Among the semi-natural elements in agricultural landscapes, wildflower strips sown at field margins or within fields are potential habitats for the natural enemies of insect pests. As insects are sensitive to a variety of flower traits, we hypothesized that mixtures with high functional diversity attract and support a higher abundance and species richness of aphid flower visiting predators than mixtures with low functional diversity. During a field experiment, repeated over two years (2014 and 2015) in Gembloux (Belgium), aphid predators (i.e., lacewings, ladybeetles and hoverflies) were pan-trapped in five sown flower mixtures (including a control mixture, with three replicates of each mixture) of low to high functional diversity based on seven traits (i.e., flower colour, ultra-violet reflectance and pattern, start and duration of flowering, height and flower class, primarily based on corolla morphology). In both years, the species of flowering plants in the sown mixtures (i.e., sown and spontaneous flowers) were listed, and the realized functional diversity in each plot calculated. Over the two years, a high functional diversity was not associated with high abundance and richness of aphid predators. Moreover, ladybeetles, which made up the majority of the predators trapped, were more abundant in mixtures with very low or intermediate functional diversity at sowing, especially in 2014. We hypothesize that certain flowers, which were abundant in certain mixtures (and not in those exhibiting the highest functional diversity), attracted predators and were sufficiently abundant to support them. Our results present novel information that could be used for developing flower mixtures that provide effective ecosystem services, such as pest control.

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.

The functional response of Aenasius bambawalei Hayat (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) to different population densities of Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was investigated under laboratory conditions of 65 ± 5% R.H., a photoperiod of 14L : 10D and at temperatures of 25, 30 and 35 ± 1°C. Two, 4, 6, 8, 16, 32 and 64 third instar nymphs of P. solenopsis were exposed to newly emerged mated female parasitoids for 24 h. The parasitoid exhibited a type II functional response at all temperatures. The searching efficiencies (a) and handling times (T_h) were 0.1818 h^-1 and 5.0012 h at 25°C, 0.1382 h^-1 and 3.2807 h at 30°C, and 0.2097 h^-1 and 2.3635 h at 35°C, respectively. The maximum attack rates (T/T_h) were 4.8, 7.3 and 10.2 nymphs at 25, 30 and 35°C, respectively. This indicates that A. bambawalei is more likely to be an effective biological control agent of P. solenopsis in warm seasons.

Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank) is a braconid parasitoid of ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and has exceptionally wide geographical and host ranges. Based on published and unpublished sources Dinocampus coccinellae probably occurs throughout the temperate, subtropical and tropical climatic zones, but some regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa (except its southernmost part) and the Malay Archipelago, have not so far been surveyed for this wasp. In most of its extensive range D. coccinellae was present before the widespread use of classical biological control. It is likely, however, to have reached some oceanic islands and archipelagos at a later date, along with ladybirds used as biocontrol agents. At least 72 species of Coccinellidae are hosts of D. coccinellae. Three of them, Vibidia duodecimguttata (Poda), Calvia decemguttata (L.) and Coccinella miranda Wollaston, are reported here for the first time as hosts of this parasitoid. The most often reported host of D. coccinellae worldwide is Coccinella septempunctata L. followed by Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer) and Hippodamia convergens Guerin.

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.

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.

Rising concerns about the negative effects of chemical compounds in pest control have made it increasingly necessary to find new environmentally friendly compounds to combat insect pests. In recent years, the use of plant derivatives, such as, essential oils have proved very promising. Despite the many studies on essential oils, there are very few studies on the effect of these oils on induction of Heat shock proteins (HSPs) and antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the exposure of insects to essential oils induce stress, which it is likely induces the production of heat shock proteins and antioxidant enzymes. Thus, Ectomyelois ceratoniae Clark (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was used as a model insect to study the lethal and sublethal effect of the fumigant toxicity of the essential oils extracted from the plants Thymus daenensis Celak and Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry indicated that thymol and carvacrol were the major component of T. daenensis and S. khuzistanica extracts, respectively. Exposing E. ceratoniae to sublethal doses of the essential oils (LC₃₀) and using RT-qPCR indicated that the expression levels of HSP70 and HSP90 were significantly increased. Activities of antioxidant enzymes including SOD, CA, POX, GST and the concentration of MDA increased following exposure to sublethal doses of both essential oils. These findings clearly show that in addition to the reported effects of essential oils, oxidative stress and induction of free radical production could be another mode of the action of essential oils on insects.

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 to photoperiod, similar to that observed in several other species of predaceous Coccinellidae that diapause as adults.

