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Svezia, Danimarca, Paesi Bassi
No full textNella relazione sono illustrati i rapporti tra i Parlamenti di Svezia, Danimarca e Paesi Bassi e l'Unione europea
Afrocharltona oblongissima Bassi 2021, sp. n.
No full textAfrocharltona oblongissima sp. n. Figs 7, 9-11, 17-19 Material examined Holotype: Male; Botswana, Maun, 957 m, 1-2.xii.2010, 19°55’58S 23°30’61E, lux, G. Bassi legit, BC 92320 ZSM, GS 6245 GB, 41400 RCGB. Paratypes: Male; same data as holotype, Collezione Bassi, GS 5365 GB, RCGB. – Female; Zambia, Livingstone, Maramba River Lodge camp, 17°53’S 25°51’E, 900 m, 28.xi.2010, lux, G. Bassi legit, BC 92321 ZSM, GS 6230 GB, RCGB. – Female; Namibia, Ghaub Vall [ey], 7.i. [19]72, D. M. Kroon [legit], GS 5444 GB, TMSA. – Female; Namibia, Otavi, 5.i. [19]72, D.M. Kroon [legit], TMSA. Diagnosis: The yellow ground colour distinguishes A. oblongissima from A. katanga described below. The male genitalia are similar to A. katanga but the valva and apical thorn of the costal arm are longer and the phallus is without cornuti in the vesica. The female genitalia with lateral extension of medium length and thickness, with ductus seminalis originating nearby from ductus bursae are unlike every other species of the Ancylolomia complex. COI barcode sequence of the holotype BIN: BOLD:ADF2943 (658 bp): AACTTTATATTTTATTTTTGGAATTTGAGCAGGAATATT- AGGAACATCTTTAAGACTTTTAATTCGAGCTGAATTAG- GAAATCCTGGATCTTTAATTGGAGATGATCAAATTTATAATAC- TATTGTAACAGCTCATGCATTTATTATAATTTTTTTTATAGT- TATACCAATTATAATTGGTGGATTTGGTAATTGATTAGTC- CCTTTAATATTAGGAGCACCTGATATAGCTTTCCCCCG- TATAAATAATATAAGATTTTGATTACTACCTCCCTCTCTA- ACTCTTTTAATTTCCAGAAGAATTGTTGAAAATGGAG- CAGGTACTGGATGAACAGTGTACCCCCCACTTTCATC- C A ATAT T G C T C AT G G T G G A A G T T C T G TA G A C C TA G C - TATTTTTTCTTTACACTTAGCTGGAATTTCTTCTATTTTAG- GTGCTATTAACTTTATTACAACAATTATTAATATACGAATTA- ATGGGTTATCTTTTGATCAAATACCTTTATTTGTTTGATCTG- TAGGAATTACTGCTTTATTACTTTTATTATCATTACCTGTATT- AGCAGGAGCTATTACTATACTACTTACTGACCGAAATTTA- AATACATCTTTCTTTGATCCAGCAGGAGGAGGAGATCCAAT- TCTTTATCAACACTTATT Etymology: The name is derived from the Latin oblungus-a = very elongated, and refers to the shape of the valva in the male genitalia. Description (Fig. 7): Wingspan of holotype 29 mm; male paratype 34 mm, female paratypes 33 to 36 mm. Labial palpus 3 x as long as greatest diameter of eye, ochre brown tipped with white on outer side, creamy white on inner side. Maxillary palpus ochre brown tipped with white. Frons rounded, slightly produced, white to pale yellow. Antennae thin, serrate in male, simple in female, pale brown with silvery white costa. Vertex white. Patagia white to pale yellow. Tegulae and thorax pale yellow sprinkled with brown. Forewing slender, with rounded apex and termen oblique; ground colour pale grey yellow sprinkled with brown and black; veins marked with yellow; seven terminal dots; fringes white and silvery grey; underside grey yellow strongly suffused with dark brown. Hindwing pale golden yellow suffused greyish brown; terminal line brown; fringes paler than ground colour; underside pale golden yellow suffused with brown. Legs golden yellow; tibial spurs small. Abdomen golden yellow suffused with grey, paler in males; sternites pale yellow. Male genitalia. (Figs 10, 11). Uncus as long as gnathos, strongly bulged dorsally, with apex blunt and notched. Gnathos with pointed and slightly upcurved apex. Tegumen almost twice as long as uncus, narrow.Vinculum stout, subtriangular. Pseudosaccus subtrapezoidal, fused with juxta. Juxta broadly v-shaped. Valva extremely elongated, with rounded cucullus; costal arm slightly longer than valva, strongly sclerotized, with apical long