Tenebrionidae Research Articles

Sown Covers Enhance the Diversity and Abundance of Ground-Dwelling Predators in Mediterranean Pear Orchards

Intensive agriculture has a strong impact on the structure of arthropod communities in soil. Sown covers can contribute to their conservation, especially for generalist predators such as spiders and predatory beetles. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of cover crop management on the abundance and diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods. For this purpose, a three-year experiment was conducted in a pear orchard that was divided into three blocks with two plots each: one with a sown cover of mixed plants from different families, including Boraginaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, and Fabaceae, and the other with no cover, in which any spontaneous plants were periodically removed without using herbicides. The abundance of ground-dwelling arthropods was sampled using pitfall traps. The sown cover increased the overall richness of arthropods. Additionally, spiders from the families Lycosidae and Linyphiidae, as well as beetles from the families Carabidae and Staphylinidae, were more abundant in the sown cover. Conversely, detritivores such as collembolans and beetles from the family Tenebrionidae were less abundant in the cover. The abundance of ants was not affected by the type of cover. The sown cover increased the diversity of arthropods in the crop, as well as the abundance of generalist predators.

Spatio-temporal diversification pattern of Brinckia (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the Namib coastal belt

Beetles of the family Tenebrionidae, particularly those of the subfamily Pimeliinae, are highly diverse and abundant in desert ecosystems. The sensitivity of the many wingless species to geographical and ecological isolation makes them ideal candidates for studying effects of climatological and/or geophysical changes on organismal diversity. Our study focuses on Brinckia, the only genus of the subtribe Hypomelina adapted to coastal sand dune hummocks (nabkhas) and restricted to that environment along the Namib Desert and the transitional Namib south of the Orange River. Today, Brinckia appear to be common along the coast, albeit with different species, wherever the absence of shifting sand dunes enables the beach hummocks to form, mainly around Salsola and Zygophyllum species. Therefore, past diversification can probably be directly attributed to temporary extinctions of this habitat in certain coastal regions. The presumed center of origin and diversification of Brinckia is on the Gariep Karoo coastline between Port Nolloth and Lüderitz. Our molecular phylogenetic analysis suggests that the first split within Brinckia occurred ∼2.3 Ma, i.e., relatively recently, and may be associated with aridification that occurred at that time due to global climate change. However, subsequent speciation is more likely the result of the emergence of extensive dune fields, which may have been responsible for temporary habitat degradation in the supralittoral zone. More recent, recurrent and ongoing diversification since the mid-Pleistocene transition, as observed for tenebrionids along the coast of the Atacama and Peruvian deserts, is not typical of Brinckia and supports the stability of their coastal habitat despite glacial climate oscillations.

UJI EFEKTIVITAS BEBERAPA TANAMAN OBAT TERHADAP REPELENSI SERANGGA HAMA PERUSAK BERAS PADI VARIETAS CILIWUNG DI GUDANG BERAS


 The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of some plant material as insect repellence agents for rice pests Ciliwung variety. The methods used are field experiments and specimen collection. The research was carried out in one of the rice warehouses in Kuripan District and the Plant Protection Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mataram. The experiment was designed with a Group Randomized Design (GRD) consisting of six treatments. These treatments are; P0 (control), P1 (betel leaf; Piper crocatum), P2 (fragrant pandan leaves; Pandanus amarylifolius), P3 (bay leaf; Syzigium polyanthum), P4 (kaffir lime leaves; Citrus hystrix), and P5 (garlic bulbs; Alium Sativum). The results showed that betel leaf, fragrant pandan leaf, bay leaf, and kaffir lime leaf were effective against the rejection of three insect pests found. Three families of rice-destroying pests were found in Ciliwung varieties, namely; Family Tenebrionidae, Family Curculionidae, and Family Pyralidae. The plant materials used (betel leaf, fragrant pandan leaf, bay leaf, kaffir lime leaf, and garlic bulb) have no real effect on the diversity, dominance, and richness of Ciliwung variety rice pest species

Preliminary phylogenomic analyses reveal multiple reversions to nocturnal behavior and morphology within the primarily diurnal tribe Adesmiini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

AbstractThe darkling beetle tribe Adesmiini (Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae) is a prominent part of African and western Palearctic desert faunas, with most species being day-active fast-running detritivores. Taxonomic diversity within the tribe is highest in the southern Afrotropical realm (where all genera are present); only 1 genus, the species-rich Adesmia, occurs north of the Sahara. Despite notable species, such as the fog-basking beetle Onymacris unguicularis (a focal taxon in desert ecological research), Adesmiini has undergone few modern taxonomic or phylogenetic studies. Hence, generic concepts and pronounced diurnal activity, rare in the primarily nocturnal family Tenebrionidae, remain poorly explored. To investigate evolutionary relationships and diurnal origins within the tribe, we generated a genomic dataset of 529 protein-coding genes across 43 species spanning 10 of 11 Adesmiini genera. Our resulting phylogeny for the tribe rejects the monophyly of 5 currently recognized Adesmiini genera (i.e., Adesmia, Metriopus, Onymacris, Physadesmia, and Stenocara). Ancestral state reconstruction of diurnal activity using eye shape as a proxy supports the hypothesis that Adesmiini were primitively diurnal, followed by at least 4 shifts to nocturnal or crepuscular activity.

Species of the Genus Lagria Fabricius, 1775 from Kabutoiwa Member in Central Japan—the First Fossil Darkling Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Lagriinae) from the Pliocene

Species of the Genus Lagria Fabricius, 1775 from Kabutoiwa Member in Central Japan—the First Fossil Darkling Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Lagriinae) from the Pliocene

Whole genome assemblies of Zophobas morio and Tenebrio molitor.

Zophobas morio (=Zophobas atratus) and Tenebrio molitor are darkling beetles with industrial importance due to their use as feeder insects and their apparent ability to biodegrade plastics. High quality genome assemblies were recently reported for both species. Here, we report additional independent Z. morio and T. molitor genome assemblies generated from Nanopore and Illumina data. Following scaffolding against the published genomes, haploid assemblies of 462 Mb (scaffold N90 of 16.8 Mb) and 258 Mb (scaffold N90 of 5.9 Mb) were produced for Z. morio and T. molitor, respectively. Gene prediction led to the prediction of 28,544 and 19,830 genes for Z. morio and T. molitor, respectively. Benchmarking Universal Single Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) analyses suggested that both assemblies have a high level of completeness; 91.5 and 89.0% of the BUSCO endopterygota marker genes were complete in the Z. morio assembly and proteome, respectively, while 99.1 and 92.8% were complete in the T. molitor assembly and proteome, respectively. Phylogenomic analyses of four genera from the family Tenebrionidae yielded phylogenies consistent with those previously constructed based on mitochondrial genomes. Synteny analyses revealed large stretches of macrosynteny across the family Tenebrionidae, as well as numerous within-chromosome rearrangements. Finally, orthogroup analysis identified ∼28,000 gene families across the family Tenebrionidae, of which 8,185 were identified in all five of the analyzed species, and 10,837 were conserved between Z. morio and T. molitor. We expect that the availability of multiple whole genome sequences for Z. morio and T. molitor will facilitate population genetics studies to identify genetic variation associated with industrially relevant phenotypes.

Oracula campbelli sp. n.—the first fossil darkling beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Alleculinae) from the late Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine)

A new species of the currently Oriental alleculine genus Oracula Novák, 2019 is described from the Eocene Rovno amber, Ukraine: O. campbelli sp. n. This is the first report of a representative of the family Tenebrionidae from this Lagerstätte. Extant species of Oracula occur in Nepal, southern China (Yunnan), Thailand, Laos and Indonesia. The newly discovered extinct species is similar to extant O. amica Novák, 2019 from Nepal.

Complete Genome Sequence of Entomomonas sp. Strain E2T0, Isolated from the Darkling Beetle Zophobas morio Larvae

Here, we present the complete genome sequence of Entomomonas sp. E2T0, a strain isolated from larvae of the darkling beetle Zophobas morio. The isolate was fully resistant to aztreonam and possessed a novel class D β-lactamase gene. The 3,325,929-bp genome consists of a chromosome and a 9,996-bp plasmid.

Changes in the Ground Beetle and Darkling Beetle Communities (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Tenebrionidae) in the Mountain Hollows of the Tuva and Altai Republics over 60 Years: A Trend or a Fluctuation?

