A global study of forensically significant calliphorids: implications for identification
- Harvey, M L, Gaudieri, S, Villet, Martin H, Dadour, I R
- Authors: Harvey, M L , Gaudieri, S , Villet, Martin H , Dadour, I R
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6863 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011156
- Description: A proliferation of molecular studies of the forensically significant Calliphoridae in the last decade has seen molecule-based identification of immature and damaged specimens become a routine complement to traditional morphological identification as a preliminary to the accurate estimation of post-mortem intervals (PMI), which depends on the use of species-specific developmental data. Published molecular studies have tended to focus on generating data for geographically localised communities of species of importance, which has limited the consideration of intraspecific variation in species of global distribution. This study used phylogenetic analysis to assess the species status of 27 forensically important calliphorid species based on 1167 base pairs of the COI gene of 119 specimens from 22 countries, and confirmed the utility of the COI gene in identifying most species. The species Lucilia cuprina, Chrysomya megacephala, Ch. saffranea, Ch. albifrontalis and Calliphora stygia were unable to be monophyletically resolved based on these data. Identification of phylogenetically young species will require a faster-evolving molecular marker, but most species could be unambiguously characterised by sampling relatively few conspecific individuals if they were from distant localities. Intraspecific geographical variation was observed within Ch. rufifacies and L. cuprina, and is discussed with reference to unrecognised species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Harvey, M L , Gaudieri, S , Villet, Martin H , Dadour, I R
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6863 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011156
- Description: A proliferation of molecular studies of the forensically significant Calliphoridae in the last decade has seen molecule-based identification of immature and damaged specimens become a routine complement to traditional morphological identification as a preliminary to the accurate estimation of post-mortem intervals (PMI), which depends on the use of species-specific developmental data. Published molecular studies have tended to focus on generating data for geographically localised communities of species of importance, which has limited the consideration of intraspecific variation in species of global distribution. This study used phylogenetic analysis to assess the species status of 27 forensically important calliphorid species based on 1167 base pairs of the COI gene of 119 specimens from 22 countries, and confirmed the utility of the COI gene in identifying most species. The species Lucilia cuprina, Chrysomya megacephala, Ch. saffranea, Ch. albifrontalis and Calliphora stygia were unable to be monophyletically resolved based on these data. Identification of phylogenetically young species will require a faster-evolving molecular marker, but most species could be unambiguously characterised by sampling relatively few conspecific individuals if they were from distant localities. Intraspecific geographical variation was observed within Ch. rufifacies and L. cuprina, and is discussed with reference to unrecognised species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Baited traps may be an alternative to conventional pesticides in the integrated crop management of chicory (Compositae) in South Africa
- Midgley, John M, Hill, Martin P, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Midgley, John M , Hill, Martin P , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6858 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011141 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/0022-0493(2008)101[99:BTMBAA]2.0.CO;2 , https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0579-5298
- Description: Chicory, Chicorium intybus L. (Compositae), is a major field crop in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Several pests feed on the leaves of the plant, resulting in reduced yield. The most important of these are the noctuid moths Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), Chrysodeixis acuta (Walker), and Trichoplusia orichalcea (F.). The use of attract-and-kill traps offers an alternative to broad-based insecticides in the control of these species. Three fields were treated with normal insecticides and three fields with yellow-baited traps. Eight additional traps were placed in each field, with half of the traps containing the insecticide 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (dichlorvos) and half without dichlorvos; and half yellow and half green. Total moth numbers and nonphytophage diversity were measured from these eight traps. Although no differences in H. armigera or T. orichalcea catches were observed between insecticide- and trap-treated fields, numbers of C. acuta and the total number of moths were significantly higher in insecticide-treated fields. Yellow traps containing dichlorvos contained more moths than yellow traps without dichlorvos, or green traps with dichlorvos, or green traps without dichlorvos; but they also contained more nonphytophagous insects. Yellow traps also enhanced the catches of thrips on card traps associated with them. These results offer an opportunity for the South African chicory industry to reduce pesticide applications and thus mitigate environmental impacts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Midgley, John M , Hill, Martin P , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6858 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011141 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/0022-0493(2008)101[99:BTMBAA]2.0.CO;2 , https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0579-5298
