EJE, vol. 118 (2021)
False heads and sexual behaviour in a hairstreak butterfly, Callophrys xami (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)Original article
Camilo MEDINA, Carlos CORDERO
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 394-398, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.040 
In several butterflies, the posterior end of the hindwings resembles a butterfly head when the butterfly is perched with its wings closed. There is evidence that this "false head" (FH) deflects predator attacks towards non-vital parts of the body. If the FH protects from visually oriented predators, its condition in an individual butterfly could provide information about its quality to prospective mates. We tested two hypotheses based on this idea by comparing the probability of mating, duration of copulation and size of the ejaculate received by females of Callophrys xami (Lycaenidae) with an intact FH and those with an ablated FH in a paired...
Taxonomic revision of the highly threatened Eumerus tricolor species group (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Southeast Europe, with insights into the conservation of the genus EumerusOriginal article
Ana GRKOVIĆ, Jeroen VAN STEENIS, Marija MILIČIĆ, Nataša KOČIŠ TUBIĆ, Mihajla DJAN, Snežana RADENKOVIĆ, Ante VUJIĆ
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 368-393, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.039
The diversity in the Eumerus tricolor group, the largest group within the genus in Southeast Europe, is investigated. Two new, locally distributed species are described, E. crispus Vujić & Grković, sp. n. from Serbia and E. nigrorufus Grković & Vujić, sp. n. from Montenegro. In addition to Southeast European members, one related species E. arctus van Steenis, sp. n. is described from Switzerland. We designate lectotypes for E. ovatus Loew, 1848, E. tarsalis Loew, 1848, E. tricolor (Fabricius, 1798) and E. varius Meigen, 1822. A map of the...
Effects of adult age and body size on egg maturation in the parasitoid Gronotoma micromorpha (Hymenoptera: Figitidae)Original article
Yajiao WU, Yoshihisa ABE
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 364-367, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.038
The cynipoid wasp Gronotoma micromorpha (Perkins) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) is a parasitoid of the leaf miner Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae). The effects of adult age and body size on egg maturation in G. micromorpha were determined. The results showed that its egg load (number of mature eggs per female) increased when offered honey, water, but not hosts for 3 or 6 days after adult emergence. However, there was no significant difference in the egg loads of 3- and 6-day-old wasps. These findings and the results of previous studies on other cynipoid parasitoids suggest that when hosts are not available, females...
Characterization of the immune induced antimicrobial peptide in Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila ananassae Original article
Ramachandra Naik MEGHASHREE, Kakanahalli NAGARAJ
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 355-363, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.037
Insects can recognize invading pathogens and initiate an immune response. Among them, Drosophila has emerged as an invertebrate model for investigating innate immune responses in which antimicrobial peptides play a crucial role. In the present study, immune-induced antimicrobial peptides were characterized in D. melanogaster and D. ananassae using the agar well diffusion method, HPLC, SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS after infection with either S. aureus or E. coli. The HPLC revealed two and three differentially induced components, respectively, in D. melanogaster and D. ananassae flies infected with S. aureus...
Genetic implications of a biological invasion: Chromosomal and DNA barcode monomorphism in Old World populations of Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)Original article
Gayane KARAGYAN, Vladimir LUKHTANOV, Meri MAZMANYAN, Ilona STEPANYAN, Tigran GHREJYAN, Alena ABAKUMOVA, Oxana NESTEROVA
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 344-354, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.036
Once introduced into new area, invasive species can be expected to have low genetic diversity due to the founder effect. Here we tested this prediction using cytogenetic and molecular analysis of Armenian and Belarusian populations of Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say, 1824) and by comparing the results with those of native (North America) and those introduced into Europe. This revealed that the karyotype of males from Armenia and Belarus is remarkably conserved with 2n = 35 (34 + X0), n = 17AA + X0; and includes a pair of large acrocentric chromosomes. Thus, these populations belong to the so-called acrocentric chromosome...