Changes in the Ground Beetle and Darkling Beetle Communities (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Tenebrionidae) in the Mountain Hollows of the Tuva and Altai Republics over 60 Years: A Trend or a Fluctuation?

Additions to the knowledge of the diversity of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Turkey with new records and taxonomic notes

This study is based on the material of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) collected from different localities of Turkey between 1966 and 2020 and deposited in Biodiversity Science Museum, Atatürk University (Erzurum, Turkey). In total, 80 species and subspecies of the family Tenebrionidae were listed. The following five species are recorded for Turkey for the first time: Cyphostethe (Cyphostethoides) semenovi Bogatchev, 1947, Zophosis (Septentriophosis) rugosa Faldermann, 1837, Penthicus (Discotus) dilectans (Faldermann, 1836), Penthicus (s. str.) rufescens rufescens (Mulsant et Rey, 1859) and Scleropatroides hirtulus (Baudi di Selve, 1876). In addition, new localities have been indicated for many species and subspecies, which have already been reported from Turkey. The new synonymy is proposed: Blaps tibialis Reiche & Saulcy, 1857 = Blaps ecaudata Seidlitz, 1893, syn. nov. The invasive population of the Mediterranean species Euboeus mimonti Boieldieu, 1865 was found in Erzurum but the species has not naturalised in Eastern Anatolia.

First report of complete mitochondrial genome in the subfamily Alleculinae and mitochondrial genome-based phylogenetics in Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea).

Despite worldwide distribution and rich diversity, the knowledge of mitochondrial genome (mtgenome) characteristics within the family Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) is still very limited, and phylogenetics remain unresolved for the family. In this study, the mtgenomes for 12 species are newly sequenced and annotated. Three of the species represent the first report of complete mtgenomes from the subfamily Alleculinae. Comparative analysis of 36 tenebrionid mtgenomes finds that gene composition and order are the same as a theoretical ancestral insect mtgenome, and AT bias, length variation, and codon usage are consistent with other reported beetle mtgenomes. Some intergenic overlap and gap sequences may contain phylogenetically informative information, whereas neither the conserved nor repeat sequences in the control region do. The subfamilies Lagriinae, Pimeliinae, Stenochiinae, and Alleculinae are found to be monophyletic, and the subfamilies Diaperinae and Tenebrioninae polyphyletic in our study. Furthermore, Lagriinae is sister to the rest of the subfamilies. At the tribal level, the tribes Lagriini in the subfamily Lagrrinae; Strongyliini in Stenochiinae; Cteniopodini in Alleculinae; and Triboliini, Opatrini, and Amarygmini in Tenebrioninae are monophyletic; while Diaperini in Diaperinae, and Tenebrionini in Tenebrioninae are polyphyletic.

Interpopulation Plasticity in a Darkling Beetle Life-History along a Whole Oceanic Island Altitudinal Gradient.

Simple SummaryYoung oceanic islands often harbour poor biodiversity because they need time to be colonised. However, some animal species can be abundant, presenting high densities and being widely distributed through different altitudinal habitats of high oceanic islands. This is the case of the darkling beetle Pimelia laevigata costipennis Wollaston, 1864 on El Hierro, the westernmost island of the Canary archipelago. Therefore, this kind of framework is ideal for studying the variation of one insect species in body size, reproductive strategies, and populations in different environments. This study shows how environmental factors related to rainfall and temperature affect the different populations of this flightless beetle. Furthermore, in the more favourable habitats, located at higher altitudes, these beetles were larger in body size, laid clutches with smaller eggs, the reproduction occurred later, and showed the highest population in abundance. Lastly, this is the first study that assesses the changes of an insect along a whole insular altitudinal gradient, demonstrating apparent modifications to each habitat condition.Insects show remarkable phenotypic plasticity in response to changing environmental conditions. The abiotic factors that determine their phenotypes often vary in time and space, and oceanic islands harbour ideal environments for testing predictions on this matter. The ubiquitous beetle Pimelia laevigata costipennis Wollaston, 1864 (Tenebrionidae) is distributed over the entire altitudinal gradient of the island El Hierro (Canary archipelago), from 0 to 1501 m above sea level. Here, we examine how environmental factors (i.e., rainfall and temperature), associated with the altitudinal gradient, affect the body size, reproductive phenology, clutch size and egg volume, and population dynamics of this ectothermic flightless insect. Pimelia l. costipennis populations inhabiting upland localities, typified by lower temperatures, and greater precipitation and vegetation cover, were larger in body size and laid larger clutches with smaller eggs than those in the lowlands. Moreover, reproduction occurred earlier in the year at lower sites and later at higher sites, whereas activity density was highest in the uplands where it increases with temperature. This study first explores the changes in life history patterns along a whole insular altitudinal gradient, and finds interpopulation plasticity. It confirms that environmental factors associated with species spatial distribution act additively as drivers of phenological and phenotypic expression.

