380 research outputs found
Gavin Kitching, Development and underdevelopment in historical perspective
No full textCahn Roger H. Gavin Kitching, Development and underdevelopment in historical perspective. In: Tiers-Monde, tome 24, n°93, 1983. Le rôle de l'Etat dans le Tiers Monde, sous la direction de Moïses Ikonicoff. p. 209
The phylogeny of Anophelinae revisited: inferences about the origin and classification of Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae)
No full text© 2015 Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. "This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Harbach, R. E. and I. J. Kitching (2016). "The phylogeny of Anophelinae revisited: inferences about the origin and classification of Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae)." Zoologica Scripta 45(1): 34-47, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/zsc.12137/full. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving."NHM Repositor
Butterflies of Australia
No full textThe world over people love butterflies but few understand much more about them than their physical beauty. Butterflies of Australia offers a unique guide to help identify the nearly 400 species to which our continent plays host but with its focus on living butterflies, it is much more than an identification guide. Within its pages is a concise but broad, non-technical introduction to butterfly biology, history, ecology, evolution and conservation. Hundreds of meticulous illustrations show adult butterflies in life, flying or perched, among the plants and animals of their natural habitat, while others document the Australian butterfly species, with beautiful diagnostic half-wing illustrations of pinned specimens. It also explains and illustrates much of the known behaviour and ecology of Australian butterflies, and in so doing meets the needs of both the butterfly watcher and general nature lover. Butterflies of Australia presents a remarkable blend of natural history, science and art. With a copy as guide the reader can appreciate the charm and purpose underlying butterflies' far from frivolous lives.No Full Tex
Preface: Professor Roger Kitching
No full textIn 1985, the Royal Entomological Society of London commemorated its Royal Charter and 150th anniversary of establishment with a year‐long expedition in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. I participated, with some 150 other scientists – virtually all entomologists – supported by volunteers from the British Armed Forces. The expedition was named Project Wallace in honour of Alfred Russell Wallace, a former president of the society, and those who participated in it were affectionately called ‘Wallies’. Most of the military volunteers had just served in the Falkland Islands but had no idea why they were there or what tropical biology was about. But one energetic Australian stepped in and within days had established an evening lecture series. Roger Kitching's lectures transformed the lives of many of the volunteers, so much so, that several on leaving the military are now full time entomologists. It also impacted on me and other scientists who were there. So too has Roger changed the lives of many of the undergraduate and postgraduate students that he has taught in Australia and elsewhere in the world since 1977.Griffith Sciences, Griffith School of EnvironmentNo Full Tex
Changes in host-parasitoid food web structure with elevation
No full textGradients in elevation are increasingly used to investigate how species respond to changes in local climatic conditions. Whilst many studies have shown elevational patterns in species richness and turnover, little is known about how food web structure is affected by elevation.Contrasting responses of predator and prey species to elevation may lead to changes in food web structure. We investigated how the quantitative structure of a herbivore‐parasitoid food web changes with elevation in an Australian subtropical rain forest.On four occasions, spread over 1 year, we hand‐collected leaf miners at twelve sites, along three elevational gradients (between 493 m and 1159 m a.s.l). A total of 5030 insects, including 603 parasitoids, were reared, and summary food webs were created for each site. We also carried out a replicated manipulative experiment by translocating an abundant leaf‐mining weevil Platynotocis sp., which largely escaped parasitism at high elevations (≥900 m a.s.l.), to lower, warmer elevations, to test if it would experience higher parasitism pressure.We found strong evidence that the environmental change that occurs with increasing elevation affects food web structure. Quantitative measures of generality, vulnerability and interaction evenness decreased significantly with increasing elevation (and decreasing temperature), whilst elevation did not have a significant effect on connectance. Mined plant composition also had a significant effect on generality and vulnerability, but not on interaction evenness. Several relatively abundant species of leaf miner appeared to escape parasitism at higher elevations, but contrary to our prediction, Platynotocis sp. did not experience greater levels of parasitism when translocated to lower elevations.Our study indicates that leaf‐mining herbivores and their parasitoids respond differently to environmental conditions imposed by elevation, thus producing structural changes in their food webs. Increasing temperatures and changes in vegetation communities that are likely to result from climate change may have a restructuring effect on host–parasitoid food webs. Our translocation experiment, however, indicated that leaf miners currently escaping parasitism at high elevations may not automatically experience higher parasitism under warmer conditions and future changes in food web structure may depend on the ability of parasitoids to adapt to novel hosts
Historic DNA for taxonomy and conservation: A case-study of a century-old Hawaiian hawkmoth type (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)
No full textCopyright: © 2017 Hundsdoerfer, Kitching. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.NHM Repositor
Host-plants of leaf-miners in Australian subtropical rainforest
No full textLeaf-miners are endophytic insect herbivores that are considered to be relatively host-specific compared with other types of insect herbivores, often depending on one or a few congeneric hosts. Because of their degree of host-specificity, they may be particularly vulnerable to environmental change. Despite this, little is known about the host-plants and life histories of the Australian leaf-mining fauna. Here we present new information on the host-plant use of leaf-miners occurring in Australian subtropical rainforest. We repeatedly hand-collected leaf-miners at 14 sampling sites in the ‘Tweed Caldera’ subtropical rainforest region of south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Leaf-miners and their host-plants were identified to species (or morphospecies in the case of some leaf-miners). Within the region, a total of 106 plant species was recorded as leaf-miner hosts, on which a total of 12 679 individual leaf-miners was counted, belonging to 50 different species. We measured the local host-plant range of each leaf-miner species for which we had reliable incidence records across sampling sites (24 species). Local host-specificity was relatively high with 66.7 % of species recorded from a single or two congeneric host-plants. 16.7 % of species were restricted to a single plant family and 16.7 % were recorded on a few to several plants of the same plant order or across a range of unrelated host-plants
Elevational turnover in the composition of leaf-miners and their interactions with host plants in Australian subtropical rainforest
No full textElpeytonius Reinert, Harbach & Kitching, GEN. NOV.
No full textELPEYTONIUS REINERT, HARBACH & KITCHING, GEN. NOV. Type species: Ochlerotatus apicoannulatus Edwards, 1912 (nom. nov. for Aedimorphus alboannulatus Theobald, 1905). Females Head: Vertex with entire area covered with narrow, curved, decumbent scales or with few to several narrow scales on anterior, median area; occiput and vertex with numerous erect, forked scales; ocular line narrow, with narrow, pale scales; eyes above antennal pedicels touching or separated by diameter of 2 ocular facets; antennal pedicel with mesal surface bearing few short, slender setae, few small, broad, dark scales present or absent; clypeus bare; maxillary palpus dark-scaled; proboscis dark-scaled with narrow, complete or incomplete, pale-scaled band near midlength, proboscis longer than forefemur. Thorax: Scutum covered with narrow, curved scales except bare prescutellar area; acrostichal (anterior and posterior) and dorsocentral (anterior and posterior) setae present; prescutellar area with 7–9 setae on each side; scutellum with broad, silvery scales on all lobes; paratergite with broad, pale scales; antepronota widely separated, with broad, silvery scales, several setae; postpronotum with narrow, curved, dark scales on upper area, posterior setae present; postspiracular area without scales, 3 or 4 setae present; scales absent on hypostigmal area, subspiracular area, lower proepisternum, lower and upper prealar areas and metameron; mesokatepisternum with small upper and small lower posterior patches of broad, pale scales, setae present; mesepimeron with small upper patch of pale scales, without lower setae. Wing: Dark-scaled, with small pale-scaled patch at base of costa; upper calypter with several setae on margin; remigium with 1 or 2 short setae on dorsal surface distally; dorsal tertiary fringe scales dark. Legs: Ante- and postprocoxal areas bare; hindfemur and hindtibia with pale scales at apex; hindtarsomeres 1–4 each dark-scaled with wide, apical, white-scaled band, tarsomere 5 entirely or nearly entirely white-scaled; fore- and midungues, equal, each with 1 tooth. Abdomen: Tergum I with patch of broad, white scales on laterotergite; terga I–VI dark-scaled dorsally; segment VII laterally compressed. Genitalia: Tergum VIII moderately pigmented, width greater than length, few scales on distal part; sternum VIII moderately pigmented, width greater than length, apex with moderate, median emargination separating small to moderate-sized, sublateral lobes, scales absent or few in number, seta 2-S inserted posterior to seta 1-S; tergum IX comprised of single, moderately pigmented sclerite, apex with small, median emargination separating small, rounded lobes, each with 2–4 short, slender setae; postgenital lobe moderately long, moderately wide, apex with moderate, median emargination, setae on distal part of ventral surface; upper vaginal sclerite moderately pigmented, small to moderate size; without lower vaginal sclerite; insula tongue-like, with 4–6 small tuberculi on distal area; cercus moderately long, moderately wide, apex broadly rounded, without scales; single large, spherical, spermathecal capsule. Males Head: Antenna with distal 2 flagellomeres disproportionally long, remainder of flagellomeres short with numerous long setae directed primarily dorsally and ventrally; maxillary palpus with 5 palpomeres, palpomeres 4 and 5 somewhat downturned, palpomeres 4 and 5 and distal part of 3 with several long setae lateroventrally. Legs: Foreungues unequal, each with 1 tooth; midungues unequal, larger one simple, smaller one with 1 tooth; hindungues equal, both simple. Abdomen: Terga with several moderately long setae laterally. Genitalia: Tergum IX moderately pigmented and sclerotized, posterior margin with pair of moderately large, broadly rounded lobes each with 3–6 short, slender setae; gonocoxite moderately long, moderately wide, dorsal surface with several short and few moderately long, slender setae on mesal area, several long, stout setae on outer area and on lateral surface, broad scales on outer part of dorsal, lateral and ventral surfaces, mesal surface membranous; gonostylus attached at apex of gonocoxite, relatively long, approximately proximal 0.60 narrow, distal part broader with several minute, fine setae, terminal short, broad, leaf-like gonostylar claw attached to rounded apex, outer margin of approximately distal 0.30–0.40 with long, narrow, curved, finger-like lobe with minute seta near apex; aedeagus with 2 elongate, lateral sclerites each bearing few, elongate teeth on distal part, membrane-like dorsal flap covering lateral sclerites; proctiger moderately long, apex bluntly rounded, with 2 or 3 minute cercal setae; claspette developed as short, narrow, plaque bearing few short setae at base of gonocoxite; sternum IX moderately long, setae absent or with 3 or 4 short, slender setae on median, posterior area. Pupae Trumpet: Moderately long, narrow, darkly-pigmented; tracheoid area weakly developed at base. Cephalothorax: Seta 1-CT with 3 branches, long but noticeably shorter than 3-CT; 5-CT longer than 4-CT; 7-CT longer than 6-CT; 11-CT single. Abdomen: Seta 3-I very long, stout, single; 6-I longer than 7-I; 1-II multiple-branched, slender; 2-II, 3-II,III long, stout, single, 3-II inserted mesal or at same level anterior to 2-II; 6-II long, stout, single, longer than 3-II; 5-V longer than median, dorsal length of tergum VI; 9-VII branched, inserted anterior and lateral to and longer than 6-VII; 9-VIII with 6 or 7 stout, aciculate branches. Paddle: Apical margin rounded; midrib extending to apex of paddle; without hair-like spicules on margins; seta 1-Pa short, with 2 or 3 branches. Fourth-instar larvae Head: Seta 1-C slender, single; 4-C short, with 3–9 very slender branches, inserted mesal and either slightly anterior or slightly posterior to 6-C; 5-C long, stout, with 7–10 aciculate branches, inserted posterior and mesal to 6,7-C; 6-C long, stout, with 4–6 aciculate branches, inserted close to 5-C; 7-C moderately long to long, stout, with 8–11 aciculate branches, inserted anterior and lateral to 6-C; 12-C inserted mesal to 13-C; 13-C with several relatively long branches, longer than 12-C; 14-C short, single or 2-forked; 19-C absent; antenna moderately long, narrow, with several spicules, seta 1-A with 3–6 branches. Thorax: Setae 1–3-P not inserted on common setal support plate, 1-P > 2-P > 3-P length, 1,3-P branched, 2-P single; 5,7-P branched; 6-P single, longer than 5,7-P; 1,4-M and 1,2-T branched; 6-T single. Abdomen: Seta 7-I long, stout, with 2 branches; 12-I absent; 1,5,8-II branched; 1-VII long; 1-VIII longer than 2-VIII; 2,4-VIII single; comb with numerous scales in patch; segment X with saddle incomplete ventrally, acus absent, seta 1-X single to 3-branched, inserted on saddle, 2-X with 3–5 moderately long branches, 3-X long, single, ventral brush with several, fan-like, multiple-branched setae attached to grid with both transverse and lateral bars, several shorter, branched, precratal setae. Siphon: Acus present; pecten with several evenly spaced spines; seta 1-S with 2–5 branches, inserted distal to pecten. Included species Elpeytonius apicoannulatus and El. simulans (Newstead & Carter). Distribution Central African Republic, Ghana, Liberia, Republic of Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Uganda. Bionomics Immature stages of El. apicoannulatus have been collected