Chrysomelidae Research Articles

Antioxidant and Secondary Metabolite Responses in Wheat under Cereal Leaf Beetle (Oulema melanopus L.) Infestation

AbstractWheat is one of the most important cereal crops grown in the Western Himalayas of India but its production is challenged by the insect “cereal leaf beetle (CLB)”. This study explores the impact of domestication and modern crop improvement on wheat's defense mechanisms against the CLB, a global threat to wheat cultivation. Sixteen diverse wheat genotypes having different ploidy levels were investigated, including wild wheat, landraces, mutants, advanced breeding lines, commercial varieties, and a Rye grass genotype. Genotypes with resistance genes, landraces, and wild wheat exhibited the lowest CLB infestation and oxidative damage. These genotypes displayed enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, such as peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and increased plant secondary metabolite (phenol and tannin) production upon CLB infestation. Resistant durum wheat demonstrated moderate responses and exhibited higher levels of flavonoid production. On the other hand, susceptible durum wheat genotypes, commercial variety Shalimar Wheat‐02 (SW‐2), showed high CLB infestation, ROS production, reduced antioxidant enzyme and secondary metabolite production. This may be because modern varieties like SW‐2 were not selected for insect resistance. These findings emphasize the significance of preserving genetic diversity from wild wheat and landraces to bolster wheat breeding programs against pests such as CLB. This study underscores the need to harness ancestral wheat lines to enhance insect pest resistance in modern wheat cultivars.

METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING THE PATHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF DISEASES AND FOREST PESTS ON THE SANITARY CONDITION OF FORESTS IN THE CONDITIONS OF FORESTRY BLANCHES OF THE CENTRAL INTERREGIONAL FORESTRY AND HUNTING MENEGMENT AND NATURE PROTECTION RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF THE POLISSKY NATURE RESERVE

METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING THE PATHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF DISEASES AND FOREST PESTS ON THE SANITARY CONDITION OF FORESTS IN THE CONDITIONS OF FORESTRY BLANCHES OF THE CENTRAL INTERREGIONAL FORESTRY AND HUNTING MENEGMENT AND NATURE PROTECTION RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF THE POLISSKY NATURE RESERVE

Identifikasi Jenis Serangga Hama pada Tanaman Padi (Oryza Sativa L.) di Kampung Surau Kabupaten Dharmasraya

The aim of the research is to identify insect pests on rice plants (Oriza sativa) in Kampung Surau, Dharmasraya Regency. The method used is direct capture, direct identification by looking at body morphology and using Google Lens. The results of the research show that insect pests in the rice fields are low because they only consist of 7 species of insect pests on rice plants (Oryza sativa), namely black ants (Dolichoderus thoracicus), stalked crabs (Anasa tristis), grasshoppers (Dissoitera carolina), rice caterpillar larvae ( Pyraloidea innota), leaf beetles (Cryptocephalus Beetles), white pests (Nhympula depunctalis) and fierce grasshoppers (Letocorisa acuta).

Herzfleck-Fallkäfer (Cryptocephalus cordiger) Wiederfund einer verschollen geglaubten Blattkäferart (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Baden-Württemberg

"Heartspotted" Leaf Beetle (Cryptocephalus cordiger) – Rediscovery of a leaf beetle species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) considered extinct in Baden-Württemberg. The leaf beetle Cryptocephalus cordiger (L., 1758), which has been considered extinct in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, was rediscovered in the Swabian Jura after more than sixty years. Conservation measures to support species of calcareous grasslands were recently implemented in the area where it was recorded, which had entailed the removal of a substantial amount of woody vegetation. It is theorized that C.cordiger has profited from this.

