Lymantria xylina Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is considered a potentially internationally invasive forest pest with limited knowledge about its phototactic behavior. This study investigated the phototaxis of L. xylina males and females using various insecticidal lamps in the field. The results showed that all lamps attracted both males and females, but females were captured in a very low numbers, with a female-to-male ratio of 1:322. The insecticidal lamp with a peak wavelength of 363 nm was most effective for male trapping. Males exhibited a distinct light-trapping rhythm, peaking around midnight (23:00-0:00), with 29.5% capture, while females were most active at dusk (19:00-20:00), with 44.4% capture. Light-trapped females were smaller and lighter than indoor-emerged females and had lower egg-carrying capacity. Females, when laying eggs, did not exhibit phototactic behavior. Only 14.6% of non-ovipositing females showed phototactic behavior, and only 0.6% flew directly toward the lamp. These findings suggest that while non-ovipositing females can exhibit phototaxis, only a small proportion will, potentially reducing the risk of long-distance dispersal of L. xylina via ocean-going freighters. The results showed that the non-ovipositing females could fly under phototaxis, but their phototaxis was limited. This study provides a basis for the risk assessment of the long-distance dispersal of L. xylina via ocean-going freighters through female moth phototactic flight.

Lymantria xylina is a major pest in coastal casuarina shelterbelts and a species subject to quarantine regulations by countries to which it is non-native. Phototaxis is fundamental to the insect’s surveillance and risk assessment analysis, and it exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in compound eye structure. This dimorphism was investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Males displayed significantly larger compound eyes, characterized by greater ommatidial areas and a higher total number of facets per eye compared to females. From the distal to proximal end, the ommatidium consists of the cornea, primary and secondary pigment cells, crystalline cones, retinula cells, a rhabdom bundle, and basal retinal cells (in a “7 + 1” arrangement). The internal ultrastructure of the ommatidia is similar in both sexes. However, males possess significantly thinner cornea and extremely elongated crystalline cones. Based on external morphology, both sexes generally exhibit a parallel-symmetrical compound eye form, minimizing optical asymmetry to optimize nocturnal vision. These differences are attributed to the distinct visual demands of males for mate-searching in low-light environments, while females, being more stationary, have reduced visual needs. Paraffin sections of Lymantria xylina compound eyes further revealed that, during dark adaptation, pigment granules aggregated within the crystalline cone region to enhance low-light capture. Conversely, following intense light stimulation, these granules translocated to the perinuclear region of photoreceptor cells, forming a light-shielding configuration.

Lymantria xylina Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is a potentially invasive pest, similar to Lymantria dispar asiatica Vnukovskij and Lymantria dispar japonica Motschulsky (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). To evaluate its potential for spread and flight distance related to egg deposition on vessels at ports, we employed a flight mill to assess the flight capabilities of its adults under varying conditions. Our findings revealed that females primarily flew short distances and ceased flying after 3:00 AM, whereas males covered much longer distances throughout the day. Sex, age, and flight duration significantly influenced flight ability. Females exhibited weaker flight capability than males, and their ability declined with increasing age or flight duration. Notably, 1-day-old moths displayed the strongest flight ability, with average flight distances of up to 3.975 km for females and 8.441 km for males. By the fifth day, females no longer flew, and males experienced reduced flight ability. After continuous hanging for 16 h, females lost most of their flight capacity, while males remained capable of flight even after 32 h. Additionally, female flight ability decreased significantly after mating, possibly due to factors such as egg-carrying capacity, weight, and load ratio. This study provides a foundation for assessing the risk of long-distance dispersal of L. xylina via ocean-going freighters, considering female moths’ phototactic flight and oviposition.

The biological characteristics of Lymantria xylina Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), a moth that threatens coastal forests in Fuzhou, China, are closely linked to its spread risk. To characterize these traits, we primarily investigated emergence, reproductive, and flight behaviors. Our findings show that females typically emerge, mate, and copulate during specific times of day. The peak hours of emergence, courtship, and copulation are 13:00–14:00, 19:00–21:00, and around 0:00, respectively. The starting time of oviposition was concentrated before dawn and during the daytime. They preferentially lay eggs on columnar objects, including artificial ones. On average, females laid 361 eggs, lived for 4.5 days, and weighed 0.74 g. Non-ovipositing females were observed to fly for short distances, especially during the evening. Field observations suggest that these females can potentially travel up to 184.5 m in total and 34.5 m continuously. While this indicates a theoretical risk of long-distance dispersal, our findings suggest that the overall risk is limited. These results contribute to our understanding of the biology and dispersal potential of L. xylina.

