Fossils are more and more used in phylogenetic evolutionary studies either for clade calibration, or as terminals in a dataset including morphological characters. The strength of these methodological advances relies however on the quality and completeness of the fossil record. For crickets (Insecta, Orthoptera, Gryllidea), few ancient (pre-Cenozoic) well-preserved fossils are known, except for isolated wings often classified in purely fossil groups and a few fossils found in Cretaceous amber. Here, we present two remarkable fossils from mid-Cretaceous amber of France, that were imaged using X-ray synchrotron microtomography and exhibit an exquisite preservation allowing description with a precision similar to that of extant taxa. Palaeonemobius occidentalis Laurent and Desutter-Grandcolas, gen. nov., sp. nov. and Picogryllus carentonensis Josse and Desutter-Grandcolas, gen. nov., sp. nov. are the oldest representatives of the Nemobiinae and Podoscirtinae subfamilies of the Trigonidiidae and Oecanthidae families respectively. P. carentonensis Josse and Desutter-Grandcolas, gen. nov., sp. nov. is also the smallest adult male with a full stridulatory apparatus ever documented in crickets (body length 3.3 mm), and the first taxon of the cricket clade for which male genitalia can be partly described. We discuss the significance of Cretaceous fossils of crickets for future evolutionary studies of this clade.

Terrestrial fossils from the Palaeogene of Tibet could help us to better understand the past climate and environment in this area. We herein report a new late Eocene non-marine fossil site from southern Nima Basin, central Tibet, SW China, including abundant insects and fishes. These fossils are similar to those from the late Eocene (∼39.5–37 Ma) Lunpola–Nima sediment depo-centres in sharing the dominating aquatic bug Aquarius lunpolaensis and cyprinid fishes. Chalcolestes tibetensis sp. nov., the oldest representative of the modern family Lestidae, is described. Lestidae were previously only recorded in Western Europe, and the oldest records were from the uppermost Eocene of France and the UK. The present discovery demonstrates that Lestidae already had a broad distribution during the Eocene and probably originated much earlier. The recent representatives of Chalcolestes occur in the low-altitude ponds or lakes of Western Palaearctic. Together with the other freshwater fossils in this site, this new discovery indicates a humid climate and low altitude for the Nima Basin and nearby basins in the middle part of the Bangong Nujiang suture zone.

The Palaeontinidae (Insecta: Cicadomorpha) from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone of Bavaria are revised. The diagnostic characters for three monotypic genera Eocicada Oppenheim, 1888, Prolystra Oppenheim, 1888 and Archipsyche Handlirsch, 1906 are reassessed based on newly discovered material. Beloptesis gigantea (Weyenbergh, 1874), B. oppenheimi Handlirsch, 1906, Limacodites mesozoicus Handlirsch, 1906, and Protopsyche braueri Handlirsch, 1906 are considered to be junior synonyms of Prolystra lithographica Oppenheim, 1888. Eocicada lameerei Handlirsch, 1908 is a junior synonym of E. microcephala Oppenheim, 1888. A key to the species of Solnhofen Palaeontinidae is presented. Solnhofen Palaeontinidae and most Cretaceous Palaeontinidae most probably form a monophyletic group based on the following characters: costal area narrow, vein RA branching from stem R basally, vein ScP not fused with vein RA, clavus much reduced and hindwing smaller. Furthermore, Solnhofen Palaeontinidae are probably basal to Cretaceous Palaeontinidae by the mesonotum lacking distinct longitudinal carinae. A fast succession from early to more derived Palaeontinidae took place during Late Jurassic times. Early Palaeontinidae declined sharply in the Late Jurassic, probably owing to the rise of newly evolved insectivorous animals like early birds and mammals. Late Palaeontinidae with better flight ability survived and became a dominant insect group during latest Jurassic times.

Search behaviour of two entomopathogenic nematode species with different foraging strategies was compared by measuring parameters of unrewarded search after contact with host cues. Steinernema glaseri cruises in search of hosts. Steinernema carpocapsae ambushes hosts. Nematodes should respond to contact with relevant host cues by shifting their search from ranging to localized after contact with them. We predicted that cruising foragers rely on chemical cues more heavily than ambushers. These species were also tested for host affinities. Nematodes were tracked by image analysis after exposure to faeces, cuticle or food of either Popillia japonica or Spodoptera exiqua. Steinernema glaseri responded to selected host cues by shifting from ranging to localized search, characterized by decreased locomotory rate, distance travelled, search area and the proportion of the test period spent moving. Steinernema carpocapsae did not respond to host cues. Steinernema glaseri responds to selected chemical host cues for host location, whereas S. carpocapsae does not.

Why is the ground brown, when detritivores and decomposers have the numbers and ability to speed up the turnover of dark-coloured soil organic carbon? We consider this soil analogue to the ‘green world’ hypothesis measuring in the field how fast termites occupied cellulosic baits of varying quantity and quality and how predation risks by ants affect such encounters. Single baits with ants were occupied by termites later than triple baits without ants, implying that termites may spend longer searching for suitable food than feeding on it, thereby delaying decomposition rates of both chosen and neglected items. Because termites' feeding speeds up dissimilation of polymers by decomposers, such results may imply that bottom-up and top-down forces, ultimately, impair carbon processing and release from soil. We argue that the ground is brown partly because of delays imposed upon termites' use of resources by bottom-up and top-down forces.

Oceanic islands freshwater systems are unique due to their volcanic origin, oceanic situation, catchment morphology and the presence of distinct freshwater communities when compared with continental systems. This study provides an update of Azorean chironomid fauna records, distribution data and includes biogeographical comments, based on collections covering a range of freshwater habitats on several islands over 2005 to 2008. Island species area-relationships or ISAR was performed as a descriptive model for species accumulation patterns in each island in relation to their area. Six new chironimid species records are given for the Azores archipelago: Orthocladiinae:Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) fuscimanus (Kieffer, 1908), Pseudorthocladius (Pseudorthocladius) curtistylus (Goetghebuer, 1921), Synorthocladius semivirens (Kieffer, 1909), Parachaetocladius abnobaeus (Wülker, 1959); Chironominae:Chironomus (Chironomus) annularis (Meigen, 1818), Parachironomus tenuicaudatus (Malloch, 1915). As a result, the Azorean chironomid fauna has increased from 38 to 44 species, spread across 33 genera. Most recorded chironomids are primarily of western Palaearctic origin; Nearctic, Oriental and Neotropical regions are comparatively poorly represented. A checklist is provided, incorporating and updating previous records. Chirononidae distribution pattern among the islands is analyzed and island species area-relationship (ISAR) analyses, performed to provide a descriptive model for species accumulation patterns in each island, indicated a positive correlation between species richness (number of species) and the area of the Azorean islands, supporting MacArthur and Wilson’s equilibrium theory of island biogeography. Chironomidae could be promising for searching candidate bioindicators to answer the demand of Water Frame Directive.

The results presented in this paper refer to a host survey, lasting approximately three and a half years (February 2003–July 2006), undertaken in the Vale do Rio Doce Natural Reserve, a remnant area of the highly endangered Atlantic Rain Forest located in Linhares County, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. A total of 330 fruit samples were collected from native plants, representing 248 species and 51 plant families. Myrtaceae was the most diverse family with 54 sampled species. Twenty-eight plant species, from ten families, are hosts of ten Anastrepha species and of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Among 33 associations between host plants and fruit flies, 20 constitute new records, including the records of host plants for A. fumipennis Lima and A. nascimentoi Zucchi. The findings were discussed in the light of their implications for rain forest conservation efforts and the study of evolutionary relationships between fruit flies and their hosts.

Collections of Chironomidae from aquatic habitats on the Azores islands of São Miguel and Flores during August 1997 and on São Miguel, Terceira and Graciosa in September-October 1998, yielded 33 species-level taxa. Representatives of 16 taxa in three subfamilies are new generic / species records for the Azores archipelago: Tanypodinae - Procladius (Holotanypus) choreus (Meigen), Paramerina sp. griechenland, Zavrelimyia sp.; Orthocladiinae - Metriocnemus (Inermipupa) carmencitabertarum Langton et Cobo, Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) sp., Psectrocladius limbatellus (Holmgren), Psectrocladius sp., Pseudorthocladius sp., Smittia contingens (Walker); Chironominae - Chironomus cingulatus Meigen, Chironomus cf annularius (De Geer), Glyptotendipes barbipes (Staeger), Glyptotendipes pallens (Meigen), Polypedilum nubifer (Skuse), Micropsectra sp. (cf lindrothi Goetghebuer), Paratanytarsus grimmii (Schneider). A revised checklist is provided, incorporating and updating previous records.

