Genome Sequence Resource of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' from Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in Colombia.

'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (CLas) is an unculturable phloem-restricted α-proteobacterium associated with huanglongbing (HLB). Here, we provide the genome sequence of CLas strain CoFLP1 from its insect vector Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) collected in the department of La Guajira, Colombia. The CoFLP1 strain is composed of 1,231,639 bp with G+C 36.5% content. This study reports the first CLas genome sequence from Colombia, which will add to CLas genome resources and help to elucidate our understanding of the introduction pathway of HLB in South America.

Description of a new ant- and stingless-bee-loving species of Cryptostigma Ferris (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from Ecuador living inside internodes of Cecropia (Urticaceae), with an updated key to the adult females and first-instar nymphs of the genus.

A new soft scale species, Cryptostigma cecropiaphilum Kondo & Roubik, sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae), is described from specimens collected from inside hollow branches (internodes) of Cecropia ficifolia Warb. ex Snethl and Cecropia sciadophylla Mart. (Urticaceae), in Orellana province, Ecuador. The new species was found in association with three mutualistic hymenopterans: two species of Plebeia Schwarz, subgenus Nanoplebeia Engel (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini), and Azteca sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae). The new species of coccid is described based on the morphology of the adult female and first-instar nymph. Keys to the known adult females and first-instar nymphs of Cryptostigma Ferris are provided.

Unsung heroes: fixing multifaceted sustainability challenges through insect biological control.

Insects are indispensable actors within global agri-food systems and ensure the delivery of myriad ecosystem services. A progressive decline in insect numbers - as inflicted by habitat loss, pollution or intensive agriculture - can jeopardize a sustained provisioning of those services. Though we routinely disregard how insects help meet multiple sustainable development challenges, a gradual insect decline can have grave, long-lasting consequences. Here, we describe how insect-mediated biological control not only defuses invasive pests and can reconstitute crop productivity, but equally delivers other positive social-ecological outcomes. Drawing upon the pan-tropical invasion of the cassava mealybug and its ensuing suppression by the monophagous parasitoid Anagyrus lopezi, we illuminate how biological control contributes to food security, poverty alleviation, human wellbeing and environmental preservation. Trans-disciplinary research and 'systems thinking' are needed to maximize the potential of these biodiversity-driven interventions, and thus reap the net positive spin-offs insects provide for farmers, the environment and human society.

Studies on the genus Ripersiella Tinsley (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Rhizoecidae) in the Neotropical region, with description of a new species.

The Neotropical scale insect genus Ripersiella Tinsley (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Rhizoecidae) was investigated, based on soil samples deposited at the Hungarian Natural History Museum. Description and illustration of a new species, Ripersiella incarum Kaydan Szita sp. n., and an identification key and new additional locality records for the currently known Ripersiella species in the Neotropical region, are provided and discussed.

Establishment and optimization of a hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) agroinfiltration system for gene expression and silencing studies.

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a high-yielding annual crop primarily grown for fiber, seeds, and oil. Due to the phytochemical composition of hemp, there has been an increased interest in the market for nutraceuticals and dietary supplements for human health. Recent omics analysis has led to the elucidation of hemp candidate genes involved in the syntheses of specialized metabolites. However, a detailed study of these genes has not been undertaken due to the lack of a stable transformation system. We report for the first time an agroinfiltration system in hemp utilizing vacuum infiltration, which is an alternative method to stable transformation. A combination of 0.015% Silwett L-77, 5 mM ascorbic acid, and thirty second sonication followed by a 10-minute vacuum treatment resulted in the highest ß-glucuronidase expression in the leaf, male and female flowers, stem, and root tissues. The phytoene desaturase gene was silenced with a transient hairpin RNA expression, resulting in an albino phenotype in the leaves and the male and female flowers. This agroinfiltration system would be useful for overexpression and silencing studies of target genes to regulate the yield of specialized metabolites in hemp.

Description and Biological Studies of a New Species of Metaphycus Mercet, 1917 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), A Parasitoid of Capulinia linarosae Kondo & Gullan.

