First record of Xenanastatus Bouek (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) in China with description of one new species with DNA data.

The genus Xenanastatus Bouek (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) is recorded for the first time in China based on a newly described species, X. imbricatius Wu & Peng sp. nov. The new species is described and illustrated based on females from Guangdong province; internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 28S ribosomal DNA (28S) sequences are provided. The world species of Xenanastatus are differentiated in a key based on females.

A Compositional Heterogeneity Analysis of Mitochondrial Phylogenomics in Chalcidoidea Involving Two Newly Sequenced Mitogenomes of Eupelminae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea).

As next-generation sequencing technology becomes more mature and the cost of sequencing continues to fall, researchers are increasingly using mitochondrial genomes to explore phylogenetic relationships among different groups. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genomes of Eupelmus anpingensis and Merostenus sp. We predicted the secondary-structure tRNA genes of these two species and found that 21 of the 22 tRNA genes in Merostenus sp. exhibited typical clover-leaf structures, with trnS1 being the lone exception. In E. anpingensis, we found that, in addition to trnS1, the secondary structure of trnE was also incomplete, with only DHU arms and anticodon loop remaining. In addition, we found that compositional heterogeneity and variable rates of evolution are prevalent in Chalcidoidea. Under the homogeneity model, a Eupelmidae + Encyrtidae sister group relationship was proposed. Different datasets based on the heterogeneity model produced different tree topologies, but all tree topologies contained Chalcididae and Trichogrammatidae in the basal position of the tree. This is the first study to consider the phylogenetic relationships of Chalcidoidea by comparing a heterogeneity model with a homogeneity model.

Characterization of Three Complete Mitogenomes of Flatidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) and Compositional Heterogeneity Analysis in the Planthoppers' Mitochondrial Phylogenomics.

Although sequences of mitogenomes have been widely used for investigating phylogenetic relationship, population genetics, and biogeography in many members of Fulgoroidea, only one complete mitogenome of a member of Flatidae has been sequenced. Here, the complete mitogenomes of Cerynia lineola, Cromna sinensis, and Zecheuna tonkinensis are sequenced. The gene arrangements of the three new mitogenomes are consistent with ancestral insect mitogenomes. The strategy of using mitogenomes in phylogenetics remains in dispute due to the heterogeneity in base composition and the possible variation in evolutionary rates. In this study, we found compositional heterogeneity and variable evolutionary rates among planthopper mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analysis based on site-homogeneous models showed that the families (Delphacidae and Derbidae) with high values of Ka/Ks and A + T content tended to fall together at a basal position on the trees. Using a site-heterogeneous mixture CAT + GTR model implemented in PhyloBayes yielded almost the same topology. Our results recovered the monophyly of Fulgoroidea. In this study, we apply the heterogeneous mixture model to the planthoppers' phylogenetic analysis for the first time. Our study is based on a large sample and provides a methodological reference for future phylogenetic studies of Fulgoroidea.

Transcriptome Analysis for Identification of Genes Related to Growth and Development, Digestion and Detoxification, Olfaction in the Litchi Stink Bug Tessaratoma papillosa.

Tessaratoma papillosa is a major pest of Litchi chinensis and Dimocarpus longan. Adult and nymph secretions are not only harmful to plants but also to humans. At present, there are not a lot of research on T. papillosa, especially omics research. We used high-throughput sequencing technology to sequence the T. papillosa transcriptome and obtained 67,597 unigenes homologous to Halyomorpha halys (88.03%). Subsequently, RNA-SEQ and comparative analyses were performed on the 14 different developmental stages and tissues. A total of 462 unigenes related to growth and development, 1,851 unigenes related to digestion and detoxification, and 70 unigenes related to olfaction were obtained. Moreover, expression analysis showed that the T. papillosa major life activities genes are uniformly expressed across all developmental states. However, the adult midgut gene expression patterns were utterly different from that of the nymphs. Similarly, female fat body genes exhibited distinct expression patterns compared to that of males and nymphs. Thus, different developmental stages and physiological functions affect gene expression patterns. We also found that most of the differential genes were associated with cellular maintenance. This study will help understand the growth and development of litchi stink bugs, their choice of host plants, food digestion and detoxification, and their reproductive behavior. In addition, this result can provide reference information for some target genes in the process of control of T. papillosa.

Review of the species of Anastatus (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) known from China, with description of two new species with brachypterous females.

