Behavioral responses of Callosobruchus maculatus to volatile organic compounds found in the headspace of dried green pea seeds

There is growing evidence that insects rely on chemical cues to locate food, hosts, predators, and potential mates. The pulse beetle Callosobruchus maculatus has been recognized for decades as the major post-harvest insect pest of legume seeds. In a previous study, we identified five volatile organic compounds in the headspace of dried green pea seeds as electroantennographically active in C. maculatus antennae: 1-pentanol, 1-octen-3-ol, (E)-2-octenal, nonanal, and 3-carene. Some of these compounds used individually elicited attraction toward C. maculatus adults. However, since volatile compounds are generally perceived by insects as blends, we hypothesized that C. maculatus might particularly show attraction to different mixtures of the aforementioned compounds. To test this, we examined the behavioral response of C. maculatus toward a quinary, a quaternary, two ternary, and three binary mixtures in a dual choice Y-tube olfactometer. The results seem to indicate that in a dual choice situation, the first choice made by the beetles is an indication of the attractive or repellent properties of the mixture tested. In most cases, a positive response of C. maculatus to the mixtures of volatiles was observed. Females were attracted to five mixtures, while males were attracted only to two binary mixtures consisting exclusively of aldehydes. The other mixtures caused C. maculatus to respond negatively, suggesting they were repellent. Further investigations with the attractive mixtures should be done in real storage conditions with the aim of developing a trap for the pulse beetle, C. maculatus.     

Food source provisioning and susceptibility of immature and adult<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Tribolium castaneum</Emphasis> on concrete partially treated with chlorfenapyr (Phantom<Superscript>®</Superscript>)

A series of experiments were conducted in which adults, pupae, and 4-week-old larvae of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), the red flour beetle, were exposed separately on concrete arenas partially treated (14.4% of the total area) with the insecticide chlorfenapyr (Phantom^®) at 1.1 g of active ingredient/m². A flour food source (patch) was also provided in the untreated portions of the arenas. In the first trial, adult mortality averaged 60.0 ± 10.6%, but progeny production occurred in the provided food patches. Pupal mortality was only 8.3 ± 3.1%, indicating that when adult emergence occurred, those adults were able to escape exposure, and there was no difference in progeny production from that in untreated controls (P = 0.27). In the second trial, few larvae exposed in choice and no-choice arenas were able to emerge as normal adults. In a final trial, residual efficacy declined during a 3-week period, with larvae being more susceptible than adults. Results show mobility of life stage may be a determining factor when assessing susceptibility of T. castaneum to contact insecticides.     

Bio-rational control of red flour beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tribolium castaneum</Emphasis> (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in stored wheat with Calneem<Superscript>®</Superscript> oil derived from neem seeds

The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), is one of the most serious secondary pests that feeds on a wide range of durable stored products including cereals, cereal products and other high value produce such as cocoa beans and dried fruits. Toxicity and protectant potential of Calneem^® oil derived from the seeds of the neem tree Azadirachta indica A. Juss. towards T. castaneum were evaluated in stored wheat in the laboratory using contact toxicity, grain treatment, persistency, progeny emergence and repellency assays. Calneem^® contains about 0.3% azadirachtin as its major active ingredient. The Calneem^® was applied at six dosages (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0% v/v). The oil was emulsified with water using 0.07% soap. All dosages of Calneem^® oil were toxic and highly repellent to T. castaneum with an overall repellency in the range of 52–88%. The highest dosage of 3.0% of Calneem^® oil tested killed at least 90% of the beetles within 72 h on grain, and 88% mortality was obtained on filter paper. T. castaneum mortality was dose dependent. The development of eggs to adults on cracked wheat was significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited by Calneem^® oil treatments. The effectiveness of Calneem^® oil was significantly reduced by the length of storage after application. The results obtained suggest good potential for the practical use of Calneem^® oil as grain protectant for stored product pest control. The use of plant materials such as neem oil may be a safe, cost-effective method of grain preservation against pest infestation amongst low-resource poor farmers who store small amounts of grains.     

