Anomala trapezifera species-group: a burst of diversity (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae)

The species Anomala aereiventris n. sp., A. aspersa n. sp., A. atrivillosa n. sp., A. clarivillosa n. sp., A. contusa n. sp., A. eusticta n. sp., A. hiata n. sp., A. latifalculata n. sp., A. leopardina n. sp., A. levicollis n. sp., A. longisacculata n. sp., A. m-fuscum n. sp., A. perspicax n. sp., A. piccolina n. sp., A. globulata n. sp., A. stillaticia n. sp., A. subridens n. sp., A. subusta n. sp., A. tenoriensis n. sp., A. tuberculata n. sp. and A. vallisneria n. sp. from Costa Rica are described. These species and A. polygona Bates 1888, A. trapezifera Bates 1888 and A. vulcanicola Ohaus 1897 are placed in a new species-group, named after A. trapezifera, whose diagnosis is provided. Their distribution patterns are discussed.     

Selection of fungi for the control of Musca domestica in aviaries

Musca domestica is a major problem in poultry production where management has relied mostly on pesticides, which eventually have led to the development of widespread resistance in insect populations and environmental contamination. In this study, we explored the use of entomopathogenic fungi for the control of houseflies in Brazil. A total of 10 isolates of different fungal pathogens were tested on the larval stages of M. domestica, which were originally derived from a commercial aviary. Among the test fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae (sensu stricto) CG46 and CG30 were the most virulent isolates, causing up to 60% mortality at day 10, but only CG46 was selected for a field trial as it attained higher sporulation on larval cadavers. A commercial product based on the M. anisopliae isolate ESALQ-1037 (Metarril®) was also field-tested using standard treatment procedures. After spraying both fungi in the aviary manure, there was a significant reduction (twofold lower) in adult density of M. domestica captured per trap compared to the control shed. Therefore, our results indicate that M. anisopliae is a promising biological control agent for M. domestica larvae, but new strategies for fungal application and appropriate formulation need to be developed to improve its effectiveness in poultry environments.     

A revision of the genus Paronthobium from New Caledonia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Epilissini)

A revision of the New Caledonian genus Paronthobium Paulian 1984 is presented. Anonthobium Paulian 1984 is synonymized with Paronthobium Paulian 1984 after evaluating the diagnostic characters originally introduced by Paulian to separate them. Upon examination of the type specimens, Onthobium caledonicum Paulian 1935 is separated from O. simplex Fauvel 1903 and restored as valid. Anonthobium moui Paulian 1984 is synonymized with Anonthobium micros Paulian 1984. Fifteen new species are described: P. adio n. sp., P. daghfousi n. sp., P. dierkensi n. sp., P. farino n. sp., P. iac n. sp., P. julieni n. sp., P. memaoya n. sp., P. minutum n. sp., P. nasutum n. sp., P. orientale n. sp., P. peckorum n. sp., P. petchecara n. sp., P. subdentatum n. sp., P. taom n. sp. and P. tchingou n. sp. The genus Paronthobium is now composed of 22 species. Illustrations of parameres and of male protibiae are provided for each species. Distribution maps and a key to species are given.     

New and little known species of the genus Zorochros Thomson 1859 (Coleoptera: Elateridae) from Palaearctic and Oriental Region

Sixteen new species of the genus Zorochros Thomson 1859 from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal and Thailand are described and illustrated, a key to the species of the Zorochros indicus group is given, and new records on already known species are provided. New species: Z. ahrensi n. sp., Z bingkorensis n. sp., Z. dabieshanensis n. sp., Z. dolini n. sp., Z. hartmanni n. sp., Z. hubeiensis n. sp., Z. karnaliensis n. sp., Z. magnificus n. sp., Z. naniensis n. sp., Z. nigredos n. sp., Z. platiai n. sp., Z schawalleri n. sp., Z. schmidti n. sp., Z. senaroensis n. sp., Z. theodori n. sp., and Z. tongshanensis n. sp.     

Ecnomus of Madagascar,species without modified spur (Trichoptera: Ecnomidae)

The 11 Malagasy species of the genus Ecnomus McLachlan, 1864 that do not belong to the psychomyiellodes species group are studied. One of them (Ecnomus salgiel Malicky, 2015) was recently described from Nosy Be Island. Ten are new and described: Ecnomus felix n. sp., E. dobignyi n. sp., E. matsaboryi n. sp., E. granjoni n. sp., E. commersoni n. sp., E. menavavae n. sp., E. ikopaensis n. sp., E. rubermortis n. sp., E. evidens n. sp., and E. tendroensis n. sp. All are endemic to Madagascar. Their distributions on the island are briefly described according to ecological data.     

