Phylogenetic relationships of genera Allograpta, Sphaerophoria and Exallandra (Diptera, Syrphidae) were analyzed based on sequence data from the mitochondrial protein-coding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes. The three genera are members of the subfamily Syrphinae, where nearly all members feed as larvae on soft-bodied Hemiptera and other ...

Sex pheromones have been characterized only for species in the subfamilies Rutelinae and Melolonthinae; aggregation pheromones have been identified for two species in the Dynastinae. Melolonthines utilize mainly amino acid derivatives and terpenoid compounds, but sex pheromones of rutelines are fatty acid derivatives. Various other species utilize japonilure-type lactones that are produced by d...

The genome of a densovirus of a major phytophagous pest, Pseudoplusia includens, was analyzed. It contained 5,990 nucleotides (nt) and included inverted terminal repeats of 540 nt with terminal Y-shaped hairpins of 120 nt. Its DNA sequence and ambisense organization with 4 typical open reading frames demonstrated that it belonged to the genus Densovirus in the subfamily Densovirinae of the fami...

The diversity and community structure of arthropods in an organic double-cropped rice ecosystem in Guangdong Province, China was studied. We compared the arthropod communities in the early season (Apr-Jul) crop to those in the late season (Aug-Nov) crop in 2009. The comparisons were undertaken using a combination of community assessment approaches, including morphospecies richness, the Shannon-...

Abstract The taxonomic composition, structure, and spatial distribution of zoobenthos have been studied in 25 water bodies the Arctic tundra. Eight types thermokarst bodies, representing stages succession cycle, identified for central Yamal Peninsula. Water initial cycle are located on hills, middle at edge valleys, latest valleys. In total, 161 species found; their abundance diversity vary wit...

Four genomovirus genomes were recovered from thrips (Echinothrips americanus) collected in Florida, USA. These represent four new species which are members of the Gemycircularvirus (n = 2), Gemyduguivirus (n = 1), and Gemykibivirus (n = 1) genera. This is the first record, to our knowledge, of genomoviruses associated with a phytophagous insect.

Host specialization is a ubiquitous character of phytophagous insects. The polyphagous population is usually composed of some subpopulations that can use only a few closely related plants. Cotton-melon aphids, Aphis gossypii Glover exhibited strong host specialization, and the cotton- and cucurbits-specialized biotypes had been clearly identified. However, the experimental work that addressed t...