Host specificity of Asian parasitoids for potential classical biological control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila suzukii</Emphasis>

The Asian spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, has recently become a serious pest of soft fruits in Europe. Classical biological control through the introduction of larval parasitoids from its native range in Asia is presently being considered. However, host specificity of potential biological control agents has to be determined to avoid releasing species that may have unintended non-target impacts. Larvae of six different European non-target fly species and the target D. suzukii were exposed either on diet or blueberries to three Asian larval parasitoids, Asobara japonica, Leptopilina japonica, and Ganaspis cf. brasiliensis, and one European species, Leptopilina heterotoma. Asobara japonica showed the lowest specificity, attacking and developing in all Drosophilidae. Leptopilina japonica successfully parasitized two non-target Drosophilidae, D. melanogaster and D. subobscura, with one singly progeny emerging from D. immigrans. Ganaspis cf. brasiliensis had the highest level of specificity but variations occurred between two geographical populations tested. A Japanese population was strictly specific to D. suzukii, whereas another population from China parasitized D. suzukii, D. melanogaster and sporadically D. subobscura. The European L. heterotoma successfully developed in D. melanogaster, D. subobscura and occasionally in D. immigrans, but nearly all eggs and larvae in D. suzukii were encapsulated. These results show that Ganaspis cf. brasiliensis is the species with the highest potential for biological control, but more studies are needed on its taxonomic status and the existence of biotypes or cryptic species varying in their specificity before field releases can be conducted in Europe.     

Heterotrophic components of biofilms on wood artefacts

Heterotrophic components of biofilms on wood artefacts were studied at the Conservation Laboratory for Wood Artefacts of the University Suor Orsola Benincasa of Naples, Italy. The aim of the study was to add new information on the micro-habitats represented by biofilms formed by wood-dwelling organisms. Light and electron microscopy of histological features of woods used to make the artefacts showed that the woods belonged to species of lime (Tilia sp.), poplar (Populus sp.) and pear (Pyrus sp.). A Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis analysis performed on heterotrophic microorganisms colonizing the artefacts led to identify four species of bacteria, namely Bacillus cereus, B. mycoides, B. subtilis and Microbacterium oleivorans, and seven species of fungi, namely Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigans, A. versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides, C. oxysporum, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium chrysogenum. Based on its morphological features, an insect found on some artefacts was identified as the xylophagous beetle Nicobium castaneum (Anobiidae). The influence of wood type and environmental conditions on the diversity of microorganisms was discussed.     

Identification of pests and assessment of their damage on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carapa procera</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lophira lanceolata</Emphasis> in Burkina Faso,West Africa

Nontimber forest products are a source of income for women in rural African communities. However, these products are frequently damaged by insect pests. The present study investigates the diversity and damage rates of insect pests that attack Carapa procera seeds and Lophira lanceolata fruits. The experiment was set up in western Burkina Faso and, for C. carapa, consisted of pests collected from seeds that had fallen to the ground and from stockpiled seeds. For L. lanceolata, pests were collected from fruits on the trees, and on the ground. The collected samples were sent to the laboratory to estimate the proportion of damaged seeds/fruits and rear the insects. The results showed that Ephestia spp., Tribolium castaneum, Oryzeaphilus spp., and Tenebroides mauritanicus were the pests of Carapa procera seeds and Lophira lanceolata fruits. Ephestia spp. was recorded as the main pest of both C. procera and L. lanceolata, whereas T. castaneum was only detected from seeds of L. lanceolata. For C. procera, the stocks were the most infested (29 %) by Ephestia spp. The infestation rate of fruits of L. lanceolata by Ephestia spp. on trees (31.42 ± 3.75 %) was less than the rate of fruits by T. castaneum on the ground (44.00 ± 3.5 %). The different body sizes of Ephestia spp. may indicate the occurrence of two putative species, one from C. procera and another one from L. lanceolata. This work provides important information that could contribute to the setting up of a local-scale sustainable management framework for oil tree pests in Burkina Faso and surrounding countries.     

