Development of the parasitoid Bracon brevicornis on different larval instars (L2-L5) of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella

Το Bracon brevicornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) είναι ένα αγελαίο παρασιτοειδές που προσβάλλει μια ποικιλία σημαντικών λεπιδόπτερων εντόμων των αποθηκευμένων προϊόντων. Ο σκοπός αυτής της μελέτης ήταν να καθοριστεί εάν τα διαφορετικά προνυμφικά στάδια του Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) επηρεάζουν τη προνυμφική ανάπτυξη, τη μακροζωία και τη γονιμότητα του παρασιτοειδούς Β. brevicornis. Οι παράμετροι που μετρήθηκαν είναι η ικανότητα παρασιτισμού, η ωοτοκία, η προνυμφική ανάπτυξη, ο μέσος αριθμός των απογόνων καθώς και η διάρκεια ανάπτυξης του παρασιτοειδούς B. brevicornis, σε διαφορετικά προνυμφικά στάδια/ηλικίες του ξενιστή του. Τα αποτελέσματα μας έδειξαν ότι παρατηρήθηκαν στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές μεταξύ των προνυμφικών σταδίων του P. interpunctella σε ότι αφορά, την ικανότητα παρασιτισμού την ωοτοκία, την προνυμφική ανάπτυξη και το μέσο αριθμό των απογόνων του. Συγκεκριμένα στο στάδιο L2 του P. interpunctella δεν ήταν δυνατή η ωοτοκία και η ανάπτυξη του παρασιτοειδούς. Στο στάδιο L3, ενώ παρατηρήθηκε μια μικρή ωοτοκία δεν παρατηρήθηκε περαιτέρω ανάπτυξη του B. brevicornis. Σε ότι αφορά την ανάπτυξη του παρασιτοειδούς παρατηρήθηκαν στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές μεταξύ του L4 και L5 του P. interpunctella. Σχετικά με τη διάρκεια ανάπτυξης του παρασιτοειδούς, και στα δύο προνυμφικά στάδια δεν υπήρχαν στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές. Ο συνολικός χρόνος από αυγό έως ενήλικο ήταν 11,45 ημέρες, στο στάδιο L4 και 11,92 ημέρες, στο στάδιο L5. Όσον αφορά τη μέση διάρκεια ζωής των ενηλίκων F1 ήταν 16,70 και 28,70 για τα θηλυκά και 11,00 και 17,60 για τα αρσενικά των σταδίων L4 και L5 αντίστοιχα. Συμπερασματικά το στάδιο L5, φαίνεται να είναι το πλέον κατάλληλο στάδιο για την μαζική εκτροφή του B. brevicornis, το οποίο μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί στο πλαίσιο της βιολογικής αντιμετώπισης εχθρών αποθηκευμένων προϊόντων, όπως είναι το P. interpunctella.Bracon brevicornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a gregarious parasitoid that attacks a variety of important lepidopterous pests of stored products. The aim of this study was to determine if different larval instars of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) affected longevity and fecundity of parasitoid B. brevicornis. Percentage of parasitism, number of eggs laid on different larval instars of P. interpunctella, number of larvae, prepupae, pupae and the number of F2 adults of B. brevicornis as well as the developmental time of parasitoid egg, larva, prepupa, pupa and the total developmental time from egg to adult on different larval instars of the host were recorded. Our results showed that statistically significant differences were observed among the larval instars of P. interpunctella in all studied parameters. In L2 of P. interpunctella no eggs of B. brevicornis were observed. A few eggs laid on L3 but they were not developed successfully. Concerning the development of B. brevicornis on L4 and L5 instars of P. interpunctella statistically significant differences were observed between the two instars. The mean number of eggs laid by B. brevicornis on L4 of P. interpunctella per 10 days was 2.42 eggs per adult, and the mean number larvae, prepupa, pupae and adults was 1.42, 1.37, 1.26 and 1.24 respectively. The mean number of eggs laid on L5 of P. interpunctella by B. brevicornis was 13.65, while the mean number of larvae, prepupae, pupae and adults was 9.73, 7.90, 7.44 and 7.16 respectively. In all cases the differences were statistically significant. The developmental time of B. brevicornis developed on L4 instar of P. interpunctella was 1.12 days for egg, 2.03 for larva, 1.47 for prepupa, 6.82 for pupa and the total developmental time from egg to adult 11.45 days. The developmental time of B. brevicornis developed on L5 instar of P. interpunctella was 1.18 days for egg, 1.68 for larva, 1.29 for prepupa, 7.76 for pupa and the total developmental time from egg to adult 11.92 days. The female and male B. brevicornis adult life span of F1 generation was 16.70 and 11 days when developed on L4 of P. interpunctella and 28.70 and 17.60 days when developed on L5 of P. interpunctella

Early motor signs of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with onset of symptoms typically in early childhood. First signs of the disorder, including language delay, motor delay and temperament characteristics, may be evident as early as infancy. The present review describes published evidence about early motor signs of either children with later symptoms of ADHD or a later diagnosis of the disorder. Nine published cohort studies were included after a systematic search of related terms in PubMed and PsycInfo databases. Study eligibility criteria included: (1) report on early motor function or any motor-related signs; (2) the presence of a participants’ assessment by/at 12 months of age; (3) report of a later presence of ADHD symptoms. The limited number of reports included suggests an association between mild early neurological markers and later developmental coordination disorder and motor overflow movements. Unfortunately, due to their small sample sizes and focus on group reports rather than individuals, they have limited power to find strong associations. Early motor indicators of ADHD, if present, appear to be non-specific, and therefore not yet useful in clinical screening. Spontaneous motility seems to be a promising measure for early ADHD detection, although further studies with large cohorts are recommended to determine its clinical role in children at risk for ADHD

Gastrointestinal helminths in calves and cows in an organic milk production system

The main aim of this study was to determine the distribution of populations of gastrointestinal helminths in lactating crossbred cows and calves during the grazing season in an organic milk production system. In addition, the potential importance of the peripartum in relation to the parasite load was examined. Between January 2007 and December 2008, parasitological fecal examinations were performed on cattle belonging to the Integrated Animal Production Program of Embrapa Agrobiology. The cows' parasite load remained low during the study period, and there were no statistical differences (p > 0.05) in comparisons between the seasons. The average egg count showed a positive correlation (0.80) with the peripartum, such that egg elimination per gram (p < 0.05) was higher during the week of labor than during the pre and postpartum periods. Calves showed low parasite loads, with significantly higher egg elimination (p < 0.05) during the winter. The study indicated that infection with gastrointestinal helminths was not a limiting factor for milk production in the organic system. Specifically, it was concluded that the nematode load can be maintained at moderate levels throughout the production system, even in the absence of anthelmintic treatment