新烟碱类杀虫剂对新菠萝灰粉蚧的毒力

新菠萝灰粉蚧Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley是近年我国新发现的一种外来物种,是危害剑麻的主要害虫之一,本研究旨在筛选出防治新菠萝灰粉蚧的有效杀虫剂。采用喷雾法测定了啶虫脒、呋虫胺、噻虫胺、噻虫嗪和烯啶虫胺等5种新烟碱类杀虫剂对新菠萝灰粉蚧不同虫态的室内毒力。研究结果表明:5种新烟碱类杀虫剂对新菠萝灰粉蚧均有显著的触杀作用,对新菠萝灰粉蚧的毒力随着龄期的增长而减小。其中,烯啶虫胺对新菠萝灰粉蚧的毒力最高,对新菠萝灰粉蚧1龄、2龄、3龄若虫和雌成虫的LC_(50)分别为0.1406 mg/L、0.1550 mg/L、0.3870 mg/L和0.5060 mg/L。啶虫脒和噻虫嗪的毒力低于烯啶虫胺,呋虫胺和噻虫胺的毒力最低。不同龄期新菠萝灰粉蚧对同一药剂的敏感性表现为:1龄2龄3龄雌成虫。烯啶虫胺对新菠萝灰粉蚧的触杀毒力最好,可作为防治新菠萝灰粉蚧的备选药剂。     

新烟碱类杀虫剂对蜜蜂健康的影响

新烟碱类杀虫剂（neonicotinoid insecticides）,是目前全球应用最为广泛的一类杀虫剂,它能够通过导管运输方式扩散到植物各个组织中,并与昆虫乙酰胆碱受体结合,从而发挥剧烈的神经毒害效应。蜜蜂作为自然界最主要的传粉者,具有重要的经济和生态价值。近年来,蜜蜂等授粉昆虫数量大规模的骤减引起了各界极大关注。虽然具体原因尚未定论,但新烟碱类杀虫剂对它们的影响已被广泛认可。本文综述了新烟碱类杀虫剂及其对蜜蜂的致死和亚致死效应,并阐述了不同国家和地区相关针对性的举措。通过总结国内外有关新烟碱类杀虫剂与蜜蜂健康的研究形势,以期为我国开展相关具体研究提供参考。     

八种新烟碱类杀虫剂对地熊蜂工蜂的毒性及风险评估

【目的】评价新烟碱类杀虫剂对地熊蜂Bombus terrestris工蜂的毒性和生态风险性,为温室施用新烟碱类杀虫剂提供科学依据。【方法】分别采用饲喂法和接触法测定了噻虫嗪、噻虫胺、啶虫脒、吡虫啉、烯啶虫胺、呋虫胺、噻虫啉和氟吡呋喃酮8种新烟碱类杀虫剂对地熊蜂成年工蜂的急性经口和急性接触毒性。同时评估了8种新烟碱类杀虫剂对地熊蜂工蜂的生态风险性。【结果】8种杀虫剂经饲喂法测定,噻虫胺对地熊蜂成年工蜂的毒性最高,24 h和48 h的LD₅₀值分别为0.0433和0.0330μg a.i./蜂;氟吡呋喃酮毒性最低,24 h和48 h的LD₅₀值分别为72.4119和67.9079μg a.i./蜂。接触法测定的毒性与饲喂法测得的结果一致,噻虫胺的毒性最高,24 h和48 h的LD₅₀值分别为0.0220和0.0192μg a.i./蜂;氟吡呋喃酮的毒性最低,24 h和48 h的LD₅₀值分别为141.7641和130.3062μg a.i./蜂。生态风险评估表明,啶虫脒、噻虫啉和氟吡呋喃酮对地熊蜂成年工...     

新烟碱类杀虫剂对鸟类的影响及检测方法综述

新烟碱类农药是一类广泛应用于农田生态系统的内吸型杀虫剂,具有杀虫广谱、持效期长和作用机制独特等特点。作为激动剂,它们选择性作用于昆虫烟碱型乙酰胆碱酯受体(nAChRs)。以往普遍认为,新烟碱类杀虫剂仅对靶标性昆虫杀灭性强,对鸟类等非靶标性生物毒性较低。但最近越来越多的研究表明,新烟碱类杀虫剂的暴露会对非靶标性鸟类造成负面影响。本文综述了新烟碱类杀虫剂的检测方法及其对鸟类的影响。国外较多的研究关注新烟碱类杀虫剂对鸟类种群数量、繁殖生态和迁徙能力的影响,但国内研究很少关注此类问题。针对我国现有研究的不足,提出了今后关于新烟碱类杀虫剂对鸟类影响研究方向,以期为科学评估新烟碱类杀虫剂对鸟类的暴露风险提供依据。     

