IMPACT OF NATURAL ENEMIES ON LARVAE OF THAUMETOPOEA BONJEANI (LEPIDOPTERA NOTODONTIDAE) IN ASSOCIATION WITH THAUMETOPOEA PITYOCAMPA IN NORTHERN ALGERIA

The cedar processionary moth, Thaumetopoea bonjeani (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), is a serious pest of the Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica in north-western Africa and it is involved in the decline of this endangered tree species. Natural enemies of the cedar processionary moth are poorly known, especially for parasitoids, predators and pathogens of the larval-pupal life stages. Mature larvae were collected and examined in 2014 and 2015 in natural stands of Atlas cedar in the Djurdjura (northern Algeria), in occurrence with pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa. The overall mortality rate of larvae of Thaumetopoea bonjeani ranged from 26.4% to 31.1%, with generalist predators and parasitoids being more effective than pathogens. Four primary parasitoid species were recorded, of which four tachinid flies and one braconid wasp, as well as four predatory beetles and one fungus. The most important species were the carabid Calosoma sycophanta and the tachinid Compsilura concinnata. The cooccurrence of T. bonjeani and T. pityocampa may offer to generalist natural enemies an extended period of availa- bility of similar preys, as the two processionary moths have different life cycles. The sharing of natural enemies between the two species of Thaumetopoea can mitigate the outbreaks of both species.

Animais Venenosos em Território Português: Abordagem Clínica de Picadas e Mordeduras

There are many native species of animals with the potential to cause severe disease in Portugal. Of the four clinically relevant snake species, the vipers (Vipera latastei and Vipera seoanei) are the most concerning. They can cause severe disease and require in-hospital management, monitoring and specific treatment, including the administration of anti-snake venom serum. The Malpolon monspessulanus and Macroprotodon brevis snakes cause mostly localized clinical manifestations, which do not require specific treatment. Only a minority of the spider species in Portugal possess chelicerae (mouthparts of the Chelicerata, shaped as either articulated fangs or pincers, which may contain venom or be connected to the venom glands and are used for predation or capture of food) long enough to perforate the human skin. Nevertheless, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus and Loxosceles rufescens spider bites may require specialized treatment in a hospital setting, as well as careful active symptom surveillance. Diversely, the treatment for Scolopendra cingulata and Scolopendra oraniensis centipedes’ bites is merely symptomatic. The only existing scorpion species in Portugal is the Buthus ibericus; its sting typically causes local symptoms with intense pain, and its treatment consists essentially of analgesia. The insects of the Hymenoptera order, such as bees and wasps, have the ability to inject venom into the skin. Most people present only with local or regional inflammatory response, and symptomatic treatment is usually effective. Even so, individuals with hypersensitivity to bee venom may develop anaphylaxis. Several marine species in the Portuguese coast are venomous to humans, including weeverfish (Trachinidae family), stingrays (Dasyatis pastinaca, Taeniura grabata, Myliobatis aquila), red scorpion fish (Scorpaena scrofa), cnidaria (Pelagia noctiluca, Chrysaora hysoscella, Physalia physalis) and bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata); treatment is symptomatic. Contact with the larvae or bristles (chitinous structures with locomotor or tactile functions) of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (pine processionary) can cause cutaneous, ocular and, rarely, respiratory reactions; its management is also symptomatic.

Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly Reveals Significant Gene Expansion in the Toll and IMD Signaling Pathways of Dendrolimus kikuchii

A high-quality genome is of significant value when seeking to control forest pests such as Dendrolimus kikuchii, a destructive member of the order Lepidoptera that is widespread in China. Herein, a high quality, chromosome-level reference genome for D. kikuchii based on Nanopore, Pacbio HiFi sequencing and the Hi-C capture system is presented. Overall, a final genome assembly of 705.51 Mb with contig and scaffold N50 values of 20.89 and 24.73 Mb, respectively, was obtained. Of these contigs, 95.89% had unique locations on 29 chromosomes. In silico analysis revealed that the genome contained 15,323 protein-coding genes and 63.44% repetitive sequences. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that D. kikuchii may diverged from the common ancestor of Thaumetopoea. Pityocampa, Thaumetopoea ni, Heliothis virescens, Hyphantria armigera, Spodoptera frugiperda, and Spodoptera litura approximately 122.05 million years ago. Many gene families were expanded in the D. kikuchii genome, particularly those of the Toll and IMD signaling pathway, which included 10 genes in peptidoglycan recognition protein, 19 genes in MODSP, and 11 genes in Toll. The findings from this study will help to elucidate the mechanisms involved in protection of D. kikuchii against foreign substances and pathogens, and may highlight a potential channel to control this pest.

Factors affecting Thaumetopoea pityocampa emergence in laboratory conditions

To investigate the factors affecting the emergence of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) in laboratory conditions, a number of 1487 larvae, prepupae and pupae were collected in the period February-May 2019 from five pest habitats: Fotinovo and Kandilka villages (inhabited by a summer phenological form), Sandanski and Klisura towns (winter phonological form occurs) and Sarnak village (both forms occur). At the date of collection, the rate of parasitism was very low (0-0.1%). Throughout the study, significant differences in the characteristics of pupal stage and mortality between both phenological forms were established. The rate of emerged adults varied from 21.4% to 77.6% in the observed habitats. The sex ratio between female and male specimens was almost equal. Only 0.6% of samples emerged in the second year, after diapause. In four localities (Fotinovo, Kandilka, Sandanski and Sarnak), the rate of infection by entomopathogens was between 6.0% and 20.8%, and the parasitism caused by tachinids – between 0.9% and 3.4%. The flight period of the summer and winter phenological forms of T. pityocampa were clearly differentiated with about a month. In summer form, the flight began in late May and ended in the last decade of June, and in winter form – from early July to the end of August. The duration of the flight period in both forms lasted 30 to 50 days with an equal number of emerged male and female specimens.

A Viral Pathogen from Pine Processionary Moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

Pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) is a serious defoliator in pine forests. Its larvae cause defoliation by eating leaves mainly on coniferous species, Pinus brutia, P. nigra, P. pinaster, and P. pinea in Turkey. Cypovirus is the most common entomopathogen in T. pityocampa populations. In this study, the ultrastructure of the cypovirus of T. pityocampa was observed in the intestine lumen of the predatory beetle, Calasoma sycophanta L. (Coleoptera: Carabidae), which supports the hypothesis of possible transmission of the virus to T. pityocampa populations by the predatory beetle. Polyhedral occlusion bodies (OBs) and virions were examined by electron microscopy. OBs of the virus were of irregular shape and 2.1 µm (1.2-3) in diameter, and each of them included up to 50 virions in a cross-section. Virions were icosahedral and 78.3 (65-90) nm in size and each virion had surface spikes. Smaller OBs, larger virions and a high number of virions per cross-section were the main features of the cypovirus in T. pityocampa. Our observations make us conclude that the predator beetle, C. sycophanta, may disseminate OBs of cypovirus when preying upon infected T. pityocampa larvae.

Thaumetopoea processionea (oak processionary moth).

T. processionea, commonly known as the oak processionary moth, is a major pest in many European countries and threatens the health of oak trees. The common and scientific names of T. processionea refer to the behaviour of the larvae to form long processions. The larvae cause severe defoliation, reducing the viability of oak trees. They also pose a risk to both human and animal health because they shed poisonous hairs, which can result in severe allergic reactions, amongst other health problems. The moth is native to central and southern Europe but is now present in almost all European countries and also in parts of the Middle East. EPPO issued a Pest Risk Analysis in 2007 for the UK in response to infestations of the species in Europe from 2006. At this time, infestations of the moth were observed on a range of oak (Quercus) species in London. The adult males are strong fliers and can fly long distances, such as from France to the UK (Evans, 2007). Host plants of this pest include many species of deciduous Quercus, and to a much lesser degree, Betula, Carpinus, Castanea, Corylus, Crataegus, Robinia and Fagus; plants commonly found in forests, woods or ornamental plantations in the UK, for example (Evans, 2007). Therefore, areas where these plants are present and offer a suitable climate for pest development are likely to be under threat from T. processionea. Various pines have been reported as hosts, but such records are suspect and are probably the result of confusion with the pine processionary (Thaumetopoea pityocampa).

Coding-Complete Genome Sequence of a Partitivirus Isolated from Pine Processionary Moth Eggs

ABSTRACT Two coding-complete nucleotide sequences of a partitivirus (family Partitiviridae) were discovered in transcriptomic data sets obtained from eggs of the Lepidoptera Thaumetopoea pityocampa. Each segment encodes a single open reading frame, and these two segments are predicted to encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and a coat protein, respectively.