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The response of the Mi-1 gene to different densities of Meloidogyne incognita race 2 was investigated under controlled conditions. Susceptible and resistant tomato seedlings were inoculated with 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10 000 second-stage juveniles of M. incognita. Plants were uprooted 8 weeks after inoculation and the numbers of egg masses and galls on the roots, and second-stage juveniles in 100 g soil per pot were counted. In susceptible plants, there was a correlation between the number of egg masses on roots until 2000 J2 inoculum densities. In resistant plants, when inoculum densities increased, the number of egg masses and galls also increased. The reproduction factor ratio was >1 in the susceptible plant and

Control failure of pests and selectivity of insecticides to beneficial arthropods are key data for the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the control failure likelihood of Plutella xylostella and the physiological selectivity active ingredients to parasitoid Oomyzus sokolowskii (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and to predators Polybia scutellaris (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and Lasiochilus sp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). In bioassays, P. xylostella larvae and O. sokolowskii, P. scutellaris and Lasiochilus sp. adults were used. Concentration-mortality curves of six insecticides for P. xylostella were established. These curves were used to estimate the mortality of P. xylostella at the recommended concentration, in order to check a control failure of insecticides to this pest. Furthermore, the lethal concentration for 90% of populations (LC90) and the half of LC90 were used in bioassays with the natural enemies to determine the selectivity of these insects to insecticides. All tested insecticides showed control failure to P. xylostella, indicated by high LC90 and low estimated mortalities (less than 80%). The cartap insecticide was selective in half of LC90 to Lasiochilus sp. and moderately selective in LC90 and the half of LC90, to Lasiochilus sp. and P. scutellaris, respectively. Deltamethrin was moderately selective in the half of LC90 to predator Lasiochilus sp. Cartap, carbaryl, and deltamethrin reduced the mortality of Lasiochilus sp. in the half LC90. The results also showed that the insecticides methamidophos, carbaryl, parathion methyl and permethrin were not selective to any of the tested natural enemies. The role of insecticides in IPM systems of Brassica crops is discussed based on their control failures to P. xylostella and selectivity to their natural enemies.

The rules and guidelines for integrated pest management specified in Annex III, sections 2 and 3, state “General principles of integrated pest management”: Harmful organisms must be monitored by adequate methods and tools, where available. Such adequate tools should include observations in the field as well as scientifically sound warnings, forecasting and early diagnostic systems, where feasible, as well as advice from professionally qualified advisors. As part of Multiannual Programs, the Institute of Plant Protection – NRI in Poznań has been carrying out work and research for many years to develop or modify guidelines for monitoring short- and long-term forecasting of pest occurrence on crops. These guidelines are extremely helpful for farmers and advisers in determining the optimum date of chemical control of pests on plants. Regularly revised and improved the guidelines deal with pests which currently pose a threat to crops. They are developed according to the latest scientific findings and are successfully promoted among professional users and agricultural advisors. These guidelines are standardized to include descriptions of species, life cycles, symptoms of damage/infestation of crops, methods of observation targeted at warning of the need for plant protection treatments, and threshold values of harmfulness. All guidelines include extensive photographic material. Guidelines for the monitoring of pests on orchard plants, vegetables and others are prepared at the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation − NRI in Puławy and the Institute of Pomology in Skierniewice. Guidelines for about 80 pests of crops are available for public use in the on-line Pest Warning System (Platforma Sygnalizacji Agrofagów, www.agrofagi.com.pl).

Toxicity and physiological alterations were determined in Pseudococcus viburni nymphs treated with Artemisia annua methanolic extract. The leaf dipping bioassay showed LC50 values of 0.287% and 0.194% 24 and 48 hours post-exposure. Activities of general esterases were significantly higher in the control nymphs than in those which had been treated except for the 48 h time interval using α-naphtyl acetate. The activity of glutathione S-transferase using CDNB (1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene) in the control nymphs, was significantly higher than in the control at both time intervals while no significant difference was observed after 24 h in addition to the higher enzymatic activity in the treated nymphs after 48 h. All three aminotransferases were significantly more active in the control nymphs except for time intervals of 24 h for γ-glutamyl transferase and 48 h for alanine aminotransferase. Higher activities of lactate dehydrogenase, acid- and alkaline phosphatase were found in the control nymphs than in treated nymphs for all time intervals. Activities of the enzymes involved in the antioxidant system including catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was increased in the treated nymphs compared to the control. Results of the current study demonstrated toxic effects of A. annua methanolic extract on P. viburni nymphs causing mortality and physiological turbulences.

The objective of this work was to generate a series of equations to describe the voltinism of Lobesia botrana in the quarantine area of the main winemaking area of Argentina, Mendoza. To do this we considered an average climate scenario and extrapolatedthese equations to other winegrowing areas at risk of being invaded. A grid of 4 km2was used to generate statistics on L. botrana captures and the mean temperature accumulation for the pixel. Four sets of logistic regression were constructed using the percentage of accumulated trap catches/grid/week and the degree-day accumulation above7°C, from 1st July. By means of a habitat model, an extrapolation of the phenologicalmodel generated to other Argentine winemaking areas was evaluated. According to ourresults, it can be expected that 50% of male adult emergence for the first flight occurs at248.79 ± 4 degree-days (DD), in the second flight at 860.18 ± 4.1 DD, while in the thirdand the fourth flights, 1671.34 ± 5.8 DD and 2335.64 ± 4.3 DD, respectively. Subsequentclimatic comparison determined that climatic conditions of uncolonized areas of Cuyo Region have a similar suitability index to the quarantine area used to adjust the phenologicalmodel. The upper valley of Río Negro and Neuquén are environmentally similar. Valleys ofthe northwestern region of Argentina showed lower average suitability index and greatervariability among SI estimated by the algorithm considered. The combination of two models for the estimation of adult emergence time and potential distribution, can provide greater certainties in decision-making and risk assessment of invasive species. Fil: Heit, Guillermo Eugenio. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal; Argentina Fil: Sione, Walter Fabian. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos; Argentina Fil: Aceñolaza, Pablo Gilberto. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos; Argentina. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentina

The molluscicidal activity of six monoterpenes and two phenylpropenes against Theba pisana adults was evaluated using fumigation and direct contact methods. In the fumigant toxicity assay, (-)-citronellal showed the highest toxicity with LC50 value of 7.79 μl · l−1 air after 24 h of treatment, followed by (-)-terpinen-4-ol (LC50 = 12.06 μl · l−1), (-)-menthone (LC50 = 12.28 μl · l−1 air) and p-cymene (LC50 = 16.07 μl · l−1 air). Eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde were the most potent contact toxicants against T. pisana. Their LD50 values were 0.18 and 0.29 mg · snail−1 after 24 h of treatment, respectively. These two compounds were more toxic than a reference molluscicide, methomyl. In contrast, α-terpinene and (-)-citronellal were the least toxic compounds. In another experiment, the synergistic effect of piperonyl butoxide (PBO) on tested monoterpenes and phenylpropenes by topical application was examined. The results showed that the toxicity of the tested compounds was increased when mixed with PBO at a ratio [compound/PBO (1 : 2)] except for α-pinene and (-)-terpinen-4-ol in which the toxicity of binary mixtures was less than for single compounds. The synergistic effect of PBO improved with increased exposure time. The highest synergistic effect was observed with (-)-menthone and α-terpinene with synergistic ratios of 9.25 and 4.37, respectively. Monoterpenes and phenylpropenes and their mixtures with PBO described herein merit further studies as potential T. pisana control agents.

