Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), originated from America but is reported recently from Africa and the Asia-Pacific. FAW has caused huge international concern since its outbreak in Africa since 2016 and in Asia since mid-2018. The chapter mainly reviews its global distribution, life cycle, identification characters, strains, host plants, nature of damage, economic damage, and integrated pest management strategies available. The pest completes its life cycle on maize in 30 days (in warm summer months); in cooler temperatures, it may extend up to 60–90 days. For effective management of fall armyworm, different tools, viz., cultural control, agronomic management, breeding for resistance, natural enemies, and eco-friendly insecticides, should be used in an integrated approach. As the insect is recently introduced to Africa and the Asia-Pacific, possible management strategies and future cases of action are discussed

The CHEK2 Variant C.349A>G Is Associated with Prostate Cancer Risk and Carriers Share a Common Ancestor

Simple SummaryIt is well-recognised the strong contribution of genetic factors to prostate cancer (PrCa) susceptibility, thus genetic screening is critical for presymptomatic diagnosis and identification of individuals at high-risk. In this context, recurrent founder variants in cancer predisposing genes, by providing specific targets for early identification of carriers at risk of developing the disease, may be leveraged to implement cost-efficient targeted genetic screening strategies. The goal of this study was to investigate whether CHEK2 c.349A>G, the only recurrent "likely pathogenic" variant in CHEK2 gene reported in the Portuguese population, plays an important role in PrCa development, and the possibility of a founder effect behind its origin. Our results clearly demonstrate that c.349A>G in the CHEK2 tumour-suppressor gene is a founder variant significantly associated with an increased risk of PrCa, suggesting its potential usefulness for cost-effective targeted genetic screening in PrCa families.The identification of recurrent founder variants in cancer predisposing genes may have important implications for implementing cost-effective targeted genetic screening strategies. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence and relative risk of the CHEK2 recurrent variant c.349A>G in a series of 462 Portuguese patients with early-onset and/or familial/hereditary prostate cancer (PrCa), as well as in the large multicentre PRACTICAL case-control study comprising 55,162 prostate cancer cases and 36,147 controls. Additionally, we investigated the potential shared ancestry of the carriers by performing identity-by-descent, haplotype and age estimation analyses using high-density SNP data from 70 variant carriers belonging to 11 different populations included in the PRACTICAL consortium. The CHEK2 missense variant c.349A>G was found significantly associated with an increased risk for PrCa (OR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.2). A shared haplotype flanking the variant in all carriers was identified, strongly suggesting a common founder of European origin. Additionally, using two independent statistical algorithms, implemented by DMLE+2.3 and ESTIAGE, we were able to estimate the age of the variant between 2300 and 3125 years. By extending the haplotype analysis to 14 additional carrier families, a shared core haplotype was revealed among all carriers matching the conserved region previously identified in the high-density SNP analysis. These findings are consistent with CHEK2 c.349A>G being a founder variant associated with increased PrCa risk, suggesting its potential usefulness for cost-effective targeted genetic screening in PrCa families

Chemical and phylogenetic relationships among Aristolochia L. (Aristolochiaceae) from southeastern Brazil

In this report, a molecular phylogeny based on the plastid gene matK and on the region between the genes trnL and trnF, and a chemical relationship based on the pattern of sesquiterpenes, is proposed for Aristolochia species from southeastern Brazil. We found that Aristolochia is a monophyletic genus and species considered to be derived contain labdanoic acids (LAs) in their leaves. The phenetic relationship recovered with sesquiterpenes did not agree with the phylogenetic relationships for Aristolochia, and three main clusters were recognized, namely, germacrene-D, germacrene-C and Z-caryophyllene groups. The presence of different sesquiterpene structures in species that are phylogenetically closely related may reflect adaptations to avoid predation of herbivores specialized in feeding on Aristolochiaceae plants. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All fights reserved.34429130

A NEW SPECIES OF ACTINOTE HUBNER FROM THE EASTERN ANDES OF ECUADOR (LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE: HELICONIINAE)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)A new species of Actinote Hubner, A. kennethi Freitas, Willmott and Hall (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae), is described from Cloud forest habitats in eastern Ecuador. Molecular sequence data and morphological characters both indicate that the new taxon is closely related to Actinote g. genitrix d'Almeida, 1922, from southeastern Brazil, and the Venezuelan Actinote genitrix costae Neild, 2008. Based on the Substantial geographic isolation of these taxa, observed morphological differences and mtDNA sequence divergence, we argue for the treatment of the new Ecuadorian Actinote taxon as a distinct species.11114756National Geographic Society [5751-96]Sigma XiNational Science Foundation [0103746, 0639977, 0639861, 0527441]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundo de Apoio ao Ensino a Pesquisa e a Extensao [1659/04]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)National Geographic Society [5751-96]National Science Foundation [0103746, 0639977, 0639861, 0527441]CNPq [CNPq]FAPESP [FA-PESP]FAPESP [98/05101-8]Fundo de Apoio ao Ensino a Pesquisa e a Extensao [1659/04]CNPq [300315/2005-8

Sesquiterpene and polyacetylene profile of the Bidens pilosa complex (Asteraceae : Heliantheae) from Southeast of Brazil

