Behavioural and electrophysiological responses of female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes to volatiles from a mango bait

Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSB) are used in a “lure-and-kill” approach for management of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, but the active chemicals were previously unknown. Here we collected volatiles from a mango, Mangifera indica, juice bait which is used in ATSBs in Tanzania and tested mosquito responses. In a Y-tube olfactometer, female mosquitoes were attracted to the mango volatiles collected 24–48 h, 48–72 h and 72–96 h after preparing the bait but volatiles collected at 96–120 h were no longer attractive. Volatile analysis revealed emission of 23 compounds in different chemical classes including alcohols, aldehydes, alkanes, benzenoids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and oxygenated terpenes. Coupled GC-electroantennogram (GCEAG) recordings from the antennae of An. gambiae showed robust responses to 4 compounds: humulene, (E)-caryophyllene, terpinolene and myrcene. In olfactometer bioassays, mosquitoes were attracted to humulene and terpinolene. (E)-caryophyllene was marginally attractive while myrcene elicited an avoidance response with female mosquitoes. A blend of humulene, (E)- caryophyllene and terpinolene was highly attractive to females (P < 0.001) when tested against a solvent blank. Furthermore, there was no preference when this synthetic blend was offered as a choice against the natural sample. Our study has identified the key compounds from mango juice baits that attract An. gambiae and this information may help to improve the ATSBs currently used against malaria vectors

Decoding attraction: improving vine weevil monitoring by exploiting key sensory cues

BACKGROUND Monitoring is an integral component of integrated pest management (IPM) programmes used to inform crop management decisions. Vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), continues to cause economically significant losses in horticultural crops due to an inability to reliably detect the presence of this species before crop damage occurs. To improve vine weevil monitoring we investigated the behavioural responses of adult vine weevils to visual (monitoring tool shade/colour, height and diameter as well as the effect of monitoring tool and plant density) and olfactory (host plant and conspecifics) cues under glasshouse conditions. RESULTS Monitoring tool shade, height and diameter all influenced monitoring tool efficacy, with individuals exhibiting a preference for black, tall and wide monitoring tools. The total number of individuals recorded in monitoring tools increased with monitoring tool density. By contrast, plant density did not influence the number of individuals recorded in monitoring tools. Yew-baited monitoring tools retained a larger number of individuals compared to unbaited ones. Similarly, more vine weevils were recorded in monitoring tools baited with yew and conspecifics than in unbaited monitoring tools or those baited with only yew. Baiting monitoring tools with conspecifics alone did not enhance the number of vine weevils recorded in monitoring tools. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirms that visual and olfactory cues influence vine weevil behaviour. This provides information on key factors that influence vine weevil monitoring tool efficacy and can be used to inform the development of a new monitoring tool for this pest

Chemical cues modulating electrophysiological and behavioural responses in the parasitic wasp Cotesia sesamiae

A better understanding of the chemical cues employed by parasitoids to locate their herbivore hosts will contribute towards effective exploitation of parasitoids as biological control agents against damaging crop pests. The current study was conducted to establish key bioactive compounds mediating behavioural response in the parasitic wasp Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron, 1906) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) by employing electrophysiological techniques and behavioural studies. Electroantennogram (EAG) recording with synthetic equivalents of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) using C. sesamiae confirmed that 13 compounds elicited electrophysiological activity. In an olfactometer bioassay, only (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene, (E)-β-farnesene, and (E,E)-4,8,-trimethyl-1,3,7-tridecatetraene elicited behavioural responses from the parasitoid when tested individually at a natural dose, while (R)-linalool and (E)-caryophyllene were attractive at the highest test dose. Other EAG-active HIPVs were not attractive either at lower or higher concentrations, suggesting their role as blend components rather than functioning as attractants by themselves. In contrast, nine-component synthetic HIPV blends formulated in the same ratio and concentration as in a natural sample was as attractive as the original headspace sample. By providing further insights into maize–stemborer–parasitoid tritrophic interactions, results from this study will help in selecting crop cultivars emitting appropriate HIPVs to attract natural enemies and perhaps repel damaging crop pests.</jats:p

The Study to Investigate the Desirable Relation of Kindergarten and Elementary School ―Focusing on the Contents of Physical Education for the Lower Grades―

いわゆる「一年生プロブレム」などをきっかけにして、幼・小連携への実践的取り組みに対する関心が高まっている。より実りある連携を推進するには、従来のようなイベント的な交流に終ることなく、教育内容や指導方法の見直しといったところにも踏み込んでいく必要があると思われる。このような問題意識から、小学校低学年の子どもの発達特性に相応しい教育の内容や指導方法を「体育」を切り口として探ろうとした。幼少年期の子どもにとって、身体活動の持つ意味は大きいからである。運動種目を課題として与えず、「子どもがやりたい」と思い、「やってみよう」と自分で取り組み、多種多様な動きを工夫してつくり出す子ども中心の生き生きとした体育学習を総合的につくろうとしている岩井の「忍者体育」のような実践が追究されるならば、そこに自ずと幼・小連携の道が開かれるであろう。岩井の実践はまた幼児教育の見直しを要請する。幼・小の相互理解をふまえながら、子どもの側からの教育を追究することが小連携の基本となると考える

