Synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) of Costa Rica.

Based on an exhaustive review of the bibliography, and consultation of entomological collections around the world, we present an illustrated catalog with 16 Castniidae taxa present in Costa Rica. Corybantes veraguana veraguana (Westwood, 1877) is recorded for the first time in the country and new records are reported for rare and little-known species such as Athis analibiae (Espinoza-Sanabria & González, 2005), Athis delecta (Schaus, 1911) and Mirocastnia pyrrhopygoides smalli Miller, 1980. A taxonomic catalog of each taxon is included, as well as general information on geographic distribution, biogeography, ecology, seasonality, flight habits, material examined, and illustrations of males and females for all those taxa known from more than one specimen from Costa Rica.

A review of the genera Amauta Houlbert, 1918 and Divana J.Y. Miller, 1982 (Lepidoptera: Castniidae) with description of a new genus.

The genera Amauta Houlbert, 1918 and Divana J.Y. Miller, 1982 are revised, with discussion of diagnostic features of males and females of all taxa.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Castniidae (Lepidoptera) associated to sugarcane in Colombia.

The giant sugarcane borer, Telchin licus, has been reported as an economically important sugarcane pest in Colombia; however, its taxonomic status has been scarcely investigated and previous reports offer an ambiguous characterization of both the immature and adult stages. The objective of this work is to identify Telchin species affecting sugarcane and alternative hosts in different departments of the country by integrating molecular analysis and conventional morphology. To date, T.

Synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) from Honduras and Nicaragua, Central America.

We present a catalog of nine taxa of Castniidae reported for Nicaragua and Honduras including Prometheus zagraea salvina, a first record for Nicaragua. We also include general and field observations of behavior to help explain why members of this family are poorly represented in collections.

A new genus of Castniinae (Lepidoptera Castniidae) with comments on comparative morphology and bionomics of its assigned species.

There are 14 species of Castniinae known from Mexico of which about ten appear to be endemic. Among the latter, we find Synpalamides chelone (Hopffer, 1856), Synpalamides escalantei (J.Y.

Updated taxonomic checklist of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) associated with Bruchinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

A taxonomic checklist of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) associated with Bruchinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is presented. A total of 139 species of Chalcidoidea or unidentified species to genus are reported as primary parasitoids. The valid name, primary host(s) (animal and plant taxa), distribution and references for each species are listed.

A review of the genus Insigniocastnia J.Y. Miller, 2007 (Lepidoptera: Castniidae) with notes on Castnia amalthaea H. Druce, 1890.

It is proposed that two little-known species of Castniidae which have been traditionally assigned to the genus Athis Hūbner belong to other genera; in addition, both have been found to have better-known junior synonyms. The statuses of the following taxa have been revised in this work: Castnia amalthaea H. Druce comb.

High resolution fluorescence bio-imaging upconversion nanoparticles in insects.

Imaging fluorescent markers with brightness, photostability, and continuous emission with auto fluorescence background suppression in biological samples has always been challenging due to limitations of available and economical techniques. Here we report a new approach, to achieve high contrast imaging inside small and difficult biological systems with special geometry such as fire ants, an important agricultural pest, using a homemade cost-effective optical system. Unlike the commonly used rare-earth doped fluoride nanoparticles, we utilized nanoparticles with a high upconversion efficiency in water.

Observation of two-dimensional yttrium oxide nanoparticles in mealworm beetles (Tenebrio molitor).

Nanomaterials are being used in medicine, manufacturing and consumer products, but their effects on organisms and the environment are not well understood because of the difficulty in detecting them. Here dual-energy X-ray K-edge subtraction was used to track two-dimensional yttrium oxide nanoparticles (which can be found in such household objects as color televisions) in adult mealworms (Tenebrio molitor). The insects ingested nanoparticle-infused feed for different time periods, up to 24 h, and the nanoparticles could then be identified at several locations in the insects' head, thorax and abdomen, mostly within the digestive tract.

Observation of yttrium oxide nanoparticles in cabbage (Brassica oleracea) through dual energy K-edge subtraction imaging.

Background: The potential transfer of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) from plants into the food chain has raised widespread concerns. In order to investigate the effects of ENPs on plants, young cabbage plants (Brassica oleracea) were exposed to a hydroponic system containing yttrium oxide (yttria) ENPs. The objective of this study was to reveal the impacts of NPs on plants by using K-edge subtraction imaging technique.

