Effects of oil of cloves and citronellol, two commercially available repellents, against the webbing clothes mothTineola bisselliella Hum. (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)

Tineola bisselliella is a common pest on natural fabrics of economic importance. Two commercially available repellents for use against adult webbing clothes moths were tested for their efficacy in dual- and no-choice bioassays. Oil of cloves and citral in combination, as well as citronellol scented with oil of lavender showed promising repellent effects for 4 weeks when applied in small compartments of a wardrobe. Although the repellent efficacy was not 100% under the conditions tested, the usage of essential oils in combination with other infestation prevention techniques is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Die KleidermotteTineola bisselliella Hum. ist einer der wirtschaftlich bedeutenden tierischen Wollzerstörer. Auch Pelze, Felle, Polsterhaare und Federn werden von dem weit verbreiteten Kleinschmetterling aus der Familie der Tineidae befallen. In der Praxis gilt es vor allem Kleidungsstücke, die z. B. saisonbedingt für längere Zeit ungenutzt in einem Kleiderschrank aufbewahrt werden, vor dem Befall durch die Kleidermotte zu schützen. Hierfür stehen dem Verbraucher neben den konventionellen Bekämpfungsmitteln mit den Wirkstoffen Kampfer, Naphthalin und Paradichlorbenzol sowie pyrethrum- und pyrethroidhaltige Mittel auch Präparate zur Verfügung, die auf die repellierende Wirkung von ätherischen Ölen zurückgreifen. Die abstoßende Wirkung von Nelkenöl in Kombination mit Citral und von Citronellol parfümiert mit Lavendelöl auf die Falter der Kleidermotte wurde auf vergleichbare Eigenschaften untersucht. In Wahlversuchen wurden deutliche Repellent-Wirkungen der Mottenschutz-Präparate sichtbar. Die Präparate zeigten gute Wirkungen, wenn sie zum Schutz gegen den Zuflug von Kleidermotten an wollhaltigen Stoffen in kleinen Kompartimenten eines Kleiderschrankes ausgelegt waren. Auch in Zwangsversuchen hatte dieser Befund zum Teil Bestand. Bei längeren Versuchszeiten wurden allerdings verstärkt Fraßschäden durch Larven an den Wollstoffen festgestellt. Dies ist darauf zurückzuführen, daß Mottenweibchen nicht mehr in dem Maße repelliert wurden und ihre Eier an den Stoffen ablegten.

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This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product or pesticide does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation for its use by the Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry or by the USDA-ARS.     

Digital image analysis of radial shrinkage of fresh spruce (Picea abies L.) wood

Contact-free digital image analysis was performed of the radial shrinkage of fresh, fully saturated small spruce wood beams. An experimental test set-up was developed to ensure constant distance from the charge-coupled device camera to the sample surface as well as constant climate and light conditions during the whole experiment. Dimensional changes were observed immediately after the drying process began. An unexpected distinct effect could be observed which could not be explained by drying surface layers only. After a fast initial radial shrinkage a slowing down of the dimensional changes occurred at high mean moisture contents. A complete interruption of any dimensional changes followed. Finally, a recovery from shrinkage was even observed. It is assumed that strong negative pressure occurred in the fully saturated capillaries owing to dehydration which led to additional dimensional changes. As a consequence, the break of the water column and aeration in these capillaries finally resulted in a recovery period in the shrinkage rate due to the pressure release. After this effect, the dehydration was characterized by a phase of fast and almost linear shrinkage due to drying surface layers. Finally, the shrinkage slowed down to zero when reaching equilibrium moisture content.     

Zur Populationsentwicklung vonBemisia argentifolii in Südwesten der Dominikanischen Republik

Zusammenfassung Populationsveränderungen beiBemisia argentifolii wurden durch Zählungen von Larvenstadien an Blättern und durch Zählung von Adulten, die mit Gelbfallen gefangen wurden, erfaßt. Es wurden drei Typen von Gelbfallen getestet: a) horizontale, etwa 30 cm über dem Boden auf Tischchen ausgebrachte, b) vertikale frei hängende, rechteckige und c) vertikal, frei hängende Zylinder. Die besten Fangergebnisse brachte die Version b), die gleichzeitig den am leichtesten auszubringenden Fallentyp darstellt. Die meisten Nebenfänge wurden mit der horizontalen Falle gemacht.Populationsveränderungen waren abhängig von der Temperatur, Regenfällen, Art und Stärke der Bewässerung, Art, Alter und eventuell Pflanzdichte der Wirtspflanze, Düngung und Insektizidbehandlung. Antagonisten spielten nur eine untergeordnete Rolle. Bemisia argentifolii war erstaunlich ortstreu. Nach einer ersten Besiedlung wurde die Populationsdynamik sehr kleinräumig fast ausschließlich von der Vermehrungs- und Sterblichkeitsrate bedingt; Wanderungsbewegungen spielten eine untergeordnete Rolle.Durch den Bewässerungsfeldbau wurden klimabedingte Anbaupausen ausgeschaltet. Vergleiche zweier klimatisch ähnlicher Regionen, von denen in einer seit 1991 per Gesetz eine sommerliche Anbaupause für Wirtspflanzen der Weißen Fliege galt, führen zu dem Schluß, daß eine solche Anbaupause trotz Vorkommen von Wildkräutern hilft, den Befall deutlich zu reduzieren. Noch erarbeitet werden muß ein Konzept, wie auch Kleinbauern diese Anbaupausen ohne große finanzielle Verluste überstehen können.

