22 research outputs found

    Evaluation of the Impact of Different Management Methods on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Their Predators in Citrus Orchards

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    To evaluate the effectiveness of eco-friendly treatments based on detergents classified as non-hazardous and black soap on the pest Tetranychus urticae Koch 1836, and their predators (Euseius stipulatus Athias-Henriot, 1960, Typhlodromus sp., Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, 1957), different treatments were applied to citrus orchards planted with Valencia late (Orange) in the Mechraa Belksiri region of Morocco (T0 = control experiment; T1 = spirodiclofen 0.5 L/Ha; T2 = 125 L/Ha (5%) of black soap; T3 = detergent; 4 L/Ha of Oni product + 2 L/Ha of Tide product). The results obtained during the whole monitoring period indicated that the three treatments used, namely spirodiclofen, black soap, and detergents, ensured a reduction in the rate of population of the pest T. urticae compared to the untreated plot. In the untreated plot, the average was 45.01 A± 4.90 mobile forms, while the plot treated with spirodiclofen it was only 21.10 C ± 2.71, the black soap 31.49 B ± 3.35, and in the plot treated with detergents, the average was similar to that obtained by spirodiclofen (22.90 C ± 2.18). On the predators (E. stipulatus, P. persimilis, and Typhlodropmus sp.), the black soap and the treatment with detergents were less harmful compared to the chemical spirodiclofen

    Evaluation of the Impact of Different Management Methods on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Their Predators in Citrus Orchards

    Get PDF
    To evaluate the effectiveness of eco-friendly treatments based on detergents classified as non-hazardous and black soap on the pest Tetranychus urticae Koch 1836, and their predators (Euseius stipulatus Athias-Henriot, 1960, Typhlodromus sp., Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, 1957), different treatments were applied to citrus orchards planted with Valencia late (Orange) in the Mechraa Belksiri region of Morocco (T0 = control experiment; T1 = spirodiclofen 0.5 L/Ha; T2 = 125 L/Ha (5%) of black soap; T3 = detergent; 4 L/Ha of Oni product + 2 L/Ha of Tide product). The results obtained during the whole monitoring period indicated that the three treatments used, namely spirodiclofen, black soap, and detergents, ensured a reduction in the rate of population of the pest T. urticae compared to the untreated plot. In the untreated plot, the average was 45.01 A± 4.90 mobile forms, while the plot treated with spirodiclofen it was only 21.10 C ± 2.71, the black soap 31.49 B ± 3.35, and in the plot treated with detergents, the average was similar to that obtained by spirodiclofen (22.90 C ± 2.18). On the predators (E. stipulatus, P. persimilis, and Typhlodropmus sp.), the black soap and the treatment with detergents were less harmful compared to the chemical spirodiclofen

    Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Attracted to Rabbit Carcasses in Three Different Habitats

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    This study reports the ant species that were attracted to rabbit carcasses in three different habitats (agricultural, desert, urban) in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from May to July 2014. Rabbit carcasses were used as a model for decomposition. Carcasses were categorized as exposed, clothed, shaded and burnt. A total of 726 ants belonging to three subfamilies and 14 species were collected during the decomposition process. Trichomyrmex mayri (Forel) was the only ant species attracted to the carcasses placed in the desert site. At the agricultural site, there was one ponerine species, five formicine species, and three myrmicine species were attracted, while at the urban site, five formicine species and one myrmicine species were recorded. The agricultural site attracted the highest number of ants. In contrast, the desert site attracted the lowest number of ants. Tr. mayri was the most prevalent species occurring in both the agricultural and desert sites. The bloated stage of decomposition attracted the highest number of ants followed by the decay, fresh and dry stages, respectively. Clothed carcasses attracted the highest number of ants followed by the exposed and burnt carcasses, respectively. The shaded carcasses attracted the fewest number of ants. This study found that ants are attracted to carcasses at all stages of decomposition and are common components of the necrofauna of central Saudi Arabia

    Samsum ant, Brachyponera sennaarensis (Formicidae: Ponerinae): Distribution and abundance in Saudi Arabia

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    AbstractInvasive species are capable of causing considerable damage to natural ecosystems, agriculture and economies throughout the World. Samsum ant, Brachyponera (Pachycondyla) sennaarensis has been a reason for medical implication and social nuisance through its poisonous and severely painful sting causing anaphylactic shock in many cases. We surveyed for the presence of the samsum ant in various provinces of Saudi Arabia. B. sennaarensis was the abundant Ponerinae species in human settlements. In the Eastern provinces, however, few samples were collected, and none were found in the Northern and Western provinces. Infestations of B. sennaarensis were particularly severe in the spring and summer seasons, when the ants make nests in moist areas and in cracks in cemented structures, whereas the extent of infestation reduced in winter seasons

    Ultrastructure of antennal sensillae of the samsum ant, Pachycondyla sennaarensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

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    Black ant (Samsum), Pachycodyla sennarrensis, stings and injects venom and inflicts allergy (a rare clinical problem) due to its local and systemic reaction, which is considered as a health hazard amongst Saudi society. Thus, black ant is a source of serious concern for the government and experts as well.  Ultramorphological variations, distribution, differential sensillae counts (DSC) and total sensillae counts (TSC), were identified and estimated as a complementary part of the peripheral nervous system on the antennae of worker samsum ant, P. sennarrensis in order to understand its behavioral ecology. Based on scanning electron micrographs, four types of sensillae constituted with three trichoid types, which is an abundant form with a high distribution density at the apex, but a low density at subsequent proximal flagellomere of the antenna and a placoid type of sensillae (a rare form mostly found in the middle of the flagellum, that is, on the 4th, 5th and 6th flagellomere) were categorised. It is documented that nonporous trichoid type of sensillae are mechanoreceptors and thermoreceptors, whereas, the placoid types are olfactory receptors. Present findings in an indigenous species in Saudi Arabia may help in understanding the ecological behaviour of the ant, which subsequently may form the basis in producing its effective control measure in future.Key words: Samsum ants, Pachycondyla sennarrensis, ultrastructure, antenna, sensillae

