Host Plant Families Research Articles

Acaricide resistance mechanisms and host plant responses in the tomato specialist Aculops lycopersici.

The mite Aculops lycopersici is a major tomato pest with extremely reduced gene families involved in chemoreception and detoxification. How this limited detoxification toolbox affects the evolution of resistance to acaricides in tomato russet mite(s) (TRM) remains enigmatic. Moreover, although a tomato specialist, TRM has been observed on other Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae plant species, raising questions about transcriptional plasticity underlying host exchange. We identified a field strain with strongly decreased susceptibility to both abamectin and spiromesifen. We detected target-site resistance caused by mutations at conserved positions in two glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCl), as well as four overexpressed detoxification genes. We then examined transcriptional responses after host shift from tomato to two Solanaceae (potato and black nightshade) and two Convolvulaceae (sweet potato and hedge bindweed) species, as more challenging host plants. Transcriptional responses varied significantly between host plant families, with key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to proteolytic, metabolic and detoxification processes. Last, we also identified DEGs encoding for secreted proteins potentially involved in TRM-host plant interactions. Despite a limited detoxification toolbox, A. lycopersici might quickly evolve target-site resistance, probably facilitated by strong selection pressure on the genetic variation associated with enormous population size in field settings. Responses to host plant changes include plasticity in genes related to digestion and detoxification, while most responsive genes are of unknown function and remain to be investigated. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Plant species richness, not hygrothermal stress, is the main predictor of gall‐inducing insect richness in Peruvian Amazon forests

AbstractPatterns of gall‐inducing insect diversity tend to be influenced by both habitat‐related and plant‐related characteristics. We investigated the distribution patterns of galling insects in four vegetation types (terra firme forest, white‐sand dry forest, white‐sand wet forest and palm swamp forest) of the Peruvian Amazon to test if the insect gall diversity (1) differs among different types of vegetation and (2) depends on host plant richness. In total, we found 11,579 galls belonging to 249 insect gall morphotypes, distributed across 30 botanical families and 75 plant species. Among host plant families, Fabaceae showed the greatest richness of insect gall morphotypes. We found that galling species richness was lower in palm swamp forest than in white‐sand forests, which can be explained by the lower richness of plants in this type of vegetation. However, we found no evidence of greater richness in xeric habitats (e.g., white‐sand dry forest) than in more mesic vegetation (terra firme forest), contradicting the hypothesis of hygrothermal stress. We also found that plant species richness was positively influenced with the richness and abundance of galling species, regardless of vegetation type. Galling insect species composition differed significantly between vegetation types, similarly to the floristic composition. Our findings show that the diversity of galling insects in the tropical rainforests of Peruvian Amazon are mainly influenced by host plant composition and host plant richness.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.

Host relationships and biological notes of Cassidinae beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou, China.

The faunal composition, host relationships and biological information of the subfamily Cassidinae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) remain poorly known in many Chinese regions. Based on the seven-year field survey, faunal composition and host associations of Cassidinae beetles were systematically compiled for Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. In particular, through direct field observations, detailed biological information, such as life history and behavioural features and host plants were first recorded for 56 species of Cassidinae beetles. We have tripled the number of Cassidinae species in Qiannan. Sixty-nine species of Cassidinae beetles belonging to 17 genera and eight tribes were identified, of which 38 species are newly recorded in Guizhou and 56 are newly recorded in Qiannan. The tribes Leptispini and Notosacanthini were newly recorded in Guizhou. The genera Thlaspidosoma Spaeth, Downesia Baly, Klitispa Uhmann, Platypria Guérin-Méneville, Leptispa Baly and Notosacantha Chevrolat were recorded in Guizhou for the first time. A total of 61 species, 37 genera and 17 families of host plants were collected. Lardizabalaceae and Araliaceae were new host plant families for Cassidinae worldwide. Quantitative food web analysis indicated that Cassidinae species in Qiannan mainly feed on Poaceae, Rosaceae, Convolvulaceae and Lamiaceae. Callispini and Leptispini only feed on monocots, Aspidimorphini, Basiprionotini, Cassidini and Notosacanthini only feed on dicots, while Hispini feed on both monocots and dicots. The feeding patterns and corresponding damage marks of Cassidinae were quite diverse. In addition, the pupal mine-making behaviour of Dactylispaexcisa (Kraatz, 1879), D.similis Chen et T'an, 1985 and D.uhmanni Gressitt, 1950 are worth further study. Although preliminary, our field survey is an essential step in understanding Cassidinae behaviour and Cassidinae-plant interactions.

