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Herbicides have demonstrated their impact on insect fitness by affecting their associated microbiota or altering the virulence of entomopathogenic fungi toward insects. However, limited research has explored the implications of herbicide stress on the intricate tripartite interaction among insects, associated bacterial communities, and entomopathogens. In this study, we initially demonstrated that associated bacteria confer a leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora, with the capability to resist the entomopathogenic fungus Aspergillus nomius infection, a capability sustained even under herbicide glyphosate stress. Further analysis of the associated microbiota revealed a significant alteration in abundance and composition due to glyphosate treatment. The dominant bacterium, post A. nomius infection or following a combination of glyphosate treatments, exhibited strong suppressive effects on fungal growth. Additionally, glyphosate markedly inhibited the pathogenic associated bacterium Pseudomonas though it inhibited P. versicolora's immunity, ultimately enhancing the beetle's tolerance to A. nomius. In summary, our findings suggest that the leaf beetle's associated microbiota bestow an augmented resilience against the dual stressors of both the entomopathogen and glyphosate. These results provide insight into the effects of herbicide residues on interactions among insects, associated bacteria, and entomopathogenic fungi, holding significant implications for pest control and ecosystem assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 120 species of the chrysomelid genus Gonioctena are currently known from Palaearctic, Nearctic and Oriental Regions, amongst them, 51 occur in China. New information: Two new species of the genus Gonioctena, G. klapperichi sp. nov. (Fujian) and G. oberthueri sp. nov. (Sichuan), are described and illustrated from China. Distinguishing characters from closely-related species are presented, respectively. The Gonioctena fauna of China now includes 53 species, of which about 60% are endemic. Ovoviviparity is newly recorded in G. oberthueri sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 120 species of the chrysomelid genus Gonioctena are currently known from Palaearctic, Nearctic and Oriental Regions, amongst them, 51 occur in China.Two new species of the genus Gonioctena, G. klapperichi sp. nov. (Fujian) and G. oberthueri sp. nov. (Sichuan), are described and illustrated from China. Distinguishing characters from closely-related species are presented, respectively. The Gonioctena fauna of China now includes 53 species, of which about 60% are endemic. Ovoviviparity is newly recorded in G. oberthueri sp. nov.

The three-dimensional morphologies of insects, such as spines and horns, have recently garnered attention as an effective system for elucidating the processes underlying dramatic changes in external morphology. Adult leaf beetles of Dactylispa Weise 1897 exhibit sharp spines on their pronotum and elytra, while their pupae lack such features. In order to obtain foundational data for future investigations into the developmental mechanisms governing spine formation, this study assessed variations in spine numbers across ten body regions and in spine size across three body regions in adults of Dactylispa higoniae (Lewis in Ann Mag Nat Hist (Ser. 6) 17:329–343, 1896. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222939608680376) and D. issikii (Chûjô in Bull Umeno Entomol Lab 6:5–13, 1938). As a result, the degree of variation in spine numbers and size was variable among body regions even within single species. However, the number of spines on the pronotal front margin in D. higoniae and the elytral interval 4 in D. issikii was stable. The spine numbers of these two species did not exhibit significant differences between the right and left sides of the body and was not likely to be influenced by sex or elytral length. Furthermore, we observed pronotal and elytral spines that formed inside the pupal cuticle of late-stage pupae of these two species. Our observations suggested neither pronotal nor elytral spines exhibit a formation pattern resembling concentric folded structures, as seen in beetle horns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a genome assembly from an individual leaf beetle, Galeruca laticollis (Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 2,154.60 megabases. Most of the assembly (99.92%) is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 19.98 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 32,229 protein-coding genes.