The use of suitable mass rearing methods is crucial to establish successful inundative or inoculative biological control programs. The development of an artificial diet considerably reduces costs of mass rearing. In this study, the efficacy of a new meridic artificial diet for rearing the predatory bug, Orius albidipennis (Het., Anthocoridae), was studied. The artificial diet was composed of some natural materials including lamb liver, hen yolk, whey protein, honey, royal jelly and some specific vitamins. To determine the artificial diet efficacy life table parameters of the bugs, using the two-sex life table method, fed artificial and factitious diets, Ephestia kuehniella egg + date palm pollen, were compared. Results showed that O. albidipennis could complete its life stages and reproduce when reared on the recommended artificial diet. However, its fecundity and survival rate when fed the artificial diet was lower than the controls. Overall, due to lower production costs the artificial diet can be recommended for mass rearing of O. albidipennis despite the lower fecundity and survival rate.

Population growth and rapid urbanisation have increased the global demand for animal feed and protein sources. Therefore, traditional animal feed production should be increased through the use of alternative nutrient sources. Insects as feed are beginning to fill this need. One such insect is the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). However, to more effectively mass produce the black soldier fly, a better understanding of its thermal biology is needed. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of age, size, and sex on adult black soldier fly thermal preference. The thermal preference of adult black soldier flies was determined by exposing flies to a thermal gradient with a range of surface temperatures and monitoring their positions over time. An aluminium plate was used to create a linear thermal gradient where surface temperatures ranged from ~15-60 °C. Flies were distinguished by age (1-d-post-emergence vs 7-d-post-emergence), size (large vs small) and sex (male vs female) to assess whether thermal preference differed by specific life-history traits. Thermal preference for 7-d-post-emergence adults was significantly lower (19.2 °C) than 1-d-post-emergence adults (28.7 °C), respectively. Similarly, small adults selected significantly cooler (21.1 °C) temperatures than large adults (26.9 °C). No significant differences in thermal preferences were found between sex, regardless of age or size. In fact, males and females had similar thermal preference of 23.8 and 24.2 °C, respectively. This study reveals that multiple life-history traits of adult black soldier fly affect their thermal preference, and thus should be taken into consideration by mass rearing facilities to optimize production.

An appropriate stocking density is beneficial to run an efficient business and improve animal welfare. In most traditional livestock this is defined as the number of animals per area. However, the larvae of the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), one of the most important commercial insects, live both on top and inside their feed. In this study we assessed if different areal stocking densities (2D, range 0.6-10.4 larvae/cm2) resulted in a different growth rate and feed efficiency when the volumetric stocking density remained constant (1 larvae/cm3). In a first experiment the larvae received wheat bran once at the start, but in the second experiment wheat bran was added throughout the experiment to ensure that the larvae remained at 1 larvae/cm3. The results indicate that, given a stable volumetric density, the areal density can vary between 0.6 and 10.4 larvae/cm2 without extreme variation in growth, survival or feed efficiency. The lowest assessed densities did result in a slightly lower average weight and yield. A maximum yield per volume of feed was observed at 2.5 larvae/cm2 (feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.76 dry feed/live larvae). Yet, the overall highest yield was observed at 10.4 larvae/cm2 as the increased areal density far outweighed the slight decrease in FCR. In conclusion: when mealworm larvae are provided with an equal volume of wheat bran the influence of areal density is low and could be as high as 10.4 larvae/cm2 for optimal yield.

International audience; Storage mites, especially several species in the families Acaridae, Glycyphagidae, and Chortoglyphidae are commonly found in farming and occupational environments. They are a source of clinically important allergens, and may also have a significant impact on forensic analyses. They may be of use in forensic situations, particularly as allergenic taxa, in relation to workers who are occupationally exposed to mites. Additionally, because many of them are present through all stages of vertebrate decomposition, they may provide valuable information as indicators of time and circumstances of death. This study aimed to investigate the possible occurrence and abundance of allergenic mites in farm buildings, as well as to examine and analyse collected material samples in relation to forensic medicine. A total of 58 samples from 15 farms in the Żywiecki district (Silesian Province, Poland) were examined as potential sources of allergenic mites in farm buildings with a special reference to forensic acarology. Mites were found in all the examined samples. A total of 4,473 specimens were isolated and 22 mite species were identified. Most of them were found in barns and pigsties. The species composition of the acarofauna was varied across the particular types of farm buildings examined. Generally, the dominant species were representatives of families Acaridae and Glycyphagidae (Astigmatina). This knowledge may be useful in a variety of cases or situations in the field of forensic medicine.

Lachryphagous males of Phortica variegata (Fallén, 1823) are gaining increasing attention in Europe, as they act as vectors of the nematode Thelazia callipaeda Railliet & Henry, 1910, causal agent of thelaziosis, an emergent zoonotic disease. Currently, there are no effective control strategies against the vector, and surveillance and monitoring rely on time-consuming and nonselective sampling methods. Our aim was to improve the knowledge about the population dynamics and the chemical ecology of the species. A total of 5,726 P. variegata flies (96.4% males and 3.6% females, mostly gravid) were collected in field experiments during June–September of 2020 in an oak forest in northern Spain. Our results indicate that 1) by means of sweep netting a significantly higher number of captures were found both around the collector´s body and in the air than at ground level; 2) a positive relationship was detected between the abundance of Phortica flies and temperature, with two significant peaks of abundance at 24 and 33°C; 3) the blend of red wine and cider vinegar was the most attractive bait; 4) yellow traps captured fewer flies compared to black and transparent traps; and 5) a significant reduction toward vinegar and wine was detected in presence of the phenolic monoterpenoid carvacrol. In addition, all the males (n = 690) analyzed by both molecular detection and dissection resulted negative for the presence of T. callipaeda larvae. Overall, these findings provide a better understanding of the vector in terms of monitoring and management strategies., Special thanks are given to the manager of the Izki Golf Club for providing the funding to complete part of the study. M.F. is currently funded by European Union Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (844285; ‘EpiEcoMod’). We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their many insightful comments and suggestions which helped us to significantly improve the manuscript. This study is part of a work awarded in 2021 with the "III Premio Nacional Felix Pérez y Pérez" of the Illustrious Official College of Veterinarians of Burgos, Spain.