PCR-based detection of prey DNA in the gut contents of the tiger-fly, Coenosia attenuata (Diptera: Muscidae), a biological control agent in Mediterranean greenhousesOriginal article
Sofia G. SEABRA, Joana MARTINS, Patrícia BRÁS, Ana M. TAVARES, Inês FREITAS, António BARATA, Maria Teresa REBELO, Célia MATEUS, Octávio S. PAULO, Elisabete FIGUEIREDO
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 335-343, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.035
The tiger-fly Coenosia attenuata Stein (Diptera: Muscidae: Coenosiini) is a generalist predator that preys on several pests of greenhouse crops and is considered a biological control agent in the Mediterranean region. Previous behavioural observations identified its preferred prey, but a more in-depth evaluation will benefit from using Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification of prey DNA remains in the gut of this predator. To evaluate the rate of decay and suitability of this method for use in the field assessments, we carried out a laboratory feeding calibration experiment on 355 females of C. attenuata, which were killed at different...
Differences in the behaviour of model and non-model species of ants in interactions with the pod-sucking myrmecomorphic bug, Riptortus linearis (Hemiptera: Alydidae)Note
Joy Nivedita SAMUEL, Neelkamal RASTOGI
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 330-334, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.034
Ants are common invertebrate models of many myrmecomorphic arthropods since they are unpalatable and pose a threat for many species. Natural habitats harbour a diverse community of different species of ants and their mimics. The myrmecomorphic bug, Riptortus linearis uses a variety of extrafloral nectary-bearing or hemipteran-harbouring legumes as host plants, which are also visited by various sugar-loving species of ants. In the present study, we investigated the responses of the ant-mimicking and non-mimicking stages of the pod-sucking bug, Riptortus linearis, its ant model, Camponotus compressus and a co-occurring ant, Crematogaster...
Behaviour and metabolism during tonic immobility (death-feigning) in Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus and E. brandti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)Original article
Huijuan LI, Junbao WEN
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 322-329, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.033
The antipredator behaviour, tonic immobility (TI) is a valuable defence that enables insects to increase their chance of survival and is a trade-off between fleeing and protection. How the TI strategies of insects respond to environmental factors, however, remains a largely understudied subject. In this paper the effect of four factors (mechanical stimulation, light, sound and temperature) and metabolic responses were used to evaluate TI behavioural and physiological adaptions in Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus (ESCR) and Eucryptorrhynchus brandti (EBRA). In the behavioural experiment, the metaventrite, which is the stimulus-sensing region...
A cheap electronic sensor automated trap for monitoring the flight activity period of mothsOriginal article
Alicia PÉREZ-APARICIO, Jordi LLORENS, Joan Ramon ROSELL-POLO, Jordi MARTÍ, César GEMENO
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 315-321, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.032
Automated pheromone dispensers disrupt the mating behaviour of pest moths by releasing pheromone during their daily activity period, which is not the same for all target species. These periods usually occur in or close to night time and last just a few hours, so automated sampling devices are needed to characterize them. However, the commercially available automated models do not provide enough temporal resolution for characterizing the short diel periods of sexual activity of moths. Thus, we built and tested a relatively cheap and simple high-temporal-resolution image-sensor insect trap. It consisted of a Raspberry Pi computer with an infrared camera...
Relationship between Rab and insulin-like proteins in the nervous system of Bombyx moriOriginal article
Tomohide UNO, Yusuke OZAKIYA, Mako SASAO, Katsuhiko SAKAMOTO, Yasuo YAMAUCHI, Yuichi UNO, Kengo KANAMARU, Akira MIZOGUCHI
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 307-314, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.031
Rab proteins are small GTP-binding proteins and are the largest family in the Ras GTPase superfamily and mediate vesicular transport in cells. Diverse insulin-like peptides, such as bombyxin, are synthesized in the brain and secreted into the haemolymph by the corpus allatum (CA). In the brain of Bombyx mori, Rabs are expressed in a specific area; however, which Rabs actually link the secretion of bombyxin remains unknown. A double-staining analysis of nine Rabs (Rab1, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, 26, 39 and X4) and bombyxin indicated that Rab3-, Rab7-, Rab39- and RabX4-immunohistochemical reactivity (ir) areas overlapped with bombyxin-ir in the brain and...
Effect of the energy content of diets on the development and quality of the fat reserves of larvae and reproduction of adults of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)Original article
Bogdan GEORGESCU, Dănuț STRUȚI, Tudor PĂPUC, Vasile CIGHI, Anca BOARU
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 297-306, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.030
Hermetia illucens is a sustainable and an increasingly bioeconomical source of nutrients for farm animals. It is still necessary, however, to improve our knowledge of the biological features of this species in order to maximize its use. The aims of this research were to evaluate the effect of the energy level of rearing diets on its body weight and fat-body reserves. The quantity and quality of the fats storred by the non-feeding stages of this insect and its reproductive performances were also studied. A control diet (CD - Gainesville diet) and three diets with progressively greater energy contents (kcal/kg ME) were formulated. The increase...
