Climate change effects on animal and plant phylogenetic diversity in southern Africa
- Pio, Dorothea V, Engler, Robin, Linder, H Peter, Monadjem, Ara, Cotterill, Fenton P D, Taylor, Peter J, Schoeman, M Corrie, Price, Benjamin W, Villet, Martin H, Eick, Geeta, Salamin, Nicholas, Guisan, Antoine
- Authors: Pio, Dorothea V , Engler, Robin , Linder, H Peter , Monadjem, Ara , Cotterill, Fenton P D , Taylor, Peter J , Schoeman, M Corrie , Price, Benjamin W , Villet, Martin H , Eick, Geeta , Salamin, Nicholas , Guisan, Antoine
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441874 , vital:73930 , https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12524
- Description: Much attention has been paid to the effects of climate change on species' range reductions and extinctions. There is however surprisingly little information on how climate change driven threat may impact the tree of life and result in loss of phylogenetic diversity (PD). Some plant families and mammalian orders reveal nonrandom extinction patterns, but many other plant families do not. Do these discrepancies reflect different speciation histories and does climate induced extinction result in the same discrepancies among different groups? Answers to these questions require representative taxon sampling. Here, we combine phylogenetic analyses, species distribution modeling, and climate change projections on two of the largest plant families in the Cape Floristic Region (Proteaceae and Restionaceae), as well as the second most diverse mammalian order in Southern Africa (Chiroptera), and an herbivorous insect genus (Platypleura) in the family Cicadidae to answer this question. We model current and future species distributions to assess species threat levels over the next 70 years, and then compare projected with random PD survival. Results for these animal and plant clades reveal congruence. PD losses are not significantly higher under predicted extinction than under random extinction simulations. So far the evidence suggests that focusing resources on climate threatened species alone may not result in disproportionate benefits for the preservation of evolutionary history.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Pio, Dorothea V , Engler, Robin , Linder, H Peter , Monadjem, Ara , Cotterill, Fenton P D , Taylor, Peter J , Schoeman, M Corrie , Price, Benjamin W , Villet, Martin H , Eick, Geeta , Salamin, Nicholas , Guisan, Antoine
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441874 , vital:73930 , https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12524
- Description: Much attention has been paid to the effects of climate change on species' range reductions and extinctions. There is however surprisingly little information on how climate change driven threat may impact the tree of life and result in loss of phylogenetic diversity (PD). Some plant families and mammalian orders reveal nonrandom extinction patterns, but many other plant families do not. Do these discrepancies reflect different speciation histories and does climate induced extinction result in the same discrepancies among different groups? Answers to these questions require representative taxon sampling. Here, we combine phylogenetic analyses, species distribution modeling, and climate change projections on two of the largest plant families in the Cape Floristic Region (Proteaceae and Restionaceae), as well as the second most diverse mammalian order in Southern Africa (Chiroptera), and an herbivorous insect genus (Platypleura) in the family Cicadidae to answer this question. We model current and future species distributions to assess species threat levels over the next 70 years, and then compare projected with random PD survival. Results for these animal and plant clades reveal congruence. PD losses are not significantly higher under predicted extinction than under random extinction simulations. So far the evidence suggests that focusing resources on climate threatened species alone may not result in disproportionate benefits for the preservation of evolutionary history.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
IziNambuzane: isiZulu names for insects
- Cockburn, Jessica J, Khumalo-Seegelken, B, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Cockburn, Jessica J , Khumalo-Seegelken, B , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Insects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal -- Nomenclature , Zulu language -- Revival , Language policy -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Native language and education -- Research -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Ethnoentomology
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6972 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014581
- Description: We provide a tool for communicating about insects in isiZulu to facilitate research and knowledge sharing in the fields of indigenous knowledge, cultural entomology, environmental education and community extensioninvolving isiZulu speakers. A total of 213 different names for 64 insect specimens were encountered among a sample of 67 respondents in 11 communities distributed across the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This list includes 93 names that can be considered core isiZulu vocabulary and which are widely used to identify insects that are agriculturally, medically, domestically, culturally or ecologically common or significant. Substantial variation was found regarding the names for particular insects, especially between regions, suggesting dialectal differences between isiZulu speakers. Grammatical and social variation in names was also recorded. This study highlights interdisciplinary teamwork in the field of indigenous knowledge research and the influences affecting the standardisation of South African languages for technical and scientific work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Cockburn, Jessica J , Khumalo-Seegelken, B , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Insects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal -- Nomenclature , Zulu language -- Revival , Language policy -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Native language and education -- Research -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Ethnoentomology
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6972 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014581
- Description: We provide a tool for communicating about insects in isiZulu to facilitate research and knowledge sharing in the fields of indigenous knowledge, cultural entomology, environmental education and community extensioninvolving isiZulu speakers. A total of 213 different names for 64 insect specimens were encountered among a sample of 67 respondents in 11 communities distributed across the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This list includes 93 names that can be considered core isiZulu vocabulary and which are widely used to identify insects that are agriculturally, medically, domestically, culturally or ecologically common or significant. Substantial variation was found regarding the names for particular insects, especially between regions, suggesting dialectal differences between isiZulu speakers. Grammatical and social variation in names was also recorded. This study highlights interdisciplinary teamwork in the field of indigenous knowledge research and the influences affecting the standardisation of South African languages for technical and scientific work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Morphological identification of Lucilia sericata, Lucilia cuprina and their hybrids (Diptera, Calliphoridae)
- Williams, Kirstin A, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441476 , vital:73892 , https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=3908
- Description: Hybrids of Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina have been shown to exist in previous studies using molecular methods, but no study has shown explicitly that these hybrids can be identified morphologically. Published morphological characters used to identify L. sericata and L. cuprina were reviewed, and then scored and tested using specimens of both species and known hybrids. Ordination by multi-dimensional scaling indicated that the species were separable, and that hybrids resembled L. cuprina, whatever their origin. Discriminant function analysis of the characters successfully separated the specimens into three unambiguous groups – L. sericata, L. cuprina and hybrids. The hybrids were morphologically similar irrespective of whether they were from an ancient introgressed lineage or more modern. This is the first evidence that hybrids of these two species can be identified from their morphology. The usefulness of the morphological characters is also discussed and photographs of several characters are included to facilitate their assessment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441476 , vital:73892 , https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=3908
- Description: Hybrids of Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina have been shown to exist in previous studies using molecular methods, but no study has shown explicitly that these hybrids can be identified morphologically. Published morphological characters used to identify L. sericata and L. cuprina were reviewed, and then scored and tested using specimens of both species and known hybrids. Ordination by multi-dimensional scaling indicated that the species were separable, and that hybrids resembled L. cuprina, whatever their origin. Discriminant function analysis of the characters successfully separated the specimens into three unambiguous groups – L. sericata, L. cuprina and hybrids. The hybrids were morphologically similar irrespective of whether they were from an ancient introgressed lineage or more modern. This is the first evidence that hybrids of these two species can be identified from their morphology. The usefulness of the morphological characters is also discussed and photographs of several characters are included to facilitate their assessment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
My enemy's enemies: recruiting hemipteran-tending generalist ants for biological control in citrus orchards by spatial partitioning of foraging webs
- Bownes, Angela, Moore, Sean D, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Bownes, Angela , Moore, Sean D , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442075 , vital:73953 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC160247
- Description: Generalist predators are contentious biocontrol agents, especially ants that protect pestilent hemipterans from specialist predators and parasitoids. We attempted to force generalist, hemipteran-tending ants into a degree of dietary specificity by spatially partitioning and simplifying their trophic web. Pupae of Helicoverpa armigera, Thaumatotibia leucotreta and Ceratitis capitata introduced into a citrus orchard survived significantly better in plots where all nests of two pestilent, generalist ant species namely Anoplolepis custodiens and Pheidole megacephala had been poisoned compared with untreated control plots. In some plots the ants' foraging environments were partitioned into arboreal and epigaeic trophic webs using sticky barriers to prevent ground-nesting ants from ascending the trees. Plots partitioned this way showed suppressed levels of survival of emplaced pest pupae that were similar to those in unpartitioned control plots. Pest survival was significantly lower for T. leucotreta than for H. armigera and C. capitata, implicating prey body size or life cycle duration as factors in predation by ants. Pheidole megacephala and the predator complex as a whole can be valuable agents in the natural control of soil-pupating citrus pests if they are restricted to the ground. Trunk banding, rather than poisoning, is therefore recommended as part of managing ecologically mercenary ants in citrus orchards.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Bownes, Angela , Moore, Sean D , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442075 , vital:73953 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC160247
