Explore the vast range of titles available.

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Cerura menciana (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) was sequenced and analyzed in this study. The mitogenome is a circular molecule of 15,369 bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and a A+T-rich region. The positive AT skew (0.031) indicated that more As than Ts were present. All PCGs were initiated by ATN codons, except for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, which was initiated by CAG. Two of the 13 PCGs contained the incomplete termination codon T or TA, while the others were terminated with the stop codon TAA. The A+T-rich region was 372 bp in length and consisted of an 'ATAGA' motif followed by an 18 bp poly-T stretch, a microsatellite-like (AT)8 and a poly-A element upstream of the trnM gene. Results examining codon usage indicated that Asn, Ile, Leu2, Lys, Tyr and Phe were the six most frequently occurring amino acids, while Cys was the rarest. Phylogenetic relationships, analyzed based on the nucleotide sequences of the 13 PCGs from other insect mitogenomes, confirmed that C. menciana belongs to the Notodontidae family.

The larvae of the pine processionary moth are a threat to public health because they produce detachable setae that are about 200 µm long and 6 µm wide, reaching a total number of up to 1 million per mature individual. The setae are intended to be released to protect the larvae from predators but become a public health issue when in contact with humans and warm-blooded animals. Symptoms associated with the setae are typically urticaria and local swelling erythema, although edema of the skin, conjunctivitis or respiratory mucosa may occur. Occupational exposure concerns mainly forest workers but also farmers and gardeners. In the present study, we quantify the exposure to the setae of forest workers in a district of Northern Italy. The pine processionary moth represents a real case of occupational exposure as the urticating setae produced by the larvae caused symptoms in most forest workers directly in contact with the infested trees. In addition, the urticating setae were detected on the body of the chainsaw operators and in the surroundings of the felled trees during the operations. The non-exposed workers of the same agency did not report symptoms, with only one exception, likely linked to a non-occupational exposure. As the risk is not immediately perceived by the workers because direct contact with the larvae is unlikely, a campaign of information to workers and the general population living nearby infested forestry areas about the risk associated with airborne exposure is recommended. This becomes especially important in the areas of recent expansion of the insect, where people are inexperienced.

Potential climatic and land-use changes may favor an increase in the population densities and range expansion of oak processionary moth (OPM) in Central and Western Europe in the future. This could lead to more significant threats to human and animal health, caused by the urticating setae released by OPM larvae, and more severe oak defoliation by the larvae. To cope with the public health issue, a basis for OPM hazard assessment and management was created by quantifying the setae formation potential of OPM. While a single larva forms ca. 857,000 setae during its lifespan, a single infested oak tree may be contaminated with up to 10–24 billion (109) setae during an OPM outbreak. Moreover, the possible setae contamination threat to humans through airborne setae dispersal was studied in worst-case exposure simulations in the field. The highest airborne setae concentration was straight downwind, but turbulences up to 150° from the air flow were observed. The findings of this study will improve biohazard quantification as a basis for decision-making on preventive or mechanical control measures and enable an effective protection of human health. This study provides applicable information to derive warnings and recommendations for the public, as well as land managers and authorities.

In 2022, a study was conducted with experimental material from the area of Marikostinovo village, covering various aspects of species bioecology. The stability or changes that have occurred in these bioecological parameters after a 28-31 year period were analysed, with research data from this area conducted in the period 1991-1994. The fecundity of pine processionary moths in the 5 generations compared had a stable level of average values above 214 eggs. The long-term observations and reporting of this indicator gave reason to draw the conclusion that in this region of Bulgaria, the species develops stably, successfully overcoming possible occurrences of extremely high temperatures in July and August. In the egg stage, the most significant factor in reducing the number of T. pityocampa is the impact of parasitoids. Its effect is not a constant value but varies widely, being the difference nearly twice. The relative share of eggs destroyed by predators is insignificant. A distinctive feature of the Marikostinovo site is the high relative proportion of dead caterpillars, sterile and empty eggs, with values significantly higher than those in other areas of the species' global range. This is the warmest and driest region of Bulgaria. The high values of this indicator are also formed by the large number of unfertilised, sterile eggs, reaching in 1994 up to 1/5 of the eggs in the sample. The dominant species, with constant presence in all samples, is Ooencyrtus pityocampae .

