Austral Entomology最新文献

A new monotypic genus in the ‘Archeuptychia clade’ Xikrin Barbosa, Freitas, Siewert & Marín gen. nov. (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Euptychiina) is described to accommodate a new species, Xikrin ueharapradoi Freitas & Barbosa gen. et sp. nov., in the highly diverse Satyrinae subtribe Euptychiina, based mainly on molecular data. To date, this species is known only from the region of Carajás, in the eastern Amazon rainforest. The phylogenetic relationship and taxonomy of this new taxon are discussed.

Due to ongoing climate change and the spread of invasive pests, understanding and predicting climatic suitability for invasive insect species has shown growing demand from government and industry biosecurity managers. The invasive pest Bactericera cockerelli, (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), commonly known as tomato potato psyllid (TPP), is native to North America and has recently invaded Australasia. TPP is also the vector of the bacterial plant pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), which has caused severe economic losses for potato growers worldwide. We used the niche modelling software CLIMEX to predict the potential geographical distribution of TPP in Australasia and worldwide under current and future climatic scenarios. Our model prediction of the current climate conditions closely agrees with all the known distributions of TPP. In its native range (North America), TPP is predicted to expand its current geographical range in semi-arid, temperate, and continental climates. Within Australia, along with the known occurrence of TPP in Western Australia, potential expansion into South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland is predicted. The predicted distribution closely matches all the known records with higher climatic suitability in New Zealand. Globally, the model projected that the pest-free countries in Europe and East Asia are climatically more suitable for TPP. Predictions under the future climate change scenarios (A1B, CSIRO Mk 3.0 for 2090) showed a significant reduction of the known geographical range of TPP with a possible expansion towards higher latitudes. Areas in North America and Australia are projected to be less climatically suitable for the survival of TPP in future climates. However, our model suggested that Europe and New Zealand will remain unchanged or will become more favourable in the future. These CLIMEX projections for current and future climatic distribution provide valuable information for existing and future biosecurity preparedness and management programmes, which may prove helpful in risk assessments and identifying potential areas that are likely to be susceptible to a TPP invasion.

Parasitoids are among the main natural enemies of crop pests. Copidosoma truncatellum (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a parasitoid of Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae), which is an important pest of soybean, bean, cotton, sunflower, tomato and potato. Copidosoma are parasitoids of lepidopteran egg-larva, especially those of the subfamily Plusiinae. The embryonic development of the Copidosoma parasitoid begins in the lepidopteran egg, and this development extends to the beginning of the host larval stage of the parasitized lepidopteran. However, the rate of parasitism is a complex ecological relationship affected by climatic elements and age of the host. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the ecology and host manipulation exerted by the C. truncatellum parasitoid on C. includens. The research was conducted in bean crops (Phaseolus vulgaris) over 2 years. The highest rates of parasitism were observed in crops in March in both years, when it was observed that about 40% of the individuals of C. includens were parasitized by C. truncatellum. In hot seasons and with less rainfall, parasitism is greater. The age of C. includens eggs (up to 3 days) did not affect C. truncatellum parasitism. The parasitized C. includens egg and caterpillar stages, which had their durations extended, showed the parasitized C. includens caterpillars presented higher leaf consumption. Additionally, this study was conducted in the field, which makes its results representative of natural conditions. Therefore, in warm and dry seasons, more significant parasitism of C. includens by C. truncatellum is expected. Parasitism increases the duration of the stages of lepidopterans and increases food consumption by its larvae.

The trade and keeping of exotic pets has serious implications for both biosecurity and biodiversity conservation. In Australia, the online trade of live invertebrates is an understudied and unregulated issue, with almost non-existent monitoring. It is uncertain what species are being traded, whether they are being identified correctly, and how they are being sourced (i.e., captive bred or wild harvested, native, or alien). Consequently, potential invasion risks and conservation concerns remain unknown. Here, we explored the online trade of terrestrial invertebrates in Australia across a range of publicly available e-commerce platforms. We detected 264 species of invertebrate traded, from 71 families and 168 genera over 12 months. The native Extatosoma tiaratum (giant prickly stick insect) was the most traded species, while the most popular families were Phasmatidae (stick insects), Formicidae (ants) and Theraphosidae (tarantulas). Three species are known to be invasive in Australia, while 87% of species traded were native. The conservation status of almost of the species (92%) listed in the invertebrate trade has not been evaluated. Exploring socio-demographic relationships, we found that human population density was positively correlated with the location of invertebrate sellers. Further, we found the classifieds website had lower prices in contrast to traditional online pet-stores (median of c. A$7 less). Finally, we did not observe a saturation in the number of species traded in our one-year study, exemplifying the need for large scale monitoring and risk assessments for Australia's online terrestrial invertebrate trade. We recommend continued surveillance of live invertebrate trade on e-commerce sites. Substantial changes to legislation and monitoring methods are required at a national level to control the vast number of invertebrates traded across the country, and to minimise the future risks of the invertebrate trade.

Developing mass rearing systems for the drone fly, Eristalis tenax, is a crucial step toward its use as a complementary commercial pollinator. To meet the timing of commercial needs for E. tenax, there is significant value to both predicting and managing reproductive output and development within the rearing protocol. To help achieve this, our study focuses on the laboratory manipulation of adult mating and the timing of the development of eggs in E. tenax. To stagger colony cohorts, egg rearing temperatures ranging from 12 to 30°C were found to be suitable for both successful egg development and hatching viability (97 to 28.3 h to first hatch, respectively). The mating window for E. tenax females was established to commence from 2 weeks post eclosion and reached 75 ± 11% mated at 7 weeks. Reproductive output over 12 weeks was assessed in separate cage manipulation trials: (1) varying the sex ratio with 20:40, 30:30 and 40:20 female and male flies respectively per cage and (2) varying the adult density per cage with 15:15, 30:30, 60:60 and 120:120 female and male flies per cage. Female percentage mated and egg cluster size, which averaged 200.6 ± 4.3 eggs per cluster, did not change between treatments in the sex ratio and density trials. Egg cluster output per female was significantly reduced for treatments across both trials, which had more than 30 females in a cage. A stocking rate of 15:15 produced 86% more eggs per female than expected, a percentage well above that of all other treatments. However, the highest stocking density produced the most eggs when assessed at a per cage level. Fly survival was significantly different between the sexes across both trials with males dying earlier in cages stocked with more females than males. Although the fly colonies were held at constant temperatures and light conditions for 6 months, we found evidence of endogenous overwintering behaviours among flies resulting in lower mating rates, egg hatching success and greater longevity among flies studied over winter.

Because of their frequency, abundance, and unique morphological and biological traits, the Dryinidae (pincer wasps) are among the most important parasitoids of nymphs and adults of Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha. This contribution offers a summary of the knowledge about the main biological characteristics of the Dryinidae gained over more than 130 years. Among other topics, the information provided covers the interactions with their hosts and other organisms, as well as their development, behaviour, natural enemies and economic importance.

The velvetbean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis (VBC) is widely distributed in the Americas and causes severe damage to soybean foliage. This insect presents high ecological plasticity, a feature that is of great importance to understand its genetic diversity and potential gene flow to assist in resistance management strategies. With this objective, we developed microsatellite markers for VBC and applied them to five populations from Brazil. Nine primers were polymorphic, with high values of polymorphic information content (PIC > 0.5), and 134 alleles were identified in 155 individuals. These primers indicated deviation from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium for all populations (observed heterozygosity, Ho = 0.48, expected heterozygosity, He = 0.76), with moderate to high levels of genetic diversity and a moderate fixation index (F_ST = 0.14) among the populations. Analysis of population structure indicated the formation of two principal clusters. The northern one can be divided into the two populations that formed the cluster, with high genetic differentiation between them. The other cluster is formed by three populations, and we found evidence of low gene flow between them in the south–north direction, indicating that these populations may be migratory in certain conditions. These findings indicate that the designed primers were effective in describing the genetic diversity of VBC, with major implications for integrated pest management. Given the little gene flow and the high genetic diversity of populations, they present great potential to become resistant to control practices, which can lead to increased management costs.

Australia is inhabited by a very rich and mostly endemic fauna of ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae), with a relatively high proportion of taxa belonging to the tribe Coccidulini. Australian Coccidulini are grouped in 15 genera, of which 11 are endemic. Here, a new distinctive Australian Coccidulini genus and species is described—Euchre australis gen. et sp. nov., which is characterised by compact antennal club, long ventral antennal grooves on head capsule extending to anterior margin of prosternum, and presence of chin piece partially covering mouthparts in repose. Its relationship with other Australian Coccidulini genera is discussed.

Taxonomic investigations of the Eirmocides helenita (Semper, 1879) complex from north-eastern Australia and mainland New Guinea based on adult morphology (male genitalia and wing colour pattern elements), together with a phylogenetic hypothesis of the genus (18 or 69% of the recognised species) based on molecular data (1 mitochondrial and 12 nuclear genes), and examination of type material, indicate that there are five species within this monophyletic lineage, here referred to as the E. helenita species-group. Four of the species, previously classified under the name Eirmocides helenita (Semper, 1879) sensu lato and characterised by iridescent turquoise dorsal colouration in the male, are predominantly allopatric, as follows: Eirmocides callainus Braby & Müller, sp. nov., is endemic to the Wet Tropics biome of north-eastern Queensland; Eirmocides helenita (Semper, 1879) sensu stricto is restricted to Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland; Eirmocides rouku Braby & Müller, sp. nov., is endemic to the Western Province of southern Papua New Guinea; and Eirmocides dimorphus (Röber, 1886), stat. rev., occurs more widely throughout mainland New Guinea and its adjacent islands. The fifth member of the group, Eirmocides cupreus (Röber, 1886), is sympatric with E. dimorphus on mainland New Guinea. The taxonomic revision brings to 26 the total number of species recognised in Eirmocides and within the tribe Candalidini to 40 species. Lectotypes are designated for Plebeius dimorphus Röber, 1886, Plebeius dimorphus var. cupreus Röber, 1886, and Holochila subargentea Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1896.

The Gondwanan genus Chilepyris Evans, 1964 (Scleroderminae) is studied and revised. A new species from Oceanian region (New Caledonia) is described and illustrated, Chilepyris kanak sp. nov., and compared with the other two species of this genus, C. herbsti Evans, 1964 from Chile and C. platythelys Sorg & Walker, 1989 from New Zealand, based on an integrative taxonomic approach, combining morphological characters and molecular analyses. An emended diagnosis and a deep discussion about the morphological diagnostic characters of this genus and comments about the Gondwana distribution of Chilepyris are also presented. Additionally, a taxonomic key to the three species is provided.