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

Residual Efficacy of Chlorfenapyr for Control of Stored-Product Psocids (Psocoptera)

The residual effect of chlorfenapyr (Phantom) was evaluated for residual control of three stored-product psocid species: Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein), and Liposcelis paeta Pearman (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae). Chlorfenapyr was applied to individual arenas with a concrete surface at rates of 0, 2.8, 13.8, 20.6, 27.5, 55, and 110 mg active ingredient (AI)/m2. Adults were exposed on the treated arenas and mortality assessed after 1, 2, and 3 d. The procedures were repeated weekly on the same treated arenas for 3 wk to assess residual efficacy. At each week, mortality of all species was low after 1 d of exposure but notably increased after 2 or 3 d. L. entomophila was the most susceptible species, with 99-100% mortality at rates of 13.8 mg/m2 or higher. Similarly, mortality of L. paeta after 3 d of exposure at the same concentration ranged from 92 to 100%. L. bostrychophila was the least susceptible species, with mortality of \u3c60% during the third week after application at rates ≤27.5 mg/m2. However, even for this species, mortality after 3 wk was 90% or higher at rates \u3e27.5 mg/m2. Complete mortality of all species occurred after 3 d exposure at the highest rate tested of 110 mg/m2. Thus, our results show that chlorfenapyr is effective against major psocid species at the application rates evaluated in this study

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

Lesser grain borers, \u3ci\u3eRhyzopertha dominica\u3c/i\u3e, select rough rice kernels with cracked hulls for reproduction

Tests were conducted to determine whether the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), selects rough rice (Oryza sativa L. (Poales: Poaceae)) kernels with cracked hulls for reproduction when these kernels are mixed with intact kernels. Differing amounts of kernels with cracked hulls (0, 5, 10, and 20%) of the varieties Francis and Wells were mixed with intact kernels, and the number of adult progeny emerging from intact kernels and from kernels with cracked hulls was determined. The Wells variety had been previously classified as tolerant to R. dominica, while the Francis variety was classified as moderately susceptible. Few F1 progeny were produced in Wells regardless of the percentage of kernels with cracked hulls, few of the kernels with cracked hulls had emergence holes, and little frass was produced from feeding damage. At 10 and 20% kernels with cracked hulls, the progeny production, number of emergence holes in kernels with cracked hulls, and the amount of frass was greater in Francis than in Wells. The proportion of progeny emerging from kernels with cracked hulls increased as the proportion of kernels with cracked hulls increased. The results indicate that R. dominica select kernels with cracked hulls for reproduction

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

Vrste roda Aphidius nees (hymenoptera, braconidae, aphidiinae) u Srbiji i Crnoj Gori - tritrofičke zajednice i ključ

In the present paper we review 26 Aphidius species from 162 tritrophic associations in Serbia and Montenegro. Aphidius species were reared from over 64 aphid hosts. A key for the identification of species is provided.U radu je dat pregled 26 vrsta roda Aphidius sa 162 različite trofičke zajednice u Srbiji i Crnoj Gori dobijene gajenjem preko 64 afidna domaćina. Dat je i originalni ključ za identifikaciju vrsta roda Aphidius

(Quasi)-binomial vs. Gaussian models to evaluate thiamethoxam, pirimiphos-methyl, alpha-cypermethrin and deltamethrin on different types of storage bag materials against Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are worldwide spread and notorious organisms of numerous stored-products. Both species are dangerous for bagged commodities as penetrators and invaders. The aim of the current study was to examine the efficacy of thiamethoxam, pirimiphos-methyl, alpha-cypermethrin, and deltamethrin, against E. kuehniella and T. confusum larvae, on different types of storage bag materials, i.e., woven propylene, biaxially oriented polypropylene and kraft paper through a (quasi)-binomial modeling approach. The type of the tested storage bag material did not affect the mortality rates of both species when treated with the tested insecticides. Thiamethoxam and pirimiphos-methyl showed statistically significant higher mortality rates on E. kuehniella and T. confusum (beta coefficient = 0.141; p-value < 0.05) compared to alpha-cypermethrin and deltamethrin. In addition, T. confusum exhibited significantly higher mortality rate in comparison to E. kuehniella. Our results also showed that the tested doses and surface treatments had a significant effect on the mortality E. kuehniella and T. confusum larvae. Significantly higher mortality rates were recorded when larvae were exposed on bag materials having both surfaces treated or on the single treated surface than when they were exposed on the untreated surface. Our findings can be useful towards an effective management strategy against stored-product insect pests

