EJE, vol. 117 (2020)

Distinct barcodes for the Cereal leaf beetles Oulema melanopus and Oulema duftschmidi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), two syntopical sibling speciesOriginal article

Julie LEROY, Jean-David CHAPELIN-VISCARDI, Guénaëlle GENSON, Julien HARAN, Éric PIERRE, Jean-Claude STREITO

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 490-503, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.052  

Oulema melanopus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Oulema duftschmidi (Redtenbacher, 1874) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are two native West Palaearctic species developing on various cultivated and wild grasses. Along with O. obscura they are considered to be secondary pests of cereal crops. However, local outbreaks have been recorded recently and their status as secondary pests may evolve, especially as the use of broad-spectrum insecticides is now greatly reduced. Oulema melanopus and O. duftschmidi are considered to be sibling species. They are morphologically very close and difficult to distinguish from...

Revision of taxonomic status of Anthrenus pimpinellae isabellinus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)Original article

Graham J. HOLLOWAY, Dimitrios E. BAKALOUDIS, Maxwell V.L. BARCLAY, Ivan CAÑADA LUNA, Christopher W. FOSTER, Marcin KADEJ, Amanda CALLAGHAN, Robert J. PAXTON

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 481-489, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.051  

For 160 years, Anthrenus pimpinellae isabellinus Küster, 1848 has been considered a subspecies of A. pimpinellae Fabricius, 1775. However, habitus shape differs between the subspecies with A. p. isabellinus being broader than A. p. pimpinellae and resembling more closely A. dorsatus Mulsant & Rey, 1868. Here A. p. pimpinellae and A. p. isabellinus, are examined to look for evidence that they comprise a single taxonomic unit. Habitus and genital structures are considered, and the universal animal barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene is sequenced. The results of the...

Cytogenetic characterization of periodical cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada)Original article

Gayane KARAGYAN, Natalia GOLUB, Teiji SOTA

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 474-480, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.050  

The periodical cicadas of the genus Magicicada Davis, 1925 inhabiting eastern United States are characterized by a long juvenile period of 17 or 13 years and periodical mass emergence of adults. In this genus, only seven species are distinguished and are distributed into three species groups, Decim, Cassini and Decula. We performed comparative cytogenetic study of all seven Magicicada species, and 6 of them were explored for the first time. The techniques used included standard chromosome staining, differential chromosome staining techniques (C-banding, AgNOR-banding and fluorochrome DAPI-staining) and FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization)...

The effectiveness of the neem product TreeAzin^® in controlling Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae: Lithocolletinae)Original article

Andrej GUBKA, Milan ZUBRIK, Slavomír RELL, Nicole GAREAU, Tarryn GOBLE, Christo NIKOLOV, Juraj GALKO, Jozef VAKULA, Andrej KUNCA, Rhoda DEJONGE

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 463, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.049  

Infestation by invasive horse-chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić, permanently lowers the aesthetic and cultural value of horse-chestnut in Central Europe. In 2017-2018, in urban zones in the cities Parchovany and Strážske in the eastern part of Slovakia, we assessed the efficacy of systemic applications of TreeAzin^®, an azadirachtin-based product, in controlling Cameraria ohridella in trials in which it was microinjected into tree trunks. A total of 16 Aesculus hippocastanum trees were treated with 3 ml of TreeAzin^® per centimetre diameter at breast height [DBH] and...

Oxymorus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Oosomini), a new genus with nine new species from South AfricaOriginal article

Roman BOROVEC, Massimo MEREGALLI

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 442-462, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.048  

A new genus Oxymorus Borovec & Meregalli gen. n., belonging to the tribe Oosomini Lacordaire, 1863 of the curculionid subfamily Entiminae, is described. It includes nine new species, all from South Africa: Oxymorus uitkyk sp. n., type species, O. antennalis sp. n., O. johnprinei sp. n., O. minor sp. n., O. obesus sp. n., O. oculatus sp. n., O. rikae sp. n., O. strictifrons sp. n. and O. sulcaticollis sp. n. All species are illustrated and keyed.

Feeding habits of the endangered Japanese diving beetle Hydaticus bowringii (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) larvae in paddy fields and implications for its conservationOriginal article

Reiya WATANABE, Shin-Ya OHBA, Tomoyuki YOKOI

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 430-441, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.047  

The diving beetle Hydaticus bowringii Clark, 1864 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) is on the Red List of Japan as 'Near Threatened'. However, there is no quantitative information on the feeding habits of its larvae, which could be used to aid its conservation. In order to determine the prey that are important for the survival and growth of larvae of H. bowringii, we combined the results of field surveys of paddy fields and rearing experiments. In the field, H. bowringii larvae predominantly feed on tadpoles of five species of frogs and occasionally also on insects, loaches and worms. The phenology of the tadpoles was similar to that of...

Contribution of a DNA barcode to an assessment of the specificity of ant taxa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on CorsicaOriginal article

Rumsaïs BLATRIX, Clément AUBERT, Thibaud DECAËNS, Cyril BERQUIER, Marie-Cécile ANDREI-RUIZ, Christophe GALKOWSKI

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 420-429, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.046  

We used the COI marker, the most popular DNA barcode for the animal kingdom, to assess the taxonomic status of Corsican populations of eight groups of species of ants that occur both on Corsica and the European mainland. (i) In two groups, we detected no genetic differentiation between Corsica and the continent. Absence of differentiation across varieties of Aphaenogaster spinosa within Corsica confirm current synonymies. (ii) In four groups, we detected strong genetic differentiation between Corsica and the continent, confirming recent taxonomic studies based on morphology for three of these groups. For the fourth group, we propose that the...

Does the shrub layer act as an intermediary? Effects on abundance of insects and abundances of particular insect orders caught flying in the canopies of deciduous forests in Central GermanyOriginal article

Stephanie STIEGEL, Anna KORFHAGE, Jasmin MANTILLA-CONTRERAS

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 409-419, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.045  

Scientists and society are increasingly becoming aware of loss of insect biodiversity and biomass. The level of biodiversity determines the efficiency of ecological communities to capture essential resources, produce biomass, decompose and recycle nutrients. Relationships between plant and insect diversity can be modified by changes in insect abundance. This study determined the associations between microclimate and diversity of forest plants on overall insect abundance and abundances of different insect orders in the canopy of temperate deciduous forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech; Fagaceae) in Central Germany. Following...

Carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in several types of forests on Hokkaido, Japan, with implications for forest management practices and beetle preservationOriginal article

Jun KAIZUKA, Tamaki YAMAGUCHI, Mitsuhiro IWASA

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 400-408, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.044  

This study of the role the environment in the composition of the communities of carabid beetles was carried out in several types of forests at Obihiro and Furano, Hokkaido, Japan. In addition, we analysed the altitudinal distributions of two forest specialists, Damaster gehinii (Faimaire) and Procrustes kolbei Roeschke, which occur in six mountain forests on Hokkaido. At Obihiro, the forest specialist, P. kolbei was found at only one site in a large area of broadleaf forest. A redundancy analysis indicated that the carabid assemblages were significantly different in the different types of forest, and that two species, Leptocarabus...

Effect of supplementary nutrition on the reproduction and mating behaviour of Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)Original article

Yanzhang HUANG, Anqi DAI, Zhenkun MAO, Zhihao CAI, Junqi JIANG

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 393-399, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.043  

To improve the mass production of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) the effects of supplementary nutrition on its reproduction and mating behaviour were investigated using Plodia interpunctella Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larva as a host. The survival of mated male wasps was markedly prolonged after feeding with five different types of nutrients and that of unmated males was markedly prolonged except when provided with yeast solution. Providing female wasps with supplementary nutrition did not affect their longevity. When H. hebetor reproduced sexually and was supplied with an...

Asymmetry in host plant preferences of two ecotypes of Boloria eunomia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)Original article

Przemysław KLIMCZUK, Marcin SIELEZNIEW

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 380-392, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.042  

The diversity and evolution of host-plant relationships of butterflies has been the subject of much research. In this context, an interesting species is the bog fritillary Boloria eunomia. Across its boreo-montane distribution there are several ecotypes of this butterfly (sometimes distinguished as subspecies), which inhabit distinctly different habitats. However, little is known about the relationships between these forms in terms of host-plant use. We compared larval preferences of two ecotypes in north-eastern Poland, a unique region that is inhabited by different evolutionary lineages of B. eunomia. Larvae of the meadow ecotype reared...

Influence of forest decline on the abundance and diversity of Raphidioptera and Mecoptera species dwelling in oak canopiesOriginal article

Alexis VINCENT, Pierre TILLIER, Cécile VINCENT-BARBAROUX, Christophe BOUGET, Aurélien SALLÉ

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 372-379, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.041  

Trees in a state of decline exhibit a reduced foliage density and accumulate dead branches in their crowns. Consequently, forest decline can markedly affect both the habitats and sources of food for canopy-dwelling insects. The decline-induced increase in canopy openness may also modify the understory, shrub and ground layers, and have cascading effects on associated species. Flight interception traps and green Lindgren traps were used to survey the canopy-dwelling insects in stands of healthy and declining oak trees, in particular two insect orders: Raphidioptera, saproxylic insects associated with canopies, and Mecoptera, necrophagous or opportunistic...