Assessing year-round phenology and reproduction of the migratory painted lady butterfly, Vanessa cardui (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), in a Mediterranean area in southern SpainOriginal article
Mariano CUADRADO
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 288-296, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.029
The painted lady, Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758), migrates seasonally between Africa and Europe with a northward multigenerational migration from Africa to Europe in spring and a southward migration from Europe to Africa in autumn. However, little is known about the year-round phenology of this species in southern regions in the Mediterranean Basin. In this study the year-round phenology and reproduction of painted ladies was recorded during a seven-year period (2014-2020) at 7 lowland sites (< 80 m a.s.l) near the coast of Cádiz (southern Spain). Overall, a total of 2341 painted lady butterflies (or 0.56 butterflies/km) were recorded along...
Effect of the instar of the pear psyllid Cacopsylla pyri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on the behaviour and fitness of the parasitoid Trechnites insidiosus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)Original article
Guillaume Jean LE GOFF, Jeremy BERTHE, Kévin TOUGERON, Benoit DOCHY, Olivier LEBBE, François RENOZ, Thierry HANCE
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 279-287, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.028
Improved methods of integrated pest management of the pear psyllid Cacopsylla pyri (L.), the primary pest of pear in Europe and North America, are needed. Trechnites insidiosus (Crawford) is the most abundant parasitoid of C. pyri in pear orchards, where it is present early in the psyllid infestation period. However, little is known about its general biology, interaction with its host and potential as a control agent. The objective of this laboratory study was to evaluate the behaviour of a specialist parasitoid when presented with different larval instars of C. pyri, and assess the quality of the next generation of parasitoids....
A dichotomous key and checklist for Mexican Athysanini leafhopper genera (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with a new species from the Oaxacan dry tropical forestOriginal article
J. Adilson PINEDO-ESCATEL, Christopher H. DIETRICH, James N. ZAHNISER, Gustavo MOYA-RAYGOZA, Liberato PORTILLO
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 255-278, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.027
Most Neotropical forest-dwelling leafhopper species are rare and exhibit limited distributions. The Mexican leafhopper fauna is known to be highly diverse and identification of genera and species is difficult because no attempts have been made to provide comprehensive identification tools for the fauna. Here, a dichotomous key to all genera recognized within Mexico of the diverse but little studied leafhopper tribe Athysanini is provided. Spinulana josefinae Pinedo-Escatel sp. n. is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in the dry tropical forest of Oaxacan mountains. A total of 46 genera and 146 species are now recognized in...
Gastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the Czech Republic: Decline in a once abundant invasive oligophagous consumer of RumexOriginal article
Zdenka MARTINKOVA, Alois HONEK, Pavel SASKA
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 250-254, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.026
While the progress of the spread of invasive species of insects in new geographical areas are usually intensively monitored, the decline of these species often escape attention and is poorly documented. In this study, we record the decline in abundance of Gastrophysa viridula (DeGeer), an invasive oligophagous consumer of dock (Rumex spp.). This species originally inhabited Alpine regions. In the late 1800s, G. viridula was recorded in montane areas in the Czech Republic and then throughout this country. Gastrophysa viridula was very abundant in 1995-1999, when we found it in all of the 177 stands of R. obtusifolius...
Early successional colonizers both facilitate and inhibit the late successional colonizers in communities of dung-inhabiting insectsOriginal article
Frantisek X.J. SLADECEK, Simon T. SEGAR, Martin KONVICKA
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 240-249, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.025
The influence of early arriving species on the establishment and activity of later ones (the priority effect) is a key issue in ecological succession. Priority effects have been extensively studied in communities subject to autotrophic succession (plants, sessile animals), but only sporadically studied in communities subject to heterotrophic succession (e.g. dung or carrion inhabiting communities). We studied the influence of early successional colonizers on late successional colonizers by manipulating the successional processes in cow dung pats via delaying, and thus lowering, colonization by early successional insects. The decreased activity of early...