- Description: Generalist predators are contentious biocontrol agents, especially ants that protect pestilent hemipterans from specialist predators and parasitoids. We attempted to force generalist, hemipteran-tending ants into a degree of dietary specificity by spatially partitioning and simplifying their trophic web. Pupae of Helicoverpa armigera, Thaumatotibia leucotreta and Ceratitis capitata introduced into a citrus orchard survived significantly better in plots where all nests of two pestilent, generalist ant species namely Anoplolepis custodiens and Pheidole megacephala had been poisoned compared with untreated control plots. In some plots the ants' foraging environments were partitioned into arboreal and epigaeic trophic webs using sticky barriers to prevent ground-nesting ants from ascending the trees. Plots partitioned this way showed suppressed levels of survival of emplaced pest pupae that were similar to those in unpartitioned control plots. Pest survival was significantly lower for T. leucotreta than for H. armigera and C. capitata, implicating prey body size or life cycle duration as factors in predation by ants. Pheidole megacephala and the predator complex as a whole can be valuable agents in the natural control of soil-pupating citrus pests if they are restricted to the ground. Trunk banding, rather than poisoning, is therefore recommended as part of managing ecologically mercenary ants in citrus orchards.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Phylogeny of the family Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data
- Strümpher, Werner P, Sole, Catherine L, Villet, Martin H, Scholtz, Clarke H
- Authors: Strümpher, Werner P , Sole, Catherine L , Villet, Martin H , Scholtz, Clarke H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442253 , vital:73970 , https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12074
- Description: Trogidae constitute a monophyletic and biologically unique family within Scarabaeoidea, being the only keratinophagous group in the superfamily. Traditionally, the family has been divided into three distinctive genera, Polynoncus Burmeister, Omorgus Erichson and Trox Fabricius. Although the taxonomy of the group is relatively well studied, changes to the existing classification have recently been proposed and the family as currently constituted has not been subjected to phylogenetic analyses. Here we present a molecular phylogeny for this cosmopolitan family based on three partially sequenced gene regions: 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA (domain 2). Included in the analyses are representatives belonging to four of the five extant genera (and three of the four subgenera) from all major zoogeographic regions, representing about 20% of the known trogid species diversity in the family. Phylogenetic analyses performed included parsimony and Bayesian inference. We deduce their historical biogeography by using trogid fossils as calibration points for divergence estimates. Our analyses resolved relationships between and within genera and subgenera that are largely congruent with existing phylogeny hypotheses based on morphological data. We recovered four well‐supported radiations: Polynoncus, Omorgus, Holarctic Trox and African Phoberus MacLeay. On the basis of this study, it is proposed that taxonomic changes to the generic classification of the family be made. The subgenera Trox and Phoberus should be elevated to genera to include the Holarctic and all the Afrotropical species, respectively, and Afromorgus returned to subgeneric rank. Estimates of divergence time are consistent with a Pangaean origin of the family in the Early Jurassic. The subsequent diversification of the major lineages is largely attributed to the break‐up of Pangaea and Gondwana in the Middle Jurassic and early Late Cretaceous, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Strümpher, Werner P , Sole, Catherine L , Villet, Martin H , Scholtz, Clarke H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442253 , vital:73970 , https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12074
- Description: Trogidae constitute a monophyletic and biologically unique family within Scarabaeoidea, being the only keratinophagous group in the superfamily. Traditionally, the family has been divided into three distinctive genera, Polynoncus Burmeister, Omorgus Erichson and Trox Fabricius. Although the taxonomy of the group is relatively well studied, changes to the existing classification have recently been proposed and the family as currently constituted has not been subjected to phylogenetic analyses. Here we present a molecular phylogeny for this cosmopolitan family based on three partially sequenced gene regions: 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA (domain 2). Included in the analyses are representatives belonging to four of the five extant genera (and three of the four subgenera) from all major zoogeographic regions, representing about 20% of the known trogid species diversity in the family. Phylogenetic analyses performed included parsimony and Bayesian inference. We deduce their historical biogeography by using trogid fossils as calibration points for divergence estimates. Our analyses resolved relationships between and within genera and subgenera that are largely congruent with existing phylogeny hypotheses based on morphological data. We recovered four well‐supported radiations: Polynoncus, Omorgus, Holarctic Trox and African Phoberus MacLeay. On the basis of this study, it is proposed that taxonomic changes to the generic classification of the family be made. The subgenera Trox and Phoberus should be elevated to genera to include the Holarctic and all the Afrotropical species, respectively, and Afromorgus returned to subgeneric rank. Estimates of divergence time are consistent with a Pangaean origin of the family in the Early Jurassic. The subsequent diversification of the major lineages is largely attributed to the break‐up of Pangaea and Gondwana in the Middle Jurassic and early Late Cretaceous, respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Predicting the geographic distribution of Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina (Diptera Calliphoridae) in South Africa
