Adjacivena rasnitsyni gen. n., sp. n., from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation (Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China), is described based on a set of well-preserved specimens, interpreted as two females and a male of the same species. The new taxon is assigned to the family Susumaniidae, i.e. is a candidate stem-Phasmatodea. This ordinal assignment is supported by genital elements, chiefly a putative operculum concealing the ovipositor observed in one female specimen and a putative extension of the 10^th tergum with a thorn pad in the male specimen. Variation in the venation of the forewing is appreciated based on more or less complete pairs of wings and a comparison with that in the forewings of male Heteropteryx dilatata (Parkinson, 1798). This material offers new perspectives on the primary homologies of the hind wing venation of stick-insects.

The occurrence of colour polymorphism in wild populations of the necrophagous fly Prochyliza nigrimana (Diptera: Piophilidae) is recorded but never treated in detail. The present paper shows that there is a seasonal distribution in the morphotypes, with the dark morphs emerging in spring and pale morphs emerging later and most abundant in summer. Furthermore, different proportions of each morph occur along altitudinal gradients, with dark morphs significantly more abundant at low altitudes, where mean temperatures are warmer than at high altitudes where the pale coloured morphs were more abundant. Explanations based on the adaptive value of thermal melanism are discussed.

Golf is a popular sport, with increasingly large areas of urban and peri-urban land being designated for golf course development. Yet, more than half of the land area of a typical golf course is considered rough and out-of-play areas that can, if managed appropriately, provide habitats for wildlife. Using pitfall traps, 6944 carabid beetles belonging to 72 species were collected from five urban golf courses and three areas designated for golf course development around the city of Helsinki, Finland in 2007. The courses were rich in carabid species and distinct in their species assemblages. Golf courses were dominated by habitat generalists, species capable of flight and medium to large-sized species. The three courses with areas designated for further golf course development showed that the assemblages of beetles associated with these golf courses have retained many elements from the pre-existing habitats. The oldest golf course is characterised by a more evenly distributed and diverse carabid beetle assemblage, probably due to its higher habitat heterogeneity and longer successional development. However, even this golf course is dominated by generalist species, implying that golf courses may not provide suitable habitats for specialists. It is assumed that the high species richness of golf courses is attributed to the high habitat diversity of these environments, ranging from the strongly human-modified to more natural patches, which provide habitats for many generalist and open-habitat species. Golf courses may, however, with the appropriate management of out-of-play areas provide an opportunity for conserving biodiversity.

Heartbeat patterns were monitored in the living bodies of decapitated adult flies using several electrocardiographic methods (pulse-light optocardiography, thermocardiography, strain-gauge cardiography). Unlike other insect species, in which there is a peristaltic segmental propagation of cardiac contractions, Drosophila uses extremely efficient synchronic cardiac contractions. The rate of synchronic cardiac pulsation, which is characterized by simultaneous propagation of anterograde systolic contractions along all the segments of the heart, is relatively fast (~ 4 Hz at room temperature). This pulsation is used mainly for the vigorous pumping of haemolymph into the head and thorax through a narrow elastic tube, the aorta (anterograde I heartbeat). In addition, this synchronic pulsation is also used to enhance the circulation of haemolymph throughout the abdominal body cavity (anterograde II heartbeat). The switch between thoracic (anterograde I) and abdominal (anterograde II) haemolymph circulation is regulated by periodically alternating, tetanic contractions and relaxations of the conical heart chamber (ventricle). In the latter there is a pair of slit-like apertures, which are closed or opened by contraction or relaxation of the organ, respectively. During contraction of the conical chamber, the apertures are tightly constricted for several seconds and haemolymph is pumped forwards into the aorta (anterograde I heartbeat). Conversely, during relaxation of the conical chamber, the apertures are wide open for a few seconds, haemolymph leaves the heart and leaks out through open apertures and circulates from the tail to the base of the abdomen. The backward oriented, retrograde heartbeat recorded in other insects, has a lower frequency (1 to 2 Hz), occurs in Drosophila only sporadically and usually in the form of individual or twinned systolic peaks of large amplitude. Unlike the synchronic nature of the anterograde I and II cardiac contractions, propagation of the relatively slow retrograde heartbeat is by peristalsis. The newly discovered, compact ventricle with atrium and synchronic functioning of the insect heart shows structural and functional analogies with the functioning of the human heart.

