Symbiosis and horizontal gene transfer promote herbivory in the megadiverse leaf beetles.

Beetles that feed on the nutritionally depauperate and recalcitrant tissues provided by the leaves, stems, and roots of living plants comprise one-quarter of herbivorous insect species. Among the key adaptations for herbivory are plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) that break down the fastidious polymers in the cell wall and grant access to the nutritious cell content. While largely absent from the non-herbivorous ancestors of beetles, such PCWDEs were occasionally acquired via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) or by the uptake of digestive symbionts.

Palaearctic flea beetle (Curtis) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae), herbivore of (garlic mustard), new to North America.

Background: The univoltine leaf beetle (Curtis, 1837b) is native to the Palaearctic Region from Japan to western Europe.This species was previously evaluated as a potential biological control agent against invasive populations of the woodland weed (Bieb.) Cavara & Grande (Brassicaceae) in North America, but rejected because it could harm native and at-risk populations of Brassicaceae.

The Influence of Silver-Containing Bionanomaterials Based on Humic Ligands on Biofilm Formation in Opportunistic Pathogens.

The uncontrolled use of antibiotics has led to a global problem of antimicrobial resistance. One of the main mechanisms of bacterial resistance is the formation of biofilms. In order to prevent the growth of antimicrobial resistance, it is crucial to develop new antibacterial agents that are capable of inhibiting the formation of biofilms.

Discovery and lectotype designation of (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).

The lectotype of (Motschulsky, 1845) is designated, described, and illustrated. An illustrated key to eight light-colored species known to occur in the western United States is presented. A brief history of Russian entomological collecting in North America during the first half of 19 century, with specimens preserved in Zoological Museum of Moscow University, Moscow and Zoological Institute, St.

Palearctic flea beetle and pest of hops and , (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae), new to North America.

Background: The univoltine leaf beetle (Koch, 1803) is a pest of and (Cannabaceae) and native to the Palaearctic Region, known from eastern Asia to western Europe.

New Information: First North American records are presented for from Canada: Ontario and Québec. Adult beetle feeding damage to hops L.