The Search Behavior of Omnivorous Thrips Larvae is Influenced by Spider Mite Cues

The western flower thrips is an omnivorous insect that consumes both leaf tissue and spider mite eggs. For this reason, these thrips are often described as ‘opportunistic predators’ of spider mites. Several studies have shown that western flower thrips are often found in association with spider mites, and the development time of thrips decreases and their survivorship increases when they consume spider mite eggs. We tested the hypothesis that thrips larvae may respond to chemical cues from spider mites, and that they may modify their prey-searching behavior when these spider mite-induced cues are present. We prepared hexane extracts from: 1) webbing of spider mites isolated from maize leaves, 2) webbing produced by spider mites inside an empty glass tube to exclude any plant-derived cues from the extract, and 3) spider mite cuticle extracts. These three extracts were subsequently applied in droplets to one-half of filter papers, and hexane alone was applied in droplets to the other half. We showed that residence time of thrips larvae was higher on filter paper with spider mite webbing extract, especially when the extract originated from spider mites isolated in glass tubes. In the presence of webbing extracts, we also observed: 1) a decrease in velocity, 2) an increase of angular velocity and 3) an increase in time immobile. Extracts from spider mite cuticle only increased velocity and proportion of time immobile of the thrips larvae. Our results suggest that chemical cues from spider mite webbing induce an arrestment response and play an important role in the non-random search behavior of thrips larvae searching for eggs on spider mite infested plant leaves

Myo-inositol in the protection from cadmium-induced toxicity in mice kidney: An emerging nutraceutical challenge

Cadmium (Cd) induces functional and morphological changes in kidney. Therefore, the effects of a natural nutraceutical antioxidant, myo-inositol (MI), were evaluated in mice kidneys after Cd challenge. Twenty-eight C57 BL/6 J mice were divided into these groups: 0.9% NaCl; MI (360 mg/kg/day); CdCl2 (2 mg/kg/day) plus vehicle; CdCl2 (2 mg/kg/day) plus MI (360 mg/kg/day). After 14 days, kidneys were processed for structural, biochemical and morphometric evaluation. Treatment with CdCl2 increased urea nitrogen and creatinine in serum and augmented tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. Furthermore, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX) immunoreactivity, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells number were significantly higher than control and MI groups. Glutathione (GSH) content and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were reduced and structural changes were evident. The treatment with MI significantly lowered urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, TNF-α and iNOS expression, MCP-1, KIM-1 and MIOX immunoreactivity and TUNEL positive cells number, increased GSH content and GPx activity and preserved kidney morphology. A protection of MI against Cd-induced damages in mice kidney was demonstrated, suggesting a strong antioxidant role of this nutraceutical against environmental Cd harmful effects on kidney lesions

Interconfronto nazionale sul test di inibizione della bioluminescenza mediante Vibrio fisheri. National interlaboratory comparison study using Vibrio fisheri.

Nell\u2019ambito dei settori di applicazione ambientale dei saggi biologici la normativa nazionale prevede l\u2019impiego del test di inibizione della bioluminescenza del batterio marino Vibrio fischeri nelle attivit\ue0 di monitoraggio costiero condotto dalle Agenzie Regionali ai sensi della Legge 979/82 \u201cDifesa del Mare\u201d e facoltativamente dal D.Lgs. 152/06. Esso \ue8 inoltre ampiamente utilizzato nell\u2019ambito della caratterizzazione dei fondali marini prospicienti i Siti di bonifica di Interesse Nazionale ai sensi del DM 468/01. Sebbene attualmente siano disponibili numerosi protocolli ufficiali adottati da enti e/o organismi internazionali (DIN, 1992; Environment Canada, 2002, APAT IRSA-CNR, 2003), il percorso di standardizzazione ha visto in realt\ue0 una scarsa attenzione nei riguardi della valutazione della riproducibilit\ue0/ripetibilit\ue0 dei metodi previsti per ambienti marini e/o salmastri, come condizione indispensabile e precedente la normazione vera e propria. Gli unici esercizi di interconfronto noti interessano in realt\ue0 sostanze tossiche di riferimento e campioni di acqua dolce eseguiti nella soluzione standard a base di NaCl (APAT IRSA-CNR, 2003; Farr\ue9, 2004). Nell\u2019ambito del percorso di \u201cnormazione\u201d stabilito in seno alla Commissione UNICHIM \u201cMetodi Biologici\u201d, sottogruppo \u201cAcque marine e salmastre\u201d \ue8 stato organizzato un esercizio di interconfronto finalizzato alla valutazione della riproducibilit\ue0 e ripetibilit\ue0 di un metodo da applicare a matrici ambientali liquide marine

Tabelas de fertilidade e de esperança de vida de Tynacantha marginata Dallas (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae, Asopinae) alimentado com larvas de Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) e folhas de Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake Life and fecundity tables of the predator Tynacantha marginata Dallas (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) reared with Tenebrio molitor L. larvae (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) and Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake leaves

<abstract language="eng">The objective of this research was to study the effect of feeding on Eucalyptus leaves on the life and fecundity tables of Tynacantha marginata Dallas, 1851 (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Higher mortality of this predator occurred during second week of life, when the nymphs were starting second instar. The fecundity table showed that the nymphal period of T. marginata lasted four weeks, with viability of 57,9% and total longevity of 21 weeks. Egg oviposition period took 10 weeks. The population parameters (R0, rm and &#955;) showed a 50.69 times populational increase after one generation