Concern over the declines of pollinator populations during the last decade has resulted in calls from governments and international agencies to better monitor these organisms. Recent studies of bee diversity in urban environments suggest that cities may contain significant amounts of bee species, even greater than surrounding agricultural areas, and in some occasions comparable to natural habitats. We conducted a three-year survey of bees in the city of St. Louis, MO. Like many other post-industrial cities in the United States, St. Louis is considered a shrinking city, with many vacant lots and unoccupied structures, mostly in the urban core. We sampled a broad range of habitats throughout the growing seasons of 2013 to 2016, e.g., vacant lots, city parks, community gardens, and urban farms, using aerial netting. This resulted in over 7,700 specimens. Data from other surveys, e.g., BioBlitz, and personal collections was also utilized in developing the species list. These data were supplemented with inspections of entomological collections from institutions in the state and the scientific literature. We identified a total of 198 species of bees from five different families that occur in the city. Only nine of the bee species present in the city are non-natives. The city of St. Louis currently hosts nearly 45% of the bee diversity of the state, likely making it one of most species-rich cities relative to its state's total bee fauna in the country. This represents a great natural resource that must be better understood, and has potential conservation implications.

The attractiveness and longevity of methyl eugenol dispensers to oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) was tested in a peach orchard in Kashmir, India. Methyl eugenol (ME) applied on plywood block captured male flies efficiently up to 10 weeks. Although the mean number of males captured during the 1^st week in traps with plywood dispensers was comparatively less than straw-board, cotton wick, acacia, sponge and rubber block dispensers, captures increased during the next 5 weeks and thereafter decreased. However trap captures decreased after the 2^nd week for the rest of the dispensers. Our results suggest that the plywood block is the most attractive and long lived methyl eugenol dispenser for capturing B. dorsalis and has potential for monitoring and control activities in India.

The silkworm, Bombyxmori L., has developed various defense mechanisms that reducethe negative effects of adverse environmental conditions. However, the mechanisms by which many physiological and ecological aspects work, including the functioning of the prophenoloxidase (pro-PO) system in Bombyxmori (BmPPO), are not completely understood. In our previous study, we found that eicosanoids mediated the innate immunity of the Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraeapernyi. To investigate the role of the pro-PO system in the silk-producing insect, Bombyxmori, the transcripts and activity of BmPPO were studied. We found that lipopolysaccharides (LPS) could induce the transcripts of BmPPO1, while eicosanoids could mediatethe induction of BmPPO1 gene expression in hemocytes. Most interestingly, the expression of BmPPO2 had no response to LPS challenge and treatment with eicosanoids. These results support the hypothesis that the B.mori pro-POsystem is associated with the eicosanoids signaling pathway.

Sunflower stem weevil, Cylindrocopturus adspersus LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), larval feeding on pith and vascular tissues can weaken stalks of cultivated sunflower, leading to breakage and loss of harvestable yield. Previous research has suggested host plant resistance (HPR) to this pest is possible, but results have been difficult to interpret because of limited comparisons to cultivated inbreds and hybrids, along with possible confounding effects of stem diameter. Trials in Kansas (2012) and Nebraska (2015) were used to help reassess the value of germplasm with putative resistance to sunflower stem weevil. Field tests in 2012 included 28 inbreds and hybrids and three entries previously identified as resistant. Though a putative resistance source, PI 386230, was infested with fewer weevil larvae per stem than several hybrids, differences primarily appeared to be due to stem diameter, which is strongly correlated with the number of weevil larvae per stem. A follow-up trial in 2015 suggested differences in larval infestation were not attributable to other qualities in groups of germplasm that differ in stem diameter (i.e., males, females or hybrids), but that changes in plant density predictably alter both stem diameter and numbers of stem weevil larvae. Though resistance to sunflower stem weevil and other stem-feeding pests may be possible, the cost and difficulty of developing HPR, declining severity of the pest, and availability of other simple management options are significant disincentives to additional research.

Periodical cicadas, known for strict life-cycle lengths of 13 or 17 yr, actually exhibit developmental plasticity in cycle length. This variation tends to occur in 1- and 4-yr increments for both life-cycle types, with the largest events involving 4-yr accelerations of the 17-yr species. The pattern has stimulated hypotheses to explain brood formation and life-cycle evolution, but most of the evidence is anecdotal. We present the first quantitative evidence confirming that a site with a 4-yr acceleration does not necessarily experience comparable emergence in the following year, and we provide the first density estimate for a 4-yr early emergence of 17-yr cicadas (1.28/m², within the range of published estimates for on-schedule emergences). We also document a 4-yr early 13-yr emergence—cicadas apparently emerging in 9 yr. Multimodal life-cycle patterns spanning −4 to 4 yr are evident in both 13- and 17-yr cicadas.

