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Complementary roles of agricultural and natural habitats in supporting moth diversity in semi-arid landscapes of MoroccoOriginal articleNidal FETNASSI, Stênio Italo Araújo FOERSTER, Erki ÕUNAP, Mohamed GHAMIZI, Toomas TAMMARUEur. J. Entomol. 122: 173-183, 2025 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2025.022 Human activities, particularly those exacerbated by climate change, are major drivers of biodiversity change. While many human actions degrade biodiversity, some anthropogenic habitats can provide refuges for certain species, insects in particular. Research on the human impact on biodiversity remains uneven both geographically and taxonomically. In this study, nocturnal moth assemblages were compared across three habitat types (forest, riverbanks and olive groves) representing a gradient from natural to heavily human-altered environments in a semi-arid landscape of Morocco. Moths were systematically sampled across an altitudinal gradient ranging from 900 to 1600 m using automatic sugar-bait traps. We recorded 105 macroheteroceran species, most of which belonged to the families Noctuidae and Erebidae. The differences in moth assemblages among the studied habitats were statistically significant, with magnitudes comparable to those observed among the study sites. Altitude had a relatively weak influence on abundance and species richness. Olive groves exhibited the highest moth abundance and species richness, though they were dominated by common and widespread species. Forests supported a greater number of rare species, while riverbanks had lower abundance and species richness. In conclusion, while traditional agriculture can support species-rich insect communities in semi-arid landscapes, maintaining natural vegetation remains crucial, as forests, though less species-rich, still enhance overall moth diversity. |
Book review: Byrd J.H. & Tomberlin J.K. (eds) 2020: Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. 3rd Ed.Book reviewMarta I. SALOÑA-BORDASEur. J. Entomol. 117: 129, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.014 Byrd J.H. & Tomberlin J.K. (eds) 2020: Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. 3rd Ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, xxxiv + 585 pp. ISBN 978-0-815-35016-3 (hardback), 978-0-815-35020-0 (paperback), 978-1351163767 (ebook). Price USD 120.00 (hardback), USD 74.99 (paperback), USD 67.49 (e-book). |
ERRATUM: 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.2024.025ErratumM. RAMZAN, T. PANG, L. SHI, U. NAEEM-ULLAH, S. SAEED, T. ZHANG, W.A. PANHWAR, Y. ZHANGEur. J. Entomol. 122: 228, 2025 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2025.028 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 |
Cloning and expression analysis of a detoxification enzyme BmmGSTo3 gene in wild silkworm, Bombyx mandarina (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)Original articleRuonan LI, Enxi CHEN, Yuming ZHANG, Mengjiao WANG, Lin ZHU, Yixuan QIAN, Guodong ZHAO, Heying QIANEur. J. Entomol. 122: 65-72, 2025 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2025.007 Bombyx mandarina is one of prevalent pests in mulberry gardens during summer and autumn, posing significant challenges to sericulture across China. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), a vital detoxification enzyme in insects, plays a crucial role in protecting organisms from DNA damage and oxidative stress. In this study, the GSTo3 gene, coding glutathione S-transferase of B. mandarina, was cloned and its physicochemical properties and structures were predicted using bioinformatics tools. The relative expression levels in various tissues and induced transcriptional levels were detected by using qRT-PCR. Results revealed a 99.17% sequence similarity of GSTo3 gene between B. mandarina and Bombyx mori. It is mainly distributed in the head, fat body and epidermis tissues of B. mandarina larvae. After BmNPV infection, elevated GSTo3 expression levels were observed in the midgut. The transcriptional levels of GSTo3 gene were significantly up-regulated after exposure to phoxim, deltamethrin and chlorfenapyr exposure respectively in the fat body and midgut of B. mandarina. These findings underscore the significance of GSTo3 gene in exogenous materials metabolism and provide a new perspective on the resistance mechanism in B. mandarina. |
Effect of local and exotic origin of Asteraceae seeds on their consumption by ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)Original articleAlois HONĚK, Martinková ZDENKA, Stano PEKÁREur. J. Entomol. 