Habits and relative population densities of some hydrophilids in California rice fields

Populations of the hydrophilids Berosus styliferus Horn, Hydrophilus triangularis Say, and Tropisternus lateralis (Fabricius) were observed in northern California rice paddies. Relative adult and larval density for each species was determined using aquatic light traps adjacent to the water margin, and at 5 m and 30 m distances from the levee. Egg cases were monitored by recording numbers per unit area.The seasonal patterns of abundance indicate each species has a univoltine life cycle. All stages of B. styliferus and H. triangularis are more abundant nearer the levees. T. lateralis adults are commonly found at the levees during the first 10 weeks post-flood, whereas T. lateralis larvae and egg cases are most numerous at the 30 m distance.Colonication of the paddies occurs through water connections, flight, and adult overwintering.     

中国小叶蝉属栎小叶蝉种团及三新种记述（半翅目：叶蝉科：小叶蝉亚科）

对中国小叶蝉属栎小叶蝉种团研究进行了追溯。记述栎小叶蝉种团3新种:周氏小叶蝉T.choui sp.nov.,大理小叶蝉T.daliensis sp.nov.,三斑小叶蝉T.trimaculata sp.nov.及1中国新记录种:栎小叶蝉T.quercus(Fabricius,1777),并提供中国栎小叶蝉种团雄虫检索表。模式标本及观察标本存放于西北农林科技大学昆虫博物馆。     

A review of species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teloleuca</Emphasis> (Heteroptera,Saldidae) in the fauna of Russia and adjacent territories

A taxonomic revision of the genus Teloleuca Reuter of the fauna of Russia and adjacent territories was made based on the Heteroptera collection of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg). Data on the distribution of five species (T. altaica Vinokurov, T. brancziki Reuter, T. bifasciata Thomson, T. kusnezowi Lindberg, and T. pellucens Fabricius) with dotted maps and a key to the species are given. A new species, T. altaica sp. n., is described from southern Altai (eastern Kazakhstan).     

Immature Stages of Tomapoderus(T.) ruficollis Fabricius (Coleoptera: Attelabidae) from Korea

Eggs, larvae and pupae of Tomapoderus (T.) ruficollis Fabricius are described and illustrated. The species is found on host plants, Zelkova serrata Makino and Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai. and is a well‐known forest pest. Taxonomic notes and cradle structure of this species are provided.     

Do pygidial secretions of dung beetles have the potential to repel urban pest ants?

Various organisms emit malodorous secretions against competitors, and the potential use of these secretions in pest management should be investigated. For example, some ant species feed on similar resources as dung beetles, which might have led to counter chemical defences in dung beetles. We tested whether pygidial secretions of the dung beetle Canthon smaragdulus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) alter the locomotor behaviour of the exotic urban pest ant Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), specifically whether these secretions repel those ants. We also tested whether the disturbance in the locomotor behaviour of T. melanocephalum increases with the amount of pygidial secretion. We found that individual T. melanocephalum displayed changes in their locomotor behaviour when exposed to pygidial secretions of coupled dung beetles, single males, and single females. Additionally, the pygidial secretions from male and female dung beetles could repel ants. The change in the locomotor behaviour of T. melanocephalum increased with the amount of pygidial secretion. Our results suggest that the pygidial secretions of dung beetles have potential as a biological repellent of T. melanocephalum. Hence, pygidial secretions from dung beetles may be used in the future for the development of urban pest management strategies.     

Determining the host specificity of the biological control agent Trichomalus perfectus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae): the importance of ecological host range

We determined the host range of the parasitoid Trichomalus perfectus (Walker), a candidate for classical biological control of cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham), an important pest of canola in Canada. Studies were conducted in Europe and in North America. In laboratory experiments, the levels of parasitism (acceptance) of Ceutorhynchus turbatus Schultze, C. cardariae Korotyaev, C. omissus Fall and C. querceti (Gyllenhal) by T. perfectus were not significantly different than of the target host C. obstrictus. Although C. typhae (Herbst), C. pallidactylus (Marsham), C. americanus Buchanan, C. neglectus Blatchely and Ceutorhynchus sp. nr. nodipennis were parasitised by T. perfectus, the levels of parasitism were significantly lower on these species than on C. obstrictus. Ceutorhynchus peyerimhoffi Hustache, C. erysimi (Fabricius), C. alliariae H. Brisout, C. roberti Gyllenhal, Mogulones borraginis (Fabricius), Mononychus vulpeculus (Fabricius) and the leaf-mining fly Scaptomyza flava (Fallén) were not attacked. Ecological host range surveys in Europe corroborated the prediction that T. perfectus would attack C. cardariae at similar rates to C. obstrictus. In North America, the recent discovery of T. perfectus in a C. omissus population suggests that laboratory findings predicting that C. omissus is a preferred host may be the case in the field. We found that T. perfectus attacks larvae of some Ceutorhynchus spp. feeding on Brassicaceae and does not attack species outside of that host range. Thus, the parasitoid can be defined as narrowly oligophagous. These results demonstrate the value of ecological host range studies in the area of origin to validate hypotheses generated through laboratory host range experiments.     

Mattesia geminata sp. n. (Neogregarinida: Ophrocystidae) a Parasite of the Tropical Fire Ant,Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius)*

SYNOPSIS. A new species of neogregarine, Mattesia geminata sp. n., that infects immature stages of the tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius), is described. The parasite, which develops in the hypodermis, causes disruption of the developing eyes, melanization of the cuticle, and death of pupae. lntracolonial infection rates are usually less than 2±, but may exceed 90±. Attempts to transmit the infection were unsuccessful.     

Partial age-specific life tables for Monochamus titillator in Dendroctonus frontalis infested loblolly pines

Partial age-specific life tables were constructed for Monochamus titillator(Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Dendroctonus frontalisZimmermann (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) infested loblolly pine (Pinus taedaL.) trees. Successive life stages including egg, early larvae, mid-stage larvae, late larvae, and adult emergence were sampled within six sample trees. Generation mortality ranged from 60.94% to 98.61% in sample trees. Highest mortality typically occurred to eggs and mid-stage larvae. Possible mortality factors included resinosis, predaceous beetles, parasitoids, and woodpeckers. Dendroctonus frontalisbrood stages were determined for consecutive M. titillatorsampling. Monochamus titillatorand D. frontaliscoexisted and likely interacted in the phloem of host trees for at least 20 days.     

Cover Caption

The 28-spotted potato ladybeetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is a major agricultural pest that primarily causes serious damage to solanaceous plants. The destructive potential of H. vigintioctopunctata is high at the larval stages. The cover photo shows that H. vigintioctopunctata third instar larva eating on the surface of eggplant leaf; it can be easily killed after ingestion of dsHvvATPase A or dsHvvATPase E (see pages xxx-xxx). Photo provided by Li-Yuan Liu.     

Development and immature survival of two aphidophagous ladybirds, Coelophora biplagiata and Micraspis discolor

The developmental parameters, namely developmental periods, larval survival, adult emergence, growth index, developmental rate and sex ratio in terms of female proportion in a population of two aphidophagous ladybirds, namely, Coelophora biplagiata （Swartz） and Micraspis discolor （Fabricius） were investigated, using three aphid species as prey. The immature stages of C. biplagiata were significantly affected by prey quality and developed fastest when fed on Aphis craccivora followed by Aphis gossypii and Rhopalosiphum maidis. The order of prey suitability in terms of developmental rate of immature stages of M. discolor was just reversed. The adult females were heavier than males, while pre-pupae were heavier than pupae in both ladybirds. The sex ratio of adult emergence, though female-biased in both ladybird species, was not significantly affected by prey quality.     

Egg laying and development of Neotropical trichogrammatid species in artificial eggs

The goal of this work was to assess the suitability of two artificial diets for egg laying and development of Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner, Trichogrammatoidea annulata De Santis, and Trichogramma bruni Nagaraja (all Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Additionally, the quality of wasps reared in vitro was compared with those reared in vivo. The ‘standard’ diet consisted of Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) pupal holotissues (65%), chicken egg yolk (18%), fetal bovine serum (8.5%), lactalbumin hydrolysate (8.5%), and anticontaminants (0.3%). The ‘modified’ diet differed from the standard one only in the D. saccharalis pupal holotissues, that were replaced with Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) ones. Females of the three trichogrammatid species laid eggs in artificial eggs containing any artificial medium, but the modified one received more eggs. Although the standard diet was accepted for oviposition by the three wasp species, no development occurred. On the modified diet, only T. atopovirilia was able to develop to adult emergence. Adult F1 were of a quality that was similar to insects reared in vivo.     