Antagonistic Activity of Neocosmospora vasinfecta var. africana (von Arx) Cannon & Hawksworth against Soil-borne Fungi

An isolate of Neocosmospora vasinfecta var. africana (F-2) was assayed for its antagonistic activity against 15 soil-borne fungi; 14 of them were important plant pathogens. The fungus exhibited a strong antibiotic effect against most of the fungi under test. While Pythium debaryanum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Phytophthora capsici, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Cochliobolus sativus and Alternaria alternata showed a very high degree of sensitivity as evidenced by the respectivezones of inhibition caused by the antagonist, Phoma betae, Rhizoctonia solani and Verticillium dahliae proved to be the most resistant. A mutual antibiosis existed between N. vasinfecta var. africana and five of the test fungi. The culture filtrate of the antagonist, diluted ten times with PDA, suppressed the mycelial growth of P. debaryanum and P. capsici completely. Whereas in this test R. solani proved to be the least sensitive, the remaining test fungi showed some differences in their susceptibility, but in any case their growth was inhibited significantly as compared to the controls.     

Development of Pathogenicity and AFLP to Characterize Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. momordicae Isolates from Bitter Gourd in China

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) cultivated in China is regarded as an important vegetable crop and is of considerable economic importance. However, it is susceptible to fusarium wilt, which causes heavy economic losses. Forty‐eight isolates were isolated from diseased bitter gourd plants that displayed typical fusarium wilt symptoms. Based on the morphological features, the rDNA internal transcribed space (ITS) sequences, pathogenicity and host biotypes, all of the isolates tested were pathogenic to the susceptible bitter gourd plants species (cv. ‘Guinongke No. 2’) and were identified as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. momordicae (FOM). Our results classified different isolates as slightly, moderately or highly virulent. Among the isolates tested, 43 isolates slightly infected bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria var. clavata), whereas they did not infect other species from the family Cucurbitaceae. Genetic diversity among 48 isolates was characterized using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. The number of bands amplified by each primer pairs ranged from 41 to 66, with sizes ranging from 200 to 500 bp. A total of 366 bands were observed, out of which 363 were polymorphic (99.14%). The Nei's genetic identity of the six geographical populations varied from 0.7362 to 0.9707. The mean Nei's gene diversity index (H = 0.2644) and the mean Shannon's information index (I = 0.4071) at species level were higher than ones at populations level, indicated that the variation within populations was greater than that among populations. The Nei's GST (0.5103) and gene flow (Nm = 0.4923) revealed that genetic differentiation was mainly among populations and few gene exchanges. The dendrogram obtained from AFLP marker showed that there was a good correlation between isolates from different geographical locations and their pathogenicity. The AFLP marker effectively distinguished the high virulent isolates from the less virulent isolates. The highly virulent isolates were distinctly separated in different clusters, which indicated a significantly high correlation with the geographical origin in the AFLP dendrogram. The pathogenicity and molecular marker analysis confirmed the presence of variation in virulence as well as genetic diversity among the FOM isolates studied.     

Minor root rot pathogens of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Nigeria

Many different species of fungi are often isolated from rotted cassava root tubers and pathogenicity studies have often implicated Botryodiplodia theobromae and Fusarium solani as the major causal pathogens. Consequently, more attention has often been focused on Botryodiplodia theobromae and Fusarium solani with little or no attention on the other minor pathogens. Considering the increasing importance of cassava to the Nigerian economy and the fact that minor root rot pathogens of cassava today could become major tomorrow, the aim of this research is to determine the incidence, pathogenicity and symptoms of the minor root rot pathogens in cassava from cassava fields within the derived savanna and the humid forest of Nigeria. Isolation of associated fungi was done on rotted root samples and the pathogenicity of these isolates were established by inoculating them into healthy cassava tuberous roots and subsequently reisolating them from resulting rotted tissue. The less frequently isolated fungi where Macrophomina sp., Trichoderma sp., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Sclerotium rolfsii and Fungus ‘A’ (a yet to be identified fungus). Repeated experiments confirmed a constant relationship between inoculated fungus and the resulting rotted tissue colour. The root rot tissue colours associated with inoculated pathogens in the laboratory were identical with the pathogens colony colour on potato dextrose agar.     