Symptoms and fungi associated with elm trees decline in Iran

Elm (Ulmus, Ulmaceae) is one of the most popular and important trees in urban and landscape areas in Iran. A severe decline of elm trees has recently been observed in some areas of Kerman and Shiraz cities. However, the identity of the causal agents has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study, carried out in the years 2012–2014, was to isolate and identify fungal trunk pathogens associated with decline symptoms observed in elm trees. Samples were collected from trunks and branches of trees showing various disease symptoms and internal wood lesions. Fungal isolations were made from discolored or decayed wood tissue. In Kerman some elm trees were attacked by the beetle Aeolesthes sarta; therefore, samples were also collected from larvae and adults of beetles associated with trees showing wood damage. Fungal isolates were identified by morphological, cultural and molecular characteristics. Thirteen fungal species, Phaeoacremonium (P.) minimum, P. parasiticum, P. sicilianum, P. alvesii, P. fraxinopennsylvanicum, Spencermartinsia viticola, Dothiorella (Do.) sarmentorum, Neoscytalidium hyalinum, Diatrype (Di.) whitmanensis, Cosmospora viridescens, Phoma (Pho.) herbarum, Phellinus (Phe.) tuberculosus and Inonotus levis were identified. Phaeoacremonium parasiticum was the only species isolated from both larvae and adult beetles. Pathogenicity trials were performed on detached shoots of elm under greenhouse conditions. Dothiorella sarmentorum was the most virulent species based on the length of wood necrosis. This study is the first report of P. sicilianum, C. viridescens and Phe. tuberculosus in Iran. In addition, most of the isolated species are reported for the first time on elm trees in the world.     

Development and fecundity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trissolcus japonicus</Emphasis> on fertilized and unfertilized eggs of the brown marmorated stink bug, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halyomorpha halys</Emphasis>

Halyomorpha halys, the brown marmorated stink bug, is a serious agricultural and horticultural pest native to East Asia, which became an invasive pest in northern temperate parts of other regions in the mid-1990s. Trissolcus japonicus is a dominant egg parasitoid of H. halys in its native range. In this paper, we investigated mating, oviposition and fecundity of both virgin and mated females of H. halys. Virgin H. halys females produced unfertilized eggs, while mated females produced fertilized eggs, but mating states of adult females did not affect the number of eggs produced. We further compared the development and fecundity of T. japonicus on fertilized or unfertilized eggs of various ages. Fertilized eggs were tested continuously for up to 5 days (time to hatch), while unfertilized eggs were tested for up to 11 days (time to egg collapse). The fertilization status of the host egg had a significant effect on the development, emergence success, and sex ratio of T. japonicus progeny. A small increase in development time was observed for T. japonicus in fertilized eggs, fewer T. japonicus emerged from fertilized eggs than unfertilized eggs, and the proportion of female progeny was lower on fertilized eggs. The age of host eggs also significantly affected the development rate and fecundity of T. japonicus, with unfertilized eggs becoming more favorable than fertilized eggs as egg age increased. In summary, unfertilized H. halys eggs were better suited for T. japonicus development and fecundity, indicating their potential use in T. japonicus mass rearing.     

Impact of mass-rearing on the host seeking behaviour and parasitism by the fruit fly parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Psyttalia concolor</Emphasis> (Szépligeti) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a koinobiont larval–pupal endoparasitoid of a large number of tephritids. P. concolor can be commonly reared on fully grown Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) larvae. In our laboratory, over 180 consecutive generations have been completed on C. capitata. In this study, we tested the possibility that the uninterrupted mass-rearing of P. concolor on C. capitata may influence its host location and parasitisation behaviours when used against Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae), the fruit fly commonly targeted in mass release of P. concolor in olive-groves. Choice and no-choice tests were used with naïve and experienced P. concolor females exposed to B. oleae and/or C. capitata larvae. The study showed no significant difference in oviposition behaviours and host acceptance when provided either C. capitata or B. oleae. However, the study did show that experience on a host plus a substrate complex could influence host preferences, since females that had previous oviposition experience on a given host species searched and chose significantly more when the same host species was presented, both in choice and no-choice conditions. Therefore, within the context of the pest management of fruit flies, it could be very useful to incorporate procedures in insectary-propagated fruit fly parasitoids designed to provide adequate training (i.e. oviposition experience) on the fruit fly species needing to be controlled.     

