Number Of Insect Species Research Articles

Enhancement of the Diversity of Pollinators and Beneficial Insects in Intensively Managed Vineyards

Simple SummaryThe continuous intensification of agricultural production has resulted in higher yields and more yield security. However, these achievements went along with the substitution of heterogeneous agricultural landscapes by homogeneous ones with poor crop diversity, short crop rotations, and thanks to the high efficacy of modern herbicides and also to minimum in-crop diversity. A severe increase in plot size led to the elimination of ecologically valuable structural elements that had provided floral resources and nesting sites. Over the few last decades, several studies have been conducted to try to find solutions against insect decline and to preserve biodiversity. In the present study, the integration of cover plants between the lines of the vineyards to enhance biodiversity is shown. The benefits of the cover plants use are presented based on the results achieved on five intensive wine farms in Spain. Our findings suggest that the use of cover plants provide a wide range of enhancements in the insect community with a significant increase both in the number of species and the number of individuals showing an important influence over time, which would tend to have a significant conservation impact thanks to its effect as a reservoir of species.(1) Modern, intensive agricultural practices have been attributed to the loss of insect biodiversity and abundance in agroecosystems for the last 80 years. The aim of this work is to test whether there are statistically significant differences in insect abundance between different zones and over time on the vineyard field. (2) The study was carried out in five intensive wine farms in Spain over a three-year period (2013–2015). Each field was divided into two zones, one where cover plants were planted, and another remained unchanged (without cover). (3) A clear trend to increase the average number of insect species and individuals throughout the years in all farms was observed. Moreover, the zones with cover plants showed a significant difference with respect to the zones without. (4) The use of permanent cover plants allows creating areas of refuge for the insects favouring their conservation and reducing the agriculture impact in the insect decline.

Entomotherapy: a study of medicinal insects of seven ethnic groups in Nagaland, North-East India

BackgroundThe ethnic communities in Nagaland have kept a close relationship with nature since time immemorial and have traditionally used different kinds of insects and their products as folk medicine to treat a variety of human ills and diseases. The present study was conducted to record the entomotherapeutic practices of seven different ethnic groups of Nagaland.MethodDocumentation is based on semi-structured questionnaires and group discussions with a total of 370 informants. The data collected were analysed using fidelity level (FL) and informant consensus factor (ICF).ResultsFifty species of medicinal insects belonging to 28 families and 11 orders were identified in connection with treatments of at least 50 human ailments, of which the most frequently cited were coughs, gastritis, rheumatoid arthritis, stomach ache and wound healing. Mylabris sp. showed the highest fidelity level (FL) of 100% for its therapeutic property as a dermatologic agent, while the informant consensus factor (ICF) ranged from 0.66 to 1.00. The use of medicinal insects varies amongst the seven ethnic groups, suggesting that differences in cultures and geographic location can lead to the selection of specific insect species for specific medicinal purposes. The largest number of insect species appear to be used for treating gastrointestinal, dermatological and respiratory diseases.ConclusionThe list of medicinal insect species, many of which are reported for the first time in the present study, suggests the presence of a considerable diversity of therapeutically important insect species in the region and elaborate folk medicinal knowledge of the local ethnic groups. This knowledge of insects not just as a food, but also as therapy is passed down verbally from generation to generation, but is in danger of being lost if not documented in a systematic way. Having stood the test of time, traditional folk medicinal knowledge and its contribution through entomotherapy should not be regarded as useless as it has the potential to lead to the development of novel drugs and treatment methods.

Flower-visiting insects of genus Melastoma (Myrtales: Melastomataceae) at the Fushan Botanical Garden, Taiwan.