Simple Summary: This study aimed to elucidate the factors contributing to the limited presence of Cheilotoma musciformis in Poland, with a specific focus on soil characteristics affecting both vegetation and insect populations. It examined how soil enzyme activity influences the occurrence of Ch. musciformis in the xerothermic grasslands of Southern Poland. Sites inhabited by the beetle were typically subject to extensive grazing by farm animals or recent bush clearance, contrasting with control plots situated on unused or overgrazed xerothermic grasslands. Soils in beetle-inhabited sites exhibited significantly higher levels of enzyme activity, total organic carbon, and total nitrogen, along with lower pHKCl compared to control sites. These findings suggest the beetle's reliance on extensively grazed xerothermic grasslands. Given that grazing practices influence the behavior of preferred host plant species, effective protection planning for Ch. musciformis-inhabited grasslands should carefully consider changes in soil biochemical properties and vegetation structure. This work attempts to find the reasons for the rather limited range of occurrence of Cheilotoma musciformis in Poland, based on soil properties, which affects both the plant cover and the entomofauna. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of soil enzyme activity on the occurrence of Ch. musciformis in xerothermic grasslands in Southern Poland. The sites inhabited by the beetle were most often extensively grazed by farm animals or had recently been cleared of bushes. The control plots were in wasteland. The soils of most sites with Ch. musciformis were characterized by significantly higher activity of the tested enzymes and higher content of total organic carbon and total nitrogen, as well as lower pHKCl compared to the control sites. The higher enzymatic activity of soils in sites with the beetle than in the control sites may indicate the dependence of the occurrence of this beetle on the presence of patches of extensively grazed xerothermic grasslands. Grazing influences the behavior of preferred host plant species. Therefore, when planning active protection of xerothermic grasslands inhabited by Ch. musciformis, changes in the biochemical properties of the soil and vegetation structure should be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: We identified the notch gene in the reproductive system of the Basilepta melanopus beetle, a pest affecting oil tea plants. It was discovered that the Notch signaling pathway is crucial for the early development of insect ovaries. Specifically, suppressing the Notch gene expression by RNAi led to impaired ovarian development, decreased mating rates, and reduced egg production. These findings highlight the potential of RNAi-based, Notch-targeted pest control strategies as a practical approach for managing the forest pest B. melanopus populations. Basilepta melanopus is a pest that severely affects oil tea plants, and the Notch signaling pathway plays a significant role in the early development of insect ovaries. In this study, we explored the function of the notch gene within the Notch signaling pathway in the reproductive system of B. melanopus. The functional domains and expression patterns of Bmnotch were analyzed. Bmnotch contains 45 epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domains, one negative regulatory region, one NODP domain and one repeat-containing domain superfamily. The qPCR reveals heightened expression in early developmental stages and specific tissues like the head and ovaries. The RNA interference (RNAi)-based suppression of notch decreased its expression by 52.1%, exhibiting heightened sensitivity to dsNotch at lower concentrations. Phenotypic and mating experiments have demonstrated that dsNotch significantly impairs ovarian development, leading to reduced mating frequencies and egg production. This decline underscores the Notch pathway's crucial role in fecundity. The findings advocate for RNAi-based, Notch-targeted pest control as an effective and sustainable strategy for managing B. melanopus populations, signifying a significant advancement in forest pest control endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brilliant red Lilioceris merdigera (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) can spend its entire life cycle on the cardenolide-containing plant Convallaria majalis (lily of the valley) and forms stable populations on this host. Yet, in contrast to many other insects on cardenolide-containing plants L. merdigera does not sequester these plant toxins in the body but rather both adult beetles and larvae eliminate ingested cardenolides with the feces. Tracer feeding experiments showed that this holds true for radioactively labeled ouabain and digoxin, a highly polar and a rather apolar cardenolide. Both compounds or their derivatives are incorporated in the fecal shields of the larvae. The apolar digoxin, but not the polar ouabain, showed a deterrent effect on the generalist predatory ant Myrmica rubra, which occurs in the habitat of L. merdigera. The deterrent effect was detected for digoxin both in choice and feeding time assays. In a predator choice assay, a fecal shield derived from a diet of cardenolide-containing C. majalis offered L. merdigera larvae better protection from M. rubra than one derived from non-cardenolide Allium schoenoprasum (chives) or no fecal shield at all. Thus, we here present data suggesting a new way how insects may gain protection by feeding on cardenolide-containing plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basilepta melanopus is a pest that severely affects oil tea plants, and the Notch signaling pathway plays a significant role in the early development of insect ovaries. In this study, we explored the function of the notch gene within the Notch signaling pathway in the reproductive system of B. melanopus. The functional domains and expression patterns of Bmnotch were analyzed. Bmnotch contains 45 epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domains, one negative regulatory region, one NODP domain and one repeat-containing domain superfamily. The qPCR reveals heightened expression in early developmental stages and specific tissues like the head and ovaries. The RNA interference (RNAi)-based suppression of notch decreased its expression by 52.1%, exhibiting heightened sensitivity to dsNotch at lower concentrations. Phenotypic and mating experiments have demonstrated that dsNotch significantly impairs ovarian development, leading to reduced mating frequencies and egg production. This decline underscores the Notch pathway’s crucial role in fecundity. The findings advocate for RNAi-based, Notch-targeted pest control as an effective and sustainable strategy for managing B. melanopus populations, signifying a significant advancement in forest pest control endeavors.

Simple Summary: The landmark annotation of hindwing venation is one of the most important methods in the hindwing morphological, functional, and evolutionary analysis of beetles, and the number of the landmark samples greatly affects the effectiveness of these analysis. However, large-scale manual landmark annotation is a time-consuming task that hinders the progress of wing morphology research. Some machine learning techniques have been applied to beetle image recognition, but the lack of data for beetle hindwing landmarks limits the use of machine learning for beetle hindwing landmark detection. In this study, we propose a new approach to solve the problem of insufficient training samples for beetle hindwing landmark detection, by fine-tuning a new deep high-resolution convolutional neural network pretrained on a natural image database to transfer it to the domain of beetle hindwings. The results of experiments shows the effectiveness of this new approach as it demonstrated small error in the detection of leaf beetle hindwing landmarks and required a very low number of samples. Hindwing venation is one of the most important morphological features for the functional and evolutionary analysis of beetles, as it is one of the key features used for the analysis of beetle flight performance and the design of beetle-like flapping wing micro aerial vehicles. However, manual landmark annotation for hindwing morphological analysis is a time-consuming process hindering the development of wing morphology research. In this paper, we present a novel approach for the detection of landmarks on the hindwings of leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) using a limited number of samples. The proposed method entails the transfer of a pre-existing model, trained on a large natural image dataset, to the specific domain of leaf beetle hindwings. This is achieved by using a deep high-resolution network as the backbone. The low-stage network parameters are frozen, while the high-stage parameters are re-trained to construct a leaf beetle hindwing landmark detection model. A leaf beetle hindwing landmark dataset was constructed, and the network was trained on varying numbers of randomly selected hindwing samples. The results demonstrate that the average detection normalized mean error for specific landmarks of leaf beetle hindwings (100 samples) remains below 0.02 and only reached 0.045 when using a mere three samples for training. Comparative analyses reveal that the proposed approach out-performs a prevalently used method (i.e., a deep residual network). This study showcases the practicability of employing natural images—specifically, those in ImageNet—for the purpose of pre-training leaf beetle hindwing landmark detection models in particular, providing a promising approach for insect wing venation digitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Podontia quatuordecimpunctata (L.) or the "sineguelas" leaf beetle is reported from the Philippines. Red sineguelas (Spondias purpurea L.), golden apple or yellow sineguelas (S. dulcis Forst.), and hog plum or "libas" [S. pinnata (L.f.) Kurz.] are reported as host plants. However, feeding on S. philippinensis (Elm.) and S. mombin L. (hog plum are unverified. The current geographic distribution and pest status of P. quatuordecimpunctata are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversity and abundance of leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) at four different landuse in Bukit Duabelas National Park and Harapan Forest, Jambi Province. Deforestation has a negative impact toward ecosystem and diversity. Landuse change has been known to negatively impact insect like ant and beetle in Jambi Province. This research aims to study the diversity, abundance, and composition of the leaf beetle in the Bukit Duabelas National Park (TNBD) and Harapan Forest landscape. Insect sampling was carried out using canopy fogging method. Four core plots were determined in each land use (as replicates) and each plot consist of three as subplot. Insect was collected in 16 traps (size 1 m x 1 m) that was installed under plant canopy prior to fogging process. The collected sample was sorted and identified in the Biocontrol Laboratory, Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University. Total of 1,040 individuals leaf beetles were collected, belonging to 6 subfamilies and 127 morphospecies. The result of this research showed that a different lanscape has no effect give impact to insect abundance. Different landuse however does significantly impact the abundance and diversity of leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Leaf beetle on Pelagodoxa henryana Becc. in Bogor Botanical Garden, Indonesia. Bogor Botanical Garden (BBG) is a conservation site with various type of collections such as threatened palm species, including Pelagodoxa henryana Becc. which has been categorized as critically endangered species. During its development, some of the plants did not grow optimal due to insect pests attack. The purpose of the study was to identify insect pest species that attack the P. henryana in BBG. The method used was observation with purposive sampling on eight palms P. henryana in BBG then insects were collected and identified. The results showed that insect pest attacked young leaf and also unopened leaf. The insects hide between the leaves, causing young leaves became dry up then died. Based on species identification, two leaf beetles were found i.e., Brontispa longissima (Gestro) and Wallacea sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomellidae).

