The toxicity and biological effect of Pedalium murex L. extracts on the tobacco cutworm,Spodoptera litura (Fabr.) larvae

Petroleum ether, acetone, water and aqueous extract of Pedalium murex L. (Pedalaceae) leaves, root and fruit were tested against fourth instar larvae of the tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Fabr.) under laboratory conditions using leaf dip method. Larval mortality; larval, pupal and adult periods; pupal weight, pupation and adult emergence; larval and pupal deformities of S. litura were recorded. All the tested solvent extracts of P. murex were effective against S. litura life stages by causing mortality in a dose dependent manner. However, the efficacy was more significant with respect to acetone (leaf and root) and petroleum ether (root) at higher concentrations (0.8%) which leads to 100% larval mortality. The water and aqueous extracts of root caused 86.6 and 88.0% larval mortality respectively at 4% concentration. Among the plant parts tested, root had more importance followed by leaf and fruit. Plant extracts extended the larval, pupal and adult periods; reduced the pupal weight, pupal and adult emergence and caused larval–pupal deformities. Total life time was highly prolonged in acetone extracts of P. murex root. Though all the extracts were found to have insecticide activity, acetone and petroleum ether extracts of P. murex root can be used as an effective alternative to modern synthetic insecticides. Bioactive principles from these extracts can be isolated, identified and integrated in S. litura management.     

Inhibition of common fouling organisms in mariculture by epiphytic bacteria from the surfaces of seaweeds and invertebrates

A total of 319 bacterial strains isolated from the surfaces of seaweeds and invertebrates were tested for their effects on settlement of Ulvalactuca spores and Hydroidesezoensis larvae in laboratory bioassays. Of the 192 bacterial strains isolated from the surfaces of seaweeds 63 isolates were shown to be inhibitory against the settlement of algal spores and 62 isolates were inhibitory against larval settlement. Thirty-seven percent of the 127 bacterial strains isolated from the surfaces of marine invertebrates were shown to be inhibitory against algal spores and larval settlement. The strain CI4 isolated from an adult Cionaintestinalis showed the strongest inhibitory effect and was identified as Pseudoalteromonas sp. via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The high proportions of host associated bacteria producing antifouling compounds suggest that these bacteria may help the host organism in the defense against fouling.     

Inhibition of common fouling organisms in mariculture by epiphytic bacteria from the surfaces of seaweeds and invertebrates

A total of 319 bacterial strains isolated from the surfaces of seaweeds and invertebrates were tested for their effects on settlement of Ulvalactuca spores and Hydroidesezoensis larvae in laboratory bioassays. Of the 192 bacterial strains isolated from the surfaces of seaweeds 63 isolates were shown to be inhibitory against the settlement of algal spores and 62 isolates were inhibitory against larval settlement. Thirty-seven percent of the 127 bacterial strains isolated from the surfaces of marine invertebrates were shown to be inhibitory against algal spores and larval settlement. The strain CI4 isolated from an adult Cionaintestinalis showed the strongest inhibitory effect and was identified as Pseudoalteromonas sp. via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The high proportions of host associated bacteria producing antifouling compounds suggest that these bacteria may help the host organism in the defense against fouling.     

Mortality in Three African Tephritid Fruit Fly Puparia and Adults Caused by the Entomopathogenic Fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana

The pathogenicity of 13 isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and two isolates of Beauveria bassiana to Ceratitis capitata and Ceratitis var. rosa fasciventris exposed as late third instar larvae in sand was evaluated in the laboratory. All isolates caused a significant reduction in adult emergence and a corresponding large mortality on puparia of both species. All isolates also induced large deferred mortality in emerging adults following treatment as late third instar larvae. On C. capitata , seven isolates ( M. anisopliae ICIPE 18, 20, 32, 60 and 69 and B. bassiana ICIPE 44 and 82) caused significantly higher mortality on puparia than other isolates. With the exception of ICIPE 32, the other four isolates of M. anisopliae above were the most pathogenic against C. r. fasciventris . Dose-response study carried out with these isolates of M. anisopliae on the two species of flies above plus another species, Ceratitis cosyra showed that the dose-mortality regression lines of ICIPE 18 and 20 were steeper with lower LC 50 values when compared with ICIPE 60 and 69 on the three species. When these two isolates were evaluated with regard to their pathogenicity to different pupal age, adult emergence was found to increase with increasing pupal age with a corresponding decrease in mortality in puparia and emerging adults in the three species of fruit flies. M. anisopliae ICIPE 18 and 20 were equally pathogenic to all pupal ages tested in C. capitata and C. cosyra but ICIPE 18 was more pathogenic to older puparia of C. r. fasciventris than ICIPE 20. Our results suggest that soil inoculation with M. anisopliae under mango trees might form an important component of integrated pest management strategies in areas where these three species of fruit fly coexist.     

Effect of some phytopathogenic fungi and their metabolites on growth of Heliothis virescens (F.) and its host plants

Eleven fungal isolates and their secondary metabolites incorporated into artificial diet were tested for oral toxicity to the tobacco budworm (TBW) by examining larval weight, efficiency of conversion of ingested food to body tissue (ECI), pupal weight, days to pupation, and mortality. Two isolates of Altemaria alternata, two isolates of Fusarium moniliforme, three isolates of F. oxysporum and an isolated of F. solani reduced larval weight 90–99% after 7 days and inhibited pupation. ECI was reduced 34–96% in control groups. One isolate of A. alternata reduced pupal weight by 67% and increased the time to pupation three‐fold. One isolate of Cladosporium cladosporioides reduced larval weights by 56% and pupal weights by 7%. In a preference test of these isolates incorporated at a 1:4 ratio into artificial diet, 48% of the larvae were found on diet cubes containing autoclaved rice, 19% on standard diet, 10% on C. cladosporioides, 6–9% on F. solani, 8% on A. alternata and 3% on F. moniliforme. The fusarial toxins, T‐2 and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), were the most active compounds against TBW larvae among the 10 microbial toxins tested. T‐2 toxin reduced larval weight by 87%, reduced ECI by 62%, reduced pupal weight by 33% and delayed pupation by 1 week DAS caused similar but less severe effects than T‐2 toxin. AAL‐toxin inhibited larval growth and reduced pupal weights by 20% and 13%, respectively. A. alternata, F. moniliforme and F. solani were also phytotoxic to alfalfa (Medicago sativa,), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) and wild geranium (Geranium dissectum,), which are early season plant hosts of TBW.     

Bt杀虫蛋白对不同品系棉铃虫和中红侧沟茧蜂生长发育的影响

以棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)室内敏感品系和田间品系为寄主,研究了亚致死浓度的Bt杀虫蛋白对中红侧沟茧蜂Microplitis mediator (Haliday)生长发育的影响。结果表明： 当寄主一直取食,或者在被寄生前12小时开始取食含Bt杀虫蛋白浓度为0,0.5,1.0, 2.0,4.0,8.0 μg/g的饲料时,与对照相比,中红侧沟茧蜂的卵-幼虫历期延长,茧重和成虫体重降低,成虫寿命缩短,但对茧期没有明显影响。Bt杀虫蛋白能有效抑制两个棉铃虫品系幼虫的生长,显著降低棉铃虫蛹重;当Bt蛋白浓度为4.0 μg/g时,显著降低棉铃虫化蛹率。用转双基因抗虫棉SGK321（表达Cry1A+CpTI蛋白）饲喂两个棉铃虫品系初孵幼虫,室内品系的第2、3、4和5天校正死亡率分别为48.5%、87.8%、96.6%和 95.8%,显著高于田间品系（30.9%、59.6%、80.9%及86.1%）。本研究表明,不论是田间品系还是室内品系,棉铃虫取食含Bt杀虫蛋白的饲料后,对中红侧沟茧蜂的生长发育都具有显著的负面作用。     

