Distribution of the spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in the north-eastern part of the Carpathian lowlands

Drosophila suzukii (spotted-wing drosophila) spread rapidly during the first decade of the 2000s and then became widely distributed in Europe except for eastern countries. In Hungary, it was detected in 2012 for the first time, but its distribution in the eastern part of the country had been not studied. During the present investigation nine sampling sites in the north-eastern part of the Carpathian lowlands belonging to Hungary, Ukraine and Romania were studied with baited traps. D. suzukii was detected in all seven Hungarian sites and in the one Western Ukrainian site where sampling occurred. Amongst the Hungarian sites, six had not previously been studied and the data provided here are the first for Western Ukraine and the second for this country following the published record from Yalta (Crimea, south-east Ukraine).     

Distribution and history of Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdj.) in the Carpathian Basin (Hom., Aphididae)

The Carpathian Basin has been classified as one of the model areas of Russian wheat aphid (=RWA), Diuraphis noxia (Kurdj.), expansion from the southeast to Central Europe. Explorations in 2002 as well as the summarized information published earlier centered the evidence for RWA in the northern and northeastern parts of the area and its occurrence was detected and verified in the area up to the submountains of the Carpathian Mountain Range. The history and distribution peculiarities of RWA in the Carpathian Basin and area are reviewed and discussed.     

Checklist of agromyzidae (Diptera) of Turkey,with a new record

The first checklist of Turkish leafminers of the family Agromyzidae (Diptera), comprising 78 species, is presented.Melanagromyza cunctans (Meigen, 1830) is recorded as new for the Turkish leafminer fauna. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 2, 2002.     

Inheritance of resistance to a new non‐steroidal ecdysone agonist,fufenozide, in the diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

BACKGROUND: The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), is a cosmopolitan pest of cruciferous crops. Fufenozide, a novel non‐steroidal ecdysone agonist, exhibits good efficacy and plays an increasingly important role in the control of Lepidopterous pests in China. A laboratory strain of DBM was selected for resistance to fufenozide, and the genetic basis of resistance was studied. RESULTS: The resistant strain, selected under laboratory conditions, exhibited a higher level of resistance to fufenozide (302.8‐fold based on LC₅₀s) than the laboratory susceptible strain. Mortality data from the testing of F₁ progeny of reciprocal crosses of resistant and susceptible DBM indicated that resistance was autosomal and incompletely recessive with a degree of dominance of ?0.664. Chi‐square analysis from responses of a backcross of crossed F₁ progeny and the resistant strain and F₂ progeny were highly significant, suggesting that the resistance was probably controlled by more than one gene. The estimated realised heritability (h²) of fufenozide resistance was 0.08, indicating that diamondback moth may have a lower chance of developing resistance to fufenozide than other kinds of insecticide. CONCLUSION: The resistance of DBM to fufenozide might be autosomal and incompletely recessive, and the resistance is probably controlled by more than one gene. These results provide the basic information for pest management programmes. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Distribution and biology of the yellow‐spotted longicorn beetle Psacothea hilaris hilaris (Pascoe) in Italy

The Asiatic yellow‐spotted longicorn beetle, Psacothea hilaris hilaris, was found for the first time in Northern Italy in 2005. As this xylophagous insect is considered one of the most important pests of Morus spp. and of Ficus carica in its countries of origin, a multi‐year study was carried out to determine the spread of the pest in Northern Italy, to evaluate its establishment potential and to improve knowledge on its biology in the new habitat. The survey confirmed that P. hilaris hilaris has established in Italy and has colonized an area of about 60 km². The species overwinters as eggs or larvae. Adults are present from June to October. Damage has been recorded mostly on Ficus carica plants, and very rarely on Morus alba. Both young and older plants, healthy and weakened hosts can be attacked by the pest. Severely attacked plants become weakened and eventually die.     

Testing and improving the effectiveness of trap crops for management of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.): a laboratory‐based study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) as a trap crop for diamondback moth [Plutella xylostella (L.)] on cauliflower [Brassica oleracea (L.) var. Lateman]. Moth behaviour on these plants and the importance of plant age and size in maintaining pest preference for trap crop plants were also investigated. RESULTS: Three times as many eggs were laid on cauliflower plants that were unprotected than on plants protected by a trap crop of white mustard. Moths remained longer on the mustard plants as a result of a doubling in the mean duration of information‐providing behaviours. Plant age had little effect on P. xylostella host preference. When plant age was constant, percentage oviposition on mustard was higher when these were larger (93%) than copresented cauliflower plants, compared with when they were smaller (68%). CONCLUSION: Trap cropping with white mustard may reduce the incidence of P. xylostella in cauliflower crops. The pest management benefits of trap crops may be maximised by using trap crop plants that are larger than the main crop plants, although relatively smaller trap crop plants may still be preferred as hosts for P. xylostella per se. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

A new aubergine disease caused by a whitefly‐borne strain of Tomato mild mottle virus (TomMMoV)

The aims of the present study were to further characterize the causal agent of a new viral disease of aubergines in Israel, first observed in 2003 and tentatively named eggplant mild leaf mottle virus (EMLMV) in a previous work, and to identify the vector responsible for its spread. The disease could be transmitted mechanically from infected source plants to healthy aubergines or laboratory test plants. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of purified virus preparations indicated the presence of viral particles with a flexible filamentous morphology (approximately 720 nm long). TEM analysis of ultrathin sections prepared from infected leaf tissue revealed the presence of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies with pinwheel and crystalline structures, typical of those induced by potyviral infection. The viral coat protein subunit was shown to have a molecular weight of 37·5 kDa by SDS‐PAGE analysis. The viral particles reacted positively in western blot analysis with an antiserum against Tomato mild mottle virus (TomMMoV) from Yemen, described as a potyvirus, vectored by the aphid Myzus persicae. The current study describes some biological properties of EMLMV and presents evidence for its transmission by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, but not by three aphid species. The taxonomic relationship between EMLMV and TomMMoV is discussed based on their biological characteristics and sequence analysis of their genomes. It is suggested that the Israeli EMLMV should be considered a distant strain of TomMMoV, designated TomMMoV‐IL, according to the present rules of Potyviridae molecular taxonomy.     

Aspidiella hartii (Cockerell 1895) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on yam (Dioscorea spp.) tubers: a new pest regularly entering the European part of the EPPO region

Yam is an important West African crop and is an inexpensive source of carbohydrate. Many people of Central African origin living in South Italy buy imported tubers to prepare their preferred recipes. Aspidiella hartii (Cockerell) infests yam tubers marketed in Bari (South Italy). Adult female scales on tuber bark are brownish, subcircular and about 1.2 mm wide. Ventral shields (‘flags’) from dead individuals are also abundant. The pest reproduces during storage and covers the tuber. Removal of plant sap shrivels the tubers during their trade, reducing quality, viability and marketability of the product. Severe A. hartii infestation of tubers can also inhibit their resprouting or kill the plant in the country of origin. Dipping yam in concentrated pyrethroids, or organophosphate insecticide, storage in sawdust, paddy husk or wood ash or paraffin wax coating may help to control the pest, although dipping in pyrethroids or organophosphate insecticide is not allowed in Europe. The armoured scale also infests Colocasia sp. (Taro, Araceae) and Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. (sweet potato, Convolvulaceae) causing similar damage. The presence of A. hartii host plants in Europe and the possible host‐shift of this pest to other crops in the region pose a risk for EPPO countries.     

First record of the onion psyllid Bactericera tremblayi (Wagner, 1961) in France (Insecta: Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea), new symptoms on leek crops and reassessment of the B. nigricornis‐group distribution

The triozid Bactericera tremblayi, or onion psyllid, is recorded for the first time from France, and is associated for the first time with important damage on leek crops in several regions of the country. We compare the morphology of this species with the two other species of the B. nigricornis‐group, in order to avoid misidentifications, and illustrate the different stages of B. tremblayi. The published distribution of the three species is summarised and updated based on collection data, and the presence of B. tremblayi and B. trigonica in Jordan and Spain (Canary Islands) respectively, is also recorded for the first time.     

Attract‐and‐kill: a new strategy for the management of the potato tuber moths Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) and Symmetrischema tangolias (Gyen) in potato: laboratory experiments towards optimising pheromone and insecticide concentration

BACKGROUND: Sex pheromones of the potato tuber moths Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) and Symmetrischema tangolias (Gyen) are ideal tools to monitor pest flight activity but are not used as means of control. The aim of the present study was to test the suitability of an attract‐and‐kill strategy consisting of pure pheromones and the contact insecticide cyfluthrin as the active ingredient, formulated with plant oils and ultraviolet absorbers, and applied in droplet sizes of 100 µL. RESULTS: Cyfluthrin at a concentration of 5 g L^?1 resulted in the highest and fastest killing of males after 48 h, with a 100% mortality after 3–4 days. In contrast, control males survived for 13 days. In olfactometer experiments, the pheromone concentration of 0.5 g L^?1 was significantly most attractive against eight virgin females. At controlled conditions (20 °C), no reduction in efficacy of the attract‐and‐kill formulation was observed for a minimum period of 36 days, whereas under natural environmental conditions the efficacy reduced gradually after day 6 of exposure. The longer the droplet was exposed, the longer was the time to reach 100% mortality of males. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with attract‐and‐kill studies for other pest species, the results are promising as a means of achieving highly effective control of potato tuber moths under field conditions. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biological responses of a non‐target aquatic plant (Nasturtium officinale) to the herbicide,tribenuron‐methyl

To assess its response to the herbicide, tribenuron‐methyl, samples of Nasturtium officinale were exposed to 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 mg L^?1 of tribenuron‐methyl for 1, 2, 4 and 7 days. The influence of this herbicide on the relative growth rate, electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation, photosynthetic pigmentation, protein content, and performance of anti‐oxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), was examined. The results indicated that tribenuron‐methyl, applied at 0.5 mg L^?1, affected plant growth negatively. It also was determined that chlorophyll a is the most responsive photosynthetic pigment to tribenuron–methyl exposure. Under stress conditions, the anti‐oxidant enzymes were up‐regulated compared to the control. The SOD activity was significantly stimulated, while the activity of APX was inhibited. A significant correlation was found between lipid peroxidation and SOD activity. The exposure period and herbicide concentration had significant effects on the biological responses against tribenuron‐methyl stress. These results may be useful for clarifying the effect of herbicides on non‐target aquatic plants.