The Specific Richness of Forest Cockroach Communities in The Region of Aflou (Laghouat; Algeria)

Forest cockroaches are among the insects that play an important and effective role in forest formations, they are insects with incomplete metamorphosis belonging to the order of Blattodea. This work is a contribution to the knowledge of Blattoptera species existing in the forest environments of Aflou’s region (Laghouat; Algeria).The inventory was carried out monthly in the El-Khnegue Forest (Aflou) from February 2019 to May 2019. It revealed the presence of six species of forest Cockroaches, which belongs to 4 genera of the Blattelidae family. After identification, it was demonstrated that, these species were: Dziriblatta nigriventris (Chopard, 1936), Dziriblatta stenoptera (Chopard, 1937), Loboptera ovolobata (Bohn, 1991), Loboptera decipiens (Germar, 1817), Phyllodromica zebra (Rhen, 1903) and Ectobius sp. (Stephens, 1835). Our results showed also that the soil and the thin layers of litter provide favorable habitat for the development of different species. The litters are composed mainly of leaves, which give very high organic carbon content with little humidity

Nicotiana Glauca Graham (Solanaceae) Bioactivity and Toxic Effects on Mortality, Feeding Behavior and Pupation Choice of Drosophila Melanogaster Larvae (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Nicotiana glauca is a medicinal plant used by traditional healers as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory medicines. The leaves of N. glauca are very rich in indolic alkaloids which give it a larvicidal power which allows us to use it as a bio-insecticide.In the present study we were perfomed in the direct (mortality) and indirect (food attractiveness and pupation) toxic effects of the aqueous extract of N. glauca on the mortality and feeding behavior of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The treatment was administered to 2nd instar larvae (L2) and the mortality rate was monitored for 15 days. Similarly we treated the 2nd instar larvae (n=50) with a sub-lethal concentration of 25µg/ml. Two days after the treatment the third instar larvae of D. melanogster are exposed to two nutrient media (control and treated with N. glauca) and the choice of the larvae is noted during one hour of time.The findings show that after 15 days of treatment, mortality rates in D. melanogaster larvae can reach 50%, as we observed a disruption in olfactory and gustatory signals, with both control and treated larvae preferring the food preparation mixed with the aqueous extract of N. glauca Graham and losing their ability to smell their control medium. This indicates that the bioactive chemicals isolated from this poisonous plant are mostly appealing allelochemical substances

Inventory and Distribution of Mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) in the Aures Region (Batna, Algeria)

Mosquitoes are the most terrifying both for their abundance and for the diseases they transmit. They are vectors of malaria, lymphatic filariasis and arbovirus such as yellow fever, dengue, viral encephalitis and African horse sickness. These characteristics give this fauna prominent importance and health interest. To identify the most widespread mosquito species, we conducted for the first time an inventory in the Aures region more particularly the wilaya of Batna (East of Algeria) from May 2017 to January 2020, we studied their diversity, abundance and distribution. The sampling is done by monthly surveys of the various localities chosen, using the dipping method to collect the larvae. In the various sites prospected, we were able to collect a total of 8275 mosquito individuals presented by nine species belonging to four different genera: Culiseta, Culex, Aedes and Anopheles of which the genus Culiseta is the best represented, particularly with the species Culiseta longiareolata (52.07%). It appears from what we have obtained that the Batna region reveals a significant diversity of mosquitoes. This study aimed to inventory the Culicidian species more broadly by surveys in several localities of Batna region at the level of different environments. This will allow us to know the faunistic composition of the region, to collect and record information on the vectors, their habitats and the conditions that favors their multiplication within a given area

Evaluation of the Toxic Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Solanum Nigrum L.( Solanaceae ) on the Mortality and Development of Drosophila Melanogaster (Diptera : Drosophilidae).

