Search

• • At 19 − 34 °C, D. maculatus can complete the entire immature stage of development. • • The lower and upper developmental thresholds were 15.28 and 34.03 °C, respectively. • • The survival rate was the highest at 22 °C and the lowest at 34 °C. • • Body length, the widths of head capsule and pronotum were modeled over time. Necrophagous beetles are sometimes used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMI min) in the decay and remains stages of a corpse. Among these, the Dermestidae is one of the most common groups used and therefore has important research and application value. In this study, the developmental events of Dermestes maculatus de Geer, 1774, were recorded at six constant temperatures, and isomorphen diagrams were established. The thermobiological parameters were estimated using linear and non-linear models, and morphological indicators such as larval body length were measured. The results showed that the developmental duration of the whole immature stage decreased from 66.13 ± 8.58 days at 19 °C to 21.9 ± 2.01 days at 34 °C. The survival rate of the immature stages, especially the egg stage, varies greatly with temperature, with the lowest survival observed at 34 °C and the highest at 22 °C. The lower developmental threshold, the intrinsic optimum temperature, and the upper lethal developmental threshold obtained by the curvilinear Optim SSI models were 15.28 °C, 28.36 °C, and 34.03 °C, respectively. The body length, head capsule width, and pronotum width showed obvious growth patterns with larval developmental duration, which were characterized by equations and isomegalen diagrams. This study provides important basic data for the application of D. maculatus to estimate the PMI min in forensic entomology in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We investigated the mining mode of insect feeding, involving larval consumption of a plant's internal tissues, from the Middle Jurassic (165 million years ago) Daohugou locality of Northeastern China. Documentation of mining from the Jurassic Period is virtually unknown, and results from this time interval would address mining evolution during the temporal gap of mine–seed plant diversifications from the previous Late Triassic to the subsequent Early Cretaceous.Plant fossils were examined with standard microscopic procedures for herbivory and used the standard functional feeding group–damage‐type system of categorizing damage. All fossil mines were photographed and databased.We examined 2014 plant specimens, of which 27 occurrences on 14 specimens resulted in eight, new, mine damage types (DTs) present on six genera of bennettitalean, ginkgoalean, and pinalean gymnosperms.Three conclusions emerge from this study. First, these mid‐Mesozoic mines are morphologically conservative and track plant host anatomical structure rather than plant phylogeny. Second, likely insect fabricators of these mines were three basal lineages of polyphagan beetles, four basal lineages of monotrysian moths, and a basal lineage tenthredinoid sawflies. Third, the nutrition hypothesis, indicating that miners had greater access to nutritious, inner tissues of new plant lineages, best explains mine evolution during the mid‐Mesozoic. See also the Commentary on this article by McLoughlin & Santos, 242: 2391–2393. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Apoderus dimidiatus (Coleoptera: Attelabidae), a widely distributed weevil species in China, feeds on leaves and creates compact leaf rolls for spawning. Its offspring complete a series of developmental stages within these structures before emerging as mature insects. In this study, we assembled a high-quality genome of A. dimidiatus at the chromosome level. We found the expanded gene family of A. dimidiatus is associated with functions such as the regulation of skin water loss, sebaceous gland development, and water balance in multicellular organisms, which are essential for the species' survival within leaf rolls. On the other hand, the contracted gene family is primarily associated with protease activity and solute transmembrane transport, contributing to the decline in egg production and the low survival rate of offspring. This situation forces female adults to develop the unique behavior of leaf rolling. Overall, our findings shed light on the evolutionary relationship between A. dimidiatus and other species and elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind their unique leaf rolling behavior. Attelabidae insects have attracted much attention due to their unique leaf rolling behavior before oviposition. However, the lack of genomic data makes it difficult to understand the molecular mechanism behind their behavior and their evolutionary relationship with other species. To address this gap, we utilized Illumina and Nanopore sequencing platforms along with Hi-C technology to establish a highly accurate whole genome of A. dimidiatus at the chromosome level. The resulting genome size was determined to be 619.26 Mb, with a contig N50 of 50.89 Mb and GC content of 33.89%. Moreover, a total of 12,572 genes were identified, with 82.59% being functionally annotated, and 64.78% designated as repeat sequences. Our subsequent phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that Attelabidae's divergence from Curculionidae occurred approximately 161.52 million years ago. Furthermore, the genome of A. dimidiatus contained 334 expanded gene families and 1718 contracted gene families. In addition, using Phylogenetic Analysis by Maximum Likelihood (PAML), we identified 106 rapidly evolved genes exhibiting significant signals and 540 positively selected genes. Our research endeavors to serve as an invaluable genomic data resource for the study of Attelabidae, offering fresh perspectives for the exploration of its leaf rolling behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nipa palm hispid beetle (Octodonta nipae) is an insect species that is native to Malaysia but has spread to southern China and beyond, seriously threatening palm production. A lack of high-quality genome resources has hindered understanding of the insect's invasive characteristics and ecological adaptations. Here, we combined Illumina short read, PacBio long-read, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing technologies to generate a high-quality, chromosome-scale genome assembly of nipa palm hispid beetle. The genome assembly was 1.31 Gb in size, consisting of nine chromosomes. The contig and scaffold N50 values were 1.022 Mb and 148.6 Mb, respectively. The genome assembly completeness was estimated at 99.1%. Annotation revealed 16,305 protein-coding genes and 62.16% repeat sequences. This high-quality genome assembly is a valuable resource that will contribute to understanding of the genetic factors underlying the invasive characteristics of nipa palm hispid beetle, ultimately promoting development of efficient control policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylotrechus rusticus is one of the major forest trunk borers in China, causing a significant threat to afforestation and forestry engineering construction. Controlling X. rusticus is challenging because of its hidden life habit. The use of natural enemies against X. rusticus is an important strategy for controlling Cerambycidae pests. This is the first study to investigate the effectiveness of Dastarcus helophoroides as a biological control against X. rusticus under indoor and outdoor environments. The expression patterns of CYP6BK3 and CYP6BQ13 genes in various tissues and at different development stages were analyzed to clarify their role in the development of D. helophoroides. The results showed that the parasitism rate of D. helophoroides was the higher when their eggs were released on the larvae of X. rusticus L. indoors. Furthermore, the parasitism rate of D. helophoroides was the highest (86.67%) when their eggs were released on the larvae of X. rusticus in the ratio of 1:100 (host: D. helophoroides) under artificial wood segment simulation. The average parasitism rates of D. helophoroides eggs and adults on the exposed wood segment of the Cerambycidae were 81.83% and 83.29%, respectively. Indoor release of Scleroderma guani increased their parasitic rate on the aged larvae and pupae of X. rusticus. qPCR analysis of CYP450 gene expression showed that CYP6BK3 and CYP6BQ13 genes were expressed at all development stages of D. helophoroides; however, their expression levels were higher in adults than in the larvae. Notably, CYP6BK3 expression was the highest in the adipose tissue, whereas CYP6BQ13 was the highest in the hindgut tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Bostrichidae is a small family of Coleoptera, with up to 600 described species all over the world. Almost 90 species of the family have been recorded in China at present and several new species of powder-post beetles have been described in recent years. Since the 1940s, the family Bostrichidae has become a neglected group in the taxonomy research of the Chinese mainland compared with its extensive territorial and super complex ecological diversity. Thus, there is need for more field specimen collection and in-depth taxonomic study. New information: In this study, two powder-post beetles species Trogoxylon spinifrons (Lesne, 1910) and Minthea bivestita Lesne, 1937, are recorded for the first time from China. New provincial distribution records of another 18 Bostrichidae also listed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the examination of specimens housed in several scientific collections, we expand the known tiger beetle fauna of China, and eight species are recorded from China for the first time. The occurrence of Cicindela (Cicindela) sachalinensis raddei Morawitz, 1863 in Shanxi Province, and Neocollyris (Neocollyris) saphyrina (Chaudoir, 1850) in China are re-established. We provide distribution maps and habitus photographs of examined specimens for the newly recorded and revised species. We also discuss potential research hotspots for future taxonomic studies of tiger beetles in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) is a widely distributed predatory natural enemy insect in North China but its application is limited in greenhouses owing to a low daily average temperature from December to February of next year in greenhouses and the facultative diapause of adult H. axyridis. Owing to the sensitivity of H. axyridis to photoperiod, it is of great importance to explore the feasibility of using the photoperiod to regulate the life parameters and predation ability of this ladybird in greenhouses during the winter, but the effects of photoperiods on life parameters and predation by H. axyridis are not well understood so far. In this study, development, reproduction, and population parameters were studied by constructing two-sex life tables, and effects of photoperiod on predation were tested by predation experiments in both laboratory and greenhouse settings. The results from this article may provide a basis for utilizing H. axyridis in greenhouses during the winter. To explore the feasibility of adjusting the photoperiod to regulate the life parameters and predation ability of Harmonia axyridis Pallas in greenhouses during the winter, life tables were constructed for H. axyridis under the three following photoperiods: 9L:15D (light/dark), 12L:12D, and 16L:8D at 15 °C, an average greenhouse temperature during the winter when aphids severely damage vegetables. The effects of photoperiods on predation by this ladybird were tested in both laboratory and greenhouse settings. The results showed that increased illumination promoted the development and reproduction of H. axyridis; under medium and long photoperiods, the pre-adult periods were 3.61 days and 4.34 days shorter than that under the short photoperiod, respectively, and the fecundity increased by 1.78 and 2.41 times. Population parameters r, λ, and R0 increased as illumination time increased, whereas T decreased. Increased illumination also increased the predation by third- and fourth-instar larvae and adults. The amounts of predation by fourth-instar larvae and adults increased by 22.16% and 75.09% under the medium photoperiod, and those under the long photoperiod increased by 71.96% and 89.64%, respectively. The numbers of Myzus persicae Sulzer predated by H. axyridis under the long photoperiod were higher than those under the short photoperiod in a greenhouse, and the predation parameters were influenced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diplogyniopsis fluctuosumsp. nov. associated with passalid beetles is described based on females from China on undermined passalid beetles, as well as on females and males from Thailand on Aceraius helferi (Coleoptera: Passalidae). The species represents the second known species of Diplogyniopsis Trägårdh, prompting us to redefine the genus diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus of malachiine Melyridae, Platyintybia gen. nov., is described based on several male-specific characters, along with description of its type species, Platyintybia zhongshanensis sp. nov., from China. A new combination, Platyintybia sarawakensis (Champion, 1921), comb. nov., is proposed after examining the type specimen; this species is newly recorded from China. A key to the genera of Chinese Apalochrini is provided for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, all species of the leaf-beetle genus Sinoluperus Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963 from China are redescribed based on the reexamination of type specimens, and a new species, S. variegatus sp. nov. from Nanling Mountains, is described. A key to the three Chinese species of Sinoluperus is provided, as well as photographs of the habiti and aedeagi of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rape stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus asper Roel.) and its close relatives primarily breed on cruciferous plants and cause severe damage to rapeseed production. However, their genetic and molecular information is still scarce. Here, we generated mitogenomes for both C. asper and Ceutorhynchus albosuturalis. The lengths of the 2 mitochondrial genomes are 14,207 bp (C. asper) and 15,373 bp (C. albosuturalis), and both weevils exhibit identical numbers of protein-coding genes with the absence of trnI. A + T contents for both mitogenomes are high (80% and 79.9%, respectively). Haplotype and genetic distance analyses showed that the genetic differentiation of C. asper populations in northwestern China is low. Based on 5 datasets from mitogenomes, phylogenetic analyses with maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods show that both species (C. asper and C. albosuturalis) fall in the CCCMS clade (Curculioninae, Conoderinae, Cossoninae, Molytinae, and Scolytinae) of Curculionidae and belong to clades H and I of the genus Ceutorhynchus , respectively. Larvae of the clade H weevils mainly are borers in petioles or stems of cruciferous plants, while larvae of the clade I weevils mainly inhabit the fruits of the same plants, suggesting that ecological niche specialization can play a critical role in the diversification of Ceutorhynchus species. This study generates baseline molecular and genetic information for future research of Ceutorhynchus -related taxa and provides insights into the phylogeny and evolution of Curculionidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tea pest, Basilepta melanopus Lefèvre 1893 (Chrysomelidae), belongs to the subfamily Eumolpinae. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of B. melanopus from southern China was sequenced using the next-generation sequencing technique, assembled, and annotated using bioinformatics tools. The complete mitochondrial genome was 15,905 bp in length. The overall GC content was 22.51%, in which the percentages for the bases A, T, C, and G were 41.23%, 36.26%, 8.92%, and 13.59%, respectively. Thirty-seven genes were predicted, including 13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNA, and two ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete mitochondrial genome sequences of 18 Chrysomelidae taxa revealed that B. melanopus was closely related to Basilepta fulvipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pheromones, such as sex pheromones, aggregation pheromones, and alarm pheromones, are the basis for insect aggregation, mating, and other behaviors. Compared with the structures of sex pheromones, those of aggregation pheromones are more complex, especially in cucujoid grain beetles, which produce macrocyclic lactones as aggregation pheromones. So far, there is limited research studying the biosynthesis of macrocyclic lactones at the molecular level. Two aggregation pheromone components of the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus, have been identified to be biosynthesized via the mevalonate (MVA) pathway and fatty acid synthesis (FAS) pathway, with their productions affected by starvation. Therefore, we conducted a comparative transcriptomics analysis of hypothetical pheromone production sites in C. ferrugineus under starvation stress. Additionally, significantly enriched metabolic pathways and down-regulated genes directly involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of aggregation pheromones via the MVA and FAS pathways, respectively, were identified, as well as some juvenile hormone (JH)- and insulin-related genes, which are of great significance for elucidating the synthesis and regulatory mechanisms of cucujoid grain beetle pheromones. Pheromones are the basis of insect aggregation, mating, and other behaviors. Cucujoid grain beetles produce macrocyclic lactones as aggregation pheromones, yet research on their biosynthesis at the molecular level remains limited. The rusty grain