Life history and host preferences of Tetrastichus julis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), the principal parasitoid of the cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Tetrastichus julis is the key larval endoparasitoid of the cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus. The beetle has recently invaded cereal growing regions of western Canada, and classical biological control with T. julis is a viable management option. Although the general biology of T. julis is known, several knowledge gaps on life history traits still remain particularly in relation to host preferences and their consequences for parasitoid-beetle interactions. We investigated life history parameters and host preferences of T. julis with reference to a number of developmental parameters including survivorship, clutch size, ovipositional preferences for larval stages and their influences on realized clutch size of the parasitoid. Salient features of T. julis biology observed in this study were a short developmental time, a female-biased sex ratio, which is slightly more pronounced in larger instars, extended longevity of females, sibling mating, and more importantly, the capacity of females to live longer in the absence of hosts. The seasonal trend in parasitism rate of T. julis indicated a peak in activity in mid-June. This investigation revealed that T. julis females can discriminate among host instars and can adjust clutch size accordingly and to some extent increase production of females more than males in larger instars. In laboratory and field trials, given a choice, females laid more eggs in fourth instars than in first instars. The sex ratio was female biased and was positively correlated with clutch size. At least one male emerged from most clutches (>2) and sibling mating was common. Parasitism rates were higher after an exposure period of 48 h than 24 h. Mass rearing of T. julis can be enhanced by exposing mated T. julis females for at least 48 h to fourth-instar larvae of O. melanopus. Understanding T. julis biology can enhance mass rearing to relocate parasitoids and improve sustainable management of the cereal leaf beetle as it expands its geographic range.

Protection of soybean plants from phytophages under conditions of the Primorsky Territory

The effectiveness of pre-sowing treatment of soybean seeds and application of biorational insecticides in reducing the number of major pests of soybean in the conditions of the Primorsky Territory have been studied. The results of using insecticides and biopreparations to regulate the number of dominant pests of soybean have been presented. The studies were conducted in 2020 and 2021. The efficiency of insecticidal protectants Imidor Pro, SC (2 l/t) and Tabu, WSC (1.0 l/t), bioinsecticides Fitoverm, EC (0, 16 l/ha), Proclaim, WSG (0.3 kg/ha), Batsikol, L (15 l/ha), Biosleep BW, L (2 l/ha), Biosleep BT, P (2 kg/ha) against two-striped leaf beetle (Medythia nigrobilineatus Motsch.) and soybean pod borer (Leguminivora glycinivorella Mats.) were studied. Pre-sowing seed treatment with insecticides Imidor Pro and Tabu reduced damage of soybean plants in the sprouting phase by Medythia nigrobilineatus beetles compared to the control by 94.0–98.2%. Seed dressing with imidacloprid-based preparations provided effective protection of crops against the pest in the sprouting – branching phase. Biorational insecticides based on avermectin C and Bacillus thuringiensis showed high biological efficacy (71.1–98.8%) on the 5–10th day after treatment against the two-striped leaf beetle. Soybean seed damage when bioinsecticides were used against Leguminivora glycinivorella was 1.9–3.0% compared to 5.6% in the control. The conducted studies testify to the prospect of using the preparations of biological origin to control the number of dominant pests in soybean crops.

Insights into the subgenera <i>Chrysolina</i> s. str. and <i>Rhyssoloma</i> Woll. of <i>Chrysolina</i> Mots. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae)

The taxonomic position of Chrysolina costalis and C. wollastoni in the subgenera Chrysolina s. str. or Rhyssoloma is ambiguous. Recently, they have moved from the former to the latter subgenus, by taking four morphological characters. However, C. (Rhyssoloma) fragariae, the type species of this subgenus, is clearly distinguished with regard to the two previous species, from other morphological features, also the male karyotype of 2n=24(Xyp) instead of 2n=23(X0) chromosomes, and mainly in the DNA molecular phylogenetic trees where C. costalis and C. wollastoni appear in the same highly supported clade with C. bankii, another species of the Chrysolina s. str. subgenus. Therefore, the subgenus Rhyssoloma should be maintained as monotypic with C. fragariae as its unique species like it was before. [Cover by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA - Leaf Beetle eating Common Plantain, no change made, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49953690]

Feeding of leaf beetle to two species of alder grown under two different soils in a free-air CO2 enrichment

