In the face of global warming, insects can employ various survival strategies. One possibility is that natural selection favors genetic combinations that are adaptive to this environmental situation. In some species, chromosomal inversions allow a particular combination of genes to be transmitted intact across generations, provided it is adaptive. Drosophila subobscura could therefore be considered a model species, given its rich chromosomal inversion polymorphism and its relationship with climate change. This polymorphism was studied in the Djerdap (Serbia) population in 2024, and its composition was found to have changed over time when the results were compared with those from 2001 and 2002. A significant decrease in 'cold' and an increase in 'warm' adapted inversions were observed when comparing 2001 and 2024. Also, the CTI (chromosomal thermal index) value for the whole karyotype in 2001 (0.162) was significantly different to that in 2024 (0.332) (adjusted p = 0.0084). Of the inversions studied, nine presented an observed frequency outside the interval expected assuming genetic drift. However, a change in agreement with global warming was detected in only five of these inversions, while the frequency of two 'non-thermal' adapted inversions also increased. Finally, an evolutionary rate was calculated by dividing the difference in frequency between 2024 and 2001 by the number of years that had elapsed. The values obtained for the 'cold', 'warm' and 'non-thermal' adapted were -0.0030126, 0.0030148 and -2.609 × 10^-6, respectively. These values are lower than those previously reported for the Apatin (Serbia) population.

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.

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

The natural prey of spiders has been studied in only a few species, which limits our understanding of their role in ecosystems. Eresid spiders often have a hidden lifestyle; thus, their ecology is still poorly understood. Here we investigated the natural prey of four species of ground-dwelling eresid spiders from Israel - Adonea fimbriata, Dorceus fastuosus, Eresus sp., and Loureedia annulipes - and one (Eresus kollari) from Central Europe. In the last species, we studied the prey in more detail: we compared the natural with the potential prey and investigated prey acceptance using six prey types (Blattodea, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isopoda, and Orthoptera) under semi-field conditions. The natural prey was studied by analysing the exoskeleton remains of prey found in the webs. We found that the prey composition in the webs differed significantly among species, though two insect groups, beetles and ants, dominated in all eresid species. Among beetles, tenebrionids were the most frequent in eresid species from Israel, while carabids dominated in E. kollari. Beside these beetles, weevils were frequent prey in all examined species. The index of the trophic niche breadth was narrow in all examined species, indicating trophic specialisation; however, feeding trials revealed that E. kollari accepted a wide variety of prey types, showing that it is a generalist opportunistic predator. All eresid species studied here appear to be stenophagous generalists, capturing mainly beetles and ants.

Human activities, particularly those exacerbated by climate change, are major drivers of biodiversity change. While many human actions degrade biodiversity, some anthropogenic habitats can provide refuges for certain species, insects in particular. Research on the human impact on biodiversity remains uneven both geographically and taxonomically. In this study, nocturnal moth assemblages were compared across three habitat types (forest, riverbanks and olive groves) representing a gradient from natural to heavily human-altered environments in a semi-arid landscape of Morocco. Moths were systematically sampled across an altitudinal gradient ranging from 900 to 1600 m using automatic sugar-bait traps. We recorded 105 macroheteroceran species, most of which belonged to the families Noctuidae and Erebidae. The differences in moth assemblages among the studied habitats were statistically significant, with magnitudes comparable to those observed among the study sites. Altitude had a relatively weak influence on abundance and species richness. Olive groves exhibited the highest moth abundance and species richness, though they were dominated by common and widespread species. Forests supported a greater number of rare species, while riverbanks had lower abundance and species richness. In conclusion, while traditional agriculture can support species-rich insect communities in semi-arid landscapes, maintaining natural vegetation remains crucial, as forests, though less species-rich, still enhance overall moth diversity.

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.

Husemann M. & Hawlitschek O. (eds) 2026: Grasshoppers, Locusts, and Crickets of the World. Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford, 320 pp. ISBN 978-0-691-28105-6. Price USD 29.95 / GBP 25.00.