Direct and admixture toxicity of diatomaceous earth and monoterpenoids against the storage pests <Emphasis Type="Italic">Callosobruchus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">maculatus</Emphasis> (F.) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus oryzae</Emphasis> (L.)

We investigated the effects of two commercial diatomaceous earth based insecticides (DE), Protect-It^® and SilicoSec^®, the nano-structured silica product AL06, developed by the section for Urban Plant Ecophysiology at Humboldt University Berlin, and the monoterpenoids, eugenol, and cinnamaldehyde on two stored product pests, Callosobruchus maculatus and Sitophilus oryzae. Protect-It^® was more effective than SilicoSec^® against C. maculatus while the reverse was true for S. oryzae. Generally C. maculatus was more sensitive towards DE and silica treatment than S. oryzae. Mortality rate of both pest species increased when DE’s were applied to food commodities previously treated with a monoterpenoid. In admixture experiments, the toxicity of SilicoSec^® + cinnamaldehyde (LD₅₀ = 42.73 ppm), SilicoSec^® + eugenol (LD₅₀ = 24.30 ppm), and Protect-It^® + eugenol (LD₅₀ = 2.60 ppm) was increased over DE alone against S. oryzae. Both substances showed a synergistic effect considering their co-toxicity coefficient relative to the LD₅₀-value. In contrast, we could not find any synergistic effects in experiments with C. maculatus. Here only Protect-It^® + cinnamaldehyde (LD₅₀ = 20.84 ppm) showed an additive effect while all other combinations of monoterpenoid and DE indicated antagonistic effects. In addition to contact insecticidal effects both monoterpenoids showed a strong fumigant action. The presented results indicate that the natural product DE has great potential to replace synthetic pesticides commonly used in stored product pest management. Efficacy of DE can be improved by adding certain monoterpenoids against certain insect pests.     

Diversity of Ophiostomatales species associated with conifer-infesting beetles in the Western Carpathians

Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) are commonly recognised as important agents of tree mortality in coniferous forests of the Western Carpathians. They, together with weevils, are consistently associated with ophiostomatoid fungi. Information regarding conifer beetle-associated fungi in the Western Carpathians remains incomplete and unreliable, particularly with respect to fir-infesting bark beetles. This study aims to clarify associations between fungi in the genera Graphilbum, Leptographium, Ophiostoma and Sporothrix (Ophiostomatales) and their beetle vectors in Norway spruce (Picea abies), European larch (Larix decidua) and silver fir (Abies alba). Samples associated with 20 bark beetle species and weevils were collected from nine stands in Poland and the Czech Republic. Fungi were isolated from adult beetles and galleries. Isolates were identified based on morphology, DNA sequence comparisons for four gene regions (ITS, LSU, ß-tubulin, TEF 1-α) and phylogenetic analyses. In total, 46 distinct taxa were identified, including 25 known and 21 currently unknown species. Several associations between fungi and subcortical insects were recorded for the first time. In addition, O. borealis and O. quercus were detected from A. alba for the first time. The composition of the fungal communities varied among the studied tree species and to a lesser degree among the beetle species. The spruce-infesting bark beetles were commonly associated with species of Leptographium s. l. and Ophiostoma s. str.; the larch-infesting bark beetles were often associated with Ophiostoma s. str. and Sporothrix, while the fir-infesting bark beetles were commonly associated with Ophiostoma s. str. and Graphilbum. The most commonly encountered fungal associates of the examined insects were (a) Grosmannia cucullata, G. piceiperda, Grosmannia sp. 1, Ophiostoma macroclavatum and O. piceae with the spruce-infesting bark beetles; (b) O. pseudocatenulatum and Sporothrix sp. 1 with the larch-infesting bark beetles; and (c) O. piceae, Ophiostoma sp. 2 and Graphilbum sp. 2 with the fir-infesting bark beetles. The differences in fungal associates among the bark beetle species occurring on P. abies, L. decidua and A. alba could be linked to the different habitats that these beetles occupy.     

