Pollination of invasive Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae) by the introduced honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) in South China

Heterostyly functions as an outcrossing mechanism facilitating accurate pollen transfer from anthers to stigmas of particular heights as a result of the behavior of specialist pollinators. However, heterostylous plants are also visited by generalist pollinators, which may affect the plant–pollinator mutualism. Eichhornia crassipes is a tristylous invasive species, with only the mid- and long-styled morphs (M and L) found in China. We recorded flower-visiting insects in Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Nanning in South China. We hand-pollinated the two morphs to determine their compatibility. In addition, by allowing controlled insect pollination in artificial isoplethically monomorphic and bimorphic populations, we undertook a detailed analysis of pollen deposition between the floral morphs, and fruit and seed set. Ranked by relative abundance, the flower-visiting insects were: Apis mellifera, A. cerana, Lasioglossum sp. and Eristalis arvorum. Hand pollination showed that both the M and L morphs were self-compatible, but the former was probably more so than the latter. Intra-morph pollen transfer by A. mellifera within a population was significantly greater than legitimate pollen transfer between populations, suggesting that the pollen exchange between populations was limited. Seed set of the L morph was significantly greater than that of the M morph in monomorphic populations, indicating intra-morph pollen deposition in the former was higher than in the latter. The results showed that A. mellifera was the major pollinator in South China and able to pollinate E. crassipes legitimately and to promote its fruit and seed set, even though high levels of intra-morph pollination occurred.     

Shared traits make flies and bees effective pollinators of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

One of the major aims of pollination ecology has been to understand the role and relative importance of different pollinator species in both natural and agricultural systems. This study explores how the quantity of pollen delivered in a single visit to a stigma (SVD) differs across insect species from a wide range of taxa (Orders: Hymenoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera) and assesses the morphological and behavioural traits that lead to differences in pollen delivery. We used oilseed rape (OSR) (Brassica napus L.), an economically important crop with open self-fertile flowers, as a test system. Behavioural traits and SVD were measured in the field for individuals of all frequent flower-visiting species of OSR. Individuals were collected and morphological traits were measured in the laboratory. The quantities of free pollen on different body parts of flower visitors, or ‘pollen load’, were also measured. Behavioural and morphological traits were then assessed as predictors of SVD. The individuals that delivered most pollen were (in order of greatest median number of pollen grains delivered): bumblebees (Bombus spp.), mining bees (Andrenidae) and honeybees (Apis mellifera). However, all but one family of flies tested delivered a significantly greater median number of pollen grains than the control, and most delivered more than sweat bees (Halictidae). Behavioural and morphological traits were important in determining pollen delivery, with greater body length, hairiness and visit duration all resulting in greater SVD. Pollen load was measured for a proportion of individuals and we found that for momentary flower visits, a greater quantity of pollen on the head of the flower visitor was linked to a greater SVD. This study demonstrates that, while bees are important pollinators in this system, many fly taxa are also effective at delivering pollen and this is linked to morphological and behavioural traits found in both groups.     

Movement patterns of Cetonia beetles (Scarabaeidae) among flowering Viburnum opulus (Caprifoliaceae)

The movement patterns of flower-visiting Cetonia (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) were studied in central Sweden over 4 years, providing the first quantitative study of beetle pollination behaviour conducted in a temperate zone. The beetles were marked individually and tracked throughout their visits to Viburnum opulus L. (Caprifoliaceae), a partly beetle-pollinated shrub displaying large umbel-like, creamy-white blossoms. Beetle abundance differed greatly between study years. Of marked beetles observed on V. opulus flowers, an average of 26% returned each year. The beetles performed frequent inter-plant flights, and showed fidelity to particular V. opulus individuals at the study site. Furthermore, they preferred V. opulus to other plants flowering concomitantly and showed considerable constancy in this habit. Movements were mostly between individuals from unshaded locations with high inflorescence and flower number. Normally, the beetles flew on average about 4 times the horizontal nearest-neighbour distance between flowering V. opulus (c. 18 m). From these observations it is concluded that Cetonia beetles are powerful long-distance dispersal agents for V. opulus pollen, perhaps leading to an enhanced gene flow not possible with the plant's other pollinators.     

Identification of effective pollinators of Primula sieboldii E. Morren in a wild habitat in Hiroshima,Japan

Primula sieboldii E. Morren is a heterostylous clonal herb that is widely distributed in Japan but in danger of extinction in the wild. The existence of pollinators in each habitat is imperative for its long-term survival, because seeds can be produced only by insect cross-pollination between different flower morphs. In this study, we identified the pollinators of P. sieboldii in a wild habitat in Hiroshima as those insects that we observed to (a) put the proboscis into a corolla tube, (b) deposit pollen grains on the proboscis, and (c) have a proboscis of appropriate length and width. Effective pollinators were identified from their contribution to pollination. In 2015 and 2016, the flower visitations of 232 and 558 insects, respectively, were recorded and 85 and 13 insects were captured. Two Bombylius species, B. major L. and B. shibakawae Matsumura, accounted for 90% of flower-visiting insects in both years. All 14 species that we captured were considered pollinators of P. sieboldii, because they had proboscises that were long enough to reach pollen and that had pollen grains deposited on them. The total visitation rate of “Bombyliidae” was the highest among all pollinator categories. The results of potential pollen transport per flower per hour, which was based on total pollen number and total visitation rate of each pollinator category, indicated that “Bombyliidae” species were the most effective pollinators of P. sieboldii in this habitat.     

Variation in mutualisms: the spatiotemporal mosaic of a pollinator assemblage

Variation in time (annual and seasonal) and space (between- and within-population) is examined for the pollinator assemblage of Lavandula latifolia (Labiatae), an insect-pollinated, summer- flowering, evergreen shrub of Mediterranean woodlands in southeastern Spain. Lavandula latifolia is pollinated there by nearly 85 species of comparatively long-tongued Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera. The diversity, composition and abundance of pollinators varied markedly between years. Lepidopteran taxa prevailed numerically in one year, hymenopterans in four years, and both groups had similar abundance in the remaining year. The vast majority of pollinators exhibited significant annual differences in average abundance. Only 35.7% of taxa were recorded in all of the six study years. The pollinator assemblage had marked seasonal dynamics. Important changes in species richness, abundance and composition took place over the flowering season of L. latifolia (nearly 3 months). Only 21.7% of insect taxa occurred throughout the flowering season. Lavandula latifolia populations at different distances from water courses differed broadly in the abundance and composition of pollinators. Hymenopterans dominated numerically at the water-distant sites, whereas lepidopterans prevailed in populations growing in the vicinity of streams. Only 40.7% of taxa were recorded at all of the four study populations. Within the same plant population, horizontal distances of the order of 25 m resulted in significant changes in pollinator composition. Variations at the four scales considered combine to produce, from the viewpoint of L. latifolia, a spatio-temporal mosaic of pollinators. As these differ broadly in frequency of pollen transfer, size of pollen loads deposited, and between-flower flight distance patterns, spatio-temporal variation will predictably result in inconsistent or contradictory selective pressures on the plant, thus hindering specialization in relation to particular pollinators.     

Insect pollinators diversity and abundance in Eruca sativa Mill. (Arugula) and Brassica rapa L. (Field mustard) crops

Studies on the insect pollinators diversity and their relative abundance in Eruca sativa Mill. (Arugula) and Brassica rapa L. (field mustard) was carried out during spring season from February to April consecutively during all the three years of 2016–18. Insect pollinators observed belonged to four orders i.e. Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera. A total of 20 major species of insect pollinators were recorded. The highest abundance of pollinator species belonged to Hymenoptera. The most prominent insect pollinator species were Apis mellifera followed by other three honey bee species of A. cerana, A. florea, and A. dorsata respectively. Some species of solitary bees were also recorded. From Diptera, four species of syrphid fly and one species from Muscidae family were also recorded. Insect pollinators recorded from order Lepidoptera were Pieris brassicae, Vanessa cardui, and Papilio demoleus. Lady bird beetle Coccinella septempunctata was recorded from Coleoptera order as occasional visitor. It was noticed that E. sativa attracted more insect pollinators than B. rapa which may be attributed to different amount and chemical properties of nectar, with number of pollen grains, and flower canopy of both crops. Further studies are needed to confirm the reasons for higher pollinator visitation to E. sativa than B. rapa through chemical analysis of nectar, amount of pollens, flower physiology and phenology of both crops.     

