Salgohygia Brailovsky and Barrera new genus, and two new species (S. assecta Brailovsky and Barrera and S. gracilis Brailovsky and Barrera), collected in Dutch New Guinea, are described. The relationship with Sciophyrus Stål and Sciophyrella Brailovsky and Barrera is discussed. Dorsal view illustrations and drawings of male genital capsule, parameres, and female genital plates are provided.

A new genus and species of Galerucinae, Platybrotica misionensis, is described from northeast Argentina (Misiones Province). This monotypic genus is characterized by the antennomeres 6–10 ventrally excavated, genal space equal to one-fourth to less than one-half of maximum ocular diameter, elytra with 2 posthumeral costae, and internal sac of aedeagus with 5 sclerites, and is assigned to the Diabroticites, a section of the subtribe Diabroticina, tribe Luperini. Adults have been found associated with wild and cultivated Cucurbitaceae.

Six new species of the genus Triaspis Haliday from México (Triaspis carenticus López new species, Triaspis masoni López new species, and Triaspis whartoni López new species) and Costa Rica (Triaspis conico López new species, Triaspis hansoni López new species, and Triaspis shawi López new species) are described and illustrated. Triaspis stilpnogaster Martin is recorded for the first time from México and Costa Rica, and an illustration is given to facilitate its identification. A key to the Triaspis species from México and Central America is provided.

Molecular genetic analyses of populations showing phenotypic variation can provide important insights into the nature and limits of species. This is especially true when interpopulation variation is assessed in a phylogenetic context. The current study applies this approach to evaluate the evolutionary status of the leaf beetle Calligrapha multipunctata variety suturella, a taxon described from a single locality in New Hampshire, but not further discussed in the literature. Here, we report on the collection of material that greatly extends the geographic range of this taxon and on the analysis of cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial DNA sequences from these specimens and related Calligrapha species. We find that sequences from geographically overlapping populations of C. m. suturella and C. m. bigsbyana form two distinct, phylogenetically divergent clades that exhibit appreciable differentiation (4.5%) at the nucleotide level. This mtDNA differentiation was also evident in each of three localities where both types were collected together on the same host plant. Our results indicate an absence of gene flow between C. m. suturella and C. m. bigsbyana and argue for the recognition of C. m. suturella as a distinct biological species. Accordingly, we elevate its status to C. suturella and provide a detailed diagnosis and description for this new species. Based on an absence of male specimens, a phenotypic similarity to C. m. bigsbyana, and the existence of other parthenogenetic Calligrapha, we speculate that C. suturella may be a parthenogenetic species of hybrid origin.

The endemic southern African buthid genus Pseudolychas Kraepelin, 1911 is revised for the first time after an examination of the type material and a large number of additional specimens in southern African, European, and American collections. Three species are considered valid: Pseudolychas pegleri (Purcell, 1901), P. ochraceus (Hirst, 1911), and P. transvaalicus Lawrence, 1961. Pseudolychas pegleri nigrimanus Kraepelin, 1911 and P. multicarinatus Hewitt, 1925 (long regarded as P. pegleri multicarinatus) are newly synonymized with P. pegleri. The identity of P. ochraceus is verified by examination of the holotype. Many specimens identified as P. pegleri by previous authors are actually conspecific with P. ochraceus. Specimens of P. pegleri have also been misidentified as P. ochraceus. Revised diagnoses and descriptions are provided for the species of Pseudolychas, together with a key to their identification, brief summaries of their ecology and conservation status, and a distribution map plotting all known locality records. Pseudolychas ochraceus is suggested to be a parthenogenetic species. A phylogenetic analysis, based on 21 morphological characters and using exemplar species of eight buthid genera as outgroup taxa, confirms the monophyly of Pseudolychas and its placement as the sister group of a larger monophyletic group including Grosphus Simon, 1888, Parabuthus Pocock, 1890, and Uroplectes Peters, 1861. The following scheme of relationships is retrieved among the species of Pseudolychas: (P. ochraceus (P. pegleri P. transvaalicus)).

Lygomusotima Solis & Yen, new genus, and two new species, stria and constricta, are described from Australia and southeastern Asia. L. stria was discovered feeding on Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. (Schizaeaceae) during exploration for biological control agents. Its immatures and biology are described. The new genus is compared with Neomusotima conspurcatalis (Warren), new combination, another species that was discovered feeding on L. microphyllum. N. conspurcatalis is redescribed, and its immatures and biology are described for the first time. Musotima fuscalis Snellen is designated as a new synonym of N. conspurcatalis.