Taxonomic notes on the tribe Ectinoderini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from the Indochinese PeninsulaOriginal article
Zhuo CHEN, Valérie A. LEMAÎTRE, Wanzhi CAI
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 225-239, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.024
The identities of two species of assassin bugs in the tribe Ectinoderini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from the Indochinese Peninsula are reviewed, resulting in the following new synonymy and new combinations: Amulius Stål, 1865 = Parapanthous Distant, 1919, syn. n.; Amulius spinicollis (Distant, 1919), comb. n. (transferred from Parapanthous) and Ectinoderus confragosus (Distant, 1919), comb. n. (transferred from Amulius). Lectotypes of these species are designated. The hemelytral venations of Amulius and Ectinoderus Westwood, 1843 are briefly discussed and their diagnoses...
Changes in the body size of black-veined white, Aporia crataegi (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), recorded in a natural population in response to different spring weather conditions and at different phases of an outbreakOriginal article
Igor A. SOLONKIN, Aleksei O. SHKURIKHIN, Tatyana S. OSLINA, Elena Yu. ZAKHAROVA
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 214-224, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.023
Changes in body size in response to environmental factors (especially temperature) is one of the crucial traits studied in connection with insect adaptation to climate change. However, current data on the strength and direction of temperature-size responses in Lepidoptera are inconsistent and the reasons for this are unclear. This study investigates the relationship between the adult size of Aporia crataegi L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and spring weather conditions (temperature and rainfall) at different phases in its outbreak cycle (low population density or high abundance). The forewing area of A. crataegi, a univoltine and irruptive...
Notes on feeding, locomotor activity rhythms and orientation in the pygmy mole cricket Afrotridactylus cf. usambaricus in Kenya (Orthoptera: Tridactyloidea)Original article
Alberto UGOLINI
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 210-213, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.022
Immature individuals of Afrotridactylus cf. usambaricus (Sjöstedt, 1910) were recorded on a marine sandy beach probably feeding on bacteria, microalgae and mesopsammic organisms. The larvae of this pygmy mole cricket probably obtain these organisms by manipulating grains of sand with their buccal apparatus during the excavation of tunnels close to the surface of the sand. This occurs in daytime during the ebb tide while direct migration to the sea is in progress. Therefore, the migration occurs according to a diurnal-tidal rhythm having been detected only in correspondence with the low diurnal tides. This rhythmic activity remains in...
SOIL-INSECT toolbox: A new chamber for analysing the behaviour of herbivorous insects and tri-trophic interactions in soilOriginal article
Ewa M. FURMANCZYK, Malgorzata TARTANUS, Zbigniew B. JÓŹWIAK, Eligio MALUSÁ
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 200-209, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.021
A chamber, named SOIL-INSECT toolbox, was developed to analyse the effect of various factors on the behaviour of soil-dwelling insects. It is equipped with sensors that continuously monitor the concentration of CO2 in the different compartments of the chamber without disturbing the air balance in the soil. The chamber can be adapted to study different stimuli, including volatile compounds, both in the presence and absence of plants. The chamber was tested using the larvae of Melolontha spp., which confirmed its suitability for carrying out complex studies on insect-insect and insect-plant-microbiome interactions in a complex environment...
Blattodea Karyotype DatabaseOriginal article
Marek JANKÁSEK, Zuzana KOTYKOVÁ VARADÍNOVÁ, František ŠŤÁHLAVSKÝ
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 192-199, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.020
We present an open (publicly available) and updatable database of the karyotypes of Blattodea which is available at http://web.natur.cuni.cz/zoologie/arthropods/blattodeadatabase/index.html. This database currently contains data on chromosome numbers and sex chromosome systems for 355 (209 cockroaches and 146 termites) cytogenetically and/or geographically distinct populations of 229 species (138 cockroaches and 91 termites). When available, data on chromosome morphology and fundamental number are also included. As this summary of the data on Blattodea cytogenetics follows current taxonomy and phylogeny it enabled us to discuss hypotheses on karyotype...
Assemblages of flower-visiting insects in clear-cuts are rich and dynamicOriginal article
Per MILBERG, Victor ERIKSSON, Karl-Olof BERGMAN
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 182-191, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.019
Clear-cuts in production forests provide an open, sunny environment, with an abundance of nectar, as well as exposed soil and woody debris. This makes them a potential habitat for several groups of insects that typically use open habitats like grassland, including those species that visit flowers. In the current study, we used colour pan traps to catch flower-visiting species. Study sites were selected according to age (2-8 yrs since clear-cut) and land-use history (forest or meadow 150 yrs ago). We caught and identified solitary bees (395 specimens belonging to 59 species), social bees (831/16), other Hymenoptera (367/66), Syrphidae (256/31), and...
