The prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus ticks in the zone of their sympatry

A total of 7210 unfed adult Ixodes persulcatus Schulze, 1930 and I. ricinus (L., 1758) ticks were collected from the vegetation by flagging in 35 study sites located in the zone of their sympatry (mainly in Leningrad region, Russia). Borrelia infection in ticks was estimated by the dark-field microscopic analysis of gut contents in standard vital preparations at a magnification of x600. No correlation was revealed between the series of parameters characterising the abundance of each tick species (tau = -0.13) and between the series of these parameters and the prevalence of Borrelia in each vector. It is concluded that in the broad zone of I. persulcatus and I. ricinus sympatry, the presence and proportion of one vector in the ecosystem does not have any significant effect on the extensity of infection and on the epizootic and epidemic significance of the other vector. Each tick species has its independent (of the other species) and relatively original functional role in the focal ecosystem.     

Studies on the transovarial transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus

The possibility of vertical transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes persulcatus Schulze, 1930 ticks was studied in the progeny of 20 females collected from the vegetation in an active focus of ixodid tick-borne borrelioses (ITBB) located in the Perm oblast, Russia, where Borrelia garinii and B. afzelii are circulating. The presence of Borrelia DNA was detected by the PCR method after feeding and egg laying in 16 engorged females (80.0%), as well as in 36.5 +/- 7.2% samples containing 20 eggs each and in 21.4 +/- 4.2% samples containing 10 eggs each. The respective rates of individual egg infection were 0.4-8.0% and 0.5-23.0%. PCR analysis of 370 eggs (one egg per sample) and 781 unfed larvae hatched from the same egg masses (1, 10, 20, 40, and 50 larvae per sample) failed to reveal the presence of Borrelia DNA. Negative results were also obtained in experiments on inoculating the BSK II medium with the egg and larval materials. Microscopic analysis of 1,683 smear preparations of eggs and 1,416 preparations of unfed daughter larvae revealed spirochete-like cells in 7 (0.4 +/- 0.3%) and 13 (0.9 +/- 0.5%) preparations, respectively; typical Borrelia cells were found in seven preparations of larvae (0.5 +/- 0.4%). Only 1 out of 16 infected females transmitted Borrelia vertically, through the eggs to the larval progeny. The infection rate in this progeny was about 7%, and the prevalence of Borrelia in individual larvae was 0.4-0.8 cells per 100 microscopic fields. These data do not allow the conclusion that transovarial transmission of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in the I. persulcatus tick is an established fact. However, they show that, even if such transmission is possible, its probability is very low.     

空间场所对斑痣悬茧蜂选择不同龄期甜菜夜蛾幼虫行为的影响

实验室条件下以甜菜夜蛾各龄期幼虫为寄主,在大观察罩内的盆栽植物上模拟低龄（1～2龄）和高龄幼虫（3～5龄）在田间的分布特点接虫,在小观察罩内同质空间内混合各龄幼虫,分别观察斑痣悬茧蜂的寄主选择行为。研究结果表明,空间大小对斑痣悬茧蜂选择寄主龄期的行为具有很大影响。在大观察罩中,斑痣悬茧蜂对甜菜夜蛾低龄幼虫（1～2龄）的遭遇和放弃行为比例均大于高龄（3～5龄）幼虫,而在小观察罩内的表现则相反。虽然斑痣悬茧蜂的寄主处理时间随寄主龄期的增大而延长,但在大观察罩内斑痣悬茧蜂花费的寄主处理时间比在小观察罩内长。在小观察罩内,寄生蜂对低龄幼虫的再次攻击间隔时间（653.17s）长于高龄幼虫（171.32s）,但在大观察罩内则相反。在大观察罩内低龄幼虫的被寄生率（23.24%～38.54%）高于小观察罩内（7.88%～21.43%）,但是小观察罩内高龄幼虫（4龄）的被寄生率（34.65%）大于大观察罩（16.86%）。最后,就空间大小影响斑痣悬茧蜂寄主选择行为的机理进行了探讨。     

