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The univoltine leaf beetle Phyllotreta ochripes (Curtis, 1837b) is native to the Palaearctic Region from Japan to western Europe.This species was previously evaluated as a potential biological control agent against invasive populations of the woodland weed Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cavara & Grande (Brassicaceae) in North America, but rejected because it could harm native and at-risk populations of Brassicaceae.First North American records are presented for Phyllotreta ochripes (Curtis, 1837). Specimens were examined from the USA: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Internet photographs of apparent additional individuals from USA: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Canada: Ontario were also examined. DNA barcoding analysis showed high genetic variability and possible cryptic species within European populations of P. ochripes. Diagnostic information is presented to distinguish P. ochripes. from other North American Chrysomelidae and a species distribution model to assess its potential spread in North America is presented.Phyllotreta ochripes breeds on invasive garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cavara & Grande (Brassicaceae) and also non-native Rorippa amphibia (L.) Besser and other species of Brassicaceae.A species distribution model and the range of its host plant A. petiolata, indicates the most suitable conditions for this species are in humid areas of eastern North America. However, most of the known records of this species were discovered in areas projected to have low suitability. This is likely a consequence of sampling bias towards western Europe and away from the eastern Asian portion of its native range. The United States of America and Canada are now known to be home to 72 or more species of adventive Chrysomelidae.

The univoltine leaf beetle Psylliodes attenuata (Koch, 1803) is a pest of Cannabis and Humulus (Cannabaceae) and native to the Palaearctic Region, known from eastern Asia to western Europe.First North American records are presented for P. attenuata from Canada: Ontario and Québec. Adult beetle feeding damage to hops Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabacaea) plants is recorded from Québec. Diagnostic information is presented to distinguish P. attenuata from other North American Chrysomelidae and a preliminary assessment of its potential to spread in North America is presented. While our climate analysis is limited by a lack of data, it appears P. attenuata is physiologically capable of persisting throughout the range of Humulus in North America.The United States of America and Canada are now known to be home to 71 or more species of adventive Chrysomelidae.

Type specimens of Oedionychina Chapuis, 1875 described by Fabricius from the Kiel collection are examined and illustrated. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: Chrysomela albicollis Fabricius, 1787; Chrysomela nobilitata Fabricius, 1787; Chrysomela quadrifasciata Fabricius, 1787; Chrysomela quadriguttata Fabricius, 1781; Galleruca atomaria Fabricius, 1801; Galleruca decemguttata Fabricius, 1801; Galleruca fasciata Fabricius, 1798; Galleruca humeralis Fabricius, 1801; Galleruca lunata Fabricius, 1801; Galleruca nitida Fabricius, 1801; Galleruca obsoleta Fabricius, 1801; Galleruca petaurista Fabricius, 1801; Galleruca quadrinotata Fabricius, 1798; Galleruca sellata Fabricius, 1801. The species status is restored for Chrysomela quadriguttata Fabricius, 1781 and Alagoasa areata (Germar, 1824) comb. nov. The following new combinations are proposed: Phenrica quadriguttata (Fabricius, 1781), Asphaera nitida (Fabricius, 1801), Phenrica obsoleta (Fabricius, 1801), Alagoasa areata areata (Germar, 1824), Alagoasa areata decempunctata (Latreille, 1833), Alagoasa areata escuintla Bechyné, 1955, Alagoasa areata macromela Bechyné, 1958, Alagoasa areata praecessa Bechyné, 1959, Alagoasa areata recuperata Bechyné, 1959; all comb. nov. New placement: Galleruca avicenniae Fabricius, 1792 is removed from Alticini and placed in Galerucini incertae sedis; Galleruca trifasciata Fabricius, 1801 is removed from Chrysomelidae and placed in genus Ora Clark, 1865 (Scirtidae Fleming, 1821).

We determined the compactability regularities observed during the cold uniaxial pressing of layered powder green samples, taking into account factors such as composition, height, and number of Ti–B (TiB) and Ti–Al–Nb–Mo–B (TNM) layers. The following composition was chosen for the TNM layer at %: 51.85Ti–43Al–4Nb–1Mo–0.15B, while for the Ti-B layer we selected the composition wt %: Ti-B-(20, 30, 40) Ti. Green samples were made containing both 100 vol % TiB and TNM, and those taken in the following proportions, vol %: 70TiB/30TNM, 50TiB/50TNM, 30TiB/70TNM; multilayer green samples were studied in the following proportions, vol %: 35TiB/30TNM/35TiB, 25TiB/25TNM/25TiB/25TNM, 35TNM/30TiB/35TNM. Based on the obtained rheological data, we determined the rheological characteristics of the layered green samples, including compressibility modulus, compressibility coefficient, relaxation time, and limiting value of linear section deformation. These characteristics were found to vary depending on the composition, height, and number of layers. Our findings revealed that reducing the TNM content in the charge billet composition improves the compaction of powder materials under the given technological parameters of uniaxial cold pressing. Moreover, we observed that increasing the boron content and decreasing the amount of titanium in the Ti–B composition enhances the compactability of powder materials. We also established a relationship between the compaction pressure interval and the density of the layered powder green sample.

A mathematical model was developed to determine the order of failure of layers in a two-layer ceramics composite and to determine the conditions for achieving the maximum limit load under three-point loading. The model was set in the space of three “bilayer parameters”: the ratio of the thickness of the lower layer to the whole thickness of the beam, the ratio of Young’s moduli of the lower layer to the upper layer, and the ratio of flexural strengths of the materials of the lower layer to the upper layer. The adequacy of the model obtained was confirmed by experimental results on the three-point bending of the experimental specimens. The experimental samples were two-layer composites consisting of a cermet layer TiB/Ti and a layer of α-Ti. The samples were obtained by free self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) compression and with varying their thickness. The results obtained make it possible to predict in advance which layer, based on the specific bilayer parameters, will trigger the brittle fracture mechanism as well as to set the maximum destructive load of bilayer composites.

The use of DNA barcoding has revolutionised biodiversity science, but its application depends on the existence of comprehensive and reliable reference libraries. For many poorly known taxa, such reference sequences are missing even at higher-level taxonomic scales. We harvested the collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (USNM) to generate DNA barcoding sequences for genera of terrestrial arthropods previously not recorded in one or more major public sequence databases. Our workflow used a mix of Sanger and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) approaches to maximise sequence recovery while ensuring affordable cost. In total, COI sequences were obtained for 5,686 specimens belonging to 3,737 determined species in 3,886 genera and 205 families distributed in 137 countries. Success rates varied widely according to collection data and focal taxon. NGS helped recover sequences of specimens that failed a previous run of Sanger sequencing. Success rates and the optimal balance between Sanger and NGS are the most important drivers to maximise output and minimise cost in future projects. The corresponding sequence and taxonomic data can be accessed through the Barcode of Life Data System, GenBank, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, the Global Genome Biodiversity Network Data Portal and the NMNH data portal.

Over the past century, substantial changes in land use have taken place in the boreal zone of northern Eurasia. The consequences of these large-scale changes for the ecosystems of Europe have been well studied; however, they have not been addressed for the large expanses of Russia. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the landscape dynamics of the middle reaches of the Ob floodplain (Western Siberia) using multitemporal maps of the vegetation cover and land use for five time points (1830, 1910, 1950, 1976, and 2019). By the 1830s, all the land that was suitable for haymaking and plowing (rarely flooded and not swamped) had been put to agricultural use. The meadows of the Ob floodplain are human-controlled and were mainly formed before the 1830s. From the 1830s to the 1990s, the meadows were used in agriculture and their areas increased. The maximum development of the floodplain occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, when previous wetlands were put into operation through the construction of drainage systems. A massive abandonment of pastures and reclaimed land occurred in the late 20th century. According to the data over the last 30 years, abandoned meadows are resistant to overgrowth with trees and shrubs. The spatial configurations of the floodplain landscapes have also been quite stable. The main spatial changes are confined to the near-channel floodplain, with the formation of new near-channel shallows. The floodplain landscapes of the Ob River demonstrate substantial spatial and temporal stabilities, and long-standing agricultural development.

This research presents the mechanical creation of smart fertilizers from a mixture of smectite and urea in a 3:2 ratio by using the planetary milling technique. The smectite–urea composites show intercalation between urea and mineral, which increases steadily with increasing activation time. A shift of X-Ray Diffraction basal reflections, intensities of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) peaks, and weight losses in thermogravimetric analysis (TG) document the systematic crystallo-chemical changes of the composites related to nitrogen interaction with activation. Observations of the nanocomposites by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) corroborate the inference. Nitrogen intercalates with smectite in the interlayer space and remains absorbed either within micro-aggregates or on the surface of activated smectites. Soil leaching tests reveal a slower rate of nitrogen than that of traditional urea fertilizers. Different forms of nitrogen within the composites cause their differential release rates to the soil. The formulated nanocomposite fertilizer enhances the quality and quantity of oat yield.