A supplementary contribution of ants in the pollination of an orchid, Epipactis thunbergii, usually pollinated by hover flies

It has been controversial how extensively ants contribute to pollination, and we evaluated the contribution of the Japanese carpenter ant, Camponotus japonicus, to the pollination of an orchid, Epipactis thunbergii. Two-year field studies revealed that (1) the ant workers foraged even in cool/cloudy conditions and accordingly visited orchid flowers more frequently (about 40% of all the visitors) than hover flies, the principle pollinators (10–20%), and that (2) the flower-visiting ants occasionally removed pollinia from the anther and then delivered pollen onto the stigmatic surface of other flowers, although self-pollination might frequently occur in the consecutive visits of flowers within an inflorescence. An artificial pollination experiment with pollinia which had been transferred to the ant integument showed that (3) the treated flowers produced as many fruits and seeds as control flowers. We concluded that C. japonicus workers could actually pollinate E. thunbergii flowers and their relative importance as pollinators appeared to be largely dependent on the abundance of flower-visiting workers or weather conditions during the flowering period, which mainly determined the availability of hover flies.     

宁夏枸杞的花粉呈现式样及交配系统研究北大核心CSCD

被子植物的花回馈、雌雄蕊时空分离特征和花粉呈现式样等花部特征及传粉者效率会影响雄性适合度和有性繁殖过程。宁夏枸杞(Lycium barbarum)是中国宁夏、新疆、内蒙等干旱和半干旱地区分布的特有种。该研究对新疆喀什地区宁夏枸杞自然种群的花部综合征、花粉呈现式样、花回馈、传粉者行为与交配方式的关系进行观察及统计分析,以探讨其花粉逐步呈现的适应性及其在提高雌雄繁殖过程中的意义。结果表明:(1)宁夏枸杞的单花寿命为(4.07±0.15) d,而雄性持续时间(0.07±0.01 d)比雌性持续时间短(4±0.01 d);花寿命内雌蕊长度比雄蕊长,属柱头探出式异位类型;花粉呈现式样为不完全逐步呈现。(2)花寿命不同阶段花回馈间存在显著差异。(3)意大利蜜蜂(Apis mellifera)、熊蜂(Bombus sp.)、食蚜蝇(Syrphidae sp.)是宁夏枸杞在自然居群的主要访花者,其中熊蜂和食蚜蝇是主要传粉者,但传粉者效率低,属于高移出低沉积类型。(4)宁夏枸杞的花粉胚珠比(2 448.11±448.32)及授粉实验结果均表现出兼性异交特征;自发自交及人工自花授粉花的座果率及结籽率很低,属于自交不亲和类型;自然传粉花的座果率及结籽率比人工去雄异花低,存在其较高的花粉限制(40.71%)。研究发现,宁夏枸杞花部综合征表现出雌雄异位和花粉不完全逐步呈现式样,这是避免雌雄功能及雄蕊各花药间的干扰、减少花粉同步移出及保障其雄性适合度的有效途径,但自然居群的传粉者种类限制、传粉效率低以及自交不亲性是导致宁夏枸杞花粉限制及降低雌性繁殖成功的主要原因。     

Pollination Ecology and Seed Production of Rhododendron Ponticum in Native and Exotic Habitats

Alien plants may be reproductively limited in exotic habitats because of a lack of mutualistic pollinators. However, if plants are adequately served by generalist pollinators, successful reproduction, naturalisation and expansion into exotic habitats may occur. Rhododendron ponticum is very successful, ecologically damaging invasive plant in Britain and Ireland, but is in decline in its native Iberian habitat. It spreads locally by sending out lateral branches, but for longer distance dispersal it relies on sexually produced seeds. Little is known about R. ponticum's pollination ecology and breeding biology in invaded habitats. We examined the flower-visiting communities and maternal reproductive success of R. ponticum in native populations in southern Spain and in exotic ones in Ireland. R. ponticum in flowers are visited by various generalist (polylectic) pollinator species in both native and exotic habitats. Although different species visited flowers in Ireland and Spain, the flower visitation rate was not significantly different. Insects foraging on R. ponticum in Spain carried less R. ponticum pollen than their Irish counterparts, and carried fewer pollen types. Fruit production per inflorescence varied greatly within all populations but was significantly correlated with visitation at the population level. Nectar was significantly depleted by insects in some exotic populations, suggesting that this invasive species is providing a floral resource for native insects in some parts of Ireland. The generality of the pollination system may be factor contributing to R.ponticum's success in exotic habitats.     

