The Life History and Host Range of Charidotis pygmaea (Col.: Chrysomelidae), a Biological Control Agent for Lantana montevidensis (Verbenaceae)

The life cycle and host range of Charidotis pygmaea Klug were investigated to assess its suitability for release as a biological control agent for Lantana camara L. and L. montevidensis (Sprengel) Briquet. Adults fed and deposited eggs on the underside of leaves of both species. They generally laid fewer eggs in the dry winter months when lantana yellows or drops its leaves. Larvae fed on the upper leaf surface and pupation occurred on the leaves or stems. Development from egg to adult took approximately 50 days. Survival to the adult stage was greater, and the development time was shorter on L. montevidensis than on all varieties of L. camara tested, suggesting that the agent would be ineffective against L. camara. Forty-two plant species were tested to determine host specificity in choice oviposition and larval feeding trials. These demonstrated that C. pygmaea did not pose a threat to non-target species. Consequently, C. pygmaea was approved for release in Australia and through its ability to survive the dry season, should assist in the control of L. montevidensis.     

不同温度对七种外来杂草生理指标的影响及其适应意义

加拿大一枝黄花(Solidagocanadensis)、小飞蓬(Conyzacanadensis)、野塘蒿(Conyzabonarinsis)、钻形紫菀(Astersublatus)、一年蓬(Erigeronannuus)、马缨丹(Lantanacamara)和金鸡菊(Coreopsislanceolata)是我国东南地区有分布的7种外来杂草。测定了38°C、25°C和5°C处理下它们的可溶性糖、脯氨酸、丙二醛含量和过氧化物酶活性。结果表明,7种杂草对高温的耐受能力,由大到小分别为野塘蒿、小飞蓬、钻形紫菀、加拿大一枝黄花、马缨丹、一年蓬和金鸡菊,对低温的耐受能力,由大到小则分别为野塘蒿、小飞蓬、马缨丹、一年蓬、钻形紫菀、加拿大一枝黄花和金鸡菊。分析了四种生理指标变化的生态适应意义。     

The life history and host range of Ectagagarcia, a biological control agent for Lantana camra and L. montevidensis in Australia

The life cycle and host specificity of Ectaga garcia were investigated. Moths emerge in the morning and are inactive during the day. Eggs are laid and larvae feed on the undersurface of leaves of Lantana camara and L. montevidensis. Larvae spin protective cocoons from which they feed and in which they pupate. Development from egg to adult takes approximately 48 days. Forty-five plant species were tested to determine host specificity. Females laid eggs only on L. camara and L. montevidensis. In no-choice trials, neonate larvae fed but failed to complete development on nine test species. E. garcia was subsequently approved for release in Australia.     

嗅觉和视觉在中华微刺盲蝽对马缨丹定向行为中的作用

对马缨丹(Lantana camara)、黄花马缨丹(Lantana camara cv.‘Flava')和紫花马缨丹(Lantanamontevidensis)花序上中华微刺盲蝽(Campylomma chinensis)的密度调查结果表明,中华微刺盲蝽在3种颜色马缨丹花序上的分布与花序颜色无关(偏相关系数为0.240,P=0.147,n=40),但与花序中的黄胸蓟马数量和花序中小花数的偏相关系数分别为0.512(P＜0.0001,n=0)和0.451(P＜0.0001,n=40),达到极显著水平.中华微刺盲蝽对不同颜色粘卡的试验也表明,该盲蝽寻找植物寄主时,视觉刺激并不起作用.四臂嗅觉仪的试验结果表明,中华微刺盲蝽对马缨丹的气味有强烈的趋向作用.采用固相微萃取和气相-质谱联用技术分析表明,3种马缨丹花序的挥发物有7种相同的化学成分.     

马缨丹抑菌试验研究

目的：研究马缨丹的体外抑菌效果。方法：制备马缨丹水煎煮液和乙醇提取液,测定其对枯草芽孢杆菌、大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌圈直径、最小抑菌浓度及灭菌前后提取液抑菌效果的变化。结果：当两种提取液生药含量大于0.4 g/mL时,它们对三种细菌的抑菌效果依次为：枯草芽孢杆菌〉金黄色葡萄球菌〉大肠杆菌。马缨丹乙醇提取液对三种细菌的最小抑菌浓度分别为1/64g/mL1、/16g/mL和1/32g/mL,都比水煎煮液的结果1/32g/mL、1/8g/mL和1/16g/mL低。两种提取液经121℃高压蒸汽灭菌处理后对枯草芽孢杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抑制作用有所增强。结论：两种提取液对三种细菌均有不同程度的抑制作用,因此,马缨丹可考虑用于食品、化妆品及饲料防腐等领域,以提高产品质量。     

