An Open-Source Low-Cost Imaging System Plug-In for Pheromone Traps Aiding Remote Insect Pest Population Monitoring in Fruit Crops

This note describes the development of a plug-in imaging system for pheromone delta traps used in pest population monitoring. The plug-in comprises an RGB imaging sensor integrated with a microcontroller unit and associated hardware for optimized power usage and data capture. The plug-in can be attached to the top of a modified delta trap to realize periodic image capture of the trap liner (17.8 cm × 17.8 cm). As configured, the captured images are stored on a microSD card with ~0.01 cm2 pixel−1 spatial resolution. The plug-in hardware is configured to conserve power, as it enters in sleep mode during idle operation. Twenty traps with plug-in units were constructed and evaluated in the 2020 field season for codling moth (Cydia pomonella) population monitoring in a research study. The units reliably captured images at daily interval over the course of two weeks with a 350 mAh DC power source. The captured images provided the temporal population dynamics of codling moths, which would otherwise be achieved through daily manual trap monitoring. The system’s build cost is about $33 per unit, and it has potential for scaling to commercial applications through Internet of Things-enabled technologies integration.

Tolerance of sugarcane cultivars to Mahanarva fimbriolata

ABSTRACT: Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), the sugarcane spittlebug, is one of the most important pests of this crop in Brazil. The magnitude of its damage depends on the pest population, the plants size when they are infested and the cultivar tolerance. The knowledge about those parameters allows the elaboration of the spittlebug management matrix, in which small plants and less tolerant varieties fields are prioritized for sampling and controlling in relation to developed plants and tolerant varieties fields. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the response of sugarcane genotypes to M. fimbriolata, so that they can be correctly allocated in the management matrix. Two experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions using a randomized block design with treatments in a factorial arrangement of 2×11 (experiment 1) and 2×21 (experiment 2), with six (experiment 1) or five replicates (experiment 2). The first factor included two levels of infestation (infested and noninfested plants with spittlebugs), while the second consisted of the cultivars. Cultivars IACSP01-5503, CTC 9004 and RB925211 were considered tolerant to spittlebug, they did not show significant reductions in aboveground biomass, despite showing symptoms of pest attack, as leaves yellowing, while CV6654 and IACSP01-3127 were the least tolerant cultivars, showing the highest reduction in aboveground biomass due to M. fimbriolata infestation. Thus, CV6654 and IACSP01-3127 should be prioritized for sampling and control over the others. On average, spittlebug infestations caused 30.9 % of reduction of aboveground biomass.

MONITORING AND CONTROL OF THE PEST TUTA ABSOLUTA (MEYRICK) IN TOMATO CROPS UNDER HIGH PLASTIC TUNNELS

Tuta absoluta – tomato leafminer (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a major pest of tomato crops in protected areas, which attacks both foliage and fruit, in all phases of plant growth. Its invasion has led to yield and quality decrease, increased costs to control and high dependence on chemical insecticides. With pheromone traps it is possible to monitor and reduce the density of the pest population. The experience was established in 2020, at a farmer in Dobreni village (Giurgiu county). In the first and second crop cycle, the population of the pest Tuta absoluta was monitored, by placing Delta pheromone traps in tomato crops. The Sahmat F1 tomato hybrid was planted in both crop cycles. Pest monitoring was performed weekly, by changing the adhesive plates with pheromones from Delta traps, on the dates: 03.06, 10.06, 17.06, 24.06, 01.07, 08.07, 15.07, 22.07 in the first cycle of crop and on the dates: 29.07, 05.08, 12.08, 19.08, 02.09 , 09.09, 16.09, 23.09 in the second cycle. The appearance and evolution of the attack were recorded in the both crop cycles and its influence on production was established.

Intercropping Systems in Wheat (Triticum sativum L.) for Insect Pests and Disease Management – A Review

Cereal crop wheat, Triticum sativum L., is an important food and feed crop that is grown all over the world. There is a complementary relationship between legumes and cereals for nitrogen resources, it was found that intercropped legumes acquire a higher amount of atmospheric nitrogen in comparison to legumes grown as an individual crop. Furthermore, both wheat and pulse intercropping give benefits in terms of minimizing pests and diseases. Intercropping not only restricts onset of pest species but also crop combinations conserves beneficial insects that can preserve the damaging pest population below the threshold level. In the current study, numerous instances were provided that show successful control of various insect pests when wheat was intercropped with mustard, Linseed, barley, mung bean, canola, and other crops. Wheat intercropping with other crops can be used as part of an integrated pest management strategy to reduce pest incidence while also increasing the number of beneficial organisms.

Incidence of Groundnut Leafminer (GLM), Aproaerema modicella (Deventer) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and its Parasitic Fauna on Alternate Leguminous Hosts in Tamil Nadu, India

Background: The groundnut leafminer (GLM), Aproaerema modicella is an important pest of several legume crops which causes 50 to 100 per cent yield loss in India. The exploration of indigenous natural enemies is crucial to the success of every biological control strategy. Besides, alternative host plants act as a source of both herbivorous pests and their natural enemies. In this view, occurrence of GLM and their parasitic fauna on groundnut, alternate leguminous hosts viz., redgram and babchi were recorded. Methods: Survey on damage potential of GLM and their parasitic fauna were recorded on groundnut at Sivagangai and Coimbatore districts of Tamil Nadu, India during 2016 to 2018. Survey was also conducted to find the damage potential of A. modicella on alternate leguminous hosts viz., redgram, babchi and their parasitic fauna at Coimbatore district. The damage potential of A. modicella, per cent parasitization and parasitoid emergence were assessed from A. modicella infested groundnut, redgram and babchi leaves. Result: Severe incidence of A. modicella was recorded as 98.10% (2016 to 2017) and 98.45% (2017 to 2018) at Sivagangai district. The parasitization of GLM was also found higher at Sivagangai recording 46.67% in both the years which was positively related with the pest population. 13 hymenopteran parasitoids belonging to eight families were recorded. Among them, Avga choaspes Nixon recorded high per cent parasitoid emergence (20.00%). Furthermore, GLM incidence on redgram and babchi indicated the highest damage potential of 38.20 and 34.50 per cent and parasitization of 33.33 and 20.00 per cent, respectively during 2017 to 2018.

Bioactive Modified Non-Wovens as a Novel Approach of Plants Protection against Invasive Slugs

Invasive slugs generate significant problems in the area of horticultural and agricultural production. Despite the multitude of methods to reduce the pest population, including preventive, mechanical, agrotechnical, cultivation, biological, and chemical treatments, no effective plant protection strategy has been developed so far. In this paper, a solution based on modified non-woven fabric with bioactive molluscicidal properties using the extract of tansy flower, metaldehyde, and abamectin (Vertigo® 018 EC) was proposed. All modified mats show significant anti-slug properties in comparison to control, and molluscicidal properties depend on the type of active substance. Non-woven modified with commonly used metaldehyde demonstrated fast action against slugs and presents the highest efficiency. The effectiveness of non-woven mats with Vertigo® 018 EC is lower than for the mats with metaldehyde but higher than for the mats modified with tansy flower extract. The proposed solution will enable removing and neutralization of molluscicide from the fields, after the efficient pest control, according to circular economy principles. Moreover, it may allow for better control of the molluscicide release to the environment in comparison to widely used pellets, and contribute to the virtual protection of plants against invasive slugs.

Efektifitas Tanaman Refugia Border Crop terhadap Serangan Hama Plutella xylostella dan Crocidolomia Binotalis pada Tanaman Kubis Bunga

