Female Bugs Research Articles

Direct parental CRISPR gene editing in the predatory bug Orius strigicollis, a biocontrol agent against small arthropods.

The predatory flower bug Orius strigicollis serves as a valuable biocontrol agent against small arthropods; however, its effectiveness can vary, especially when population establishment fails due to low prey/pest densities. A promising approach to improve the efficacy of O. strigicollis as a biocontrol agent is through gene editing. However, as females lay their eggs in plant tissue, the conventional embryo injection approach is challenging in this species. In this study, we aimed to develop an efficient and practical gene editing technique for O. strigicollis using direct parental CRISPR (DIPA-CRISPR). Female bugs at various postemergence stages received Cas9 ribonucleoprotein injections, with subsequent genotyping of their offspring (G0) using PCR and a heteroduplex mobility assay. We targeted the kynurenine 3-monooxygenase gene (cinnabar), pivotal for insect ommochrome pigment biosynthesis. Through experimental optimization, we achieved a peak gene editing efficiency of 52%, i.e., 52% of G0 progeny carried gene-edited alleles when injecting 1 day postemergence. Notably, some gene-edited G0 adults exhibited a red-eye mosaic phenotype, in contrast to the black-eyed wild type. Crossing experiments confirmed the heritability of the introduced mutations in the subsequent generation (G1), enabling the establishment of a cinnabar-knockout line with bright red eyes. We demonstrate that our DIPA-CRISPR gene editing method tailored for O. strigicollis is efficient and practical. Our findings highlight the potency of DIPA-CRISPR as a tool for O. strigicollis genetic engineering and suggest broader applications for enhancing other biocontrol agents. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

STUDY ON BIOLOGY OF MANGO MEALYBUG AND THEIR CHEMICAL CONTROL IN LABORATORY

The experiment was conducted at Entomology laboratory of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University campus Dhaka during the period from September, 2021 to June, 2022 to study the biology and chemical control of mango mealybug Drosicha mangiferae (Green). Seven chemical insecticides treatments viz. T1 = Nitro 505 EC (Chlorpyrifos + Cypermethrin) @1ml/L of water, T2 = Karate 2.5 EC(Lambda Cyhalothrin) @ 1ml/L of water, T3 = Imitaf 20 SL (Imidacloprid) @0.5ml/L of water, T4 = Ripcord 10 EC (Cypermethrin) @1ml/L of water, T5 = Voliam Flexi 300 SC (Chlorantraniliprole + Thiamethoxam) @ 0.5 ml/L of water, T6 = Fame 70 WDG (Imidacloprid 60% + Acetamiprid 10%) @1gm/L of water, T7 = Capture 75 WDG (Imidacloprid 70%+Emamectin benzoate 5%) @0.5gm/L of water and T0= Untreated control were tested on mealybug. In laboratory, completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications was used. The color of the first, second and third instar nymphs are recorded as yellowish, grey brown with black and greenish respectively with their mean lengths and breadth 0.67±0.09 mm and 0.41±0.05 mm; 0.92±0.04 mm and 0.55±0.05 mm; 1.06±0.13 mm and 0.69±0.04 mm respectively. The crimsoncoloured adult male are 1.38±0.10 mm and 0.78±0.03 mm in length and width respectively. Adult female bugs are white colour, elliptical shape and body is covered with numerous minute hairs. Female bugs are 2.18±0.28 mm and 1.35±0.15 in length and width respectively. The longevity of first, second and third instar nymph are 49.33±2.52, 23.00±1.73 and 13.00±2.00 days where the longevity of adult male and female are 3.33±1.15 and 14.00±1.36 days respectively. Karate 2.5 EC (Lambda Cyhalothrin) was the most effective insecticide against mango mealybug which reduced maximum population of mango mealybug (93.67% after 12, 24, 36, 72 hours of spray followed by Voliam Flexi 300 SC (Chlorantraniliprole + Thiamethoxam) 93.25% after 12, 24, 36, 72 hours of spray.

Intrasexual egg laying in Belostoma oxyurum. A note on its ecological determinants (Hemiptera, Belostomatidae)

Intrasexual egg laying was detected in a female giant water bug, Belostoma oxyurum (Dufour) which was capturad carrying six fertilized eggs on its back. The location of the eggs does not belong to the pattern known for incubant males of this species. This finding is attributed to the absolute shortage of a sexual resource constituted by the male back space. Such environmental circuinstance was recorded in the field when this female was captured. The adult population from which it was taken included a hundred percent of both, gravid females and incubant males, and sex ratio was female biased though without statistical significance. The observed phenomenon has also been recorded in the Nearctic species Belostoma flumineum Say. Comparative considerations referred to bothspecies are included.

