Variation in cold hardiness among geographic populations of the ragweed beetle, Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asterales: Asteraceae), in China

The ragweed beetle, Ophraella communa, is a potential biological control agent of common ragweed that appeared in Nanjing City in 2001 and has since dispersed throughout southeast China. We compared the cold hardiness of five different O. communa populations by measuring the supercooling point (SCP), water and glycerol contents of adult beetles. All indices of cold hardiness varied significantly among the sampled populations. Male beetles from the most northerly population (Nanjing) had the lowest water content of any sampled and, although female beetles from Nanchang and Miluo had water content similar to those from Nanjing, they were still lower than those of females from Fuzhou and Wuchang. Beetles from the most southerly population (Fuzhou) had the highest SCP, although Nanchang males were not significantly different from Fuzhou males. Glycerol content yielded resolution of populations as follows: Nanjing > Wuchang = Miluo = Nanchang > Fuzhou, with beetles from Nanjing yielding twice the glycerol content of Fuzhou beetles. These results suggest that overwintering O. communa use freeze avoidance to survive winter cold and that geographically separated populations of O. communa are diverging with respect to their baseline cold hardiness in accordance with the severity of low temperatures experienced during the coldest winter months in each locality. The apparent ability of O. communa to rapidly adapt to different climatic conditions is predicted to facilitate its continued range expansion across mainland China, with consequent benefits in terms of fortuitous biological control of common ragweed.     

Rapid cold-hardening response in Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.

In China, an unintentionally introduced beetle Ophraella communa shows good control efficiency against invasive common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia. With the aim of understanding the capacity of O. communa to overcome sub-zero low temperature rapidly, the longevity, survival and fecundity of the beetle adults were studied at conditions of different rapid cold-hardening in the laboratory. The results showed that approximately 20% female or male individuals still survive at ?12°C for 2 h, thus the discriminating temperature for rapid cold-hardening of both female and male beetles is ?12°C. The survival, longevity and fecundity of adult beetles were significantly affected by rapid cold-hardening treatments. Compared to the control, the survival rates of adult beetles experiencing 2 h of rapid cold-hardening at 2, 5 and 8°C prior to exposure to its discriminating temperature (?12°C) were significantly increased. Adult longevity and fecundity were significantly higher after pre-treatment at 2, 5 and 8°C for 2 h than those of the control. Both longest longevity and maximum fecundity of adult beetles were observed at the rapid cold-hardening of 2°C. Our experiment implies that the cold-tolerance ability of O. communa can be rapidly increased after rapid cold-hardening treatments, which reveals an important ecological significance for population establishment and expansion of O. communa in the invaded areas of common ragweed.     

广聚萤叶甲取食对豚草挥发物组分的影响

植物在遭受植食性昆虫为害后,会系统性地释放虫害诱导挥发物(HIPVs).为探明广聚萤叶甲取食对豚草挥发物组分的影响,本研究采用动态顶空吸附法和气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS),收集并分析了豚草在受机械损伤和受广聚萤叶甲取食损伤前后挥发物组分及相对含量的变化.结果表明,豚草健康植株与损伤植株的挥发物组分和相对含量具有明显的差异.与健康植株相比,受机械损伤后的豚草挥发物中新出现了乙酸芳樟酯、桉树醇、十二醛、γ-木罗烯、植物醇、β-波旁烯,这些化合物在受损后立即释放,表明它们是组成型豚草挥发性有机化合物(VOCs);受取食损伤后,挥发物中大根香叶烯D的相对含量显著增加,表明大根香叶烯D为诱发型VOCs;而较于健康植株和机械损伤植株,取食损伤后的豚草VOCs中增加了桧烯、辛醛、β-罗勒烯、香茅醇,表明这些化合物为HIPVs.此外,机械损伤与取食损伤对豚草VOCs组分的影响有所不同.受机械损伤后,挥发物的种类减少后(损伤后第3天)很快又恢复到健康水平,而受取食损伤后,VOCs的种类逐渐减少(损伤后3d内).受损后不同时期挥发物的种类和相对含量亦有显著差异.受损后的早期(1 d),释放的多为一些豚草绿叶性物质,而在后期有一些诱导物释放.本研究结果为利用豚草VOCs和HIPVs组分提高广聚萤叶甲对豚草的防控效果奠定了重要基础.     

