Egg detection in females of the polyphagous predator <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrolophus pygmaeus</Emphasis> (Heteroptera: Miridae) by serological techniques

Macrolophus pygmaeus is a polyphagous mirid bug native to the Mediterranean area where it is widely used in the biological control of whiteflies and other pests in vegetable crops. To assess the presence of eggs in females is important in order to optimize predator release strategies, as well as their mass rearing. This study shows an alternative to the traditional procedures of fertility assessment based on evaluation of newly hatched nymphs. A polyclonal antiserum was produced against M. pygmaeus egg proteins, and an ELISA protocol was developed to determine whether laboratory-reared or field-collected females contained egg proteins (mainly vitellin). When field-collected females were analysed, an 80% contained egg proteins indicating that they were reproductively active. Presence/absence of egg proteins was detected with an error than 1%. Since this ELISA protocol allowed also the detection of egg protein precursors, it was more precise and less time consuming than conventional techniques as abdomen dissection or egg-hatch evaluation in determining egg presence in females.     

Effectiveness of Neem (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Azadirachta indica</Emphasis>) insecticides against Brassica pod midge (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dasineura brassicae</Emphasis> Winn<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis>)

The efficiency of the botanical insecticide (BI) NeemAzal T/S (containing 1% Azadirachtin A), on the basis of azadirachtin applied in a dose of 20 g a.i. ha⁻¹ against Brassica pod midge (Dasineura brassicae), has been monitored for 4 years. The biological efficiency of BI was compared with the efficiency of some synthetic insecticides. It was ascertained that BI was very efficient in decreasing the number of damaged oilseed rape pods (ranging from 56.5 to 85.9% compared to untreated plants) and its efficiency was comparable with synthetic insecticides based on Chloronicotinyl (Thiacloprid) and Neonicotinoid (Acetamiprid). BI’s efficiency was, in some years, even significantly higher compared to pyrethroid (λ-cyhalothrin). The high biological efficiency of azadirachtin that we ascertained was significantly reflected in increasing potential crop yields. The yield increase of azadirachtin ranged between 9.3 and 19.4% compared to the control sample. Azadirachtin showed the highest yield for the whole time of experimentation, and in some years the yield increase was significantly higher compared to some synthetic agents.     

Toxicity of synthetic and biological insecticides against adults of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus</Emphasis> snout-beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gonipterus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">scutellatus</Emphasis> Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Toxicity by contact and by ingestion of lufenuron, flufenoxuron, lambda (λ)-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, thiamethoxam and five entomopathogenic insecticides (three formulations of Beauveria bassiana, a compound containing spores of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, and a mixture of Brevibacillus laterosporus, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus chitinosporus) were evaluated on adults of the Eucalyptus snout-beetle Gonipterus scutellatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) under laboratory conditions. By contact, entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana EC and the pyrethroid λ-cyhalothrin exhibited the highest efficiency, achieving 100 and 97.5% mortality, respectively. By ingestion, the highest mortality was obtained by B. bassiana EC (100%) and thiamethoxam (95%). Flufenoxuron and lufenuron, bacteria mixture and M. anisopliae showed a weak toxicity. Furthermore, we found a sex-biased mortality, being males more affected. Due to the good performance and low risk to humans and environment, B. bassiana EC (strain PPRI 5339) appears to be the most promising product to promote an IPM programme in South Africa.     

Successful <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus tomentosa</Emphasis> with apple <Emphasis Type="Italic">SPDS</Emphasis> gene

The problem of salinized soils has become one of the most serious constraints to agricultural and forest productivity. With the purpose of enhancing salt stress tolerance of Populus tomentosa, we transformed this tree species with spermidine synthase （SPDS） genes derived from an apple by an Agrobacterium-mediated method. Four transgenic clones were confu＇med by PCR and Southern blot analysis. As well, the expression of introduced SPDS genes was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bursaphelenchus mucronatus</Emphasis> (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) vectored by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monochamus </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">urussovi</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Hokkaido,Japan

Bursaphelenchus mucronatus Mamiya et Enda has been recovered for the first time from adults of the cerambycid beetle, Monochamus urussovi (Fischer), in Hokkaido, Japan. The nematode was also recovered from the inner bark of Picea jezoensis (Siebold et Zuccarini) Carrière and Abies sachalinensis (Fr Schmidt) Masters infested with M. urussovi larvae. PCR–RFLP analysis indicated that B. mucronatus in Hokkaido is the European type.     

Insecticidal properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymus persicus</Emphasis> essential oil against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tribolium castaneum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus oryzae</Emphasis>

Red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.) are considered to be the major insect pests in storage. Essential oils from aromatic plants are recognized as proper alternatives to fumigants. Thymus persicus (Ronniger ex Rech. f.) is one of these plants that have medicinal properties and is indigenous to Iran. The essential oil was obtained from aerial parts of the plant and analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Carvacrol (44.69%) and thymol (11.05%) were the major constituents of the oil extracted. In this experiment, fumigant toxicity of the essential oil was studied against T. castaneum, S. oryzae at 27 ± 1°C and 60 ± 5% RH in dark condition. The adult insects were exposed to the concentrations of 51.9, 111.1, 207.4 and 370.4 μl/l air to estimate median lethal time (LT₅₀) values. The fumigant toxicity was increased in response to increased essential oil concentrations. The LT₅₀ values at the lowest and the highest concentrations tested were ranged from 28.09 to 13.47 h for T. castaneum, and 3.86 to 2.30 h for S. oryzae. It was found that S. oryzae adults were much more susceptible to the oil than T. castaneum. After 24 h of exposure, the LC₅₀ values (95% fiducial limit) for T. castaneum and S. oryzae were estimated to be 236.9 (186.27–292.81) and 3.34 (2.62–4.28) μl/l air, respectively. These results suggest that T. persicus essential oil merits further study as potential fumigant for the management of these stored-product insects.     

Toxic effects of annonaceous acetogenins from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Annona cherimolia</Emphasis> (Magnoliales: Annonaceae) on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera frugiperda</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Plants belonging to the family Annonaceae have been commonly described in traditional medicine as remedies against head lice, and for their insecticidal properties. Characteristic constituents from a few genera of these plants are the annonaceous acetogenins. Fourteen annonaceous acetogenins have been isolated from our Argentine collection of the seeds of A. cherimolia. We report herein the antifeedant and insecticidal effects of nine of those acetogenins on Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). The acetogenin squamocin, one of the major constituents of the extract, displayed toxic effects on early larval instars when incorporated to the larval diet at a dose of 50 μg per g of diet. The remaining annonaceous acetogenins tested, itrabin, asimicin, neoanonin, cherimolin-1, cherimolin-2, almuñequin, motrilin, and tucumanin produced pupal mortality and adult malformations leading to death, when incorporated to the larval diet at the same dose. The evaluation of indices of food consumption, growth, and food utilization indicated that squamocin was the only tested acetogenin to produce significant decrease in the growth rate and to reduce the efficiency with which larvae converted ingested food into biomass. All the acetogenins produced more than 80% pupal mortality with no dependence on the position of the THF rings or the number and location of the OH groups.     

The pupal morphology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cameraria ohridella</Emphasis> compared with that of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllonorycter</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

The pupal morphology of the pest species Cameraria ohridella is described and compared with that of the genus Phyllonorycter. The most striking differences are the longer antennal appendages, the absence of a cremaster, the presence of strong lateral thorns on abdominal segments 1–5 and an area without small spines on the same abdominal segments in Cameraria.     

Cultivation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus eryngii</Emphasis> on umbrella plant (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyperus alternifolius</Emphasis>) substrate

Mycelial growth and mushroom yields of three strains of Pleurotus eryngii produced on wheat bran-supplemented umbrella plant (Cyperus alternifolius) substrate were assessed using surface brightness, bromophenol blue color reactions, ergosterol and glucosamine contents, and water potential as indicators of strain performance. Mycelial growth was 31%–46% greater, depending on strain, on the umbrella plant substrate compared with the mushroom industry standard sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) substrate. Mushroom yields on the first flush were 20%–23% higher, depending on strain, on the plastic bottle-contained umbrella plant substrate. However, yields on the second break were lower from the umbrella plant substrate. Because many growers in Japan only harvest one flush, production of P. eryngii on umbrella plant substrate may offer commercial producers an alternative basal ingredient to diminishing supplies of sugi sawdust.Part of this report was presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, April 2002.     

Attack and defense movements involved in the interaction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera frugiperda</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa zea</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) and the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) are among the main pests of maize. Both species exhibit cannibalistic behavior and quite often share the same feeding guild in maize (maize ears), which can result in several interspecific and intraspecific interactions. Paired interaction scenarios of intraspecific and interspecific larvae were assessed in arenas in the presence and absence of food to characterize movements resulting from interactions of these insects. There was a difference in the frequency of behavioral movements in all the interactions, except for S. frugiperda in the presence of food. Head touching and recoiling were the predominant movements in most of the interaction scenarios. Spodoptera frugiperda exhibited a predominance of defensive movements when competing against H. zea in the same instars. Cannibalism and predation occurred frequently in interactions involving 6th instar of H. zea against opponents in 4th instar. Larvae of H. zea show a higher aggressive movement than S. frugiperda. The larvae of S. frugiperda take advantage during the interactions, although they present more defensive movements compared to H. zea. This study provides relevant information regarding the interaction of these species and intraguild interaction, which might influence the population dynamics and the competitive displacement of pest species that share the same ecological niche.     

Comparison of postfire mortality in endemic Corsican black pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus nigra</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">laricio</Emphasis>) and its direct competitor (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis>)

• Introduction   

Laricio pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arn. ssp. laricio (Poiret) Maire var Corsicana Hyl.) is a form of black pine endemic to Corsica, that may now be under threat due to current fire regimes and competition with maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton).     

Pathogenic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenorhabdus nematophilus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Photorhabdus luminescens</Emphasis> (Enterobacteriaceae) against pupae of the Diamondback Moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plutella xylostella</Emphasis> (L.)

The relationship between Xenorhabdus nematophilus and Photorhabdus luminescens, the bacterial symbionts of the entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, against the diamondback moth, P. xylostella (L.), pupae showed the pathogenic capability of P. luminescens to be over that of X. nematophilus. They gave 60 and 40?% mortality with LC₅₀ values of 5?×?10⁴ and 5.5?×?10⁵ cells/ml, respectively.The number of bacterial cells influences the rate of killing the pupae of P. xylostella and a direct correlation between mortality of the pupae, percentage of deformed adults and the spraying dose with significant differences were observed. An inverse correlation found between the no. of eggs laid/female, percentage of hatching, adult survival and the spraying dose. These bacterial effects have been attributed to different toxic bacterial enzymes which damage the haemocytes and inhibit activation of the humoral immune system of the insect.     

Monitoring and efficacy of selected insecticides for European corn borer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ostrinia nubilalis</Emphasis> Hubn., Lepidoptera: Crambidae) control

The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (H?bner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is the major arthropod pest of corn in Croatia. However, chemical control is carried out only in maize for seed production, and in sweet corn. A 3-year investigation was carried out in corn fields in northwest Croatia to establish the most attractive pheromone lure for ECB monitoring, the optimal timing of insecticide applications, and the efficacy of selected insecticides against ECB. During each of the 3 years, the pheromone lures E, Z and E/Z («Isagro») were evaluated in the field from May to July. Insecticides were sprayed 14–20 days after the maximal capture in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, three different trials were set up: one trial with one early treatment (when corn was in the R49 development stage according to the extended BBCH scale); one with one late treatment (when corn was in the R65 development stage according to the BBCH scale); and one with two treatments in both stages. In the trials studying Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (B.t.k.), insect growth regulators (IGR), spinosad and classical chemical insecticides were applied. Pheromone lure E was the most attractive for monitoring ECB flights throughout 2 years of investigation. Insecticide efficacy depended on application timing. The insecticides most suitable for integrated pest management (IPM) programs, including spinosad, B.t.k. and IGR, resulted in high (spinosad) to moderate (B.t.k.) efficacy. The efficacy of IGRs indicates the need for earlier application. The efficacy of chemical insecticides depended on the year and the insecticide. The organophosphate (OP) insecticides and pyrethroids gave moderate to good results; imidacloprid did not provide significant efficacy. One application of all insecticides based on proper (early) timing resulted in the same efficacy as two applications of the same insecticides.     

Fertility variation in endemic populations of Ehrami black pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus nigra</Emphasis> Arnold. subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">pallasiana</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">pyramidata</Emphasis>)

Fertility variation and effective number of parents were estimated in the 100 individuals from each of three plantation populations (P1, P2 and P3) of the endangered Pinus nigra. subsp. pallasiana var. pyramidata established in the Isparta–Golcuk district in southern Turkey in 1990. Potential relations between cone yield and growth characters (height, diameter at breast height, diameter at base and crown diameter) were also investigated. Large differences were found among populations and within populations for cone production and growth characters. Mean cone production was eight (ranging from 6.5 in P2 to 9.1 in P1) for the three populations. The 10 most productive individuals for cones produced 32% of the total cones in P1, 39% in P2 and 34% in P3; 21, 16 and 6 individuals, respectively did not produce any cones in the populations. According to the correlation analyses, the relation between cone yield and growth characters changed for the populations, while height, diameter at breast height and crown diameter were positively significantly correlated (r = 0.182, 0.135 and 0.209; p ≤ 0.05) with cone production for the three populations. Fertility variation was 1.81 in total of three populations, ranging from 1.72 in P3 to 3.45 in P1). Effective number of parents was 142 (55.2 of number of parents censused; 29%, P1; 49.8%, P2; 58.3%, P3).     

Bioremediation of CCA-treated wood by brown-rot fungi <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fomitopsis palustris</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coniophora puteana</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laetiporus sulphureus</Emphasis>

This study evaluated oxalic acid accumulation and bioremediation of chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood by three brown-rot fungi Fomitopsis palustris, Coniophora puteana, and Laetiporus sulphureus. The fungi were first cultivated in a fermentation broth to accumulate oxalic acid. Bioremediation of CCA-treated wood was then carried out by leaching of heavy metals with oxalic acid over a 10-day fermentation period. Higher amounts of oxalic acid were produced by F. palustris and L. sulphureus compared with C. puteana. After 10-day fermentation, oxalic acid accumulation reached 4.2 g/l and 3.2 g/l for these fungi, respectively. Fomitopsis palustris and L. sulphureus exposed to CCA-treated sawdust for 10 days showed a decrease in arsenic of 100% and 85%, respectively; however, C. puteana remediation removed only 18% arsenic from CCA-treated sawdust. Likewise, chromium removal in F. palustris and L. sulphureus remediation processes was higher than those for C. puteana. This was attributed to low oxalic acid accumulation. These results suggest that F. palustris and L. sulphureus remediation processes can remove inorganic metal compounds via oxalic acid production by increasing the acidity of the substrate and increasing the solubility of the metals.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Variation in the host preferences and responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascia monuste orseis</Emphasis> Godart (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) to cultivars of collard greens <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica oleracea</Emphasis> (L.) var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">acephala</Emphasis>

This work evaluated the preference of Ascia monuste orseis among 29 cultivars of collard greens through free- and no-choice assays using female adults (attractiveness and oviposition) and third-instar larvae (feeding preference), in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In free-choice tests with female adults, the L, V, Y, H, A, and Z cultivars produced oviposition non-preference in butterflies. Cultivars R, P, C, and D produced feeding non-preference in third-instar larvae of A. monuste orseis in free- and no-choice tests. Our findings may be useful for genetic improvement focusing on the development of B. oleracea var. acephala cultivars resistant to A. monuste orseis.     

Leaf-level responses to light in two co-occurring <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus ilex</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus suber</Emphasis>): leaf structure,chemical composition and photosynthesis

We studied morphological, biochemical and physiological leaf acclimation to incident Photon-Photosynthetic-Flux-Density (PPFD) in Quercus ilex (holm oak) and Quercus suber (cork oak) at Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands of southern Portugal. Specific leaf area (SLA) decreased exponentially with increasing PPFD in both species. Q. ilex had lower SLA values than Q. suber. Leaf nitrogen, cellulose and lignin concentration (leaf area-based) scaled positively with PPFD. Maximum rate of carboxylation (V_cmax), capacity for maximum photosynthetic electron transport (J_max), rate of triose-P utilization (V_TPU) and the rate of nonphotorespiratory light respiration (Rd) were also positively correlated with PPFD in both Quercus species, when expressed in leaf area but not on leaf mass basis. Q suber showed to have higher photosynthetic potential (V_cmax, J_max^m and V_TPU^m) and a higher nitrogen efficient nitrogen use than Q.ilex. Leaf chlorophyll concentration increased with decreasing PPFD, improving apparent quantum use efficiency (Φ) in both Quercus species. We concluded that, in Q.ilex and Q.suber, leaf structural plasticity is a stronger determinant for leaf acclimation to PPFD than biochemical and physiological plasticity.     

Efficacy assessment of some<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Trichogramma</Emphasis> species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in controlling the potato tuber moth<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Phthorimaea operculella</Emphasis> Zell. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Laboratory studies were conducted to assess several life-history characteristics of three Trichogramma species—T. cacoeciae, T. evanescens, and T. principium—reared on potato tuber moth eggs. The effects of host age, parasitoid age, and different temperatures on the mean number of parasitized eggs and the percentage of emerged progeny were determined. The age of both Trichogramma and host eggs significantly affected the number of eggs parasitized by the wasps, but did not affect the percentage of parasitoids emerging from parasitized eggs. No intraspecific differences for potato tuber moth eggs were found among the tested Trichogramma species. However, T. principium proved to be more effective than T. cacoeciae and T. evanescens in parasitizing host eggs at high temperatures (>33 °C). Trichogramma significantly decreased the number of potato tuber moth F₁ emerged progeny when they were released with moths in small cages either over potatoes or potato seedlings.     

Laboratory and field evaluation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beauveria bassiana</Emphasis> for controlling Mulberry whitefly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pealius mori</Emphasis> Takahashi (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in mulberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Morus alba</Emphasis> Linn)

In a laboratory screening of 12 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi against nymphs of the mulberry whitefly (Pealius mori Takahashi), Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin CKB-048 was the most virulent, causing 87 ± 3% mortality at 1 × 10⁶ conidia/ml. Infection was confirmed by growth of the fungus from cadavers and by scanning electron microscopy of treated nymphs. Beauveria bassiana CKB-048 was formulated as a wettable powder (1 × 10⁹ conidia/g) and tested in two mulberry (Morus alba Linn) plantations in central and northeastern Thailand. In both locations, two spray applications of B. bassiana CKB-048 at 3.75 × 10¹² to 6.25 × 10¹² conidia/ha and at 14 day intervals provided good control of whitefly nymphs; control with B. bassiana CKB-048 was comparable to that with the pesticide buprofezin at 250 g of active ingredient/ha. In addition, no mortality of silkworm larvae occurred when the larvae were fed with mulberry leaves sprayed with B. bassiana CKB-048 7, 14, or 21 days earlier.