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The members of Coccinellidae are among the most important biological control agents being used throughout the world. The objective of this study was to provide the current scenario of this family in Saudi Arabia. Collection surveys of ladybird individuals were conducted throughout Saudi Arabia. A total of 5400 specimens of Coccinellidae were collected belonging to 51 species in 19 genera and seven tribes: Sticholotidini (2 genera / 10 species), Coccidulini (1/3), Scymnini (4/24), Diomini (1/1), Hyperaspidini (1/3), Chilocorini (3/8), Noviini (1/3), Coccinellini (8/11), Epilachnini (2/2). One genus, Clitostethus, and eight species and subspecies, Cheilomenes lunata lunata (Fabricius, 1775), Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi, 1794), Nephus ornatulus Korschefsky, 1931, N. nigricans (Weise, 1879), Pharoscymnus fleischeri (Weise, 1883), Novius yemenensis Raimundo & Fürsch, 2006, Scymnus (Scymnus) scapuliferus Mulsant, 1850, and Stethorus endrodyi Fürsch, 1970, are reported as new records to Saudi Arabia. Two endemic species, Scymnus agrumi and S. arabicus, were recorded. This study also describes the geographical distribution for each species and the diagnostic characters for new records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, the phytotoxic hazards of nano-sized mercuric oxide (HgO-NPs) are not investigated. Herein, the phytotoxicity of fully characterized HgO-NPs (100 mg/kg soil), prepared by coprecipitation method, on maize grown under ambient (aCO 2 , 410 ppm) and elevated CO 2 (eCO 2 , 620 ppm) was investigated. Regardless of CO 2 concentration, HgO-NPs treatment increased Hg levels in maize organs. HgO-NPs induced severe oxidative stress in aCO 2 grown plants as indicated by reduced growth and photosynthesis and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), through photorespiration and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activities, and lipid and protein oxidation products. Although HgO-NPs increased molecular (polyphenols, flavonoids, tocopherols) and enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase) antioxidants in shoots of aCO 2 plants, but this failed to fight the eruption of increased ROS. On contrary, eCO 2 treatment mitigated the HgO-NPs impact by promoting photosynthesis and reducing the Hg-induced ROS production. Moreover, eCO 2 promoted ROS detoxification via molecular antioxidants overproduction, enhanced superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidases activities, and modulation of reduced ascorbate/oxidized ascorbate and reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione homeostasis. The combined HgO-NPs + eCO 2 treatment also enhanced the glutathione-S-transferase activity. This study suggests that HgO-NPs cause severe phytotoxic hazards and this effect will be less detrimental under future CO 2 climate., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)