Global proliferation of nonnative plants is a major driver of insect invasions.

Invasions by nonnative insect species can massively disrupt ecological processes, often leading to serious economic impacts. Previous work has identified propagule pressure as important driver of the trend of increasing numbers of insect invasions worldwide. In the present article, we propose an alternative hypothesis-that insect invasions are being driven by the proliferation of nonnative plants, which create niches for insect specialists and facilitate their establishment outside their native ranges where their hosts are planted or are invasive.

Description of immature stages of species (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Mecinini) with a focus on diagnostic morphological characters at the species and genus levels.

The mature larvae of the following fourteen species are described and illustrated: (Paykull, 1800), (Gravenhorst, 1807), (Gyllenhal, 1813), (Rosenschoeld, 1838), (Rubsaamen, 1895), (H. Brisout de Barneville, 1862), (Kirsch, 1881), (Panzer, 1796), (Boheman, 1838), (Germar, 1821), (Gyllenhal, 1838), Toševski & Caldara, 2015, (Fabricius, 1792), and (Germar, 1821). The pupae of thirteen of them (except ) were also described.

Proteomic responses of two spring wheat cultivars to the combined water deficit and aphid () treatments.

In the field, plants usually have to face the combined effects of abiotic and biotic stresses. In our study, two spring wheat cultivars-Septima and Quintus-were subjected to three water regimes [70%, 50%, and 40% soil water capacity (SWC)], aphid () infestation, or the combination of both stresses, i.e.

A roadmap for ladybird conservation and recovery.

Ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) provide services that are critical to food production, and they fulfill an ecological role as a food source for predators. The richness, abundance, and distribution of ladybirds, however, are compromised by many anthropogenic threats. Meanwhile, a lack of knowledge of the conservation status of most species and the factors driving their population dynamics hinders the development and implementation of conservation strategies for ladybirds.

Attraction or Repelling Effects of Commercial Plant Essential Oils on the Synanthropic Cheiracanthium mildei (Araneae: Cheiracanthiidae).

The northern yellow sac spider Cheiracanthium mildei L. Koch, is expanding its range to Central Europe, especially to synanthropic habitats. The spiders become unwanted companions because of the unreasonable fear - arachnophobia, and estetic reason - silk retreats in corners, capturing dust.

Description of immature stages of species (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae), with particular emphasis on the diagnostic morphological characters at the generic and specific levels.

The immature stages of the following five Palaearctic species are described for the first time: Desbrochers des Loges, 1900, (Germar, 1821), Gyllenhal, 1838, (Germar, 1821), and Gyllenhal, 1838. These species belong to four different groups previously established according to a phylogenetic analysis: the first two belong to the group and the other three to groups respectively bearing their name (, , and groups). All these species exhibit several diagnostic characters distinguishing them from each other.

An intergenerational approach to parasitoid fitness determined using clutch size.

Parasitoids, as important natural enemies, occur in high numbers and help maintain balance in natural ecosystems. Their fitness is traditionally studied as fertility based on the number of offspring in the F1 generation. Here, using gregarious parasitoids as models, we show that this traditional approach omits one important parameter: the clutch size-body size-fertility correlation among offspring.

Effect of host switching simulation on the fitness of the gregarious parasitoid Anaphes flavipes from a novel two-generation approach.

Herbivorous insects can escape the strong pressure of parasitoids by switching to feeding on new host plants. Parasitoids can adapt to this change but at the cost of changing their preferences and performance. For gregarious parasitoids, fitness changes are not always observable in the F1 generation but only in the F2 generation.

Direct and Knock-on Effects of Water Stress on the Nutrient Contents of Triticum aestivum (Poales: Poaceae) and Population Growth of Rhopalosiphum padi (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

To ascertain the direct effects of water stress upon wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) and how these effects, in turn, influence the population growth of the bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.), we conducted a physiological analysis of wheat seedlings grown under three different watering regimes and subsequently determined the population parameters of the aphid using the age-stage, two-sex life table.

Antibiosis to Metopolophium dirhodum (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Spring Wheat and Emmer Cultivars.

Yield losses caused by pests, including aphids, can be substantial in cereals. Breeding for resistance against aphids is therefore desirable for enhancing the economic and environmental sustainability of cereal production. The aim of our study was to reveal the degree of antibiosis against Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) (Homoptera: Aphididae), in four cultivars of spring wheat, Triticum aestivum L.

Data on Herbivore Performance and Plant Herbivore Damage Identify the Same Plant Traits as the Key Drivers of Plant-Herbivore Interaction.

Data on plant herbivore damage as well as on herbivore performance have been previously used to identify key plant traits driving plant-herbivore interactions. The extent to which the two approaches lead to similar conclusions remains to be explored. We determined the effect of a free-living leaf-chewing generalist caterpillar, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on leaf damage of 24 closely related plant species from the Carduoideae subfamily and the effect of these plant species on caterpillar growth.

