Notes on the Identification Keys Sections
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Spatiotemporal Pattern of Phenology Across Geographic Gradients in Insects
Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2017 Spatiotemporal pattern of phenology across geographic gradients in insects Khelifa, Rassim Abstract: Phenology – the timing of recurrent biological events – influences nearly all aspects of ecology and evolution. Phenological shifts have been recorded in a wide range of animals and plants worldwide during the past few decades. Although the phenological responses differ between taxa, they may also vary geographically, especially along gradients such as latitude or elevation. Since changes in phenology have been shown to affect ecology, evolution, human health and the economy, understanding pheno- logical shifts has become a priority. Although phenological shifts have been associated with changes in temperature, there is still little comprehension of the phenology-temperature relationship, particularly the mechanisms influencing its strength and the extent to which it varies geographically. Such ques- tions would ideally be addressed by combining controlled laboratory experiments on thermal response with long-term observational datasets and historical temperature records. Here, I used odonates (drag- onflies and damselflies) and Sepsid scavenger flies to unravel how temperature affects development and phenology at different latitudes and elevations. The main purpose of this thesis is to provide essential knowledge on the factors driving the spatiotemporal phenological dynamics by (1) investigating how phenology changed in time and space across latitude and elevation in northcentral Europe during the past three decades, (2) assessing potential temporal changes in thermal sensitivity of phenology and (3) describing the geographic pattern and usefulness of thermal performance curves in predicting natural responses. -
Diversity and Resource Choice of Flower-Visiting Insects in Relation to Pollen Nutritional Quality and Land Use
Diversity and resource choice of flower-visiting insects in relation to pollen nutritional quality and land use Diversität und Ressourcennutzung Blüten besuchender Insekten in Abhängigkeit von Pollenqualität und Landnutzung Vom Fachbereich Biologie der Technischen Universität Darmstadt zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doctor rerum naturalium genehmigte Dissertation von Dipl. Biologin Christiane Natalie Weiner aus Köln Berichterstatter (1. Referent): Prof. Dr. Nico Blüthgen Mitberichterstatter (2. Referent): Prof. Dr. Andreas Jürgens Tag der Einreichung: 26.02.2016 Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 29.04.2016 Darmstadt 2016 D17 2 Ehrenwörtliche Erklärung Ich erkläre hiermit ehrenwörtlich, dass ich die vorliegende Arbeit entsprechend den Regeln guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis selbständig und ohne unzulässige Hilfe Dritter angefertigt habe. Sämtliche aus fremden Quellen direkt oder indirekt übernommene Gedanken sowie sämtliche von Anderen direkt oder indirekt übernommene Daten, Techniken und Materialien sind als solche kenntlich gemacht. Die Arbeit wurde bisher keiner anderen Hochschule zu Prüfungszwecken eingereicht. Osterholz-Scharmbeck, den 24.02.2016 3 4 My doctoral thesis is based on the following manuscripts: Weiner, C.N., Werner, M., Linsenmair, K.-E., Blüthgen, N. (2011): Land-use intensity in grasslands: changes in biodiversity, species composition and specialization in flower-visitor networks. Basic and Applied Ecology 12 (4), 292-299. Weiner, C.N., Werner, M., Linsenmair, K.-E., Blüthgen, N. (2014): Land-use impacts on plant-pollinator networks: interaction strength and specialization predict pollinator declines. Ecology 95, 466–474. Weiner, C.N., Werner, M , Blüthgen, N. (in prep.): Land-use intensification triggers diversity loss in pollination networks: Regional distinctions between three different German bioregions Weiner, C.N., Hilpert, A., Werner, M., Linsenmair, K.-E., Blüthgen, N. -
Britain's Robberflies – Diptera Asilidae
