Nota preliminare sulla presenza di ceratopogonidi ematofagi (Diptera) in Puglia e Basilicata

A PRELIMINARY NOTE ON THE PRESENCE OF HAEMATOPHAGOUS CERATOPOGONIDS (DIPTERA) IN APULIA AND BASILICATA (SOUTHERN ITALY) Adults of Culicoides and Leptoconops were collected in several localities of Southern Italy, either by direct capture on human skin or by net. Attractiveness of chromotropic traps was tested. Leptoconops is the most frequent genus, whose presence from April to August, includes an out- break in June-July, even in some localities of touristic interest. Culicoides specimens were also captured from April to August, although in moderate number everywhere. Salt marshes and river shores were identified as breeding sites. Other localities are submitted to minor presence of ceratopogonids, due to adults possibly transported by wind. Chromotropic traps did capture both Culicoides and Leptoconops. White traps exhibited a major attractiveness to Leptoconops, when compared with the blue traps. Key words: ceratopogonids, ecology, monitorings, chromotropic traps. Si riportano dati sulla presenza di ditteri ceratopogonidi dei generi Leptoconops e Culicoides in Sud Italia, ottenuti mediante catture al volo e con trappole cromotropiche. Vengono indicate 3 aree di maggior presenza; i focolai di riproduzione sono localizzati presso i ristagni d’acqua sal- mastra o suoli paludosi. Altre zone sono interessate da voli di individui di Leptoconops probabilmente trasportati dal vento. Le trappole cromotropiche di colore bianco risultano maggiormente attrattive verso i Leptoconops rispetto a quelle azzurre. Nessuna differenza è stata rilevata fra trappole bianche e trappole azzurre nelle catture di Culicoides. Parole chiave: ceratopogonidi, ecologia, monitoraggi, trappole cromotropiche

Validation of Diets with Tomato Pomace in Complete Cycle Breeding of <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> (L.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

By-product-based diets have the potential to improve the environmental and economic sustainability of Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758) production. However, evaluations of the efficacy of new diets are generally focused on larval performance, while the effect on adults is poorly understood. This aim of this study was to evaluate diets enriched with tomato pomace over a complete breeding cycle. The results showed that when used as an oviposition substrate, all the tested diets, including tomato pomace (T), outperformed the control bran-yeast diet (WY, 95:5 ratio), possibly due to the presence of cholesterol and linoleic acid. The adults fed with the bran-tomato pomace-brewer’s spent grain diet (WTB, 50:27:23 ratio), the bran-tomato pomace-yeast diet (WTY, 50:41:9 ratio), and the bran-tomato pomace diet (WT, 50:50 ratio) produced significantly more larvae than those fed with the WY diet. The WTB diet (despite being yeast-free) performed similarly to the WY control diet during the subsequent larval growth phase, making it suitable for the entire production cycle. In conclusion, the results show that tomato pomace can be used a valid by-product in the formulation of efficient diets for the breeding of T. molitor and also provide an alternative to expensive yeast

First Optimization of Tomato Pomace in Diets for <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> (L.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Tomato pomace (TP), an agricultural industrial waste product from the tomato processing industry, is valorized as a rearing substrate for Tenebrio molitor (L.). This study evaluated bran-based diets with increasing tomato pomace (0%, 27%, 41%, and 100%). Protein sources, such as brewer’s spent grain and yeast, were used in TP27 and TP41 diets to ensure equal protein contents to the control diet. Results showed no different for larval and pupal weights between diets; however, the time of development significantly increases in TP100 compared to all diets. The feed conversion rate progressively increases from 2.7 to 4.3, respectively, from the control to the TP100 diet. Conversely, lycopene and β-carotene increase in the larvae. The fatty acid composition improves by increasing polyunsaturated fatty acids (mainly α-linoleic acid). Although the best nutritional quality was obtained in T100, the TP41 is the optimal diet for balance between larval performance and qualitative improvement of larvae. Therefore, tomato pomace is suitable for the formulation of mealworm diets, even in high dosages, when supplemented with sustainable protein and carbohydrate sources