- Williams, Kirstin A, Richards, Cameron S, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Richards, Cameron S , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440681 , vital:73803 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC158017
- Description: Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae: Luciliinae) have medical, veterinary and forensic importance. Knowing their distribution in South Africa would allow more effective management and utilisation of these flies. Their predicted geographic distributions in South Africa were modelled using maximum entropy analysis of selected climatic variables. The most important environmental variables in modelling the distributions were the magnitude of monthly rainfall and the magnitude of the monthly maximum temperature for L. sericata and the seasonal variation in monthly mean humidity and magnitude of monthly rainfall for L. cuprina. A clear geographical bias was shown in museum records and supports the need for focused surveys. There was no correlation between the predicted distribution of L. cuprina and sheep farming in South Africa, nor between the predicted distribution of L. sericata and human population density. Although their patterns of occurrence differed, both species are widely distributed in South Africa and therefore one cannot identify these flies by locality alone - morphological or molecular identification is necessary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Richards, Cameron S , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440681 , vital:73803 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC158017
- Description: Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae: Luciliinae) have medical, veterinary and forensic importance. Knowing their distribution in South Africa would allow more effective management and utilisation of these flies. Their predicted geographic distributions in South Africa were modelled using maximum entropy analysis of selected climatic variables. The most important environmental variables in modelling the distributions were the magnitude of monthly rainfall and the magnitude of the monthly maximum temperature for L. sericata and the seasonal variation in monthly mean humidity and magnitude of monthly rainfall for L. cuprina. A clear geographical bias was shown in museum records and supports the need for focused surveys. There was no correlation between the predicted distribution of L. cuprina and sheep farming in South Africa, nor between the predicted distribution of L. sericata and human population density. Although their patterns of occurrence differed, both species are widely distributed in South Africa and therefore one cannot identify these flies by locality alone - morphological or molecular identification is necessary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Successful identification of the final instar nymph of Quintilia carinata (Thunberg)(Hemiptera: Cicadidae) by DNA extraction from the exuvium
- Bouwer, Nicolette, Midgley, John M, Timm, Alicia E, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Bouwer, Nicolette , Midgley, John M , Timm, Alicia E , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442347 , vital:73977 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2013.836759
- Description: Despite being taxonomically and phylogenetically informative, the morphology of the immature stages of cicadas has received comparatively superficial attention. One reason for this is the difficulty of positively identifying immature stages, particularly as these stages are fossorial. We present a method for identifying cicada exuviae using DNA sequence data and describe a set of characters and character states for the final instar nymph of Quintilia carinata (Thunberg). The identification of immature stages using molecular methods will increase our knowledge of African cicadas, allowing for the initiation of future phylogenetic and ecological comparisons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Bouwer, Nicolette , Midgley, John M , Timm, Alicia E , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442347 , vital:73977 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2013.836759
- Description: Despite being taxonomically and phylogenetically informative, the morphology of the immature stages of cicadas has received comparatively superficial attention. One reason for this is the difficulty of positively identifying immature stages, particularly as these stages are fossorial. We present a method for identifying cicada exuviae using DNA sequence data and describe a set of characters and character states for the final instar nymph of Quintilia carinata (Thunberg). The identification of immature stages using molecular methods will increase our knowledge of African cicadas, allowing for the initiation of future phylogenetic and ecological comparisons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Ancient and modern hybridization between Lucilia sericata and L. cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
- Williams, Kirstin A, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442633 , vital:74017 , 10.14411/eje.2013.029
- Description: There are important but inconsistent differences in breeding site preference between the blow flies Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) and L. cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830)(Diptera: Calliphoridae) that have significance for medical and veterinary science. These inconsistencies might arise from hybridisation. The species are difficult to distinguish using external morphology, although the male genitalia are distinctive and there are reliable molecular markers. Molecular evidence of modern hybridisation, derived from a newly developed nuclear marker, the period (per) gene, is presented here. This has implications for identifications of these species based on mtDNA, and may lead to an explanation of the medical and veterinary anomalies noted in these species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442633 , vital:74017 , 10.14411/eje.2013.029
