Kazuo Yamazaki - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Kazuo Yamazaki

Entomological Communications, Sep 24, 2023

Pink muhly grass Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lamark) Trinius is a perennial, tussock-forming grass t... more Pink muhly grass Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lamark) Trinius is a perennial, tussock-forming grass that is native to North and Central America. The reddish-purple coloration of the spikes of this species has resulted in this grass becoming popular as an ornamental plant around the world. Interestingly, very few insects have been reported to be associated with this grass. I therefore examined arthropod assemblages on M. capillaris in two urban parks in central Japan in autumn and found that the aphid Hysteroneura setariae (Thomas, 1878) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its natural ladybird predator Coccinella septempunctata L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) occurred at high densities at one of the parks (ca. 9000 vs 3.4 individuals/m 2). Other insect pests, such as the moth Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and mirid bugs were also present, but at markedly lower densities. Since H. setariae is not a pest in Japan and C. septempunctata is a beneficial predator, M. capillaris could be used as a banker plant in agricultural fields as well as in urban green spaces.

Entomological Communications, Aug 30, 2022

Pineapple lilies Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. and Eucomis comosa Houtt. ex. Wehrh. are endem... more Pineapple lilies Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. and Eucomis comosa Houtt. ex. Wehrh. are endemic herbaceous plants in southern Africa but are planted as ornamental bulbous plants globally. The flowers are known to be primarily pollinated by pompilid wasps in their native range. In a Japanese botanical garden, Blattella nipponica Asahina, 1963 cockroaches visited the inflorescences of the two Eucomis species, fed on the floral nectar, and used the comae (i.e., leaf-like tufts on the top of inflorescences) as physical shelters and transported the pollen, thereby resulting in a fruit set. Ants, flies, and beetles were also observed to visit the flowers but did not touch the anthers or stigmas. These observations suggest that ground-dwelling cockroaches can act as pollinators of Eucomis flowers in an ex-situ setting.

Journal of Entomological Science, 2006

Mordellid galls were collected from stems of Japanese mugwort, Artemisia indica var. maximowiczii... more Mordellid galls were collected from stems of Japanese mugwort, Artemisia indica var. maximowiczii (Nakai) H. Hara, in early spring at three riverbeds in the Kinki district, central Japan, and reared in the laboratory. Adults of two mordellids, Mordellistena brevilineata Nomura (96.2% of the total number of individuals) and M. fuscosuturalis Nomura (3.8%), emerged from the galls. The galls were simple fusiform swellings in the stems. We could not distinguish the 2 species by gall morphology. Mortality of the immatures mostly could not be determined, but parasitoids (Eupelmus sp., Entedon sp., and braconids, etc.) accounted for about 25% of the total mortality observed. Survival of immatures tended to be higher and the concomitant parasitism lower in thicker rather than thinner galls, and the galls became thick when they were formed in larger diameter stems. Oviposition and larval establishment in thick stems appeared to be advantageous for the completion of development and avoidance ...

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007

Our aim was to clarify the factors providing selective pressures on the choice of oviposition sit... more Our aim was to clarify the factors providing selective pressures on the choice of oviposition sites in phytophagous insects. To this end, we examined the spatial distribution of eggs of the sawfly leaf miner, Profenusa japonica. The study was conducted over five consecutive years on three subpopulations found in riverbeds in central Japan. Profenusa japonica lays eggs on leaflets of Rosa multiflora, and its larvae mine a single leaflet for the entire larval stage. The egg distribution among leaflets was uniform (regular) at all sites examined in each year. The distribution within leaflets was also uniform, and it appeared that females avoided ovipositing on areas of the leaf that already contained eggs. Few parasitoids were found in eggs or larval stages, despite intensive examination. Larval mortality increased, mainly as a result of exploitative competition, when there were two or three larvae per leaflet. Starvation caused by resource competition for leaflet tissues was an important mortality factor. Therefore, we suggest that P. japonica females avoided ovipositing on areas of the leaflet that already contained eggs to prevent exploitative competition among larvae sharing the same leaflet.

