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The ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is one of the most important predatory groups in biological control of soft scales, which are significant pests of many horticultural and agricultural crops. Coccinellidae in nature can provide successful control of these pests, especially in environments where chemical control measures are not applied. This study was carried out to determine the Coccinellidae species and their preys (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in Serbia. The samples were collected from perennial plants, including fruit trees, vines, forest trees, shrubs, and ornamental woody plants. Predator larvae collected with scales were reared individually in petri dishes in order to prevent cannibalism. Eclosed ladybugs adults were mounted on cards, and identified using the Bieńkowski (2018) key. Total of 163 individuals were collected and 8 species belonging to 7 genera were identified. The most common species of predator were Exochomus quadripustulatus L. that was reared from 16 species of soft scale species and Harmonia axyridis Pallas, which has been identified on nine Coccidae species. Also, these two species were the most numerous in the soft scale colonies. A total of 117 individuals E. quadripustulatus and 22 individuals of H. axyridis were reared. Other species, Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.), Chilocorus renipustulatus (Scriba), Coccinella septempunctata L., Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (L.) and Scymnus abietis Paykull, were represented individually in soft scale colonies. Ladybirds were present in Coccidae colonies throughout the year, with young larvae feeding on eggs or first instar nymphs of Coccidae, and older larvae and adults feeding on all developmental stages of the host. The future research should be focused on the study of individual Coccinellidae species and their role in the reduction of harmful Coccidae.

Entomological material was collected for the study of coccinellides (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) of the Karshi oasis in 2018-2021. Analysis of the material revealed the distribution of 8 types of coccinellides.

In ecologically managed agroecosystems, experimental evidence suggests that agtobiodiversity can be used for optimal pest management. An increase in natural enemies (13 species of Cocinellidae) was found (which presupposes a more effective biological control) in the olive groves with ecological management, where the natural vegetation –zarzales– of the edges of the fields remains, with respect to the olive groves of intensive management, where only one species of these phytophagous predators was found., En agroecosistemas de manejo ecológico, la evidencia experimental sugiere que la agrobiodiversidad puede usarse para el manejo óptimo de plagas. Se encontró un incremento de enemigos naturales (13 especies de Asilidae) (lo que presupone un control biológico más efectivo) en los olivares con manejo ecológico, donde permanece la vegetación natural –zarzales– de los bordes de los campos, respecto a los olivares de manejo intensivo, donde no se encontró sólo una especie de estos depredadores de fitófagos.

Presentation of DOA. Citizen Dialectology, a project designed to gather language data with geographical reference, with the collaboration of people who are not professional linguists. We assess the value of the results and the interest and usefulness of DOA (‘donate’), contrasting the data we obtained for Coccinella (‘ladybird’) with the inventory, the territorial distribution and the ‘boundaries’ obtained earlier by traditional dialectology (especially with the method of linguistic geography), Presentamos DOA. Dialectoloxía cidadá, un proxecto deseñado para recadar datos lingüísticos con referencia xeográfica coa colaboración de persoas que non son lingüistas. Avaliamos o valor dos resultados, e con iso o interese e rendibilidade de DOA, contrastando os datos doados para a Coccinella co inventario, distribución territorial e “fronteiras” obtidos previamente pola dialectoloxía tradicional (sobre todo co método da xeografía lingüística).

Presentation of DOA. Citizen Dialectology, a project designed to gather language data with geographical reference, with the collaboration of people who are not professional linguists. We assess the value of the results and the interest and usefulness of DOA (‘donate’), contrasting the data we obtained for Coccinella (‘ladybird’) with the inventory, the territorial distribution and the ‘boundaries’ obtained earlier by traditional dialectology (especially with the method of linguistic geography), Presentamos DOA. Dialectoloxía cidadá, un proxecto deseñado para recadar datos lingüísticos con referencia xeográfica coa colaboración de persoas que non son lingüistas. Avaliamos o valor dos resultados, e con iso o interese e rendibilidade de DOA, contrastando os datos doados para a Coccinella co inventario, distribución territorial e “fronteiras” obtidos previamente pola dialectoloxía tradicional (sobre todo co método da xeografía lingüística).

The impact of different diets on chemical defense has been extensively studied in animals that sequester defensive chemicals from food. However, there are fewer studies of diet-mediated variation in autogenously produced defenses. Ladybird beetles, which use autogenously synthesized defensive alkaloids, are used as models in a wide diversity of studies of chemical defense, specifically in studies of intraspecific variation in color pattern and chemical defense. Many aphidophagous ladybirds consume a wide diversity of aphid prey, which vary in quality and thus could affect the synthesis of chemical defense. We measured alkaloid recovery rate after reflex bleeding by the ladybird Adalia bipunctata on two different aphid diets, the high quality Acyrthosiphon pisum and the lower quality Aphis fabae. Alkaloids reaccumulated in ladybirds more slowly when they were fed A. fabae than when they were fed A. pisum and females generally had more alkaloid than males, but reaccumulated alkaloid more slowly. Recovery times were more than 12 days. There appeared to be a weak positive relationship between alkaloid level and time since reflex bleeding for eggs of A. pisum- but not A. fabae-fed females. Our findings on diet and alkaloid synthesis in ladybirds suggest that chemical defense levels are very dynamic, indicating that studies conducted at a single point in time, such as those focused on ladybird color pattern, fail to consider a wide diversity of temporal variation that occurs in the field. This is likely true for many autogenously produced chemical defense systems in a diversity of other organisms.

