Oligophlebia hibiscivora sp. nov., a new species from south-eastern China (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae).

A new species, Oligophlebia hibiscivora Yu, Kallies & Arita sp. nov., is described from south-eastern China. Superficially, it is similar to Oligophlebia insurgia Kallies, 2020 but it differs by external features of the abdomen as well as the male genitalia characters. The larva of this new species feed in Hibiscus tiliaceus L. (Malvaceae) and was found in the urban area of Xiamen (Fujian Province) and in Hongkong. Images of male and female specimens, genitalia and pupa of the new species are provided as well as the image of the female genitalia of Oligophlebia minor Xu & Arita, 2014. An updated catalogue of the species of the genus Oligophlebia Hampson, 1893 and a key of Chinese species are provided.

A new species of the genus Paranthrenella Strand, 1916 (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) from China.

A new clearwing moth, Paranthrenella cinnamoma sp. nov., is described from southern China. Adults and genitalia are illustrated, DNA barcodes provided, and potential damage to Cinnamomum trees (Lauraceae) is described. Paranthrenella mushana (Matsumura, 1931) comb. nov. is transferred from Synanthedon Hübner, [1819]. A checklist of the species of Paranthrenella Strand, 1916 of China is provided.

A new species of the genus Toleria Walker, 1865 ["1864"] from Vietnam, with a catalogue of Asian Cissuvorini (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae).

A new clearwing moth species, Toleria vietnamica sp. nov. from Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan Province, North Vietnam is described and illustrated. An annotated catalogue of Asian members of the tribe Cissuvorini is added to this paper. The catalogue contains the following information: the references to the original descriptions, information on name-bearing types, complete bibliographies of the presented taxa, distribution and available data on host plants. The type series of the new species is deposited in the collection of National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba (formerly Natural Science Museum Tokyo).

A new species of the genus Taikona Arita amp; O. Gorbunov, 2001 from Vietnam (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae).

A new clearwing moth species is described and illustrated from South Vietnam: Taikona ikedai sp. nov. The type series is deposited in the collection of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba (formerly Natural Science Museum Tokyo). The female and the larval host plant are unknown. The genus Taikona was previously unrecorded in the country.

Three new species of the genus Paradoxecia Hampson, 1919 (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) from China.

Three new species of the genus Paradoxecia Hampson, 1919 (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) are described from China: Paradoxecia kishidai Yu Arita sp. nov., Paradoxecia polyzona Yu Kallies sp. nov. and Paradoxecia beibengensis Yu Kallies sp. nov. Illustrations of the holotypes and the male genitalia are provided along with a key to all currently known species of the genus. DNA barcodes of the new species are deposited in Genbank.

A large hornet mimic clearwing moth of the genus Lamellisphecia Kallies amp; Arita, 2004 (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) from Nanling, Guangdong, southern China.

We here describe a new species, Lamellisphecia minwangi Arita Kallies sp. nov., from Nanling, Guangdong, southern China. Furthermore, we provide new records of Lemellisphecia Kallies Arita, 2004 species from south-east Asia, with L. champaensis Kallies Arita, 2004 recorded for Laos and L. haematinea Kallies Arita, 2004 recorded for Myanmar for the first time.

Identification and field attraction of the female sex pheromone of a kiwifruit pest, Nokona feralis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae).

Female sex pheromone of a clearwing moth Nokona feralis (Leech) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), a pest of kiwifruit, was identified to be a 7:3 mixture of (3E,13Z)-3,13-octadecadienyl acetate (E3,Z13-18:OAc) and (3E,13Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol (E3,Z13-18:OH) by GC-EAD and GC/MS analyses. Males were attracted to wide-range mixtures of E3,Z13-18:OAc and E3,Z13-18:OH, and a 7:3 mixture of those two compounds strongly attracted the males in the field.

On the taxonomy and biology of the clearwing moth Aegeria montis (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae).

The systematic position of Aegeria montis Leech, 1889 and Zhuosesia zhuoxiana Yang, 1977 is discussed. Having studied newly collected material, we transfer A. montis to the genus Chamaesphecia Spuler, 1910, subgenus Chamaesphecia s. str. The male of this species and its genitalia are illustrated for the first time. The host-plant of its larvae is assumed to be a species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae).        Zhuosesia Yang, 1977, syn. nov., is shown to be a junior subjective synonym of Chamaesphecia Spuler, 1910 with the new combination of its type species, Chamaesphecia zhuoxiana (Yang, 1977), comb. nov.

A new species of the genus Sazonia O. Gorbunov Arita, 2001 from Vietnam (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae).

A new clearwing moth species of the tribe Osminiini is described and illustrated from North Vietnam: Sazonia (Sazonia) vietnamica sp. nov. The female and the larval host plant are unknown. The genus Sazonia is recorded for the country for the first time. The holotype is deposited in the collection of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba (formerly the Natural Science Museum Tokyo).