BackgroundWe investigated the diversity and behaviour of insects that visit flowers of four native Melastoma (Family Melastomataceae) species of Taiwan and a horticultural hybrid Melastoma species at the Fushan Botanical Garden, Taiwan biweekly from May to August 2020. Visits of flower-visiting insects were classified into seven behavioural categories, based on the insects' behaviour and positions on the flower. The data are further assigned into four insect-flower interactions, namely pollination, herbivory, commensalism and neutralism. Our goal is to provide baseline data of insect-plant interactions of Melastoma, which is a common, but understudied plant genus in the country.New informationA total of 1,289 visits to flowers were recorded by at least 63 insect morphospecies belonging to seven orders. The number of insect species recorded per Melastoma species ranged from 9 to 39. Visiting, sonication and passing were the three most frequently recorded types of behaviour, collectively accounting for 90.2% (n = 1,240) of the total observations. Pollination was the most dominant insect-flower interaction, accounting for 70.2% of the total observations, followed by neutralism (20.0%), herbivory (6.3%) and commensalism (3.5%). Sweat bees of the genera Lasioglossum and Maculonomia (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) are considered key pollinators to Melastoma species in Fushan Botanical Garden, based on their high number of visits and sonication behaviour. Our study provides the first list of insects that visit the flowers of all Taiwan's known Melastoma species and description of their interactions with the plants.

A genetic element in the SARS-CoV-2 genome is shared with multiple insect species.

SARS-CoV-2 is a member of the subgenus Sarbecovirus and thus contains the genetic element s2m. We have extensively mined nucleotide data in GenBank in order to obtain a comprehensive list of s2m sequences both in the four virus families where s2m has previously been described and in other groups of organisms. Surprisingly, there seems to be a xenologue of s2m in a large number of insect species. The function of s2m is unknown, but our data show a very high degree of sequence conservation both in insects and in viruses and that the version of s2m found in SARS-CoV-2 has unique features, not seen in any other virus or insect strains.

Diversity of Aquatic Insects in Lake Pichhola of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

The present study conducted on Lake Pichhola with regard to its insect diversity revealed a total of 24 species during the period from October 2019 to March 2020 and these 24 species of insects belonged to 6 orders and 12 families. Maximum insect species were recorded from the littoral zone (vegetation rich site) and minimum insect species from limnetic zone and disturbed sites of the lake. A number of insect species and their immature stages from orders Odonata, Ephemeroptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera and Trichoptera were observed. The insect fauna from the order Odonata dominated over Ephemeroptera and the second most dominant order was Hemiptera. Aquatic insects are best known for their ability to indicate the water quality and monitoring of aquatic insect diversity and abundance can expedite the conservation of these lake ecosystems.

What is happening to insect numbers, and what does it mean?

Abstract Reports of declines in abundance of a number of insect species have been increasing over the last two decades. These have variously been attributed to climate change, urbanisation, deforestation, agricultural intensification, habitat fragmentation and pesticide usage. The picture has been complicated by the fact that not all insect groups have shown the drastic declines reported for others, flawed methodology, paucity of long-term studies, the lack of data from the tropics with most long-term studies emanating from Europe and North America. In addition, the number of insect groups studied has largely been restricted to charismatic species such as Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Odonata. Despite this, the evidence for long-term declines in insect abundance is incontrovertible. To aid in our understanding of the problem we need to set up more globally coordinated studies, use past data in innovative ways and convince policy makers and governments to support these studies.

Role of Abiotic Factors on Diversification and Adaptation of Insects in Selected Area of Lahore, Pakistan

The study was conducted to reveal the morphological and taxonomic distribution pattern of dominant insect species under different abiotic conditions in diverse areas of district Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Three various non-agro urban-based ecological sites (Safari Park, Punjab University and Model town Park) randomly selected for field surveys, insect collection and abiotic factor study during the year of 2019-2020. A total of 234 individuals classified into 12 orders, 50 insect species were recovered across all sampling sites. The results indicated that the highest number of insect species with abundant taxa were trapped in Safari Park (62%), followed by Punjab University (26%) and Model town park (12%), respectively. The most dominant insect species are Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Diptera, respectively. The purpose of the study was to assess role of abiotic factors on diversification and adaptation of insects in selected area of Lahore, Pakistan. Among the site-specific difference, PCA analysis of the study revealed a significant difference in ecological diversification and adaptation pattern.

