Search

The pink grass worm, Tmetolophota atristriga (Walker), is an endemic New Zealand noctuid moth species that is abundant throughout the North and South Islands. The larvae are minor defoliators of agricultural pasture. We investigated the sex pheromone of this species. Analysis of extract of the female sex pheromone gland identified six compounds: two monounsaturated compounds, (Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z11-16:Ald) and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:Ac), three saturated compounds, hexadecanal (16:Ald), hexadecyl acetate (16:Ac) and octadecan-1-ol (18:OH), and a triene hydrocarbon, (3Z,6Z,9Z)-tricosatriene (Z3Z6Z9-23:Hy). Several field-trapping experiments testing combinations of the six compounds were conducted. Results suggested that males of two different populations of T. atristriga responded differently to different blends of the compounds. Males of one population responded equally to a two-component blend as to other blends, including the one with all six compounds. By contrast, males of the second population responded only to the six-component blend or a ternary blend of Z11-16:Ald, Z11-16:Ac and Z3Z6Z9-23:Hy. In experiments testing different doses of Z11-16:Ald and Z11-16:Ac in a binary or a six-component blend, a 1 mg dose of the binary blend gave the greatest male catch for both populations. This is the second sex pheromone identification of a New Zealand species of Noctuidae and is the first reported occurrence of Z3Z6Z9-23:Hy as a sex pheromone component of any noctuid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metacestodes are often found in the body cavity of the common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus McDowall), from freshwater habitats in Otago, New Zealand. Identification of metacestodes relies only on the number, size and shape of the rostellar hooks. To attempt species determination, we cultivated metacestodes in vitro for up to 23 days, during which they matured to at least the male stage of development, although female organs were not discernable. Identified as members of the genus Paradilepis Hsü, 1935 (family Gryporhynchidae), these specimens are compared to previously described species, in particular P. minima (Goss, 1940), from Australia, the closest species, both geographically and morphologically. Although the size of scolex, suckers and proglottids differ significantly from those of P. minima, we are cautious about interpreting ‘adults’ grown in vitro, because we are unsure whether the artificial conditions alter development. For this reason, and because of the lack of female organs, we refrain from erecting a new species, and refer to the specimens as Paradilepis cf. minima until such time as the adults are found in the definitive host. With this proviso we present here a description of the in vitro-grown worms and the metacestodes as a preliminary study of this cestode. A molecular analysis of small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences, shows the position of P. cf. minima and another gryporhynchid, Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus (Wedl, 1855), to be equivocal, but confirms their exclusion from the Dilepididae and Hymenolepididae. This is the first record of a gryporhynchid from New Zealand, and the first from the fish family Eleotridae. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a study on the two new genera and three new species of leeches from New Zealand marine life. These leeches are known as Dollfusobdella kaikourae, Leporinabdella digglesi, Pontobdella novaezealandiae, Bovichtus variegatus, and Rhombosolea leporina. Dollfusobdella kaikourae has a cylindrical body, of which the widest is the posterior portion of the urosome and tapering gradually to the oral sucker. Leporinabdella digglesi is known to exceed 10 millimeters and has a colossal caudal sucker. Pontobdella novaezaelandiae has a prominent large oral sucker without a fringe and lacking papillae and four annuli per segment with large tubercles on the first three annuli. These leeches are described by researchers based on external and internal morphology.

We used the New Zealand grazed pasture free air CO2 enrichment experiment to determine the effects of elevated CO2 on earthworm ( Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus rubellus) cast production and mineral nitrogen (N) concentration over a 5-week period in the spring. Elevated CO2 did not affect earthworm biomass or the amount of cast material produced. However, cast mineral N concentrations were 18% lower, resulting in 27% less mineral N being deposited on the soil surface under elevated CO2. An analysis of the earthworms' potential diet showed that a reduction in the N content of sheep dung at elevated CO2 was the most likely cause of the lower cast N concentrations. Earthworm casts made only a small contribution to mineral N cycling in our system; however, their quality may act as a sensitive indicator of reduced N availability under elevated CO2 which is consistent with the hypothesised process of progressive N limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the New Zealand grazed pasture free air CO2 enrichment experiment to determine the effects of elevated CO2 on earthworm ( Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus rubellus) cast production and mineral nitrogen (N) concentration over a 5-week period in the spring. Elevated CO2 did not affect earthworm biomass or the amount of cast material produced. However, cast mineral N concentrations were 18% lower, resulting in 27% less mineral N being deposited on the soil surface under elevated CO2. An analysis of the earthworms' potential diet showed that a reduction in the N content of sheep dung at elevated CO2 was the most likely cause of the lower cast N concentrations. Earthworm casts made only a small contribution to mineral N cycling in our system; however, their quality may act as a sensitive indicator of reduced N availability under elevated CO2 which is consistent with the hypothesised process of progressive N limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four groups of nine Saanen goat does with a naturally acquired mixed trichostrongylid infection were grazed on four paddocks. Two groups received a daily dose of Duddingtonia flagrans at the rate of 5×107 chlamydospores per animal per day for the 26-day grazing period. After a 19-day pasture resting period, 20 worm free 12-week-old tracer kids were introduced to the paddocks for 14 days prior to removal for worm burden analysis. Four groups of five does and four kids were drenched then turned out onto the paddocks and faecal egg count (FEC) monitored. The FEC between groups was comparable throughout the initial grazing period. There were significant reductions in number of Teladorsagia circumcincta (54.8%, P=0.004) and Haemonchus contortus (85.0%, P=0.02) worms recovered from tracer animals. FEC of animals subsequently grazing pasture were significantly reduced (P=0.036) with reductions of 44% observed 4 weeks post-turnout. No significant difference was observed after 6 weeks grazing. This trial has demonstrated the potential of D. flagrans to reduce larval numbers on pasture grazed by goats under New Zealand conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new freshwater hoplonemertean from Campbell Island, to the south of New Zealand, is described and named Campbellonemertes jolinsi gen. et sp. nov. The morphology of this nemertean relates it with the family Prosorhochmidae and the occurrence of this form, the second freshwater prosorhochmid genus from the Antipodes, strongly supports an earlier hypothesis on the evolution of freshwater hoplonemerteans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]