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Identification of the geographic origin of invasive species can be critical to effective management and amelioration of negative impacts in the introduced range. Liriomyza huidobrensis is a polyphagous leafmining fly that is a devastating pest of many vegetable and floriculture crops around the world. Considered native to South and possibly Central America, L. huidobrensis became invasive in the 1980s and has since spread to at least 30 countries on five continents. We used phylogeographic analysis of over 2 kb of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and II sequence data from 403 field‐collected specimens from both native and introduced populations to investigate the geographic origins of invasive L. huidobrensis worldwide. Within South America, there was substantial genetic variation, as well as the strong phylogeographic structure typical of a native range. In contrast, leafminers from the introduced range and Central America all contained little genetic variation and shared the same small set of haplotypes. These haplotypes trace to Peru as the ultimate geographic origin of invasive populations. Central America is rejected as part of the original geographic range of L. huidobrensis. Within Peru, the primary export region of Lima shared an extremely similar pattern of reduced haplotype variation to the invasive populations. An additional 18 specimens collected at US ports of entry did not share the same haplotype profile as contemporary invasive populations, raising perplexing questions on global pathways and establishment success in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 327 species of Agromyzidae has been recorded from the Gemer area and for 245 of these species new data are given. Altogether 89 species are ascertained to occur in the Gemer area for the first time. Of this number, 35 species are new additions to the fauna of Slovakia, viz. Agromyza filipendulae Spencer, 1976, A. myosotidis Kaltenbach, 1864, Amauromyza (Amauromyza) rameli Černý, 2011, Am. (Cephalomyza) flavifrons (Meigen, 1830), Aulagromyza populicola (Haliday in Walker, 1853), Cerodontha (Butomomyza) rohdendorfi Nowakowski, 1967, C. (Cerodontha) coxalis Martinez, 1987, C. (C.) xanthocera Hendel, 1920, C. (Dizygomyza) eriophori Nowakowski, 1972, C. (Poemyza) beigerae Nowakowski, 1973, C. (P.) kerteszi (Hendel, 1931), Chromatomyia dorsata (Hendel, 1920), Liriomyza bryoniae (Kaltenbach, 1858), L. coronillae Pakalniškis, 1994, L. dracunculi Hering, 1932, Melanagromyza lappae (Loew, 1850), M. limata Spencer, 1971, M. verbasci Spencer, 1957, Napomyza inquilina (Kock, 1966), Ophiomyia crispa Guglya, 2013, O. gnaphalii Hering, 1949, O. submaura Hering, 1926, Phytobia cerasiferae (Kangas, 1955), Phb. errans (Meigen, 1830), Phb. mallochi (Hendel, 1924), Phytoliriomyza perpusilla (Meigen, 1830), Phl. variegata (Meigen, 1830), Phytomyza aconiti Hendel, 1920, Ph. anemones Hering, 1925, Ph. astrantiae Hendel, 1924, Ph. bipunctata Loew, 1858, Ph. kugleri Spencer, 1974, Ph. leucanthemi Hering, 1935, Pseudonapomyza balkanensis Spencer, 1973 and Ps. vota Spencer, 1973. The biogeographically most important are records of Amauromyza (Am.) rameli, Cerodontha (C.) xanthocera, C. (P.) kerteszi, Chromatomyia dorsata, Phytomyza kugleri and Pseudonapomyza vota being from their northernmost occurrence limits and usually the first record from Central Europe. Cerodontha (Dizygomyza) eriophori (first record outside Poland) has been found in a new southernmost locality, similarly as was also Chromatomyia rhaetica Griffiths, 1980. The biodiversity of species of the family Agromyzidae in particular large-sized protected areas of the Gemer region is discussed. Thanks to recent intensive research, the highest number of species was found in the Muránska planina National Park (250) and in the Cerová vrchovina PLA (198), which is significantly more than in the other protected areas of similar extent in Slovakia that have been studied in detail for Diptera up to the present. A new checklist of Agromyzidae for the fauna of Slovakia is presented, which now includes 414 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We found leafmines of Phytomyza ditmani on Ilex decidua (Possumhaw) in Craighead County, AR, in the spring of 2023. We collected larvae and pupae of P. ditmani in the field and reared them in the lab to obtain adult forms. Through genetic sequencing of a barcoding gene, we confirmed the identity of the flies as P. ditmani. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed record of P. ditmani in Arkansas and the mid-south region of the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment conducted during kharif, 2019-20 (July 2019-February 2020) at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Kalaburagi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, India on the management of pod fly with recommended chemicals (Imidacloprid 17.8 SL 0.20 ml+jaggary 10 g l-1 as first spray at 10 days after pod formation and second spray with Thiamethoxam 25 WG 0.2 g+jaggary 10 g l-1 at 15 days after first spray) in pigeonpea varieties sown under different dates revealed, minimum pod damage (21.07%), seed damage (14.51%) and yield (1062.66 kg ha-1) in variety TS 3R. However, significantly higher pod damage, seed damage and yield of 31.47%, 24.89% and 1251.13 kg ha-1, respectively was found in variety BSMR 736. Among different sowing dates, the crop sown on 20th July recorded significantly least pod damage (21.07%) and seed damage (14.06%) compared to 20th August sown crop which recorded significantly higher pod damage of 32.13% and seed damage of 25.86%. Yield was significantly higher in 20th July sown crop (1295.89 kg ha-1) and it was lower in the crop sown on 20th August (1032.90 kg ha-1). With respect to management, minimum pod damage (17.07%) and seed damage (11.52%) was noticed in protected plots while it was maximum in unprotected plots with 35.02 and 26.62% pod and seed damage, respectively. The yield was significantly higher in protected plots (1242.37 kg ha-1) when compared to unprotected plots (1080.65 kg ha-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, Kazakhstan is an underexplored territory regarding the study of leaf miners. This article aims to present new data on the defoliators of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) in cultivated plants of North-Eastern Kazakhstan (the Pavlodar Region). Occurrence of Fenusa pumila Leach, 1817, as well as additional new data on the previously known leafminer species are presented for the first time for the Pavlodar Region. Groups of birch-defoliating insects were chosen as model objects. The research conducted in the territory of the Pavlodar Region revealed six species of leaf miners belonging to three genera Stigmella Schrank, 1802, Phylloporia Heinemann, 1870, and Fenusa Leach, 1817. All representatives are obligate miners that develop at the larval stage in the mesophyll of birch leaves. This group of insects harmfully affects plants, often causing their death, which in turn proves the importance of studying them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the diversity of agromizids (leaf miners) in the South Caucasus, the species external morphological features, their host plants, the development of larvae and pupae and to assess the degree of crop infestation by leaf‐miners.The study was carried out within the framework of the scs 21‐002 scientific program “Leaf miners as pests of agricultural plants (Diptera: Agromyzidae): the latest control measures”. Type samples were fixed in 75 % ethyl alcohol and deposited in the Agrarian Scientific Research Laboratory of the Scientific Centre of Zoology and Hydroecology. Species were identified by examining the male genitalia. The degree of damage of the host–plant was determined based on intensity indicators.As a result of this research, a new species of the Calycomyza genus was discovered in the South Caucasus fauna. Larvae of C. jucunda (Wulp, 1867) were found on the leaves of Beta vulgaris, a host plant mentioned for the first time here. As a Nearctic species, it was also first discovered in the southern Caucasus.The study of the male genitalia indicates expansion of the biogeographical distribution of Calycomyza species, as most of them are found in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. In terms of intensity, C. jucunda is classified as a less dangerous species for agricultural crops.

