Impact of snowdrop lectin (Galanthus nivalis agglutinin; GNA) on adults of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea

Based on the finding that Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) has direct negative effects on larvae of Chrysoperla carnea, laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate its toxicity to the adults. While the ingestion of GNA dissolved in an artificial diet did not affect adult longevity, there were concentration-dependent negative effects on the pre-oviposition period, daily fecundity and total fecundity (number of eggs laid). When GNA was ingested by larvae of C. carnea, it caused a significant extension of larval development time. Adults that had emerged from GNA-fed larvae did not differ from those that developed from control larvae in terms of adult fresh weight, pre-oviposition period and daily or total fecundity. However, fertility (proportion of hatching eggs) was significantly decreased in adults raised from GNA-treated larvae. Western blots revealed that GNA ingested by larvae of C. carnea was partly transferred to the adult stage and was subsequently excreted or digested within a few days. Our toxicity studies (Tier-1 tests) clearly established a hazard of GNA to adult C. carnea when administered to larvae or adults at high concentrations. Implications of these toxicity data for the non-target risk assessment of GNA-expressing transgenic crops are discussed.     

A semi-synthetic diet for rearing Dipha aphidivora (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a promising predator of woolly aphid in sugarcane

Dipha aphidivora (Meyrick), a lepidopteran predator of sugarcane woolly aphid (SWA) Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner was successfully reared for three successive generations, for the first time on a freeze-dried beef liver-based larval semi-synthetic diet. We compared biological parameters viz., larval survival, adult weight, pre-and oviposition period, fertility, fecundity and female longevity of D. aphidivora reared on the semi-synthetic diet with the predators reared on SWA. Development time of larvae reared from first instar to pupation was 20.6 days on the semi-synthetic diet and 12 days on SWA, while survival of the larvae to adults was 61.8 and 91.8% on larval semi-synthetic diet and SWA, respectively. Fecundity recorded from semi-synthetic diet (41 eggs/female) was significantly less than those produced on SWA (58 eggs/female). However, fertility and longevity of the predators reared on SWA and semi-synthetic diet did not differ significantly. The study revealed the possibility of rearing D. aphidivora larvae using synthetic diet.     

六种昆虫生长调节剂对葱蝇生长发育和繁殖力的影响

用灭蝇胺、氟铃脲等6种昆虫生长调节剂和对比药剂辛硫磷LC_40-50浓度处理葱蝇1龄和3龄幼虫,观察对其生长发育和繁殖的影响;并且研究了葱蝇成虫取食药剂对其繁殖力的控制效应。结果表明：6种药剂中除虫酰肼外,其余都对葱蝇幼虫发育历期、化蛹率、成虫产卵前期、成虫寿命、产卵量有很大影响,对其生长发育和繁殖表现出显著不利性。其中灭蝇胺和氟铃脲处理1龄幼虫后,存活幼虫的历期和成虫产卵前期各延长3天,化蛹率降低26.7%～30.0％,成虫寿命缩短22.3～24.3天,产卵量降低35.5％～49.9％;处理3龄幼虫主要导致产生畸形蛹,且正常羽化的成虫寿命降低18.0～20.67天,产卵量降低45.7%～57.8％。成虫连续取食用牛奶稀释的２ 000倍的药液,能导致产卵前期延长、产卵量减少、卵孵化率降低,幼虫死亡率极高,达95%以上。结果提示,利用成虫补充营养的特性,将灭蝇胺和氟铃脲等混入牛奶或糖水中诱集成虫取食,可有效降低成虫的繁殖力,有助于实现对葱蝇的无公害治理。     

Developmental and reproductive fitness of Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) reared on factitious and artificial diets

