The Complete Mitochondrial Genomes of Five Nivanini Species (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae) With Phylogenetic Analysis.

To delve deeper into the phylogenetic relationships within Cicadellidae and the taxonomic arrangement of Evacanthinae, our study focuses on the mitochondrial genome sequencing of five Nivanini species: Extensus latus, Concavepiana hamulusa, Sophonia nigrilineata, Sophonia microstaina, and Sophonia fuscomarginata. The results showed that the length of the five mitochondrial genomes ranged from 15,610 to 16,032 bp and included 37 typical genes. The A + T content of Nivanini ranged from 72.5% to 78.7%, which is consistent with that of other sequenced Evacanthinae species. All transfer RNAs (tRNAs) exhibit the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for trnS (AGY), which lacks the dihydrouracil (DHU) arm. With regard to protein-coding genes, all started with ATN codons, except for atp8, and most of them use TAA or TAG as termination codons. Using the Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods, a phylogenetic tree based on all 37 genes was constructed, with a total of 57 Cicadellidae species and two outgroups included as research objects. The analyses confirmed the monophyletic nature of each subfamily, highlighting Deltocephalinae as the oldest, distinctively parallel to the others.

Description of a new species of the genus Paralecanium Cockerell & Bueker (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from China.

A new species of soft scale insect (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) belonging to the genus Paralecanium Cockerell & Bueker, P. sabia Tan, Meng & Xing sp. n., is described and illustrated. It was found on the leaves of Sabia swinhoei Hemsl (Sabiaceae) in Guizhou Maolan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China. Habitat photographs and illustrations are provided. The type material of P. sabia sp. n. is deposited at the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC) and in the insect collection at the Department of Forestry Protection, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China (NFUC). An identification key to separate the 28 species in Paralecanium, based on the morphology of adult females, is provided.

Two new species of Aulacaspis Cockerell, 1893 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China, with an identification key to Chinese species.

Two new armoured scale insect species (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) are described and illustrated from Guizhou Province, China. Aulacaspis pericampylus sp. n. was collected from Pericampylus glaucus (Menispermaceae) and Aulacaspis multispinata sp. n. was collected from Cinnamomum camphora (Lauraceae). The type specimens of both new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC). A key to the Aulacaspis species known from China, based on the morphology of the adult females, is provided.

Description of a new leafhopper species of the genus Sophonia Walker (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae) from China.

A new leafhopper species Sophonia furcata sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Sichuan Province, China. A key is given to distinguish all Chinese species of the genus. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Validation of taxon names described in Deltocephalinae from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).

The purpose of this paper is to validate 4 generic names and 34 specific names previously introduced in the Deltocephalinae from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) by Li, Dai & Xing (2011). The names are unavailable in the original publication, because of the missing information on the type specimen repository. The following genera and species are introduced as new in this publication: Bambusananus, Li & Xing; Branchana Li; Cyclevertex Li & Xing; Lineana Li & Xing; Abrus biprocessus Li; Abrus graciaedeagus Li; Bambusana biflaka Li; Bambusana nigrimaculata Li; Bambusananus furcatus Li & Xing; Branchana xanthota Li; Cyclevertex furcatum Li & Xing; Lineana albipunctata Li & Xing; Lineana ductaedeagusa Li & Xing; Protensus nigrifrons Li & Xing; Protensus yanheensis Li & Xing; Paramesodes menghaiensis Xing & Li; Yuanamia producta (Xing & Li, 2011); Hishimonoides brevis Li, 2011; Litura tripunctata Li; Changwhania huajiangensis Xing & Li; Elginus productus Xing & Li; Metalimnus maoershanensis Xing & Li; Nicolaus bihamatus Xing & Li; Paralaevicephalus bisubulatus Xing & Li; Paralaevicephalus brevissimus Xing & Li; Paralaevicephalus spinosus Xing & Li; Scaphoideus annulatus Li; Scaphoideus bannaensis Li; Longicornus longus Xing & Li; Melanetettix mengyangensis Xing & Li; Osbornellus aurantius Xing & Li; Osbornellus suiyangensis Xing & Li; Osbornellus conoideus Xing & Li; Phlogothamnus acutaedeagus Li; Phlogothamnus luteoguttatus Li; Phlogothamnus productus Li & Xing; Phlogothamnus rugosus Li; Phlogotettix fanjingshanensis Li.

Key to species of the genus Riseveinus Li & Wang, 1995 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae) with description of a new species.

A new evacanthine leafhopper species Riseveinus elongatus sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Yunnan Province, China. A key is given to distinguish all species of the genus. The type specimen of the new species is deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Comparative mitochondrial genome analysis of three leafhopper species of the genus Abrus Dai & Zhang (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from China with phylogenetic implication.

