Biological features and population density forecasts of the beet webworm Pyrausta sticticalis L. (Lepidoptera, Pyraustidae) in the period of low population density of the pest in Krasnodar Territory

Population dynamics of the beet webworm Pyrausta sticticalis L. was studied in 2003–2005 in Krasnodar Territory (Slavyansk-on-Kuban District) during the period of low population density of the pest. In the period examined, the adult death rate was high, fecundity was low; the low rate of hatchability and high rate of mortality was typical of larvae reared in the laboratory. Analysis of life tables has demonstrated that the observed population density of adults could be explained only by a constant flow of migrants. Low viability of insects from the local population could be explained by the infection with pathogenic microorganisms, including viruses of the Polyhedrosis and Granulosi groups of Baculovirus, and microsporidia, including Nosema sticticalis and Microsporidium sp. Reproduction of the pest can also be influenced by unfavorable weather conditions reducing population density in the subsequent generation. It is demonstrated that the model of the beet webworm population density dynamics based on indices of female fertility, changes in the offspring viability, and the rate of infection with microsporidia is more reliable than models based only on meteorological factors.     

Photoperiodic reaction in the beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis L. (Pyraloidea, Crambidae) from eastern and western parts of its Eurasian range

The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L., is a very dangerous polyphagous insect pest whose outbreaks periodically occur in southern Russia and northern China. The aim of our work was to describe the photoperiodic response of beet webworm populations from western (Krasnodar Territory and Rostov Province) and eastern [Buryatia and China (Hebei Province)] parts of the pest range. The insects were reared under constant photoperiods of 12–18 h and constant temperatures of 19–25°C. Incidence of diapause at different photoperiods did not show any considerable geographic differences, and the critical day length at which 50% of prepupae arrested their development was about 14–15 h in all the populations studied at experimental temperatures. The results obtained agree with the hypothesis on the existence of an area (or areas) where the pest survives during adverse periods and wherefrom it spreads when an outbreak begins (Saulich et al., 1983; Goryshin et al., 1986). Presumably, the larger part of the pest native habitats (to the north of the steppe zone) is occupied by temporary populations, incapable of surviving for long periods without an inflow of migrants from more southerly steppe regions.     

Biology ofHyphantria cunea Drury (Lepidoptera: arctiidae) in Japan. V. Preliminary life tables and mortality data in urban areas

Studies on the population dynamics of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea have been carried out at three survey stations and along selected roads in the urban area of Tokyo since 1966. Twelve survivorship curves obtained during two years and 8 life tables show that the mortality rate in early developmental stages of the fall webworm is remarkably low as compared with that of other lepidopterous defoliaters and the mortality rate in later developmental stages is compensatory high. The low mortality rate in early stages is considered to be due to the protective role of the nest-web and the lack of egg and larval parasites. All but one parasitic species emerge from prepupae and pupae. Spiders living in the nest-web of the fall webworm play an important role in reducing the number of young larvae. Direct observations and caging experiments showed that relatively high mortality during later larval stages is mainly due to predation by birds (in the first generation) and wasps (in the second generation). The generation mortality in the survey stations always exceeded the level where the population is kept at the steady state, and the outbreak of this moth is considered to be continued by the immigration of adults from large trees growing in gardens on which the larvae can escape from predation pressure.     

应用马尔科夫链模型对草地螟发生程度的预测

草地螟Loxostege stictialis L.是我国北方农牧业生产上一种重要迁飞性、暴发性害虫,一旦暴发会给当地农牧生产造成严重危害.根据康保县1977-2008年1代草地螟幼虫发生程度的时间序列资料,应用马尔科夫链的转移概率预测法,构建了1～3阶转移概率矩阵,组建模型对该县2009-2011年1代草地螟发生程度进行了预测,结果与大田实际发生情况完全一致,准确率100％.对1980-2011年的历史资料进行回检,历史符合率89.9％,该方法可对草地螟进行长期预报,为草地螟长期预报提供了一种准确有效的方法,对草地螟发生程度的长期预报具有重要指导意义.     

美国白蛾天敌研究进展

美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea(Drury)是国家林业和草原局的重点防控对象,也是我国重大外来林业检疫性有害生物.现阶段美国白蛾在我国的种群密度持续增加和扩散,缺乏有效天敌的控制应该是重要的原因之一.本文综述了国内、外美国白蛾的捕食性和寄生性天敌的种类.捕食性天敌主要包括昆虫、蜘蛛、两栖类和鸟类,整理出国外报道的捕食性天敌名录119种,国内捕食性天敌名录29种;寄生性天敌主要包括寄生蜂和寄生蝇类,整理出国外报道的寄生性天敌名录47种,国内寄生性天敌名录53种.本文回顾了我国在美国白蛾天敌利用方面取得的阶段成果,并针对将来天敌复合体的应用和原产地天敌的引进提出了展望.     

