Vol 99, No 3 (2019)

Data on seasonal development of plant bugs from subfamily Bryocorinae (Miridae) are reviewed and analyzed. All of the species of bryocorines whose seasonal development has been studied so far belong to the tribe Dicyphini, owing to the latter’s economic importance as agents of biological control in greenhouses. Macrolophus melanotoma, M. pygmaeus, and Nesidiocoris tenuis have homodynamic seasonal development and the lower developmental threshold of about 8–9°C. If food is available, they can remain active all year round and produce annually a varying number of generations, depending on the local climatic conditions. To survive adverse low-temperature winter conditions these species use various natural protected microhabitats and can overwinter at different developmental stages. The other two bryocorines studied (Dicyphus errans and D. hesperus) exhibit heterodynamic seasonal development and overwinter in the state of adult diapause. Induction of this diapause is controlled by a long day-type photoperiodic response. Also, the nymphal growth rate of D. errans is affected by day length and this quantitative photoperiodic response ensures that nymphs of this species reach the diapausing stage (adult) in appropriate time, which is crucial for successful overwintering. The threshold photoperiod for induction of winter adult diapause varies with latitude in D. hesperus, only nymphs being sensitive to day length in this species. Pilot experimental studies should precede any planned introduction of a biocontrol agent, as these may reduce the risk of invasions. During the early stages of settling in a new area, it is seasonal adaptations controlling development of bug populations in their natural environments that are particularly important. In greenhouses, higher efficiency of biocontrol measures can be achieved with southern multivoltine populations of homodynamic species, especially if these grow rapidly as immatures, have high reproduction rates at the adult stage, and easily switch to novel prey. Under field conditions, polyphagous heterodynamic univoltine species and populations with deep obligate diapause are more likely to naturalize successfully.

Investigation of the antennal surfaces in four species of the family Ecnomidae (Ecnomus insularis, E. maheensis, E. jethet, and E. tenellus) has revealed the presence of antennal structures including long trichoid, curved trichoid, mushroom-like pseudoplacoid, basiconic, styloconic, and chaetoid sensilla, as well as Böhm’s bristles. The mean number and diversity of the sensilla decrease toward the antenna apex. Interpopulation differences in the size and numbers of sensilla, mostly the curved trichoid ones, were observed in the widespread species Ecnomus tenellus, for the first time in insects. Quantitative differences in the composition of sensilla were found between all the studied species; these differences are probably adaptive. The evolutionary significance of the revealed divergence is discussed.

This study is aimed at describing the morphological and histological structures of the alimentary canal in the adults of Epiphaneus malachiticus Boheman, 1842 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a poorly investigated species of Curculionidae. The alimentary canal of adult E. malachiticus was isolated, processed, and analyzed using stereo microscope, light microscope, and scanning electron microscope. The alimentary canal of E. malachiticus is morphologically and histologically divided into foregut, midgut, hindgut, and tubular structure. The foregut has pharynx, esophagus, crop which has histological layers like lumen, intimal layer, epithelium, and outer muscles. The midgut is divided into the anterior midgut and posterior midgut. The former is wide; the diameter of the latter is twothirds of that of the former. Their wall is surrounded with muscularis externa and inner columnar epithelium. The hindgut has pylorus, ileum, colon, and rectum with such histological layers as lumen, intima, epithelium, and muscles. The Malpighian tubules are long and connected to the pylorus, they have a single layer of cuboidal epithelium. The salivary glands are absent in this species.

World entomological collections were formed during over three centuries of sampling and research. These collections provide the only direct documentation of distribution and natural history of insects and are integral to our efforts to understand biodiversity. However, a substantial part of the world holdings remains not catalogued and, therefore, inaccessible to comprehensive analysis. Taxonomic revision of any plant or animal group implies a detailed synthesis of all the available information, a task that may take full advantage of all the new web-based technologies and databases. Arthropod Easy Capture (AEC) relational specimen database provides a convenient way for assembling and integrating specimen information. Long-term experience of integrating the AEC specimen technology into our revisionary project workflows illustrates the benefits of such approach resulting, among other things, in minimization of time required for data capture, straightforward producing of distributional maps, integration of host data, and offers easy access of other researchers to primary data. The specimen database may also be a powerful tool for biogeography and coevolution studies.

As the result of long-term studies, 10 passerine bird species were recorded as hosts of Trypocalliphora braueri larvae in the Yenisei region in Siberia. The main hosts of Tr. braueri were Sturnus vulgaris, Motacillacinerea, M. alba,M. personata, Sylvia curruca, and Phoenicurus phoenicurus. Infestation intensity was higher in anthropogenic landscapes; it also depended on spring temperatures. The mean infestation rate was 5.6%, the maximum one, 18.5%. Most of the infested nests were recorded at a distance of about 2.4 km from the Yenisei riverbed.

Two new bristletail species of the family Machilidae are described: Allopsontus tyrnyauzi sp. n. from the Caucasus and A. zinchenkoi sp. n. from the Pamir-Alai Mountain system. The former species belongs to the subgenus Kaplinilis Mendes, 1990. Among the species described within this subgenus, numerous short, pigmented, appressed setulae on the underside of the 5-7th maxillary palpomeres and the 3rd labial palpomere in males are found only in A. tyrnyauzi sp. n. and A. bifarius (Wygodzinsky, 1970), the latter known from western Mongolia and Tuva. Allopsontus tyrnyauzi sp. n. differs from A. bifarius in the relatively short eye contact line, more dilated paired ocelli, urosternites with a right apical angle, the narrower sensory fields on the fore femora in males, and fewer paramere segments. Allopsontus zinchenkoi sp. n. belongs to the subgenus Anisopsontus Mendes, 1990 and differs from the other consubgeners in the color of the compound eyes, the width to length ratio of the paired ocelli, longer abdominal styli, larger sensory fields on the fore femora in males, and the relatively short ovipositor.

An illustrated catalogue of the genus Brypoctia Schoorl (Lepidoptera, Cossidae), which includes 11 species, is presented. A new synonym, Brypoctia Schoorl, 1990 = Aramos Schoorl, 1990, syn. n., and five new combinations are established: Brypoctia aeetes (Druce, 1901), comb, n., Brypoctia desdemona (Dyar et Schaus, 1937), comb, n., Brypoctia itys (Druce, 1911), comb, n., Brypoctia ramosa (Schaus, 1892), comb. n., and Brypoctia ramuscula (Dyar, 1906), comb. n. Five new species are described: Brypoctia greifensteinisp. n. from Venezuela, B. eqaqosp. n. from Peru, B. kurupisp. n., B. monaisp. n. from Brazil, and B. itzamnasp. n. from Guatemala.