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Ongoing worldwide biodiversity declines and range shifts associated with climate change increase the importance of documenting the current distributions of species to establish baseline data. However, financial and logistical constraints make it impossible for taxonomic experts to conduct thorough surveys in most locations. One popular approach to offset the lack of expert sampling is using community science data collected by the public, curated, and made available for research. These datasets, however, contain different biases than those typically present in data collected through conventional survey practices, often leading to different results. Recent studies have used massive datasets generated over large areas; however, less is known about the results obtained at smaller scales or with more limited sampling intervals. We compared butterfly observations in eastern Oklahoma using a dataset obtained from the popular community science website iNaturalist and one collected during targeted surveys of glade habitats conducted by taxonomic experts. At the county-level scale, the relative abundances of butterfly species correlated well between the glade surveys and the iNaturalist observations, and there was no difference in the relative abundance of different butterfly families between the two survey methods. However, as anticipated, the conventional surveys outperformed the community science data in measuring biodiversity at a smaller geographic scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant–insect trophic systems should be particularly sensitive to processes altering species spatial co‐occurrences, as impacts on one level can cascade effectively through the strong trophic reliance to the other level. Here, we predicted the biogeography of Lepidoptera–plant communities under global‐change scenarios, exploiting spatially resolved data on 423 Lepidoptera species and their 848 food plants across the German state of Baden‐Württemberg (ca. 36,000 km2). We performed simulations of plant extinction and Lepidoptera expansion, and respectively assessed their cascading consequences—namely secondary extinction of Lepidoptera and change in functional distance of plants—on the interaction networks. Importantly, the simulations were spatially explicit, as we accounted for realistic landscape contexts of both processes: Plant extinctions were simulated as "regional" (a species goes extinct in the whole region at once) vs. "isolation‐driven" (a species gradually goes extinct from the peripheral or isolated localities according to its real regional distribution); Lepidoptera expansions were simulated with random, northward, and upward directions according to real topography. The consequences were assessed based on empirical community composition and trophic relationships. When evaluated by regional richness, the robustness of Lepidoptera assemblages against secondary extinctions was higher under isolation‐driven plant extinctions than regional plant extinction; however, this relationship was reversed when evaluated by averaged local richness. Also, with isolation‐driven plant extinctions, Lepidoptera at the central sub‐region of Baden‐Württemberg appeared to be especially vulnerable. With Lepidoptera expansions, plants' functional distances in local communities dropped, indicating a possible increase of competition among plants, yet to a lesser extent particularly with upward movements. Together, our results suggested that the communities' composition context at the landscape scale (i.e., how communities, with respective species composition, are arranged within the landscape) matters when assessing global‐change influences on interaction systems; spatially explicit consideration of such context can reveal localised consequences that are not necessarily captured via a spatially implicit, regional perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While most species of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) have entirely terrestrial life histories, ∼0.5% of the described species are known to have an aquatic larval stage. Larvae of aquatic Lepidoptera are similar to caddisflies (Trichoptera) in that they use silk to anchor themselves to underwater substrates or to build protective cases. However, the physical properties and genetic elements of silks in aquatic Lepidoptera remain unstudied, as most research on lepidopteran silk has focused on the commercially important silkworm, Bombyx mori. Here, we provide high-quality PacBio HiFi genome assemblies of 2 distantly-related aquatic Lepidoptera species [ Elophila obliteralis (Pyraloidea: Crambidae) and Hyposmocoma kahamanoa (Gelechioidea: Cosmopterigidae)]. As a step toward understanding the evolution of underwater silk in aquatic Lepidoptera, we used the genome assemblies and compared them to published genetic data of aquatic and terrestrial Lepidoptera. Sequences of the primary silk protein, h-fibroin, in aquatic moths have conserved termini and share a basic motif structure with terrestrial Lepidoptera. However, these sequences were similar to aquatic Trichoptera in that the percentage of positively and negatively charged amino acids was much higher than in terrestrial Lepidoptera, indicating a possible adaptation of silks to aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The faster-Z/X hypothesis predicts that sex-linked genes should diverge faster than autosomal genes. However, studies across different lineages have shown mixed support for this effect. So far, most analyses have focused on old and well-differentiated sex chromosomes, but less is known about the divergence of more recently acquired neo-sex chromosomes. In Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Z-autosome fusions are frequent, but the evolutionary dynamics of neo-Z chromosomes have not been explored in detail. Here, we analyzed the faster-Z effect in Leptidea sinapis , a butterfly with three Z chromosomes. We show that the neo-Z chromosomes have been acquired stepwise, resulting in strata of differentiation