Austral Entomology最新文献

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Cephalomutilla André, 1908, a genus of velvet ants (Mutillidae), currently composed of 11 species previously recognized from females only, is here revised. A new species from Colombia, C. cabezona Williams, sp. nov., is recognized from both sexes and newly described. The previously unknown male of C. zelichi Casal, 1963 is associated and described. Mutilla vulnerifera André, 1908, syn. nov., is recognized as the male of C. haematodes (Gerstaecker, 1874), and the following species are recognized as synonymous colour variants of C. haematodes: C. albicalcaris Mickel, 1960, syn. nov.; C. argyrosticta (Burmeister, 1875), syn. nov.; and C. flavigastra Mickel, 1960, syn. nov. Cephalomutilla proxima (Smith, 1879), comb. nov., is transferred to Cephalomutilla, and the following species previously recognized from females only were recognized as conspecific with C. proxima: C. confluenta Mickel, 1960, syn. nov.; C. distincta Mickel, 1960, syn. nov.; C. fasciata Mickel, 1960, syn. nov.; C. transversa Mickel, 1960, syn. nov.; and C. vivata (Cresson, 1902), syn. nov. Keys and illustrations are provided for all five currently valid species of Cephalomutilla.

The onychiurid fauna of Australia is revised and found to comprise six species belonging to five genera. All species are already described and are widespread in the Northern Hemisphere so they are considered to be introduced to Australia. For the most part, they are only known in Australia from agricultural and horticultural soils and home gardens as well as worm beds. A dichotomous key to the species is presented together with updated names, relevant synonymies, a brief description of each and comments on their distribution and ecology. The six species separated in the key are Protaphorura fimata (Gisin, 1952), Thalassaphorura encarpata (Denis, 1931), Thalassaphorura cryptopyga (Denis, 1931), Orthonychiurus folsomi (Schäffer, 1900), Deuteraphorura cebennaria (Gisin, 1956) and Onychiurus ambulans (Linnaeus, 1758). A seventh species is listed here but in family Tullbergiidae, Metaphorura affinis (Börner, 1902). It is included as it could be confused with the Onychiurinae in the field. In Australia and overseas, onychiurids have been associated with root damage to plants in home gardens and field crops, and we discuss their pest status using data from assessments of field crop damage in Australia. The aim of this paper is to provide an identification guide to field workers so that they can decide whether control methods are required.

The New Zealand cyclostome braconid fauna is poorly studied but has a high diversity of Mesostoinae compared to other regions. We redescribe the endemic New Zealand genus Rhyssaloides Belokobylskij, 1999 and compare it to two morphologically similar New Zealand endemics, Zealastoa Quicke & Ward, 2020 and Doryctomorpha Ashmead, 1900. Two new species, Rh. maculatus sp. nov. and Rh. noyesi sp. nov., are described and illustrated. The species Rhyssaloides antipoda Belokobylskij, 1999, which is a parasitoid of the native cerambycid Ambeodontus tristis (Fabricius, 1775), is placed as a junior synonym of Rhyssaloides ambeodonti (Muesebeck, 1941), syn. nov. A key for determining the three known species is provided.

Liriomyza huidobrensis, L. sativae and L. trifolii are polyphagous agromyzid leafminers that have recently arrived in Australia, posing a threat to Australian vegetable and ornamental crops. Adventive and endemic hymenopteran parasitoids of agromyzid leafminers already present in Australia should assist in the management of these invasive agromyzid species. Neochrysocharis formosa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Entedoninae) is an idiobiont endoparasitoid commonly attacking Liriomyza spp. in many countries, but it has not been formally identified in Australia. This study provides the first confirmed Australian record of N. formosa as well as an unidentified Proacrias species, another entedonine species. Females of both species were reared from several adventive and endemic agromyzid leafminers in southern Australia. Laboratory cultures of both species established the presence of thelytokous reproduction. DNA barcodes (5′ COI, 3′ COI, ITS1, ITS2, 28S) were used to delineate species boundaries, with the 5′ end of the mitochondrial COI sequences pointing to multiple cryptic lineages among N. formosa. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that both species were infected with a Rickettsia bacterium, which is related to the Rickettsia present in thelytokous populations of N. formosa in Japan and China. These findings expand records for parasitoids attacking leafminers in Australia and highlight the potential for an endosymbiont to produce thelytokous strains that could provide for more efficient biocontrol agents for augmentative release.

Serpentine leafminer Liriomyza huidobrensis is a highly polyphagous insect pest that threatens vegetable and ornamental horticultural production globally as a function of feeding and egg laying damage to plants. Although this species has been periodically intercepted at Australia's border, the pest had not been recorded as established on the mainland. A population of L. huidobrensis was identified in the Sydney Basin, New South Wales (NSW), Australia, in late 2020 affecting a variety of vegetable crops. Delimiting surveillance revealed L. huidobrensis to be widespread in the Sydney Basin and present in several regional locations, impacting vegetable, ornamental and weed hosts. This article documents the first report of L. huidobrensis in Australia and the ensuing biosecurity response that was triggered at its detection.

This study describes the chemical composition of essential oils from the leaves of Protium aracouchine and Protium giganteum, evaluates their acaricidal properties and investigates the role of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in toxicity to Tetranychus urticae by fumigation and residual contact. The chemical analyses revealed that spathulenol (32.2 ± 1.6%) and β-caryophyllene (27.3 ± 1.1%) were the major constituents of the P. aracouchine and P. giganteum oils, respectively. Both Protium oils were toxic to the mite by fumigation and residual contact. The oils exhibited the same level of toxicity by residual contact, where the P. aracouchine oil was fivefold more toxic by fumigation than the P. giganteum oil. Among the chemical constituents tested, the mite was more susceptible to β-caryophyllene and spathulenol, independently of the method used. The blends prepared with terpenes selected from the P. giganteum oil had the same level of toxicity as the essential oil. The investigation of the role of terpenes in the form of blends revealed that β-caryophyllene and spathulenol contributed significantly to the acaricidal effects. These results suggest that the preparation of artificial oils is a promising strategy for the control of T. urticae.