Predictions of survivorship are critical to quantify the probability of establishment by an alien invasive species, but survival curves rarely distinguish between the effects of temperature on development versus senescence. We report chronological and physiological age-based survival curves for a potentially invasive noctuid, recently described as Copitarsia corruda Pogue & Simmons, collected from Peru and reared on asparagus at six constant temperatures between 9.7 and 34.5°C. Copitarsia spp. are not known to occur in the United States but are routinely intercepted at ports of entry. Chronological age survival curves differ significantly among temperatures. Survivorship at early age after hatch is greatest at lower temperatures and declines as temperature increases. Mean longevity was 220 (±13 SEM) days at 9.7°C. Physiological age survival curves constructed with developmental base temperature (7.2°C) did not correspond to those constructed with a senescence base temperature (5.9°C). A single degree day survival curve with an appropriate temperature threshold based on senescence adequately describes survivorship under non-stress temperature conditions (5.9–24.9°C).

This is the first report of Bactra bactrana (Kennel, 1901) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) attacking a major solanaceous crop, sweet pepper Capsicum annuum L. The infestation was detected in two greenhouses at the area of Tympaki (Southern Crete, Greece). The moth larvae caused typical symptoms of a fruit borer with numerous small holes on the surface of the peppers and extensive damage on the inside of the fruit as a result of the feeding activity. Unknown factors facilitated this major shift in host range since B. bactrana is typically a stem borer of sedges. In addition, the pest status of B. bactrana is currently under question, as in both cases the infestations by the moth were associated with significant yield losses. B. bactrana was moderately controlled with chemicals registered for Lepidoptera management in sweet pepper due to the boring nature of the infestation. Some comparative taxonomic notes are provided to facilitate accurate pest discrimination of related Bactra species. Finally, biological attributes of the species are summarized and are discussed from pest control and ecological perspectives. Because Bactra species have been used in augmentative releases for the control of sage, the implications of our findings on the release of biocontrol agents are placed in perspective.

The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a destructive pest that causes damage to rice crops worldwide. The olfactory system is critical for host or mate location by weevils, but only limited information about the molecular mechanism of olfaction-related behaviour has been reported in this insect. In this study, we conducted SMRT-seq transcriptome analysis and obtained 54,378 transcripts, 38,706 of which were annotated. Based on these annotations, we identified 40 candidate chemosensory genes, including 31 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), six chemosensory proteins (CSPs) and three sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs). Phylogenetic analysis showed that LoryOBPs, LoryCSPs and LorySNMPs were distributed in various clades. The results of tissue expression patterns indicated that LoryOBPs were highly abundant in the antennae, whereas LoryCSPs were highly abundant not only in the antennae but also in the abdomen, head and wings. Our findings substantially expand the gene database of L. oryzophilus and may serve as a basis for identifying novel targets to disrupt key olfactory genes, potentially providing an eco-friendly strategy to control this pest in the future.

The ability to insert foreign genes into arthropod genomes has led to a diverse set of potential applications for transgenic arthropods, many of which are designed to advance public health or improve agricultural production. New techniques for expressing foreign genes in arthropods have now been successfully used in at least 18 different genera. However, advances in field biology are lagging far behind those in the laboratory, and considerable work is needed before deployment in nature can be a reality. A mechanism to drive the gene of interest though a natural population must be developed and thoroughly evaluated before any field release, but progress in this area has been limited. Likewise, serious consideration of potential risks associated with deployment in nature has been lacking. This review gives an overview of the most promising techniques for expressing foreign genes in arthropods, considers the potential risks associated with their deployment, and highlights the areas of research that are most urgently needed for the field to advance out of the laboratory and into practice.

This study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of the non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma produced with dielectric barrier discharge (APPD) using air as a processing gas and microwave energy to control Tribolium castaneum and Trogoderma granarium adults and larvae in wheat grains. Insects’ mortality was found to be power and time-dependent. The results indicated that non-thermal APPD and the microwave have enough insecticidal effect on the target pests. From the bioassay, LT50's and LT90's levels were estimated, T. granarium larvae appeared more tolerant to non-thermal APPD and the microwave energy than adults 7 days post-exposure. The germination percentage of wheat grains increased as the time of exposure to the non-thermal APPD increased. On the contrary, the germination percentage of wheat grains decreased as the time of exposure to the microwave increased. In addition, changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and peroxidase, in adults and larvae were examined after 24 h post-treatment to non-thermal APPD at 15.9 W power level, which caused 50% mortality. The activity of CAT, GST and lipid peroxide in the treated larvae showed a significant increase post-exposure to the non-thermal APPD at 15.9 W power level. On the other hand, no significant change in GSH-Px activity was observed. Reductions in the level of glutathione (GSH) and protein content occurred in treated larvae in comparison with the control.

