Synthesis of new betaine-type amphoteric surfactants from tall oil fatty acid

Two new betaine-type amphoteric surfactants — betaineN,N'-dihydroxyethyl-N-ethyl fatty acid ester and ammoniumN-(fatty acid ester) ethyl-N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-3-(2-hydroxypropyl) sulfonate — were synthesized using tall oil fatty acids as the raw materials. Processing conditions suitable for synthesizing the intermediates and final products were probed. In addition, the chemical structures of the intermediates and the final products were identified by infrared spectroscopy, hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and elemental analysis.     

Changes in levels of endogenous plant hormones in cambial regions of stems ofLarix kaempferi at the onset of cambial activity in springtime

The total amounts of endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), cytokinins, and abscisic acid (ABA) were quantified by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring-mass spectrometry (GC-SIM-MS) in cambial regions of the main stems ofLarix kaempferi during the spring season. During the sampling period, cambium in the dormant state entered the active meristematic state. The total amount of IAA did not change at the onset of cambial reactivation but increased when the active division of cambial cells became apparent. Four cytokinins —trans- andcis-ribosylzeatin (RZ),N ⁶-isopentenyladenine (iP),N ⁶-isopentenyladenosine (iPA) — were quantified, but no zeatin (Z) was detected. The total amount of the four cytokinins together and the total amount of isopentenyl-type cytokinins (iP and iPA) varied during the sampling period but did not appear to be specifically associated with cambial activity. The total amounts oftrans- andcis-RZ remained relatively constant during the sampling period, as did the total amount of ABA. The results suggest that there is little correlation between total amounts of endogenous plant hormones in the cambial region and reactivation of the cambium during the spring.     

GC-MS and IR spectroscopic analyses of the lignin-derived products from softwood and hardwood treated in supercritical water

Softwood (Cryptomeria japonica) and hardwood (Fagus crenata) were treated in supercritical water (380°C, 100 MPa) for 8 s. The treated woods were fractionated to the water-soluble portion, methanol-soluble portion, and methanol-insoluble residues. For the methanol-soluble portion, which mainly consisted of lignin-derived products, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analyses were conducted to clarify the molecular weight distribution and to identify the monomeric products, respectively. GPC analysis revealed that the methanol-soluble portion contains monomeric and some oligomeric products. GC-MS analysis identified 19 guaiacyl compounds in the methanol-soluble portion from softwood, and 15 syringyl monomeric compounds in the methanol-soluble portion from hardwood. The structures of identified products included not only phenyl propane (C₆—C₃) units but also C₆—C₂ and C₆—C₁ units. In addition, the infrared spectra suggested that the methanol-soluble portion maintains the typical structure of lignin, although it is rich in condensed-type linkages with some changes in the propyl side chain. These results indicate that the supercritical water treatment cleaves not only ether linkages but also part of the propyl chains in lignin to give various aromatic compounds.     

Stereochemistry and biosynthesis of 8-O-4′ neolignans in Eucommia ulmoides: diastereoselective formation of guaiacylglycerol-8-O-4′-(sinapyl alcohol) ether

Stereochemistry and biosynthesis of guaiacylglycerol-8-O-4′-(sinapyl alcohol) ether (GGSE), an 8-O-4′ neolignan, which consists of coniferyl and sinapyl alcohol moieties, in Eucommia ulmoides were investigated. Four 8-O-4′ neolignans, GGSE, syringylglycerol-8-O-4′-(coniferyl alcohol) ether (SGCE), guaiacylglycerol-8-O-4′-(coniferyl alcohol) ether (GGCE), and syringylglycerol-8-O-4′-(sinapyl alcohol) ether (SGSE), were synthesized. Their erythro and threo diastereomers were separated through acetonide derivatives, intermediates of the synthesis, and identified by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All of the erythro-acetonide derivatives have larger coupling constants (ca 9 Hz) for the C₇-H resonances than those of the threo ones (1.5–2 Hz). In the case of the four 8-O-4′ neolignans, the C₇-H coupling constants of the threo-isomers are not smaller than those of the erythro ones. GGSE isolated previously from this plant was identified as the erythro isomer by comparison of the ¹³C-NMR data with synthetic erythro-GGSE and threo-GGSE and the other 8-O-4′ neolignans mentioned as above. Administration of a mixture of [8-¹⁴C]coniferyl alcohol and [8-¹⁴C]sinapyl alcohol to excised shoots of E. ulmoides was carried out and the incorporation of ¹⁴C into erythro-[¹⁴C]GGSE was found to be higher than that in threo-[¹⁴C]GGSE. The occurrence of diastereoselective formation of erythro-GGSE by cross coupling of coniferyl and sinapyl alcohols is suggested.Part of this paper was presented at the 47th Lignin Symposium, Fukuoka, October 2002 and the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Fukuoka, April 2003     

Proanthocyanidins and a phloroglucinol derivative from Rumex acetosa L.

From the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of an acetone–water extract of the aerial parts of Rumex acetosa L. (Polygonaceae), a variety of monomeric flavan-3-ols (catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin-3-O-gallate), A- and B-type procyanidins and propelargonidins (15 dimers, 7 trimers, 2 tetramers) were isolated with 5 so far unknown natural products. Dimers: procyanidin B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, A2, epiafzelechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin, epiafzelechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (new natural product), epiafzelechin-(4β→6)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (new natural product), epiafzelechin-3-O-gallate-(4β→8)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate, B2-3′-O-gallate, B2-3,3′-di-O-gallate, B5-3′-O-gallate, and B5-3,3′-di-O-gallate. Trimers: procyanidin C1, epiafzelechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin (new natural product), epicatechin-(4β→8)-epicatechin-(4β→8)-catechin, cinnamtannin B1, cinnamtannin B1-3-O-gallate (new natural product), tentatively epicatechin-(2β→7, 4β→8)-epiafzelechin-(4α→8)-epicatechin (new natural product), and epicatechin-3-O-gallate-(4β→8)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate-(4β→8)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate.Tetramers: procyanidin D1 and parameritannin A1. All compounds were elucidated by ESI-MS, CD spectra, 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments as free phenols or peracetylated derivatives and, in part, after partial acid-catalysed degradation with phloroglucinol.A more abundant proanthocyanidin polymer was also isolated, purified and its chemical composition studied by ¹³C NMR.In addition a so far unknown phloroglucinolglycoside (1-O-β-d-(2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxyphenyl)-6-O-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoyl)-glucopyranoside) was isolated.     

Cono- and seminiphagous insects of firAbies alba Mill. in the Babia Góra National Park and its surroundings in southern Poland

During 1991–1993 6300 specimens of cono-and seminiphagous insects and 10 specimens of parasitoid were obtained from 450 cones of firAbies alba Mill. This material originated from the Babia Góra National Park and its surroundings. The index of cone infestation by these insects is given for fir localities situated at different heights above the sea level. The seed losses caused by insects were estimated on the basis of analysis of 34,704 of fir seeds.

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Zusammenfassung Aus 450 Tannenzapfen (Abies alba Mill.), gesammelt 1991 und 1993 im Babia-Góra-National-Park und in der Forstverwaltung Sucha, Süd-Polen, wurden 6300 Individuen schädlicher Insekten gewonnen.Es handelte sich um die Seminiphagen:Resseliella piceae Seitn. (Dipt., Cecidomyiidae) — 3461 Ex.,Megastigmus suspectus Borr. (Hym., Torymidaea) — 2698 Ex. sowie um die Konophagen:Earomyia impossible Morge (Dipt., Lonchaeidae) — 129 Ex.,Dioryctria abietella (Den. et Schiff.) (Lep., Phycitidae) — 11 Ex. undBarbara herrichiana Obr. (Lep., Tortricidae) — 1 Ex. Aus den Raupen vonD. abietella wurdenLissonota nigricoxis Hab. (Hym., Ichneumonidae) — 10 Ex. gezogen. Als Indikator der Besiedlung von Zapfen erreichteM. suspectus (13,33 in 1993) den höchsten Wert. Die Analyse von 34.704 Samen nach der Schnittmethode ergab, daß die Schäden in den Samen (65%) hauptsächlich vonR. piceae verusacht wurden.

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With 3 tables

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Part of investigations under the problem DS-KEL/1991-94.     

