Laboratory evaluation of desiccants and insecticidal soap applied to various substrates to control the deer tick Ixodes scapularis

Abstract. Desiccant and soap pest control products were tested against Ixodes scapularis nymphs on sod, pachysandra, landscaping stones and pinebark wood-chips in a laboratory study. High mortality (91–100%) was obtained with the silica-based desiccant Drione and Safer's insecticidal soap (SIS) treatments except for SIS treated woodchips. SIS and Drione contain 0.2 and 1% pyrethrins, respectively. SIS may be absorbed by the woodchips and not picked up by the nymphs as mortality decreased to 78%. Diatomaceous earth and Dri-die reduced nymphs by only 10–41%; neither desiccant contains insecticides. Nymphal mortality increased 15–17% after 20 or 100 ml of water was sprayed over sod plugs treated with SIS or Drione. The addition of isopropyl alcohol (ROH) to SIS increased the efficacy of SIS against nymphal I. scapularis on treated sod plugs but not on treated landscaping substrates. Drione, SIS, SIS-ROH and chlorpyrifos 50WP treated landscaping stones and pinebark woodchips resulted in 88–95% and 72–96% nymphal mortality, respectively. Unexpectedly, these substrates and treatments affected tick movement as well. Effective pest control products applied to xeric landscaping substrates present in maintained beds and borders near wooded areas could deter tick movement and provide significant levels of tick control.     

Identification of the ryanodine receptor mutation I4743M and its contribution to diamide insecticide resistance in Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Insect ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are the targets of diamide insecticides. Two point mutations G4946E and I4790M (numbering according to Plutella xylostella, PxRyR) in the transmembrane domain of the insect RyRs associated with diamide resistance have so far been identified in three lepidopteran pests, P. xylostella, Tuta absoluta and Chilo suppressalis. In this study, we identified one of the known RyR target site resistance mutations (I4790M) in a field‐collected population of Spodoptera exigua. The field‐collected WF population of S. exigua exhibited 154 fold resistance to chlorantraniliprole when compared with the susceptible WH‐S strain. Sequencing the transmembrane domains of S. exigua RyR (SeRyR) revealed that the resistant WF strain was homozygous for the I4743M mutation (corresponding to I4790M in PxRyR), whereas the G4900E allele (corresponding to G4946E of PxRyR) was not detected. The 4743M allele was introgressed into the susceptible WH‐S strain by crossing WF with WH‐S, followed by three rounds of backcrossing with WH‐S. The introgressed strain 4743M was homozygous for the mutant 4743M allele and shared about 94% of its genetic background with that of the recipient WH‐S strain. Compared with WH‐S, the near‐isogenic 4743M strain showed moderate levels of resistance to chlorantraniliprole (21 fold), cyantraniliprole (25 fold) and flubendiamide (22 fold), suggesting that the I4743M mutation confers medium levels of resistance to all three diamides. Genetic analysis showed diamide resistance in the 4743M strain was inherited as an autosomal and recessive trait. Results from this study have direct implications for the design of appropriate resistance monitoring and management practices to sustainably control S. exigua.     

Biodegradation of organophosphorus insecticides by two organophosphorus hydrolase genes (opdA and opdE) from isolated Leuconostoc mesenteroides WCP307 of kimchi origin

This study is aimed to reveal the molecular incidence of organophosphorus insecticides degradation during the fermentation of Korean food yeulmu-mulkimchi. To this end, two opdA and opdE which consist of 930 and 894 bp that encode 309 and 297 amino acids, respectively, were cloned from the Leuconostoc mesenteroides WCP307 strain that was isolated from chlorpyrifos (CP) impregnated kimchi. The Escherichia coli that harbored the opdA and opdE genes depleted a CP concentration of 72% and 83%, respectively, in an M9 medium after 6 days. The OpdA and OpdE enzymes molecular weights were estimated to be approximately 35 and 33 kDa and showed optimal activities at 30 °C with a pH of 7.0 and 6.0, respectively. However, the mutated OpdA (Ser128 → Ala128) and OpdE (Ser129 → Ala129) enzymes had no activities on OP insecticides and ρ-nitrophenyl butyrate substrates. In addition, the OpdA and OpdE enzymes showed profound catalytic activities against cadusafos, comnaphos, diazinon, dyfonate, ethoprophos, fenamiphos, methylparathion, and parathion insecticides. Therefore, it is assumed that OpdA and OpdE enzymes detoxified the pesticides contaminated kimchi composition like Chinese cabbages during fermentation. Furthermore, the OpdA and OpdE enzymes augmented the diversity of new LAB-opd enzymes group in nature.     

The repellent effect of two pyrethroid insecticides on the honey bee*

ABSTRACT. . An improved model for the repellent effect of pyrethroid insecticides on insects was developed using small colonies of honey bees, Apis mellifera L., in flight cages. Conditioning to scented feeders allowed the separation of foraging bees from a single colony into paired treatment and control groups. The repellent response was characterized as a sublethal toxic effect resulting in transitory inhibition of activity. Permethrin and cypermethrin were shown to be contact repellents to honey bees; exposure was primarily to the tarsi and abdominal venter. Repellency was fully reversible within 24 h. No permanent effects on either memory function or foraging efficiency were observed following acute exposure.     