122: 184-188, 2025 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2025.023 Prior familiarity of carabid beetle populations with seeds of a plant species might result in a preference for locally available species, either due to evolutionary adaptation or learning. Rejection of exotic species might favor the survival of the exotic species due to enemy release. In adults of two Carabidae species, Pseudoophonus rufipes (DeGeer) and Harpalus affinis (Schrank), we investigated the consumption of seeds of the local (growing inside the distribution range of experimental carabid individuals) Asteraceae species Taraxacum officinale and Crepis biennis, and the exotic (growing outside this area) Asteraceae species Adenostyles alliariae and Homogyne alpina. We assumed that the seeds of the exotic species would be consumed less than the seeds of the local species because the seeds of exotic species are not typically found within the range of the tested carabid populations and therefore may be preferred less than the seeds of local species. The seeds of both exotic species were consumed less than the seeds of the preferred local species, T. officinale, but were consumed more than the seeds of the rejected local species, C. biennis. Both carabid species preferred A. alliariae seeds over H. alpina seeds. No difference was observed between the preferences of the mobile and well-flying species P. rufipes and the sedentary and rarely flying H. affinis. The study did not demonstrate the hypothesized preference of the two tested beetle species for the seeds of locally available plant species. |
Use of powdered immunized insects for inhibiting Pectobacterium carotovorum infestation and promoting growth in lettuceOriginal articleYoungwoo CHO, Jun Ho LEE, Jangwoo PARK, Ki-Byung PARK, Mijeong KIM, Sung Su PARK, Sejung HWANG, Saeyoull CHOEur. J. Entomol. 121: 134-145, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.016 We induced immune activation in mass rearing experiments in three insect species, i.e., Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer, 1773 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), and Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe, 1886) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Lysosomal staining of immune cells was a little over 6% in the control group insects, whereas it ranged from 17-35% in insects immunized with Escherichia coli K12 or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The expression of attacin-like protein and defensin-like protein was also found to be upregulated at least 10-fold, and even up to 30-fold, from the third day of rearing in insects immunized with E. coli K12 or Bt. Non-immunized or immunized G. bimaculatus, H. illucens, and P. brevitarsis seulensis were freeze-dried and powdered, and these powders were then tested for protection against Pectobacterium carotovorum infestation. No inhibitory effects on P. carotovorum were observed when using all non-immunized insect powders or PBS. However, in the clear zone test treated with H. illucens powder at 10,000 ppm, an average size of 21.67 mm was observed. In a test using potato slices infected with P. carotovorum, we observed severe disease occurrence and potato weight loss in all non-immunized insect powders or PBS-treated groups. However, the group treated with H. illucens powder had the least potato weight loss. When tested on lettuce, the H. illucens powder-treated group revealed an approximately 10% increase in the fresh weight of lettuce, with both the dry weight and leaf area of lettuce increasing in comparison with those in the control group. Thus, our study proposes a novel method for the use of freeze-dried and powdered forms of insects immunized in mass rearing as effective functional fertilizers on a large scale that can also be effective in inhibiting microbial infections, overcoming the limitation of high production costs of such insect fertilizers using conventional methods. |
Transcriptome analysis reveals glycometabolism and antioxidation-related genes involved in the antifungal immune response of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae against Beauveria bassiana infectionOriginal articleYongkai MAO, Jiequn YI, Yinjie CHENG, Han WU, Jihu LI, Mingjiang LIN, Hanliang XU, Zhenqiang QIN, Jianbai LIUEur. J. Entomol. 121: 310-323, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.033 Spodoptera frugiperda damages crops around the world and has developed resistance to many pesticides. Beauveria bassiana, a fungus that is harmless to humans and the environment, is widely used in pest control. In our study, differentially expressed genes between S. frugiperda larvae, both exposed and unexposed, to B. bassiana were analyzed by transcriptome sequencing. More than 160 Gb of clean data were obtained, and 2767 and 2892 DEGs were identified in LH36vsCK36 and LH144vsCK144, respectively. To explore the roles of glycometabolism and antioxidation-related enzyme genes in S. frugiperda against B. bassiana infection, the expression patterns of those genes when under attack from B. bassiana were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The results of enzyme activity experiments revealed that S. frugiperda larvae exposed to B. bassiana could upregulate these genes to produce more enzymes related to the maintainance of normal glucose metabolism, as well as regulate the expression of detoxification and antioxidant factors to enhance the larvae's detoxification and antioxidant capacity. The result implied that glycometabolism and antioxidation-related enzymes and genes played critical roles in the antifungal immune process of S. frugiperda larvae. This study enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms related to regulation of metabolism and provides a basis for exploring new methods to combat antifungal resistance in S. frugiperda. |