六种新烟碱类杀虫剂和三氟苯嘧啶对黄胸蓟马及南方小花蝽的选择毒性

【目的】评估6种新烟碱类杀虫剂和1种新型杀虫剂三氟苯嘧啶对黄胸蓟马Thrips hawaiiensis及其天敌南方小花蝽Orius strigicollis的选择毒性,为杀虫剂与南方小花蝽联合防控黄胸蓟马提供依据。【方法】采用药膜法测定吡虫啉、呋虫胺、氟吡呋喃酮、氯噻啉、烯啶虫胺和噻虫嗪6种新烟碱类杀虫剂及三氟苯嘧啶对黄胸蓟马成虫的毒力及对南方小花蝽5龄若虫的急性毒性,并评估其对南方小花蝽5龄若虫的暴露风险。【结果】供试的7种杀虫剂对黄胸蓟马成虫的半致死用量(median lethal rate, LR₅₀)均低于田间最大推荐用量。氯噻啉对黄胸蓟马成虫的LR₅₀值最低(0.183 g a.i/hm²),显著低于其他杀虫剂;氟吡呋喃酮和三氟苯嘧啶对黄胸蓟马成虫的LR₅₀值分别为3.066和3.949 g a.i/hm²,显著高于其他杀虫剂;两种烯啶虫胺制剂(20%烯啶虫胺可溶液剂和10%烯啶虫胺水剂)对黄胸蓟马成虫的LR₅₀分别为0.327和0.201 g a.i/hm²;两种噻虫嗪制剂(70%噻虫嗪水分散粒剂和25%噻虫嗪水分散粒剂)对黄胸蓟马成虫的LR₅₀值分别为0.970和0.685 g a.i/hm²;不同剂型和含量的烯啶虫胺和噻虫嗪对黄胸蓟马成虫的毒力差异显著。测试的6种新烟碱类杀虫剂对南方小花蝽5龄若虫的LR₅₀值均低于田间最大推荐用量,而三氟苯嘧啶对南方小花蝽5龄若虫的LR₅₀值高于田间最大推荐用量。三氟苯嘧啶对南方小花蝽5龄若虫的毒性最低(LR₅₀>65.736 g a.i/hm²),吡虫啉和呋虫胺次之(LR₅₀值分别为21.317和24.486 g a.i/hm²)。吡虫啉、呋虫胺、三氟苯嘧啶对黄胸蓟马成虫和南方小花蝽5龄若虫具有较高的选择毒性。三氟苯嘧啶和吡虫啉对农田内、农田外南方小花蝽的风险均可接受,氯噻啉和噻虫嗪均不可接受。【结论】黄胸蓟马成虫对6种新烟碱类杀虫剂和三氟苯嘧啶均具极高的敏感性,其中以吡虫啉和三氟苯嘧啶对南方小花蝽5龄若虫的风险较低;三氟苯嘧啶与南方小花蝽兼容性较高,二者在黄胸蓟马的联合防控中具备良好的潜力。     

韭菜迟眼蕈蚊对新烟碱类杀虫剂的抗药性及抗性机制初探

【目的】为明确韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia odoriphaga对新烟碱类杀虫剂的抗性水平及其抗性机制。【方法】通过测定不同地区韭菜迟眼蕈蚊对3种新烟碱类杀虫剂吡虫啉、噻虫嗪和噻虫胺的敏感度,及通过增效剂实验和酶活性测定,初步探索抗性产生机制,为韭菜迟眼蕈蚊抗性治理提供依据。【结果与结论】4个不同的韭菜迟眼蕈蚊田间种群对3种新烟碱类杀虫剂均产生了不同水平的抗性。其中,唐山种群对3种新烟碱杀虫剂均产生了较高的抗性。研究发现,唐山种群的7-乙氧基香豆素-O-脱乙基酶(ECOD)比活力为(3.89±0.31)pmol/(mg·pro·min),显著高于敏感品系。增效剂PBO对唐山种群的吡虫啉毒力的增效比为2.64,高于对敏感品系的增效比1.08。因此,P450s酶活性的升高与韭菜迟眼蕈蚊对吡虫啉的抗性有关。     

新烟碱类和大环内酯类杀虫剂对四种赤眼蜂成蜂急性毒性和安全性评价

为了明确新烟碱类和大环内酯类杀虫剂对天敌赤眼蜂Trichogramma spp.的影响, 在室内采用药膜法测定了其对稻螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead、 亚洲玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae Pang et Chen、 拟澳洲赤眼蜂Trichogramma confusum Viggiani和广赤眼蜂Trichogramma evanescens Westwood成蜂的急性毒性, 并进行了安全性评价。急性毒性测定结果表明： 在测定的新烟碱类药剂中, 噻虫嗪对拟澳洲赤眼蜂和稻螟赤眼蜂表现出最高的急性毒性, 其LC₅₀分别为0.24 (0.21~0.27) 和0.40 (0.37~0.44) mg a.i./L; 其次为烯啶虫胺, 该药剂对上述两种赤眼蜂的LC₅₀分别为0.83 (0.74~0.96) 和0.72 (0.65~0.80) mg a.i./L; 而吡虫啉对亚洲玉米螟赤眼蜂和拟澳洲赤眼蜂的毒性最低, 其LC₅₀分别为502.13 (459.80~549.62)和752.62 (687.51~828.63) mg a.i./L。在测定的大环内酯类药剂中, 阿维菌素对稻螟赤眼蜂的急性毒性最高, 其LC₅₀为0.49 (0.46~0.65) mg a.i./L, 而甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐对拟澳洲赤眼蜂表现出最低的急性毒性, 其LC₅₀为21.76 (19.59~24.40) mg a.i./L。安全性评价结果表明, 吡虫啉、 啶虫脒、 氯噻啉和甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐对4种赤眼蜂为低风险~中等风险性, 安全性系数为0.57~23.54; 噻虫啉和依维菌素对4种赤眼蜂却为中等风险~高风险性, 安全性系数为0.16~3.45; 而烯啶虫胺、 噻虫嗪和阿维菌素对4种赤眼蜂为高风险~极高风险性, 安全性系数为0.01~0.15。本研究测定的大部分杀虫剂对赤眼蜂都有一定的急性毒性风险。因此, 在害虫综合治理中应谨慎使用新烟碱类和大环内酯类杀虫剂尤其是烯啶虫胺、 噻虫嗪和阿维菌素, 以免造成对赤眼蜂的大量杀伤。     

复配杀虫剂BtA对棉铃虫的杀虫效果及对天敌中红侧沟茧蜂蛹和成虫的触杀毒性(英文)

为了科学施药, 合理保护和利用天敌对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera进行综合防治, 本研究在室内测定和比较了复配杀虫剂BtA和7种常用杀虫剂（阿维菌素、 Bt、 β-氯氰菊酯、辛硫磷、定虫隆、氰戊菊酯和丁硫克百威）对棉铃虫的杀虫效果及对其天敌中红侧沟茧蜂Microplitis mediator蛹和雌成虫的触杀毒性。采用浸叶法测定杀虫剂在室内72 h内对棉铃虫3龄幼虫的杀虫效果, 结果表明： 与其他杀虫剂相比, BtA对棉铃虫幼虫具有更高的毒性和致死效应 (LC₅₀=0.7364 mg/mL)。将棉铃虫3龄幼虫接到用浓度4 mg/mL上述杀虫剂分别处理过的大白菜上24, 48和72 h, 发现其死亡率之间存在显著差异（P≤0.05）。但在72 h后, BtA和其他杀虫剂对棉铃虫幼虫的杀虫效果之间并无显著差异(P>0.05)。BtA施药后, 随着时间的延长, 棉铃虫幼虫的死亡率也在增加。另外, 通过杀虫剂对寄生蜂中红侧沟茧蜂蛹和雌成虫的触杀毒性的生物测定发现： 与β-氯氰菊酯、 氰戊菊酯和丁硫克百威相比, BtA对中红侧沟茧蜂蛹和雌成虫的毒性较低, 对其蛹和雌成虫致死率分别仅为13.82%和7.33%。本研究证明BtA对鳞翅目害虫具有中等毒性, 而对寄生蜂中红侧沟茧蜂则具有较低毒性。     

Digestive pectinolytic activity in the Sunn pest,Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae)

