Dispersive solid-phase extraction combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for simultaneous determination of seven succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicides in watermelon by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

In this study, a simple and accurate sample preparation method based on dispersive solid-phase extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction has been developed for the determination of seven novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicides (isopyrazam, fluopyram, pydiflumetofen, boscalid, penthiopyrad, fluxapyroxad, and thifluzamide) in watermelon. The watermelon samples were extracted with acetonitrile, cleaned up by dispersive solid-phase extraction procedure using primary secondary amine, extracted and concentrated by the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure with 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, and then analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The main experimental factors affecting the performance of dispersive solid-phase extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure on extraction efficiency were investigated.

Genome-wide developed microsatellites reveal a weak population differentiation in the hoverfly Eupeodes corollae (Diptera: Syrphidae) across China.

The hoverfly, Eupeodes corollae, is a worldwide natural enemy of aphids and a plant pollinator. To provide insights into the biology of this species, we examined its population genetic structure by obtaining 1.15-GB random genomic sequences using next-generation sequencing and developing genome-wide microsatellite markers.

Life History Effects Linked to an Advantage for Au in .

endosymbiont infections can persist and spread in insect populations without causing apparent effects on reproduction of their insect hosts, but the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. Here, we test for fitness effects of the Au infection of by comparing multiple infected and uninfected polymorphic isofemale lines derived from nature. We show a fitness advantage (higher offspring number) for lines with the Au infection when breeding on grapes, but only where there was and fungal mycelial growth.

Field-evolved resistance and cross-resistance of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, to bifenazate, cyenopyrafen and SYP-9625.

The acaricide bifenazate acts as complex III inhibitor whereas cyenopyrafen and SYP-9625 act as complex II inhibitors. All these acaricides are commonly used to control two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch. We examined field-evolved and laboratory-selected resistance of TSSM to these three acaricides and determined cross-resistance among them.

Independently evolved and gene flow-accelerated pesticide resistance in two-spotted spider mites.

Pest species are often able to develop resistance to pesticides used to control them, depending on how rapidly resistance can emerge within a population or spread from another resistant population. We examined the evolution of bifenazate resistance in China in the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), one of the most resistant arthropods, by using bioassays, detection of mutations in the target gene, and population genetic structure analysis using microsatellite markers. Bioassays showed variable levels of resistance to bifenazate.

Sporadic short temperature events cannot be neglected in predicting impacts of climate change on small insects.

Climate warming is characterized by increase in extreme heat events (EHEs). EHEs and mild temperature periods alternate with each other and form complex climate scenarios. Among these scenarios, low-frequency and short-duration extreme heat events during long mild periods (sporadic short EHEs) and low-frequency and short-duration mild periods during long extreme heat events (sporadic short mild periods) commonly occur in nature.

Mitochondrial phylogenomics of the Hymenoptera.

The insect order Hymenoptera presents marvelous morphological and ecological diversity. Higher-level hymenopteran relationships remain controversial, even after recent phylogenomic analyses, as their taxon sampling was limited. To shed light on the origin and diversification of Hymenoptera, in particular the poorly studied Parasitica, we undertook phylogenetic analyses of 40 newly and 43 previously sequenced mitochondrial genomes representing all major clades of Hymenoptera.

Development of novel microsatellites for population genetic analysis of Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemipeta: Pseudoccoccidae) based on genomic analysis.

The cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemipeta: Pseudoccoccidae), is an aggressively invasive pest causing huge economic losses of crops around the world. In this study, we developed genome-wide microsatellites for population genetic analysis of P. solenopsis.

Multiple refugia from penultimate glaciations in East Asia demonstrated by phylogeography and ecological modelling of an insect pest.

Background: Refugial populations in Quaternary glaciations are critical to understanding the evolutionary history and climatic interactions of many extant species. Compared with the well-studied areas of Europe and Northern America, refugia of species in eastern Asia remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the phylogeographic history of a globally important insect pest, the oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta, in its native range of China.

Preference and performance of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on strawberry cultivars.

The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the most serious pests of strawberry worldwide. Understanding the preference of TSSM for particular cultivars of strawberry and performance on them helps identify host-plant resistance to this pest mite. In this study, we tested preference, developmental duration, fecundity and population levels of TSSM on 14 strawberry cultivars.

Toxicity of seven insecticides to different developmental stages of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci MED (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in multiple field populations of China.

Chemical control is important in the management of the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Susceptibility of B. tabaci to insecticides may vary among different developmental stages and geographical populations.

The first two mitochondrial genomes of the family Aphelinidae with novel gene orders and phylogenetic implications.

Chalcidoidea is one of the most diverse group in Hymenoptera by possessing striking mitochondrial gene arrangement. By using next generation sequencing method, the first two nearly complete mitochondrial genomes in the family Aphelinidae (Insecta, Hymenopetra, Chalcidoidea) were obtained in this study. Almost all previously sequenced mitochondrial genome of Chalcidoidea species have a large inversion including six genes (atp6-atp8-trnD-trnK-cox2-trnL2-cox1) as compared with ancestral mitochondrial genome, but these two Encarsia mitochondrial genomes had a large inversion including nine genes (nad3-trnG-atp6-atp8-trnD-trnK-cox2-trnL2-cox1), which was only congruent with the species in the genus Nasonia.

Parasitic insect-derived miRNAs modulate host development.

Parasitic wasps produce several factors including venom, polydnaviruses (PDVs) and specialized wasp cells named teratocytes that benefit the survival of offspring by altering the physiology of hosts. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for the alterations remain unclear. Here we find that the teratocytes of Cotesia vestalis, an endoparasitoid of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella, and its associated bracovirus (CvBV) can produce miRNAs and deliver the products into the host via different ways.

Extensive gene rearrangements in the mitochondrial genomes of two egg parasitoids, Trichogramma japonicum and Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Trichogrammatidae).

Animal mitochondrial genomes usually exhibit conserved gene arrangement across major lineages, while those in the Hymenoptera are known to possess frequent rearrangements, as are those of several other orders of insects. Here, we sequenced two complete mitochondrial genomes of Trichogramma japonicum and Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Trichogrammatidae). In total, 37 mitochondrial genes were identified in both species.

Inter- and Intra-Specific Differentiation of Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Species Using PCR-RFLP Targeting COI.

The identification of Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) species is problematic due to their small size and lack of distinct morphological characters. In this study, we combined morphological characters of the male genitalia and molecular methods using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene as a molecular marker to identify eight species from 16 geographic populations: T. evanescens Westwood, T.

Efficacy of carbon dioxide treatments for the control of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, and treatment impact on plant seedlings.

To develop a new control method for the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae, we investigated the effect of controlled atmospheres of carbon dioxide (CO) on TSSM mortality under different concentrations and treatment periods, and evaluated the impact of treatments on seedlings of five host plants of TSSM. Egg hatching rate of TSSM was reduced to 37.7, 5.

Gene arrangement and sequence of mitochondrial genomes yield insights into the phylogeny and evolution of bees and sphecid wasps (Hymenoptera: Apoidea).

The Apoidea represent a large and common superfamily of the Hymenoptera including the bees and sphecid wasps. A robust phylogenetic tree is essential to understanding the diversity, taxonomy and evolution of the Apoidea. In this study, features of apoid mitochondrial genomes were used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships.

Patterns of genetic variation among geographic and host-plant associated populations of the peach fruit moth Carposina sasakii (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae).

Background: Populations of herbivorous insects may become genetically differentiated because of local adaptation to different hosts and climates as well as historical processes, and further genetic divergence may occur following the development of reproductive isolation among populations. Here we investigate the population genetic structure of the orchard pest peach fruit moth (PFM) Carposina sasakii (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae) in China, which shows distinct biological differences when characterized from different host plants. Genetic diversity and genetic structure were assessed among populations from seven plant hosts and nine regions using 19 microsatellite loci and a mitochondrial sequence.

Different genetic structures revealed resident populations of a specialist parasitoid wasp in contrast to its migratory host.

Genetic comparisons of parasitoids and their hosts are expected to reflect ecological and evolutionary processes that influence the interactions between species. The parasitoid wasp, and its host diamondback moth (DBM), provide opportunities to test whether the specialist natural enemy migrates seasonally with its host or occurs as resident population. We genotyped 17 microsatellite loci and two mitochondrial genes for 158 female adults of collected from 12 geographical populations, as well as nine microsatellite loci for 127 DBM larvae from six separate sites.

Low genetic diversity but strong population structure reflects multiple introductions of western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) into China followed by human-mediated spread.

Historical invasion scenarios based on observational records are usually incomplete and biased, but these can be supplemented by population genetic data. The western flower thrips (WFT), , invaded China in the last 13 years and has rapidly become one of the most serious pests in the country. To assess whether this invasion involved a single event or multiple events, we examined patterns of genetic diversity and population structure of WFT across 12 Chinese populations and a native US population based on mitochondrial DNA and/or 18 microsatellite loci.

New Nematotoxic Indoloditerpenoid Produced by Gymnoascus reessii za-130.

Chemical investigation of the fungal strain Gymnoascus reessii za-130, which was previously isolated from the rhizosphere of tomato plants infected by the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, led to the isolation and identification of a new indoloditerpenoid metabolite designated gymnoascole acetate. Its structure was established by spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS analyses. Gymnoascole acetate demonstrated strong adverse effects on M.

Novel microsatellite markers for the oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and effects of null alleles on population genetics analyses.

The oriental fruit moth (OFM) Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is an important economic pest of stone and pome fruits worldwide. We sequenced the OFM genome using next-generation sequencing and characterized the microsatellite distribution. In total, 56,674 microsatellites were identified, with 11,584 loci suitable for primer design.

Next-Generation Sequencing of Two Mitochondrial Genomes from Family Pompilidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea) Reveal Novel Patterns of Gene Arrangement.

Animal mitochondrial genomes have provided large and diverse datasets for evolutionary studies. Here, the first two representative mitochondrial genomes from the family Pompilidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea) were determined using next-generation sequencing. The sequenced region of these two mitochondrial genomes from the species sp.

Multiple Lines of Evidence from Mitochondrial Genomes Resolve Phylogenetic Relationships of Parasitic Wasps in Braconidae.

The rapid increase in the number of mitochondrial genomes in public databases provides opportunities for insect phylogenetic studies; but it also provides challenges because of gene rearrangements and variable substitution rates among both lineages and sites. Typically, phylogenetic studies use mitochondrial sequence data but exclude other features of the mitochondrial genome from analyses. Here, we undertook large-scale sequencing of mitochondrial genomes from a worldwide collection of specimens belonging to Braconidae, one of the largest families of Metazoa.