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.

This study presents a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus Aphonoides Chopard, 1940 in China, integrating morphological examination with molecular phylogenetics. As a result, we describe a new species, A. ouyue He & Wei, sp. n., from China, and synonymize A. aspidoid Zheng et al., 2021, syn. n. with A. japonicus (Shiraki, 1930). We also upgrade A. medvedevi alius Gorochov, 2007 to species status as A. alius Gorochov, stat. n., remove A. tessellatus Chopard, 1969, A. punctatus (Haan, 1844) and A. fuscirostris (Chopard, 1969) from the Chinese fauna, and provide the first description of the genitalia for A. wuyiensis Yin & Zhang, 2001. Molecular analysis of the COI gene (658 bp), including Aphonoides and Mistshenkoana Gorochov, 1990, reconstructs a phylogenetic tree confirming that both genera are monophyletic. The results also strongly support the current morphological classification of Aphonoides.

In temperate regions, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen, 1830) is subject to seasonal changes in natural conditions. Insects exhibit a wide range of adaptive responses to changes in the seasons. In this study, we focused on polyteny, which plays an important role in fruit fly development. Polytene chromosomes are the result of endocycles, a variant of the cell cycle based on endoreduplication. This phenomenon is the basis of postmitotic growth, which is caused by cell expansion. The purpose of the study was to investigate the seasonal dynamics of the levels of endoreduplication and polyteny in fruit flies obtained from the natural population. Flies caught in the spring and autumn of 2019 and 2020 were used as biological material. Chromosomal differences in polyteny were studied by cytomorphometry. We found that patterns of polyteny in Drosophila salivary glands undergo seasonal changes. To a certain extent, these variations correlate with changes in the direction of natural selection, which undergoes seasonal fluctuations. Indices of endoreduplication and cell ploidy acquire the greatest values after overwintering, during which there is an extreme decline in population size and flies undergo selection for viability and stress resistance. During the growing season, endoreduplication and ploidy indicators are reduced. We believe that this facilitates population growth by resulting in smaller flies with accelerated development and faster change of generations. The seasonal component in the total variation of chromosome polyteny in the salivary glands of Drosophila larvae was 21.9%. No significant sex differences were found for this trait.

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.

Carabids are important natural biocontrol agents for pest regulation in agricultural landscapes. Their role in the ecosystem is related to functional traits, which are themselves filtered by both the degree of habitat disturbance and the landscape composition and configuration that distribute ecological resources. Here we aim at sorting out the influences of habitat and landscape context on carabid traits in permanent grasslands and winter cereal crops (wheat or barley). We sampled carabids in adjacent grasslands and cereal fields in three agricultural plains of south-eastern France. We analysed the links between carabid traits and their occurrence in the studied habitats using regression models. We also characterised the influences of habitat and landscape context on trait distribution using multivariate analyses. Polyphagous species were more likely than others to be shared by both adjacent grassland and cereal fields. Granivorous carabids were strongly related to grasslands, while predatory and polyphagous species were more often captured exclusively in cereal crops when exclusive to one habitat. Small apterous carabids were more likely to be found in grasslands only. Concerning the influence of the landscape, polyphagous species were related to cereal crops surrounded by higher grassland coverage or lower compositional heterogeneity. Smaller carabids were more likely to be found in the vicinity of high grassland coverage, and apterous carabids in grassland-dominated landscapes. Grasslands thus not only provide resource and habitat complementation for generalist carabid species from neighbouring croplands, but they also host distinctive species showing particular traits. It is therefore important to maintain or restore grasslands in agricultural landscapes to support species and functional diversity in farmland.

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.

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) are a family of small conserved eukaryotic proteins that mediate fusion between organelles and the plasma membrane. Prior to fusion, complementary SNAREs, such as syntaxin, synaptosome-associated protein (SNAP), and synaptobrevin, assemble between membranes with the aid of accessory proteins that provide a scaffold to initiate SNARE zippering, pulling the membranes together, and mediating fusion. SNAP-29 and Syntaxin 6 from Bombyx mori were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using affinity chromatography. We then produced antibodies against SNAP-29, and Syntaxin 6 of Bombyx mori in rabbits, which were used for immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemistry results revealed that the expression of SNAP-29 was restricted to neurons in the pars intercerebralis (PI) and dorsolateral protocerebrum (DL) of the brain. The amount of SNAP-29 in the brain increases with hunger. Syntaxin 6 was restricted to neurons in the PI, the central complex (CX) and ventro-median protocerebrum (VP). SNAP-29 co-localized with SNAP-25 and Syntaxin 1A in the PI, and with Syntaxin 1A in the DL. Syntaxin 6 co-localized with SNAP-25 and Syntaxin 1A in the PI and with SNAP-25 in the CX. Bombyxin-immunopositive neurons of the brain occurred in SNAP-29 and Syntaxin 6-IRs. PTTH- and period-immunopositive neurons of the brain occurred in SNAP-29-IRs. Syntaxin 6 is present in EH secretory neurons of the brain.

