Do sympatric Trichogramma species parasitize the pest insect Helicoverpa armigera and the beneficial insect Chrysoperla carnea in different proportions?

Parasitism of two host species by five Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) was studied in the laboratory. The host species were: i) the bollworm Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), an important pest of many crops in the tropics and subtropics, and ii) one of its natural enemies, the lacewing Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), a predator often used as a biological control agent. The proportion of H. armigera eggs parasitized from the total number of parasitized hosts differed between Trichogramma species. The average number of parasitized eggs per female in 24 h by Trichogramma pintoi and T. bourarachae was 10 of H. armigera and about 0.5 of C. carnea. For the other three Trichogramma species (T. cordubensis, T. evanescens and T. turkestanica) these averages varied from 6 to 11 H. armigera eggs and from 3 to 4 C. carnea eggs. Total adult offspring production, contacts with hosts, secondary clutch size and sex-ratio of each Trichogramma species were determined as well. The results show that sympatric Trichogramma may parasitize target and non-target species in different proportions. If this difference corresponds to the field situation, simple laboratory tests could be performed to select not only efficient biogical control agents, but also species which are the least detrimental to non-target hosts.     

双酰胺类杀虫剂对棉铃虫和松毛虫赤眼蜂的选择毒力

为了指导棉铃虫防控中化学杀虫剂和天敌昆虫协调使用,本文采用浸叶法和玻管药膜法测定了4种双酰胺类杀虫剂对棉铃虫3龄幼虫和松毛虫赤眼蜂成蜂的毒力.结果表明,供试双酰胺类杀虫剂中氯虫苯甲酰胺、氟苯虫酰胺和氟氰虫酰胺对棉铃虫幼虫表现出了较高的毒力水平(LC50分别为0.2882、0.3894、0.8609 mg/L),稍低于对照药剂甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐(简称:甲维盐)(LC50为0.06493 mg/L);而溴氰虫酰胺对棉铃虫的毒力(LC50为3.7638 mg/L)明显低于甲维盐.从对天敌昆虫安全性来看,氯虫苯甲酰胺、氟苯虫酰胺和氟氰虫酰胺对松毛虫赤眼蜂的毒性(LC50分别为1.0060、0.9933、1.1541 mg/L)明显低于甲维盐(其LC50为0.1646 mg/L),表现出了较高的安全性;但是,溴氰虫酰胺对松毛虫赤眼蜂毒性较高(LC50为0.4952 mg/L),安全性较差.本研究将为棉铃虫防控中药剂与天敌协调使用提供依据.     

Terminal speed and size sorting of insect eggs

Engineering data for improving the design of applicators for beneficial insect's eggs and facilitating egg cleaning at mass-rearing plants are presented. A vertical air column was developed to measure terminal speed of beneficial insect eggs. Raw material was sorted into fractions according to terminal speed and photos were taken for measuring dimensions of particles. Particle distribution was evaluated for two beneficial insect eggs used in biological control (Chrysoperla rufilabris and Ephestia kuehniella eggs parasitized by Trichogramma brassicae) and for one unparasitized host eggs (E. kuehniella). Density measurements were performed as these data were required for calculating terminal speeds using the theory of free falling bodies. Unparasitized E. kuehniella and C. rufilabris eggs stored at 5°C showed constant terminal speed (1.9 and 1.34 m/s, respectively) and density (1.05 g/cm³, for both). Terminal speed of parasitized E. kuehniella eggs decreased from 1.32 to 1.06 m/s with increasing storage time (4-8 days). Photos of subsamples suggested that aerodynamic cleaning could be used for improving the quality of raw eggs. Density evaluations showed that parasitized eggs can be separated by flotation in water. Calculated terminal speeds were accurate for unparasitized eggs but were 10-20% overestimated for parasitized eggs.     

Development of Trichogramma australicum Girault (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in Helicoverpa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) host eggs

Abstract Morphological studies of development of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma australicum Girault in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), were conducted to provide benchmarks for assessing developmental rates in both natural hosts and artificial diets. Observations of living embryos and histological sections show that embryos proceed rapidly through cleavage and blastoderm formation and show a characteristic pinching or rotation 8 h after deposition. Eggs progressively increase in volume, primarily by increasing in diameter at the widest point. At 29 ± 1°C the duration of the egg stage is 22−24 h, the larval stage 27 h, the prepupal stage 50−52 h, and pupa 85 h. Larvae undergo dramatic shape changes as they ingest food but do not show signs of larval moults, reinforcing observations that there is only one larval instar. Criteria for staging the embryonic and postembryonic development in natural hosts will be used for future studies aimed at developing and refining artificial diets for Trichogramma.     