beetle, C. ferrugineus, is an important economic species in China. Although two aggregation pheromone components have been identified, their suspected biosynthesis via the MVA pathway and the FAS pathway lacks molecular elucidation. Previous evidence supports that starvation affects the production of aggregation pheromones. Therefore, we constructed comparative transcriptome libraries of pheromone production sites in C. ferrugineus under starvation stress and identified genes related to pheromone biosynthesis and hormone regulation. A total of 2665 genes were significantly differentially expressed, of which 2029 genes were down-regulated in starved beetles. Putative C. ferrugineus genes directly involved in pheromone biosynthesis were identified, as well as some genes related to the juvenile hormone (JH) pathway and the insulin pathway, both of which were depressed in the starved beetles, suggesting possible functions in pheromone biosynthesis and regulation. The identification of genes involved in macrolide lactone biosynthesis in vivo holds great significance, aiding in the elucidation of the synthesis and regulatory mechanisms of cucujoid grain beetle pheromones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The genus Oides belongs to the subfamily Galerucinae and is widely distributed in the Old World. In this study, Chinese species of the genus Oides were revised based on comparative morphological characteristics. In total, seven new species and a new record in China are described. A key to all the Chinese Oides species is provided. In this study, 25 species of Oides Weber from China were reviewed. Among them, the following seven new species are described: Oides angustasp. nov., O. cystoprocessasp. nov., O. paraborerisp. nov., O. parabowringiisp. nov., O. parathibettanasp. nov., O. shimenensissp. nov., and O. yunnanensissp. nov.; Oides innocua Gahan has been recorded in China for the first time. A key to all the Chinese Oides species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Breeding and re-introducing the endangered firefly Pyrocoelia pectoralis (Lampyridae: Lampyrinae) to a suitable habitat has become necessary because increased urbanization and light pollution have seriously reduced its numbers. To better understand this species' reproductive biology, the anatomy of the male and female reproductive systems was investigated, and sperm competition and paternity were studied using SSR. The study of the anatomy of the female reproductive system as well as the paternity experiments revealed sperm competition in P. pectoralis. This is the first report to study sperm competition and paternity using SSR, both in fireflies generally, and in Pyrocoelia pectoralis (Olivier) in particular. The endangered terrestrial firefly Pyrocoelia pectoralis (Olivier) is endemic to China. Populations of P. pectoralis have decreased dramatically due to urbanization and pollution. Breeding and re-introduction to a suitable habitat may save the species from becoming extinct. Because of its polyandrous character, an investigation into the possibility of sperm competition and paternity outcomes from multiple matings was initiated to better understand its reproductive physiology. To achieve these goals, 13 SSR markers were developed. The results of paternity experiments indicate there is a significant difference between P3 and P1 or P2. The female reproductive system has three spermathecae which accept sperm from different matings, and no bursa or spermatophore-digesting organ is developed. Our research established that multiple inseminations with sperm from different males occur, leading to competition between ejaculates. The benefits of such competition include an increasing number of sperm in the ejaculates of competing males and the consequential increase in fertilized eggs (thus, fecundity), and thereby a higher chance of genetic diversity and fitness in the offspring of the firefly P. pectoralis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The phylogenetic status of the family Nitidulidae and its sister group relationship remain controversial. Also, the phylogenetic status of the subfamily Meligethinae and its phylogenetic relationships with other subfamilies of Nitidulidae are not fully understood. Mitochondrial genome sequences can be used to study species identification, phylogeny, and population genetic structure, and to provide valuable molecular markers for further genetic studies. In this paper, two complete mitochondrial genomes of Meligethinae were provided for the first time, and the phylogenetic status of the family Nitidulidae and subfamily Meligethinae were explored based on the complete mitochondrial genomes. A comparative analysis of the general characteristics and non-coding region patterns of the complete mitochondrial genomes of Meligethinus tschungseni and Brassicogethes affinis revealed that the base composition and mitochondrial genome structure of these two species are markedly different. Given the results of the phylogenetic analysis based on 20 mitochondrial genomes, the status of Nitidulidae and its sister group relationship is discussed. We also attempted to analyze the taxonomic status of Meligethinae and its sister group relationship. This study will provide a basis for further studies on the higher phylogeny of Nitidulidae. The phylogenetic status of the family Nitidulidae and its sister group relationship remain controversial. Also, the status of the subfamily Meligethinae is not fully understood, and previous studies have been mainly based on morphology, molecular fragments, and biological habits, rather than the analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome. Up to now, there has been no complete mitochondrial genome report of Meligethinae. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genomes of Meligethinus tschungseni and Brassicogethes affinis (both from China) were provided, and they were compared with the existing complete mitochondrial genomes of Nitidulidae. The phylogenetic analysis among 20 species of Coleoptera was reconstructed via PhyloBayes analysis and Maximum likelihood (ML) analysis, respectively. The results showed that the full lengths of Meligethinus tschungseni and Brassicogethes affinis were 15,783 bp and 16,622 bp, and the AT contents were 77% and 76.7%, respectively. Each complete mitochondrial genome contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a control region (A + T-rich region). All the PCGs begin with the standard start codon ATN (ATA, ATT, ATG, ATC). All the PCGs terminate with a complete terminal codon, TAA or TAG, except cox1, cox2, nad4, and nad5, which terminate with a single T. Furthermore, all the tRNAs have a typical clover-leaf secondary structure except trnS1, whose DHU arm is missing in both species. The two newly sequenced species have different numbers and lengths of tandem repeat regions in their control regions. Based on the genetic distance and Ka/Ks analysis, nad6 showed a higher variability and faster evolutionary rate. Based on the available complete mitochondrial genomes, the results showed that the four subfamilies (Nitidulinae, Meligethinae, Carpophilinae, Epuraeinae) of Nitidulidae formed a monophyletic group and further supported the sister group relationship of Nitidulidae + Kateretidae. In addition, the taxonomic status of Meligethinae and the sister group relationship between Meligethinae and Nitidulinae (the latter as currently circumscribed) were also preliminarily explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Resolving phylogenetic relationships among animals remains one of the most challenging issues in systematics. Currently, molecular phylogeny is the standard for inferring evolutionary relationships, but morphological analysis still cannot be replaced or neglected. Male genitalia have been proven to be valuable in phylogenetic analyses usually in the higher taxonomic grades but are rarely studied at the lower level. In the present study, we performed a taxonomic review (with two new species described) and further investigated the interspecific relationship of Lyponia s. str. based on the morphometric data of phallus shapes using geometric morphometric (GM) and phylogenetic morphometric (PM) methods. As a result, the produced topologies (of the unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA), neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum parsimony (MP) analyses) provide a general framework of the morphological evolution of this subgenus. To be exact, these species are divided into two clades that represent two shapes of the phallus. The results provide better understanding of the species diversity and evolution of Lyponia s. str. and shed new light on investigations of the phylogenetic relationships of insects based on male genitalia shapes, which is particularly useful when molecular data are unavailable. The nominate subgenus Lyponia Waterhouse, 1878 from China is reviewed, with two new species described and named L. (s. str.) ruficeps sp. n. (China, Yunnan) and L. (s. str.) zayuana sp. n. (China, Xizang). A distribution map and a key to all species of Lyponia s. str. are provided. Moreover, the phenotypic relationships among the species of Lyponia s. str. are investigated based on phallus shapes using geometric morphometric and phylogenetic morphometric analyses. The topologies demonstrate that the species are divided into two clades. One clade is composed of six species (L. ruficeps sp. n., L. zayuana sp. n., L. kuatunensis, L. shaanxiensis, L. hainanensis, and L. tamdaoensis) and is supported by a stout phallus (less than 3.6 times longer than wide). The other clade includes the remaining species (L. nepalensis, L. debilis, L. cangshanica, L. delicatula, and L. oswai) and is supported by a slender phallus (at least 4.1 times longer than wide). These results provide better understanding of the species diversity and evolution of Lyponia s. str. Nonetheless, more samples and loci are required in the future to verify the present results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The longicorn beetle Monochamus saltuarius (Coleoptera; Cerambycidae) is an insect vector that transmits the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a serious issue in pine forests in China, Japan, and South Korea. Dastarcus helophoroides and Scleroderma guani are effective in controlling M. saltuarius. However, the application of these parasites for the direct control of vector insects requires detailed analyses of the suitability of the selected natural enemies in potential pest areas, particularly under climate change. Based on species distribution records as well as the current and projected climate change trends up to 2050, we utilized an optimized Maxent algorithm to predict the potential distribution patterns of M. saltuarius and its natural enemies in China. Furthermore, we estimated Schoener's D to quantify the overlap in adaptability between M. saltuarius and its natural enemies. The potentially suitable areas predicted under the current climate conditions were concentrated mainly in northeast and north China. Additional suitable areas were detected in central, eastern, northwestern, and southwestern China. Under future climate conditions, the suitable range of M. saltuarius gradually shifted southward, with a tendency to expand into high-altitude and colder regions, such as Sichuan, Qinghai, and Tibet. The potential distribution of the natural enemies D. helophoroides and S. guani continued to expand under climate change. A comparison of the appropriate habitats of M. saltuarius and natural enemy insects indicated that D. helophoroides is more suitable for initial biological control in north, northeast, and central China as well as certain northwest and coastal regions. S. guani could be prioritized for nationwide release, while joint control using both species may be effective in Liaoning, Hebei, and Tianjin provinces. These analyses demonstrate that future climate change is likely to exert adverse effects on the potential distribution of M. saltuarius but is favorable for the potential distributions of natural enemies. This study offers important insights into the effective control of M. saltuarius and provides an experimental basis for the utilization of natural enemies according to the characteristics of different regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the genus Houaphanica Novák, 2020 from China (Fujian Province) are described as follows: Houaphanica wuyishanica sp. nov. and Houaphanica ziyungdongica sp. nov. These are the first records of Houaphanica species from the Palaearctic Region. The new species are described, illustrated (including male genitalia) and compared with one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To help address the underrepresentation of arthropods and Asian biodiversity from climate‐change assessments, we carried out year‐long, weekly sampling campaigns with Malaise traps at different elevations and latitudes in Gaoligongshan National Park in southwestern China. From these 623 samples, we barcoded 10,524 beetles and compared scenarios of climate‐change‐induced biodiversity loss, by designating seasonal, elevational, and latitudinal subsets of beetles as communities that plausibly could go extinct as a group, which we call "loss sets". The availability of a published mitochondrial‐genome‐based phylogeny of the Coleoptera allowed us to compare the loss of species diversity with and without accounting for phylogenetic relatedness. We hypothesised that phylogenetic relatedness would mitigate extinction, since the extinction of any loss set would result in the disappearance of all its species but only part of its evolutionary history, which is still extant in the remaining loss sets. We found different patterns of community clustering by season and latitude, depending on whether phylogenetic information was incorporated. However, accounting for phylogeny only slightly mitigated the amount of biodiversity loss under climate change scenarios, against our expectations: there is no phylogenetic "escape clause" for biodiversity conservation. We achieve the same results whether phylogenetic information was derived from the mitogenome phylogeny or from a de novo barcode‐gene tree. We encourage interested researchers to use this data set to study lineage‐specific community assembly patterns in conjunction with life‐history traits and environmental covariates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Predatory spider and epigaeic beetle assemblages are major natural enemies (NEs) in agricultural ecosystems. The effects of non-crop natural habitats in supporting predatory NEs are well known for summer crop systems; however, limited attention has been given to summer–winter crop rotation transaction systems and during overwintering periods, especially in small-scale farmland systems. Here, we examine the effect of winter planting regimes and landscape composition on the species diversity and functional diversity of ground predators (spiders and carabids) in eight gradient landscape sites in southern China over two consecutive winters (2019/2020 and 2020/2021). Our work reveal that the spiders were more abundant and had a higher activity density in fallow rice fields (FRs) than oilseed rape fields (OSRs); however, the ground beetles were more abundant in OSRs than that in FRs. The composition of spider assemblages was impacted by semi-natural habitats (SNHs) during overwintering, while ground beetle assemblages were influenced mainly by overwintering planting patterns. The results suggest that different planting regimes and SNHs are a strategic way to enhance these ground predators. To conserve and improve predator diversity during overwintering, we suggest maintaining a diversity of planting regimes and conserving local semi-natural habitats. The rotation patterns of summer rice–winter oil seed rape and summer rice–winter fallow are the main planting regimes in the rice ecosystem in southern China. However, the impact of local rotation patterns and landscape factors on the overwintering conservation of predators in spider and epigaeic beetle assemblages remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the diversity and density of spiders and beetles over two consecutive winters (2019/2020 and 2020/2021), focusing on the impact of two rotation patterns (rice–fallow and rice–oilseed rape) and surrounding landscape compositions on predator diversity. The main findings of our research were that spiders were more abundant and had a higher activity density in the fallow rice fields (FRs) compared to the oilseed rape fields (OSRs), whereas ground beetles exhibited the opposite pattern. Specifically, fallow rice fields supported small and ballooning spiders (e.g., dominant spider: Ummeliata insecticeps), while OSRs supported larger ground beetles (e.g., dominant beetles: Agonum chalcomus and Pterostichus liodactylus). Moreover, the composition of spider assemblages were impacted by semi-natural habitats (SNHs) during overwintering, while ground beetle assemblages were influenced by overwinter planting patterns. Overall, our results suggest that different planting regimes and preserving semi-natural habitats are a strategic way to enhance species diversity and functional diversity of ground predators. It is, therefore, recommended that to conserve and improve predator diversity during overwintering, land managers and farmers should aim to maintain diverse planting regimes and conserve local semi-natural habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Three bark beetle species, Tomicus yunnanensis, T. brevipilosus, and T. minor, are the most economically significant pests of the Yunnan pine in Southwestern China. Chemical and physical communication play key roles in various life activities. In this study, we described the fine structure of the adult mouthparts of these three Tomicus species using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. We identified three types of mandibular shapes, which match with their biomechanical properties, their ability to process food, and their preferred foraging locations on tree trunks. Eleven types of sensilla were discernible, including sensilla basiconica, sensilla twig basiconica, sensilla coeloconica, sensilla chaetica, sensilla trichoidea, and sensilla digitiformia. The function roles of each sensilla type were given based on its distribution and structures, especially on the internal structures such as dendrites and tubular body. Most chemoreceptors occur on the palpal tips. No significant differences among the sexes or species were identified; however, intraspecific variability in the number of sensilla twig basiconica 3 and sensilla digitiformia sensilla was evident. These findings will aid future studies of the feeding niches and reproductive behaviors of Tomicus beetles. Tomicus yunnanensis, T. brevipilosus, and T. minor are the most economically significant pests of Pinus yunnanensis in Southwestern China. Chemical and physical factors play critical roles in diverse biological activities. Here, we describe the fine structure of the adult mouthparts of these three Tomicus species using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. We identified three types of mandibular shapes, which determine their biomechanical properties, their ability to process food, and their preferred foraging locations on tree trunks. Eleven types of sensilla were discernible, including sensilla basiconica (Sb.1–2), sensilla twig basiconica (Stb.1–3), sensilla coeloconica (Sco), sensilla chaetica (Sch.1–2), sensilla trichoidea (Str.1–2), and sensilla digitiformia (Sdi). Each basiconic sensillum occurs on the palpal tips and is innervated by 2–6 dendrites. Sb.1 are gustatory receptors, Sb.2 are olfactory receptors, and the three other sensilla have dual taste and mechanical functions. Sco, Sch, and Str are mechanoreceptors. Sdi are mechanical vibration receptions, given that they are innervated by one dendrite with numerous dendritic branches into the nonporous cuticle. No significant differences among the sexes or species were identified; however, intraspecific variability in the number of Stb.3 and Sdi sensilla was evident. These results will aid future studies of Tomicus beetle behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrilus mali stands as a significant wood-boring pest prevalent in Northeast Asia. Identifying this pest beetle is often hindered by insufficient efficient, rapid, on-site discrimination methods beyond examining adult morphological features. As a result, an urgent need arises for developing and implementing a rapid and accurate molecular technique to distinguish and manage the beetle. This study presents a straightforward, swift, highly specific, and sensitive method built upon recombinase polymerase amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD). This method demonstrates the capability to promptly identify the beetle, even during its larval stage. RPA primers and probes were designed using the internal transcribed spacer 1 region. Through probe optimization, false-positive signals were successfully eliminated, with an accompanying discussion on the underlying causes of such signals. The RPA-LFD assays exhibited remarkable specificity and sensitivity, requiring as little as 10−3 ng of purified DNA. Furthermore, the extraction of crude DNA was achieved through immersion in sterile distilled water, thus streamlining the assay process. Achievable at temperatures ranging from 30 to 50 °C, the RPA-LFD assay can be executed manually without specialized equipment. By merging the RPA-LFD assay with DNA coarse extraction, A. mali can be detected within just 30 min. This current study effectively demonstrates the immense potential of RPA-LFD in quarantine and pest management. Additionally, it presents a universal technique for the rapid on-site diagnosis of insects, showcasing the wide applicability of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diomus guilavoguii Duverger, 1994, an adventive species, is recorded from Guangzhou (Guangdong Province), China for the first time. Larvae of D. guilavoguii were collected in association with an invasive mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink, 1992, infesting papayas, cassava and several ornamental plants. However, little has been known about the biology of D. guilavoguii, especially the morphology of their larvae since their original descriptions. New information: Diomus guilavoguii Duverger, 1994, native to Conakry, Guinea (Africa), is recorded as established in Guangdong Province for the first time. However, it is unclear when and how D. guilavoguii spread from Africa to Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. Both the adult and larva feed on the invasive mealybug Paracoccus marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) that infests papaya and ornamental plants. In this paper, the external morphology and male genitalia of adults are re-described. The detailed descriptions of larva and pupa are also provided for the first time. The status of D. guilavoguii and D. hennessyi Fürsch, 1987 are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tea weevil, Myllocerinus aurolineatus Voss (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an important insect pest in Chinese tea plantations. The primary method for controlling tea weevils involves the use chemical pesticides. Hence, there is an urgent need for environmentally friendly control strategies. To screen for potential pathogenic strains useful for the biocontrol of tea weevils, a naturally occurring Metarhizium pingshaense strain was isolated from a field-collected infected tea weevil larva for the first time in China. Results: Morphological features and molecular characteristics revealed the isolate was an M. pingshaense strain, herein referred to as Ma0628. At 22 °C (tea weevil pupation temperature), the inoculation with M. pingshaense Ma0628 resulted in a corrected cumulative late instar larval mortality rate exceeding 76% at 11 days after the inoculation with the 1 × 108 conidia/ml spore suspension using the immersion or soil-mixing method. Accordingly, the median lethal concentrations were 4.49 × 103 and 3.76 × 102 conidia/ml for the immersion and soil-mixing inoculation methods, respectively. Furthermore, the corrected cumulative adult mortality rate reached 83.33% at 14 days after the inoculation with the 1 × 108 conidia/ml spore suspension. Conclusion: The study results indicate that M. pingshaense strain Ma0628 is an entomopathogenic fungus pathogenic to tea weevil larvae and adults, suggesting it may be a potentially useful biocontrol agent for preventing M. aurolineatus infestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium plays a key role in the orchid industry, with ornamental, medicinal, and economic value. Recently, we found a newly recorded boring pest damaging Dendrobium in Guizhou Province, China. The species is identified as Nassophasis sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Rhynchophorinae) by morphological and anatomical features. The occurrence and biological characteristics of this species were verified through field investigation and indoor experiments. The results showed that detailed external morphological and genitalia characters and male-female differences are described to identify Nassophasis sp. The pest produces three generations per year, with overlapping generations. The adults overwinter in the root stains of Dendrobium and emerge in mid-March of the following year. Adults feed on stems, leaves, and flowers, often laying their eggs inside the stems; larvae then bore into the stems causing decaying and hollowing until complete immature development. There are three larval instars, grouped according to their head capsule width and body length, which were measured following Dyar's law and Crosby's law of growth and showed a significant linear regression (p < 0.0001). The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the prediction and comprehensive control of the insect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Longitarsus Latreille, 1829 from China are described: L. pekingensis Liang, Konstantinov & Ge, sp. nov. (Beijing) and L. xinjiangensis Liang, Konstantinov & Ge, sp. nov. (Xinjiang). Images of dorsal and lateral habitus, pronotum, head, and male and female genitalia are provided. The records of Longitarsus violentus Weise, 1893 and Longitarsus weisei Guillebeau, 1895 in China are discussed. Holotypes of L. marguzoricus Konstantinov in Konstantinov & Lopatin, 2000 and L. violentoides Konstantinov in Konstantinov & Lopatin, 2000 are illustrated with images of pronotum and median lobe of aedeagus. A key to species of L. violentus species group is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to this study, no species of Pseudophanias Raffray had been reported from Nanling, a vast biodiversity conservation area that spans five provinces in southern China. In this paper, three new species of the genus are described: Pseudophanias furcilobus sp. nov. (Guizhou, Guangxi), P. leigong sp. nov. (Guizhou), and P. mulun sp. nov. (Guangxi), suggesting that additional study on the diversity of this group in the area is required. These species are characterized, keyed, and compared to similar congeners, supplemented with illustrations of the habitus and other morphological characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity and biology of the moss and leaf litter-inhabiting flea beetles are still poorly known. In this study, three new species of Benedictus are described from China: Benedictus fuanensis Ruan & Konstantinov, sp. nov., Benedictus quadrimaculatus Ruan & Konstantinov, sp. nov., and Benedictus wangi Ruan & Konstantinov, sp. nov. Comments on their biology are given. Benedictus quadrimaculatus has a highly unusual morphological feature not reported before in flea beetles: black spots on the abdominal tergites that are visible through the elytra. Traditional and modified ethanol traps were tested and proven useful for collecting leaf litter- and moss-inhabiting flea beetles. Based on our tests, eight traps could collect one specimen each day in the testing sites in Fujian Province; three traps could collect one specimen each day in the testing sites in Guangdong Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pterostichus pulcher species group of the subgenus Orientostichus Sciaky & Allegro is defined for P. pulcher Sciaky & Allegro and six new allied species. All seven species of this group are revised on morphological characters. Six new species are described from south of Sichuan province, China: P. pemphis sp. nov. (type locality: Shuihaizi, Puge county, 27.33°N, 102.45°E), P. orbicollis sp. nov. (Longzhoushan, Huili county, 26.79°N, 102.20°E), P. leo sp. nov. (Shizishan, Jinyang county, 27.88°N, 103.23°E), P. liyuani sp. nov. (Luojishan, Puge county, 27.58°N, 102.39°E), P. condylus sp. nov. (Yele, Mianning county, 28.96°N, 102.16°E), P. jialini sp. nov. (Jiamashi, Huidong county, 26.81°N, 102.68°E). Tritrichis chinensis Jedlička, syn. nov., a species previously misplaced in the subgenus Orientostichus, is excluded from the genus Pterostichus and confirmed to be a junior synonym of Synuchus nitidus reticulatus Lindroth, 1956. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new riffle beetles of the genus Zaitzevia Champion, 1923 are described from China, namely Zaitzevia sichuanensis sp. nov. and Zaitzevia fengtongzhaiensis sp. nov. from Sichuan Province, and Zaitzevia yingzuijieensis sp. nov. from Hunan Province. Habitus and diagnostic features of the new species are illustrated. A checklist of all known Chinese Zaitzevia species is given, and a key and distributional map of Zaitzevia species from the Chinese mainland are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of the genus Chrysolina Motschulsky, 1860, namely Ch. caspari sp. n., Ch. melchiori sp. n., and Ch. balthazari sp. n. are described from Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces of China. These species have rare or unique features. In Ch. caspari sp. n. the shape of the last maxillary palpomere (it is shorter and narrower than the penultimate one) is a rare case in the genus Chrysolina. Among Chinese species, this shape of maxillary palpi is known only in one species, Ch. pieli Chen, 1936. In Ch. melchiori sp. n. the relief of elytral surface (strongly reticulated irregular funnels bearing a puncture at the bottom, separated by smooth intervals) is unique for the genus Chrysolina. In Ch. balthazari sp. n. the relief of elytra (alternation of wide convex intervals between pairs of rows and very narrow flat or slightly convex intervals between rows of one pair) is well distinguishable from most Chrysolina members. Due to this feature, the new species can only be close to Ch. jinxiaoae Ge in: Daccordi, Ge, Cui, Yang, 2011 from North Sichuan. Photographs of habitus, external characters, and male aedeagi are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lychrosimorphus juglandis sp. nov. from China (Yunnan), Cenodocus elegans sp. nov. and Demodioides albomaculata sp. nov. from Malaysia (Pahang) are described, illustrated and compared with related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Xinjiang's cotton growing area of China, previous studies have shown that matrine is a selective botanical insecticide, with high toxicity to Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and low toxicity to its dominant natural enemy, Hippodamia variegata Goeze (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). However, lethal effects alone are not sufficient evidence to justify introducing matrine into local IPM strategies. In this context, we systematically evaluated the safety of matrine to H. variegata by investigating the effects of contact and stomach toxicity of matrine on the lady beetle's life-table parameters, predatory ability, flight ability of parental adults, and cross-generational effects on life-table parameters of the predator's offspring. We found that matrine at 2,000 mg/l did not have any significant negative effects to adult fecundity, longevity, or the predatory capacity of parental adults of H. variegata. Moreover, it is the same for cross-generational effects of matrine on H. variegate. The contact toxicity of matrine significantly reduced the flight time of H. variegata males, but did not significantly affect flight time and average velocity. Our results support the view that matrine is safe to H. variegata and can be recommended for use in the local IPM strategy for control of A. gossipii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive insect wood borers are a threat to global forests and tree-related industries as they can damage trees and spread plant pathogens. Reports of damages by wood borers on plants that were planted overseas may facilitate the identification of potential invaders and speed up risk assessment. However, much of this information remains unavailable to the international plant protection community due to language barriers, lack of digitization, or limited circulation of regional literature. Here, we investigated reports of wood borers on 7 important North American commercial tree species planted in China (Carya illinoinensis , Liquidambar styraciflua , Pinus elliottii , Pinus taeda , Quercus texana , Quercus rubra , and Quercus virginiana) in peer-reviewed as well as "grey" (nonpeer-reviewed) Chinese literature. A total of 60 unique wood borer records were found, yielding reports of 4 orders, 39 genera, and 44 species of insect wood borers. Among Coleoptera, longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae) were the most commonly reported colonizers of North American trees in China. Chinese peer-reviewed reports of pests on alien plants are a valuable tool to survey for potential wood-boring invaders of North America, and wherever North American trees are planted and have the potential to encounter Asian invasive insects. Digitization and dissemination of non-English literature are essential for contemporary risk assessment. On the other hand, the nonpeer reviewed "grey" literature, primarily agency reports and student theses, provided only 5% of the records; many incidental observations were unreliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple importations of Lilioceris cheni, a defoliating beetle of the invasive air potato plant, were received by the ARS-Invasive Plant Research Laboratory from 2002 to 2012. The last two, in 2011 (China) and 2012 (Nepal), formed the basis of two colonies from which releases were made into six Southeastern U.S. States. Colony populations were examined using the mitochondrial COI sequence. Phylogenetics, evolutionary divergence, a haplotype network, population statistics, and migration models were generated for the two colonies, countries of origin, and the inferred populations (clades). Phylogenetics eliminated the possibility of cryptic speciation and alleviated the need for host-range testing of the 2012 Nepalese samples. Evolutionary divergence showed the Chinese colony was 1.65X as divergent as the Nepalese, but one Nepalese clade was the most distinctly different of all clades. AMOVA showed most (>70%) genetic variation resided within rather than between colonies. In contrast, AMOVAs showed high levels (>61.5%) of genetic variation between underlying clades with proportionally less variation within. The haplotype network showed broad agreement with the phylogeny. Clade C, from China, displayed the largest number of haplotypes and the largest mutation-scaled effective population size in MIGRATE software. The best MIGRATE models indicated that migration and descent followed the order of phylogenetic descent. The results suggest that the genetic diversity being offered to the adventive range by these very divergent colonies (and clades) is large and should support great ecological flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper describes the first complete mitochondrial genome of an Asian Lordithon species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae). The mitochondrial genome of Lordithon arcuatus (Solsky, 1871) is 18,290 bp long. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses using 68 staphylinid taxa revealed that the mycetoporine representatives constituted a stable and fully supported clade. In addition, we evaluated the performance of mixture models in constructing the mitochondrial tree of staphylinids, and our findings suggest that the class-unlinked heterotachy models, despite having the lowest AIC or BIC value, may produce deceptive results. Lordithon species are typically mushroom-dwelling rove beetles that devour maggots. This study presents the mitogenome of a Lordithon arcuatus specimen that was procured from Changbai Mountain in the Jilin Province of China. The mitogenome is 18,290 bp long and comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs. The base composition of the mitogenome is as follows: A = 38.80%, T = 37.93%, G = 8.94%, and C = 14.32%. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic trees were constructed using 68 representative staphylinid species, which showed that Lordithon, Bolitobius, and Ischnosoma form a stable and fully supported Mycetoporinae clade, whereas there was no consensus regarding the relationships among Tachyporinae taxa. Additionally, the performance of site-specific mixture models for inferring the phylogeny of staphylinids using mitogenomic data was assessed. The results suggest that heterotachy models should be used with caution, as they may result in incorrect topology with delusive precedence in AIC- or BIC-based model selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saproxylic beetles have gained increasing attention due to their role in the decomposition of rotting wood in forests. Studying the response of saproxylic beetles to tree harvesting is important for developing harvesting strategies that consider conservation of saproxylic beetle diversity.We report results from a case study in which we designed four treatment stands to test the effects of forest harvesting intensity on saproxylic beetle diversity, harvest intensities of 0% untreated control (CK), 17.2% light harvest (LT), 34.7% moderate harvest (MT) and 51.9% high harvest (HT). Flight intercept traps were used to collect specimens of saproxylic beetles in each stand at 2, 3 and 4 years post‐harvest.The richness and abundance of saproxylic beetles were higher in MT and HT than in CK. Twelve of the 15 indicator species were significantly associated with MT or HT, whereas only three species were significantly associated with CK.We found that moderate and high intensity harvesting affected the composition and increased beetle abundance and richness of saproxylic beetles, and light intensity harvesting had no effect on the beetle community in years 2, 3 and 4 post‐harvest. There was no difference in the beetle community composition between moderate and high harvest stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology is the property of Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology, Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Scolytinae beetles serve as important regulators of ecosystem integrity. However, some of these species have been identified as important pests. The Guangdong region of China exhibits unique geographic characteristics, but is also subject to substantial anthropogenic disturbances, making it an important region for ecological research. This study was designed to assess the biodiversity and abundance of these Scolytinae beetles in subtropical areas, to define indicators associated with environmental disturbances, and to thereby provide additional valuable information that can support the conservation of the ecosystem and the monitoring and controling of pest species. For these analyses, a two-season survey of Scolytinae communities was performed across three habitats to examine the patterns of variation within these communities. These analyses revealed that environmental disturbances were associated with a drop in Scolytinae beetle population diversity, with Hypothenemus sp.2, Xyleborinus andrewesi, and Xyleborinus artestriatus offering particular value as indicators associated with severe environmental disruptions. Plant diversity and composition also impacted Scolytinae beetle communities through a range of complex mechanisms. Scolytinae beetle diversity was also found to be higher during the rainy season relative to the dry season, with beetle abundance being responsive to average temperatures, but unrelated to average relative humidity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 21 species of the leaf-beetle genus Aplosonyx in China are described, including three new species, Aplosonyx ancorella sp. nov., Aplosonyx nigricornis sp. nov. and Aplosonyx wudangensis sp. nov., and 1 new record, Aplosonyx duvivieri Jacoby, 1900. Additionally, Aplosonyx ancora fulvescens Chen, 1964 is elevated to species. A key to the Chinese species of Aplosonyx is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physomerinus jiulongensis sp. nov. is described from a series of overwintering individuals collected in decomposing wood at Jiulong National Wetland Park, East China. The new species is characterized and separated from related congeners by the unique form of the sexually dimorphic maxillary palpi, greatly swollen male metafemora, as well as by the shape of the genitalia of both sexes. A key to, and a distributional map of, Physomerinus species occurring in China and on the Ryukyu Islands, Japan is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The termitophilous genus Trichopsenius Horn, 1877 is recorded from China for the first time. A new species, Trichopsenius huaxiensis sp. nov. is described; it was collected in a nest of the termite genus Reticulitermes Holmgren from a dead and flattened pine tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Meligethinae has entirely become strictly anthophagous, also being called "pollen beetles", with all members (~700 species) of this subfamily using pollen and other floral parts as food resources for their larvae and adults. In this study, we used light, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy (LM, FM, and SEM) to explore the fine morphological structure of the alimentary canal and Malpighian tubules of Meligethes (Odonthogethes) chinensis, a common Chinese pollen beetle associated with flowers of Rosaceae. The results show that the alimentary canal of M. (O.) chinensis is divided into three parts of foregut, midgut, and hindgut. The foregut is the shortest part and has no crop; the midgut is the widest part with numerous blunt-fingered gastric ceca; the front of the hindgut folds in a circle and then extends back to the anus. Six Malpighian tubules are attached to the colon to form a cryptonephridial system. We also provide a schematic color picture of the alimentary canal and Malpighian tubules in the hemocoelic cavity of the dissected M. (O.) chinensis. This study is the first to systematically study the general morphology of the alimentary canal and Malpighian tubules of Meligethinae, which can provide important support for subsequent anatomical and physiological studies of anthophagous beetles. Meligethes (Odonthogethes) chinensis is a highly specialized species of Nitidulidae in China that takes pollen as its main food source, and its main host plant is Rubus idaeus L. (Rosaceae). In this study, the structural morphology of the alimentary canal and Malpighian tubules of adult M. (O.) chinensis was observed under light, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy. The alimentary canal of adult M. (O.) chinensis is divided into foregut, midgut, and hindgut. The foregut is the shortest and consists of the pharynx, esophagus, proventriculus, and cardiac valve. The midgut is a straight, distended, cylindrical, thin-walled tube. Numerous blunt-fingered gastric ceca are distributed irregularly throughout the midgut. The hindgut is subdivided into the ileum, colon, and rectum. The ileum is coiled. The colon gradually enlarges posteriorly. The rectum is thickly muscled and followed by a membranous structure. The openings of proximal Malpighian tubules are evenly inserted into the junction of the midgut and hindgut, and distal Malpighian tubules are evenly attached to the colon to form a cryptonephridial system. In this study, we also compare the structure and infer the function of the alimentary canal and Malpighian tubules among beetles, as well as discuss the evolutionary and taxonomical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Based on the occurrence records and bioclimatic variables, the MaxEnt model was used to predict the potential geographical distribution of Heteronychus arator, Oryctes boas and Amphimallon majale worldwide, and we also discuss the possible distribution of Popillia japonica, Heteronychus arator, Oryctes monoceros, Oryctes boas and Amphimallon majale. The results showed that every continent has potential distribution areas for these species. In China, the potential distribution of Popillia japonica and Amphimallon majale was mainly concentrated in central eastern regions, while the presence of Heteronychus arator and Oryctes boas was mainly concentrated in the southwest areas. Oryctes monoceros has no possible distribution at present. Based on the predicted results, we recommend that the government carry out species monitoring to minimize financial losses. A hot topic in recent years is the prediction of the potential distribution of possible invasive insects. China is facing a great challenge due to invasive insects. Scarab beetles are a highly diverse group, and many of them are well-known invasive insects. Here, in order to prevent the invasion of scarab beetles in China, we screened the invasive insects globally and obtained a preliminary database of quarantine or invasive scarab beetles. From the obtained database, we selected the top five species (Popillia japonica, Heteronychus arator, Oryctes monoceros, Oryctes boas and Amphimallon majale) to discuss and analyzed the potential distribution of three species that have not invaded China by using the MaxEnt model. The prediction results show that every continent has potential distribution areas for these species. Specifically within China, Popillia japonica and Amphimallon majale were mainly concentrated in east central regions and Heteronychus arator and Oryctes boas were mainly distributed in the southwest areas, while Oryctes monoceros has no suitable area. Notably, Yunnan, Hunan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang province had a high risk of invasion. In general, local agriculture, forestry and customs departments in China should pay more attention to monitoring for the prevention of infestation by invasive insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect intestinal bacteria play an important role in resisting defensive substances of host plants. Pagiophloeus tsushimanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feeds exclusively on camphor trees (Cinnamomum camphora , Laurales: Lauraceae) in China, causing substantial economic and ecological losses. It is unclear how the larvae of P. tsushimanus outcome the main secondary metabolites of C. camphora such as D -camphor, eucalyptol, and linalool. In this study, we isolated terpenoid-degrading bacteria from the gut of P. tsushimanus larvae by using selective culture medium. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses were performed with 16S rDNA sequences to identify the bacteria, and results showed ten strains belonged to four genera, including Pseudomonas , Enterobacter , Serratia , and Corynebacterium. Then, gas chromatography was employed to determine the degradability of D -camphor, eucalyptol, and linalool by the isolated strains, results showed that Z5 strain (i.e. Corynebacterium variabile , Actinomycetales: Corynebacteriaceae), F1 strain (i.e. Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Pseudomonadales: Pseudomonaceae), and A3 strain (i.e. Serratia marcescens , Enterobacterales: Enterobacteriaceae) had the highest degradation rates of D -camphor, linalool, and eucalyptol, respectively. The intestinal bacteria were capable of terpenoid degradation in vitro, which suggested that these gut bacteria associated with P. tsushimanus play an important role in overcoming host plant secondary metabolite defense, thereby facilitating the host specialization of this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermestid beetles (Coleoptera: Bostrichiformia: Dermestidae) are important pests of various storage products and pose a potential threat to international trade. In this study, the whole mitogenome of Anthrenus museorum was first sequenced and annotated and was found to have the same gene order observed in known dermestid beetles. It comprised 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs and a control region. The typical ATN start codon was observed in all PCGs, except for ND3 (TTG), and all 13 PCGs showed three types of stop codons (TAA, TAG, and T-). Phylogenetic analysis based on the PCGs indicated that the relationships within Bostrichiformia were reconstructed, with the exception of one early emerging species of Bostrichidae that actually makes the group polyphyletic, as (Dermestidae + (Bostrichidae + Anobiidae)). Moreover, it revealed a close relationship between A. museorum and A. verbasci using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The sweetgum inscriber Acanthotomicus suncei is a newly described pest of American sweetgum in China, which could cause extensive damage to the native flora if this beetle becomes established in North America. Research on the beetle has been hampered by a dwindling access to breeding material. Therefore, the aim of this study was to discover a cost-effective way to rear A. suncei. An artificial diet with small amounts of additives supported the shortest development time, whereas rearing the beetles on natural American sweetgum logs led to a longer development time. The lengths and weights of adults reared on the artificial diet were markedly higher than those of adults reared on American sweetgum logs. The egg hatching and eclosion rates of A. suncei reared on the artificial diet were significantly higher than those on sweetgum logs. However, the pupation rate of A. suncei on the artificial diet was much lower than that on sweetgum logs. In summary, our artificial diet supports a rapid buildup of a healthy A. suncei lab population. The sweetgum inscriber, Acanthotomicus suncei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is a recently discovered pest of American sweetgum planted in China, with a potential for causing a devastating invasion into North America. Research on the beetle has been hampered by a dwindling access to breeding material. We tested the effect of four artificial diets on A. suncei's developmental time, length and weight of adults, egg hatching rate, pupation rate, and eclosion rate. Additionally, we evaluated the same parameters on A. suncei reared on American sweetgum logs. Only one diet supported the full development of A. suncei after 30 d. Beetles reared on this diet, which was made of small quantities of agar and additives (i.e., inositol, potassium sorbate, and methylparaben), supported the shortest developmental time of 45.55 ± 1.24 d. Beetles reared on American sweetgum logs exhibited a longer developmental time of 59.52 ± 4.52 d. Beetles reared on the artificial diet were markedly bigger and heavier than those reared on American sweetgum logs (p < 0.01). The egg hatching rate (58.90% ± 6.80%) and eclosion rate (86.50% ± 4.69%) of A. suncei on the artificial diet were significantly greater than those on sweetgum logs. However, the pupation rate (38.60% ± 8.36%) was much lower on the artificial diet than on the sweetgum logs. Here, we reported the best artificial diet for A. suncei and discuss the advantages and disadvantages over rearing the beetle on American sweetgum logs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osphya Illiger (Melandryidae: Osphyinae) as a species-poor insect group, exhibits a widespread distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, however, the research of the genus is poorly documented especially in East Asia. Herein, an interesting species is discovered in Shennongjia National Natural Reserve (Hubei, China). The examination of morphological characters and comparisons with others show it to be a new member of Osphya, which is described under the name of O. sinensis sp. n. The characteristic photos and a key to the species of Osphya from East Asia are provided. Meanwhile, the mitochondrial genome of O. sinensis sp. n. is sequenced and annotated. Based on this obtained mitogenome and the publicly available data, we reconstructed the phylogeny of Tenebrionoidea by different cladistics methods to investigate the relationships between the new species with others. The results consistently recover O. sinensis sp. n. sister to O. bipunctata (Fabricius) with high supporting values, which further confirm the placement of the new species in the genus Osphya. This is the first time reporting the genus Osphya, the only representative genus of melandryid Osphyinae from mainland China, which enriches the diversity of beetles from the Chinese fauna at both generic and subfamilial levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]