Field Persistence of \u3ci\u3eSteinernema Carpocapsa\u3c/i\u3e Weiser (Ny001), \u3ci\u3eSteinernema Feltiae\u3c/i\u3e Filipjev (Valko) and \u3ci\u3eHeterorhabditis Bacteriophora\u3c/i\u3e Poinar (Oswego) in Alfalfa Fields

The long term field persistence of Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser, strain NY001, S. feltiae Filipjev, strain Valko and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, strain Oswego was investigated in an alfalfa field infested by the alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici L. Nematodes were applied in single-species, two-species and three-species combinations at a total of 2.5 × 109 infective juveniles per hectare. Soil samples were taken approximately every two weeks from mid/late May to late October in 2004 and 2005. Two soil samplings were conducted in 2006 at the end of May and in early July. All nematodes persisted in the field at the time of the last sampling in July 2006, over two years after application suggesting long term persistence of these nematodes and the potential to coexist in combinations. Steinernema feltiae Valko was not detected in the three-species combination after June 8, 2005, approximately one year after nematode application suggesting that S. feltiae Valko cannot compete effectively when a specialized ambusher nematode (S. carpocapsae NY001) and a specialized cruiser nematode (H. bacteriophora Oswego) are present simultaneously. In 2006, two years after nematode application, a marked movement of nematodes into experimental plots where they were not applied was observed. S. carpocapsae NY001 was found in the highest number of plots where it wasn’t applied. Given the ambusher behavior of S. carpocapsae NY001, it is suspected that its movement occurred via infected, but still live adult alfalfa snout beetles

Survey for Etomopathogenic Nematodes and Entomopathogenic Fungi in Alfalfa Snout Beetle, \u3ci\u3eOtiorhynchus Ligustici\u3c/i\u3e (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Infested Fields in Hungary and in New York State

A survey for etomopathogenic nematodes and fungi in alfalfa snout beetle Otiorhynchus ligustici (L.) infested fields was conducted in Hungary, where this beetle is native, and in New York State, where the alfalfa snout beetle is an invasive species. Soil samples were collected in Hungary and in New York in alfalfa snout beetle infested alfalfa fields in spring 2002. Galleria mellonella (L.) larvae were used as bait insects. The entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were found in Hungary and New York. The frequency of plots with entomopathogenic fungi was not significantly different between locations in Hungary and New York. The entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis sp. were found in Hungary and New York and S. feltiae was only found in Hungary. The frequency of plots with entomopathogenic nematodes was not significantly different between locations in Hungary and New York. S. carpocapsae and S. feltiae were found in coexistence at one location in Hungary

Fish tracking technology development. Phases 1 and 2, project definition desk study and equipment

The document reports on the major findings from a definition study to appraise the options to develop fish tracking equipment, in particular tags and data logging systems, in order to improve the effeciency of the Agency tracking studies and to obtain a greater understanding of fish biology. The definition study was in two parts. The first, Phase 1, collated and evaluated all the known tracking systems that may be suitable for studies of fish which are either produced commercially or have been constructed for specific in-house studies. Phase 2 was an evaluation of all the tracking equipment considered to merit further investigation in Phase 1. The deficiencies between existing and required technologies to improve the efficiency of Agency's tracking studies and to obtain a greater understanding of fish biology are also identified

Comparative Study of \u3ci\u3eMecinus Janthiniformis\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Attack and Simulated Mowing for Control of \u3ci\u3eLinaria Dalmatica\u3c/i\u3e Spp. \u3ci\u3eDalmatica\u3c/i\u3e (Plantaginaceae)

Dalmatian toadflax, Linaria dalmatica spp. dalmatica (L.) Mill. (Plantaginaceae) has invaded over one million hectares in the western United States and Canada, in habitats similar to its native range. Two field studies were conducted to examine the impact of simulated mowing or insect herbivory on L. dalmatica growth and reproduction. Simulated mowing over the duration of the study decreased L. dalmatica total biomass per square meter, significantly reduced the total number of fruits and flowers per square meter, and resulted in significantly shorter flowering stems in the simulated mowing plots than in their controls. Plants in plots attacked by Mecinus janthiniformis Toševski and Caldara (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) had significantly less biomass per square meter, significantly fewer total numbers of fruits and flowers per square meter, and significantly fewer reproductive structures per stem than plants in paired control plots over the duration of the study. Specifically, both management tactics resulted in a negative impact on this invasive plant. With repeated tissue removal or damage, a reduction in numbers of fruits and flowers per stem on both the stems subjected to simulated mowing and Mecinus-attacked stems relative to their controls suggests that long term stress effects on the plants may be similar. The results of these studies suggest that mowing may warrant further evaluation as a possible method of control in areas where M. janthiniformis release is not effective

Characteristics of bound modes in coupled dielectric waveguides containing negative index media

We investigate the characteristics of guided wave modes in planar coupled waveguides. In particular, we calculate the dispersion relations for TM modes in which one or both of the guiding layers consists of negative index media (NIM)-where the permittivity and permeability are both negative. We find that the Poynting vector within the NIM waveguide axis can change sign and magnitude, a feature that is reflected in the dispersion curves

Transparent photonic band in metallodielectric nanostructures

Under certain conditions, a transparent photonic band can be designed into a one-dimensional metallodielectric nanofilm structure. Unlike conventional pass bands in photonic crystals, where the finite thickness of the structure affects the transmission of electromagnetic fields having frequency within the pass band, the properties of the transparent band are almost unaffected by the finite thickness of the structure. In other words, an incident field at a frequency within the transparent band exhibits 100% transmission independent of the number of periods of the structure. The transparent photonic band corresponds to excitation of pure eigenstate modes across the entire Bloch band in structures possessing mirror symmetry. The conditions to create these modes and thereby to lead to a totally transparent band phenomenon are discussed.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev.

Alfalfa Snout Beetle, \u3ci\u3eOtiorhynchus Ligustici\u3c/i\u3e L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Methods for Egg Collection and Larval Rearing

The alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici L., is the most serious pest of alfalfa in northern New York State. Recent research efforts focused on the biological control of this insect require the availability of all life stages. With a 2-year lifecycle and a mandatory diapause, the artificial rearing of a laboratory culture appears to be a non-viable option at present, but methods described here can be used to obtain sufficient numbers of eggs and larvae over an extended period of time for research purposes. The crowding of adult beetles in egg production units (cups) had a significant, negative effect on egg production per beetle but the total egg production per cup was still higher with higher number of beetles per cup resulting in a significant saving of labor per egg produced. Larval survival rates in alfalfa-planted cans were surprisingly low given the protected conditions of the greenhouse. The larval survival rates were not significantly different among the dates for the second instar and later instars, suggesting that larval mortality occurs in the first instar in alfalfa-planted cans