Origins of the central Macaronesian psyllid lineages (Hemiptera; Psylloidea) with characterization of a new island radiation on endemic Convolvulus floridus (Convolvulaceae) in the Canary Islands.

A molecular survey of native and adventive psyllids in the central Macaronesian islands provides the first comprehensive phylogenetic assessment of the origins of the psyllid fauna of the Canary and Madeira archipelagos. We employ a maximum likelihood backbone constraint analysis to place the central Macaronesian taxa within the Psylloidea mitogenome phylogeny. The native psyllid fauna in these central Macaronesian islands results from an estimated 26 independent colonization events. Island host plants are predicted by host plants of continental relatives in nearly all cases and six plant genera have been colonized multiple times (Chamaecytisus, Convolvulus, Olea, Pistacia, Rhamnus, and Spartocytisus) from the continent. Post-colonization diversification varies from no further cladogenesis (18 events, represented by a single native taxon) to modest in situ diversification resulting in two to four native taxa and, surprisingly, given the diverse range of islands and habitats, only one substantial species radiation with more than four native species. Specificity to ancestral host plant genera or family is typically maintained during in situ diversification both within and among islands. Characterization of a recently discovered island radiation consisting of four species on Convolvulus floridus in the Canary Islands shows patterns and rates of diversification that reflect island topographic complexity and geological dynamism. Although modest in species diversity, this radiation is atypical in diversification on a single host plant species, but typical in the primary role of allopatry in the diversification process.

Monilia and Monilinia : In silico genetic analysis of plant pathogenic fungi

Species of phytopathogenic fungi Monilia [J. Hill, 1751] and Monilinia [E.E. Honey, 1936] of the phylum Ascomycota have two host plant families of stone- and pome fruit trees of Rosaceae; and bushes of Ericaceae (e.g., blueberry, cranberry, heather, etc.). They infect both plants, and human (i.e., moniliasis). Due to the lack of sexual developmental stage (i.e., imperfect fungi; anamorphic fungi) the species of the order Moniliales spread by vegetative spores (i.e., conidia) and not by sexual (i.e., meiotic) ascospores. Here we report in silico data mining carried out by analyses of DNA, RNA, and protein sequences to reveal genetic distances in -and-among Monilia and Monilinia species. Sequences of the (+)ssRNA genomes of mitoviruses, which hyper parasitize the fungi cells, which parasitize the plant cells, during the ecocycles, are also analyzed. Genome size analysis of Monilinia were found to be between 30-55 x 106 bp; the cytochrome-b (cytb) genes (1543 bp of mtDNA); the transcribed cytb-mRNAs; the translated cytb proteins (381-391 aa); and the (+)ssRNA genomes of mitoviruses have showed that Botrytis cinerea (‘grey mold’) has the closest molecular similarity to Monilia and Monilinia clade (‘brown rot’). The cladogram of transcribed cytb-mRNAs (1175 nt) grouped Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi in a distinct clade, which indicate a far genetic linkage. The application of mitovirus-infected hypovirulent phytopathogenic fungi for plant protection (i.e., virocontrol / biocontrol) is discussed.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of Scleria sumatrensis as a member of Cyperaceae family commonly known as non-mycorrhizal host plant

Cyperaceae is not strictly a non-mycorrhizal host plant family, and the mycorrhizal status of its member could be influenced by environmental conditions. Scleria sumatrensis, a member of Cyperaceae grown natively as a pioneer plant in a disturbed area, could be used as a source of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculum. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the mycorrhizal status of the S. sumatrensis grown natively in Martabe, North Sumatra, Indonesia, for revegetation purposes. The analysis was carried out by measuring root colonization characteristics and spore diversity in the rhizosphere soils of the S. sumatrensis. The roots were stained and measured for AM colonization characteristics. While the AMF spores were obtained using the wet sieving and decanting method and were identified based on morphological characteristics. The results indicated that the roots of S. sumatrensis were colonized by AMF in good-quality formed entry points, internal hyphae, arbuscules, and vesicles. The AMF associated with S. sumatrensis identified were relatively diverse; consisted of Acaulospora sp., Acaulospora cf. mellea, Glomus sp. 1, Glomus sp. 2, Glomus sp. 3, and Glomus sp. 4. This is the first report showing that S. sumatrensis is a mycotrophic plant in the family of Cyperaceae.