Role of morphological variables of the visitor butterfly species in relation to their foraging behaviour on Lantana camara: Implication for conservation

The study of foraging behaviour of butterflies has been an important focus among the lepidopterists for years. Although established as invasive weed plant, the role Lantana camara as an important host plant as well as a food plant for the butterfly species is now well-known. The present study aims to interpret the role of morphological variables of the visitor butterflies in relation to their foraging behaviour on Lantana camara. Butterflies with longer proboscis were more efficient in foraging on flowers of Lantana camara than the butterflies with shorter ones, when the species containing proboscis same as or longer than their body length were excluded. Longer relative proboscis length (RPL) have selective advantage for foraging over Lantana camara up to a certain point (RPL = 0.881) and after that larger relative proboscis length often obstructs foraging behaviour as the handling time increases and these butterflies face more resistance against incoming nectar than the others.The residuals (body weight-wing span) also act as important factor.The handling time of the butterflies on Lantana camara shows a negative relationship with the residuals. The findings suggests that in case of Lantana camara as a nectaring plant butterfly species with longer proboscis have selective advantage for exploitation of the resource than the species with shorter ones and plantation of Lantana camara may be useful for conserving the long tongued butterfly species.     

马缨丹的综合利用研究(综述)

马缨丹植株含有丰富的、多种多样的次生化合物,本文主要综述马缨丹及其次生化合物在医药、生物防治、园林绿化等方面的利用概况,以期为重新认识及综合开发利用马缨丹这一备受争议的植物资源提供科学依据。     

Interference of shape Choricarpia leptopetala by shape Lantana camara with nutrient enrichment in mesic forests on the Central Coast of NSW

Suppression of Choricarpia leptopetala (F. Muell.) Domin., an early native coloniser of mesic forests, by Lantana camara L. was evaluated using field-based variable density and substitution experiments. Sites were located in disturbed areas within wet sclerophyll forest and warm temperate rainforest near Lake Macquarie on the Central Coast of NSW. In the variable density experiment, C. leptopetala growth was significantly suppressed by 36.4% from 3.3 to 2.1 g plant^-1 in the presence of equal proportions of L. camara at a total density of 20 seedlings m^-2, only when nutrients (60 g m^-2 of a slow release NPKS fertiliser) were added to the soil surface. Lantana camara growth significantly increased by 14.6% from 4.1 to 4.7 g plant^-1 when nutrients were added. At a density of 40 seedlings m^-2, growth of C. leptopetata was suppressed by 37.5% from 3.2 to 2.0 g plant^-1 in the zero nutrient treatment with equal proportions of L. camara, and was further suppressed by 40.0% from 2.0 to 1.2 g plant^-1 with the addition of nutrients. Lantana camara growth significantly increased by 43.7% from 2.3 to 3.3 g plant^-1 when nutrients were added. Pure stands of C. leptopetala did not respond significantly to nutrient addition at either density. In the substitution experiment (with a constant density of 20 seedlings m^-2), C. leptopetala growth was significantly suppressed by 44.1% from 3.4 to 1.9 g plant^-1 when L. camara reached 75% of stand composition in the zero nutrient treatment and by 43.2% from 3.7 to 2.1 g plant^-1 when it reached 50% of stand composition in the nutrient addition treatment.The results link interference and suppression of native colonisers by exotic invaders with demonstrated increases in resource availability following ecosystem disturbance. Lantana camara is able to take better advantage of increased resource availability than C. leptopetala, thereby accumulating more biomass and suppressing the growth of C. leptopetala. Suppression of C. leptopetala also increased when the density of L. camara was increased. Consequently, the negative effect of the invading species on the indigenous species is both nutrient-addition and density dependent. Models describing interference in ecosystem recovery following disturbance need to include interference processes associated with weed invasion that disadvantage indigenous species.Nomenclature: Harden (1990).     