As an environmental factor, temperature impacts the distribution of species and influences interspecific competition. The molecular chaperones encoded by small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are essential for rapid, appropriate responses to environmental stress. This study focuses on Hsp20.8 , which encodes a temperature-responsive sHsp in Liriomyza trifolii , an insect pest that infests both agricultural and ornamental crops. Hsp20.8 expression was highest at 39℃ in L. trifolii pupae and adults, and expression levels were greater in pupae than in adults. Recombinant Hsp20.8 was expressed in Escherichia coli and conferred a higher survival rate than the empty vector to bacterial cells exposed to heat stress. RNA interference experiments were conducted using L. trifolii adults and prepupae and the knockdown of Hsp20.8 expression increased mortality in L. trifolii during heat stress. The results expand our understanding of sHsp function in Liriomyza spp. and the ongoing adaptation of this pest to climate change. In addition, this study is also important for predicting the distribution of invasive species and proposing new prevention and control strategies based on temperature adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liriomyza chinensis (Kato) is a formidable pest of Allium species, especially the Japanese bunching onion Allium fistulosum L. Recently, a novel biotype of L. chinensis (biotype B) has emerged, which causes more severe damage than the native biotype A. It has been reported that biotype B has frequently displaced biotype A in the Japanese bunching onion fields in Japan. As interbiotype hybridization is a possible factor that influences such displacement, interbiotype hybridization was conducted between L. chinensis biotypes A and B. Eggs were not laid under one-by-one crossing conditions; however, adult hybrid progeny of both sexes emerged from no-choice mating combinations―when multiple males and females were present. The fertility of F1 hybrid adults was also investigated, and backcrossed adults emerged from F1 females in both mating combinations. F1 males might have exhibited reproductive abnormalities because only a small number of backcross progeny emerged from the mating combinations using F1 males. Additionally, 3 representative endosymbionts (Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, and Cardinium) were investigated, and both biotypes were found to be infected by the same strain of Wolbachia. In addition, the courtship signals (tapping) of male adults differed between biotypes A and B as well as between F1 hybrids; the F1 males exhibited tapping behavior that was intermediate between biotypes A and B. Therefore, mating sounds serve as a form of premating reproductive isolation between biotypes A and B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractLiriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Agromyzidae, Diptera) was the most prevalent on crops infested with leafminers in Jordan, as it was recorded on twelve economic vegetable crops. We investigated the plant-mediated effects on the host feeding, egg laying, parasitism and adult emergence of Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Eulophidae, Hymenoptera) parasitizing L. huidobrensis larvae on seven vegetables. Results showed that the highest percentage of parasitoid feeding on L. huidobrensis larvae was on bean leaves (9.7%). The lowest percentages of parasitoid host-feeding were on the leaves of white-flowered gourd (4.5%) and eggplant (4.3%) plants. For egg laying, N. formosa females significantly preferred potato (57.7% of parasitism) and bean (46.6% of parasitism) plants. The lowest rates of parasitism occurred on eggplant (17%) and white-flowered gourd (22.3%). The full percentage of adult parasitoid emergence was in bean and broad bean. All plant hosts showed a significant superiority in the parasitoids emergence over eggplant (92.9%) and tomato (85.7%). The highest percentages of emerged parasitoid females were on potato (75%) and the lowest percentage was on eggplant (52%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The result of this study showed species Phytomyza isais Hering, 1937 recorded for first time to entomofauna of Iraq, which were collected from Chicory plants (Cichorium intybus L.). The synonym of species were supplied from GBIF [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liriomyza trifolii is mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, and it is one of the important invasive pests in China, which can damage a variety of plants. L. trifolii has caused serious economic losses to agriculture in China. Morphological and molecular characterization results showed that the collected Sanya field strain was L. trifolii. Bioassay results showed that the sensitivity of the 2nd instar larvae of the Sanya field strain in 2022 to indoxacarb was reduced by 776.17 times. The correlation between the activities of GST and AChE and the resistance of indoxacarb was higher. Temperature affected the developmental period and survival rate of different stages of field strains of L. trifolii, with a greater effect on the survival rate of nymphs, but no effect on the body length and weight of pupae. At 16, 25, and 34 °C, the developmental periods of larvae were shortened with the increase in temperature. The developmental periods of adults fed with honey water were significantly longer than those fed with sterile water. Based of the temperature and developmental period, the development point temperatures of eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults of L. trifolii were 10.82, 2.75, 12.30, and 7.11 °C, respectively. The results of this study may provide important theoretical support for resistance monitoring, management, and control strategies for this insect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liriomyza huidobrensis is a leafminer fly and significant horticultural pest. It is a quarantine listed species in many countries and is now present as an established pest in Australia. Liriomyza huidobrensis uses a broad range of host plants and has potential for spread into various horticultural systems and regions of Australia. Rapid in-field identification of the pest is critically needed to assist efforts to manage this pest. Morphological identification of the pest is effectively limited to specialist examinations of adult males. Generally, molecular methods such as qPCR and DNA barcoding for identification of Liriomyza species require costly laboratory-based hardware. Herein, we developed two independent and rapid LAMP assays targeted to independently inherited mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Both assays are highly sensitive and specific to L. huidobrensis. Positive signals can be detected within 10 min on laboratory and portable real-time amplification fluorometers. Further, we adapted these assays for use with colorimetric master mixes, to allow fluorometer free in-field diagnostics of L. huidobrensis. Our LAMP assays can be used for stand-alone testing of query specimens and are likely to be essential tools used for rapid identification and monitoring of L. huidobrensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new biodiversity inventory of opomyzoid families (excl. Agromyzidae) in the Gemer area (Slovakia) is presented with a critical synopsis of previously published data and new records obtained from the Muránska planina National Park and the Cerová vrchovina Protected Landscape Area. The study includes the families Clusiidae (10 species), Acartophthalmidae (2), Opomyzidae (12), Anthomyzidae (14), Aulacigastridae (3), Stenomicridae (2), Periscelididae (5), Asteiidae (7) and Odiniidae (8). For each recorded species remarks on general distribution, biology, faunistic and/or nature conservation importance are provided. Four species, viz. Aulacigaster falcata Papp, 1998 (Aulacigastridae), Periscelis (Myodris) haennii Pollini Paltrinieri & Roháček, 2022 (Periscelididae), Neoalticomerus fabricius Withers & Papp, 2012 and Odinia photophila Papp, 1977 (second known specimen) (both Odiniidae), are recorded from Slovakia for the first time, and 14 other species are new additions to the fauna of the Gemer area, viz. Geomyza acutipennis Czerny, 1928, G. balachowskyi Mesnil, 1934, G. breviseta Czerny, 1928 and G. subnigra Drake, 1992 (Opomyzidae), Anagnota bicolor (Meigen, 1838), Anthomyza collini Andersson, 1976 and Stiphrosoma cingulatum (Haliday, 1855) (Anthomyzidae), Periscelis (Periscelis) annulipes Loew, 1858 (Periscelididae), Asteia elegantula Zetterstedt, 1847 and Leiomyza birkheadi Gibbs, 2007 (Asteiidae), Neoalticomerus formosus (Loew, 1844), Odinia czernyi Collin, 1952, O. meijerei Collin, 1952 and O. trinotata Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Odiniidae). First