The taxonomic status of the aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani Viereck has been questioned, especially in regard to Aphidius transcaspicus Telenga (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The genetic association between A. colemani and A. transcaspicus was studied by cross mating individuals of A. colemani and A. transcaspicus (A.c.& × A.t.% and A.c.% × A.t.&) and applying appropriate molecular methods. The cross mating resulted in offspring (female and males) that were fertile. Therefore, the cross mating assays performed in an artificial environment showed that these two populations are potentially compatible. The mean number of mummies that developed and the sex ratio of the offspring of each cross were similar. Most of the male and female offspring from each cross were assigned to A. transcaspicus. Furthermore, the genetic divergence between the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS2) of the A. colemani and A. transcaspicus studied was 16%. These results indicate that A. colemani might be a complex of species with different morphological and biological characters attacking different host aphids.

After the last glacial retreat in Europe, multiple recolonizations led to intraspecific differentiation in many of the recolonizing taxa. Here we investigate the genetic diversification across central Europe in two recolonizing taxa, the tephritid fruit flies Rhagoletis alternata (Fallén, 1814) and Carpomya schineri (Loew, 1856), which attack rose hips. Analysis of amplified and sequenced fragments of the mitochondrial genes encoding cytochrome oxidase I (800 bp), cytochrome oxidase II (470 bp) and cytochrome b (450 bp), indicate that all the individuals of R. alternata (n = 21) collected from across Europe share the same haplotype. Two individuals of C. schineri form Berlin, which is further north of the range than previously reported in the literature, differ from the other individuals (n = 13) in one nucleotide position on the cytochrome oxidase II gene fragment. This level of genetic variation in sequences with a summed length of 1720 bp is unexpectedly lower than in other insect taxa (n = 63). This might have been caused by a selective sweep by a cytoplasmic symbiont such as Wolbachia, or a recent range expansion associated with a host shift or a single recolonization event.

The pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt & Lauterer (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is a major pest of pistachio trees throughout the pistachio producing regions in Iran. The effect of temperature on the developmental rates of eggs and nymphs of A. pistaciae was determined at different constant temperatures, i.e. 15, 20, 25, 30, 32.5 and 35 ± 0.5°C. The relationships between temperature and developmental rates were described by linear and the non-linear Lactin models. These models were evaluated based on R², RSS, AIC and R²_adj. The estimated value of the lower temperature threshold for egg, nymph and egg to adult development based on the linear model was 8.06, 10.38 and 9.97°C, respectively, and based on the Lactin model was 8, 11.55 and 11.2°C, respectively. Thermal constants estimated using the linear model, were 88.5, 243.90 and 333.33 DD, respectively, for egg, nymph and egg to adult development. These results indicate that the linear model gives a better description of the relationship between developmental rate and temperature for A. pistaciae than the non-linear model. These results could be incorporated into forecasting models used in the integrated pest management of this pest.

Chromosomes of the males of five species of Odontura, belonging to the subgenera Odontura and Odonturella, were analyzed. Intensive evolution of the karyotype was recorded, both in terms of changes in the numbers of chromosomes (from 2n = 31 to 27) and the sex chromosome system (from X0 to neo-XY and X0 to neo-X₁X₂Y). Karyotype evolution was accompanied by tandem autosome fusions and interspecific autosomal and sex chromosome differentiation involving changes in the locations of nucleolar organizer regions, NORs, which were revealed by silver impregnation and confirmed by FISH using an 18S rDNA probe. O. (Odonturella) aspericauda is a polytypic species with X0 and neo-X₁X₂Y sex determination. The latter system is not common in tettigoniids. It possibly originated by a translocation of a distal segment of the original X chromosome onto a medium sized autosome, resulting in a shortened neo-X₁ and a metacentric neo-Y. The remaining autosome homologue became the neo-X₂ chromosome. This shift from X0 to neo-X₁X₂Y is supported by the length of the X chromosome and location of the NOR/rDNA.

