Induction of prolonged larval feeding stage by juvenile hormone analogues inTribolium Castaneum

Dietary ZR-512 and ZR-619 at concentrations of 10 — 1000 ppm induced prolongation of the larval feeding period up to tenfold, increasing larval weight up to double that of untreated larvae. A comparison study of four juvenoids, using 200 ppm of ZR-512, ZR-515, ZR-619 or ZR-777, showed that ZR-515 elicits the highest larval weight (6.2 mg) and ZR-777 the lowest (3.6 mg). In all cases a pronounced enhancement of larval weight — of 50 — 250% relative to untreated larvae (2.4 mg) — was obtained.Tr. castaneum larvae reared up to their 3rd instars on a diet containing 100 ppm of ZR-512, ZR-515, ZR-619 or ZR-777 and then transferred to a juvenile hormone-free diet, were not affected. The period between 4th instar larva and pupation should therefore be considered as critical for juvenile hormone effect. The induced prolongation of the larval stage after juvenile hormone treatment was followed by a pronounced enhancement of cuticle phenoloxidase activity, indicating an alteration of the larval biochemical processes. Although juvenile hormone treatment inhibitsTr. castaneum pupation and emergence, it markedly prolongs larval feeding stage and weight and thus accelerates damage.     

Effect of triflumuron on two species of nitidulid beetles,Carpophilus hemipterus andUrophorus humeralis

Egg hatch of two nitidulids,Carpophilus hemipterus L. andUrophorus humeralis F., was affected by the chitin synthesis inhibitor triflumuron (Alsystin; BAY SIR 8514)via the adult stage of the beetle. This occurred by exposure to treated diets, by a brief dip of the adults in aqueous dilutions of the toxicant, or by contact with a treated plastic netting cage. Exposure of adults ofC. hemipterus for 24 h to 0.0125%, 0.00125%, 0.00025% or 0.000125% and ofU. humeralis to 0.0125% a.i.-treated diets completely prevented hatch of eggs laid during the subsequent 48 h on an untreated diet. Although at first sterile eggs were obtained with adults of either nitidulid species transferred to an untreated diet after 24 h exposure to the 0.0125%-treated diet, egg viability gradually recovered. The speed of recovery and the course of mortality of larvae that hatched from eggs laid by treated adults, indicated thatC. hemipterus was more susceptible thanU. humeralis to triflumuron. DippingC. hemipterus adults — males or females — in 0.0125% a.i. triflumuron also resulted in complete prevention of egg hatch. Similar results were obtained by a 1-h contact of adults with treated cages. Triflumuron had no direct ovicidal activity against the two species at the concentrations used but was very effective against larvae of both species. At 0.0125% a.i., 3-5-mm-long larvae ofU. humeralis were more tolerant than newly hatched larvae and than 3-5-mm-long larvae ofC. hemipterus. Application of 0.0125% a.i. triflumuron in a date palm grove did not prevent fruit infestation by nitidulid adults but, due to prevention of egg hatch, almost no larval development was observed.     

Mode of action of meturine

The effect of meturine on the light processes of photosynthesis was studied.Meturine is a herbicide for weed control in potato and cotton crops. It is a N-phenyl—N-hydroxy—N′-methylurea.The experiments were carried out on isolated pea and spinach chloroplasts.When examining photosystem I, reduced DPIP was used as an electron donor, whereas methyl-viologen served as an electron acceptor. When examining photosystem II, DPIP represented the electron acceptor.The obtained experimental results have pointed to the absence of the effect of meturine upon the photoreaction I.Unlike N-phenyl—N′, N′-dimethylureas (CMU, DCMU) meturine has been a very weak inhibitor of photoreaction II.The authors explain the photoreaction II inhibition of chloroplasts from plants treated with herbicidal doses of meturine by conversion of N-phenyl—N-hydroxy—N′-methylurea into Hill reaction inhibitor(s). N-Phenyl—N′-methylurea can be one of such meturine metabolites.Meturine herbicidal action is accounted for by meturine transformation into Hill reaction inhibitor(s) in the plant tissues.     