Review of the cuticular lipids of spiders (Araneae)ReviewMarek CHAJDUK, Cezary TKACZUK, Marek GOŁĘBIOWSKIEur. J. Entomol. 121: 73-82, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.011 Cuticular lipids are essential for the functioning of all arthropods. They maintain water balance, are involved in intraspecific and interspecific chemical communication and prevent fungal and bacterial infections. Although, the insect's lipid layer is relatively well known, that of spiders is considerably less well known. Only a few species are studied in terms of the identification and composition of cuticular lipids. The results obtained so far are discussed in this article. Spiders are subjected to various forms of extraction and in the majority of cases the subsequent analysis using GC-MS identified hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids, esters, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, methyl ethers and cholesterol. Among these lipids there are semiochemicals, mainly pheromones and kin recognition cues. Despite the few publications on spider cuticular lipids, this subject is significant in terms of searching for antimicrobial substances such as potential bio fungicides and medicines. |
Bioaccumulation of pesticides in carabid beetles in a vineyard and olive grove under integrated pest managementCarabidological special issueOriginal articleLucija ŠERIĆ JELASKA, Mišel JELIĆ, Barbara ANĐELIĆ DMITROVIĆ, Tomislav KOSEur. J. Entomol. 121: 269-279, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.028 Intensive use of pesticides is among the main drivers of biodiversity loss, especially of insects. Here, field concentrations of chemical synthetic pesticides were measured in soil and carabid beetles in a vineyard (VP) and olive grove (OP), in two consecutive years. The aim was to determine if active ingredients in pesticides applied in the field accumulate in carabids and how this correlates with treatment intensity. Carabids and soil samples were collected at a vineyard and olive grove in Zadar County in Croatia, soil in 2018 and 2019 and carabids in 2019. Both were under integrated pest management (IPM), with a total of 34 pesticides applied, between January and August in the two years of this study. Using LC-MS/MS, a broad range of pesticides, mainly fungicides, was detected in the soil and carabids. In soil samples, boscalid (0.047 mg/kg), mandipropamid (0.08 mg/kg), fluopyram (0.09 mg/kg), cyprodinil (0.09 mg/kg) and tebuconazole (0.13 mg/kg) were detected in the highest amounts. In addition, nine substances were detected in carabids, with valiphenalate (0.048 mg/kg), difenoconazole (0.051 mg/kg) and azoxystrobin (0.064 mg/kg) in the highest concentrations. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) indicated the accumulation of valiphenalate, metalaxyl-M, spiroxamine and difenoconazole in carabids. Data measured directly in the field revealed the accumulation of pesticides in carabids, which indicates they could be good bioindicators in IPM and contribute to a better understanding of the distribution of pesticides in Mediterranean agroecosystems. |
Comparative study of the diversity and structure of plant-pollinator interactions in forest and agricultural landscapes in Northwestern MoroccoOriginal articleAmine SAMIH, Sergi TRÓCOLI, Latifa ROHI, Hassan FOUGRACH, Mohammed HSAINE, Noureddin MAATOUFEur. J. Entomol. 121: 400-412, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.044 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. |
Comparison of flight behaviour and flight morphology between perching Lycaena phlaeas and patrolling Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)Original articleMichio IMAFUKUEur. J. Entomol. 122: 73-78, 2025 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2025.008 Perching (territorial) and patrolling are recognised as mate-locating tactics adopted by male butterflies. It is said that males adopting the former fly fast with high acceleration, whereas those adopting the latter fly at continuous and lower speeds. However, no previous studies have demonstrated these flight properties using quantitative data. In the present study, the flight properties of two lycaenid species, the perching L. phlaeas and the patrolling Z. maha, were investigated based on three-dimensional analysis. Males of L. phlaeas had higher flight velocities and higher relative flight time than those of Z. maha. Furthermore, the flight morphology that supports flight properties was examined. The perching L. phlaeas exhibited higher thorax-to-body mass ratios and greater wing loadings than patrolling Z. maha. |
The bee fauna (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) of allotments in downtown LisbonOriginal articleMiguel AZEVEDO, Elisabete FIGUEIREDO, Maria Teresa REBELOEur. 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 net, we collected 202 specimens from April to July 2018, belonging to five families, 20 genera and 58 species, of which six are rare species in Portugal and nine first records for the Lisbon district. Megachilidae was the most diverse family, comprising 15 species, while Apidae was the most abundant family. Most of the species identified were solitary and had a generalist pollen diet, with a low incidence of social and parasitic species. |
