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Simple Summary: Anteon Jurine, 1807 is a cosmopolitan genus of dryinid parasitoids that attack leafhoppers. Sexual dimorphism is extreme in Anteon species, rendering the morphological taxonomy of these parasitoids difficult. This paper employs an integrated taxonomic approach that combines morphology with DNA barcoding to investigate the species delimitation of Anteon from China. Of the twenty-nine morphospecies examined, twenty-four species were identified as previously known species and five were described here as new species. The sexual association of six species was confirmed by DNA barcoding, indicating that such tools are powerful to tackle the taxonomic challenges in parasitoids with sexual dimorphism. Species of Anteon Jurine, 1807 are a large group of parasitoids attacking leafhoppers, which are important insect pests. Despite their great potential in pest biological control, the taxonomy and biology of these parasitoids are far from clear. Sexual dimorphism is extreme in Anteon species and has hampered the taxonomy of these parasitoids, resulting in many species described based on a single sex. In this paper, we employed an integrated taxonomic approach for delimitating species, combining morphological examinations with DNA barcoding, to investigate Anteon species from China. In total, 53 COI sequences representing 29 species of Anteon were obtained and analyzed. On the basis of both morphology and DNA barcoding, five new species of Anteon were discovered and described: A. clariclypeum sp. nov., A. maguanense sp. nov., A. parafidum sp. nov., A. shaanxianum sp. nov., and A. shandonganum sp. nov. The neotype of A. claricolle Kieffer is designated. The sexual association of six species was confirmed by DNA barcoding, which led to the synonymy of Anteon liui Xu, Olmi & He 2010, new syn., under Anteon meifenganum Olmi, 1991. Keys to species of Anteon from the Oriental and Eastern Palaearctic are updated to contain the five new species. Our study demonstrates that DNA barcoding is a potent tool for tackling the taxonomic challenges in parasitoids with extreme sexual dimorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The reduviid genus Sycanus Amyot & Serville, 1843, possesses higher aesthetic value and plays a crucial role as a natural enemy in the control of agricultural and forestry pests. However, Sycanus from China has not undergone a comprehensive review for over four decades. Based on both molecular data and morphological evidence, we conducted a systematic review of the 14 Chinese Sycanus species, including a description of three new species. Due to the variability of body coloration and morphological similarity among closely related species, unresolved issues and debates still persist in the taxonomic study of the genus Sycanus from China. In this study, we conducted phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation for Sycanus in China based on a COI DNA barcoding dataset comprising 81 samples. The results revealed that all the samples could be classified into 12 species by integrating molecular analyses with morphological comparison. This paper provides a comprehensive systematic review of the Sycanus species found in China, including descriptions of three new species: S. taiwanensis Zhao & Cai sp. nov., S. flavicorius Li & Cai sp. nov., and S. hainanensis Wang & Cai sp. nov. Furthermore, it is proposed that S. croceovittatus Dohrn, 1859, S. leucomesus Walker, 1873, and S. villicus Stål, 1863, are three synonyms of S. bifidus (Fabricius, 1787); S. bicolor Hsiao, 1979, is a synonym of S. versicolor Dohrn, 1859; and S. hsiaoi Maldonado-Capriles, 1990, is a synonym of S. marginellus Putshkov, 1987. Additionally, brief biological information is provided for two species, S. falleni Stål, 1863, and S. croceus Hsiao, 1979. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

Simple Summary: Bactrocera tsuneonis (Miyake) is a significant pest of commercial citrus crops. It is a univoltine and oligophagous species widely distributed in Japan and China. In this study, the potential distribution of the B. tsuneonis population under current and different future climate change scenarios was modeled using MaxEnt software (v. 3.4.1) and optimized using R software (v. 4.3.2). Under current climate conditions, the potentially suitable areas were mainly concentrated in Central, South, and East China. The total area of habitats suitable for this pest was predicted to increase in the future climate scenarios. The centroid of the total suitable habitat for this pest gradually shifted westward and northward. Our findings provide new insights that could aid the monitoring of B. tsuneonis in China. The invasive pest, Bactrocera tsuneonis (Miyake), has become a significant threat to China's citrus industry. Predicting the area of potentially suitable habitats for B. tsuneonis is essential for