Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren) larvae have been recorded on native non-crop hosts in the inland regions of Australia. However, there are few records of their survival on these non-crop hosts, especially on plants with the C4 photosynthetic pathway. We investigated larval survival on four C4 plant species (Atriplex numularia Lindl. Atriplex vesicaria Heward ex Benth., Portulaca oleraceae L. and

Economically important cacao (Theobroma cacao Linnaeus 1753) plantations in South East Asia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are significantly affected by the cocoa pod borer (CPB) moth. Species identity of the pest is attributed to Conopomorpha cramerella (Snellen 1904), a gracillariid moth endemic to Australasian and Oriental tropic regions that has evolved a host preference for introduced cacao. Suspected

Certain Culicoides species (biting midges) are important vectors globally of a range of viruses, protozoa and filarial parasites, imposing a significant economic and health burden. In a changing climate, understanding which Culicoides species occur in a region is important for biosecurity risk management. We examined the occurrence of predominant Culicoides species in south-east Australia and provide

Queensland fruit fly (Qfly), Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), is a major quarantine pest of fresh horticultural commodity along the eastern coastal region of Australia and restricts market access of its host commodity. Consequently, various post-harvest disinfestation treatments are used to facilitate trade and one such treatment for Qfly is ‘cold disinfestation’. Our study evaluated the effect of cold

The generic status of Microsandalus Stål, 1867 stat. rev. is discussed and formally revalidated. The type species of this genus, M. umbrosus Stål, 1867, is redescribed and illustrated with an emphasis on sexual dimorphism. The lectotype of M. umbrosus is designated. Pirates sobrius Walker, 1873 is found to be the brachypterous female of M. umbrosus, and therefore, a previous synonymy, which had recently

Parthenogenetic reproduction has only previously been demonstrated in two species of agromyzid leafminer flies (Diptera: Agromyzidae), both from the genus Phytomyza. The plantain leafminer, Phytomyza plantaginis, is Palaearctic in origin, and bisexual populations have been observed in this region. However, historically, only females had been collected in the Australasian, Nearctic, Neotropical and

Testing for reproductive isolation among sympatrically diverging lineages is a key prerequisite for understanding speciation processes. Recent genome-wide studies of the wing-dimorphic New Zealand stonefly Zelandoperla fenestrata have revealed evidence for ecological speciation among sympatric ecotype pairs, but the basis for their apparent reproductive isolation remains unclear. We conduct paired

Gonipterus is a genus of defoliating weevils that causes significant impact in commercially grown eucalypts in their native range in southern Australia and as invasive pests in Western Australia and several countries overseas. The diversity of species in this genus is still in the process of discovery, and in subtropical Australia, its diversity and ecological parameters are largely unknown. We surveyed

Preimaginal morphology of Austroscaeva occidentalis (Shannon, 1927) is described for the first time, and the morphology of larvae and pupae of Dioprosopa clavata (Fabricius, 1794) is updated based on material obtained from captive rearing of wild females from Argentina and Venezuela, respectively. We describe the morphology of the third instar larva, head skeleton and puparium using optical microscopy

Aquatic insect growth is tightly linked to environmental temperature. Growth rate tends to increase with rising temperatures. Growth rate integrates different factors related to population fitness, being partly responsible for species distribution. We aim to estimate daily growth rates from mayfly nymphs reared under different thermal regimes in the field, during five different periods from 2016 to

No abstract is available for this article.

No abstract is available for this article.

The Australo-Pacific genus Tainiasoma gen. nov. and the north-eastern Queensland species Tainiasoma palmarum sp. nov. adult and larva are described and illustrated. Tainiasoma palmarum inhabits the rachises of dead palms (Arecaceae), including the Australian fan palm Licuala ramsayi F. Muell. and the Black Palm Normanbya normanbyi (W. Hill) L. H. Bailey. The relationship of the new genus to other members

The new plant bug Engytatus passionarius sp. nov. from Formosa province in northern Argentina is described. This new dicyphine was always found in association with the sticky herbaceous vine Passiflora (Dysosmia) foetida L. (Passifloraceae), a species native to the Americas and an important invasive weed in some countries including Australia. The apparent host specificity, the ability to traverse the

A study of several Argentinean/southern Brazilian nominal species currently included in the genus Discocyrtus Holmberg, 1878 was conducted. We restore Opisthoplatus Holmberg, 1878 from synonymy of Discocyrtus after almost 140 years to include three species that are redescribed here. Opisthoplatus is referred to the recently described subfamily Neopachylinae Carvalho and Kury, 2020. An emended diagnosis

