Studies of Neotropical crickets: New Paragryllina taxa (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) with comments on several previously described species

Here, we contribute to the study of the subtribe Paragryllina, recovering as valid, taxa previously described as subfamilies or tribes of Paragryllidae (currently considered as a synonym of Phalangopsidae), but which are well delimited and can be considered as genera groups of Paragryllina: Paragryllae n. stat., Rumeae n. stat., and Benoistellae n. stat.. Alfarogryllus n. gen. is described to accommodate Eneoptera panoplos. Paragryllus is divided into three subgenera: Paragryllus s.s., Melloius n. subgen., and Souzaius n. subgen.. Paragryllus (Paragryllus) lyrae n. sp. (from southern Costa Rica) is described. Paragryllus cocos is considered as nomen nudum; Paragryllus arima n. syn. is synonymized under Paragryllus insolitus and transferred to the genus Ectecous, as the new combination Ectecous insolitus n. comb.; Eneoptera spodios n. syn. is synonymized under Lerneca digrediens, remaining only the Eneoptera species known before the contribution by Otte (2006). Dambachia is included in the subtribe Paragryllina. This genus stands out for the modification of its subapical spur of the hind tibia and its asymmetric genitalia. Keys for the genera and genera groups of Paragryllina, and subgenera of Paragryllus are provided. Finally, the taxonomy of Neotropical crickets is discussed.

A new species of the genus Stiltoblosyrus Davidian, 2020 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) from China

A new species Stiltoblosyrus serratulus Davidian, sp. nov. is described from Sichuan Province of China. It is the northernmost species of the genus Stiltoblosyrus (Davidian, 2020). From all of the congeners it easily differs in row of large and stout spines at the inner side of hind tibia of the male. New species closely related to S. laticollis Davidian, 2020 and S. brevicornis Davidian, 2020 in size of the process at the inner apical angle of hind tibia of the male, which is distinctly shorter than 2nd segment of hind tarsus. Colour illustrations of habitus and important morphological characters are presented.

A new species of the genus Caryanda Stål, 1878 (Orthoptera: Acrididae) from Thailand

Caryanda zheminzhengi sp. n. is described and illustrated from Thailand. The new species is similar to C. beybienkoi Storozhenko, 2005 but differs by the cingular valves of penis equal to apical penis valves and by completely red hind tibia, while in C. beybienkoi the cingular valves of penis distinctly longer than apical penis valves and hind tibia blue and red.

A new species and key to known species of the genus Conophymacris Willemse, 1933 (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Catantopidae, Podisminae) from China

A new species in the genus Conophymacris Willemse, 1933 from Yunnan, China is described. The new species Conophymacris reni sp. nov. is similar to C. jiulongensis Zheng et al., 2009, but differs from latter in width of vertex between eyes of male equal to 2.8 width of frontal ridge between antennae, epiproct of male width longer than length, cercus of male apical part not wider, tegmina extending over the hind margin of first abdominal tergum, hind tibia all red, epiphallus ancorae small, lower than anterior projection, lophi not acute, width of subgenital plate shorter than its length and hind margin with 1 tooth in female. Type specimens are deposited in the Natural Museum of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.

The origin and evolution of pollen transport in bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila)