不同寄主植物对美国白蛾肠道细菌群落的影响

为明确美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea在取食不同寄主植物后其肠道细菌群落的变化情况,采用高通量测序技术分析其肠道细菌16S rDNA的V3～V4区域,分析肠道细菌的多样性、物种组成和菌群结构差异,并对其生物学功能进行预测。结果显示,美国白蛾4龄幼虫在取食不同寄主植物后肠道细菌Shannon多样性指数出现明显差异,由高到低依次为取食寄主法国梧桐Platanus orientalis、柿Diospyros kaki、胡桃Juglans regia、杨树Populus×canadensis和杏Armeniaca vulgaris的群体。美国白蛾肠道优势菌门主要为变形菌门和厚壁菌门,而属分类水平上的物种在不同处理之间存在较大差异,在取食法国梧桐和柿树的美国白蛾肠道中Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia的相对丰度较高,分别为63.16%和34.50%;取食杏树和杨树的美国白蛾肠道优势菌属分别是肠球菌属Enterococcus和肠杆菌属Enterobacter,相对丰度分别为87.58%和37.93%。不同寄主也导致美国白蛾肠道细菌群的组成结...     

Observations on the development of Rhabdochona phoxini Moravec, 1968 (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae).

The life-cycle of the nematode Rhabdochona phoxini, an intestinal parasite of the fish Phoxinus phoxinus, has been studied experimentally. The mayfly nymphs, Habrophlebia lauta Eaton and H. fusca (Curtis) were found to serve as experimental intermediate hosts. After the eggs of R. phoxini have been swallowed by the mayfly nymph, the toothed first-stage larvae of this parasite are released and penetrate through the intestinal wall into t-e body cavity of the mayfly. Before reaching the infective third stage, the larvae moult twice in the body of the invertebrate host (2 to 16 and20 to 36 days after infection at water temperatures of 13--15 degrees C). However, the development of the encysted infective larvae does not cease in the intermediate host and the larvae may undergo one more moult. One of two moults then occur in the intestine of the definitive host (Phoxinus phoxinus) (depending on the fact whether it was infected with third- or fourth-stage larvae) before the larvae attain the maturity. The development of R. phoxini in the definitive host lasts about two months.     

菜蛾盘绒茧蜂主要寄生因子对寄主小菜蛾生长发育的调控

研究了菜蛾盘绒茧蜂的主要寄生因子(多DNA病毒、毒液和畸形细胞)对寄主小菜蛾生长和发育的影响.通过利用结合假寄生和过寄生方法,证明寄生蜂寄生因子对寄主生长和发育有明显影响.结果显示,假寄生初期,寄主体重降低;但到后期,当未寄生寄主正常化蛹后,假寄生寄主继续取食、发育,寄主末龄幼虫期显著延长,不能化蛹,成为超重幼虫,最大体重可达10.52mg.正常寄生后,寄主的发育与未寄生寄主相比,始终处于抑制状态.过寄生对寄主生长、发育的抑制程度加剧.研究结果表明,假寄生与正常寄生后寄主的生长和发育有明显差异,这种差异的部分原因可能是由畸形细胞引起的.     

Dispersal in patchy environments: effect on the prevalence of small mammal ectoparasites

Part-time ectoparasites on small mammals disperse via the habitat, while full-time parasites spread throughout the host population by direct contacts between host animals. It is therefore supposed that the effect of the natural environment is different for the two groups. This was studied as differences between observed and expected prevalence, the percentage of the infested host population, during different environmental conditions. Two possible mechanisms of such an effect were analysed, i.e. a) host selection and its change with host frequency and b) parasite migration and reproduction rates as reflected by the frequency distribution patterns on the hosts. As expected the prevalence of full-time ectoparasites (Anoplura and subfamily Laelapinae) could be predicted on the basis of host species frequencies during different environmental conditions, with the exception of one louse species (Hoplopleura acanthopus), because of its restricted distribution. Prediction was not possible for part-time ectoparasites (subfamily Hameogamasinae). Species of the subfamily Haemogamasinae were more catholic in host selection than species of Anoplura and subfamily Laelapinae. The haemogamasin mites changed host species to a greater extent than did Anoplura and Laelapinae. All haemogamasin mites had short-tailed frequency distribution patterns and all Anoplura and Laelapinae, except Hyperlaelaps microti, had long-tailed frequency distributions.     

