Many North American sesiid moths within Synanthodonini have been studied extensively because their feeding activity can cause detrimental economic and esthetic impacts to many commercially important ornamental and native plant species. Recent discoveries of nonnative clearwing moth pest introductions [e.g., Synanthedon myopaeformis (Borkh.)], reinforce the need for reliable and accurate molecular diagnostic tools that can be used by nontaxonomic experts, particularly when juvenile life stages are recovered from infested host-plant tissues. Cytochrome oxidase I (cox I) previously has been used to successfully identify species and resolve species complexes. In this study, the cox I phylogeny inferred from sequences generated from 21 species of sesiid moths classified within Synanthedonini confirms the close evolutionary relationship between sesiid species. As other authors have suggested in previous works, we observed that Synanthedon rileyana H. Edwards appears atypical for the genus, as it paired with Carmenta bassiformis (Walker) one node removed from, but not sister to, a large well-supported Synanthedon-rich clade. Sannina uroceriformis Walker and Podosesia Möschler were observed nested deeply within the aforementioned well-supported clade (posterior probability [PP] of clade = 100) comprised of all Synanthedon species sampled, except S. rileyana. Placement of these two taxa conflicts with results from previous morphological studies. These placements were immune from repeated attempts to delete perceived nearby long branches within the data set. Despite these few conflicts and overall low statistical support for most interspecific and higher relationships, our data suggest that all species examined possess unique genetic signatures that lend themselves to accurate identification of all life history stages of these clearwing pests.

The second- and third-instar larvae of three species in the fraterculus group, Anastrepha bahiensis Lima, Anastrepha coronilli Carrejo & González, and Anastrepha turpiniae Stone are described and illustrated for the first time. Character states that can be used to distinguish among the three species and their overlap among other species in the fraterculus group are discussed.

The following three new species of Cycloneuroterus Melika et Tang (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) from Japan are described: C. akagashiphilus from Quercus (Cyclobalanopsis) acuta and C. hisashii and C. arakashiphagus from Q. (C.) glauca. Quercus (C.) acuta is recorded as a host plant of Cynipini for the first time. Cycloneuroterus fortuitusus Tang et Melika, previously known from Taiwan, is newly recorded for Japan. A key to all eight recognized species of Cycloneuroterus is provided. The hitherto known five species of Cycloneuroterus were recorded in Taiwan only and four of them induce galls on the strictly Asian subgenus Cyclobalanopsis. Therefore, the discovery of the three new species of Cycloneuroterus in Japan confirms the close association between Cycloneuroterus and Cyclobalanopsis, and suggests the existence of the potentially diverse cynipid fauna on this subgenus in Asia. More extensive sampling is expected to reveal the species richness in the Cynipini in the region.

A new species of phorid fly, Euryplatea nanaknihali (Diptera: Phoridae), is described from Thailand. This is the first Oriental Region record for this genus; it is otherwise known only from the type species from Africa, where it parasitizes ants of the genus Crematogaster Lund. The new species is probably capable of parasitizing the smallest host Crematogaster (Formicidae) ants in its range. At 0.40 mm in body length, it is the smallest known fly in the world.

A new cynipid species, Saphonecrus hupingshanensis Liu, Yang, et Zhu, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini), is described from China. This is the first species of the inquilinous tribe Synergini ever known to have an association with chinquapins (Fagaceae: Castanopsis). The biology and implication to species diversity of Cynipidae in eastern and southeast Asia are discussed.

We examined reciprocal intraguild predation (IGP) and cannibalism among various combinations of Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer and Chrysoperla cornea Stephens larvae as they developed feeding on greenbugs, Schizaphis graminum Rondani, on sorghum plants in microcosms. Pairs of C. maculata larvae suppressed aphids better than pairs of C. carnea larvae or heterospecific larval pairs and yielded the highest rate of plant survival. IGP by C. carnea larvae occurred mostly in the first instar, whereas C. maculata larvae were more aggressive in later instars. Although C. carnea was the superior intraguild predator, winning 62.7% of contests in microcosms, this value increased to 88.9% when the experiment was repeated in petri dishes without plant material, regardless of whether greenbugs or eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller were offered as focal prey. Provision in petri dishes of the sessile, higher quality prey (Ephestia) as opposed to greenbugs, improved the survival of solitary larvae and delayed cannibalism and IGP until later developmental stages in both species. Larvae of C. maculata that cannibalized took longer to develop and weighed less at pupation, independent of the arena or prey offered. Although larvae of C. carnea did not pay a cost for cannibalism or IGP in microcosms, there were some negative developmental effects of IGP in petri dishes, particularly on the Ephestia diet. These results illustrate how the plant, as a substrate, can mediate the strength of IGP interactions and how the relative suitability of the focal prey can influence both the timing and consequences of cannibalism and IGP.

