Hymenoptera Research Articles

The First Records of Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) and Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), Alien Egg Parasitoids of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) in Serbia.

Serbia has recently begun facing a serious problem with the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), which was first recorded in October 2015. This species belongs to the Pentomidae family and is notorious for causing extensive damage to plants. During the winter, it tends to gather in urban areas, such as houses and different man-made facilities, which has raised concerns among producers and citizens. The population of this species has rapidly increased, causing significant economic damage to cultivated plants. However, despite the alarming situation no natural enemies have yet been identified in Serbia. Therefore, research in 2022 was focused on collecting stink bug eggs to investigate the presence of egg parasitoids. The study identified two foreign Hymenoptera species for the European region, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) and Tr. mitsukurii (Ashmead) (Scelionidae), recorded for the first time in Serbia. Additionally, the list of egg parasitoid species belonging to the Hymenoptera order includes seven local species: Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffroy), from the Eupelmidae family; Ooencyrtus sp., from the Encyrtidae family; and Telenomus turesis (Walker), Tr. basalis (Wollaston), Tr. belenus (Walker), Tr. colemani (Crawford), and Tr. semistriatus (Nees von Esenbeck), from the Scelionidae family. In total, nine egg parasitoid species were, for the first time, reported as parasitizing H. halys and related species in Serbia.

Evaluation of insect pollinator activity on fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) in district Peshawar

The present study was conducted to record the population density of insect pollinators visiting fennel crop at Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), Tarnab, Peshawar during 2020-21. Study was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design. Data was collected alternate day at two distinct time frames: morning and evening. It was observed that ten insect pollinators visited fennel crop during during the flowering season of fennel crop at mentioned time frames. Total of 10 Species were recorded from the expermintal plots including Apis cerana, A. mellifera, A. dorsata, A. florea, Polistes olivaceus, Earistalis tenax, Eupeodis bacculatus, Pieris brassica, Zizina otis and Coccinella septumpunctata. Order Hymenoptera was the most recorded order or insects with 5 species followed by 2 species each from order Lepidoptera and Diptera while 1 species was reported from order Coleoptera. Highest density of insect pollinators (50.4 and 42.2) in both morning and evening were recorded for A. mellifera whereas the lowest numbers of insect pollinators (3.8 and 2) were recorded for Z. Otis.

Molecular identification of Hymenopteran insects collected by using Malaise traps from Hazarganji Chiltan National Park Quetta, Pakistan.

The order Hymenoptera holds great significance for humans, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, due to its role as a pollinator of wild and cultivated flowering plants, parasites of destructive insects and honey producers. Despite this importance, limited attention has been given to the genetic diversity and molecular identification of Hymenopteran insects in most protected areas. This study provides insights into the first DNA barcode of Hymenopteran insects collected from Hazarganji Chiltan National Park (HCNP) and contributes to the global reference library of DNA barcodes. A total of 784 insect specimens were collected using Malaise traps, out of which 538 (68.62%) specimens were morphologically identified as Hymenopteran insects. The highest abundance of species of Hymenoptera (133/538, 24.72%) was observed during August and least in November (16/538, 2.97%). Genomic DNA extraction was performed individually from 90/538 (16.73%) morphologically identified specimens using the standard phenol-chloroform method, which were subjected separately to the PCR for their molecular confirmation via the amplification of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. The BLAST analyses of obtained sequences showed 91.64% to 100% identities with related sequences and clustered phylogenetically with their corresponding sequences that were reported from Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, Germany, India, Israel, and Pakistan. Additionally, total of 13 barcode index numbers (BINs) were assigned by Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD), out of which 12 were un-unique and one was unique (BOLD: AEU1239) which was assigned for Anthidium punctatum. This indicates the potential geographical variation of Hymenopteran population in HCNP. Further comprehensive studies are needed to molecularly confirm the existing insect species in HCNP and evaluate their impacts on the environment, both as beneficial (for example, pollination, honey producers and natural enemies) and detrimental (for example, venomous stings, crop damage, and pathogens transmission).

