Management of flying insects on expressways through an academic-industrial collaboration: evaluation of the effect of light wavelengths and meteorological factors on insect attraction

AbstractInsect outbreaks often occur in the absence of natural enemies and in the presence of excess suitable host materials. Outbreaks of gypsy moths are especially problematic in remote areas located in high-latitude regions in Japan because the majority of adults emerge during the short summer season and initiate synchronous mass flight toward artificial lights. The aggregation of moths in public facilities not only is an annoyance to visitors but also permits the establishment of new populations the following year. The aim of this study was to establish a method to reduce the numbers of large moths that are attracted to lights in the rest areas of expressways in Hokkaido based on the results of research on their behavioral ecology and physiology. First, we conducted extensive insect surveys using light traps that emit light at different wavelengths; the traps were set along the expressways in the summers of 2014–2018. The insects attracted to the light were roughly classified into those showing a preference for broadband light wavelengths (from UV-A to green) and short light wavelengths (from UV-A to blue). The former included aquatic insects and winged ants, and the latter included moths and beetles. Next, we analyzed correlations between moth emergence and daily meteorological data. When gypsy moths were abundant during an outbreak, the daily catch of gypsy moths was positively correlated with the highest ambient temperature on the catch day but not with the visibility range, wind speed, or moon phase. In contrast, the daily catch of oak silkmoths did not correlate with any of these parameters. Our results provide guidance for the management of forest insects inhabiting cool-temperate to subarctic regions based on light wavelengths with reference to weather variables.

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Association Between Weather Variables, Airborne Inoculum Concentration, and Raspberry Fruit Rot Caused by Botrytis cinerea

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-09-16-0350-r ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 108 (1) ◽

pp. 70-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Odile Carisse ◽

Vanessa McNealis ◽

Alissa Kriss

Keyword(s):

Meteorological Data ◽

Fruit Rot ◽

Weather Variables ◽

Storage Duration ◽

Inoculum Concentration ◽

Crop Losses ◽

Airborne Inoculum ◽

Average Relative Humidity ◽

And Storage ◽

Field Plots

Botrytis fruit rot (BFR), one of the most important diseases of raspberry (Rubus spp.), is controlled primarily with fungicides. Despite the use of fungicides, crop losses due to BFR are high in most years. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between airborne inoculum, weather variables, and BFR in order to improve the management of the disease as well as harvest and storage decisions. Crop losses, measured as the percentage of diseased berries during the harvest period, were monitored in unsprayed field plots at four sites in three successive years, together with meteorological data and the number of conidia in the air. Based on windowpane analysis, there was no evidence of correlation between crop losses and temperature, vapor pressure deficit, wind, solar radiation, or probability of infection. There were significant correlations between crop losses and airborne inoculum and between crop losses and humidity-related variables, and the best window length was identified as 7 days. Using 7-day average airborne inoculum concentration combined with 7-day average relative humidity for periods ending 6 to 8 days before bloom, it was possible to accurately predict crop losses (R2 of 0.86 to 0.89). These models could be used to assist with managing BFR, timing harvests, and optimizing storage duration in raspberry crops.

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The human heat balance in the city of Novi Sad (Serbia)

Glasnik srpskog geografskog drustva ◽

10.2298/gsgd1204099k ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (4) ◽

pp. 99-112

Author(s):

Aleksandar Krajic

Keyword(s):

Heat Exchange ◽

Heat Balance ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Balance Model ◽

Human Organism ◽

Health Resource ◽

Weather Variables ◽

Climatological Station ◽

Novi Sad ◽

The City

This analysis is based on the human heat balance according to the bioclimatic man-environment heat exchange model created by Krzysztof B?a?ejczyk. The final result of the human heat balance model points to biothermal weather situations for the outdoor recreational needs. In this analysis, middles daily meteorological data (of climatological station of Novi Sad) were used for two extreme months, January and July. In this work, it is analyzed two periods, the first is for 1992-2010. and the second is for year 2010. The aim is to show how weather can be evaluated for recreational needs which the health resource of Novi Sad and to point out the shortcomings when it comes to multi-year analysis. The objective of this article has been to present a bioclimatic analysis of city Novi Sad and how weather variables come together in order to give a climate meaning on human organism.

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Modeling Infection of Strawberry Flowers by Botrytis cinerea Using Field Data

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto.2000.90.12.1367 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 90 (12) ◽

pp. 1367-1374 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Xiangming Xu ◽

David C. Harris ◽

Angela M. Berrie

Keyword(s):

Vapor Pressure ◽

Botrytis Cinerea ◽

Vapor Pressure Deficit ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Gray Mold ◽

Weather Variables ◽

Infection Models ◽

The Relationship ◽

Field Plots

The incidence of strawberry flower infection by Botrytis cinerea was monitored in unsprayed field plots in three successive years together with meteorological data and numbers of conidia in the air. There were large differences in conidia numbers and weather conditions in the 3 years. Three sets of models were derived to relate inoculum and weather conditions to the incidence of flower infection; by inoculum only, by weather variables only, and by both inoculum and weather variables. All the models fitted the observed incidence satisfactorily. High inoculum led to more infection. Models using weather variables only gave more accurate predictions than models using inoculum only. Models using both weather variables and inoculum gave the best predictions, but the improvement over the models based on weather variables only was small. The relationship between incidence of flower infection and inoculum and weather variables was generally consistent between years. Of the weather variables examined, daytime vapor pressure deficit and nighttime temperature had the greatest effect in determining daily incidence of flower infection. Infection was favored by low day vapor pressure deficit and high night temperature. The accuracy and consistency of the weather-based models suggest they could be explored to assist in management of gray mold.

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Modification of the TOMCAST Model with Aerobiological Data for Management of Potato Early Blight

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10121872 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 1872

Author(s):

Laura Meno ◽

Olga Escuredo ◽

Maria Shantal Rodríguez-Flores ◽

Maria Carmen Seijo

Keyword(s):

Early Blight ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Mean Value ◽

Leaf Wetness ◽

Weather Variables ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Mean Temperature ◽

Wetness Period ◽

Potato Crops ◽

Leaf Wetness Period

The present study focuses on establishing thresholds of weather variables for predict early blight in potato crops. For this, the TOMCAST model was adjusted using weather variables and Alternaria conidia levels (mainly A. solani and A. alternata) during six growing seasons in A Limia (Northwest Spain). TOMCAST for the effective management of early blight considers leaf wetness and air temperature to calculate daily severity values (DSVs). Spearman correlations between temperature (minimum and average), mean temperature during leaf wetness period and Alternaria concentration showed the highest positive significant coefficients (0.386, 0.230 and 0.372, respectively; p < 0.01). Specifically, Alternaria levels higher than 50 spores/m3 were found the days with air mean temperature above 18 °C, more than 7 h of leaf wetness. Leaf wetness was decisive to estimate the concentration of Alternaria, resulting in a significant linear regression model (R2 = 0.41; p < 0.001). TOMCAST was adapted to the area, considering 10 °C the minimum threshold for the mean value of temperature during the wet period and 10–15 accumulated disease severity values (DSV). Using TOMCAST, it was possible to predict the first Alternaria peak in most of potato growing seasons. Combining aerobiological and meteorological data to control fungal diseases during crops are a useful tool for sustainable agriculture.

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Seasonal and Weather Factors in Parasuicide

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.165.3.375 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 165 (3) ◽

pp. 375-380 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Andrew Barker ◽

Keith Hawton ◽

Joan Fagg ◽

Chris Jennison

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Meteorological Factors ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Body Temperature Regulation ◽

Monthly Variation ◽

Weather Variables ◽

Weather Factors ◽

Small Influence ◽

Methodological Problems ◽

Weather Parameters

BackgroundSeasonal variation in suicide and parasuicide has previously been reported. Few investigations have examined whether meteorological factors could influence suicidal behaviour, and the inconclusive results produced may be due to a variety of methodological problems. The present study overcomes some previous difficulties and tested whether parasuicide admisson rate is related to weather variables.MethodOver 12 000 admissions for parasuicide were analysed by month, season, and in relation to meteorological data, which were measured close to the admitting hospital.ResultsMarked seasonal (P < 0.001) and monthly (P < 0.001) variations in mean daily parasuicide numbers were seen in women but not men. Small but highly significant correlations were demonstrated between parasuicide rate and weather parameters (P < 0.01), which were more marked in women (P < 0.01). These effects were additional to the monthly variation (P < 0.05).ConclusionsWeather has a small influence on parasuicide. Gender differences in body temperature regulation might account for the sex difference seen.

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Development of Weather- and Airborne Inoculum-Based Models to Describe Disease Severity of Wheat Powdery Mildew

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-02-14-0201-re ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 99 (3) ◽

pp. 395-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Xueren Cao ◽

Dongming Yao ◽

Xiangming Xu ◽

Yilin Zhou ◽

Kejian Ding ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Powdery Mildew ◽

Disease Severity ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Free Field ◽

Model Performance ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Weather Variables ◽

Wheat Powdery Mildew ◽

Airborne Inoculum ◽

Airborne Conidia

Disease severity of wheat powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, was recorded weekly in fungicide-free field plots for three successive seasons from 2009 to 2012 in Langfang City, Hebei Province, China. Airborne conidia of B. graminis f. sp. tritici were trapped using a volumetric spore sampler, and meteorological data were collected using an automatic weather station. Cumulative logit models were used to relate the development of wheat powdery mildew to weather variables and airborne conidia density. Density of airborne conidia was the most important variate; further addition of weather variables, although statistically significant, increased model performance only slightly. A model based on variables derived from temperature and humidity had a generalized R2 of 72.4%. Although there were significant differences in model parameters among seasons, fine adjustment did not increase model performance significantly.

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