and masculinization. While all Z chromosomes showed evidence of the faster-Z effect, selection for genes on the youngest neo-Z chromosome (Z3) appears to have been hampered by a largely intact, homologous neo-W chromosome. However, the intermediately aged neo-Z chromosome (Z2), which lacks W gametologs, showed fewer evolutionary constraints, resulting in particularly fast evolution. Our results therefore support that neo-sex chromosomes can constitute temporary hot-spots of adaptation and divergence. The underlying dynamics are likely causally linked to shifts in selective constraints, evolution of gene expression, and degeneration of W-linked gametologs which gradually expose Z-linked genes to selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I examined 107 shining cuckoos that died accidentally in the northern North Island, New Zealand, during 39 years. Birds arriving on migration in spring were all in adult plumage. Juveniles occurred mainly from January to March. The sex-ratio of adults was 1:1. In several measurements, females were slightly larger than males on average, and adults slightly larger than juveniles. Gonad size suggested readiness for breeding from September to January (inclusive). Ninety-one gizzards held a total of 3754 arthropod food items. Insects (10 orders) made up around 94% of items and just two orders accounted for 79% of food items: caterpillars (larval Lepidoptera, 55%) and beetles (Coleoptera, 24%). 'Spiny' caterpillars made up roughly 8% of total caterpillars. Ladybirds (Coccinellidae) made up 21% of beetles. Shining cuckoos ate small prey, mostly 1–10 mm long (44%) and 11–20 mm long (43%). By eating hairy caterpillars and ladybirds, shining cuckoos exert predatory control on insects that other birds avoid. By gorging (up to 258 insects per stomach) the cuckoo might dampen the impact of herbivorous insects (e.g. caterpillar infestations) on plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the tribe Baorini of the family Hesperiidae from the Arabian Peninsula are presented with a description of Araboreliquia gen. nov. and Araboreliquia saudica sp. nov. Belenois gidica (Godart in Latreille & Godart, [1819]) (Pieridae) is first recorded in the Arabian Peninsula with the description of Belenois gidica pavlichkoisubsp. nov. Plebejus(Plebejidea) loewii kerkhofi subsp. nov. (Lycaenidae) is described from north-eastern Oman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living specimens of four species of ermine moths: Spindle Ermine Yponomeuta cagnagella Hübner, 1813, Apple Ermine Y. malinellus Zeller, 1838, Orchard Ermine Y. padella (Linnaeus, 1758 and Willow Ermine Y. rorrella (Hübner, 1796) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) are considered to be difficult or nearly impossible to distinguish from each other based on visual observations. Research and statistical analysis of forewing characteristics, measurements of forewing lengths and literature review result in a key for identification and descriptions of four prototypes, improving the ability to identify the species. This can lead to a significant improvement in identification, especially for the Willow Ermine and the Orchard Ermine, but does not provide 'absolute' certainty regarding the accuracy of identifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape berry moths, particularly Lobesia botrana Denis & Schiffermüller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and vinegar flies, such as Drosophila melanogaster Meigen and Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), are important vineyard pests, causing severe quality loss of grapes. Several arthropod taxa may be involved in the natural control of these pests. However, the role of arthropod predators in the natural control of vineyard pests remains unclear. We investigated 32 vineyards in the Palatinate region, southwest Germany, under organic and conventional management, which in both cases received either full or reduced fungicide applications (2 × 2 design). Predation of L. botrana eggs and pupae and D. melanogaster pupae on sentinel cards exposed in the vineyards was observed with infrared cameras. In total, nine predator taxa could be identified. The most dominant predator was the European earwig, Forficula auricularia L. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), with 90% of all predation events. We conclude that F. auricularia is likely a key predator of vineyard pests, and that special attention should be paid to maintain it at high population densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caloptilia roscipennella (Hübner, 1796) is a leaf‐mining moth native to Central and Southern Europe. In this publication, we provide the first report of the occurrence of Caloptilia roscipennella in India. The identification was performed using an integrative approach, combining molecular (barcoding, COI) and morphological analysis (forewing pattern). In 2020, the larvae were initially found scraping in the silvery‐white mine and later feeding in folded or rolled leaves of the common walnut Juglans regia L. In the subsequent years, the species was found only in the same places. Two generations were recorded per year (May–June and August–September) and leaf miners overwintered as adults and reappeared in the early spring. Damage ranging from 15% to 20% was observed on the leaves of J. regia. Further efforts related to C. roscipennella should concentrate on evaluating its geographic distribution and its impact on walnut trees. Several species of parasitoids were reared from infested mines, with specimens belonging to the genus Chrysocharis Förster, 1856 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Itoplectis maculator (Fabricius, 1775) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). These species provided excellent control of leaf miner larvae, and out of 10 larvae, seven were found parasitized by the parasitoids and higher numbers of specimens were found with relative higher frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia 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.)

