Ayla Tüzün

Use of wing morphometry for the discrimination of some Cerceris (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae species)

In this study, the wing morphology analyses of Cerceris arenaria, Cerceris circularis dacica, Cerceris eryngii, Cerceris media, Cerceris quinquefasciata Cerceris ruficornis, Cerceris rybyensis and Cerceris sabulosa (Philanthinae) species, were obtained from Nigde province between 2006 and 2008, by using discrimination, relative warp, Fourier and thin plate spline methods. The mean deviation graphics and values of prior wing vein characteristics which enable the differences in the discrimination analysis were presented by marking them on the wing pictures. Furthermore, the landmarks caused by the wing characteristics that enable variations were determined by using the relative warp analysis. The outline analysis, in which geometric and traditional morphometry potentials are insufficient, was performed by using the Fourier transformation. As a result of the comprehensive wing morphometry study, it was found that both Cerceris species can be distinguished according to their wing structures and the metric characteristics enabling this discrimination were identified. Within this context, a contribution to the Cerceris taxonomy was enabled by the use of obtained concrete results.

Detrimental effects of species of Tenthredinidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) on plants and control methods

Tenthredinidae family is included in suborder Symphyta of order Hymenoptera (Insecta). The species belonging to this family is harmful by feeding on leaf, stem, bud, flower, etc., of plants. The detrimental effects of these species are especially constituted by larval forms. Larva damages plants by eating plant tissue, forming gal and opening galleries in leaf, stem and bud of plants. These harmful species can be controlled with biological, cultural and chemical methods. The control methods change according to the species. However, although chemical control is harmful for nature on a large scale, it is generally being used.

The Frequencies of the Serum Amyloid A2 Alleles in Healthy (Turkish, Azerbaijani, and Kazakh) Populations

The Amyloid A1 (AA1) and A2 (AA2) proteins, which result from proteolytic cleavage of the Serum Amyloid A1 (SAA1) and A2 (SAA2) proteins, are major protein components of the Amyloid A deposits found in secondary amyloidosis. This study determines frequency of serum amyloid A2 alleles (α, β) in healthy Turkish, Azerbaijani, and Kazakh subjects. Two hundred Turkish, sixty-five Azerbaijani and sixty-five Kazakh healthy individuals were studied by previously described the PCR-RFLP methods. Our data revealed that the frequencies of the α and β alleles at the SAA2 locus in the Turkish healthy population were different when compared to those in Azerbaijani and Kazakh healthy populations (P = 0.014 and 0.02), respectively. In contrast, the difference between α and β alleles at the SAA2 locus was not different in both Kazakh and Azerbaijani healthy populations (P = 0.882).