ABSTRACT The effects of elevated CO2 concentration on the defensive ability of two Alnus species (A. maximowiczii, A. hirsuta) against herbivory attacks (alder leaf beetle; Agelastica coerulea) were investigated using a free-air CO2 enrichment. Elevated CO2 significantly affected consumed leaf area index (CLI) of A. maximowiczii but soil fertility did not, while more significant effects on CLI of A. hirsuta were found in both CO2 and soil fertility. As found in natural conditions, A. hirsuta was grazed five times more than A. maximowiczii in both CO2 levels, which was explained with the low condensed tannin (CT) concentration of the leaves. The value of leaf mass per area in fertile soil was 10 g m−2 lower than that in infertile soil under ambient CO2 in July. Leaf C/N ratio was not affected by elevated CO2 for both species but that of A. hirsuta was little higher in infertile soil when compared to fertile soil in July. CT of A. maximowiczii tended to increase in September under elevated CO2. CT of A. hirsuta was higher in infertile soil than in fertile soil in July and showed an overall decrease in September compared to July. Nitrogen-fixing activity by a nodule of Frankia sp. on A. maximowiczii was higher in elevated CO2 treatments than in ambient CO2 independent of soil fertility. As a result of changes in these parameters, except for fertile soil, the peak of the herbivorous damage was later in elevated CO2 for the Alnus species than in the control.

Defensive phragmosis and cathaptosis in Trichoptera larvae

Phragmosis, or the use of specially modified body parts and associated behaviors to block an opening as defense against predators, is a commonly observed phenomenon in certain ants and termites that block entrances of their subterranean nests with large, flat heads. It has been reported in some beetles and other insects and even in some frogs. Common features of phragmosis in caddisfly larvae include a hard and usually flat body surface, with or without stout spines, and the behavior of fitting that body surface tightly in the opening of its case. A different defensive strategy occurs in snails and case-making larvae of camptosomate leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae and Lamprosomatinae) that protect themselves from predators by securing the openings of their shells or cases firmly against the substrate, a behavior we call “cathaptosis.” Common features of cathaptosis in caddisfly larvae include a case with its vulnerable opening oriented parallel with the substrate and accompanied by behavior that grips the substrate, fixing the case opening firmly against it when threatened. We suggest that these defensive strategies have evolved multiple times in Trichoptera, especially in case-making larvae. We demonstrate some examples and provide tentative lists of caddisflies whose larvae may have evolved these defensive strategies.

Screening of Oats (Avena sativa) against Cereal Leaf Beetle within the Ranges of Himalayas of Kashmir

Cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus L.) Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera is one of the devastating pests of wheat, oat and barley in Kashmir valley. Freezing temperatures of Kashmir valley are not suitable for double cropping in a single year. In these harsh winters, farmers are not able to feed their cattle fresh greens, to overcome the problem oats serve as best green fodder not only for cattle but now a days oats are preferred as dietary meal for people. Oats is encountered by various limiting factors, among which cereal leaf beetle has posed a threat in both quality and quantity as well. Hence, an experiment was laid to study the screening of four available varieties of Oats. Investigations were carried out at the farmers field near the Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura, Kashmir, India during 2021-22 under free choice conditions to evaluate the results. Among the evaluated varieties SKO-90 registered least damage of 17% followed by SABZAR (19%), however highest damage of (35%) was found on the cultivar KENT, it was closely followed by SKO-96 with leaf damage of (33%). It is advisable that, farmers should go through the two least damaged varieties of the oats and the chemical constituents responsible for the less damage need to identified through biochemical analysis.