and pointed thorn. Phallus with bent phallobase: vesica with minute scobinations. Female genitalia (Figs 17-19). Papillae anales subtriangular. Apophyses posteriores with lightly sclerotized basis and arms weakly arched.Abdominal segment VIII ventrally membranous and lightly sclerotized dorsally. Apophyses anteriores sub-triangular, shorter than apophyses posteriores. Ostium bursae large, semicircular, lightly sclerotized. Ductus bursae twice as long as corpus bursae, sub-conical, strongly sclerotized except at its beginning; extension at 0.5, just below origin of ductus seminalis, cylindrical, slightly shorter than corpus bursae, more or less sclerotized and wrinkled. Corpus bursae sub-oval, weakly wrinkled. Biology: Unknown. The adults from Botswana and Zambia were attracted to actinic artificial light in the riparian vegetation (Fig. 9). Distribution: Northern part of Southern Africa: Botswana, Namibia, South Zambia.Published as part of Bassi, Graziano, 2021, New genera and species of Afrotropical Ancylolomiini Ragonot, 1889 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae sensu lato: Crambinae), pp. 477-486 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 128 (2) on pages 479-481, DOI: 10.35929/RSZ.0058, http://zenodo.org/record/564016
Mesolia meyi Bassi & I- 2013, sp. n.
No full textMesolia meyi Bassi sp. n. Figs 3, 4, 15, 22, 37 HOLOTYPE:: 1- ‘3’; 2- NAMIBIA | Popa Falls [18°07’S 21°35’E] | Okawango river | 23-24.XI.1993 | Mey & Ebert legit’; 3- ‘GS-3964-GB’; 4- ‘ HOLOTYPE | Mesolia | meyi Bassi’. Deposited in MFNB. FIGS 5-8 Adults of Prionapteryx spp. (5) P. albimaculalis (Hampson), female, RSA. wingspan 25 mm. (6) P. plumbealis (Hampson), male, Namibia, wingspan 23.5 mm. (7) P. amathusia Bassi & Mey, male paratype, Namibia, wingspan 23 mm. (8) P. eberti sp. n., female paratype, Namibia, wingspan 26 mm. PARATYPES: BOTSWANA. – CB; 13; Maun, 19°56’S 23°30’E, 957 m, 1-2. XII.2010, lux, G. Bassi legit; GS 5321 GB, CB. – NAMIBIA. – MFNB, MHNG and CB; 833, 8♀♀; same data as holotype, GS 5324 GB. ETYMOLOGY: The new species is named in honour of Wolfram Mey of the MFNB, whose field expeditions in Southern Africa greatly helped to improve our knowledge of African Lepidoptera. DIAGNOSIS: Mesolia meyi flies along with M. uniformella Janse, 1922. The two share a similar wingspan, but the ground color of M. meyi is whitish black in males and dark brown in females (Figs 3, 4), compared to the uniformly brown spotted with greyish and dark brown of M. uniformella (Fig. 2). Male genitalia of M. meyi (Fig. 22) can be distinghuished from those of M. uniformella (Fig. 23) by the longer coremata and valvae, more crested tip of the uncus and more slender cornutus. In the female genitalia M. uniformella (Fig. 38) can be distinguished by the asymmetrical bilobed corpus bursae. DESCRIPTION (Figs 3-4): Wingspan: holotype 18 mm; males 17-21 mm; females 18-23 mm. Labial palpi 3 x longer than widest diameter of compound eye, white basally, blackish brown in proximal half, then with white patch and blackish tip; long scales brown. Maxillary palpi brown irrorated white and tipped with black. Frons conical, clearly produced, concave tip with irregular margin with two small teeth; white basally and brown distally in males, whitish with brown and blackish irroration in females. Male antennae serrate, ochreous brown in basal half and brown distally, with costa white. Female antennae simple, ochreous brown with costa concolorous and lightly annulated with black. Ocelli fully developed. Chaetosemata moderate. Head, patagium, tegulae, and thorax tricolored white brown and black, clearly lighter in males. Abdomen greyish white suffused brown, with first four