No abstract

A new species, Homidia apigmenta n. sp. from East China is described. It is easily separated from the other Homidia species by absence of pigment on the dorsal tergites, presence of leaf-like modified setae on labium and ventral part of head, particular chaetotaxy of macrochaetae on posterior side of Abd. IV, and 5–8 (mostly 5) smooth setae on posterior face and 6–7 smooth setae on lateral flap of ventral tube. A table on characters of five closely related Homidia species is provided. A new record for China, the subspecies H. sauteri formosana Uchida, is redescribed and raised to the species level. A table showing the differences between H. sauteri Börner, and H. formosana Uchida, n. comb. is also provided.

Morphology of the first instar larvae of Collembola has considerably taxonomical and phylogenetic significance. We describe the first instar larvae for the first time in Homidia. External morphology of first instar larvae and adults of Homidia jordanai sp. n. is described based on observations under light and scanning electron microscopes. Most organs of adults bear considerably more setae than the first instar larvae; in addition, first instar larval Homidia lack labial seta R, seta on tenaculum, mucronal spine, and dental spines. The new species is characterized by weakly pigmented body, long antennae subequal to body in length, 1+1 inner macrochaetae on Abd. III, few inner macrochaetae on posterior Abd. IV, and spiny and short seta pi on dental base. Differences between new species and other two similar ones, taxonomical significance of the first instar larvae and the position of Homidia are also discussed.

A new species, Homidia linhaiensis, from East China is described. It is separated from the other members of the genus Homidia by the following combination of characters, body colour pattern, presence of 5+5 lateral macrochaetae on Abd. III, a pair of extra dorsal macrochaetae (A2) on anterior part of Abd. IV and 9 smooth setae on lateral flap of ventral tube. A table of characters of closely related Homidia species is provided.

In the current study, the chemical constituents of the essential oils of the three peppers were determined by using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Experimental results revealed that qualitative and quantitative differences in chemical composition of the essential oils of the three peppers could be detected. The main constituents of three kinds of pepper essential oils were à-Pinene; Cyclohexene, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-; 3-Cyclohexen-1-ol, 4-methyl-1-(1-methylethyl)-; b-Pinene; Limonen-6-ol, pivalate; (E)-3(10)-Caren-4-ol; and TRANS-CARYOPHYLLENE. Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane, 4-methylene-1-(1-methylethyl)-; isocaryophillene; and Bufa-20,22-dienolide, 14-hydroxy-3-oxo-, (5á)-were detected only in essential oil of black pepper from GuangDong province. 2-Cyclohexen-1-ol, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-, trans-; Copaene; Eudesma-4(14),11-diene; and trans-9-Octadecenoic acid, trimethylsilyl ester were detected only in essential oil of black pepper from YunNan province. 1,2-Dihydropyridine, 1-(1-oxobutyl)-; and 1-Chloroeicosane were detected only in essential oil of black pepper from FuJian province. The results of this study indicated that the chemical compositions of pepper essential oils were greatly influenced by different production areas and its effective constituents might be considered as a potent source for the production of fine natural medicine.