Effects of two adipokinetic hormones (Pyrap-AKH and Peram-CAH-II) on the presence of diacylglycerol (DG) molecular species and their fatty acid (FA) constituents in the haemolymph of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus were investigated using liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The results show that DGs with characteristic FAs are preferentially mobilized from the fat body (FB) by the action of both the AKHs produced by P. apterus. Both the macropterous and brachypterous morphs have similar DG and FA profiles. A difference in the action of the Pyrap-AKH and the Peram-CAH-II, however, results in distinct differences in the distribution of FAs in the macropterous morph. It seems that C16 to a slight extent and unsaturated C18 FAs mainly play a dominant role in the AKH based action, in particular linoleic acid (18:2), which represents 50-60% of the total DG mobilized. The metabolically active C16 and C18 FAs are preferentially absorbed from the linden seeds and accumulated in the FB. The relationships between AKH action and FA distribution in DGs in P. apterus, compared to other insect species are summarized and discussed in detail.

Calopteryx splendens is a widely distributed palaearctic damselfly with a remarkably uniform morphology. Variation in the size and shape of the pigmented spot on the wing is the main diagnostic character used to discriminate subspecies across its huge geographic range. Here, AFLP analysis was used to assess the genetic structure and diversity of nine populations representing 3 putative subspecies and evaluate the pigment spot as a taxonomic marker. Genetic diversity was high, with the number of polymorphic loci per population ranging from 141 to 280 out of a total of 333 variable sites (42.3-84.1%) and Nei's gene diversity from 0.160 to 0.283 (overall 0.299). Overall population genetic differentiation (F_ST = 0.2766) suggests limited gene flow and adaptation to local environments. Restricted gene flow and genetic differentiation among populations are supported by significant F_ST estimates. High levels of gene flow (N_m >1) were only recorded among three Asian populations (Russia - Kazakhstan - Turkey). The patterns of genotypic diversity suggest that a given wing spot size and shape may arise from the hybridization of a limited number, possibly not more than four, ancestral gene pools in different ways and at different times. Clearly, the sample analyzed was not sufficient to capture all of the complex history of C. splendens, but sufficient to indicate the taxa ancilla, waterstoni, and orientalis possibly represent three of the four ancestral gene pools, and originated in western Asia. The origin of the fourth, xanthostoma, is the western Mediterranean.

Bactrocera fruit flies are ranked among the most destructive pests of the worldwide fruit and vegetable trades. Coding regions of two oligomerization domains within doublesex (dsx) genes were determined in Bactrocera dorsalis (oriental fruit fly) and B. correcta (guava fruit fly). Resulting sequences revealed a high degree of similarity at both nucleotide and putative amino acid levels in the genus Bactrocera. Conservation of the DNA-binding DM motif and several known molecular features within the domains suggest a presence of strong purifying selection on the DSX proteins. Topology of the phylogenetic gene trees and deduced amino acid substitution patterns suggest that the coding region sequences of the two domains are diversified in concert parallel with the species differentiation.

Macroptery is common in many species of Orthoptera, but the causes are still discussed. Besides the assumption that macroptery is genetically determined, there is evidence that wing dimorphism is induced by environmental factors, particularly population density. However, most of the research is on pest species. In contrast, knowledge of wing dimorphism in species that occur at low population densites is still poor. Our study aims to test how density actually affects macroptery. As model organisms we chose two bush-cricket species of the genus Metrioptera (Ensifera: Tettigoniidae): While long-winged M. roeselii (Hagenbach, 1822) occur regularly, macropterous M. brachyptera (Linnaeus, 1761) are rare and are never observed outside their mating habitat. Nymphs of populations from the range core of both species (340 individuals each) were reared in groups of three and six individuals per 500 cm³ box, and individually. Our analyses revealed that development of macropters was mainly affected by the initial rearing densities. Compared with those reared individually the number of macropters was significantly higher among individuals reared at medium and high densities. The percentage of macropterous individuals was about twice as high in M. brachyptera as in M. roeselii, and the development of macropters significantly differed between the two species. These findings lead to the conclusion that macropterism is mainly influenced by density stress in both bush-crickets. Genetically determined wing dimorphism is unlikely, otherwise the observed high numbers of long-winged individuals of M. brachyptera, which are very rare under natural conditions, would never have developed in the laboratory. Macropterous M. brachyptera may rarely be found in the field, but we argue that this is due to low natural densities and, accordingly, to rare exposure to density stress.

