Molecular characterization of mitochondrial COI gene sequences in Micraspis allardi from Pakistan.

The Coccinellidae is a highly diversified family of order Coleoptera. Coccinellid ladybirds are well known for their role as biological control agent against varied range of agricultural pests. The samples of coccinellid ladybird collected from Pakistan were identified and characterized as Micraspis allardi (Mulsant, 1866). This is one of the least-studied ladybird species with limited work on its ecological distribution as a biological control agent. The genus Micraspis has vast genetic diversity with a possible presence of unknown number of cryptic species. Sequence information of some species of the genus Micraspis are present in NCBI database. However, least molecular data or sequences describing M. allardi could be available from database. Therefore, morphological and molecular characterization was imperative for this species. Here, the samples collected from sugarcane field of Faisalabad District of Pakistan and were identified by using morphological and molecular protocols. For molecular identification, two different regions of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene (COI-5' and COI- 3') were used as molecular markers for the identification of the species. Morphological appearance, DNA sequence similarity searches and phylogenetic analysis collectively indicated it as M. allardi. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report providing molecular evidence of M. allardi using mitochondrial DNA barcode region (658bp) as well as mtCOI-3' sequences (817bp). The study will help in understanding population genetics through diversity analysis, ecological role, and phenotypic structures associated with the geographic range of this species.

Only pollinator fig wasps have males that collaborate to release their females from figs of an Asian fig tree.

Male insects rarely collaborate with each other, but pollinator fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae) are said to be an exception. Immature fig wasps feed on galled ovules located inside figs, the inflorescences of Ficus species (Moraceae). After mating, adult pollinator males chew communal exit-holes that allow mated females (which are often also their siblings) to escape. Figs also support non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs), some of which produce exit-holes independently. We determined whether collaboration between pollinator males (Kradibia tentacularis from Ficus montana) was necessary for the release of their females, and used the relationship between male numbers and likelihood of success to measure the extent of cooperation during exit-hole production. These attributes were then compared with those of an NPFW (Sycoscapter sp.) from the same host plant. Pollinators were more abundant than NPFW, but their more female-biased sex ratio meant male pollinator densities were only slightly higher. Individual males of both species could produce an exit-hole. Single males of the NPFW were just as successful as single male pollinators, but only male pollinators cooperated effectively, becoming more successful as their numbers increased. The lack of cooperation among NPFW may be linked to their earlier period of intense inter-male aggression.

Pregnancy with fibroids and its and its obstetric complication.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy along with a fibroid is a high risk pregnancy which may lead to complication with unequal gravity. Objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and obstetric complications of fibroids during pregnancy, this cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Gynaecology, Unit 'C', Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad. METHOD: Data of all patients who presented with fibroid during pregnancy during two years, i.e., from Jan 2006 to Dec 2007 was recorded on a proforma and analysed using SPPS-12. RESULTS: Thirty patients were diagnosed to have fibroids during pregnancy out of 3468 deliveries, thus prevalence was 0.865% in our hospital. The age of 50% cases was from 20 to 30 years, and 30 to 35 Year (27%). Twenty-one (70%) belonged to low socioeconomic status. Ninety percent patients reached up to term pregnancy between 37 to 40 weeks. Fibroids were found less common in patients in their first pregnancy (8, 23.66%). Twenty-one (70%) patients were delivered by caesarean section, and in 1 (3.33%) patient hysterotomy was performed. Failure to progress and foetal distress was the commonest indication for caesarean section (8, 38.09%) followed by breech presentation (4, 19.04%), cord prolapse (3, 14.28%) and fibroids in the lower segment (2, 9.52%). Anaemia was the commonest complication (20, 66.66%) followed by postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) (10, 33.33%). Breech presentation was the commonest malpresentation (4, 13.33%) associated with fibroids during pregnancy. Premature rupture of membranes and cord prolapse was seen in 3 (10%) patients each. Four (13.33%) patients underwent abdominal hysterectomy. Intra uterine growth restriction IUGR was seen in 2 patients (6.66%), 2 patients ended up with abortions, 1 patient had a spontaneous pregnancy loss and the other underwent hysterotomy due to low lying placenta and heavy bleeding per vaginum. Compound presentation, neglected transverse lie, stuck head of breech, placenta increta, retained placenta, low lying placenta, were the other complications occurring in one patient each. One patient died during anaesthesia. Neonatal outcome was encouraging as 20 (67%) babies were of average birth weight and only 4 (13.33%) babies had low APGAR score and needed NICU admission. Perinatal mortality was 37/1000 live births. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy with fibroids leads to increase in caesarean section rate due to dysfunctional labour and malpresentation. There is also increased incidence of post partum haemorrhage along with associated complication of anaemia, anaesthesia and surgery.

The mechanism of sex ratio adjustment in a pollinating fig wasp.

Sex ratio strategies in species subject to local mate competition (LMC), and in particular their fit to quantitative theoretical predictions, provide insight into constraints upon adaptation. Pollinating fig wasps are widely used in such studies because their ecology resembles theory assumptions, but the cues used by foundresses to assess potential LMC have not previously been determined. We show that Liporrhopalum tentacularis females (foundresses) use their clutch size as a cue. First, we make use of species ecology (foundresses lay multiple clutches, with second clutches smaller than first) to show that increases in sex ratio in multi-foundress figs occur only when foundresses are oviposition site limited, i.e. that there is no direct response to foundress density. Second, we introduce a novel technique to quantify foundress oviposition sequences and show, consistent with the theoretical predictions concerning clutch size-only strategies, that they produce mainly male offspring at the start of bouts, followed by mostly females interspersed by a few males. We then discuss the implications of our findings for our understanding of the limits of the ability of natural selection to produce 'perfect' organisms, and for our understanding of when different cue use patterns evolve.