桃蛀螟越冬老熟幼虫过冷却点测定

通过对桃蛀螟(Dichocrocis punctiferalis Guenée)越冬老熟幼虫和蛹过冷却点的测定,初步明确了寄主植物、幼虫体重、性别等因素对其越冬幼虫和蛹抗寒性的影响。取食玉米、高粱和向日葵不同寄主植物的桃蛀螟越冬幼虫的过冷却点差异不显著;幼虫体重与其过冷却点没有显著相关性;幼虫进入越冬状态越早,过冷却点越低;雌、雄越冬幼虫的过冷却点没有显著差异;蛹与越冬幼虫的过冷却点无显著差异;采自不同地区玉米植株上的5个地理种群的越冬幼虫过冷却点差异不显著。     

Stimulating effects of the insecticide chlorpyrifos on host searching and infestation efficacy of a parasitoid wasp

Hymenopterous parasitoids play an important role in the control of insect populations. During oviposition, Hymenopterous parasitoids use cues such as odours from their environment to locate their specific host. Leptopilina heterotoma (parasitoid of Drosophila larvae) locate their host by probing the substrate with the ovipositor. This behaviour can be induced by the odour of the host substrate alone. We analysed the sub-lethal effects of chlorpyrifos at LD20 on the probing activity in response to a fruit odour (banana). The insecticide increased the percentage of females spontaneously probing in response to the odour. Parasitoid females were then conditioned to associate banana odour with the oviposition in host larvae. This conditioning enables parasitoids to memorize the odour and to increase their probing response to this odour. During the olfactory conditioning, females exposed to the insecticide found and oviposited in host larvae more quickly than control females. One hour after the olfactory conditioning, females exposed to the insecticide presented a higher increase of their probing response to the odour than controls. Twenty-four hours after conditioning, the stimulation produced by chlorpyrifos was no longer perceptible, but the level of response of conditioned females was still higher than that of non-conditioned females, showing that odour memory was not impaired by the insecticide treatment. These sub-lethal effects, that stimulate host searching by parasitoids without impairing odour memorization, could increase their parasitic efficiency.     

甜菜夜蛾核多角体病毒对斑痣悬茧蜂发育及存活的影响

研究了甜菜夜蛾核多角体病毒对斑痣悬茧蜂Meteorus pulchricornis发育及存活的影响。正在蜕皮的甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua 2龄幼虫被斑痣悬茧蜂寄生后,当其发育到3龄与4龄时分别饲以95%致死浓度(LC_(95))或10×LC_(95)甜菜夜蛾核多角体病毒(SpeiNPV),研究表明:甜菜夜蛾核多角体病毒对斑痣悬茧蜂发育及存活产生不利的影响,影响程度取决于寄生与饲毒的间隔期以及饲毒量。被寄生的甜菜夜蛾幼虫发育到第3龄(即被寄生后第1天,1dpp)分别饲以LC_(95)或10×LC_(95) SpeiNPV的处理,没有寄生蜂老熟幼虫从寄主体内钻出;被寄生的甜菜夜蛾幼虫发育到第4龄(4 dpp)分别饲以LC_(95)或10×LC_(95) SpeiNPV的处理,分别有25.62%与16.31%寄生蜂老熟幼虫从寄主体内钻出。甜菜夜蛾是否饲毒对寄生蜂的出蜂率、化蛹率及羽化率影响显著;饲毒浓度影响寄生蜂的出蜂率、化蛹率,但不影响羽化率。甜菜夜蛾饲毒与否对寄生蜂幼虫及蛹的发育历期无显著影响,但饲毒甜菜夜蛾体内寄生蜂幼虫、蛹及成蜂显著小于未饲毒的甜菜夜蛾体内寄生蜂幼虫、蛹及成蜂。     

Peculiarities of behaviour of taiga (Ixodes persulcatus) and sheep (Ixodes ricinus) ticks (Acarina: Ixodidae) determined by different methods