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 articleShin G. GOTO, Masatoshi NAGATAEur. 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 silenced the Clock (Clk) gene, the main regulator of the circadian clock, in the band-legged ground cricket Dianemobius nigrofasciatus (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae). Silencing the Clk gene using RNA interference (Clk RNAi) in female crickets resulted in abnormal circadian rhythms under constant darkness and light-dark conditions, thereby indicating the central role of this gene in the circadian clock mechanism. Clk RNAi females exhibited long-day oviposition behaviour, even when reared under short-day conditions, thereby indicating the involvement of Clk in photoperiodic time measurement. In addition, Clk RNAi females immediately laid non-diapause-type eggs, which was not recorded in control females under either short-day or long-day conditions and cannot be explained in terms of dysfunction of photoperiodic time measurement. Accordingly, we speculate that Clk could also be involved in a downstream process that results in the laying of diapause-type eggs. |
Abiotic factors associated with the distribution of Mutilla europaea (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in Northern EuropeOriginal articleKarl GUNNARSSONEur. J. Entomol. 121: 1-6, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.001 The distribution of Mutilla europaea (Linnaeus, 1758), has never been carefully investigated in Northern Europe. The density of M. europaea is highest along parts of the coast in Northern Europe and its distribution overlaps the border of the temperate zone in this area, which is not surprising, given that it is well documented that temperature regulates the ecology of insect communities (presumably because temperature is associated with several physiological other adaptations and plastic responses). This paper presents new information on its distribution in Northern Europe and reveals that abiotic factors are associated with this species' distribution in the area around the Baltic Sea. |
Diapause among the flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)Ivo Hodek special issueReviewDavid L. DENLINGEREur. 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 of flesh flies, offering insights into such features as clock mechanisms, signaling pathways, maternal regulation, energy utilization, cell cycle regulation, metabolic depression, cyclic metabolic activity, cold tolerance, water balance, and other attributes, generating a diapause profile that offers an attractive comparison for diapause in other insect species as well as with other forms of animal dormancy. |
Cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An overview and new dataOriginal articlePablo MORA, José M. RICO-PORRAS, Teresa PALOMEQUE, Ana VALDIVIA, Diogo C. CABRAL-DE-MELLO, Pedro LORITEEur. J. Entomol. 121: 206-218, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.023 Here, a comprehensive cytogenetic analysis of three species of tenebrionid beetles: Alphitobius diaperinus, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio, is presented. This paper also contains a review of the cytogenetic information for each species and adds new data. The male karyotype of both T. molitor and Z. morio is 2n = 18 + Xyp, with large heterochromatic blocks in the pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes. The male A. diaperinus karyotype is 2n = 18 + X0, also with heterochromatic pericentromeric regions in all chromosomes. The location of the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) differs in each species: in A. diaperinus, it is located on the smallest pair of autosomes, while in T. molitor, it is on two pairs of autosomes and both sex chromosomes. In contrast, it is exclusively located on the X chromosome in Z. morio. Telomere analysis revealed that all species have TCAGG repeats in their telomeres, but lack the canonical TTAGG insect telomeric motif. In addition, a study of the distribution of satellite DNA and composition revealed that each species has a main satellite DNA family forming the pericentromeric heterochromatin. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of each of these satellites did not produce hybridization signal in the other two species, indicating a divergence in repetitive DNA composition among them. This study adds to the understanding of chromosomal organization, heterochromatin distribution and repetitive DNA dynamics in tenebrionid beetles and sheds light on their cytogenetic diversity and evolutionary significance. |
A taxonomic review of the genus Ochinoeus (Coleoptera: Lycidae), with descriptions of three new species from ChinaOriginal articleChen FANG, Yuxia YANG, Xingke YANG, Haoyu LIUEur. J. Entomol. 121: 374-384, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.040 The lycid genus Ochinoeus, Kubecek, Bray & Bocak, 2015 is reviewed. The genus originally contained four species, three of which are from China: O. hainanensis Kubecek, Bray & Bocak, 2015, O. habashanensis Kubecek, Bray & Bocak, 2015, and O. xunyanbaensis Kubecek, Bray & Bocak, 2015. In this study, three new species are described from China, including O. guangxiensis sp. n., O. yunnanus sp. n., and O. xizangensis sp. n. All of the Chinese Ochinoeus species are illustrated with macrophotographs of their habitus and aedeagi. In addition, a distribution map and identification key to males of all species of Ochinoeus are provided. |
