Redescription of the last instar larva of Stenophylax fissus (McLachlan 1875) and the DNA barcode of Stenophylax crossotus McLachlan 1884 (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) with an updated diagnostic matrix of the known larvae of Stenophylax species of the Iberian Peninsula

The larva of Stenophylax fissus (McLachlan 1875) is redescribed, illustrated, and compared with morphologically similar Limnephilidae larvae from the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, the sequence of the mtCOI gene in the barcode region of one individual is reported. Likewise, the barcode and the conspecificity between two larvae and one female of the non-sequenced species S. crossotus are given. In addition, the high genetic diversity among S. sequax populations is highlighted, suggesting a complex of cryptic species. Finally, a diagnostic matrix of the known larvae of Stenophylax species from the Iberian Peninsula is provided.

MtCOI DNA sequences from Sycanus aurantiacus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) provide evidence of a possible new harpactorine species from Bali, Indonesia

Sycanus aurantiacus Ishikawa & Okajima, found in Bali, was first described in 2007 as a new harpactorine species based on morphological and biological characteristics; however, its genome has not yet been sequenced. In this study, we examine the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (MtCOI) nucleotide sequence of S. aurantiacus in order to determine whether it represents a new harpactorine species. A sample from Pancasari, Bali, Indonesia was collected at the same location S. aurantiacus was first discovered in 2007. The selected mtCOI gene (650 bp) was successfully amplified using mtCOI primer pairs LCO1490 and HCO2198, and the resulting MtCOI sequence of the S. aurantiacus sample was compared with those from other hapactorine species recorded in GenBank. This comparison revealed low genetic similarity between S. aurantiacus and most other harpactorine species worldwide, except for the Genus Sycanus (JQ888697) from USA whose mtCOI shares approximately 91% similarity with the Pancasari sample. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a close genetic relationship between Sycanus from Bali and the Genus Sycanus (JQ888697) from the USA. The mtCOI sequence of S. aurantiacus had not been recorded previously, and our comparison with existing Sycanus sequences provides support to the understanding that S. aurantiacus is indeed its own species.

Updated status of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Jordan with emphasis on the Bemisia tabaci species complex

Whiteflies are economically important plant pests that cause damage to crops worldwide. This study aimed to update the status of whiteflies in Jordan by combining the classical morphological identification and the DNA markers using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) gene. Over the course of three consecutive years, 111 whiteflies were collected from different geographical regions and different plant hosts in Jordan. The results showed that, in addition to Bemisia tabaci, another nine different whitefly species were identified, including two species that were recorded for the first time in Jordan: Africaleurodes coffeacola, and Tetraleurodes neemani. A special focus has been given to economically important plant pests like the B. tabaci species complex. Three different diagnostic techniques were used to identify B. tabaci putative species based on mtCOI gene. All the collected samples of B. tabaci species complex were identified as Middle East–Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) putative species.

Detection of Two Biotypes of Liriomyza chinensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Japan

The larva of stone leek leafminer, Liriomyza chinensis (Kato), is known to infest alternately just below the epidermis and inner surface of hollow cylindrical leaves of allium crops, resulting in the formation of discontinuous linear mines (mine form: discontinuous). However, after the fall of 2016, a novel mine form of the same species (mine form: continuous) was detected in Welsh onion fields of Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. We hypothesized that these mine forms were associated with flies having different genetic backgrounds; hence, we compared the mine forms and the partial mtCOI gene of flies collected from Welsh onion fields from 2018 to 2019. The results demonstrated that the flies that emerged from different mine forms could be classified into two haplogroups, i.e., flies displaying a discontinuous mine form were of haplogroup A, whereas those that displayed continuous mines were of haplotype B. Additionally, using populations of these flies reared in the laboratory, we confirmed that the mine form of the larvae of haplotype A on Welsh onions was discontinuous, whereas that of haplotype B was continuous. We named the population that exhibited a discontinuous mine form as biotype A and the population displaying a continuous mine form as biotype B.

