Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
-
Superhydrophobic cuticle with a "pinning effect" in the larvae of the iris sawfly, Rhadinoceraea micans (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae)
- The integument of some sawfly larvae can be easily damaged causing haemolymph bleeding (easy bleeding phenomenon). In the present study, we investigated intact cuticle, cuticle without wax coverage and cuticle replicas of sawfly larvae by using cryo-scanning electron microscopy and contact angle (CA) measurements. The easy bleeder Rhadinoceraea micans was compared to the non-easy bleeder Nematus pavidus (both Tenthredinidae), and the examination showed that the surface structures of R. micans were hierarchically arranged, whereas the cuticle surface of N. pavidus appeared much smoother. The intact cuticle proved to be superhydrophobic in R. micans (CAs: 156° dorsally, 120° ventrally), but not in N. pavidus (CAs: 67° dorsally, 47° ventrally). The wettability of R. micans increased significantly after the waxes had been peeled off. Replicas of the intact cuticle surface were hardly wettable in both species. It is suggested that wax crystals in combination with cuticle microsculptures are the most important features for rendering the integument of the easy bleeder species superhydrophobic. The wax-free tips of the cuticle microsculptures in R. micans are sites where haemolymph droplets can adhere. The integument surface of easy bleeders is assumed to be adapted to their particular defence strategy, simultaneously contributing to the maintenance and "reuse" of released haemolymph droplets on the superhydrophobic surface due to this "pinning effect".
-
On Scottish sawflies , with results of the 14 th International Sawfly Workshop , in the southern Highlands , 2010
-
Die Oberflächeneigenschaften des Integuments der Pflanzenwespenlarven Rhadinoceraea micans und Nematus pavidus (Hymenoptera , Tenthredinidae)
-
Integument and defence in larva and prepupa of a sawfly living on a semi-aquatic plant
- The larvae of the sawfly Rhadinoceraea micans live and feed on a semi-aquatic plant, Iris pseudacorus, and their integument is strongly hydrophobic. The hydrophobicity is part of a chemical defence strategy, easy bleeding, also known from congeners. The prepupae burrow into the soil where they form a cocoon in which they pupate, thus implying different micro-environmental conditions. The cuticle structure and wetting defensive effectiveness of R. micans were compared between larvae and prepupae. The two stages were similarly well defended against attacking ants by the bleeding of a deterrent hemolymph, whereas they were dissimilar in the cuticle surface that presented sculptures and wax crystals at the larval stage only. The integument of prepupae was less structured, and hydrophilic. Larvae of R. micans exhibit, among sawflies, an exceptional cuticle structuring and we assume that they occupy this particular niche of a semi-aquatic environment to avoid encounters with ground-dwelling predators whereas prepupae may benefit from the chemical defence acquired at larval stage.
-
Palaeogenetics for ostracods
-
Structuration de l'espace au Paléolithique moyen : étude tracéologique et répartition spatiale sur le site de Remicourt (province de Liège, Belgique)
-
Evaluation of species richness estimators based on quantitative performance measures and sensitivity to patchiness and sample grain size
-
Plant selection for nest building by western lowland gorillas in Cameroon
-
Density of herbaceous plants and distribution of western gorillas in different habitat types in south-east Cameroon
-
Assessment of higher trophic levels: distribution variability of seabirds and marine mammals during a South-North transect in the Atlantic Ocean.
-
Forgotten Biodiversity in Desert Ecosystems, (letters to Science).
-
Chapitre biodiversité EIE Parc éolien à Verlée (rapport à Sertius sprl).
-
Chapitre biodiversité EIE Parc éolien à Ferrières (rapport à Vinçotte- Environnement).
-
Chapitre biodiversité EIE Parc éolien à Aywaille (rapport à Vinçotte- Environnement).
-
Complément étude biodiversité pour un projet de Parc éolien à Esplechin (Tournai) (rapport à Wind Vision).
-
Service public de Wallonie - Agro-carburants et environnement – Troisième rapport d’avancement du projet. Activités de la période et résultats préliminaires
-
Une approche participative des interactions entre les hommes, femmes et la biodiversité de la forêt tropicale dans la région du lac Tumba, RDC. In: Isumbisho Mwapu, P., Balagizi Karhagomba, I., Bukobero, L., eds. International Conference on Governance of
-
To what extent large carnivores can support human disturbance?
-
Ranging behaviour and sleeping sites of Macaca fascicularis in Bali Barat National Park, Indonesia
-
« Directed seed dispersal by western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at nest sites in Southeast Cameroon: implications for regeneration of logged forests”.
