Development of Food-Luring Baited Traps for Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Monitoring in the Field in Southern China

Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a red imported fire ant that originated from South America, is a worldwide invasive pest. This study investigated the efficacy of the newly designed baited trap to detect red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, under field conditions in China. Among the five food lures tested for red imported fire ants, the ants preferred ham sausage and fish powder, followed by mixed powder (50% fish powder + 50% black soldier fly powder) and black soldier fly powder. These lures were compared to sugar water (control) to determine their efficacy in trapping red imported fire ants. Field data revealed that the ham sausage powder trap was more efficient than the fish powder trap based on its ability to trap more red imported fire ants under field conditions and ease of use. Thus, it was concluded that the baited traps are efficient for longterm red imported fire ants monitoring

Two new and one little-known damsel bug of the subfamily Prostemmatinae Reuter (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Nabidae) from China

Two damsel bugs belonging to two genera of the subfamily Prostemmatinae from China are reported as new to science: Alloeorhynchus (Alloeorhynchus) yunnanensis sp. n. and Rhamphocoris guizhouensis sp. n. The little-known species Alloeorhynchus (Alloeorhynchus) reinhardi Kerzhner & Günther, 1999 is redescribed. All species are illustrated in detail. Keys to the Chinese species of Rhamphocoris and Alloeorhynchus are provided aid in identification

Asymmetric Interaction between Aphis spiraecola and Toxoptera citricida on Sweet Orange Induced by Pre-Infestation

Indirect interactions between herbivorous insects that share the same host have been focused on insects feeding on herbaceous plants, while few studies investigate similar interactions on woody plants. We investigated performance and feeding behavior of two citrus aphids, Aphis spiraecola Patch and Toxoptera citricida Kirkaldy, on sweet orange as affected by prior infestation of conspecifics and heterospecifics. Results showed that pre-infestation-induced interactions between A. spiraecola and T. citricida were asymmetric, with A. spiraecola gaining more fitness. In detail, pre-infestation by A. spiraecola decreased adult weight, enhanced survival rate and accelerated phloem sap acceptance of conspecifics. However, A. spiraecola pre-infestation did not affect performance or feeding behavior of T. citricida. In another infestation sequence, the pre-infestation of T. citricida did not affect conspecifics, but positively affected heterospecifics, indicated as a decreased pre-reproductive period, enhanced survival rate, adult weight, fecundity, and feeding efficiency, i.e., faster access and acceptance of phloem sap, and longer phloem sap ingestion duration. Furthermore, we found A. spiraecola pre-infestation enhanced amino acid concentration, amino acid to sugar ratio, activated salicylic acid and jasmonic acid marker gene expression, while T. citricida pre-infestation only depressed jasmonic acid marker gene expression. Changes in nutrient and phytohormone-dependent defense probably underlie the asymmetric effect

Two new synonyms among Panchaetothripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) with three species newly recorded from China

Wang, Zhaohong, Mound, Laurence, Mao, Runqian, Tong, Xiaoli (2022): Two new synonyms among Panchaetothripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) with three species newly recorded from China. Zootaxa 5190 (2): 275-285, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.