tergites orange yellow. Legs white with tarsomeres white annulated brown; tibial spurs white, delicate. Forewings with well-defined hook; males with ground color white with dark brown and brown irroration; apex with s-shaped ochreous brown speckling and dark brown apical dot; median fascia ill-defined, black and brown; dorsally with black brown patch at 0.3; terminal line partial, brown; fringes with both short and long scales white tipped with black from apex to hook, from hook to tornus short scales white suffused pale yellow and long scales white except immediately below hook, white with black tip. Male hindwings white, distally suffused black, with terminal line near tornus black, thick; fringes with short scales pale yellow and long scales white. Female wings decidedly darker; forewings ground color brown to dark brown, with irregular whitish irrorations except for whitish costal patch at 0.7 and, below hook, whitish suffused dark brown subterminal area, with two terminal dots; dark brown apical dot always visible, as in males; fringes white and black above hook, black and golden brown at hook and golden brown and whitish below hook. Female hindwings dark brown suffused golden brown, paler basally; fringes whitish, with short scales tipped with blackish. Sclerotizations of male abdominal segment VIII as shown in figure 22. Coremata (Fig. 15) double, 0.7 length of valva, flat, with upper structure large and arched and ventral structure larger and L-shaped. FIGS 9-12 Adults of Prionapteryx spp. (9) P. triplecta (Meyrick), male, Democratic Republic of the Congo, wingspan 24 mm. (10) P. diaplecta (Meyrick), male, Kenya, wingspan 20 mm. (11) P. banaadirensis sp. n., holotype, wingspan 21 mm. (12) P. somala sp. n., holotype, wingspan 16 mm. MALE GENITALIA (Fig. 22): Uncus subcylindrical, curved; crest-like apical process broad, with few thickened setae. Gnathos 0.6 length of uncus, with pointed upturned tip. Tegumen subtriangular. Juxta cup-shaped. Pseudosaccus moderate. Valva elongated; cucullus rounded; costa more thickly sclerotized, without projections; sacculus moderately sclerotized. Phallus short, thickened; vesica with elongated cornutus at about half length of phallus. FEMALE GENITALIA (Fig. 37): Papillae anales thin, dorsally larger. Apophyses posteriores long and sclerotized. Abdominal segment VIII with subtriangular sclerotization and membranous sternite. Apophyses anteriores 1.4 longer than apophyses posteriores, with tiny attachment to abdominal segment, subtriangular enlargement at 0.1 from base, then narrow. Ostium bursae bulged, lightly sclerotized. Ductus bursae 0.44 length of corpus bursae, moderately sclerotized. Corpus bursae bilobed; proximal sac wrinkled, with long, narrow, longitudinally oriented striae, lightly slerotized and spiculated; distal sac delicately wrinkled, with ductus seminalis emerging at its tip. DISTRIBUTION: Botswana, Namibia. REMARKS: In the original description of M. uniformella (Janse 1922:7) the paratypes from Umvuma are all females. However, I studied a male “cotype” (1591 TMSA) with the label “Umvuma, Rhod[esia], 20. XII.[19]17, A.J. T. Janse”. Thus, it seems that one of the two paratypes cited as females was in fact a male. M. uniformella is distributed in Botswana, Namibia, RSA, and Zimbabwe.Published as part of Bassi, Graziano, 2013, Notes on some Old World Prionapterygini Landry, 1995 (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea, Crambidae, Crambinae), with descriptions of new species, pp. 131-160 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 120 (1) on pages 136-140, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.611854
Aurotalis cristata Bassi, 2016, sp. n.