Phenobarbital induction of detoxifying enzymes in resistant and susceptible houseflies

Houseflies, Musca domestica, L., were treated with the drugs phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene to study the effects of these compounds as inducing agents of the microsomal oxidases, heptachlor epoxidase, and p-nitroanisole O-demethylase, and of DDT-dehydrochlorinase. Phenobarbital was active when applied by injection or as part of the diet but inactive when topically applied. The resulting increases in heptachlor epoxidase activity were as much as 25-fold that of the untreated controls. The net increase in enzyme activity after phenobarbital treatment was greater in an insecticide-susceptible strain, WHO-SRS strain, than in a carbamate-resistant strain. However, the phenobarbital induced increases in DDT-dehydrochlorinase were greater, about 2-fold, in the resistant strains than in the susceptible strain.The optimum dose for phenobarbital was 1% in the diet for a period of 3 days. None of the treatments with 3-MC, feeding, injection, exposure to residues, or topical, were effective in induction.     

Artificial diet based investigation on the impact of purified Cry1Ac,Cry1Fa and Cry2Ab on the survival and reproductive performance of adult green lacewing, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysopa pallens</Emphasis> (Rambur) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

The green lacewing Chrysopa pallens (Rambur) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a common and abundant predator in many cropping systems in palearctic realm and it’s conservation is helpful in sustainable pest management in agro-ecosystem. Prior to commercialization of Bt crops in any agro- ecosystem, it is necessary to evaluate the impact of Cry proteins upon non-target organisms especially biological control agents (BCA). In present study an artificial diet consisting of shrimp, beef, beef liver and egg yolk was developed to mass-rear C. pallens for its use as biological control agents in sustainable pest management. Moreover, an artificial diet based risk assessment protocol was developed to investigate the impact of Cry1Ac, Cry1Fa and Cry2Ab on the survival and reproductive performance of C. pallens adults. C. pallens was fed on diets incorporated with Cry proteins and without addition of Cry proteins (control). The same diet containing boric acid was served as a positive control. Temporal stability, bioactivity and intake of Cry proteins by C. pallens were confirmed using double-antibody sandwich, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and bioactivity verification bioassays. Survival and reproductive performance of C. pallens, e.g., pre-oviposition period, daily fecundity, total fecundity and 30-day old adults dry weights, exhibited non-significant differences (p?>?0.05) for the diets containing Cry1Ac, Cry1Fa and Cry2Ab (50 μg/g) against Control. However, significant reduction in survival and reproductive performance (p?<?0.05) was observed in positive control. Our findings reveal that artificial diet is a good source of nutritional requirement with enhanced survival and reproductive performance of C. pallens and can be used for mass rearing of predator in case of natural diet scarcity and Cry proteins are safe for adult C. pallens and Bt crops cultivation help in predators conservation in sustainable agriculture.     

椰心叶甲人工饲料的研制及应用效果评价

为了获得入侵害虫椰心叶甲Brontispa longissima(Gestro)的人工饲料,在分析其天然寄主叶片水分和营养成分基础上,借鉴其它鞘翅目昆虫人工饲料配方,进行椰心叶甲人工饲料的配制和筛选,并评价人工饲料饲养的椰心叶甲对其寄生蜂椰甲截脉姬小蜂Asecodes hispinarum和椰心叶甲啮小蜂Tetrastichus brontispae的适合性。人工饲料配方的成分:蔗糖4%、椰子粉2%、大豆粉2%、椰树叶粉10%、酵母2%、维生素E 0.3%、抗坏血酸0.2%、对羟基苯甲酸甲酯0.2%、琼脂4%、链霉素0.03%和水75%。用所配制的人工饲料饲养椰心叶甲初孵幼虫,其蛹成活率可达36%,蛹羽化率与对照无显著差异,均在90%以上;雌成虫占52.4%,与对照无显著差异。表明人工饲料饲养所得的椰心叶甲可用于其幼虫寄生蜂椰甲截脉姬小蜂和蛹寄生蜂椰心叶甲啮小蜂的扩繁。     

