A morphological and molecular analysis ofGryonHaliday (Platygastroidea, Scelionidae) was conducted to provide a taxonomic and phylogenetic context for a species under evaluation as a biological control agent ofBagrada hilaris(Burmeister) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae). Our analysis revealed thatGryonis polyphyletic and that the biological control agent is notG. gonikopalense, a name that was tentatively applied to this species in 2019. We here describe this species as new,Gryon aetheriumTalamassp. nov., and resurrect the generic nameHadronotusFörster. Morphological characters that delimit our concepts ofGryonandHadronotusare presented. Based on morphological characters and multilocus phylogenies, we determined that five presently valid scelionid genera belong withinGryon. In total, 15 species are transferred intoGryonfrom these genera, 215 species are transferred fromGryontoHadronotus, and 6 species are transferred fromGryontoDyscritobaeusPerkins. Specimens collected during field studies in California and reevaluation of specimens determined asG. myrmecophilumin Mexico reveal thatG. aetheriumis adventive in North America.

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive alien species and a key agricultural pest. Its native parasitoids (Trissolcus japonicus Ashmead and Tr. mitsukurii Ashmead) have been registered in several countries where H. halys brought dramatic economic losses and where biological control is considered to be the most effective long-term solution. By searching for stink bug egg masses and exposing sentinel egg masses, we monitored the distribution of native and exotic egg parasitoids in Trentino-Alto Adige (Italy), an area where both the host and parasitoids are in expansion. We recorded ten pentatomids, seven parasitoid species, with the first report of Tr. japonicus in this area and a hyperparasitoid. In the assemblage, Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffroy) and Tr. mitsukurii were the dominant parasitoids, with a different distribution in terms of context and host plants. Sycamore was the host plant where the highest number of naturally laid parasitized egg masses (26%) were recorded. Trissolcus mitsukurii showed the highest parasitism rate, and was often found in apple orchards. The emergence of exotic parasitoids showed a temporal delay compared to native ones. Sequence analysis of 823 bp of the CO1 mitochondrial gene revealed that the recovered Tr. japonicus and Tr. mitsukurii harbored one single haplotype each. These haplotypes were previously found in 2018 in Northern Italy. While sentinel egg masses proved to be very effective in tracking the arrival of exotic Trissolcus species, the collection of stink bug egg masses provided fundamental data on the plant host species. The results lend strong support to the adaptation of exotic Trissolcus species to the environmental conditions of the range of introduction, providing new information on plant host-associations, fundamental for the development of biological control programs.

Nondestructive techniques allow the isolation of genomic DNA, without damaging the morphological features of the specimens. Though such techniques are available for numerous insect groups, they have not been applied to any member of the medically important families of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) and phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae). This study presents Mild-Vectolysis, the first nondestructive DNA extraction methodology for vouchering taxa of mosquitoes and sand flies, which provided sufficient amounts of DNA, tested in a verified barcode (cytochrome oxidase I gene), while preserving their morphological integrity. Application of the method to sand flies allowed successful insect identification post DNA extraction, as all basic taxonomical structures necessary for identification (pharynx, cybarium, and genitalia) remained intact. The development of the methodology was more challenging in mosquitoes, due to the fragility of key morphological characters (scales and color). A small modification of the lysis buffer concentration, in combination with the adjustment of the incubation time, a postlysis freezing stage, and the avoidance of ethanol, achieved the extraction of sufficient DNA quantity, while preserving the integument of the mosquitoes, although a small proportion of the scales and the color still appeared to have been lost. In addition to the practicality and efficiency of our methodology, preserving of the original insect specimen post DNA extraction is highly advantageous, as it allows for 1) utilization of the specimen for further analysis and 2) storage for vouchering.

Local beneficial rhizobacteria were selected based upon their ability to control the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici which causes crown and root rot of tomato. Seven out of 384 strains prevailed in multiple and dual cultures and were identified as Pseudomonas chlororaphis (one strain), Bacillus cereus (one strain), Serratia marcescens (three strains) and Serratia rubidaea (two strains), by sequencing the 16S rRNA or the 16S and 23S rRNA inter-spacer region. The seven selected rhizobacteria were tested for their biocontrol and growth-promoting effects in planta, and their antifungal properties in vitro. All strains significantly reduced disease severity under controlled conditions, in a gnotobiotic system and in pots. Moreover, one P. chlororaphis and one S. marcescens strain significantly decreased disease severity to the level of the healthy control under natural conditions in pots experiments. The inhibitory activity of bacterial liquid cultures' metabolites on the fungus was demonstrated for all strains in vitro, using filter paper, thin layer chromatography and microtiter bioassays. Genes encoding phenazines were tentatively detected by PCR in the P. chlororaphis strain and chitinase-encoding genes were detected in one S. rubidaea and all three S. marcescens strains. Production of phenazine-1-carboxamide and hydrogen cyanide was evidenced for the P. chlororaphis strain while protease activity and production of siderophore-like compounds was confirmed in all bacterial strains. Possible use of these strains as biological control agents and their impact on natural biocontrol of pathogens in soils is discussed.