Life table data of natural enemies are often used to understand their population dynamics and estimate their potential role in the biological control of pests. Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important pest of several crops and its intrinsic rate of population increase (r_m) is 0.282 at 22°C. The life table parameters (immature mortality, developmental time, sex ratio of emerging adults, fecundity and longevity) of Praon volucre (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) parasitizing M. euphorbiae were estimated in a climatic chamber at 22 ± 1°C, RH 70 ± 10% and 12 h photophase. Immature mortality was 8.2%, developmental time of males and females was 13.9 and 14.4 days, respectively, and the sex ratio was 0.55 (= fraction of females). Parasitoid fecundity was 504 eggs and longevity 11 days. The net rate of reproduction (R₀) was 207.5 females and the intrinsic rate of population increase (r_m) 0.281 females/female/day. The time for doubling the population (TD) was 2.45 weeks. P. volucre has a population growth rate similar to that of its host M. euphorbiae and might therefore be a good candidate for the biological control of this aphid.

Adults of the invasive harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were found to be parasitized by nematodes (Tylenchomorpha: Allantonematidae) in Denmark. The nematodes were identified as Parasitylenchus sp. Major morphological characters of the nematodes did not differ significantly from Parasitylenchus coccinellinae Iperti & van Waerebeke 1968, but minor deviations in egg dimension and tail length were measured. Parasitism was only recorded in early autumn, with prevalence ranging from 2 to 33%. Adult and juvenile nematodes occurred together in the body cavity of both female and male H. axyridis.

The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) comb. n., is native to India, China, Korea, Japan and the Russian Far East. Its larvae are a serious pest of different species of Buxus. Recently, C. perspectalis was introduced into Europe and first recorded from Germany in 2006. This species has been placed in various spilomeline genera including Palpita Hübner, 1808, Diaphania Hübner, 1818, Glyphodes Guenée, 1854 and the monotypic Neoglyphodes Streltzov, 2008. In order to solve this nomenclatural confusion and to find a reasonable and verifiable generic placement for the box tree moth, the morphology of the above mentioned and some additional spilomeline taxa was investigated and their phylogeny analysed. The results show that C. perspectalis belongs to a monophylum that includes three of the genera in which it was previously placed: Glyphodes, Diaphania and Palpita. Within this monophylum, it is closely related to the Asian Cydalima Lederer, 1863. As a result of this analysis, Sisyrophora Lederer, 1863 syn. rev. and Neoglyphodes Streltzov, 2008 syn. n. are synonymised with Cydalima Lederer, 1863, and five species are transferred to this genus: Cydalima capriniodes (Hampson, 1912) (Glyphodes) comb. n., Cydalima decipiens (Hampson, 1912) (Glyphodes) comb. n., Cydalima joiceyi (Janse, 1924) (Margaronia) comb. n., Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Phakellura) comb. n. and Cydalima pfeifferae (Lederer, 1863) (Sisyrophora) comb. rev.