The developmental and reproductive fitness of the polyphagous predator Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) was compared on two factitious foods and four artificial diets. Adults fed factitious foods (Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs and Artemia franciscana Kellogg cysts) performed better than those fed artificial diets. Among the artificial diets, a diet composed of liver and ground beef scored better than meridic diets based on egg yolk. Within the egg yolk-based artificial diets, the developmental fitness varied proportionally with the amount of egg yolk present in the diet. A food switching experiment, in which nymphs and adults of the predator were fed either E. kuehniella eggs or an egg yolk-based artificial diet, showed that the impact of adult food on reproductive capacity was greater than that of nymphal food. An optimal adult food was able to wholly compensate for deficiencies incurred by an inferior artificial diet in the nymphal stage. A strong correlation was found between oocyte counts, lifetime oviposition, and the number of eggs laid after 8 d. A rapid dissection assay may thus be effective to reliably and economically assess the fitness of O. laevigatus as a function of the diet. This method also may prove useful as part of quality assurance procedure for commercially produced predators.     

Effects of food deprivation on the development of Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer) is a natural enemy of several insect pests and feeds on pollen and nectar to survive periods when prey is scarce. The effect of the feeding interval on the development, survival, fecundity, and longevity of C. maculata was determined. Newly hatched larvae of C. maculata were reared individually and fed with eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) at intervals of one, two, and three days under controlled conditions (23 ± 1oC; 60 ± 10% RH; 12 h phtophase). The duration of larval instars and the total larval stage was prolonged as the feeding interval increased. The larval period lasted on average 9.2 ± 0.19 days when the larvae were fed daily with prey, and 14.6 ± 0.48 days when food was offered at three-day intervals. There was an inverse relationship between food intervals, survival, and weight of larvae and adults of the coccinellid. Survival rate of larvae fed daily was 76.8%, while the rate was 50.0% and 23.4% for larvae fed every two and three days, respectively. Coleomegilla maculata showed fecundity of 781.1 ± 149.02, 563.4 ± 80.81 and 109.0 ± 103.0 eggs when fed daily and at intervals of two and three days, respectively.     

Nutritional plasticity of the predatory ladybeetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): comparison between natural and substitution prey

The predatory coccinellid Harmonia axyridis is a polyphagous species, efficient at controlling certain aphid species and already commercialized in Europe for that purpose. The complete development of this predator can be accomplished using the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum or Ephestia kuehniella eggs as substitution prey. Biochemical analyses were conducted on the proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates of these two different prey species. E. kuehniella eggs were 2 times richer in amino acids than A. pisum adults (12% of the fresh weight vs. 6%). E. kuehniella eggs were 3 times richer in lipids than the aphids but, on the contrary, the aphids were 1.5 times richer in glycogen. The impact of these two kinds of food on the body composition of the coccinellid was evaluated to appreciate the degree of nutritional plasticity of the coccinellid. The composition of the coccinellids feeding either on E. kuehniella eggs or on aphids was compared for amino acid, fatty acid and glycogen contents, revealing a good capability of H. axyridis to develop on foods that are very different in their biochemical composition. Nevertheless, when fed on aphids, the crude protein content of the predator was reduced and the lipid content decreased by a factor of two, with a change in amino and fatty acid patterns. Some biological parameters, such as larval mortality, adult weight, and fecundity, were modified according to the food eaten.     

Mass rearing of the pink corn borer, Sesamia cretica Led. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae, on semi artificial diets