Pollen beetles are consumed by ground‐ and foliage‐dwelling spiders in winter oilseed rape

Pollen beetles, Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), are major pests in oilseed rape (OSR), Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae). Among the predator species in the generalist predator complex present in OSR fields, wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) are found on the ground and cobweb spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae) build webs in the foliage. Here we study the incidence of predation of pollen beetles by these two spider groups using DNA‐based molecular analysis. Wolf spiders of the genus Pardosa and the cobweb spider, Theridion impressum L. Koch, were each collected in three winter OSR fields over a period of about 3 weeks. Pollen beetle densities as well as the occurrence of predators and alternative prey were monitored. In total, 13.8% of the collected Pardosa spp. tested positive for pollen beetle DNA in the PCR analyses, whereas 51.7%T. impressum were positive. The likelihood of detecting pollen beetle DNA in the gut contents of both spider groups was positively related to pollen beetle larval density. The implications of these results for conservation biological control and future studies of food webs in OSR are discussed.     

The forgotten flies: the importance of non-syrphid Diptera as pollinators

Bees, hoverflies and butterflies are taxa frequently studied as pollinators in agricultural and conservation contexts. Although there are many records of non-syrphid Diptera visiting flowers, they are generally not regarded as important pollinators. We use data from 30 pollen-transport networks and 71 pollinator-visitation networks to compare the importance of various flower-visiting taxa as pollen-vectors. We specifically compare non-syrphid Diptera and Syrphidae to determine whether neglect of the former in the literature is justified. We found no significant difference in pollen-loads between the syrphid and non-syrphid Diptera. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the level of specialization between the two groups in the pollen-transport networks, though the Syrphidae had significantly greater visitation evenness. Flower visitation data from 33 farms showed that non-syrphid Diptera made up the majority of the flower-visiting Diptera in the agricultural studies (on average 82% abundance and 73% species richness), and we estimate that non-syrphid Diptera carry 84% of total pollen carried by farmland Diptera. As important pollinators, such as bees, have suffered serious declines, it would be prudent to improve our understanding of the role of non-syrphid Diptera as pollinators.     

Interrelation between the flower structure and composition of the pollinator groups for Dipsacaceae and Asteraceae with externally similar anthodia

The competitive relations between members of phylogenetically distant plant families Asteraceae (Centaurea and Cirsium) and Dipsacaceae (Knautia and Succisa) with purple anthodia, sharing a common wide range of pollen vectors and competing for them, were studied. The composition of pollen vectors is somewhat different in different plant species. Only bumble-bees, the most effective pollinators, were observed visiting every studied plants species. Syrphidae flies, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and some other insects were also observed in different proportions. The principal importance for pollination of the corolla tube size, correlating with the size of insect mouthparts, and the additional importance of particular traits of the inflorescence are confirmed. Convergent similarity of the aspect of anthodia in two species of different families is shown to be based on different structural and functional features. Insect pollinators are the factor of anthodia convergence. The plant species studied are divided into the following three groups, according to the proportion of bumble-bees among pollen vectors and to the range of species-specific pollinators; species coadapted to one pollinator taxon; species coadapted to two or three pollinator taxa; and species coadapted to many pollinator taxa. Asteraceae species in general (with the exception for Cirsium arvense) are characterized by constant contacts with a narrower range of pollinators than Dipsacaceae species (and Cirsium arvense), characterized by wider range of pollinators. Among flowering plants with similar anthodia, the tighter structural coadaptations of Asteraceae with their effective pollinators provide their greater competitive ability as compared to Dipsacaceae.     

