A new species of Scolytus Geoffroy (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) from Yunnan, China.

Scolytus unicornis, a new species of Scolytus Geoffroy from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. Three DNA barcoding sequences (COI, 28S, CAD) of this species are provided. The new species is distinguished from other Asian Scolytus species by the longitudinal wrinkles on the frons only in the area below the eyes, a large median spine situated in the middle of the ventrite 2 base, and female frons with a slightly raised blunt tubercle above the epistoma.

Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Scolytoplatypodini Species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and Phylogenetic Implications.

The complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of beetles in the tribe Scolytoplatypodini (genus Scolytoplatypus) were sequenced and annotated. These included Scolytoplatypus raja (15,324 bp), Scolytoplatypus sinensis (15,394 bp), Scolytoplatypus skyliuae (15,167 bp), and Scolytoplatypus wugongshanensis (15,267 bp). The four mitogenomes contained 37 typical genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). The gene orientation and arrangement of the four mitogenomes were similar to other Coleoptera mitogenomes. PCGs mostly started with ATN and terminated with TAA. The Ka/Ks ratio of 13 PCGs in the four species revealed that cox1 had the slowest evolutionary rate and atp8 and nad6 had a higher evolutionary rate. All tRNAs had typical cloverleaf secondary structures, but trnS1 lacked dihydrouridine arm. Partial tRNAs lost the discriminator nucleotide. The trnY did not possess the discriminator nucleotide and also lost three bases, showing a special amino-acyl arm. Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods were conducted for phylogenetic analyses using 13 PCGs. Scolytoplatypodini was clustered with Hylurgini and Hylastini, and the monophyly of Scolytoplatypodini was supported. The four newly sequenced mitogenomes increase understanding of the evolutionary relationships of Scolytoplatypodini and other Scolytinae species.

Toxicity nanoinsecticide based on clove essential oil against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst).

This study aimed to characterize nanoparticles loaded with clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil-based polyethylene glycol (PEG) and to know their insecticidal activity against red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). The nanoparticles have irregular shapes in good dispersion. The nanoformulation could not enhance clove oil contact toxicity to T. castaneum, but could protect the oil from degradation and evaporation while simultaneously allowing sustained release, as indicated by the continued high toxicity for 16 weeks of storage.

Diversity and Species Composition of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles Captured Using Ethanol Baited Traps on Different Hosts in East Java, Indonesia.

Bark and ambrosia beetles are a diverse group that causes widespread mortality of deciduous and coniferous trees. The present study aimed to investigate the species compositions and richnesses of bark and ambrosia beetles in six species of plant hosts in East Java, Indonesia. Bark and ambrosia beetles were sampled using bottle traps baited with ethanol. Studies were conducted at two sites of monoculture and polyculture systems for each host plant species. At each site, 20 ethanol-baited traps were deployed on a linear transect along the forest. Six host tree species examined were used, namely Tectona grandis (Teak), Syzygium aromaticum (Clove), Swietenia mahagoni (Mahogany), Pinus merkusii (Sumatran Pine), Paraserianthes falcataria (Moluccan Albizia), and Mangifera indica (Mango). The data were analyzed using R software. A total of 4823 beetles were collected, representing 26 ambrosia beetle and eight bark beetle species. The abundance of bark and ambrosia beetles was significantly highest at the sites of T. grandis (F = 13.88, P < 0.01). Xylosandrus crassiusculus showed a strong attraction to the ethanol lure and was the dominant beetle species (50.65% of the total number of individuals). The Shannon-Wiener diversity index of all beetles captured in this study was the highest in the S. mahogany polyculture (2.28) and the lowest in the T. grandis polyculture (0.47). According to Bray-Curtis analysis, the T. grandis monoculture and T. grandis polyculture had a high similarity value of bark and ambrosia beetle species compositions (91% similar). There were no significant differences between two cultural systems of host plants in the compositions of bark and ambrosia beetle species (ANOSIM, R = -0.1537, P = 0.961).

An update of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) on systemic pesticides. Part 4: Alternatives in major cropping systems.

We present a synthetic review and expert consultation that assesses the actual risks posed by arthropod pests in four major crops, identifies targets for integrated pest management (IPM) in terms of cultivated land needing pest control and gauges the implementation "readiness" of non-chemical alternatives. Our assessment focuses on the world's primary target pests for neonicotinoid-based management: western corn rootworm (WCR, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) in maize; wireworms (Agriotes spp.) in maize and winter wheat; bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) in winter wheat; brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens) in rice; cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) and silver-leaf whitefly (SLW, Bemisia tabaci) in cotton. First, we queried scientific literature databases and consulted experts from different countries in Europe, North America, and Asia about available IPM tools for each crop-pest system. Next, using an online survey, we quantitatively assessed the economic relevance of target pests by compiling country-level records of crop damage, yield impacts, extent of insecticide usage, and "readiness" status of various pest management alternatives (i.e., research, plot-scale validation, grower-uptake). Biological control received considerable scientific attention, while agronomic strategies (e.g., crop rotation), insurance schemes, decision support systems (DSS), and innovative pesticide application modes were listed as key alternatives. Our study identifies opportunities to advance applied research, IPM technology validation, and grower education to halt or drastically reduce our over-reliance on systemic insecticides globally.