Composition, Repellent, and Insecticidal Activities of Two South American Plants against the Stored Grain Pests Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

As part of a screening program to evaluate the biological activity of indigenous plants, we report the composition and the bioactivity of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Té de Burro Aloysia polystachya [(Griseb.) Moldenke] and Lemon Verbena Aloysia citriodora [Palau] against two of the most widespread secondary pests of stored products, the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum [Herbst] and the confused flour beetle Tribolium confusum [Jacqueline du Val]. Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the EOs led the identification of their major constituents and their relative proportions. EO of A. citriodora showed the highest repellent activity against both beetles (>70%). On the other hand, both plants showed fumigant toxicity only against T. confusum, without significant differences between them (LC50 values of 5.92 and 5.53 mg/L air for A. polystachya and A. citriodora, resp.). For contact toxicity (topical applications) the EO of A. polystachya was more effective (LD50 = 7.35 μg/insect) than the EO of A. citriodora (LD50 = 13.8 μg/insect) only against T. castaneum. On the other hand, T. confusum was not susceptible by contact to any of these EOs. These results provide important tools for the development of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.

Paradoxes of Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae): Abundance Patterns and Management of a Highly Imperiled Prairie Species

Although Oarisma poweshiek sometimes occurred in localized abundance, its known range is centered on the highly decimated northern tallgrass prairie of North America. To aid its conservation, we analyze surveys from 1988 to 1997 of populations no longer being found. While we recorded 2403 individuals at 20 sites, five sites had 87% of individuals, while 12 sites had only 2% of individuals. Most surveys during O. poweshiek flight had zero individuals recorded. In peak vegetative characteristics for O. poweshiek, fire management had the highest mean abundance but the lowest median abundance and lowest percent occurrence compared to idling and haying. Mean abundance was by far the lowest in the first year postfire compared to longer since fire. Median abundance and percent unit surveys where O. poweshiek was found indicated higher abundances the longer since fire. Although this skipper occasionally exhibited super-recoveries after fire, the median result in fire-managed occupied sites was zero. In a few years, abundance appeared synchronized across many sites, either low (1993, 1997) or high (1994-1995). It is only through a constant focus on avoiding the worst-case scenario that the rare best-case scenario of long-term population persistence appears possible for O. poweshiek.

Potential Application of Pheromones in Monitoring, Mating Disruption, and Control of Click Beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Wireworms, the larvae stage of click beetles (family, Elateridae), are serious soil dwelling pests of small grain, corn, sugar beet, and potato crops globally. Since the 1950s, conventional insecticides such as lindane provided effective and inexpensive protection from wireworms, and little integrated pest management research (IPM) was conducted. The removal of these products from the agricultural market, particularly Lindane, has resulted in increasing levels of wireworm damage to small grain, corn, and potato crops. The wireworm damage has become an increasing problem for growers, so the demand for a meaningful risk assessment and useful methods to restrict damage is increasing. However, due to the cryptic habitat of the wireworms, pest control is very difficult and leads to unsatisfying results. The prospective appropriateness of sex pheromone traps for employing management strategies against wireworm’s populations was first suggested with experimentation in Hungary and Italy. Simultaneously, considerable work has been done on the identification and use of pheromone traps to monitor population of click beetles. The work has been mostly done in European and former Soviet Union countries. For this paper, we reviewed what work has been done in monitoring the click beetle which was considered as pests and how the pheromones can be used in IPM to monitor and control wireworms/click beetles. Also, the possibilities of using the pheromone-baited traps for mating disruption and control tested in the fields were summarized.

Vouchering of Forensically Important Fly Specimens by Nondestructive DNA Extraction

DNA extraction frequently requires destruction of whole samples. However, when the sample is very rare or has taxonomic importance, nondestructive DNA extraction is required for preservation of voucher specimens. In the case of arthropod specimens, minor anatomical structures such as a single leg or a single wing are often sacrificed instead of the whole body for DNA extraction. In an attempt to save the entire anatomical structure of specimens, several authors tried to brew the whole specimen in a lysis buffer and to extract DNA from the “soup.” We applied this nondestructive DNA extraction technique to a forensically important blowfly species, Phaenicia sericata. With nondestructive DNA extraction, a satisfactory quantity and quality of DNA for PCR amplification was obtained with only minimal anatomical disruptions that do not alter the morphologic identification. This nondestructive method may be applicable to DNA extraction of rare samples as well as vouchering of regular fly samples.

Discrete Modes of Life Cycle in Velarifictorus micado Species Complex (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

Different modes of climatic adaptation often lead to a split in reproductive cohesion and stimulate speciation between populations with different patterns of life cycle. We here examined egg development and photoperiodic adaptations in the nymphal development of Velarifictorus micado. We defined fast hatching populations as nymphal diapause and slow hatching populations as egg diapause. The nymphs were reared under two photoperiods, LD 16 : 8 and LD 12 : 12 at 27.5°C, and the mean days of nymphal development were compared. The results indicate that the nymphal diapause populations showed slower nymphal development under LD 12 : 12 than under LD 16 : 8, and this retardation increased with the increase of original latitude. The egg diapause populations showed slower nymphal development under LD 16 : 8 than under LD 12 : 12. These features help synchronizing their overwintering stages. Gene flow from the opposite forms may disturb this synchronization mechanism, and therefore natural selection should favor displacement of the two forms. This could be an incipient climatic isolation mechanism of reproductive stage.

