Ecology, Biology, Damage, and Management of Sucking and Chewing Insect Pests of Citrus

Citrus are important commodities for human and animal nutrition but these crops are attacked by a plethora of dangerous agents, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates that decrease the yield significantly. Within invertebrates, insects are the more prevalent citrus pests causing plant damage or act as diseases vector. In this chapter, we focused in the insect pests with worldwide distribution in citrus orchards, including sap sucking Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri, citrus mealybug Planococcus citri, citrus whitefly Dialeurodes citri, thrips representatives such as Scirtothrips citri and Pezothrips kellyanus, and chewing citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella and lemon butterfly Papilio demoleus. These pests are distributed across various regions of different continents such as in Asia-pacific, Americas, Africa, and Oceana. We presented detailed data from these pests’ biology, ecology, damage, and methods for control. The pest incidence and biology is affected by various biotic and abiotic factors thus providing the opportunity to use these factors as method of intervention to disturb pest life cycle. In this context, several IPM techniques such as cultural, physical, biological, and chemical methods were elaborated, which could help to reduce the pest status below damaging levels

Assessment of sublethal and transgenerational effects of spirotetramat, on population growth of cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) is a devastating pest of cruciferous crops causing economic damage worldwide and notably owing to its increasing resistance to commonly used pesticides. Such resistance prompts the development of integrated pest management (IPM) programs that include novel pesticides being effective against the aphids. Spirotetramat is a novel insecticide used against sap-sucking insect pests, particularly aphids. This study evaluated the toxicity of spirotetramat to adult apterous B. brassicae after 72 h using the leaf dipping method. According to the toxicity bioassay results, the LC50 value of spirotetramat to B. brassicae was 1.304 mgL−1. However, the sublethal concentrations (LC5 and LC15) and transgenerational effects of this novel insecticide on population growth parameters were estimated using the age-stage, two-sex life table theory method. The sublethal concentrations (LC5; 0.125 mgL−1 and LC15; 0.298 mgL−1) of spirotetramat reduced the adult longevity and fecundity of the parent generation (F0). These concentrations prolonged the preadult developmental duration while decreasing preadult survival, adult longevity and reproduction of the F1 generation. The adult pre-reproductive period was also extended by spirotetramat treatment groups. Subsequently, the population growth parameters such as the intrinsic rate of increase r, finite rate of increase λ and net reproductive rate R0 of the F1 generation were decreased in spirotetramat treatment groups whereas, the mean generation time T of the F1 generation was not affected when compared to the control. These results indicated the negative effect of sublethal concentrations of spirotetramat on the performance of B. brassicae by reducing its nymphal survival, extending the duration of some immature stages and suppressing the population growth of B. brassicae. Overall, we demonstrated that spirotetramat is a pesticide showing both sublethal activities, and transgenerational effects on cabbage aphid; it may be useful for implementation in IPM programs against this aphid pest

Effect of host plants on life history traits of Phenacoccus solenopsis (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

WOS: 000447805900015Cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley is an important polyphagous insect pest and causes severe losses to different crops worldwide. In the current study, we investigated the effect of different host plants, such as Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Plumeria rubra, Anthurium andraeanum, Jasminum sambac, and Hibiscus rosasinensis, on the biological parameters of P. solenopsis. The survival rate from crawler to adult, female nymphal duration, development time from crawler to female adult, and female adult weight were significantly different on the different hosts. Male nymphal duration, development time from crawler to male adult, pupal weight, emergence rate of male adults, and mean relative growth rate for male were similar on all the tested host plants. Pupal duration and generation time of male and female on H. rosasinensis were significantly shorter than on the other hosts. Adult male and female P. solenopsis longevity was significantly shorter on H. rosasinensis compared to other hosts. The fecundity was lower on C. pulcherrima and A. andraeanum and hatchability was lower on C. pulcherrima than on the other hosts. The net reproductive rate, the intrinsic rate of natural increase, and biotic potential and mean relative growth rate for female of P. solenopsis were significantly different on the tested hosts. Our results point to the role of host plants in increasing the populations of P. solenopsis and could help to design cultural management strategies

Development of indigenous spray dryer to improve the physiochemical properties of food powder

In the Spray Drying process, the particles of solvent and solute can be emulsifying, homogenize and encapsulated for different biochemical reactions. Spray dryer is an instrument which is used to reduce the moisture using hot air in contact with the material. Spray dried products can be protected from bacteria by decreasing their moisture content and the shelf life enhanced of the product. There are four major steps will be kept in mind for designing and fabrication of spray dryer. Material which is used for designing and manufacturing of material used should be food grade and economical. Stainless steel material is used for designing of Spray Dryer, so that contamination can be reduced. During powder formation the different size of particles may coagulate and agglomeration may occur. To avoid from this type of agglomeration malt dextrin will be added. The particle formation has different which hindered the agglomeration.  Atomizer will convert the slurry into droplets, then hot air and slurry becomes in contact in the drying chamber. After that powdered material is collected through the cyclone separator. Temperature, Pressure, particle size, and particle geometry is important factors during spray drying.&nbsp