Xeromelissa.

20 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm.Herein are described the nests and their contents of Xeromelissa nortina (Toro and Moldenke) and of X. sielfeldi (Toro and Moldenke), found in the dry, high Atacama Desert of northern Chile. Nests of the former, discovered in 2014, contained linear cell series in the central pith channels of dead, broken twigs of Baccharis, revealing clear, cellophanelike cell linings that presumably control cell humidity. From the cells, postdefecating larvae were obtained, permitting their description and comparison with our meager understanding of other larval xeromelissines. Nests of X. sielfeldi, also found in broken dead twigs, were discovered and first studied in 1971 before the species was described and named, thereby delaying publication until now. Although similar in most respects to nests of X. nortina, they occupied abandoned beetle burrows. Toro and Moldenke provided information on eggs, predefecating larvae, and pupae, described herein. At the time of that discovery, adults of X. rozeni (Toro and Moldenke), a bee with an exceedingly long proboscis, were also active, permitting observation on their feeding habits, which are included herein

Biology of Lithurgus chrysurus.

12 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm.This, the second study of the nesting biology of Lithurgus chrysurus Fonscolombe found at Palmerton, Carbon Co., Pennsylvania, describes its nest construction, provisioning, egg deposition, and larval development. The first study (Rozen, 2013) was based on observations on the late-stage nesting biology in early fall, when these activities were no longer being performed. Comparisons are made with activities of the native Lithurgopsis apicalis (Cresson); in general, the two species have similar, but not identical, nesting biologies. Because Lithurgus chrysurus is an adventive bee native to the Mediterranean regions and is capable of constructing nests in both soft wood as well as firmer wood, it is unclear why it has not expanded its range to any great extent in the New World

Bombus impatiens, Including observations on its egg eclosion.

25 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm.This contribution results from an investigation of four commercially obtained colonies of Bombus (Pyrobombus) impatiens Cresson in an attempt to understand the functional anatomy and behavior of its immature stages. Eggs are described in detail, and their chorionic microstructure is contrasted with that of Bombus (Cullumanobombus) griseocollis (De Geer). They are deposited in groups consisting of a few to more than nine eggs into a single chamber. The study confirms that larvae pass through four instars. Although increasing in size dramatically from one instar to the next, larval anatomy and behavior change little during the first three instars. The last instar is the one that commences defecation and production of silk resulting in cocoon construction. In contrast to most bees, its larval activities result in substantial changes in size and shape of its brood chamber, whereas brood chambers of most bees are constructed by the female and modified little by the offspring. This study is a part of a series of investigations into the similarities and differences in the developmental biologies among corbiculate bees

Phase II trial of imatinib mesylate in patients with metastatic melanoma

Metastatic melanoma cells express a number of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) that are considered to be targets for imatinib. We conducted a phase II trial of imatinib in patients with metastatic melanoma expressing at least one of these PTKs. Twenty-one patients whose tumours expressed at least one PTK (c-kit, platelet-derived growth factor receptors, c-abl, or abl-related gene) were treated with 400 mg of imatinib twice daily. One patient with metastatic acral lentiginous melanoma, containing the highest c-kit expression among all patients, had dramatic improvement on positron emission tomographic scan at 6 weeks and had a partial response lasting 12.8 months. The responder had a substantial increase in tumour and endothelial cell apoptosis at 2 weeks of treatment. Imatinib was fairly well tolerated: no patient required treatment discontinuation because of toxicity. Fatigue and oedema were the only grade 3 or 4 toxicities that occurred in more than 10% of the patients. Imatinib at the studied dose had minimal clinical efficacy as a single-agent therapy for metastatic melanoma. However, based on the characteristics of the responding tumour in our study, clinical activity of imatinib, specifically in patients with melanoma with certain c-kit aberrations, should be examined

Xeromelissa sielfeldi

PUPA OF XEROMELISSA SIELFELDI (TORO AND MOLDENKE) Figure 35 DIAGNOSIS: Bee pupae are rarely described and none of any Xeromelssinae has been so treated. However, Torchio and Burwell (1987) provided information on those available for the Colletidae, and noted that the pupa of Hylaeus leptocephalus (Morawitz) (as H. bisinuatus) alone among the representatives of other colletid subfamilies bore a “terminal spine,” possibly a homolog of the median tubercle on tergum 7 of X. sielfeldi. However, the leg ”spines” reported for pupal H. leptocephalus appear to be lacking in X. sielfeldi. DESCRIPTION: Head shape corresponding closely to that of adult, integument without special tubercles, spines, or setae. Mouthparts with cardo contained in proboscidial fossa, stipes, slightly exserted, and remaining distal elements bending sharply posteriad (fig. 35). Mesosoma shape also corresponding to that of adult; leg segments without spines or tubercles accommodating developing adult setae. Metasomal terga without spines or spicules, but more distal ones each with subapical band of vague protuberances (fig. 35) and metasomal tergum 8 with pronounced median tubercle at posterior margin, presumably corresponding to “terminal spine” of Hylaeus (Torchio and Burwell, 1987). Metasomal sterna each with posterior margin produced downward as transverse ridge (fig. 35, arrows). MATERIAL STUDIED: Two male pupae: Chile: Atacama Prov.: Puquios, X-10-1971 (J.G. Rozen, L. Peña).Published as part of Rozen, Jerome G. & Wyman, Eli S., 2015, The Chilean Bees Xeromelissa nortina and X. sielfeldi: Their Nesting Biologies and Immature Stages, Including Biological Notes on X. rozeni (Colletidae: Xeromelissinae), pp. 1-20 in American Museum Novitates 2015 (3838) on page 18, DOI: 10.1206/3838.1, http://zenodo.org/record/536822

Xeromelissa sielfeldi

EGG OF XEROMELISSA SIELFELDI (TORO AND MOLDENKE) Figure 32 EGG DIMENSIONS: Length 1.5, 1.6 mm long; maximum diameter 0.35, 0.4 mm (n = 2). Shape (fig. 32) elongate, slightly curved; broadly round at front end, more narrowly rounded at rear. Color creamy white, semitransparent, with smooth but not shiny chorion. Micropyle not visible with stereomicroscope while submerged in Kahle’s solution, but faintly visible after critical-point drying before coating as a circular, somewhat shiny area, on the anterior end; SEM examination failed because of poor preservation. MATERIAL STUDIED: Two eggs: Chile: Atacama Prov.: Puquios, X-10-1971 (J.G. Rozen, L. Peña).Published as part of Rozen, Jerome G. & Wyman, Eli S., 2015, The Chilean Bees Xeromelissa nortina and X. sielfeldi: Their Nesting Biologies and Immature Stages, Including Biological Notes on X. rozeni (Colletidae: Xeromelissinae), pp. 1-20 in American Museum Novitates 2015 (3838) on page 18, DOI: 10.1206/3838.1, http://zenodo.org/record/536822

Bombus IMPATIENS

PUPA OF <i>BOMBUS IMPATIENS</i> <p> The pupa of <i>B. impatiens</i> corresponds in all respects with that of <i>B. pennsylvanicus</i> De Geer) (as <i>B. americanorum</i> (Fabricius)) and <i>B. vosnesenskii</i> Radoszkowski based on characters identified by Michener (1954). That is to say, there are no pupal features of the head or mesosoma except for the legs. The following description refers to the pupal features shared by these three species. Specimens of only female pupae of <i>B. impatiens</i> were available.</p> <p>DESCRIPTION: All coxae with inner apical spine; all trochanters with posterior apical spine. Metasomal terga 2–5 each with apical row of fine long spicules.</p> <p>MATERIAL STUDIED: 7 pupae from nest purchased 2–3 weeks earlier from Biobest, collected 29 Nov. 2017 at Princeton University, by all of us. Fifteen pupae from nest purchased from Biobest, collected 11 January 2018 at the American Museum of Natural History by two of us J.G. R. and C.S. S.</p>Published as part of <i>Rozen, Jerome G., Smith, Corey Shepard, Kocher, Sarah & Wyman, Eli S., 2018, Developmental Biology among Corbiculate Bees: Bombus impatiens, Including Observations on Its Egg Eclosion, pp. 1-25 in American Museum Novitates 2018 (3912)</i> on page 18, DOI: 10.1206/3912.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/4598625">http://zenodo.org/record/4598625</a&gt

Early nesting biology of the wood-nesting adventive bee, Lithurgus chrysurus Fonscolombe (Apoidea, Megachilidae, Lithurginae) /

no. 380

The Chilean bees Xeromelissa nortina and X. sielfeldi : their nesting biologies and immature stages, including biological notes on X. rozeni (Colletidae, Xeromelissinae) /

no. 383