标记回收法确认我国北方地区草地螟的迁飞

为了证实草地螟Loxostege sticticalis L.（鳞翅目： 螟蛾科）由我国华北越冬区向东北迁飞危害的假说并提供直接的证据, 采用网捕成虫喷雾染料标记释放回收的方法,于2009年越冬代草地螟成虫盛发期间（6月1-4日）分别在内蒙古武川县（41.07°N, 111.42°E）和察右中旗（41.13°N, 112.58°E）的6个标放点共标记当地越冬代草地螟成虫约181万头并自然释放。标记释放后, 在东北、 西北和华北11个草地螟常发省（市、 区）组织各级监测预警部门利用虫情测报灯、 捕虫网和性诱剂诱捕器等多种器械进行回收, 先后于2009年6月7-29日在内蒙古科右中旗、 乌兰浩特、 扎兰屯分别回收到由察右中旗标记释放的成虫9头, 在辽宁省北票市回收到由武川县标记释放的成虫1头。标记释放点至回收点直线距离为725~1 117 km。这是迄今为止世界上确认的草地螟最远迁飞距离。这些证据不仅证实了我国越冬代草地螟成虫能从华北迁往东北危害, 而且为进一步了解草地螟的种群动态规律, 改善草地螟的预测预报技术提供了重要的科学依据。     

Source area of spring population of meadow moth, Loxostege sticticalis L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in Northeast China

The meadow moth, Loxostege sticticalis L., is an important outbreak pest in Northeast China. The spring population in Northeast China was considered as immigrants from North China; however, the population dynamics during 1996–2007 was not consistent with this traditional theory. In this study, the source area of the spring population of the meadow moth in Northeast China was identified by trajectory analysis using the wind field simulated by mesoscale numerical forecast model MM5. The results indicated that the population of the meadow moth in North China was able to migrate into Northeast China, but had not made a crucial contribution to the outbreaks there since the weather systems were generally adverse for such a long range migration in most of the years. On the other hand, high density cocoons of L. sticticalis have frequently been found in autumn in Northeast China since 1996. The trajectory analyses indicated that most of L. sticticalis in Northeast China in spring emerged from the cocoons that had overwintered either locally or in neighboring countries, i.e. Mongolia and Russia. The development of overwintering areas at higher latitudes coincides with the increased frequency of second-generation larvae; both phenomena might be attributed to the regional climate change associated with global warming.     

利用生命表评价白蛾周氏啮小蜂对美国白蛾的控制作用

为了研究白蛾周氏啮小蜂对侵入性害虫-美国白蛾的控制作用,在山东省烟台市美国白蛾发生区,选择美国白蛾发生程度中等的两块样地,一块样地作为释放白蛾周氏啮小蜂防治美国白蛾的防治区,另一块样地作为对照区。应用生命表技术,连续2年共4代对美国白蛾种群数量进行定点观察。防治区每代美国白蛾在化蛹初期和化蛹盛期各放蜂1次,即每代美国白蛾共放蜂2次。将2年的第1代和第2代观测数据分别综合平均,制成4个生命表。结果表明,在放蜂防治区,第1代和第2代美国白蛾的种群趋势指数（I）分别为0.29和0.14,说明下代美国白蛾种群数量将急剧下降;放蜂区的I值显著小于对照区的8.74和4.48。生命表研究结果清楚地表明,通过人工释放白蛾周氏啮小蜂能够达到良好的控制美国白蛾的效果。     

Survey of the native insect natural enemies of Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) in China

The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), is an invasive and important pest in China. Investigations on insect natural enemies have been conducted from 1996 to 1999 in five provinces and one municipality of China in order to select effective species for biological control. Two carabid predators (Coleoptera) and 25 parasitoid species were found, among which 23 were parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera), including five hyperparasitic species and two tachinid flies (Diptera). The two carabids preyed on young larvae inside webs, two braconid wasps parasitized larvae, and 18 parasitoid species attacked the fall webworm during the pupal and/or 'larval-pupal' stages. Among these parasitoids, there were one genus and nine species that are new to science and four species new to China, which were described and published by the senior author Yang. The average parasitism rates of fall webworm pupae were 25.8% and 16.1% in the overwintering generation and the first generation (summer generation), respectively. These findings reveal that these natural enemies play an important role in the natural control of the pest. Chouioia cunea Yang (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a gregarious pupal endo-parasitoid, was recommended as a promising biological control agent against the fall webworm in China.     

