Hybrid de novo whole genome assembly of lipopeptide producing novel Bacillus thuringiensis strain NBAIR BtAr exhibiting antagonistic activity against Sclerotium rolfsii.

Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner is recognized as a predominant bioinsecticide but its antifungal potential has been relatively underexplored. A novel B. thuringiensis strain NBAIR BtAr was isolated and morphologically characterized using light and scanning electron microscopy, revealing presence of bipyramidal, cuboidal, and spherical parasporal crystals. The crude form of lipopeptides was extracted from NBAIR BtAr and assessed for its antagonistic activity in vitro, and demonstrated 100 % inhibition of Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 50 µL of the crude lipopeptide extract per mL of potato dextrose agar. To identify the antagonistic genes responsible, we performed whole genome sequencing of NBAIR BtAr, revealing the presence of circular chromosome of 5,379,913 bp and 175,362 bp plasmid with 36.06 % guanine-cytosine content and 5814 protein-coding sequences. Average nucleotide identity and whole genome phylogenetic analysis delineated the NBAIR BtAr strain as konkukian serovar. Gene ontology analysis revealed associations of 1474, 1323, and 1833 genes with biological processes, molecular function, and cellular components, respectively. Antibiotics & secondary metabolite analysis shell analysis of the whole genome yielded secondary metabolites biosynthetic gene clusters with 100 %, 85 %, 40 %, and 35 % similarity for petrobactin, bacillibactin, fengycin, and paenilamicin, respectively. Also, novel biosynthetic gene clusters, along with antimicrobial genes, including zwittermicin A, chitinase, and phenazines, were identified. Moreover, the presence of eight bacteriophage sequences, 18 genomic islands, insertion sequences, and one CRISPR region indicated prior occurrences of genetic exchange and thus improved competitive fitness of the strain. Overall, the whole genome sequence of NBAIR BtAr is presented, with its taxonomic classification and critical genetic attributes that contribute to its strong antagonistic activity against S. rolfsii.

Review of the genus Sparasion Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea: Sparasionidae) of the Oriental region with descriptions of new species from India.

BACKGROUND: The genus Sparasion, endoparasitoids of Tettigoniidae, occur in the Nearctic, Palearctic, Afrotropical and Oriental regions. It is absent in the Neotropics and Australasia. Of the thirteen species found in the Oriental region only a single species is from India. RESULTS: Two new species groups - Sparasion bilahari species group and Sparasion manavati species group - are proposed for species from the Oriental region. Thirty-six species are described and illustrated of which twenty-four are new: Sparasion albopilosellus Cameron, 1906 (Pakistan); S. bhairavi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. bhupali Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. bihagi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. bilahari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. cellularis Strand, 1913 (Taiwan); S. coconcus Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. coeruleus Kieffer, 1905 (Sumatra); S. cullaris Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. darbari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. deepaki Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. domes Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. elbakyanae Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. formosus Kieffer, 1910 (Taiwan); S. hindoli Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. kalyani Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. kanakangi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. karivadana Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. lividus Johnson, Masner & Musetti, 2008 (Philippines); S. manavati Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. meghmalhari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. micromerus Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. pahadi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. philippinensis Kieffer, 1913 (Philippines); S. ratnangi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. rupavati Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. salagami Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. shulini Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. sinensis Walker, 1852 (China); S. sivaranjini Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. syamalangi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. todi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. travancoricus Mani and Sharma, 1981 (India); S. vanaspati Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. visvambari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India) and S. zeelafi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India). Keys to Oriental species of Sparasion are furnished. Intrasexual colour morphs among females of Sparasion is reported. Lectotype is designated for Sparasion cellularis Strand. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-four new species are added to the Indian fauna of Sparasion. Previously described species of Oriental Sparasion are redescribed and illustrated. Keys are furnished for all Oriental species.

DNA barcoding of insects from India: Current status and future perspectives.

Insect fauna occupy the largest proportion of animal biodiversity on earth, but the assessment or quantification in terms of species diversity is far from complete. Several recent studies have demonstrated the rapid pace at which insect population decline is occurring. There is an urgent need to document and quantify the diversity of insect fauna for a proper understanding of terrestrial ecosystems. This can be achieved by using modern technology to identify species much faster than relying on traditional methods alone. In line with this, the molecular approach through DNA barcoding coupled with morphological identification needs to be focused and accelerated. The present paper describes the current status of barcoding of insect species in India along with the gaps that need to be remedied. This analysis shows that barcoded specimens cover a very meagre proportion of less than 3.73% of the known taxa/described species and the most represented orders are Lepidoptera and Hemiptera followed by Diptera and Coleoptera. There is a need to expedite insect species discovery and documentation in a collaborative mode between traditional taxonomists and molecular biologists, to accomplish the DNA barcoding of all known insect taxa from India.

New species and records of Sericini from India (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae).

Five new sericine species (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) are described, diagnosed and illustrated from India: Lepidoserica barapaniensis Chandra, Ahrens, Bhunia, Sreedevi Gupta, new species, Maladera kaimurensis Chandra, Ahrens, Bhunia, Sreedevi Gupta, new species, M. silviafabriziae Chandra, Ahrens, Bhunia, Sreedevi Gupta, new species, M. kottagudiensis Chandra, Ahrens, Bhunia, Sreedevi Gupta, new species, and M. tripuraensis Chandra, Ahrens, Bhunia, Sreedevi Gupta, new species. This paper also presents new locality records, including first state records for 74 species (including two subspecies) of Sericini from the Indian subcontinent.

A new species of Miccolamia Bates, 1884 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) from northeast India, with comments on related species.

A new species of Cerambycidae, Miccolamia (Miccolamia) arunachalensis Sreedevi Ghate sp. nov. (Lamiinae: Desmiphorini) is described from northeast India. This is the fourth species of Miccolamia from India. Additionally, an updated key to the Indian species is also provided along with comments on related species of the subgenus.

Five new species of Telenomus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) parasitizing eggs of Tabanidae in India.

Five new species of Telenomus-T. bucephalus sp. n., T. hayagriva sp. n., T. kanthaka sp. n., T. poseidon sp. n., and T. subaharani sp. n.-reared from the eggs of Tabanidae (Diptera), belonging to the Telenomus tabanivorus species group, are described for the first time from India. Although Telenomus parasitizing tabanid eggs have been reported earlier from India, this is the first time that Indian species in this group are assigned specific status.

New species and records of Sericini scarab beetles from the Indian subcontinent (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae).

The current paper presents new locality records, including first state records for Mizoram, of 92 species of Sericini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from the Indian subcontinent. Eight new species are described herein: Maladera alloservitritasp. n., M. kolasibensissp. n., M. mizoramensissp. n., Neoserica radhanagariensissp. n., Serica (s. str.) basantapurensis sp. n., S. (s. str.) mahakaliensis sp. n., S. (s. str.) therathumensis sp. n., and S. (s. str.) zianii sp. n.