Natural enemies and seasonal abundance of the blackmargined aphid (Monellia caryella) in pecan orchards in Israel

The blackmargined aphid,Monellia caryella (Fitch), exhibited a seasonal pattern with early and late peaks of the population in pecan orchards at Newe Ya’ar in the Yizre’el Valley. A similar pattern was not observed at Kibbutz Sede Eliyyahu in the Bet She’an Valley, where there was a single peak, late in the season. The occurrence of natural enemies indicated that spiders and lacewing eggs were the predators most commonly associated with population fluctuations of the aphid. In most cases the rate of increase of the blackmargined aphid was highest late in the season.     

Biological control of the florida red scale,Chrysomphalus aonidum,in israel by two parasite species: Current status in the coastal plain

For the last 20 years there has been a trend of dynamic change in the relative composition of the parasite complex of the Florida red scale,Chrysomphalus aonidum (L.), in Israel —Aphytis holoxanthus DeBach (an ectoparasite) being gradually replaced byPteroptrix smithi (Compere) (an endoparasite). Monthly sampling of fruits and leaves in citrus groves located along the coastal plain in Israel indicated that the Florida red scale is effectively controlled by its parasites. The two parasite species coexist in the citrus groves,P. smithi generally being the dominant species. Parasitism byA. holoxanthus is relatively low during autumn and winter, increasing gradually during the spring and reaching a peak between May and August. Parasitism byP. smithi remains relatively high throughout the year.     

5种杀虫剂对甘蓝蚜的毒杀作用及对蚜茧蜂的影响

在室内分别测定了5%天然除虫菊素乳油、4.5%高效氯氰菊酯乳油、10%吡虫啉可湿性粉剂、3%啶虫脒乳油、40%毒死蜱乳油5种杀虫剂对甘蓝蚜的毒杀作用及对蚜茧蜂的影响。结果表明:用浸渍法处理叶片上甘蓝蚜48 h以后,5%天然除虫菊素1、0%吡虫啉对甘蓝蚜虫的毒杀效果优于其他3种杀虫剂;用浸渍法处理蚜茧蜂蛹,除40%毒死蜱对其影响较大以外,其他4种杀虫剂处理的蚜茧蜂蛹羽化率与空白对照相比差异不显著;用药膜法处理蚜茧蜂成虫,5%天然除虫菊素、4.5%高效氯氰菊酯对其影响较大,处理后12 h,死亡率达100%;40%毒死蜱次之;3%啶虫脒1、0%吡虫啉影响较小。     

Application of plant growth regulators mitigates chlorotic foliar injury by the black pecan aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

BACKGROUND: Black pecan aphid, Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), feeding elicits localized chlorotic injury to pecan foliage [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K Koch] and apparent acceleration of leaf senescence and defoliation. The ability of certain plant growth regulators (PGRs) (forchlorfenuron, gibberellic acid and aviglycine) to prevent M. caryaefoliae from triggering pecan leaf chlorosis and senescence‐like processes was evaluated on two dates in both 2006 and 2007. Treatments were applied to orchard foliage and used in laboratory leaf‐disc bioassays to assess possible reduction in aphid‐elicited chlorosis and concomitant effects on aphid mortality and development. RESULTS: Foliage pretreated with forchlorfenuron + gibberellic acid prior to being challenged with aphids resulted in significantly less aphid‐elicited chlorosis than did control or aviglycine‐treated leaf discs. No PGR affected aphid mortality; however, development time was increased by forchlorfenuron + gibberellic acid in 2006 and by aviglycine + gibberellic acid on one date in 2007. CONCLUSION: Certain PGRs possess the potential for usage on pecan to protect foliar canopies from M. caryaefoliae via changes in the susceptibility of the host leaf to senescence‐like factors being introduced by feeding aphids. This protective effect on host foliage and the associated suppressive effect on development of feeding aphids might also be relevant to pest management programs on other aphid–crop systems in which aphid‐elicited chlorosis and senescence‐like processes can limit profitability. Published 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The psyllid Macrohomotoma gladiata Kuwayama, 1908 (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Homotomidae): a Ficus pest recently introduced in the EPPO region

