Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera) ovipositing in old galls of Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)

Authors report some biological notes on two species of Orthoptera Tettigoniidae emerged from old spongy-woody galls of Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu, 1951 collected in April 2015 from some areas of Sicily (Italy): Leptophyes sicula Kleukers, Od\ue9 et Fontana, 2010 (Phaneropterinae) and Cyrtaspis scutata (Charpentier, 1825) (Meconematinae). Between the end of April and the first days of May 30 neanids emerged from the galls, were reared and their cycle followed. While L. sicula laid eggs in groups, C. scutata laid single eggs inside the galls; both species have shown that in a few years they adapted in exploiting this new shelter for egg laying. No interaction with the gall inducing insect was noted

Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle, 2004 and Ophelimus maskelli Haliday, 1844 - two new records of gall forming Eulophidae from Malta (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea)

The Eulophidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) currently accommodates more than 4,000 described species worldwide in some 300 genera (noyES, 2003). In Europe, the family is represented by about 1,100 species (GAuld & Bolton, 1988). Eleven species have previously been recorded from Malta in various scattered publications, but of these only two were reported as occurring in Malta in the Fauna Europaea database (mitroiu, 2004). The purpose of the present work is to add a further two new records of the family from Malta bringing the total number of species known from these islands to 13, and to bring together the previously recorded species in the form of a short annotated list with referencespeer-reviewe

Relationship between host plant diversity and gall-inducing insect’s richness in the Brazilian Cerrado

Várias hipóteses têm sido propostas para explicar os padrões de diversidade de insetos galhadores. Algumas delas têm levado em consideração a influência das plantas hospedeiras nesses padrões, sobretudo em relação à riqueza e composição da comunidade. No presente estudo, nós respondemos às seguintes questões: (i) a riqueza de galhas é proporcional ao tamanho da família de plantas? (ii) essa relação também ocorre para o tamanho dos gêneros de plantas? e (iii) a composição dos táxons hospedeiros pode influenciar a riqueza de galhas? Inventários da diversidade de insetos galhadores foram realizados em diferentes regiões do estado de Goiás, centro-oeste do Brasil. A riqueza de galhas foi positivamente correlacionada com o tamanho da família de plantas hospedeiras, em número de espécies. Famílias maiores apresentaram uma maior riqueza de morfotipos de galhas, como Fabaceae, a família que exibe o maior número de espécies de plantas no Cerrado. Do mesmo modo, a composição do táxon vegetal influenciou a riqueza de galhas e a presença de alguns táxons super-hospedeiros incrementou a diversidade de galhas. Esses resultados indicam que a composição da comunidade de plantas pode ser tão determinante para a diversidade de insetos galhadores quanto a riqueza de plantas hospedeiras. Palavras-chave: composição florística, galhas, riqueza de plantas hospedeiras, superhospedeiras.Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the diversity patterns of gall-inducing insect species. Some of them take into consideration the influence of host plants on these patterns, mainly in relation to plant community richness and composition. In the present study, we intended to answer three questions: (i) Is gall richness dependent of the host plant family size?, (ii) This relationship also occurs for the plant genus size?, and (iii) Does the composition of host taxa influence gall richness? We carried out inventories of gall-inducing insect diversity in different areas of the Cerrado region in the state of Goiás, in the Midwestern Region of Brazil. Gall richness was positively correlated to host plant family size in number of species. Larger families presented higher richness of gall morphotypes, such as Fabaceae, a family that exhibits the highest number of plants in the Cerrado area. Also, plant community composition influenced gall richness and the presence of some super-host taxa incremented gall diversity. Our results indicate that plant community composition may be as determinant of gall-inducing insect species diversity as host plant richness.Key words: floristic composition, galls, host plant richness, super-hosts

Interactions between a gall–inducing wasp Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and its host plant Acacia longifolia (Fabaceae)

