Epidemiology of apple proliferation (AP) in northwestern Italy: evaluation of the frequency of AP-positive psyllids in naturally infected populations of Cacopsylla melanoneura (Homoptera: Psyllidae)

Adults of Cacopsylla melanoneura, vector of the apple proliferation (AP) phytoplasma, were collected every 2 weeks from January until May in 2000 and 2001 by the beating tray method in eight apple orchards of the Aosta Valley (northwestern Italy). Total DNA was extracted from batches of five insects and amplified with the universal phytoplasma primers P1/P7 in direct PCR. A nested PCR assay was then performed on P1/P7 amplicons using the primers fO1/rO1, specific for the AP‐ phytoplasma group. The digestion of fO1/rO1 amplicons with Ssp I restriction endonuclease confirmed that C. melanoneura adults harboured the AP phytoplasma. The data obtained with PCR were used to estimate the proportion of AP‐positive insects in over wintered and offspring adults. Percentages of AP‐positive insects of 3.6% and 0.8% were estimated in 2000 among over wintered and offspring psyllids respectively. In 2001 only the over wintered insects were found infected, with an estimated proportion of 2.8%. The seasonal abundance of the vector was measured using yellow sticky traps. C. melanoneura was always present at a low population level, and the highest density was recorded from mid‐February until mid‐March in both years. The results show that the overwintered population is higher and spends a longer period in apple orchards, suggesting the crucial role of the overwintered adults in vectoring AP.     

The life history and production of Chaoborus punctipennis (Diptera: Chaoboridae) in Lake Norman,North Carolina,U.S.A.

A study of the life history and production of Chaoborus punctipennis (Say) in Lake Norman, North Carolina, U.S.A. was conducted from February 1978 through January 1979. Four sublittoral (～8 m) and two profundal (～30 m) locations were sampled. Larvae and pupae were collected with a modified Petersen grab and a plankton net, and adults were collected with emergence and light traps. Based on larval, pupal, and adult collections, there appear to be two generations per year — an overwintering spring generation and a summer generation. Annual dry weight standing stock biomass, dry weight production, and P/ B ratio were estimated from each sampling location and depth zone. Production was estimated by the size-frequency method. Standing stock biomass (30.9 mg · m^-2) and production (170.8 mg · m^-2) were highest in the profundal zone. In the sublittoral zone, standing stock biomass and production were 4.7 mg · m^-2, and 29.6 mg · m^-2, respectively. Annual P/ B ratios in the profundal and sublittoral zones were 5.5 and 6.3, respectively.     

Sampling plan for Diaphania spp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and for hymenopteran parasitoids on cucumber

The objective of this work was to determine the best technique, sampling unit, and the number of samples to compose a conventional sampling plan for the cucurbit borers, Diaphania spp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and for hymenopteran parasitoids on cucumber. This research was carried out in 10 commercial cucumber crops fields from July to December 2000 in Tocantins, Minas Gerais State, Brazil (21 degrees 11' 15" S; 42 degrees 03' 45" W; altitude 363 m). The sampling methods studied were beating on a tray, direct counting of insects on the lower leaf surface, and whole leaf collection. Three sampling units also were studied: leaves from a branch located in the apical, median, or basal third of the canopy. The best sampling systems, which included the best technique and sampling unit, were determined based on the relative variance and the economic precision of the sampling. Once the best sampling systems were established, the numbers of samples to compose the conventional sampling plans were determined. The more suitable sampling system for the larvae of Diaphania spp. in cucumber plants was beating a leaf of the median third of the canopy on a plastic tray. One leaf must be sampled for every 50 plants in a crop. The more suitable sampling system for hymenopteran parasitoids in cucumber plants was to directly count the adults on one leaf of the median third of the canopy. One leaf must be sampled for every 74 plants in a crop.     

Response of plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to odor-baited traps near woods.