A single lycaenid caterpillar gets an ant‐constructed shelter and uninterrupted ant attendance

Ant‐lycaenid associations range from mutualism to parasitism and the caterpillars of some species of lycaenids are reported to enter ant nests for shelter, diapause, or pupation. The present study aimed to examine the nature of the association between Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) and Camponotus compressus (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) worker ants on the extrafloral nectary‐bearing cowpea plant, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Fabaceae). The abundance patterns of the ants and the lycaenid caterpillars together with the spatial patrolling patterns of the ants on the plants revealed that ant abundance increased with the occurrence of the lycaenid caterpillars and the ants preferred the lycaenids over the extrafloral nectar. Camponotus compressus worker ants constructed a shelter at the cowpea plant base after interaction with one or more lycaenid caterpillar(s) and tended the caterpillars and pupae till the emergence of the butterfly. The ant‐constructed shelters (ACSs) inhabited by the minor caste workers (13 ± 1.3 ants per ACS), were utilized by the caterpillars to undergo pupation. The ants confined their activities predominantly to tending the pod‐feeding caterpillars and the solitary pupa within each ACS. It appears that the behavior of the tending worker ants is modulated by the lycaenid vulnerable stages.     

Using different amounts of vacuum and acrolein in various exposure periods to control two stored products insects

In this research, adults of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) were exposed to various air pressures solely (first phase) and air pressures together with acrolein (second phase) in various durations and mortality rates were determined. Complete mortality of T. castaneum was obtained at 1, 3 and 6 h after exposure to 10, 30 and 50 mmHg, respectively. R. dominica showed 96.25% and 60% mortality during 3 and 10 h exposed to 10 and 30 mmHg, respectively. Percentage mortality of the insects in second phase was significantly higher than the rate in first phase. T. castaneum was more susceptible than R. dominica in the both phases.     

Effect of High Dietary Manganese on the Immune Responses of Broilers Following Oral Salmonella typhimurium Inoculation

Manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient for both host and pathogen. Recent studies have demonstrated the nutritional immunity of Mn against Salmonella infection in mammals. To investigate the effect of high dietary Mn on immune responses of broilers following Salmonella challenge, 144 1-day-old male broilers were fed a basal diet (containing 20.04 mg Mn/kg) plus an additional 40 (the control group) or 400 mg Mn/kg (the H-Mn group) for 7 days. The 72 broilers in each group were then orally inoculated with 5 × 10⁷ CFUs of Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC#14028) or phosphate-buffered saline. Peripheral blood, spleens, cecal tonsils, and bursa of Fabricius were collected from Salmonella-inoculated and Salmonella-noninoculated broilers (n = 6) at 2 days post inoculation (2 DPI) and 7 days post inoculation (7 DPI). Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations were determined by flow cytometry. The messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance of genes was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Salmonella counts were higher (P < 0.05) in the H-Mn group than that in the control group at 2 DPI in the cecal contents of Salmonella-inoculated broilers. High dietary Mn increased CD3⁺CD4⁺ and CD3⁺CD8⁺ percentages in the peripheral blood of Salmonella-inoculated broilers at 2 DPI. Salmonella inoculation increased interleukin (IL)-6 mRNA expression in spleens and bursa of Fabricius at 2 DPI and increased IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA expression in cecal tonsils at 7 DPI in the H-Mn group. These changes were not observed in the control group. High dietary Mn increased interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in spleens and decreased IFN-γ and IL-12 mRNA expression in cecal tonsils of Salmonella-inoculated broilers at 2 DPI. High dietary Mn decreased IL-17 mRNA expression in the bursa of Fabricius at 7 DPI, but increased this expression in cecal tonsils at 2 and 7 DPI in Salmonella-inoculated broilers. These results suggested that dietary Mn level affected T helper (Th) 1-cytokine reaction in spleens and cecal tonsils, and Th17-mediated immunity in cecal tonsils and the bursa of Fabricius of broilers when challenged with Salmonella.

     

Mapping, characterisation, and comparison of the spatio-temporal distributions of cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala), carabids, and Collembola in a crop of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

The spatio‐temporal distribution of Psylliodes chrysocephala (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a pest of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) (L.) (Cruciferae) and its potential predators, carabid beetles, within a crop of winter oilseed rape is described. The distribution of Collembola, a potential alternative food source for the predators, is also investigated. Insects were collected from spatially referenced sampling points across the crop and the counts mapped, analysed, and the degree of spatial association between the distributions determined using Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs (SADIE). Immigration into the crop by adult P. chrysocephala occurred from two edges and resulted in a non‐uniform distribution of the pest within the crop. Infestation of rape plants by P. chrysocephala larvae was greatest within the central area of the crop. Significant spatial association between adult female P. chrysocephala and the larval infestation of plants occurred throughout October. Three carabid species were active and abundant during peak pest immigration into the crop, viz., Trechus quadristriatus (Schrank) (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Pterostichus madidus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Carabidae), and Nebria brevicollis (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Two of these species, T. quadristriatus and P. madidus, showed significant spatial association with the larvae of P. chrysocephala during October. All three carabid species showed a significant spatial association with Collembola during mid‐September, indicating that the latter may be an important food source for carabids during this period. In laboratory feeding experiments, only T. quadristriatus consumed the eggs of P. chrysocephala suggesting that, in the adult stage, this species may be the most important of the naturally occurring carabids as a predator of P. chrysocephala in the field. Adult T. quadristriatus may be a valuable component of an Integrated Pest Management strategy for winter oilseed rape, and the conservation of this species could be beneficial.     

Behavioural responses of Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum to naturally and artificially damaged durum wheat kernels

Observations on behavioural activity involved in the host selection by secondary pests of stored grains, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Linnaeus), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Tribolium confusum J. du Val, with respect to intact and mechanically or naturally damaged kernels are reported. Our results indicate that the attraction of secondary pests is facilitated by broken grain kernels, which resulted from either mechanical damage during harvesting and/or binning procedures, or the feeding activity of primary insect pests. Insect damaged kernels were more attractive to O. surinamensis, T. castaneum and T. confusum than whole kernels; in addition insect damaged kernels elicit more attractiveness than mechanically split kernels. The damage caused by primary pests, such as Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) and Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus), on whole kernels may facilitate colonization by secondary pests, which continue damaging the cereals. O. surinamensis, T. castaneum and T. confusum utilize the grain volatile odours to distinguish whether the grain kernels of the stored cereals are damaged mechanically or by insects.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) fauna of Turkey

This study is based upon material of the family Ichneumonidae collected from Erzurum and Tunceli provinces of Turkey between 2011 and 2012. 64 species in 49 genera of the family Ichneumonidae were recorded. Among them, Alloplasta tomentosa (Gravenhorst, 1829), Lissonota (Lissonota) accusator (Fabricius, 1793), Dusona nidulator (Fabricius, 1804), Olesicampe fulviventris (Gmelin, 1790), Olesicampe proterva (Brischke, 1880), Olesicampe radiella (Thomson, 1885), Aptesis nigrocincta (Gravenhorst, 1815), Cryptus moschator (Fabricius, 1787), Pleolophus brachypterus (Gravenhorst, 1815), Hadrodactylus flavofacialis Horstmann, 2000, Lagarotis semicaligata (Gravenhorst, 1820), Coelichneumon (Coelichneumon) consimilis (Wesmael, 1845), Hoplismenus axillatorius (Thunberg, 1822) and Eridolius pictus (Gravenhorst, 1829) are new to the Turkish fauna. A short zoogeographic characterisation is given for each species.     

Predation of Thereva nobilitata (Fabricius) (Diptera: Therevidae) on Agriotes obscurus L. (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Little is known about the natural enemies of wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae), but there are frequent anecdotal reports of (usually unnamed) stiletto fly larvae (Diptera: Therevidae) preying on various species. We observed larvae of Thereva nobilitata (Fabricius) feeding on larvae of the dusky wireworm, Agriotes obscurus L., during the summer of 2011, in Agassiz, British Columbia. This finding is of interest as: both the predator and the wireworm are introduced species to this area from Europe; T. nobilitata is uncommon in North America; and this predator has not been associated with any wireworm species previously. We observed that larvae of male and female T. nobilitata will feed on various sizes of A. obscurus larvae, most feeding being carried out by the smallest T. nobilitata larvae. These findings suggest future work should assess the potential for therevid larvae as top‐down regulators of Agriotes larvae under field conditions.