- Description: Chicory, Chicorium intybus L. (Compositae), is a major field crop in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Several pests feed on the leaves of the plant, resulting in reduced yield. The most important of these are the noctuid moths Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), Chrysodeixis acuta (Walker), and Trichoplusia orichalcea (F.). The use of attract-and-kill traps offers an alternative to broad-based insecticides in the control of these species. Three fields were treated with normal insecticides and three fields with yellow-baited traps. Eight additional traps were placed in each field, with half of the traps containing the insecticide 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (dichlorvos) and half without dichlorvos; and half yellow and half green. Total moth numbers and nonphytophage diversity were measured from these eight traps. Although no differences in H. armigera or T. orichalcea catches were observed between insecticide- and trap-treated fields, numbers of C. acuta and the total number of moths were significantly higher in insecticide-treated fields. Yellow traps containing dichlorvos contained more moths than yellow traps without dichlorvos, or green traps with dichlorvos, or green traps without dichlorvos; but they also contained more nonphytophagous insects. Yellow traps also enhanced the catches of thrips on card traps associated with them. These results offer an opportunity for the South African chicory industry to reduce pesticide applications and thus mitigate environmental impacts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Editorial: authorship and responsibility [African Entomology]
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6851 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011132
- Description: Editorial service is a privilege in many senses: editors have a much broader view of disciplinary practices than most of their colleagues; they see work from more institutions; and are privy to manuscripts in all states of fitness for publication. The spectrum of practice is eye-opening, and editors are placed in a position of stewardship, and often mentorship, that inevitably focuses attention on quality assurance and ethics (Lawrence 2003; Bulger 2004; Grieger 2005; Graf et al. 2007). Recently, the Committee on Scholarly Publishing in South Africa, a body within the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), has drafted Guidelines for best practice in editorial discretion and peer review for South African scholarly journals to assist editors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6851 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011132
- Description: Editorial service is a privilege in many senses: editors have a much broader view of disciplinary practices than most of their colleagues; they see work from more institutions; and are privy to manuscripts in all states of fitness for publication. The spectrum of practice is eye-opening, and editors are placed in a position of stewardship, and often mentorship, that inevitably focuses attention on quality assurance and ethics (Lawrence 2003; Bulger 2004; Grieger 2005; Graf et al. 2007). Recently, the Committee on Scholarly Publishing in South Africa, a body within the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), has drafted Guidelines for best practice in editorial discretion and peer review for South African scholarly journals to assist editors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Identifying flies used for maggot debridement therapy
- Williams, Kirstin A, Cronje, F, Avenant, L, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Cronje, F , Avenant, L , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6852 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011133
- Description: To the Editor: The use of maggots to clean necrotic wounds, known as maggot debridement therapy (MDT), has long been known to the scientific world. Its use has been recorded since the 1500s when soldiers’ wounds were often infested with maggots. Napoleon’s surgeon, Baron Dominic Larrey, reported that wounds that were infested with maggots appeared to heal faster than those without maggots.1 William Baer is considered to be the founder of modern MDT. While treating soldiers in World War I, he noted the good condition of wounds that had been infested with maggots, and was the first doctor on record to experiment with the use of maggots in treating infections.1 MDT even featured in the recent version of the film ‘Spartacus’. Various species of flies have been used for MDT,1 the most commonly used being Lucilia sericata, a greenbottle blowfly (Figs 1 and 2). This fly is closely related to another greenbottle, L. cuprina, but L. cuprina feeds on live as well as necrotic tissue, which is undesirable in MDT. L. cuprina is commonly named the ‘sheep blowfly’ because it is responsible for fly-strike in sheep, a form of massive, usually rectal myiasis that can kill sheep. A recent article2 suggested that L. cuprina was being used successfully for MDT at the Eugene Marais Hospital Wound Care Centre (EMHWCC). As this would be inconsistent with international experience in MDT and at odds with the usual biology of L. cuprina, it was decided to check the identity of these flies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Williams, Kirstin A , Cronje, F , Avenant, L , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6852 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011133
