Case study on the first immigration of fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda invading into China

The fall armyworm(FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda is one of the most damaging crop pests, and it has become major threat to the food security of many countries. In order to monitor possible invasion of this pest into China, a searchlight trap was established in March 2018 in western Yunnan Province, China, where it has served as the "first station" for many pests that have migrated from Myanmar to China. A number of suspected FAW moths were captured and identified by DNA sequencing. The results showed that the FAW moth was first captured on December 11 and formed its first immigration peak in mid-December 2018. DNA detection revealed that the early invading FAW population was the "corn-strain". The field survey indicated that the pest mainly colonized corn in Pu'er, Dehong and Baoshan areas. Migration trajectory simulation implied that the moths might have mainly come from the eastern area in the mid-latitude region of Myanmar(20–25°N, 94–100°E). This case study confirmed the first immigration of FAW into China, and will be helpful for guiding monitoring and management work to control this pest.     

Flight activity promotes reproductive processes in the fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda

The fall armyworm(FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has invaded many countries in Africa and Asia since 2016, posing a major threat to world food security. Long-distance migration and strong reproductive ability form the biological basis of its rapid population expansion, but the relationship between the flight and reproduction of FAW has not been studied in depth. Here, an empirical assessment of this relationship in an invasive FAW population in China found that 1–3-day-old adults which had undergone 10-h tethered flights had a significantly shorter pre-oviposition period and greater oviposition synchronization, but did not show any differences in fecundity, oviposition period, mating percentage or other reproductive variables. Further studies on moths after 1.25–15-h tethered flights indicated that the reproductive process of adults could be fully triggered by flight activity longer than 2.5 h. Dissection of the reproductive organs also showed that tethered flight promoted ovarian and testicular development of FAW. These results show that appropriate moth flight activity significantly speeds up the reproductive process of FAW, which increases our knowledge on its migratory biology in relation to regional outbreaks.     

Regularity of population occurrence and migration in the oriental armyworm,Mythimna separata (Walker)

正The oriental armyworm,Mythimna separata(Walker)(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae),is a major migrant pest of grain in China and other Asian countries,causing huge crop production and economic losses nationwide annually.Much of the uniquely difficult aspects of managing M.separata arises from its long-distance migratory behavior.For example,direction and timing of winds from its overwintering regions in the south largely determine where and when large influxes of migrants arrive in the north to oviposit,making prediction of infestations difficult.Since the 1960s,the migration routes and infestation patterns of M.separata in China have been     

Fitness of fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda to three solanaceous vegetables

The fall armyworm(FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda Smith(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important agricultural pest that invaded China in the middle of December 2018. As a polyphagous pest, FAW is identified as a serious threat to agricultural production and food security in China. Pepper(Capsicum annuum L.), tomato(Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) and eggplant(Solanum melongena L.) are three of dominant solanaceous vegetables of this country. To our knowledge, the effects of these plants on the performances of FAW have not been well studied. In this study we assessed the fitness of this pest to these three plants. Results showed that FAW can complete its life cycle when fed with tomato and pepper, but not on eggplant. The population parameters of FAW fed with maize(Zea mays L.) and the three solanaceous vegetables were compared using the age-stage, two-sex life table method. Developmental duration was significantly different in the larval stage, but not in the pupae stage. FAW fed with pepper had the longest pre-adult period(41.73 d) and the lightest pupal weight(0.1134 g); the survival rate was lower than FAW fed with tomato. Significant differences were observed in the mean fecundity of female, with the highest(943.95 eggs) laid by FAW fed with tomato. FAW had the shortest mean generation time(T), the highest intrinsic rate of increase(r) and finite rate of increase(λ) on maize, and the highest net reproductive rate(R_0) on tomato. Overall, FAW fitness on the three solanaceous vegetables was: tomatopeppereggplant. This study provides the foundation for further assessment of FAW risk to solanaceous vegetables and for establishing corresponding control strategies in China.     

Emergence,Mating and Oviposition Behavior of the Chinese Population in Pink Bollworm,Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae)

The pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most serious lepidopteran pests of cotton in the world. This pest invaded China at the onset of the 20th century, possibly through repeated introductions from several different locations worldwide. In this paper, we describe different behavioral parameters of this Hubei P. gossypiella strain under laboratory and field conditions. Using an infra-red video recorder, we observed (nocturnal) emergence, flight and mating activities, and oviposition patterns. Moth emergence started from 13:00 and continued up till 23:00. Under laboratory and field conditions, 2-7-d-old moths initiated flight around sunset, peaked 50 min later and gradually declined until 04:00. Although mating started immediately after darkness (i.e., 20:00), mating behavior was most intense from 23:00 to 03:40. Oviposition also showed distinct time-related patterns, with approx. 70% eggs laid between 20:00 and 22:00. In the studies of the relationship between flight and oviposition, the duration of flight had an effect on oviposition. The 1-d-old moths flown for 6 and 12 h began oviposition earlier than the unflown ones, and the 6-h flight had no effect on the egg production. However, the longevity of the flown moths was shortened after flight. In addition, the peaks of oviposition for the flown moths were advanced 2-3 d. The age when the moths flied affected the oviposition of adult moths. The earlier the moths started to fly after emergence, the greater the fecundity they had. The average egg production of moths flown for 24 h was less than that of non-flown moths which were of the same age. Both flight and delay in mating could advance the oviposition peak. Our study provides detailed insights in nocturnal activities and the reproductive biology of local P. gossypiella populations, which could be employed to fine-tune current pest management programs in China.     

Laboratory-based flight performance of the fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda

In late 2018, the fall armyworm(FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda Smith(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) made its arrival in China and its populations have since proliferated across most of eastern Asia. While S. frugiperda exhibits a considerable dispersal capacity and engages in long-distance migration, there's only scant information on the species' flight capability. Here, we empirically assessed S. frugiperda flight activity under varying climatic conditions using a flight mill. More specifically, under laboratory conditions, FAW exhibited superior flight performance at 20–25°C and 60–90% relative humidity(RH). When quantifying flight performance over five consecutive nights(i.e., 10 h/night), all flight parameters initially increased and then gradually dropped and FAW adults attained a total flight distance, duration and velocity equal to 63.73 km(48.42–94.12 km)(median, quartile range), 24.12 h(20.87–27.73 h) and 2.73 km h~(–1)(2.13–3.33 km h~(–1)), respectively. Our work constitutes a first comprehensive assessment of S. frugiperda flight performance and provides baseline information for future efforts to forecast spatiotemporal changes in its geographical distribution, movement patterns and invasion trajectories. Such can ultimately permit a timely and targeted deployment of area-wide pest management measures against this newly-invasive pest in China and across eastern Asia.     

Identification of summer nectar plants contributing to outbreaks of Mythimna separata(Walker)(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in North China

The presence of adequate nectar sources along the migratory pathway is a prerequisite for moths of oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata, to reach target habitats and lay eggs. Identification of plant species and assessment of their suitability as wild nectar sources along the summer migration pathway of adult M. separata are critical steps in making effective forecasts of second-and third-generation armyworm outbreaks in North China. We explored five aspects of moth-nectar source relationships:(1) Field investigations in 2014 and 2015 showed that the florescence of chaste tree, Vitex negundo var. heterophylla, a primary nectar plant in apiculture, coincided with the summer migration of oriental armyworm moths. The flowers of chaste tree opened day and night and M. separata moths were found actively flying around and resting on tree.(2) Identification of moth-borne pollen by scanning electronic microscopy(SEM) micrographs in 2015 and 2016 revealed that 15.4% of 369 moths trapped by blacklight traps, 17.1% of 557 moths captured by vertical-pointing searchlight traps and 24.4% of 311 moths caught by pheromone traps were found with pollen attached to their proboscis. A total of 228 pollen-carrying individuals out of 1237 armyworm moths were captured by the three types of traps. The three highest percentages of pollen-bearing armyworm moths were carrying pollen of Toona sp.(59.65%), Ligustrum sp.(27.19%) and Syringa sp.(4.39%). In total, 14 types of pollen were detected where three were identified to species, 10 to genus and one as an unknown species.(3) Analysis of geographical distribution, flowering periods and relative abundances of candidate nectar plants suggested that Chinese toon, Toona sinensis, and privet, Ligustrum lucidum, were two important nectar plant species.(4) Analysis on relationship between pollen and ovarian development showed that 14, 15 and 10 females carrying pollen of T. sinensis had ovaries at developmental stages Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ, respectively. Many T. sinensis pollen grains were present on the proboscises of female moths.(5) Comparison of trap effectiveness between blacklight and vertical-pointing searchlight traps indicated blacklight traps caught the highest proportion(35.2%) of female in ovarian stage Ⅴ, whereas vertical-pointing searchlight traps caught the highest proportion(43.5%) of female in ovarian stage I with additional proportions of decreasing percentages for stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ. Integrated analysis on these five aspects suggests that T. sinensis is an important, suitable summer nectar source that potentially influences migration and reproduction of M. separata moths andthus contributes to outbreaks of this pest. The vertical-pointing searchlight trap was the most effective tool for monitoring the migratory flight of adult M. separata. Privet, Ligustrum lucidum, and clove, Syringa sp., are possible suitable summer nectar plants that need further study to elucidate their importance. The reason why field investigation results on chaste tree differed from the results of moth-borne pollen analyses was discussed.     

Adult nutrition affects reproduction and flight performance of the invasive fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda in China

Floral resources, such as carbohydrate-rich nectar or pollen, can bolster fitness and raise reproductive output of adult lepidopterans. Here, we used laboratory experiments to assess how those plant-derived foods impact adult fecundity, reproductive physiology and flight performance of an invasive strain of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda(FAW; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in China. More specifically, supplementary feeding on bee pollen and honey enhanced FAW flight duration, testis size, ovarian development, longevity and adult fecundity. FAW adults attained the longest pre-oviposition(10.8 days) and oviposition period(6.8 days) and longevity(19.2 days) on 5% acacia honey. Upon access to 2.5% acacia honey and 2.5‰ pine pollen, S. frugiperda attained the highest mating rate(79.7%), fecundity(644.9 eggs/female) and egg hatching rate(82.3%). Feeding on honey further delayed decay of male testes, while ovarian development was enhanced when female moths were allowed access to 2.5% honey and 2.5‰ pine pollen. Upon feeding on 5% honey solution, S. frugiperda engaged in flight over the longest duration(9.5 h), distance(29.9 km) and speed(3.1 km h~(–1)). Honey had a comparatively greater effect on the above parameters than pollen. Our findings help decipher FAW invasion patterns and population dynamics, facilitate the development of nutritional attractants, and contribute to integrated pest management of this newly-invasive pest in eastern Asia.     

Insecticide resistance monitoring for the invasive populations of fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda in China

Fall armyworm has invaded China and colonized its populations in tropical and sub-tropical regions of South China since December 2018. Chemical spray has been widely used to control the pest, which shall lead to resistance evolution. In this research, we collected five populations of the pest from Yunnan, Hainan, Tibet, and Fujian of China, and tested their susceptibilities to pyrethroid, organophosphorus, oxadiazine, diamide, antibiotics and other types of insecticides(14 insecticides totally) in the laboratory. Based on the susceptible baseline published from the previous studies, the resistance ratio was 615–1 068-fold to chlorpyrifos, 60–388-fold to spinosad, 26–317-fold to lambda-cyhalothrin, 13–29-fold to malathion, 9–33-fold to fenvalerate, 8–20-fold to deltamethrin, 3–8-fold to emamectin benzoate and 1–2-fold to chlorantraniliprole, respectively. The median lethal concentration(LC_(50)) of other six insecticides without the susceptible baselines was 148.27–220.96 μg mL~(–1) for beta-cypermethrin, 87.03–128.43 μg mL~(–1) for chlorfenapyr, 16.35–99.67 μg mL~(–1) for indoxacarb, 10.55–51.01 μg mL~(–1) for phoxim, 7.08–8.78 μg mL~(–1) for M-EBI(the mixed insecticide of emamectin benzoate and indoxcarb) and 1.49–4.64 μg mL~(–1) for cyantraniliprole. This study can be helpful for chemical control as well as for resistance monitoring and management of the pest in China.     

Impact of agricultural intensification on soil organic carbon: A study using DNDC in Huantai County,Shandong Province,China

Using the biogeochemical model denitrification/decomposition(DNDC), the dynamic changes of soil organic carbon(SOC) of farmland from the 1980 s to 2030 s were investigated in Huantai County, a typical intensive agricultural region in the HuangHuai-Hai Plain of China. Prior to modelling, validation of the DNDC model against field data sets of SOC from Quzhou Experimental Station in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain was conducted at the site scale. We compared the simulated results with the observed SOC in Huantai County during 1982–2011 under two different classification methods of simulation unit(the first method integrated soil type and land use of Huantai County to form the overlapped modeling units; the second selected the 11 administrative towns as the modeling units), and achieved a high accuracy in the model simulation with the improvement of the model parameters. Regional SOC(0–20 cm) density and stocks for Huantai County in the years 2012–2031 were predicted under different scenarios of farming management. Compared with current management practices, optimized fertilization(20% decrease of mineral N), crop straw incorporation(90%) and appropriate animal manure input(40 kg N ha~(–1) yr~(–1)) could achieve the highest level of SOC density(56.8% higher than 2011) in the period of 2012–2031. The research highlighted the importance of crop straw incorporation, optimized N fertilization and integration of crop production with animal husbandry on the farmland carbon sequestration for maintaining a high land productivity in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain.     

Electrophysiological responses of the rice striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis to volatiles of the trap plant vetiver grass(Vetiveria zizanioides L.)

Vetiver grass(Vetiveria zizanioides L.)was previously found to effectively attract female adults of Chilo suppressalis(Walker),an important pest of rice.To determine the volatile compounds involved in this attraction,electroantennography(EAG)responses to seven synthetic volatiles released from vetiver plants were examined.Our results indicated that the responses of C.suppressalis adult antennae to the different compounds varied widely.The compounds elicited strong EAG responses in female antennae were subsequently selected for further EAG response tests,namely,caryophyllene,β-ocimene,linalool andα-pinene.EAG responses to a combination of these four compounds did not differ significantly from the individual compounds.However,pair combination tests indicated that 0.01μgμL~(–1) linalool and 50μgμL~(–1)α-pinene,50μgμL~(–1) caryophyllene and 0.01μgμL~(–1) linalool,0.01μgμL~(–1)β-ocimene and 0.01μgμL~(–1) linalool,and 0.01μgμL~(–1)β-ocimene and 50μgμL~(–1) caryophyllene elicited significantly greater EAG responses in 3-day female moths compared to the 1-day female.These compound combinations and the corresponding ratios are probably playing an important role in attracting female adults of C.suppressalis to the vetiver grass.     

Expression profiles of Cry1Ab protein and its insecticidal efficacy against the invasive fall armyworm for Chinese domestic GM maize DBN9936

The fall armyworm(FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda, which originated in the Americas, is advancing across China and threatening the nation's maize crops. Currently, one widely used tool for its control is genetically modified(GM) Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt) maize. Sufficient content of Bt protein in appropriate plant parts is crucial for enhancing resistance against insect pests. In this study, we conducted a systematic investigation of Cry1 Ab levels in Chinese domestic GM maize DBN9936, which has recently obtained a biosafety certificate, and evaluated its efficacy against FAW. Quantification of expression levels of Cry1 Ab, via ELISA, indicated a spatio-temporal dynamic, with significant variation of mean Cry1 Ab, ranging from 0.76 to 8.48 μg g–1 FW with the Cry1 Ab protein level ranked as: V6–V8 leafR1 leafR4 leafR1 silkVT tasselR4 kernel. Among the nine locations, the Cry1 Ab levels in DBN9936 of the Xinxiang, Langfang, and Harbin fields were significantly lower than those from Wuhan and Shenyang, and were slightly, but not significantly lower than those from the other four fields. Furthermore, the artificial diet–Cry1 Ab mixture and plant tissue feeding bioassays revealed that DBN9936 has high efficacy against FAW. The insecticidal efficacy of different tissues against FAW larvae reached 34–100% with a descending order of lethality as follows: VT leafR4 leafR1 huskR1 silkVT tasselR4 kernel. Taken together, our results showed that Bt-Cry1 Ab maize DBN9936 has potential as a promising strategy to manage FAW.     

Microsatellites reveal strong genetic structure in the common cutworm,Spodoptera litura

The common cutworm, Spodoptera litura(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a voracious agricultural pest. To increase understanding of the migration patterns and genetic diversity of different geographic populations of this species, we analyzed genetic variation in nine microsatellite loci among 576 individuals collected from 17 locations in China and one in Myanmar during 2011–2012. We successfully identified 162 alleles, with an average of 18 alleles per locus and a range of 5 to 34. The mean observed heterozygosity of the 18 populations ranged from 0.18 to 0.98, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.19 to 0.89. For the nine microsatellite markers studied, polymorphism information content ranged from 0.18 to 0.88(mean=0.64). We found low genetic differentiation among the 18 populations(mean F-statistics(F_(ST))=0.05) and high genetic diversity among individuals. Principle coordinates analysis indicated no significant correlation between geographic and genetic distance(r=0.04). The value of N_m(N_m4) estimated using coalescent-based methods suggests strong gene flow with migration. The nine microsatellite markers identified in this study will be beneficial for further investigation of migration patterns and genetic diversity in S. litura.     

