The parasitic wasp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Baryscapus crassicornis</Emphasis> (Erdös) (Hymenoptera,Eulophidae) developing in larvae of the weevil genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larinus</Emphasis> germar (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)

Baryscapus crassicornis (Erdös) was reared from the last instar larvae of three species of Curculionidae: Larinus idoneus Gyllenhal, developing in the inflorescences of Jurinea cyanoides (L.), L. turbinatus (Gyllenhal), developing in Cirsium arvense (L.) in Russia (Ul’yanovsk Province), and L. latus (Herbst), developing in Onopordum acanthium L. and O. leptolepis DC. (Asteraceae) in Iran. Data on the parasitoid and its hosts biology, variation of morphological characters, and diagnostic notes are provided. The 3rd instar larva and the pupa of B. crassicornis are described for the first time.     

A new water mite species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Georgella</Emphasis> (Acariformes,Gydryphantidae)

The larva, deutonymph, female, and male of a new water mite species, Georgella samaraensis, are described and illustrated. Larvae of Georgella are similar to larvae of the genus Hydryphantes, differing in the following characters: basal cheliceral segments have no longitudinal ribs, dorso-distal prominences of the pedipalpal tibia are undeveloped, and the excretory pore is partly surrounded by the anal sclerite. The larva known as G. koenikei (Münchberg, 1936) is erroneously treated as a larva of fresh-water Georgella (Hydrachnidia). The morphology of all the active developmental phases of Georgella strongly differs from that in mites of the genus Hydryphantes. Therefore, the generic status of Georgella should be restored.     

A description of the larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cinygmula unicolorata</Emphasis> Tshernova, 1979 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cinygmula malaisei</Emphasis> (Ulmer, 1927) (Ephemeroptera,Heptageniidae) from the Russian Far East

The larvae of Cinygmula malaisei (Ulmer, 1927) and Cinygmula unicolorata Tshernova, 1979 from the Russian Far East are described and illustrated. The larva of Cinygmula unicolorata is similar to those of Cinygmula putoranica Kluge, 1980 and Cinygmula uyka Gorovaya et Tiunova, 2013 but differs from the larva of C. uyka in the absence of gill filaments and from that of C. unicolorata in the shape of the first gill (tergalia). The upper outer margin of the first gill is rounded in the larva of C. unicolorata and almost straight in C. putoranica; the gills of C. unicolorata are matte and the trachea is poorly expressed, in contrast to the distinctly brown trachea of C. putoranica. The larvae of Cinygmula malaisei are similar to those of C. irina and C. autumnalis but differ from the latter in the presence of gill filaments. The larva of C. malaise differs from that of C. irina in the rounded outer margin of the first gill, the shape of gills VI and VII, and in the size of the leg segments.     

New data on larvae of weevils of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lixus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) from central Asia

Larvae are described for the first time for three species of the genus Lixus (L. bifasciatus, L. rubicundus, and L. subulatus). The larvae dwell in stalks of herbaceous plants. The larvae differ in the structure of the endocarina and prelabium and the chaetotaxy of the head and epipharynx. Analysis of larvae of the new and already described species of this genus has shown that the larva of L. bifasciatus shares some characters with the larvae of L. astrachanicus, and L. rubicundus, and the larva of L. subulatus, with that of L. bescrensis.     

Natural History and Comparative Morphology of Immatures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gamelia anableps</Emphasis> (C. Felder &amp; R. Felder) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae,Hemileucinae)

Egg, larva, and pupa of Gamelia anableps (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1874) are described for the first time and the chaetotaxy of the first instar provided. Eggs and selected structures of larvae and pupae were also investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy. Eggs are laid in clusters, are ellipsoidal and laterally flat. Larvae passed through eight instars in about 78 days. Pupation occurs inside a poorly organized cocoon of yellowish silk. The dark brown pupa is cylindrical in shape with appendages firmly fused together and to the body wall. The chaeotaxy is compared with other Saturniidae species belongining to Hemileucinae, Ceratocampinae, and Saturniinae and the natural history of G. anableps compared with other Saturniidae.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium bibionidarum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. purpureogenum</Emphasis>: new species from Japan

Two new species of Metarhizium, M. bibionidarum and M. purpureogenum are described from Japan. Metarhizium bibionidarum is the phylogenetic sister species of M. pemphigi and a member of the M. flavoviride species complex. It is distinguished morphologically from M. pemphigi by its larger conidia. The species is based on a collection of an infected March fly larva (Diptera: Bibionidae) but is also known to occur on fruit beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) encountered in France. Metarhizium purpureogenum was isolated from soil by plating and insect baiting methods and represents a unique phylogenetic lineage placed outside the M. anisopliae and M. flavoviride species complexes. Three isolates of M. purpureogenum excreted a distinctive red-purple pigment into agar medium when co-cultured with M. robertsii or Aspergillus oryzae.     

