Selection of colour of sticky trap for monitoring adult bean thrips, Caliothrips fasciatus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Adult bean thrips, Caliothrips fasciatus (Pergande), overwintering inside the navel of navel oranges shipped from California to Australia, are an actionable pest for the importing country, i.e. infested lots are fumigated with methyl bromide. Strict quarantine regulations regarding C. fasciatus prompted studies on the best colour sticky trap that might be used to monitor for bean thrips populations in the vicinity of California citrus groves prior to harvesting fruit for export. Preliminary experiments identified the most attractive trap of each of four colours (blue, green, white, yellow) commonly used to sample adult Thysanoptera. Three trials of a field study were conducted, comparing C. fasciatus capture on the best card of each colour using asparagus ferns naturally infested with high levels of this pest. Based on significantly higher catch on green sticky cards, this colour trap is recommended for potential use in California's bean thrips mitigation plan designed to reduce thrips levels on citrus exported to Australia.     

The detection of Mycoplasma (formerly Eperythrozoon) wenyonii by 16S rDNA PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

Although the role of Mycoplasma wenyonii in disease is still subject to some debate, infections have been reported to result in parasitaemia, anaemia, scrotal and hind limb oedema, tachycardia, pyrexia, infertility, swollen teats, prefemoral lymphadenopathy and decreased milk production. Previously, diagnosis of M. wenyonii has been based on blood smears but is not specific for M. wenyonii and can be difficult to interpret. We have previously described the use of PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) for the detection and differentiation of Mycoplasma species. DGGE enables the rapid and specific identification of Mycoplasma species and is ideally suited to detecting both mixed infections and new and unusual species. In this study, we have used DGGE with universal primers to detect M. wenyonii DNA from blood samples. DGGE can be used on blood samples as a rapid and specific test for M. wenyonii and can also be used as a screening test for other blood borne pathogens.     

Teaching in wild meerkats

Despite the obvious benefits of directed mechanisms that facilitate the efficient transfer of skills, there is little critical evidence for teaching in nonhuman animals. Using observational and experimental data, we show that wild meerkats (Suricata suricatta) teach pups prey-handling skills by providing them with opportunities to interact with live prey. In response to changing pup begging calls, helpers alter their prey-provisioning methods as pups grow older, thus accelerating learning without the use of complex cognition. The lack of evidence for teaching in species other than humans may reflect problems in producing unequivocal support for the occurrence of teaching, rather than the absence of teaching.     

Behavioral Interference Between Sympatric Reindeer and Domesticated Sheep in Norway

Interspecific interaction among sympatric ungulates is important in management and conservation. We investigated behavioral interference between sympatric wild or semidomestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and sheep (Ovis aries) in two field studies and one enclosure experiment. For free-ranging wild and semidomestic reindeer, interference between the two species increased with decreasing distances, occurring only at less than 200 m and 30 m, for wild and semidomestic reindeer, respectively, and neither species consistently dominated the other. In a controlled, duplicated experiment we tested interference and confrontations at the feeding patch level among semidomestic reindeer and sheep within 40 × 50 m enclosures. When new reindeer or sheep were introduced into enclosures already occupied by reindeer, new reindeer resulted in significantly more interference and confrontations among individuals compared to new sheep; i.e., intraspecific interference was more prevalent than interspecific interference at equal densities. For all study areas, confrontations decreased with time after “first encounter,” indicating cohabituation. A sympatric use of pastures was not visually disruptive for recorded grazing behavior for either species.     

Longitudinal monitoring of two commercial layer flocks and their environments for Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis and other Salmonellae

Between August 20, 2001, and September 17, 2002, 1429 samples including drag swabs, egg belt or egg rollout swabs, fan-blade swabs, rodent organ and intestinal pools, beetle (Alphitobius diaperinus) pools, housefly (Musca domestica) pools, chicken organ and intestinal pools, and egg pools were obtained for Salmonella culture from two flocks from two different commercial layer ranches. The two ranches were purposefully selected for the study based on their previous status of Salmonella Enteritidis isolation using environmental drag swabs in cooperation with practicing veterinarians. Salmonella sp. was isolated from 337 out of 979 (34.42%) non-egg samples. No Salmonella was isolated from 450 egg pools collected from either ranch. S. enteritidis was isolated from samples obtained from ranch 1 from manure drag swabs, 4/284 (1.4%); rodent organs, 1/24 (4.2%); and housefly pool cultures 1/21 (4.8%). Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated from ranch 2 from mouse organ and intestinal pool samples, 1/24 (4.2%). Salmonella group B was isolated from all sample types except the insects. There was a statistically significant difference in isolation rates among seven serogroups of Salmonella: groups B, C1, C2, D, E, K, and untypeable (Pearson chi-square 18.96, P = 0.002). Overall, statistically significant differences were observed with respect to Salmonella isolation among the types of samples taken (Pearson chi-square 118.54, P < 0.0001). Intensive monitoring for Salmonella Enteritidis can be used to optimize a Salmonella reduction program for an individual poultry biosecurity unit.     

Movement and biological activity of drip-applied 1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin in raised mulched beds in the southeastern USA

Movement and biological activity of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin applied through drip irrigation in raised beds was investigated at three locations in the southeastern USA. Tests were conducted in fields with dense populations of nutsedge (Cyperus spp), with one location also having a high level of soil nematodes, both of which served as biological indicators of the distribution of effective concentrations of 1,3-D and chloropicrin. Objectives were (1) to gain a better understanding of 1,3-D and chloropicrin movement and the extent of biological activity outside of the wetted bed area, and (2) to examine the effect of application rate, application concentration and subsequent irrigation events on movement and activity of 1,3-D and chloropicrin. InLine, an emulsifiable concentrate containing 60.8% w/w 1,3-D and 33.3% w/w chloropicrin, was injected into polyethylene mulched beds through the drip tubes and water movement in the beds was visualized by adding a blue dye to the injection system. Gas concentrations of 1,3-D and chloropicrin in soil were measured using Gastec detection tubes at different positions relative to the drip tube at 1-4 days after InLine application. After one week, mulch was removed and nutsedge survival evaluated at different positions in the bed. High concentrations of 1,3-D and chloropicrin were measured at the bed center and midway between the bed center and the shoulder, but concentrations were low at the bed shoulder. Width of nutsedge control was significantly greater than width of water movement. Plant-parasitic nematodes were controlled over the entire bed width, but nutsedge re-emerged at the bed shoulders regardless of treatment. Higher application rates and concentrations of 1,3-D + chloropicrin resulted in higher fumigant concentrations in soil air. Irrigations subsequent to application reduced soil air concentrations of 1,3-D and chloropicrin and increased water movement, as did the use of two drip tubes instead of one. The data show that the pesticidal activity of 1,3-D + chloropicrin extends beyond the waterfront and indicate a significant degree of fumigant activity of emulsifiable 1,3-D + chloropicrin. However, unlike plant-parasitic nematodes, nutsedge could not be controlled over the entire bed width, regardless of rate, concentration and volume of water applied.