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Blister Beetle
Blister beetles are beetles of the family Meloidae, so called for their defensive secretion of a blistering agent, cantharidin. About 7,500 species are known worldwide. Many are conspicuous and some are aposematically colored, announcing their toxicity to would-be predators. Description Blister beetles are hypermetamorphic, going through several larval stages, the first of which is typically a mobile triungulin. The larvae are insectivorous, mainly attacking bees, though a few feed on grasshopper eggs. While sometimes considered parasitoids, in general, the meloid larva apparently consumes the immature host along with its provisions, and can often survive on the provisions alone; thus it is not an obligatory parasitoid, but rather a facultative parasitoid, or simply a kleptoparasite. The adults sometimes feed on flowers and leaves of plants of such diverse families as the Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae. Cantharidin, a poisonous chemical that causes bl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leonard Gyllenhaal
Leonard Gyllenhaal (3 December 1752 – 13 May 1840) was a Swedish military officer and entomologist. Born on the Ribbingsberg manor in Västergötland in west Sweden, Leonard Gyllenhaal was son of an army officer and belonged to a family of the lower nobility. He went to school ( Skara trivialskola) in the cathedral town of Skara together with, among others, the future poet Johan Henrik Kellgren, and later renowned naturalists Anders Dahl and the brothers Adam and Johan Afzelius, with whom he went on natural excursions. Like some of his friends, he went to Uppsala to study under Linnaeus in 1769. He never matriculated and remained in Uppsala only one semester, before switching to a military career in accordance with the wishes and traditions of the family, enrolling in the '' Adelsfanan'' ( "Banner of Nobles") cavalry regiment, and a few years later transferring to the drabantkåren (Garde du Corps). Gyllenhaal, however, remained in contact with Linnaeus through an exte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Parasitoid
In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host (biology), host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionarily stable strategy, evolutionary strategies within parasitism, distinguished by the fatal prognosis for the host, which makes the strategy close to predation. Among parasitoids, strategies range from living inside the host (''endoparasitism''), allowing it to continue growing before emerging as an adult, to Paralysis, paralysing the host and living outside it (''ectoparasitism''). Hosts can include other parasitoids, resulting in hyperparasitism; in the case of oak galls, up to five levels of parasitism are possible. Some parasitoids Behavior-altering parasite, influence their host's behaviour in ways that favour the propagation of the parasitoid. Parasitoids are found in a variety of Taxon, taxa across the insect superorder Endopterygota, whose compl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Early Cretaceous
The Early Cretaceous ( geochronological name) or the Lower Cretaceous (chronostratigraphic name), is the earlier or lower of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous. It is usually considered to stretch from 145 Ma to 100.5 Ma. Geology Proposals for the exact age of the Barremian-Aptian boundary ranged from 126 to 117 Ma until recently (as of 2019), but based on drillholes in Svalbard the defining early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE1a) was carbon isotope dated to 123.1±0.3 Ma, limiting the possible range for the boundary to c. 122–121 Ma. There is a possible link between this anoxic event and a series of Early Cretaceous large igneous provinces (LIP). The Ontong Java-Manihiki-Hikurangi large igneous province, emplaced in the South Pacific at c. 120 Ma, is by far the largest LIP in Earth's history. The Ontong Java Plateau today covers an area of 1,860,000 km2. In the Indian Ocean another LIP began to form at c. 120 Ma, the Kerguelen P ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Conditioner (farming)
A conditioner (or ''hay conditioner'') is a farm implement that crimps and crushes newly cut hay to promote faster and more even drying. Drying the hay efficiently is most important for first cutting of the hay crop, which consists of coarse stalks that take a longer period of time to draw out moisture than finer-textured hays, such as second and subsequent cuttings. A conditioner is made up of two grooved rollers which the hay is forced through, causing the stalks to split, thus allowing the liquid trapped behind cell walls (sap and cell sap) to leak out and also giving more surface area for evaporation. The stand-alone conditioner is no longer used on most farms, since the conditioner has been incorporated into mower-conditioners, which combine the mower and conditioner into a single machine. The names Haybine and Discbine are brand names of mower-conditioners, although some farmers use these names somewhat generically. Mower-conditioners Mower-conditioners are a staple of lar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alfalfa
Alfalfa () (''Medicago sativa''), also called lucerne, is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, and silage, as well as a green manure and cover crop. The name alfalfa is used in North America. The name lucerne is the more commonly used name in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. The plant superficially resembles clover (a cousin in the same family), especially while young, when trifoliate leaves comprising round leaflets predominate. Later in maturity, leaflets are elongated. It has clusters of small purple flowers followed by fruits spiralled in 2 to 3 turns containing 10–20 seeds. Alfalfa is native to warmer temperate climates. It has been cultivated as livestock fodder since at least the era of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Etymology The word ''alfalfa'' is a Spanish modification of the Arabic word ''al-faṣfa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Epicauta