Proprionoglarisguyoti gen. nov., sp. nov., Parapsyllipsocus vergereaui gen. nov., sp. nov., and Prospeleketoralbianensis gen. nov., sp. nov. are described from the Early Cretaceous amber of Archingeay (SW France). Libanoglarismouawadi gen. nov., sp. nov. is described from the Early Cretaceous amber of Lebanon. They are all placed into the suborder Trogiomorpha, incertae familiae. The discovery of these new taxa together with a first phylogenetic analysis of the trogiomorphan families demonstrate the necessity of a cladistic redefinition of the currently admitted major subdivisions of this suborder.

—The possible immune responses of insects to some abiotic agents were reviewed. These agents include insecticides, insect growth regulators, antibiotics, inert particles and miscellaneous substances of particulate and non-particulate nature. The significance of studying the immune response of insects to abiotic agents in relation to insect control, together with the link between the immune response of insects to both abiotic and biotic agents is discussed.

Thirteen specimens of type and/or figured Hexapoda from the Rhynie chert are housed at The Natural History Museum, London, UK. They are listed along with a complete bibliography of where they have been cited and figured. Two taxa are present: Rhyniella praecursor Hirst & Maulik 1926 (Collembola); and Rhyniognatha hirsti Tillyard 1928 (Insecta)

Production of more than one morphological type of sperm in a common testis has been documented for a variety of invertebrates, including gastropods, spiders, centipedes, and insects. This unusual phenomenon is difficult to explain by current theory, particularly since available evidence indicates that one sperm type is often incapable of effecting fertilization. In this review we critically examine evidence on the distribution and development of sperm heteromorphisms among insects in light of competing hypotheses for the evolutionary origin, maintenance, and function of a non-fertilizing class of sperm. To date, no single hypothesis, including alternatives which assume non-fertilizing sperm are non-adaptive, or that they provision, facilitate, or compete with fertilizing sperm, has received strong empirical support by any group of insects. The diversity of sperm heteromorphisms suggests that non-fertilizing sperm may have different functions in different clades or even serve multiple functions within a clade. We suggest that insight could be gained from (1) new models for the evolution of sperm polymorphism, (2) comparative studies that focus on multiple traits simultaneously (e.g. sperm number, proportion, length, and remating rate) and utilize clades in which more than one gain or loss of sperm heteromorphism has been documented (e.g. Pentatomidae, Carabidae, or Diopsidae), and (3) experimental studies that exploit individual variation or directly manipulate the composition of the male ejaculate.

This study describes and quantifies the microsculpture and ultrastructural design of the neck membrane of adult Odonata using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The membranous cuticle has a complex pattern of microfolds, which appear to have a specialized mechanical function. The membrane has two layers of cuticle: the epicuticle and exocuticle. The outermost layer is the electron-opaque epicuticle, which repeats the shapes of the microfolds. The epicuticle has no fibrillar elements. The exocuticle is electron-lucent and rather thin (0.5–1.5 μm) compared with the sclerite cuticle. The cuticle microfibrils in successive lamellae are at angles to each other. The epidermal cells underlying the membrane have an electron-lucent matrix filled with electron-opaque spherical vesicles of 0.1–0.4 μm in diameter. The behaviour of the membrane folds under loading was studied by shock-freezing experiments; these showed that the shape of the folds changed in response to head movements, and stretched under loading. A comparison of the surface patterns of the membrane in 10 odonate species from seven families (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae, Lestidae, Megapodagrionidae; Anisoptera: Cordulegastridae, Aeshnidae, Corduliidae, Libellulidae) had not revealed any correlation of the measured parameters with the size, sex or systematic position of species studied.

The struggle to control populations of organisms that feed on agricultural crops, livestock, and directly on humans is as old as recorded history, and will continue into the perceivable future. Only 30 years ago, the availability of relatively cheap and highly effective synthetic organic pesticides was thought to be the ultimate solution to pest populations. However, our naïveté regarding the ability of pest populations to rapidly adapt to simplistic man-induced selection pressures has become increasingly apparent, as have the detrimental impacts of pesticides on the environment. The evolution of the integrated pest management paradigm can be traced to these concerns, and it is now accepted that sustainable solutions to the management of pest populations will only be borne out of an increased understanding of the functioning of ecosystems. Knowledge of the population dynamics, and underlying causes of density changes in pest populations, behavioural ecology, and population genetics of pests and natural enemies, are essential elements for designing appropriate biologically intensive strategies for pest management. Progress is being made, and several examples of innovative strategies and promising areas of research, are discussed. Future work must continue to be based on a solid foundation of ecological understanding, to avoid the pitfalls of simple opportunistic solutions.

We evaluated selected cool-season annual and perennial legumes as potential ground covers to supply nitrogen and to increase beneficial arthropod populations in a pecan orchard. Densities of aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae), lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), damsel bug (Hemiptera: Nabidae), green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), brown lacewings (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae), hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae), spined soldier bug and other stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and spiders (Araneida) were monitored at 7–14 day intervals during the growing season for three years. Aboveground biomass production and nitrogen content of the legumes was measured for two years. Aphids peaked during early spring each year, with the highest density usually on ‘Dixie’ crimson clover and ‘Kenland’ red clover. Density of lady beetles was positively correlated with that of aphids, but spider densities were not. Other arthropods usually were not abundant. Nitrogen in the tops of the annual legumes ranged from 20 kg/ha to 89 kg/ha when assessed after a single harvest at anthesis; for the perennial legumes it was from 108 kg/ha to 179 kg/ha following two harvests in June and September. We chose two annual legumes (‘Dixie’ crimson clover and hairy vetch) and two perennial legumes (‘Louisiana S-1’ white clover and ‘Kenland’ red clover) for further evaluation.

Greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), an important vector of barley yellow dwarf mosaic virus, is a major pest of cereals in many countries. A preliminary survey conducted in the Punjab and North Western Frontier Province of Pakistan revealed medium to heavy infestations at Charsadda (density 12 apterous greenbugs/25 plants), Sher Shah (Multan) (density 33) and Malkot (Murree) (density 114). However, it was found in small numbers at many other locations.

A culture of greenbugs collected from Charsadda, was established on susceptible wheat cultivar Faisalabad-83 at 27 ± 3°C, 60% r.h. and 16:8 hr day:night regime. A seedling bulk test using local and exotic host differentials indicated that DS-28A and Largo wheat were susceptible, whereas Amigo wheat, Post and Will barley were resistant. This indicates that the population of greenbug from Charsadda culture was different from greenbug biotypes occurring in the USA. Therefore, it was designated as biotype PK-I for future reference.

Of the 44 recommended wheat cultivars in Pakistan, Punjab-85 was found to be resistant (visual damage rating (DR) 3 at 0 to 9 damage scale; 0, healthy; 9, dead). Faisalabad-85 had a DR of 4, PARI-73, Sandal and Yecora had a DR of 5, and PAK-81, WL-711, Sutluj-86 and Nuri-70 had a DR of 6. All the remaining cultivars were highly susceptible to greenbug (DR ≻ 6).

Three tests, namely, antixenosis (non-preference), antibiosis and tolerance, were conducted to determine the nature of resistance in selected entries. In the antixenosis test, PARI-73, WL-711 and Yecora were found to be the least preferred. The lowest fecundity (antibiosis) of the greenbug was on Punjab-85. In the tolerance test, the lowest damage was recorded on PARI-73 (DR= 4.1), followed by Sandal (DR= 4.8) and Punjab-85 (DR= 4.8). These three tests indicated that resistance in Punjab-85 is mainly due to antibiosis and a low level of tolerance.

During this study 439 native wheat germplasm lines were also tested. Of these, 16 germplasm lines (PAK 15081, PAK 15115, PAK 15139, PAK 15242, PAK 15433, PAK 15479, PAK 15481, PAK 15519, PAK 15992, PAK 15994, PAK 15995, PAK 15997, PAK 16007, PAK 16008, PAK 16010 and PAK 16190) were found to have a high level of resistance (DR ≺ 3). Of the test entries, 114 were moderately resistant (DR= 4–6) and the remainder were susceptible (DR ≻ 6) to greenbug. The germplasm lines found resistant may have different genes for resistance which can be exploited in breeding programmes.