Epicuticular wax of large and small white butterflies,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Pieris brassicae</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> P. rapae crucivora</Emphasis>: qualitative and quantitative comparison between diapause and non-diapause pupae

We compared the quantity and quality of the epicuticular wax of diapause and non-diapause pupae in two closely related Pieris species, P. brassicae and P. rapae crucivora. Main components of their epicuticular wax were identified as hydrocarbons. In P. brassicae, more than 95% of hydrocarbons were saturated regardless of whether the pupae were in diapause or not. In P. rapae crucivora, 93% of hydrocarbons were saturated in non-diapause pupae whereas in diapause pupae 41% were saturated and 59% unsaturated. From measurements of body surface area by nuclear magnetic resonance microimaging, we calculated the average thickness of the wax layer. The thickness in diapause and non-diapause pupae of P. brassicae was 800 and 160 nm, respectively. In P. rapae crucivora, the thickness was 195 nm in diapause and 11 nm in non-diapause. This is the first report to clarify the compositional difference in epicuticular wax between diapause and non-diapause pupae.     

土地利用变化对喀斯特水体溶解无机碳、总氮和总磷输出的影响——以贵州普定沙湾模拟试验场为例

耦联水生光合作用的碳酸盐岩风化碳汇是全球碳循环研究的关键问题,生物碳泵效应不仅能够稳定碳酸盐风化碳汇,也有利于改善水环境,而过量输入氮、磷会导致水环境变差。土地利用变化作为全球变化重要内容之一,对流域碳氮磷的输出具有重要影响,但关于土地利用变化对喀斯特水体溶解无机碳、总氮和总磷输出影响的研究有待进一步加强。本研究以贵州普定沙湾喀斯特试验场为研究对象,以研究土地利用变化对水文、水化学、溶解无机碳汇通量、总氮通量和总磷通量的影响。结果表明,流量、径流深、土壤CO₂浓度、pCO₂、HCO₃^-浓度和电导率呈现出夏秋季节高、春冬季节低的变化特征,与pH变化相反。样地间,土壤CO₂浓度、pCO₂、HCO₃^-浓度和电导率表现为草地>灌丛地>农耕地>裸土地>裸岩地,与pH变化相反。参与岩溶作用的土壤CO₂是造成水化学变化的主要原因。溶解无机碳汇通量和总氮通量呈现出夏秋季节高、春冬季节低的变化特征,总磷通量秋季最高、春季最低。样地间,草地溶解无机碳汇通量最大,HCO₃^-浓度是决定溶解无机碳汇通量大小的主导因素。有植被覆盖的土地利用方式的总氮、总磷浓度及其通量明显低于无植被生长的类型,总氮通量灌丛地最小,总氮浓度是决定总氮通量大小的主导因素,总磷通量草地最小,而流量是决定总磷通量大小的主导因素。综上,我们认为可以通过调整土地利用方式来达到增加岩溶碳汇和改善水环境双赢的目标。     

