Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) fraserensis, new species, a Dacinae fruit fly from Peninsular Malaysia is described and illustrated. It closely resembles Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) atrifacies Perkins, Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) scutellaris (Bezzi) and Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) scutellata (Hendel). The differences between these species are given. New records from Peninsular Malaysia are Acanthonevra hemileina Hering, Acanthonevra shinonagai Hardy, Phaeospilodes fenestella (Coquillett), Sphenella sinensis Schiner and Trupanea glauca (Thomson). New records from East Malaysia are Calloptera asteria (Hendel), Dacus (Callantra) ooii Drew & Hancock, and Dacus (Callantra) vijaysegarani Drew & Hancock, while those from Brunei Darussalam are Carpophthorella sookae Chua and Euphranta sabahensis Hancock & Drew.

Aphids cause damage to numerous crops and ornamentals. Most of them are relatively host specific, but some species are polyphagous and feed on several different hosts. In this paper we present new records for Aphis gossypii Glover, Aphis spiraecola Patch, Myzus ornatus Laing, Myzus persicae Sulzer, Hysteroneura setariae Thomas and Schizaphis rotundiventris Signoret, on several hosts belonging to a wide variety of plant families.

Gratiana boliviana Spaeth (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), the first biocontrol agent introduced against tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum Dunal (Solanaceae), was released in Florida in the summer 2003. Post-release evaluations have focused on insect population changes and the impact of insect feeding damage on the plant defoliation and fruit production of the target weed. Gratiana boliviana quickly established in the release sites, and dispersed causing extensive defoliations to tropical soda apple plants and significant reduction of fruit production. Plant defoliation during the first growing season was directly associated with the increase in number of beetles observed on the tropical soda apple plants. Beetles showed a dispersal ability from the release sites of 1.6 km per year. Two years after the beetle release, most of the tropical soda apple plants at the 3-ha release site in Polk County and at the release site in Okeechobee County, Florida have been replaced by other plant species, resulting in improved pastures. No negative non-target effects have been observed, even in plants closely related, such as the non-natives Solanum capsicoides Allioni and Solanum torvum Swartz that were growing in the proximity or mixed with tropical soda apple in the monitored sites.

The fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini) of northeastern Mexico are poorly known. Herein new distributional records in NE Mexico and habitat observations are provided for the fungus-growing ants Apterostigma mexicanum Lattke, Atta texana (Buckley), Cyphomyrmex rimosus (Spinola), Mycocepurus smithii Forel, Mycetosoritis hartmanni Wheeler, Sericomyrmex aztecus Wheeler, Trachymyrmex smithi Buren, and Trachymyrmex turrifex Wheeler.

We investigated the behavioral responses of neonate and mature (6th instar) larvae, and mated females of Estigmene acrea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) to a range of wavelengths under laboratory conditions. The behavioral responses of E. acrea were determined by means of choice tests, exposing the insects to 2 different wavelengths, ranging from 340–670 nm (ultraviolet to red colors), of the same intensity in selection chambers. Both neonate and mature larvae were significantly more attracted to 380, 400, and 520 nm than to the control wavelength of 570 nm. Because E. acrea is a generalist species that moves between plants to feed, it may be important for a larva to detect and move towards green foliage in preference to the ground or other objects. Mated females were significantly more attracted to the wavelengths of 340, 350, 370, 380, 420 and 460 nm than to the control wavelength. Females may use ultraviolet and blue lights as orientation cues during the searching behavior for oviposition sites.

The preimaginal stages of 2 species of Liris, including the egg, 2 mature and 1 immature larvae are described. The mature larva of L. niger (Fabricius) described is very similar to the previously known immature one. The mature larva of L. festinans praetermissus (Richards) differs only in minor details from that of L. niger, with the presence in the first one of parietal bands being outstanding. To date, the last larval stage of subtribe Larrina can be defined by the following character states: (a) head no higher than wide, (b) mandible with 4 or more teeth, (c) epipharynx with a large number of slender spinules, which tend to converge toward the midline, and (d) labrum rounded apically Within the Larrina, the mature larva of Liris is characterized by the autapomorphy “epipharynx spinulose, with a bare area in the center”.

