Discovery of a potentially destructive non-native woodwasp, Sirex noctilio F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), in pine forests of eastern North America has elicited interest in appropriate management options. A parasitic nematode, Deladenus siricidicola Bedding (Tylenchida: Neotylenchidae), was introduced as a biological control agent in the Southern Hemisphere where it has been successful in some areas and unsuccessful in others. The North American congener (D. proximus Bedding) parasitizes native Sirex woodwasps and has potential as a biological control agent of S. noctilio due to its ability to utilize the invasive woodwasp as a novel host. However, basic biology and ecology of these native nematodes are largely unknown. Sirex nigricornis females were collected from three geographic locations in Arkansas in 2009 and 2010, dissected, and examined for the presence of D. proximus. Nematodes were found within S. nigricornis collected from all locations and years. Parasitism negatively affected woodwasp body size. We found high variation in percent of eggs infected with nematodes during both years of trapping. Research is needed to investigate potential mechanisms behind this variation of parasitism.

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, exhibits protandry. The contribution of pre-hatch development to protandry in western corn rootworm was previously investigated with a small set of data from one population. To verify the contribution of pre-hatch development to protandry, more than 10,000 larvae from seven wild-type populations collected from across the Corn Belt were evaluated. Larvae were placed into containers on each day of egg hatch for each population and allowed to develop into adults. Duration of hatch for these populations ranged from 7 to 19 days with the percent of insects surviving to adulthood varying between 13 and 52%. For the first 25% of egg hatch, significantly more males emerge. Pre-hatch development does contribute to protandry, but overall the contribution is likely less than post-hatch development.

The phylogenetic relationships of 16 species in 7 genera of butterflies belonging to the tribe Baorini in China were explored based on the partial sequences of three mitochondrial genes (Cytb, ND1 and 16S rDNA). Molecular phylogenetic trees were constructed using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) analyses. The monophyly of Baorini was confirmed with strong support. In addition, phylogenetic analyses suggest that Parnara, Baoris, Pelopidas and Caltoris are monophyletic. Baoris and Pelopidas are sister groups with strong support, whereas the relationships among Borbo, Pseudoborbo and Caltoris remain uncertain. A great differentiation was found between two subspecies of Parnara guttata, i.e., Pa. guttata guttata and Pa. guttata mangala in our molecular analysis results. Combined with their morphological differences, this leads us to suggest Pa. guttata mangala is an independent species.

Corazonin is a peptidergic neurohormone of insects that has a variety of physiological roles, it is associated with the control of heartbeat, ecdysis behavior initiation, and cuticle coloration. Corazonine (CRZ) sequences are usually highly conserved throughout those insects studied so far. In the present study, we conducted a comprehensive survey of CRZ isoforms in different insect groups using in silico prediction based on publicly accessible transcriptomic databases. A phylogenetic analysis based on CRZ precursors from 23 insect species of six orders suggests that the evolution of insect CRZ precursors might not concord with the traditional taxonomic classification. Comparative analyses of the CRZ peptide sequences shows that CRZ sequence is well conversed in Hemiptera and Lepidoptera, while different CRZ isoforms occur in Diptera, and high diversity of CRZ isoforms is present in Hymenoptera. In order to describe the high diversity of Hymenoptera CRZ, a total of 29 Hymenoptera pro-CRZ sequences were obtained or in silico predicted. It was found that nine different isoforms of CRZ peptides are present in Hymenoptera, of which six novel isoforms, are first reported here. High diversities of CRZ were found in Apoidea and parasitoid wasps, and three modifications were found in members of Apis, Bombus and Diachasma. The present study will be helpful for further investigate the function of highly diverse CRZs in hymenopterans.

The medicinal and nutritional value of insects has contributed to the increase in entomophargy. This study examines the gender differences in the nutritive value of adult variegated grasshopper, Zonocerus variegatus. The proximate (crude protein, fibre ash, fat and carbohydrate), mineral (Na , Ca² , Mg² and Fe² ), vitamin (A, B₁, B₂ and C), anti-nutrients (flavonoids, tannin, saponin, alkaloid and antraguinone) assays and heavy metals compositions (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni) of newly emerged male and female adult Z. variegatus were analyzed by standard methods. Adult female Z. variegatus had significantly higher (P < 0.05) crude protein, ash, fibre and carbohydrate than the male. Similar trend was observed for mineral composition and vitamins assay of the adult insect. Anti-nutrients and heavy metal composition of the adult Z. variegatus varied from 0.210–8.82% and 0.113–1.264mg/100g, respectively with the female recording higher values. Adult female Z. variegatus is thus more nutritious than the male.

Global declines in wild and managed pollinator species have increased the need to evaluate the current status of these populations and understand their needs for sustainability. Farming systems can be a useful place to examine the presence and activity of flower-visiting insects, because the blooming period of the crop provides a predictable floral resource which serves as an attractant to some species. The density and species richness of cotton flower-visiting insects were measured in five conservation and five conventional cotton fields in Mwachisompola, Zambia. Between the two farm types, density and species richness were not significantly different; however, only 33% of the total observed species were found within both farm systems. We found a significant negative relationship between species richness and field size regardless of farm type. Our results suggest that cotton fields attract both pollinator and predatory flower-visiting insects regardless of management, however more work is needed to better understand the effects of field size and surrounding natural areas.

Andrena are one of the most important wild bee pollinators in lowbush blueberry, and crop management decisions may impact their density in the crop field. Prune method (burning versus mowing) and crop cycle may influence Andrena abundance and nesting decisions, and influence pollination services to this pollinator dependent crop. We measured spring soil temperatures and counted mining bee tumuli in lowbush blueberry fields over two years. In the second year, we measured the influence of lowbush blueberry stem density on soil temperature. We recorded Andrena visitation to nearby crop fields to see if tumuli density corresponded with Andrena visitation rates. Burned fields supported higher densities of tumuli, especially in 2015. Fields managed on a split cycle supported higher densities of tumuli than non-split fields. Soil surface temperatures were higher in burned fields in 2015, but not in 2016. Stem density exerted a greater effect on temperature than pruning method in 2016, and may moderate subsoil temperature. Tumuli densities were not a predictor of Andrena flower visitor abundance. Based upon known richness and relative abundance of the Andrena assemblage associated with the crop, we deduced the most likely species of tumuli occupants. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Eight new species of the genus Diplectrona occurring in China are described and diagnosed. Photos of cephalic setal warts, anterodorsal filament of sternum V, internal sacs within segment V and within VII and VIII are presented and the male genitalia are illustrated. Based on cephalic setal warts and male genitalia, two new species groups are established. The Diplectrona jiaolinga diagnostic species group is diagnosed to include D. jiaolinga n. sp., D. quadrivalvis n. sp., and D. delta n. sp. The Diplectrona coalescens diagnostic species group is diagnosed to include D. coalescens n. sp. and D. guangxiensis n. sp. Three new species, D. wangyipingi n. sp., D. tetraphylla n. sp. and D. tuberculiformis n. sp. cannot be presently placed in any species group (incertae sedis).

Drosophila suzukii is an invasive pest of cultivated fruit crops in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. However, more information is needed to understand the extent of D. suzukii utilization of wild fruit and specialty crops as suitable hosts, such as aronia (Aronia melanocarpa), for which risk assessment has not yet been established. Both laboratory bioassays and field monitoring were conducted to assess the susceptibly of aronia to D. suzukii. No-choice bioassays were conducted on damaged, destemmed, and undamaged aronia fruit. Field infestation was assessed using yeast-sugar traps for adults and fruit samples for larvae during the 2015 growing season at three farms in south-central Wisconsin. In bioassays, D. suzukii successfully completed its life cycle in damaged and destemmed aronia, while undamaged aronia did not support larval or adult development. Adult flies which emerged from damaged aronia took longer to develop and weighed less compared to adults emerging from raspberry. In the field, adults were abundant throughout the growing season (late June–late September) and larvae were detected in low numbers in ripe fruit samples collected from late August through late September. After harvest, fruit sampled from the processing and packing line revealed low numbers of drosophila larvae. Overall, these findings suggest that damaged or destemmed aronia is susceptible to D. suzukii infestation, while intact fruit is resistant to D. suzukii. In addition, the bioassays suggest that aronia may serve as a suboptimal host compared to raspberry. These findings suggest the importance of preventing fruit damage before harvest and add to a growing understanding of how wild and specialty crops, such as aronia, may affect population dynamics of this invasive fly.