Re-description of 1st instar larva of Osmylusfulvicephalus (Scopoli, 1763) (Neuroptera, Osmylidae) based on naming system of sclerites.

Background: Osmylusfulvicephalus (Scopoli, 1763), the type species of the Osmylidae, has garnered significant research interest in taxonomy, particularly regarding its larval stages. To date, most studies have focused on the third instar larvae, but ignore the first instar larvae with the rough and incomplete morphological descriptions. This lack of studies has led to an unclear understanding of the morphological differences between larval stages, making it challenging to identify larvae, distinguish different osmylid species or even reconstruct phylogeny. New information: In this study, the first instar larva of O.fulvicephalus was re-described in detail and illustrated, based on the naming system of sclerites. Based on this, it could be effectively distinguished from other species by the following characteristics: i) number of segments in the labial palpi; ii) the setae beard on the apex of antenna; iii) the number of transversal rows of the anal hooks. In addition, we compared the sclerites and other morphological characteristics with the third instar larvae of Osmylusfulvicephalus to better distinguish larvae at different developmental stages.

A new species of Paraputo Laing (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) on Fagaceae from southern China.

A new species of mealybug (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), Paraputo nanlingensis Li & Wu, sp. n., is recorded on Fagaceae from Guangdong Province, China. The adult female is described and illustrated, and an identification key is provided to separate the adult females of Paraputo species known from China.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of the forestry pest Coronaproctus castanopsis.

As an important forestry pest, Coronaproctus castanopsis (Monophlebidae) has caused serious damage to the globally valuable Gutianshan ecosystem, China. In this study, we assembled the first chromosome-level genome of the female specimen of C. castanopsis by merging BGI reads, HiFi long reads and Hi-C data. The assembled genome size is 700.81 Mb, with a scaffold N50 size of 273.84 Mb and a contig N50 size of 12.37 Mb. Hi-C scaffolding assigned 98.32% (689.03 Mb) of C. Castanopsis genome to three chromosomes. The BUSCO analysis (n = 1,367) showed a completeness of 91.2%, comprising 89.2% of single-copy BUSCOs and 2.0% of multicopy BUSCOs. The mapping ratio of BGI, second-generation RNA, third-generation RNA and HiFi reads are 97.84%, 96.15%, 97.96%, and 99.33%, respectively. We also identified 64.97% (455.3 Mb) repetitive elements, 1,373 non-coding RNAs and 10,542 protein-coding genes. This study assembled a high-quality genome of C. castanopsis, which accumulated valuable molecular data for scale insects.

Cophylogenetic relationships between Anicetus parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and their scale insect hosts (Hemiptera: Coccidae).

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have investigated cospeciation between parasites and their hosts, but there have been few studies concerning parasitoids and insect hosts. The high diversity and host specialization observed in Anicetus species suggest that speciation and adaptive radiation might take place with species diversification in scale insect hosts. Here we examined the evolutionary history of the association between Anicetus species and their scale insect hosts via distance-based and tree-based methods. RESULTS: A total of 94 Anicetus individuals (nine parasitoid species) and 113 scale insect individuals (seven host species) from 14 provinces in China were collected in the present study. DNA sequence data from a mitochondrial gene (COI) and a nuclear ribosomal gene (28S D2 region) were used to reconstruct the phylogenies of Anicetus species and their hosts. The distance-based analysis showed a significant fit between Anicetus species and their hosts, but tree-based analyses suggested that this significant signal could be observed only when the cost of host-switching was high, indicating the presence of parasite sorting on related host species. CONCLUSIONS: This study, based on extensive rearing of parasitoids and species identification, provides strong evidence for a prevalence of sorting events and high host specificity in the genus Anicetus, offering insights into the diversification process of Anicetus species parasitizing scale insects.

A new felt scale genus Macroporicoccus gen. n. (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) from China, with a redescription of Macroporicoccus ulmi (Tang & Hao) comb. n. .

The Chinese species Cryptococcus ulmi Tang & Hao is found to be distantly related to other sampled Cryptococcus species based on both molecular and morphological study. A new felt scale genus, Macroporicoccus Nan & Wu gen. n., is erected therefore for C. ulmi. The new genus differs from other eriococcid genera due to the presence of large simple pores, here referred to as macrodisc pores. The adult female of Macroporicoccus ulmi (Tang & Hao) comb. n. is redescribed and illustrated. Some important taxonomic characters are illustrated with SEM photographs.

A new genus and species of the scale insect family Qinococcidae (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) from China.

A new genus of Qinococcidae, Abrococcus Zheng & Wu gen. n. is established for a new species Abrococcus cunninghamia Zheng & Wu sp. n., which was collected on Cunninghamia lanceolata (Cupressaceae) from Guizhou Province, P. R. China. Descriptions and illustrations are provided for the adult female and first-, second- and third-instar female nymphs. Keys to the adult females and first-instar nymphs of the genera of Qinococcidae and known developmental stages of A. cunninghamia are provided.