Review of genus-group names in the family Tenebrionidae (Insecta, Coleoptera).

A review of genus-group names for darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) is presented. A catalogue of 4122 nomenclaturally available genus-group names, representing 2307 valid genera (33 of which are extinct) and 761 valid subgenera, is given. For each name the author, date, page number, gender, type species, type fixation, current status, and first synonymy (when the name is a synonym) are provided. Genus-group names in this family are also recorded in a classification framework, along with data on the distribution of valid genera and subgenera within major biogeographical realms. A list of 535 unavailable genus-group names (e.g., incorrect subsequent spellings) is included. Notes on the date of publication of references cited herein are given, when known.The following genera and subgenera are made available for the first time:AnemiadenaBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inCheirodesGené, 1839),ArmigenaBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inNesogenaMäklin, 1863),DebeauxiellaBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inHyperopsEschscholtz, 1831),HyperopsisBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inHyperopsEschscholtz, 1831),LinioBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inNilioLatreille, 1802),MatthewsotysBouchard & Bousquet,gen. nov.,NeosolenopistomaBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inEurynotusW. Kirby, 1819),ParagenaBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inNesogenaMäklin, 1863),PaulianariaBouchard & Bousquet,gen. nov.,PhyllechusBouchard & Bousquet,gen. nov.,ProrhytinotaBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inRhytinotaEschscholtz, 1831),PseudorozoniaBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inRozoniaFairmaire, 1888),PseudothinobatisBouchard & Bousquet,gen. nov.,RhytinopsisBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inThalpophilodesStrand, 1942),RhytistenaBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inRhytinotaEschscholtz, 1831),SpinosdaraBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inOsdaraWalker, 1858),SpongesmiaBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inAdesmiaFischer, 1822), andZambesmiaBouchard & Bousquet,subgen. nov.(inAdesmiaFischer, 1822).The namesAdepsGistel, 1857 andAdepsionStrand, 1917syn. nov.[=TetraphyllusLaporte & Brullé, 1831],AsyrmatusCanzoneri, 1959syn. nov.[=PystelopsGozis, 1910],EuzadenosKoch, 1956syn. nov.[=SelenepistomaDejean, 1834],GondwanodilamusKaszab, 1969syn. nov.[=ConibiusJ.L. LeConte, 1851],GyrinodesFauvel, 1897syn. nov.[=NesotesAllard, 1876],HelopondrusReitter, 1922syn. nov.[=HoristelopsGozis, 1910],HybonotusDejean, 1834syn. nov.[=DamatrisLaporte, 1840],IphthimeraReitter, 1916syn. nov.[=MetriopusSolier, 1835],LagriomimaPic, 1950syn. nov.[=NeogriaBorchmann, 1911],OrphelopsGozis, 1910syn. nov.[=NalassusMulsant, 1854],PhymatiumBillberg, 1820syn. nov.[=CryptochileLatreille, 1828],ProsoblapsiaSkopin & Kaszab, 1978syn. nov.[=GenoblapsBauer, 1921], andPseudopimeliaGebler, 1859syn. nov.[=LasiostolaDejean, 1834] are established as new synonyms (valid names in square brackets).AnachayusBouchard & Bousquet,nom. nov.is proposed as a replacement name forChatanayusArdoin, 1957,GenateropaBouchard & Bousquet,nom. nov.as a replacement name forApterogenaArdoin, 1962,HemipristulaBouchard & Bousquet,nom. nov.as a replacement name forHemipristisKolbe, 1903,KochotellaBouchard & Bousquet,nom. nov.as a replacement name forMillotellaKoch, 1962,MedvedevoblapsBouchard & Bousquet,nom. nov.as a replacement name forProtoblapsG.S. Medvedev, 1998, andSubpterocomaBouchard & Bousquet,nom. nov.is proposed as a replacement name forPseudopimeliaMotschulsky, 1860.NeoeutrapelaBousquet & Bouchard, 2013 is downgraded to a subgenus (stat. nov.) ofImpressosoraPic, 1952.AnchommaJ.L. LeConte, 1858 is placed in Stenosini: Dichillina (previously in Pimeliinae: Anepsiini);EntypoderaGerstaecker, 1871,ImpressosoraPic, 1952 andXanthaliaFairmaire, 1894 are placed in Lagriinae: Lagriini: Statirina (previously in Lagriinae: Lagriini: Lagriina);LoxostethusTriplehorn, 1962 