The European winter moth, Operophtera brumata (L.), an invasive forest defoliator, is undergoing a rapid range expansion in northeastern North America. The source of this invasion, and phylogeographic diversity throughout its native range, has not been explored. To do this, we used samples from a pheromone-baited trap survey of O. brumata collected across its native range in Europe, and invasive range in North America. Traps in North America also attract a congeneric species, the Bruce spanworm O. bruceata (Hulst), and the western Bruce spanworm O. b. occidentalis (Hulst). From this sampling, we sequenced two regions of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I mitochondrial gene; one region corresponds to the DNA ‘barcode’ region, the other is a nonoverlapping section. We used these sequences, in combination with sequence data from a recent survey of the Geometridae in western North America, for phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses to characterize genetic divergence and variation for O. brumata in North America and Europe, and O. bruceata and O. b. occidentalis in North America. We found O. brumata mtDNA diversity to be dominated by a single widespread, and common haplotype. In contrast, O. bruceata shows high haplotype diversity that is evenly distributed throughout North America. Phylogeographic patterns indicate an introduction of O. brumata in British Columbia likely originated from Germany, and suggest the invasive population in northeastern North America may have its origins in the United Kingdom, and/or Germany. We found uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence between Operophtera species to be ≈7%. O. b. occidentalis is ≈ 5% divergent from O. bruceata, has a restricted range in the Pacific Northwest, and has unique morphological characters. Together these lines of evidence suggest O. b. occidentalis may be deserving of species status. Additionally, a single morphologically unique Operophtera specimen, similar to O. bruceata, was collected in southern Arizona, far outside the known range of O. bruceata. This suggests that North America may contain further, unsampled, Operophtera diversity.

The attenuata species group of Neohelota Ohta is revised. Six species are recognized, including one described herein, N. vietnamensis sp. nov., from Vietnam and Laos. Helota moutonii Ritsema, 1905 is recognized as a junior synonym of Neohelota renati (Ritsema, 1905), Helota bhutanensis Chûjô, 1975, as a junior synonym of N. durelii (Ritsema, 1905), and H. sonani Ohta, 1929 as a junior synonym of N. lewisi (Ritsema, 1915). A lecotype is designated for Helota attenuata Ritsema, 1894. A key for the attenuata species group is provided. Figures of protibiae, genitalia, internal sacs, eighth abdominal tergites, and fifth abdominal ventrites are given for all species.

Demotispa neivai Bondar (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) can damage the surface of oil palm fruits in Colombia. This specie has also been reported in Arecaceae species but without clarity on its identity. The aim of this study was the redescription of D. neivai using diagnostic characters. The external morphology of the insect body was described with scanning electron microscopy and its sexual dimorphism analyzed by morphometric data on width of the body, length of antennae, scutellum, and legs. The body of D. neivai is observed reddish—brown or slightly reddish—yellow, oval shape, dorsally flattened, and convex laterally; small head; maxillary palps with segments nearly similar in length; bases of the antenna separated by a keel in the front; compound eyes slightly protruding; pronotum with curved lateral margins; scutellum pentagonal; elytra oval covering almost the entire abdomen; with four sternites visible. The head antennae, body width, hindlegs, elytra, pronotum, and abdomen are the best structures to characterize the sex dimorphism of D. neivai. Additionally, differences and similarities with other phytophagous chrysomelid species of oil palm and were discussed.

The genus Praon represents a large group of aphid endoparasitoids and is exemplary for the problems encountered in their taxonomy because of a great variability of morphological characters. To investigate the intraspecific variability and to ascertain cryptic speciation within the Praon abjectum Haliday group, biotypes in association with the aphid hosts Aphis sambuci L., Longicaudus trirhodus Walker, and Rhopabsiphum spp. were examined. We combined molecular and geometric morphometric analyses, that is, partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I and nuclear 28SD2 genes and the shape of the forewing. Low variation of 28SD2 sequences confirmed the close relatedness of species from the genus Praon. Analysis of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences however identified three separate taxa within the P. abjectum group with substantial genetic divergence. The biotype of P. abjectum associated with L. trirhodus differed from those associated with Rhopabsiphum sp. and A. sambuci by 5.4–6.5% and 7.7% sequence divergence, respectively, while the genetic distance between the latter two biotypes ranged from 9.5 to 10%. The main changes in the forewing shape that discriminate these three biotypes as revealed by geometric morphometrics are related to the stigma shape and the position of the radial nerve. Based on the differences determined in mitochondrial sequences and in the shape of the wing, we describe two new cryptic species within the P. abjectum group as follows: P. sambuci sp. n. in association with A. sambuci/S. nigra and P. longicaudus sp. n. in association with L. trirhodus/T. aquilegifolium.

