Fig wasps as vectors of mites and nematodes
- Jauharlina, J, Lindquist, E E, Quinnell, R J, Compton, Stephen G, Robertson, Hamish G
- Authors: Jauharlina, J , Lindquist, E E , Quinnell, R J , Compton, Stephen G , Robertson, Hamish G
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/452076 , vital:75101 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC119300
- Description: Females of the pollinator fig wasp Elisabethiella baijnathi Wiebes carry mites (Tarsonemella sp. nr. africanus) and nematodes (Parasitodiplogaster sp.) between figs of Ficus burtt-davyi in Grahamstown, South Africa. The mites are phoretic on the outside of the wasps and phytophagous, feeding on galled flowers. The nematodes are transported inside the wasps and eventually eat them. Both mites and nematodes were present throughout the year. The prevalence (fig occupancy rates) of mites and nematodes in different crops ranged between zero and 100 %. Crop size did not influence the prevalence of either mites or nematodes. Contrasting dispersion patterns and relationships with fig wasp foundress numbers indicate that the mites, but not the nematodes, disperse between figs after being carried there by the pollinators, and they may also utilize non-pollinating fig wasps as vectors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Jauharlina, J , Lindquist, E E , Quinnell, R J , Compton, Stephen G , Robertson, Hamish G
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/452076 , vital:75101 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC119300
- Description: Females of the pollinator fig wasp Elisabethiella baijnathi Wiebes carry mites (Tarsonemella sp. nr. africanus) and nematodes (Parasitodiplogaster sp.) between figs of Ficus burtt-davyi in Grahamstown, South Africa. The mites are phoretic on the outside of the wasps and phytophagous, feeding on galled flowers. The nematodes are transported inside the wasps and eventually eat them. Both mites and nematodes were present throughout the year. The prevalence (fig occupancy rates) of mites and nematodes in different crops ranged between zero and 100 %. Crop size did not influence the prevalence of either mites or nematodes. Contrasting dispersion patterns and relationships with fig wasp foundress numbers indicate that the mites, but not the nematodes, disperse between figs after being carried there by the pollinators, and they may also utilize non-pollinating fig wasps as vectors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Systematic status of Plectroctena mandibularis Smith and P. conjugata Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerini)
- Villet, Martin H, McKitterick, L, Robertson, Hamish G
- Authors: Villet, Martin H , McKitterick, L , Robertson, Hamish G
- Date: 1999
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6893 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011653
- Description: Plectroctena mandibularis Smith is the type species of Plectroctena F. Smith. Because there has been some doubt about its distinctness from P. conjugata, several techniques were used to assess the systematic status of the two species. Most crucially, several colony series contained workers of both phenotypes, and where these series included queens or males, the distinguishing feature of these specimens was not consistently related to those of the workers. Queens, males and workers did not manifest qualitative differences between the taxa, and morphological variation was continuous between the two. The putative morphological basis (funicular index) for distinguishing workers of the taxa arose from allometric variation. Putatively diagnostic colour variation in males was related to latitude, but no simple pattern of morphological variation could be correlated with geographical distribution. Plectroctena conjugata is therefore considered a junior synonym of P. mandibularis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Villet, Martin H , McKitterick, L , Robertson, Hamish G
- Date: 1999
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6893 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011653
- Description: Plectroctena mandibularis Smith is the type species of Plectroctena F. Smith. Because there has been some doubt about its distinctness from P. conjugata, several techniques were used to assess the systematic status of the two species. Most crucially, several colony series contained workers of both phenotypes, and where these series included queens or males, the distinguishing feature of these specimens was not consistently related to those of the workers. Queens, males and workers did not manifest qualitative differences between the taxa, and morphological variation was continuous between the two. The putative morphological basis (funicular index) for distinguishing workers of the taxa arose from allometric variation. Putatively diagnostic colour variation in males was related to latitude, but no simple pattern of morphological variation could be correlated with geographical distribution. Plectroctena conjugata is therefore considered a junior synonym of P. mandibularis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
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