Post-copulatory Mounting Behavior of the West Indian Sweetpotato Weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Post‐copulatory associations between males and females have been found in a variety of insects and are often described as mate guarding. Males of the West Indian sweetpotato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) mount the female's back after copulation. Two hypotheses have been advanced to explain this behavior: mate guarding to prevent future copulations by rivals (hypothesis 1), and mate guarding to gain additional copulations (hypothesis 2). We conducted three experiments to test predictions from these hypotheses. Our results disproved hypothesis 1 because the duration of the post‐copulatory association was very brief in comparison with the length of the refractory phase all females showed after copulation. When we prevented females from resisting copulations during the post‐copulatory mounted phase males copulated again, while under normal conditions, a second copulation was never observed. This result may indicate the presence of a sexual conflict over mating. However, we propose an alternative interpretation of the result, namely that after mating, males test whether the copulation has successfully reduced female receptivity by attempting to remate. If females resist the mating, males leave.     

Effect of Furcellaran Solution as an Egg-seeding Agent on Post-hatching Survival and Development of the West Indian Sweetpotato Weevil,Euscepes postfasciatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Mass rearing the West Indian sweetpotato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire), using artificial diets is essential for eradicating this serious sweetpotato pest by the sterile insect technique. We tested the use of the furcellaran solution (a viscous liquid, hereafter FS) as an egg-seeding agent on an artificial diet as an important step in extending small-scale rearing of this species to a mass-rearing technique. We recently detected no effect of FS on egg hatching; however, this study revealed significant adverse effects of FS on post-hatching survival and development of the species, i.e. more than 50% reduction in the survival rate and a 1.3- to 1.5-fold extension of the development period. The number of larvae remaining on the diet surface but not feeding into the diet was consistently higher in the FS-treated groups throughout the experiment period. These results suggests that FS may physically or chemically inhibit the normal feeding of larvae, leading to the observed adverse effects on survival and development of insects. The survival rate among FS-treated replicates was significantly related to variations of the diet conditions (shrunk by desiccation) that might be caused by uncontrollable environmental differences. The shrunk diets yielded two to three times more adults than those not shrunk. This implies that post-hatching survival of E. postfasciatus can be improved by drying the contents of the rearing trays after egg-seeding.     

Fractionated irradiation improves the mating performance of the West Indian sweet potato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus

• 1 The sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used to suppress or eradicate target pest insect populations.
• 2 The effectiveness of SIT depends on the ability of released sterile males to mate with and inseminate wild females. The use of gamma radiation to induce sterility, however, negatively affects both somatic cells as well as reproductive cells. Consequently, mating performance of sterilized individuals decreases drastically over time. The mating propensity of sterilized Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) males irradiated with a single dose of 150 Gy (the current standard of the Okinawa Prefecture SIT programme) is equal to that of non‐irradiated weevils for the first 6 days.
• 3 Fractionated irradiation, in which a sterilizing dose is delivered over time in a series of smaller irradiations, reduces the damage of irradiation in insects. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of fractionated irradiation on male fertilization ability, longevity and mating propensity of E. postfasciatus for a period of 16 days after irradiation.
• 4 Although fractionated irradiation totalling 150 Gy was found to induce full sterility regardless of the number of individual doses, the mating propensity of male weevils sterilized by fractionated irradiation was maintained for the first 12 days. These results demonstrate that fractionated irradiation can be highly advantageous in programmes aimed at eradication of E. postfasciatus.

     

Population dynamics of the West Indian sweetpotato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire): a simulation analysis

The West Indian sweetpotato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) is a major pest of the sweet potato Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. and this weevil is a target of an eradication program using the Sterile Insect Technique in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Understanding the population ecology is essential in the planning of an eradication program; hence, a host‐plant infestation survey and light trap survey have been conducted to monitor the population dynamics of the weevil on Kume Island (Okinawa Prefecture), which is the target area of the trial weevil eradication project. Seasonal tendencies of weevil density were found in these field surveys, but the tendency found in the host‐plant infestation survey was not seen every year, and the effectiveness of the light trap is somewhat suspect. To confirm the reliability of the tendency observed in these field surveys, the present study attempted to explain the tendency by a seasonal temperature change using a temperature‐based model of weevil population dynamics. The seasonal changes of weevil density differed according to host plants and host‐plant fields. The seasonal changes of weevil density inside the host plant Ipomoea indica and outside the host plants in I. indica fields were consistent with those predicted by the model. However, those inside the host plant Ipomoea pes‐caprae in the host‐plant infestation survey were contrary to the predicted ones, and those observed outside host plants in I. pes‐caprae fields by the light trap survey were not in good agreement with the predicted ones. It was concluded that the seasonal change of the weevil density observed in I. indica and I. indica fields can be explained by a seasonal temperature change, but factors other than seasonal temperature change are needed to explain those in I. pes‐caprae and I. pes‐caprae fields.     

