Natural enemies of the South American moth, Tuta absoluta, in Europe, North Africa and Middle East, and their potential use in pest control strategies

The South American tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an invasive Neotropical pest. After its first detection in Europe, it rapidly invaded more than 30 Western Palaearctic countries becoming a serious agricultural threat to tomato production in both protected and open-field crops. Among the pest control tactics against exotic pests, biological control using indigenous natural enemies is one of the most promising. Here, available data on the Afro-Eurasian natural enemies of T. absoluta are compiled. Then, their potential for inclusion in sustainable pest control packages is discussed providing relevant examples. Collections were conducted in 12 countries, both in open-field and protected susceptible crops, as well as in wild flora and/or using infested sentinel plants. More than 70 arthropod species, 20 % predators and 80 % parasitoids, were recorded attacking the new pest so far. Among the recovered indigenous natural enemies, only few parasitoid species, namely, some eulophid and braconid wasps, and especially mirid predators, have promising potential to be included in effective and environmentally friendly management strategies for the pest in the newly invaded areas. Finally, a brief outlook of the future research and applications of indigenous T. absoluta biological control agents are provided.     

Socioeconomic impact of widespread adoption of precision farming and controlled traffic systems in Denmark

In this study we assess the economic profitability of implementing various precision farming (PF) technologies and controlled traffic farming (CTF) on 4 main crops in Denmark. The study provides insight into technological requirements, and identifies related costs and benefits to farmers and the Danish society as a whole. At the farm level, the findings from the study indicate that an implementation of CTF systems may have a significant impact on fuel savings due to a reduced overlap with auto guidance systems and easier movement with tractors and tools in the field. The PF site-specific weed management approach may facilitate large savings in the use of herbicides. At the national level, the results clearly show that the benefits to the Danish economy of adopting this new technology is positive with increased income to farmers and a reduction in fuel consumption and pesticides/herbicides use. The obtained results reflect the long term economic effect of implementing new production methods in Denmark where soil fertility increases over time due to reduced traffic increasing yields. Over all, the Danish GDP is estimated to increase by 34?million?? due to the implementation of PF and CTF on larger farms in Denmark. The results also clearly show that adoption of PF and CTF farming systems will benefit the environment. The agricultural sectors input of environmental harmful inputs are reduced in all scenarios presented in this paper. The adoption of PF and CTF systems should thus be of interest to politicians since it clearly facilitates aims of environmental policies currently under implementation by the Danish government.     

Old and new diagnostic approaches for Q fever diagnosis: correlation among serological (CFT, ELISA) and molecular analyses

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the complement fixation test (CFT) with respect to ELISA for the serological diagnosis of Q fever and to assess the role of serology as a tool for the identification of the shedder status. During 2009-2010, sera from 9635 bovines and 3872 small ruminants (3057 goats and 815 sheep) were collected and analyzed with CFT and ELISA. In addition, 2256 bovine, 139 caprine and 72 ovine samples (individual and bulk tank milk samples, fetuses, vaginal swabs and placentae) were analyzed with a real-time PCR kit. The relative sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of CFT with respect to ELISA were Se 26.56% and Sp 99.71% for cattle and Se 9.96% and Sp 99.94% for small ruminants. To evaluate the correlation between serum-positive status and shedder status, the ELISA, CFT and real-time PCR results were compared. Due to the sampling method and the data storage system, the analysis of individual associations between the serological and molecular tests was possible only for some of the bovine samples. From a statistical point of view, no agreement was observed between the serological and molecular results obtained for fetus and vaginal swab samples. Slightly better agreement was observed between the serological and molecular results obtained for the individual milk samples and between the serological (at least one positive in the examined group) and molecular results for the bulk tank milk (BTM) samples. The CFT results exhibited a better correlation with the shedder status than did the ELISA results.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Halyomorpha halys</Emphasis>, a serious threat for hazelnut in newly invaded areas

Following its first detection, Halyomorpha halys has become a key pest in many crops in NW Italy. In this area, one of the most important crops is hazelnut, in which the species can cause severe damage through feeding on nuts. Therefore, semi-field trials were carried out in NW Italy to compare the harmfulness of H. halys with that of the local hazelnut bug species, such as Gonocerus acuteangulatus, Nezara viridula, and Palomena prasina. Additionally, a 2-year field survey was conducted in hazel groves in NW Italy and W Georgia, another important hazelnut cropping area, to assess the presence and abundance of the new invasive species and to evaluate the damage at harvest. Monitoring was carried out by plant beating and by commercial traps throughout the growing season. In semi-field trials, H. halys was the most harmful species, causing the highest damage in kernels, and was able to survive and reproduce at higher rates. During field surveys in NW Italy, H. halys was sampled in groves late in the season in 2015 and, with higher populations, throughout the season in 2016. In W Georgia, bug population levels consistently increased in the 2-year period, resulting in a significant increase in damage at harvest in 2016. A similar trend is hence expected also in NW Italy in the following years. Moreover, data on individuals collected in different points of the hazelnut groves confirmed the border-driven behavior of this pest, leading to consideration of potential integrated pest management solutions.     

Date of heading and plant height of wheat varieties,as related to septoria leaf blotch damage

Summary Septoria leaf blotch readings, date of heading and plant height appeared strongly correlated in six variety trials with 25 varieties each. Three trials were conducted in 1972 and three in 1976. The taller and later the cultivars, the lower its Septoria leaf blotch score tended to be. The yields also were less strongly reduced in taller and later cultivars, as calculated from another experiment.     

Toxicity and persistence of three pyrethroids for the control of cereal bugs on common wheat

Journal of Pest Science - Sunn pests are responsible for serious kernel damage on wheat (Triticum aestivum L., Poaceae), affecting bread-making quality from their feeding at the late milk-ripe...     

Transmissibility of four tospoviruses by a thelytokous population ofThrips tabaci from Liguria, Northwestern Italy

Studies were carried out on a population ofThrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripi-dae) from Liguria to assess its sex-ratio and its ability to transmit four tospoviruses: tomato spotted wilt (TSWV), impatiens necrotic spot, tomato chlorotic spot and groundnut ringspot. The population was composed of females only (therefore thelytokous). The first instar larvae were allowed to acquire the virus for 48 h on infected leaves of datura, basil or pepper, and then reared on cucumber until emergence, which medially occurred 9.5 days after hatching. Transmission capacity was checked using two inoculation access periods (lAPs) of 48 h each on pepper leaf disks.T. tabaci was able to transmit TSWV isolate P105 with an efficiency of 16.7% and 4.4% in the first and second IAP, respectively, and TSWV isolate BR-01 with an efficiency of 2.0%. The onion thrips did not transmit the three other tospoviruses. During the IAPs, almost all adults fed on the leaf disks, producing evident silvery scars. The presence of tospovirus nucleocapsids in thrips was assayed by Triple Antibody Sandwich (TAS) and cocktail ELISA. Not all adults that had transmitted TSWV were positive in the tests, whereas some non-transmitter individuals proved positive. For each of the other tospoviruses, some thrips were positive in at least one test, although none was able to transmit the virus.