Britain’s Robberflies – Diptera Asilidae Malcolm Smart Asilidae – the BIG CATS of the Diptera World Adults exclusively carnivorous predators of other insects – mostly other Diptera Larvae where known are also believed to be predatory What distinguishes a Robber Fly (an Asilid) from other Diptera ??? Example based on drawings and photos of Philonicus albiceps notch Two primary characters: * Eyes separated in both sexes by a deep notch at the top of mystax the head. * There is a central clump of down-curved bristles on the face above the upper mouth edge (called the mystax). Typically large and robust Diptera with elongated bodies . The proboscis is rigid and adapted for piercing insect cuticle. Asilidae species count with examples World Britain VCs surrounding Bedford Bedfordshire VC 7000+ 29 18 13 World distribution of Asilidae Genera and Species (after F. Geller-Grim) An introduction to the British Asilidae fauna compiled using data primarily from the following sources Data held by the Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme run by & Distribution maps derived from it at October 2016 (15900 Asilidae records) Photographs of Asilidae submitted to Facebook for identification or comment by: Lester Wareham, Mo Richards, Graham Dash, Martin Parr, Graham Brownlow, Mark Welch Albums of Asilidae photographs submitted for public scrutiny by wildlife/ dipterist specialists: Steven Falk, Janet Graham, Ian Andrews, Gail Hampshire Pictures offered by or requested from: Nigel Jones, Martin Harvey, Alan Outen, Mike Taylor, Tim Ransom, Tim Hodge, Fritz -
Biologie, Vývoj a Zoogeografie Vybraných Saproxylických Skupin
1 Masarykova univerzita Přírodovědecká fakulta Katedra zoologie a ekologie Biologie, vývoj a zoogeografie vybraných saproxylických skupin orientálních druhů čeledi Stratiomyidae Diplomová práce 2007 Prof. RNDr. R. Rozkošný, Dr. Sc. Alena Bučánková 2 Biologie, vývoj a zoogeografie vybraných saproxylických skupin orientálních druhů čeledi Stratiomyidae Abstrakt Je popsána morfologie, biologie a zoogeografie larev čtyř druhů z čeledi Stratiomyidae. Dva z nich, Pegadomyia pruinosa a Craspedometopon sp. n., patří do podčeledi Pachygasterinae, další dva, Adoxomyia bistriata a Cyphomyia bicarinata , patří do podčeledi Clitellariinae. Larvy byly sbírány Dr. D. Kovacem pod kůrou padlých stromů v Malysii a Thajsku. Saproxylický způsob života larev v rámci celé čeledi je zde diskutován jako původní stav. Byly vytypovány morfologické a biologické znaky larev s možným fylogenetickým významem a jejich platnost byla vyzkoušena v kladistických programech Nona a Winclada. Zjištěný fylogenetický vztah hlavních podčeledí odpovídá v podstatě současnému systému čeledi. Překážkou detailnímu vyhodnocení jsou zatím jen nedostatečné popisy larev a jejich malá znalost, zvláště v tropických oblastech. Biology, development and zoogeography of some saproxylic Oriental species of Stratiomyidae (Diptera) Abstract The morphology, biology and zoogeography of four larvae of Stratiomyidae are described. Two of them, Pegadomyia pruinosa , Craspedometopon sp. n. belong to the subfamily Pachygasteinae, the others, Adoxomyia bistriata and Cyphomyia bicarinata are placed to the subfamily Clitellariinae. The larvae were collected under the bark of fallen trees in Malaysia and Thailand by Dr. D. Kovac. The saproxylic habitat of stratiomyid larvae is discussed in this thesis as an original state. The morphological and biological characters of possible phylogenetic significance are evaluated and their value was verified with use of Nona and Winclada programs. -
WENTLOOGE LEVEL INVERTEBRATE SURVEY, 2019 David Boyce
WENTLOOGE LEVEL INVERTEBRATE SURVEY, 2019 David Boyce DC Boyce Ecologist October 2019 1. INTRODUCTION This report details the findings of an invertebrate survey carried out under contract to Green Ecology. The survey aims to assess the importance for invertebrates of the area of Wentlooge Level shown on Figure 2.1 below. The site is in Wales, on the Gwent Levels; an extensive area of grazing marsh on the north-western side of the Bristol Channel. Wentlooge Level lies in the western part of this area, between the cities of Cardiff to the west and Newport to the east. A central grid reference for the site approximates to ST276817. The grazing marsh ditches of the Gwent Levels support a nationally important assemblage of aquatic plants and invertebrates. It also has one of the last remaining UK populations of the threatened shrill carder bumblebee Bombus sylvarum. For these reasons, much of the area is notified as a series of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The whole of the Wentlooge Level site lies within the Gwent Levels – St. Brides SSSI. Both the shrill carder bumblebee and the brown-banded carder bumblebee Bombus humilis, which also has a strong population on the Gwent Levels, are additionally listed in Section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 as Species of Principal Importance for the conservation of biodiversity in Wales. 2. METHODS The first phase of survey work was undertaken in two blocks of two days, the first session being carried out on the 1st and 2nd of May 2019 and the second on the 22nd and 23rd May. -
