Temperature-dependent development, cold tolerance, and potential distribution of cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae), a tip miner of hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae)

© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Entomological Society of America. A chironomid midge, Cricotopus lebetis (Sublette) (Diptera: Chironomidae), was discovered attacking the apical meristems of Hydrilla verticillata (L.f. Royle) in Crystal River, Citrus Co., Florida in 1992. The larvae mine the stems of H. verticillata and cause basal branching and stunting of the plant. Temperature-dependent development, cold tolerance, and the potential distribution of the midge were investigated. The results of the temperature-dependent development study showed that optimal temperatures for larval development were between 20 and 30°C, and these data were used to construct a map of the potential number of generations per year of C. lebetis in Florida. Data from the cold tolerance study, in conjunction with historical weather data, were used to generate a predicted distribution of C. lebetis in the United States. A distribution was also predicted using an ecological niche modeling approach by characterizing the climate at locations where C. lebetis is known to occur and then finding other locations with similar climate. The distributions predicted using the two modeling approaches were not significantly different and suggested that much of the southeastern United States was climatically suitable for C. lebetis

Greenhouse mass rearing of a defoliating sawfly for biological control of brazilian peppertree.

Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae), is a perennial woody plant native to South America. Introduced into Florida, USA, as a landscape ornamental in the late 19th century, its plasticity and lack of natural enemies became this species a threat to the Florida natural flora,including the Everglades. Although a broad array of control methods (e.g., legal, mechanical, physical and chemical) is available to manage existing stands of Brazilian peppertree, there is general agreement among public and private land managers that biological control can provide an environmentally acceptable, cost effective, and permanent solution to this problem. The biology, ecology and host range of the sawfly Heteroperreyia hubrichi Malaise, 1956 (Hymenoptera: Pergidae), a candidate for biological control of Brazilian peppertree, has been studied for over decade in Brazil, Florida and Hawaii. The population dynamics of the sawfly were studied in Brazil between 2003 and 2004, and the results were compared with previous studies. Because the larvae enter the soil to pupate, two different substrates (vermiculite and natural sand) were tested for their ability to minimize disease problems and facilitate collection of pupae for export to Florida. The result of this study showed that vermiculate was the best substrate for maximizing sawfly pupation.A aroeira-mansa, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae), originária da América do Sul, foi introduzida no estado da Flórida (EUA) como planta ornamental. A sua plasticidade e a ausência de inimigos naturais possibilitou-lhe tornar-se uma ameaça à flora nativa do Parque Nacional de Everglades. Para seu controle, várias alternativas, mecânicas e químicas, foram experimentadas, porém nenhuma se mostrou eficiente e satisfatória. A utilização de inimigos naturais específicos pode ser uma alternativa de sucesso, a exemplo do que já ocorreu com outras plantas invasoras. A vespa Heteroperreyia hubrichi Malaise, 1956 (Hymenoptera: Pergidae) é um potencial candidato que está sendo estudado há mais de uma década no Brasil e na Flórida. Os resultados parciais indicam que a sua criação massiva em cativeiro é viável, mas depende de fatores especiais, tais como: tecido vegetal e folhas jovens para postura, incubação e alimentação de larvas neonatas. No restante do período larval, a vespa se alimenta de folhas maduras. O empupamento ocorre no solo. Para evitar contaminação e facilitar manutenção e transporte durante a exportação de pupas, foi desenvolvida uma técnica para a fase de empupamento. A dinâmica populacional foi estudada entre 2003 e 2004 e comparada com resultados anteriores. Areia natural e vermiculita expandida foram selecionadas para a escolha do substrato ideal. Vermiculita expandida demonstrou ser o material adequado dentro do objetivo deste trabalho

Invasive Species Terminology: Standardizing for Stakeholder Education

The excessive number of terms associated with invasive species, and their often incorrect usage, hinders stakeholder education about the threats of invasive species. Here we introduce seven terms (native, nonnative, introduced, established, invasive, nuisance, and range change) that are applicable across invasive taxa, understandable, typically interpreted correctly, and useful for describing most situations regarding invasive species. We also list six terms to avoid (native invasive, invasive exotic, invasive weed, alien, foreign, and nonindigenous) that create confusion via their misuse and misinterpretation. The terms we propose will increase understanding, thereby promoting behavior changes aimed at limiting the negative impacts of invasive species

CD14 Deficiency Impacts Glucose Homeostasis in Mice through Altered Adrenal Tone

The toll-like receptors comprise one of the most conserved components of the innate immune system, signaling the presence of molecules of microbial origin. It has been proposed that signaling through TLR4, which requires CD14 to recognize bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), may generate low-grade inflammation and thereby affect insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. To examine the long-term influence of partial innate immune signaling disruption on glucose homeostasis, we analyzed knockout mice deficient in CD14 backcrossed into the diabetes-prone C57BL6 background at 6 or 12 months of age. CD14-ko mice, fed either normal or high-fat diets, displayed significant glucose intolerance compared to wild type controls. They also displayed elevated norepinephrine urinary excretion and increased adrenal medullary volume, as well as an enhanced norepinephrine secretory response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. These results point out a previously unappreciated crosstalk between innate immune- and sympathoadrenal- systems, which exerts a major long-term effect on glucose homeostasis

Safety of procuring research tissue during a clinically indicated kidney biopsy from patients with lupus: data from the Accelerating Medicines Partnership RA/SLE Network

Objectives In lupus nephritis the pathological diagnosis from tissue retrieved during kidney biopsy drives treatment and management. Despite recent approval of new drugs, complete remission rates remain well under aspirational levels, necessitating identification of new therapeutic targets by greater dissection of the pathways to tissue inflammation and injury. This study assessed the safety of kidney biopsies in patients with SLE enrolled in the Accelerating Medicines Partnership, a consortium formed to molecularly deconstruct nephritis.Methods 475 patients with SLE across 15 clinical sites in the USA consented to obtain tissue for research purposes during a clinically indicated kidney biopsy. Adverse events (AEs) were documented for 30 days following the procedure and were determined to be related or unrelated by all site investigators. Serious AEs were defined according to the National Institutes of Health reporting guidelines.Results 34 patients (7.2%) experienced a procedure-related AE: 30 with haematoma, 2 with jets, 1 with pain and 1 with an arteriovenous fistula. Eighteen (3.8%) experienced a serious AE requiring hospitalisation; four patients (0.8%) required a blood transfusion related to the kidney biopsy. At one site where the number of cores retrieved during the biopsy was recorded, the mean was 3.4 for those who experienced a related AE (n=9) and 3.07 for those who did not experience any AE (n=140). All related AEs resolved.Conclusions Procurement of research tissue should be considered feasible, accompanied by a complication risk likely no greater than that incurred for standard clinical purposes. In the quest for targeted treatments personalised based on molecular findings, enhanced diagnostics beyond histology will likely be required

Suitability of a new plant invader as a target for biological control in Florida

The suitability of a target weed for classical biological control should be considered early in the process of plant invasion. Concerns have been raised about the recent arrival of Mikania micrantha Kunth in south Florida and its potential to spread and invade natural and managed ecosystems. This weed is native to the neotropics, and has been introduced into many Asian countries and, more recently, into Australia. In Asia, M. micrantha is particularly problematic in plantation crops, but also threatens natural areas and disturbed ecosystems. Several aspects of the biology and ecology of M. micrantha are discussed in this review to evaluate its suitability as a target of biological control in Florida. Based on an ecological niche model, the climate in southern and central Florida is highly favorable for the invasion of this weed. Previous biological control programs provide valuable information for Florida scientists about the availability of natural enemies and potential areas for future foreign surveys. Genetic comparison of the Florida population and native range populations, in addition to climate matching, should be considered when selecting areas for foreign exploration. Finally, the authors used a scoring system and risk-benefit-cost analysis to evaluate M. micrantha as a potential target for biological control in Florida. We suggest that similar feasibility evaluations should be conducted not only for well-established problematic weeds but also for new invaders with a known history of invasiveness. © Weed Science Society of America

Temperature-dependent development and potential distribution of Episimus utilis (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a candidate biological control agent of Brazilian peppertree (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) in Florida

The invasive Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi), native to South America, is widely established throughout central and south Florida. The defoliating leaflet-roller Epitimus utilis Zimmerman was selected as potential biocontrol agent of this invasive species. The objectives of this study were to determine development rate and survival of E. utilis at seven constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 33, and 35°C) and generate prediction maps of the number of generations per year this species may exhibit in the United States. The rate of development of E. utilis as a function of temperature was modeled using linear regression to estimate a lower developmental threshold of 9.6°C and the degree-day requirement of 588. The Logan nonlinear regression model was used to estimate an upper developmental threshold of 33°C. Cold tolerance of E. utilis was examined using all insect stages, and each stage was exposed to three constant temperatures (10, 5, 0°C) for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 d (or until all insects died). The pupal stage was the most cold tolerant with 100% mortality after 12 d at 0°C. The pupal lethal times at 5 (Ltime50 = 10 d, Ltime90 = 28 d) and 0°C (Ltime50 = 5 d, Ltime90 = 9 d) were used to generate isothermal lines to predict favorable regions for E. utilis establishment. A GIS map was generated to predict the number of generations of E. utilis (range, 0.5-9.8) across all Brazilian peppertree range in the United States. The potential for establishment of E. utilis and its probable distribution in the continental United States was examined. © 2008 Entomological Society of America