Effect of boric acid on antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation, and ultrastructure of midgut and fat body of Galleria mellonella

Boric acid is widely used as an insecticide, acaricide, herbicide, and fungicide and also during various industrial processings. Hence, numerous populations are subjects to this toxic compound. Its action on animals is still not fully known and understood. We examined the effect of boric acid on larvae of greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella). The chemical appeared to be toxic for larvae, usually in a concentration-dependent manner. Exposed groups revealed increased lipid peroxidation and altered activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase. We also observed changes of ultrastructure, which were in tune with biochemical assays. We suggest that boric acid has a broad mode of action, which may affect exposed larvae, and even if sublethal, they may lead to disturbances within exposed populations.     

Chemical composition and nutritional evaluation of various foliages consumed by mithun (Bos frontalis)

Mithun (Bos frontalis) is primarily reared in free-grazing systems and several tropical foliages are important feed resources for it throughout the year. Inadequate information is available on the nutritive value of most of these foliages. This study aimed to determine the nutrient composition and in situ degradability of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) of the major foliages consumed by mithun. The foliages (n = 16) were collected from different mithun inhabited areas. The DM, CP, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, lignin(sa), ash and condensed tannin contents of the foliages varied from 236 to 398, 100 to 178, 10 to 40, 397 to 621, 287 to 460, 74 to 169, 92 to 176 and 12 to 68 g/kg DM, respectively. All foliages contained Ca and K at more than 10 g/kg DM and Mg at more than 1.7 g/kg DM, but were deficient in Na (i.e., <0.6 g/kg DM). The P content of the foliages ranged from 1.2 to 4.0 g/kg DM, and contents of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were ranged from 7.3 to 19.6, 119 to 460, 32 to 144 and 35 to 430 mg/kg DM, respectively. The degradability of DM and CP was greater in Daubanga grandiflora compared to the other experimental foliages. Among the foliages, the rapidly degradable fraction of DM and CP ranged from 49 to 219 and 86 to 217 g/kg DM, respectively. Simultaneously, the slowly degradable fraction of DM and CP ranged from 319 to 475 and 159 to 325 g/kg DM, respectively. The effective degradability of DM and CP ranged from 291 to 389 and 199 to 338 g/kg DM, respectively. The nutrient contents were adequate in most of the foliage, except Na, which was deficient in all the foliages and may explain observed salt seeking behavior of mithun reared under free grazing systems.     

Cyt1A from Bacillus thuringiensis Lacks Toxicity to Susceptible and Resistant Larvae of Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella) and Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella)

We tested Cyt1Aa, a cytolytic endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis, against susceptible and Cry1A-resistant larvae of two lepidopteran pests, diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella). Unlike previous results obtained with mosquito and beetle larvae, Cyt1Aa alone or in combination with Cry toxins was not highly toxic to the lepidopteran larvae that we examined.     

Alkenyl sex pheromone analogs in the hemolymph of an arctiid Eilema japonica and several non-arctiid moths

The majority of moth species utilize compounds derived from de novo synthesized fatty acids as their sex pheromones (type I). In contrast, species belonging to two recently diverged moth families, Arctiidae and Geometridae, utilize alkenes and their epoxides, which are derived from dietary essential fatty acids (EFAs), as their sex pheromones (type II). In the latter species, EFAs are considered to be converted into alkenes, often after chain elongation, in specialized cells called oenocytes. These alkenes are transported through the hemolymph to the pheromone gland, from which they are secreted with or without further modifications. We confirmed that the appearance of EFA-derived alkenes in the hemolymph was closely associated with the completion of pheromone gland formation in an arctiid moth Eilema japonica. Analyses of the hemolymph of several moth species utilizing type-I sex pheromones demonstrated the occurrence of (Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9-tricosatriene (T23), a typical type-II component, in the hemolymph of a noctuid Mamestra brassicae and two crambids Ostrinia furnacalis and Ostrinia scapulalis. Our results demonstrated that moths utilizing type-I pheromones have the ability to synthesize type-II sex pheromones, and suggested that recently diverged groups of moths may have secondarily exploited EFA-derived alkenes as sex pheromones.     

