scholarly journals Transinfection of buffalo flies (Haematobia exigua) with Wolbachia and effect on host biology

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukund Madhav ◽  
Geoff Brown ◽  
Jess A.T Morgan ◽  
Sassan Asgari ◽  
Elizabeth A. McGraw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Genetic Background ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Hatch Rate ◽  
Fitness Effects ◽  
Fitness Traits ◽  
Infection Dynamics ◽  
Somatic Tissues ◽  
Germinal Tissue

AbstractA widespread insect endosymbiont Wolbachia is currently of much interest for use in novel strategies for the control of insect pests and blocking transmission of insect-vectored diseases. Wolbachia-induced effects can vary from beneficial to detrimental depending on host biology and the genetic background of the infecting strains. As a first step towards investigating the potential of Wolbachia for use in the biocontrol of buffalo flies (BF), embryos, pupae, and adult female BF were injected with three different Wolbachia strains (wAlbB, wMel and wMelPop). BF eggs were not easily injected because of their tough outer chorion and embryos were frequently damaged resulting in less than 1% hatch rate of microinjected eggs. No Wolbachia infection was recorded in flies successfully reared from injected eggs. Adult and pupal injection gave a much higher survival rate and resulted in somatic infection and germinal tissue infection in surviving flies with transmission to the succeeding generations on a number of occasions. Investigations of infection dynamics in flies from injected pupae confirmed that Wolbachia were increasing in numbers in BF somatic tissues and ovarian infections were confirmed with wMel and wMelPop in some instances, though not with wAlbB. Measurement of fitness traits indicated reduced longevity, decreased and delayed adult emergence, and reduced fecundity in Wolbachia-infected flies in comparison to mock-injected flies. Furthermore, fitness effects varied according to the Wolbachia strain injected with most marked reductions seen in the wMelPop-injected flies and least severe effects seen with the wAlbB strain.

scholarly journals Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) Eggs and Larvae Responses to a Low-Oxygen/High-Nitrogen Atmosphere

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 802
Author(s):  
Farhan J.M. Al-Behadili ◽  
Manjree Agarwal ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Yonglin Ren
Keyword(s):  
Ceratitis Capitata ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Nitrogen Atmosphere ◽  
Mediterranean Fruit Fly ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
High Nitrogen ◽  
Complete Control

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the most damaging horticultural insect pests. This study used a low-oxygen/high-nitrogen bioassay to control C. capitata. Two low-oxygen treatments were applied (0.5% O2 + 99.5 N2 and 5% O2 + 95% N2) to C. capitata eggs and 1st, 2nd and 3rd instar larvae from 0 to nine days on a carrot diet at 25 °C; 70—75% RH. The pupariation, adult emergence, and sex ratios of survived flies were examined. The results demonstrate that increased mortality of all tested life stages correlated with increased exposure times at both levels of low-oxygen treatments. Complete control of eggs was achieved after eight days and nine days for larvae using 0.5% O2 at 25 °C; 70–75% RH. The 3rd instar was the most tolerant stage, while the egg was the most susceptible stage to the low-oxygen environment. There were no significant differences in sex ratios between emerged adults after low-oxygen and control treatments. The present work demonstrates and confirms the mortalities of C. capitata caused by low-oxygen treatment, which may help develop new postharvest strategies to control this destructive fruit fly pest.

scholarly journals Effect of Larval Nutritional Regimes on Morphometry and Vectorial Capacity of Aedes aegypti for Dengue Transmission

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayana Gunathilaka ◽  
Hasini Upulika ◽  
Lahiru Udayanga ◽  
Deepika Amarasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Bovine Liver ◽  
Vectorial Capacity ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Larval Diet ◽  
Larval Food ◽  
Emergence Rate