Mercury distribution, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification in riparian ecosystems from a neotropical savanna floodplain, Araguaia River, central Brazil

Litterfall is the main source of dry deposition of mercury (Hg) into the soil in forest ecosystems. The accumulation of Hg in soil and litter suggests the possibility of transfer to terrestrial invertebrates through environmental exposure or ingestion of plant tissues. We quantified total mercury (THg) concentrations in two soil layers (organic: 0–0.2 m; mineral: 0.8–1 m), litter, fresh leaves, and terrestrial invertebrates of the Araguaia River floodplain, aiming to evaluate the THg distribution among terrestrial compartments, bioaccumulation in invertebrates, and the factors influencing THg concentrations in soil and invertebrates. The mean THg concentrations were significantly different between the compartments evaluated, being higher in organic soil compared to mineral soil, and higher in litter compared to mineral soil and fresh leaves. Soil organic matter content was positively related to THg concentration in this compartment. The order Araneae showed significantly higher Hg concentrations among the most abundant invertebrate taxa. The higher Hg concentrations in Araneae were positively influenced by the concentrations determined in litter and individuals of the order Hymenoptera, confirming the process of biomagnification in the terrestrial trophic chain. In contrast, the THg concentrations in Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Hymenoptera were not significantly related to the concentrations determined in the soil, litter and fresh leaves. Our results showed the importance of organic matter for the immobilization of THg in the soil and indicated the process of biomagnification in the terrestrial food web, providing insights for future studies on the environmental distribution of Hg in floodplains.

Diversified Roles of Insects in Essential Ecosystem through Pollination for Achieving Sustainable Goals

Pollination is an ecological process that involves the transfer of pollen from the male to the female part of the flower with the help of various abiotic and biotic pollen dispersal agents and is an essential pre-requisite for fertilization and fruit/seed dispersal. Insects constitute one of the primary groups of pollinating agents, as the association between insects and flowers is well established. As flowers radiated so did the mouthparts of the insects exploiting them. Various insect groups, which are of prime significance in the pollination of agricultural and horticultural crops mainly belong to the orders Hymenoptera (bees, ants and wasps), Diptera (flies, mosquitoes, fungus gnats, midges), Coleoptera (beetles and weevils), Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Thysanoptera (thrips), Hemiptera (bugs) and Neuropteran (lace wing flies). This work is mainly based on detailed and through observations/study made from various cash crops viz., Brassica nigra, Coriandrum sativum, Tagetes erecta and Helianthus annuus from North 24 Parganas of South Bengal region.

Wolbachia supergroup A in Enoplognatha latimana (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Poland as an example of possible horizontal transfer of bacteria

Wolbachia (phylum Pseudomonadota, class Alfaproteobacteria, order Rickettsiales, family Ehrlichiaceae) is a maternally inherited bacterial symbiont infecting more than half of arthropod species worldwide and constituting an important force in the evolution, biology, and ecology of invertebrate hosts. Our study contributes to the limited knowledge regarding the presence of intracellular symbiotic bacteria in spiders. Specifically, we investigated the occurrence of Wolbachia infection in the spider species Enoplognatha latimana Hippa and Oksala, 1982 (Araneae: Theridiidae) using a sample collected in north-western Poland. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Wolbachia infection in E. latimana. A phylogeny based on the sequence analysis of multiple genes, including 16S rRNA, coxA, fbpA, ftsZ, gatB, gltA, groEL, hcpA, and wsp revealed that Wolbachia from the spider represented supergroup A and was related to bacterial endosymbionts discovered in other spider hosts, as well as insects of the orders Diptera and Hymenoptera. A sequence unique for Wolbachia supergroup A was detected for the ftsZ gene. The sequences of Wolbachia housekeeping genes have been deposited in publicly available databases and are an important source of molecular data for comparative studies. The etiology of Wolbachia infection in E. latimana is discussed.