- Description: There are important but inconsistent differences in breeding site preference between the blow flies Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) and L. cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830)(Diptera: Calliphoridae) that have significance for medical and veterinary science. These inconsistencies might arise from hybridisation. The species are difficult to distinguish using external morphology, although the male genitalia are distinctive and there are reliable molecular markers. Molecular evidence of modern hybridisation, derived from a newly developed nuclear marker, the period (per) gene, is presented here. This has implications for identifications of these species based on mtDNA, and may lead to an explanation of the medical and veterinary anomalies noted in these species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Forensic Entomology: An introduction, D.E. Gennard: book review
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/451721 , vital:75072 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC141290
- Description: Dorothy Gennard's role in the fourth-year course in Forensic Science at the University of Lincoln has placed her in an excellent position to design a text that caters for this level. It was generally agreed (e.g. Villet and Richards 2008; Higley and Huntington 2009) that the first edition of her book, published in 2007, was a useful text for teaching introductory courses in forensics, and this substantially revised edition is even better suited to that niche. Other recently revised texts are either difficult to acquire (Haskell and Williams, 2008) or more expensive reference works (Amendt et al. 2010; Byrd and Castner 2010).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/451721 , vital:75072 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC141290
- Description: Dorothy Gennard's role in the fourth-year course in Forensic Science at the University of Lincoln has placed her in an excellent position to design a text that caters for this level. It was generally agreed (e.g. Villet and Richards 2008; Higley and Huntington 2009) that the first edition of her book, published in 2007, was a useful text for teaching introductory courses in forensics, and this substantially revised edition is even better suited to that niche. Other recently revised texts are either difficult to acquire (Haskell and Williams, 2008) or more expensive reference works (Amendt et al. 2010; Byrd and Castner 2010).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
On the trail on Mountain Cicadas, M Gogala: book review
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/451763 , vital:75075 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC141289
- Description: Life is about surprises, and if we are lucky they will primarily be welcome. My copy of this book arrived as a happy surprise in the mail, and my delight did not abate until I had finished reading it. I must admit that I have met and like many of the people mentioned in this book, and that I have a special and not unsentimental interest in cicadas, but I think that readers without such background will still find this book fascinating.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/451763 , vital:75075 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC141289
- Description: Life is about surprises, and if we are lucky they will primarily be welcome. My copy of this book arrived as a happy surprise in the mail, and my delight did not abate until I had finished reading it. I must admit that I have met and like many of the people mentioned in this book, and that I have a special and not unsentimental interest in cicadas, but I think that readers without such background will still find this book fascinating.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
The final instar exuvium of Pycna semiclara Germar, 1834 (Hemiptera Cicadidae)
- Midgley, John M, Bouwer, Nicolette, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Midgley, John M , Bouwer, Nicolette , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440695 , vital:73804 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC136752
- Description: Exuviae of the cicada Pycna semiclara were found next to freshly eclosed adults. The exuvium of Pycna Semiclara is described and illustrated for the first time and a key is presented to distinguish the exuvium of this species from those of Platypleura stridula and Platypleura capensis, the only other species of cicadas from southern Africa for which exuviae have been described.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Midgley, John M , Bouwer, Nicolette , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440695 , vital:73804 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC136752
- Description: Exuviae of the cicada Pycna semiclara were found next to freshly eclosed adults. The exuvium of Pycna Semiclara is described and illustrated for the first time and a key is presented to distinguish the exuvium of this species from those of Platypleura stridula and Platypleura capensis, the only other species of cicadas from southern Africa for which exuviae have been described.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A review of the alderfly genus Leptosialis Esben-Petersen (Megaloptera, Sialidae) with description of a new species from South Africa
- Price, Benjamin W, Liu, Xingyue, de Moor, Ferdy C, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Price, Benjamin W , Liu, Xingyue , de Moor, Ferdy C , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441461 , vital:73891 , https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=2856
