Acephate implants for control of the pine processionary caterpillar

Acephate (Orthene) cartridges spaced 14 cm apart along the stem circumference, implanted in November as a preventive treatment in 18-year-old pine trees, resulted in 100% mortality of young larvae of the pine processionary caterpillar,Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams. A spacing of 10 cm was required to achieve 100% mortality of 3rd and 4th instar larvae. When implants were done in January, a spacing of 6 cm for control of the 4th and 5th instar larvae was needed.     

Host selection by the pine processionary caterpillarthaumetopoea wilkinsoni

The occurrence of nests of the pine processionary caterpillar (PPC),Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tarns (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), was recorded in two 9-year-old plots planted withPinus halepensis, P. brutia andP. eldarica in a randomized block design. Nest density was highest inP. eldarica and lowest inP. halepensis. The mean number of nests per tree and their frequency distribution indicate that the preference of the PPC is in the order P.eldarica >P brutia >P. halepensis;it is believed to be related to shape of the tree. Planting ofP. eldarica in camping sites is not recommended, due to its high susceptibility to colonization by the PPC.     

The role of the monoterpene composition inPinus spp. needles, in host selection by the pine processionary caterpillar,Thaumetopoea pityocampa

This paper presents preliminary results on attempts to extract and characterize the volatile secondary metabolites contained in needles of differentPinus species and to ascertain the role played by these substances on the behavior ofThaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis et Schiffermüller) females, which show a marked preference, during the oviposition period, for some indigenous and exotic species of host plants existing in mixed formation. Limonene is the most abundant monoterpene extracted fromP. pinea needles, the least favored species of pine processionary caterpillar (PPC) females, although it is present in only very low amounts in otherPinus species. An increase was observed in limonene production byP. pinea at the start of the flight period of the PPC adult, and subsequently at the beginning of the females’ oviposition period. Assays carried out in two pine stands in central Italy showed that limonene, emulsified with water and sprayed on foliage of four different pine species plants,P. sylvestris, P. nigra, P. pinaster andP. radiata, during the PPC oviposition period, provided a satisfactory degree of protection. In fact, the number of egg clusters collected from treated plants was often lower than the number of egg clusters collected from control plants and was comparable to the number of egg clusters laid onP. pinea plants. In particular (R)-(+)-limonene, although not produced in nature by pines, was the most effective deterrent. However, the effect of (S)-(-)-limonene, the enantiomer biosynthesized by pines, was also adequate.     

云南松毛虫为害湿地松调查及其防治研究

云南松毛虫是福建省沿海地区湿地松的重要害虫之一。该虫一年发生1代,以卵越冬,卵于翌年2月下旬孵化,幼虫7龄,历期158d～195d,以取食嫩针叶为主,幼虫老熟时下树,藏于草丛里或树干基部,在枯枝落叶中结茧化蛹,预蛹期50d～70d,成虫寿命5d～10d.其发生与林分的林木组成、气候、天敌等因子密切相关.试验表明：用25%灭幼脲3号,白僵菌与0.4%氰戊菊酯粉剂按4︰1混合制成的粉炮防治幼虫,有良好效果。     

马尾松毛虫蛹营养成份分析

测定结果表明,马尾松毛虫蛹具有18种氨基酸,氨基酸E%值和E/N比值分别为40.31%和0.68,E%/T比值是2.7。因此认为马尾松毛虫蛹是一种理想的可食用虫态。     

新建县马尾松毛虫发生规律分析及其治理对策

本文对新建县近20年的马尾松毛虫发生规律及发生原因进行分析,并提出了今后的防治对策。     

Native entomopathogenic nematodes isolated from Turkey and their effectiveness on pine processionary moth,Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams

Two native entomopathogenic nematodes were isolated from soil samples in Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey and characterized based on 28S rDNA region. BLASTN homology and phylogenetic analysis of SK17 and SK-71 isolates indicated 98% and 99% identity to Steinernema affine and Steinernema feltiae, respectively. The results were constructed by neighbour-joining and bootstrap tree methods. Efficacy of S. affine (SK-17 strain) and S. feltiae (SK-71 strain) was tested against the larvae of pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams, and remarkable mortality rates were obtained. Both strains caused complete mortality upon application of 500 IJs in foliar tests. However, the same strains caused 30% and 33% mortality at 80 IJs/cm² in soil applications. It was concluded that these native strains could be considered as potential biocontrol agents for reducing the damage caused by T. wilkinsoni larvae.     

高温对松毛虫赤眼蜂发育和寄生能力的影响

为明确高温对松毛虫赤眼蜂Trichogramma dendrolimi发育和寄生能力的影响,采用生物学观察法在室内监测米蛾Corcyra cephalonica卵内不同发育时期的松毛虫赤眼蜂在经历高温40℃处理1 h或35℃处理6 h后其当代和子代蜂的世代历期、羽化率、寄生率和雌蜂率并进行分析。结果表明,高温40℃处理1 h有利于松毛虫赤眼蜂的发育,于幼虫期处理后其当代蜂世代历期明显缩短,于胚胎期和蛹期处理后其当代成蜂羽化率显著提高;然而,高温35℃处理6 h对松毛虫赤眼蜂的发育和寄生能力具有显著的负面影响,各发育时期经历高温处理后当代成蜂羽化率均显著降低,幼虫期经历高温处理后其当代成蜂的雌蜂率、寄生率和子代成蜂的羽化率均显著降低。表明高温对松毛虫赤眼蜂具有显著影响,繁育时适当优化温度可以提高扩繁效率,但运输和释放时应避免高温暴晒以降低防控效率损失。     

A comparative evaluation of Origanum onites essential oil and its four major components as larvicides against the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams

The pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams. (Lepidoptera: Thaumatopoeidae), is an important forest pest in the Mediterranean area, and urticating hairs of the caterpillars of this species cause allergic reactions on skin of humans and animals. In the present study, the larvicidal activities of Turkish oregano (Origanum onites L.) essential oil and its four major components, carvacrol, gamma-terpinene, terpinen-4-ol and thymol, were evaluated against fourth/fifth-instar larvae of PPM under laboratory conditions. The essential oil was larvicidal to PPM with an LD(50) value of 3800 microL L(-1) when 0.1 mL was applied per larva. Carvacrol was the most toxic component found in the essential oil (LD(50) = 3100 microL L(-1)), followed by thymol (LD(50) = 5500 microL L(-1)). The other two components, gamma-terpinene and terpinen-4-ol, were less effective. The results showed that Turkish oregano essential oil and its two components, carvacrol and thymol, could be potential alternatives to synthetic insecticides for the control of PPM.     

Application of pityolure for detection and control of Thaumetopoea pityocampa in Israel1

Trials were carried out with pityolure, the synthetic female sex pheromone of Thaumetopoea pityocampa, to test the various possibilities of its use in the management of the pest. Practical application consists of macromapping of infested and non-infested areas, early detection of new foci of infestation, and timing of sprays with insecticides. Brief mention is made of possible uses not yet applied in practice, such as control by mating disruption, control by mass trapping and monitoring of the population level. Des essais sur le pityolure, phéromone synthétique sexuelle femelle de Thaumetopoea pityocampa, ont permis de tester diverses possibilités d'utilisation pour la lutte contre cet organisme nuisible. Parmi les applications pratiques sont la macro-cartographie des lieux infestés ou non infestés, la détection précoce de nouveaux foyers d'infestation et la détermination des dates d'application de pulvérisations d'insecticides. Quelques utilisations possibles mais non encore appliquées sont brièvement mentionnées: lutte par confusion des mâles, lutte par piégeages en masse et contrôle des niveaux de population.     

Effectiveness of a naturally derived insecticide, spinosad, against the pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae) under laboratory conditions

The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams is a serious pest on pine trees in southwestern Turkey. The efficacy of a naturally derived insecticide, spinosad, on fourth-fifth instar larvae of T. wilkinsoni was studied under laboratory conditions. The product exhibited strong larvicidal activity and at doses above 5 mg litre(-1) caused > 90% mortality in the fourth-fifth larval stages of the species after 72 h. At 72 h the LD50 and LD90 values were 3.26 and 5.69 mg litre(-1) respectively. The results showed that spinosad is highly effective on T. wilkinsoni larvae.     

Enhancement of sphaeropsis canker of aleppo pine by the Israeli pine bast scale

An interaction between the fungal pathogenSphaeropsis sapinea (Fr.) Dyko & Sutton, causal organism of Sphaeropsis canker, and the Israeli pine bast scaleMatsucoccus josephi (Homoptera: Margarodidae), causal agent of pine decline, was studied, since both were prevalent on Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) stands.Sphaeropsis sapinea was isolated from larvae (stage II) and molts of the Israeli pine bast scale collected in four Aleppo pine stands. When Aleppo pine saplings were infested with pine bast scale and subsequently inoculated withS. sapinea most plants died, whereas mortality of seedlings inoculated withS. sapinea alone without previous scale infestation was negligible. Scale infestation of saplings without subsequent fungal inoculation caused the death of one third of the plants. Wounding of pine shoot apices by removal of needle fascicles enhanced infection byS. sapinea. The results support the assumption thatM. josephi can play an important role in transmitting the fungal inoculum to the host tree as well as enabling its penetration to the shoots through wounds in the bark. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 20, 2004.     

Insecticidal effects of essential oils from various plants against larvae of pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae)

Along with sulfate turpentine, the essential oils obtained by steam distillation from nine plant species naturally grown in Turkish forests were tested at three different concentrations to evaluate their effectiveness against the larvae of pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff). The results indicated that the essential oils from the nine species and sulfate turpentine were effective against the larvae of T pityocampa. The most effective essential oil in the control of the larvae was steam-distilled wood turpentine, followed by thyme herb oil, juniper berry oil, laurel leaf oil, lavender flower oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, lavender leaf oil, cypress berry oil, essential oil of styrax and sulfate turpentine, respectively, in terms of mean mortality time. It is therefore feasible to use these essential oils as environment-friendly insecticides in the control of T pityocampa.     

Mating disruption for the control of Aonidiella aurantii Maskell (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) may contribute to increased effectiveness of natural enemies

BACKGROUND: New directives on sustainable use of pesticides have encouraged research on efficient alternative pest control methods. In the case of the California red scale (CRS), Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), this imperative, along with the many difficulties in controlling this pest, have led to the investigation of new approaches. Previously developed mating disruption (MD) dispensers, together with the augmentative releases of the parasitoid Aphytis melinus DeBach, are here considered as a combined strategy for use against A. aurantii. RESULTS: Efficacy of MD was demonstrated by a mean reduction of 80% in CRS male catches and a mean fruit damage reduction of 83% compared with the control. A delay in the development of A. aurantii instars was observed in the MD plot. This delay increased the period of exposure of the susceptible instars to natural enemies, which resulted in higher predation and parasitism levels in the MD plot. Under laboratory conditions, A. melinus mating behaviour and effects on A. aurantii were not significantly altered in a CRS-pheromone-saturated environment. CONCLUSION: Mating disruption pheromone did not affect the behaviour or level of parasitism by A. melinus or the incidence of other generalist predators. Therefore, A. aurantii pheromone appears to be compatible with augmentative releases and biological control, making its use a good strategy for CRS management. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of defoliation caused by the processionary moth on growth of Crimean pines in western Turkey

An outbreak of the pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), began in spring 1998 and lasted 6 years in a Crimean pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) plantation in western Turkey. The effects of PPM on the radial, height and volume growth of Crimean pine trees were investigated by examining the increment losses for three defoliation intensities (groups). PPM activity in Crimean pine stand was assessed through radial increment analysis of cores extracted at breast height. In 2004, increment cores were collected from moderate and high defoliation and low defoliation dominant or co-dominant trees. Based on the sample, annual radial growth indices from 1998 to 2004 were calculated. Growth functions were defined as the cumulative sum of radial, height and volume increment graphically compared between Crimean pine defoliation group sample trees. The sample trees are the same subspecies and varieties. After the defoliations, radial, height and volume growth of low defoliation group trees was found to be significantly greater than that of the other affected groups. During the 1998–2004 period the total radial growth of low, moderately affected and highly affected trees was, respectively, 49, 33 and 31 mm; the total height growth was 3.1, 1.8 and 1.0 m; and the total volume growth was 50, 14 and 10 dm³.     

Production of a Mating Inhibitor by Ustilago hordei

ABSTRACT Ustilago hordei, the cause of barley covered smut, was found to produce a factor that inhibited its own mating. The mating inhibition factor (MIF) specifically inhibited mating of U. hordei and other Ustilago spp., but not teliospore germination or sporidial growth. MIF did prevent teliospore germination of Tilletia caries and T. contraversa. MIF was found at low levels in culture supernatants of either mating type of U. hordei grown separately, but at higher levels when both mating types were grown together, in the supernatants of MAT-1 mating type cells transformed with the MAT-1 pheromone gene mfa1 and of MAT-2 cells transformed with either mfa1 or the MAT-1 pheromone receptor gene pra1. Diploid cells produced no detectable inhibitor, nor did MAT-1 cells with a disrupted mating type locus that deleted both mfa1 and pra1. MIF production was restored when mfa1, but not pra1, was added back to the MAT-1Delta cells. MIF activity was altered by protease treatment. Highly purified MIF from MAT-1 cells contained cysteine methyl ester, farnesyl cysteine, farnesyl cysteine methyl ester, and a dodecapeptide with a mass consistent with that of MAT-1 pheromone lacking the terminal cysteine. Since smut fungi must first mate to become pathogenic, mating inhibition has the potential to be an effective method of disease control for these pathogens.