The Japanese species of Monoctenus (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae).

The Japanese species of Monoctenus are revised and keyed. The following seven species and subspecies are recognized: M. cryptomeriae Togashi, 2001 from Honshu, M. decoratus Takeuchi, 1940 from Honshu, M. fujisanus Togashi, 2001 from Honshu, M. itoi Okutani, 1958 from Honshu, M. kondoi Hara, sp. nov. from Honshu, M. nipponicus Takeuchi, 1940 from Honshu and Awaji Island and M. obscuratus hokkaidonis Hara, subsp. nov. from Hokkaido. Their descriptions or additional descriptions are given. The host plant of M. kondoi is Juniperus rigida Siebold et Zucc. The host plant of M. obscuratus hokkaidonis is Juniperus communis L. var. montana Aiton.

A study of the genus Fagineura (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae, Nematinae).

The East Asian genus Fagineura Vikberg Zinovjev, 2000 (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae) is redefined to comprise the following 11 species, divided into two species groups: F. crenativora species group: F. brevicornis Liu, Li Wei, 2021 from China, F. crenativora Vikberg Zinovjev, 2000 from Japan, F. flactoserrula Liu, Li Wei, 2019 from China, F. longitangia Liu, Li Wei, 2021 from China, F. parva Hara, sp. nov. from Japan, F. xanthosoma Liu, Li Wei, 2019 from China; F. quercivora species group: F. flavomaculata Hara, sp. nov. from Japan and Korea, F. fulvistriata Hara, sp. nov. from Japan, F. glabella Hara, sp. nov. from Japan and Korea, F. quercivora (Togashi, 1997), comb. nov. [= Dineura quercivora Togashi, 1997] from Japan and Korea, F. togashii Hara, nom. nov. [replacement name for F. quercivora Togashi, 2006; junior secondary homonym of F. quercivora (Togashi, 1997)] from Japan and Korea. A key to these 11 species is given. Descriptions or additional descriptions are given for the species from Japan and Korea. Fagineura quercivora and F. togashii are recorded from Korea for the first time. For F. flavomaculata, F. fulvistriata, F. glabella, F. quercivora and F. togashii, information on the immature stages, host plants and life history is provided.

Gilpinia hakonensis and similar species in Japan and ovipositors of five European Gilpinia species (Hymenoptera, Diprionidae).

The following three Japanese conifer sawflies are described or redescribed with figures of the ovipositors and male genitalia: Gilpinia hakonensis (Matsumura, 1912) from Honshu and Kyushu, Japan and Korea, G. amamiana Okutani, 1965, from Amami Oshima Island and Tokunoshima Island, Japan and G. okinawa sp. nov. from Okinawa Island, Japan. These three species are very similar and belong to the G. socia group. The lectotype for Lophyrus hakonensis Matsumura, 1912 is designated. The males of G. hakonensis and G. amamiana are described for the first time. Gilpinia fukudai (Togashi, 1964) from Honshu, Japan, is a new synonym of G. hakonensis. The host plant of G. hakonensis is Pinus densiflora Siebold et Zucc. Gilpinia amamiana is newly recorded from Tokunoshima Island. For comparison, ovipositors of five European species of the G. socia group, G. abieticola (Dalla Torre, 1894), G. frutetorum (Fabricius, 1793), G. laricis (Jurine, 1807), G. socia (Klug, 1812) and G. variegata (Hartig, 1834), are described and figured. The ovipositors of G. frutetorum, G. laricis and G. variegata are figured for the first time. Gilpinia laricis is newly recorded from Bulgaria.

Konowia Brauns, 1884, and Monoxiphia, n. gen. (Hymenoptera, Xiphydriidae): Palaearctic woodwasps with simple tarsal claws on all legs.

The Palaearctic xiphydriid genus Konowia Brauns, 1884, is redefined and the component species are revised on the basis of a close examination of stability and taxonomic use of previously used and newly introduced characters. A new genus, Monoxiphia, is proposed for Konowia harai Shinohara, 2019, from Japan (Monoxiphia harai (Shinohara, 2019), n. comb.) and Xiphydriola Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1921, is synonymized with Konowia. Konowia is represented by the following four species: K. betulae (Enslin, 1911) from Europe, through Siberia, Korea to Japan (Hokkaido, Kunashiri Is.), K. kojimai, n. sp., from Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu), K. megapolitana Brauns, 1884 from Europe to the Russian Far East, and K. yasumatsui (Togashi, 1972) from Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu). Xiphydriola amurensis Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1921, and Platyxiphydria nishijimai Togashi, 1998, are synonymized with K. betulae and a new species, K. kojimai, is described from Japan. Konowia yasumatsui is newly recorded from Honshu and Shikoku and the male of this species is described for the first time. A key to separate Monoxiphia, Konowia and four Konowia species is provided.

Taxonomic and biological notes on Pristiphora ribisi Togashi, 1990, (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae) injurious to gooseberries and currants.

