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In spite of big data and new techniques, the phylogeny and timing of cockroaches remain in dispute. Apart from sequencing more species, an alternative way to improve the phylogenetic inference and time estimation is to improve the quality of data, calibrations and analytical procedure. This study emphasizes the completeness of data, the reliability of genes (judged via alignment ambiguity and substitution saturation), and the justification for fossil calibrations. Based on published mitochondrial genomes, the Bayesian phylogeny of cockroaches and termites is recovered as: Corydiinae + (((Cryptocercidae + Isoptera) + ((Anaplectidae + Lamproblattidae) + (Tryonicidae + Blattidae))) + (Pseudophyllodromiinae + (Ectobiinae + (Blattellinae + Blaberidae)))). With two fossil calibrations, namely,Valditermes brenanaeandPiniblattella yixianensis, this study dates the crown Dictyoptera to early Jurassic, and crown Blattodea to middle Jurassic. Using the ambiguous ‘roachoid’ fossils to calibrate Dictyoptera+sister pushes these times back to Permian and Triassic. This study also shows that appropriate fossil calibrations are rarer than considered in previous studies.

The use of chemical insecticides is the main control method for Blattella germanica worldwide. The prolonged and frequent use of insecticides produced the selection of insecticide-resistant individuals. The German cockroach is one of the most widespread urban pests in Argentina. In the last decades, resistance monitoring studies in this country demonstrated that there is a high prevalence of pyrethroid-resistant populations of B. germanica in the field. In this work, we studied the resistance mechanisms of a field-collected strain of B. germanica at toxicological, enzymatic, and molecular levels. A resistance ratio of 100 was obtained for the resistant strain when it was exposed to β-cypermethrin. The pretreatment with specific synergists (piperonyl butoxide and triphenyl phosphate) led to a significant increase in the toxicity of the pyrethroid, suggesting an involvement of oxidases and esterases in the detoxification of this insecticide. Moreover, esterase and oxidase activities in the resistant strain were 1.5-fold and 2-fold higher respectively, compared to the susceptible individuals. On the other hand, the voltage-gated sodium channel gene of the resistant cockroaches did not show nucleotidic substitutions in the domain II which are associated to knockdown resistance in this species. These results suggest that the main mechanism of resistance of the studied cockroaches' strain is metabolic, mainly due to an increase in the activity of oxidase and esterase enzymes. The results of this work in addition to other reports found in literature show that the extended use of a single active principle for cockroach control promotes the development of resistance leading to control failure in the field. In contrast, integrated pest management strategies include the use of different control tools in addition to chemical insecticides, which delay the appearance of resistance increasing the efficacy of pest control.

The phylogeny of the genus Cubitermes Wasmann was reconstructed using two mitochondrial genes (COI and COII) and a fragment of the nuclear 28S rDNA, including samples of Apilitermes Holmgren, Crenetermes Silvestri, Megagnathotermes Silvestri, and Thoracotermes Wasmann. Based on our analyses, we recovered these genera within a paraphyletic Cubitermes clade. Cubitermes species are distributed between five main clades, highly reflective of their enteric valve armatures (EVAs). Consequently, Cubitermes is here divided into five monophyletic genera based on phylogenetic analyses and EVAs: Cubitermes (sensu stricto), Isognathotermes Sjöstedt, Nitiditermes Emerson, Polyspathotermes Josens & Deligne, gen.n. and Ternicubitermes Josens & Deligne, gen.n. Moreover, the two species of Megagnathotermes included in this study, exhibiting different EVAs, are phylogenetically distant: M. katangensis Sjöstedt belongs in the genus Polyspathotermes, while M. notandus Silvestri remains as a monotypic genus. During the evolution of the Cubitermes complex, sclerotized EVA spatulae appeared twice independently: three or six spatulae in Polyspathotermes (sulcifrons and oblectatus patterns) and two jaw-like spatulae in Nitiditermes (sankurensis pattern), which is absent in some species (oculatus pattern).Zoobank registration: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:576AAFF8-63C6-4962-A8F5-75C9317AEA7B., info:eu-repo/semantics/inPress

Blattoidea are comprised of the major lineages Blattidae, Lamproblattidae, Tryonicidae, Anaplectidae, and Cryptocercidae + Isoptera. Despite a number of studies, no consensus exists regarding the relationships between these lineages. Additionally, the current division of Blattidae into Archiblattinae, Blattinae, Macrocercinae and Polyzosteriinae needs phylogenetic testing. We present a molecular phylogeny of Blattoidea recovering all the major lineages as monophyletic with Lamproblattidae as sister to the remaining Blattoidea and Tryonicidae as sister to Cryptocercidae + Isoptera. Contrary to many previous studies, we found a high degree of consistency between analyses, possibly due to improved taxon sampling. We found that none of the currently accepted subfamilies of Blattidae are monophyletic. Mapping of distribution revealed a clear geographic structuring at odds with the current subfamilial classification. Based on results from this and other studies, we present a revised classification of Blattidae: we erect two new subfamilies, Eurycotiinaestat. rev. and Austrostylopyginaesubfam. nov., reinstate Duchailluiinaestat. rev. and subsume Macrocercinae in Polyzosteriinae. We also present a division of Polyzosteriinae into tribes: Polyzosteriini, Methaninistat. rev., Rothisilphinitrib. nov., and Celatoblattinitrib. nov. Within Blattidae, Duchailluiinae is sister to the remaining taxa, while Austrostylopyginae is most likely sister to all other Blattidae except Duchailluiinae.

Attractive Toxic Bait (ATB) is a low risk practical method to cockroach control. This study aimed to evaluate efficacy of a newly modified eight-chamber-olfactometer for attractiveness experiments. Different stages of German cockroaches were exposed to carbohydrate-rich and protein-rich foods and their attractions were tested both at ambient conditions and in the modified olfactometer. In the latter method, cockroaches were released into the main chamber of olfactometer and their attraction to food compounds placed in test chambers were recorded as the number of captured cockroaches in test chambers. The direct attractiveness test was performed in plastic pans. Repellency of fipronil insecticide was performed with prepared bait powder using olfactometer. Data were subjected to analysis of variance with Tukey’s Test,P ≤ 0.05. Different notes should be considered when using introduced olfactometer like precision when opening the test chambers valves, the fan speed, placement of cardboard shelter in both test and main chambers, and initial starvation of cockroaches. Roasted peanut, banana and biscuits powder were the most attractive foods for cockroaches. The females significantly preferred roasted peanut and the males significantly preferred banana and roasted peanut. These results were similar to the results of direct attracted cockroaches. The cockroaches have repellency to fipronil but attractiveness of bait with 0.01% concentration was significantly higher than cockroach diet. Generally, three factors should be considered in formulation of ATB like un-repellency of the a.i, attractiveness of bait compositions, and palatability of bait texture. The olfactometer introduced in this study could be used by researchers to study cockroach behaviors.

This paper gives a review of the insufficiently studied genus Chrastoblatta Saussure et Zehntner, 1895. The genus Chrastoblatta was described from Madagascar (environs of Antananarivo) and includes two species: Ch. tricolor Saussure et Zehntner, 1895 and Ch. dimidiata (Saussure, 1863). This contribution is based on the study of a series of paralectotypes of Ch. tricolor and syntypes of Ch. dimidiata from The Muséum d’histoire naturelle in Geneva. Additional specimens of Ch. tricolor were found in the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg. Detailed morphological description of the type species, Ch. tricolor, is given. Particular attention is paid to the structure of the male and female genitalia, which are described for the first time. Chrastoblatta dimidiata is briefly described due to insufficient and damaged material, but it is probably closely related to the type species. The genus Chrastoblatta is characterized by a peculiar structure of the wide and flat head, hind tibiae with concavity at the apex, a distinctly reduced 4th segment of the tarsi, an asymmetrical hypandrium, and robust, curved styli. The presence of not inverted genitalia suggests the placement of Chrastoblatta in the subfamily Blattellinae. At the present time, the differential diagnosis of the genus Chrastoblatta based on characters of the male and female genitalia cannot be compiled due to insufficient knowledge of other Madagascan ectobiid.

New genus and species of cockroaches of the subfamily Epilamprinae, Coriaceolamprodes rubidus gen. et sp. nov., are described from the Malaysian state of Sarawak (Borneo Island). This genus is closely related to the genera with asymmetrical armament of tarsi: Calolamprodes Bey-Bienko, 1969, Pseudocalolampra Roth et Princis, 1971, and Paracalolamprodes Anisyutkin, 2015.; however, it readily differs from these genera by the nearly symmetric hypandrium and the unique pressbutton-like shape of the apex of sclerite L3 of the male genitalia.

A new species of the genus Macrophyllodromia, M. obscura sp. n., is described from Peru. An emended diagnosis of the genus Macrophyllodromia is given based on the characters of the hypandrium and male genitalia. The taxonomy of the family Ectobiidae and the place of Macrophyllodromia in it are briefly analyzed.

A new subspecies of the Asian mantis Hierodula patellifera (Audinet-Serville, 1839), Hierodula patellifera daitoanassp. nov., is described based on specimens collected from the Daito Islands, the Ryukyus, Japan. This new subspecies is distinguished from the nominotypical subspecies H. patellifera patellifera in adulthood by the relatively larger body size, the larger number of antennal segments, the presence of a white marking along the dorsal-inner surface on the procoxa, and marginal spines of the procoxa comprising two large and several small tooth-like projections.

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica L. (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae), an invasive pest of human habitats, is distributed throughout the world, except in Antarctica. They have developed resistan...

SummaryAfter a brief synopsis of the history of mantodean classification, a re-organized systematic arrangement of extant praying mantids is provided. To overcome past homoplasy problems, a phylogenetic framework based on male genital structure was used, supplemented by published morphological, chromosomal and molecular data. As already noticed by previous authors, external morphology is highly homoplastic and does not provide useful systematic tools above subfamily level. In contrast, the morphology of male external genitalia is largely congruent with the results of recent molecular phylogenies, but contradicts the most widely used past systems. Additionally, some genital structures widely used for taxonomic purposes could be shown to be not homologous, most notably the distal process. Evolutionary transitions of the distal process and the phalloid apophysis across the mantodean phylogenetic tree are identified and named. The phalloid apophysis of many derived mantodeans shows a tendency towards bifurcat...

In 2017, a total of 82 non-target species representing six orders of insects were captured in four types of tephritid fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) surveillance traps located in Korea; the species included six families of Coleoptera, one of Dictyoptera, 17 of Diptera, two of Hemiptera, three of Hymenoptera, one of Neuroptera, four of Lepidoptera, and one of Raphidioptera. Of these, Diptera were the most abundant; the main families included Muscidae, Tephritidae, and Anthomyiidae. Herein, based on a survey, we present a list of the species of non-target insects captured in the tephritid fruit fly surveillance traps. Keywords: Dipterans, Exotic pests, Monitoring, Pheromone lure, Protein lure

Since 1758 cockroaches have been collected and described from Egypt by several authors. The relationships within the superorder Dictyoptera have been debated in the literature. The Egyptian cockroaches of the family Ectobiidae (Blattodea) are reviewed. Five species in five genera are recognised, including Blattella germanica, Chorisia reducta, Phyllodromica nilotica, Supella longipalpa and Matabeli natreitlina. Gene sequence of 28s ribosomal RNA is provided for Chorisia reducta (Walker) for the first time. The PCR product was found to be about 512 bp long, after sequencing this result aligned with the GenBank data then constructing the phylogenetic tree by using Mega 0.6 program. Colour images, specimens examined and distributions are given for each species.

Although dissimilar in their overall appearance and life habits, the praying mantises (Mantodea) and cockroaches (Blattodea, including their eusocial relatives, the termites [Isoptera]) are grouped within the clade Dictyoptera, based on – among other significant characteristics – the laying of eggs in a compound structure called an ootheca. The origin of the Dictyoptera and the currently recognized taxa within is, however, a controversial topic among entomologists. This has resulted from disparities in the divergence age estimates obtained from phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data together with the limited and controversial fossil evidence attributable to these groups. Here, we report two new oothecae ichnospecies found in a Carnian (237 to 227 mya. lowermost Upper Triassic) deposit from Argentina. Morphological comparisons and Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analyses of fossil and extant oothecae of mantises and cockroaches were performed in an attempt to solve their systematic placement within Dictyoptera and fossil allies, such as †Alienoptera. In addition to being the earliest known record of oothecae, this discovery moves the origin of this specialized reproductive strategy back by 100 million years. As direct fossil evidence, these specimens provide an important calibration and reference point that can inform future research on the origins and timing of diversification of the Dictyoptera. Fil: Cariglino, Barbara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina Fil: Lara, Maria Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Zavattieri, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Periplaneta brunnea was sequenced in this study and used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of Blattodea. The circular mitogenome was 15,604 bp long and exhibited typical gene organization and order, consistent with other sequenced Periplaneta mitogenomes. The initiation codon of the P. brunnea COX1 gene was unusual in that no typical ATN or TTG start codon was found. The two longest intergenic spacer sequences found in the P. brunnea mitogenome were 21 and 17 bp long. Twenty-one base spacer had a 4 bp motif (TATT) between tRNA-Glu and tRNA-Met that conservatively displayed in 9 sequenced blattarian mitogenomes. The second spacer was between tRNA-Ser (UCN) and NAD1 containing a 7 bp motif (WACTTAA) that was highly conserved in 14 blattarian mitogenomes. The control region showed a relatively fixed motif present in 6 Blattidae mitogenomes, with a big stem-loop structure. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using site-homogeneous models based on 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) and two RNA genes. The trees derived from Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses and recovered a relatively stable relationship among major lineages except for the position of Polyphagidae and inter-family relationships of Blaberidae. Analyses supported the monophyly of Blattidae, Blaberidae, Blattellidae, Polyphagidae, Dictyoptera, and the paraphyly of Blattaria. We also found Mantodea was the sister clade to (Blattaria + Isoptera), being the basal position of Dictyoptera in all topologies. Meanwhile, our results also consistently supported that Isoptera should be clustered with Blattaria of Blattodea.

A new species of the genus Placoblatta, P. minorsp. n., is described from Southern Vietnam. The similarity between representatives of the genus Placoblatta and larvae of the subfamily Epilamprinae is briefly discussed. It is suggested that the origin of the genus Placoblatta has a paedomorph nature.

The egg structure and outline of the embryonic development of Metallyticus splendidus of one of the basal Mantodea representatives, Metallyticidae, were described in the present study. The results obtained were compared with those from the previous studies, to reconstruct and discuss the groundplan of Mantodea and Dictyoptera. In M. splendidus, the egg is spheroidal, it has a convex ventral side at the center in which numerous micropyles are grouped, and it possesses a conspicuous hatching line in its anterior half. These are the groundplan features of mantodean eggs and the “grouped micropyles in the ventral side of the egg” are regarded as an apomorphic groundplan feature of Dictyoptera. A small circular embryo is formed by a simple concentration of blastoderm cells, which then undergoes embryogenesis of the typical short germ band type. Blastokinesis is of the “non-reversion type” and the embryo keeps its original superficial position and original orientation throughout embryonic development. During the middle stages of development, the embryo undergoes rotation around the egg's anteroposterior axis. These features are a part of the groundplan of Mantodea. It is uncertain whether sharing of the “non-reversion type” of blastokinesis by Mantodea and blaberoidean Blattodea can be regarded as homology or homoplasy.

A detailed morphological description of the type species of the genus Stictomorphna, S. mjobergi (Hanitsch, 1925), is given. Based on the new data, the genus Stictomorphna is re-diagnosed. Stictomorphna fruhstorferi (Shelford, 1910) and S. tramlapensis (Anisyutkin, 1999), comb. n. are transferred from the genus Pseudophoraspis Kirby, 1903. The relationships of the genus Stictomorphna are hypothesized. A group of genera, including Stictomorphna and some other genera of Epilamprinae probably corresponding to the tribe Morphnini McKittrick, 1964, is diagnosed.

German cockroaches (GCRs), Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae), are attracted to those beer semiochemicals (e.g., ethanol) that formerly living and active yeasts have produced or otherwise formed in the brewing process. We predicted that an earlier step in the production of beer, where yeasts actively metabolize the sugar in malted barley powder (dry malt extract [DME]), is very attractive to GCRs. In laboratory experiments, a 3-component composition (3CC) comprising DME, water, and Brewer's yeast strongly attracted GCR nymphs, females, and males. Both Brewers' yeast and 'spoilage organisms' in the DME or water seem to add to the attractiveness of the 3CC, but there is no additive or synergistic effect between them. The 3CC becomes optimally attractive to GCRs after 12 h of fermentation and stays that attractive for at least 120 h. In field trapping experiments, the 3CC and-unexpectedly-also the DME each proved as effective for attracting and capturing GCRs as a commercial cockroach bait (Combat Roach Gel). Future studies will investigate lethal biocontrol agents that can be added to the 3CC, or the DME, and will explore the efficacy of such lethal baits for GCR control.

SummaryThe oriental species previously included in the rarely collected genus Nemotha Wood-Mason, 1884 (Mantodea: Iridopterygidae) are revised. N. coomani (Chopard, 1930) and N. mirabilis Beier, 1933 strongly differ from the type species N. metallica (Westwood, 1845) by family-level morphological features, but share a unique type of forefemoral armament with the genera Hapalopeza Stal, 1877 and Amantis Giglio-Tos, 1915, suggesting Nemotha is of a polyphyletic nature. The genus Tricondylomimus Chopard, 1930 is resurrected from synonymy to accommodate T. coomani, T. mirabilis n. comb. and the species which is newly described in this article, T. intermedius n. sp. The monotypic genus Pseudogousa Tinkham, 1937 and its species P. sinensis Tinkham, 1937 are synonymized with Tricondylomimus and T. mirabilis, respectively. The genus Tricondylomimus is placed in Iridopterygidae, while Nemotha is transferred to Hymenopodidae: Anaxarchini.

A Beauveria bassiana bait formulation was evaluated for its efficacy in the laboratory and field against German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), and American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.). The LT50 values were 46 and 119 h, respectively, for B. germanica and P. americana. The cockroach species were lured and killed effectively when linear distance was about 5 m between B. bassiana bait and fresh mouse food. In the field, more than 90% relative decline in density was found 14 d after treatment, which lasted for 90 d. In conclusion, laboratory and field studies demonstrated the high efficacy of a B. bassiana bait formulation against common cockroach species.

Iris oratoria is recorded for the first time in Alba, Vrancea and Călărași counties, Romania. The presence of the species in Romania is not unexpected, as it is also present in the neighbouring countries and its tendency of migrating north is well known.

Pyrethroids are synthetic insecticides that have a repellent action. This effect has been associated with an increase in the locomotor activity, which causes the avoidance of the insecticide-treated area (excito-repellency). In this work, we studied with behavior and electrophysiological recordings the occurrence of olfactory-mediated repellency caused by pyrethroids of different volatility in the German cockroach Blattella germanica (Linnaeus, 1767). Male cockroaches were spatially repelled when they were exposed to D-allethrin vapors and vapothrin vapors in a dose-dependent manner. No repellency was observed when insects were exposed to permethrin, a non-volatile pyrethroid. To confirm the role of olfaction in this phenomenon, we measured the electrical activity of the cockroaches' antennae in response to these insecticides. There was a significant increase in the electrical activity in response to D-allethrin and vapothrin, but no increase was observed in insects exposed to permethrin. Locomotor activity of cockroaches exposed to pyrethroids was measured in order to discard excito-repellency. No changes in locomotor activity were observed for any of the insecticides. Finally, we found that volatile pyrethroids in the vapor phase cause spatial repellency in cockroaches, being the first report of an olfactory-mediated repellency phenomenon caused by pyrethroids in cockroaches.

We investigated bactericidal and fungicidal properties of chitosan extracted from adults and nymphs from both German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Blattodea: Blattellidae) and American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Dictyoptera: Blattidae). The cuticle of adults and nymphs extracted from both cockroaches were dried and ground. The powders were demineralized and deproteinized followed by deacetylation using NaOH. Finally, the chitosan yields were examined for antibacterial and antifungal activities. The degree of deacetylation (DD) was different between adults and nymph stages. The antimicrobial effect of American cockroach chitosan (ACC) and German cockroach chitosan (GCC) was tested against four bacteria and four fungi. The extracted chitosans from American cockroach, Periplaneta americana and German Cockroach, Blattella germanica suppressed the growth of Gram-negative/positive bacteria except Micrococcus luteus. The growth of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger were notability inhibited by the extracted chitosans. The antimicrobial effect of the chitosan depended on the cockroach species, with chitosan of the American cockroach showing more inhibitory effect. This difference may be due to differences in the structure of chitin between the two cockroach species.