Najzastupljenije vrste insekata defolijatora lišćarskih šuma u okviru praćenja na BIT nivo-a I u 2021. godini

In order to make conclusions related to the selection of the most appropriate improvement measures, it is necessary to define the condition of forests through monitoring their health state. ICP for Forests Monitoring deals with human factors (mainly air pollution) and biotic factors that impair vitality and hinder the development of forest ecosystems in Europe and Serbia. Since broadleaved forests experience stronger attacks of plant diseases and pests, they have more severe defoliation. Beech is the most common broadleaved species at the ICP sample plots in Serbia. It is followed by oak species - sessile oak, Turkey oak and Hungarian oak. The largest number of insect species develop on the assimilation organs of forest trees. The paper presents the most common species of defoliators detected at SP in Serbia in 2021.

Regulation of antimicrobial peptides by juvenile hormone and its receptor, Methoprene-tolerant, in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

The trade-off between reproduction and immunity has been established for a number of insect species. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing this event is not well understood. In the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the vector of dangerous human arboviral diseases, juvenile hormone (JH) is required for the female post-eclosion development and reproductive maturation. In this study, we have revealed the JH negative effect on the expression of immunity-related genes, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), during the post-eclosion phase of the female mosquito gonadotrophic reproductive cycle. Mosquitoes treated with JH became more sensitive to microbial infection. Mosquitoes subjected to the RNA interference knockdown (RNAi) of the JH receptor, Methoprene-tolerant (Met), showed increased expression of several AMP genes. Met binds to the E-box-like recognition motifs in the regulatory region of the diptericin (Dpt) gene, indicating that JH can suppress the Dpt gene expression through its receptor Met. Hence, JH is involved in the modulation of immune responses during the post-eclosion phase of reproduction. The RNAi knockdown of the peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP-LC) led to a significant reduction of the Dpt transcript level, indicating the PGRP-LC activating role on this AMP gene. Thus, Dpt appeared to be under the dual regulation of both the JH and the immune deficiency (IMD) signaling pathways. Our study provides a better understanding of how JH regulates insect immunity in adult mosquitoes.

Effects of adult body size on mating success of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Body size is a recognised factor impacting mating success of a number of insect species. The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), which is mass produced to convert organic waste to protein, exhibits a lekking behaviour necessary for mating. However, it is not known if adult body size impacts mating success and subsequent fertile egg production. In this study, larvae were raised at two densities to produce two size classes of adults (i.e. large and small). Hourly mating observations were recorded in the following studies: (1) homogenous populations of large or small adults; (2) 50% heterogenous populations (equal number of large males with small females and vice versa); and (3) 25% heterogenous (i.e. equal number of large and small adults for both sexes). Adult weight, morphometrics of resulting adults, total number of mating pairs and failed mating attempts, multiple matings, as well as eggs produced and associated hatch rate were recorded for each experiment. Morphometrics and weights in large adults were 21 and 50% greater than small adult males and females by size and weight, respectively. The first experiment of homogenous populations (i.e. large or small) showed no significant differences across other variables measured. However, when populations of different sized adults were mixed equally based on sex (i.e. 50% heterogenous populations), mating success increased 50 to 100% for small males with large females and large males with small females, respectively. Total number of multiple matings increased two to three times. Egg production decreased 15-20% and hatch rate declined approximately 10%. In the 25% heterogenous populations, data were more complex. Number of successful mating pairs across male size was 280% greater than in the homogenous populations. Number of failed mating attempts was also two to three times greater. Multiple matings overall were low (10%) for the homogenous and heterogenous populations. Large males demonstrated two times more aggression in general than small males in the heterogenous than the homogenous populations. Approximately 48 to 343% more eggs were produced in the 25% heterogenous population than large or small homogenous populations, respectively, while hatch rate did not differ among heterogenous and homogenous populations, with an average of 70%. However, the variability in egg hatch was forty times greater than the large homogenous and 40% greater than the small homogenous. While increased egg production is desired, high variability in egg hatch impedes fertile egg production and predictability at an industrial scale.