Maize and sesbania production in relay cropping at three landscape positions in Malawi

The relay cropping of sesbania (Sesbania sesban) — a N₂-fixing legume — with maize (Zea mays) has been proposed as a strategy to increase soil fertility and food production in densely populated areas in southern Africa. We determined the production of relay-cropped maize and sesbania at three landscape positions under researcher-designed and farmer-managed conditions in southern Malawi. Three landscape positions (dambo valley or bottomland, dambo margin with < 12% slope, and steep slopes with > 12% slope) were examined in factorial combination with N sources for maize (no added N, relay-cropped sesbania, and calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizer). Relay cropping of sesbania with maize increased maize grain yield, as compared to unfertilized sole maize in two of three years. Split application of 96 kg N ha^–1 as N fertilizer, however, was more effective than sesbania in increasing maize yields. Survival of sesbania seedlings and biomass production of sesbania were greater in the dambo valley and dambo margin than on steep slopes. Maize yields tended to be lower on steep slopes than in the dambo valley and dambo margin areas. Biomass production of sesbania and hence the potential benefits of intercropping sesbania with maize appear greater in the dambo valleys and dambo margins than on steep slopes.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of ozone treatment of wood on its liquefaction

The effects of ozone treatment were investigated to improve the process of liquefaction of wood with polyhydric alcohol solvents. The liquefied wood having a high wood to polyhydric alcohol ratio (W/P ratio) could be prepared by using the wood treated with ozone in the liquid phase. The liquefied wood with a W/P ratio of 2 : 1 had enough fluidity to act as a raw material for chemical products. To get some information about the effects of ozone treatment toward the wood components, cellulose powder and steamed lignin were treated with ozone and liquefied. In particular, ozone treatment in the liquid phase was found to be effective for wood and cellulose powder. On the other hand, steamed lignin self-condensed during liquefaction after treatment with ozone in the liquid phase. Thus, ozone treatment provided lignin with reactive functional groups, and caused the subsequent condensation reaction. Although lignin was converted to a more condensable structure by ozone treatment, the condensation reaction was found to be suppressed for wood during its liquefaction. The wood liquefied products displayed good solubilities in N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) even after treatments of long duration. It was suggested that one of the main effects of ozone treatment toward wood was the decomposition of cellulose.Part of this report was presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Fukuoka, April 2003     

Antimicrobial ent-pimarane diterpenes from Viguiera arenaria against Gram-positive bacteria

The dichloromethane crude extract from the roots of Viguiera arenaria (VaDRE) has been employed in an antimicrobial screening against several bacteria responsible for human pathologies. The main diterpenes isolated from this extract, as well as two semi-synthetic pimarane derivatives, were also investigated for the pathogens that were significantly inhibited by the extract (MIC values lower than 100 μg mL^− 1). The VaDRE extract was significantly active only against Gram-positive microorganisms. The compounds ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid (PA); PA sodium salt; ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-ol; ent-15-pimarene-8β,19-diol; and ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-acetoxy displayed the highest antibacterial activities (MIC values lower than 10 μg mL^− 1 for most pathogens). In conclusion, our results suggest that pimaranes are an important class of natural products for further investigations in the search of new antibacterial agents.     

Gegenwärtige Hauptprobleme der landwirtschaftlichen Schädlingsforschung in Finnland