The ability to transport pollen from flowers back to the nest represents a key innovation in the evolution of bees from predatory wasp ancestors. Currently, the origin and evolution of pollen transport remains unsettled. Older hypotheses proposed that crop transport was the original mode of pollen transport, but more recent molecular phylogenies have cast doubt on that view. Instead, more recent hypotheses contend that external transport of dry pollen is ancestral in bees. Here, I propose a new hypothesis to explain the origin and subsequent evolution of pollen transport in bees. I propose that pollen transport arose from adult pollen-feeding behavior and that internal transport of pollen is ancestral in bees. This then led to the evolution of external moist transport, which first required a transition step whereby pollen is temporarily accumulated on the venter on a patch of specialized hairs. Finally, external glazed and dry transport evolved from external moist pollen transport, and the evolution of dry transport led to changes in the location of scopae from the original location on the hind tibia and basitarsus. I illustrate many of these hypothetical evolutionary steps using modern-day bee behavior as an example, with a particular focus on the bee Perdita tortifoliae. Examination of the evolution of pollen transport of pollen wasps (subfamily Masarinae) reveals that they have undergone a parallel evolutionary change. Overall, I lay out a broad hypothetical framework to explain the origin and subsequent evolution of pollen transport in bees. This marks a return to the earlier hypothesis that crop transport is ancestral, and it also represents the first in-depth hypothesis to explain how external transport of moistened pollen could have evolved. The evolutionary history of bees has many implications for the biology of bees in the present day, and I lay out a number of predictions that could help confirm or refute my hypotheses.

The Effects of Temperature on the Development, Morphology, and Fecundity of Aenasius bambawalei (=Aenasius arizonensis)

The effects of high temperature on the developmental, morphological, and fecundity characteristics of insects, including biological invaders and their accompanying natural enemies, are clear. Phenacoccus solenopsis (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) is an aggressive invasive insect pest worldwide. Aenasius bambawalei (=Aenasius arizonensis Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a predominant accompanying parasitoid of this mealybug. Our previous studies showed that temperature change induced an increase in the female offspring ratio of A. bambawalei. However, whether this increase is the result of a shortened or enhanced development period of the reproductive systems of A. bambawalei remains unknown. Here, we compared the pupal development, hind tibia of female adults, and fecundity of A. bambawalei under different temperatures to clarify the development and morphological changes induced by high temperature and to better understand its potential as an accompanying natural enemy. Our results showed that, at a high temperature (36 °C), the pupal developmental duration of A. bambawalei was only 0.80 times that of the control, and the length of the hind tibia was 1.16 times that of the control. Moreover, high temperature accelerated the developmental rate of gonads and increased the numbers of eggs and sperm. These results indicated that experimental warming shortened the pupal developmental duration, altered the hind tibia length of female adults, and facilitated the fecundity of A. bambawalei. These findings will help to understand the adaptation mechanisms of accompanying natural enemies. Furthermore, these findings will help to make use of this behavior to effectively control invasive pests.

The first Fulgoridae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from the Eocene of the central Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) played a crucial role in shaping the biodiversity in Asia during the Cenozoic. However, fossil records attributed to insects are still scarce from the QTP, which limits our understanding on the evolution of biodiversity in this large region. Fulgoridae (lanternfly) is a group of large planthopper in body size, which is found primarily in tropical regions. The majority of the Fulgoridae bear brilliant colors and elongated heads. The fossil records of Fulgoridae span from the Eocene to Miocene in the Northern Hemisphere, and only a few fossil species from Neogene deposits have been reported in Asia so far. Here, we report a new fossil record of Fulgoridae from the middle Eocene Lunpola Basin, central QTP. The specimen is in lateral compression, with complete abdomen, thorax, and part of the wings preserved, while most of the head is missing. It belongs to the “lower Fulgoroidea” judging by several strong lateral spines on the hind tibia and a row of teeth at the apex of the second metatarsomere. This fossil specimen is assigned to Fulgoridae by comparison with nine families of the “lower Fulgoroidea”. The specimen represents the earliest Fulgoridae fossil record in Asia and was considered a new morphotaxon based on the peculiar legs and wings. Based on the modern distribution of fulgorid and other paleontological evidence, we suggest a warm climate with relatively low elevation during the middle Eocene in the central QTP. Therefore, this new fossil record not only provides important information on insect diversity in the middle Eocene, but also gives new evidence on the paleoenvironment in the core area of the QTP from the perspective of an insect.