First evidence of tick-borne protozoan pathogens, babesia sp. And hepatozoon canis, in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in Serbia

Tick-borne haematozoans cause severe diseases in domestic animals, and some of them have zoonotic potential. The results of previous studies in Europe point to the important role of foxes in natural endemic cycles of several tick-borne pathogens, including protozoa. The aim of the present research was to acquire information on the prevalence and distribution of tick-borne protozoan parasites among foxes in Serbia. Legally hunted foxes from 14 localities throughout Serbia were analysed. Spleen samples were collected from 129 animals and tested for the presence of Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. by PCR. In total, 79/129 (61.2%) of the tested foxes were positive for H. canis, while the presence of two Babesia species was confirmed: B. vulpes (37/129, 28.7%) and B. canis (1/129, 0.8%). Co-infection with B. vulpes and H. canis was present in 26/129 (20.2%) foxes and one animal (1/129, 0.8%) was co-infected by B. canis and H. canis. The results of this study indicate the important role of foxes in the epizootiology of B. vulpes and H. canis in the Republic of Serbia and stress the need for further research to clarify all elements of the enzootic cycle of the detected pathogens, including other reservoirs, vectors, and transmission routes

Influence of Temperature and Humidity on the Efficacy of Spinosad Against Four Stored-Grain Beetle Species

In the present work, we examined the insecticidal effect of spinosad, against adults of the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on wheat and the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) on maize. The dose rates used were 0.01, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 ppm. The bioassays were carried out at three temperatures, 20, 25 and 30°C and two relative humidity levels, 55 and 75%. Mortality of R. dominica and S. oryzae was high even at 0.01 ppm of spinosad, reaching 100% at 55% relative humidity and 30° after 21 days of exposure. Generally, mortality of R. dominica, increased with temperature while for S. oryzae mortality increased with temperature and with the decrease of relative humidity. Moreover, for S. oryzae, mortality was low at 20°C. In the case of T. confusum, mortality was low at doses between 0.01 and 0.5 ppm even after 21 days of exposure. At 1 ppm, mortality exceeded 90% only at 30°C and only after 21 days of exposure. Mortality of P. truncatus was low on maize treated with 0.01 ppm, but increasing the dose to 0.1 ppm resulted in > 87% mortality after 14 days of exposure. In several combinations tested, spinosad efficacy notably varied according to the temperature and humidity regimes. Of the species tested, R. dominica and P. truncatus were very susceptible to spinosad, followed by S. oryzae, while T. confusum was the least susceptible

Interference of Field Evidence, Morphology, and DNA Analyses of Three Related Lysiphlebus Aphid Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)

This study provides evidence on integrating the morphological, field, and laboratory data, and application of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) barcoding gene to the three asexual or sexual Lysiphlebus spp., i.e., Lysiphlebus cardui (Marshall), Lysiphlebus confusus Tremblay and Eady and Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). New aphid-invasive plant association, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemipreta: Aphididae) on Impatiens glandulifera Royle, has been used in the same model area in the Czech Republic under the same sampling and rearing method for several consecutive years and throughout the season. For molecular identification of these three species, we used DNA sequences of the barcoding region of the mitochondrial COI gene. Although our results confirmed ecological and morphological differences among L. cardui, L. confusus, and L. fabarum, genetic analysis on the basis of COI mitochondrial barcoding gene does not support species status of the mentioned Lysiphlebus taxa. The level of morphological differentiation in these Lysiphlebus Forster species is in accordance with the usual species variability within subfamily Aphidiinae. However, it should be examined how appearance of asexual lineages affects the morphological or genetical variability