Aerial Spraying with Endosulfan against Glossina morsitans morsitans in the Okavango Delta area of Botswana

Abstract

Trials to determine if the costs of eradicating G. morsitans by aerial application of endosulfan (Park et al 1972) might be reduced, were carried out using lower quantities of the pesticide. Area dose rates were varied by altering; the swath width, the insecticide output per unit flying time and the insecticide concentration. The trials were judged by the reduction of the adult tsetse population after a single application. Results indicated that eradication of G. m. morsitans under the conditions prevailing in N.W. Botswana, is possible by the repeated application, at 21 day intervals, of 20% endosulfan at 3.0 //km² (0.6 kg a.i./km²). Applications should be made at a swath interval of 274m, using a single AU 3000 Britten-Norman Micronair unit to produce spray droplets mostly smaller than 40μm diam. The cost (1973) of each application (aircraft and insecticide only) was approximately US $13.00/km² for an area in excess of 1000 km².     

Dutch elm disease in New Zealand: impacts from eradication and management programmes

Ophiostoma novo‐ulmi, the cause of the current pandemic of Dutch elm disease, is considered one of the 20 worst pests to have been introduced to New Zealand. An attempt to eradicate the pathogen came close to success, but was eventually stopped and replaced by management programmes. These programmes are slowing the spread of the pathogen. If left uncontrolled it is likely that New Zealand will lose 90% of its elm trees. Although elms are exotic trees in New Zealand, the loss of such a large number of popular amenity trees is likely to have numerous social, cultural, environmental and economic effects. It is estimated that this disease could cost public and councils over NZD $350 million in tree removal and replacement costs. Control of O. novo‐ulmi is limited, but biological control using d‐factor viruses has been proposed. Although O. novo‐ulmi was not eradicated from New Zealand, the eradication programme had many successes; in particular, the effective interaction of good management and science in the early years of the campaign. Also highlighted in this review are several tactics and steps that could be applied to eradication attempts for other species.     

黄土高原森林草原区退耕还林还草土壤保持效应评估

黄土高原地处生态过渡带和环境脆弱区,区内大范围的土壤侵蚀严重影响了当地的生态环境。以黄土高原森林草原区为研究对象,应用修正通用土壤流失方程,根据2000、2005、2010年气象数据及土地利用等数据,从不同坡度、植被覆盖度、土地利用类型评估了黄土高原森林草原区退耕还林还草工程的土壤保持效应。结果表明,(1)随着退耕还林还草工程的实施,林地和草地面积明显增加,分别增加2 219.41 km~2、2 205.27 km~2,研究区植被覆盖度逐渐改善。(2)2000—2010年土壤保持量增加2.41亿t,单位面积土壤保持量由3 033.15 t·km~(-2)·a~(-1)增加至5 114.86 t·km~(-2)·a~(-1),土壤保持效应显著提升。(3)研究区土壤保持效应与植被覆盖度呈正相关关系,在不同土地利用类型中,林地、草地和耕地具有较高的土壤保持效应,单位面积土壤保持量分别为5 405.57、3 598.41、3 078.81 t·km~(-2)·a~(-1)。退耕还林还草工程的实施提升了区域的土壤保持效应,但是,区内东北部由于矿产资源开采导致的植被破坏、地表塌陷以及土壤侵蚀问题亟待解决。     

Effects of removing Cynodon dactylon from a recently abandoned agricultural field

An understanding of ecosystem response to the removal of a dominant non‐native species is critical for planning control or eradication efforts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of recently abandoned agricultural fields in south‐eastern Arizona, USA to the removal of Cynodon dactylon, a dominant perennial rhizomatous grass. C. dactylon was removed from treatment plots using glyphosate herbicide. Repeated application of glyphosate to C. dactylon did have a significant impact on the cover of C. dactylon and in the community composition of the treated plots. However, patterns observed in this study were similar in both control and treated plots, suggesting that the response of the system to the removal of C. dactylon was nested within larger changes the entire system was experiencing during the time of the study. The short‐term, dynamic response to herbicide treatment seemed to be mediated by the amount and timing of precipitation. Additionally, though C. dactylon removal via herbicide treatment was effective, undesired effects including increases in other non‐native, noxious species were observed. The results demonstrate that control of C. dactylon would likely be possible and cost‐effective for this site. However, removing C. dactylon apparently created conditions conducive for other opportunistic species to increase. The decision to undertake a large‐scale eradication effort should weigh the benefits of C. dactylon removal against the potential increase in other undesirable species.     