Kerusakan Tanaman Selada (Lactuca sativa L) oleh OPT pada Budidaya Hidroponik di Kota Semarang

Hydroponic plants are plants that grow using nutrient solutions that contain minerals needed for plant growth. This study was conducted to identify various types of pests that attack mustard and lettuce plants grown in a hydroponic system. The research location was in Mijen Sub-district, Semarang City. Data collection methods used included surveys, interviews, and direct observation in the field which were then analysed descriptively. Observations of pests and diseases were conducted routinely every week until harvest time. Observations from the research location showed that the largest pest population came from the order Diptera (Fruit Flies) with 48 individuals, followed by the order Lepidoptera (Moths) with 33 individuals. Meanwhile, the population of pests from the Hemiptera and Hymenoptera orders (Walang sangit and Honey Bee) had the same number, 18 and 6 respectively.

Commercial Culture of Cordyceps militaris from Waste Products of Sericulture in India

Cordyceps militaris, an entomopathogenic fungi belonging to Ascomycota group are currently in the limelight for its synthesis of Cordycepin, – an anti-cancer component. The host range of Cordyceps is extremely broad, with predominance on the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera. Although this fungus is extremely rare in nature, its artificial culture is becoming more and more popular on the global market. However, the commercial culture of this fungus has been hampered by the difficulty in getting seeding material and the complex developmental technique. For ages, the silkworm (Order: Lepidoptera) has played a significant economic role in the food and silk industries of Asian nations. The waste product of the silkworm rearing process is the dead silkworm pupae, which are generated in large quantities after stifling of the cocoons for the purpose of producing raw silk. Waste from Sericulture in India has the potential to be used as a promising culture media for the growth of the Cordyceps-related sector, helping the silk farmers in their quest for future financial gain and the social advancement of the tribal society.

Functional Groups of Terrestrial Invertebrates in the Leaf Litter of Atlantic Forest (Bahia, Brazil)

The study conducted in a native fragment of the Atlantic Forest in Alagoinhas, Bahia, Brazil, aimed to evaluate the action of functional groups of terrestrial invertebrates and the effect of seasonality on their biodiversity. Over 6 months, researchers captured 166 invertebrates representing 9 orders and 17 families. The findings revealed a greater abundance of invertebrates (77) at the edge of the forest fragment. However, the indices of diversity, equity, and richness were similar between the fragment's edge and interior. Notably, at the edge, detritivores (such as little armadillos) and predators (including ants and spiders) exhibited dominance over other functional groups like phytophagous, saprophagous, coprophagous, and bioturbators. Predators of the orders Hymenoptera and Araneae were highlighted for their ecological importance, particularly in biological control, especially of detritivores. Interestingly, the study did not observe the effect of seasonality during the brief inventory period. This suggests that other factors may significantly influence the biodiversity of terrestrial invertebrates in the Atlantic Forest fragment in Bahia, Brazil.

New records of herbivory of Leucothyreus MacLeay, 1819 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Geniatini) on Cecropia Loefl. (Urticaceae)

Species in the genus Cecropia Loefl. (Urticaceae) are important food sources for a handful of species belonging to the insect orders Orthoptera (grasshoppers), Lepidoptera (caterpillars), Hymenoptera (leafcutter ants), and Coleoptera (beetles). Among the leaf chafer beetles, specimens of the scarab genus Leucothyreus MacLeay, 1819 (Scarabaeidae: Geniatini) have been barely recorded as defoliators of Cecropia spp., and information about the identity of the involved plant and beetle species is scarce and imprecise. The present paper records for the first time the incidence of two species of Leucothyreus on four species of Cecropia in Central Amazon (Brazil), with short behavioral notes regarding their feeding habits.

