Identification and Reconsidering Phylogeny of Some Aphid Species, (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Based on Molecular DNA Markers Using ISSRs-PCR Technique

Aphids are considered one of the most economically important insect pests worldwide. Successful pest management systems are based on accurate and rapid pest species identification. Traditional morphological identification of closed aphid species may be considered an inaccurate taxonomic process. To overcome the disadvantages of traditional morphological identification, molecular techniques, related to DNA markers and based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were approached by using nine ISSRs primers to identify and diagnose fifteen common aphid species that disperse in the Egyptian agroecosystem. The examined ISSRs primers could success-fully discriminate the tested aphid species that reflected 61.39% polymorphism among them. Moreover, four banding patterns were considered unique bands that could characterize three aphid species (Aphis gossypii, Aphis nerii and Myzus persicae). The highest genetic homology (84.9%) was observed between species Rhopalosipum padi and Schizaphis graminum. In addition, each of A. gossypii and Aphis citricola were also genetically homologous species. In contrast, species Aphis craccivora and M. persicae were analogous genetically with a low similarity percentile (59.8%). High genetic di-vergence was observed also between A. nerii and M. persicae. Two alternative molecular branching taxonomic keys were proposed by subjecting the five highest polymorphic ISSRs primers and 29 banding patterns with different molecular sizes

Population activity of peach fruit fly Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephiritidae) at fruits orchards in Kafer El-Shikh Governorate, Egypt

Peach Fruit Fly (PFF) Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) is one of most dominant and destructive key pest in fruit orchards in different agro-ecosystem in Egypt, so monitoring adults' population fluctuation in orchards, through capturing adults, has been considered as main way to forecasting or management the pest. So current study aimed to assay the efficiency of Jackson traps baited with methyl eugenol (M.E.) on male capture, that were distributed in different fruit trees orchards, in different positions and hang levels in one of Egyptian agroecosystem (Kafer El-Shikh Governorate), from (May 2014 to April 2015). Moreover, adults capture in McPhail traps in navel orange orchards intercropping with Guava were exploded to detect abundant and rearing season of the pest studying impact of abiotic factors on population, and estimation number, time and duration of annual generation. Obtained results declared that the pest had 7-8 annually generation. Jackson traps that placed in center of orchard and hanged at 2 m height more efficient than others for male catches. Highest numbers of PFF male attack orchards of Navel orange intercropping with Guava, while the lowest were with Navel orange and Guava. Each of season and kind of orchard or intercropping system had combined and significant effect on mass trapping. In McPhail traps, highest mass trapping of adult was observed in autumn (20.353 adult/ trap/ week), while each of spring, summer and winter season were similar in mass trapping. Only Wind direction as climatic factors had negative significant effect on mass trapping of PFF adults in McPhail traps, while each of maximum and mean temperature of winter season had positive significant effect on mass trapping

Impact of gamma radiation doses on sperm competitiveness, fecundity and morphometric characters of peach fruit fly Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephiritidae)

AbstractSuccessful of Sterile Insect Techniques (SIT) depend on ability of sterile male population to compete with normal male for mating with female and lead to a reduction in pest population numbers and sufficiently effective autocidal control. So effects of radiation doses (0, 30, 50, 70 and 90 Gy) on fertility traits and wings morphometric characters for both sexes of peach fruit fly (PFF) Bactrocera zonata were assayed, in addition different levels of over loading irradiated males to normal population of PFF (sex ratio 1:1) were also concerned. Percents of observed and expected egg hatching and daily egg laying, then competiveness values between irradiated and normal females were estimated. Irradiated males, mated with normal females, induced them to reduce egg laying rates less than the case of irradiated females only or both sexes. However, dose of 70 Gy for males and 50 Gy for either females or both sexes will be sufficient to decrease daily egg laying of females. On the other hand, significantly reduction of egg hatching percentages was noticed with doses of 70 Gy for either females or both sexes, and 90 Gy in case of treated males only. Gamma radiation doses have significant effect on angles and wings length of males and wings width of females. Confined males irradiated with 70 or 90 Gy in numbers as four times as normal males number in PFF population caused depleting in egg hatching percents (ranged between 5.07%: 13.55%). Moreover, the last case gave egg hatching percentages close significantly to cases of irradiation both sexes or male only with 90 Gy (4.28 and 5.49%, respectively), that harboured highest competitiveness value of irradiated males