The guava cottony scale, Capulinia linarosae Kondo & Gullan (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae), is an important pest of guava, Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) in northern Colombia and Venezuela. A species of Metaphycus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is the only known primary parasitoid associated with this insect pest. The parasitoid is herein described as M. marensis Chirinos & Kondo, sp. nov., based on morphological characteristics of the adult female and male. Biological studies on adult longevity, fecundity, host preference, and sex ratio were conducted. The maximum longevity of the female and the male were 8.0 and 6.5 days, respectively, when fed with diluted honey. On average, a fed mated female laid approximately 40 eggs. Adult females of M. marensis were shown to prefer to parasitize 11- to 15-day-old adult females of C. linarosae and do not parasitize first-instar nymphs of the host eriococcid. The female-to-male sex ratio of the parasitoid was 2.24: 1. When ovipositing females of M. marensis were given only small-sized individuals (second-instar nymphs) of C. linarosae, generally the resulting progeny was a single male wasp. This parasitoid species has arrhenotokous reproduction and is a facultative gregarious parasitoid. These results show a short adult longevity, as well as a relatively low fecundity of the female compared with studies conducted on other Metaphycus species. This study provides essential baseline information for future biological control programmes for C. linarosae.

Neotype designation and redescription of Toumeyella liriodendri (Gmelin) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae).

In order to clarify the taxonomic status and to preserve the stability of the species, a neotype is designated for the tuliptree scale: Coccus liriodendri Gmelin (now Toumeyella liriodendri). The adult female of this scale insect is redescribed and illustrated from newly collected specimens in its native range and on its type host, the tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera L. (Magnoliales: Magoliaceae).

A newly recognised species of Cryptes Maskell 1892 (Hemiptera: Coccidae) from Western Australia.

Cryptes utzoni Lin, Kondo Cook sp. n. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is described based on adult female morphology and DNA sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear loci. This Australian endemic species was found on the stem of Acacia aneura (Fabaceae) in Western Australia. All phylogenetic analyses of three independent DNA loci show that C. utzoni is closely related to C. baccatus (Maskell), the type and only species of Cryptes Maskell, 1892. The adult female of C. utzoni is described and illustrated and a table is provided of the characters that differ among adult females of the two species of Cryptes now recognised (C. baccatus and C. utzoni) and a morphologically similar Western Australian species, Austrolichtensia hakearum (Fuller). There is deep genetic divergence in COI among samples of C. baccatus, suggesting the possibility of a species complex in this taxon.

Description of a New Genus and New Species of Soft Scale Insect (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from Cuba.

A new neotropical genus and species of soft scale insect from Cuba, Hamonicoccus Mestre and Kondo gen. nov. is described and Hamonicoccus alayoi Mestre and Kondo sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) is described and illustrated based on the adult female. The species was collected in Cayos de las Cinco Leguas, Matanzas Province, on Capparis cynophallophora (Capparaceae), and in Surgidero de Batabanó, Mayabeque Province, on Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae). The affinities of H alayoi sp. nov. with closely related species is discussed based on published literature. An updated list of soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae) known from Cuba is provided.

Taxonomy of coccids (Hemiptera: Coccidae: Coccus L.) associated with Crematogaster ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the stems of Macaranga plants (Euphorbiaceae) in Southeast Asia.

The Southeast Asian soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) associated with ants of the Crematogaster borneensis-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and living in the hollow stems of Macaranga plants (Euphorbiaceae) are revised taxonomically. Ten species of the genus Coccus L. are recognised: seven were described previously and three new species are described herein. The species are: Coccus caviramicolus Morrison, C. circularis Morrison, C. heckrothi Gullan Kondo sp. n., C. lambirensis Gullan Kondo sp. n., C. macarangicolus Takahashi, C. macarangae Morrison, C. penangensis Morrison, C. pseudotumuliferus Gullan Kondo sp. n., C. secretus Morrison and C. tumuliferus Morrison. All of these species are described or redescribed and newly illustrated based on the adult females, and a key to distinguish the species is provided. We designate a lectotype for C. macarangicolus. The first-instar nymphs of all species are morphologically extremely similar and therefore only the first-instar nymph of C. macarangae is described and illustrated. Seven of these species currently are known only from Macaranga, but C. macarangae, C. secretus and perhaps C. pseudotumuliferus have been recorded from the hollow stems of several other ant-plants and a few non-myrmecophytes. The Coccus species from Macaranga are closely related to C. hesperidum L., the type species of the genus, and therefore are retained in the genus Coccus even though the adult females exhibit a few morphological differences from C. hesperidum. The species of Coccus from Macaranga appear to be parthenogenetic because no male nymphs or adults have been found, despite extensive collecting.

Description of two new species of Cryptinglisia Cockerell (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) associated with rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) in Colombia.

In this study, two new species of soft scale (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) associated with rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) from Colombia, Cryptinglisia corpoica Kondo Montes sp. nov. and Cryptinglisia ica Montes Kondo sp. nov. are described and illustrated based on the adult female. Two other coccid species, namely Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner) and Saissetia coffeae (Walker), are newly recorded on rosemary. An identification key is presented to all species of soft scale that have been reported on Rosmarinus spp. An updated key to soft scale insects of the genus Cryptinglisia Cockerell is provided also.

A second species of Etiennea (Coccidae: Coccoidea: Sternorrhyncha) from the New World.

The genus Etiennea Matile-Ferrero (Coccidae: Coccoidea) currently contains 19 species, all but one of them restricted to Africa, the exception being from Guyana. The present paper describes the adult female of a further species, Etiennea bursera sp. nov., from the New World (Mexico). The key in Hodgson (1991) is augmented to separate the new species from the others in the genus. The relationships of Etiennea to other coccid genera are briefly discussed.

Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) on sugarcane in Colombia, with description of a new species of Tillancoccus Ben-Dov (Coccidae).

Herein we describe a new species, Tillancoccus koreguajae Caballero & Ramos, sp. n. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) from Colombia collected on sugarcane. Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) is also recorded on sugarcane for the first time worldwide. An updated list of seven species of Coccomorpha on sugarcane in Colombia is provided, including information on its distribution, biology, and mutualistic ants for each species. Seven species of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) have been recorded previously on sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum L. (Poaceae) in Colombia: Pseudococcidae: Dysmicoccus boninsis (Kuwana), D. brevipes (Cockerell), Pseudococcus calceolariae (Maskell), Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell); Coccidae: Pulvinaria elongata Newstead; Diaspididae: Duplachionaspis divergens (Green) and Serenaspis minima (Maskell). However, the record of S. minima in Colombia is considered doubtful as there are no voucher specimens from Colombia and because the distribution of this species is currently limited to the Australasian region. Pseudococcus calceolariae is present in Colombia but its record on sugarcane is also doubtful. A taxonomic key for the identification of scale insects on sugarcane in Colombia is provided.

Species delimitation in asexual insects of economic importance: The case of black scale (Parasaissetia nigra), a cosmopolitan parthenogenetic pest scale insect.

Asexual lineages provide a challenge to species delimitation because species concepts either have little biological meaning for them or are arbitrary, since every individual is monophyletic and reproductively isolated from all other individuals. However, recognition and naming of asexual species is important to conservation and economic applications. Some scale insects are widespread and polyphagous pests of plants, and several species have been found to comprise cryptic species complexes. Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner, 1861) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is a parthenogenetic, cosmopolitan and polyphagous pest that feeds on plant species from more than 80 families. Here, we implement multiple approaches to assess the species status of P. nigra, including coalescence-based analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, and ecological niche modelling. Our results indicate that the sampled specimens of P. nigra should be considered to comprise at least two ecotypes (or "species") that are ecologically differentiated, particularly in relation to temperature and moisture. The presence of more than one ecotype under the current concept of P. nigra has implications for biosecurity because the geographic extent of each type is not fully known: some countries may currently have only one of the biotypes. Introduction of additional lineages could expand the geographic extent of damage by the pest in some countries.

A new African soft scale genus, Pseudocribrolecanium gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae), erected for two species, including the citrus pest P. andersoni (Newstead) comb. nov.

A new African genus of soft scale insects, Pseudocribrolecanium gen. nov. is erected to accommodate Akermes colae Green & Laing and Cribrolecanium andersoni (Newstead). The adult females and first-instar nymphs of the two species are redescribed and illustrated. Taxonomic keys to separate the adult females and first-instar nymphs are provided. The affinity of Pseudocribrolecanium with the tribe Paralecaniini in the subfamily Coccinae is discussed.

