Introduced ants reduce interaction diversity in a multi‐species,ant–aphid mutualism

Mutualisms contribute in fundamental ways to the origin, maintenance and organization of biological diversity. Introduced species commonly participate in mutualisms, but how this phenomenon affects patterns of interactions among native mutualists remains incompletely understood. Here we examine how networks of interactions among aphid‐tending ants, ant‐tended aphids, and aphid‐attacking parasitoid wasps differ between 12 spatially paired riparian study sites with and without the introduced Argentine ant Linepithema humile in southern California. To resolve challenges in species identification, we used DNA barcoding to identify aphids and screen for parasitoid wasps (developing inside their aphid hosts) from 170 aphid aggregations sampled on arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis. Compared to uninvaded sites, invaded sites supported significantly fewer species of aphid‐tending ants and ant‐tended aphids. At invaded sites, for example, we found only two species of ant‐tended aphids, which were exclusively tended by L. humile, whereas at uninvaded sites we found 20 unique ant–aphid interactions involving eight species of ant‐tended aphids and nine species of aphid‐tending ants. Ant–aphid linkage density was thus significantly lower at invaded sites compared to uninvaded sites. We detected aphid parasitoids in 14% (28/198) of all aphid aggregations. Although the level of parasitism did not differ between invaded and uninvaded sites, more species of wasps were detected within uninvaded sites compared to invaded sites. These results provide a striking example of how the assimilation of introduced species into multi‐species mutualisms can reduce interaction diversity with potential consequences for species persistence.     

Biological control potential of plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria suppression of Meloidogyne incognita on cotton and Heterodera glycines on soybean: A review

Over the past decade, we have seen an increasing market for biopesticides and an increase in number of microbial control studies directed towards plant‐parasitic nematodes. This literature survey provides an overview of research on biological control of two economically important plant‐parasitic nematodes, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood (southern root‐knot nematode) and Heterodera glycines Ichinohe (soybean cyst nematode) using spore‐forming plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In this review, the current biological control strategies for the management of those cotton and soybean nematodes, the mechanism of using BacillusPGPR for biological control of plant‐parasitic nematode including induced systemic resistance and antagonism and the future of biological control agents on management of plant‐parasitic nematodes are covered.     

Der Einfluß von Insektiziden auf die Mumienmortalität des Parasitoiden Monoctonus cerasi (Marshall) (Hymenoptera,Aphidiidae)

Die Behandlung von Zuckerrübensaatgut mit Furadan und anderen systemischen Insektiziden auf der Basis des Wirkstoffes Carbofuran wurde im ukrainischen Zuckerrübenanbau etabliert. Sie ist ökonomisch und ökologisch vorteilhaft gegenüber anderen Anwendungsformen von Insektiziden. Die biologische Effektivität gegenüber den Rüsslerarten Bothynoderes punctiventris Germ und Tanymecus palliatus (F). Erdfioharten (Chaetocnema spp.) und Moosknopfkäfer (Atomaria linearis Steph.) ist zwar abhängig von Witterung, Dosis und Saatgutfraktion, aber in der Regel ausreichend. Gegenüber der Rübenblattlaus (Aphis fabae Scop.), Rübenminierfliege (Pegomya hyoscyami (Panz.) sowie Drahtwürmern (Elateridae‐Larven) ist die Wirkung stärker von Aussaattermin und Witterung abhängig. Die Phytotoxizität wird vom Humusgehalt des Bodens und seiner Feuchtigkeit, dem pH‐Wert, der Bodenart, aber auch der Saatgutfraktion beeinflußt. Eine kurzzeitige negative Beeinflussung bodenmikrobiologischer Aktivität wurde festgestellt, jedoch erwies sich die Aussaat behandelten Saatgutes praktisch ohne Einfluß auf die epigäische Nützlingsfauna.     

A study on common bean cultivars to identify sources of resistance against the black bean aphid,Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Black bean aphid is an important common bean pest in the world. Aphids damage crops both directly by their feeding and by spreading viruses. Also, they indirectly damages with excretion honeydew and smokes moulds growth through some physiological processes and transmission of viruses. Resistant cultivars application is the main strategy to control Aphis fabae Scopoli. In this experiment, different lines and cultivars were infested with five wingless adult aphids. After 7 and 14?days, plants were evaluated and aphid population was counted and recorded. After 45?days when plants reached to the flowering stage, test was repeated. Result showed that there was a significant difference among cultivars in number of adult aphid in two-leaf stage. Most of the number of adult at the first week in two-leaf stage observed on Goynok cultivar that had significant difference to other lines and cultivars. Number of adults and nymphs among the line and cultivar at flowering stage did not show significant difference. Number of deployed aphids after two weeks was significantly higher than the first week that observed in all cultivars. Totally, the most resistant cultivar was Sayad and the most susceptible cultivar was Goynok.     