珠江流域水化学组成的时空变化特征及对岩石风化碳汇估算的意义

基于水-岩-气-生相互作用的碳酸盐风化碳汇模型表明,陆地碳酸盐风化碳汇是大气CO_2汇的重要组成部分;然而,碳酸盐风化碳汇的过程、机制和控制因素仍有待进一步的研究。本文采用野外监测、现场滴定和样品室内测试相结合的方法,对珠江流域支干流分旱季和雨季进行了4次野外监测取样,研究其水化学组成的时空变化特征。结果表明:珠江流域支干流的水化学组成受流域岩石风化、气候和水生光合作用的共同影响,并具有明显的时空变化特征。空间上,南盘江下游双江口段至红水河上游蔗香段,水流较慢,水质清澈,水生光合作用强烈,电导率、[HCO_3~-]和[Ca~(2+)]的空间变化主要受水生光合作用控制;从红水河上游蔗香段至肇庆西江大桥监测点,反映的是流域岩石风化对水化学空间变化的影响。季节变化上,西江的电导率、[HCO_3~-]和[Ca~(2+)]呈现出夏季低、冬春季高的特征,主要反映稀释效应的控制。西江干流河水的溶解氧具有明显的季节变化,在上述南盘江下游双江口段至红水河上游蔗香段,DO是夏季高冬季低,其他监测点是冬季高而夏季低;DO的季节变化受水生光合作用强度的控制。在南盘江下游双江口段至红水河上游蔗香段,温度是光合作用强度的限制因子,而其他监测点的光合作用限制因子为浊度影响的光照。造成上述差异的原因是监测点的水文环境不同。通过对梧州水文站流量和[HCO_3~-]变化的分析发现,[HCO_3~-]的季节变化幅度相对流量小得多,显示在西江流域中,HCO_3~-也存在化学稳定性行为。因此在西江流域中,流量变化是岩溶碳汇通量变化的主控因子。研究还发现,西江流域中具有强烈的生物碳泵效应,由内源有机碳形成的碳汇通量约占传统计算模式碳汇(溶解无机碳-DIC)通量的40%。因此,在估算珠江流域碳酸盐风化碳汇时,必须考虑水生生态系统光合生物对DIC的利用形成的有机碳的贡献。     

两种沉水植物附着生物种群特征对水深的响应研究

选取浅水湖泊中两种常见沉水植物上的附着生物作为研究对象,通过显微观测和16S rRNA高通量测序的方法,探究原位实验条件下水深(分别以T1、T2、T3、T4代表0.6、1.2、1.8和2.4 m)对狐尾藻(Myriophyllum spicatum)和马来眼子菜(Potamogeton malainus)附着藻类和附着细菌种群组成及其多样性特征的影响.结果表明,沉水植物附着生物种群特征与水深和生物种类有关,试验组中所有水深梯度下的狐尾藻附着生物群落的自养指数(AI)均大于马来眼子菜,且试验组中较小水深0.6~1.2 m的AI值较高,较大水深1.8~2.4 m的AI值较低.两种沉水植物表面附着藻类组成随水深变化差异显著(p0.05),绿藻门和硅藻门仍占种群绝对优势;附着细菌种群随水深梯度的变化差异也显著(p0.05),但主要包括有Proteobacteria、Firmicutes和Bacteroidetes等优势菌群,同种沉水植物或相似水层深度间的附着细菌组成和丰度有较高的相似性,并且试验组中较小水深0.6~1.2 m中拥有更多特有的细菌种类.研究发现,相同水深时狐尾藻附着藻类的多样性大于马来眼子菜,而马来眼子菜附着细菌多样性大于狐尾藻,且位于中等水深1.2~1.8 m时两种沉水植物附着藻类和附着细菌的多样性往往最高.通过水深对沉水植物附着生物种群特征影响的研究,可为揭示沉水植物表面微生态作用规律提供参考.     

营养盐添加对水华蓝藻——卵孢金孢藻生长和竞争影响的原位实验

为探究在水体营养盐浓度持续增加的条件下,卵孢金孢藻(Chrysosporum ovalisporum)的生长趋势和其它藻类的生长响应,在上海滴水湖畔采用39个大桶(100 L)进行不同浓度N、P添加的原位中型模拟实验.结果表明,高浓度营养盐添加可促进卵孢金孢藻和绿藻生物量的增加,加P组二者生物量的增加趋势高于加N组,但差异并不显著(P0.05),加NP组二者生物量的增加趋势显著高于加N组和加P组(P0.001).在加N组和加NP组,卵孢金孢藻相对丰度随营养盐添加量的增加呈显著的下降趋势(P0.05),而在加P组其相对丰度随着P浓度的增加略有上升,但不显著(P0.05).实验结束时,所有处理组中卵孢金孢藻的生物量不占优势,而小粒径藻类[色球藻属(Chroococcus spp.)、空星藻属(Coelastrum spp.)、小球藻属(Chlorella spp.)、四角藻属(Tetraedron spp.)、栅藻属(Scenedesmus spp.)]的生物量随营养盐浓度升高的增加趋势显著高于卵孢金孢藻(P0.05),小型绿藻占据绝对优势,表明在高温和相对静止的条件下,随着水体中营养盐浓度的持续增加,小粒径藻类易替代卵孢金孢藻而占据竞争优势;这与小粒径藻类在高营养条件下代谢速率较高有关,也与绿藻喜静止、高光强的生物学特性有关.小型绿藻占据优势可能成为小型超富营养水体中浮游植物群落在高温季节的演替方向之一.     

环渤海芦苇湿地磷的吸附容量及释放风险评估

滨海湿地地处陆海交汇的关键带,是磷的"汇"、"源"和"转化器",在全球磷循环过程中扮演着十分重要的角色,其对水体磷素的截留能力日益受到关注.本文以环渤海地区芦苇湿地沉积物为研究对象,利用批处理实验研究了湿地磷的吸附容量和释放风险.结果表明,湿地沉积物磷的最大吸附容量（Q_max）为693.7~2117.2 mg·kg^-1,平均值为1468.6 mg·kg^-1,Q_max的大小顺序为七里海湿地 > 北大港湿地 > 南大港湿地 > 辽河三角洲湿地 > 寿光滨海湿地 > 黄河三角洲湿地.环渤海湿地沉积物磷吸附主要受Ca、Mg和TOC含量的影响.环渤海湿地磷吸附饱和度（DPS）和释放风险指数（ERI）分别为0.28%~4.50%和0.53%~10.10%,结果表明除寿光滨海湿地磷释放风险为中度风险外,其它湿地磷释放风险较低.总之,环渤海地区芦苇湿地沉积物具有较强磷吸附能力,沉积物为水体磷的"汇",沉积物释磷风险较低.建议在环渤海污染治理过程中充分发挥滨海湿地对磷的净化拦截作用,以降低陆源污染对近海水环境的影响.     

喀斯特常绿落叶阔叶混交林旱季CO2通量特征及其影响因子

对广西木论国家级自然保护区喀斯特常绿落叶阔叶混交林旱季生态系统CO₂净交换（NEE）的变化特征及其与环境因子的关系进行初步分析，计算研究期间碳汇大小，与其他相似气候条件下的不同生态系统进行对比，以期为准确估算该生态系统的年碳汇量提供基础。利用涡度相关法对该地区旱季（2018年10月1日~2019年3月31日）CO₂通量进行连续观测，同时开展降水量（P）、光合有效辐射（PAR）、空气温度（T_air）、土壤温度（T_soil）以及土壤含水量（SWC）等环境因子监测。观测期内该生态系统CO₂通量及浓度具有明显的"单谷"状日变化特征，白天表现为明显的碳汇，夜间则表现为明显的碳源，NEE在12：00最强，为-0.309±0.330 mg CO₂/（m²·s），18：30最弱，为0.074±0.061 mg CO₂/（m²·s）；观测期内NEE、生态系统呼吸（Re）、生态系统总生产力（GEP）分别为-121.4、209.2、330.6 g C/m²，该生态系统在2019年2月的碳吸收能力最强，Re、GEP在2018年10月达到最强；光合有效辐射是白天生态系统CO₂净交换（NEE_d）变化的主要控制因素（R²=0.40，p<0.01），空气温度与夜间生态系统CO₂净交换（NEE_n）存在指数关系（R²=0.1267，p<0.01）；观测期内的降雨抑制了该生态系统的碳汇能力，即降水对NEE产生了抑制作用。旱季该生态系统整体表现出明显的碳汇，碳汇值为1.214 t C/ha，明显低于相似气候条件下的其他生态系统。     

Serotonin-induced mate rejection in the female cabbage butterfly, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pieris rapae crucivora</Emphasis>