Olfactory responsiveness of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae): Interactions between species, age and attractantsOriginal article
Andrea DRAGO, Giulia SPANÒ, Georgia FACCIONI, Elisa MASSELLA
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 171-181, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.018
Invasive mosquitoes are vectors of important human and animal pathogens and a serious threat to public health. Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) are good examples because of their wide occurrence, host range and vector competence. An understanding of the responsiveness of mosquitoes to olfactory stimuli is essential for implementing effective surveillance and developing repellents. The present study evaluated the behavioural responses of A. albopictus and C. quinquefasciatus to CO2 and human skin odour in an olfactometer. In addition, CO2 synergistic...
Structure of canopy and ground-dwelling arthropod communities in olive orchards is determined by the type of soil coverOriginal article
Jesús CASTRO, Francisco S. TORTOSA, Antonio J. CARPIO
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 159-170, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.017
The intensification of agriculture in olive groves, especially the modification or elimination of spontaneous vegetation, alters the relationships in arthropod communities and reduces their interactions and ecosystem services. This study was carried out in nine olive groves in which there was either a planted cover crop, spontaneous cover crop or bare ground. The interactions of ground-dwelling, canopy and flying arthropods in trophic webs were calculated for each olive grove soil management regime at the family level taking into consideration their different functional traits: feeding guilds, specific agricultural traits and trophic level. Olive groves...
Mortality factors acting on field populations of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) SSA1 on cassava in UgandaOriginal article
Kasifa KATONO, Sarina MACFADYEN, Christopher Abu OMONGO, John COLVIN, Jeninah KARUNGI, Michael Hilary OTIM
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 148-158, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.016
Natural death is a key determinant of a species population dynamics. Thus, a clear understanding of natural mortality factors aids the development of appropriate management strategies for insect pests. Cohort-based life tables were constructed to determine the sources and rates of mortality of field populations of the pest, Bemisia tabaci Sub-Saharan Africa 1 (SSA1) on cassava in Uganda. Monthly cohorts (10 in total) were established separately for eggs and nymphs on two cassava genotypes with known levels of resistance to B. tabaci infestation (Alado alado and NAROCASS 1). Mortality was recorded using daily observations for the eggs...
Sublethal concentrations of spinosad synergize the pathogenicity of fungi to larvae of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)Original article
Fariba SOHRABI, Fatemeh JAMALI, J.P. MICHAUD
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 142-147, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.015
We evaluated the efficacy of four entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and their compatibility with the bioinsecticide spinosad for control of Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) under laboratory conditions. Three EPF, including Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Criveili) Vuillemin isolates Z1 and Iran 1395C, Lecanicillium (= Verticillium) lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare & Gams, isolate Iran 229, and Purpureocillium (Paecilomyces) lilacinum (Thom) Luangs-ard, Hywel-Jones & Samson, isolate Iran 1026 were tested against third and fifth larval instars of Ephestia kuehniella using a filter paper bioassay. Mortality...
Effectiveness of inundative releases of Anthocoris nemoralis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) in controlling the olive psyllid Euphyllura olivina (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)Original article
Naceur GHARBI
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 135-141, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.014
This study investigated the effectiveness of field releases of nymphs of Anthocoris nemoralis (F.) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) in controlling the olive psyllid, Euphyllura olivina Costa (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Field trials were conducted in two successive years (2014 and 2015) in two organic olive orchards located in the region of Sfax (Tunisia) using two treatments: low (release of 10 A. nemoralis nymphs/tree) and high (release of 40 A. nemoralis nymphs/tree) applied two times, the first on March 3 and second on March 17. In both olive orchards, the high treatment was the most effective in controlling the increase of E....
Fine structure of Drosophila larval salivary gland ducts as revealed by laser confocal microscopy and SEMOriginal article
Denisa BEŇOVÁ-LISZEKOVÁ, Milan BEŇO, Robert FARKAŠ
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 123-134, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.013
The functions of the larval salivary glands (SGs) of Drosophila are traditionally associated with the production of a massive secretion during puparium formation; it is exocytosed into a centrally located lumen and subsequently expectorated via ducts, the pharynx and mouth. This so-called proteinaceous glue serves as an adhesive to attach the puparial case to a solid substrate. Great attention has been paid to the secretory cells of SGs, which are famous for their giant polytene chromosomes. However, substantially less attention has been devoted to individual or common ducts that form the most proximal portion of the SG organ via which the glue...
