Contact activity of synthetic pyrethroids against adult grass grub,Costelytra zealandica (white)

The field life for contact activity of cypermethrin and permethrin, applied to pasture, was similar for all of five application rates between 0.25 and 1.5 kg ha^?1. Laboratory bioassays with grass grub beetles, Costelytra zealandica (White), showed that the insecticides lost their activity after about 4–9 days on pasture. Microencapsulation significantly increased the active field life of permethrin.     

Comparison of pulse administration versus once daily administration of itraconazole for the treatment of Malassezia pachydermatis dermatitis and otitis in dogs

OBJECTIVE To compare clinical efficacy of pulse administration with itraconazole versus once daily administration for the treatment of cutaneous and otic M pachydermatis infection in dogs. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 20 dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were treated with itraconazole orally (n = 10/group), using a pulse administration regimen (5 mg/kg [2.3 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h for 2 consecutive days per week for 3 weeks) or once daily administration (5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 21 days). No other treatment was permitted. On days 0 and 21, clinical severity of cutaneous and otic disease was assessed, and samples were collected for cytologic examination and yeast culture. Cytology (sum of the mean number of yeast organisms per oil immersion field for affected sites) and culture (mean of the score for extent of yeast growth for samples from affected sites) scores were calculated. RESULTS: For dogs in both treatment groups, clinical severity of cutaneous and otic disease was significantly decreased by day 21, but decrease in severity was not significantly different between groups. Similarly, skin cytology, skin culture, and ear culture scores were significantly decreased on day 21, compared with day 0, for both groups, but decreases were not significantly different between groups except that dogs in the pulse administration group had a significantly greater decrease in ear culture scores than did dogs in the daily administration group. However, when cytology scores only for ear samples were analyzed, day 21 score was not significantly decreased, compared with day 0 score, for either group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that both pulse administration and once daily administration of itraconazole were efficacious in the treatment of M pachydermatis cutaneous infection in dogs. However, adjunctive treatment may be needed in dogs with M pachydermatis otitis.     

Rocky Mountain ecosystems: diversity, complexity and interactions

The interior west of North America provides many opportunities to study ecosystem responses to climate change, biological diversity and management of disturbance regimes. These ecosystem responses are not unique to the Rocky Mountains, but they epitomize similar scientific problems throughout North America. Better management of these ecosystems depends on a thorough understanding of the underlying biology and ecological interactions of the species that occupy the diverse habitats of this region. This review highlights progress in research to understand aspects of this complex ecosystem.     

Inducing long-shoot growth for vegetative propagation of western larch

This study evaluated methods to release from suppression both short shoots on lower stems and developing buds on leaders of western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) seedlings, in order to increase the number of long shoots suitable for stem-tip cuttings. Treatments included application of the cytokinin N-6-benzyladenine (BA), horizontal stem bending, and decapitation on container-grown 1.5-year-old seedling ortets. The rate of release of suppressed growth of short shoots on the basal stem segments increased from 15% to 83% after spraying with 200 ppm BA and doubled on unsprayed horizontally-bent stems. Syllepsis on the upper stems increased by 19% following decapitation and by 32% after a combination of decapitation and BA treatments. Although these treatments resulted in large increases in the numbers of long shoots available for stem cuttings, the rootability of BA-treated shoots needs assessing before use in operational programs.     

Trade-offs and synergies in management of two co-occurring specialist squash pests

Journal of Pest Science - Co-occurring herbivorous pests may have shared or divergent responses to plant- and insect- derived cues, creating challenges for effective pest management in...