Larvicidal, Ovicidal, and Repellent Activities of Marine Sponge Cliona celata (Grant) Extracts against Culex quinquefasciatus Say and Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

Solvent extracts of marine sponge Cliona celata (Grant) were screened for larvicidal, ovicidal, and repellent properties against the filarial vector Culex quinquefasciatus Say and dengue vector Aedes aegypti L. Larvicidal and ovicidal activities of hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts were tested in four different concentrations ranging as 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 ppm. Among the three solvent extracts of C. celata, methanol extract showed the highest larvicidal activity at 500 ppm against both mosquito species. The LC50 and LC90 values of C. celata methanol extract were recorded as 95.63 and 242.16 ppm against C. quinquefasciatus larvae and 158.40 and 780.16 ppm against A. aegypti larvae, respectively. Ovicidal activity was high in methanol extract, in which 100% ovicidal activity was recorded in C. quinquefasciatus, and 72% ovicidal activity was recorded in A. aegypti at 500 ppm. The hexane extract was found to be the most effective protectant against the adult mosquitoes of both species. The mean protection time recorded in hexane extract was up to 273 and 165 min at 5 mg/cm2 dosage against C. quinquefasciatus and A. aegypti, respectively. Considering these bioactivities, C. celata could be used to obtain some novel pesticidal molecules.

Trail following Learning by Young Myrmica rubra Workers (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Ants use chemical trails, laid down on the ground, for recruiting congeners and helping them to return to the nest. The present work shows that young ants, less than one year old, though obviously reacting to the trail pheromone, are unable to efficiently follow a trail. These young ants begin to better walk along a trail when being in presence of trail following older congeners. Later on, they can by themselves rather efficiently follow a trail. Queens removed from their nest correctly move along a trail. The knowledge of the trail pheromone is thus native, while the trail following behavior is both partly native and partly learned. The latter learning is rapid and may be induced and/or enhanced by older trail following nestmates.

Exploring Flat Faced Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) from the Reserve Forests of Dooars, West Bengal, India

The present study deals with 29 lamiid species under 21 genera of Dooars, West Bengal, India. These include 4 newly recorded species, namely, Macrochenus isabellinus Aurivillius, Aesopida malasiaca Thomson, Pterolophia (Hylobrotus) lateralis Gahan and Nupserha quadrioculata (Thunberg) from India while 16 others (marked by ●) from the state.

The Effect of Prey Density on Life Table Parameters of Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Fed on Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under Laboratory Conditions

Life table gives the most comprehensive explanation of the survivorship, development, and reproduction of a population. The life table parameters of ladybeetle, Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), on different densities (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100) of third instar nymphs of Aphis gossypii were studied in a growth chamber (°C, % RH, and a photoperiod of 16L: 8D h). The adult preovipositional period and the total preovipositional period of female H. variegata were reduced as the prey density increased. The oviposition period was longer when prey density increased. Female longevity also increased significantly with increasing prey density. Fecundity was dependent on prey density. The lowest fecundity was obtained at density of 20 prey () and the highest at density of 100 ( eggs). Intrinsic rate of increase was dependent on prey density and ranged from to d−1 (female/female/day) with increasing prey density. Net reproductive rate and gross reproductive rate were also increased with increasing prey density. The peak reproductive values were dependent on prey density. However, mean generation time decreased as prey density increased. It was concluded that the increase in the density of A. gossypii nymphs had positive and significant effects on reproductive parameters of H. variegata.

Comparison of Biological Attributes of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations from India

Understanding the population dynamics of mosquito populations through life table analysis and insecticide susceptibility is important to assess the likely impact of vector control strategies as well as to aid the design of novel interventions. Variation in the life tables and other biological data was compared for two populations of Culex quinquefasciatus Say 1823 from geographically isolated regions, Gorakhpur and Pune from India. Under a standardized rearing regime and constant laboratory conditions, mosquitoes were reared and biological attributes of these populations were compared. Development and survival of immature and adult stages of Culex quinquefasciatus were found significantly different in Gorakhpur and Pune populations. Principal component analysis of morphological data revealed that the two populations form significantly different clusters which can be differentiated from each other based on siphon, saddle, anal gills, and pecten teeth related variables. Insecticide susceptibility results suggest that the larvae from both areas were more susceptible to deltamethrin as compared to DDT and malathion. The current study provides baseline information on survivorship, morphological variation and insecticide susceptibility of Culex quinquefasciatus. The results obtained in this study suggest that different geographical areas with contrasting habitats have significant influence on survival and reproductive strategies of Culex quinquefasciatus.