Generic redefinitions of Yavanna Szeptycki and Nosekiella Rusek based on type species are presented. Four new species of Yavanna are described: Yavanna baikalica n. sp., Yavanna chimitovae n. sp., Yavanna babenkoi n. sp., and Yavanna stebaevae n. sp. from Siberia. Nosekiella danica (Tuxen) is redescribed, and Nosekiella behanae Nosek and Nosekiella sinensis Bu & Yin are transferred to Yavanna. A key to the Nosekiella group of genera is provided, as well as a key to the known Yavanna spp.

Intercropping is a traditional agronomic practice, and when properly managed, it can significantly contribute to pest control. The current study investigates the severity of plant damage related to infestation by the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aphididae) and its predation by spotless ladybird beetle, Cycloneda sanguinea (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and parasitism by Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) in sole cotton plots and in plots of cotton intercropped with fennel. Cotton aphid populations were significantly higher in sole cotton plots than in intercropping plots for plots that were not treated with insecticide. The percentages of losses in cotton seed yield were higher in the sole cotton plots than in the four intercropping systems (one row of cotton for two rows of fennel, one row of cotton for three rows of fennel, two rows of cotton for one row of fennel, and three rows of cotton for two rows of fennel). The losses in cotton seed yield were significantly lower in the intercropping system with three rows of cotton interspersed with two rows of fennel than in the other intercropping systems. Spotless ladybird beetle and green lacewing densities were significantly higher in the intercropping system with three rows of cotton interspersed with two rows of fennel than in the other intercropping systems. These results are of practical significance in designing appropriate strategies for cotton aphid control in cotton-fennel intercropping systems.

Grasshoppers generally are considered to be phytophagous. However, increasing evidence shows that many are better classified as omnivorous. The eastern lubber grasshopper Romalea microptera (Beauvois) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) not only consumes plants, but also dead or wounded arthropods in the field. We tested the potential range of arthropod taxa scavenged by R. microptera by offering fresh-killed carcasses to adult females in the laboratory. We predicted that they would eat all arthropods except those that the grasshopper's mandibles could not cut and chemically defended arthropods. We offered grasshoppers 104 arthropod species and life stages, representing 20 orders in five classes (Arachnida, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Insecta, and Malacostraca). The grasshoppers completely consumed the entire body of all individuals of 42% of the arthropod species and life stages, and another 32% were highly consumed. Overall, 96% of the arthropod species and life stages, representing 19 of the 20 total orders, were consumed to some extent, suggesting that R. microptera is an opportunistic carnivore. Chemical defense in arthropods did not deter feeding by R. microptera, but the hardness of integument did: harder-bodied Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were consumed less than softer-bodied arthropods. Our results confirm that R. microptera is not strictly phytophagous, but readily eats a wide range of arthropod taxa. Carnivory within phytophagous clades may have important physiological, ecological, and evolutionary consequences.

The present paper describes the population parameters, the behavior, and the geographic range of Parides burchellanus (Westwood, 1872), an endangered papilionid butterfly from Brazil. Population biology was described based on a 13-mo mark-recapture program in a site of riparian forest in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The range of the population size was 10–30 individuals (with a maximum near 100 individuals). Sex ratio was male biased, with males dominating in all months. The age structure was not stable, with an increase in intermediate and old individuals before the population break in the dry season. The residence time was 23.2 ± 18.4 d for males and 16.4 ± 12.5 to females, with a maximum of 73 d recorded for males and 64 d for females. Males can travel distances of up to 950 m and females up to 650 m. When searching for P. burchellanus populations in 63 sites with suitable habitats, only seven actually had resident populations. A combination of high habitat specificity for larvae and adults could explain the rarity of this butterfly. The available data could be used in conservation programs for P. burchellanus, which should include protection of the habitats of all known colonies so far.

The composition, spatial distribution, and seasonal fluctuations of necrophagous Coleoptera assemblages of families Dermestidae and Silphidae are studied along a bioclimatical level gradient of natural habitats in central Spain. Both families were collected with carrion-baited traps throughout a year. The main part of the individuals occurred in spring and summer, but silphids showed different seasonal patterns depending on the bioclimatical level. The assemblage composition also differs depending on the bioclimatical level with two distinguishable groups: one corresponding to mesomediterranean habitats and the other to supramediterranean and oromediterranean habitats. The most abundant species of Dermestidae are well represented at every bioclimatical level, whereas some species of Silphidae appear to have a preference for some habitats. Such differences in spatial and temporal patterns between both families could be because of their different food and carcass size preferences.

Ground beetles or carabids are collective terms for the beetle family Carabidae. This family contains many species considered important predators associated with agricultural crops. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of different diet types on consumption, fecundity, and egg viability of Abaris basistriata Chaudoir and Selenophorus seriatoporus Putzeys (Coleoptera: Carabidae) . The diets assessed were as follows: larvae of Tenebrio molitor L.; minced beef; dry cat food; the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani); seeds of signal grass, Brachiaria decumbens Stapf; and a diet mixture. Five males and five females of each species were kept isolated in a plastic container divided by a silicon barrier, one side being filled with sifted soil that was moistened for oviposition and the other lined with filter paper to receive the diet. A. basistriata did not consume the B. decumbens seeds. The most consumed diet by A. basistriata and S. seriatoporus adults was T. molitor larvae. S. graminum and T. molitor larvae and diet mixture were considered the diets most favorable for the reproductive capacity of A. basistriata and S. seriatoporus, respectively. However, T. molitor larvae and diet mixture were the most favorable diets for rearing both carabid species in the laboratory.

The reproductive biology of a citrus pest Pezothrips kellyanus (Bagnall) was studied at four constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, and 30°C) on lemon leaf discs, under laboratory conditions. Lifetime fecundity of mated P. kellyanus was twofold higher at 20 and 25°C than at 15°C. Temperature had no significant effect on fecundity but daily oviposition rate increased as temperature increased. At 15°C, a female of P. kellyanus oviposited 1.13 offspring and at 30°C 5.35 offspring in average per day. Adult longevity was inversely related to temperature. Specifically, female longevity was longest at 15°C (53.90 d) and shortest at 30°C (13.64 d). Preoviposition, oviposition, and postoviposition periods decreased inversely to temperature. Sex ratio was strongly female biased (>60%) at 15 and 25°C. The net reproductive rate (R_o was highest at 15°C and lowest at 30°C. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) as well as the finite rate of increase (λ) were related to temperature and were highest at 30°C. The mean generation time (T) and population doubling time (DT) were inversely related to temperature and were longest at the lowest studied temperature, 15°C. Almost all biological parameters (except preoviposition period) differed significantly between mated and unmated females when were tested at 25°C. The offspring sex ratio was significantly higher at mated than unmated females. Unmated females produced only a few female offspring confirming arrhenotoky in P. kellyanus.

The consequences of single versus multiple mating on the longevity, fecundity, and fertility of female emerald ash borers Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire) were examined. In the first treatment, dissections of the common oviduct showed that 43 of 52 singly-mated females had received spermatophores. In the next two treatments, females were observed to mate one time, then housed either alone (observed separate) or with their mate (observed together). In the fourth treatment, females were paired with a randomly chosen male (unobserved together). Weight (0.0428 ± SE 0.0008 g) and longevity (50.5 ± SE 1.6 d) of female beetles did not differ among treatments. Fecundity, but not fertility, had a significant positive correlation with longevity in all treatments. Almost all of the females ‘Observed together’ laid eggs (87%, N = 31), while significantly fewer females ‘unobserved together’ (61%, N = 31) and ‘Observed separate’ (54%, N = 31) did. The fecundity of females that did lay eggs did not differ among treatments. Based on our results a single mating may be sufficient to ensure maximal fecundity for females, but there is potential for failure of any one mating, and no apparent cost to multiple mating. Thus, multiple mating is likely the best strategy for female emerald ash borers to maximize fecundity. The implications of results for laboratory rearing, and potential population level effects are discussed.