野外条件下广聚萤叶甲对豚草的产卵选择

为探究影响广聚萤叶甲Ophraella communa LeSage选择豚草产卵的环境因素, 在南京城郊于2009年6月23日至9月1日豚草生长季节, 跟踪调查了60个豚草斑块上落卵数量动态, 运用跨栏模型分析了影响叶甲产卵以及产卵数量的因素。结果表明： （1）产卵发生随季节延长、 豚草被取食程度增大、 株高增长、 暴露环境中斑块增大而增加, 但随遮蔽环境中豚草斑块增大、 开花、 开花后季节延长、 季节延长情况下被取食程度增大、 开花后被取食程度增大等因素而降低; （2）落卵数量随季节延长、 豚草被取食程度增大、 暴露环境、 开花期被取食程度增大、 开花期株高增长等因素而增加, 但随豚草开花、 季节延长情况下被取食程度增大而减小; （3）落卵量随季节延长而增大的幅度在豚草营养生长期明显大于开花期, 在暴露环境中随季节延长而呈明显直线增大, 但在遮阴环境中先直线增加, 于10周后趋缓。研究结果说明, 影响产卵发生与落卵数量的因素不完全一致, 产卵发生与落卵数量主要受因子之间互作的影响, 而较少受到单因素的独立影响。     

Control efficiency of leaf beetle,Ophraella communa,on the invasive common ragweed,Ambrosia artemisiifolia,at different growing stages

Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an effective biological control agent of A. artemisiifolia, was unintentionally introduced into China. To understand the biological control potential of O. communa on A. artemisiifolia, plant height, the number of branches and leaf control index of A. artemisiifolia injured by the beetle were determined. The results showed that plant height and number of branches decreased and leaf control index increased with the increasing initial release density of O. communa adults, when they were released at 90–100-cm plant height stage in 2008 and 60–70-cm stage in 2009. Even when O. communa was released at a low average density of 1.07 adults per plant at early growth stage of A. artemisiifolia in 2009, it could significantly suppress plant height and number of branches and led to a higher leaf control index compared with the herbicide treatment with Roundup. Prior to the fructicative period, the leaf control index of A. artemisiifolia by O. communa was up to 1.0 on the 47th day after the average initial release of 12 beetles per plant in 2008 or on the 85th day after the average release of 1.07 beetles per plant in 2009, which was significantly higher than that in the herbicide treatment. We suggest that the initial release average density of O. communa adults should be ≥1.07 beetles per plant at the early growth stage, or ≥12 beetles per plant at the late growth stage for an effective control of A. artemisiifolia in the field.     

外来入侵豚草天敌广聚萤叶甲的半人工饲料配方和关键因子的初步筛选

广聚萤叶甲Ophraella communa LeSage是入侵恶性豚草的天敌。参照前人对叶甲类半人工饲料的研究配方,采用19因子混水平正交试验L32（4^5×2^16）,初步筛选出适合广聚萤叶甲成虫和幼虫的半人工饲料配方,筛选出影响广聚萤叶甲成虫寿命的8种关键成分：麦胚、10％KOH、葡萄糖、尼泊金、豚草叶粉、琼脂、胆固醇、大豆油;影响广聚萤叶甲2龄幼虫发育的8种关键成分是：燕麦片、琼脂、麦胚、葡萄糖、氯化胆碱、10％KOH、蒸馏水、大豆油。研究结果为进一步研制广聚萤叶甲人工饲料提供了基础。     

Effects of photoperiod and temperature on reproductive diapause in Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a potential biocontrol agent against Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Abstract To investigate the seasonal adaptation strategies of Ophraella communa to new habitats, the effects and regulation mechanisms of photoperiod and temperature on the reproductive diapause in a population collected from Changsha, Hunan were examined. Adults showed obvious reproductive diapause, which was regulated by photoperiod and temperature. At 30°C, there was no adult diapause occurring under either long‐day or short‐day conditions; at 25°C the pre‐oviposition period was short and fecundity was high in adult females under L : D 16 : 8 h, whereas under L : D 12 : 12 h, a few females entered reproductive diapause; at 20°C under short‐day conditions, all female adults entered diapause. The pre‐oviposition period was significantly prolonged when the pupae and adults were transferred from long‐days to short‐days, but the day length influence was not obvious when they were transferred only in the adult stage. However, the fecundity dropped greatly no matter whether the photoperiod shifted to short‐days only in the adult stage or whether the shift occurred in both the pupal and adult stage. The fecundity was extremely low when photoperiod shifted from long‐days to short‐days in both pupal and adult stages. This was an indication that the pupal and adult stages were the photoperiod‐sensitive stage for adult reproductive diapause. This was especially true for the photoperiod in the pupal stage, which has a distinctly significant regulative effect on reproductive diapause. Additionally, this article also addresses the reason for different photoperiodic response patterns in reproductive diapause induction between the Changsha strain and the Tsukuba strain (Japan) of O. communa.     

豚草和苍耳上广聚萤叶甲的寄主选择和取食量比较

为探究豚草与苍耳上的广聚萤叶甲种群是否存在分化,对来自这两种植物上的叶甲(分别称为"豚草叶甲"和"苍耳叶甲")进行了选择性试验,并测定了其对5种近缘植物的取食量.选择性试验结果表明,两群来源不同的叶甲对豚草和苍耳的选择偏好存在显著差异,表现为豚草叶甲更偏好豚草,而苍耳叶甲相对更偏好苍耳.对广聚萤叶甲成虫取食量的测定结果表明,对不同测试植物的取食量随来源寄主植物不同而存在显著差异,两群叶甲对向日葵的取食量存在显著差异,但对其他植物的取食量均无显著差异.豚草叶甲对豚草的取食量显著大干对其他测试植物的取食,24h平均取食量达51.27 mm2,而对其他4种植物的取食量无显著差异,均低于40 m2;苍耳叶甲取食豚草的量为52.24mm2(24 h),与取食向日葵和三裂叶豚草量无显著差异,但显著大干取食苍耳和菊芋的量,取食后两种植物的量没有显著差异.研究结果说明,苍耳属植物可能是广聚萤叶甲除豚草外的另一潜在寄主植物.     

广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾对广西来宾豚草的联合控制作用

【背景】豚草已成功入侵广西来宾,对当地生物多样性、农业生产和居民健康造成了严重影响。广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾均为豚草的重要专一性天敌,在湖南等地已有效抑制了豚草的扩散蔓延。【方法】为考查2种天敌在广西对豚草的联合控制作用,于2009年5月24日在广西来宾豚草入侵地区同时释放广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾(2种天敌释放密度均为1170头.hm-2)。【结果】至2009年8月29日释放区内豚草植株死亡率达98%以上,且天敌迅速向邻近豚草发生区扩散,2种天敌对扩散区豚草的控制率可达50%～60%。【结论与意义】2种天敌对豚草具有显著的控制效果,建议在广西大面积推广应用。     

广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾对 江西南昌豚草的联合控制作用

【背景】豚草是一种世界性的重要害草,在江西南昌地区普遍发生。广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾是很有利用前景的豚草天敌,而有关这2种天敌在江西南昌地区田间对豚草的联合控制效果尚不明确。【方法】2009年6月25日分别按广聚萤叶甲0.7头.株-1和豚草卷蛾0.4头.株-1的密度在江西南昌豚草入侵地同时释放2种天敌,并于8月4日～9月13日,每隔10d调查广聚萤叶甲各虫态的数量、豚草卷蛾虫瘿数、豚草的株高和死亡株数。【结果】释放前期广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾种群数量增长较快,但释放70d后,豚草植株死亡率达90.14%,天敌种群数量急剧下降;释放80d后,豚草植株死亡率达到100%。此外,在整个调查期间,天敌释放区豚草株高增长缓慢,均极显著低于对照区。【结论与意义】广聚萤叶甲和豚草卷蛾在江西南昌地区田间对豚草的联合控制效果显著,宜在江西大规模推广应用。     

豚草生育期和被利用状态对广聚萤叶甲产卵选择的影响

【背景】植食性昆虫对产卵场所的选择行为受多种因素的影响,其中寄主植物的发育阶段和被同种其他个体利用程度是影响其产卵选择的重要因素之一。【方法】采用野外罩笼的选择性试验,观察了广聚萤叶甲成虫对不同生长发育阶段、不同被取食程度、不同落卵量的豚草植株的产卵选择行为,分析产卵选择频次,用Cox比例风险模型拟合识别期以估计产卵选择偏好性。【结果】开花期豚草被选择产卵的风险(瞬间概率)仅为生长期的16.5%,苗期豚草被选择产卵的风险为生长期的34.1%;成虫对3种被食程度豚草的产卵选择频次之间存在显著差异(n=20,P<0.01),在3级被食程度豚草上产卵次数最多(12次),而在5级被食豚草上产卵次数最少(2次),表明成虫明显偏好将卵产于已被中等程度取食的植株上;成虫对不同落卵量植株(0、4、8个.株-1)未表现出显著的产卵偏好,对不同密度(高、低)斑块的豚草的产卵选择亦无显著差异。【结论与意义】豚草生育期和被取食程度影响广聚萤叶甲雌虫的产卵选择,而植株上的落卵量和豚草密度对产卵选择没有影响。     

The effects of feeding damage in ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asteraceae) on populations of Zygogramma suturalis (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae)

Summary Field sampling indicated that the number of eggs laid by a Zygogramma suturalis female within a sampling plot correlated inversely with the mean degree of ragweed damage. Feeding on extensively damaged ragweed in the laboratory caused a drop in oviposition intensity, and a considerable proportion of females completely stopped oviposition. Feeding on slightly damaged ragweed had no significant effect on oviposition intensity. Ovipositing females preferred to feed on the intact ragweed and lay their eggs close to it. The locomotory activity of ovipositing females was significantly higher on highly damaged ragweed whereas non-ovipositing (diapausing) females and males were behaviourally indifferent to the extent of ragweed damage. Under natural conditions, ovipositing females more frequently left damaged host plants for less damaged one. If the degree of ragweed damage is high over a large area, the insects that were unable to find undamaged plants for several days oviposited less and some females entered diapause. The adaptive effect of these reactions is a decrease of population density in advance, before it might drop as a result of starvation. These results are in agreement with the second model of insect reaction to the damage-induced changes in a host plant (Edwards and Wratten 1987).     

Establishment of trophic associations of native leaf beetle species (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) with Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asteraceae) in Primorskii Territory of Russia

The establishment of trophic associations between the native leaf beetle species and the adventive ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia in the territory of southern Primorskii Territory of Russia is considered. The native leaf beetles Neocrepidodera obscuritarsis (Motschulsky, 1859) and Chrysolina aurichalcea (Gebler in Mannerheim, 1825) feed on A. artemisiifolia despite their trophic preferences for native plants.     

Intrapopulation gender variation in common ragweed (Asteraceae: Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), a monoecious,annual herb

Summary We measured variation in gender among individuals within populations of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in an abandoned old-field and in the greenhouse. There was great variability in sex expression, from all-female to approximately 78% male. Plants differed significantly in gender in different locations within the field. Plants in an area abandoned from agriculture one year previously were more male than plants in a nearby area abandoned four years previously. In the greenhouse, soil moisture treatments and levels of attack by spittlebugs (Philaenus spumarius) did not affect gender. Height was positively correlated with relative maleness in both populations. Plants with greater shoot weight were relatively more male in the greenhouse, but not in the field. The gender variation we observed either has a genetic basis or is controlled by environmental variables other than those we investigated.     

Diapause in the leaf beetle Diorhabda elongata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent for tamarisk (Tamarix spp.)

The tamarisk leaf beetle, Diorhabda elongata Brullé deserticola Chen, was collected in northwestern China and has been released in the western United States to control tamarisk (Tamarix spp.). Characteristics of diapause and reproductive development in D. elongata were examined to improve management as a biocontrol agent. Under long days, 16:8 (L:D) h, males began to emit aggregation pheromone within 2-3 d of adult emergence, mating occurred, and females oviposited within 7 d of adult emergence. Under short days, 12:12 (L:D) h, males did not emit pheromone, mating did not occur, and both males and females entered reproductive diapause marked by inconspicuous gonads and hypertrophied fat body. Ovaries of diapausing females lacked vitellogenic oocytes, and the ovarioles were clear and narrow, whereas reproductive females had enlarged ovaries with two to three yellow oocytes per ovariole. Diapausing males had thin, transparent accessory glands and ejaculatory ducts, whereas reproductive males had thick white accessory glands and white opaque ejaculatory ducts. Sensitivity to diapause-inducing photoperiods extended into the adult stage. Reproductive females ceased oviposition, resorbed oocytes, and entered diapause when switched from long to short days. Diapause-destined insects ceased feeding and entered the leaf litter 10-20 d after adult emergence, whereas reproductive insects remained on the plants and fed for at least 30 d. Reproductive insects exhibited dispersal behaviors, such as attempted flights, whereas diapause-destined insects did not show dispersal behaviors. Information gained from these studies will be used to better manage populations in the field and to improve rearing and storage in the laboratory.     