Weed eradication feasibility: lessons of the 21st century

The past decade has seen strong controversy concerning the upper bounds for weed eradication. Over this period, two of the most ambitious weed eradication attempts ever have failed. These have, however, provided rich data sets that have supported a productive and highly collaborative research effort. I review this research and present a new algorithm for assessing eradication feasibility, based upon time to maturation, seedbank persistence and membership of one of two contrasting dispersal functional groups. Eight ‘eradication syndromes’ are identified and their relative eradication feasibilities indicated. The syndrome with the highest feasibility includes species that combine long juvenile periods and low seedbank persistence with short‐distance and/or human‐mediated dispersal. At first glance, this may not be a common syndrome. The syndrome with the lowest feasibility comprises plants that combine a short juvenile period and high seedbank persistence with abiotic or non‐human‐mediated biotic dispersal. It includes a number of aquatic perennials that can be dispersed over large distances by floodwaters. Projected costs for a programme targeting a plant species should reflect its syndrome membership. Improved cost estimates will support better decision‐making with regard to programme initiation, maintenance and termination; models are available that can provide estimates of eradication programme duration and cost. Whether eradication has much of a future as a weed invasion management strategy will likely rest upon more timely, better‐informed and shrewder target selection.     

Perspective: shedding light on spotted lanternfly impacts in the USA

Spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) is an invasive phloem‐feeding planthopper currently being quarantined in a 24 000 km² area in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware, with a second population under quarantine in a 46 km² area in Virginia. Because this insect feeds on over 70 species of plants, it has the potential to impact a wide range of sectors, and as a result, there has been great public speculation that the economic impact of SLF could be severe. SLF is a large‐bodied voracious feeder that reduces plant resources directly by feeding, and indirectly, from sooty mold that grows on its excrement and blocks photosynthesis. SLF is causing severe damage to vineyards from feeding, and is a significant nuisance pest. It has high potential for spread via human‐mediated transport, particularly of egg cases, and may therefore significantly impact commerce in the near future. The ultimate impacts of this insect are not yet known, and will depend upon its longer term impacts on plant and tree health, and the extent to which its range expands. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

保水剂用量对冬小麦生长及水肥利用的影响

为探明保水剂施用条件下冬小麦生长与水肥利用的特征,采用田间试验,以不施保水剂和氮肥为对照,研究了单施氮肥(T2:225 kg·km^-2)和其与不同用量保水剂配施(T3:N+保水剂30 kg·hm^-2、T4:N+保水剂60 kg·hm^-2、T5:N+保水剂90 kg· hm^-2)处理对冬小麦生长、土壤矿质氮含量以及水肥利用等影响。结果表明:保水剂与氮肥的施用显著提高了小麦各生育期的小麦总群体、株高、叶面积、土壤矿质氮含量及水肥利用率等。各处理中,以T4处理对于总群体数、株高、穗长和穗粒数的提高效果最为显著,而T5处理对于小麦叶面积和千粒重的提高作用明显。随小麦生育期的推进,保水剂处理的根冠比均较对照低,尤其是T3处理。而各生育期土壤矿质氮平均含量表现为T4＞T3＞T5＞T2＞CK。最终小麦产量、氮肥农学效率、氮素生产力和水分利用效率,随保水用量的增加而先增后将,且均匀以T4处理最高,其分别比单施氮肥处理(T2)14.5％、55.9％、34.6％和25.0％。说明各处理中,以T4处理对小麦的生长、增产及水肥利用的效果最佳。     

Competitive traits of the invasive grass Arundo donax are enhanced by carbon dioxide and nitrogen enrichment

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and soil nitrogen (N) may confer competitive advantages to invasive species over native plant species. We conducted a two‐way factorial experiment, growing the model invasive plant Arundo donax in CO₂ growth chambers to test how CO₂ and N availability interact to affect plant growth and biomass allocation. CO₂ was supplied at c. 400 mg L^?1 and c. 750 mg L^?1. N was supplied as ammonium nitrate at 640, 320 and 80 mg L^?1. We hypothesised that the fertilisation effect of CO₂ enrichment would offset limitations from N deficiency. The results indicated that A. donax plants grown with enriched CO₂ and abundant N accumulated approximately 50–100% more biomass and allocated approximately 50% more biomass to rhizomes than plants grown under ambient CO₂ conditions. Neither treatment affected the leaf area per unit mass (specific leaf area; SLA). Greater growth will likely increase A. donax's competitive potential, because increased rhizome biomass has been associated with increased stress tolerance and post‐disturbance resprouting capacity. The consistent SLA under all treatments suggests that A. donax has a morphological strategy that prioritises increasing leaf quantity over increasing individual leaves' photosynthetic potential. These results reveal the ecological strategies that contribute to the successful establishment, dominance and persistence of this invasive plant species.     