Se presenta una revisión de los ejemplares de Coccinellini micofagos procedentes de varias provincias del departamento del Cusco, en el sur oriente de Perú. Este grupo presenta actualmente nueve especies en el país, dentro de los géneros Oxytella Weise 1902, y Psyllobora Chevrolat 1836. En el material examinado se reporta la ocurrencia de cinco de ellas: Oxytella longula Weise, Psyllobora marshalli Crotch, P. abancayana Almeida, P. constantini González, Perla & Almeida, y P. hybrida (Mulsant); además de otras tres especies, aún no identificadas, dentro del género Psyllobora. Para cada especie se presenta una diagnosis, fotografías y microfotografías de habito y estructuras genitales, e información sobre su distribución en Cusco.

Predaceous coccinellids can feed on non-prey food, but the ecological value of this feeding to maintain a coccinellid population is not well understood. Prey density can vary greatly in the field, whereas non-prey food sources such as pollen and nectar are more predictable. In the present study, Adalia bipunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) larval performance on pure and mixed diets of a high-quality non-prey food with varying amounts of prey was investigated. Rosy apple aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae), served as prey in the experiment and was given to A. bipunctata larvae either ad libitum as a surplus diet or as a limited diet, the amount of which was selected so that it would limit larval development, according to a pilot study. Flowers of buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum L. (Polygonaceae), a high-value floral diet, served as the non-prey food. Newly hatched A. bipunctata larvae were reared on each of five diets: (1) flowers only, (2) limited prey only, (3) limited prey plus flowers, (4) surplus prey only, (5) surplus prey plus flowers. Larval survival, developmental time, and adult dry weight were measured. The addition of floral diet had a significant positive impact on A. bipunctata larval survival and development when prey diet was limited, survival ratio was 6× higher and developmental time was 25% shorter. In conclusion, A. bipunctata immature development can benefit from a floral diet supplemented to a prey diet, which indicates that the use of flowers in cropping systems can help to enhance biocontrol services by A. bipunctata.

The presence of the invasive coccinellid Harmonia axyridis in aphid colonies on plants, as well as its co-occurrence with native coccinellid predators was studied in the period 2011-2020. Also, its occurrence on fruit plants and grapes was monitored at harvest time. Research was conducted on 41 locations in Serbia. The feeding of this invasive species was recorded on a total of 43 aphid taxa of 25 different genera. It was most frequently present on aphid colonies of the genera Aphis, Brachycaudus and Myzus. The presence of H. axyridis in aphid colonies was recorded on 58 cultivated plant species: 10 fruit, 7 field crop, 5 vegetable and 16 ornamental species, as well as 20 non-cultivated plants. Harmonia axyridis feeding was also observed on mature fruit plants of cultivated blueberries, nectarine and grapes in representative production areas in Serbia. Nine native coccinellid species were detected in this study: Adalia bipunctata, Adalia decempunctata, Coccinella septempunctata, Hippodamia sp., Hippodamia apicalis, Hippodamia variegata, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata, Hippodamia undecimnotata and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata. Populations of H. axyridis and native coccinellids co-occurred in aphid colonies on many plants, i.e. in 53.45% of all samples. The results inferred that H. axyridis as a predator of numerous aphids on many plants is a useful coccinellid species. However, it may also be considered as a potential pest in fruit and grape production, and a threat to native aphidophagous coccinellids., Prisustvo invazivne višebojne azijske bubamare Harmonia axyridis u kolonijama biljnih vaši na različitim biljkama, kao i istovremena pojava sa domaćim afidofagnim bubamarama istraživana je u periodu od 2011-2020. godine. Takođe, praćeno je potencijalno prisustvo i štetnost ove bubamare na zrelom voću i grožđu. Uzorci su prikupljeni sa 41 lokaliteta na teritoriji Republike Srbije. Ishrana ove invazivne vrste zabeležena je na ukupno 43 taksona biljnih vaši svrstanih u 25 rodova. Najčešće se hranila biljnim vašima iz rodova Aphis, Brachycaudus i Myzus. Registrovana je u kolonijama biljnih vaši na 58 biljnih vrsta od kojih je: 38 gajenih (10 voćarskih, 7 ratarskih, 5 povrstarskih i 16 ukrasnih) i 20 korovskih i ruderalnih biljaka. Ishrana je zabeležena i na zrelim plodovima gajene borovnice i nektarine, kao i na grožđu u glavnim proizvodnim regionima u Srbiji. U istraživanju je registrovano ukupno devet vrsta afidofagnih bubamara: Adalia bipunctata, Adalia decempunctata, Coccinella septempunctata, Hippodamia sp., Hippodamia apicalis, Hippodamia variegata, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata, Hipodamia undecimnotata i Propylea quatuordecimpunctata. Populacije invazivne vrste H. axyridis i domaćih bubamara u kolonijama biljnih vaši utvrđene su u 53,45% od svih prikupljenih uzoraka. Rezultati ovih istraživanja ukazuju da H. axyridis ima potencijal da smanji brojnost biljnih vaši na mnogim biljkama. Međutim, ova vrste može biti štetna u prozvodnji voća i grožđa, ali i pretnja domaćim afidofagnim bubamarama.