The pantropical weed Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae) is a species with several taxonomic problems. Recently it has been shown to be a complex of different species. To shed light on this problem in Brazil, dichloromethane extract of leaves of several populations corresponding to three proposed species for the complex in southeastern Brazil (B. pilosa, Bidens alba and Bidens subalternans) were analyzed by GC-MS. Twenty-four substances were detected, of which four resemble polyacetylenes, the others sesquiterpenes. Five sesquiterpenes tentatively identified as E-caryophyllene, alpha-humulene, germacrene-D, bicyclogermacrene and alpha-muurolene were found in all three Bidens species. The polyacetylene phenylhepta-1,3,5-triyne was identified,only in B. alba. Multivariate analysis (cluster and principal component analyses) separated the three entities, suggesting that these compounds could represent a useful tool to distinguish species in the B. pilosa complex. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.33547948

A New Genus and Species of Euptychiina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from Southern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)This paper describes a new genus and a new species of Euptychiina from open grassland habitats (campos de cima da serra) in southern Brazil. The systematic position of this new taxon is discussed based on morphological and molecular data, and it is considered sister to Taydebis Freitas. Since the cam pos vegetation is considered endangered due to anthropogenic activities, this butterfly species deserves attention and should be included in future conservation plans for this biome.402231237Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)National Science Foundation [DEB-0527441]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)CNPq [473838/2006-0, 472175/2007-6, 300282/2008-7]FAPESP [00/01484-1, 04/05269-9, 98/05101-8]National Science Foundation [DEB-0527441]CNPq [480619/2008-5, 302662/2009-0

Phylogenetic relationships among the Ithomiini (Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae) inferred from one mitochondrial and two nuclear gene regions

A phylogenetic hypothesis for the tribe Ithomiini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Danainae) is presented, based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunits I and II (COI-COII) region and regions of the nuclear genes wingless and Elongation factor 1-alpha. Branch support for each clade is assessed, and a partition congruence index is used to explore conflict among gene regions. The monophyly of the clade is strongly supported, as are many of the traditionally recognized subtribes and genera. The data imply paraphyly of some genera and tribes, but largely support recent classifications and phylogenetic hypotheses based on morphological characters.31228830

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci for genetic studies of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)We present polymorphic microsatellite markers isolated for genetic studies of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius). We isolated 16 microsatellite loci through an enriched genomic library protocol. After characterization, 12 markers showed polymorphic information expressed in the observed number of alleles (ranging from 2 to 7; 5 on average) and in the polymorphism information content (ranging from 0.292 to 0.771; 0.535 on average). These markers can be used in further studies to understand the basic ecological characteristics of the sugarcane borer, e.g., dispersion patterns and population genetic differentiation, associated with distinct geographic scales and host plants.12216311635Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)CNPq [578509/2008-3, 480619/2008-5, 484338/2011-0]CAPES [0103/08-0

Paulogramma hydarnis (n. comb.) (Nymphalidae: Biblidinae): distribution, systematic position, and conservation status of a rare and endangered butterfly

CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOThe nymphalid Paulogramma hydarnis (Godart) (n. comb., previously in the genus Callicore) is an endangered butterfly present in a few montane sites in the Atlantic Forest in the Southeastern Brazil. The precise systematic position of P. hydarnis was previously unknown. Based on molecular data, we find that it is sister to Paulogramma pygas (Godart) (n. comb., also previously in Callicore), a common and widespread species in the Neotropics. In addition, we find that Callicore is not monophyletic and that "Callicore" hydarnis (along with other species) is more related to the genus Paulogramma, and should thus be placed in that genus. The genus Paulogramma is now composed by the following species: Paulogramma pyracmon (Godart), Paulogramma eunomia (Hewitson) n. comb., Paulogramma hydarnis (Godart) n. comb., Paulogramma hystaspes (Fabricius) n. comb., Paulogramma pygas (Godart) n. comb., and Paulogramma tolima (Hewitson, 1852) n. comb. Museum specimens and field data report P. hydarnis in four sites in Southeastern Brazil. Recently, P. hydarnis was recorded for the first time at Parque Nacional do Capara, states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais, expanding its distribution about 200 km northward of the previously known limit. Although regularly recorded in some sites, most records are historic, before the 1960s, and the current conservation situation of this species is delicate, deserving attention.The nymphalid Paulogramma hydarnis (Godart) (n. comb., previously in the genus Callicore) is an endangered butterfly present in a few montane sites in the Atlantic Forest in the Southeastern Brazil. The precise systematic position of P. hydarnis was previously unknown. Based on molecular data, we find that it is sister to Paulogramma pygas (Godart) (n. comb., also previously in Callicore), a common and widespread species in the Neotropics. In addition, we find that Callicore is not monophyletic and that "Callicore" hydarnis (along with other species) is more related to the genus Paulogramma, and should thus be placed in that genus. The genus Paulogramma is now composed by the following species: Paulogramma pyracmon (Godart), Paulogramma eunomia (Hewitson) n. comb., Paulogramma hydarnis (Godart) n. comb., Paulogramma hystaspes (Fabricius) n. comb., Paulogramma pygas (Godart) n. comb., and Paulogramma tolima (Hewitson, 1852) n. comb. Museum specimens and field data report P. hydarnis in four sites in Southeastern Brazil. Recently, P. hydarnis was recorded for the first time at Parque Nacional do Capara, states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais, expanding its distribution about 200 km northward of the previously known limit. Although regularly recorded in some sites, most records are historic, before the 1960s, and the current conservation situation of this species is delicate, deserving attention.433218226CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPq [302585/2011-7]National Science Foundation [DEB-1256742]FAPESP [10/51340-8, 2011/08433-8]CNPq [163119/2013-9]CNPq [563332/2010-7, 564954/2010-1, 50/2010]FAPESP [11/50225-3]302585/2011-7; 163119/2013-9; 563332/2010-7; 564954/2010-12010/51340-8; 2011/08433-8; 2011/50225-