Insect species dynamics and associated losses in on-farm stored sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds in major sesame growing areas in Ethiopia

Insufficient storage practices and frequent infestations of insect pests pose significant obstacles to sesame production and storage, adversely affecting the quality and quantity of seeds. This forces farmers and traders to sell their crops at lower prices immediately after threshing to avoid market rejection caused by pests and mold damage during storage. The objective of this study was to investigate the insect species dynamics and the losses of on-farm-stored sesame seeds during the 2017- 2018 production year. Sesame seed samples obtained from randomly selected 431farm households in five districts were analyzed to determine the insect species present, insect density, seed weight loss, seed damage, germination percentage, and dockage using R software version 4.2.2. Biophysical parameters such as inter-granular temperature, seed moisture, and relative humidity were also recorded. Furthermore, interviews were conducted with the 431 farm households to gather information on their seed storage methods, practices for controlling insect pests, and the varieties of sesame they produce and store. The findings revealed the presence of 13 arthropod species from four orders (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera) which belongs to eight families (Tenebrionidae, Silvanidae, Bostrichidae, Curculionidae, Carabidae, Coreidae, Formicidae, and Pyralidae) in the stored sesame seeds at the study site. The most prevalent species was the flour beetle (Tribolium spp.), accounting for 44.26% of the infestation, followed by the rice moth, lesser grain borer, and rice weevil, which constituted 28.2%, 15.72%, and 4.88% of the infestation, respectively. The farmers grew and stored nine different cultivars along with one improved sesame variety called setit-1. On average, there was a 1.97% loss in seed weight, with insect pests causing damage to 8.3% of the seeds. The study districts exhibited an average of 3.79 insects per kilogram of sesame seeds, and the seeds showed a mean germination rate of 77%, which was significantly influenced by the extent of insect damage. The study underscores the significant challenges faced by sesame production and storage in Ethiopia due to inadequate storage practices and infestation by insect pests, resulting in diminished seed quality and quantity. To mitigate the losses incurred from storing sesame on farms, effective measures should be implemented, including improved storage practices and efficient pest control methods.

Actinomycetes associated with hymenopteran insects: a promising source of bioactive natural products.

In recent years, the insect microbiome has become the focus of many actinomycete researchers in their search for novel bioactive compounds with members of the order Hymenoptera at the forefront of the revolution. Hymenoptera encompasses all bees, wasps, ants, and sawflies and is the third largest insect order by species richness. Additionally, Hymenoptera is the most diverse insect order in terms of ecological roles, behaviors, and social systems, thus making it an ideal starting point in the search for symbiotic actinomycetes. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge on hymenopteran associations with actinomycetes including information on interactions between actinomycetes and hymenopterans, isolation, and screening methodologies, as well as novel actinomycete species and natural products discovered between early 2013 and 2023. A total of 19 new species were discovered within this time period, with the genus Streptomyces being represented by 11 species while the remaining 8 belonged to rare actinomycetes genera. In addition, 35 novel compounds were reported from hymenopteran-associated actinomycetes within the same time period with the majority originating from Streptomyces strains. The reported novel compounds exhibit a range of biological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-enzymatic, and antiproliferative activity, as well as cytotoxicity.

Species diversity, behavior and visit rates to melon flowers (Cucumis melo l.) as a function of time and seasonality in a semi-arid climate region in Brazil

In this research we evaluated the phenology of melon flowering (Cucumis melo L.) and the diversity of floral visitors in geographical conditions of semi-arid climate in Northeast Brazil, during the wet and dry seasons. The floral phenology of the melon was evaluated by recording the number of flowers produced/plant/day from 30 plants, the insects that visited the flowers were recorded following three methods: visual counts, sweep collection and counting and identification, we observe and count the number of visits to flowers from 30 plants (n = 30) during the first 45 minutes of each hour. This study reports the diversity of melon pollinators in geographical conditions located in a semi-arid climate region, with specific seasonal fluctuations, which explains the behavior pattern found at work. The order Hymenoptera predominated among floral visitors, especially Apis melífera and Trigona spinipes. The flowering cycle was influenced by seasonality, with a longer duration in the dry season, the flowering and visiting peaks were higher during the hottest hours of the day, regardless of the season. There was a preference for visitation in the morning hours, with a peak at 10 a.m. and a gradual decrease in the presence of insects in the late afternoon.

The Diversity of Parasitoids and Their Role in the Control of the Siberian Moth, Dendrolimus sibiricus (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), a Major Coniferous Pest in Northern Asia.