The effect of two different semi-artificial diets (S.A.D1 and S.A.D2) as well as a natural corn diet on the biology and bionomics of the pink stem borer, Sesamia cretica was studied under laboratory conditions. The insect was successfully mass reared for ten successive generations at the conditions of 27 +/- 2 C degrees and 60-80% R.H. In addition, a photoperiod of 0:24 (L:D) for larvae and 12:12 (L:D) in concern to the other stages, respectively. ALong the ten successive generations, there were no significant differences between the larval periods for both the artificial diets. The S.A.D2 induced the shortest (24.0 days) larval period compared with the natural diet (27.5 days) and S.A.D1 (31.5 days). Rearing larvae on the natural diets revealed a pupal period of 11.0 days, while it was 10.0 days and 8.5 days for the artificial diets (S.A.D1) and in (S.A.D2), in respect. Moth longevity (pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods), to a certain extent, was affected by the larval diets. The maximal moth longevity (13.0 days) was observed for larva reared on corn plants (4, 8 and 1 days). On the other hand, the shortest period (10.5 days) of moth longevity was noticed in SAD2 (1, 9 and 0.5 days). S.A.D1 showed 11.0 days moth longevity (3,7 and 1 days). The longest oviposition period (9.0 days) was recorded in the artificial diet S.A.D2, while it was only 7.0 days in the artificial diet S.A.D1 compared with 8.0 days in case of the natural diet. The number of deposited eggs increased with the progress of the 10 successive generations (G1:G10) from 150 to 265 and from 384 eggs to 564 eggs / female for the S.A.D1 and S.A.D2, in sequence. The highest mean number of deposited eggs per female (564) was for the derived females from larvae fed on the artificial diet in G10 of S.A.D2. The rate of the deposited eggs in S.A.D2 was gradually increased (from 9.70 to 61.14% increase) more than those reared on the natural diet throughout the ten generations. The highest significant percent hatchability (92.69%) has been resulted from the artificial diet SAD2. But, it has been decreased to 85.59% in the artificial diet S.A.D1 in comparison to 65.71% in the natural diet. In addition, the significant shortest total generation period was 44.0 days resulted from the artificial diet S.A.D2, while it was 53.5 and 54.0 days for corn plants and the artificial diet S.A.D1, consequently. In short, results indicated that the S.A.D2 could be considered as a suitable artificial diet for a feasible mass rearing of the pink corn borer, Sesamia cretica led. The S.A.D2 showed the shortest larval, pupal and life span for the generation periods. Moreover, it induced the longest oviposition period and the highest mean number of deposited eggs per female and the highest significant percent of eggs hatchability/fertility. The utilization of this artificial diet (S.A.D2) would supply the researchers with high-quality insects in adequate numbers, at specified times and specific stages of development for the bioassay, toxicological and biological studies.     

一种半固体人工饲料连代饲养日本通草蛉幼虫

以棉蚜和his gossypii Glover饲养日本通草蛉Chrysoperla nipt）oensis（Okamoto）作为对照,用一种半固体人工饲料连续饲养10代日本通草蛉,对日本通草蛉各生长阶段的生长和发育指标进行观测。结果显示,用人工饲料饲养的日本通草蛉的幼虫历期为13～15d,蛹期为8d,较对照组的7d和6d分别延长6～8d和2d;用棉蚜饲养的对照组日本通草蛉幼虫累计存活率为94％,成虫获得率为87％,而人工饲料饲养连续10代的幼虫累计存活率为81％～89％,成虫获得率69％～79％。取食人工饲料的日本通草蛉成虫,在产卵前期、产卵量、产卵期及寿命方面与对照组存在显著的差异,人工饲料组草蛉的产卵前期为5．07—5．22d,而对照组草蛉的产卵前期为4．12d,人工饲料组草蛉的产卵量为190～390粒,对照组的单雌产卵量为667．2粒,人工饲料组草蛉的寿命为36—38d,对照组成虫寿命52d。以上结果表明,这种半固体人工饲料可以满足日本通草蛉幼虫生长发育基本需要,可用于日本通草蛉的室内继代饲养,但需要进一步优化配方。     

Biology and life table studies of the oriental tobacco budworm,Helicoverpa assulta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), influenced by different larval diets

