scholarly journals Abundance of the Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Foraging Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Sugarcane Grown on Organic and Mineral Soils in Florida

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-481
Author(s):  
Erik L Roldán ◽  
Julien M Beuzelin ◽  
Matthew T VanWeelden ◽  
Ronald H Cherry
Keyword(s):  
Soil Type ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Sugarcane Borer ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
Mineral Soils

Abstract A study was conducted in Florida to determine sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), injury and infestation levels in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids), D. saccharalis parasitism rates, and ant foraging activity in 32 commercial fields as affected by soil type (shallow organic vs deep organic vs mineral). In 2017 and 2018, each field was sampled four times during the summer for D. saccharalis by inspecting 100 sugarcane stalks and for foraging ants using plastic tubes baited with hot dog at 12 locations. One non-parasitized D. saccharalis larva was collected in 2017 and in 2018 out of 12,100 and 12,600 stalks sampled, respectively. Additional sampling of 50 stalks per field in October showed that 0.6% (2017) and 0.1% (2018) of the sugarcane stalks had bored internodes, and one Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) cocoon mass was observed. Seven ant species foraged in sugarcane fields, including the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, which was the most abundant ant. Solenopsis invicta was not affected by soil type; however, sugarcane fields on shallow organic soils might represent a more suitable environment. The third most abundant foraging ant, Nylanderia bourbonica (Forel), was more abundant in mineral soil fields than in shallow and deep organic soil fields. Results suggest that D. saccharalis population levels in Florida sugarcane are extremely low under current production conditions regardless of soil type. In addition, the observation of C. flavipes, S. invicta, and six other ant species suggest that biological control contributes to these low D. saccharalis population levels.

scholarly journals Organic Matter Causes Chemical Pollutant Dissipation Along With Adsorption and Microbial Degradation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Vilhelmiina Harju ◽  
Ilkka Närhi ◽  
Marja Mattsson ◽  
Kaisa Kerminen ◽  
Merja H. Kontro
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Degradation ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
First Response ◽  
Chemical Pollutant ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Soil And Sediment

Views on the entry of organic pollutants into the organic matter (OM) decaying process are divergent, and in part poorly understood. To clarify these interactions, pesticide dissipation was monitored in organic and mineral soils not adapted to contaminants for 241 days; in groundwater sediment slurries adapted to pesticides for 399 days; and in their sterilized counterparts with and without peat (5%) or compost-peat-sand (CPS, 15%) mixture addition. The results showed that simazine, atrazine and terbuthylazine (not sediment slurries) were chemically dissipated in the organic soil, and peat or CPS-amended soils and sediment slurries, but not in the mineral soil or sediment slurries. Hexazinone was chemically dissipated best in the peat amended mineral soil and sediment slurries. In contrast, dichlobenil chemically dissipated in the mineral soil and sediment slurries. The dissipation product 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) concentrations were lowest in the mineral soil, while dissipation was generally poor regardless of plant-derived OM, only algal agar enhanced its chemical dissipation. Based on sterilized counterparts, only terbutryn appeared to be microbially degraded in the organic soil, i.e., chemical dissipation of pesticides would appear to be utmost important, and could be the first response in the natural cleansing capacity of the environment, during which microbial degradation evolves. Consistent with compound-specific dissipation in the mineral or organic environments, long-term concentrations of pentachloroaniline and hexachlorobenzene were lowest in the mineral-rich soils, while concentrations of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DTT) and metabolites were lowest in the organic soils of old market gardens. OM amendments changed pesticide dissipation in the mineral soil towards that observed in the organic soil; that is OM accelerated, slowed down or stopped dissipation.

OXYGEN FLUX MEASUREMENTS IN ORGANIC SOIL

1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 641-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES A. CAMPBELL
Keyword(s):  
Applied Voltage ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Oxygen Flux ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Effective Voltage ◽  
Flux Measurements ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Almost All

Many measurements of oxygen flux in mineral soils have been reported; however, few such measurements have been made in organic soil. Almost all reported measurements of oxygen flux are at constant applied voltage, despite criticism of this technique, possibly due to the complexity of existing techniques for measuring oxygen flux at effective voltage. Equipment suitable for measuring oxygen flux at applied and effective voltage in organic soil was designed, and simplified techniques were developed and tested. As reported for mineral soils, soil resistance is relatively constant spatially and with depth in individual soils. Limited poisoning of the platinum electrode surface occurred after long periods of time and, contrary to previous assumptions, cannot be detected by erratic readings. Unlike mineral soil, the amperage-voltage slopes are constant over a wide range of organic soils, simplifying the technique for estimating oxygen flux at constant effective volatage. Comparison of simultaneous measurements of oxygen flux at constant and effective voltage indicates that oxygen flux measurements at effective voltage were twice those at applied voltage and strongly correlated (r2 = 0.96, n = 22).

scholarly journals Field Infection of Virus-Free Sugarcane by Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus and Effect of Yellow Leaf on Sugarcane Grown on Organic and on Mineral Soils in Florida

Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (9) ◽  
pp. 2367-2373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wardatou Boukari ◽  
Claudia Kaye ◽  
Chunyan Wei ◽  
Martha Hincapie ◽  
Chris LaBorde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Type ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Yellow Leaf ◽  
Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus ◽  
Infected Seed ◽  
Virus Prevalence ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Leaf Virus

Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV), the causal agent of yellow leaf, is widespread in Florida. Two field trials were set up, one on organic soil and one on mineral soil, to investigate the rate and timing of sugarcane infection by SCYLV under field conditions and the effect of the virus on yield. Each trial consisted of plots planted with healthy or SCYLV-infected seed cane of two commercial cultivars. Virus prevalence varied from 83 to 100% in plots planted with infected seed cane regardless of cultivar, location, and crop season. On organic soil, plants of virus-free plots became progressively infected in plant cane and first ratoon crops. On mineral soil, healthy sugarcane became initially infected in the first ratoon crop. After three crop seasons, the highest SCYLV prevalence rates were 33 and 7% on organic and mineral soils, respectively. No significant negative effect of SCYLV on yield was found in plant cane crop regardless of cultivar and soil type. However, yield reductions in ratoon crops varied from nonsignificant to 27% depending on cultivar and soil type. Low virus prevalence observed after three crop seasons suggested that planting virus-free seed cane should limit the impact of SCYLV on sugarcane production in Florida.

scholarly journals Red imported fire ant invasion reduces the populations of two banana insect pests in South China

Sociobiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Zheng Wang ◽  
Ling Zeng ◽  
Yongyue Lu
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
Banana Plantations ◽  
Imported Fire Ant

As a severe invasive pest, red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) had important effects on ecosystem of its infected areas. Here, we surveyed impact of S. invicta on populations of two banana insect pests, banana skipper (Erion tatorus Evans) and banana stephanitis (Stephanitis typical Distant). The results showed that influences of S. invicta on population of E. tatorus and S. typical depend on weed coverage degree of banana plantations. Comparing to the areas without S. invicta, banana skipper population was reduced by 39.2%, 41.4% and 23.4% respectively, in high, moderate and low weed coverage of banana plantations with S. invicta invasion. Banana stephanitis population was reduced by 17.8%, 43.0% and 39.2% respectively, in high, moderate and low weed coverage of banana plantations with S. invicta invasion. 

scholarly journals Metastriate Ixodid Life Stages Protected from Predatory Ants in Texas

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1063-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan T Showler ◽  
Weste L A Osbrink ◽  
Bailee N Dorsey ◽  
Ryan M Caesar
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Amblyomma Americanum ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Pogonomyrmex Barbatus ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
Hot Dog ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Predatory Ants