Abstract Cerotoma arcuata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) has been a notorious issue in the previous soybean (Glycine max) season in South America. Geostatistical analyses explore insect spatiotemporal dynamics by settling populations’ spatial dependence. Investigating the spatiotemporal dynamic of C. arcuata provides accomplishments about its regulation factors and scouting directions. Hence, this study aimed to determine the spatiotemporal dynamics of C. arcuata in soybean fields through geostatistical tools. For this purpose, C. arcuata populations, climatic elements, surrounding vegetation, and plant stage were monitored in soybean fields for two years. The highest C. arcuata densities occurred in the second year’s dry season at the reproductive stage, and average air temperature regulated its population. The exponential and spherical semivariograms presented spatial dependence ranges of 7.58 and 17.18 m, respectively. Consequently, samples for scouting purposes must be assessed at greater distances than 17.18 m. C. arcuata distribution was clustered when its density was > 1 adult.m−1. In conclusion, this research elucidates the spatiotemporal dynamics of C. arcuata in tropical soybean fields and provides valuable knowledge to draw decision-making plans and control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenyltransferases play a pivotal role in the isoprenoid biosynthesis and transfer in insects. In the current study, two classes of prenyltransferases (MhieFPPS1 and MhieFPPS2, MhiePFT-β and MhiePF/GGT-α) were identified in the leaf beetle, Monolepta hieroglyphica. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that MhieFPPS1, MhieFPPS2, MhiePFT-β and MhiePF/GGT-α were clustered in one clade with homologous in insects. Moreover, MhieFPPS2 lacked one aspartate-rich motif SARM. Molecular docking and kinetic analysis indicated that the (E)-GPP displayed higher affinity with MhieFPPS1 compared to DMAPP within the binding pocket containing metal binding sites (MG). The other class of prenyltransferases (MhiePFT-β and MhiePF/GGT-α) lack the aspartate-rich motif. Docking results indicated that binding site of MhiePFT-β involved divalent metal ions (Zn) and bound farnesyl or geranylgeranyl. In vitro , only recombiant MhieFPPS1 could catalyze the formation of (E)-farnesol against different combination of substrates, including IPP/DMAPP and IPP/(E)-GPP, highlighting the importance of SARM for enzyme activities. Kinetic analysis further indicated that MhiePFT-β operated via Zn2+-dependent substrate binding, while MhiePF/GGT-α stabilized the β-subunit during catalytic reaction. These findings contribute to a valuable insight in to understanding of the mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis and delivery of isoprenoid products in beetles. • Two classes of prenyltransferases are identified in Monolepta hieroglyphica. • MhieFPPS1 shows multiple catalytic functions, while the motif SARM plays a significant role. • Farnesyltransferases is involved in farnesyl or geranylgeranyl transfer. • A putative metabolic pathway for the de novo synthesis and transmission of isoprenoids in beetles was constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionPerennial Chinese licorice, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, is an important medicinal plant. Diorhabda tarsalis, a leaf beetle, is a serious insect pest on the plant and cause serious yield losses every year and is attracted to healthy and pest-damaged licorice by plant volatiles.AimThe biologically active components of the volatiles released from G. uralensis have not been reported; the components of the volatiles that attract D. tarsalis need to be identified. Such compounds could potentially be used for monitoring and mass-trapping pests.MethodsGC-EAD, GC-MS, EAG, Y-shaped olfactometer behavioral bioassays, and field trials were performed to identify the components and composition of active volatiles.ResultsMale and virgin female adults were generally attracted to volatiles from licorice, and volatiles from pest-infested plants were more attractive. Four compounds from licorice elicited a significant electrophysiological response (EAD) and were confirmed by EAG, including hexanal, (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, and (E)-2-hexenal. With the exception of the (E)-2-hexenal, these molecules significantly attracted adults in individual behavioral bioassays, and a proportional mixture corresponding to beetle-damaged licorice of hexanal, (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, and (E)-2-hexenal (8.78:15.26:57.24:18.72) was most effective for attracting D. tarsalis in the field, attracted a mean of 26 ± 7.19 beetles per trap.DiscussionD. tarsalis was attracted to volatiles from healthy and herbivore-induced G. uralensis under both laboratory and field conditions. The aforementioned compounds show considerable potential for commercial application to monitor and control D. tarsalis populations.