Life Cycle and Damage Patterns of Tea Mosquito Bug (Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse), a Newly Recorded Pest on Arabica coff ee in Northern Thailand

The symptoms of “shot hole leaves” and “excess bud growth” in Arabica coffee have signifi cantly increased in northern Thailand since 2017, resulting in the death of shoots and reduced fl owering, ultimately leading to yield loss. This study investigates whether the “shot hole leaves” symptom is caused by the tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) by rearing tea mosquito bugs with coffee and reproducing the same symptoms under laboratory conditions. Furthermore, we examine whether the “shot hole leaves” symptom is associated with the “excess bud growth” symptom in the fi eld. Our results show that H. theivora can complete their life cycle on Arabica coffee trees. Female bugs lay an average of 87.60±41.82 eggs underneath the soft tissue near young leaves on coffee branches, with a hatching rate of 73.97±6.69%, and an average incubation period of 8.20±0.97 days. The longevity of the fi rst to fi fth nymphal stages was 4.02±1.58, 3.36±0.93, 3.27±0.74, 3.23±0.96, and 3.83±1.18 days, respectively. The adult bugs had a lifespan ranging from 2 to 24 days, with an average of 11.61±7.89 days. The “shot hole leaves” symptom appear approximately 14 days after H. theivora begin feeding on young coffee shoots. We found that the bud number is signifi cantly higher on twigs with the symptom, indicating that both symptoms are caused by H. theivora. The study concludes by discussing control practices of H. theivora on coffee trees.

Predatory Performance of <i>Microvelia douglasi</i> Scott (Hemiptera: Veliidae) with Reference to Diel Periodicity

The present work centers on the predatory performance of Microvelia douglasi adults with reference to diel periodicity. This experiment attempts to determine on whether the foraging efficiency was more at diurnal or nocturnal period, and was there an endogenous rhythm available within them to activate foraging response. The study was conducted in the laboratory for 24 hr with an interval of every three hr. The experiment was divided into Phase I (LD 12:12) and Phase II (DL 12:12). The predatory efficiency of M. douglasi adults was investigated on the first and second instars of Anopheles stephensi at prey densities of 25 and 50, and the experiment was conducted separately for male, female, and for both male and female, in 500 mℓ and 1000 mℓ containers. The bugs showed predatory activity both in diurnal and nocturnal periods. In LD cycle, maximum predatory activity was at 15:00 hr by the female bugs, and a total of 350.0 An. stephensi larvae were predated with 144.6 and 205.4 prey predated at 25 and 50 prey density, respectively. The male bugs predated 110.4 prey, and their response was less than that of females, which showed the highest rate of predation as they predated 129.4 prey. The prey predated when both male and female were put together was 110.2. In DL cycle, maximum predatory activity occurred at 24:00 hr again by the female bugs, and a maximum of 327.8 larval instars were predated with 153.4 and 174.4 prey predated at 25 and 50 prey density, respectively. Female bugs predated (121.2) more prey than male (99.4). However, the prey predated when both male and female were put together was 107.2, which was higher than prey predated by male. In LD cycle, the bugs predated more first instar (186.0) than the second instar (164.0), and in DL cycle, there was not much difference as 163.2 and 164.6 first and second instar, respectively were predated. Overall, the bugs showed more predatory activity during light than in dark, though natural light was changed to dark and dark to light. Predator’s sex, prey size, and different photoperiods testified the predatory performance of M. douglasi, and it was noted that the cumulative interactions of these three parameters were significant. The photoperiods were highly significant. Relatively high statistical significance was also derived in the interaction between the prey size and photoperiod. There was no statistical significance between predator’s sex and prey size and predators’ sex and photoperiod, and when all three parameters interacted, very less significance occurred.

CD03 Contact sensitization to shellac: a possible marker of fragrance allergy

Abstract Shellac, the purified resin produced from the female lac bug (Kerria lacca), has its application within a wide range of industries, including healthcare, food, wood treatments and cosmetics. Shellac 20% alcohol is included in the British Society for Cutaneous Allergy/European Society of Contact Dermatitis extended facial series based on frequency of reactions exceeding the 0.3% threshold. However, the source of primary sensitization remains difficult to characterize through patch testing as relevance is not always clear and the test preparation has an irritant potential. We present a series of 28 patients from 2013 to 2022 with positive or irritant reactions to shellac, to elucidate its reaction pattern and relevance within our outpatient population. Cases with confirmed shellac positivity (‘+’ reactions and higher) or irritant reactions using a test preparation with alcohol 20% (Chemotechnique MB Diagnostics, Vellinge, Sweden) on days 2 and 4 of patch testing in a cosmetic series were retrieved between 2013 and 2022 from a total of 5458 people tested. Data collected from records included degree of positivity, irritancy, relevance, coexisting allergens, primary anatomical site and previous history of atopy. Data were processed using Microsoft Excel. We report 21 positive reactions, 14 (67%) of which were weak. Eleven (52%) positive reactions were deemed of current relevance, seven (33%) of doubtful relevance, one (5%) of past relevance and one (5%) a crossreaction to fragrance. Seven (25%) patients had documented irritant reaction to shellac. Nickel and colophony were the most common coexisting allergens in shellac-positive patients (positive in five and four cases, respectively). Nine (43%) cases with positive reaction had coexisting positivity of fragrance markers (which included one or more of geraniol, citral, Evernia furfuracea, turpentine, propolis, colophony, abitol, isoeugenol, cinnamyl alcohol, Jasminum officinale, jasmine absolute, majantole or benzaldehyde), indicating a higher prevalence than existing rates from studies in the general population. Fourteen (67%) positive cases documented the face as the primary site of disease, and 16 (76%) had a personal history of atopy. Our results indicate a significant association between shellac positivity and coexisting fragrance allergy, suggesting a role as a marker of fragrance allergy due to cross-reaction. When comparing irritant reactions to the proportion of positive reactions, this was higher than in previous US population-based reports (five irritant cases vs. 64 positive cases of a total cohort of 612 cases) but significantly lower than in a recent German population-based study (90 irritant cases vs. 76 positive cases of a total cohort of 2167), in all instances using the alcohol 20% preparation.

Wing Dimorphism/polymorphism in True Bugs (Heteroptera) From a Functional Viewpoint: A review

In this review article the available information on the wing dimorphism/polymorphism occurring at non-phytophagous Heteroptera is reviewed from a functional viewpoint. This meant practically the information about the wing dimorphism/polymorphism of the superfamily Gerroidea, as hardly anything has been published on this theme of other non-phytophagous Heteroptera. Seasonal and concurrent wing dimorphism/polymorphism are treated and discussed separately. Heritability and phenotypical plasticity of the wing form, and the effects of different modifying environmental factors are briefly reviewed and discussed. The superior reproductive ability of the non-macropterous form is well documented at female gerroid bugs; there are less available data on the males. The seasonal wing polymorphism directed by photoperiod and affected by temperature is usually well adapted to the current environmental conditions. The effects of the population density and that of the food quantity and quality on wing form of the gerroid bugs have not been well understood yet; and it is arguable, whether the macropterous/non macropterous ratio of the natural gerroid populations corresponds to the temporal stability of their actual habitats in an adaptive way. Wing dimorphism/polymorphism has to be evaluated within the wider concept of dispersal polymorphism, which includes other related phenomena like wing muscle polymorphism and behavioural differences.

An odorant receptor of the green mirid bug, Apolygus lucorum, tuned to linalool

A highly sensitive olfactory system is required for various insect behaviors, including oviposition site selection, host location, and mate recognition. Odorant receptors (ORs) play a critical role in odorant detection. In this study, we cloned four OR genes referred to as AlucORs (AlucOR4, AlucOR39, AlucOR43, and AlucOR47) from the green mirid bug, Apolygus lucorum, and used Real-time quantitative PCR to show that expression of all four ORs was considerably biased to antennae. Functional analysis, performed using a Xenopus oocyte expression system, revealed that AlucOR47 was robustly and sensitively tuned to the important plant volatile, linalool, and its analogs, linalyl acetate and linalool tetrahydride. Electroantennogram recordings showed that all three ligands elicited obvious responses in male and female mirid bug antennae, with the response to linalool being the strongest. In behavioral assays, male and female mirid bugs displayed significant aversions to linalool. Additionally, the repellent behavior effect of A. lucorum in response to linalool disappeared after knocking down AlucOR47 by RNA interference (RNAi). Taken together, these results indicate that AlucOR47 is necessary for linalool perception in A. lucorum. Our results suggest that AlucOR47 may play a role in plant-insect interactions and provide insight into potential means of biological control against mirid bugs.

