华南地区柑橘木虱与柑橘粉虱内共生菌检测及其Wolbachia共生菌的系统发育关系分析

【目的】探明不同地理种群的柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri Kuwayama和柑橘粉虱Dialeurodes citri Ashmead体内昆虫内共生菌的种类及其感染率,并以Wolbachia共生菌为代表,对其系统发育关系进行分析,为今后自共生菌角度研发柑橘木虱和柑橘粉虱的新型防控技术奠定基础。【方法】以16S r DNA、23S r DNA以及wsp为目标基因,利用PCR技术检测采自于广州、湛江、南宁、桂林、厦门的柑橘木虱以及采自广州的柑橘粉虱体内共生菌的种类及其感染率;利用多位点序列分型(MLST)技术和MEGA 5.0软件对不同昆虫样本中的Wolbachia进行系统发育关系分析。【结果】本研究采集的柑橘木虱和柑橘粉虱均含有原生共生菌Portiera和次生共生菌Wolbachia、Cardinium、Rickettsia,但该3种次生共生菌在不同木虱与粉虱种群的感染率有所不同;Arsenophonus只在广州和湛江种群的柑橘木虱中检出。基于wsp基因及MLST基因序列的Wolbachia系统发育分析表明,华南地区柑橘木虱和柑橘粉虱体内的Wolbachia均属于Wolbachia的B大组Con亚组。【结论】不同地理种群的柑橘木虱与柑橘粉虱体内感染的共生菌种类及其感染率不同;Wolabchia共生菌与柑橘木虱寄主不存在协同进化关系,在同一采集点存在Wolbachia通过柑橘寄主在柑橘木虱之间、柑橘木虱与柑橘粉虱之间水平传播的可能性。     

园艺矿物油乳剂对亚洲柑橘木虱成虫刺吸行为的影响

目的】亚洲柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri是传播柑橘最重要病害黄龙病(huanglongbing, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus)的媒介昆虫,树冠喷施园艺矿物油(horticultural mineral oil, HMO)可以减少其在柑橘上的取食和产卵。本研究旨在探索植物组织内残留的园艺矿物油如何影响亚洲柑橘木虱成虫的取食行为。【方法】采用直流型刺吸电位仪(DC-EPG Giga-8)记录亚洲柑橘木虱成虫12 h内在喷施不同浓度(0.25%, 0.5%, 1%和2%, v/v)HMO(nC24)乳剂和清水(对照)时柑橘嫩叶上的刺探和取食行为并转换为波形信号,分析比较各处理的波形参数。【结果】不同浓度HMO乳剂处理显著提高了亚洲柑橘木虱成虫在柑橘叶片上的C波(路径波)持续时间百分比,显著减少了E2波(韧皮部吸食汁液)持续时间百分比,而对D(口针第一次接触韧皮部组织), E1(韧皮部出现唾液分泌) 和G(木质部吸食汁液) 波持续时间百分比没有显著影响。HMO处理组C波的每成虫波形累积时间(WDI)显著长于对照组,而各浓度处理之间没有显著差异,但D波WDI明显短于对照组。随着HMO浓度的增加, E1, E2和G波WDI显著下降,2% HMO处理组E1, E2和G波WDI明显低于其他浓度处理组。HMO乳剂处理明显减少了刺探次数;在HMO处理中,每成虫刺探次数和每成虫各波形次数均显著少于对照组,其中以1%和2% HMO乳剂处理最少。HMO乳剂处理组np波 (非刺探波)、D波、E2波的每成虫单次波形持续时间(WDE)均短于对照组,其中2% HMO乳剂处理后,D, E1和E2波WDE显著短于其他浓度处理和对照。同时,2% HMO乳剂处理推迟了从口器接触叶片到第1次开始刺探的时间和从口器接触叶片到第1次刺探到韧皮部的时间。【结论】结果表明,2% HMO乳剂显著减少亚洲柑橘木虱成虫在柑橘叶片上的取食次数和有效取食时间,同时还缩短了其在韧皮部分泌唾液和吸食汁液时间,因此可推荐矿物油用于柑橘黄龙病和亚洲柑橘木虱的综合防治体系。同时初步推断矿物油的作用机制可能是其进入植物气孔阻止植物挥发性物质的释放,抑制或掩盖柑橘叶片表面的挥发性物质从而减少了亚洲柑橘木虱在寄主上取食。     