In the last ten years, a growing number of studies have focused on urban green areas as potential refuges for biodiversity, where private gardens, urban parks and green roofs have relatively high diversities of wild bees. However, the western Mediterranean is still poorly studied and is a biodiversity hotspot that is already suffering the consequences of climate change. It is essential to rectify this and understand how urban settings can support biodiversity. In this context, this study provides an assessment of the taxonomic and functional composition of bee assemblages in three allotments in downtown Lisbon, Portugal. Using only an entomological net, we collected 202 specimens from April to July 2018, belonging to five families, 20 genera and 58 species, of which six are rare species in Portugal and nine first records for the Lisbon district. Megachilidae was the most diverse family, comprising 15 species, while Apidae was the most abundant family. Most of the species identified were solitary and had a generalist pollen diet, with a low incidence of social and parasitic species.

Rab proteins are small GTP-binding proteins and are the largest family in the Ras GTPase superfamily and mediate vesicular transport in cells. Diverse insulin-like peptides, such as bombyxin, are synthesized in the brain and secreted into the haemolymph by the corpus allatum (CA). In the brain of Bombyx mori, Rabs are expressed in a specific area; however, which Rabs actually link the secretion of bombyxin remains unknown. A double-staining analysis of nine Rabs (Rab1, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, 26, 39 and X4) and bombyxin indicated that Rab3-, Rab7-, Rab39- and RabX4-immunohistochemical reactivity (ir) areas overlapped with bombyxin-ir in the brain and CA in B. mori, while Rab6-, Rab14- and Rab21-irs partially overlapped in the CA. Rab1-ir occurred in the other immunopositive areas in CA. Rab26-ir did not occur in the brain. Rab39-ir occurred in UNC104, Rab39- effector, -immunopositive neurons in the brain and CA. Thus, Rab3, 7, 39 and X4 may regulate the exocytosis of bombyxin.

The progress in constructing a DNA barcode library for German Diptera as published by Morinière et al. (2019, Mol. Ecol. Resour. 19: 900-928) is appraised from a dipterists' perspective. The coverage of the diversity of German Diptera in terms of barcode index numbers (BINs) and identified barcodes is analysed and visualized in simple diagrams. The influence of the project setup, methodology and/or systematic effects on the emerging numbers and trends is elucidated and extensively discussed. In addition, the documentation on the species identification methods in the database is assessed. Based on this evaluation, four ways for improving the future development, utility and reliability of this DNA database and similar projects in general are identified: (1) Sample the collections of experts. This results in a greater and more reliable coverage within a limited time frame, as opposed to random collecting and relying on a posteriori identification. (2) Give priority to medically, agriculturally or ecologically important families. Addressing these gaps will meet the most pressing needs of the community and serve as a good advertisement for the usefulness and wide applicability of the DNA barcode library. (3) Allocate resources to recruiting established experts as opposed to trainees. The fact that half of the recovered BINs remained unidentified mostly results from the insufficient involvement of experts (and expert time). (4) Appropriately document the morphological identifications by experts in the database. This will allow to assess the reliability of DNA-based identifications and to prioritize conflicting identifications within a BIN accordingly.

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.

Intensive use of pesticides is among the main drivers of biodiversity loss, especially of insects. Here, field concentrations of chemical synthetic pesticides were measured in soil and carabid beetles in a vineyard (VP) and olive grove (OP), in two consecutive years. The aim was to determine if active ingredients in pesticides applied in the field accumulate in carabids and how this correlates with treatment intensity. Carabids and soil samples were collected at a vineyard and olive grove in Zadar County in Croatia, soil in 2018 and 2019 and carabids in 2019. Both were under integrated pest management (IPM), with a total of 34 pesticides applied, between January and August in the two years of this study. Using LC-MS/MS, a broad range of pesticides, mainly fungicides, was detected in the soil and carabids. In soil samples, boscalid (0.047 mg/kg), mandipropamid (0.08 mg/kg), fluopyram (0.09 mg/kg), cyprodinil (0.09 mg/kg) and tebuconazole (0.13 mg/kg) were detected in the highest amounts. In addition, nine substances were detected in carabids, with valiphenalate (0.048 mg/kg), difenoconazole (0.051 mg/kg) and azoxystrobin (0.064 mg/kg) in the highest concentrations. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) indicated the accumulation of valiphenalate, metalaxyl-M, spiroxamine and difenoconazole in carabids. Data measured directly in the field revealed the accumulation of pesticides in carabids, which indicates they could be good bioindicators in IPM and contribute to a better understanding of the distribution of pesticides in Mediterranean agroecosystems.

