In insects, the activity of phenoloxidase increases near the site of injury where it not only helps in wound healing but also prevents infection. The present study discusses the regulation of phenoloxidase by age dependent mechanical injury in the silkworm. The experiment was conducted on 4th and 5th instar silkworms with single and multiple wounding. A drastic increase in the enzyme activity was observed in 4th instar caterpillars upon a single wounding. Conversely, less enzyme activity was observed in 5th instar caterpillars upon single wounding but this increased with multiple wounding. This reveals the age dependent control over phenoloxidase activity in silkworm that may be essential in the later instars to prevent any autoimmune effect caused by the enzyme. Controlling enzyme activity may be a significant evolutionary strategy adapted by the caterpillar to regulate the energy investment during 5th instar. The results of the present study confirm the probability of the presence of a novel mechanism which regulates the activity of phenoloxidase in caterpillars at different instars.

Hydnophytum formicarum is one of the most typical ant-plants distributed in Southeast Asia. The dolichoderine ant, Philidris cf. cordatus nests in the domatia of H. formicarum. We discovered nest capture of the two widespread ant species Tapinoma melanocephalum and Tetramorium nipponense in Phnom Bokor National Park, Cambodia. The two species used nests that dropped on the ground near the road that goes to the top of the mountain. The mutualistic relationship between ants and ant-plants is usually stable, but environmental change due to deforestation can easily provide a breeding ground for such widespread species. The intraspecific sequence divergence between Japanese and Cambodian T. nipponense specimens was 8.6% (K2P distance) for the mtDNA COI 3′ region. The deep genetic gap suggests that T. nipponense is native to Asia.

Two new species of the spider family Dysderidae, Harpactea forceps sp. n. and Dysdera furcatus sp. n. are described from the west Black Sea region of Turkey. Detailed morphological descriptions and diagnoses are presented. Photographs and electron micrographs are included. The two new species are compared with closely related species.

This study was carried out to explore the possible stimulatory effect of a low dose of gamma irradiation on the expression profile of a number of genes and suspected metabolic mediators involved in honeybee (Apis mellifera) foraging activity. Honeybee workers were subjected to two gamma ray doses (0.2 and 2Gy) and the expression levels of Apis mellifera foraging gene (Amfor), juvenile hormone (JH), Octopamine receptor 1 (OctR1), heat shock protein- 70 (HSP- 70) and Troponin T (TpnT) mRNA levels were estimated using RT-PCR. In addition, the indicators of metabolic and flight rate changes such as citrate synthase (CS), pyruvate kinase (PK) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) were estimated. The results revealed a marked increase in the expression of Amfor, JH, OctR1, HSP-70 and TpnT genes in the bees irradiated with the low dose of radiation (0.2Gy) as compared to the non-irradiated control workers and those irradiated with the higher dose (2Gy). In addition, CS, PK and ATPase activities were significantly elevated in workers treated with 0.2Gy when compared to the control workers and workers irradiated with the higher dose (2Gy). Finally, it could be concluded that low dose irradiation of bees enhanced the expression profile of genes regulating foraging activity and provoked the metabolic mediators required for foraging activity.

This study results from observations in cherry gardens in Elazığ (Turkey: Eastern Anatolia) during 2015 and 2016. In previous studies Omaloplia labrata (Burmeister, 1855) was found feeding on leaf epidermis of leaves starting from the uppermost and youngest shoots of the growth cone, causing significant damage. This pest damages trees from the first week of June to early July, and may cause significant damage if control measures are not taken. This study is the first record of this species on cherry and harming cherry trees.

During 2014-2015, a survey was carried out to determine the natural enemies of the sugar beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) in the Mashhad region of northeastern Iran. Through extensive sampling, different larval stages of S. exigua with possible signs or symptoms of infection were collected from beet fields, kept in laboratory conditions, fed with fresh beet leaves, and checked daily until the emergence of parasitoids. Herein, 12 species of parasitoids, a virus: Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV), an entomopathogenic fungus: Beauveria varroae, and an entomophilic nematode, Pristionchus pacificus are reported. The parasitoids were Meteorus rubens, Microplitis rufiventris, Cotesia sp., Chelonus (Chelonus) annulipes (Braconidae), Euplectrus sp. (Eulophidae), Sinophorus nr. xanthostomus, Anomalon sp., Diadegma pulchripes, Temelucha sp. (Ichenumonidae), two species of Drino genus and Exorista sp. (Tachinidae). The body tissues of the virus-infected larvae were liquefied, swollen, and glossy with a very thin cuticle. SEM photographs of viral occlusion bodies (OBs) showed polyhedral and irregular shapes. A cross-section of an OB indicated that each virion contained multiple nucleocapsids arranged randomly within the occlusion matrix. Genetic analysis based on lef-8 and Polyhedrin gene sequences confirmed the identity of the Iranian strain as SeMNPV. The virus was transmitted vertically and horizontally. Another pathogen was Beauveria varroae, isolated from a lepidopteran insect for the first time; S. exigua was indicated as a new host for this fungus. Both pathogens are herein introduced as new records for Iran microflora. The results of the current work highlight the diversity of natural enemies on the sugar beet armyworm in Iran.

The objective of this study was to survey the ants in an area of natural regeneration in the municipality of Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Sampling of the myrmecofauna was performed by means of soil traps containing preservative liquid, distributed along a transect. After 48 hours in the field, the specimens were collected, quantified and separated on the basis of morphospecies classification, and sent for taxonomic identification. A total of 586 individuals were sampled in five genera and three subfamilies (Myrmicinae, Dolichoderinae and Formicinae), with the most abundant species being Dorymyrmex brunneum and Pheidole obscurithorax.

The aim of this study was to characterize and quantify hemocyte types in the Indian stick insect Carausius morosus (Phasmatidae) and in the tropical cockroaches Blaberus craniifer and Archimandrita tessellata (Blaberidae) cultivated in an insectary. Plasmatocytes, prohemocytes, granulocytes, coagulocytes and spherulocytes were found in the cockroaches. Of the mentioned cells, the Indian stick insect lacks spherulocytes. C. morosus had the lowest total hemocyte count (THC) and B. craniifer had the highest THC. However, the number of plasmatocytes was high in all the insects, but was more pronounced in C. morosus. In cockroaches, as expected, the differential hemocyte count (DHC) was similar, and contained a high number of spherulocytes. The number of coagulocytes was relatively low in all species. Our results contribute to insect hemocyte data and confirm the need for further intensive research into the function of hemocytes and into evolutionary ecology.

Epibiosis is the assemblage of epibionts on a given host individual (basibiont). Several studies have shown that epibionts can cause deleterious effects to their hosts. Here, we report the first record of epibiont ciliates (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) living on larvae of Pyralidae (Lepidoptera) from the Neotropical region.

A new species of Cleonymus Latreille 1809 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae: Cleonyminae) from Iran is described and illustrated. The species was reared from Orthotomicus erosus (Wollaston, 1857) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). With the description of this new species, a total of 44 Cleonymus species have so far been described.

A new species in the genus Daveyoungana is described from French Guiana. A key to the species of the genus is also given.

The hops blue butterfly (Celastrina humulus) is a rare North American butterfly, found in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States in areas where its host plant, wild hops (Humulus lupulus), grows in abundance. As a member of the Lycaenidae we considered it likely that myrmecophiles may exist with ants found in C. humulus habitats. To better understand the ecology of this species and guide conservation efforts, we investigated and documented myrmecophily with multiple ant species. We found seven ant species with close associations with C. humulus larvae.

A new species of Scaroidana is described from Colombia. A key to the species of this genus is also given.