The ectoparasitic mite Podapolipus khorasanicus Hajiqanbar n. sp. (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Podapolipidae), detached from abdominal tergites of Opatroides punctubtus Brulle, 1832 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in northeastern Iran, is described and compared with related species. A key to world species of the coleopteran parasites of the genus Podapolipus Rovelli & Grassi (1888) is provided, and their distribution and host range are discussed.

We investigated seasonal development of the goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), and physical conditions of the phloem within a preferred host species, coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia Née. We sampled infested trees on a monthly basis at two sites in southern California throughout 2011. Measurements of an exposed portion of the head capsule, the peristoma, indicated that there were four larval instars. Pupae and teneral or mature adults were found within trees from April through August. Adults were captured in flight between May and mid-October, with peak flight from July through August. Within-tree A. auroguttatus prepupal mortality did not differ between sites and increased significantly from 3 ± 3% in January to 36 ± 9% in March (mean ± SE). Prepupae were present in trees throughout most of the year, which made it difficult to determine generation time; it was likely 1 yr for the majority of individuals, and possibly longer or shorter than 1 yr for others. Seasonal A. auroguttatus development, according to within-tree development and adult trap catch, was apparently 2 mo ahead at one site, which had a greater past and current level of A. auroguttatus infestation compared with the other. There was also evidence at the more severely infested site that within-tree A. auroguttatus population densities were positively related to proportion of dying phloem tissue. This suggested that the level of current infestation affected host tree condition, or that dying tissue was more suitable for larval development.

Prescribed fire is a valuable and effective tool in forest management, and understanding the effects of fire on animal communities is increasingly important for monitoring and conservation. We quantified the short-term responses of leaf litter ants to fire in Ozark oak-dominated forests of Arkansas. We repeatedly surveyed litter ants in replicate burned and unburned sites via Berlese extraction, baiting, and hand collecting 30–170 d postfire. We collected 6,301 ants representing 59 species. Cumulative ant species richness was lower in burned forests than in unburned forests. However, differences in average richness and abundance between treatments were inconsistent overtime; lower ant abundance and species richness in burned sites occurred only during the first few months postburn. Ant species composition was very similar between treatments, although some species typically associated within mesic and lowland habitats were found only in unburned forests. We conclude that litter ant communities in Ozark forests, as in other regions, are relatively resilient to the effects of prescribed burning.

We sampled the bark beetle Ips pini (Say) in Wisconsin red pine stands to describe its phoretic mite community. Nearly 78% of adult beetles carried phoretic mites, with an average of 12.78 ± 0.76 individuals and 1.69 ± 0.05 species per beetle. Phoretic mites from flying beetles represented over 13 families. Five species of mites showed relatively close associations, being present on at least 10% of adult beetles. The most common mite species included one from each of the major guilds on bark beetles, the scavenger/fungivore Histiostoma spp. (41.5% of beetles), the egg predator Iponemus confusus (Lindquist) (41.1% of beetles) and the nematode predator Dendrobebps quadrisetus (Berlese) (32.8% of beetles). Beetles in northern Wisconsin had more diverse phoretic mite communities than those in central or southern Wisconsin. Beetles collected late in the season (July-August) carried more individuals and species of mites than those collected early in the season (May-June). The method we used to collect live bark beetles may be useful for other studies requiring fine-scale quantification of symbionts, such as bacteria, fungi, and nematodes.

The oleander aphid, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe, feeds on milkweeds in the Apocynaceae family. In Kentucky, A. nerii colonizes several common Asclepias species and honeyvine milkweed, Cynanchum laeve (Michaux). Previous studies investigating whether and how host plant characteristics influence A. nerii fitness have produced conflicting results. Our observations suggested that A. nerii more readily colonized C. laeve than Asclepias species. We hypothesized that aphid fitness differed among host plant species having different characteristics, and specifically, that A. nerii performance would be greatest on host plants having low cardenolide concentrations and few physical defenses. Physical and chemical characteristics were measured on C. laeve and three Asclepias species. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to compare A. nerii performance among these four milkweed species in the absence of natural enemies. Changes in aphid densities over time were examined in the presence of natural enemies. Plant characteristics and aphid performance were found to differ among milkweed species. In the absence of natural enemies, A. nerii performance was best on C. laeve. When exposed to natural enemies, A. nerii densities remained higher on A. incarnata and C. laeve than on A. syriaca and A. tuberosa. Physical differences between C. laeve, a vining milkweed, and tested Asclepias species may increase suitability of honeyvine milkweed for A. nerii colonization. Our results suggest that C. laeve may rely more on tolerance and less on nonpreference or antibiosis resistance to herbivores.