Virgin female cabbage butterflies, Pieris rapae crucivora, accept and mate with courting males, whereas mated females reject them and assume the “mate refusal posture”. This study tested whether the biogenic amines, serotonin (5HT), dopamine (DA), and octopamine (OA), were responsible for this change in behavior. The results showed that 2–3-day-old virgin females fed with 5HT rejected courting males significantly more frequently compared with controls fed on sucrose. In contrast, the proportions of courting males rejected by virgin females fed with either DA or OA did not differ from sucrose-fed controls. Oral application of each amine resulted in significantly increased levels of the amine applied (or its metabolite) in the brain. The results strongly suggest that 5HT or a 5HT metabolite may be responsible for the post-mating change in behavioral response of 2–3-day-old virgin females to courting males. Similar effects of 5HT treatment were observed in 6–8-day-old virgin females, but in this case the results were only marginally different from the controls, suggesting that the effect may decline with increasing female age.     

Evasive response to ultrasound by the crepuscular butterfly<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Manataria maculata</Emphasis>

The crepuscular nymphalid butterfly Manataria maculata was studied in Monteverde cloud forest, Costa Rica, during the dry season reproductive diapause. M. maculata has ears in the form of Vogel's organs located near the base of the forewings. Its behaviour in response to bursts of ultrasonic pulses (26 kHz, 110 dB SPL at 1 m) was condition-dependent. At dusk and dawn the sound consistently elicited evasive responses, similar to those of moths, in flying individuals. In contrast day-roosting individuals always remained motionless although they were alert to other stimuli. The daily movements between day- and night-roosts coincided in time and light intensity with the activity of insectivorous bats. This is the first reported case of ultrasonic hearing connected to evasive flights in a true butterfly (Papilionoidea). It strongly supports the idea that echolocating bats were involved in the evolution of hearing in butterflies.     

五里峡水库初级生产力对水气界面二氧化碳和甲烷排放速率时空变化的影响

近年来水库温室气体备受关注,为揭示水库水气界面CO_2和CH_4在时间和空间上的变化特征,于2016年7~12月采用静态箱法在五里峡水库对其CO_2和CH_4排放速率进行4次监测,并测试微型光合生物初级生产力等.结果表明,五里峡水库夏季为大气CO_2的汇,变化范围在-30.14~-3.47 mg·(m~2·h)~(-1),秋、冬季均为大气CO_2的源,变化范围在15.57~115.06 mg·(m~2·h)~(-1).甲烷排放速率在夏季变化幅度明显,变化范围在0.08~1.03 mg·(m~2·h)~(-1),而在秋、冬季变化稳定,变化范围在-0.07~0.43 mg·(m~2·h)~(-1).受水库周期性蓄水和排水影响,CO_2和CH_4排放速率在空间上表现为水库消落带和坝尾较低而库区较高的分布格局.此外,CO_2和CH_4排放速率时空变化与微型光合生物初级生产力分别呈显著负相关和正相关(r为-0.477和0.771).这是因为产甲烷菌能够将夏季微型光合生物固定的有机碳转化成CH_4释放到大气中,从而使微型光合生物对水圈CO_2和CH_4循环产生负反馈效应和正反馈效应.因此,本研究结果为进一步评估微型生物对岩溶水体碳循环的贡献提供了理论依据.     

Flavonoid wing pigments increase attractiveness of female common blue (Polyommatus icarus) butterflies to mate-searching males

 Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) sequester flavonoids from their larval host plants and allocate these UV-absorbing pigments to the wings. In field experiments using dummies constructed from female butterflies, mate-searching males inspected flavonoid-rich dummies more intensively than those with little or no flavonoids. Flavonoid content as signalled by UV-wing pattern may indicate ontogenetically determined female quality or enhance detectability to males. Received: 21 March 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 17 May 2000     

Analysis of coordinated circling and linear flights of a lycaenid butterfly species