optimizing pest control strategies that mitigate its impact on the citrus industry. Here, existing distribution data for B. tsuneonis, as well as current climate data and projections for four future periods (2021–2040, 2041–2060, 2061–2080, and 2081–2100) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) were obtained. The distribution of B. tsuneonis under current and different climate change scenarios in China was predicted using the optimized MaxEnt model, ArcGIS, and the ENMeval data package. Model accuracy was assessed using ROC curves, and the primary environmental factors influencing the distribution of the pest were identified based on the percent contribution. When the regularization multiplier (RM) was set to 1.5 and the feature combination (FC) was set to LQH, a model with lower complexity was obtained. Under these parameter settings, the mean training AUC was 0.9916, and the mean testing AUC was 0.9854, indicating high predictive performance. The most influential environmental variables limiting the distribution of B. tsuneonis were the Precipitation of Warmest Quarter (Bio18) and Temperature Seasonality (standard deviation ×100) (Bio4). Under current climatic conditions, potentially suitable habitat for B. tsuneonis in China covered an area of 215.9 × 104 km2, accounting for 22.49% of the country's land area. Potentially suitable habitat was primarily concentrated in Central China, South China, and East China. However, under future climatic projections, the area of suitable habitat for B. tsuneonis exhibited varying degrees of expansion. Furthermore, the centroid of the total suitable habitat for this pest gradually shifted westward and northward. These findings suggest that B. tsuneonis will spread to northern and western regions of China under future climate changes. The results of our study indicate that climate change will have a major effect on the invasion of B. tsuneonis and have implications for the development of strategies to control the spread of B. tsuneonis in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Carposina coreana Kim is the most serious pest of Cornus officinalis. In recent years, its damage to C. officinalis has become increasingly serious, causing enormous economic losses in China. Here, the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to predict the distribution of C. coreana under current climate scenarios and future climate scenarios in China with ArcGIS software. Suitable areas for C. coreana under the current climate scenarios were mainly distributed in central China, and the highly suitable areas were distributed in southern Shaanxi, southwestern Henan, and northwestern Hubei. Under future climate scenarios, the boundaries of the suitable areas for C. coreana tended to shift to northern China. Given the predictive results of this study, we can clearly see the future diffusion trend of C. coreana in China, which has important theoretical significance for the control of this pest in China. Carposina coreana is an important pest of Cornus officinalis, distributed in China, Korea, and Japan. In recent years, its damage to C. officinalis has become increasingly serious, causing enormous economic losses in China. This study and prediction of current and future suitable habitats for C. coreana in China can provide an important reference for the monitoring, early warning, prevention, and control of the pest. In this study, the potential distributions of C. coreana in China under current climate and future climate models were predicted using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model with ArcGIS software. The distribution point data of C. coreana were screened using the buffer screening method. Nineteen environmental variables were screened using the knife-cut method and variable correlation analysis. The parameters of the MaxEnt model were optimized using the kuenm package in R software. The MaxEnt model, combined with key environmental variables, was used to predict the distribution range of the suitable area for C. coreana under the current (1971–2000) and four future scenarios. The buffer screening method screened data from 41 distribution points that could be used for modeling. The main factors affecting the distribution of C. coreana were precipitation in the driest month (Bio14), precipitation in the warmest quarter (Bio18), precipitation in the coldest quarter (Bio19), the standard deviation of seasonal variation of temperature (Bio4), minimum temperature in the coldest month (Bio6), and average temperature in the coldest quarter (Bio11). The feature class (FC) after the kuenm package optimization was a Q-quadratic T-threshold combination, and the regularization multiplier (RM) was 0.8. The suitable areas for C. coreana under the current climate model were mainly distributed in central China, and the highly suitable areas were distributed in southern Shaanxi, southwestern