Given the development of resistance in stored-grain insect pests to phosphine (PH₃), the grain industry is seeking alternative methods for effective pest and resistance management. We evaluated the efficacy of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a potential alternative fumigant against adults of phosphine-susceptible (PH₃-S) and resistant strains (PH₃-R) of five major grain insect pests, including Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Linnaeus), and Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens). Adult dose-mortality response curves were established for each species, and the mortality endpoints of post-fumigated adult S. oryzae and T. castaneum were compared. The effect of commodities on the efficacy of AITC was briefly investigated from the perspective of adult insect mortality. The PH₃-R strain of S. oryzae was the most tolerant and required the highest dose, LC₅₀: 1.75 µL a.i. L^-1, whereas the PH₃-R strain of C. ferrugineus was the most susceptible to AITC, requiring the lowest LC₅₀: 0.59 µL a.i. L^-1. Comparisons of LC_99.9 across the species and strains confirmed that AITC at 2.59 µL a.i. L^-1 was adequate in achieving complete control of adults across all five insect species tested, irrespective of their resistance status to phosphine. These results suggest that phosphine-resistant insects fail to confer cross-resistance to AITC. Post-exposure endpoint mortality studies revealed a steady increase in mortality in S. oryzae (from 18% at 24 h to 100% at 168 h). In contrast, no such changes were recorded with T. castaneum, suggesting the existence of species-specific differences in responding to AITC. The presence of insect-infested commodities, such as rolled oats and cracked sorghum, reduced the efficacy of AITC, indicating that this fumigant could be sorptive.

Prior familiarity of carabid beetle populations with seeds of a plant species might result in a preference for locally available species, either due to evolutionary adaptation or learning. Rejection of exotic species might favor the survival of the exotic species due to enemy release. In adults of two Carabidae species, Pseudoophonus rufipes (DeGeer) and Harpalus affinis (Schrank), we investigated the consumption of seeds of the local (growing inside the distribution range of experimental carabid individuals) Asteraceae species Taraxacum officinale and Crepis biennis, and the exotic (growing outside this area) Asteraceae species Adenostyles alliariae and Homogyne alpina. We assumed that the seeds of the exotic species would be consumed less than the seeds of the local species because the seeds of exotic species are not typically found within the range of the tested carabid populations and therefore may be preferred less than the seeds of local species. The seeds of both exotic species were consumed less than the seeds of the preferred local species, T. officinale, but were consumed more than the seeds of the rejected local species, C. biennis. Both carabid species preferred A. alliariae seeds over H. alpina seeds. No difference was observed between the preferences of the mobile and well-flying species P. rufipes and the sedentary and rarely flying H. affinis. The study did not demonstrate the hypothesized preference of the two tested beetle species for the seeds of locally available plant species.

The Oriental latrine fly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), is a rapidly expanding species, likely to become one of the most widely used species in forensic entomology in the near future, as it is currently recorded on every continent except Antarctica. In Europe, it has been confirmed only from a few Mediterranean countries (Portugal, Spain and Malta), together with the closely related and also expanding Chrysomya albiceps. Our study confirms that Chrysomya megacephala has arrived in Eastern Europe, with adult individuals of both sexes recorded during surveys and trapping in a nature reserve along the Black Sea coast in Romania. We present initial data on the overall complex assemblage of native and non-native sarcosaprophagous Diptera at this site and highlight important knowledge gaps. Given its forensic relevance and potential health risks, further investigations into its distribution, ecology, and invasion pathways in Europe are required, particularly as climate change may support its continued expansion into Central Europe.