Composition and function of the microbiotas in the different parts of the midgut of Pyrrhocoris sibiricus (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae) revealed using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNAOriginal article

Rongrong LI, Min LI, Jiang YAN, Hufang ZHANG

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 352-371, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.040  

In pyrrhocorids, digestion of food occurs mainly in the midgut, which is divided into four parts (M1-M4), and takes between three and four days. Food is retained in M1 for about 5 h and passes quickly through M4. However, food is retained in M2 and M3 much longer, about 70 to 90 h. The different stages in digestion may be influenced by different microbial populations in the different parts of the midgut. In the present study, the microbiota in the four parts of the midgut of Pyrrhocoris sibiricus were analysed in detail using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region. The most abundant bacteria in M3 were Actinobacteria (Coriobacteriaceae)...

Revision of the assassin bug genus Neopirates (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Peiratinae), with descriptions of two new species from NamibiaOriginal article

Yingqi LIU, Zhuo CHEN, Michael D. WEBB, Wanzhi CAI

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 343-351, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.039  

The African assassin bug genus Neopirates Miller, 1952, is revised. The type species, N. nyassae Miller, 1952, is redescribed and illustrated; two new species from Namibia, N. bicolor Liu & Cai sp. n. and N. xanthothorax Liu & Cai sp. n. are described and a key is provided to separate the three species of this genus. Sphodrembas fumipennis Swanson, 2019, the type species of Sphodrembas Swanson, 2019, is placed as a junior synonym of N. nyassae, resulting in Sphodrembas becoming a junior synonym of Neopirates. Morphological differences between Neopirates and similar genera...

Insect photoperiodism: Seasonal development on a revolving planetReview

David SAUNDERS

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 328-342, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.038  

This review starts by comparing photoperiodic diapause with non-photoperiodic quiescence in four representative species, paying particular attention to overwintering in Drosophila melanogaster. In the second part it describes dormancy strategies of insects from the equator to the polar regions, addressing topics such as the role of the circadian system in photoperiodic time measurement, latitudinal clines in diapause-related traits, hourglass-like photoperiodic clocks based on dampening circadian oscillators, and the dormancy strategies of insects close to the equator or at high latitudes where seasonal changes in photoperiod are unreliable or absent.

The DNA barcoding project on German Diptera: An appreciative and critical analysis with four suggestions for improving the development and reliability of DNA-based identificationOriginal article

Marion KOTRBA

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 315-327, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.037  

The progress in constructing a DNA barcode library for German Diptera as published by Morinière et al. (2019, Mol. Ecol. Resour. 19: 900-928) is appraised from a dipterists' perspective. The coverage of the diversity of German Diptera in terms of barcode index numbers (BINs) and identified barcodes is analysed and visualized in simple diagrams. The influence of the project setup, methodology and/or systematic effects on the emerging numbers and trends is elucidated and extensively discussed. In addition, the documentation on the species identification methods in the database is assessed. Based on this evaluation, four ways for improving...

What determines the occurrence of fertilized females in hibernating populations of Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae) in Central Europe?Original article

Alois HONĚK, Zdenka MARTINKOVÁ

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 309-314, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.036  

The current climate warming is associated with the development of a second generation in populations of species such as Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.) (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae), which, in Central Europe, were univoltine in the 1980s. Females of the first generation that develop in spring either enter diapause immediately following the adult moult or after a period of oviposition that gives rise to a second generation. In 2005-2010, in overwintering populations, 3 ± 0.6% of females were fertilized. We explored the possibility that the females that overwintered in a fertilized state were those that had oviposited in the previous season. To test...

European database of the life-history, morphological and habitat characteristics of dragonflies (Odonata)Original article

Filip HARABIŠ, Jana HRONKOVÁ

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 302-308, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.035  

Climate change and an ever-increasing effect of humans on the great majority of freshwater ecosystems have affected not only individual organisms but also the links between them. In order to effectively protect communities or entire freshwater ecosystems, we need to understand how individual organisms react to these changes and the functional interconnections between individual species. This can be achieved by evaluating the functioning of individual species, i.e. their traits. Dragonflies and damselflies are increasingly used as indicators of changes in freshwater ecosystems. Although this taxonomic group is the subject of many ecological studies,...

Unusual chromosome polymorphism and heterochromatin variation in the Argentinean population of the necrophagous fly Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae), comparison with other populations and evolutionary aspectsOriginal article

Mónica Gabriela CHIRINO, María Florencia FOURASTIE, Néstor Daniel CENTENO, María José BRESSA

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 295-301, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.034  

Heterochromatin may vary qualitatively, quantitatively, and in its location both in and between species. There were differences recorded in sex chromosomes, satellite sizes and location of C-bands in specimens of Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) from three localities in the Buenos Aires region, Argentina (Bernal, Castelar, and Buenos Aires City). Mitotic analyses revealed the same diploid chromosome number of 2n = 10 + XY / XX (male / female) and the same size, morphology, and C-banding patterns on their autosomes. However, there are different morphotypes of X and Y chromosomes with a distinctive heterochromatin content in both arms. Four morphotypes...

