Oviposition by female Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): Description and time budget analysis of behaviors in laboratory studies

The oviposition behavior of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a major insect pest of durable stored foods, was studied in small experimental arenas under laboratory conditions using videography, and a time budget analysis of its behaviors was documented. Resting gravid females typically became active shortly after the start of the scotophase. The characteristic behaviors exhibited by mated females prior to oviposition included antennal movement, grooming of antennae and mouth parts using the forelegs, walking or flying, and abdomen bending and dragging. Pre-oviposition behaviors such as antennal grooming and walking or flying were observed to alternate several times before females commenced the abdominal dragging behavior that preceded egg laying. Eggs were laid singly or sometimes in groups, either freely or stuck to food material. Gravid females showed little or no movement during the photophase; however, they actively flew and oviposited during the scotophase. Females allocated only a small portion of their time to oviposition while the rest of the time was spent away from food. Females oviposited on food material by making repeated visits, predominantly during the first four hours of the scotophase. Visits and time spent on food declined as the scotophase advanced.Peer reviewedEntomology and Plant Patholog

Are Climates in Canada and the United States Suitable for the European Spruce Bark Beetle, Ips typographus, and Its Fungal Associate, Endoconidiophora polonica?

Invasions of exotic forest insects and pathogens can devastate evolutionarily naïve habitats and could cause irreversible changes to urban and natural ecosystems. Given the ever-increasing volume of trade in wood and plant stock worldwide, establishment of non-native pests under climate change is one of the most important forest health concerns currently. The European spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, is a damaging, phloem-feeding insect of Norway spruce, Picea abies, in Eurasia. Endoconidiophora polonica is the most virulent ophiostomatoid fungal associate of I. typographus. Spruce species native to North America are susceptible to this insect-pathogen complex. We studied the suitability of ‘current’ (1970–2000) and future climates (2021–2100) in Canada and the United States for these two species via ensemble species distribution models. We also determined overlapping regions favorable to both I. typographus and E. polonica. Our results indicate that, currently, climate is particularly suitable for I. typographus and E. polonica in western Canada and throughout the United States. Northward shifts in climatic suitability are projected to occur in Canada for both species under climate change. By the end of the 21st century, a coast-to-coast corridor of climatic suitability for I. typographus and E. polonica will occur in Canada under high-temperature regimes

Are Climates in Canada and the United States Suitable for the European Spruce Bark Beetle, <i>Ips typographus</i>, and Its Fungal Associate, <i>Endoconidiophora polonica</i>?

Invasions of exotic forest insects and pathogens can devastate evolutionarily naïve habitats and could cause irreversible changes to urban and natural ecosystems. Given the ever-increasing volume of trade in wood and plant stock worldwide, establishment of non-native pests under climate change is one of the most important forest health concerns currently. The European spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, is a damaging, phloem-feeding insect of Norway spruce, Picea abies, in Eurasia. Endoconidiophora polonica is the most virulent ophiostomatoid fungal associate of I. typographus. Spruce species native to North America are susceptible to this insect-pathogen complex. We studied the suitability of ‘current’ (1970–2000) and future climates (2021–2100) in Canada and the United States for these two species via ensemble species distribution models. We also determined overlapping regions favorable to both I. typographus and E. polonica. Our results indicate that, currently, climate is particularly suitable for I. typographus and E. polonica in western Canada and throughout the United States. Northward shifts in climatic suitability are projected to occur in Canada for both species under climate change. By the end of the 21st century, a coast-to-coast corridor of climatic suitability for I. typographus and E. polonica will occur in Canada under high-temperature regimes

Biology and reproductive behavior of Murgantia histrionica (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Data on the chemical composition of the aphid epicuticle are scarce and often incongruent depending on the methodological parameters of the extraction and chemical analysis. This study aims to provide a chemical characterization of the epicuticular lipids of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). First, our results showed that the adsorption chromatography on a silica gel column is suitable to separate the hydrocarbons from more polar constituents found in the extract (e.g., wax esters, alcohols, and aldehydes). Then, we showed that other compounds not detected in previous analysis are likely to be constituents of the extract. Through a transesterification reaction, we demonstrated that the extracts produced numerous fatty acid methyl esters that can come either from long chain wax esters or fatty acid parts of cuticular acylglycerols. The possible semiochemical value of the wax esters and other long chain compounds is discussed. This study opens new insight on the identification of host recognition chemical cues by the parasitoids

Chemical Characterization Of Cuticular Extracts Of Sitobion Avenae (Hemiptera : Aphididae)

Data on the chemical composition of the aphid epicuticle are scarce and often incongruent depending on the methodological parameters of the extraction and chemical analysis. This study aims to provide a chemical characterization of the epicuticular lipids of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). First, our results showed that the adsorption chromatography on a silica gel column is suitable to separate the hydrocarbons from more polar constituents found in the extract (e.g., wax esters, alcohols, and aldehydes). Then, we showed that other compounds not detected in previous analysis are likely to be constituents of the extract. Through a transesterification reaction, we demonstrated that the extracts produced numerous fatty acid methyl esters that can come either from long chain wax esters or fatty acid parts of cuticular acylglycerols. The possible semiochemical value of the wax esters and other long chain compounds is discussed. This study opens new insight on the identification of host recognition chemical cues by the parasitoids