Development, survivorship, pupal weight, oviposition, and life table parameters of the oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta Guenée, were evaluated in the laboratory on an artificial diet, pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.), and tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum L.). We found that the average developmental time of immature stages was longest on tobacco (36.2 d), intermediate on pepper (34.4 d), and shortest on artificial diet (33.5 d). Immature survival from egg to pupa varied from 31% on tobacco, 43% on pepper, and 74% on artificial diet. Pupal weight ranged from 197.4 mg/pupa on tobacco, 233.1 mg/pupa on pepper and 253.4 mg/pupa on artificial diet. The average numbers of eggs laid by adults reared as larvae on the artificial diet, pepper, or tobacco were 614, 421 and 334 eggs/female, respectively. Numbers of remaining eggs in ovaries of the adult females reared as larvae on the artificial diet, pepper, or tobacco were 16, 26, and 42 eggs/female, respectively. The longevity of adult females developed from larvae reared on the three diets was not significantly different, whereas the longevity of male adults from the larvae reared on artificial diet was longer (16.8 d) than that for males reared on tobacco (13.8 d) and pepper (13.3 d). The intrinsic, finite, gross, and net rates of increase were highest for females reared as larvae on artificial diet, lowest for females emerging from larvae reared on tobacco, and intermediate for females emerging from larvae reared on pepper. Generation times and doubling time of H. assulta were shortest for larvae fed artificial diet, intermediate from larvae reared on pepper, and longest from larvae reared on tobacco. We concluded that the artificial diet was the most suitable larval diet of H. assulta followed by pepper, and tobacco.     

Life History of Chauliognathus lugubris (F.) (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) in Tasmanian Forests

Aspects of the life history of Chauliognathus lugubris , a predator of eggs and early stage larvae of the Eucalyptus leafbeetle, Chrysophtharta bimaculata , were studied in southern Tasmania. In the laboratory (ambient temperature 15-25°and artificial diet), the egg to adult period was about 10 months with seven larval stages. Advanced larvae (5th-7th instar) were collected in the field from soil litter during mid-winter. Adults were most common in the spring and early summer. with regular field collections suggesting adult longevity of 2-3 months. Based on the pattern of ovarian development of field-caught adults, in combination with the long larval development times, it appeared that C. lugubris has only one generation a year.     

The effect of larval and adult nutrition on successful autogenous egg production by a mosquito

Females of most mosquito species require a blood meal to provision eggs and can be medical problems because of this dependency. Autogenous mosquitoes do not require blood to mature an initial egg batch and, instead, acquire nutrients for egg provisioning as larvae. We studied the importance of larval and adult nourishment for Ochlerotatus atropalpus which is obligatory autogenous for its first egg cycle but may ingest blood for subsequent cycles. Larval nourishment strongly influenced autogenous egg production: female larvae that were nutritionally stressed emerged as smaller adults, produced fewer eggs and emerged with less protein, lipid and glycogen stores. Female Oc. atropalpus are 100% autogenous, regardless of larval diet quality or whether females are fed sugar or water at emergence. Upon completion of the first egg batch, only females emerging from a poor larval diet ingested blood and produced a second egg batch.     

Dietary complementation across life stages in the polyphagous lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata

We investigated the life history consequences of changes in diet between larval and adult life stages in the polyphagous lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Beetles were reared on three larval diets: greenbug, Schizaphis graminum Rondani (Homoptera: Aphididae), eggs of the flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and bee pollen. The reproductive performance of females was then evaluated on an adult diet of either greenbug or moth eggs. Moth eggs appeared to be the most suitable diet for larvae, yielding the largest adults, and pollen the least suitable, resulting in the smallest adults and greatly extended developmental time. Pollen‐reared beetles tended to have lower fecundity and fertility than those reared on animal protein, regardless of adult diet. Female fitness was generally increased by a change in diet upon emergence to the alternative source of animal protein, suggesting that dietary complementation occurred across life stages. Among females reared on greenbug, a change of diet to moth eggs reduced the period required for production of 12 clutches and increased egg fertility compared to continued feeding on greenbug. Among females reared on moth eggs, a change of diet to greenbug increased fecundity compared to continued feeding on moth eggs. Among females fed an adult diet of greenbug, those fed moth eggs as larvae had faster production of 12 clutches and higher fecundity. We discuss these novel results in the context of coccinellid life history and ecology and their potential implications for other insects that are predatory as both larvae and adults.     

