Diversity of true bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from the El Impenetrable National Park, Argentina

The study of the Heteroptera (Hemiptera) fauna of the El Impenetrable National Park, resulted in an inventory composed of: Alydidae (2 spp.), Aradidae (1 sp.), Belostomatidae (5 spp.), Berytidae (1 sp.), Blissidae (1 sp.), Coreidae (11 spp.), Corixidae (2 spp.), Geocoridae (1 sp.), Gerridae (1 sp.), Hebridae (1 sp.), Largidae (4 spp.), Lygaeidae (5 spp.), Miridae (17 spp.), Nabidae (1 sp.), Notonectidae (1 sp.), Oxycarenidae (1 sp.), Pachygronthidae (1 sp.), Pachynomidae (2 spp.), Pentatomidae (16 spp.), Pleidae (1 sp.), Pyrrhocoridae (1 sp.), Reduviidae (30 spp.), Rhopalidae (5 spp.), Rhyparochromidae (12 spp.), Saldidae (1 sp.), Scutelleridae (2 spp.), Tingidae (1 sp.), and Veliidae (1 sp.). These findings include six new records for the Argentinean fauna: Prytanes foedus (Stl), Saldula pallipes (Fabricius), Camirus brevilinea (Walker), Atopozelus opsimus Elkins, Doldina bicarinata Stl, Rocconota sextuberculata St and 39 new records for Chaco Province.

From North/Central America to the World? Assessing the potential of Pycnoderes quadrimaculatus Guerin-Meneville (Heteroptera: Miridae) as a pest through Ecological Niche Models

BACKGROUND

Pycnoderes quadrimaculatus is a pest that feeds on several plants, many of which are economically important. It is native to North/Central America and its distribution has expanded to several countries in South America.

RESULTS

Ecological niche models show that P. quadrimaculatus has invaded regions with climates different from those of its native range, and that there are suitable climatic conditions for its establishment worldwide. Regions where P. quadrimaculatus is a major threat and possible natural pathways of ingression were identified. In the future, its distribution will be modified by climate change.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides useful information for risk assessment and pest management of P. quadrimaculatus. According to our results, the species has great potential as a pest because it can adapt to different climatic conditions and feeds on a wide range of economically important plants. Over time, its distribution has expanded, and our models suggest that it will continue to invade other regions unless preventive measures are taken. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Heteropteran Bugs Assemblage Associated to Organic Tomato Farms: Knowledge for Pest Management

The suborder Heteroptera (Hemiptera) includes zoophagous and zoophytophagous species which conform diverse natural enemies' systems with potential to control several horticultural pests. In this study, we report the assemblage structure of heteropteran bugs species inhabiting open-field and greenhouse organic tomato crops and one common adjacent non-crop solanaceous plant, Solanum sisymbriifolium, in North Buenos Aires province, Argentina, aimed to select promissory biocontrol species. Biweekly direct inspection of selected plants was carried out during a 3-year period (2017-2019) to collect hemipteran nymphs and adults. As a result, nine species and morphospecies belonging to Berytidae (zoophytophagous), Lygaeidae (phytophagous), and Miridae (phytophagous and zoophytophagous) were found, with ≥ 75% of species belonging to the latter family. The zoophytophagous mirid Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus (Spinola) was the most frequent and dominant species in all sites studied. Among the phytophagous species, Nysius simulans Stål was mostly present in greenhouse crops. The community found in greenhouse tomato crops was more diverse than that registered in open-field crops. The characterization of the heteropteran complex in organic tomato farms provides basic knowledge necessary to design pest control strategies in the region studied.

Redescription of the monotypic plant bug genus Paraneella and Paraneella amazonica , with a neotype designation (Heteroptera: Miridae)

The monotypic Neotropical eccritotarsine genus Paraneella Carvalho (Heteroptera: Miridae) and its only included species, Paraneella amazonica Carvalho 1954, are diagnosed and redescribed, and new characters for their recognition are provided, illustrated, and photographed. Paraneella amazonica, previously known from the type locality in Brazil, is reported for the first time from Ecuador. Because the holotype deposited at the National Museum in Rio de Janeiro was destroyed by fire, a neotype is designated. Carvalho placed Paraneella in the "Neella-Neoneella genus complex" based on its similarity with Neella Reuter. The only existing key to identify these genera had in its first couplet characters referring to males that are unknown for Paraneella amazonica. A new key based on a new set of characters, which are photographed and illustrated, is provided.

Ecological niche modeling (ENM) of Leptoglossus clypealis a new potential global invader: following in the footsteps of Leptoglossus occidentalis?

The introduction of alien species is one of the main problems in conservation. Many successful invaders cause severe economic and ecological damage. Such is the case of Leptoglossus occidentalis, a phytophagous true bug native to North America, which has become a pest in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Within the genus, another species whose distributional range is expanding toward the east of North America is Leptoglossus clypealis. As climate determines the successful establishment of insects, the identification of climatically suitable areas for invasive species based on ecological niche models (ENMs) offers an excellent opportunity for preventing invasions. In this study, ENMs were built for both species and their native climatic niches were compared. Their niche breath was also measured. The climatic niches of both species are identical and the niche breadth of L. clypealis is broader than that of L. occidentalis. In view of the great ecological resemblance between these two species, we believe that L. clypealis could became a major pest thus it should be carefully monitored. The results of the present worldwide ENMs showed numerous regions with suitable conditions for the establishment of both species. The future ENMs exhibited a retraction in the suitable areas in North America, Europe and Asia.

Ecological niche modelling of Gargaphia decoris (Heteroptera), a biological control agent of the invasive tree Solanum mauritianum (Solanales: Solanaceae)

BACKGROUND

The South American tree Solanum mauritianum Scopoli (Solanaceae) is a problematic invasive plant in numerous tropical, subtropical and temperate regions around the globe. Because conventional management approaches are not cost-effective, biological control provides an alternative approach. Gargaphia decoris Drake (Tingidae) is currently used as a biological control agent in South Africa and New Zealand. Considering the importance of climate in the establishment and success of a biological control agent, this study used ecological niche models (ENM) to identify areas where S. mauritianum is a problematic invader and where suitable conditions exist for G. decoris. Additionally, the climate niche dynamics of G. decoris were investigated and ENMs projected worldwide for the year 2050 were built.

RESULTS

Our results indicate that most of the countries where S. mauritianum is problematic have suitable climatic conditions for G. decoris, and that the species can survive in climates with temperatures lower than those in its native range. For future climates, ENMs predict wider regions with favourable climatic conditions for G. decoris.

CONCLUSION

Considering the results of this study, the prospects of using G. decoris as a biological control agent are good under current and future climates. Introduction of this agent could be considered in affected countries where it has not been released. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.