Similar songs, but different mate localization strategies of the three species of Phaneroptera occurring in Western Europe (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae)Original article
Klaus-Gerhard HELLER, Martina HELLER, Marianne VOLLETH, Jörg SAMIETZ, Claudia HEMP
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 111-122, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.012
In bush-crickets, males produce a calling song to announce their presence to females. Females ready to mate respond either by a phonotactic approach or signal their presence acoustically by establishing a kind of duet. This duetting behaviour is typical of phaneropterid bush-crickets, of which many species in Europe are flightless. In the long-winged genus Phaneroptera, the females also respond acoustically to the male calling song, which is quite similar in the three west European species in this genus. After acoustical contact, however, the behaviour of males and females of the three species differ markedly. In P. nana, males and females...
Molecular and morphological revision of Afrotropical Hypoborini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) revealed novel bark beetle taxa with narrow geographical distributionsOriginal article
Bjarte H. JORDAL
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 90-110, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.011
Species in the bark beetle tribe Hypoborini Nüsslin, 1912 occur in dead twigs and branches, mainly in dry forest. The Afrotropical fauna previously included ten species in five genera. A taxonomic revision based on molecular and morphological data supports the description of three new genera and seven new species, and the creation of a new subtribe Xerasiborina Jordal, subtrib. n. in order to take account of the difference between crested and non-crested (elytral base) hypoborines. The new subtribe includes Xerasiborus Jordal, gen. n., Nisiborus Jordal, gen. n. and tentatively Glochiphorus Strohmeyer, 1910. Hypoborina in the Afrotropical...
Laboratory rearing of Abidama liuensis (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) and description of immature stagesOriginal article
Qiqi WANG, Lingyan BAI, Xu CHEN, Aiping LIANG
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 82-89, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.010
Because it is an important pest of rice, Abidama liuensis Metcalf is well documented in terms of its bioecology and control. However, there are few studies on the biology of this pest. In this study, a technique was developed for rearing this insect under laboratory conditions (26 ± 2°C; 75 ± 3% RH; and 12L : 12D photoperiod) and its immature stages are described. Egg development is divided into four stages, of which S1 took the longest time (accounting for 11.70% of total developmental time); 90% of the eggs that completed S2, hatched. Nymphal instars can be distinguished by body size, colour and other morphological features. Total...
Three new species of the Xylophanes crotonis species-group (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from Colombia and a neotype designation for Xylophanes aristorOriginal article
Yenny CORREA-CARMONA, Alessandro GIUSTI, Jean HAXAIRE, Rodolphe ROUGERIE, Ian J. KITCHING
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 64-81, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.009
Three new species of the hawkmoth genus Xylophanes Hübner, 1819 from Colombia are described based on morphological characters and DNA barcodes: Xylophanes camilae Correa-Carmona & Giusti sp. n., Xylophanes pijao Giusti & Correa-Carmona sp. n., and Xylophanes tayrona Correa-Carmona & Giusti sp. n. The new species are compared with the most morphologically similar species within the informal Xylophanes crotonis species-group: Xylophanes aristor (Boisduval, 1870), Xylophanes crotonis (Walker, 1856) and Xylophanes huloti Haxaire & Vaglia, 2008. Diagnoses, distribution maps, photographs...
Book review: Dennis R.L.H. 2020: Butterfly biology systems. Connections and interactions in life history and behaviour.Book review
Z. FALTÝNEK FRIC
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 63, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.008
Dennis R.L.H. 2020: BUTTERFLY BIOLOGY SYSTEMS. CONNECTIONS AND INTERACTIONS IN LIFE HISTORY AND BEHAVIOUR. CAB International, Wallingford, 504 pp. ISBN 9781789243574. Price GBP 150.00, EUR 180.00, USD 210.00.
Distribution of Finnish mound-building Formica ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on using a citizen science approachOriginal article
Jouni SORVARI
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 57-62, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.007
The distance from southern Italy to Denmark is about the same as the length of Finland from south to north. A study of the biogeography of insects, such as ants, would take a lot of effort and funding to sample the whole area. Here, a citizen science approach is used to obtain distribution records for mound-building Formica ants in Finland. This resulted in samples from 2,434 ant nests, of which 2,363 were for nests of the target species group. The data obtained helps define the northern limits of the species in Finland and resulted in three new records for F. suecica Adlerz, 1902, which is a red-listed species in Finland. In addition,...
