13,865 research outputs found
Effects of controllable biaxial strain on the Raman spectra of monolayer graphene prepared by chemical vapor deposition
No full textAuthor name used in this publication: Hui, Yeung YuAuthor name used in this publication: Lau, Shu PingAuthor name used in this publication: Hao, Jianhua2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishedVoR allowe
Psephenothrips aporosae Tong & Lau & Zhao 2021, sp. n.
No full textPsephenothrips aporosae sp. n. (Figs 5–21) Female macroptera. Body dark brown (Figs 5, 9); distal halves of tibiae and tarsi yellowish brown; antennal segment II yellow shaded with brown basally, III–VI yellow and VII–VIII brown (Figs 5, 9 & 10); fore wing shaded; tube yellowish brown at the base and distal third. Head approximately 1.3 times wider than long (Figs 7, 10); dorsal surface transversely reticulate, with a pair of minute setae at middle; ocellar region weakly sculptured with reticulation; cheeks straight, with a few tiny setae; postocular setae shorter than eyes, blunt or weakly expanded apically. Antennae 8-segmented (Fig. 6), III with one sense cone, IV with three sense cones, VIII shorter than VII, very weakly constricted at base. Mouth cone pointed, extending between fore coxae; maxillary stylets long, deeply reaching into eyes, close together medially (Fig. 7). Pronotum without median longitudinal apodeme, but transversely reticulate at anterior third and with some transverse anastomosing striae posteriorly (Fig. 8); five pairs of major setae developed, with apices softly rounded; epimeral and posteroangular setae much longer than the remaining setae, epimeral setae longest; pronotum notopleural suture variable, incomplete in holotype (Fig. 8), sometimes one side with complete suture, the other with incomplete suture. Fore femora slightly swollen, fore tarsal tooth absent (Fig. 11). Prosternal basantra absent, mesopresternum boat shape, without convex medially (Fig. 14). Mesonotum transversely reticulate (Fig. 9), lateral setae short. Metanotum sculptured with closely longitudinal reticulations, median setae small and slender (Fig. 12); metathoracic sternopleural sutures distinct (Fig. 16). Fore wing parallel-sided, with 8–9 duplicated cilia (Fig. 5); sub-basal setae long with apices softly rounded to weakly capitate, usually S3 longest (Fig. 15). Pelta hat shape, sculptured with polygonal reticulation, paired campaniform sensilla present (Fig. 13); tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing retaining setae; all abdominal major setae with knobbed apices except for wing retaining setae with acute apices; tergite IX setae blunt, setae S1 and S2 shorter than tube; tube slightly longer than head (Fig. 17). Measurements. (holotype female in microns). Distended body length 2040. Head length (width) 170 (224); compound eyes dorsal length (width) 76 (60). Antennal segments I–VIII length (width) as follows: 40 (38), 46 (30), 60 (28), 58 (34), 58 (30), 54 (26), 48 (22), 34 (12). Postocular setae length 60. Pronotal median length (width) 150 (350); anteromarginal setae 30, anteroangular setae 30, midlateral setae 30, epimeral setae 100, posteroangular setae 85. Fore wing length 752; wing sub-basal S1 44, S2 56, S3 66. Abdominal tergite IX setae S1 134, S2 150; tube 190, anals about 115. Material examined. Holotype female, CHINA, Hainan Province, Danzhou City, the Danzhou Campus of Hainan University, 14.ix.2014, collected from the galls of Aporosa octandra [Phyllanthaceae], Shulan Yang. Paratypes: 4 females, same data as holotype. Non-paratypic specimens (deposited in the Insect Collection of the Inspection and Quarantine Branch of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong): 5 females, 5.v.2021, Hong Pak Country Trail, Hong Kong, collected from the galls of Aporosa octandra, Clive S. K. Lau. Male. Unknown. Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the host plant genus name, Aporosa octandra, from which the specimens were collected. Distribution. China (Hainan, Hong Kong). Remarks. Psephenothrips aporosae sp. n. cannot be placed in the keys to species of the genus provided by Wang and Lin (2020) and Dang et al. (2021). It is easily distinguished from its congeners by the head which is much shorter than its width as well as tube that is slightly longer than head. Although the head of P. leptoceras and P. moundi are relatively short, i.e., head almost as long as wide, the new species can be distinguished from both by the following combination of characteristics: (1) postocular setae blunt or knobbed distally, and shorter than eyes (versus slightly longer than eyes in leptoceras and as long as eyes in moundi); (2) fore wing with 8–9 duplicated cilia (versus 12 and 20–26 in leptoceras and moundi respectively); (3) mesopresternum boat shaped, without convex medially (versus boat shaped but with projection medially in leptoceras and moundi); (4) metanotum sculptured with closely longitudinal reticulation (versus metanotum almost smooth anteromedially in leptoceras and moundi). Biology. Although Aporosa octandra is a dioecious angiosperm, the new species described here can induce leaf galls on both male and female plants. The galls caused by the thrips have an early-season form (Fig. 2) and a lateseason form (Figs 3, 4). Gall initiation for the early-season form appears to occur on young emerging leaves shortly after they bud out in late April and early May. As a result of feeding by the thrips, the lamina undergoes mesophyll hyperplasia and becomes distorted into a much-folded ‘cerebrum-like’ spherical leaf gall (Fig. 2). Because the budding leaf has a very short petiole, the gall may easily be mistaken as growing out directly from the twig. The gall is yellowish-green in colour with a diameter about 1.0– 1.2 cm. When the gall is manually unfolded (Fig. 18), the inside of gall is multilocular with many tightly folds, which could be considered as a protective strategy to keep gallinvaders or predators out. The first and second instar larvae are generally yellow except for antennae, head, pronotum and abdominal segment IX–X that are grey to dark (Figs 18, 19). However, these dark cuticles are progressively lost in the prepupa and pupal stages which progressively become yellow and transparent with internal orange and reddish pigments (Figs 20, 21). The late-season gall is formed when the adult thrips leave the early-season gall to feed on fully grown leaves during Summer-Autumn period. This feeding can start anywhere on the leaves and is not restricted to beginning from the apex or petiole end. Epidermis hypertrophy occurs with simultaneous curling of the blade along the midrib, thus forming ‘bubble-like’ gall that extends half-way along a leaf (Figs 3, 4). In Hong Kong, Androthrips sp., a gall-invader that is commonly encountered in southern China, was observed wandering out of the gall. The density of leaf galls on Aporosa octandra does not seem to be high. According to the observations by the second author in three different localities of Hong Kong, the density remains at 1–3 galls per plant only.Published as part of Tong, Xiaoli, Lau, Clive Siu-Ki & Zhao, Chao, 2021, A new species of Psephenothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) from China, pp. 291-297 in Zootaxa 5072 (3) on pages 292-293, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5072.3.6, http://zenodo.org/record/574474
<i>Chorocaris</i> sp. 2 and <i>Munidopsis lauensis</i> pairwise comparisons of Solwara 8, Solwara 1, South Su, North Fiji, and Lau Basin genetic differentiation.
No full text<p><i>Chorocaris</i> sp. 2 and <i>Munidopsis lauensis</i> pairwise comparisons of Solwara 8, Solwara 1, South Su, North Fiji, and Lau Basin genetic differentiation.</p
FIGURE 1 in A new deep-sea scalpelliform barnacle, Vulcanolepas buckeridgei sp. nov. (Eolepadidae: Neolepadinae) from hydrothermal vents in the Lau Basin
No full textFIGURE 1. Sampling locations of Vulcaolepas buckeridgei sp. nov. and Vulcanolepas sp. 1 in Herrera et al (2015). Note DNA barcode sequences of Vulcanolepas buckeridgei and V. sp. 1 is similar, suggesting they are con-specific.Published as part of Chan, Benny K.K. & Chang, Yen-Wei, 2018, A new deep-sea scalpelliform barnacle, Vulcanolepas buckeridgei sp. nov. (Eolepadidae: Neolepadinae) from hydrothermal vents in the Lau Basin, pp. 117-129 in Zootaxa 4407 (1) on page 118, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4407.1.8, http://zenodo.org/record/121667
Tenothrips keruing Ng & Ain & Lau 2019, sp. n.
