Effects of dietary Tenebrio molitor meal inclusion in free‐range chickens

Insects are currently being considered as a novel protein source for animal feeds, because they contain a large amount of protein. The larvae of Tenebrio molitor (TM) have been shown to be an acceptable protein source for broiler chickens in terms of growth performance, but till now, no data on histological or intestinal morphometric features have been reported. This study has had the aim of evaluating the effects of dietary TM inclusion on the performance, welfare, intestinal morphology and histological features of free‐range chickens. A total of 140 medium‐growing hybrid female chickens were free‐range reared and randomly allotted to two dietary treatments: (i) a control group and (ii) a TM group, in which TM meal was included at 75 g/kg. Each group consisted of five pens as replicates, with 14 chicks per pen. Growth performance, haematological and serum parameters and welfare indicators were evaluated, and the animals were slaughtered at the age of 97 days. Two birds per pen (10 birds/treatment) were submitted to histological (liver, spleen, thymus, bursa of Fabricius, kidney, heart, glandular stomach and gut) and morphometric (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) investigations. The inclusion of TM did not affect the growth performance, haematological or serum parameters. The morphometric and histological features were not significantly affected either, thus suggesting no influence on nutrient metabolization, performance or animal health. Glandular stomach alterations (chronic flogosis with epithelial squamous metaplasia) were considered paraphysiological in relation to free‐range farming. The observed chronic intestinal flogosis, with concomitant activation of the lymphoid tissue, was probably due to previous parasitic infections, which are very frequently detected in free‐range chickens. In conclusion, the findings of this study show that yellow mealworm inclusion does not affect the welfare, productive performances or morphological features of free‐range chickens, thus confirming that TM can be used safely in poultry diets.     

Being exposed to low concentrations of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr has detrimental effects on the mobility of Trogoderma granarium

BACKGROUND

Sublethal effects of insecticides may negatively affect several biological and behavioral traits of insects. The lethal effects of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr have been previously showed on Trogoderma granarium, but little knowledge is available about their sublethal effects at low concentrations on both sexes. Herein, the sublethal effects of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr on the mobility of T. granarium males and females were investigated.

RESULTS

Lethal concentration (LC) values of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr were lower for T. granarium females than males. LC values on males were LC₁₀ = 0.000788 and 0.00139 mg active ingredient (a.i.) cm⁻², LC₃₀ = 0.00350 and 0.00535 mg a.i. cm⁻², and LC₅₀ = 0.00986 and 0.0136 mg a.i. cm⁻² for pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr respectively. LC on females were LC₁₀ = 0.000704 and 0.00110 mg a.i. cm⁻², LC₃₀ = 0.00323 and 0.00428 mg a.i. cm⁻², and LC₅₀ = 0.00925 and 0.0110 mg a.i. cm⁻² for pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr respectively. The walking duration of beetles exposed to LC₃₀ of pirimiphos-methyl was significantly lower than the individuals exposed to LC₁₀ and LC₃₀ of both insecticides and control ones. Pirimiphos-methyl LC₃₀-exposed males remained more time on their back (101.7 s) than females (46.9 s), while the latter stayed immobile longer than males (381.7 s versus 371.9 s). The highest speed was recorded for control beetles (14.17 mm s⁻¹ females vs. 12.44 mm s⁻¹ males), while the lowest speed was observed in pirimiphos-methyl LC₃₀-treated males (8.36 mm s⁻¹) and females (9.66 mm s⁻¹).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, males and females exposed to low concentrations of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr showed reduced motility. This knowledge can be exploited further to unlock behavioral effects of insecticides for effective pest management programs in warehouses. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

昆虫病原真菌在害虫防治中对天敌生物的影响研究进展

昆虫病原真菌是一类重要的微生物杀虫剂,广泛应用于农林害虫的生物防治。由于寄主范围广和主动侵染的特点,昆虫病原真菌在侵染、致死靶标害虫的同时,对包括天敌昆虫在内的非靶标节肢动物等会产生潜在的致病或亚致死风险。本文总结了昆虫病原真菌在害虫防治中的研究进展及对天敌生物的影响,并展望了昆虫病原真菌作为极具潜力的生物农药与天敌生物联合防治害虫的未来发展方向。     

不同颜色粘虫板对葡萄园昆虫的诱集效应

为筛选出对葡萄害虫诱集效果好的粘虫板,选用黄色、蓝色、白色、紫色、绿色、红色、黑色和荧光色8种颜色的粘虫板对葡萄园内昆虫进行诱集试验。结果表明,共诱到昆虫7目18科22种,主要害虫有蓟马、蚜虫和叶蝉,其中蓟马数量占到昆虫总量的88.96%,天敌昆虫主要有寄生蜂、捕食性瓢虫、食蚜蝇和东亚小花蝽。紫板、蓝板和白板对蓟马的诱集效果强,黄板、荧光板和绿板次之,红板和黑板效果差;黄板对蚜虫诱集效果强,绿板和荧光板次之,黄板与其他色板之间差异显著;黄板、荧光板和绿板对叶蝉的诱集效果好,3种色板与蓝板之间差异不显著、与其他色板差异显著。白板、蓝板和黄板诱集到的天敌数量最多,占所有颜色粘虫板诱集天敌总量的69%左右。试验期间诱集到的昆虫益害比为0.036,各色板的益害比依次为黑色>荧光色>绿色>红色>黄色>白色>蓝色>紫色,其中紫板的益害比最低,仅为0.011。结合各色板的诱虫效果和益害比进行综合分析,建议选用紫板对蓟马进行诱杀,适时适量选择性使用黄板对蚜虫、叶蝉等进行诱杀。     

大数据时代山东农业病虫害监测预警体系建设

在大数据时代,海量的数据资源是推动经济发展和社会进步的基石,丰富、透明、完善的农业大数据资源是加快农业信息化建设步伐的前提,先进、有序、完备的农业病虫害监测预警体系是服务绿色农业发展的支撑。该研究试图在研究国内外农业病虫害监测预警体系的基础上,在农业专家的指导下,进行大数据时代农业病虫害监测预警体系构建。山东农业病虫害监测预警体系的建设应主动适应大数据时代的发展需求,分步构建病虫害监测预警体系,分层划分病虫害数据中心工作,合理布局病虫害数据采集站点,科学制定病虫害监测预警任务,共建共享病虫害监测数据信息,有效加强病虫害联合监测预警,努力研发病虫害智能识别终端,为发展现代高效农业提供坚实的保障。     

昆虫取食和剪叶刺激对油松针叶内部分防御物质的诱导效应

为了研究自然条件下昆虫取食及剪叶刺激对油松诱导抗性的影响,本试验应用香草醛—盐酸法,亚硝酸钠—硝酸铝比色法以及紫外分光光度法,分析了剪叶和不同程度油松毛虫取食处理后,混交林和纯林中油松针叶内部分次生代谢物和蛋白酶抑制剂活性的动态变化。结果表明:剪叶及不同程度油松毛虫取食能够诱导缩合单宁、黄酮含量和胰蛋白酶抑制剂、胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂活性增加。与对照相比,胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂在混交林中的活性比纯林更为明显。说明剪叶及昆虫取食可诱导增加油松针叶内的缩合单宁和黄酮含量、提高胰蛋白酶抑制剂和胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂的活性,进而增强油松的抗虫性,林分类型可在一定程度上影响油松诱导防御物质的变化。     

Soil microarthropods are only weakly impacted after 13 years of repeated drought treatment in wet and dry heathland soils

Studies of biological responses in the terrestrial environment to rapid changes in climate have mostly been concerned with aboveground biota, whereas less is known of belowground organisms. The present study focuses on mites and springtails of heathland ecosystems and how the microarthropod community has responded to simulated climate change in a long-term field experiment. Increased temperature and repeated drought was applied for 13 years to field plots located in Wales, The Netherlands and Denmark representing sites of contrasting climatic conditions with respect to precipitation and temperature. This approach provided an opportunity to study biological responses on a local (within sites) and regional scale. Warming treatments increasing night time temperature (0.3–1 °C higher than ambient at 5 cm soil depth) had no detectable effects on the microarthropod communities. Increased intensity and frequency of drought had only weak persistent effects on springtail species composition, but practically no effect on major mite groups (Oribatida, Prostigmata or Mesostigmata) suggesting that ecosystem functions of microarthropods may only be transiently impacted by repeated spring or summer drought.     

野生稻抗病虫基因的挖掘和利用

本文综合国内外文献,简要介绍了野生稻抗病虫基因发掘、定位、克隆及育种应用研究的进展,讨论了野生稻优异抗病虫基因在水稻育种中的应用前景。     

林木病虫害防治施药机的风机选型分析

通过对常用典型风机工作性能和结构特点的分析,结合林木病虫害风送施药防治的要求,提出针对不同高度林木风送施药防治病虫害设备在选用风机类型时的建议和原则。     

兴安盟扎赉特旗杨树病虫害的种类及其防治措施

对本地区杨树烂皮病的抗性树种进行了调查,筛选出最适合本地区栽植的抗病品种——小乘黑（P.Canadensis）和银中杨（P.alba‘Berolinensis’）。对天牛成虫进行了不同药剂不同浓度的防治对比试验,筛选出最合适的药剂——绿色葳蕾250倍液和触破800倍液。对其他地区的杨树病虫害的预防和控制能起到一定的借鉴作用。