Elisabetta Chiappini

Key to the Holarctic species of Anagrus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) with a review of the Nearctic and Palaearctic (other than European) species and descriptions of new taxa.

The Holarctic species of the genus Anagrus Haliday are keyed. The Palaearctic species, other than the European ones revised earlier by Chiappini (1989), and 10 out of 11 valid species described from the Nearctic region are reviewed, based on a study of their type material. Two new species, A. rilensis Donev sp. n. and A. longitibialis Donev sp. n., are described from Bulgaria. A new specific synonymy is proposed: A. giraulti Crawford, 1913 with A. nigriventris Girault, 1911 (described as A. armatus var. nigriventris). New replacement name: A. oregonensis S. Triapitsyn nom. n. pro A. nigriceps Girault, 1915 (A. armatus var. nigriceps) nec Smits van Burgst, 1914. A. spiritus Girault, 1911 and A. columbi Perkins, 1905 are reinstated as valid species. A checklist of 68 presently recognized species of Anagrus is given in accordance with their distribution in different biogeographic regions.

Differing morphology and ultrastructure of the male copulatory apparatus in species-groups of Anagrus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae).

Male genitalia of 13 members of the mymarid wasp genus Anagrus have been studied: Anagrus (Anagrella) mymaricornis (Bakkendorf), Anagrus (Paranagrus) unilinearis Soyka, A. (Anagrus) ustulatus Haliday, A. (A.) erythroneurae Trjapitzin and Chiappini, A. (A.) atomus (Linnaeus), A. (A.) aegyptiacus Soyka, A. (A.) vilis Donev, A. (A.) sensillatus Viggiani and Jesu, A. (A.) breviphragma Soyka, A. (A.) incarnatus Haliday, A. (A.) obscurus Förster sensu Soyka, A. (A.) fennicus Soyka and A. (A.) avalae Soyka. Taxonomically significant differences between subgenera and the atomus and incarnatus species-groups are described. The functional significance of various features, and in particular, the arrangment of sensilla are discussed.

Role of volatile semiochemicals in host location by the egg parasitoid Anagrus breviphragma

Recent investigations conducted on several tritrophic systems have demonstrated that egg parasitoids, when searching for host eggs, may exploit plant synomones that have been induced as a consequence of host oviposition. In this article we show that, in a system characterized by host eggs embedded in the plant tissue, naïve females of the egg parasitoid Anagrus breviphragma Soyka (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) responded in a Y‐tube olfactometer to volatiles from leaves of Carex riparia Curtis (Cyperaceae) containing eggs of one of its hosts, Cicadella viridis (L.) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). The wasp did not respond to host eggs or to clean leaves from non‐infested plants compared with clean air, whereas it showed a strong preference for the olfactometer arm containing volatiles of leaves with embedded host eggs, compared with the arm containing volatiles of leaves from a non‐infested plant or host eggs extracted from the plant. When the eggs were removed from an infested leaf, the parasitoid preference was observed only if eggs were added aside, suggesting a synergistic effect of a local plant synomone and an egg kairomone. The parasitoid also responded to clean leaves from an egg‐infested plant when compared with leaves from a non‐infested plant, indicating a systemic effect of volatile induction.

Polyamidoamines (PAAs) functionalized with siloxanes as wood preservatives against fungi and insects

Abstract A novel treatment based on polyamidoamines (PAAs) for the preservation of wood against fungi and insects with a broad protection functionality, low effective concentration, and low environmental impact has been developed. PAAs were synthesized by nucleophile addition of ethanolamine (EtA) and/or 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to N,N′-methylene-bisacrylamide (MBA). The molar ratios in the tested formulation were: I) MBA:EtA=1:1; II) MBA:APTES=1:1; III) MBA:EtA:APTES=1:0.5:0.5. These formulations, characterized by ESI-MS, NMR, FT-IR, were tested against: (a) the wood decay fungi (Coniophora puteana, Coriolus versicolor, and Poria placenta); (b) the subterranean termite Reticulitermes lucifugus, and the drywood termite Kalotermes flavicollis; (c) the woodborer Stegobium paniceum. Tests in combination with leaching showed that formulation II and III can be utilized as fungal wood preservatives for use classes 2–3 (EN 335:2013). In addition, all PAAs formulations were equally effective in preserving wood against the subterranean termite, and formulation II was most effective against drywood termite. On the other hand, the formulation I showed good efficacy against S. paniceum.

