First detection of Aedes japonicus in Spain: an unexpected finding triggered by citizen science.

Background: Aedes japonicus is an invasive vector mosquito from Southeast Asia which has been spreading across central Europe since the year 2000. Unlike the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) present in Spain since 2004, there has been no record of Ae. japonicus in the country until now.

Histological effects and localization of dissolved microcystins LR and LW in the mayfly Ecdyonurus angelieri Thomas (Insecta, Ephemeroptera).

The ability of microcystins (MCs), the main group of cyanotoxins, to affect the physiological processes and tissues of insects has received little attention. Fresh water dissolved MCs represent one of the main sources of cyanotoxins. In the experiment described herein, captured wild mayfly Ecdyonurus angelieri Thomas, 1968 larvae were exposed to 5 ppb of two distinct microcystins, MC-LR and MC-LW, in separate assays.

New data on the presence of hemocyanin in Plecoptera: recomposing a puzzle.

The specific role of hemocyanin in Plecoptera (stoneflies) is still not completely understood, since none of the hypotheses advanced have proven fully convincing. Previous data show that mRNA hemocyanin sequences are not present in all Plecoptera, and that hemocyanin does not seem to be uniformly distributed within the order. All species possess hexamerins, which are multifunction proteins that probably originated from hemocyanin.

New application of air-drying techniques for studying Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera eggs by scanning electron microscopy.

Hexamethyldisilizane (HMDS) and tetramethylsilane are organic compounds that are volatile at ambient temperature and which can therefore be used for air-drying biological samples for SEM studies. The techniques using these compounds provide results that are comparable with those obtained by critical point drying, but which involve a very simple process that saves time and money. Both techniques were applied to SEM studies of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera eggs in order to assess their suitability as alternative methods to critical point drying for these kinds of biological material.

Intracellular and dissolved microcystin in reservoirs of the river Segura basin, Murcia, SE Spain.

The seasonal sampling of irrigation or drinking water reservoirs in the province of Murcia (SE Spain) in the hydrological year 2000-2001 revealed the presence of intracellular microcystins in the benthic cyanophyte communities throughout the year. The total microcystin levels, as measured by HPLC, were relatively high but lower than others published for planktonic communities of the European continent or certain African countries. The diversity of forms was also very high and comparable to those found for other European countries.