Ramzan M., Pang T., Shi L., Naeem-Ullah U., Saeed S., Zhang T., Panhwar W.A. & Zhang Y. 2024: Bio-ecology and management approaches of yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). — European Journal of Entomology 121: 234–251. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2024.025 

In our published review, an error occurred in Fig. 2 depicting the geographical distribution of Conogethes punctiferalis. Taiwan was mistakenly listed as a separate entity from China. The correct description should state that C. punctiferalis is distributed in China, including Taiwan, rather than listing Taiwan separately. We reprint below the corrected Fig. 2 with legend.

The yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis is a well-known agricultural pest with significant impacts on crops from Southeast Asia to Australia. It has also become one of the major pests of corn (Zea mays) in China. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the bio-ecology, potential damage, and management of C. punctiferalis on various economically important crops. The review discusses the current management strategies for C. punctiferalis, mainly based on chemical insecticides, and highlights their limitations and sustainability concerns. The authors emphasize the urgent need for sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) approaches tailored to the affected regions. Key research directions and recommendations are presented to fill knowledge gaps and improve the effective management of C. punctiferalis in agriculture.

An Erratum has been published for this article: https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2025.028

We studied the vulnerable Scarce Large Blue butterfly (Phengaris teleius) population in loosely connected wet grasslands in southern Slovenia. Our goal was to understand the distribution and demographic traits of this population within the Seasonal Lakes of Pivka Nature Park (KP PPJ). From 2021 to 2022, we mapped suitable habitat patches in KP PPJ with the larval host plant Sanguisorba officinalis and host ant Myrmica spp. Out of eight identified potential patches, five were inhabited for at least one year. Our dispersal model, using an inverse-power function, indicated that all but one suitable patch could be connected by migrations of at least 1% of either sex, suggesting a metapopulation structure. The clustered habitat distribution (nearest neighbour index = 0.14) highlights the role of each patch as a "stepping stone" within the system. We also assessed demographic parameters in a subset of three patches: Klenik, Kalec, and Zagorje. In 2021, mark-release-recapture estimated the populations in two inhabited patches (Klenik, Kalec) at 197 males (95% CI: 159-265) and 315 females (95% CI: 205-525), showing a female-biased sex ratio (males : females = 1 : 1.6). We recorded a relatively long average life span (4.4 and 8.4 days for males and females, respectively) and a weak protandry, however about three-quarters of the population was present simultaneously, mainly in the largest patch (Klenik: > 85%). Recorded demographic traits (female-biased sex ratio, long lifespan, simultaneous peaks of both sexes, and high dispersal) support the persistence of this metapopulation. However, conservation efforts and a denser network of suitable patches are crucial to maintain its viability at this range's southern edge.

Open-pit coal mine rehabilitation is essential to mitigate ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. Given that ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are excellent bioindicators, we evaluated the response of their communities along a restoration gradient in a tropical dry forest ecosystem. Sampling was conducted in five sites: three areas with different rehabilitation ages (1.5, 4, and 7 years) and two ecosystems not affected by mining (a dry forest fragment and a natural regeneration area). A total of 65 species and morphospecies were recorded, belonging to 30 genera and seven subfamilies. A key finding was the asynchronous recovery of diversity: while species richness (q0) in the sites with longer rehabilitation times resembled that of the reference forest, community structure, measured by evenness (q1, q2), remained significantly lower, indicating a slower functional recovery. Composition analysis (NMDS) revealed a clear successional gradient, with the 7-year site representing an intermediate state in the trajectory toward reference forests. Notably, rehabilitation techniques such as mulch application in the youngest site (1.5 years) promoted the early colonization of specialist predatory ants, resulting in a more complex community than that of the 4-year site. We conclude that proactive rehabilitation, particularly measures focused on soil protection, accelerates the recovery of the ant community structure.

