The Bee, A Natural History, by Noah Wilson-Rich (2014, Princeton University Press. ISBN: 9780691161358. US$27.95)

(excerpt) Upon receiving “The Bee, A Natural History”, by Noah Wilson Rich, I was drawn in by the title and the beautiful rust and grey front cover featuring a nearly 3-D photo of a honey bee. I immediately felt twinges of excitement—this is the book I have always wanted to have available for my university course, Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology—and disappointment—I did not write it! The “bee”— singular—accompanied by the high-resolution photo, suggested that this book focused on the world’s best understood insect that my course is centered around, Apis mellifera

The Bee, A Natural History, by Noah Wilson-Rich (2014, Princeton University Press. ISBN: 9780691161358. US$27.95)

(excerpt) Upon receiving “The Bee, A Natural History”, by Noah Wilson Rich, I was drawn in by the title and the beautiful rust and grey front cover featuring a nearly 3-D photo of a honey bee. I immediately felt twinges of excitement—this is the book I have always wanted to have available for my university course, Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology—and disappointment—I did not write it! The “bee”— singular—accompanied by the high-resolution photo, suggested that this book focused on the world’s best understood insect that my course is centered around, Apis mellifera

Breeding Birds of Mature Woodlands of Point Pelee National Park Prior to Infestation by Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a wood-boring beetle native to Asia that now infests and kills ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America. Many ecological communities will be dramatically altered by the mortality of ash trees caused by this invasive insect. The EAB recently colonized Point Pelee National Park of Canada in extreme southwestern Ontario, Canada, a site famous for its unusual plant and animal diversity as well as its extraordinary bird migrations. We conducted a census of breeding birds in two ash-rich mature forests at Point Pelee in order to obtain baseline data on the breeding bird communities prior to changes in forest communities that are likely to be caused by the EAB. Here we report the results of the bird census and review possible changes to the breeding bird fauna of Point Pelee that may result from ash tree mortality and the associated disruption of forest communities

Novel defense by honeybees against mass attack by giant wasps

Trabalho final de mestrado integrado em Medicina (Pediatria), apresentado á Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de CoimbraIntrodução: A perturbação do espectro do autismo (PEA) é uma patologia complexa do neurodesenvolvimento, muito prevalente, que surge precocemente na infância. Refere-se a uma disfunção neurológica, que clinicamente se manifesta por atraso ou desvio nas aquisições do neurodesenvolvimento e alterações do comportamento. A PEA caracteriza-se por défice na comunicação e interação social e por um padrão de comportamento repetitivo e limitado nos interesses. O recurso à farmacoterapia justifica-se quando existem comportamentos disruptivos, que interferem negativamente no sucesso educativo e na qualidade de vida das crianças e suas famílias. A risperidona foi o primeiro antipsicótico autorizado na PEA e é o mais vezes prescrito. Embora sendo um fármaco seguro e eficaz, preocupações relacionadas com o seu efeito no aumento do peso e distribuição anómala da gordura e a sua interferência no metabolismo da glicose com aumento do nível de hemoglobina glicada A1c (HbA1c) têm emergido, sobretudo durante o crescimento e o processo evolutivo do neurodesenvolvimento. Objetivos: Caracterizar o efeito da risperidona no aumento do peso e distribuição da gordura e nos níveis de HbA1c. Métodos: Procedeu-se um estudo prospetivo de um grupo de 39 crianças e jovens com uma idade que variou entre os 3 a 21,5 anos (média ± DP, 9 ± 4,2) (trinta do sexo masculino (30/39; 77 %) com o diagnóstico de autismo e indicação para tratamento com risperidona por comportamentos disruptivos com significado clínico. A caracterização dos efeitos adversos, através da avaliação do índice de massa corporal, perímetro abdominal e HbA1c, foi realizada no tempo 0 (sem terapêutica) e nos tempos 1, 3, 6 e 12 meses de terapêutica. Resultados: A risperidona associa-se a uma elevação significativa e mantida dos valores de índice de massa corporal e perímetro abdominal, ao longo do tratamento. No entanto, não se verificou um aumento significativo nos níveis de HbA1cBackground: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopment disorder, very prevalent, that appears very early in childhood. It is a neurological dysfunction, clinically manifested by a delay or a deviation in neurodevelopment acquisitions and changes in behaviour. ASD is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, limiting on verbal and nonverbal communication and rigid behaviour with repetitive and limited interests. The use of pharmacotherapy is justified when there are disruptive behaviours that negatively interfere with the successful education and quality of life of children and their families. Risperidone is the first antipsychotic authorized in ASD and more often prescribed. Although apparently safe and effective, concerns about its effects on the weight distribution and HbA1c levels have emerged, especially during growth and the evolutionary process of neurodevelopment. Objective: Analyze the impact on weight gain, adipose tissue distribution and HbA1c levels in patients medicated with risperidone. Methods: 39 patients, children and adolescents 3 to 21.5 years old (mean ± SD, 9 ± 4.2) and female/male ratio of 3/10, with previous diagnosis of autism and indication for treatment with risperidone for significant disruptive behaviour were evaluated at time 0 (no treatment) and on 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of therapy, using body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and HbA1c levels. Results: Risperidone was associated with a significant and sustained elevation of BMI values and waist circumference throughout the treatment. However, there was not a significant increase in HbA1c

Behaviors of Adult \u3ci\u3eAgrilus Planipennis\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

A 2-year study was conducted in Canada (2003) and the United States (2005) to better understand searching and mating behaviors of adult Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. In both field and laboratory, adults spent more time resting and walking than feeding or flying. The sex ratio in the field was biased towards males, which tended to hover around trees, likely looking for mates. There was more leaf feeding damage within a tree higher in the canopy than in the lower canopy early in the season, but this difference disappeared over time. In choice experiments, males attempted to mate with individuals of both sexes, but they landed more frequently on females than on males. A series of sexual behaviors was observed in the laboratory, including: exposure of the ovipositor/genitalia, sporadic jumping by males, attempted mating, and mating. Sexual behaviors were absent among 1-3 day-old beetles, but were observed regularly in 10-12 day-old beetles. Females were seen exposing their ovipositor, suggestive of pheromone-calling behavior. No courtship was observed prior to mating. Hovering, searching, and landing behaviors suggest that beetles most likely rely on visual cues during mate finding, although host-plant volatiles and/or pheromones might also be involved

Behaviors of adult agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

AbstrAct A 2-year study was conducted in Canada (2003) and the United States (2005) to better understand searching and mating behaviors of adult Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. In both field and laboratory, adults spent more time resting and walking than feeding or flying. The sex ratio in the field was biased towards males, which tended to hover around trees, likely looking for mates. There was more leaf feeding damage within a tree higher in the canopy than in the lower canopy early in the season, but this difference disappeared over time. In choice experiments, males attempted to mate with individuals of both sexes, but they landed more frequently on females than on males. A series of sexual behaviors was observed in the laboratory, including: exposure of the ovipositor/ genitalia, sporadic jumping by males, attempted mating, and mating. Sexual behaviors were absent among 1-3 day-old beetles, but were observed regularly in 10-12 day-old beetles. Females were seen exposing their ovipositor, suggestive of pheromone-calling behavior. No courtship was observed prior to mating. Hovering, searching, and landing behaviors suggest that beetles most likely rely on visual cues during mate finding, although host-plant volatiles and/or pheromones might also be involved

Corrigendum: Invasion potential of hornets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespa spp.).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1145158.]

Invasion potential of hornets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespa spp.).

Hornets are large, predatory wasps that have the potential to alter biotic communities and harm honey bee colonies once established in non-native locations. Mated, diapausing females (gynes) can easily be transported to new habitats, where their behavioral flexibility allows them to found colonies using local food and nest materials. Of the 22 species in the genus Vespa, five species are now naturalized far from their endemic populations and another four have been detected either in nature or during inspections at borders of other countries. By far the most likely pathway of long-distance dispersal is the transport of gynes in transoceanic shipments of goods. Thereafter, natural dispersal of gynes in spring and accidental local transport by humans cause shorter-range expansions and contribute to the invasion process. Propagule pressure of hornets is unquantified, although it is likely low but unrelenting. The success of introduced populations is limited by low propagule size and the consequences of genetic founder effects, including the extinction vortex linked to single-locus, complementary sex determination of most hymenopterans. Invasion success is enhanced by climatic similarity between source locality and introduction site, as well as genetic diversity conferred by polyandry in some species. These and other factors that may have influenced the successful establishment of invasive populations of V. velutina, V. tropica, V. bicolor, V. orientalis, and V. crabro are discussed. The highly publicized detections of V. mandarinia in North America and research into its status provide a real-time example of an unfolding hornet invasion