Human-assisted movement has allowed the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky)) to spread beyond its native range and become a globally regulated invasive pest. Within its native range of China and the Korean peninsula, human-mediated dispersal has also caused cryptic translocation of insects, resulting in population structure complexity. Previous studies used genetic methods to detangle this complexity but were unable to clearly delimit native populations which is needed to develop downstream biosurveillance tools. We used genome-wide markers to define historical population structure in native ALB populations and contemporary movement between regions. We used genotyping-by-sequencing to generate 6102 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and amplicon sequencing to genotype 53 microsatellites. In total, we genotyped 712 individuals from ALB's native distribution. We observed six distinct population clusters among native ALB populations, with a clear delineation between northern and southern groups. Most of the individuals from South Korea were distinct from populations in China. Our results also indicate historical divergence among populations and suggest limited large-scale admixture, but we did identify a restricted number of cases of contemporary movement between regions. We identified SNPs under selection and describe a clinal allele frequency pattern in a missense variant associated with glycerol kinase, an important enzyme in the utilization of an insect cryoprotectant. We further demonstrate that small numbers of SNPs can assign individuals to geographic regions with high probability, paving the way for novel ALB biosurveillance tools.

Changes in grain trading between Russian Far Eastern ports and North America in the late 1980s and early 1990s led to introductions of Lymantria dispar asiatica (Vnukovskij), formerly called the Asian gypsy moth (AGM), and the recognition of a new pathway for its transport. Unlike the pathways commonly used and regulated for commodities and for packaging material containing pest organisms, this presented a unique pathway for AGM. Vessels departing from the Russia Far East transiting to ports on the west coast of the United States (US) and Canada (CA) were infested with life stages of AGM and related species. Upon arrival in North America, eggs oviposited on the surfaces of the ships and its cargo hatched with larvae ballooning to vegetation surrounding port areas leading to the potential establishment of AGM populations. A multi layered monitoring and inspection program was developed to mitigate this risk of introduction, initially for Russian Far Eastern ports, and eventually to include specified areas of other Asian countries. In this article, we summarize and review the integral parts of this mitigation program, which include: risk assessments, AGM monitoring in foreign and domestic ports, vessel cleaning and certification by a government Plant Protection Organization (PPO) or its proxy, AGM surveillance, and eradication of introduced AGM in ports and other areas within the United States and Canada.The uniqueness of this program is characterized by its complexity, which involves coordinated efforts of PPOs, the use of various inspection organizations, and the support of ocean transportation industries.

The upload file was the data of the results shown in the study of utilization and oviposition selection by Trichoferus Campestris.

Genetic data can help elucidate the dynamics of biological invasions, which are fueled by the constant expansion of international trade. The introduction of European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar) into North America is a classic example of human-aided invasion that has caused tremendous damage to North American temperate forests. Recently, the even more destructive Asian gypsy moth (mainly L. d. asiatica and L. d. japonica) has been intercepted in North America, mostly transported by cargo ships. To track invasion pathways, we developed a diagnostic panel of 60 DNA loci (55 nuclear and 5 mitochondrial) to characterize worldwide genetic differentiation within L. dispar and its sister species L. umbrosa. Hierarchical analyses supported strong differentiation and recovered five geographic groups that correspond to (1) North America, (2) Europe plus North Africa and Middle East, (3) the Urals, Central Asia, and Russian Siberia, (4) continental East Asia, and (5) the Japanese islands. Interestingly, L. umbrosa was grouped with L. d. japonica, and the introduced North American population exhibits remarkable distinctiveness from contemporary European counterparts. Each geographic group, except for North America, shows additional lower-level structures when analyzed individually, which provided the basis for inference of the origin of invasive specimens. Two assignment approaches consistently identified a coastal area of continental East Asia as the major source for Asian invasion during 2014-2015, with Japan being another source. By analyzing simulation and laboratory crosses, we further provided evidence for the occurrence of natural Asian-North American hybrids in the Pacific Northwest, raising concerns for introgression of Asian alleles that may accelerate range expansion of gypsy moth in North America. Our study demonstrates how genetic data contribute to bio-surveillance of invasive species with results that can inform regulatory management and reduce the frequency of trade-associated invasions.