This experiment was conducted in June, 2015 and March, 2016, in a Pine forest field situated in Xuan Chen City in South-Eastern China to evaluate the efficacy of the entomopathogenic fungus (Beauveria bassiana strain Bb13) in combination with deltamethrin in different formulations to control the Masson pine caterpillar (Dendrolimus punctatus). Total corrected mortality rate of Masson pine caterpillars was significantly higher in combined formulations compared with B.bassaina oil formulation. In 2015, the corrected mortality in the combined treatments ranged between 49.6 to 99.8%, and 28.5% corrected mortality was recorded for the B.bassiana oil formulation. While the maximum corrected mortality of 99.8% and (4.6%) fungal infection was observed in the treatment 6000 ml oil formulation 12,000 µl deltamethrin, the maximum corrected fungal infection (12.2%) was observed in B.bassaina oil formulation. And a mortality rate of 7.1% was observed in control. In 2016, a corrected mortality range from 77.1 to 100% was observed in the combined formulations. The treatment 3000 ml oil formulation 3000µl deltamethrin showed a final corrected mortality of 95.4% with the maximum fungal infection rate of (62.5%), the lowest corrected mortality (33.0%) was observed in B. bassiana oil formulation at the end of experiment. Mortality of 11.1% was observed in the control.

The relationship of altitude, cardinal direction and plant species occupied by the sunn pest Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae), during the aestivation period were determined. Studies were carried out on plant species (Astragalus dipthterites Fenzl., Noea spinosissim Moq., Acantholimon sp. and Astragalus sp.), at 3 altitudes (1600 –1800; 1800–2000; 2000–2200 m), and in three directions (North, South, and East) from the overwintering sites on Nemrut Mountain, Adıyaman Turkey. According to the results, there were significant interactions of plant species x altitude, plant species x direction and altitude x direction. With respect to the species x altitude interaction, the most adults were found on N. spinosissim at altitudes of 1800–2000 m, and the least numbers were found on Astragalus sp. at the altitudes of 1600–1800 m. Considering the species x direction interaction, the most adults were found on N. spinosissim plants at the southern areas of overwintering sites, and the least numbers of adults were found on Astragalus sp. at the eastern sites. In the case of the altitude x direction interaction, the most adults were found in the southern areas of overwintering sites at 1800–2000 m, and the least numbers were found at the altitudes of 1600–1800 meters at the northern direction of overwintering sites.

Sensilla are sense organs in insects, generally comprising of a group of cuticle or epi-dermal cells that appear as hairs or rod-shaped structures. Sensilla serve as the functional elements of sensory systems. The morphology and ultrastructure of sensilla on the antennae of mature male and female Japanese sawyer beetles, Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Five types of sensilla (sensilla basiconica, sensilla trichodea, sensilla digit-like, sensilla rod-like, and sensilla bottle-like) were observed on antennae of males, and four types of sensilla (sensilla basiconica, sensilla trichodea, sensilla bottle-like, and sensilla chaetica) were observed on antennae of females. Sensilla basiconica and sensilla trichodea were found to be abundant on the front elevation of the antennae. TEM micrographs of sensilla basiconica on the antennae of M. alternatus clearly showed that they had no pits in the cuticular region. Micrographs of longitudinal sections of sensilla trichodea showed them to be flat-tipped and smooth-surfaced pegs with pointed tips that are suggestive of a gustatory function. TEM micrographs of sensilla chaetica longitudinal sections showed dendrite branches and no cuticular pore; these sensilla may be involved in the perception of humidity, temperature, heat, and CO₂. These results are discussed in relation to the possible roles of the sensilla types in the host-locating behavior of M. alternatus.

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) has recently surged in numbers internationally. A variety of plant-based, or “natural”, products that are stated to kill or repel bed bugs are being marketed directly to consumers, even though the efficacy of many of these products remains poorly known. This study was conducted to determine whether some products advertised as natural are potential tools for management of bed bugs. Five natural-based products were applied as direct sprays to insecticide-susceptible (Harlan) and pyrethroid-resistant (Jersey City) strains of bed bug. Products that were most effective as direct sprays were chosen for residual-spray assays, which were compared with an industry-standard insecticide labeled for control of bed bugs. Both assays were conducted for a 2-wk period. For direct-spray assays, Green Bug^® was the only product to produce 100% mortality within 1 min–1 hr (based on strain). Bed Bug Patrol^® required 1–2 wk (based on strain) to produce 100% mortality, whereas all other products failed to exceed 70% mortality by the end of the 2-wk period. The two natural-based products (Bed Bug Patrol^® and Green Bug^®) selected for residual-spray assays failed to differ from the control. Zenprox^® (0.25%) produced 100% mortality when applied to the insecticide-susceptible (Harlan) strain yet failed to differ from the control when applied to the pyrethroid-resistant (Jersey City) strain. These findings demonstrate that some natural-based products may be ineffective as residual spray applications for bed bug management.