A radiation of Psylliodes flea beetles on Brassicaceae is associated with the evolution of specific detoxification enzymes.

Flea beetles of the genus Psylliodes have evolved specialized interactions with plant species belonging to several distantly related families, mainly Brassicaceae, Solanaceae, and Fagaceae. This diverse host use indicates that Psylliodes flea beetles are able to cope with different chemical defense metabolites, including glucosinolates, the characteristic defense metabolites of Brassicaceae. Here we investigated the evolution of host use and the emergence of a glucosinolate-specific detoxification mechanism in Psylliodes flea beetles. In phylogenetic analyses, Psylliodes species clustered into four major clades, three of which contained mainly species specialized on either Brassicaceae, Solanaceae, or Fagaceae. Most members of the fourth clade have broader host use, including Brassicaceae and Poaceae as major host plant families. Ancestral state reconstructions suggest that Psylliodes flea beetles were initially associated with Brassicaceae and then either shifted to Solanaceae or Fagaceae, or expanded their host repertoire to Poaceae. Despite a putative ancestral association with Brassicaceae, we found evidence that the evolution of glucosinolate-specific detoxification enzymes coincides with the radiation of Psylliodes on Brassicaceae, suggesting that these are not required for using Brassicaceae as hosts but could improve the efficiency of host use by specialized Psylliodes species.

Ecology and Diversity of Angiosperm Parasites and Their Host Plants along Elevation Gradient in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia

The ecology and diversity of flowering parasitic plants and their hosts are poorly investigated and usually ignored in Saudi Arabian plant communities. Therefore, this work aimed at assessing the ecology and diversity of parasitic plants and their hosts along an elevation gradient in the Al-Baha region (1300–2400 m.a.s.l.). Different quantitative vegetation parameters were applied to analyze the collected data. Eight parasitic plants from six genera and four families were identified along the gradient, with 67% of them being zoochorously dispersed species. They accounted for approximately 23.5% (8 out of 34) of those found throughout Saudi Arabia. Perennials, stem hemiparasites, and biregional taxa accounted for around 62.5% of the total parasites, whereas indigenous species accounted for 75%. The dominant family of parasitic species was Loranthaceae (50%), and Phragmanthera austroarabica A.G.Mill. & J.A.Nyberg was the most important species (IVI = 107.28). Orobanche cernua Loefl. and Loranthella deflersii (Tiegh.) S.Blanco & C.E.Wetzel were restricted to the dry zone (low elevation) only, while the other parasites were distributed across the surveyed region. Twenty-three host plants were identified throughout the study region. About 83% of them were phanerophytes and bioregional plants, with 91% being perennial species. The prevalent host plant family across all sites was Fabaceae, with Nicotina glauca Graham being the most important host species (IVI = 32.44%). P. austroarabica and Plicosepalus curviflorus Tiegh. preferred Vachellias as host plants, while Vachellia flava (Forssk.) Kyal. & Boatwr. was the heavily infected host by P. austroarabica. P. austroarabica had a broad spectrum of host range (13 host plants), while O. cernua had a very narrow host range (only Rumex nervosus Vahl). Individual parasite and host species were markedly more abundant in the wet zone than in the low-altitude dry zone. Further research is needed to fully understand such distinctive groups of plants and their negative and positive ecological consequences on plant biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

More than mesolectic: Characterizing the nutritional niche of Osmia cornifrons.

