Complex Genomic Landscape of Inversion Polymorphism in Europe's Most Destructive Forest Pest.

In many species, polymorphic genomic inversions underlie complex phenotypic polymorphisms and facilitate local adaptation in the face of gene flow. Multiple polymorphic inversions can co-occur in a genome, but the prevalence, evolutionary significance, and limits to complexity of genomic inversion landscapes remain poorly understood. Here, we examine genome-wide genetic variation in one of Europe's most destructive forest pests, the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus, scan for polymorphic inversions, and test whether inversions are associated with key traits in this species.

Seasonality of forest insects: why diapause matters.

Insects have major impacts on forest ecosystems, from herbivory and soil-nutrient cycling to killing trees at a large scale. Forest insects from temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions have evolved strategies to respond to seasonality; for example, by entering diapause, to mitigate adversity and to synchronize lifecycles with favorable periods. Here, we show that distinct functional groups of forest insects; that is, canopy dwellers, trunk-associated species, and soil/litter-inhabiting insects, express a variety of diapause strategies, but do not show systematic differences in diapause strategy depending on functional group.

Evolutionary ecology of the bark beetles and .

(L.) and (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are two common bark beetle species on Norway spruce in Eurasia.

Effect of Temperature and Photoperiod on Development, Survival, and Growth Rate of Mealworms, .

Insects are a potential substitute for conventional meat and can be part of a sustainable human diet due to their valuable nutrients and relatively low environmental production impact. One species that is already produced for human consumption and livestock feed is the mealworm, i.e.

Facultative and obligate diapause phenotypes in populations of the European spruce bark beetle .

Unlabelled: The bark beetle is the most destructive insect pest in Norway spruce-dominated forests. Its potential to establish multiple generations per year (multivoltinism) is one major trait that makes this beetle a severe pest. enters diapause to adjust its life cycle to seasonally changing environments.

Assessment of drivers of spatial genetic variation of a ground-dwelling bird species and its implications for conservation.

In modern wildlife ecology, spatial population genetic methods are becoming increasingly applied. Especially for animal species in fragmented landscapes, preservation of gene flow becomes a high priority target in order to restore genetic diversity and prevent local extinction. Within Central Europe, the Alps represent the core distribution area of the black grouse, .

Interactions among Norway spruce, the bark beetle and its fungal symbionts in times of drought.

Resilience and functionality of European Norway spruce forests are increasingly threatened by mass outbreaks of the bark beetle promoted by heat, wind throw and drought. Here, we review current knowledge on Norway spruce and interactions from the perspective of drought-stressed trees, host selection, colonisation behaviour of beetles, with multi-level effects of symbiotic ophiostomatoid fungi. By including chemo-ecological, molecular and behavioural perspectives, we provide a comprehensive picture on this complex, multitrophic system in the light of climate change.

-Mitochondrial DNA Associations in Transitional Populations of .

The endosymbiont can manipulate arthropod host reproduction by inducing cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), which results in embryonic mortality when infected males mate with uninfected females. A CI-driven invasion of can result in a selective sweep of associated mitochondrial haplotype. The co-inheritance of and host mitochondrial DNA can therefore provide significant information on the dynamics of an ongoing invasion.

New Data on the Range Expansion of the Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) 'ENA clade' in Greece: The Role of Bacterial Endosymbionts.

The pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiffermüller), is an important insect in the Mediterranean region, as it defoliates pines and its urticating hairs can cause allergic reactions in humans and animals. Moreover, this species exhibits an interesting genetic structure as recently a distinct East-North African mtDNA lineage ('ENA clade') has been described. This clade has been recently detected in Greek populations where it has currently expanded its range by replacing the 'endemic' T.

Host plant-related genomic differentiation in the European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi.

Elucidating the mechanisms and conditions facilitating the formation of biodiversity are central topics in evolutionary biology. A growing number of studies imply that divergent ecological selection may often play a critical role in speciation by counteracting the homogenising effects of gene flow. Several examples involve phytophagous insects, where divergent selection pressures associated with host plant shifts may generate reproductive isolation, promoting speciation.

Dynamics of an Ongoing Spread in the European Cherry Fruit Fly, (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Numerous terrestrial arthropods are infected with the alphaproteobacterium This endosymbiont is usually transmitted vertically from infected females to their offspring and can alter the reproduction of hosts through various manipulations, like cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), enhancing its spread in new host populations. Studies on the spatial and temporal dynamics of under natural conditions are scarce. Here, we analyzed infection frequencies in populations of the European cherry fruit fly, (L.

The Apennines as a cryptic Pleistocene refugium of the bark beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The Apennine Mountains in Italy are an important biogeographical region and of particular interest in phylogeographical research, because they have been a refugium during Pleistocene glaciation events for numerous European species. We performed a genetic study on the Eurasian bark beetle (Linnaeus, 1760), focusing on two Apennine (Italian) and two Central European (Austrian) locations to assess the influence of the Apennines in the evolutionary history of the beetle, particularly during the Pleistocene. We analysed a part of the mitochondrial gene and a set of 5470 informative genome-wide markers to understand its biogeography.

Pleistocene climate cycling and host plant association shaped the demographic history of the bark beetle Pityogenes chalcographus.

Historical climatic oscillations and co-evolutionary dependencies were key evolutionary drivers shaping the current population structure of numerous organisms. Here, we present a genome-wide study on the biogeography of the bark beetle Pityogenes chalcographus, a common and widespread insect in Eurasia. Using Restriction Associated DNA Sequencing, we studied the population structure of this beetle across a wide part of its western Palaearctic range with the goal of elucidating the role of Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycling and its close relationship to its main host plant Norway spruce.

Spatial spread of in populations.

The bacterial endosymbiont has been used to control insect pests owing to its ability to manipulate their life history and suppress infectious diseases. Therefore, knowledge on dynamics in natural populations is fundamental. The European cherry fruit fly, , is infected with the strain Cer2, mainly present in southern and central European populations, and is currently spreading into Cer2-uninfected populations driven by high unidirectional cytoplasmic incompatibility.

Reproductive Manipulators in the Bark Beetle Pityogenes chalcographus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)-The Role of Cardinium, Rickettsia, Spiroplasma, and Wolbachia.

Heritable bacterial endosymbionts can alter the biology of numerous arthropods. They can influence the reproductive outcome of infected hosts, thus affecting the ecology and evolution of various arthropod species. The spruce bark beetle Pityogenes chalcographus (L.

Diapause and overwintering of two spruce bark beetle species.

Diapause, a strategy to endure unfavourable conditions (e.g. cold winters) is commonly found in ectothermic organisms and is characterized by an arrest of development and reproduction, a reduction of metabolic rate, and an increased resistance to adversity.