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.

Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are nectar-secreting structures found on various plants that attract insects, especially ants, which may in turn provide indirect defense against herbivores. This study investigates the presence, morphology, and ecological role of EFNs in Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) and documents the diversity and spatial behavior of its ant visitors. Field observations and scanning electron microscopy revealed button-shaped EFNs located along the adaxial leaf margin, which first appeared at the flowering stage and peaked during the early fruiting stage before declining. Six facultative ant species - Tapinoma melanocephalum, Crematogaster subnuda, Camponotus compressus, Camponotus sericeus, Tetraponera rufonigra, and Lepto­genys sp. - were recorded visiting the EFNs. All species spent significantly more time on the leaf margins than on other plant parts, with T. melanocephalum being the only species to show a strong preference for flowers. The findings highlight a stage-dependent EFN production in M. charantia and a preferential ant visitation pattern centered around EFNs, suggesting a potential role for these glands in ant-mediated plant defense. This study underscores the need for further experimental research to assess the defensive benefits of EFN-visiting ants in crop protection.

The effectiveness of natural enemies in controlling pests may be determined by many traits linked to their ability to regulate the density of their prey. In this respect, the phenomenon of pseudoparasitism, in which female parasitoids reject a host after inserting their ovipositor into it, is fairly common among hymenopteran parasitoids. However, in spite of this its effect on hosts is rarely reported in entomological and biological control literature. For this reason, in the present study, the pseudoparasitism by the parasitoid Spalangia cameroni Perkins of the Mediterranean pest Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and its effect on several biological parameters of the host were studied under laboratory conditions. The results indicate that the percentage pseudoparasitism by S. cameroni of medfly in the laboratory is high, even slightly higher than host-feeding, which is commonly used to evaluate the potential of parasitoids as biological control agents. In addition, the adults that emerge from pseudoparasitized medfly pupae have a male-biased sex ratio, low levels of survival and are frequently damaged, which results in small adults and an inability to mate successfully. In conclusion, our results indicate that pseudoparasitism is common and enhances the effectiveness of S. cameroni attacking medfly, which highlights the importance of this phenomenon when selecting parasitoids to be included in a biological control programme.

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 effect of temperature on the functional response of female adults of Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter to different densities of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) pupae was assessed. Three constant temperatures (15, 25, and 35°C) and six prey densities (5, 10, 20, 35, 50, and 70) were tested over a 24-h period. Nesidiocoris tenuis exhibited a type II functional response at 15 and 25°C, and a type III response at 35°C. The number of prey consumed by the predator increased with increase in the prey density at all temperatures. Temperature influenced attack rates and handling times. The highest attack rate occurred at 35°C at high densities (35, 50, and 70 prey) and the lowest handling time was recorded at 35°C. The maximum attack rates (T/T_h) were 17.13, 42.12, and 45.07 whitefly pupae per day at 15, 25 and 35°C, respectively. As a result, the value of a/T_h indicates that N. tenuis was relatively more efficient in attacking B. tabaci at 35°C than at lower temperatures. Results suggest that the ability of N. tenuis to detect and consume B. tabaci over a broad range of temperatures, especially high temperatures (25-35°C), makes this mirid a good candidate for the biological control of whiteflies in warm environments, such as greenhouses.

Spiders are generalist predators that contribute to the control of pests in agroecosystems. Land use management determines habitats including refuges for hibernation and aestivation. The availability of shelters on the ground can be crucial for maintaining populations of spider within crops. We studied the effect of the number of stones on the surface of the soil on the spider community in selected olive groves in Trás-os-Montes (northeastern Portugal). The number of stones significantly influenced the overall diversity of spiders, abundance of immature individuals and abundance of ground hunters. Agricultural management practices aimed at the conservation of soil microhabitats such as hedgerows, stonewalls and stones on the ground should be promoted in order to maintain or increase the number of shelters for potential natural enemies of pests.