Zusammenfassung Einige der wichtigsten gegenwärtigen Probleme hinsichtlich der landwirtschaftlichen Schädlinge in Finnland sind folgende:Bei Getreide die Schäden durchCalligypona pellucida am Hafer sowie die Schäden durch die Fritfliege(Oscinella frit) an Saat von Winter- und Sommergetreide, die durch Blasenfüßer(Thysanoptera) u. a. Arten verursachte Weißährigkeit und Schmachtkörnigkeit, deren Bekämpfung noch nicht befriedigend entschieden ist. — Beim RotkleePhytonomus nigrirostris, Apion apricans undA. assimile, Sitona spp. undDitylenchus dipsaci, deren Biologie und Bekämpfung weiterhin fortgesetzt werden, — Bei ÖlpflanzenCeuthorrhynchus assimilis undC. quadridens sowieDasyneura brassicae, deren Bekä mpfung zu ermitteln ist. — Bei Zuckerrübe sowie einigen anderen Kulturpflanzen Bedeutung und Bekä mpfung vonLygus-Arten (besondersL. rugulipennis undL. pratensis). Bekämpfung der Rübenfliege(Pegomyia hyoscyami) bei Zuckerrübenkulturen. — Bei den Wurzelschädlingen von Gemüse und Hackfrüchten Klären von Biologie und Bekämpfung der Kohlfliegen (Hylemyia brassicae undH. floralis), der Fliegenschädlinge von Zwiebeln (Hylemyia antiqua, Eumerus tuberculatus undE. strigatus) und der Möhrenfliege. — Die Wirkung der Spritzungen in Obstgärten auf die wichtigsten Schä dlinge(Metatetranychus pilosus, Doralina pomi, Psylla mali, Carpocapsa pomonella, Argyresthia conjugella) und ihre wirksamsten Feinde.— In Beerengärten bei den ArtenTarsonemus fragariae, Eriophyes ribis undPachynematus pumilio sowie in Obstgärten bei der ArtAnisandrus dispar Intensivierung der Bekä mpfung. — Älchen(Anguillulidae), besondersdas Kleeälchen und Klärung von Lebensbedingungen und Bekämpfung desKartoffelälchens. — Bedeutung und Bekämpfung der Wühlmäuse (besondersMicrotus agrestis, M. arvalis undArvicola terrestris). — Untersuchung der Bedeutung von virusverbreitenden Insektenarten. — Erforschung der Nachteile von Bekämpfungsmitteln für die Pflanzen.     

Cycloartane saponins from Astragalus peregrinus as modulators of lymphocyte proliferation

From Astragalus peregrinus, four cycloartane-type saponins have been isolated and their structures elucidated by spectral means as 20(R),24(S)-epoxy-9β,19-cyclolanostane-3β,6α,16β,25-tetrol 3-O-β- -glucopyranoside (1), 20(R),24(S)-epoxy-9β,19-cyclolanostane-3β,6α,16β,25-tetrol 3-O-α- -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β- -glucopyranoside (2), 20(R),24(S)-epoxy-9β,19-cyclolanostane-3β,6α,16β,25-tetrol 3-O-α- -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β- -glucopyranoside (3) and 20(R),25-epoxy-9β,19-cyclolanostane-3β,6α,16β,24(S)-tetrol (24-O-acetyl)- 3-O-α- -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-(6′-O-acetyl)-β- -glucopyranoside (4). Compounds 2 and 3 showed to stimulate the proliferation of mouse splenocytes and were not significantly cytotoxic.     

Biomass production of tree fallows and their residual effect on maize in Zimbabwe

The rotation of maize (Zea mays) with fast-growing, N₂-fixing trees (improved fallows) can increase soil fertility and crop yields on N-deficient soils. There is little predictive understanding on the magnitude and duration of residual effects of improved fallows on maize yield. Our objectives were to determine the effect of fallow species and duration on biomass production and to relate biomass produced during the fallow to residual effects on maize. The study was conducted on an N-deficient, sandy loam (Alfisol) under unimodal rainfall conditions in Zimbabwe. Three fallow species — Acacia angustissima, pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), and Sesbania sesban — of one-, two-, and three-year duration were followed by three seasons of maize. Pigeonpea and acacia produced more fallow biomass than sesbania. The regrowth of acacia during post-fallow maize cropping provided an annual input of biomass to maize. Grain yields for the first unfertilized maize crop after the fallows were higher following sesbania (mean = 4.2 Mg ha^–1) than acacia (mean = 2.6 Mg ha^–1). The increased yield of the first maize crop following sesbania was directly related to leaf biomass of sesbania at the end of the fallow. Nitrogen fertilizer did not increase yield of the first maize crop following one- and two-year sesbania fallows, but it increased yield following acacia fallows. Nitrogen fertilizer supplementation was not required for the first maize crop after sesbania, which produced high-quality biomass. For acacia, which produced low-quality biomass and regrew after cutting, N fertilizer increased yield of the first post-fallow maize crop, but it had little benefit on yield of the third post-fallow maize crop.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ready chemical conversion of acid hydrolysis lignin into water-soluble lignosulfonate II: Hydroxymethylation and subsequent sulfonation of phenolized lignin model compounds

Highly condensed lignin can be transformed by three reactions — phenolation, hydroxymethylation, and neutral sulfonation — to water-soluble lignosulfonate. To elucidate reactivities and products in the latter two reactions, simple compounds were selected as lignin model compounds. With hydroxymethylation of creosol at 60°C, the yield of a condensed-type product with the diarylmethane structure was less than 10%. Hydroxymethylation of 1-guaiacyl-1-p-hydroxy-phenylethane (compound VI) as a phenolized guaiacyl lignin model compound gave four compounds. The initial reaction introduced the hydroxymethyl group mainly in the guaiacyl nucleus, and the additional reaction created two hydroxymethyl groups in the p-hydroxyphenyl nucleus. Contrary to our estimation, treatment of the models with ¹³C-labeled formaldehyde (H¹³CIIO) did not form any diarylmethane structure. Neutral sulfite treatment of hydroxymethylated products gave corresponding sulfonates in high yields. Phenolized guaiacylglycerol--aryl ether (compound XVI) showed a reactivity similar to that of compound VI.This paper was presented at the 45th and 46th annual meetings of the Japan Wood Research Society at Tokyo and Kumamoto, April 1995 and April 1996, respectively     

Two new flavonoids from Retama raetam

Two new flavones were isolated from the aerial parts of Retama raetam subsp. raetam. Their structures were established as luteolin 4′-O-neohesperidoside (1) and 5,4′-dihydroxy-(3″,4″-dihydro-3″,4″-dihydroxy)-2″,2″-dimethylpyrano-(5″,6″:7,8)-flavone (2) by means of spectroscopic methods. Also present was ephedroidin (4′,5,7-trihydroxy-8-(2-hydroxy-3-butenyl)-flavone).     

Termite repellent sesquiterpenoids from Callitris glaucophylla heartwood

Fractions of methanol and ethanol extracts from the heartwood of white cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla Thompson et Johnson) were investigated for their repellent activity against subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki worker using a two-choice semicircular filter paper test at 0.5% (w/w) concentration. Fraction CY-E2 composed of (−)-citronellic acid, guaiol, α-, β-, and γ-eudesmol isomers as well as an unknown compound, showed the highest statistically significant repellency (97.8% ± 2.2 SEM) of all fractions tested. Bioactivity-guided fractionations using high-performance liquid chromatography led to the isolation of two, oxygenated eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes with α-methylene moieties, both termite-repellent compounds. These compounds were subsequently identified as ilicic acid methyl ester (IAME) and costic acid by means of spectroscopic analyses, electron impact mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We report the isolation of both IAME and costic acid from C. glaucophylla heartwood for the first time. Part of this paper was presented at the 47th Symposium on the Chemistry of Terpenes, Essential Oils, and Aromatics, Tokyo, November 2003     

Bekämpfungsversuche mit vier neuen Fungiziden gegen Weizenflugbrand [Ustilago tritici (Pers.)] und Weizensteinbrand [Tilletia tritici (Bjerk.)] im Iran

On the effectiveness of four new organic fungicides against two smut-fungus species of wheat [ Ustilago tritici (Pers.) and Tilletia tritici (Bjerk.)] Field experiments in two areals in Iran proved the effectivness of 4 organic fungicides: Vitavax [2,3 Dihydro-5-carboxanilido-6-methyl-1,4-oxathilin], Derosal [2-(Methoxy-carbonylamino)-benzimidazol], Thiophamine [Methyl-4-(2-aminophenyl)-3-thioallophanate] and Cercobin-M [1,2-bis-(3-Methylxycarbonyl-2-thioureido)-benzol] against the stone-smut-fungus (Tilletia tritici) and the flight-smut-fungus (Ustilago tritici) of wheat. At GorganTilletia was destroyed totally by all of the substances named. At Karadj Vitavax caused only 70–90% reduction compared with the three other products which reached 90–100%.Ustilago was controlled only at Karadj. Here Vitavax caused 60% reduction whereas the three other preparations reached 85–95%.     

Two new furostanol saponins from Tribulus terrestris L.

