New Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) parasitoids of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dasineura saliciperda</Emphasis> (Dufour) (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae) in Bulgaria

Abstract The parasitoid complex of Dasineura saliciperda (Dufour) (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Salix fragilis L. was studied in 1997 and 2002 in two localities in Bulgaria. As a result, 5 species from 3 families of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) were reared from pest galls: Eurytoma afra Boheman, Eurytoma salicis Walker (Eurytomidae), Torymus microcerus (Walker) (Torymidae), Gastrancistrus sp. and Mesopolobus sp. (Pteromalidae). E. afra and T. microcerus are new species for the fauna of Bulgaria, and E. salicis – a new parasitoid of the host. Total parasitism of D. saliciperda in the studied years ranged between 44.1 and 53.5 %. E. afra was the most important, destroying 21.9-53.5 % of the pest.     

Soils of Cryogenic Landforms in the South of the Vitim Plateau: Distribution and Role in the Allocation of Soil Carbon Pools

Eurasian Soil Science - The results of the study of cryogenic landforms (heave mounds and thermokarst depressions) and soils developed on them under conditions of the ultracontinental climate of...     

Studies on the parasitoids of Gelechia senticetella (Stgr.) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Bulgaria

The parasitoids of Gelechia senticetella (Stgr.) (Lepid.: Gelechiidae), a pest of Juniperus excelsa M.?B., were studied in the “Tissata” reserve in Bulgaria. They were reared in laboratory conditions from pest larvae and pupae collected in 1991, 1992 and 2000. As a result of this study, 16 species of parasitoids of G. senticetella were recorded: Habrobracon stabilis Wesm., Hormius moniliatus (Nees), Phanerotoma tritoma Marsh. (Hym.: Braconidae), Diadegma consumptor (Grav.), Liotryphon cydiae (Perk.), Scambus pomorum (Ratz.), Scambus foliae (Cush.), Pimpla turionellae (L.), Eudelus simillimus (Tasch.), Mesochorus sp. (Hym.: Ichneumonidae), Sympiesis acalle Walk., Aprostocetus sp. (Hym.: Eulophidae), Eupelmus urozonus Dalm. (Hym.: Eupelmidae), Copidosoma thompsoni Merc. (Hym.: Encyrtidae), Calliprymna bisetosa Grah., and Mesopolobus sp. (Hym.: Pteromalidae). H. stabilis and P. tritoma were discovered as new species for the fauna of Bulgaria. Three species (E. simillimus, Mesochorus sp. and Aprostocetus sp.) are hyperparasitoids, and the remaining species are primary parasitoids. Most of the parasitoid species attack the larvae of G. senticetella and kill the hosts before pupation. In the studied parasitoid complex, D. consumptor and H. moniliatus were the dominant species. In 1991, the level of total parasitism of the host in the “Tissata” reserve was 24.3?%, in 1992 – 57.9?% and in 2000 – 12.7?%. D. consumptor was the most important parasitoid destroying 26.6?% of the pest larvae in 1992.     

Measures for increasing the safe operating life of hydromelioration structures to prevent ecological catastrophes

A simplified approach to predicting the state of reliability of hydromelioration structures by means of a probabilistic examination of the problem is described.     

New parasitoids of Paraphytomyza populi (Kltb.) (Diptera, Agromyzidae) in Bulgaria

The parasitoid complex of Paraphytomyza populi (Kltb.) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) was studied in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1997. Poplar leaves with P. populi larvae and pupae were collected from poplar stump shoots and examined in a laboratory. As a result, eleven parasitoid species were established: Chorebus albipes (Haliday) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), Pediobius metallicus (Nees), Danuviella subplana Erdos, Chrysocharis nephereus (Walker), Chrysocharis pubicornis (Zetterstedt), Diglyphus crassinervis Erdos, Diglyphus isaea (Walker), Diglyphus albiscapus Erdos, Cirrospilus diallus Walker, Cirrospilus pictus (Nees) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) and Elasmus sp. (Hymenoptera, Elasmidae). Six species (D. crassinervis, D. isaea, D. albiscapus, C. diallus, C. pictus and Elasmus sp.) have been recorded as new parasitoids of P. populi. The genus Danuviella was found for the first time in Bulgaria. Five species (C. albipes, P. metallicus, D. subplana, D. crassinervis and D. albiscapus) are new records for the fauna of the country. The total mortality of P. populi caused by parasitoids was 19.1% and 49.0% for the overwintering and the summer generations, respectively. P. metallicus was the most important in reducing the pest number.     

New parasitoids of Paraphytomyza populi (Kltb.) (Diptera, Agromyzidae) in Bulgaria

The parasitoid complex of Paraphytomyza populi (Kltb.) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) was studied in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1997. Poplar leaves with P. populi larvae and pupae were collected from poplar stump shoots and examined in a laboratory. As a result, eleven parasitoid species were established: Chorebus albipes (Haliday) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), Pediobius metallicus (Nees), Danuviella subplana Erdos, Chrysocharis nephereus (Walker), Chrysocharis pubicornis (Zetterstedt), Diglyphus crassinervis Erdos, Diglyphus isaea (Walker), Diglyphus albiscapus Erdos, Cirrospilus diallus Walker, Cirrospilus pictus (Nees) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) and Elasmus sp. (Hymenoptera, Elasmidae). Six species (D. crassinervis, D. isaea, D. albiscapus, C. diallus, C. pictus and Elasmus sp.) have been recorded as new parasitoids of P. populi. The genus Danuviella was found for the first time in Bulgaria. Five species (C. albipes, P. metallicus, D. subplana, D. crassinervis and D. albiscapus) are new records for the fauna of the country. The total mortality of P. populi caused by parasitoids was 19.1?% and 49.0?% for the overwintering and the summer generations, respectively. P. metallicus was the most important in reducing the pest number.     

Influence of capture method, habitat quality and individual traits on blood parameters of free-ranging lace monitors (Varanus varius)

OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to determine baseline reference intervals for haematological and serum biochemical parameters in lace monitors, and to examine whether such values were influenced by capture method, expected differences in habitat food resource availability and a lizard's body size and body condition. METHODS Thirty-three wild Victorian lace monitors (Varanus varius) of unknown age and sex were captured by noose pole or aluminium box trap from Cape Conran in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. RESULTS No statistical differences between the two capture methods were noted for haematology. There was a significant difference in the serum glucose concentrations between the two methods of capture (higher concentration in box-trapped animals) because of a physiological response to capture stress. Habitat food quality did not appear to influence haematology or serum biochemistry. The packed cell volume (PCV) for the lace monitors was 0.29-0.43 L/L. Lymphocytes were identified as the most common leucocyte. The haemoprotozoan parasite, Haemogregarina varanicola, was found in all 33 blood samples. No correlation could be made between parasite burden and PCV, serum globulins or serum proteins, but animals in poor body condition were more likely to harbour large numbers of parasites. CONCLUSION The results of this study may be used as a basis for evaluating health in lace monitors.     

The soil cover pattern in Western Transbaikal region as displayed on a 1: 500 000 scale map

Specific features of the soil cover in the Western Transbaikal region are discussed. The soil cover has been studied during soil survey works on scales of 1: 25000 and 1: 100000 in the Kizhinga district. On this basis, a generalized map of the soil cover patterns has been compiled on a scale of 1: 500 000. Data of the large-and medium-scale soil mapping are not lost upon the generalization procedure due to the reflection of soil combinations on the small-scale map, which makes the latter very informative.