The prevalence of obligate parasitic fungi may depend partly on the environmental conditions prevailing in the habitats of their hosts. Ectoparasitic fungi of the order Laboulbeniales (Ascomycetes) infect arthropods and form thalli on the host's body surface. Although several studies report the incidence of infection of certain host species by these fungi, quantitative data on laboulbenialean fungus-host arthropod interactions at the host assemblage level are rarely reported. To clarify the effects of host habitats on infection by ectoparasitic fungi, the incidence of infection by fungi of the genus Laboulbenia (Laboulbeniales) of overwintering carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in three habitats, a riverside (reeds and vines), a secondary forest and farmland (rice and vegetable fields), were compared in central Japan. Of the 531 adults of 53 carabid species (nine subfamilies) collected in the three habitats, a Laboulbenia infection of one, five and one species of the carabid subfamilies Pterostichinae, Harpalinae and Callistinae, respectively, was detected. Three species of fungus were identified: L. coneglanensis, L. pseudomasei and L. fasciculate. The incidence of infection by Laboulbenia was higher in the riverside habitat (8.97% of individuals; 14/156) than in the forest (0.93%; 2/214) and farmland (0%; 0/161) habitats. Furthermore, the incidence of infection by Laboulbenia in the riverside habitat ranged from 0 to 33.3% and differed significantly in the ten microhabitats (riverbank, edge of track, tall reeds, kudzu vines, slope of a hollow, rotten wood, vine reeds, under stones, the shoulder of a terrace and marshy ground) where the carabid beetles overwintered. These results suggest that host habitats and microhabitats are closely associated with successful infection by laboulbenialean fungi.

In the present study the hypothesis that there is a feedback between juvenile hormone and adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) was investigated by topical application of the juvenoid methoprene on 9-day-old adult males of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus. This juvenoid (2 µg) induced a significant reduction of haemolymph lipids 24 h after treatment; however, it did not significantly reduce the ability of Pyrap-AKH (10 pmol/bug) to mobilize fat body lipids 6-72 h after the methoprene application. The same methoprene treatment elicited a significant increase of AKH content in the CNS (central nervous system: brain + corpora cardiaca + corpora allata) of experimental males 24 and 48 h after the juvenoid application. A significant decrease in the AKH level in the haemolymph was recorded at the same times and under the same experimental conditions. Similar results were observed when production of the AKHs from the CNS of topically treated males was measured under in vitro conditions. It is suggested that methoprene may reduce AKH release from the CNS resulting in an increase in the AKH content of the CNS due to accumulation rather than stimulation of AKH synthesis. Possible consequences of this phenomenon on the physiology of P. apterus are discussed.

The second and final part of a revision of the European species of the genus Rhabdomastix Skuse, 1890 is presented. The subgenus Rhabdomastix s. str. is revised. Seven species are redescribed, Rhabdomastix (Rhabdomastix) japonica Alexander, 1924, R. (R.) laeta (Loew, 1873), R. (R.) borealis Alexander, 1924, R. (R.) edwardsi Tjeder, 1967, R. (R.) subparva Starý, 1971, R. (R.) hirticornis (Lackschewitz, 1940) and R. (R.) beckeri (Lackschewitz, 1935). Three new synonyms are proposed. Lectotypes of four pertinent nominal species are designated. Descriptions are provided of six species, viz. R. (R.) laetoidea sp. n. (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Ukraine), R. (R.) crassa sp. n. (France, Czech Republic, Slovakia), R. (R.) corax sp. n. (Bulgaria, Greece), R. (R.) eugeni sp. n. (France, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine, Armenia), R. (R.) filata sp. n. (Bulgaria, Greece, European Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia) and R. (R.) georgica sp. n. (Georgia). Male and female terminalia are illustrated for all the species, and a key to species is appended.

Larvae of the butterfly, Battus polydamas archidamas (Papilionidae: Troidini) feed exclusively on aristolochic acid (AAs)-containing Aristolochia species (Aristolochiaceae). The distribution of sequestrated AAs in the tissues (body, integument and osmeterial secretions) of B. polydamas archidamas larvae during their development, when fed on a meridic diet containing either a higher or lower concentration of AAs (AAI and AAII) than occurs naturally in the aerial tissues of their host plant, was determined. Accumulation of AAs in the body and integument was proportional to the weight of larvae and greater in the larvae that fed on the diet containing the higher concentration of AAs. Phenolic AAs (AAIa and AAIVa) not present in the diets were found in all larval tissues examined. Integument and body extracts had a higher AAI/AAII ratio than in the original diet and also a relatively high AAIa/AAIVa ratio, suggesting a preferred AAII to AAIa transformation in those larval tissues. In the osmeterial secretion, the value of the AAI/AAII ratio was similar to that in the diets and the AAIa/AAIVa ratio close to 1, which suggests that hydroxylation of AAI to AAIVa and of AAII to AAIa occur to similar extents. The higher accumulation of AAs and the relatively higher proportion of AAI, one of the most toxic AAs, in the integument, suggest that their role is to deter attacks by natural enemies.

