Practical yield loss models for infestation of cocoa with cocoa pod borer moth,Conopomorpha cramerella (Snellen)

The cocoa pod borer, Conopomorpha cramerella (Snellen) (Gracillariidae: Gracillariinae), is an important pest of cocoa in Southeast Asia and Oceania, with devastating effects on yields. Using data on cocoa pod borer (CPB) infestation and cocoa yield from mixed-variety plantations in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, we developed models for estimating yield and yield loss under CPB attack. For six yield variables, two types of models were constructed: non-linear regressions based upon the presence or absence of infestation of pods (PI model), and multiple linear regressions for a four-point graded system of infestation severity (IS model). The IS models performed markedly better than PI models, in terms of percentage of variance explained, for all variables, also supported by Corrected Akaike Information Criterion values. But the explanatory power of the best-fit models was still poor for some variables. The fits were strongest for arguably the two most important variables in the industry, dry weight/pod and pod value (the number of pods required to achieve 1 kg of dry cocoa), with 62% and 69% of the variance accounted for, respectively. Validation of the dry weight/pod and pod value models against an independent dataset from South Sulawesi indicated that the models slightly under-estimated both yield indicators that increase concomitantly with the degree of yield loss. We propose the IS models, particularly that for pod value, as useful tools for industry, and argue that they will have broad utility given that they are based on mixed-cultivar plantations. Not only are these the first CPB yield-loss models to be based on commercial mixed plantings, they also represent the first attempt to employ a gradation of infestation severity based on simple visual assessment, which proved to be an important advance.     

Editorial

Abstract

The major pulse crops in India are gram, pigeon pea, black gram, green gram, lentil and peas. Gram, pigeon pea and pea are attacked by several diseases some of which cause considerable crop damage. Gram is affected mainly by wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.ciceri Matuo and Sato), blight (Mycosphaerella pinodes B. and Blox) and rust (Uromyces ciceris-arietinii (Grogn.) Jacz. &; Boy.). The main diseases of pigeon pea are wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.udum (Butler) Snyd. and Hans.), and sterility mosaic. Powdery mildew (Erysiphe polygoni DC) and rust (Uromyces vicia-fabae (Pers.) Schroet.) are the most important pea diseases. Some diseases of minor importance are described. Details are given of the symptoms, distribution and control of the diseases with particular reference to those of economic importance. Several minor diseases of lentil, green gram and black gram are included.     

武功山草螟亚科一江西新记录种记述

记述采自武功山高山草甸的一江西新记录种：双斑草螟CrambusbipartellusSouth,提供了该种鼓膜器和雌雄外生殖器图示。研究标本保存在江西农业大学昆虫标本馆（JXAUM）。     

家蚕鳞翅的发育过程及其仿生学价值

以家蚕（Bombyx mori L.）为研究对象,定期解剖蚕蛹并对30个不同个体鳞翅各特征参数进行显微测量,结果显示家蚕蛹内发育期为12 15 d,分为4个阶段,各阶段翅呈现出不同发育特征。其中前翅呈三角形,周长平均值为22.243 mm;面积平均值为28.305 mm²,主翅脉共9条,长度在3 8 mm之间。后翅为扇形,周长均值为16.571 mm,面积均值为19.936 mm²,主翅脉长度在2 6 mm之间。蛹内时期与羽化展开后的鳞翅在周长与面积上均存在较大变化,其中前翅羽化后周长为蛹期1.9倍,面积为3.1倍;后翅羽化后周长为蛹期2.1倍,面积为3.8倍。家蚕鳞翅通过羽化获得了更大比表面积,翅脉分布位置没有变化,但长度为蛹期2.1倍。本研究通过动态跟踪家蚕鳞翅发育过程,记录家蚕成虫羽化展开过程,为研究昆虫鳞翅仿生功能、探索新型空间展开结构提供基础数据和设计思路。     

汾河源头尺蛾科(鳞翅目)昆虫考察初报

2006至2007年,对管涔山林区汾源一带的鳞翅目Lepidoptera尺蛾科Geometridae昆虫初步进行了调查采集,目前共整理出了34属、45种,其中1属、11种是山西省内新纪录。     

Butterflies and diurnal moths along road verges: Does road type affect diversity and abundance?