Spotted wing drosophila infestation of California strawberries and raspberries: economic analysis of potential revenue losses and control costs

BACKGROUND: Economic costs of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) include yield and associated revenue losses, labor and material costs for monitoring and management and revenue losses due to the closure of export markets should fruit from SWD‐infested regions be banned by trading partners. This analysis focuses on two types of loss in the California raspberry and strawberry industries: yield losses in the absence of management, and insecticide material costs on a per treatment basis. It computes the cost of a specific management program for raspberries in California's Central Coast region. RESULTS: Insecticide material and application costs per treatment and the cost of the management program are small relative to the yield losses in the absence of management that are observed by growers, researchers and others in initial infestations. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to evaluate precisely the share of pest management program costs due to SWD because insecticides are sometimes used to manage multiple pests, and because labor‐intensive field sanitation efforts to control SWD are recommended practices already. Given these considerations, this analysis finds that the benefits to SWD management well outweigh the costs examined here. Evaluating the efficacy of managing SWD is essential in assessing the risks that SWD poses and the benefits of pest management programs. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Determining treatment frequency for controlling weeds on traffic islands using chemical and non‐chemical weed control

Many public authorities rely on the use of non‐chemical weed control methods, due to stringent restrictions on herbicide use in urban areas. However, these methods usually require more repeated treatments than chemical weed management, resulting in increased costs of weed management. In order to investigate the efficacy of four non‐chemical weed control methods and glyphosate treatment, experiments were carried out on traffic islands in the growing seasons 2005 and 2006. Three trial sites were each divided into six treatment areas, which were either treated with glyphosate, flame, steam, hot air/flame, hot water or left untreated. The treatments were carried out at regular, predetermined intervals throughout the growing season in 2004, whereas in 2005 and 2006 how many treatments that were required to keep weed cover below a predetermined acceptance level of 2% were investigated. Percentage weed cover was measured every second week using a 75 cm × 75 cm quadrat divided into 100 squares. On the control areas, a rapid increase in weed cover was observed, whereas weed cover could be kept below 2% by 2–7 treatments per year, depending on control method. On average, the following numbers of treatments per year were required: glyphosate 2.5, hot water 3, flames 5, hot air/flames 5.5 and steam 5.5 treatments. The results demonstrate that the weed control should be adjusted to the prescribed quality for the traffic islands by regularly assessing the need for weed control. They also show that tailored treatments can reduce the number of required non‐chemical treatments per year.     

羌塘自然保护区湖泊变化及其原因分析

选取西藏羌塘自然保护区MSS、TM、ETM+数据和1[JP18]∶[JP]100 000地形图,以85° E为中心线,将研究区划分为东西两部分,解译该区域面积大于1 km2的所有湖泊。结果表明：1975-1990年,羌塘自然保护区湖泊呈退缩状态,湖泊个数由388个减少为277个,面积由6 603.3 km²减少到5 539.7 km²,面积减少达16.1%;2005年,湖泊个数比1990年增加164个,达441个,湖泊总面积9 652.2 km²,比1990年增加4 112.5 km²,增幅74.2%。在区域上,表现为东部变化幅度大于西部。同时,重点分析了研究区附近的狮泉河、改则、班戈、申扎、那曲、安多6个气象站1978-2007年的数据。结果显示：6个代表气象站年平均气温、年平均最高气温、年降水量均呈上升趋势,其中东部上升幅度较大,西部变化不明显;年蒸发量呈减少趋势。降水是影响湖泊变化最主要的因素。     

Site‐specific management is crucial to managing Mikania micrantha

Increasingly, weeds have been taking on global distributions. With the proliferation of invasive weeds has come the challenge of managing these species over broad geographical regions, with diverse habitats and political jurisdictions. Here, we review the management of Mikania micrantha Kunth (Asteraceae; mile‐a‐minute) throughout its invaded range, extending through most of the Pacific islands and southern and south‐east Asia. Context matters when determining the best course of action for managing M. micrantha, as it has invaded a large variety of agricultural and natural systems. In Queensland, Australia and Florida, USA, M. micrantha has been targeted in relatively successful eradication campaigns, highlighting the importance of early detection and rapid response methods, while elsewhere in its invaded range, populations are either still increasing or showing limited signs of decline. An inter‐regional approach to research and management should incorporate successful management strategies employed throughout the invaded range including, but not limited to, chemical and cultural control practices, manual and mechanical control, classical biological control using the rust fungus Puccinia spegazzinii, plant–plant competition and integrated approaches utilising two or more control methods concurrently. Additional knowledge of M. micrantha genetics is required to determine if management approaches could be fine‐tuned for particular populations. Countries bordering the Mekong River formed a network in 2011 to co‐ordinate the management of invasive species such as M. micrantha. Expanding such a collaborative approach to other regions could further reduce populations of M. micrantha and limit its spread.     

Killing two bugs with one stone: a perspective for targeting multiple pest species by incorporating reproductive interference into sterile insect technique

The sterile insect technique is an environmentally friendly method to control and even eradicate agricultural and veterinary insect pests without using chemical pesticides in excess. However, the continuous production and release of sterile insects is economically costly and eradication programs using sterile insects have not always been successful owing to the incomplete mating ability of the sterile insects. Here we focus on the theory and empirical findings of interspecific negative mating interaction, known as reproductive interference, to develop a more cost‐effective and value‐added pest management program. We suggest that sterile insects can be used for simultaneous control of both wild‐type conspecifics and closely related pest species by taking advantage of the fact that, when species recognition abilities are incomplete, courtship and mating are often misdirected toward heterospecies. This new approach might help mitigate economic damage and human health crises caused by pest insects. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Assessing regional scale weed distributions, with an Australian example using Nassella trichotoma

Knowledge of the spatial distribution of weed infestations over regional scales is essential for effective management of source populations and to assess future threats. To this end, the distributions of Nassella trichotoma across a study area in south‐east New South Wales, Australia, were analysed using the geographically local Getis–Ord G_i* spatial hotspot clustering statistic. The clustering of N. trichotoma observations was analysed at three infestation levels: presence (at any density), patch level and the occasional plant level. The results indicate that there are c. 578 km² of cells containing N. trichotoma in strongly clustered infestations, 11.2 km² within weakly clustered infestations distinct from the main clusters, and 55 km² that are not clustered. There are 117 km² of strongly clustered patch level cells, 3 km² in distinct but weak clusters, and none outside of a cluster area. Of the occasional plant level cells, 329 km² are strongly clustered, 6.2 km² are in distinct but weak clusters, and 19 km² are not clustered. These results provide a mechanism by which control efforts can be prioritized. The analysis approach described in this paper provides a consistent, quantitative and repeatable approach to assess weed infestations across regional scales and can be applied to any weed species for which spatial distribution data are available.     

基于农用地分等成果的武功县耕地生产能力分析

为了充分利用农用地分等成果测算耕地生产能力,合理开发农用地生产潜力,建立了农用地产能核算技术方案体系,并据此以武功县为例,计算了该县农用地自然生产潜力、利用生产潜力和现实生产能力.通过各分等单元的自然质量等级指数和利用等级指数分别乘以单元面积并累加得到自然生产潜力和利用生产潜力,并利用Logistic模型拟合标准粮产量和利用等指数之间的关系来计算现实生产能力。结果表明,武功县自然生产潜力和利用生产潜力分别为107.42×10⁴ t和70.05×10⁴ t,单位面积自然生产潜力和利用生产潜力分别为39.22 t·hm^-2和25.58 t·hm^-2,现实生产能力为28.49×10⁴ t,单位面积现实生产能力为10.40 t·hm^-2。武功县耕地生产能力在空间上差异明显,粮食单产有从东南向西北递减的趋势,单位面积现实产能最高和最低的分别为普集镇和游风镇,为13.53 t·hm^-2和8.66 t·hm^-2,未来西北台塬区的乡镇是粮食增产的重点区域。     

Using research and education to implement practical bed bug control programs in multifamily housing

Multifamily housing facilities serving low‐income populations have been at the forefront of bed bug outbreaks. Research conducted in the past 8 years has consistently proven that integrated pest management (IPM) is the best approach for successful suppression of bed bug infestations. Bed bug IPM in multifamily settings is especially dependent upon a collaborative community or building‐wide effort involving residents, building staff and pest control technicians. Other components of a bed bug IPM program include regular monitoring to detect early‐stage bed bug infestations and combined use of non‐chemical and chemical interventions. Lastly, to reduce reinfestation rates and costs associated with bed bug control, it is critical to continue periodic monitoring and implement preventive control measures even after successful elimination of bed bugs has been achieved. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

A protocol for analysing the costs and benefits of phytosanitary measures*

This paper describes a protocol developed within the PRATIQUE project for applying cost/benefit analysis to select appropriate phytosanitary measures for use against quarantine pests. The protocol consists of nine steps, each underpinned by clear guidelines for collating and structuring the relevant data, to assist risk managers with the challenging task of assessing the benefits and costs of phytosanitary measures in a consistent, transparent and reproducible manner. Together with the decision‐support scheme that generates contingency plants and prioritizes action during pest outbreaks, it provides a framework for decision making on phytosanitary measures and helps to provide economic justification for selecting appropriate measures. The practical application of the protocol is demonstrated using two examples: cost/benefit analysis of eradication measures against Anoplophora glabripennis in Northern Italy; and eradication and containment measures against Diabrotica virgifera virgifera in Germany.     

Integrated pest-management approaches in orchard,cereal and potato protection in Poland1

With its total area of 312,683 km² and a population of about 39 million people, the area of agricultural land per person in Poland is about 0.47 ha. The yields of basic crops are rather low and the losses due to pathogens, animal pests and weeds are high. The use of pesticides is about 1.0–1.3 kg a.i. per ha and this gives a good starting point for integrated pest management (IPM) in the production system of various crops. IPM in glasshouse crops reached the level of 500 ha per year. An IPM approach against codling moth (Cydia pomonella) in orchards allowed a reduction by 70% in the number of insecticide treatments. In the case of apple scab (Venturia haequalis), the IPM approach allowed a reduction in the number of fungicide treatments by 30% on an area of 100,000 ha. In respect to small grains, the IPM approach concerns rational use of fungicides and herbicides in winter wheat and barley. In potato protection, the IPM approach mainly concerns Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), which at present is controlled by chemical insecticides on 77% of the potato area. Special research and demonstration IPM programmes sponsored by USDA/AID in Central and Eastern Europe will be operational during 1992/1995 and will concern orchards (apple, pear), small grains (wheat, barley) and potatoes.     

Pyrethroids and the economics of pest management

Pyrethroid insecticides effect excellent control of a wide range of insect pest species at low cost to the user. In outlets where a broad spectrum of pests occur, alternative compounds are often more expensive and frequently have to be combined to provide an acceptable spectrum of control. The benefits of the pyrethroids have led to their extensive and often exclusive use in many of these outlets around the world. However, such dependency on a single class of chemistry brings with it the attendant threat of resistance. Pyrethroid resistance has now been documented in many species of insect around the world and for several of these, changing to other insecticides has meant large increases in the cost of control programs. Analysis of the US insecticide market has shown that in 1987 the average insecticide cost to a mid-south cotton grower was $32 acre^?1 (1 acre = 0-405 ha). A hypothetical case was examined where resistance to the pyrethroids occurred in one key pest, Heliothis virescens, the tobacco budworm. The level of resistance was defined such that 50 % of the normally pyrethroid-treated area was now treated with the most cost-effective alternative. Under these conditions, a mid-south grower would see the cost of insect control nearly double to $61-50 acre. Extrapolating such increases to the whole US cotton crop or to global cotton production would lead to increased insecticide costs of $230 × 10⁶ and $1-4 × 10⁹ per year, respectively. Making similar assumptions for all crops, the increased global costs of only a moderate amount of pyrethroid resistance could be as high as $2-4 × W⁹ annually. There is, thus, a very real need to maintain the pyrethroids as effective insect-control agents for as long as possible.     

策勒绿洲地下水和地表覆被时空变化的研究

策勒绿洲是新疆典型的荒漠绿洲区，地下水是维持该绿洲及过渡带植被生长的关键因素，以绿洲灌区为主体，以2008—2015年地下水时空变化为主线，采用遥感、GS+地统计学、优化K-means聚类和空间信息叠加等方法分析绿洲地下水和地表覆被的变化特征。结果表明：（1）绿洲地下水埋深变幅最大是11号井，为9.66 m；变幅最小是25号井，为0.1 m；地下水埋深存在明显的空间自相关，相关距离为11.852 km；绿洲东北部地下水埋深明显下降，下降区域面积为184.85 km²，占绿洲面积的72%；（2）对绿洲地下水埋深进行优化K-means聚类分区，结果分为4个子区，其中第一、第二聚类中心的地下水埋深均呈现下降趋势；（3）2000—2015年绿洲土地覆盖类型发生较大转变，林地面积显著性减少了26.02 km²，草地面积增加了11.15 km²，农田向东北部明显扩增；（4）绿洲不同地表覆被类型的地下水埋深从深到浅依次为：农田>林地>草地。