records of Neoalticomerus fabricius are also given from Germany, Poland and Czech Republic. Except for the above new faunal records, also the following species are considered interesting and important in the Gemer area because of their rarity or significance from the nature conservation point of view: Clusiodes gentilis (Collin, 1912) (Clusiidae), Stiphrosoma humerale Roháček & Barber, 2005 (Anthomyzidae), Podocera soniae (Merz & Roháček, 2005) (Stenomicridae), Periscelis (P.) laszloi Roháček, 2022 and P. (P.) winnertzii Egger, 1862 (Periscelididae). Diagnostic characters of some species of Odiniidae are emphasized and illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian soybean stem borer Melanagromyza sojae (Zehntner) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) represents a threat to soybean and chickpea crops in South America. It is known that in the region its population has increased, in part, due to the difficulty in its agronomic management. This is due to the lack of knowledge regarding its biology and the environments that are favorable for its establishment. In this study, we provide a comprehensive database of records of M. sojae, as well as an updated list of its host plants from field surveys, bibliographic review, and online databases. We estimated the suitability and potential distribution of the pest considering environmental information from remote sensors and bioclimatic variables and contrasted these against land‐use cover across South America. In Argentina, M. sojae was found developing on Tithonia tubaeformis (Jacq.) Cass. (Asteraceae), surviving in chickpeas and volunteer soybeans that were affected by winter frost. The most informative models and highest suitability were predicted from vegetation indices and bioclimatic variables, and coincided with sites having a high proportion of arable land. Regarding climate, the greatest suitability occurred in eastern South America, including the southern states of Brazil and Paraguay, where the final models recovered the current known distribution of the species on the continent. However, its extension may be even greater than predicted, due to the wide distribution range of its hosts. This characterization of suitability for M. sojae could be a useful resource to anticipate the regions that are most favorable for its presence and supports the need to consider the distribution of crops and host plants that could act as natural reservoirs to identify sites and streamline efforts to reduce the incidence of the pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three polyphagous pest Liriomyza spp. (Diptera: Agromyzidae) have recently invaded Australia and are damaging horticultural crops. Parasitic wasps are recognized as effective natural enemies of leafmining species globally and are expected to become important biocontrol agents in Australia. However, the hymenopteran parasitoid complex of agromyzids in Australia is poorly known and its use hindered due to taxonomic challenges when based on morphological characters. Here, we identified 14 parasitoid species of leafminers based on molecular and morphological data. We linked DNA barcodes (5′ end cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences) to five adventive eulophid wasp species (Chrysocharis pubicornis (Zetterstedt), Diglyphus isaea (Walker), Hemiptarsenus varicornis (Girault), Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood), and Neochrysocharis okazakii Kamijo) and two braconid species (Dacnusa areolaris (Nees) and Opius cinerariae Fischer). We also provide the first DNA barcodes (5′ end COI sequences) with linked morphological characters for seven wasp species, with three identified to species level (Closterocerus mirabilis Edwards & La Salle, Trigonogastrella parasitica (Girault), and Zagrammosoma latilineatum Ubaidillah) and four identified to genus (Aprostocetus sp., Asecodes sp., Opius sp. 1, and Opius sp. 2). Phylogenetic analyses suggest C. pubicornis , D. isaea , H. varicornis, and O. cinerariae are likely cryptic species complexes. Neochrysocharis formosa and Aprostocetus sp. specimens were infected with Rickettsia. Five other species (Cl. mirabilis , D. isaea, H. varicornis, Opius sp. 1, and Opius sp. 2) were infected with Wolbachia , while two endosymbionts (Rickettsia and Wolbachia) co-infected N. okazakii. These findings provide background information about the parasitoid fauna expected to help control the leafminers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pea leafminer, Chromatomyia horticola is one of the serious pests of pea in the major pea-growing regions of India. The effect of different cultivars on the biology and fertility parameters of pea leafminer was studied at 25 ± 1°C, 60–65% relative humidity and 12:12 h photoperiod during 2022. The development time for immature stages was significantly different between cultivars as follows: Azad P-1 < Pusa Pragati < Him Palam Matar-1. Population parameters like the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) (0.1752 day-1), the net reproductive rate (R0) (85.25 female eggs/female) and finite rate of increase (ℷ) (1.1915 females/day) were observed to be highest on Azad P-1 cultivar. The highest fecundity of 227 eggs per female was also observed on Azad P-1 cultivar. No significant differences were observed in the mean generation time and doubling time of leafminer on all three cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the vast diversity of phytophagous insects that feed on vascular plants (tracheophytes), insects that feed on bryophytes remain understudied. Agromyzidae, one of the most species-rich phytophagous clades in Diptera, consists mainly of leaf-mining species that feed on tracheophytes. However, a recent discovery of thallus-mining species on liverworts and hornworts within the Liriomyza group of Phytomyzinae provides an opportunity to study host shifts between tracheophytes and bryophytes. This study aimed to explore the origin and diversification of thallus-miners and estimate the pattern and timing of host shifts. Phylogenetic analysis of Phytomyzinae has revealed that the thallus-mining agromyzids formed a separate clade, which was sister to a fern pinnule-miner. The diversification of bryophyte-associated agromyzids since the Oligocene involved multiple host shifts across various bryophyte taxa. The diversification of the thallus-mining Phytoliriomyza may have occurred at the same time as the leaf-mining agromyzid flies on herbaceous plants, indicating a dynamic history of interactions between bryophytes and herbivores in angiosperms-dominated ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soybean stem fly, Melanagromyza sojae (Zehntner) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), is an example of an insect pest with a restricted distribution that in the last few decades has been spreading to regions beyond its native range and causing economic losses. We evaluated whether M. sojae shifted its niche during biological invasion and used ecological niche models to estimate its global distribution under current and future climate conditions. In addition, we assessed whether the soybean stem fly represents a risk for major soybean‐producing countries, using Brazil as an example. Our analyses suggest that M. sojae has expanded its niche to new environments. Suitable habitats were predicted in all continents, including regions where this species has not yet been reported. Several soybean‐producing countries and all Brazilian growing areas are within the suitable ranges estimated for M. sojae. Also, most areas estimated as suitable under current climate conditions will remain so until at least 2080. These findings are important for invasion risk assessments aiming to prevent the spread of this species to major soybean‐producing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The vegetable leafminer, Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard) is a serious pest of vegetable and ornamental crops in the whole Vietnam. Previous studies indicate that biology of Liriomyza leafminers depends on host plant. The objective of this study was to understand the performance of L. sativae on kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis). Methods: The experiment was carried out at the Laboratory of Entomology, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Vietnam during 2020 and 2021. The development time of immature stages, longevity and fecundity of L. sativae were investigated on kidney bean and pak choi. Result: The total developmental time from egg to adult emergence of the vegetable leafminer fed on kidney bean was shorter (17.1 days) than that