Response of overwintered plum curculios, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), to odor-baited traps was evaluated from the beginning until nearly the end of emigration from overwintering sites in woods. We evaluated clear sticky Plexiglas panels and black pyramid traps placed close to woods adjacent to apple trees in an unsprayed section of an orchard. Traps were baited with aggregation pheromone (grandisoic acid) alone or in combination with one of six synthetic fruit volatiles (benzaldehvde, decyl aldehyde, E-2-hexenal, ethyl isovalerate, hexyl acetate, or limonene). Unbaited traps served as a control treatment. Plum curculio emigration from woods was divided into early-, mid-, and late-season periods based primarily on phenological stage of apple bud and fruit development (tight cluster to bloom, petal fall, and fruit set, respectively). During both early- and late season, panel and pyramid traps baited with benzaldehyde plus pheromone were significantly more attractive than any other traps (baited or unbaited), except panel traps baited with ethyl isovalerate plus pheromone in early season, which likewise captured significantly more adults than unbaited panel traps. During midseason, no lures were significantly attractive, possibly due to prevailing cool weather, unfavorable for adult activity. Over the entire season, panel or pyramid traps baited with benzaldehyde plus pheromone captured nearly six times as many plum curculios as unbaited traps of each type, whereas traps baited with pheromone alone captured about twice as many as unbaited traps of each type. We provide information on sex ratio, female maturity stage, and mating status, and several weather parameters associated with trap captures. We conclude that panel or pyramid traps, or a combination, baited with benzaldehyde plus pheromone placed at borders of plum curculio overwintering sites can be a valuable tool for monitoring the beginning, peak, and end of adult immigration into apple orchards.     

Cacopsylla pyri L. (Hom., Psyllidae) and its predators relationship in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region

Abstract: Sampling techniques for Cacopsylla pyri adults and its predators ( Anthocoris nemoralis, Coccinellidae spp. and Chrysopidae spp.) were comparatively studied over autumn–winter 2000 in three pear orchards of Ferrara Province in northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna Region. Bating tray (or frappage), yellow sticky traps and corrugated cardboard traps were employed for insect monitoring while water pan traps were used for the phenological timing of leaf fall. The beating tray provided a more representative sampling method to evaluate the population dynamics and density of C. pyri and its predators than the yellow sticky traps; the corrugated cardboard proved a reliable tool to assess the predator population dynamic in overwintering refuges. Along with climate (temperature) and plant physiological (leaf fall) data, the results reported provide useful information for the scheduling of winter treatments, also in case to control the spread of the mycoplasma-like organism (pear decline) in spring.     

Population dynamics of Cacopsylla melanoneura (Homoptera: Psyllidae), a vector of apple proliferation phytoplasma in northwestern Italy

Apple proliferation is a phytoplasma-associated disease transmitted by insects causing serious damage and economic losses to apple orchards. Investigations were carried out in 1999 and 2000 in northwestern Italy to identify the vector of apple proliferation and to study its population dynamics. Yellow sticky traps and beat tray samples revealed the presence of the psyllid Cacopsylla melanoneura (Forster) in eight apple orchards in the Aosta Valley. The species completes one generation per year; the overwintered psyllids colonized apple trees beginning in late January, whereas the springtime generation was observed beginning in early May. The offspring adults remained in apple orchards until the end of June, when they began to move onto other hosts. During 1999 and 2000, all apple trees present in the investigated orchards were visually checked to assess the fluctuation of disease symptoms. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment-length polymorphism confirmed the presence of the apple proliferation phytoplasmas in both overwintering and offspring insects as well as in symptomatic apple plants. The ability of C. melanoneura to vector the disease was assessed by preliminary transmission trials. Overwintered psyllids, collected in the most affected orchards, caged on healthy apple test plants transmitted apple proliferation phytoplasmas.     

Development of Orius vicinus (Ribaut) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) on Different Prey

The survival, development and adult size of Orius vicinus were studied on five prey species, the mites Aculus schlechtendali, Panonychus ulmi and Tetranychus urticae, and larvae of the insects Dasineura mali and Thrips obscuratus. Survival was high (74-100%) and O. vicinus was able to complete development on all prey species in an average of 22-26 days at 20 C. The most rapid development occurred on T. obscuratus, T. urticae and P. ulmi. Adult size was estimated from the length of the fifth instar cast skin, which averaged 2.18 to 2.48 mm on different prey. The largest bugs were obtained from feeding on T. obscuratus or D. mali. O. vicinus, which were fed A. schlechtendali, were the slowest to develop and produced the smallest adults. The results are discussed in relation to prey availability and observed predation in the field, and are compared with previous feeding studies.     

