Alien vs . Predator - the native lacewing Chrysoperla carnea is the superior intraguild predator in trials against the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis

The alien invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera Coccinellidae) is a biological control agent of aphids and in the larval stage it is a very voracious and superior intraguild predator over most native ladybirds studied, except the large species Anatis ocellata (L.). We report the first aphidophagous insect - lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera Chrysopidae) - which is a superior intraguild predator, despite its smaller size, over the aggressive invasive ladybird H. axyridis in larval stage. We also observed high survival rate of hoverfly larvae Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) and Epistrophe eligans (Harris) (Diptera Syrphidae), when exposed to ladybird larvae. Ladybird larvae were killed by lacewing larvae, individually paired in an empty Petri dish without food and water, in 50% of the cases when second instar larvae of both species were tested, in 94% of the cases with third instar larvae, and in 52% of the cases when third instar larvae of the lacewing were paired with much heavier fourth instar ladybird larvae. Larvae of the hoverflies E. balteatus were partially (27% of cases) and E. eligans strongly (76% of cases) protected against intraguild predation (= were not killed during experiment) by H. axyridis, but they never killed ladybird larvae. These results suggest that high biological diversity could be retained in crops and natural habitats, with possible synergistic effects on pests

Differential Consumption of Four Aphid Species by Four Lady Beetle Species

The acceptability of four different aphid species Macrosiphum albifrons (Essig), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), Macrosiphum pseudorosae Patch, and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), as prey for four lady beetle species, one native species Coccinella trifasciata L, and three non-native Coccinella septempunctata L, Harmonia axyridis Pallas, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata L (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were tested in the laboratory. The relative field abundance of adults of the same lady beetle species on host vegetation, Lupinus polyphyllus Lindley (Fabales: Fabaceae), Solanum tuberosum L (Solanales: Solanaceae), and Rosa multiflora Thunberg (Rosales: Rosaceae), both with and without aphids present was also observed. In the laboratory, H. axyridis generally consumed the most aphids, while P. quatuordecimpunctata consumed the fewest. The exception was P. quatuordecimpunctata, which consumed a greater number of M. albifrons nymphs, and C. trifasciata, which consumed a greater number of M. albifrons nymphs and adults, compared with the other two beetle species. Lady beetles consumed fewer M. albifrons compared with the other three aphid species, likely because of deterrent compounds sequestered by this species from its host plant. In the field, P. quatuordecimpunctata was the most abundant species found on L. polyphyllus and S. tuberosum

Termination of diapause in the lime seed bug Oxycarenus lavaterae (Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Oxycarenidae)

The true bug Oxycarenus lavaterae has spread northwards through Europe from the Mediterranean at the beginning of the 21st century. Temperature and photoperiod in particular countries are important for the prediction of further spread. The timing and conditions for the termination of winter diapause in Bulgarian and Czech populations of O. lavaterae were determined. The progress in diapause development in the Bulgarian population was monitored by changes in the duration of the pre-oviposition period under long day (18L : 6D) conditions, which decreased gradually from October to June from 98 to 10 days at 20°C and 62 to 9 days at 25°C. There was no change in the photoperiodic response around the winter solstice in December/January, as is recorded for many other temperate insects. Instead, most overwintering females of O. lavaterae transferred to the diapause-promoting short-day photoperiod (12L : 12D) at 25°C did not start to oviposit even though they lived up to one year. The percentage of females that oviposited under short day conditions gradually increased from December to May, but only reached approximately 50% at most. In the Czech Republic, the number of individuals observed resting in overwintering aggregations on tree trunks gradually decreased up to early June. This bug seems remain in diapause until lime trees flower and their seeds become available

2001: Effect of thermoperiod on diapause intensity in Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae

Abstract The intensity of adult diapause in Pyrrhocoris apterus was measured in two series of experiments as the duration of pre-oviposition period at a constant temperature of 25°C after transfer from short (12L:12D) to long day conditions (18L:6D). Higher diapause intensity was induced with a thermoperiod than at constant temperatures. After the induction throughout larval instars 3-5 and during 4 weeks of adult life at short days and a thermoperiod of 25/15°C the pre-oviposition period was 30±4 and 26±3 days. After induction at constant 25°C the pre-oviposition period was 22±3 and 23±4 days, while after induction at constant 20°C it was 17±4 and 19±4 days. Induction at a lower constant temperature of 20°C was thus followed by a less intense diapause than the induction at a higher constant temperature of 25°C. These counterintuitive results are discussed. The oxygen consumption rate measured at experimental temperatures prior to transfer from short to long days was higher at thermoperiodic conditions than at constant temperatures and it was similar at constant 20 and 25°C. Thus, the oxygen consumption rate measured prior to the transfer was highest (indication of the least intense diapause) in the insects that showed later, after the transfer to long days, the longest pre-oviposition period (indication of the most intense diapause). Within the first two days after transfer to constant 25°C, oxygen consumption rate measured at 25°C decreased in the thermoperiodic insects, while it transiently increased in insects from constant 20°C. Two days and later after the transfer, oxygen consumption rate was similar in all groups. Cold hardiness was not correlated with diapause intensity. The low lethal temperature in diapausing insects was correlated with the night temperature during diapause induction