The gene encoding juvenile hormone response (Krüppel homolog1, Kr-hl) in Coccinella septempunctata was investigated by cloning and analysing expression profiles in different developmental stages and tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). C. septempunctata Kr-hl (CsKr-hl) encoded a 1338 bp open reading frame (ORF) with a predicted protein product of 445 amino acids; the latter showed high similarity to orthologs in other species and contained eight highly-conserved Zn-finger motifs for DNA-binding. CsKr-hl was expressed in different developmental stages of C. septempunctata. The expression levels of CsKr-hl in eggs, 2nd, 3rd, 4th instar larvae, and pupa were 3.31, 2.30, 7.09, 0.58, and 7.48 times the number of 1st instar larvae, respectively. CsKr-hl expression levels in female adults gradually increased at 25–30 days and were significantly higher than expression at 1–20 days. CsKr-hl expression in 20–30 days-old male adults was significantly higher than males aged 1–15 days. CsKr-hl expression levels in heads of male and female adults were significantly higher than expression levels in the thorax, adipose, and reproductive system. Interestingly, CsKr-hl expression levels in the adipose and reproductive system of female adults were significantly higher than in adult male corresponding organs, which suggest that CsKr-hl plays an important role in regulating reproductive development in C. septempunctata.

Diaphorina is a species-rich genus, native to the tropics and subtropics of the Old World, particularly of more arid regions. One of the species, Diaphorina citri, is the economically most important pest of citrus. Diaphorina species are morphologically similar which makes their identification difficult. In this study, the accuracy of DNA barcoding, using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), geometric morphometrics of the forewing and digital image processing methods were tested for identification of the three Diaphorina species: D. chobauti, D. citri and D. zygophylli. Moreover, the published COI sequences of D. citri, D. communis and D. lycii obtained from Genbank were used for cluster analyses. DNA barcodes for D. chobauti and D. zygophylli are deposited in Genbank for the first time. The results of the molecular and geometric morphometric analyses are congruent and place D. chobauti as the sister taxon of the other Diaphorina species. The geometric morphometric analysis shows that in D. zygophylli the fore margin is slightly curved proximally and sharply bent distally, while in D. chobauti and D. citri it is straight proximally and weakly bent distally. The results of digital image processing show that the distribution of the dark pattern differs consistently in the three studied species.

Korean pine is an economically essential afforestation species limited by the unreasonable collection of cones, indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides and pest damage. This study aimed to determine whether spraying bacterial or fungal solutions affected insect pests, cone development, and the seed quality of Korean pine Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc. The experiment was conducted in a forest plantation in Linkou County (Heilongjiang, China) in 2019. Four fungal strains and one bacterial strain were applied during the flowering phase of Korean pine. The results after a year and a half of study indicated that a high concentration of Bacillus thuringiensis 223176 promoted cone development, increased seed weight, and reduced the proportion of damaged cones. Under this treatment, there were 15.873% damaged cones; the seed weight reached 0.829 g, and there were 82.738% fully developed cones. Trees treated with the second most effective strain, Beauveria bassiana 122077, had 30.556% damaged cones and an average seed weight of 0.810 g. Leucanicillium antillanum 01 performed the worst in this study. The seed weight was only 0.775 g, and the damaged and fully developed cones were 52.444 and 41.773%, respectively. In summary, spraying bacterial or fungal solutions during the flowering stage of Korean pine positively impacted seed quality and effectively decreased damage by the lepidopteran species that feed on the cones and seeds in this study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the enzymatic activity of homogenates of insects fed on grain of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.), cultivars grown with different nitrogen sources. For the experiment we used aliquots of the homogenate of 100 unsexed adult insects, emerged from 10 g of grain obtained from four cowpea cultivars: ‘BRS Acauã’, ‘BRS Carijó’, ‘BRS Pujante’, and ‘BRS Tapaihum’ grown under different regimes of nitrogen sources: mineral fertilizer, inoculation with strains of diazotrophs (BR 3267, BR 3262, BR 3299; INPA 03–11B, 03–84 UFLA, as well as the control (with soil nitrogen). The parameters evaluated were enzymatic activities of insect protease, amylase and lipase and the starch content of the grains. There were differences in the enzymatic activity of amylase, lipase and protease of insect homogenate according to the food source. A lower activity of the enzyme amylase from C. maculatus homogenate was observed when insects were fed grain of the cultivar BRS Carijó. A lower activity of lipase enzyme from C. maculatus homogenate was observed when the insects fed on grain from the interaction of the cultivar Tapaihum inoculated with BR 3262 diazotrophs. The lowest proteolytic activity was observed in homogenate of insects fed on interaction of ‘BRS Carijó’ inoculated with BR 3262 diazotrophs. Starch content correlated positively with the amylase activity of C. maculatus homogenate. The cultivar BRS Carijó had a different behavior from the other cultivars, according to the cluster analysis.