Henan, and northwestern Hubei. The lowest temperature in the coldest month (Bio6), the average temperature in the coldest quarter (Bio11), and the precipitation in the warmest quarter (Bio18) all had good predictive ability. In future climate scenarios, the boundary of the suitable area for C. coreana in China is expected to shift northward, and thus, most of the future climate scenarios would shift northward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a worldwide agricultural pest and is one of the most harmful invasive insect pests in the world. The overuse of insecticides has caused B. tabaci to develop high resistance against multiple insecticidal chemicals. It is well recognized that over-expression of cytochrome P450s involved in insecticide detoxification is one common and major mechanism of resistance to various classes of insecticides in insects. In addition to gene duplication and amplification, up-regulation of P450s at the transcriptional level is a common and important mechanism for P450-mediated insecticide resistance. Here, two new CYP450 genes from B. tabaci MEAM1 were cloned, and their expression patterns were studied in response to two different insecticides, high temperature, and their combined effects. The results showed that the insecticide tolerance could be reduced by high temperatures; under combined stress, the mortality of B. tabaci MEAM1 increased. This study is an important addition to the research on insecticide tolerance in B. tabaci and may help to reduce the overreliance on insecticides for B. tabaci control. Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is one of the most important invasive species in China, with strong insecticide resistance and thermotolerance. In this study, we investigated the effects of elevated temperature on the tolerance of B. tabaci MEMA1 to abamectin (AB) and thianethixam (TH) insecticides. We firstly cloned two new CYP450 genes from B. tabaci MEAM1, including one CYP6 family gene (BtCYP6k1) and one CYP305 family gene (BtCYP305a1). The expression patterns of the two BtCYP450 genes were compared in response to high-temperature stress and insecticide exposure, and RNAi was then used to demonstrate the role that these two genes play in insecticide tolerance. The results showed that expression of the two BtCYP450 genes could be induced by exposure to elevated temperature or insecticide, but this gene expression could be inhibited to a certain extent when insects were exposed to the combined effects of high temperature and insecticide treatment. For AB treatment, the expression of the two BtCYP450 genes reached the lowest level when insects were exposed to a temperature of 41 °C and treated with AB (combined effects of temperature and insecticide). In contrast, TH treatment showed a general decrease in the expression of the two BtCYP450 genes with exposure to elevated temperatures. These findings suggest that insecticide tolerance in B. tabaci MEAM1 could be mediated by high temperatures. This study provides a prospective method for the more effective application of insecticides for the control of B. tabaci in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: The genus Rhagastis Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae, Macroglossinae, Macroglossini) currently comprises sixteen species, ten of which are found in China; however, complex and confusing taxonomic issues have existed for a long time. We performed an analysis based on a 658-bp region of the COI mitochondrial gene (DNA barcode) and morphological characteristics such as the wing pattern and genital structure of the albomarginatus group, the castor group, the olivacea group and other species, demonstrating that subspecies of Rhagastis albomarginatus and R. castor should be treated as good species, i.e., Rhagastis dichroae stat. nov., R. everetti stat. nov., R. aurifera stat. rev., R. chinensis stat. nov., R. formosana stat. nov., and R. jordani stat. rev. Here, the taxonomy of the genus Rhagastis Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae, Macroglossinae, Macroglossini) from China is revised based on differences in wing morphology, male and female genitalia, and the phylogenetic relationship of the DNA barcodes. Subspecies of Rhagastis albomarginatus (Rothschild, 1894) and R. castor (Walker, 1856) are treated as "good" species, namely Rhagastis dichroae Mell, 1922 stat. nov.; R. everetti Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 stat. nov.; R. aurifera (Butler, 1875) stat. rev.; R. chinensis Mell, 1922 stat. nov.; R. formosana Clark, 1925 stat. nov.; and R. jordani Oberthür, 1904 stat. rev. The distribution maps, biological notes, and ecological records of the genus Rhagastis Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 from China are given, and a species inventory of genus Rhagastis in the world is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In recent years, the damage