“Red Ring” Disease in surinam

In Surinam no red ring disease in coconut, caused by the nematodeRhadinaphelenchus cocophilus, could be found under natural conditions. An inoculation experiment with the nematode in coconut palm and an experiment in oil palm where an entry for the vectorRhynchophorus palmarum was made, resulted in red ring symptoms. Collection of weevils of the speciesR. palmarum in coconut and oil palm plantations and in wild vegetation, showed that both vectors and nematodes occur in considerable numbers. The slow development of red ring in the inoculation experiment and of little leaf — another symptom, caused byR. cocophilus — in a period of excessive drought might give an explanation for the absence of red ring in Surinam. In the main coconut growing areas rainfall is poor as compared with other coconut-growing countries in the Caribbean.     

Screening ofbacillus thuringiensis preparations for microbial control ofostrinia nubilalis in sweet corn

Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (B.t.) preparations were bioassayed against larvae of the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner, to determine their potency.B.t. serovar 3a3b,kurstaki (Dipel) was more potent thanB.t. serovar 1,thuringiensis (Bactospeine I);B.t. serovar 3a3b,kurstaki (Toarow CT) — in which the spores are inactive; or serovar 7,aizawai (ABG 6104). Another preparation of 3a3b,kurstaki (Bactospeine III), at concentrations of 0.5 and 1% sprayed on leaves of potted sweet corn seedlings and plants in the field, was active against larvae reared on an artificial diet in the laboratory. The pH of the corn leaf surface ranged from 6.9 to 7.5, before and after application.     

Subacute and delayed toxicity of iminoctadine liquid formulation,which contains iminoctadine triacetate as an antifungal component on a nontarget domesticated insect,the silkworm,Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)

We investigated insecticidal effects of iminoctadine liquid formulation, a fungicide containing iminoctadine triacetate, on the silkworm Bombyx mori that is an important domesticated insect. Iminoctadine liquid formulation was incorporated in an artificial diet and fed to silkworms for 24 h on the first day of either the third or fourth instar, thereafter reared without the fungicide. Third instar larvae that ingested the diet containing 1% (wt/wt) iminoctadine liquid formulation died within 24 h (subacute toxicity), and those that ingested either 0.1% or 0.3% iminoctadine liquid formulation developed to the pharate fourth stage and then became deficient in molting (delayed toxicity). In fourth instar larvae, iminoctadine liquid formulation exhibited subacute toxicity and delayed toxicity at 0.3% and >1%, respectively. Furthermore, we fed the larvae a diet with iminoctadine liquid formulation for 24 h at different intervals in the inter-molting period of the third and fourth instar. Iminoctadine liquid formulation administered at an earlier stage in the inter-molting period exerted a more severe effect than a later administration. Iminoctadine triacetate, an anti-fungal ingredient in the iminoctadine liquid formulation, exhibited toxicity similar to that of the liquid formulation.     

Damage by vertebrates to plastic irrigation pipes in Israel

Plastic irrigation pipes are damaged in Israel by vertebrates — both mammals and birds — of the following species: Aves: Piciformes, Picidae —Dendrocopos syriacus. Mammalia: Rodentia —Mus musculus, Rattus rattus alexandrinus, Nesokia indica, Spalax ehrenbergi, andHystrix indica; Carnivora: Canidae —Canis familiaris, C. aureus, andVulpes vulpes; Mustelidae —Meles meles; Viveridae —Herpestes ichneumon; Artiodactyla, Suiformes: Suidae —Sus scrofa. It is assumed that the reasons these vertebrates attack and damage the pipes are the excitement regulation mechanism; the habit of gnawing or pecking; playing; and a search for drinking water.     