A new species of the genus Macrostylopyga Anisyutkin, Anichkin & Thinh, 2013, M. abramovi sp. n., is described from Southern Vietnam (Kon Tum Province). A detailed morphological description of the new species is given. Special attention is paid to the structures of the male genitalia. The structures of the female genitalia of Macrostylopyga grandis Anisyutkin, Anichkin & Thinh, 2013 and Macrostylopyga sp. are described for the first time.

BACKGROUND Bait formulations are widely used to control German cockroach (Blattella germanica) populations. To perform optimally, these formulations must compete favorably with non-toxic alternative foods present within the insect's habitat. We hypothesized that the nutritional history of cockroaches and their acceptance or avoidance of glucose would affect their food preference and thus bait efficacy. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a controlled laboratory experiment, first providing glucose-accepting and glucose-averse cockroaches nutritionally defined diets and then offering them identical diets containing the insecticide hydramethylnon as a bait proxy to evaluate the effect of diets of differing macronutrient composition on bait performance. RESULTS The interaction between diet composition and bait composition affected the survival of adult males as well as first-instar nymphs exposed to excretions produced by these males. Survival analyses indicated different responses of glucose-averse and glucose-accepting insects, but generally any combination of diet and bait that resulted in high diet intake and low bait intake reduced secondary kill. CONCLUSIONS This study represents a comprehensive examination of the effect of alternative foods on bait efficacy. We suggest that disparities between the nutritional quality of baits and the foods that are naturally available could profoundly impact the management of German cockroach infestations. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Detailed morphological redescriptions of cockroaches of the subfamily Epilamprinae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865 from the New World based on the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences are given. Poeciloderrhis verticalis (Burmeister, 1838), the type species of the genus Poeciloderrhis Stal, 1874; Phoraspis picta (Drury, 1782), the type species of the genus Phoraspis Serville, 1831; Epilampra mexicana Saussure, 1862 and E. sodalis Walker, 1868, the members of the “mexicana” and “sodalis” species-groups, respectively, are redescribed. Parapoeciloderrhis dilatatus Anisyutkin, gen. et sp. n. is described from Ecuador. The paper pays special attention to the structures of the male and female genitalia. The hypothetical relationships between the taxa studied are briefly considered. The possible synapomorphies of the group [Poeciloderrhis, Epilampra, and Phoraspis] are considered. The genus Epilampra is possibly artificial and needs division into several genera.

BACKGROUND Bait formulations are considered to be the most effective method for reducing German cockroach (Blattella germanica) infestations. An important property of some bait formulations is secondary kill, whereby active ingredient (AI) is translocated in insect-produced residues throughout the cockroach population, especially affecting relatively sedentary early-instar nymphs. RESULTS B. germanica was collected from a location where baits containing hydramethylnon, fipronil or indoxacarb had become ineffective, and these AIs were topically applied to adult males. Results revealed the first evidence for hydramethylnon resistance, moderate resistance to fipronil and extremely high resistance to indoxacarb. Insecticide residues excreted by field-collected males that had ingested commercial baits effectively killed nymphs of an insecticide-susceptible laboratory strain of B. germanica but failed to kill most nymphs of the field-collected strain. CONCLUSIONS We report three novel findings: (1) the first evidence for hydramethylnon resistance in any insect; (2) extremely high levels of indoxacarb resistance in a field population; (3) reduced secondary mortality in an insecticide-resistant field-collected strain of B. germanica. We suggest that, while secondary mortality is considered to be advantageous in cockroach interventions, the ingestion of sublethal doses of AI by nymphs may select for high insecticide resistance by increasing the frequency of AI resistance alleles within the population. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry

The cockroach, Blatta orientalis, is among one of the important domestic pests found in the semi-arid areas of Algeria. In this study, the insecticidal activity of spinosad, bioinsecticide, was tested against B. orientalis using different concentrations. Bioassays were done by topical application on newly emerged adult females under laboratory conditions. The results showed that the product exhibits a high level of toxicity with a dose-response relationship. The enzymatic analyses of the treated adults of B. orientalis with the determined LC50 dose revealed a neurotoxic activity of spinosad, with an inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and a stimulation of the detoxification system that is interpreted by the increase of glutathione-S-transferase activity. In other experiments the compound was applied at LC50 on a newly emerged females and its effect was investigated on reproduction during the first gonadotrophic cycle (0, 2, 4 and 6 days) and the ovarian protein contents. The results showed that spinosad re...

New cockroaches of the family Blaberidae are described from Southern Sumatra: two new species of the genus Cyrtonotula Uvarov, 1939, C. secunda sp. nov. and C. tertia sp. nov. (Epilamprinae); and one new species of the genus Paranauphoeta J.W.H. Rehn, 1951, P. pullata sp. nov. (Paranauphoetinae). Detailed morphological descriptions of the new species are given. Structures of the male genitalia of the genus Cyrtonotula are described for the first time. Hypothesis on the relationships of these new taxa as well as Morphna maculata Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865, Rhabdoblatta sp. and Pseudophoraspis sp. based on 28S ribosomal DNA sequences is discussed.

The Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, first introduced to Florida in 1986, has been spreading throughout the southeastern United States. Populations can reach extremely high densities and cause damage to crops as well as become a nuisance in residential settings. Because the German cockroach, Blattella germanica L., is its closest extant relative, we characterized the B. asahinai male response to blattellaquinone, the sex pheromone of the German cockroach, in an effort to develop monitoring tools for B. asahinai. Electroantennogram (EAG) analysis was conducted on B. asahinai and B. germanica males and females, and revealed that the antennae of males of both species responded significantly more to blattellaquinone than females, and in both males and females absolute EAG responses of B. asahinai were greater than in B. germanica males and females, respectively. However, normalized male EAG response curves and ED50 values (effective dose to elicit 50% of maximal response) did not differ significantly between the two species. Results of field trapping experiments demonstrated that male B. asahinai were more attracted to blattellaquinone than any other life stage, and 10 μg of blattellaquinone attracted the most males. These results suggest that blattellaquinone or a similar compound might be a component of the sex pheromone of B. asahinai females.

A full taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genusParastagmatopteraSaussure is presented, including the description of two new species:Parastagmatoptera bororoisp.n. andParastagmatoptera sottileisp.n.The following species are synonyms:Parastagmatoptera tessellataSaussure & Zehntnersyn.n.(male nec female) andParastagmatoptera hoorieCaudellsyn.n.ofParastagmatoptera flavoguttata(Serville);Parastagmatoptera confusaG.-Tossyn.n.ofParastagmatoptera pellucidaG.-Tos;Parastagmatoptera tessellataSaussure & Zehntnersyn.n.(female nec male),Parastagmatoptera serricornisKirbysyn.n.andParastagmatoptera vitrepennisBrunersyn.n.ofParastagmatoptera unipunctata(Burmeister);Parastagmatoptera concolorJantschsyn.n.ofParastagmatoptera theresopolitanaG.-Tos.Parastagmatoptera vitreola(Stål), previously treated as a synonym ofParastagmatoptera flavoguttatais returned to species status;P. flavoguttata var. immaculataChopard is recognized as a valid species.Parastagmatoptera amazonicaWerner andParastagmatoptera glauca(Rehn) are transferred to the subfamily Photinainae. In total, nine species are recognized, each of which is presented with a diagnosis, a full description, assessments, distribution data and a comprehensive bibliography. A taxonomic history of the genus and its species is provided. A key to allParastagmatopteraspecies is included and each is fully illustrated. Comments about the biogeography ofParastagmatopteraare also presented.

Two little-known species of praying mantises, Severinia turcomaniae (Saussure, 1872) and Rivetina nana Mistshenko, 1967, are reported for the faunas of Russia and Europe for the first time based on the material collected in Astrakhan Province of Russia. New data on the morphology, ecology, and distribution of these species are given. The male genitalia of S. turcomaniae and the female of R. nana are described for the first time. The lectotype of Oxythespis turcomaniae Saussure, 1872 is designated and deposited in the collection of the Zoological Museum of the Moscow University. The synonymy of O. turcomaniae and Mantis wagneri Kittary, 1849 is shown to be insufficiently justified; M. wagneri is provisionally placed in the genus Severinia Finot, 1902. Since R. nana Lindt, 1968 is most probably not a synonym of R. nana Mistshenko, 1967 but a separate species, a substitute name R. pseudonana Shcherbakov nom. n. is proposed for the former. Some characters traditionally used for the identification of Rivetina species are shown to be significantly variable and thus unreliable. A key to 11 praying mantis species of the Russian fauna is provided. The recent discovery of S. turcomaniae and R. nana in the northern Caspian Sea region is assumed to reflect the expansion of the natural ranges of thermophilic species caused by increasing aridity of the climate.

Subterranean termites are the most economically important structural pests in the USA, and the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Dictyoptera: Rhinotermitidae) is the most widely distributed species. Soil treatment with a liquid termiticide is a widely used method for controlling subterranean termites in structures. We assessed the efficacy of a nonrepellent termiticide, Altriset® (active ingredient: chlorantraniliprole), in controlling structural infestations of R. flavipes in Texas, North Carolina, and Ohio and determined the post-treatment fate of termite colonies in and around the structures. In all three states, microsatellite markers indicated that only one R. flavipes colony was infesting each structure. A single chlorantraniliprole treatment provided effective structural protection as there was no further evidence of termite activity in and on the majority of structures from approximately 1 month to 2 years post-treatment when the study concluded. Additionally, the treatment appeared to either severely reduce the infesting colony’s footprint at monitors in the landscape or eliminate colony members from these monitors. A supplemental spot-treatment was conducted at one house each in Texas and North Carolina at 5 and 6 months post-treatment, respectively; no termites were observed thereafter in these structures and associated landscaping. The number of colonies found exclusively in the landscape (not attacking the structure) varied among the states, with the largest number of colonies in Texas (0–4) and North Carolina (0–5) as compared to 0–1 in Ohio, the most northern state.