The psyllid Macrohomotoma gladiata, is a new insect pest of Ficus originating from Asia which has recently been found in Spain (Alicante) on urban Ficus microcarpa trees. This species may be of phytosanitary concern because of its leaf wrapping habits, wax secretion and honeydew excretion that may lead to direct and secondary twig damage. Although more studies are needed on the biology of M. gladiata, it is suspected that it might behave in the Euro‐Mediterranean as an invasive alien species. The predation by Anthocoris sp. (nemoralis?) needs to be investigated in order to assess its effectiveness as a natural biological control agent. This is the first report of M. gladiata from the EPPO region.     

几种杀虫剂对绵蚜天敌日光蜂成虫的影响

室内测定结果表明,杀虫剂啶虫咪对苹果绵蚜的天敌日光蜂蛹的羽化率、成虫的死亡率影响很小,对成虫的击倒率也低,属于2级微害产品;毒死蜱对蛹羽化率、成虫死亡率影响大,达到或接近4级有害产品标准;除虫菊和乙酰甲胺磷对日光蜂的毒性介于上述2种农药之间;印楝对蛹的羽化中度有害,但对成虫属微害。防治绵蚜要注意选用对日光蜂等天敌毒性较小的药剂。     

Secondary dispersal, spatial dynamics and effects of herbicides on reproductive capacity of a recently introduced population of Bromus sterilis in an arable field

An arable field was subdivided and subjected to either deep inversion ploughing or non‐inversion cultivation after viable seeds of Bromus sterilis had been sown into oilseed rape stubble. After sowing in isolated plots distributed within the field, sequences of cropping treatments for the establishment of two successive winter wheat crops were applied. Each subfield was split into an uphill and a downhill direction for soil cultivation. The field had a 10° slope. In the season following seed introduction, 2.6% of the introduced seeds had successfully germinated and established in the non‐inversion cultivation regime, when no effective graminicide was applied. Ploughing eradicated B. sterilis. Using differential global positioning system (DGPS) mapping of the whole field population, emerged plants were observed up to 8.7 m (uphill treatment) and 21.3 m (downhill treatment) of their initial source. The median distance seeds were transported was 2.3 m uphill and 4.8 m downhill. Post‐emergence application of the herbicide propoxycarbazone slightly reduced weed density and seed weight, and almost halved weed seed production. Application of fenoxaprop‐P‐ethyl was followed by higher density of plants, tillers and seeds of B. sterilis. Seed viability was unaffected by herbicide use. Thus, in the second wheat crop following seed rain, the weed population was dispersed more widely in the field, such that 20–30% of seeds were dispersed more than 5 m distance from the first year's foci of infestation. The relevance of soil cultivation to secondary dispersal of B. sterilis is discussed.     

Camallanus cotti (Nematoda: Camallanidae), an introduced parasite of fishes in New Caledonia

A pathogenic Asian nematode species of Camallanus, C. cotti Fujita, 1927, was found in New Caledonia, South Pacific, for the first time; it was recorded from two native fishes, Awaous guamensis (Valenciennes) (Gobiidae) (prevalence 51%, intensity 1-25) and Kuhlia marginata (Cuvier) (Kuhliidae) (a single specimen found), of the La Foa River, about 100 km north of Nouméa; the latter represents a new host record. Morphological data on C. cotti based on New Caledonian specimens and those previously collected from aquarium-kept Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor) in Canada have been provided. The SEM examination of C. cotti, applied for the first time in this species, made it possible to study some of its morphological details; first-stage larvae from the female's uterus were found to possess several digit-like processes on the tail tip, not previously reported for any species of the Camallanidae. Camallanus moraveci Petter, Cassone et France, 1974 is considered a junior synonym of C. cotti. A list of hitherto recorded hosts of C. cotti is provided. Camallanus cotti is assumed to be introduced into New Caledonia along with the introduction of the exotic poeciliid fishes, which are known to be among the most common hosts of C. cotti in aquarium cultures worldwide.     

