@article {10446, title = {Intra-specific variability in life-cycle synchronization of an ectoparasitic fly to its avian host}, journal = {Oikos}, volume = {122}, year = {2013}, pages = {274{\textendash}284}, abstract = {

The role of environmental and host-associated factors in synchronization of host\–parasite life-cycles is an important question of evolutionary ecology. Yet, only handsome of studies examined this question at the intraspecific level. Here we explore how host-associated traits, such as breeding phenology and host breeding habitat, can influence parasite phenology and co-occurrence at different spatial scales. We studied the system comprised of a generalist ectoparasitic fly Carnus hemapterus and one of its avian hosts, the European roller Coracias garrulus. Inter-annual variation in phenology was larger for parasites than hosts. Host predictability in terms of occurrence and phenological regularity was moderate, suggesting that this resource can be difficult to be tracked by the parasite. A large proportion of flies consistently emerged before the appearance of suitable host resources at both the nest and population level. Consequently, we revealed low and highly variable inter-annual host\–parasite synchronization rates. Nevertheless, we found that parasites from nests of early and progressively earlier breeding European rollers were more synchronized with their hosts than parasites from nests of late and progressively later breeding hosts, respectively. Temporal trends in host suitability and parasite emergence at the population scale suggest that other mechanisms, such as dispersal or exploitation of other host species, ensure parasites access to resources and counteract asynchrony with the host at the nest scale.

}, doi = {10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20374.x}, author = {Calero-Torralbo, M. A. and Vaclav, Radovan and Valera, F.} } @article {10428, title = {New species and records of Meoneura Rondani, 1856 from the old world tropics (Diptera, Carnidae)}, journal = {Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae}, volume = {59}, year = {2013}, month = {2013/09/30}, pages = {213-227}, abstract = {

Meoneura indica sp. n. (India), M. nepalensis sp. n. (Nepal), M. orientalis sp. n. (Laos, Vietnam), M. simplex sp. n. (India), M. subinversa sp. n. (Vietnam) and M. nigrohalterata sp. n. (Namibia) are described, M. biseta Deeming is re-described from the Afrotropical region.

}, keywords = {Afrotropical, Carnidae, Diptera, Meoneura, new species, Oriental}, author = {Papp, L.} } @article {10421, title = {New species of the genus Meoneura Rondani, 1856 (Diptera, Carnidae) from Kazakhstan}, journal = {Far Eastern Entomologist}, volume = {279}, year = {2013}, pages = {11-12}, abstract = {

Meoneura merzi sp. n. is described from Kazakhstan

}, keywords = {Carnidae, Diptera, Kazakhstan, Meoneura, new species}, author = {Ozerov, A. L. and Krivosheina, M. G.} } @article {10373, title = {Male European starlings do not use egg spots as a cue to adjust investment in nestlings}, journal = {The Wilson Journal of Ornithology}, volume = {125}, year = {2013}, pages = {109-115}, abstract = {

The effects of post-laying egg spottiness on nestling condition and parental provisioning were investigated in a nest box-breeding population of European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Our objectives were to ascertain whether egg spottiness was associated with the nest ectoparasite Carnus hemapterus, and to examine potential relationships between egg spottiness, presence of C. hemapterus, nestling condition, and parental provisioning effort in European Starlings. Spotted-egg clutches were present over all 3 years in our population, but the spots did not reflect C. hemapterus abundance. Nestlings from spotted-egg clutches did not have more C. hemapterus than those from unspotted-egg clutches. However, nestlings from spotted clutches were in better condition than those from unspotted clutches. Nestling condition was not associated with C. hemapterus abundance. Adult male and female provisioning rates to the offspring did not differ between spotted and unspotted clutches. Similarly, the proportion of provisioning visits by males did not differ significantly between spotted and unspotted clutches, indicating that parents in our population of European Starlings do not use egg spots as a cue to altering their provisioning effort. Further research is required to fully understand the cause and consequences of egg spots in European Starlings.

}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1676/11-167.1}, url = {http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1676/11-167.1}, author = {Hornsby, MAW and Fairn, ER and Barber, CA} } @article {10371, title = {A new genus and species of North American Exosternini associated with cavity-nesting owls and a reassignment of Phelister simoni Lewis (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Histerinae)}, journal = {The Coleopterists Bulletin}, volume = {67}, year = {2013}, pages = {557{\textendash}565}, abstract = {

We describe Strigister Caterino, Tishechkin, and Proudfoot new genus (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Histerinae: Exosternini) for Strigister tecolotito Caterino, Tishechkin, and Proudfoot new species and for Strigister simoni (Lewis, 1889) new combination. These species are excluded from Phelister Marseul based on several unique characters, especially transverse slits on the prosternal keel and a single v-shaped annulus on the antennal club, and the genus is suggested to be more closely related to Baconia Lewis. Strigister tecolotito has been found exclusively in association with nests of the ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum (Gmelin)) and the Eastern screech-owl (Megascops asio (L.)) in extreme southern Texas, USA. Strigister simoni is known only from the type specimen, lacking ecological data, from Venezuela.

}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-67.4.557}, url = {http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1649/0010-065X-67.4.557}, author = {Caterino, MS and Tishechkin, AK and Proudfoot, GA} }