Ant Pupae from Myanmar Amber Reveal the Evolutionary Process of Cocoon-Spinning Behavior in Formicidae

Many extant species spin cocoons before their pupal stage,which can protect them from predators,pathogens,and fluctuant environmental factors in nests.However,owing to the scarcity of ant cocoon fossils,little is known about the origin and evolution of this behavior in Formicidae.Here,we describe two ant pupae specimens from Myanmar amber.The presence of cocoons in these Mesozoic fossils suggests the ancestral origin of spinning cocoon behavior;based on our phylogenetic analysis and ancestral state reconstruction,this behavior was secondarily lost at least six times in Formicidae,which could be ascribed to the transition of nesting and feeding habits,as well as the development of eusociality.Moreover,the first specimen preserved worker ants with empty cocoons simultaneously,indicating garbage removal or brood care behavior,which improves our understanding of their eusociality in the Cretaceous.

Antihypertensive Properties on Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats of Peptide Hydrolysates from Silkworm Pupae Protein

Peptide hydrolysates of silkworm pupae protein with molecular weight of less than 5000 Da were prepared by ultrafiltration. The extracted peptide hydrolysates of silkworm pupae protein had inhibitory action on angiotensin-I-converting enzyme activity in vitro. The hydrolysates were orally administered to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in one period and long-term (four weeks). The results showed that the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the treatment groups decreased in a dose-related manner. After one oral administration of silkworm protein hydrolysates with doses of 60, 20 and 5 mg/kg, the SBP of SHR decreased by 21.5, 13.8, and 9.0 mmHg in 1.5 h. After four weeks of the treatment in 80 mg/kg, the SBP decreased by 25 mmHg, with the antihypertensive activity close to 4 mg/kg of captopril;the SBP of the 40 mg/kg dose group also decreased by 17.5 mmHg. The peptide hydrolysate did not affect the SBP in normal, non-hypertensive rats in one period and long-term treatments. The acute toxicity research showed that the peptide hydrolysates were safe and without side effects. This research would be helpful in exploring the silkworm protein peptides as functional components for the antihypertension treatment.

INHIBITION EFFECTS OF ANTIBACTERIAL PEPTIDE D FROM THE CHINESE OAK SILKWORM(Antheraea pernyi) PUPAE

Some active antibacterial substances, such as antibacterial peptide lysozymes and agglutinin were induced and developed from the haemolymph of the Chinese oak silkworm(Antheraea pernyi) pupae injected with Escherichia coli or treated with ultrasonic waves. The antibacterial peptide from A. pernyi was isolated, purified, and its amino acid sequence was also determined. The inducible antibacterial substances have marked

DETERMINATION OF JUVENILE HORMONE TITER IN THE HEMOLYMPH OF PUPAE OF INDIAN SILKWORM, Philosamia cynthia ricini

Juvenile hormone plays an important role in controlling the processes of metamorphosis and reproduction of most insects. There has been a growing amount of research works on the determination of JH titers at various physiological levels in a variety of insect species, yet our knowledge concerning JH titer lags behind that of ecdysteroid titer. The reasons are: (ⅰ) JH titers in most insects seem to be generally quite low, and (ⅱ) it is difficult to separate JH from the lipids that are present in rather large quantities and have similarities in chemical and physical properties.

Spatial distribution of Holcocerus hippophaecolus (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) pupae in a seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) stand

The seabuckthorn carpenter moth,Holcocerus hippophaecolus,which has a generation time of four years,is recently becoming one of the major pests of the seabuckthorn(Hippophae rhamnoides)in Inner Mongolia,Liaoning,Shanxi,Ningxia and Shaanxi of China(Hua et al.,1990).The larvae of the H.hippophaecolus mainly damage the stems and roots of the seabuckthorn,and the mature larvae pupate in the soil.The spatial distribution of the pupae was analyzed by using biostatistics and geostatistics in order to effectively control the insect and further study the spatial distribution of the population.Results show that most of the pupae(90%)had an eclosion time span from early June to the end of July.The sex ratio of the pupae was nearly 1:1 in the woodland samples.In addition,24.3%of the 971 trees investigated had pupae and it ranged from 0 to 4 per tree within a distance of 1.3 m from the base of the stem.90%of the pupae were aggregated within a distance of 1 m from the base of the stem.The pupae show intense spatial aggregation in the sampled woodland which had an 11.1 m spatial dependence and a 90.7%intensity in the local spatial continuity.Moreover,the population presented an intensive spotted distribution and many aggregated spots were found in the woodlands.As for the relationship between grid size and variogram of the pupae,the variations in the range,the intensity of local spatial continuity and the sill were all very low or non-existent when the grid size was 5 m,6 m or 7 m.Whereas,the value of the decisive coefficient was the biggest when the grid size was 5 m making it the ideal grid size.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of silkworm pupa and its allergenicity evaluation by animal model with different immunization routes