Nisin-induced expression of recombinant T cell epitopes of major Japanese cedar pollen allergens in Lactococcus lactis.

Japanese cedar pollinosis is a seasonal allergic disease caused by two major pollen allergens: Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 antigens. To develop an oral vaccine to treat pollinosis, we constructed recombinant Lactococcus lactis harboring the gene encoding fused T cell epitopes from the Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 antigens. The recombinant T cell epitope peptide was designed to contain the fused cholera toxin B subunit as an adjuvant and a FLAG tag at the C-terminus. An expression plasmid was constructed by inserting the T cell epitope peptide gene into the multiple cloning sites of plasmid pNZ8148, an Escherichia coli-L. lactis shuttle vector. The constructed plasmid was transformed into L. lactis NZ9000 for expression induced by nisin, an antibacterial peptide from L. lactis. The expression of the epitope peptide was induced with 10-40 ng/mL nisin, and the expressed T cell epitope peptide was detected by western blot analysis using an anti-FLAG antibody and an antibody against the T cell epitopes. The concentration of the epitope peptide was estimated to be ~ 22 mg/L of culture in the presence of 40 ng/mL nisin, although it varied depending on the nisin concentration, the culture time, and the bacterial concentration when nisin was added. The expression of the recombinant epitope peptide in L. lactis, an organism generally recognized as safe, as demonstrated in this study, may contribute to the development of an oral vaccine for the treatment of pollinosis.

A new species and new records of Melittiini from China and Vietnam (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae).

We review the Melittiini fauna of mainland China and list a total of 14 species in two genera. Melittia proxima Le Cerf, 1917, Melittia fulvipes Kallies & Arita, 2004, Melittia distincta Le Cerf, 1916, and Macroscelesia vietnamica Arita & Gorbunov, 2000 are recorded from China for the first time. Macroscelesia perlucida Kallies & Arita, sp. nov. is described as new to science based on specimens collected in China (Guangxi Province) and in northern Vietnam. Melittia formosana Matsumura, 1911 is considered a subspecies of Melittia eurytion (Westwood, 1848) (stat. nov.), and Melittia eurytion nagaii Arita & Gorbunov, 1997 is treated as a junior subjective synonym of M. eurytion formosana (syn. nov.).

A remarkable new species of the genus Teinotarsina (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) from Okinawa-jima, Japan.

A new species of long-legged clearwing moth Teinotarsina aurantiaca Yagi, Hirowatari & Arita, sp. n. is described from Okinawa-jima, the Ryukyus, Japan. The species is distinguishable at a glance from other related congeners by the remarkable orange scales ornamenting many parts of the body, such as antennae, palpi, legs, and wings. We hypothesize that the species acquired these differences as a result of convergence with toxic species (Batesian mimicry) or other mimics (Müllerian mimicry).

Laetosphecia, a new genus of clearwing moths from south-eastern China, with a brief review of the Sesiini from China (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae).

In this study, a new genus of Sesiini, Laetosphecia Kallies & Arita gen. nov., is described. The type species, Laetosphecia variegata (Walker, 1865) comb. nov., and a new species, Laetosphecia brideliana Kallies & Arita spec. nov., occur in south-eastern China (Province of Guangdong and Hong Kong). The larvae of both species cause galls in small branches of Bridelia tomentosa Blume (Phyllanthaceae). Furthermore, Laetosphecia leucozona (Hampson, 1919) comb. nov. from north-eastern India is transferred to the new genus. Additionally, we briefly review the Sesiini fauna of Mainland China and present an updated checklist for this region. Trilochana caseariae Yang & Wang, 1989 syn. nov. is established as a junior synonym of Trilochana scolioides Moore, 1879. Lenyra ashtaroth (Westwood, 1848) and Sphecosesia rhodites Kallies & Arita, 2004 are reported from China for the first time.

The Paranthrenini of mainland China (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae).

We here briefly review the Paranthrenini fauna of Mainland China and provide a checklist of 21 species for this region. We describe six new species: Paranthrene rubomacula Kallies & Owada sp. nov., Nokona opaca Kallies & Wang sp. nov., Nokona bractea Kallies & Arita sp. nov., Scoliokona nanlingensis Kallies & Arita sp. nov., Scoliokona spissa Kallies & Arita sp. nov., Scoliokona shimentai Kallies & Wu sp. nov. Furthermore, we provide numerous new combinations of species formerly associated with the genus Paranthrene in South East Asia, with 12 species transferred to Nokona Matsumura, 1931, 4 to Scoliokona Kallies & Arita, 1998, and one to Cyanosesia Gorbunov & Arita, 1995 (comb. nov.). The genus name Aritasesia Nakamura, 2009 (syn. nov.) is considered a junior subjective synonym of Nokona Matsumura, 1931. 