Synthesis Of Schiff Bases From Glucosamine On The Basis Of Apis Mellifera

Chitin and chitosan have attained a lot of interest due to their important biological activities and wide range of applications. Traditionally, chitin is prepared mainly from crustaceans. Recently, there has drawn increased attention to extract chitin and chitosan on the basis of insects, but until now only limited numbers of insect species have been documented to be sources of chitin. The main object of this research work is to extract chitosan on the basis of Apis mellifera; to synthesis Schiff bases of glucosamine which is obtained by hydrolysis of chitosan and to review obtained substances through the uses of ICP-MS elemental analysis and IR analysis.

Insect Herbivores Associated with Lycium ferocissimum (Solanaceae) in South Africa and their Potential as Biological Control Agents in Australia

Lycium ferocissimum Miers (Solanaceae) is an indigenous shrub in South Africa but has become invasive in several countries including Australia, where chemical and mechanical control methods have proved costly and unsustainable. In Australia, biological control is being considered as a management option, but the herbivorous insects associated with the plant in its native range are not well known. The aim of this study was to survey the phytophagous insects associated with L. ferocissimum in South Africa and prioritise promising biological control agents. In South Africa, the plant occurs in two geographically distinct areas, the Eastern and Western Cape provinces. Surveys for phytophagous insects on L. ferocissimum were carried out repeatedly over a two-year period in these two regions. The number of insect species found in the Eastern Cape Province (55) was higher than that in the Western Cape Province (41), but insect diversity based on Shannon indices was highest in the Western Cape Province. Indicator species analysis revealed eight insect herbivore species driving the differences in the herbivore communities between the two provinces. Based on insect distribution, abundance, feeding preference and available literature, three species were prioritised as potential biological control agents. These include the leaf-chewing beetles Cassida distinguenda Spaeth (Chrysomelidae) and Cleta eckloni Mulsant (Coccinellidae) and the leaf-mining weevil Neoplatygaster serietuberculata Gyllenhal (Curculionidae).

Toward a standardized quantitative and qualitative insect monitoring scheme.

The number of insect species and insect abundances decreased severely during the past decades over major parts of Central Europe. Previous studies documented declines of species richness, abundances, shifts in species composition, and decreasing biomass of flying insects. In this study, we present a standardized approach to quantitatively and qualitatively assess insect diversity, biomass, and the abundance of taxa, in parallel. We applied two methods: Malaise traps, and automated and active light trapping. Sampling was conducted from April to October 2018 in southern Germany, at four sites representing conventional and organic farming. Bulk samples obtained from Malaise traps were further analyzed using DNA metabarcoding. Larger moths (Macroheterocera) collected with light trapping were further classified according to their degree of endangerment. Our methods provide valuable quantitative and qualitative data. Our results indicate more biomass and higher species richness, as well as twice the number of Red List lepidopterans in organic farmland than in conventional farmland. This combination of sampling methods with subsequent DNA metabarcoding and assignments of individuals according depending on ecological characteristics and the degree of endangerment allows to evaluate the status of landscapes and represents a suitable setup for large‐scale long‐term insect monitoring across Central Europe, and elsewhere.

A Cross-Sectional Survey of Biosafety Professionals Regarding Genetically Modified Insects.

Background:Genetic technologies such as gene editing and gene drive create challenges for existing frameworks used to assess risk and make regulatory determinations by governments and institutions. Insect genetic technologies including transgenics, gene editing, and gene drive may be particularly challenging because of the large and increasing number of insect species being genetically modified and the degree of familiarity with these organisms and technologies by biosafety officials charged with making containment decisions.Methods:An anonymous online survey of biosafety professionals was distributed to the membership of ABSA International, a global society of biosafety professionals, to investigate their perspectives on their preparedness to meet these new challenges.Results:Existing guidance used to make containment decisions for nongenetically modified insects was widely seen as adequate, and most respondents thought the available guidance for making containment decisions for genetically modified insects with and without gene drives was inadequate. Most respondents reported having less confidence in their decisions concerning containment of genetically modified insects compared to decisions involving genetically modified microbes, (noninsect) animals, and plants.Conclusions:These results reveal a need for additional support for biosafety professionals to improve the quality of and confidence in containment decisions regarding genetically modified insects with and without gene drive. These needs might be addressed by increasing training, updating existing guidance, creating new guidance, and creating a third-party accreditation entity to support institutions. Sixty percent of the respondents said they either would or might use a voluntary third-party accreditation service to support insect containment decisions.