inflicted upon vegetation by the fall webworm (FWW), Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiidae), has escalated globally. The black-headed fall webworm has extensively invaded regions in Europe and Asia. In China, scholars have conducted extensive research on the fall webworm. However, there has been limited research on the dynamics of invasion by the black-headed form of the fall webworm and the comprehensive interplay of various factors affecting its spread. Therefore, this study focuses on the dynamics of invasion by the black-headed form of the fall webworm and the combined influence of various factors affecting its spread. The plan is to map the invasion road map of Autumn Dictyophora melanocephala since its introduction into China and summarize the effects of terrain, vegetation, and human factors on the temporal and spatial changes of the species. The fall webworm (FWW), H. cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiidae), is an extremely high-risk globally invasive pest. Understanding the invasion dynamics of invasive pests and identifying the critical factors that promote their spread is essential for devising practical and efficient strategies for their control and management. The invasion dynamics of the FWW and its influencing factors were analyzed using standard deviation ellipse and spatial autocorrelation methods. The analysis was based on statistical data on the occurrence of the FWW in China. The dissemination pattern of the FWW between 1979 and 2022 followed a sequence of "invasion-occurrence-transmission-outbreak", spreading progressively from coastal to inland regions. Furthermore, areas with high nighttime light values, abundant ports, and non-forested areas with low vegetation cover at altitudes below 500 m were more likely to be inhabited by the black-headed FWW. The dynamic invasion pattern and the driving factors associated with the fall webworm (FWW) provide critical insights for future FWW management strategies. These strategies serve not only to regulate the dissemination of insects and diminish migratory tendencies but also to guarantee the implementation of efficient early detection systems and prompt response measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The fall armyworm, a migratory invasive pest, poses a serious threat to the food security of major crops like maize, wheat, and rice. Understanding its adaptation mechanism to different hosts is crucial for developing effective control technology. This study examined the host fitness and gut microbial diversity of fall armyworms fed four different types of food. Based on life history parameters, pupa weight, and nutrient utilization indexes, the host fitness ranking from high to low was artificial diet, maize, wheat, and rice. Gut microbial composition and diversity varied significantly among fall armyworms fed different foods due to changes in low-abundant bacteria. Fall armyworms fed maize had the highest gut microbial diversity. The functions of gut microbes with significant abundance differences were enriched in nutrient and vitamin metabolism as well as other pathways closely related to host adaptation. Additionally, we identified five genera (Acinetobacter, Variovorax, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Serratia) that positively correlated with host fitness, while one genus (Rahnella) negatively correlated with it. This study reveals the potential role of gut microbes in the host adaptation of fall armyworms. The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, seriously threatens food and cash crops. Maize, wheat, and even rice damage by FAWs have been reported in many areas of China. It is urgent to clarify the mechanism which FAWs adapt to different feeding hosts and develop effective control technologies. Two-sex life tables and 16s rDNA sequencing were used to determine the host fitness and gut microbial diversity of FAWs when fed four different food types. Considering the life history parameters, pupa weight, and nutrient utilization indexes, the host fitness of FAWs when fed different food types changed in descending order as follows: artificial diet, maize, wheat, and rice. The gut microbial composition and the diversity of FAWs when fed different food types were significantly different, and those changes were driven by low-abundant bacteria. The gut microbes of FAWs that were fed with maize had the highest diversity. The functions of the gut microbes with significant abundance differences were enriched in nutrient and vitamin metabolism and other pathways that were closely related to host adaptation. Furthermore, we identified five genera (Acinetobacter, Variovorax, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Serratia) and one genus (Rahnella) that were positively and negatively correlated with the host fitness, respectively. This study revealed the possible role of gut microbes in the host