Circling and linear flights of a hairstreak Chrysozephyrus smaragdinus were recorded in natural habitat with a high-speed video camera. Circling flight paths were resolved into rotation and shift components; values on X- and Y-coordinates of the butterfly position were separately extracted against time and fitted with a regression line composed of a sinusoidal curve and a linear line. From the obtained parameters, diameter, rotation number, and flight velocity were calculated. Flapping movements were also analyzed. Two types of circling flights, horizontal and vertical, were discriminated. In both flights, the rotation diameter was about 10 cm, rotation number of 3/s, flight velocity of 0.9 m/s, and wing-beat frequency of 20/s. The coordination of paired butterflies in circling flight showed a higher correlation in the horizontal circling flight. In the vertical circling flight, butterflies accelerated the downstroke speed of the wing in the ascending phase. They flew about four times faster in linear flights than in circling flights due to the higher frequency of wing beats.     

模拟海平面上升和氮负荷增加对河口感潮沼泽湿地CO2垂直交换的影响

海平面上升和氮负荷增加是入海河流河口面临的两个主要全球性环境问题.揭示河口潮滩沼泽湿地CO₂垂直通量对二者及交互作用的响应,对于科学评估全球变化背景下的河口潮滩沼泽湿地生态系统蓝碳功能具有重要的科学意义.本研究以闽江河口鳝鱼滩中潮滩短叶茳芏湿地为研究对象,在野外原位实施模拟海平面上升、氮负荷增加及二者交互作用的实验处理近1年后,在2019年冬季各月的大潮日白天涨潮前、平潮期及落潮后3个阶段,运用透明静态箱（或遮光布遮光）+Li-6800光合作用仪对短叶茳芏湿地生态系统净CO₂交换（NEE）和生态系统呼吸（ER）进行测定.结果发现,与对照处理相比,冬季尺度3种处理下短叶茳芏湿地生态系统NEE均显著增加;模拟海平面上升影响下短叶茳芏湿地生态系统ER无显著变化;氮负荷增加及二者交互作用下,短叶茳芏湿地ER均显著增加.模拟海平面上升、氮负荷增加及二者交互作用情景下,短叶茳芏湿地生态系统总初级生产力（GPP）均明显增加.研究表明,在未考虑甲烷排放的情景下,即使在冬季,海平面上升、氮负荷增加及二者交互作用将可能增加亚热带河口潮滩半咸水沼泽湿地的碳汇功能.     

湿润亚热带典型白云岩流域不同土地利用下的试片溶蚀速率及岩溶碳汇

土地利用对石灰岩溶蚀速率的影响已有较多研究报道,但白云岩溶蚀速率对于土地利用的响应研究却罕见相关报道。因此,探究不同土地利用对白云岩溶蚀速率的影响具有一定的意义,并可为评估白云岩地区的岩溶碳汇效应积累基础数据。本文以湿润亚热带典型白云岩小流域——贵州施秉黄洲河白云岩小流域为研究区,利用白云岩溶蚀试片对流域内不同土地利用下的白云岩溶蚀速率及其影响因素进行了研究。结果表明：不同土地利用条件下白云岩试片溶蚀速率的大小为旱地（4.25 mg/（cm²·a））>林地（1.01 mg/（cm²·a））>水田（0.14 mg/（cm²·a））;白云岩试片溶蚀速率随土壤有机质含量增加、土壤pH值减少而增大;但其与土壤CO₂浓度呈相反的变化趋势;土壤含水量、容重对溶蚀速率的影响不大。由白云岩试片的溶蚀速率估算该白云岩流域的岩溶碳汇总量为351.70 tCO₂/a,岩溶碳汇通量为7.31 tCO₂/（km²·a）,与前人利用水化学径流法计算相比明显较小。与以往在石灰岩区使用溶蚀试片法和水化学径流法计算的岩溶碳汇强度差异大致相同。     

Biomineralization in plants as a long-term carbon sink

Carbon sequestration in the global carbon cycle is almost always attributed to organic carbon storage alone, while soil mineral carbon is generally neglected. However, due to the longer residence time of mineral carbon in soils (10²–10⁶ years), if stored in large quantities it represents a potentially more efficient sink. The aim of this study is to estimate the mineral carbon accumulation due to the tropical iroko tree (Milicia excelsa) in Ivory Coast. The iroko tree has the ability to accumulate mineral carbon as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) in ferralitic soils, where CaCO₃ is not expected to precipitate. An estimate of this accumulation was made by titrating carbonate from two characteristic soil profiles in the iroko environment and by identifying calcium (Ca) sources. The system is considered as a net carbon sink because carbonate accumulation involves only atmospheric CO₂ and Ca from Ca-carbonate-free sources. Around one ton of mineral carbon was found in and around an 80-year-old iroko stump, proving the existence of a mineral carbon sink related to the iroko ecosystem. Conservation of iroko trees and the many other biomineralizing plant species is crucial to the maintenance of this mineral carbon sink.     

赤水河流域中游沉积物营养元素分布特征及污染评价

河流沉积物作为流域营养物质(碳、氮、磷)的汇与源,研究其含量与分布特征,对了解流域水环境污染现状具有重要意义.通过测定赤水河中游五马河—大同河段表层沉积物有机质和营养元素(总有机碳、总氮、总磷)含量,发现:河段沉积物有机质和营养元素含量呈现出较大的空间分布差异特征,其中,盐津河、茅台镇断面营养元素和有机质含量明显高于其他断面,显示出有机质和氮磷复合污染特征,可能主要与仁怀市市区和茅台镇人口密集以及人为活动强度大有关,如城镇生活污水和酿酒工业废水向河流输入大量氮、磷营养物质.通过对赤水河中游沉积物营养元素空间分布特征及污染评价进行研究,能够为有效治理和保护赤水河水质提供理论依据.     

潜水式生态介质箱的优化设计及其修复黑臭水体的效果比较研究

第一代潜水式生态介质箱(装置组)能修复深层黑臭水体,但其对下层水体溶解氧的增加能力有限。本文在现有第一代生态介质箱的基础上增设水下深层化学增氧器并更换环境矿物基质,视为第二代生态介质箱(联合组),分别以未经任何处理的水样(空白组)、将沉水植物种植在底泥上(苦草组)作为对照,比较了联合组、装置组、苦草组修复黑臭水体的效果,及其对苦草生长生理的影响。结果表明,装置组和联合组的各项水质指标远优于空白组和苦草组,联合组的DO含量略低于装置组,两组的CODMn去除率无明显差异,而联合组的TN、NH4+-N和TP的去除效果均优于装置组,说明装置组内更换的环境矿物材料和深层化学增氧器有利于水体的净化;此外,以苦草组里的苦草长势最佳,但装置组、联合组、苦草组里的苦草均无叶片发黄和死亡现象发生,其中联合组中苦草的叶绿素a+b和丙二醛(MDA)含量略高于装置组中的,而质膜透性则无明显差异,说明矿物基质和增氧器的更换对苦草的生长影响不大。综上所述,尽管联合组和装置组中的矿物基质对苦草有胁迫作用,但不影响苦草的正常生长,反而有利于水体修复效果的提升,且联合组克服了装置组能耗高、扰动大、水体深层增氧效果差等缺点。以上研究结果可为潜水式生态介质箱的优化及黑臭水体的深层修复等提供技术支持。     

