A review of the plant bug genus Macrotylus distributed in Hungary (Heteroptera: Miridae)

An overview on the representatives of the host plant specialist phyline genus Macrotylus Fieber, 1858 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae) distributed in Hungary is presented, including key, diagnoses, along with taxonomic, biogeographic, and ecological notes to the discussed species. First occurrences of Macrotylus quadrilineatus (Schrank, 1825) in Hungary are reported.

New occurrences of the ragweed leaf beetle (Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in Hungary

Fifteen new occurrences of ragweed leaf beetle (Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986) are presented from Hungary based on targeted faunistic investigations and the results of our call for citizen scientists. All records are concentrated on the nearby regions of Budapest, suggesting that the species was introduced to this northern central region of the country by human activity. The high number of new occurrences indicates that the species is steadily established in this region. In contrast, the natural dispersal from the neighbouring southern countries seems not to cross the Hungarian borders yet.

Residual toxicity of selected insecticides on Aphis gossypii and their safety limits on honeybees

Evaluation studies were carried out to simulate realistic field exposures of sulfoxaflor and flonicamid against Aphis gossypii at foraging time of Apis mellifera. Semi-field trials of field rates of sulfoxaflor and flonicamid against A. gossypii laboratory strain at 48 h of exposure had equipollent overall mean of mortality of 62.50 and 63.50%, respectively in season of 2020, likewise 60.50 and 62.50%, respectively in season of 2021. Lethal time values (LT1) had ranges of 51.33–32.46 days for sulfoxaflor and 49.00–39.55 days for flonicamid. Laboratory trials on foraging honeybees (∼21 days old) at 5 h of exposure showed an excellence for sulfoxaflor (5.00%) in overall mean of mortality compared to flonicamid (2.75%) in season of 2020. Likewise, sulfoxaflor (4.75%) surpassed flonicamid (2.75%) in season of 2021. The highest LT1s on honeybees for sulfoxaflor and flonicamid reached 27.45 and 10.94 days, respectively. International Organization for Biological Control classified both insecticides to be harmless on honeybees. Survival foraging bees exposed to LD50s of the tested insecticides had malformed digestive tracts gradually vanished along week of exposure. Suggestions for foliar spray stoppages prior to flowering period were mentioned for both insecticides.

Acanalonia conica (Say, 1830): A new alien planthopper species established in Hungary (Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea: Acanaloniidae)

Acanalonia conica (Say, 1830), the first representative of the Nearctic planthopper family Acanaloniidae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea), introduced to Europe, is reported for the first time from multiple locations in Hungary. Diagnosis, detailed illustration of male genitalia and notes on ecology are provided along with the distributional records.

In vitro variation in pathogenicity of Fusarium species causing head blight in relation to their isolation from barley head

Till now, no published study is available on the variation in pathogenicity of Fusarium head blight (FHB) pathogens in relation to their isolation origin in barley head. To end this, two barley cultivars of contrasting quantitative resistance were artificially infected by four FHB species under field conditions over two consecutive growing seasons. Then, pathogenicity tests were conducted under in vitro conditions on single-spore cultures originated from both kernels and glumes in the heads. Different pathogenicity was detected among Fusarium species originated from both kernels and glumes, indicating that the same isolate from glumes and kernels differs in pathogenicity on leaves/seedlings. Isolates of Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium verticillioides originated from infected kernels had shorter latent periods and higher area under disease progress curves compared to isolates originated from glumes, and the reverse was observed for the Fusarium equiseti isolate. In the case of Fusarium solani, isolates originated from kernels or from glumes were equally pathogenic. Primarily findings in this first in-depth study have implications for breeding programs relied principally on actual quantification of pathogenicity in Fusarium species present in a given environment. The sampling of fungi should take into account the presence of Fusarium species of interest on kernels or glumes.

Efficacy of some chemical insecticides and plant extracts combined with Bacillus thuringiensis against Phthorimaea operculella

Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) is one of the most damaging pests of potatoes in the world. Since the chemical pesticides play a key role in managing of potato tuber moth (PTM), the present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of Proteus®, Takumi®, Avaunt®, Dorsban®, Decis®, Consult® and Vertimec® against neonate larval penetration and one-day-old eggs of P. operculella. But adverse effects of chemical insecticides, actuated researchers to seek secure tools such as medicinal plants and biopesticides like Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, 1715 for pest managements. Hence, we also examined toxicity of savory, ziziphora and cumin methanolic extracts against the pest under laboratory conditions. We also surveyed the synergistic/antagonistic interactions between the most effective insecticide and methanolic extract with Bt against PTM. Our results showed that both Vertimec® and savory synergized the performance of Bt against neonate larval penetration of P. operculella. Probit analysis of insecticides and methanolic extracts demonstrated that Vertimec® and Takumi® had high toxicities to the neonate larval penetration of PTM which exhibited LC50 values equivalent to 7.09 ppm and 0.008 g L−1, respectively. Savory was the most effective extract against larval penetration and hatching rate of the pest (LC50 = 440.36 and 635.93 ppm, respectively). Oviposition preference demonstrated that Vertimec® and Decis® exhibited inhibitory ovipositional effects against P. operculella.

Monitoring of three Hoplocampa sawfly species in plum orchards

Three sawfly species (Hoplocampa minuta, Hoplocampa flava, Hoplocampa fulviicornis) have been monitored in plum orchards during the flowering period in three consecutive years at three different locations in Hungary using chromotropic white sticky traps. Black and yellow sawflies (H. minuta and H. flava) are one of the most important pests in plum orchards, however plum-fruit sawfly (Hoplocampa fulvicornis) has not yet been documented from plum orchards in Hungary. In almost all locations and years, H. minuta was the most dominant species, except in Cegléd, 2014, where H. flava was the most abundant one. In terms of sex ratio, in all three species, more males than females were caught in the traps except in 2016 at Érd, where more H. flava females flew into the traps.

Effects of Meloidogyne incognita, Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi and Rhizobium leguminosarum inoculated alone, simultaneously, and sequentially, on the growth and biochemical parameters of pea (Pisum sativum) in three soil types

Effects of Meloidogyne incognita, Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi and Rhizobium leguminosarum were studied on growth and biochemical parameters of pea (Pisum sativum L.) in three soil types. Plants grown in 20% fly ash attained higher plant growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid followed by loam soil and 20% sand. Inoculation of R. leguminosarum resulted in increased plant growth, nodulation, chlorophyll and carotenoid over control. Root nodulation and proline contents were high in plants grown in 20% sand and least in 20% fly ash. Inoculation of M. incognita prior to P. syringae pv. pisi resulted in a greater reduction in plant growth, nodulation, chlorophyll and carotenoid content and least where P. syringae pv. pisi was inoculated prior to M. incognita. Inoculation of pathogens increased proline contents. Galling and population of M. incognita was high in 20% sand followed by loam soil and fly ash amended soil. P. syringae pv. pisi and R. leguminosarum had adverse effect on galling and nematode population. The principal component analysis identifies interaction of pathogens and showed segregation of various treatments in the plots.

The preimaginal stages and bionomics of Scythris sinensis (Felder and Rogenhofer, 1875) (Lepidoptera, Scythrididae), a Borer in Chenopodium album L. (Chenopodiaceae)

The bionomics and distribution of Scythris sinensis (Felder and Rogenhofer, 1875) were studied in Hungary from 2004 to 2018. The host plant was found to be Chenopodium album L. The larva feeds on the leaves in a loose web. The length of the larval stage varies from 12 to 15 days, that of the pupal stage from 7 to 10 days of the summer generation. The species is generally bivoltine in Hungary, but in the southern, warmer areas a third partial generation may occur. Adults of the second and third generations have characteristic yellow patches on the forewing. The species overwinters as pupa in a white cocoon near the host plant. The immature stages and the adult are illustrated and a map of the Hungarian records is given with two Figures.

An annotated checklist of the scale insects of Egypt (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha: Coccoidea)

An annotated checklist of 211 species belonging to 13 families of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccoidea) of Egypt including their common names, host plants and additional remarks is provided based on literature records and collections made by the senior author in Egypt. Four species are new to the fauna of Egypt, namely Adiscodiaspis ericicola (Marchal), Dynaspidiotus ephedrarum (Lindinger), Rhizaspidiotus adiscus Gómez-Menor Ortega (Diaspididae), and Dactylopius confusus (Cockerell) (Dactylopiidae). An illustrated key to the families of scale insects of Egypt is provided.