N,N′-Bis(2,5-dichloro­phen­yl)isophthalamide

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C20H12Cl4N2O2, contains one half-mol­ecule with a center of symmetry along a C⋯C axis of the central benzene ring. The two C=O groups adopt an anti orientation and the two amide groups are twisted away from the central benzene ring by 27.38 (3) and 27.62 (4)°. The mean planes of the dichloro-substituted benzene rings are twisted by 7.95 (4)° with respect to the benzene ring. The crystal packing is stabilized by weak inter­molecular N—H⋯O inter­actions

Two New Species of Prαon Haliday (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) from Greece

Περιγράφονται δυο νεα είδη στο γε'νος Praon Haliday, το P. staryi spec. nov. και το P. athenaeum spec. nov. To P. staryi καταγράφηκε από την αφίδα Myzus nicotianae Blackman σε Nicotiana tabacum L. To P. athenaeum καταγράφηκε από την αφίδα Hyperomyzus lactucae (L.) σε Sonchus oleraceus L.Two new species of Praon Haliday: P. staryi spec. nov. and P. athenaeum spec. nov., are described. P.staryi was collected and reared from Myzus nicotianae Blackman on Nicotiana tabacum L. and P. athenaeum from Hyperomyzus lactucae (L.) on Sonchus oleraceus L

Hearing function in adults with Multiple Drug Resistant-TB : a retrospective review.

KwaZulu-Natal has been ranked as having the fourth highest incidence of transmitted Multiple Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in sub-Saharan Africa. Substantial literature exists indicating the permanent damage that MDR-TB medication has on hearing abilities. The purpose of this study was to describe the hearing function of adults on long term MDR-TB treatment from Murchison Hospital MDR-TB unit in the Ugu District in rural KwaZulu-Natal. The primary aim of the study was to review the possible changes in hearing function in a group of adults on long-term treatment for MDR-TB. Secondly, the study aimed to estimate the number of adults who may present with changes following MDR-TB treatment and establish if relationships exist between the audiological findings and factors such as age and gender. The design of the study was a retrospective comparative data review of 68 patient records, all of which underwent audiological investigations from the start of MDR-TB treatment over a five-month period. The study made use of descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse the data. Specific inferential statistical analysis included analysis of covariance as well as regression analysis. Results from the study showed changes in hearing function in Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) and Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) results at all five audiological sessions and across a range of frequencies. 84% of the total sample presented with overall refer readings for DPOAEs and 98.53% of the group of adults presented with criteria indicative of ototoxic hearing loss, specifically a bilateral mild-profound sloping SNHL on clinical PTA results. In the total sample of patient records reviewed in this study, all 68 records showed a change in hearing function, be that changes in DPOAE function and/or changes in PTA thresholds, following long-term treatment for MDR-TB. Variations in the effects of gender and ear difference were minimal and non-significant in all results. Similar presentation, to ototoxic hearing loss, of other degenerative conditions exists; however these conditions were accounted for as exclusion criteria in this study. Therefore the only remaining cause of possible hearing deficit was that of ototoxicity. The study provided valuable data regarding hearing function in a population of adults on long-term MDR-TB treatment in South Africa. Furthermore, the study has highlighted the need for the establishment of standardised audiological monitoring programmes sensitive to ototoxic hearing loss, within the South African context where the incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) and MDR-TB is reportedly high

Phenology, population trends and natural enemy complex of Illinoia liriodendri in Spain

Illinoia liriodendri (Monell) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an Eastern North American native aphid species that infests ornamental tulip trees, Liriodendron tulipifera L. (Magnoliales: Magnoliaceae), in many localities of Spain and southern Europe. This is a comprehensive three-year study on the biology and ecology of the aphid, where its life cycle, phenology, population dynamic trends, comfort damages, natural enemy complex and its potential to control aphid populations have been investigated for the first time in Europe. The monoecic-holocyclic annual cycle of I. liriodendri has been demonstrated. The highest infestation levels were recorded in May and June, but infestation severity varied among localities. No clear trend regarding the effect of planting site (pit vs. ground) on aphid abundance was observed. A strong positive relationship between the aphid infestation severity and the honeydew dripping was recorded. There was a wide complex of natural enemies associated with the aphid. Coccinellidae were the most abundant predators (< 95%) and showed a positive numerical response to the aphid infestation. Several parasitoid species (mainly Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae and Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were found parasitizing I. liriodendri in Spain. The role of natural enemies as agents for controlling the aphid populations is discussed.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. R.M. received support through a FPI Grant linked to the project AGL2017- 84127-R, funded by the Spanish Government’s Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. F.M. expresses gratitude for national funding provided by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) through the institutional scientific employment program contract. The authors would like to thank the Foundation for Science and Technology for their financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC), CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020), and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Aphidius geranii sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Southeast Europe – a new member of the Aphidius urticae s. str. group

Aphidius geranii Tomanovic and Kavallieratos, sp. n., is described as an additional member of the Aphidius urticae s. str. group from high-mountain habitats of Southeast Europe. The new species was reared from Amphorophora sp./Geranium coeruleatum associations. Parasitoid guilds associated with G. coeruleatum are discussed. Key for identification Aphidius spp. on Geranium plants in Europe is given

Insecticidal action of the combined use of spinosad and deltamethrin against three storedproduct pests in two stored hard-wheat varieties.

The combined use of spinosad with deltamethrin against adults of Sitophilus oryzae, Sitophilus granarius and Tribolium confusum was evaluated in a series of laboratory bioassays in two hard wheat varieties (Athos and Sifnos). Two groups of bioassays were carried out. In the first group of bioassays, spinosad or deltamethrin were applied alone at the tested wheat varieties at the doses of 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 ppm for spinosad and 0.125 ppm for deltamethrin. In the second group of bioassays, the tested wheat varieties were treated with the combination of the above spinosad rates with 0.125 of deltamethrin. In both series of bioassays, mortality of the tested species was evaluated after 7 d of exposure on the treated wheat varieties at 25oC and 65% r.h. Mortality for all species was always significantly higher in Athos than Sifnos. The highest mortality of S. oryzae (73 and 40% for Athos and Sifnos respectively) or S. granarius (88% and 58% for Athos and Sifnos respectively) was recorded in the cases that spinosad was applied alone at 0.5 ppm. On the contrary, in the case of T. confusum, 0.125 ppm of deltamethrin was significantly more effective than any of the application rates of spinosad either when applied alone or in combination with deltamethrin. Despite the fact that the highest mortality of S. granarius adults was recorded after exposure on the wheat varieties treated with 0.1 ppm of spinosad x 0.125 ppm of deltamethrin, in light of the results of the present study, the combination of spinosad with deltmethrin requires further investigation since in most of the tested cases of the present study, single application of spinosad or deltamethrin was more effective or of equal effectiveness than the respective combination of spinosad with deltamethrin. Keywords: Spinosad, Deltamethrin, Tribolium, Sitophilus, Wheat, Variet

Development of a sampling plan for Myzus persicae (Hemiptera : Aphidoidea) and its predator Macrolophus costalis (Hemiptera : Miridae) on tobacco

A tobacco field in Greece was sampled during the 2001 and 2002 growing seasons to assess the seasonal trends in densities and spatial distributions of the aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and its predatory mirid Macrolophus costalis (Fieber). On repeated occasions between June Oust after the transplantation) and September Oust before harvest), 20 tobacco leaves (10 from the upper and 10 from the lower plant part) were taken from randomly chosen plants. These leaves were sampled for aphids and mirids. In both years, the highest aphid densities were recorded during July and August, while aphid numbers were low in September. In contrast, the majority of M costalis individuals were found during September when aphid numbers were low. Significantly more M persieae individuals were found in the upper part of the plants, whereas significantly more M costalis individuals were found in the lower part of the plants. As indicated by Taylor's Power Law estimates, both species were aggregated in their spatial distributions among sampling units (leaves). Wilson and Room's model, based on the Taylor's estimates, was used to calculate the mean number of aphids and mirids, from the proportion of sampling units (leaves) that had gt 0 individuals of each species. This model provided a satisfactory fit of the data for both the aphid and the mirid. In addition, Wilson and Room's model was successfully used to predict the mean number of aphids and mirids in a series of samples that were carried out in the same area between June and September 2003 for model validation. Finally, equations are given for the calculation of precision in estimating the mean number of aphids or mirids per sampling unit, and the required sample size for a given level of precision

Do temperature, relative humidity and interspecific competition alter the population size and the damage potential of stored-product insect pests? A hierarchical multilevel modeling approach

The premises of stored agricultural products and food consists of a complex ecosystem in which several pests can seriously affect the quality and quantity of the products. In this study we utilize a 4-level hierarchical linear multilevel model in order to assess the effect of temperature, relative humidity (RH) and interspecific competition on the population size and damage potential of the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) and the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae). As RH was increased, we observed higher percentage of live insects, while increased levels of temperature significantly decreased the percentage of live insects. The combination of R. dominica and P. truncatus lead to reduction of the percentages of live insects in comparison to single species treatments. However, P. truncatus is more damaging than R. dominica in maize, based on the proportion of damaged kernels which were infested by each insect species. We expect our results to have bearing in the management of these species

