Potential effects of oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of purified insecticidal proteins on larvae of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis

Despite their importance as pollinators in crops and wild plants, solitary bees have not previously been included in non-target testing of insect-resistant transgenic crop plants. Larvae of many solitary bees feed almost exclusively on pollen and thus could be highly exposed to transgene products expressed in the pollen. The potential effects of pollen from oilseed rape expressing the cysteine protease inhibitor oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) were investigated on larvae of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis (= O. rufa). Furthermore, recombinant OC-1 (rOC-1), the Bt toxin Cry1Ab and the snowdrop lectin Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) were evaluated for effects on the life history parameters of this important pollinator. Pollen provisions from transgenic OC-1 oilseed rape did not affect overall development. Similarly, high doses of rOC-1 and Cry1Ab as well as a low dose of GNA failed to cause any significant effects. However, a high dose of GNA (0.1%) in the larval diet resulted in significantly increased development time and reduced efficiency in conversion of pollen food into larval body weight. Our results suggest that OC-1 and Cry1Ab expressing transgenic crops would pose a negligible risk for O. bicornis larvae, whereas GNA expressing plants could cause detrimental effects, but only if bees were exposed to high levels of the protein. The described bioassay with bee brood is not only suitable for early tier non-target tests of transgenic plants, but also has broader applicability to other crop protection products

The Biology And Ecology Of Brachycaudus Divaricatae Shaposhnikov (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea) On Prunus Cerasifera Ehrhart In Western Poland

Brachycaudus divaricatae - was described by Shaposhnikov in the Middle East as a heteroecious aphid species migrating between Prunus divaricata and Melandrium album. The research conducted in Poland proved that this species can be described as holocyclic and monoecious. A significantly shortened development cycle with a summer-winter diapause characterizes this species in Poland. The aim of our studies was a detailed research of the species biology conducted to explain this phenomenon. Elements of the biology and ecology of the new fauna species Brachycaudus divaricatae Shap., were studied in Poland during the 2008-2010 time period. The term of spring hatching, number of generations per season, development length of particular generations, lifespan of specimen, and fecundity of particular generations were all defined. The three-year study proved that 6 to 8 aphid generations can develop on P. cerasifera in Poland. The emergence of sexuales (amphigonic females and males) of B. divaricatae occurred very early in the season: in mid-May, and the first eggs were laid in June

Changes over the last ten years in the fauna structure of aphids inhabiting the vegetation of allotment gardens in Poznan

The vegetation of allotment gardens is an important element of urban green areas and constitutes a habitat where many groups of insects exist, including aphids. This research involved the monitoring of winged morphs of aphids in allotment gardens in the area of Poznań with the use of Moericke traps. The fauna structure of aphids in two large allotment gardens was demonstrated by comparing the activity of winged morphs of aphids in 2000–2001 and 2014–2015. The vegetation of these gardens was accompanied by the rich fauna of aphids. For four growing seasons, 113 species or groups of aphid species were captured with the traps. Major changes were reported in the structure of the collected fauna in the period of time when the research was conducted. The differences concerned particular positions of collected species in aphid communities. The abundance of Anoecia corni, Aphis sambuci, Phorodon humuli and Periphyllus testudinaceus increased, and now hold the position of subdominants of the communities, whereas Myzus persicae and Hyalopterus pruni decreased in comparison with the situation more than ten years ago. Rhopalosiphum padi still remains an eudominant in the communities. The main reason for this phenomenon is thought to be due to changes in the vegetation composition of gardens because the gardens are being used differently. The production function has changed to recreation

Seasonal numerical changes of aphids in uncultivated habitats of agricultural landscape in Wielkopolska

Results of two-year studies on the aphids number in different uncultivated habitats (field boundaries, roadsides, field shrubs and forest margins) are presented. The analysis of data permitted to distinguish two basic types of change in the aphids number in a vegetation season.Badania prowadzono przez dwa sezony 1996 i 1998 roku. Mszyce odławiano metodą pułapek chwytnych Moerickego w czterech typach środowisk nieużytkowanych rolniczo, sąsiadujących z polami uprawnymi: miedzy, przydrożu, zakrzewieniach śródpolnych i skraju lasu, w trzech miejscowościach. Stwierdzono występowanie dwóch podstawowych typów przebiegu sezonowej dynamiki liczebności mszyc w środowiskach nieuprawnych krajobrazu rolniczego. Pierwszy z nich charakteryzował się występowaniem dwóch wyraźnych szczytów liczebności mszyc wiosną i jesienią oraz znacznym jej obniżeniem w okresie lata. Taki przebieg liczebności obserwowano w przypadku dominacji jednego lub kilku gatunków różnodomnych. Drugi typ charakteryzujący się wysoką liczebnością mszyc w ciągu całego sezonu wskazywał na dominację jednego lub kilku gatunków jednodomnych

