A Revision of South American Austroperlidae (Plecoptera)

The South American Austroperlidae are revised. Klapopteryx kuscheli and Penturoperla barbata are redescribed. The male and nymph of K. armillata are described and figured for the first time and the female genitalia redescribed. K. costalis is declared a junior synonym of K. armillata. K. barilochensis is transferred to Andesobius new genus and redescribed. New family and generic diagnoses and keys to genera and species are given.     

Morphological and molecular species delimitation within the Holarctic Ilybius angustior complex with a focus on Beringia (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

A fourth species of the Holarctic Ilybius angustior complex, Ilybius minakawai n. sp., is described from the Island of Sakhalin in the Russian far east. Male genitalia are diagnostic within this species complex, although from body size and shape the new species cannot be separated from I. churchillensis Wallis from north Alaska and the Canadian low arctic. The small and narrow body characteristic of these two species represents an extreme of the cold climate form of the widespread I. angustior (Gyllenhal). Low variation within the studied large ribosomal and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I mitochondrial genes suggest that speciation events within the I. angustior-complex are fairly recent. In combination with known geographical ranges, the low genetic variation within this species complex suggest speciation within Pleistocene refugia including Beringia.     

A new cryptic species of Aphaenops (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae) from a French Pyrenean cave: Congruence between morphometrical and geographical data confirm species isolation

A new species of cave-dwelling beetle from the pyrenean massif, Aphaenops (Cerbaphaenops) jauzioni n. sp. (Coleoptera: Carabidae), is described. Geometric morphometric analyses based on five morphological structures and comparisons with two populations of the closely related species Aphaenops (Cerbaphaenops) cerberus Dieck 1869 support the uniqueness of the new species. The specific status of the new taxon is also confirmed by the male genitalia structures. A putative scenario of population isolation is proposed.     

A review of Turkish saproxylic beetles from the European Red List

The conservation of beetles that depend on dying or dead wood (i.e. saproxylic), has received a great deal of attention in many parts of the world in recent years. Human activities such as urbanization and logging, and their results, e.g. global warming, destroy natural ecosystems and threaten unusual species such as Lucanus cervus (L. 1758), Rosalia alpina (L. 1758), Limoniscus violaceus (Müller 1821) and Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli 1763). Attempts have been made to conserve the habitats upon which these species depend. Although represented by a large number of species, saproxylic beetles in Turkey have not received much attention. Although some Turkish studies have acknowledged their value, comprehensive investigations of these species are very limited. The aim of this study is to make a list, from the literature, of the species that are endangered in Europe and found in Turkey, to highlight the importance of these species. The research includes 151 saproxylic beetle species belonging to the families Bostrichidae, Cerambycidae, Elateridae, Eucnemidae, Scarabaeidae, Euchiridae, Lucanidae and Mycetophagidae. The list of Turkish saproxylic beetles was prepared using the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles. Information is provided about the IUCN Red List category in Europe, the locations of the species in Turkey, and their global geographic range. We gathered all data about these species from the international literature. Furthermore, we also include in the list certain species whose locations are not specified, but which inhabit Turkey. We obtained their records from some catalogs in Turkey. In addition to the list, we prepared three distribution maps for Turkey. The maps show distribution in Turkey of some species in the Endangered, Vulnerable and Near Threatened categories in the European Red List. It is expected that this study will lead to comprehensive studies on saproxylic beetles from Turkey.     

内蒙古武川县农田退耕还草对粪金龟子群落的影响

2006年5-9月,诱捕法采集粪金龟子,以农田为对照,选择内蒙古武川县不同农田退耕管理方式为研究样地,分析了农田退耕后采取不同管理方式对粪金龟子群落的影响,以为农田退耕还草管理措施生态效应的评价和完善提供依据.共捕获粪金龟子21671头,隶属于3科5属25种.优势种为直蜉金龟(Aphodius rectus)和蜉金龟属(Aphodius sp.7),占总捕获量的比例分别为59.34％和11.71％.几种退耕管理方式都导致粪金龟子群落物种丰富度、生物量和多度提高,且具有显著的季节特征.Pearson相关分析表明,粪金龟子群落的物种丰富度、生物量和种数以及不同功能群和主要种的个体数与退耕年限、平均草高和植物群落盖度的变化存在显著正相关关系(P＜0.01或P＜0.05).由于长期农业耕作以及缺少大型食草动物和较大面积放牧草地,研究地区的粪金龟子群落组成以功能群Ⅱ和Ⅲ为主,功能群Ⅰ的多度和物种丰度较低.可以认为,在研究地区以农田景观为主要基质的区域,采取多样化的农田退耕管理方式,提高了生境的空间异质性,在减少人为耕作活动对粪金龟子影响的基础上,对粪金龟子物种丰度和多度的维持起到了促进作用.农田退耕、保留适当面积放牧草地或适当数量大型放牧家畜将有利于功能群Ⅰ物种丰度和多度的提高,有益于粪金龟子群落物种多样性和整体生态功能的维持.     