Evaluation of partial sterility in mating performance and reproduction of the West Indian sweetpotato weevil,Euscepes postfasciatus

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is based on population and behavioral ecology and is widely used to suppress or eradicate target pest insect populations. The effectiveness of SIT depends on the ability of the released sterile males to mate with and inseminate wild females. The use of gamma‐radiation to induce sterility is, however, associated with negative impacts not only on reproductive cells but also on somatic cells. Consequently, irradiation for sterilization diminishes mating performance over time. In this study, we evaluated the balance between the irradiation dose and both fertility and mating propensity in Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for 22 days following irradiation. The mating propensity of males irradiated with a 150‐Gy dose, as currently used to induce complete sterility of E. postfasciatus in the SIT program in Okinawa Prefecture, was equal to that of non‐irradiated weevils for up to 6 days, and the mating propensity of males irradiated with a dose of 125 Gy was equal to that of non‐irradiated weevils for twice this period (12 days). The fertilization ability of weevils irradiated with a dose of 125 Gy was reduced by 4.6% in males and 0.6% in females, compared to the potential fertilization ability. We also discuss the possibility of the application of partially sterilized insects in eradication programs.     

Moisture during Egg Incubation Adversely Affects Hatching of the West Indian Sweetpotato Weevil,Euscepes postfasciatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), When the Eggs are Incubated En Masse

We compared the egg-hatching of Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) with and without moisture treatment to test whether moisture is necessary during egg incubation when a large number of eggs are gathered into a mass. Moisture treatment exhibited significant undesirable effects on hatching (reduction of hatchability, delay of hatching, and increase of the variance of hatching date) compared to no moisture treatment. In addition, moisture treatment significantly increased the incidence of fungus on the egg surface, which can subsequently contaminate the larval artificial diet. Based on these results, we concluded that moisture is not necessary for incubating E. postfasciatus eggs. Two possible explanations for the undesirable effects of moisture on hatching were discussed: a direct effect by preventing respiration of the eggs and an indirect effect through fungal infection of the eggs.     

Suppressing effect of gamma-irradiated weevils on progeny production in the West Indian sweetpotato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The West Indian sweet potato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a major pest of sweet potato Ipomoea batatas (L.) in the tropical and subtropical regions. The sterile insect technique (SIT) could be used as one of the most effective methods for suppression or eradication of the weevil. The effectiveness of SIT depends on the ability of the released sterile males to mate with and inseminate wild females. However, the effect of sterile weevils on the fitness of E. postfasciatus has not been evaluated on natural density. Here, we investigated the effect of gamma-irradiated weevil density on the number of weevil progeny. When irradiated weevils were released in numbers equal to those of non-irradiated weevils, the number of progeny was reduced by half of that in the control treatment, and it remained at this state for 2?weeks. Our results show that irradiated weevils ensure adequate and efficient suppression of wild weevils. We conclude that the SIT programs will be employed as effective eradication method for E. postfasciatus.     

Effects of high CO2 on mating success,mating duration,and sperm transfer in the West Indian sweet potato weevil,Euscepes postfasciatus

Most terrestrial animals live in natural atmospheric conditions, but some are also adapted to low oxygen (hypoxic) or high-carbon dioxide (hypercapnic) conditions, such as in social insect nests, soil, caves, wood, and decaying material. Although it is possible that individuals adapt their behaviour to the environmental condition of their habitats, mating behaviour under ecologically possible ranges of CO₂ has not been well studied. We compared walking activity, duration of mating behaviour, and sperm transfer ability in the West Indian sweet potato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in high CO₂ (10 000 p.p.m.) vs. normal atmospheric conditions (laboratory air, ca. 800 p.p.m.). We found that high CO₂ enhanced walking activity and mounting frequency. Under such circumstances, we predicted that enhanced activities under a high-CO₂ environment would increase the risk of sperm competition, which induces an extended copulation period and an increase in sperm transfer. However, weevils shortened the mating period and did not alter their sperm transfer ability under high CO₂. These findings are, as far as we are aware, the first report of the effect of ecologically relevant high CO₂ on insect mating behaviour under mass-rearing conditions. The effect of ambient conditions on mating behaviour and sperm transfer is discussed in relation to the intensity of female refusal behaviour directed against males.     

Isolation of the Sweet Potato Weevil Factor Causing Terpene Induction in Sweet Potato Roots

The larval homogenate of sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius, induced terpene formation in sweet potato root tissue. We indicated that the terpene-inducing factor of the larvae consisted of high molecular weight component(s) and low molecular weight component(s). The high molecular weight component(s) was heat-unstable and partially inactivated by pronase, indicating proteinacious properties. The low molecular weight components) was heat-stable.     

Effect of irradiation on mating performance and mating ability in the West Indian sweetpotato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used for suppressing or eradicating target pest insect populations. The effectiveness of SIT depends on the ability of released sterile males to mate with and inseminate wild females. Irradiation not only damages the reproductive cells but the somatic cells as well. The mating behavior of irradiated males may be altered over time due to the depressed metabolic activity brought about by sterilization. In this study, we evaluated the mating behavior (copulation behavior, mating performance, and ability of sperm transfer) of irradiated males in Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for 16 days after irradiation in the laboratory. The mating performance of males irradiated with a 150 Gy dose, as currently used in the SIT program in Okinawa prefecture for E. postfasciatus, decreased compared to that of control after day 7. As a result, we considered that irradiation had no major effect on male mating behavior for approximately 1 week after irradiation.     

The Anatomy of the Root System in West Indian Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas (L.) Lam.) Cultivars

The comparative anatomy of different root types including tuberousroots and tubers in the root system of a West Indian sweet potatocultivar cv. 049 is described, and tissue distribution in maturetubers compared with five other local cultivars. Anatomicalevents leading to tuber initiation and tuber growth to maturityare outlined and the anatomical specialization of the sweetpotato tuberous root, particularly in the development of translocatorytissues in the ‘tuber stalk’ and in adventitiousbud genesis, is described. Possible relationships between theanatomy of tuber development and final tuber yield are discussed.     

The Effect of Gamma-Irradiation on the Sucrose Content in Sweet Potato Roots and Potato Tubers

The sucrose content in both potato tubers and sweet potato roots was considerably increased by gamma-irradiation. The maximum increase was achieved by an irradiation dose of 3 to 4 kGy for potatoes and 0.8 to 2 kGy for sweet potatoes. Cooling treatment (15°C, 2 weeks) for sweet potato roots also enhanced the sucrose content (almost 2 times) but was not additive to the irradiation treatment; the maximum sucrose content in irradiated sweet potato roots was in the range of 7 to 12% irrespective of the cooling treatment, depending on the variety of sweet potatoes. Irradiation made the sucrose content in the roots 2 to 4 times higher.     

Feeding and oviposition preferences of the Sweet Potato Weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus, on the outer periderm and exposed inner core of storage roots of selected Sweet Potato cultivars

Cores from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) storage roots, with either the outer periderm or inner core exposed, were presented to female sweet potato weevils, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in cage preference tests. Tests with weevils of different ages showed that feeding was constant 21 to 76 days after emergence, while oviposition showed a slight peak between 21 and 45 days. Differences in the levels of feeding and oviposition were noted for the periderms of four sweet potato cultivars, but these differences were not evident for the inner cores. Oviposition was reduced to low levels on the inner core and, therefore, the oviposition stimulant appears to reside in the root periderm. Feeding did occur on the inner cores, but at a reduced level compared to the root periderm in preference tests where both were available. Inner root cores have a potential use in the elucidation of the oviposition stimulant of the sweet potato weevil.

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Résumé Des coeurs de racines tubéreuses d'I. batatas ont été proposés, soit avec leur périderme externe, soit avec la partie interne du coeur seule, à des femelles du charançon, C. formicarius elegantulus Summers, dans des cages pour expériences sur le choix. Les coeurs étaient prélevés à l'emportepièce pour liège dans des racines stockées et, après tirage au hasard, les expériences ont été distribuées dans des plaques à 24 puits pour cultures de tissus.L'alimentation des charançons de différents âges était constante du 21ème au 47ème jour après l'émergence, tandis que la ponte était maximale entre les 25ème et 45ème jours. Des différences quantitives quant à l'alimentation et à la ponte ont été observées avec les péridermes de 4 cultivars: Centennial, Jewel, Resisto et Regal; ces différences n'étaient pas nettes pour les parties profondes du coeur.La ponte était réduite à un niveau bas avec la partie interne du coeur; il semble ainsi qu'un stimulant de la ponte soit contenu dans de périderme de la racine. L'alimentation s'est effectuée sur la partie centrale du coeur, mais moins que sur le périderme, quand les deux étaient disponibles dans des expériences de choix. La ponte paraît un meilleur critère que l'alimentation, pour comparer les résistance variétales. La partie intérieure du coeur peut être utilisée pour connaître le stimulant le stimulant de la ponte de C. formicarius elegantulus.

     

The Effects of Inbreeding on Male Courtship Behaviour and Coloration in Guppies

Despite an extensive literature on inbreeding depression in a variety of traits, relatively little is known about the effects of inbreeding on patterns of sexual behaviour. In this study, we use the guppy Poecilia reticulata to investigate the influence of parental relatedness (full‐sib. vs. unrelated matings) on sexual behaviour and colour pattern variation in adult male offspring. Our results revealed that one generation of full‐sibling mating resulted in a strong decline in male sexual motivation (courtship intensity and following behaviour) and mating success (number of successful copulations and insemination success – as estimated by the frequency of post‐copulatory jerks after mating), but we detected no significant influence of inbreeding on colour pattern variation. Our finding that sexual ornamentation (colour) did not show similar inbreeding depression to courtship behaviour may be due to differences in the genetic basis of these traits. Our findings indicate that courtship can be a sensitive indicator of genetic stress and add to an emerging picture that sexually selected traits can be severely affected by inbreeding depression.     

紫甘薯花色苷色素的抑菌作用研究

本文研究了紫甘薯花色苷色素抑制大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、啤酒酵母和黑曲霉的作用及机理.结果表明:紫甘薯花色苷色素对大肠杆菌及金黄色葡萄球菌均有抑制作用,并与其浓度呈正相关,而对啤酒酵母和黑曲霉无抑制作用.透射电镜观察和大肠杆菌生长曲线表明,该色素的抑菌作用可能是通过增强细胞膜的通透性,使细胞异常生长,抑制对数生长期的细胞分裂,使细胞质稀薄、细胞解体.SDS-PAGE分析表明,紫甘薯花色苷对大肠杆菌蛋白表达影响不明显,未见特征性条带的消失,仅对部分蛋白质合成量有影响.     

Effect and Reproduction of Rotylenchulus reniformis on Sweet Potato Selections

Growth, yield, and quality of 10 sweet potato selections and reproduction of the reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis, were studied in fumigated and nonfumigated plots in a naturally infested field. Nematode reproduction on the different selections in the field was similar to that reported in the greenhouse but was not related to the effect of the nematode on yield of the different selections. Goldrush supported the least reproduction but was the most severely affected by the nematode, while Centennial supported the most reproduction but was the least affected. Although reniform nematode was not found within enlarged fleshy roots, sweet potatoes were more frequently cracked in nonfumigated plots even when nematode populations were relatively low. One selection, P-104, was resistant to cracking. Yield of all selections tested was significantly reduced when initial populations were moderate to high (1,500-10,000 nemas per 500 cm³). Correlations were made between nematode population parameters and growth, yield, and cracking of the sweet potatoes. The initial populations and the reproduction ratio for the last part of the growing season gave the most significant negative correlations with yield for most selections.     

紫甘薯花色苷色素的抑菌作用研究

本文研究了紫甘薯花色苷色素抑制大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、啤酒酵母和黑曲霉的作用及机理。结果表明：紫甘薯花色苷色素对大肠杆菌及金黄色葡萄球菌均有抑制作用, 并与其浓度呈正相关, 而对啤酒酵母和黑曲霉无抑制作用。透射电镜观察和大肠杆菌生长曲线表明, 该色素的抑菌作用可能是通过增强细胞膜的通透性, 使细胞异常生长, 抑制对数生长期的细胞分裂, 使细胞质稀薄、细胞解体。SDS-PAGE 分析表明, 紫甘薯花色苷对大肠杆菌蛋白表达影响不明显, 未见特征性条带的消失, 仅对部分蛋白质合成量有影响。     

The Effect of Inbreeding on Mortality and Morbidity among Telugu-speaking Populations of Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

Increased mortality and morbidity including congenital malformations among the offspring of consanguineous marriages have been widely reported in human populations from different parts of the world. However, there are few studies on the effect of the intensity of inbreeding and different degrees of inbreeding on mortality and morbidity. The present study is an attempt to examine the effects of inbreeding on mortality and morbidity including congenital disorders in different levels of inbreeding among Telugu-speaking populations of Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, based on data collected through extensive pedigrees. The study reveals that the frequency of spontaneous abortions and stillbirths is higher in the offspring of consanguineous marriages than in that of non-consanguineous marriages. A similar effect is also observed in the infant mortality rate, which is known to have a genetic component, but is not seen in the mortality rate of children and juveniles. The rate of morbidity is consistently higher in the offspring of consanguineous marriages with a sex bias in favour of inbred females. The increased morbidity rates in inbred individuals tend to be inversely correlated with the increase in average autosomal inbreeding coefficient. This appears to strengthen Sanghvi’s hypothesis of a decline in the frequency of deleterious genes with intensification of inbreeding through generations. The present study also confirms an increase in genetic disorders with an increase in inbreeding in almost all populations.