Understanding the relationship between incursions of insect pests and established populations is critical to implementing effective control. Studies of genetic variation can provide powerful tools to examine potential invasion pathways and longevity of individual pest outbreaks. The major fruit fly pest in eastern Australia, Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), has been subject to significant long‐term quarantine and population reduction control measures in the major horticulture production areas of southeastern Australia, at the species southern range limit. Previous studies have employed microsatellite markers to estimate gene flow between populations across this region. In this study, we used an independent genetic marker, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences, to screen genetic variation in established and adjacent outbreak populations in southeastern Australia. During the study period, favorable environmental conditions resulted in multiple outbreaks, which appeared genetically distinctive and relatively geographically localized, implying minimal dispersal between simultaneous outbreaks. Populations in established regions were found to occur over much larger areas. Screening mtDNA (female) lineages proved to be an effective alternative genetic tool to assist in understanding fruit fly population dynamics and provide another possible molecular method that could now be employed for better understanding of the ecology and evolution of this and other pest species.

Understanding how patterns of host-seeking behaviour differ across demographic classes in Amblyomma americanum (L.), the lone star tick, is essential in evaluating species potential as a vector of pathogens. Our objective was to characterize the relative contributions of two cryptic developmental cohorts, newly moulted and overwintered adults, to the A. americanum host-seeking population. To determine cohort identity, we used haem concentration as a metric of physiological age in ticks collected from field and forest habitats. Emergence of ticks displaying uncharacteristically high haem concentrations in late spring and early summer would indicate that newly moulted adults resume questing activity in the same season of their nymphal engorgement. Overall, haem concentration decreased significantly throughout the active season of adults from March to July of 2017 in northeast Missouri. Males displayed higher average haem concentrations than females when controlled for date of capture, but habitat-mediated differences were not significant. No subset of ticks with inflated haem concentrations was collected during the time that activization of newly moulted adults was feasible, suggesting that A. americanum adults undergo post-moulting behavioural diapause under natural conditions.

In this preliminary study, we applied the Multivariate Curve Resolution- Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) method to analyze the excitation-emission matrices of multifloral honey samples, combined with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to estimate infection of honey bee colonies with N. ceranae or V. destructor. Fluorescence spectroscopy combined with MCR-ALS was used to determine the ratio of the spectral components originating from proteins (C1) and phenolics (C2), two minor but essential constituents of honey, as a ratiometric indicator of infection level in related hives. The C1/C2 ratio decreased linearly with the increase of infection in both N. ceranae and V. destructor cases, the R2 was 0.941 and 0.912, respectively. Additionally, DSC has shown that the magnitude of changes in sugar environments of the honey samples, reflected in sugar phase transitions, rises with increasing infection level in bee colonies. These results indicate that fluorescence combined with MCR-ALS could be used for rapid, non-destructive and cheap screening of honey to estimate the level of infection of honey bee colonies.

International audience; A new species of the genus Gittella (Oribatida, Oppiidae) - G. kontschani n. sp. - is described, based on materials collected from upper soil and leaf litter in the primary evergreen lowland rainforest of Amazonian Peru. Generic diagnosis, an identification key, distribution, and habitats of all known species of Gittella are presented.

Cenopalpus officinalis Papaioannou-Souliotis, 1986 (Trombidiformes: Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae) is reported for the first time from Israel, Italy and Mexico. Previously, this flat mite species was only known to occur in Greece and is the first species belonging to the genus Cenopalpus recorded from Mexico. Adult females and males, deutonymphs and eggs, collected in Italy and Israel as well as the material intercepted from Italy and Mexico at United States ports of entry were studied, illustrated and analyzed.

BACKGROUND: Pandora sp. nov. inedit. (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae) (ARSEF 13372) is a recently isolated entomophthoralean fungus with potential for psyllid pest control. This study aimed to develop a formulation based on biocompatible hydrogel beads in order to transfer the fungus into an easily applicable form and to test the effects on psyllids. RESULTS: After encapsulation in calcium alginate beads, Pandora sp. nov. grew from the beads and discharged conidia over 12 days under optimal humidity conditions at 18 °C. Conidial number was increased 2.95-fold by the addition of skimmed milk as nutritional formulation adjuvant to the beads. The virulence of the encapsulated fungus was assessed with the two target psyllid species; the summer apple psyllid, Cacopsylla picta and the pear psyllid, Cacopsylla pyri. Beads containing skimmed milk as nutritional adjuvant led to the highest mortalities (48.3% on C. picta and 75.0 % on C. pyri). In a second bioassay, survival time of C. pyri exposed to beads containing different concentration (10, 20 or 40%) of Pandora sp. nov. was tested. The survival time of C. pyri was significantly reduced when exposed to beads containing 10% or 20% Pandora sp. nov. The median survival time was reached after 5-6 days past inoculation and the cumulative mortality for C. pyri treated with Pandora sp. nov. beads showed up to 89% mortality. CONCLUSION: The promising results of this study will ease the way for large-scale field application of a novel Pandora species in biological psyllid pest control.

The family Drosophilidae includes over 3750 species worldwide and over 2000 of these are species of Drosophila . Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii is one of the most dangerous species in this family. The insects live on undamaged ripening fruits, using its peculiar serrated ovipositor to break the skin of fresh ripening fruits and lay eggs in it. Drosophila species are very difficult and practically impossible to detect at larval stages. The present investigation was conducted at the All-Russian Plant Quarantine Center and Agrarian and Technological Institute of RUDN University, Moscow, Russia in 2018—2020. The aim of this study was to investigate the method of accurate and rapid identification of D. suzukii , and to design specific primer pairs for pest identification by Real-Time PCR method. The real-time quantitative PCR is a fast, sensitive, repeatable and accurate method for quantifying gene transcript levels. In this study, we designed specific primers (4.Dsuz.FRP) for Real-Time PCR to identify D . suzukii from other relative species. Although D. suzukii is absent in the Russian Federation and has not been reported so far, the project could be a precautionary measure.