The effects of temperature, diet, and other factors on development, survivorship, and oviposition of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Developmental rate and survivorship of small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), life stages were measured across different temperatures (21, 25, 28, 32 and 35 degrees C) and diets, which included natural and artificial pollen, honey, and bee pupae. Temperature affected hatch success, time to hatching, and larval growth. Eggs hatched in 61 h at 21 degrees C but in < 22 h at 35 degrees C. Larvae achieved peak weight in < 8 d at 35 degrees C but needed 17 d at 21 degrees C. Diet had comparatively little effect on larval survivorship or maximum weight, although larvae fed only bee pupae had lower survivorship. Access to soil influenced pupation success. Duration of the life stage spent in the soil, during which pupation occurs, was also affected by temperature: adults emerged after 32.7 d at 21 degrees C but after only 14.8 d at 35 degrees C, albeit with high mortality. Minimum temperature for development was estimated at 13.5 degrees C for eggs, and 10.0 degrees C for larvae and pupae. Temperature influenced adult longevity and oviposition: on a honey and pollen diet average adult lifespan was 92.8 d at 24 degrees C but only 11.6 d at 35 degrees C. Beetles lived longer at 28 degrees C or lower but produced the most eggs per female, regardless of diet, at 32 degrees C. Beetle density influenced fecundity: beetles kept at three pairs per vial laid 6.7 times more eggs per female than those kept as single pairs. Overall, beetles fared best at 28-32 degrees C with mortality of all stages highest at 35 degrees C.     

食物对棉铃虫生长发育及繁殖的影响

用棉花、花生、玉米及人工饲料作为食料,模拟幼虫田间取食习性,同时为雌蛾设立补充和无补充营养两个处理,研究了食物对棉铃虫 Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) 生长发育及繁殖的影响。4种食料组幼虫历期之间有显著差异;雌、雄蛹重花生组显著小于其余三组。雌蛾腹部干重及其脂肪百分含量与雌蛹体重的排列顺序一样,雌蛾腹部干重人工饲料组显著大于棉花组和花生组。雌蛾寿命和繁殖受幼虫食料和成虫食物的双重影响。喂10%蜂蜜时,雌蛾寿命、交配率和产卵量在四个幼虫食料组之间没有显著差异。但喂以清水时,花生组雌蛾均未交配,寿命和产卵量显著小于其余三组。从同种幼虫食料来看,除人工饲料组外,其余3组雌蛾喂清水时的产卵量和寿命均比喂10%蜂蜜溶液时的显著下降。基于这些结果,作者认为棉花、玉米比花生更适合于棉铃虫的生长发育和繁殖。在田间自然栽培状态下,不同食料植物的糖分含量对棉铃虫生长发育和繁殖影响较大,含氮量的变化影响小。     

Development,survival, body weight,longevity, and reproductive potential of Oemena hirta (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) under different rearing conditions

Oemona hirta (F.) is a New Zealand native longicorn beetle, whose larvae bore into the wood of branches and stems of living trees and vines, causing serious damage. To explore effective methods for maintaining laboratory colonies and biology of immature stages of this species we evaluated four laboratory rearing methods with both natural and artificial diets and compared biological parameters of laboratory colonies with those of field-collected insects. On an artificial diet, approximately 40% of neonate and 70% of autumn- and 11% of winter-collected larvae reached adulthood. Neonate larvae could not complete their development in cut poplar (Populus nigra variety italica Koehne) twigs; however, when twigs were standing in water >46% of neonate larvae survived to adulthood. Mean larval development time ranged from approximately150 to almost 300 d, depending on rearing methods. Mean pupal stage ranged from 15 to 19 d. Adult females were significantly heavier than males. Although adult females from field-collected twigs and reared on the artificial diet had similar mean body weight, which was significantly greater than that of other rearing colonies, the potential fecundity was the highest in the former (83.1 +/- 29.4 eggs) and the lowest in the latter (33.5 +/- 9.1 eggs). In all laboratory-reared and field-collected insects, the total number of eggs produced (eggs laid + eggs that remained in dead female body) by females was positively correlated with their body weight. When larvae fed on the artificial diet, there was no positive correlation between the number of eggs successfully laid and female body weight. However, when larvae lived on natural food, a positive correlation was found. In laboratory colonies, mean longevity of females (36 to 52 d) was slightly greater than that of males (30 to 50 d) without significant difference between sexes but in the adults from field-collected twigs, males (52 d) lived significantly longer than females (33 d). In terms of time, labor, and the number of resulting adults, collecting larvae in the field in autumn and then transferring them onto artificial diet is the most effective method for maintaining a laboratory colony.     

