Annotation of segmentation pathway genes in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri

Insects have a segmented body plan that is established during embryogenesis when the anterior–posterior (A–P) axis is divided into repeated units by a cascade of gene expression. The cascade is initiated by protein gradients created by translation of maternally provided mRNAs, localized at the anterior and posterior poles of the embryo. Combinations of these proteins activate specific gap genes to divide the embryo into distinct regions along the anterior–posterior axis. Gap genes then activate pair-rule genes, which are usually expressed in parts of every other segment. The pair-rule genes, in turn, activate expression of segment polarity genes in a portion of each segment. The segmentation genes are generally conserved among insects, although there is considerable variation in how they are deployed. We annotated 25 segmentation gene homologs in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. Most of the genes expected to be present in D. citri based on their phylogenetic distribution in other insects were identified and annotated. Two exceptions were eagle and invected, which are present in at least some hemipterans, but were not found in D. citri. Many of the segmentation pathway genes are likely to be essential for D. citri development, and thus they may be useful targets for gene-based pest control methods.

Disruption of insect immunity using analogs of the pleiotropic insect peptide hormone Neb-colloostatin: a nanotech approach for pest control II

This work continues our studies on the pleiotropic activity of the insect peptide Neb-colloostatin in insects. In vivo immunological bioassays demonstrated that hemocytotoxic analogs of Neb-colloostatin injected into Tenebrio molitor significantly reduced the number of hemocytes in the hemolymph and impaired phagocytosis, nodulation and phenoloxidase activities in the insects. Among the analogs tested, [Ala1]-,[Val1]-, [Hyp4]- and [Ach4]-colloostatin were particularly potent in disrupting cellular immunity in larvae, pupae and adult insects. This result suggests that the most effective analogs showed increases in the bioactivity period in the hemolymph of insects when compared to Neb-colloostatin. Recently, we demonstrated that it is possible to introduce Neb-colloostatin through the cuticle of an insect into the hemolymph when the peptide is coupled with nanodiamonds. In this study, we showed that [Ala1]-, [Val1]-, [Hyp4]- and [Ach4]-colloostatin, when complexed with nanodiamonds, may also pass through the cuticle into the hemolymph and induce long-term impairments of immunity in T. molitor at all developmental stages. Studies on the tissue selectivity and effectiveness of Neb-colloostatin analogs and efficient methods for their introduction into insects may contribute to the development of eco-friendly pest control methods based on bioactive peptidomimetics.

A documentation of plants used by rural small-scale farmers to control maize pests in the eastern cape province of South Africa

Maize(Zea mays L.)small-scale farmers in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa are generally under-resourced, and as a result, their crops are vulnerable to pest attacks. The farmers often cannot afford farming implements and inputs, and tend to improvise with what is freely available in their surroundings. Regarding pests, farmers tend not to follow the conventional use of chemical insecticides and rather use alternative methods of control such as plant-based methods. Plant-based methods that are founded on formulations and plant combinations have been found to be eroding due to lack of documentation. This study sought to document the names of plants used in combinations and formulations and their preparation methods so that they can be further used to set a research agenda specific to affordable pest control methods for the Province. Surveys using the convenience and stratified purposive sampling techniques were conducted in selected rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province in order to investigate the plants, their combinations and formulations used by these farmers to control insect pests of maize. A total of 217 farmers were interviewed. Study protocols adhered to ethical standards set by the EasternCape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, whereas percentages were calculated using Microsoft Excel (2010). Findings revealed that most of the plants used were from familiesSolanaceaeandAsteraceae. The most preferred plant was Chenopodiumambrosioides, a perennial herb from the family Chenopodiceae. Although, several arthropods were mentioned by farmers as pests of maize in their cultivation areas, the predominant targets of formulations and combinations were maize stalk borers. These insects were also cited as most troublesome. The common plant part used in combinations and formulations was the leaves. Thefindingsraisedtheneed for continuous scientific validation and documentation of indigenous pest control methods to bridge the generational gap and increase the range of their use.

Detect caterpillar, grasshopper, aphid and simulation program for neutralizing them by laser

The protection of crops from pests is relevant for any cultivated crop. But modern methods of pest control by pesticides carry many dangers for humans. Therefore, research into the development of safe and effective pest control methods is promising. This manuscript presents a new method of pest control. We used neural networks for pest detection and developed a powerful laser device (5 W) for their neutralization. In the manuscript methods of processing images with pests to extract the most useful feature are described in detail. Using the following pets as an example: aphids, grasshopper, cabbage caterpillar, we analyzed various neural network models and selected the optimal models and characteristics for each insect. In the paper the principle of operation of the developed laser device is described in detail. We created the program to search a pest in the video stream calculation of their coordinates and transmission data with coordinates to the device with the laser.

Segmentation pathway genes in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri

Insects have a segmented body plan that is established during embryogenesis when the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis is divided into repeated units by a cascade of gene expression. The cascade is initiated by protein gradients created by translation of maternally provided mRNAs, localized at the anterior and posterior poles of the embryo. Particular combinations of these proteins activate specific gap genes to divide the embryo into distinct regions along the A-P axis. Gap genes then activate pair-rule genes, which are usually expressed in part of every other segment. The pair-rule genes, in turn, activate expression of segment polarity genes in a portion of each segment. The segmentation genes are generally conserved among insects, although there is considerable variation in how they are deployed. We annotated 24 segmentation gene homologs in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. We identified most of the genes that were expected to be present based on known phylogenetic distribution. Two exceptions were eagle and invected, which are present in at least some hemipterans, but were not identified in D. citri. Many of these genes are likely to be essential for D. citri development and thus may be useful targets for pest control methods.

EFFICIENCY OF BORIC ACID TO CONTROL PASTURE SPITTLEBUGS 𝘋𝘦𝘰𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘢 AND 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘻𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 (HEMIPTERA: CERCOPIDAE)

The Urochloa spp. (sin. Brachiaria spp.) is an important grass cultivated in Brazil. However, the pasture spittlebugs pest attack can limited this forage plant supply and animal production. In search of alternative pest control methods, this research evaluated the boric acid efficiency to control spittlebugs Deois flavopicta and Notozulia entreriana (Hemiptera: Cercopidae). The experiment was carried out under completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments were boric acid at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4% and insecticides permethrin 50 CE (0.005%) and imidacloprid 700 WG (0.02%). The number of surviving insects after pulverization of treatments to pasture spittlebugs pest control efficiency were performed. Boric acid at the concentration 0.4% showed 100% of efficiency to control spittlebugs D. flavopicta and N. entreriana species. Thus, boric acid at 0.4% can be used to integrated pest management programs of forage grasses.

Sex- and tissue-specific expression of odorant-binding proteins and chemosensory proteins in adults of the scarab beetle Hylamorpha elegans (Burmeister) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

In this study, we addressed the sex- and tissue-specific expression patterns of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in Hylamorpha elegans (Burmeister), an important native scarab beetle pest species from Chile. Similar to other members of its family, this scarab beetle exhibit habits that make difficult to control the pest by conventional methods. Hence, alternative ways to manage the pest populations based on chemical communication and signaling (such as disrupting mating or host finding process) are highly desirable. However, developing pest-control methods based on chemical communication requires to understand the molecular basis for pheromone recognition/chemical perception in this species. Thus, with the aim of discovering olfaction-related genes, we obtained the first reference transcriptome assembly of H. elegans. We used different tissues of adult beetles from males and females: antennae and maxillary palps, which are well known for embedded sensory organs. Then, the expression of predicted odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) was analyzed by qRT-PCR. In total, 165 transcripts related to chemoperception were predicted. Of these, 16 OBPs, including one pheromone-binding protein (PBP), and four CSPs were successfully amplified by qRT-PCR. All of these genes were differentially expressed in the sensory tissues with respect to the tibial tissue that was used as a control. The single predicted PBP found was highly expressed in the antennal tissues, particularly in males, while several OBPs and one CSP showed male-biased expression patterns, suggesting that these proteins may participate in sexual recognition process. In addition, a single CSP was expressed at higher levels in female palps than in any other studied condition, suggesting that this CSP would participate in oviposition process. Finally, all four CSPs exhibited palp-biased expression while mixed results were obtained for the expression of the OBPs, which were more abundant in the palps than in the antennae. These results suggest that these chemoperception proteins would be interesting novel targets for control of H. elegans, thus providing a theoretical basis for further studies involving new pest control methods.