Hybridization in ticks has been described in a handful of species and mostly as a result of laboratory experiments. We used 148 AFLP loci to describe putative hybridization events between D. andersoni and D. variabilis in sympatric populations from northwestern North America. Recently, D. variabilis has expanded its range westward into the natural range of D. andersoni. Using a sample of 235 D....

The reproductive biology of Palythoa caribaeorum (Duchassaing & Michelotti 1860) and Protopalythoa variabilis (Duerden 1898) was studied through monthly samples from tagged colonies from June 1996 to June 1997, in Sao Sebastiao channel, São Paulo, Brazil (45 degrees 26'W, 23 degrees 50'S). The gametogenesis was similar to that of other zoanthids as shown by histological preparations. Oocyte dia...

Vector competence of Ixodes scapularis Say and Dermacentor variabilis Say for the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) was compared. Five white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque, were inoculated intra-peritoneally with blood from a mouse infected with the agent of HGE. Approximately 100 I. scapularis and D. variabilis larvae were placed on each mouse and allowed to feed to r...

During the course of studies on halophilic, Gram-negative bacteria, a comparison of two strains of halophilic bacteria, Pseudomonas halophila DSM 3050 and Halomonas variabilis DSM 3051 (formerly Halovibrio variabilis) demonstrated that the characteristics of strain DSM 3050 corresponded to the original description of Halovibrio variabilis and those of DSM 3051 to P. halophila, both of which had...

Changes in land use and forest planting have led to substantial changes soil fertility leaf litter input. The effects of mixed on the decomposition rate contrasting nutrient conditions are poorly understood. To elucidate composition decomposition, we conducted a field litterbag-decomposition experiment with single (Pinus massoniana Lamb. or Quercus variabilis Bl.) (P. Q. variabilis) treatments ...

The genus Decaphora Franganillo, 1931 is revised. Pseudosparianthis variabilis F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900, Pseudosparianthis cubana Banks, 1909 and Thelcticopis pestai (Reimoser, 1939) are transferred to the genus; and P. cubana is considered a senior synonym of the type species, Decaphora trabiformis Franganillo, 1931. In addition, the female of T. pestai and the male of P. variabilis are de...

two species of pratylenchoides recovered from the grasslands in sabalan region and one species recovered from natural habitats of tehran are illustrated based on morphological, morphometric and molecular characters. the first species, p. crenicauda is characterized mainly by its lip region with three-four annuli, lateral field with four incisures areolated throughout the length and having rod s...

Morphological and morphometric studies were conducted on the populations and paratypes of 14 species of the genus Pratylenchoides, including P. alkani, P. acuticauda, P. arenarius, P. arenicola, P. bacilisemenus, P. crenicauda, P. erzurumensis, P. heathi, P. laticauda, P. ritteri, P. rivalis, P. sheri, P. utahensis and P. variabilis. In addition, P. erzurumensis was redescribed based on a bisex...

Here we report the novel bacteriostatic function of a five-domain Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor (KPI) from the tick Dermacentor variabilis. As ticks feed, they release anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive molecules that mediate the formation of the feeding lesion on the mammalian host. A number of KPIs have been isolated and characterized from tick salivary gland extr...