is placed in Diaperinae: Diaperini: Diaperina (previously in Diaperinae: Diaperini: Adelinina);PeriphanodesGebien, 1943 is placed in Stenochiinae: Cnodalonini (previously in Tenebrioninae: Helopini);ZadenosLaporte, 1840 is downgraded to a subgenus (stat. nov.) of the older nameSelenepistomaDejean, 1834.The type species [placed in square brackets] of the following available genus-group names are designated for the first time:AllostrongyliumKolbe, 1896 [Allostrongylium silvestreKolbe, 1896],AuristiraBorchmann, 1916 [Auristira octocostataBorchmann, 1916],BlapidocampsiaPic, 1919 [Campsia pallidipesPic, 1918],CerostenaSolier, 1836 [Cerostena deplanataSolier, 1836],CoracostiraFairmaire, 1899 [Coracostira armipesFairmaire, 1899],DischidusKolbe, 1886 [Helops sinuatusFabricius, 1801],EccoptostomaGebien, 1913 [Taraxides ruficrusFairmaire, 1894],EllaemusPascoe, 1866 [Emcephalus submaculatusBrême, 1842],EpeurycaulusKolbe, 1902 [Epeurycaulus aldabricusKolbe, 1902],EuschatiaSolier, 1851 [Euschatia proximaSolier, 1851],HeliocaesBedel, 1906 [Blaps emarginataFabricius, 1792],HemipristisKolbe, 1903 [Hemipristis ukamiaKolbe, 1903],IphthimeraReitter, 1916 [Stenocara ruficornisSolier, 1835],IsopedusStein, 1877 [Helops tenebrioidesGermar, 1813],MalacovaFairmaire, 1898 [Malacova bicolorFairmaire, 1898],ModicodisemaPic, 1917 [Disema subopacaPic, 1912],PeltadesmiaKuntzen, 1916 [Metriopus platynotusGerstaecker, 1854],PhymatiumBillberg, 1820 [Pimelia maculataFabricius, 1781],PodocesPéringuey, 1886 [Podoces granosulaPéringuey, 1886],PseuduroplatopsisPic, 1913 [Borchmannia javanaPic, 1913],PteraulusSolier, 1848 [Pteraulus sulcatipennisSolier, 1848],SciacaSolier, 1835 [Hylithus disctinctusSolier, 1835],StercesChampion, 1891 [Sterces violaceipennisChampion, 1891] andTeremenesCarter, 1914 [Tenebrio longipennisHope, 1843].Evidence suggests that some type species were misidentified. In these instances, information on the misidentification is provided and, in the following cases, the taxonomic species actually involved is fixed as the type species [placed in square brackets] following requirements in Article 70.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature:AccanthopusDejean, 1821 [Tenebrio velikensisPiller & Mitterpacher, 1783],BecvaramarygmusMasumoto, 1999 [Dietysus nodicornisGravely, 1915],HeterophagaDejean, 1834 [Opatrum laevigatumFabricius, 1781],LaenaDejean, 1821, [Scaurus viennensisSturm, 1807],MargusDejean, 1834 [Colydium castaneumHerbst, 1797],PachyceraEschscholtz, 1831 [Tenebrio buprestoidesFabricius, 1781],SaragusErichson, 1842 [Celibe costataSolier, 1848],SteneStephens, 1829 [Colydium castaneumHerbst, 1797],StenosisHerbst, 1799 [Tagenia intermediaSolier, 1838] andTentyriopsisGebien, 1928 [Tentyriopsis pertyiGebien, 1940].The following First Reviser actions are proposed to fix the precedence of names or nomenclatural acts (rejected name or act in square brackets):Stenosis ciliarisGebien, 1920 as the type species forAfronosisG.S. Medvedev, 1995 [Stenosis leontjeviG.S. Medvedev, 1995],AlienoplonyxBremer, 2019 [Alienolonyx],AmblypteracaMas-Peinado, Buckley, Ruiz & García-París, 2018 [Amplypteraca],CaenocrypticoidesKaszab, 1969 [Caenocripticoides],DerilesMotschulsky, 1872 [Derilis],EccoptostiraBorchmann, 1936 [Ecoptostira], †EodromusHaupt, 1950 [†Edromus],EutelusSolier, 1843 [Lutelus],EuthripteraReitter, 1893 [Enthriptera],MeglyphusMotschulsky, 1872 [Megliphus],MicrotelopsisKoch, 1940 [ExtetranosisKoch, 1940,HypermicrotelopsisKoch, 1940],NeandrosusPic, 1921 [Neoandrosus],NodosogyliumPic, 1951 [Nodosogilium],NotiolesthusMotschulsky, 1872 [Notiolosthus],PseudeucyrtusPic, 1916 [Pseudocyrtus],PseudotrichoplatyscelisKaszab, 1960 [PseudotrichoplatynoscelisandPseudotrichoplatycelis],RhydimorphaKoch, 1943 [Rhytimorpha],RhophobasMotschulsky, 1872 [Rophobas],RhyssochitonGray, 1831 [RyssochetonandRyssochiton],SphaerotidiusKaszab, 1941 [Spaerotidius],StiraAgassiz, 1846 (Mollusca) [StiraAgassiz, 1846 (Coleoptera)],SulpiusomaFerrer, 2006 [Sulpiosoma] andTaenobatesMotschulsky, 1872 [Taeniobates].Supporting evidence is provided for the conservation of usage ofCyphaleusWestwood, 1841 nomen protectum overChrysobalusBoisduval, 1835 nomen oblitum.

