Review of the New World species of Microplitis Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) attacking Sphingidae (Lepidoptera, Bombycoidea)

Microplitis Foerster is a highly diverse and cosmopolitan genus within Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea, Braconidae). Microplitis ceratomiae Riley, a widely distributed North American species, exclusively attacks sphingid caterpillars. In this paper, M. ceratomiae is reported parasitizing a caterpillar of Sphinx poecila Stephens (Sphingidae) which was collected feeding on Spiraea alba Du Roi (Rosaceae), a species of white meadowsweet native to the wet soils of the Allegheny Mountains and other portions of eastern North America. Here, we report and describe this new host-parasitoid-food plant association in southern New Hampshire, and include a distribution map for the species. Biological, ecological and phylogenetic analyses, and an identification key for the nine known species of Microplitis that attack sphingids in the New World are provided.

Phenology, Seasonal Abundance, and Host-Plant Association of Spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Vineyards of Northwestern Italy

Spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) are the vectors of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) in Europe. Xf may cause severe epidemics in cultivated plants, including grapevines. To assess the threat represented by the bacterium to grapevines, detailed information on the vectors’ phenology, density, and ecology in vineyards is needed. The aim of the present work was to describe spittlebug diversity, phenology, and host-plant association in the vineyard agroecosystem. Two separate field surveys of nymphal and adult spittlebug populations, i.e., a two-year survey of a single site and a one-year survey of three sites, were performed in vineyards of northwestern Italy in three consecutive years. Philaenus spumarius was the most common species, reaching average nymph densities on herbaceous cover up to 60–130 nymphs/m2. Adults were sampled on grapevines from May to September, with a peak in June (up to 0.43 insects/sweep). Herbaceous cover was colonized after egg hatching and in late summer for oviposition, while wild woody hosts represented a refuge during summer. The results show that spittlebugs can reach high population levels in vineyards, at least in the areas where the ground is covered by herbaceous plants for the whole season and the use of insecticides is moderate. The extended presence of P. spumarius adults on grapevines represents a serious risk factor for the spread of Xf. The scenarios of Xf establishment in vineyards in northwestern Italy and Europe are discussed in relation to the abundance, phenology, and plant association of spittlebugs.

Pleistocene plants from Zarzal Formation, middle valley of the Cauca River Basin, Colombia

We report macro and meso palaeobotanical records from the Zarzal Formation, in the Cauca River Depression, and the Quindío-Risaralda Basin between the Western and the Central Cordilleras of Colombia. The fossils correspond to leaves and seeds obtained from layers of mudstones, diatomites, and tuffaceous sandstones deposited in the inter-Andean valleys of Cauca and La Vieja rivers, separated by the Serranía Santa Bárbara ridge between the Valle del Cauca and Quindío departments. The sediments of the Pleistocene Zarzal Formation were deposited in a fluvial-lacustrine environment, with volcanic influence originated in the Central Cordillera to the east of the depositional area. The study here presented allowed the identification of thirteen morphotypes of leaf impressions grouped in six Angiosperm families: Poaceae?/Cyperaceae? and Araceae of the Monocots group, Melastomataceae, Fabaceae and Lauraceae belonging to the Eudicots group and one family of Lycopsida: Thelypteridaceae. On the other hand, very well-preserved silicified micro-seeds were grouped in eight morphotypes, belonging to the botanical groups Cyperaceae and Asteraceae. The fossils found allowed us to identify two types of plant associations that exhibit paleofloristic richness. In the Cauca River Basin, an autochthonous to parautocthonous plant association could correspond to a sub-Andean gallery forest, whilst in the La Vieja River Basin a parautocthonous plant association indicates a swamped floodplain. Keywords: paleoflora, leaves, seeds, Cauca River, La Vieja River, lacustrine deposit.