Rice blast disease caused by fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (syn. Pyricularia oryzae) is one of the most damaging diseases of rice, reducing plant production worldwide. In the present study, Bacillus subtilis strain GB519 was identified from the rhizosphere based on predicted signatures of 16S ribosomal DNA and gyrA gene and morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics. Treated with B. subtilis GB519, rice plants exhibited increased germination rate, vigor index, shoot length, shoot fresh weight, and root fresh weight coupled with more production of indole acetic acid, organic phosphorus, and inorganic phosphorus. In culture, GB519 inhibited growth of the following rice fungal pathogens (in order from most effective to least effective): M. oryzae, Ustilaginoidea virens, Fusarium graminearum, F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani. Three years of studies showed that, when rice was sprayed with GB519, there were significant reductions in rice blast incidence in both the greenhouse and fields: 70.3 and 62.1% in 2017, 69.9 and 71.6% in 2018, and 75.1 and 75.6% in 2019, respectively. Such reductions were correlated with accumulated hydrolytic enzymes, including amylases, proteases, chitinase, and lipases, and the defense enzyme activity of the total antioxidant capacity, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in rice. Field experiments showed that the biocontrol efficacy of GB519 was similar to that of other biological and chemical fungicides. Our results indicate that B. subtilis strain GB519 promoted plant growth and reduced blast disease and suggest that this strain has potential to be used as a biological control agent against rice blast. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Population dynamics of a predator-prey system is usually simulated by the classical Lotka-Volterra models, which were successfully applied to the population dynamics of snowshoe hare and lynx and many other predator-prey systems. Attempts were made to apply them also to insect predator-prey systems, but in terms of biological control, they did not reveal the features of the predators that control the abundance of their prey. The most conspicuous example of failure of Lotka-Volterra models applied to insect predator-prey systems are ladybird-aphid systems, in which these models usually fail to fit empirical data. Because of their practical importance and because they are very well studied, we have chosen aphid-ladybird systems as a model. We summarize the results published on various aspects of the population dynamics of aphid-ladybird systems and present them in the context of empirical data. Using new data, we more closely specify the existing metapopulation model of aphid-ladybird interactions. Based on the arguments presented here, we conclude that the ladybird-aphid case can be generalized to insect (and maybe even other) predator-prey systems, where the ratio of the generation times of the predator to that of the prey (GTR) is large. In such systems, the main selection pressure on predators is choosing the best strategy to maximize survival of their offspring, rather than on maximization of the amount of prey eaten. Thus voracity, which is the main determinant of population dynamics in Lotka-Volterra models, loses its role and is replaced by optimization of the choice of oviposition sites in systems with large GTRs.

Experiments were performed investigating citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) as a repellent to honeybee Apis mellifera (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Egypt, it was conducted in laboratory in the Department of Entomology and Pesticides Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, to check long-term survival of honeybee when exposed to different nano insecticides alone or combined with citronella at the same examination box for each. In this study, we used a modeling approach regarding survival data of caged worker bees under chronic exposure to four insecticides (Chloropyrophos, Nano-chloropyrophos Imidacloprid, Nano-Imidacloprid) each of them was supplemented in a box alone and in combination with citronella. Having three replicates and five concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm). Laboratory bioassay of these insecticides showed that chloropyrophos and nano chloropyrophos were the most toxic at their high dose (500 ppm) with LT50 of 120.98 and 122.02 followed by 132.14 and 136.5 minutes for Imidacloprid and Nano-Imidacloprid, respectively. No consumption occurred by bees to mixed sugar syrup with insecticides in all treatments when citronella was added. These data highly recommended that adding citronella is very effective when nicotinoid pesticides are used to longevity honeybee life and keep bee safe. Resumo Foram realizados experimentos para investigar a citronela (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) como repelente de abelhas Apis mellifera (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) no Egito, conduzidos no laboratório do Departamento de Entomologia e Ciência de Pesticidas, da Faculdade de Agricultura, da Universidade do Cairo, e verificar a sobrevivência a longo prazo das abelhas quando expostas a diferentes nanoinseticidas isoladamente ou combinados com citronela na mesma caixa de exame para cada um. Neste estudo, usamos uma abordagem de modelagem em relação aos dados de sobrevivência de abelhas operárias enjauladas sob exposição crônica a quatro inseticidas (clorpirifós, nanoclorpirifós, imidacloprida e nanoimidacloprida), e cada um deles foi suplementado em uma caixa e em combinação com citronela, tendo três repetições e cinco concentrações (100, 200, 300, 400 e 500 ppm). O bioensaio em laboratório desses inseticidas mostrou que clorpirifós e nanoclorpirifós foram os mais tóxicos em altas doses (500 ppm) com LT50 de 120,98 e 122,02, seguidos por 132,14 e 136,5 minutos para imidacloprida e nanoimidacloprida, respectivamente. Não houve consumo pelas abelhas do xarope de açúcar misto com inseticidas em todos os tratamentos quando a citronela foi adicionada. Esses dados recomendam a adição de citronela, sendo muito eficaz quando pesticidas nicotinoides são utilizados para longevidade das abelhas e para mantê-las seguras.

Phytophthora root rot, caused by Phytophthora cactorum, is an economically important disease on young apple trees. Limited information is available on the effect of different phosphonate application methods and dosages on disease control, fruit and root phosphite concentrations, and soil and root pathogen inoculum levels. Evaluation of phosphonate treatments in three apple orchard trials (two in the Grabouw and one in the Koue Bokkeveld region) showed that foliar sprays (ammonium or potassium phosphonate), trunk sprays and trunk paints, were equally effective at increasing trunk diameter in one trial and yield in a second trial over a 25-month period. Foliar ammonium and potassium phosphonate sprays (12 g of phosphorous acid/tree), and two different dosages of the ammonium phosphonate sprays (∼4.8 g or 12 g of phosphorous acid/tree) were all equally effective at improving tree growth. The addition of a bark penetrant (polyether-polymethylsiloxane-copolymer) to trunk sprays did not improve the activity of trunk sprays. The low dosage ammonium phosphonate foliar spray (∼4.8 g a.i./tree) was the only treatment that, in general, yielded significantly lower root phosphite concentrations than the other phosphonate treatments. Root phosphite concentrations were significantly positively correlated (P < 0.0001) with an increase in trunk diameter and negatively (P < 0.0001) with P. cactorum root DNA quantities. Phosphite fruit residues were

During the last decade the insect sector has witnessed a tremendous growth. A lot of scientific knowledge has been accumulated regarding insect production, processing and industrialisation. However, an issue that has been often overlooked is the management of insect pest infestations in insect production plants. Pyralid moths appear to be the most prevalent insect pest-species in mealworm farms. Although not directly affecting the mealworm larvae, these species can cause severe problems infesting the feed. Their presence in the production facility can lead to the contamination of the mealworm protein with moth protein and the disruption of sieving and processing due to the larval webbing. The management of moth infestations in insect rearing units is rather challenging, as most commonly applied insecticide-based control measures cannot be implemented due to their negative impact on insect production. Therefore, moth control should be based on the integration of several alternative strategies in a holistic approach that combines improved sanitation and hygiene with non-chemical control measures. The application of extreme temperatures, biological control, mating disruption and other control tools for the management of insect infestations in insect producing facilities is being discussed within this review.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the market channels, relationship between market intermediates and their functions along with the marketing cost and profit margin of edible wild field cricket Brachytrupes portentosus in Bangladesh. Male respondents were dominantly involved in the insect collection procedure and female were widely engaged in the market. The field cricket trading totally depends on its availability from nature. Generally, this insect becomes available in the winter season (November to February). It was found that insect collectors, wholesaler cum retailers, and local trader cum retailers are the key market intermediates of the four different marketing channels of wild field cricket in Bandarban district of Bangladesh. Among the four observed marketing channels, the channel from insect collectors to the consumer held the big share in the local market. Approximately 43% of the total collection of the wild field crickets occurred through this channel. Both local trader cum retailers and wholesaler cum retailers processed and graded the B. portentosus on the basis of size and sex with the demand of consumers. The net marketing margin was the highest in insect collectors followed by wholesaler cum retailers and local trader cum retailers. The returns on operating capital of insect collectors, wholesaler cum retailers, and local trader cum retailers were 283.7, 48.7 and 42.9%, respectively. The major constraint of edible insect marketing was poor transportation and processing.

Bioconversion is the process whereby nutrients are recovered from organic waste products, often by flies, to produce value-added products such as protein for animal feed and lipids for biodiesel production. Currently, research and industry focus on a select few fly species for use in bioconversion that are generalists in their feeding behaviour, the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L., and the housefly, Musca domestica L. More investigation is needed on species of flies that are more suited to underutilised waste streams, including meat processing waste. Species of flies that breed in carrion, such as blowflies (Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) can be used to reduce meat processing waste and produce a valuable source of protein. In this review, we propose more investigation and use of a wider range of fly species for bioconversion of organic waste. Four blowfly species are recommended for use in the bioconversion of meat processing waste or a mixture of manure waste and meat processing waste. Chrysomya chloropyga (Wiedemann) is a large mammal carcass specialist and has been found to be effective at recovering nutrients from abattoir waste within four days and producing large larvae in the process. Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann) and Chrysomya megacephala (Wiedemann) naturally breed in carrion and faeces, are associated with pit latrines and respond well under mass rearing conditions, with high egg production. These species would be recommended for a large-scale bioconversion facility that receives mixed waste streams including manure and animal remains. Lucilia sericata is known to produce antimicrobial compounds that assist in wound healing and has been frequently bred and studied and responds well to lab and mass rearing conditions. We recognise the potential obstacles to using alternative species in industrial-scale bioconversion facilities and pose future directions for research to overcome these challenges.

The artificial diet of Tenebrio molitor has been a focal point of many studies that aimed to design the best diet combination. Recently, studies are focusing on the use of by-products and their efficiency as diets for rearing T. molitor. The rearing was successful on a wide range of by-products-based diets. The feed has a profound impact on the lifespan, growth, productivity and nutritional composition of T. molitor. Productivity is one of the traits highly influenced by the diet’s composition, especially macronutrients. This work aims to study the effect of eight different diets on the weight and productivity of females and their progeny weight: larval weight. Wheat bran, brewer’s yeast, spent grain and bread remains were used to compose the diets, based on different inclusion percentages of each by-product. The nutritional composition, mainly the macronutrients, of the diets had a narrow range of differences. The diets were designed in a way to avoid the effect of different nutritional compositions and study the effect of the by-products type only. Results showed that the female’s weight-change during the egg-laying period was not significant under different rearing diets. Moreover, the female’s productivity measured by the larval number showed no significant difference between the different diets. However, the total larval biomass (452.4 mg) was significantly higher for larvae reared on diet A composed of wheat bran and brewer’s yeast. Also, the total mean larval weight was significantly higher for larvae reared on diets A (3.1 mg) and G (3.2 mg) composed of wheat bran, brewer’s yeast and spent grain. The mentioned diets although composed of different by-products have similar amounts of protein and carbohydrates. These results prove that the type of by-products included in the experimental diets does not affect the reproductive performance of T. molitor, while it can affect larval growth.

Much research has been directed towards the optimisation of the mass rearing of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, in terms of diet and rearing conditions. However, an issue that has not been thoroughly investigated to date is the strain effect on the larval growth and performance of T. molitor. To close this gap, the plasticity in growth and development, as well as the feed conversion efficiency and the nutritional composition of larvae of seven T. molitor strains of different geographic origins (Greece, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Spain and USA) were comparatively evaluated in the present study. Based on the results, there were considerable differences in the performance of the strains tested. Larval weight at harvest was the highest for a strain originated from Germany; however, the higher final body mass was at the cost of longer development time and higher feed intake, the latter having a negative impact in the overall performance and productivity of the strain. No significant differences were detected in the larval nitrogen and lipid content among the strains tested. In overall, the Italian strain II had the best growth performance in terms of survival, larval biomass production, development time and feed utilisation. The present study aims to highlight the need for selection of strains with enhanced performance and production traits for mass-production, which will boost the overall productivity of insect farming systems.

Palm weevils, Rhynchophorus spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) double as devastating invasive pests of palms, and delicacies in many communities. This study evaluated ethyl acetate and 3-methyl-octan-4-ol for trapping palm weevils from coconut, oil and raffia palms in Kenya and Uganda; taking into account the distance of traps on oil palm from a forest or raffia palm. Eggs from the weevils from different locations were incubated and their larvae reared on sugarcane under laboratory conditions. All the 285 weevils collected were identified by morphological and molecular techniques as Rhynchophorus phoenicis, and the catch was female-biased. 3-methyl-octan-4-ol attracted more weevils than ethyl acetate. More weevils were caught at ~100 m away from the forest than within 15 m outside the forest; and on raffia palm than oil palm irrespective of distance apart. Eggs took ~4 d to develop and 95-100% of pupae developed into adults, irrespective of the collection site. Larval and pupal developmental periods for weevils from Uganda were longer than those of Kenya, resulting in egg-adult development of ~6 months and ~4 months, respectively. The sex ratio of laboratory produced males and females was similar. These results can guide in designing an integrated R. phoenicis management system with a dual benefit of protecting palms from weevil attack and utilising the weevils to improve human nutrition.

