Parasitism and olfactory responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dastarcus helophoroides</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) to different Cerambycid hosts

Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) is an important natural enemy of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). It is distributed throughout most Provinces in China. We investigated whether there were differences among D. helophoroides populations collected from different hosts in different geographic locations. Results showed that different D. helophoroides populations displayed different olfactory responses to larval frass from different longhorned beetle species. All populations were significantly attracted to the frass of their original hosts. Parasitism rates of different populations also varied when supplied with host larvae of the same longhorned beetle species. These results indicate that the three D. helophoroides populations tested differed in host-related behaviors. Therefore, the population of D. helophoroides must be taken into consideration when implementing biological control programs for different species of longhorned beetle.     

Identification,characterization, and expression of two novel P450 genes CYP6BQ21 and CYP6BQ22 from Dastarcus helophoroides (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae)

Chemical pesticides often applied to effectively control the long-horned beetles to protect the forests are reported to affect the non-target organisms adversely. Dastarcus helophoroides is an active natural enemy of long-horned beetles. Studying the molecular mechanism of P450 genes will help to elucidate the metabolic mechanism of pesticides in D. helophoroides to better coordinate the use of chemical and biological controls. In this study, two novel genes, CYP6BQ21, and CYP6BQ22 were successfully cloned from D. helophoroides using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends technique. The sequence and homology analyses indicated that CYP6BQ21 was highly similar to CYP6BQ1 from Tribolium castaneum, while CYP6BQ22 was closely related to CYP6BQ13 from T. castaneum. Gene expression patterns showed that CYP6BQ21 and CYP6BQ22 were specifically expressed in the adult stage of D. helophoroides. In addition, CYP6BQ21 and CYP6BQ22 were significantly expressed under the treatment of a high concentration of cypermethrin. Based on these findings, we proposed that CYP6BQ21 and CYP6BQ22 played possible roles in the development and pesticide stress of D. helophoroides. Our findings are an important first step in identifying and characterizing CYP6BQ21 and CYP6BQ22 from D. helophoroides, and lay the groundwork for future research into the role of these novel CYP6s in the regulation of pesticide resistance in D. helophoroides.     

Host Foraging Behavior of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dastarcus helophoroides</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) Adults,a Coleopteran Parasitoid of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monochamus alternatus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Dastarcus helophoroides adults, a coleopteran parasitoid of Monochamus alternatus, were reared in the laboratory. The objectives of this paper are to investigate the host foraging behavior of D. helophoroides, and the evidence for learning in such behaviors. Choice and no-choice experiments were carried out. The choice experiments show that the number of D. helophoroides adults choosing the Pinus massoniana log infested with M. alternatus larvae was significantly higher than that choosing the blank (a flavorless simulative log made of brown kraftpaper), and the number of D. helophoroides adults choosing the uninfested P. massoniana log was also significantly higher than that choosing the blank. The no-choice experiment shows no significant difference between the number of D. helophoroides adults that chose the infested log and that chose the uninfested log, despite previous experience with uninfested log, infested log, or neither of them. No evidence of learning in host foraging behavior in D. helophoroides adults was found. The results indicate that the volatile chemicals emitted by uninfested P. massoniana logs and infested logs with M. alternatus larvae are equally attractive to D. helophoroides.     