Adults of Eurygaster integriceps were collected from the wheat field, dissected and their midguts and salivary glands were removed out. After centrifugation of the homogenates, the resulted supernatants were used as the source of enzyme. Pectinase activity was assayed using agarose plate and colorimetric assays. Pectinesterase and polygalacturonase activity was detected in the first and fourth part of the midgut, respectively. Colorimetric assays revealed more pectinase activity in the first part than the fourth part. No activity was detected in the salivary gland. Optimal pH for pectinase activity in the first part of the midgut was determined at pH set of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The results showed the optimum pH for pectinases occurred at pH 6. Maximum activity for the enzyme incubated at 20,30,35,40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100°C for 60 min was observed at 50°C. This is the first report of the presence of pectinases in a scutellerid bug.     

Temperature and Ca2+ ion as modulators in cellular immunity of the Sunn pest Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae)

Environmental conditions in addition to divalent cations may affect the interactions between pathogens and insects. Elucidation of factors which modulate insect immune responses could be a significant part of investigations in this area. In this study, adults of Eurygaster integriceps, as the destructive pest of wheat, were kept at different temperatures in addition to injection with different concentrations of Ca²⁺ to find the effect on cellular immune reactions against Beauveria bassiana. Results showed that total and differentiate hemocyte numbers, nodule formation and phenoloxidase activity increased with elevation of temperature so that the higher values were obtained at 30 and 40°C at various intervals. Higher concentrations of Ca²⁺ ion (5 mM) caused an increase in plasmatocyte length and width especially after 60 min. Similar results were observed for nodule formation and phenoloxidase activity of E. integriceps adults after injection by B. bassiana spores and phenoloxidase activity. It is clear from the current study that thermoregulation and Ca²⁺ ion can positively affect the hemocyte numbers especially plasmatocytes and granulocytes, nodule formation and phenoloxidase activity in E. integriceps. The understanding of modulators of the insect immune response may directly influence novel approaches to obtain safe and effective biological control agents.     

A amylase activity of nymphal stages of sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae)

Wheat production in Iran has changed substantially over the past one or two decades with development of higher-yielding cultivars and improved methods of planting. Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), is the most important cereal pest in Iran. Sunn pest like other insect pests of wheat lives on a polysaccharide-rich diet and depends to a large extent on effectiveness of their alpha-amylases for survival. alpha-amylase (1-4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase) hydrolyses starch, and related polysaccharides by randomly cleaving internal alpha-1,4-glucosidic linkages and has a major role in the utilization of polysaccharides. The recent increase in study of insect digestive enzymes seems to make sense in the realization that the gut is the major interface between the insect and its environment. Hence, an understanding of digestive enzyme function is essential when developing methods of insect control such as the use of enzyme inhibitor's and transgenic plants to control phytophagous insects. The aim of the current study is to identify and characterize alpha-amylase activity in order to gain a better understanding of its digestive physiology, which hopefully will lead to new strategies of the insect control. In order to analyze a-amylase activity adult and different nymphal stages were collected from wheat field from Karaj area and midgut complex from these individuals were dissected under a light microscope in ice-cold saline buffer (0.006M NaCl). After homogenization in buffer, homogenate was centrifuged at 15000 g for 20 min at 4 degrees C. The supernatant was pooled and stored at -20 degrees C for subsequent analysis. alpha-amylase activity was assayed by the dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) procedure using soluble starch as substrate (starch 1%). Our result showed that enzyme activities in different nymphal stages (first, second, third, fourth and fifth stadium) were 0.19, 0.78, 1.21, 1.23, 1.25 units/mg protein, respectively.     

Effect of plant a-amylase inhibitors on sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), alpha-amylase activity