Different plant viruses induce changes in feeding behavior of specialist and generalist aphids on common bean that are likely to enhance virus transmission

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) cause serious epidemics in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a vital food security crop in many low-to-medium income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aphids transmit these viruses "non-persistently," i.e., virions attach loosely to the insects' stylets. Viruses may manipulate aphid-host interactions to enhance transmission. We used direct observation and electrical penetration graph measurements to see if the three viruses induced similar or distinct changes in feeding behaviors of two aphid species, Aphis fabae and Myzus persicae. Both aphids vector BCMV, BCMNV, and CMV but A. fabae is a legume specialist (the dominant species in bean fields) while M. persicae is a generalist that feeds on and transmits viruses to diverse plant hosts. Aphids of both species commenced probing epidermal cells (behavior optimal for virus acquisition and inoculation) sooner on virus-infected plants than on mock-inoculated plants. Infection with CMV was especially disruptive of phloem feeding by the bean specialist aphid A. fabae. A. fabae also experienced mechanical stylet difficulty when feeding on virus-infected plants, and this was also exacerbated for M. persicae. Overall, feeding on virus-infected host plants by specialist and generalist aphids was affected in different ways but all three viruses induced similar effects on each aphid type. Specifically, non-specialist (M. persicae) aphids encountered increased stylet difficulties on plants infected with BCMV, BCMNV, or CMV, whereas specialist aphids (A. fabae) showed decreased phloem ingestion on infected plants. Probing and stylet pathway activity (which facilitate virus transmission) were not decreased by any of the viruses for either of the aphid species, except in the case of A. fabae on CMV-infected bean, where these activities were increased. Overall, these virus-induced changes in host-aphid interactions are likely to enhance non-persistent virus transmission, and data from this work will be useful in epidemiological modeling of non-persistent vectoring of viruses by aphids

Antixenosis of bean genotypes to Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The objective of this work was to evaluate bean genotypes for resistance to soybean looper (Chrysodeixis includens). Initially, free-choice tests were carried out with 59 genotypes, divided into three groups according to leaf color intensity (dark green, light green, and medium green), in order to evaluate oviposition preference. Subsequently, 12 genotypes with high potential for resistance were selected, as well as two susceptible commercial standards. With these genotypes, new tests were performed for oviposition in a greenhouse, besides tests for attractiveness and consumption under laboratory conditions (26 +/- 2 degrees C, 65 +/- 10% RH, and 14 h light: 10 h dark photophase). In the no-choice test with adults, in the greenhouse, the &apos;IAC Jabola&apos;, Arcelina 1, &apos;IAC Boreal&apos;, &apos;Flor de Mayo&apos;, and &apos;IAC Formoso'genotypes were the least oviposited, showing antixenosis-type resistance for oviposition. In the free-choice test with larvae, Arcelina 4, &apos;BRS Horizonte&apos;, &apos;Perola&apos;, H96A102-1-1-1-52, &apos;IAC Boreal&apos;, &apos;IAC Harmonia&apos;, and &apos;IAC Formoso'were the less consumed genotypes, which indicates antixenosis to feeding. In the no-choice test, all genotypes (except for &apos;IAPAR 57&apos;) expressed moderate levels of antixenosis to feeding against C. includens larvae.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar genótipos de feijoeiro quanto à resistência a lagarta-falsa-medideira (Chrysodeixis includens). Inicialmente, foram realizados testes com chance de escolha com 59 genótipos, divididos em três grupos, de acordo com a intensidade de coloração das folhas (verde-escura, verde-clara e verde-médio), para avaliar a preferência quanto à oviposição. Em seguida, selecionaram-se 12 genótipos com grande potencial de resistência, assim como dois padrões comerciais suscetíveis. Com estes genótipos, realizaram-se novos ensaios de oviposição, em casa de vegetação, além de testes de atratividade e consumo, em condições de laboratório (26±2ºC, 65±10% UR e fotófase de 14 h luz: 10 h escuro). No teste sem chance de escolha, com adultos, em casa de vegetação, os genótipos 'IAC Jabola', Arcelina 1, 'IAC Boreal', 'Flor de Mayo' e 'IAC Formoso' foram os menos ovipositados, tendo apresentado resistência do tipo antixenose à oviposição. No teste com chance de escolha, com larvas, Arcelina 4, 'BRS Horizonte', 'Pérola', H96A102-1-1-1-52, 'IAC Boreal', 'IAC Harmonia' e 'IAC Formoso' foram os genótipos menos consumidos, o que indica antixenose à alimentação. No teste sem chance de escolha, todos os genótipos (exceto 'IAPAR 57') expressaram níveis moderados de antixenose à alimentação de larvas de C. includens.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq