Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an oligophagous herbivorous beetle that feeds on Ambrosia artemisiifolia. It is native to North America, but was accidentally introduced into Japan in 1995 and Europe in 2013. We analyzed partial DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene for O. communa collected from 29 locations in the United States, Japan and Italy. Overall, the results of our analyses indicate that the introduced Japanese populations have lower genetic variation than the native populations. The sequences for the Italian specimens did not share haplotypes with Japanese specimens. These results indicate that the introduced Japanese populations originated from a single introduction, and that the Italian and Japanese populations have different origins.

The present study describes changes in haemolymph ecdysteroid levels during the feeding phase of fifth instar larvae of Bombyx mori. A small and sharp peak in ecdysteroid level was recorded on day 4 when larvae had already reached the critical weight (2.76 ± 0.11 g) for metamorphosis. Food deprivation of larvae from day 4 resulted in an increase in the ecdysteroid level. Injection of insulin in both 1 day (before reaching critical weight) and 4 day (after reaching critical weight) old fed larvae resulted in an increase in the ecdysteroid level. However, when deprived of food only the haemolymph ecdysteroid levels of 4 day old larvae respond to an injection of insulin. The hormone level was also increased by treating 1day old larvae with a juvenile hormone analogue, but again, like insulin, only the fed larvae were affected by this treatment. Neck- and thorax-ligated 4 day old larvae had decreased ecdysteroid levels compared to both fed and food deprived larvae. However, a significant increase in ecdysteroid level was recorded in both neck- and thorax-ligated larvae injected with insulin. The injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone into 4 day old larvae resulted in an increase in the level of this substance in the haemolymph of fed and food deprived larvae, but the level was significantly higher in neck- and thorax-ligated larvae. The data, thus, indicates that ecdysteroid levels vary both in relation to the critical weight of the larvae and its nutritional status, and insulin might also play an important role in regulating the level of ecdysteroid.

Silkworm is a poikilothermic insect, whose growth and development is significantly affected by high temperatures. The current study aimed to identify bivoltine breeds tolerant of the high temperature conditions that occur in the tropics. Percentage pupation at high temperatures and heat shock responses of silkworms were used as measures of thermotolerance. Thermotolerance of 20 silkworm breeds was assessed by rearing them at 36°C. Based on percentage pupation, three breeds, namely Nistari (multivoltine), SK4C (bivoltine) and CSR2 (bivoltine) were designated tolerant, moderately tolerant and susceptible, respectively. To understand the heat shock responses and the molecular mechanisms underlying thermotolerance, the tissue specific expression profiles of the nine heat shock protein (Hsp) genes were determined in the three breeds after a heat shock of 1 h at 36°C and a 2 h recovery period by performing real-time qPCR. The level of expression of Hsp genes was significantly increased in heat shocked tissues and gradually decreased during the recovery period. The greatest increase in the expression of Hsp genes was recorded in fat body followed by mid gut and silk gland. Of the three breeds, Nistari showed the highest expression of Hsp genes and SK4C a moderate expression relative to CSR2. The qPCR results showed that the transcript levels of sHsp20.4 and 20.1, and Hsp70 were increased by 10.3, 9.7 and 2.3 times, respectively, in Nistari compared to CSR2. Similarly the expression of sHsp20.4 and 20.1, and Hsp70 were increased by 3.5, 2.3 and 1.5 times, respectively in SK4C compared to CSR2. The expression levels of Hsps during heat shock corresponded to the percentage pupation recorded for the three breeds at a high temperature. It is suggested that the Hsps and their levels of expression may play an important role in increasing the survival of silkworm larvae at high temperatures. This study identified SK4C as a bivoltine breed, which is highly tolerant of high temperature measured in terms of percentage pupation (of the bivoltine breeds) and higher levels of expression of Hsp genes compared to CSR2. The importance of SK4C as a thermotolerant bivoltine parent for breeding new bivoltine hybrids tolerant of high temperatures is discussed.

Aphid honeydew is one of the main energy sources for various ants in the temperate zone, nevertheless relatively little is known about the organization of the work of honeydew foragers (aphid milkers). This study focuses on the honeydew collecting strategies used by different ants in steppe and forest multi-species communities in Western Siberia. The behaviour of marked foragers of 12 species (Formica - 7, Lasius - 2, Camponotus - 1, Myrmica - 2) was recorded. Depending on the degree of the aphid milker specialization and degree of protection of the aphids five honeydew collecting strategies of various complexity were distinguished: unspecialized foragers in (I) "unprotected" aphid colonies (attended by ants < 60% of time) and (II) "protected" colonies (attended > 95% of time); (III) low "professional" specialization (ants "on duty" constantly attending aphid colonies); (IV) medium and (V) high "professional" specialization (clear division of tasks: honeydew collecting by "shepherds" and protection of trophobionts by "guards"; and honeydew transportation by "transporters" in V). Task specialization of the honeydew foragers is facultative: different ant taxa demonstrate a certain range of the honeydew collecting strategies of different complexities (Formica - I-V, Lasius - I-II, Camponotus - III, Myrmica - I-II) depending on the needs of their colony. The strategy used by ants did not depend on the species of aphid attended, but is strongly dependent on the species of ant, their colony size, available food resources and seasonality. In summer, the aphid milker specialization becomes more complex as ant colony size increases at both intra- and inter-specific levels and when food is scarce. In autumn Formica s. str. ants, which have the most advanced foraging strategy, adopt a simpler honeydew collecting strategy. Overall, the variety of honeydew foraging strategies seems to reflect the unequal contribution of different ants in forming trophobiotic interactions with aphids.

The Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW), Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), is a global pest of chestnut trees. This pest was first recorded in Slovenia in 2005. Despite strict phytosanitary measures it was present throughout the country in native chestnut stands by 2013. We provide here the first overview of the parasitoids of ACGW in Slovenia recorded over a 4-year period and the direct interactions between parasitoid communities attacking hosts on chestnut and oaks at the same sites. A total of 27 species of native parasitoids that normally parasitize oak cynipids emerged from ACGW galls. The most abundant species were Torymus flavipes and Eupelmus urozonus. Seven species appear to be geographically well distributed in Slovenia. Twelve species of oak gall wasp were parasitized by 19 species of parasitoids. All native parasitoids have broad host ranges, so a large parasitoid diversity within this community can be expected. This is a novel study comparing the parasitoid communities associated with chestnut and oak galls.

The ghost ant (GA), Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius, 1793), is one of the most common invasive species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the world. While in its native tropical region it is both an ordinary indoor and outdoor pest, it occurs only indoors in the temperate zone, where increasingly more records of this species have been published since 1887. In this study, the current distribution of GA in Europe, including the new records published since Wetterer (2009), is reviewed. Furthermore, we report the first record of GA in the Czech Republic, where a large colony of GA was discovered in a block of flats in České Budějovice in 2014, and present a case study of its eradication. The revised distribution of GA shows that despite previous concerns about the threats posed by this new pest only three other European countries (including Czech Republic) reported the presence of this species after 2009. Although GA is currently documented as occurring in 18 European countries, which were invaded mainly after 1990, there is only a single (or dubious) record for ten of these countries. Abundance of workers was monitored in two flats in an infested building using traps baited with yolk-honey and GA were subsequently eradicated with imidacloprid (0.01% w/w). The pre-treatment revealed abundances that ranged up to 524 workers per trap (mean = 99, S.D. = 142, 80% of baits occupied). Despite the initial success of the treatment (no ants observed after 3 weeks), monitoring of the building a year later revealed it was still infested with GA and in a similar rate. We suggest alternative methods of eradicating GA in the temperate zone based on studies carried out in the tropics. Our study indicates the difficulty of eradicating the species from buildings when its colony is already established. Furthermore, it highlights the bias in the discovery-probability of GA as a household pest probably due to the species cryptic appearance and lack of attention to it outside of the scientific community.

