Insects

We report new fossil larval specimens that have characters of the group Megaloptera, i.e., are either megalopteran or megalopteran-like larvae from the Triassic, Cretaceous, or Eocene. Fossils from the latter two times are preserved in amber. One of the new fossils reveals that some earlier reported presumed megalopteran-like fossils, that have been already suspected to be beetles, are indeed more likely beetles of the group Myxophaga. A quantitative morphological comparison supports that most fossil megalopteran (and megalopteran-like) larvae did not differ significantly from extant megalopteran larvae, indicating no major losses of morphology over time. However, two newly reported fossil specimens from Kachin amber indeed separate from the other larvae, representing an extinct morphotype. The morphotype is characterised by a prominent terminal filament, indicating that the specimen is a representative of Sialidae. However, unlike most of the known larvae of this group, it possesses a rather elongate prothorax and strongly curved mandibles. These two characters are more commonly known in larvae of Corydalidae. It seems most likely that the presence of these characters in the new morphotype does not represent a plesisomorphy, but is more likely the product of convergent evolution.

Botanic gardens host diverse living plant collections and are increasingly recognized as sentinel sites for documenting insect biodiversity and detecting biological invasions. Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are well suited to such monitoring due to their close host associations, rapid population growth, and importance as horticultural pests and virus vectors. Here, we document the aphid fauna recorded in five European botanic gardens—Zabrze (Poland), Meise (Belgium), and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, Benmore, and Logan (UK)—based on surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023. Sampling approaches included short-duration expert bioblitz-style surveys and extended seasonal monitoring. In total, more than one hundred aphid species were recorded across all sites. Observed species lists differed among gardens and survey periods, reflecting variation in sampling timing, intensity, and host plant composition. Several alien aphid species to Europe of Oriental and Nearctic origin were detected, including multiple new national records. Alien taxa were found both in outdoor living collections and in controlled environments such as glasshouses, nurseries, restricted areas, and plant shops, which may function as entry points as well as locations for early intervention. These findings illustrate the value of botanic gardens for documenting aphid diversity and supporting early detection of non-native species relevant to plant health and biosecurity.

Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations constitute the largest artificial ecological forest systems in tropical regions of China, while long-term monoculture has significantly reduced biodiversity, particularly among insect communities. Rubber-based agroforestry systems are widely recognized as a promising approach to improving ecosystem functionality. However, the mechanisms by which different intercropping patterns affect insect community dynamics remain poorly understood. This study systematically evaluated the effects of eight rubber-based agroforestry systems on insect community diversity, functional group composition, and associated environmental drivers. Using rubber monoculture as a control, seven rubber-based agroforestry systems were investigated from April 2024 to March 2025. A total of 94,483 insect individuals belonging to 16 orders, 222 families, and 1560 species were recorded. The results indicate that the rubber–fig (Ficus hirta) and rubber–banana (Musa nana) agroforestry systems supported higher insect richness, diversity, and community stability than other systems, while the more complex rubber–coconut (Cocos nucifera)–fig (Ficus hirta) system exhibited a relatively lower value. Functionally, herbivores dominated the rubber monoculture system. The moderately grazed rubber–forage grass (Brachiaria eruciformis)–black goat agroforestry system promoted predators and detritivores, whereas the rubber–konjak (Amorphophallus bulbifer) agroforestry system attracted more omnivores. The permutational multivariate analysis of variance revealed that insect species composition was primarily negatively driven by canopy cover (R² = 14.65%) and management intensity (R² = 11.54%). The ecological benefits of rubber-based agroforestry systems depend not only on crop species diversity but also on vegetation structural complexity and management practices. It is recommended to promote the rubber–banana and rubber–fig agroforestry systems as optimized models and to enhance insect-mediated ecosystem services by maintaining understory vegetation structure, regulating canopy cover, and implementing low-intervention management practices.