Journal of Urban Living and Health Association, 2009

The study of plant-mediated herbivore-herbivore interactions is a central theme in community ecol... more The study of plant-mediated herbivore-herbivore interactions is a central theme in community ecology and has lately undergone great development. However, there are many unresolved patterns, the factors determining the patterns are unclear, and indirect effects that need to be taken into account for biodiversity conservation and pest management receive less attention. Focusing on these issues, the present study reviews five case studies of plant-mediated herbivoreherbivore interactions. In the first, leaf traits and gall-feeding insects are found to be important factors affecting the plant-species use of the Phyllocolpa sawfly, which induces leaf-roll galls on Salix plants. The second suggests that, since the gall-parasitic flea weevil Orchestes hustachei feeds obligately on leaf pouch galls induced by aphids on Zelkova serrata trees, and since the weevil may conceivably have evolved as a gall-feeder (cecidophage) from a leafminer, gall formation may have affected the evolution of feeding habits in this insect. The third proposes that, as bacterium galls on wisteria trunks are used by a wide array of arthropods, and as gall size correlates positively with the number of arthropod species and individuals, the plant-pathogenic bacterium increases arthropod diversity via gall induction. The fourth finds that, although the leafminer Ectoedemia sp. induces early leaf abscission in the evergreen oak in early spring and can then complete its development in the fallen leaves, the sika deer preying on the mined leaves on the ground results in considerable mortality for the leafminer. The fifth finds that, after the cicada Cryptotympana facialis emerges in the urban parks of Osaka, Japan, in midsummer, many flower chafers, ants, and wasps feed, possibly for intake of water and minerals, on the xylem sap exuding from the cicada feeding sites. These studies show that herbivores with different feeding habits-gallers, leafminers and sap-suckers-induce different trait changes in trees, resulting in different plant-mediated herbivore-herbivore interactions. Study thereof provides a range of pointers for pest management and biodiversity conservation.

Medical Entomology and Zoology, 1999

Journal of Urban Living and Health Association, 2006

In the cities of Japan, many green areas have recently been created not only as “green space for ... more In the cities of Japan, many green areas have recently been created not only as “green space for citizen’s amenity and relaxation” but also as “biotopes that harbor diverse birds, insects and wild plants”. However, the interactions between organisms in urban biotopes are fewer than and different from those in natural settings. Restoration and effective use of biotic interactions would help to qualitatively improve urban ecosystems. In this review, we illustrate a number of biotic interactions and propose methods for restoring or controlling them: (1) pollination and seed dispersal, (2) plant-herbivore-enemy interactions, (3) biological control of Microcystis using allelopathy, and (4) control of interactions between exotic and native organisms. In conclusion, (1) to restore biotic interactions in urban settings, an understanding of biotic interactions in the original ecosystems is required, (2) to prevent negative effects from alien species, the impact of alien on native species sho...

Journal of Insect Science, 2010

This paper documents the bizarre descending behavior from the tree crown to the ground of the lar... more This paper documents the bizarre descending behavior from the tree crown to the ground of the larvae of the moth, Scopelodes contracta Walker (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) and the interaction of the larva with predatory ants. S. contracta larvae infest leaves of many tree species in urban areas and orchards in Japan. Mature larvae and leaves without basal leaf parts were found under trees of four species infested with S. contracta larvae in Osaka, Japan. Individual larvae riding on leaves were observed falling from tree crowns to the ground. Many S. contracta cocoons were found in the soil below the trees two weeks after the observed parachuting. These observations indicate that S. contracta larvae parachuted to the ground where they spin their cocoons in the soil. When a larva that had just parachuted down was returned to an arboreal twig, the larva repeated the parachuting behavior. This parachuting behavior appears to be adaptive, because larvae can descend to the ground safely and with low energy cost. Worker ants of Tetramorium tsushimae Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Pristomyrmex punctatus Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) occasionally attacked larvae on the ground before they had a chance to burrow in the soil.

European Journal of Entomology, 2017

Differences in the time of occurrence of both sexes of adult ladybirds, which refl ect difference... more Differences in the time of occurrence of both sexes of adult ladybirds, which refl ect differences in the longevity and reproductive strategies of the sexes, is important from the perspective of applied entomology, including biological control, as well as basic entomology. Nevertheless, there is little fi eld census data on this topic. We investigated the seasonal occurrence of both sexes of Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) in Osaka City, central Japan, from 2003 to 2011. Female adults tended to appear earlier than males after hibernation or aestivation. That males never appeared earlier than females during the nine year period of this study indicate that protogyny occurs after hibernation and aestivation in this species.

European Journal of Entomology, 2016

The ladybird beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius), is a common predator of aphids and is w... more The ladybird beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius), is a common predator of aphids and is widely distributed across intermediate and equatorial latitudes (Sasaji, 1971). It is polymorphic in terms of its elytral colour (Kawakami et al., 2013). Over the past 100 years, C. sexmaculata has extended its distribution into higher latitudes, from Kyushu to Kanto-Hokuriku in Japan, with global warming (Kawakami et al., 2014). The northward spread of this species between 1940 and 2010 is associated with the increase in areas in Japan where the annual mean temperature is more than 15°C (Kawakami et al., 2014). This ladybird has been mainly collected from urban areas in Japan (858/912 individuals, 30-36°N, Supplementary material; Kawakami et al., 2013) and is rare in suburban and mountainous areas. Despite its wide distribution, potential for regulating aphid abundance and ecological interest in its colour polymorphism and recent range extension the bionomics of C. sexmaculata have not been studied in detail; most studies on ladybirds are on fi ve species and there is a need for studies on other species of ladybirds (Sloggett, 2005).

Applied Entomology and Zoology, 2008

Plant galls are induced by physicochemical stimuli from a wide variety of organisms, including in... more Plant galls are induced by physicochemical stimuli from a wide variety of organisms, including insects, mites, nematodes, fungi, viruses, and bacteria (e.g., Mani, 1964; Meyer, 1987). Galls provide gall-makers with nutritious tissues, a mild microclimate, and occasionally shelter from natural enemies (Price et al., 1987). Galls are therefore inhabited by various organisms such as predators, parasitoids, cecidophages (non-gall-making gall-feeders), and successori (secondary gall users), resulting in diverse communities on galls. These gallcentered arthropod communities have been examined from a community ecology perspective (e.g., Yukawa, 1983; Hawkins and Goeden, 1984; Mc-Geoch and Chown, 1997); however, most studies of gall-centered arthropod communities have been restricted to parasitoids rather than examining all arthropods (Sanver and Hawkins, 2000), and arthropod communities on bacterium galls have rarely been reported. Wisteria grows ubiquitously in Japan and is planted in parks and gardens worldwide due to its beautiful ornamental flowers (Fig. 1a). The bacterium Pantoea agglomerans pv. millettiae (Ewing and Fife) Gavini et al. (Enterobacteriaceae), which was first described as 'Bacillus milletiae' by Kawakami and Yoshida (1920), induces irregularly shaped knot galls (cankers) on the trunks and twigs of wisteria, Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC. and W. brachybotrys Siebold and Zucc. (Fabaceae) in Japan (Kawakami and Yoshida, 1920; Goto et al., 1980; Gavini et al., 1989) and W. sinensis Sweet in California (Opgenorth, 1994). The bacterium gall is derived from cambium tissue in trunks and twigs (Fig. 1b). Gall formation by the bacterium reduces the aesthetic value of wisteria and weakens trunks (Kawakami and Yoshida, 1920), although the galls are used as herbal medicine due to their isoflavone components (Kaneko et al., 1988). The bacterium gall grows continuously and sometimes reaches up to 100 mm in diameter within a few years (Kawakami and Yoshida, 1920; Goto et al., 1980). We found that some galls are heavily attacked by insects, suggesting that these insects affect the plant-bacterium interaction. Although wisteria galls can be artificially induced by inoculating the bacterium into wounds on a plant (Kawakami and Yoshida, 1920; Goto et al., 1980), the natural transmission mechanism is still unclear. Insects may be involved in transmission or they may simply use

Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 2004

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006

To elucidate the specific associations of insects with glandular plants, the relationship between... more To elucidate the specific associations of insects with glandular plants, the relationship between a plant bug and a wild azalea was examined. The plant bug Orthotylus gotoi Yasunaga (Hemiptera: Miridae) was found only on shrubs of Rhododendron macrosepalum Maxim. (Ericaceae) in Kyoto, central Japan. R. macrosepalum has leaves, stems, and sepals with dense stalked glands that trap and kill many arthropods. However, nymphs and adults of O. gotoi are able to move freely on R. macrosepalum. O. gotoi frequently fed on carcasses of various arthropods trapped on R. macrosepalum , whereas it rarely fed upon plant tissues. In laboratory experiments, O. gotoi nymphs mainly fed on the carcasses of insects, which resulted in enhanced rates of growth and metamorphosis, and adult O. gotoi lived longer when they were provided with insect carcasses. These observations and experiments suggest that O. gotoi is a scavenger. Therefore, if O. gotoi mainly feeds on carcasses of arthropods, this may result in a specific dependence on the glandular plant.

Behavioral Ecology, 2014

Predation has led to the evolution of defensive armor in prey species. The dense and long hairs o... more Predation has led to the evolution of defensive armor in prey species. The dense and long hairs of caterpillars (i.e., lepidopteran larvae) are generally believed to play an important role as a physical defence against predators. However, few studies have been undertaken to investigate how hairs protect caterpillars from a predator's weapons. To determine the importance of caterpillar hairs as a defensive armor, we observed adults of Calosoma maximowiczi (Carabidae) attacking 5 caterpillar species with different hairiness under laboratory conditions. Carabids used their mandibles to catch caterpillars and thereafter fed on them. Almost all the larvae of 3 smooth species and a short-haired species were easily caught by carabids during their first attack. However, 53.2% of larvae in a long-haired species Lemyra imparilis (Erebidae: Arctiinae) were able to escape from carabid attacks. Even when Lemyra larvae were finally eaten, carabids required a larger number of attacks to catch Lemyra larvae. Dorsal hairs of Lemyra larvae were much longer than the mandible length of carabid adults for any body size, suggesting that the dorsal hairs can function as a physical barrier against carabid attacks. To test the hypothesis, we cut the dorsal hairs of Lemyra larvae shorter than the carabids' mandibles. Cutting the dorsal hairs of Lemyra larvae resulted in fewer carabid attacks with higher success rates. Therefore, we conclude that long hairs can protect Lemyra larvae from carabid mandibles. This is the first study to clarify the adaptive significance of caterpillar hair length as a morphological defence.

Applied Entomology and Zoology, 2003

To clarify assemblage patterns of overwintering ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and other ... more To clarify assemblage patterns of overwintering ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and other insect predators in farmland habitats for the purpose of proper land management to enhance beneficial predators, we collected carabid and other insect predators at eight plots including arable and fallow rice and vegetable fields and a bank of an adjacent irrigation pond in central Japan. In total, 159 adults and 268 larvae of 33 carabid species, and 178 individuals of at least 17 species of other insect predators were collected by the quadrat sampling method. In rice fields, both the number of species and no. of individuals of overwintering carabid beetles increased as the soil became dry and vegetational succession proceeded, whereas in fallow vegetable fields carabids decreased according to succession. Similar trends were confirmed in other insect predators. Variations of carabid species richness and abundances among the plots might be attributed to soil water content, vegetation and prey availability. In early-successional fallow vegetable fields, the larvae of the carabid genus Harpalus overwintered with high density; this appeared to be because the fingergrass Digitaria ciliaris (Poaceae), whose seeds were a potential food for Harpalus, were densely vegetated there. In a dry fallow rice field and early-successional vegetable fields, beneficial predators such as Dolichus halensis (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Agrypnus binodulus (Coleoptera: Elateridae), and soldier beetle (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) larvae hibernated with high densities. For proper farmland management to augment insect predators, it is desirable to maintain fallow rice and vegetable fields as relatively dry habitats and at early successional stages. Ploughing fallow fields in winter may reduce overwintering predacious insect larvae.