- Description: To the Editor: The use of maggots to clean necrotic wounds, known as maggot debridement therapy (MDT), has long been known to the scientific world. Its use has been recorded since the 1500s when soldiers’ wounds were often infested with maggots. Napoleon’s surgeon, Baron Dominic Larrey, reported that wounds that were infested with maggots appeared to heal faster than those without maggots.1 William Baer is considered to be the founder of modern MDT. While treating soldiers in World War I, he noted the good condition of wounds that had been infested with maggots, and was the first doctor on record to experiment with the use of maggots in treating infections.1 MDT even featured in the recent version of the film ‘Spartacus’. Various species of flies have been used for MDT,1 the most commonly used being Lucilia sericata, a greenbottle blowfly (Figs 1 and 2). This fly is closely related to another greenbottle, L. cuprina, but L. cuprina feeds on live as well as necrotic tissue, which is undesirable in MDT. L. cuprina is commonly named the ‘sheep blowfly’ because it is responsible for fly-strike in sheep, a form of massive, usually rectal myiasis that can kill sheep. A recent article2 suggested that L. cuprina was being used successfully for MDT at the Eugene Marais Hospital Wound Care Centre (EMHWCC). As this would be inconsistent with international experience in MDT and at odds with the usual biology of L. cuprina, it was decided to check the identity of these flies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The snake family Psammophiidae (Reptilia: Serpentes): phylogenetics and species delimitation in the African sand snakes (Psammophis Boie, 1825) and allied genera
- Kelly, Christopher M R, Barker, Nigel P, Villet, Martin H, Broadley, Donald G, Branch, William R
- Authors: Kelly, Christopher M R , Barker, Nigel P , Villet, Martin H , Broadley, Donald G , Branch, William R
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6522 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005953
- Description: This study constitutes the first evolutionary investigation of the snake family Psammophiidae—the most widespread, most clearly defined, yet perhaps the taxonomically most problematic of Africa's familylevel snake lineages. Little is known of psammophiid evolutionary relationships, and the type genus Psammophis is one of the largest and taxonomically most complex of the African snake genera. Our aims were to reconstruct psammophiid phylogenetic relationships and to improve characterisation of species boundaries in problematic Psammophis species complexes. We used approximately 2500 bases of DNA sequence from the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, and 114 terminals covering all psammophiid genera and incorporating approximately 75% of recognised species and subspecies. Phylogenetic reconstructions were conducted primarily in a Bayesian framework and we used the Wiens/Penkrot protocol to aid species delimitation. Rhamphiophis is diphyletic, with Rhamphiophis acutus emerging sister to Psammophylax. Consequently we transfer the three subspecies of Rhamphiophis acutus to the genus Psammophylax. The monotypic genus Dipsina is sister to Psammophis. The two species of Dromophis occupy divergent positions deeply nested within Psammophis, and we therefore relegate Dromophis to the synonymy of Psammophis. Our results allow division of the taxonomically problematic Psammophis 'sibilans' species complex into two monophyletic entities, provisionally named the 'phillipsii' and 'subtaeniatus' complexes. Within these two clades we found support for the status of many existing species, but not for a distinction between P.p. phillipsii and P. mossambicus. Additionally, P. cf. phillipsii occidentalis deserves species status as the sister taxon of P. brevirostris.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Kelly, Christopher M R , Barker, Nigel P , Villet, Martin H , Broadley, Donald G , Branch, William R
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6522 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005953
- Description: This study constitutes the first evolutionary investigation of the snake family Psammophiidae—the most widespread, most clearly defined, yet perhaps the taxonomically most problematic of Africa's familylevel snake lineages. Little is known of psammophiid evolutionary relationships, and the type genus Psammophis is one of the largest and taxonomically most complex of the African snake genera. Our aims were to reconstruct psammophiid phylogenetic relationships and to improve characterisation of species boundaries in problematic Psammophis species complexes. We used approximately 2500 bases of DNA sequence from the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, and 114 terminals covering all psammophiid genera and incorporating approximately 75% of recognised species and subspecies. Phylogenetic reconstructions were conducted primarily in a Bayesian framework and we used the Wiens/Penkrot protocol to aid species delimitation. Rhamphiophis is diphyletic, with Rhamphiophis acutus emerging sister to Psammophylax. Consequently we transfer the three subspecies of Rhamphiophis acutus to the genus Psammophylax. The monotypic genus Dipsina is sister to Psammophis. The two species of Dromophis occupy divergent positions deeply nested within Psammophis, and we therefore relegate Dromophis to the synonymy of Psammophis. Our results allow division of the taxonomically problematic Psammophis 'sibilans' species complex into two monophyletic entities, provisionally named the 'phillipsii' and 'subtaeniatus' complexes. Within these two clades we found support for the status of many existing species, but not for a distinction between P.p. phillipsii and P. mossambicus. Additionally, P. cf. phillipsii occidentalis deserves species status as the sister taxon of P. brevirostris.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »