Development of resistance to insecticides in the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Pakistan

The mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis has been a serious pest of cotton, vegetables, ornamentals and other plants since its invasion into Pakistan in 2005. Its susceptibility to commonly-used insecticides was monitored during 2005–2013 by a nymphal dip bioassay. Initially, P. solenopsis was found susceptible to a range of insecticide classes. Lethal concentration values were particularly low for organophosphates and pyrethroids. After a year of its exposure to insecticides, P. solenopsis developed moderate to high levels of resistance to pyrethroids. After two years, resistance to organophosphates methidathion and chlorpyrifos also rose to moderate to high levels. After five years of use, resistance to pyrethroids, organophosphates, neonicotinoids, endosulfan, carbosulfan, and thiocyclam was generally high to very high. Acetamiprid resistance was slow to develop, as it reached moderate level of resistance after seven years of its extensive applications. Insecticide resistance in P. solenopsis could have been managed in Pakistan if the effective and diverse insecticides were used in rotation, along with other integrated pest management tactics, at the initial stages of resistance development.     

Effect of temperature on development,survival and reproduction of the mealybug,Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on cotton

The effect of temperature on life cycle of the solenopsis mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was assessed under laboratory conditions at ten constant temperatures (18–40 °C). The development duration of female and male nymphal instars linearly decreased with the increase in temperature from 18 to 32 °C. Cumulative developmental time of females ranged from 43.9 d (18 °C) to 15.0 d (32 °C). Survival of crawlers to adulthood was lowest (<53%) at 20 and 36 °C and highest (80%) at 32 °C. The solenopsis mealybug exhibited obligate sexual ovoviviparous reproduction and the pre-oviposition period in mated females showed a significant decreasing trend between 20 °C (23.0 d) and 30 °C (9.5 d). The oviposition period of 10.2–11.5 d at ≥25 °C was nearly half the duration than at 20 °C and the highest fecundity (245 eggs + crawlers) was observed at 30 °C. Longevity of mated females was significantly prolonged at 20 °C (46.0 d) compared to 30 °C (21.4 d). Proportion of females was highest (97.5%) at 25 °C. Males required higher degree-days (363.6) for their cumulative development compared to females (317.5). Lower temperature thresholds estimated from the linear model for cumulative female and male development were 11.7 and 10.1 °C, respectively. The estimated optimum temperature thresholds for nymphal instars (32–33.4 °C) from β type distribution function were closer to the observed maximum developmental rate compared to Lactin-2 model. The population trend index using survival, fecundity, and sex ratio of P. solenopsis with an initial population of 100 crawlers in the Morris-Watt life table model indicated a potential population increase of 170.3 and 97.6 times at 30 and 35 °C, respectively, in the next generation. The usefulness of the information on the temperature-dependent life cycle of P. solenopsis in understanding its field abundance and distribution on cotton and implications for management is discussed.     

Effects of host plant on the development, survivorship and reproduction of Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley (Hemiptera: Pseudoccocidae)

The effects of four host plants (Agave sisalana, Ag. americana var. marginata, Ananas comosus Baili and An. comosus Smooth Cayenne) on the biology of the mealybug Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley were studied in the laboratory at 26 ± 1 °C, 75-90% RH and 14:10 (L:D) photoperiod. The development, survivorship, longevity, reproduction and life table parameters of D. neobrevipes differed among the host plants. The shortest developmental period (from the first instar nymph to adult) was recorded on An. comosus Smooth Cayenne (22.4 days for females and 21.3 days for males), whereas the longest was recorded on An. comosus Baili (25.6 days for females and 24.7 days for males). The highest survivorship was found on An. comosus Baili (98% for both females and males) and the lowest was on Ag. americana var. marginata (39.6% for females and 50% for males). Meanwhile the sex ratio and fecundity were highest and the pre-lay period was shortest on Ag. sisalana. The longest longevity of females was 62.5 days on An. comosus Baili, whereas the other host plants did not differ significantly with grand mean longevities of 51.0 days for females, while the longest and shortest longevities of males were 4.6 days and 2.3 days on Ag. americana var. marginata and Ag. sisalana, respectively. Values for net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase and finite rate of increase were highest on Ag. sisalana, whereas the mean generation time was shortest on An. comosus Smooth Cayenne. The results indicated that Ag. sisalana is the most suitable host for D. neobrevipes among the four tested plants. When reared on Ag. sisalana, D. neobrevipes had a short developmental period (females 22.7 days and males 23.8 days), high reproduction (418 nymphs/female) and a high intrinsic rate of increase (0.106). Results of this study indicated that host plant can largely influence the population dynamics of D. neobrevipes, and our findings are useful in understanding the roles of host plants in integrated management of this pest, including exploitation of these host plants in push-pull control.     

Studies on life cycle of mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on different hosts at different constant temperatures

The life cycle of a laboratory reared parthenogenic line of mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was investigated on six host plants (Lagenaria siceraria var.clavata, Solanum tuberosum L. var. Kufri Chandramukhi, Praecitrullus fistulosus (Stocks) Pangalo var. MTNH1, Cucurbita pepo var. Styriaca, Triticum aestivum L. var. Lokvan, H. rosa sinensis L.) at five constant temperatures (25, 29, 35, 38, 42 °C). The number of emerging crawlers and adults as well as weight of adults varied with host and temperature. P. fistulosus and H. rosa sinensis were suitable hosts for laboratory rearing of M. hirsutus. However, ease of maintenance of P. fistulosus to produce M. hirsutus under laboratory conditions is an additional advantage compared to using green plants such as H. rosa sinensis. Among the range of constant temperatures, 38 °C was found to be the most favourable for the development and survival of M. hirsutus. These results suggest that P. fistulosus fruits are suitable hosts for laboratory rearing and life cycle studies of M. hirsutus.     

Comparative overwintering host range of three Adelphocoris species (Hemiptera: Miridae) in northern China

In northern China, Adelphocoris suturalis, Adelphocoris lineolatus and Adelphocoris fasciaticollis (Hemiptera: Miridae) are common pests of cotton and several other crops. These species have vastly diverse geographic distribution, seasonal dynamics and abundance, the underlying causal factors of which are poorly understood. In this study, the importance of a broad range of plant species as overwintering hosts for each Adelphocoris sp. was compared. Nymphal emergence from a total of 126 plant species was monitored at two distinct locations. The eggs of A. suturalis successfully eclosed from un-plowed cotton field soil and 115 plant species, primarily pastures, weeds and agricultural crops. The eggs of A. lineolatus successfully eclosed from 40 plant species, mainly pastures and weeds. Finally, A. fasciaticollis overwintered on 35 plant species, primarily tree species, weeds and agricultural crops. In conclusion, the most common and widely distributed mirid species, A. suturalis, overwintered on a comparatively broader range of plants compared to the other two species. These observations help to understand the differences in geographical distribution and abundance of the three Adelphocoris species, and constitute the basis for forecasting and pest management protocols for Adelphocoris spp. in China.     

Monitoring and action threshold determination for the obscure mealybug Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) using pheromone-baited traps

The absence of effective pest monitoring has resulted in an increase in populations of the obscure mealybug Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in pome fruit orchards in the Western Cape Province of South Africa recently. The sex pheromone for P. viburni was recently identified and synthesized. Flight activity of adult male P. viburni was monitored by placing and servicing three, evenly spaced pheromone-baited traps per orchard in three pome fruit growing regions used for the study. Fortnightly fruit sampling was done by randomly picking three fruits per tree for the duration of each fruit season, dissecting and noting mealybug infestation. The biweekly male P. viburni trap catch information and fruit infestation data collected over two seasons were correlated. There was a positive and significant relationship between the fruit infestation and number of P. viburni adult males caught in pheromone-baited traps (r² = 0.454, P < 0.001). The action threshold level was estimated to be 2.5 male P. viburni caught per trap per fortnight at an economic threshold of 2% fruit infestation. This monitoring method was less labor intensive, more accurate and quicker than the current visual sampling and monitoring techniques.     

中国南部新发现的入侵害虫——银合欢豆象

报道近年发生在我国南部的海南、广西、云南等省区的1种新的入侵害虫——银合欢豆象。经初步调查,该虫严重危害银合欢豆荚和种子。对其形态特征、寄主、分布等进行简要的介绍。     

A temperature-based phenology model for predicting development,survival and population growth potential of the mealybug,Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

The temperature-dependent population growth potential of Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, a highly polyphagous and invasive mealybug species, was studied on sprouted potatoes under laboratory conditions at six constant temperatures (15–40 °C). Several non-linear equations were fitted to the obtained data to model temperature-dependent population growth and species life history. The established equations for each life age/stage of the species were compiled to obtain an overall temperature-dependent phenology model. The life table parameters of P. solenopsis were estimated using stochastic simulation centred on a rate summation and cohort up-dating approach. The theoretical lower development threshold temperatures estimated using linear regressions applied to mean development rates were 11.2, 8.9, 9.8 and 12.7 °C, and the thermal constants for development were 93.7, 129.8, 97.1 and 100.0 degree days (DD) for nymph 1, nymph 2, nymph 3 and male pupa stages, respectively. The developed phenology model predicted temperatures between 25 and 35 °C as the favourable range for P. solenopsis development, survival and reproduction. P. solenopsis population attained a maximum net reproductive rate (107–108 females/female/generation) and total fecundity (216.6–226.5 individuals/female/generation) at temperatures between 25 and 30 °C. Mean length of generations decreased from 75.6 days at 15 °C to 21 days at 40 °C. The maximum finite rate of increase (1.12–1.16 females/female/day) and shortest doubling time (4.3–6.1 days) were also observed at temperatures between 25 and 35 °C. The simulation of phenology model at fluctuating temperatures indicated that P. solenopsis populations might potentially increase with a finite rate of 1.06 females/female/day with an average generation time of 58.7 days and a doubling time of 12.1 days. The obtained life table parameters were reasonably similar when compared with literature data. The present model can be simulated spatially for estimating the pest risk and undertaking agro-ecoregion specific pest management strategies.     

Effect of Cardinium Infection on the Probing Behavior of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) MED

Facultative endosymbionts can affect the growth, physiology, and behavior of their arthropod hosts. There are several endosymbionts in the invasive whitefly Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED, Q biotype) that influence host fitness by altering stylet probing behavior. We investigated the probing behavior of B. tabaci MED infected with the facultative endosymbiont Candidatus Cardinium hertigii (Cardinium (Sphingobacteriales: Flexibacteraceae)). We generated genetically similar Cardinium-infected (C^*+) and uninfected (C^-) clonal sublines and analyzed the probing behavior of newly emerged adult on cotton (Malvales: Malvaceae), Gossypium hirsutum L., using electropenetrography (EPG). The C^- subline demonstrated a longer duration of E2 (2.81-fold) and more events of E2 (2.22-fold) than the C^*+ subline, indicating a greater level of sustained ingestion of plant phloem. These findings provide insight into the fitness costs (fitness of a particular genotype is lower than the average fitness of the population) of the Cardinium-infected B. tabaci.     

Effect of photoperiod on development and reproduction of Megacopta cribraria(Hemiptera:Plataspidae)

Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) continually outbreaks due to suitable photoperiod in recent years. Effect of photoperiod on growth, development and reproduction of M. cribraria were assessed in this study. Results indicated that developmental duration, nutrient accumulation efficiency, and adult fecundity of M. cribraria were significantly different under 6 photoperiodical conditions. Developmental duration of nymph stage gradually tended to be shorter as day time increase. Body weights of 5th instar nymphs for 16 h and 4 h day time photoperiods were 5.2 mg and 4.6 mg, respectively. Moreover, longevity of adults tended to be longer as day time increase. However, for the short day photoperiod (4 L:20 D and 8 L:16 D), population showed no reproductive behaviors. Index of population trend increased with photoperiod extension and adults showed stronger reproductive capacity and longer longevity. This research identified the favorable photoperiodical conditions before outbreak. It may provided reference for ecological adaptability of M. cribraria, and contribute to the scientific basis for forecasting and controlling of M. cribraria.     

Overwintering hosts of Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae) in northern China

During the past decade, Apolygus lucorum Meyer-Dür (Heteroptera: Miridae) has become a key pest of cotton in northern China, due to widespread planting of Bt cotton and an associated drop in the use of broad-spectrum insecticides. Because of a lack of management alternatives, A. lucorum outbreaks are presently exclusively controlled with insecticides. In this study, we determined A. lucorum overwintering locations and host plants during the 2006–2009 winter seasons. A total of 126 plant species were screened and nymphal emergence of A. lucorum was monitored over time. Eggs of A. lucorum successfully overwintered in cotton field soils and on 86 plant species, including weeds, fruit trees, pastures and agricultural crops. More specifically, Vitis vinifera L., Ricinus communis L., Momordica charantia L., Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant., Artemisia annua L., Artemisia lavandulaefolia DC., Isatis indigotica Fort., Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kit., Vigna radiate (L.) Wilczek, Ziziphus jujuba Mill., Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi et, Ocimum basilicum L., Onobrychi viciifolia Scop., Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd., Malus domestica Borkh. and Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et Coss proved optimal overwintering hosts of A. lucorum. Based upon plant species occurrence and distribution in Chinese cotton-growing regions, several weeds and fruit trees, such as V. vinifera, Z. jujuba, P. bretschneideri and M. domestica can be termed key overwintering hosts of A. lucorum. Our findings can form the basis for future formulation of targeted management actions to lower A. lucorum overwintering populations in cotton-growing landscapes of northern China.     

Identification of the Population Structure of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Peach Trees in China Using Microsatellites

In this study, we characterized the genetic structure of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) populations in China using microsatellites. We expected that these data will reveal the genetic relationships among various populations of M. persicae and will be of value in the development of better methods for pest control. Four hundred sixty individuals from 23 areas over 13 provinces were collected in the early spring of 2010, all from their primary host, Prunus persicae. The markers analyzed were highly polymorphic, as demonstrated by the expected heterozygosity value (H_e = 0.861) and the Polymorphism Information Content (PIC = 0.847), which indicated that M. persicae maintains a high level of genetic diversity. Analysis of molecular variance revealed an intermediate level of population differentiation among M. persicae populations (F_ST = 0.1215). Geographic isolation existed among these populations, and, consequently, the genetic structure of the populations was split into a southern group and a northern group divided by the Yangtse River.     

我国南方实蝇类害虫概述

实蝇(fruit fly)是水果和蔬菜类作物的重要害虫。本文对我国南方(海南、广东、广西、云南、贵州、四川、重庆、湖南、湖北、福建)实蝇种类、分布范围、寄主(诱剂)进行总结。据不完全统计,我国华南地区采集(诱捕)的实蝇已达18属97种,其中海南21种,广东15种,广西30种,云南59种。同时,就主要实蝇在我国的分布特征及实蝇科昆虫的鉴定和分类上的一些问题进行简要论述。     

Insecticide resistance in Bemisia tabaci biotype Q (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from China

Dispersion of invasive biotypes of the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, has led to protracted crop protection constraints in numerous countries over recent decades. These polyphagous, highly efficient vectors of plant viruses present an intractable problem as they frequently carry a diverse suite of insecticide resistance mechanisms. In many areas of China, native biotypes have been supplanted by the invasive and globally widespread biotype B since the 1990s. More recently, biotype Q has established, posing a new and more potent threat to agricultural production systems throughout the country. Insecticide resistance profiles for a range of Chinese B. tabaci strains covering biotypes B and Q were examined, to establish the potential for insecticides to play a pivotal role in biotype competition and ultimate displacement. Commonly used compounds including pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, abamectin and pyriproxyfen were targeted as widespread use is pre-requisite to drivers of population dynamics on a national scale.     

中国大陆一种甘蔗新害虫——东亚蔗粉蚧

东亚蔗粉蚧(Pseudococcus saccharicola Takahashi)是禾本科植物的重要害虫。自1928年发现于中国台湾甘蔗上以来,已记录于12个国家或地区。本文标本采自于海南三亚甘蔗上,为该虫在大陆首次发现。文中介绍了该粉蚧的分类地位、形态特征、寄主、地理分布、生物学、天敌及共生蚁、经济重要性;并首次记述了该虫的一龄若虫。最后,编制了中国甘蔗粉蚧已知种分种检索表。     

Relative Abundance of Carsonella ruddii (Gamma Proteobacterium) in Females and Males of Cacopsylla pyricola (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae)

Carsonella ruddii (Gamma Proteobacterium) is an obligate bacterial endosymbiont of psyllids that produces essential amino acids that are lacking in the insect’s diet. Accurate estimations of Carsonella populations are important to studies of Carsonella-psyllid interactions and to developing ways to target Carsonella for control of psyllid pests including pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae). We used two methods, namely fluorescence in situ hybridization and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), to estimate relative abundance of Carsonella in bacteriocytes and whole bodies of psyllids, respectively. Using these two methods, we compared Carsonella populations between female and male insects. Estimations using fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that Carsonella was more abundant in bacteriocytes of female C. pyricola than in those of males, but Carsonella abundance in bacteriocytes did not differ between sexes of B. cockerelli. Analyses by qPCR using whole-body specimens indicated Carsonella was more abundant in females than in males of both psyllids. Neither fluorescence in situ hybridization nor qPCR indicated that Carsonella populations differed in abundance among adults of different ages (0–3 wk after adult eclosion). Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, Carsonella was observed in ovarioles of newly emerged females and formed an aggregation in the posterior end of mature oocytes. Results of our study indicate that female psyllids harbor greater populations of Carsonella than do males and that sex should be controlled for in studies which require estimations of Carsonella populations.     

