New Species of Grotea (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Labeninae) from Ecuador, with New Records and a Key to the Neotropical Species.

Here we describe two new Grotea species from Ecuador, G. akakana Mazón & Bordera sp. nov., and G. romeri Mazón sp. nov., as well as the male of G. cundinamarquesa Herrera-Flórez 2018. G. akakana sp. nov. is characterized by the combination of a postgenal process long, a 45-flagellomeres antenna without a white band and a mesopleuron black with two yellow spots separated by a red one. On the other hand, G. romeri sp. nov. is characterized by the combination of a postgenal process very short, a 36-flagellomeres antenna without a white band, a propodeum with a long and narrow area lateralis, uninterrupted yellow-colored orbits and a mesopleuron black with a yellow spot in the middle. The species G. santandereana Herrera-Flórez 2018 and G. surinamese Herrera-Flórez 2019 are recorded from Ecuador for the first time. This brings the total of described Grotea species to 31, all from the New World, with 27 of these exclusively Neotropical. A key for the identification of Neotropical species is included.

The ectoparasitoid wasp Heterospilussicanus (Marshall, 1888) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Doryctinae) as a natural enemy of Gastralluspubens Fairmaire, 1875 (Coleoptera, Ptinidae) in Italy.

Heterospilussicanus (Marshall, 1888) is redescribed and illustrated based on the holotype of Dendrosotersicanus Marshall, 1888 and on recently collected material from its type locality (Sicily, Italy). Previous host records for this species are unreliable. Here, the host of H.sicanus, the rare ptinid beetle Gastralluspubens Fairmaire, 1875, is recorded for the first time, having been reared in a historic library in Palermo, Italy. Heterospilussicanus is compared with the similar species Telebolus (= Heterospilus) corsicus Marshall, 1888, which was described in the same monograph from Corsica (France), and it is also redescribed and illustrated. Atoreuteusceballosi Docavo Alberti, 1960, syn. nov. is synonymised under Heterospilussicanus (Marshall, 1888), and Hormiopterus (= Rhaconotus) ollivieri Giraud var. flava Fahringer, 1931, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Heterospiluscephi Rohwer, 1925. A key for determination of the Western Palaearctic Heterospilus species with a striate vertex is provided and the distributions of H.sicanus and H.corsicus are discussed.

The genome sequence of the Small Ranunculus, Hecatera dysodea (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Hecatera dysodea (the Small Ranunculus; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 640.9 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z and W sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 12,213 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Amblyteles armatorius (Forster, 1771).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Amblyteles armatorius (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 216 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.6 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of Clancy's Rustic, Caradrina kadenii (Freyer, 1836).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Caradrina kadenii (Clancy's Rustic; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 426.0 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length.

A sampling strategy for genome sequencing the British terrestrial arthropod fauna.

The Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) project aims to sequence and assemble high-quality genomes from all eukaryote species in Britain and Ireland, with the first phase of the project concentrating on family-level coverage plus species of particular ecological, biomedical or evolutionary interest. We summarise the processes involved in (1) assessing the UK arthropod fauna and the status of individual species on UK lists; (2) prioritising and collecting species for initial genome sequencing; (3) handling methods to ensure that high-quality genomic DNA is preserved; and (4) compiling standard operating procedures for processing specimens for genome sequencing, identification verification and voucher specimen curation. We briefly explore some lessons learned from the pilot phase of DToL and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The genome sequence of the Four-dotted Footman, Cybosia mesomella (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Cybosia mesomella (the Four-dotted Footman; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Erebidae). The genome sequence is 948 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the Z sex chromosome assembled. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the Grey Dagger, Acronicta psi (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Acronicta psi (the Grey Dagger; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 405 megabases in span. The whole assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases long.

The genome sequence of the ichneumon wasp Buathra laborator (Thunberg, 1822).

We present a genome assembly from an individual Buathra laborator (Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 330 megabases in span. Over 60% of the assembly is scaffolded into 11 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 35.8 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the Festoon, Apoda limacodes (Hufnagel, 1766).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Apoda limacodes (the Festoon; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Limacodidae). The genome sequence is 800 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 25 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length.

Signatures of increasing environmental stress in bumblebee wings over the past century: Insights from museum specimens.

Determining when animal populations have experienced stress in the past is fundamental to understanding how risk factors drive contemporary and future species' responses to environmental change. For insects, quantifying stress and associating it with environmental factors has been challenging due to a paucity of time-series data and because detectable population-level responses can show varying lag effects. One solution is to leverage historic entomological specimens to detect morphological proxies of stress experienced at the time stressors emerged, allowing us to more accurately determine population responses. Here we studied specimens of four bumblebee species, an invaluable group of insect pollinators, from five museums collected across Britain over the 20th century. We calculated the degree of fluctuating asymmetry (FA; random deviations from bilateral symmetry) between the right and left forewings as a potential proxy of developmental stress. We: (a) investigated whether baseline FA levels vary between species, and how this compares between the first and second half of the century; (b) determined the extent of FA change over the century in the four bumblebee species, and whether this followed a linear or nonlinear trend; (c) tested which annual climatic conditions correlated with increased FA in bumblebees. Species differed in their baseline FA, with FA being higher in the two species that have recently expanded their ranges in Britain. Overall, FA significantly increased over the century but followed a nonlinear trend, with the increase starting c. 1925. We found relatively warm and wet years were associated with higher FA. Collectively our findings show that FA in bumblebees increased over the 20th century and under weather conditions that will likely increase in frequency with climate change. By plotting FA trends and quantifying the contribution of annual climate conditions on past populations, we provide an important step towards improving our understanding of how environmental factors could impact future populations of wild beneficial insects.

The genome sequence of the Shuttle-shaped Dart, Agrotis puta (Hübner, 1803).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Agrotis puta (the Shuttle-shaped Dart; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 522 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 15,136 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Heteropelma amictum (Fabricius, 1775).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Heteropelma amictum (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 226.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 20.65 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the Turnip Sawfly, Athalia rosae (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Athalia rosae (the Turnip Sawfly; Arhropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Athaliidae). The genome sequence is 172 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into eight chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.3 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 11,393 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Campoletis raptor (Zetterstedt, 1838).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Campoletis raptor (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 218.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 11 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 28.53 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the Black Spongefly, Sisyra nigra (Retzius, 1783).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Sisyra nigra (the Black Spongefly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Neuroptera; Sisyridae). The genome sequence is 372.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.34 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the Cloaked Minor, Mesoligia furuncula (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Mesoligia furuncula (the Cloaked Minor; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 889.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.3 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 21,903 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of an ichneumon wasp, Clistopyga incitator (Fabricius, 1793).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Clistopyga incitator (an ichneumon wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 260.7 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 21 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 25.0 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of an ichneumon wasp, Ophion slaviceki (Kriechbaumer, 1892).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Ophion slaviceki (an ichneumon wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 654.2 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.19 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 19,399 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of the tree wasp, Dolichovespula sylvestris Scopoli, 1763.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Dolichovespula sylvestris (the tree wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Vespidae). The genome sequence is 233 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (95.56%) is scaffolded into 26 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 21.3 kilobases in length.