Assessing the impact of climate change on the worldwide distribution of Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) using MaxEnt

For the first time, a model was applied at the global scale in order to investigate the effects of climate change on Dalbulus maidis. D. maidis is the main vector of three plant pathogens of maize crops and has been reported as one of the most important maize pests in Latin America. We modeled the effects of climate change on this pest using three Global Climate Models under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) using the MaxEnt software. Overall, climate change will lead to a decrease in the suitable areas for D. maidis. In South America, climate change will decrease the areas that are suitable for the pest, especially in Brazil. However, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela will have small areas that are highly suitable for the corn leafhopper. Outside of the pest’s range, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Africa also should be concerned about the risk of corn leafhopper invasions in the future since they are projected to have highly suitable conditions for this insect in some areas. This study will allow the relevant countries to increase their quarantine measures and guide researchers to develop new Z. mays varieties that are resistant or tolerant to D. maidis. In addition, the maize‐stunting pathogens for the areas are highlighted in this modeling

Flutuação populacional de Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) na cultura da canola, em Passo Fundo - RS.

Resumo: Dentre as pragas que infestam a cultura da canola destaca-se a traça-das-crucíferas, Plutella xylostella (L.). Suas larvas consomem principalmente folhas, mas, em altas populações, também podem consumir hastes e epiderme das síliquas, podendo comprometer a produção de grãos. Estudos que abordem a dinâmica dessa praga na canola são escassos no Brasil. Portanto, este trabalho teve por objetivo realizar a flutuação populacional de P. xylostella nessa cultura no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O estudo foi conduzido numa área experimental da Embrapa Trigo, Passo Fundo/RS, onde foi semeada uma área de 800 m2 com canola, híbrido Hyola 433, em maio de 2016. Nessa área, foi definida uma área de 125 m2, da qual, semanalmente, de junho a outubro de 2016, 25 plantas de canola foram coletadas e transportadas para o laboratório. As plantas foram vistoriadas com o auxílio de microscópio estereoscópico e as larvas quantificadas. Variáveis climáticas foram obtidas a partir de Estação Meteorológica localizada na Embrapa Trigo. No total, foram coletadas 106 larvas de P. xylostella nas plantas de canola, com o pico populacional observado no mês de outubro (17 larvas). A população de larvas coletadas e a sua densidade por planta foram baixas durante o período avaliado devido em parte, às baixas médias de temperatura. A flutuação populacional de P. xylostella não sofreu influência das precipitações pluviométricas. Abstract: Among the pests that infest the canola crop, the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) stands out. The larvae consume mainly leaves, and in high populations they can also consume stems and siliqua, which can compromise grain production. Studies addressing the dynamics of this canola pest are scarce in Brazil. Therefore, this work aimed to carry out the population fluctuation of P. xylostella in this crop in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The study was conducted in an experimental area of Embrapa Trigo, in Passo Fundo/RS, where an area of the 800 m2 with canola, Hyola 433 hybrid, was planted in May 2016. In this area, 125 m2 were defined and weekly, from June to October 2016, 25 canola plants were collected and examined in the laboratory. Plants were inspected using a stereoscopic microscope and the larvae quantified. Climatic variables were obtained from the Meteorological Station located at Embrapa Trigo. A total of 106 larvae of were collected from canola plants, with the peak population observed in October (17 larvae). The total population of larvae and larvae/plant, were low throughout the period evaluated, due in part to the low average temperatures. The population fluctuation was not influenced by rainfall that occurred during the study

Microglia and neurons in the hippocampus of migratory sandpipers.

The semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla and the spotted sandpiper Actitis macularia are long- and short-distance migrants, respectively. C. pusilla breeds in the sub-arctic and mid-arctic tundra of Canada and Alaska and winters on the north and east coasts of South America. A. macularia breeds in a broad distribution across most of North America from the treeline to the southern United States. It winters in the southern United States, and Central and South America. The autumn migration route of C. pusilla includes a non-stop flight over the Atlantic Ocean, whereas autumn route of A. macularia is largely over land. Because of this difference in their migratory paths and the visuo-spatial recognition tasks involved, we hypothesized that hippocampal volume and neuronal and glial numbers would differ between these two species. A. macularia did not differ from C. pusilla in the total number of hippocampal neurons, but the species had a larger hippocampal formation and more hippocampal microglia. It remains to be investigated whether these differences indicate interspecies differences or neural specializations associated with different strategies of orientation and navigation

Tick and host derived compounds detected in the cement complex substance

Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods and vectors of pathogens affecting human and animal health worldwide. Cement is a complex protein polymerization substance secreted by ticks with antimicrobial properties and a possible role in host attachment, sealing the feeding lesion, facilitating feeding and pathogen transmission, and protection from host immune and inflammatory responses. The biochemical properties of tick cement during feeding have not been fully characterized. In this study, we characterized the proteome of Rhipicephalus microplus salivary glands (sialome) and cement (cementome) together with their physicochemical properties at different adult female parasitic stages. The results showed the combination of tick and host derived proteins and other biomolecules such as a-Gal in cement composition, which varied during the feeding process. We propose that these compounds may synergize in cement formation, solidification and maintenance to facilitate attachment, feeding, interference with host immune response and detachment. These results advanced our knowledge of the complex tick cement composition and suggested that tick and host derived compounds modulate cement properties throughout tick feeding

Caracterização do manejo de insetos-praga da canola adotado por produtores no Rio Grande do Sul e no Paraná.

A canola, Brassica napus L. var. oleifera, apresenta teor de óleo elevado em seus grãos (de 36% a 42%) e concentração de proteína alta no farelo (de 36% a 39%) (Canola Council of Canada, 2016).bitstream/item/210534/1/Doc182-Alberto-completo-jun19.pd