To determine if temperature and water conservation/collection play a significant role in the success of feral honeybees, experiments in foraging behavior, temperature tolerance, water balance, hemolymph osmolality regulation and uric acid concentrations of both feral and domestic bees were conducted. This study shows that feral honeybees collect larger volumes of liquid and have higher critical thermal maxima (CTMs) than domestic honeybees. Feral bees may need more liquid for thermoregulation than do domestic bees. The rate of water loss did not differ significantly between the two types of honeybees. Hemolymph osmolality was slightly significant lower in feral bees. In response to desiccation, both feral and domestic bees showed reduced concentrations of proteins and amino acids in the blood. Therefore both types of honeybees maintained hemolymph osmolality during desiccation. There were no differences in mean concentrations of uric acid in feral vs domestic bees and no difference as a result of desiccation. This indicates that uric acid is regulated but is not an osmoeffector.

Laboratory tests conducted to evaluate the ability of three formamidines (chlordimeform, amitraz, and N'-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)- N-methylformamidine SN-49844, a metabolite of amitraz) to synergize permethrin in tobacco budworm (TBW) showed no synergism in susceptible larvae, but did show synergism in resistant larvae. Chlordimeform (CDF) and N'-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-N-methylformamidine SN-49844 showed higher degrees of synergism than amitraz. Selection of cross-bred larvae of tobacco budworm using permethrin ± formamidine mixtures at LD 80 for four generations produced strong tolerance to all agents used in the selection. A test for cross-resistance to cypermethrin and to methyl parathion in a permethrin-selected strain of tobacco budworm showed resistance levels of 58-fold, and 48-fold, respectively, compared with susceptible TBW.

The Turtle Ant, Zacryptocerus rohweri, is an arboreal, polydomous ant commonly nesting in the dead branches of Palo Verde. Colonies are small with a dimorphic worker caste. Their diet was observed to be primarily liquid, but pollen may also be important. Behavioral studies revealed a high degree of both oral and abdominal trophallaxis. The morphology of the digestive tract of Z. rohweri is also described. The proventriculus is covered with clusters of small spines which act as a fine filter of food. Ultrastructural study reveals bacteria amongst the microvilli of midgut epithelial cells. The hindgut consists of an enlarged pouch filled with large masses of bacteria of three major morphotypes. Newly emerged individuals appear to acquire these microorganisms through abdominal trophallaxis of older workers in the colony. The hypothesis that abdominal trophallaxis is a means of transferring hindgut bacteria which may add important nutrients to their limited diet is proposed.

The results of studies on the Ephemeroptera (mayflies) of Sri Lanka and southern India are reported. / The species of the genus Povilla are reviewed and a new subgenus, Lanquidipes, is established. Five new species, P. (P.) andamanensis, P. (P.) heardi, P (P.) junki, P. (P.) ulmeri, and P. (L.) taprobanes, are described from the Oriental Region. Keys to the adults and nymphs of Povilla are included. / Two new species of Ephemera (E. hasalakensis and E. lankensis) are described from Sri Lanka, Ephemera supposita Eaton is redescribed, and the only described member of the Potamanthidae in Sri Lanka, Rhoenanthus posticus Banks, is transferred to Ephemera and redescribed. A key to the imagos of Ephemera from Sri Lanka is included. Two new species of Ephemera, E. distincta and E. nathani, are described from South India. / The systematics of Kimminsula and related genera from Sri Lanka are reviewed. Three new genera, Wijesinhe, Belihuloya, and Lankaella, are established. Four new species, K. podi, K. indrakanthiae, L. eka, and L. deka, are described. Three other species, K. taprobanes (=K. annulata), K. fasciata, and W. femoralis are redescribed. The related new species Petersula nathani is described from South India. These genera belong to the Atalophlebioides phylogenetic lineage. / A systematic account of the Ephemeroptera of Sri Lanka is given, along with an account of their ecology, both in general and at the generic level. The biogeographic origins of the Sri Lankan mayfly fauna are discussed at the generic level. / A systematic catalog of the Ephemeroptera of the Indian Subregion is given. The species are listed, along with their synonyms and information on type-specimens. Literature citations to references to the species are given along with an indication of the stage described or illustrated. The type-specimens of mayflies in the collections of the Zoological Survey of India are discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-04, Section: B, page: 1108. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1984.