Silkworm pupa is a nourishing food with high nutritional value,but its consumption has been greatly limited given its allergenicity.Enzyme hydrolytic technique is recognized as an effective method to reduce the allergenicity of protein.In this study,we aimed to investigate the effect of enzymolysis on the allergenicity of silkworm pupa.Crude silkworm pupa protein was extracted through alkali extraction and acid precipitation,which included 5 proteins with the molecular weights ranging from 34 kDa to 76 kDa,and silkworm pupa were then hydrolyzed by alkaline protease.The allergenicity of silkworm pupa protein and its enzymatic hydrolysates was evaluated by establishing BALB/c mice model,and the mice were immunized via intragastric gavage and intraperitoneal injection,respectively.The results indicated that the intraperitoneal inj ection immunization route induced more by detecting with antibodies,histamine and Th2-related cytokines.Moreover,mice treated with silkworm pupa protein peptide displayed no obvious allergic symptoms,indicating that enzyme hydrolytic technique could significantly reduce the allergenicity of silkworm pupa.

Effective accumulated temperature and developmental threshold temperature for Semanotus bifasciatus(Motschulsky) in Beijing

In order to understand the occurrence and development of Semanotus bifasciatus （Motschulsky）, a borer insect of Platycladus orientalis in parts of northern and eastern China and to improve its prediction, the developmental threshold temperature （C1） and effective accumulated temperature （K） of S. bifasciatus were determined under conditions of constant and variable temperatures. The results show that under constant temperatures the value of C1 has a range of 8.90±1.77℃and the value of K lies between 95.19±13.14 degree-day for eggs; the values for larvae are C1= 13.26±3.06℃ and the number of degree-day is K 2,885.07±187.87 degree-day; for pupae the ranges are C1 = 8.93±2.49℃ and K= 131.20±25.63 degree-day. Under the condition of ambient temperatures, the values for eggs are C1= 17.33±1.24℃ and K= 70.79±8.99 degree-day. It is suggested that S. bifasciatus adults over-winter in a state of dormancy, not at a diapause. Warm winter may accelerate the life cycle ofS. bifasciatus. Equations can be used to predict an early occurrence ofS. bifasciatus.

Morphological traits for sex identification of the oriental armyworm,Mythimna separata(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)

The oriental armyworm,Mythimna separata(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)is a harmful pest which causes heavy loss in agricultural crops.Sex identification of M.separata is very important for understanding the biology and management of this pest.Development of fast and convenient methods to identify M.separata female and male is the necessary prerequisite for con ducting gender-related studies.In this study,new methods to differentiate sex of M.separata at pupal and adult stages were investigated.Our results showed that posterior abdominal segments containing genital organs which are morphological traits to differentiate female and male.Genital openings are important characters for the female and male pupae differentiation.For female pupa,it locates on the ventral side of eighth and ninth abdominal segments and appears as a visible longitudinal suture;for male pupa,it locates on the ventral side of the ninth abdominal segment and appears as a short slit surrounded by a pair of visible semicircular lumps.Bristle numbers are another indicator for sex differentiation of adults.Each female has three-bristled frenulum and each male has one bristled-frenulum near the base of hind wing of each side of moth body.We confirmed the two sex differentiation methods manually by dissecting genitalia of adults and found their genger was as same as what we examined the sex of pupae and adults using the morphological methods.

Distinguishing sex of silkworm chrysalis in cocoon by NIR with fiber optics

The feasibility of distinguishing male and female silkworm chrysalis in cocoon by NIR with fiber optics was discussed. Altogether 187 samples were taken from which 100 samples were used for calibration and others for prediction. "1"and"0"were designed as male and female silkworm chrysalis,respectively’,for regression. Statistical analysis results showed that MR was 0. 930 and SEC 0. 189. The prediction results of 87 samples indicated that R was 0. 937 and SEP 0. 175 respectively. The accuracy of distinguishing sex of silkworm chrysalis in cocoon reached 98. 9%. At the same time,it is possible to discriminate the dead silkworm pupa in cocoon immediately through the spectrum.

Effects of silkworm pupa protein on apoptosis and energy metabolism in human colon cancer DLD-1 cells

Objective:To investigate the effects of silkworm pupa(Bombyx mori) protein(SPP) on cell proliferation,apoptosis and energy metabolism in human colon cancer cells DLD-1.Methods:CCK-8 was used to detect cell proliferation rate after 72 h of cell culture for the control group(normal cultured DLD-1 cells) and SPP dose groups;Annexin-V/PI was applied to observe cell apoptosis;XFe24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer was used to detect cell mitochondrial respiratory function and glycolytic function.Results:Comparing with the control,SPP significantly inhibited the proliferation of DLD-1 cells with all the dosage tested(P <0.01);flow cytometry showed that SPP significantly promoted apoptosis(P<0.05).Additionally,SPP could significantly inhibited mitochondrial metabolism and glycolysis of DLD-1 cells and decreased cell energy metabolism in all groups treated with different doses.Conclusion:SPP can cause oxidative damage,promote apoptosis,and reduce mitochondrial respiratory and glycolysis rate in colon cancer DLD-1 cells,which reveals that SPP has the potential to serve as the anti-cancer drugs in the future,but further experimental evidence is needed.

A Novel Protein Found in Selenium-rich Silkworm Pupas

A novel protein was isolated and characterized in selenium-rich silkworm pupas. The peptide mass fingerprint of the protein was found to be new. Partial amino acid sequencing also confn-med to be a new protein. The novel protein had a molecular mass of about 80 kDa in the SDS-PAGE.

Morphological Characteristics of the Long-legged Chafer Hoplia spectabilis Medvedev(Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) at Various Developmental Stages

The long-legged chafer Hoplia spectabilis Medvedev was described in 1952. Its occurrence was rarely reported and the document about its morphological details was not found. However, the chafer did frequently break out at Buha River valley in Tianjun county, Qinghai province, China since 2005. In this paper, we present a comprehensive description and illustrations of morphological characteristics of H. spectabilis from local collection, including developmental stages of adult, egg, larva and pupa. Among them, characteristics of the larva and pupa, the male genitalia as well as the difference between male and female are described for the first time. The morphological data will be quite useful for identification and characterization of the chafer, a poorly known species. It will also be an important basis for the chafer control when it breaks out.

Study on ionic liquids based novel method for separation and purification of silkworm pupa protein

Silkworm pupa protein(SPP)that obtained by traditional method usually had a high fat content,which would impose restrictions on the further use of SPP.Herein,various functionalized ionic liquids(ILs)were used to extract SPP from silkworm pupae,the structure-performance relationship of ILs with their SPP separation performance were explored at the same time.The research showed that the maximum extraction yield of SPP was up to 62.6%with less than 0.5%low fat content by using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride([Emim]Cl),when the dissolution experiment was conducted at 90°C for 24 h with ethanol bath as the regeneration solvent.Comparing with the structure of raw material,the regenerated SPP maintained the native protein backbone.Meanwhile,all regenerated SPP showed a decreased crystallinity,which also exhibited decreased fraction of theα-helix comparing to thatβ-sheet united with coil random structures.

Pupal emergence pattern in cactophilic Drosophila and the effect of host plants

Drosophila buzzatii and D.koepferae are sibling cactophilie species.The former breeds primarily on prickly pears (genus Opuntia)whereas the latter breeds on columnar cacti of the genera Cereus and Trichocereus,although with certain degree of niche overlapping.We examined the interspecific differences in diurnal temporal patterns of adult emergence from puparia and evaluated whether this behavior is affected by rearing in the different cactus hosts available in nature.We detected important host-dependent genetic variation for this trait differentially affecting the emergence schedule of these species.Diumal pattern of emergence time was directly correlated with developmental time and negatively correlated with adult wing size,suggesting that early emergences are at least indirectly correlated with increased fitness.We discussed our results in terms of their putative effects on fitness and the genetic-metabolic pathways that would be presumably affected by host's nutritional-chemical differences.

Radon transform-based motion blurred silkworm pupa image restoration

As for machine vision-based intelligent system in the application of discriminating and sorting the sex of silkworm pupae,the tail gonad was the unique physiological feature.However,motion blur,resulting from the live silkworm pupa’s writhing motion at the moment of capturing image,could lose textures and structures(such as edge and tail gonad etc.)dramatically,which casted great challenges for sex identification.To increase the image quality and relieve the difficulty of discrimination caused by motion blur,an effective approach that including three stages was proposed in this work.In the image prediction stage,first sharp edges were acquired by using filtering techniques.Then the initial blur kernel was computed with Gaussian prior.The coarse version latent image was deconvoluted in the Fourier domain.In the kernel refinement stage,the Radon transform was applied to estimate the accurate kernel.In the final restoration step,a TV-L1 deconvolution model was carried out to obtain a better result.The experimental results showed that benefiting from the prediction step and kernel refinement step,the kernel was more accurate and the recovered image contained much more textures.It revealed that the proposed method was useful in removing the motion blur.Furthermore,the method could also be applied to other fields.

From Pupa to Butterfly

IN front of me is the Floating Stone, an autobiography-like novel written by a farmer writer. With a not very eye-catching cover and a somewhat baffling name, the book is not quite interesting to me. Care-freely, I took up the book and scanned it. Unexpectedly, I was attracted and finished reading