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Transcriptomic data have been used to study sex chromosome dosage compensation (SCDC) in approximately 10 Lepidoptera ZW species, yielding a consensus compensation pattern of Z ≈ZZ

The Bihar hairy caterpillar, Spilarctia obliqua, is a dreaded and sporadic pest on several cash crops in the Oriental region. The polyphagous feeding habit enables it to survive on a variety of crops. The group of hairy caterpillars of this study was found on young plants of the sweet basil. Young larvae feed gregariously on the under surface of the leaves later it feed solitary in nature. Damage symptoms, as skeletonization of the upper epidermis of the leaves, were observed. The identity of the pest species confirmed through morphological and molecular methods (No. MK491177). The phylogenetic analysis indicates the distribution of uniform populations of S. obliqua infesting soybean and sweet basil. The total life cycle was longest during winter (male, 68.67: female, 73.27 d) compared to Kharif season (male, 49.37; female, 53.74 d). The damage incidence ranged between 13.33–60% and 10–63.33% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The natural enemy populations Glyptapanteles obliquae (11%) and Carcelia sp (17%) were recorded. This is the first report of S. obliqua on sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum, in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spodoptera frugiperda is a polyphagous pest with two strains (rice and corn strains). They differ in their insecticide susceptibility, providing an opportunity to discover new, bio-sustainable alternatives. Given the reported insect control potential of the Meliaceae family, the insecticide and antifeedant activity of Carapa guianensis and Swietenia macrophylla was assessed on both strains of S. frugiperda. Both plants had significant selective effects, and an extract of the twigs of S. macrophylla showed the most promising activity against the rice strain. In this regard, a moderate antifeedant effect, a high mortality rate in the insecticidal assay, and an alteration in metamorphosis, was observed. Characterization of this fraction led to the detection of phytosterols and fatty acids, and the isolation of β-sitosterol-3-O-β-glucopyranoside and stigmasterol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of eight field screened Erianthus arundinaceus genotypes against sugarcane shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus was further screened under laboratory conditions along with a ruling variety Co 86032 for their confirmation of resistance and susceptibility. A significant reduction of C. infuscatellus larval and pupal survival; larval and female pupal weight; adult longevity; fecundity rate (eggs/female) and extended larval and pupal duration was recorded in the genotypes IJ 76 370, IJ 76 364 and IK 76 78, respectively. Biochemical parameters viz., total phenols, poly phenol oxidase and proteinase inhibitors and total proteins were highest in the genotypes IJ 76 370 and IJ 76 364 which indicates the presence of antibiosis mechanism of resistance against C. infuscatellus. The total soluble sugars were significantly lower in all genotypes. The genotypes IJ 76 364 and IK 76 84 fed – C. infuscatellus showed lowest larval total carbohydrate and protein content, respectively. The study identified two elite E. arundinaceus IJ 76 370 and IJ 76 364, that could be used as new genetic stocks for the possible utilization in the future resistant breeding programme against sugarcane shoot borer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterizing disturbance regimes over long time scales is paramount for describing and identifying their variability. The most important biotic disturbance in the eastern Canadian boreal forest is the defoliation caused by the eastern spruce budworm, a moth of the insect order Lepidoptera. Lepidopteran scales have recently been used to reconstruct spruce budworm population fluctuations throughout the Holocene. However, this novel proxy has yet to be compared to an independent proxy. This study aimed to determine whether lepidopteran scales found in the surface sediments of boreal lakes tracked large spruce budworm populations, that is, outbreaks, using yearly aerial surveys (1967–present) of spruce budworm defoliation as an independent proxy. Scales were extracted (1 cm resolution) from the top 20 cm of 210Pb-dated sediment cores recovered from nine lakes. To identify significant abundance peaks of scales in the time series, we removed background noise using a modified version of CharAnalysis. A 100-year smoothing window width combined with a 60th percentile threshold yielded the highest true positive and true negative occurrences, and the lowest false positive and false negative occurrences, with values of 0.69 and 0.70 for Cohen's Kappa and Matthews correlation coefficient, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that lepidopteran scales are a suitable proxy for identifying spruce budworm outbreaks in the sediment record enabling the reconstruction of budworm and other lepidopteran species outbreak dynamics at millennial timescales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Fabaceae), is one of the most important crops worldwide, but caterpillars of various species (Lepidoptera) may greatly reduce its annual yield. Nowadays, the main method of controlling these pest species is based on the use of broad‐spectrum insecticides, which are harmful to human health and increase environmental contamination. Therefore, other sustainable methods of control, such as biological control, are in increasing demand. The present study aimed to identify the egg parasitoid species that attack lepidopterans defoliating soybeans in South America's subtropical regions, as well as evaluate their effectiveness at various stages of soybean development. The research was conducted in a commercial soybean field (80 ha) located in Tucumán, Argentina, which was surrounded by wild vegetation as a way to promote biological control. Every week, throughout three consecutive soybean seasons, 20 soybean plants were randomly selected and brought to the laboratory in search of lepidopteran eggs. Over the course of the three crop seasons, the soybean plants were attacked by Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Erebidae), Rachiplusia nu (Guenée), and Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (both Noctuidae). Six egg parasitoid species were identified, but only three of them were frequently found during the current study. Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) was the most predominant species attacking all lepidopteran pests across all soybean phenological stages. Encarsia porteri (Mercet) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) preferred to attack R. nu eggs, whereas Telenomus cyamophylax Polaszek (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) parasitized only A. gemmatalis and R. nu eggs. Despite the use of insecticides in the soybean field, the parasitism rates recorded were high. This suggests that using conservation tactics such as native vegetation patches and surrounding alternative crops may result in higher rates of natural control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shelf life is an important determinant of the quality of parasitoids used as natural enemies in augmentation biological control. Cotesia chilonis (Munakata) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an obligate endoparasitoid of Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), has potential for use through augmentation biological control in China. Here, the effects of cold storage temperature, host status, and larval stage on the biological characteristics of C. chilonis were investigated to extend the agent's shelf life. Results showed that the number of healthy C. chilonis adults obtained was reduced by 3.5% and 47.7% when C. suppressalis larvae in either natural or induced diapause were used as hosts compared to nondiapausing control larvae. Both parasitism and cold storage significantly reduced the supercooling point of nondiapausing C. suppressalis larvae, whereas the opposite result was observed in those of natural diapause. In order to improve the long‐term storage of C. chilonis, nondiapausing C. suppressalis larvae were parasitized for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days to allow C. chilonis to develop into different larval stages before being transferred into cold storage for 30 days at 4 or 10°C. Compared to the control, the C. chilonis cocoon formation and emergence rates of the 1‐day‐old egg treatment group held at 10°C were reduced by 15% and 17%, respectively. The results also showed that the duration of the larval stage of C. chilonis was prolonged fourfold after storage at 4 and 10°C. Individuals held at 10°C had a significantly longer cocoon and adult stage compared to those held at 4°C. The biological parameters and life history of the F1 generation of C. chilonis returned to normal levels under laboratory conditions. In conclusion, C. suppressalis larvae were successfully used to extend