Additions to the knowledge of Darkling Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) of Assam with one New Record to India

The present paper is based on the identification of the materials present in the National Zoological Collection and the earlier scattered reports to make the study complete. This paper deals with 62 species from 24 genera belonging to 15 tribes of 05 prominent subfamilies of the family Tenebrionidae from Assam and taxonomic details, distribution of the species are given. Five species identified are new records to Assam and one species is a new record to India. Seven species are endemic to Assam.

Water Costs of Gas Exchange by a Speckled Cockroach and a Darkling Beetle.

Respiratory water loss during metabolic gas exchange is an unavoidable cost of living for terrestrial insects. It has been suggested to depend on several factors, such as the mode of gas exchange (convective vs. diffusive), species habitat (aridity), body size and measurement conditions (temperature). We measured this cost in terms of respiratory water loss relative to metabolic rate (respiratory water cost of gas exchange; RWL/V˙CO2) for adults of two insect species, the speckled cockroach (Nauphoeta cinerea) and the darkling beetle (Zophobas morio), which are similar in their mode of gas exchange (dominantly convective), habitat (mesic), body size and measurement conditions, by measuring gas exchange patterns using flow-through respirometry. The speckled cockroaches showed both continuous and discontinuous gas exchange patterns, which had significantly a different metabolic rate and respiratory water loss but the same respiratory water cost of gas exchange. The darkling beetles showed continuous gas exchange pattern only, and their metabolic rate, respiratory water loss and respiratory cost of gas exchange were equivalent to those cockroaches using continuous gas exchange. This outcome from our study highlights that the respiratory water cost of gas exchange is similar between species, regardless of gas exchange pattern used, when the confounding factors affecting this cost are controlled. However, the total evaporative water cost of gas exchange is much higher than the respiratory cost because cuticular water loss contributes considerably more to the overall evaporative water loss than respiratory water. We suggest that the total water cost of gas exchange is likely to be a more useful index of environmental adaptation (e.g., aridity) than just the respiratory water cost.

Bioefficacy of Ethanolic Leaves Extract of Azadirachta indica Against Stored Product Insect Pest, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.)