Biosynthesis of artemisinic acid in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its attractiveness to the mirid bug Apolygus lucorum

Artemisia annua is an important preferred host of the mirid bug Apolygus lucorum in autumn. Volatiles emitted from A. annua attract A. lucorum. Volatile artemisinic acid of A. annua is a precursor of artemisinin that has been widely investigated in the Chinese herbal medicine field. However, little is known at this point about the biological roles of artemisinic acid in regulating the behavioral trends of A. lucorum. In this study, we collected volatiles from A. annua at the seedling stage by using headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that approximately 11.03±6.00 and 238.25±121.67 ng h−1 artemisinic acid were detected in volatile samples and milled samples, respectively. Subsequently, a key gene for artemisinic acid synthesis, the cytochrome P450 gene cyp71av1, was expressed in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae to catalyze the production of artemisinic acid. After the addition of exogenous artemisinic alcohol or artemisinic aldehyde, artemisinic acid was identified as the product of the expressed gene. In electroantennogram (EAG) recordings, 3-day-old adult A. lucorum showed significant electrophysiological responses to artemisinic alcohol, artemisinic aldehyde and artemisinic acid. Furthermore, 3-day-old female bugs were significantly attracted by artemisinic acid and artemisinic alcohol at a concentration of 10 mmol L−1, whereas 3-day-old male bugs were attracted significantly by 10 mmol L−1 artemisinic acid and artemisinic aldehyde. We propose that artemisinic acid and its precursors could be used as potential attractant components for the design of novel integrated pest management strategies to control A. lucorum.

NGHIÊN CỨU MÔI TRƯỜNG SỐNG TỰ NHIÊN CỦA LOÀI CÀ CUỐNG Lethocerus indicus (LEPELETIER ET SEVILLE, 1775) (HEMIPTERA: BELOSTOMATIDAE) GÓP PHẦN BẢO TỒN LOÀI CÔN TRÙNG NƯỚC QUÝ HIẾM CÓ TÊN TRONG SÁCH ĐỎ VIỆT NAM

The study was focused on the natural habitats and distribution of the giant water bug Lethocerus indicus in Lao PDR, with the aims to conserve and breed this rare water insect. The following conclusions were given: Adult giant water bugs were distributed in 5 main natural habitat types, including SC1. Habitat with flowing water such as rivers, streams and canals; SC2. Habitat type with standing or less flowing water such as ponds, lakes and lagoons; SC3. Habitat types such as water rice fields or aquatic plants; SC4. Habitat of standing water or puddles on the edge or inside the rice field; and SC5; and other Habitats include terrestrial, drifting with water, hiding in earthen caves near aquatic habitats. The number of adult giant water bugs decreased in the order of natural habitats studied, as follows SC3 >SC4 >SC2 >SC5 >SC1. The weter rice fields were the most suitable habitat for adult giant water bug. Research results showed that, there are similarities in the distribution of adult male and female in the studied natural habitats. The ratio of adult male to female giant water bug found in the above five studied natural habitats was 1.0 versus 2.3, respectively.

Potential of Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) on Tetranychus truncatus Ehara (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae)


 Efficiency, functional and numerical responses of anthocorid bug Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius on the spider mite, Tetranychus truncatus Ehara were examined under laboratory conditions. Nymphs of B. pallescens exhibited a Hollings type II functional response when females of spider mite were offered at densities of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 mites/bug. Individual fifth instar bugs consumed up to 45.3 adult females of T. truncatus in 24 h at prey mite densities of 60 mites/ bug. Studies on numerical response revealed that the nymphs of the anthocorid bug failed to complete development when the food was restricted to mite alone. Numerical response studies on adult bugs, when offered T. truncatus at densities of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 females showed no significant differences in the average fecundity of the female bug. Results indicate that the anthocorid predator, B. pallescens has a very high predatory potential though with a weak numerical response.

Costly symbiont inheritance

Symbiosis Long-established microbial symbioses tend toward genome erosion and increasing host dependence. Some relationships are so pivotal to host survival that maintaining a stable partnership is crucial. Koga et al. have investigated the stable inheritance of an insect bacterial gut symbiont called Ishikawaella between generations of its Plataspidae stinkbug hosts. Ishikawaella has a highly reduced genome yet provides essential amino acids for the bug. The bugs lay eggs in rows on plants, and capsules holding symbionts are deposited among the eggs. The capsule also contains a combination of a specialist insect protein the authors identified as posterior midgut dominant protein (PMDP) and a symbiont-derived chaperone molecule, GroEL. Together, these molecules protect the delicate Ishikawaella for the 7 to 10 days it takes for the eggs to hatch, at which point the young bugs feed on the capsule to obtain the vital symbionts. However, the production of PMDP shortens the life of the female bugs, which is the price a mother pays to ensure inheritance. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 118 , e2103957118 (2021).