Infection density,diversity, and distribution of Wolbachia bacteria in moths (Order Lepidoptera): First systematic report from Thailand

Members of the genus Wolbachia are a group of Rickettsia-like, intracellular, maternally inherited bacterial endosymbionts that infect a diverse range of insects and cause reproductive changes in their hosts. Although Wolbachia’s role in many insects has been extensively studied, only a little of their effects on host’s reproduction and their infection frequencies were reported in Lepidopteran which is one of the most diverse insects. Here, we present the first systematic survey of the Wolbachia infection status in different species of moths from three different geographic regions of Thailand, which was carried out during January to December in 2019 with the screening of 1,235 specimens in total of 58 moth species from 13 families. Specimens were collected from Khao Yai National Park (the Central and the Northeast regions), and Kaeng Krachan National Park (the West region). Infections of Wolbachia were screened by using polymerase chain reaction with 16S rRNA, ftsZ and wsp gene primers which the results indicated high rates of Wolbachia infection in moth populations from Thailand. Wolbachia was found in all different geographically populations in total of 625 individuals in total of 28 moth species from 9 families, including 144 individuals (46 males and 98 females) from the Central, 156 individuals (49 males and 107 females) from the Northeast, and 325 individuals (114 males and 211 females) from the West. The highest infection rate was 90.47% in the West populations and the average infection rate was 61.90%. The detection of Wolbachia in different moth populations from all regions was identical when all primers were used to screen for Wolbachia. The relative densities of Wolbachia within each individual were determined using quantitative real-time PCR and the result showed that there was a low Wolbachia infection density in these moth populations. These findings indicated that Wolbachia are distributed throughout the moth populations from Thailand.     

Insecticidal activity of spore-free mutants of Bacillus thuringiensis against the Indian meal moth and almond moth

Three oligosporogenic mutants of Bacillus thuringiensis were assayed for toxicity against larvae of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, and the almond moth, Ephestia cautella. The results were compared with insecticidal activity obtained from the parent strain (HD-1) and two standard B. thuringiensis formulations (HD-1-S-1971 and HD-1-S-1980) against the same insect species. The toxicity of the sporeless mutant preparations was significantly diminished against the Indian meal moth (10- to 26-fold increase in LC₅₀) but exceeded the toxicity of the standards against the almond moth. The toxicities of the B. thuringiensis preparations toward the Indian meal moth were consistent with the number of spores in the test samples, but spores did not contribute to toxicity to E. cautella larvae. A rationale for basing dosage on soluble protein was demonstrated for use in situations where spores are not a contributing factor in toxicity.     

Light trap transects – a field method for ascertaining the habitat preferences of night-flying Lepidoptera, using Mythimna turca (Linnaeus 1761) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as an example

The habitat associations of the noctuid moth Double Line Mythimna turca (Linnaeus 1761) were studied in three areas in Britain by setting up light traps equidistant along transects which passed through different habitat types. Counts were made of M. turca at each trap station and the results compared with the habitat present in the vicinity of each trap. The results using chi-square analysis indicate that the preferred habitats for M. turca are woodland and Pteridium aquilinum scrub, especially where the grasses Agrostis capillaris and Holcus mollis occur. The environmental factors affecting moth catches are discussed and chi-squared expectations are adjusted to take account of the different efficiency of light traps in open grassland and woodland situations. The light trap transect method is shown to be useful for moth species where little is known of their ecology and can be used to provide a straightforward insight informing additional targeted autecological studies. The methodology may be less suited to those species which occur at low density, are poorly attracted to light or are known to migrate.     

Isomerization of (Z)-asarone to (E)-asarone from Piper marginatum leaves by the Quadrus u-lucida larvae

Despite being rich in phenylpropanoids with insecticidal activity, Piper marginatum leaves are frequently attacked by the larvae of the Quadrus u-lucida moth. GC/MS analysis indicated isomerization of phenylpropanoid (Z)-asarone to (E)-asarone from the leaves by larvae. The phenylpropanoids (Z)-asarone, dillapiole and (E)-asarone were identified in concentrations of 48.01, 24.02 and 36.07 μg/mg, respectively. Only the phenylpropanoid (E)-asarone was found in the larval tissues and regurgitant material in a concentration of 15.52 and 2.53 μg/mg, respectively. Since (Z)-asarone has been reported to be more toxic than (E)-asarone, the isomerization of (Z)-asarone may be associated with the detoxification mechanism of larvae.     

The susceptibility of the pea moth, Cydia nigricana, to infection by the granulosis virus of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella

Laboratory studies demonstrated that neonate larvae of the pea moth, Cydia nigricana, are susceptible to infection with a granulosis virus (CpGV) isolated from the codling moth, Cydia pomonella. Comparative LC₅₀ values for C. nigricana and C. pomonella are 1.90 × 10⁵ and 1.54 × 10⁴ capsules/ml of diet, respectively. The virus extracted from CpGV-infected pea moth larvae is serologically related, and probably identical, to CpGV.     