The presence of Xylocopa valga is reported for the first time from the high altitudes of Union Territory of Ladakh (more than 3,000 m above sea level), India. Several bees were observed in the area from May 2019 to September 2020, where it is considered to be a pest because of its aptness for making nests in residential and commercial buildings. The species has likely expanded its geographical area due to environmental changes. It is important to disseminate knowledge among Ladakh people about this bee to ensure the preservation of its populations. Premier signalement de Xylocopa valga Gerstaecker, 1972 dans les conditions froides et arides du Ladakh en Inde (Hymenoptera : Apidae : Xylocopini) La présence de Xylocopa valga est reportée pour la première fois dans les territoires du Ladakh en Inde (plus de 3000 m d’altitude). Plusieurs individus ont été observés sur ce territoire entre mai 2019 et septembre 2020. L’espèce y est considérée comme nuisible par la population à cause de sa capacité à faire des nids dans les bâtiments commerciaux et résidentiels. Cette espèce a probablement étendu son aire de répartition à cause des changements environnementaux. Il apparaît important de communiquer autour de cette espèce auprès de la population de Ladakh pour préserver ses populations.

Almond trunk and branch canker diseases constitute a major cause of tree mortality in California. Numerous fungal pathogens have been associated with these canker diseases and pruning wounds act as major infection courts. Before this study, there were no products registered in California for the management of these diseases. In this study, fungicidal products including synthetic chemistries, biocontrols, paint, and a sealant were evaluated for preventing fungal pathogen infection via pruning wounds. In four field trials conducted over two dormant seasons, 16 pruning wound treatments were tested using handheld spray applications against five almond canker pathogens, namely Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum parvum, Cytospora sorbicola, Ceratocystis destructans, and Eutypa lata. The fungicide thiophanate-methyl (Topsin M; United Phosphorus, Bandra West, Mumbai, India) provided 82% overall disease prevention against four fungal pathogens. The biological control agent, Trichoderma atroviride SC1 (Vintec; Bi-PA, Londerzeel, Belgium), tested at three application rates, resulted in 90 to 93% protection of pruning wounds in field trials, and for individual pathogens ranged from 81 to 100% protection for the three rates. At the time of this publication, Vintec is being considered for registration as a biological control product for the prevention of almond canker diseases, while Topsin M is recommended to growers for the prevention of almond canker diseases. This research indicates that effective protection of pruning wounds from infection by almond canker pathogens can be achieved with a one-time spray application of thiophanate-methyl or the biocontrol T. atroviride SC1 (recommended 2 g/liter) after pruning.

International audience; Faunas of Phytoseiidae of the Mascareignes Archipalago (Réunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues Islands) and of the Comoros Archipelago (Mayotte, Anjouan, Mohéli and Grande Comore Isands) were recently investigated by authors of this paper and results were published in seven already published papers. We described in this eighth paper six species new to science and six unknown males collected during these surveys.

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, is one of the most destructive insect pests on cruciferous plants, which causes huge economic losses annually across the world. Due to its resistance to all classes of insecticides, new effective management approaches are urgently needed. The innexin genes encode gap junction proteins in invertebrates, which play critical roles in cell-to-cell interactions for electrical currents, small molecules and ions. Zero population growth (zpg), one germline-specific innexin protein, is required for survival of differentiating early germ cells during gametogenesis in many insect species. In this study, nine innexin genes were identified from the P. xylostella genome, and named as Pxylinx1.1, Pxylinx1.2, Pxylinx2, Pxylinx3, Pxylinx4, Pxylinx7.1, Pxylinx7.2, PxylshakB.1 and PxylshakB.2. The expression profiles of P. xylostella innexin genes in different developmental stages and tissues were examined, revealing Pxylinx4 was specifically expressed in eggs and female ovaries, which is the candidate zpg gene in P. xylostella. RNA interference (RNAi) was utilized to investigate the functions of Pxylinx4 in egg-laying and egg-hatching. The results showed that RNAi treatment on Pxylinx4 in female P. xylostella, lead to the decrease of the egg-laying but not the egg-hatching. This study improves our understanding of P. xylostella innexin genes and provides a candidate molecular target (Pxylinx4) for developing new approaches to control this economically important pest.

Insects are efficient converters of different types of low-quality organic matter into biomass rich in good quality protein. Flies are particularly well suited for the biodegradation of organic waste and larval stages can be used as animal feed. Currently, only Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) and Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) are accepted for feeding purposes by European authorities. However, there are several other species potentially interesting to be used in animal feed. This review compiles available information regarding species from Calliphoridae family, ranging from scattered records of its use as animal feed to nutritional profile descriptions. Comparisons are made with the most common ingredients used as animal feed, fish meal and soybean meal as well as with other two authorised species by the European regulation, H. illucens and M. domestica. Concerns about pathogen transmission are also discussed. Blow flies present a real opportunity to recycle organic side streams under a circular economy framework and can ultimately contribute to the reduction of nutrients shortage in animal feed. Other advantages include their high fertility, short life cycle, known rearing methodologies and good nutritional profile. Further, their potential as pathogen transmitters is equivalent to the domestic fly. For all these reasons blow flies are good candidates to be used as ingredients in animal feed.

Yellow mealworm is a grain infesting pest that is receiving attention nowadays as an alternative protein source for humans and animals. Its ability to convert low quality feed, like organic by-products, into high-quality food increases its production sustainability. The feeding diet is one of the most important factors in rearing Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), which affects its growth, longevity and nutritional composition. Many by-products have been tested on larvae, but studies are scarce on adults. This work aimed to compare the effect of chicken feed diet (C) and wheat bran (B) by-product, as well as integrating yeast (CY and BY), on the adults’ reproduction and larval growth. Experiment was set up in a complete productive cycle of mass-rearing. The evaluation was done on the reproductive stage of the adults and the development of the larvae until harvesting (appearance of the first pupa). Results showed that the bran-based diets significantly improved the adults’ survival; after 50 days, mean of 110 and 146 adults survived on B and BY diets respectively compared to mean of 23 adults when reared on both chicken feed diets. Besides, wheat bran supplemented with yeast improved the total number of larvae (6,448.2 larvae) compared to bran diet (4,016.7 larvae). Whereas the two chicken feed-based diets had significant positive effect on the average larval weight; the maximum weight reached was 116.3 mg and 145.8 mg for larvae read on C and CY diets respectively compared to 47.8 mg and 57.3 mg on B and BY diets. Nevertheless, in 50 days of reproduction, the total larval biomass was highest on bran supplemented with yeast (283.1 g). In conclusion, the increase of sustainability and efficiency in mass-rearing of mealworms is possible by using appropriate diets on respective stages; bran-based diets for reproduction and chicken feed-based diets for larval growth.

