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Summary: Gorteria diffusa has elaborate petal spots that attract pollinators through sexual deception, but how G. diffusa controls spot development is largely unknown. Here, we investigate how pigmentation is regulated during spot formation.We determined the anthocyanin composition of G. diffusa petals and combined gene expression analysis with protein interaction assays to characterise R2R3‐MYBs that likely regulate pigment production in G. diffusa petal spots.We found that cyanidin 3‐glucoside pigments G. diffusa ray floret petals. Unlike other petal regions, spots contain a high proportion of malonylated anthocyanin. We identified three subgroup 6 R2R3‐MYB transcription factors (GdMYBSG6‐1,2,3) that likely activate the production of spot pigmentation. These genes are upregulated in developing spots and induce ectopic anthocyanin production upon heterologous expression in tobacco. Interaction assays suggest that these transcription factors regulate genes encoding three anthocyanin synthesis enzymes.We demonstrate that the elaboration of complex spots in G. diffusa begins with the accumulation of malonylated pigments at the base of ray floret petals, positively regulated by three paralogous R2R3‐MYB transcription factors. Our results indicate that the functional diversification of these GdMYBSG6s involved changes in the spatial control of their transcription, and modification of the duration of GdMYBSG6 gene expression contributes towards floral variation within the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dung beetle primarily feeds on the feces of herbivorous animals and play a crucial role in ecological processes like material cycles and soil improvement. This study aims to explore the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota of Catharsius molossus (a renowned dung beetle originating from China and introduced to multiple countries for its ecological value) and exploring whether these gut microbes are transmitted vertically across generations. Using 16S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequencing techniques, we described the diversity and composition of gut microbes in C. molossus from different localities and different developmental stages (Egg, young larvae and old larvae). We discovered that the diversity of gut microbiota of dung beetles varied obviously among different geographical localities and different developmental stages, and we also discussed the potential influencing factors. Interestingly, the microbial community structure within the brood balls is more similar to male dung beetle than to that of females, which is consistent with the observation that the brood ball is constructed by the male dung beetle, with the female laying egg in it at the final step. This unique breeding method facilitates offspring in inheriting microbial communities from both the mother and the father. Initially, the larvae's gut microbiota closely mirrors that of the parental gift in these brood balls. As larvae grow, significant changes occur in their gut microbiota, including an increase in symbiotic bacteria like Lactococcus and Enterococcus. Analysis of the gut bacteria of adult dung beetles across various localities and different developmental stages identified nine core genera in adults, contributing to 67.80% of the total microbial abundance, and 11 core genera in beetles at different developmental stages, accounting for 49.13% of the total. Notably, seven genera were common between these two core groups. Our results suggest that Parental gifts can play a role in the vertical transmission of microbes, and the abundance of probiotics increases with larval development, supporting the hypothesis that "larval feeding behavior occurs in two stages: larvae first feed on parental gifts to acquire necessary microbes, then enrich symbiotic microbiota through consuming their own feces." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We investigated the mining mode of insect feeding, involving larval consumption of a plant's internal tissues, from the Middle Jurassic (165 million years ago) Daohugou locality of Northeastern China. Documentation of mining from the Jurassic Period is virtually unknown, and results from this time interval would address mining evolution during the temporal gap of mine–seed plant diversifications from the previous Late Triassic to the subsequent Early Cretaceous.Plant fossils were examined with standard microscopic procedures for herbivory and used the standard functional feeding group–damage‐type system of categorizing damage. All fossil mines were photographed and databased.We examined 2014 plant specimens, of which 27 occurrences on 14 specimens resulted in eight, new, mine damage types (DTs) present on six genera of bennettitalean, ginkgoalean, and pinalean gymnosperms.Three conclusions emerge from this study. First, these mid‐Mesozoic mines are morphologically conservative and track plant host anatomical structure rather than plant phylogeny. Second, likely insect fabricators of these mines were three basal lineages of polyphagan beetles, four basal lineages of monotrysian moths, and a basal lineage tenthredinoid sawflies. Third, the nutrition hypothesis, indicating that miners had greater access to nutritious, inner tissues of new plant lineages, best explains mine evolution during the mid‐Mesozoic. See also the Commentary on this article by McLoughlin & Santos, 242: 2391–2393. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploration of edible insects as sustainable alternative nutrient-dense sources such as nutraceuticals have attracted more and more global attention recently. However, research on wood borer beetles have largely been overlooked. This study assessed the entomo-chemical properties of Titoceres jaspideus (Cerambycidae) and Passalus punctiger (Passalidae), which are widely consumed in many African countries, including Kenya. The crude protein content of the beetle larvae ranged between 27.5–39.8 mg BSA/g. In comparison with those of cereals, amino acids such as lysine (7.9–9.9 mg/g), methionine (0.48–0.64 mg/g) and threonine (2.31–2.55 mg/g) were considerably high in the larvae. Methyl-5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenoate and methyl-9Z-octadecenoate were the predominant polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, respectively. High total phenols (>4.4 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (>3.6 mg QE/g) and anti-oxidative activities (>67%) were recorded for both larvae. This implies that increasing the consumption of wood-borer beetle larvae would positively impact the state of the natural environment and reduce the problem of malnutrition in the society. Thus, applying these strategies to develop insect food in a more familiar form can help to make insect-enriched foods more appealing to consumers, facilitating their widespread adoption as a sustainable and nutritious food source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jewel scarab Chrysina gloriosa is one of the most charismatic beetles in the United States and is found from the mountains of West Texas to the Southeastern Arizona sky islands. This species is highly sought by professional and amateur collectors worldwide due to its gleaming metallic coloration. However, the impact of the large-scale collection of this beetle on its populations is unknown, and there is a limited amount of genetic information available to make informed decisions about its conservation. As a first step, we present the genome of C. gloriosa , which we reconstructed using a single female specimen sampled from our ongoing effort to document population connectivity and the demographic history of this beetle. Using a combination of long-read sequencing and Omni-C data, we reconstructed the C. gloriosa genome at a near-chromosome level. Our genome assembly consisted of 454 scaffolds spanning 642 MB, with the 10 largest scaffolds capturing 98% of the genome. The scaffold N50 was 72 MB, and the BUSCO score was 95.5%. This genome assembly will be an essential tool to accelerate understanding C. gloriosa biology and help make informed decisions for the conservation of Chrysina and other species with similar distributions in this region. This genome assembly will further serve as a community resource for comparative genomic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we describe a high-quality genome assembly and annotation of the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). The highest quality unmasked genome comprises 619 megabases (Mb) of chromosomal DNA, organized into 899 contigs, with a contig N50 score of 89 Mbps. The genome was assessed to be 96 % complete (BUSCO). Reconstruction of a whole-genome phylogeny resolved H. convergens as sister to the Harlequin lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis , and nested within a clade of several known agricultural pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the formidable challenges posed by multiple jammers jamming multiple radars, which arise from spatial discretization, many degrees of freedom, numerous model input parameters, and the complexity of constraints, along with a multi-peaked objective function, this paper proposes a cooperative jamming resource allocation method, based on evolutionary reinforcement learning, that uses joint multi-domain information. Firstly, an adversarial scenario model is established, characterizing the interaction between multiple jammers and radars based on a multi-beam jammer model and a radar detection model. Subsequently, considering real-world scenarios, this paper analyzes the constraints and objective function involved in cooperative jamming resource allocation by multiple jammers. Finally, accounting for the impact of spatial, frequency, and energy domain information on jamming resource allocation, matrices representing spatial condition constraints, jamming beam allocation, and jamming power allocation are formulated to characterize the cooperative jamming resource allocation problem. Based on this foundation, the joint allocation of the jamming beam and jamming power is optimized under the constraints of jamming resources. Through simulation experiments, it was determined that, compared to the dung beetle optimizer (DBO) algorithm and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, the proposed evolutionary reinforcement learning algorithm based on DBO and Q-Learning (DBO-QL) offers 3.03% and 6.25% improvements in terms of jamming benefit and 26.33% and 50.26% improvements in terms of optimization success rate, respectively. In terms of algorithm response time, the proposed hybrid DBO-QL algorithm has a response time of 0.11 s, which is 97.35% and 96.57% lower than the response times of the DBO and PSO algorithms, respectively. The results show that the method proposed in this paper has good convergence, stability, and timeliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serine peptidases (SPs) of the chymotrypsin S1A subfamily are an extensive group of enzymes found in all animal organisms, including insects. Here, we provide analysis of SPs in the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor transcriptomes and genomes datasets and profile their expression patterns at various stages of ontogeny. A total of 269 SPs were identified, including 137 with conserved catalytic triad residues, while 125 others lacking conservation were proposed as non-active serine peptidase homologs (SPHs). Seven deduced sequences exhibit a complex domain organization with two or three peptidase units (domains), predicted both as active or non-active. The largest group of 84 SPs and 102 SPHs had no regulatory domains in the propeptide, and the majority of them were expressed only in the feeding life stages, larvae and adults, presumably playing an important role in digestion. The remaining 53 SPs and 23 SPHs had different regulatory domains, showed constitutive or upregulated expression at eggs or/and pupae stages, participating in regulation of various physiological processes. The majority of polypeptidases were mainly expressed at the pupal and adult stages. The data obtained expand our knowledge on SPs/SPHs and provide the basis for further studies of the functions of proteins from the S1A subfamily in T. molitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing frequencies of extreme weather events caused by climate change, the risk of forest damage from insect attacks grows. Storms and droughts can damage and weaken trees, reduce tree vigour and defence capacity and thus provide host trees that can be successfully attacked by damaging insects, as often observed in Norway spruce stands attacked by the Eurasian spruce bark beetle Ips typographus. Following storms, partially uprooted trees with grounded crowns suffer reduced water uptake and carbon assimilation, which may lower their vigour and decrease their ability to defend against insect attack. We conducted in situ measurements on windthrown and standing control trees to determine the concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), of phenolic defences and volatile monoterpene emissions. These are the main storage and defence compounds responsible for beetle´s pioneer success and host tree selection. Our results show that while sugar and phenolic concentrations of standing trees remained rather constant over a 4-month period, windthrown trees experienced a decrease of 78% and 37% of sugar and phenolic concentrations, respectively. This strong decline was especially pronounced for fructose (-83%) and glucose (-85%) and for taxifolin (-50.1%). Windthrown trees emitted 25 times greater monoterpene concentrations than standing trees, in particular alpha-pinene (23 times greater), beta-pinene (27 times greater) and 3-carene (90 times greater). We conclude that windthrown trees exhibited reduced resources of anti-herbivore and anti-pathogen defence compounds needed for the response to herbivore attack. The enhanced emission rates of volatile terpenes from windthrown trees may provide olfactory cues during bark beetle early swarming related to altered tree defences. Our results contribute to the knowledge of fallen trees vigour and their defence capacity during the first months after the wind-throw disturbance. Yet, the influence of different emission rates and profiles on bark beetle behaviour and host selection requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, climatic pressures have altered the forested landscape of Bavaria. Widespread loss of trees has unevenly impacted the entire state, of which 37% is covered by forests (5% more than the national average). In 2018 and 2019—due in large part to drought and subsequent insect infestations—more tree-covered areas were lost in Bavaria than in any other German state. Moreover, the annual crown condition survey of Bavaria has revealed a decreasing trend in tree vitality since 1998. We conducted a systematic literature review regarding the remote sensing of forests in Bavaria. In total, 146 scientific articles were published between 2008 and 2023. While 88 studies took place in the Bavarian Forest National Park, only five publications covered the whole of Bavaria. Outside of the national park, the remaining 2.5 million hectares of forest in Bavaria are understudied. The most commonly studied topics were related to bark beetle infestations (24 papers); however, few papers focused on the drivers of infestations. The majority of studies utilized airborne data, while publications utilizing spaceborne data focused on multispectral; other data types were under-utilized- particularly thermal, lidar, and hyperspectral. We recommend future studies to both spatially broaden investigations to the state or national scale and to increase temporal data acquisitions together with contemporaneous in situ data. Especially in understudied topics regarding forest response to climate, catastrophic disturbances, regrowth and species composition, phenological timing, and in the sector of forest management. The utilization of remote sensing data in the forestry sector and the uptake of scientific results among stakeholders remains a challenge compared to other heavily forested European countries. An integral part of the Bavarian economy and the tourism sector, forests are also vital for climate regulation via atmospheric carbon reduction and land surface cooling. Therefore, forest monitoring remains centrally important to attaining more resilient and productive forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding variation in trait allometry and the drivers of variation in sexually selected traits is a major theme in evolutionary biology. The static allometries of sexually selected traits are often positive due to disproportional investment by large individuals into trait size. Comparative studies of weapon allometry are rare, and typically focus on variation along a single dimension (e.g. length), despite weapons often diverging dramatically in shape. Furthermore, studies predominantly focus on groups where weapons have evolved as novel structures (e.g. horns), despite most weapons arising from modifications of existing structures.We test the hypothesis that sexual selection drives variation in static allometry using a phylogenetic comparative approach with 59 brentine weevil species showing remarkable variation in trait exaggeration and sexual size dimorphism (SSD).Contrasting two dimensions of head size exaggeration (a sexually selected trait) and elytron length (a nonsexual trait), positive static allometry was common across both measures of male head size, but not females, and there was positive covariance between male head static allometry and SSD across species. Positive static allometry for male elytron length was less common, but did show positive covariance with SSD, possibly due to the function of wings as compensatory structures for bearing large weapons.Our findings support the hypothesis that sexual selection drives the evolution of allometries both within and among species, and that the modification of existing structures to be used as weapons does not limit the potential for positive static allometry. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Known from over 50 Triassic localities worldwide, beetles were a significant component of the early Mesozoic paleofauna. Beetle fossils are particularly diverse in the Late Triassic (Norian) Cow Branch and Walnut Cove formations (Solite deposit) of Virginia and North Carolina, with 100 distinct morphotypes sorted from approximately 1000 specimens. The diversity of the Solite Coleoptera is documented, the 100 beetle morphotypes are informally described, and comparisons are made with other beetle communities through geologic time. In comparison with modern beetle communities, the Solite fauna shares two remarkable similarities. First, the distribution of Solite beetle body sizes matches that of some modern beetle communities, with the majority of specimens in both groups measuring between 2 and 4 mm in length. Second, the vast majority of the 100 Solite morphotypes (84%) are known from only a single specimen. This pattern somewhat follows the species abundance distribution of modern animal communities, in which a community is comprised of only a few common species and many rare species. In contrast, the Solite beetle fauna differs markedly from those of other Triassic and Early Jurassic deposits, both in the composition of higher taxa present, as well as in the lack of shared taxa between sites. The uniqueness of the Solite taxa, including the remarkable diversity, demonstrate the importance of the Solite Konservat-Lagerstätte in understanding the evolutionary history of Order Coleoptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dung beetle optimization (DBO) algorithm, a swarm intelligence-based metaheuristic, is renowned for its robust optimization capability and fast convergence speed. However, it also suffers from low population diversity, susceptibility to local optima solutions, and unsatisfactory convergence speed when facing complex optimization problems. In response, this paper proposes the multi-strategy improved dung beetle optimization algorithm (MDBO). The core improvements include using Latin hypercube sampling for better population initialization and the introduction of a novel differential variation strategy, termed "Mean Differential Variation", to enhance the algorithm's ability to evade local optima. Moreover, a strategy combining lens imaging reverse learning and dimension-by-dimension optimization was proposed and applied to the current optimal solution. Through comprehensive performance testing on standard benchmark functions from CEC2017 and CEC2020, MDBO demonstrates superior performance in terms of optimization accuracy, stability, and convergence speed compared with other classical metaheuristic optimization algorithms. Additionally, the efficacy of MDBO in addressing complex real-world engineering problems is validated through three representative engineering application scenarios namely extension/compression spring design problems, reducer design problems, and welded beam design problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dung beetle optimization (DBO) algorithm, devised by Jiankai Xue in 2022, is known for its strong optimization capabilities and fast convergence. However, it does have certain limitations, including insufficiently random population initialization, slow search speed, and inadequate global search capabilities. Drawing inspiration from the mathematical properties of the Sinh and Cosh functions, we proposed a new metaheuristic algorithm, Sinh–Cosh Dung Beetle Optimization (SCDBO). By leveraging the Sinh and Cosh functions to disrupt the initial