Characterizing the nutritional needs of wild bee species is an essential step to better understanding bee biology and providing suitable supplemental forage for at-risk species. Here, we aim to characterize the nutritional needs of a model solitary bee species, Osmia cornifrons (Radoszkowski), by using dietary protein-to-lipid ratio (P:L ratio) as a proxy for nutritional niche and niche breadth. We first identified the mean target P:L ratio (~3.02:1) and P:L collection range (0.75-6.26:1) from pollen provisions collected across a variety of sites and time points. We then investigated the P:L tolerance range of larvae by rearing bees invitro on a variety of diets. Multifloral and single-source pollen diets with P:L ratios within the range of surveyed provisions did not always support larval development, indicating that other dietary components such as plant secondary compounds and micronutrients must also be considered in bee nutritional experiments. Finally, we used pollen metabarcoding to identify pollen from whole larval provisions to understand how much pollen bees used from plants outside of their host plant families to meet their nutritional needs, as well as pollen from individual forager bouts, to observe if bees maintained strict floral constancy or visited multiple plant genera per foraging bout. Whole larval provision surveys revealed a surprising range of host plant pollen use, ranging from ~5% to 70% of host plant pollen per provision. Samples from individual foraging trips contained pollen from multiple genera, suggesting that bees are using some form of foraging decision making. Overall, these results suggest that O. cornifrons have a wide nutritional niche breadth, but while pollen P:L ratio tolerance is broad, a tolerable P:L ratio alone is not enough to create a quality diet for O. cornifrons, and the plant species that make up these diets must also be carefully considered.

Occurrence and characterization of insect galls in two areas of tropical dry forest (caatinga) in São Francisco River Natural Monument, Brazil

The caatinga vegetation is an important natural laboratory for the study of how plants and gall-inducing insects interact in highly variable and stressful moisture regimes. Despite this, only five gall inventories have been conducted and its richness of inducing insects and host plants has been little known. To contribute to our knowledge of galls from caatinga habitats, we registered and characterized the macroscopic aspects of the galls, then identifed the plant hosts and their associated fauna in two areas of caatinga in São Francisco River Natural Monument (MONA). Nineteen morphotypes of galls were recorded on 11 plant belonging to eight genera and six host plant families. Of the total number of galls recorded, most occurred in the rainy season (n=13). Most of the galls are globoid (n=10), pilose (n=10), green (n=15), and isolated (n=12). Most of the gall-inducing insect species found belonged to Diptera (Cecidomyiidae). All morphotypes recorded in this study are the first ones recorded of galls and their host plants in MONA. We also recorded, for the first time, the occurrence of galls in the floral buds of Cnidoscolus obtusifolius Pohl ex Baill. (Euphorbiaceae), demonstrating the importance of conducting studies in areas not yet sampled in the Caatinga biome. It is expected that this study will stimulate future investigations, helping in the protection and conservation of this conservation area and consequently increasing our knowledge about its biodiversity.

Butterflies are not a robust bioindicator for assessing pollinator communities, but floral resources offer a promising way forward

Monitoring pollinators is crucial for the evaluation of biodiversity and potential pollination services. Yet, efficiently monitoring multiple taxa over large areas can be costly. An alternative approach is using simple species bioindicators that represent the entire pollinator community. One of the requirements of a good bioindicator is that it can be easily identified to lower taxonomic levels and be sensitive to changes in habitat. This is the case for butterflies, a taxon for which many countries have a country-wide long-term monitoring scheme. We tested whether butterfly diversity can be used to predict diversity of bees and hoverflies both spatially and temporally. We surveyed 42 transects of the Dutch Butterfly Monitoring Scheme in 2020, to record species richness and abundance of butterflies, bees and hoverflies. We also recorded flower area and richness in the pollinator transects. To test whether pollinators with similar functional traits are more closely correlated than the entire pollinator community, we categorized bee and butterfly species according to their diet breadth (polyphagous vs. non-polyphagous), nitrogen-affinity (nitrophobous vs. nitrophilous larval resources) and body size. We used the same methods to test for temporal correlations over seven years for one site in Spain. Butterfly richness was not spatially correlated with bee richness (Pearson's r = 0.13), nor were the two taxa temporally correlated (Pearson's r = 0.02). Interestingly, hoverfly richness was spatially correlated with butterfly richness (Pearson's r = 0.43) and with bee richness (Pearson's r = 0.36) in the Netherlands and, hence, hoverflies might be slightly more suitable as a bioindicator of pollinator diversity in this area. Abundance of all three taxa showed no significant inter-correlation, except for correlations between diet specialist bees and butterflies (Pearson's r = 0.39). Importantly, all three taxa were strongly correlated with flower richness, but they varied in their preferences for host plant families. This is in line with 75% of the plant-pollinator studies finding significant positive relations. For monitoring schemes to be effective in informing better pollinator conservation, they should expand to include bees and hoverflies as well as simple indicators of habitat quality such as floral resources.