Lepidopteran specialist herbivores of the Notodontidae family have adapted to thrive on poplar and willow species (Salicaceae). Previous research showed that Cerura vinula, a member of the Notodontidae family occurring throughout Europe and Asia, uses a unique mechanism to transform salicortinoids, the host plant’s defense compounds, into quinic acid-salicylate conjugates. However, how the production of this conjugates relates to the detoxification of salicortinoids and how this transformation proceeds mechanistically have remained unknown. To find the mechanisms, we conducted gut homogenate incubation experiments with C. vinula and re-examined its metabolism by analyzing the constituents of its frass. To estimate the contribution of spontaneous degradation, we examined the chemical stability of salicortinoids and found that salicortinoids were degraded very quickly by midgut homogenates and that spontaneous degradation plays only a marginal role in the metabolism. We learned how salicortinoids are transformed into salicylate after we discovered reductively transformed derivatives, which were revealed to play key roles in the metabolism. Unless they have undergone the process of reduction, salicortinoids produce toxic catechol. We also studied constituents in the frass of the Notodontidae species Cerura erminea, Clostera anachoreta, Furcula furcula, Notodonta ziczac, and Pheosia tremula, and found the same metabolites as those described for C. vinula. We conclude that the process whereby salicortinoids are reductively transformed represents an important adaption of the Notodontidae to their Salicaceae host species.

Thirty-six species and three genera of moths are recorded for the first time in Colombia, in the families Notodontidae (31 spp., 2 genera), Saturniidae (4 spp., 1 genus), and Sphingidae (1 sp.). All records are based on photographs of live individuals attracted to white and UV lights.

The article provides a list of 23 species from the Chimabachidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Geometridae, Notodontidae, Erebidae, Noctuidae families from Omsk and Novosibirsk Regions in West Siberia. Three species – Pseudobaptria corydalaria (Graeser, 1889), Paragona cognata (Staudinger, 1892), Polia malchani (Draudt, 1934) are new to the South-West Siberian Region in Catalogue of Lepidoptera of Russia. Three species are new to the Omsk Region, among them Pseudobaptria corydalaria (Graeser, 1889), Scopula incanata (Linnaeus, 1758), Egira conspicillaris (Linnaeus, 1758); seven species are new to Novosibirsk Region, among them Dasystoma salicella (Hübner, 1796), Apatura ilia ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), Stauropus fagi (Linnaeus, 1758), Catocala deducta Eversmann, 1843, Acronicta menyanthidis (Esper, 1789), Amphipyra pyramidea (Linnaeus, 1758), Euxoa nigrofusca (Esper, [1788]).

Larvae of the Salicaceae-adapted Notodontidae have developed a unique mechanism to metabolize the chemical defenses of their Salicaceae host plants. Salicinoids and salicortinoids are enzymatically transformed into salicyloyl, benzoyl and mixed salicyloyl-benzoyl quinates. The source of quinates and benzoates was previously unknown. To elucidate the origin of quinate and benzoate in the metabolic end-products, we fed Cerura vinula caterpillars with 13C-labelled poplar defense compounds. Caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), such as chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid and their methyl esters, were identified as the source of quinates in the caterpillar’s metabolism. Benzoyl substituents in the quinate end-products were found to originate from compounds such as tremulacin or trichocarpin. Salicaceae-adapted Notodontidae caterpillars have the ability to overcome their host plant’s chemical defense by metabolizing CQAs and salicinoids, both abundant defense compounds in Salicacea plants, by a strategy of transformation and recombination. We believe that our study opens up avenues for understanding salicortinoid biotransformation at the enzymatic level.

The current spatial distribution patterns of organisms result from both historical and contemporary environmental factors, which can be challenging to identify. Previous approaches to the distribution of Palearctic and Iberian Notodontidae require revision. This study, based on the presence data of each species within 100 × 100 km UTM grid squares across the Iberian Peninsula, represents a first step in this direction. Of the 38 Notodontidae species reliably recorded from the Iberian Peninsula, 7 exhibit a Cantabrian-Pyrenean distribution pattern, 5 extend beyond this region to cover all of Galicia and northern Portugal, 7 are spread throughout the northern half of the peninsula and 11 are widely distributed. As each of these distribution patterns builds upon the previous one, the area of highest species richness is concentrated in the Cantabrian-Pyrenean zone. The number of species recorded in each grid square is influenced by the sampling effort and, to a lesser extent, by land area. However, regardless of these methodological factors, species richness correlates with two key variables: the geographical distance from the Pyrenees and the average spring-summer temperature. The decreasing gradient of species richness as one moves farther from the Pyrenees may be explained by historical southward expansions and subsequent retractions towards the continent. Additionally, the inverse correlation between species richness and average spring-summer temperature could reflect a progressive decline in species whose populations are phenologically suited to Mediterranean conditions.

Two species of moths, Drasteria christophi (Alphéraky, 1895) (Erebidae) and Protarchanara abrupta Eversmann, 1854 (Noctuidae), are reported from Russia for the first time; seventeen species of Notodontidae and Noctuidae are found as new for the fauna of Astrakhan and Volgograd Territories (Southern Russia).