Trypargilum is a subgenus of solitary spider-hunting wasps whose males guard the nest, an unusual behaviour for male wasps. A male pairs with a female and copulates repeatedly with her during the nesting process, although females regularly copulate with satellite males, which employ an alternative reproductive strategy. The purpose of this paper was to determine the sociogenetic structure in twenty-nine nests of Trypoxylon albitarse sampled at six sites in Brazil. A total of 367 wasps were genotyped for eight species-specific polymorphic microsatellite loci. Genotypic segregation analyses were conducted to test whether the nests sampled were monogamic family groups. The results indicated that all the offspring in 12 of the 29 nests could be attributed to a single couple (genetic monogamy). Approximately 9% of the offspring probably resulted from extra-pair copulations and 3% of the total offspring were attributed to a second mother (usurpation by conspecific females, a form of intraspecific parasitism). The sequential replacement of parents throughout the nesting process indicates that the 29 nests analyzed included 35 family groups. Thus, our findings indicate that Trypoxylon albitarse has a predominantly monogamous genetic mating system, despite the social polygamy reported in previous studies.

Industrial air pollution constitutes a major environmental disturbance, and its impacts on insect communities have considerable implications for ecosystem structure and functions. Existing information on insect responses to pollution generally addresses abundant taxa, whereas few studies examine the effects of pollution on rare species. To begin rectifying this bias, ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were quantitatively collected annually from 2002-2014 in 13 sites located 0.7 to 39.7 km from the nickel-copper smelter in Monchegorsk, north-western Russia. Seven of eight recorded species were found only in severely and /or moderately polluted sites. Both Shannon's diversity index and coccinellid abundance decreased with increasing distance from the smelter. Thus, some groups of predatory insects, in particular the Coccinellidae, may benefit from environmental changes caused by severe industrial pollution, whereas the most abundant invertebrate predators generally suffer from such changes.

The rich species pool in semi-natural grasslands is associated with high spatial and temporal heterogeneity. This empirical study is one of the first to jointly analyze the response of orders, individual species and functional richness of arthropods to particular management practices and to linear landscape features, such as strips of grass and belts of trees. Mostly it was the less mobile, flightless taxa that were negatively affected by immediate disturbance caused by mowing. At a larger time-scale, grasslands managed by mowing once every year, and especially by a combined regime of mowing and grazing, supported the highest species richness of butterflies and beetles. Most functional diversity measures reached maximum values soon after mowing. Both strips of grass and belts of trees substantially affected the invertebrate community structure as the majority of taxa were positively associated with these linear features. Based on our results, we propose postponing mowing to later in the year, mowing in gradual stages, maintaining uncut strips primarily along permanent landscape features and establishing both strips of grass and belts of trees in submontane grassland environments.

Military training areas are increasingly recognized as areas of high biodiversity and habitats for many wild organisms, including threatened or endangered species. However, the information on the ecological value of military training areas is limited because it is difficult access these sites. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of military activity on butterfly communities. The survey was carried out in a military training area (MTA) at Inje-gun near the demilitarized zone (DMZ), Inje forest (IJF) a secondary forest and Gwangneung forest (GWF) an old growth forest, from April to October 2008 to 2011. IJF and GWF were selected in order to determine the characteristics of a butterfly community differed in a MTA. Butterfly communities differ greatly among sites. Estimated species richness and species diversity were significantly higher in MTA compared to GWF. Grassland species were abundant in MTA and forest interior species in GWF. Species richness and abundance of red listed species, especially grassland species, were greatest in MTA, but absent in GWF. Military activities were beneficial for red listed grassland species because they maintained an open habitat, which is rare elsewhere in current Korea. This study indicates that MTAs are important in terms of conservation and in providing a refuge for red listed grassland species.

The larvae of the diving beetle genus Laccomimus Toledo & Michat, 2015 (Laccophilinae) are studied for the first time, based on detailed descriptions and illustrations of all instars of L. distinctus Toledo & Michat, 2015, with particular emphasis on morphometry and chaetotaxy. The phylogenetic relationships of this genus within the tribe Laccophilini are analyzed cladistically. Laccomimus is recovered as part of a clade that includes the genera Australphilus Watts, 1978, Neptosternus Sharp, 1882 and Laccophilus Leach, 1815 and is characterized by the presence of natatory setae on the tibia and tarsus, and within this clade it is a sister to the other genera. Third-instar larvae of Laccomimus and Africophilus Guignot, 1948 share the mediodistal insertion of the seta CO7 on the meso- and metacoxa, a short and spine-like seta TI6 on the metatibia, a ventrally sclerotized abdominal segment V and a short urogomphus. These characters are considered plesiomorphic and indicate a basal position of both genera within the Laccophilini. All instars of Laccomimus are characterized by the anterolateral lobes of the frontoclypeus clearly projecting beyond the anterior margin and the last abdominal segment strongly elongated. Diagnostic features of the first instar are: frontoclypeus unmodified posteriorly, lamellae clypeales thin and hair-like, pores ANe, MXb-d-f-i, LAb-c and seta TR3 absent, seta LA3 and an additional dorsal pore present on the prementum, abdominal tergites I-VII with anterior transverse carina, and ventral surface of the abdominal segment VI sclerotized.

Geographic isolation, altitude, climate, landscape and habitat are significant predictors of butterfly diversity in mountain ecosystems. Their diversity and its dependence on altitude, aspect (compass bearing) and biogeographic characteristics of the butterflies were surveyed on the karst mountain Biokovo in southern Croatia. The results affirm that there is a high diversity of butterflies in the study area and the species composition and biogeographic elements are more dependent on altitude than aspect of the mountain. The present study indicates that climate, relief and habitat preferences strongly influence the biogeographic features of species and the relationship between species richness per site and altitude, aspect and the altitude-aspect interaction.

The tenebrionid beetles on 25 circum-Sicilian islands were studied to determine the influence of island geographical and landscape features on three main intercorrelated biogeographical patterns: (1) species richness, studied using species-area and species environment relationships, (2) species assemblage composition, investigated using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), and (3) inter-site faunal similarity, investigated using Canonical Correlation Analysis (CANCOR) applied to multidimensional scaling of inter-island faunal dissimilarities. Species richness was mostly influenced by island area and landscape heterogeneity (expressed using various indices of diversity based on land cover categories). When species identities were considered in the CCA, no substantial effect of landscape was detected. Current island isolation did not have a strong influence on species richness, but has a distinct effect in determining species assortments on the remotest islands. Historical influences of Pleistocene landbridge connections were not detectable in species richness relationships using geographical variables in species richness analyses or in assemblage gradients in the CCA, but emerged distinctly from inter-island similarities in the CANCOR.

Determining the season of death by means of the composition of the families of insects infesting carrion is rarely attempted in forensic studies and has never been statistically modelled. For this reason, a baseline-category logit model is proposed for predicting the season of death as a function of whether the area where the carcass was exposed is sunlit or shaded and of the relative abundance of particular families of carrion insects (Calliphoridae, Fanniidae, Sarcophagidae, and Formicidae). The field study was conducted using rodent carcasses (20-252 g) in an urban forest in southeastern Brazil. Four carcasses (2 in a sunlit and 2 in a shaded area) were placed simultaneously at the study site, twice during each season from August 2003 through June 2004. The feasibility of the model, measured in terms of overall accuracy, is 64 ± 14%. It is likely the proposed model will assist forensic teams in predicting the season of death in tropical ecosystems, without the need of identifying the species of specimens or the remains of carrion insects.

Larvae of Hermetia illucens feed on different types of decomposing organic matter and their development depends on the quality and quantity of food ingested. In this study the effect of three artificial diets was analyzed, namely hen feed, meat meal and a mixture of these two diets. The effects of diet on ovarian development, size, mortality, duration of the larval and pupal stages and sex ratio were studied. Results indicate that the meat meal diet was the worst of the three diets in terms of percentage mortality and duration of the larval and pupal stages. We conclude that food ingested by the black soldier fly larvae determines both the physiological and morphological development of the adults.