The draft genome sequence of the Japanese honey bee, Apis cerana japonica (Hymenoptera: Apidae)Original articleKakeru YOKOI, Hironobu UCHIYAMA, Takeshi WAKAMIYA, Mikio YOSHIYAMA, Jun-Ichi TAKAHASHI, Tetsuro NOMURA, Tsutomu FURUKAWA, Shunsuke YAJIMA, Kiyoshi KIMURAEur. J. Entomol. 115: 650-657, 2018 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2018.064 Honey bees are not only important for honey production but also as pollinators of wild and cultivated plants. The Eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) is more resistant to several pathogens than the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera), and the genomes of two strains of the nominotypical subspecies, A. cerana cerana, northern (Korea) and southern (China) strains, have been sequenced. Apis cerana japonica, another subspecies of A. cerana, shows many specific features (e.g. mildness, low honey production and frequently absconds) and it is important to study the molecular biological and genetic aspects of these features. To accelerate the genetic research on A. cerana japonica, we sequenced the genome of this subspecies. The draft genome sequence of A. cerana japonica presented here is of high quality in terms of basic genome status (e.g. N50 is 180 kbp, total length is 211 Mbp, and largest contig length is 1.31 Mbp) and BUSCO results. The gene set of A. cerana japonica was predicted using AUGUSTUS software and the set of genes was annotated using Blastp and InterProScan, and GO terms were added to each gene. The number of genes is higher than in A. mellifera and in the two strains of A. cerana cerana sequenced previously. A small number of transposable elements and repetitive regions were found in A. cerana japonica, which are also in the genomes of A. mellifera and the northern and southern strains of A. cerana cerana. Apis cerana is resistant to several pathogens that seriously damage A. mellifera. We searched for 41 orthologs related to the IMD and Toll pathways, which have key roles in the immune reaction to invading pathogens. Some orthologs were not identified in the genome of the northern strain of A. cerana cerana. This indicates that the Toll and IMD pathways function in the same way as in A. mellifera and Drosophila melanogaster. Use of the draft genome sequence of A. cerana japonica provided herein and those of the other Apis (sub)species may help to accelerate comparative research on the genome of honey bees. |
Stage-specific vulnerability of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to intraguild predationIvo Hodek special issueOriginal articleGeneviève LABRIE, Roberto MESEGUER, Eric LUCASEur. J. Entomol. 120: 70-80, 2023 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2023.010 The multicoloured Asian ladybeetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), is a widespread invasive ladybird. It is considered a top predator among the aphidophagous coccinellids in North America and Europe; thus, it is supposed to be free from predation pressure by other members of the guild. Our study aims to evaluate the stage-specific vulnerability of H. axyridis to intraguild predation (IGP) by the indigenous Coleomegilla maculata lengi Timberlake and the invasive Propylea quatuordecimpunctata Linnaeus. We hypothesised that (1) H. axyridis stages will be less susceptible to IGP than the two other species, (2) vulnerability to IGP will decrease with the age of the larvae and (3) vulnerability to IGP will increase with increased weight difference between intraguild predator (IGPredator) and intraguild prey (IGPrey). Eggs, 1st and 2nd instars of H. axyridis were susceptible to IGP by both C. maculata and P. quatuordecimpunctata adults and larvae, but less vulnerable than the other beetles when facing the same IGPredator. Vulnerability to IGP for the three species was reduced with increased age of larvae and with decreased weight difference. Overall, H. axyridis was less vulnerable to IGP than the two other species, but the results confirm the fact that the status of IGPrey or IGPredator of H. axyridis will be determined by the stages of both species during the interactions. |
Morphological allometry of three hymenopteran ectoparasitoids of stored-product insect pestsShort CommunicationKento HIRATA, Kôji SASAKAWAEur. J. Entomol. 121: 341-346, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.035 Allometric analysis provides an insight into the function and diversification mechanisms of body parts in organisms. The allometry and variability in size of various body parts of three hymenopteran species, Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard), Anisopteromalus quinarius Gokhman & Baur, and Heterospilus prosopidis Viereck, which are solitary ectoparasitoids of stored-product insect pests, were studied. The relationship between many of the traits measured and body size is negatively allometric, others were isometric, and none were positively allometric. The two species of Anisopteromalus were less variable in size than H. prosopidis and there were intersexual differences in both species of Anisopteromalus. Although the patterns in these differences are complex and difficult to interpret from an ecological perspective, based on information on their behaviour it is hypothesized that stabilizing selection is associated with the negative allometry of two traits: ovipositor length in at least two species and male leg length in both species of Anisopteromalus. This hypothesis is supported by the lower variability in the size of these body parts compared to other body parts examined in this study, which is typical of traits subject to stabilizing selection. |