Description and biological notes of the larva of Rosenschoeld, 1838 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), with a comparison with other species of the tribe Cionini.

The mature larva of Rosenschoeld, 1838 is described and illustrated in detail for the first time. It is compared with those known from the same genus and other genera in the tribe Cionini and with those of the hypothesized sister tribe Mecinini in the Curculioninae. The larvae of have three distinctive diagnostic features: the reduced number of setae on the epicranium (only two or three and one or two ) and on the epipharyngeal lining (only two , two , and no ); i.

The resilience of weed seedbank regulation by carabid beetles, at continental scales, to alternative prey.

Carabids are generalist predators that contribute to the agricultural ecosystem service of seedbank regulation via weed seed predation. To facilitate adoption of this ecosystem services by farmers, knowledge of weed seed predation and the resilience of seedbank regulation with co-varying availability of alternative prey is crucial. Using assessments of the seedbank and predation on seed cards in 57 cereal fields across Europe, we demonstrate a regulatory effect on the soil seedbank, at a continental scale, by groups formed of omnivore, seed-eating (granivore + omnivore) and all species of carabids just prior to the crop-harvest.

A new, peculiar genus of Cossoninae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from Oman with description of a new species, larva and notes on biology.

A new genus and species of the subfamily Cossoninae, Omanocossonus sabulosus gen. et sp. nov.

Immature stages of Palearctic species (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculioninae): morphological characters diagnostic at genus and species levels.

The immature stages of ten species are described for the first time and those of two other species are redescribed, adding important chaetotaxy characters that were missing from previous descriptions. These species belong to six of the nine assemblages of species previously established according to a phylogenetic analysis. All these groupings are confirmed on the basis of several characters of mature larvae and pupae.

Host Specificity of the Parasitic Wasp (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) and a New Defence in Its Hosts (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: spp.).

The parasitic wasp (Förster, 1841) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is an important egg parasitoid of cereal leaf beetles. Some species of cereal leaf beetle co-occur in the same localities, but the host specificity of the wasp to these crop pests has not yet been examined in detail. A lack of knowledge of host specificity can have a negative effect on the use of this wasps in biological control programs addressed to specific pest species or genus.

Two new genera of Trachyphloeini with a key to the genera of small terricolous South African Trachyphloeini and Embrithini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae).

Two new genera, Barclayanthus Borovec Skuhrovec, gen. nov. and  Janakius Borovec Skuhrovec, gen.

The mature larva and pupa of Tychius subsulcatus Tournier, 1847 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), with comments on its biology and phylogenetic relationships.

The larva and the pupa of the Palaearctic weevil species Tychius subsulcatus Tournier, 1847 are described and illustrated for the first time. The characters of larva and pupa of T. subsulcatus completely fit the described differential diagnosis of the subtribe Tychiina, genus Tychius, and also Tychius intrusus group.

A taxonomic study of the South African terricolous weevil genus Pentatrachyphloeus Voss (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Trachyphloeini).

The genus Pentatrachyphloeus Voss, 1974, with two known species, is redefined and compared with related genera. An additional thirty seven new species are described here: P. andersoni sp.

Insecticidal and Behavioral Effect of Microparticles of Pimpinella anisum Essential Oil on Larvae of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

The Colorado potato beetle ranks as one of the most important potato pests, mainly due to its high feeding rate during all developmental stages, particularly third and fourth larval instar, and high fecundity. The effect of essential oil (EO) from anise (Pimpinella anisum L. [Apiales: Apiaceae]) prepared as conventional and encapsulated (EN) formulations on the mortality and antifeedant responses of young larvae of Colorado potato beetles was studied to evaluate the insecticidal and antifeedant effects of five concentrations of this EO and to assess the persistence of both formulations on potato plants.

(Scopoli, 1763) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Lixinae): Morphological Re-Description of the Immature Stages, Keys, Tribal Comparisons and Biology.

Mature larvae and pupae of (Scopoli, 1763) (Curculionidae: Lixinae: Cleonini) are morphologically described in detail for the first time and compared with known larvae and pupae of other Cleonini species. The results of measurements and characteristics most typical for larvae and pupae of Cleonini are newly extracted and critically discussed, along with some records given previously. Keys for the determination of selected Cleonini species based on their larval and pupal characteristics are attached.

Host population density and presence of predators as key factors influencing the number of gregarious parasitoid Anaphes flavipes offspring.

The number of parasitoids developed per host is one of the major factors that influences future adult body size and reproductive success. Here, we examined four external factors (host species, heritability, host population density, and presence of predators) that can affect the number of the gregarious parasitoid Anaphes flavipes (Förster, 1841) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) wasps developing in one host. The effect of host population density on the number of parasitoid offspring developed per host was confirmed, and for the first time, we also showed that the number of offspring per host is influenced by the presence of predators.