Effects of photoperiod and temperature on reproductive diapause in Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a potential biocontrol agent against Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Abstract To investigate the seasonal adaptation strategies of Ophraella communa to new habitats, the effects and regulation mechanisms of photoperiod and temperature on the reproductive diapause in a population collected from Changsha, Hunan were examined. Adults showed obvious reproductive diapause, which was regulated by photoperiod and temperature. At 30°C, there was no adult diapause occurring under either long‐day or short‐day conditions; at 25°C the pre‐oviposition period was short and fecundity was high in adult females under L : D 16 : 8 h, whereas under L : D 12 : 12 h, a few females entered reproductive diapause; at 20°C under short‐day conditions, all female adults entered diapause. The pre‐oviposition period was significantly prolonged when the pupae and adults were transferred from long‐days to short‐days, but the day length influence was not obvious when they were transferred only in the adult stage. However, the fecundity dropped greatly no matter whether the photoperiod shifted to short‐days only in the adult stage or whether the shift occurred in both the pupal and adult stage. The fecundity was extremely low when photoperiod shifted from long‐days to short‐days in both pupal and adult stages. This was an indication that the pupal and adult stages were the photoperiod‐sensitive stage for adult reproductive diapause. This was especially true for the photoperiod in the pupal stage, which has a distinctly significant regulative effect on reproductive diapause. Additionally, this article also addresses the reason for different photoperiodic response patterns in reproductive diapause induction between the Changsha strain and the Tsukuba strain (Japan) of O. communa.     

广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾对 江西南昌豚草的联合控制作用

【背景】豚草是一种世界性的重要害草,在江西南昌地区普遍发生。广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾是很有利用前景的豚草天敌,而有关这2种天敌在江西南昌地区田间对豚草的联合控制效果尚不明确。【方法】2009年6月25日分别按广聚萤叶甲0.7头.株-1和豚草卷蛾0.4头.株-1的密度在江西南昌豚草入侵地同时释放2种天敌,并于8月4日～9月13日,每隔10d调查广聚萤叶甲各虫态的数量、豚草卷蛾虫瘿数、豚草的株高和死亡株数。【结果】释放前期广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾种群数量增长较快,但释放70d后,豚草植株死亡率达90.14%,天敌种群数量急剧下降;释放80d后,豚草植株死亡率达到100%。此外,在整个调查期间,天敌释放区豚草株高增长缓慢,均极显著低于对照区。【结论与意义】广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾在江西南昌地区田间对豚草的联合控制效果显著,宜在江西大规模推广应用。     

野外条件下广聚萤叶甲对豚草的产卵选择

为探究影响广聚萤叶甲Ophraella communa LeSage选择豚草产卵的环境因素, 在南京城郊于2009年6月23日至9月1日豚草生长季节, 跟踪调查了60个豚草斑块上落卵数量动态, 运用跨栏模型分析了影响叶甲产卵以及产卵数量的因素。结果表明： （1）产卵发生随季节延长、 豚草被取食程度增大、 株高增长、 暴露环境中斑块增大而增加, 但随遮蔽环境中豚草斑块增大、 开花、 开花后季节延长、 季节延长情况下被取食程度增大、 开花后被取食程度增大等因素而降低; （2）落卵数量随季节延长、 豚草被取食程度增大、 暴露环境、 开花期被取食程度增大、 开花期株高增长等因素而增加, 但随豚草开花、 季节延长情况下被取食程度增大而减小; （3）落卵量随季节延长而增大的幅度在豚草营养生长期明显大于开花期, 在暴露环境中随季节延长而呈明显直线增大, 但在遮阴环境中先直线增加, 于10周后趋缓。研究结果说明, 影响产卵发生与落卵数量的因素不完全一致, 产卵发生与落卵数量主要受因子之间互作的影响, 而较少受到单因素的独立影响。     

Control of the invasive weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia with Ophraella communa and Epiblema strenuana

Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. is native to North America, and was unintentionally introduced into China in the 1930s, where it has become invasive. The two insect species Epiblema strenuana and Ophraella communa have been considered as biological control agents of A. artemisiifolia in China. The purpose of this study was to examine the control effect of O. communa + E. strenuana on A. artemisiifolia in the field. The mortality of A. artemisiifolia plants increased with time and increasing initial release densities of O. communa and/or E. strenuana in 2008 and 2009. The treatments of 0.53 O. communa + 0.53 E. strenuana per plant and 12 O. communa + 16 E. strenuana per plant at early (60–70 cm tall) and later (90–100 cm tall) growth stages could subsequently kill all plants prior to seed production in both 2008 and 2009. Thus, the two initial densities of the two insect species may be recommended when they are jointly used for biological control of A. artemisiifolia at the two growth stages. However, all or some plants could survive and bear seeds in any other treatment and in the non-treated control plots. This implies that biological control of A. artemisiifolia with the two biological control agents will be recommended in the areas invaded by A. artemisiifolia in China.     

广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾对广西来宾豚草的联合控制作用

【背景】豚草已成功入侵广西来宾,对当地生物多样性、农业生产和居民健康造成了严重影响。广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾均为豚草的重要专一性天敌,在湖南等地已有效抑制了豚草的扩散蔓延。【方法】为考查2种天敌在广西对豚草的联合控制作用,于2009年5月24日在广西来宾豚草入侵地区同时释放广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾(2种天敌释放密度均为1170头.hm-2)。【结果】至2009年8月29日释放区内豚草植株死亡率达98%以上,且天敌迅速向邻近豚草发生区扩散,2种天敌对扩散区豚草的控制率可达50%～60%。【结论与意义】2种天敌对豚草具有显著的控制效果,建议在广西大面积推广应用。     

短时低温胁迫对广聚萤叶甲发育和生殖的影响

广聚萤叶甲Ophraella commnuna 是入侵性杂草豚草Ambrosia artemisiifolia的一种重要专一性天敌.为探明短时低温胁迫对广聚萤叶甲发育和生殖的影响,将广聚萤叶甲置于2,5,8,11和14°C人工气候箱内(RH 70%±5%,14L:10D)处理2 h,测定卵、幼虫、蛹存活率、发育历期及成...     

Variation in cold hardiness among geographic populations of the ragweed beetle, Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asterales: Asteraceae), in China

The ragweed beetle, Ophraella communa, is a potential biological control agent of common ragweed that appeared in Nanjing City in 2001 and has since dispersed throughout southeast China. We compared the cold hardiness of five different O. communa populations by measuring the supercooling point (SCP), water and glycerol contents of adult beetles. All indices of cold hardiness varied significantly among the sampled populations. Male beetles from the most northerly population (Nanjing) had the lowest water content of any sampled and, although female beetles from Nanchang and Miluo had water content similar to those from Nanjing, they were still lower than those of females from Fuzhou and Wuchang. Beetles from the most southerly population (Fuzhou) had the highest SCP, although Nanchang males were not significantly different from Fuzhou males. Glycerol content yielded resolution of populations as follows: Nanjing > Wuchang = Miluo = Nanchang > Fuzhou, with beetles from Nanjing yielding twice the glycerol content of Fuzhou beetles. These results suggest that overwintering O. communa use freeze avoidance to survive winter cold and that geographically separated populations of O. communa are diverging with respect to their baseline cold hardiness in accordance with the severity of low temperatures experienced during the coldest winter months in each locality. The apparent ability of O. communa to rapidly adapt to different climatic conditions is predicted to facilitate its continued range expansion across mainland China, with consequent benefits in terms of fortuitous biological control of common ragweed.     

外来入侵豚草天敌广聚萤叶甲的半人工饲料配方和关键因子的初步筛选

广聚萤叶甲Ophraella communa LeSage是入侵恶性豚草的天敌。参照前人对叶甲类半人工饲料的研究配方,采用19因子混水平正交试验L32（4^5×2^16）,初步筛选出适合广聚萤叶甲成虫和幼虫的半人工饲料配方,筛选出影响广聚萤叶甲成虫寿命的8种关键成分：麦胚、10％KOH、葡萄糖、尼泊金、豚草叶粉、琼脂、胆固醇、大豆油;影响广聚萤叶甲2龄幼虫发育的8种关键成分是：燕麦片、琼脂、麦胚、葡萄糖、氯化胆碱、10％KOH、蒸馏水、大豆油。研究结果为进一步研制广聚萤叶甲人工饲料提供了基础。     

广聚萤叶甲对广东佛冈豚草的控制作用

广聚萤叶甲Ophraella communa是恶性入侵杂草豚草Ambrosia artemisiifolia的一种重要专一性天敌。为了评价其对广东省豚草的野外控制效果,2009和2010年分别在佛冈进行释放,试验调查了释放后的种群动态及其对豚草的控制效果。结果表明:广聚萤叶甲在广东省佛冈县可成功建立自然种群。广聚萤叶甲释放后,其虫口密度不断增加,豚草植株的死亡率也不断上升,2009年豚草死亡率低于20%,2010年叶甲对豚草的控制作用较好,豚草死亡率可达到95%以上,而大量豚草死亡后,广聚萤叶甲的虫口密度又急剧下降。广聚萤叶甲种群扩张与气象因子有密切关系,温度偏低是5～6月广聚萤叶甲的种群数量难以扩增的主要因素,大雨频繁和光照偏少也一定程度上限制了其种群增长,7～8月是广聚萤叶甲种群激增的关键时期,此时其种群数量急剧增加。     

外来植食性广聚萤叶甲对非靶标植物的潜在影响

为评估以入侵豚草为食的外来广聚萤叶甲（Ophraella communa）对非靶标植物的潜在生态风险,采用选择性试验测定了广聚萤叶甲成虫和幼虫对当地代表性植物的取食选择,观察了幼虫在选出的植物上生长发育的适合度表现。结果表明：在5大类52种测试植物中,广聚萤叶甲成虫和幼虫不同程度地取食向日葵、苍耳、天明精、菊芋（仅成虫）、紫茎泽兰（仅幼虫）和石胡荽（仅幼虫）;野外罩笼非选择性测定发现,初孵幼虫在苍耳和向日葵8个品种上可完成发育,直到成虫产卵,并观察到在菊芋上完成幼虫发育,个别到成虫但未产卵;在这些植物上幼虫存活率明显降低,蛹质量明显减轻,成虫产卵明显减少。本文还分析了广聚萤叶甲对少数本土植物以及经济作物向日葵的潜在生态风险。     

Control efficiency of leaf beetle,Ophraella communa,on the invasive common ragweed,Ambrosia artemisiifolia,at different growing stages

Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an effective biological control agent of A. artemisiifolia, was unintentionally introduced into China. To understand the biological control potential of O. communa on A. artemisiifolia, plant height, the number of branches and leaf control index of A. artemisiifolia injured by the beetle were determined. The results showed that plant height and number of branches decreased and leaf control index increased with the increasing initial release density of O. communa adults, when they were released at 90–100-cm plant height stage in 2008 and 60–70-cm stage in 2009. Even when O. communa was released at a low average density of 1.07 adults per plant at early growth stage of A. artemisiifolia in 2009, it could significantly suppress plant height and number of branches and led to a higher leaf control index compared with the herbicide treatment with Roundup. Prior to the fructicative period, the leaf control index of A. artemisiifolia by O. communa was up to 1.0 on the 47th day after the average initial release of 12 beetles per plant in 2008 or on the 85th day after the average release of 1.07 beetles per plant in 2009, which was significantly higher than that in the herbicide treatment. We suggest that the initial release average density of O. communa adults should be ≥1.07 beetles per plant at the early growth stage, or ≥12 beetles per plant at the late growth stage for an effective control of A. artemisiifolia in the field.     

Effect of short-term high temperature stress on the development and fecundity of Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Since insects are ectothermic, they are highly vulnerable to the sudden increase of temperature. Indeed, it has been hypothesized that the survival, development, fecundity, and even population expansion of insects are all affected significantly by extremely high temperature. We studied the effect of short-term high temperature stress on the survival and development of different stages, adult longevity and fecundity of Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of the invasive plant, the common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asterales: Asteraceae) in the laboratory. The results showed that egg, larval, pupal and adult survival rates were significantly affected after 2 hour-short-stress at high temperatures (35 to 47°C) when compared to the 28°C control. With the exceptions of the control and 35°C stress, survival rate of females was significantly higher than that of males after short-stress at any high temperature. Short-term high temperature stress also significantly impacted longevity and fecundity of adult beetles. Except for control, female longevity was significantly longer than male's after short-stress at any high temperature. The survival rates of different stages, and adult longevity and fecundity of the beetle decreased significantly with the increase of short-term stress temperature. Based on the results of the present study, we conclude that the development and population expansion of O. communa may be significantly affected when they are exposed to a high temperature stage in a summer day in the areas invaded by common ragweed, in southern China.     

Reevaluation of biosecurity of Ophraella communa against sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), originally from North America, has been used for biological control of common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, in China since 2007. However, there is still a debate on whether O. communa can attack sunflowers under field conditions. To re-evaluate the biosecurity of O. communa against sunflower (Helianthus annuus), we investigated the population density of O. communa on three sunflower varieties that were intercropped with or planted in circumambience of A. artemisiifolia under field conditions. Our results showed that only very few O. communa eggs (<0.5 eggs/plant) were found on sunflower plants at the last two surveys when sunflowers were planted in circumambience of common ragweed. O. communa eggs were not found on sunflower plants at each survey when sunflowers were intercropped with common ragweed. The first–second instar larvae, third instar larvae, pupae and adults of O. communa were occasionally found on sunflower plants, but their densities were very low under either case of planting patterns. Based on these results, we conclude that sunflower is not a potential host plant for O. communa and the beetle is an effective host-specific biological control agent of common ragweed.     

Estimating economic benefits of biological control of Ambrosia artemisiifolia by Ophraella communa in southeastern France

The North American common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, which produces highly allergenic pollen, is invasive in different parts of the world, including Europe. In 2013, common ragweed in northern Italy was found attacked by another accidentally introduced species, the North American leaf beetle Ophraella communa, which is used for biological control of common ragweed in China. Since the establishment of O. communa, ragweed pollen concentrations in northern Italy have significantly dropped. Here we set out to estimate the potential economic benefits of establishment of O. communa in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France, where detailed data on the economic impact of common ragweed are available. Extrapolating from the change in airborne ragweed pollen concentrations in the Milan area, we estimated that establishment of O. communa in the Rhône-Alpes region will reduce the number of days with ragweed pollen concentrations at which sensitive people express symptoms by 50% and the medical costs due to common ragweed by 5.2–6.8 M € annually. Our findings suggest that investments of public funds are justified to conduct a complete assessment of the potential risks and benefits associated with the accidental establishment of O. communa in Europe.     

豚草生物防治技术在湖南汨罗的应用及其控制效果

【背景】为评价广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾在豚草发生区大面积释放后对豚草的控制潜力,于2007年和2008年5月底分别在湖南省汨罗大荆和智峰进行了野外释放试验。【方法】释放天敌后,调查豚草的株高、存活率,最后测量其生物量和种子量。【结果】在大荆释放区释放86和120d后,释放区植株高度（61．4和99．0cm）均显著矮于对照区（121．8和129．5em）,释放区植株地上茎干重显著小于对照区,但根系干重与对照区无显著差异;释放区植株存活率分别仅为7．3％和0。在智峰释放区,释放12d后,释放区豚草株高和存活率与对照区均无显著差异;但在释放28、44、57d后,释放区株高均显著小于对照区,植株根系和地上茎干重亦显著小于对照区;释放区豚草存活率分别为76．5％、16．5％和0。上述两地,对照区豚草在调查期内的存活率均为100％,释放区的豚草则完全丧失繁殖能力,种子量为0。【结论与意义】在湖南,5月底或6月初,广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾以约每10株6头的密度联合释放,可有效控制豚草。本结果为豚草生物防治技术推广与应用提供了依据。     

A Novel Device for the Collection, Storage, Transport, and Delivery of Beneficial Insects, and its Application to Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

A multi-use device was developed for the collection, short-term storage, transport, and delivery of Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia. The device is made from a 125-ml plastic specimen container that can hold O. communa adults or pupae. When used as an aspirator, insect collection and counting times are reduced. O. communa adults and pupae can be stored inside the container at 3°C with median survival of 41 and 21 days, respectively. A cotton wick saturated with water or a 5% sugar solution nourishes insects during transport and the container design minimizes insect mortality by providing an optimum microclimate during insect storage and transport. Designed to protect insects from rainfall and to limit encounters with predators and parasites, the containers can be used for field releases of O. communa adults and pupae. Although the container has been designed and tested for O. communa, it is highly versatile and could possibly be used with a variety of insect species.     

不同强度快速冷驯化对广聚萤叶甲成虫耐寒性生理指标的影响

【目的】快速冷驯化能在短时间内迅速提高昆虫的耐寒性,是昆虫应对外界温度急剧变化以及短时低温胁迫的重要途径。本研究旨在探究入侵杂草豚草Ambrosia artemisiifolia生防天敌广聚萤叶甲Ophraella communa对不同强度快速冷驯化的生理响应机制。【方法】分别对广聚萤叶甲成虫进行了不同温度（-4, 0, 4和8℃）下4 h及0℃下不同时间（1, 4 , 8和16 h）的快速冷驯化处理,并对其体内的生理物质含量和保护酶活性进行了测定。【结果】除8℃/4 h,0℃/1 h和0℃/8 h外,其余冷驯化处理均使广聚萤叶甲成虫过冷却点显著降低（P<0.05）,其中0℃/4 h处理组最低。而且,随着冷驯化温度降低、持续时间的增长,广聚萤叶甲成虫体甘油含量以及过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性呈曲线变化,并于0℃/4 h处理时达到极值,但冷驯化处理对虫体自由水和总糖含量的影响并不显著（P≥0.05）。【结论】广聚萤叶甲快速冷驯化的诱导具有其临界强度值和最适条件,过大强度的驯化处理反而不利于其耐寒性的提高。本研究结果对于深入阐明广聚萤叶甲越冬策略以及人工培育耐寒种群的实践具有一定参考价值。     

豚草和苍耳上广聚萤叶甲的寄主选择和取食量比较

为探究豚草与苍耳上的广聚萤叶甲种群是否存在分化,对来自这两种植物上的叶甲(分别称为"豚草叶甲"和"苍耳叶甲")进行了选择性试验,并测定了其对5种近缘植物的取食量.选择性试验结果表明,两群来源不同的叶甲对豚草和苍耳的选择偏好存在显著差异,表现为豚草叶甲更偏好豚草,而苍耳叶甲相对更偏好苍耳.对广聚萤叶甲成虫取食量的测定结果表明,对不同测试植物的取食量随来源寄主植物不同而存在显著差异,两群叶甲对向日葵的取食量存在显著差异,但对其他植物的取食量均无显著差异.豚草叶甲对豚草的取食量显著大干对其他测试植物的取食,24h平均取食量达51.27 mm2,而对其他4种植物的取食量无显著差异,均低于40 m2;苍耳叶甲取食豚草的量为52.24mm2(24 h),与取食向日葵和三裂叶豚草量无显著差异,但显著大干取食苍耳和菊芋的量,取食后两种植物的量没有显著差异.研究结果说明,苍耳属植物可能是广聚萤叶甲除豚草外的另一潜在寄主植物.     

Effects of age at mating of both sexes on female longevity and fecundity performance in Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Life-history strategies of animals are governed by fitness-related trait trade-offs. In particular, the age at which either one of the two sexes copulate has been shown to affect insect reproductive output and longevity. This suggests that trade-offs between longevity and reproduction might drive the choice of a mating partner based on their age and ultimately such choices might select for different life-histories. Although several studies indicate that female age at mating dictates subsequent insect longevity, fecundity, and egg hatch rate, it is unclear how male age at copulation affects these life-history traits. In this study, we simultaneously investigated the effects of female and male age on female fecundity, eggs hatch rate, and adult longevity in Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomellidae), the primary biological control agent of the invasive common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. We found that young mature females lived significantly longer when they were mated with older males. Maximum female fecundity and subsequent egg hatch rate occurred when young females mated with 3-day-old males. On the other hand, females lived longer when mating with an older male. These findings are in accordance with the cost-of-reproduction concept.