Preface

[No abstract available

The superworm, zophobas morio (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae): A ‘sleeping giant’ in nutrient sources

The aim of this review is to compile up-to-date information on the superworm, Zophobas morio (F.), regarding its biology and ecology, but also its further potential for use as a nutrient source for food and feed. We illustrate certain basic characteristics of the morphology and bio-ecology of this species, which is marginally considered as a ‘pest’ in durable amylaceous commodities. More recent data show that Z. morio can be a valuable nutrient and antimicrobial source that could be utilized further in insect-based feed and food production. The inclusion of this species in aquafeed has provided promising results in a wide range of feeding trials, both in terms of fish development and health. Additional data illustrate its potential for use in poultry, indicating that this species provides comparable results with those of other insect species that are used in feed. Moreover, Z. morio can be a viable waste management agent. This review aims to summarize the available data and underline data gaps for future research, toward the potential of the utilization of Z. morio for human food and animal feed. Based on the data presented, Z. morio appears to be a well-promising insect-based protein source, which potential still remains to be unfold. © The Author(s) 2021

Bacterial insecticides and inert materials

[No abstract available

Competition of three stored-product bostrychids on different temperatures and commodities

We evaluated the competition among three species of stored-product Bostryhidae: Rhyzopertha dominica, Prostephanus truncatus and Dinoderus porcellus. In this context, ten adults of each species were placed in vials, either alone or in all possible combinations of two or three species. The experiments were carried out on wheat and maize, at 25 and 30° C. Sixty-five days later, the adult progeny production in the vials was recorded, as well as the weight of damaged and undamaged kernels, the number of grains with more than 1 hole and the weight of frass. On wheat, when each species was alone, progeny production of R. dominica on wheat was, for both temperatures, higher than that for the other two species. There was practically no progeny production on wheat for P. truncatus, but offspring numbers of D. porcellus were, in some cases, comparable with those for R. dominica. In contract, on maize, P. truncatus progeny production was constantly higher than the other two species, regardless of the species’ combination. In general, R. dominica prevailed on wheat, while P. truncatus in maize. However, the simultaneous presence of D. porcellus had a detrimental effect on progeny production of the other two species, while the presence of the other two species increased D. porcellus progeny production, in some of the combinations tested. On wheat and maize, the number of damaged kernels was higher in the combinations that R. dominica and P. truncatus, respectively, were present. When the species were alone, however, D. porcellus produced the higher amount of frass. Paradoxically, despite the absence of P. truncatus progeny on wheat, some damaged kernels were recorded when this species was alone in this commodity. Temperature had no effect on progeny production of D. porcellus. Our results showed that different species of Bostrychidae can coexist in stored grains, and specific displacement conclusions can be drawn according to the commodities and temperatures. © 201

The use of entomopathogenic nematodes in the control of stored-product insects

This review highlights the latest findings regarding the use of entomopathogenic nematodes against post-harvest insects. Due to their requirements for moisture, entomopathogenic nematodes had received, until lately, limited attention for application to the dry storage environment. Recent improvements of their formulation and application approaches, as well as the discovery of new, more virulent strains have enhanced the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes and renewed interest in using entomopathogenic nematodes in the stored-product environment. The nematode species tested against storage insects belong exclusively to the genera Steinernema and Heterhorhabditis. The virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes against post-harvest insects varies depending on the nematode species and strain. Usually, only a single-nematode species or strain is not equally effective against all major stored-product insect pests; therefore, one nematode strain or species cannot be suitable for controlling all species present in the storage environment, where several insect species coexist. The successful application of entomopathogenic nematodes in storage environments for controlling post-harvest insects is highly dependent on several biotic and abiotic factors, such as the host life stage, temperature, and relative humidity. Entomopathogenic nematodes have still to overcome substantial hurdles to become a reliable alternative for commercial applications in warehouses and storage facilities. However, the use of innovative, enhanced methods of formulation and application, such as encapsulation or bait traps, could boost the exploitation of entomopathogenic nematodes in storage facilities against post-harvest insects. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Assessment of selected larvicides for the control of Culex pipiens biotype pipiens and Culex pipiens biotype molestus under laboratory and semi-field conditions