Comparison of strength characteristics of engineering materials is usually based on comparison of data from quasi-static tests. However, under dynamic loads, strength characteristics of materials are unstable and the strength ratio of two materials can change dramatically. This paper presents a comparative study of the strain/stress rate dependencies of the critical stresses of various quasi-brittle and ductile engineering materials, as well as their various internal states. A case of continuously increasing load in compression and splitting tests is considered. Experimental results were obtained for bricks, mortar and limestone in dry, saturated and frozen states; copper and titanium in different structural states; and road bitumens with different modifiers. The results show that such dependencies can intersect, thereby realizing a strength competition effect. This means that one material can withstand higher stresses under a quasi-static load and lower stresses under a dynamic load in comparison with another material. Thus, such an intersection suggests that the choice of a material based on quasi-static parameters may be erroneous for structures intended for dynamic modes. The analysis of strain/stress rate dependencies of ultimate or yield strength is carried out on the basis of the incubation time approach. The introduction of dynamic strength characteristics with the dimension of time is considered. This parameter characterizes well the response of the materials to dynamic loading. The calculation results show the possibility of estimating the critical stresses and the strength competition effect at high rate loads using no more than three parameters, which can be easily used in engineering practice.

El género Busbiscus fue descrito por Savini et al. 2009 en base a la especie B. voseri de Costa Rica. Se describen dos especies nuevas, Bubiscus carinatus y Bubiscus napo provenientes de Ecuador y se incluye una clave de identificación para las tres especies descritas del género.

The Chinese Chaetocnema picipes species-group is revised. It contains 5 species including 3 new species: C. cheni sp. n., C. constricta sp. n. and C. kingpinensis sp. n. The lectotype of C. fortecostata is designated. A key to all known species of this group from China and the illustrations of habitus and genitalia are provided. A distribution map of species is given.

Behavioural novelties observed in adult leaf beetles of two new Orthaltica Crotch species include: 1) the use of low cost leaf-hole shelters, either in pre-formed holes produced by larger beetles that fed on the same leaf, or artificially created holes as part of an experiment; and 2) the use of faeces to partition the hole. Two new southern Indian species of the genus Orthaltica are described and illustrated: O. syzygium and O. terminalia. Host plants are identified for both species. A key to the Indian species of Orthaltica is provided.

A new genus (Borinken) and five new species (Borinken elyunque, Distigmoptera chamorrae, Kiskeya elyunque, Ulrica eltoro, and U. iviei) from Puerto Rico are described and illustrated. A key to all West Indian Monoplatini genera is provided, as are keys to all species of Kiskeya and to the species of Ulrica from Puerto Rico. A list of the flea beetle genera, along with the number of species and some of the faunal features is presented and discussed for the West Indies.

Criocerine leaf beetles found in Nepal feeding on Dioscorea bulbifera (L.), an exotic, invasive weed of Asian origin, were identified as Lilioceris cheni Gressitt and Kimoto based on a synopsis of the Oriental Lilioceris species and review of the Lilioceris impressa species group. All the continental, Oriental species included in the group are diagnosed and illustrated, and a key for their identification is provided. Species status of Lilioceris thibetana Pic, 1916 is resurrected. The following new synonyms are proposed: L. coomani (Pic, 1928) = L. egena (Weise, 1922), and L. subcostata (Pic, 1921a), L. laticornis (Gressit, 1942), L. inflaticornis Gressit and Kimoto, 1961, and L. maai Gressit and Kimoto, 1961 = L. impressa (Fabricius, 1787). Lectotypes of the following species are designated: L. coomani Pic, 1928; L. impressa (Fabricius, 1787); L. laosensis (Pic, 1916); L. malabarica (Jacoby, 1904); L. ruficornis (Pic, 1921b); L. subcostata (Pic, 1921a); L. thibetana (Pic, 1916); and L. unicolor (Hope, 1831).

A new genus and species of Lamprosomatinae, Cachiporra extremaglobosa Chamorro & Konstantinov, is described from Brazil. A new tribe, Cachiporrini, is proposed. The first phylogenetic analysis of Lamprosomatinae based on adult morphological caharacters is conducted. Comparisons are made among lamprosomatine tribes and genera. A key to tribes is provided.

The world genera of Chlamisini are reviewed, diagnosed, and illustrated. A key for their identification is provided. A replacement name is proposed, Kakita Chamorro-Lacayo & Konstantinov, nom. n., for Ceratochlamys Bokermann, 1961, a junior homonym of Ceratochlamys Habe, 1946 (Mollusca). Chlamisus rousei Medvedev, 1993 is designated as a junior synonym of Chlamisus straminea Suffrian, 1866, syn. n.

O texto reproduz na íntegra a entrevista que o filósofo, filólogo, linguista, psicólogo e didata ucraniano Vladimir Vladimirovich Repkin concedeu ao também psicólogo ucraniano Alexander Konstantinovich Dusavitsky. A entrevista foi inicialmente publicada em russo na revista Вестник (n. 10, 2002), do Centro Pedagógico “Experimentar”, de Riga, Letônia, sob a direção de B. A. Zeltserman. O texto contém dados biográficos do filólogo e didata, bem como uma descrição de sua monumental obra em favor do estabelecimento das bases teóricas e metodológicas do sistema psicológico e didático Elkonin-Davidov-Repkin.