Distribution patterns of alien invasive plants and their influences on native plants of Hainan Island

 以国家农业部指定的20种恶性入侵植物为目的种, 在海南岛开展其分布特征与入侵强度的调查研究, 重点研究了陆域环境中6种广布入侵植物——飞机草(Chromolaena odorata)、假臭草(Praxelis clematidea)、含羞草(Mimosa pudica)、苏门白酒草(Conyza sumatrensis)、三裂叶蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)、马缨丹(Lantana camara)在7种生态系统(天然次生林、农田、村落、种植园、林缘、弃耕地、草地)中的入侵频率及入侵植物对本地植物的影响。结果表明: 1)海南岛有恶性入侵植物11种, 占调查目的种总数的55.0%。2)海南岛的东北、西南部分布的入侵植物种数较多, 东南部次之, 中部地区最少。3) 6种入侵植物的整体入侵强度为: 假臭草>飞机草>含羞草>三裂叶蟛蜞菊>马缨丹>苏门白酒草; 苏门白酒草、马缨丹在不同生态系统中的入侵频率无显著差异; 而假臭草在种植园及弃耕地, 含羞草在农田, 三裂叶蟛蜞菊在种植园生态系统中的入侵频率均显著高于其他生境。4)种植园、弃耕地和农田生态系统是植物入侵的主要生境类型, 而林缘和天然次生林生态系统均对植物入侵表现出抵御作用。5)植物入侵对当地植物多样性的影响存在正、负及无关联效应, 并主要影响群落中的草本植物功能群; 样地中入侵植物盖度总值与本地植物平均种数在种植园、农田和村落生态系统中无相关性, 在林缘和弃耕地生态系统中, 两者呈显著负相关关系; 而在草地生态系统中, 在一定盖度范围内, 入侵植物盖度总值与本地植物平均种数呈显著正相关关系。     

Lantana camara for fuel ethanol production using thermotolerant yeast

AIM: Evaluation of Lantana camara's use as feedstock for fuel ethanol production. METHODS AND RESULTS: Lantana camara plant material was hydrolysed with 1% sulfuric acid for 18 h at room temperature, followed by heat treatment of 121 degrees C for 20 min. Hemicellulosic hydrolyzate was separated and used for detoxification by ethyl acetate and overliming. Cellulosic fraction was hydrolysed with Aspergillus niger crude cellulase enzyme for 18 h at 55 degrees C. Using 15% (dw/v) substrate 73 g l(-1) total reducing sugars were obtained to give 78.7% hydrolysis of carbohydrate content. Acid and enzyme hydrolyzates were mixed equally and used for fermentation with thermotolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae (VS(3)). Yeast fermented L. camara hydrolyzate well with a fermentation efficiency of 83.7% to give an ethanol yield of 0.431 +/- 0.018 g ethanol pre g sugar and productivity of 0.5 +/- 0.021 g l(-1) h(-1). CONCLUSIONS: Even though inhibitors were present in L. camara hydrolyzate, maximum sugars were utilized by thermotolerant yeast. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Use of L. camara for fuel ethanol production with improved strains and detoxification can be recommended.     

马缨丹乙醇提取物对美洲斑潜蝇种群的控制作用

应用作用因子生命表方法以及在此基础上提出的干扰作用控制指数法评价了马缨丹(LantanacamaraL.)乙醇提取物(干重1g·100mL-1)在美洲斑潜蝇LiriomyzasativaeBlanchard种群控制中的作用。结果表明,马缨丹乙醇提取物对保护菜豆(PhaseolusvagarisL.)免受美洲斑潜蝇为害起着明显的作用。处理区的干扰作用控制指数为0.135,即对美洲斑潜蝇的防治效果可达86.5%。马缨丹乙醇提取物对美洲斑潜蝇寄生性天敌的作用无影响。     

Repellent plants provide affordable natural screening to prevent mosquito house entry in tropical rural settings--results from a pilot efficacy study