There has been an argument as to whether early leaf abscission substantially affects larval mortality of leafminers because of leaf senescence. Recently, a study reported that leaf abscission considerably increased the mortality of a leafminer (Ectoedemia cerviparadisicola Sato, sp. nov.) associated with Quercus gilva (Blume) in Nara Park, central Japan, where sika deer (Cervus nippon (Temminck)) have been protected for 1,200 yr, because deer consumed many abscised leaves containing living larvae. The study, however, did not investigate the life history of the leafminer or survey the leaf-fall pattern of Q. gilva through the season, so that it failed to quantify larval mortality because of deer predation. To test whether deer have a substantial effect on larval mortality of this leafminer, we regularly collected abscised and nonabscised leaves of Q. gilva through the season, examining mines and larvae in those leaves. Over 90% of mined leaves abscised in the period of peak leaf fall, when almost all larvae had already emerged from mines to pupate. Most dead larvae in abscised leaves were judged to have already died at the time of abscission from their instars and body features. The proportion of living larvae in abscised leaves was estimated to be <1.8%. Thus, even when deer preyed upon all living larvae in abscised leaves, they would hardly contribute to the increase in larval mortality. These results indicate that the effect of leaf abscission on leafminer mortality via deer predation and other causes is limited. The leafminer was described as new to science in the Appendix.

Stink bugs are economically important pests that damage a wide range of crops in the southeastern United States. Stink bug feeding on developing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. ) bolls may result in reduced yield and loss of fiber quality; similarly, feeding on developing soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] pods can reduce yield and seed quality. During 2009 and 2010, the seasonal abundance and reproductive biology of Chinavia hilaris (Say) and Nezara viridula (L.) were investigated in replicated 1.62–2.83-ha farmscapes containing equal proportions of corn (Zea mays L.), cotton, peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), and soybean. Crops were sampled weekly by using whole plant examinations in corn and sweep net sampling in cotton, peanut, and soybean. In 2010 only, adults were dissected to rate their reproductive development, and nymphs were classified to instar. No C. hilaris adults or nymphs ever were observed in corn; however, nymphs were observed in cotton and soybean during late September with peak abundance occurring just after the autumnal equinox. The peak of late-instar nymphs was followed within 2 wk by a peak of nonreproductive adults. More adults were observed in soybean than cotton. In contrast, N. viridula nymphs and adults were found across all crops and had multiple generations throughout the growing season. Results from this study indicate that C. hilaris and N. viridula are different in voltinism, phenology, and use of hosts. These data provide knowledge of stink bug biology and population ecology at the landscape level and are useful for designing and implementing stink bug management programs.

This study examined the effects of a fern-dwelling ant species, Crematogaster difformis Smith (Formicidae, Hymenoptera), which defends territories in large areas of the crowns of emergent trees, on the composition and spatial distribution of other ant species on the trees in a Bornean tropical rainforest. We investigated the within-tree distribution of nest sites and foraging areas of individual ant colonies on emergent trees. The ant species composition on trees occupied by C. difformis was significantly different from that on conspecific trees without C. difformis. The species richness of ants inhabiting emergent trees, colony abundance of ants that nested and foraged in the crowns, and colony abundance of ants that nested on and in the ground but foraged in the crowns were all significantly lower on trees occupied by C. difformis than on conspecific trees without C. difformis. These results suggest that C. difformis suppresses the distribution of other ant species on emergent trees by excluding them from C. difformis territories and that a single ant species can affect the structure of the entire ant assemblage in the canopy of tropical rainforests.

It is known that intercropping systems maintain biodiversity and control pest populations. The aim of this study was to describe the vertical and horizontal distribution of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, within the cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in cotton with colored fibers and cotton-fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) intercropping system over time, during two cotton seasons. Measurements of the aphid population's dynamics and distribution in the cotton plants were recorded at intervals of 7 d, from plant emergence until the appearance of the first open bolls. The number of aphids and their specific locations on the plant were recorded in relation to reference points (nodes on the plant's main stem as well as on leaves and fruit structures). The number of cotton aphids found on the cotton crop (11,444 cotton aphids) was significantly higher than the number found on the cotton-fennel intercrop (8,106). Considering the vertical distribution of cotton aphids on the plants, no significant interactions were observed among the crop system, plant age and plant region, between the crop system and plant age, or between the crop system and plant region. In the cotton system, aphid populations peaked between 74 and 95 d, whereas in the cotton-fennel intercropping system, aphid populations peaked between 74 and 102 d. The results obtained in this study could be useful in decision-making, implementing controls and determining the timing of population peaks of this aphid.

Fewer than half of the 80–100 North American species in parasitoid genus Coptera Say (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) have been described. Hosts are known for just nine of these. The taxonomy of Coptera has been complicated by its cryptic morphology and a life history that includes parasitism of pupae beneath the surface of soils. Here, we describe collections targeting the host genus with which Coptera have most frequently been associated: flies in genus Rhagoletis (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae). DNA barcodes, morphology, and ecology (host associations) were used to understand species limits for Coptera collected from Rhagoletis. Four species of Coptera were recovered from five species of Rhagoletis, including a new species: Coptera n. sp. 1. Two of the associations with particular species of Rhagoletis were previously unknown, and no two species of Coptera were found to be attacking the same host, suggesting these four Coptera are specialist parasites. As several of the 25 North American species of Rhagoletis are agricultural pests, a better understanding of their natural associations with Coptera may prove valuable to biological control efforts.