Skinner G.J. & Jarman A.P. 2025: Ants. Pelagic Publishing, London, 304 pp. ISBN 9781784273040. Price GBP 31.99.

The genus Culicoides is the best known of the family Ceratopogonidae. Hematophagous females of the genus typically feed on the blood of vertebrate animals and in the Brazilian Amazon often on the blood of human beings. Amazon region anthropophilic Culicoides bites can provoke allergic reactions and transmit Mansonella ozzardi as well as the Oropouche virus. Past integrated taxonomy studies, combining morphometric and molecular analyses, have revealed hidden disease vector biodiversity and cryptic species with epidemiological and disease control relevance and have provided new tools to assist with vector identification. For this study we used light traps set in 12 distinct sites from three different Amazon states: Rondonia (1 site), Amazonas (3 sites) and Para (8 sites). We captured 12 different species of Culicoides representing seven different subgenera: C. foxi, C. fusipalpis, C. hylas, C. insignis, C. plaumanni, C. pseudodiabolicus, C. ruizi, C. debilipalpis, C. glabrior, C. jurutiensis, C. paraensis, C. pauci­enfuscatus. Between two and nine specimens were barcoded of each species. Neighbor joining and Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis with these COI barcodes showed the utility of these barcode sequences for species identification by clustering the barcode sequences into bootstrap-supported, species-specific monophyletic groups. Although this barcoding analysis did not resolve relationships between the species studied, it did reveal cryptic diversity within C. paucienfuscatus, C. glabrior, C. plaumanni, C. insignis and C. pseudodiabolicus. Two-dimensional geometric morphometrics, using eight wing-vein landmarks, robustly separated the analyzed species and raised questions about the validity of the subgenus Haematomyidium. Importantly, our GM wing landmark analysis separated C. paraensis from all the other analyzed species suggesting this type of analysis could be harnessed for epidemiological monitoring of this key Amazon-region vector species.

Background colour matching is considered highly effective in preventing the detection of an animal by visual predators. In a grasshopper species with green-brown polymorphism, a green morph on grass and a brown morph on bare ground or dead litter may be difficult for visual predators to distinguish from their respective backgrounds. However, few studies have examined the effects of background colour on the predation susceptibility of green and brown morphs of grasshoppers under natural conditions. In this study, the frequency of injuries including autotomy in the green-brown polyphenic grasshopper Atractomorpha lata was compared between two substrates: dense green grass and sparse grass (i.e., mixed cover consisting of 50% green grass and 50% bare soil or dead litter). More than half of injuries were hind-limb autotomy. The frequency of injuries was higher on dense grass for the brown morph than for the green morph, but on sparse grass it was higher for the green morph than for the brown morph. Because autotomy in orthopterans is almost always caused by birds, we conclude that background colour matching in A. lata functions as camouflage against predators with colour vision, such as birds.

High temperatures that prevail at sun-exposed sites such as heaths, depressions, or on slopes, increase the risk of desiccation for rove beetles (Staphylinidae). Therefore, atmospheric and sub-atmospheric humidity determine the microclimates and thus habitat preference and activity of xerothermophilous species. In the nature reserve Marienfließ, a heathland in the south of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Northeast German Lowlands, air temperature and humidity were recorded year-round along a transect at 10 sites, i.e. where the vegetation was more dense and more humid than where the vegetation was sparse and it was drier, using data loggers placed in the litter layer that recorded the conditions every 30 min in 2021. Monthly visits were made to determine the biomass of vegetation, soil and litter properties, edaphic rove beetle fauna and total abundance and and that of individual species at 1 m² sites. Statistical analysis of 365 diurnal cycles per site, with pronounced amplitude in air temperature and humidity, clearly delineated the cooler and more humid sites from warmer and drier ones. Between 10 and 22 of the 30 xerothermophilous species (73.3%), such as, e.g. Quedius persimilis Mulsant & Rey, 1876, Xantholinus gallicus Coiffait, 1956, Cousya longitarsis (Thomson, 1867) and Euaesthetus superlatus Peyerimhoff, 1937, were recorded only at the cooler and moist sites on the heath. Comparison of the abundances and distribution of species revealed that the xerothermophilous heath-dwelling and desiccation-prone species prefer rather constant environmental conditions, i.e. niches in cool and moist habitats on warm and dry heathland.