The antennal hearts of the zorapteran Zorotypus hubbardi and of two psocopteran species (Caecilius sp., Embidopsocus sp.) are described in detail and compared to those of other insects. In Zorotypus, the ampullae of this organ are located dorsally of the antennal base. They are attached to the frontal cuticle of the head capsule and laterally suspended by two delicate bands of connective tissue. The associated muscles comprise a well-developed M. interampullaris and a M. ampulloaortica, which together act as dilators of the ampullae. The connected antennal vessel has a very thin wall and is uniform along its entire length. In the two studied psocopterans the ampullae are likewise connected to the head capsule and have two additional elastic bands. In Caecilius sp. the anterior band is muscular, while in Embidopsocus sp. it is the posterior one. The psocopteran antennal hearts have no additional musculature. Antennal hearts with a musculature configuration resembling that of Zoraptera are known only from Dictyoptera, Phasmatodea and some orthopterans. This condition thus might be a synapomorphy of a polyneopteran subgroup including Zoraptera.

Topical and fumigant toxicity of saturated aliphatic fatty acids with chain lengths of C1 through C14 were determined against the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). In the C1 to C11 series, topical toxicity (LD50 in milligram per adult male) ranged from 0.145 (C1) to 0.322 mg (C2). Toxicity declined dramatically with C12 and C14 acids whose LD50 values could not be calculated. The relative fumigation toxicity (LC50 in microliter per liter) of C1 through C5 acids was positively correlated with topical toxicity with values ranging from 6.159 (C3) to 12.302 microl/liter (C2). Fumigant toxicity decreased sharply with C6 (LC50 = 37.691 microl/liter) and there was no mortality of cockroaches exposed to vapors from C7 to C14 acids. The low fumigant toxicity of the C6 to C11 acids was correlated with their relatively low vapor pressure, but differences in diffusion of the vapors into the spiracles and subsequent passage to the target sites may have also been involved.

Toxicity, repellency, and performance of three insecticides, beta-cyfluthrin EC, fipronil granules, and an essential oil EC formulation, were evaluated against the Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, in field and laboratory experiments. The beta-cyfluthrin EC and fipronil granules were significantly more toxic than the essential oil EC formulation under continuous exposure conditions, with LT50 values of 0.014, 0.45, and 11.45 d, respectively. The beta-cyfluthrin EC and fipronil granules were also significantly more toxic than the essential oil EC formulation in an Ebeling choice box test with LT50 values of 0.64, 1.98, and 59.64 d, respectively. Field applications of insecticides at label rates to Asian cockroach populations in Dothan, AL, showed that beta-cyfluthrin EC and fipronil granules reduced populations by 100% at 7 and 30 d after treatment. The essential oil EC formulation initially reduced populations by 68% at 7 d, but control diminished to 2% by 30 d. Results of the field applications and laboratory experiments demonstrate that the beta-cyfluthrin EC and fipronil granules provide excellent control of Asian cockroach populations.

The earliest termite of the extant genus Mastotermes, is herein recorded in the Jurassic/Cretaceous (J/K) transitional beds of Chernovskie Kopi in Transbaikalian Russia along with Santonitermes of an uncertain family. These records represent the earliest eusocial organisms. No termites have ever been recorded among the hundreds of thousands of fossil insects in the Jurassic/Creta- ceous boundary Beds of China and Mongolia or in prior time periods. Both genera indicate that the early termites survived for an extremely long period of time. The present find both provides evidence of the greatest ghost range (60 Mya) of any winged stem cockroach family and indicates that the origin of termites and evolution of eusociality occurred later than the Middle Jurassic.

This study was executed to measure the efficacy (preference and toxicity) of imidacloprid 3.0%, fipronil 0.05%, and chlorpyrifos 1.0% gel baits for the control of American cockroaches under laboratory conditions. Result revealed that the cockroaches consumed significantly greater amount of fipronil bait than imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos baits. The same bait was detected significantly faster than chlorpyrifos bait. Imidacloprid bait quickly killed the 50% of the tested cockroaches (LT50, 4.64 hours) than fipronil and chlorpyrifos bait. Fipronil bait was detected significantly faster and consumed significantly greater amount than chlorpyrifos. However, chlorpyrifos killed the 50% of tested cockroaches faster than fipronil. Thus, imidacloprid bait was more effective than fipronil and chlorpyrifos baits for the control of American cockroaches under laboratory conditions.

The Turkestan cockroach, Blatta lateralis (Walker), has become an important invasive species throughout the southwestern United States and has been reported in the southern United States. It is rapidly replacing the oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis (L.), in urban areas of the southwestern United States as the most important peri-domestic species. They typically inhabit in-ground containers such as water meter, irrigation, and electrical boxes, raises of concrete, cracks and crevices, and hollow block walls. On occasion, they will invade dwellings. At 26.7 degrees C, male and female nymphs developed into adults in an average of 222 and 224 d, respectively. Both males and females had five nymphal instars. Adult females deposited up to 25 oothecae. The oothecae averaged 16.8 eggs and 13.9 nymphs emerged per egg capsule, resulting in an 82.7% hatch rate. Adults lived for at least 612 d. Two parameters that might contribute to the success of Turkestan cockroaches compared with oriental cockroaches are that the developmental period of the nymphs of Turkestan cockroaches are shorter and adult female Turkestan cockroaches produce considerably more oothecae than do oriental cockroaches. These may explain the observations by Pest Management Professionals that Turkestan cockroaches are displacing oriental cockroaches in outdoor habitats throughout the southwestern United States.

The minimum time of heating (48, 50, and 53 °C) required to kill Periplaneta americana (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattidae) oothecae aged 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks was determined and their suitability as hosts after different storage conditions (live, heat killed and cold stored for 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 months at 4 °C) for rearing parasitoids Aprostocetus hagenowii (Ratzeburg) and Evania appendigaster (L.) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae; Evaniidae) was investigated. Heating at 48 °C for 45 min killed 100% of the oothecae of all ages. Both parasitoids had low emergence in live 4-week-old oothecae but emergence improved after oothecae were heat killed. For A. hagenowii, an interaction effect between ootheca age and storage duration was found for percentage emergence. Emergence rates were reduced in cold-stored 3- and 4-week-old oothecae (1–4 and 3–4 months, respectively) but not in 1–2-week-old oothecae. The number of progeny produced in 1–2-week-old and 3–4-week-old oothecae decreased significantly after cold storage for 3–4 and 0.5–4 months, respectively. In all conditions, the development time was 34.5–39.9 d and the progeny sex ratio was female-biased (88.2–94.3%). E. appendigaster had low parasitism and emergence rates (0–20%) in cold-stored oothecae and took longer to develop in heat-killed and cold-stored oothecae than in live oothecae. In all conditions, the proportion of females was 0.619–0.821. These results illustrate the effects of ootheca age on host treatment and storage and can be used to develop efficient ways to use oothecae for rearing oothecal parasitoids.

Extensive usage and heavy reliance on insecticides have led to the development of insecticide resistance in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). Six field-collected strains of B. germanica from Singapore were used to investigate resistance to fipronil and dieldrin. The three strains (Boat Quay, Cavenagh Road, and Ghimmoh Road) with greatest resistance to fipronil were subjected to selection with fipronil bait up to the F5 generation. Synergism assay and molecular detection of a target site mutation were used to elucidate the mechanism of fipronil resistance in these strains. With the exception of the Cavenagh Road strain, all parental strains were susceptible to dieldrin. This strain exhibited resistance to dieldrin and fipronil with resistance ratios of 4.1 and 3.0, respectively. Piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate were antagonistic toward fipronil toxicity in all strains. Bait selection significantly increased fipronil and dieldrin resistance in the three chosen ...

Many insects find resources by means of the olfactory cues of general odors after learning. To evaluate behavioral responses to the odor of a particular chemical after learning with reward or punishment quantitatively, we developed a standardized odor-training method in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Linnaeus), an important urban pest species. A classical olfactory conditioning procedure for a preference test was modified to become applicable to a single odor, by which a (−)-menthol or vanillin odor was independently associated with sucrose (reward) or sodium chloride solution (punishment). The strength of the association with the odor was evaluated with the increase or decrease in visit frequencies to the odor source after olfactory conditioning. The frequency increased after (−)-menthol was presented with a reward, while it did not change with the rewarded vanillin odor. With both odors, the frequency decreased significantly after training with a punishment. These results indicate that cockroaches learn a single compound odor presented as a conditioned stimulus, although the association of the odor with a reward or punishment depends on the chemical. This olfactory conditioning method can not only facilitate the analysis of cockroach behavior elicited by a learned single chemical odor, but also quantify the potential attractiveness or repellency of the chemical after learning.

The hypothesis of Paleozoic origin of mantises recently proposed by Béthoux & Wieland is discussed. It is shown that these authors reject the logical scenario of evolution of the main higher taxa in the order Dictyoptera, well grounded by the morphological, paleontological and molecular data, in favor of the opposite one based on two very feeble assumptions: about inexplicable importance of one of the very common fusions of veins RS and MA in the tegmina of one of the Carboniferous polyneopterans, and about some traces of basal fusion of RS and M ostensibly present in the tegmina of recent mantises. Arguments against these views are considered.

A new species of the genus Prosoplecta Saussure, 1864 (Dictyoptera, Ectobiidae), P. (Areolaria) vietnamensis sp. n., is described from South Vietnam. Areolaria Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865 is tentatively considered a subgenus of the genus Prosoplecta. A detailed morphological description of the new species is provided.

New material from Borneo Island, Malacca Peninsula, Pangkor and Luzon islands was examined. A new species, Euchomenella udovichenkoi sp. nov., is described. It differs from other species of the genus by shape of the hypophallus and the pseudophallus, in having a curved furcasternum, a number of joints in the cerci and an almost dull colouration. Genitalia of Tagalomantis manillensis (Saussure, 1870) are described for the first time. New localities for Euchomenella matilei Roy, 2001, E. macrops (Saussure, 1870), and E. molucarum (Saussure, 1872) are given.