Crop Protection Compendium

Originating text in English.Citation: Cab International. (2001). Crop Protection Compendium. CABI Publishing: Oxon, United Kingdom

First documented pest outbreak of the herbivorous springtail Sminthurus viridis (Collembola) in Europe

Sminthurus viridis (Collembola: Sminthuridae) is a native of grasslands across Europe and feeds preferentially on clover (Trifolium spp.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa), although its abundance does not normally reach damaging pest levels (as occurs in Australasia). This research note describes the first quantitative assessment of a pest outbreak of this springtail in Europe, which occurred within an existing experiment investigating the effects of cultivation practices on forage establishment. Using sticky traps to assess the incidence of S. viridis, we found a significant outbreak consisting of catches that were 10-fold greater than background levels in nearby undamaged fields. Within the experimental area, lucerne established by direct drilling with herbicide had the highest incidence (105 (± 4·9) individuals per trap) compared to other treatments [79 (± 3·9)]. Results are discussed in terms of how cultivation practice may have imbalanced the ecosystem; for example, herbicide use may have diminished potential refugia for predators during forage establishment. This paper highlights the potential of a currently innocuous, widely established invertebrate to become present at damaging levels in agricultural crops

A systematic review of interactive multimedia interventions to promote children's communication with health professionals: implications for communicating with overweight children

Background: Interactive multimedia is an emerging technology that is being used to facilitate interactions between patients and health professionals. The purpose of this review was to identify and evaluate the impact of multimedia interventions (MIs), delivered in the context of paediatric healthcare, in order to inform the development of a MI to promote the communication of dietetic messages with overweight preadolescent children. Of particular interest were the effects of these MIs on child engagement and participation in treatment, and the subsequent effect on health-related treatment outcomes. Methods: An extensive search of 12 bibliographic databases was conducted in April 2012. Studies were included if: one or more child-participant was 7 to 11 years-of-age; a MI was used to improve health-related behaviour; child-participants were diagnosed with a health condition and were receiving treatment for that condition at the time of the study. Data describing study characteristics and intervention effects on communication, satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, changes in self-efficacy, healthcare utilisation, and health outcomes were extracted and summarised using qualitative and quantitative methods. Results: A total of 14 controlled trials, published between 1997 and 2006 met the selection criteria. Several MIs had the capacity to facilitate engagement between the child and a clinician, but only one sought to utilise the MI to improve communication between the child and health professional. In spite of concerns over the quality of some studies and small study populations, MIs were found useful in educating children about their health, and they demonstrated potential to improve children’s health- related self-efficacy, which could make them more able partners in face-to-face communications with health professionals. Conclusions: The findings of this review suggest that MIs have the capacity to support preadolescent child-clinician communication, but further research in this field is needed. Particular attention should be given to designing appropriate MIs that are clinically relevant

Pest risk assessment of Eotetranychus lewisi for the EU territory

Based on the pest categorisation prepared by EFSA, E. lewisi has the potential to be both a quarantine pest, as it fulfils all ISPM 11 criteria, and a Non-Regulated Quarantine Pest, as it fulfils all ISPM 21 criteria. However, it is noted that information on the potential impact is very limited. At the same time, the organism is currently regulated only for plants of Citrus L., Fortunella Swingle, Poncirus Raf. and their hybrids. However, the affected host range is broader than what is currently covered. There are major hosts such as plants of Euphorbia, Rubus, Fragaria, Prunus, Vitis, etc. which are not regulated for this specific organism. In the European Union (EU), it has been found, for example, also on plants of Corokia cotoneaster in 1999. The pathways of spreading are numerous. The Working Group recommends to keep this organism as Union Quarantine Pest. To support further decisions on risk reduction options, the PRA process has to continue. In particular, EFSA is asked to focus further work on the probability of entry of the pest (identification of the pathways), its establishment, as well as further spread after its establishment in the EU. It is important to explore as well the reasons for its absence in the EU. Additional information as regards the degree of impact would be also relevant even though the Working Group above acknowledges the absence of data in this respect