A new approach for mealybug management: recruiting an indigenous,but ‘non‐natural’ enemy for biological control using an attractant

We previously discovered that (2,4,4‐trimethyl‐2‐cyclohexenyl)‐methyl butyrate (cyclolavandulyl butyrate, CLB) is an attractant for the mealybug‐parasitic wasp Anagyrus sawadai Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae: Anagyrini). This wasp is not likely to parasitize the Japanese mealybug, Planococcus kraunhiae (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), under natural conditions. In this study, we showed that this ‘non‐natural’ enemy wasp can parasitize P. kraunhiae in the presence of CLB in field experiments. Laboratory‐reared mealybugs placed on persimmon trees with CLB‐impregnated rubber septa were parasitized significantly more often by endoparasitic wasps than those on non‐treatment trees (18.1–40.3 vs. 0–6.3%). Anagyrus sawadai accounted for 20% of the wasps that emerged from mealybugs placed on CLB‐treated trees. Moreover, CLB attracted another minor parasitoid, Leptomastix dactylopii Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae: Anagyrini), which also parasitized more P. kraunhiae in the presence of CLB. All wasps that emerged from the mealybugs on control trees were Anagyrus fujikona Tachikawa, a major parasitoid of P. kraunhiae around the test location. These results demonstrated that CLB can recruit an indigenous, but ‘non‐natural’ enemy that does not typically attack P. kraunhiae under natural conditions, as well as a minor natural enemy, for biological control of this mealybug species.     

摇床转速对淡紫拟青霉菌生长的影响

设置不同摇床转速来调节通气量,以淡紫拟青霉菌株NHPL03培养过程的OD值、pH值、菌丝重量、孢子量、毒力为指标,研究通气量对淡紫拟青霉菌NHPL03生长的影响。结果表明:淡紫拟青霉菌可在多种摇床转速(通气量)条件下生长。通气量不仅影响菌丝生长与孢子生成而且影响毒力产物分泌,菌丝生长与孢子生成的最佳摇床转速为100r/min,培养8d菌丝干重达到最高值1.10g/50mL,产孢量达28.5×106个/mL。从毒力强度看,低转速条件60r/min总体毒力水平最高,培养8d菌液对茎线虫校正致死率达到47.1%。     

Inventory and abundance of mealybug species in immature and mature cocoa farms in Côte d'Ivoire

From 2013 to 2018, surveys were conducted in counties not previously surveyed in order to determine species of mealybugs present in the cocoa orchard in Côte d'Ivoire as well as their abundance according to the age of cocoa trees. Immature and mature cocoa trees were inspected to hand‐height in 5 and 29 counties infected with Cacao swollen shoot virus (CSSV). In each cocoa farm, mealybugs were searched for on fruits, leaves, flowers, twigs and trunks. Mealybug species were identified, and colonies were counted. Five mealybug species were identified on immature cocoa trees: Ferrisia virgata, Formicococcus njalensis, Planococcus citri, Planococcus kenyae and Pseudococcus longispinus. In addition to these species, four species, Dysmicoccus brevipes, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Phenacoccus hargreavesi and Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi were identified on mature cocoa trees. On immature cocoa trees, Fo. Njalensis, Pl. citri and Ps. longispinus comprised were, respectively, 35%, 33% and 19% of colonies, respectively. On mature cocoa trees, Fo. Njalensis and Pl. citri comprised 63.2% and 21.0%, and others species 15.8%. Nevertheless, the abundance of mealybug species varied according to the age of cocoa trees. The preferred organs of mealybugs were pods (74.1%) followed by twigs (13.4%) and flowers (7.4%). Previously, the mealybug Paracoccus burnerae (Brain) was found on Theobroma cacao, which is the first record for this species in Côte d'Ivoire and on this host‐plant.     

Cultivation Optimization of Insect-Pathogenic Fungi PaecUomyces lilacinus HY-4 to Soil-pest Adoretus tenuimaculatus

ABSTRACT A new insect pathogenic fungi, Paecilomyces licacinus HY-4 that was isolated from soil sample, showed biological activity to Chestnut Brown Chafer, pest of golf course. The culture condition for the fungi P. lilacinus HY-4 was optimized through statistical approach for the mass production. According th the bioassay on the pest, the insecticidal activity reached up to 30%, and positive factor for the production of the fungi was zeolite with 97.5% of significance.     

Etude de la chambre filtrante de Planococcus citri (Insecta,Homoptera)

Résumé Le tube digestif des cochenilles se caractérise par la présence d'un dispositif intestinal appelé chambre filtrante. Celle-ci, formée par l'accolement des deux extrêmités de l'intestin moyen, est supposée intervenir dans le transit alimentaire en éliminant par «voie raccourcie» l'eau ingérée en excès, mais ce rôle est resté jusque là hypothétique.Chez Planococcus citri, l'étude cytologique et histochimique révèle des caractères propres aux parties de l'intestin moyen participant à la réalisation de ce dispositif. Ces caractères suggèrent une fonction particulière qui peut être liée à un mouvement de l'eau. Les cellules sont de taille très réduite. Par endroits, des différences ultrastructurales s'observent entre les deux anses accolées (présence de vacuoles et d'espaces extracellulaires développés). Les cellules non modifiées de l'anse de départ présentent un caractère morphologique particulier, le système d'espaces intercellulaires et un caractère histochimique dominant, l'importante quantité de glycogène. Les cellules non modifiées de l'anse de retour présentent une structure inhabituelle, les «expansions tubulaires» associées aux microvillosités. En absence du «plasmalemma mitochondrial complex» le passage de l'eau se ferait par osmose dans deux directions: d'une part à travers les épithéliums amincis, d'autre part par le réseau d'espaces intercellulaires.

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Studies on the filter-chamber of Planococcus citri risso (Insecta, Homoptera)Histochemistry and ultrastructure

Summary The digestive tract of the coccids is characterized by the presence of a filter chamber formed by the apposition of the two extremities of the midgut. It is supposed that the filter chamber plays a role in the elimination of excess water by a short circuit but this assumption is still hypothetical.In Planococcus citri, cytological and histochemical studies have revealed structural peculiarities in those parts of the midgut which participate in the organization of the filter chamber, which suggest a particular function. The cells are highly reduced in size. In certain regions ultrastructural differences exist between the two apposed extremities of the midgut such as the presence of a vacuole and of highly developed extra-cellular spaces. These features may be related to water transport. The conventional cells of the proximal end of the midgut show the presence of a system of intercellular spaces and are very rich in glycogen. The conventional cells of the distal end of the midgut possess extracellular microtubules associated with the microvilli. In absence of a plasmalemma mitochondrial complex the transport of water could occur by osmosis across the thinned epithelium and the network of intercellular spaces.

Cet article recouvre en partie le travail d'une thèse de Docteur-Ingénieur soutenue à l'Université Paris VI en 1972.     

Purification and characterization of Paecilomyces lilacinus dextranase

Two dextranase isoenzymes [endo-(1,6)-α-d-glucan-6-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.11] have been isolated from a crude enzyme powder prepared from the culture supernatant of Paecilomyces lilacinus. Purification was achieved by means of a two-stage ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Dextranase I was recovered with a 35.3-fold increase in specific activity and a yield of 16%; dextranase II was purified 19-fold with a yield of 4%. The characteristics of the isoenzymes were very similar; both exhibited maximum hydrolytic activity at pH 4.5 and 55°C. Activation energies for thermal inactivation were 402 and 330 kJ mol^?1 for dextranase I and II, respectively. The dextranases were not inhibited by EDTA or N-ethylmaleimide.     

Asymmetrical intraguild predation between natural enemies of the citrus mealybug

The ability of a predator to discriminate against parasitized prey determines the extent of asymmetrical intraguild predation, which is often crucial for the outcome of biological control. Anagyrus nr. pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), suffers from intraguild predation by coccinellids occurring in the same habitat. The level of intraguild predation on A. nr. pseudococci by Nephus includens (Kirsch) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) at different immature stages has been investigated with and without simultaneous offer of extraguild prey. Larvae of A. nr. pseudococci appeared to face increased intraguild predation at early developmental stages, whereas mummification provided adequate protection against the predatory coccinellid. Different predation levels on unparasitized vs. parasitized hosts at various developmental stages in choice assays indicated that N. includens preferences might be determined not solely by palatability of the prey but also by its ability to protect itself.     

一株动性球菌ZOYM的初步鉴定及其内源性质粒pPCZ1和pPCZ2的分析

从来自中国深海的样品中分离到一株菌株ZOYM, PCR获得其16S rRNA基因序列, 经比对, 与已发表的动性球菌属(Planococcus)的不同种高度相似。提取质粒DNA, 在琼脂糖凝胶上检测到多条DNA带, 对其中2个小的环型质粒pPCZ1和pPCZ2进行了克隆和测序。 pPCZ1和pPCZ2的全长分别为4738 bp和7935 bp, 编码3个和8个蛋白。预测的pPCZ1和pPCZ2的复制蛋白Rep分别与链球菌(Staphylococcus)质粒pSCFS1和芽孢杆菌(Bacillus) 质粒pBM19的Rep有很高的相似性。此外, pPCZ1和pPCZ2的复制蛋白Rep之间也有一定的同源性。质粒pPCZ1和pPCZ2上均未找到滚环复制质粒保守的dso和sso序列, 而在复制基因的上游均发现有多个重复序列和富含AT的序列, 因此, 推测它们可能不是以滚环方式进行复制, 而是theta方式。这是首次报道动性球菌属两个质粒的完整序列。     

沈阳口岸首次截获危险性害虫——日本臀纹粉蚧

沈阳出入境检验检疫局于2008年11月20日从旅客携带的柿子中截获了一种危险性害虫——日本臀纹粉蚧Planococcus kraunhiae(Kuwana)。该害虫在我国大陆尚未分布,为严防其传入,文章介绍其形态特征、寄主、生物学特性及基本防治策略等,以供参考。