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Population dynamics ofBemisia argentifolii in the south west of the Dominican Republic

For monitoring whitefly populations, yellow sticky traps were placed in 1993/1994 on 11 sites in two valleys in the south west of the Dominican Republic. Additional countings of immature whiteflyes in untreated parts of field rials were evaluated. Trying different forms of traps showed that flat vertical traps gave better results than flat horizontal or cylindrical ones. The highest catching rates were obtained in eggplant fields as this culture remains long without any pesticide treatment on the field. The dependence of whitefly outbreaks (and yeald losses) on watersupply for the plants could be proofed. The movement in the field seems to be very low. Population dynamics in the field depend mainly on proliferation and nortality. Migration seems to have almost no influence.B. argentifolii was always permanently present on noncultivated lands, but even spots host weeds never reached the population density of cultivated lands. Also parasitoids were always present on noncultivated lands. After the establishment of irrigation, host plants were available and whiteflies could multiply the whole year. Since 1990 planting of host plants is prohibited from March till september in one of the two investigated valleys. This measure seems to be successfull.

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Mit 4 Tabellen     

Tree establishment and management on farms in the drylands: evaluation of different systems adopted by small-scale farmers in Mutomo District,Kenya

Agroforestry systems in Sub-Saharan African drylands are complex and heterogeneous in nature even under similar biophysical conditions. This can be attributed to household needs and socioeconomic status which influence the species and utility of the adopted trees. This has an impact on the trees establishment and management system through planting or Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). This study evaluates how trees for different utilities are managed and which socioeconomic factors influence these decisions. The study used primary data collected in Mutomo District, Kenya through a household survey based on a structured questionnaire. A paired sample t-test was done to assess the preferred mode of adopting trees for different utilities while factor analysis was used to characterize the households as either planting trees or practicing FMNR. Multiple linear regression using household regression factor scores as independent variables and socioeconomic indicators as dependent variables was done to ascertain which socioeconomic factors affect tree adoption. The results show that trees planted were mostly exotic species valued for their nutrition and commercial value, while FMNR was used for subsistence products and environmental services. Household size, livestock levels and mobility had a positive correlation with tree planting, while income, access to markets and roads had an inverse correlation. Access to natural woodland, distance to the nearest motorable road and land size had a positive correlation with tree protection. It is hoped that this knowledge will act as a reference point when designing agroforestry projects in similar areas to ensure they are more aligned to specific site and household conditions.     

Modifications to atrazine degradation pathways in a loamy soil after addition of organic amendments

The effects of two organic amendments, a municipal solid waste compost and a composted straw, on [U-ring- ]atrazine degradation pathways in a loamy soil (Grignon, Yvelines, France) were studied during laboratory incubations under controlled conditions. Three month conditionings were conducted under sterile or non-sterile conditions, with soil plus atrazine, organic amendment plus atrazine, or soil plus organic amendment. Then either an organic amendment or soil or atrazine was added, respectively, to these three treatments and incubated for an additional 3 months under non-sterile conditions. Both organic amendments modified the behaviour of atrazine in soil but via different processes. The addition of municipal compost increased atrazine sorption and decreased its availability for degradation by soil microorganisms. The effect of the composted straw was mainly related to its high enzymatic activity, which appeared to be responsible for the production of large amounts of hydroxyatrazine. This hydroxylation favoured the opening of the triazine ring and its subsequent mineralization in the soil. At the end of the incubations, less atrazine was mineralized in the presence of the two types of organic amendment, which both increased the formation of non-extractable residues of atrazine. The addition of municipal compost preserved larger amounts of extractable atrazine, while the addition of composted straw enhanced hydroxyatrazine production. In all cases, the greatest effects were found when atrazine was directly in contact with the organic amendment during conditioning.     

Die Neugestaltung der Forstwissenschaft in der Ostmark im Geiste des Nationalsozialismus

Ohne Zusammenfassung