Fourteen species of Anastatus (Anastatus) Motschulsky, 1859 (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) are treated from China, of which A. (Anastatus) flavaeratus Peng and Tang n. sp. and A. (Anastatus) pariliquadrus Peng and Tang n. sp. are described based on brachypterous females. Two new synonyms are proposed, A. flavipes Sheng and Wang, 1997 under A. japonicus Ashmead, 1904 n. syn., and A. huangi Sheng and Yu, 1998 under A. gastropachae Ashmead, 1904 n. syn. The species previously reported from China under the name A. acherontiae Narayanan, Subba Rao and Ramachandra, 1960 is newly identified as Anastatus echidna (Motschulsky, 1863). Anastatus colemani Crawford, 1912, is excluded from the Chinese mainland fauna, and A. dendrolimus Kim and Pak, 1965, A. kashmirensis Mathur, 1956, and A. tenuipes Bolívar y Pieltain, 1925 are excluded from the Chinese fauna. Two previously recorded extralimital species, A. bifasciatus (Geoffroy, 1785) and A. colemani are treated as possibly present in China even though their presence was not confirmed and the records likely are based on misidentifications. Anastatus ramakrishnai (Mani, 1935), originally described from India, is compared with A. dexingensis Sheng and Wang, 1997 and A. formosanus Crawford, 1913, with the suggestion that the name could be synonymous with one of the latter two names. The males of nine species and females of all Anastatus species recognised from China are keyed, diagnosed, and illustrated. Information on recorded hosts and distribution is summarised for all the species.

Potential distribution of two invasive pineapple pests under climate change.

BACKGROUND: The number of global invasive species has significantly increased during the past two centuries due to globalization. The understanding of species invasion under climate change is crucial for sustainable biodiversity conservation, community dynamics, ecosystem function, and resource distribution. Two invasive species, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) and D. neobrevipes (Beardsley) have greatly expanded their ranges during recent years. These insects are now considered as extremely serious pests for various plants, especially pineapple. In addition, they are the primary vectors for pineapple wilt associated virus. However, the potential distribution range and management strategies for these pests are unclear. RESULTS: In this study, potential risk maps were developed for these pests with MaxEnt (maximum entropy) based on occurrence data under different environmental variables. The potential distributions of these pests were projected for 2050s and 2070s under three climate change scenarios as described in the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Results showed that both pests have similar potential distributions, with high environmental suitability in South America, Africa and South Asia. In addition, potential range expansions or reductions were predicted under different climate change scenarios. The annual mean temperature was the most important factor, accounting for 43.4% of D. brevipes distribution. The minimum temperature of coldest month and mean temperature of coldest quarter was found to be responsible for 90.3% of D. neobrevipes distribution. CONCLUSION: This research provided a theoretical reference framework to develop policies in the management and control of these invasive pests. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Anastatus Motschulsky (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae): egg parasitoids of Caligula japonica Moore (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) in China.

Four species of Anastatus Motschulsky (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae, Eupelminae) are newly reported as egg parasitoids of the Japanese giant silkworm, Caligula japonica Moore and, as an alternate laboratory host, the Chinese oak silk moth, Antheraea pernyi (Guérin-Méneville) (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) in China. The four species, A. fulloi Sheng & Wang, 1997, A. gansuensis Chen & Zang, sp. nov., A. japonicus Ashmead, 1904, and A. meilingensis Sheng, 1998, were reared initially from eggs of C. japonica collected in Gansu, Jilin and Liaoning provinces and subsequently cultured in the laboratory on eggs of A. pernyi. An illustrated key to differentiate females of the four species, and males of some of the species is provided. Key features are illustrated, both sexes of the new species are described, and diagnoses of females of the other species are given.

Three new species of Zaischnopsis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eupelmidae) from Southern China, with redescription of Zaischnopsis tubatius (Walker).

Three new species of Zaischnopsis Ashmead from southern China, Z. candetibia Peng sp. nov., Z. fumosa Peng Xiang sp. nov. and Z. nivalinota Peng Xiang sp. nov., are described and illustrated based on females. The only other species of Zaischnopsis recorded from China, Z. tubatius (Walker) is redescribed and illustrated in detail, and the species are differentiated in a key that includes all Zaischnopsis species recorded from the Oriental region.

Descriptions of immature stages of Octodonta nipae (Maulik) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae, Cryptonychini).

Octodonta nipae (Maulik, 1921), a hispid that damages several species of palm trees, was introduced accidently into China in 2001. The egg, larva, prepupa and pupa of O. nipae are illustrated and described in detail and compared with another invasive species, Brontispa longissima (Gestro, 1885); the scanning electron micrographs of the head capsule, antenna, maxilla, labium and lateral scoli are provided, as well as photos of body of all larval instars and pupa. It is the second description of immature stages in the genus Octodonta Chapuis.

A new genus in the family Flatidae with one new combination and three new species (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha).

Herbiflata gen. nov., the second genus in the tribe Nephesini from China, is erected with Hilavrita xizangensis Chou et Lu, 1981 as its type species-Herbiflata xizangensis (Chou et Lu, 1981) comb. nov. This new genus resembles Hilavrita Distant, 1906 but can be differentiated by the following characters: vertex obtusely pointed; tegmen not spotted, with orange margin; apical angle of tegmen broadly rounded; Vein ScP+R arising from one stem. Three new species, H. chromata sp. nov., H. sacra sp. nov. and H. saxeta sp. nov., are described and illustrated. A key to four species in this genus is provided.