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

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 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

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

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

No abstract is available for this article.

No abstract is available for this article.

Heterostigmatic mites (Heterostigmata) are highly diverse, have symbiotic associations with various insects and occur worldwide. Despite Australia's rich insect biodiversity, little is known about its heterostigmatic mites. In this study, we conducted a preliminary study on heterostigmatic mites associated with beetles in eastern Australia and found four species, of which three were new: Caraboacarus

The genus Psenulus Kohl, 1897 is the largest in Pemphredoninae, with about 161 described species. In contrast to several groups of Crabronidae, especially to other Pemphredoninae, Psenulus is underrepresented in the Neotropical region, with only three described species: Psenulus aztecus Bohart & Grissell, 1969, P. improvisus van Lith, 1978 and P. mayorum Bohart & Grissell, 1969. The Neotropical species

The Mesostoinae are an almost entirely Gondwanan subfamily of Braconidae, known from Australia, New Zealand and South America (extending into MesoAmerica). They are morphologically and biologically diverse and, together with Aphidiinae and Maxfischeriinae, are the sister group to all other extant cyclostome braconids. Here we describe and illustrate a new genus, Zealastoa Quicke & Ward, gen. nov.,

Many eye‐catching and undescribed species of Australian soldier flies have been collected but left undiagnosed in entomological collections. We describe Opaluma Lessard & Woodley gen. nov., a new genus of iridescent soldier fly endemic to Australia from the subfamily Antissinae, and provide an updated key to the five Australian antissine genera. Seven new species are described and illustrated herein

A new genus of Euptychiina, Emeryus Zacca, Casagrande & Mielke, gen. nov., is herein described using an integrative taxonomic approach to accommodate three species previously placed in Paryphthimoides Forster, 1964: Emeryus argulus argulus (Godart, [1824]), comb. nov. (type species), Emeryus difficilis (Forster, 1964), comb. nov. and Emeryus numeria (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867), comb. nov. Additionally

A new Australian genus Notointybia gen. nov. is established for three species formerly placed in Laius Guérin‐Méneville, Dicranolaius Champion or Intybia Pascoe. It can be separated from the other apalochrine genera by the following characters combined: pronotum with complete lateral carinae, basal antennomeres modified and fore tarsi four‐segmented or five‐segmented and without combs on the second

Tympanoblissus ecuatorianus Dellapé & Minghetti, gen. et sp. nov. from the Amazon slope of the Eastern Andean Cordillera in southern Ecuador is described. This constitutes the second apterous genus known in the family Blissidae and the first with a tymbal‐like mechanism of sound production. The tiny males hide in bamboo branches where they produce a faint drumming sound. The observed vertical vibration

Paropsis charybdis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) has been a major pest of Eucalyptus spp. since invading New Zealand from Australia over 100 years ago. Here, we report on the phenology, egg parasitism and defoliation levels of P. charybdis at two Eucalyptus nitens plantations in the central North Island of New Zealand and assess the establishment prospects and potential impact of a new biological control

Animals with scramble competition mating systems commonly exhibit female‐biased sexual size dimorphism, protandry and biased population sex ratios that reflect the active mate‐searching role of males. This is particularly so in many Lepidoptera, where males are classic scramble competitors. However, it is unclear how these features relate to the actual mating success of males or females over the reproductive

Deriving node calibrations from fossils remains by far the most common method for attaching an absolute timescale to a molecular tree. But this 'node dating' approach has a credibility problem: different studies using the same molecular data and even the same sets of fossils regularly arrive at drastically different age estimates. A major reason for these differences is well known: even well‐dated

Aulacothrips dictyotus Hood, 1952 (Thysanoptera: Heterothripidae) is a highly specific ectoparasite, which infests nymphs and adults of Aetalion reticulatum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera: Aetalionidae) in South America. However, nothing is known about the consequences of this remarkable interaction to the hemipterans, which also exhibit mutualistic associations with ants. In this study, we test the hypothesis

The bird‐cherry oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) is a global pest, attacking most cereal crops including barley, wheat, oats and triticale. The aphids cause yield losses through direct feeding damage and the transmission of plant viruses. In Australia, feeding injury can reduce cereal yields by 6%, with the damage caused by aphid‐vectored viruses reducing the yield of cereal crops by up to 30%. Aphid

Carpocorini are the most diverse tribe within Pentatominae, comprising about 100 genera and 500 species, with the highest diversity found in the Neotropics. Within Carpocorini, some groups of genera have been, formally or informally, proposed based on morphological similarities and taxonomic history. The Euschistus group was informally proposed and comprises 20 genera, including Euschistus Dallas,

Assassin or robber flies (Asilidae) and bee flies (Bombyliidae) are two of the largest and most diverse fly families with over 7400 and 4700 described species worldwide, respectively. Adult assassin flies are predatory, feeding on smaller insects captured on the wing, and larvae predate on soft‐bodied arthropods in the soil or rotting wood. Adult bee flies feed on nectar and pollen. Almost all bee

Daptolestes Hull, 1962 is a small genus of distinctive, ornate robber flies (Asilidae) endemic to Australia, currently placed in the subfamily Brachyrhopalinae, containing three described species, D. limbipennis, D. nicholsoni and D. sergius. Adults of Daptolestes species (except D. sergius) have patterned wings, brown and yellow integumental colour and a waisted abdomen and could be mistaken for vespid