Integrated pest management of Tuta absoluta: practical implementations across different world regions

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), has invaded most Afro-Eurasian countries and is threatening worldwide tomato production. Various strategies have been developed and implemented to manage this pest. Here, we present a timely review on the up-to-date development and practical implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) programs for tomato crops across different world regions infested by T. absoluta. While insecticide resistance is a growing concern, biological control via releasing or conserving arthropod natural enemies and sex pheromone-based biotechnical control are the most successful management practices. Agronomic control-related research is an emerging area where the soil fertilization and/or irrigation, as well as breeding of resistant cultivars, has the potential to enhance IPM effectiveness. Grower survey responses in the native areas (i.e., South America), early-invaded areas (i.e., first report between 2006 and 2012) and newly invaded areas (i.e., first report after 2012) showed that the control programs evolved along with the areas and time since invasion. Growers in the early-invaded areas shifted more rapidly from chemical control to biological control compared to those from the native area. In all concerned regions, the pest control failure risk following chemical insecticide applications and the high cost associated with either biological or biotechnical control methods have been the greatest concerns for growers. The information gathered from the native and/or early-invaded areas may help achieve a more effective management in newly invaded areas. Lastly, researchers are expected to break the bottlenecks of some key issues that would enable lowering application cost of novel biorational alternative management options

Two new species records of Lecithoceridae (Gelechioidea: Lepidoptera) from India

Pathania, Prakash C., Shashank, Pathour R., Park, Kyu-Tek (2021): Two new species records of Lecithoceridae (Gelechioidea: Lepidoptera) from India. Zootaxa 4920 (4): 595-599, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4920.4.

A new genus Vittaliana belonging to the tribe Opsiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from India and its molecular phylogeny

The new leafhopper genus Vittalianareticulata gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from India, and placed in the tribe Opsiini based on ocelli close to eyes, without carina on anterior margin of the face and bifurcate aedeagus with two gonopores. Phylogenetic analysis with maximum likelihood (ML) using IQtree v1.4.1 of combined data (Histone H3 and 28S rDNA) reveals that the new genus Vittaliana belongs to a clade consisting of Opsius versicolor (Distant, 1908), Opsiini gen. sp., Libengaia sp., Hishimonus phycitis (Distant, 1908) and Yinfomibus menglaensis Du, Liang & Dai (2019) with good branch support, and that the tribe Opsiini is paraphyletic. This resolves the placement of a new genus in the tribe Opsiini under Deltocephalinae

First report of the poplar leaf miner, Phyllonorycter populifoliella (Treitschke) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) from India

Shashank, Pathour R., Singh, Narendra, Harshana, Anand, Sinha, Twinkle, Kirichenko, Natalia (2021): First report of the poplar leaf miner, Phyllonorycter populifoliella (Treitschke) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) from India. Zootaxa 4915 (3): 435-450, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4915.3.1

A new genus of leafhopper subtribe Paraboloponina (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with molecular phylogeny of related genera

<div><p>A new leafhopper genus <i>Chandra</i> and species <i>Chandra dehradunensis</i> <b>gen. nov., sp. nov</b>. are described, illustrated from India and placed in the subtribe Paraboloponina (Cidadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Drabescini). This genus is closely associated with the genus <i>Parabolopona</i> Webb but differs in shape of the head, placement of antennae, male genitalia and molecular analysis using Histone <i>H3</i> and <i>COI</i> genes confirmed the difference. The taxonomic and phylogenetic position of <i>Chandra</i> is discussed using morphological characters and preliminary molecular evidence of the new genus and related genus <i>Parabolopona</i>.</p></div

Phylogram of the analysed genera Deltocephalinae showing relationships of <i>Chandra dehradunensis</i> Meshram gen. nov., sp. nov. with related genera of tribe drabescini inferred using by neighbor-joining (NJ) tree method and the kimura 2-parameter distances of Histone H3 sequences.

<p>Phylogram of the analysed genera Deltocephalinae showing relationships of <i>Chandra dehradunensis</i> Meshram gen. nov., sp. nov. with related genera of tribe drabescini inferred using by neighbor-joining (NJ) tree method and the kimura 2-parameter distances of Histone H3 sequences.</p

Showing GenBank Accession Numbers, along with locality data for mtCOI.

<p>Showing GenBank Accession Numbers, along with locality data for mtCOI.</p

Phylogram of the analysed genera Deltocephalinae showing relationships of <i>Chandra dehradunensis</i> Meshram gen. nov., sp. nov. with related species of tribe drabescini inferred using by neighbor-joining (NJ) tree method and the kimura 2-parameter distances mitochondrial COI sequences.

<p>Phylogram of the analysed genera Deltocephalinae showing relationships of <i>Chandra dehradunensis</i> Meshram gen. nov., sp. nov. with related species of tribe drabescini inferred using by neighbor-joining (NJ) tree method and the kimura 2-parameter distances mitochondrial COI sequences.</p

A new genus of leafhopper subtribe Paraboloponina (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with molecular phylogeny of related genera - Fig 2

<p><i>Chandra dehradunensis</i> Meshram gen. nov., sp. nov., male genitalia A. Pygofer; B. Style; C. Connective; D-E. Aedeagus, lateral and dorsal view; F. Subgenital plate.</p

First report of an invasive pest, Pheosia albivertex (Hampson 1983) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) on Populus alba (Salicaceae), from Ladakh, India

Populus spp. belongs to the deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, primarily located in the Northern Hemisphere, including Trans-Himalayan, cold arid desert Ladakh. In Ladakh, it is predominantly cultivated in irrigated land patches along the riverbanks. This plant holds significant economic value as its wood is extensively used in furniture-making and house constructions. Recently, a highly successful pest, identified as Pheosia albivertex (Hampson 1983), was observed infesting the Populus plantations, marking a new record of insect infestation. The pest causes complete defoliation, particularly during midsummer, which is the prime foliage period. The initial sighting of this insect occurred in Dyanguchay village, Suru-valley, Kargil district of the union territory of Ladakh. However, during a thorough three-year-and-five-month investigation from April 2019 to August 2022, it was found spreading to neighbouring areas. Consequently, without timely control measures, it poses a significant threat to the popular plantation in Ladakh and other adjoining areas