Evolutionary Biology and Population dynamics of herbivorous lady beetles in Indonesia

我们于1990年和1991年在印度尼西亚西爪哇和西苏门答腊岛对植食性瓢虫进行了各种野外研究和实验室实验。共有7名日本研究人员和2名印度尼西亚研究人员参与了这项联合研究。主要研究结果如下：(1)共采集到2属5个种组24种。它们至少包括7个新种。(2)体型相似的共地物种尽管在分类学上有较远的亲缘关系，但它们的外部外观往往非常相似或几乎相同。(3)雌性肾内生殖系统的形态、交配持续时间和精子转移方式对亚洲Epiachninae的分类和系统发育重建具有很高的价值。(4)食用植物被确认为23种附生植物。(5)除在农作物或杂草上的种群密度很低外，大多数物种的种群密度都很低。(6)在龙须草上发现两种种群，一种在茄科作物上，另一种在豆科杂草上。在一系列实验和野外观察的基础上，得出结论：这两种类型是同一物种内真正的寄主小种，可能是在共生过程中的遗传分化。(7)在实验室条件下，研究了三种Epiachna的生存-繁殖时间表，并计算了基本的种群参数。(8)在茂物植物园调查了两种Epiachna的种群密度的季节变化。对1990年11月至1991年10月期间获得的数据进行的初步分析清楚地表明，在1991年7月至9月的特大干旱期间，人口密度下降。

We have performed various kinds of field studies and laboratory experiments on phytophagous ladybird beetles (Epilachninae) in West Java and West Sumatra, Indonesia, in 1990 and 1991. A total of seven Japanese and two Indonesian researchers have been participated in this joint study. The main outcomes are :(1) A total of 24 species of epilachnines belonging to 2 genera and 5 species groups were collected. They include at least seven new species.(2) Sympatric species with a similar body size often are closely similar, or virtually identical in external appearance, even though they are distantly related taxonomically.(3) It was revealed that morphology of female intrenal reproductive systems, mating durations, and modes of sperm transfer are highly valuable for the classification and phylogeny reconstruction of Asian Epilachninae.(4) Food plants were confirmed for 23 epilachnine species. Epilachnines of the same species group tended to occur on one or a few restricted plant families.(5) The population density of most species, except for those on crops or weeds, was revealed to be very low.(6) Two types of populations, one on solanaceous crops and the other on a leguminous weed, were discovered in Epilachna vigintioctopunctata. On the basis of a series of experiments and field observations, it was concluded that the two types are true host races within a single species, possibly in the course of genetic divergence in sympatry.(7) Survivorship-fertility schedules of three Epilachna species were examined under the laboratory condition, and basic population parameters were calculated.(8) Seasonal change of population density in two Epilachna species was investigated at the Bogor Botanic Gardens. A preliminary analysis of the data obtained during November 1990 through October 1991 clearly demonstrated the depression of population densities during the extraordinary severe drought in July to September, 1991.