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia 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.)

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia 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.)

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia 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.)

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia 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.)

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia 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.)

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia 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.)

Rice yellow hairy caterpillar Psalis pennatula Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) is an emerging pest of rice and an increased incidence is expected in different rice-growing areas of Assam in the coming years. The caterpillar is a voracious leaf feeder and can consume the whole leaves within a day. Keeping this in view, an attempt was made to evaluate the bio-efficacy of three important native isolates of entomopathogenic fungal strains viz. Beauveria bassiana (KR855715), Cordyceps javanica (OM321438) and Isaria fumosorosea (MH414514) against P. pennatula larvae under laboratory conditions during the Sali season of rice. All three EPF strains at different conidial dilutions (1x103, 1x105,1x107, 1x108 and1x109 conidia/ml) were found to be pathogenic to the 3rd instar larvae of P. pennatula. Among the tested fungal strains, the strain Isaria fumosorosea (MH414514) showed the highest mortality (100%) at 1x107 conidia/ml and Cordyceps javanica (OM321438) showed the lowest mortality (51%) at 1x107conidia/ml at 10th day of post-treatment. The tested fungal isolates could play a vital role as microbial biopesticides in suppressing the P. pennatula population in Assam and could be incorporated into IPM strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Talbotia Bernardi, 1958 is a member of the subfamily Pierinae within the family Pieridae. It consists of a single species, Talbotia naganum (Moore, 1884), commonly known as Naga White, which is a highly uncommon species in India. In order to examine its morphological characteristics, including its genital attributes, a male specimen of Talbotia naganum (Moore) was analyzed from the collections held at the National Museum of Lepidoptera, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. The various male genital attributes of this species have been thoroughly studied, illustrated, and compared in detail for the first time with the commonly found pierid butterfly P. brassicae (Linnaeus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Naturaliste Canadien is the property of La Societe Provancher 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.)

BACKGROUND: The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis, a worldwide pest of many crops, performs a seasonal migration, causing periodic outbreaks in Asia, Europe and North America. Although long‐distance migration is well documented in China, patterns of transboundary migration among China, Russia and Mongolia are largely unknown. We performed a phase analysis of L. sticticalis periodic outbreaks among three countries based on 30 years of historical population data, analyzed the wind systems during migration over boundary regions, and traced the migratory routes in a case study of outbreaks in 2008 by trajectory simulation. RESULTS: Highly synchronized outbreak years of L. sticticalis were observed between China and Mongolia, China and eastern Siberia, China and western Siberia, Mongolia and eastern Siberia, eastern Siberia and western Siberia from 1978 to 2008, indicating possible transboundary migration between these regions. Winds at 300–600 m altitude, where adult migration usually occurs, also showed a high probability of northwestern winds in Haila'er (China), Chita (Russia) and Choybalsan (Mongolia), favoring successful adult migration from these areas to northern and northeastern China. Back trajectory analysis further showed that the first‐generation adults that caused the severe outbreak of second‐generation larvae in 2008 originated from eastern Siberia, eastern Mongolia, and the boundary regions of China–Russia and China–Mongolia. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that the source of L. sticticalis outbreaks in northern China was closely related to the outbreaks in Siberia and Mongolia via long‐distance transboundary windborne migration. This information will help guide international monitoring and management strategies against this notorious pest. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Parotis chlorochroalis was sequenced, revaeling a length of 15239 bp with 37 genes and an A + T-rich region. All c13 PCGs begin with typical ATN codons, except COI gene, which starts with CGA. Eleven genes terminate with TAA, two with T–. All 22 tRNA genes exhibit typical cloverleaf structure except for trnS1 P. chlorochroalis has two relatively conserved intergenic regions and two relatively conserved overlapping regions. Phylogenetic analysis support P. chlorochroalis belongs to subfamily Spilomelinae, the topologies of Crambidae are highly congruent with previous studies. This newly sequences mitochondrial genome provides valuable resources for taxonomic inference and evolutionary studies of genus Parotis.

The genus Pangora Moore (1879) is endemic to south Asia, with four known species distributed in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The current study offers the scientific community the first mitochondrial genome sequence of the known species Pangora matherana (Moore). The phenotypic and phylogenetic tree analysis reveals a new species, Pangora keralaensis Abhilash & Adarsh sp. nov., from India. The male genitalia and morphological analysis of the new taxa are also provided. A preliminary phylogenetic tree based on the mt COI DNA sequence is also provided for the new species and the known species, Pangora matherana (Moore, 1879).

The California Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly, Battus philenor hirsuta, and its host plant, the California Pipevine or Dutchman's Pipe, Aristolochia californica Torr., are an important California endemic species pair. While this species pair is an ideal system to study co-evolution, genomic resources for both are lacking. Here, we report a new, chromosome-level assembly of B. philenor hirsuta as part of the California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP). Following the sequencing and assembly strategy of the CCGP, we used Pacific Biosciences HiFi long reads and Hi-C chromatin proximity sequencing technology to produce a de novo assembled genome. Our genome assembly, the first for any species in the genus, contains 109 scaffolds spanning 443 mega base (Mb) pairs, with a contig N50 of 14.6 Mb, a scaffold N50 of 15.2 Mb, and BUSCO complete score of 98.9%. In combination with the forthcoming A. californica reference genome, the B. philenor hirsuta genome will be a powerful tool for documenting landscape genomic diversity and plant-insect co-evolution in a rapidly changing California landscape.