Treehoppers are characterized by exaggerated and three-dimensionally modified pronotal structures, known as "helmets". The treehopper pronotum has been studied mainly in terms of taxonomic diagnosis for over a century. It has recently been used as a model for studying the origin of evolutionary innovation and morphological diversification. However, the interspecific correspondence of traits, i.e., homology of pronotal parts, remains ambiguous due to (1) the extreme diversity in pronotal morphology and (2) little comparative study focused on homology. These problems hinder tracing the evolutionary history of treehopper pronotal morphology. Here, we investigate the homological relationships of pronotal structures among treehoppers, especially in the subfamily Smiliinae. We first investigate smiliine species, whose pronotal morphology is relatively simple, then expand to species with a more complex pronotum. Our comparative observations using six smiliine species reveal that four traits share the same positions and structures among these species: (1) the humeral angle, (2) the median carina, (3) the starting point of the median carina, and (4) the posterior apex of the pronotum, indicating that these traits are homologous across these species. Based on this homology hypothesis, we generalize the pronotal morphology and propose landmarks to help interpret the diversified pronotum of a clade including Smiliinae and its relatives. Finally, we confirm that this generalization can be applied to other treehopper subfamilies. Our homology-based approach can provide a strategy to recognize the trajectory of pronotal morphology, which is often difficult to trace.

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 hemipteran infraorder Cicadomorpha (cicadas, leafhoppers, treehoppers and spittlebugs) comprises more than 30,000 described extant species in 3,783 genera, 13 families and 3 superfamilies: Cicadoidea, Cercopoidea and Membracoidea. Here, we summarize and discuss data on the number of testicular follicles in 103 species belonging to 84 genera and 9 families of Cicadoidea (Tettigarctidae and Cicadidae), Cercopoidea (Aphrophoridae, Cercopidae and Ischnorhinidae) and Membracoidea (Aetalionidae, Cicadellidae, Membracidae and Myerslopiidae), as well as the number of ovarioles in 65 species belonging to 56 genera of the same families, except for Tettigarctidae, Aetalionidae, and Myerslopiidae, for which no such data were available. Almost 83% of the species and 81% of the genera studied belong to the family Cidadellidae. In general, the number of follicles in Cicadomorpha ranges from 1 to "about 100 or more" per testis, and the number of ovarioles from 3 to over 70-80 per ovary. The highest numbers are characteristic of Cicadoidea and Cercopoidea, with significantly higher values in the former superfamily. In Membracoidea, both follicle and ovariole numbers vary within markedly narrower limits. Most taxa are dominated by testes each consisting of 6 follicles, and the ovaries each consisting of 6 ovarioles. These character states are considered ancestral for Cicadomorpha, and possibly for Auchenorrhyncha as a whole.

Rüppell G. & Hilfert-Rüppell D. 2024: Dragonfly behavior: Discovering the dynamic life of an ancient order of insects. Springer-Verlag GmbH, Berlin, Heidelberg, xx + 229 pp., 290 colour photos, 30 black-and-white illustrations. ISBN 978-3-662-70233-8 (hardback), 978-3-662-70234-5 (e-book). Hardcover price EUR 28.07.

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.

A study on the pollination of Ophrys fuciflora (Orchidaceae), which is not a native orchid of Japan, was carried out in a botanical garden in Japan, where the flowers attracted the solitary bee, Eucera nipponensis. Six male bees were observed visiting the flowers over a period of 8 h. The pollinia of O. fuciflora became attached to these bees and four were successfully transferred to the stigmas of nearby flowers. The present study verifies that a species of Ophrys can attract pollinators in Japan, which is at least 8,700 km far from their natural habitat. Thus, it is likely that species of Ophrys could potentially extend their distribution by forming new alliances with other species of bees.

