Search

In Indonesia, the control of Coptotermes curvignathus populations as living tree termite pests has been carried out since the early 20th century. Recently, C. curvignathus has been considered the main termite pest and designated as the only species model for wood and wood products resistance tests against subterranean termite attack testing protocol in the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). However, the species distribution range of C. curvignathus has been long questioned as Coptotermes gestroi is commonly reported as a species found in urban areas of Southeast Asian region, particularly in Indonesia. One of the reasons for the species distribution discrepancies is the lack of morphological markers to distinguish both species in the field. Thus, limiting the field inspection effectiveness in termite pest management in Indonesia. This study reexamined and clarified the morphological differences between C. curvignathus and C. gestroi , based on soldier caste. The head shape, mandible shape, and distribution of genal setae on the ventro-anterior head part and pronotum marked the difference between the 2 species. These current results support previous findings of C. curvignathus as the forest dweller while clarifying C. gestroi as the common urban dweller in Indonesia. The putative benefit of morphological features related to the head, mandible, and setae distribution to the defensive adaptation in their common habitat was discussed. Ultimately, the inclusion of C. gestroi into the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) as an alternative species for efficacy tests against subterranean termites is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes are well known as vectors of hazardous diseases for human. Plant extracts can be used as an alternative for larval control due to they are a rich source of bioactive chemicals and safe for the environment. The present study investigated the larvicidal activity of crude extracts derived from leaf and flower of Brugmansia candida against the second larval instar of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. The larval mortality was observed at 24 and 48 h exposure of both leaf and flower extracts, at the concentration of 100, 250, 500, and 1000 ppm. The 24 h exposure of both extracts at the concentration of 500 and 1000 ppm resulted in larval mortality rates were significantly lower than those of 48 h exposure. However, the mortality rate was not significantly different at the lower concentrations of crude extracts. The results also suggested that there was no significant difference in the larvicidal effect between leaf and flower extracts at 24 and 48 h exposure for all concentrations. The LC50 values at 48 h exposure for leaf extract were 789 and 791 ppm for Ae. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus, respectively, whereas for flower extract were 772 and 780 ppm for Ae. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus, respectively. Overall, B. candida showed larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus. This research contributes to new finding regarding the larvicidal activity of B. candida. This finding also supports the next study to develop B. candida as an alternative source for larval control agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the climate change and global warming, the biodiversity database has gained the attention of the government. In line with the Indonesian Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBSAP), we have collected plants with insecticidal activity based on the local wisdom. This program aimed to protect Indonesian biodiversity from deforestation along with the loss of the number of species. This research's goal was to evaluate termiticidal and antifungal properties from some plant extracts collected from the Turgo forest area, Mt. Merapi National park, Java. Three potential plants were evaluated. Based on specimen identification, the three plant samples were Kina (Cinchona sp.), Kamadoh (Dendrocnide stimulans (L.f.) Chew), and Keremi (Homalanthus populneus (Geiseler) Pax). The phytochemical test showed that Kina contained alkoloid, falvonoid, saponin, and tannin, whereas Kamadoh and Keremi contained saponin and tanin, respectively. Overall, all plant extracts have the termiticidal activities and able to inhibit wood-decay fungi with the inhibition percentage around 60% - 100%. Leaf extracts of Kina (Cinchona sp) and Keremi (Homalanthus populneus (Geiseler) showed the highest activity as wood-decay fungi inhibitor. The disclosure of the potential of bioinsecticides from some plants originating from Mount Merapi is very important before being lost due to deforestation and the Mount Merapi disaster. Thus, the potential bioinsecticide in these plants can increase its economic value as a substitute for synthetic insecticides that are friendly to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The fact that termites attack healthy living trees is little known, being overshadowed by termite attacks in urban settings. Nonetheless, termites do attack living trees, especially on plantations, and this issue needs greater visibility. Here, we investigate termite attacks on fast-growing teakwood, Tectona grandis L.f., and the development of termite communities over time on experimental plantation landscapes located in Cibinong, West Java, Indonesia. Teakwood is a valuable and popular material in the wood industry that has various uses. Our results indicated that termite communities become more complex over time, as demonstrated by the increasing number of species and occupied areas. At the same time, damage observed on tree trunks was limited to bark and was related to the activities of termites that consume fresh biomass, like fungus-growing termites (functional group IIf). In addition, landscapes with overgrown weeds and shrubs were observed to have more damage on tree trunks than did groomed landscapes. Managing understory vegetation might suppress termite attacks on fast-growing teakwood, although we also observed that termite attacks on trunks were inevitable if termites that belong to functional group IIf have managed to occupy large areas. We conducted surveys of termite assemblages and tree trunks damaged by termites in teakwood (Tectona grandis L.f.) plantations. The surveys were conducted in five-, six-, and nine-year-old plantations. We used a standardized belt-transect to collect termites and build tree inventories. Data of collected termites at the genus and functional-group levels and termites' diversity between plantations were compared with their attack rate. The results showed that four genera of soil recycler termites belonging to groups IIf and III were present across the plantations. Distribution analysis suggested that termite communities might develop from a stochastic distribution to a nonrandom co-occurrence distribution over time. Diversity analysis showed an increased nestedness-resultant diversity contribution to the total dissimilarity over time. Observed attacks on tree trunks were superficial and limited to the outer bark, with group IIf as the main contributor. Furthermore, the level of damage done by termites to tree trunks was positively correlated with increases in the group IIf occupancy area and overgrown understory vegetation. Plantation management by maintaining an adequate understory might suppress termite attacks on fast-growing teakwood, although in the case of our study, termite attacks are inevitable when termites from group IIf were already present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and verified to detect albendazole in citrus. • Evaluated storage stability of albendazole on whole citrus and citrus pulp. • Field dissipation and terminal residue of albendazole in citrus were investigated. • Persistence of the albendazole in citrus was low, with DT50 values lower than 18 days. • The chronic dietary risk of albendazole on citrus are acceptable to consumer. Albendazole is a broad-spectrum fungicide that shows great potential in controlling fungal diseases in citrus. To quantify the dissipation behavior, residue distribution, and dietary risk of albendazole in citrus, we developed an UPLC-MS/MS analysis protocol. The average recovery rate of albendazole in whole citrus and citrus pulp ranged from 74 to 105% with an RSD of 3 to 8%, and a limit of quantification of 0.01 mg kg−1. The degradation half-lives were 2.8–3.0 and 5.7–17.0 days in whole citrus and citrus pulp, respectively, and the final residues of albendazole were <0.059 mg kg−1 with a risk quotient of <1. This study not only demonstrates that the dietary risk of albendazole in citrus is negligible, but also provides empirical data to establish the maximum residual limit (MRL) for the safe application of albendazole in citrus orchards to meet the requirements for food safety as well as international trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]