Descriptions of the larvae of the beetle family Trogidae (Coleoptera,Scarabaeoidea) from the Russian Far East

Previously unknown larvae of Trox ussuriensis Balthasar, T. koreanus Kim, T. zoufali Balthasar, and Glyptotrox ineptus (Balthasar) of the family Trogidae are described and illustrated. The larva of T. ussuriensis differs from that of T. sabulosus (Linnaeus) in the shape of setae on the abdominal tergite I and in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule. The larva of T. koreanus differs from those of T. zoufali and T. scaber (Linnaeus) in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule, clypeus, and labrum. The larva of T. zoufali is very similar to those of T. koreanus and T. scaber but differs in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule. The larva of Glyptotrox ineptus is similar to that of G. mandli (Balthasar) but differs in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule and in the presence of furrows on the frons. An original key to the known larvae of the family Trogidae of the fauna of the Russian Far East is given.     

Description of the new subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metoporaphodius</Emphasis> subgen. n. of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphodius</Emphasis> Helw. (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) and of the larva of its type species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. plustschewskii</Emphasis> D. Kosh.

The new Irano-Turanian subgenus, Metoporaphodius subgen. n., is erected in Aphodius Helw. for A. plustschewskii D. Kosh. (type species) and A. baghlanicus Frolov. The males of Metoporaphodius subgen. n. are distinguished by the presence of a comb of dense setae on hind tibia and by the parameres with spatulate projections. The 3rd instar larva of A. plustschewskii has 2 rows of large flattened spinules on anal stemite (with 10-12 spinules in a row), and 3 spinules on the lacinial apex.     

Description of Adult and Fourth-Stage Larva of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litomosoides navonae</Emphasis> n. sp. (Nematoda: Onchocercidae), a Parasite of Five Species of Sigmodontine Rodents from Northeastern Argentina

This study describes a new species of Litomosoides Chandler, 1931, parasitic in five different sigmodontine rodents from Misiones, Chaco and Formosa provinces of Argentina. The fourth-stage (L4) larva (male and female) is also described. L. navonae n. sp. exhibits: a bottle-shaped buccal cavity; a buccal capsule with irregularly crenate external walls; four externo-labial papillae and one ventral cephalic papilla; a well differentiated oesophagus; and sigmodontis-type spicules. The microfilaria is fusiform, with a large sheath. The L4 has a buccal capsule which is relatively longer than that of the adults, with narrower walls and a bottle-shaped lumen. It was observed in this species that the oesophagus/body-length ratio increases from larva to adult (female ratio 26.2–28.3 in larva; 88.4 in adults), and the vulva appears to move further posterior to the oesophago-intestinal junction (200–300 μm in larvae vs a mean of 600 μm in adults). L. navonae was found parasitising: Nectomys squamipes from the Reserve UNLP Valle del Arroyo Cuñá Pirú, Misiones; Oligoryzomys chacoensis, Holochilus chacarius and Akodon azarae bibianae from the marshes of Arroyo Bellaco, El Colorado, Formosa; and O. fornesi and H. chacarius from Selvas del Río de Oro (Chaco). Both N. squamipes and H. chacarius harbour other filarioids species, i.e. L. kohnae Bain, Petit &; Diagne, 1989 and L. patersoni (Mazza, 1928), respectively, throughout their range, but these filarioids are readily differentiated from L. navonae. These well-differentiated filarial species found in Nectomys and Holochilus could indicate how isolated the populations of rodents are and could be interpreted either as: (a) an early point in the speciation processes that could be taking place in these hosts; or (b) extra support for the capture phenomenon theory of the evolution of Litomosoides. New regions, such as southern Brazil and northern Argentina, need to be studied in order to clarify these alternatives.     

Description of the Larva of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Protaetia famelica</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Scarabaeoidea) from the Russian Far East

A previously unknown larva of Protaetia famelica is described and illustrated. The larva of P. famelica is similar to that of P. brevitarsis in the number of posterior epicranial setae and in the presence of anterior frontal setae but differs in the chaetotaxy of the head capsule, in the epipharynx structure, and in the number and position of spinules on the anal sternite. An original key to the known larvae of the genus Protaetia in the fauna of the Russian Far East is given.     

Susceptibility of shore fly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scatella stagnalis</Emphasis> to five entomopathogenic nematode strains in bioassays

The shore fly, Scatella stagnalis (Fallén) (Diptera: Ephydridae) is an important insect pest of greenhouse crops. We evaluated two different Spanish isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Steinernema arenarium (Artyukhovsky) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), and two commercially available strains, Steinernema feltiae (Nemaplus^®) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) (Nematop^®) against shore flies. In tests conducted in 24-well plate filter paper applied at 5, 11, 22, 44 and 88 nematodes per larva, all nematodes produced significant shore fly larval mortality. The lowest concentration tested was enough to obtain high larval mortality (65.2–87.0%). The nematodes Steinernema feltiae and Steinernema arenarium, which parasitized the shore fly larvae faster, also penetrated in higher number in the shore fly larva (4.6–8.8% penetration rate). In bioassays conducted in algae, Steinernema feltiae, applied at 50 nematodes/cm², caused highest (100%) and Steinernema arenarium lowest shore fly mortality (94%). Our results suggest that entomopathogenic nematodes appear feasible for controlling shore flies but further tests are needed to determine their efficacy in the field.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rickettsia</Emphasis> spp. in ticks associated to wild mammals in Northeastern Brazil,with notes on an undetermined <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ornithodoros</Emphasis> sp. collected from marsupials

We report tick infestations and rickettsial detection in ticks infesting free-living wild mammals (Monodelphis domestica, Tolypeutes tricinctus, Thrichomys inermis and Kerodon rupestris) captured in the Caatinga ecoregion of Bahia state, northeastern Brazil, during September to December 2016. Overall, 117 ticks (61 larvae, 25 nymphs, 25 males, 6 females) belonging to two genera, and at least three species were collected: Amblyomma auricularium, Amblyomma parvum, Amblyomma sp., Ornithodoros rietcorreai and an unidentified Ornithodoros sp. We provide new host records to the rodent T. inermis parasitized by larva and nymphs of A. auricularium and to the marsupial M. domestica infested by larvae of A. auricularium. Furthermore, we describe new tick-host association for larvae of O. rietcorreai on the rodents K. rupestris and T. inermis. Concerning tick-Rickettsia associations, we detected Rickettsia amblyommatis and an uncharacterized species of Rickettsia belonging to the spotted fever group (SFG) in both A. auricularium and A. parvum. Additionally, ‘Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae’ was detected in A. parvum as well.     

Maternal care,larviparous and oviparous reproduction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypoaspis larvicolus</Emphasis> (Acari: Laelapidae) feeding on astigmatid mites

Hypoaspis larvicolus (Acari: Laelapidae) (first report from Turkey) occurred together with Sancassania polyphyllae (Acari: Acaridae) on the larvae of the scarab beetle, Polyphylla fullo (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), that were feeding on the roots of strawberry in Aydin, Turkey. Laboratory studies were conducted to (1) observe whether H. larvicolus feeds and completes its life cycle on the various stages of S. polyphyllae or other astigmatid mites, such as Acarus siro, Carpoglyphus lactis and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acaridae), and to determine its population growth when feeding on these prey, and (2) to determine development periods, longevity and fecundity of H. larvicolus feeding on C. lactis. Hypoaspis larvicolus females did not feed on S. polyphyllae, but fed, developed and reproduced when A. siro, C. lactis or T. putrescentiae were provided as prey. Hypoaspis larvicolus is larviparous as well as oviparous. The female lays eggs or gives birth to larvae. If a female gives birth to a larva, it is attached under the female’s venter for 1–2 days, a phenomenon recorded for the first time in Hypoaspis; in fact, for the first time in mites. The results of the population growth experiments revealed that H. larvicolus feeding on C. lactis produced the highest number of eggs, juveniles and adults. The developmental periods of H. larvicolus feeding on C. lactis at life-cycle path I (larva to adult) and II (egg to adult) were 12.2?±?0.3 and 15.6?±?0.6 days (females) and 19.5?±?0.2 and 20.9?±?0.4 days (males), respectively. Longevity of females versus males of H. larvicolus was 120.6?±?7.2 versus 91.6?±?13.1 days (life cycle I) and 110.0?±?27.7 versus 118.3?±?10.9 days (life cycle II), respectively.     

External morphology of the leaf-tying larva and pupa of the Neotropical micromoth <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eccopsis razowskii</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Eccopsis razowskii Vargas (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutini) is a Neotropical micromoth native to the Atacama Desert with leaf-tying larvae that feed on Acacia macracantha Willd. (Fabaceae). The external morphology of its last instar and that of its pupa are described and illustrated for the first time with the aid of light and scanning electron microscopy. The morphology of each of these life stages is highly similar to that of the only sympatric congeneric, the pest species E. galapagana Razowski & Landry, the larvae of which feed on Prosopis spp. (Fabaceae). The pupae of the two species cannot be separated based on morphology; they can only be accurately separated based on the form of the mandible. The findings are discussed in terms of their significance for the taxonomy and systematics of Eccopsis. In addition, a comparison with the two other Tortricidae associated with A. macracantha in the Atacama Desert is provided.     

An endangered hemiparasitic shrub is the only host plant of the little-known Neotropical hairstreak <Emphasis Type="Italic">Strymon flavaria</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in the arid Andes

Larval host plants can be the main resource underlying the distribution (including altitudinal ranges) of specialized phytophagous insects such as butterflies. Strymon flavaria (Ureta) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae: Eumaeini) is a little-known hairstreak endemic to the arid belt at about 3000–3500 m elevation on the western slopes of the Andes of northern Chile. The hemiparasitic shrub Krameria lappacea (Dombey) Burdet and Simpson is here recorded as the first host plant known for S. flavaria, representing also the first record of the association of a species of Strymon Hübner with the plant family Krameriaceae. Females of S. flavaria lay eggs on flower buds and unripe fruits of K. lappacea; the larva eats mostly these plant organs. Field observations revealed that S. flavaria is a host-specialist hairstreak, since females lay eggs only on K. lappacea. These findings suggest that the altitudinal range of S. flavaria could be the result of its specialized association with K. lappacea, as this shrub is also mostly restricted to elevations above 3000 m in the Andes of northern Chile. The implications of this finding for the ecology and conservation of S. flavaria are discussed.     

Monosaccharide profiling of silkworm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombyx mori</Emphasis> L.) nervous system during development and aging

Glycoconjugates have various functions in differentiation, development, aging and in all aspects of normal functioning of organisms. The reason for increased research on this topic is that glycoconjugates locate mostly on the cell surface and play crucial biological roles in the nervous system including brain development, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Considering their roles in the nervous system, information about their existence in the insect nervous system is rather sparse. Therefore, in order to detect monosaccharide content of N- and O-glycans, we carried out capLC–ESI–MS/MS analysis to determine the concentration changes of glucose, mannose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), fucose, xylose, arabinose, and ribose monosaccharides in the nervous system of Bombyx mori during development and aging processes. In addition to LC–MS, lectin blotting was done to detect quantitative changes in N- and O-glycans. Developmental stages were selected as 3rd (the youngest sample), 5th (young) larval instar, motionless prepupa (the oldest sample), and pupa (adult development). Derivatization of monosaccharides was performed with a solution of PMP agent and analyzed with capLC–ESI–MS/MS. For lectin blotting, determination of glycan types was carried out with Galanthus nivalis agglutinin and Peanut agglutinin lectins. In all stages, the most abundant monosaccharide was glucose. Although all monosaccharides were present most abundantly in the youngest stage (3rd instar), they are generally reduced gradually during the aging process. It was observed that amounts of monosaccharides increased again in the pupa stage. According to lectin blotting, N- and O-linked glycoproteins expressions were different and there were some specific glycoprotein expression differences between stages. These findings suggest that the glycosylation state of proteins in the nervous system changes during development and aging in insects in a similar fashion to that reported for vertebrates.     

Cold tolerance of the coconut hispine beetle, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brontispa longissima</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Japan

The coconut hispine beetle, Brontispa longissima (Gestro), supposedly originated from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia but has recently invaded Southeast and East Asian countries where it has been causing serious damage to Cocos nucifera L. This insect also occurs on the Southwest Islands off Kyushu Island in Japan. To evaluate the potential northward range expansion of this insect in Japan, we investigated its cold tolerance at 0, 5, and 10 °C (egg, larva, pupa, and adult), 13 °C (adult), and 15 °C (egg and hatched larva). At 15 °C, few eggs hatched, and the larvae that hatched died within a few days of hatching. At 13 °C, Ltime₉₅ was estimated to be 23 days for adults, with the most cold-tolerant developmental stage at 10 °C. At all developmental stages, Ltime₉₅ of B. longissima was estimated to be 19 days at 10 °C, 8 days at 5 °C, and 5 days at 0 °C, suggesting the cold tolerance of this beetle is very low. Considering average daily temperatures, it is unlikely that B. longissima can establish itself north of Amami-Oshima Island, located in the far south off the main island of Japan.