Prevalence Rate and Molecular Characteristics of Oestrus ovis L. (Diptera, Oestridae) in Sheep and Goats from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Heads of sheep (n = 600) and goats (n = 800) slaughtered at Al-Aziziah Abattoir in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were inspected for the presence of O. ovis larvae (L). Heads were split along the longitudinal axes, and larvae (L1, L2, and L3) were gathered. The infestation rate was significantly higher in goats (44.5%; 356/800) than that in sheep (22.3%; 134/600). Out of the 151 collected larvae from sheep, 0% were L1, 1.3% were L2, and 98.7% were L3. Out of the total of 468 larvae from goats, 0% were L1, 1.2% were L2, and 98.8% were L3. The infestation rate was significantly higher in males than that in females. Myiasis-causing larvae collected from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were authenticated as O. ovis, according to morphological characteristics. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a partial fragment (600 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene further confirmed the species. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial mtCOI gene sequence demonstrated that 23 unique sequences showed high similarity based on nucleotide pairs of O. ovis accessions retrieved from GenBank.

Description of Bursaphelenchus microcarpae n. sp. isolated from Cryphalus abbreviatus emerged from Ficus microcarpa, with a report of B. carpini re-isolation

Summary Two Bursaphelenchus spp. belonging to the eggersi group (subgroup 3) were isolated from bark beetles (Cryphalus spp.). One species, isolated from Cryphalus sp. cf. carpini that emerged from a log of an unidentified broad-leaved tree (considered to be Carpinus sp.) collected in Sugadaira, Nagano, Japan, was identified molecularly and typologically as B. carpini. The other species, isolated from C. abbreviatus that emerged from a dead log of Ficus microcarpa collected in Okinawa, Japan, was differentiated molecularly from other eggersi group species. The new species is characterised by its three-lined lateral field, seven genital papillae with the posteriormost pair forming ‘glandpapillae’, short and stout male spicule with a strongly dorsally recurved and pointed condylus, small and rectangular male bursal flap with a variable terminus, female vulva with a ‘side flap’, broadly rounded female tail tip and molecular sequences of the ribosomal RNA region and partial mtCOI gene. The species is described and illustrated herein as B. microcarpae n. sp.

Occurrence of Bemisia tabaci Asia 1 in Association with BYVMV in Okra

Bhendi Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (BYVMV) incidence caused by white fly is the main bottleneck for cultivation of the okra. The present investigation was carried out in three major okra-growing districts of Tamil Nadu viz., Coimbatore, Dharmapuri and Dindugul on whitefly incidence and occurence. A field survey on these districts revealed that the mean whitefly population of 1.82 per plant was observed while the incidence of BYVMV in the Coimbatore district was 13 per cent. The least mean population was observed in the Dharmapuri district with a mean of 0.48 whiteflies per plant and BYVMV incidence of 15.75 %. In order to gain insight into whitefly genotypes occurring on Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench), whitefly samples were collected from 8 locations of Tamil Nadu, and their mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene was molecularly characterized for species identification. sequences results revealed that the whitefly belongs to Asia I genotype. Thus, the present study confirmed the presence of Asia 1 genotype in B. tabaci throughout Tamil Nadu okra growing regions.

The Rhyacophila fasciata Group in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina: Rhyacophila f. fasciata Hagen 1859 and the description of two new subspecies, Rhyacophila fasciata delici Kučinić & Valladolid (ssp. nov.) from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rhyacophila fasciata viteceki Valladolid & Kučinić (ssp. nov.) from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae)

We present the description of two new subspecies of the Rhyacophila fasciata Group: Rhyacophila fasciata delici Kučinić & Valladolid (ssp. nov.), broadly distributed in Croatia and present also in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and R. fasciata viteceki Valladolid & Kučinić (ssp. nov.), found in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our study of the morphology of adults, as well as our analysis of the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) gene and geographical distribution confirm the differences of the two new subspecies with the nominal species R. f. fasciata, also found in both countries.

Two new species of planthoppers from India (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Delphacidae) in the genera Parasogata and Eoeurysa

The genus Parasogata Zhou, Yang & Chen, 2018 is here reported from India represented by the new species Parasogata sexpartita sp. nov. collected in a recent exploration and survey of delphacids from Nagaland in northeastern India. A second species of Eoeurysa Muir, 1913 from India, the new species Eoeurysa sagittaria sp. nov., was found in Rampur, Una, Himachal Pradesh. Both new species are described with illustrations, and a molecular identification is given with the mtCOI gene sequence. A modified key to species of the genera is also provided.