Diversity of pollination ecology in the Schismatoglottis Calyptrata Complex Clade (Araceae)

• Field studies integrating pollination investigations with an assessment of floral scent composition and thermogenesis in tropical aroids are rather few. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the pollination biology of nine species belonging to Schismatoglottis Calyptrata Complex Clade. The flowering mechanism, visiting insect activities, reproductive system, thermogenesis and floral scent composition were examined.
• Anthesis for all species started at dawn and lasted 25–29 h. Colocasiomyia (Diptera, Drosophilidae) are considered the main pollinators for all the investigated species. Cycreon (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae) are considered secondary pollinators as they are only present in seven of the nine host plants, despite the fact that they are the most effective pollen carrier, carrying up to 15 times more pollen grains than Colocasiomyia flies. However, the number of Colocasiomyia individuals was six times higher than Cycreon beetles. Chaloenus (Chrysomelidae, Galeuricinae) appeared to be an inadvertent pollinator. Atheta (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) is considered a floral visitor in most investigated species of the Calyptrata Complex Clade in Sarawak, but a possible pollinator in S. muluensis. Chironomidae midges and pteromalid wasps are considered visitors in S. calyptrata.
• Thermogenesis in a biphasic pattern was observed in inflorescences of S. adducta, S. calyptrata, S. giamensis, S. pseudoniahensis and S. roh. The first peak occurred during pistillate anthesis; the second peak during staminate anthesis. Inflorescences of all investigated species of Calyptrata Complex Clade emitted four types of ester compound, with methyl ester‐3‐methyl‐3‐butenoic acid as a single major VOC (volatile organic compound). The appendix, pistillate zone, staminate zone and spathe emitted all these compounds.
• A mixed fly–beetle pollination system is considered an ancestral trait in the Calyptrata Complex Clade, persisting in Sarawak taxa, whereas the marked reduction of interpistillar staminodes in taxa from Peninsular Malaysia and especially, Ambon, Indonesia, is probably linked to a shift in these taxa to a fly‐pollinated system.

     

Baseline susceptibility and insecticide resistance monitoring in European populations of Meligethes aeneus and Ceutorhynchus assimilis collected in winter oilseed rape

Pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), and cabbage seed weevil, Ceutorhynchus assimilis (Paykull) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), are important pests in the production of European winter oilseed rape, Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae), which is grown on several million hectares in Europe. Insecticide treatments are common to control both pests once they exceed economic damage thresholds; however, not many chemical classes are available for their control in European oilseed rape. Particularly pollen beetles recently developed high levels of pyrethroid resistance impairing field control at recommended rates in many countries, whereas no resistance is yet reported to another important insecticide, thiacloprid. The major objective of this study was to investigate the spatio‐temporal susceptibility status of pollen beetle against the recently introduced insecticide thiacloprid. From 2009 to 2012 more than 630 populations of pollen beetle collected in 13 countries were monitored for resistance to thiacloprid by using an adult vial test. No shifting to lower susceptibility of pollen beetle to thiacloprid has been observed between 2009 and 2012. Furthermore, we were able to show that pollen beetle larvae are extremely susceptible to thiacloprid, whereas within strains larvae are significantly more resistant than adults to pyrethroids such as lambda‐cyhalothrin. Dose‐response data for thiacloprid against cabbage seed weevil populations collected in 2011 in Germany, Sweden, and Ukraine showed a 10‐fold higher intrinsic sensitivity compared to pollen beetle, and showed only a low variation in response. In addition, we also tested 17 cabbage seed weevil populations collected in five countries against lambda‐cyhalothrin with low variation in response (three‐fold), suggesting full baseline susceptibility and no resistance to pyrethroids. The implications of the data presented for resistance management in coleopteran pests in winter oilseed rape are discussed.     

Adaptive behaviour of honeybees (Apis mellifera) toward beetle invaders exhibiting various levels of colony integration