The biological characteristics of Telenomus remus Nixon, 1937 (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) on eggs of Spodoptera albula (Walker, 1857); S. cosmioides Walker 1858, S. eridania (Cramer, 1782); and S. frugiperda (Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were evaluated under different temperatures (19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34°C ± 1°C). The duration of the T. remus egg-to-adult period on eggs of all four Spodoptera species and the longevity of adults of T. remus were both inversely proportional to the increase in temperature. Parasitoid emergence was higher than 80% at temperatures from 19 to 28°C when the parasitoid was reared on eggs of S. eridania and S. frugiperda. Differently, when the parasitoid was reared on eggs of S. albula and S. cosmioides, T. remus emergence at rates of 80% or higher just occurred from 22 to 25°C and at 22°C, respectively. At 34°C, this parameter was lower than 30% for T. remus reared in all hosts. The sex ratio was 64–86% females, except for T. remus in S. cosmioides eggs at 34°C, in which temperature it was 39%. The estimated thermal requirements of T. remus, for the thermal constant (K) and the base temperature (T_base), were: 125.39 DD and 15.139°C; 125.56 DD and 14.912°C; 142.98 DD and 14.197°C; and 149.16 DD and 13.846°C, for S. cosmioides, S. frugiperda, S. albula, and S. eridania, respectively. In general, T. remus showed good parasitism potential on all the hosts, although eggs of S. frugiperda, S. eridania, and S. albula proved to be the most suitable for mass rearing of T. remus in the laboratory. Eggs of S. cosmioides are less suitable because of the lower parasitoid emergence observed at most of the temperatures with exception of 22°C.

A study of the biological characteristics and thermal requirements of the parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, 1879 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on eggs of Trichoplusia ni (Hübner, 1802) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) at several different temperatures was performed in this work. Eggs of T. ni were exposed to T. pretiosum strain Tspd parasitism for 5 hr and then transferred to environmentally controlled growth chambers set at the temperatures of 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, and 33 ± 1°C. The duration of the T. pretiosum egg-to-adult period was affected by temperature, varying from 6 to 18 d over the range of the studied temperatures. The number of individuals emerged per egg and the sex ratio also were affected by temperature variations, but regression analysis did not find correlation between the increase of temperature and the observed variation of these biological parameters. Similarly, parasitism viability (percentage) was influenced by temperature variation, but always exceeded 80% at all tested temperatures. The thermal lower limit of development (T_base) and the thermal constant (K) for T. pretiosum were 11.84°C and 128.37 DD, respectively. These results here reported indicate that T. pretiosum was impacted by the temperature, however, this parasitoid had a satisfactory performance on T. ni eggs at all studied temperature (from 18 to 33°C), showing potential to be used successfully as a biological control agent of this pest in different regions that fit in this tested temperature range. Also, the rearing temperature of this parasitoid might be changed from 18 to 33°C, according to commercial demands for accelerating or retarding mass production for field releases without damages to the parasitoid development.

Although dramatic millipede outbreaks have been reported worldwide, there is no data available on the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) of these arthropods. This parameter was estimated in the west-European millipede Polydesmus angustus Latzel, a seasonally-breeding species with mixed 1-yr and 2-yr life cycles within populations. Individuals from 20 broods were reared throughout their life cycle under seasonal conditions simulated in the laboratory (monthly mean temperatures and naturally varying photoperiods), to determine age-specific survival and fertility in annual (1-yr life cycle) and biennial (2-yr life cycle) females. The finite rate of increase (λ_m) was calculated using a periodic matrix model and r_m was found to be 5.85 per year. This estimate suggests that outbreaks of annual polydesmidan species in greenhouses or under favorable field conditions can be generated by a small number of fertilized females in 2 yr. The relevance of seasonal conditions to measure r_m per year in long-lived arthropod species that breed seasonally is emphasized. Estimates such as that obtained in P. angustus integrate most seasonal adaptations of the species and are ecologically plausible in the absence of extrinsic sources of mortality. Finally, the results show that biennial females represent a very small proportion of individuals in the stable population structure, but analysis of short-term dynamics indicates that they may be more successful as colonists than annual females.