Morphology and biological notes of Macrosiagon octomaculata (Gerstaecker) triungulinid and a summary of the knowledge on immature stages of the genus (Ripiphoridae)

Species of Macrosiagon Hentz are known to be wasp and bee parasitoids. Here, we present information on Macrosiagon octomaculata (Gerstaecker, 1855), including eggs and triungulinids, found on Paepalanthus polyanthus (Bong.) Sano (Eriocaulaceae) blooming in restinga habitat on Santa Catarina Island, South Brazil. This is the first record of an Eriocaulaceae species playing an important role in the Macrosiagon bionomics and the first accurate record of Ripiphoridae for southern Brazil, Santa Catarina state. In the study area, P. polyanthus attracted an inordinate number of insect species and one Thynnidae wasp was captured with a triungulinid on its wing. Eggs and triungulinids were also found on one plant of P. polyanthus and associated with M. octomaculata. We provide descriptions of the female reproductive organs as well as the morphology of the triungulinid of M. octomaculata. A detailed examination of the triungulinid revealed novelties that complement information from previous publications regarding the Ripiphoridae. We also compare triungulinids of M. octomaculata with those of other species, and provide a table summarizing comparative characters. Finally, we provide a table with current information on the recorded host species and immatures of Macrosiagon.

Efficacy of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Lambda-cyhalothrin on Insect Pest Infestation and Performance of Okra in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Okra, an economically important vegetable crop with numerous benefits to human, is often attacked by large number of insect species. These insect species cause direct damage to okra plants and also serve as vectors of diseases resulting in economic loss. Control of these insect pests given reducing hunger and poverty, and fostering agricultural ecosystems becomes imperative. This study aimed at the use of indigenous medicinal plant and a sub-lethal dose of synthetic insecticide to check the invasion of pests and performance of okra. The field laid in a randomized complete block design of four treatments replicated three times. The treatments included; Curcuma longa 5%, Curcuma longa 20%, lambda-cyhalothrin, and a control. Data were collected on insect pest species recovered after treatment application and yield of okra. All data were subjected to analysis of variance and differences between the treatment means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test. C. longa (20%) compared effectively with the sub-lethal dose of lambdacyhalothin (0.5 ml/l) in their attack against the targeted pests. Although higher number and weight of pods were harvested from synthetically treated plots, the C. longa treated plots produced significantly higher number and weight of harvested pods when compared with untreated plots. Water extract of the rhizomes also conferred some protection against okra pests; we recommend that farmers in Ekiti State adopt this botanical against the notorious flea beetles especially when the profits accrue from okra sales outweigh their net investment.

Biological Pest Control in Maize Crop in Brazil: A Review

The areas of maize production harbor a high number of insect species, some of which are considered pests that cause damage to the crop. The methods of pest control have been a cause of concern for the society since the use of chemicals and the environmental problems arising from this practice indicate the need to search for alternatives to control. In this sense, it is necessary to seek an agricultural production system that contemplates environmental sustainability and promotes biodiversity in the Agrosystem, among which the use of biological agents is highlighted. The objective of this research was to update through a bibliographic review the advances in the literature on biological control of maize crop pests. For the development of this article, we used the method of approach the analytical and as procedural method the monographic, through bibliographic research, using specialized doctrines, appropriate to the object of the study and legislations. Because of the observed aspects, it is possible to conclude that the group of natural enemies that act as biological control agents is formed by parasitoids, predators and entomopathogenic microorganisms. The rationalization of the use of chemicals should be associated with the use of biodefensives in integrated pest management. Advances in the legislation of biological products in Brazil are fundamental to give speed to the registration of new alternatives of biological control, aimed at the safety of the environment, human health and that are generated without the exploratory use of biodiversity.