BACKGROUND: The phylogenetic position and classification of Athysanini are poorly defined, as it includes a large group of polyphyletic genera that have historically been assigned to it mainly because they still exhibit the most typical deltocephaline genitalic and external body characters but lack the distinctive characteristics that other tribes possess. The bamboo-feeding leafhopper genus Abrus belong to the tribe Athysanini of subfamily Deltocephalinae, which currently comprises 19 valid described species, and are limited to the Oriental and Palaearctic regions in China. Although the taxonomy of Abrus are well updated, the references on comparative mitogenomic analyses of Abrus species are only known for a single species. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of Abrus daozhenensis Chen, Yang & Li, 2012 (16,391bp) and A. yunshanensis Chen, Yang & Li, 2012 (15,768bp) (Athysanini), and compared with published mitogenome sequence of A. expansivus Xing & Li, 2014 (15,904bp). RESULTS: These Abrus species shared highly conserved mitogenomes with similar gene order to that of the putative ancestral insect with 37 typical genes and a non-coding A + T-rich region. The nucleotide composition of these genomes is highly biased toward A + T nucleotides (76.2%, 76.3%, and 74.7%), AT-skews (0.091 to 0.095, and 0.095), negative GC-skews (- 0.138, - 0.161, and - 0.138), and codon usage. All 22 tRNA genes had typical cloverleaf secondary structures, except for trnS1 (AGN) which lacks the dihydrouridine arm, and distinctively trnG in the mitogenome of A. expansivus lacks the TψC arm. Phylogenetic analyses based on 13 PCGs, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes consistently recovered the monophyletic Opsiini, Penthimiini, Selenocephalini, Scaphoideini, and Athysanini (except Watanabella graminea, previously sequenced species as Chlorotettix nigromaculatus) based on limited available mitogenome sequence data of 37 species. CONCLUSION: At present, Abrus belongs to the tribe Athysanini based on both morphological and molecular datasets, which is strongly supported in present phylogenetic analyses in both BI and ML methods using the six concatenated datasets: amino acid sequences and nucleotides from different combinations of protein-coding genes (PCGs), ribosomal RNA (rRNAs), and transfer RNA (tRNAs). Phylogenetic trees reconstructed herein based on the BI and ML analyses consistently recovered monophylitic Athysanini, except Watanabella graminea (Athysanini) in Opsiini with high support values.

Mitogenomic phylogeny of nymphalid subfamilies confirms the basal clade position of Danainae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).

The phylogenetic relationships among the nymphalid subfamilies have largely been resolved using both morphological and molecular datasets, with the exception of a conflicting basal clade position for Libytheinae or Danainae that remains contentious between morphological and molecular studies. Several phylogenomic analyses have found that the danaine clade is sister to other nymphalid subfamilies; however, it largely depends on utilizing different molecular datasets, analysis methods, and taxon sampling. This study aimed to resolve the basal clade position and relationships among subfamilies and tribes of Nymphalinae by combining the most comprehensive available mitogenomic datasets with various analyses methods by incorporating a new Symbrenthia lilaea Hewitson sequence data. Phylogenetic relationships among 11 nymphalid subfamilies and the tribes of Nymphalinae were inferred by combining new and available mitogenomic sequence data from 80 ingroup and six outgroup species. The phylogenetic trees were reconstructed using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods based on five concatenated datasets: amino acid sequences and nucleotides from different combinations of protein-coding genes (PCGs), ribosomal RNA (rRNAs), and transfer RNA (tRNAs). Danainae is well-supported as the basal clade and sister to the remaining nymphalid subfamilies, except for the paraphyletic Libytheinae. Libytheinae was either recovered as a sister to the danaine clade followed by the satyrine clade or sister to the nymphaline + heliconiine clades, and is consistent with recent phylogenetic studies on Nymphalidae. The monophyletic Nymphalinae has been recovered in all analyses and resolves tribal-level relationships with high support values in both BI and ML analyses. We supported the monophyletic Nymphalini as a sister clade to Victorini, Melitaeini, and Kallimini + Junoniini with high supporting values in BI and ML analyses, which is consistent with previously published morphological and molecular studies.

A new species of the genus Formosaspis Takahashi, 1932 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China.

A new species of armoured scale insect, Formosaspis fanjingensis sp. n. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae), is described; it was found on Chimonobambusa spp. (Poaceae; Bambusoideae) in Guizhou Province, China. Habitat photographs and taxonomic illustrations are provided. The type specimens are deposited at the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC). An identification key based on the morphology of adult females is provided to separate all the species in the genus.

Parathlasia gen. nov. (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Ledrinae, Ledrini), a new leafhopper genus from Guizhou, China.

Parathlasia gen. nov., a new leafhopper genus and species of Ledrini, P.guizhouensis sp. nov., from Guizhou, China are described. Morphological differences between the new genus to other related Chinese genera are discussed. A key to distinguish Parathlasia from other similar genera is given.

Review of Chinese species of genus Phlogothamnus Ishihara (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with description of a new species.

The Chinese leafhopper species of the genus Phlogothamnus Ishihara,1961 are reviewed, and a new species Phlogothamnus circinatus sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Guizhou Province, China. And the species Phlogothamnus fanjingshanensis Li, 2011 treated as Phlogotettix fanjingshanensis (Li, 2011) comb. nov.. A key is given to separate all species of the genus from China. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Key to species of the genus Longicornus Li amp; Song (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with description of a new species.

A new leafhopper species: Longicornus grossus sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Yunnan Province, China. A key based on the aedeagus is given to distinguish all species of the genus. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Description of a new species of the leafhopper genus Tambocerus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from Guizhou, China.

A new leafhopper species, Tambocerus fanjingensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Guizhou Province, China. A checklist of the Chinese species of Tambocerus is provided and a key based on the male genitalia is given to distinguish the Chinese species of the genus. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Bambusaecoccus maolanensis, a new soft scale genus and species from China (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae).

A new genus of soft scale insect from Guizhou Province, China, Bambusaecoccus Meng Xing gen. n., with Bambusaecoccus maolanensis Meng Xing sp. n. (Hemiptera: Coccidae: Paralecaniini) as type species, is described and illustrated. The species was collected from bamboo, Bambusa (Dendrocalamopsis) sp. (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), under carton shelters built by the ant Crematogaster subnuda nigrosubnuda zdikmen 2010 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Type specimens of the new species are deposited at the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Japananoides, a new leafhopper genus from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae).

A new genus of the tribe Opsiini from China, Japananoides gen. nov. with J. circularis sp. nov. as type species is described and illustrated. A new synonymy is also proposed: Pseudophlepsius binotatus (Signoret, 1880) equals Phlepsopsius liupanshanensis Li, 2011 syn. nov. A checklist and key to Chinese genera of Opsiini are provided. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Seed Treatment with Diamide and Neonicotinoid Mixtures for Controlling Fall Armyworm on Corn: Toxicity Evaluation, Effects on Plant Growth and Residuality.

The diamides, chlorantraniliprole (CHL) and cyantraniliprole (CYA), have been used as seed treatment agents against the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda in China. However, large-scale application of these two insecticides is prohibited because of their high cost. The neonicotinoid insecticides, clothianidin (CLO) and thiamethoxam (THI), are cheaper and widely used. In this study, we tested the efficacy of CHL + CLO and CYA + THI as seed treatment agents against FAW larvae both in laboratory and field conditions. Laboratory experiments showed that the two binary mixtures (both 240 g.a.i.100 kg-1 corn seeds) caused FAW mortality exceeded 84.00% at 14 days after seedling emergence (DAE). The mortality of the binary mixtures were similar to either CHL (300 g.a.i.100 kg-1corn seeds) or CYA (144 g a.i.100 kg-1corn seeds), but higher than CLO (120 g.a.i.100 Kg-1corn seeds) or THI (180 g a.i.100 kg-1corn seeds). Two independent field experiments showed that both binary mixtures resulted in above 68.00% control efficacy at 14 DAE, suggesting that these insecticidal combinations could effectively control FAW over a relative long period. In addition, both binary mixtures showed no negative effects on the growth and development of corn seedlings. The residues of binary mixtures in corn leave were also lower at 28 DAE as compared to residues in CHL or CYA alone. Most importantly, the costs of CHL + CLO were reduced up to 50% and CYA + THI up to 20% when compared to singly used chemical. Totally, our results indicated that CHL + CLO and CYA + THI had the same control efficacy as CHL or CYA alone, but with much lower cost.

Two new species of Aulacaspis Cockerell, 1893 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) from China.

Two new armoured scale insects in the genus Aulacaspis (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) are described and illustrated from Guizhou Province, China. Aulacaspis paralonganae sp. n. was collected from the host-plant Schima superba (Theaceae) and A. guiyangensis sp. n. was collected from Cinnamomum camphora (Lauraceae). Aulacaspis longanae Chen, Wu Su 1980 is redescribed and a new host-plant record is reported. The type specimens of the two new species and material of A. longanae are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China. An identification key based on adult females is provided to separate Chinese species of Aulacaspis.