The Siberian moth, Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetv., 1908 (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is a conifer pest that causes unprecedented forest mortality in Northern Asia, leading to enormous ecological and economic losses. This is the first study summarizing data on the parasitoid diversity and parasitism of this pest over the last 118 years (1905-2022). Based on 860 specimens of freshly reared and archival parasitoids, 16 species from two orders (Hymenoptera and Diptera) were identified morphologically and/or with the use of DNA barcoding. For all of them, data on distribution and hosts and images of parasitoid adults are provided. Among them, the braconid species, Meteorus versicolor (Wesmael, 1835), was documented as a parasitoid of D. sibiricus for the first time. The eastern Palaearctic form, Aleiodes esenbeckii (Hartig, 1838) dendrolimi (Matsumura, 1926), status nov., was resurrected from synonymy as a valid subspecies, and a key for its differentiation from the western Palaearctic subspecies Aleiodes esenbeckii ssp. esenbecki is provided. DNA barcodes of 11 parasitoid species from Siberia, i.e., nine hymenopterans and two dipterans, represented novel records and can be used for accurate molecular genetic identification of species. An exhaustive checklist of parasitoids accounting for 93 species associated with D. sibirisus in northern Asia was compiled. Finally, the literature and original data on parasitism in D. sibiricus populations for the last 83 years (1940-2022) were analysed taking into account the pest population dynamics (i.e., growth, outbreak, decline, and depression phases). A gradual time-lagged increase in egg and pupal parasitism in D. sibiricus populations was detected, with a peak in the pest decline phase. According to long-term observations, the following species are able to cause significant mortality of D. sibiricus in Northern Asia: the hymenopteran egg parasitoids Telenomus tetratomus and Ooencyrtus pinicolus; the larval parasitoids Aleiodes esenbeckii sp. dendrolimi, Cotesia spp., and Glyptapanteles liparidis; and the dipteran pupal parasitoids Masicera sphingivora, Tachina sp., and Blepharipa sp. Their potential should be further explored in order to develop biocontrol programs for this important forest pest.

Diversity and foraging activity of coffee insect pollinators in land near and far from the forest of North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Sinaga RR, Maryana N, Hidayat P. 2024. Diversity and foraging activity of coffee insect pollinators in land near and far from the forest of North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 240-248. Coffee (Coffea spp.) is among the plant species that depend on insects to aid in its pollination process, where insect pollinators serve as intermediaries facilitating plant pollination. This study examined the diversity, abundance, and visiting activity of insect pollinators in coffee cultivation located in different areas, specifically those near the forest and those far from the forest in Simalungun District, North Sumatra. The study was carried out from September 2022 to February 2023 in six coffee cultivation sites spread across four sub-districts in Simalungun District, i.e., Silimakuta, Pematang Silimakuta, Purba, and Dolok Silau. The study's results revealed the presence of 16 species of insect pollinators in coffee cultivation near the forest and 13 species in those located far from the forest. The identified insect pollinators species were from Order Hymenoptera; Apis cerana, Lasioglossum sp., Dolichovespula norvegicoides, Diptera; Stomorhina discolor, Musca domestica, Bactrocera papayae, Nephrotoma flavescens, Episyrphus viridaureus, Oebalia sp., Coleoptera; Pachnaeus sp., Cantharis sp., Scarabaeidae sp 1., Maladera japonica, Lepidoptera; Agrotis segetum, Bradina diagonalis, and Nyctemera baulus. Notably, the abundance of coffee insect pollinators was more pronounced in close proximity to the forest compared to areas far from the forest. Regarding the visiting duration of these insects, S. discolor exhibited the longest visit duration of 76.46±1.19 seconds per flower, and the shortest duration in A. cerana was recorded at 8.35±0.23 seconds per flower.

Diversity of insect galls in veredas of the Brazilian Cerrado in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Brazilian veredas are hygrophilous communities with high species diversity, featuring many floristic studies but a still incipient number of faunistic studies. In the present study, we conducted an inventory of insect galls in four different veredas located in the Northern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Overall, we found 75 gall morphotypes, distributed across 50 host species representing 37 plant genera and 22 families. Fabaceae was the plant family with the greatest number of insect gall morphotypes (n = 21), followed by Malpighiaceae (n = 10). The plant genera that supported the highest diversity of insect galls were Copaifera (n = 8) and Byrsomima (n = 5). The plant species Copaifera oblongifolia (n = 6) and Anacardium humile (n = 4) exhibited the highest richness of insect galls. The leaves were the most attacked organs (89% of all galls). Most morphotypes are glabrous (83%), green (69%) and lenticular (60%). The taxa of gall-inducing insects were identified for 46 morphotypes (80%), and were recorded inducers from the orders Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera. Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) was the most representative galling group, with 42 morphotypes, making up 93.3% of the recorded inducers. Among the sampled veredas areas, the Vereda do Peruaçu presented the highest richness of insect gall morphotypes and host plant species. The faunistic similarity was higher in the Pedras and Tiririca veredas, followed by Almescla and Peruaçu veredas. This is the first systematic inventory of insect galls and their host plant in Brazilian veredas. The diversity of insect galls in the studied veredas is relatively high when compared to other Brazilian Cerrado vegetation types.

A bionomic overview of spider parasitoids and pseudo-parasitoids of the ichneumonid wasp subfamily Pimplinae

Abstract The parasitoid way of life (parasitizing and finally killing a single arthropod host) is one of the most successful lifeways in the animal kingdom, sparking an explosive diversification and accompanying numerous parasitoid strategies in insects, especially in the order Hymenoptera. Amongst parasitoid wasps, the Polysphincta group of genera has evolved a highly distinctive parasitoid mode of life, as solitary koinobiont ectoparasitoids of spiders (Chelicerata: Araneae). Some species of polysphinctine wasps have a remarkable ability to control spiders’ web-building behaviour (host web manipulation) to protect the vulnerable wasp cocoons. The group currently consists of 25 genera and 294 extant species worldwide, with 14 genera known to manipulate their host spiders. This study reviews the current species composition, distribution, host utilization and biology of all genera belonging to the Polysphincta group and their ancestral genera of spider egg mass pseudo-parasitoids, highlighting specific offensive approaches for subjugating spider hosts for oviposition and web manipulation against specific spider hosts. There must still be many more unique behaviours to be discovered, given that the life histories of several polysphinctine genera are poorly known or unknown. A tidy correspondence between lineages of polysphinctines and host spiders was recognized, implying the evolutionary history of polysphinctines. Based on the integrated information on behavioural data and host utilization, we suggest some hypotheses determining triggers for host shifts and discuss the possibility of adaptive radiation driven by divergent natural selection on host differentiation. One new taxonomic change is proposed: Zaglyptus idukkiensis (Manjusha, Sudheer & Ghosh, 2019), comb. nov., is transferred from Polysphincta.

Exploring horizontal transfer of mariner transposable elements among ants and aphids

Aphids and ants are mutualistic species with a close space-time relationship, which may facilitate the occurrence of horizontal transfer events between these insect groups. Myrmar-like mariner elements were previously isolated from two ant (Myrmica ruginodis and Tapinoma ibericum) and two aphid species (Aphis fabae and Aphis hederae). The aim of this work is to determine the presence of Myrmar-like mariner elements in new ant and aphid species, as well as to analyze the likelihood of horizontal transfer events between these taxa. To accomplish this, the Myrmar-like element has been isolated from five aphid species and six ant species. Among these new analyzed species, full-length Myrmar-like mariner elements with very high sequence similarity have been isolated from the aphids Aphis nerii, Aphis spiraecola, Brachycaudus cardui, and Rhopalosiphum maidis as well as from the ants Lasius grandis and Lasius niger, even though aphids and ants belong to two insect orders (Hemiptera and Hymenoptera) that have evolved independently for at least 300 million-years. Both Lasius species establish frequent mutualistic relationships with multiple aphid species, including A. nerii, A. spiraecola, and B. cardui. The study of the putative protein encoded by them and the phylogenetic analysis suggests that they could be active transposons shared by aphids and ants through horizontal transfer events. Additionally, mariner elements with internal deletion were found in several aphids and one ant species, showing a high degree of sequence similarity among them. The characteristics of these elements with internal deletion suggest a complex origin involving various evolutionary processes, possibly including also horizontal transfer events. Myrmar-like elements have also been isolated from the other ant species, although without similarity with the aphid mariner sequences. Myrmar-like elements are also present in phylogenetically distant insect species, as well as in one crustacean species. The phylogenetic study carried out with all Myrmar-like elements suggests the probable occurrence of horizontal transfer events.