Genetic variability of invasive pests informs us of fundamental aspects of the invasion, which help leverage limited resources for more efficient pest management. This is particularly important for managing species with invasive populations fueled by recurrent introductions. We present the first phylogeographic study of the velvet longhorned beetle (Trichoferus campestris [Faldermann]), a highly polyphagous wood-boring insect native to Asia. It attacks many ecologically and economically important tree species and has repeatedly invaded Europe and North America in recent decades. Despite the apparent threat posed by this pest, little work has been attempted to characterize genetic variability of T. campestris. One hurdle is the lack of genetic data beyond the “universal” COI barcode. Here we designed primer sequences to amplify five additional mitochondrial protein-coding genes for T. campestris (COII, COIII, Cytb, ND2, and ND4). We included specimens collected from domestic locations in the Unites States (U.S.) as well as samples intercepted in solid wood packaging material (WPM) at U.S. ports of entry. Phylogenetic analyses recovered three mitochondrial lineages, all including both domestic collections and port-interceptions. Our results demonstrated high levels of haplotype diversity among invasive populations of T. campestris. Specimens collected from the same geographical vicinity can be placed into different lineages. Species delimitation analyses further suggest presence of multiple molecular operational taxonomic units, which could complicate regulatory policies. We evaluated mechanisms that underlie the increasing number of T. campestris individuals and populations detected in the U.S. Results support the hypothesis of independent introductions through WPM, but are inconsistent with secondary invasions through the bridgehead effect.

BACKGROUND:Moths of genus Dendrolimus (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) are among the major pests of coniferous forests worldwide. Taxonomy and nomenclature of this genus are not entirely established, and there are many species with a controversial taxonomic position. We present a comparative evolutionary analysis of the most economically important Dendrolimus species in Eurasia.RESULTS:Our analysis was based on the nucleotide sequences of COI and COII mitochondrial genes and ITS2 spacer of nuclear ribosomal genes. All known sequences were extracted from GenBank. Additional 112 new sequences were identified for 28 specimens of D. sibiricus, D. pini, and D. superans from five regions of Siberia and the Russian Far East to be able to compare the disparate data from all previous studies. In total, 528 sequences were used in phylogenetic analysis. Two clusters of closely related species in Dendrolimus were found. The first cluster includes D. pini, D. sibiricus, and D. superans; and the second, D. spectabilis, D. punctatus, and D. tabulaeformis. Species D. houi and D. kikuchii appear to be the most basal in the genus.CONCLUSION:Genetic difference among the second cluster species is very low in contrast to the first cluster species. Phylogenetic position D. tabulaeformis as a subspecies was supported. It was found that D. sibiricus recently separated from D. superans. Integration of D. sibiricus mitochondrial DNA sequences and the spread of this species to the west of Eurasia have been established as the cause of the unjustified allocation of a new species: D. kilmez. Our study further clarifies taxonomic problems in the genus and gives more complete information on the genetic structure of D. pini, D. sibiricus, and D. superans.

为了评估花曲柳窄吉丁的飞行潜能,利用昆虫飞行磨系统测定雌雄花曲柳窄吉丁成虫在不同光照时间、交配状态、取食状态和日龄条件下的飞行能力.结果表明:雌虫24 h内最远飞行距离5 500 m,雄虫最远飞行距离1 397m,雌雄成虫间飞行距离差异显著;雌虫在24 h光照时间下飞行距离比L/D(昼/夜)=16 h/8 h光照周期下更远;交配雌虫与未交配雌虫在飞行距离上有显著差异,交配后雌虫飞行距离更远,而交配对雄虫飞行能力无显著影响;经取食并休息的雌虫飞行距离显著大于不取食不休息的雌虫;不同日龄未取食的花曲柳窄吉丁雌虫飞行能力存在一定差异,1日龄飞行能力最弱,13日龄最强,从1～2日龄开始飞行距离增加,2～4日龄飞行距离随日龄增加而减少,而在4日龄后飞行距离又随着日龄的增加而增加.说明花曲柳窄吉丁具有较长距离飞行的潜能,这可为该虫的传播扩散和风险评估提供一定依据.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Anoplophora glabripennis has been investigated and analyzed. The genome is a circular molecule of 15,774 bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and an A + T-rich region. The nucleotide composition of the A. glabripennis mitogenome is strongly biased toward A + T nucleotides (78.30%). Nine protein-coding genes and 14 tRNA genes are encoded on the H strand, and the other 4 protein-coding genes and 8 tRNA genes are encoded on the L strand. The arrangement of genes is identical to all know longhorn beetles mitochondrial genomes.

