Improved semiochemical-based trapping method for old-house borer, Hylotrupes bajulus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The old-house borer, Hylotrupes bajulus (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), has been a very serious pest of structural timber in many parts of the world. The available semiochemical-based trapping method typically results in low capture rates. In this study, efforts were made to improve the semiochemical-based trapping method using screen cage assays conducted in the greenhouse. Ground traps baited with two vials of (3R)-ketol + 1-butanol (pheromone baited) caught >21.0% adults than the alternative trap and were seen to be superior to ramp traps baited with identical compounds. Based on adult catches with pheromone-baited traps with different colors, attraction of H. bajulus adults to black was significantly greater than other colors, followed by brown, gray and yellow, red, white, green, and blue. No differences were found in adult catches to pheromone-baited traps with respect to different trap sizes. There were no statistical differences between the different semiochemicals tested. Therefore, black ground traps baited with two vials of (3R)-ketol + 1-butanol plus two vials of ethyl acetate can be effective in the monitoring and potential control of H. bajulus.     

The influence of crop management on banana weevil,Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations and yield of highland cooking banana (cv. Atwalira) in Uganda

A field study was undertaken in Uganda using highland cooking banana (cv. Atwalira) to test the hypothesis that bananas grown under stressed conditions are more susceptible to attack by Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar). Four banana treatments were employed to create different levels of host-plant vitality: (1) high stress: intercrop with finger millet; (2) moderate stress: monoculture without soil amendments; (3) low stress: monoculture with manure; (4) high vigour: monoculture with continuous mulch and manure. Adult C. sordidus were released at the base of banana mats 11 months after planting and populations were monitored for three years using mark and recapture methods. Cosmopolites sordidus density was greatest in the mulched plots which may have reflected increased longevity and/or longer tenure time in moist soils. Lowest C. sordidus numbers were found in intercropped banana. Damage, estimated as percentage corm tissue consumed by larvae, was similar among treatments. However, the total amount of tissue consumed was greater in mulched banana than in other systems. Plants supporting the heaviest levels of C. sordidus damage displayed bunch size reductions of 40-55%. Banana yield losses ranged from 14-20% per plot with similar levels in the intercropped and mulched systems. Yield reductions, reported as t ha-1, were twice as high in the mulched system as in the intercrop. The results from this study indicate that C. sordidus problems are not confined to stressed banana systems or those with low levels of management, but that the weevil can also attain pest status in well-managed and productive banana stands.     

Perception Of Color As A Function Of The Combined Effect Of The Surroundings And A Test Field

The wide variety of shades of color that a human being is capable of perceiving consists of pigment colors, a considerable number of which are colors with gray and black hues. Only some of this wide variety of colors may be reproduced by the use of isolated autoluminescent sources of radiation: colors with dark shades cannot be produced. Under what possible conditions, we may ask, can the entire range of pigment colors be reproduced by luminescent sources of radiation?     

Influence of sticky trap color and height above ground on capture of alate Elatobium abietinum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Sitka spruce plantations

A series of field trials were used to assess the practicality of using sticky traps to monitor populations of green spruce aphid, Elatobium abietinum (Walker), in plantations of Sitka spruce. The highest numbers of alate E. abietinum were caught on sticky traps placed in the upper third of the live canopy at 9-17 m above the ground, whereas low numbers of aphids were caught just below the live canopy or at 2 m above the ground. Trials in 2005 with sticky traps of different colors showed that significantly more alate E. abietinum were caught on yellow, red, and green sticky traps than on white, blue, and black traps. A repeat trial in 2007 resulted in significantly more alate aphids being caught on red sticky traps than on traps of any other color except for green. Attraction to red is unusual among aphids, as aphids are thought not to possess a red-sensitive photoreceptor. The attraction of E. abietinum to red-colored sticky traps suggests that conifer-feeding aphids might have a fundamentally different color response compared with aphids that live on cereals, grasses, or herbaceous plants. Alternatively, the attraction to red might be a physiological artifact related to the presence of red-screening pigments in the aphid's compound eye.     

Visual and olfactory factors interaction in resource-location by the blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), in natural conditions

The interaction between olfactory and visual cues in the landing responses of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) was analyzed in a natural environment (grass) using three plain cardboard circles with the colors white, black and other being the own grass (control) with 30 cm in diameter. The circles were divided in four quadrants and five sectors using as bait 80 mg of carcass of fish and minced flesh put in the center. To check the interaction between visual and olfactory factors, we analyzed the relation among the direction of wind and the sectors, the quadrants and the color of circle where C. megacephala adults landed. In the presence of the black and white circles, flies landed closer to the central release point of the bait when the wind was present compared with the other control circle. The results show that while odor cues may enhance the induction of landing by C. megacephala, visual cues are important when selecting a final landing site. Improved understanding of this interaction may allow the development of more effective traps or targets, enhancing the control efficiency of these control devices.     

Response of Trichogramma egg parasitoids to colored sticky traps

The response of Trichogramma spp. egg parasitoids to colored sticky traps was evaluated in the field during two seasons (1995/1996, 1996/1997). Traps consisted of a glass tube coated with Bird-Tanglefoot® into which colored paper was inserted or clear traps without paper. Colors tested were white, green, blue, yellow and red in the first season and white, green, yellow and black in the second season. The proportion of both female and male parasitoids caught on the sticky traps was significantly different among colors, indicating that the parasitoids actively move between plants and are not solely carried along passively by wind. White was the color most preferred by female parasitoids, followed by clear and green traps. Yellow was preferred over black but was less attractive than green. Visual cues may be used by Trichogramma spp. during the habitat location process. The color preference of male Trichogramma spp. differed significantly from females with yellow and green being more attractive than white. For all colors, more female Trichogramma spp. were caught on the sticky traps (>85% of all wasps caught), indicating a lower activity level and/or shorter lifespan for males. The use of white cylindrical sticky traps for monitoring Trichogramma spp. populations in the field is recommended.     

Attraction of stink bugs to rocket traps with different combinations of wing and landing board color

The stink bugs, Halyomorpha halys and Riptortus pedestris, are two of the most economically important pests of leguminous crops and fruits in Korea. Here we present the results from a field monitoring test that evaluated the effect of variation in rocket trap type and color on stink bugs captures. We tested various types of rocket traps, along with wing combinations and landing boards of various colors. The test was run in soybean fields in Miryang, Korea. We developed a modified rocket trap intended to enhance the capture efficacy of stink bugs. We evaluated traps including (1) yellow rocket trap with a solar fan and blue LED lamp, (2) a yellow trap with solar fan but no light, (3) rocket traps with black, green, yellow, white, red, brown, and blue color stimuli, (4) different color combinations of trap wings, and (5) traps with a landing board were evaluated. Our results showed that yellow winged rocket traps with solar fans and blue LED lamps attracted significantly more stink bug species than other traps, in both soybean fields. Use of these improved traps such as a yellow trap with a solar fan and blue LED lamp, and a yellow trap with a solar fan would therefore enhance the monitoring and capture of stink bugs in diversified agro-ecological landscapes. The potential use of traps with a specific hue, combination of features, and modifications to monitor stink bugs accurately is discussed. Continuing improvements to traps to meet the demands of a changing pest landscape and agricultural mechanization are needed.     

Effects of two pheromone trap densities against banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, populations and their impact on plant damage in Uganda

Abstract:  An on-farm study to evaluate the effect of pheromone trap density on the population of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Col., Curculionidae) was conducted in Masaka district, Uganda. The pheromone used was Cosmolure+, a commercially available weevil aggregation pheromone. Forty-two farms were assigned to one of three treatments: 0, 4 and 8 pheromone traps/ha. Pheromone lures were changed monthly at which time the traps were moved to a different location within the stand. Adult weevil population densities were estimated by using mark and recapture methodology at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 21 months, while damage to the banana corm was assessed at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 21 months since the start of the experiment. Pheromone trap captures were generally low: about 10 weevils per trap per month. There were no significant differences in mean catches of C. sordidus per trap per month except for February 2002 when doubling the pheromone trap density decreased weevil catches. Although not significant, decreased efficiency was also the trend in higher trap densities over all the data sets. Doubling the number of traps increased the number of weevils caught per hectare per month from 0.4 to 0.6%. There was no significant difference in plant damage between the pheromone treatments in low- compared with high-trap densities. There were generally no significant differences in weevil populations and plant damage between pheromone-treated and control farms. Possible reasons for the low-trap efficacy in this study are discussed.     

Slc7a11基因在不同被毛颜色哈萨克羊皮肤组织中的表达分析

Slc7a11基因属于溶质转运家族,编码胱氨酸/谷氨酸xCT转运载体,经证实该基因调控黑色素与伪黑色素的转换。文章利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析Slc7a11基因在3种不同毛色哈萨克绵羊羔羊皮肤组织中的mRNA转录水平,构建原核表达载体,诱导表达融合蛋白,并对包涵体蛋白进行纯化,免疫新西兰大白兔制备抗血清,最后检测不同毛色皮肤中该蛋白的表达水平。结果表明,Slc7a11基因在3种毛色皮肤中的表达水平有显著差异,棕色被毛皮肤中表达水平最高,其次是黑色,在白色中表达最少。利用纯化的融合蛋白制备多克隆抗体,发现sxCT蛋白在棕色被毛中表达最高,其次是黑色,白色最低,因此,Slc7a11基因可能与哈萨克绵羊毛色表型有相关性。     

Effects of neem seed derivatives on behavioral and physiological responses of the Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Both in a choice and multi-choice laboratory tests, fewer adults of the banana root borer, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar), settled under the corms of the susceptible banana "Nakyetengu" treated with 5% aqueous extract of neem seed powder or cake or 2.5 and 5% emulsified neem oil than on water-treated corms. Feeding damage by larvae on banana pseudostem discs treated with 5% extract of powdered neem seed, kernel, or cake, or 5% emulsified neem oil was significantly less than on untreated discs. The larvae took much longer to locate feeding sites, initiate feeding and bore into pseudostem discs treated with extract of powdered neem seed or kernel. Few larvae survived when confined for 14 d on neem-treated banana pseudostems; the survivors weighed two to four times less than the larvae developing on untreated pseudostems. Females deposited up to 75% fewer eggs on neem-treated corms. In addition, egg hatching was reduced on neem-treated corms. The higher the concentration of neem materials the more severe the effect.     

Efficacy of multifunnel traps for capturing emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): effect of color, glue, and other trap coatings

Tens of thousands of adhesive-coated purple prism traps are deployed annually in the United States to survey for the invasive emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). A reusable, more user-friendly trap is desired by program managers, surveyors, and researchers. Field assays were conducted in southeastern Michigan to ascertain the feasibility of using nonsticky traps as survey and detection tools for emerald ash borer. Three nonsticky trap designs, including multifunnel (Lindgren), modified intercept panel, and drainpipe (all painted purple) were compared with the standard purple prism trap; no statistical differences in capture of emerald ash borer adults were detected between the multifunnel design and the prism. In subsequent color comparison assays, both green- and purple-painted multifunnel traps (and later, plastic versions of these colors) performed as well or better than the prism traps. Multifunnel traps coated with spray-on adhesive caught more beetles than untreated traps. The increased catch, however, occurred in the traps' collection cups and not on the trap surface. In a separate assay, there was no significant difference detected between glue-coated traps and Rain-X (normally a glass treatment)-coated traps, but both caught significantly more A. planipennis adults than untreated traps.     

Role of Vision and Mechanoreception in Bed Bug,Cimex lectularius L. Behavior

The role of olfactory cues such as carbon dioxide, pheromones, and kairomones in bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. behavior has been demonstrated. However, the role of vision and mechanoreception in bed bug behavior is poorly understood. We investigated bed bug vision by determining their responses to different colors, vertical objects, and their ability to detect colors and vertical objects under low and complete dark conditions. Results show black and red paper harborages are preferred compared to yellow, green, blue, and white harborages. A bed bug trapping device with a black or red exterior surface was significantly more attractive to bed bugs than that with a white exterior surface. Bed bugs exhibited strong orientation behavior toward vertical objects. The height (15 vs. 30 cm tall) and color (brown vs. black) of the vertical object had no significant effect on orientation behavior of bed bugs. Bed bugs could differentiate color and detect vertical objects at very low background light conditions, but not in complete darkness. Bed bug preference to different substrate textures (mechanoreception) was also explored. Bed bugs preferred dyed tape compared to painted tape, textured painted plastic, and felt. These results revealed that substrate color, presence of vertical objects, and substrate texture affect host-seeking and harborage-searching behavior of bed bugs. Bed bugs may use a combination of vision, mechanoreception, and chemoreception to locate hosts and seek harborages.     

The genetics of coat colors in the mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Genetic studies demonstrated three loci controlling coat colors in the Mongolian gerbil. F1 hybrids of white gerbils with red eyes and agouti gerbils with wild coat color had the agouti coat color. The segregating ratio of agouti and white in the F2 generation was 3:1. In the backcross (BC) generation (white x F1), the ratio of the agouti and white coat colors was 1:1. Next, inheritance of the agouti coat color was investigated. Matings between agouti and non-agouti (black) gerbils produced only agouti gerbils. In the F2 generation, the ratio of agouti to non-agouti (black) was 3:1. There was no distortion in the sex ratios within each coat color in the F1, F2 and BC generations. This indicated that the white coat color of gerbils is governed by an autosomal recessive gene which should be named the c allele of the c (albino) locus controlling pigmentation, and the agouti coat color is controlled by an autosomal dominant gene which might be named the A allele of the A (agouti) locus controlling pigmentation patterns in the hair. The occurrence of the black gerbil demonstrated clearly the existence of the b (brown) locus, and it clearly indicated that the coat colors of gerbils can basically be explained by a, b, and c loci as in mice and rats.     

Color Preference and Associative Color Learning in a Parasitoid Wasp, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascogaster reticulata</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Natural enemies of agricultural pests, such as parasitoids and predators, often use chemical and visual cues in search of their hosts and prey, and they can learn the association between the cues and the host and prey presence. The braconid, egg-larval endoparasitoid wasp Ascogaster reticulata is a promising biological control agent for tortricid pests, such as Adoxophyes honmai, in tea plantations. Although previous studies revealed that A. reticulata uses contact chemicals released by tea plants in response to tortricid egg oviposition and that it can learn the associated cues, the diurnal wasp is also expected to use visual cues, especially color. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the innate color preference and associative color learning ability of A. reticulata. When a green paper and a paper of a different color (black, blue, red or yellow) was offered together to naive females of the wasp, the females spent less time on a black and blue papers. However, wasps trained to associate black or blue with the presence of a host egg-mass showed increased preference for these colors, whereas red- and yellow-trained wasps did not show changes in preference. Our findings indicate that A. reticulata uses colors, in addition to chemical cues, in host searching behavior and has the ability to learn colors associated with host presence.     

环境颜色对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊生物学特性的影响

【目的】明确环境颜色对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang生长发育及繁殖能力等生物学特征的影响。【方法】在室内条件下,利用黑、棕、绿、红和橙5种颜色卡纸模拟自然环境颜色,比较研究了其对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊生长发育和繁殖的影响。【结果】韭菜迟眼蕈蚊发育历期在橙色环境下最长,为26.15 d,黑色环境下最短,为22.35 d;世代存活率在黑色环境下最高,为43.88%,橙色环境下最低,为28.88%;性比在各颜色环境下无显著差异;雌雄成虫寿命均在棕色环境下最长,分别为2.06 d和2.99 d,橙色环境下最短,分别为1.58 d和2.57 d;单雌产卵量在棕色环境下最多,为62.99粒,橙色环境下最少,为45.64粒;种群趋势指数由高到低依次为:黑色(15.90)棕色(15.07)透明色对照(12.93)红色(11.69)绿色(11.67)橙色(8.50)。【结论】环境颜色影响韭菜迟眼蕈蚊生物学特性,黑色及棕色环境有利于其生长发育及繁殖,橙色环境可抑制其生长发育及繁殖。     

GPR143在绵羊皮肤组织中的表达及定位分析

G蛋白偶联受体143(G-protein coupled receptor143, GPR143)在黑素体的生物合成中起重要作用,本文旨在研究GPR143基因在不同毛色绵羊皮肤组织中的差异表达及定位,探索GPR143基因与毛色形成的相关性。通过qRT-PCR方法和免疫印迹方法分别检测不同毛色绵羊皮肤组织中GPR143基因mRNA水平和蛋白水平的表达差异;运用免疫荧光法对不同毛色绵羊皮肤组织中的GPR143基因进行定位并对结果进行光密度值分析。qRT-PCR结果显示,GPR143基因在黑色绵羊皮肤组织中mRNA相对表达量为白色绵羊的7.84倍,二者差异极显著(P<0.01);免疫印迹结果显示,黑色绵羊皮肤组织中GPR143蛋白表达量是白色绵羊的1.3倍,二者差异显著(P<0.05)。免疫荧光结果显示,GPR143蛋白的主要表达部位为绵羊皮肤组织毛囊外根鞘和表皮层,经光密度值分析后发现,GPR143在黑色绵羊皮肤毛囊外根鞘和表皮层的表达量显著高于白色绵羊。本研究结果表明不同毛色绵羊皮肤组织均能表达GPR143基因,但黑色绵羊皮肤组织中该基因的mRNA和蛋白水平都显著高于白色绵羊,说明GPR143的mRNA和蛋白在黑色绵羊皮肤组织中表达上调,在白色绵羊皮肤组织中表达下调。GPR143基因可能通过调控MITF水平和黑素体的数量、大小、运动和成熟进而参与绵羊毛色的形成过程。     

Effect of height and color on the efficiency of pole traps for Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Olfactory cues released by adult bees, brood, pollen, and honey from a honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colony are the primary stimuli that guide the beetle Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) to host colonies. To investigate the response of adult A. tumida to visual stimuli, we tested the influence of color and height on trap efficiency. Two pole trap colors (black and white) were evaluated at three heights (46 cm, 1 m, and 3m) from October 2008 to December 2009. A. tumida were trapped in the greatest numbers between 17 April and 15 May 2009. The lowest numbers were captured during the winter and fall. The trapping results showed that both color and trap height significantly influenced capture. The average catch in the white traps (mean +/- SE, 2.47 +/- 0.30) was significantly higher than that of the black traps (1.53 +/- 0.29) probably because white is more reflective than black. Among the heights evaluated, there were more beetles caught when traps were positioned at 46 cm (the same height as the entrance of the hives) with 3.07 +/- 0.51 beetles compared with beetles captured at 1 m (1.88 +/- 0.30) or 3 m (1.06 +/- 0.18) high. Male and female beetles exhibited similar responses to trap color and height. The relationship between the numbers of beetles in colonies and capture rates in traps was very poor and did not provide a basis to evaluate trap efficiency. In addition, because capture rates seemed generally low in relationship to the number of beetles in the apiary, substantial improvements to the trap may be necessary.     

Chemical Characterization of Melanins in Sheep Wool and Human Hair

The color of hair and wool in mammals and feathers in birds is mostly determined by the quantity and quality of melanins that are synthesized in follicular melanocytes and transferred to keratinocytes. There are two chemically distinct types of melanin pigments: the black to brown eumelanins and the yellow to reddish pheomelanins. Melanins in sheep wool and human hair of various colors were characterized by HPLC methods to estimate 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA)-derived units in eumelanins and benzothiazine units in pheomelanins. Melanins were also characterized by spectrophotometric methods after differential solubilization in alkalies. It was demonstrated that 1) black wool in Asiatic sheep contains eumelanin with the DHICA content similar to black mouse melanin, while black to brown melanins from human hair contain much lower ratios of DHICA-derived units, comparable to the slaty mutation in mice, 2) dark brown to brown hair in human contains eumelanin whose chemical properties are indistinguishable from those of black hair, 3) dark red wool and red human hair contain pheomelanic pigments whose chemical properties are rather different from those of yellow pheomelanins in mice, and 4) light brown, blonde, and red hairs in human can be differentiated from each other with this methodology.     

Evaluation of double-decker traps for emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Improved detection tools are needed for the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), an invasive forest insect from Asia that has killed millions of ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees in North America since its discovery in Michigan in 2002. We evaluated attraction of adult A. planipennis to artificial traps incorporating visual (e.g., height, color, silhouette) and olfactory cues (e.g., host volatiles) at field sites in Michigan. We developed a double-decker trap consisting of a 3-m-tall polyvinyl pipe with two purple prisms attached near the top. In 2006, we compared A. planipennis attraction to double-decker traps baited with various combinations of manuka oil (containing sesquiterpenes present in ash bark), a blend of four ash leaf volatiles (leaf blend), and a rough texture to simulate bark. Significantly more A. planipennis were captured per trap when traps without the rough texture were baited with the leaf blend and manuka oil lures than on traps with texture and manuka oil but no leaf blend. In 2007, we also tested single prism traps set 1.5 m above ground and tower traps, similar to double-decker traps but 6 m tall. Double-decker traps baited with the leaf blend and manuka oil, with or without the addition of ash leaf and bark extracts, captured significantly more A. planipennis than similarly baited single prism traps, tower traps, or unbaited double-decker traps. A baited double-decker trap captured A. planipennis at a field site that was not previously known to be infested, representing the first detection event using artificial traps and lures. In 2008, we compared purple or green double-decker traps, single prisms suspended 3-5 m above ground in the ash canopy (canopy traps), and large flat purple traps (billboard traps). Significantly more A. planipennis were captured in purple versus green traps, baited traps versus unbaited traps, and double-decker versus canopy traps, whereas billboard traps were intermediate. At sites with very low A. planipennis densities, more A. planipennis were captured on baited double-decker traps than on other traps and a higher percentage of the baited double-decker traps captured beetles than any other trap design. In all 3 yr, peak A. planipennis activity occurred during late June to mid-July, corresponding to 800-1200 growing degree-days base 10 degrees C (DD10). Nearly all (95%) beetles were captured by the end of July at approximately 1400 DD10.     

Evaluation of pseudostem trapping as a control measure against banana weevil,Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Uganda

Controlled studies to determine the efficacy of pseudostem trapping in reducing adult populations of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar), were conducted under farmer conditions in Ntungamo district, Uganda. Twenty-seven farms were stratified on the basis of C. sordidus population density (estimated by mark and recapture methods) and divided among three treatments: (i) researcher-managed trapping (one trap per mat per month): (ii) farmer-managed trapping (trap intensity at discretion of farmer); and (iii) controls (no trapping). Intensive trapping (managed by researchers) resulted in significantly lower C. sordidus damage after one year. Over the same period, C. sordidus numbers declined by 61% on farms where trapping was managed by researchers, 53% where farmers managed trapping and 38% on farms without trapping; however, results varied greatly among farms and, overall, there was no significant effect of trapping on C. sordidus numbers. Moreover, there was only a weak relationship between the number of C. sordidus removed and the change in population density. Trapping success appeared to be affected by management levels and immigration from neighbouring farms. Although farmers were convinced that trapping was beneficial, adoption has been low due to resource requirements.