Tribolium castaneum is a species of beetle in the family tenebrionidae, the darkling beetle. Conventional insecticides used for controling stored product pests are expensive and arguably associated with various severe adverse side effects hence the need to develop botanical pesticides that are effective as alternative. Though Azadrachta indica has been used for the control of so many insects, review of the literature show no scientifically investigated report of its effectiveness against T. castaneum. This study was therefore designed to evaluate bioinsecticidal activity of ethanolic leaves extract of Azadirachta indica against stored Tribolium castaneum. Different concentrations (60, 70, 80, 90, and 100%) of ethanolic leaves extract of A. indica was applied on the filter paper and were allowed to dry for a reasonable time period. Control was maintained by treating the filter paper with water only. For examining the percent mortality, 15 adults was taken in the Petri dishes embedded with Whitman’s filter paper, covered with lid and tightened with scotch tape on both sides. The A. indica extracts at different concentrations tested showed insecticidal activity against T. castaneum. Further, phytochemical screening results showed that the A. indica extract have phytochemicals associated with insecticidal activity. The study has established that the ethanoloc extract A. indica is effective in managing stored product pest.

Diversity and checklist of Beetles (Arthropoda: Coleoptera) from Forest areas and Agricultural areas of District Akola, (Maharashtra), India

A survey was organised from August 2016 to February 2020 in the forest areas and agricultural areas of Akola district to know the diversity of Beetles for further research. A total of 68 genera and 90 species belonging to 13 different families of beetles viz. Buprestidae (Metallic Wood-boring Beetle), Carabidae (Ground Beetles), Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae (Leaf beetles), Coccinellidae, Dytiscidae, Geotrupidae, Gyrinidae, Hydrophilidae, Hybosoridae, Meloidae (Blister Beetles), Scarabaeidae, Tenebrionidae (Darkling Beetles) were collected and identified from various habitats along with their valid scientific names, systematic position, and distribution within agricultural fields and forest areas of Akola district.

Susceptibility of agricultural pests of regional importance in South America to a Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ia protein

Bacillus thuringiensis toxins of the Cry1I class have dual specificity for insects in the orders Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. We assessed the toxicity of a Cry1Ia protein from an Argentinian B. thuringiensis strain against agricultural pests in the families Tenebrionidae, Curculionidae, Noctuidae and Tortricidae. Three recombinant protein variants were produced that differed in length and fusion tag position to rule out artifactual results. The protein was toxic to Cydia pomonella and Rachiplusia nu. In contrast, Alphitobius diaperinus, Anthonomus grandis and Spodoptera frugiperda were not susceptible. The results are discussed with respect to previous studies and the prospective use of Cry1Ia in strategies to control major cotton pests in the region.

Insects Associated to Crime Scenes in the Northeast of Brazil: Consolidation of Collaboration Between Entomologists and Criminal Investigation Institutes.

In Brazil, many studies on Forensic Entomology analyze the activity and succession of flies in animal models. Data on human corpses are always collected and evaluated in isolated cases. This study aimed to list the insect species associated with crime scenes investigated by the Technical-Scientific Institute of criminal expertise of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (ITEP-RN), in the Northeast of Brazil, a region exposed to high homicide rates. In total, 10 cases were investigated, of which 50% were in the initial stage of decomposition. The examined bodies were colonized by species of three orders of insects, Diptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. The order Diptera represented 96% of the total insects, being represented by the following species: Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and Cochliomyia macellaria, (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae); Musca domestica (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Muscidae); and unidentified females of the Sarcophagidae family. Among beetles, the occurrence of Dermestes maculatus (DeGeer) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), Necrobia rufipes (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Cleridae), and Onthophagus sp. (Scarabaeidae), as well as unidentified specimens of the families Tenebrionidae and Histeridae were recorded. In addition, specimens of Ectatomma sp. (Formicidae) were also recorded. Considering that the Rio Grande do Norte state presents a high homicide rate and the last cadaver study was conducted over a decade ago, these records update the list of species associated with cadaveric decomposition and contribute to consolidate forensic entomology in the Northeast region.

A new species of darkling beetles of the genus Blaps Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Turkmenistan and Iran

A new species of darkling beetles of the genus Blaps Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Turkmenistan and Iran