番石榴精油对柑橘木虱刺吸取食行为的影响

利用刺探电位技术(electrical penetration graph,EPG).比较测定了柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri Kuwayama成虫在经番石榴精油处理和对照柑橘叶片上的刺吸取食行为.结果表明,在正常(对照)叶片上,柑橘木虱成虫的刺吸取食有8种不同波形,表现为迅速进入取食过程,非刺探活动时间和唾液分泌较少,为韧皮部取食,没有木质部取食.而柑橘叶片经1μw/mL番石榴精油处理后,柑橘木虱成虫刺吸取食行为显著改变,表现为非刺探活动和唾液分泌增加,韧皮部取食时间极显著下降,下降率为62.12%,并出现木质部取食.不同时段柑橘木虱的有效取食时间动态结果显示,番石榴精油在第1 h使柑橘木虱完全进入木质部取食,但随后逐步恢复韧皮部取食.     

真细菌的渗透调节机制

许多科学家对真细菌的渗透调节机制很感兴趣。不仅是因为真细菌细胞中普遍存在复杂的渗透调节系统,对外界渗透压力有相当程度的耐受能力,而且是因为它们采取了有别于嗜盐古细菌而类似于真核生物的渗透调节机制．当环境中渗透压升高时,不是积累高浓度的KCl,它们和真核生物细胞一样,通过积累小分子有机物质来对抗外界渗透压力,以维持细胞正常生理功能。正是由于它们在渗透调节的生理和遗传机制上与真核生物相似,人们有望将真细菌的耐渗基因应用基因工程,创造出耐高渗环境（如早生地、盐碱地等）的农作物新品种．本文结合国际最新研究…     

亚洲柑橘木虱成虫和5龄若虫在感染黄龙病的柑橘上的取食行为及获菌效率比较

【目的】亚洲柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri是柑橘的毁灭性病害——黄龙病亚洲种‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’(‘C las’)的主要传播媒介。本研究的目的是明确木虱成虫和5龄若虫的取食行为、获菌效率是否有差异,以及寄主感染黄龙病是否对5龄若虫取食产生影响。【方法】利用直流型刺吸电位仪(DC-EPG Giga-4)记录柑橘木虱成虫和5龄若虫在携带黄龙病的酸橘Citrus reticulata cv.Sunki嫩梢上10 h的取食行为,用qPCR单头检测其获得黄龙病病原菌的效率,并比较5龄若虫在感病和健康植株嫩梢上的取食行为。【结果】柑橘木虱成虫与5龄若虫在感染黄龙病的酸橘上的取食行为有显著差异。5龄若虫比成虫更快地开始在韧皮部和木质部进行吸食,口针在韧皮部的总过程以及吸食时间显著长于成虫。此外,5龄若虫和成虫在EPG测定(同时饲菌)10 h后获菌率分别为37.5%和20.0%,若虫明显高于成虫。寄主植物感染黄龙病对5龄若虫的取食行为有一定的影响,表现在感病植株上的刺探次数、唾液分泌次数和韧皮部吸食次数都显著少于健康植株,而两者分泌唾液和韧皮部吸食时间没有显著差异。另外,在感病植株上首次韧皮部取食出现时间较在健康植株上要早。【结论】在同等时间下,柑橘木虱5龄若虫比成虫在感染黄龙病的酸橘上的取食能力更强、取食量更大、获菌率更高,原因可能是若虫需要更多的营养物质供其生长发育所致。寄主感染黄龙病对木虱5龄若虫的取食有利,使其更快地开始取食,而且更改取食位点次数变少,推测可能与黄龙病菌破坏了植物的防御有关。     

亚致死浓度吡虫啉和毒死蜱对柑橘木虱成虫组织蛋白酶基因表达的影响

昆虫组织蛋白酶属于多功能酶系,在昆虫生命活动中具有重要作用,但昆虫组织蛋白酶对化学农药的响应却鲜有报道。吡虫啉和毒死蜱是目前防治柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri常用的化学药剂。本研究旨在探究吡虫啉和毒死蜱亚致死浓度处理对柑橘木虱成虫组织蛋白酶基因表达的影响。本研究基于柑橘木虱的转录组数据库,同时结合NCBI数据库,通过Blast比对鉴定得到8个柑橘木虱组织蛋白酶基因,序列分析得出其均属于半胱氨酸蛋白酶家族且含有保守的组氨酸活性位点。研究采用浸叶法处理得到经吡虫啉和毒死蜱处理24 h对柑橘木虱成虫的致死中浓度LC50分别为97.88 mg/L和47.94 mg/L。采用荧光定量PCR（qPCR）分析这两种药剂亚致死浓度（LC20和LC50）胁迫下柑橘木虱成虫组织蛋白酶基因表达水平变化。结果表明吡虫啉胁迫显著下调柑橘木虱DcCath-B,DcCath-F,DcCath-L和DcCath-L1基因表达量;毒死蜱LC20浓度胁迫显著下调柑橘木虱DcCath-B,DcCath-L和DcCath-W基因表达量,LC50浓度胁迫下仅DcCath-B表达量显著下调,其他基因表达无明显差异。以上结果表明吡虫啉和毒死蜱亚致死浓度胁迫下,柑橘木虱成虫下调表达体内部分组织蛋白酶基因以响应此逆境。本研究为探索亚致死浓度吡虫啉和毒死蜱对柑橘木虱的毒理机制提供了一定的理论依据。     

赣南柑橘木虱体内黄龙病菌psy62株系原噬菌体类型多样性的研究

为探明柑橘木虱体内黄龙病菌psy62株系中原噬菌体遗传多样性及与柑橘株系的遗传差异,本研究将利用3对引物在psy62基因组中2个噬菌体FP1和FP2的同源序列区域内对赣南地区阳性样品进行PCR扩增和测序。结果显示,赣南地区阳性样品在此基因区域内有28头柑橘木虱检测到原噬菌体,共有5种类型,分别为A,A2,B,C,C1。其中A,B的检测率相对较高;C1检测率最低,为7.1%。由此可见,在此基因位点不同地理位置的柑橘木虱原噬菌体种群有较大的遗传差异,且与美国佛罗里达的"Ca.L.asiaticus"株系,中国柑橘叶片"Ca.L.asiaticus"株系均有显著的遗传差异,这有助于进一步研究分析原噬菌体的种类差异对柑橘木虱传毒机制的影响。     

白背飞虱对不同抗虫性稻株糖类物质的利用

本文通过对白背飞虱Sogatella furcifeta Horvath在不同苗龄抗虫品种Rathu Hee nati(简称RHT)和感虫品种Taichung Native 1(简称TNl)稻株上的取食反应,对摄入食物中糖类的利用和体内葡糖苷酶的活性变化,以及对稻株含糖量的分析,初步探讨了白背飞虱对稻株糖类物质的利用。白背飞虱在抗虫、感虫品种上的取食均随稻株苗龄的增长而降低,沮不管品种的抗虫性如何,稻株内的总糖量却随稻株苗龄的增加而上升。高效液相色谱分析飞虱分泌的蜜露结果表明,在RHT上分泌的蜜露里,蔗糖和果糖的含量明显地低于在TNI上分泌的。由此推测白背飞虱从RHT稻株韧皮部中吸食的汁液较从TNI中的少,但利用率高。取食RHT后的白背飞虱,体内的葡糖苷酶活性明显地较取食TNl后的低,并与飞虱体重的变化呈正相关。在白背飞虱体内可能存在着两种独立的、可控制食物的摄入及摄入食物的消化和吸收的机制。     