木槿曼粉蚧生物学特征的初步研究

木槿曼粉蚧是我国南方大豆上的一种新害虫。为了明确其各个虫态识别特征及其在大豆上的生活史及主要生物学特征,在室内恒温条件下[温度(25±1)℃,相对湿度70%±5%,光周期为L∶D=12∶12],观察描述了雌雄不同虫态的形态特征及其个体生活史、各虫态主要习性和危害特征等。结果表明:木槿曼粉蚧具有典型的性二型现象。雌虫包括卵、1龄若虫、2龄若虫、3龄若虫和雌成虫。雄虫包括卵、1龄若虫、2龄若虫、预蛹、蛹和雄成虫。若虫期各龄期体长、体宽、触角节数等形态结构具有明显差异,可作为区分龄期的依据。在25℃条件下,以大豆为寄主的雌性个体若虫期为33.34 d,成虫期19.03 d,平均产卵269.6粒;雄性个体若虫期24.60 d,预蛹期2.27 d、蛹期3.33 d,成虫寿命仅3.83 d。     

Thermal Biology of Liorhyssus hyalinus (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae) and Nysius simulans (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), Fed on the Milky Stage of Maize Grains

When quinoa, Chenopodium quinoa Willd., is cultivated in South America outside of its Andean origin, the heteropterans Liorhyssus hyalinus (Fabricius) and Nysius simulans Stål may emerge as important pests. Here we studied the development and reproduction of both species at different constant temperatures in the laboratory. Egg and nymphal development were investigated at 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, and 36°C. For both species, egg incubation time significantly decreased as the temperature increased. Nymphs did not successfully develop at 18°C and the total nymphal time significantly decreased as the temperature increased from 22 to 36°C. Based on a linear day-degree (DD) model, the lower developmental threshold (LDT) temperatures for eggs and nymphs were estimated to be 16.0 and 17.9°C for L. hyalinus, and 16.1 and 19.7°C for N. simulans, respectively. Thermal requirements for egg and nymphal development were 68.6 and 114.8 DD for L. hyalinus, and 77.7 and 190.3 DD for N. simulans, respectively. Reproduction and adult longevity were studied at 22, 26, 30, and 34°C. For both species preoviposition time decreased as temperature increased, and the oviposition period was longest at 26°C. The highest fecundity and egg viability were observed at 30°C, whereas longevities were higher at 22–26°C than at 30–34°C. As the lowest tested temperatures were not suitable to both heteropterans and 30°C was found to be the optimal temperature for development and reproduction, peak densities are expected in warm areas and seasons.     

不同施肥水平对水稻上白背飞虱种群的影响

摘要: 研究了施不同水平有机肥和化肥的钵栽水稻（汕优63）上白背飞虱的发育、存活和繁殖情况。有机肥（腐熟猪粪）和化肥（尿素、过磷酸钙和氯化钾）分别设低（N 200、P 230和K 95 mg/钵）、中（N 400、P 460和K 190 mg/钵）和高（N 600、P 690和K 285 mg/钵）3个水平处理,于移栽前施于盆钵中,施肥1周后的稻苗（27 d龄）供试。结果表明,当施肥水平较低时,各种群参数在两类肥料处理间的差异较小;但当施肥提高至中、高水平时,与施化肥相比,施有机肥水稻上的白背飞虱卵孵化率和若虫存活率显著降低,若虫历期较长,产卵历期较短,产卵量较小,种群内禀增长率明显降低。表明与施化肥相比,施有机肥明显不利于白背飞虱种群的增长。     

Effect of repeated applications of insecticides to potatoes on numbers of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and on the frequencies of insecticide-resistant variants

Numbers of Myzus persicae on potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) receiving three insecticide regimes were recorded in 1985 and 1986. Frequencies of insecticide-resistant variants were determined using an immunoassay for esterase-4 (E4), the enzyme responsible. M. persicae was more abundant at the end of the season on plots sprayed alternately throughout the experiment with a mixture of pyrethroid with oil and pirimicarb, than on those treated with pirimicarb alone. Frequency distributions of E4 activity showed that very resistant variants intermediate between R₂ and R₃ levels accounted for >50% of the populations. Further samples of aphids, collected on separate farms from defoliated patches in late-growing potato crops where repeated spraying had failed to control aphids, showed that these highly resistant variants had again been selected. Possible reasons for the observed increase in numbers of M. persicae following pyrethroid/oil treatment and consequences for virus control are discussed.