Assessing the long-distance repellency of long-lasting insecticide netting to a suite of post-harvest insects

Insects are our main competitors for food on the planet (1). In fact, growers lose 10-30% of crops during storage, processing, and marketing after harvest each year to stored product insects (2,3). Challenges to current management include increasing insecticide resistance to phosphine (4), which is the most common insect fumigant. Another challenge has been an increasing demand for organic or low insecticide-input products by consumers (5). To meet these challenges we came up with an alternative management approach, a long lasting insecticide netting (LLIN). Insecticide-treated nets have been widely used as a tool for malaria vector control in tropical regions since the early 1990s (6). These nets are typically treated with a pyrethroid insecticide, such as permethrin or deltamethrin, which repel, incapacitate, and kill mosquitoes that land on the nets. Researchers have recently begun exploring the use of LLINs for management of agricultural pests in high value specialty crops (7). More recently, work with LLINs in post-harvest settings has demonstrated that this tool can induce mortality, as well as significantly decrease the movement and dispersal capacity of post-harvest insects (8). Some possible uses for LLIN include being used to line windows, vents, eaves, or other openings into food facilities. However, anecdotal evidence from IPM practitioners has suggested that pyrethroids, which the LLIN contains, may be repellent to specific groups of insects. In order for LLIN to be an effective tool at intercepting and preventing infestation by stored product insects, we must demonstrate that the netting is not repellent to a range of post-harvest insects

The use of long-lasting insecticide netting to prevent dispersal of stored product insects: Poster

The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica, and red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, are two notorious primary and secondary pests of stored products. Extensive research has been done to prevent the establishment and subsequent infestation of the insects in stored product facilities. Long-lasting insecticide netting (LLIN) on mosquitoes has proved effective in controlling the spread of malaria, but little research has been conducted on the LLIN’s behavioral effects of stored product insects. In this study, a movement and dispersal assay were performed. In the movement assay, the video-tracking software, Ethovision, recorded the movement of R. dominica and T. castaneum after 1-10 min exposures to LLIN or control netting and a waiting period of 1 min, 24 hr, 72 hr, or 7 days after netting exposure. In the dispersal assay, R. dominica and T. castaneum were observed after 5 minutes of exposure to LLIN or control netting to measure the insects’ ability to reach new food patches at three different distances. The results from the movement assay showed a significant reduction in horizontal movement and significant increase in angular velocity for beetles exposed to LLINs, indicating that movements were more erratic and less directed. The dispersal assay revealed that exposure to LLIN had a significant effect on the dispersal ability of both R. dominica and T. castaneum with averages of 0-3 from a group of 20 beetles reaching the new food patch. These results indicate that LLINs can be an effective tool for the prevention of stored product insect establishment and colonization.The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica, and red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, are two notorious primary and secondary pests of stored products. Extensive research has been done to prevent the establishment and subsequent infestation of the insects in stored product facilities. Long-lasting insecticide netting (LLIN) on mosquitoes has proved effective in controlling the spread of malaria, but little research has been conducted on the LLIN’s behavioral effects of stored product insects. In this study, a movement and dispersal assay were performed. In the movement assay, the video-tracking software, Ethovision, recorded the movement of R. dominica and T. castaneum after 1-10 min exposures to LLIN or control netting and a waiting period of 1 min, 24 hr, 72 hr, or 7 days after netting exposure. In the dispersal assay, R. dominica and T. castaneum were observed after 5 minutes of exposure to LLIN or control netting to measure the insects’ ability to reach new food patches at three different distances. The results from the movement assay showed a significant reduction in horizontal movement and significant increase in angular velocity for beetles exposed to LLINs, indicating that movements were more erratic and less directed. The dispersal assay revealed that exposure to LLIN had a significant effect on the dispersal ability of both R. dominica and T. castaneum with averages of 0-3 from a group of 20 beetles reaching the new food patch. These results indicate that LLINs can be an effective tool for the prevention of stored product insect establishment and colonization

Potential repellency of cedarwood oil from a novel extraction method to stored product insects

Producers lose 10-30% of crops during storage, processing, and marketing after harvest each year to stored product insects (1,2). Globally, there has been a rise in insecticide resistance to phosphine, the most common fumigant for these pests (3). As a result, producers need to diversify post-harvest IPM methods to preserve existing tools. One alternative strategy is push-pull, whereby a repellent is used to “push” an insect away from the commodity of interest, while also simultaneously “pulling” the insects to an alternate location away from the commodity using an attractant (4)(Fig. 1). This system notably requires a long-distance repellent. One potential repellent includes cedarwood oil, which has shown repellency to termites and ants (5,6). A novel extraction process for this compound has been developed, which leaves many of its main constituents intact (7). However, to date, this compound has never been assessed for repellency to post-harvest insects

Evaluating Multiple Arthropod Taxa as Indicators of Invertebrate Diversity in Old Fields

Biodiversity, often quantified by species richness, is commonly used to evaluate and monitor the health of ecosystems and as a tool for conservation planning. The use of one or more focal taxa as surrogates or indicators of larger taxonomic diversity can greatly expedite the process of biodiversity measurement. This is especially true when studying diverse and abundant invertebrate fauna. Before indicator taxa are employed, however, research into their suitability as indicators of greater taxonomic diversity in an area is needed. We sampled invertebrate diversity in old fields in southern Michigan using pitfall trapping and morphospecies designations after identification to order or family. Correlation analysis was used to assess species richness relationships between focal arthropod taxa and general invertebrate diversity. Relationships were assessed at two fine spatial scales: within sampling patches, and locally across four sampling patches. Cumulative richness of all assessed taxa increased proportionately with cumulative invertebrate richness as sampling intensity increased within patches. At the among-patch scale, we tentatively identified Hemiptera and Coleoptera as effective indicator taxa of greater invertebrate richness. Although Hymenoptera, Araneae and Diptera exhibited high species richness, their total richness within patches was not associated with overall invertebrate richness among patches. Increased sampling throughout the active season and across a greater number of habitat patches should be conducted before adopting Hemiptera and Coleoptera as definitive indicators of general invertebrate richness in the Great Lakes region. Multiple sampling techniques, in addition to pitfall trapping, should also be added to overcome capture biases associated with each technique

Mobility of Phosphine-Susceptible and -Resistant \u3ci\u3eRhyzopertha dominica\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and \u3ci\u3eTribolium castaneum\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) After Exposure to Controlled Release Materials With Existing and Novel Active Ingredients

There is interest in developing controlled release materials (CRMs) with novel modes of action to improve resistance management. Long-lasting insecticide-incorporated netting (LLIN) with deltamethrin has been effectively used against stored-product pests. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of different CRMs (LLIN or packaging) with each of four active ingredients (AI) (deltamethrin, permethrin, indoxacarb, and dinotefuran) and compared them to control CRMs in reducing movement and increasing mortality of phosphine-susceptible and -resistant Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum. Adults were exposed for 0.5, 2, or 60 min, and movement was assessed immediately or after 24, or 168 h using video-tracking and Ethovision software. We recorded total distance and velocity traveled by adults. Finally, we tested higher rates of each AI on surrogate netting material (e.g., standardized-sized cheesecloth) and varied exposure time to obtain median lethal time (LT50) for each compound and susceptibility. Exposure to LLIN with deltamethrin significantly reduced the movement of both species compared to the other CRMs regardless of their susceptibility to phosphine. Deltamethrin was the most effective AI for both species, while dinotefuran and indoxacarb were the least effective for R. dominica and T. castaneum adults, respectively. Most AIs resulted in appreciable and approximately equivalent mortality at higher concentrations among phosphine-susceptible and -resistant strains. Our results demonstrate that CRMs can be an additional approach to combat phosphine-resistant populations of stored product insects around food facilities. Other compounds such as permethrin, dinotefuran, and indoxacarb are also effective against phosphine-resistant populations of these key stored product insects except indoxacarb for T. castaneum

Developing a trapping assay to assess the viability of Trogodermavariabileas a behavioral surrogate species for the biosecurity threat, Trogodermagranarium(Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

The Khapra beetle (KB), Trogoderma granarium, is a pest that threatens the biosecurity of the United States. This species has not established itself in this country, however in the past few years there has been an alarming increase in the number of interceptions of adults at borders and ports in the U.S. Because researchers in the U.S. are only able to work with KB in specially designated APHIS quarantine facilities, understanding the full extent of the threat from this species would proceed much faster if a behavioral surrogate species could be used that was already widespread in the country. One potential surrogate species is Trogodermavariabile, the warehouse beetle (Fig. 1), which is closely related to KB, occurs throughout the U.S., and is a destructive pest of stored products in its own right