Hippodamia variegatais one of the most commercialized ladybirds used for the biological control of aphid pest species in many economically important crops. This species is the first Coccinellidae whose satellitome has been studied by applying new sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools. We found that 47% of theH. variegatagenome is composed of repeated sequences. We identified 30 satellite DNA (satDNA) families with a median intragenomic divergence of 5.75% and A+T content between 45.6% and 74.7%. This species shows satDNA families with highly variable sizes although the most common size is 100-200 bp. However, we highlight the existence of a satDNA family with a repeat unit of 2 kb, the largest repeat unit described in Coleoptera. PCR amplifications for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe generation were performed for the four most abundant satDNA families. FISH with the most abundant satDNA family as a probe shows its pericentromeric location on all chromosomes. This location is coincident with the heterochromatin revealed by C-banding and DAPI staining, also analyzed in this work. Hybridization signals for other satDNA families were located only on certain bivalents and the X chromosome. These satDNAs could be very useful as chromosomal markers due to their reduced location.

Hippodamia variegatais one of the most commercialized ladybirds used for the biological control of aphid pest species in many economically important crops. This species is the first Coccinellidae whose satellitome has been studied by applying new sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools. We found that 47% of theH. variegatagenome is composed of repeated sequences. We identified 30 satellite DNA (satDNA) families with a median intragenomic divergence of 5.75% and A+T content between 45.6% and 74.7%. This species shows satDNA families with highly variable sizes although the most common size is 100-200 bp. However, we highlight the existence of a satDNA family with a repeat unit of 2 kb, the largest repeat unit described in Coleoptera. PCR amplifications for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe generation were performed for the four most abundant satDNA families. FISH with the most abundant satDNA family as a probe shows its pericentromeric location on all chromosomes. This location is coincident with the heterochromatin revealed by C-banding and DAPI staining, also analyzed in this work. Hybridization signals for other satDNA families were located only on certain bivalents and the X chromosome. These satDNAs could be very useful as chromosomal markers due to their reduced location.

Hippodamia variegatais one of the most commercialized ladybirds used for the biological control of aphid pest species in many economically important crops. This species is the first Coccinellidae whose satellitome has been studied by applying new sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools. We found that 47% of theH. variegatagenome is composed of repeated sequences. We identified 30 satellite DNA (satDNA) families with a median intragenomic divergence of 5.75% and A+T content between 45.6% and 74.7%. This species shows satDNA families with highly variable sizes although the most common size is 100-200 bp. However, we highlight the existence of a satDNA family with a repeat unit of 2 kb, the largest repeat unit described in Coleoptera. PCR amplifications for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe generation were performed for the four most abundant satDNA families. FISH with the most abundant satDNA family as a probe shows its pericentromeric location on all chromosomes. This location is coincident with the heterochromatin revealed by C-banding and DAPI staining, also analyzed in this work. Hybridization signals for other satDNA families were located only on certain bivalents and the X chromosome. These satDNAs could be very useful as chromosomal markers due to their reduced location.

Various abiotic factors influence the biology and behaviour of arthropods, one of the most prominent abiotic factors is temperature. Thus, it is essential to know the optimal time of day during which sampling of target species should be done to allow for accurate arthropod biodiversity studies. This study considered species richness, abundance and diversity of predaceous arthropods of the Chrysopidae, Mantodea, Araneae and Coccinellidae throughout the day in and around maize fields in the extensively cultivated highveld grasslands of South Africa. Sweep net sampling was done at the following times: 07:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 17:00. Sampling was conducted at three different localities and repeated on three occasions over two growing seasons. At each locality there were three replicates in each of three zones in the agro-ecosystem, i.e. maize field, field margin and untransformed grassland. Shannon diversity index values did not differ significantly between the different sweep net sampling times. Predacious arthropods were, although not significantly so, more abundant within maize fields in the mornings (07:00) and in adjacent grasslands during late afternoon (15:00). This study indicated no particular time to be significantly better suited for sampling of the diversity of the four groups of predacious arthropods in maize agro-ecosystems

Various abiotic factors influence the biology and behaviour of arthropods, one of the most prominent abiotic factors is temperature. Thus, it is essential to know the optimal time of day during which sampling of target species should be done to allow for accurate arthropod biodiversity studies. This study considered species richness, abundance and diversity of predaceous arthropods of the Chrysopidae, Mantodea, Araneae and Coccinellidae throughout the day in and around maize fields in the extensively cultivated highveld grasslands of South Africa. Sweep net sampling was done at the following times: 07:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 17:00. Sampling was conducted at three different localities and repeated on three occasions over two growing seasons. At each locality there were three replicates in each of three zones in the agro-ecosystem, i.e. maize field, field margin and untransformed grassland. Shannon diversity index values did not differ significantly between the different sweep net sampling times. Predacious arthropods were, although not significantly so, more abundant within maize fields in the mornings (07:00) and in adjacent grasslands during late afternoon (15:00). This study indicated no particular time to be significantly better suited for sampling of the diversity of the four groups of predacious arthropods in maize agro-ecosystems