Buffer strips along small waterways that are adjacent to arable land are important for improving water quality and are common measures in agri-environmental schemes. To assess their contribution to arthropod species richness (alpha and gamma diversity) and differences in assemblages (beta diversity) we used pitfall traps to catch arachnids and ground beetles at 40 fields in four regions across Bavaria, Germany, during two or three one-week sampling periods in summer. A permanent vegetated buffer strip was present on 25 of the study fields, 15 were cropped to the field border adjacent to the waterway. Trapping was conducted in the riparian field border, the buffer zone (with or without an established buffer strip), the field edge about 15 m distant to the field border and in the field centre in 80 m distance. Results indicated that alpha and gamma diversity were lowest in the field centre, and the riparian field border had the highest species richness of arachnids. Alpha diversity of ground beetles and spiders was not enhanced in fields with a buffer strip and the buffer strip did not have significantly higher species richness than cropped fields at the same field position. In contrast for ground beetles a higher species richness was observed in the unbuffered field border. An indicator species analysis showed that most of this effect was due to spillover of eurytopic arable species from the neighbouring field. For ground beetle assemblages buffered riparian field borders showed a higher dissimilarity to the other sampled field positions than riparian field borders without an adjacent buffer strip. We conclude that the establishment of buffer strips altered the faunal composition within the buffered riparian field border habitat in summer. We discuss ecological consequences, such as increased beta-diversity and changes in competition, which make buffer strips an important component of the preservation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.

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.

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.

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 of 2.3 × 10⁷ CFU per ml), and with a similar concentration of the isolated fungal strain. Topical application of 0.03 ml of solution per cm², or 1 × 10³ CFU, caused 100% mortality to A. gossypii adults after seven days, whether Naturalis^®-L or the isolate alone was used. The fungus grew endophytically into foliage when sprayed on cucumbers at the 2-leaf stage and concentrations of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, hydrogen peroxide, and total chlorophyll were higher than in control plants 28 days after inoculation. Malondialdehyde content, plant growth, and total yield were unaffected by B. bassiana inoculation. Aphids fed on B. bassiana-inoculated plants for 24 h had reduced activities of detoxifying enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, carboxylesterase, and acetylcholinesterase) compared to controls. Activities of digestive enzymes, (lipase, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and aminopeptidase) were reduced in aphids from inoculated plants, which exhibited higher activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and phenoloxidase, but lower catalase activity. Energy reserves (lipids, protein, and glycogen) were lower in aphids from inoculated plants, and they exhibited reduced fecundity, longevity, and reproductive periods, and a 50% reduction in the LC₅₀ of pirimicarb. Thus, in addition to causing direct pathogenicity, inoculation of plants with B. bassiana negatively impacted A. gossypii physiology and reproductive performance and could usefully complement other strategies for managing cotton aphids on greenhouse cucumber.

Entomopathogenic fungi and the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) might be used together in biological control. However, the effects of these fungi on T. pretiosum are not known. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effect of the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea, on the biological parameters of T. pretiosum. Two isolates of I. fumosorosea (IBCB 367 and IBCB 394) were used for this purpose. (1) In a free choice test: cards (1.0 × 5.0 cm) with non-parasitized eggs of Anagasta kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were either sprayed with 0.2 mL of the fungus suspension (1.0 × 10⁹ conidia.mL^-1) or with sterile distilled water containing Tween^® 80 (0.01%), which were then offered to females of T. pretiosum. (2) No choice test: the isolates were sprayed at a concentration of 1.0 × 10⁹ conidia.mL^-1 on cards (1.0 × 5.0 cm) with A. kuehniella eggs. The control consisted of spraying sterile distilled water containing Tween^® 80 (0.01%). Individual females of T. pretiosum were confined for 24 h with the cards. The number of eggs parasitized, percentage of emergence, longevity, duration of the egg-adult period and sex ratio were evaluated, as well as the longevity of the females that parasitized the eggs and the mortality of the emerging adults evaluated. IBCB 367 isolate repelled T. pretiosum. The pre-parasitism and post-parasitism sprays did not affect the number of eggs parasitized or the sex ratio, however, the pre-parasitism IBCB 394 treatment the females and males survived for longer, whereas the survival of females in post-parasitism treatment with the same isolate was reduced.The presence of conidia on and mycelium of the fungus in T. pretiosum was confirmed using Scanning Electron Microscopy and a histological analysis. Isolates IBCB 367 and IBCB 394 from I. fumosorosea are selective to T. pretiosum in the laboratory.

