The urticating setae of Ochrogaster lunifer,an Australian processionary caterpillar of veterinary importance

The bag‐shelter moth, Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich‐Schaffer (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), is associated with a condition called equine amnionitis and fetal loss (EAFL) on horse farms in Australia. Setal fragments from O. lunifer larvae have been identified in the placentas of experimentally aborted fetuses and their dams, and in clinical abortions. The gregarious larvae build silken nests in which large numbers cohabit over spring, summer and autumn. The final instars disperse to pupation sites in the ground where they overwinter. Field‐collected O. lunifer larvae, their nests and nearby soil were examined using light and electron microscopy to identify setae likely to cause EAFL and to determine where and how many were present. Microtrichia, barbed hairs and true setae were found on the exoskeletons of the larvae. True setae matching the majority of setal fragments described from equine tissue were found on third to eighth instar larvae or exuviae. The number of true setae increased with the age of the larva; eighth instars carried around 2.0–2.5 million true setae. The exuvia of the pre‐pupal instar was incorporated into the pupal chamber. The major sources of setae are likely to be nests, dispersing pre‐pupal larvae and their exuviae, and pupal chambers.     

中国胯舟蛾属分类研究 （鳞翅目：舟蛾科）

系统整理了中国胯舟蛾属（Syntypistis Turner）的全部种类共20种,包括1新种黑胯舟蛾Syntypistis melana Wu et Fang,sp. Nov. 和2中国新记录种：篱胯舟蛾 Syntypistis hercules (Schintlmeister) comb. Nov.与防胯舟蛾 Syntypistis defector (Schintlmeister) comb. Nov.,后2种均为新组合。文中提供了分种检索表,新种形态描述和外生殖器特征图。模式标本保存在中国科学院动物研究所动物标本馆。     

中国舟蛾属分类研究(鳞翅目,舟蛾科)

系统整理了中国舟蛾属Notodonta Ochsenheimer,1810的全部种类,共9种,包括l新种：黑色舟蛾N.nigra Wu et Fang和l新纪录亚种：黄白舟蛾中亚亚种Notodonta ziczac pallida Grunberg,1912。文中提供分种检索表,新种形态描述和外生殖器特征图,模式标本保存在中国科学院动物研究所动物标本馆。     

中国拟皮舟蛾属分类研究（鳞翅目：舟蛾科）

系统整理了中国拟皮舟蛾属（Mimopydna Matsumura, 1924）的全部种类,共4种,包括1新种：尖拟皮舟蛾Minopydna cuspidata Wu et Fang, sp. Nov.,并将黄拟皮舟蛾秦岭亚种M. sikkima stueningi Schintlmeister作为指名亚种Minopydna sikkima sikkima (Moore)的异名处理。文中提供分种检索表,新种形态描述和外生殖器特征图,模式标本保存在中国科学院动物研究所动物标本馆。     

Testing for host‐associated differentiation in two egg parasitoids of a forest herbivore

Several studies underline the importance of ecological barriers and differential selection in driving sympatric speciation. Host‐associated differentiation (HAD) has been proposed as one of the mechanisms leading to sympatric speciation. However, it is still unclear how common HAD is or which are the factors that could promote it. In particular, not much is known about HAD in predators and parasitoids of herbivorous insects. One of the characteristics postulated to pre‐dispose insects to HAD is parthenogenesis as it may favour adaptive responses to particular environments, amplifying selected gene complexes. In this study, we used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to determine whether HAD is present in two parthenogenetic egg parasitoids attacking the same herbivore species – the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) – on two host Pinus species. A total of 100 loci for 59 individuals sampled in four populations of Baryscapus servadeii (Domenichini) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a specialist parasitoid, and 106 loci for 117 individuals sampled in six populations of Ooencyrtus pityocampae Mercet (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a generalist parasitoid, were analysed. Levels of genetic differentiation were also assessed with an outlier analysis, checking for alleles associated to host plants. No evidence of HAD was detected in any of the two parasitoid species. We hypothesize that both the lack of strict parthenogenetic reproduction and the ectophagous nature of the insect host could explain the absence of HAD. The genetic variation observed in the generalist parasitoid responded to a pattern of local adaptation, whereas no relationship with either host or geography was found in the specialist parasitoid.     

中国小舟蛾属分类研究 （鳞翅目：舟蛾科）

系统整理了小舟蛾属Micromelalopha Nagano, 1916的全部中国种类共10种,包括2新种异小舟蛾M. variata Wu et Fang 和细小舟蛾M.ralla Wu et Fang; 并将M.flavomaculata Tshistjakov 作为邻小舟蛾M.vicina Kiriakoff的亚种,赭小舟蛾秦岭亚种M.aemorrhoidalis cinereibasis Kiriakoff作为指名亚种M.Haemorrhoidalis haemorrhoidalis Kiriakoff的异名处理。文中提供了分种检索表、新种形态描述和外生殖器特征图。模式标本保存在中国科学院动物研究所动物标本馆。     

Effects of climate on pine processionary moth fecundity and on its egg parasitoids

Climate change may be affecting the fecundity of phytophagous insects as well as impacting their natural enemies. However, temperature impacts these two insect groups differently, disrupting population regulation mechanisms, and ultimately, possibly culminating in an outbreak of the host. The pine processionary moth (PPM) is one of the most harmful insects of the Mediterranean basin. Not only are PPM larvae harmful to plants, but they are also dangerous to humans because of their urticating hairs. Although some information is available on climate change effects on the PPM, little is known about its potential effects on PPM egg parasitoids, especially on their distribution range or on their role in controlling PPM populations. The aim of this article was to verify the effects of climate on PPM fecundity and on its egg parasitoids. Our results show that climate warming may affect the PPM positively, but not its egg parasitoids. Specifically, during our study mild winters directly favored the PPM, while increasing summer temperatures (over 30°C) also favored the PPM indirectly, by decreasing parasitism rates. We predict that ever‐milder winters will not only favor PPM development, but also encourage it to spread in otherwise previously inhospitable environments.     

A new species of Elasmia Möschler from New Mexico and Texas, and a new subspecies of Elasmia mandela (Druce) from Texas and Oklahoma (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae, Nystaleinae)

Hippia packardii (Morrison) and Hippia insularis (Grote) are moved to the genus Elasmia Möschler as comb. n. Elasmia cave Metzler, sp. n. is described from New Mexico and Texas, and Elasmia mandela santaana Metzler & Knudson, ssp. n. is described from Texas and Oklahoma. A key to the species of Elasmia of southwestern U.S. is provided. Adult male and female moths of Elasmia from southwestern U.S. and their genitalia are illustrated.