A comparative study of monoterpenoids and phenylpropanoids from essential oils against stored grain insects: acute toxins or feeding deterrents

The relationship between the acute toxicity and feeding deterrent activity of ten compounds occurring commonly in essential oils was explored in order to determine whether they are acute toxins or antifeedants against stored-grain pests. Simultaneously, the objective was also to demonstrate the comparative efficacy against three post-harvest stored-grain pests. Thymol, carvacrol, eugenol and trans-anethole were specifically toxic, and linalool was a generalist feeding deterrent against all three species studied. Thymol was most toxic to Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica compared to carvacrol and eugenol but was least toxic to Sitophilus oryzae. Similarly, linalool deterred feeding of S. oryzae (FI₅₀ = 0.025 mg/g of the wafer diet), T. castaneum (FI₅₀ = 0.207 mg/g of the wafer diet) and R. dominica (FI₅₀ = 0.482 mg/g of the wafer diet) at different concentrations; R. dominica beetles required about 20 times the concentration to deter feeding compared to S. oryzae and more than twice compared to T. castaneum. Comparison of toxicity and deterrent activity with respective artificial blends as binary mixtures revealed that synergism was not a generalized phenomenon, and the variations were both species as well as blend specific. Individual compound efficacy correlations were not ascertained, which suggests that artificial blends could be prepared to obtain potential mixtures for substantial control of stored-grain insect pests. The present study also implies that the compounds are mostly acute toxins, and whatever inhibition in feeding was obtained could be due to physiological toxicity rather than any interaction with gustatory receptors.     

Natural biological control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halyomorpha halys</Emphasis> by native egg parasitoids: a multi-year survey in northern Delaware

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) is a highly polyphagous plant pest native to eastern Asia. Since its accidental introduction to the USA in the mid-1990s, it has spread across North America and caused serious economic damages. Chemical control has been a widely applied management strategy which is not sustainable on a long-term basis. A nine-year survey using sentinel and naturally laid H. halys was conducted to investigate the extent of natural biological control by parasitoids in managed and non-managed landscapes in northern Delaware, USA. Naturally laid egg masses of native pentatomids were collected to compare the resident parasitoid complex to the one attacking H. halys eggs. Mean parasitism rates of sentinel eggs were below 6% in any given year of the survey with a grand mean of 1.79%. Parasitism of naturally laid H. halys eggs was higher than that of sentinel eggs, but there was no significant difference in parasitism between years and the grand mean was 4.31%. Parasitoid species richness on sentinel and naturally laid H. halys eggs was similar but both were lower than the richness on native pentatomid eggs. H. halys eggs were parasitized by eight species in the genera Anastatus, Trissolcus, Telenomus, and Ooencyrtus. The level of parasitism by native egg parasitoids is insufficient to provide long-term control of H. halys. Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead), an Asian egg parasitoid that has been recovered in the USA in several locations since 2014, may be the most promising candidate for long-term biological control of H. halys.     

Occurrence of pathogens in associated living bark beetles (Col., Scolytidae) from different spruce stands in Austria

Pathogen occurrence was studied in 16?099 adult specimens of 10 different bark beetle species, which live associated on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Beetles (mainly Ips typographus L. and Pityogenes chalcographus L.) were collected from 6 different localities in Austria (4 secondary spruce stands and 2 natural forest type stands, 9 sampling plots in total) in elevations between 400?m and 1600?m. Various viral, protozoan, and fungal pathogens could be diagnosed with a light microscope in the examined beetles. Numerous pathogen species were known from former studies, some pathogens were totally new or could be found in a new host species beside their type host. The most dominant pathogen species were Protozoa, Gregarina cf. typographi, Malamoeba cf. scolyti, and Chytridiopsis cf. typographi. Over the whole investigation period, the highest pathogen diversity with eight pathogen species was found in I. typographus. Differences were observed in the pathogen complex of each beetle species from the different collection sites and in different years of investigation. Several species showed an overlapping in their host range and infected various bark beetle species. Furthermore, pathogen occurrence and prevalence differed in bark beetles from 4 different sampling plots in an area (one locality) within a distance of a few kilometres.     

Insecticidal activity of thiamethoxam against the bamboo powder post beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dinoderus minutus</Emphasis> Fabr. (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Thiamethoxam (ACTARA^® 25WG) was evaluated for its insecticidal activities against the bamboo powder post beetle Dinoderus minutus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). The study showed that thiamethoxam had contact toxicity against D. minutus. Based on dose-mortality responses, LC₅₀ values for thiamethoxam against D. minutus ranged from 1.74 to 7.94 μg ml^?1. Laboratory and field exposure tests showed that thiamethoxam at concentration of atleast 10 μg ml^?1 may have anti-oviposition or anti-feeding effects on D. minutus and can protect post harvest Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. culms against the infestation of this bamboo boring beetle.     

Effect of oriental armyworm <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mythimna separata</Emphasis> egg age on the parasitism and host suitability for five <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichogramma</Emphasis> species

The oriental armyworm Mythimna separata (Walker) is a major cereal crop pest, causing severe economic losses worldwide every year. Yet, few studies documented the biological control of M. separata using natural enemies such as egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma. To evaluate the possibility of biological control of M. separata eggs at various ages (0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-day old), we compared under laboratory conditions the parasitism, emergence, development, and female progeny (sex ratio) of five Trichogramma species indigenous in China: Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura, T. chilonis Ishii, T. ostriniae Pang & Chen, T. leucaniae Pang & Chen, and T. japonicum Ashmend. All five Trichogramma species parasitized M. separata at all egg ages but showed a preference for younger eggs. T. dendrolimi parasitized 55.1, 36.6, 19.3, and 14.3 hosts in 24 h on 0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-day-old eggs, respectively, and it exhibited the highest parasitism and suitability on all egg ages. T. japonicum showed the lowest parasitism rate and the poorest host acceptance. T. ostriniae, T. leucaniae, and T. chilonis presented similar rates of adult emergence and sex ratio for all M. separata egg ages. T. ostriniae developed significantly slower on 2- and 3-day-old M. separata eggs. With the exception of T. leucaniae, all species showed no difference in adult emergence at all egg ages. T. dendrolimi was identified as the best for biological control of M. separata. The present study provides valuable information for future development of Trichogramma species in biological control programs targeting M. separata as pest.     

Studies on diets and population dynamics of the cigarette beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lasioderma serricorne</Emphasis> F. (Col., Anobiidae)

Aromatic spice crops such as coriander, Coriandrum sativum L., and fennel, Foeniculum vulgare L., are among the major seeds exported to the international market. Observations on the stores of these crops revealed differences in their susceptibility to the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Col., Anobiidae). Coriander seeds proved to be the most appropriate diet for the beetle. The population dynamics of L. serricorne (F.) was determined, showing 3 generations during the period from May to October.     

The effects of non-host plant extracts on electroantennogram responses,behavior and egg hatching of codling moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cydia pomonella</Emphasis>

The codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) is a significant pest of pome fruit throughout the world. Behavioral and ovicidal activities of five non-host plant extracts (Arctium lappa, Bifora radians, Humulus lupulus, Verbascum songaricum, Xanthium strumarium), synthetic sex pheromone, (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienol (codlemone), and the plant volatile lure, (2E,4Z)-2,4-decadienoate (pear ester) were evaluated against the codling moth, C. pomonella L. Codlemone elicited the greatest electroantennogram (EAG) response (6.2 ± 1.2 mV) of the compounds tested from male C. pomonella while pear ester elicited 1.7 ± 0.1 mV EAG response in female moths. Codlemone attracted 34.5% of male C. pomonella in olfactometer studies, and it was followed by the X. strumarium extract with 24.8%. There was a significant difference between the behavior of unmated and mated females. V. songaricum extract was the most active extract, attracting 25.4% of unmated females. However, mated C. pomonella females exhibited greatest attraction to pear ester. In a wind tunnel bioassay, combining X. strumarium with codlemone significantly increased the response of male upwind flight and source contact as compared with codlemone alone. All plant extracts, except for V. songaricum, significantly reduced the number of eggs laid. The plant extracts exhibited some toxic effects to eggs, and hatching rate of eggs was reduced as compared with the control. Our results indicate that some of the plant extracts tested are potential candidates for practical use after elucidation and characterization of active compound(s).     