The sequence diversity in the mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase I (COI) gene was evaluated as a tool for resolving differences among species of European adelgids collected from several localities across the Czech Republic. Members of 7 genera and 16 species were examined, and as outgroups, two species of Phylloxeridae were used. Sequence divergences within species were on average less than 0.15%, whereas divergences between species ranged from 0.0 to 4.12% for congeneric and to 13.24% for intergeneric comparisons. It is concluded that DNA barcoding of Adelgidae is a powerful tool for identifying genera, but at the species level it works only in those cases where there are no species complexes. Nevertheless, it can be used as a complement to traditional, morphological taxonomy.

There are isolated populations of the endangered butterfly, Pyrgus sidae, on the Iberian Peninsula. The mark-release-recapture method was used to study the population parameters, the use of resources and the spatial distribution of a population in the centre of Spain. The estimated number of males and females within the population were similar and did not differ significantly from a ratio of 1 : 1. Total population size was estimated to be 569 ± 83 individuals. Potentilla recta is the principal adult nectar source and larval food plant, and its abundance is correlated with the number of marked and recaptured butterflies. The average total distance moved between capture and recapture was significantly greater for males than females, but the average daily distances moved were similar for both sexes. The spatial distribution of the movements of males and females was of a uniform type and lacked a predominant flight direction, which is typical of sedentary species. Continuing the traditional land use (cattle grazing or hay mowing) of the habitat of the species keeps the habitat open, which is necessary if the butterfly is to survive at this locality. These management practices favour P. recta, which would otherwise succumb to competition from invasive shrubs. Taking into account the habitat requirements of this species, it is important to conserve the mosaic of meadows already present in the area.

Cixiid planthoppers have been shown to vector phloem-limited prokaryotes associated with plant diseases world-wide. In eastern France, an emerging disease of sugar beet called syndrome "basses richesses" has been associated with phloem-restricted bacteria transmitted by a cixiid planthopper within the genus Pentastiridius. Early investigation suggested the species being Pentastiridius beieri. On the basis of a morphological and phylogenetic study we report the identification of the planthopper as Pentastiridius leporinus. Furthermore we report some biological traits of the species, which shows a surprising ecological adaptation to an annual cropping rotation sugar beet-winter cereals.

The caterpillars of the butterfly Methona themisto (Nymphalidae: Ithomiinae) are conspicuously coloured and feed exclusively on Brunfelsia uniflora (Solanaceae), a plant that is rich in secondary plant substances, which suggests the caterpillars are chemically protected against predators. Results of experiments indicate that predators determine the survival of Methona themisto caterpillars in the field and laboratory bioassays that this organism is eaten by ants and spiders but not chicks. Both the conspicuous orange and black striped colouration and chemical compounds of Methona themisto caterpillars seem to be related to protection against predation by visually hunting predators. Chicks ate proportionally more of the cryptically coloured 1^st instar caterpillars than of the conspicuously coloured later instar caterpillars. That Methona themisto caterpillars are chemically defended is supported by the activity of the dichloromethanic extract of 5^th instars in preventing predation by chicks. Caterpillars of Methona themisto are aposematic as they are both (1) unpalatable, and (2) their warning signal is easily recognized by potential predators. Chicks learned to avoid the aposematic 3^rd or 5^th instar caterpillars after one encounter. Mealworms painted to look like caterpillars were also rejected by chicks that had previously encountered Methona caterpillars. Naïve chicks did not avoid eating the painted mealworms, which indicates they do not innately avoid this specific colour pattern.

This study determined the scale of the phoresy of mesostigmatid mite by Ips typographus. Thirty pheromone traps in the Karkonosze National Park (Poland) caught 10,575 bark beetles on which there were 2,388 mesostigmatid mites belonging to eight species. The most numerous mites were Dendrolaelaps quadrisetus (1076 ind.) and Trichouropoda polytricha (1067 ind.).

Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) is a saproxylic beetle listed in the IUCN Red List and the European Habitats Directive. Although the species is highly protected and often red-listed little is known about its ecological requirements and status of its populations. Therefore, our main aims were to review its current and historical distributions and status of C. cinnaberinus populations in Europe and to determine its recent habitat preferences at the landscape level in the Czech Republic, where the increasing number of records over the last few years indicates a possible increase in abundance of this beetle. Cucujus cinnaberinus is closely associated with soft-wood and broad leaved trees and is able to colonize man-made habitats from persisting local populations if there is a sufficient supply of suitable dead wood. This beetle is not restricted to old-growth forests or even relict woodland, as previously reported, but currently predominantly inhabits abandoned planted stands of trees like lignicultures or avenues, which have an open canopy. Colonization of stands dominated by hybrid poplars probably resulted in the recent increase in the number of records of this species in the central European countries. However, this could present problems for the protection of this species in future, because the trees in these stands are gradually dying and are not being replaced. The decline and extinction of C. cinnaberinus on the northern and southern edges of its distribution was probably caused by the absence of soft-wooded broadleaved trees in intensively managed forests and other more suitable habitats.

The genus Xyalophora (Giraud, 1860) is revised herein. The revision includes the type species of Xyalophora (Figites clavatus Giraud, 1860), the type material and the original descriptions of all the species of Xyalophora included in the Weld catalogue, and long series of undetermined material. Xyalophora clavata (Giraud, 1860) and X. singularis (Ashmead, 1896) are the only currently recognized species that should be included in Xyalophora. Four new species are described: X. belizini sp. n., X. giraudi sp. n., X. provancheri sp. n. and X. zarazagai sp. n. The type species of Ceraspidia, Ceraspidia japonica Belizin, 1952, corresponds to males of a species within Xyalophora. Thus, Ceraspidia is a new synonymy of Xyalophora, which results in Xyalophora japonica comb. n. Xyalophora impatiens (Say, 1836) and Xyalophora picea (Spinola, 1853) being considered like incertae sedis, as the latter does not belong to the Figitinae but to the Eucoilinae and is probably a species within Acantheucoela Ashmead, 1900. Xyalophora aciculata Benoit, 1956 is transferred to the genus Figites Latreille, 1802: Figites aciculata comb. n. Xyalophora leviventris Kieffer, 1908 is a synonym of Xyalophora quinquelineata (Say, 1836), which is transferred to Xyalophoroides gen. n., a new genus here described. The differences between all the genera of Figitinae with a scutellar spine are discussed and illustrated.

The species of Lampetis (Spinthoptera) Casey, 1909 of Central America, North America and the West Indies are revised and 31 species are recognized. Six species from the West Indies [L. aurata (Saunders, 1871), L. aurifera (Olivier, 1790), L. bahamica (Fisher, 1925), L. guildini (Laporte & Gory, 1836), L. straba (Chevrolat, 1867), and L. torquata (Dalman, 1823)], eight species from Mexico [L. auropunctata (Kerremans, 1893) (new record for the USA), L. chalconota (Waterhouse, 1882), L. christophi Théry, 1923, L. dilaticollis (Waterhouse, 1882), L. geniculata (Waterhouse, 1889), L. granulifera (Laporte & Gory, 1837), L. mexicana Théry, 1923, and L. obscura Thomson, 1879], three species from Mexico and Central America [L. cortesi (Laporte & Gory, 1837), L. monilis (Chevrolat, 1834), L. simplex (Waterhouse, 1882)], and three from Central America [L. hirtomaculata (Herbst, 1801) = L. insularis (Casey, 1909) syn. n.; L. lesnei (Kerremans, 1910); and L. srdinkoana (Obenberger, 1924)] are redescribed. Seven new species (L. chamela sp. n., L. colima sp. n., L. cyanitarsis sp. n., L. hondurensis sp. n., L. tigrina sp. n., L. viridicolor sp. n., and L. viridimarginalis sp. n.) are described. Three species from Mexico and the United States [L. cupreopunctata (Schaeffer, 1905), L. drummondi (Laporte & Gory, 1836), and L. webbii (LeConte, 1858)], and one species from Mexico (L. chiapaneca Corona, 2004) are not described here, because they were (re)described recently. The diagnosis, distribution, host plants and phenology data of L. chiapaneca, L. cupreopunctata, L. drummondi, and L. webbii are given. Lampetis famula Chevrolat, 1838 and L. variolosa (Fabricius, 1801) are not recognized herein as Mexican species, because they are from South America according to the literature and specimens studied. Information on variation, distribution, and host plants are given for each species. Photographs of dorsal habitus and male genitalia are included.

There is little systematic research on the effect of transgenic maize expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins on insect survival and the response in vivo of their detoxification enzymes. Results of laboratory bioassays indicate that the whorl leaves of transgenic maize lines G03-2396 and G03-2739 significantly affected the survival of neonate and third instar larvae of the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Güenée). Neonate mortality two days after being fed on G03-2739 was 72.5% and exceeded 92.5% four days later. The percentage mortality of third instar larvae six days after being fed whorl leaves from G03-2396 exceeded 65%. The resistance of whorl leaves to insect attack was greater than that of maize-ears, but less effective against attacks by third instar larvae. Neonate development was more prolonged when they were fed on whorl leaves of both the transgenic maize lines. In contrast, low pupation (<80% of that recorded in the controls), ecolosion and fecundity were recorded following ingestion of maize-ears, with pupal weights 10-14 mg lower than that of controls. The growth rates of third instar larvae recorded three and six days after feeding on whorl leaves were lower, but food utilization, conversion and relative metabolism were not significantly affected. Relative food ingestion, relative growth rate and other nutritional indicators of third instar larvae were significantly lower six days after the ingestion of ears and that of fifth instar larvae after three days. In vivo activity of carboxylesterase was decreased to a greater degree after three days when the larvae were fed on whorl leaves than ears, with no significant effect on fifth instar larvae. Furthermore, in vivo activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) of third instar larvae was significantly affected following the ingestion of whorl leaves. These results are discussed in the context of the literature on the resistance of transgenic plants and of improving the resistance of plants to attack by the different larval stages of insects.

Sexual selection is thought to result in an elongation of genitalia in insects. Part of the genitalia of the leaf beetle Lema (Lema) coronata Baly is approximately twice the body length in both sexes. Nine microsatellite loci were isolated from L. (L.) coronata for use in future studies on the correlation between genital length and reproductive success. The nine loci were polymorphic, with three to six alleles per locus recorded in 40 individuals. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.08 to 0.38 and expected heterozygosity from 0.51 to 0.75. The non-exclusive probability of the second parent and the identity calculated from the set of loci were 0.011 and < 0.001, respectively. A deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was detected at all nine loci, i.e. significant heterozygote deficiencies, and several hypotheses accounting for this are discussed. The isolated loci carried independent information. Five polymorphic loci were amplified in a related sympatric species, L. (L.) scutellaris, which has relatively short genitalia. These microsatellite makers will be used to determine the paternity of offspring of females multiply mated in the laboratory and compare the selection pressures operating on genital length in these closely related species.

True bugs are generally considered to be well protected against bird predation. Sympatric species that have similar warning coloration are supposed to form a functional Müllerian mimetic complex avoided by visually oriented avian predators. We have tested whether these assumptions hold true for four species of European red-and-black heteropterans, viz. Pyrrhocoris apterus, Lygaeus equestris, Spilostethus saxatilis, and Graphosoma lineatum. We found that individual species of passerine birds differ in their responses towards particular bug species. Great tits (Parus major) avoided all of them on sight, robins (Erithacus rubecula) and yellowhammers (Emberiza citrinella) discriminated among them and attacked bugs of some species with higher probability than others, and blackbirds (Turdus merula) frequently attacked bugs of all the tested species. Different predators thus perceive aposematic prey differently, and the extent of Batesian-Müllerian mimetic complexes and relations among the species involved is predator dependent.