Temporal and Spatial Distribution of the Oriental Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in a Golf Course Environment

The mating season of the oriental beetle, Exomala orientalis (Waterhouse), in 1994 and 1995 at Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale, NY (40° 45′ N, 73° 28′ W) began in the middle of June, peaked in the 1st wk of July, and ended in the middle of August. There were differences in the emergence schedule among fairways as well as local differences between roughs and fairway. Both sexes were most active around sunset on shorter-cut turf (i.e., fairways, greens, and tees, versus roughs), and the few individuals seen during the daylight hours were mostly males. These males were generally found perched on vegetation at the border of the fairway. Feeding was not observed, except on flowers by females devoid of mature eggs. This study confirms our observations on the pattern of activity in an earlier study conducted with the use of synthetic pheromone traps. It also explains the difficulty encountered by earlier workers in finding adults of this insect in the field. Implications of the above findings on the management of the oriental beetle are discusse

Sex Pheromone Responses of the Oriental Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

The synthetic female sex pheromone of the oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis Waterhouse, was evaluated in the field and in a sustained-flight tunnel. In a 2-wk period, > 150,000 beetles were captured on three golf course fairways in Connecticut. Contrary to earlier reports that these beetles are most active during the warm, sunny portions of the day, we observed that peak activity occurs around sunset. Ten micrograms of either (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one or an 89/11 (Z/E) blend on a rubber septum was found to be the minimum concentration with which no significant decrease in catch was observed in the field. There was no discrimination between Z and the blend at 1 μg and higher concentrations, but the E-isomer alone trapped significantly fewer beetles than either Z alone or the blend. These results are consistent with the flight tunnel data. The effects of temperature and light intensity on the mating behavior of A. orientalis also are discusse

Poor quality vital anti-malarials in Africa - an urgent neglected public health priority

BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major public health problem. A vital component of malaria control rests on the availability of good quality artemisinin-derivative based combination therapy (ACT) at the correct dose. However, there are increasing reports of poor quality anti-malarials in Africa. METHODS: Seven collections of artemisinin derivative monotherapies, ACT and halofantrine anti-malarials of suspicious quality were collected in 2002/10 in eleven African countries and in Asia en route to Africa. Packaging, chemical composition (high performance liquid chromatography, direct ionization mass spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry, stable isotope analysis) and botanical investigations were performed. RESULTS: Counterfeit artesunate containing chloroquine, counterfeit dihydroartemisinin (DHA) containing paracetamol (acetaminophen), counterfeit DHA-piperaquine containing sildenafil, counterfeit artemether-lumefantrine containing pyrimethamine, counterfeit halofantrine containing artemisinin, and substandard/counterfeit or degraded artesunate and artesunate+amodiaquine in eight countries are described. Pollen analysis was consistent with manufacture of counterfeits in eastern Asia. These data do not allow estimation of the frequency of poor quality anti-malarials in Africa. CONCLUSIONS: Criminals are producing diverse harmful anti-malarial counterfeits with important public health consequences. The presence of artesunate monotherapy, substandard and/or degraded and counterfeit medicines containing sub-therapeutic amounts of unexpected anti-malarials will engender drug resistance. With the threatening spread of artemisinin resistance to Africa, much greater investment is required to ensure the quality of ACTs and removal of artemisinin monotherapies. The International Health Regulations may need to be invoked to counter these serious public health problems

Feeding preference of Pentalonia nigronervosa Coq. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) for and its comparative development on bunchy-top susceptible abaca variety and resistant hybrids

Tests conducted in the greenhouse showed that the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coq. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), the only known vector of the abaca bunchy-top (ABT) virus, preferred to feed on the ABT-susceptible variety, Tinauagan Pula (TP) than on the resistant hybrids, Itolaus x Magsarapong 7 and Pacol x CES 3-2. Their preference was already manifested during the very first monitoring schedule (0.5 hr), although the number of colonizing aphids on TP only became statistically greater than those on the two resistant hybrids at 4 hours. P. nigronervosa exhibited better development and reproduction on TP, as manifested by its shorter nymphal development period, lower number of nymphal instars, longer reproductive period and higher fecundity, than on the resistant hybrids. In a field experiment, P. nigronervosa colony establishment was more successful on TP than on the resistant hybrids. The resistance of the hybrids to the aphid vector may explain partly their resistance to the diseas

Biology of the orchid weevil, Orchidophilus aterrimus (Waterhouse)

The orchid weevil, Orchidophilus aterrimus (Waterhouse), went through egg, five larval instars, pupa and adult stages in 64.72 days on Dendrobium leaves and 81.50 days on whole plants. These developmental rates are faster than those reported in Hawaii. Its small oval eggs were laid singly and inserted on the feeding sites of adult weevil either on the stem, leaves or flowers. Newly hatched larva was translucent, later became white to yellowish white and retained this color during the rest of its larval development. The wrinkled legless larva began feeding upon hatching and soon tunneled into the plant. Mature larvae are 5.50 - 8.00 mm (x = 6.63 ± 0.64) long and 1.50 – 2.25 mm (x = 1.78 ± 0.26) wide. The pupa is exarate, with well-developed legs and prominent outline of the wings and antennae. Newly emerged adults remained in the pupal cell and did not feed for at least ten days. They were light to dark brown and became totally black in about seven days. White larva bones through the stem, adult feeds on flowers and tender tissues. Male and female adults are 4.25 and 1.97 mm long, and 4.43 and 2.03 mm wide, respectively

Emergence, mating, and postmating behaviors of the oriental beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

In a previous field-trapping study of the oriental beetle, Exomala orientalis (Waterhouse), by using synthetic sex pheromone on golf course fairways, numerous males were observed and trapped during the hours of peak mating activity. However, very few beetles were observed in the same areas when synthetic pheromone was absent. To investigate the hypothesis that mating in nature occurs cryptically within vegetation at the soil surface, laboratory studies on female emergence and pheromone release, male emergence and mate-locating, and female and male mating behaviors were conducted. Mate acquisition and copulation occurred on the soil surface near the female emergence Site, with both sexes engaging in pheromone-mediated behaviors after having emerged from the soil. A highly stereotyped female pheromone release, or calling, behavior was observed, consisting of insertion of the female\u27s head into the soil and elevation of the tip of her abdomen into the air. Bioassays conducted in a wind tunnel that simulated a turf fairway environment showed that walking and flying were both important in the upwind response of males to females. Mating and copulation occurred without an obvious complex courtship, but observations of postmating behaviors suggested that mate guarding occurs

Identification and synthesis of female sex pheromone of oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Females of the Oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse), release a sex pheromone composed of a 9:1 blend of (Z)- and (E)-7-tetradecen-2-one. The double-bond position of the pheromone was determined by DMDS derivatization and interpretation of the fragmentation patterns produced by monounsaturated ketones. In a sustained-flight tunnel, males responded by flying toward female beetles and attempting to copulate with them. Both effluvium and whole-body extracts of OB females were analyzed, and the activity was found only in the airborne extracts. Flight-tunnel bioassays also showed that a synthetic 90:10Z/E blend on a rubber septum was attractive and that the responses of males to this blend were equivalent to Z isomer alone, but much better than to the single E isomer