不同岩性试片溶蚀速率差异及意义

评价岩性对溶蚀速率的影响有助于提高岩溶碳汇强度估算精度,对当前全球气候变化研究意义重大。本文通过在山西晋中盆地西南,吕梁山东侧的半干旱岩溶区典型小流域开展标准试片与当地试片的对比溶蚀试验研究,结果显示当地试片的溶蚀速率(0.122 3~0.532 8mg/(cm2·a)和岩溶碳汇强度(1.713tCO2/(km2·a))明显小于标准试片(0.254 7~0.551 1mg/(cm2·a)和1.821tCO2/(km2·a)),表明使用标准溶蚀试片法会使岩溶碳汇强度被高估。当地试片的溶蚀速率与酸不溶物含量呈负相关关系,进一步表明当地试片酸不溶物含量(2.58%~10.86%)大于标准试片(3%)是造成其溶蚀速率和岩溶碳汇强度小于标准试片的重要原因。也就是说,由于埋放地地层岩性与标准溶蚀试片岩性特征存在差异,不同地区均采用埋放标准试片的溶蚀实验方法来研究岩溶碳汇效应会产生较大的误差。因此,为了更加精确的计算岩溶碳汇量,后期研究中有必要使用埋放地的岩性试片来替代标准溶蚀试片。     

Olfactory host finding, intermediate memory and its potential ecological adaptation in Nasonia vitripennis

Associative learning of host-associated chemical cues was studied in Nasonia vitripennis, a parasitoid of fly pupae in nests of hole-nesting birds. When females encountered a fly pupa and performed one sequence of host recognition behaviour including drilling the ovipositor into the host in the presence of the artificial odour furfurylheptanoate (FFH), they were afterwards arrested by FFH in olfactometer experiments. The response vanished after 4 days and could be blocked after 3 days by feeding wasps with ethacrynic acid prior and after the training. This indicates the formation of an intermediate form of memory by one host experience in N. vitripennis. Interestingly, the trained wasps avoided odours that were not present during the host encounter, although naive wasps did not react to these odours. This unique behaviour probably causes wasps to focus during host searching on those chemical cues they have experienced in the host environment. Studies in nests of hole-nesting birds revealed that about 30% of all nests contained only one fly pupa, and laboratory studies showed that N. vitripennis females are able to parasitise around 100 fly pupae in their life. It is discussed that under these conditions, the formation of a non-permanent intermediate memory for host-associated odours after one host encounter is adaptive to avoid costs involved with formation and maintenance of memory for misleading cues. The demonstration of associative olfactory learning in N. vitripennis, the first parasitoid species with sequenced genome, opens the gate to study molecular mechanisms of memory formation and its ecological adaptation in parasitoids.     

Waterproof and translucent wings at the same time: problems and solutions in butterflies

Although the colour of butterflies attracts the most attention, the waterproofing properties of their wings are also extremely interesting. Most butterfly wings are considered “super-hydrophobic” because the contact angle (CA) with a water drop exceeds 150°. Usually, butterfly wings are covered with strongly overlapping scales; however, in the case of transparent or translucent wings, scale cover is reduced; thus, the hydrophobicity could be affected. Here, we present a comparative analysis of wing hydrophobicity and its dependence on morphology for two species with translucent wings Parantica sita (Nymphalidae) and Parnassius glacialis (Papilionidae). These species have very different life histories: P. sita lives for up to 6 months as an adult and migrates over long distance, whereas P. glacialis lives for less than 1 month and does not migrate. We measured the water CA and analysed wing morphology with scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. P. sita has super-hydrophobic wing surfaces, with CA > 160°, whereas P. glacialis did not (CA = 100–135°). Specialised scales were found on the translucent portions of P. sita wings. These scales were ovoid and much thinner than common scales, erect at about 30°, and leaving up to 80% of the wing surface uncovered. The underlying bare wing surface had a remarkable pattern of ridges and knobs. P. glacialis also had over 80% of the wing surface uncovered, but the scales were either setae-like or spade-like. The bare surface of the wing had an irregular wavy smooth pattern. We suggest a mode of action that allows this super-hydrophobic effect with an incompletely covered wing surface. The scales bend, but do not collapse, under the pressure of a water droplet, and the elastic recovery of the structure at the borders of the droplet allows a high apparent CA. Thus, P. sita can be translucent without losing its waterproof properties. This characteristic is likely necessary for the long life and migration of this species. This is the first study of some of the effects on the hydrophobicity of translucency through scales’ cover reduction in butterfly wings and on the morphology associated with improved waterproofing. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.