Determination of critical nitrogen dilution curve based on leaf area index for winter wheat in the Guanzhong Plain,Northwest China

Excessive use of nitrogen(N) fertilizers in agricultural systems increases the cost of production and risk of environmental pollution. Therefore, determination of optimum N requirements for plant growth is necessary. Previous studies mostly established critical N dilution curves based on aboveground dry matter(DM) or leaf dry matter(LDM) and stem dry matter(SDM), to diagnose the N nutrition status of the whole plant. As these methods are time consuming, we investigated the more rapidly determined leaf area index(LAI) method to establish the critical nitrogen(N_c) dilution curve, and the curve was used to diagnose plant N status for winter wheat in Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China. Field experiments were conducted using four N fertilization levels(0, 105, 210 and 315 kg ha-1) applied to six wheat cultivars in the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 growing seasons. LAI, DM, plant N concentration(PNC) and grain yield were determined. Data points from four cultivars were used for establishing the N_c curve and data points from the remaining two cultivars were used for validating the curve. The N_c dilution curve was validated for N-limiting and non-N-limiting growth conditions and there was good agreement between estimated and observed values. The N nutrition index(NNI) ranged from 0.41 to 1.25 and the accumulated plant N deficit(N_(and)) ranged from 60.38 to –17.92 kg ha~(-1) during the growing season. The relative grain yield was significantly affected by NNI and was adequately described with a parabolic function. The N_c curve based on LAI can be adopted as an alternative and more rapid approach to diagnose plant N status to support N fertilization decisions during the vegetative growth of winter wheat in Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China.     

Larval diet affects development and reproduction of East Asian strain of the fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda

In December 11, 2018, the fall armyworm(FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda invaded China and has since impacted local maize, sorghum and other crops. Here, we draw on laboratory experiments to show how different host crops(i.e., maize, sorghum, wheat and rice) and artificial diet affect larval growth and adult reproduction of one local FAW strain. Larval diet affected development duration, pupation rate, survival and emergence rate of pupae, and S. frugiperda adult fecundity. FAW attained the slowest larval development(19.4 days) on sorghum and the fastest(14.1 days) on artificial diet, with larvae attaining 99.6% survival on the latter food item. On rice, FAW larvae attained survival rate of 0.4% and were unable to pupate successfully. Pupation rate and pupal survival varied substantially between artificial diet and live plantlets at different phenological stages. Pupal weight was the highest(0.26 g) on artificial diet and the lowest(0.14 g) on sorghum, while FAW females reached the highest fecundity(699.7 eggs/female) on 2-leaf stage maize. Egg hatching rate equaled 93.6% on 4-or 5-leaf stage maize and 36.6% on artificial diet. FAW intrinsic rate of natural increase and the finite rate of increase varied between larval diets, reflecting how young maize leaves are the most suitable diet. Our findings can help to refine laboratory rearing protocols, devise population forecasting models or guide the deployment of ‘area-wide' integrated pest management(IPM) modules in FAW-invaded areas of China and other Asian countries.     

Design and selection of an artificial diet for the coconut black-headed caterpillar,Opisina arenosella,based on orthogonal array analysis

Opisina arenosella has been an outbreak pest of coconut trees in southern China since 2013. To develop efficient control methods for this invasive pest, adequate rearing protocols are desirable. In this study, an orthogonal array of artificial diets with 11 factors at 3 levels was deployed for both 2 nd–4 th and 5 th–6 th instar larvae of O. arenosella. Biological parameters including survival time of larvae, development time from larva to pupa, pupation rate, emergence rate, and pupal weight were monitored to reveal the most important components in the diet formulas. Biological parameters in O. arenosella were most affected by brewer's yeast, sucrose, ascorbic acid, and wheat germ. Statistical analysis indicated that different diet combinations supported optimum performance of biological parameters for 2 nd–4 th and 5 th–6 th instar larvae. The validity of the optimization predicted by the orthogonal array analysis was confirmed in a follow-up bioassay with similar optimized diets for both 2 nd–4 th and 5 th–6 th instar larvae. The optimal artificial diet has great potential for the mass rearing technique, and can provide valuable results for using parasitoids in biological control of O. arenosella.     