The transgenerational consequences of maternal parasitism for aphid life history and suitability for subsequent parasitism

Aphids parasitized in later instars can give birth to several nymphs before their reproduction is curtailed by the developing parasitoid. We examined the life histories of Aphis fabae Scopoli born to mothers parasitized by Lysiphlebus fabarum Marshall, and their suitability as subsequent hosts, to test the ‘fecundity compensation’ hypothesis. Maternal parasitism negatively impacted life history parameters, resulting in reduced estimates of population increase (rm, R0, and λ), and increased generation time (GT) and doubling time (DT). These impacts were greater when the larva developing in the mother turned out to be female rather than male, and greater still when mothers were superparasitized. Maternal parasitism produced aphids with shorter hind tibia (HTL), at birth and at maturity, but their developmental time was unaffected. Although female L. fabarum readily accepted such aphids for oviposition, rates of mummification and wasp emergence were lower, and more so when the maternal parasitoid was female. The resulting parasitoids took longer to develop than progeny from control wasps, had shorter HTLs, lower egg loads, smaller eggs, and produced fewer mummies with lower rates of adult emergence, all differences that were more pronounced when the maternal parasitoid was female. The progeny of these wasps exhibited similar impairments to these biological parameters as their parents, demonstrating that the negative impacts of development in maternally parasitized hosts extended for at least two generations. Thus, our results do not support fecundity compensation, but suggest that any benefits of post-parasitism reproduction will be offset by reduced fitness in both aphid progeny and the parasitoids that develop in them.

The parasitoid Aenasius arizonensis prefers its natural host but can parasitize a nonnatural host in the laboratory: an opportunity for control of a new invasive mealybug

The absence of natural enemies in newly invaded areas is a key factor in the successful invasion of alien species. Whether a specific parasitoid can be domesticated to attack a nonnatural host that has no reported parasitic enemies in invasive areas remains unclear. Here, we analyzed two invasive mealybugs (PSS-Phenacoccus solenopsis and PSI-Phenacoccus solani) and a specific parasitoid of P. solenopsis (Aenasius arizonensis) to verify this hypothesis under laboratory conditions. A. arizonensis preferred to parasitize PSS, but after 6 h, it also parasitized PSI female adults. The number of visits and parasitism rate was significantly higher for PSS than for PSI. However, the contact time was influenced by the natal host. The chemical volatiles emitted by the two hosts were different and may be an important factor for host choice. Offspring fitness, measured as emergence time, longevity, and hind tibia length, in those emerging from PSS was better in those emerging from PSI, but the emergence rate was higher in the latter. We supposed that A. arizonensis accepts and parasitizes low-quality hosts not because of an "incomplete" evaluation but because it may be more profitable to parasitize than not given circumstances; this may provide an opportunity for the control of a new invasive mealybug in the future.

Morphometric and molecular discrimination of the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, (Zehntner, 1897) and the sorghum aphid Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald, 1904)

Melanaphis sacchari(Zehntner, 1897) andMelanaphis sorghi(Theobald, 1904) are major worldwide crop pests causing direct feeding damage on sorghum and transmitting viruses to sugarcane. It is common in the scientific literature to consider these two species as synonyms, referred to as the ‘sugarcane aphid’, although no formal study has validated this synonymy. In this study, based on the comparison of samples collected from their whole distribution area, we use both morphometric and molecular data to better characterize the discrimination betweenM.sacchariandM.sorghi. An unsupervised multivariate analysis of morphometric data clearly confirmed the separation of the two species. The best discriminating characters separating these species were length of the antenna processus terminalis relative to length of hind tibia, siphunculus or cauda. However, those criteria sometimes do not allow an unambiguous identification. Bayesian clustering based on microsatellite data delimited two clusters, which corresponded to the morphological species separation. The DNA sequencing of three nuclear and three mitochondrial regions revealed slight divergence between species. In particular, the COI barcode region proved to be uninformative for species separation because one haplotype is shared by both species. In contrast, one SNP located on the nuclear EF1-α gene was diagnostic for species separation. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, the invasive genotype damaging to sorghum in the US, Mexico and the Caribbean since 2013 is found to beM.sorghi.