In broadcast-spawning marine organisms, chronic sperm limitation should select for traits that improve chances of sperm-egg contact. One mechanism may involve increasing the size of the physical or chemical target for sperm. However, models of fertilization kinetics predict that increasing egg size can reduce net zygote production due to an associated decline in fecundity. An alternate method f...

The objective of this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of nettle on performance, egg quality, blood biochemical and immunity parameters of laying hens. This study was carried out with 300 of Hyline (W36) hens in 5 treatment groups, 3 repetitions and 20 hens for each group. The groups were T1) Control group, T2, T3, T4, and T5 0.75%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% nettle powder respectively. As com...

The egg cases, larvae, and pupae of Tropisternus (Pristoternus) latus (Brullé, 1837), T. (P.) ovalis Castelnau, 1840, and T. (P.) laevis (Sturm, 1826) are illustrated and described for the first time. The egg cases are built with or without a mast, which can be ribbon-like or globular; all larval instars have seven anterior denticles in the anterior margin of nasale, and the antennal seta AN8 i...

Breeding for egg size differs in several important respects from other problems of poultry breeders. In the improvement of egg number, livability, hatchability and many other economically important characters, the breeder always selects in one direction. His goal is to have the birds in his flock lay the largest possible number of eggs, live as long as possible, at least until he i s ready to d...

A detailed description of the sap beetle Brachypeplus glaber LeConte (Nitidulidae) is provided, including egg, larval, pupal and adult stages. Rearing and DNA barcoding were used to confirm life stage identifications. This is the first New World Brachypeplus species for which larval and pupal descriptions are available. Characters and character states for larvae, pupae, and adults are discussed...

Simulium (Nevermannia) berchtesgadense nov. spec. is described from the Alps of southeastern Germany. The morphology and diagnostic characters for all life stages except the egg are given, and the polytene chromosomes are compared with those of other members of the Simulium (Nevermannia) vernum group. The species is chromosomally similar to Simulium (Nevermannia) cryophilum cytoform 'A' but dif...

Peyrierocoris seyrigi (Villiers, 1970) is redescribed and its taxonomic position is revised to accommodate Vesbius seyrigi Villiers, 1970, erroneously described under the generic name Vesbius Stål, 1865. Redescription and drawings of the dorsal habitus and characters of the male and female genitalia, as well as a drawing of the ovarian egg of P. seyrigi (Villiers, 1970), are given. Two new spec...