Search

Renicoris gen. nov. and its type species Renicoris robustus sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from Yunnan, China, are described and illustrated. A key to separate the new genus and its closely related genera is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the thread-legged bug genus Ademula McAtee & Malloch, 1926 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae: Emesini, formerly Ploiariolini) from China, A. callipennis, new species, and A. corniculata, new species, are described and illustrated in the present paper. COI barcodes of these two new species and an updated key to the Oriental species of Ademula are provided. The distribution of Ademula in East and Southeast Asia is briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identities of two species of assassin bugs in the tribe Ectinoderini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) from the Indochinese Peninsula are reviewed, resulting in the following new synonymy and new combinations: Amulius Stål, 1865 = Parapanthous Distant, 1919, syn. n.; Amulius spinicollis (Distant, 1919), comb. n. (transferred from Parapanthous) and Ectinoderus confragosus (Distant, 1919), comb. n. (transferred from Amulius). Lectotypes of these species are designated. The hemelytral venations of Amulius and Ectinoderus Westwood, 1843 are briefly discussed and their diagnoses accordingly revised. Amulius is newly reported from Vietnam and Ectinoderus is recorded from Cambodia for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African assassin bug genus Neopirates Miller, 1952, is revised. The type species, N. nyassae Miller, 1952, is redescribed and illustrated; two new species from Namibia, N. bicolor Liu & Cai sp. n. and N. xanthothorax Liu & Cai sp. n. are described and a key is provided to separate the three species of this genus. Sphodrembas fumipennis Swanson, 2019, the type species of Sphodrembas Swanson, 2019, is placed as a junior synonym of N. nyassae, resulting in Sphodrembas becoming a junior synonym of Neopirates. Morphological differences between Neopirates and similar genera and the distribution of Neopirates are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chenicoris dilatatus gen. n. & sp. n. from southern China is described and placed in the largest assassin bug subfa mily Harpactorinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae). The new species is similar to members of Isyndus Stål, 1859 in general habitus, but can be distinguished from the latter by the unarmed anterior pronotal lobe, the laterally dilated lobe-like abdominal segment V and several features of its genitalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hornylia obtusipetala sp. nov. from eastern Thailand is described and illustrated. This new species is the second representative of the genus Hornylia Wygodzinsky, 1966. A key to species of Hornylia is presented. The relationship with allied genera and distribution of Hornylia is briefly discussed. Hornylia is recorded from Thailand for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Oriental assassin bug genus Enoplocephala Miller, 1940, is revised and redescribed. Two species are recognised: the type species, E. perakensis Miller, 1940, is redescribed and illustrated based on the type specimen; an additional species, E. maculata, new species, is described and illustrated based on one specimen from Borneo. Systematic position, distribution, and habitat of this genus are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Pachynomidae is recorded from Borneo as well as Southeast Asia for the first time. Camarochiloides gen. n. and its type species C. weiweii sp. n. is described. Dorsal habitus and various morphological characters of the new species are illustrated. Subfamily placement and affinities of the new genus are briefly discussed, a key to the genera of Pachynominae is provided. Body and wing polymorphism and nymphal morphology of the new species are documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, a disease caused by Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) has resulted in significant loss in rice production in Southern China and has spread quickly throughout East and Southeast Asia. This virus is transmitted by an insect vector, white-backed planthopper (WBPH) Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), in a persistent propagative manner. Aside from rice, SRBSDV can also infect numerous Poaceae plants. However, the molecular mechanism of interaction between SRBSDV and its plant or insect vector remains unclear. In order to address this, we investigated the whole viral genome relative mRNA expression level in distinct hosts and monitored their expression level in real-time in rice plants. Methods: In this study, a reliable, rapid, and sensitive method for detecting viral gene expression transcripts is reported. A SYBR Green I based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was adopted for the quantitative detection of SRBSDV gene expression in different hosts and real-time changes in gene expression in rice. Results: Compared to the relative mRNA expression level of the whole genome of SRBSDV, P3, P7-1, and P9-2 were dominantly expressed in rice and WBPH. Similarly, these genes also exhibited high expression levels in corn, suggesting that they have more important functions than other viral genes in the interaction between SRBSDV and hosts, and that they could be used as molecular detection target genes of SRBSDV. In contrast, the levels of P6 and P10 were relative low. Western blotting analysis partially was also verified our qPCR results at the level of protein expression. Analysis of the real-time changes in SRBSDV-infected rice plants revealed four distinct temporal expression patterns of the thirteen genes. Moreover, expression levels of P1 and other genes were significantly down-regulated on days 14 and 20, respectively. Conclusion: SRBSDV genes showed similar expression patterns in distinct hosts (rice, corn, and WBPH), indicating that SRBSDV uses the same infection strategy in plant and insect hosts. P3, P7-1, and P9-2 were the dominantly expressed genes in the three tested hosts. Therefore, they are likely to be genes with the most crucial function and could be used as sensitive molecular detection targets for SRBSDV. Furthermore, real-time changes in SRBSDV genes provided a basis for understanding the mechanism of interaction between SRBSDV and its hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]