Soil salinity determines the diversity of snail-killing flies (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) in brackish marshesOriginal article

Frank VAN DE MEUTTER, Jonas MORTELMANS, Ralf GYSELINGS

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 289-294, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.033  

Brackish marshes resulting from embankments are a rare habitat in Europe and for which there is little knowledge of the entomofauna. There is an urgent need to document the insect diversity and its unique properties in the light of ongoing habitat losses. The current study focuses on snail-killing flies in the remaining Belgian brackish marshes, in particular the role of soil salinity in determining their diversity and how it compares with that in freshwater marshes. Snail-killing fly communities in brackish marshland were relatively species poor and clearly different from those in freshwater, yet species richness and abundance increased with decreasing...

Distribution of 18S rDNA clusters in Central European harvestmen of the suborder Eupnoi (Arachnida: Opiliones)Original article

Hana JINDROVÁ, Matyáš HIŘMAN, David SADÍLEK, Pavel BEZDĚČKA, František ŠŤÁHLAVSKÝ

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 282-288, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.032  

rDNA clusters are an important cytogenetic marker for studying karyotype evolution and chromosomal changes. The variability of this cytogenetic characteristic is, however, still almost unknown in the karyotypes of the entire class Arachnida (Arthropoda: Chelicerata). This situation is particularly evident in harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones), with 97 species studied cytogenetically, for which there is information on the number and position of rDNA clusters for only 13. Moreover, previous studies indicate that the number of rDNA loci is highly variable in the species analysed, ranging from one to five pairs of rDNA clusters. Based on this fragmentary...

Diversity of Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in an urban fragment of Cerrado in Central BrazilOriginal article

Marina R. FRIZZAS, João L.F.L. BATISTA, Marcus V.C. ROCHA, Charles M. OLIVEIRA

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 273-281, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.031  

The diversity of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) is affected by urbanization, habitat fragmentation and disappearance of native mammals, which result in changes in the quality and availability of food, and resources for nesting. We evaluated the diversity, distribution of species in different trophic guilds and foraging strategies, and temporal variation in abundance of dung beetles in an urban fragment of Cerrado in a Federal District of Brazil. This study was conducted at the Experimental Station of Biology (EEB) of the University of Brasília (UnB), Federal District, Brazil. Fortnightly, between October 2012 and September 2013,...

The effects of mating on the reproductive fitness of Microplitis rufiventris (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)Original article

Esmat M. HEGAZI, Christophe BRESSAC, Wedad KHAFAGI

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 266-272, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.030  

The synovigenic braconid parasitoid, Microplitis rufiventris Kokujev is a promising wasp for use in augmentative releases against young larvae of some noctuid pests, including Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval), in Egypt. It also has the potential to control the invasive noctuid Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) in Africa. M. rufiventris is monandrous in the wild but is polyandrous under some laboratory rearing conditions. S. littoralis larvae were used as hosts to gain an understanding of the influence of mating on wasp-fitness. Newly emerged females (0-3 h old) of M. rufiventris were assigned to one of six...

Book Review: Cannon R.J.C. 2020: Courtship and Mating of Butterflies.Book review

Z. Faltýnek Fric

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 265, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.029  

Cannon R.J.C. 2020: Courtship and Mating of Butterflies. CAB International, Boston, 392 pp. ISBN 9781789242638. Price GBP 95.00, EUR 115.00, USD 135.00.

Biometric differences between several populations of Cordulegaster boltonii (Odonata: Cordulegastridae) in Ibero-Maghrebian areaNote

Patricia CASANUEVA, Tomás SANTAMARÍA, María Á. HERNÁNDEZ, Luis F. SÁNCHEZ-SASTRE, Amilcar TEIXEIRA, Nard BENNAS, Mohamed EL HAISSOUFI, Manuel FERRERAS-ROMERO, Francisco CAMPOS

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 260-264, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.028  

Biometric data of the exuviae of female larvae of the dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii collected in Portugal, Spain and Morocco were analysed to determine whether the size of three exuvial structures measured differed depending on the geographic localities of the populations. Based on the results recorded for the 16 populations studied, head width was negatively correlated with latitude and the greatest length of the gonapophysis was recorded for the Iberian populations at the centre of this peninsula. Multivariate cluster analysis revealed a clear separation of the Moroccan population. A second cluster separated the southernmost population...

Chenicoris dilatatus, a remarkable new genus and new species of assassin bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from southern ChinaOriginal article

Zhuo CHEN, Jianyun WANG, Hu LI, Wanzhi CAI

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 252-259, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.027  

Chenicoris dilatatus gen. n. & sp. n. from southern China is described and placed in the largest assassin bug subfamily Harpactorinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae). The new species is similar to members of Isyndus Stål, 1859 in general habitus, but can be distinguished from the latter by the unarmed anterior pronotal lobe, the laterally dilated lobe-like abdominal segment V and several features of its genitalia.

Nesting ecology of Polistes gallicus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in South-Western SpainOriginal article

José Luis PÉREZ-BOTE, Carlos MORA-RUBIO, Josefa LÓPEZ MARTÍNEZ, Tomás RODRÍGUEZ RIAÑO

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 243-251, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.026  

Among the numerous factors that contribute to the success of social wasps, colony productivity is the most important and depends on ecological and environmental factors, such as the nest site. Consequently, nest-site choice should be determined by nest-site characteristics. The objective of this study was to determine on which species of plants Polistes gallicus wasps build their nests and identify the possible preferred features of plants used during nest-site selection by the foundress. From February to October 2017-2019 we recorded details of the nests in natural areas in south-western Spain (at 38° latitude). Nests of P. gallicus...

Revalidation of the polymorphic genus Acephalonomia (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) and description of a new species from MicronesiaOriginal article

Wesley D. COLOMBO, Celso O. AZEVEDO

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 235-242, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.025  

The genus Acephalonomia Strejček, 1990 is revalidated and its single species, Acephalonomia cisidophaga Strejček, 1990, from Czech Republic and Slovakia is restituted in the original combination. The revalidation is based on distinct characters: antennae with eight flagellomeres and prestigmal abscissa of R1 vein dilated. The intraspecific polymorphism is also relevant for revalidation, although not exclusively so. We redescribe and illustrate the type species Acephalonomia cisidophaga and describe and illustrate a second new species with eight antennal flagellomeres from the Mariana Islands, Acephalonomia micronesica sp....

Using sentinel prey to assess predation pressure from terrestrial predators in water-filled tree holesOriginal article

Martin M. GOSSNER, Elena GAZZEA, Valeriia DIEDUS, Marlotte JONKER, Mykola YAREMCHUK

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 226-234, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.024  

Tree-related microhabitats are important for forest biodiversity. Water-filled tree holes are one such microhabitat and can be abundant in temperate forests. The arthropod community in this microhabitat not only contribute to forest biodiversity but also provides food for terrestrial predators such as arthropods, small mammals and birds. The extent of the threat of attack from terrestrial predators on insect larvae in this microhabitat, however, is poorly known. To measure predation in this microhabitat, we produced fake prey resembling insect larvae using white plasticine and exposed them at the aquatic-terrestrial habitat interface. We recorded:...

Body weight loss of black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) during development in non-feeding stages: Implications for egg clutch parametersOriginal article

Bogdan GEORGESCU, Dănuț STRUȚI, Tudor PĂPUC, Daniela LADOȘI, Anca BOARU

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 216-225, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.023  

The developmental stages of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, are widely studied because there are several ways in which this species can be utilized. In this context, the aim of the current study is to determine the loss of weight of larvae of different weights between the prepupal and reproductive adult stages and their effect on the egg clutch quality parameters. The Hermetia illucens prepupae were categorized in 3 body weight classes. The weight loss was evaluated by weighing individuals in the prepupal, pupal and adult stages. The weight and length of the individuals were positively correlated in the pupal stage and adult...

Laboratory evaluation of effects of powdered sulphur on the oviposition, fruit detection and behaviour of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) on strawberryOriginal article

Sergio PÉREZ-GUERRERO, José María MOLINA, Cristina MONTIEL, Alberto REDONDO-VILLA, Laura AVIVAR-LOZANO

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 210-215, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.022  

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) is an invasive pest from South-East Asia that can damage a wide range of soft-skinned fruit crops (especially berries) resulting in serious financial losses. At present, control of D. suzukii is still mainly based on adult-oriented chemical pesticides that is likely to result in resistance and environmental pollution. In this context, alternative methods that are compatible with sustainable management are required. Sulphur and its different formulations are widely used for a long time as a fungicide and insecticide on many crops as it is environmentally-friendly and compatible with organic management....

Ecological and molecular diversity of Eulachnini aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae) on coniferous plants in LithuaniaOriginal article

Jekaterina HAVELKA, Jurij DANILOV, Rimantas RAKAUSKAS

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 199-209, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.021  

Based on research carried out from 2016 to 2018 there are twenty-six species of aphids of the tribe Eulachnini in Lithuania. Seventeen are members of the subgenus Cinara of the genus Cinara, three of the subgenus Cupressobium and two of the subgenus Schizolachnus. In addition, there are four species of the genus Eulachnus. Summarized information on the distribution and host specificity of Eulachnini in Lithuania is presented. Nine species were in all climatic regions of Lithuania: C. (Cinara) brauni, C. (Cinara) hyperophila, C. (Cinara) neubergi, C. (Cinara)...

Influence of a diet containing tobacco on the biology of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)Original article

Cleder PEZZINI, Simone MUNDSTOCK JAHNKE, Andreas KÖHLER

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 190-198, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.020  

Host diet often influences its biological parameters and the success of their parasitoids, both in mass rearing, field research and parasitism in applied biological control programs. Habrobracon hebetor (Say, 1836) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an important biological control agent of the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller, 1879) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), which infests tobacco, grain and other products in storage. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different proportions of tobacco in artificial diets on the biological parameters of the host E. kuehniella and its parasitoid H. hebetor. Four classes of Virginia...

A revision of the Neotropical genus Chespiritos (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae: Limosininae)Original article

Gregory K. KUWAHARA, Stephen A. MARSHALL

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 164-189, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.019  

The genus Chespiritos Marshall, 2000 (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) is revised, including C. sindecimus Marshall, 2000, C. pervadens Roháček and Buck, 2003 and 19 new species. The following new species are described, keyed and placed in a morphological phylogeny: C. anguineus sp. n. from Bolivia, C. attenboroughi sp. n. from Argentina, C. balrogiformis sp. n. from Peru, C. bolanosi sp. n. from Mexico, C. calceus sp. n. from Peru, C. chicobrazos sp. n. from Costa Rica, C. coronatus sp. n. from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Trinidad, C. dolabratus sp....

Tribal affiliation of endemic Macaronesian bush-crickets similar to Tettigonia (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) based on their karyology and taxonomyOriginal article

Elżbieta WARCHAŁOWSKA-ŚLIWA, Howon RHEE, Klaus-Gerhard HELLER, Beata GRZYWACZ

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 157-163, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.018  

Two endemic genera of large tettigoniids are found in the Canary Islands and Madeira, which are morphologically similar to the genus Tettigonia. In this study, the karyotypes of representatives of the Glyphonotini genera Calliphona and Psalmatophanes are described for the first time. Comparison of their chromosomes with that of members of Tettigoniini genus Tettigonia revealed that all of the species studied have the same karyotype (2n = 29 with sex determination system X0 in the male), which differs from the ancestral tettigoniid karyotype by one Robertsonian translocation. These results support not only the morphological...

Facultative symbionts associated with aphid populations in citrus orchards in northern TunisiaOriginal article

François RENOZ, Inès PONS, Christine NOËL, Kaouthar LEBDI-GRISSA, Vincent FORAY, Thierry HANCE

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 149-156, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.017  

Like many insects, aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) can host a wide diversity of symbiotic bacteria that can be important drivers of their evolutionary ecology. In addition to the nutritional obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, these phloem-sap feeding insects can host various facultative symbionts whose functional diversity depends on complex interactions with the host genotype and environmental factors. During sampling in citrus orchards in northern Tunisia, we collected aphids on citrus plants. The specimens belonged either to the cotton-melon aphid Aphis gossypii or the green citrus aphid Aphis spiraecola. We analysed the prevalence...

A review of the genus Mecistorhabdia (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Syntomini) with a description of a new species from the Central African RepublicOriginal article

Nikolai IGNATEV, Beata GRZYWACZ, Łukasz PRZYBYŁOWICZ

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 139-148, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.016  

The genus Mecistorhabdia Kiriakoff, 1953 is reviewed and one new species M. sulaki sp. n. from the Central African Republic and Cameroon (Afrotropical region) described. The holotype female of the type species M. haematoessa (Holland, 1893) is matched with a conspecific male using a molecular technique. M. burgessi Kiriakoff, 1957 is removed from the synonymy as it is considered to be a valid species. Habitus and male genitalia of all three species are illustrated along with the female genitalia of M. haematoessa. A key for identification of species based on the structure of male genitalia and a map of their distribution...

Forecasting the spread associated with climate change in Eastern Europe of the invasive Asiatic flea beetle, Luperomorpha xanthodera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)Original article

Mattia IANNELLA, Paola D'ALESSANDRO, Maurizio BIONDI

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 130-138, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.015  

The current climate has facilitated biological invasions worldwide, with the spread of invasive species accelerating over the last few decades. Introductions of species are often accidental and facilitated by many factors, including intercontinental trade. In this paper, we explore the secondary range of an adventive flea beetle native to Asia, Luperomorpha xanthodera, which was recently found in many European countries on several occurrences. This species has detrimental effects mainly on ornamental plants, being destructive to leaves and flowers, which can have serious negative economic consequences. We inferred current and future potential...

Book review: Byrd J.H. & Tomberlin J.K. (eds) 2020: Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. 3rd Ed.Book review

Marta I. SALOÑA-BORDAS

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 129, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.014  

Byrd J.H. & Tomberlin J.K. (eds) 2020: Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. 3rd Ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, xxxiv + 585 pp. ISBN 978-0-815-35016-3 (hardback), 978-0-815-35020-0 (paperback), 978-1351163767 (ebook). Price USD 120.00 (hardback), USD 74.99 (paperback), USD 67.49 (e-book).

Contribution of population-level phenotypic plasticity to the invasiveness of Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae)Original article

Nicolás José LAVAGNINO, Marcos IMBERTI, Nicolás FLAIBANI, Victoria Estefanía ORTIZ, Juan José FANARA

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 118-128, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.013  

Zaprionus indianus is a species of fly native to the Afrotropical biogeographic region, which around twenty years ago invaded the American continent. Several studies have shown that local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity of an invasive species in its native range could favour the colonization of new environments. Zaprionus indianus is a holometabolous generalist polyphagous species that breeds and feeds on the fruits of several different species, which constitute different environments. In this context, we performed a comparative analysis of the phenotypic plasticity of morphological and life history traits in response to seven different...

Is Isaria fumosorosea selective to Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)?Original article

Michele POTRICH, Gabriela LIBARDONI, Luis F.A. ALVES, Vanda PIETROWSKI, Everton R.L. da SILVA, Pedro M.O.J. NEVES

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 110-117, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.012  

Entomopathogenic fungi and the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) might be used together in biological control. However, the effects of these fungi on T. pretiosum are not known. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effect of the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea, on the biological parameters of T. pretiosum. Two isolates of I. fumosorosea (IBCB 367 and IBCB 394) were used for this purpose. (1) In a free choice test: cards (1.0 × 5.0 cm) with non-parasitized eggs of Anagasta kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were either sprayed with 0.2 mL of the...

Volatile production differs between oak leaves infested by leaf-miner Phyllonorycter harrisella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) and galler Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)Original article

Fabian S. KLIMM, Alexander WEINHOLD, Martin VOLF

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 101-109, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.011  

Plants defend themselves by producing various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have direct and indirect effects on insect herbivores. Their production is often specific to the plant and herbivore species involved, with some herbivores being able to manipulate their production. Here, we used passive volatile sampling using polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) tubing to compare VOCs produced by control, mined and galled oak leaves in the field. Leaves mined by a microlepidopteran leaf-miner (Phyllonorycter harrisella) produced a lower amount of two sesquiterpenes and an increased amount of eucalyptol. In contrast, leaves galled by the gall wasp (Neuroterus...

Increased duration of extreme thermal events negatively affects cold acclimation ability in a high-latitude, freshwater ectotherm (Ischnura elegans; Odonata: Coenagrionidae)Original article

Lesley A. SMITH, Lesley T. LANCASTER

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 93-100, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.010  

Instances of heat waves and cold snaps are becoming more frequent and of increasing duration worldwide. It is well established that short exposure to high or low-temperatures, such as during extreme weather events, often results in adaptive (acclimation/hardening) or maladaptive plastic changes in tolerance of organisms to subsequent thermal stressors. However, little information is available about how the duration of a prior stressful thermal event mediates future organismal thermal responses. Understanding durational effects of thermal conditioning can help predict ectothermic survival in response to novel extreme weather patterns.

Foraging behaviour of Scymnus syriacus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) provided with Aphis spiraecola and Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) as prey: Functional response and prey preferenceOriginal article

Mahboobeh MORADI, Mahdi HASSANPOUR, Seyed Ali Asghar FATHI, Ali GOLIZADEH

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 83-92, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.009  

Scymnus syriacus Marseul is one of the most important biocontrol agents of aphids in citrus orchards. Understanding the efficiency and host specificity of natural enemies can help improve their effectiveness as biological control agents of particular pests. In this study, the functional response, preference and switching behaviour of different stages of S. syriacus feeding on Aphis spiraecola Patch and Aphis gossypii Glover, on orange leaves, were studied under laboratory conditions of 27 ± 2°C, 65 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16L : 8D. The results indicate that 4^th instar larvae and adult males and...

Barrier pitfall traps increase captures of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) on exposed riverine sedimentsOriginal article

Scott HORN

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 76-82, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.008  

Exposed riverine sediments are unique riparian environments that exhibit high biodiversity and harbor many specialist species. Ground beetles are the most well studied inhabitants within these environments where they are often sampled using pitfall traps. In order to develop conservation measures for species occupying these habitats a logical first step is to refine sampling methods so that proper biodiversity assessments can be carried out. To that end, the effectiveness of two pitfall trap designs (standard trap vs. barrier trap) was evaluated. Over three sampling periods we collected 5,186 individuals represented by 43 species. Barrier traps proved...

Seasonal fluctuations and development of degree-day models for Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in maize fields in the Mediterranean regionOriginal article

Tange Denis ACHIRI, Ekrem ATAKAN, Serkan PEHLIVAN

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 68-75, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.007  

Chilo partellus Swinhoe 1885 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a serious pest of maize in many parts of the world. It was reported for the first time in 2014 in the Mediterranean part of Turkey. Degree-Day (DD) models were developed to predict seasonal dynamics in maize fields using 3-parameter 'Boltzman' and a 4-parameter Logistic regressions. Larval/plant counts were monitored in pesticide-free maize fields in Adana, Turkey from 2017 to 2019. Depending on the year, the first record of C. partellus was between 03-14 May, corresponding to ~ 9-12 DD accumulated from 01 May. There were two main peaks; one in each of the maize growing seasons....

Long term changes (1990-2016) in carabid beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in protected forests on Dinaric Karst on Mountain Risnjak, CroatiaOriginal article

Željka JAMBROŠIĆ VLADIĆ, Lucija ŠERIĆ JELASKA

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 56-67, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.006  

Carabids, as well-known bioindicators, have been used to study the long term changes that have occurred in their communities in the Dinaric Alps. This study involved eight sites in the protected forests of the Risnjak National Park in the years 2015 and 2016 of which three were previously studied in 1990 and 1991. A total of 9, 521 individual ground beetles belonging to 17 genera and 33 species were collected. Species diversity and community composition, including percentages of species grouped according to their habitat preferences, body size, wing morphology, preferred moisture and temperature were used to compare the sites sampled in 1990 and 1991...

Functional responses of two predatory bugs (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to changes in the abundance of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)Original article

Serkan PEHLİVAN, Tuğcan ALINÇ, Tange Denis ACHIRI, Ekrem ATAKAN

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 49-55, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.005  

Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) is well-known genus of generalist predators, which feed on numerous pest insects and mites infesting crops. In this study, the functional responses of the predatory bugs, Orius laevigatus (Fieber) and Orius vicinus (Ribaut), to different densities of the eggs of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and red spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), were determined under laboratory conditions. Different numbers of eggs (2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128) of both species of prey were offered to females of the above predators for 24-h in...

Urbanisation and forest size affect the infestation rates of plant-galling arthropods and damage by herbivorous insectsOriginal article

Sandro MEYER, Hans-Peter RUSTERHOLZ, Bruno BAUR

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 34-48, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.004  

Urbanisation is increasing globally and is considered to be a main driver of environmental change. Urbanisation-related factors include reduced habitat size and increased spatial isolation of the remaining habitats. As a consequence, the dynamics of plant and animal populations may change, which in turn might influence the quality and quantity of plant resources. Thus, urbanisation has the potential to disturb plant-animal interactions such as herbivory or galling. In the urban-rural setting of Basel (Switzerland), we aimed to assess whether the degree of urbanisation and forest size influence plant-galling infestation rates and leaf damage by mining...

Phenotypic diversity in red wood ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Is kinship involved?Original article

Oksana SKALDINA, Jouni SORVARI

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 27-33, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.003  

Phenotypic diversity depends on genotype diversity, but the degree of genotype-by-environment interaction is species-specific. Red wood ants (Formica s. str) are keystone species in boreal forests and very variable phenotypically. These variations are used for species identification and proposed as ecological indicators of anthropogenic disturbances. However, their origin is unknown. Here we aimed to provide a preliminary answer to this question and outline the direction for future research. We determined the interrelation between nest mate worker relatedness (kinship) and the diversity of colour morphs, degree of melanisation and size of the...

Taxonomic and functional differentiation of spiders in habitats in a traditional olive producing landscape in ItalyOriginal article

Malayka S. PICCHI, Gionata BOCCI, Ruggero PETACCHI, Martin H. ENTLING

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 18-26, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.002  

Annual crops are generally assumed to host simplified arthropod communities that depend on immigration from the surrounding landscape. Perennial, low-input crops such as olive groves are likely to depend less on immigration from other habitats, however, studies on the landscape ecology of perennial crops are scarce. This paper studies the assemblages of arboreal spiders in three types of habitats adjoining olive groves: woods, garigue and other cultivated olive groves in a traditional olive producing landscape. Spiders were sampled during summer and the three types of habitats were compared in terms of species, families and functional groups in order...

Oviposition preference maximizes larval survival in the grass-feeding butterfly Melanitis leda (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)Original article

Freerk MOLLEMAN, Sridhar HALALI, Ullasa KODANDARAMAIAH

Eur. J. Entomol. 117: 1-17, 2020 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.001  

Phytophagous insects may be expected to prefer host-plant species on which their larvae perform best, but this has rarely been explored in grass-feeding butterflies. We explored links between oviposition preferences, larval food preferences, and performance (larval survival and development time, pupal mass, and adult longevity) on 18 species of grass in the common evening brown, Melanitis leda L. (Nymphalidae: Melanitini), a tropical butterfly that has been recorded from a large number of species of grass. Melanitis leda oviposited on all of the grass species offered in choice experiments, and larvae were able to develop to the adult...