Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Qualitative and Quantitative Sequestration of Host Plant Carotenoids

Colombian aromatic herbs have great potential as an export commodity. The genus Copitarsia is considered as an economic and a quarantine pest attacking them. In herbivore insects, host plant choice is made by adults and influenced by host plant quality. There were performed olfactory and feeding tests by using four-arm olfactometer and offering four different aromatic herbs (basil, mint, rosemary, or thyme) to determine the host selection behavior of Copitarsia uncilata Burgos and Leiva. Parameters, such as adult choice, larval weight, and time spent by larva on particular herb were measured. The preferences of adults and immature of C. uncilata varied significantly among the herbs in olfactory and larva feeding tests. The adults showed significantly higher responses to essential oils of basil and rosemary. Higher weight of larva was recorded on mint and basil. Further studies on larval development and longevity of adults on different herbs are necessary.

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The composition, generic placement and host-plant relationships of the joviana-group in the Parallelia generic complex (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae, Catocalinae)

Invertebrate Systematics ◽

10.1071/is02030 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 111 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jeremy D. Holloway ◽

Scott E. Miller

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Host Plant ◽

Significant Preference ◽

Larval Host ◽

Two New Species ◽

Lepidoptera Noctuidae ◽

Generic System ◽

Host Plant Relationships

The biosystematic position of the Parallelia generic complex is reviewed and a revised generic classification of its component taxa is presented. Bastilla Swinhoe (= Xiana Nye, syn. nov., Naxia Guenée, syn. nov.) is identified as the most appropriate genus for a large number of these taxa, including the joviana-group, which is reviewed in detail, with description of two new species, B. nielseni, sp. nov. and B. binatang, sp. nov. Parallelia prouti Hulstaert, syn. nov. and P. cuneifascia Hulstaert, syn. nov. are recognised as junior synonyms of Bastilla vitiensis Butler and two newly described Tahitian taxa are transferred into the joviana-group. Larval host records are examined in relation to this new generic system and significant preference for the Euphorbiaceae is noted for several groups: Bastilla, Buzara Walker (= Caranilla Moore, syn. nov., another segregate from Parallelia) and an Australian group within Grammodes Guenée.

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Impact of Bt cotton on the immune system and histology of the midgut of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Animal Biology ◽

10.1163/15707563-00002405 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 185-197 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Franklin M. Cunha ◽

Valéria Wanderley-Teixeira ◽

Jorge B. Torres ◽

Álvaro A.C. Teixeira ◽

Thiago J.S. Alves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Bt Cotton ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Cry1ac Toxin ◽

Cellular Immune ◽

Natural Tolerance ◽

Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Despite the efficiency of transgenic plants expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins as insecticides against several lepidopterans, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one species that presents low susceptibility to most Bt crops. This study investigated the effects of the Cry1Ac toxin expressed by Bt cotton in the midgut of S. frugiperda and its effects on the humoral and cellular immune responses. Three hypotheses were proposed and tested with contributing factors for the natural tolerance of S. frugiperda: (i) midgut regenerative cells are activated by the Cry1Ac toxin, and thus renew the epithelial cells damaged by the protein, (ii) Cry1Ac increased production of nitric oxide or phenoloxidase in the hemolymph, and (iii) there are qualitative and quantitative variations in the hemocyte levels of S. frugiperda. Caterpillars were reared using Bt cotton (Acala 90B) and non-Bt isolines (Acala 90), from the first to the fourth instar. The Bt cotton promoted elongation of the epithelial cells in the midgut of S. frugiperda caterpillars. Hence, evidence only supported the hypothesised increase of phenoloxidase (ii) and qualitative and quantitative differences in hemocyte levels (iii) in insects that were fed with Bt and non-Bt cotton. These parameters seem to explain the low susceptibility of S. frugiperda to Cry1Ac toxin and they are a viable set of responses for the evaluation of other xenobiotic factors.

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