Reproductive aging and pace-of-life syndromes: more active females age faster

Abstract A common pattern of reproductive aging is that reproductive performance increases during early life and reaches a peak, followed by a decline with age. Such quadratic reproductive aging patterns can differ among individuals. Moreover, if individual differences in reproductive aging patterns reflect individual-specific life-history trade-off strategies, they are also predicted to be associated with behavior according to the pace-of-life syndrome. For example, more active, aggressive, or bolder individuals may invest more in early reproduction, resulting in more rapid reproductive aging. In this study, we estimated individual differences in quadratic reproductive aging patterns and the relationship between reproductive aging and the activity of the virgin female bean bug (Riptortus pedestris) in the absence of mating costs. We found that the egg production of virgin females followed a parabolic trajectory with age and that individuals varied significantly in their quadratic reproductive aging patterns. In addition, we found that females that were relatively more active during early life invested in egg production more heavily at a young age and suffered from a sharper decline in egg production later in life. Thus, our results indicate that individual reproductive aging patterns may be a key component in the study of pace-of-life syndromes. We suggest that within-individual plastic characteristics of life-history traits such as reproductive aging patterns may explain the mixed results from multiple studies on pace-of-life syndromes.

Host plants transfer induced regulation of the chemosensory genes repertoire in the alfalfa plant bug Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze)

The alfalfa plant bug Adelphocoris lineolatus, an economically important pest, has representative behavioral characteristics with host plants transfer. Olfactory system is essential for insects to perceive ever-changing chemical signals in the external environment, and chemosensory genes play crucial roles in signals reception and transduction. In this work, we compared the differences in chemosensory genes expression before and after host plants transfer by constructing 12 antennal transcriptomes of male and female bugs, respectively. The results showed that the expression levels of most chemosensory genes in A. lineolatus changed to adapt to the transformation of the hosts plant. More remarkable, female bugs had more up-regulated chemosensory genes than males. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis revealed three odorant binding proteins (OBPs), three chemosensory proteins (CSPs), eight odorant receptors (ORs) and one ionotropic receptor (IR) showed significant differences when the host plant transferred. There were complex characteristics of up- and down- regulated genes in male and female adults, among which OBP19 showed higher expression in females exposing to the new host plant alfalfa, suggesting this OBP may be associated with the localization of the oviposition site. The OR54 and OR82 were up-regulated in both genders, indicating their possible roles in recognizing some alfalfa-specific volatiles. These findings will provide valuable insights in biological functions of chemosensory genes in A. lineolatus and facilitate the development of new targets for novel strategies to control the alfalfa plant bug and other herbivores.

The olfactory responses of mirid bugs to six plant extracts and their volatiles

AbstractMany methods for management of mirid bugs, one of the major pest species in cotton fields, have been developed in recent decades. The use of attractive plant volatiles may be a safe and effective alternative compared with chemical pesticides. Very little is known about the responses of the bugs to some specific volatiles. In this study, the attractive effects for the mirid bug Apolygus lucorum were evaluated and compared among ethanol extracts obtained from six types of plants. The results showed that A. lucorum had the highest selection response rate to the extract from Allium tuberosum seeds and 70.51% of the adults tended to choose this odour source. Among 40 identified compounds of the volatiles comprising A. tuberosum seed extracts, diethyl phthalate and methyl levulinate had significantly higher attractive effects than that of cotton leaves, but the respective selection response rates were less than 65%. We found that when methyl levulinate and diethyl phthalate were mixed in volume ratios of 3:7 and 6:4, the selection response rates of A. lucorum for the mixtures were 54.67% and 63.65%, respectively. These response rates were significantly higher than those for the two compounds presented alone. Furthermore, the selection response rates of A. lucorum based on these mixtures reached 82.75% and 75.73%, respectively when compared with cotton leaves. The two volatile mixtures also showed a significantly higher attractive effect for Adelphocoris suturalis, with respective selection response rates at 74.58% and 77.80% when compared with cotton leaves. Moreover, the two attractants showed no difference between the responses of male and female mirid bugs. We concluded that an appropriate application of the attractants described herein has the potential to develop a safe and effective approach for the monitoring and control of mirid bugs in cotton fields.