Influence of the eggs of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) reared on different diets on the performance of the predatory bug Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)Original article
Serkan PEHLİVAN
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 51-56, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.006
The predatory bug, Orius laevigatus (Fieber, 1860) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), is an important biological control agent and widely used for augmentative biological control of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, 1895 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in greenhouse crops. This bug is generally reared using the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of E. kuehniella eggs produced by adult moths reared on different larval diets on the performance of O. laevigatus. The diets were 95% cornmeal + 5% yeast (CY...
Temperature differences associated with colour do not determine where the acorn ant Temnothorax crassispinus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) chooses to nestOriginal article
Sławomir MITRUS
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 46-50, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.005
Temperature is an important factor for invertebrates. Social insects build nests, which along with their ability to thermoregulate, provide shelter from extreme temperatures. However, for many species of ants the most common method of controlling the temperature inside a nest is to choose a suitable nest site. During a field experiment, the choice of nest site by the acorn ant Temnothorax crassispinus, a species which lives in coniferous and mixed forests, was studied. It typically occupies ephemeral nest sites and can move to a new nest site several times in one season. It was predicted that in early spring, dark coloured nest sites would be...
Ecological niche modelling of species of the rose gall wasp Diplolepis (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) on the Iberian PeninsulaOriginal article
Sara SARDÓN-GUTIÉRREZ, Diego GIL-TAPETADO, José F. GÓMEZ, José L. NIEVES-ALDREY
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 31-45, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.004
Diplolepis (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) are gall wasps that induce conspicuous galls on Rosa spp. (Rosaceae). These species are distributed globally and in Europe some are especially common and are founder organisms of biological communities composed of different insects. However, the ecological niches of these species have not been studied in detail. We modelled the potential distributions of these species using the locations of the galls of the four most abundant species of Diplolepis on the Iberian Peninsula (Diplolepis mayri, Diplolepis rosae, Diplolepis eglanteriae and Diplolepis nervosa, the galls...
Invasive brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) facilitates feeding of European wasps and ants (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Formicidae) on plant exudatesOriginal article
Davide SCACCINI, Alberto POZZEBON
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 24-30, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.003
The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is a polyphagous species from eastern Asia, which has spread to America and Europe where it damages many crops. In recently colonized areas, facilitative interactions between H. halys and native insects are poorly investigated. In this study, we report for the first time facilitation of native wasp and ant feeding by H. halys in Europe. The facilitation was related to the outflow of plant exudates caused by H. halys feeding on manna ash trees, where they have aggregated in response to an aggregation pheromone, which then attracted species of Hymenoptera to the infested trees....
The associations between ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) communities and environmental condition in floodplain forests in the Pannonian BasinOriginal article
Juraj LITAVSKÝ, Oto MAJZLAN, Slavomír STAŠIOV, Marek SVITOK, Peter FEDOR
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 14-23, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.002
We studied assemblages of carabids in eight similar habitats, five in Slovakia and three in Serbia. The ground beetles were caught by pitfall traps from February 2015 until November 2016. We compared the incidence of Carabidae in floodplain forests and ecotones alongside the River Danube in Slovakia and the Rivers Tisza and Begej in Serbia. We determined their association with anthropogenic effects,diversity of plants in the different vegetation layers, cover of vegetation layers (herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees), area of forest stands, circumference of forest stands, distance to forest edge, age of forest stands, depth of leaf litter and physico-chemical...
Insect photoperiodism: Bünning's hypothesis, the history and development of an ideaReview
David SAUNDERS
Eur. J. Entomol. 118: 1-13, 2021 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2021.001
In insects, the photoperiodic system comprises a linked sequence of events from photoreception to final seasonally-appropriate phenotypes such as overwintering diapause. The first and last of these events are reasonably well known, but central phenomena such as those distinguishing short from long days (time measurement) and the nature, accumulation and transfer of this information through development, metamorphosis and sometimes across generations remains obscure. Bünning's intuitive suggestion that photoperiodic time measurement was a function of the circadian system, made eight decades ago, however, has provided a framework for numerous studies...