''Epicauta'' is a genus of beetles in the blister beetle family, blister beetle, Meloidae. The genus was first scientifically described in 1834 by Pierre François Marie Auguste Dejean. ''Epicauta'' is distributed nearly worldwide, with species native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica.Kerr, J. T. and L. Packer. (1999)The environmental basis of North American species richness patterns among ''Epicauta'' (Coleoptera: Meloidae). ''Biodiversity & Conservation'' 8(5), 617-28. Surveys have found the genus to be particularly diverse in northern Arizona in the United States. Few species occur in the Arctic, with none farther north than the southern Northwest Territory of Canada. Adult beetles feed on plants. The larvae are predators on the eggs of grasshoppers. The beetles can significantly damage plants, and many ''Epicauta'' are known as agricultural pest (organism), pests around the world, even known to cause crop failures at times. As do other blister beetles, these pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spanish Fly
The Spanish fly (''Lytta vesicatoria'') is an aposematic emerald-green beetle in the blister beetle family (Meloidae). It is distributed across Eurasia. The species and others in its family were used in traditional apothecary preparations as "Cantharides". The insect is the source of the terpenoid cantharidin, a toxic blistering agent once used as an exfoliating agent, anti-rheumatic drug and an aphrodisiac. The substance has also found culinary use in some blends of the North African spice mix ''ras el hanout''. Its various supposed benefits have been responsible for accidental poisonings. Etymology and taxonomy The generic name is from the Greek λύττα (''lytta''), meaning martial rage, raging madness, Bacchic frenzy, or rabies. The specific name is derived from Latin ''vesica'', blister. ''Lytta vesicatoria'' was formerly named ''Cantharis vesicatoria'', although the genus ''Cantharis'' is in an unrelated family, Cantharidae, the soldier beetles. It was class ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lytta Vesicatoria
The Spanish fly (''Lytta vesicatoria'') is an aposematic emerald-green beetle in the blister beetle family (Meloidae). It is distributed across Eurasia. The species and others in its family were used in traditional apothecary preparations as "Cantharides". The insect is the source of the terpenoid cantharidin, a toxic blistering agent once used as an exfoliating agent, anti-rheumatic drug and an aphrodisiac. The substance has also found culinary use in some blends of the North African spice mix ''ras el hanout''. Its various supposed benefits have been responsible for accidental poisonings. Etymology and taxonomy The generic name is from the Greek λύττα (''lytta''), meaning martial rage, raging madness, Bacchic frenzy, or rabies. The specific name is derived from Latin ''vesica'', blister. ''Lytta vesicatoria'' was formerly named ''Cantharis vesicatoria'', although the genus ''Cantharis'' is in an unrelated family, Cantharidae, the soldier beetles. It was class ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lytta
'' Lytta vesicatoria'', the Spanish fly ''Lytta'' is a genus of blister beetles in the family Meloidae. There are about 70 described species in North America, and over 100 species worldwide. Selected species These species, and others, belong to the genus ''Lytta'': * '' Lytta aenea'' Say, 1824 * ''Lytta aeneipennis'' (LeConte, 1851) * '' Lytta agrestis'' (Fall, 1901) * '' Lytta arizonica'' Selander, 1957 * '' Lytta augusti'' Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 * '' Lytta auriculata'' Horn, 1870 (red-eared blister beetle) * '' Lytta battonii'' Kaszab, 1962 * '' Lytta biguttata'' LeConte, 1853 * '' Lytta bipuncticollis'' Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 * ''Lytta blaisdelli'' (Fall, 1909) * '' Lytta boleti'' Marsham, 1802 * '' Lytta bruchi'' Pic, 1927 * ''Lytta canelas'' Selander, 1960 * ''Lytta cardinalis'' Chevrolat, 1834 * ''Lytta childi'' LeConte, 1857 * '' Lytta chloris'' (Fall, 1901) * ''Lytta comans'' Selander, 1960 * ''Lytta corallifera'' Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 * ''Lytta cribrata'' LeConte, 1853 * ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mylabris
''Mylabris'' is a genus of beetles in the family Meloidae. It is endemic to the Palearctic realm. The species-rich genus ''Hycleus'' (c. 430 spp.) was historically confused with ''Mylabris''. It is superficially similar, but is centered on the Afrotropics. Species The genus contains the following species: * '' Mylabris abdelkaderi'' (Escalera, 1909) * '' Mylabris afghanica'' Kaszab, 1953 * '' Mylabris ajantaensis'' Saha, 1979 * '' Mylabris alicae'' Pic, 1909 * '' Mylabris allousei'' (Kaszab, 1960) * '' Mylabris alpina'' Ménétriés, 1832 * '' Mylabris alterna'' Laporte de Castelnau, 1840 * '' Mylabris alternata'' Harold, 1870 * '' Mylabris amoenula'' Ménétriés, 1849 * '' Mylabris amori'' Graells, 1858 * ''Mylabris andongoana'' Harold, 1879 * '' Mylabris andrei'' Pic, 1911 * '' Mylabris andresi'' (Pic, 1911) * '' Mylabris angustissima'' Pic, 1909 * ''Mylabris aperta'' Gerstaecker, 1873 * ''Mylabris apicefasciata'' Sumakov, 1929 * ''Mylabris apicenigra'' Sumakov, 1915 * ''Myla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Solanaceae
The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and ornamentals. Many members of the family contain potent alkaloids, and some are highly toxic, but many—including tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, bell and chili peppers—are used as food. The family belongs to the order Solanales, in the asterid group and class Magnoliopsida ( dicotyledons). The Solanaceae consists of about 98 genera and some 2,700 species, with a great diversity of habitats, morphology and ecology. The name Solanaceae derives from the genus ''Solanum''. The etymology of the Latin word is unclear. The name may come from a perceived resemblance of certain solanaceous flowers to the sun and its rays. At least one species of ''Solanum'' is known as the "sunberry". Alternatively, the name could originate from the Latin verb ''sol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. Article 18.5 states: "The following names, of long usage, are treated as validly published: ....Leguminosae (nom. alt.: Fabaceae; type: Faba Mill. Vicia L.; ... When the Papilionaceae are regarded as a family distinct from the remainder of the Leguminosae, the name Papilionaceae is conserved against Leguminosae." English pronunciations are as follows: , and . commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, are a large and agriculturally important of |
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