Infestation of dendrological collection in central Poland by aphids

The study was aimed at determining the species composition of aphid fauna related to the dendroflora of Kórnik Arboretum as well as determining the infestation level of trees and shrubs. The infestation level was measured on a five-level scale. The material was collected on two sites: in a park and forest. 236 botanic taxa (species and cultivars) were confirmed to be infested by aphids in Kórnik Arboretum; the taxa belonged to 22 families and 46 genera of Angiospermae and 2 families and 6 genera of Gymnospermae. The collected aphid fauna included 96 species of Aphidoidea and Phylloxeroidea superfamilies. The botanic taxa most threatened with damage resulting from the insects feeding, and consequently a loss of decorative value, were defined

The Evaluation of Factors Determining the Health Condition of Acer Platanoides and Tilia Cordata Plantings in Selected Sites of Urban Greenery in Poznań, Poland

Heavily urbanised areas are not a favourable habitat for plant growth and development. On the other hand, urbanised areas can be a favourable habitat for harmful fauna. Tin our study, those trees growing along the roadside were more heavily infested by pests than trees growing in parks. Three orders of insects, mites and lugs were identified on the Norway maple. The dominant insect species was Periphyllus aceris. On small-leaved lime four insect orders (the dominant species was and Eucallipterus tiliae) and mites were found. An overall visual inspection confirmed that of maple and lime growing in city parks were in better condition than those growing by roads

Wpływ zmian klimatycznych na sezonową aktywność lotów samców mszyc

In temperate climate zones, where a continental climate prevails, the appearance of males in populations of most aphid species takes place only in the autumn. Holocyclic and heteroecious species typically have winged males obligatorily. In holocyclic and monoecious species, males are not always winged morphs. Photoperiod is the primary factor responsible for the change in the manner of reproduction, from parthenogenetic to sexual, during the growth season, and temperature is a modifying one. The paper presents the results of many years of research on the activity of aphid male flights in characterizing species diversity, phenology of appearance and their number in urban green areas, carried out employing the Moericke’s yellow pan traps method. The research indicates a trend towards the decrease of male aphid species number over the course of the last decade, as a result of warmer weather conditions, in the years 2005–2014. The results of male catches of Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus, 1761) – the most numerously represented species – prove that there is a relationship between their number in autumn and the number of days for which the average temperature exceeds 20ºC and rainfall occurs during the first decade of August. The very early appearance of Brachycaudus divaricatae Shaposhnikov, 1956 males in the season was an interesting phenomenon which is untypical for aphids in Poland.W strefie klimatu umiarkowanego z przewagą klimatu kontynentalnego pojawianie się samców w populacjach większości gatunków mszyc ma miejsce dopiero jesienią. Gatunki holocykliczne i heteroecyjne charakteryzuje obligatoryjne występowanie uskrzydlonych samców. U gatunków holocyklicznych i monoecyjnych samce nie zawsze są morfami uskrzydlonymi. Podstawowym czynnikiem odpowiedzialnym za zmianę sposobu rozmnażania w ciągu sezonu wegetacyjnego z dzieworodnego na płciowy jest fotoperiod, a czynnikiem modyfikującym temperatura. W pracy przedstawiono wyniki wieloletnich badań dotyczące aktywności lotów samców mszyc w aspekcie ich różnorodności gatunkowej, fenologii pojawu i liczebności w miejskich terenach zieleni prowadzonych metodą pułapek Moerickego. Wyniki badania wskazują na tendencję spadku liczby gatunków samców mszyc w ostatnim dziesięcioleciu, 2005–2014. Wyniki odłowu samców najliczniej reprezentowanego gatunku, Rhopalosiphum padi, dowodzą istnienia związku między jego liczebnością jesienią a liczbą dni ze średnią temperaturą dobową przekraczającą 20ºC oraz opadami w sierpniu. Interesującym zjawiskiem było nietypowe dla mszyc bardzo wczesne w sezonie pojawianie się samców Brachycaudus divaricatae

Aphid migrant activity in refuge habitats of the Wielkopolska agricultural landscape

Refuge habitats have a stabilising effect on the entomofauna in the agricultural landscape. The objective of this research was to follow the migrant activity of aphids in two types of refuge habitats: shrubs and roadsides of rural areas. Moericke traps method were used for testing the seasonal activity of aphids. The dynamics of species numbers were assessed, and the phenology of the dominating taxa was examined. From 2008 to 2010, more than 5,000 winged aphids from 94 species were caught in shrub habitats, and 83 species were caught in rural roadside habitats. The characteristics of aphid groups were defined on the basis of selected indicators. Annually, in both locations, flight activity was shown by a group of several taxa. The rank position of the species was varied in the particular sites and years of the research. Species participation differed when analysing aphid flights, so the seasons were divided into three separate periods: spring, summer, and autumn