- Description: The monotypic South African alderfly genus Leptosialis Esben-Petersen, 1920 is reviewed and Leptosialis africana Esben-Petersen, 1920 is redescribed. In the process a new species of alderfly Leptosialis necopinata sp. n. from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa is recognised and described. Within Sialidae the new species most closely resembles Leptosialis africana. A key to the two species of Leptosialis using both adult and larval characters is provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Price, Benjamin W , Liu, Xingyue , de Moor, Ferdy C , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441461 , vital:73891 , https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=2856
- Description: The monotypic South African alderfly genus Leptosialis Esben-Petersen, 1920 is reviewed and Leptosialis africana Esben-Petersen, 1920 is redescribed. In the process a new species of alderfly Leptosialis necopinata sp. n. from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa is recognised and described. Within Sialidae the new species most closely resembles Leptosialis africana. A key to the two species of Leptosialis using both adult and larval characters is provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Amplified fragment length polymorphism confirms reciprocal monophyly in Chrysomya putoria and Chrysomya chloropyga: a correction of reported shared mtDNA haplotypes
- Picard, C J, Villet, Martin H, Wells, J D
- Authors: Picard, C J , Villet, Martin H , Wells, J D
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441760 , vital:73914 , DOI:10.4236/jcdsa.2012.22018
- Description: Reinvestigation of mitochondrial haplotypes previously reported to be shared between the Afrotropical blowflies Chrysomya putoria Weidemann and Chrysomya chloropyga Weidemann (Diptera: Calliphoridae) revealed an error resulting from the misidentification of specimens. Preliminary amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of the original and additional individuals again failed to find reciprocal monophyly, leading to a re‐examination of the specimens for diagnostic male genitalic characters that were first described following the earlier study. Four of the original study specimens were found to have been misidentified, and definitive analysis of both mtDNA and AFLP genotypes using phylogenetic analysis and genetic assignment showed that each species was indeed reciprocally monophyletic. In addition to correcting the earlier error, this study illustrates how AFLP analysis can be used for efficient and effective specimen identification through both phylogenetic analysis and genetic assignment, and suggests that the latter method has special advantages for identification when no conspecific specimens are represented in the reference database.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Picard, C J , Villet, Martin H , Wells, J D
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441760 , vital:73914 , DOI:10.4236/jcdsa.2012.22018
- Description: Reinvestigation of mitochondrial haplotypes previously reported to be shared between the Afrotropical blowflies Chrysomya putoria Weidemann and Chrysomya chloropyga Weidemann (Diptera: Calliphoridae) revealed an error resulting from the misidentification of specimens. Preliminary amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of the original and additional individuals again failed to find reciprocal monophyly, leading to a re‐examination of the specimens for diagnostic male genitalic characters that were first described following the earlier study. Four of the original study specimens were found to have been misidentified, and definitive analysis of both mtDNA and AFLP genotypes using phylogenetic analysis and genetic assignment showed that each species was indeed reciprocally monophyletic. In addition to correcting the earlier error, this study illustrates how AFLP analysis can be used for efficient and effective specimen identification through both phylogenetic analysis and genetic assignment, and suggests that the latter method has special advantages for identification when no conspecific specimens are represented in the reference database.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Cryptic variation in an ecological indicator organism: mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data confirm distinct lineages of Baetis harrisoni Barnard (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in Southern Africa
- Pereira-da-Conceicoa, Lyndall L, Price, Benjamin W, Barber-James, Helen M, Barker, Nigel P, de Moor, Ferdy C, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Pereira-da-Conceicoa, Lyndall L , Price, Benjamin W , Barber-James, Helen M , Barker, Nigel P , de Moor, Ferdy C , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6535 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005976 , https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-26
- Description: Baetis harrisoni Barnard is a mayfly frequently encountered in river studies across Africa, but the external morphological features used for identifying nymphs have been observed to vary subtly between different geographic locations. It has been associated with a wide range of ecological conditions, including pH extremes of pH 2.9–10.0 in polluted waters. We present a molecular study of the genetic variation within B. harrisoni across 21 rivers in its distribution range in southern Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Pereira-da-Conceicoa, Lyndall L , Price, Benjamin W , Barber-James, Helen M , Barker, Nigel P , de Moor, Ferdy C , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6535 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005976 , https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-26
- Description: Baetis harrisoni Barnard is a mayfly frequently encountered in river studies across Africa, but the external morphological features used for identifying nymphs have been observed to vary subtly between different geographic locations. It has been associated with a wide range of ecological conditions, including pH extremes of pH 2.9–10.0 in polluted waters. We present a molecular study of the genetic variation within B. harrisoni across 21 rivers in its distribution range in southern Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Cutaneous myiasis: is Lucilia cuprina safe and acceptable for maggot debridement therapy?