A comparison of the behavioural peculiarities of Ixodes persulcatus Schulze, 1930 (north-western population, Russia) and Ixodes ricinus (L., 1758) from western Russia and Denmark was determined by using two methods. Method 1 involved a sojourn of ticks on vertical plastic sticks and showed that the questing behaviour of I. ricinus nymphs was dependent on temperature and relative humidity (RH). A significantly greater number of nymphs quested at 22 degrees C and 100% RH than at 18 degrees C. When the humidity was reduced to 30% all of the nymphs departed. In the second method, the activity of ticks on an inclined "ticksdrome" was estimated. The activity of I. ricinus adults from the Danish population was 1.2 times greater than that of ticks from Russia. Females of the species studied and specimens from all study areas were more active than all other stages of development. The locomotor activity of both adult and immature I. ricinus that were infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was suppressed when compared with uninfected specimens. The locomotor activity of I. persulcatus females infected by borreliae with exoskeleton anomalies was 1.3 times greater (P<0.05) than that of infected ticks without anomalies. Our data showed that infected females with exoskeleton anomalies could crawl faster on a human and reach uncovered parts of the body that are vulnerable for attachment and feeding. A study of locomotor activity and questing behaviour may be useful for comparing the risk for different tick species and populations to transmit tick-borne pathogens.     

Valuation of gamma irradiation for proficient production of parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae & Eucoilidae) in the management of the peach fruit-fly,Bactrocera zonata (Saunders)

Recognizing the potential significance of using nuclear techniques in biological control, investigations were conducted on the rearing of parasitoids of the peach fruit-fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae) to lead to a greater flexibility in the use of irradiated hosts. For improving mass production of the biological control agents, the use of irradiated fruit-fly larvae at the dose of 15 Gy proved useful for enhancing the parasitism and adult emergence of the larval parasitoid, Trybliographa daci (Weld) (Hymenoptera: Eucoilidae) due to no negative repercussions on parasitoid development. Overall, parasitism by the parasitoid increased with age of the host larvae; however, significantly higher parasitism occurred on 4 d-old irradiated larvae of B. zonata compared to those aged 5 d. The female parasitoids preferred the irradiated larvae, and significantly higher numbers of larvae were parasitized compared with non-irradiated larvae. There was no significant difference in adult parasitoid emergence with respect to the sex of the host. A radiation level of 80 Gy was the best dose for rearing of the pupal parasitoid, Dirhinus giffardii (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) owing to broad tolerances in the use of irradiation for the rearing of fruit-fly's parasitoids. Percentage parasitism by D. giffardii varied with host pupal age, and the preference of the female parasitoid was lower on 48 h old host pharate pupae due to optimum size and mass of host. Present findings further revealed that the 24 h old host pupae of B. zonata were relatively more suitable for the maximum parasitism and progeny production of D. giffardii. Parasitisms by D. giffardii and T. daci were significantly higher on B. zonata host when parasitoids were released at a density of 3000 individuals per acre (7500 per hectares) than the other release rates of parasitoids for the management of fruit-flies in mango orchards. The implementation of these findings ought to help improve the mass production of parasitoids and the effectiveness of releases of biocontrol agents for control of B. zonata in mango plantations.     

春臀钩土蜂两个地理种和日本丽金龟臀钩土蜂搜索能力的比较

利用“Y”型选择器和草地寄主搜寻试验，就春臀钩土蜂两个品系和日本丽金龟瞥钩土蜂对日本金龟子的搜索能力进行了比较。结果表明，两种土蜂的3个品系对日本金龟子3龄幼虫的存在与否没有表现出明显的辨别能力。虫粪对土蜂搜索寄主有一定的引导作用，但日本丽金龟臀钩土蜂的趋性没有春臀钩土蜂明显。寄主虫体气味与虫粪混合存在比只有虫粪存在更能吸引土蜂。土蜂可以在相隔两个侧臂20cm的距离内感知金龟子幼虫的存在；当寄主与非寄主金龟子同时存在时，不能辨别出寄主；但能通过虫粪辨认寄主所在方向。春臀钩土蜂两个品系对日本金龟子幼虫气味表现出极强的趋性。日本丽金龟臀钩土蜂则受非寄主幼虫气味干扰。草地寄主搜寻试验表明，春臀钩土蜂CH—SD品系仅搜索内开口隧道内幼虫；A—NC品系对隧道的开口没有表现出特殊的选择性。67．5％雌蜂能够感知寄主幼虫的存在并自行挖洞搜索。寄主粪便可以引导土蜂从人工隧道开口进入。网罩内草地上的虫粪可以干扰土蜂对地下寄主位置的判断。     