Background. Nutritional level in larval diet of mosquito vectors influence on life history traits and vectorial capacity (VC). Therefore, the present study was carried out to assess the effect of larval diet concentration on vector bionomic and VC of Aedes aegypti in Sri Lanka. Method. Three batches of 400 Ae. aegypti larvae (first instar) were reared under different concentrations of larval diet (6%, 8%, and 10%; Volume/Volume), which was prepared by mixing 12.5 g of tuna meal, 9.0 g of bovine liver powder, and 3.5 g of Brewer’s yeast, in 100 ml of distilled water. The effect of larval diet concentration on different morphometric and functional parameters of larvae (length and width of head, abdomen, survival rate, and pupation success), pupae (length and width of cephalothorax, survival rate, and adult emersion), adult (length and width of thorax, abdomen, survival rate, longevity, biting frequency and fecundity of adults) were examined. In addition, VC of Ae. aegypti was evaluated. The General Linear Model (GLM) was used for the statistical analysis. Results. Larval head length, head width, thoracic width, abdominal length, abdominal width, total length, and survival rate significantly increased with higher doses of larval diet (P<0.05). In case of pupae, length, and width of cephalothorax, survival rate and adult emergence rate denoted an increasing trend with the elevated larval diets. However, the variations of survival rate and adult emergence rate were statistically significant (P<0.05). In adults, all morphometric parameters (thoracic length, abdominal length, abdominal width, and wing length) significantly increased with elevating larval diets levels (except for thoracic width) along with the biting frequency, fecundity, and survival rate (P<0.05) of adult females. The VC also denoted significant variations (F4,14 = 24.048; P<0.05) with the larval diet concentration, whereby the highest VC of 196.37 was observed at 10% treatment. Conclusion. Larval food availability has a significant influence on the adult fitness and thus may affect the incidence of dengue due to variations in the VC of Ae. aegypti. Hence, this investigation highlights the requirement in accounting the environmental variation at the larval stages in order to understand transmission dynamics and control of dengue in Sri Lanka.

scholarly journals Gene Families, Epistasis and the Amino Acid Preferences of Protein Homologs

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 117693431987048
Author(s):  
Evandro Ferrada
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Genetic Background ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Sequence Evolution ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Fitness Effects ◽  
Computational Work ◽  
And Function

In order to preserve structure and function, proteins tend to preferentially conserve amino acids at particular sites along the sequence. Because mutations can affect structure and function, the question arises whether the preference of a protein site for a particular amino acid varies between protein homologs, and to what extent that variation depends on sequence divergence. Answering these questions can help in the development of models of sequence evolution, as well as provide insights on the dependence of the fitness effects of mutations on the genetic background of sequences, a phenomenon known as epistasis. Here, I comment on recent computational work providing a systematic analysis of the extent to which the amino acid preferences of proteins depend on the background mutations of protein homologs.

scholarly journals Differential side-effects of Bacillus thuringiensis bioinsecticide on non-target Drosophila flies

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurélie Babin ◽  
Marie-Paule Nawrot-Esposito ◽  
Armel Gallet ◽  
Jean-Luc Gatti ◽  
Marylène Poirié
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Larval Mortality ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Offspring Number

Abstract Bioinsecticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spores and toxins are increasingly popular alternative solutions to control insect pests, with potential impact of their accumulation in the environment on non-target organisms. Here, we tested the effects of chronic exposure to commercial Bt formulations (Bt var. kurstaki and israelensis) on eight non-target Drosophila species present in Bt-treated areas, including D. melanogaster (four strains). Doses up to those recommended for field application (~ 106 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/g fly medium) did not impact fly development, while no fly emerged at ≥ 1000-fold this dose. Doses between 10- to 100-fold the recommended one increased developmental time and decreased adult emergence rates in a dose-dependent manner, with species-and strain-specific effect amplitudes. Focusing on D. melanogaster, development alterations were due to instar-dependent larval mortality, and the longevity and offspring number of adult flies exposed to bioinsecticide throughout their development were moderately influenced. Our data also suggest a synergy between the formulation compounds (spores, cleaved toxins, additives) might induce the bioinsecticide effects on larval development. Although recommended doses had no impact on non-target Drosophila species, misuse or local environmental accumulation of Bt bioinsecticides could have side-effects on fly populations with potential implications for their associated communities.

scholarly journals Comparative Effects of Rice and Melon Wastes on Sitophillus Zeamais, Storage Pest of Maize Grains in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
pp. 114-123
Author(s):  
R. T. Olorunmota ◽  
T. I. Ofuya ◽  
J. E. Idoko ◽  
B. A. Ogundeji
Keyword(s):  
Rice Husk ◽  
Rice Husk Ash ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
No Weight Loss ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Treatment Mortality

World’s calories supply from maize accounts for 20% but global postharvest grain loss caused by insect pests was estimated to be 10%. Control is mostly by synthetic insecticides with consequences such as insect resurgence and resistance and negative effect on non- target organisms. Maize grain losses to weevils are so enormous that effective local solution has to be sought. Thus this research aimed at assessing the effectiveness of powders and ash of rice husk and melon shell in controlling Sitophillus zeamais (Mots) in stored maize. Four treatments, Rice husk powder (RHP), Rice husk ash (RHA), Melon shell powder (MSP) and Melon shell ash (MSA) were applied at eight levels of 0 - 2.0 g 20 g-1 maize grain in three replicates. Five pairs (males and females) of freshly emerged S. zeamais were introduced into each treatment. Mortality test was carried out on the insects at 48 and 96 hours after introduction. Germination test was conducted on  ten randomly selected grains after weevil emergence. Significantly higher (p≤0.05) mortality was recorded in treated seeds than the control. Virtually 100% mortality of S. zeamais was attained in both RHA and MSA treated maize in 96hrs at all application rates. Mean adult emergence in maize treated with both RHA and MSA were zero, with no weight loss like those of grains treated with standard control of P. guinensis. Also maize grain treated with Rice husk ash (RHA) and Melon shell ash (MSA) recorded a mean WPI of zero irrespective of application rates as in P. guinensis. The mean percentage germination of maize grain was significantly higher (p≤0.05) in P. guinensis than those recorded on treatments, while germination of treated maize is higher than the control. Thus rice husk and melon shell are effective alternatives to insecticides against S. zeamais in stored maize.

scholarly journals Efficacy of natural oils against the biological activity on Callosobruchus maculatus and Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magda Mahmoud Amin Sabbour
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oils ◽  
Callosobruchus Maculatus ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Effective Dosage ◽  
Callosobruchus Chinensis ◽  
Storage Pests ◽  
Plant Essential Oils ◽  
Natural Oils ◽  
Coleoptera Tenebrionidae

Abstract Background Callosobruchus maculatus and C. chinensis (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are dangerous insects to stored grains. They are controlled by chemical insecticides, which cause a lot of harmful diseases and pollute the environment. Essential oils are a new trend for controlling of storage pests. Methods The nano-encapsulation process was carried out by polymerization technology. The tested nano-oils were experimented at tested concentration (0.5%) for their insecticidal activities against the third-instar larvae of tested insects. After 7 days of exposure, accumulative mortality percentages were calculated in the treated and untreated control. Also, the tested nano-oils were sprayed to the foam granules and were mixed with 2 g foam/100 g cow pea for testing the oviposition inhibitory effects of the tested oils. Additionally, the experiment was designed to test the latent effect of the tested oils against C. maculatus and C. chinensis on foam as surface protectant after 90-day intervals. Results After 7 days of treatments, the accumulations of C. maculatus were 61.2, 42.0, 46.6, and 35.5% after being treated with rosemary, catnip, garlic, and citronella oil, respectively, as compared to 0.3% in the control. When C. chinensis were treated with corresponding oils, the accumulations obtained 68.9, 44.1, 49.9, and 37.9% as compared to 0.1% in the control. When both the target insect pests, C. maculatus and C. chinensis, were treated with the tested nano-oils, results showed that the accumulations of C. maculatus recorded 82.2, 55.8, 66.3, and 46.3% when treated with nano-rosemary, nano-anis, nano-garlic, and nano-citronella as compared to 0.1 in the control. When the corresponding nano-oils were applied against C. chinensis, the accumulations obtained 89.7, 42.8, 70.9, and 48.9% as compared to 0.1% in the control. When the tested oils and their nano were tested against C. maculatus life cycle, the number of eggs laid/female were significantly decreased to 6.4 ± 9.89 eggs/female after nano-rosemary treatments as compared to 299.9 ± 9299 eggs/female in the control. The adult emergence decreased to 1% after nano-rosemary treatments as compared to 100% in the control. The malformations of the insect significantly increased after nano-rosemary and nano-anis to 100% as compared to 0% in the control. The same results obtained when C. chinensis were treated with different tested oils. The number of eggs C. chinensis laid/female was 8.3 ± 1.0 eggs/female as compared to 298.9 ± 7.89 eggs/female in the control. Conclusion This work research indicate that some essential oils might be useful for managing C. maculatus and C. chinensis in enclosed spaces because of their fumigant harmful action. Plant essential oils and their active ingredient have potentially high bioactivity against a range of the target insect pests. Furthermore, they are highly selective to C. maculatus and C. chinensis. Incorporation of essential oils into a controlled release nano-formulation prevents rapid vaporization and degradation, increases constancy, and preserves the lower effective dosage/application. Treated foam with nano-rosemary and nano-garlic oils and covering gunny bags provided many efficient effects against tested insects.