A two generation chronic mixture toxicity study of Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate after gestational and lactational exposure in female Wistar rats

Polychlorinated biphenyls and diethyl phthalate are both lipophilic in nature and are likely to be present in the same environmental compartment or bioaccumalate over a period of time, thus a mixture toxicity study was undertaken to evaluate the type of interaction between polychlorinated biphenyls (Clophen A60) and diethyl phthalate over two generations in female Wistar rats. Healthy male and female albino rats of Wistar strain weighing 75-100 g (6-7 weeks old) were randomly assigned to four groups of six each. Group I male and female rats were fed on normal diet and water ad libitum. Group II male and female rats were maintained on normal diet mixed with corn oil as oil control. GroupS III and IV male and female rats were given Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate dissolved in corn oil mixed with the diet at 50 mg/kg of the diet individually to each group. Group V male and female rats received a mixture of diethyl phthalate and Clophen A60, each dissolved in corn oil mixed with the diet at 50 mg/kg of the diet. Hundred days after the treatment, females were mated with the males in each group for 10 days. Exposure to diethyl phthalate and Clophen A60 was continued throughout mating, gestation until termination at weaning, which was 150 days of total treatment period of the parental generation female rats. Treatment for F1 generation male and female pups (6 males & 6 females) with Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate individually and in mixture was continued at doses reduced to 25 mg/kg of the diet after they reached 75-100 g in weight. The treatment was carried out similar to the parental generation for a period of 150 days. Liver and serum aspartate aminotransferase, liver cholesterol and glycogen were significantly increased in the F1 generation Clophen A60 + diethyl phthalate treated group, whereas serum cholesterol, liver glutathione and glutathione reductase showed a significant decrease in the F1 generation Clophen A60 + diethyl phthalate treated group as compared to the parental generation mixture and individually treated groups as well as the individually treated F1 generation groups. A significant increase was observed in the liver and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity of Clophen A60 and serum aspartate aminotransferase levels of diethyl phthalate treated F1 generation rats as compared to the parental generation Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate individually and mixture treated rats. Liver glutathione levels were significantly decreased in the F1 generation Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate individually treated rats which was similar to the parental generation individually treated rats as compared to the controls. Liver glutathione reductase level was also significantly declined in the diethyl phthalate treated F1 individual group as compared to diethyl phthalate individually treated parental generation rats. Histology of the liver showed fatty degeneration in the mixture treated F1 generation rats as compared to Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate individually treated F1 rats and parental generation Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate individually and mixture treated rats. Thus, in spite of dose reduction and continuous exposure over two generation’s to a mixture of diethyl phthalate and Clophen A60 exposed through gestation, lactation and diet leads to a synergistic toxic effect in the F1 generation.     

Development of an artificial diet for mass rearing of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana

An artificial diet for rearing the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana (Boisd.), was developed in experiments with three successive generations. The present recommended diet is based on kidney beans, alfalfa meal, whole powdered milk and yeast; methyl-P-hydroxy benzoate, chloramphenicol and formaldehyde were included as preservatives. The effect of the diets on the insect quality is discussed.     

Jack bean urease inhibition by substituted ureas

The increased use of urea fertilizer and substituted ureas herbicides, the implication of soil urease in the effectiveness of urea applied as fertilizer, makes necessary to investigate their relationship.All herbicides investigated, fenuron, monuron, diuron, linuron, siduron and neburon are urease inhibitors. The inhibition constant value depends on molecular groups on the urea skeleton. There is a linear relationship between the Hammett sigma values and log Ki for fenuron, monuron and diuron.The presence of a large hydrophobic group and of one or two chlorine—an electron withdrawing group—on the phenyl ring of the herbicides molecule influences the Ki value.The hypothesis is proposed that the enzyme molecule reacts with inhibitors by means of the oxygen atom of the carboxyl group in the substituted ureas.     