Evolutionary host shifts across plant orders despite high host specificity in tree stem surface-living Stomaphis aphids inferred from molecular phylogeny

We reconstructed Stomaphis phylogeny and analyzed evolutionary host-plant shifts. The molecular phylogeny revealed 23 well-supported lineages, each specialized to use specific host plant family, whilst host plants of Stomaphis aphids ranged across 6 orders, 11 families, 21 genera, and 28 species. This combination of high host specificity with evolutionarily distant host shifts is exceptional in herbivores. To explain this pattern, we propose one hypothesis among several possibilities: Stomaphis aphids are generalists with respect to the defensive chemicals produced by the plant, but specialists with respect to the stem surface structure of the host tree. This hypothesis predicts that tree taxa having stem surface structures preferred by Stomaphis would be used again and again by genetically distinct Stomaphis lineages. Consistent with this prediction, we found that different (occasionally phylogenetically distant) Stomaphis lineages shared the same host plant genera such as Alnus and Betula. This result suggests that, in the course of their evolutionary history, Japanese Stomaphis aphids have repeatedly colonized a limited number of host plant genera.

Field survey of Cassidinae beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) and their host plants in southern Guangxi, China.

Few systematic studies have been conducted on the faunal composition and food web structure of Cassidinae of China. During 2013-2019, we systematically investigated Cassidinae beetles and their host plants in the southern Guangxi. A total of 2,255 Cassidinae individuals from 66 species, 23 genera and ten tribes were collected in southern Guangxi. Most species belonged to the tribe Hispini (23 species, 34.8%), followed by the tribe Gonophorini (13 species, 19.7%), Cassidini (eight species, 12.1%) and Aspidimorphini (six species, 9.1%). The others (16 species) belonged to the tribes Anisoderini, Botryonopini, Callispini, Oncocephalini, Notosacanthini and Leptispini. The tribe Notosacanthini was recorded from Guangxi for the first time. The genera Neownesia (Botryonopini), Gonophora (Gonophorini), Micrispa (Gonophorini), Notosacantha (Notosacanthini) and Prionispa (Oncocephalini) were firstly recorded in Guangxi. In total, we obtained 47 newly-recorded species in southern Guangxi and 33 newly-recorded species in the whole Guangxi, of which, Callispafrontalis Medvedev, 1992 was newly recorded in China. Dactylispafeae Gestro (625 individuals) and D.chinensis Weise (565 individuals) were the most common species. A total of 69 species, 53 genera and 19 families of host plants were identified for Cassidinae in southern Guangxi. Many host plant associations are new records for Cassidinae. Quantitative food web analysis indicated that Cassidinae species in southern Guangxi primarily fed on Poaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cyperaceae and Rosaceae. Generally, the plant-Cassidinae food webs were moderately complex and stable in southern Guangxi. This is the first large contribution to the knowledge of the species composition and host plant diversity of Cassidinae in southern Guangxi.

The Transmission Patterns of the Endosymbiont Wolbachia within the Hawaiian Drosophilidae Adaptive Radiation.