No full text<i>Aurotalis cristata</i> sp. n. <p>Figs 1, 12, 17, 24, 26, 27</p> <p> <b>Holotype:</b> ♀, Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, Matopo Nat[ional] Park [20°33’S, 28°30’E] 28.30.XI.1993, leg. Mey & Ebert, GS 4060.– GB; Holotypus <i>Aurotalis cristata</i> n. sp. G. Bassi det. 2002. Deposited in MFNB.</p> <p> <b>Paratypes:</b> Zimbabwe: 2♀, 4♂, same data as holotype, GS 3840 GB; 1♀, S[outhern] Africa, Manicaland Prov[ince], Vukutu, 18°21’S32°36’E, h 1900 m, 1-3. XII.2010, Ustjuzhanin P. & Kovtunovich V. ‒ 1♀, Zimbabwe, 15.III.1951, G. C. Clarke. ‒ 1♀, Emangeni, Rhod[esia], 19.I. [19]’18, A. J. T. Janse. ‒ 1♂, Lundi, Rhod[esia], Nuanetsi Dist[rict], 13.III.1976, M. J. Scoble; 1♀, Darwendale, 17-19.I.1955, D. W. Rorke. ‒ RSA: 1♂, Messina, T[rans]v[aa]l, 20 m. South, II.1950, N. Mitton. ‒ 2♂, Midw[est] L[ouis] Trichardt, Wilie’s [Wyllie’s] Poort, 28 and 31.I.[19]25, A. J. T. Janse. ‒ 1♀, 5♂, Blauwkop, 30.I.[19]25, A. J. T. Janse, GS 4671 GB. ‒ 1♀, 1♂, Nelspruit, 2.1910, H. G. Breijer. ‒ 1♀, Skukuza, 2.XII.1974, L. Vari, GS 4661 GB. ‒ 1♀, Buffelspoort, 15.XII.[19]24, A. J. T. Janse. Deposited in CGB, MHNG, MFNB and TMSA.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis</b>: At least in Zimbabwe, <i>A. cristata</i> (Fig. 1) co-occurs with <i>A. similis</i> Bassi (Fig. 6), but it is clearly smaller (14-20 mm versus 22-26 mm respectively), it has a double subterminal fascia and no longitudinal white lines. It shares a wingspan similar to males of <i>A. delicatalis</i> (Hampson), but it is darker, with the forewing narrower and with the ground colour white. Male genitalia of <i>A. cristata</i> (Fig. 26) can be distinguished from those of congeners by the narrow, tapering and pointed uncus, the presence of a saccular process on the valva and the juxta subcylindrical and with a finger-like projection. The female genitalia (Figs 12, 27) are small and with a sclerotized ductus bursae, in comparison to the larger and membranous ductus bursae of <i>A. delicatalis</i> (Fig. 21).</p> <p> <b>Etymology</b>: The name derives from the Latin <i>cristatus-a,</i> crested, and refers to the shape of the gnathos in the male genitalia.</p> <p> <b>Description</b> (Fig. 1): Wingspan 14-20 mm. Labial palpi 3× longer than widest diameter of eye, black and white. Frons rounded, clearly produced, black with outer margin white. Antennae serrate, narrower in female, brown; costa with narrow band of scales white and black. Ocelli and chetosemata poorly developed. Head with raised scales, medially black, laterally white. Patagia white with basal scales black. Tegulae white with black spot in middle. Thorax white with black scales. Abdomen yellowish white with anal tuft pure white. Forewing ground colour white with black markings over all surface and brown patches along costa; median fascia wavy, brown with some additional black scales; subterminal fascia broad, wavy, with margins brown, silvery white in middle; postmedian spot silvery white bordered with brown and black; five black submarginal spots; outer margin black from apex to mid-termen; fringe tricolored with basis white, middle black and outer margin silvery white except at termen, completely silvery white. Hindwing grey to white suffused grey in some ♀♀; fringe white. Male sclerotizations of abdominal segment VIII as in Fig. 17. Female abdominal segment VIII with sternite unsclerotized and tergite narrow and laterally more sclerotized.</p> <p>Male genitalia (Fig. 26): Uncus shorter than gnathos, narrow, with pointed tip. Gnathos broad, straight, with rounded apex and dorsal crest-like sclerotization. Tegumen dorsally fused with uncus, broad membranous area at base of uncus, gnathos and tegumen. Tegumen subtriangular, narrowing toward vinculum. Vinculum narrow, with moderate v-shaped dorsal projection. Juxta subcylindrical, well sclerotized, with finger-like dorsal process. Valva 1.2× length of phallus, with large membranous basal area; cucullus rounded; costa simple, slightly bent; single saccular process small and rounded; harpe with wrinkled sclerotization. Phallus simple, with dorsal bulge in postmedian area; vesica with several thin scobinations.</p> <p>Female genitalia (Figs 12, 27): Papillae anales broad and well sclerotized, dorsally bulged. Apophyses posteriores 1/3 longer than apophyses anteriores, well sclerotized. Apophyses anteriores thin. Ductus bursae short and sclerotized. Corpus bursae suboval, broad and spinulate in first half. Ductus seminalis opening in first third of corpus bursae.</p> <p> <b>Distribution</b>: RSA, Zimbabwe.</p>Published as part of <i>Graziano Bassi, 2016, Studies on Afrotropical Crambinae (Lepidoptera, Pyraloidea, Crambidae): Notes on the genus Aurotalis Błeszyński, 1970, pp. 11-20 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 123 (1)</i> on pages 14-18, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/46283">10.5281/zenodo.46283</a>
Quenching of chlorophyll triplet states by carotenoids in reconstituted Lhca4 subunit of peripheral light-harvesting complex of Photosystem I.
No full textIn this study, triplet quenching, the major photoprotection mechanism in antenna proteins, has been studied in the light-harvesting complex of photosystem I (LHC-I). The ability of carotenoids bound to LHC-I subunit Lhca4, which is characterized by the presence of the red-most absorption components at wavelength >700 nm, to protect the system through quenching of the chlorophyll triplet states, has been probed, by analyzing the induction of carotenoid triplet formation. We have investigated this process at low temperature, when the funneling of the excitation toward the low-lying excited states of the Chls is stronger, by means of optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR), which is well-suited for investigation of triplet states in photosynthetic systems. The high selectivity and sensitivity of the technique has made it possible to point out the presence of specific interactions between carotenoids forming the triplet states and specific chlorophylls characterized by red-shifted absorption, by detection of the microwave-induced Triplet minus Singlet (T-S) spectra. The effect of the red forms on the efficiency of triplet quenching was specifically probed by using the Asn47His mutant, in which the red forms have been selectively abolished (Morosinotto, T., Breton, J., Bassi, R., and Croce, R. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 49223-49229). Lack of the red forms yields into a reduced efficiency of the triplet quenching in LHC-I thus suggesting that the "red Chls" play a role in enhancing triplet quenching in LHC-I and, possibly, in the whole photosystem I
Crambus varii Bassi & I- & To 2012, n.sp.
No full textCrambus varii n.sp. Figs 10, 24, 26 HOLOTYPE: TMSA, without registration number; ♀; [RSA, Western Cape, 33°57’S, 22°32’E] Saasveld George, C [ape] P[rovince], South Africa, H. Geertsema; 26.8.1964; Holotype Crambus varii n. sp. G. Bassi det. 1995, TMSA, (not dissected). PARATYPES (all from RSA): TMSA, without registration number; 1♀; same data as holotype. - TMSA, without registration number; 1♀; idem, 2.2.[19]65 - TMSA, without registration number; 1♀; idem, 1-10.II.1965. - TMSA, without registration number; 1♀; idem, 5.I.1965. - TMSA, without registration number; 13; idem, 26.XII.1964. - TMSA, without registration number; 13; idem, 1.1.1965. - TMSA, without registration number; 1♀; idem, 16.9.1964, De Fin. - TMSA, without registration number; 13; Kogelberg C [ape] P[rovince], Nature Reserve; 6-13.III.1983; Kroon & Molekane, GS 3330 GB. - TMSA, without registration number; 13; Cape Prov[ince], Kogelberg (34 18 BD), 23 Mar[ch] 1981, D.M. Kroon, GS 4193 GB. - TMSA, without registration number; 13; Stellenbosch; 3.3.’[19]21; Ch. K. Brain. - TMSA, without registration number; 13; 1♀, Vyeboom, Caledon Distr[ict]; 10.II.1954; L. Vári, GS 3300 GB. - TMSA, without registration number; 1♀; Saasveld; 5.I.[19]65. - MFNB, without registration number; 2♀♀; RSA, Bontebok NP, Swellendam; 14. 16.XI.1993; leg. Mey & Ebert. - CB, without registration number; 13; Saasveld, C.P.; 23.XII.1964; H. Geertsema, GS 5235 GB. - CB, without registration number; 1♀; Algeria Forestry, Clanwilliam Distr.; 4-10.III.1969; Potgieter & Strydom, GS 5240 GB. - MHNG, without registration number; 1♀, Worcester, Amandel spruit; 18.X.1966; Vári & Potgieter. – TMSA and CB (13), without registration number; 233; 2♀♀, Tsitsikam[m]a Goesabos Forestry; 13-22.III.1979; Potgieter & Scoble. - TMSA, without registration number; 1♀; Cape Prov[ince], Tsitsikam[m]a forest, Goesabos, 33 23 DD; 13-22 Mar 1979; J. Potgieter & M. Scoble, GS 3850 GB. - TMSA, without registration number; 1♀; Tsitsikam [m]a, Ou-brug; 17.III.1979; Potgieter & Scoble. ETYMOLOGY: The species is dedicated to Lajos Vári of the TMSA, author of very valuable entomological collections in Southern Africa. DIAGNOSIS: The combination of forewings without separated submarginal area, male genitalia with fully developed uncus, phallus with dorsoapical tooth and strong cornuti, and female genitalia with very large and strongly sclerotized ostium characterize this species among African Crambus. DESCRIPTION (Fig. 10): Wingspan: male 20-21 mm, female 25-27 mm. Labial palpi 4 X longer than widest diameter of eye, with inner side white and outer side brown with upper margin and tip white. Maxillary palpi white with brown basis. Frons clearly produced, rounded, white. Antennae brown, with silvery costa, serrate in male, simple in female. Ocelli and chaetosemata moderately developed. Head white, with few chestnut brown scales in middle. Patagium laterally brown, white medially. Tegulae dark brown. Thorax white. Abdomen bronze brown to whitish, suffused brown. Forewings ground color bronze brown, lighter in dorsal area; costal area white, wide, and white suffused with chestnut brown toward apex; female with more pointed apex; medial stripe wide, white, reaching outer margin; veins marked by white scales toward outer margin; outer margin with seven subterminal dots, more developed in female; fringes with both short and long scales white with silvery bronzed tip, thus appearing white with medial and terminal lines silvery bronzed. Hindwings white with brown suffusion; fringes white. Fore and midlegs bronze brown; hindlegs whitish, suffused bronze brown. MALE GENITALIA (Fig. 26): Uncus long, sinuous, pointed, moderately bent downward and sclerotized. Two large and spatulate socii cover up to two thirds of length of uncus. Gnathos one third longer than uncus, with apex rounded and bent downward. Tegumen with large base, partially fused with vinculum. Vinculum stout, with large subtriangular dorsal extension. Pseudosaccus small. Valva wide, with membranous cucullus, with well developed and pointed costal and saccular processes and small medial process lamellar. Phallus slightly shorter than whole apparatus, with large subapical tooth; vesica with 5 subtriangular cornuti. FEMALE GENITALIA (Fig. 24): Papillae anales divided into two lobes and apophyses posteriores of medium size. Apophyses anteriores absent. Abdominal segment VIII with narrow tergite and strong and complex sternite. Ostium bursae very large and sclerotized. Ductus bursae longer than corpus bursae, sinuous, sclerotized in proximal two thirds, then fibrous. Ostium and ductus bursae spiculate. Ductus seminalis opening in distal third of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae with two well developed signa. DISTRIBUTION: RSA, Western Cape and Eastern Cape at Tsitsikamma. REMARKS: The presence of socii and both costal and saccular processes relates this species to C. pascuella; female genitalia are also reminiscent of some other Crambus, such as heringiellus Herrich-Schäffer.Published as part of Bassi, Graziano, 2012, New Afrotropical species of the genus Crambus Fabricius, 1798 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Crambinae), pp. 269-286 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 119 (3) on pages 284-286, DOI: 10.5962/bhl.part.150195, http://zenodo.org/record/611826
Quenching of chlorophyll triplet states by carotenoids in reconstituted Lhca4 subunit of peripheral light-harvesting complex of photosystem I
No full textIn this study, triplet quenching, the major photoprotection mechanism in antenna proteins, has been studied in the light-harvesting complex of photosystem I (LHC-I). The ability of carotenoids bound to LHC-I subunit Lhca4, which is characterized by the presence of the red-most absorption components at wavelength >700 nm, to protect the system through quenching of the chlorophyll triplet states, has been probed, by analyzing the induction of carotenoid triplet formation. We have investigated this process at low temperature, when the funneling of the excitation toward the low-lying excited states of the Chls is stronger, by means of optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR), which is well-suited for investigation of triplet states in photosynthetic systems. The high selectivity and sensitivity of the technique has made it possible to point out the presence of specific interactions between carotenoids forming the triplet states and specific chlorophylls characterized by red-shifted absorption, by detection of the microwave-induced Triplet minus Singlet (T-S) spectra. The effect of the red forms on the efficiency of triplet quenching was specifically probed by using the Asn47His mutant, in which the red forms have been selectively abolished (Morosinotto, T., Breton, J., Bassi, R., and Croce, R. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 49223-49229). Lack of the red forms yields into a reduced efficiency of the triplet quenching in LHC-I thus suggesting that the "red Chls" play a role in enhancing triplet quenching in LHC-I and, possibly, in the whole photosystem I
