Oriental Insects

Gadallah, Neveen S.; Ghahari, Hassan

doi: 10.1080/00305316.2019.1589592pmid: N/A

The fauna of Iranian braconid subfamilies, Cardiochilinae, Rhyssalinae and the tribe Blacini of the subfamily Brachistinae are summarized in this paper. Totally 30 species within 7 genera in the three groups under study are listed as the fauna of Iran. The genus Schoenlandella Cameron (Cardiochilinae) is reported here as a new record to the Iranian fauna, with a single species, S. deserta. Blacus rufescens Ruthe (Blacini, Brachistinae) is also recorded in the present study as new to the fauna of Iran. The distribution information of each species in Iran and the world are provided, as well as host insects based on previous records.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3F0ED61F-0257-4058-8552-25C67420A6D0

Roy, Sankarsan; Parui, Panchanan; Mitra, Bulganin; Chakraborty, Susanta Kumar

doi: 10.1080/00305316.2019.1593254pmid: N/A

A new asilid species Astochia venkataramani sp. nov. is described with supportive illustrations of male genitalia and body parts, from Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, West Bengal, India. An updated checklist of the Indian species of Astochia Becker is also included. The holotype specimen of the new species has been deposited in the National Zoological Collections of Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. An updated identification key to the species of Astochia from West Bengal is also provided.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D36A20CC-9D56-4050-912E-2E846D5F6E91

Cheng, Shawn; Munian, Kaviarasu; Sek-Aun, Tan; Faidi, Mohd Azahari; Ishak, Shah-Fadir

doi: 10.1080/00305316.2019.1600594pmid: N/A

Populations of the iconic, synchronously flashing firefly, Pteroptyx tener (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), are increasingly being threatened by habitat destruction and land conversion activities in Malaysia. Concerns on how this may have impacted the species led us to undertake an analysis of P. tener genetic diversity here. We also investigated how P. tener arrived at its present distribution along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia using maps of Pleistocene sea levels in Southeast Asia and information on its mitochondrial DNA haplotype distribution. We detected three genetically-distinct populations in Malaysia, one each on the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia and the other in Sarawak/Borneo. We found strong support for a scenario where an ancestral P. tener population diverged to form the Sepetang and Selangor River firefly populations when it became disconnected from the Malacca River system as sea levels rose during the late Pleistocene. An introduction event subsequently occurred when the Selangor and Sepetang River populations contributed to the formation of the Linggi River population. Lastly, the admixture event leading to the founding of the Linggi River population most likely occurred when it was connected to the Malacca River system during periods of changing sea levels in the late Pleistocene.

Spennemann, Dirk H. R.

doi: 10.1080/00305316.2019.1604445pmid: N/A

The present-day composition and distribution of diaspidid scale and coccinellid beetle species in the Pacific is an amalgam of endemic distribution, and naturalisations or extirpations following unintentional accidental dispersal as well as intentional dispersal as part of biological plant pest control measures. Using primary sources, historic biogeography not only allows us to untangle the nature and sequence of introductions but also to assess which species have endured. This paper is a case study of early twentieth century coccinellid beetles introductions to Micronesia. When faced with the spectre of a collapse of the local copra industry on Yap, the German colonial administration in Micronesia embarked on an ambitious program to eradicate, or at least contain the coconut scale insect. To this end numerous species of coccinellid beetles were introduced from within the Western Pacific (Saipan, New Britain) as well as from the outside (Australia, China, Philippines).

Mukherjee, Tuhar; Pal, Gargi; Hazra, Niladri

doi: 10.1080/00305316.2019.1612477pmid: N/A

The adult male of Dicrotendipes clavus sp. nov. is described and illustrated from India. Review of two species, D. arcistylus Guha, Das, Chaudhuri & Choudhuri and D. canitibialis Guha, Das, Chaudhuri & Choudhuri are made from the type specimens. A key to the adult males of the genus Dicrotendipes Kieffer from the Oriental region and a cladistic analysis of the Oriental species of the genus Dicrotendipes are given.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CD38E6A3-CD4E-4DAF-B03E-D581A040FA4E

Saha, Poulami; Brahma, Shubhranil; Hazra, Niladri

doi: 10.1080/00305316.2019.1616000pmid: N/A

Three new species, Brachypogon (Brachypogon) beccus sp. nov., B. (B.) corneus sp. nov. and B. (Isohelea) nevis sp. nov. are described and illustrated from India. New dichotomous keys to the adult males and females of the genus Brachypogon are proposed here.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9816D77E-9D03-4EBC-AE7F-87906A843E11

Arce, Bernal J.; Clout, S.; Pat, Desirée L.; Bharti, Meenakshi; Pape, Thomas; Marshall, Stephen A.

doi: 10.1080/00305316.2019.1618407pmid: N/A

Life history observations are documented for two species of rhiniid flies from the Western Ghats in India: larviposition and termitophagy in Stomorhina procula (Walker), and oviposition and saprophagy in Borbororhinia bivittata (Walker). Oviposition and larviposition strategies in termitophilous Rhiniidae (Diptera: Oestroidea) are discussed based on these examples.

Bogusch, Petr

doi: 10.1080/00305316.2019.1621227pmid: N/A

I describe Epeolus ladakhensis sp. nov., a new species of cuckoo bee from the Indian province of Kashmir. This species is closely related to Epeolus tarsalis Morawitz, 1874, and differs by the more whitish and yellowish pubescent parts of the body, the sculpture on the mesoscutum and sterna, and the shape of the apical margin of the clypeus. Only two females from one locality are known. The species was discovered and described by German mellitologist Klaus Warncke but the description remained unpublished. Thanks to the rediscovery of the original types and unpublished description the species is herein imaged and formally described.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7C4F8374-3F17-49C5-A6D4-1121131240D0

Park, Kyu-Tek; Lees, David; Kim, Sora

doi: 10.1080/00305316.2019.1621784pmid: N/A

Three new species of the Pacificulla Park, P. dohertyi Park, sp. nov., P. kumusiensis Park, sp. nov., and P. galbidorsalis Park, sp. nov. of subfamily Crocanthinae (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae) are described from the island of New Guinea. The female of Hannara buloloensis Park is reported and illustrated for the first time. Descriptions and illustrations of adult and genitalia of all species were provided with distributional data.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:70D5C4F0-5F28-48B2-BAC4-408B243309D5

Hafsi, Abir; Rahmouni, Ridha; Ben Othman, Soukaina; Abbes, Khaled; Elimem, Mohammed; Chermiti, Brahim

doi: 10.1080/00305316.2019.1623133pmid: N/A

Malathion bait sprays to control medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), in Tunisian citrus orchards is expected to be phased out in the near future due to low residue tolerance in the fruits by consumers. Attract and kill strategy that encompasses mass trapping and bait station techniques has become a widespread method for controlling medfly. Effectiveness of two bait station methods (AAL&K® and Ceranock®) and two attractants for mass trapping (Ceratrap® and Starce®) was, respectively, compared with malathion and spinosad in Grombalia and Chott-Mariem experimental sites. Ceranock® and AAL&K® provide effective protection of citrus fruits from medfly attack as confirmed by low rate of damaged fruits of respectively 3.88 and 2.26% compared with malathion (21.63%). Medfly population and rate of fruit damage were significantly lower in Ceratrap® than in Starce® and spinosad treated plots. Rate of fruit damage on Starce® treated plots increased at least three times more than in Ceratrap®, and one-and-half times more than in spinosad treated plots. Ceranock® and AAL&K® bait station devices are a cost-effective alternative to the use of insecticides in citrus orchards and can be used in IPM schemes against medfly in association with other environmentally friendly approaches.