Sustained malaria control is underway using a combination of vector control, prompt diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases. Progress is excellent, but for long-term control, low-cost, sustainable tools that supplement existing control programs are needed. Conventional vector control tools such as indoor residual spraying and house screening are highly effective, but difficult to deliver in rural areas. Therefore, an additional means of reducing mosquito house entry was evaluated: the screening of mosquito house entry points by planting the tall and densely foliated repellent plant Lantana camara L. around houses. A pilot efficacy study was performed in Kagera Region, Tanzania in an area of high seasonal malaria transmission, where consenting families within the study village planted L. camara (Lantana) around their homes and were responsible for maintaining the plants. Questionnaire data on house design, socioeconomic status, malaria prevention knowledge, attitude and practices was collected from 231 houses with Lantana planted around them 90 houses without repellent plants. Mosquitoes were collected using CDC Light Traps between September 2008 and July 2009. Data were analysed with generalised negative binomial regression, controlling for the effect of sampling period. Indoor catches of mosquitoes in houses with Lantana were compared using the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) relative to houses without plants in an adjusted analysis. There were 56% fewer Anopheles gambiae s.s. (IRR 0.44, 95% CI 0.28-0.68, p<0.0001); 83% fewer Anopheles funestus s.s. (IRR 0.17, 95% CI 0.09-0.32, p<0.0001), and 50% fewer mosquitoes of any kind (IRR 0.50, 95% CI 0.38-0.67, p<0.0001) in houses with Lantana relative to controls. House screening using Lantana reduced indoor densities of malaria vectors and nuisance mosquitoes with broad community acceptance. Providing sufficient plants for one home costs US $1.50 including maintenance and labour costs, (30 cents per person). L. camara mode of action and suitability for mosquito control is discussed.     

Mechanism of parasitization by Cuscuta reflexa: RNase activity in the haustorial region of Cuscuta and infected host tissues

In a study of host-parasite interrelationship and the mechanism of parasitization, ribonuclease activity was determined in Cuscuta reflexa Roxb, and in infected and control host plants of Lantana camara L. In the haustoria-bearing region of Cuscuta , the concave half of the vine bearing the haustorial site, always showed significantly higher RNase activity than the convex half, irrespective of the differing enzyme activity of the parasite tissue growing on different hosts — Brassica campestris L., Helianthus animus L., Lantana camara L., Medicago saliva L. and Solatium nigrum L. The uninfected host branch of L. camara showed the maximum specific RNase activity in the apical region which decreased toward the base, while the infected host branch showed minimum specific RNase activity in the apical region, gradually increasing towards the infected region.     

马缨丹提取物对黄曲条跳甲成虫的生物活性

测定了马缨丹(Lantana camaraL.)地上部位(茎叶花)的不同溶剂提取物及萃取物对黄曲条跳甲Phyllotreta striolata(Fabricius)成虫的取食忌避、拒食、胃毒和触杀作用。结果表明:处理后48 h,以马缨丹乙醇回流提取物效果最好,其对黄曲条跳甲成虫的取食忌避率达94.94%;非选择性拒食率为85.48%;除正丁醇萃取物对黄曲条跳甲成虫的胃毒作用达到56.67%外,其它处理对黄曲条跳甲成虫的胃毒作用不明显;石油醚萃取物、石油醚冷浸物、乙醇回流物对黄曲条跳甲成虫的触杀作用效果最好,分别为56.67,53.33和53.33%。据实验结果可知马缨丹不同溶剂提取物及萃取物对黄曲条跳甲成虫的生物活性主要表现在对成虫较强的忌避和拒食作用。     

马缨丹乳油及其混剂对黄曲条跳甲的拒食活性

测试了自制的12.5%马缨丹乳油对黄曲条跳甲成虫拒食活性、持效性及其与7.5%鱼藤酮乳油、1.5%除虫菊水乳剂、0.3%印楝乳油混配的联合活性。该乳油1000倍液处理菜心叶片后48h对黄曲条跳甲成虫具有40%的拒食率,随着浓度升高,拒食活性增强;200、400和600倍液处理120h后对黄曲条跳甲成虫的累计拒食率分别达到76%、68%和43%。12.5%马缨丹乳油与7.5%鱼藤酮乳油以5∶5比例混配使用时,增效作用最为明显,拒食中浓度AFC50为5.25μg.ml-1,共毒系数CTC为213;与1.5%除虫菊水乳剂以1∶9比例混配使用时的增效作用次之,共毒系数CTC为149;与0.3%印楝乳油以9∶1、7∶3、5∶5、3∶7和1∶9比例混配使用时,其共毒系数CTC均100,表现为相互拮抗作用。结果表明:12.5%马缨丹乳油对黄曲条跳甲成虫具有强烈的拒食活性,其200倍液和400倍液拒食持效性好,且该乳油可与7.5%鱼藤酮乳油混配使用。     