不同猎物饲喂对南方小花蝽捕食量和喜好性的影响

为探讨南方小花蝽对不同猎物的捕食喜好性,室内用西花蓟马、蚕豆蚜、二斑叶螨、混合饲料(同时饲喂3种猎物)分别饲喂南方小花蝽驯化两代,研究了4种饲喂处理的南方小花蝽初孵若虫、5龄若虫和雌成虫对西花蓟马、蚕豆蚜和二斑叶螨的捕食量和喜好性。结果显示不同猎物饲喂处理驯化的南方小花蝽1龄若虫对同一种猎物的捕食量和喜好性均不存在显著差异。南方小花蝽5龄若虫和雌成虫对某种猎物的捕食量因前期取食的猎物种类不同而有显著差异。南方小花蝽5龄若虫和雌成虫均表现出对西花蓟马2龄若虫的正喜好性。蚕豆蚜饲喂处理的5龄若虫和雌成虫对蚕豆蚜表现出正喜好性,除二斑叶螨饲喂处理外其余3种处理的南方小花蝽5龄若虫和雌成虫均表现出对二斑叶螨的负喜好性。以上结果表明4种饲喂驯化处理的南方小花蝽1龄若虫的喜好性不受前期取食猎物的影响,但5龄若虫和雌成虫对前期取食过的猎物的喜好性增强,存在一定的学习行为。     

Potential cotton aphid,Aphis gossypii,population suppression by arthropod predators in upland cotton

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, predation rate of convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, was determined by assigning a single predator randomly to each of four prey density treatments in the laboratory. Prey densities included 25, 50, 100, and 200 aphids per Petri dish arena. Predation response was recorded at 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h after assigning predators to their prey treatments. Rate of consumption increased through time, with all 25 aphids consumed during the first 4 h of the experiment. At the highest density, adult lady beetle consumed on average 49, 99, 131, 163, 183, and 200 aphids within 1, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h, respectively. Predators showed a curvilinear feeding response in relation to total available time, indicating that convergent lady beetles have the potential to suppress larger populations of aphids through continuous feeding by regulating their predation efficiency during feeding. The analysis of age-specific mortality in absence of prey revealed that lady beetles could survive for an extended period of time （more than 2 weeks） without prey. The ability of a predator to survive without prey delays or prevents the rebound of pest populations that is a significant factor in natural biological control. A two-year field sampling of 10 cotton arthropod predator species showed that spiders （27%） were the most dominant foliage dwelling predators in the Texas High Plains cotton followed by convergent lady beetles （23.5%）, hooded beetles （13.5%）, minute pirate bugs （11%）, green lacewings （9.5%）, bigeyed bugs （7.5%）, scymnus beetles （3%）, soft-winged flower beetles （2%）, damsel bugs （1.5%）, and assassin bugs （1.5%）. A field cage study showed that one H. convergens adult per plant released at prey density of one aphid per leaf kept the aphid population below economic threshold for the entire growing season.     

棉蚜和七星瓢虫对紫茎泽兰挥发物的行为反应及挥发物化学成分初步分析

田间调查 发现紫茎泽兰Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng上有一定数量的棉蚜Aphis gossypii寄生。从棉蚜是否可为紫茎泽兰的生物防治提供新思路的角度出发,研究了紫茎泽兰挥发性气味物质的化学组成及其对棉蚜和七星瓢虫Coccinella septempunctata行为的影响。棉蚜选择性试验结果表明：紫茎泽兰饲养的棉蚜对紫茎泽兰的趋向率为62.5%,对棉花的趋向率为37.5%。棉花饲养的棉蚜对紫茎泽兰的趋向率为30%,对棉花的趋向率为70%。在七星瓢虫对感染蚜虫植株的选择性实验中,七星瓢虫对感染蚜虫的紫茎泽兰植株气味趋向率为29.2%,对感染蚜虫的棉花植株气味趋向率为70.8%;七星瓢虫对除去植株的两种蚜虫气味选择率没有显著差异,对取食紫茎泽兰的蚜虫气味选择率为46.7%,对取食棉花植株的蚜虫气味选择率为53.3%。通过GC-MC分析了紫茎泽兰挥发性化学物质的组分及相对含量,其主要挥发物的成分是α-蒎烯、莰烯、β-蒎烯、2-蒈烯和α-水芹烯等。     

Indirect multi-trophic interactions mediated by induced plant resistance: impact of caterpillar feeding on aphid parasitoids

Cotton produces insecticidal terpenoids that are induced by tissue-feeding herbivores. Damage by Heliothis virescens caterpillars increases the terpenoid content, which reduces the abundance of aphids. This effect is not evident in Bt-transgenic cotton, which is resistant to H. virescens. We determined whether induction of terpenoids by caterpillars influences the host quality of Aphis gossypii for the parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes and whether this interaction is influenced by Bt cotton. The exposure of parasitoids to terpenoids was determined by quantifying terpenoids in the aphids. We detected several terpenoids in aphids and found a positive relationship between their concentrations in plants and aphids. When L. testaceipes was allowed to parasitize aphids on Bt and non-Bt cotton that was infested or uninfested with H. virescens, fewer parasitoid mummies were found on infested non-Bt than on Bt cotton. Important parasitoid life-table parameters, however, were not influenced by induced resistance following H. virescens infestation, or the Bt trait. Our study provides an example of a tritrophic indirect interaction web, where organisms are indirectly linked through changes in plant metabolites.