Dataset for "Graph-Based Presentation of Customer Reviews for Online Stores"

The graph-based dataset Customer_feedback_bg_graph consists of 906 free-text customer reviews in Bulgarian language about 87 online stores retrieved from otzivi.bg and pazaruvaj.com. The dataset contains Cypher (Cypher Query Language) queries for creating nodes, relationships, and attributes intended for Neo4j graph database

Isopsylloborine A, a new dimeric azaphenalene alkaloid from ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

A new dimeric azaphenalene alkaloid, isopsylloborine A (2), has been isolated from the ladybird beetles Halyzia 16-guttata and Vibidia 12-guttata, and its structure determined by 2D NMR methods. It is a double bond isomer of the recently described psylloborine A (1), which is also present in these beetles as a minor alkaloid.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Hyperaspine, a new 3-oxaquinolizidine alkaloid from Hyperaspis campestris (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

A new 3-oxaquinolizidine alkaloid (3R*,4aR*,6S*,8R*)-6-hydroxy-3-methyl-8- pentylperhydropyrido[1,2-c][1,3]oxazine 6-(pyrrole-2-carboxylate) (hyperaspine) has been isolated from the ladybird beetle Hyperaspis campestris and its structure determined by 2D NMR and MS methods. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Détermination de structure et biosynthèse d'alcaloïdes défensifs de Coccinellidae

La famille des Coccinellidae est divisée en sept sous-familles et comprend plus de 5200 espèces répandues dans le monde entier. En règle générale, les coccinelles souffrent peu des prédateurs, ce qui peut être attribué à une vaste gamme de défense (capacité d’envols brusques, camouflage, mimétismes, aposématisme, etc.). Ces insectes disposent également de défenses chimiques : en cas de danger, l’adulte s’immobilise dans une attitude imitant celle d’un individu mort (thanatose) et sécrète des gouttelettes d’hémolymphe au niveau des articulation tibiofémorales de ses pattes par un mécanisme appelé « saignée réflexe ». Chez de nombreuses coccinelles, cet exsudat contient un ou plusieurs alcaloïdes dont l’amertume et la toxicité sont considérés, dans une large mesure, comme une protection vis-à-vis des prédateurs potentiels. Ces alcaloïdes présentent une grande diversité de structures et se rattachent à des squelettes aussi différents que ceux de l’azaphénalène, de l’homotropane ou des azamacrolides. Afin de mieux cerner l’évolution des mécanismes de défense chimique chez ces insectes, nous avons entrepris l’étude du contenu alcaloïdique de Hyperaspis campestris. L’hémolymphe de cette coccinelle contient un alcaloïde nouveau, l’hyperaspine dont la structure a été déterminée sur la base de ses propriétés spectroscopiques. Parallèlement à ces études, nous avons mis au point une méthode de production in vitro de la coccinelline et de l’adaline au moyen de broyats de tissus. Cette technique nous a permis d’explorer de manière plus précise le schéma de biosynthèse de ces molécules, de déterminer l’origine biogénétique de l’atome d’azote ainsi que l’organe responsable de la synthèse des alcaloïdes chez ces insectes

Détermination de structure et biosytnthèse d'alcaloïdes défensifs de Coccinellidae

II est actuellement clairement établi qu'un grand nombre de coccinelles doivent leur protection, du moins en partie, a la présence d'alcaloïdes répulsifs et parfois toxiques dans leur hémolymphe. La plupart de ces substances sont biosynthetisées de novo ou, plus rarement, acquises a partir de leur alimentation (séquestration). Ces alcaloïdes présentent une grande diversité de structures et se rattachent a des squelettes aussi différents que ceux de l’azaphénalène, de l’homotropane, de la pipéridine, des azamacrolides... Dans le cadre de l’étude de l’évolution des mécanismes de défenses chimiques de ces insectes, nous avons entrepris l’étude de la biosynthèse des deux alcaloïdes présents chez les coccinelles Adalia-bipunctata et Adalia-decempunctata: l’adaline et l’adalinine. Dans un premier temps, nous nous sommes proposes de déterminer la relation biogénétique existant entre ces deux alcaloïdes. Pour ce faire, nous avons synthétisé de l’adaline dont la chaîne pentyle est perdeutériee. Puis, afin d'établir 1'origine polyacétate de 1'adaline, nous avons mis au point un schéma de dégradation conduisant a l’isolement du carbone du carbonyle de cette molécule. Parallèlement a ces études nous avons étendu le nombre d'espèces étudiées du point de vue de leur contenu alcaloïdique. II s'agit de Vibidia duodecimguttata, d'Halizia 16-guttata et de Harmonia axyridis. Les deux premières contiennent des alcaloïdes doubles de structures complexes proches de la psylloborine A. La troisième contient majoritairement de 1'harmonine