adaptation of FAWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The mitochondrial genome of insects has been widely used in studies of molecular evolution, population genetics, phylogenetics, and species identification due to its small size (approximately 14–20 kb), relatively high evolutionary rate, low levels of recombination, and high genome copy numbers. In this study, 13 complete mitogenomes of Chiasmini, a diverse group of grassland leafhoppers, were sequenced and analyzed for the first time. The phylogenetic position of Chiasmini within leafhoppers and the phylogenetic relationships among Chiasmini genera were reconstructed. The results show that all 13 mitogenomes are composed of a circular, double-stranded molecule that consists of 37 genes with a total length ranging from 14,805 to 16,269 bp and a variable number of non-coding A + T-rich regions. The gene size, order, arrangement, base composition, codon usage, and secondary structure of tRNAs in these newly sequenced mitogenomes of 13 species are highly conserved in Chiasmini. Phylogenetic analysis of the newly sequenced genomes plus representatives of other tribes and subfamilies of Cicadellidae recover all included subfamilies of Cicadellidae and tribes of Deltocephalinae as monophyletic, except Athysanini and Opsiini in Deltocephalinae, which are paraphyletic in agreement with some other recent studies. Chiasmini form a monophyletic group consisting of seven monophyletic genera arranged as follows: ((Zahniserius + (Gurawa + (Doratura + Aconurella))) + (Leofa + (Exitianus + Nephotettix))). The grassland leafhopper tribe Chiasmini (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) presently comprises 324 described species worldwide, with the highest species diversity occurring in the Nearctic region but a greater diversity of genera occurring in the Old World. In China, this tribe comprises 39 described species in 11 genera, but the fauna remains understudied. The complete mitogenomes of three species of this tribe have been sequenced previously. In order to better understand the phylogenetic position of Chiasmini within the subfamily Deltocephalinae and to investigate relationships among Chiasmini genera and species, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitogenomes of 13 species belonging to seven genera from China. Comparison of the newly sequenced mitogenomes reveals a closed circular double-stranded structure containing 37 genes with a total length of 14,805 to 16,269 bp and a variable number of non-coding A + T-rich regions. The gene size, gene order, gene arrangement, base composition, codon usage, and secondary structure of tRNAs of the newly sequenced mitogenomes of these 13 species are highly conserved in Chiasmini. The ATN codon is commonly used as the start codon in protein-coding genes (PCGs), except for ND5 in Doratura sp. and ATP6 in Nephotettix nigropictus, which use the rare GTG start codon. Most protein-coding genes have TAA or TAG as the stop codon, but some genes have an incomplete T stop codon. Except for the tRNA for serine (trnS1(AGN)), the secondary structure of the other 21 tRNAs is a typical cloverleaf structure. In addition to the primary type of G–U mismatch, five other types of tRNA mismatches were observed: A–A, A–C, A–G, U–C, and U–U. Chiasmini mitochondrial genomes exhibit gene overlaps with three relatively stable regions: the overlapping sequence between trnW and trnC is AAGTCTTA, the overlapping sequence between ATP8 and ATP6 is generally ATGATTA, and the overlapping sequence between ND4 and ND4L is generally TTATCAT. The largest non-coding region is the control region, which exhibits significant length and compositional variation among species. Some Chiasmini have tandem repeat structures within their control regions. Unlike some other deltocephaline leafhoppers, the sequenced Chiasmini lack mitochondrial gene rearrangements. Phylogenetic analyses of different combinations of protein-coding and ribosomal genes using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods under different models, using either amino acid or nucleotide sequences, are generally consistent and also agree with results of prior analyses of nuclear and partial mitochondrial gene sequence data, indicating that complete mitochondrial genomes are phylogenetically informative at different levels of divergence within Chiasmini and among leafhoppers in general. Apart from Athysanini and Opsiini, most of the deltocephaline tribes are recovered as monophyletic. The results of ML and BI analyses show that Chiasmini is a monophyletic group with seven monophyletic genera arranged as follows: ((Zahniserius + (Gurawa + (Doratura + Aconurella))) + (Leofa + (Exitianus + Nephotettix))). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Simple Summary: As a newly invasive pest in China, the moth Tuta absoluta has spread extremely quickly, and now causes serious harm to the Chinese tomato industry. Understanding the resistance of T. absoluta to different commercially processed tomato cultivars can improve the integrated management strategy using resistant plants. In this study, we found four processed tomato cultivars (Th9, Th1902, Heinz1015, and Dimen2272) that have higher resistance to T. absoluta than fresh tomato (Dafen). Among the four processed tomato cultivars, Th9 was the most suitable cultivar, as T. absoluta showed the higher r value on Th9 than on the other three processed tomato cultivars. Tomato is the most preferred host plant for Tuta absoluta, a newly emerged devastating invasive pest in China. However, no study has evaluated the damage risk of T. absoluta on processed tomato worldwide. In the current study, the life table parameters of T. absoluta were systematically investigated on five tomato cultivars (one fresh tomato cultivar, four processed tomato cultivars) to determine their susceptibility to T. absoluta infestation. T. absoluta had a better population growth ability on the fresh tomato, "Dafen", showing shorter duration of the preadult stage, higher lifetime fecundity, and a higher intrinsic rate of increase compared to four processed tomato cultivars. Meanwhile, the life table parameters of T. absoluta among different processed tomato cultivars also showed significant differences. Th9 was the most susceptible to T. absoluta attack, while Th1902, Heinz1015, and Dimen2272 were the least suitable ones for its development and reproduction. In summary, these tomato cultivars are the most recommended for commercial tomato production to reduce the damage caused by T. absoluta and improve the integrated pest management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Chironomidae family stands out as the most widely dispersed and often the most abundant insect group in freshwater habitats. The significance of color patterns is well-recognized, as they fulfill multiple roles such as communication, camouflage, mimicking, and defense. However, the taxonomy of species within this family, relying on color patterns, as well as the shape and distribution of thoracic pigmentation, wing markings, and leg pigmentation, remains controversial and unstable. Here, we conduct a comprehensive review on the taxonomy of a Chiromidae genus, Stictochironomus from China, which is characterized by a combination of distinctive wing and leg markings. Using DNA barcode data and morphological data, two new species to science from China are well supported. Species delimitation analyses performed with distance-based approach and coalescent tree-based approaches also support them as distinct species. Therefore, color patterns should be a good diagnostic characteristic for species delimitation in Stictochironomus. Furthermore, we provided an up-to-date taxonomic key for male adults of Stictochironomus from China. The genus Stictochironomus (Diptera: Chironomidae) has an almost worldwide distribution, with more than 30 species. However, species delimitation and identification based on the markings on the wings and legs are controversial and uncertain. In this study, we focused on color patterns to review the adults of the genus from China, and two new species (S. trifuscipes sp. nov. and S. quadrimaculatus sp. nov.) are described and figured. DNA barcodes can accurately separate the two new species with specific color patterns. However, heterospecific individuals form a monophyletic cluster in the phylogeny tree. For example, S. maculipennis (Meigen) and S. pictulus (Meigen), which have a lower interspecific genetic divergence, form a single clade. Sequences with the same species name but with high intraspecific distance form more than one phylogenetic clade, such as S. sticticus (Fabricius) of three clades, S. pictulus of four clades, S. akizukii (Tokunaga) and S. juncaii Qi, Shi, and Wang of two clades, might have potential cryptic species diversity. Species delimitation analysis using ASAP, PTP, and GMYC clearly delineated them as separate species. Consequently, color patterns are a good diagnostic characteristic for species delimitation in Stictochironomus. The distance-based analysis shows that a threshold of 4.5–7.7% is appropriate for species delimitation in Stictochironomus. Additionally, an updated key including color pattern variation for male adults of known Stictochironomus species from China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Simple Summary: When we refer to aquatic fireflies, we are actually referring to their larvae, as the adults are free-flying. Many species of fireflies have been collected from terrestrial specimens only and may not have any information to indicate the larval habitat. The ideal situation is to rear specimens from eggs laid, but this is a difficult venture and is not always successful. More recently, the use of molecular genetics, especially the genome of the mitochondrion, has enabled us to match larvae with adults with great confidence. Here, we address two new species of aquatic fireflies from China where the aquatic association is confirmed, and the relationships of these species with other aquatic fireflies are established. There are now seven species in the genus Aquatica Fu & Ballantyne, with all but one known from the characteristics of males, females, and larvae. Molecular information is combined with morphological taxonomy for the delimitation of both genus and species. The monophyly of the genus Aquatica is strongly supported in six trees, and its position as sister to the genus Nipponoluciola Ballantyne Kawashima Jusoh et Suzuki is stable across maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference results. Two new species of Aquatica Fu & Ballantyne, A. qingshen sp. nov. and A. xianning sp. nov., described from the features of males, females, and larvae, are closely related within a single clade within the genus Aquatica. Females have distinctively shaped median oviduct plates. A Chinese population identified as A. lateralis was found to be morphologically similar to the Japanese population, but genetic distances suggest that it is a distinctive species. No larvae are associated with this species. Definitions of the aquatic status of Luciolinae fireflies are expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Arctiidae), is a major invasive pest of China. Although it has spread from Dandong City (about 40° N) in Liaoning Province to Nanjing City (about 32° N) in Jiangsu Province and other areas, the effects of temperature changes associated with its geographical spread on its life-history traits and adult fecundity are still unknown. Thus, the current study investigated the effects of larval-rearing temperature on the developmental duration and body mass of larvae, body size, body mass, and energy reserves of pupae, as well as the body size and fecundity of adults. We found that higher larval-rearing temperatures shortened the larval developmental period and increased larval and pupal body mass as well as pupal and adult body size. Higher larval-rearing temperatures also decreased the lipid and carbohydrate content of the pupae but increased their soluble protein content and adult egg production. These results suggest that the life-history traits and fecundity of H. cunea are plastic. This information is crucial for better understanding the dispersal adaptation strategies of H. cunea and for improving the prediction of population dynamics of this species according to environmental temperatures in different years. Temperature is an important environmental factor influencing the life-history traits of ectotherms. This study investigated the effects of larval-rearing temperature (21, 23, 25, and 27 °C) on the life-history traits and adult fitness of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, an economically important invasive pest of China. With the increase in temperature during the larval stage, the larval developmental duration was significantly shortened, and the body mass was significantly increased, as was that of the body mass and size of pupae. The carbohydrate and lipid content of pupae significantly decreased with increasing larval-rearing temperature, whereas the protein content significantly increased. Adult body size and egg production increased significantly with increasing larval-rearing temperature, whereas there was no significant difference in egg diameter. These results indicate that H. cunea demonstrates life-history traits plasticity. In addition, the increase in fecundity would maintain a stable population size of H. cunea under higher temperatures. Such characteristics could enable H. cunea to spread to the more southern, warmer areas of China, posing an increased risk to the forestry industry in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The goji berry, Lycium barbarum L., is a prominent indigenous medicinal plant in Northern China. The high nutrient content of fruits may make goji berry plants susceptible to pests. The goji berry psyllid Bactericera gobica is an extensively prevalent and devastating pest. The current primary approaches employed for goji berry psyllid prevention involve the utilization of chemical pesticides, which may potentially pose risks to human health and the environment. The advantage of biological control, in contrast to alternative methods, lies in its provision of a cost-effective and sustainable control system with minimal adverse effects. By comparing the predatory performance of three ladybird species preying on psyllids, our study suggests that each species possesses distinct advantages as potential predators of psyllids. Further field studies are necessary to determine the most promising ladybird species for rapid impact through inundative biological control, considering the specific environmental adaptability of each ladybird