How does a cadaver model work for testing ultrasound diagnostic capability for rheumatic-like tendon damage?

To establish whether a cadaver model can serve as an effective surrogate for the detection of tendon damage characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, we evaluated intraobserver and interobserver agreement in the grading of RA-like tendon tears shown by US, as well as the concordance between the US findings and the surgically induced lesions in the cadaver model. RA-like tendon damage was surgically induced in the tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) and tibialis posterior tendon (TPT) of ten ankle/foot fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens.

Locomotion control of hybrid cockroach robots.

Natural systems retain significant advantages over engineered systems in many aspects, including size and versatility. In this research, we develop a hybrid robotic system using American (Periplaneta americana) and discoid (Blaberus discoidalis) cockroaches that uses the natural locomotion and robustness of the insect. A tethered control system was firstly characterized using American cockroaches, wherein implanted electrodes were used to apply an electrical stimulus to the prothoracic ganglia.

First report of Melittobia australica Girault in Europe and new record of M. acasta (Walker) for Italy.

Melittobia acasta and Melittobia australica are newly recorded from Sicily, Italy, and the second species is reported in Europe for the first time. A short historical background about Melittobia parasitoid wasps, their hosts, and distribution, with emphasis in those two species is presented together with illustrations to facilitate their identification. Brief discussion about the presence and possible distribution of the species in Sicily is also included.

Behavioral and chemical investigations of contact kairomones released by the mud dauber wasp Trypoxylon politum, a host of the parasitoid Melittobia digitata.

Contact kairomones from the host mud dauber wasp Trypoxylon politum Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) that mediate behavioral responses of its ectoparasitoid Melittobia digitata Dahms (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were investigated. Chemical residues from host by-products, the cocoon, and the meconium, induced arrestment behavior of macropterous female parasitoids, while those from the host stage attacked, i.e.

Evolution of the courtship display of Melittobia (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

Melittobia, a polyphagous pupal parasitoid of many solitary bees and wasps, has a complex courtship display, the evolutionary history of which is poorly understood. The current phylogeny of this genus suggests the complexity of the courtship has increased over time. We test this hypothesis using Bayesian and Maximum likelihood techniques to construct a molecular phylogeny of Melittobia-the first for this genus using modern techniques--using two intergenic regions (Internal Transcribed Spacer regions 1 and 2) and Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (CO1), and reconstruct the ancestral state of each major node in the phylogeny for five behaviors coincidental to major shifts in display complexity.

In vivo observation of gold nanoparticles in the central nervous system of Blaberus discoidalis.

Background: Nanoparticles (NPs) are widely studied for biomedical applications. Understanding interactions between NPs and biomolecules or cells has yet to be achieved. Here we present a novel in vivo method to study interactions between NPs and the nervous system of the discoid or false dead-head roach, Blaberus discoidalis.

Wolbachia in two populations of Melittobia digitata Dahms (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

We investigated two populations of Melittobia digitata Dahms, a gregarious parasitoid (primarily upon a wide range of solitary bees, wasps, and flies), in search of Wolbachia infection. The first population, from Xalapa, Mexico, was originally collected from and reared on Mexican fruit fly pupae, Anastrepha ludens Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae); the other, from Athens, Georgia, was collected from and reared on prepupae of mud dauber wasps, Trypoxylon politum Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). PCR studies of the ITS2 region corroborated that both parasitoid populations were the same species; this potentially provides a useful molecular taxonomic profile since females of Melittobia species are superficially similar.

Biology of the parasitoid Melittobia (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

As parasitoids upon solitary bees and wasps and their nest cohabitants, Melittobia have an intricate life history that involves both female cooperation and variably expressed male siblicidal conflict. Inter- and intrasexual dimorphism includes blind, flightless males and (probably nutritionally determined) short- and long-winged females. Thought to be highly inbred, Melittobia do not conform to local mate competition (LMC) theory but exhibit simple forms of many social insect traits, including overlapping adult generations, different female phenotypes, close kinship ties, parental care, and altruistic cooperative escape behaviors.

Need for a cooperative study: Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis and its management in adults.

Background: Pulmonary involvement with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH, formerly known as histiocytosis-X) presents as an interstitial process in children and adults either with or without symptoms. In contrast to other manifestations of LCH, most patients with pulmonary disease are adults.

Procedures: We reviewed the literature on pulmonary LCH to determine what were the clinical presentations, prognostic variables, and treatment options for this disease.