Incursions of exotic pests into European rice areas - detection and management. [4127]

The total area under rice cultivation in the EU is about 450,000 ha and the main producers are Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and France. Due to the position of Europe in northern latitudes and its associated temperate climate, endemic local insect pests cause few problems to European rice production. In contrast, Invasive alien species (IAS) pose a significant threat to biodiversity in the EU, as they often have to be controlled with chemicals. Methods: The key IAS affecting rice in the EU, the damage they cause and the control measures that are required for their management are reviewed. The potential impact of these measures on aquatic biodiversity is examined, and alternative control strategies are discussed. Results/Conclusion: Key IAS affecting EU rice are Chilo suppressalis which is well established in Spain, Portugal and France, and Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus which was introduced to Italy in 2004 and France in 2015. Recently the polyphagous Halyomorpha halys was detected in rice areas in France (2012) and Italy (2014), but its role in rice paddies has yet to be evaluated. Rice crop management is focused on maximizing yield, however rice paddies also have conservation value, acting as surrogates for natural wetlands. Agricultural practices often include chemical applications aimed at controlling pest species, with adverse side effects on non-target aquatic invertebrates. There are potential alternatives to this approach which combine biological and agroecological control methods to optimize pest control, but with a reduced impact on the environment. (Résumé d'auteur

Endogenous ADP-ribosylation of the G Protein β Subunit Prevents the Inhibition of Type 1 Adenylyl Cyclase

Mono-ADP-ribosylation is a post-translational modification of cellular proteins that has been implicated in the regulation of signal transduction, muscle cell differentiation, protein trafficking, and secretion. In several cell systems we have observed that the major substrate of endogenous mono-ADP-ribosylation is a 36-kDa protein. This ADP-ribosylated protein was both recognized in Western blotting experiments and selectively immunoprecipitated by a G protein beta subunit-specific polyclonal antibody, indicating that this protein is the G protein beta subunit. The ADP-ribosylation of the beta subunit was due to a plasma membrane-associated enzyme, was sensitive to treatment with hydroxylamine, and was inhibited by meta-iodobenzylguanidine, indicating that the involved enzyme is an arginine-specific mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase. By mutational analysis, the target arginine was located in position 129. The ADP-ribosylated beta subunit was also deribosylated by a cytosolic hydrolase. This ADP-ribosylation/deribosylation cycle might be an in vivo modulator of the interaction of betagamma with specific effectors. Indeed, we found that the ADP-ribosylated betagamma subunit is unable to inhibit calmodulin-stimulated type 1 adenylyl cyclase in cell membranes and that the endogenous ADP-ribosylation of the beta subunit occurs in intact Chinese hamster ovary cells, where the NAD(+) pool was labeled with [(3)H]adenine. These results show that the ADP-ribosylation of the betagamma subunit could represent a novel cellular mechanism in the regulation of G protein-mediated signal transduction

Survival rate and changes in foraging performances of solitary bees exposed to a novel insecticide

Abstract Solitary bees are among the most important pollinators worldwide however population declines especially in croplands has been noticed. The novel pesticide sulfoxaflor is a competitive modulator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in insects. While there is evidence of a negative impact of neonicotinoids on bees of several social organization levels, our overall knowledge on the impact of sulfoxaflor on bees is poor. Here we present for the first time a study showing effects of field realistic doses of sulfoxaflor on solitary bees. Bees submitted to long term exposure of field realistic doses of sulfoxaflor (5 µg dm-3, 10 µg dm-3, 50 µg dm-3) and control were observed regarding their survival rate. Moreover, we recorded metrics related to flower visitation and flight performance. We discover that the highest field realistic dose is lethal to Osmia bicornis along five days of exposure. The effect of sulfoxaflor reduces the outcome of foraging, important features for fruit and seed production of cross-pollinated plant species. Bees exposed to pesticide visited flowers mostly walking rather than flying. Flight performance was also impaired by the pesticide

An artificial diet for rearing three exotic longhorn beetles invasive to Europe

Anoplophora glabripennis, Anoplophora chinensis and Psacothea hilaris hilaris are three invasive exotic longhorn species (Coleoptera Cerambycidae) threatening native broadleaf trees in Europe and North America. Field studies on invasive species are somewhat difficult in the areas of introduction due to the application of eradication measures and the activation of quarantine protocols. Rearing these species in standard laboratory conditions would allow specific ecological and biological investigations to be conducted. In this paper, the rearing of these longhorn beetles has been tested on an artificial diet in laboratory conditions. The tested diet can be used to obtain viable healthy adults of each of the three studied species. P. h. hilaris had the best rearing performance with 74% of eggs producing new adults, while A. chinensis and A. glabripennis were poorer with 24.7% and 23.3%, respectively. The low percentage of emerging A. glabripennis and A. chinensis adults was due mainly to a high mortality of their first instar larvae not entering the diet. Moreover, A. chinensis and A. glabripennis had a mean development time, 60.06 and 37.29 weeks, respectively (including the chilling periods required for pupation), longer than P. h. hilaris (16.1 weeks). During development, larval moults varied according to species and within species ranging from 5-7 (P. h. hilaris), 6-11 (A. chinensis) and 7-8 (A. glabripennis) moults, respectively. Adults of A. glabripennis and P. h. hilaris reared on the diet were bigger than wild specimens collected from the same population, whereas A. chinensis adults were smaller. Adult survival was shorter in A. glabripennis (62.9 days) than in P. h. hilaris (119.3 days). According to the different performance of the three species, the rearing costs were about 2.0, 8.1 and 16.1 US dollars per adult beetle for P. h. hilaris, A. glabripennis and A. chinensis, respectively. A laboratory insect population has to be cost effective and self-sustainable over time, and the tested diet provided valuable results for the low-cost mass rearing of these invasive longhorn beetles

ACCIDENTAL INTRODUCTION IN ITALY OF THE PARASITOIDSPATHIUS VULNIFICUSWILKINSON (HYMENOPTERA BRACONIDAE DORYCTINAE)

This paper reports the finding of the Hymenoptera Doryctinae Spathius vulnificusWilkinson for the first time inEurope. This is an idiobiont ectoparasitoid attacking woodborer larvae of some Bostrichidae (Coleoptera) species. Suchexotic parasitoid, mainly spread in the Oriental and southeastern part of the Palaeartic Region, has been intercepted inassociation with the lesser auger beetle Heterobostrychusaequalis (Waterhouse)(Coleoptera, Bostrichidae), importedfrom the Asian Far East in wood packaging material. This report represents an updating on the worldwide distribution ofthe parasitoid

A botanic garden as a tool to combine public perception of nature and life-science investigations on native/exotic plants interactions with local pollinators

Life-sciences are pointing towards an alarming worldwide pollinator decline. This decline proceeds along with overall biodiversity losses, even in the context of urban landscapes and human welfare. At the same time, social-sciences are arguing an increased distance from nature, experienced by citizens. The strong connection between the public good and pollinator sustainability, even in urban areas, is well-documented. However, usually basic and applied life-sciences tend to underestimate public perception of nature, which is better tackled by the fields of social-sciences. Therefore, more efforts are needed to link scientific questions and public 'perception' of nature. We designed a transversal project where research questions directly confront public concerns: i.e., even while addressing scientific knowledge gaps, our questions directly arise from public concerns. Social studies highlighted that appreciation of (exotic) plants is related to the impact they may have on the surrounding natural environment: therefore, we investigated links of native and exotic flowers to local pollinators. Other studies highlighted that scientific results need to link to everyday individual experience: therefore, we investigated pollination modes of the renown Salvia, native and exotic, largely used in cuisine and gardening. The botanic garden was the promoter of scientific questions addressed by the public, and also collated the results in a travelling exhibition. The exhibition, together with a dedicated catalogue, were especially designed to enlighten the wide public on the relationships that plants, native and exotic alike, establish with the surrounding world.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Las trabajadoras de la economía popular: a propósito de la experiencia de las mujeres en la CTEP

El objetivo de la investigación en la que se inscribe esta reflexión es comparar y problematizar los esfuerzos formativos de movimientos populares urbanos de diferente matriz político-ideológica en el AMBA. El interés específico por el estudio de la formación es parte de un interés mayor vinculado con el análisis de los procesos de construcción social de sentidos que legitiman e incitan a la acción colectiva en movimientos populares urbanos de diferente matriz político ideológica, entendiendo que el estudio de esos “procesos enmarcadores” (Snow, 1986) puede aportar a la inteligibilidad de las complejas y dinámicas reconfiguraciones político-ideológicas de la acción colectiva. Se trata de un análisis inscripto en la tradición de los estudios constructivistas de los movimientos sociales (Laraña, 1999), preocupados por los procesos colectivos de interpretación, atribución y construcción social del sentido, asumiendo la existencia de una relación dinámica entre estos procesos, las oportunidades políticas y la dinámica organizacional de los movimientos sociales; y una necesaria complementariedad entre la teoría de los movimientos sociales y la teoría de clases para su estudio (Bruno y Palumbo, 2016).Facultad de Periodismo y Comunicación Socia

Rice fields as a hot spot of water beetles (Coleoptera Adephaga and Polyphaga)

The study is representative of wetlands subjected to strong anthropogenic impact as rice fields are. The aquatic Coleoptera have been collected monthly from channels, rice fields and a natural spring for one year, resulting in 31 species belonging to 8 families (Brachyceridae, Dytiscidae, Dryopidae, Elmidae, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Helophoridae, Hydrophilidae) which have been identified, 19 of which in rice paddies. The comparison of paddies subjected to different anthropogenic impacts shows that the flooding period is only one of the factors influencing the community of water beetles. Important information on the occurrence of the species during the year is also provided and adds to the few knowledge present in the literature. All the data, as well as the detection of vulnerable and rare species, evidence that rice agro-ecosystems are essential for the exploitation of water beetle biodiversity in areas densely colonized, industrialized and cultivated, where wetlands has strongly reduced over the last centuries

On the spatial spread of the Rice Water Weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera: Erirhinidae), in Italy

A five year study has been made to establish the spread of the rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Erirhinidae) in Northern Italy. Data obtained with GPS from 2005 throughout 2009 were first georeferenced with SW ArcGis® 9.2, then overlapped and compared to the map of the European environmental landscape based on the interpretation of satellite images (CORINE Land Cover map) and to the hydrographic chart CT10 (Technical Regional map 10000). The analysis of the radial rate of spread per year indicates a deceleration in the expansion from 10.864 ± 6.801 km/year in 2005 to 5.318 ± 1.401 km/year in 2009. In five years the weevil has expanded its distribution in nearly all rice paddies in Lombardy and Piedmont, over an area of about 200,000 ha, which correspond to 86% of the total Italian rice area. Its expansion is thought to follow a type of stratified dispersal, due both to insect adult active dispersal and to accidental movements caused by human transportation