Abstract Multiple predatory ant species, including the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), have been reported to attack ixodids (Ixodida: Ixodidae), but evidence has largely been circumstantial. When living lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acarina: Ixodidae), eggs, and unfed and blood-engorged larvae, nymphs, and adults were deployed on bait transects with hot dog slices and dead house flies, Musca domestica L., in West, Central, and South Texas. The various ixodid life stages were not attacked while ants were strongly recruited to the hot dog and M. domestica baits. Similarly, when the same ixodid life stages and other baits were placed adjacent to colonies of two ant species (red harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus (Smith) and the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren) the ixodids were not preyed upon while hot dog slices and dead M. domestica were immediately attacked. Some ant species dragged blood-engorged adult ixodids and eggs away from the colony entrance, where they were originally placed, and discarded them. Evidence and mechanisms for allomone-based ant deterrence in the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, and Rhipicephalus (metastriate ixodids) are discussed. Protection of ixodids from predatory ants helps to explain why metastriate ixodids remain problematic worldwide despite the presence of predaceous ants.

Rhythms in Foraging Behavior and Expression Patterns of the Foraging Gene in Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in relation to Photoperiod

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (6) ◽  
pp. 2923-2930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanyuan Lei ◽  
Yangyang Zhou ◽  
Lihua Lü ◽  
Yurong He
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behavior ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Activity Rhythm ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Stable Phase ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Reverse Transcription Quantitative Pcr ◽  
Foraging Gene ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren

Abstract The foraging gene (for) is associated with foraging and other associated behaviors in social insect species. Photoperiod is known to entrain the rhythmic biological functions of ants; however, how photoperiod might influence the intensity and duration of foraging, and the expression of for, remains unexplored. This study determined the correlation between rhythm in foraging behavior and expression of the foraging gene (Sifor) mRNA in red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Foragers were exposed to three photoperiod conditions (12:12 [L:D], 24:0 [L:D], and 0:24 [L:D]) in the laboratory and foraging activities were recorded using a video-computer recording system. Sifor expression in the foragers was tested using real-time reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. Results revealed that foraging activity rhythm and Sifor expression profile were unimodal under all three photoperiod conditions. Levels of foraging activity were associated with photoperiodic modification, a stable phase difference between the onset of activity and the onset of gene expression was discovered. Light-dark transients stimulated foraging activity in 12:12 (L:D). There were significant daily oscillations (amplitude of 0.21 ± 0.08 for 12:12 [L:D], 0.12 ± 0.02 for 24:0 [L:D], and 0.09 ± 0.01 for 0:24 [L:D]) in the expression of Sifor. A positive relationship (r = 0.5903, P < 0.01) was found between the expression level of Sifor and foraging activity, which indicated that Sifor is linked to some extent to foraging behavior. Our results demonstrated that foragers could adjust the rhythms in foraging behavior according to light–dark cycle and suggested that Sifor may play an important role in the response of S. invicta to photoperiod.

scholarly journals Naturally Occurring Compounds/Materials as Alternatives to Synthetic Chemical Insecticides for Use in Fire Ant Management

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 758
Author(s):  
Jian Chen ◽  
David H. Oi
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Natural Toxins ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
In Fire ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Made In

The invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (hereafter, fire ants), is a significant threat to public health and a danger to livestock, pets and wildlife due to their venomous stings. The fire ant has invaded many countries and regions and has become a globally significant pest. The current major tool to manage fire ants are synthetic insecticides that are used largely as stomach poisons in bait products or contact insecticides in spray, broadcast, drench, and dust products for area and nest treatments. In addition to these insecticide products, repellants and fumigants can also be useful in some unique scenarios. The ever-increasing public concern about the potential adverse effects of synthetic insecticides on health and the environment has been a driving force for searching for safer alternatives to control fire ants. Tremendous effort has been made in developing biologically-based control for managing fire ants; however, natural products continue to be one of the most attractive sources of safe alternatives to synthetic insecticides. Here, we summarized the synthetic insecticides that are currently used in managing fire ants, available alternative products in the current market, and academic efforts in searching for fire ant natural toxins, repellants and fumigants.

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