<p>Pest attacks that become obstacles in cauliflower cultivation are <em>Plutella xylostella</em> and <em>Crocidolomia binotalis</em>, which can cause yield loss and crop failure. Efforts that can be used to reduce excessive use of pesticides are by controlling by the principles of integrated pest control by manipulating habitat using refugia plants grown as border crops. The plants used as refugia were <em>T. subulata</em> and <em>T. erecta</em>. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of refugia as a border crop against the intensity and attack of <em>P. xylostella</em> and<em> C. binotalis </em>pests. The design used was a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four treatments and six replications. Observations were made eight times with an interval of one week. Parameters observed were pest population, attack intensity, and parasitization level. The population of <em>P. xylostella</em> and <em>C. binotalis</em> larvae was highest in the P0 (control) treatment. The lowest average <em>P. xylostella</em> and <em>C. binotalis</em> larvae population was in the P3 treatment (<em>T<span style="text-decoration: underline;">. subulata</span> + T. erecta</em>). The highest percentage of damage intensity every week in the control treatment (P0). Treatment P3 (T. <em>subulata + T. erecta</em>) gave a significantly different effect compared to treatment P1 (<em>T. subulata</em>) P2 (<em>T. erecta</em>) and P0 (control). No parasitoid was found that attacks <em>P. xylostella</em>, <em>Eriborusargenteopilosus</em> is a parasitoid of <em>C. binotalis</em> with a parasitation rate of 54%.</p>

Top Three Strategies of ss(+)RNA Plant Viruses: Great Opportunists and Ecosystem Tuners with a Small Genome

ss(+)RNA viruses represent the dominant group of plant viruses. They owe their evolutionary superiority to the large number of mutations that occur during replication, courtesy of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Natural selection rewards successful viral subtypes, whose effective tuning of the ecosystem regulates the interactions between its participants. Thus, ss(+)RNA viruses act as shuttles for the functionally important genes of the participants in symbiotic relationships within the ecosystem, of which the most common ecological triad is “plant–virus–insect”. Due to their short life cycle and large number of offspring, RNA viruses act as skillful tuners of the ecosystem, which benefits both viruses and the system as a whole. A fundamental understanding of this aspect of the role played by viruses in the ecosystem makes it possible to apply this knowledge to the creation of DNA insecticides. In fact, since the genes that viruses are involved in transferring are functionally important for both insects and plants, silencing these genes (for example, in insects) can be used to regulate the pest population. RNA viruses are increasingly treated not as micropathogens but as necessary regulators of ecosystem balance.

Identifikasi Serangan Serangga Hama di Pertanaman Padi (Oryza Sativa L.) di Lahan Persawahan Tinggarjaya

Rice crops is included into the family of Graminae that produces seeds from China. Rice Plant is the crops that produce rice, consumed approximately by 90 % from the whole citizens of Indonesia as the main food. This study aims to identify indect pest attacks in rice plantations in Tinggarjaya rice fields. From the results of the research that has been carried out, various kinds of insect pests were found in the Tinggarjaya rice fields. The main pests found were brown planthopper (N. Iguens), rice bug (Leptocorixa acuta), green grasshopper (Oxya serville), ground bedbug (Scotinophara coarctata F.), seed fly (Atherigona exigua), false white pest (Nymphula depunctalis guene), and green grasshopper (Atractomorpha crenulata). Each pest a different population density. Not all pests can be found at every stage of rice plant growth. The largest pest population was found in the generative stage.

The results of catching winged aphids with water traps on potato plantings in the southern part of the Arkhangelsk region

Dynamics of the number and species composition of aphids were studied on seed potatoes using yellow water traps in the southern part of the Arkhangelsk region in 2018-2019. 12 species of winged aphids (165 insects) were identified in 2018, and 16 species (115 insects) - in 2019. The following types dominated: black bean aphid A. fabae Scop., bird cherry-oat aphid R. padi L., blackcurrant-sowthistle aphid H. lactucae L., glasshouse-potato aphid A. solani Kalt. The share of aphids as direct and indirect vectors of viral diseases was 91 % of the total number in 2018, and 79.1 % in 2019. The pest population of potato plants depended directly on weather conditions of the growing season. The sum of the average daily temperatures during the period of catching aphids was 1273.3 C in 2018, and 983.3 C - in 2019. During the experimental period, 131.6 mm of precipitation fell in 2018, and 280.4 mm - in 2019. Due to the constant presence of aphids on seed potato crops, annual monitoring of pest population and, in case of necessity, protective measures are required.