人工释放赤眼蜂对棉铃虫的防治作用及相关生态效应

1998～2000年在河北省南皮县棉区转Bt基因棉田及常规棉田中设置4种不同的组合处理,通过释放螟黄赤眼蜂控制棉铃虫的方法,减少化学农药的使用,达到提升和增强自然生物控制力的生态效应;并以不采取任何防治措施的常规棉田为常规棉对照田。研究表明：（1）转基因棉和常规棉棉田中自然寄生率随棉铃虫世代的增加而逐渐升高,2、3和4代棉铃虫卵被寄生率范围分别为13.3%～14.3%、26.7%～28.2%和60.8%～61.4%。（2）棉铃虫2代期,在常规棉综防田释放赤眼蜂2次,其寄生率为46.4%, 比未释放赤眼蜂的转基因棉棉田和常规棉对照田提高33.1%和32.1%; 3代期,转基因棉棉田释放赤眼蜂1次,其寄生率与常规棉综防田释放4次的效果相当,分别为73.7%和68.1%;但与转基因棉不放蜂田、常规棉化防田及对照田相比,分别提高45.5%、61. 8%和47.0%;4代期,无论放蜂与否,各处理棉田中的寄生率除化防田外（52.1%）均在60%以上。（3）常规棉化防田棉铃虫2代和3代期,分别使用农药2和3次,其自然寄生率分别为5.5%和11.9%,与对照田相比,分别降低8.8%和14.8%;与常规棉综防田相比,分别降低40.9%和56.2%;释放赤眼蜂的效果与施药时间有关,放蜂后1天内施药,寄生率仅为12.5%,施药后2天放蜂,寄生率达45.6%。（4）转基因棉棉田棉铃虫累计数和百株蕾铃被害数比常规棉综防田分别减少74.8%和73.8%,捕食性天敌增加63.0%;放蜂Bt棉田比不放蜂Bt棉田棉铃虫累计数、百株蕾铃被害数分别减少61.8%和33.3%;常规棉综防田棉铃虫累计数、百株蕾铃被害数、农药使用量比化防棉田分别减少29.7%、43.4%和60.0%,捕食性天敌数量增加63.0%。（5）转基因棉田和综防棉田的益害比（捕食性天敌/植食性害虫）分别为0.47∶1和0.30∶1, 而化防棉田为0.24∶1。上述结果表明释放赤眼蜂可弥补抗虫棉后期抗性减弱的不足,增加田间自然天敌的数量,提高对棉田害虫的自然控害功能。     

Development of the predator Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) as affected by feeding on Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) reared on transgenic Cry 2Ab tomato plants

Investigations were conducted using Helicoverpa armigera fed on transgenic tomato plants containing a synthetic Cry2ab gene aiming to evaluate its impact on the development of the predator Chrysoperla carnea. Prey consumption and development parameters of C. carnea were assessed. No obvious differences were observed in the development of C. carnea that preyed on H. armigera fed on transgenic Bt tomato plants as compared to the control. This shows obvious that transgenic Bt tomato plants can be safely used as an efficient tool for the biocontrol of H. armigera with no effect on its predator, C. carnea.     

Functional response of Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Effect of prey and predator stages

Abstract Understanding predator–prey interactions has a pivotal role in biological control programs. This study evaluated the functional response of three larval instars of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), preying upon eggs and first instar larvae of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera Hübner. The first and second instar larvae of C. carnea exhibited type II functional responses against both prey stages. However, the third instar larvae of C. carnea showed a type II functional response to the first instar larvae of H. armigera, but a type III functional response to the eggs. For the first instar larvae of C. carnea, the attack rate on H. armigera eggs was significantly higher than that on the larvae, whereas the attack rate of the second instar C. carnea on H. armigera larvae was significantly higher than that on the eggs. For the third instar larvae of C. carnea, the attack rate on the larvae was 1.015 ± 0.278/h, and the attack coefficient on the eggs was 0.036 ± 0.005. The handling times of the third instar larvae on larvae and eggs were 0.087 ± 0.009 and 0.071 ± 0.001 h, respectively. The highest predation rate was found for the third instar larvae of C. carnea on H. armigera eggs. Results of this study revealed that the larvae of C. carnea, especially the third instar, had a good predation potential in controlling H. armigera eggs and larvae. However, for a comprehensive estimation of the bio‐control abilities of C. carnea toward H. armigera, further field‐based studies are needed.     

Orientation behaviour of Helicoverpa armigera egg parasitoid,Trichogramma chilonis and the larval parasitoid,Campoletis chlorideae towards different groundnut genotypes

Behavioural responses of Helicoverpa armigera egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis and the larval parasitoid, Campoletis chlorideae towards the leaves of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) genotypes (ICGV 86699, ICGV 86031, ICG 2271, and ICG 1697-resistant, and the susceptible check-JL 24) were studied by using a Y-tube olfactometer. Orientation was studied in comparison to clean air, to insect resistant genotypes in relation to JL 24 and towards H. armigera damaged and undamaged leaves. Leaves of ICGV 86699, ICGV 86031 and ICG 2271 were more attractive to T. chilonis adults than to the clean air. They were strongly attracted to the leaves of ICGV 86699, ICGV 86031 and ICG 1697 than of JL 24. Insect damaged leaves of ICGV 86699, ICGV 86031 and ICG 1697 were more attractive than the respective uninfested leaves. C. chlorideae showed greater attraction towards leaves of ICGV 86699, ICG 2271 and ICG 1697 than the clean air, and were more attracted towards leaves of ICGV 86699 and ICGV 86031 than those of JL 24. The damaged leaves of ICGV 86699, ICGV 86031 and ICG 2271 were more attractive to C. chlorideae than the respective uninfested leaves. Thus insect resistant genotypes exhibited greater compatibility with the natural enemies in groundnut.     

Possible incompatibility between transgenic cottons and parasitoids

Abstract  We investigated the rates of egg and larval parasitism in transgenic and non-transgenic, conventional cottons. Sentinel eggs and larvae of the cotton bollworm, CBW, Helicoverpa armigera Hübner, were released and collected at regular intervals across the cotton growing season, and the relationship between parasitism and different cotton cultivars determined. Egg and larval parasitism were significantly lower in the transgenic cottons than in the non-transgenic conventional cottons. The egg parasitoid recovered was Trichogramma confusum Viggiani and the predominant larval parasitoids were Campoletis chlorideae Uchida and Meteorus pulchriconis (Wesmael). Our studies indicate a potential negative interaction between transgenic cottons and parasitoids of CBW but need to be interpreted with caution because no within-year replication was used and treatments were not spatially randomised across years.     

Clinical studies on the effect of Neem (Azadirachta indica) bark extract on gastric secretion and gastroduodenal ulcer

We have shown earlier that Neem (Azadirachta indica) bark aqueous extract has potent antisecretory and antiulcer effects in animal models and has no significant adverse effect (Bandyopadhyay et al., Life Sciences, 71, 2845-2865, 2002). The objective of the present study was to investigate whether Neem bark extract had similar antisecretory and antiulcer effects in human subjects. For this purpose, a group of patients suffering from acid-related problems and gastroduodenal ulcers were orally treated with the aqueous extract of Neem bark. The lyophilised powder of the extract when administered for 10 days at the dose of 30 mg twice daily caused a significant (p < 0.002) decrease (77%) in gastric acid secretion. The volume of gastric secretion and its pepsin activity were also inhibited by 63% and 50%, respectively. Some important blood parameters for organ toxicity such as sugar, urea, creatinine, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, albumin, globulin, hemoglobin levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate remained close to the control values. The bark extract when taken at the dose of 30-60 mg twice daily for 10 weeks almost completely healed the duodenal ulcers monitored by barium meal X-ray or by endoscopy. One case of esophageal ulcer (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and one case of gastric ulcer also healed completely when treated at the dose of 30 mg twice daily for 6 weeks. The levels of various blood parameters for organ toxicity after Neem treatment at the doses mentioned above remained more or less close to the normal values suggesting no significant adverse effects. Neem bark extract thus has therapeutic potential for controlling gastric hypersecretion and gastroesophageal and gastroduodenal ulcers.     

繁育寄主对三种赤眼蜂个体大小及抱卵量的影响

【目的】繁育寄主及成蜂日龄均会影响赤眼蜂体内的抱卵量,为了解繁育寄主及育出赤眼蜂个体大小与赤眼蜂抱卵量的关系,我们在室内研究了米蛾 Corcyra cephalonica（Stainton）卵和亚洲玉米螟 Ostrinia furnacalis （Güenée）卵作为繁育寄主对3种赤眼蜂雌蜂大小、抱卵量的影响。【方法】在光周期14L:10D、温度25±1℃的室内条件下,以米蛾卵、亚洲玉米螟卵作为繁育寄主,解剖不同日龄（羽化后12-72 h）松毛虫赤眼蜂 Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura、玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae Pang et Chen以及稻螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead,观察雌蜂抱卵量,测量成蜂的大小,分析雌蜂抱卵量与其日龄、个体大小以及繁育寄主的关系【结果】在羽化后48 h以内,3种蜂的抱卵量随雌蜂日龄的增长而增加。羽化后72 h,除米蛾卵繁育的玉米螟赤眼蜂及玉米螟卵繁育的松毛虫赤眼蜂的抱卵量比羽化后48 h时略高外,其他组合均出现下降。以亚洲玉米螟卵为繁育寄主时的玉米螟赤眼蜂的抱卵量显著高于对应日龄的以米蛾卵为繁育寄主时的抱卵量,而松毛虫赤眼蜂（除羽化后12和24 h外）和稻螟赤眼蜂则相反;以米蛾卵为繁育寄主时,相同日龄的赤眼蜂中,松毛虫赤眼蜂抱卵量最高,稻螟赤眼蜂的抱卵量最低;以亚洲玉米螟卵为繁育寄主时,玉米螟赤眼蜂抱卵量最高,稻螟赤眼蜂抱卵量最低。雌蜂抱卵量与雌蜂个体大小呈线性正相关,相关程度随雌蜂日龄增加而更加明显。【结论】后足胫节长度可以作为评价松毛虫赤眼蜂、玉米螟赤眼蜂和稻螟赤眼蜂质量的指标。赤眼蜂抱卵量受繁育寄主、赤眼蜂蜂种及雌蜂日龄的显著影响,寄主的适合性也会影响育出赤眼蜂的大小,筛选合适的繁育寄主有助于提高赤眼蜂的质量。     

稻螟赤眼蜂与二种赤眼蜂对水稻二化螟卵寄生竞争作用

稻螟赤眼蜂是我国水稻二化螟的优势卵寄生蜂,本文在室内条件下,初步研究了稻螟赤眼蜂分别与松毛虫赤眼蜂和螟黄赤眼蜂在水稻二化螟卵上的种间竞争作用。结果表明,同时接入稻螟赤眼蜂和松毛虫赤眼蜂时,寄生水稻二化螟卵(40.2粒)及子代雌蜂总数(32.0头)最多,且松毛虫赤眼蜂平均寄生二化螟卵的数量(26.5粒)明显高于单独接蜂的平均寄生的数量,后代雌蜂比率(76.3%)明显低于单独接蜂时的雌蜂比率,发育历期(10.7 d)明显长于接入同种时的发育历期。而稻螟赤眼蜂和螟黄赤眼蜂共存时,螟黄赤眼蜂平均寄生二化螟卵的数量(10.3粒)、后代雌蜂比率(75.3%)以及发育历期(8.0 d)与单独接蜂时相似;同样,当稻螟赤眼蜂与松毛虫赤眼蜂混合接蜂时,稻螟赤眼蜂平均寄生二化螟卵的数量(14.4粒)、后代雌蜂比率(79.0%)以及发育历期(8.6 d)与单独接蜂时相似,但是,当稻螟赤眼蜂与螟黄赤眼蜂混合接蜂时,其后代雌蜂比率(76.7%)明显低于单独接蜂处理,而发育历期(8.8 d)明显长于单独接蜂处理。总的来看,在二化螟卵上,同时接入二种赤眼蜂时,蜂种间存在一定的竞争作用,其中混合接入稻螟赤眼蜂和松毛虫赤眼蜂时,对水稻二化螟的控制效果最佳。     

Biological characteristics of three Trichogramma species on the eggs of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.)

In this study, parasitism rate, development, emergence rate, sex ratio and adult longevity of Trichogramma brassicae, Trichogramma pintoi and Trichogramma embryophagum were investigated on eggs of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lep. Plutellidae) under controlled conditions. At the beginning of the experiments, 50 eggs of P. xylostella were exposed to parasitism of female wasps of different Trichogramma species. The eggs were replaced daily for three days and exposed eggs were kept in discrete glass vials. According to the obtained results, parasitism rates of T. brassicae, T. pintoi and T. embryophagum were 79.10, 93.90 and 86.10%, respectively. The adult emergence rates showed significant differences among various parasitoid species and were 93.72, 88.16 and 89.93% for T. brassicae, T. pintoi and T. embryophagum, respectively. No significant variations were observed among sex ratio values of the three parasitoid species. Consequently, results of present study suggested that T. pintoi could be more efficient for biocontrol of P. xylostella.