The effects of diet on the detection of resistance to Cry1Ac toxin in Australian Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The effects of raw or heat-denatured soybean flour in an artificial diet on the detection of Cry1Ac resistance in Helicoverpa armigera were examined. Resistant neonate larvae reared on denatured soybean flour diet showed resistance factors of 7980 and 16,901 at the LC₅₀ and LC_99.9 levels, respectively. By comparison, resistance could not be detected in neonate larvae reared on raw flour diet. Third instar larvae reared on denatured flour diet showed resistance factors of 322 and 21,190 at the LC₅₀ and LC_99.9 levels. Resistance was not detected in third instar larvae reared on raw flour diet. There was 68% survival of resistant neonate larvae on Bollgard II cotton leaf feeding assays, compared to 100% mortality in a susceptible strain. We conclude that detection of CRY1Ac resistance in H. armigera from Australia can be masked, if an artificial diet gives chronic exposure to potent, protease inhibitors present in raw soy flour.     

Synergism of pyrethroid — organophosphorus insecticide mixtures in insects and their toxicity againstspodoptera littoralis larvae

Synergism of mixtures of pyrethroids with organophosphorus (OP) compounds in insects is reviewed, and the toxicity of such combinations againstSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) larvae is reported. Mixtures of one of the pyrethroids cypermethrin, fenvalerate or deltamethrin with one of the OP compounds monocrotophos, profenofos, azinphos-methyl or acephate were assayed at different ratios as 24-h-old dipping residues on alfalfa, which was fed toS. littoralis larvae for 48 h. With most of the binary mixtures containing various OP concentrations in excess of those of the pyrethroids, synergism was demonstrated. In the pairs fenvalerate — azinphos-methyl, deltamethrin — azinphos-methyl and deltamethrin — profenofos, however, no synergism was found. In a detailed investigation with pyrethroid concentrations causing 20% mortality and OP concentrations giving a kill of no higher than ;10%, the above findings on synergism were amply confirmed. A cypermethrinmonocrotophos mixture showed synergism also on cotton leaves sprayed in the field. Synergism could not be demonstrated by topical application of pyrethroid — OP mixtures.     

Microsomal oxidase and glutathione transferase as factors influencing the effects of pulegone in southern and fall armyworm larvae

The mint monoterpene pulegone and one of its oxidation products, menthofuran, are 3.5–4 times more toxic, acutely, to southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania (Cramer) than to fall armyworm, S. frugiperda (J. E. Smith) larvae. When the insects are exposed to these compounds in the diet, over an extended period of time, the reverse is true. The southern armyworm larvae have higher cytochrome P-450 content and activities in midgut and fatbody tissues than the fall armyworm larvae. Glutathione transferase activities are comparable in midgut tissues of the two species, but higher in fatbodies of the fall armyworm than of the southern. Pulegone induces cytochrome P-450 activities in both species including its own oxidation as indicated by pulegone-dependent NADPH oxidation. When the insects are stressed with pulegone or menthofuran as in the present study, the observed differences in metabolic activities in the two species may be factors influencing the observed acute and chronic toxicities in each case.     

Rearing the egyptian cotton leafworm,Spodoptera littoralis,on a practical calcium-alginate diet

Larvae ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) were mass-reared on a calcium-alginate diet consisting of soybeans, alfalfa meal, milk powder, and yeast as the nutrients, with dry citric acid as the gel-setting acid. Larval and pupal survival was 73%; a mean of 2045 eggs per female was oviposited within 4 days. The advantage of using this new technique is discussed.     

Insecticidal action of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) against the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae

The effects of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) on development, fecundity, and mortality of the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius), were determined. Also determined were the effects of PHA on the activity of gut enzymes involved in sugar and phosphorus metabolism (α- and β-glucosidase and alkaline and acid phosphatase) and on the feeding behavior of adult apterae.When added to a liquid diet, PHA increased the pre-reproductive period, decreased fecundity, and increased mortality of S. avenae. PHA also increased the developmental time and reduced the intrinsic rate of natural increase. The aphids fed on sucrose-agarose gels with higher concentrations of PHA lectin exhibited no phloem-feeding behavior. The number of the gel penetrations was reduced and duration of the pathways was increased by higher concentrations of PHA. In addition, activities of α-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase in homogenates of adult aphids were reduced. The results indicate that PHA has potential in a biotechnological approach to insect management.