species. This study is expected to provide evidence supporting the potential of promising ladybird species as an effective biological control agent against goji berry psyllids. The psyllid Bactericera gobica is a serious pest in goji berry orchards. The current primary psyllid control methods involve chemical pesticides, which pose potential risks to human health and the environment. The implementation and promotion of biological control agents should receive increased attention as an alternative approach to safeguarding goji berry orchards. To compare the predatory performance of three potential biocontrol agents of psyllids, including Harmonia axyridis, Coccinella septempunctata and Hippodamia variegata, the functional response and intraspecific interactions of adult ladybirds were studied under laboratory conditions. We observed a significantly higher searching efficiency (0.84 ± 0.09) in H. axyridis when preying on psyllids compared to H. variegata (0.55 ± 0.05), whereas the handling time for psyllids was considerably longer in H. axyridis (7.33 ± 0.83 min) than in H. variegata (5.67 ± 0.97 min). The impact of intraspecific interactions on H. variegata (0.44 ± 0.04) was significantly greater than that on C. septempunctata (0.29 ± 0.03), whereas the maximum consumption by C. septempunctata (223.35 ± 41.3) significantly exceeded that of H. variegata (133.4 ± 26.9). Our study suggests that each of these three ladybird species possesses distinct advantages as a potential predator of psyllids. However, further field studies are required to determine the most promising ladybird species for rapid impact through inundative biological control, taking into consideration the specific environmental adaptability of each ladybird species. The present study is expected to provide evidence that supports the potential of incorporating promising ladybird species as an effective biological control agent in goji berry orchard management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Simple Summary: In China, the large eggs of the Chinese oak silkworm (COS), Antheraea pernyi, have been extensively utilized as beneficial factitious hosts for the mass rearing of parasitoid wasps and in the biological control of agricultural and forestry pests. Furthermore, the eri silkworm (ES), Samia cynthia ricini, has a widely distributed large egg that has the potential for use in the mass rearing of Trichogramma parasitoids. This study investigates the role of T. chilonis as a dominant Trichogramma species in lepidopteran pest control for agricultural and forestry production. It offers a comparative analysis of T. chilonis parasitism and suitability with respect to the large eggs from two factitious hosts, the ES and COS. The results reveal the feasibility of mass producing T. chilonis using ES eggs and provide insights into this species' parasitism of both COS and ES eggs. These findings are crucial for developing a cost-effective strategy for large-scale Trichogramma rearing using ES eggs, contributing to efficient biological pest control in agricultural and forestry contexts. Trichogramma, an effective biological control agent, demonstrates promise in environmentally sustainable pest management through its parasitic action toward insect eggs. This study evaluates the parasitism fitness and ability of T. chilonis with regard to two factitious host eggs, aiming to develop a cost-effective biological control program. While T. chilonis demonstrated the ability to parasitize both host eggs, the results indicate a preference for ES eggs over COS eggs. The parasitism and emergence rates of T. chilonis regarding ES eggs (parasitism: 89.3%; emergence: 82.6%) surpassed those for COS eggs (parasitism: 74.7%; emergence: 68.8%), with a notable increase in the number of emergence holes observed in the ES eggs compared to the COS eggs. Moreover, the developmental time of T. chilonis for ES eggs (10.8 days) was shorter than that for COS eggs (12.5 days), resulting in a lower number of dead wasps produced. Notably, no significant difference was observed in the female ratios between the two species. A comprehensive analysis was conducted, comparing the size and shell thickness of the two factitious hosts. The ES eggs exhibited smaller dimensions (length: 1721.5 μm; width: 1178.9 μm) in comparison to the COS eggs (length: 2908.8 μm; width: 2574.4 μm), with the ES eggshells being thinner (33.8 μm) compared to the COS eggshells (47.3 μm). The different host species had an effect on the body length of the reared parasitoids, with T. chilonis reared on COS hosts exhibiting a larger body length (female: 626.9 µm; male: 556.7 µm) than those reared on ES hosts (female: 578.8 µm; male: 438.4 µm). Conclusively, the results indicate that ES eggs present a viable alternative to COS eggs for the mass production of Trichogramma species in biological control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]