We studied life history traits of Philornis seguyi García, 1952 (Diptera: Muscidae) parasitizing house wrens, Troglodytes aedon (Vieillot) (Passeriformes: Troglodytidae), and analyzed sexual differences in the size of larvae, pupae, and adults, as well as in the length of larval and pupal stages and in adult survival. Males were larger than females at the larval, pupal, and adult stages, but there were no sexual differences in the length of larval and pupal stages, or in the time adults survived. Larvae developed in 5–6 d and started the larval-pupal molt within 24 h after abandoning the host. Pupal stage lasted for 9 d and its length was positively associated with size of the pupa. The size of the pupa was positively associated with that of the larva and the size of the adult with that of the pupa. In laboratory conditions, 86% of the larvae pupated and 75% of the pupae emerged as adults. In natural conditions, the proportion of unsuccessful pupae increased by the end of host's breeding season. The proportion of males and females that survived until the adult stage did not differ from random. Our results show that P. seguyi has a relatively short generation time, which would allow it a rapid population growth during the host breeding season, and indicate that intrasexual selection may have selected for large body size in P. seguyi males.

The effect of temperature on the development, survival, longevity, and fecundity of the 14-spotted ladybird beetle, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) reared on bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was determined at six constant temperatures (17, 20, 25, 30, 32.5, and 35 ± 1°C) in the laboratory. Results showed a temperature—dependent development of the coccinellid. An appropriate linear model indicated that 218.0 degree days above a threshold of 10.2°C were needed to complete immature development from egg to adult emergence. Data were fitted to the nonlinear Briere model, which for total immature period estimated the upper developmental threshold at 36.0°C, the lower threshold at 12.2°C and the temperature for maximum developmental rate at 30.3°C. Survival of immature stages varied significantly across temperatures with the lowest survival of just 14% occurring at 32.5°C and the highest (96%) at 25°C. In addition temperature showed a profound effect on female longevity over this viable range of temperatures, as it decreased from 123.06 d at 17°C to 33.53 d at 30°C. The highest fecundity (724.6 eggs/female) was recorded at 25°C. These results might be useful tools for the prediction of P. quatuordecimpunctata phenology and the interaction with its prey.

Understanding the predation on pest insects through controlled feeding on their prey can provide insight into natural methods of pest control. The growth, survival, and development of the predatory stink bug (Podisus nigrispinus Dallas) fed on the eggs, larvae, and pupae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L, was examined in the laboratory. Second instar P. nigrispinus (12–24 h old) were fed various prey and monitored daily as they molted through nymphal stages and adulthood until death. The growth, survival, and egg production of stink bugs fed P. xylostella larvae and pupae were compared. P. xylostella eggs and first instars are inadequate food sources, whereas fourth instars and pupae can sustain the development of P. nigrispinus. Egg output of females was greater with pupae than with larvae. Male longevity was greater with larvae than with pupae. More P. xylostella larvae than pupae were consumed by P. nigrispinus. The high consumption rates of P. xylostella by P. nigrispinus in the laboratory indicate that this predatory stink bug may be a potential biological control agent for this pest.

The predator Diomus seminulus (Mulsant) has been found frequently on forage grasses feeding of Sipha flava (Forbes), suggesting that it is a natural predator of this aphid and has potential as a biological control agent for this pest in Brazil. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of temperature on biological aspects of D. seminulus and to determine whether odor is used by this predator to locate prey on forage grass infested with S. flava. We performed daily evaluations of the viability and duration of each instar of the larval and pupal stages at 16, 20, 24, and 28°C. The reproductive capacity and longevity of adults were estimated at 24°C. The use of odor by D. seminulus to search for aphids was evaluated using a Y-tube olfactometer. The average duration of the embryonic period, each instar, larval, and pupal stages decreased significantly with increasing temperatures from 16 to 24°C. Eggs were blackened and parched, leading to low viability at 16 and 28°C. However, viability of the instars and larvae were not significantly affected by temperature. Adults of D. seminulus survived for >135 d; however, peak oviposition occurred 20–50 d after emergence, suggesting that this is the ideal duration of adult maintenance in laboratory culture. The predator D. seminulus used the odors from aphid prey or volatile compounds released from attacked plants to locate their prey. These results provide support for the use of D. seminulus as a successful biological control for aphids.

Laricobius osakensis Montgomery & Shiyake, native to Japan, is being measured as a potential biological control agent of the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, in the eastern United States. Adelges tsugae, a destructive pest threatening the hemlock ecosystems in the eastern United States, was introduced from Japan. This is the first detailed study of the life history of L. osakensis, A. tsugae, and their interaction in Japan. The seasonal abundance of L. osakensis and A. tsugae was assessed in a field study conducted from December of 2007 to November of 2008 in Hyogo, Nara, and Osaka Prefectures (Japan). The sistentes generation of A. tsugae in Japan matured 2 mo later than that reported in British Columbia, Canada, but 1 and 2 mo earlier than in Virginia and in Connecticut, respectively. Timing of the sexuparae generation occurrence in Japan was similar to that observed in Connecticut and Virginia, but this generation has not been observed in British Columbia. Phenological differences among the various A. tsugae population in the eastern U.S. states and Japan can be explained by temperature differences at the locations. Aestival diapause of the predator L. osakensis coincided with diapausing first-instar A. tsugae sistentes. The start of L. osakensis adult activity, oviposition, and larval development was synchronized closely with sistentes development resumption, sistentes adults close to oviposition, and sistentes adults with eggs, respectively. These results indicate good synchrony between L. osakensis and suitable prey stages of A. tsugae in the native habitat of both species.

The effects of male-derived extracts on female receptivity to remating were investigated in Trigonotylus caelestialium (Kirkaldy) (Heteroptera: Miridae). The aqueous extracts of male reproductive tracts were observed to reduce receptivity both at 3 h and at 1 d after injection into the abdomens of females. Next, ultrafiltration was used to divide the aqueous extracts of the male reproductive tracts into three molecular-weight (MW) fractions: <3.5 kDa, 3.5–14 kDa, and >14 kDa. The filtrate containing the MW substances <3.5 kDa reduced female receptivity 3 h after injection, whereas the fraction containing MW substances >14 kDa inhibited receptivity at 1 and 2 d after injection. Finally, the male reproductive tract organs were divided into the accessory glands, testes, and the remaining reproductive organs, including the seminal vesicles. Aqueous extracts of the accessory glands reduced the receptivity of females both at 3 h and 2 d after injection, whereas those of the testes decreased the receptivity of females at 3 h after injection. Together, the results indicate that more than one mechanism may be involved in the effects of male-derived substances on female receptivity in T. caelestialium. The findings suggest that low-MW male-derived substances in the accessory glands and testes cause short-term inhibition and that the high-MW substances in the accessory gland inhibit female mating at a later period.

Caspases are a family of cysteinyl aspartate proteinases known for their essential roles in the regulation of apoptosis. To date, ≈20 caspases have been identified, although few have been cloned and characterized in Bombyx mori (L.). Two caspase-9 variants from the B. mori embryo cell line (BmE), designated BmDroncL and BmDroncS, were cloned. BmDroncL has three classic domains: a caspase recruitment domain and large and small subunits, and is a homologue of Drosophila Dronc, human caspase-9, Aedes Dronc, and fish caspase-9, whereas BmDroncS lacks the large subunit. Instantaneous expression of BmDroncL caused typical apoptosis in Sf-9 cells. Moreover, BmDronc gene expression increased markedly during the silkworm metamorphosis at the larva-pupa and pupa-moth stages, which suggested that BmDronc plays a crucial role during B. mori metamorphosis.

Feeding behavior can explain how predaceous Pentatomidae use different food sources as a result of ecological and evolutionary changes. This study describes the salivary glands of adults of the predator Supputius cincticeps (Stål) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) to assist in understand the feeding habits of this natural enemy. A pair of principal and accessory glands in the prothorax form the salivary system of S. cincticeps. The principal glands are bilobed with a spherical anterior lobe and are smaller than the posterior lobe, which has a prolonged sack form. The accessory glands are present in a long and tubular form that arises from the terminal portion of the curved accessory duct. The salivary system of S. cincticeps presents the same morphological pattern of other Asopinae predators.