斜纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒对宿主实验种群增长的影响

在室内自然变温条件下,应用生命表方法评价了斜纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒对宿主实验种群增长的影响。结果表明,该病毒对斜纹夜蛾实验种群有明显的控制作用:①随着病毒接种浓度的升高,幼虫病死速率加快;②宿主感染病毒后,存活率、化蛹率降低,5、6龄幼虫历期明显延长,残存蛹羽化所得雌虫产卵量下降,当饲毒浓度达1.09×10~5PIBs/ml时,雌虫产卵量和产卵历期与对照差异显著(P<0.05),但病毒组各处理间无显著差异;③病毒能显著降低种群趋势指数(Ⅰ)值。各病毒组与对照的Ⅰ值差异极显著(P<0.01)。     

外源哌啶酸对丽蝇蛹集金小蜂生长发育及耐寒性的影响

本研究以丽蝇蛹集金小蜂及其寄主红尾肉蝇为研究对象,评价了寄主饲料中添加哌啶酸对金小蜂生长发育和耐寒性的影响。结果表明,寄主饲料中添加哌啶酸的最适浓度为2%,无论金小蜂幼虫滞育与否,添加哌啶酸均能一定程度上降低金小蜂的鲜重、干重、含水量、水合量及过冷却点,其中对鲜重、含水量及水合量的影响显著。添加哌啶酸也能显著缩短非滞育金小蜂成蜂的寿命,降低其繁殖力,但对其发育历期和性比无显著影响。添加哌啶酸还能显著提高金小蜂幼虫的耐寒性,其中对滞育幼虫的耐寒性提高最显著。本研究结果证明哌啶酸对金小蜂的生长发育具有一定抑制作用,但可显著提高其耐寒性,这为深入研究哌啶酸的功能机制及促进金小蜂的利用提供了理论参考。     

Impact of neem and chinaberry fruit extracts on the pest/parasitoid (Pieris rapae/Hyposoter ebeninus) interactions

A new technique was performed to simulate exposure of the host Pieris rapae larvae to both botanical treatment and the parasitoid Hyposoter eheninus in different sequences. It was found that: host larvae subjected to both parasitoid and 1% neem treatment showed significant or insignificant reductions both in pupal formation as well as adult emergence percentages when treatment preceded or followed parasitism, respectively. Both neem treatments revealed significant prolongation in the development of unparasitized and parasitized larvae (on average 4 to 5 days delay), whereas chinaberry caused significant prolongation only among parasitized larvae (on average 2.7 days delay in egg-larval duration). Fate of parasitism among untreated hosts was found to be faster than among neem-treated ones. Parasitism percentages among 1 and 0.5% neem-treated third instar host larvae held 7 days before parasitism reached 3 and 2 times that achieved among those reared on untreated diet for the same period, ­respectively.It was concluded that prolongation of the preferred target instars of the host, due to neem treatments, increased the chance for parasitism. Nevertheless, treatment with neem at the LC₅₀ level exhibited a great reduction in parasitoid progeny. However, a lower concentration (LC₂₅) could reasonably potentiate parasitism without drastic losses in parasitoid emergence.     

Development of Procamallanus saccobranchi (Nematoda: Camallanidae), a parasite of a freshwater fish in India

The development of the nematode Procamallanus saccobranchi Karve, 1952, a parasite in the stomach of the fish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), was studied in Mesocyclops crassus (Fischer) and Mesocyclops leuckarti (Claus). After being ingested by the copepods the nematode first-stage larvae penetrated into the haemocoel of the intermediate host; there they moulted twice (on days 3 and 5 p.i. at 28-30 degrees C) attaining the third, infective stage. The definitive host H. fossilis acquired infection by feeding on copepods harbouring infective-stage larvae; in the stomach of this definitive host, the larvae were observed to undergo two more moults. The third moult occurred on day 13 p.i. and the fourth moult on day 38 p.i. and day 66 p.i. in "male" and "female" larvae, respectively. The larval stages, including the moulting forms are described and illustrated.     

