I here redescribe, and expand the original description of, the holotype of Sinea sericea Hussey; correct misinformation based on the holotype; supplement the original description with additional males; and add the first description of adult females.

A new parasitoid reared from Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Sclerodermas pupariae n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), is described from China. S. pupariae was reared from A. planipennis in China attacking velvet ash (Fraxinus velutina Torr. ), a tree native to North America. Life-history studies of S. pupariae in the field and laboratory indicated it is a gregarious idiobiont ectoparasitoid of pupa and larva of A. phnipennis and has up to five generations per year. Parasitism rate in the field was 13%. Adult wasps reared from single host pupa or mature larva ranged from 24 to 56 individuals. Based on laboratory rearing, the emerging adult female to male ratio was 22:1. The new parasitoid species has a high potential as a biocontrol agent for emerald ash borer. Diagnosis of the new species with comparisons to Sclerodermas harmandi (Buysson) and a key to Sclerodermas known in China are provided.

Two new species of Verrucoentomon Rusek are described: V. anatoli n. sp. from Siberia and V. louisanne n. sp. from the Russian Far East. V. anatoli n. sp. is characterized by short, broad foretarsal sensilla c and e, presence of additional setae on head, presence of seta P1a on tergites I–VI and sensilliform abdominal accessory setae. V. louisanne n. sp. is characterized by broadened foretarsal sensilla b, g, and a', absence of seta P1a on tergites I–VI, sensilliform abdominal accessory setae and concave hind margin of comb VIII. Collection of V. shirampa from the Russian Far East also is reported. A key to Verrucoentomon spp. is provided.

We describe three new species of Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) that were collected in agricultural or disturbed habitats in Brazil. Each species has a suite of distinguishing external characters, but to confirm identifications it is essential to examine the genital features (male or female). These three new species bring the total number of described Chrysopodes species to 47.

Callitettix versicolor (F., 1794) (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cercopidae) was reared from egg to adult under controlled laboratory conditions and the immature stages were described. Adults of this spittlebug were collected from a maize field and were reared in the laboratory on fruits of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabales: Fabaceae). Nymphs were reared on roots of rice seedlings. Adults, eggs, and nymphs were all maintained in an artificial climate chamber at 27 ± 1°C, photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h, and 70 ± 5% relative humidity. The incubation period averaged 102.63 d. The five stadia averaged 5.36, 5.48, 7.06, 7.92, and 12.67 d, respectively. Instars can be distinguished by differences in morphological features, body size, and body color.

Soapberry bugs (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae: Serinethinae) have recently colonized introduced and invasive plants in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), and they have rapidly differentiated as a result. These plants have been carried among continents at many places and times, and they may possess alien coevolutionary histories with other soapberry bug genera and species, exposing native bugs worldwide to both new challenges and new opportunities in host exploitation. To provide geographic and phylogenetic contexts for this human-catalyzed evolution, we analyzed the worldwide host relations of the three soapberry bug genera on native versus non-native sapinds. We found that the adopted introduced hosts are taxonomically distant from native hosts in six of seven global biogeographic regions. Only a few genera account for most of the introductions, and natives and non-natives are now reciprocally distributed across several pairs of continents. The evolutionary result may be local diversification, but also global convergence on currently rare bug phenotypes when plants with small endemic ranges are widely exported.

The western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Smith), is a secondary pest of maize (Zea mays L.) and dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the western United States. Recently, this insect has undergone a major territory expansion into the eastern United States and has become a pest throughout much of the Corn Belt. This study was instigated to examine the population genetics of this pest to facilitate control and resistance management, as well as to shed light on the current habitat expansion. S. albicosta individuals were collected from 24 different locations across the traditional and expanded range and amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis was conducted to assess genetic variability. In total, 90 markers were analyzed, encompassing >90% of genetic variation. G_st across all locations was moderately high (G_st = 0.5032). AMOVA analysis revealed that the majority of genetic variation was within locations (54%) and among locations within groups (45%) indicating genetic differentiation of subpopulations. The Mantel test revealed no correlation between geographic and genetic distance (n = 548; r = 0.0045; P = 0.4350). Locations sampled in the eastern United States did not exhibit any reduction in genetic variation in comparison to locations sampled in the western United States, so we conclude that no bottleneck event has occurred with this territory expansion.