scholarly journals Effects of Entomopathogenic Fungi on the Biology of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its Reduviid Predator, Rhynocoris marginatus (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 117954331986711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Irfan Ullah ◽  
Nimra Altaf ◽  
Muhammad Afzal ◽  
Muhammad Arshad ◽  
Naunain Mehmood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Spodoptera Litura ◽  
Consumption Rate ◽  
Larval Mortality ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Lower Efficiency ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Lepidoptera Noctuidae ◽  
Infected Prey

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs), Isaria fumosorosea and Beauveria bassiana, are efficient biological agents in the management of multiple arthropod pests. In this study, the effects of both EPF species on various life stages of Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its natural enemy Rhynocoris marginatus (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) were determined under laboratory conditions. I. fumosorosea significantly ( P < .05) reduced the growth rate of the third and fourth instar larvae of S. litura. For relative consumption rate (RCR), the maximum impact was recorded for I. fumosorosea, which reduced the RCR of the larvae. The larvae of S. litura treated with I. fumosorosea showed significantly lower efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and the larval mortality rate (58.0%) was also higher compared with B. bassiana (33.3%). Similarly, I. fumosorosea had a significant effect on the pupal formation of S. litura; however, no significant effect was found on adult emergence percentage. To determine the effect of EPF-infected prey on the adult predator, their handling time, predatory rate, consumption rate, and the survival rate were recorded. No significant effect of EPF species on the predation rate was found. Furthermore, no significant difference was found in the survival rate of predators fed on either EPF-infected prey or healthy larvae. The interaction of these EPFs with a reduviid predator suggested that both EPF species, especially I. fumosorosea, could be used together with the predator to boost the biological control of S. litura in commercial crops.

Ozone as a Potential Fumigant Alternative for the Management of Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Wheat

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 1953-1963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara A Amoah ◽  
Rizana M Mahroof
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Sitophilus Oryzae ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Rice Weevil ◽  
Ozone Exposure ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Gas Loss ◽  
Wheat Kernels

Abstract Gaseous ozone, an oxidizing agent used as a disinfectant in food processing and preservation, has potential for the control of stored product insects. In this study, we investigated ozone for the management of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a serious stored product insect pest. We exposed eggs, immature stages within wheat kernels, and adults of the rice weevil to 200-ppm ozone for 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 h. Insects were placed at 5, 15, or 25 cm depth within a wheat mass in PVC pipes (10 cm in diameter, 30 cm in height) and exposed to ozone. Egg eclosion was recorded 10 d after treatment (DAT), and immature stages were observed for adult emergence 28 DAT. Adults were observed for survival immediately after ozone exposure and again at 1 and 2 DAT. Egg eclosion was significantly lower at 5 cm compared with 25 cm at all exposure times, but not the 12-h exposure time. For each exposure time tested, significantly lesser adults developed from kernels and none of the adults survived at the 5 cm depth compared with the 15 and 25 cm depths. Survival rate of adults was significantly higher at 25 cm depth than at 15 cm depth at the 24–60 h. The deeper the insect in the grain mass, the higher the survival rate. The work reported suggests that ozone is effective in killing all life stages of S. oryzae; however, the efficacy of the gas is dependent on the concentration, exposure time, depth, and gas loss.

Evaluation of Microbial Products for the Control of the Mushroom Phorid Fly, Megaselia halterata (Wood)

2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fedai Erler ◽  
Ersin Polat ◽  
Halil Demir ◽  
Huseyin Cetin ◽  
Tugba Erdemir
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematode ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Steinernema Feltiae ◽  
Chemical Insecticide ◽  
Mushroom Production ◽  
Microbial Products ◽  
Chlorpyrifos Ethyl

Over the last decade, mushroom production has become one of the most actively developing fields of agriculture in Turkey. About 45% of the total mushroom production and &gt;50% of the total compost production occurs in the Antalya-Korkuteli district (southwestern Turkey). Major insect pests of mushroom production are cecidomyiid, sciarid and phorid flies with Megaselia halterata (Wood) (Diptera: Phoridae) being the most common species in the district. In the present study, two commercial microbial products [a bacterial larvicide, Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis Berliner (Bti) commercially available as Gnatrol® (Valent USA Corp., Walnut Creek, CA), and an entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) Wouts, Mracek, Gerdin & Bedding commercially available as Entonem® (Koppert Biological Systems, The Netherlands)] and spinosad, a biologically-derived insecticide that is commercially available as Laser® (Dow AgroSciences, Zionsville Road, IN), were evaluated for control of M. halterata in 3 successive mushroom-growing periods. These products were compared with a control treated with water and a conventional chemical insecticide control (chlorpyrifos-ethyl). Treatments were targeted at larvae as soil drenches; treatment efficacy was evaluated by assessing adult emergence and larval damage. Treatments with the microbial products had significantly lower numbers of emerging adults than those observed in water-treated control. There were no significant differences in adult emergence among the 3 microbial products and the chlorpyrifos-ethyl control over the 3 growing periods. Each of the microbial products reduced the incidence of fruit damage by the larvae and resulted in significantly lower damage rates when compared with the watertreated control. These results suggest that these microbial products can be used as alternatives to conventional chemicals in controlling M. halterata on mushroom.

scholarly journals Asymmetrical Interactions between Wolbachia and Spiroplasma Endosymbionts Coexisting in the Same Insect Host

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 4805-4810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shunsuke Goto ◽  
Hisashi Anbutsu ◽  
Takema Fukatsu
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Background ◽  
Malpighian Tubules ◽  
Insect Host ◽  
Wolbachia Pipientis ◽  
Host Insect ◽  
Infection Dynamics ◽  
Host Genetic ◽  
Tissue Tropisms ◽  
Host Development ◽  
Host Tissues

ABSTRACT We investigated the interactions between the endosymbionts Wolbachia pipientis strain wMel and Spiroplasma sp. strain NSRO coinfecting the host insect Drosophila melanogaster. By making use of antibiotic therapy, temperature stress, and hemolymph microinjection, we established the following strains in the same host genetic background: the SW strain, infected with both Spiroplasma and Wolbachia; the S strain, infected with Spiroplasma only; and the W strain, infected with Wolbachia only. The infection dynamics of the symbionts in these strains were monitored by quantitative PCR during host development. The infection densities of Spiroplasma exhibited no significant differences between the SW and S strains throughout the developmental course. In contrast, the infection densities of Wolbachia were significantly lower in the SW strain than in the W strain at the pupal and young adult stages. These results indicated that the interactions between the coinfecting symbionts were asymmetrical, i.e., Spiroplasma organisms negatively affected the population of Wolbachia organisms, while Wolbachia organisms did not influence the population of Spiroplasma organisms. In the host body, the symbionts exhibited their own tissue tropisms: among the tissues examined, Spiroplasma was the most abundant in the ovaries, while Wolbachia showed the highest density in Malpighian tubules. Strikingly, basically no Wolbachia organisms were detected in hemolymph, the principal location of Spiroplasma. These results suggest that different host tissues act as distinct microhabitats for the symbionts and that the lytic process in host metamorphosis might be involved in the asymmetrical interactions between the coinfecting symbionts.

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