Exarate pupae of the beetle Zophobas atratus Fab. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) have free appendages (antenna, palp, leg, and elytron) that are highly sensitive to mechanical stimulation. A weak tactile stimulus applied to any appendage initiated a rapid rotation of abdominal segments. High-speed photography revealed that one cycle of defensive abdominal rotation was induced in an all-or-none fas...

Multiple biological structures have demonstrated fog collection abilities, such as beetle backs with bumps and spider silks with periodic spindle-knots and joints. Many Cactaceae species live in arid environments and are extremely drought-tolerant. Here we report that one of the survival systems of the cactus Opuntia microdasys lies in its efficient fog collection system. This unique system is ...

A new genus and species from Kenya, Afroprinus cavicola is herein described and illustrated and its systematic position is discussed. By the prosternal pre-apical foveae connected by marginal prosternal stria it resembles most of the Afrotropical species of the genus Chalcionellus Reichardt, 1932, or some species of the genus Pholioxenus Reichardt, 1932 from South Africa and Namibia. Afroprinus...

spring back is responsible for inaccuracy of press formed sheet product. therefore, prediction of spring back is important for precise forming of stampings. to predict the amount of spring back many successful attempts have been made for simple cases such as single curved and u or v shape sheet metals. however, for more complex shapes containing double curves or double variable curved surfaces ...

Three new species of pterygosomatid mites Pterygosoma engai sp. nov. P. indare sp. nov. and P olape sp. nov. (Acari: Pterygosomatidae) are described from the agamid lizard Agama sankaranica (Sauria: Agamidae) from Kenya. P. engai sp. nov. is similar to P annectans circularis Jack, 1962 but in the new species, the anterior paddle-shaped setae with spicules on the apical margin of the idiosomal d...

The impact of electronic dipole tags on the walking activity of three insects was determined using video tracking software. Results varied within and between the three species studied. The heaviest tag mounted on the pronotum of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), reduced its mean horizontal speed slightly but significantly. The mean horizontal speed of plum curculio, C...