Lasioseius Fimetorum: a soil-dwelling predator of glasshouse pests?

Female lifespan and reproduction, in terms of numberof larvae produced, of the soil-dwelling predatorymite Lasioseius fimetorum Karg (Acari:Podocinidae) fed on mould mites (Tyrophagusputrescentiae [Schrank] [Acarina: Acaridae]) wereinvestigated by laboratory experiments at 20 °C,as were the mite's consumption rates of various prey.After a preoviposition period of 10.7 days, L.fimetorum produced progeny at a daily rate of 0.7.The oviposition period lasted 23.6 days and a total of19.4 progeny were produced per female. Females livedfor 38.6 days. Eggs of the Collembola Isotomurusspp. (Collembola: Isotomidae) were consumed in thelargest amount by L. fimetorum followed by mouldmite nymphs, larvae and pupae of thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis [Pergande] [Thysanoptera:Thripidae]), eggs of the Collembola Micrisotomaspp. (Collembola: Isotomidae), Isotomurus spp.nymphs and sciarid larvae (Bradysia pauperaTuomikoski and B. tritici (Coquillet) [Diptera:Sciaridae]). Immature drain flies (Psychoda spp.[Diptera: Psychodidae]) were not consumed by L.fimetorum. The suitability of L. fimetorum forbiological control of glasshouse pests withsoil-dwelling stages is discussed in comparison withanother predatory mite Hypoaspis miles Berlese(Acarina: Hypoaspididae).     

Detection of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A,B, and C in Milk By an Elisa Procedure

Enterotoxigenic reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus were cultivated in sterile whole and skim milk for 18 h at 37°G. Staphylococcal enterotoxin A, B, and C were detected directly in the milk by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), sensitive down to 1 ng/ml. Enterotoxins in the range of 1 ng–20 µg/ml milk were detected without any concentration or extraction. Skim and whole milk were almost identical as medium for enterotoxin production.     

Ultrastructure of the pericardium in chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora), in relation to filtration and contraction mechanisms

Summary The pericardium in Lepidopleurus asellus (Spengler), Tonicella marmorea (Fabricius), T. rubra L., Ischnochiton albus L., and Calleochiton laevis (Montagu), species taxonomically far apart, is described. It consists of a flat, simple epithelium facing the pericardial cavity, a basement membrane, a muscle layer with two types of muscle fibres, nerve processes, glio-interstitial cells, and fibrocytes, embedded in a loose collagen matrix. The epithelium in L. asellus and I. albus have convoluted lateral cell borders, and in L. asellus very long basal cell processes are seen. Type 1 muscle fibres resemble smooth molluscan muscle. Type 2 muscle fibres resemble cardiac muscle fibres in chitons. Nerve processes associated with glio-interstitial cells and cell processes, run free in the matrix. Synapses in type 1 fibres are covered with glio-interstitial cell processes, lacking in type 2 muscle fibres synapses.This work was supported by grants from the Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities     

Characterization of a biologically active arabinogalactan from the leaves of Plantago major L.

PMIa is a Type II arabinogalactan with anti-complementary activity isolated from the leaves of Plantago major L. It has a molecular weight of 77000–80000 Da and consists of arabinose (38%), galactose (49%), rhamnose (6%), galacturonic acid (7%) and 1.5% protein with hydroxyproline, alanine and serine as the main amino acids. Characterization of PMIa by methylation and GC-MS, methanolysis and GC, Smith degradation, weak acid hydrolysis, ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, two-dimensional heteronuclear NMR and DEPT show that it consists of 1,3-linked galactan chains with 1,6-linked galactan side chains attached to position 6. The side chains are further branched in position 3 with 1,3-linked galactose residues which have 1,6-linked galactose attached to position 6; these 1,3- and 1,6-linked galactose chains altogether probably form a network. Terminal and 1,5-linked arabinose in furanose form are attached to the galactan mainly through position 3 of the 1,6-linked galactose side chains.     

Milk Fever Control Principles: A Review

Three main preventive principles against milk fever were evaluated in this literature review, and the efficacy of each principle was estimated from the results of controlled investigations. Oral calcium drenching around calving apparently has a mean efficacy of 50%–60% in terms of milk fever prevention as well as prevention of milk fever relapse after intravenous treatment with calcium solutions. However, some drenches have been shown to cause lesions in the forestomacs. When using the DCAD (dietary cation-anion difference) principle, feeding rations with a negative DCAD (measured as (Na + K) – (Cl + S)) significantly reduce the milk fever incidence. Calculating the relative risk (RR) of developing milk fever from controlled experiments results in a mean RR between 0.19 and 0.35 when rations with a negative versus positive DCAD are compared. The main drawback from the DCAD principle is a palatability problem. The principle of feeding rations low in calcium is highly efficient in milk fever prevention provided the calcium intake in the dry period is kept below 20 g per day. Calculating the relative risk (RR) of developing milk fever from controlled experiments results in a very low mean RR (between 0 and 0.20) (daily calcium intake below versus above 20 g/d). The main problem in implementing the low-Ca principle is difficulties in formulating rations sufficiently low in calcium when using commonly available feeds. The use of large doses of vitamin D metabolites and analogues for milk fever prevention is controversial. Due to toxicity problems and an almost total lack of recent studies on the subject this principle is not described in detail. A few management related issues were discussed briefly, and the following conclusions were made: It is important to supply the periparturient cow with sufficient magnesium to fulfil its needs, and to prevent the dry cows from being too fat. Available information on the influence of carbohydrate intake, and on the effect of the length of the dry period and prepartum milking, is at present insufficient to include these factors in control programmes.