Evaluating Behavioral Responses of Selected Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to Spinosad

Southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) and redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) are two of the most important seed sucking pests affecting Louisiana soybean production and rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (F.) is an important late season pest in Louisiana rice. Exploration of chemicals that exhibit attraction or repellent activities toward major stink bug species would be beneficial in developing push-pull strategies. Spinosad is a commercially available natural insecticide that may have arrestant, attractant, or phagostimulant properties against stink bugs. To test this, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the tactile, olfactory, and feeding responses of these stink bugs toward two commercial spinosad products (Entrust and Tracer) and technical grade spinosad. In tactile assays, female and male redbanded stink bug were arrested by Entrust, Tracer, and technical grade spinosad, whereas only rice stink bug and southern green stink bug males were arrested by Entrust. Y-tube assays revealed no attraction to any of the products by either male or female rice stink bug, redbanded stink bug, or southern green stink bug. In paired (treated or untreated soybean seed) feeding preference experiments, southern green stink bug showed no preference for any treatment, whereas redbanded stink bug fed more on Entrust- and Tracer-treated seed. From these results, spinosad appears to have an arrestant and phagostimulant effect on redbanded stink bug in the laboratory.

First report of litchi stink bug (Tessaratoma javanica Thunberg) outbreak in Bangladesh

Litchi growers reported the infestation of an unknown insect pest recently in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh, which affected litchi production remarkably. A field survey was conducted to identify this invasive insect species, and the biology of this insect was studied under laboratory conditions. Further, damage severity of the insect was determined in the affected litchi orchards. Based on morphological features, the invasive species was identified as litchi stink bug, Tessaratoma javanica (Thunberg) (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae). Female stink bugs laid eggs in clusters (2.0) either upper or lower surface of both mature and young litchi leaves. After egg hatching, nymphs completed five distinct instars before reaching to adults. Longevity of adult litchi stink bug varied on sex types, while females lived longer than males. The level of litchi stink bug infestation varied greatly in the survey areas. The infestation of stink bug did not find in all inflorescence of the attacked plants. Significantly decreased fruits were recorded in the infested inflorescence. This study firstly confirm the invasion of litchi stink bug in Bangladesh, and this information would help scientist to develop IPM strategies against this destructive stink bug species using available resources.

A Lacewing Bug, Paleoanomala aptenus gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Tingidae), in Mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber

A female lacewing bug in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described as Paleoanomala aptenus gen. et sp. nov. (Tingidae: Hemiptera). This specimen is small and flightless and has partially fused hemelytra. The dorsum is covered with areoles formed by large dark punctures. The vestigial eyes, lack of ocelli, and a flattened body suggest that this specimen lived in a stable, protected habitat. It is proposed that the precursor of Paleoanomala was macropterous with functional wings, however, the suture separating the original hemelytra is now partially fused and not capable of separation.

Big-eged bugs Geocoris: Diets research and potential of use in prevention of a number of insect pests in Vietnam

Big-eyed bugs Geocoris spp. (Lygaeidae, Hemiptera) are small insects that is found in many parts of the world. They are beneficial because they eat a multitude of insect pests in agriculture. Big-eyed bugs Geocoris spp. are insects that receive research attention in Florida and elsewhere because of the benefits that this species give to plants (Mead, 2001). Big-eyed bugs reproduce many generations in a year on weeds, perennial crops, bushes. In spring the female big-eyed bugs start laying eggs on the bud, the leaves of the host plant. Understanding the biology and the role of predator Geocoris spp. in ecosystem will provide an alternative method in sustainable agriculture development. In this short review, we discuss some convenient diets for the application of mass rearing Geocoris spp.

Untangling the Mathematical Relation Between Natural Selection and Adaptive Radiation Using Macromolecules and Microevolutionary Forces

Simulating natural selection over subsequent generations of Oniscus asellus, the fittest selected male and female bugs in different diet was used to analyze the concentration of proteins in their body along their frequency in continuous mapped generations over hundred seed values, further DNA Fingerprinting of these selected bugs revealed a relationship with their parents originated from different geographic areas/borders. It was observed that variation in microevolutionary forces caused variation in macromolecules by setting up a gene-environment interaction which deduced natural selection in order to define adaptive radiation and speciation by micro-evolutionary forces.