on pak choi (18.2 days). Fecundity of the adults on kidney bean (190.2 eggs) were larger than that on pak choi (73.3 eggs). The results indicated that pak choi was less suitable host plant than kidney bean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirteen species of the Agromyzidae are recorded from Cambodia for the first time. Of these one is here described as new and illustrated: Agromyza cambodiae sp. nov., the remaining twelve species are newly recorded from the country. With these additions a total of 16 species in 6 genera of Agromyzidae are currently known from the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf miners, Liriomyza spp., have developed as a severe pest in recent years, reducing the production of several ornamental and crops in Indonesia. As a result, monitoring and control mechanisms have been proposed. This research aimed to investigate community structure and identify Liriomyza spp., which impacts crops and natural parasitoids in Bali Province. Leaf samples of vegetables, ornamental plants, and related species were collected in all regencies/cities of Bali Province in 2019 and 2020 and preserved in the laboratory for observation and counting of leaf miners and related parasitoids. The findings revealed that four Liriomyza spp. were detected in host plants, namely Liriomyza sativae Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae), Liriomyza huidobrensis Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae), Liriomyza chinensis Kato (Diptera: Agromyzidae), and Liriomyza trifolii Burgess (Diptera: Agromyzidae). Asteraceae species were the most common host plants attacked by leaf miners in the field. The same occurrence was discovered at both heights (high and lowlands). The dry season is the most crucial component in the abundance of Liriomyza spp. In addition, parasitoids of the type Opius cromatomiyae Belokobylskij and Wharton (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Hemiptarsenun varicornis Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were identified in abundance in Asteraceae plants. Similarly, the parasitization rate of the two parasitoids was found to be high in plants of the Asteraceae and Brassicae families. This approach highlights the decision-making process for controlling Liriomyza spp. on diverse host plant families by developing ecologically beneficial and sustainable parasitoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wheat sheath miner, Cerodontha australis, is widespread and abundant in New Zealand and also occurs in eastern Australia. Adult and larval C. australis feed on cereals and grasses, including the economically important perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne. There is little literature about C. australis, and much of the early work may relate to other species due to its initial misidentification. Morphologybased identification can be challenging, and the absence of online barcode sequences from voucher specimens for C. australis has precluded diagnosis using molecular techniques. In this study, two individual adult leafminers collected from L. perenne plants in New Zealand were confirmed as C. australis morphologically. One has been retained as a voucher specimen and its mitochondrial barcode sequence submitted to online databases. Comparison with adult and larval specimens previously sequenced by the authors confirmed they were also C. australis. Molecular identification of 20 hymenopteran pupal endoparasitoids, and a subset of the puparia they emerged from, revealed Trichopria sp. (Diapriidae), Eupelmus messene (Eupelmidae) and three haplotypes (or closely related species) of Eulophidae. Sequences for all wasps were submitted to GenBank. All the puparia were visually identified as C. australis, and a subset that included a host pupa of each identified endoparasitoid species were confirmed as C. australis based on comparison with our barcode sequence. This work will aid future studies on C. australis and has allowed identification of unidentified sequences on public databases formerly submitted by other New Zealand researchers. It also provides new records of association between C. australis and its pupal endoparasitoids. More broadly, our study provides an example of the importance of authoritative morphological identification of specimens alongside molecular identification, and highlights the challenges in identifying species for which this has not been done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liriomyza trifolii is a significant pest of vegetable and ornamental crops across the globe. Microwave radiation has been used for controlling pests in stored products; however, there are few reports on the use of microwaves for eradicating agricultural pests such as L. trifolii , and its effects on pests at the molecular level is unclear. In this study, we show that microwave radiation inhibited the emergence of L. trifolii pupae. Transcriptomic studies of L. trifolii indicated significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in 'post-translational modification, protein turnover, chaperones', 'sensory perception of pain/transcription repressor complex/zinc ion binding' and 'insulin signaling pathway' when analyzed with the Clusters of Orthologous Groups, Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases, respectively. The top DEGs were related to reproduction, immunity and development and were significantly expressed after microwave radiation. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in the expression of genes encoding heat shock proteins or antioxidant enzymes in L. trifolii treated with microwave radiation as compared to the untreated control. The expression of DEGs encoding cuticular protein and protein takeout were silenced by RNA interference, and the results showed that knockdown of these two DEGs reduced the survival of L. trifolii exposed to microwave radiation. The results of this study help elucidate the molecular response of L. trifolii exposed to microwave radiation and provide novel ideas for control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pea leafminer, Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a polyphagous and serious pest of peas. In India, this pest is attacked by many parasitoids and among them Diglyphus horticola Khan (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an important one, however, demographics and pest-kill potential of this parasitoid has not been studied so far. This study presents the first report on its demographics and pest-kill potential on C. horticola. The parasitoid showed three modes of host-killing behaviour viz. host-feeding, parasitism and host-stinging. The parasitoid females killed more number of hosts by parasitism than host-feeding or host-stinging. The pre-adult survival, net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and finite rate of increase (λ) were higher on the 5-days old host larvae than those reared on the 3-days old larvae. Demographics and pest-kill parameters of D. horticola were also better on 5-days old host larvae than on 3-days old host larvae. Based on the study, D. horticola appeared to be a promising biocontrol agent for the suppression of C. horticola in peas and could be promoted through conservation biological control. Further studies are required to standardize the mass production protocol and release rates to use the parasitoid by augmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted at the Department of Seed Science and Technology of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh to examine the effect of various biopesticides on leaf miner population in Solan Lalima variety of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) under the mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh during 2018-2019. Different combinations of biopesticides were employed in the study, including Trichoderma viride, neem cake, neem oil, cow urine, Bacillus thuringiensis and HaNPV, each used at different concentrations. The results of the study indicated that yield per ha, gross income per ha, net return per ha and BC ratio were highest in the treatment comprising T viride 50 g + FYM 10 kg/plot + neem oil 5 ml/l (53,657.00 kg, Rs 1,073,140.00, Rs 710,790.00 and 1.96 respectively). Therefore, this treatment could be recommended for control of leaf miner in tomato var Solan Lalima in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the most common and serious tomato plant pests, leafminer flies (Liriomyza sativae) are considered one of the major tomato-plant-damaging pests worldwide. Detecting the infestation and quantifying the severity of these pests are essential for reducing their outbreaks through effective management and ensuring successful tomato production. Traditionally, detection and quantification are performed manually in the field. This is time-consuming and leads to inaccurate plant protection management practices owing to the subjectivity of the evaluation process. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a machine learning model for the detection and automatic estimation of the severity of tomato leaf symptoms of leafminer fly attacks. The dataset used in the present study comprised images of pest symptoms on tomato leaves acquired under field conditions. Manual annotation was performed to classify the acquired images into three groups: background, tomato leaf, and leaf symptoms from leafminer flies. Three models and four different backbones were compared for a multiclass semantic segmentation task using accuracy, precision, recall, and intersection over union metrics. A comparison of the segmentation results revealed that the U-Net model with the Inceptionv3 backbone achieved the best results. For estimation of symptom severity, the best model was FPN with the ResNet34 and DenseNet121 backbones, which exhibited lower root mean square error values. The computational models used proved promising mainly because of their capacity to automatically segment small objects in images captured in the field under challenging lighting conditions and with complex backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laotris luzulae Godfray, sp. nov. is described in the small genus Laotris Nixon, 1943, (Braconidae, Alysiinae, Danusini) from five specimens reared from Cerodontha silvatica (Groschke, 1957) (Diptera, Agromyzidae) mining Luzula sylvatica (Huds.) Gaudin (Juncaceae) in Devon and Gloucestershire in the southwest of Great Britain. Six further specimens from Somerset caught as adults in the 1950s are also noted. It differs morphologically from the three described species of Laotris and shows a 4.2% and 6.6% genetic distance at the CO1 barcode locus from an undescribed North American species and from the European L. striatula (Haliday, 1839), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diglyphus Walker, 1844 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an economically important genus including species acting as biocontrol agents against agromyzid leafminer pests. A new species of Diglyphus, Diglyphus difasciatus Liu, Hansson & Wan, sp. nov., was discovered during the identification of agromyzid leafminers and their associated parasitoid wasps collected from 2016 to 2022 in China, based on morphological characteristics and molecular analyses of COI, ITS2 and 28S genes. Diglyphus difasciatus is similar to D. bimaculatus Zhu, LaSalle & Huang, distinguished by two interconnected infuscate vertical bands on the fore wing and the color of the scape. Molecular data support D. difasciatus and D. bimaculatus as two different species. The mean genetic distances between D. difasciatus and D. bimaculatus were 11.33%, 8.62%, and 0.18%, based on the COI, ITS2, and 28S genes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae [Burgess]) is a highly polyphagous pest that threatens vegetables and horticultural plants. Although sexual communication is a key component of the animal behavioral repertoire, the mechanism underlying sexual communication in L. sativae remains to be elucidated. Here, we used laser vibrometry to characterize the vibrational signals emitted by L. sativae during pair formation. By emitting trains of vibrational pulses (male calling) the male initiated communication on the host plant. The female then became immobile and responded to the male calling by emitting replies (female replies), which in turn triggered male replies consisting of a rapid series of chirps and trills. If the female replied, a continuous exchange of male and female replies ensued, representing a duet. In playback trials, a playback signal caused responses from the opposite sex. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy revealed vibration‐producing stridulatory organs in both male and female individuals. The files in males were more developed than those in females, and older male specimens had more signs of abrasion. The results provide new insight into the mating biology of L. sativae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three species of polyphagous Liriomyza leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae), Liriomyza huidobrensis, L. sativae, and L. trifolii, are internationally significant pests of vegetable and nursery crops that have each been recently detected on the Australian mainland. Due to the early stages of these invasions in Australia, it is unclear how climatic conditions are likely to support and potentially restrict the distribution of these species as they expand into novel ranges and threaten agricultural production regions. Additionally, it is unclear how natural enemies, particularly parasitoid wasps, will mitigate the impacts of these pests. Here, we predicted the future establishment potential of L. huidobrensis, L. sativae and L. trifolii in Australia, as well as two cosmopolitan parasitoid wasps known to provide control of the flies in both field and glasshouse settings, Diglyphus isaea (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Hemiptarsenus varicornis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Global distribution data spanning 42 countries were compiled and used to validate a process‐based model of establishment potential based on intrinsic population growth rates. The modelling approach successfully captured the international distribution of the three Liriomyza species based on environmental variables and predicted the high suitability of non‐occupied ranges in Australia. The largely unfilled climatic niche available to these pests demonstrates the early stages of their Australian invasions and highlights locations where vegetable production regions are at particular risk. In addition to Australia, our results highlight many regions globally where L. sativae, L. trifolii and L. huidobrensis have the potential to spread in the future. Within Australia, D. isaea and H. varicornis are predicted to have a large spatial and seasonal overlap with each Liriomyza species and thus are expected to influence the future spread of these pests and play an important role in local pest management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetables are considered high value crops based on their growing areas and productivity, even if they are affected by a variety of insect pests throughout the whole growing season. Leaf miner is an immature of an insect that lives inside and consumes the leaf tissues of vegetable plants. Adult females of leaf miner puncture the leaf with their ovipositor, forming tube pattern, and feed on the punctured parts. Host plants survey of leaf miner in Multan (Pakistan) area was conducted. Twenty host plants were found in 2017, whereas twenty-four host plants were found infested with Liriomyza spp. (Diptera) in 2022 i.e., watermelon (24% infestation), long melon (75%), pumpkin (71%), round gourd (67%), snake melon (70%), bitter gourd (50%), long gourd (89%), bottle gourd (93%), pointed gourd (80%), snap gourd (86%), ridge gourd (83%), cucumber (98%), mung bean (98%), eggplant (60%), Petunia alba (88%), Zinnia elegies (30%), cotton (10%), okra (5%), berseem (7%), tomato (89%), Pea (52%) and Canola (28%). No infestation of leaf miners was observed on potato, chilies, and sweet potatoes. Color attraction results in 2017 and 2022 showed that there was maximum attraction of tomato leaf miner towards yellow sticky cards as compared to blue sticky cards. Varietal preference of tomato crop showed that Baby red variety was the most preferred by leaf miner (Liriomyza spp.), and comparatively Sehar was the least preferred variety. Field efficacy of four different insecticides against leaf miner were also tested. Insecticidal effects attributed as percent reduction of leaf miner infestation that showed the highest reduction values were observed after 7 DOA for Spinetoram (76.98%), whereas Bifenthrin (57%). Deltaphos (43 %) was the least toxic insecticide against Liriomyza spp. Integrated approaches are recommended to manage vegetable leaf miner like application of yellow sticky traps, discouraging preferred host plants, application of insecticides with novel modes of actions like spintoram and spinosad for effective management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Liriomyza Mik (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a diverse and globally distributed group of acalyptrate flies. Phylogenetic relationships among Liriomyza species have remained incompletely investigated and have never been fully addressed using molecular data. Here, we reconstruct the phylogeny of the genus Liriomyza using various phylogenetic methods (maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and gene tree coalescence) on target-capture-based phylogenomic datasets (nucleotides and amino acids) obtained from anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE). We have recovered tree topologies that are nearly congruent across all data types and methods, and individual clade support is strong across all phylogenetic analyses. Moreover, defined morphological species groups and clades are well-supported in our best estimates of the molecular phylogeny. Liriomyza violivora (Spencer) is a sister group to all remaining sampled Liriomyza species, and the well-known polyphagous vegetable pests [L. huidobrensis (Blanchard), L. langei Frick, L. bryoniae. (Kaltenbach), L. trifolii (Burgess), L. sativae Blanchard, and L. brassicae (Riley)]. belong to multiple clades that are not particularly closely related on the trees. Often, closely related Liriomyza species feed on distantly related host plants. We reject the hypothesis that cophylogenetic processes between Liriomyza species and their host plants drive diversification in this genus. Instead, Liriomyza exhibits a widespread pattern of major host shifts across plant taxa. Our new phylogenetic estimate for Liriomyza species provides considerable new information on the evolution of host-use patterns in this genus. In addition, it provides a framework for further study of the morphology, ecology, and diversification of these important flies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aulagromyza heringii (Hendel) is a widespread leaf miner fly all over Europe, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and China of Fraxinus excelsior. Infested leaves with leaf-miner larvae were collected from F. excelsior in Tehran province in 2016. During laboratory rearing, adult flies and parasitoids were obtained and identified. We present here the first recorded instance of Lamprotatus crassipes Thomson, 1876 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) serving as a parasitoid of Aulagromyza heringii, and also report the first occurrence of both A. heringii and the genus Lamprotatus Walker, 1843 in Iran. Diagnoses for Aulagromyza heringii and Lamprotatus crassipes are given along with photos. A brief overview of their biological features is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and its impact on agricultural crops is driving the expansion of cropping systems to plants better adapted to rising temperatures, prolonged periods of drought, poor soils, and high salinity. One such crop is quinoa, Chenopodium quinoa Willd (Caryophyllales: Amaranthaceae), a traditionally Andean grain that has been recently adopted in dry, high-elevation regions of Colorado, Idaho, and Washington. However, in 2021, a stem-boring fly, Amauromyza karli Hendel (Diptera: Agromyzidae), was reported in quinoa grown in Colorado's San Luis Valley and abruptly halted expansion of this climate-resilient crop. This new agromyzid pest has caused complete yield loss in some instances and contributed to substantial declines in quinoa acreage from 3,000 acres in 2021 to 900 acres in 2022. Distinguishing morphological features of A. karli adults include a yellow head, light yellow halteres, a dark brown body, and a dark brown femur and tibia that are yellow near the tips. Larvae feed within quinoa stems and destroy the pith, which disrupts nutrient transport and causes death or significant declines in yield and quality. Here, we summarize the impact of A. karli on quinoa, and discuss life history and management for other agromyzid species that can inform management of A. karli. Research focused on effective integrated management tactics including use of biological control, host plant resistance, and systemic insecticides is urgently needed to suppress this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of insets to react efficiently to fluctuation in temperature is crucial for them to survive in variable surroundings. Rapid cold hardening (RCH) is a process that increase cold tolerance in most insect species. The molecular mechanisms of RCH remain largely unknown, and whether it is associated with transcriptional changes is unclear. In this study, we compared the transcriptomes of Liriomyza trifolii and L. sativae exposed to RCH to investigate the transcript abundance due to RCH in both species. RNA-seq revealed 93,166 assembled unigenes, and 34,303 of these were annotated in the L. trifolii and L. sativae transcriptome libraries. After a 4-h treatment at 1°C (RCH) compared with control, 268 and 606 unigenes were differentially expressed in L. trifolii and L. sativae, respectively. When comparing pupae exposed to 2h cold shock directly with pupae went through 4h acclimation prior to 2h cold shock, 60 and 399 unigenes were differentially expressed in L trifolii and L sativae, respectively. Genes that were commonly expressed in both L. trifolii and L. sativae, included cytochrome P450, cuticular protein, glucose dehydrogenase, solute carrier family 22 and cationic amino acid transporter. Additionally, several pathways including galactose metabolism and peroxisome were significantly enriched during RCH. Our results show that the transcriptional response is correlated with RCH in the pupal stage of the two Liriomyza species, but more transcriptional changes were identified in L sativae than in L. trifolii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serpentine leaf miner, from the genus Liriomyza, is one of the most economically important pests responsible for severe yield reductions in numerous vegetables crops worldwide including potato. Potato plays a significant role in the Indian economy. Potato production is being affected by several existing and new biotic stresses; correct and timely identification of new stresses is the key for their effective management. The Nilgiri hills located in Southern India is one of the oldest potato-growing areas of the country and is a prime centre in south India for potato production and supply. During the summer and autumn seasons of the year 2020, a leaf miner outbreak was observed in the potato-growing areas of the Nilgiri hills of Southern India. Here, we surveyed the potato fields to determine the species, damage severity, distribution, and possible alternate weed hosts of leaf miner. Based on the morpho-molecular characterization of the adult fly, the pest was identified as Liriomyza huidobrensis. During the outbreak, the incidence of this pest was 90–100%, with a damage severity ranging from 20 to 100% on the potato crop. The larval population varied from 1.2 to 14.83 larvae leaflet−1. It was also observed that the damage incidence and severity of L. huidobrensis infestation was influenced by the crop age and foliar injury increased with the advancement of crop age. In addition to potato, L. huidobrensis incidence was also recorded on six cultivated crops such as carrot, beetroot, garlic, beans, double beans, and broccoli. The incidence of the pest was also noticed on one cover crop, lupine and seven weed species (Amaranthus spp., Bidens pilosa, Chenopodium spp., Solanum nigrum, Galinsoga parviflora, Hypochaeris glabra, and Sonchus oleraceus) commonly observed in the Nilgiri hills. Field experiments for the management of L. huidobrensis with two potato cultivars (Kufri Swarna and Kufri Sahyadri) were also conducted to have an immediate option against this pest. These studies recommend the application of abamectin for the management of L. huidobrensis. The polyphagous nature of the pest coupled with increasing trade, transport, and changing climatic scenario possesses the risk of its spread in new geographical areas along with the possibility to attain the status of a major pest of potato and other crops in near future. Additionally, the Nilgiri hills are identified as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Therefore in future, the studies should focus on the exploration and conservation of biological control agents and evaluation of safer chemical molecules to minimize the crop losses and to avert its further spread in new localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vegetable leaf miner, Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard) is a serious insect pest on vegetable and ornamental crops in the whole of Vietnam. It was controlled by a wide range of conventional insecticides. Since there is a limited recommendation on insecticide application, growers continue to use whatever is available. This study was carried out at Entomology Laboratory, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Vietnam during 2021-22 to determine the susceptibility of larval and adult stages of L. sativae to four insecticides (e.g., lambda-cyhalothrin, abamectin, cypermethrin and clothianidin) currently used for the management of the leaf miner. Among four tested insecticides, abamectin was highly effective on larvae and moderately effective on adults of L. satiave. Lambda-cyhalothrin and cypermethrin were moderately effective on either larvae and adults of the leaf miner. Clothianidin was least effective against the leaf miner. These results suggest that abamectin, lambda-cyhalothrin and cypermethrin can be rotationally used for the management of L. sativae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: The recognition of the Miocene Climate Optimum (MCO) in terrestrial palaeoenvironments of the Eastern Mediterranean is restricted to Lesbos and Lemnos Islands, Greece. This area is significant for its wood microfossils. A recentlydiscovered fossil wood assemblage from Gökçeada (Imbros) Island, Turkey, including tree species similar to the Greek findings, is thought to have an early Miocene age. Here, we revise the age of the latter plant fossiliferous locality, re-evaluate the area for the study of MCO for the terrestrial palaeoecosystems of the Eastern Mediterranean and the nomenclature errors referring to the occurrence of fossil wood. We present the plant-insect-environment interactions using detailed anatomical descriptions, of an extinct conifer and its extinct cambium miner feeding traces observed in its secondary xylem. Methods: Three thin sections were prepared with standard palaeoxylotomical techniques from a small section of the silicified wood; the sections were observed under a light microscope. The anatomy of the conifer and its damage patterns were compared with those of extant and fossil Cupressaceae and Agromyzidae, respectively. Pivotal results: The common anatomical features of the studied wood specimen and Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (Hartw.) Bartel and a shared characteristic (the number of the cross-field pits - a feature we consider of diagnostic value) with Xanthocyparis vietnamensis Farjon & T.H. Nguyên led to its assignment to the Hesperocyparis-Xanthocyparis-Callitropsis clade. The detailed study of the wound scars and anatomical abnormalities, the anatomical-environmental associations, and structural-functional reactions follow the identification of the wood's anatomy sensu Carlquist providing decisive results. Conclusions: Based on the distinctive characteristics presented, we identify our macrofossil as Cupressinoxylon matromnense Grambast, a stem or an extinct lineage of the Hesperocyparis-Xanthocyparis vietnamensis-Callitropsis nootkatensis clade with feeding traces of the fossil cambium miner of the genus Protophytobia Süss (Diptera: Agromyzidae), and anatomical damage and reaction tissue on adventitious shoots. The use of Protopinaceae and Pinoxylon F. H. Knowlton from the eastern Mediterranean are re-evaluated and corrections are provided. The age of the studied plant fossiliferous locality in Gökçeada is revised as middle Miocene, allowing the proposal of an eastern Mediterranean MCO hotspot, including Lesbos, Lemnos, and Gökçeada (Imbros) Islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise The recognition of the Miocene Climate Optimum (MCO) in terrestrial palaeoenvironments of the Eastern Mediterranean is restricted to Lesbos and Lemnos Islands, Greece. This area is significant for its wood microfossils. A recently-discovered fossil wood assemblage from Gökçeada (Imbros) Island, Turkey, including tree species similar to the Greek findings, is thought to have an early Miocene age. Here, we revise the age of the latter plant fossiliferous locality, re-evaluate the area for the study of MCO for the terrestrial palaeoecosystems of the Eastern Mediterranean and the nomenclature errors referring to the occurrence of fossil wood. We present the plant–insect–environment interactions using detailed anatomical descriptions, of an extinct conifer and its extinct cambium miner feeding traces observed in its secondary xylem. Methods Three thin sections were prepared with standard palaeoxylotomical techniques from a small section of the silicified wood; the sections were observed under a light microscope. The anatomy of the conifer and its damage patterns were compared with those of extant and fossil Cupressaceae and Agromyzidae, respectively. Pivotal results The common anatomical features of the studied wood specimen and Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (Hartw.) Bartel and a shared characteristic (the number of the cross-field pits – a feature we consider of diagnostic value) with Xanthocyparis vietnamensis Farjon & T.H. Nguyên led to its assignment to the Hesperocyparis–Xanthocyparis–Callitropsis clade. The detailed study of the wound scars and anatomical abnormalities, the anatomical–environmental associations, and structural–functional reactions follow the identification of the wood’s anatomy sensu Carlquist providing decisive results. Conclusions Based on the distinctive characteristics presented, we identify our macrofossil as Cupressinoxylon matromnense Grambast, a stem or an extinct lineage of the Hesperocyparis–Xanthocyparis vietnamensis–Callitropsis nootkatensis clade with feeding traces of the fossil cambium miner of the genus Protophytobia Süss (Diptera: Agromyzidae), and anatomical damage and reaction tissue on adventitious shoots. The use of Protopinaceae and Pinoxylon F. H. Knowlton from the eastern Mediterranean are re–evaluated and corrections are provided. The age of the studied plant fossiliferous locality in Gökçeada is revised as middle Miocene, allowing the proposal of an eastern Mediterranean MCO hotspot, including Lesbos, Lemnos, and Gökçeada (Imbros) Islands.

We describe the economic damage caused by the infestation of carrot fly, Melanagromyza sp. (Diptera: Agromyzidae), on tap roots resulting in inferior quality carrots with lower marketable price. The study was conducted in major carrot growing districts of Karnataka, India, where adult fly activity commenced 25-27 days after sowing (DAS) and damage by maggots was noticed around 45 DAS. Taproots of 1 to 40 days old were free from the pest attack and the feeding damage prevailed up to 60 days in the field. The report highlights that the pest is widely distributed in all surveyed locations of Karnataka. Pest incidence ranged from 0.74 to 20.77 per cent, with the highest incidence recorded from Kolar in July. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agromyzidae is a dipteran family that has diversified as internal plant feeders. Although most agromyzid species feed on herbaceous angiosperms, only a limited number of species has been recorded as miners of bryophytes. Extensive searches and rearing of bryophytivores in the Japanese Archipelago were made, resulting in that thallus-mining agromyzids are overwhelmingly widespread and diverse on thalloid liverworts and hornworts. By examining the morphology of adult flies, it was revealed that the agromyzid fauna comprise 39 species, of which 37 species are newly described. All the species are assigned to the genus Phytoliriomyza Hendel based on some shared morphological character states as follows: costa reaching M1; orbital setulae minute and erect (rarely proclinate); male epandrium with combs of fused tubercle-like setae and/or hypertrophied arms bearing tubercle-like setae; male distiphallus comprising a pair of stout, extended tubules; female cercus with two stout, apical, trichoid sensilla. Of the 39 agromyzid species in Japan, 36 species are associated with liverworts: 5 spp. on Marchantia (Marchantiaceae), 2 spp. on Dumortiera (Dumortieraceae), 3 spp. on Plagiochasma, 1 sp. on Asterella, 6 spp. on Reboulia (Aytoniaceae), 1 sp. on Wiesnerella (Wiesnerellaceae), 15 spp. on Conocephalum (Conocephalaceae), and 3 spp. on Riccia (Ricciaceae). Three species are associated with hornworts: 1 sp. on Folioceros (Anthocerotaceae), 1 sp. on Megaceros (Dendrocerotaceae), and 1 sp. on Notothylas, Phaeoceros (Notothyladaceae), and Anthoceros (Anthocerotaceae). The results suggest that 37 of the 39 species are host-specific at least to plant genus level, and that the inter-specific differences in male genitalia and color patterns of scutum, antenna, and maxillary palpus have contributed to reproductive isolation on the bryophytes that the flies share. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) is one among the economically important pests on pigeonpea and is responsible for major yield losses. Field survey carried out in different pigeonpea fields during 2020-21 revealed that, the severity of pod fly infestation varied across the locations as well as on different varieties of pigeonpea. Of different locations surveyed around Bengaluru for pod fly infestation, the highest pod damage (92%) and grain damage (65.22%) was recorded from the pigeonpea fields at Honnayyanapalya village, Magadi taluk, Ramanagara district, while minimum pod damage (18%) and grain damage (7.45%) were recorded from pods sampled from Basavapura village of Gowribidanur taluk, Chikkaballapur district. From survey studies, it was also found that, pigeonpea variety BRG 2 was highly susceptible to pod fly infestation and recorded the highest mean pod damage (42.57%) and grain damage (25.13%) followed by local varieties grown by the farmers. Studies on the biology of pod fly revealed that, the incubation period ranged from 2 to 4 days with an average of 2.75 ± 0.14 days. There were three maggot stages with a total mean duration of 9.5 days. The mean pupal duration was 9.15 ± 0.36 days. The average female and male fly longevity were 5.9 ± 0.32 and 3.45 ± 0.25 days, respectively. The lifecycle of adults was completed in 27.89 ± 0.64 days in case of females and 25.44 ± 0.51 days in case of males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serpentine leafminer Liriomyza huidobrensis is a highly polyphagous insect pest that threatens vegetable and ornamental horticultural production globally as a function of feeding and egg laying damage to plants. Although this species has been periodically intercepted at Australia's border, the pest had not been recorded as established on the mainland. A population of L. huidobrensis was identified in the Sydney Basin, New South Wales (NSW), Australia, in late 2020 affecting a variety of vegetable crops. Delimiting surveillance revealed L. huidobrensis to be widespread in the Sydney Basin and present in several regional locations, impacting vegetable, ornamental and weed hosts. This article documents the first report of L. huidobrensis in Australia and the ensuing biosecurity response that was triggered at its detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liriomyza huidobrensis, L. sativae and L. trifolii are polyphagous agromyzid leafminers that have recently arrived in Australia, posing a threat to Australian vegetable and ornamental crops. Adventive and endemic hymenopteran parasitoids of agromyzid leafminers already present in Australia should assist in the management of these invasive agromyzid species. Neochrysocharis formosa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Entedoninae) is an idiobiont endoparasitoid commonly attacking Liriomyza spp. in many countries, but it has not been formally identified in Australia. This study provides the first confirmed Australian record of N. formosa as well as an unidentified Proacrias species, another entedonine species. Females of both species were reared from several adventive and endemic agromyzid leafminers in southern Australia. Laboratory cultures of both species established the presence of thelytokous reproduction. DNA barcodes (5′ COI, 3′ COI, ITS1, ITS2, 28S) were used to delineate species boundaries, with the 5′ end of the mitochondrial COI sequences pointing to multiple cryptic lineages among N. formosa. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that both species were infected with a Rickettsia bacterium, which is related to the Rickettsia present in thelytokous populations of N. formosa in Japan and China. These findings expand records for parasitoids attacking leafminers in Australia and highlight the potential for an endosymbiont to produce thelytokous strains that could provide for more efficient biocontrol agents for augmentative release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potato leaf miner, Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae), is an important economic pest of potatoes across the world, causing substantial damage in most potato-growing areas. The use of local entomopathogens for the control of insect pests has been widely encouraged, coupled with several environmental advantages being contrasted to the effects achieved using chemical pesticides. The current study surveyed potato field soil to determine the presence of entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) species in the Sandveld region of the Western Cape province. Susceptibility of L. huidobrensis larvae and pupae to the isolated pathogens and other locally sourced isolates was evaluated. The results of the survey indicated the presence of an unknown free-living bacteria feeding insect-associated nematode species of the genus Acrobeloides, the EPN Heterorhabditis zealandica and two EPF species, Metarhizium robertsii and M. majus. All L. huidobrensis pupal (45–57%) and larval stages (52–72%) of the potato leaf miner showed susceptibility to the EPN species tested. Laboratory bioassays showed that the pupal and larval stages was the most susceptible (>72% infection) to Heterorhabditis baujardi. Liriomyza huidobrensis pupal stage showed high pathogenicity to isolates of M. robertsii (10C). Overall, all isolates of M. robertsii showed pupal pathogenicity ranging between 80% and 91%. Metarhizium robertsii outperformed Beauveria bassiana as a biocontrol agent against L. huidobrensis pupae in the laboratory. Results from this study indicate the potential of biologicals as future biocontrol agents in an integrated pest management system for potato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was conducted during 2018/2020 seasons in Menoufia governorate, to study the effect of three faba bean varieties, weather factors and three levels of fertilization on the population density of Liriomyza trifolii L. The obtained results stated that the population density recorded two peaks during the first season (2018-2019) on Misr1 and Misr 2 varieties, while three peaks on Giza 843. During the second season (2019- 2020) three peaks of abundance occurred on Misr1 and Giza 843, while on Misr 2 occurred four peaks. The larval population reached the highest value of 40.9, 54.4 and 59.8 larvae/leaf (1st. season), while in the second season recorded 37.1, 37.7 and 47.5 larvae/leaf for the three varieties, Misr1 and Misr 2 varieties and Giza 843, respectively. The highest infestation percentage was recorded100% in 1st. season, while in 2nd season recorded 100, 98.4 and 92.3% on the three varieties, respectively. Data obtained revealed no significant differences between the three varieties when fertilized with the three levels, while significant differences were recorded between Misr 1and Misr 2 compared with Giza 843variety during both seasons of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of Liriomyza Mik (Diptera: Agromyzidae) occur worldwide and are economically important leafminers. However, populations of some pest species, although very similar morphologically, show highly divergent mtDNA sequences, suggesting that nominal species are in fact complexes of cryptic species. This study focuses on two globally invasive pests, L. huidobrensis (Blanchard) and L. sativae Blanchard, already known to be highly destructive in Brazilian crops, although only a few studies on morphological and genetic divergences of them have been made. A total of 63 sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome oxidase II (COII) from Brazilian populations of L. huidobrensis and L. sativae collected from six crops (gypsophila, chrysanthemum, melon, watermelon, tomato, and onion) in Northeastern Brazil were generated to investigate their genetic structure together with available sequences from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Genetic structure was not found to be correlated to neither host plant nor geographical locality. Liriomyza huidobrensis showed an overall low intraspecific global genetic divergence in both genes. On the other hand, high intraspecific divergences for L. sativae and its phylogenetic position confirm a divergent clade currently found only in Brazil and suggest it may be a global complex of cryptic species. Considering the possibility of cryptic species (in the latter case), we provided detailed redescriptions of these Brazilian populations for future studies and local management of these global pests. Finally, our results also revealed a new synonym herein proposed, L. strigosa Spencer as a junior synonym of L. huidobrensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]