Prey preferences and feeding-related behaviour of a Central European species of Scydmaeninae, Euconnus pubicollis, were studied under laboratory conditions. Results of prey choice experiments involving 50 species of mites belonging to 24 families of Oribatida and one family of Uropodina demonstrated that beetles feed mostly on ptyctimous Phthiracaridae (over 90% of prey) and only occasionally on Achipteriidae, Chamobatidae, Steganacaridae, Oribatellidae, Ceratozetidae, Euphthiracaridae and Galumnidae. The average number of mites consumed per beetle per day was 0.27 ± 0.07, and the entire feeding process took 2.15-33.7 h and showed a clear linear relationship with prey body length. Observations revealed a previously unknown mechanism for capturing prey in Scydmaeninae in which a droplet of liquid that exudes from the mouth onto the dorsal surface of the predator's mouthparts adheres to the mite's cuticle. Morphological adaptations associated with this strategy include the flattened distal parts of the maxillae, whereas the mandibles play a minor role in capturing prey. Mechanisms for overcoming the prey's defences depended on the body form of the mite. When attacking oribatids that adopt the ptychoid defence (encapsulation) Euconnus opened the prodorsum and pressed the anal and genital plates deeply into the idiosoma, whereas it fed on all other mites by entering their bodies through small gnathosomal or/and genital openings, after breaking off mouthparts or/and genital plates. The preferential feeding of a specialized and locally abundant ant-like stone beetle on one family of Oribatida, documented here for the first time, has implications for the population dynamics of the prey and raises questions about predator-prey co-evolution and costs of an unusually prolonged period spent feeding when at risk from competition and attack by larger predators, typical of the habitats where Scydmaeninae occur.

Chromosomes of six European species (one with two subspecies) of Orthoptera belonging to the tribes Ephippigerini and Bradyporini were analyzed using C-banding, Ag-NOR, DAPI (AT-rich)/CMA₃ (GC-rich) staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using the 18S rDNA and (TTAGG)_n telomeric probes with the aim to better understand chromosomal organization and evolutionary relationships between genera and subgenera within and across both tribes. The evolution of karyotypes was studied in terms of changes in chromosome number (2n) and morphology (FN, the fundamental number - i.e. the number of chromosome arms including the X chromosome). The ancestral 2n = 31 was reduced to 2n = 29 (FN = 31) and 27 (FN = 31) by one or two Robertsonian fusions in the Ephippigerini. Whereas in the Bradyporini 2n = 27 (FN = 32) as a result of two Robertsonian translocations and a pericentric inversion in the X chromosome. The quantity of heterochromatin in GC-rich regions distinguished the karyotypes of Ephippigerini (only a single CG-rich band on one autosome pair) from those of Bradyporini (CG-rich bands on all chromosomes). FISH using the 18S rDNA probe localized 1-3 rDNA clusters to autosomes and/or to the X chromosome in all species examined. The rDNA loci coincided with active NORs as determined by Ag-NOR staining. A comparison of the location of the single NOR/rDNA in two species of the genus Steropleurus (Ephippigerini) suggests that the reduced chromosome number in S. pseudolus results from a Robertsonian fusion between two pairs of autosomes, one of them carrying the NOR/rDNA as in S. stalii (and also in E. ephippiger). Whereas the karyotypes of three species of the genus Bradyporus, though showing the same chromosome number and morphology, differed in the number and distribution of NORs/rDNA sites [one autosomal in B. (B.) dasypus versus three in B. macrogaster and B. (C.) oniscus, two of them X-linked]. Trends in karyotype diversification of the taxa based on the present data and previous research are discussed. In some individuals belonging to the species Bradyporus (B.) dasypus and B. (C.) m. macrogaster B chromosomes (Bs) were detected: acrocentric (the smallest elements in the complement) and submetacentric (similar to medium-sized autosomes), respectively.

Many butterfly target species are associated with early successional stages of grasslands. The Blue-spot Hairstreak, Satyrium spini (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775), is a target species of grasslands. However, it feeds on Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), which is associated with late successional stages of grasslands. If S. spini would also be restricted to late seral stages, there might be a management dilemma due to the contrasting requirements of S. spini and other target species. The aim of this study was to determine the oviposition preference of S. spini in calcareous grasslands, and to give management recommendations to promote this species. Therefore, we studied the oviposition microhabitats of S. spini at three representative patches of the Diemel Valley (Central Germany) by comparing environmental conditions on occupied and control host plants. In total we surveyed 1,889 host plants. Altogether we found 148 batches of S.spini on them containing 396 eggs. Most of the eggs were on plants that grew under the warmest conditions. Females preferred to lay eggs on small (< 1.3 m) shrubs of Rh. cathartica fully exposed to the sun growing on steep south- and west-facing slopes. This butterfly showed no difference in its preference for bushes growing in hedges or solitarily. About 80% of the batches of eggs were laid on the upper surface of a twig fork close to the surface of the ground (< 1 m). Our study showed that S. spini is a species characteristic of mid-successional stages of calcareous grasslands. The survival of suitable habitats for S. spini depends on regular management. To achieve this we recommend traditional rough grazing with sheep and goats, which creates open grasslands with small Rhamnus plants. In addition, the shrubs in tall hedges bordering calcareous grasslands should be subjected to cutting on a rotating basis.