First report of the invasive Australian tortoise beetle Trachymela sloanei (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae) in Asia

The Australian tortoise beetle Trachymela sloanei (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae), an invasive pest of several species of Eucalyptus has been reported for the first time in Asia. It was first detected in Shenzhen, China where it has become established. Currently, T. sloanei is not a destructive forest pest in Shenzhen. Pupae and adults were frequently found infected by an unknown fungus.     

Gallerucida bifasciata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a potential biological control agent for Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

Host specificity of foreign natural enemies are becoming more and more critical in classical biological control programs, as concerns about potential risk from introduced biocontrol agents have been increasing recently. Understanding the insect's fundamental and ecological host ranges is the first step in determining the potential for introduction of an insect to control invasive plants. Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica (Houttuyn) Ronse Decraene (Polygonaceae) is an invasive weed in the United States and Europe. A leaf beetle, Gallerucida bifasciata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an important natural enemy attacking this plant in Asia. However, its host range records were ambiguous. This study examined the beetle's host specificity through a set of choice and no-choice tests in the laboratory and field in its native China. Gallerucida bifasciata larvae were able to complete development on seven of 87 plant species in larval development tests, while adults fed and oviposited on 10 plants in no-choice tests. Multiple choice tests showed adults strongly preferred Fallopia japonica, Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H. Gross and Polygonum multiflorum Thunb over all other plants. Open field tests and field surveys further revealed that these three species were in its ecological host range. The results of this study suggest that G. bifasciata is a potential promising agent for control of Japanese knotweed in the United States and Europe, although additional host specificity tests and risk assessment should be completed.     

Host specificity of different populations of the leaf beetle Diorhabda elongata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of saltcedar (Tamarix spp.)

The leaf beetle, Diorhabda elongata (Brullé) sensu lato, was released in 2001 for the classical biological control of exotic saltcedars, a complex of invasive Tamarix species and hybrids. It did not establish at sites south of 37°N latitude where summer daylengths are below the critical photoperiod of the northern-adapted populations of the beetle that were released. Therefore, we assessed the host specificity of four D. elongata populations collected from more southern latitudes in the Old World (Tunisia, Crete, Uzbekistan, and Turpan, China). All populations were similar to each other and the previously released populations of D. elongata in their host specificity. Larval/pupal survival for all populations was 34–100% on Tamarix test plants, 0–76% on native Frankenia plants (both in the order Tamaricales), and 0% on the remaining 28 species of plants on which all the larvae died as 1st instars. D. elongata laid high numbers of eggs on saltcedar, generally fewer eggs on athel (a moderately valued evergreen species of Tamarix) except for Uzbekistan beetles, and few to no eggs on three species of Frankenia. Few to no adults were found on Frankenia plants which also were poor maintenance hosts. The release of any of the four D. elongata populations in the southern US and northern Mexico should pose no risk to plants outside the order Tamaricales and a low risk to native, non-target Frankenia plants. Athel may be less damaged than saltcedar.     

Release and distribution of Lilioceris cheni (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera: Dioscoreaceae), in Florida

From 2012 to 2015, 429,668 Lilioceris cheni Gressit and Kimoto (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were released in Florida for biological control of air potato Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscoreaceae). In the fall of 2015, a state-wide survey was conducted at 113 randomly selected air potato infestations in order to determine the spatial distribution of L. cheni. Damage due to L. cheni was found at 86% of locations and was low in the Florida panhandle where air potato was relatively uncommon and fewer beetles had been released, and in far south Florida, despite high numbers of beetle releases. On average, beetles travelled 9.5?km from the nearest release site to survey sites from the date of release to the time of the survey, with a maximum distance of nearly 67?km. The rate of spread was estimated at 8.2?km/year under the assumption that beetles present at survey sites migrated or were moved from the nearest release site. Air potato vines produced fewer aerial tubers, the vegetative propagule of air potato, as foliar damage due to L. cheni increased. The results suggest that future research efforts should focus on determining the biotic and abiotic factors that may be limiting establishment in some areas of Florida.