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Non-native plants typically benefit from enemy release following their naturalization in non-native habitats. However, over time, herbivorous insects specializing on such plants may invade from the native range and thereby diminish the benefits of enemy release that these plants may experience. In this study, we compare rates of invasion spread across Europe of three North American insect folivores: the Lepidoptera leaf minersMacrosaccus robiniellaandParectopa robiniella, and the gall midgeObolodiplosis robiniae, that specialize onRobinia pseudoacacia. This tree species is one of the most widespread non-native trees in Europe. We find that spread rates vary among the three species and that some of this variation can be explained by differences in their life history traits. We also report that geographical variation in spread rates are influenced by distribution ofRobinia pseudoacacia, human population and temperature, thoughRobinia pseudoacaciaoccurrence had the greatest influence. The importance of host tree occurrence on invasion speed can be explained by the general importance of hosts on the population growth and spread of invading species.

The Iberian species of the genera Coscinia Hübner, [1819] and Spiris Hübner, [1819], as well as three other species from the Mediterranean area, are revised based on morphological and molecular genetic data. Our results suggest the separation into four morphologically and phylogenetically different genera: Coscinia Hübner, [1819], Lerautia Kemal & Koçak, 2006 stat. rev., Sagarriella Macià, Mally, Ylla, Gastón & Huertas gen. nov. and Spiris Hübner, [1819]. We conclude that there are eight species of the Coscinia genus group present in the studied area: Coscinia cribraria (Linnaeus, 1758), Coscinia chrysocephala (Hübner, [1810]) stat. rev., Coscinia mariarosae Expósito, 1991, Sagarriella libyssa caligans (Turati, 1907) comb. nov., Sagarriella romei (Sagarra, 1924) (= romeii sensu auctorum) comb. nov., Spiris striata Hübner, [1819], Spiris slovenica (Daniel, 1939) and Lerautia bifasciata (Rambur, 1832) comb. rev. We consider Coscinia cribraria benderi (Marten, 1957) stat. nov., Coscinia c. rippertii (Boisduval, 1834) and Coscinia c. ibicenca Kobes, 1991 stat. rev. to be subspecies of C. cribraria. COI Barcodes of C. cribraria diverge by up to 7.99%, and the investigated specimens group into six different COI Barcode BINs. Both the phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and the morphological examination of different specimens corroborate the changes in taxonomic status and justify the proposed taxonomic categories. We present images of adults and genitalia of both sexes, the immature stages of some of the species and the subspecies studied, as well as phylogenetic results from the analysis of genetic data. We also include data on life history, foodplants and geographical distribution.

Archernis humilis (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) has previously been recorded only from India, and nothing has been reported about its biology or immatures. It was recently discovered during surveys for biological control agents against Paederia foetida L. (Rubiaceae) or skunk vine, and this represents the first report of the food plant. Archernis humilis was not sufficiently host specific to be considered as a biological control agent of P. foetida because it showed strong preference for other Paederia species and oviposited on P. ciliata, a Mexican endemic. With considerable new material available from a laboratory colony, we describe the adult morphology in greater detail, including internal genitalic structures of both sexes for the first time. We also provide an image of the egg and describe the larvae and pupae. We discuss the currently known distribution and expansion to China and Thailand. We designate as a lectotype a specimen from Khasia Hills, India. A phylogenetic analysis shows that Archernis is closely related to Trichaea Herrich-Schaffer and Prophantis Warren (Crambidae).

A new species, Conogethes sahyadriensis sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), feeding on cardamom, is described from India. The species status is supported by diagnostic morphology as well as by genetic data. A phylogenetic analysis based on the publicly available Conogethes COI barcode sequences finds C. sahyadriensis as sister to C. pluto, and it further reveals a number of clades that potentially represent additional undescribed species.The new species is delineated from closely related and superficially similar species of Conogethes.

The main characteristics of the genus Conogethes in Spilomelinae of Crambidae are described and updated. To date, the genus comprises 15 species. Little is known about habitat preference, host plants and distributions. Adults of Conogethes exhibit similarity with moths of the genera Marwitzia and Polygrammodes. The phylogenetic relationships both within Conogethes and among Spilomelinae are so far unknown. Recent research has focused on the acoustic and chemical communication of C. punctiferalis. Several morphological characters of the male and female genitalia have proved useful for species distinction within Conogethes.

A detailed study of specimens from several regions of the distribution of Ochromolopis zagulajevi Budashkin & Sachkov, 1991 and O. ictella (Hübner, 1813) shows that O. ictella and O. zagulajevi are parapatric species with overlapping distribution in the Balkan Peninsula. Details of morphological and molecular differences as well as a distribution map with locations of the examined specimens are given.