All the information on the genus Eledonoprius was gathered to provide an up to-date overview of the geographical distribution and ecology of its species, and to assess their association with old-growth forests. Based on recent samples collected in deciduous forests and woodlands of Italy, the authors outline the habitats of these rare species and give an account of their trophic relations with bracket fungi. E. armatus is recorded in Central Italy and Sardinia for the first time; E. serrifrons is new to Basilicata (Southern Italy) and Syria.

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is an essential detoxification enzyme that plays an important role in stress responses; however, little information regarding the function of this enzyme in hymenopteran insects is available. In the present study, we isolated and characterized the gene encoding GS in the Asiatic honeybee, Apis cerana cerana. Multiple alignments and a phylogenetic analysis of GS sequences showed that AccGS belongs to the GSII superfamily and clusters with invertebrate GSs. Real-time quantitative PCR data demonstrated that AccGS is expressed at all developmental stages and in all tissues, with the highest expression observed in the sixth larval instar and in the brain. Moreover, AccGS expression is highly regulated by environmental stress, including xenobiotic, temperature, and ultraviolet light stresses. A disc diffusion assay showed that the recombinant AccGS protein confers resistance to mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) stress in E. coli. This suggests that AccGS may play multiple roles in early development and in environmental stress responses.

Psocids are small insects that feed primarily on fungi, algae, lichens and organic detritus. Although they are relatively common in forest ecosystems, the general patterns in their abundance and diversity in boreal forests are still poorly known. We report records of 20 species of psocids quantitatively collected from four species of woody plants (Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula pubescens and B. pendula) at 50 sites in northern Europe, located between 59° and 70°N and between 10° and 60°E. Seven species were found only on conifers, seven other species only on birches and six species inhabited both birches and conifers. The overall density of psocids was 18.9 ± 2.9 exx/kg (d.w. of plant material). Densities varied among the studied species of trees, being highest on P. abies and lowest on B. pendula. The species diversity was highest on B. pendula and lowest on B. pubescens. Both diversity and abundance of arboreal psocids in northern Europe decreased with latitude. However, due to the relatively low number of specimens collected, the conclusions about the diversity of psocids should be seen as tentative.

Morphological studies were carried out to determine whether females of the boxwood leafminer, Monarthropalpus buxi (Laboulbene) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) have a pheromone gland, its position and ultra-structure. In addition, the reproductive behaviour of this gall midge was studied in the laboratory in a wind-tunnel. The source of the sex pheromone was identified as the epidermis of the inter-segmental membrane between the 8^th and 9^th abdominal segments of females. The epidermis there was hypertrophied and consisted of a unicellular layer of secretory cells with ultra-structural features that include a well developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes that are typical of pheromone-producing glands. At adult emergence the sex ratio was 1 : 1. The virgin females extruded their ovipositor and moved it slowly (visible using a video-camera at high magnification), which was followed by mating. The females were monogamous, while the males usually mated several times with different females. Wind-tunnel bioassays using virgin females, ovipositor-ectomised virgins and mated females provided further evidence that virgin females produce a sex pheromone.

Accurate identification of species is fundamental for biological research and necessary for species conservation. DNA barcoding is particularly useful when identification using morphological characteristics is laborious and/or unreliable. However, barcodes for species are dependent on the availability of reference sequences from correctly identified specimens. The traditional use of morphology to delimit the species boundaries of Finnish bagworm moths (Lepidoptera: Psychidae: Naryciinae: Dahliciini) is controversial because there is overlap in their morphological characteristics. In addition, there are no suitable molecular markers. We verified the delimitation of seven out of eight previously described taxa, by using the currently standardized COI barcode and phylogenetic inference based on fragments of mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear genes (MDH). Moreover, we compared the results of molecular methods with the outcome of geometric morphometrics. Based on molecular identification, our findings indicate that there are five sexual species (Dahlica and Siederia spp.) and two parthenogenetic species (D. fennicella and D. triquetrella) in Finland. We suggest that molecular methods, together with geometric morphometrics of male genitalia are an effective way of delimiting species of bagworm moths.

The Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is regarded as an invasive species in many parts of the world. In a previous study we hypothesised that H. axyridis enters diapause at the end of October and then shifts to a quiescent state in December in northwestern Europe. In the present study we test this idea of a short, early period of diapause by sampling beetles from their hibernation sites immediately after their migratory flights in October, subsequently keeping them in outdoor cages, and then, after certain time-intervals, measuring the pre-oviposition time under optimal egg-laying laboratory conditions at 25°C. We did this at both short (12L) and long (16L) photoperiods, since a photoperiodic response is an indicator of true diapause, rather than quiescence. A significant, albeit small, difference in pre-oviposition period between the two photoperiods, which disappears in December, corroborates our earlier hypothesis that the ladybirds are in a state of diapause until mid-December. Compared with that of native ladybirds the diapause of H. axyridis generally is relatively short and weak; moreover, it appears to have become shorter over the last decade. This flexibility in diapausing behaviour may be an important factor that contributes to the invasive success of H. axyridis.

In the Mediterranean area the orthopterans Calliptamus barbarus barbarus, Dociostaurus maroccanus and Tettigonia viridissima are considered to be pests of major economic importance crop plants. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the area of leaf of vine, cotton and potato plants consumed by these Orthoptera at two temperatures. Leaf area was determined for each plant species before the leaves were provided to the insects. Virgin male and female adults were allowed to feed on a leaf of each plant species and the area of leaf consumed was determined after 24h at 25 and 30°C. Results showed that temperature had a significant affect on consumption by both males and females of all the species examined, and it was higher at 30°C. The influence of plant species was not significant for C. barbarus barbarus. D. maroccanus and T. viridissima, however, consumed a greater area of potato leaves than of the other species of plants. Females consumed more food than males in all the species tested. The results of the present study provide a first approximation of the area of leaf consumed and the potential loss of foliage these plants might suffer if attacked by the three species of Orthoptera tested.

Invertebrate diversity has rapidly declined throughout Europe during the last century. Various reasons for this decrease have been proposed including human induced factors like climate change. Temperature changes alter distributions and occurrences of butterflies by determining habitat conditions at different scales. We evaluated changes in the composition of butterfly communities recorded at nine areas of fallow ground in south-western Germany in 1973, 1986, 2010 and 2012 using Pollard's transect technique. To demonstrate the importance of climatic changes in affecting butterfly communities, we calculated the community temperature index (CTI) for each butterfly community in each year. Although they increased slightly, the CTI-values did not match the temperature trends recorded in the study region. However, the reduction in the standard deviations of the CTIs over time is reflected in the marked loss of cold- and warm-adapted species due to their inability to cope with temperature and land-use induced habitat changes. Results of our butterfly surveys indicate a marked decline in species richness and striking changes in the composition of the butterfly communities studied. This trend was most pronounced for habitat specialists, thus mirroring a depletion in trait diversity. Our results indicate that, in the course of large-scale anthropogenic changes, habitat degradation at smaller scales will continuously lead to the replacement of habitat specialists by ubiquitous species.

The Niobe Fritillary, Argynnis niobe, is a habitat specialist and as a consequence is highly endangered in contemporary Europe. To investigate its genetic diversity and population structure, 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed and characterized, using a recently developed pyrosequencing method. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 21, and the observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.17 to 0.53 and from 0.24 to 0.92, respectively. These loci were also successfully used to study the genetic diversity of a closely related species, the High Brown Fritillary, Argynnis adippe, and will be used in future population structure studies of both these species.