栗山天牛天敌花绒寄甲在栎林中的种群保持机制

花绒寄甲(Dastarcus helophoroides)(鞘翅目:寄甲科Bothrideridae)是寄生栗山天牛(Massicus raddei)中老龄幼虫和蛹的重要天敌,但其寄主栗山天牛世代周期长(3年1代)、发育比较整齐,不利于寄生性天敌种群数量的稳定.为了解利用花绒寄甲防治栗山天牛后,其种群能否在栎树林间长期保持较高的种群数量,达到持续控制栗山天牛的防治效果,调查研究了花绒寄甲在栎树林间的转主寄主和种群保持机制.结果表明,在东北辽东栎树干和树枝上除了栗山天牛外,还有其他8种天牛危害:双簇天牛(Moechotypa diphysis)、四点象天牛(Mesosa myops)、中华薄翅锯天牛(Megopis sinica)、锯天牛(Prionus insularis)、双带粒翅天牛(Lamiomimus gottschei)、八字绿虎天牛(Chlorophorus tohokensis)、日本绿虎天牛(C.japonicus)和拟蜡天牛(Stenygrinumquadrinotatum).其中以栗山天牛、双簇天牛、四点象天牛和拟蜡天牛数量较多,而花绒寄甲在辽东栎树干上的垂直分布与栗山天牛、双簇天牛和四点象天牛的垂直分布重叠较多.室内研究表明,花绒寄甲对四点象天牛老熟幼虫的寄生率达到26.67％,对蛹的寄生率达到了43.33％;对双簇天牛老熟幼虫的寄生率达到20.00％,对蛹的寄生率为6.67％.对双簇天牛和四点象天牛在林间的生活史调查和研究发现,花绒寄甲可寄生的这两种天牛的中老龄幼虫和蛹,在花绒寄甲不适宜寄生的栗山天牛幼龄幼虫期大量存在,表明双簇天牛和四点象天牛是花绒寄甲在栎树林中的主要转主寄主.由于这些转主寄主的存在,花绒寄甲在不利于其寄生的栗山天牛卵期、幼龄幼虫期可转移寄生这些寄主,从而在栗山天牛危害的栎树林间保持了较高的种群数量,达到对栗山天牛长期而有效的持续控制效果.     

Recent advances in biological control of important native and invasive forest pests in China

In recent decades, China has suffered severe attacks by both native and invasive forest pests. We have carried out a series of research projects on biological control of these pests. The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) has been sustainably controlled by an effective gregarious pupal endoparasitoid, Chouioia cunea Yang (Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae), which is native to China, and spraying HcNPV virus against the pest’s larval stage. Pine wilt disease, caused by the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle) (Aphelenchida: Aphelenchidae), is currently the number one pest in China. The strategy for controlling the disease is to manipulate the nematode’s vector, Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). We discovered that Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) is the most important natural enemy in China pine forests. Mass rearing and release techniques were studied and developed. By releasing the parasitoid, 92.6% of the M. alternatus were parasitized in the first year. Meanwhile, three elaterid beetle species were found to prey on the larva of M. alternatus. The red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens (LeConte) (Coleoptera:Scolytidae) was suppressed by a predator, Rhizophagus grandis Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Rhizophagidae) introduced from Belgium and a total 3334 ha. of pine forests were protected. The oak longhorned beetle, Massicus raddei (Blessig) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is the number one pest in the northeast forests of China, where it damages trunk of oaks, mainly Quercus liaotungensis and Q. mongolicus. An integrated management technique was developed for controlling the longhorned beetle: a special black light was invented for trapping the adults; the parasitoid Sclerodermus pupariae Yang et Yao (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) was released against young larvae; and the parasitoid Dastarcus helophoroides eggs and/or adults were released when the hosts were mature larvae and/or pupae. By applying the technique for five years in northeastern China oak forests, the oak longhorned beetle has been controlled to a large extent. The emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is native to eastern Asia, including China, and feeding by larvae damages ash trees. Natural enemies of the emerald ash borer were investigated and seven species were found in China, of which Spathius agrili Yang (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Tetrastichus planipennisi Yang (Hymenoptera: Eulophiae), Sclerodermus pupariae Yang et Yao and Oobius agrili Zhang et Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are predominant and have high potential for biocontrol of the pest. The biology, behavior, ecology and mass rearing techniques of the parasitoids were studied.     

