Oviposition behavior of the mirid Macrolophus pygmaeus under risk of intraguild predation and cannibalism

Zoophytophagous mirid species, that feed and develop either on prey or plant resources, are often found simultaneously on the same host. Hence, these species can engage in both intraguild predation and cannibalism, which can pose a threat to mirid eggs. Ovipositing females may respond to such risks of predation on their eggs by reducing the number of eggs laid or selecting safer oviposition sites. We tested the oviposition behaviour of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Hemiptera: Miridae) females under the risk of cannibalism by M. pygmaeus males and intraguild predation by Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) males (Hemiptera: Miridae) under laboratory conditions. Intraguild predators and cannibals were introduced during or after the oviposition period. The number of eggs laid (using counts of newly hatched nymphs) and their proportion on each part of a tomato plant were both measured. The results reveal that only cannibalism by M. pygmaeus males after the period of oviposition significantly decreased the number of hatched eggs. Cannibalism thus represents a greater risk to mirid eggs than intraguild predation. The M. pygmaeus female responded to the presence of potential intraguild predators (or competitors) by decreasing the number of eggs laid in the upper leaves. The results suggest that M. pygmaeus females avoid competition by N. tenuis, by laying fewer eggs on upper leaves. Cannibalism could regulate zoophytophagous predator populations under prey scarcity conditions and minimize the risk of crop damage associated with those biological control agents.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Disentangling omnivory of heteropteran and coccinellid predators present in peach and alfalfa crops by metabarcoding analysis

Ecosystems management is essential for the biological control of arthropod pests in agriculture. For this, it is necessary to know which arthropod and plant resources are the most used by the generalist predators present in the studied agroecosystem. Molecular approaches, like high-throughput sequencing (HTS) are nowadays a key tool to disentangle the resources consumed by each predator species. In this study we use a multi-primer metabarcoding approach with pooled samples to screen the most common trophic interactions of four heteropteran and four coccinellid species. They were the most common when they were collected in a peach and in an adjacent alfalfa crop at different dates in two consecutive years. The HTS analysis of 433 heteropteran and coccinellid predators showed that they ingested 27 arthropod taxa, including a potential pest of peach not cited until now, and 14 plant taxa. Detection of some ingested arthropod taxa and plant DNA showed that those predator species foraged on non-crop plants, which play a role in attracting or maintaining these predators close or in the crops. This metabarcoding approach also showed the omnivory of those heteropteran and coccinellid species, important information to improve biological control programs.The authors would like to thank Lorena Gallardo and Angels Tudó for their technical assistance in field collecting samples and laboratory procedures. The landowners of the crop plot are also acknowledged for allowing us to access to their fields. This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (grants AGL2014-53970-C2-2-R and PID2019-107030RB-C21) and by the CERCA Programme (Centres de Recerca de Catalunya) of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Ivan Batuecas was funded by the grant BES-2015-075700 from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of a PCR‐based method to monitor arthropod dispersal in agroecosystems: Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) from banker plants to tomato crops

Development of conservation biological control programs requires the identification of sources that contribute to predator colonization of crops. Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an efficient polyphagous predator used in biological control programs in vegetable crops in Europe. We have developed a marking method based on spraying with a solution of the brine shrimp Artemia spp. (Anostraca: Artemiidae) cysts, followed by a PCR detection of Artemia DNA to monitor M. pygmaeus dispersal from banker plants to tomato crops. Experiments conducted in climatic chambers show that the topical application of this marking solution on M. pygmaeus does not significantly reduce adult longevity and that it is detected up to 6 d after the application. When this Artemia solution was applied on Calendula officinalis L. banker plants harboring M. pygmaeus and maintained outdoors, Artemia DNA was still detected on 62% of the insects after 6 d. The conducted field applications in commercial greenhouses have confirmed the usefulness of this method to monitor M. pygmaeus dispersal from banker plants to a newly planted tomato crop. This method can be used to assess arthropod movement, being an interesting molecular approach for further improving future pest management strategies.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Control of Aculops lycopersici with the Predatory Mite Transeius montdorensis

In this study, the predatory mite Transeius montdorensis (Acari, Phytoseiidae) was tested for the control of the tomato russet mite (TRM) Aculops lycopersici (Acari, Eriophyidae) in experiments with small plants, under semi-field and crop conditions. The releasing strategy consisted of repeatedly introducing the predator together with additional breeding prey. The predator was able to move and disperse to the upper part of the tomato plant where the TRM seeks refuge. At the crop level, significant reductions in TRM populations were observed that resulted in a significantly higher yield compared to the conventional control plot, where pesticides were used to control the pest. Caution should be taken when extreme temperatures or humidity occur as they could be deleterious to the predator population. Hence, crop practices should include the management of environmental parameters in the greenhouse to ensure the success of this TRM-control strategy. In conclusion, this biological approach seems to be an effective measure to control the pest and should be further implemented at crop level.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Engorda de corderos en una mezcla de achicoria-plantago o una pradera basada en gramíneas de clima templado: Ganancia de peso y parasitismo gastrointestinal

Improved plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) are attractive forage species for finishing lambs and contain compounds that might protect sheep from gastrointestinal nematodes. This study compared the live weight gain and parasite burden of weaned lambs finished on a plantain-chicory mix (Pl-C) or a permanent grass-based pasture (PP) and treated with or without an endectocide. From mid-November, weaned lambs (n=72, average live weight 32 kg) were distributed into three paddocks per sward type for 30 d. Half of the lambs were initially treated with ivermectin. Fecal egg counts (FEC), larvae genera and the presence of infective larvae (L3) in pastures were evaluated. No differences (P>0.05) were obtained between the pastures for the initial (ca. 80 epg) or final FEC (322 epg) or type of eggs (Strongylid or Nematodirus-type). Ivermectin treatment reduced (P0.05) of pasture type or anthelmintic treatment and no interactions were detected on the cultured larvae genera, except for Cooperia, which decreased with the anthelmintic treatment. By day 30, the number of L3 recovered from the pastures increased (P0.05) in the Pl-C (average 63 L3 kg(-1) DM). The parasite load estimated by the FEC reached low infection levels (0.05) among treatments (average 173 g d(-1)), reflecting an adequate nutritional quality of both pastures and a moderate parasitism status of the lamb

