Fernanda Cianficconi

Case-building of some Trichoptera larvae in experimental conditions: selectivity for calcareous and siliceous grains

Abstract The ability of some caddisflies to select calcareous and siliceous grains during case‐building was tested in experimental conditions. This investigation was carried out on Hydropsyche morettii, Limnephilus flavicornis, Micropterna sequax, and Sericostoma pedemontanum; the last of these was collected in a habitat with prevalently calcareous substratum, whereas the remaining species were from marly‐arenaceous ones. Larvae were provided with a substratum mixture made up of travertine and quartzite grains (1.0–1.5 mm in size forming a 1‐cm‐thick substratum). Apart from H. morettii, which only picks up grains in its pupal stage, the remaining species are case‐builders during their larval stage. After being removed from their original case, larvae were reared in Petri dishes kept at a constant temperature of 23° C. Video camera recordings, coupled with the analysis of the number and typology of the grains incorporated into each reconstructed case, gave evidence that evicted individuals exhibited a significant preference in the picking up of grains. The Tukey test indicated, with the exception of H. morettii, a significant preference for travertine grains. Sericostoma pedemontanum preferentially selected travertine grains when reared on a mixed substratum, but it built a case using quartzite when provided exclusively with these grains. This demonstrates that the ancestral impulse to construct a protective shield prevails over the nature of the material. The preferential choice of travertine grains could be due to certain mechanical and chemical silk/grain interaction factors.

Freeze-fracture study of the rectal pads in Stenophylax permistus McL. (Trichoptera)

Abstract With freeze-fracturing many different types of membrane specialization have been observed in the rectal sac epithelium of S. permistus; of these some supply the means of attaching microtubules and/or cuticular microfibrils to the cell membrane, while others concern various kinds of cell junctions, viz. desmosomes, scalariform, pleated septate and reticular junctions. Gap junctions are also observed between the different cells. The position and structure of these different junctions suggest that a) both septate junctions and desmosomes carry out a purely mechanical function, maintaining the complex structure of the rectal pad; b) gap junctions serve as informational channels between cells; c) ion exchange is presumed to take place in scalariform junctions. Furthermore, the reticular septate junctions, previously reported only in Diptera, may possibly be responsible for maintaining those structural conditions necessary for the functioning of the complexes formed by association between plasma membra...

Ultrastructural organization of the rectal pads in adult Stenophylax permistus McL. (Trichoptera)

Abstract The epithelium of the rectal sac in S. permistus is organized to form numerous circular pads. Each pad consists of about ten large cells covered by a cuticle and surrounded by sheath cells that form a barrier isolating the rectal pad. The largest cells (cortical cells), with long microvilli in the apical region and numerous structural complexes formed by the association between the lateral plasma membrane and mitochondria, are engaged actively in drawing fluids from the gut lumen. Subcuticular areas are intermingled with the microvilli. Beneath these cells is an infundibular space delimited by a continuous layer of cells (medullary cells) with a structural organization suggestive of their participation in ion regulation.

Il regime dietetico estivo della lasca del Trasimeno (Rutilus rubilio Bp. v. rubella — trasimenicus (Bp.)

Summary The Rutilas rubilio Bp. v. rubella of Trasimenos intestinal contents in August, prevailingly is constituded by amorphous like-white mass, without cellar structure. Mixteds on a small percentage with this mass there are the leaves of Potamogeton perfoliata L. and in the cells of which there is an empty space between the wall and the protoplasma, like it happens into tissues of the same plant during the phase of the ritting on the botton of the lake. There are no exoskeletons and carapaces of Artropoda and fishes scales. The internal wall of the digestive tract looks waved by erowdeds of the epithelialis tissue.

Informazioni sui Tricotteri italiani di ambienti costieri salmastri

Biogeographia vol. XXIII - 2002 (Pubblicato il 1” ottobre 2002) Biogeografia degli ambienti costieri Informazioni sui Tricotteri italiani di ambienti costieri salmastri FERNANDA CIANFICCONI, CARLA CORALLINL FRANCESCO TUCCIARELLI Dzpzzrtinzento dz‘ Biologizz Animzzle ea’ Eco/ogizz, l/;2iz/ersitfz dz‘ Pemgzkz, Viz; Elm di Sam) — 1306123 Perugizz (ltzzlia) Key words: Trichoptera, brackish biotopes, Puglia, Sicily, Caprera, salinity, geonemy SUMMARY A qualitative study of die Trichopteran Fauna of brackish biotopes in the coastal areas of southern Puglia, Sicily and western Caprera was made by va.rious researchers at different times from 1952 to 1996. These biotopes are characterized by high total hardness (16-123 Fr.dgr) and salinity (Cl- = 0,5-2,2 g/l) and a wide variety of aquatic vegetation. The species found largely belong to the Hyclroptilidae and Leptoceridae families. The most interesting findings are: Trizzerzoz/es ac/Jreel/11: leflerzs Malicky, 1974 with transadriatic distribution and Oagycz/Jim simplex Ris, 1897 the only recording in Italy. The ecological characteristics olifour species with Mediterranean chorology are described. INTRODUZIONE Nel corso delle ricerche sulla tricotterofauna clella penisola e delle isole italiane, sono stati presi in esame anche corpi d’acqua dolce siti lungo la fascia costiera a quote prossirne al livello del mare (foci fluviali, sorgenti, igropetrici, canali). La composizione faunistica qualitativa e risultata simile a quella riscontrata in acque retrostanti alla linea di Costa e a quote piu elevate. E stato invece interessante il rinvenimento di Tricotteri in acque costiere salrnastre di bassa quota (O—20 tn s.l.m.) Le prime osservazioni negli ambienti salmastri risalgono al 1952, quando Moretti ehbe occasione di rinvenire in Puglia, nel Hume Galeso, un tricottero Leptoceride alofilo (Moretti e Corallini Sorcetti, 1978). Le ricerche sono proseguite in anni successivi ed estese ad altri corpi d’acqua costieri da parte di studenti de1l’Istituto cli Zoologia dell’Universit2‘1 di Perugia, in occasione delle loro tesi di laurea (1965-1996), di collaboratori dello stesso Istituto (1960,1991) e degli Autori (1 994).

The Larvae of Drusus improvisus McLachlan, 1884, Drusus camerinus and Drusus aprutiensis (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae: Drusinae).

The larvae of Drusus improvisus McLachlan, 1884, Drusus camerinus Moretti, 1981 and Drusus aprutiensis Moretti, 1981 are re-described and discussed in the context of contemporary keys of European Drusinae species. In addition, phylogenetic, zoogeographical and ecological notes are included.

The larvae ofDrusus improvisusMcLachlan, 1884,Drusus camerinusMoretti, 1981 andDrusus aprutiensisMoretti, 1981 (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae: Drusinae)

The larvae of Drusus improvisus McLachlan, 1884, Drusus camerinus Moretti, 1981 and Drusus aprutiensis Moretti, 1981 are re-described and discussed in the context of contemporary keys of European Drusinae species. In addition, phylogenetic, zoogeographical and ecological notes are included.

Hydrobiology and Fish biology

(1986). Hydrobiology and Fish biology. Bollettino di zoologia: Vol. 53, No. sup001, pp. 93-100.

The taxonomical and chorological problem of Drusus improvisus McL. in the North-Central Italian Apennines

Mclachlan in 1884 established Monocentra improvisa from some specimens found in Central Italy (Appennino Pistoiese). In the study of Schmid on the subfamily Drusinae (1956), M. improvisa is attributed to the mixtus group of the genus Drusus, as the affinity with the genus Monocentra consists only on the presence of scales in the androconial pocket of the ♂ posterior wing.