The New Guinea sugarcane weevil, Rhabdoscelus obscurus (Boisduval) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an important pest of palms, ornamental nurseries, and sugarcane in the Pacific Islands. Without effective control methods, R. obscurus populations can cause major or complete loss of palm production in Guam and other Micronesian Islands. Moreover, R. obscurus has inflicted severe attacks on coconut trees on Guam. The role of monitoring is important in judging the dynamics of R. obscurus and recording area wide population trends. There is no precise research information available on the trap catch threshold levels relative to the damage caused by R. obscurus. Here we investigated the assessment of trap catch threshold levels and the potential for predicting R. obscurus larval damage by using adult pheromone trap captures. Spatial patterns of capture were studied in relation to subsequent larval damaged betel nut plants at various locations in Guam, United States, during 2010–2012. The generalized additive model was used to describe the effects of the treatment level (traps/ha), ranging from 0 to 12, and time on reducing the damage of R. obscurus to palms. We find that these two predictors are statistically significant, and the treatment level is demonstrated to be the crucial predictor for reducing the damage. There is no significant difference in effectively controlling the damage between the treatment levels of 9 and 12 traps/ha. At least 9 traps/ha is suggested for effectively controlling the damage based on results from the current study.

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) transmits plant viruses of the genus Begomovirus in a circulative manner, and once acquired, virus particles persist and are transmissible for the life of the vector. Saliva is generated by primary and accessory salivary gland cells of the paired, bilaterally symmetrical salivary gland system. It travels from secretory cells, through the internal ductules, to the external ducts, which in turn carry it to the oral region where the so-called salivary pump and the stylets occur. The ducts of either side consist of at least four components—two gland ducts, one lateral duct, and one postmedial duct. Gland ducts start, respectively, at the hilum of each gland, and extend independently of each other before fusing together by their basal laminae to become the biluminal lateral duct. The biluminal lateral duct merges into the uniluminal postmedial duct. The lateral and postmedial ducts make intimate contact with muscles in its area, including one involved in governing the retractable labial shaft. The labium consists of external and internal halves. During retraction/protraction, the latter half moves through the second intercommissural space. The postmedial ducts track anteriorly around either side of it, and fuse together at the body's midline to form the biluminal medial duct. This duct drains into the salivary pump. The retortiform organs are involved in stylet regeneration. Maxillary stylets have grooves and ridges that interlock to form the salivary and food canals. In developmental terms, the salivary canal results from failure of one ridge to fill its corresponding groove.

KK-42 is an imidazole insect growth regulator. A (KK-42)-binding protein (KK-42BP) has been shown to be associated with diapause termination in pharate first instars of Antheraea yamamai (Guérin-Méneville) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). In this study, the (KK-42)-binding protein gene (ApKK-42BP) was characterized from Antheraea pernyi (Guérin-Méneville) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) undergoing a winter diapause as a pupa. Homologous comparison revealed that KK-42BPs from A. pernyi and A. yamamai were closely related to the known minor yolk proteins from the lepidopterans Bombyx mori L., Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), and Galleria mellonella L. The two KK-42BPs also contained a lipase-like region, as observed in the known lepidopteran yolk proteins. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that KK-42BP is a new member of the minor yolk proteins. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses showed that ApKK-42BP mRNA was expressed in all of the tissues tested, throughout four developmental stages, and in both female and male. Both in the brain and hemolymph, expression of ApKK-42BP mRNA level was similar between nondiapause-destined and diapause-destined larval individuals. ApKK-42BP mRNA was expressed in the predia-pause period of diapause-destined pupae, disappeared in early diapause and diapause stage, and reappeared in the postdiapause stage. These expression patterns stated that a lack of KK-42BP is associated with pupal diapause and its expression may be critical to nondiapausing individuals. Our results suggested that the KK-42BP gene is likely involved in a function other than as a yolk protein.