Host Range of an Insecticidal Crystal Protein of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Produced in Escherichia coli

A crylA(c)-like gene of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain HD1 was over-expressed in Escherichia coli from a multicopy plasmid. Biological toxicity tests conducted on the larvae of three lepidopteran insects showed that the host range of transgenic E. coli HB 101 (pRT 200) was a subset of the host range of B. thuringiensis kurstaki HD1. Both were toxic to the larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Gram pod borer) and Bombyx mori (Silkworm). However. though the sporecrystal formulation of HDl was toxic to the larvae of Phthorimaea operculella (Potato tuber moth). the transgenic E. coli was not. Product of St toxin gene other than crylA(c) present In HD1 may be responsible for Its toxicity to the larvae of P. opercuiella.     

Co-Sensitization to Silkworm Moth (Bombyx mori) and 9 Inhalant Allergens among Allergic Patients in Guangzhou,Southern China

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the profile of sensitization to silkworm moth (Bombyx mori) and other 9 common inhalant allergens among patients with allergic diseases in southern China.

Methods

A total of 175 patients were tested for serum sIgE against silkworm moth in addition to combinations of other allergens: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Blomia tropicalis, Blattella germanica, Periplaneta americana, cat dander, dog dander, Aspergillus fumigatus and Artemisia vulgaris by using the ImmunoCAP system. Correlation between sensitization to silkworm moth and to the other allergens was analyzed.

Results

Of the 175 serum samples tested, 86 (49.14%) were positive for silkworm moth sIgE. With high concordance rates, these silkworm moth sensitized patients were concomitantly sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (94.34%), Dermatophagoides farinae (86.57%), Blomia tropicalis (93.33%), Blattella germanica (96.08%), and Periplaneta americana (79.41%). Moreover, there was a correlation in serum sIgE level between silkworm moth and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (r = 0.518), Dermatophagoides farinae (r = 0.702), Blomia tropicalis (r = 0.701), Blattella germanica (r = 0.878), and Periplaneta americana (r = 0.531) among patients co-sensitized to silkworm moth and each of these five allergens.

Conclusion

In southern Chinese patients with allergic diseases, we showed a high prevalence of sensitization to silkworm moth, and a co-sensitization between silkworm moth and other five common inhalant allergens. Further serum inhibition studies are warranted to verify whether cross-reactivity exists among these allergens.     

Birds as predators of the pine processionary moth (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

The beneficial role of insectivorous birds potentially contributing to the biological control of forest insect pests appears crucial in the context of climate warming, especially for species currently expanding their range such as the pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa. Larvae of T. pityocampa are aposematic and carry true urticating setae which, together with overwintering in silk winter nests, prevent them from predation by most insectivorous forest birds. The present review aims at pointing out which bird species can regularly feed on this key forest defoliator throughout its distribution range, and which predation strategies allow birds to cope with the urticating setae carried by late-instar larvae. At least seven bird species can be considered as regular predators of the pine processionary moth: four large migrant specialists (great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius, common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, European nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus and Eurasian hoopoe Upupa epops) and three small sedentary generalists (great tit Parus major, crested tit Lophophanes cristatus and coal tit Periparus ater). Each species has developed morphological traits and foraging techniques to feed on different life stages of T. pityocampa throughout the year: (i) gizzard wall structure allowing the consumption of caterpillars with urticating setae (cuckoos); (ii) nocturnal foraging on moth imagos by aerial hawking (nightjars); (iii) ground probing on below-ground pupae with long curved bill (hoopoe); and (iv) shifted predation period in autumn and winter on eggs, early- and late-instar larvae, with particular feeding technique allowing to eat only the inner parts of urticating larvae stages (tits). Although several avian predators regularly feed on T. pityocampa, only a few specialist and generalist insectivorous birds may contribute to regulate its populations, especially when population density of the moth is low. Moreover, their efficiency may possibly be threatened by mismatches associated with climate change.     