Soil nutrient loss due to tuber crop harvesting and its environmental impact in the North China Plain

Soil loss due to crop harvesting(SLCH) is a soil erosion process that significantly contributes to soil degradation in croplands. However, little is known about soil nutrient losses caused by SLCH and its environmental impacts. In the North China Plain area, we measured the losses of soil organic carbon(SOC) and nitrogen as well as phosphorus due to SLCH and assessed their relationship with soil particle size composition, agronomic practices and soil moisture content. Our results show that the losses by harvesting potato of SOC, total nitrogen(TN), available nitrogen(AN), available phosphorus(AP) and total phosphorus(TP) were 1.7, 1.8, 1.8, 15.9 and 14.1 times compared by harvesting sweet potato, respectively. The variation of SOC, N and P loss by SLCH are mainly explained by the variation of plant density(PD)(17–50%), net mass of an individual tuber(Mcrop/p)(16–74%), soil clay content(34–70%) and water content(19–46%). Taking into account the current sewage treatment system and the ratio of the nutrients adhering to the tubers during transportation from the field(NTRP/SP), the loss of TN and TP by harvesting of potato and sweet potato in the North China Plain area amounts to 3% N and 20% P loads in the water bodies of this region. The fate of the exported N and P in the sewage treatment system ultimately controls the contribution of N and P to the pollution of lakes and rivers. Our results suggest that a large amount of SLCH-induced soil nutrient export during transportation from the field is a potential pollutant source for agricultural water for vast planting areas of tuber crops in China, and should not be overlooked.     

Influence of Garlic Intercropping or Active Emitted Volatiles in Releasers on Aphid and Related Beneficial in Wheat Fields in China

In order to develop biological control of aphids by a "push-pull"approach, intercropping using repellent emitting plants was developed in different crop and associated plant models. Garlic is one of the potential plant that could be inserted in crops to decrease the pest occurrence in neighboring crop plots. In this study, field works were conducted in wheat fields in Langfang Experimental Station, Hebei Province in China from October 2009 to July 2010 during wheat developmental season. The effect of wheat intercropping with garlic but also the volatiles emission on the incidence of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae Fabricius (Homoptera: Aphididae) was assessed. Natural beneficial occurrence and global yields in two winter wheat varieties that were susceptible or resistant to cereal aphid were also determined comparing to control plots without the use of garlic plant intercrop nor semiochemical releaser in the fields. S. avenae was found to be lower in garlic oil blend treatment (GOB), diallyl disulfide treatment (DD) and wheat-garlic intercropping treatment (WGI) when compared to the control plots for both two varieties (P<0.01). Both intercropping and application of volatile chemicals emitted by garlic could improve the population densities of natural enemies of cereal aphid, including ladybeetles and mummified aphids. Ladybeetle population density in WGI, GOB and mummified aphids densities in WGI, DD were significantly higher than those in control fields for both two varieties (P<0.05). There were significant interactions between cultivars and treatments to the population densities of S. avenae. The 1 000-grain weight and yield of wheat were also increased compared to the control. Due to their potential alternatives as a biological control agent against cereal aphid, garlic intercropping and related emitted volatiles are expected to contribute to the further improvement of integrated pest management systems and to potentially reduce the amount of traditional synthetic pesticides applied in wheat fields.     

Effects of constant and stage-specific-alternating temperature on the survival,development and reproduction of the oriental armyworm,Mythimna separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Migratory insects make diverse adaptive strategies in response to changes in external environment. Temperature has an impact on the survival, development, reproduction, and migration initiation of insects. Previous research has primarily been focused on the effects of constant temperature on populations, but changing temperature has received less attention. Three constant temperature treatments(20, 25 and 30°C) and three pupal-alternating temperature treatments(20–25, 25–20 and 25–30°C) were set up to study the relationship between temperature and population development by age-stage, two-sex life table analysis in the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata Walker, a notorious migratory pest in grain crops. The 25°C treatment was considered optimal with 20 and 30°C as low suitable temperature and high temperatures, respectively. The survival rate was relatively low before third instar larvae at 20°C(63.0%) and 20–25°C(70.1%), and extreme low after pupal stage at 30°C(20.6%). Developmental duration of each stage was negatively correlated with temperature. The adult preoviposition period, when most migratory insects initiate migration, was the shortest at 25°C(2.69d) but was lengthened at both low suitable(7.48d for 20°C, 6.91d for 25–20°C and 4.57d for 20–25°C) and high temperatures(3.74d for 25–30°C and 5.00d for 30°C). Both low suitable and high temperature decreased lifetime fecundity, net reproductive rate and the intrinsic rate of increase, with variability observed across developmental duration and stage during non-optimal temperature. The results expand knowledge of the relationship between changing temperature and armyworm population development, and adaptive strategies in complex ambient environment.