Adult darkling beetles are being used as a bioindicator of environmental pollution after locust control operations involving the use of chemical insecticides. Distinguishing between the sexes of the darkling beetle, Pimelia senegalensis Olivier (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is very difficult because the external morphological characteristics are quite similar between the sexes. To help determine the sexes of live beetles of P. senegalensis for physiological studies, we test a new and simple technique for easy sexing without subjecting them to chilling, anesthesia, microscopic observation, or dissection. Almost all the adult beetles extend their heads after adequately feeding on either boiled spaghetti (98.0%) or rice (98.1%). If the head of a beetle is gently pressed into its pronotum with the fingers, the reproductive organ will protrude, that is, the genitalia will be visible from the tip of the abdomen. The beetles are easily sexed based on the shape of the genitalia. This method does not result in mortality and is applicable for other two species of darkling beetles Pimelia angulata Olivier and Pterolosia squalida Solier. In P. senegalensis, the ratio of females to males deviates are ≈9:1. Although significant differences are found in several external morphological characteristics between females and males, the range of values greatly overlap. This time-saving method can be used for sexing of the three species of darkling beetles.

Many hemipteran insects are important agricultural pests because they cause direct feeding damage to their host plants and / or transmit plant disease agents including viruses and bacteria. Microscopic and behavioral studies on five hemipteran species from four families (Psyllidae, Aphididae, Cicadellidae, and Aleyrodidae) showed that their exuviae (molted skins) normally had either fully or partially extended stylets in a feeding-like position. In most cases these stylets were still partially embedded in their host plants after ecdysis, which indicated that plant-feeding hemipteran nymphs use their stylets to anchor themselves to host plants during molting. This phenomenon was used here to study the stylet length and ultrastructure in exuviae of various instars, which is normally more difficult in nymphs than in adults because of the fragility and smaller size of nymphs. Additionally, autofluorescence was used for studying the hemipteran salivary sheaths of nymphs and adults in their host plants. This method is based on fixation of free hand sections of plant parts on which hemipteran insects have been feeding, then mounting and examination of these sections with epifluorescence or confocal microscopy. No embedding, microtomy, or staining is necessary for this method that makes it much faster and simpler than other methods. Autofluorescence was also used to study the location and size of bacteriomes/mycetomes (organs containing symbionts) in hemipteran eggs and nymphs. The above methods were applied successfully with the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama), melaleuca psyllid (Boreioglycaspis melaleucae Moore), oleander aphid (Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolomb), the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), and/or the glassy-winged sharpshooter leafhopper (Homalodisca vitripennis Germar).

Nestmate recognition among social insects is presumed to restrict non-nestmates from exploiting nest resources. Here, we developed aggression bioassays to assess the discrimination behaviors of both polygynous and monogynous forms of the red fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, during symmetrical interactions in neutral arenas. Workers from polygyne colonies exhibited risk avoidance behaviors; that is, defensive postures or the avoidance of direct contact during interactions. Workers from monogyne colonies always exhibited aggressive behaviors in the form of physical or chemical attacks. In interactions between both, monogyne workers usually started the aggression by surrounding and biting the polygyne ants. Polygyne S. invicta workers also distinguished nestmates from foreigners, but their response was not as aggressive as that of monogynes. The proposed ethogram that we constructed identified monogyne and polygyne forms of S. invicta colonies in concordance with current measures, including number of queens, and expression of the Gp-9 gene.

To clarify the reproductive properties of the coconut palm pest, Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), we investigated in the laboratory the diel periodicity in copulation, effect of adult age after emergence on copulation and ovarian development, reproductive development in relation to female age, and the possibility of multiple mating. The beetles used in this study were reared in the laboratory and were fed an alternative food plant, narrowleaf cattail, Typha domingensis Pers. (Typhaceae). Copulation occurred throughout the 24-h cycle but mostly occurred in the photophase with two peaks, one at the onset of lights-on and the other 8–12 h after lights-on, indicating that most copulation activity in B. longissima in the field occurs in the early morning and the afternoon. Females could copulate immediately after emergence, whereas males began copulating 3 wk after emergence. Ovaries of females started to develop in the absence of mating and were correlated with adult age. Mature males could copulate with females regardless of ovarian developmental stage, and females with undeveloped ovaries accepted copulation attempts. Our study showed that the timing of copulation during the preoviposition period would not affect numbers of eggs laid, length of preoviposition period, or viability of eggs. B. longissima adults engaged in multiple mating.