Classical arthropod biological control programs lack a universally adopted, broadly utilitarian, and standardized risk assessment testing strategy for precisely estimating physiological and ecological host range of potential biological control agents. We implemented a rigorous host specificity testing protocol for estimating potential physiological and ecological risk to non-target species pose...

Phytomonas species are plant parasites of the family Trypanosomatidae, which are transmitted by phytophagous insects. Some Phytomonas species cause major agricultural damages. The hemipteran Oncopeltus fasciatus is natural and experimental host for several species of trypanosomatids, including Phytomonas spp. The invasion of the insect vectors' salivary glands is one of the most important event...

The eVect of the number of simultaneously ovipositing females on progeny sex ratio of three Homalodisca coagulata egg parasitoids, Gonatocerus ashmeadi, G. triguttatus, and G. fasciatus was investigated in the laboratory. When one female Gonatocerus parasitoid was present, progeny production was strongly female biased producing »1 male:8 females, 1:14 and 1:9 for G. ashmeadi, G. triguttatus and...

Fish commonly use their lateral line system to detect moving bodies such as prey and predators. A remarkable case is the Mexican blind cavefish Astyanax fasciatus, which evolved the ability to detect non-moving obstacles. The swimming body of A. fasciatus generates fluid disturbances, the alteration of which by an obstacle can be sensed by the fish's lateral line system. It is generally accepte...

A substantial number of species within the tooth-carp Aphanius Nardo, 1827 (Cyprinodontidae, Teleostei) has been recorded from the endorheic drainage systems of Iran, and several isolated populations in these systems may deserve species status. Descriptions of these species and populations have been based mainly on morphological and molecular data; however, the characters related to the fish sc...

Snake venoms are cocktails comprising combinations of different proteins, peptides, enzymes and toxins. Snake toxins have diverse characteristics having different molecular configuration, structure and mode of action. Many toxins derived from snake venom have distinct pharmacological activities. Venom from Bungarus fasciatus (commonly known as banded krait) is a species of elapid snake found on...