Phenological dynamics of Dasineura mali (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and its parasitoid Platygaster demades (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) in apple orchards

The midge Dasineura mali Kieffer (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is an important pest of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and a potential fresh fruit contaminant, causing quarantine concerns. The phenological dynamics of D. mali and its egg parasitoid Platygaster demades Walker (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) were studied in the field in Palmerston North, New Zealand, for 2 yr. Both shoot infestation rate by D. mali and D. mali density per shoot sharply increased in the second generation, reaching approximately 65% and 100-200 eggs, respectively. However, although the infestation rate in the third generation remained as high as in the second generation, the pest density per shoot significantly decreased to 40-60 eggs in the third generation. In the fourth generation, both infestation rate and pest density per shoot decreased to approximately 30% and 10 eggs. Due to the simultaneous decline of the apple shoot number and D. mali density in the third and fourth D. mali generations, the absolute number of D. mali in the orchard also has declined proportionally during the same period. The parasitism and superparasitism rates significantly increased as the season progressed, from 45 to 55 and 37% in the first generation to 87 and 82% in the fourth generation, respectively. Our results suggest that P. demades contributes to the continuous decline of D. mali numbers in the field; it is a good searcher, particularly when its hosts become increasingly scarcer over the season, and it avoids overshooting the host population later in the season by increasing superparasitism. The frequency of P. demades aestivation increases from late spring to midsummer and then decreases during the late summer and early autumn. Although the emergence of P. demades was approximately 2 to 3 wk behind that of D. mali in each generation, the increasing parasitism rates from the first to the fourth generations indicate that P. demades is synchronized with D. mali in the field.     

Integrated control of apple pests in New Zealand 6. Incidence of European red mite,Panonychus ulmi (Koch), and its predators

Mite relationships were investigated in an orchard near Nelson from 1962 to 1974 in conjunction with a long‐term experiment into integrated control of apple pests. From 42% to 57% of the total winter eggs of Panonychus ulmi hatched over a period of 48–53 days from the last week of September until mid November. The main hatch—from 10% to 90%—took 19–20 days. Five generations occurred in each season, from October to March, although some females laid winter eggs from mid January if leaf condition became poor. Insect predators found were Stethorus bifidus, Sejanus albisignata, Arthrocnodax sp., and Xylapothrips sp. The mite Typhlodromus pyri (Phytoseiidae), the most important predator, had up to 5 generations from October to March; some females ceased to feed or oviposit from mid February onwards, and took on the characteristics of the overwintering diapause phase. With the integrated programme based on ryania, a favourable balance of P. ulmi and T. pyri was established after an initial outbreak of P. ulmi in the 1st or 2nd season, and was maintained until 1970–71, when P. ulmi outbreaks occurred on several cultivars in a season marked by hot, dry conditions in November and December. Natural control was restored the next year except on cy. Delicious, where P. ulmi remained in greater numbers for several years. With a complete commercial spray programme from 1962 to 1967 P. ulmi became resistant to all acaricides used; with the regular azinphos‐methyl programme and no acaricides in 1967–68 a population of T. pyri resistant to this insecticide emerged. The approximately × 10 resistance level did not increase appreciably, so the azinphos‐methyl dosage was reduced from 0.05% to 0.025% to allow greater survival. Several hot, dry summers followed, and commercial control of P. ulmi by T. pyri did not occur until 1973–74. A programme of low‐dosage carbaryl allowed T. pyri and S. albisignata to establish in fair numbers, but control of P. ulmi was not achieved. Experiments with mineral oils and cyhexatin have shown them to have some potential for inclusion against P. ulmi in future integrated programmes.     

Life History of Ilybius fenestratus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera,Dytiscidae) in a Central Norwegian Lake

The life history of Ilybius fenestratus was studied in Målsj?en, a lake in S?r-Tr?ndelag, Central Norway (63°14'N, 10°26'E), during 1971–1972. Adults and larvae were sampled in activity traps every week during March–October and every 2–3 weeks during November–February. Newly-emerged adults were generally found from mid-July to September, and after overwintering in torpidity, probably in the water, they again appeared in the second half of June to August/September. Laying of eggs took place from early/mid July to early August. Larvae occurred in the traps from late July to early May. I. fenestratus was thus found to be a semivoltine summer breeder, with overwintering larvae the first winter and overwintering adults the next. Both adults and larvae lived in large areas of the lake's littoral zone.     

