The genus Shirozuella Sasaji, 1967 from the Chinese mainland is reviewed. Eight species are recognized, including four new species: Shirozuella motuoensissp. n., Shirozuella tibetinasp. n., Shirozuella unciformasp. n., and Shirozuella guoyueisp. n. Male genitalia of Shirozuella parenthesis Yu and Shirozuella quadrimacularis are described for the first time. All species are described and illustr...

A survey was carried out at Bandirippuwa Estate, Kirimetiyana Estate and at Isolated Seed Garden, Rajakadaluwa for the pests of coconut inflorescence and developing fruits. The mite, Dolichotetranychus sp. (Tenuipalpidae) which lives beneath the perianth and feeds on the epicarp, causes considerable damage to the developing fruit. Bi-monthly observations on the intensity of infestation of nuts ...

The Iranian checklist of the tribe Chilocorini Mulsant, 1846 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is updated. In total, 13 species belonging to four genera (Brumoides Chapin, 1965, Chilocorus Leach, 1815, Exochomus Redtenbacher, 1843, and Parexochomus Barovsky, 1922) are listed from Iran. An identification key to all genera and species currently known from Iran is presented along with illustrations of a...

Invasive species commonly predate the offspring of native species and eggs are the life stage most vulnerable to this predation. In many species with no maternal care, females can alter the phenotype of eggs to protect them, for instance through chemical defense. In ladybirds egg alkaloids deter predators, including invasive predatory species of ladybirds, but conversely may attract cannibals w...

As a pollen feeder, Propylea japonica would be directly exposed to Cry proteins in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-transgenic rice fields. The effect of Cry1C- or Cry2A-containing transgenic rice pollen on the fitness of P. japonica was assessed using two dietary-exposure experiments in the laboratory. In the first experiment, larval developmental time of P. japonica was significantly longer when f...

A detailed morphological re-description of the Indian genus Macrolasia Weise, 1903 is given. First drawings of genitalia, SEMs and color photographs are included. A distribution map of the genus Macrolasia is provided. A lectotype of Macrolasia arcula Weise is designated.

As part of my research on the mass production and augmentative release of ladybirds, I reviewed the primary research literature to test the prediction that ladybirds are effective aphid predators in greenhouses. Aphid population reduction exceeded 50% in most studies and ladybird release rates usually did not correlate with aphid reduction. The ratio of aphid reduction/release rate was slightly...

In this study, nine microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from the seven-spotted lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). The loci were validated and characterized using 20 samples collected from five Korean localities. These results indicate that some loci were highly variable in terms of number of alleles (2 to 13), heterozygosity (0.10 to 0.40), and p...