Effects of adult‐derived carbohydrates and amino acids on the reproduction of Plutella xylostella

The use of floral resources to improve the efficiency of natural enemies has grown in recent years, although their effect on pest populations has been overlooked. To understand how access to food resources by adults of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) affects their reproduction, the effects of amino acids and carbohydrates (i.e. fructose, glucose and sucrose) on the longevity, lifetime fecundity, egg viability and population growth of this important pest of brassicas are evaluated. Carbohydrate intake increases longevity, oviposition period and lifetime fecundity of P. xylostella. Oviposition period and fecundity are six‐fold higher in females that consumed carbohydrates. By contrast, amino acid intake by adults does not affect reproductive parameters, even when mixed with carbohydrates. The estimated demographic parameters indicate that the adult diet is important for pest population growth because the net reproductive rate and the intrinsic rate of increase are higher when females have access to carbohydrates. These results are important from both physiological and ecological points of view. The increasing use of flowering plants as a microhabitat and food source for natural enemies may also result in benefits for herbivorous insects, compromising any success in pest control.     

Influence of plot characteristics and surrounding vegetation on the intra-plot spatial distribution of Empoasca vitis

• 1 Spatial distributions of adults and nymphs of Empoasca vitis were assessed during 3 years inside two adjacent vine plots having considerable intra‐plot variability, diversified natural ground cover and surrounding vegetation, and no insecticide application.
• 2 Geostatistical analysis confirmed that, in spite of repeated adult migrations, spatial distributions of summer populations were highly aggregated, similar every year and similar between adults and nymphs. Comparison of insect distribution with intra‐plot characteristics, such as vine plant vigour (leaf density and leaf chlorophyll concentration) and phenology, plot topography and surrounding vegetation, revealed that E. vitis clearly aggregates in areas with the most vigorous vine plants.
• 3 Even though the presence of natural enemies in the surrounding vegetation was confirmed by specific observations, we did not observe significant population decrease at the contiguous plot edges. Natural ground cover, together with the absence of insecticide, might allow the spreading and perennial conservation of E. vitis natural enemies inside the plots.
• 4 Clear adult aggregations observed along downwind woodlands suggest that this vegetation acts as a barrier and intercepts the adults flying passively across the plot. However, this surrounding vegetation could also serve as an alternative refuge when vine water deficit and vine foliage temperature increase.

     

Parasitoid associated with Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) outbreaks in tomato fields in Brazil

1. The knowledge of natural factors that affect pest populations is essential in predicting the occurrence of pest outbreaks and in developing integrated pest management programmes. Natural enemies, climatic elements and host plants are among the most important factors affecting pest dynamics.
2. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the second most consumed vegetable worldwide. The pea leaf miner Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a major pest to the tomato in Brazil.
3. This study aimed to determine the main natural factors that regulate L. huidobrensis populations in tomato fields in Brazil.
4. Liriomyza huidobrensis densities were evaluated by directly counting the number of active mines on the basal leaf of the middle section of the plant canopy, and predators and parasitoids were assessed using the leaf‐beating‐against‐a‐tray technique. Eight commercial tomato fields were assessed over two years. The phenological growth stages of the tomato plants (vegetative and reproductive) were noted during the assessments.
5. Liriomyza huidobrensis populations peaked between the middle and end of the planting season.
6. Opius sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was the main natural enemy of L. huidobrensis.
7. Our results suggest that phenological growth stage and Opius sp. are associated with population dynamics of L. huidobrensis in tomato fields.
8. Therefore, integrated pest management programmes should aim to preserve populations of the parasitoid Opius sp.

     

Performance of the Wheat Armyworm, Pseudaletia sequax Franclemont, on Natural and Artificial Diets

Armyworms in the genus Pseudaletia Franclemont are important pests of cereal crops worldwide. The development of pest management strategies is largely dependent on studies involving the relationship among the pest, its host plants and natural enemies, as well as its susceptibility to chemical and biological control strategies. Part of these studies requires rearing the species of interest under laboratory conditions, which can be greatly facilitated by the use of artificial diets. In the present study, the effects of three artificial diets on development, survival, reproduction and demographic parameters of P. sequax were compared to a natural host plant, Pennisetum clandestinum. A diet based on pinto beans, wheat germ and torula yeast provided the best results in comparison to those obtained with the host plant. The most important life history parameters used in the evaluation of the nutritional quality of the diets were fecundity, egg viability and pupae deformities. The intrinsic rate of increase and the net reproductive rate were higher when individuals were fed on the artificial diet if compared to the host plant, indicating the suitability of the tested diet for the rearing of P. sequax. This artificial diet has been used successfully for the rearing of P. sequax without any fitness effect for over 18 consecutive generations.     

Uniformity of petroleum‐derived spray oils: lethal and sublethal effects on a herbivore pest and its parasitoid

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Experimental field studies on predation and egg parasitism of rice brown planthopper in Indonesia

• 1 Egg parasitism and general predation are known to be important mortality factors in the population dynamics of rice brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens in tropical Asia, but previous studies have not attempted to quantify and compare them.
• 2 Field experiments in Java, Indonesia, are reported for 1993 and 1994. Plants previously infested with BPH eggs were put out in field cage‐enclosures, which, by means of different size mesh gauze covering, allowed either: (1) free access to all natural enemies, (2) access only to egg parasitoids, or (3) no access to any natural enemies.
• 3 After one BPH generation (30 days), numbers of adults and gravid females were counted for each treatment. In addition, plants were dissected to determine the numbers of eggs laid.
• 4 An additional treatment in which all natural enemies were excluded, but lycosid spiders were added, was used in 1994 experiments in an attempt to assess the effects of predators in the absence of egg parasitoids.
• 5 Numbers of BPH adults and eggs laid were highest when natural enemies were excluded and lowest when they had free access. Mortality due to egg parasitoids in the absence of predators was intermediate and significantly different to the two other treatments.
• 6 The effects of added predators in the absence of egg parasitoids gave variable results, but again clearly demonstrated the significance of egg parasitism in overall BPH mortality.
• 7 The conservation of BPH egg parasitoids should form an important element of any rice pest management programme in tropical Asia.

     

Does natural vegetation from olive groves benefit the olive moth,Prays oleae?

Conservation biological control aims to enhance the efficacy of biological control agents, such as predators and parasitoids, by providing them access to key requisites, for example floral or other alternative food resources. However, the occurrence of floral resources in agricultural systems may have positive effects not only on natural enemies but also on the pests themselves. For this reason, we have studied in laboratory common Mediterranean plants as potential food resources for an important lepidopteran olive pest, the olive moth, Prays oleae. The effects of 15 wild flowering plants from olive grove ecosystems, and four sugars present in floral nectars, on key biological parameters of P. oleae (i.e. longevity, pre-oviposition and oviposition periods, fertility and fecundity) were evaluated. The three pest generations were analysed. Only few of the plants tested increased some reproductive parameters of the insect individuals compared to the water-fed controls, while sugars generally improved them. This could be due to a higher concentration of sugars provided by individual sugars than by flower nectar. These results indicate that, in general, P. oleae will not benefit from the availability of the floral resources tested.     

Do natural enemies really make a difference? Field scale impacts of parasitoid wasps and hoverfly larvae on cereal aphid populations

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Tritrophic interactions reinforce a negative preference–performance relationship in the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta)

1. Host plants that promote development of insect herbivores are sometimes less preferred to more toxic plants, which are co-opted for protection from natural enemies, resulting in higher fitness in communities with strong top-down control. However, the degree to which variation in growth rate and risk of natural enemy attack drive insect plant preferences is an open question, with little field data available across diverse plant families.
2. The present study investigated the preference–performance relationship and tritrophic interactions involving the hornworm Manduca sexta, its natural enemies, and plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) using a 2-year common garden containing 18 wild and domesticated species. The degree to which natural enemy pressure explained field patterns in the laboratory was then tested using targeted assays involving parasitism by the wasp Cotesia congregata.
3. In the field, the most preferred plants for female oviposition tended to be inversely correlated with the species providing optimal larval growth. Hawkmoths preferred plants in the subgenus Potatoe, Nicotiana, and Datura compared with Capsicum, Physalis, and the other Solanum subgenera. However, larval parasitism by C. congregata was only significant for hornworms on Potatoe /Datura and not Nicotiana (i.e. 33% vs. 12% vs. 4% parasitism on Potatoe, Datura, and Nicotiana, respectively). Experimental laboratory rearing confirmed that wasp survival is lower on Nicotiana sp. than Solanum lycopersicum, which could be driven by nicotine.
4. The data obtained in the present study show that the negative preference-performance relationship in hornworms across solanaceous plants is maintained in part because by utilising noxious food plants M. sexta gains protection against parasitism.

     

Defence variation within a guild of aphid-tending ants explains aphid population growth

• Mutualism studies often focus on the service provided by single species, while variation in benefits provided by multiple partners is less understood. Ant-aphid food-for-protection mutualisms are suitable to study the implications of intra-guild service variation because they often involve several ant species with varying levels of aggressiveness.
• We studied an aphid species and its associated ant guild to address whether intra-guild defence variation against aphid natural enemies explains aphid performance on plants (thistles). We surveyed plants with natural abundances of aphids associated with different ant species and estimated aphid population growth. We conducted confrontation experiments between ant species and aphid natural enemies (ladybugs and hoverfly larvae). In plants patrolled by the most aggressive ant species, we determined the ant's probability of expelling aphid natural enemies and tested whether ant exclusion affects the abundance of aphids and their natural enemies.
• The ant Dorymyrmex tener was the most abundant and frequent species on plants and the most aggressive against aphid natural enemies. Aphid populations grew faster on plants patrolled by D. tener compared to plants patrolled by Camponotus distinguendus or D. richteri. Field experiments confirmed that D. tener effectively expels aphid natural enemies from plants. When D. tener was excluded, the density of aphids decreased, while the abundance of aphid natural enemies increased.
• The disruption of aphid predation by aggressive and numerically dominant ant species is a determinant of aphid population dynamics. This study illustrates the importance of considering intra-guild service variation to better understand multi-partner mutualisms.

     

Seasonal history,plant interactions and egg parasitism of the variegated caper bug Stenozygum coloratum Klug (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

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The effect of different host plants on the reproduction and longevity of Nysius natalensis

Nysius natalensis Evans (Hemiptera: Orsillidae) is a pest of sunflower in South Africa. Adults invade sunflower fields from their weedy hosts which occur inside crop fields and on surrounding headlands. The host plant suitability for survival and reproduction as well as the effect of within‐generation host switching was studied on different wild host plants and sunflower. Life history parameters used to assess host plant suitability were F₁ adult survival, pre‐oviposition period, fecundity, and longevity. Nymphs and adults were provided with stems and seeds of five host plants, viz., Amaranthus hybridus L. (Amaranthaceae), Portulaca oleracea L. (Portulacaceae), Chenopodium album L. (Chenopodiaceae), Conyza albida Spreng. (Asteraceae), and sunflower, Helianthus annuus L. (Asteraceae). Nymphs were reared on crushed seed of the five plant species. After completion of the nymphal stage, emerging adults of each host plant group were provided with seed of a different host plant species for food. Adults did not survive long on stems only and very few eggs were laid. Seeds of the host plant species were shown to be an essential source of nutrients for N. natalensis reproduction, whereas the vegetative plant parts were unsuitable. Nymphal food and host‐plant switching between the nymphal and adult stages significantly affected the pre‐oviposition period. Nymphal and adult food source also affected female longevity. The number of eggs laid was not influenced by nymphal food, but was influenced by adult food and the switch between nymphal and adult food. The comparative attractiveness of sunflower and wild host plants for oviposition was also investigated and showed that females preferred to lay eggs on wild host plants, compared with sunflower. These results may explain why N. natalensis will lay their eggs on sunflower after weeds in the vicinity are controlled, or senesce toward the end of the growing season.     

Parasitisation of Tetrastichus brontispae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a biological control agent of the coconut hispine beetle Brontispa longissima (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The gregarious endoparasitoids Tetrastichus brontispae Ferrière is one of the important natural enemies of the coconut hispine beetle Brontispa longissima (Gestro), a serious invasive pest on coconut palm plants (Cocos nucifera L.) in Southeast Asia. Development at different temperatures, effect of host and female ages, effect of food and oviposition frequency and superparasitism were investigated in the laboratory. Females were allowed only one attack against one host in all experiments. The wasp developed in a host between 19 and 30°C, whilst no wasp completed its immature development at 16 and 31°C. Host and female ages affected parasitisation. Parasitoid emergence was high on day 0 and day 1 pupal hosts, and younger females produced more offspring than older females. The longevity of the female was affected not only by food supply, but also by oviposition frequency. The female survived longer when oviposition frequency was low. However, the total number of hosts parasitised by the female during her lifetime did not differ at different oviposition frequencies. In superparasitism, although the percentage of adult emergence and body size of offspring decreased with an increasing number of attacks per host, a host parasitised by up to four females could produce parasitoid offspring.     

Biology of the Eucalyptus leaf beetle Paropsisterna selmani (Chrysomelidae: Paropsini): a new pest of Eucalyptus species (Myrtaceae) in Ireland

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椰子木蛾的产卵节律及其对寄主植物的产卵选择性

【背景】椰子木蛾是近年来新入侵我国棕榈科植物的害虫,研究其产卵习性可为监测和防治该虫提供参考。【方法】在室内条件下,观察、记录了椰子木蛾雌成虫的产卵节律及其对不同寄主植物的产卵选择性。【结果】椰子木蛾最高日产卵量可达34.4粒·头-1,且主要集中在羽化后4 d内产卵,占总产卵量的54.1%;产卵活动主要发生在夜间23:00到次日8:00;在椰子、蒲葵、大王棕、槟榔和散尾葵等寄主植物上的产卵量无显著差异,为89.3~147.7粒·头-1,但产卵位置存在差别。【结论与意义】椰子木蛾雌成虫具有较强的繁殖能力和产卵节律性,且在不同寄主植物上的产卵量一致。     

Risk posed by the invasive defoliator Uraba lugens to New Zealand native flora

• 1 The risk posed to New Zealand native flora by the recently‐established pest of Australian origin Uraba lugens Walker (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) (gum leaf skeletonizer) was assessed. Weed biological control host range testing methods were applied to identify those New Zealand plant species potentially at risk. Native plants tested were primarily in the Myrtaceae, the family that contains all the Australian hosts of U. lugens.
• 2 Experimental methods included no‐choice larval feeding assays and field cage and laboratory oviposition trials. Difficulty in ascertaining reliable oviposition preference data from cage oviposition trials limited the confidence with which the invader's field host range could be predicted.
• 3 Field surveys of plants attacked by U. lugens in the infested area supported the initial predictions but only some of the at‐risk native Myrtaceae were present in the area.
• 4 The risk to native New Zealand plants is presented in terms of two mechanisms: development of self‐sustaining populations and temporary spill‐over of solitary larvae. Development of self‐sustaining populations of the pest within native forests is deemed to be highly improbable.
• 5 Temporary spill‐over impacts are most likely in urban areas within mixed species plantings or boundaries between native/exotic forests and coinciding with the mobile larval life stages. Spill‐over impacts from U. lugens have only been recorded to date on Metrosideros excelsa.

     

The relative attractiveness of Brassica napus,B. rapa,B. juncea and Sinapis alba to pollen beetles

It is often suggested that weeds from the same family as the crop plant may increase insect pest damages by providing shelter and additional oviposition opportunities. We compared the relative attractiveness of Brassica rapa L., B. juncea L., Sinapis alba L. and B. napus L. (Capparales: Brassicaceae) to the pollen beetle and its hymenopteran parasitoids in field conditions. Our results revealed that none of the investigated plants increased the pest abundance on B. napus plants. On the contrary, B. juncea and S. alba lured beetles away from B. napus during its damage-susceptible stage. The parasitism rate of pollen beetle larvae was the highest on B. juncea plants, indicating that cruciferous weeds could improve the natural control of the pollen beetle by providing additional hosts for parasitoids. Therefore, close relatives of oilseed rape might be used to trap pollen beetle adults, but also to support populations of natural enemies that could decrease the number of beetles.     

Effect of nitrogen nutrition on the carbohydrate repression of photosynthesis in leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

When carbohydrates accumulate in leaves, photosynthesis is repressed. Limited nitrogen nutrition is thought to enhance this repressing effect. However, the interaction between carbohydrate and nitrogen limitation in leaf photosynthesis has not been examined intensively. In this study, we grew Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants at three different nitrogen levels, and examined the effects of sucrose feeding to the roots on the nitrogen content, carbohydrate content and photosynthetic properties of the primary leaves. Nitrogen content and photosynthetic rate were lower and the carbohydrate content was greater in plants grown with limited nitrogen than in well-fertilized plants. Sucrose feeding to the plants increased carbohydrate content and decreased photosynthetic rate and nitrogen content. The increase in carbohydrate content and the decreases in nitrogen content and photosynthetic rate occurred at the same time, and the negative relationship between the carbohydrate content and photosynthetic rate did not differ among nitrogen nutrition levels. These results show that carbohydrate accumulation in the leaves leads to a decrease in photosynthetic rate. At low nitrogen nutrition levels, carbohydrates accumulated markedly, which accelerated this effect. It appears that the nitrogen nutrition level influences leaf photosynthesis through changing the carbohydrate level rather than through modifying sensitivity of the leaf to the carbohydrate level.     

Ant attendance of the cotton aphid is beneficial for okra plants: deciphering multitrophic interactions

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In search of artificial domatia for predatory mites

Banker plants can enhance biological pest control by providing both floral resources and appropriate oviposition sites, e.g. through acarodomatia, to predator species. The use of materials mimicking domatia i.e. artificial domatia may be an economically favourable alternative to the use of banker plants bearing domatia. The aim of the present study was to identify materials that are able to host eggs of the Neoseiulus californicus predatory mite but not those of the Tetranychus urticae pest mite. In a laboratory experiment, the oviposition of predatory and phytophagous mites were compared in Petri dishes containing leaves. The different modalities compared were (i) natural domatia of Viburnum tinus or (ii) one of twelve potential artificial domatia materials. The overall oviposition response of predatory mites to all artificial domatia was similar to that of the natural domatia. The oviposition of the Tetranychus urticae pest mite did not increase in response to the artificial domatia. Five artificial domatia hosted as many eggs of the predatory mite as observed in the natural domatia. The effect of the physical properties of artificial domatia was also tested and N. californicus was found to favour the artificial domatia that had high heat retention capacities for oviposition. Three of these artificial domatia were tested on rose plants in a greenhouse experiment; none of which enhanced the biological control on the plants under these conditions. The present study highlights the difficulty in identifying and using suitable artificial domatia as substitutes to banker plants in biological pest control efforts.