Phenology ofHippodamia undecimnotata (Col.: Coccinellidae) in Greece

Hippodamia (Semiadalia) undecimnotata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), collected from central Greece and reared in cages during 1993–1994 and in vials during 1994–1995 outdoors at Kifissia, Athens, completed 5 generations per year. In both cases, adults of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd generations reproduced, completing their egg laying in the same year; 4^th and 5^th generation adults reproduced both in the year they emerged and the following year. In both cases, adults of the 1^st and 2^nd generations died before winter; in 1993, adults of the 3^rd generation died before winter, in 1994, they survived until April 1995. Adults of the 4^th and 5^th generations overwintered successfully. The greatest numbers of eggs were laid by females of the 1^st and 2^nd generations. Field observations and timed counts of specimens (30 minutes per location) made on the tops of Mounts Chlomo and Kitheron and on the neighboring plain of Kopais between 1991 and 1994 revealed that most adults arrived on the mountains between late June and early September and left between the end of March and beginning of May.H. undecimnotata were not found on the plain of Kopais during the winter. Overwintered adults arrived between the end of March and beginning of May; 1^st generation adults emerged in June. The presence of a few eggs, larvae, pupae and newly-emerged adults observed on the plain during August-September 1993 suggests that at least a portion of theH. undecimnotata population in central Greece completes 2 or more overlapping generations per year.     

Seasonal abundance, number of annual generations, and effect of an entomopathogenic fungus on Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae)

The monthly density of the sand fly, Phlebotomus Papatasi Scopoli (Diptera: Psychodidae), was monitored during 2009 at Burg El-Arab, a rural district located close to the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. The number of annual generations and the efficacy of microbial control by the entomopathogenic fungus, Metrahizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok (Ma79), were determined in the laboratory under atmospheric conditions, simulating those of the animal shelters in the study area. We used two collecting techniques; CDC light traps and oiled paper traps, to quantify sand fly density inside houses and in the open field. Adult flies exhibited a seasonal range from April to December. The seasonal pattern was bimodal, with one peak in July and the second one in October. Calculations of the correlation coefficient (r) revealed a significant role of temperature and relative humidity in the monthly abundance of the sand flies in the study area. P. papatasi colony completed seven annual generations under semifield conditions, but the mean developmental time of each immature stage and the mean total duration of development from egg to adult for each generation varied according to the prevailing temperature. The longest generation time was observed in winter (the mean ± SD was 118 ± 11.70 d), and the shortest one occurred at the highest temperatures in summer (the mean ± SD was 25.21 ± 2.04 d). In microbial control studies, the entomopathogenic fungus, M. anisopliae, was used at 15 × 10(8) spores/g food as a standard dose against the second-instar larvae of P. papatasi at the different seasons during 2009. Mortality reached 100% in winter and decreased to 56.0% as the prevailing temperature increased during the summer season.     

Oriental fruit moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) phenology and management with methoxyfenozide in North Carolina apples

The phenology of oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), on apple (Malus spp.) in North Carolina was studied using pheromone traps and egg sampling in abandoned and commercial orchards in 2000 and 2001, with subsequent development of an oviposition degree-day model and management studies in relation to codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), phenology. Oriental fruit moth eggs were found in greater numbers on leaves early and on fruit later in the growing season, on the top versus the bottom of the leaf surface, and on the calyx area versus the side or stem end of the fruit. A degree-day (DD) model to predict oriental fruit moth oviposition was developed based on temperature accumulations from peak moth trap capture of the first (overwintering) generation, by using 7.2 and 32.2 degrees C as the temperature limits. The model predicted four ovipositing generations of oriental fruit moth with the second beginning 507 DD after peak moth catch. Using predictions of the oriental fruit moth and codling moth degree-day oviposition models, an experiment was conducted to determine the level of second generation oriental fruit moth control with methoxyfenozide applied under different scenarios for first generation codling moth. Methoxyfenozide was equally effective in managing codling moth and oriental fruit moth for all treatment timings.     

European Stone Fruit Yellows: A Mark,Release and Recapture Experiment Tracking the Dispersal of its Vector Cacopsylla pruni (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in a Model Apricot Orchard and Epidemiological Studies in Lower Austria

During the last 15 years, European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) has become a major concern in Austrian fruit production. Therefore, presence and temporal dynamics of its vector Cacopsylla pruni were investigated using a beating tray method and yellow sticky traps on Prunus armeniaca, Prunus domestica, Prunus spinosa and P. cerasifera nigra. Infection rates of C. pruni and Prunus spp. trees were assessed by direct, nested and real‐time PCR. Movement of remigrants in a model apricot orchard was tracked by aid of a mark, release and recapture study. Insects were marked by fluorescent dyes. Movement of the marked insects and presence of naturally occurring insects were monitored by yellow sticky traps. In 2011, remigration of C. pruni to Prunus spp. started in calendar week 10 (8th of March) and in 2012, in calendar week 12 (18th of March). Remigrants were observed until calendar week 20 (middle of May), significant numbers of the springtime generation adults were present until week 26 (end of June). The phytoplasma was ascertained in 0–11.5% of the remigrants and in 0–3.44% of the springtime generation insects. About 9.8–63.3% of the apricot samples, 20–40% of the plum samples and single blackthorn samples were infected. The mark, release and recapture study proved a fast and frequent tree‐to‐tree movement of remigrated C. pruni adults. Insects easily covered distances from row to row or even farther (ca. 13 m) within 24 h after release and were present in a large part of the model orchard after 8 days (up to 24 m from release point).     

Habitat of the corn leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) during the dry (winter) season in Mexico

Although the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) is the most important vector of maize pathogens in Latin America, little is known about how and where it overwinters (passes the dry season), particularly in Mexico. The objectives of this study were (1) to monitor the abundance of D. maidis adults throughout the dry season in maize and maize-free habitats and (2) to determine where and how D. maidis adults, exposed or nonexposed to the maize pathogen Spiroplasma kunkelii Whitcomb, overwinter in a maize-free habitat. Work for the first objective was done during the two consecutive dry seasons of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001; the second objective was done during the dry seasons of 2003-2004 and 2005-2006. During the dry winter seasons, D. maidis was prevalent as long as maize was present in irrigated areas. The leafhopper was found in 52 of the 58 irrigated maize fields sampled in Mexico at the end of the dry seasons of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. However, leafhopper adults were not found in nonirrigated maize-free habitats at high elevation during the dry winter season (February, March, and April), although leafhopper adults were prevalent on perennial wild grasses in January after maize harvest. Additional experiments revealed, however, that corn leafhopper adults, although few in number, survived the entire dry season in these nonirrigated maize-free fields. Also, no detectable difference in survival existed between leafhoppers exposed and those not exposed to S. kunkelli during the two dry seasons in the maize-free habitat.     

Evaluating dispensers loaded with codlemone and pear ester for disruption of codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Polyvinyl chloride polymer (PVC) dispensers loaded with ethyl (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate (pear ester) plus the sex pheromone, (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (codlemone) of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), were compared with PVC dispensers and a commercial dispenser (Isomate-C Plus) loaded with codlemone. Evaluations were conducted in replicated plots (0.1-0.2 ha) in apple, Malus domestica (Borkhausen) during both generations of codling moth from 2007 to 2009. Dispensers were applied at 1,000 ha(-1). Male captures in traps baited with virgin female moths and codlemone lures were recorded. Residual analysis of field-aged dispensers over both moth generations was conducted. Dispensers exhibited linear declines in release rates of both attractants, and pear ester was released at a significantly higher rate than codlemone during both time periods. The proportion of virgin female-baited traps catching males was significantly lower with combo dispenser TRE24 (45/110, mg codlemone/mg pear ester) during the second generation in 2007 and the combo dispensers TRE144 (45/75) and TRE145 (75/45) during the first generation in 2008 compared with Isomate-C Plus. Similarly, male catches in female-baited traps in plots treated with the combo dispensers TRE144 during the first generation in 2008 and TRE23 (75/110) during the second generation, in 2007 were significantly lower than in plots treated with Isomate-C Plus. No significant differences were found for male catches in codlemone-baited traps in plots treated with Isomate-C Plus and any of the combo dispensers. However, male catches were significantly lower in plots treated with Cidetrak CM (codlemone-only dispenser) than the combo TRE144 dispenser during both generations in 2009.     

Olive fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) populations in relation to region, trap type, season, and availability of fruit

Olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin), was monitored with adult captures by season and trap type, and was related to fruit volume and nonharvested fruit to elucidate the occurrence of the newly introduced pest in California. The highest numbers of adults captured in ChamP traps in olive trees, Olea europaea, were in October in an inland valley location, and in September in a coastal location. Comparisons of trap types showed that the number of olive fruit fly adults captured in Pherocon AM traps in a commercial orchard was significantly greater than in ChamP traps. A significantly greater number of females were captured in Pherocon AM traps with bait packets and pheromone lures than traps with pheromone lures alone, while a significantly greater number of adults and males were captured in traps with pheromone lures alone. Significantly more adults were captured in ChamP traps with bait packets and pheromone lures versus traps with bait packets alone. Fruit volume increased by four times from mid-June to mid-November. Olive fruit fly was found to oviposit on small olive fruit <1 cm3 shortly after fruit set, the maximum number of ovipositional sites per fruit occurred in October, and the greatest number of pupae and adults were reared from fruit collected in September and October. The highest numbers of pupae were collected from nonharvested fruit in March when high numbers of adults were captured in the same orchard.     

Phenology of Lacanobia subjuncta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Washington and Oregon apple orchards

The phenology of Lacanobia subjuncta (Grote & Robinson) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was investigated in 30 apple orchards in central Washington state and northeastern Oregon from 1998 to 2001 (57 total orchard-yr). Adult captures in pheromone-baited traps were fit to a Weibull distribution to model emergence of the first and second generations. Initial capture of first generation adults was observed at 216.2 +/- 2.6 degree-days (DD) (mean +/- SEM) from 1 March by using a base temperature of 6.7 degrees C. The model predicted that flight was 5 and 95% complete by 240 and 700 degree-days (DD), respectively. Monitoring of oviposition and hatch was used to establish a protandry plus preoviposition degree-day requirement of 160.0 +/- 7.7 DD, as well as to provide data to describe the entire hatch period. Egg hatch was 5 and 95% complete by 395 and 630 DD, respectively. The start of the second flight was observed at 1217.1 +/- 8.3 DD by using an upper threshold for development of 32 degrees C and a horizontal cutoff. The model indicated that the second flight was 5 and 95% complete by 1220 and 1690 DD, respectively. Second generation hatch was 5 and 95% complete by 1440 and 1740 DD, respectively. A discussion of the potential uses of these detailed phenology data in optimizing management strategies is presented.     

Impact of trap architecture, adjacent habitats, abiotic factors, and host plant phenology on captures of plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults

Pyramid traps, 2.44 m and 3.66 m in height, were compared with standard-sized pyramid traps, 1.22 m in height, to assess the impact of trap architecture on captures of adult plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in two apple (Malus spp.) orchards and a blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) planting. The effects of adjacent habitat (organic orchard versus wooded areas), abiotic factors, and phenological stages of apple also were assessed to determine whether these variables influenced trap captures. Standard-sized pyramidal traps captured significantly more adults than larger trap variants. In the apple orchards, most adults (70-80%) were captured before petal fall with the exception of blocks adjacent to the organic orchard (25%). Significantly more adults were captured along the edge of an apple orchard (managed using an integrated pest management strategy) facing an organic apple orchard (76%) than along the edge facing wooded areas (24%). There was a significant positive correlation between daily trap captures and mean daily temperatures before petal fall in apple orchards.     

New traps for the capture of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) eggs and adults

The control of arboviruses carried by Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) can be performed with tools that monitor and reduce the circulation of these vectors. Therefore, the efficiency of four types of traps in capturing A. aegypti and A. albopictus eggs and adults, with the biological product Vectobac WG, was evaluated in the field. For this, 20 traps were installed in two locations, which were in the South (Londrina, Paraná) and North (Manaus, Amazonas) Regions of Brazil, from March to April 2017 and January to February 2018, respectively. The UELtrap-E (standard trap) and UELtrap-EA traps captured A. aegypti and A. albopictus eggs: 1703/1866 eggs in Londrina, and 10268/2149 eggs in Manaus, respectively, and presented high ovitraps positivity index (OPI) values (averages: 100%/100% in Londrina, and 100%/96% in Manaus, respectively); and high egg density index (EDI) values (averages: 68/75 in Londrina, and 411/89 in Manaus, respectively), so they had statistically superior efficiency to that of the CRtrap-E and CRtrap-EA traps in both regions, that captured less eggs and adults: 96/69 eggs in Londrina, and 1091/510 eggs in Manaus, respectively. Also presented lower OPI values (averages: 28%/4% in Londrina, and 88%/60% in Manaus, respectively); and lower EDI values (averages: 10.5/9 in Londrina, and 47/30 in Manaus, respectively). The capture ratios of Aedes adults in the UELtrap-EA and CRtrap-EA traps in Londrina and Manaus were 53.3%/29.5% and 0%/9.8%, respectively. UELtrap-EA can be adopted as efficient tool for Aedes monitoring due to their high sensitivity, low cost and ease of use.