from rot-holes in mango, pawpaw, cotton and various other trees, dracaenas, stumps of banana plants and cut stems of bamboos (Evans, 1926) [we note that Hopkins (1936: 130, 1952: 170) apparently misinterpreted Evans’ (1926) comments on habitats of this species] and tree-holes (Haddow et al., 1952, Hopkins, 1936, 1952). Elpeytonius simulans have been collected from bamboo stumps (Kumm, 1931) and tree-holes (Haddow et al., 1952; Hopkins, 1936, 1952). Females of El. simulans have been taken occasionally biting humans during the day in forests and plantations and rarely in forests during the night (Haddow et al., 1952) Discussion Evans (1926) briefly described and partially illustrated the male genitalia and fourth-instar larva of El. apicoannulatus (description of larva was noted by Edwards, 1932: 167). Hopkins (1936, 1952) described and illustrated the fourth-instar larvae of El. apicoannulatus (utilized Evans’ illustration) and El. simulans. Apparently, the description and illustration of the fourth-instar larva of El. apicoannulatus was not included in any of the Culicidae catalogs and supplements starting with Stone, Knight & Starcke (1959) to the present. Edwards (1941) provided brief descriptions of the female, male and pupa of El. apicoannulatus and illustrated the male genitalia. He briefly described the female and male of El. simulans and illustrated the adult female and male genitalia. Pao & Knight (1970) described and illustrated the fourth-instar larval mouthparts of El. simulans. The above generic description of the pupae and fourthinstar larvae are based on specimens of El. simulans and the published partial descriptions and illustrations of both species. Additional descriptive information is provided in Appendix 1 for species included in the analysis. Etymology Elpeytonius is named in honour of Mr E. L. Peyton in recognition of his important contributions to the taxonomy and biology of Culicidae, for introducing the first author (JFR) to the exciting world of mosquito biosystematics over 45 years ago, and for steering the interests of the second author (REH) toward a career in mosquito taxonomy. The generic name is masculine, formed from his initials (E. L., which were indicated without corresponding names on his birth certificate), surname and the Latin suffix ‘ -ius ’. Recommended abbreviation = El.Published as part of John F. Reinert, Ralph E. Harbach & Ian J. Kitching, 2009, Phylogeny and classification of tribe Aedini (Diptera: Culicidae), pp. 700-794 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 157 on pages 768-770, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00570.x, http://zenodo.org/record/16489
Food Webs and Container Habitats: the Natural History and Ecology of Phytotelmata.
No full textThe animal communities in plant-held water bodies, such as tree holes and pitcher plants, have become models for food-web studies. In this book, Professor Kitching introduces us to these fascinating miniature worlds and demonstrates how they can be used to tackle some of the major questions in community ecology. Based on thirty years' research in many parts of the world, this work presents much previously unpublished information, in addition to summarising over a hundred years of natural history observations by others. The book covers many aspects of the theory of food-web formation and maintenance presented with field-collected information on tree holes, bromeliads, pitcher plants, bamboo containers and the axils of fleshy plants. It is a unique introduction for the field naturalist, and a stimulating source treatment for graduate students and professionals working in the fields of tropical and other forest ecology, as well as entomology. roger l. kitching holds the Chair of Ecology at Griffith University, Brisbane. A graduate of Imperial College, London, and the University of Oxford, he has spent the greater part of his working life in Australia, with wideranging interests in the ecology and natural history of insects, particularly in rainforests. He is a senior investigator within the Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management and was a Bullard Fellow at Harvard University in 1998. Professor Kitching has written over 120 books and papers, publishing from time to time in most of the world's ecological journals. He is author of Systems Ecology, co-author of Insect Ecology and has edited or co-edited four further books on topics ranging from the ecology of pests to the biology of butterflies. He has served as president of the Australian Entomological Society and the Australian Institute of Biology, and currently chairs the Biodiversity Advisory Council, the major federal government advisory body on biodiversity affairs in Australia. Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Information regarding prices, travel timetables and other factual information given in this work are correct at the time of first printing but Cambridge University Press does not guarantee the accuracy of such information thereafter
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