黄龙病病菌在柑橘木虱体内的分布及感染动态

【目的】柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri Kuwayama是传播黄龙病病菌唯一的自然媒介昆虫,本文研究了黄龙病病菌在柑橘木虱各个发育阶段体内的分布以及感染动态,为有效防控柑橘木虱提供科学数据。【方法】利用常规PCR检测柑橘木虱若虫体内的黄龙病病菌,利用q RT-PCR和荧光原位杂交技术分别检测黄龙病病菌在柑橘木虱不同发育虫态体内的含量与分布形式。【结果】常规PCR可以在3-5龄若虫以及成虫体内检测到黄龙病病菌,而q RT-PCR除了3-5龄若虫外,还可以在2龄若虫体内检测到黄龙病病菌。卵和各龄期若虫中黄龙病病菌的含量是随着龄期的变大而不断增多。产卵盛期的成虫木虱体内黄龙病病菌的含量最高,显著高于产卵前期以及产卵后期。荧光原位杂交技术可以检测到4龄、5龄若虫及成虫体内的黄龙病病菌分布形态,病菌在若虫主要分布在U型含菌体内,而在雌雄成虫体内均是散布型分布。【结论】柑橘黄龙病在柑橘木虱的2-5龄若虫及成虫中都有感染,但其含量与分布形式因发育阶段不同而有显著差异。     

鲸豚类的渗透调节研究进展

鲸豚类作为哺乳动物长期演化中较为特殊的一支,它们所有的生命活动都在水中完成,所以它们在身体结构、生理机能以及生态习性等方面都发展形成了适用于水中生活的完善的适应策略。大部分鲸豚类动物生活在海洋中,只有少部分生活在淡水里,但不管是生活在高渗环境中的海洋鲸类还是生活在低渗环境中的淡水鲸类,维持水盐平衡以及渗透压的内稳态是它们所面临的一个共同问题。鲸豚类究竟是通过怎样的渗透调节机制来实现对不同渗透环境的适应呢?它们在身体结构、生理调节和分子机制上发展了哪些独特的适应策略?本文对近一个世纪以来有关鲸豚类渗透调节的研究成果进行了系统的归纳总结,并尝试从水盐来源、代谢途径、肾脏和皮肤的生理结构、水盐代谢的内分泌调节以及渗透调节的分子机制等几个方面对鲸类动物的渗透调节机制进行全面阐述,并就未来该领域的研究方向及亟需深入研究的科学问题进行了探讨。     

Phloem-sap feeding by animals: problems and solutions

The incidence of phloem sap feeding by animals appears paradoxical. Although phloem sap is nutrient-rich compared with many other plant products and generally lacking in toxins and feeding deterrents, it is consumed as the dominant or sole diet by a very restricted range of animals, exclusively insects of the order Hemiptera. These insects display two sets of adaptations. First, linked to the high ratio of non-essential:essential amino acids in phloem sap, these insects contain symbiotic micro-organisms which provide them with essential amino acids. For example, bacteria of the genus Buchnera contribute up to 90% of the essential amino acids required by the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum feeding on Vicia faba. Second, the insect tolerance of the very high sugar content and osmotic pressure of phloem sap is promoted by their possession in the gut of sucrase-transglucosidase activity, which transforms excess ingested sugar into long-chain oligosaccharides voided via honeydew. Various other animals consume phloem sap by proxy, through feeding on the honeydew of phloem-feeding hemipterans. Honeydew is physiologically less extreme than phloem sap, with a higher essential:non-essential amino acid ratio and lower osmotic pressure. Even so, ant species strongly dependent on honeydew as food may benefit from nutrients derived from their symbiotic bacteria Blochmannia.     

Characterization and correlation of DC electrical penetration graph waveforms with feeding behavior of beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus

Feeding behavior of beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus (Baker) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), was studied with a DC electrical penetration graph. Nine different electrical penetration graph waveforms associated with feeding were identified and characterized. Waveforms were correlated with specific feeding behaviors using a number of techniques, including high magnification video recording, honeydew analysis, stylectomy, and histological processing. Waveforms were grouped into three phases based on feeding behavior: pathway phase (waveforms A, B1, B2, and C), non-phloem ingestion phase (waveform G), and phloem phase (waveforms D1, D2, D3, and D4). No ingestion was found to occur during waveforms A, B1, B2, and C. Waveform G was associated primarily with ingestion of xylem sap and occasionally with ingestion of mesophyll sap. Stylet tips were located in phloem during waveforms D1, D2, and D3, and waveforms D2 and D3 were correlated with ingestion of phloem sap. Waveform D4 probably also plays a role in phloem ingestion, because D4 is very brief and always occurs embedded in either waveform D2 or D3. In contrast to most other homopteran insects, rate of honeydew production (and hence rate of ingestion) was much lower on phloem than on xylem. More rapid rates of ingestion are expected on phloem, because its high turgor pressure drives sap into the feeding insect whereas the negative pressure of xylem sap is expected to cause a slow rate of ingestion. The very slow ingestion rate of beet leafhopper feeding on phloem suggests that it is not able to exploit the high turgor pressure of phloem to achieve the high rate of ingestion that is typical of phloem ingestion by other insects.     