- Kingu, Howard J, Kuria, Simon K, Villet, Martin H, Mkhize, Jane N, Dhaffala, Adupa, Iisa, John M
- Authors: Kingu, Howard J , Kuria, Simon K , Villet, Martin H , Mkhize, Jane N , Dhaffala, Adupa , Iisa, John M
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442649 , vital:74018 , DOI:10.4236/jcdsa.2012.22018
- Description: Preservation of viable tissue is important in wound management. It is achieved by small, incremental removal of devitalised, necrotic and infected tissues. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is used in septic necrotic wounds that fail to respond to conventional modalities. MDT has relied on Lucilia cuprina, which consumes only necrotic tissues, as opposed to Lucilia cuprina, which devours both flesh and necrotic tissues. Recent findings have shown that L. cuprina consumes mainly necrotic and very small amounts of viable tissues and may be used in MDT where L. sericata is very rare or absent. Here we describe wound healing in a patient from rural South Africa with cutaneous myiasis. Our findings agree with workers who indicated that L. cuprina could be used in MDT.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kingu, Howard J , Kuria, Simon K , Villet, Martin H , Mkhize, Jane N , Dhaffala, Adupa , Iisa, John M
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442649 , vital:74018 , DOI:10.4236/jcdsa.2012.22018
- Description: Preservation of viable tissue is important in wound management. It is achieved by small, incremental removal of devitalised, necrotic and infected tissues. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is used in septic necrotic wounds that fail to respond to conventional modalities. MDT has relied on Lucilia cuprina, which consumes only necrotic tissues, as opposed to Lucilia cuprina, which devours both flesh and necrotic tissues. Recent findings have shown that L. cuprina consumes mainly necrotic and very small amounts of viable tissues and may be used in MDT where L. sericata is very rare or absent. Here we describe wound healing in a patient from rural South Africa with cutaneous myiasis. Our findings agree with workers who indicated that L. cuprina could be used in MDT.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Molecular phylogenetics of Oestroidea (Diptera: Calyptratae) with emphasis on Calliphoridae: insights into the inter-familial relationships and additional evidence for paraphyly among blowflies
- Marinho, M A T, Junqueira, A C M, Paulo, D F, Esposito, M C T, Villet, Martin H, Azeredo-Espin, A D
- Authors: Marinho, M A T , Junqueira, A C M , Paulo, D F , Esposito, M C T , Villet, Martin H , Azeredo-Espin, A D
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442691 , vital:74023 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2012.08.007
- Description: The superfamily Oestroidea, comprising ∼15,000 species, is a large and ecologically diverse clade within the order Diptera. Among its six commonly recognized families, Calliphoridae seems to be crucial for understanding evolutionary relationships in the group, as it is recognized as a controversial paraphyletic grouping. To further investigate this matter, the ITS2, 28S, COI and 16S regions were used to infer phylogenetic relationships in Oestroidea with maximum-parsimony (MP), maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. For the BI analyses, a deep evaluation of different data partitioning strategies was conducted, including consideration of structural conformation (ITS2 and 16S) and codon position (COI) information.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Marinho, M A T , Junqueira, A C M , Paulo, D F , Esposito, M C T , Villet, Martin H , Azeredo-Espin, A D
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442691 , vital:74023 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2012.08.007
- Description: The superfamily Oestroidea, comprising ∼15,000 species, is a large and ecologically diverse clade within the order Diptera. Among its six commonly recognized families, Calliphoridae seems to be crucial for understanding evolutionary relationships in the group, as it is recognized as a controversial paraphyletic grouping. To further investigate this matter, the ITS2, 28S, COI and 16S regions were used to infer phylogenetic relationships in Oestroidea with maximum-parsimony (MP), maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. For the BI analyses, a deep evaluation of different data partitioning strategies was conducted, including consideration of structural conformation (ITS2 and 16S) and codon position (COI) information.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Of ants and cicadas: thinking and doing
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:588 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018948
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:588 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018948
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The distribution, habitat, diet and forensic significance of the scarab Frankenbergerius forcipatus (Harold, 1881) (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae)
- Midgley, John M, Collett, Isabel J, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Midgley, John M , Collett, Isabel J , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010992
- Description: Records of African beetles feeding on carrion are scattered and incomplete, but important to forensic entomology. Thirty-three specimens of Frankenbergerius forcipatus (Harold, 1881) were found on carrionnear Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, providing new insight into the distribution (hills and mountains), habitat (fynbos and forest), biology (generalist on decaying material) and forensic significance (wet-decay, late opportunist) of the species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Midgley, John M , Collett, Isabel J , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010992