Impact of elevated CO2 and increased temperature on Japanese beetle herbivory

To examine how the major elements of global change affect herbivory in agroecosystems, a multifactorial experiment was conducted where soybeans were grown at two levels of carbon dioxide and temperature, including those predicted for 2050, under otherwise normal field conditions. Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman) were enclosed on foliage for 24 h, after which the beetle survivorship, total and per capita leaf consumption, and leaf protease inhibitor activity were measured. The direct effect of temperature on beetle consumption and survivorship also was measured under controlled environmental conditions. No differences in total foliage consumption were observed; however, beetles forced to feed at elevated temperature in the field demonstrated greater per capita consumption and reduced survivorship compared to beetles feeding at ambient temperature. Survivorship was also greater for beetles that consumed foliage grown under elevated CO₂, but there were no interactive effects of CO₂ and temperature, and no differences in leaf chemistry were resolved. Leaf consumption by beetles increased strongly with increasing temperature up to ～37° C, above which increased mortality caused a precipitous decrease in consumption. An empirical model based on the temperature dependence of leaf consumption and flight suggests that the 3.5°C increase in temperature predicted for 2050 will increase the optimal feeding window for the Japanese beetle by 290%. Elevated temperature and CO₂ operating independently have the potential to greatly increase foliage damage to soybean by chewing insects, such as Popillia japonica, potentially affecting crop yields.     

The relationship between the amount of insect-repelling phenolic compounds in pennywort tea and the number of infesting cigarette beetles in the tea bag during one-year storage

Cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), is a common food-product pest widely found in homes. This paper investigated the relationship between the number of infesting cigarette beetles and the phenolic content of pennywort tea made from young and mature leaves during one-year storage. It was found that cigarette beetles started to appear in tea bags after six months of storage. More adults were found than larvae and pupae. In addition, the number of cigarette beetles infesting pennywort tea made from mature leaves was higher than when it was made from young leaves. The amount of phenolic compounds in pennywort tea was analyzed by Folin–Ciocalteau assay. The results of a regression analysis indicated that the number of adult cigarette beetles correlated negatively with the amount of phenolic compounds in pennywort tea made from young leaves – when the total phenolic content decreased, the number of infesting cigarette beetles increased (r² = 0.80). The number of larvae and pupae showed a weak negative correlation with the amount of phenolic compounds (r² = 0.40 and r² = 0.56, respectively). Similar correlations were found in pennywort tea made from mature leaves, but the number of infesting beetles was higher due to the lower phenolic content of the mature leaves.     

Global warming promotes biological invasion of a honey bee pest

Climate change and biological invasions are two major global environmental challenges. Both may interact, e.g. via altered impact and distribution of invasive alien species. Even though invasive species play a key role for compromising the health of honey bees, the impact of climate change on the severity of such species is still unknown. The small hive beetle (SHB, Aethina tumida, Murray) is a parasite of honey bee colonies. It is endemic to sub‐Saharan Africa and has established populations on all continents except Antarctica. Since SHBs pupate in soil, pupation performance is governed foremost by two abiotic factors, soil temperature and moisture, which will be affected by climate change. Here, we investigated SHB invasion risk globally under current and future climate scenarios. We modelled survival and development time during pupation (=pupal performance) in response to soil temperature and soil moisture using published and novel experimental data. Presence data on SHB distribution were used for model validation. We then linked the model with global soil data in order to classify areas (resolution: 10 arcmin; i.e. 18.6 km at the equator) as unsuitable, marginal and suitable for SHB pupation performance. Under the current climate, the results show that many areas globally yet uninvaded are actually suitable, suggesting considerable SHB invasion risk. Future scenarios of global warming project a vehement increase in climatic suitability for SHB and corresponding potential for invasion, especially in the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere, thereby creating demand for enhanced and adapted mitigation and management. Our analysis shows, for the first time, effects of global warming on a honey bee pest and will help areas at risk to prepare adequately. In conclusion, this is a clear case for global warming promoting biological invasion of a pest species with severe potential to harm important pollinator species globally.     

Experimental evidence for the role of sexual selection in the evolution of cuticular hydrocarbons in the dung beetle,Onthophagus taurus

A role for sexual selection in the evolution of insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) is suggested by observations of selection acting on male CHCs during female mate choice. However, evidence that CHCs evolve in response to sexual selection is generally lacking, and there is a need to extend our understanding beyond well‐studied taxa. Experimental evolution offers a powerful approach to investigate the effect of sexual selection on the evolution of insect CHCs. We conducted such an experiment using the dung beetle, Onthophagus taurus. After six, 12 and 21 generations of experimental evolution, we measured the CHCs of beetles from three populations subject to sexual selection and three populations within which sexual selection had been removed via enforced monogamy. We found that the male CHC profile responded to the experimental removal of sexual selection. Conversely, the CHC profile of females responded to the presence of sexual selection but not to its removal. These results show that sexual selection can be an important mechanism affecting the evolution of insect CHCs and that male and female CHCs can evolve independently.