First observation of the beetle Sericoderus lateralis consuming Cladosporium fulvum in a greenhouse tomato: potential for biological protection or risk to the crop?

For the first time, the mycophagous beetle Sericoderus lateralis (Gyllenhal, 1827) was documented feeding on tomato leaf mold (Cladosporium fulvum Cooke, 1878) tissues. The phenomenon was observed during the years 2022 and 2023 in a hydroponic tomato green-house situated near the Czech-Polish border within the cadastre of Dolni Lutyne munici-pality in Czechia. Greenhouse and laboratory observations confirmed that adult and larvae feeding activity led to a reduction in tomato leaf mold lesions. In addition, there was a posi-tive correlation between tomato leaf mold disease progression and increased populations of S. lateralis in the tomato crop. Petri dish observations confirmed egg laying occurred on a diet of tomato leaf mold. Further research is warranted to discern whether S. lateralis is a potential biological control agent for tomato leaf mold or if it acts to facilitate the spread of the disease by acting as a spore vector.O

Arthropods on Abandoned Apple Trees: Comparison of Orchard Versus Alley

Occurrence of arthropods on abandoned apple trees was studied in 2010 and 2011. The research was carried out in South Moravia (Czech Republic). Two sites were selected within this area – apple trees (Malus domestica) in an alley along a road and an abandoned apple orchard. At each location, arthropods were collected from 5 separate trees. Deltamethrin was applied into the treetops using a fogger. The killed arthropods were collected 15 minutes after the application. From among the collected data, 48 families were determined in accordance with a generalized linear model with a logarithmic-link function and Poisson distribution. As a result it was found that 33 families have significantly higher abundance in the abandoned orchard and 9 families in the alley. According to the Shannon-Wiener index, diversity of families was higher in the alley in both years (2010: H’ = 3.016, 2011: H’ = 3.177) compared to the abandoned orchard (2010: H’ = 2.413, 2011: H’ = 3.007)

Arthropod diversity (Arthropoda) on abandoned apple trees

In 2010 and 2011, the occurrence of arthropods on apple trees without management was monitored near the village of Velké Bílovice, South Moravia, in two selected localities (an abandoned apple tree orchard and a road apple tree alley). Arthropods in tree tops were killed using deltamehtrin applied with a fogger (Puls Fog). Each collection always contained the material from 5 trees in each site. In 2010, three collections were performed (28/4, 20/5, and 9/7), two in 2011 (11/5 and 23/6). Representatives of eleven orders were captured. Of all the orders trapped, Coleoptera was represented most frequently, the Hymenoptera and Diptera followed. In the alley, individuals of the Coleoptera (34%) were caught most frequently, the Hymenoptera (19.6%) and Hemiptera (17.4%) followed. In the orchard, the Coleoptera (41.4%) was represented most frequently, followed by the Hymenoptera (21.9%) and Diptera (15%). In both the environments, species with negative economic impact were recorded (e.g. Anthonomus pyri, Tatianaerhynchites aequatus, Cydia pomonella, Rhynchites bacchus). However, a greater number of pest antagonists were also found (Scambus pomorum, Coccinella septempunctata, Episyrphus balteatus, Pentatoma rufipes, Orius spp.). Some species were important in faunistic terms, as some critically endangered species were recorded (e.g. Dipoena erythropus, Cryptocephalus schaefferi), and the Plectochorus iwatensis species was recorded for the first time in the Czech Republic

Attractiveness of flowering plants for natural enemies

The set of 7 flowering plant species (Anethum graveolens, Calendula officinalis, Centaurea cyanus, Fagopyrum esculentum, Foeniculum vulgare, Tagetes patula and Vicia faba) was compared for their attractiveness to natural enemies such as ladybeetles (Coccinellidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae), ichneumon wasps (Ichneumonidae) and predatory bugs (Orius spp.) during the years 2008–2010. The trial was held in an organic open field located at the Faculty of Horticulture of Mendel University in Brno, Lednice, Czech Republic. Flowering plants A. graveolens, C. cyanus, C. officinalis, F. vulgare and F. esculentum were found to be the most attractive for the evaluated beneficial insects. The most abundant beneficial insects were hoverflies and ladybeetles followed by predatory bugs and ichneumon wasps

Digital Holographic Method for Piezoelectric Transformers Vibration Analysis

The paper describes a holographic method for vibration analysis in nanometer range. The method was successfully applied on different types of piezoelectric transformers and the measurement results are introduced. To proof the reliability of the method it was done a comparing simultaneous measurement of a piezoelectric component by the holographic method and the well-established single-point interferometric method. Results showing the minimal deviation of both methods are presented in the final part of the paper

Europaean cherry fruit fly - taxonomy, bionomy and control:certified methodology

The publication is intended for the fruit growers of organic or low residue farming systems. Overeview of biology of the European cherry fruit fly and the possibilities of non chemical pest control in the whole context of the crop protection including other information linked to the topic are worked up

Quantitative Schlieren imaging based on fringe projection

An effective yet simple quantitative synthetic Schlieren imaging technique is presented in this paper. A multiplexed fringe pattern displayed on a common laptop screen is observed through a disturbed medium resulting in a change of the fringe pattern. Fourier analysis of such pattern provides high-resolution and almost real time measurement of rays’ deflection due to the medium refractive index variation. The developed technique was applied for measurement of a compressible fluid discharge from a narrow channel in a wind tunnel

Digital Holographic Method for Piezoelectric Transformers Vibration Analysis

The paper describes a holographic method for vibration analysis in nanometer range. The method was successfully applied on different types of piezoelectric transformers and the measurement results are introduced. To proof the reliability of the method it was done a comparing simultaneous measurement of a piezoelectric component by the holographic method and the well-established single-point interferometric method. Results showing the minimal deviation of both methods are presented in the final part of the paper