The evolution of endosymbionts and their hosts can lead to highly dynamic interactions with varying fitness effects for both the endosymbiont and host species. Wolbachia, a ubiquitous endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes, can have both beneficial and detrimental effects on host fitness. We documented the occurrence and patterns of transmission of Wolbachia within the Hawaiian Drosophilidae and examined the potential contributions of Wolbachia to the rapid diversification of their hosts. Screens for Wolbachia infections across a minimum of 140 species of Hawaiian Drosophila and Scaptomyza revealed species-level infections of 20.0%, and across all 399 samples, a general infection rate of 10.3%. Among the 44 Wolbachia strains we identified using a modified Wolbachia multi-locus strain typing scheme, 30 (68.18%) belonged to supergroup B, five (11.36%) belonged to supergroup A, and nine (20.45%) had alleles with conflicting supergroup assignments. Co-phylogenetic reconciliation analysis indicated that Wolbachia strain diversity within their endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae hosts can be explained by vertical (e.g., co-speciation) and horizontal (e.g., host switch) modes of transmission. Results from stochastic character trait mapping suggest that horizontal transmission is associated with the preferred oviposition substrate of the host, but not the host's plant family or island of occurrence. For Hawaiian Drosophilid species of conservation concern, with 13 species listed as endangered and 1 listed as threatened, knowledge of Wolbachia strain types, infection status, and potential for superinfection could assist with conservation breeding programs designed to bolster population sizes, especially when wild populations are supplemented with laboratory-reared, translocated individuals. Future research aimed at improving the understanding of the mechanisms of Wolbachia transmission in nature, their impact on the host, and their role in host species formation may shed light on the influence of Wolbachia as an evolutionary driver, especially in Hawaiian ecosystems.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic appraisal of a new holomorphic Neophyllachora species from Chiang Mai, Thailand

Tar spot is a common fungal disease often caused by Phyllachoraceae species, mostly on leaves and also on stems and fruits of a variety of host plant families. We identified a Neophyllachora species from Ficus religiosa leaves in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) showed the taxonomic placement of our taxon within Neophyllachora. The newly obtained sequences recovered as a sister and distinct clade to Neophyllachora fici with high bootstrap support. Our collection mainly differs from N. fici in having septate paraphyses, hyaline to olivaceous ascospores with 1-2 guttules, and mucilaginous sheath. A holomorphic fungus, Neophyllachora religiosa sp. nov. is introduced here based on the evidence from morpho-molecular analyses. The genus and the species are also identified as the first geographical record to Thailand and the first host record to Ficus religiosa. The synopsis table for the existing species of Neophyllachora and the key to the genus is provided.

Phylogenomics resolves major relationships of Catocala underwing moths

AbstractUnderwing moths in the genus Catocala Schrank are among the most charismatic of Lepidoptera. Catocala is also one of the most diverse genera worldwide in the speciose family Erebidae, but a phylogenetic framework for the genus is lacking. Here we reconstruct the first comprehensive molecular phylogeny for the genus based on 685 anchored hybrid enrichment loci sampled from 161 Catocala species (99 Nearctic, 62 Palearctic), four species of Ulotrichopus Wallengren and 33 outgroups. Phylogenetic analysis unambiguously recovers Catocala and Catocala + Ulotrichopus as monophyletic with strong support and resolves many backbone relationships within Catocala. Our results confirm the classification of previously proposed taxonomic subgroups of Catocala, including seven based on recent molecular/morphological evidence, and ten based on early twentieth‐century morphological research. Mapping of larval host plant use onto the tree shows Fabaceae to be the likely ancestral host plant family for Catocala and Catocala + Ulotrichopus. There appear to have been at least 18 independent larval host plant shifts to nine plant families, the most common shift being from Fabaceae to Fagaceae. Larval host plant use has likely played an important role in the evolutionary history of Catocala, with several rapid diversification events propelled by shifts to novel larval host plants, particularly in the North American Catocala fauna.

Characterization of entomogenic galls in areas of seasonal deciduous forest in Southwestern Bahia, Brazil

Galls are small structures induced mostly by insects in different plant organs, and have different shapes and colorations. Knowledge on galls is still sparse in the semiarid region of Bahia. Therefore, the goal of this study was to characterize galls in fragments of seasonal deciduous forest. Sampling was performed in the Bahia municipalities of Boa Nova, Jequié, Poções and Vitória da Conquista. In each site, one fragment was chosen, and in each fragment, plots were established to survey galls on vegetation. We sampled 158 gall morphotypes, representing 49 (morpho) species distributed across 15 families of host plants. Myrtaceae and Malphigiaceae had the highest numbers of gall morphotypes. Most galls were collected from leaves, whereas the most common gall morphotypes were globoid and fusiform.

Diversity and Regional Variation of Endosymbionts in the Green Peach Aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer)

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, is globally distributed and an important pest of many economically valuable food crops, largely due to its ability to transmit plant viruses. Almost all aphids, including M. persicae, carry the obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, which provides essential amino acids that aphids cannot obtain from the phloem of plants themselves. Many aphids also harbor facultative (secondary) endosymbionts, which provide benefits under specific ecological conditions. In this study, we screened for secondary endosymbionts in M. persicae, with a particular focus on Australian populations where this species is growing in status as a major agricultural pest. We compared 37 Australian M. persicae populations with other populations, including 21 field populations from China and 15 clones from the UK, France, Italy, Greece, USA, Spain, South Korea, Chile, Japan and Zimbabwe. No secondary endosymbionts were identified in M. persicae samples outside of China, despite samples covering a wide geographic range and being collected from several host plant families. We detected two secondary endosymbionts (Rickettsia, Spiroplasma) in Chinese samples, although diversity appeared lower than detected in a recent study. We also found very high clonal diversity in Chinese samples based on DNA microsatellite markers in comparison with lower clonal diversity from Australia. These patterns may indicate a higher diversity of secondary endosymbionts (and clonal diversity) in the native range of M. persicae when compared to its invasive range.

Evaluation of the Community Structure Leafminer Fly, Liriomyza spp. (Diptera: Agromyzidae) and Their Parasitoids on Various Host Plant Families in Bali Province

Leaf miners, Liriomyza spp., have developed as a severe pest in recent years, reducing the production of several ornamental and crops in Indonesia. As a result, monitoring and control mechanisms have been proposed. This research aimed to investigate community structure and identify Liriomyza spp., which impacts crops and natural parasitoids in Bali Province. Leaf samples of vegetables, ornamental plants, and related species were collected in all regencies/cities of Bali Province in 2019 and 2020 and preserved in the laboratory for observation and counting of leaf miners and related parasitoids. The findings revealed that four Liriomyza spp. were detected in host plants, namely Liriomyza sativae Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae), Liriomyza huidobrensis Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae), Liriomyza chinensis Kato (Diptera: Agromyzidae), and Liriomyza trifolii Burgess (Diptera: Agromyzidae). Asteraceae species were the most common host plants attacked by leaf miners in the field. The same occurrence was discovered at both heights (high and lowlands). The dry season is the most crucial component in the abundance of Liriomyza spp. In addition, parasitoids of the type Opius cromatomiyae Belokobylskij and Wharton (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Hemiptarsenun varicornis Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were identified in abundance in Asteraceae plants. Similarly, the parasitization rate of the two parasitoids was found to be high in plants of the Asteraceae and Brassicae families. This approach highlights the decision-making process for controlling Liriomyza spp. on diverse host plant families by developing ecologically beneficial and sustainable parasitoids.

Kemampuan Adaptasi Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) terhadap Berbagai Famili Tanaman Inang pada Musim Kemarau dan Hujan di Bali

The adaptability of Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) to various host families in the dry and rainy seasons in Bali. Leafminer fly Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a newly introduced invasive spec thatthatd attacks various types of host plants in Bali. This study aims to determine the adaptability of L. trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) to various host plants during the dry and rainy seasons in Bali. This research was conducted in all regencies/cities in Bali in September 2020-March 2021 using a survey method starting from the lowlands <500 masl, medium plains 500-1000 masl, and highlands > 1000 masl. Sampling was carried out by purposive sampling by taking 100-150 plant leaves showing symptoms of leaf damage by L. trifolii at the study site. The results showed that L. trifolii was able to adapt to damage 10 types of host plants from the Asteraceae family, namely Gumitir flowers, Chrysanthemums and Zinia flowers, Fabaceae family, namely long beans, squat beans, and green beans, Brassicaceae family, namely Pak Choyy and mustard greens, Solanaceae family, namely tomatoes. and the Cucurbitaceae family, namely cucumbers in two growing seasons from the lowlands to the highlands. Gumitir and long bean flowers are the host plants that get the highest attack frequency from L. trifolii during the dry and rainy seasons in Bali, both in the lowlands and in the middle. Gumitir and long bean flowers were indicated as the most selected host plants by L. trifolii in the field. The novel results of this study indicate that L. trifolii is a new invasive pest in Bali that has broad adaptability to host plant families during the rainy and dry seasons in low, medium, and high altitudes.