Social bees generally host fewer nest invaders than do ants and termites. This is potentially explained by the adaptive defensive strategies of host bees when faced with nest invaders exhibiting various levels of colony integration (based on adaptations to the nest habitat and frequency of nest inhabitation). In the present study, experiments are performed to determine the behaviour at the nest entrance of European honeybee guards Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) toward beetle invaders of various levels of behavioural integration into colonies. The species used to test this include Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), which is regarded as a highly integrated, unwelcome guest (synechthran) or true guest (symphile); Lobiopa insularis Laporte (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Epuraea luteola Erichson (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) that are accidentals; and Carpophilus humeralis Fabricius (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), Carpophilus hemipterus L. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), all of which are species that are not integrated into honeybee colonies. The responses of guard bees to a control bead also are noted. In general, bees ignore T. castaneum and E. luteola to a greater extent than other beetle species. Bees make contact with the black glass bead (a non‐aggressive behaviour) more than they do all beetle species. Bees treat A. tumida more defensively than they treat any other beetle species and the level of bee defensiveness varies by colony. These data suggest an adaptive heightened defensive response by bees toward the most integrated colony intruder but a significantly reduced level of response toward invaders representing all other levels of colony integration.     

Effects of host plant species on the interaction between the parasitic wasp Diospilus capito and pollen beetles (Meligethes spp.)

1 Field studies were conducted in central Sweden to establish whether two host plants with high and low suitability for pollen beetles (Meligethes aeneus Fabr. [Coleoptera: Nitidulidae] and Meligethes viridescens Fabr.) affected the parasitoid Diospilus capito Nees [Hymenoptera: Braconidae]. 2 Samples of larvae were taken from fields with plots of white mustard, Sinapis alba L. and spring rape, Brassica napus L. in 1997 and 1998. Levels of parasitism and the survival and size of D. capito were measured to determine any influence of the host plant species. Survival and weights of pollen beetles from S. alba and B. napus were also measured. 3 Levels of parasitism between 8% and 29% were recorded. There was a significantly higher likelihood of being parasitized by D. capito for beetle larvae developing on S. alba than on B. napus. We argue that semiochemical or morphological properties of plant species could be responsible for differential parasitism by D. capito. 4 Neither survival of D. capito nor parasitoid size differed from hosts developing on S. alba or B. napus. Pollen beetle emergence was the same for both plant species, but beetles that developed on S. alba weighed less than those from B. napus. Results suggest that the partial resistance of S. alba to the pollen beetle will have no negative effects on the parasitoid D. capito.     

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.     

Behavioral responses of the small hive beetle,Aethina tumida,to odors of three meliponine bee species and honey bees,Apis mellifera scutellata

Recent studies have shown that honey bees, bumble bees, and some meliponine bee species of the genera Trigona, Meliponula, and Dactylurina are hosts of the small hive beetle (SHB) Aethina tumidaMurray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), a pest of honey bee colonies in various regions of the world. Olfaction has been implicated in SHB infestations of honey bee and bumble bee colonies. We used olfactometer bioassays to investigate responses of adult male and female SHBs to odors from intact colonies and separate hive components (pot honey, pot pollen, cerumen, and propolis) of three African meliponine bee species, Meliponula ferruginea (Lepeletier) (black morphospecies), M. ferruginea (reddish brown morphospecies), and Meliponula bocandei (Spinola) (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Although both sexes of the beetle strongly preferred intact colony, pot honey, and pot pollen odors, there was no evidence of attraction to propolis and cerumen odors from the three meliponine bee species. Both sexes of SHB also strongly preferred odors from honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), over odors from the three meliponine bee species. Our results provide substantial evidence of the host potential of African meliponine bees for the SHB, and we discuss this complex association of the SHB with species within the Apidae family.     

NewLeptographium species from Indonesia and Eastern North America

Leptographium species have predominantly been described from North America, Canada and Europe. These fungi generally occur on conifers and many cause blue-stain of lumber. MostLeptographium species are also associated with insects and in particular, bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Recently, an unknown species ofLeptographium was isolated from pine infested with anIps sp. in Indonesia. In addition, two unknown species have been collected from red spruce (Picea rubra) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) roots from high elevation sites in Eastern North America. The latter isolates are unusual in that they are associated with the feeding wounds made by the conifer swift mothKorscheltellus gracilus (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), which is a habitat unique for species ofLeptographium. Comparison with knownLeptographium species has revealed that the isolates from Indonesia and those from Eastern North America represent three previously undescribed taxa. They are, therefore, described in this study asL. pineti sp. nov,L. abieticolens sp. nov. andL. peucophilum sp. nov.     

Effects of the emerald ash borer invasion on the community composition of arthropods associated with ash tree boles in Maryland,U.S.A.

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