摘要:

The social organisation of the greater kuduTragelaphus strepsiceros(Pallas 1766) was studied for 2 years in the Valley Bushveld of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Associations between individuals were influenced by reproductive behaviour but unaffected by environmental conditions. Kudu social organisation is based on the cow social unit, a closed matriarchal kinship group consisting of several cows and their offspring. Bulls left stable maternal groups when 2-years-old and formed loose temporary associations with peers. Dominance hierarchies were established within these bachelor groups. Adult bulls showed a tendency to become increasingly solitary with age, and formed transient associations with cows. Adult bulls exhibited little overt competition for mates during the rut. The kudu social system is based on absolute dominance: territoriality is not evident.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.1999.10539388

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:1999

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

ASHTON (1914) described three species of cicada from Africa which were soon placed in synonymy with other species. Re-examination of the type material lead to the following revisions:Platypleura nigromarginataAshton 1914 is removed from synonymy withOxypleura quadraticollis(Butler 1874) and placed in the genusStrumoseuran. gen.;P. sikumbaAshton 1914 is confirmed as a junior synonym ofManza basimacula(Walker 1850) along withM. parvaVillet 1989 n. syn.; andP. longirostrisAshton 1914 is removed from the synonymy ofP. divisaGermar 1834.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.1999.10539389

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:1999

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

There are at present 10 described species in the primitive genusIchnestomaGory & Percheron 1833. These are all phylogenetic and geographic relicts of high evolutionary and conservation interest. The discovery of a new species,I. pringlein. sp., and the first description of a larva (third instar) of this genus are reported here. New information is also presented on their life-cycle and on the dependence of their activities on rainfall patterns, particularly in the semi-arid region of the Karoo. In this region, larvae seem to take 2 years to complete growth and metamorphosis since they feed only after major rainfall events, while remaining inactive and deep underground during dry periods. Adults emerge from their cocoons only after summer rains of at least 15 mm. They lack functional mouth parts and are unable to feed. Their life span is only 3–5 days. Because females are completely flightless and unable to disperse, species of the genus are extremely vulnerable to environmental degradation. It seems likely that they may play a key role in the decomposition of dead plant matter, especially in dry and clay-rich soils where other primary decomposers are scarce.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.1999.10539390

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:1999

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

The trophic structure and natural history of bat guano invertebrate communities in Brazilian caves was compared with information concerning bat guano communities in other caves throughout the world. The basis of Brazilian cave guano food webs are detritivorous organisms that directly consume guano, and microorganisms that live off deposits. These include mites, the most common organisms on guano, and others such as springtails (Acherontides eleonoraePalacios-Vargas & Gnaspini-Netto 1992), booklice (e.g. Psyllipsocidae), beetles (e.g. Dermestidae, Cholevidae), moths (e.g. Tineidae) and flies (e.g. Phoridae, Milichiidae). Facultative detritivores are also common, forming large populations when other organic substrata, such as vegetable debris, become scarce, as in the case of permanently dry caves. These are isopods (e.g.Trichorrhinasp.), diplopods (e.g.Pseudonannolenesp.), cockroaches, crickets (e.g.Endecoussp.), and silverfish (e.g.Coletinia brasiliensisMendes & Ferreira in press). Other detritivores, like flatworms, earthworms, gastropods and harvestmen, are rarely found. Detrivores are in turn consumed by a wide range of predators, like pseudoscorpions (e.g. Chernetidae), spiders (e.g.Loxosceles similisMoenkhaus 1898,Oecobius annulipesLucas 1846), and heteropterans (ReduviidaeZelurus variegatusCosta-Lima 1940). Facultative predators, like scorpions and whip-scorpions attracted by prey items, are also occasionally abundant. Food webs of bat guano communities in Brazilian caves are richer in species than those elsewhere.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.1999.10539391

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:1999

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

Oxygen consumption (Vo2), thermal conductance (Cmin), body temperature (Tb) and evaporative water loss (EWL) of the spectacled dormouseGraphiurus ocularis(A. Smith 1829) were measured at ambient temperatures(Ta)between 5 and 35 °C. G.ocularisis not well adapted to highTas and aboveTa= 30 °C there was a significant increase inCminand EWL. An elevatedTbabove the lower critical limit of thermoneutrality (Tlc) was recorded before more energetically expensive cooling mechanisms were employed. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) andCminwere lower than expected relative to body mass. It is hypothesised that the interplay of lower-than-expected BMR andCminis an adaptation to scarce and unpredictable food resources.G. ocularisexhibited patterns of torpor intermediate between those of subtropical and temperate dormice.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.1999.10539392

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:1999

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

The described species of the genusGastrocentrumGorham 1876 (Coleoptera Cleridae Tillinae) are reviewed. Four species are recognized:G. dux(Westwood 1852), G.nitidumSchenkling 1917,G. unicolor(White 1849), andG. brevicolle(Pic 1940). The first notes are provided on the biology of species of this genus; adults of all three species recorded from Sri Lanka were collected under loose bark ofTerminalia arjuna(Roxburgh 1832) (Combretaceae). A redescription of the genusGastrocentrum, a discussion of its relationships to other genera of Tillinae, a key to the four described species of this genus, and brief diagnoses of each of these four species are presented.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.1999.10539393

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:1999

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

The natural history of the sand waspRubrica nasuta(Christ 1791) was studied at the campus of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This is the first comprehensive study of this neotropical species. The biology ofR. nasutais compared with what is known about the three other species ofRubrica(J. Parker 1929). Females ofR. nasutaexcavate one-celled nests around 10 cm deep in sandy soils in multispecies aggregations of solitary digger wasps and bees in open areas, like dirt roads. Nesting activities occur in the rainy season from September to April. Females typically dig their nests in the morning. One female in 1992 required 2 hr and 28 min to excavate and complete her nest. During nest closure, she smoothed out the loose soil around the tunnel entrance, effectively disguising it. Provisioning is progressive and takes no longer than 10 days for a single larva (typically around 8 days) with some variation based on weather and prey availability. We estimated about 50 fly prey, especially Syrphidae and Stratiomydae, were required for one larva. From the 3rd day on, it is common in the morning to see a female open her nest, re-enter and exit the nest with uneaten pieces or even an entire prey item held in her mandibles, the so-called discharging behavior. During the dry season, with temperature around 9 °C, individual wasps will spend the night in mixed sleeping aggregations on grass inflorescences. Adults were seen taking nectar on plants with tiny flowers. Males patrol nesting sites and exhibit territorial behavior. When digging and provisioning, the females are always very alert against invaders, especially ants. Despite this vigilance, parasitism by a bombyliid fly is very common. Inquilinous miltogrammine flies emerged fromR. nasutanests. This is an interesting finding because members of Miltogramminae are commonly reported as nest parasites of solitary wasps.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.1999.10539394

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:1999

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

Ant Gardens (AGs) grow on arboreal carton-ant nests and consist of taxonomically diverse epiphytic plants specific to this substrate. I compared the densities of AGs and their component flora in three habitats: rain forest, campinarana (transition) and campina (arid). I also observed the behavior ofAztecasp. andPachycondyla goeldiiForel 1912 ants towards the seeds ofCodonanthesp. andAnthurium gracileEngl. Densities of AGs varied greatly among habitats, being highest in the campina. Nest garden composition was highly variable.Peperomiasp. andClusiasp. dominated in the rain forest,Codonanthesp. in the campinarana andA. gracileand an unidentified species ofTillandsiaLinnaeus 1735 in the campina. Seeds ofCodonanthesp. were very attractive toAztecasp., which carried them to the nest.Pachycondyla goeldiirejectedCodonanthesp. seeds throwing them away, but not those ofA. gracile.Removal of the seed aril promotes the germination ofCodonanthesp. seeds.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.1999.10539395

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:1999

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

The rhinoceros beetleCyphonistes tuberculifronsQuedenfeldt 1884 (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Dynastinae Oryctini) was attracted by different quinones in a gallery forest in northeastern Ivory Coast. Quinones are widespread in organic matter, e.g. in termite defensive secretions, fruit, rotting fruit, wood, and rotting wood. We consider the attraction to rotting wood, rotting fruit and perhaps attacked termite mounds to be the most probable function of the attractive effect of quinones onC. tuberculifrons.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.1999.10539396

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:1999

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

Three new species, from the Galapagos Isles, of the ill-defined taxon Porrocystidinae Evdonin 1977 are described.Austrorhynchus galapagoensisn. sp. is mainly characterized by the shape of the male accessory organ. The other two species represent new genera:Galapagorhynchus hoxholdin. gen. n. sp. andPygmorhynchus pygniaeusn. gen. n. sp. The main characteristics ofGalapagorhynchusn. gen. are the presence of hard teeth in the male atrium, the lack of an accessory stylet, the long spermatic ducts and the very elongated common genital atrium.Pygniorhvnchusn. gen. lacks an accessory stylet, has short but strongly muscular spermatic ducts and has nuclei near the junction of the epithelia of the proboscis sheath and cone. The systematic positions of the three new taxa are discussed, and a brief phylogenetic analysis of the Porrocystidinae is given. Diagnoses of the new taxa are given, and the diagnosis of the subfamily Porrocystidinae is emended.

ISSN:0394-6975    

DOI:10.1080/03946975.1999.10539397

出版商:Taylor & Francis Group    

年代:1999

数据来源: Taylor