Folsomia (Collembola: Isotomidae) of China. II. heterocellata group

An annotated list of species of the Folsomia heterocellata group recorded in China is given. Folsomia cephalota n. sp., F. dorsomediaseta n. sp., F. longiseta n. sp., F. manubriopilosa n. sp., F. longdeica n. sp., and F. plenosensilla n. sp. are characterized by having a simple maxillary palp, four prelabral setae and no eyes. They differentiate mainly by characteristics of the furca. We report other species of the group which are recorded for the first time in China: Folsomia tianshanica Martynova, 1969, F. pseudovtorovi Potapov & Gulgenova, 2013, and F. pseudodecemoculata Stebaeva, 1971. This excludes F. wanxianensis Ji, Ding & Chen, 2007, for which we provide morphological remarks based on the type material. The group is mainly distributed in the central part of China (Chongqing, Gansu, southern part of Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and Shaanxi provinces). A key to all blind species with a simple maxillary palp is given.     

Review of subtribe Pterellina Rohdendorf, 1967 (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) of Middle East with descriptions of twelve new species

Summary

Based on a revision of large recent collections housed at the Natural History Museum (London), Tel Aviv University and in the private collection of Yu. Verves and L. Khrokalo (Kyiv, Ukraine), new distributional data and an updated list with comments of 28 species of Middle Eastern Sarcophagidae of the subtribe Pterellina are presented. Seventeen of them are recorded for Israel, 11 for Egypt, four for Iran, two each for the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and one each for Jordan and the UAE. No data are known for the territories of Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria and Yemen. Twelve species new to science are described, including nine from Israel (Chaetapodacra montana n. sp., Eremasiomyia bicolor n. sp., E. deserta n. sp., E. fuscata n. sp., Protomiltogramma bidentata n. sp., P. serrata n. sp., Pterella hermonica n. sp., P. indigens n. sp., P. zefatica n. sp.), two from Egypt (Chaetapodacra griseola n. sp., Eremasiomyia alba n. sp.) and one from Saudi Arabia (Protomiltogramma arabica n. sp.). The male of Eremasiomyia nigra Rohdendorf, 1935 is described for the first time. One new combination of specific name is proposed ? Protomiltogramma immunita (Villeneuve, 1923), n. comb. Original keys for the identification of genera and species are proposed. An annotated list of all world genera and species and compiled data on larval habits of Pterellina are included.     

Phaeoacremonium spp. and Botryosphaeriaceae spp. Associated with Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Decline in Iran

During spring and summer of 2011, a survey was undertaken on some palm groves in the Kerman province (south‐eastern Iran) to determine the fungal pathogens associated with date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) decline diseases. Samples were taken from date palm trees showing yellowing, wilting and dieback symptoms. Isolations were made from symptomatic tissues on malt extract agar (MEA) supplemented with 100 mg/l streptomycin sulphate (MEAS). Two species of Phaeoacremonium, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum and Pm. parasiticum, and two species of Botryosphaeriaceae, Botryosphaeria dothidea andDiplodia mutila, were isolated from affected trees and identified on the basis of morphological, cultural and molecular characteristics. Pathogenicity tests were performed on date palm (4‐year‐old potted plants) under greenhouse conditions. Based on the pathogenicity tests, Pm. aleophilum was the most virulent and caused the longest lesions. This is the first report of Pm. aleophilum and B. dothidea and their pathogenicity on date palm tree.     

New Middle Permian insects from Salagou Formation of the Lodève Basin in southern France (Insecta: Pterygota)