- Description: Records of African beetles feeding on carrion are scattered and incomplete, but important to forensic entomology. Thirty-three specimens of Frankenbergerius forcipatus (Harold, 1881) were found on carrionnear Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, providing new insight into the distribution (hills and mountains), habitat (fynbos and forest), biology (generalist on decaying material) and forensic significance (wet-decay, late opportunist) of the species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The role of ants and mammalian herbivores on the structure and composition of insect communities found on canopies of Acacia drepanolobium
- Kuria, Simon K, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Kuria, Simon K , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442663 , vital:74019 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR/article-full-text-pdf/6543D7937831/1000
- Description: Acacia drepanolobium Sjøstedt (Fabaceae) constitutes about 99% of the woody vegetation in the cotton soil ecosystem of Laikipia, Kenya. The tree has symbiotic association with four ant species that discourage large mammalian herbivores from feeding on it. However, there is no information as to whether these ants affect the community of canopy insects. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of the four ant species and differential vertebrate grazing and browsing pressures on the insect community inhabiting canopies of A. drepanolobium trees. Insect samples were collected using standard fogging and beating methods and identified to family and morphospecies. At the morphospecies level, the insect communities separated into two distinct groups, one comprised of samples collected from trees occupied by Crematogaster mimosae and Crematogaster nigriceps, and the other of samples obtained from trees inhabited by C. sjostedti and Tetraponera penzigi. However, differential vertebrate grazing and browsing patterns did not show any significant effect on the insect community occupying canopies of A. drepanolobium.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kuria, Simon K , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442663 , vital:74019 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR/article-full-text-pdf/6543D7937831/1000
- Description: Acacia drepanolobium Sjøstedt (Fabaceae) constitutes about 99% of the woody vegetation in the cotton soil ecosystem of Laikipia, Kenya. The tree has symbiotic association with four ant species that discourage large mammalian herbivores from feeding on it. However, there is no information as to whether these ants affect the community of canopy insects. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of the four ant species and differential vertebrate grazing and browsing pressures on the insect community inhabiting canopies of A. drepanolobium trees. Insect samples were collected using standard fogging and beating methods and identified to family and morphospecies. At the morphospecies level, the insect communities separated into two distinct groups, one comprised of samples collected from trees occupied by Crematogaster mimosae and Crematogaster nigriceps, and the other of samples obtained from trees inhabited by C. sjostedti and Tetraponera penzigi. However, differential vertebrate grazing and browsing patterns did not show any significant effect on the insect community occupying canopies of A. drepanolobium.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
3000 miles from home: a new Gastrosericus baobabicus Pulawski, 1995 (Hymenoptera, Larridae) distribution record highlights that the Sahel has a distinct entomofaunal signature
- Clitheroe, Crystal-Leigh, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Clitheroe, Crystal-Leigh , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6846 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011099
- Description: [from introduction] On October 30, 1953, an unidentified female wasp (Fig. 1) was collected from ‘Belet Uen, Somaliland’ (= Beledweyne, 4°44’N 45°12’E), situated in the valley of the Shebelle River, HiraanProvince,Somalia. It was deposited in the aculeate Hymenoptera collection of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown by D. Greathead prior to 1968. Apart from the words ‘Somaliland’ and ‘Desert Locust Survey’ the label is handwritten and the collector’snameis not recorded. Greathead’s sister, S. Gess (Albany Museum), deciphered the label and stated that he had worked for the Desert Locust Survey, investigating the natural enemies of locusts and had been in Somalia (then Somaliland) at that time (Murphy & Cock 2007). The specimen was sent in 2004 by F. Gess to W. Pulawski, who determined it as Gastrosericus baobabicus Pulawski, 1995. Gastrosericus species prey on spiders and a variety of small insects (Pulawski 1995), including Orthoptera (Krombein & Pulawski 1986), so it is likely that Greathead collected the specimen in connection with his interest in the insect enemies of Acridoidea (Orthoptera) (Greathead 1962).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Clitheroe, Crystal-Leigh , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6846 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011099
- Description: [from introduction] On October 30, 1953, an unidentified female wasp (Fig. 1) was collected from ‘Belet Uen, Somaliland’ (= Beledweyne, 4°44’N 45°12’E), situated in the valley of the Shebelle River, HiraanProvince,Somalia. It was deposited in the aculeate Hymenoptera collection of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown by D. Greathead prior to 1968. Apart from the words ‘Somaliland’ and ‘Desert Locust Survey’ the label is handwritten and the collector’snameis not recorded. Greathead’s sister, S. Gess (Albany Museum), deciphered the label and stated that he had worked for the Desert Locust Survey, investigating the natural enemies of locusts and had been in Somalia (then Somaliland) at that time (Murphy & Cock 2007). The specimen was sent in 2004 by F. Gess to W. Pulawski, who determined it as Gastrosericus baobabicus Pulawski, 1995. Gastrosericus species prey on spiders and a variety of small insects (Pulawski 1995), including Orthoptera (Krombein & Pulawski 1986), so it is likely that Greathead collected the specimen in connection with his interest in the insect enemies of Acridoidea (Orthoptera) (Greathead 1962).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011