The taxonomy and phylogeny of selected northern Neotropical Leptophlebiidae were investigated. Results are presented on two separate systematic problems. The first includes the description and phylogenetic analysis of a curious new genus and species of Atalophlebiinae from the southern coastal mountains of Brazil. Nymphs of this taxon display a large number of derived character states that appear to be correlated with a sprawling habit and use of the legs for collecting-gathering. The second concerns the systematics of Terpides Demoulin and closely related genera. The taxonomic treatment of Terpides and related genera includes revisions of two genera, establishment of two new genera and one new subgenus, recognition of two species-groups within Terpides, description of ten new species, redescription of six species including the transfer of three species previously described in Choroterpes Eaton to their respective Neotropical genera, keys to genera and species, distribution maps for genera and species, and illustrations of useful morphological characters. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that Terpides and related genera constitute a monophyletic lineage, the Terpides lineage. The Terpides lineage is an ancient lineage that stems from the base of the Atalophlebiinae very near the basal furcation within the Leptophlebiidae between the subfamilies Atalophlebiinae and Leptophlebiinae. Members of the Terpides lineage are placed in the subfamily Atalophlebiinae because they share the following derived states with other Atalophlebiinae: (1) square facets in upper portions of male imaginal eyes; (2) denticles on anteromedian emargination of labrum; (3) two rows of hair-like setae on dorsal anteromedian margin of labrum; and (4) absence of anterosubmedian, spine-like setae on labrum. The Terpides lineage appears to have been isolated on the ancient Guiana and / Brasilian Shields of South America during the Tertiary and dispersed northward when the isolation of South America ended with the development of the lower Central American isthmus in the Quaternary. The Terpides lineage is presently widely distributed in the Neotropics from Bolivia north to southern Mexico. The phylogenetic relationships among species of the Terpides lineage are represented by phylograms and data on character state distributions presented. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 44-11, Section: B, page: 3297. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1983.

Dolania oogenesis is unique in Ephemeroptera with the presence of only one oocyte per ovariole, low numbers of ovarioles, and complete resorption of 1/3-1/2 of the total number of ovarioles. This results in fecundity and egg length values which are respectively 1/20 and 2-4 times the values of most other mayflies. Approximately 70% of the linear growth of those oocytes which will mature takes place in a 2-3 week period during the late penultimate to early final larval stadia. Oocytes which will be resorbed remain small during this period until resorption occurs at about the time the other oocytes are mature. Resorbed oocytes probably do not offer a significant food reserve for the maturing oocytes or the female larva due to their small size, the timing of resorption and because the gut does not atrophy completely until the developing oocytes are nearly mature. Oocyte resorption is probably common and unimportant in most other mayfly species. / Dolania's large egg possesses a thick tough chorion and produces a well developed first instar 2.5-5 times the length of any other mayfly. It is probably soon capable of burrowing in the coarse sand substrate and of consuming a wide range of prey sizes. / The vitelline membrane possessed a globular ultrastructure. The chorion was composed of the endochorion and exochorion, which differed in paracrystalline ultrastructure and density. Chorionic channels traversed the entire width of the chorion and formed an interconnected meshwork in the inner endochorion. A suprachorionic layer was composed of an inner layer of long narrow fibers terminated by distal knobs approximately 46 nm in diameter, and an outer very thin granular layer. The follicle cells secreted the suprachorionic layer. Up to five funnelform micropyles were located at the equator of the egg. The inner portion of the micropyle canal was just large enough to permit the passage of sperm, and thus by its physical dimensions alone may limit polyspermy. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-07, Section: B, page: 2745. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1986.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 35-02, Section: B, page: 0874. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1973.

Forty-four species of Tyloderma are known to occur in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the West Indies. A redescription of the genus is provided, and the species are keyed and placed in 11 species groups, which also are defined. Twenty-five new species are described: affine, albidomaculatum, brevisquameum, cubense, curvisete, diversum, elongatum, expansum, frontale, glabrescens, hustachei, insulicola, lacordairei, lepidogramma, longisquameum, natator, obrieni, sayi, schoenherri, simile, subfasciatum, subpilosum, trinidadense, tuberculatum, and variabile. Two species-group names are synonymized: foveostriatum Voss is a synonym of innotatum Hustache (which is here given specific rank); and metallicum Voss is a synonym of aeneum Hustache. Lectotypes are designated for aeneum, cupreum, inaequale, innotatum, nigromaculatum and obliquatum. A description or redescription of each species is included, and some important taxonomic characters, including the male phallus, and female 8th sternite and spermatheca are illustrated. Information is presented on host plants and natural enemies. Except for the species studied earlier (Wibmer 1981), complete distributional records are included. In addition to the taxonomic treatment, a reconstruction of the evolutionary history of all known congeners is attempted through a Hennigian analysis and also with the aid of PAUP (Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony), a computer program which infers phylogenies under the principle of maximum parsimony. The results of both analyses (which support the a priori classification) are compared and discussed in detail. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-03, Section: B, page: 0627. / Co-Major Professors: William H. Heard; William L. Peters. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.

<p>Substrate-borne vibrational signals are emitted by males and females of the treehopper species, Umbonia crassicornis in a variety of contexts throughout their lives. The goal of this research was to investigate variation in signal structure in these various contexts in order to identify the specific functions of distinct signals. We report a number of previously undescribed behaviors and signals in this species, including male pre-copulatory genital scraping, a possible female rejection signal, and a competitive male masking signal. In addition to these observations, our experiments resulted in 4 major findings: (1) females provide cues within their responses concerning their degree of attraction to male calls, (2) males eavesdrop on duets emitted by competing males and receptive females, (3) males emit distinct signals in competitive interactions which function as masking calls, and (4) the duration and temporal context of antipredator signals in females vary with reproductive status and offspring development. Our findings reveal that vibrational signals mediate conspecific interactions at every stage of adult life in U. crassicornis. The temporal and spectral qualities of these signals undergo distinct changes in different contexts and in response to different stimuli, likely providing receivers with information on a signaler?s intensions.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 38-04, Section: B, page: 1546. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1976.