Morphology of all the developmental stages of Neogreenia osmanthus (Yang & Hu) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha), and transfer of the genera Neogreenia MacGillivray and Jansenus Foldi to the family Qinococcidae.

All the developmental stages of Neogreenia osmanthus (Yang & Hu 1994) are described and illustrated (first- and second-instar nymphs, third-instar male and female nymphs, pupa and adult male), and the adult female is redescribed and re-illustrated. A key to all the developmental stages is provided and a brief biology of N. osmanthus is given. The relationship between the genus Neogreenia MacGillivray and Qinococcus Wu is discussed. Neogreenia (in the family Kuwaniidae) and the genus Jansenus Foldi (in the family Xylococcidae) are transferred to the family Qinococcidae, and the diagnosis of Qinococcidae is revised.

A new genus and species of giant mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Monophlebidae) from eastern China.

A new genus of giant mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha; Monophlebidae), Coronaproctus Li, Xu & Wu gen. nov., is established for the species Coronaproctus castanopsis Li, Xu & Wu sp. nov., collected from Zhejiang province, China on the twigs of Castanopsis eyrei (Fagaceae). The adult female and male are described and illustrated. The new genus is characterized by the adult female possessing quadrilocular disc pores, 13 cicatrices on the venter, and a U-shaped opening of the marsupium, but lacking large bilocular pores.

Phylogenetic Implications of Mitogenomic Sequences and Gene Rearrangements of Scale Insects (Hemiptera, Coccoidea).

Coccoidea (scale insects) are important plant parasites with high diversity of species. However, the phylogenetic relationship within Coccoidea has not been fully determined. In this study, we sequenced mitogenomes of six species belonging to five coccoid families. With the addition of three previously published mitogenomes, a total of 12 coccoid species were adopted for the phylogenetic reconstruction based on the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The monophyly of Coccoidea was recovered and Aclerdidae and Coccidae were recovered as the sister group, successively sister to Cerococcidae, Kerriidae, and Eriococcidae. In addition, there were gene rearrangements occurring in all mitogenomes of coccoid species studied here. The novel gene rearrangement ND6-trnP and trnI-ND2-trnY supported the monophyly of Coccoidea and the sister relationship of Aclerdidae and Coccidae. This implies that data from the mitogenome can provide new insight for clarifying the deeper level of phylogenetic relationship within Coccoidea.

Nomenclature of the veins of the fore wings of male scale insects (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha).

The venation of the fore wings of male scale insects is strongly reduced and the nomenclature used for each vein is inconsistent among taxonomists. This paper reviews the different nomenclatural systems in the wing venation of male scale insects that have been suggested previously and puts forward a new system based mainly on newly found wing venation in males of Qinococcuspodocarpus Wu, 2022 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Qinococcidae).

Updated description of the adult male of Kuwania bipora Borchsenius (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Kuwaniidae) with a discussion on the relationships of Kuwania with some other archaeococcoid genera.

The genus Kuwania Cockerell in Fernald 1903 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Kuwaniidae) contains seven species worldwide. The only species in the genus for which the adult male has been described is Kuwania bipora Borchsenius 1960, but the description and illustration are inadequate to clarify taxonomic relationships. This paper describes and illustrates the adult male of K. bipora to modern standards. The relationship of Kuwania to three other archaeococcoid genera, based on the male morphology, is discussed; the morphology of the adult male of Kuwania is closest to that of Neosteingelia Morrison 1927.

A new coccoid family (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) for an unusual species of scale insect on Podocarpus macrophyllus (Podocarpaceae) from southern China.

A new family, Qinococcidae Wu, fam. n., is established for the species Qinococcus podocarpus gen. n. and sp. n., collected from southern China under the bark of Podocarpus macrophyllus (Podocarpaceae). The adult female and male, egg, and all immature instars including the male pupa of Q. podocarpus sp. n. are described and illustrated. The new family is diagnosed mainly on the adult male possessing an inverted -like post-tergite and unusual venation of the fore wing, with a pterostigma, posterior cubital vein and bifurcate anterior flexing patch. A key to all the developmental stages is provided.

A review of the genus Formicococcus Takahashi 1928 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) of China, with description of a new species.

Sixteen species of the genus Formicococcus (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) are recognized from China. Among them, a new species, F. delonicola Zhang & Wu sp. n., is described and illustrated based on adult females collected from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China on Delonix regia (Fabaceae). The new species is similar to Formicococcus latens Williams 2004 in possessing oral collar tubular ducts on the head and in marginal groups on the posterior abdominal segments. However, it differs from the latter in the morphological character states of dorsal setae on abdominal segment VIII, anal ring setae length and tips morphology of cerarian setae. The monotypic genus Anaparaputo Borchsenius 1962 is recognized as a junior synonym of Formicococcus, and Anaparaputo liui Borchsenius 1962 is transferred to Formicococcus as Formicococcus liui (Borchsenius 1962) comb. n. Three species, Paraputo bambusus (Wu 2001), Paraputo eriobotryae (Wang 1985) and Planococcus mumensis Tang 1977 are here restored to Formicococcus, as F. bambusus (Wu 2001) comb. rev., F. eriobotryae Wang 1985 comb. rev. and F. mumensis (Tang 1977) comb. rev. respectively, bringing the number of Formicococcus species found in China to 16. A key to the Palaearctic and Oriental species of Formicococcus is provided.

Descriptions of all the female developmental stages of Endernia despoliata Danzig, a gall-inducing pit scale (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Asterolecaniidae).

An updated description of the adult female of a gall-inducing pit scale, Endernia despoliata Danzig (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Asterolecaniidae), is provided, and the immature female stages are described and illustrated for the first time, based on specimens collected from Haicheng city, Liaoning Province, China on Quercus mongolica (Fagaceae). A key to separate the female instars and a brief biology are provided and a key to separate the eight asterolecaniid species known to induce galls is also given.

Increasing Frequency of G275E Mutation in the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor α6 Subunit Conferring Spinetoram Resistance in Invading Populations of Western Flower Thrips in China.

The western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important invasive pest worldwide. Field-evolved resistance to the pesticide spinetoram is an increasing problem in the chemical control of this pest. Here, we examined changes in the frequency of a genetic mutation associated with spinetoram resistance, the G275E mutation in the acetylcholine receptor Foα6, in 62 field populations collected from 2009 to 2021 across areas of China invaded by this pest. We found a low frequency of the G275E mutation in populations collected at the early invasion stage, in contrast to a high frequency in native USA populations. However, the frequency of the G275E mutation has increased to a high level in recently collected populations, with the mutation becoming fixed in some populations. There was a correlation between the frequency of the G275E mutation and resistance to spinetoram as characterized by median lethal concentration, although two populations were outliers. These results showed that G275E mutation is one of the mechanisms conferring spinetoram resistance in many invading populations in China. Ongoing dispersal of the WFT may have facilitated a rapid increase in the G275E mutation across China. Our study highlights the rapid evolution of pesticide resistance in an invasive species and points to a useful marker for molecular diagnostics of spinetoram resistance.

Description of a new species of Kermicus Newstead (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) from bamboo in southeast China.

A new species, Kermicus huizhouensis Wu Huang sp. n. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae), is described and illustrated based on the adult female, second instar female and first-instar nymph. It was collected at Qianfeng village, Huiyang District, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, P. R. China, inside the stem of bamboo Bambusa rigida (Poaceae) and attended by the ant Tetraponera binghami (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). It differs from K. wroughtoni Newstead, 1897 by the adult female lacking multilocular disc pores in the marginal region of the venter, and both the adult female and first-instar nymph having the anal ring bearing 16-20 setae. Keys to genera of legless mealybugs on bamboo based on adult females, and the immature stages of Kermicus, are provided.

A review species of the genus Ceroplastes (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) in China.

The fifteen Ceroplastes species recorded from China are discussed in relation to the origin, distribution, host-plants, biology and remarks. Of these, one new species, Ceroplastes planus Wu & Wang, sp. nov., is described and illustrated; and C. magnificus (Green) is recorded from China for the first time. A key to species of Ceroplastes now known from China is provided.

Are the monophlebid genera Drosichoides Morrison and Buchnericoccus Reyne synonyms? (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Monophlebidae).

The morphology of the adult male of Drosichoides ?haematoptera (Cockerell) is redescribed and illustrated and the adult female of Buchnericoccus sp. (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) is also described and illustrated. These male and female specimens perhaps are conspecific. Genus Buchericoccus Reyne may be a junior synonym of genus Drosichoides Morrison.

Descriptions of the adult male, prepupa and pupa of Xylococcus castanopsis Wu Huang (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Xylococcidae).

The morphologies of the adult male, prepupa and pupa of Xylococcus castanopsis Wu Huang (Hemiptera: Xylococcidae) are described and illustrated. These developmental stages were collected at Tianluhu Forest Park, Guangzhou city, Guangdong Province, China, from the same forest stands as the holotype female.

A review of the genus Saccharicoccus Ferris, 1950 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) in China, with description of a new species.

The mealybug genus Saccharicoccus Ferris includes three species: S. isfarensis (Borchsenius, 1949), S. sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) and a new species, S. chinensis Zhang, Wu Wu sp. n. The new species, collected on Miscanthus sp. (Poaceae) and other poaceous weeds in China, is described and illustrated, and molecular analyses based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) are provided. Additional data on the distribution and host-plants of each species are given, and a key to the adult females of Saccharicoccus species is provided.