Roadsides form potential habitats for several grassland species adapted to regular mowing management. We studied the communities of butterflies and day-active moths in 51 sites along the verges of the three road types, i.e., highways, urban roads and rural roads. Despite different traffic densities and widths of the road and verge, the groups were rather similar with regard to soil properties, vegetation structure and mowing intensity. The species richness and total abundance of butterflies (53 species, 5964 individuals) and diurnal moths (46 species, 4626 individuals) were also rather similar in each road type, although a preference for wider verges was observed. Butterfly diversity increased (but not significantly) from the verges of narrow rural roads to wider highways. The highest numbers of meadow species were recorded along highways and the total abundance, especially of diurnal moths, decreased in accordance with the road size. High nectar abundance was the most important factor increasing the numbers of meadow butterflies along road verges, while meadow moths were mostly favoured by shelter provided by tall vegetation. Verges surrounded by cultivated fields were generally related to low numbers of both Lepidoptera groups, whereas adjacent forests increased the total number of all species and favoured several butterflies inhabiting forest edges. The adjacent environment inflicted compositional differences on the Lepidoptera fauna of the three road types. The results indicate that road verges should be considered an important reserve for species dependent on semi-natural grasslands in Finland. A growing interest in accommodating current roadside management for conserving biodiversity is likely to benefit Lepidoptera communities in the verge habitats.     

黑龙江省天蛾科一新记录种记述

记述了采自黑龙江省帽儿山的天蛾科黑龙江省一新记录种——洋槐天蛾Clanis deucalion(Walker)成虫的形态特征,介绍了其寄主、分布及标本信息,并附有成虫照片。     

Survival of submerged larvae of cranberry girdler, Chrysoteuchia topiaria, in the laboratory

Flooding for several days in late summer or early fall is reported to control larvae of the cranberry girdler, Chrysoteuchia topiaria (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), which feed on roots of cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton (Ericales: Ericaceae). During flooding, larvae float to the surface or remain submerged. Floating larvae are vulnerable to bird predation, but the fate of submerged larvae has not been studied. The factorially designed laboratory experiments reported here examined survival of submerged cranberry girdler larvae at water temperatures of 10, 15 or 20 °C, and flood durations of 24, 48 or 72 h. These conditions are characteristic of floods applied to western Canadian cranberry farms. In the first year of the study, more submerged larvae survived at 10 °C than at 15 or 20 °C, and more survived 24-h submersion than 48- or 72-h submersion; there was no difference between survival at 15 and 20 °C or 48- and 72-h submersion. In the second year of the study, when there were no 10 °C treatments, more submerged larvae survived at 15 than at 20 °C, and more survived 24-h submersion than 72-h submersion; survival after 48 h was not significantly different from survival after 24 or 72 h. In both years, there was no interaction effect of water temperature and duration of submersion: survival of submerged larvae decreased with longer flood durations and higher temperatures. Dissolved oxygen concentrations before submersion ranged from 5.8±0.1 to 6.3±0.2 ppm in the first year, and 5.5±0.1 to 5.7±0.1 ppm in the second. After submersion, dissolved oxygen concentrations in cups with larvae were approximately 0.5 ppm lower than in cups without larvae, suggesting that larvae continued to respire and use oxygen for some time after submersion. Results of the experiments are used to improve guidelines for flooding to control cranberry girdler larvae.     

中国斑水螟属研究（鳞翅目，螟蛾科，水螟亚科）

我国斑水螟属（Ｅｏｏｐｈｙｌａ）过去已知８种，本文记述５种，其中１新种，２中国新纪录种。新种模式标本保存在西北农业大学昆虫博物馆和西北林学院。