Sallow Wattle (Acacia longifolia subsp. longifolia) is a native Australian shrub which is an invasive weed in some parts of Australia, and internationally. A gall-forming wasp (Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae), also native to Australia, causes abnormal growth of tissues (galls) in Sallow Wattle. This wasp is used outside of Australia to control invasive populations of this plant species. However, in Australia, the wasp is not effective in managing the spread of Sallow Wattle. This study investigates various aspects of the relationship between the wasp and its host plant in Australian ecosystems to better understand the physiological and ecological processes involved. The study shows that this wasp is host-specific on Sallow Wattle. The feeding action of the larval wasps increase secondary plant compounds in gall tissue, which may assist the plant to defend itself chemically against other insects and microorganisms. The growth of the galls redirects resources which are otherwise used by the plant for growth and reproduction. A second insect species was found within the galls and was identified as Megastigmus sp. This second species is likely to be a parasitoid, killing the larvae of the gall-former and occupying the gall. The presence of Megastigmus sp. in Australian ecosystems may be a key factor affecting the ability of T. acaciaelongifoliae to control Sallow Wattle in its native range. The structure of galls formed by each type of gall-inducing insects is unique and the process of gall induction also varies across species. The present study has specifically examined the initiation and development of galls formed by T. acaciaelongifoliae on A. l. longifolia. Unlike other hymenopteran groups, which induce galls during oviposition, T. acaciaelongifoliae appears to form galls on A. l. longifolia via the larval feeding process. Three major stages of gall development were identified and described: induction of gall, growth and maturation of gall, and shrinking and desiccation of gall. These findings have significantly extended our current knowledge of gall induction and development by the hymenopteran group of insects. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total phenol (TP), and total anthocyanin (TA) were measured in galls formed by T. acaciaelongifoliae at different growth stages of galls and in other plant tissue samples of A. l. longifolia to understand the effect of gall formation on plant phytochemistry. The results indicated differences in the amounts of phytochemicals in tissue samples from galls of different growth stages of galls and between gall tissue samples and other plant samples of A. l. longifolia. The highest amount of total antioxidant capacity, total phenols and total anthocyanin were recorded in samples of early stages galls, whereas the minimum amounts of phytochemicals were in stems of A. l. longifolia. Amounts of antioxidant capacity, phenols and anthocyanin gradually declined as galls developed and larvae became less active in their feeding activity prior to pupation. It is assumed that the active feeding action of the larvae results in increased amounts of these chemicals in the early growth stages of the galls. The effect of galls formed by the wasp, T. acaciaelongifoliae on the growth and reproduction of A. l. longifolia was investigated in the native home range of both species, where the plant is invasive. Differences in the average number of phyllodes per sub-branch were found between galled and ungalled plants. Galls were also shown to affect the growth rate of branches. The number of galls correlated positively with twig mortality; and negatively with the number of seedpods per sub-branch. While galls formed by T. acaciaelongifoliae have impacts on the growth and reproduction of A. l. longifolia plants, the plant continues to invade Australian ecosystems. An experiment was conducted to investigate the host plant preference of T. acaciaelongifoliae. Ten different native host plant species (co-occurring with A. l. longifolia in the study locations) were tested in two set of experiments; a ‘free choice test’ and ‘no choice test’. The results showed that T. acaciaelongifoliae is highly host-specific on A. l. longifolia plants. Thus, it was concluded that the presence of other plant species does not explain the continued invasiveness of A. l. longifolia in Australia. A second insect species was found in the galls developed by T. acaciaelongifoliae on A. l. longifolia. The insect species has been identified as another hymenopteran from the genus Megastigmus. Since no T. acaciaelongifoliae emerged from the galls occupied by Megastigmus sp, it is proposed that Megastigmus sp. may feed upon T. acaciaelongifoliae larvae and kill them inside the galls. This might be a key factor affecting the performance of the wasp, T. acaciaelongifoliae in controlling A. l. longifolia in its native distribution. Parasitism rates of Megastigmus sp. should be investigated in future experiments.Doctor of Philosoph

Remarks on the misunderstood use of the term biodiversity

The term diversity is intended to denote species richness understood as the number of species and individuals; it was explicitly discussed at length by Hutchinson in 1959 and by many other scientists in the following decades. The term biodiversity, certainly derived from diversity, was born in the 1980s. The difference between the two terms is substantial, diversity is a part of the whole, as biodiversity is understood as diversity of organisms at the level of species, individuals, genes, interactions and ecological processes among them and at the level of ecosystems. Thus, it is correct to write ‘plant diversity’ or ‘animal diversity’, but not ‘plant biodiversity’ or ‘animal biodiversity’. Biodiversity is unique, it includes all living things, it is equal to a fundamental law of life, the maintenance of adequate levels of biodiversity is a necessity for the very life of our Planet. An illustration of biodiversity seen in the form of mosaic tesserae is tentatively presente

Fine morphology of antennal and ovipositor sensory structures of the gall chestnut wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus

3openInternationalItalian coauthor/editorDryocosmus kuriphilus is a gall-inducing insect, which can cause significant damage on plants of the genus Castanea Mill., 1754. Antennae and ovipositor are the main sensory organs involved in the location of suitable oviposition sites. Antennal sensilla are involved in the host plant location, while ovipositor sensilla assess the suitability of the ovipositional bud. On both organs, diverse sensillar organs are present. Here, the distribution and ultrastructural organization of the sensilla were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The antennae of D. kuriphilus are filiform and composed of 14 antennomeres, with the distal flagellomere bearing the highest number of sensilla. On the antennae, 6 sensilla types were found; sensilla chaetica, campaniformia, coeloconica-I, coeloconica-II, trichoidea and placoidea. The sensilla placoidea and trichoidea were the most abundant types. On the external walls of the ovipositor, gustatory and mechanoreceptive sensilla were observed. Internally, the egg channel hosted two additional sensory structures. The putative functional role of each sensilla in the context of insect’s ecology is discussed as well as the ovipositional mechanism used by this insect.openSevarika, M.; Rossi Stacconi, M.V.; Romani, R.Sevarika, M.; Rossi Stacconi, M.V.; Romani, R

First record in Algeria of two eulophid wasps: Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault) and its host, the eucalyptus gall wasp Ophelimus maskelli (Asmead) (Hymenoptera Eulophidae).

The endophagous parasitoid Closterocerus chamaeleon, released in Israel, Italy and Corsica, for classical biological control programs, and its host, the gall-maker Ophelimus maskelli, were recorded for the first time in Algeria, in a straight line 450 km far from the Sardinian release site and 700 km far from the closest Sicilian release site. Their presence is confirmed in Andalucia (Spain), about 2000 km far from release sites of Sicily and Campania. In about two years the parasitoid spread and was established in many Mediterranean countries

Effects of abiotic factors on host plant quality and community structure of the parasitoid guild that attacks Asphondylia borrichiae midges on Borrichia frutescens

Asphondylia borrichiae is a gall-inducing insect that attacks its ancestral host plant Borrichia frutescens: through ovipositional mistakes it has acquired two additional hosts, Iva frutescens and Iva imbricata. Oviposition results in the formation of a gall, a tumor-like growth of plant tissue within which immature A. borrichiae develop. During development, immature A. borrichiae, are attacked by a suite of four generalist hymenopteran parasitoids. Of these, Galeopsomyia haemon and Torymus umbilicatus are facultative hyperparasitoids, more common and exhibit non-random attack patterns. In the present study, soil quality was manipulated through bi-weekly application of either ammonium nitrate fertilizer or sodium chloride rock salt: resulting in variation in host plant quality. Bottom-up manipulation cascaded upwards through trophic levels and indirectly shifted the composition of the parasitoid guild community. Decreases in host plant quality significantly decreased available leaves (64%), reduced stem growth (17%) and limited growth of the plant and galls when compared to vigorous, higher quality plants. Galls produced from salt-treated plots had significantly lower gall diameter (20%), fewer gall chambers (30%) and significantly increased attacks by G. haemon when compared to control galls (56%). Increasing plant quality significantly increased total leaf size (21%), retained more leaves, and increased growth of the host plant when contrasted with poorer quality plants. Fertilized plants produced galls with significantly greater gall diameter with increased number of T. umbilicatus when compared to controls (12%). Results support the gall-diameter hypothesis as present parasitoids were distributed across gall diameter. This study was successful in changing the natural enemies present within a system through indirect effects of soil quality, these bottom-up effects could potentially shape future top-down control by the parasitoids. Specifically, in instances of potential host-range expansion in which parasitoid composition as mediated by lower trophic levels can either increase or decrease the availability of enemy free space