The diversity of feeding habits recorded for water boatmen (Heteroptera: Corixoidea) world-wide with implications for evaluating information on the diet of aquatic insectsReviewChristian W. HÄDICKE, Dávid RÉDEI, Petr KMENTEur. J. Entomol. 114: 147-159, 2017 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2017.020 Food webs are of crucial importance for understanding any ecosystem. The accuracy of food web and ecosystem models rests on the reliability of the information on the feeding habits of the species involved. Water boatmen (Corixoidea) is the most diverse superfamily of water bugs (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha), frequently the most abundant group of insects in a variety of freshwater habitats worldwide. In spite of their high biomass, the importance of water boatmen in aquatic ecosystems is frequently underestimated. The diet and feeding habits of Corixoidea are unclear as published data are frequently contradictory. We summarise information on the feeding habits of this taxon, which exemplify the difficulties in evaluating published data on feeding habits in an invertebrate taxon. It is concluded that Corixoidea are, unlike other true bugs, capable of digesting solid food, but their feeding habits are still insufficiently known. The dominant feeding strategy in this taxon is zoophagy, but several species consume other foods, particularly algae and detritus. Only members of the subfamily Cymatiainae seem to be exclusively predators. In other subfamilies, the diet of different species and different sexes or populations of a single species may vary depending on the food available or is still unknown. We conclude, that a multi-method approach is needed to elucidate the feeding habits of aquatic insects and invertebrates in general. |
Diapause in eastern North American populations of Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)Original articleJohn J. OBRYCKI, Catherine A. TAUBER, Maurice J. TAUBEREur. J. Entomol. 121: 98-108, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.013 Experiments examined the life histories and the effect of photoperiod on the expression of adult hibernal diapause in the Palearctic ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata, within 10 years of its discovery in North America. The study used beetles from two populations in eastern United States and focused on two aspects of diapause. First, the effects of daylength on the induction and depth (or duration) of diapause were examined by rearing and maintaining adult beetles from Tompkins County, New York, under six constant photoperiods until oviposition, death, or the passage of 125 days. Second, the seasonal progression of diapause maintenance and termination under natural conditions was evaluated by periodically (between October and April) testing the photoperiodic responses of overwintering adults that had been held out-of-doors; this test used beetles from Bergen County, New Jersey. Despite large variation in responses, the first test indicated that LD 16:8 had a strong, but not complete, diapause deterring effect. About 60% of females reared at LD 16:8 oviposited without delay, whereas photoperiods with shorter daylengths yielded lower incidences of oviposition without delay (18% at LD 14:10, 0% at LD 12:12 and 10:14). Only 27% of the females that experienced daylengths of LD 18:6 and 17:7 reproduced without delay. Females that survived the full length of the experiment (125 days) without ovipositing were considered likely to express an alternate (univoltine) life-history pattern that was unaffected by photoperiod. In the second experiment, results from the naturally overwintering C. septempunctata population indicated that females undergo significant changes in their photoperiodic responses during hibernal reproductive diapause. Based on the beetles' seasonal pattern of photoperiodic responses, we conclude that during autumn, short (and/or decreasing) daylengths play a role in diapause maintenance. By January, the photoperiodic maintenance of diapause diminishes, and by April, photoperiod no longer affects the timing of postdiapause reproduction. In our study, a small proportion of the overwintering adult C. septempunctata was parasitized by the koinobiont parasitoid Dinocampus coccinellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae); data on the parasitoid's emergence pattern indicated that photoperiod plays a role in maintaining its diapause until the middle of January. |