First phenological data of the rose pest Homalorhynchites hungaricus (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae) in Greece

To Homalorhynchites hungaricus (Herbst, 1783) (=Rhynchites hungaricus, =Mechoris ungaricus, =Mecorhis ungaricus) (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae) βρέθηκε στην Αττική το Μάιο του έτους 2004 να προσβάλλει άνθη καλλωπιστικής τριανταφυλλιάς [Rosa sp. (Rosaceae)]. Ο εχθρός αυτός έχει επίσης καταγραφεί να προσβάλλει καλλιέργειες τριανταφυλλιάς Rosa damascena Mill. var. tringipetata και Rosa damascena Mill. var. kazanlika, σε Τουρκία και Βουλγαρία αντίστοιχα. Το Η. hungaricus συμπληρώνει στην Αττική μία γενεά το χρόνο και ηπτήση των ακμαίων του διαρκεί από τα τέλη Απριλίου έως τα τέλη Ιουνίου. Τα θήλεα ακμαία τρυπούν τα νεαρά άνθη σε περισσότερα του ενός σημεία αφήνοντας σε κάθε οπή ένα ωό. Η ανάπτυξη των προνυμφών γίνεται εντός του κάλυκα και διαρκεί 30 - 42 ημέρες. Η νύμφωση του Η. hungaricus λαμβάνει χώρα στο έδαφος, όπου διαχειμάζει το έντομο, και ολοκληρώνεται στα τέλη του Απριλίου - αρχές Μαΐου του επομένου έτους, οπότε εμφανίζονται τα ενήλικα.The rose curculio Homalorhynchites hungaricus (Herbst, 1783) (=Rhynchites hungaricus, =Mechoris ungaricus, =Mecorhis ungaricus) (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae) has been recorded in Greece (Attica, May 2004) infesting blooms of ornamental roses [Rosa sp. (Rosaceae)]. This pest has also been recorded in Bulgaria and in Turkey causing serious damages on oil-bearing roses (Rosa damascena Mil1. var. kazanlika and Rosa damascena Mill. var. tringipetala respectively). In Turkey the subspecies Η. hungaricus (Herbst) subsp. marginicollis Schilskly seems to be more important. Homalorhynchites hungaricus completes one generation per year in Attica, The first adults of the beetle appear late April and infest the rose blooms feeding on them. The flight of Η. hungaricus adults lasts until the end of June. The female beetles bear often more than one hole in the young blooms and lay one egg in each hole. The development of the larvae takes place inside the calyx and lasts 30 – 42 days. The pupation of Η. hungaricus takes place in the ground, where the insect overwinters. The adults appear from late April to early May of the next year

Mortality and suppression of progeny production of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in seven different grains treated with an enhanced diatomaceous earth formulation

DEBBM, an enhanced diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation consisting of a mixture of DE and the plant extract bitterbarkomycin, was applied to seven different grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale, paddy rice and maize) at two dose rates 50 ppm and 150 ppm. Unsexed, 7d old adults of Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) were exposed to the DEBBM treated commodities and their mortality was assessed after 7d and 14d of exposure at 25 oC and 65% r.h. Furthermore, progeny production of the tested species per treated commodity was also assessed. Sitophilus oryzae appeared to be more susceptible than T. confusum to DEBBM. Performance of DEBBM was better in barley, wheat and oats compared to the remainder of the tested commodities. DEBBM performed better in rye and triticale than in paddy rice against both species although in many cases, significant differences among these grains were not recorded. Despite that DEBBM reached its highest efficacy levels on barley, wheat, and oats it did not suppress progeny production of the treated species in any of the grains. A significant reduction in progeny production of the treated species was recorded in the DEBBM treated grains in comparison with the untreated ones. This reduction in progeny production was expressed more vigorously to S. oryzae rather than T. confusum. In commodities with high DEBBM performance such as barley, oats or wheat, &gt; 9-fold less progeny of S. oryzae were recorded at 150 ppm of DEBBM than in the untreated commodities. Although significantly less progeny of T. confusum were recorded in DEBBM treated grains than untreated grains, progeny suppression of this species was neither dose nor commodity dependant. Keywords: Diatomaceous earth, Bitterbarkomycin, Tribolium, Sitophilus, Mortality, Commodit