No full textTenothrips keruing sp. n. (Figs 1–8) Female macroptera. Body pale (Fig.1), major pronotal setae brown; all legs yellow; antennal segments I–III completely pale, IV–V apical half shaded, VI–VIII uniformly shaded; fore wings uniformly pale. Antennae 8-segmented, segments III–IV with forked sense cone (Fig. 6); antennal segment I without paired dorso-apical setae. Head wider than long; with faint transverse striations in front of first ocellus, ocellar area with irregular striations, vertex with fine transverse striations (Fig 1); head with three pairs ocellar setae, pair III longest arising outside ocellar triangle; five pairs of short postocular setae arising in a row parallel to eye margin; compound eyes near anterior margins with a few pigmented facets. Pronotum as long as wide, with transverse striations (Fig. 1); with more than 20 small scattered discal setae; 2 pairs of long posteroangular setae, posterior margin with 4 pairs of setae, pair I longest. Mesonotum with fine transverse striations; CPS present at anterior margin. Metanotum striate laterally, middle area irregularly reticulate; median setae stout, arising below anterior margin, further apart from each other than from lateral pair (Fig 8). Meso- and metafurca without spinula but mesosternum with median longitudinal thickening (Fig. 3). Fore wing first vein with 7 setae on basal half, 3 setae on distal half; second vein with 4 setae (2 at middle, 2 at apex); apical seta of clavus longest (Fig. 4). Abdominal tergite I with transverse lines anteriorly, CPS close to posterior margin; tergites II–VII smooth almost no sculpture on median area mesad of setae pair II; ctenidia absent; tergite VIII with irregular group of microtrichia anteromesad of spiracle, posterior margin with short and irregular comb laterally (Fig. 2); tergite IX with 2 pairs of CPS, mid-dorsal setae (S1) extending beyond apex of X. Pleurotergites without discal setae. Sternites III–VII without discal setae, 3 pairs of marginal setae; sternite VII posterior marginal setae long, S1 arising in front of posterior margin. Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1625. Head, length 120; width across eyes 140; ocellar setae III 20. Pronotum, length 160, width 170; posteroangular setae 90–110. Metanotum median setae 35. Fore wing length 750. Antennal length 290; segments III–VIII length 60, 50, 35, 50, 10, 10 Male macroptera. Body and fore wing similar to female; tergite IX with a pair (S4) of stout dark setae arising wide apart (Fig. 5); sternites III–VII without pore plates. Material studied. Holotype female: MALAYSIA, Pasoh Forest Reserve, Negeri Sembilan, on Dipterocarpus sublamellatus flowers (Dipterocarpaceae) at tree canopy (height 30m tall), 8–10.iv.2019 (Ng, Y.F. & Ain, N.) (in CISUKM). Paratypes: 13 females, 2 males, all collected with holotype (in CISUKM & ANIC). Comments. This new species of Tenothrips is very different from the other species in the genus as follows: 1. Forewing second vein with 4 setae; 2. Mesonotum without a spinula; 3. Male abdominal tergite IX with a pair of stout setae; 4. Male abdominal sternites without any pore plates. According to Zhang et al. (2019), Tenothrips is not distinguished by any apomorphies, and its systematic significance remains unresolved. Similarly, the relationships of this new species are far from clear. The distinctive character states of the male are unusual within Tenothrips, and the generic position of the species should probably be re-considered when more materials and further species become available.Published as part of Ng, Y. F., Ain, N. & Lau, K. H., 2019, A new species of Tenothrips pollinating Dipterocarpus sublamellatus in Malaysia, pp. 397-400 in Zootaxa 4695 (4) on page 399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4695.4.9, http://zenodo.org/record/353484
A new species of Aleurolobus Quaintance et Baker (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) from Southern Europe.
No full textAleurolobus teucrii n. sp. is described from southern Italy and the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean). The species seems to be monophagous on Teucrium fruticans L. A key to the European species of this genus (A. niloticus Priesner et Hosny, A. olivinus (Silvestri), A. wunni (Ryberg) and A. teucrii n. sp.) is provided.peer-reviewe
Simulium (Gomphostilbia) dachaisense Takaoka & Lau, sp. nov.
No full textSimulium (Gomphostilbia) dachaisense Takaoka & Lau sp. nov. (Figs. 11 A– 13 G) Female. Body length 1.8 –2.0 mm. Head. Slightly narrower than thorax. Frons black, shiny when illuminated at certain angles, moderately covered with whitish yellow scale-like recumbent short hairs interspersed with few dark longer hairs along each lateral margin; frontal ratio 1.5–1.6:1.0: 1.6–1.8; frons:head ratio 1.0: 3.9–4.1. Fronto-ocular area well developed, narrow, directed dorsolaterally. Clypeus black, densely covered with whitish-yellow hairs interspersed with dark longer hairs on each side. Labrum 0.7 times as long as clypeus. Antenna composed of scape, pedicel and nine flagellomeres, dark brown except scape, pedicel and basal half or little less of first flagellomere yellow. Maxillary palp composed of five segments, light brown except third segment dark brown, proportional lengths of third, fourth, and fifth segments 1.0: 1.2: 2.7; third segment (Fig. 11 A) of moderate size; sensory vesicle (Fig. 11 A) of medium size, ellipsoidal, 0.36 times as long as third segment and with medium-sized opening. Maxillary lacinia with 10 inner and 12 or 13 outer teeth. Mandible with 21–23 inner and 10 outer teeth. Cibarium (Fig. 11 B) with strongly sclerotized dorsal margin having short tongue-like plate produced forward and posteriorly, and with well sclerotized mediolongitudinal ridge with deep cleft, of which apices are hidden behind tongue-like plate. Thorax. Scutum black, shiny when illuminated at certain angles, densely covered with yellow scale-like recumbent hairs. Scutellum brownish-black, slightly shiny when illuminated at certain angles, covered with yellow short hairs and dark-brown long upright hairs along posterior margin. Postnotum brownish-black and bare. Pleural membrane bare. Katepisternum longer than deep, brownish-black, shiny when illuminated at certain angles, moderately covered with short hairs. Legs. Foreleg: coxa light brown; trochanter light brown except base paler; femur light to medium brown with apical cap dark brown; tibia medium brown with base and median large portion pale, moderately covered with whitish-yellow short hairs (brightly shiny when illuminated) on outer surface of basal three-fourths; tarsus black, with moderate dorsal hair crest; basitarsus much dilated, 5.4 times as long as its greatest width. Midleg: coxa dark brown to brownish-black; trochanter medium brown except base pale; femur medium brown except apical cap dark brown; tibia light to medium brown except base yellow and apical cap dark brown, and with whitish-yellow short hairs (brightly shiny when illuminated) on outer and posterior surfaces of basal three-fourths; tarsus dark brown except basal half of basitarsus dark yellow. Hind leg: coxa medium brown; trochanter light brown; femur medium brown except extreme basal tip yellow and apical cap dark brown; tibia (Fig. 11 C) light to medium brown except base yellow and apical two-fifths dark brown, and with dark spot subbasally; tibia moderately covered with whitish-yellow short hairs (brightly shiny when illuminated) on outer and posterior surfaces of basal three-fourths; tarsus (Fig. 11 D) brownish-black except basal three-fourths of basitarsus (though base light brown) and basal half of second tarsomere whitish; basitarsus (Fig. 11 D) narrow, nearly parallel-sided, 6.7 times as long as wide, and 0.6 and 0.5 times as wide as greatest widths of tibia and femur, respectively; calcipala (Fig. 11 D) well developed, nearly as long as wide, and 0.5 times as wide as greatest width of basitarsus; pedisulcus (Fig. 11 D) well developed; claw (Fig. 11 E) with small subbasal tooth. Wing. Length 1.7 mm. Costa with dark brown spinules and light brown hairs except subbasal patch of whitish hairs. Subcosta haired except apical one-fourth to one-fifth bare. Hair tuft on base of radial vein dark brown. Basal portion of radius fully haired. Basal cell absent. Halter. Clear white except basal portion darkened. Abdomen. Basal scale light brown, with fringe of yellowish-white hairs. Dorsal surface of abdomen medium brown to brownish-black, moderately covered with dark short to long hairs; tergites of segments 2 and 6–9 shiny when illuminated at certain angles. Ventral surface of segment 2 creamy, those of other segments gradually darkened from segment 3 to segment 8; sternal plate on segment 7 undeveloped. Genitalia. Sternite 8 (Fig. 11 F) bare medially, with 7–11 medium-long to long hairs together with one to four slender short hairs on each side. Ovipositor valves (Fig. 11 F) triangular (though posteromedial corners rounded), tapered laterally, thin, membranous, moderately covered with microsetae interspersed with one to three short hairs; inner margins nearly straight, moderately sclerotized, and somewhat separated from each other. Genital fork (Fig. 11 G) of usual inverted-Y form, with slender stem; arms of moderate width, moderately folded medially, without posteromedial lobe or projection. Paraproct in ventral view (Fig. 11 H) nearly triangular, with anteromedial margin darkened, with five or six sensilla on anteromedial surface; paraproct in lateral view (Fig. 11 I) somewhat produced ventrally, 0.6 times as long as wide, with 11–15 medium-long to long hairs on ventral and lateral surfaces. Cercus in lateral view (Fig. 11 I) short, rounded posteriorly, 0.6 times as long as wide. Spermatheca (Fig. 11 J) ellipsoidal, 1.6 times as long as greatest width, well sclerotized except duct and small area near juncture with duct unsclerotized, and with many fissures on outer surface; internal setae absent; both accessory ducts slender, subequal in diameter to major one. Male. Body length 2.4 mm. Head. Sightly wider than thorax. Upper eye medium to dark brown, consisting of 18 vertical columns and 18 horizontal rows of large facets. Face black, whitish-gray pruinose, shiny. Clypeus black, whitish-gray pruinose, shiny, and moderately covered with yellow short hairs interspersed with dark-brown longer hairs. Antenna composed of scape, pedicel and nine flagellomeres, dark brown except scape dark yellow, and pedicel and base of first flagellomere yellow; first flagellomere elongate, 1.8 times as long as second one. Maxillary palp with five segments, light brown except third segment dark brown, proportional lengths of third, fourth, and fifth segments 1.0: 1.2: 2.5; third segment (Fig. 12 A) somewhat widened apically; sensory vesicle (Fig. 12 A) globular or ellipsoidal, small, 0.2 times length of third segment, and with small opening. Thorax. Scutum black, thinly gray pruinose and shiny when illuminated at certain angles on shoulders, along lateral margins and on prescutellar area leaving large central area non-pruinose, densely covered with golden-yellow short hairs except prescutellar area with few dark upright hairs. Other features as in female. Legs. Color nearly as in female except fore tibia medium brown though median large portion paler, mid basitarsus brownish-black except basal one-third or less dark yellow to light brown, and hind tibia (Fig. 12 B) with narrower whitish basal portion. Fore basitarsus somewhat dilated, 7.1 times as long as its greatest width. Hind basitarsus (Fig. 12 C) narrow, nearly parallel-sided (though slightly tapered from middle to apex), 5.5 times as long as wide, and 0.5 and 0.6 times as wide as greatest widths of tibia and femur, respectively; calcipala (Fig. 12 C) well developed, slightly longer than width at base, and 0.4 times as wide as greatest width of basitarsus; pedisulcus (Fig. 12 C) well developed. Wing. Length 1.5 mm. As in female except subcosta without hairs. Halter. Grayish with basal portion darkened. Abdomen. Basal scale medium brown, with fringe of light-brown long hairs. Dorsal surface of abdomen medium to dark brown except base of segment 2 ochreous, covered with light-brown short to long hairs; segments 2 and 5–7 each with pair of shiny dorsolateral patches. Genitalia. Coxite in ventral view (Fig. 12 D) nearly rectangular, 1.6 times as long as its greatest width. Style in ventral view (Fig. 12 D) 0.8 times length of coxite, slender, tapered toward apex, with apical spine; style in ventrolateral view (Fig. 12 E) gradually tapered from base to round apex. Ventral plate in ventral view (Fig. 12 D) transverse, 0.5 times as long as wide, with body slightly widened posteriorly, with anterior margin roundly produced anteromedially, posterior margin shallowly concave, and densely covered with microsetae on ventral surface except areas near anterior margin bare; basal arms of moderate length, directed anteriorly, nearly parallel-sided; ventral plate in lateral view (Fig. 12 F) with posterior portion of body somewhat produced ventrally; ventral plate in caudal view (Fig. 12 G) narrowed ventrally with ventral margin nearly straight (width:height ratio 1.0: 0.5), moderately covered with microsetae on most of posterior surface. Median sclerite (Fig. 12 F, H) thin, plate-like, wide, arising from slightly anterior to middle of ventral plate, and directed posterodorsally. Paramere (Fig. 12 I) with three relatively longer hooks and several shorter ones. Aedeagal membrane moderately covered with microsetae, and with no sclerotized dorsal plate. Ventral surface of abdominal segment 10 (Fig. 12 J, K) somewhat sclerotized basally, without distinct hairs near posterior margin on each side. Cercus (Fig. 12 J, K) rounded, somewhat produced ventrally, with 10–13 hairs. Pupa. Body length 2.2–2.4 mm. Head. Integument yellow, moderately covered with small round tubercles; antennal sheath without protuberances; frons with three pairs of unbranched long trichomes with coiled or uncoiled apices; face with pair of unbranched long trichomes with coiled apices; three frontal trichomes on each side arising close together, subequal in length to one another and somewhat longer than facial one. Thorax. Integument yellow, moderately covered with small round tubercles, with three long anterodorsal trichomes (two with coiled apices, one uncoiled apex), two anterolateral trichomes (one with coiled apex, one with uncoiled apex), one medium-long mediolateral trichome with uncoiled apex, and three ventrolateral trichomes with uncoiled apices (one medium long, two short) on each side; all trichomes unbranched. Gill (Fig. 13 A) composed of eight slender thread-like filaments, arranged as (2 + 1)+(1 + 2)+ 2 filaments from dorsal to ventral, with short common basal stalk having somewhat swollen basal fenestra at base; dorsal triplet arising upward, with short primary and secondary stalks (or with three filaments arising at same level from short primary stalk in one pupa); middle triplet directed forward (and little inward), with short primary and short to medium-long secondary stalk; stalk of ventral pair directed forward and downward, long, 1.5 times length of interspiracular trunk; stalk of ventral pair about twice as thick as primary stalk of middle triplet, which is slightly thicker than that of dorsal triplet; all filaments light to medium brown, gradually tapered toward apices (though filaments of dorsal and middle triplets slender basally, then slightly tapered toward apices); lengths of filaments including their stalk(s) measured in one pupa, of which all gill filaments are intact (Fig. 13 A), are as follows: filaments of dorsal triplet 0.9–1.1 mm long, those of middle triplet 1.1–1.4 mm long; inner filament (2.9 mm long) of ventral pair slightly longer than outer filament (2.7 mm long); filaments of dorsal and middle triplets subequal in thickness to one another and nearly half as thick as those of ventral paired filaments, when basal portions are compared; cuticle of all filaments with well-defined annular ridges and furrows though gradually becoming indistinct from middle to apices, densely covered with minute tubercles. Abdomen. Dorsally, all segments nearly unpigmented except segments 1 and 2 grayish; segment 1 weakly tuberculate near anterior margin; segment 1 with one unbranched slender medium-long hair-like seta on each side; segment 2 with one unbranched slender medium-long hair-like seta and four or five short somewhat spinous setae submedially near posterior margin on each side; segments 3 and 4 each with four hooked spines and one short somewhat spinous seta near posterior margin on each side; segments 5–8 each with two unbranched short setae near posterior margin on each side; segments 6–9 each with spine-combs in transverse row and comb-like groups of minute spines near anterior margin on each side; segment 9 with pair of cone-like terminal hooks (Fig. 13 B). Ventrally, segment 4 with one bifid hook and few unbranched short setae on each side; segment 5 with pair of bifid or trifid hooks submedially and few unbranched short slender setae on each side; segments 6 and 7 each with pair of bifid inner and unbranched outer hooks somewhat spaced from each other and few unbranched short slender setae on each side; segments 4–8 with comb-like groups of minute spines. Each side of segment 9 with one to three grapnel-shaped hooklets. Cocoon (Fig. 13 C). Wall-pocket-shaped, moderately woven, somewhat extended ventrolaterally; anterior margin somewhat thickly woven, without anterodorsal bulge or projection; posterior half with floor roughly or moderately woven; individual threads visible; 2.5 –3.0 mm long by 1.4 –2.0 mm wide. Mature larva. Body length 3.7–4.2 mm. Body light grayish-green though intersegmental areas pale, with reddish-brown markings as follows: thoracic segment 1 encircled with broad transverse band (though disconnected ventromedially) and thoracic segment 3 and abdominal segments 1–8 each with pair of dorsolateral spots increasing width from thoracic segment 3 to abdominal segment 5, though those on posterior segments 6 and 7 less distinct. Cephalic apotome dull yellowish though whitish on little less than anterior half, and moderately covered with unpigmented minute setae; head spots indistinct or faintly negative. Lateral surface of head capsule whitish yellow except eye-spot region whitish; eyebrow somewhat darkened on posteror half, two relatively large spots and one small spot near posterior margin faintly positive or indistinct; one or two small spots below eye-spot region indistinct. Ventral surface of head capsule whitish yellow except darkened area near posterior margin on each side of postgenal cleft; one elongate spot and one round spot on each side of postgenal cleft indistinct. Antenna composed of three segments and apical sensillum, somewhat longer than stem of labral fan; length ratio of three segments (from base to tip) 1.00: 0.92–0.95:1.00– 1.11. Labral fan with 30–35 main rays. Mandible (Fig. 13 D) with three comb-teeth decreasing in length from first to third; serrations composed of two teeth (one medium-sized, one small); major tooth at acute angle against mandible on apical side; supernumerary serrations absent. Hypostoma (Fig. 13 E) with row of nine apical teeth, of which median tooth and each corner tooth are prominent; lateral margin smooth; four or five hypostomal bristles per side lying parallel to lateral margin. Postgenal cleft (Fig. 13 F) deep, 6.3–6.6 times length of postgenal bridge. Cervical sclerites composed of two pale small pieces, not fused to occiput, widely separated medially from each other. Cuticle of abdominal segments 5–9 densely covered with dark unbranched and bifid (and rarely trifid) spinous setae of various sizes (apex of each dark seta appearing to have few to several transparent tips) (Fig. 13 G) dorsally and dorsolaterally; cuticle of thorax and abdominal segments 1–4 sparsely with relatively smaller similar dark setae; last abdominal segment moderately covered also with unbranched colorless setae on each side of anal sclerite. Rectal scales present. Rectal organ retracted, number of secondary lobules per lobe uncountable. Anal sclerite of usual X-form, with anterior arms 0.7 times as long as posterior ones, broadly sclerotized at base; accessory sclerite absent. Last abdominal segment expanded ventrolaterally forming double bulges on each side, visible as large conical ventral papilla when viewed from side. Posterior circlet with 69–72 rows of hooklets with up to 13 or 14 hooklets per row. Type material. HOLOTYPE: Female, reared from a pupa collected from a small shallow stream (width 3–6 m, depth 10–20 cm, bottom sandy, water temperature 20.0˚C, exposed to the sun, altitude 1,440 m) (12 ˚08’ 32.409 ” N/ 108 ˚ 38 ’ 58.318 ” E) slowly flowing in open land, Da Chais, Lac Duong, Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam, 24 -IV- 2014, by H. Takaoka, M. Sofian-Azirun, Z. Ya’cob, C.D. Chen & K.W. Lau. PARATYPES: One female, one male, one pharate female, one pharate male, three pupal exuviae and cocoons, and four mature larvae, same data as those of the holotype. Biological notes. The pupae and larvae of this new species were collected from grasses trailing in the water. Associated species were S. (S.) lacduongense sp. nov. and S. (S.) nodosum. Etymology. The species name dachaisense refers to the area name, Da Chais, where this new species was collected. Remarks. This new species is assigned to the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia, redefined by Takaoka (2012), based on the antenna with nine flagellomeres, pleural membrane bare, hind tibiae mostly darkened (Fig. 11 C), spermatheca without sclerotized neck (Fig. 11 J), male hind basitarsus slender and parallel-sided (Fig. 12 C), ventral plate slightly produced ventrally (Fig. 12 G) (its ratio of the height against the greatest width is 0.5), and pupal gill with eight filaments (Fig. 13 A). Among six subgroups of the S. batoense species-group (Takaoka 2012), S. (G.) dachaisense sp. nov. is placed in the S. duolongum subgroup (22 known species included) by having the pupal gill with eight filaments, of which two filaments of the ventral pair are subequal in length and thickness to each other, longer than the pupal body, and more than 1.5 times as long as other six filaments of the dorsal and middle triplets (Fig. 13 A). This new species is characterized in the female by the claw having a small subbasal tooth (Fig. 11 E), a character reported only in two species of the S. batoense species-group, i.e., S. (G.) batoense Edwards described from Java, and S. (G.) pattoni Senior-White from Sri Lanka (Takaoka and Davies 1996; Davies and Györkös 1987). However, S. (G.) dachaisense sp. nov. is distinguished from S. (G.) batoense by the following characters (those of S. (G.) batoense in parentheses): in the female by lacking three dark longitudinal vittae on the scutum (with three dark longitudinal vittae); in the male by the slenderer hind basitarsus, length ratio against the greatest width 5.5 (cf., 4.6), and ventral plate with its ventral margin nearly straight when viewed posteriorly (Fig. 12 D) (the ventral plate rounded ventrally); in the pupa by the gill filaments arranged as (2 + 1)+(1 + 2)+ 2 filaments (Fig. 13 A) (2 + 1 +(1 + 2)+ 2 filaments) and cone-shaped terminal hooks (Fig. 13 B) (terminal hooks flat triangular-shaped with its outer margin undulate or weakly serrated); and in the larva by the shape of dark spinous setae on dorsal and dorsolateral surfaces of posterior abdominal segments, which are unbranched or bifid (Fig. 13 G) (basally branched into two to four). Simulium (G.) dachaisense sp. nov. is distinguished from S. (G.) pattoni in the female by lacking three longitudinal vittae on the scutum, in the male by the narrower fore and hind basitarsi (the length ratios against the greatest widths 7.1 and 5.5, respectively, in this new species versus 5.7 and 3.8 in S. (G.) pattoni), and ventral plate with its ventral margin nearly straight when viewed posteriorly (Fig. 12 D) (cf., ventral plate somewhat pointed ventrally in S. (G.) pattoni), and in the pupa by the different arrangement of the gill filaments (cf., 1 + 2 +(1 + 2)+ 2 filaments in S. (G.) pattoni).Published as part of Takaoka, Hiroyuki, Sofian-Azirun, Mohd, Ya'Cob, Zubaidah, Chen, Chee Dhang, Lau, Koon Weng & Pham, Xuan Da, 2015, The black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Thua Thien Hue and Lam Dong Provinces, Vietnam, pp. 1-96 in Zootaxa 3961 (1) on pages 28-34, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3961.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/28857
An insight into the diverse roles of surfactant proteins, SP-A and SP-D in innate and adaptive immunity
No full textPMCID: PMC3369187Surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D are hydrophilic, collagen-containing calcium-dependent lectins, which appear to have a range of innate immune functions at pulmonary as well as extrapulmonary sites. These proteins bind to target ligands on pathogens, allergens, and apoptotic cells, via C-terminal homotrimeric carbohydrate recognition domains, while the collagen region brings about the effector functions via its interaction with cell surface receptors. SP-A and SP-D deal with various pathogens, using a range of innate immune mechanisms such as agglutination/aggregation, enhancement of phagocytosis, and killing mechanisms by phagocytic cells and direct growth inhibition. SP-A and SP-D have also been shown to be involved in the control of pulmonary inflammation including allergy and asthma. Emerging evidence suggest that SP-A and SP-D are capable of linking innate immunity with adaptive immunity that includes modulation of dendritic cell function and helper T cell polarization. This review enumerates immunological properties of SP-A and SP-D inside and outside lungs and discusses their importance in human health and disease
Scirtothrips longifacies NG & AIN & RAFTI & LAU 2023, sp. n.