Since its introduction in Spain in 2004, Aedes albopictus has rapidly spread across the country. Its aggressive biting behaviour causes nuisance, limiting outdoor activities. Also, its role as a vector of several arboviruses implies a major public health risk, with several cases of autochthonous dengue having been reported nationwide over the past few years. Control strategies usually focus on interventions in breeding sites. As such, accurate knowledge of the main larval habitats becomes a major priority in infested areas. A detailed identification of breeding sites of Ae. albopictus was carried out in the outdoors of 60 residential properties during July–August 2022 in El Vedat de Torrent (Valencia, Eastern Spain), an area recently colonised by this species. A total of 1444 real and potential breeding sites were examined. The most abundant potential larval habitat were plant pot plates (6.48 units/house), although a low infestation level was found, both for larvae (2.06% positivity, x̄ = 30.5 larvae/container), and pupae (0.51%, x̄ = 2.5 pupae/container). A total of 7715 larvae and 205 pupae were found in a disused flooded water pool depuration system. Animal drinkers, buckets and irrigation water containers were found to be the most common positive containers. No statistical difference was observed among the different container materials. A general statistical increase of 1 larva per 11.7 ml of water in breeding sites was detected. Breeding sites of other species such as Culex pipiens (n = 2) and Culex modestus (n = 1) were also rarely found in this residential area. To our knowledge, this is the first aedic index study carried out in Europe, and it provides valuable information about the main domestic breeding habitats of Ae. albopictus, which can greatly improve control programmes.

The subfamilies Salassinae and Agliinae are two monogeneric groups of the family Saturniidae. They were regarded as the non-cocooning saturniids in Asia. Since very little information on their life history and mitogenome has been reported, their origin and evolution are still poorly understood. In this study, nature-imitated rearing is used to record the life history of two Aglia and five Salassa species. In addition, four complete mitogenomes are presented, which are the first ones of these two subfamilies. The results show that both Salassinae and Agliinae have lost their cocooning. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that the subfamily Saturniinae is not monophyletic due to the inclusion of Agliinae and Salassinae.

One of the greatest difficulties of anti-mosquito work in Palestine is that there are a series of swamps in the littoral plain, lying almost at sea level and prevented from draining into the Mediterranean by sand-dunes and sand-bars which block their outlet channels. It appears that cutting channels through the coastal dunes is a task which would have to be repeated at very frequent intervals, and until some-what large sums of money are available the pumping of these numerous swamps into the sea cannot be undertaken. There are, moreover, other rather large areas of marsh, notably Lake Huleh, Beisan marsh and the Marj Sanour, the proper drainage of which is at the moment beyond the financial resources of the country. We have therefore to rely for the moment on ameliorative measures which are admittedly not sufficiently radical. Among other things, I have begun a study of our native fish, hoping to find some small and voracious species that breeds rapidly and is able to live in waters of different degrees of salinity. The results which I have obtained are perhaps discouraging, but certainly interesting.

Theraptus sp. from Zanzibar, Pemba and Tanganyika have been inter-bred.

Individuals of the F1 generation are fertile, but a partial sterility in some crosses may exist.

It is concluded that there is only one species but possibly three varietal strains.

The present paper deals with a small collection of Tachinidae received from Mr. H. Hargreaves from Uganda, together with other material of the various species forwarded by the Imperial Bureau of Entomology. The types of the new species, unless otherwise stated, will be deposited in the British Museum of Natural History.