Female sex pheromone of Glossosphecia romanovi (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae): identification and field attraction.

In field screening tests of synthetic pheromone candidates for Japanese sesiid species, a mixture of (3Z,13Z)-octadecadien-1-ol and (3Z,13Z)-octadecadienyl acetate successfully attracted male moths of Glossosphecia romanovi, a harmful pest of vine trees. The GC-EAD and GC-MS analyses of the pheromone gland extract revealed that the female moths produced the alcohol and acetate in a ratio of about 20:1, in addition to three other minor structure-related components.

Synthesis and characterization of 2,13- and 3,13-octadecadienals for the identification of the sex pheromone secreted by a clearwing moth.

In addition to 2,13- and 3,13-octadecadien-1-ols and their acetates, aldehyde analogs have been identified from lepidopteran species in the family Sesiidae. To establish a reliable analytical method for determining the positions and configurations of the two double bonds in natural pheromone components, all geometric isomers of the 2,13- and 3,13-octadecadienals were synthesized by Dess-Martin oxidation of the corresponding alcohols with limited isomerization of the double bond at the 2- or 3-position. GC-MS analysis of these aldehydes showed isomerization of (Z)-2-, (Z)-3-, and (E)-3-double bonds to an (E)-2-double bond, even with a cool on-column injection. In contrast, HPLC analysis with an ODS column was accomplished without isomerization. The geometric isomers of each dienal eluted in the order ZZ --> EZ --> ZE --> EE. The conjugated 2,13-dienals were detectable in nanogram amounts with a UV detector at 235 nm. Whereas the detection of 3,13-dienals was difficult because of the lack of a chromophore, a highly sensitive analysis was achieved after derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. LC-MS with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization showed a strong [M-1](-) at m/z 443 for the derivatives. Based on these analytical data, a pheromone extract of a sesiid moth, Macroscelesia japona, was examined by HPLC and LC-MS, and it was confirmed that the octadecadienal tentatively identified by a previous GC-MS analysis did indeed have the 2E,13Z configuration. Furthermore, field evaluation of four synthetic geometric isomers of the 2,13-dienal revealed specific attraction to a lure with the (2E,13Z)-isomer as a main component.

Sex pheromones of two melittini species, Macroscelesia japona and m. Longipes: identification and field attraction.

Two Melittini species, Macroscelesia japona and M. longipes (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), are native to Japan, but occupy different localities as their host plants seldom grow together. The contents of the sex pheromone gland of adult females of both species, obtained after rearing larvae collected from the field, were investigated by gas chromatograph-electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD) and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. Two GC-EAD-active components were found in a crude extract of M. japona female pheromone gland, and identified as (2E,13Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol (E2,Z13-18:OH) and (2E,13Z)-2,13-octadecadienal (E2,Z13-18:Ald). The average ratio of these two components was about 1:10. In the field, M. japona males were attracted to traps baited with E2,Z13-18:Ald alone, but the strongest attraction was observed with a 1:100 mixture of E2,Z13-18:OH and E2,Z13-18:Ald. The same two components were found in extracts of M. longipes females, but in a markedly different ratio. Male M. longipes were attracted most strongly to lures containing a 20:1 mixture of E2,Z13-18:OH and E2,Z13-18:Ald, although some males were also attracted to lures with E2,Z13-18:OH alone. Although the two species do not generally occur in sympatry, our data indicate that, in the event of overlap, cross attraction of the two species is unlikely.

Synthesis and characterization of 3,13- and 2,13-octadecadienyl compounds for identification of the sex pheromone secreted by a clearwing moth, Nokona pernix.

Several geometrical isomers of 3,13- and 2,13-octadecadien-1-ols and their acetates were synthesized starting from 1,8-octanediol or 1,9-nonanediol utilizing acetylene coupling reactions. In addition to commercially available compounds, all geometrical isomers of each dienyl compound were analyzed by NMR and GC-MS to accumulate chemical data for studies of sex pheromones secreted from clearwing moths classified into the family Sesiidae of Lepidoptera. Although acetoxy derivatives of the 3,13- and 2,13-dienes showed almost the same mass spectra, the alcohols were distinguished by comparing the relative intensities of [M-18](+) at m/z 248, indicating direct differentiation of the two positional isomers without derivatization. Furthermore, each geometrical isomer eluted from a high-polar GC column with a different retention time. Base on these data, a pheromone gland extract of a sesiid moth, Nokona pernix, was analyzed by GC-EAD and GC-MS, and two EAG-active components were identified, viz., the (3E,13Z)- and (3Z,13Z)-isomers of 3,13-octadecadien-1-ol in a ratio of 9:1. In the field, the synthetic compounds mixed in 9:1 ratio attracted N. pernix males well, while a single component scarcely attracted the males. The number of attracted males peaked in the middle of June, and a small second peak was observed in August.