    Psiadia punctulata (DC.) Vatke induces cell apoptosis in highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells

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    Purpose: This study assessed the in vitro cell migration inhibitory and cell apoptotic effects of P. punctulata stem (PPS (and leaf hexane) PPL (extracts on breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 andMCF-7 cells).Methods: Cytotoxicity was quantified using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) release test after 48 h exposure of MDA-MB-231 cells to 0 – 200 μg/mL of PPS and PPL hexane extract. Cell apoptosis was determined using Muse™ cell cytometry, while the phytoconstituents of PPS and PPL hexane extracts were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.Results: The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for PPS and PPL hexane extracts against MDA-MB-231 cells was 44.33 and 52.16 μg/mL, respectively. T, whereas the IC50 of PPS and PPL hexane extracts was 102.22 and 59.53 μg/mL against MCF-7 cells, sequentially. Treatment with 100 and 200 μg/mL of PPS and PPL hexane extract increased late apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells to 16.005 ± 1.155 and 52.58 ± 3.02 %, respectively, for PPS hexane extract and 77.34 ± 0 % and 95.21 ± 1.61 %, respectively, for PPL hexane extract, when compared to control cells (3.81% ± 0.79%). PPL hexane extract decreased cell migration and filled ~15.5 % of the wound gap on MDA-MB-231 cells after 24 h, while PPS hexane extract decreased cell migration by ~35 and ~42.5 % at 24 and 48 h, respectively. PPS and PPL hexane extracts contained several phytocompounds. Stem and leaf extracts of P. punctulata showed significant (p < 0.05) cell apoptotic and migration inhibition activities.Conclusion: The extracts P. punctulata exhibit potent cytotoxic activity against the tested breast cancer cells. Further research is required to assess the acute and subacute toxicity of the extracts

    Cryomazine concentration and host type effects on the biology of the southern cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus F

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    In this study we investigated the effects of different cryomazine concentrations and host type on the biology of the southern cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Our results showed that increasing cryomazine concentration led to the increase in the average incubation period of eggs and low hatching rate, reaching the highest average of egg incubation period 13.25 days for insects reared on a mung beans treated with cryomazine concentration of 3 and 5%. The lowest average for incubation period reached 9.25 days when insects reared on cowpea treated with 1% concentration of cryomazine. Insect reared on peas treated with 5% cryomazine concentration had a lower average percentage of hatching eggs, 1.25% in comparison with the control (67.25%). The maximum average rate of eggs hatching reached 55% of insects reared on mung beans treated with 1% cryomazine concentration compared with the control (75%). High cryomazine concentration reduced the percentage of pupation and adult emergence; the average percentage reached 19.83 and 27.08%, compared with the control 87.33 and 88.5% respectively. Thus, increasing cryomazine concentration not only led to the increase in the average duration of larvae and pupae of insects bred to all nutritional hosts except peas where the insect was unable to complete its life cycle but also led to reduction in the percentage of pupation and adult emergence

    Larvicidal Activity of Selected Xerophytic Plants Against Culex pipiens and Aedes caspius (Diptera: Culicidae)

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    Abstract.-Methanol extracts of different plants namely, Trichodesma africanum (Boraginaceae), Cleome rupicola (Capparceae) and Ochradenus baccatus (Resedaceae), were tested for larvicidal activity against 4 th instar larvae of Aedes caspius and Culex pipiens mosquitoes. All plant extracts tested against Ae. caspius showed 100% mortality at 10µg/ml except the stem of O. baccatus which showed 90% mortality. However, most of the plant extracts tested against Cx. pipiens showed more than 50% mortality at 10µg/ml. Ae. caspius reported lower LD 50 than Cx. pipiens. The LD 50 of the extracts tested ranged between 5.3-0.99. The lowest LD 50 calculated against Ae. caspius was 1.2±0.06 and 0.99±0.16 µg/ml for the stem of T. africanum and C. rupicola, respectively. In conclusion, we have documented promising larvicidal potential of xerophytic plants, which could be considered as a potentially alternative source for developing novel larvicides to be used in controlling vectors of mosquito-borne diseases

    Larvicidal Activity of Selected Xerophytic Plants Against Culex pipiens and Aedes caspius (Diptera: Culicidae)

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    Abstract.-Methanol extracts of different plants namely, Trichodesma africanum (Boraginaceae), Cleome rupicola (Capparceae) and Ochradenus baccatus (Resedaceae), were tested for larvicidal activity against 4 th instar larvae of Aedes caspius and Culex pipiens mosquitoes. All plant extracts tested against Ae. caspius showed 100% mortality at 10µg/ml except the stem of O. baccatus which showed 90% mortality. However, most of the plant extracts tested against Cx. pipiens showed more than 50% mortality at 10µg/ml. Ae. caspius reported lower LD 50 than Cx. pipiens. The LD 50 of the extracts tested ranged between 5.3-0.99. The lowest LD 50 calculated against Ae. caspius was 1.2±0.06 and 0.99±0.16 µg/ml for the stem of T. africanum and C. rupicola, respectively. In conclusion, we have documented promising larvicidal potential of xerophytic plants, which could be considered as a potentially alternative source for developing novel larvicides to be used in controlling vectors of mosquito-borne diseases
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