Forty years of biological control in Mediterranean tomato greenhouses: The story of success

The article highlights major landmarks in the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes for tomato greenhouses in the Mediterranean region. This is the story of how biological control has been succesfully implemented as a cornerstone of IPM programmes in Catalonia (Northeastern Spain), one of the pioneering areas in the Mediterranean basin for the implementation of biological control in greenhouses. In the 1970s, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was the key pest in the area and first programmes in protected tomato crops were based on inoculative releases of the parasitoid Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). However, failures caused by the expansion of Encarsia pergandiella (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and the increasing importance of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) propitiated the change to use heteropterans of the Miridae family as biocontrol agents. These generalist predators were already observed during the first trials in the 1970s, but their use was not widespread until B. tabaci and the South American tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) became serious problems. Despite scepticism of many IPM practitioners about the usefulness of these generalist natural enemies, mirid predators are currently widely used for protecting Mediterranean tomato crops. Papers on the biology, behaviour and ecology of the Miridae have gained importance in the scientific literature published over the last 35, which undoubtedly has promoted their inclusion in IPM programmes. The activities of the IOBC/WPRS Working Group “Integrated Control in Protected Crops, Mediterranean Climate” has had a major impact on the progress of biological control strategies in Mediterranean tomato greenhouses over last decades. KEYWORDS: Biological control, generalist predators, parasitoids, whiteflies, tomato, Mediterranean, greenhouse farming.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Obstetric outcomes of sars-cov-2 infection in asymptomatic pregnant women

Altres ajuts: Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)Around two percent of asymptomatic women in labor test positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Spain. Families and care providers face childbirth with uncertainty. We determined if SARS-CoV-2 infection at delivery among asymptomatic mothers had different obstetric outcomes compared to negative patients. This was a multicenter prospective study based on universal antenatal screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 42 hospitals tested women admitted for delivery using polymerase chain reaction, from March to May 2020. We included positive mothers and a sample of negative mothers asymptomatic throughout the antenatal period, with 6-week postpartum follow-up. Association between SARS-CoV-2 and obstetric outcomes was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analyses. In total, 174 asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnancies were compared with 430 asymptomatic negative pregnancies. No differences were observed between both groups in key maternal and neonatal outcomes at delivery and follow-up, with the exception of prelabor rupture of membranes at term (adjusted odds ratio 1.88, 95% confidence interval 1.13-3.11; p = 0.015). Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers have higher odds of prelabor rupture of membranes at term, without an increase in perinatal complications, compared to negative mothers. Pregnant women testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 at admission for delivery should be reassured by their healthcare workers in the absence of symptoms

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Base de datos de abejas ibéricas

Las abejas son un grupo extremadamente diverso con más de 1000 especies descritas en la península ibérica. Además, son excelentes polinizadores y aportan numerosos servicios ecosistémicos fundamentales para la mayoría de ecosistemas terrestres. Debido a los diversos cambios ambientales inducidos por el ser humano, existen evidencias del declive de algunas de sus poblaciones para ciertas especies. Sin embargo, conocemos muy poco del estado de conservación de la mayoría de especies y de muchas de ellas ignoramos cuál es su distribución en la península ibérica. En este trabajo presentamos un esfuerzo colaborativo para crear una base de datos de ocurrencias de abejas que abarca la península ibérica e islas Baleares que permitirá resolver cuestiones como la distribución de las diferentes especies, preferencia de hábitat, fenología o tendencias históricas. En su versión actual, esta base de datos contiene un total de 87 684 registros de 923 especies recolectados entre 1830 y 2022, de los cuales un 87% presentan información georreferenciada. Para cada registro se incluye información relativa a la localidad de muestreo (89%), identificador y colector de la especie (64%), fecha de captura (54%) y planta donde se recolectó (20%). Creemos que esta base de datos es el punto de partida para conocer y conservar mejor la biodiversidad de abejas en la península ibérica e Islas Baleares. Se puede acceder a estos datos a través del siguiente enlace permanente: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6354502ABSTRACT: Bees are a diverse group with more than 1000 species known from the Iberian Peninsula. They have increasingly received special attention due to their important role as pollinators and providers of ecosystem services. In addition, various rapid human-induced environmental changes are leading to the decline of some of its populations. However, we know very little about the conservation status of most species and for many species, we hardly know their true distributions across the Iberian Peninsula. Here, we present a collaborative effort to collate and curate a database of Iberian bee occurrences to answer questions about their distribution, habitat preference, phenology, or historical trends. In total we have accumulated 87 684 records from the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands of 923 different species with 87% of georeferenced records collected between 1830 and 2022. In addition, each record has associated information such as the sampling location (89%), collector and person who identified the species (64%), date of the capture (54%) and plant species where the bees were captured (20%). We believe that this database is the starting point to better understand and conserve bee biodiversity in the Iberian Peninsula. It can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6354502Esta base de datos se ha realizado con la ayuda de los proyectos EUCLIPO (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-028360/EUCLIPO) y SAFEGUARD (ref. 101003476 H2020 -SFS-2019-2).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio