Introduction Members of the Poaceae family have been rewarding subjects of research in the field of functional-structural plant modelling (FSPM) (Fournier et al., 2007). Poaceae comprise important cereal crop species such as rice, wheat, and maize, and the plants usually exhibit a regular and co-ordinated development making them particularly suitable for FSPM. The models that have been reported...

We sampled and analyzed 43 Poaceae plants from the Pacific Ocean island of Tonga for the presence of circular DNA viruses. From these samples, we recovered three gemycircularvirus genomes, which share >99% identity, from Brachiaria deflexa (n = 2) and sugarcane (n = 1). These genomes share <61% genome-wide identity with other gemycircularvirus sequences in public databases.

Abstract We describe all life-stages of Vettius coryna coryna Hewitson, 1866 in eastern Ecuador. The details of larval shelter structure and associated shelter building behavior are described and illustrated, as observed on two grass species (Poaceae). We provide brief observations on V. coryna adult behavior and a review of known life history information for other species of Vettius Godman, 1901.

A new species of Oligosita Walker (Chalcidoidea: Trichogrammatidae), O. balcluthae Viggiani et Laudonia n. sp., is described as a parasitoid of the eggs of Balclutha brevis Lindberg (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) associated with crimson fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum (Poaceae) in Italy. Morphological features and biology of the new species are discussed and illustrated. The 28S-D2 and ITS2 regi...

We describe the immature stages and shelter building behavior of Falga jeconia ombra Evans, 1955 from eastern Ecuador. Chusquea scandens (Poaceae, Bambusoidea) is the larval food plant. Larvae in all stadia build shelters and forcibly eject frass with the aid of an anal comb. Later instars possess an eversible prothoracic "neck" gland. Larvae are associated with moving water.

We describe the immature stages Pedaliodes poesia Hewitson, 1862 from northeastern Ecuador. Chusquea scandens (Poaceae, Bambusoidea) is the larval food plant. Eggs are laid singly or in pairs on the bottom side of host plant leaves. The duration of the egg, larval, and pupal stages, combined, is 99-107 days.

In the present work the presence of Paspalum notatum Flüggé (Poaceae) in Italy was reported for the fi rst time. It is a neophyte native to America, known for applications in phytoremediation. Its typifi cation, ecology and invasiveness status are also presented.

A new mite species Allochaetophora iranica sp. nov. (Tetranychoidea: Allochaetophoridae), is described and illustrated based on females and deutonymphs collected from Phragmites australis (Poaceae) in Iran (Kerman Province). This is the third report of the family Allochaetophoridae for the world and first report of it from Asia.