Search results for "proboscis"
showing 10 items of 13 documents
Pollination biology in Roepera (Zygophyllaceae): How flower structure and shape influence foraging activity
2019
The foraging behavior of bees is a complex phenomenon that depends on numerous physical features of flowers. Of particular importance are accessibility of floral rewards, floral proportions, symmetry and orientation. The flowers of Roepera are characterized by the presence of staminal scales (SS), which play an important role in nectar protection. We studied two species of Roepera with different symmetry and flower orientation, which are mainly visited by honeybees (Apis mellifera). We aimed to show how the foraging behavior of honey bees is affected by the function of SS, floral symmetry and orientation. The foraging behavior was documented by video photography. Handling time, access to ne…
A Revised Phylogeny of Discocerinini (Diptera: Ephydridae) with an Emphasis on Structures of the Proboscis
2016
Supplementary diagnostic characters of genera in the tribe Discocerinini are suggested. A new genus Aquachasma Zatwarnicki, type species: Discocerina leucoprocta Loew, 1861 is described with 24 new combinations of all included species. Genus Polytrichophora is divided into the nominate subgenus and a new subgenus Sklodowskopa Zatwarnicki, type species: Clasiopa duplosetosa Becker, 1896. Genus Orasiopa is divided into the nominate subgenus and a new subgenus Reymontopa Zatwarnicki, type species: Discocerina mera Cresson, 1939. The shape of the proboscis of all genera of Discocerinini is provided, including variability of cibarium and pseudotracheae. The ventral receptacles of 6 genera (Aquac…
Morphology, performance and attachment function in Corynosoma spp. (Acanthocephala)
2018
Background: Functional inference on the attachment of acanthocephalans has generally been drawn directly from morphology. However, performance of structures is often non-intuitive and context-dependent, thus performance analysis should be included whenever possible to improve functional interpretation. In acanthocephalans, performance analysis of attachment is available only for Acanthocephalus ranae, a species that solely relies on the proboscis to attach. Here we compare body morphology and muscle arrangement in 13 species of Corynosoma, which use their spiny body as a fundamental holdfast. A basic performance analysis using live cystacanths of two representative species is also provided.…
Nyctiphanes couchii as intermediate host for Rhadinorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala, Echinorhynchidae) from NW Iberian Peninsula waters
2013
12 páginas, 3 figuras, 3 tablas
New Insights into the Functional Morphology of the Lever Mechanism of Salvia pratensis (Lamiaceae)
2007
† Background and Aims The functional morphology of Salvia pratensis flowers was re-investigated, after new insights revealed that pollen dispensing is one of the main functions of the staminal lever. In particular, no detailed information was available regarding the process of pollen transfer and the forces arising between the pollen-bearing thecae and the pollinating bee’s body. The assumption was made that these forces play a significant role in pollen dispensing. † Methods The functional morphology of S. pratensis flowers and the interaction between flowers and bees (Apis mellifera) were studied by reconstructing stress and strains by using qualitative and semi-quantitative theoretical a…
Sex-specific non-pheromonal taste receptors in Drosophila
2000
0960-9822 (Print) Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Taste receptors have recently been reported in Drosophila [1,2], but little is known of the relation between receptor and response. Morphological studies of the distribution of chemosensory sensilla indicate that the fruit fly has two major sites of gustation: the proboscis and the legs [3]. The taste sensilla on both these sites are similar in structure and each sensillum generally houses four gustatory neurons [4]. Early anatomical observations have demonstrated a sexual dimorphism in the number of tarsal sensilla [5] and in their central projections [6]. We measured the electrophysiological responses of the prothoracic t…
Phylogeny of Hyadinini (Diptera: Ephydridae) with an Emphasis on Structures of the Proboscis
2014
Abstract. The shape of adult mouthparts (proboscis) of all genera of Hyadinini (Diptera: Ephydridae) is provided, including variability of cibarium, lacinia and the number of pseudotracheae. Its usage in phylogenetic construction is documented. All ten genera are diagnosed, including the genus Lytogaster, which is formally restored from synonymy with Hyadina. The ventral receptacle of four genera (Garifuna, Parahyadina, Parydroptera and Pelinoides) and the male terminalia of Parahyadina are presented for the first time. Monophyly of the tribe is discussed and the relationships among genera of Hyadinini are proposed. Ten Hyadinini genera are grouped into four lineages 1) Pelina group with Pe…
Thorny-Headed Worms (Acanthocephala): Jaw-Less Members of Jaw-Bearing Worms That Parasitize Jawed Arthropods and Jawed Vertebrates
2021
Stem-acanthocephalans in the millimeter range might already have parasitized mandibulates in the Cambrian, while larger body sizes presumably evolved along with the upward-inclusion of gnathostome hosts. The characteristic morphology of modern acanthocephalans including the mostly hooked attachment organ (proboscis) should have emerged in the same context. Due to their rigidity, acanthocephalan hooks and copulatory caps are candidates for fossilization, but soft-tissue preservation might also have occurred under exceptional circumstances. Nonetheless, eggs represent the only ancient remains assigned to acanthocephalans to date. These were mostly retrieved from dried mammalian coprolites of …
Constructional morphology and mode of attachment of the trunk ofCorynosoma cetaceum (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae)
1999
Dead specimens of Corynosoma cetaceum were used to describe the trunk musculature of this species and to infer the use of the trunk as a secondary holdfast. Inferences were based on trunk muscle arrangement, changes in trunk shape, size and distribution of spines, and geometry of tegument thickness. The foretrunk of C. cetaceum is swollen and forms a spiny disk that is bent ventrally. The disk is flattened by several groups of muscles not described previously, which seem able to finely adjust the disk surface over the substratum. Disk attachment appears to be accomplished by two dorsal neck retractor muscles specialized in pulling the anchored proboscis into the foretrunk. This mechanism ha…
Resurrection of Pomphorhynchus tereticollis (Rudolphi, 1809) (Acanthocephala: Pomphorhynchidae) based on new morphological and molecular data
2011
Abstract Pomphorhynchus tereticollis (Rudolphi, 1809) is here redescribed on the basis of Rudolphi’s material, deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, and on acanthocephalans recently collected from the type host Platichthys flessus (L.) and the region embodying the type locality. Out of the paratypes of P. tereticollis, the lectotype and paralectotypes have been designated. Their morphology fits well with that of newly collected material of P. tereticollis dissected from the type fish host from the Baltic coast near Stralsund. The resurrection of P. tereticollis, previously considered a synonym of Pomphorhynchus laevis (Zoega in Müller, 1779), is supported by several morphological f…