Plant-insect interaction is a dynamic system, subjected to continual variation and change. In order to reduce insect attack, plants developed different defence mechanisms including chemical and physical barriers such as the induction of defensive proteins, volatiles that attract predators of the insect herbivores and secondary metabolites. Proteinaceous inhibitors of alpha-amylase and proteases are widely distributed in cereals, legumes and some other plants. Because of the possible importance of these inhibitors in plant physiology and animal nutrition, extensive research has been conducted on their properties and biological effects. Sunn pest like other insect pests of wheat lives on a polysaccharide-rich diet and depends to a large extent on effectiveness of their alpha-amylases for survival, a-amylase (1-4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase) hydrolyses starch, and related polysaccharides by randomly cleaving internal alpha-1,4-glucosidic linkages and has a major role in the utilization of polysaccharides. The enzyme inhibitors act on key insect gut digestive hydrolyses, alpha-amylase. Several kinds of a-amylase inhibitors present in seeds and vegetative organs of plant, act to regulate number of phytophagous insects. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to study cereal proteinaceous inhibitors of insect digestive enzymes and their potential use as resistance factors against Sunn pest. The proteinaceous inhibitors from different cereal species including barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were extracted and tested in in vitro condition against Sunn pest alpha-amylase. Extraction was made with NaCl (0.15 M) at room temperature and further purification was done by ammonium sulphate precipitation. It was found that fractions obtained from barley had more inhibitory effect on amylase activity of Sunn pest than fractions obtained from wheat. Knowledge gained through these studies can be used to select resistant plant against insect pest.     

Inhibitory effect of proteinaceous seed extract of three Iranian wheat cultivars on Eurygaster integriceps (Sunn pest) digestive enzymes

Abstract

To investigate interaction between proteinaceous extracts of three Iranian wheat cultivars and digestive enzymes of Sunn pest, a population of adult insects was collected in summer from a wheat field located in Borkhar Region, Isfahan, Iran. Seed proteins were extracted by 0.15?M NaCl solution and partially purified using ammonium sulphate. Spectrophotometric assays were implemented to determine enzyme activities. Results indicated cultivar- and dose-dependent efficacy of seed protein extracts. Inhibition percentages of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase and proteolytic activities at concentration of 32?μg/mL and saturation percentage of 70% ammonium sulphate were 54, 37, 25 and 59% by Hamoon, 16, 28, 18 and 19% by Karkheh and 15, 16, 15 and 23% by Dena, respectively. Zymography also confirmed the effect of inhibitors on α-amylase activity. Among wheat cultivars, Hamoon has the highest biological activity against Sunn pest major digestive enzymes and could contribute towards the development of new insect pest control strategies.     

Beauveria bassiana for the control of Sunn Pest (Eurygaster integriceps) (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) and aspects of the insect's daily activity relevant to a mycoinsecticide

A series of investigations was carried out at ICARDA during April-June 2004 and May-June 2005 to investigate the use of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana to control Eurygaster integriceps and to determine aspects of the insect's biology that could be relevant to control with the fungus. Application in 2004 of an oil-based formulation of B. bassiana showed distribution of the spray decreasing from the top of the wheat to the bottom, although the proportion of tillers with coverage at the base was still 80%. Seventy percent of Sunn Pest had received direct hits, with the highest amount on the dorsal surface, followed by the ventral surface, then the legs and antennae. Mortality of field-treated, then laboratory-maintained insects, ranged from 47.6% for insects exposed only to the B. bassiana spray, 74.2% for unsprayed insects exposed to treated wheat and 86.4% for insects receiving direct spray and being exposed to treated wheat. Some field results demonstrated mortality. Mortality assessments following the 2005 treatments were conducted solely in the field, there was no apparent effect upon Sunn Pest numbers. The majority of studies on Sunn Pest biology were carried out on untreated insects outside the trial plots. Different assessment methods resulted in varying estimates of adults and juveniles in the field. The numbers of Sunn Pest found and the proportion of these at the top of the wheat crop, declined after early morning and increased again in the early evening, suggesting sheltering deeper in the crop or in the soil during the middle part of the day. Mobility and location of marked insects was followed in micro-plots and by mark and recapture studies, demonstrating a range of activities, from movement around the crop for a number of metres, including contact with numerous tillers to almost total immobility; Sunn Pest generally avoided movement on the soil. The potential for Sunn Pest control with a mycoinsecticide and how Sunn Pest behaviour is relevant to a mycoinsecticide application are discussed.     