Microbes from apiarian sources: Bacillus spp. in frass of the greater wax moth

Frass from the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, obtained from feral colonies of honey bees, Apis mellifera; from managed honey bee colonies; and from a laboratory culture of the wax moth was sampled for aerobic Gram-positive spore-forming rods. One hundred eighty-five strains belonging to the genus Bacillus were isolated, and most were identified. One hundred and three of the isolates were from frass from the wax moth culture, 61 were from frass from managed honey bee colonies, and 21 were from frass from feral honey bee colonies. The species most frequently isolated varied with the source. Fifty-eight isolates from frass from managed honey bee colonies were B. cereus which was isolated from this source only, but B. sphaericus was the most frequent isolate from frass from the wax moth culture. Bacillus megaterium and organisms belonging to the B. alvei-B. thiaminolyticus spectrum were the most frequent isolates from frass from feral honey bee colonies. Most strains isolated produced caprylate esterase-lipase, leucine aminopeptidase, and phosphoamidase. The numbers of isolates, the species, and the enzymatic activity of the strains varied with the source of the frass. In fact, the complete microbial complement varied with the source. These results are discussed in relation to possible roles of Bacillus spp. in the nutrition of the wax moth as well as the microbial ecology of the honey bee colony.     

Effects of sun-drying and exogenous enzymes on nutrients intake,digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep fed Atriplex halimus foliages

This study was conducted to assess effects of sun-drying and/or addition of an exogenous enzyme (ENZ) preparation on intake, digestibility of nutrients and recovery values of secondary metabolites (SM) in the gastrointestinal tract of sheep fed Atriplex halimus (AH) foliages. A randomized block design for 28 d was used for four experimental treatments based on either fresh (AH-F) or sun-dried (AH-S) A. halimus foliages in the absence (?ENZ) or presence (+ENZ) of 10 g/sheep/d of the exogenous of ZADO^® enzyme preparation. Three adult sheep weighing 51 ± 2.7 kg were fed for each experimental treatment. The ENZ was added daily with a small amount of concentrate to help balance the dietary metabolizable energy concentration. Nutrient intake and digestibility, N balance and recovery of SM (i.e., total phenolics (TP), saponins (SP), alkaloids (AK), aqueous fraction (AF)) in the gastrointestinal tract were determined. Levels of most nutrients did not differ between AH-F and AH-S foliages, but the AH-S contained less than half of the SM in AH-F. Drying of A. halimus and ENZ addition increased (P=0.001) intake as well as OM and NDFom digestibility (P=0.02). Feed intake and digestibility were higher (P=0.01) in AH-S with ENZ addition. Intake of N by sheep fed the treatment diets depended on DM intake as the dietary concentration of N in the diets was similar. Thus AH-S sheep supplemented with ENZ had higher (P=0.001) N intake. Digestibility of N was similar to DM and OM digestibility, and was higher (P=0.03) in AH-S sheep supplemented with ENZ. Drying and ENZ addition to the diet increased (P=0.004) recovery of all SM. The fate of these compounds in the rumen needs to be evaluated considering that SM have been implicated in fiber and protein degradation in the rumen. The study showed that there are beneficial impacts of sun-drying and/or dietary exogenous enzyme addition for sheep fed A. halimus.     

Population Explosions of Tiger Moth Lead to Lepidopterism Mimicking Infectious Fever Outbreaks

Lepidopterism is a disease caused by the urticating scales and toxic fluids of adult moths, butterflies or its caterpillars. The resulting cutaneous eruptions and systemic problems progress to clinical complications sometimes leading to death. High incidence of fever epidemics were associated with massive outbreaks of tiger moth Asota caricae adult populations during monsoon in Kerala, India. A significant number of monsoon related fever characteristic to lepidopterism was erroneously treated as infectious fevers due to lookalike symptoms. To diagnose tiger moth lepidopterism, we conducted immunoblots for tiger moth specific IgE in fever patients’ sera. We selected a cohort of patients (n = 155) with hallmark symptoms of infectious fevers but were tested negative to infectious fevers. In these cases, the total IgE was elevated and was detected positive (78.6%) for tiger moth specific IgE allergens. Chemical characterization of caterpillar and adult moth fluids was performed by HPLC and GC-MS analysis and structural identification of moth scales was performed by SEM analysis. The body fluids and chitinous scales were found to be highly toxic and inflammatory in nature. To replicate the disease in experimental model, wistar rats were exposed to live tiger moths in a dose dependant manner and observed similar clinico-pathological complications reported during the fever epidemics. Further, to link larval abundance and fever epidemics we conducted cointegration test for the period 2009 to 2012 and physical presence of the tiger moths were found to be cointegrated with fever epidemics. In conclusion, our experiments demonstrate that inhalation of aerosols containing tiger moth fluids, scales and hairs cause systemic reactions that can be fatal to human. All these evidences points to the possible involvement of tiger moth disease as a major cause to the massive and fatal fever epidemics observed in Kerala.     

Temporal dynamics of parasitoid assemblages parasitizing the codling moth

Population dynamics of parasitoid–host interaction is primary important knowledge to develop an efficient biological control strategy of insect pests. We analyzed the seasonal dynamic of the parasitoid community of the codling moth in two sites in South-Eastern France, which differed by the number of codling moth annual generations. Parasitism was estimated by sampling both young larvae collected within apple fruits and mature larvae in band traps wrapped around the trunk of the apple trees. Parasitism rates differed between sites and between young and mature larvae. Parasitism rate were higher in young larvae (29% in average) than in the mature ones (21% in average) and globally increased along the season among cohorts of mature codling moth larvae (from 4% to 34%). The three most abundant species in the parasitoid community – Ascogaster quadridentata, Pristomerus vulnerator and Perilampus tristis – were observed at both sites, in each codling moth cohort and in both young and mature larvae. Among all the parasitoids, the proportion of Perilampus – an hyper-parasitoid attacking both Ascogaster and Pristomerus primary parasitoids – increased among the codling moth cohorts (from 9% to 53%) whereas the proportion of Ascogaster decreased (from 82% to 35%). This shed light on the importance to characterize the dynamic of the whole trophic network (including hyperparasitism) to design biological control strategies.     

Gram-positive cocci from apiarian sources

Frass from the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, obtained from feral colonies of honey bees, Apis mellifera; from domesticated (managed) honey bee colonies; and from a laboratory culture of the wax moth was sampled for Gram-positive cocci. One hundred twenty-three of these organisms were isolated and identified. Frass from domesticated colonies yielded only one isolate. Equal numbers of isolates (61) were obtained from frass from feral bee colonies and from the wax moth culture. Catalase-negative cocci were predominant in frass from feral colonies, whereas catalase-positive cocci were the most common isolates from frass from the wax moth culture. Catalase-positive cocci were identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus sp. Catalase-negative cocci were Streptococcus faecalis var. faecalis and S. faecium. These results are discussed in relation to the rarity of Gram-positive cocci associated with honey bees, pollen, and nectar in Arizona and the frequency of association with honey bees and wax moth frass of bacteria resembling Arthrobacter spp. that appear as Gram-positive cocci during one stage of the life cycle.     

Fine nanostructural variation in the wing pattern of a moth <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chiasmia eleonora</Emphasis> Cramer (1780)

Butterflies and moths possess diverse patterns on their wings. Butterflies employ miscellaneous colour in the wings whereas moths use a combination of dull colours like white, grey, brown and black for the patterning of their wings. The exception is some of the toxic diurnal moths which possess bright wing colouration. Moths possess an obscure pattern in the dorsal part of the wings which may be a line, zigzag or swirl. Such patterns help in camouflage during resting period. Thus, the dorsal wing pattern of the moth is used for both intra- as well as inter-specific signal communication. Chiasmia eleonora is a nocturnal moth of greyish black colouration. The dorsal hindwing possesses yellow and black colour patches. A white-coloured oblique line crosses both left and right fore- and hindwings to form a V-shaped pattern across the dorsal wing. This V-shaped pattern possesses a UV signal. Closer to the body, the colour appears darker, which fades towards the margin. The fine nanostructural variation is observed throughout the wings. This study elucidates the wing pattern of the geometrid moth C. eleonora using high-resolution microscopy techniques that has not been described in previous studies.     

Spore Coat Protein Synergizes Bacillus thuringiensis Crystal Toxicity for the Indianmeal Moth (Plodia interpunctella)

Spores from Bacillus thuringiensis serovars kurstaki and entomocidus synergized crystal protein toxicity for larvae of the Indianmeal moth (Plodia interpunctella). Preparations of spore-crystal mixtures of either serovar were more toxic for the larvae than either purified spores or crystals alone (based on dry weight). Spores lost 53% of their toxicity for the Indianmeal moth after 2 h of UV-irradiation, but remained partially toxic (28%) even after 4 h of irradiation. Spore coat protein was toxic for the Indianmeal moth and was synergistic with B. thuringiensis serovar kurstaki HD-1 crystal protein. Enhanced toxicity of the combined spore-crystal preparation was attributed to a combination of crystal and spore coat protein, and included the effects of spore germination and resulting septicemia in the larval hemolymph. Ultraviolet irradiation of spores reduced the toxicity from septicemia but not the synergism caused by spore coat protein. The potencies of spore-crystal preparations must be carefully evaluated on the basis of contributions from all three factors. Received: 15 September 1997/Accepted: 21 October 1997