the shelf life of C. chilonis for use in augmentative biocontrol programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to estimate the risk of pest infestation can help farmers to reduce pesticide application and provide guidance that would result in better management decisions. This study tested whether different combinations of spatial and temporal risk factors may be used to predict the damage potential of pea moth, Cydia nigricana Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a major pest in field pea (Pisum sativum L., Fabaceae). Over four consecutive years, the abundance of pea moth was monitored by placing pheromone traps at various field pea‐cultivation sites. We also assessed the phenological development stages and the percentage of damaged seeds per 100 pods collected from each growing pea field in a region of approximately 30 km in diameter. The study found the significant infestation risk indicators to be the time of flowering, the date on which male pea moths are first detected in the monitoring traps and the minimum distance to pea fields that were planted and harvested in the previous growing season. The combination of all three factors using a general additive model approach yielded the best results. The model proposed by this study accurately discriminated between low‐infestation and high‐infestation fields in 95% of cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The teak bee‐hole borer (Xyleutes ceramica (Walker, 1865)) is widespread in northern Thailand and is considered the most serious pest of teak (Tectona grandis) in the country. The present study investigated the factors affecting the infestation of teak trees by this species in three plantations in northern Thailand at different spatial scales, including the tree, plot and stand levels. At each plantation, 48 plots evenly distributed in three different young stands (1–10 years), three medium‐aged stands (11–20 years) and six old stands (exceeding 20 years) were sampled. At the plots, the number of current entrance holes of X. ceramica per teak tree was counted, and the characteristics of the trees and stands were assessed. A total of 1952 teak trees were sampled, 22.7% of which were infested by X. ceramica. According to our results, infestation was much more strongly affected by stand characteristics than by the characteristics of individual trees. Above all, understorey cover exhibited substantial effect with the infestation level being strongly limited in stands with dense understories. Additionally, young and medium‐aged stands on better quality sites were found to be the most susceptible to infestation, and well‐growing and/or damaged trees were preferred by the pest species. In conclusion, major recommendations for suppressing damage caused by X. ceramica include (a) promoting and maintaining the understorey above 30% cover, (b) planting mixed stands of commercial forest trees and (c) intensively monitoring the pest in young and medium‐aged stands, especially those growing at good‐ and medium‐quality sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sex of Lepidoptera species can typically be identified at the pupal or adult stage by their morphological characteristics. However, for most species, no obvious sex‐specific traits can be used at the larval or embryonic stage. The growing interest in studying sex determination and differentiation, along with the potential application of research findings in genetic regulation techniques, is promoting the advancement of new sexing methods at early developmental stages. In this study, the sex of individual eggs and larvae was successfully identified by means of W chromosome molecular markers, which were identified through analysing the previously published W chromosome sequence data of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Additionally, we present methods to extract DNA and RNA from individual eggs and larval hemolymph. These techniques provide a simple and dependable method to identify sex at pre‐pupal stages. This approach could potentially be extended to other Lepidoptera species of which the W chromosome information is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common cutworm, Spodoptera litura, is a serious insect pest of many vegetables and crops worldwide. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) have been utilized as biological control agents for controlling various insect pests, including the larvae of S. litura. Many indigenous EPN have been recognized to be more effective in specific field applications. Among the 160 soil samples collected in undisturbed areas of western Thailand, three samples tested positive for EPN. Three indigenous EPN were identified as Steinernema siamkayai namely, EPNKU63, EPNKU70 and EPNKU85, based on ITS and D2/D3 expansion region analysis of the 28s rRNA genes. Additionally, genetic analysis of the symbiotic bacteria using recA rRNA sequences confirmed their identity as Xenorhabdus stockiae namely, PEPNKU63, PEPNKU70 and PEPNKU85. To evaluate their initial biocontrol potential against the 6th instar larvae of Galleria mellonella, virulence assays were conducted. The application of 100 infective juveniles (IJs)/insects resulted in the mortality of 80–100% of G. mellonella larvae after 72 h. When symbiotic bacteria were applied at 1 × 106 cells/insect, they exhibited 63–93% mortality against G. mellonella larvae after 120 h. In further laboratory tests, three S. siamkayai isolates achieved 100% mortality of 3rd instar Spodoptera litura larvae within 72 h, with LC50 values ranging from 29 to 30 IJs/insect. In screenhouse experiments, it was revealed that all S. siamkayai isolates displayed substantial virulence, ranging from 62% to 74%, against 3rd instar S. litura larvae within 72 h. This study demonstrates the biocontrol potential of S. siamkayai in controlling S. litura larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), poses a global threat to agriculture, causing significant economic losses in numerous cash crops. Various control methods, including chemical insecticides, have proven insufficient against S. frugiperda, leading to a demand for alternative strategies, such as biological control. In this context, laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the parasitism of Trichogramma foersteri (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on egg masses of S. frugiperda with one and two layers. Additionally, the potential synergistic use of both species against the fall armyworm were assessed. Although both species parasitized single and double‐layered egg masses of S. frugiperda, Te. remus showed higher parasitism compared to T. foersteri. The parasitism of Te. remus was not affected by the competition with T. foersteri. Conversely, an increase in parasitism of T. foersteri was observed due to competition with Te. remus, especially when both species had simultaneous access to S. frugiperda egg masses. The total number of parasitized eggs was significantly higher when Te. remus was allowed to parasitize first, and when both parasitoids had simultaneous access to the egg masses. These results are crucial for the development of biological control programs using T. foersteri and Te. remus, as they indicate that both parasitoids could be used, either individually or in combination, against S. frugiperda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, commonly known as the citrus leafminer, threatens global citrus production. This study focuses on elucidating the population dynamics and spatial distribution of P. citrella in lemon orchards located in Northern Portugal. From May to December, using delta traps with sexual pheromones, the levels of the adult population were monitored, and aggregation indices were calculated. Five distinct density peaks are observed, with the highest recorded in late July to early August. Spatial distribution consistently indicated an aggregated pattern. However, temporal variation in distribution was observed on specific dates. According to our results, it is suggested deploying two or three traps per hectare during peak density periods. This study significantly advances our understanding of P. citrella dynamics, emphasizing the need to consider spatial and temporal patterns for effective pest management. The outcomes underscore the importance of further exploration into factors influencing distribution patterns to refine control strategies. These insights are crucial for devising targeted and efficient measures to mitigate the impact of P. citrella on citrus orchards globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To better understand the potential impact of climate change on butterfly assemblages across a tropical island, we model the potential for taxonomic and functional homogenization and determine climate‐ and trait‐mediated shifts in projected species distributions. Location: Puerto Rico. Methods: We used thousands of museum records of diurnal Lepidoptera to model current (1970–2000) and forecast future (2061–2080) species distributions and combined these to test for taxonomic and functional homogenization. We then quantified climatic‐mediated