While the progress of the spread of invasive species of insects in new geographical areas are usually intensively monitored, the decline of these species often escape attention and is poorly documented. In this study, we record the decline in abundance of Gastrophysa viridula (DeGeer), an invasive oligophagous consumer of dock (Rumex spp.). This species originally inhabited Alpine regions. In the late 1800s, G. viridula was recorded in montane areas in the Czech Republic and then throughout this country. Gastrophysa viridula was very abundant in 1995-1999, when we found it in all of the 177 stands of R. obtusifolius inspected in western Czech Republic. In a repeated study of its occurrence in the same area from 2019-2020, this species was present in < 30% of 434 of the stands inspected and was only abundant (≥ 55% of plants in the stand infested by G. viridula) in < 4% of these stands. Thus the local occurrence and abundance of G. viridula had decreased significantly. Of the possible reasons for this decline the most probable are the effect of climate warming on host plant seasonality, changes in agricultural use of grasslands and fragmentation of large stands of dock.

Chironomidae, or non-biting midges, are found worldwide in a wide variety of aquatic habitats. During periods of mass adult eclosion they can become a nuisance and health hazard. Current control methods target the aquatic larval stage and include the use of insect growth regulators or insecticides, which may be prohibited in certain environments or affect non-target organisms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) of the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae, currently employed for control of terrestrial crop pests, could be used as a viable biocontrol for the aquatic larval stages of the Chrionomidae, offering an alternative to current chemical methods. We demonstrate that Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev, 1934), Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser, 1955), Steinernema kraussei (Steiner, 1923) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar, 1975) are able to survive in water up to 96 h and are able to parasitize and kill Chironomus plumosus (Linnaeus, 1758) larvae, with mortality observed after just 24 h exposure and with < 20% survival after 4 days. We also show that following application to the water column, EPNs sink to the bottom of the lentic water body and can remain alive for more than 96 h. Taken together, we believe that several EPN species could be developed as a valid form of biocontrol for Chironomidae.

The synovigenic braconid parasitoid, Microplitis rufiventris Kokujev is a promising wasp for use in augmentative releases against young larvae of some noctuid pests, including Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval), in Egypt. It also has the potential to control the invasive noctuid Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in Africa. M. rufiventris is monandrous in the wild but is polyandrous under some laboratory rearing conditions. S. littoralis larvae were used as hosts to gain an understanding of the influence of mating on wasp-fitness. Newly emerged females (0-3 h old) of M. rufiventris were assigned to one of six mating schedules: Virgin females mated once (on day 1, 3 or 5) or 3 times during their life or provided daily with fresh virgin males. These mating schedules affected fecundity, reproductive longevity and sex ratio of the progeny. The life time fecundity of wasps mated on day 5 or mated three times was higher than that of other females, but their reproductive longevity was significantly shorter. In most cases, offspring production per female per day decreased with age. Mated M. rufiventris females produced significantly more progeny than virgin females. The progeny of virgin females consisted only of males, females that mated once had strongly male-biased sex ratios, whereas multi-mated females had a more female-biased sex ratio. More sperm was stored in the spermatheca than the number of daughters produced in any of the mating schedules. Age at first mating affected the lifetime fecundity. At death, the ovaries of mated wasps contained significantly more mature eggs than those of virgin wasps, indicating that mating increased egg production. This information can help enhance the efficiency of parasitoid mass-rearing and their use as biocontrol agents of noctuid pests.

Hermetia illucens is a sustainable and an increasingly bioeconomical source of nutrients for farm animals. It is still necessary, however, to improve our knowledge of the biological features of this species in order to maximize its use. The aims of this research were to evaluate the effect of the energy level of rearing diets on its body weight and fat-body reserves. The quantity and quality of the fats storred by the non-feeding stages of this insect and its reproductive performances were also studied. A control diet (CD - Gainesville diet) and three diets with progressively greater energy contents (kcal/kg ME) were formulated. The increase was achieved by including different amounts of maize, 40% (ED₁), 60% (ED₂) and 80% (ED₃), in these three diets. Abother diet (ED₄) consisted of fruit and vegetable waste. The results indicate that the body weight of larvae, prepupae, pupae and adult flies, as well as fat content of the larvae increased significantly (p ˂ 0.01) with increase in the energy content of the diets. There was a positive Pearson correlation between energy content of diets and body weight of adult flies. The heaviest egg clutches with the highest number of eggs/clutch (p ˂ 0.01) were laid by flies reared on the diets with the highest energy content. The quality of the fat stored by larvae did not influence the weight and number of egg laid.