Ranunchinesin A, a new phenolic compound, and four known phenolic compounds were isolated from Ranunculus chinensis Bge. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by spectral methods.

Four new flavonoid glycosides. 3-O-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylkaempferol (1), 3-O-(alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-{4-O-[(E)-caffeoyl]-beta-D-galactopyranosyl})-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylquercetin (2), 3-O-{2-O-[(E)-caffeoyl]-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl}-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylkaemperfol (3), and 3-O-{2-O-[(E)-caffeoyl]-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl}kaempferol (4), together with two known compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of Ranunculus chinensis BGE. The structures of the new glycosides were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including 1D- and 2D-NMR, and ESI-NIS techniques, and chemical methods.

Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) is a pest of hardwoods in its native range of China. While the host range of this pest has been studied extensively, its mechanisms for host selection are still unknown. Our goal was to study the factors influencing movement and orientation of adult ALB in order to determine if beetle behavior can be exploited to enhance survey and control efforts. Studies were performed near Qintongxia, Ningxia A.R., P.R. of China using potted trees. In 2002, Chinese (Populus alba and P. nigra var. thevestina) and American hosts (Acer platanoides and A. saccharum) were compared with an artificial tree. Marked beetles were observed hourly, and an exponential decay model (y=e-at; where represented the rate of departure from hosts) a was fit to the data. ALB remained on the North American maples to the Chinese poplars and the artificial tree. In 2004, a similar study was conducted with an Asian maple host, A. mono, P. nigra, A. platanoides and an artificial tree. Significantly more ALB remained on the maples than on the poplar or the artificial tree, but there was no significant difference in retention on the maples. In 2005, we wanted to determine if population density played a role in ALB flight propensity. We placed ALB adults in one of four groups on potted P. nigra var. thevestina: 2/tree, 4/tree, 8/tree and 16/tree. Again, marked beetles were observed hourly, and an exponential decay model (y=e-at; where a represented the rate of departure from hosts) was fit to the data. While there was no difference in the 4/tree, 8/tree and 16/tree groups, ALB in these three groups were more likely to fly than those in the a 2/tree group.

As part of the ongoing evaluation of different systemic insecticides for prophylactic treatment of trees, responses of the beetle Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) to different doses of four systemic neonicotinyl insecticides were studied. Adult beetles were provided with twigs or leaves of trees treated with different concentrations of imidacloprid to evaluate the toxicity of the insecticide through ingestion or contact or through both. Adult beetles also were provided with twigs of host plant treated with clothianidin, dinotefuran, and thiamethoxam to establish dose response of the beetle to these insecticides. Levels of individual insecticides in twigs and leaves were determined by using the "parent" method with high-performance liquid chromatography, and these levels were compared with the applied concentrations to determine their relationship. The LC50 values for detected level of each insecticide in twigs was 5.1 ppm at 24 h, 2.9 at 48 h, and 1.9 ppm at 72 h for imidacloprid; 1.1 ppm at 72 h for clothianidin; 2.2 ppm at 72 h for dinotefuran; and 1.0 ppm at 72 h for thiamethoxam. Our results indicate that mortality of adult beetles resulted not only from the ingestion and contact toxicity but also possibly from the antifeedant effect of imidacloprid.

利用杀虫剂防治害虫是一种见效快、效果好的方法;但是,杀虫剂的使用也带来环境污染问题,因此杀虫剂的合理使用已成为目前关注的焦点.光肩星天牛[Anoplophora glabripennis(Motsch.)]是杨树的重要蛀干害虫,幼虫期在树干内钻蛀危害,而且个体分散,加之树木高大,防治起来十分困难.

Proceedings, 16th U.S. Department of Agriculture interagency research forum on gypsy moth and other invasive species 2005 GTR-NE-337 HOST RANGE OF ANOPLOPHORA GLABRIPENNIS: WHAT WE’VE LEARNED FROM COMMON-GARDEN EXPERIMENT DATA Baode Wang1, Vic Mastro1, and Ruitong Gao2 1 USDA-APHIS-PPQ-PSDEL, Bldg. 1398, Otis ANGB, MA 02542 2 Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment, and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry