Age-stage,two-sex life table of the tomato looper,Chrysodeixis chalcites (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on different bean cultivars

The tomato looper, Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper), is one of the polyphagous pests of several economically crops worldwide. Two-sex life table parameters of C. chalcites reared on eight bean cultivars including white kidney bean (cultivars Daneshkadeh and Dehghan), red kidney bean (cultivars Goli and Naz), common bean (cultivars Khomein, Talash and Sadra) and cowpea (cultivar Mashhad) were studied under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5 % RH, a 16:8-h light–dark photoperiod). The shortest larval period of C. chalcites was 14.15 days on common bean Sadra. The longest and shortest development time of total preadult was on white kidney bean Daneshkadeh and common bean Sadra (25.77 and 23.42 days, respectively). The highest total fecundity was on common bean Sadra (674.4 eggs), and the lowest was observed on white kidney bean Daneshkadeh (136.7 eggs). The intrinsic rate of increase (r _m ) ranged from 0.0976 to 0.1599 female/female/day, which was lowest on white kidney bean Daneshkadeh and highest on common bean Sadra. The net reproductive rate (R ₀) was highest on common bean Sadra (265.82 offspring) and lowest on white kidney bean Daneshkadeh (46.88 offspring). The results revealed that the cultivar Daneshkadeh was unsuitable host to C. chalcites in comparison to the other cultivars tested.     

Comparative damage and digestive enzyme activity of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on 12 tomato cultivars

The damage caused by the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) to 12 tomato cultivars was investigated under greenhouse conditions. The 2 cultivars Korral and CH Falat experienced lower damage in terms of all parameters investigated, whereas the cultivars Valouro and Cal JN3 were categorized as the most susceptible host plants. The larvae feeding on CH Falat and Korral cultivars reached the lowest final weight (1.82 and 1.93 mg, respectively), whereas those reared on the Valouro and Cal JN3 cultivars reached the highest body weight (3.42 and 3.33 mg, respectively). The highest proteolytic and amylolytic activity was detected in larvae feeding on the Korral cultivar, whereas larvae reared on the Valouro cultivar had the lowest enzyme activity for both third and fourth instar larvae. Altogether, the Korral and CH Falat cultivars were classified as relatively resistant cultivars, whereas the 2 cultivars Valouro and Cal JN3 were categorized as highly susceptible to infection by T. absoluta. Therefore, the resistant cultivars can be considered as candidates for use in integrated management programs of the tomato leaf miner in Iran.     

Age-specific digestion of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and inhibition of proteolytic and amylolytic activity by plant proteinaceous seed extracts

Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is an international and serious pest of stored products. So far nothing is known about the activity for each growth stage digestive enzyme regarding this insect species. Thus, the aim of the current study was to get in depth analysis of the stage specific digestion and to investigate the effect of cereal (wheat cultivars including MV17, Aflak, Sivand, Saymon, and Zare) and legume (bean) seed extracts on the two main digestive enzymes i.e. α-amylases and proteases. Therefore, gut enzymes were extracted using distilled water and wheat cultivars and bean seed proteinaceous compounds were extracted using 0.1 M NaCl. Results showed that a steady state increase in the number and amount of digestive enzyme activities from first to fourth instar larvae was seen in both enzyme and in gel assays. In the first instar larvae (L1) only one band of α-amylase activity was seen (A1), whereas in the second (L2), third (L3), fourth (L4) and fifth (L5) instar larvae as well as in the adult (A) more than one amylase band (up to 4 isoenzymes) was seen. The same pattern was observed for α and β glucosidases and proteases. Probit analysis showed that bean and MV17 inhibited the amylase activity with an I₅₀ of 9.73 and 7.4 μg, respectively. The same cultivar seed extract inhibited protease activity with I₅₀s of 11.54 and 6.5 μg proteins. It is concluded that proteinaceous extract of cereals and bean seeds have a strong potential to be used in this pest management.     

棉铃虫幼虫自相残杀习性与其龄期和食物营养的相关性（英文）

【目的】 昆虫自相残杀行为可以促进特定病原体的传播,这在利用昆虫病原体防治害虫方面有潜在的应用价值。本研究旨在探究棉铃虫 Helicoverpa armigera 幼虫自相残杀习性与其龄期及食物营养之间的相关性。【方法】 分别饲喂室内品系和野外品系的棉铃虫幼虫含不同Na⁺浓度的人工饲料,并在饲养至3龄、4龄、5龄和6龄时,将取食相同饲料的10头幼虫为一群组移入同一培养皿中,通过测定各处理幼虫存活率,评估幼虫龄期和饲料中的Na⁺含量对自相残杀行为的影响。【结果】 当以3龄和4龄为群组的起始龄期时,棉铃虫幼虫存活率显著低于起始龄期为5龄和6龄的群组。此外,取食正常人工饲料的幼虫存活率最高,取食缺钠饲料时,幼虫存活率明显下降。最后,幼虫群组起始龄期和食物Na⁺含量对幼虫化蛹率无明显影响。【结论】结果说明,棉铃虫4和5龄幼虫与3和6龄幼虫相比,自相残杀行为发生的概率更大,而Na⁺含量较低的食物在一定程度上促进自相残杀行为发生的可能性。本研究为在这一领域的进一步工作提供了基础。     

Complexity in specificities and expression of Helicoverpa armigera gut proteinases explains polyphagous nature of the insect pest

Helicoverpa armigera is a devastating pest of cotton and other important crop plants all over the world. A detailed biochemical investigation of H. armigera gut proteinases is essential for planning effective proteinase inhibitor (PI)-based strategies to counter the insect infestation. In this study, we report the complexity of gut proteinase composition of H. armigera fed on four different host plants, viz. chickpea, pigeonpea, cotton and okra, and during larval development. H. armigera fed on chickpea showed more than 2.5- to 3-fold proteinase activity than those fed on the other host plants. H. armigera gut proteinase composition revealed the predominance of serine proteinase activity; however, the larvae fed on pigeonpea revealed the presence of metalloproteases and low levels of aspartic and cysteine proteases as well. Gut proteinase activity increased during larval development with the highest activity seen in the fifth instar larvae which, however, declined sharply in the sixth instar. Over 90% of the gut proteinase activity of the fifth instar larvae was of the serine proteinase type, however, the second instar larvae showed the presence of proteinases of other mechanistic classes like metalloproteases, aspartic and cysteine proteases along with serine proteinase activity as evident by inhibition studies. Analysis of fecal matter of larvae showed significant increase in proteinase activity when fed on an artificial diet with or without non-host PIs than larvae fed on a natural diet. The diversity in the proteinase activity observed in H. armigera gut and the flexibility in their expression during developmental stages and depending upon the diet provides a base for selection of proper PIs for insect resistance in transgenic crop plants.     

棉铃虫叉头框蛋白A类似蛋白基因HarmFoxAl的克隆及表达谱分析

【目的】本研究旨在克隆并分析一种棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera叉头框蛋白A (forkhead box protein A, FoxA)类似蛋白基因HarmFoxAl,探讨2-十三烷酮胁迫下棉铃虫中肠中HarmFoxAl的表达情况,为进一步明确棉铃虫FoxA的功能和参与棉铃虫生长发育的调控通路提供依据。【方法】从棉铃虫幼虫中肠中扩增得到HarmFoxAl的cDNA序列,并对其氨基酸序列和蛋白结构进行分析。将HarmFoxAl的ORF序列连接至pET32a载体并转化大肠杆菌Escherichia coli Transetta菌株,IPTG诱导后检测目的蛋白的表达形式,并利用镍柱亲和层析法纯化融合蛋白。通过qPCR检测棉铃虫不同发育阶段(1-6龄幼虫和预蛹),6龄幼虫不同组织(脂肪体、中肠、体壁和头部)以及10 mg/g 2-十三烷酮处理6龄幼虫不同时间后中肠中HarmFoxAl的表达谱。【结果】HarmFoxAl(GenBank登录号:XM021331806)的开放阅读框为669 bp,编码222个氨基酸,蛋白的相对分子质量和等电点分别为25.03 kD和6.34。氨基酸序列分析表明,HarmFoxAl单体蛋白无信号肽、跨膜区和二硫键,核心区域是由4个α螺旋和3个β折叠组成的球状结构。将重组的Transetta (pET32a-HarmFoxAl)菌株用0.5 mmol/L IPTG在25℃条件下诱导5 h,约45 kD的融合蛋白His-HarmFoxAl能以可溶的形式存在于重组菌中,这与预测的分子量(42.8 kD)相一致。发育阶段特异性表达谱表明,HarmFoxAl在棉铃虫1-3龄幼虫期、6龄幼虫期和预蛹期均有表达,且预蛹期的表达量最高。组织表达谱结果表明,该基因在6龄幼虫的脂肪体、中肠和体壁中表达,且脂肪体内的表达量最高,而在头部中不表达。10 mg/g 2-十三烷酮处理棉铃虫6龄幼虫后中肠中HarmFoxAl的表达量显著降低,但随着时间延长其表达量逐渐升高,处理48 h后表达量显著高于对照。【结论】棉铃虫HarmFoxAl在预蛹期和幼虫脂肪体中表达量最高,2-十三烷酮处理幼虫后HarmFoxAl的表达量急速降低后逐渐升高,推测其在棉铃虫变态发育和解毒代谢过程中发挥重要作用。     

复配杀虫剂BtA对棉铃虫的杀虫效果及对天敌中红侧沟茧蜂蛹和成虫的触杀毒性(英文)

为了科学施药, 合理保护和利用天敌对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera进行综合防治, 本研究在室内测定和比较了复配杀虫剂BtA和7种常用杀虫剂（阿维菌素、 Bt、 β-氯氰菊酯、辛硫磷、定虫隆、氰戊菊酯和丁硫克百威）对棉铃虫的杀虫效果及对其天敌中红侧沟茧蜂Microplitis mediator蛹和雌成虫的触杀毒性。采用浸叶法测定杀虫剂在室内72 h内对棉铃虫3龄幼虫的杀虫效果, 结果表明： 与其他杀虫剂相比, BtA对棉铃虫幼虫具有更高的毒性和致死效应 (LC₅₀=0.7364 mg/mL)。将棉铃虫3龄幼虫接到用浓度4 mg/mL上述杀虫剂分别处理过的大白菜上24, 48和72 h, 发现其死亡率之间存在显著差异（P≤0.05）。但在72 h后, BtA和其他杀虫剂对棉铃虫幼虫的杀虫效果之间并无显著差异(P>0.05)。BtA施药后, 随着时间的延长, 棉铃虫幼虫的死亡率也在增加。另外, 通过杀虫剂对寄生蜂中红侧沟茧蜂蛹和雌成虫的触杀毒性的生物测定发现： 与β-氯氰菊酯、 氰戊菊酯和丁硫克百威相比, BtA对中红侧沟茧蜂蛹和雌成虫的毒性较低, 对其蛹和雌成虫致死率分别仅为13.82%和7.33%。本研究证明BtA对鳞翅目害虫具有中等毒性, 而对寄生蜂中红侧沟茧蜂则具有较低毒性。     

番茄是烟青虫的寄主植物吗？

长期以来,国内有关文献一直将番茄列为烟青虫Helicoverpa assulta的寄主植物,但田间调查结果往往与此矛盾,本研究的目的是阐明番茄是否为烟青虫的寄主植物。室内试验表明,虽然烟青虫成虫在盆栽番茄植株上产卵较多,但无论是用番茄离体嫩叶还是用盆栽植株饲养,初孵幼虫绝大部分在1龄死亡,平均存活时间很短,不会对番茄造成有经济意义的危害;即使用番茄青果饲养的3龄幼虫也不能活到6龄。根据人工饲料饲养结果估测,番茄苷对初孵幼虫的致死中浓度LC₅₀为0.0744%,叶和青果中报道的番茄苷含量已接近或超过此水平,这是幼虫不能存活的主要原因之一。田间调查也表明,烟青虫并不危害番茄。因此,番茄不是烟青虫的寄主植物。文献中的记载很可能是将棉铃虫误判为烟青虫。     

Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry proteins to Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in South Africa

The susceptibility of one of the most important pests in southern Africa, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry proteins was evaluated by bioassay. Cry proteins were produced in Escherichia coli BL21 cells that were transformed with plasmids containing one of six cry genes. The toxicity of each Cry protein to H. armigera larvae was determined by the diet contamination method for second instar larvae and the droplet feeding method for neonate larvae. For each of the proteins, dose-mortality and dose-growth inhibition responses were analyzed and the median lethal dose (LD(50)) and median inhibitory dose (ID(50)) determined. Second instar larvae were consistently less susceptible to the evaluated Cry proteins than neonate larvae. The relative toxicity of Cry proteins ranked differently between neonate larvae and second instar larvae. On the basis of the LD(50) and ID(50) values, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, and Cry2Aa were the most toxic of the evaluated proteins to H. armigera larvae. The study provides an initial benchmark of the toxicity of individual Cry proteins to H. armigera in South Africa.     

茉莉酸甲酯处理对棉铃虫生长和解毒能力的影响

【目的】为明确茉莉酸甲酯（methyl jasmonate, MeJA）的不同处理方式对昆虫生长和解毒代谢能力的影响,以及MeJA熏蒸处理昆虫对植物防御和昆虫解毒代谢之间关系的影响。【方法】本文比较了取食MeJA和MeJA熏蒸等两种处理对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera 3龄末幼虫生长和解毒代谢酶活性的影响,并系统研究了经MeJA熏蒸处理的棉铃虫3龄末幼虫,再取食经MeJA喷雾处理的棉叶,其中肠解毒酶活性的变化。【结果】取食MeJA和MeJA熏蒸两种不同处理,对棉铃虫幼虫的生长及解毒能力的影响有所不同。取食含2.9 μg/g MeJA的人工饲料显著抑制了棉铃虫的生长,同时诱导棉铃虫幼虫P450活性增加了1.92倍,而MeJA熏蒸虽然没有影响棉铃虫幼虫的生长,但MeJA熏蒸处理使棉铃虫幼虫P450活性和羧酸酯酶活性分别增加了2.94倍和1.16倍。经MeJA熏蒸处理后的棉铃虫幼虫,再取食正常的或经MeJA喷雾处理的棉叶,其幼虫P450活性显著增加,其中经MeJA熏蒸处理的棉铃虫,再取食经MeJA喷雾处理的棉叶,其P450酶显示了最高活性。【结论】MeJA熏蒸处理棉铃虫,不仅使棉铃虫中与P450酶相关的解毒能力显著增加,而且增加了棉铃虫对于MeJA所诱导的棉花防御反应的解毒能力。     

Susceptibility of six cultivars of bean to different isolates of two species of Fusariumin greenhouse

In greenhouse, susceptibility of 6 cultivars of bean (b1, green bean cv. contender, b2, Pinto b. cv. Cos-16, b3, green b. Sun Ray, b4, white b. cv. Daneshkadeh, b5, red b. cv. Naz, b6, red b. cv. Goli) evaluated to 7 isolates of 2 species of Fusarium (6 isolates of F. oxysporum and 1 isolate of F. solani from Varamin, Iran) in 4 pots (as replications) in factoriel experiment. The seedlings of each bean cultivars soaked in a suspension of the fungi (106 spores/ml.) for 5 minutes and transplanted into the pots contained sterilized soil, for control, the roots soaked in distilled water. After 35 days of inoculating and transplanting in greenhouse conditions (with 18-26 degrees C and 12 h light & 12 h dark) the percentage of necrotic roots and stems of the seedlings affected to the isolates of the fungi, also height and weight of them in different treatments datermined and calculated. The results showed that, the average of necrotic percent of the cultivars of bean seedlings grouped in 3 category (b1, b2, b3, b4 with 25.15% in group a and b5, red bean cv. Naz with 16.29% in group b and b6 red bean cv. Goli with 10.02% in group c) based on cluster analysis. But by Dunken method the infection set on 5 groups as respectively b4, 28,72% (a), b2, 25.83% (ab), b1 & b3, 23,18% & 22.84% (b), b5, 16.29% (c) and b6, 10.02% (d). So, red bean cv. Goli was more resistant and white bean cv. Daneshkadeh was more susceptible than of another cultivars, but averse the effect of the fungi on growth factors were different.     

单宁对苏云金芽孢杆菌库斯塔克变种杀棉铃虫效力的作用(英文)

本文报道棉铃虫、苏云金芽孢杆菌库斯塔克变种和单宁三者间的相互作用。苏云金芽孢杆菌芽孢晶体混合粉以6个不同的浓度（0％,0．005％,0．01％,0．015％,0．02％,0．025％湿重）分别加入含0．025％单宁和不含单宁的人工饲料中。初孵幼虫分别在上述饲料中饲养48h后,转入相应的不含苏云金芽孢杆菌的人工饲料上饲养,直到留存的幼虫化蛹。结果表明,单宁与苏云金芽孢杆菌混用可提高苏云金芽孢杆菌对棉铃虫的毒力,LD50降低45％,并可显著抑制该虫的生长发育,但二者在抑制生长发育方面无交互作用。选择取食试验显示,苏云金芽孢杆菌对五龄幼虫有显著的抑食性,但单宁无此作用,单宁与苏云金芽孢杆菌混用不会增强抑食性,但单宁能抑制苏云金芽孢杆菌菌落的生长,浓度高于15mg／100ml还能抑制芽孢的萌发。     

茚虫威亚致死浓度对茚虫威敏感性降低的棉铃虫生物学参数及解毒酶活性的影响

【目的】本研究旨在明确茚虫威亚致死浓度对茚虫威敏感性降低的棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera生物学参数及解毒酶活性的影响,以科学有效防治这一害虫,避免其对茚虫威的抗性快速发展。【方法】采用浸叶法测定了茚虫威对棉铃虫茚虫威抗性汰选种群(TP)及其同源对照种群(CP)3龄幼虫的毒力;用两性生命表分析LC₂₀浓度茚虫威对TP种群当代(F₀)生命表参数的影响,并测定了LC₂₀浓度茚虫威处理48 h后CP和TP种群棉铃虫3龄幼虫体内解毒酶［多功能氧化酶(MFO)、羧酸酯酶(CarE)和谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)］及乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)的活性。【结果】茚虫威对棉铃虫CP种群和TP种群3龄幼虫的LC₂₀分别为2.27和9.91 mg/L。LC₂₀茚虫威处理TP种群后,48 h的生长量、化蛹率、羽化率和成虫畸形率均显著低于未用药对照,而特定年龄生命期望值e_xj高于未用药对照;TP种群棉铃虫3龄幼虫体内GST和MFO活性与CP种群相比显著升高,CarE活性显著降低。【结论】本研究结果表明棉铃虫TP种群在LC₂₀浓度茚虫威胁迫下存在明显的生长与繁殖不利性,同时对其也产生了适应能力。LC₂₀浓度茚虫威处理后,棉铃虫TP种群的GST和MFO活性被显著诱导,说明这两种酶可能与棉铃虫对茚虫威产生抗药性密切相关;而CarE活性被显著抑制,说明该酶可能参与了茚虫威转化成N-脱甲氧羰基代谢物(DCJW)的活化过程。     

Host rearing is a bottleneck for classical biological control of the cherry bark tortrix: A comparative analysis of artificial diets

This paper describes a comparative analysis of the suitability of three artificial diets for the development of the cherry bark tortrix (CBT), Enarmonia formosana Scopoli (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), to simplify the rearing process for this species and its potential classical biological control agents. The three diets tested included (1) a pinto bean-based diet modified specifically for the CBT, (2) the diet for codling moth, Cydia pomonella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and (3) the Singh general-purpose diet. Survival from first instar to the pupal stage was very low on the pinto bean, codling moth, and Singh general-purpose diets (29, 0, and 0%, respectively). Survival was consistently greater, yet still low, for larvae that were reared through the first instar on bark and subsequently transferred to the codling moth or Singh general-purpose diets (5 and 32%, respectively). In comparison, larvae started on the pinto bean diet as second instars had a survival rate of 90%, only slightly below that of sibling larvae from the cherry bark control group (100%). Larval development time was fastest on cherry bark (36±2?days), differing significantly from that on the pinto bean diet (started as first instars: 58±2?days; started as second instars: 46±2?days), but not from the development time of larvae on the Singh general-purpose diet (44±3?days). Pupal weights were greatest for specimens from the Singh general-purpose diet (14.9±0.5?mg) and lowest for those from the pinto bean diet (started as first instar: 12.3±0.6?mg; started as second instar: 12.1±0.4?mg). Pupal weights from cherry bark were intermediate (13.5±0.6?mg). Early mortality, resulting primarily from rejection of the diet, remains to be the critical impediment in CBT rearing. It is therefore suggested that a phagostimulant from cherry bark be identified and included in an artificial diet shown to be nutritionally suitable, such as the Singh general-purpose diet or the pinto bean diet.     

