Investigations, using tantalum-182, into the behaviour of Glossina morsitans Westw. in large field cages are described. Individual straight-line displacements occurred on average about every three hours and were generally small and erratic in direction. The perimeters of the cages tended to ‘ trap ’ an enclosed population, but flies appeared to move to the walls more quickly when they were shaded by an outer covering of hessian. Horizontal distribution and movements of flies did not appear to be associated directly with the enclosed vegetation, artificial roosting sites or host animals. Observations on vertical displacements indicated diurnal movements to and from boles of trees and changes in roosting heights. The majority of flies rested between six and ten feet above the ground, though individuals were seen from ground level to 30 ft. Few observations were done at night, but two flies were seen on the underside of leaves.

Investigations into the survival and breeding of the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans Westw. in large and small cage volumes under insectary and ambient climatic conditions in the Zambezi valley, and using oxen as host animals, are described. Under ambient conditions, flies emerging from puparia collected at Kariba, and held in the insectary, survived longer than flies emerging from puparia collected at Chirundu. Flies caught from the bush did not live as long as flies emerging from puparia held in the insectary, and generally lived longer under variable than under constant climatic conditions. The survival of ‘ wild ’ flies decreased during the hot, dry months under ambient conditions. Flies lived longer and were more reproductive in small cages than in large cages. Reproduction in small cages was higher when the flies were exposed to a variable climate instead of controlled conditions, but two colonies of ‘ wild ’ flies declined under both climatic conditions. Eeproduction was better in the small, standard cages (8 × 8 × 11 in.) than in Petana boxes, while Geigy 25’s were intermediate in this respect, but survival and mean puparial weights tended to be similar. The results show a complete failure to breed G. morsitans in large cages.

No abstract

DNA sequencing of the plastid encoded rbcL gene supported by morpho-anatomical features reveals Gracilaria parva sp. nov. from Panama and Ecuador in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. In the rbcL phylogram, G. parva occurs in a clade sister to the western Atlantic species G. galatensis. Morphologically and anatomically, G. parva is distinguished from two similar, described tropical eastern Pacific species, G. brevis and G. veleroae by its small size, to 2.5 cm tall with branch widths mostly <2 mm occasionally to 4 mm, and by its two to three cell layered cortex. Gracilaria brevis and G. veleroae are taller, have wider branches, and a one cell layered cortex. DNA sequencing is needed to resolve the many diminutive species in the tropical eastern Pacific, particularly those occurring in turf communities. DNA sequencing of historical type specimens from the 19th and 20th centuries is also needed to correctly apply names in this region.

The benthic marine algae of the mainland coast of Ecuador are poorly known mainly due to a lack of collections. Currently, DNA barcoding is the preferred method to identify species of benthic marine algae worldwide, as morpho-anatomical characters are inadequate to distinguish many species of macroalgae. We used the red algal barcode rbcL-3P to identify specimens collected in January 2020 from Manabí, Ecuador as Neoizziella asiatica. This is the first member of the red algal order Nemaliales to be reported from the mainland coast of Ecuador and extends the distribution of this alga by 1,100 km to the south from Panama.