Electrophysiological Responses of Eighteen Species of Insects to Fire Ant Alarm Pheromone.

Olfaction plays a dominant role in insect communication. Alarm pheromones, which alert other insects of the same species of impending danger, are a major class of releaser pheromones. The major components of alarm pheromones in red imported fire ants, honeybees and aphids have been identified as 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine (2E-3,6-DP), isopentyl acetate (IPA), and E-β-farnesene (EβF), respectively. In this study, electroantennography (EAG) responses to EDP (a mixture of 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine and 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine), IPA and EβF were investigated in a wide range of insect species. Beside imported fire ants, the EDP (2-ethyl-3,6(5)-dimethylpyrazine) elicited significant EAG response from all other tested insects, including six ant species and one hybrid ant, honeybee, bagrada bug, lady beetle, housefly, small hive beetle, yellow fever mosquito, termite, bedbug, water hyacinth weevil, southern green stink bug and two aphid species. In contrast, IPA elicited significant EAG response only in the honeybee, red imported fire ant, an Aphaenogaster ant, and the water hyacinth weevil. The EβF only elicited EAG responses in two aphids, small hive beetle and housefly. The results clearly indicate that EDP can be detected by widespread insect species that did not coevolve with S. invicta and further suggested alkylpyrazine may activate multiple generally tuned olfactory receptors (ORs) across a wide number of insect species.

Correlation between some landscape metrics and insect species richness in coffee agroforests in Pangalengan Subdistrict, Bandung District, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Withaningsih S, Parikesit, Rabbany MB. 2019. Correlation between some landscape metrics and insect species richness in coffee agroforests in Pangalengan Subdistrict, Bandung District, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 3075-3085. The insect community provides valuable ecosystem services and can help maintain ecosystem integrity in human-altered landscapes such as coffee agroforests. The aim of this study was to assess the landscape characteristics of coffee agroforests in the Pangalengan Subdistrict and analyze how those characteristics influence the insect communities. Landscape metric approaches were examined to quantify landscape characteristics and the results analyzed using correspondence analysis to determine variation among samples, and simple linear regression testing was used to determine the influence of those landscape characteristics on the insect community. Seventeen sample locations varied in characteristics based on the proportion of the land cover classes, and landscape characteristics determined the number of insect species. The number of insect species showed strong negative correlation with landscape heterogeneity (R2=0.456) and number of patches (R2=0.514) and a weak positive response to the proportion of natural forest remaining (R2=0.150). Number of insect species showed a strong negative correlation to landscape heterogeneity, number of patches, and number of natural forest remaining simultaneously (R2=0.514).

<strong>Why are so many species based on a single specimen?</strong>

A considerable number of insect species, including Trichoptera, are described from a single specimen, also known as a 'unique' or a 'singleton'. We ask the question of whether this reflects failure to consider variation and related species, lack of collecting effort, or true rarity. In an attempt to answer this question we examine the available literature and data on the Trichoptera of Tasmania and New Caledonia. We note a low level of taxonomic synonymy among species in these faunas. Moreover, a significant proportion of species from Tasmania that were based originally on singletons have been re-collected subsequently, but this is not true for New Caledonia. The possible significance of these figures is considered following examination of data on diversity and abundance of Hydroptilidae collected by regular, standardised light trapping over almost two years at a northern Australian tropical stream. We conclude that quite a large proportion of the Trichoptera species based on singletons are rare, valid species, but for others the appearance of rarity may be a consequence of inadequate collecting, particular behavioural attributes of the species, including seasonality, and failure to consider fully the structural diversity of related species. Lastly, we discuss briefly the consequences of rarity, apparent or real, on conservation management.