1. Generalist predators are important contributors to reliable conservation biological control. Indirect interactions between prey species that share a common generalist predator can influence both community dynamics and the efficacy of biological control. 2. Laboratory cage experiments investigated the impact of the combined consumptive and non‐consumptive effects of predation by adult Hippodamia convergens as a shared predator on the population growth and relative abundance of Acyrthosiphon pisum and Aphis gossypii as prey species. Predation pressure and prey density were varied. 3. At low predation pressure the indirect interaction between aphid species was asymmetrical with a proportionally greater negative impact of predation on A. gossypii than on A. pisum. At intermediate predation pressure, the indirect interaction became symmetrical. At high predation pressure and higher levels of prey density, it was asymmetrical with greater negative impact on A. pisum, often driven to local extinction while A. gossypii populations persisted. 4. A linear mixed‐effects model including early population growth of both aphid species and predation pressure explained 96% and 92% of the variation in the population growth of A. pisum and A. gossypii, respectively, over an 8‐day period. The overall effect of shared predation on the indirect interaction between the two aphid species is best described as apparent commensalism, where A. pisum benefited from early population growth of A. gossypii, while A. gossypii was unaffected by early population growth of A. pisum. Considering these indirect interactions is important for conservation biological control efforts to be successful.

Hippodamia variegatais one of the most commercialized ladybirds used for the biological control of aphid pest species in many economically important crops. This species is the first Coccinellidae whose satellitome has been studied by applying new sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools. We found that 47% of theH. variegatagenome is composed of repeated sequences. We identified 30 satellite DNA (satDNA) families with a median intragenomic divergence of 5.75% and A+T content between 45.6% and 74.7%. This species shows satDNA families with highly variable sizes although the most common size is 100-200 bp. However, we highlight the existence of a satDNA family with a repeat unit of 2 kb, the largest repeat unit described in Coleoptera. PCR amplifications for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe generation were performed for the four most abundant satDNA families. FISH with the most abundant satDNA family as a probe shows its pericentromeric location on all chromosomes. This location is coincident with the heterochromatin revealed by C-banding and DAPI staining, also analyzed in this work. Hybridization signals for other satDNA families were located only on certain bivalents and the X chromosome. These satDNAs could be very useful as chromosomal markers due to their reduced location.

Biological control is a rising trend in plant protection. Many natural enemies, predators and parasitoids, are used as effective non-insecticide method to control different pests, including soft scale insects (Coccidae), on grapevine. There are four scale insects from Coccidae family registered on grapevine in Serbia. Among them, Parthenolecanium corni Bouché and Pulvinaria vitis (L.) are considered economically important. These species may cause physiological weakening of grapevine, premature defoliation, reduction in yield and fruit quality and even deterioration of whole plants. As data on predator species of soft scale insects in vineyards in Serbia are scarce, as well as the fact that there is increasing interest in using natural enemies to control pests in viticulture, the aim of this study was to determine predator species of P. corni and P. vitis on grapevine in Serbia. The research was conducted during 2018-2019, on grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) in Jagodina, Neštin and Radmilovac where large scale colonies were registered. Predatory larvae were collected from scale colonies in ten days intervals troughout the vegetation period and were individually reared under laboratory conditions, in order to prevent cannibalism. Identification was done according to Bienkowski (2018) identification key. P. corni was registered in Neštin, while P. vitis was registered in Jagodina and Radmilovac. Total of seven predator species were found associated with both scale insects. In P. corni colonies, four species were registered: Anthribus nebulosus (Forster) (Anthribidae), Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coccinellidae), Chrysoperla carnea Steph. (Chrysopidae) and Sympherobius elegans Steph. (Hemerobiidae). Four species of coccinellids were found in P. vitis colonies: C. septempunctata L., Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.), Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coccinellidae). The most abundant predator of both scale insect colonies was C. septempunctata. Rec

Bij landgoed Ennemaborg in Midwolda, Groningen, wordt met het project Midwolder Bouwten op een unieke manier samengewerkt om natuurinclusieve landbouw mogelijk te maken. Hierbij een korte introductie over het project.

Hippodamia variegatais one of the most commercialized ladybirds used for the biological control of aphid pest species in many economically important crops. This species is the first Coccinellidae whose satellitome has been studied by applying new sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools. We found that 47% of theH. variegatagenome is composed of repeated sequences. We identified 30 satellite DNA (satDNA) families with a median intragenomic divergence of 5.75% and A+T content between 45.6% and 74.7%. This species shows satDNA families with highly variable sizes although the most common size is 100-200 bp. However, we highlight the existence of a satDNA family with a repeat unit of 2 kb, the largest repeat unit described in Coleoptera. PCR amplifications for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe generation were performed for the four most abundant satDNA families. FISH with the most abundant satDNA family as a probe shows its pericentromeric location on all chromosomes. This location is coincident with the heterochromatin revealed by C-banding and DAPI staining, also analyzed in this work. Hybridization signals for other satDNA families were located only on certain bivalents and the X chromosome. These satDNAs could be very useful as chromosomal markers due to their reduced location.

Original empirical data published in Lommen STE, Koops CG et al. 2019 Genetics and selective breeding of variation in wing truncation in a flightless aphid control agent. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 167: 636-645. doi:10.1111/eea.12810, Original empirical data published in Lommen STE, Koops CG et al. 2019 Genetics and selective breeding of variation in wing truncation in a flightless aphid control agent. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 167: 636-645. doi:10.1111/eea.12810

Augmentative biological control by predaceous ladybird beetles can be improved by using flightless morphs, which have longer residence times on the host plants. The two-spot ladybird beetle, Adalia bipunctata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is used for the biological control of aphids in greenhouses and on urban trees. Flightlessness due to truncated wings occurs at very low frequency in some natural populations of A. bipunctata. Pure-breeding strains of this 'wingless' genotype of A. bipunctata can easily be obtained in the laboratory. Such strains have not been commercialized yet due to concerns about their reduced fitness compared to wild-type strains, which renders mass production more expensive. Wingless strains exhibit, however, wide intra-population phenotypic variation in the extent of wing truncation which is related to fitness traits. We here use classical quantitative genetic techniques to study the heritability and genetic architecture of variation in wing truncation in a wingless strain of A. bipunctata. Split-families reared at one of two temperatures revealed strong family-by-temperature interaction: heritability was estimated as 0.64 ± 0.09 at 19 °C and 0.29 ± 0.06 at 29 °C. Artificial selection in opposite directions at 21 °C demonstrated that the degree of wing truncation can be altered within a few generations resulting in wingless phenotypes without any wing tissue (realized h2 = 0.72), as well as those with minimal truncations (realized h2 = 0.61) in two replicates. The latter lines produced more than twice as many individuals. This indicates that selective breeding of wing truncation may be exploited to improve mass rearing of flightless strains of A. bipunctata for commercial biological control. Our work illustrates that cryptic variation can also be a source for the selective breeding of natural enemies.

Many animal species comprise discrete phenotypic forms. A common example in natural populations of insects is the occurrence of different color patterns, which has motivated a rich body of ecological and genetic research [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The occurrence of dark, i.e., melanic, forms displaying discrete color patterns is found across multiple taxa, but the underlying genomic basis remains poorly characterized. In numerous ladybird species (Coccinellidae), the spatial arrangement of black and red patches on adult elytra varies wildly within species, forming strikingly different complex color patterns [7, 8]. In the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, more than 200 distinct color forms have been described, which classic genetic studies suggest result from allelic variation at a single, unknown, locus [9, 10]. Here, we combined whole-genome sequencing, population-based genome-wide association studies, gene expression, and functional analyses to establish that the transcription factor Pannier controls melanic pattern polymorphism in H. axyridis. We show that pannier is necessary for the formation of melanic elements on the elytra. Allelic variation in pannier leads to protein expression in distinct domains on the elytra and thus determines the distinct color patterns in H. axyridis. Recombination between pannier alleles may be reduced by a highly divergent sequence of ∼170 kb in the cis-regulatory regions of pannier, with a 50 kb inversion between color forms. This most likely helps maintain the distinct alleles found in natural populations. Thus, we propose that highly variable discrete color forms can arise in natural populations through cis-regulatory allelic variation of a single gene.

We review the foraging behaviour of predaceous ladybirds in the light of current knowledge. Ladybirds should forage optimally to maximise their resources; however, they are limited – among other things – by their poor visual acuity. Ladybird foraging behaviour includes location of the habitat of its prey, location of prey and prey-selection. Chemical cues are important in locating the habitats of their prey. This is further driven by volatiles or semiochemicals emitted by injured plants, particularly in response to attack by herbivores. Various chemicals induce positive electroantennographic responses in ladybirds that guide them to prey sites. Honeydew secreted by aphids along with alarm pheromones or kairomones act as secondary chemical cues that narrow the search from extensive to intensive and help in prey location. Visual cues further aid prey-location and enable foraging adults to locate areas with patchy or abundant prey. Thereafter, ladybirds select their prey, which starts with random attacks that result in prey selection in terms of size and palatability. Prey selection seems to be host plant driven, i.e. aphids sequester host plant chemicals, which are imbibed by ladybirds. This is evident from the fact that nutritious prey cultured on toxic host plants are usually less preferred or rejected. Foraging ladybirds, especially larvae, can perceive ladybird footprints or odours that deter them from foraging. The above information could be useful in biocontrol programmes in which foraging ladybirds are manipulated by using chemicals as attractants or rearing aphids on nutritious host plants.

Many animal species comprise discrete phenotypic forms. A common example in natural populations of insects is the occurrence of different color patterns, which has motivated a rich body of ecological and genetic research [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The occurrence of dark, i.e., melanic, forms displaying discrete color patterns is found across multiple taxa, but the underlying genomic basis remains poorly characterized. In numerous ladybird species (Coccinellidae), the spatial arrangement of black and red patches on adult elytra varies wildly within species, forming strikingly different complex color patterns [7, 8]. In the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, more than 200 distinct color forms have been described, which classic genetic studies suggest result from allelic variation at a single, unknown, locus [9, 10]. Here, we combined whole-genome sequencing, population-based genome-wide association studies, gene expression, and functional analyses to establish that the transcription factor Pannier controls melanic pattern polymorphism in H. axyridis. We show that pannier is necessary for the formation of melanic elements on the elytra. Allelic variation in pannier leads to protein expression in distinct domains on the elytra and thus determines the distinct color patterns in H. axyridis. Recombination between pannier alleles may be reduced by a highly divergent sequence of ∼170 kb in the cis-regulatory regions of pannier, with a 50 kb inversion between color forms. This most likely helps maintain the distinct alleles found in natural populations. Thus, we propose that highly variable discrete color forms can arise in natural populations through cis-regulatory allelic variation of a single gene.

New data on some Galician myrmecophiles are given, among which can be highlighted Microdon myrmicae Schönrogge et al., 2002 (Diptera: Syrphidae), recorded for the first time for Spain and with Myrmica aloba Forel, 1909 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as host, and Coccinella magnifica Redtenbacher, 1843 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), found for the first time for Galicia and associated to Formica pratensis Retzius, 1783 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). On the other hand, Microdon analis (Macquart, 1842) was identified by means of the puparia, and was found in a nest of Lasius platythorax Seifert, 1991. Haeterius ferrugineus (Olivier, 1789) (Coleoptera: Histeridae) is recorded for the first time from the province of Lugo., Ofrécense novos datos sobre algúns mirmecófilos galegos, entre os que se poden destacar Microdon myrmicae Schönrogge et al., 2002 (Diptera: Syrphidae), citada por primeira vez para España e con Myrmica aloba Forel, 1909 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) como hospedeiro, e Coccinella magnifica Redtenbacher, 1843 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), atopada por primeira vez en Galicia e asociada a Formica pratensis Retzius, 1783 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Por outra banda, Microdon analis (Macquart, 1842) identificouse polo pupario, e atopouse nun niño de Lasius platythorax Seifert, 1991. Haeterius ferrugineus (Olivier, 1789) (Coleoptera: Histeridae) cítase por primeira vez na provincia de Lugo.

Se cita por primera vez del área peninsular el Corylophidae Orthoperus nigrescens Stephens, 1829, con ejemplares recolectados en el Parc Natural de la Muntanya de Montserrat (Barcelona). Se aportan nuevos registros para la Península Ibérica de diferentes especies pertenecientes a las familias Leiodidae, Malachiidae, Corylophidae, Latridiidae y Coccinellidae. De cada una de las especies se comenta su distribución paleártica y peninsular y se aportan los datos conocidos sobre su biología. Se representa el habitus y si es necesario su edeago y espermateca.

Among characteristics that are thought to determine the success of invasive species, life-history traits feature prominently. However, in most cases, these have been determined under laboratory conditions. Here, we use a field set-up to determine immature development time and survival of invasive Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) and native Adalia bipunctata L. (both Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). On caged Tilia × europaea L. cv. Pallida trees (Malvaceae) with ample amounts of aphid food, we introduced freshly hatched larvae of a single or of both ladybird species and followed their development until emergence of adults. Under the condition of ample prey availability, both ladybird species apparently hardly interacted and intraguild predation did not cause significant mortality. Development time of both species is in line with data from laboratory tests under controlled conditions. Immature survival can reach high levels, but is considerably higher for H. axyridis (44-100%) than for A. bipunctata (11-77%), resulting in faster increase of H. axyridis populations, which is one of the factors that may explain its invasion success.

Ta kasta lucerkina vaš Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) jedna je od najzna ajnijih šteto ina lucerke u svetu, tako e, to je najbrojnija vaš na lucerki u Srbiji. Pored direktnih šteta koje nanosi ona je i vektor najzna ajnijih virusa lucerke. U radu su prikazani osnovni marfološki podaci, biljke doma ini, štetnost, biologija razvi a, vektorska uloga i rasprostranjenje ta kaste lucerkine vaši. Analizirana je njena brojnost na lucerki, uticaj klimatskih promena na pove anje brojnosti, kao i najzna ajniji prirodni neprijatelji (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae i Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) na teritoriji Srbije., Spotted alfalfa aphid Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) is one of the most important alfalfa pest on the world. Also, it is the most abundant alfalfa aphid in Serbia. This aphid cause damage to alfalfa directly by feeding and indirectly by vectoring plant-pathogenic viruses. Some notes of morphology, host plants, damage, biology, vector role and distribution of spotted alfalfa aphid are given. Abundance of this aphid on alfalfa, infl uence of climates changes on its abundance, as well as the most important natural enemies (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae and Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) in Serbia were analyzed.

Spotted alfalfa aphid Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) is one of the most important alfalfa pest on the world. Also, it is the most abundant alfalfa aphid in Serbia. This aphid cause damage to alfalfa directly by feeding and indirectly by vectoring plant-pathogenic viruses. Some notes of morphology, host plants, damage, biology, vector role and distribution of spotted alfalfa aphid are given. Abundance of this aphid on alfalfa, influence of climates changes on its abundance, as well as the most important natural enemies (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae and Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) in Serbia were analyzed., Tačkasta lucerkina vaš Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) jedna je od najznačajnijih štetočina lucerke u svetu, takođe, to je najbrojnija vaš na lucerki u Srbiji. Pored direktnih šteta koje nanosi ona je i vektor najznačajnijih virusa lucerke. U radu su prikazani osnovni marfološki podaci, biljke domaćini, štetnost, biologija razvića, vektorska uloga i rasprostranjenje tačkaste lucerkine vaši. Analizirana je njena brojnost na lucerki, uticaj klimatskih promena na povećanje brojnosti, kao i najznačajniji prirodni neprijatelji (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae i Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) na teritoriji Srbije.

Landscape complexity and arthropod predators have been shown to play a major role in suppression of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in North America. I examined the impact of landscape complexity and patterns of predator movement between habitats on sentinel soybean aphid populations in 27 soybean fields in Manitoba over a two-year period. Predator movement was quantified using bi-directional Malaise traps and mark-release-recapture experiments. My results revealed that there was a strong to moderate suppression of soybean aphids across the gradient of landscape complexity studied. I found that predator movement between soybean and adjacent habitats was as important as landscape characteristics in explaining aphid suppression. My results indicate that the direction of predator movement in soybean field borders is influenced by the type of adjacent habitat and by predator identity. My findings highlight the importance of pest control services provided by aphidophagous predators in agricultural landscapes.

Landscape complexity and arthropod predators have been shown to play a major role in suppression of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in North America. I examined the impact of landscape complexity and patterns of predator movement between habitats on sentinel soybean aphid populations in 27 soybean fields in Manitoba over a two-year period. Predator movement was quantified using bi-directional Malaise traps and mark-release-recapture experiments. My results revealed that there was a strong to moderate suppression of soybean aphids across the gradient of landscape complexity studied. I found that predator movement between soybean and adjacent habitats was as important as landscape characteristics in explaining aphid suppression. My results indicate that the direction of predator movement in soybean field borders is influenced by the type of adjacent habitat and by predator identity. My findings highlight the importance of pest control services provided by aphidophagous predators in agricultural landscapes.

The first record of Hippodamia variegata (Goeze 1777) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Peru is reported, which also constitutes the highest record of the species. This introduced species is already established in the rest of the continent, but its presence in Peru is confirmed in this contribution. A distribution map and a key to distinguish the two species of this genus present in Peru are presented., Se presenta el primer registro de Hippodamia variegata (Goeze 1777) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) en el Perú que además se constituye como la cita a mayor altura de la especie. Esta especie introducida se halla establecida en el resto del continente pero su presencia en el Perú se confirma con la presente contribución. Son presentados un mapa de distribución y una clave para separar las dos especies del género presentes en el Perú.

The genus Stenadalia Weise 1926 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), with known distribution in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, is reported for the first time in Peru. The collected material, consisting of two specimens of Stenadalia aff. amoena (Mader 1957), comes from Polylepis Ruiz & Pavón forests of the high Andean area of the Ayacucho region, in the south of Peru., El género Stenadalia Weise 1926 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), de distribución conocida en Argentina, Brasil y Chile, es reportado por primera vez en el Perú. El material colectado, consistente en dos ejemplares de Stenadalia aff. amoena (Mader 1957), proviene de bosques de Polylepis Ruiz & Pavón de la zona altoandina de la región Ayacucho, en el sur peruano.

El parasitoide cosmopolita Dinocampus coccinellae Schrank 1802 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) es registrado por primera vez en la región Cusco (Perú) parasitando al coleóptero nativo Eriopis peruviana Hofmann 1970 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) en maíz cultivado., The cosmopolitan parasitoid Dinocampus coccinellae Schrank 1802 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is recorded for the first time in the Cusco region (Peru) parasitizing the native coleopteran Eriopis peruviana Hofmann 1970 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in cultivated maize.

Spotted alfalfa aphid Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) is one of the most important alfalfa pest on the world. Also, it is the most abundant alfalfa aphid in Serbia. This aphid cause damage to alfalfa directly by feeding and indirectly by vectoring plant-pathogenic viruses. Some notes of morphology, host plants, damage, biology, vector role and distribution of spotted alfalfa aphid are given. Abundance of this aphid on alfalfa, influence of climates changes on its abundance, as well as the most important natural enemies (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae and Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) in Serbia were analyzed., Tačkasta lucerkina vaš Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) jedna je od najznačajnijih štetočina lucerke u svetu, takođe, to je najbrojnija vaš na lucerki u Srbiji. Pored direktnih šteta koje nanosi ona je i vektor najznačajnijih virusa lucerke. U radu su prikazani osnovni marfološki podaci, biljke domaćini, štetnost, biologija razvića, vektorska uloga i rasprostranjenje tačkaste lucerkine vaši. Analizirana je njena brojnost na lucerki, uticaj klimatskih promena na povećanje brojnosti, kao i najznačajniji prirodni neprijatelji (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae i Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) na teritoriji Srbije.

Hoewel lieveheersbeestjes populair zijn is er maar weinig bekend over het aantal soorten, de verspreiding en levenswijze. Met het project 'lieveheersbeestjes op de kaart' is hier verandering in gekomen. Tijdens het atlasproject zijn er 32 soorten in Noord-Holland waargenomen.

Många växtskadegörare finns inom jordbruket som kan orsaka skördeförluster. Dessa kan bland annat bekämpas med kemiska växtskyddsmedel. Pågående utfasning av aktiva substanser kräver dock utveckling av alternativa bekämpningsmetoder. Ett alternativ är att främja skadegörares naturliga fiender (NF) genom etablering och bevarande av småbiotoper, som kantzoner, som kan utgöra livsmiljöer för NF intill åkermark. Spridning av NF från dessa miljöer kan förväntas avta med avståndet till kantzonen men gynnas av olika attraktionsfaktorer i fältet. En faktor är kemiska substanser utsända av herbivorangripna växter, exempelvis metylsalicylat (MeSA). MeSA aktiverar bland annat försvar i närliggande, ej angripna plantor och har även visat sig attrahera NF. Kunskapsutveckling behövs om hur skötsel och utformning av kantzoner gynnar och optimerar förekomst av NF, samt vilka underliggande mekanismer som kan attrahera NF till intilliggande åkermark. Studiens syfte har varit att belysa denna problematik och bidra med kunskap om hur alternativa odlingssystem med minskat beroende av kemiska växtskyddsmedel kan utvecklas. Målet var att undersöka förekomst och sammansättning av NF i olika vegetationsutformningar i en kantzon och undersöka mekanismer för attraktion av NF ut i fält. Studien gjordes på åkermark intill en kantzon med två vegetationsbehandlingar: rödklöver/vallgräsblandning och busk/ängsblomsblandning. Skillnader i förekomst av NF i olika vegetation samt attraktion till bladlusangripna plantor undersöktes i försök 1 då NF till havrebladlöss: nyckelpigor; jordlöpare; spindlar och kortvingar, insamlades med fallfällor framför havreplantor infekterade med havrebladlöss intill båda vegetationsutformningarna. Attraktion av NF till MeSA undersöktes parallellt i försök 2 där plantor och bladlöss ersatts med pellets med MeSA. Jämförelsevis inkluderade försök 1 även ej infekterade havreplantor och försök 2 inkluderade pellets utan MeSA. Resultaten från försöken påvisade signifikant fl, Many pests can cause yield losses within agriculture. Using chemical plant-protecting agents is one method for supressing pests. Although alternative methods are needed due to ongoing reduction of available active substances. One alternative is enhancing natural enemies (NE) to pests by establishment and conservation of small biotopes, as field margins, which can work as refugees for NE in the agricultural landscape. However, use of the cropped area of the field by NE may decrease with distance to the field margin which accentuate a need for attracting factors in the field. One factor is chemical volatiles emitted from plants attacked by pests, for example methyl salicylate (MeSA) which can activate defence in neighbouring plants still not attacked by pests, as well as attracting NE. More knowledge is needed regarding how different appearances of field margins effect presence and composition of NE, as well as factors attracting them to cropped fields affected by pests. This study aimed to elucidate these problems and to contribute with knowledge of how alternative cropping systems can form without dependence on chemical pesticides. The goal has been to study presence and composition of NE in different vegetation treatments in a field margin as well as study factors contributing to attraction of NE into the fields. The study was done in a field beside a field margin with two different floral compositions: red clover/ley grass (R/L) and bush/meadow plants (B/M). Differences in presence of NE in dissimilar flora and attraction to aphid infested plants was studied in test 1 where NE to Rhopalosiphum padi: Coccinellidae, Carabidae, Staphylinidae and Araneae were collected in pitfall traps in front of oat plants infected with R. padi. The attraction of NE to plants affected with R. padi was tested parallelly in test 2 were infected plants where replaced by pellets with MeSA. As control, test 1 also included uninfected oat plants and test 2 included neutral pellets. The re

Landscape complexity and arthropod predators have been shown to play a major role in suppression of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in North America. I examined the impact of landscape complexity and patterns of predator movement between habitats on sentinel soybean aphid populations in 27 soybean fields in Manitoba over a two-year period. Predator movement was quantified using bi-directional Malaise traps and mark-release-recapture experiments. My results revealed that there was a strong to moderate suppression of soybean aphids across the gradient of landscape complexity studied. I found that predator movement between soybean and adjacent habitats was as important as landscape characteristics in explaining aphid suppression. My results indicate that the direction of predator movement in soybean field borders is influenced by the type of adjacent habitat and by predator identity. My findings highlight the importance of pest control services provided by aphidophagous predators in agricultural landscapes.

Landscape complexity and arthropod predators have been shown to play a major role in suppression of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in North America. I examined the impact of landscape complexity and patterns of predator movement between habitats on sentinel soybean aphid populations in 27 soybean fields in Manitoba over a two-year period. Predator movement was quantified using bi-directional Malaise traps and mark-release-recapture experiments. My results revealed that there was a strong to moderate suppression of soybean aphids across the gradient of landscape complexity studied. I found that predator movement between soybean and adjacent habitats was as important as landscape characteristics in explaining aphid suppression. My results indicate that the direction of predator movement in soybean field borders is influenced by the type of adjacent habitat and by predator identity. My findings highlight the importance of pest control services provided by aphidophagous predators in agricultural landscapes.

Landscape surroundings and local habitat management affect patterns of insect biodiversity. Knowing which landscape and local factors are more important for insect species diversity informs landscape and local scale land management, yet can be challenging to disentangle. We sought to identify 1) which landscape factors surrounding, and 2) which local habitat factors within urban community gardens influence patterns in lady beetle (Coccinellidae) abundance and species richness. We assessed lady beetle abundance and taxonomic diversity, garden habitat characteristics, and the surrounding landscape composition in 19 gardens over two consecutive years. We found that the amount of natural area surrounding gardens at 3 km was the strongest correlate of abundance and species richness. Specifically, gardens surrounded by less natural area (gardens embedded in more urban landscapes) had higher lady beetle abundance and richness. In gardens embedded in landscapes with more amounts of natural land, local habitat features such as ornamental abundance and crop diversity may become more important for maintaining lady beetle abundance and richness. Our results suggest that within more urban landscapes, lady beetles may aggregate and accumulate in relatively resource-rich habitats like gardens. Thus, urban landscape quality and local habitat management may all interact to shape lady beetle communities within gardens.