Historical samples from museum and private collections can serve as a time machine, allowing us to follow changes in genetic composition through time as well as obtaining genomic data on past biodiversity. Thus, genetic data from collections (museomics) are increasingly being utilized in scientific studies. However, although several different DNA extraction techniques have been used successfully in insect museomics, direct comparisons between methods are uncommon. It is therefore unclear to what extent simple adjustments of DNA extraction protocols can increase yields. This is especially important when analysing museum specimens that are decades or even hundreds of years old with low endogenous DNA content. Here, we first compared two recommended protocols which include the widely used QIAamp DNA Micro Kit or the Monarch PCR & DNA Cleanup Kit, respectively. We found that the Monarch kit performed substantially better than the QIAamp kit in terms of yield. We then compared various lysis temperatures, the effect of non-destructive versus destructive lysis, and the relative yield from a second round of extraction using the Monarch kit. We evaluated our results both by measurements of DNA concentration and fragment length and results from low coverage whole genome sequencing. We found that a lysis temperature of 42°C performed better than either 56°C or 37°C, using a lysis time of approximately 20 h. Destructive extraction increased yield in some species, and a second round of non-destructive extraction can substantially increase total yield. Finally, we used our selected Monarch kit protocol to extract DNA from legs of 492 additional butterfly specimens (23-128 years old) and 21 small wasp specimens. We observed virtually no effects of specimen age on the amount of DNA extracted or the endogenous DNA content, while older specimens yielded slightly shorter lengths of sequenced fragments. The DNA extraction procedure worked well for specimens up to 128 years of age and we would expect this to be the case for substantially older specimens, which would enable successful DNA extraction from the vast majority of dried insects in collections.

Climate change is seriously threatening biodiversity and, especially, insects because their biological cycles are highly dependent on environmental conditions. We studied (1) how climate characterised by droughts and heatwaves affected the butterfly assemblage at four sampled sites in Campo de Montiel (central Spain) over three consecutive years; and (2) the differences in the assemblage abundance, species richness, density, and diversity among sites that represent a variety of land use/cover types. Sites were sampled with transects using the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme methodology (Pollard & Yates, 1993). A total of 8,275 butterflies and 69 species were sampled across sites and years. Sites were well sampled in the three years according to species richness estimators and accumulation curves. The relationship between the mean length of dry spells and butterfly abundance was negative and significant at all sites. However, heatwaves did not affect butterfly abundance and species richness. There were no significant differences in the ecological parameters studied among sites. Mediterranean forest transects tended to have higher values of ecological parameters than those dominated by more degraded vegetation, pine plantations and cropland intensification. Butterfly assemblage and diversity were positively related to the presence of semi-natural habitat with traditional agricultural and livestock uses. Our surveys recorded Polyommatus celina for the first time in Castilla-La Mancha. Two endangered and endemic species, Polyommatus violetae and Kretania hesperica, were recorded at the site with higher Mediterranean forest cover, which increases the conservation value of this site. Maintaining semi-natural habitats and traditional farming systems may allow butterfly assemblages to be more resilient to climate change.

The genus Oedipoda, comprising 29 species and 16 subspecies, has recently undergone a molecular revision in the Mediterranean, which significantly impacted some Italian taxa. In this study, we aimed to reassess the Italian species of Oedipoda using a molecular approach, specifically to: (a) clarify the unknown phylogenetic affinities of O. cynthiae; (b) define the distribution ranges of O. germanica and O. pentagonalis, considered as vicariants in continental and peninsular Italy; and (c) provide an updated identification key to the Italian species. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses, based on two mitochondrial markers (12S, NDS) and one nuclear marker (ITS2), revealed that Oedipoda cynthiae is the sister species of O. charpentieri, indicating an intriguing disjunct biogeographic pattern. O. germanica and O. pentagonalis appear to be allopatric, although the range of O. germanica extends southward to the Po River. Interestingly, two specimens morphologically assigned to O. germanica and O. pentagonalis were nested within the clade of O. coerulea, a species not currently reported from Italy, highlighting a discrepancy between morphological and molecular data that requires further investigation. Finally, our results show that O. caerulescens sardeti does not represent a geographically coherent unit and should not be considered a valid subspecies. We therefore propose the following synonymy: O. caerulescens sardeti Defaut, 2006 = O. caerulescens caerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758), syn. n.

The planthopper Pentastiridius leporinus transmits the phytoplasma 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' and the bacterium 'Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus' to various agricultural crops and vegetables, mainly in Germany and neighbouring countries. We collected headspace volatiles from the wild potato species Solanum bulbocastanum and tested antennal responses of P. leporinus using gas-chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). Two identified compounds, nonanal and decanal, were then tested on female antennae using electroantennography (EAG). Both compounds elicited significant dose-dependent EAG responses. Scanning electron microscopy revealed three sensillum types on the pedicel (chaetica, campaniform-like, plate-organs) of both female and male specimens. Transmission electron microscopy showed two coeloconic sensilla inside the Bourgoin organ in ultrathin antennal sections of a female. This is the first report of electrophysiologically active plant volatiles and antennal ultrastructure for this vector.