Crambus paris Bassi & I- & To 2012, n. sp.
No full text<i>Crambus paris</i> n. sp. Figs 3, 23 <p> HOLOTYPE: TMSA, without registration number; ♀; [RSA, Kwa-Zulu Natal, 29°24’S, 30°16’E,] Karkloof N.P.; 13-19.XII.[19]’30; AJT Janse, Holotype <i>Crambus paris</i> n. sp. G. Bassi det. 1996, GS 3559 GB.</p> <p>ETYMOLOGY: The species is named after the eponymous character of the Greek mythology, legendary figure of the Trojan War.</p> <p> DIAGNOSIS: The forewings with a very large white stripe extending to termen will separate the species from other African <i>Crambus</i>. In female genitalia the ostium is opening in a membranous area as opposed to opening among sclerotized structures in the other African <i>Crambus</i> species.</p> <p>DESCRIPTION (Fig. 3): Wingspan 16,5 mm. Palpi 3.5 X longer than widest diameter of eye, white on inner side, bronzed brown with white basis on outer side. Maxillary palpi bronzed brown with white tip. Frons produced, conical with rounded apex, white with few brown scales around eyes. Antennae simple, brown, with costa whitish on scape and first flagellomeres, otherwise glossy bronzed brown. Ocelli and chaetosemata well developed. Head white, brown around chaetosemata. Tegulae bronzed brown. Thorax medially white, laterally brown. Forewings with very wide white median stripe reaching costa and subterminal lines close to termen; costa bronzed brown to chestnut brown towards apex, with two small diagonal brown streaks medially and sub-medially; subterminal line angled, silvery with costal end bordered brown; apical patch rounded, brown; four elongated dots in tornus area; terminal line silvery at tornus, then dark brown and curved at cell level; dorsal area white speckled brown to dark brown toward middle; fringes golden brown with white basis, wider around apex. Hindwings white suffused ivory with fringes concolorous. Forelegs bronzed brown, lighter on inner side of femur; midlegs whitish brown with tarsomeres white and brown; hindlegs whitish and yellow-brown with tarsomeres white and brown.</p> <p>MALE GENITALIA: Unknown.</p> <p>FEMALE GENITALIA (Fig. 23): Papillae anales divided into two lobes and apophyses posteriores of medium size. Apophyses anteriores absent. Abdominal segment VIII with narrow tergite and wide rounded and sclerotized sternite. Ostium bursae suboval, lightly sclerotized, opening in membranous area. Sterigma with lamella antevaginalis with wide biconcave upper margin and long and pointed arms, and lamella postvaginalis cup-shaped. Ductus bursae wrinkled, as long as 7/10 of corpus bursae. Ductus seminalis connected in proximal third of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae suboval, spiculate in proximal third, most evidently around two signa.</p> <p>DISTRIBUTION: The new species is only known from the type locality in RSA.</p> <p> REMARKS: The structure and maculation of the forewings, the presence in female genitalia of papillae with a median fold, the absence of apophyses anteriores, the complex sterigma and the double signa suggest that this species is close to the <i>C. attis</i> complex. In female genitalia the bifurcate shape of lamella antevaginalis is reminiscent of some <i>Chrysoteuchia</i> Hübner species, but in the latter ostium bursae directly opens in the middle of the bifurcate process while in paris ostium bursae is membranous and placed between well differentiated and bifurcate lamella antevaginalis and cup-shaped lamella postvaginalis. This feature could mean that this species is close to the <i>C. mozart</i> i complex, but only the discovery of the male will clarify the problem.</p>Published as part of <i>Bassi, Graziano, 2012, New Afrotropical species of the genus Crambus Fabricius, 1798 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Crambinae), pp. 269-286 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 119 (3)</i> on pages 283-284, DOI: 10.5962/bhl.part.150195, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/6118266">http://zenodo.org/record/6118266</a>
Aurotalis dicksoni Bassi, 2016, sp. n.