effects on current and forecasted taxonomic and functional composition and, specifically, whether temperature was a primary driver, as predicted by the temperature–size rule and the thermal melanism hypotheses. Finally, we measured wing traits important in thermoregulation (size and colour) and determined trait‐mediated changes in forecasted species distributions over time. Results: Based on ensemble model outputs, taxonomic and functional richness and turnover were predicted to vary across the island's complex topography. Our models projected an increase in taxonomic and functional richness over time, and a decrease in taxonomic and functional turnover – a signature of biotic homogenization. Under future climate scenarios, models projected a decrease in wing length and an increase in wing brightness at higher elevations. One variable, temperature seasonality, was the strongest predicted driver of both the current spatial distribution and the projected per cent change over time for not only wing traits but also taxonomic and functional richness and turnover. Main conclusions: The species distribution models generated here identify several priority regions and species for future research and conservation efforts. Our work also highlights the role of seasonality and climatic variability on diverse tropical Lepidoptera assemblages, suggesting that climatic variability may be an important, albeit overlooked, driver of climate change responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotic exchanges between Taiwan and Mainland China have shaped the biodiversity and ecosystems of both regions. Exchanges from Mainland China to Taiwan have received more attention, mainly studied in terrestrial vertebrates, while the reverse direction and invertebrates have largely been overlooked. Here, we explore the dispersal events between these two regions based on the moths of three species groups of Obeidia, including Taiwan taxa and its relatives from mainland. We conducted mixed methods and analysis, including reconstructing a phylogenetic tree, estimating associated divergence times and inferring ancestral areas and source regions, to explore the phylogeographical structure and genetic pattern of three groups based on eight genes. Our results revealed a structure of three clades and every clade included at least one Taiwanese taxa and its closest relatives of mainland of China, and also served Taiwan as an important source region of two mainland taxa. Our study revealed various origin pattern and dispersal models on the basis of three species groups of Obeidia. Bi‐directional biotic exchange via a land bridge were found: four Taiwanese taxa originated from mainland, and two of them migrated back to mainland. Both eastern Himalayas and south China are important origin areas for Taiwan biota, and the dominant source region may need multiple insect cases to confirm. Our study also provided evidences for disjunct distribution from the perspective of insecta molecular phylogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X‐ray micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) of dried and pinned museum specimens combined with advanced image processing can provide a useful, novel and non‐destructive tool for integrative insect taxonomy. This paper demonstrates how micro‐CT can be applied to provide unambiguous illustrations of diagnostic morphological characters for new taxa description and to understand how micro‐CT imaging may complement other imaging techniques. Following micro‐CT scanning, a semi‐automatic segmentation and volume rendering protocol was used to portray the wing venation and diagnostic structures and ornamentation of male genitalia from multiple angles. Using micro‐CT images, we provide the description of a conspicuous geometrid moth from southern Africa (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), which has been present in collections since 1894, but left without an available name. Using a multigenetic dataset comprising 273 terminal taxa from the superfamily Geometroidea, we constructed a molecular phylogeny to place our study species to an isolated lineage in Geometridae: Larentiinae, tribe Xanthorhoini sensu lato. We describe it as Chloecolora vergetaria new genus, new species Englund & Staude, and provide diverse ecological information on its distribution, habitat, host plant, adult and immature stages, and parasites. We found micro‐CT imaging particularly useful in two‐ and three‐dimensional imaging of wings, providing detailed information for instance on non‐tubular folds that may be difficult to distinguish using other techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slug moth family Limacodidae is a cosmopolitan group of economic importance, but its higher level systematics remains poorly understood. Here, we present a robust, higher level phylogenetic framework for Palaearctic and Indomalayan members of the family using sequence capture data of 148 nuclear protein‐coding and 13 mitochondrial markers from 145 samples of 126 species in 67 genera representing all five morphologically delineated limacodid lineages. Our results strongly support the monophyly of Limacodidae in which six major clades are recognized. The relationships among these clades are revealed, with Phrixolepia‐clade being the most basal group followed by Apoda‐clade, Euphlyctinides‐clade, Cania‐clade and Phlossa‐clade + Parasa‐clade, respectively. We also add publicly available DNA barcode sequences from additional species worldwide to this phylogenetic framework to infer the most completely sampled phylogeny of Limacodidae to date. Our work provides a major step towards understanding the systematics and evolution of slug moths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clanis bilineata Walker (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), a burgeoning edible insect, is experiencing rising demand in China and other regions. Despite this interest, larval production is currently constrained by the limitations of artificial production technologies, particularly the selection of optimal host plants. This study rigorously evaluated the performance of C. bilineatha larvae on four main host plants: round-leaf soybean, pointed-leaf soybean, black locust, and kudzu. Preference tests demonstrated that the larvae were most attracted to black locust (34.76 ± 4.65%), with subsequent preferences for kudzu (25.00 ± 6.12%), round-leaf soybean (23.17 ± 2.79%), and pointed-leaf soybean (14.02 ± 4.74%). No significant preference differences were noted between round-leaf soybean and either black locust or kudzu. In feeding assays, the larvae exhibited a marked preference for round-leaf soybean (37.36 ± 0.81 g, total feeding amount for larvae), followed by kudzu (37.26 ± 0.82 g), pointed-leaf soybean (35.38 ± 1.31 g), and black locust (28.53 ± 0.81 g). When the larvae were fed on round-leaf soybean, they exhibited significantly higher survival rate (39.33 ± 0.90%), body weight (9.75 ± 0.07 g), total biomass (383.43 ± 7.35 g), pupation rate (87.78 ± 1.73%), and egg production (189.80 ± 1.06 eggs/female) compared to other hosts. These findings uncovered that round-leaf soybean significantly enhances larval performance, suggesting its potential for improving C. bilineata larval production and sustainability in cultivation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species are often expected to shift their distributions either poleward or upslope to evade warming climates and colonise new suitable climatic niches. However, from 18‐years of fixed transect monitoring data on 88 species of butterfly in the midwestern United States, we show that butterflies are shifting their centroids in all directions, except towards regions that are warming the fastest (southeast). Butterflies shifted their centroids at a mean rate of 4.87 km year−1. The rate of centroid shift was significantly associated with local climate change velocity (temperature by precipitation interaction), but not with mean climate change velocity throughout the species' ranges. Species tended to shift their centroids at a faster rate towards regions that are warming at slower velocities but increasing in precipitation velocity. Surprisingly, species' thermal niche breadth (range of climates butterflies experience throughout their distribution) and wingspan (often used as metric for dispersal capability) were not correlated with the rate at which species shifted their ranges. We observed high phylogenetic signal in the direction species shifted their centroids. However, we found no phylogenetic signal in the rate species shifted their centroids, suggesting less conserved processes determine the rate of range shift than the direction species shift their ranges. This research shows important signatures of multidirectional range shifts (latitudinal and longitudinal) and uniquely shows that local climate change velocities are more important in driving range shifts than the mean climate change velocity throughout a species' entire range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the era of rapid decline in insect diversity, the role of protected areas (PAs) in