Effect of host‐plant and infection with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ on honeydew chemical composition of the Asian citrus psyllid,Diaphorina citri

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), transmits the citrus greening pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) by feeding on citrus phloem sap. Because phloem sap is rich in sugars but low in amino acids, ACP sucks large quantities and excretes most of it as honeydew. We studied the chemical composition of ACP honeydew on various host plants. Honeydew samples were analyzed with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Fourteen sugars, 13 amino acids, and six organic acids were detected in the honeydew of ACP. Sugars composed about 95% of the total compounds. Sucrose and trehalose were the predominant sugars, composing about 58 and 23% of the total sugars, respectively. Proline, asparagine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid were the most abundant amino acids in ACP honeydew. The host plant and its infection with CLas had some effect on the honeydew composition. Glucose, chiro‐inositol, myo‐inositol, inositol, maltose, and turanose were lower in honeydew collected from CLas‐infected citrus compared to that collected from non‐infected trees. In CLas‐infected citrus (pineapple sweet orange, Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) and Bergera koenigii (L.) Spreng. [curry leaf tree (both Rutaceae)] honeydews, valine, alanine, serine, glutamine, glycine, and the organic acids were lower than in honeydew from healthy citrus. Mannose, galactose, inositol, mannitol, an unknown disaccharide, and proline were higher in the honeydew collected from B. koenigii than in honeydew collected from healthy citrus (pineapple sweet orange), whereas fructose, chiro‐inositol, myo‐inositol, trehalose, and lactic acid were lower. The findings of this study help us understand the metabolism and the nutrient needs of ACP that transmits CLas, the pathogen of huanglongbing in citrus.     

Diurnal feeding as a potential mechanism of osmoregulation in aphids

Diurnal variation in phloem sap composition has a strong infuence on aphid performance.The sugar-rich phloem sap serves as the sole diet for aphids and a suite of physiological mechanisms and behaviors allowv them to tolerate the high osmotic stress.Here,we tested the hypothesis that night-time feeding by aphids is a behavior that takes advantage of the low sugar diet in the night to compensate for osmotic stress incurred while feeding on high sugar diet during the day.Using the electrical penetration graph(EPG)technique.we examined the eiects of diurmal rhythm on feeding behaviors of bird cherry-oat aphid(Rhopalosiphurm padi L.)on wheat.A strong diurmal rhythm in aphids as indicated by the presence of a cyclical pattern of expression in a core clock gene did not impact aphid feeding and similar feeding behaviors were observed during day and night.The major difference observed between day and night feeding was that aphids spent significantly longer time in phloem salivation during the night compared to the day.In contrast,aphid hydration was reduced at the end of the day-time feeding compared to end of the night-time fepding.Gene expression analysis of R.padi osmoregulatory genes indicated that sugar break down and water transport into the aphid gut was reduced at night.These data suggest that while diumal variation occurs in phloem sap composition,aphids use night time feeding to overcome the high osmotic stress incurred while feeding on sugar-rich phloem sap during the day.     

Patterns in aphid honeydew production parallel diurnal shifts in phloem sap composition

Variation in phloem sap composition is important in determining aphid performance and is known to occur at both diurnal timescales and in response to plant age. For field grown potato plants, Solanum tuberosum L. (Solanaceae), we determined diurnal variation in components of phloem sap, measured by ethylene diamine tetra‐acetate exudation, and tested for impacts of plant age. The effects of plant age and diurnal cycles on honeydew production by Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (both Hemiptera: Aphididae) were also quantified. Both the ratio of sucrose to amino acids and the composition of amino acids in phloem sap varied significantly with time of day. Dietary essential amino acids contributed a smaller proportion of amino acids in the phloem sap of older plants and during early phases of the diurnal cycle. The only significant effect on aphid honeydew production was of the diurnal cycle for Ma. euphorbiae, although increased honeydew production during the day when compared with the production at night, was consistent across the two species. In contrast with studies carried out at seasonal scales, we found limited evidence for variation in phloem sap composition in response to plant age, consistent with our results for honeydew production. These data highlight the need for improved understanding of how seasonal and diurnal physiology of plants influence performance in phloem sap feeding insects.     