No full textScirtothrips longifacies sp. n. (Figs 19–27) Female macroptera. Body pale; pronotum pale (Fig. 19), femora, tibiae and tarsi pale; antennal segments I–II pale, III slightly shaded apically, IV shaded apical half, V–VIII uniformly shaded (Fig. 25); fore wings and clavus weakly shaded, apical pale; abdominal tergites II–VIII pale including anterior margins pale; sternites IV–VII with antecostal ridges pale. Antennae 8-segmented, forked sensoria on III–IV short, not reaching more than one-third the length of succeeding segment; Head about twice as wide as long, mouth cone pointed reaching three third the length of pronotum and sometimes reaching mesosternum (Fig. 22); postocular and ocellar region closely striate; ocellar setae I present, ocellar setae III arise on tangent between anterior margins of hind ocelli: Pronotum as wide as long, with closely spaced striae, posterior margin stippled membrane, 4 pairs of almost subequal posteromarginal setae (Fig. 20); Metanotum with closely spaced convex striae lines that produce effect of stippled triangular shaped area, lateral area smooth (Fig. 23). Fore wing first vein with 16+2 minute setae. second vein with 1 seta; fore wing clavus with 3–4 marginal setae, and three discal setae (Fig. 27). Abdominal tergites II–VI with setae S1 close together, distance between bases about the setal length (Fig. 21); VIII with posteromarginal comb complete, without any microtrichia rows anteromedially (Fig. 24). Sternites fully covered by rows of microtrichia across segment; II–VI with 12 posteromarginal setae, complete comb of microtrichia on posterior margin (Fig. 26). Measurements (female in microns). Distended body length 1050. Head width across eyes 106. Pronotum, length 130, width 130; posteromarginal setae length 10–12. Metanotum median setae 12, submedian setae 12. Fore wing, length 548; setae length on first vein 7–11. Antennae segments III–VIII length 48, 40, 40, 40, 7, 8. Tergites IV–VII S1 length 10–17, distance between bases 5–10. Material studied. Holotype female: MALAYSIA, Pasoh Research Station, Negeri Sembilan, Yellow Pan Trap at Canopy Tower, 29.xii.2019 (Ain N. & Ng, Y.F.) (in CISUKM). Paratypes: (15 females 9 males), 10 females 9 males collected with holotype, one female collected 22.ix.2019 (Ain N. & Ng, Y.F.), 2 females collected 2.vii.2019 (Ain N. & Ng, Y.F.), one female collected 18.vi.2019 (Ain N. & Ng, Y.F.), one male collected 29.ii.2020 (Ain N. & Ng, Y.F.), (in CISUKM and ANIC). Comments This new species has a very unusually elongate and pointed mouth cone reaching three thirds of the length of pronotum and sometimes reaching the mesosternum. Scirtothrips with elongate mouth cones include drepanofortis, pilbara and tenor from Australia. However, this new species can be recognised by several prominent characters such as: 1. Pronotum posterior margin with stippled membrane; 2. Metanotum with closely spaced convex striae lines and unique stippled, triangular shaped area; 3. Sternites with 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae.Published as part of NG, Y. F., AIN, N., RAFTI, N. S. & LAU, K. H., 2023, A new genus and species of Scirtothrips genus-group (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), with two new species of Scirtothrips, from Dipterocarp Forest canopy in Malaysia, pp. 586-594 in Zootaxa 5306 (5) on page 593, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5306.5.6, http://zenodo.org/record/807330
Gamma ray astronomy in the low energy range
No full textA low energy gamma ray telescope, and the results of its observations are described. The telescope consisted of four sodium iodide crystals, each of 120 cm2 area, occulted by lead discs. Charged particles are rejected using scintillation, anti-coincidence shields.The telescope was flown from Palestine, Texas in 1974. Gamma rays were observed from the Crab Nebula, the pulsar NP0 532, and the atmospheric background. No evidence for a gamma ray burst was found, giving an upper limit of less than 5.8 x 103 bursts per year of intensity greater than 1.6 x 10-6 ergs cm-2.Various types of existing, and planned, gamma ray detectors, and successful gamma ray observations are reviewed. Detailed calculations of the detection efficiency of a Double Compton telescope are presented and these results led to the development of the MISO low energy gamma ray telescope.Preliminary calculations of the detection efficiency of an Anticollimated Double Compton telescope are presented, which suggest that further, more detailed investigation of this type of detector would prove fruitful
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