Behavioural responses of Phlebotomus duboscqi to plant-derived volatile organic compounds

Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania parasites that cause leishmaniases. Both sexes of sand flies feed on plants primarily for sugars, although the chemical cues that mediate attraction to host plants remain largely unknown. Previously, using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the authors identified several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) common to preferred host plants for selected Afrotropical sand flies from the Fabaceae family. Of the identified volatiles, the significance of the monoterpenes linalool oxide, ocimene and p-cymene and the benzenoid m-cresol, p-cresol in sand fly behaviour is unknown. In olfactometer assays, the authors tested these compounds singly and in blends for their attractiveness to Phlebotomus duboscqi, cutaneous leishmaniasis vector in Kenya. In dose-response assays, single compounds increased the responses of males and females over controls, but their optimum attractive doses varied between the sexes. Two five-component blends, referred to as Blend-f and Blend-m for females and males respectively, were formulated and tested in dose-response assays against 1-octen-3-ol (positive control). The results of the present study showed that males and females were significantly attracted to varying levels of the two blends. In pairwise assays, the authors evaluated the most attractive of these blends to each sex (i.e., Blend Am for male against Blend Bf for female), revealing that males were attracted to both blends at varying levels, whereas females were indifferent. The study's results demonstrate that plant-derived VOCs can be exploited for sand fly management.

Plant sugar feeding patterns of wild-caught Aedes aegypti from dengue endemic and non-endemic areas of Kenya

A fundamental understanding of plant sugar feeding behaviour in vector populations can lead to the development of ecologically effective vector monitoring and control strategies. Despite previous studies on mosquito-plant interactions, relatively few have been conducted on the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). The authors studied Ae. aegypti-plant interactions at two sites of varying dengue endemicity in Kenya: Kilifi (endemic) and Isiolo (non-endemic). Using chemical and molecular assays [DNA barcoding targeting the chloroplast ribulose-1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large chain (rbcL) gene], the authors show that at the two sites plant feeding in this mosquito species: (a) varies by sex and season; (b) results in the acquisition of diverse sugars, and (c) is associated with diverse host plants in the families Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Poaceae and Rosaceae. These results reveal insights into the plant sugar feeding patterns of wild-caught Ae. aegypti and provide a baseline for future studies on the olfactory basis for host plant attraction for the development of vector monitoring and control tools.

A new forest dwelling button spider from South Africa (Araneae, Theridiidae, Latrodectus)

The medically important spider genus Latrodectus Walckenaer 1805, commonly referred to as "button spiders" in South Africa, is represented by six species in the country. Using morphology and the COI barcoding gene we describe a new forest dwelling species, Latrodectus umbukwane n. sp. Wright, Wright, Lyle and Engelbrecht. Females have red markings on both the ventral and posterior dorsal surfaces of the abdomen, parallel spermathecae and three loops of the copulatory ducts. Males have an embolus with four loops and diagnostic white markings on the ventral surface of the abdomen that darken with age. Egg sacs are smooth, large, and bright purple when freshly laid, turning shiny grey with time. Latrodectus umbukwane n. sp. is known only from sand forest vegetation types in northern Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A predicted geographic distribution for this species is provided based on cartographic mapping of known habitat and altitudinal preference, from which area of occupancy (AOO; 698 km2) and extent of occurrence (EOO; 4963 km2) were calculated to assess potential IUCN Red List status. Due to the uncertainty of the distribution of this species, a Red List status of Data Deficient (DD) is recommended. An updated key to the southern African species of Latrodectus is provided.

Phylogeny of the African ball-rolling dung beetle genus Epirinus Reiche (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Scarabaeinae)

Recent phylogenetic analyses have pointed to the dung beetle genus Epirinus as the putative African ancestral roller group. Consequently, we tested the roller status of species in the genus with observational studies and constructed a molecular phylogeny based on partial sequences of two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes for 16 of 29 species. Tested species were confirmed to be dung rollers. Monophyly of the genus was confirmed, lending support to the synonymy of the wingless genus Endroedyantus with Epirinus. Moreover, the phylogenetic hypothesis was found to have a similar topology with a previously published one based on morphological data. A combined molecular and morphology analysis showed congruence between the molecular and morphological datasets. The loss of flight in some species and estimated divergence dates within Epirinus are discussed.