In the present study, we examined the potential role of paclobutrazol in delaying leaf senescence, in causing changes in the activities of antioxidants, and in the maintenance of photosynthetic activity during the senescence process, and, therefore, on the grain yield of maize under semiarid field conditions. Maize seeds were pretreated with 0 (CK), 200 (PS1), 300 (PS2), and 400 (PS3) mg paclobutrazol L−1. Our results indicated that elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and higher accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were positively associated with accelerated leaf senescence during the grain-filling periods. The leaf senescence resulted in the disintegration of the photosynthetic pigments and reduced the net photosynthetic rate after silking. However, the resultant ROS burst (O2− and H2O2) was lessened and the leaf senescence and chlorophyll degradation were evidently inhibited in leaves of paclobutrazol-treated maize plants, which was strongly linked with upregulated activities of antioxidant enzymes in treated plants. The enhanced chlorophyll contents and availability of a greater photosynthetic active green leaf area during the grain filling period facilitated the maintenance of higher photosynthetic rate, and light-harvesting efficiency of photosynthesis associated with photosystem II (PSII) resulted in higher kernel number ear−1 and thousand kernel weights, and thus increased the final grain yield. The average maize grain yield was increased by 18.8% to 55.6% in paclobutrazol treatments, compared to untreated control. Among the various paclobutrazol treatments, PS2 (300 mg L−1) treatment showed the most promising effects on enhancing the activities of antioxidative enzymes, delaying leaf senescence and improving the yield of maize. Thus, understanding this effect of paclobutrazol on delaying leaf senescence introduces new possibilities for facilitating yield improvement of maize under semiarid conditions.

Nagiella occultalis Misbah & Yang, sp. n. from China is described and illustrated. This new species is very similar to N. quadrimaculalis (Kollar, 1844) in general morphological characters of forewing and male genitalia. Molecular evidence shows that these two species diverge in COI barcode region by more than 3.2%. Sequence divergence among the two species is congruent with subtle morphological differences. Wing venation and male genitalia of the two species are compared and illustrated.

Efficacy of indoxacarb and chlorfenapyr against Subterranean termite Heterotermes indicola (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in the laboratory Toprakaltı termiti Heterotermes indicola (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)'ya karşı indoxacarb ve chlorfenapyr'in laboratuvar koşullarında etkisi

Bacotoma Moore, 1885 is reviewed including the description of a new species from Hainan Island, B. hainanensis sp. nov., based on an analysis that combined morphology and mitochondrial DNA. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Platamonina Shaffer & Munroe, 2007, syn. nov. is synonymized with Bacotoma and ten species are included: B. ampliatalis (Lederer, 1863) comb. nov., B. binotalis (Warren, 1896) comb. nov., B. camillusalis (Walker, 1859), B. cuprealis (Moore, 1877) comb. nov., B. hainanensis sp. nov., B. illatalis (Walker, 1866), B. oggalis (Swinhoe, 1906) comb. nov., B. poecilura (Hering, 1903) comb. nov., B. ptochura (Meyrick, 1894) comb. nov., and B. violata (Fabricius, 1787). Syngamia albiceps Hampson, 1912 syn. nov. is confirmed to be a synonym of Bacotoma binotalis, and Platamonia medinalis Snellen, 1900 syn. nov. is synonymized with Bacotoma illatalis. A key to species examined is also provided based on external morphology and male genitalia.