Dinorhynchus dybowskyi (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae) is used as a biological control agent against various insect pests for its predatory. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the species was sequenced using the next-generation sequencing technology. The results showed that the mitogenome is 15,952 bp long, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and a control region. Furthermore, the gene order and orientation of this mitogenome are identical to those of most heteropterans. There are 21 intergenic spacers (of length 1–28 bp) and 13 overlapping regions (of length 1–23 bp) throughout the genome. The control region is 1,291 bp long. The start codon of the PCGs is ATN, except cox1 (TTG), and stop codon is TAA, except nad1 (TAG). The 22 tRNAs exhibit a typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except trnS1, which lacks a dihydrouridine (DHU) arm and trnV, where the DHU arm forms a simple loop. The analyses based on nucleotide sequences of the 13 PCGs by Bayesian Inference and maximum likelihood methods. The results support the monophyly of five superfamilies Aradoidea, Pentatomoidea, Pyrrhocoroidea, Lygaeoidea, and Coreoidea. Within Pentatomoidea, the relationship observed is as follows: (Plataspidae + Urostylididae) + (Pentatomidae + (Acanthosomatidae + (Cydnidae + (Scutelleridae + (Dinidoridae + Tessaratomidae))))), and D. dybowskyi was placed in Pentatomidae and close to Eurydema gebleri.

Four complete mitogenomes of Eysarcoris rosaceus, E. montivagus, E. gibbosus, E. annamita and one near-complete mitochondrial genome of E. ventralis were sequenced and used to explore the phylogenetic relationships of tribes within the subfamily Pentatominae. The mitogenomes range from 15,422 to 16,043 base pairs (bp) in length and encode 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes (21 in E. ventralis), and a control region. Similar to other heteropteran species, the AT contents of the sequenced species were higher than their GC contents. The most frequently used start/stop codon was ATN/TAA. GTG was only found in atp6 and atp8 of E. gibbosus. All transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) exhibit the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for the trnS1 and trnV, which lacks the stem of the DHU arm. The length and copy number of repeat units were conserved within Eysarcoris, with the exception of E. gibbosus. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitogenomes using both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods strongly supported the relationship among tribes within Pentatominae and confirmed that Graphosoma should be an intermediate lineage of Pentatominae. The relationship between Eysarcoris and Carbula was strongly supported and combined with our previous geometric morphometrics and chromosomal studies, suggest the Eysarcoris should belong to the tribe Eyasrcorini. This work will help to enhance our understanding of mitochondrial genomic evolution and phylogenetic relationships in Pentatominae.

Cycads are an ancient group of gymnosperms that are popular as landscaping plants, though nearly all of them are threatened or endangered in the wild. The cycad aulacaspis scale (CAS),Aulacaspis yasumatsuiTakagi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), has become one of the most serious pests of cycads in recent years; however, the potential distribution range and the management approach for this pest are unclear. A potential risk map of cycad aulacaspis scale was created based on occurrence data under different climatic conditions and topology factors in this study. Furthermore, the future potential distributions of CAS were projected for the periods 2050s and 2070s under three different climate change scenarios (GFDL-CM3, HADGEM2-AO and MIROC5) described in the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). The model suggested high environmental suitability for the continents of Asia and North America, where the species has already been recorded. The potential distribution expansions or reductions were also predicted under different climate change conditions. Temperature of Driest Quarter (Bio9) was the most important factor, explaining 48.1% of the distribution of the species. The results also suggested that highly suitable habitat for CAS would exist in the study area if the mean temperature of 15–20 °C in the driest quarter and a mean temperature of 25–28 °C the wettest quarter. This research provides a theoretical reference framework for developing policy to manage and control this invasive pest.

The Madeira mealybug, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green, is a serious invasive pest that does significant damage to more than 120 genera of host plants from 51 families in more than 81 countries. However, the potential distribution range of this pest is unclear, which could hamper control and eradication efforts. In the current study, MaxEnt models were developed to forecast the current and future distribution of the Madeira mealybug around the world. Moreover, the future potential distribution of this invasive species was projected for the 2050s and 2070s under three different climate change scenarios (HADGEM2-AO, GFDL-CM3, and MIROC5) and two representative concentration pathways (RCP-2.6 and RCP-8.5). The final model indicates that the Madeira mealybug has a highly suitable range for the continents of Asia, Europe, and Africa, as well as South America and North America, where this species has already been recorded. Potential expansions or reductions in distribution were also simulated under different future climatic conditions. Our study also suggested that the mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio9) was the most important factor and explained 46.9% of the distribution model. The distribution model from the current and future predictions can enhance the strategic planning of agricultural and forestry organization by identifying regions that will need to develop integrated pest management programs to manage Madeira mealybug, especially for some highly suitable areas, such as South Asia and Europe. Moreover, the results of this research will help governments to optimize investment in the control and management of the Madeira mealybug by identifying regions that are or will become suitable for infestations.

The family Pentatomidae, the largest within the superfamily Pentatomoidae, comprises about 5,000 species; many of which are economically important pests. Although the phylogeny of Pentatomidae species has been studied using various molecular markers, their phylogenetic relationships remain controversial. Recently, mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) have been extensively employed to examine the phylogenetics and evolution of different insects, and in this study, we sequenced complete/near-complete mitochondrial genomes from five shield bug species of Eurydema to gain a better understanding of phylogenetic relationships in the Pentatomidae. The five mitogenomes ranged in length from 15,500 to 16,752 bp and comprised 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and a control region. We compared mitogenomic characteristics of the Pentatomidae and constructed phylogenetic trees using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods. Our results showed that gene arrangements, base composition, start/stop codons, gene overlaps, and RNA structures were conserved within the Pentatomidae and that congeneric species shared more characteristics. Saturation and heterogeneity analyses revealed that our PCGs and PCGRNA datasets were valid for phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetic analyses showed consistent topologies based on BI and ML methods. These analyses strongly supported that Eurydema species belong to the tribe Strachiini, and formed a sister group with Pentatomini. The relationships among Eurydema species were shown to be consistent with their morphological features. (Strachiini + Pentatomini) was found to be a stable sibling of the clade comprising Cappaeini, Graphosomini, and Carpocorini. Furthermore, our results indicated that Graphosoma rubrolineatum (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) belongs to the Pentatominae and not the Podopinae.

The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus, is an invasive pest species found all over the world. It is native to Mexico and Central America, but is now present in more than 50 countries and regions, seriously threatening the economic viability of the agricultural and forestry industry. In the current study, the global potential distribution of P. marginatus was predicted under current and future climatic conditions using MaxEnt. The results of the model assessment indicated that the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC-AUC) was 0.949, while the TSS value was 0.820. The results also showed that the three variables with the greatest impact on the model were min temperature of coldest month (bio6), precipitation of wettest month (bio13), and precipitation of coldest quarter (bio19), with corresponding contributions of 46.8%, 31.1%, and 13.1%, respectively. The results indicated that the highly suitable areas were mainly located in tropical and subtropical regions, including South America, southern North America, Central America, Central Africa, Australia, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. Under four climate scenarios in the 2050s and 2070s, the area of suitability will change very little. Moreover, the results showed that the area of suitable areas in 2070s increased under all four climate scenarios compared to the current climate. In contrast, the area of suitable habitat increases from the current to the 2050s under the SSP370 and SSP585 climate scenarios. The current study could provide a reference framework for the future control and management of papaya mealybug and other invasive species.