DNA barcode data reveal a distinct group of Udea specimens collected on Crete and previously misidentified as Udea fulvalis (Hübner, 1809) and U. languidalis ab. veneralis (Staudinger, 1870). Morphological examination of the specimens corroborates their status as a distinct species which is described as Udea ruckdescheli sp. n. Images of the adults and the genitalia of both sexes, as well as the DNA barcode sequences are presented. A phylogenetic analysis using molecular (COI, wingless) and morphological data indicates that the new species belongs to the Udea numeralis (Hübner, 1796) species group and is sister to the Udea fimbriatralis (Duponchel, 1833) species complex.

The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) comb. n., is native to India, China, Korea, Japan and the Russian Far East. Its larvae are a serious pest of different species of Buxus. Recently, C. perspectalis was introduced into Europe and first recorded from Germany in 2006. This species has been placed in various spilomeline genera including Palpita Hubner, 1808, Diaphania Hubner, 1818, Glyphodes Guenee, 1854 and the monotypic Neoglyphodes Streltzov, 2008. In order to solve this nomenclatural confusion and to find a reasonable and verifiable generic placement for the box tree moth, the morphology of the above mentioned and some additional spilomeline taxa was investigated and their phylogeny analysed. The results show that C. perspectalis belongs to a monophylum that includes three of the genera in which it was previously placed: Glyphodes, Diaphania and Palpita. Within this monophylum, it is closely related to the Asian Cydalima Lederer, 1863. As a result of this analysis, Sisyrophora Lederer, 1863 syn. rev. and Neoglyphodes Streltzov, 2008 syn. n. are synonymised with Cydalima Lederer, 1863, and five species are transferred to this genus: Cydalima capriniodes (Hampson, 1912) (Glyphodes) comb. n., Cydalima decipiens (Hampson, 1912) (Glyphodes) comb. n., Cydalima joiceyi (Janse, 1924) (Margaronia) comb. n., Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Phakellura) comb. n. and Cydalima pfeifferae (Lederer, 1863) (Sisyrophora) comb. rev.

The larvae of the Old World genera Leucinodes Guenée, 1854 and Sceliodes Guenée, 1854 are internal feeders in the fruits of Solanaceae, causing economic damage to cultivated plants like Solanum melongena and Solanum aethiopicum. In sub-Saharan Africa five nominal species of Leucinodes and one of Sceliodes occur. One of these species, the eggplant fruit and shoot borer Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée, 1854, is regarded as regularly intercepted from Africa and Asia in Europe, North and South America and is therefore a quarantine pest on these continents. We investigate the taxonomy of African Leucinodes and Sceliodes based on morphological characters in wing pattern, genitalia and larvae, as well as mitochondrial DNA, providing these data for identification of all life stages. The results suggest that both genera are congeneric, with Sceliodes syn. n. established as junior subjective synonym of Leucinodes. Leucinodes orbonalis is described from Asia and none of the samples investigated from Africa belong to this species. Instead, sub-Saharan Africa harbours a complex of eight endemic Leucinodes species. Among the former nominal species of Leucinodes (and Sceliodes) from Africa, only Leucinodes laisalis (Walker, 1859), comb. n. (Sceliodes) is confirmed, with Leucinodes translucidalis Gaede, 1917, syn. n. as a junior subjective synonym. The other African Leucinodes species were unknown to science and are described as new: Leucinodes africensis sp. n., Leucinodes ethiopica sp. n., Leucinodes kenyensis sp. n., Leucinodes malawiensis sp. n., Leucinodes pseudorbonalis sp. n., Leucinodes rimavallis sp. n. and Leucinodes ugandensis sp. n. An identification key based on male genitalia is provided for the African Leucinodes species. Most imports of Leucinodes specimens from Africa into Europe refer to Leucinodes africensis, which has been frequently imported with fruits during the last 50 years. In contrast, Leucinodes laisalis has been much less frequently recorded, and Leucinodes pseudorbonalis as well as Leucinodes rimavallis only very recently in fruit imports from Uganda. Accordingly, interceptions of Leucinodes from Africa into other continents will need to be re-investigated for their species identity and will likely require, at least in parts, revisions of the quarantine regulations. The following African taxa are excluded from Leucinodes: Hyperanalyta Strand, 1918, syn. rev. as revised synonym of Analyta Lederer, 1863; Analyta apicalis (Hampson, 1896), comb. n. (Leucinodes); Lygropia aureomarginalis (Gaede, 1916), comb. n. (Leucinodes); Syllepte hemichionalis Mabille, 1900, comb. rev., Syllepte hemichionalis idalis Viette, 1958, comb. rev. and Syllepte vagans (Tutt, 1890), comb. n. (Aphytoceros). Deanolis iriocapna (Meyrick, 1938), comb. n. from Indonesia is originally described and misplaced in Sceliodes, and Leucinodes cordalis (Doubleday, 1843), comb. n. (Margaritia) from New Zealand, Leucinodes raondry (Viette, 1981), comb. n. (Daraba) from Madagascar as well as Leucinodes grisealis (Kenrick, 1912), comb. n. (Sceliodes) from New Guinea are transferred from Sceliodes to Leucinodes. While Leucinodes is now revised from Africa, it still needs further revision in Asia.