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

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

Global warming has altered the distribution of several insect species, including those inhabiting aquatic environments and this range expansion may modify existing interspecific interactions by facilitating new encounters between species that were not originally sympatric. Global warming is highly likely to expand the distribution of Cybister tripunctatus lateralis (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in Japan, leading to interspecific competition for food resources among congeneric species. In particular, Cybister larvae share similar feeding habits, suggesting that interspecific competition is likely to occur, although this has not yet been verified. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the microhabitat use and foraging abilities of the larvae of two species - C. tripunctatus lateralis with an expanded distribution area and Cybister brevis, a non-expanding species of similar body size. We compared (1) behavior quantified by visual scan census, (2) time taken to reach food, and the number of prey animals consumed by each species in the laboratory experiments. The results indicated that the behavioral patterns of the larvae tended to involve mainly perch and rest on the plants. There were no clear differences between the two species, although there were variations among the instars. There was no difference in the number of prey animals consumed by the two species; however, it was evident that C. tripunctatus lateralis reached the food earlier than C. brevis. Therefore, it is suggested that the two species utilize a common underwater microhabitat, and that C. tripunctatus lateralis has a competitive advantage over C. brevis in terms of food resources. However, further experimental verification and continued expansion of C. tripunctatus lateralis distribution trends should be carefully monitored, as reproductive habitats in the field differ and competitive advantages may depend on water temperature.

In this paper data on the number of follicles in testes and the number of ovarioles in ovaries of planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) are summarised and discussed. Fulgoromorpha include about 14,000 described species belonging to 21 families distributed throughout the world. The number of follicles is known for 186 species, 123 genera and 17 families, and the number of ovarioles is known for 52 species, 44 genera and 11 families. Almost 80% of the species studied belong to the families Dictyophar­idae, Delphacidae, Issidae, Cixiidae and Achilidae. The number of follicles per testis and ovarioles per ovary varies within similar ranges, from 2 to 30 and from 3 to just over 30, respectively. The predominant number of follicles is 6, which is found in more than one third of the species and in almost all of the families studied. This number is considered as an ancestral trait for Fulgoromorpha. In each family, the ancestral number can vary both upwards or downwards, probably due to either polymerization or oligomerization. In the more basal families, a decreasing trend clearly predominates, whereas an increasing trend predominates in the more advanced families. As for the numbers of ovarioles, they tend to vary within families, with rare exceptions (e.g., Dictyopharidae), but that is probably due to the lack of data.

Our study showed that under natural conditions the rate and speed of postdiapause emergence by overwintering larvae of the endoparasitic wasp, Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank) is enhanced when its ladybird beetle host Coleomegilla maculata (DeGeer) receives a nutritious (proteinaceous) diet during late winter and early spring. Living aphid prey provided during April and May yielded the fastest rates of D. coccinellae postdiapause development, followed by an artificial protein/carbohydrate diet and flowering (pollen-producing) heads of dandelion. D. coccinellae development was slowest when hosts received only sugar water or water alone. These results indicate that there is an interaction during late dormancy between host diet and subsequent parasitoid performance. From these studies we conclude that the initiation of feeding by C. maculata hosts, whether on prey or nutritious plant-based substances, during early spring may play an important role in the timing and success of postdiapause larval development and emergence by the parasitoid D. coccinellae. This interaction appears to be an adaptive feature that synchronizes the completion of the parasitoid's postdiapause development with the feeding and occurrence of potential ladybird beetle (C. maculata) hosts in spring. Thus, we conclude that at this point in their life cycles, the developmental success of both the host and the parasitoid are interdependent. It appears that the presence and utilization of aphid prey and/or a rich pollen source early in the spring season could have both positive and negative effects on the local population of ladybird beetle hosts.