Taxonomic and biological notes are given for the East Asian sawfly Pristiphora ribisi Togashi, 1990, injurious to Ribes. The following new synonyms of this species are proposed: Pristiphora (Pristiphora) anivskiensis Haris, 2006, syn. nov., Pristiphora (Pristiphora) nigrocoreana Haris Zsolnai, 2007, syn. nov. and Pristiphora grossulariae Anon., 1912 [a primary homonym of Pristiphora grossulariae Walsh, 1866], syn. nov. The lectotype of Pristiphora grossulariae Anon., 1912 is designated. Redescriptions of the adult and immature stages are given. The male is described for the first time. The life history and host plants are summarized. Its close relative, Pristiphora appendiculata (Hartig, 1837), is excluded from the fauna of Japan.

Caliroa slug sawflies of Japan (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae).

Japanese species of Caliroa (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae) are the following 13 species, five of which are described as new: C. aizankei Hara, sp. nov. from Hokkaido, C. bibaiensis Hara, sp. nov. from Hokkaido, C. cerasi (Linné, 1758), C. ibukii Hara, sp. nov. from Honshu, C. matsumotonis (Harukawa, 1919), C. nara Hara, 2011, C. nire Hara, sp. nov. from Hokkaido, C. oishii (Takeuchi, 1933), C. ouensis Hara, sp. nov. from Honshu, C. staphyleae Oishi, 1961, C. vaccini Okutani, 1965, C. varipes (Klug, 1816) and C. zelkovae Oishi, 1961. The following two new synonymies are proposed: C. quercivora Togashi, 1999, syn. nov. with C. oishii; C. sumomovora Togashi Oishi, 1978, syn. nov. with C. zelkovae. Lectotypes are designated for C. staphyleae Oishi, 1961 and C. zelkovae Oishi, 1961. Keys to adults and larvae are given. Caliroa staphyleae and C. zelkovae are newly recorded from Hokkaido. New host records are given for C. cerasi and C. zelkovae. Caliroa annulipes (Klug, 1816) is excluded from the fauna of Japan. An additional description of C. annulipes is given. The generic characters are also discussed.

The Xiphydria annulitibia group in northeastern Asia (Hymenoptera, Xiphydriidae).

The Xiphydria annulitibia group is defined to include the following five species from northeastern Asia: X. annulitibia Takeuchi, 1936, from Japan (Hokkaido, Kunashiri Is., Honshu, Shikoku), Korea and Russia (Sakhalin, Primorskij kraj), X. kanba n. sp. from Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu), X. kastsheevi Ermolenko, 1979, from Russia (Primorskij Kraj), X. konishii n. sp. from Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu) and X. melanoptera n. sp. from Japan (Hokkaido). Xiphydria annulitibia is redescribed based on a long series of specimens, including the holotype. Three new species, X. kanba, X. konishii and X. melanoptera, are described and illustrated, and a key is provided for the five species. Xiphydria kastsheevi is excluded from the fauna of Japan. For X. kanba, notes on a rare successful case of branch trapping which yielded 87 adult specimens and observations on the adult emergence from a dead branch and peculiar drumming behavior of the male are given.

Proteomic Characterization of Lignocellulolytic Enzymes Secreted by the Insect-Associated Fungus Daldinia decipiens oita, Isolated from a Forest in Northern Japan.

Wood-devastating insects utilize their symbiotic microbes with lignocellulose-degrading abilities to extract energy from recalcitrant woods. It is well known that free-living lignocellulose-degrading fungi secrete various carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) to degrade plant cell wall components, mainly cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. However, CAZymes from insect-symbiotic fungi have not been well documented except for a few examples. In this study, an insect-associated fungus, Daldinia decipiens oita, was isolated as a potential symbiotic fungus of female Xiphydria albopicta captured from Hokkaido forest. This fungus was grown in seven different media containing a single carbon source, glucose, cellulose, xylan, mannan, pectin, poplar, or larch, and the secreted proteins were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 128 CAZymes, including domains of 92 glycoside hydrolases, 15 carbohydrate esterases, 5 polysaccharide lyases, 17 auxiliary activities, and 11 carbohydrate-binding modules, were identified, and these are involved in degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose but not lignin. Together with the results of polysaccharide-degrading activity measurements, we concluded that D. decipiens oita tightly regulates the expression of these CAZymes in response to the tested plant cell wall materials. Overall, this study described the detailed proteomic approach of a woodwasp-associated fungus and revealed that the new isolate, D. decipiens oita, secretes diverse CAZymes to efficiently degrade lignocellulose in the symbiotic environment.IMPORTANCE Recent studies show the potential impacts of insect symbiont microbes on biofuel application with regard to their degradation capability of a recalcitrant plant cell wall. In this study, we describe a novel fungal isolate, D. decipiens oita, as a single symbiotic fungus from the Xiphydria woodwasp found in the northern forests of Japan. Our detailed secretome analyses of D. decipiens oita, together with activity measurements, reveal that this insect-associated fungus exhibits high and broad activities for plant cell wall material degradation, suggesting potential applications within the biomass conversion industry for plant mass degradation.