Egg structures of four Nabis species (Rhynchota: Nabidae)

Abstract Despite the numerous works on insect egg structure, detailed studies on Nabis genus (Rhynchota : Nabidae) have not been carried out previously. The external morphology and internal chorionic structure of the eggs of Nabis pseudoferus pseudoferus Remane, Nabis occidentalis Rieger, Nabis punctatus Costa and Nabis rugosus L. were investigated, using scanning electron microscopy, to improve our knowledge of their organization. To assess their role in taxonomy, a comparison between the eggs of the 4 species under consideration was carried out. The eggs are jar-shaped with the front end narrowed in a “collar” and closed by an operculum. The chorion, except in the regions of the collar and the operculum, is organized in an outer layer of about 4–5 μm, separated from the inner surface by a “pillars” layer of about 0.5–1 μm. In the region of the collar, the chorion has small internal channels which represent the aeropyles; their number varies very considerably even within the same species. The operculum is made up of closed spaces filled with air in communication with the aeropyles and the “pillars” layer, thus forming a single space that represents the respiratory system. The general shape and characteristics of the eggs of N. pseudoferus, N. occidentalis and N. rugosus are very similar; only N. punctatus can be identified with certainty at the egg stage.

Antennal sensilla of Anagrus atomus (L.) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) female and their possible behavioural significance

The antennae of a hymenopteran Mymaridae female, Anagrus atomus (L.), have been investigated, through light microscopy as well as through scanning for the first time, and transmission electron microscopy, principally aiming at identification of sensory structures possibly involved in reproductive behaviour. Topographic distribution of the external components (cuticular appendages) of sensilla has been illustrated through “camera lucida” semischematic diagrams of the whole antenna, and especially the club, together with scanning electron micrographs. Topographic location of the same sensilla internal (cellular) components has been shown in the antennal club through transmission electron micrographs from serial cross sections. Seven categories of sensory structures have been identified (i.e., “apical sensilla”, “grooved peg sensilla”, “sensilla trichodea Type 1”, “sensilla trichodea Type 2”, “sensory ridges”, “sunken peg sensilla”, “tactile sensilla”) and illustrated through semischematic diagrams and transmission electron micrographs from fine serial sections. On the basis of the nature of the sensilla and their location on the antennae, together with antennal use during the female reproductive behaviour, the behavioural meaning of the above mentioned sensilla has been hypothesised. INDEX DESCRIPTORS (in addition to those in the title): contact chemoreceptor, olfactory sensilla, reproductive behaviour, sensory neurones, sheath cells, ultrastructure. SENSILLI ANTENNALI DELLA FEMMINA DI anagrus atomus (L.) (HYMENOPTERA: MYMARIDAE) E RELATIVO PROBABILE SIGNIFICATO COMPORTAMENTALE Le antenne della femmina di un imenottero Mymaridae, Anagrus atomus, vengono studiate in microscopia ottica ed elettronica a scansione e, per la prima volta, a trasmissione, principalmente al fine di identificarne le strutture sensoriali presumibilmente impegnate nel comportamento riproduttivo della specie. La distribuzione topografica degli elementi esterni (appendici cuticolari) dei sensilli viene illustrata con disegni semischematici dell’antenna intera e della clava in particolare, effettuati al microscopio ottico con camera lucida, unitamente a micrografie elettroniche a scansione. La localizzazione topografica delle parti interne (componenti cellulari) degli stessi sensilli viene evidenziata nella clava mediante micrografie elettroniche a trasmissione di sezioni fini trasversali seriate. Sette categorie di sensilli vengono cosi identificate (“apical sensilla”, “grooved peg sensilla”, “sensilla trichodea Type 1”, “sensilla trichodea Type 2”, “sensory ridges”, “sunken peg sensilla”, “tactile sensilla”) ed illustrate con disegni semischematici riassuntivi e con micrografie elettroniche a trasmissione di sezioni fini seriate. Sulla base della natura dei sensilli e della loro posizione sull’antenna, unitamente al portamento delle antenne medesime durante il comportamento riproduttivo della femmina, viene ipotizzato il significato comportamentale dei sensilli in questione. Parole chiave: cellule avvolgenti, comportamento riproduttivo, neuroni sensoriali, sensilli gustativi, sensilli olfattivi, ultrastruttura.

Anagrus breviphragma Soyka Short Distance Search Stimuli

Anagrus breviphragma Soyka (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) successfully parasitises eggs of Cicadella viridis (L.) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), embedded in vegetal tissues, suggesting the idea of possible chemical and physical cues, revealing the eggs presence. In this research, three treatments were considered in order to establish which types of cue are involved: eggs extracted from leaf, used as a control, eggs extracted from leaf and cleaned in water and ethanol, used to evaluate the presence of chemicals soluble in polar solvents, and eggs extracted from leaf and covered with Parafilm (M), used to avoid physical stimuli due to the bump on the leaf surface. The results show that eggs covered with Parafilm present a higher number of parasitised eggs and a lower probing starting time with respect to eggs washed with polar solvents or eggs extracted and untreated, both when the treatments were singly tested or when offered in sequence, independently of the treatment position. These results suggest that the exploited stimuli are not physical due to the bump but chemicals that can spread in the Parafilm, circulating the signal on the whole surface, and that the stimuli that elicit probing and oviposition are not subjected to learning.