conserving current insect diversity is more significant than ever. Previous studies indicate that the species‐diverse regions in Iran fall within two global biodiversity hotspots (GBHs): the Irano‐Anatolian hotspot in the north and the Caucasus hotspot in the west. However, there is an extensive conservation gap between species‐diverse regions and PAs for different vertebrate taxa. Additionally, mega‐diverse groups of insects have been overlooked in previous conservation assessments. In this study, using the most comprehensive occurrence dataset of 1974 species from nine families of Lepidoptera, we delineated regions with statistically significant high diversity as diversity hotspots of the group. Furthermore, we defined the regions with higher conservation priority. Finally, we applied a gap analysis to assess the mismatch between the network of PAs and the most species‐diverse regions. Most species‐diverse regions of Lepidoptera fall within GBHs and particularly the Irano‐Anatolian hotspot. Overall, the results of our gap analysis revealed that less than one quarter of currently established PAs cover priority areas for conservation, which indicates a dramatic deficiency of the network of PAs in conserving higher priority areas of Lepidoptera. Misplacement of the PAs in Iran, beside pressure of human footprint, can reduce the effectiveness of the established PAs to conserve the current biodiversity. Hence, enhancing the existing network of PAs and designing new ones, while considering mega‐diverse taxa such as insects, will be essential for implementing effective conservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Two Trichogramma spp., Trichogramma evanescens Westwood and Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), were studied to control one of the most cereal pests attacking various grains, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Gelechiidae: Lepidoptera). Experiments were carried out to evaluate S. cerealella egg-ages, parasitoids' emergence time and cold storage host eggs on rearing the two tested parasitoids' spp. Results: The age of S. cerealella eggs had significantly influenced the parasitization and adult emergence rates of the two parasitoid species. Parasitism rate resulted from old host eggs (32 h old) (44.93%) decreased than those of the fresh ones (2 h old) (95.85%). Emergence rate ranged between (62.64–97.85%) for T. evanescens and (62.90–95.54%) for T. bactrae from different S. cerealella egg-ages (0–32 h). Regardless to late emerged parasitoids, their population affected. T. evanescens parasitized rate ranged (73.79–95.06%), which comparatively lower than those of T. bactrae (88.81–96.90%), at parasitoid emerging times (0–64 h), respectively. Emergence times had significantly differences in the emergence rate of T. evanescens and/or T. bactrae. On the other hand, percentage of parasitism of the non-stored S. cerealella eggs was higher than the other cold-stored ones. The emergence rate of adult parasitoids, T. evanescens (66.00–91.16%) and T. bactrae (71.16–94.11%), was decreased at the cold storage durations (5–40 days) increased. In comparison to the tested biological aspects between the two parasitoid species, non-significant differences were recorded, at the three assessment parameters, which include host egg-ages, parasitoid emergence time and cold-stored eggs. Meanwhile, there were significant differences between F1 emerged rates for T. evanescens and T. bactrae obtained at each of the three tested parameters. Conclusion: It was concluded that low emergence time of the parasitoids, T. evanescens and T. bactrae, was relatively more effective when they parasitized the fresh egg-age and less cold storage periods of S. cerealella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tetraspanin gene family encodes cell‐surface proteins that span the membrane 4 times and play critical roles in a wide range of biological processes across numerous organisms. Recent findings highlight the involvement of a tetraspanin of the lepidopteran pest Helicoverpa armigera in resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry insecticidal proteins, which are extensively used in transgenic crops. Thus, a better understanding of lepidopteran tetraspanins is urgently needed. In the current study, genome scanning in 10 lepidopteran species identified a total of 283 sequences encoding potential tetraspanins. Based on conserved cysteine patterns in the large extracellular loop and their phylogenetic relationships, these tetraspanins were classified into 8 subfamilies (TspA to TspH). Six ancestral introns were identified within lepidopteran tetraspanin genes. Tetraspanins in TspA, TspB, TspC, and TspD subfamilies exhibit highly similar gene organization, while tetraspanins in the remaining 4 subfamilies exhibited variation in intron loss and/or gain during evolution. Analysis of chromosomal distribution revealed a lepidopteran‐specific cluster of 10 to 11 tetraspanins, likely formed by tandem duplication events. Selective pressure analysis indicated negative selection across all orthologous groups, with ω values ranging between 0.004 and 0.362. However, positive selection was identified at 18 sites within TspB5, TspC5, TspE3, and TspF10. Furthermore, spatiotemporal expression analysis of H. armigera tetraspanins demonstrated variable expression levels across different developmental stages and tissues, suggesting diverse functions of tetraspanin members in this globally important insect pest. Our findings establish a solid foundation for subsequent functional investigations of tetraspanins in lepidopteran species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This 4‐year study (2018–2021) aimed at investigating the effects of flowering areas inserted at the margin of soft wheat fields (Triticum aestivum L.) in comparison with spontaneous field margins. The action formed part of a multidisciplinary initiative promoted by the Barilla food company, aimed at promoting the sustainable production of soft wheat. Specific aims were to study the effects of flowering areas on (i) the abundance and species richness of insect pollinators, including wild bees, syrphids and butterflies; (ii) the levels of wheat aphid and bug infestations and (iii) the assemblages of biological control agents of aphids (coccinellids and aphid mummies as a result of parasitization). Insect surveys were carried out on 61 wheat‐growing farms located in Northern Italy. Insect pollinators were sampled on all farms, whereas wheat aphids, wheat bugs and aphid biological control agents were investigated in a sub‐sample of 20 farms. Results generally indicated a positive impact of flowering areas on multiple taxa in comparison with spontaneous field margins. The abundance of pollinators and coccinellids was significantly enhanced by the flowering areas. Aphid mummies showed an interaction between strategies and distances with more mummies at 5 m in wheat plots close to flowering areas and at 50 m in the plots close to spontaneous field margin (control). Flowering areas were validated as an important tool for promoting beneficial taxa in agro‐ecosystems. However, the successful establishment of this ecological infrastructure was suggested to rely on several factors, which included both the selection of suitable flowering plant species and the implementation of appropriate management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Florfenicol (FF) is a new antibiotic commonly used in sericulture. This study aimed to examine the effects of low (LC: 0.06 g/L), medium (MC: 0.12 g/L), and high (HC: 1.2 g/L) concentrations of FF on the midgut physiological functions of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (L.) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). The results showed that the body weight and the whole cocoon weight of silkworms decreased and the development duration of the fifth instar was prolonged in the HC group. The structure of intestinal microbiota of silkworm larvae was changed by high FF exposure. Specifically, the abundance of conditional pathogens (Curtobacterium, Sanguibater, etc.) was significantly increased, whereas the abundance of Pseudomonas and Pedobacter was decreased significantly. Additionally, the intestinal reactive oxygen species level at 72 h was significantly elevated, and the muscle layer had become loose, together with the appearance of gut goblet cell atrophy. We observed that the increase in Lactobacillus abundance led to a reduction in intestinal fluid pH, resulting in decreased α‐amylase and protease activities, whereas lipase activity exhibited an elevation. The results demonstrated that the accumulation of peroxides induced by exposure to 1.2 g/L FF caused intestinal damage, and the decrease in pH resulting from alterations in microbial composition and structure affected digestive enzyme activity, collectively leading to physiological impairment of the silkworm midgut. These findings provide a valuable reference for the safe use of FF in sericulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant crop pest, Mythimna loreyi, migrates annually to Korea and has been frequently observed in rice and corn fields. However, the phenology of this pest, particularly in relation to its ecological interactions and host crop seasons in Korea, remains poorly understood. This study aims to clarify the timing of the second generation of M. loreyi in Korea to enhance pest management strategies. To achieve this, we developed temperature-dependent models for developmental and ovipositional rates, studying these processes across five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C). Our models, which showed a high correlation with observed data (r2 ≥ 0.93), include a theoretical approach that combines the developmental variation of immatures with the necessary degree-days for 50% egg laying and complete egg development. These predictions allow for the forecasting of the second generation's occurrence, with relatively small deviations (one to three days) observed at two different field sites. The insights from this study are critical for both understanding the ecology of M. loreyi and for informing practical management decisions, such as optimal placement of barriers to prevent immigration and strategies for controlling local populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fem is a W‐linked gene that encodes a piRNA precursor, and its product, Fem piRNA, is a master factor of female determination in Bombyx mori. Fem has low similarity to any known sequences, and the origin of Fem remains unclear. So far, two hypotheses have been proposed for the origin of Fem: The first hypothesis is that Fem is an allele of Masc, which assumes that the W chromosome was originally a homologous chromosome of the Z chromosome. The second hypothesis is that Fem arose by the transposition of Masc to the W chromosome. To explore the origin of Fem, we determined the W chromosome sequences of B. mori and, as a comparison, a closely relative bombycid species of Trilocha varians with a Fem‐independent sex determination system. To our surprise, although the sequences of W and Z chromosomes show no homology to each other, a few pairs of homologues are shared by W and Z chromosomes, indicating the W chromosome of both species originated from Z chromosome. In addition, the W chromosome of T. varians lacks Fem, while the W chromosome of B. mori has over 100 copies of Fem. The high‐quality assembly of the W chromosome of B. mori arose the third hypothesis about the origin of Fem: Fem is a chimeric sequence of multiple transposons. More than half of one transcriptional unit of Fem shows a significant homology to RTE‐BovB. Moreover, the Fem piRNA‐producing region could correspond to the boundary of the two transposons, gypsy and satellite DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caloptilia roscipennella (Hübner, 1796) is a leaf‐mining moth native to Central and Southern Europe. In this publication, we provide the first report of the occurrence of Caloptilia roscipennella in India. The identification was performed using an integrative approach, combining molecular (barcoding, COI) and morphological analysis (forewing pattern). In 2020, the larvae were initially found scraping in the silvery‐white mine and later feeding in folded or rolled leaves of the common walnut Juglans regia L. In the subsequent years, the species was found only in the same places. Two generations were recorded per year (May–June and August–September) and leaf miners overwintered as adults and reappeared in the early spring. Damage ranging from 15% to 20% was observed on the leaves of J. regia. Further efforts related to C. roscipennella should concentrate on evaluating its geographic distribution and its impact on walnut trees. Several species of parasitoids were reared from infested mines, with specimens belonging to the genus Chrysocharis Förster, 1856 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Itoplectis maculator (Fabricius, 1775) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). These species provided excellent control of leaf miner larvae, and out of 10 larvae, seven were found parasitized by the parasitoids and higher numbers of specimens were found with relative higher frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal changes in population densities and species richness of three main pollinator groups—moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera); bees, wasps and sawflies (Hymenoptera); and hoverflies, horseflies, tachinids and bee flies (Diptera)—were investigated in the Carpathian Basin. Maintaining pollinator diversity is a crucial factor for preserving our biodiversity and ecosystems; furthermore, several pollinator species have a strong economic role in maintaining crop and fruit cultures. Our conclusions are based on our three and four decades of faunistic surveys in various regions of the Carpathian Basin. Analyzing and comparing our data with the historical data of the last 50 years, we concluded that densities of some pollinators declined during the past decade and a half (Symphyta, hoverflies), although populations of several species of Mediterranean origin grew (Aculeata) and new species even migrated from the warmer regions. In numerous cases, this decrease was dramatic: more than 90% decline of certain butterfly species were detected. On the other hand, the composition of pollinator fauna significantly changed due to the disappearance of some mountainous or mesophile species. The main reason for the decrease in pollinator communities is due partly to climatic change and partly to anthropogenic factors. Different groups of pollinators react differently: some groups like Syrphidae, Tachinidae, most of the butterfly families and bumblebees suffered a strong decline in the last two decades; other warm-loving groups like most of Aculeata and horseflies and bee flies showed a significant increase in population densities. Our conclusion: in our region, the pollinator crisis is present but moderate; however, there is a clear sign of the gradual transition of our pollinator fauna towards the Mediterranean type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galleria mellonella is a pest of honeybees in many countries because its larvae feed on beeswax. However, G. mellonella larvae can also eat various plastics, including polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene, and therefore, the species is garnering increasing interest as a tool for plastic biodegradation research. This paper presents an improved genome (99.3% completed lepidoptera_odb10 BUSCO; genome mode) for G. mellonella. This 472 Mb genome is in 221 contigs with an N50 of 6.4 Mb and contains 13,604 protein-coding genes. Genes that code for known and putative polyethylene-degrading enzymes and their similarity to proteins found in other Lepidoptera are highlighted. An analysis of secretory proteins more likely to be involved in the plastic catabolic process has also been carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2019, several swellings caused by mistletoe (Viscum album L.) were collected in the south of the Province of Luxembourg to demonstrate a possible presence of Synanthedon loranthi (Králícek, 1966). Some galls were collected both on apple (Malus domestica (Suckow) Borkh.) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.). As a coincidental find, a caterpillar of Celypha woodiana (Barrett, 1882) (Tortricidae) was also found. This species has not been observed in Belgium for many decades and the correct identification of the only previous find is doubtful. Moreover, the specimen in question can no longer be traced, making the bred moth from the Luxembourg province the first verifiable observation from Belgium. The biology of the species is discussed here as well as its currently known distribution in Europe. Another Tortricidae, Archips podana (Scopoli, 1763), was also found on mistletoe; this species is also discussed as well as a parasitic wasp that parasitises the caterpillar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2000 to the end of 2022, intensive inventories were made by the author in the Famenne-Calestienne to map the moth population. The surveyed area runs from Givet eastwards to Aywaille, near Liège. Own observations (privately, with friends or as an active member of the Leafminers Working Group) are supplemented with observations from third parties. More than 380 rare and remarkable species are highlighted and their status is briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looper infestation in tea growing region of the sub-Himalayan range poses a severe threat to tea industries that can jeopardize a major player in the nation's economy. Despite undertaking several control measures, their impact has only grown due to climate change and ineffective pest management strategies. This comprehensive review consolidates findings from various published articles, encompassing this pest's ecology, morphology, diversity, their resistance patterns to plant allelochemicals and pesticides, and impact of climate change on the growth and development. The pest's habit and habitat, lifecycles, interactions with the environment, and defensive strategies are being studied thoroughly. This review also underscores the paradoxical issue of shade tree planting in tea plantations, which, while integral for quality tea-leaves, inadvertently fosters pest outbreaks. To address this, the planting of suitable shade trees like Melia azedarach, having insect repellent ability has been endorsed. Understanding these factors may result in low-cost maintenance, reduction in crop losses, and improved overall efficiency in pest management. This knowledge facilitates the development of proactive and sustainable pest management strategies, which effectively minimize the emergence, and proliferation of resistance, thereby safeguarding the long-term efficiency of pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition between parasitoids for available hosts is common in insects. These interactions are often negative and are believed to reduce the overall impact of top‐down population regulation. In the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), two parasitoid species are very common and often interact during the period of low‐density populations between outbreaks: the koinobiont endoparasitoid Tranosema rostrale (Brishke) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and the idiobiont ectoparasitoid Elachertus cacoeciae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Data collected from field‐implanted larvae of spruce budworm exposed in summer during a 35‐year period between 1987 and 2022 were used to estimate the response of these two parasitoids to the density of their spruce budworm host, and the nature and importance of competitive interactions between them. It was found that both parasitoids are most effective at very low host population density, and that a strong, density‐dependent, and negative correlation of frequencies exists between them. This negative correlation is evident both among and within years and indicates that the parasitoids have developed seasonal history and host choice behaviors that tend to minimize the negative impact of direct competition on their respective performance. It appears that the koinobiont T. rostrale manages, through those adaptive strategies, to avoid direct competition inside a larval host with the competitively superior idiobiont E. cacoeciae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female herbivorous insects are expected to oviposit on the host plant providing the best performance of the offspring. However, in some insects the larvae are mobile and are not totally dependent on the mother's choice. They can change host plant when conditions for development or exposure to natural enemies vary between individual plants within a patch. Here we study larval migration and preference between two host plants, cotton and alfalfa, in the Egyptian leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Previous studies have shown that although larval performance is better on cotton, females prefer to oviposit on alfalfa, and this preference corresponds to a higher survival of the eggs. In this study, S. littoralis larvae showed directed movement between host plants and were found to prefer alfalfa over cotton in field test in Egypt, as well as in laboratory selection of feeding site assays. To determine effects by natural enemies, the parasitism rates and various life‐history traits were measured for one larval parasitoid, Microplitis rufiventris Kokujev (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), on several host plants including cotton and clover (equivalent host plant to alfalfa). Overall, parasitism was higher on cotton and parasitoid performance (cocoon mass, adult longevity, and female egg load) was better on cotton compared to clover. This fact suggests an enemy‐free space on clover and alfalfa, as parasitism rate is higher on cotton, and the parasitoid performance is also better on cotton‐fed larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus L., in western North America are undergoing a seemingly volatile shift in seasonal population dynamics which includes novel winter-breeding on non-native milkweed in urban areas of northern California. The survival, viability and outcome of monarch pupae in the wild was evaluated for the first time by regular monitoring of a cohort of 104 pupae in a San Francisco managed urban landscape during the winter of 2021/22. Seventeen pupae were destroyed by landscaping activities. Almost half (49.4%) of the remaining pupae eclosed, with ∼ 70% likely infected with varying levels of the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE). A third of the pupae (32.2%) died of unknown causes, while the remainder (18.4%) disappeared, presumed predated. Two monarchs were killed while eclosing, by European paper wasps, Polistes dominula (Christ, 1791). Microscopic examination of pupal exuviae for spores of OE appeared to be a satisfactory proxy for microscopic examination of butterfly abdomens, in determining the presence/absence of infection. The developing importance of winter breeding in western monarch ecology necessitates modifications to conservation guidelines that enhance the survival of immature stages, acknowledging the role of non-native milkweeds while minimizing parasite infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet sagewort (Artemisia annua) is a species that has been used for many years to treat high fever due to its artemycin content. Artemycin is the active ingredient in antimalarial drugs. Additionally, the plant's leaves are consumed as tea or aqueous extract. Invertebrate model organism Galleria mellonella is preferred in immune studies due to its ease of administration, natural immunity shared with mammals, including humans, and rapid determination of results. In this research, we systematically assessed the impact of A. annua extract on the immune system of animals by employing the G. mellonella model organism. We meticulously examined key facets of innate immune responses, including total hemocyte count, encapsulation-melanization, and phenoloxidase activity. Furthermore, we delved into the effects on antioxidant enzyme activity, specifically superoxide dismutase, catalase, and lipid peroxidase. The hemocyte count showed a statistically significant decrease across all given doses of the A. annua extract when compared to the control groups. The A. annua extract had no effect on the catalase activity, malondialdehyde amount, phenoloxidase activity, or melanization response of G. mellonella larvae, according to the findings of our study. Nonetheless, it enhanced SOD activity. In comparison to the control groups, it decreased the strong encapsulation response, which is a cell-mediated immune response, at all doses. While the A. annua extract had little effect on enzymatic processes in animals, it reduced cell-mediated immune responses by altering cell behaviours and count with cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since widespread monitoring began in 1976 in the UK, habitat‐specialist butterfly populations have declined dramatically. The main driver is habitat degradation, caused primarily by land‐use change, perhaps interacting with changes in vegetation phenology.Here, we focus on two declining species: Boloria selene (Dennis & Schiffermüller) and Boloria euphrosyne L., Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae. We hypothesise that these species differ in their preferred breeding habitat, and this is driven by differences in their temperature preferences, mediated by vegetation cover.We use mark‐release‐recapture techniques and oviposition observations to characterise and compare adult distribution, habitat use and oviposition site preferences of the two species.Egg‐laying females of both species are shown to occur in areas with relatively high abundance of the larval food plants, Viola spp. (violets), principally V. riviniana, and they oviposit where Viola spp. abundance is locally high. However, in contrast to B. selene, ovipositing B. euphrosyne tends to occur in areas with relatively short and sparse cover of vegetation.B. euphrosyne oviposit in sites with a relatively high plant surface temperature irrespective of ambient temperatures, in contrast with B. selene in which the temperature of oviposition sites increases as ambient temperature increases. These differential temperature strategies likely underlie differences in breeding habitat preference.Microclimatic cooling caused by increased vegetation growth in spring may be one reason B. euphrosyne is declining in the UK, while both B. euphrosyne and B. selene may be affected by declining Viola spp. availability. Our data provide further evidence that drivers of butterfly declines can be multi‐factorial, and paradoxically, that thermophilic species do not necessarily benefit from climate warming if responses of other species result in cooling of their habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various biological groups include genera that occur in tropical regions of continents that are separated by thousands of kilometres of ocean. However, in such pantropical groups, the taxonomic classification is often erroneous so that some of these cases may rather represent convergent evolution of distantly related species. Once monophyly of pantropical genera is firmly established, we can ask how these groups have become globally spread and what traits facilitate reaching a wide distribution.Some butterfly genera are considered pantropical and are a good system to ask such questions because we have a relatively large amount of information about their distribution, phylogeny and life history traits.Phylogeographic analyses have revealed that dispersal across land bridges throughout the Cenozoic period was typical for butterflies and that older clades are typically more widely distributed across the globe than more recently diverged clades.Results here also showed that certain life history traits, such as larval polyphagy and habitat generalism, correlate with a large range size in butterflies, although research biases towards temperate rather tropical regions exist.This review emphasises the first and foremost need for accurate taxonomy to prove phylogenetic monophyly in pantropical genera. Only when these evolutionary relationships are firmly established can we improve our understanding of the driving forces of their distributions and range sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pests significantly negatively affect product yield and quality in agricultural production. Agricultural producers may not accurately identify pests and signs of pest damage. Thus, incorrect or excessive insecticides may be used. Excessive use of insecticides not only causes human health and environmental pollution, but also increases input costs. Therefore, early detection and diagnosis of pests is extremely important. In this study, the effectiveness of the instance segmentation method, a deep learning-based method, was investigated for the early detection of the damage caused by the T. absoluta pest in the leaf part of the tomato plant under greenhouse conditions. An original dataset was created by acquiring 800 healthy and damaged images under greenhouse conditions. The acquired images were labelled as bounding box and automatically converted to a mask label with the Segment Anything Model (SAM) model. The created dataset was trained with YOLOv8(n/s/m/l/x)-Seg models. As a result of the training, the box performance of the proposed YOLOv8l-Seg model was measured as 0.924 in the mAP0.5 metric. The YOLOv8l-Seg model mask values are, respectively: mAP0.5, mAP0.5–0.95, Precision, Recall showed the best performance with values of 0.935, 0.806, 0.956 and 0.859. Then, the YOLOv8l-Seg model, trained with different data input sizes, showed the best performance at 640 × 640 size and the lowest performance with a value of 0.699 in the mAP0.5 metric in the 80 × 80 size. The same dataset was trained with YOLOv7, YOLOv5l, YOLACT and Mask R-CNN instance segmentation models and performance comparisons were made with the YOLOv8l-Seg model. As a result, it was determined that the model that best detected T. absoluta damage in tomato plants was the YOLOv8l-Seg model. The Mask R-CNN model showed the lowest performance with a metric of 0.806 mAP0.5. The results obtained from this study revealed that the proposed model and method can be used effectively in detecting the damage caused by the T. absoluta pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses that the Pyralidae family of moths encountered in Spain and the Portuguese Algarve, discussing species like Endotricha flammealis, Hypsopygia costalis and Pyralis farinalis. Topics discussed include their distribution; flight periods; larval food sources; observations from the author's moth trap; and also highlighting variations in flight periods and local abundance.

Voltinism and life‐history traits of the invasive fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda were investigated under semi‐natural conditions for a period of 2 years. The FAW invaded the corn field in the suburbs of Nanchang (28°46′ N, 115°50′ E) in early summer and produced six complete generations. FAW had the characteristics of short developmental time, high survival rates and strong fecundity. The development time of female pupae was significantly faster than that of male pupae, resulting in the emergence of female pupae earlier than male pupae. Except for the sixth generation in 2021, there was no significant difference between female and male sex ratio, which was close to 1:1. FAW showed male‐bias sexual size dimorphism with male pupae being significantly larger than female pupae. Unlike pupal weight, in most generations, male adult weighed significantly less than females, because the weight loss of male pupae during metamorphosis was significantly greater than that of female pupae. The temporal variation of pupal weight did not conform to the temperature–size rule. Compared with 22.8°C, the 29.2°C high temperature not only significantly reduced the development time of larvae but also significantly increased pupal weight. The adult fecundity feeding on fresh corn leaves was higher than that feeding on live corn plants in most generations. In most generations, pupal weight was positively correlated with larval development time and adult weight was positively correlated with fecundity. In conclusion, climate differences between generations and years have significant effects on developmental time, body weight, sexual size dimorphism and fecundity of the FAW. These results add to the understanding of the evolution of life‐history traits in the FAW and may have important implications for predicting population dynamics of the FAW and optimising control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic climate change is thought to present a significant threat to biodiversity, in particular to tropical ectotherms, and the effects of long‐term developmental heat stress on this group have received relatively little research attention. Here, we studied the effects of experimentally raising developmental temperatures on a tropical butterfly. We measured survival, development time, adult body mass and wing size of Heliconius erato demophoon (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) across three temperature treatments. Egg survival was lower in the hotter treatments, with 84%, 73% and 49% of eggs hatching in the 20–30°C (fluctuating temperature with 12 h at 20°C followed by 12 h at 30°C), 23–33°C and 26–36°C treatments, respectively. Larval survival was three times lower in the 26–36°C treatment (8%) compared with the 20–30°C treatment (26%), and we did not detect differences in pupal survival across treatments due to high mortality in earlier stages. Under a moderately increased temperature at 23–33°C, larvae developed faster and adults had a higher body mass and wing loading, but this was not seen in the hottest treatment (26–36°C). Females were also heavier than males in the 23–33°C treatment, but there was no associated increase in wing size. This may suggest a different developmental response to moderately elevated temperatures between the sexes. In summary, high developmental temperatures are particularly lethal for eggs and less so for larvae and also affect adult morphology. This highlights the importance of understanding the effects of temperature variation across ontogeny in tropical ectotherms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialist and generalist insect herbivores evolved different strategies to process host‐plant metabolites. We explored frass composition in Laothoe populi (L.) caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), a specialist moth species that is closely associated with plants of the Salicaceae (Mirb.) family. We fed the caterpillars with leaves from three willow species (Salix caprea L., S. purpurea L. and S. viminalis L.), one willow hybrid (S. x rubens Schrank) and one poplar species (Populus tremula L.). Using untargeted metabolomics, we compared the chemical composition and variation among leaf and frass samples. We quantified the chemical variation using either a simple index based on the presence and concentration of metabolites (i.e., Bray‐Curtis) or an index that additionally accounts for chemical structural‐compositional similarity (CSCS) among metabolites. Due to the high degree of dietary specialisation, we expected low host‐specific variation in frass composition among the caterpillars. Based on literature, we further hypothesised that ingested salicinoids will be largely modified in the caterpillar gut while flavonoids will be often passively excreted. Finally, we compared chemical variation among the samples when quantified with Bray‐Curtis or CSCS metrics. As expected, we found relatively low host‐specific variation in the chemical composition of caterpillar frass. Our results further suggest that flavonoids were largely passively excreted by the caterpillars, while salicinoids were metabolised in the gut. Finally, we found that chemical composition measures based on Bray‐Curtis overestimated the differences in chemical composition between frass and leaves, suggesting that for these type of samples CSCS measures are better suited to reflect metabolic changes more realistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the checklist of Butterfly and the floral resources i.e., trees, herbs, shrubs, climbers, bamboo from District Haridwar Uttarakhand India. The study was carried out from April 2019–March 2020. Four sampling sites S1 i.e., Kangri (natural forest), S2, i.e., Jagjeetpur (agri-horticulture), S3 i.e., Laksar (Agriculture) and S4 i.e., Bahadrabad (Barren-industrial region) were selected for this study. A total of 84 species belonging to four families (Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae) were identified, with 7533 individuals belonging to four different groups. During the study period, the Nymphalidae family was found to be the most prevalent group while Family Papilionidae with least species diversity. A total of 96 species of plants were recorded from four sites. Kangri has rich floral diversity while Laksar has low floral diversity. Rich floral diversity in Kangri supports rich biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is the most important pest of potato in fields and warehouses in the world. Planting resistant potato varieties along with efficient cultural management strategies such as re-hilling and planting cover plants at the end of the season and prior to tuber harvesting can significantly minimise potato tuber infestation. An effective strategy for integrated pest management (IPM) may involve using an accurate forecasting method based on daily degree units of pests to identify the precise time of pest treatment. The current study examined the thermal units (degree-days) of potato tuber moth, on five potato varieties in the Ardabil area (Ardabil, Iran) during the potato growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. Moreover, five potato varieties were evaluated for their relative resistance to potato tuber moth (PTM) damage. The findings showed that PTM successfully completed two generations during the cropping season in the Ardabil area. The thermal requirements of the egg stage did not differ significantly among the potato varieties investigated. Significant difference was observed in the larval development time and its thermal needs between the five different potato varieties. In both years, the larva's thermal needs were clearly ranked in a descending order for Red Scarlet, Rona, Agria, Atousa, and Savalan varieties. The Red Scarlet variety had the lowest tuber infestation rate and the fewest larvae inside the tuber. Overall, the findings of this research can help with monitoring and forecasting P. operculella phenological occurrences, assisting in the timely implementation of management strategies in IPM programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the complete mitogenomes of Sympis rufibasis, Lacera noctilio, Oxyodes scrobiculata, Mocis undata, and Artena dotata were newly sequenced to bring up-to-date the database using the next-generation sequencing methods. The gene order of all sequenced mitogenomes was identical consisting of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a non-coding A+T-rich region, which were common to other Lepidopteran insects. All protein-coding genes (PCGs) initiated with a canonical ATN codon and ended with TAN or an incomplete stop codon, single T. The A+T-rich region of S. rufibasis, L. noctilio, O. scrobiculata, M. undata, and A. dotata are 406 bp, 462 bp, 372 bp, 410 bp, and 406 bp long, respectively, containing number of characteristics that are distinctive to Noctuoidea moths. We analyzed concatenated amino acid sequences of protein-coding genes not including rRNAs, using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference methods. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that the tribe relationships within Erebinae were reconstructed as (Sypnini+((Erebini 1+Poaphilini 1)+((Euclidiini+Catocalini+(Hypopyrini+Erebini 2))+((Hulodini+(Poaphilini 2+Ophiusini))))). Phylogenetic analyses supported and confirmed the monophyly of the subfamilies' relationships as follows: (Hypeninae+Lymantriinae)+((Scoliopterginae+((Calpinae+Erebinae)+((Herminiinae+Aganainae)+Arctiinae)))) within Erebidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The triple threats of climate change, habitat loss, and environmental pollution have stimulated discussion on how urban areas can be modified to mitigate heat increases and provide habitat for wildlife such as insects. The strategy of using trees to reduce temperatures has been adopted by numerous cities. However, the majority of street trees planted around the world are non-native. Studies conducted in non-urban areas have demonstrated in comparison to native plants, non-native plants are less likely to support native insect diversity. Here, we use a database approach to quantify the number of native Lepidoptera species associated with 76 of the most common street tree species planted in Vancouver, Canada. We tested the prediction that compared to non-native trees, native street trees will support a higher diversity and unique community of native Lepidoptera. As predicted, native street trees were associated with five times as many native Lepidoptera species, and the Lepidoptera communities supported by native versus non-native street trees were distinct. There was no difference in native Lepidoptera associations between broadleaf versus coniferous street trees. These results are consistent with studies that have used active sampling techniques to investigate insect richness on a smaller subset of native and non-native tree species. Collectively, these data provide good evidence that planting native instead of non-native trees will help stem the loss of insect diversity in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endangered butterfly species Luehdorfia japonica Leech, 1889 (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) is endemic to the central and western parts of Honshu, Japan. This species inhabits deciduous forests and coppices, but areas of optimal habitats are decreasing due to the development of land and the abandonment of regular coppice management. We developed 17 microsatellite loci for L. japonica based on de novo genome sequence data and found that 16 of these loci exhibited polymorphisms in 34 individuals of L. japonica. In addition, polymorphisms of 15 of these microsatellite loci were observed in two individuals of L. puziloi. The number of alleles and the expected heterozygosity per locus in L. japonica were 2–11 and 0.11–0.83, respectively. A principal coordinate analysis based on this genetic information revealed genetic differentiation both within and among geographic populations of L. japonica. Thus, these microsatellite loci could potentially be useful for future conservation genetic studies, including monitoring the genetic diversity and population structure of this endangered butterfly species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female fritillary butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Argynnini) are known to have diversified genital structures, especially at the entrance of the bursa copulatrix. However, the origin and function of such elaborated structures are poorly known to date. We examined the male and female genital structures of six Japanese species selected from five genera/subgenera [Argynnis (Argynnis), Argynnis (Damora), Argynnis (Argyronome), Fabriciana, and Speyeria] of the Argynnini tribe and found that traumatic copulation is widespread in Argynnini. Various male genital structures, such as the uncus, valva, and phallus, can cause wounds to the female genitalia. The eighth venter of the female, where the highest morphological diversity in female genitalia was detected, is hooked and held by the male uncus during copulation. It is very likely that the diversified female genital structure coevolved with the male uncus as a counterpart for traumatic coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although diurnality is widespread across Lepidoptera and has evolved many times independently, its causes and ecological implications are yet poorly understood. The "Salient Aroma Hypothesis" (SAH) postulates that diurnal insect herbivores are overall more specialized in dietary breadth than species active at night. It is furthermore assumed that diurnality evolved more frequently in species that live in cooler environments. Using European geometrid moths as a model group, we tested whether diurnal activity in adults is associated with an increased larval dietary breadth as predicted by the SAH. We further investigated whether species that exclusively occur in colder regions or whose flight period is restricted to cool seasons are more likely to exhibit a diurnal flight activity. Contrary to expectation, we found no consistent differences in larval dietary breadth between diurnal and nocturnal species, and thus no support for the SAH. Diurnal activity occurred more frequently in species restricted to cold regions but not in species restricted to cool seasons. We conclude that diurnality could serve as an advantageous adaptation in cold environments, depending on further factors such as resource availability or predation pressure, but has no immediate consequences for larval dietary breadth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]