Two lepturine longicorn beetles, Oxymirus cursor (Linnaeus, 1758) and Leptura aurulenta Fabricius, 1792 with zoogeographical remarks are recorded for the first time in Turkey.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, is a vector of the phloem-inhabiting bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, a pathogen associated with the economically important citrus disease known as huanglongbing. Knowledge of the molecular genetics of D. citri and other insects provides insights into the basic biology of insects. For example, insects can be subjected to stressful conditions and then screened to determine if the conditions promote specific genetic responses. Such information, by identifying critical genetic responses linked to survival, can then be used in the development of genetic tools and in novel management strategies aimed at reducing psyllids populations. In this study, transcriptional responses of D. citri adults against 3 stress factors were investigated: physical wounding, heat stress, and exposure to low doses of the insecticide imidacloprid. No measureable transcriptional activity was observed for genes (cyp, gst, CuZn-SOD, hsc70, or hsp90), which, in other insects, have been shown to respond to either physical wounding, heat stress, or exposure to insecticides. However, increased transcriptional activity of a heat-shock gene, hsp70, was found in adult psyllids exposed to 42°C, although 6 h of exposure to this temperature was lethal to psyllids. These results suggest that hsp70 may play a role in response to heat stress of D. citri. Summer temperatures can exceed 37°C in Florida, Texas and California areas where the psyllids now occurs. Natural temperature fluctuations and gradual increases provide enough time for psyllids to acclimate to hot summer temperatures. We propose that the development of a method to disrupt gene expression, such as hsp70, may be applicable for future strategies to suppress psyllids populations.

Two new species: Loboscelidia levigata sp. nov. and Loboscelidia striolata sp. nov. from China are described and illustrated. A key to the Chinese species is provided. Specimens are deposited in the Hymenoptera Collection of South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou (SCAU). In addition, L. sinensis and L. guangxiensis are redescribed from material collected with L. levigata and L. striolata.

Pseudomyrmex gracilis is a large, slender arboreal ant with a painful sting. This species has a broad native range spanning much of the New World tropics and subtropics. In addition, P. gracilis has established exotic populations, notably in Florida and Hawaii. Here, I compiled and mapped records of P. gracilis from >1500 sites in 32 geographic areas (countries and US states) to evaluate its worldwide distribution and update information on its recent spread. Pseudomyrmex gracilis has an essentially continuous distribution ranging from southern Uruguay (∼34.9°S) and central Argentina (∼34.5°S), through much of South and Central America, to southern Texas (∼31.3°N), with recent records (all since 1995) in southern Louisiana (29.9–31.3°N). Populations of P. gracilis were first discovered in southeast Florida in 1960. Since then, P. gracilis populations have expanded northward in Florida, up to ∼30.8°N. In 2009, a P. gracilis population was discovered in Mississippi (∼30.6°N). Genetic analyses are needed to determine whether the recent appearance of P. gracilis in Louisiana and Mississippi has resulted from this species expanding its range eastward out of Texas or westward out of Florida. Exotic populations of P. gracilis in Hawaii were first found on Oahu in 1976. There are now >20 reports of P. gracilis from Oahu, Kaho'olawe, and Maui, suggesting that the Hawaiian populations are expanding. Finally, there are a few exotic records of P. gracilis from the West Indies: Barbados, Guadeloupe, and Jamaica. It remains to seen whether or not the wide-ranging P. gracilis, which has become so well established across Florida, will show comparable success in Hawaii and other regions it has invaded.

We provide new records of parasitoids (Hymenoptera) attacking bamboo fly (Tephritidae: Phytalmiinae, Dacinae) larvae in Malaysia. At least 7 parasitoid species from 4 families emerged from bamboo fly puparia. Most parasitoids were recovered from larvae that had bred in live shoots, although some stemmed from larvae that had developed in dead culms. Parasitoid developmental times ranged between 7 and 19 d. The braconid parasitoids of bamboo-infesting tephritids belong to the Alysiinae (Phaenocarpa Foerster) and Opiinae (Fopius Wharton, Psyttalia Walker). Hosts for some species have not been recorded previously. We also reared the alysiine Heratemis filosa Walker from puparia of cyclorrhaphous Diptera infesting bamboo shoots that had been attacked previously by the weevil Cyrtotrachelus sp.

This paper is the first of a series treating the genus Promalactis (Lepidoptera, Oecophoridae) of Northern Vietnam, and 5 new species are described based on material mainly collected in the northern part of Vietnam since 2002. The new species are Promalactis albisquama sp. nov., P. griselocula sp. nov., P. heppneri sp. nov., P. rectifascia sp. nov., and P. vittapenna sp. nov. Adults, heads, wing venations, and the male or female genitalia of the new species are illustrated.

Citrus canker (caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, Xcc) is an important bacterial disease of citrus that is spread naturally by rain and wind. Feeding damage to citrus leaves by the citrus leafminer (CLM), Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), has been shown to promote infection levels of citrus canker in a number of citrus-growing regions around the world. We conducted 2 studies to document that CLM damage exacerbates canker in Florida citrus. In 1 study, young citrus trees of 5 cultivare commonly grown in Florida were inoculated with a culture of Xcc. Two groups of trees were studied, 1 group with leaves damaged by CLM and 1 group that was treated with a pesticide to prevent CLM damage. Over all 5 cultivars, comparisons between the 2 groups of trees indicated that CLM damage resulted in 6-fold increase in the number of lesions. No difference was found between the 2 groups with respect to numbers of canker lesions on leaves without CLM damage. In the second study, a survey of commercial citrus groves was conducted to investigate incidence of canker on leaves with and without CLM injury. Low percentages of leaves infected by citrus canker were observed during the survey, with a maximum of 15% of leaves infected in 1 grove. However, during late Jul and Aug in some grapefruit and lemon groves, an average of 79% of leaves with canker had lesions directly associated with CLM damage, and an average of 36 more lesions per leaf was present on leaves with CLM damage. Exacerbation of canker by CLM during Jul and Aug coincided with the time of year when environmental conditions are usually optimal for canker in Florida and when population levels of CLM usually are most abundant. Citrus growers managing citrus canker should benefit from controlling CLM during the summer when conditions are favorable for canker infections, particularly in lemons and grapefruits.

A new species of Ptinus, collected in the Dominican Republic, is described and compared to the known West Indian fauna. The species is distinguished by the pronotum with 2 lateral spines and dorsally with 2 loose setal tufts medially on rounded protuberances, and an elytral setal pattern approximately in a triangular or heart-shaped outline. A checklist of the known West Indies Ptinidae (excluding the Anobiidae) is given.

A new species of Dacetine ant, Pyramica subnuda new species, is described from Mississippi. The new species, known only from a single dealate queen, differs from most North American species of Pyramica in that it lacks spongiform tissue beneath the petiole and gaster and only has a reduced amount of spongiform tissue below the postpetiole. This species is provisionally placed in the schultzi group based on similarities of mandibular dentition, lack of spongiform tissue on the petiole, and other characters that define the group. Additionally, 6 new state records of ants in the genus Pyramica are reported for Mississippi: Pyramica abdita (Wesson and Wesson), P. filirrhina (Brown), P. inopina (Deyrup and Cover), P. margaritae (Forel), P. pergandei (Emery), and P. wrayi (Brown).

Aquatic macroinvertebrates play important roles in freshwater ecosystems. The larvae of the vector mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) primarily reside in standing water rich in organic matter; these conditions are also suited for growth of microbial biofilms. As microbes serve as a food source for larvae, the study of interactions between microbial biofilms and C. quinquefasciatus can aid in understanding the routes by which aquatic larvae can acquire pathogens, and the role such larvae may play in environmental persistence of microorganisms. Studies in butterflies, nematodes, and ticks have described interactions with bacteria acquired by the oral route, including arthropods that play a role in dissemination of bacteria on beet plants. In pursuit of these goals, this manuscript describes a new protocol for investigating larval mosquito feeding on microbial biofilms. Fluorescent microscopy and GFP expressing bacterial strains were used to show larval acquisition and midgut localization of bacteria from both planktonic and biofilm sources. PCR testing for the GFP plasmid confirmed presence of the test strain in fed larvae. The results of microscopy and PCR assays demonstrate that Culex quinquefasciatus larvae will feed on microbial biofilms in a laboratory environment. The efficiency of studying microbial fate through common microscopic and molecular techniques, in combination with an easily maintained vector insect colony, means this approach can be used to investigate a multitude of research questions relating to microbial effects on larval physiology, fitness, and conditioning.

Endoparasitoid phorid flies, Pseudacteon spp. (Diptera: Phoridae) are important biological control agents of imported fire ants Solenopsis invicta Buren, and S. richteri Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The impact on phorid flies by insecticides, particularly insect growth regulators, used in controlling imported fire ants has yet to be explored. Red imported fire ants parasitized by Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier were exposed to methoprene and pyriproxyfen, the active ingredients used in some fire ant baits. These chemicals are insect growth regulators (IGRs), which affect the reproductive capabilities of the colony, but have no acute toxicity to fire ant workers. An experiment tested the effects of the 2 IGRs on the phorid fly larva at 2 time intervals (d 6 and 10 post-parasitism), when the larva was present in the thorax and head of the adult ant host, respectively. The mean proportion of emerged P. tricuspis from methoprene and pyriproxyfen treatments was significantly reduced relative to the control. Timing of exposure to the IGRs (ds post-parasitism) did not have a significant impact on the emergence of the phorid fly.

The influence of intercropping strips of non-crop vegetation on the above-ground arthropod community was assessed, including natural enemy populations and interference with pest colonization in an adjacent yellow squash crop (Cucurbita pepo L.). Four non-crop border treatments were evaluated including: sorghum × sudangrass hybrid (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf); pigeon pea, (Cajanus cajan (L.) (Millsp.); the native weed complex; and a bare ground control. Border treatments were established on both sides of experimental plots containing ‘Early Crookneck’ squash. Sticky cards, pitfall traps, pan traps, and in situ counts were used to assess differences in the arthropod community within each of the border treatments and the adjacent squash crop. Natural enemies were most abundant in the native weed complex and pigeon pea borders; however, the spill-over of natural enemies into the neighboring crop was only observed in 2008, when predatory Coleoptera were most abundant in both the sorghum-sudangrass treatment and adjacent squash. Border crops did not influence the movement of thrips and whiteflies; however, in situ aphid counts were lower on squash bordered by sorghum-sudangrass than in the control. Flea beetles (Altica spp.) were consistently most abundant in the bare ground border, but many arthropod groups were unaffected by the treatments. None of the border treatments could prevent a heavy infestation of melonworm (Diaphania hyalinata L.), which defoliated and killed many of the squash plants.

Bee surveys were conducted in Alachua County, Florida, at 1 to 6 sites within each of 4 natural areas including 2 large state preserves. Bees were collected passively with colored cups and actively with nets. A total of 2,590 bees were captured belonging to 34 genera and 111 species. Of the 5 bee families found, Apidae was represented by the most species, whereas the 6 most numerous species were Halictidae. Six species are new state records for Florida. Males of the rarely-collected Florida endemic bee Stelis ater Mitchell were discovered, and this species is reported for the first time as a cleptoparasite of Osmia chalybea Smith, confirmed by rearing from trap nests. Other potential new host-parasite associations are discussed. Bee species lists and ecological patterns are compared with those from previous surveys in southern Florida. Distinctive characteristics of the north-central Florida bee fauna are discussed including the presence of both northern and peninsular species, subspecies, and populations.