The Effects of Host Plant Genotype and Environmental Conditions on Fungal Community Composition and Phosphorus Solubilization in Willow Short Rotation Coppice

Phosphorus (P) is an essential plant nutrient. Low availability of P in soil is mainly caused by high content of Fe2O3 in the clay fraction that binds to P making it unavailable. Beneficial microbes, such as P solubilizing microorganisms can increase the available P in soil and improve plant growth and productivity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of environmental conditions (climate, soil parameters), plant genotype, and level of plant association (rhizosphere or endophytic root organism) on the abundance and diversity of phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms in a Salix production system. We hypothesized that a lower number of endophytic fungi may possess the ability to solubilize P compared to the number of rhizosphere fungi with the same ability. We also expect that the plant genotype and the experimental site with its environmental conditions will influence fungal diversity. Two Salix genotypes grown in pure and mixed cultures were investigated for their fungal microbiome community and diversity in the rhizosphere and endosphere during two growing seasons. We found that the rhizosphere fungal community was more diverse. A general dominance of Ascomycota (Dothideomycetes) and Basidiomycota (Tremellomycetes) was observed. The classes Agaricomycetes and Pezizomycetes were more frequent in the endosphere, while Tremellomycetes and Mortierellomycetes were more abundant in the rhizosphere. Plot-specific soil properties (pH, total organic carbon, and nitrogen) significantly influenced the fungal community structure. Among the culturable fungal diversities, 10 strains of phosphate solubilizing fungi (PSFs) from roots and 12 strains from rhizosphere soil were identified using selective media supplemented with di-calcium and tri-calcium phosphates. The fungal density and the number of PSF were much higher in the rhizosphere than in the endosphere. Penicillium was the dominant genus of PSF isolated from both sites; other less frequent genera of PSFs were Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Clonostachys. Overall the main factors controlling the fungal communities (endophytic vs. rhizosphere fungi) were the soil properties and level of plant association, while no significant influence of growing season was observed. Differences between Salix genotypes were observed for culturable fungal diversity, while in metagenomic data analysis, only the class Dothideomycetes showed a significant effect from the plant genotype.

Klebsiella variicola Reference Strain F2R9 (ATCC BAA-830) Genome Sequence

Klebsiella variicola F2R9 was isolated from banana root, and its sequence has been deposited as ATCC BAA-830. It corresponds to sequence type 11 (ST11) and KL16 and contains no identifiable plasmids. The genome showed few antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes and several plant-association genes. The strain showed susceptibility to most antimicrobials and avirulent behavior.

Macro- and microevolutionary perspectives on Seynesiella juniperi, a fungus in the Venturiales (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota)

The present work represents the first comprehensive phylogenetic study of the dothideomycete genus Seynesiella. The genus belongs into the family Cylindrosympodiaceae within the order Venturiales, based on a phylogeny reconstructed with five loci. The high genetic diversity found within the type species, S. juniperi, points towards cryptic speciation, with up to five distinct species that might be associated to different Juniperus hosts. Combining phylogenetics and multi-locus delimitation analyses, together with more detailed measurements of ascospores, will be fundamental for a better understanding of species boundaries and the biogeographic history of the delimited species, as well as for revealing more specific fungal-plant association patterns.

Plant Association of Lanternflies (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) from Malaysian Borneo

The family Fulgoridae is known for their distinct morphological structures and striking colouration. Despite so, comprehensive documentation of insect-plant interaction from this charismatic family is greatly scarce. Presented here are records of plant association across four species of Fulgoridae from Malaysian Borneo. The current study was based on voucher specimens and field samplings from selected localities in Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. A total of 11 species of plants belonging to 11 genera and nine families were recorded. Three fulgorid species namely Penthicodes quadrimaculata, Pyrops intricatus and Py. sultanus shares the same host plant being the mata kucing fruit tree (Dimocarpus longan ssp. malesianus). The most speciose insect-plant association belongs to Pe. farinosa and Py. sultanus with six species documented. This is the first record of host plants reported for Py. intricatus, Pe. farinosa and Pe. quadrimaculata in Malaysian Borneo. Keywords: Fulgoridae, host plant, insect-plant association, Malaysian Borneo, Sabah, Sarawak