Entomopathogenic fungus isolates for adult Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) management and their compatibility with Tuta pheromone

Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, is a widely consumed and economically important vegetable in the tropics. However, its production and productivity have been recently hampered by the invasive Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), a key pest of tomato causing extensive economic damage in Africa. Currently, the commonly used management strategy is synthetic insecticides with hazardous effects on humans and environment. The application of entomopathogenic fungal and viral-based biopesticides is promising alternatives. To identify potent strains, pathogenicity of dry conidia of 12 Metarhizium anisopliae isolates was evaluated against adult T. absoluta. Further effects of the most potent isolates on pupation through the late 4th instar larval infection, adult emergence and horizontal transmission of inoculum were assessed. Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 18, ICIPE 20 and ICIPE 665 outperformed the other isolates causing adult mortality of 95.0%, 87.5% and 86.25%, respectively. The three potent isolates differed significantly for LT₅₀ values of 5.13, 3.17 and 2.38 days for ICIPE 18, ICIPE 20 and ICIPE 665, respectively. Pupation and adult emergence were significantly reduced by these potent isolates, which were also compatible with Tuta pheromone (TUA-Optima^®) with ≥90% conidial germination 24 hr post-exposure. These potent isolates could be developed as effective biopesticides and used in combination with TUA-Optima^® for mass trapping and autodissemination for T. absoluta management in solanaceous crop production systems.     

Virulence potential of some fungal isolates and their control-promise against the Egyptian cotton leaf worm,Spodoptera littoralis

A preliminary virulence test of four fungal isolates, Beauveria bassiana IMI 382302, Beauveria bassiana IMI 386701, Trichoderma harzianum T24 and Aspergillus flavus Link against larvae of Spodoptera littoralis was performed. The most effective isolates against larvae of S. littoralis were B. bassiana 302 and T. harzianum T24, which also showed the lower percentage of pupation compared with the other two isolates under the same conditions of treatments. Three concentrations (1 × 10⁶, 1 × 10⁷ and 1 × 10⁸ ml^?1) of the aqueous conidial suspension of the four tested isolates were carried out against both larval and pupal stages of S. littoralis within five days post-treatment. T. harzianum T24 showed 80% larval mortality only when applied at the highest conidial concentration, while A. flavus showed 100% pupal mortality only, at all of its conidial concentrations. However, B. bassiana IMI 382302 showed relatively high dose-dependant larval and pupal mortalities, while strain IMI 386701 of B. bassiana showed a very weak mortality against pupae at higher concentrations, and no virulence against larvae was recorded. Enzymatic and antibiosis bioassays of the four fungal isolates showed relatively high activities against Fusarium spp. for most of the tested isolates. Clear zone of enzyme activity on agar plates proportionally increased with increasing the concentration of enzyme substrate and prolongation of the incubation period. Mtabolites produced in the agar culture inhibited the growth of Fusarium spp. and the productivity differed greatly among isolates or strains of the same isolate. Volatile and non-volatile compounds produced by A. flavus Link showed a higher inhibition activity against Fusarium spp. compared with the other fungal isolates. The humoral antifungal response of insect host is relatively high compared to the anti-bacterial one. Injection of larvae with the immune sensitive bacteria Micrococcus luteus (5 × 10³ bacteria/larva) showed a detectable humoral response by 2 h, peaked around 12 h and became hardly detectable by 24 h post-injection. Injection of larvae with conidial suspension (5 × 10³ conidia/larva) from each of the fungal isolates showed humoral antifungal activity against B. bassiana IMI 386701 and A. flavus only. This activity was detectable by 12 h, peaked around 36 h and became hardly detectable by 48 h post-injection. Although the humoral antifungal response was started slowly compared to the antibacterial one, it lasted for longer and enabled larvae to withstand the infection with these immune-sensitive fungal strains. No humoral activity was detected against B. bassiana IMI 382302, although however, weak activity was detected against T. harzianum T24 only at the low conidial concentration but not at the higher one (1 × 10⁸ ml^?1). Thus, this study concludes that larvae of S. littoralis showed immune-dependant sensitivity to T. harzianum T24 and B. bassiana IMI 382302. Therefore, this study may recommend these two fungal isolates as mycoinsecticides in the battle against cotton leaf worm in Egypt. Hence, they have been selected for future comprehensive bioassays in the laboratory under conditions similar to that in the field. This, in fact, may help for developing effective mycoinsecticides against this pest. Penetration mechanims of insect cuticle by entomopathogenic fungi will be discussed.     

The role of epibotic bacteria from the surface of the soft coral Dendronephthya sp. in the inhibition of larval settlement

It has been suggested that bacteria associated with soft-bodied organisms are suggested to produce bioactive compounds against the attachment of invertebrate larvae and bacteria onto the surface of these organisms. Our recent study has demonstrated that epibiotic bacteria from the surface of the soft coral Dendronephthya sp. (Coelenterata: Octocoralia, Alcyonacea) inhibit the growth of bacteria commonly found in marine natural biofilms. In the present study, the effect of 11 epibiotic bacteria isolated from the surface of Dendronephthya sp. on larval settlement of the tubeworms Hydroides elegans was examined using laboratory bioassay. Among 11 bacterial isolates, 2 strains (18%) inhibited the larval settlement of H. elegans (Haswell), 4 strains (36%) were “inductive” to larvae and the remaining 5 strains (46%) were “non-inductive”. There was no correlation between the antifouling activities of bacterial isolates and their phylogenetic origin, i.e. closely related bacterial strains showed different effects on larval settlement of H. elegans. When all “inductive”, “non-inductive” and “inhibitive” bacterial isolates were mixed in a 1:1:1 ratio, the effect of the resultant multispecies film on larval settlement became “inhibitive”. Waterborne compounds of Vibrio sp. and an unidentified α-Proteobacterium, which suppressed the settlement of H. elegans and Bugula neritina (L.) larvae, were further investigated using size fractionation and bioassay-guided enzymatic analysis. It was found that antilarval settlement compounds from these bacteria were heat-stable polysaccharides with a molecular weight >100 kDa. The results indicate that the bacteria associated with the soft coral Dendronephthya sp. may contribute to the antifouling mechanisms of the soft-bodied organisms by producing compounds that are against bacterial growth and settlement of macrofoulers on the surface of their host.     

Laboratory investigations on the potential of entomopathogenic fungi for biocontrol of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae and pupae

The susceptibility of third instar Helicoverpa armigera to seven strains of three entomopathogenic fungal species, i.e. Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, was tested under laboratory conditions using the larval immersion method. High efficacies ranging from 68 to 100% corrected mortality were recorded with more profound effects in treatments with B. bassiana and P. fumosoroseus strains. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) for L3 was 6.0×10⁵ in M. anisopliae 79, 1.5×10⁵ in B. bassiana 124 and 4.2×10⁴ in P. fumosoroseus 14. These three strains were further used to characterize the age-dependent mortality of different larval stages (L2-L5) and the effect against pupae of H. armigera. Larval stages did not differ in their mortality but differed i in median lethal time, with shorter values recorded in the second instar. Tested fungi also caused a high reduction between 74.4 and 100% in the emergence of pupae using the soil inoculation method and the pupal immersion technique. All three fungal species, especially P. fumosoroseus, have a high potential for biocontrol of H. armigera larvae and also as a soil treatment targeting the pupae.     

石蒜总生物碱对家蝇的生物活性

在室内测定了石蒜总生物碱对家蝇的生物活性,表明石蒜总生物碱对家蝇具有一定的触杀作用和生长发育抑制作用.石蒜总生物碱不同浓度(15、12、9、6、3 mg/mL)、不同作用时间(24 h、36 h、48 h、60 h、72 h)以及它们的交互作用分别对家蝇幼虫和成虫的触杀作用有显著影响.当石蒜总生物碱的浓度为15 mg/mL时,家蝇幼虫(3龄早期)和成虫(羽化3d)平均校正死亡率最高,分别为40.96％和38.25％,随着浓度的降低,触杀作用逐渐降低,随着作用时间的延长,触杀作用逐渐增强,72 h的平均校正死亡率分别达39.35％和37.55％,但总生物碱对家蝇幼虫和成虫的触杀作用间无显著差异.处理24、36、48、60、72 h后,石蒜总生物碱对家蝇幼虫的LC50值分别为57.42、36.48、21.92、13.13和10.95 mg/mL,对成虫的LC50值分别为86.66、37.86、23.91、14.15和11.51 mg/mL.老熟幼虫的平均重量除了在3 mg/mL时与对照差异不显著,其他各浓度下都显著低于对照,而在各浓度下的化蛹率、蛹的平均重量和羽化率均显著低于对照.     

Studies on effects of Pelargonium citrosa leaf extracts on malarial vector,Anopheles stephensi Liston

Methanol extracts of Pelargonium citrosa leaf were tested for their biological, larvicidal, pupicidal, adulticidal, antiovipositional activity, repellency and biting deterrency against Anopheles stephensi. Larval mortality was dose dependent with the highest dose of 4% plant extract evoking 98% mortality. The extracts affected pupicidal and adulticidal activity and significantly decreased fecundity and longevity of A. stephensi. The larval, pupal and adult development were completely inhibited by the treatment. At 4% the extracts evoked strong repellent action. They also interfered with oviposition, egg hatchability, and exhibited a growth inhibiting effect against larvae and good repellency against adults of A. stephensi. The leaf extract treatment significantly enhanced biting deterrency. As naturally occurring insecticides, these plant derived materials could be useful as an alternative for synthetic insecticides controlling field populations of mosquitoes.     

Effects of host variety on blue willow beetle Phratora vulgatissima performance

Phratora vulgatissima adults exhibit feeding preferences among willow varieties, yet little is known of the effects of willow variety on larval and adult performance. The effects of host variety on adult fitness and fecundity as well as on larval mortality and development were studied under laboratory conditions for 35 willow varieties. The host variety significantly affected the number of days that adults survived and the rates of weight change. On average, males lost weight and females gained weight. The total number of eggs, eggs day¹, eggs clutch^?1 and the length of the oviposition period were also significantly affected by willow variety. Progeny from eggs laid by adults fed on the different willow varieties showed significant differences in days to pupation and pupal weight when subsequently reared on Salix × dasyclados or on the same variety as fed to the adults. However, there was no correlation between these parameters on S. × dasyclados and the variety fed to adults. The willow variety fed to larvae significantly affected larval mortality (four varieties caused 100% mortality), the shape of larval growth curves (as measured by predicted final weight and time to half the final weight), the number of days to pupation and pupal weight. There were significant positive correlations between previously determined adult P. vulgatissima feeding preferences of the 35 willow varieties and the following: number of eggs laid, length of the oviposition period, larval mortality and development and change in adult weight. There was a considerable degree of variation in these correlations and some varieties did not follow the general trend indicated by the size or sign of particular correlations, for example, having a high feeding preference ranking yet few eggs laid, low larval weight and longer time to pupation. The differences found between varieties for adult and larval performance in conjunction with previously established feeding preferences offer great potential for utilising plant resistance to P. vulgatissima as a means of strategic control. Despite the general correlation of feeding preference and performance parameters, the results found here suggest that it appears to be possible for plant breeders to circumvent this trend.     

The effect of NeemAzal-T/S®, a commercial neem product, on different developmental stages of the common greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hom., Aleyrodidae)

The effects of NeemAzal-T/S^®, a commercial neem product, on different life development stages of the common greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hom., Aleyrodidae) were tested in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Treatment of eggs of T. vaporariorum did not affect either larval emergence or the time until larval emergence. However, the proportion of pupal formation (based on the numbers of emerged larvae) was significantly reduced after a treatment of the eggs 3, 5 and 7 days after oviposition, respectively. The proportion of emerged adults (based on the number of formed pupae) was only significantly reduced when eggs had been treated 5 and 7 days after oviposition. In all neem treatments the time until adult emergence was significantly delayed. A neem treatment of early larval instars of T. vaporariorum resulted in a significantly reduced proportion of pupal formation, but subsequent adult emergence (based on the number of formed pupae) was not affected. Treating early larval instars of T. vaporariorum significantly prolonged the time until adult emergence. A neem treatment of T. vaporariorum pupae significantly reduced the proportion of emerged adults but had no effect on the time until adult emergence. Exposing female whiteflies to fresh, 24-h-old and 72-h-old residues of NeemAzal-T/S^® had no effect on the mortality of the insects, though the number of eggs laid per female was significantly reduced in T. vaporariorum exposed to fresh neem residues. These findings are discussed within the context of integrated control of whiteflies in the greenhouse environment.     

Laboratory evaluation of lufenuron on immature stages of potato tuber moth (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The effects of the chitin synthesis inhibitor lufenuron against potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), eggs were determined by topically exposing different age groups of eggs (1-4 d old) to treated potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) under laboratory conditions. Larval hatch from both treated (4 and 12 g [AI]/100 liter) and untreated tubers was >95%, but mortality of first instars was high in treated tubers (>90%) compared with untreated tubers. Examination of the treated tubers showed that most of the larvae were unable to penetrate or cause any noticeable damage to the potato tubers. However, the few first instars that survived were able to penetrate the tubers and continue their development to the pupal or adult stages. At 12 g (AI)/100 liter, adult emergence was <2% and most of the emerged adults had morphological deformities such as reduced wing size and they were unable to free themselves from the pupal sacs. These data suggest that topical application of lufenuron to eggs before larval hatch would reduce the amount of damage caused by potato tuber moth as part of integrated pest management program.     

食料对南亚果实蝇解毒酶活力的影响

昆虫解毒酶是一类异质酶系, 对分解大量的内源或外源有毒物质、维持正常生理代谢起着重要作用。本文采用生物化学的方法测定了5种寄主果实对南亚果实蝇Bactrocera tau Walker 3个虫态体内总蛋白含量和5种解毒酶的活力。双因子方差分析显示, 南亚果实蝇种群取食黄瓜Cucumis sativus L.、南瓜Cucurbita moschala L.、丝瓜Luffa cylindrical L.、冬瓜Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Coqn.和苦瓜Momordica charantia L.后, 体内蛋白含量和解毒酶活性均存在显著差异。以丝瓜为食料时, 南亚果实蝇体内蛋白含量较高; 而以黄瓜和冬瓜为食料时蛋白含量则相对较低。在以上5种寄主果实间, 南亚果实蝇的羧酸酯酶（CarE）活性在黄瓜和南瓜上较高, 细胞色素P450 O-脱甲基和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶（GST）活性在苦瓜上较高, 酸性磷酸酯酶（ACP）和碱性磷酸酯酶（ALP）活性却分别在黄瓜和南瓜上较低。在幼虫、蛹和成虫3个虫态间, 解毒酶活性亦存在显著差异, 成虫具有较高的CarE活性;幼虫具有较高的细胞色素P450 O-脱甲基, GST和ALP活性,但具有较低的ACP活性;除ACP外,蛹期解毒酶活性均较低。据以上结果可以推测,南亚果实蝇解毒酶活力受寄主果实种类以及该种群本身发育阶段的影响。     

Toxicity and synergism in the feeding deterrence of some coumarins on Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The phagodepression activity of five coumarins (= 2H-1-benzopyran-2-ones), 6-hydroxy-7-isoprenyloxycoumarin (1), 6-methoxy-7-isoprenyloxycoumarin (2), 6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (3), 5-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (4), and 6-methoxy-7-(2-hydroxyethoxy)coumarin (5), from the Argentine native herb Pterocaulon polystachyum, was tested against Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae. Two analogs, scopoletin (6) and 2-methoxy-2-methyl-3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-3H-chromen-5-one (7), synthesized in our laboratory, were also evaluated for comparison. The compounds were added to an artificial diet at doses ranging from 50 to 200 microg per g of diet. Natural coumarins induced 100% of phagodepression when 200 microg were added per g of diet. Binary equimolar mixtures of the natural coumarins were phagodepressors against S. frugiperda surpassing the expected additive responses, indicating that these compounds can act synergistically against S. frugiperda larvae. Compounds 1 and 3 (non-methoxylated coumarins), and the equimolar mixture of both, displayed the strongest phagodepression. Additionally, 50 microg/g of 1 and 3 incorporated to the larval diet caused 80 and 50% of pupal mortality, respectively, while a 100 microg/g dose of compounds 2, 4, 6, and 7 produced 60, 50, 10, and 80% pupal mortality, respectively. Larval growing rate during the early larval instars was significantly reduced by treatments with the methylenedioxycoumarins 3 and 4. Coincidentally, the larval period duration was significantly increased by the latter compounds.     

Influence of procaine HCl on larval development, adult lifespan and acid phosphatase activity in Musca domestica L

By treating larvae of Musca domestica L. with 4 x 10(-4%) procaine HCl we could shorten larval development, decrease larval mortality and increase number of adult offspring. A high concentration of procaine HCl (0.4%) caused a prolongation of the larval development, a lower pupal weight and a decreased number of adult offspring, which are, in our opinion, indications of a toxic effect. The effects of procaine HCl on ageing and acid phosphatase activity are not so clear. The distribution of subpopulations in a population and the correlation with acid phosphatase activity during adult lifespan are discussed.     

Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae to the tobacco spider mite Tetranychus evansi

Seventeen isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and two isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin were evaluated for their pathogenicity against the tobacco spider mite, Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard. In the laboratory all the fungal isolates were pathogenic to the adult female mites, causing mortality between 22.1 and 82.6%. Isolates causing more than 70% mortality were subjected to dose–response mortality bioassays. The lethal concentration causing 50% mortality (LC₅₀) values ranged between 0.7×10⁷ and 2.5×10⁷ conidia ml⁻¹. The lethal time to 50% mortality (LT₅₀) values of the most active isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae strains varied between 4.6 and 5.8 days. Potted tomato plants were artificially infested with T. evansi and treated with B. bassiana isolate GPK and M. anisopliae isolate ICIPE78. Both fungal isolates reduced the population density of mites as compared to untreated controls. However, conidia formulated in oil outperformed the ones formulated in water. This study demonstrates the prospects of pathogenic fungi for the management of T. evansi.     

Pathogenicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beauveria bassiana</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium anisopliae</Emphasis> to the tobacco spider mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus evansi</Emphasis>

Seventeen isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and two isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin were evaluated for their pathogenicity against the tobacco spider mite, Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard. In the laboratory all the fungal isolates were pathogenic to the adult female mites, causing mortality between 22.1 and 82.6%. Isolates causing more than 70% mortality were subjected to dose–response mortality bioassays. The lethal concentration causing 50% mortality (LC₅₀) values ranged between 0.7×10⁷ and 2.5×10⁷ conidia ml⁻¹. The lethal time to 50% mortality (LT₅₀) values of the most active isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae strains varied between 4.6 and 5.8 days. Potted tomato plants were artificially infested with T. evansi and treated with B. bassiana isolate GPK and M. anisopliae isolate ICIPE78. Both fungal isolates reduced the population density of mites as compared to untreated controls. However, conidia formulated in oil outperformed the ones formulated in water. This study demonstrates the prospects of pathogenic fungi for the management of T. evansi.