Environmental variables associated with insect richness and nestedness on small islands off the coast of northeastern AlgeriaOriginal articleLyes AISSATEur. J. Entomol. 120: 244-253, 2023 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2023.027 This study investigated the association of environmental factors with insect richness and nested patterns in the distribution of species of insects on small islands (northeastern Algeria). Insect species on eleven (11) islands were sampled using pitfall traps, sweep netting and a Japanese umbrella. To explain patterns in insect diversity on small islands, a generalized linear model (GLM) was used to determine the association of the overall richness and that of the dominant orders of insects with environmental variables (altitude, surface area, isolation, plant richness and number of habitats). To determine the nestedness pattern on these islands, the online interface NeD was used to measure total matrix nestedness. Of the variables measured, only plant richness was associated with variations in the overall species richness and that of the five dominant orders. The overall number of insects and that of the five dominant insect orders were significantly nested in all null models except the very restrictive FF model. Plant richness accounted for the nested structure of the overall number of insects and that of the five dominant orders (Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera). Surface area was also important in the nested structure of overall number of insects and that of the order Lepidoptera. The nestedness of the overall number of insects and that of the five dominant orders of insects, however, did not result from passive sampling and selective colonization. The most effective way of conserving overall number of insects and that of the five dominant orders of insects on the Algerian islands studied is to protect their plant richness and to maximize the overall number of species and that of Lepidoptera on these islands, conservation should concentrate on the largest islands. |
Effect of fungicide sprays on spiders in vineyardsOriginal articleJo Marie REIFF, Christoph HOFFMANN, Martin H. ENTLINGEur. J. Entomol. 121: 19-28, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.003 Spiders are the most abundant naturally occurring predators in vineyards and play a crucial role in natural pest control. However, vineyards are frequently sprayed with fungicides, which can harm spider communities. Fungus-resistant grape varieties can drastically reduce this fungicide input. The spiders on grape vines that were sprayed with a variable number of fungicide applications in 32 vineyards in different landscapes in Southwestern Germany were recorded. Vineyards received between 0 and 14 fungicidal sprays of varying toxicity (cumulated hazard quotients for honeybee up to 6). The majority of spiders benefited from a reduction in the number fungicide sprays, particularly Dictynidae, Philodromidae, Theridiidae and Thomisidae. Overall, space web weavers, orb web weavers and ambush hunters were most strongly affected by the frequency and toxicity of fungicide applications. The response of spiders to the landscape were highly variable and included both positive and negative effects of the percentage cover of woodland. In conclusion, reducing the cumulative hazard of fungicides by reducing the number of fungicide applications is a key element in fostering spiders in vineyards. |
The role of iron (Fe) in the population dynamics of pistachio psyllid, Agonoscena pistaciae (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) in Pistacia orchardsOriginal articleHossein DEHGHANI-YAKHDANI, Shahzad IRANIPOUR, Mohammad Reza MEHRNEJAD, Reza FARSHBAF-POURABADEur. J. Entomol. 116: 194-200, 2019 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2019.021 The common pistachio psyllid (CPP) is thought to respond to nutrient availability in pistachio trees. We determined the effect of a deficiency of leaf iron (Fe) has on the abundance of the pistachio psyllid at a regional scale. First, we monitored the abundance pistachio psyllid in four pistachio orchards (24 trees as 24 repetitions) located in Maybod County, Yazd province in the centre of Iran and then measured leaf nutrient levels. Orchards were located up to 2.6 km apart. Multivariate regressions were used to determine the relationship between leaf nutrients and CPP population growth. The results indicate that the number of psyllid eggs and population growth rate of the nymphs was negatively correlated with Fe levels in the leaves, while peak numbers of psyllid eggs were positively correlated with the levels of Cu in the leaves. In a manipulative field experiment, we conducted two experiments: (1) pistachio trees treated with iron compared with control trees, and (2) pistachio trees previously treated with iron were treated with ammonium sulphate and compared with trees treated with ammonium sulphate. In the first experiment, psyllids in leaf disc-cages had a significantly greater intrinsic rate of population increase and net reproductive rate on Fe-treated trees than the control trees (Stage 1). In the second experiment, psyllids in leaf disc-cages had similar intrinsic rates of population increase and net reproduction both on the ammonium sulphate treated trees (control) and those previously treated with iron. This indicates that iron may have reacted negatively with nitrogen content of the leaves. In general, these findings indicate that when there is a deficiency of iron in the leaves, the application of nitrogen fertilizer had little effect on the performance of CPP and may have played a minor role in the population dynamics of CPP, but the application of a Fe fertilizer without considering the nitrogen content of the leaves may lead to a population outbreak. |
Cold and freezing injury in insects: An overview of molecular mechanismsIvo Hodek special issueReviewJan ROZSYPALEur. 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 of the interaction between the effects of temperature, ice formation and resulting secondary effects such as osmotic stress, increased concentration of solutes, cellular freeze dehydration, disruption of ionic balance and oxidative stress. The present review attempts to identify gaps in our knowledge on the mechanisms of cold injury in organisms and proposes possible future directions that could contribute to filling the gaps. |