Effect of varying levels of dietary essential fatty acid during early ontogeny of the sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus

This study investigated the biological effects of various dietary essential fatty acids levels to sea scallop larvae, Placopecten magellanicus. Scallop larvae were fed three diets from D-veliger to settlement. Diet A consisted of Isochrysis sp. and Pavlova lutheri, diet B was a mix of Isochrysis sp. and Chaetoceros muelleri and diet C consisted of the same two species, but C. muelleri was grown under silicate deprivation to alter the fatty acid composition. Pediveligers (28 days old) were sampled prior to settlement for fatty acid analysis, growth measurement and survival assessment. Survival and settlement success were measured at the end of the experiment (day 40). Our results show that feeding regime greatly influenced larval size, settlement and fatty acid composition. Diet A was severely deficient in arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA), leading to the poorest larval growth, survival and lipid content. Nevertheless, larvae fed diet A selectively accumulate AA by a factor three compared to the dietary amount. Shell size of 28-day-old larvae was positively correlated with AA content and negatively correlated with eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA)-AA ratio, thus suggesting that these two variables are of major interest for the optimisation of larval growth in sea scallops. Finally, larvae fed diet C displayed 20% higher shell size at day 28 than larvae fed diet A and B, likely in relation to the dietary amount of saturated fatty acid (SFA). However, the moderate survival and settlement success of these groups of larvae might be associated with a relative deficiency in docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA). This study underlines that the overall balance between polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) needs to be considered to adequately fed sea scallop larvae.     

Total lipid and fatty acid compositions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lertha sheppardi</Emphasis> (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae) during its main life stages

Total lipid and the fatty acid compositions of phospholipid and triacylglycerol fractions, prepared from eggs, 3^rd instars of larvae, pupae, male and female adults of Lertha sheppardi, were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effect of diet (adults’ nutrition) on fatty acid composition of L. sheppardi adults was also investigated. Total lipid of L. sheppardi considerably increased in adults compared with immature stages. There was a significant decrease in total lipid level in larval stage in contrast with egg stage. Qualitative analysis revealed the presence of 14 fatty acids during all stages. The major components were C16 and C18 saturated and unsaturated components which are ubiquitous to most animal species. In addition to these components, one odd-chain (C17:0) and prostaglandin precursor fatty acids were found. The fatty acid profiles of phospholipids and triacylglycerols were substantially different. In phospholipid fraction, monounsaturated fatty acids were the major proportion of fatty acids in both sex of adults and pupae, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids were the most dominant fatty acids in eggs and 3^rd instars. Results of triacylglycerol fraction revealed that fatty acid composition of eggs had higher level of C16:1, C18:0 and C18:3n-3 content than that of 3^rd instars and pupae, which suggests accumulation of energetic and structural reserve materials during embryonic development. At more advanced developmental stages, mainly in adult females, the amount of C16:1 increased once again, which may be related to the need for accumulation of sufficient energy and of carbon reservoir in the developing new vitellum. Percentages of C18:1 were significantly high in adult stages compared to other stages. These findings indicate that the accumulation and consumption of fatty acids fluctuate through different development stages. Diet did not effect the fatty acid composition of L. sheppardi adults.     

Oil-soluble dyes for marking Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Although various biological aspects of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) have been examined, adult movement and dispersal of this insect pest is not well understood. Release-recapture techniques by using marked insects is a useful approach for dispersal studies; however, the marking technique should not significantly affect insect biology or behavior. Therefore, the effect of different concentrations of oil-soluble dyes (Solvent Blue 35 [C.I. 61554], Sudan Red 7B [C.I. 26050], Sudan Black B [26150], Sudan Orange G [C.I. 11920], and Sudan I 103624 [C.I. 12055]) on development, mortality, and fecundity of S. frugiperda was evaluated. Dyes were added to artificial diet used to feed larvae. Larval and pupal development and mortality, adult longevity, and female fecundity were evaluated. High concentrations (400 and 600 ppm) of all dyes led to longer larval and pupal stages. Adult life span and number of eggs were not affected by the dyes. Sudan Red 7B marked both adults and eggs very well. Solvent Blue 35 marked both adults and eggs, but the blue-marked eggs could not be distinguished from some bluish eggs laid by nonlabeled females. Adults and eggs were not adequately marked by the Sudan Black B, Sudan Orange G, and Sudan I 103624 (a yellow dye).     

Evaluation of diets for the development and reproduction of Franklinothrips orizabensis (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae)

The suitability of ten diets for the development and reproduction of Franklinothrips orizabensis Johansen, the key natural enemy of Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara, a pest of California grown avocados, was determined in the laboratory. The experimental diets evaluated were: (i) irradiated Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs; (ii) irradiated E. kuehniella eggs and avocado pollen; (iii) Tetranychus pacificus McGregor eggs; (iv) T. pacificus eggs and avocado pollen; (v) irradiated E. kuehniella eggs and T. pacificus eggs; (vi) irradiated E. kuehniella eggs, T. pacificus eggs and avocado pollen; (vii) Scirtothrips perseae; (viii) Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouchè); (ix) avocado pollen; and (x) a young avocado leaf. Franklinothrips orizabensis larvae were unable to develop to adulthood on diets 9 and 10. The remaining eight diets supported complete development of F. orizabensis, but only diets 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 produced fecund females. On diet 5, F. orizabensis exhibited high larval to adult survivorship (90%), mated females exhibited highest daily and lifetime fecundity, and the progeny of mated females were female biased (53%). Analysis of jackknife estimates of net reproduction (Ro), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), and finite rate of increase (lambda) were all significantly greater for F. orizabensis reared on irradiated E. kuehniella eggs and T. pacificus eggs (i.e. diet 5) than corresponding values for other diets on which female F. orizabensis were able to complete development and reproduce. Incorporation of avocado pollen into diets had an adverse effect on demographic statistics for F. orizabensis, and low quality diets resulted in male biased sex ratios for this predator.     

Comparison of fecundity and longevity of Anoplophora malasiaca (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) adults fed on three different host‐plants

Oocyte development, age at first reproduction, ovipositing activity and longevity were compared among three groups of Anoplophora malasiaca (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) female adults that were grown on an artificial diet and provided with mandarin orange (MO), blueberry (BB) and willow (WI) branches after adult emergence. The female adults that were fed with MO began to lay eggs earlier, produced more eggs and lived longer than those that were fed with BB or WI. None of the female adults that were fed with BB laid eggs. The BB‐fed female adults developed the lowest number of oocytes after one and three weeks of feeding. The female adults that were fed with WI and MO for one week developed similar numbers of oocytes. However, after three weeks the MO‐fed female adults developed significantly more oocytes than WI‐fed females. When female adults were first fed with MO for one week and then supplied with BB, subsequent ovarian development was strongly suppressed and the number of immature oocytes decreased. The results suggested that some immature oocytes degenerated. From these results it was concluded that MO was the most suitable adult host‐plant, followed by WI and BB. It is possible that adults that emerge from BB trees may shift their host‐plant during the adult stage in the field.