Molecular and taxonomic studies of subterranean termites in the genus Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) have suggested that Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto is the only species that occurs in Korea. However, the specimens studied to date were collected from a limited number of locations, and basic information about the distribution, taxonomy, and molecular characteristics of this genus in Korea is still lacking. In this study, we collected Reticulitermes specimens from 50 sampling sites distributed throughout the country. By comparing the cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene of mitochondrial DNA sequences, we conclude that Reticulitermes speratus is represented by two haplotypes in Korea. In addition, we report the first occurrence of another Reticulitermes species in this country.

The Dufour's gland of two solitary cavity-nesting bees, Osmia lignaria Say and Megachile rotundata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), was examined with microscopy to determine the structure and arrangement of the gland in the sting apparatus. The appearance and relative size of the Dufour's gland of these two bee species are similar. Unlike the termination of the Dufour's gland at the base of the sting in the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. ( Apidae), the posterior portion of the Dufour's gland in these megachilids enters into the sting bulb along with the venom duct. Within the sting bulb, the Dufour's gland is ventral to and longer than the venom duct. The following evidential findings presented here and elsewhere are in support of the hypothesis that the Dufour's gland is the source of an individual nest recognition cue in these two bee species: 1 ) the presence of a duct and exit pore at the posterior end of the Dufour's gland that may release glandular secretions, 2) the location of thick, brushy metasomal setae and the setosa membrane that could be used to apply a secretion to a substrate, and 3) the observed dragging of the tip of the abdomen during nest-marking.

There has been disagreement concerning the number and identity of the abdominal segments involved in the development of the genitalia and, therefore, pregenitalia of the Hemiptera. Although these studies have been conducted during the past two centuries, they have involved only adults. Here we present the results of our study of the nymphs of Corimelaena incognita (McAtee and Malloch) in which we trace the development of the abdomen through the five instars into the adult and determine the number of segments involved in genitalic development. The total number of spiracles (seven) and location of each spiracle (i.e., below or within the lateral carina) were important in this determination. We conclude that the genitalia begin with segment 9 in the male (pygophore) and segment 8 (gonocoxae 1) in the female.

The Hemiptera displays a notable diversity of vibratory communication signals across its various families. Here we describe the substrate and airborne vibrations (sounds), the mechanism of production, and associated behaviors of Jadera haematoloma Herrich-Schaeffer, a member of the family Rhopalidae. Adult males and females both produce short, stereotyped sound bursts by anterior-posterior movement of abdominal tergites I and II against a stridulitrum located on the ventral surface of the metathoracic wing. Sound bursts are produced by a single adult male or female when physically touched by another adult, and are strongly associated with being crawled on by the approaching individual, but are not produced in response to contact with other arthropods or when pinched with forceps. The propensity to produce sounds when crawled upon decreases during the mating season. These sound bursts by J. haematoloma likely are communication signals. Rhopalidae has been significantly absent from the vibratory communication literature until now. Although the sounds are produced using a mechanism common to vibratory communication systems in closely related Heteropteran Hemiptera, the sounds in these other species function primarily in courtship or in mother-daughter interactions, which suggests that the functions of stridulation and the behavioral contexts have diversified in the Heteroptera.

The German yellowjacket Vespula germanica (F.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), an invasive wasp, is a highly efficient forager. We studied wasp cognitive ability while varying landmark disposition and cue conspicuity. Learning flights were used as an indicator of forager cognition while relocating a food source. We recorded the number of learning flights (circling above the food location) performed after each visit by each wasp. We studied the effect of modifying a learned location and analyzed how the addition of conspicuous cues affected wasp learning. Cognitive ability also was studied in relation to food manipulation efficiency, i.e., the time taken to extract a piece of meat and fly away. We found that one feeding visit was sufficient for wasps to learn relevant cues associated with a rewarded location, as shown by the reduction of learning flights after just one experience. Moreover, wasps reached asymptotic levels in food manipulation after only one feeding visit. The introduction of a contextual change, such as moving the food location a few centimeters from the original feeding site, affected returning foragers, who increased the number of learning flights when leaving the array. Interestingly, enriched contexts with conspicuous cues seemed to facilitate wasp cognition as they performed fewer learning flights than in nonenriched ones. Learning flights seem to be a good cognitive indicator, reflecting wasp experience with a certain context, thus revealing their sensitivity to landmark cue conspicuity. This study highlights the cognitive capacities of V. germanica foragers.