Species in the Phyllophaga (Listrochelus) cavata group are reviewed, and three new species from México are described. The group includes P. (L.) cavata (Bates), P. (L.) micros (Bates), and P. (L.) meadei Saylor from the states of México, Michoacan, Hidalgo, and Durango; P. (L.) cochisa Saylor from Chihuahua, México, and Arizona, United States; P. (L.) planeta Reinhard from Texas; P. (L.) babicora n. sp., and P. (L.) macgregori n. sp. from Chihuahua and Durango, México; P. (L.) eligia Sanderson from Chihuahua, México, and Arizona, United States; P. (L.) valia Saylor, P. (L.) barrerana Aragón & Morón, and P. (L.) riverana n. sp. from Puebla, Oaxaca, Morelos, Guerrero, Colima, and Jalisco, México. A key is provided for males of the 11 species. Figures of diagnostic structures and maps of the distribution of each species are included.

RESUMEN Se revisa el grupo de especies Phyllophaga (Listrochelus) cavata, y se describen tres especies nuevas de México. El grupo incluye: P. (L.) cavata (Bates), P. (L.) micros (Bates), y P. (L.) meadei Saylor del estado de México, Michoacán, Hidalgo y Durango, México; P. (L.) cochisa Saylor de Chihuahua, México y Arizona, E.U.A.; P. (L.) planeta Reinhard de Texas, E.U.A.; P. (L.) babicora n. sp., y P. (L.) macgregori n. sp. de Chihuahua y Durango, México; P. (L.) eligia Sanderson de Chihuahua, México, y Arizona, E.U.A.; P. (L.) valia Saylor, P. (L.) barrerana Aragón y Morón, y P. (L.) riverana n. sp. de Puebla, Oaxaca, Morelos, Guerrero, Colima y Jalisco, México. Se presenta una clave para separar los machos de las 11 especies. Se incluyen ilustraciones de las estructuras diagnósticas y mapas de distribución.

Within the genus Capnia, the Capnia californica species group is demonstrated to be monophyletic and limited in zoogeographic distribution to western North America. A new species, Capnia kersti, is described. It is remarkable in coming from central Oregon, well north of the known range of all other closely related members of the group. Characteristics for diagnosing the new species from all others in the genus are given. A revised key to the C. californica group, key illustrations, and distribution maps for all species in the group are given. Fully resolved phylogenies of the group based on a matrix of morphological characters are given. The distribution of characters on the most parsimonious tree is discussed. Two types of distribution for members of the group are summarized, one along the coast of western North America and a second that is expanded to include the desert southwest. A large gap between closely related forms is noted in the region of the current Mohave Desert. This gap correlates to a date of between 8 and 15 ka (ka is 1,000 yr before present) for the desertification of this area.

This research quantified food collection of three nutritionally important foods (carbohydrates, protein, and lipids) by several neighboring polygyne red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, colonies. Six rare earth elements (samarium, rubidium, ytterbium, europium, neodymium, and lanthanum) were mixed with protein (tuna packed in water), carbohydrate (60% solution of glucose, sucrose, fructose, and water), and lipid baits (peanut oil) to track food collection by colonies. Food collection among six neighboring colonies was quantified in each of 14 plots for a total of 84 colonies. A uniquely labeled food type (1.5 g) was placed within 20 cm of each colony. Two replicates of each food type were used in each plot. Neutron activation analysis (NAA) was used to quantify the type and amount (μg) of rare earth elements found in samples of both workers and larvae from colonies 12 h after foraging on baits. Multiple regression results showed that distance to food sources was the most significant independent variable in determining the distribution of food resources among colonies. Food type interacted significantly with life stage (worker or larvae) and the distance colonies harvested food baits. Significantly more protein was detected in larvae compared with lipids and carbohydrates and at farther distances from baits. In contrast, workers collected significantly more carbohydrates from farther distances than lipids and protein. Results indicate that patterns of food flow among neighboring polygyne red imported fire ant colonies are largely determined by the distance between colonies, food resources, and the type of food being collected.

Reproductive swarming phenology, swarm sizes, and cavity selection were studied in a European-derived population of Apis mellifera L. in southeastern Louisiana before and immediately after the initial detection in 1992 of Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Acari: Varroidae). Frequency of swarms was highest between early April and early May in each of 6 yr. Swarm weight averaged 1.42 kg (range 0.17–4.30 kg) and did not change significantly the year after detection of V. destructor. Swarms spent an average of ≈20 daylight hours scouting for a new nest-site from a temporary location and moved more frequently to cavities of 30-liter than to those of 13-liter volume. Swarms were random in direction of movement. Dance tempos at the time of swarm departure indicated movement to cavities at distances from 200 m to ≈10 km. The genetic composition of this honey bee population is likely to change after natural and artificial selection for resistance to new parasites, such as V. destructor and Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), and as Africanized bees expand their range. Swarming characteristics are also likely to change both from direct effects of parasites on colony reproduction, and by changes toward bee populations with differing life histories.

The pine engraver, Ips pini (Say), colonizes jack, red, and white pines in the Great Lakes region. Males select suitable hosts, bore through the bark into phloem tissue, and emit aggregation pheromones. Pheromones attract conspecifics, which aid in overcoming tree defenses, and predators, which exploit these cues as kairomones. Sampling was conducted over 2 yr to characterize the assemblage of insects that arrive at and reproduce in trees colonized by I. pini, and how this assemblage is partitioned by host species, time after colonization, and seasonal phenology. Over 70 species from three orders were obtained. I. pini was most abundant, especially during late summer. The first natural enemy to arrive was Medetera bistriata Parent, which came simultaneously with I. pini. Other Diptera such as Lonchaea corticis Taylor and Zabrachia polita Coquillett were also abundant. Roptrocerus xylophagorum (Ratzeburg), a late instar parasitoid, arrived last. Its emergence most closely coincided with I. pini emergence, whereas the other species emerged substantially after I. pini. Host species did not affect total I. pini emergence but strongly affected natural enemies. Most R. xylophagorum and Monochamus spp. emerged from white pine, and most Z. polita emerged from red pine. I. pini had the highest ratio of emergence to arrival per log. Only the predator T. dubius and the parasitoid R. xylophagorum showed numerical responses to the number of emerging I. pini. Exclusion of insects during the first 2 wk of colonization decreased reproduction of I. pini and other wood borers in the spring, but not summer.

As a result of numerous successful invasions by both Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Ades aegypti (L.), the current worldwide distributions of these mosquito species overlap. Shared larval habitats and shifts in the distribution and abundance of resident A. albopictus or A. aegypti after the establishment of the other species suggest that competitive displacement occurs. Experiments on larval competition between North American populations of the two species showed that A. albopictus has the competitive advantage under local field conditions, which apparently accounts for displacement of A. aegypti from much of the United States after the invasion of A. albopictus. The role of competition, and potential shifts of competitive advantage in different parts of their worldwide ranges are unknown, but variation due to intraspecific or environmental differences is possible. In the current study, we measured the performance of larvae of Brazilian populations of A. albopictus and A. aegypti competing under field conditions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Finite rates of increase for each species were estimated and the effects of species composition, larval density, and leaf litter resource levels were determined. A. albopictus maintained positive population growth at higher combined densities and lower per capita resource availability than did A. aegypti. A. albopictus showed higher survivorship than A. aegypti under all treatments and leaf litter resource levels. These results indicate that in Brazil, just as in North America, A. albopictus is a superior larval competitor to A. aegypti when exploiting leaf litter resources. Our results further suggest that this competitive advantage for A. albopictus is likely to be independent of mosquito population origin, local environmental conditions, and local differences in the types of leaves that form the resource base of the aquatic habitats of larvae.

More detailed information on the age at which a honey bee, Apis mellifera L., egg hatches and the natural variation of this trait was needed to guide development of cryopreservation technology for honey bee embryos. Therefore, honey bee queens were caged on a clean, empty comb for 4 h to obtain groups of eggs of known age. These eggs were collected from the comb using a special forceps and placed on beeswax-coated petri dishes. Individual eggs were observed from 65 h after oviposition until they hatched (48.6% hatched). A tracheal network became visible ≈2 h before hatching. Then, slow flexing of upright embryos and abdominal peristalsis were seen. Release of a fluid along the dorsal midline of the embryo was observed rarely in normal hatching. In contrast, fluid was frequently observed seeping from bulges on embryos that hatched poorly (30.6%). In a normal sequence, the eggshell was gradually digested away, and complete hatch accomplished. The age at which this occurred was significantly different between eggs from different queens, ranging from 66 to 93 h. Hatching age may be a useful marker for selection of faster development time overall, a possible mode of resistance to the varroa mite. Respiration was visible in the larvae for 1–9 h after hatch. In vitro rearing procedures for embryos preserved by cryopreservation will be designed around the parameters estimated in this study.

The ratio of females to males in pseudergates, soldiers, nymphs, and alates of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) was 1.03:1, 1.27:1, 1.14:1, and 1.12:1, respectively. Only in soldiers was the percentage of females significantly greater than that of males. The longest oocyte in an ovary increased significantly in size when pseudergates developed into nymphs, when nymphs developed into alates, and when alates were aged for a period of 10 d. Mature oocytes were observed only in the ovaries of 10-d-old de-alates and tertiary reproductives. Spermathecae also increased significantly in size as pseudergates developed into soldiers or nymphs and nymphs developed into alates. Sperm was not observed in the spermathecae of swarmers but was present in 10-d-old de-alates. Significant increases in length of the testicular lobes were observed as pseudergates developed into nymphs. The testicular lobes of tertiary reproductives were about three times the size of those of nymphs, swarmers, or 10-d-old de-alates. Sperm was observed in the ejaculatory ducts of soldiers, nymphs, alates, and tertiary reproductives.

The development of Sturmiopsis parasitica (Curran) (Diptera: Tachinidae) and levels of parasitism of its hosts, Busseola fusca Fuller, Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), were studied. The highest rates of parasitism were 83.3 and 15% of B. fusca and C. partellus, respectively. No development occurred on S. calamistis due to maggot encapsulation. At 25 ± 0.5°C, S. parasitica larval development on nondiapausing B. fusca larvae took 14.2 d (range 10–34) and the pupal period 13.7 d for males and 15.8 d for females. Adult females that developed on C. partellus were smaller than those from B. fusca but had a similar lifespan (≈4 wk). Although first observed at 6 d after mating, maggot production peaked at 848 per female after a 12-d gestation period. Inoculation of diapausing B. fusca larvae resulted in an extended larval period of the tachinids, indicating that the seasonal carryover of S. parasitica in diapausing B. fusca larvae in Zimbabwe could be a hormone-induced physiological response. The potential of S. parasitica as a biological control agent is discussed.

We studied the oxygen consumption of two megachilid bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), Megachile rotundata (F.) and Osmia lignaria Say, at selected, biologically relevant intervals throughout their respective life cycles. The U-shaped oxygen consumption curve and the static weights of wintering (nonfeeding) prepupae that we observed during the life cycle of M. rotundata support previous arguments for a winter diapause similar to that observed in other Hymenoptera. For O. lignaria, which overwinters as an adult, we found stepwise increases in oxygen consumption and continuous weight loss throughout the wintering period. However, our observations on adult O. lignaria wintering requirements are consistent with the previously published results for overwintering M. rotundata prepupae and reveal sharply increasing survival rates when wintered for a minimum of 3 mo. We interpret the greatly reduced survival in both M. rotundata and O. lignaria, as an indication that a critical biological process, diapause, is disrupted among individuals wintered for <3 mo. In the continued development of these two species as commercial scale pollinators on an ever-increasing list of target crops, any similarities or contrasts observed between the “summer bee,” M. rotundata, and the “spring bee,” O. lignaria, although of interest from a biological perspective, will probably have important implications in the continued development of sustainable population management protocols.

In India, Anopheles sundaicus is now found abundantly and widely only in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, where this species is the sole malaria vector. Recent studies in Thailand and Indonesia have established An. sundaicus as a complex of three isomorphic species (species A, B, and C) identifiable on the basis of cytological variations together with enzyme polymorphism analysis. A study was conducted to examine cytologically An. sundaicus from Car Nicobar island, district Nicobar, India. More than 300 samples screened for ovarian polytene chromosomes had X chromosome of Xa type as reported in case of species A and chromosome arm (2b) similar to that in species C. This combination suggests the existence of a new cytogenetic variant, i.e., cytotype D, in the Indian subcontinent that has not been reported so far. Examination of male and female mitotic karyotypes further substantiated these results. Only cytotype D was prevalent in the fresh water and brackish water areas of the island, indicating wider adaptability of this form to different habitats.

This study was conducted to detect binary trait loci (BTLs) that influence guarding behavior of individual honey bees, Apis mellifera L., and to locate genetic markers that are associated with these BTLs on genetic maps derived from guard bees from two reciprocal backcross colonies. Samples of guards and control bees were taken from two backcross colonies derived from a defensive colony and a gentle colony. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were produced from DNA samples of guards. Two genetic maps were generated, one for each type of colony. A chi-square goodness-of-fit test was performed for each marker in the map to look for deviations from the 1:1 segregation of the markers. For those markers that significantly deviated from the 1:1 ratio in the guards, AFLPs were generated from two samples of control bees, one for each type of backcross. Those markers that showed a skewed segregation pattern in the guards but not in the controls were analyzed with a 2 × 2 chi-square to test for associations between the markers and the expression of the trait. Ten markers were associated with guarding behavior (five in each backcross). The 10 markers represented seven putative BTLs that influence honey bee guarding behavior. One of the BTLs represents a QTL that was previously detected in analysis of colony-level stinging response, others represent new loci specific to the behavior of individuals guarding the colony entrance.

Gall midge larvae are associated with specific fungal symbionts in ambrosia galls. We found that the weevil Wagnerinus costatus (Hustache) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Ceutorhynchinae) frequently attacked ambrosia galls formed by the midge Asphondylia diervillae Felt (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Asphondyliini) on the buds of Weigela hortensis (Sieb. et Zucc.) (Caprifoliaceae) in three locations in central Japan. From late April to early May, female weevils laid single eggs in fully developed ambrosia galls, and upon hatching weevil larvae bored into these galls. The rate of parasitism by weevils was consistently high, from 90.2 to 94.5% in each gall midge population. Weevil larvae fed on the hyphae of fungal symbionts as well as on gall tissue. In most cases, parasitism by weevils did not influence the survivorship of A. diervillae or its parasitoids, because oviposition and feeding by the weevil occurred when gall midges had already developed into mature larvae or pupae within hard chambers surrounded by fungal hyphae. Although 11.4–56.3% of gall midge pupae died, 80.0–86.1% of this mortality was not due to parasitism by weevils but to parasitism by hymenopteran parasitoids [Pseudocatolaccus sayatamabae Ishii (Pteromalidae), Tetrastichus spp. (Eulophidae), and Bracon asphondyliae (Watanabe) (Braconidae)]. Weevil eggs were uniformly distributed among galls. A proportion of the weevils were attacked by the egg endoparasitoid Anaphes sp. (Mymaridae) and by unidentified larval ectoparasitoids. In rare cases of multioviposition by female weevils, interference competition among the larvae could occur. As a result of larval competition and parasitism, two or fewer larvae matured per gall; therefore, female weevils evidently avoided multiple oviposition, resulting in a uniform egg distribution.

Larvae of the mosquito Toxorhynchites rutilus (Coquillett) prey upon other container-dwelling insects, including larvae of Aedes albopictus (Skuse), which is native to Asia but was introduced into the United States, and on the native tree hole mosquito Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Say). Previous work has established that O. triseriatus adopts low-risk behaviors in the presence of predation risk from T. rutilus. It is unknown whether introduced A. albopictus show a similar response to this predator. Behavior of fourth instars of A. albopictus or O. triseriatus was recorded in water that had held either A. albopictus or O. triseriatus larvae alone (control) and in water that had held T. rutilus larvae feeding on either A. albopictus or O. triseriatus (predation). Activity and position of larvae were recorded in 30-min instantaneous scan censuses. In response to water-borne cues to predation, O. triseriatus adopted low-risk behaviors (more resting, less feeding and movement), but A. albopictus did not change its behavior. We also tested the species specificity of the cues by recording the behavior of A. albopictus in water prepared using O. triseriatus and vice versa. O. triseriatus adopted low-risk behaviors even in predation water prepared by feeding T. rutilus with A. albopictus, but A. albopictus did not alter its behavior significantly between predation and control treatments prepared using O. triseriatus. Thus, A. albopictus does not seem to respond behaviorally to cues produced by this predator and may be more vulnerable to predation than is O. triseriatus.