Major pests of man-made forests in israel: origin,biology, damage and control

The important pests of the three main tree genera used in afforestation in Israel are described. The pine pests are the Israeli bast scale,Matsucoccus josephi; the pine processionary caterpillar,Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni; the bark beetlesOrthotomicus erosus, Pityogenes calcaratus andTomicus destruens; and the Mediterranean shoot moth,Rhyacionia buoliana thurificana. The cypress pests are the bark beetlesPhloeosinus armatus andP. aubei. The eucalypt borerPhoracantha semipunctata is the sole significant pest of eucalypts. All of these pests, except for the last, are considered endemic species which maintained themselves in the natural relict stands. Routine chemical control operations are conducted only againstT. wilkinsoni. Natural enemies are capable of keeping the other pest populations under good control if appropriate silvicultural measures and practices are in use.     

First report of the recently introduced,destructive powdery mildew <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe corylacearum</Emphasis> on hazelnut in Turkey

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) is Turkey’s most valuable agricultural export, and an essential source of income for many families in the Black Sea Region. In spring 2013, hazelnut leaves, fruit clusters and shoots showing powdery mildew infection symptoms different from those observed previously were discovered in Giresun, Ordu and Trabzon provinces of Turkey. The disease has become epidemic throughout all hazelnut production areas spreading from east to west of the Black Sea Region over the subsequent years. Erysiphe corylacearum was identified as the causal agent of this new and highly destructive powdery mildew based on its morphological characteristics and analyses of DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 28S regions of the ribosomal DNA. Pathogenicity of this species was examined in an infection test and proven for the first time. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. corylacearum on Corylus avellana worldwide.     

Introduction of beneficial insects into israel for the control of insect pests

More than 200 shipments of beneficial insects for the biological control of soft scale insects, armoured scale insects, whitefly, aphids, mealybugs and the Mediterranean fruit fly, were imported to Israel during 1976-1987 by the quarantine facility of the Israel Cohen Institute for Biological Control. Laboratory culture was initiated with 89 species of primary parasites and predators; 60 species were successfully cultured. Of these, 56 species were released in the field and 29 were recovered; six are established and have effected successful biological control ofSaissetia oleae (Olivier) andDialeurodes citri (Ashmead).     

Activation of defence in sweet pepper, Capsicum annum, by cis-jasmone, and its impact on aphid and aphid parasitoid behaviour

BACKGROUND: Two important pests of the sweet pepper, Capsicum annuum, are the peach potato aphid, Myzus persicae, and the glasshouse potato aphid, Aulacorthum solani. Current aphid control measures include the use of biological control agents, i.e. parasitic wasps, but with varying levels of success. One option to increase parasitoid efficiency is to activate plant defence. Therefore, sweet pepper plants were treated with the naturally occurring plant defence activator cis-jasmone, and its impact upon the behaviour and development of aphids and aphid parasitoids was investigated. RESULTS: Growth rate studies revealed that the intrinsic rate of population increase of A. solani and M. persicae on sweet pepper plants treated with cis-jasmone (cJSP) was not affected compared with untreated plants (UnSP), but the positive behavioural response of alate M. persicae towards the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from UnSP was eliminated by cis-jasmone treatment 48 h previously (cJSP48). In addition, the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi preferred VOCs from cJSP48 compared with UnSP, and a significant increase in foraging time was also observed on cJSP. Analysis of VOCs collected from cJSP48 revealed differences compared with UnSP. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that treatment with cis-jasmone has the potential to improve protection of sweet pepper against insect pests. © Crown copyright 2012. Reproduced with permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phenology of the potato tuber moth (phthorimaea operculella), a pest of potatoes and of processing tomatoes in israel

The potato tuber moth (PTM),Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is a pest of solanaceous plants. In Israel it damages mainly potatoes, and tomatoes grown for processing. The PTM favors high temperatures and drought. Under these conditions its development period is short, resulting in overlapping generations and high populations in mid-summer. A phenological study, based on the use of the female sex pheromone, showed that moth flight occurred throughout the year. Large populations of the PTM were present only during the hot season. Populations were highest in the semi-arid Negev, where potatoes are grown on a large scale during two seasons of the year; in other areas, PTM populations were much lower.