Disruption of semiochemical-mediated movement by the immature \u3ci\u3eTrogoderma variabile\u3c/i\u3e Baillon and \u3ci\u3eTrogoderma inclusum\u3c/i\u3e Le Conte (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) after exposure to long-lasting insecticide-incorporated netting

BACKGROUND: Highly mobile stored product insects may be able to readily orient in response to food cues and pheromones to attack durable commodities at each link of the postharvest supply chain. A 0.4% deltamethrin-incorporated long-lasting insecticide-incorporated netting (LLIN) is a successful novel preventative integrated pest management (IPM) tactic to intercept dispersing insects after harvest. However, it is unknown whether exposure to LLIN may affect olfaction and orientation to important semiochemicals by immature stored product dermestids, therefore the aim of this study was to assess whether exposure to LLIN disrupts the normal olfactory and chemotactic behavior of warehouse beetle, Trogoderma variabile Ballion (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), and the larger cabinet beetle, T. inclusum Le Conte (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), larval movement in the presence of important semiochemicals, including food kairomones (e.g., flour) and pheromones, e.g., (Z)-14-methyl-8-hexadecenal. RESULTS: The distance moved by the larval population of T. variabile was reduced by 64% after 24-h exposure to LLIN compared to control netting but not immediately after exposure, while T. inclusum larvae movement was reduced by 50% after 24-h exposure to LLIN compared to the control netting. Generally, the olfaction and orientation of larval dermestids were affected after exposure to LLIN compared to control netting. There were species-linked differences in effects on olfaction after the insects were exposed to LLIN. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests the use of LLIN may enhance the effectiveness of other concurrent behaviorally-based strategies such as mating disruption when used as part of a comprehensive IPM program in the postharvest environment

Microarray analysis of expression of cell death-associated genes in rat spinal cord cells exposed to cyclic tensile stresses in vitro

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The application of mechanical insults to the spinal cord results in profound cellular and molecular changes, including the induction of neuronal cell death and altered gene expression profiles. Previous studies have described alterations in gene expression following spinal cord injury, but the specificity of this response to mechanical stimuli is difficult to investigate in vivo. Therefore, we have investigated the effect of cyclic tensile stresses on cultured spinal cord cells from E15 Sprague-Dawley rats, using the FX3000^®Flexercell Strain Unit. We examined cell morphology and viability over a 72 hour time course. Microarray analysis of gene expression was performed using the Affymetrix GeneChip System^®, where categorization of identified genes was performed using the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) systems. Changes in expression of 12 genes were validated with quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The application of cyclic tensile stress reduced the viability of cultured spinal cord cells significantly in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Increasing either the strain or the strain rate independently was associated with significant decreases in spinal cord cell survival. There was no clear evidence of additive effects of strain level with strain rate. GO analysis identified 44 candidate genes which were significantly related to "apoptosis" and 17 genes related to "response to stimulus". KEGG analysis identified changes in the expression levels of 12 genes of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, which were confirmed to be upregulated by RT-PCR analysis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We have demonstrated that spinal cord cells undergo cell death in response to cyclic tensile stresses, which were dose- and time-dependent. In addition, we have identified the up regulation of various genes, in particular of the MAPK pathway, which may be involved in this cellular response. These data may prove useful, as the accurate knowledge of neuronal gene expression in response to cyclic tensile stress will help in the development of molecular-based therapies for spinal cord injury.</p

Kepler Mission Design, Realized Photometric Performance, and Early Science

The Kepler Mission, launched on Mar 6, 2009 was designed with the explicit capability to detect Earth-size planets in the habitable zone of solar-like stars using the transit photometry method. Results from just forty-three days of data along with ground-based follow-up observations have identified five new transiting planets with measurements of their masses, radii, and orbital periods. Many aspects of stellar astrophysics also benefit from the unique, precise, extended and nearly continuous data set for a large number and variety of stars. Early results for classical variables and eclipsing stars show great promise. To fully understand the methodology, processes and eventually the results from the mission, we present the underlying rationale that ultimately led to the flight and ground system designs used to achieve the exquisite photometric performance. As an example of the initial photometric results, we present variability measurements that can be used to distinguish dwarf stars from red giants.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, 1 table 26 Jan revision replaced Subject headings with keywords from approved lis

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.