An episodic model of honeydew production in scale insects

Honeydew produced by sooty beech scale insects (Ultracoelostoma spp., Homoptera: Coelostomidiidae) is a keystone ecological process in New Zealand beech (Nothofagus spp., Nothofagaceae) forest. This work puts forward a model of honeydew production based on individual insects that presumes feeding and excretion are episodic processes driven by the insect rather than the passive processes that were previously assumed. The model is parameterized using existing data and then compared to an independent pre‐existing dataset. The model suggests that over a 12‐h period, on average the insects suck sap for 2 h, and excrete waste sap for 12 min. Resource uptake by the insects appears to be limited by the time required to process the sap, consistent with the observed relationship between honeydew production rates and ambient temperature. This implies that insect feeding rates may be ultimately limited by the low nitrogen content of phloem sap.     

Collection and Chemical Composition of Phloem Sap from Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck (Sweet Orange)

Through utilizing the nutrient-rich phloem sap, sap feeding insects such as psyllids, leafhoppers, and aphids can transmit many phloem-restricted pathogens. On the other hand, multiplication of phloem-limited, uncultivated bacteria such as Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) inside the phloem of citrus indicates that the sap contains all the essential nutrients needed for the pathogen growth. The phloem sap composition of many plants has been studied; however, to our knowledge, there is no available data about citrus phloem sap. In this study, we identified and quantified the chemical components of phloem sap from pineapple sweet orange. Two approaches (EDTA enhanced exudation and centrifugation) were used to collect phloem sap. The collected sap was derivatized with methyl chloroformate (MCF), N-methyl-N- [tert-butyl dimethylsilyl]-trifluroacetamide (MTBSTFA), or trimethylsilyl (TMS) and analyzed with GC-MS revealing 20 amino acids and 8 sugars. Proline, the most abundant amino acid, composed more than 60% of the total amino acids. Tryptophan, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine, which are considered essential for phloem sap-sucking insects, were also detected. Sucrose, glucose, fructose, and inositol were the most predominant sugars. In addition, seven organic acids including succinic, fumaric, malic, maleic, threonic, citric, and quinic were detected. All compounds detected in the EDTA-enhanced exudate were also detected in the pure phloem sap using centrifugation. The centrifugation technique allowed estimating the concentration of metabolites. This information expands our knowledge about the nutrition requirement for citrus phloem-limited bacterial pathogen and their vectors, and can help define suitable artificial media to culture them.     

Immunological analysis of phloem sap of Bacillus thuringiensis corn and of the nontarget herbivore Rhopalosiphum padi (Homoptera: Aphididae) for the presence of Cry1Ab

Phloem sap of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn expressing a truncated form of the B. thuringiensis delta-endotoxin Cry1Ab, sap sucking aphids feeding on Bt corn and their honeydew were analysed for presence of Cry1Ab using ELISA. Phloem sap of Bt and non-Bt corn was collected using a newly developed technique with a microcapillary being directly inserted into the phloem tubes. Using this technique, no Cry1Ab was detected in the phloem sap. In contrast, measurable concentrations of Cry1Ab in the range of 1 ppb were detected when phloem sap of pooled leaf samples was extracted using EDTA buffer. This was probably because of Cry1Ab toxin released from damaged cells. When analysing apterous adults of Rhopalosiphum padi L. and their honeydew, no Cry1Ab could be detected. In contrast, Cry1Ab was clearly detected in both larvae of the leaf chewing herbivore Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) and their faeces, showing that Cry1Ab is detectable after ingestion and excretion by herbivores. These results suggest that R. padi ingests or contains no or only very low concentrations of Cry1Ab in the range of the detection limit. In consequence it is hypothesized that R. padi as an important prey for beneficial insects in corn is unlikely to cause any harm to its antagonists due to mediating Bt toxin.