Summary

New insects are described from the Middle Permian (Guadalupian) of Salagou Formation in the Lodève Basin (Languedoc region, France). Palaeopterans are represented by new odonatopterans viz. Huangiopterum lodevense n. gen., n. sp. and Huangiopterum species B, attributed to clade Panodonata (Huangiopteridae n. fam.), already recorded through the family Saxonagrionidae in the same formation, and a diaphanopterodean Martynovia cf. halli Beckemeyer 2004 (Martynoviidae) known from the Lower Permian of Oklahoma. Archaeorthopterans are supplemented by Bethouxia ariegensis n. gen., n. sp., Paralongzhua elongata n. gen., n. sp., Lodevolongzhua incompleta n. gen., n. sp., the caloneurodean Jarmiloptera mouralensis n. gen., n. sp., and a cnemidolestodean cf. Tococladus sp. (Tococladidae). Permophyllum rotundatum n. sp. (?Tettigoniidae) demonstrates the first presence of Orthoptera with wings probably mimicking Peltaspermales reproductive organs in Late Palaeozoic possibly analogous to the known crypsis of roachoid tegmina with pteridosperm pinnules. Frequent occurrence of hardly identifiable grylloblattid wing fragments support their significant role in term of abundance and diversity of the Permian faunas. New taxa based on wing venation pattern as Genera and species undetermined A, B (Liomopteridae), Permobaharellus salagousensis n. gen., n. sp. (family uncertain), Lodevophlebia reticulata n. gen., n. sp. (Sylvaphlebiidae), Oborella lodevensis n. sp. (Euryptilonidae), and Genus and species undetermined C, were described. Paoliida is represented by a paoliid gen. et sp. indet. and three anthracoptilids Strephocladus gandi n. sp., Strephocladus mouralensis n. sp., Lodevocladus subtilis n. gen., n. sp. The first record of miomopteran Palaeomantis sp. (Paleomanteidae) from Salagou Formation is presented. Acercarian insects are represented by the first record of Thripida and diverse new hemipterans, namely Euroscytina lutevanorum n. gen., n. sp. (Cicadomorpha: Scytinopteridae), Prosbole dio n. sp., Prosbole garrici n. sp., Pervestigia cf. veteris Becker-Migdisova 1961 (Prosbolidae), Archescytina species A (Paleorrhyncha: Archescytinidae) and Permopsyllidium lesclansis n. sp. (Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea: Protopsyllidiidae). Entomofauna from the Salagou Formation demonstrate highly diverse insect communities with some taxa linked to early and late Permian ones known from assemblages in Euramerica and Russia, such as Obora (Czech Republic), Wellington Formation (Kansas and Oklahoma, USA), and Tshekarda (Ural, Russia).     

Use of Rhizobia in the Control of Root Rot Diseases of Sunflower, Okra, Soybean and Mungbean

Biocontrol potential of Rhizobium and Bradyrbizobium against soilborne root infecting fungi was tested. In vitro tests Rhizobium meliloti inhibited growth of Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani while Bradyrhizobium japonicum inhibited M. phaseolina and R. solani producing zones of inhibition. In field R. meliloti, R. leguminosarum and B. japonicum used either as seed dressing or as soil drench reduced infection of M. phaseolina, R. solani and Fusarium spp., in both leguminous (soybean, mungbean) and non-leguminous (sunflower and okra) plants.     

Interaction between pathogenic and saprobic fungi isolated from soybean roots and seeds

A variety of interactions was recorded in culture between 11 saprobic fungi isolated from soybean (Glycine max) roots and seeds and the soybean pathogens Cercospora sojina, Colletotrichum truncatum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Phomopsis sojae, and Septoria glycines. The most active saprobes were Aspergillus terreus, Chaetomium cupreum, Epicoccum nigrum, Gliocladium roseum, Myrothecium roridum, Penicillium thomii, and Trichothecium roseum. Hyphal lysis of several fungal pathogens by Acremonium sp., C. cupreum and P. thomii was recorded perhaps because of parasitism by G. roseum and T. roseum. In greenhouse studies, seeds coated with G. roseum, P. thomii, and T. harzianum emerged significantly (P=0.05) more than those coated with A. terreus and the control. In field studies, seeds coated with a conidial suspension of A. terreus, G. roseum, P. thomii or Trichoderma harzianum produced a significantly greater stand than the control. The area of cotyledons covered with lesions caused by C. truncatum was significantly less on seeds coated with G. roseum, P. thomii and T. harzianum than the control.     

Revision of the western Palaearctic Mesoleptus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

The western Palaearctic species of the genus Mesoleptus Gravenhorst 1829 are redescribed and keys are given for their identification. Also a key for the identification of the three stilpnine genera (Atractodes, Mesoleptus, and Stilpnus) is given and the biology of the genus is discussed shortly. The following species are described as new: Mesoleptus hispanicus n. sp., M. sawoniewiczi n. sp. and M. tunisiensis n. sp. The male of Mesoleptus tobiasi Jonaitis is described for the first time. New combinations is M. incessor (Haliday). New synonyms number 143 and 34 lectotypes are chosen.