茶叶上拟除虫菊酯类农药降解菌的分离及其特性

生物修复对降解污染基质中的农药是一种对环境有益的方法。目标是要寻找能够降解在茶叶生产中使用的拟除虫菊酯类农药的降解菌。最终在福州某茶园经农药处理过的茶叶中分离降解菌。首先在富集培养基中筛选,接着在以农药为唯一碳源的基础培养基中连续筛选。结果发现,其中一株标号为c1f6的菌株生长的特别良好,经AMS-VITEK120全自动微生物分析系统鉴定,为假单胞菌属的一个未知种。采用HP6890气相色谱仪测定菌株对拟除虫菊酯类农药联苯菊酯、甲氰菊酯和氯氰菊酯的降解率。在pH7.0的基础培养基发酵液中,以各加100mg·L-1这3种农药为唯一碳源,30℃振荡培养,接种c1f6后3d,这3种农药的降解率分别为55.64%、44.56%和52.19%。采用光密度测定的菌株生长值和农药降解率的关系曲线表明,在基础培养基中,农药降解和菌株生长成正相关,说明菌株能以拟除虫菊酯类农药为唯一碳源和能源进行生长。采用同样的方法测定表明,菌株c1f6对有机磷农药也有一定的降解力,3d对甲胺磷和毒死蜱的降解率分别为27.67%和12.35%。因此,假单胞菌c1f6是一株较广谱的农药降解菌,有望用于生物修复过程,以减少茶叶栽培过程中的产品和环境污染。     

几种杀虫剂对南美斑潜蝇及其寄生蜂潜蝇茧蜂的毒力

测定了阿维菌素、灭蝇胺、杀虫单、毒死蜱、灭多威、顺式氯氰菊酯6种杀虫剂对南美斑潜蝇2龄幼虫、成虫及其寄生蜂潜蝇茧蜂的室内毒力,并考察了灭蝇胺、阿维菌素和杀虫单对南美斑潜蝇的田间防效。在所研究浓度下,阿维菌素、灭蝇胺对2龄幼虫的毒力较高,但对南美斑潜蝇成虫和潜蝇茧蜂的毒力较低;杀虫单对南美斑潜蝇成虫、2龄幼虫和潜蝇茧蜂的毒力均较高;毒死蜱、灭多威、顺式氯氰菊酯对南美斑潜蝇2龄幼虫的毒力较低,而对潜蝇茧蜂的毒力较高。田间条件下,灭蝇胺、阿维菌素和杀虫单都对田间南美斑潜蝇具有较高防效。     

多杀菌素和氟虫睛对瓢虫、寄生蜂和菜缢管蚜选择性的研究

采用药膜法研究了多杀菌素和氟虫睛对3种瓢虫、2种寄生蜂和菜缢管蚜的选择性。与菜缢管蚜相比,2种杀虫剂对3种瓢虫的毒性较低(LC50比值=1.73-41.9),尤其是氟虫睛对3种瓢虫以及多杀菌素对稻红瓢虫均具有较好的选择性(LC50比值大于5)。菜蚜茧蜂和蚜虫宽缘金小蜂对2种杀虫剂的敏感性远高于3种瓢虫和菜缢管蚜,2种杀虫剂对菜蚜茧蜂和蚜虫宽缘金小蜂均是高毒的(LC50比值=0.006-0.05)。3种瓢虫对多杀菌素和氟虫睛具有较高的耐药性,这将有助于其在生物防治中的应用。     

Use of acephate, benomyl and alginate encapsulation for eliminating culture mites and fungal contamination from in vitro cultures of hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos L.)

Summary Shoot cultures of three Hibiscus moscheutos (L.) cultivars were infested with micro-arthropods (mites). Nodal segments (1 cm long) were excised from these cultures and encapsulated in a sodium alginate gelled Driver and Kuniyuki Walnut DKW medium containing 10, 50, or 100 mg l⁻¹ acephate (insecticide) or 10 mg l⁻¹ acephate plus 0, 50, or 100 mg l⁻¹ benomyl (fungicide), then placed in refrigerated (5°C) darkness for 4 wk. Acephate was tested alone if visible fungus was not touching the shoot masses and benomyl was tested if fungus was in contact with the proliferating shoots. Cold-stored encapsulated nodes were then placed on DKW medium with 0.1 μM thidiazuron for 6 wk for subsequent shoot development. The presence of acephate in the encapsulation medium completely eradicated or killed the mites, with 38–69% of cultures fungus-free; 12% of the fungal-contaminated nodes encapsulated with 100 mg l⁻¹ benomyl were fungus-free.     

Biotechnological Production of Plant-Based Insecticides

ABSTRACT:?

The demand for natural and nonpersistent insecticides is increasing day by day. Plant cell cultures could be an alternative to conventional methods of production of insecticides from field-grown plants. In vitro cultured plant cells produce a wide array of insecticides as a part of their secondary metabolism. Their ability to synthesize key enzymes and the manipulation of these could lead to the enhanced production of many insecticides of industrial importance. The development of a high-yielding hairy root culture system for thiophenes, nicotine, and phytoecdysones is of considerable interest. In this article, the current literature on various factors that influence the growth, production, and secretion of six insecticidal compounds, namely, pyrethrins, azadirachtin, thiophenes, nicotine, rotenoids, and phytoecdysones which have been prospects for the scale-up of cell cultures, genetic engineering to obtain transgenic plants, and metabolically engineered plants for increased production of bio-molecules, has been discussed. Environmental safety clearance and the future prospects of application of bio-molecules for plant-derived insecticides are presented.