ROBBER-FLIES and EMPIDS ROBBER-FLIES Asilidae. Very
ROBBER-FLIES and EMPIDS Asilus ROBBER-FLIES Asilidae. Very bristly predatory flies that head from front generally chase and catch other insects in mid-air. Most species sit in wait and dart out when likely prey appears. The prey is then sucked dry with the stout proboscis, which projects horizontally or obliquely forward. There is a deep groove between the eyes in both sexes, the eyes never touching even in males. A 'beard' on the face protects eyes from struggling prey. Legs are sturdy and have 2 pads at most. Wings folded flat over body at rest. Larvae eat some dead vegetable matter, but most are at least partly predatory and some feed mainly on beetle and fly grubs in the soil. Asilus with prey As Asi/us crabroniformis. An unmistakable fly - one of the largest in B - inhabiting open country 7-10. A very strong flier. Breeds in cow pats and other dung. Dasypogon diadema. First 2 long veins both reach wing margin: wing membrane ribbed. Front tibia has curved spine at tip. Male more uniformly black, with dark wings. 6-8 in scrubby places, especially coastal dunes. S. ;., Leptogaster cylindrica. Feet without pads. Hind femur yellow. 3rd antennal segment ends in bristle. One of the slimmest robber-flies, it resembles a crane-fly in flight. It hunts in grassy places, flying slowly and plucking aphids from the grasses. 5-8. A L. guttiventris is similar but has reddish hind femur. 85 Dioctria atricapi/la. First 2 long veins reach margin. Beard rather sparse and, as in all Oioctria species, the antennae spring from a prominence high on the head. -
SPG2: Biodiversity Conservation (July 2006) 1 1.0 an OVERVIEW
Kent and Medway Structure Plan 2006 mapping out the future Supplementary Planning Guidance SPG2 Biodiversity Conservation July 2006 Strategy and Planning Division/ Environment and Waste Division Environment and Regeneration Directorate Kent County Council Tel: 01622 221609 Email: [email protected] Kent and Medway Structure Plan 2006 Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG2): Biodiversity Conservation Preface i. The purpose of Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) is to supplement the policies and proposals of development plans. It elaborates policies so that they can be better understood and effectively applied. SPG should be clearly cross-referenced to the relevant plan policy or policies which it supplements and should be the subject of consultation during its preparation. In these circumstances SPG may be taken into account as a material consideration in planning decisions. ii. A number of elements of SPG have been produced to supplement certain policies in the Kent and Medway Structure Plan. This SPG supplements the following policies: • Policy EN6: International and National Wildlife Designations • Policy EN7: County and Local Wildlife Designations • Policy EN8: Protecting, Conserving and Enhancing Biodiversity • Policy EN9: Trees, Woodland and Hedgerows iii. This SPG has been prepared by Kent County Council working in partnership with a range of stakeholders drawn from Kent local authorities and other relevant agencies. iv. A draft of this SPG was subject to public consultation alongside public consultation on the deposit draft of the Kent and Medway Structure Plan in late 2003. It has been subsequently revised and updated prior to its adoption. A separate report provides a statement of the consultation undertaken, the representations received and the response to these representations. -
A Review of the Status of Larger Brachycera Flies of Great Britain
Natural England Commissioned Report NECR192 A review of the status of Larger Brachycera flies of Great Britain Acroceridae, Asilidae, Athericidae Bombyliidae, Rhagionidae, Scenopinidae, Stratiomyidae, Tabanidae, Therevidae, Xylomyidae. Species Status No.29 First published 30th August 2017 www.gov.uk/natural -england Foreword Natural England commission a range of reports from external contractors to provide evidence and advice to assist us in delivering our duties. The views in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Natural England. Background Making good decisions to conserve species This report should be cited as: should primarily be based upon an objective process of determining the degree of threat to DRAKE, C.M. 2017. A review of the status of the survival of a species. The recognised Larger Brachycera flies of Great Britain - international approach to undertaking this is by Species Status No.29. Natural England assigning the species to one of the IUCN threat Commissioned Reports, Number192. categories. This report was commissioned to update the threat status of Larger Brachycera flies last undertaken in 1991, using a more modern IUCN methodology for assessing threat. Reviews for other invertebrate groups will follow. Natural England Project Manager - David Heaver, Senior Invertebrate Specialist [email protected] Contractor - C.M Drake Keywords - Larger Brachycera flies, invertebrates, red list, IUCN, status reviews, IUCN threat categories, GB rarity status Further information This report can be downloaded from the Natural England website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england. For information on Natural England publications contact the Natural England Enquiry Service on 0300 060 3900 or e-mail [email protected]. -
Pick Your Poison: Molecular Evolution of Venom Proteins in Asilidae (Insecta: Diptera)
toxins Article Pick Your Poison: Molecular Evolution of Venom Proteins in Asilidae (Insecta: Diptera) Chris M. Cohen * , T. Jeffrey Cole and Michael S. Brewer * Howell Science Complex, East Carolina University, 1000 E 5th St., Greenville, NC 27858, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] (C.M.C.); [email protected] (M.S.B.) Received: 5 November 2020; Accepted: 20 November 2020; Published: 24 November 2020 Abstract: Robber flies are an understudied family of venomous, predatory Diptera. With the recent characterization of venom from three asilid species, it is possible, for the first time, to study the molecular evolution of venom genes in this unique lineage. To accomplish this, a novel whole-body transcriptome of Eudioctria media was combined with 10 other publicly available asiloid thoracic or salivary gland transcriptomes to identify putative venom gene families and assess evidence of pervasive positive selection. A total of 348 gene families of sufficient size were analyzed, and 33 of these were predicted to contain venom genes. We recovered 151 families containing homologs to previously described venom proteins, and 40 of these were uniquely gained in Asilidae. Our gene family clustering suggests that many asilidin venom gene families are not natural groupings, as delimited by previous authors, but instead form multiple discrete gene families. Additionally, robber fly venoms have relatively few sites under positive selection, consistent with the hypothesis that the venoms of older lineages are dominated by negative selection acting to maintain toxic function. Keywords: Asilidae; transcriptome; positive selection Key Contribution: Asilidae venoms have relatively few sites under positive selection, consistent with the hypothesis that the venoms of older lineages are dominated by negative selection acting to maintain toxic function. -
Promachus Dimidiatus Curran (Diptera: Asilidae): a Robber Fly Genus and Species New to British Columbia
J. ENTOMOL. SOC. BRIT. COLUMBIA 116, DECEMBER 2019 !59 SCIENTIFIC NOTE Promachus dimidiatus Curran (Diptera: Asilidae): a robber fly genus and species new to British Columbia R. A. C A N N I N G S1, T. E H L E R S2, A. M A N W E I L E R3, T. K O H L E R3, E. H A Y E S3, AND D. K N O P P4 Promachus dimidiatus Curran (Figs. 1, 2) is a large grassland robber fly native to western North America, and ranging from southern Manitoba and northern Saskatchewan west to Alberta and south to Utah, New Mexico, Kansas and Wisconsin (Fisher and Wilcox 1997; Cannings 2014). This note records the genus and species for the first time in British Columbia (BC). ! Figure 1. Promachus dimidiatus, male. Photographed by Denis Knopp, Vernon, BC (50.22976°N, 119.2986°W), 21 June 2018. ! 