All life stages of I O. communa i were raised at the control temperature of 28 °C; experimental temperatures of 40 °C, 42 °C, or 44 °C were imposed from 12:00 to 15:00 daily to different life stages of I O. communa i placed in respective environmental chambers until a generation completed. All life stages of I O. communa i were raised at the control temperature of 28 °C; experimental temperatures of 40 °C, 42 °C, or 44 °C were imposed from 12:00 to 15:00 daily to different life stages of I O. communa i placed in respective environmental chambers until a generation completed. All life stages of I O. communa i were raised at the control temperature of 28 °C; experimental temperatures of 40 °C, 42 °C, or 44 °C were imposed from 12:00 to 15:00 daily to different life stages of I O. communa i placed in respective environmental chambers, until a generation completed. [Extracted from the article]

This study provides some preliminary details on the biology of the leaf beetle Sastroides besucheti Medvedev (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) occurring on wild nutmeg Myristica malabarica Lam. with damage symptoms. Banana (cv. Jnalipoovan) as a host observed now for the adults is also explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hindwing venation is one of the most important morphological features for the functional and evolutionary analysis of beetles, as it is one of the key features used for the analysis of beetle flight performance and the design of beetle-like flapping wing micro aerial vehicles. However, manual landmark annotation for hindwing morphological analysis is a time-consuming process hindering the development of wing morphology research. In this paper, we present a novel approach for the detection of landmarks on the hindwings of leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) using a limited number of samples. The proposed method entails the transfer of a pre-existing model, trained on a large natural image dataset, to the specific domain of leaf beetle hindwings. This is achieved by using a deep high-resolution network as the backbone. The low-stage network parameters are frozen, while the high-stage parameters are re-trained to construct a leaf beetle hindwing landmark detection model. A leaf beetle hindwing landmark dataset was constructed, and the network was trained on varying numbers of randomly selected hindwing samples. The results demonstrate that the average detection normalized mean error for specific landmarks of leaf beetle hindwings (100 samples) remains below 0.02 and only reached 0.045 when using a mere three samples for training. Comparative analyses reveal that the proposed approach out-performs a prevalently used method (i.e., a deep residual network). This study showcases the practicability of employing natural images—specifically, those in ImageNet—for the purpose of pre-training leaf beetle hindwing landmark detection models in particular, providing a promising approach for insect wing venation digitization.

The locusts Oedales asiaticus (Bey-Bienko) and Myrmeleotettix palpalis (Zubovski) (Orthoptera Acrididae) and the leaf beetle Galeruca daurica (Joannis) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) are economically devastating insect species in the desert steppes of Northern China. Control is mainly and frequently dependent on highly toxic chemicals. To date, there have been no complete and comprehensive reports of insecticide applications to these key pests. In this study, laboratory bioassays were carried out to determine and compare the toxicity of twelve insecticides to three outbreaking insects, O. asiaticus, M. palpalis, and G. daurica, from three typical desert steppe regions, SZWQ, XHQ and WLTQQ, respectively. The responses of the two locust species and the leaf beetle were evaluated by topical application and leaf dip bioassay techniques across a range of concentrations to develop dosage–mortality regressions. The insecticides tested included six chemical insecticides (β-cypermethrin, imidacloprid, phoxim, λ-cyhalothrin, methomyl, chlorantraniliprole) and six biogenic insecticides (spinosad, avermectin, rotenone, matrine, azadiracthin, and methoxyfenozide). The results showed that phoxim, λ-cyhalothrin, β-cypermethrin and spinosad showed highly toxic activity to O.asiaticus, M. palpalis, and G. daurica, while methonyl, chlorantraniliprole, and rotenone were moderately toxic to both locust species and the leaf beetle. The LC50 values of matrine, azadiractin, and avermectin were more than 1 μg a.i./adult for O. asiaticus and M. palpalis, the LC50 values of which were higher 2 g/L for G. daurica. Our findings complement information from previous similar studies and will inform future studies relating to the control of outbreaking insects, such as O.asiaticus, M. palpalis, and G. daurica in desert steppes of northern China. This study is also expected to provide basic data on the use of chemical and biogenic insecticides for application in desert steppes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Chrysolina Motschulsky, 1860 from Nagano Prefecture, Honshu, Japan is described as Chrysolina (Allohypericia) orochi sp. nov. with detailed illustrations of the male and female genitalia, description of larva and pupa, and record of its host plant, Artemisia capillaris Thunberg (Asteraceae). Chrysolina (Allohypericia) aeruginosa (Faldermann, 1835) is excluded from Japanese fauna based on revision of the previously published records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The bean leaf beetle (Ootheca mutabilis) has lately emerged as a major bean pest in Uganda, causing devastating crop losses. Despite its importance, little is known about its population genetic structure. We developed microsatellite DNA markers and combined them with partial mito-chondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene sequences as a marker to examine the spatial pop-ulation genetic structure of 86 O. mutabilis samples from 16 populations. We developed a set of five highly polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers. From both types of markers, nearly all the genetic variation occurred within populations and there was no evidence of genetic differentiation in both markers. There was no isolation by distance between geographical and genetic distances for both markers except in one of the agro-ecological zones for mtCOI data. This information will assist in the design of O. mutabilis control strategies. Bean leaf beetle (BLB) (Ootheca mutabilis) has emerged as an important bean pest in Uganda, leading to devastating crop losses. There is limited information on the population genetic structure of BLB despite its importance. In this study, novel microsatellite DNA markers and the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene sequences were used to analyze the spatial population genetic structure, genetic differentiation and haplotype diversity of 86 O. mutabilis samples from 16 (districts) populations. We identified 19,356 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) (mono, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexa-nucleotides) of which 81 di, tri and tetra-nucleotides were selected for primer synthesis. Five highly polymorphic SSR markers (4–21 alleles, heterozygosity 0.59–0.84, polymorphic information content (PIC) 50.13–83.14%) were used for this study. Analyses of the 16 O. mutabilis populations with these five novel SSRs found nearly all the genetic variation occurring within populations and there was no evidence of genetic differentiation detected for both types of markers. Also, there was no evidence of isolation by distance between geographical and genetic distances for SSR data and mtCOI data except in one agro-ecological zone for mtCOI data. Bayesian clustering identified a signature of admixture that suggests genetic contributions from two hypothetical ancestral genetic lineages for both types of markers, and the minimum-spanning haplotype network showed low differentiation in minor haplotypes from the most common haplotype with the most common haplotype occurring in all the 16 districts. A lack of genetic differentiation indicates unrestricted migrations between populations. This information will contribute to the design of BLB control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations are made on the life history of the leaf beetle Mecynodera balyi Clark, 1864, in Helensburgh, New South Wales, including egg-laying behaviour, egg survivorship and a description of the first-instar larva. Eggs are laid externally on the developing seed pods of Pandorea pandorana Andrews (Steenis) (Bignoniaceae) and the first-instar larva burrows into the pod. Pods are also attacked by an undescribed weevil, Storeus species, and larvae of the two beetle species may be found together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as an efficient tool to control insect pests. When insects ingest double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) targeted against essential genes, strong gene silencing and mortality can be induced. To exert their function, dsRNA molecules must pass through the insect’s gut and enter epithelial cells and/or the hemolymph. Gut bacteria are known to play multifarious roles in food digestion and nutrition, and confer protection against pathogens and parasites. Whether there is a cross talk between gut bacteria and ingested dsRNAs and whether the microbiome affects RNAi efficiency are unknown. Results Here, using a leaf beetle gut microbiota system, we investigated whether gut bacteria interact with dsRNA molecules and how the gut microbiota affects RNAi responses in insects. We first showed that the leaf beetle Plagiodera versicolora (Coleoptera) is highly susceptible to RNAi. We then demonstrated that ingestion of dsRNAs by non-axenic P. versicolora larvae results in (i) significantly accelerated mortality compared with axenic larvae, and (ii) overgrowth and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. The latter may be caused by bacterial utilization of dsRNA degradation products. Furthermore, we found that Pseudomonas putida, a gut bacterium of P. versicolora, acts as major accelerator of the death of P. versicolora larvae by transitioning from commensal to pathogenic lifestyle. Conclusions The present study illuminates the complex interplay between lethal dsRNA, the insect host, and its gut microbiota. The ingestion of dsRNA by the leaf beetle caused a dysbiosis of gut bacterial community, and the dsRNA degradation products by host insect preferentially promoted the growth of an entomopathogenic bacterium, which accelerated dsRNA lethality to the insect. Our findings reveal a synergistic role of the gut microbiota in dsRNA-induced mortality of pest insects, and provide new insights in the mechanisms of RNAi-based pest control. Video abstract

[Display omitted] • Gastrophysa atrocyanea is a potential biocontrol agent for Rumex species. • Identifying them under whole plants is challenging in the laboratory. • UV marking facilitated 4.8 times faster detection time compared to visual light. • The finding enables the foraging behaviors of phytophagous insects non-disruptively. The host plant quality is crucial for assessing the environmental safety of weed biological control agents, as they rely on the phenotypic characteristics of test plants in host specificity tests and for mass-rearing before field release. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using potted plants by applying ultraviolet (UV) fluorescent pigment to the elytra of the leaf beetle Gastrophysa atrocyanea. They were released separately on Rumex acetosa as the target weed and Buxus sinica var. insularis as a non-target plant in insect cages. UV marking reduced detection time by 2.7 times and increased the detection rates of female leaf beetles on the target weed compared to visible light, resulting in only 7.41% missing leaf beetles. Similarly, UV application reduced detection time by 2.3 times on the non-target plant, with no missing leaf beetles. Further, marking different sexes with UV pigments facilitated identification 4.8 times faster than visual light. The UV mark and recapture method exhibits promising potential in whole-plant testing, simplifying the identification of a potential biological control agent, G. atrocyanea , in insect cages under no-choice tests. Thus, UV marking enables the possibility of mass-rearing weed biological control agents and monitors the foraging behavior of phytophagous insects cost-effectively and non-disruptively in laboratory settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout their lifetime, insects face multiple environmental challenges that influence their performance. Gregarines are prevalent endoparasites in most invertebrates that affect the fitness of their hosts, but are often overlooked in ecological studies. Next to such biotic factors, a current common challenge is anthropogenic pollution with pesticides, which causes a major threat to non-target organisms that are readily exposed to lethal or sublethal concentrations. In a laboratory study, we investigated whether the presence of gregarines modulates the food consumption and life history traits of a (non-target) leaf beetle species, Phaedon cochleariae, in response to sublethal insecticide exposure. We show that the larval food consumption of the herbivore was neither affected by gregarine infection nor sublethal insecticide exposure. Nevertheless, infection with gregarines led to a delayed development, while insecticide exposure resulted in a lower body mass of adult males and a reduced reproduction of females. Individuals exposed to both challenges suffered most, as they had the lowest survival probability. This indicates detrimental effects on the population dynamics of non-target insects infected with naturally occurring gregarines that face additional stress from agrochemical pollution. Moreover, we found that the infection load with gregarines was higher in individuals exposed to sublethal insecticide concentrations compared to unexposed individuals. To counteract the global decline of insects, the potential of natural parasite infections in modulating insect responses to anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic environmental factors should be considered in ecological risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epitrix hirtipennis (Melsheimer, 1847) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), a leaf beetle native to North America, is recorded for the first time from Hungary. Several specimens were found on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plantations in the eastern and central parts of the country. Its life cycle and importance as a tobacco pest are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a commercially important tree in the Mediterranean basin, where there is a considerable increase in cultivation, especially in Spain. Because of its recent introduction as a crop in the country (1980s), studies on the pests of pistachio in Spain are still rare. Here, we studied the leaf beetle Labidostomis lusitanica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), which was observed on pistachio and might become a serious pest under the expanding Spanish pistachio fields. Because early detection of pests is extremely important to properly plan control strategies, we (i) updated the information on the distribution of the species through samplings and surveys, and (ii) modelled its potential distribution. RESULTS: Currently, L. lusitanica occurs across the whole Iberian Peninsula, especially in its southern and eastern parts, with adults on flight roughly from late April to early June. Analysis of climatic niches showed that L. lusitanica prefers dry and hot areas, which are conditions found especially in the central‐southern parts of the Iberian Peninsula. Such highly suitable areas for this pest overlap considerably with the suitable areas for pistachio cultivation. Surveys of pistachio growers weakly suggested a higher pest attack probability, but, unexpectedly, a lower perceived impact in very suitable areas for L. lusitanica, suggesting that other factors may shape its pest potential in a complex way. CONCLUSION: In line with what has been observed for other Labidostomis species on pistachio in other Mediterranean countries, L. lusitanica has a good potential to harm pistachio production in Spain, claiming for further investigations and prevention strategies. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Timarcha from Northeastern Spain is described: Timarcha montsiensis n. sp., which is closely related to T. tortosensis Bechyné, 1948. The two taxa can be distinguished from each other by the endophallus and its sclerite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first natural history data is reported for the tortoise beetle, Cyrtonota serinus (Erichson, 1847) (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Mesomphaliini). An Ipomoea sp. (Convolvulaceae) is recorded as the host plant. Larvae and adults feed on the leaves. Larvae retain an exuvio-fecal shield and are gregarious. Adults are sexually dimorphic and polymorphic in sizes and coloration.