Te type specimens of the casebearer moths (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) Casignetella magyarica (type locality: Hungary, Kiskunság National Park) and Ecebalia parasymi (type locality: Russia, Saratov environs) are conspecifc, so the second name is established as a subjective junior synonym: Casignetella magyarica (Baldizzone, 1983) = Ecebalia parasymi Anikin, 2005, syn. n.

Exploring the utilization of drones for field applications of entomopathogenic fungus as a dry powder marks a pioneering effort in pest management. In this study, Metarhizium rileyi isolates CG381 and CG1153 were utilized to target third instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda in maize and Chrysodeixis includens in soybean field plots, respectively. A drone, calibrated to dispense the equivalent of 50 g of non-formulated conidia per hectare (approximately 5 × 1012 con ha−1), was utilized, with untreated plots and plots treated with an equivalent dose using a CO2-powered backpack sprayer serving as controls. The application of M. rileyi via spraying exhibited uniformity with minimal drift, with 88% of the expected conidia per unit area collected by conidial collectors. However, the recovery rates after dusting on soybean and maize plants were estimated to be only 3.4 and 16.2%, respectively, with less uniform distribution. Despite this, infection rates in dusted plots were comparable to those achieved with conventional spraying, ranging from 35–48% for S. frugiperda to 29–34% for C. includens. Laboratory susceptibility assays revealed higher infection levels when first instar larvae were fed M. rileyi-dusted leaves, emphasizing the importance of accurate pest monitoring for optimal timing of drone applications or other methods. While adjustments are necessary to improve both conidia deposition and operational efficiency, our findings demonstrate the significant potential of drone-based conidial powder release for caterpillar management in soybean and maize fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects and plants have been part of an evolutionary arms race that has led plants to produce toxins as defense and insects to sequester these chemical compounds. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are secondary plant chemical metabolites, and some herbivorous insects have evolved biochemical mechanisms to tolerate, sequester, and use PAs against predators and parasitoids. Several tiger moth species (Erebidae: Arctiinae) have gone one step further by transferring PAs acquired during mating to their eggs or using them as precursors of sexual pheromones, thereby making PAs an essential element in sexual selection. Although tiger moths are well known to use PAs for defense, a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative systematic review of PA research on tiger moths has yet to be conducted. To identify areas of past research focus and future research potential, we analyzed 108 studies retrieved from an exhaustive search on the Web of Science. Through a scientometric analysis, we synthesized available literature, examining authors, journals, countries and keywords with the aim of providing researchers tools to navigate the current literature more effectively. Using a systematic review approach, we evaluated the frequency of moth species studied and host plant diet, along with their research topic, allowing us to identify major knowledge gaps. We show that the number of publications decreased after 2015, and most research has focused on a few moth species and research topics. Our results provide valuable insights that can help direct research efforts to further the development of knowledge about PAs in Arctiinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The described dataset contains occurrence records of invertebrate specimens deposited at the State Museum of Natural History of the NAS of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine (SMNH NASU). It combines diverse taxonomic groups, mostly belonging to the class Insecta of the phylum Arthropoda, that were selected as prioritised for digitisation in war conditions. Selected specimens were ascertained as those being the most vulnerable to hostilities and requiring virtual preservation. Such virtual preservation is essential in the war realities as collection can be lost or damaged at any moment, resulting in a significant retrospective biodiversity data gap. At the same time, collection virtualisation and its deposition on the internet grant remote access to scientists who cannot visit it in person due to the war. Moreover, we believe that the mobilisation of the data from the Ukrainian collections and their publication online are essential for the integration of Ukrainian research facilities into a global scientific biodiversity pool.A total of 3,660 occurrence records mobilised in 2023-2024 from the collection of invertebrates of the SMNH NASU, were published. This dynamic dataset will be continually supplied by new records during further digitisation work.

The effectiveness of pheromone lures for Grapholita molesta (Busck 1916) from Propher (Czech Republic) and Pherobank (Netherlands), the attractiveness of green and transparent pheromone traps and the representation of non-target species were evaluated in three study areas of southern Moravia (Czech Republic) in 2019-2021 (24 traps per year). A total of 6 536 Grapholita molesta and 946 individuals of 17 non-target species were collected. Grapholita molesta was frequently captured in green delta traps with a Pherobank pheromone lure. Therefore, pheromone lures from different manufacturers have different efficacy and require the independent setting of harmfulness thresholds. An overview of non-target species recorded by other authors was compiled. Among the non-target species, morphologically similar species of Tortricidae dominated, causing considerable problems in the signalling of control measures of the target species.

Abstract Background The rising demand for food production along with the concerns regarding the injudicious use of chemicals in pest management has paved way for the alternatives that could promise sustainable pest management. Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt), a soil bacterium, is a potential biopesticide with its ability to produce crystal toxins that are insecticidal in nature. Main body This article provides an insight into the diverse Bt toxins and their applications as biopesticides in pest management. The selective action of Bt towards target organism is based on its specific interactions with the insect gut receptors. The significance of Bt in the management of lepidopteran, coleopteran, hemipteran, dipteran and nematode pests of crops and livestock through its mode of action is extensively reviewed. Conclusion Besides being a promising pest control option, the challenges faced through resistance development, variation in susceptibility across species and non-target effects of Bt are also discussed. Proactive approaches and multiple modes of action can mitigate this issue.

A new species, Prorophora mirra sp. n., is described from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (in the nominotypical subgenus). Te species is close to P. albidogilvella Roesler, 1970 in the structure of genitalia, but it is similar in appearance to some other congeners. New combination, Prorophora ammobia (Falkovitsh, 1999), comb. n., is established for Christophia ammobia Falkovitsh, 1999. A hitherto unknown female of the latter species is described.

The two East Asian subtropical–tropical noctuoid moths, Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788) (Erebidae: Arctiinae) and Dictyestra dissectus (Walker, 1865) (Noctuidae: Noctuinae), are newly recorded in the Russian Far East on an extreme long distance to the north from their known localities in the neighboring countries. They were collected on the small Rikord Island in the Peter the Great Gulf after the period of strong southern wind associated with Typhoon Chaba. Data on the general distribution and bionomics of these species are given. This founding, along with other similar discoveries, is consistent with the current trend of global climate warming and indicates a northward expansion of the ranges of southern species in the Sea of Japan/East Sea region. Large migratory moths effectively use powerful air currents to move long distances, including over the sea, while small coastal islands can be used by them as intermediate sites and/or for possible establishing of invasive populations.