1Corresponding author: Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC V8W 9W2; [email protected] 2Masse Environmental Consultants Ltd., 812 Vernon Street, Nelson, BC, V0G 2J0 3Department of National Defence, Government of Canada, 7 -5535 Korea Road, Chilliwack, BC, V2R 5P2 447330 Extrom Road, Chilliwack, BC, V2R 4V1 J. ENTOMOL. SOC. BRIT. COLUMBIA 116, DECEMBER 2019 !60 During a survey of arthropods at risk at the Vernon Military Camp, Department of National Defence (DND) in Vernon, BC (Masse Environmental Consultants 2019), Tyson Ehlers and a team of biologists discovered a population of P. dimidiatus at a grassland site (50.22974°N, 119.29874°W) approximately 3.9 km southwest of the centre of downtown Vernon, BC (Figs. -
Shropshire Invertebrates Group
Shropshire Invertebrates Group Annual Report 2006 Report compiled by A. G. Blunt University of Wolverhampton April 2007 Shropshire Invertebrates Group Annual Report 2006 1 Table of Contents Page Field Meetings 2006 1 Dudmaston, 26 February 1 Nills Hill Quarry and Poles Coppice, Pontesbury, 19 March 2 Treflach and Dolgoch Quarries, 30 April 3 Llynclys Quarry, 11 June 4 Clee Hill Quarry and Titterstone Clee, 9 July 6 Rhos Fiddle and Riddings Brook, 13 August 7 Clee Hill Quarry and Treenpits, 3 September 8 Lower Short Ditch, 8 October 9 Members’ individual activities 2006 John Mason 11 Ian Thompson 12 Nigel Jones 14 Godfrey Blunt 17 Reference 17 Appendix: Scientific names of organisms mentioned in the text 19 Photographs: Silver-washed Fritillary, Stenocorus meridianus, Eyed Ladybird, Ancistrocerus parietum, Limnephilus flavicornis 10 Rhingia rostrata, Phasia obesa, Bee-wolf Philanthus triangulum, Rhyssa persuasoria 18 Text © A. G. Blunt, I. Thompson, J. Mason, N. Jones Photographs © N. Jones, I. Thompson Field Meetings 2006 26 February 2006: Dudmaston (present: C. Derry, K. Claxton, N. Jones, G. Blunt) As our Group met at Hampton Loade on this late February day the Severn Valley bore no traces of a recent light snowfall, though across the river snow could still be seen powdering the summit of Brown Clee. In fact we experienced sunshine intermittently throughout our visit, creating warm and welcome intervals between cloudy 2 spells and cold breezes. Our main aims were to search for the terrestrial caddis Enoicyla pusilla and to sample rot-holes in old trees for larvae of Diptera. After following the river bank and passing beneath the waterworks’ bridge we entered Long Covert, a tongue of mature deciduous woodland which we found to contain much Pedunculate Oak and Hazel, the latter liberally festooned with catkins. -
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BULLETIN OF THE Dipterists • CkAdrDTI jIm kit filiated to the British Entomological and Natural History Society NO 39MARCH 1995 ISSN 1358-5029 DIPTERISTS FORUM UPDATE The Dipterists Forum was launched at Dipterists Day on 12 November 1994 at the Natural History Museum, London. We now have a fully fledged society. How the Forum develops from now is up to the membership. The committee members are: Roy Crossley (Chairman), Alan Stubbs (Secretary), Jon Cole (Treasurer, coopted after the AGM), Liz Howe (Membership Secretary), Martin Drake (Bulletin Editor, a change of post title made at the first General Committee meeting), Patrick Roper (Publicity Officer), Stuart Ball, Steve Falk, Roger Morris, Chris Spilling (elected Ordinary Members), Brian Pitkin (co-opted Ordinary Member), Peter Chandler (BENHS Representative), Graham Rotheray (Dipterists Digest Editor). We held the first general committee meeting on 21 January at the BENHS rooms at Dinton Pastures, Reading. Some items we discussed are covered elsewhere in this Bulletin (Dipterists Digest, new GB Check List, changes to the newsletters), and Alan Stubbs covered many other issues in his report of the Interim Committee in the last Bulletin. Other "highlights" of the General Committee meeting were: Bank account There is a healthy balance, sufficient for foreseen commitments. BENHS have kindly agreed since this meeting that their honorary auditors will inspect our accounts when doing their own, for no charge. Constitution. We refined the draft that was circulated with the last Bulletin. A final draft will be circulated in the August Bulletin for approval at the next AGM. BENHS kindly have added the Dipterists Forum to their insurance policy at no cost to us.