Luciano Santini

Ootaxonomic investigation of three species of Mycomya (Diptera, Mycetophilidae): A scanning electron microscope study

Abstract The egg‐shell structure of three fungus‐gnat species of the genus Mycomya (M. occultans, M. marginata, M. fimbriata) was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Each species, pear‐shaped with a single micropyle located at a pole, shows some distinctive characters in egg morphology, namely different egg shape and size, together with choriohic sculpturing of the micropylar area, egg surface and a specialized ventral area. The latter, interpreted as a plastron, is detected for the first time in the eggs of Mycomyinae. Ootaxonomic data of these species are compared with those of other Diptera and discussed in relation to adult behaviour and the microclimatic conditions of the laying biotope.

The mounting and copulation behaviour of the crested porcupine Hystrix cristata

Abstract The paper reports the results obtained over a period of 19 months (June 1992 to December 1993) from the study of the mounting behaviour of a pair of crested porcupines kept in semicaptivity under red light illumination. Forty‐two mounting episodes which occurred inside the artificial burrow were recorded by a videocamera and subsequently analysed to describe the sequence of the mounting and copulation behaviour. The crested porcupine has a rather articulate courtship pattern. In this species, as in the Indian crested porcupine, mounting and copulation occurs throughout the year and appears to be independent of the reproductive status.

Scent gland apparatus in the Western conifer seed bug Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Heteroptera: Coreidae).

The coreid Leptoglossus occidentalis is a Nearctic bug responsible for severe seed losses to pine orchards. When disturbed, adults and nymphs emit a defensive secretion deemed an allomone. Here we describe the gross morphology of the scent gland apparatus and the related evaporatory structures in nymphs and adults of L.u2009occidentalis, through light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Adults of both sexes possess a metathoracic scent gland complex (MTG) including a central orange‐yellow reservoir and a pair of white lateral glands, connected by ducts to the reservoir. The MTG belongs to the diastomian type, with two ostioles located on the metathorax associated with a microsculptured cuticular accumulation area, i.e. evaporatory area, which can prevent the spread of the secretion on to non‐evaporative cuticle and increase scent fluid evaporation. A high number of male‐specific sternal gland pores were observed. These pores and associated glands are likely the source of an attractant pheromone, which could be extremely useful in monitoring and combating this invasive pest. In nymphs, MTG is replaced by two dorsal abdominal scent glands (DAGs) located between the 4th and the 6th urotergites. DAGs are reddish cuticle‐lined sacs with gland cells forming the gland wall; the scent substances are released through two orifices lying on the mid‐dorsal abdominal line between urotergitesu2009IV–V and V–VI. Also in nymphs, peculiar cuticular evaporatory areas surround both orifices.