Two new furostanol glycosides, named tribufurosides I (1) J (2), were isolated from the fruits of Tribulus terrestris L. by a combination of chemical and spectroscopic methods. Its structures were established as 26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(25S)-5α-furost-12-one-2α,3β,22α,26-tetraol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 4)-β-d-galactopyranoside (1) and 26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-5α-furost-20(22)-en-12-one-2α,3β,26-triol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 4)-β-d-galactopyranoside (2).     

New clerodane diterpenoids from Casearia sylvestris

Two new clerodane diterpenoids 2β-methoxy-cleroda-3,13-dien-18-carboxy-15,16-olide (1) and 15ξ-methoxy-cleroda-3,12-dien-18-carboxy-15,16-olide (2) and one new nitrogen-containing clerodane diterpenoid 15-oxo-echinophyllin A (3), along with six known compounds, namely, echinophyllin A, (−)-patagonic acid, tyrosol, oplopanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-[(1R)-1-(1-methylethyl)-4-oxopentyl]-2-cyclohexen-1-one and 1β,6α-dihydroxy-eudesman-4(15)-ene were isolated from the leaves of Casearia sylvestris. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR techniques.     

Nitrogen contribution by multipurpose trees to rice and cowpea in an alley cropping system in Sierra Leone

In an alley cropping experiment, a study was carried out on N₂ fixation by Gliricidia sepium, nitrogen (N) accumulation by prunings of Gliricidia, Senna siamea (formerly Cassia siamea) and Gmelina arborea, and the N contribution to associated crops of rice and cowpea.Total N accumulated by the hedgerow trees ranged from 297–524 kg N ha^–1 on average but varied between tree species and depended on the growing season. Gliricidia sepium accumulated 370 kg N ha^–1 on average and more than half of this came from fixation. Senna siamea and Gmelina arborea served as reference trees for estimating N₂ fixation. The estimates of N₂ fixation using Gmelina as a reference gave higher estimates than those using Senna.Although the dry matter and nitrogen yields of prunings from the hedgerow trees were high, their relative nitrogen contribution to the associated crops was generally low ranging from 5 to 29%. Higher crop yields and nitrogen contribution were observed with Gliricidia sepium prunings. The low N contribution from prunings was attributed to the lack of synchronization between the N released from the prunings and the crop's demand for N.     

Über Funde von Körperteilen des MessingkäfersNiptus hololeucus (Fald.) in Ablagerungen aus dem 15.–16. Jahrhundert (Neuss,Niederrhein) und Folgerungen daraus für die Ausbreitungsgeschichte der Art in Europa

Zusammenfassung Als ein Nebenprodukt der Archäologie wurden bei Ausschachtungsarbeiten in Neuss (Niederrhein) in Fä kaliengruben aus dem 15.–16. Jahrhundert Käferteile, unter anderen vonNiptus hololeucus (Fald.) gefunden. Die Lage der Reste macht eine spätere Einbettung unwahrscheinlich. — Da nach bestehender Ansicht die Art erst im 19. Jahrhundert nach Europa gelangt sein soll, ergeben sich neue Gesichtspunkte. Die Art muß bereits früher unser Gebiet erreicht haben, und man kann nicht ausschließen, daß sie schon länger in unserer Fauna lebt.N. hololeucus entstammt dem Nestmilieu und erträgt zumindest mä ßig kalte Winter im Rheinland (Krefeld, 1968/69, — 8° C).

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Summary Fragments of beetles including those ofNiptus hololeucus (Fald.), were found during archaeological excavations in so-called defaecation-cask-pits (latrines) of the 15^th–16^th century in Neuss (Niederrhein). The situation of the finds renders a later embedding improbable. — The date of the remains forces a reappraisal of existing opinions which place the first introduction ofN. hololeucus to Europe in the 19^th century. The species must in fact have reached our area far earlier than this and the possibility that it has long been a member of our fauna cannot be excluded. —N. hololeucus is particularly associated with the milieu of nests and endures at least moderately cold winters in the Rhine country (Krefeld, 1968/69, — 8° C).

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(Col., Ptinidae), ferner werden genannt:Tipnus unicolor (Piler),Ptinus fur L.,Anobium punctatum (DeGeer),Xestobium rufovillosum (DeGeer),Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.),Anthrenus verbasci (L.),Anthrenus museorum (L.),Sitophilus graniarus (L.).