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Oribatid mites play a crucial role in nutrient cycling, litter decomposition, and humus formation in the ecosystem. Here, an Illumina HiSeq platform was used to sequence the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Ceratozetella imperatoria. The mt genome is a circular molecule of 14,229 bp (GenBank number: PP419053), and a total of 37 genes were described. The start codon in all 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) included ATT, ATA, TTG, and ATG, the stop codon of all 13 protein-coding genes was TAA, TAG, and single T. The AT skew and GC skew were 0.153 and 0.263 observed across the whole mt genome of Ceratozetella imperatoria. Besides the negative AT skew in PCGs, rRNA and CR, positive AT skew and GC skew were detected in the remaining components. A phylogenetic tree of 29 mite species was constructed using PCGs by the maximum likelihood method. Ceratozetoidea and Oripodoidea were closely related and become sister group relationships among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bruchidius coreanus is a serious pest on Gleditsia sinensis Lam during seed storage, causing significant losses to their yield in southwest China. To gain insight into their behavioral mechanisms, the external morphology, ultrastructure, and distribution of sensilla on antennae, maxillary palps, and labial palps of both male and female B. coreanus were observed using a scanning electron microscope. The results revealed that both male and female adults had serrated antennae comprising a scape, a pedicel, and nine flagellomeres (F1–F9). There were eight types and seven subtypes of antenna sensilla observed in both sexes, including Böhm sensilla (BS), two subtypes of sensilla chaetica (SC1 and SC2), two subtypes of sensilla trichodea (ST1 and ST2), three subtypes of sensilla basiconica (SB1, SB2, and SB3), sensilla auricillica (SA), sensilla styloconicum (SS), capitate pegs (CP), and sensilla cavity (SCa). The average length of BS and ST (ST1 and ST2) showed significant differences between males and females. Furthermore, the number of SC (SC1 and SC2), ST1, and SCa differed significantly between the sexes. Four types of sensilla were found on the maxillary palps and labial palps, with the length of ST on these palps significantly differing between males and females. Additionally, SS on male labial palps was significantly longer than in females. The number of SC significantly differed between the male and female maxillary palps and labial palps, while ST and SS showed significant differences in the maxillary palps. These findings will contribute to further electrophysiological recording and behavioral research. Research Highlights: The external morphology and distribution of various sensilla on the antennae, maxillary palps, and labial palps of Bruchidius coreanus were described.Eight types and seven subtypes of antenna sensilla were observed on the antennae, while four types of sensilla were observed on the maxillary palps and labial palps.The capitate pegs were found exclusively on the antennae of female B. coreanus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient rearing is necessary for the successful biological control of pests. The braconid wasp, Microplitis manilae, is a natural solitary parasitoid of larval Spodoptera frugiperda. However, the effect of the host diet on the parasitism success of M. manilae on S. frugiperda larvae remains unclear. Here, we determined the parasitism rate, oviposition, eclosion rate, developmental period and offspring sex ratio of M. manilae parasitizing S. frugiperda fed with fresh corn leaves or an artificial diet. M. manilae parasitizing the corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda larvae exhibited a significantly higher parasitism rate (40%), oviposition (62.50 eggs/female) and eclosion rate (81.38%) than the wasp parasitizing the artificial diet‐fed S. frugiperda larvae (22%, 38.33 eggs/female, and 58.73%, respectively). Furthermore, M. manilae parasitizing the corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda larvae exhibited a significantly shorter developmental period (16.35 days) and lower sex ratio (1.17) than the wasp parasitizing the artificial diet‐fed S. frugiperda larvae (18.00 and 2.15 days, respectively). Overall, M. manilae exhibited better parasitic success on corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda larvae than on artificial diet‐fed S. frugiperda larvae. Therefore, using fresh corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda is the most suitable strategy for mass‐rearing M. manilae for pest biocontrol. Our findings suggest M. manilae as an effective biocontrol candidate for controlling S. frugiperda in corn fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many predatory mites of the subfamily Hypoaspidinae are important biological control agents of pest organisms. Here, an Illumina HiSeq platform was used to sequence the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Cosmolaelaps hrdyi. The mt genome is a circular molecule of 15,437 bp (GenBank number: OR643715), and a total of 37 genes were identified. The first codon in all 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) is ATN. With the exception of the stop codon of ND3, which was TAG and the incomplete codon of ATP8, the stop codon of the remaining 11 PCGs was TAA. All tRNAs had typical cloverleaf secondary structures, with the exception of trnS1 (AGN). A strong AT nucleotide bias (81.75%) and positive skew in both AT (0.026) and GC (0.252) were observed across the whole mt genome of C. hrdyi. Positive AT skew and GC skew were detected in all genes but the two rRNA genes. A phylogenetic tree of 29 mite species (Dermanyssiae) was constructed using mt genome sequences by the maximum likelihood method. A close relationship between Laelapidae and Varroidae was confirmed by the phylogenetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To investigate the effect of mating frequency and male mating order on the paternity of Spodoptera litura, an important global agriculture and forestry pest. [Methods] Paternity was determined using five pairs of microsatellite markers. 271 samples were collected, including 21 from female parents, 40 from male parents and 210 from offspring. [Results] The average number of alleles, expected heterozygosity and polymorphism content information were 4.800, 0.647 and 0.596, respectively. Confidence in estimated paternity was overall > 80%; > 95% for 106 offspring. If a female mated once with two males, 78% of the resultant offspring were the progeny of the last male to mate. If a female mated with a male twice with a male, then with another male once, 50% of the offspring were the progeny of each male. If a female mated with a male once, then with another male twice, 90% of the offspring were the progeny of the last male to mate. If a female mated once with three different males, 5%, 20% and 75% of the offspring were the progeny of the first, second and last males to mate, respectively. [Conclusion] Both the frequency and order of mating affect paternity in S. litura. Males that mate more than once, and those that mate last, have more progeny than those that only mate once or that aren't the last to mate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyandrous mating can result in sexual conflict and/or promote the evolution of mating patterns. Does multiple mating by females support the genetic benefits hypothesis and can it be validated as an evolutionary strategy? If we are to decipher the consequences of sexual interactions and understand the interplay of sexual conflict and multiple generational benefits, the transgenerational effects need to be followed over multiple generations. We investigated the effects of three mating patterns, single mating, repeated mating, and multiple mating, on parental Spodoptera litura copulation behavior, and then identified the impact on the development, survival, and fecundity of the F1 and F2 generations. Fecundity was not significantly affected in the F1 generation but was substantially enhanced in the F2 generation. There was a reversal of offspring fitness across the F2 generations from the F1 generations in progeny produced by multiple mating. In addition, the intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase and net reproductive rate in the F1 generation the multiple mating treatment was significantly lower than in the single mating treatment, but there was no apparent effect on the F2 generation. Repeated mating had no significant effects on progeny fitness. We postulate that multiple mating imposes cross‐transgenerational effects and may ultimately influence multigenerational fitness in S. litura. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]