No full text<i>Aurotalis dicksoni</i> sp. n. <p>Figs 3, 25, 29, 30</p> <p> <b>Holotype:</b> ♀, [RSA, Western Cape, 32°10S, 22° 20’E] Nieuwvelds M[oun]t[ai]ns, 20.XII.1957, CGC Dickson; Holotypus <i>Aurotalis dicksoni</i> n. sp. G. Bassi det. 1998. Deposited in TMSA. Not dissected.</p> <p> <b>Paratype:</b> 1♀, same data as holotype, GS 3551 GB. Deposited in CGB.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis</b>: The broad silvery white and brown streaks on the forewings distinguish <i>A. dicksoni</i> from the congeners. The male genitalia are closest to those of <i>A. dionisa</i> Błeszyński, but the uncus and gnathos are less curved, the valva has no saccular modification, and the juxta is strongly bifurcated.</p> <p> <b>Etymology</b>: This species is named in honour of the collector, C.G.C. Dickson, who made a very valuable collection of moths in RSA.</p> <p> <b>Description</b> (Fig. 3): Wingspan 28 mm. Labial palpi 4× longer than widest diameter of eye, with inner side white and outer side ochre brown. Maxillary palpi ochre brown. Frons conical, clearly produced, with one pointed tooth, ochre in middle, elsewhere white. Antenna thickened, brown. Ocelli well developed. Chetosemata present. Head yellow. Patagium ochre yellow. Tegulae ochre brown with apex and inner margin white. Thorax ochre. Forewing with broad silvery white and dark brown streaks embedded in ochre ground colour; submarginal area silvery white with dark brown scales along veins; terminal fascia dark brown; fringe with scales chestnut brown at apex, ochre in middle and white at basis. Hindwing brown; fringe whitish with scales brown at their basis. Legs brown to dark bronze brown. Sclerotizations of abdominal segment VIII as in Fig. 30.</p> <p>Male genitalia (Fig. 29). Uncus broad, with rounded apex slightly bent downward. Gnathos short and narrow, with rather pointed tip. Tegumen elongated and subtriangular. Vinculum narrow, more enlarged near tegumen, without dorsal projections. Juxta with two narrow lateral arms with curved tips. Pseudosaccus minute. Valva simple, elongated, with rounded cucullus and costal margin more strongly sclerotized. Phallobase with complex system of attachment to juxta. Phallus strongly divided into narrow dorsal part which includes the vesica and ventral pointed and sclerotized arm; vesica without cornuti.</p> <p>Female genitalia unknown.</p> <p> <b>Distribution</b>: RSA, known only from the type locality.</p> <p> <b>Remarks</b>: This is a very characteristic species, both in forewing pattern and in male genitalia. It should belong to <i>Aurotalis</i> Błeszyński but it seems quite isolated and only the discovery of the female will resolve the correct generic attribution.</p>Published as part of <i>Graziano Bassi, 2016, Studies on Afrotropical Crambinae (Lepidoptera, Pyraloidea, Crambidae): Notes on the genus Aurotalis Błeszyński, 1970, pp. 11-20 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 123 (1)</i> on page 19, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/46283">10.5281/zenodo.46283</a>
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