The Holocene spread of Picea abies (L.) Karst. in Fennoscandia and adjacent areas

Aim The Holocene spread of Picea abies in Fennoscandia is well established from many sites and thus provides an opportunity for detailed study of the dynamics of tree spread and population expansion. Early‐ and mid‐Holocene macrofossil evidence for presence of P. abies in Fennoscandia has questioned traditional interpretations of the timing and direction of its spread. This paper aims to determine when, from where and by which pathways P. abies spread into Fennoscandia. Understanding the character and dynamics of this spread may give insight into the general understanding of Holocene tree spread. Location The north‐western distribution of P. abies in Europe, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, north‐western Russia, parts of Byelorussia and Poland. Methods Holocene pollen diagrams with independent dating control were collected from this region. The timing of the onset of the continuous curve, the timing of the rise of the curve, the first appearance of frequencies of 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10%, as well as timing and the maximum amount of P. abies pollen, was obtained from these pollen diagrams. A GIS analysis was used to display the data and interpolate ages over the area under investigation. Results Maps are presented showing a clear ESE to WNW trend in the spread of P. abies for all characters interpolated. The timing of the rise of the curve was difficult to use as sites east of the Baltic have slowly rising P. abies frequencies while the western sites often show a rapid rise. Main conclusions The spread of P. abies in Fennoscandia and adjacent areas can be separated into two phases: (i) A rapid early Holocene spread out of Byelorussia and northern Russia at low population density giving rise to small outpost populations, possibly as far west as the Scandes Mountains. (ii) A mid‐ to late Holocene front‐like spread at high population densities moving from east to west into the Baltic Republics and Finland, into northern Scandinavia and then moving south and west towards its present‐day distributional limits.     

Genetic dynamics of population systems represented by small subpopulations: analytical modeling and numeric results

Genetic dynamics of population systems consisting of a finite number of small (Ne < 10(2)) semiisolated subpopulations was studied. A method of quantitative estimation of statistical parameters was developed for different types of population systems and different directions or intensities of selection. The following regularities were established: (1) optimal numbers of subpopulations, their effective size and rates of gene migration promoting continuous maintenance of genetic diversity can be chosen; (2) the genetic process in a population system is stationary only in the case of a specific structure of gene migrations corresponding to Wright's island model; (3) cyclic dynamics can stabilize the population system at high levels of gene diversity in a heterogeneous environment if gene migration and subpopulation size change in time. Similarities and differences between the concept of population system and the concept of metapopulation, which have been simultaneously proposed in Russia and abroad, are discussed in the final section.     

黑龙江省草地螟第三个暴发周期特点及成因分析

草地螟Loxostege sticticalisL.是我国北方农牧区重要突发性害虫,黑龙江省是主要迁入危害区,自1996年进入第3个暴发周期后,每年均有不同程度发生危害,该周期比上一周期发生时间提前5~7d,周期持续时间也延长了5年。此周期内该省草地螟累计发生面积近1 333万hm2次,比上个周期增加了近800万hm2,草地螟1代幼虫密度最高达每m210 000头以上,尤其2004年在该省大范围内达到特大发生,有13个县(市)田间百步惊蛾达到万头以上,个别高达50 000头以上。作者根据这一周期草地螟发生实况,分析了草地螟种群暴发与气候条件变暖的关系,包括天气、湿度、种植结构、天敌等因素的影响,为草地螟综合治理提供依据。     

Research and application of Chouioia cunea Yang (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in China

Chouioia cunea Yang (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an effective parasitoid of many lepidopteran pests in China. Specifically, C. cunea has successfully suppressed populations of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), an invasive and quarantined pest in China. Fall webworm biological control programmes in China have been aided by the development of artificial rearing technology for C. cunea. While researchers have determined some aspects of this parasitoid’s biology, such as fecundity and ratio of female offspring, as well as rearing methods, there was less information on the behavioural and ecological mechanisms by which C. cunea regulates host populations. Here, we review the research and application of C. cunea since it was first discovered in China.     

东北虎种群的时空动态及其原因分析

作者通过对广泛的历史资料的综合分析, 研究了东北虎(Panthera tigris altaica)种群在近一个多世纪以来的时空动态及其原因, 并从景观生态学和可持续性科学的角度对东北虎的保护提出了建议。东北虎是俄罗斯远东、中国东北、蒙古东部以及朝鲜的关键种。近百年以来的多种人为干扰因素使该种群从一个世纪前的近3,000只的历史最高纪录减少到目前约500只的低水平。现存种群主要分布在俄罗斯远东地区Sikhote山脉的一个大生境区域和两个靠近中俄边境孤立的小生境斑块, 少数个体零星分布在中国境内几个小而孤立的生境斑块中。威胁东北虎种群生存的两个最主要因素是捕猎、生境丧失和破碎化。此外, 食物匮乏、战争等因素也对东北虎的生存和繁衍有一定程度的影响。我们建议建立长期监测平台; 禁止盗猎并限制在东北虎潜在栖息地采伐、狩猎以及修筑道路等人类活动; 建立相互连通的保护区域, 特别是建立中国与俄罗斯间跨国界的生态廊道。这些保护措施应该以景观生态学和可持续性科学为指导, 实现空间资源的合理配置和土地利用格局的优化, 同时考虑东北虎种群的生存和当地经济、社会发展的需求, 从而促进实现区域可持续发展的最终目标。     

The role of temperature in the population dynamics of smelt <Emphasis Type="Italic">Osmerus eperlanus eperlanus</Emphasis> m. <Emphasis Type="Italic">spirinchus</Emphasis> Pallas in Lake Peipsi (Estonia/Russia)

We analysed lake smelt (Osmerus eperlanus eperlanus m. spirinchus Pallas.) population dynamics in relation to water level and temperature in Lake Peipsi, Estonia/Russia, using commercial fishery statistics from 1931 to 2004 (excluding 1940–1945). Over this period, smelt provided the greatest catch of commercial fish although its stock and catches have gradually decreased. At times, catches of smelt were quite variable with a cyclic character. Disappearance of smelt from catches in years 1973–1975 was the result of summer fish kill. Regression analysis revealed a significant negative effect of high temperature on the abundance of smelt stock, while the effect of water level was not significant. Our results suggest that critical factors for the smelt population are the absolute value of water temperature in the hottest period (≥20°C) of summer and the duration of this period. These weather parameters have increased in synchrony with smelt decline during the last 7 decades. There appeared to be a significant negative effect of hot summers on the abundance of smelt operating with a lag of one and 2 years, which can be explained by the short life cycle (mainly 1–2 years) of this species.     

Scattered late‐glacial and early Holocene tree populations as dispersal nuclei for forest development in north‐eastern European Russia

Aim Concepts about patterns and rates of post‐glacial tree population migration are changing as a result of the increasing amount of palaeobotanical information being provided by macroscopic plant remains. Here we combine macrofossil, pollen and stomata records from five sites in north‐eastern European Russia and summarize the results for the late‐glacial–early Holocene transition. The late‐glacial–early Holocene transition encompasses the first indications of trees (tree‐type Betula, Picea abies, Abies sibirica and Larix sibirica) and subsequent forest development. Considerable time‐lags between the first macrobotanical and/or stomata finds of spruce (Picea abies) and the establishment of a closed forest are reconsidered. Location Pechora basin, north‐eastern European Russia. Methods We used plant macrofossil, stomata, pollen and radiocarbon analyses to reconstruct late‐glacial and early Holocene tree establishment and forest development. The data were derived from lake sediment and peat archives. Results Palaeobotanical data reveal an early Holocene presence (11,500–10,000 cal. yr bp ) of arboreal taxa at all five sites. One site presently located in the northernmost taiga zone, shows the presence of spruce and reproducing tree birch during the late‐glacial. Given the current view of post‐glacial population dynamics and migration rates, it seems likely that the source area of these early tree populations in north‐eastern European Russia was not located in southern Europe but that these populations had local origins. Results thus support the emerging view that the first post‐glacial population expansions in non‐glaciated regions at high latitudes do not reflect migration from the south but were a result of an increase in the size and density of small persisting outlying tree populations. Main conclusions Results suggest that the area east of the margin of the Scandinavian ice sheet to the Ural Mountains had isolated patches of trees during the late‐glacial and early Holocene and that these small populations acted as initial nuclei for population expansion and forest development in the early Holocene.     

重大外来入侵害虫——美国白蛾生物防治技术研究

美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea(Drury)是重大外来入侵害虫,对我国林业和园林绿化造成重大危害,尤其是近年来美国白蛾传入北京,严重威胁着我国“绿色奥运”的顺利举办和首都园林绿化及生态环境安全。根据美国白蛾多发生在居民区、乡镇和城市的特点,作者开展对环境安全的生物防治技术研究。汲取前苏联等国家从美国白蛾的原产地引进天敌进行生物防治没有成功的经验和教训,立足调查和寻找我国本土天敌。经过21年的努力,发现和筛选出白蛾周氏啮小蜂Chouioia cunea Yang(新属新种)这种寄生美国白蛾的特优天敌;研究这种小蜂的行为学、生态学、生物学、解剖学及人工大量繁殖、放蜂防治技术;筛选出人工大量繁殖小蜂的替代寄主,解决小蜂的大量繁殖的瓶颈问题;通过放蜂防治试验,取得良好的防治效果。同时,筛选出防治美国白蛾的高毒力HcNPV病毒毒株,研制出美国白蛾人工饲料,利用人工饲料大量饲养美国白蛾幼虫,然后接种扩增病毒,成功解决HcNPV病毒大量扩增生产和常年生产的技术难题,做到病毒的规模化生产和常年生产,保证大面积生产防治的需要和病毒质量。研究出利用天敌昆虫和病原微生物综合应用的防治模式:在美国白蛾幼虫期喷洒HcNPV病毒,蛹期释放白蛾周氏啮小蜂,达到既控制当代美国白蛾的危害,又有效抑制其下代的种群数量,取得长期的持续控制美国白蛾的防治效果。上海市、大连市、烟台市和青岛市利用该项技术已经完全控制美国白蛾,特别是上海市利用本项生物防治技术防治后,已经连续6年没有再发现美国白蛾。由于该项生物防治技术利用的是自然界原有的控制害虫的生态因子,因而对环境安全,做到既消灭害虫,又保证生态环境和人畜的安全,也保护生物多样性。该项研究成果也为北京采用“绿色”防治技术有效控制美国白蛾提供重要的科技支撑和技术保障。     

On the temperature tolerance of diapausing prepupae of the beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis L. (Lepidoptera,Pyraloidea: Crambidae)

The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L. is a very dangerous polyphagous insect pest. The beet webworm overwinters at the pronymphal stage. In some individuals, the diapause can last from the first generation to the next spring. The influence of 30-days-long exposure at temperatures of +5, +10, +15, +20, and +25°C on survival and subsequent reactivation of diapausing pronymphs of L. sticticalis has been investigated in laboratory conditions. The beet webworm was shown to be very thermotolerant: although the temperature of +5°C, as expected, was optimal for reactivation, the other thermal regimes did not cause a significant decrease in survival and in the proportion of individuals reactivated before the end of the experiment (in 120 days). These data suggest that the southern boundary of the geographical range of L. sticticalis is determined not by high winter temperatures, but rather by some other factors (possibly, by high summer temperatures).     

Regulation of the seasonal population patterns of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis> moths by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bt</Emphasis> cotton planting

Transgenic cotton expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1Ac toxin has been commercially cultivated in China since 1997, and by 2000 Bt cotton had almost completely replaced non-transgenic cotton cultivars. To evaluate the impact of Bt cotton planting on the seasonal population patterns of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, the dynamics of H. armigera moths were monitored with light traps from four locations (Xiajin, Linqing and Dingtao of Shandong Province; Guantao of Hebei Province) in high Bt density region and five locations (Anci and Xinji of Hebei Province; Dancheng and Fengqiu of Henan Province; Gaomi of Shandong Province) in low Bt density region from 1996 to 2008. A negative correlation was found between moth densities of H. armigera and the planting years of Bt cotton in both high and low Bt density areas. These data indicate that the moth population density of H. armigera was reduced with the introduction of Bt cotton in northern China. Three generations of moths occurred between early June and late September in the cotton regions. Interestingly, second-generation moths decreased and seemed to vanish in recent years in high Bt density region, but this tendency was not found in low Bt density region. The data suggest that the planting of Bt cotton in high Bt density region was effective in controlling the population density of second-generation moths. Furthermore, the seasonal change of moth patterns associated with Bt cotton planting may regulate the regional occurrence and population development of this migratory insect.     

草地螟2007年越冬代成虫迁飞行为研究与虫源分析

草地螟 Loxostege sticticalis L.是危害我国北方农牧业的一种重要迁飞性害虫,明确草地螟的虫源地及迁飞路线对其早期预警具有重要意义。本文利用垂直监测昆虫雷达的长期观测,迁飞高峰期雌虫卵巢解剖、大区环流分析、各地虫情信息收集和利用Hysplit_4模型进行轨迹分析,研究了2007年越冬代草地螟的空中迁飞行为和东北地区严重暴发的草地螟虫源。结果表明：6月7–9日,雷达观测点诱虫灯内草地螟具有典型迁飞昆虫生理特征;草地螟主要在夜间迁飞,飞行高度集中在300～500 m,400 m是主要飞行高度,迁飞高峰期夜间迁移可持续9 h。东北地区严重发生的草地螟虫源,一部分来自内蒙古乌盟地区,一部分来自蒙古共和国中东部及中俄边境地区。据此推测我国与国外草地螟存在虫源交流。