Insects are an emergent source of proteins in the world nutrition, both for humans and farmed animals, moreover they represent a novel food in Europe. The interest in Tenebrio molitor (L.) has particularly grown because its larvae are very rich of high biological value proteins. Although rearing of T. molitor has lately increased, the long-time conservation of alive larvae, very useful for both production and research, needs more information. Research studies conducted so far have investigated the reactions to low temperature on mealworms pupae and adults, or on larvae at 10 °C and for no more than 48 h. The aim of this study is to test the long-term effects of different times of cold storage at 10 °C on the larval survival and on the ability to become healthy adults and to potentially reproduce normally. The insects, divided in experimental groups, were refrigerated on sterile bran (and 10% of yeast) at 10±1 °C and 63% RH for 4 different periods of storage, from 30 to 120 days. Larval survival (i.e. number of larvae alive and number of pupae, expressed as a percentage), weight gain and presence of pupae were detected at the end of each period. The ability to complete the cycle was assessed by detecting the number of hatched pupae, deformed and well-formed adults. Our research results point out the possibility to store T. molitor alive larvae for long time (at least 120 days) at low temperature without significant negative effects on their ability to survive, with a relatively small loss (15.81%) and a very small percentage of deformed adults (4.07%). Further researches will be carried out to test the fertility of the well-formed adults and their ability to reproduce.

In Ontario, Canada, Fusarium graminearum Schwabe causes Gibberella ear rot (GER) in maize, resulting in the accumulation of mycotoxins, mainly deoxynivalenol (DON), DON-3-glucoside (DON-3G) and zearalenone (ZEN) in infected kernels. Fungicides can be an important tool for managing GER and DON and other Fusarium mycotoxins in maize. Until recently, all fungicides available to growers were triazoles, thus no resistance management strategy through fungicide use was possible. In this study, a novel carboxamide fungicide active ingredient (pydiflumetofen) was evaluated against conventional triazole fungicides and mixtures for: (1) effectiveness on mycotoxins (2) optimal application timing; and (3) efficacy of application, with and without an insecticide, under natural and inoculated-misted conditions. The best timing for fungicide application was at full silk, resulting in the highest reduction of GER symptoms and lowest accumulation of F. graminearum mycotoxins in harvested grain. DON and DON-3G concentrations were reduced by at least 50% with a fungicide application at full silk. Fungicide treatments did not affect fumonisin concentrations in grain. Pydiflumetofen (94 g active ingredients (AI)/ha) and fungicides containing pydiflumetofen (75-94 g AI/ha) were similar to standard triazole fungicides (prothioconazole at 200 g AI/ha and metconazole at 90 g AI/ha) for reducing GER and F. graminearum mycotoxins under misted-inoculated plots and commercial field conditions; as a result, we expect pydiflumetofen to be competitive with triazole-only chemistries in the marketplace, which should delay the onset of fungicide resistance.

Tetranychus urticae (the two-spotted spider mite) is a phytophagous agricultural pest that affects many economically important crops. Two-spotted spider mites are group-living arachnids that produce silk webbing which is used for protection and dispersal, and also influences settlement behavior of conspecifics. We investigated the effects of conspecific silk and frass on microhabitat selection of these mites and whether these materials are substrates for semiochemicals. Two-choice behavioral assays gave mites the option of settling in the presence or absence of cues produced by conspecifics. Both sexes of mites preferred to settle in the presence of silk produced by conspecific females, and males also responded positively to silk produced by other males. Frass alone had no effect on mite settlement choices, but mites tended to prefer frass in combination with silk over silk alone. Female mites did not respond to conspecific silk after it was washed with methanol, and a crude methanol extract of the silk was sufficient to elicit settlement behavior, confirming that a semiochemical is responsible for the effect. We conclude that silk-bound semiochemicals provide cues used by both male and female mites when selecting a microhabitat, and that frass may also provide relevant social cues.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:39:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 U.S. Department of Agriculture Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) An updated checklist of chiggers from the family Trombiculidae and Leeuwenhoekiidae is presented, with 81 species in 38 genera parasitizing different terrestrial vertebrate hosts in Panama. The depository for all Panamanian records, including new localities and host-associations records for the species Blankaartia sinnamaryi (Floch and Fauran, 1956), Eutrombicula tinami (Oudemans, 1910), Eutrombicula goeldii (Oudemans, 1910), Hooperella vesperuginis (Brennan and Jones, 1960), and Pseudoschoengastia bulbifera Brennan, 1960 were provided. Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas Instituto Butantan, SP Departamento de Patologia Reprodução e Saúde Única Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias-UNESP, SP Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History National Insect and Mite Collection Systematic Entomology Laboratory United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Departamento de Patologia Reprodução e Saúde Única Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias-UNESP, SP CAPES: 001 FAPESP: 2017/01416-7 FAPESP: 2018/24667-8 FAPESP: 2019/19853-0 FAPESP: 2020/11755-6 FAPESP: 2021/02295-4

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:44:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-10-30 Medical Research Council Australian Research Council Endoparasitoid wasps use complex biochemical arsenals to suppress the normal humoral and cellular immune responses of their hosts in order to transform them into a suitable environment for development of their eggs and larvae. Venom injected during oviposition is a key component of this arsenal, but the functions of individual venom toxins are still poorly understood. Furthermore, there has been little investigation of the potential biotechnological use of these venom toxins, for example for control of agricultural pests. The endoparasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a biocontrol agent reared in biofactories and released extensively in Brazil to control the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). The objectives of this work were to reveal venom components produced by C. flavipes and explore the function of a major venom peptide, Cf4. Using a combined proteomic/transcriptomic approach, we identified 38 putative venom toxins including both linear and disulfide-rich peptides, hydrolases, protease inhibitors, apolipophorins, lipid-binding proteins, and proteins of the odorant binding families. Because of its high abundance in the venom, we selected Cf4, a 33-residue peptide with three disulfide bonds, for synthesis and further characterization. We found that synthetic Cf4 reduced the capacity of D. saccharalis hemocytes to encapsulate foreign bodies without any effect on phenoloxidase activity, consistent with a role in disruption of the cellular host immune response. Feeding leaves coated with Cf4 to neonate D. saccharalis resulted in increased mortality and significantly reduced feeding compared to caterpillars fed untreated leaves, indicating that Cf4 is a potential candidate for insect pest control through ingestion. This study adds to our knowledge of endoparasitoid wasp venoms composition, host regulation mechanisms and their biotechnological potential for pest management. School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science The University of Queensland School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Australian Research Council: CE200100012

Invasion of the exotic Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel, 1912) (Tephritidae) has drastically reduced the abundance and distribution of native Ceratitis anonae Graham, 1908 (Tephritidae) and false codling moth Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick, 1913) (Tortricidae) in Nigeria. There is an overlap in resource use among the three frugivorous insects which could result in interspecific competition. Knowledge of the population dynamics and distribution of the three frugivorous insects in the study area is lacking and such data are indispensable for effective management of the tephritid and tortricid pests. The population dynamics and distribution of the three frugivorous insects were investigated to predict the route of invasion and the outcome of interactions among the three frugivorous insects. Bactrocera dorsalis occurred in all the seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) sampled while C. anonae and T. leucotreta occurred together in two LGAs and separately in two other LGAs. The population of B. dorsalis is significantly higher than either C. anonae or T. leucotreta in the study area. The three frugivorous insects are negatively associated with one another but only the association between B. dorsalis and C. anonae was significantly different. Bactrocera dorsalis invaded the study area from southern Nigeria and C. anonae is being driven towards northern Nigeria.