Temporal ecological niche partitioning is an underappreciated driver of speciation. While insects have long been models for circadian biology, the genes and circuits that allow adaptive changes in diel-niches remain poorly understood. We compared gene expression in closely related day- and night-active non-model wild silk moths, with otherwise similar ecologies. Using an ortholog-based pipeline to compare RNA-Seq patterns across two moth species, we find over 25 pairs of gene orthologs showing differential expression. Notably, the gene disco, involved in circadian control, optic lobe and clock neuron development in Drosophila, shows robust adult circadian mRNA cycling in moth heads. Disco is highly conserved in moths and has additional zinc-finger domains with specific nocturnal and diurnal mutations. We propose disco as a candidate gene for the diversification of temporal diel-niche in moths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has a long association with maize (Zea mays mays L., Poaceae) and is among the crop's most significant pests worldwide. We contrasted the preference for and performance of FAW on three maize cultivars: the Mexican landrace Tuxpeño, the USA inbred B73 and B73‐lox10; B73‐lox10 is deficient in production of jasmonic acid (JA), green leaf volatiles (GLVs) and herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). Female oviposition and neonate colonization preferences were assessed in triple‐choice tests in greenhouse settings. Performance was assessed on the bases of larval, pupal and adult weights, larval and pupal development times, and adult longevity. We expected females to preferentially oviposit on plants on which their offspring performed best, and neonates to randomly colonize plants because they disperse aerially, presumably oriented solely by wind currents. Females preferred to oviposit on Tuxpeño plants, followed by B73‐lox10 and B73 plants, whereas their offspring performed best on B73‐lox10 and poorest on Tuxpeño. In contrast, neonates preferentially colonized plants on which they performed best, B73‐lox10, though initially and transiently they colonized plants on which they performed poorly, B73 and Tuxpeño. Altogether, our results showed that FAW females preferred to oviposit on maize plants on which their offspring's performance was poorest (Tuxpeño), and neonates preferentially colonized plants on which their own performance was best (B73‐lox10), though they initially colonized plants that were detrimental to their performance (Tuxpeño, B73). These results suggested that the ovipositional choices of FAW mothers are uncoupled from their offspring's performance, but newborn offspring rectified their mother's sub‐optimal host plant choice by colonizing plants that enhanced their own performance. Notably, these results also suggested that aerially dispersing (ballooning) FAW larvae do not colonize plants randomly, and that plant volatiles (GLVs, HIPVs) and JA may be relevant to host plant selection by ballooning larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trehalase (TRE) is a key enzyme for degrading trehalose, which plays a vital role in the growth and development of insects. Although validamycin, a compound belonging to a class of efficient antibiotics and fungicides, can control pests by suppressing TRE activities, it remains unknown whether it acts on both trehalose and chitin metabolism in Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a major pest of maize (Zea mays L., Poaceae). This study investigated the changes in trehalose metabolism after validamycin treatment in S. frugiperda and its effects on the downstream chitin synthesis pathway. Compared with the control, S. frugiperda exhibited varying degrees of mortality after treatment with four concentrations of validamycin, showing a dose‐dependent increase in mortality rate. The mortality rates 24 and 48 h after treatment with 0.07 mg μL−1 validamycin were 35.6% and 42.2%, respectively, indicating the effective lethal concentration. Treatment with 0.07 mg μL−1 validamycin led to developmental delay, abnormal molting, and death in S. frugiperda, but it exerted no lasting effects on the survival rate, pupal weight, and phenotype during its subsequent developmental stages. At 24 h after validamycin treatment, TRE1 and TRE2 activities and glucose content decreased significantly, whereas the trehalose content increased significantly. Treatment with validamycin significantly upregulated TRE1 and TRE2 expression after 24 and 48 h and downregulated the mRNA expression of chitin synthase A and B genes. However, after 72 h, chitin content was not significantly affected. Hence, validamycin can destroy the dynamic transformation balance of trehalose and glucose by inhibiting the activities of the two TREs, and further affect the expression of downstream chitin synthase genes. These findings provide a theoretical basis for using TRE inhibitors to control S. frugiperda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholita molesta (Busck), and codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), both important pests of pome fruit, evaluated the addition of low‐intensity light‐emitting diode (LED) to delta traps baited with 3 commercial monitoring lures. Studies were conducted in 9 orchards treated with and without sex pheromone mating disruption for one or both species. OFM was monitored with a two‐part pheromone/kairomone lure (OFM Combo Dual), while CM was monitored with either a two‐part kairomone lure (CM Dual 4 K) or a sex pheromone lure (CM PH). Both pests were monitored with or without the addition of three types of a low power LED light with peak intensity at 395 (UV‐A), 458 (blue), and 516 (green) nm. The UV‐A LED was found to be the most effective among the three lights for OFM. Unexpectedly, traps with the OFM Combo Dual lure plus UV‐A LED caught similar numbers of CM as traps baited with the CM Dual 4 K and CM PH lures alone. They also caught other pest species, such as oblique banded leafroller (OBLR), Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), and peach twig borer (PTB), Anarsia lineatella (Zeller). Interestingly, in different trials the OFM Combo Dual combined with UV‐A LED light caught significantly more OFM and/or CM females compared to the OFM Combo Dual lure without light, opening the perspective for a female‐oriented monitoring and for a “female removal” management approach of these pests. The development of inexpensive, dual‐modality traps adding a light stimulus to a pheromone/kairomone lure may reduce monitoring costs in orchards with multiple moth pests, improving the trapping efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of Lepidoptera was conducted in habitats including forest trails, nullah, forest gap, and small water bodies, in and around the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) and agroforest habitats at Nagri block in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh State between January 2020 and August 2022. The study recorded 95 species belonging to 69 genera. Erionota torus and Rathinda amor although common in the Indian mainland, were not documented by previous researchers. This