Who eats the yellowmargined leaf beetle? Field observations and genetic surveillance to identify local predators of a novel invasive pest

The yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochroloma Stahl (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), invaded the Southeastern United States and rapidly emerged as a leading pest of crucifer crops, yet little is known about which native predators might effectively provide biological control. The objective of this research is to identify potential predators of this understudied invader through field observation and genetic surveillance. Over two years, arthropods were surveyed on a variety of susceptible Brassica cultivars and a shortlist of commonly associated predators was developed. In a survey of turnip plants in year 1, lady beetles were positively predicted by densities of M. ochroloma, suggesting a numerical response to densities of the invasive pest. Surveys at a different site in year 2 revealed that big-eyed bugs were also positively predicted by M. ochroloma, while pink-spotted lady beetles negatively associated, suggesting a pattern of suppression. Ants (primarily the red imported fire ant) and spiders were commonly observed predators on plants in both years, but neither associated with densities of M. ochroloma. No predators were observed consuming M. ochroloma eggs. Molecular gut-content analysis using specially generated M. ochroloma primers confirmed the observed predatory links and suggested a density-dependent tracking response from pink-spotted lady beetles and ground beetles also have density-dependent tracking re Table 3. Our results may enable farmers to bolster these predator populations with fine-tuned habitat management tools and better suppress the spreading pest.

Role of Micro-Architectures on Insects' Elytra Affects the Nanomechanical and Optical Properties: Inspired for Designing the Lightweight Materials

The structural coloration of insects has received significant attention in the field of nanophotonic, which has related properties with biophotonic crystals. The main focus in this study is on structural and mechanical features of wasp and beetle elytra such as Chrysidinae (the specimen of parasitoid or kleptoparasitic wasp), Rhomborhina gigantea (RG is the specimen of bettle in the family of Cetoniidae), and Chrysolina coerulans (CC is a species of beetle in the family Chrysomelidae). The nanostructures present on the surface of elytra show the optical and deformable material properties. Surface morphology has been measured by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The depths of the hemispherical cavities present on the elytra have been analyzed using AFM. The optical and nanomechanical properties of the beetle elytra have also been studied. To measure the reflectivity in transverse electric and TM mode, UV-visible spectroscopy has been used. The value of the average index of refraction nav is observed as 1.8 in all three species and the half-pitch of elytra's varies from 0.139-0.136 μm in CC, 0.123-0.114 μm in Chrysidinae, and 0.154-0.161 μm in RG. Nanoindentation was used to measure the modulus and hardness of the different beetle's elytra. Higher value of elastic modulus (1.72 GPa) and hardness (0.89 GPa) in RG of elytra plays a significant role in resisting force. The photonic structure exhibits optical intrinsic color mixing properties, which are used in the anticounterfeiting fields (currency and passport identification codes). The structural properties of beetle elytra would help to design the lightweight, high strength, anti-coating sensor, color-changing micro air vehicles, and novel optical materials.

Sublethal effects of chlorantraniliprole on biological characteristics, detoxifying enzyme activity and gene expression profile in the Allium mongolicum Regel leaf beetle Galeruca daurica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

AbstractAllium mongolicum Regel leaf beetle, Galeruca daurica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is rampantly harmful in Inner Mongolia grassland. However, the current management strategies for this pest still heavily rely on chemical control using traditional insecticides or those with novel action. In the study, we conducted an indoor bioassay to evaluate the sublethal effects of chlorantraniliprole on the biological characteristics. Additionally, we assessed the activity of detoxification enzymes, specifically the primary enzymes carboxylesterase (CarE) and cytochrome P450, and insect's secondary metabolic enzymes, namely glutathione S‐transferase (GST) and uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase (UGT), as well as its gene expression profile. The developmental period of the 3rd instar larvae of G. daurica was significantly prolonged after treatment with chlorantraniliprole, which negatively affected the hatching, pupation and diapause rates as well as their body weight. The larvae showed different dynamics of the enzyme activities within 24 h of chlorantraniliprole treatment. Different sublethal concentrations of chlorantraniliprole showed an inducing effect on the activities, while no significant difference in activity was observed for P450. Expression profiling of detoxifying enzyme genes screened by transcriptome data has revealed that 6 CarE, 2 GST, 7 UGT and 31 P450 genes were up‐regulated. In conclusion, chlorantraniliprole's sublethal effect on 3rd instar G. daurica larvae resulted in a deceleration of their growth and developmental processes and significantly increased the activity levels of CarE, GST and UGT. The detoxifying proteins encoded by up‐regulation genes may involve in the detoxification metabolism of chlorantraniliprole. Our results provide a basis for understanding the molecular mechanisms of chlorantraniliprole action and detoxification in this key grassland insect pest.