STATE AND STRUCTURE OF ENTOMOLOGICAL BIODIVERSITY OF MIXED BIOTOPES OF KYIV FORESTS

The anthropogenic factor has a particularly acute effect on natural resources. The state of biodiversity of biotopes, as well as the global dynamics of natural processes in Ukraine, has not been sufficiently studied. The first step to solving it is to observe (monitor) changes in the number and distribution of species. Taking into account anthropogenic, climatic, etc. factors that pose a threat to biodiversity, the study of the state of fauna and flora, the study and conservation of species biodiversity is extremely relevant. The purpose of the work is to determine the state and structure of the entomological species biodiversity of the mixed biotopes of Kyiv Polissia. The site of the research was chosen mixed biotopes of the Kyiv Polissia, which are located in the Vyshgorod district of the Kyiv region, (territories near the settlements: Lyutizh, Demydiv, Lytvynivka, as well as monitoring sites of various nature: biotopes of pine, deciduous, mixed forests, floodplains of rivers: Irpin, Kizka, Lisovychka and others. Methods tested and recommended for field and laboratory research in entomology, plant protection, and ecology were used for accounting. An important aspect in research was the skills of collecting and analyzing primary information, assessing species richness and diversity, determining the level of dominance of individual species in the biocenosis, and assessing the age composition of organisms in populations. Collection and accounting of entomological biodiversity was carried out according to generally accepted methods once every 7–10 days at stationary sites. The level and structure of entomological biodiversity of mixed biotopes of Kyiv Polissia in 2022-2023 were studied. As a result of the monitoring and accounting of entomological biodiversity in mixed biotopes, 88 species of insects were found, belonging to 23 families from 8 orders in a systematic manner. The most numerous is the order of Hymenoptera, which includes 12 species from 5 families and Coleoptera - 36 species from 4 families, which is 49.6% of the total number of studied entomological biodiversity. An annotated list was compiled and an analysis of the current state of the entomofauna of mixed biotopes was carried out.

Diversity, Abundance, and Foraging Behaviour of Insect Pollinators in Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) under Hot and Subhumid Conditions

Insect pollinators and flowering plants have a long‐standing, coevolutionary, mutualistic relationship. One such example is the litchi tree (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), a fruit crop that relies on insect pollination. Litchi flowers are hermaphroditic, but they cannot self‐pollinate due to self‐sterility, unlike self‐pollinating plants. Therefore, insect pollinators are crucial to successful fruit development. To understand the pollinator’s foraging behaviour and diversity associated with litchi under hot and subhumid conditions, the present study was conducted on the Shahi variety of litchi at the ICAR‐Research Complex for Eastern Region, Farming System Research Centre for Hill and Plateau, Ranchi (Jharkhand), India. During the flowering period, a total of 19 species of insect pollinators from the orders Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera were observed visiting litchi inflorescences. Apis mellifera and Apis dorsata were the most dominant pollinator species. Each species displayed distinct characteristics in terms of abundance and diversity. Varied foraging speeds (stay times) were also noted, with A. dorsata (6.94 s) being the fastest and Musca domestica (2.88 s) being the slowest. Pollinator activity was highest in the eastern direction, between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Apis florea had the highest foraging rate (visitation rate) (14.02 flowers visited per minute), followed by Apis mellifera, while Episyrphus taeniops​ had the lowest. Apis species were identified as the most abundant and frequent visitors in litchi orchards.