Solanum nigrum is a plant that has therapeutic properties of the Solanaceae family. It is used extensively in traditional medicine but also as a bio-insecticide to control insect pests. Some parts of this plant can be very toxic to livestock and humans. In the present study, the direct and delayed toxic effects of aqueous extracts of S. nigrum on the mortality and development of Drosophila melanogaster were investigated. For this study, an extraction method including decoction is adopted to extract the active principles from the leaves of S. nigrum. The treatment was carried out by ingestion on 2nd instar larvae (L2) and adults. The exposure to the aqueous extract shows that it has a good insecticidal activities, it acts on the larvae by inducing 96.25 % mortality rate at the end of treatment by 50g/l. The adults’ mortality increases with the lengthening of the exposure time as well as with the dose increase. The maximum mortality was recorded is between 97.50% and 100% in males and females. We also recorded a disturbance in the flies development, which took less time to reach the adult stage when they were treated, and this for the five concentrations. Malformations were recorded in the adult wings after treatment with the different concentrations of the toxic plant. In addition, some flies showed a significant increase in size compared to controls

Abundance and Distribution of the Forest Cockroaches in Different Algerian Ecosystems

Forests have many insect species that are unique to biodiversity and play a crucial role in the functioning of ecosystems. Forest cockroaches are the best example of forest litter insects, which also help decompose fallen leaves. The composition of the Blattoptera fauna can vary from one region to another, depending on the habitat and numerous biotic and abiotic factors In order to study the diversity, abundance, and distribution of forest cockroaches in different Algeria ecosystems, we have selected four sites from three Wilayas: Senalba (Djelfa), Ain achir (Annaba), Seraidi (Annaba), and Lehnaya (El-taref). These sites are classified into two distinct forest groups (Pinus halepensis and Quercus canariensis). In all areas, the samples were collected each month manually, starting from April 2019 until March 2020. We have collected 1231 individuals of cockroaches and describe eight species from all locations: Loboptera ovolobata (Bohn, 1991), Loboptera decipiens (Germar, 1817), Ectobius kervillei (Bolivar, 1907), Dziriblatta nigriventris (Chopard, 1936), Dziriblatta stenoptera (Chopard, 1937), Phyllodromica zebra (Rhen, 1903), Dziriblatta sp. (Chopard, 1936) and some Ectobius (Stephens, 1835) specimens have not yet been identified. With 51% L. decipiens was the most abundant species, followed by L. ovolobata with 27%. Despite that, the number of larvae was substantially higher than the number of adults in all forests examined. However, the abundance and biodiversity of cockroaches in the Djelfa forest were greater than those of the other woods. This study made it possible to characterize the diversity and dynamics of cockroach species populations in different Algerian ecosystems according to diverse Mediterranean forests

Preliminary Inventory and General Aspect of the Distribution of Culicidae Species in the Steppe Region (M\u27sila, Algeria)

Mosquitoes are important living organisms that participate in the different levels of food chains. However, many families include vector species capable to transmit viruses, bacteria and parasites to both humans and animals, threatening the public health. The goal of this work was to describe the biological diversity of mosquito species in different areas in M\u27sila; Algeria based on the ecological nature of their habitat. The breeding sites found were 18 distributed in five areas (Berhoum, Bou Saâda, El hamel, Hammam Dhalaa and M\u27sila). The inventory that was carried out from September to April every year from 2017 to 2019 has revealed 14 species of Culicidae distributed through three genera. The Culiseta longiareolata species was the most predominant, occupying different types of permanent and temporary breeding sites. However, the distribution of species based on the ecological types of these sites revealed: Anopheles cinereus, Anopheles sergentii, Culex brumpti, Culex deserticola, Culex hortensis, Culex impudicus, Culex laticinctus, Culex martinii Culex modestus,Culex perexiguus,Culex pipiens, Culex theileri and Culiseta longiareolata species presence The study of mosquito populations in the M’sila region has never been approached ecologically, biologically and systematically. Focus of this study was devoted to the systematics of Culicidae species, as well as the characterization of their structure, using ecological parameters as well as the study of Spatio-temporal variations, of the Culicidae population