The potential of resynthesized lines to provide resistance traits against rape stem weevil in oilseed rape

The rape stem weevil, Ceutorhynchus napi Gyll., is a serious pest of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) crops in Europe that causes stem distortion, severe disruption of stem growth, and significant yield loss. No resistance has been identified in current B. napus breeding material. Resynthesized lines of oilseed rape can be used to introduce genetic material from the parent species Brassica oleracea L. and B. rapa L. The susceptibility to C. napi of five resynthesized lines and three cultivars of oilseed rape was compared in a multi-choice field plot experiment. Morphological stem traits and stem levels of glucosinolates, carbon, and nitrogen were assessed as potential mediators of resistance. Eggs and larvae of C. napi in stems were counted weekly from the beginning of oviposition to larval maturation and stem pith degeneration in response to oviposition was assessed. Egg counts per stem were negatively dependent on stem length and positively dependent on the levels of five glucosinolates, glucobrassicanapin, glucoalyssin, glucobrassicin, neoglucobrassicin, and gluconasturtiin. The resynthesized line S30 was significantly more resistant to C. napi than the commercial cultivar Sollux, having fewer eggs and larvae. This resistance appeared to be largely antixenotic, due to the combination of a long stem and a paucity of the five key glucosinolates. We propose that resynthesized lines such as S30 should be used to introduce genes determining traits such as long stem length and glucosinolate profile into breeding programs to enhance resistance against C. napi in oilseed rape.     

Tree leaves of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salix babylonica</Emphasis> extract as a natural anthelmintic for small-ruminant farms in a semiarid region in Mexico

The study aimed to test the potential anthelmintic activity of Salix babylonica (SB) extract for the control of gastrointestinal and pulmonary parasites in sheep and goats under field conditions. A representative sample of 20 % of all animals reared in 8 sheep and 7 goat farms was used in the study. Animals from each farm were randomly selected for a total number of 93 sheep and 75 goats. Animals suffered a natural gastrointestinal nematode infection and had never been treated with chemical anthelmintic drugs. The SB extract (20 mL) was orally administered weekly before the morning feeding to each animal for 60 days. Fecal eggs or oocysts were counted at 0, 1, 20, 40, and 60 days after starting the extract administration. Differences (P < 0.01) in the fecal oocyst and egg output of Eimeria, Dictyocaulus, and Moniezia were observed between sheep and goats. In addition, the treatment influenced (P < 0.05) egg outputs of Cooperia, Dictyocaulus, and Trichuris. Fecal egg or oocyst counts of Haemonchus contortus, Eimeria, Cooperia, Chabertia, Dictyocaulus, Moniezia, and Ostertagia were time-dependent (P < 0.05). For sheep, administration of SB decreased (P < 0.05) the fecal eggs count of H. contortus, Cooperia, Chabertia, Dictyocaulus, Moniezia, and Trichuris. After 20 days of treatment, H. contortus, Cooperia, or Moniezia were not detected. For goats, SB reduced (P < 0.05) the fecal egg counts of H. contortus, Cooperia, Chabertia, and Moniezia. Moreover, decreases were observed (P < 0.05) for Chabertia, Trichostrongylus, and Ostertagia. Eggs of H. contortus and Moniezia were not present in the feces after 1 day of administration of the extract. It could be concluded that the weekly administration of SB extract at 20 mL per animal can be used to treat gastrointestinal and lung nematodes of small ruminants in organic and traditional farming systems of tropical regions.