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a very destructive polyphagous insect pest of cereal crops accounting for up to 100% yield losses. To survive winter low temperatures in the Americas, adults FAW are known to migrate south for warmer climates and then re-invade northern USA and Canada the following summer. Since its African invasion, no studies have looked at

Interspecific interactions, such as competition, are among the key factors that determine the distribution, abundance and diversity of organisms in natural communities of aquatic ecosystems. However, a marked reduction in the environmental integrity of streams may lead to modifications of the natural dynamics of these communities, including co-occurrence patterns and body size. In the Amazon, the replacement

The Permian–Triassic global crisis was the only event to have a dramatic impact on insect diversity, with Palaeozoic insect clades disappearing and accompanied by the accelerated rise of modern lineages. To date, most Permian palaeoentomological work has focused on the upper Permian deposits of the Normandien Formation (Beaufort Group), KwaZulu–Natal Province. This paper describes the regional insect

The period of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) is characterised by severe cooling and extreme aridity in Australia. Australian temperate-adapted bees experienced entirely new conditions over the LGM; however, few studies focused on the response of these key pollinators and their dependent plants to the LGM in Australia. In this study, we investigated the impact of the LGM climatic conditions on the population

Belostoma is the most diverse genus of Belostomatidae, comprising 74 species. The small Belostoma species are challenging to identify mainly due to the presence of cryptic species. As DNA barcoding has been a crucial tool to solve the taxonomic impediment associated with many taxa, we compared species delimitations obtained by morphological and molecular approaches, in order to help to disentangle

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a serious horticultural pest causing considerable damage to local production and international supply chains as it spreads around the world. The samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), is well recognised as the most promising classical biological control against BMSB. The wasp has been conditionally

We treat the Australian spider wasp ‘Ctenocerini’, revising the systematics of Maurillus Smith, adding a new species Maurillus argenticapitis Pitts & Shimizu sp. nov. and describing two new monobasic genera Maurilloides Pitts & Shimizu gen. nov. based on Maurilloides nigrisoma Pitts & Shimizu sp. nov. and Evansiclavelia Pitts, Rodriguez & Shimizu gen. nov. based on Evansiclavelia poecilopteryx Pitts

Pterocallini is one of the largest tribes within Ulidiidae, with more than 130 species described in 27 genera. The great majority of Pterocallini species are endemic to the Neotropics. They are characterised by the wings pictured with dark patterns, but some species of Pterocallini also are recognised by some extraordinary forms of sexual dimorphism, such as stalked eyes. In this study, we propose

The third-stage larva of Golofa claviger (Linnaeus, 1771) is described for the first time based on specimens collected in the municipalities of Acará and Tailândia, Pará state, northern Brazil. A diagnosis, updated description of the female, key for known third-stage larvae of Golofa Hope, 1837, and illustrations of key morphological characters are also given. Furthermore, taxonomic literature on females

No abstract is available for this article.

No abstract is available for this article.

Although changes, particularly declines, in Australian terrestrial insects and other invertebrates have long been suspected and well‐documented for some species, the magnitude, rate and spatial extent of decline remain unclear. Here we use a combination of alternative, qualitative approaches (expert opinion, historical records and temporal replication of surveys) to standardised monitoring and mapping

The diversity and abundance of native invertebrates is declining globally, which could have significant consequences for ecosystem functioning. Declines are likely to be at least as severe as those observed for vertebrates, although often are difficult to quantify due to a lack of historic baseline data and limited monitoring effort. The Lepidoptera are well studied in Australia compared with other

Conservation biology is a field of science that is heavily biased against insects and allied invertebrates, largely due to a data deficiency feedback loop that maintains a cycle of ignorance and inaction. Because many invertebrate groups are, and remain, extremely data poor, it is frequently difficult to conduct even the most basic conservation actions, such as status evaluation, listing, recovery

The genus Arietocometes Santos‐Silva & Tavakilian, 2009, is reviewed and a translation of its original description is provided, with correction of the elytral apex shape. Three new species are described: A. virgatus sp. nov., from Ecuador (Napo) and Colombia (Nariño); A. punctusdiaphoros sp. nov., from Colombia (Nariño); and A. terryi sp. nov., from Ecuador (Napo). Notes on the type‐locality of A. apicalis

Members of the cosmopolitan wasp tribe Baeini (Platygastridae s.l.) are obligate endoparasitoids of spider eggs. The group is estimated to have well over 2000 species globally, approximately 80% of which are undescribed. Most species belong to the genus Idris Förster s.l., a megadiverse group which is probably paraphyletic without the inclusion of a number of smaller genera. The group has resisted

The swallowtail butterfly Papilio schmeltzi is endemic to the Fiji Islands. To date, P. schmeltzi larvae and eggs have been found exclusively on a native Fijian shrub, Micromelum minutum, even though numerous other seemingly suitable native and exotic species of Rutaceae now occur in its Fijian forest habitat. This study used outdoor cages and laboratory studies to examine oviposition preferences and

The biology and seasonal phenology of Aacanthocnema dobsoni (Froggatt) were studied at a single site in Victoria over a 2 year period between 2013 and 2015. This species is monophagous on the dioecious host, Allocasuarina verticillata (Lam.) L. Johnson (Casuarinaceae). Laboratory studies found that females attained reproductive maturity 24 h post‐eclosion, lived for 28.6 ± 2.8 (mean ± SE) days and

Aposematism is a phenomenon in which defended prey advertise their unprofitability to predators through conspicuous signals. Aposematic (warning) colouration is widespread across numerous insect orders but rarely occurs in insects that inhabit aquatic environments where conditions can impose constraints on visual signal transmission. In the semi-aquatic insect order Plecoptera (stoneflies), only the

Aproaerema modicella (Deventer), Aproaerema simplexella (Walker) and Stomopteryx subsecivella (Zeller, 1852) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) are micro moth (Micro-Lepidoptera) pests of groundnut and soya bean that have been described as different species on different continents. Recent DNA analyses of these species suggest that they are conspecific. Here, a review with emphasis on the genetics, biology

An iconic group of arid-adapted insects is the Australian soil-burrowing cockroaches (Blaberidae: Geoscapheinae), large, wingless insects that evolved burrowing behaviour and associated forms in parallel from wood feeding ancestors in the subfamily Panesthiinae. A particularly problematic taxon within the Geoscapheinae is Geoscapheus dilatatus (Saussure, 1864), which might represent a species complex

Apples are a major crop globally, including in Tasmania (Australia) – known as ‘the Apple Isle’ owing to the key role of apples in Tasmania's history and economy. Most apple cultivars are obligate entomophilous species, and fruit quantity, quality and economic value are enhanced under insect pollination. Whilst the introduced European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is often assumed to be the main pollinator

Alabama argillacea (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is a cotton pest. It is considered the most important defoliator species. It is commonly controlled using non-selective synthetic insecticides. However, they cause adverse effects to the environment. Thus, there is a need for more sustainable forms of management. In this case, essential oils may be a promising alternative. They have proven effects against

The Bogong moth Agrotis infusa is well known for its remarkable long‐distance migration – a return journey from the plains of southeast Australia to the Australian Alps – as well as for its cultural significance for Indigenous Australians. Each spring, as many as four billion moths are estimated to arrive in the Australian Alps to aestivate in cool mountain caves and in boulder fields, bringing with

The Anthropocene is characterised by pervasive human‐inflicted impacts on a broad range of biota, including insects. In 2019, we reviewed scientific literature quantifying the prevalence and magnitude of insect declines in recent time. Here, drawing upon 40 additional long‐term studies, we add evidence that is consistent with our earlier review and some other reviews on the fate of insect populations

Recent reports of insect declines across Europe and other parts of the world have emphasised the generally poor baseline that exists for assessing changes in biodiversity. One important source of untapped baseline distribution data is field notebooks, which are often associated with the collection activities of museums and other scientific institutions and may be decades or even centuries old. Over

Insecticides are important for chemical control of arthropod pests in agricultural systems but select for resistance as an adaptive trait. Identifying the genetic mechanism(s) underpinning resistance can facilitate development of genetic markers, which can be used in monitoring programs. Moreover, understanding of genetic mechanisms in a broader population genetic context can be used to infer the origins

No abstract is available for this article.

No abstract is available for this article.

Leaf‐cutting ants (genera Acromyrmex and Atta) are the most important herbivores in the Neotropical region. Within the genus Acromyrmex, the species and subspecies Acromyrmex striatus, Acromyrmex silvestrii subsp. silvestrii and Acromyrmex silvestrii subsp. bruchi are morphologically similar to one another but differ from the rest of their congeners. Recent studies have suggested that Ac. striatus

The Australian trunk‐boring cycad weevils of the genera Demyrsus Pascoe, 1872 and Siraton Hustache, 1934 (Molytinae) are sometimes considered as cycad pests when they infest planted cycads and can be transported to other countries. In the present study, the taxonomy of Demyrsus and Siraton is reviewed, and four species are recognised: D. meleoides Pascoe, 1872, D. digmon sp. nov., S. internatus (Pascoe

In this work, two endemic genera of Eumolpinae from New Zealand, Pilacolaspis Sharp, 1886 and Peniticus Sharp, 1876, are revised for the first time since the description of their constituent species in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The five taxa of Pilacolaspis are considered to comprise two species, P. huttoni (Broun, 1880) (=P. wakefieldi Sharp, 1886 n. syn. =P. rugiventris Broun, 1914

To date, there are 74 described species of armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) whose only known hosts are bamboos (Poaceae: Bambuseae) and 12 armoured scale insect genera that consist mainly or entirely of bamboo feeders. Fully 71 of the species and all 12 of the genera are native to Asia. Another region where bamboos dominate the forest understory is southern South America

A new genus, Tyligma gen. nov., is created within Cixiini to accommodate the new species Tyligma dandavalex sp. nov. Tyligma is characterised by a swollen postclypeus and is closely related to the Australian genera Chidaea Emeljanov, 2000, and Leades Jacobi, 1928, but differs in the shape of the ventral ridge of the aedeagus in males and several other characters presented here. Occurring in the Australian

The scattered information regarding the Australo‐Papuan noctuid genus Pachythrix Turner, 1942 is consolidated to provide an overview of this little‐known group of bright green and black‐coloured moths. Nomenclatural comments are provided to challenge current opinion that the genus is based on a misidentified type species. Current evidence supporting its systematic relationships and subfamilial placement

In this study, we evaluated the causes of mortality in immature stages of Ascia monuste orseis Godart 1918 (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) over each of four seasons, for 2 years, on an experimental cabbage plot using life tables. We addressed two key questions: (1) Do the mortality rates caused by a factor vary by season? And (2) how does the local weather contribute to such variation? We identified five causes

In southwestern Australia, outbreaks of cerambycids have been associated with infestation of drying and stressed trees. Felled timber provides an abundant habitat for a variety of subcortical beetles where their development can be modified by attack from natural enemies, including parasitoids. There are a variety of parasitoid wasps of cerambycids native to Australia, yet their effectiveness in controlling

The green carpenter bee, Xylocopa aerata (Smith, 1851), has undergone a severe reduction in its distribution over the previous century, in part because of habitat loss and fragmentation and its dependency on old‐growth heathland habitats. In 2007, the last remaining South Australian population, on Kangaroo Island, was negatively affected by a shortage of nesting substrate as a consequence of a series

Here we describe and test a novel canopy trap design for catching the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, known as the electric ant in Australia, as part of the National Electric Ant Eradication Program (the program) in North Queensland. As W. auropunctata is known to nest and forage both on the ground and in tree canopies, an effective arboreal trap to monitor their presence is a critical management

The extent and variety of roadside environments in Australia in largely anthropogenic landscapes render them substantial remnant habitats for insect biodiversity. The importance of these areas for insect biodiversity conservation and the key threats they face are discussed, as well as the needs for their protection and conservation management. Many rural roadsides harbour significant patches of native

The majority of modern insect extinctions are likely unrecorded, despite increasing concern for this hyperdiverse group. This is because they are either yet to be discovered and described, their distributions and host associations are poorly known, or data are too sparse to detect declines in populations. Here, I outline the likely extinction of an Australian mealybug, Pseudococcus markharveyi Gullan

Understanding mosquito biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest is important for assessing changes in the distribution of mosquito populations, which have been considered predominantly to be sylvatic. An observational study of Culicidae was conducted in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve, Silva Jardim municipality, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, to evaluate species

Mosquitoes are effective vectors of disease‐causing organisms, and some species are duly very well‐studied organisms. Little fundamental biology is known for a large proportion of mosquito taxa, especially in the Afrotropics, including mosquitoes preferring herpetofauna as blood hosts. Since mosquitoes are effective vectors of pathogens, mosquitoes using herpetofauna as hosts require some scientific

Permethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide that has been widely used for the impregnation of fabrics to prevent the bites from arthropods such as mosquitoes and ticks. There are two types of permethrin impregnation: Do‐It‐Yourself (DIY) packs and pre‐impregnated fabrics. Both forms have been on sale for many years in Australia, however to date, no data are available regarding their efficacy against Ixodes

Eristalinus punctulatus (Macquart, 1847) is a hoverfly (Syrphidae) that is native to Australia. Eristalinus belongs within tribe Eristalini, which is well known for its pollination efficiency. Although there is not much information available about this species, the abundance and floral constancy of this group of flies make E. punctulatus an appropriate candidate for use as pollinating agent. However