Bush crickets are a model group for testing hypotheses in sexual selection, but much of the information is based on laboratory observations on wingless or short-winged species, which may restrict their generality. Here we describe aspects of the mating behaviour of the long-winged European bush cricket Phaneroptera falcata (Poda, 1761). Both in the laboratory and the field, diel calling followed a normal, though slightly left-skewed distribution, peaking about three hours after sunset or lights-off. Under bright greenhouse conditions, when the light was suddenly switched off, calling occurred only after the onset of darkness. Decreasing light intensity may trigger the start of calling activity. In the field, calling decreased from midnight onwards, which may be related to a decrease in temperature. The sequence of events during copulation was identical in the laboratory and the field. However, in two of 14 copulations documented in the field, a pre-copulatory behaviour was observed that resembled the putative removal and ingestion of rival sperm. Previous suggestions that P. falcata (Poda) is monogamous are rejected on the basis of both laboratory and field results. In the laboratory males and females mated every 2.3 and 3.6 days, respectively. We introduce a simple way to calculate the average frequency of mating in the field, based on the observation that at any one time 3% of all the individuals are recorded mating and copulation lasts 15 min. We estimate that on average P. falcata (Poda) mates once per day. More generally, our results show it is important for evolutionary conclusions to measure behaviourial data in the field.

A multi-model ensemble of 15 climate change projections from regional climate models was used to assess the impact of changes in air temperature and precipitation on the phenology of pest species in agriculture. This allowed the bandwidths of expected changes in both meteorological variables to be calculated, forming the basis for assessing and clearly communicating the uncertainties related to the model results. More specifically, we investigated the potential impact of regional climate change effects on the crop invasion of the rape stem weevil, Ceutorhynchus napi Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in Central Europe (Luxembourg). Multisite and perennial data from field observations were used to choose a biological model from the literature, based on daily maximum air temperature and daily totals of precipitation to describe the migration of C. napi. Based on this statistical relation, we were able to reproduce the observed crop invasion with a mean root mean squared error (RMSE) of 10 days. Daily values of projected maximum air temperatures and daily totals of precipitation of the multi-model ensemble were used as input data for the threshold-based biological model that projects the immigration of this pest species into oilseed rape crops (Brassica napus L.). We examined three thirty-year timespans, the near (2021 to 2050) and the far future (2069 to 2098) and compared them to a reference timespan (1961 to 1990). The projections showed a significant shift of crop invasion to an earlier onset for the near (14 days) and far future (21 days) compared to the reference period. In addition, the timespan in which the potential crop invasion will take place increased from 53 days in the reference timespan to 73 days in the near and 65 days in the far future based on the ensemble median values. It could be expected that a shifting of the immigration period will increase the risk of missing the appropriate time frame for an insecticide application. A depletion of stored nutrient resources, leading to starvation after diapause, can be eliminated for C. napi under climate change effects, as this species hibernates motionless as an adult in earth cocoons until emergence in early springtime driven by temperature.

Biological parameters of the woolly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid Cales noacki (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were determined at 25.0 ± 2.0°C, 50.0 ± 10.0% RH and a photoperiod of 14L : 10D on three different Citrus host plants. The percentage survival of A. floccosus ranged between 40.23 and 44.44%. The highest mortality was recorded in the first nymphal instar with mortalities ranging between 36.36 and 39.39%. On C. aurantifolia the total development time was 39.83 ± 0.68 days and the pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods 2.45, 10.68 and 1.68 days, respectively. Adult longevity was 15.0 days and average fecundity 73.27 ± 9.07 eggs. For C. noacki the pre-oviposition period was 0.8 days, oviposition period 4.38 days and post-oviposition period < 1 day. Adult longevity of C. noacki was 5.18 days and average fecundity 31.25 ± 2.87 eggs. The intrinsic growth rate (r_m ) of C. noacki (0.160) was significantly greater ( p < 0.05) than that of A. floccosus (0.076). The value of the finite rate of growth (λ) was also significantly ( p < 0.05) greater for C. noacki (1.173) than for A. floccosus (1.079). The larger values of r_m and λ recorded for C. noacki under experimental conditions indicate that this aphelinid has the potential to decrease populations of A. floccosus.