Research & Reviews: Journal of Botanical Sciences, 2015

Plants are frequently moved in the wind and less frequently move in spite of their very static im... more Plants are frequently moved in the wind and less frequently move in spite of their very static image. Recent studies have been revealing that many plants may use passive movement as defence against herbivores, and that some plants may move to expel herbivores or to attract natural enemies of herbivores. Use of plant movement for pest management in agriculture would be promising.

European Journal of Entomology, 2010

The prevalence of obligate parasitic fungi may depend partly on the environmental conditions prev... more The prevalence of obligate parasitic fungi may depend partly on the environmental conditions prevailing in the habitats of their hosts. Ectoparasitic fungi of the order Laboulbeniales (Ascomycetes) infect arthropods and form thalli on the host's body surface. Although several studies report the incidence of infection of certain host species by these fungi, quantitative data on laboulbenialean fungus-host arthropod interactions at the host assemblage level are rarely reported. To clarify the effects of host habitats on infection by ectoparasitic fungi, the incidence of infection by fungi of the genus Laboulbenia (Laboulbeniales) of overwintering carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in three habitats, a riverside (reeds and vines), a secondary forest and farmland (rice and vegetable fields), were compared in central Japan. Of the 531 adults of 53 carabid species (nine subfamilies) collected in the three habitats, a Laboulbenia infection of one, five and one species of the carabid subfamilies Pterostichinae, Harpalinae and Callistinae, respectively, was detected. Three species of fungus were identified: L. coneglanensis, L. pseudomasei and L. fasciculate. The incidence of infection by Laboulbenia was higher in the riverside habitat (8.97% of individuals; 14/156) than in the forest (0.93%; 2/214) and farmland (0%; 0/161) habitats. Furthermore, the incidence of infection by Laboulbenia in the riverside habitat ranged from 0 to 33.3% and differed significantly in the ten microhabitats (riverbank, edge of track, tall reeds, kudzu vines, slope of a hollow, rotten wood, vine reeds, under stones, the shoulder of a terrace and marshy ground) where the carabid beetles overwintered. These results suggest that host habitats and microhabitats are closely associated with successful infection by laboulbenialean fungi.

The ladybird beetle Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) is widely distributed throughout the inte... more The ladybird beetle Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) is widely distributed throughout the intermediate latitudinal and equatorial regions. It exhibits elytral colour polymorphism with a geographical cline showing increased prevalence of melanic morphs with increasing latitude. Over the past 100 years, this species has extended its distribution towards higher latitudes in Japan because of climatic warming. In this study, long-term changes in the frequency of different morphs and adult body size of this species during this range extension were analyzed based on a survey of specimens in collections. First, we examined specimens collected from areas that were colonized (34-36°N) during the period of range extension (1949-1989) and when it ceased (1990-2005). Chronologically, both the proportions of melanic morphs increased and body size decreased significantly. Next, specimens were examined from newly colonized regions and the former range of distribution (32-34°N); these specimens were collected during period when range extension had ceased. In newly colonized regions, the frequency of melanic morphs was higher and the body size was smaller than in the former range of distribution. These two findings indicate that the smaller, melanic morphs may have undergone a positive-selection driven range extension to higher latitudes.

European Journal of Entomology, 2007

Abstract. There is a high density of the cicada Cryptotympana facialis (Walker)(Hemiptera: Cicadi... more Abstract. There is a high density of the cicada Cryptotympana facialis (Walker)(Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in urban parks in central Japan during summer. This cicada uses its stylet to pierce holes in the trunks of keyaki trees, Zelkova serrata and then feeds on the exuding ...