An overview of the pollination interactions between the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) and insects in AsiaReviewSuganthi APPALASAMY, Nivaarani ARUMUGAM, Visweswara Rao PASUPULETI, Sreeramanan SUBRAMANIAM, Jayaraj Vijaya KUMARAN, Maryana Mohamad NOR, Mohammed Abdus SALAMEur. J. Entomol. 120: 170-181, 2023 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2023.022 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. |
Taxonomic revision of the highly threatened Eumerus tricolor species group (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Southeast Europe, with insights into the conservation of the genus EumerusOriginal articleAna GRKOVIĆ, Jeroen VAN STEENIS, Marija MILIČIĆ, Nataša KOČIŠ TUBIĆ, Mihajla DJAN, Snežana RADENKOVIĆ, Ante VUJIĆEur. J. Entomol. 118: 368-393, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.039 The diversity in the Eumerus tricolor group, the largest group within the genus in Southeast Europe, is investigated. Two new, locally distributed species are described, E. crispus Vujić & Grković, sp. n. from Serbia and E. nigrorufus Grković & Vujić, sp. n. from Montenegro. In addition to Southeast European members, one related species E. arctus van Steenis, sp. n. is described from Switzerland. We designate lectotypes for E. ovatus Loew, 1848, E. tarsalis Loew, 1848, E. tricolor (Fabricius, 1798) and E. varius Meigen, 1822. A map of the distribution of members of the E. tricolor group in Southeast Europe is provided. In addition, records from other parts of Europe are listed and an illustrated identification key to the SE European species of the E. tricolor group provided. We also study and discuss the significance of small habitat patches for the preservation of species of Eumerus, because the three species described in this paper are currently known from such patches. |
Declines in the frequency of melanic Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Northern UK populationsShort CommunicationEmily A. HORNETT, Jack ARCHER, Gregory D. D. HURSTEur. J. Entomol. 121: 392-395, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.042 The two-spot ladybird, Adalia bipunctata, is polymorphic for elytral colour pattern. Whilst colour pattern polymorphism is complex, there are two predominant morphs: melanic and typical, which vary spatially in frequency. In the UK the melanic form has historically been most common in the industrialized North West of England. Evidence from industrial midland populations showed a decline in melanic frequency between 1960 and 1986 concordant with de-industrialization. We resampled the population of Merseyside in the North West of England, where the highest frequencies of melanic forms were historically observed, and compared our samples to data previously collected in 1962-1963. Data was consistent with a decline in frequency of melanics in the 60 year interval, but the melanic form was nevertheless still observed at around 30% frequency. We estimate the melanic allele has declined from 60-67% frequency to 13-18% frequency over the last 60 years, and that selection favouring the typical form has been of the order of 5-7% per generation. We note that selection against melanics in Wirral/Merseyside has been less strong than that observed in other Northern populations. We conclude that the decline in the melanic form is consistent with industrial thermal melanism as a primary factor driving melanism, but de-industrialization has not been sufficient to cause complete loss of the melanic allele in this location. |
Evidence of a South American origin for the Drosophila repleta group (Diptera: Drosophilidae)Original articleAndrea E. ACURIOEur. J. Entomol. 121: 124-133, 2024 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2024.015 The Drosophila repleta group is one of the most widely used model systems for studying adaptation and speciation. Traditionally, five subgroups are recognized within the repleta group: fasciola, hydei, mercatorum, repleta and mulleri. A sixth subgroup, inca, was the last to be defined. The inca species subgroup includes three species: Drosophila inca, Drosophila huancavilcae and Drosophila yangana, all of which are endemic to Ecuador and Peru. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies have been inconclusive regarding the geographic location, time and mode of diversification of lineages within the repleta group. By applying a phylogenetic and biogeographical analysis of 54 taxa belonging to the repleta, nannoptera, atalaia and virilis groups, the aim of this study was to: (1) determine the relationships between the inca subgroup and the other five subgroups within the repleta group, (2) improve the unresolved branching and low supports of the early divergent lineages in the repleta group phylogeny and (3) estimate the geographic and temporal context of the early divergence within the repleta group. Based on these findings, it is proposed that the Drosophila repleta group first diversified during the mid-late Miocene, most likely following the uplift of the Northwestern Andes. |