A cladistically based reinterpretation of the taxonomy of two Afrotropical tenebrionid genera Ectateus Koch, 1956 and Selinus Mulsant & Rey, 1853 (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Platynotina)

On the basis of a newly performed cladistic analysis a new classification of the representatives of two Afrotropical tenebrionid genera, Ectateus Koch, 1956 and Selinus Mulsant & Rey, 1853 sensu Iwan 2002a, is provided. Eleoselinus is described as a new genus. The genus Monodius, previously synonymized with Selinus by Iwan (2002), is redescribed and considered as a separate genus. Following new combinations are proposed: Ectateus calcaripes (Gebien, 1904), Monodius laevistriatus (Fairmaire, 1897), Monodius lamottei (Gridelli, 1954), Monodius plicicollis (Fairmaire, 1897), Eleoselinus villiersi (Ardoin, 1965) and Eleoselinus ursynowiensis (Kamiński, 2011). Neotype for Ectateus calcaripes and lectotypes for E. crenatus (Fairmaire, 1897), E. ghesquierei Koch, 1956 and Monodius malaisei malaisei Koch, 1956 are designated to fix the taxonomic status of these taxa. The following synonymies are proposed: Selinus monardi Kaszab, 1951 and Ectateus latipennis Koch, 1956 with E. crenatus (Fairmaire, 1897). Identification keys are provided to all known species of Ectateus sensu novum, Eleoselinus, Monodius and Selinus sensu novum.     

外寄生性花绒寄甲的寄生选择及其发育表现

"选择-表现"假说认为,成虫应该选择有利于子代发育的高品质寄主,但在寄主选择中,除了寄主品质外,其他因素也可能影响寄主选择决策。寄主选择研究通常以成虫为对象,而对那些初龄幼虫选择寄主的寄生性昆虫很少关注。以1龄幼虫积极搜寻寄主的寄生性花绒寄甲为模式生物,采用双选试验设计,观察了花绒寄甲初孵幼虫在不同体重青杨天牛幼虫之间、在已被寄生与健康的黄粉虫蛹之间的寄生选择性;然后采用回归设计,观察了花绒寄甲寄生若干不同体重的青杨天牛幼虫后的发育表现。研究结果表明,花绒寄甲1龄幼虫对体型较大的青杨天牛幼虫的选择偏好显著大于对体型较小的寄主幼虫的选择,选择大体型幼虫的比值比是选择小体型幼虫的4.55倍;对已被寄生的寄主黄粉虫蛹的选择偏好显著大于对健康寄主蛹的选择,选择已被寄生寄主的比值比是选择健康寄主的12.57倍。寄生青杨天牛幼虫的花绒寄甲幼虫发育历期平均为11.49 d、蛹历期为26.67 d、幼虫发育至成虫的羽化率50%,这些发育表现与寄生时青杨天牛幼虫的体重没有显著关系。但刚羽化寄甲成虫体重与寄生时寄主的体重存在显著的正直线关系:寄生时的寄主体重每增大0.01 g,羽化出的寄甲成虫体重增大近0.08%;方差分析寄甲成虫体重在不同寄主体重水平之间的差异表明,从体型较大寄主中羽化的寄甲成虫体重显著大于从体型较小寄主中羽化的成虫。研究结果说明,花绒寄甲初孵幼虫在寄主选择决策时,在寄主体型大小与被寄生状态之间可能采取折衷对策,而且对体型大小不同的寄主选择与子代发育适合度表现存在一致性,从而支持"选择-表现"假说。     

A new synonym in the Tribe Blaptini (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae)

Type specimen of Platyscelis provostii Fairmaire, 1888 has been examined and is re-described herein. The following new synonymy is established: Platyscelis provostii Fairmaire, 1888 = Itagonia ganglbaueri Schuster, 1914, syn. n.     

A new subgenus of the longicorn genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytoecia</Emphasis> Dejean, 1835 (Coleoptera,Cerambycidae) from the Palaearctic region

Paracoptosia subgen. n., with type species Saperda compacta Ménétriés, 1832, is established as a subgenus of Phytoecia for Coptosia sensu auct. nec Fairmaire, 1865. Coptosia Fairmaire, 1865, syn. n., is a junior objective synonym of Oxylia Mulsant, 1863.     

Olfactory response of Dastarcus helophoroides (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) to larval frass of Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on different host tree species

The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is a destructive pest that attacks many species of deciduous hardwood trees. One of its natural enemies is Dastarcus helophoroides that parasitizes many species of longhorned beetles. Larval frass from six different host tree species varied in attraction to D. helophoroides adults, and frass from one host species, Acer negundo, showed no attraction at all. This information has practical benefits to evaluating the efficacy of D. helophoroides as a biological control agent for A. glabripennis and increases our understanding of the co-evolution between this parasitoid, its host, and host food trees.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Ainu (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Stenochiinae)

The genus ErulipusFairmaire, 1903 (previously in the subfamily Tenebrioninae, tribe Helopini), after the study of the type species (Erulipus fruhstorferiFairmaire, 1903), is transferred to the genus AinuLewis, 1894 (subfamily Stenochiinae, the tribe Cnodalonini) as a subgenus. Consequently, two new combinations are established: Ainu (Erulipus) fruhstorferi (Fairmaire, 1903), comb. nov. and Ainu (s. str.) multicolor (Pic, 1927), comb. nov. The syntypes of Erulipus fruhstorferi and Erulipus multicolorPic, 1927 are studied and the new synonym is proposed: Erulipus fruhstorferi?=?Ainu grandisRen and Yuan, 2005, syn. nov. Two new species are described from China: Ainu linwenxini Nabozhenko & Ren, sp. nov. (Taiwan) and Ainu basifemoratum Nabozhenko & Ren, sp. nov. (Yunnan). Both the new species are closely related to A. sichuanumRen and Yuan, 2015.     

The Madagascan click-beetle genus Crepicardus (Elateridae) and its relationship to the Pyrophorinae

The genus Crepicardus is endemic to Madagascar. Ten species are here recognized and redescribed; a key for their identification is given. The genus falls into three distinct species groups and one unassigned species: the klugii-group (klugii Castelnau, madagscariensis Fleutiaux, cribricollis Fleutiaux), the candezei-group (candezei Fairmaire stat.rev ., raffrayi Fairmaire, niger Candèze, puncticollis Fleutiaux), the trisulcatus-group (trisulcatus Candèze, mocquerysi Fleutiaux) and fleutiauxi Girard. Crepicardus costicollis (Castelnau) is again placed as a junior synonym of C.klugii (Castelnau) and candezei Fairmaire restored to specific status. Lectotypes are designated for klugii Castelnau, costicollis Castelnau, candezei Fairmaire, raffrayi Fairmaire, niger Candèze and mocquerysi Fleutiaux. On the basis of adult characters Crepicardus is here assigned to the Pyrophorinae sensu Stibick (1979) and its systematic position is discussed in relation to the widespread Pyrophorinae.     

Dramatic expansion of the range of the invasive ash pest,buprestid beetle Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888 (Coleoptera,Buprestidae) in European Russia

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888) is a dangerous invasive pest of ashes. It was previously believed that in European Russia it occurs only in Moscow, Moscow Province, and in the eastern regions of Smolensk Province. An examination of ash trees in 12 cities of European Russia has revealed a much wider area of the emerald ash borer invasion. The pest was found in Konakovo (Tver Province), Tula, Kaluga, Orel, and Voronezh. We have found that A. planipennis damages not only Fraxinus pennsylvanica (an American species which is commonly planted in cities), but also the aborigine European ash Fraxinus excelsior. Ashes in the European forests and in the protective forest belts are badly endangered.     

IMPACT OF IMMUNE RESPONSE OF A PARASITIC BEETLE Dastarcus helophoroides ON ITS HOST BEETLE Monochamus alternatus

Dastarcus helophoroides is an ectoparasitoid beetle of Monochamus alternatus, and the parasitism by D. helophoroides larvae remarkably influenced on the immune responses of M. alternatus larvae in many aspects. The hemolymph melanization reactions in the hosts were inhibited 1 h and 24 h postparasitization. The phenoloxidase activities of hemolymph were significantly stimulated 4 h postparasitization and inhibited 12 h postparasitization, and back to control level. The antibacterial activities of hemolymph in the parasitized hosts were significantly lower than that in the unparasitized ones 1 h postparasitization. By 72 h postparasitism, the total hemocyte numbers of the parasitized larvae declined to not more than one‐seconds of the number collected from the unparasitized larvae. All sampled hemolymph held the capability of nodulation, and there were fluctuations in the number of nodules the hemocytes made. However, there were no significant differences between unparasitized and parasitized larvae at each time point in the hemagglutination activity and the ratios of spreading hemocytes. In conclusion, D. helophoroides larvae could regulate M. alternatus immune system and resulted in the changes in host immune responses.     

Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on the?genera Themus Motschulsky and Lycocerus Gorham (Coleoptera,Cantharidae)

The following taxonomic or nomenclatural changes are proposed: Themus (s.str.) regalis (Gorham, 1889), nom. rest.; Themus (s.str.) scutulatus Wittmer, 1983 = Themus (s.str.) hmong Kazantsev, 2007, syn. n.; Themus (Telephorops) coelestis (Gorham, 1889) = Themus violetipennis Wang & Yang, 1992, syn. n.; Themus (Telephorops) uniformis Wittmer, 1983, stat. n. = Themus (Telephorops) cribripennis Wittmer, 1983, syn. n.; Themus (Haplothemus) licenti Pic, 1938, stat. rev., resurrected from synonymy with Themus coriaceipennis (Fairmaire, 1889); Lycocerus aenescens (Fairmaire, 1889) = Lycocerus tcheonanus (Pic, 1922), syn. n.; Lycocerus asperipennis (Fairmaire, 1891) = Lycocerus wangi (Švihla, 2004), syn. n.; Lycocerus borneoensis nom. n. for Athemellus atricolor (Wittmer, 1972); Lycocerus bilineatus (Wittmer, 1995) = Lycocerus amplus (Wittmer, 1995), syn. n.; Lycocerus fairmairei nom. n. et stat. rev. for Athemus dimidiaticrus (Fairmaire, 1889), originally in Telephorus, resurrected from synonymy with Lycocerus orientalis (Gorham, 1889); Lycocerus confossicollis (Fairmaire, 1891), comb. n. hereby transferred from Cantharis = Lycocerus multiimpressus (Wittmer, 1997), syn. n.; Lycocerus inopaciceps (Pic, 1926) = Athemus (Athemellus) bimaculicollis (Švihla, 2005), syn. n.; Lycocerus nigratus nom. n. for Lycocerus nigricolor (Wittmer, 1972), originally in Podabrinus; Lycocerus plebejus (Kiesenwetter, 1874) = Lycocerus brunneonotaticeps (Pic, 1922), syn. n. = Cantharis rufonotaticeps Pic, 1921 syn. n.; Lycocerus swampingatus (Pic, 1916), comb. n., hereby transferred from Cantharis. The neotypes of Themus violetipennis Wang & Yang, 1992 and Athemus (s.str.) maculithorax Wang & Yang, 1992 are designated respectively.     

Malalcahuello ocaresi gen. & sp. n. (Elateridae,Campyloxeninae)

Malalcahuello ocaresi gen. n. & sp. n., from Chile, is described and compared with Campyloxenus pyrothorax Fairmaire & Germain, 1860.     

Six new species of Agrilus Curtis, 1825 (Coleoptera,Buprestidae, Agrilinae) from the Oriental Region related to the emerald ash borer, A. planipennis Fairmaire, 1888 and synonymy of Sarawakita Obenberger, 1924

Six new species of Agrilus Curtis, 1825 with affinities to the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888, are described from the Oriental Region: Agrilus crepuscularis sp. n. (Malaysia); Agrilus pseudolubopetri sp. n. (Laos); Agrilus sapphirinus sp. n.(Laos); Agrilus seramensis sp. n.(Indonesia); Agrilus spineus sp. n. (Malaysia); and Agrilus tomentipennis sp. n. (Laos). The genus Sarawakita Obenberger, 1924 syn. nov. is considered a junior synonym of Agrilus.