Bombyliidae (bee flies) is a large family in the order Diptera. Their larvae are predators or parasitoids of several insect orders, such as Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera, some species of the genus Systoechus are predators of grasshopper eggs. The adults visit flowers for nectar and mating, which makes them important pollinators. Their classification and systematic position are still strongly debated. There were only two complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of Bombyliidae. Mt genomes of Villa fasciata, Bombylius candidus, Heteralonia anemosyris, Ligyra guangdongana, Systropus excisus and Exhyalanthrax afer were sequenced in order to determine the diversity of mt genomes in this family. A comparative mt genomic analysis of these newly sequenced species revealed that the sizes of the mt genome ranged from 15,036 bp to 17,992 bp. All tRNAs had cloverleaf secondary structures, but the dihydrouridine (DHU) arm of tRNA^{Ser (AGN)} is absent. The phylogenetic analyses based on both Bayesian Inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) supported Bombyliidae being the sister group of Asilidae. Within Bombyliidae, the analysis recovered subfamilies Toxophorinae, Anthracinae and Bombyliinae, and Anthracinae is the sister group of Bombyliinae.

The New World genus Mumetopia Melander, 1913 is redefined, redescribed and its relationships are discussed. Its Nearctic type species, M. occipitalis Melander, 1913, is revised with lectotype designation, redescribed and illustrated in detail, and its relationship, biology and distribution are treated using published and numerous new data. A new genus, Xerocomyza gen. n., is described for X. hansoni sp. n., an unusual species from high desert plains in Utah (U.S.A.), and its phylogenetic relationships are discussed: Xerocomyza is recognized as a separate lineage of Anthomyzidae most probably allied to the Carexomyza + Chamaebosca group clade (sensu Barber & Roháček, 2020, Arthropod Syst. Phylogeny 78: 69-109). Biology and distribution of X. hansoni are given on the basis of limited label data from type specimens.

In the landscape of the Dolomites, within the protected area of the Paneveggio - Pale di S. Martino Park in the Eastern Alps of Italy, a study was conducted to explore the distribution of carabid beetles. To achieve this, pitfall traps were placed along a 1000-m elevation gradient, following the bioclimatic gradient from spruce forests to the resilient pioneer vegetation in the extreme high-altitude environments. The research revealed that both community diversity and biogeographic diversity exhibited a clear correlation with the bioclimatic gradient. As one ascended to higher altitudes, the composition and distribution of carabid beetle communities shifted, reflecting the bioclimatic gradient. The chorological spectrum of the communities showed that Pleistocene paleoclimatic events provided the triggering factors affecting the postglacial recolonization of alpine ecosystems of the Dolomites region. Most of the sampled species displayed specific life strategies that enabled them to thrive in this harsh setting, responding to the selective pressures imposed by ecological factors. An extensive dataset encompassing the diversity of carabid beetles in these high-altitude domains was created. Given that the studied environments are widely distributed along the Italian Eastern Alps, the dataset serves a crucial purpose as it can be used as a reference for other research campaigns conducted in similar environments. Furthermore, it could act as a temporal benchmark for future researches on insects living in extreme environments, e.g. the Dolomites, or for comparing changes in climate that may be detected by future studies in the same geographic area.

The loss of habitat for numerous organisms due to climate change has significantly accelerated the rate of species extinction. Unfortunately, there have been no studies conducted on the impact of climate change and other factors on the distribution patterns of cicada species in India. In the present study, we investigated the current and potential future distribution of two cicada species, Platypleura octoguttata and Lemuriana apicalis, using environmental variables and occurrence data through maximum entropy modelling. The distribution ranges of both species show some similarities under the current climatic conditions. According to predictions based on future climate scenarios, the distribution areas for P. octoguttata and L. apicalis are predicted to decrease to varying extents. However, the anticipated reduction of distribution areas for these two cicada species is different, indicating that both species have distinct responses to climate change. The changes in the distributional centroids show a consistent trend of moving in a north-westward direction across all future periods under the four climate scenarios (SSP126, SSP264, SSP370, and SSP585), except for SSP370 in the case of L. apicalis, which shows the direction of overall migration north-eastwards over time. The creation of a new protected area at the border of Bijnor District in Uttar Pradesh Province and Haridwar District in Uttarakhand Province would be greatly helpful in future for the conservation of these two species. Our findings highlight the impact of climate change on the distribution range of these two cicada species, offering valuable insights for conservation efforts in India.

Molecular markers have become indispensable tools in contemporary ecological research, offering insights into genetic diversity and structure. These parameters are pivotal for addressing fundamental questions in landscape ecology and planning effective species conservation. Grasshoppers have one of the largest genomes known. A significant portion of the grasshopper genome is composed of mobile genetic elements, with a particular abundance of retrotransposons. In this study, we utilised the iPBS (inter-primer binding sequence) PCR based fingerprinting marker system, as a novel approach based on retrotransposons for the study of Orthoptera. We evaluate the efficacy of the iPBS primers system in characterizing the genetic diversity of two large-genome grasshopper species, Stethophyma grossum and Chrysochraon dispar. Our findings demonstrate the potential of iPBS markers as a valuable tool for assessing the genetic diversity of orthopterans. This approach offers a promising avenue for future research in population genetics and conservation biology.

Invasive ambrosia beetles, such as the black stem borer (Xylosandrus germanus), pose serious ecological and economic threats to various natural, semi-natural and artificial ecosystems with suitable host plants. This study investigates the temporal and spatial variation in X. germanus abundance within lowland, mostly oak-dominated forests of the West Carpathians, focusing on the influence of tree species diversity, altitude, and forest stand age. Our findings reveal a strong positive correlation between tree diversity and X. germanus abundance, suggesting that diverse forests provide favourable conditions for beetle establishment. Altitude also exhibited a significant positive effect, likely due to increasing humidity and more suitable microclimatic conditions at higher elevations. In contrast, forest age had a small but significant negative effect, potentially due to reduced availability of stressed host trees in older stands. Beetle activity peaked in early to mid-June, in agreement with previous observations of phenology of this species in Central Europe. These findings contribute to our understanding of the ecological factors shaping X. germanus populations and provide valuable insights for forest management strategies aimed at mitigating the spread of invasive ambrosia beetles.

Grassland butterflies are declining widely in temperate regions, and are thus a key target for conservation. Recent studies have shown that forest clearcuts can be temporary habitats for these species. Shelterbelts - rows of trees, planted to protect houses and crops from the winds - are periodically cleared. This clearing is necessary to prevent falling large branches from mature trees while maintaining their primary function. Consequently, recently cleared young shelterbelts have the potential to serve as habitats for grassland species. However, it remains unclear how long young shelterbelt plantations support grassland butterflies. In this study, we made a survey where the responses of flowering plants and butterflies to plantation age and environmental parameters were investigated during spring and summer in eight plantations aged 2-12 years. Plant richness, nectar abundance, as well as butterfly richness and abundance decreased with increasing plantation age. Butterflies, including endangered species, thrived in 2-6-year plantations, but declined dramatically thereafter. Age-related environmental variables, particularly canopy openness, explained the decline in plants and butterflies, with age being a more important factor than environmental variables. These results indicate that regenerated shelterbelts aged 2-6 years function as habitats for grassland butterflies, and that plantation age can be used as a simple indicator of habitat quality for such species, including endangered ones. Given that young plantations persist as grassland butterfly habitats for only 6 years since planting, a new clearcut needs to be created within the dispersal range for butterflies to help build metapopulations and ensure their conservation at a landscape scale.

Concerns about insect decline have motivated the monitoring of terrestrial arthropods, often using Malaise traps. Since the types of Malaise trap vary widely, it is essential to understand the differences in the resulting number and composition of the arthropod catch. In this study, we compared the performance of two types of Malaise trap in capturing arthropods for biodiversity monitoring and ecological studies. We placed Bartak and SLAM traps in a paired design at increasing distances from a forest edge in vineyards in southwestern Germany. We measured arthropod biomass and used metabarcoding for species identification. Bartak traps caught 7.5 times higher biomass, but only 1.5 times more species compared to the SLAM traps. There was a significant difference in species composition, whereby highly mobile flying insect species, such as those in the order Diptera, strongly dominated the Bartak traps and ground-dwelling arthropods were better represented in SLAM traps. With increasing distance to the forest edge, species richness decreased similarly in both trap types. Our study shows that differences in trapping efficiency must be taken into account when comparing results from different, and that trap types can be chosen according to the focus of each study. Nevertheless, both trap types were able to detect the biodiversity pattern in our landscape in a similar way.

Evaluating land management practices to best return landuse health and resilience is a growing interest in the face of rapidly declining worldwide invertebrate populations. American bison (Bison bison), a native megaherbivore, is well understood to benefit the natural cycle of vegetation growth and soil on the landscape. Activities of these native grazers has also been found to benefit specifically lepidopteran populations, but additional evaluation is needed. To assess this, we conducted lepidopteran and groundcover surveys within an oak savanna landscape located at the Sandhill Wildlife Area from 2014-2019, during spring and summer seasons. Bison grazing pastureland was delineated into four cover types including open grassland areas (other), shrubs and trees (shrubs), areas of exposed mineral soil (disturbance), and wallows resulting from disturbance as generated directly by American bison wallowing activities (wallows). A total of 60 plots (15 per cover type) were assessed for percent groundcover categories, recent presence of bison (indicated through bison chip counts), and observations of all lepidopteran species. Bison wallowing activities increased over the course of the study, with more wallows visible during spring season. Bison chips were highly separated from wallows, suggesting that bison graze and wallow in different areas. Lepidopteran family groups (Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, and Riodinidae, as well as grouped "moths" that were dominated by Geometridae) differed significantly across these areas of high and low disturbance. A total of 17 groups were observed, 13 of which were seen at least 3 times over the 10 surveys. Environmental predictors bison wallows, forbs, grass, nectar, and shrub cover were significantly associated with distribution of individual taxa. Bison wallows were significantly associated with lepidopteran family communities, while chips shaped trends in 6 groups identified to species, and vegetation types further significantly structured the community. Temporal trends captured significantly different community assemblages 2014-2019 and across seasons, with summer showing greater variation in families. Overall, this suggests that bison activities and resulting changes in groundcover impact habitat suitability and thus influence the abundance and distribution of lepidopteran family groups. A further assessment of bison influenced habitat features and breakdown of lepidopteran species units is needed to further understand how temporal bison activities may influence the habitat structure and subsequently the reliant lepidopterans within this ecotype and will be assessed in subsequent studies.

The scale insect family Rhizoecidae in Germany has historically been documented as comprising six species from two genera: Rhizoecus albidus Goux, 1942, Rhizoecus cacticans (Hambleton, 1946), Rhizoecus franconiae Schmutterer, 1956, Ripersiella caesii (Schmutterer, 1956), Ripersiella halophila (Hardy, 1868), and Ripersiella hibisci (Kawai & Takagi, 1971). To assess changes in this biodiversity, we collected 37 samples from potted plants across the botanical gardens of Berlin, Bonn, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich. Species identifications were conducted using integrative taxonomy, combining morphological analysis of slide-mounted specimens, molecular data from the COI region, and ecological information. Our study identified eight species: Geococcus coffeae Green, 1933, Rhizoecus arabicus Hambleton, 1976, Rh. cacticans, Rhizoecus dianthi Green, 1926, Rhizoecus nemoralis (Hambleton, 1946), Rhizoecus falcifer Kunckel d'Herculais, 1878, Rhizoecus simplex (Hambleton, 1946) and Ripersiella aloes (Williams & Pellizzari, 1997). Except for Rh. cacticans, all are newly recorded for Germany, increasing the total German Rhizoecidae fauna to 13 species across three genera. We provide detailed morphometric redescriptions for Rh. arabicus, Rh. franconiae, Rh. simplex, and Ri. caesii based on type material, along with morphological notes for the other species. The study also resolves nomenclatural issues for Rh. franconiae and Ri. hibisci designating Lectotypes and reports 61 new host records for eight species. We present a taxonomic key for the updated list of Rhizoecidae species recorded in Germany. This research significantly revises the understanding of rhizoecid diversity in the country, revealing that the fauna is more than twice as rich as previously known.

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972), is native to tropical and subtropical South America but has become a highly invasive species in parts of the southern United States, the Caribbean, and southern China. RIFA has caused significant ecological disruption through rapid colonization and aggressive behavior, affecting ecosystems and human health. This study aimed to examine the impact of different variables on the distribution of S. invicta throughout China and to predict its risk areas under the Current (1970-2000) and future climate change scenarios (2070s) using the ACCESS1-0 and BCC-CSM1-1 climate models. According to the MaxEnt model, under current climatic conditions, the total risk area of S. invicta was 2.554 million km², covering 27.52% of the study area. In the 2070s, high-risk areas are projected to increase by 1.72-fold and 1.68-fold under ACCESS1-0 and BCC-CSM1-1 scenarios, respectively. Precipitation of driest month (Bio14), mean temperature of coldest quarter (Bio11), mean temperature of warmest quarter (Bio10), pH of water, topography, mean diurnal range (Bio2), and soil organic carbon were the main factors influencing the distribution of S. invicta. Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was used to assess key determinants influencing S. invicta distribution. The GLM identified elevated land surface temperature, moderate soil moisture, organic carbon, vegetation cover, topographic diversity, and high urbanization as key factors promoting S. invicta proliferation, while adverse soil conditions limited suitable habitats. This research provides significant clues about the current distribution patterns of S. invicta and the influence of climate change, soil, physical and biological land properties, and anthropogenic activities on its distribution. Additional measures are necessary to control and prevent the continued spread of S. invicta in China.

Whilst common across the animal kingdom, the evolution of cannibalism remains poorly understood. Part of the problem is that the number of taxonomic groups in which the evolution of cannibalism has been studied in detail is limited, leaving us with only patchy data to explore trends across species. In this study, we consider within and between species variation in cannibalism in four species of seed bug with similar but not identical ecologies. Looking first at the influence of developmental stage on cannibalism, we show that cannibalism is generally most common in juvenile stages of these species, being especially pronounced in some cases early in life (when further dispersal is likely typically needed to locate host plants). Closer examination of one of these species, Spilostethus pandurus, suggests that cannibalism has evolved specifically as an adaptation to early life survival and not a general trait for starvation resistance across the lifetime. Cannibalism propensity was also observed to depend on early life experience of conspecifics in this species, suggesting a role for environmental variation in shaping this behaviour. These results highlight that if we are to understand trends in cannibalism across the animal kingdom, we must consider the ecological causes of variation in cannibalism within and between species.

Termite nests host diverse symbiotic arthropods (termitophiles), many of which exhibit specialized morphological and behavioral adaptations to life within termite colonies. While numerous beetle families include well-known termitophiles, an association with termites has not yet been recorded in the family Coccinellidae (ladybird beetles). Here, we report the discovery of Scymnus (Pullus) tshunsii Seki, Liang & Maruyama, sp. n., based on adults and larvae collected from nests of Microcerotermes crassus Snyder, 1934, in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, with additional adults captured at light traps. Although the adult morphology is typical for free-living Scymnini, the larva exhibits a highly unusual, soft-bodied, glabrous body form closely resembling termite workers - an apparent case of convergent evolution also seen in termitophilous rove beetles, scarabs, and phorid flies. The stark contrast between adult and larval morphology suggests stage-specific adaptations, with larvae more intimately integrated into the termite nest environment. Collecting adults at light traps indicates nocturnal dispersal, likely to locate new host colonies. This discovery represents the first confirmed termitophilous ladybird beetle and indicates that termite nests may support previously unrecognized ecological associations within Coccinellidae.

Saproxylic beetles are a key component of forest biodiversity and important indicators of forest naturalness, dead-wood continuity and habitat quality. Floodplain forests with old oak stands are among the most species-rich forest ecosystems in Europe, yet data on saproxylic beetle assemblages from such habitats remain scarce in south-eastern Europe. In this study, saproxylic beetles were investigated in three floodplain forest communities within Kopački rit Nature Park (eastern Croatia) using flight-intercept, pitfall and aerial attractant traps during the 2014 vegetation season. A total of 64 saproxylic beetle species from 14 families were recorded. Species richness and abundance were highest in oak-hornbeam forests, intermediate in poplar forests and lowest in willow-dominated stands, which nevertheless supported structurally distinct assemblages. Diversity indices and ordination analyses revealed a strong gradient in community structure from oak-dominated to willow-dominated floodplain forests. Flight-intercept traps were the most efficient sampling method, whereas other trap types provided complementary information on habitat-specific taxa. Several species listed on the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles were recorded, including the Natura 2000 species Lucanus cervus and Cucujus cinnaberinus. Of particular importance was the detection of Rhysodes sulcatus, which triggered targeted faunistic surveys that confirmed its presence at additional Croatian localities and led to its formal inclusion in the Croatian Natura 2000 species list. Although the data were collected in 2014, they provide a valuable baseline for assessing saproxylic beetle diversity in natural floodplain forests and for the development of national Natura 2000 monitoring programmes. The results highlight the exceptional conservation value of Kopački rit as one of the best-preserved floodplain forest systems in the Continental biogeographical region.

The plant-biotic pollinator interaction is crucial for the survival of both organisms. Insects are recognised as effective biotic pollinators. As there are few specific studies on the pollination of angiosperms, the emphasis of this review is on understanding the pollination process by reviewing the knowledge of the ginger-insect pollinator interaction in Asia. Currently the plant-pollinator interaction of only 5% of Asian species of Zingiberaceae is evaluated. Previous studies indicate that bees, such as, halictid and blue-banded bees are, among the many floral vistors, the most important pollinators of ginger plants in Asia. Knowledge of non-bee pollinators is still scarce. In order to obtain a more detailed understanding of the interrelationship of the pollinators of ginger plants with the morphology of their flowers, floral scent and geographical factors, further research is needed.

Understanding the relationship between solitary bee flight and flowering phenology is globally relevant for environmental management and habitat restoration. Using Swedish citizen science data over an 11-year period, the flight behaviours of two oligolectic solitary bees (Andrena hattorfiana and Andrena marginata) were compared to the flowering phenology of their hosts (Knautia arvensis and Succisa pratensis) in southern Sweden. There were 2,327 and 4,566 records of flight and flowering, respectively. While associative studies cannot resolve the degree of oligolecty, a strong temporal association of Andrena hattorfiana with Knautia arvensis and Andrena marginata with Succisa pratensis was indicated. Three conclusions emerged when comparing annual data: first, the flight period of both bee species studied overlapped with the flowering period of their corresponding host plants. Second, earlier flowering of Knautia arvensis corresponded with the earlier flight of Andrena hattorfiana. Third, the flight period duration was unaffected by the flowering period duration. For Andrena hattorfiana/Knautia arvensis, climate change may shift the start of flight and flowering periods to earlier dates in the year. A similar response would be expected for Andrena marginata/Knautia arvensis, but not for Andrena marginata/Succisa pratensis where there instead might be an increasing mismatch between the flight and flowering periods.

The new genus Kevinilla Bartholomay & Cambra includes the following four Neotropical species: Kevinilla ludovica (Cameron, 1895) comb. n. (the type species), K. bicarinata (Cambra & Quintero, 2008) comb. n., K. bimaculata (Cambra & Quintero, 2008) comb. n., and K. hansoni (Cambra & Quintero, 2008) comb. n., all transferred from Pseudomethoca. A neighbour joining tree clustered IST1 sequences of Kevinilla in a subclade of the main clade, which includes species of Pseudomethoca and Dasymutilla. Therefore, here Kevinilla is considered to be a member of the subfamily Sphaeropthalminae, tribe Pseudomethocini. A key for both sexes of the known species of Kevinilla is given, as well as an account of seasonal flight activity of males recorded over six years using Malaise traps on Barro Colorado Island, Panama.

Prey animals employ masquerade to avoid recognition by visual predators by developing a resemblance to inedible objects in their environment. Phytophagous flea beetles seem to resemble models of their own manufacture. While feeding they cause light- or dark-coloured hole-like damage on the leaves of their host plants that resembles the beetle's body in colour and size. Resemblance to the model and the frequency of the model can influence the efficiency of masquerade. To examine masquerade efficiency in light- and dark-coloured beetles, we evaluated their survival benefits from resembling feeding damage in the field. This was done by using two species of beetle of different colour as prey and a jumping spider as the predator. Dark-coloured species were more likely to avoid predation when they were placed on a background with damage similar in colour to their body, whereas increased survival was not recorded for light-coloured species. The extent of the feeding damage of 34 light- and dark-coloured species of beetle was compared. Variation in the extent of the damage was associated more with host plant taxa than beetle body colour. These results indicate that the efficiency of masquerade can vary among beetle species and/or phenotypes.

We describe a new and unusual myrmecophilous behaviour displayed by the darkling beetle, Scaurus uncinus (Forster, 1771) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), accessing nests of the harvester ant, Messor barbarus (Linnaeus, 1767) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in southeast Spain. The beetles enter the interior of the ant nests using a relatively primitive strategy based only on brute force, which we name "brute force entries". To understand the significance of this behaviour, we have studied the interactions of these two species in the field and in the laboratory during six years. Our observations confirm that specimens of S. uncinus expend a considerable effort to enter the ant nests, despite the ants fiercely attacking them, to the extent that the beetles lose legs and antennae through the process. We describe and discuss this behaviour, and identify hypotheses about its development and significance.

Drepanidae are one of the families of Lepidoptera that have received little attention in terms of phylogenetic studies. This study aims to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among Drepanidae using eleven molecular markers, totalling more than 7,500 bp. A phylogenetic tree based on 37 species of Drepanidae was inferred, including 21 of the 22 European drepanids. The results of this study support monophyly of all four subfamilies of Drepanidae. Oretinae and Drepaninae were recovered as sister groups forming one of the two main clades of Drepanidae, whereas Cyclidiinae and Thyatirinae belong to the other clade. This analysis demonstrates that hooked wingtips, a characteristic feature of the Drepaninae + Oretinae lineage, have disappeared repeatedly in the course of evolution. All "winter moths" among the drepanids, i.e. species characterized by their flight period being very early in spring form a distinct well-supported clade within the subfamily Thyatirinae. Moreover, all studied thyatirine genera that are characterized by pink or orange blotches on the forewings also belong to one statistically well-supported clade. The phylogenetic framework presented enhances our understanding of the diversification of Drepanidae and provides the groundwork for future taxonomic and evolutionary studies.

Fragmentation and destruction of natural habitats threaten essential plant-pollinator interactions. Despite their importance for biodiversity they remain understudied in the context of ecosystem functioning in Morocco. This study examines the influence of forest and agricultural landscapes in Northwestern Morocco on plant-pollinator interactions by analysing the structure and dynamics of their networks. Data were collected between mid-March and mid-July 2023 at eleven sites in different landscapes. The results show significantly higher richness and abundance of pollinators (Hymenoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera) in the cork oak forest of Larache compared to the Gharb plain. High plant diversity in forest landscapes promotes plant-pollinator interactions, enhancing network stability and resilience and the vulnerability of forest.

The beetle family Cimberididae (pine cone weevils) consists of one extant subfamily, Cimberidinae, and two tribes, Cimberidini and Doydirhynchini, both limited in distribution to the Northern Hemisphere. Cimberidini comprise the genera Acromacer Kuschel, Cimberis Gozis and Pityomacer Kuschel and Doydirhynchini the genera Doydirhynchus Dejean and Lecontellus Kuschel. The larvae and adults of all known extant Cimberididae are palynophagous (pollen-feeding) in the male strobili of conifers of the genus Pinus (L.) (Pinaceae). We reconstructed the phylogeny of Cimberididae using data from 420 nuclear genes obtained via anchored hybrid enrichment. Our taxon sample included six species representing all described extant genera of Cimberididae except Pityomacer, which was unavailable for study. Most relationships in the resulting maximum-likelihood trees based on nucleotide and amino-acid sequence data were recovered with maximal bootstrap support. Both trees showed a monophyletic family Cimberididae, containing two clades corresponding to the tribes Cimberidini and Doydirhynchini. In Cimberidini, Cimberis was rendered paraphyletic by Acromacer bombifrons (LeConte). Notably, the internal and terminal branches of Cimberidini were very short compared to other parts of the tree. Generic relationships are discussed according to the phylogenetic results. To make the genus Cimberis monophyletic, we synonymize the names Cimberis Gozis, 1881 and Acromacer Kuschel, 1989 (syn. n.) and re-establish the combination Cimberis bombifrons (LeConte, 1876), proposed by Kuschel (1959). This study provides the first molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for the palynophagous weevil family Cimberididae.