Il Campionamento dell'Artropodofauna per il monitoraggio ambientale

Le tematiche che coinvolgono lo sviluppo ed applicazione delle agrobiotecnologie ed in particolare l\u2019argomento \u201cOrganismi Geneticamente Modificati\u201d, sia per la loro rilevanza ed attualit\ue0 scientifica, sia per i molteplici e delicati aspetti di natura sociale ed economica coinvolti, suscitano da sempre grande interesse. Sempre pi\uf9 spesso, in particolare sull\u2019argomento OGM, si assiste da parte di addetti ai lavori o di rappresentanti della societ\ue0 civile, a prese di posizione a favore o contro l\u2019uso ed il rilascio di specie geneticamente modificate o loro derivati, la stragrande maggioranza delle volte non suffragate da dati oggettivi e scientificamente validati e condivisi. In un tale contesto \ue8 facile immaginare quali e quante implicazioni, le cui conseguenze possono essere difficilmente prevedibili, possano derivare da affermazioni e valutazioni frettolose in materia. E\u2019 per questo motivo che chi si occupa di attivit\ue0 di Ricerca in questo settore, e pi\uf9 in generale di Biosicurezza, ha l\u2019obbligo, scientifico ed etico, di valutare con particolare attenzione i risultati delle proprie ricerche e comunque ogni aspetto, tecnico e non tecnico, che esse coinvolgono. Ci\uf2 assume ancora maggiore rilevanza in una realt\ue0 come quella del nostro Paese, ove la salvaguardia della biodiversit\ue0 e la protezione della qualit\ue0 delle produzioni agroalimentari del Made in Italy rappresentano due valori non discutibili. C\u2019\ue8 poi da considerare che, se anche un cambiamento viene definito tecnicamente attuabile ed abbia passato gli esami pi\uf9 rigidi e stringenti in materia di \u201canalisi del rischio\u201d, a volte non risulta comunque accettabile dalla societ\ue0 civile, in special modo se essa stessa non \ue8 stata partecipe del processo che lo ha generato. Il Progetto MAN-GMP-ITA, che vede impegnati il CRA, l\u2019ISPRA, l\u2019Universit\ue0 di Bologna, il Consorzio In.Bio, oltre l\u2019ENEA, ha l\u2019obiettivo di valutare il rischio dell\u2019esposizione a Piante OGM in aree protette e sensibili in diversi areali del nostro Paese. La ricerca non utilizza piante geneticamente modificate per la sperimentazione in campo. L\u2019obiettivo, infatti, \ue8 assumere informazioni dettagliate dei livelli preesistenti di biodiversit\ue0 nelle aree da proteggere per poter poi fissare con precisione gli obiettivi di protezione ambientale ed elaborare e proporre una metodologia per monitorare e gestire i possibili effetti sulla biodiversit\ue0. Il presente manuale \u201cIl campionamento dell\u2019artropodofauna per il monitoraggio ambientale\u201d rappresenta un deliverable del Progetto e nel contempo contribuisce a fornire alla comunit\ue0 scientifica uno strumento sviluppato secondo regole e metodologie in linea con gli attuali canoni scientifici condivisi ed applicabili ad analisi ecologiche dell\u2019artropodofauna anche in ambiti diversi. Oltre che come strumento tecnico destinato agli operatori del settore, il manuale \ue8 pensato anche per consentire di approfondire tali tematiche a quanti lo desiderino, per studio, per professione o anche solo per formarsi una personale opinione sull\u2019argomento

Effects of a genetically modified potato on a non-target aphid are outweighed by cultivar differences

Insect–plant interactions may be unintentionally affected when introducing genetically modified (GM) crops into an agro-ecosystem. Our aim was to test the non-target effects of a late blight-resistant GM potato on Myzus persicae in greenhouse and climate room experiments and understand how position and number of R gene insertions can affect non-targets in GM events. We also aimed to compare results to baseline differences among three conventional potato varieties varying in resistance to late blight. Aphid development and survival were affected by some GM events in the first generation, though effects disappeared in the second generation. Effects were not dependent on the presence of a marker gene or the insertion of a second resistance gene. Positional effects of gene insertion influenced aphid performance on certain GM events. However, aphid fitness varied considerably more between conventional potato varieties than between Désirée and the GM events. Comparing different GM events to the non-transformed variety is relevant, since unintended effects of insertion can occur. Our protocols can be recommended for in planta risk assessments with aphids. Ecological perspective is gained by selecting several measured endpoints and by comparing the results with a baseline of conventional cultivars

Macro-moths as possible assessment endpoints for non-target effects of Bt-maize pollen: a faunistic study in three Italian protected areas

Lepidoptera are the phytophagous group most at risk of impact by insect-resistant genetically modified (GM) plants since most of these crops have been developed to express toxins to specifically target lepidopteran pests. In the case of Bt-maize cultivation, pollen grains released by GM plants could dust larval host plants growing inside or nearby maize fields, thus leading to the exposure of caterpillars to the Cry toxins. This way of exposure has been studied mainly for butterflies, whereas moths, in spite of their great diversity and abundance, were rarely considered. To evaluate the potential exposure of moth species to maize pollen in absence of Cry-expressing plants, macro-moths were sampled by means of light traps in three protected areas of Northern, Central and Southern Italy where conventional maize is among the main crops. Light traps were activated in two consecutive years (2010- 11) from the beginning of June to the end of July, a period that encompasses the anthesis of most maize cultivars grown in Italy. Overall, 11446 individuals belonging to 201 species and nine families were collected. Given that larvae of several sampled species are likely to match the criteria of potential exposure to maize pollen and susceptibility to Cry toxins, macro-moths might be considered among the potential assessment endpoints for environmental risk assessment of GM plants, especially in the vicinity of protected areas