Description of a new soft scale insect of the genus Pulvinaria Targioni Tozzetti (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Coccidae) from Bogota, Colombia.

A new soft scale (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae) species, Pulvinariacaballeroramosae Tanaka & Kondo, sp. n., is described from specimens collected on twigs of Ficussoatensis Dugand (Moraceae) in Bogota, Colombia. The new species resembles Pulvinariadrymiswinteri Kondo & Gullan, described from Chile on Drimyswinteri J.R. Forst. & G. Forst. (Winteraceae), but differs in the distribution of preopercular pores on the dorsum, the presence of dorsal tubular ducts, dorsal microducts, and reticulation on the anal plates; and in its feeding habits, i.e., Pulvinariacaballeroramosae feeds on the twigs whereas Pulvinariadrymiswinteri feeds on the leaves of its host. A key to the Colombian species of Pulvinaria Targioni Tozzetti is provided.

The cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti) in Asia: first records, potential distribution, and an identification key.

Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), one of the most serious pests of cassava worldwide, has recently reached Asia, raising significant concern over its potential spread throughout the region. To support management decisions, this article reports recent distribution records, and estimates the climatic suitability for its regional spread using a CLIMEX distribution model. The article also presents a taxonomic key that separates P. manihoti from all other mealybug species associated with the genus Manihot. Model predictions suggest P. manihoti imposes an important, yet differential, threat to cassava production in Asia. Predicted risk is most acute in the southern end of Karnataka in India, the eastern end of the Ninh Thuan province in Vietnam, and in most of West Timor in Indonesia. The model also suggests P. manihoti is likely to be limited by cold stress across Vietnam's northern regions and in the entire Guangxi province in China, and by high rainfall across the wet tropics in Indonesia and the Philippines. Predictions should be particularly important to guide management decisions for high risk areas where P. manihoti is absent (e.g., India), or where it has established but populations remain small and localized (e.g., South Vietnam). Results from this article should help decision-makers assess site-specific risk of invasion, and develop proportional prevention and surveillance programs for early detection and rapid response.

A new species of Crypticerya Cockerell (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) from Colombia, with a key to species of the tribe iceryini found in South America.

The adult female and first-instar nymph of a new species of iceryine scale insect, Crypticerya multicicatrices Kondo & Unruh sp. n., are described and illustrated. The new scale insect is polyphagous and was collected on 13 plant species distributed in seven botanical families, including fruit trees of economic importance such as mango and soursop. A taxonomic key to the species of the tribe Iceryini known from South America is provided. Previous records of C. brasiliensis (Hempel) from Colombia are confirmed to be misidentifications of this new species.

Synonymy of Plotococcus Miller & Denno with Leptococcus Reyne, and description of a new species from Colombia (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae).

Plotococcus Miller & Denno is synonymized with Leptococcus Reyne (Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae). The genus is redescribed and the adult female of the type species, L. metroxyli Reyne, is redescribed and illustrated. All species hitherto included in Plotococcus are transferred to Leptococcus as L. capixaba (Kondo) comb. nov., L. eugeniae (Miller & Denno) comb. nov., L. hambletoni (Kondo) comb. nov., L. minutus (Hempel) comb. nov., and L. neotropicus (Williams & Granara de Willink) comb. nov. A new species of Leptococcus, L. rodmani Kondo sp. n., from leaves of Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae) from Colombia, is described and illustrated based on the adult female. A revised key to adult females of all species in the genus is provided.

Description of a new species of Toumeyella Cockerell (Hemiptera, Coccidae) from Mexico, with a taxonomic key to mexican species / Descrição de uma nova espécie de Toumeyella Cockerell (Hemiptera, Coccidae) do México e chave do gênero para as espécies mexicanas

A new species of soft scale insect from Mexico, Toumeyella fontanai Kondo & Pellizzari sp. nov. is des-cribed and illustrated. A taxonomic key to the species of scale insects of the genus Toumeyella Cockerell known in Mexico is provided.

Uma nova espécie de coccídeo do México, Toumeyella fontanai Kondo & Pellizzari sp. nov., é descrita e ilustrada. Uma chave taxonômica para separar as espécies de cochonilhas do gênero Toumeyella Cockerell que ocorrem no México é fornecida.