The genome sequence of a leaf beetle, Cryptocephalus moraei (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Cryptocephalus moraei (a leaf beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae). The genome sequence is 500.5 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 15 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.68 kilobases in length.

Fauna of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of the Ashchisay steppe (Orenburg region, Russia)

Fauna of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of the Ashchisay steppe (Orenburg region, Russia)

Taxonomic and Geographical Notes on African Galerucine Leaf Beetles, with Description of a New Monotypic Genus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Taxonomic and Geographical Notes on African Galerucine Leaf Beetles, with Description of a New Monotypic Genus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Catalog of the Chrysomelinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) deposited in the entomological collections of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amaznia (INPA) and the Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil, with an illustrated key for the genera occurring in Brazil (except Aeneolucentia, Jermaniella, and Pandona).

This paper presents a species catalog of leaf beetles of the subfamily Chrysomelinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) deposited in two important Brazilian institutions in the state of Amazonas (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amaznia and Universidade Federal do Amazonas), providing their respective type localities, geographic distributions, as well as illustrations for all listed species (including pictures of the types of Platyphora imperialis (Stl, 1858), Platyphora excellens (Stl, 1859), Platyphora sanguinipennis (Jacoby, 1895), and Platyphora olivenca (Bechyn, 1954)), and new locality records, predators, parasites, parasitoids, and host plant for some species. In addition, we provide the first illustrated key for the genera occurring in Brazil (except Aeneolucentia, Jermaniella, and Pandona).

New data on the leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) of Middle Asia

Oulema duftschmidi (Redtenbacher, 1874), Phyllotreta astrachanica Lopatin, 1977 and Ph. procera (Redtenbacher, 1849) are recorded for the rst time for Uzbekistan; Longitarsus stragulatus dichrous Khnzorian, 1962 is recorded for the rst time for Tajikistan. The geographic distribution of Acolastus pallidus (Lopatin, 1958) and Aphilenia ornata Reitter, 1889 has been clari ed. For all the taxa considered, images of the adult habitus and male genitalia (for some of them) are given.

Additions to the leaf beetle fauna (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) of Omsk province

Six species are recorded for the rst time from Omsk Province: Oulema septentrionis (Weise, 1880), Cryptocephalus caerulescens C. R. Sahlberg, 1839, C. frenatus Laicharting, 1781, C. punctiger Paykull, 1799, Aphthona franzi Heikertinger, 1944 and Longitarsus kutscherai (Rye, 1872). Oulema septentrionis , A. franzi and L. kutscherai are recorded from West Siberia for the rst time. Some notes on host plants are given.

Jumping to new hosts: the diversification of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticini) in the context of their host plant associations

Abstract Flea beetles (Alticini) represent one of the most diverse groups within the family Chrysomelidae and are associated with more than 100 different plant families. Conspicuously, only 10 genera account for about a quarter of flea beetle diversity, whereas about 380 genera each comprise less than 10 species, indicating different rates of diversification within the Alticini. Here, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of 608 species in 101 Alticini genera using mitogenomes and cytochrome oxidase I, and applied several frameworks of clade-specific diversification rate analyses. Increased diversification rates were consistently detected in the cosmopolitan genera Altica Goffroy, Longitarsus Berthold, and Phyllotreta Chevrolat, and in neotropical taxa of the subtribe Oedionychina. In addition, we tested whether the evolution of specialized interactions with plants of the order Brassicales influenced the diversification of Phyllotreta and Psylliodes Berthold flea beetles. Specialization on Brassicales was only associated with increased diversification rates in Phyllotreta but not in Psylliodes. Our results indicate that host associations per se do not explain different diversification rates and lay the groundwork for investigating the evolutionary drivers of rapid radiations in Alticini.