Abstract As fundamentally different as phytopathogenic microbes and herbivorous insects are, they enjoy plant‐based diets. Hence, they encounter similar challenges to acquire nutrients. Both microbes and beetles possess polygalacturonases (PGs) that hydrolyze the plant cell wall polysaccharide pectin. Countering these threats, plant proteins inhibit PGs of microbes, thereby lowering their infection rate. Whether PG‐inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) play a role in defense against herbivorous beetles is unknown. To investigate the significance of PGIPs in insect–plant interactions, feeding assays with the leaf beetle Phaedon cochleariae on Arabidopsis thaliana pgip mutants were performed. Fitness was increased when larvae were fed on mutant plants compared to wild‐type plants. Moreover, PG activity was higher, although PG genes were downregulated in larvae fed on PGIP‐deficient plants, strongly suggesting that PGIPs impair PG activity. As low PG activity resulted in delayed larval growth, our data provide the first in vivo correlative evidence that PGIPs act as defense against insects.

The beetle Ophraella communa is an effective biological control agent against the invasive common ragweed spread across various ecosystems with variable temperature ranges. The trend in climate change attributed to fluctuating temperatures and abrupt rainfalls is expected to continue. This study aimed to better understand the effects of thermal fluctuation on O. communa by exposing all their life stages to heat stress under different treatments. Repeated exposure to high temperatures, relative to constant milder temperatures, increased the duration of immature development, mean generation time, and the adult longevity, decreased the intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of population increase, net reproductive rate, survival rate, overall longevity, body length, and mass of adults and positively affected overall fecundity by prolonging the oviposition period, biasing sex ratio towards females. After exposure to heat stress, the mating success and production of viable offspring were higher in O. communa. Our findings demonstrate that exposure to heat stress negatively affects ragweed beetles, but they were able to survive and reproduce.

Galerucella (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a leaf beetle genus that has been extensively used for ecological and evolutionary studies. It has also been used as biological control agent against invading purple loosestrife in North America, with large effects on biodiversity. Here, we report genome assembly and annotation of three closely related Galerucella species: G. calmariensis, G. pusilla, and G. tenella. The three assemblies have a genome size ranging from 460 to 588 Mbp, with N50 from 31,588 to 79,674 kbp, containing 29,202 to 40,929 scaffolds. Using an ab initio evidence-driven approach, 30,302 to 33,794 protein-coding genes were identified and functionally annotated. These draft genomes will contribute to the understanding of host-parasitoid interactions, evolutionary comparisons of leaf beetle species and future population genomics studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although lacustrine food webs have been extensively studied, food webs formed on floating-leaved macrophytes are poorly understood. In recent years, lotus Nelumbo nucifera, which was often seen in shallow waters, has rapidly expanded and covered a significant part of the surface of the eutrophic shallow Lake Izunuma in Japan. We investigated the diet of the semiaquatic spider Alopecosa cinnameopilosa collected from lotus vegetation and the shore, using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. We categorized the spiders' potential diet as aquatic prey (aquatic insects and small fish), terrestrial insects, or semiaquatic leaf beetles (Donacia provostii and Galerucella nipponensis) that forage mainly on floating-leaved macrophytes. In lotus vegetation, A. cinnameopilosa relied mostly on leaf beetles (mean dietary contribution: 57.3% in July and 46.0% in September). On the lake shore, A. cinnameopilosa relied on both leaf beetles (41.0%) and aquatic prey (36.4%) in July, whereas they relied mostly on aquatic prey (83.1%) in September. The difference in diets between sites could reflect differences between sites in the abundance of leaf beetles. Therefore, macrophyte-based food webs that start from lotus or water chestnuts could significantly support semiaquatic spiders on macrophyte vegetation in Lake Izunuma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The locusts Oedales asiaticus (Bey-Bienko) and Myrmeleotettix palpalis (Zubovski) (Orthoptera Acrididae) and the leaf beetle Galeruca daurica (Joannis) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) are economically devastating insect species in the desert steppes of Northern China. Control is mainly and frequently dependent on highly toxic chemicals. To date, there have been no complete and comprehensive reports of insecticide applications to these key pests. In this study, laboratory bioassays were carried out to determine and compare the toxicity of twelve insecticides to three outbreaking insects, O. asiaticus, M. palpalis, and G. daurica, from three typical desert steppe regions, SZWQ, XHQ and WLTQQ, respectively. The responses of the two locust species and the leaf beetle were evaluated by topical application and leaf dip bioassay techniques across a range of concentrations to develop dosage–mortality regressions. The insecticides tested included six chemical insecticides (β-cypermethrin, imidacloprid, phoxim, λ-cyhalothrin, methomyl, chlorantraniliprole) and six biogenic insecticides (spinosad, avermectin, rotenone, matrine, azadiracthin, and methoxyfenozide). The results showed that phoxim, λ-cyhalothrin, β-cypermethrin and spinosad showed highly toxic activity to O.asiaticus, M. palpalis, and G. daurica, while methonyl, chlorantraniliprole, and rotenone were moderately toxic to both locust species and the leaf beetle. The LC50 values of matrine, azadiractin, and avermectin were more than 1 μg a.i./adult for O. asiaticus and M. palpalis, the LC50 values of which were higher 2 g/L for G. daurica. Our findings complement information from previous similar studies and will inform future studies relating to the control of outbreaking insects, such as O.asiaticus, M. palpalis, and G. daurica in desert steppes of northern China. This study is also expected to provide basic data on the use of chemical and biogenic insecticides for application in desert steppes.