BACKGROUND: The insecticidal efficacy of selected mosquito larvicides [teflubenzuron, S-methoprene, diflubenzuron, temephos, Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)], applied alone or in combination, against two Culex pipiens biotypes, Cx. p. pipiens and Cx. p. molestus, was compared under laboratory and semi-field conditions. Registered larvicides were evaluated at the label dose, whereas those not registered for mosquito control were tested at the label dose per area, i.e. as plant protection products. Teflubenzuron and temephos were also evaluated at half the label dose, alone or in combination with a non-ionic surfactant. Larval mortality and adult emergence were assessed after 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 16 and 20 days of exposure. RESULTS: In all cases, PDMS showed complete (100%) larval control after 3 days of exposure against both biotypes. With temephos, all larvae were dead after 1 day of exposure, even at half the label dose. For teflubenzuron, mortality reached 100% at the end of the bioassays and adult emergence was avoided completely, whereas for diflubenzuron, mortality was close to 100% at the end of the trials. By contrast, in S-methoprene-treated water, control was below the 90% mortality threshold for both biotypes. In semi-field trails, in all treatments with Bti, all larvae of both biotypes were dead after 1 day of exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our data, and with the exception of S-methoprene, the larvicides tested remained below the threshold for effective treatment against larvae of Cx. p. pipiens and Cx. p. molestus for the entire duration of the study. Most of the larvicides tested showed high levels of efficacy against Cx. p. pipiens and Cx. p. molestus larvae in laboratory and semi-field bioassays. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industr

Population-Mediated Responses of Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) to Different Diagnostic Protocols for Phosphine Efficacy

We evaluated different monitoring protocols for phosphine resistance in adults of three populations of the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), termed LB, 2KT, and E1. The protocols evaluated were as follows: 1) the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) bioassay, i.e., the exposure at 30 ppm of phosphine for 20 h, 2) the dose response, based on the exposure at 50-1,000 ppm of phosphine for 3 d, 3) the Cooperation Center for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco (CORESTA) bioassay, which is based on exposures of 4 d at 200 ppm, and, if there are surviving individuals, of 10 d at 700 ppm, and 4) Detia Degesch Phosphine Tolerance Test Kit (DDPTTK), based on the evaluation of the exposed insects for short intervals of exposure (in our case 90 min) at 3,000 ppm. From the populations tested, E1 indicated the highest survival in the FAO bioassay. Moreover, adults of this population were able to survive at 200 ppm, in the dose response, in contrast with the other populations. However, both 2KT and E1 gave similar results in DDPTTK, but only E1 had survivors after 7 d postexposure. Finally, only adults of E1 survived the CORESTA bioassay for 200 ppm and 4 d, but not for 700 ppm and 10 d. Our results show that, at least in the range of the populations tested here, there are some trends that are comparable among the different diagnostics for L. serricorne, which can be utilized further in designing a widely adopted standardized protocol. © 2021 The Author(s)

Emerging pests in durable stored products

[No abstract available

Insecticidal effect of contact insecticides against stored product beetle populations with different susceptibility to phosphine

In the present work we evaluated the effect of alpha-cypermethrin, pirimiphos-methyl and spinetoram on field and laboratory strains of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) with different susceptibility levels to phosphine. The field populations were collected from storage facilities in Greece and were characterized as resistant by using the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) protocol, based on the same protocol, populations were characterized as susceptible to phosphine. The insecticides were applied at three dose rates (0.1, 1 and 10 ppm) on wheat and adult mortality was measured after 7, 14 and 21 days of exposure, while progeny production was assessed 65 days later. For S. oryzae populations, complete control was noted at the highest dose on pirimiphos-methyl and spinetoram, while mortality caused by alpha-cypermethrin was 62 and 100% for the field and laboratory populations, respectively. For O. surinamensis, complete control was recorded at the highest dose only on alpha-cypermethrin for the laboratory population, in contrast with the field population, where mortality was only 32% after 21 days of exposure. In general, the variations among populations were negligible for spinetoram, probably due to the fact that the populations tested were not previously exposed to this active ingredient. In contrast, the lowest susceptibility of the field populations to the other two insecticides can be attributed to the fact that these populations might have been exposed to these active ingredients, while any hypothesis for cross-resistance with phosphine has to be examined more thoroughly. © 2018 Elsevier Lt