Impact of neem and chinaberry fruit extracts on the pest/parasitoid (Pieris rapae/Hyposoter ebeninus) interactions

A new technique was performed to simulate exposure of the host Pieris rapae larvae to both botanical treatment and the parasitoid Hyposoter eheninus in different sequences. It was found that: host larvae subjected to both parasitoid and 1% neem treatment showed significant or insignificant reductions both in pupal formation as well as adult emergence percentages when treatment preceded or followed parasitism, respectively. Both neem treatments revealed significant prolongation in the development of unparasitized and parasitized larvae (on average 4 to 5 days delay), whereas chinaberry caused significant prolongation only among parasitized larvae (on average 2.7 days delay in egg-larval duration). Fate of parasitism among untreated hosts was found to be faster than among neem-treated ones. Parasitism percentages among 1 and 0.5% neem-treated third instar host larvae held 7 days before parasitism reached 3 and 2 times that achieved among those reared on untreated diet for the same period, ­respectively.It was concluded that prolongation of the preferred target instars of the host, due to neem treatments, increased the chance for parasitism. Nevertheless, treatment with neem at the LC₅₀ level exhibited a great reduction in parasitoid progeny. However, a lower concentration (LC₂₅) could reasonably potentiate parasitism without drastic losses in parasitoid emergence.     

草地螟发育阶段对伞裙追寄蝇的寄生效果

伞裙追寄蝇是草地螟、黏虫等重大农业害虫的优势寄生性天敌，对害虫种群数量的调控起着不可忽视的作用。本文研究了不同龄期草地螟对伞裙追寄蝇寄生效果的影响，为伞裙追寄蝇的室内扩繁和田间应用提供依据。在温度（25±1）℃，相对湿度（65±5）%，光周期14L：10D实验室条件下研究了伞裙追寄蝇对草地螟2、3、4、5龄幼虫及5龄期不同日龄幼虫的寄生效果，5龄期不同日龄幼虫对寄蝇的发育适合度。结果表明：伞裙追寄蝇对2～5龄草地螟幼虫都有寄生行为，但对5龄草地螟幼虫的寄生率（68.89%）显著高于其他龄期；且寄生5龄幼虫的羽化率最高（73.88%）。伞裙追寄蝇寄生能力随寄主日龄呈现先升高而后下降趋势，其中5龄后2～3日龄寄生率（74.44%）、羽化率（78.76%）均最高，子代发育历期最短，产卵量最高，为最适寄生阶段，说明室内扩繁伞裙追寄蝇寄主选择以5龄期2～3日龄草地螟幼虫为宜。     

多杀菌素对菜蛾绒茧蜂的致死和亚致死效应

以对多杀菌素高抗的小菜蛾纯合子品系作寄主饲养菜蛾绒茧蜂,用多杀菌素田间推荐使用浓度(25 mg/L)分别处理处于卵期、幼虫期和蛹期的绒茧蜂,其中卵期和幼虫期通过处理寄主幼虫间接处理,并测定该药剂对成虫的毒力,系统观察该杀虫剂对绒茧蜂各虫期的致死和亚致死作用。与对照相比,绒茧蜂卵期或幼虫期其寄主受药后,可导致蜂幼虫死于寄主体内或啮出寄主的过程中,使结茧化蛹率下降43% ~56%,成虫羽化率下降19% ~33%,成蜂雌性比下降11% ~25%,而成虫大小、寿命和寄生力未受显著影响;在蛹期受药使成虫羽化率下降10%,成蜂寿命缩短,但对成虫寄生力无显著影响;对成虫24 h的LC99为4.31 mg/L。结果表明,多杀菌素可进入寄主作用于其体内的蜂卵和幼虫,或直接作用于蜂蛹和成虫,从而对绒茧蜂各个虫态产生显著的致死和亚致死效应,尤以对成虫高毒。