非嗜食植物次生化合物与生态措施对美洲斑潜蝇种群控制作用的评价

应用种群动态控制的状态空间分析法,通过生命表参数模拟美洲斑潜蝇种群数量动态,通过输入不同的控制措施(施用非嗜食植物次生化合物即马缨丹乙醇提取物、施用机油乳剂和释放美洲斑潜蝇寄生性天敌)对美洲斑潜蝇种群动态控制的作用,研究这些控制措施的组合对美洲斑潜蝇种群动态的控制,模拟结果表明,在美洲斑潜蝇成虫产卵高峰期施用马缨丹乙醇提取物(1g·100ml^-1和机油乳剂(300X),在幼虫高峰期释放寄生蜂(2000头·100m^-2),可以达到控制美洲斑潜蝇种群增长的效果,起到保护菜豆免害的作用。     

Food deprivation-dependent development and fecundity in Ophraella communa

Ophraella communa LeSage is native to North America and a biological control agent of the invasive weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. Since A. artemisiifolia plants grow old and die after September annually, O. communa suffers from food shortage. To understand the effect of food shortage or deprivation on population fitness of O. communa, the development and fecundity and hatchability of its progeny eggs were observed when larvae were offered A. artemisiifolia plants for either 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours daily. The results showed that larval food deprivation significantly influenced survival and developmental durations of larvae and pupae. Survival rates and developmental durations of larvae and pupae decreased and were prolonged significantly with decreasing time of larval daily food intake. Longevity and fecundity of adults shortened and decreased significantly with decreasing time of larval daily food intake. In addition, the hatch rates of progeny eggs decreased significantly with decreasing time of larval daily food intake. The present study suggests that food shortage is one of the most critical factors that suppresses O. communa populations. This can explain why field populations of the beetle decrease significantly with ageing and death of A. artemisiifolia plants after late September.     

Can Inachis io detect nectar amino acids at low concentrations?

Abstract This study tested Inachis io L. butterflies' preference for nectar amino acids using a dilution series (100, 75, 50, 25 and 0%) of the amino acid concentration of Lantana camara to determine how sensitive the insects are to low concentrations of amino acids, such as those found in the flowers of many plant species. Female butterflies clearly detected and preferred nectar amino acids even at the lowest concentration offered, whereas males did not. These results further support the hypothesis that female butterflies detect and select for nectar with amino acids at levels found in the field.     

Intraguild predation among plant pests: western flower thrips larvae feed on whitefly crawlers

Omnivores obtain resources from more than one trophic level, and choose their food based on quantity and quality of these resources. For example, omnivores may switch to feeding on plants when prey are scarce. Larvae of the western flower thrips Frankiniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are an example of omnivores that become predatory when the quality of their host plant is low. Western flower thrips larvae usually feed on leaf tissue and on plant pollen, but may also attack eggs of predatory mites, their natural enemies, and eggs of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), one of their competitors. Here, we present evidence that western flower thrips larvae prey on Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), another competitor for plant tissue. We tested this on two host plant species, cucumber (Cucumis sativa L.), considered a host plant of high quality for western flower thrips, and sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), a relatively poor quality host. We found that western flower thrips killed and fed especially on whitefly crawlers and that the incidence of feeding did not depend on host-plant species. The developmental rate and oviposition rate of western flower thrips was higher on a diet of cucumber leaves with whitefly crawlers than on cucumber leaves without whitefly crawlers, suggesting that thrips do not just kill whiteflies to reduce competition, but utilize whitefly crawlers as food.     

Life history of Aulacaspis marina Takagi and Williams(Hom., Coccoidea), a new pest of mangrove plantations in Indonesia, and its damage to mangrove seedlings

Scale insects of a newly described species, Aulacaspis marina Takagi and Williams, have killed a large number of mangrove ( Rhizophora mucronata Lamk.) saplings planted in abandoned shrimp ponds on Bali island, Indonesia. The mean fecundity of A. marina was 141 eggs. The generation time of this species was between 34 and 42 days, based on four generations, suggesting that the species has nine to 10 generations a year on Bali island where the temperatures are seasonally constant. When crawlers of A. marina were transferred to potted seedlings of R. mucronata , they settled on all leaves of the seedlings. Newly expanded leaves were not infested by the first generation crawlers but were attacked by the following generations. The insect attack induced browning of the leaves and finally caused leaf fall; the leaves fell 25–159 days after the crawler transfer. Consequently, the seedlings died on average 128 (range 82–159) days after infestation. This suggests that once a large number of crawlers attack R. mucronata seedlings, A. marina can kill them within several months. When crawlers were transferred to potted seedlings of three mangrove species ( R. mucronata , Rhizophora apiculata Bl. and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza L.), which were the main species planted at the study site, the numbers that developed into adult females did not differ significantly among these species. This suggests that these mangrove species are almost equally susceptible to A. marina.