distribution of DBO and balance the development of rollerball dung beetles, SCDBO enhances the search efficiency and global exploration capabilities of DBO through nonlinear enhancements. These improvements collectively enhance the performance of the dung beetle optimization algorithm, making it more adept at solving complex real-world problems. To evaluate the performance of the SCDBO algorithm, we compared it with seven typical algorithms using the CEC2017 test functions. Additionally, by successfully applying it to three engineering problems, robot arm design, pressure vessel problem, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) path planning, we further demonstrate the superiority of the SCDBO algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Drought affects the complex interactions between Norway spruce, the bark beetle Ips typographus and associated microorganisms. We investigated the interplay of tree water status, defense and carbohydrate reserves with the incidence of bark beetle attack and infection of associated fungi in mature spruce trees.We installed roofs to induce a 2‐yr moderate drought in a managed spruce stand to examine a maximum of 10 roof and 10 control trees for resin flow (RF), predawn twig water potentials, terpene, phenolic and carbohydrate bark concentrations, and bark beetle borings in field bioassays before and after inoculation with Endoconidiophora polonica and Grosmannia penicillata.Drought‐stressed trees showed more attacks and significantly longer fungal lesions than controls, but maintained terpene resin defenses at predrought levels. Reduced RF and lower mono‐ and diterpene, but not phenolic concentrations were linked with increased host selection. Bark beetle attack and fungi stimulated chemical defenses, yet G. penicillata reduced phenolic and carbohydrate contents.Chemical defenses did not decrease under mild, prolonged drought in our simulated small‐scale biotic infestations. However, during natural mass attacks, reductions in carbon fixation under drought, in combination with fungal consumption of carbohydrates, may deplete tree defenses and facilitate colonization by I. typographus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The 'concept of relative constancy of habitats' assumes that species differ in their habitat preferences depending on the regional temperature so that all populations experience similar microclimatic conditions. Our aim was to assess the relevance of this concept by disentangling the effects of shade level and regional temperature on southern and northern distributed saproxylic (=dead wood dependent) beetle species. Location: Sweden. Methods: We established a field experiment by placing 435 logs of Norway spruce (Picea abies) along shade gradients in six regions differing in regional temperature (along a 1200 km latitudinal gradient). For each log, we sampled the saproxylic beetle community and calculated the Community Temperature Index (CTI), indicating to what extent the community is dominated by southern or northern species. Results: Species richness and total abundance were better explained by shade level, whereas species composition was better explained by study region. In colder regions, CTI varied along the shade gradient, whereas in warmer regions, CTI was more similar along the shade gradient. Moreover, in colder regions, the number of southern species was higher in sun‐exposed logs, whereas in warmer regions, the number of southern species was higher in shaded logs. This supports the concept of relative constancy of habitats. In contrast, northern species preferred shaded conditions regardless of the regional temperature. Main Conclusions: Regional temperature, shade level and resulting microclimate are important drivers of species richness, total abundance and composition. Occurrence patterns of saproxylic beetle species follow to some extent the concept of relative constancy of habitats since their habitat preferences vary with regional temperature. Northern species are of conservation concern due to disadvantages by climate warming and clear‐cutting. They are favoured by preserving forests with rarely disturbed canopies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The study presents the new species Scymnus (Pullus) cardi sp. nov. and provides its mitochondrial genome. We describe the distinguishing features of S. (P.) cardi when compared with related species and discuss its habitat and feeding preferences. Additionally, based on the mitochondrial genomic dataset, the phylogeny of Coccinellidae is analyzed. The results confirm the position of the new species, which is nested within the genus Scymnus, and recovered subfamilies as monophyletic groups (such as Coccinellinae and Microweiseinae). These findings contribute to the understanding of Coccinellidae evolution and highlight the need for further taxonomic and genetic studies within the family. In this study, a new species of the subgenus Pullus belonging to the Scymnus genus from Pakistan, Scymnus (Pullus) cardi sp. nov., was described and illustrated, with information on its distribution, host plants, and prey. Additionally, the completed mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the new species using high-throughput sequencing technology was obtained. The genome contains the typical 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs, and 22 transfer RNAs) and a non-coding control region, and is arranged in the same order as that of the putative ancestor of beetles. The AT content of the mitogenome is approximately 85.1%, with AT skew and GC skew of 0.05 and −0.43, respectively. The calculated values of relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) determine that the codon UUA (L) has the highest frequency. Furthermore, we explored the phylogenetic relationship among 59 representatives of the Coccinellidae using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods, the results of which strongly support the monophyly of Coccinellinae. The phylogenetic results positioned Scymnus (Pullus) cardi in a well-supported clade with Scymnus (Pullus) loewii and Scymnus (Pullus) rubricaudus within the genus Scymnus and the tribe Scymnini. The mitochondrial sequence of S. (P.) cardi will contribute to the mitochondrial genome database and provide helpful information for the identification and phylogeny of Coccinellidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: On the modern climate agenda, drained peatlands are considered 'hotspots' that are responsible for a significant share of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The solution to this problem is usually associated with peatland rewetting, which aims to restore natural mire communities and their peat accumulation functions. The process of habitat recovery on both drained and rewetted peatlands requires the monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem structures, with particular attention being paid to specific groups of organisms that may have an indicator value. Among these, some groups of beetles (Coleoptera)—as this order is the most species-rich on Earth—can be relatively indicative of specific environmental conditions, including different peatland habitats. Our studies provide baseline data on the beetle fauna of a drained peatland in the Kaliningrad region of Russia, designated for rewetting as part of the Carbon Measurement Supersite Programme. The recorded assemblage of 281 beetle species from 41 families differs significantly from the natural raised bog fauna. An analysis of the species composition enabled us to classify the beetle assemblage into specific groups according to their ecological relationships and peat bog biotope fidelity. Based on these results, we have identified the beetle indicator species for further monitoring the environmental changes during peatland rewetting. A total of 281 coleopteran species from 41 families were recorded from different sites of an abandoned cut-over peatland designated as the Carbon Measurement Supersite in Kaliningrad Oblast. This beetle assemblage is considered a baseline (pre-impact) faunal assemblage for further investigations during the 'before–after' (BA) or 'before–after control-impact' (BACI) study on a peatland that is planned to be rewetted. The spontaneously revegetated peatland has a less specialised beetle assemblage than at an intact raised bog. Tyrphobiontic species are completely absent from the peatland, while some tyrphophiles (5.3% of the total beetle fauna) are still found as remnants of the former raised bog communities. The predominant coenotic coleopteran group is tyrphoneutral generalists from various non-bog habitats (72.9%). The species composition is associated with the vegetation structure of the disturbed peatland (fragmentary Sphagnum cover, lack of open habitats, and widespread birch coppice or tree stand), which does not correspond to that of a typical European raised bog. The sampled coleopteran assemblage is divided into several relative ecological groups, whose composition and peculiarities are discussed separately. Possible responses to the rewetting measurements in different coleopteran groups are predicted and briefly discussed. A complex assemblage of stenotopic peatland-specialised tyrphophiles (15 spp.) and the most abundant tyrphoneutral generalists (31 spp.) were assigned as indicators for the environmental monitoring of peatland development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Nemognathinae is notable for its high diversity in Meloidae, yet our knowledge about its species in China remains restricted. Here, we describe a new genus and species and report three other species as new additions to the Chinese fauna. Based on our investigation of the types, we transfer the genus Oreomeloe from Meloini to Nemognathini. Finally, we present molecular phylogenies built on multi-locus data, which corroborate the systematic placement of Sinostenoria and Longizonitis. Our findings and treatment contribute to the understanding of Chinese Nemognathinae and resolve a pending issue in the taxonomy of Nemognathinae. Despite being the most widespread blister beetle subfamily, Nemognathinae is unfairly understudied in China. In this study, a new genus and species, Sinostenoria yangi Pan, from northern China is described and illustrated. The antennae, elytra, hind wings, and claws of the new genus form a truly unique set of characteristics never observed in other genera of Nemognathini Laporte de Castelnau, 1840. Three species from China are newly recorded and illustrated: Megatrachelus sibiricus (Tauscher, 1812), Zonitomorpha dollei (Fairmaire 1889), and Stenodera djakonovi Aksentjev, 1978. The genus Oreomeloe Tan, 1981, is transferred from the tribe Meloini Gyllenhal, 1910, to Nemognathini based on an examination of the types. Aiming to test the morphology-based placement of the new genus, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses using two mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and three nuclear markers (28S, CAD, ITS2). The results confirm our tribal assignment of the new genus and support a clade that consists of Sinostenoriagen. n., Longizonitis Pan and Bologna, 2018, Stenoria cf. grandiceps, and Ctenopus cf. persicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Privets (Ligustrum spp.) are popular hedge shrubs that escape from gardens and cause negative impacts by invading forests in the United States. The narrow host specificity of the seed-feeding weevil, Ochyromera ligustri, suggests that this weevil could be considered a fortuitous biological control agent of privets. To find out the host range of this weevil, time-consuming experiments involving rearing and dissections are often conducted. Herein, we developed PCR primers to rapidly and accurately detect the presence of the weevil in privet fruits. We confirmed that the novel PCR primers specifically work for O. ligustri even with a small quantity of DNA, which was 0.01 ng. Using the newly developed PCR-based detection saves time and labor in research related to the detection and impact of this weevil. Ligustrum spp. (Oleaceae) have become invasive species in the US and negatively affect native plant diversity and richness in forests. Ochyromera ligustri (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is considered a potential biological control agent in the US because adults feed on the foliage and larvae are seed-feeders of Ligustrum spp. To discover the relationships between O. ligustri and Ligustrum spp., fruit dissections or rearing and field observations are required. In the current research project, novel PCR primers were developed to rapidly detect the DNA of O. ligustri in molecular analyses without rearing and observation. The developed PCR primers worked even with 0.01 ng of DNA and did not amplify the DNA of the other five curculionid species tested. When the novel primers were tested with three Ligustrum spp. species common in the southeastern US, the DNA of O. ligustri was detected from all three species. We expect that the novel primers will be utilized to find out the presence and impact of O. ligustri on Ligustrum spp rapidly and accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Natural insecticides are currently given high priority in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols. To this end, diatomaceous earth (DE) has gained a lot of attention as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional insecticides that can successfully repel and control a diverse variety of the most important stored-product insect pests, such as the species Sitophilus, Rhyzopertha, Tribolium, and others. However, most published research about the DEs' insecticidal efficacy has been conducted in simplistic short-term laboratory experiments, excluding the evaluation of the persistence of such ingredients in grain applications. In this study, we evaluated two different DE formulations derived from a single deposit from Greece, when applied in wheat and maize against two primary stored-product insect pests, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae). Based on the results, the DE application was effective and persistent as a grain protectant against major stored-product insects for a storage period of six months. This study provides more evidence for the successful utilization of these natural insecticides for long-term protection of stored products from insect infestations, as an alternative to residual insecticides and fumigants that are commonly used in stored-grain protection systems or as part of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. We evaluated the persistence and efficacy of two different, in granulometry and content of diatoms, diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations (i.e., DE5 and DE6), against two major beetle species of stored products, i.e., Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae). The formulations were applied as powders in soft wheat and maize in two doses of 500 and 1000 mg kg−1 (ppm). Samples of the treated grains were taken on the day of application and every 30 days until completion of the six-month period of storage. Adults of S. oryzae and R. dominica were exposed to the treated grains at 25 °C and 55% relative humidity, and the mortality was measured after 7, 14, and 21 days of exposure. Rhyzopertha dominica survival was not affected by any combination of DE formulation, dose, and commodity. Contrariwise, the DEs caused significant adult mortality of S. oryzae, in most of the cases tested. We observed that DE6 was equally effective in both wheat and maize, and no considerable variations were observed in S. oryzae mortality during the 6-month experimental period. Furthermore, DE6 was more effective against S. oryzae than DE5, a difference that could have potentially contributed to the variations in the diatom granulometry between these two DEs. Thus, a DE treatment of 1000 ppm was shown to provide long-term protection of wheat and maize against S. oryzae, but this is strongly dependent on the DE formulation, commodity, and insect species. Overall, such natural resource-based inert silicaceous deposits could be used with success in stored-product protection with only some minor modifications, such as sieving and drying of the raw deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Water colour is an important physicochemical property of water that affects aquatic communities. Land-use change has led to water colour darkening in lotic habitats, such as streams and rivers. Here, I evaluate whether urban land-use change affects water colour in urban ponds, a type of lentic habitats, and how diving beetles (Dytiscidae) respond to the water colour gradient in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. The results show that urbanisation may not drive water darkening in urban ponds, possibly because urban ponds are often not connected to stormwater pipes. Diving beetles responded to the increasing pond water colour differently in the presence or absence of fish. Diving beetle species richness and abundance significantly increased along the water colour gradient in ponds with fish, but not in ponds without fish. Some species, such as the great diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis), appear tolerant to brown water, whereas some species, such as the cherrystone beetle (Hyphydrus ovatus), prefer clear water. This study highlights that not all species benefit from increasing water colour. It is important to provide ponds with a gradient of water colour from clear to brown water in the landscape to meet the habitat requirements of different species for urban biodiversity conservation. Dramatic land-use changes in urban landscapes can drive water colour darkening by washing compounds, such as organic matter and iron, from terrestrial ecosystems into urban blue space, consequentially affecting aquatic communities. Here, I studied how pond water colour changes along an urban gradient and how diving beetles (Dytiscidae) respond to the water colour gradient in 11 ponds with fish and 15 ponds without fish in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. I found that the pond water colour exhibited a non-significant decreasing pattern along the urban gradient, indicating that urbanisation may not necessarily drive brownification in urban ponds. Dytiscid species richness and abundance exhibited significant positive correlations with increasing water colour in ponds with fish but no significant correlation in ponds without fish. Some species, such as Agabus spp. and Dytiscus spp., appeared tolerant to highly coloured water, whereas some species, such as Hyphydrus ovatus and Hygrotus spp., tended to occur in clear water, indicating that brown water may provide dytiscids with prey refuges, but some species are intolerant to brown water. The study highlights the importance of urban pondscape heterogeneity to meet the needs of aquatic invertebrates that prefer different water colours and for the multifunctioning of urban ponds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study aimed to elucidate the factors contributing to the limited presence of Cheilotoma musciformis in Poland, with a specific focus on soil characteristics affecting both vegetation and insect populations. It examined how soil enzyme activity influences the occurrence of Ch. musciformis in the xerothermic grasslands of Southern Poland. Sites inhabited by the beetle were typically subject to extensive grazing by farm animals or recent bush clearance, contrasting with control plots situated on unused or overgrazed xerothermic grasslands. Soils in beetle-inhabited sites exhibited significantly higher levels of enzyme activity, total organic carbon, and total nitrogen, along with lower pHKCl compared to control sites. These findings suggest the beetle's reliance on extensively grazed xerothermic grasslands. Given that grazing practices influence the behavior of preferred host plant species, effective protection planning for Ch. musciformis-inhabited grasslands should carefully consider changes in soil biochemical properties and vegetation structure. This work attempts to find the reasons for the rather limited range of occurrence of Cheilotoma musciformis in Poland, based on soil properties, which affects both the plant cover and the entomofauna. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of soil enzyme activity on the occurrence of Ch. musciformis in xerothermic grasslands in Southern Poland. The sites inhabited by the beetle were most often extensively grazed by farm animals or had recently been cleared of bushes. The control plots were in wasteland. The soils of most sites with Ch. musciformis were characterized by significantly higher activity of the tested enzymes and higher content of total organic carbon and total nitrogen, as well as lower pHKCl compared to the control sites. The higher enzymatic activity of soils in sites with the beetle than in the control sites may indicate the dependence of the occurrence of this beetle on the presence of patches of extensively grazed xerothermic grasslands. Grazing influences the behavior of preferred host plant species. Therefore, when planning active protection of xerothermic grasslands inhabited by Ch. musciformis, changes in the biochemical properties of the soil and vegetation structure should be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Coleomegilla maculata lengi is an important insect predator in North American agroecosystems. Collection records reveal that the reputed range for C. maculata lengi has been substantially underestimated. New records indicate an expanded geographic range, including the recent expansion of C. maculata lengi in central North America and a new state record for Wyoming, USA. The expanding geographic range of C. maculata lengi contrasts with that of several species of lady beetles native to North America. Several species of lady beetle native to North America have declined in abundance in the last few decades, often accompanied by contractions in their geographic ranges. Coleomegilla maculata lengi is a lady beetle native to North America that is an important predator of pests in various agroecosystems. Its reported range spans the eastern half of the USA, with no sustained decline in abundance or contraction of its range reported. Indeed, we recently collected several individuals of this lady beetle in central USA roughly 500 km beyond the western edge of its reputed range. We hypothesized that new records could indicate either that previous range characterization failed to include pre-existing collection records further west or that C. maculata lengi has recently expanded its geographic range. To test these hypotheses, we searched several institutional insect collections and digital databases for records and found many earlier records of C. maculata lengi beyond its reputed geographic range, clearly showing that the previous characterization of its geographic distribution in North America was substantially underestimated. In addition, we report a new state record of C. maculata lengi from Wyoming, USA, that further indicates its geographic range expansion in North America. We discuss new records of C. maculata lengi in light of declines in native coccinelline lady beetle species in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the limitations of the dung beetle optimization (DBO) is its susceptibility to local optima and its relatively low search accuracy. Several strategies have been utilized to improve the diversity, search precision, and outcomes of the DBO. However, the equilibrium between exploration and exploitation has not been achieved optimally. This paper presents a novel algorithm called the ODBO, which incorporates cat map and an opposition-based learning strategy, which is based on symmetry theory. In addition, in order to enhance the performance of the dung ball rolling phase, this paper combines the global search strategy of the osprey optimization algorithm with the position update strategy of the DBO. Additionally, we enhance the population's diversity during the foraging phase of the DBO by incorporating vertical and horizontal crossover of individuals. This introduction of asymmetry in the crossover operation increases the exploration capability of the algorithm, allowing it to effectively escape local optima and facilitate global search. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of artificial snags, so-called high stumps, within forest management operations is a recently established tool to enrich standing deadwood as a habitat for saproxylic species. In this study, we analysed the impact of active high stump management on saproxylic beetle species. We selected 63 high stumps in six Bavarian forest districts (Germany), which were felled and subjected to close examination, focusing on beetle (Coleoptera) colonization. We identified 63 emerged coleopteran species belonging to 29 families; a further 10 taxa were identified only at the genus or family level, respectively. Moreover, 17% of the obtained taxa are listed in the German Red List of Coleoptera. Furthermore, 32% of the examined high stump trunks, predominantly broad-leaved tree species, harboured Red List beetle taxa. In particular, trembling aspen (Populus tremula) showed a disproportionately high number of Red List beetle species. The total species richness of beetles was independent of the height, diameter and decay stage of the snags. High stumps (snags) containing Red List beetle species tended to have higher amounts of deadwood in their surroundings, but the difference was not significant. According to the results of our study, actively creating high stumps proved to be a suitable method for creating habitats and serve as stepping-stones for endangered saproxylic species. Proactive high stump management during harvest can be a valuable component of deadwood management and biodiversity protection in forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the liverwort Hygrobiella laxiflora as an example, this study aims to investigate the impact of climate change on montane species and their ecosystems. The study area is the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Germany and the Czech Republic, where Hygrobiella laxifolia has an isolated occurrence in deeply carved gorges characterized by a specific microclimate (cellar climate). The focus is on determining the rate at which populations are affected. After little change in the population over a long period, a sudden sharp decline has been observed in recent years. The decline correlates with the mass proliferation of the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) observed since 2017, which has led to a strong thinning of the forests in the area. In many areas of occurrence, the forests now have a much sparser tree layer or none at all. Competition from other, more competitive species also plays an important role as a cause of decline, as these have spread more widely on the sites due to the now higher light levels. The severe bark beetle infestation and the large-scale forest fire of 2022 both represent events that led to the almost complete deforestation of large parts of the study area, which was previously unknown on this scale. Since both the bark beetle infestation and the forest fire are strongly intensified by climate change, we assume that climate change is the main reason for the decline of Hygrobiella laxifolia in the area. The populations of Hygrobiella laxifolia of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains show some morphological peculiarities. As two new species have recently been described within Hygrobiella, we have integrated a sample from the area into a molecular phylogeny of Hygrobiella based on the plastid sequences of trnL-trnF intergenic spacer and matK to clarify the relationships. The sample from Elbe Sandstone Mountains fits well into the clade of Hygrobiella laxifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable and accurate wind-speed forecasts significantly impact the efficiency of wind power utilization and the safety of power systems. In addressing the performance enhancement of transformer models in short-term wind-speed forecasting, a multi-step prediction model based on variational mode decomposition (VMD), temporal convolutional network (TCN), and a transformer is proposed. Initially, the Dung Beetle Optimizer (DBO) is utilized to optimize VMD for decomposing non-stationary wind-speed series data. Subsequently, the TCN is used to extract features from the input sequences. Finally, the processed data are fed into the transformer model for prediction. The effectiveness of this model is validated by comparison with six other prediction models across three datasets, demonstrating its superior accuracy in short-term wind-speed forecasting. Experimental findings from three distinct datasets reveal that the developed model achieves an average improvement of 52.1% for R2. To the best of our knowledge, this places our model at the leading edge of wind-speed prediction for 8 h and 12 h forecasts, demonstrating MSEs of 1.003 and 0.895, MAEs of 0.754 and 0.665, and RMSEs of 1.001 and 0.946, respectively. Therefore, this research offers significant contributions through a new framework and demonstrates the utility of the transformer in effectively predicting short-term wind speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate measurement of coal gas permeability helps prevent coal gas safety accidents effectively. To predict permeability more accurately, we propose the IDBO-BPNN coal body gas permeability prediction model. This model combines the Improved Dung Beetle algorithm (IDBO) with the BP neural network (BPNN). First, the Sine chaotic mapping, Osprey optimization algorithm, and adaptive T-distribution dynamic selection strategy are integrated to enhance the DBO algorithm and improve its global search capability. Then, IDBO is utilized to optimize the weights and thresholds in BPNN to enhance its prediction accuracy and mitigate the risk of overfitting to some extent. Secondly, based on the influencing factors of gas permeability, effective stress, gas pressure, temperature, and compressive strength, they are chosen as the coupling indicators. The SPSS 27 software is used to analyze the correlation among the indicators using the Pearson correlation coefficient matrix. Additionally, the Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) is employed to extract the original data. Then, the original data is divided into principal component data for the model input. The prediction results of the IDBO-BPNN model are compared with those of the PSO-BPNN, PSO-LSSVM, PSO-SVM, MPA-BPNN, WOA-SVM, BES-SVM, and DPO-BPNN models. This comparison assesses the capability of KPCA to enhance the accuracy of model predictions and the performance of the IDBO-BPNN model. Finally, the IDBO-BPNN model is tested using data from a coal mine in Shanxi. The results indicate that the predicted outcome closely aligns with the actual value, confirming the reliability and stability of the model. Therefore, the IDBO-BPNN model is better suited for predicting coal gas permeability in academic research writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The repellent capacity against Sitophilus zeamais and the in vitro inhibition on AChE of 11 essential oils, isolated from six plants of the northern region of Colombia, were assessed using a modified tunnel-type device and the Ellman colorimetric method, respectively. The results were as follows: (i) the degree of repellency (DR) of the EOs against S. zeamais was 20–68% (2 h) and 28–74% (4 h); (ii) the IC50 values on AChE were 5–36 µg/mL; likewise, the %inh. on AChE (1 µg/cm3 per EO) did not show any effect in 91% of the EO tested; (iii) six EOs (Bursera graveolens—bark, B. graveolens—leaves, B. simaruba—bark, Peperomia pellucida—leaves, Piper holtonii (1b*)—leaves, and P. reticulatum—leaves) exhibited a DR (53–74%) ≥ C+ (chlorpyrifos—61%), while all EOs were less active (8–60-fold) on AChE compared to chlorpyrifos (IC50 of 0.59 µg/mL). Based on the ANOVA/linear regression and multivariate analysis of data, some differences/similarities could be established, as well as identifying the most active EOs (five: B. simaruba—bark, Pep. Pellucida—leaves, P. holtonii (1b*)—leaves, B. graveolens—bark, and B. graveolens—leaves). Finally, these EOs were constituted by spathulenol (24%)/β-selinene (18%)/caryophyllene oxide (10%)—B. simaruba; carotol (44%)/dillapiole (21%)—Pep. pellucida; dillapiole (81% confirmed by 1H-/13C-NMR)—P. holtonii; mint furanone derivative (14%)/mint furanone (14%)—B. graveolens—bark; limonene (17%)/carvone (10%)—B. graveolens—leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During choriogenesis in insects, chorion (eggshell) is formed by surrounding follicular epithelial cells in ovarioles. However, the regulatory endocrine factor(s) activating choriogenesis and the effect of chemical components on eggshell deserve further exploration. In two representative coleopterans, a coccinellid Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata and a chrysomelid Leptinotarsa decemlineata, genes encoding the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) receptor heterodimer, ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP), and two chitin biosynthesis enzymes UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (UAP) and chitin synthase (ChS1), were highly expressed in ovaries of the young females. RNA interference (RNAi)-aided knockdown of either HvEcR or Hvusp in H. vigintioctopunctata inhibited oviposition, suppressed the expression of HvChS1, and lessened the positive signal of Calcofluor staining on the chorions, which suggests the reduction of a chitin-like substance (CLS) deposited on eggshells. Similarly, RNAi of LdEcR or Ldusp in L. decemlineata constrained oviposition, decreased the expression of LdUAP1 and LdChS1, and reduced CLS contents in the resultant ovaries. Knockdown of LdUAP1 or LdChS1 caused similar defective phenotypes, i.e., reduced oviposition and CLS contents in the L. decemlineata ovaries. These results, for the first time, indicate that 20E signaling activates choriogenesis in two coleopteran species. Moreover, our findings suggest the deposition of a CLS on the chorions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phyllotreta striolata, the striped flea beetle, is one of the most destructive pests in Brassicaceae plants worldwide. Given the drawbacks associated with long-term use of chemical insecticides, green strategies based on chemical ecology are an effective alternative for beetle control. However, the lack of information on beetle ecology has hindered the development of effective biocontrol strategies. In this report, we identified two odorants, (S)-cis-verbenol and (−)-verbenone, which displayed significant attraction for P. striolata (p < 0.05), indicating their great potential for P. striolata management. Using the Drosophila "empty neuron" system, an antenna-biased odorant receptor, PstrOR17, was identified as responsible for the detection of (−)-verbenone and (S)-cis-verbenol. Furthermore, the interactions between PstrOR17 and (−)-verbenone or (S)-cis-verbenol were predicted via modeling and molecular docking. Finally, we used RNAi to confirm that PstrOR17 is essential for the detection of (−)-verbenone and (S)-cis-verbenol to elicit an attraction effect. Our results not only lay a foundation for the development of new and effective nonchemical insecticide strategies based on (S)-cis-verbenol and (−)-verbenone, but also provide new insight into the molecular basis of odorant recognition in P. striolata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal societies use nestmate recognition to protect against social cheaters and parasites. In most social insect societies, individuals recognize and exclude any non‐nestmates and the roles of cuticular hydrocarbons as recognition cues are well documented. Some ambrosia beetles live in cooperatively breeding societies with farmed fungus cultures that are challenging to establish, but of very high value once established. Hence, social cheaters that sneak into a nest without paying the costs of nest foundation may be selected. Therefore, nestmate recognition is also expected to exist in ambrosia beetles, but so far nobody has investigated this behavior and its underlying mechanisms. Here we studied the ability for nestmate recognition in the cooperatively breeding ambrosia beetle Xyleborinus saxesenii, combining behavioural observations and cuticular hydrocarbon analyses. Laboratory nests of X. saxesenii were exposed to foreign adult females from the same population, another population and another species. Survival as well as the behaviours of the foreign female were observed. The behaviours of the receiving individuals were also observed. We expected that increasing genetic distance would cause increasing distance in chemical profiles and increasing levels of behavioural exclusion and possibly mortality. Chemical profiles differed between populations and appeared as variable as in other highly social insects. However, we found only very little evidence for the behavioural exclusion of foreign individuals. Interpopulation donors left nests at a higher rate than control donors, but neither their behaviours nor the behaviours of receiver individuals within the nest showed any response to the foreign individual in either of the treatments. These results suggest that cuticular hydrocarbon profiles might be used for communication and nestmate recognition, but that behavioural exclusion of non‐nestmates is either absent in X. saxesenii or that agonistic encounters are so rare or subtle that they could not be detected by our method. Additional studies are needed to investigate this further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve performance in terms of overshoot and motor response speed when a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with a proportional–integral (PI) controller is subjected to external disturbances, this paper proposes a speed control strategy based on an enhanced Beetle Antennae Search algorithm, which allows for adjustable parameters of the PI controller within a certain range. Firstly, to enhance the global and local search capabilities of each individual beetle, the step size was improved by linearly decreasing it. Secondly, a simulation model of a PMSM closed-loop control system was built to verify the effectiveness of the improved Beetle Antennae Search (BAS) algorithm. Finally, a linear feedback shift register model that generates four random numbers was developed on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The improved BAS algorithm for the PMSM control system was implemented on an FPGA using the Verilog hardware description language, and the feasibility of the system was verified through hardware simulation. Additionally, the hardware resource consumption on different FPGA platforms was analyzed. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed new speed control strategy can reduce the overshoot and improve the motor response speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increased frequency and severity of droughts and heat waves have resulted in increased tree mortality and forest dieback across the world, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We used a common garden experiment with 20 conifer tree species to quantify mortality after three consecutive hot, dry summers and tested whether mortality could be explained by putative underlying mechanisms, such as stem hydraulics and legacies affected by leaf life span and stem growth responses to previous droughts. Mortality varied from 0 to 79% across species and was not affected by hydraulic traits. Mortality increased with species' leaf life span probably because leaf damage caused crown dieback and contributed to carbon depletion and bark beetle damage. Mortality also increased with lower growth resilience, which may exacerbate the contribution of carbon depletion and bark beetle sensitivity to tree mortality. Our study highlights how ecological legacies at different time scales can explain tree mortality in response to hot, dry periods and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Both larvae and adults of the Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) can feed on potato, tomato, and eggplant leaves, though potatoes serve as the most suitable host for the H. vigintioctopunctata. Owing to the differing planting times of potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants, H. vigintioctopunctata adults must migrate to tomato or eggplant leaves for feeding to ensure continuous food availability. Therefore, under wild field conditions, host transfer between larvae and adults of the H. vigintioctopunctata is a normal phenomenon. Generally, the feeding experiences of both larval and adult hosts influence the survival and reproduction of the adult ladybird beetle. To ascertain the impact of larval and adult hosts on the performance and preference of adults, we allow H. vigintioctopunctata larvae and adults to either continue or change their feeding experience on potato, tomato, and eggplant leaves. Our results indicate that the adult feeding host dictates the fecundity and preferences of the adult, independent of the larval feeding experience. While host switching between larval and adult stages yields fewer benefits for H. vigintioctopunctata performance compared to a consistent potato leaf diet, it facilitates food access for H. vigintioctopunctata. Hence, under wild field conditions, we can adjust the planting intervals between eggplants, tomatoes, and potatoes to prevent host switching between larva and adult H. vigintioctopunctata, thereby ecologically controlling the populations of H. vigintioctopunctata. Both larvae and adults of the Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata feed on leaves of potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants. Given the variation in planting times of host plants in the Jianghan Plain, host switching between larvae and adults of H. vigintioctopunctata is inevitable to ensure continuous food availability. We evaluated the effect of consistent versus diverse larval and adult host plant feeding experience on growth performance, fecundity, longevity, and feeding preferences of H. vigintioctopunctata through match-mismatch experiments. Host plant quality significantly influences larval development and adult reproduction. Potatoes are identified as the optimal host plant for H. vigintioctopunctata, whereas eggplants significantly negatively affect the adult fecundity. Adult stage host feeding experience determines the fecundity of H. vigintioctopunctata, irrespective of the larval feeding experience. The fecundity of H. vigintioctopunctata adults on eggplant leaves remains significantly lower than that observed on potato leaves. Similarly, adult H. vigintioctopunctata demonstrate a preference for consuming potato leaves, irrespective of the larval feeding experience. Although host switching between larval and adult stages offers lesser benefits for the performance of herbivorous insects compared to a consistent diet with potato leaves, it maintains H. vigintioctopunctata population continuity amidst shortages of high-quality potato hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Poinarelektronmiles Fanti & Damgaard, 2020 is considered as a junior synonym of Burmomiles Fanti, Damgaard & Ellenberger, 2018, since no generic diagnostic differences can be found in their type species except for the elytral length, which is a yet unstable and more ecology-related character. The two hitherto known species of Poinarelektronmiles are transferred to Burmomiles or Sanaungulus Fanti, Damgaard & Ellenberger, 2018, including B. ellenbergeri (Fanti & Damgaard, 2020) comb. nov. and S. cuaroni (Bramanti & Fanti, 2022) comb. nov. Meanwhile, B. dominikiweissbachi (Fanti & Müller, 2022) comb. nov., B. kachinensis (Fanti & Müller, 2022) comb. nov. and B. lethi (Fanti & Damgaard, 2020) comb. nov. are transferred from Sanaungulus. Six Sanaungulus species are suggested to be placed in Cantharidae incertae sedis, including S. electrum Fanti & Müller, 2022, S. franziskaeweissbachae Fanti & Müller, 2022, S. nalae Fanti & Müller, 2022, S. morellii Fanti & Damgaard, 2020, S. rosenzweigi Fanti & Damgaard, 2020 and S. ruicheni (Hsiao & Huang, 2018), due to their absence of antennal appendages in males. The gender identity for S. kirstenaeweissbachae Fanti & Müller, 2022 and S. cuaroni originally defined as females are corrected into males, according to their pectinate antennae. Additionally, four new species, S. marginalis sp. nov., S. longicornis sp. nov., S. elongaticollis sp. nov., and S. undecimus sp. nov., are described and illustrated. These results will significantly complement and expand our knowledge on the Burmite cantharid diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Microperus ambrosia beetle fauna of Taiwan is reviewed. Microperus alpha (Beeson, 1929), M. kadoyamaensis (Murayama, 1934), M. kirishimanus (Murayama, 1955), M. perparvus (Sampson, 1922), M. quercicola (Eggers, 1926) have all been previously recorded from Taiwan. Microperus bucolicus Sittichaya, Smith & Beaver, 2021 and M. latesalebrinus Smith, Beaver & Cognato, 2020 are new country records for Taiwan. Of which, the males of M. alpha, M. bucolicus, M. kadoyamaensis, M. latesalebrinus, M. perparvus, and M. quercicola are described for the first time. In this study, we document a likely occurrence of mycocleptism by M. bucolicus. Diagnostic characters, biological data and a key to species in Taiwan are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of ambrosia beetle Indocryphalus chiyui Lin & Beaver (tribe Xyloterini LeConte, 1876) from Taiwan is described. The species is monogamous and xylomycetophagous, breeding in Castanopsis cuspidata var. carlesii (Hemsl.) Yamazaki (Fagaceae). Indocryphalus sordidus (Blandford) is recorded for the first time from Taiwan. Diagnostic characters, biological data and a key to species of Indocryphalus in Taiwan are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate and efficient inversion of permeability coefficients is significant for the scientific assessment of seepage safety in concrete face rockfill dams. In addressing the optimization challenge of permeability coefficients with few samples, multiple parameters, and strong nonlinearity, this paper proposes a novel intelligent inversion method based on the Sobol-IDBO-SVR fusion surrogate model. Firstly, the Sobol sequence sampling method is introduced to extract high-quality combined samples of permeability coefficients, and the equivalent continuum seepage model is utilized for the forward simulation to obtain the theoretical hydraulic heads at the seepage monitoring points. Subsequently, the support vector regression surrogate model is used to establish the complex mapping relationship between the permeability coefficients and hydraulic heads, and the convergence performance of the dung beetle optimization algorithm is effectively enhanced by fusing multiple strategies. On this basis, we successfully achieve the precise inversion of permeability coefficients driven by multi-intelligence technologies. The engineering application results show that the permeability coefficients determined based on the inversion of the Sobol-IDBO-SVR model can reasonably reflect the seepage characteristics of the concrete face rockfill dam. The maximum relative error between the measured and the inversion values of the hydraulic heads at each monitoring point is only 0.63%, indicating that the inversion accuracy meets the engineering requirements. The method proposed in this study may also provide a beneficial reference for similar parameter inversion problems in engineering projects such as bridges, embankments, and pumping stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An enhanced dung beetle optimization algorithm (EDBO) is proposed for nonlinear optimization problems with multiple constraints in manufacturing. Firstly, the dung beetle rolling phase is improved by removing the worst value interference and coupling the current solution with the optimal solution to each other, while retaining the advantages of the original formulation. Subsequently, to address the problem that the dung beetle dancing phase focuses only on the information of the current solution, which leads to the overly stochastic and inefficient exploration of the problem space, the globally optimal solution is introduced to steer the dung beetle, and a stochastic factor is added to the optimal solution. Finally, the dung beetle foraging phase introduces the Jacobi curve to further enhance the algorithm's ability to jump out of the local optimum and avoid the phenomenon of premature convergence. The performance of EDBO in optimization is tested using the CEC2017 function set, and the significance of the algorithm is verified by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and the Friedman test. The experimental results show that EDBO has strong optimization-seeking accuracy and optimization-seeking stability. By solving four engineering optimization problems of varying degrees, EDBO has proven to have good adaptability and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal societies use nestmate recognition to protect against social cheaters and parasites. In most social insect societies, individuals recognize and exclude any non‐nestmates and the roles of cuticular hydrocarbons as recognition cues are well documented. Some ambrosia beetles live in cooperatively breeding societies with farmed fungus cultures that are challenging to establish, but of very high value once established. Hence, social cheaters that sneak into a nest without paying the costs of nest foundation may be selected. Therefore, nestmate recognition is also expected to exist in ambrosia beetles, but so far nobody has investigated this behavior and its underlying mechanisms. Here we studied the ability for nestmate recognition in the cooperatively breeding ambrosia beetle Xyleborinus saxesenii, combining behavioural observations and cuticular hydrocarbon analyses. Laboratory nests of X. saxesenii were exposed to foreign adult females from the same population, another population and another species. Survival as well as the behaviours of the foreign female were observed. The behaviours of the receiving individuals were also observed. We expected that increasing genetic distance would cause increasing distance in chemical profiles and increasing levels of behavioural exclusion and possibly mortality. Chemical profiles differed between populations and appeared as variable as in other highly social insects. However, we found only very little evidence for the behavioural exclusion of foreign individuals. Interpopulation donors left nests at a higher rate than control donors, but neither their behaviours nor the behaviours of receiver individuals within the nest showed any response to the foreign individual in either of the treatments. These results suggest that cuticular hydrocarbon profiles might be used for communication and nestmate recognition, but that behavioural exclusion of non‐nestmates is either absent in X. saxesenii or that agonistic encounters are so rare or subtle that they could not be detected by our method. Additional studies are needed to investigate this further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, is a major problem for palm plantations worldwide. While chemical pesticides are known to be effective, their environmental impact and insecticide resistance pose serious concerns. Biological control approaches, such as employing entomopathogenic nematodes, can mitigate these challenges by focusing on pests while avoiding harm to the environment or non-target organisms. Our findings show that indigenous and commercial EPNs have the ability to manage red palm weevils. As a result, alternate methods, such as the use of entomopathogenic nematodes, are critical for the sustainable control of red palm weevils. The red palm weevil (RPW) is a significant threat to date palms. Conventional pest control has been ineffective. This study aims to evaluate entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) indigenous to Saudi Arabia and commercial against RPW. We used 33 soil samples collected from four areas of Saudi Arabia. The indigenous EPNs were isolated and cultured using an insect baiting method to obtain infective juveniles. Pathogenicity bioassays were conducted against different stages of RPW, including eggs, larvae, and adults. The bioassay was performed using all the isolates at 1 × 106 IJ/mL. Distilled water was used as a control. The results revealed that only 9.09% of soil samples contained positive EPNs. Through DNA sequencing analysis, the positive samples were identified as indigenous isolates belonging to Heterorhabditis indica and Steinernema carpocapsae EPN species. In pathogenicity tests, 90% mortality of RPW eggs was observed after five days. Similar mortality trends were seen in RPW larvae and adults, with 90% mortality recorded after ten days for all the EPN treatments. Mortality increased with the duration of post-EPN inoculation exposure. The 1 × 106 IJ/mL concentrations of EPN effectively killed various stages of RPW in the laboratory. More research is needed to test EPNs against RPW in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Our study evaluated the impact of verbenone, a common bark beetle aggregation inhibitor, on several saproxylic beetles in a pine forest in Tuscany (Italy). Verbenone pouches were added to traps baited with bark beetle pheromones, and we compared the captures from these traps with those of pheromone-only traps in spring–summer 2023. The captures contained 9440 beetles from 32 families and 57 species, with 80% being bark beetles. Predator beetles, beneficial insects which naturally control pest populations, made up 17%, including species not previously studied in combination with verbenone. While captures of some species were reduced in pheromone plus verbenone traps (including some pests), others showed no change, and some increased (including a few predators). Verbenone notably increased saproxylic beetle diversity when it was present in traps, implying potential implications of its use in limiting the aggregation of bark beetle pests on susceptible trees. In our study, we assessed the effects of verbenone, the most widely studied bark beetle aggregation inhibitor, on saproxylic beetles in a Mediterranean pine forest in Tuscany. Verbenone pouches were devised in the laboratory and then applied to Ips sexdentatus pheromone traps so that their catches could be compared to those of traps containing just the pheromone. The trial was carried out in spring–summer 2023, and insect catches were collected every two weeks. A total of 9440 beetles were collected that belonged to 32 different families and 57 species. About 80% of the captures were bark beetles, mainly Orthotomicus erosus. Beetle predators accounted for about 17% of the captures, with a total of 12 species. Some of these predator species had not yet been studied in relation to verbenone effects, like other saproxylic beetles recorded in this study. A significant reduction in captures was recorded for some beetles (e.g., I. sexdentatus and O. erosus), while for other species, no differences emerged, and in some cases, captures increased significantly when verbenone was present in the traps (i.e., Hylurgus ligniperda, Corticeus pini, and Aulonium ruficorne). The diversity of caught saproxylic beetles increased significantly in the verbenone traps, highlighting possible implications of the use of verbenone when managing bark beetle outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The leaf beetle Diorhabda rybakowi Weise poses a severe threat to desert grasslands in Northwest China with its third instar larvae and adults, and even to the local ecological environment, attributed to its outbreak. Green-control attractants or repellents have become popular in recent years, but the olfactory mechanism of D. rybakowi is still unclear. Therefore, we preliminarily screened the best reference genes under different conditions and determined the bioinformatics characteristics and tissue expression profiles of D. rybakowi olfactory target genes. The recommended reference genes, RPL13a and RPS18 for tissues and RPL19 and RPS18 for sexes, were determined. Notably, the transcriptional levels of DrybOBP3, DrybOBP6, DrybOBP7, DrybOBP10, DrybOBP11, DrybCSP2, and DrybCSP5 among eleven odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and six chemosensory proteins (CSPs) were significantly higher in the antenna. In summary, our study provides a strong basis for deepening the research of olfaction molecular mechanisms in D. rybakowi. Diorhabda rybakowi Weise is one of the dominant pests feeding on Nitraria spp., a pioneer plant used for windbreaking and sand fixation purposes, and poses a threat to local livestock and ecosystems. To clarify the key olfactory genes of D. rybakowi and provide a theoretical basis for attractant and repellent development, the optimal reference genes under two different conditions (tissue and sex) were identified, and the bioinformatics and characterization of the tissue expression profiles of two categories of soluble olfactory proteins (OBPs and CSPs) were investigated. The results showed that the best reference genes were RPL13a and RPS18 for comparison among tissues, and RPL19 and RPS18 for comparison between sexes. Strong expressions of DrybOBP3, DrybOBP6, DrybOBP7, DrybOBP10, DrybOBP11, DrybCSP2, and DrybCSP5 were found in antennae, the most important olfactory organ for D. rybakowi. These findings not only provide a basis for further in-depth research on the olfactory molecular mechanisms of host-specialized pests but also provide a theoretical basis for the future development of new chemical attractants or repellents using volatiles to control D. rybakowi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There is increasing interest in the study of how the ongoing climate change is affecting insect populations. However, most research has been focused on a limited number of groups that are particularly charismatic or expected to respond more clearly to climate change. Moreover, most research has been developed in a few areas (especially northern and central European countries), while others (such as the Mediterranean basin) have been largely overlooked. Therefore, more empirical research is needed, particularly on less charismatic species, groups that are expected to react less dramatically to climatic change, and key areas that are still poorly investigated. This study investigates changes in distributional and activity patterns in a common, ecologically tolerant, forest tenebrionid beetle in a region (central Italy) within the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, an area strongly subjected to the ongoing climate change, but for which research is still limited. By analyzing changes in elevation, latitude, longitude, and seasonal activity between 1900–1980 and 1981–2022, the results provided insights into the potential effects of climate change on this species. The beetle's average values of elevation and latitude were found to have been increased in the second period. In response to rising temperatures, the species became more frequent at higher elevation and in northern places. No strong evidence was found for an earlier species seasonal activity, but this could be due to the inclusion in the analysis of likely overwintering individuals. The findings suggest that even thermally tolerant species can undergo distributional shifts in elevation and latitude, even at a relatively small scale. There is an increasing volume of literature on the impact of climate change on insects. However, there is an urgent need for more empirical research on underrepresented groups in key areas, including species for which the effects of climatic change may seem less evident. The present paper illustrates the results of a study on a common forest tenebrionid beetle, Accanthopus velikensis (Piller and Mitterpacher, 1783), at a regional scale within the Mediterranean basin. Using a large set of records from Latium (central Italy), changes in the median values of elevation, latitude, longitude, and phenology between two periods (1900–1980 vs. 1981–2022) were tested. Records of A. velikensis in the period 1981–2022 showed median values of elevation and latitude higher than those recorded in the first period. Thus, in response to rising temperatures, the species became more frequent at higher elevation and in northern places. By contrast, A. velikensis does not seem to have changed its activity pattern in response to increased temperatures, but this might be an artifact due to the inclusion of likely overwintering individuals. The results obtained for A. velikensis indicate that even thermally euryoecious species can show changes in their elevational and latitudinal distribution, and that poleward shifts can be apparent even within a small latitudinal gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study is a case study on the diversity patterns, population aspects, emergence and ecological drivers of the so-far poorly studied water beetle family Scirtidae. Although they can be very abundant in karstic lotic freshwater habitats, there are still insufficient data on their biology and ecology. The family was studied over a period of 15 years in specific lotic habitats of springs and tufa barriers in the karst freshwater ecosystem of Plitvice Lakes NP, Croatia. Scirtidae showed a longitudinal gradient, as the genus Elodes was recorded only in the spring area, while the genus Hydrocyphon was found only in downstream sites with tufa barriers. Their emergence showed a seasonal character, with males dominating earlier in the season and females appearing later. The type of substrate determined their distribution, with a preference for bryophytes. Their abundance and emergence were primarily determined according to the parameters that showed the greatest fluctuations over the 15-year period: water discharge, water temperature and oxygen saturation. Compared to previous results from similar studies on other insect groups, our results clearly show the high potential of the family Scirtidae as indicators of habitat quality. Due to ongoing changes and a decline in biodiversity, science today should rely on long-term species-based ecological studies. We have conducted a long-term ecological dynamics study on the water beetle family Scirtidae, which, although it is very abundant in benthic communities, is still poorly studied. The main objective of this study was to investigate the population aspects (composition, diversity, sex ratio) and ecological aspects (emergence patterns, seasonal dynamics and preferences for environmental factors) of the family Scirtidae over 15 years in Plitvice Lakes NP, Croatia. The study was conducted at three sites and in five different substrate types. A total of three taxa with different distributions were recorded in the study area: Hydrocyphon novaki and H. deflexicollis on the tufa barriers and the Elodes sp. in the spring area. The sex ratio was in favour of males in spring and early summer, while it shifted in favour of females towards the end of autumn. The abundance and emergence of the family were primarily determined by the environmental parameters which showed the greatest fluctuations over a period of 15 years: water temperature, water discharge and oxygen saturation. Our results clearly show that Scirtidae can be used as indicators of stream zonation and habitat quality. Based on the methodology and the results of this study, we conclude that Scirtidae should be used in future monitoring and protection measures in karst freshwater habitats in southeastern Europe. [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]

Plants undergoing insect infestation release herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) into their environment, which are then used by natural enemies for their benefit. The pest Aleurothrixus floccosus, which affects citrus orchards in northern Chile, specifically at Pica Oasis, poses a year-round threat. Recently, the introduction of the exotic ladybird Clitostethus arcuatus has been noted as a predator of A. floccosus. This study delved into how HIPVs emitted from tangelo (Citrus reticulata × C. ×paradisi Macfad.) and lime (C. ×aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle) infested-shoots impact the behavioral responses of C. arcuatus. The volatile compounds were collected using the headspace technique, revealing notable qualitative changes after herbivory. In two-choice bioassays, the HIPVs elicited an attractive response in C. arcuatus compared to A. floccosus. At concentrations of 10 and 100 µg mL-1, the predators displayed a distinct preference for methyl salicylate (MeSA). These findings underscore that C. arcuatus exploits the HIPVs emitted from citrus infested-shoots, fostering tritrophic interactions. Exploring the impact of whitefly attacks on other fruit trees, emerges as a significant avenue for future investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]