Incidence of cetonid beetles, Protaetia alboguttata (Vigors) on karonda, Carissa carandas

Severe infestation of cetonid beetles, Protaetia alboguttata (Vigors) has been noticed on karonda at the experimental station of Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru during the year 2013. The mean damage on the ripe fruits was found to be 22.40+2.50% with a range of 15.00 – 30.00%. Considering the polyphagy of cetoniids, these beetles can pose direct threat to the cultivation of karonda

A novel protein-based fruit fly trap in melon flies Bactrocera cucurbitae for effective pest control management

ACKNOWLE DGE MENTSThis study was carried out in collaboration with the Indian Gherkin Export Association (IGEA). We would like to thank anonymous re-viewers and the editors for useful comments on the manuscript. NN conducted this work during her NERC QUADRAT REP program (NE/S007377/1) in JM's lab. JM and AWM are supported by a BBSRC grant (BB/V015249/1).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Overlooked Scents: Chemical Profile of Soma, Volatile Emissions and Trails of the Green Tree Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina

The green tree ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, is one of only two recognized species of weaver ants. While the identity and functions of chemicals produced and emitted by its congener O. longinoda have been studied quite extensively and serve as a valuable model in chemical ecology research, little comparable information is available about O. smaragdina. Although some analyses of chemicals produced and emitted by O. smaragdina have been reported, the literature is fragmentary and incomplete for this species. To address this knowledge gap, and to enable comparisons in the chemical ecology of the two weaver ant species, we here describe diverse chemicals from the cuticle, Dufour’s glands, poison glands, head, headspace volatiles, and trails of O. smaragdina

Computational reverse chemical ecology: Virtual screening and predicting behaviorally active semiochemicals for Bactrocera dorsalis

BACKGROUND: Semiochemical is a generic term used for a chemical substance that influences the behaviour of an organism. It is a common term used in the field of chemical ecology to encompass pheromones, allomones, kairomones, attractants and repellents. Insects have mastered the art of using semiochemicals as communication signals and rely on them to find mates, host or habitat. This dependency of insects on semiochemicals has allowed chemical ecologists to develop environment friendly pest management strategies. However, discovering semiochemicals is a laborious process that involves a plethora of behavioural and analytical techniques, making it expansively time consuming. Recently, reverse chemical ecology approach using odorant binding proteins (OBPs) as target for elucidating behaviourally active compounds is gaining eminence. In this scenario, we describe a “computational reverse chemical ecology” approach for rapid screening of potential semiochemicals. RESULTS: We illustrate the high prediction accuracy of our computational method. We screened 25 semiochemicals for their binding potential to a GOBP of B. dorsalis using molecular docking (in silico) and molecular dynamics. Parallely, compounds were subjected to fluorescent quenching assays (Experimental). The correlation between in silico and experimental data were significant (r(2) = 0.9408; P < 0.0001). Further, predicted compounds were subjected to behavioral bioassays and were found to be highly attractive to insects. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides a unique methodology for rapid screening and predicting behaviorally active semiochemicals. This methodology may be developed as a viable approach for prospecting active semiochemicals for pest control, which otherwise is a laborious process

Ovicidal and larvicidal activities of <i>Cyperus giganteus</i> Vahl and <i>Cyperus rotundus</i> Linn. essential oils against <i>Aedes albopictus</i> (Skuse)

416-419The ovicidal and larvicidal efficacy of essential oils extracted from the tubers of Cyperus giganteus Vahl and Cyperus rotundus Linn. was studied on eggs and fourth instar larvae of Aedes albopictus (Skuse). The eggs and larvae were exposed to serial concentration of the oils ranging from 5-150 ppm and kept under observation for 24 h. Both the oils showed remarkable ovicidal and larvicidal activities indicated by EC50 values of 50 and LC90 values of . The results obtained suggest that the essential oils of these Cyperus species can serve as a potential source of natural mosquitocidal agents.</span

Bacteriostatic potential of <i style="">Argemone mexicana</i> Linn. against enteropathogenic bacteria

338-341Bacteriostatic efficacy of 16 crude extracts derived from different parts of Argemone mexicana Linn. (Papaveraceae) has been analyzed on enteropathogenic bacteria such as Klebsiella oxytoca, Vibrio damsella, Enterobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli. The bacteriostatic efficacy was elucidated using single disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts showing higher efficacy against the test organisms was determined. The MICs of acetone extract of seed and aqueous extract of leaf on different bacteria tested were found to be between 0.005-0.02 mg/disc

Oviposition site-selection by Bactrocera dorsalis is mediated through an innate recognition template tuned to γ-octalactone.

Innate recognition templates (IRTs) in insects are developed through many years of evolution. Here we investigated olfactory cues mediating oviposition behavior in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, and their role in triggering an IRT for oviposition site recognition. Behavioral assays with electrophysiologically active compounds from a preferred host, mango, revealed that one of the volatiles tested, γ-octalactone, had a powerful effect in eliciting oviposition by gravid B. dorsalis females. Electrophysiological responses were obtained and flies clearly differentiated between treated and untreated substrates over a wide range of concentrations of γ-octalactone. It triggered an innate response in flies, overriding inputs from other modalities required for oviposition site evaluation. A complex blend of mango volatiles not containing γ-octalactone elicited low levels of oviposition, whereas γ-octalactone alone elicited more oviposition response. Naïve flies with different rearing histories showed similar responses to γ-octalactone. Taken together, these results indicate that oviposition site selection in B. dorsalis is mediated through an IRT tuned to γ-octalactone. Our study provides empirical data on a cue underpinning innate behavior and may also find use in control operations against this invasive horticultural pest

Not Available

Not AvailableOnion thrips, Thrips tabacis Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an important pest of horticulture crops throughout the globe. However, there is a paucity of studies on its behavioral ecology in relation to herbivore induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). An attempt was made to study behaviour of T. tabaci towards HIPVs and healthy plant volatiles. Olfactometer bioassays revealed that T. tabaci significantly preferred HIPVs from conspecific infested onion to volatiles from healthy onion plants. Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of HIPVs and volatiles from healthy onion plants revealed substantial changes in their volatile profiles. Our study provides empirical data on signals HIPVs may provide herbivores and suggests that the role of HIPVs, mostly generalized as defense, may vary based on the interaction and must be studied closely to understand their ecological roles. It also provides basis for the development of kairomone based management strategies against this devastating pest.ICAR and IIH

The response of female <i>B</i>. <i>dorsalis</i> to the SA treated fruit from the field.

<p>(a) Ovipunctures (b) the number of pupae emerged per fruit. The field experiment data shows that the number of punctures and pupae was decreased in the SA treated when compared to the control fruit (paired <i>t</i> test, <i>t</i> = 8.12, <i>df</i> = 7, <i>P</i> = 0.0001 [ovipunctures], <i>t</i> = 6.46, <i>df</i> = 7, <i>P</i> = 0.0003 [pupae]). Error bars = Standard error of mean.</p