Unravelling polar lipids dynamics during embryonic development of two sympatric brachyuran crabs (Carcinus maenas and Necora puber) using lipidomics

Embryogenesis is an important stage of marine invertebrates with bi-phasic life cycles, as it conditions their larval and adult life. Throughout embryogenesis, phospholipids (PL) play a key role as an energy source, as well as constituents of biological membranes. However, the dynamics of PL during embryogenesis in marine invertebrates is still poorly studied. The present work used a lipidomic approach to determine how polar lipid profiles shift during embryogenesis in two sympatric estuarine crabs, Carcinus maenas and Necora puber. The combination of thin layer chromatography, liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry allowed us to achieve an unprecedented resolution on PL classes and molecular species present on newly extruded embryos (stage 1) and those near hatching (stage 3). Embryogenesis proved to be a dynamic process, with four PL classes being recorded in stage 1 embryos (68 molecular species in total) and seven PL classes at stage 3 embryos (98 molecular species in total). The low interspecific difference recorded in the lipidomic profiles of stage 1 embryos appears to indicate the existence of similar maternal investment. The same pattern was recorded for stage 3 embryos revealing a similar catabolism of embryonic resources during incubation for both crab species

Wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in an urban botanical garden in Buenos Aires, Argentina

We assessed bee diversity and abundance in a botanical garden in the city of Buenos Aires during two consecutive spring–summer periods. Every 15 days, we collected by hand-netting bee specimens seen foraging on flowers during five-minute censuses at every entomophilous herbaceous plant. A total of 66 bee species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) were recorded. Richness and abundance of native, generalist, and above-ground nesting (cavities) species were higher than that of exotic, specialist, and below-ground (soil) nesting ones, respectively. Social bees were more abundant, while the richness of solitary species was higher than that of social bees. Cleptoparasitic species were represented by a high number of species, even though only a few individuals were captured. Our results suggest that the studied area is an important bee reservoir within the city.Fil: Mazzeo, Nadia Melisa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Cátedra de Botánica General; ArgentinaFil: Torretta, Juan Pablo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Cátedra de Botánica General; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Hitchhiking meloid larva upon male Eulaema mocsaryi (Hymenoptera: Apidae): a new host cleptoparasite interaction in the Amazon rainforest

The Amazon rainforest is one of the planet’s biodiversity hotspots, hosting a rich orchid bee fauna. The phoretic cleptoparasites of this bee fauna are largely unknown. We report for the first time the host–cleptoparasite interaction between Eulaema mocsaryi (Friese) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) and the first instar larva (triungulin) of a Tetraonycini meloid beetle. We review the host–cleptoparasite interactions of Tetraonycini with Apid bees in South America and discuss the ecological needs of the cleptoparasite. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group