Bean leaf beetle (BLB) (Ootheca mutabilis) has emerged as an important bean pest in Uganda, leading to devastating crop losses. There is limited information on the population genetic structure of BLB despite its importance. In this study, novel microsatellite DNA markers and the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene sequences were used to analyze the spatial population genetic structure, genetic differentiation and haplotype diversity of 86 O. mutabilis samples from 16 (districts) populations. We identified 19,356 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) (mono, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexa-nucleotides) of which 81 di, tri and tetra-nucleotides were selected for primer synthesis. Five highly polymorphic SSR markers (4–21 alleles, heterozygosity 0.59–0.84, polymorphic information content (PIC) 50.13–83.14%) were used for this study. Analyses of the 16 O. mutabilis populations with these five novel SSRs found nearly all the genetic variation occurring within populations and there was no evidence of genetic differentiation detected for both types of markers. Also, there was no evidence of isolation by distance between geographical and genetic distances for SSR data and mtCOI data except in one agro-ecological zone for mtCOI data. Bayesian clustering identified a signature of admixture that suggests genetic contributions from two hypothetical ancestral genetic lineages for both types of markers, and the minimum-spanning haplotype network showed low differentiation in minor haplotypes from the most common haplotype with the most common haplotype occurring in all the 16 districts. A lack of genetic differentiation indicates unrestricted migrations between populations. This information will contribute to the design of BLB control strategies.

A new species of Aprostocetus (Chrysotetrastichus) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), A. macrolenei Viggiani sp. nov., has been obtained from the eggs of Macrolenes dentipes (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Clytrinae) and described. It is confirmed that Bloodiella andalusica Nowicki is also an egg parasitoid of the mentioned host. Biological notes on both parasitoids are given. Phenological data on the chrysomelid host and diagnostic characters of its undescribed first-instar larva are provided.

Background: RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as an efficient tool to control insect pests. When insects ingest double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) targeted against essential genes, strong gene silencing and mortality can be induced. To exert their function, dsRNA molecules must pass through the insect's gut and enter epithelial cells and/or the hemolymph. Gut bacteria are known to play multifarious roles in food digestion and nutrition, and confer protection against pathogens and parasites. Whether there is a cross talk between gut bacteria and ingested dsRNAs and whether the microbiome affects RNAi efficiency are unknown. Results: Here, using a leaf beetle gut microbiota system, we investigated whether gut bacteria interact with dsRNA molecules and how the gut microbiota affects RNAi responses in insects. We first showed that the leaf beetle Plagiodera versicolora (Coleoptera) is highly susceptible to RNAi. We then demonstrated that ingestion of dsRNAs by non-axenic P. versicolora larvae results in (i) significantly accelerated mortality compared with axenic larvae, and (ii) overgrowth and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. The latter may be caused by bacterial utilization of dsRNA degradation products. Furthermore, we found that Pseudomonas putida, a gut bacterium of P. versicolora, acts as major accelerator of the death of P. versicolora larvae by transitioning from commensal to pathogenic lifestyle. Conclusions: The present study illuminates the complex interplay between lethal dsRNA, the insect host, and its gut microbiota. The ingestion of dsRNA by the leaf beetle caused a dysbiosis of gut bacterial community, and the dsRNA degradation products by host insect preferentially promoted the growth of an entomopathogenic bacterium, which accelerated dsRNA lethality to the insect. Our findings reveal a synergistic role of the gut microbiota in dsRNA-induced mortality of pest insects, and provide new insights in the mechanisms of RNAi-based pest control. 8muhHv3_-7zzU2wL3D8t9_ Video abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper defines and reviews the Gonioctena subgeminata species group of the subgenus Asiphytodecta Chen, 1935. The group contains the following five species, including two new to science: G. subgeminata (Chen, 1934), G. tonkinensis (Chen, 1934), G. oudai Cho & Borowiec, 2016, G. allardi sp. nov., and G. mantillerii sp. nov. The species group restricted to China and Vietnam is characterized by a labrum without a tooth-like projection, elytral punctures arranged in discernible rows, and a setose aedeagus with a broad apical process. Gonioctena tonkinensis is newly reported as an ovoviviparous species. Habitus photographs, illustrations of diagnostic characters of each species, and a key to the species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Aprostocetus (Chrysotetrastichus) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), A. macrolenei Viggiani sp. nov., has been obtained from the eggs of Macrolenes dentipes (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Clytrinae) and described. It is confirmed that Bloodiella andalusica Nowicki is also an egg parasitoid of the mentioned host. Biological notes on both parasitoids are given. Phenological data on the chrysomelid host and diagnostic characters of its undescribed first-instar larva are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The total area of a habitat patch can increase the local species richness both directly (through balance between immigration and extinction) and indirectly (by increasing the habitat heterogeneity and/or as an effect of sample effort). More heterogeneous environments present a wider variety of resources and conditions, allowing species to coexist through niche differentiation. This study shows that the diversity of Chrysomelidae depends on the area and habitat structure of semideciduous forest remnants. We sampled 16 remnants with Malaise traps in August 2012 to March 2013. In order to characterize the habitat, the area, structural heterogeneity of the understory, coverage and canopy height were measured. These variables were used in a path analysis to determine their direct and indirect effects on leaf beetle diversity. A total of 450 specimens from 99 species and five subfamilies were captured. The total area and the understory heterogeneity presented a positive effect on species richness, while canopy cover exerted a negative one. The canopy height only had a negative and indirect effect on leaf beetle richness. In such fragments with more area and more open spaces, plant abundance and richness tend to be higher and favor the coexistence of many Chrysomelidae species.

The structure of the primary olfactory brain center was studied in male and female adult Ambrostoma quadriimpressum by means of a series of histological sections labeled using the reduced-silver-stain technique. The antennal lobe was elliptical, and the total number of glomeruli was approximately 50 in the antennal lobe in both sexes. There was no sexual dimorphism with respect to the size of the antennal lobe or the number and shape of glomeruli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwanoshaira Lee & Beenen gen. nov. is described. It represents the first genus of Galerucinae (s. str.) in Taiwan documented to inhabit moss cushions. Shaira chujoi Kimoto, 1982 is transferred to Taiwanoshaira, as follows: T. chujoi (Kimoto), comb. nov. Two new species, T. taipingshanensis sp. nov. and T. tsoui sp. nov., are described. Adults of T. taipingshanensis sp. nov. were observed feeding on the moss species Plagiomnium vesicatum (Besch.) T.J. Kop. (Mniaceae). Microhabitats and distribution of Taiwanoshaira species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apteroyinga andrewsi, gen. nov. & sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Costa Rica. The genus is placed in the section Coelomerites Chapuis, 1875 of the tribe Galerucini Latreille, 1802. The beetles are fl ightless. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As fundamentally different as phytopathogenic microbes and herbivorous insects are, they enjoy plant‐based diets. Hence, they encounter similar challenges to acquire nutrients. Both microbes and beetles possess polygalacturonases (PGs) that hydrolyze the plant cell wall polysaccharide pectin. Countering these threats, plant proteins inhibit PGs of microbes, thereby lowering their infection rate. Whether PG‐inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) play a role in defense against herbivorous beetles is unknown. To investigate the significance of PGIPs in insect–plant interactions, feeding assays with the leaf beetle Phaedon cochleariae on Arabidopsis thaliana pgip mutants were performed. Fitness was increased when larvae were fed on mutant plants compared to wild‐type plants. Moreover, PG activity was higher, although PG genes were downregulated in larvae fed on PGIP‐deficient plants, strongly suggesting that PGIPs impair PG activity. As low PG activity resulted in delayed larval growth, our data provide the first in vivo correlative evidence that PGIPs act as defense against insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cry3Bb gene was successfully introduced into poplar plastid genome, leading to transplastomic poplar with high mortality to Plagiodera versicolora. Poplar (Populus L.) is one of the main resource of woody industry, but being damaged by insect pests. The feasibility and efficiency of plastid transformation technology for controlling two lepidopteran caterpillars have been demonstrated previously. Here, we introduced B. thuringiensis (Bt) cry3Bb into poplar plastid genome by biolistic bombardment for controlling P. versicolora, a widely distributed forest pest. Chimeric cry3Bb gene is controlled by the tobacco plastid rRNA operon promoter combined with the 5′UTR from gene10 of bacteriophage T7 (NtPrrn:T7g10) and the 3′UTR from the E. coli ribosomal RNA operon rrnB (TrrnB). The integration of transgene and homoplasmy of transplastomic poplar plants was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. Northern blot analysis indicated that cry3Bb was transcribed to both read through and shorter length transcripts in plastid. The transplastomic poplar expressing Cry3Bb insecticidal protein showed the highest accumulation level in young leaves, which reach up to 16.8 μg/g fresh weight, and comparatively low levels in mature and old leaves. Feeding the young leaves from Bt-Cry3Bb plastid lines to P. versicolora caused 100% mortality in the first-instar larvae after only 1 day, in the second-instar larvae after 2 days, and in the third-instar larvae for 3 days. Thus, we report a successful extension of plastid engineering poplar against the chrysomelid beetle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six tortoise beetle species from the genus Aspidimorpha have been recorded feeding on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) in South Africa. All these species are reported to have little impact on the crop and have a low pest status. However, another species has recently been observed, causing over 90% leaf damage to crops in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The objective of the study was to use morphological and molecular techniques to identify this new tortoise beetle. All life stages of the beetle were collected, and examination of these specimens revealed that the adults and larvae corresponded with the morphological descriptions of Aspidimorpha (Megaspidomorpha) angolensis Weise. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene was used for possible molecular identification. No matching nucleotide sequences were found for A. (M.) angolensis in the databases of either the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) or the barcode of life data systems; hence, they could not be used in the characterisation of the beetle. The nucleotide sequences produced were deposited at NCBI for future use. Existing information suggests that A. (M.) angolensis is a new pest of sweet potato and its aggressive feeding warrants the speedy development of management strategies. These should include investigations into biological control options, e.g. natural enemies, as well as the efficacy of insecticides for possible future registration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986, a leaf beetle native to North America, is recorded for the first time from Hungary. Several specimens were found on a degraded meadow in the outskirts of Budapest. Its importance in suppressing its main host plant, common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), is shortly discussed, as well as the potential problems it can cause in plant protection. With 5 figures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated ground-level ozone (O3) reduced C-based defense chemicals; however, severe grazing damages were found in leaves grown in the low O3 condition of a free air O3-concentration enrichment (O3-FACE) system. To explain this phenomenon, this study investigates the role of BVOCs (biogenic volatile organic compounds) as signaling compounds for insect herbivores. BVOCs act as scents for herbivore insects to locate host plants, while some BVOCs show high reactivity to O3, inducing changes in the composition of BVOCs in atmospheres with elevated O3. To assess the aforementioned phenomenon, profiles of BVOCs emitted from birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica Hara) leaves were analyzed ex situ, and Y-tube insect preference tests were conducted in vitro to study the insect olfactory response. The assays were conducted in June and August or September, according to the life cycle of the adult alder leaf beetle Agelastica coerulea Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The Y-tube tests revealed that the leaf beetles were attracted to BVOCs, and O3 per se had neither an attractant nor a repellent effect. BVOCs became less attractant when mixed with highly concentrated O3 (>80 ppb). About 20% of the total BVOCs emitted were highly O3-reactive compounds, such as β-ocimene. The results suggest that BVOCs emitted from the birch leaves can be altered by elevated O3, thus potentially reducing the attractiveness of leaves to herbivorous insects searching for food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]