Understanding the contribution of outdoor-resting Anopheles mosquitoes to residual malaria transmission is important in terms scaling up vector control towards elimination South Africa. The aim this project was assess potential role parensis and other species transmission, using sentinel surveillance sites uMkhanyakude District northern KwaZulu-Natal Province. Monthly conducted at from January 2017 May 2018. Outdoor-placed clay pot resting traps were used collect male female adult...

Termites are a good food source, being rich in proteins, fats, vitamins and many essential mineral nutrients, thus provide security for poor households. We report on survey conducted the Vhembe District Municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa, to identify edible termite species find out how they harvested, prepared, graded, packaged marketed. also looked at socio-economic factors harvesters, marketers consumers. Using structured questionnaire, 104 individuals were interviewed from 48...

ABSTRACT It has been suggested that the discontinuous ventilation cycle (DVC) observed in many insects, including all ants described to date, is an adaptation reduce respiratory water loss. To test this hypothesis, it necessary measure loss as a percentage of total and estimate what sustained rates would be absence spiracular control. We used two independent techniques real-time female alates Pogonomyrmex rugosus. The first measured vapor emission CO2 production simultaneously using...

Termites are an important food resource for many human populations around the world, and a good supply of nutrients. The fungus-farming 'higher' termite members Macrotermitinae also consumed by modern great apes implicated as critical dietary resources early hominins. While chemical nutritional composition edible termites is well known, their microbiomes unexplored in context health. Here we sequenced V4 region 16S rRNA gene gut microbiota extracted from whole intestinal tract two...

SUMMARY The sealed subelytral cavity of many flightless beetle species is widely acknowledged to be an adaptation water saving in arid-habitat species. However, this hypothesis relies on the acceptance two largely untested assumptions: (i) that movement respiratory gases unidirectional from anterior posterior and (ii) coordinated action spiracles directs flow. We tested these assumptions by simultaneously measuring CO2 O2 exchange at mesothorax,independently gas body, which included cavity,...

SUMMARY The relative role of the mesothoracic and abdominal spiracles in respiration was examined using flow-through respirometry four dung beetle species from different habitats. Two flightless beetles, Scarabaeus (Pachysoma) gariepinus striatum, arid western region southern Africa a large flighted species, Pachylomerus femoralis, more mesic habitat were compared with Circellium bacchus, low rainfall eastern area. All showed form discontinuous gas exchange pattern at rest. used closed,...

Abstract Maternal host choices during oviposition by herbivorous insects determine the fitness of their offspring and may be influenced environmental changes that can alter host‐plant quality. This is particular relevance to ‘push‐pull’ cropping systems where preferences are exploited manage insect pest populations. We tested how drought stress in maize companion plants used these affect preference, larval feeding, development spotted stemborer, C hilo partellus S winhoe ( L epidoptera:...

<title>Abstract</title> The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence technologies has necessitated the development frameworks capable executing increasingly complex tasks with remarkable efficiency and speed. In response to pressing demands for heightened computational capabilities, a sophisticated strategy been conceived that not only addresses performance challenges inherent in state-of-the-art language models but also seeks optimize their operational efficiency. methodology proposed...

SUMMARY This study correlates the pattern of external gas exchange with diel activity nine species tenebrionid beetle from Negev Desert, Israel. The are active throughout summer months when daytime temperatures high and no rain falls. There were differences in standard metabolic rate, determined by flow-through respirometry, among species. All nocturnally beetles exhibited a form continuous respiration, whereas two diurnally one crepuscular cyclic respiration referred to as discontinuous...

Abstract In this study we show a link between the respiratory method and state of hydration in an arid dwelling tenebrionid beetle ( Pimelia grandis ). Dehydrated beetles use discontinuous gas exchange cycles with flutter period consisting several discrete bursts CO 2 release, whereas given access to food water showed form continuous release. These data give support conservation hypothesis for cycle.

We measured the energy costs of locomotion and load carriage in two species honeypot ant, Myrmecocystus. The diurnal forager, Myrmecocystus mendax, ran voluntarily a running tube respirometer at 40° C. After for about an hour, foragers were removed given access to honey water, which they drank. cost carrying this internal was then measured. nocturnalforager, mexicanus, 30° These ants could not be persuaded collect water. minimum transport (MCOT)-160 105 J kg⁻¹ m⁻¹ M. mendax (6 mg) mexicanus...

Abstract. The three Leptogenys species L.nitida, L.schwabi and L.attenuata coexist in the coastal forests of South Africa exhibit an array foraging strategies ranging from individual to group raiding. To determine whether there is a physiological basis for these strategies, energetic cost locomotion individuals was determined. Carbon dioxide emission voluntary running ants measured using flow‐through technique, order their metabolic rate when running. minimum transport constant over range...

The energy cost of activities central to overall fitness in most animals, such as pedestrian locomotion, is traditionally measured the laboratory and then extrapolated field conditions for modeling or hypothesis-testing purposes. However, no accurate, direct, situ validation these extrapolations has been made on undisturbed animals. We present first here, harvester ants (Messor pergandei). After measuring their parameters using a running tube, we metabolic rate (MR) natural, ant trail...

Circe!!ium bacchus is a flightless telecoprid (ball-rolling) dung beetle, endemic to the afrotropical region, where it found in few restricted populations eastern Cape of South Africa.Its apterous condition and large size (mass ranges from 6 12 g) are considered be adaptations semi-arid habitat.This beetle active sun for long periods, walking between widely scattered pats, thus under selection pressure reduce water loss.C. has eight spiracles on each side body.The metathoracic spiracle six...

The role of the subelytral cavity in flightless beetle species as an adaptation to water saving arid habitats is still dispute. We found that relatively little CO(2) was released from a large apterous Circellium bacchus during simultaneous measurements emission anterior mesothoracic spiracles and posterior body, which included spiracles. However, when we sampled air directly inside cavity, discovered this pattern reversed. A discontinuous gas exchange cycle (DGC) recorded body half,...

Insects use dormancy to survive adverse conditions. Brown locust Locustana pardalina (Walk.) eggs offer a convenient model study (diapause and quiescence), which contributes their survival under arid The metabolic rates of developing nondiapause, diapause quiescent are compared in the present using closed‐system respirometry. embryo becomes committed continue development hatch or enter 6 days after placed on moist soil. rate nondiapause increases exponentially until hatching, whereas that is...

The aim of this study was to obtain a seasonal profile the mound temperatures harvester termite, Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjöstedt), ascertain whether in different regions were constant across temperature fluctuations. Temperatures measured six mounds Melville Koppies Nature Reserve (Johannesburg, South Africa). Unlike most epigeous mound-building termites, their wholly restricted surface with no subterranean component. Brood and queen found at core soil interface. Core on monthly basis...

Abstract The colony sizes and ovariole numbers of eight ponerine, one cerapachyine doryline species are reported. ergatoid queens five these described briefly. Workers the Hypoponera, Leptogenys Anochetus entirely lack ovaries, first report obligate sterility in this subfamily. Three evolutionary trends reproductive biology Poneriae discussed: an increase specialization for reproduction queen caste; worker increasing differentiation between castes; loss dispersal queens. Keywords : Ovariole...