Arge davidsmithi nom. nov. for Arge davidi Shinohara Hara, 2017 (nec Koch Liston, 2012) (Hymenoptera, Argidae).

Koch Liston (2012) described an argid sawfly from South Africa and named it Arge davidi Koch Liston, 2012. Shinohara Hara (2017) very recently described another argid from Taiwan under the same name, Arge davidi Shinohara Hara, 2017. The latter authors simply overlooked Koch Liston's (2012) taxon and Arge davidi Shinohara Hara, 2017, is a primary junior homonym of Arge davidi Koch Liston, 2012.

Bird droppings on chestnut leaves or sawfly larvae: DNA barcodes verify the occurrence of the archaic Megaxyela togashii (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) in Hokkaido, Japan.

We made a molecular phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene sequences for ten unidentified Megaxyela larvae from Hokkaido, Honshu and Shikoku, Japan, and 15 identified adults of four Megaxyela, one Macroxyela and three Xyela species. It revealed that all larvae belonged to M. togashii Shinohara, 1992, which showed rather large intraspecific genetic variability even among the individuals from the same population. This is the first distribution record of M. togashii from Hokkaido. Megaxyela togashii is a univoltine species with a very short larval feeding period, only nine days in one rearing experiment from egg to larval maturation. The larva is a solitary, external leaf-feeder on Juglans ailanthifolia, resting curled around the central leaf vein at the apex of a leaflet, and may resemble the excrement of birds. The prepupa overwinters in an earthen cell whose wall is made only of soil, neither parchment-like nor containing fiber. The mature larva is described and several life traits are discussed.

The North African sawfly genus Prionomeion (Hymenoptera, Diprionidae), with a key to the Palaearctic genera of the subfamily Diprioninae.

The diagnostic characters are discussed for the North African genus Prionomeion Benson, 1939 (Hymenoptera, Diprionidae, Diprioninae). The type species, Prionomeion gaullei (Konow, 1906), is redescribed based on the holotype (female) and one male, both from Algeria. The second species of the genus, P. maghrebense sp. nov. is described based on one female from Morocco and one male from Algeria. A key to the Palaearctic genera of the subfamily Diprioninae is given.

Host plants of Empria sawflies (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae) in Japan include Rhododendron (Ericaceae).

New host plant records are given for six Empria species from Japan. They are Rosa multiflora [Rosaceae] for E. honshuana Prous & Heidemaa, 2011, Rubus sp. [Rosaceae] for E. japonica Heidemaa & Prous, 2011, Geum japonicum and G. calthifolium var. nipponicum [Rosaceae] for E. loktini Ermolenko, 1971, Rosa multiflora, Potentilla indica and probably Rubus parvifolius [Rosaceae] for E. quadrimaculata Takeuchi, 1952, Rhododendron molle subsp. japonicum [Ericaceae] for E. takeuchii Prous & Heidemaa, 2011, and Geum japonicum and Filipendula camtschatica [Rosaceae] for E. tridentis Lee & Ryu, 1996. This is the first record of Ericaceae as a host plant of Empria. The mode of host shifts in the evolution of Empria is inferred by using a phylogenetic hypothesis proposed by Prous et al. (2011a).

Japanese species of the sawfly genus Nesodiprion (Hymenoptera, Diprionidae).

Nesodiprion flavipes sp. nov. associated with Tsuga diversifolia (Maxim.) Mast. and N. kojimai sp. nov. associated with Abies veitchii Lindl. are described from Honshu, Japan. Additional taxonomic and biological information is given for other Japanese congeners, N. japonicus (Marlatt, 1898), N. albiventris Togashi, 1998, N. shinoharai Togashi, 1998, N. nigerrimus Togashi, 1998, N. kagaensis Togashi, 1998, N. niger Togashi, 2001 and N. tsugae Togashi, 2001. The males of N. shinoharai, N. kagaensis and N. tsugae are described for the first time. The host plants of N. shinoharai are Pinus spp. Nesodiprion kagaensis is newly recorded from Hokkaido, Japan, and its host plants are Pinus spp. and Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carrière. Larvae of N. japonicus and N. kagaensis are briefly described. A division of Nesodiprion into the following five species groups is proposed: N. tsugae group, N. niger group, N. flavipes group, N. japonicus group and N. shinoharai group. Additions to the key to Nesodiprion species by Hara & Smith (2012) are given.

Sawflies of the genus Emphytopsis (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae) associated with Stewartia (Theaceae) in Japan.

Japanese species of the sawfly genus Emphytopsis Wei & Nie, 1998, are reviewed and the following four species are recognized and keyed: E. flatoserrula Wei, 2011, from Kyushu, E. nigromaculata (Takeuchi, 1952) from Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, E. shinoharai Wei & Niu, 2011, from Honshu and Shikoku, and E. vernalis Shinohara, n. sp., from Honshu and Kyushu. Stewartia pseudocamellia Maxim. (Theaceae) is recorded as a host plant for E. nigromaculata and E. vernalis and the larvae of these two species are briefly described. The life history of these two species is discussed based on field observations and rearing records.