[EN] We compare published morphometric measurements of females and males of Scapulaseius asiaticus (Evans) and S. reptans (Blommers) collected in various countries, with new measurements and character states of type specimens of both species and additional material. The aim is to establish definitively whether the two species are synonyms or not. This paper follows the doubt on the taxonomic status of the former and the hypothesis of conspecificity of the two species formulated by both authors in previous papers concerning Mauritius phytoseiid fauna. Setal and shield measurements were highly similar between species. In addition, other morphological characters previously used to separate these taxa, such as the position of setae R1, showed a wide intraspecific variability, and largely overlapped between populations previously identified as S. asiaticus vs S. reptans. We conclude that the two forms are conspecific and, therefore, S. reptans is herein designated a junior synonym of S. asiaticus., The digitalization of Acarologia papers prior to 2000 was supported by Agropolis Fondation under the reference ID 1500-024 through the << Investissements d'avenir >> programme (Labex Agro: ANR-10-LABX-0001-01)

Detailed information on insect pests of stored grains in Nigeria is lacking. A two-year survey was conducted to determine the species composition and abundance of insects associated with maize, millet, rice, sorghum and tamarind in eighteen locations across five agro-ecological zones in Nigeria. Sixteen coleopteran, lepidopteran and hymenopteran species were associated with stored products, with high species richness on cereal grains but low species richness on tamarind. Most of these insects are polyphagous on cereal grains, whereas the tamarind weevil Sitophilus linearis (Herbst, 1797) (Curculionidae), and Caryedon serratus (Oliver, 1790) (Chrysomelidae) were found only on tamarind in this study. The maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky, 1758), rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Linneaus, 1763), lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) (Bostrichidae), rusty grain beetle Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens, 1831) (Laemophloeidae) and red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) (Tenebrionidae) were most abundant on stored grains. The tamarind weevil, C. serratus and the sawtoothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Linneaus, 1758) (Silvanidae) were most abundant on tamarind. The hymenopterans Theocolax elegans (Westwood, 1874) (Pteromalidae), Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard, 1881) (Pteromalidae) and Cephalonomia waterstoni (Gahan, 1931) (Bethylidae) were the dominant parasitoids of larvae and pupae of the storage pests. Simpson index of diversity of insect species across locations ranged from low (0.63) to high (0.89).

International audience; Essential oils of aromatic plants have a high potential for the development of alternative insect pest management strategies. Especially for the control of stored product pests, alternative methods to replace synthetic insecticides are urgently needed. We evaluate the fumigant toxicity of Myrtus communis, Eucalyptus globulus, Syzygium aromaticum, Thymus saturejoides essential oils, and the main natural compound of two of them, eucalyptol, on different life stages of the confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum) under laboratory conditions. Whereas eucalyptol and the essential oils of M. communis and E. globulus have rather strong toxic effects on all developmental stages, apart from the eggs of T. confusum, the essential oil of S. aromaticum caused the highest egg toxicity. Our results indicate that eucalyptol or essential oils containing large amounts of this compound might be efficient as potential alternative control agents for T. confusum, but tests under more natural conditions need to be performed.

BACKGROUND Many groups of insects utilize substrate-borne vibrations for intraspecific communication. This characteristic makes them a suitable model for exploring the use of vibrations as a tool for pest control as an alternative to the use of chemicals. Detailed knowledge of species communication is a prerequisite to select the best signals to use. This study explored the use of substrate-borne vibrations for pest control of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys Stal (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). For this purpose, we first identified the spectral and temporal characteristics that best elicit male responsiveness. Bioassays were conducted with artificial signals that mimicked the natural female calling signal. Second, we used the acquired knowledge to synthesize new signals endowed with different degrees of attractiveness in single- and two-choice bioassays using a wooden custom-made T stand. RESULTS The results from this study showed that males were attracted to female signals along a high range of amplitudes, especially starting from a threshold of 100 μm s-1 , a high pulse repetition time (1 s) and frequency peak corresponding to the first harmonic (76 Hz). This resulted in an "optimal" signal for use to attract males, while the choice test in the T arena showed that this signal elicits searching behavior and attracts BMSB males towards a stimulation point. CONCLUSION We confirm the use of vibrational signals as a strong tool for behavioral manipulation of male BMSB and suggest its possible use in the development of field traps and further management of this pest. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Background Harnessing insect ecology for insect control is an innovative concept that seeks to exploit, among others, insect-microbe ecological interactions for improved control of pest insects. Microbe-produced cheese odour attracts several dipterans, including host-seeking mosquitoes, but this phenomenon has not been thoroughly explored for mosquito control. Here we tested the hypothesis that attraction of mosquitoes to cheese odour can be exploited as an ecological trap for mosquito control. Results In laboratory and/or field experiments, we show that (i) each of five cheese varieties tested (Raclette, Pecorino, Brie, Gruyere, Limburger) strongly attracts female A. aegypti and Culex. pipiens; (ii) cheese infusions, or headspace odourant extracts (HOEs) of cheese infusions, significantly affect oviposition choices by mosquitoes, (iii) HOEs contain at least 13 odourants; (iv) in field settings, cheese infusions more effectively stimulate mosquito oviposition than positive bluegrass infusion controls, and also capture (by drowning) the spotted wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii; and (v) home-made cheese infusions modulate oviposition choices by mosquito females and affect the survivorship of their offspring larvae. Conclusion Our data show that microbial metabolites associated with cheese are attractive to mosquito females seeking hosts and oviposition sites and are likely toxic to mosquito larvae. These microbes and their metabolites could thus be co-opted for both the attract, and the kill, function of 'attract & kill' mosquito control tactics. Implementation of customizable and non-conventional nutritional media as microbe-based ecological traps presents a promising concept which exploits insect ecology for insect control. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

International audience; This paper describes the first record of the Sejida (= Sejina) family Sejidae (superfamily Sejoidea) from Burmese amber, based on deutonymphs. Specimens were found in the amber piece along with a wasp (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), flies (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and thrips (Thysanoptera: Adiheterothripidae). This record traces the Sejida (= Sejina) back to the mid-Cretaceous (ca. 100 Ma) and represents not only the oldest valid record of Mesostigmata, but it is also one of the oldest examples of the entire Parasitiformes clade.