DNA barcoding and a precise morphological comparison revealed a cryptic species in the Nippolachnus piri complex (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae)

Nippolachnus is a small Palaearctic-Oriental genus of very characteristic aphids that live on the leaves of woody Rosaceae. One species, N. piri, has hitherto been regarded to be widely distributed and relatively polyphagous. Members of this genus are considered to be easy to recognize due to the absence of the ocular tubercle and triommatidia on the head. We conducted research on the morphology and generic characters of Nippolachnus piri complex using scanning electron microscopy (for the first time) and DNA barcoding. We analyzed N. piri populations on Pyrus and other plants (Eriobotrya, Rhaphiolepis and Sorbus) in Japan and the Republic of Korea. Specifically, a high genetic divergence value was found between the N. piri populations associated with different host plants. SEM investigation of the head capsule revealed that a triommatidium is present under the compound eye, despite their lack of an ocular tubercle. We propose Nippolachnus micromeli Shinji, 1924 stat. nov. as a cryptic species in the N. piri complex based on a morphological comparison, DNA barcoding and different host-plant associations. Illustrations and descriptions of studied species are given. Morphological keys to the apterae and alatae of all known species of the genus Nippolachnus are also provided

Roger Blackman 1941-2022 an appreciation

Dr Roger Laurence Blackman (Fig. 1) passed away on 17 March 2022, after more than 50 years dedicated to advances in aphid science. There can be very few scientists studying any aspect of aphids whose papers have not cited the works of Roger Blackman. To his name, we add that of Victor Eastop (1924–2012), for the two of them formed an inspirational, complementary and indefatigable pair at London’s Natural History Museum. Together they were responsible for, amongst many other seminal works, the three testaments of the aphidologists’ bible: Aphids on the World’s Crops, Aphids on the World’s Trees and Aphids on the World’s Herbaceous Plants and Shrubs, now brought together and regularly updated by Roger until very recently in the online version, Aphids on the World’s Plants (www.aphidsonworldsplants.info). Victor was an out-and-out taxonomist, absolutely amongst the best the world has known, whilst being very familiar with most aspects of aphidology. Roger’s contributions were broader as we shall see

Morphological study of the antennal sensilla in Gerromorpha (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

The external morphology and distribution of the antennal sensilla of 21 species from five families of semiaquatic bugs (Gerromorpha) were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Nine main types were distinguished based on their morphological structure: sensilla trichoidea, sensilla chaetica, sensilla leaflike, sensilla campaniformia, sensilla coeloconica, sensilla ampullacea, sensilla basiconica, sensilla placoidea and sensilla bell-mouthed. The specific morphological structure of one type of sensilla (bell-mouthed sensilla) was observed only in Aquarius paludum. Several subtypes of sensilla are described, differentiated by number, location and type of sensillum characteristic for each examined taxon. The present study provides new data about the morphology and distribution of the antennal sensilla in Gerromorpha

A great little ally: revealing the morphology of the immature stages of the aphid pest predator Sphaerophoria rueppellii (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Morphology, at both adult and larval stages is crucial for the correct identification of an insect and a better understanding of its biology and behaviour. The lack of morpho-functional information in insects is much more general in the immature stages than in adults, and major insect orders, such as Diptera are no exception. Syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae) include various genera with aphidophagous larvae playing a key role in the control of pest insects in both natural and agricultural systems. The aphidophagous Sphaerophoria rueppellii (Wiedemann, 1830) is a syrphid widely distributed in the Palearctic Region and it is of commercial importance as a biological control agent against aphid pests. However, little is known about the fine morphology of its immature stages because it was described in 1939, when microscopy did not allow detailed studies of certain morphological features. In this work, stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to get a deeper and more detailed picture of the immature stage morphology of this syrphid. SEM was used to examine in detail the chaetotaxy of three larval instars, the larva/puparium posterior respiratory process (PRP), and the chorionic structure of the egg. We describe for the first time the egg, first and second larval stages, and also give a complete updated description of the third-stage larva and the puparium. The three larval instars vary from each other, especially in the number of sensillae, PRP form, colour, and body size. The thickness of both the egg chorion and puparium integument were also measured. A possible interpretation of the reasons for the variability in the number of sensillae is discussed. Illustrations and full descriptions are provided for the egg, larva, and puparium of S. rueppellii, including the head skeleton of the third larval stage.This work was funded by a Predoctoral Scholarship and Mobility Ph.D. Students Grant of the University of Alicante to the first author, and to the Transform 4 Europe cooperation between the Silesia and Alicante University. Thanks to the Fauna Ibérica Project PGC2018-095851-A-C65 of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Antonio Ricarte’s position (Ref. UATALENTO17-18) at the University of Alicante is funded by the ‘Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia del Conocimiento’. This work is part of a PhD thesis of the first author

Alien species of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) found in Serbia, new to the Balkan Peninsula

New alien species of aphids (Illinoia liriodendri (Monell), Wahlgreniella nervata (Gillete), Takecallis arundicolens (Clarke) and Tinocallis takachihoensis Higuchi) have been found for the first time in Serbia. These records are new for the Balkan Peninsula. Data of Ericaphis scammelli (Mason), species recently mentioned in Serbia, are also presented in the text. The species have been found during the last five years at four sites (Belgrade, Zemun, Mladenovac and Bojnik) on five cultivated plants. Ericaphis scammelli is a pest of blueberry and a vector of Blueberry scorch virus. The other four develop colonies on decorative plants: I. liriodendri has been found on Liriodendron tulipifera, W. nervata on Rosa sp., T. arundicolens on Pseudosasa japonica and T. takachihoensis on Ulmus x hollandica. The origin of three of the species (E. scammelli, I. liriodendri and W. nervata) is North America and two (T. arundicolens and T. takachihoensis) have come from East Asia. Their morphology, biology and the damage they inflict are discussed here, as well as their potential economic and environmental threat. Only parthenogenetic viviparous females of all 5 species have been collected. Their biology has not been studied enough in Europe and needs further examination. Original drawings of all species are presented