The material on which the following notes are based was submitted to me for study by the Imperial Bureau of Entomology. It is necessary to describe two new genera and three new species. The material contains two larvae, on which remarks have also been made.

The drawings were made by Mr. D. E. Kimmins.

During the summer of 1924 the writer was engaged in research upon the feeding habits and the structure of the mouth-parts of Diptera. Among the families of Diptera that were studied were the Empidae, and one of the most interesting members of this family is Tachydromia minuta, Meigen, since it is among the few British Diptera, other than the Asilidae, that are entirely predacious.

Multiple new ant treatment products containing high volumes of sugar have recently been developed specifically for use in ant management programs. The presence of sugar in these products could potentially attract bees, and any such attractancy would likely be fatal given that these products typically contain general insecticides. To determine the risk of such products to bees I present four studies assessing bee attractancy to multiple matrices that are used to make these products. The trials were conducted across multiple years, seasons, and locations, containing various concentrations of sugar in multiple forms, using various experimental setups with many different bee hives, and multiple observers. Not a single bee was attracted to any matrix, nor were bees observed inspecting any matrix, and no bees fed on any matrix, irrespective of whether the matrices were placed close to hives and directly under bee flight paths, or out in areas where bees were feeding. This is in stark contrast to large numbers of bees that were feeding on flowers within the immediate vicinity of all of the matrices in the first two experiments, or flying over the arrays in experiments 3 and 4 travelling to and from other food sources. I present five suggestions for the discrepancy between the trials presented here and the general perception that bees are attracted to sugar. These matrices appear to be acceptable as a basis to make treatment products for broadscale use within ant management programs. However, it should be recognized that bees, and other non-target species, are indeed capable of feeding on these matrices. Therefore vigilance should still be maintained to identify special circumstances where bees may be killed when constituents are added to these matrices that do attract bees, or usage methods can adversely affect bees.

In summing up the results of our study of the local varieties of maculipennis in a region of Macedonia, we have tried to deal with the region as a thing by itself, without allowing ourselves to be influenced by what we might know regarding the varieties of maculipennis found elsewhere.

We found a maculipennis nearly uniform throughout the whole region as regards habits and morphology, and not varying greatly except with respect to one character, the sculpturing of the eggs. On the basis of this character, we may make two groups, provisionally called typicus and messeae, but we must use statistical methods to establish these two groups, for we find much variability in them. The amount of variability is not uniform over the whole region; in some localities the egg-type is nearly all typicus, in others messeae greatly predominates. Our problem has been to test the validity of this characteristic, especially with regard to its persistence from parent to offspring and its constancy in varying environments.

The longevity and development of the eggs of Ornithodorus moubata, Murray, at different relative humidities between 6·2 per cent. and 80 per cent. were investigated. It was found that:—

(1) All stages investigated, i.e., egg, larva and 1st nymph, survived for a much longer period at high humidities than at low. The longevity snowed a steady gradation through the range of humidities used.

(2) Even at very low humidities a sufficient proportion of eggs developed to the 1st nymph stage to carry on the race.

(3) The 1st nymph is much more resistant to desiccation than the earlier stages.

This result does not agree with opinions expressed as the result of field observations, or with the only previous laboratory experiment it was possible to trace. Reasons for both these disagreements are suggested.

Adults of Musca vetustissima Walker that were caught when attracted to humans in the field responded positively in a later test when a hand was inserted in a cage, both in terms of proportion responding and time spent on the hand. Flies with a similar adult diet, whether of culture origin or the first-generation offspring of field-caught flies, responded similarly to the hand in the cage provided they were of similar size. A larger proportion of small flies than of large ones came to the hand, and stayed for longer periods. Large protein-deprived and dung-fed (suboptimal protein) flies had a nuisance value between 28 and 35 times as great as large blood-fed flies, while small blood-fed flies had a nuisance value 18 times as great. The nuisance value of small protein-deprived and dung-fed flies was between 61 and 67 times as great. Residence period on the hand increased with time in large protein-deprived flies but not in flies in the other categories tested. Few flies responded to the hand during the first 15 day-degrees C post eclosion, or when gravid or nearly gravid; the most responsive flies were in ovarian stages 0B, 1, 2 and 3. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of the fly nuisance levels experienced in south-eastern Australia.