indicates the necessity for a more thorough survey of Lepidoptera in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The decline of swallowtail butterflies in forest habitats, which was not a significant concern about two decades ago, has now garnered attention worldwide, leading to their designation as globally endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A recent study conducted in the north bank landscape (NBL) of river Brahmaputra, specifically under the Bodoland Territorial Region in India, has shed light on the remarkable diversity of swallowtail butterfly species in the area. The study documented a total of 35 species representing eight different genera. Notably, three species are endemic to northeastern India, and 12 enjoy federal protection. The findings suggest that the studied landscape plays a crucial role in supporting larval host plants and adult resources of swallowtail butterflies along with the other abiotic factors. These butterflies depend on 25 plant species from six families as essential food sources. Unfortunately, these host plants, valued for their traditional medicinal properties, are being overexploited. Urgent conservation measures are imperative to safeguard the habitats of swallowtail butterflies and other wildlife in the NBL under Bodoland Territorial Region, as they face significant threats from practices such as agriculture, illegal tree felling, forest fires, and cattle farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors conducted a comprehensive review of Hesperiidae species in Bhutan, scrutinizing three existing checklists and 25 new records presented by Van der Poel et al. (2023). A thorough examination of all available documents and evidence confirmed 145 Hesperiidae species in Bhutan, with four additional species listed as tentative and one as "cf." (requiring further research). The updated checklist excludes 14 species that were listed in one or more of the three existing checklists and provides justifications for not including these species. Additionally, 11 unverifiable or wrongly identified species presented by non-peer-reviewed sources were not included in the checklist. Sixteen species with no verifiable records in the last 70 years were also identified. This review provides a comprehensive and authoritative checklist of Hesperiidae species in Bhutan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterflies, like many insects, use gustatory and olfactory cues innately to assess the suitability of an oviposition site and are able to associate colours and leaf shapes with an oviposition reward. Studies on other insects have demonstrated that the quality of the reward is a crucial factor in forming associative memory. We set out to investigate whether the large cabbage white Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus) has the ability to associate an oviposition experience with a neutral olfactory cue. In addition, we tested whether the strength of this association is dependent on the gustatory response to the glucosinolate sinigrin, which is a known oviposition stimulus for P. brassicae. Female butterflies were able to associate a neutral odour with an oviposition experience after a single oviposition experience, both in a greenhouse and in a semi-natural outdoor setting. Moreover, butterflies performed best when trained with concentrations of sinigrin that showed the strongest response by specific gustatory neurons on the forelegs. Our study provides novel insight into the role of both gustatory and olfactory cues during oviposition learning in lepidopterans and contributes to a better understanding of how these insects might be able to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae), is a major bee pest that inflicts considerable harm on beehives, leading to economic losses. It also serves as a valuable resource insect and a model organism. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (Cas9) system plays a crucial role in improving economic insect breeding and developing efficient agricultural pest management systems in Lepidoptera. However, the CRISPR/Cas9 protocols have not been developed for G. mellonella. Here, the Gmebony knockout (KO) strain was established using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. We obtained Gmebony KO strain in the G4 generation, which took approximately 10 months. When compared with wild‐type, the head, notum, and the terminal abdominal surface of 1st to 4th instar larvae in the KO strain changed from yellow to brown, and these regions of the KO strain gradually transformed into a black color from the 5th instar larvae, and the body color of the adult moth in the KO strain changed to black. The developmental period of the early larval and the following larval instars extended. The embryonic hatchability of the Gmebony KO strain was significantly decreased. The pupal body weight of the Gmebony KO strain was not affected. The feasibility of the CRISPR/Cas9 methodology was validated by single‐target editing of Gmebony. Our findings provide the first evidence that the ebony gene can serve as a pigmentation reference gene for genetic modifications of G. mellonella. Meanwhile, it can be utilized in the development of genome editing control strategies and for gene function analyses in G. mellonella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn order to explore the interspecific competition of wandering spiders feeding on Ectropis obliqua in tea plantations, the population dynamics of E. obliqua and its natural enemies in Nongkangzao and Pingyangtezao tea plantations in 2021 were investigated. Gray correlation method, Fuzzy graded method and competition coefficient method were used to analyse the competitive effects of different spiders and to identify the most competitive spiders, and then gray correlation and competition coefficient were combined to derive the concept of competition intensity index to verify the accuracy of the results. The results showed a strong correlation between the number of Clubiona japonicola and E. obliqua among the wandering spiders, with the least average competition coefficient for Oxyopes sertatus and the greatest average competition intensity index for C. japonicola in both tea gardens. Spiders with larger populations were not necessarily more competitive. C. japonicola was the most competitive and O. sertatus was the least competitive when feeding on E. obliqua. The Fuzzy graded frequencies are significantly more concentrated in distribution and have higher data validity than the equal graded frequencies, and pre-processing the data with Fuzzy graded method can improve the accuracy of the data when performing interspecific relationship analysis. The results of the study provided a scientific basis for the rational protection and use of wandering spiders to control E. obliqua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major and possibly only component of the sex attractant pheromone of the moth Hemileuca nevadensis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from southern California was determined to be (E10,Z12)-hexadecadienal (E10,Z12-16:Ald). Detectable quantities of the analogs (E10,Z12)-hexadecadien-1-yl acetate (E10,Z12-16:Ac) and (E10,Z12)-hexadecadien-1-ol (E10,Z12-16:OH) were also present in solvent extracts of sex pheromone glands, and stimulated male antennae in coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detector (GC-EAD) assays. GC-EAD traces from solid phase microextraction (SPME) wipe samples of sex pheromone glands of calling females confirmed the presence of E10,Z12-16:Ald and traces of E10,Z12-16:OH on the gland surface, but E10,Z12-16:Ac was not detected. Despite evidence for the presence of all three compounds in extracts, behavioral responses to synthetic compounds in the field suggested that only E10,Z12-16:Ald is required for optimal attraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton, 1866) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the common factitious host for mass culturing of several natural enemies due to its ease of mass production, adaptability to a variety of rearing conditions and its beneficial impact on reared insects. Our study aimed to determine the effect of various diets on the morphometric of C. cephalonica in different life stages. Based on pooled data of both the generations, longest (0.019 and 0.014 mm) morphometric dimension of eggs measured on D5 - Maize (48.5%) + Sorghum (48.5%) + Groundnut (3%) and D7 - Bajra (32.33%) + Maize (32.33%) + Wheat (32.33%) + Sugar (3%) were at par in both the diets, however shortest (0.014 and 0.009 mm) on D3 - Wheat (100%) diet. The respective values for maximum length and breadth of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th larval, pre-pupal, pupal instars and adults female and male were (1.07 and 0.21 mm), (4.51 and 0.82 mm), (7.12 and 1.34 mm), (10.39 and 1.65 mm) and (12.98 and 2.14 mm), (9.94 and 2.51 mm), (10.32 and 2.79 mm), (10.53 and 2.46 mm) and (8.82 and 1.91 mm) on D5 diet whereas minimum (0.86 and 0.16 mm), (3.33 and 0.55 mm), (5.41 and 0.89 mm), (8.66 and 1.28 mm) and (11.14 and 1.37 mm), (9.46 and 2.25 mm), (7.76 and 2.19 mm), (8.28 and 1.50 mm) and (7.26 and 1.44 mm) were measured on D3 diet. From the present findings, it is concluded that D5 was the best diet for the rearing of C. cephalonica. Therefore, it can be optimized for mass production programmes for raising a variety of biocontrol agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, a new species of Lepidoptera, Orthocraspeda dudgeonisp. nov., from Himachal Pradesh, India is described from 125 years old collections of Mr G.C. Dudgeon housed in the National Zoological Collections at Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Additionally, the reporting of Thronia xizangensis (Wu and Fang 2009) represents the first record of the genus Thronia Solovyev, 2014a from India. Furthermore, Narosa erminea Hampson, 1895 and Thespea althea Solovyev, 2014a are recorded for the first time from India. Images of the adults and genitalia are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yield loss to damage functions were established to determine multiple-pest economic injury levels (EILs) on jute, Corchorus olitoris L. (var. JRO 204) at different crop growth stages through field experiments during 2015–2017. The yield loss to damage functions were derived for two-pest combinations viz., yellow mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) and lepidopterans i.e. Bihar hairy caterpillar (BHC), Spilosoma obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) and jute semilooper (SL), Anomis sabulifera Guenee (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The grouping of insects was made into different injury guilds, based on the plants' physiological response to insect injury. In the present study, the damage mechanism for yellow mite as sap assimilator and Bihar hairy caterpillar and semilooper as tissue consumer were grouped. Based on yield loss functions, single-species as well as multi-species EILs were determined. Across the experiments, single-species EILs of yellow mite combined with BHC and SL, ranged from 32.73–37.20 mites/cm2 on the second unfolded leaf and 8.84–9.90% plant damage, respectively. The iso-loss equations were depicted by the various two-pest incidence combinations which resulted in economic damage although each pest was below its respective EIL. The multi-pest EILs can be useful to monitor the simultaneous occurrence of two-pest species thereby helping to prevent yield losses in jute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perina nuda (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) is an important leaf‐feeding pest of Ficus species. It significantly affects the growth and reproduction of Ficus species, the economic prospects of growers, and the beauty of urban gardens. This study employed the MaxEnt model to predict and analyze the potential distribution of P. nuda in China, utilizing global distribution data and the correlation between the distribution of P. nuda and environmental variables. The results showed that the dominant environmental variables influencing the distribution of P. nuda included the warmest quarterly precipitation, coldest monthly minimum temperature, annual precipitation, and wettest monthly precipitation. The potential distribution area of P. nuda in China under current climatic conditions is 158 × 104 km2, accounting for 16.4% of the total area of the country. According to the SSP5‐8.5 scenario in 2050, the potential distribution area of P. nuda is projected to reach 200 × 104 km2, an increase of 26.5% compared to the current. P. nuda is widespread in China and has a tendency to spread, threatening the growth of Ficus species. This study is important for monitoring and control of P. nuda in areas where it is present, and where it may be present in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many invertebrates and vertebrates secrete mucus from their body surface, which plays a crucial role in protecting themselves from attacks by microorganism or predators. This study reports on the potential functions of mucus secreted from the body surface of larvae of the moth Phauda flammans (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Phaudidae). We tested whether the mucus could inhibit the growth of the fungus Beauveria bassiana PfBb (Bals.‐Criv.) Vuill. (Hypocreales) and attract and/or deter predators such as the crazy ant, Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and the predatory bug Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Our results showed that de‐ and rehydrated mucus concentrations of 0.5–1.0 mg mL−1 had an inhibitory effect on the conidial germination and colony growth of B. bassiana PfBb; however, P. flammans mucus did not significantly affect fungal sporulation. Raw mucus and mucus concentrations of 1.0–4.0 mg mL−1 attracted P. longicornis workers in a Y‐tube olfactometer, whereas the physical viscosity of raw mucus hindered their foraging for food in a laboratory test. The E. furcellata adults did not display a preference for the odour of P. flammans mucus. Therefore, P. flammans mucus may inhibit pathogenic microorganisms and attract or repel predators, but the mucus does not act as a complete deterrent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]