Purification and characterization of the cuticle-degrading protease produced by the entomopathogenic fungus,Beauveria bassiana in the presence of Sunn pest,Eurygaster integriceps (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) cuticle

The extracellular protease from the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana in the presence of Eurygaster integriceps cuticle was isolated, purified and characterized. Isolate B1 of B. bassiana that shows high virulence against E. integriceps was examined for the production of the cuticle-degrading proteases. Results showed that both subtilisin-like (Pr1) and trypsin-like (Pr2) cuticle-degrading proteases were produced and the enzyme kinetic properties showed better activity of Pr1 in comparison with Pr2. The proteases were purified using acetone precipitation, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and CM-Sepharose ion exchange chromatography, with a 5.09-fold increase in specific activity and 21.86% recovery. The enzyme molecular weight was estimated to be 47 kDa and the optimal pH and temperature were 8 and 45°C, respectively. The purified protease was activated by divalent cations, Ca^{2 +} and Mg^{2 +}, and inhibited by NaCl, KCl and determined as a serine protease by inhibition of its activity due to using PMSF, EDTA, mercaptoethanol and SDS. Studies on the timing of the protease secretion in the presence of cuticular substrates could provide information about the role of the accumulated hydrolytic enzymes during pathogenesis to better understand these processes.     

Development rate and lower temperature threshold in the eggs of Eurygaster integriceps (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae)

The sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Put. has a wide distribution in the Palearctic region. It is the most important pest problem of wheat in Turkey. The objective of this study was to attain better knowledge of the development of the sunn pest eggs. The lower temperature threshold and development rate of eggs were determined at 17, 20, 23, 26 and 32°C ± 1°C in the laboratory. A linear model was used to describe the developmental rate and temperature. The egg development required 90.9 degree‐days above the theoretical threshold of 11.7°C. The development time was 17.6 ± 0.1 days at 17°C, and 4.5 ± 0.01 days at 32°C. Incubation time was inversely related to temperature. The study showed that the eggs of E. integriceps needed shorter periods of time to complete their development than immature stages of their parasitoids Trissolcus spp.     

Secretion and formation of perimicrovillar membrane in the digestive system of the Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) in response to feeding

In this study, development of perimicrovillar membrane (PMM) from midgut cells of starved and fed Eurygaster integriceps (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) was studied. Three different approaches, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), marker enzymes of the PMMs (α-glucosidase), perimicrovillar space (aminopeptidase), and microvillar membranes (β-glucosidase) were used. Activities of these enzymes were remarkably low in the starved insects. Moreover, microscopic observations revealed that PMM is not present in the starved insect. Activities of enzymatic markers increased at 5 h postfeeding, and TEM and SEM observations showed the formation of PMM as well as migration of double-membrane vesicles from center of the columnar cell to the cell apex. The highest PMM was observed at 20 h postfeeding which at this time marker enzyme activity, such as α-glucosidase activity, was high, too. Thus, at 20 h postfeeding, PMM system was evident and epithelial cells were completely covered by PMM system. After 20 h postfeeding, presence of the fine holes in PMM started to be seen and at 40 h post-feeding, observation showed degradation of PMM system. Thus, it could be concluded that PMM in E. integriceps is secreted by epithelial cell membrane when needed and its secretion and formation is regulated by feeding. This system was not present in the starved insects as its development takes place at 5 h postfeeding.     

Comparison of glutathione S-transferase and general esterase in two bugs, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae) and Brachynema germari Kolenati (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Glutathione S -transferases (GSTs) and general esterases play important roles in the detoxification of many substances including allelochemicals from plants and chemical pesticides. In this study, to determine the feeding status and effects of agronomical practices on GST and general esterase, two bug species, Eurygaster integriceps and Brachynema germari , were selected with differences in these cases. GST and general esterase responses varied when switching from 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and α -naphtyl to 1,2-dichloro-4-nitro-benzene (DCNB) and β -naphtyl in E. integriceps and B. germari , respectively. The activities of GST and esterase by using CDNB and α -naphtyl were higher than that of DCNB and β -naphtyl for both insects. It was shown that the optimal pH for GST and general esterase activity varied between pH 5.5 and 6. While the Michaelis constant (K_m) value related to E. integriceps toward CDNB and α -naphtyl was lower than K_m for B. germari , K_m values calculated for E. integriceps toward DCNB and β -naphtyl corresponding to those related to A. hejeri were similar to CDNB and α -naphtyl values. The maximal reaction velocity (V_max) values related to E. integriceps for both substrates (CDNB and α -naphtyl) were always higher than those from B. germari and showed significant differences. At the basement of the native-PAGE electrophoresis, five bands were observed in for GST and three were visualized for B. germari , with a large, darker band for E. integriceps in the case of esterases. Studies on the detoxification enzymes of herbivores should be undertaken to determine accurately the effect of the host plants on the organisms eating them, particularly in terms of biochemical and ecological advantages.