棉铃虫在4个辣椒品种上的寄主适合度

在室内条件下,比较了棉铃虫幼虫对辣味程度依次下降的豫优鲜辣2号、豫艺绿冠、豫艺墨秀大椒和豫甜椒12号4个辣椒品种果实的嗜食性、食物转化率和利用率及种群增长情况。结果表明：（1）棉铃虫幼虫的取食选择性、对食物的近似消化率和利用率在4个辣椒品种之间存在明显差异。其中初孵、3龄和5龄幼虫对4个辣椒品种果实的选择性规律基本一致,在豫甜椒12号品种上幼虫出现的百分率和取食量比率均最大;随着辣椒品种辣味程度的降低,5龄幼虫在其上的取食时间和休息时间依次增加,活动时间则依次降低;取食4个辣椒品种的果实后,6龄幼虫的相对生长率、相对取食量和食物转化率差异不显著,但取食豫甜椒12号与豫优鲜辣2号和豫艺绿冠之间的近似消化率和食物利用率差异达显著水平。（2）室内271 ℃ 、70 %-80 % RH和16 L：8 D光周期条件下,棉铃虫在4个辣椒品种上均能完成其世代周期,随着辣椒品种辣味程度的增加,1龄幼虫和整个世代的发育历期依次延长,且在豫甜椒12号与豫优鲜辣2号之间差异达显著水平。其中在豫优鲜辣2号上棉铃虫的世代发育历期最长（27.86 d）,其次为豫艺绿冠（27.23 d）,再次为豫艺墨秀大椒（26.83 d）,在豫甜椒12号上的发育历期最短（25.85 d）;棉铃虫在4个辣椒品种上的世代存活率分别为豫优鲜辣2号为21.67%、豫艺绿冠为23.33%、豫艺墨秀大椒为23.33%、豫甜椒12号为35.00%;取食4个品种辣椒后,棉铃虫的蛹重差异不显著,其中雌蛹重分别为取食豫甜椒12号品种的为249.3 mg,取食豫艺墨秀大椒的为244.7 mg,取食豫艺绿冠的为243.4 mg,取食豫优鲜辣2号的雌蛹最轻,为209.4 mg。雄蛹重与雌蛹表现出的规律基本一致,但取食同一品种的雌蛹重均高于雄蛹重。（3）棉铃虫的种群净增殖率和内禀增长率在豫优鲜辣2号品种上最低,在豫甜椒12号品种上最高。以上结果表明,随着4个辣椒品种辣味程度的增加,棉铃虫在其上的寄主适合度则依次降低,其寄主适合度顺序为：豫甜椒12号＞豫艺墨秀大椒＞豫艺绿冠＞豫优鲜辣2号。     

Horizontal and vertical transmission of wild-type and recombinant Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus

Transmission plays a central role in the ecology of baculoviruses and the population dynamics of their hosts. Here, we report on the horizontal and vertical transmission dynamics of wild-type Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV-WT) and a genetically modified variant (HaSNPV-AaIT) with enhanced speed of action through the expression of an insect-selective scorpion toxin (AaIT). In caged field plots, horizontal transmission of both HaSNPV variants was greatest when inoculated 3rd instar larvae were used as infectors, transmission was intermediate with 2nd instar infectors and lowest with 1st instar infectors. Transmission was greater at a higher density of infectors (1 per plant) than at a lower density (1 per 4 plants); however, the transmission coefficient (number of new infections per initial infector) was lower at the higher density of infectors than at the lower density. HaSNPV-AaIT exhibited a significantly lower rate of transmission than HaSNPV-WT in the field cages. This was also the case in open field experiments. In the laboratory, the vertical transmission of HaSNPV-AaIT from infected females to offspring of 16.7+/-2.1% was significantly lower than that of HaSNPV-WT (30.9+/-2.9%). Likewise, in the field, vertical transmission of HaSNPV-AaIT (8.4+/-1.1%) was significantly lower than that of HaSNPV-WT (12.6+/-2.0%). The results indicate that the recombinant virus will be transmitted at lower rates in H. armigera populations than the wild-type virus. This may potentially affect negatively its long-term efficacy as compared to wild-type virus, but contributing positively to its biosafety.     

Life history of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysan., Thripae), on five different vegetable leaves

Biological characteristics of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysan., Thripae), were investigated on excised leaves of five vegetables: cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. Jingfeng 1), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. Zhongnong 8), capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. Zhongjiao 5), kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Gonggeizhe) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum M. var. zhongza 9). The developmental time from egg to adult on the cucumber, cabbage, bean, capsicum and tomato leaf was 9.22 ± 0.13, 10.19 ± 0.08, 10.42 ± 0.06, 12.15 ± 0.07 and 12.91 ± 0.04 days, respectively. Survivorship of immatures on cucumber, cabbage and tomato was high (75–80%) but low on capsicum (50%). The total number of first instars produced was highest on cabbage (76.62 ± 11.79), while the daily first instar production was highest on cucumber (6.12 ± 1.81), whereas the total and daily first instar production rates were lowest on capsicum (7.67 ± 3.35 and 1.89 ± 0.91). F. occidentalis had the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) on cucumber (0.208), followed by cabbage (0.184), bean (0.164), tomato (0.100) and capsicum (0.017). The results indicate that cucumber was the most suitable host plant for F. occidentalis, whereas capsicum was the least suitable.     

Developmental changes in urea concentrations in the haemolymph of Daizo (T), an original strain of the silkworm,Bombyx mori reared on an artificial diet and on fresh mulberry leaves

Urea concentrations in the haemolymph of Daizo (T), an original strain of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, reared on an artificial diet and on fresh mulberry leaves were determined by a urease-indophenol method during the larval-pupal-adult development. Urea concentrations in the fourth and fifth instar larvae reared on an artificial diet (diet I) were between 0.10 and 0.15 mg urea N/ml haemolymph, and increased during the larval-pupal transformation to reach 0.33 mg/ml at the larval-pupal ecdysis. A further increase was observed during pupal-adult development and finally reached 0.48 mg/ml at day 7 pharate adult. In the fourth and fifth instar larvae reared on fresh mulberry leaves, the concentrations were low (0.05 mg/ml). From the larval-pupal ecdysis until day 8 pharate adult, further low urea concentrations (0.04 mg/ml) were observed. By starvation from 72 hr of the fifth instar larvae reared on another artificial diet (diet II), the elevation of urea concentrations (between 1.4- and 3.0-fold against the controls) was observed from just after starvation until day 1 spinning. From day 5 pupae, both the starved and the control insects showed a marked elevation of urea concentrations in the haemolymph, which was never observed on animals reared on diet I.     

Effect of sublethal concentration of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki on food and developmental needs of the american bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

Effect of sublethal concentration of B. thuringiensis on the first, third, fourth and fifth instar larvae of the American bollworm, H. armigera was investigated to study their response to food consumption, digestion, utilization, and their development till adult formation. The young larvae surviving B. thuringiensis treatment in their first instar and third instar delayed larval period by two to three days, but did not consume more food as compared to control. However, they showed higher digestibility of food as compared to control, which was compensated by their reduced ability to utilize the digested food for body substance. Contrary to the effect on first and third instar larvae, the fifth instar larvae surviving B. thuringiensis treatment in its fourth instar consumed less food, showed less absorption efficiency in digesting food, but compensated by increase in the utilization of ingested and digested food into body substance. Insects surviving B. thuringiensis HD-1 sublethal toxicity adapted to normal larval growth when fed on untreated food, depending upon insect growth prior to treatment. The moths emerging from B.thuringiensis treated larvae had sex ratio favouring females, and adult pairs laid less fertile eggs than those from the untreated ones. The response of B. thuringiensis treated larvae to their food and developmental needs is discussed.