EJE, vol. 119 (2022)

North vs. South: Contrasting patterns in the phenotypic plasticity of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae) at the latitudinal extremes of its distribution rangeIvo Hodek special issueOriginal article

Dmitry KUTCHEROV, Elena B. LOPATINA

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 454-465, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.048  

In widely distributed insects, some life-history traits are conserved across the whole distribution range and are considered species-specific while other such traits differ geographically. This interplay of geographic variation and phenotypic conservatism is poorly understood even in relatively well-studied model species. Furthermore, a careful study may reveal that conventionally stable traits, such as the lower temperature threshold for development and the sum of degree-days, are both geographically variable and environmentally plastic. We studied how photoperiodic conditions and temperature jointly affect immature development, adult body size and...

The role of 10-hydroxy-Δ²-decenoic acid in the formation of fibrils of the major royal jelly protein 1/apisimin/24-methylenecholesterol complex isolated from honey bee (Apis mellifera) royal jellyOriginal article

Anja BUTTSTEDT

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 448-453, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.047  

Queen larvae of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) are fed with royal jelly, a glandular secretion produced by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of worker honey bees. The necessary consistency of royal jelly is dependent on a protein-sterol complex (MRJP1₄/apisimin₄/24MC₈). At low pH, this complex forms fibrillar structures, which increase the viscosity of royal jelly. While the proteins in this complex are produced in the hypopharyngeal gland, the low pH is achieved by the secretion of the mandibular gland, which contains fatty acids. It is shown for the first time that fibril formation of MRJP1₄/apisimin₄/24MC₈...

Winged insects associated with the poorly studied forest fire ant Solenopsis virulens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Original article

Thalles P.L. PEREIRA, Carolina De A. GARCIA, Freddy BRAVO, Jacques H.C. DELABIE

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 439-447, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.046  

The present study documents new records of winged insects collected from fragments of nests of the tropical fire ant Solenopsis virulens (Smith), using a trap, which is also described in detail. The emergence chamber consisted of a 5L opaque plastic container, a 50 ml transparent vial and a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube. This trap captured 70 insects from 12 nests of Solenopsis virulens. They were classified into two orders, 13 families, 18 genera and 39 morphospecies. The most abundant order was Diptera, with nine families. The richest family was Cecidomyiidae, with 12 morphospecies, followed by Sciaridae with seven. Ceratopogonidae,...

Classification and characterization of immune haemocytes in the larvae of the Indian fritillary, Papilio hyperbius (Lepidopetra: Nymphalidae)Original article

Min-Soo GO, Youngwoo CHO, Ki-Byung PARK, Mijeong KIM, Sung Su PARK, Jangwoo PARK, Saeyoull CHO

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 430-438, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.045  

In this study, haemocytes present in Papilio hyperbius Linnaeus were identified and characterized. Six different types of haemocyte were recorded in the haemocoel of this species of insect: prohaemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, spherulocytes, adipohaemocytes and oenocytoids. Of these the granulocytes were found to be responsible for cell-mediated immune responses such as phagocytosis. Granulocytes that were exposed to immunity inducers (carboxylate-modified polystyrene latex beads [CLBs] and Escherichia coli) had fan-like or pod-like structures on their cell membranes. The lysosomes in granulocytes were activated 2 h after injection...

Epigeic harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) of reforested Norway spruce forest stands in Slovakia: A case studyOriginal article

Ivan MIHÁL, Benjamín JARČUŠKA

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 421-429, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.044  

We evaluated the effect of different ecological factors on epigeic harvestmen (Opiliones) in stands of Norway spruce of different ages planted on former agricultural land in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia). In total, 15 species of harvestmen were recorded, which is 42.9% of the 35 species of harvestmen currently recorded in Slovakia. The most abundant species were Nelima sempronii, Lacinius ephippiatus, Mitopus morio, Oligolophus tridens, Leiobunum gracile and Platybunus bucephalus. Species richness and diversity was not associated with any forest characteristic. There was a negative association between...

Sex- and size-dependent variation in wing morphology of the cuckoo wasp Trichrysis cyanea (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae)Original article

David FRÖHLICH, Lukas ZANGL, Günther RASPOTNIG, Stephan KOBLMÜLLER

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 413-420, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.043  

Intraspecific variation and sexual dimorphism in wing shape and size is common in winged insects. The exact patterns, however, differ among taxa and are related to the selection pressure acting on specific traits. Cuckoo wasps (Chrysdidae) are hymenopterans that have evolved a complex parasitoid or cleptoparasitic life-style. For the first time, we studied the intraspecific variation in wing shape and size in the model species, Trichysis cyanea, a common Palearctic cuckoo wasp. This involved geometric morphometrics combined with a novel, non-invasive way of obtaining images, to study the shape and size of the forewings of males and females....

Genome-wide screening of genes involved in programming diapause in the next generation in silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)Original article

Yuichi EGI, Katsuhiko SAKAMOTO

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 405-412, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.042  

Maternal silkworms (Bombyx mori) of bivoltine strains are destined to produce either diapause or non-diapause eggs depending on environmental factors, such as, temperature and photoperiod experienced during the egg and larval stages. However, the molecular mechanisms that program diapause, which depend on information about the environment, remain unclear. We aimed to identify genes that are involved in programming diapause in the next generation in bivoltine silkworms. We therefore screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the larval brains of diapause- and non-diapause-egg producers kept under three different diapause-inducing conditions...

The effect of temperature and photoperiod on the time taken for a meal to pass through the gut, defecation and digestion in the last larval instar of Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)Original article

Esmat HEGAZI, Wedad KHAFAGI, Essam AGAMY, Ibrahim ABDALLAH

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 398-404, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.041  

Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) is a highly destructive and polyphagous insect pest of great economic importance. It develops throughout the year and the larvae are non-diapausing. Little work has been done on the time taken for food to pass through the gut of S. littoralis. Thus, this study on starving and well fed last instar larvae of S. littoralis aimed to determine the effect of temperature and photoperiod on the time taken for a meal to pass through the gut, defecation and digestion. The results indicate that it depended on temperature, photoperiod and hunger. The time that elapsed between a larva being fed and the production...

Screening of immune-related genes against bacterial infection in Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)Original article

Wan ZHOU, Zengxia WANG, Baohong HUANG

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 388-397, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.040  

Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée is an important pest of maize. The current use of microbial agents to control O. furnacalis have been relatively successful. However, upon infestation with microorganisms, O. furnacalis initiates an innate immune response to defend itself against foreign invaders. Therefore, understanding the immune mechanisms in O. furnacalis is important to ensure a more efficient use of microbial agents for the control of this pest. In the present study, a gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, and a gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli, were used to induce an immune response in O....

Patterns of DNA barcode diversity in butterfly species (Lepidoptera) introduced to the NearcticOriginal article

Jacopo D'ERCOLE, Leonardo DAPPORTO, B. Christian SCHMIDT, Vlad DINCĂ, Gerard TALAVERA, Roger VILA, Paul D.N. HEBERT

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 379-387, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.039  

One of the main consequences of globalization is the intensification of biological introductions. Because of their negative impact on environments, the early detection and monitoring of introduced species through molecular approaches is gaining increased uptake. This study assembles 2,278 DNA barcode records to examine contemporary patterns of sequence variation in mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) in five butterfly species introduced to the Nearctic, with a focus on Pieris rapae Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and Thymelicus lineola Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). Parameters of genetic diversity were low (i.e.,...

Specialised chemistry affects insect abundance but not overall community similarity in three rare shrub willows: Salix myrtilloides, S. repens and S. rosmarinifoliaOriginal article

Petr KOZEL, Jing Vir LEONG, Igor MALENOVSKÝ, Jan ŠUMPICH, Jan MACEK, Jan MICHÁLEK, Nela NOVÁKOVÁ, Brian E. SEDIO, Carlo L. SEIFERT, Martin VOLF

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 368-378, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.038  

Willows serve as a keystone host-plant genus for insect herbivores. The diversity of insect herbivore assemblages harboured by willows is typically affected by the diversity of specialised metabolites that willows produce. Here, we studied three small, shrubby willow species (Salix myrtilloides, S. repens and S. rosmarinifolia) that primarily occur at sites of high conservation value in the Czech Republic. We explored if associated insect communities reflect the specialised chemistry in these uncommon host plants. We measured the three willow species for overall metabolomic profiles and salicinoids using non-targeted metabolomics...

Diet and chemical defence in ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)Ivo Hodek special issueReview

John J. SLOGGETT

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 362-367, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.037  

In this paper, I review the effects of the diet of ladybirds on chemical defence in this group of beetles. The tendency to reflex bleed and the diversity of autogenously produced alkaloids in different taxa may be evolutionarily related to diet and the likelihood of food limitation. Within predatory species, both prey quantity and quality have been shown to affect autogenous alkaloid production. A few ladybird predators have been suggested to adaptively sequester toxins from their prey for their own defence. However, in most cases the evidence for this is limited, with questions remaining about the costs of accumulated toxins and their defensive value,...

Seasonal and geographical adaptations in the parthenogenetic stick insect, Ramulus mikado (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae)Ivo Hodek special issueOriginal article

Keiji NAKAMURA, Yuuki FUKUSHIMA

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 354-361, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.036  

Seasonal and geographical adaptations in terms of obligatory embryonic diapause in the parthenogenetic stick insect, Ramulus mikado, were studied. First and second instar nymphs were collected at locations at three latitudes in Japan and reared in the laboratory under a photoperiod of 16L : 8D or 12L : 12D at 25°C. Their eggs were kept at 30°C for 30 or 60 days after oviposition, but no eggs hatched. Hatching was observed more than 100 days after transfer from 30°C to 15°C. The long period between transfer and hatching indicate that eggs in an early embryonic stage of development enter diapause at high-temperatures. The time from oviposition...

Mitochondrial genomes of two wild silkmoths, Samia watsoni and Samia wangi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), and their phylogenetic implicationsOriginal article

Decai LU, Yixin HUANG, Stefan NAUMANN, Ian J. KITCHING, Zhenbang XU, Yang SUN, Xu WANG

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 337-353, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.035  

The wild silkmoth genus Samia Hübner, 1819 (Saturniidae) contains a number of economically important species in industrial silk production. However, the interspecific relationships within the genus remain unclear. We sequence the mitogenomes of Samia watsoni Oberthür, 1914 and Samia wangi Naumann & Peigler, 2001. Both mitogenomes are annotated and found to be cyclized, with 37 genes (13 PCGs, 2 rRNA genes and 22 tRNA genes). Using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, we analyze these mitogenomes together with a further 68 downloaded from GenBank (65 Bombycoidea and 5 Lasiocampidae as the outgroup) to investigate...

The bee fauna (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) of allotments in downtown LisbonOriginal article

Miguel AZEVEDO, Elisabete FIGUEIREDO, Maria Teresa REBELO

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 327-336, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.034  

In the last ten years, a growing number of studies have focused on urban green areas as potential refuges for biodiversity, where private gardens, urban parks and green roofs have relatively high diversities of wild bees. However, the western Mediterranean is still poorly studied and is a biodiversity hotspot that is already suffering the consequences of climate change. It is essential to rectify this and understand how urban settings can support biodiversity. In this context, this study provides an assessment of the taxonomic and functional composition of bee assemblages in three allotments in downtown Lisbon, Portugal. Using only an entomological...

The northward spread of the European mantis, Mantis religiosa (Mantodea: Mantidae): Data from LithuaniaOriginal article

Jolanta RIMŠAITĖ, Povilas IVINSKIS, Galina BARTKEVIČIENĖ, Rasa BERNOTIENĖ

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 318-326, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.033  

Geographic distribution of the European mantis, Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) in Europe covers mostly southern and central Europe, but this species has recently shown a significant northward spread. First reports of M. religiosa in Lithuania were in 2008 and now these insects are distributed throughout this country. Information on the spread of M. religiosa in Lithuania between 2015 and 2020 are analysed in this paper. The spread of this insect in Lithuania and neighbouring countries can be related to changes in climate, in particular, the increase in average annual temperature and milder winters. Possible routes along which...

DNA barcoding reveals long-term speciation processes in subspecies of the Melipona (Michmelia) seminigra complex (Hymenoptera: Apidae)Original article

Izaura Bezerra FRANCINI, João Marcos Guimarães CAPURUCHO, Antônio Saulo Cunha MACHADO, Carlos Gustavo NUNES-SILVA, Jacqueline Da Silva BATISTA, Luciano COSTA, Gislene Almeida CARVALHO-ZILSE

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 309-317, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.032  

The stingless bee Melipona (Michmelia) seminigra Friese is a polytypic species widely distributed in Brazilian Amazon and Bolivia. Seven subspecies are recognized, four are described, which inhabit mutually exclusive areas in the Amazon basin, although zones of hybridization are recorded. The three other subspecies, despite being recognized by taxonomists are undescribed. Melipona seminigra is a good honey-producer and an important pollinator of native flora and crops. Partial DNA sequence of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) mitochondrial gene (526 bp) was used to identify the four described subspecies of M. seminigra...

The association of the development of the internal reproductive organs of male desert locusts, Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae), with age, phase and the effect of exposure to pheromonesOriginal article

Satoshi HIROYOSHI, Takayuki MITSUNAGA, Gadi V.P. REDDY

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 300-308, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.031  

The regulation of the development of the male reproductive organs in insects is still an open question. Although the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, has been extensively examined, there is little information on the effects of phase and pheromones on the development of the male reproductive organs. This study clarified the association of these two factors with reproductive development (length or width of each organ) of the testis, testicular follicles, accessory glands, and seminal vesicles in this locust. The width of the follicles and width and length of the accessory gland mass are significantly associated with phase (solitary or gregarious)....

Habitat of Carabus zawadzkii (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the Eastern CarpathiansOriginal article

Peter GAJDOŠ, Stanislav DAVID, Oto MAJZLAN, Tomáš JÁSZAY, Ján ČERNECKÝ

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 285-299, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.030  

This paper provides an analysis of the rare and important Natura 2000 species Carabus zawadzkii in terms of its ecological niche, conservation status and relationship with other Carabus species in carabid assemblages. Published sources are inconsistent in defining the habitats in which this species occurs. Therefore, a large part of this paper is dedicated to identifying the relationship of Carabus zawadzkii with particular non-forest habitats based on field research conducted in 2011-2013. The results revealed an unexpected affinity of this species for non-forest habitats in addition to the know relationship with forest habitats....

Linking potential habitats of Odonata (Insecta) with changes in land use/land cover in MexicoOriginal article

Gerardo RODRÍGUEZ-TAPIA, Jesús A. PRIETO-AMPARÁN, Alex CÓRDOBA-AGUILAR

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 272-284, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.029  

Land use/land cover change (LULCC) is a major threat that affects the viability of insect populations worldwide yet our estimates of such effects are usually poor. We analysed how LULCC affected the distribution of 49 species of dragonflies and damselflies in the south-central zone in Mexico during the period 2006-2012. For this, we mapped the potential species richness using ecological niche models in order to analyse predicted future changes and determined the effect of LULCC on the current and future habitats of Odonata. We also estimated current incidence of deforestation and projected its effect to 2050 using the Dinamica-EGO program. Having predicted...

Seasonal changes in mycophagous insect communitiesOriginal article

Rohit BANGAY, Alan C. GANGE, Deborah J. HARVEY

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 260-271, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.028  

The phenology of fungal fruiting has changed in the UK over the last 70 years, but whether the associated mycophagous insects are able to exploit 'out of season' fruit bodies is unknown. This study focused on whether fungal baits can be used as a proxy to examine changes in fungal fruiting on insect communities. Using Agaricus bisporus as a bait, mushrooms were placed into two separate woodlands monthly from November 2020 to July 2021. Megaselia rufipes (Phoridae) and Bradysia spp. (Sciaridae) were reared from both wild fungi and fungal baits at different times, making them appropriate species to consider for possible host tracking....

Temporal and climatic variation in the colour forms of Adalia bipunctata and Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) populations in the United KingdomIvo Hodek special issueOriginal article

Ayman ASIRI, Chris FOSTER

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 250-259, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.027  

Colour form polymorphism in Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus, 1785) and Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) has been extensively studied in the past. Climate, season, and region are known to influence the colour form frequencies of these species, however, this effect is region specific, and the response of populations has changed over time. Here, 5862 photographic records from the UK Ladybird Survey from 2013-2017 were used to assess the geographic variation in colour form frequency (melanic versus non-melanic) of A. bipunctata and H. axyridis across the United Kingdom (UK) in relation to climate and season. Climate data from the...

The effects of the particle size of four different feeds on the larval growth of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)Original article

Somaya NASER EL DEEN, Thomas SPRANGHERS, Ferdinando BALDACCHINO, David DERUYTTER

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 242-249, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.026  

Diet is one of the most important factors affecting the growth and lifecycle of Tenebrio molitor L. The chemical and nutritional properties of the diet of mealworms are well studied whereas its physical properties are almost neglected. This work aims to study the effects of four different particle sizes (0-0.8, 0.8-2, 2-3 and 3-4 mm) of four different feeds (wheat bran, chicken feed pellets, grounded corn kernels and alfalfa dried pellets). Four-week-old larvae were reared on the experimental substrates for four to six weeks depending on the feed. Our results indicate that particle size can significantly influence larval growth and that particles...

Effect of solvent extraction time on the hydrocarbon profile of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and behavioural effects of 9-pentacosene and dodecaneOriginal article

Maria BELENIOTI, Emmanouil RODITAKIS, Manolis SOFIADIS, Maria FOUSKAKI, Maria APOSTOLAKI, Nikos CHANIOTAKIS

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 232-241, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.025  

Hydrocarbons play a major role in the life cycle of insects. Their composition and concentration can be affected by several factors. Hydrocarbons are biosynthesized in oenocytes and subsequently transported to the cuticle of insects, such as Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). As the extraction procedure markedly affects the type and amount of hydrocarbon obtained we determined the association between the time taken to extract the maximum amounts of these compounds and the behaviour of D. suzukii. The required extraction time to reach a steady state is different for each hydrocarbon, which in most cases is more than...

Egg maturation in an invasive gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae): An experimental test of the pro-ovigenic and facultatively synovigenic hypothesesOriginal article

Yajiao WU, Yoshihisa ABE

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 227-231, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.024  

There are two hypotheses on egg maturation in the invasive chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). That it is pro-ovigenic (most or all of its potential lifetime egg complement is mature upon emergence) or facultatively synovigenic (not all eggs are fully developed upon emergence and may be resorbed when suitable hosts are absent). These hypotheses were tested by determining the effects of adult age and food (honey) on egg maturation in D. kuriphilus wasps with no access to host plants. Egg load (the number of mature eggs per female) neither increased nor decreased with adult age in the presence or...

Evolutionary and ecological signals in Wolbachia-beetle relationships: A reviewReview

Łukasz KAJTOCH

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 215-226, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.023  

Intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia are the most abundant endosymbionts infecting many arthropods, with Coleoptera being the most diverse hosts in terms of taxonomy and ecology. There has been great progress in studies on the relations between Wolbachia and beetles, however, only some of the research details the consequences of infection. In this review, I summarise the knowledge on the evolutionary relations or ecological associations between Wolbachia and its beetle hosts. These bacteria often cause cytoplasmic incompatibility in the infected hosts and are responsible for a selective sweep of the mitochondrial genomes...

Six new species of the subgenus Habronychus (Habronychus) (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) from the Oriental region, with key to speciesOriginal article

Shujuan GE, Haoyu LIU, Xingke YANG, Yuxia YANG

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 201-214, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.022  

Six new species of Habronychus (Habronychus) Wittmer, 1981 are described, including H. (H.) laticeps Y. Yang, Ge & X. Yang, sp. n., H. (H.) honestus Y. Yang, Ge & X. Yang, sp. n., H. (H.) crassatus Y. Yang, Ge & X. Yang, sp. n. and H. (H.) tengchongensis Y. Yang, Ge & X. Yang, sp. n. from China, and H. (H.) longiplatus Y. Yang, Ge & Liu, sp. n. and H. (H.) trianguliceps Y. Yang, Ge & Liu, sp. n. from Vietnam. In addition, a previously known species, H. (H.) parallelicollis...

Effects of population density on adult morphology and life-history traits of female Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)Original article

Santhi BHAVANAM, Steven A. TREWICK

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 191-200, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.021  

Intraspecific competition and food shortage due to high population density during early life can have a profound effect on adult fitness. Organisms often mitigate negative effects of high population density by adjusting resource allocation to adult morphological and life-history traits. In Lepidoptera with short-lived adults that do not feed, it is predicted that females developed from dense larval aggregations invest more in reproduction and traits linked to offspring survival. Here, we investigated the effects of larval population density on adult morphology and life-history traits in the female Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella by...

Seasonal shift in carabid phenology over a period of 18 yearsOriginal article

Ulrich IRMLER

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 183-I, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.020  

The present study is based on a 20-year study of fields that were previously farmed conventionally and then changed to being farmed organically and a 10-year study of a conventionally farmed field in south-eastern and central Schleswig-Holstein, North Germany, respectively. The carabid beetles were sampled throughout each year using pitfall traps. The analysis aimed to study the changes in the phenology in terms of activity-density associated with changing climate. Climate data revealed an increase in temperature during the period of this study, which was not significant during the single study periods, but significant if a longer period of 70 years...

Diapause among the flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)Ivo Hodek special issueReview

David L. DENLINGER

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 170-182, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.019  

The rich diversity of information focusing on pupal diapause in the sarcophagids makes this fly family among the best-understood diapause models. This review summarizes the occurrence of pupal diapause in flesh flies from broad geographic regions of the world, as well as the apparent absence of diapause in select regions. The environmental cues used for programming diapause are discussed, as well as the requirements for breaking diapause. This taxon has been used for experiments ranging from the ecological to the molecular and offers a comprehensive overview of the diapause phenotype. A wide range of diapause attributes define the diapause phenotype...

Distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera) in a successional mosaic of Mediterranean mountain habitatsOriginal article

Jesús SÁNCHEZ-DÁVILA, José A. MOLINA, Francisco J. CABRERO-SAÑUDO

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 159-169, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.018  

The distribution of butterflies was analysed in a mosaic of different types of habitats in a typical Ibero-Supramediterranean plant landscape. This mosaic landscape is composed of oak forests (Quercus pyrenaica) and their corresponding shrub and grassland successional communities. The observed patterns were based on butterfly-flower interactions in two consecutive years (2017-2018) recorded in different habitats. The results of the nestedness analysis indicated that the same butterfly community exploits all of the successional plant-communities, but some differences due to the availability of flowers. The foraging for nectar sources was mostly...

Sexual dimorphism and phylogenetic position of Chilodendron (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) - a long isolated lineage endemic to MadagascarOriginal article

Bjarte H. JORDAL

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 152-158, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.017  

Chilodendron Schedl, 1953 is resurrected as a valid genus based on Chilodendron planicolle Schedl, 1953. This is the only representative of the tribe Hylesinini Erichson, 1836 found on Madagascar and a molecular phylogenetic analysis of several genes supports a position separate from Hylesinopsis Eggers, 1920 and other putatively close relatives. It is likely that Chilodendron is the oldest living lineage of bark beetles on Madagascar and possibly originated in the late Cretaceous not long after the separation of Madagascar from the Indian subcontinent.

Photoperiodic induction of adult reproductive diapause in the ladybird beetle Cycloneda munda (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)Ivo Hodek special issueShort Communication

John J. OBRYCKI

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 148-151, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.016  

The developmental response and the induction and duration of adult hibernal diapause in a North American population of Cycloneda munda (Say) (collected at 38°N, 84.5°W) was determined by rearing individuals at four photoperiods (L:D 16:8, 14:10, 12:12, and 10:14) at 22°C. Preimaginal development of C. munda individuals was slower at L:D 10:14 than at three longer photoperiods. No C. munda females reared at L:D 16:8 entered diapause, 5% of females at L:D 14:10 were in diapause, whereas shorter photoperiods (L:D 12:12 and 10:14) induced diapause in 84% and 100% of females. Cycloneda munda females demonstrated a long-day response...

Altitudinal variation in body size and resistance to stress in Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in southern TurkeyOriginal article

Murat YILMAZ, Ergi Deniz ÖZSOY

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 140-147, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.015  

Tolerance of cold and heat and body size are traits that are important in thermal selection. Latitudinal and altitudinal transects include environments that gradually change in temperature. However, while there are studies on the effects on body size and cold tolerance in natural populations sampled mostly along latitudinal transects, there are few such studies along altitudinal transects. Resistance to starvation and desiccation, which are also thought to be affected by temperature, are the focus of studies on clines. In this study, we measured the variation in tolerance of cold (chill coma recovery time), body size, resistance to starvation and desiccation...

Provision of small sterile eggs is a circumstance-dependent maternal investment in sibling cannibalism in the ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)Ivo Hodek special issueOriginal article

Naoya OSAWA

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 133-139, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.014  

Many aphidophagous ladybird beetles lay clusters of eggs and sibling cannibalism occurs at hatching. Larvae that hatch early tend to cannibalize undeveloped eggs and those that hatch late. The cannibalized eggs, especially those that are sterile, represent a maternal investment in the cannibal and are regarded as "trophic" eggs, which increase their chances of surviving. The characteristics of cannibalized eggs, however, are poorly studied. In this study, I determined the sizes of eggs that developing and undeveloped eggs within egg clusters of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Developing eggs were significantly larger (on average...

Indirect interactions between a native and a supposedly non-native wasp species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae: Anterhynchium)Original article

Misaki TSUJII, Tomoji ENDO, Yuki MATSUI, Shinji SUGIURA

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 122-132, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.013  

Non-native species pose a threat to native organisms. When non-native and native species are closely related, the former can often competitively exclude the latter. Many studies have focused on competitive exclusion of native insect species by non-native eusocial hymenopterans, including ants, hornets, paper wasps and bees. Although solitary species of wasps have been introduced in many regions, few studies have investigated the effects of these insects on their native congeners. We investigated competitive interactions between native and non-native solitary wasps belonging to the same genus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae: Anterhynchium)....

Pelle and Tube contribute to the Toll pathway-dependent antimicrobial peptide production in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)Original article

Kakeru YOKOI, Daiki KATO, Ken MIURA

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 111-121, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.012  

Insects are solely dependent on an innate immune system. Antimicrobial peptide production is the main immune response of insects. The molecular mechanisms underlying this reaction in Drosophila melanogaster involves the induction of antimicrobial peptide genes, which is regulated by the Toll and IMD pathways. The Toll pathway is mainly activated by fungi or Gram-positive bacteria and the IMD pathway by Gram-negative bacteria. In terms of comparative immunology, we investigated the antimicrobial peptide production system in the beetle, Tribolium castaneum, which differs from that in D. melanogaster. To obtain a more detailed understanding,...

Mitochondrial DNA variation of Drosophila obscura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) across EuropeOriginal article

Pavle ERIĆ, Marina STAMENKOVIĆ-RADAK, Milan DRAGIĆEVIĆ, Maaria KANKARE, Megan A. WALLACE, Marija SAVIĆ VESELINOVIĆ, Mihailo JELIĆ

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 99-110, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.011  

Drosophila obscura is a common fruit fly that inhabits the temperate forests of Europe. While it is abundant in the north compared to other Drosophila, its density decreases southwards, where it is gradually replaced by other Drosophila species. This study describes variation in the mitochondrial Cyt b gene of D. obscura from several European populations. We observed a large number of haplotypes, together with the structuring of genetic variation. Genetic variation is higher in the west where O1 and related divergent haplotypes dominate. In the east, the O2 haplotype is most frequent, together with haplotypes that...

Biogeography and habitat preferences of red wood ants of the Formica rufa group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Finland, based on citizen science dataOriginal article

Jouni SORVARI

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 92-98, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.010  

Red wood ants (RWA) of the Formica rufa group are ecosystem engineers and important species in boreal and temperate forests. However, the permanent and temporal loss of forest habitats is a serious threat to their existence and is likely to increase with climate change. Due to the current threat of losing species, quick actions are needed. Reported here is the biogeography, relative abundance and habitat preferences of five species of RWA in Finland based on citizen science data. Species that occur in the lowlands of the Alps also occur throughout the southern parts of Finland. Only two of the five species, F. aquilonia Yarrow, 1955 and...

Presence after three decades of red wood ants (Formica rufa group; Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in forests in an agricultural landscapeOriginal article

Harry J.M. VAN BUGGENUM

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 85-91, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.009  

Conducting a repeat study of the presence of mound-building red wood ants (Formica rufa group) after a period of 30 years has rarely been done in Europe. From 1990 to 2020 such a study was done in an intensively used agricultural landscape with fragments of forest in the South-Eastern part of The Netherlands. In 1990, 280 nest mounds of three species of red wood ants and a hybrid were found in the forests and along forest edges. The highest occupancy was in forests of > 25 ha. The connectivity between the forest fragments mainly determined their presence. In 2020, only 160 nest mounds were found. The development of the colonies differed for...

Infection-induced molecular pattern recognition proteins in larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae)Original article

Kyeongrin BANG, Jiae LEE, Sejung HWANG, Youngwoo CHO, Jangwoo PARK, Saeyoull CHO

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 77-84, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.008  

We cloned and sequenced full-length peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP)-like cDNAs, named PS PGRP-SA(a)-like, PS PGRP-SA(b)-like, PS PGRP-SB1-like and PS PGRP-SC-like, from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis. The amino acid sequences of PS PGRPs share 32.03-47.93% homology with those of PGRP family members in insects and mammals, including humans. We identified a conserved consensus sequence for amidase activity (His; H-Tyr; Y-His; H-Thr; T-Cys; C) and residues for binding peptidoglycan (PGN), one of the major bacterial cell wall components, including Asp (D) and Phe (F) for Lys-type PGN; and Gly(G), Trp...

Time measurement in insect photoperiodism: The role of photophase duration and light intensityIvo Hodek special issueReview

David SAUNDERS

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 69-76, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.007  

The initial stages of diapause induction - as summer gives way to autumn - involve a process of time measurement in which the duration of daylength (or nightlength) is determined by a photoperiodic 'clock' based upon the circadian system. In many insects so far examined, a photophase of sufficient duration and illuminance resets a photoperiodic oscillator to a constant phase equivalent to the beginning of the 'subjective night' (Circadian time, CT 12 h) whereupon it proceeds to measure nightlength in a clock of the external coincidence type. A possible exception may be found in the linden bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, which - in laboratory studies...

Variation in the colour pattern of the narrow-headed ant Formica exsecta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in European RussiaOriginal article

Tatyana S. PUTYATINA, Alexey V. GILEV, Vladimir G. GRINKOV, Alexander V. MARKOV

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 58-68, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.006  

We determined whether body colour patterns of the narrow-headed Formica exsecta ant can serve as a marker of adaptative strategies in heterogenous environments. The variations in colour were studied in two populations of F. exsecta in central and north western areas in European Russia. A generalised colour scheme of the head and three thorax segments is developed based on a comparative analysis of the colouration of F. exsecta and red wood ants (Formica s. str.). The scheme consists of 23 variants. We found that the colouration of different parts of the body varies independently to a large extent, although a pale (less melanized)...

Cold and freezing injury in insects: An overview of molecular mechanismsIvo Hodek special issueReview

Jan ROZSYPAL

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 43-57, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.005  

The present review discusses the molecular mechanisms of injury caused by low temperatures and/or freezing. The review is intended mainly for insect environmental physiologists who focus on the effects of low temperatures. The review successively discusses (1) the effects of low temperatures on the structure and function of macromolecules; (2) the effects of freezing on cells and macromolecules and (3) the mechanisms of damage during thawing and post-thaw. The review shows that injury primarily occurs at the molecular level in terms of damage to proteins, nucleic acids and biological membranes. The damage to macromolecular structures occurs as a result...

The number of moths caught by light traps is affected more by microhabitat than the type of UV lamp used in a grassland habitatOriginal article

Julia NIERMANN, Gunnar BREHM

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 36-42, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.004  

We compared the performance of three entomological LED lamps that differed in intensity and wavelength composition by using them to catch 2257 individuals of 161 species and 11 families of nocturnal Lepidoptera in two grassland habitats (dry grassland and orchard meadow). The study was carried out in June and July 2020 in the Jenzig conservation area (Jena, Germany, 50°56´12˝N, 11°37´37˝E). In each habitat, we sampled three microhabitats that were either exposed, moderately sheltered or sheltered. Data were analysed using generalized linear mixed models. A lamp with high radiant flux (LepiLED maxi: 1.34 W mixed radiation) attracted 37% more...

RNA interference-based characterization of Caspar, DREDD and FADD genes in immune signaling pathways of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)Original article

Kakeru YOKOI, Wataru ITO, Daiki KATO, Ken MIURA

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 23-35, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.003  

We previously demonstrated that two immune signaling pathways, Toll and IMD, were concomitantly activated in the model beetle Tribolium castaneum by challenges to their immune system by several species of microbes, including Gram-positive and -negative bacteria as well as yeast. This contrasts with the Drosophila immune system in which more specific pathway activation depending on the type of microbe is well established. We suggest that the activation of an indiscriminate immune pathway in T. castaneum is due in part to an unselective recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by the extracellular sensing modules of...

The circadian clock gene (Clock) regulates photoperiodic time measurement and its downstream process determining maternal induction of embryonic diapause in a cricketIvo Hodek special issueOriginal article

Shin G. GOTO, Masatoshi NAGATA

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 12-22, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.002  

In response to short days in autumn, most temperate multivoltine insects enter diapause, a state in which development or reproduction is suppressed or arrested, which serves to coordinate their development and physiology (or that of offspring) with annual changes in the environment (i.e. photoperiodism). This response is mediated by a measurement of time based on photoperiod (photoperiodic time measurement), which is thought to be regulated by a circadian clock. However, some studies also demonstrate the involvement of the circadian clock in an output process that generates phenotypes associated with diapause. To gain further insight into this, we...

Inoculation of cucumber plants with Beauveria bassiana enhances resistance to Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and increases aphid susceptibility to pirimicarbOriginal article

Mohammad HOMAYOONZADEH, Mojtaba ESMAEILY, Khalil TALEBI, Hossein ALLAHYARI, Stuart REITZ, J.P. MICHAUD

Eur. J. Entomol. 119: 1-11, 2022 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2022.001  

The entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) can colonize plants endophytically and stimulate the production of secondary plant metabolites with anti-herbivore activities. We assayed the topical virulence of B. bassiana to Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), the effects of cucumber inoculation with this fungus on plant metabolites, and the physiological consequences for aphids that fed on these plants. Assays were conducted with both the commercial formulation of B. bassiana, 'Naturalis^®-L', at the recommended concentration of 1.5 ml / L (yielding a spore concentration...