Influence of hunger level and prey density on searching behaviour of the reduviid predator Rhynocoris marginatus (Fabricius) (Het., Reduviidae)

Abstract: Mechanism underlying the searching behaviour of the predator Rhynocoris marginatus in different levels of hunger and at different densities of its prey Spodoptera litura was studied within an experimental arena. Starved for 1-day R. marginatus travelled 2.34 times longer distances than starved for 4-day ones to find prey in the four prey density arenas. Total distance travelled by R. marginatus at four S. litura density arenas was 0.4 times shorter than that in one density regime. Searching speed of 4-day hungry R. marginatus was 2.44 times greater than 1-day hungry R. marginatus . R. marginatus at four S. litura density regimes searched at 2.43 times higher speeds than R. marginatus at one density regime. Higher rates of turning were observed in 4-day hungry R. marginatus than in 1-day hungry R. marginatus. Higher rates of turning of R. marginatus were recorded in one S. litura density regime than in four density regimes. One-day hungry R. marginatus turned 4.14-fold greater degree mean angle than 4-day hungry ones. At four S. litura density regime R. marginatus turned 0.34-fold lesser angle than at one density regime.     

Bioinsecticidal activity of Murraya koenigii miraculin-like protein against Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura

Miraculin-like proteins, belonging to the Kunitz superfamily, are natural plant defense agents against pests and predators, and therefore are potential biopesticides for incorporation into pest-resistant crops. Here, a miraculin-like protein from Murraya koenigii was assessed for its in vitro and in vivo effects against two polyphagous lepidopteran insect pests, Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura. M. koenigii miraculin-like protein (MKMLP) inhibited the trypsin-like activity and total protease activity of H. armigera gut proteinases (HGP) by 78.5 and 40%, respectively, and S.litura gut proteinases (SGP) by 81 and 48%, respectively. The inhibitor was stable and actively inhibited the proteolysis of both HGP and SGP enzymes for up to 72 h. Incorporation of MKMLP into artificial diet adversely affected the growth and development of pests in a dose-dependent manner. After 10 days of feeding on diets containing 200 μM MKMLP, larval weight was reduced to 69 and 44.8% and larval mortality was increased to 40 and 43.3% for H. armigera and S litura, respectively. The LC(50) of MKMLP was 0.34 and 0.22% of the diet for H.armigera and S. litura, respectively. These results demonstrate the efficacy of MKMLP as a potential plant defense agent against H. armigera and S. litura.     

Characterization of the damage of Spodoptera eridania (Cramer) and Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to structures of cotton plants

The cotton plant, Gossypium hirsutum, hosts various pests that damage different structures. Among these pests, Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker) and Spodoptera eridania (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are considered important. The objectives of this study were to characterize and to quantify the potential damage of S. eridania and S. cosmioides feeding on different structures of cotton plants. For this purpose, newly-hatched larvae were reared on the following plant parts: leaf and flower bud; leaf and boll; flower bud or boll; and leaf, flower bud and boll. The survival of S. cosmioides and S. eridania was greater than 80% and 70% for larvae fed on cotton plant parts offered separately or together, respectively. One larva of S. eridania damaged 1.7 flower buds, but did not damage bolls, while one larva of S. cosmioides damaged 5.2 flower buds and 3.0 cotton bolls. Spodoptera eridania and S. cosmioides can be considered species with potential to cause economic damage to cotton plants because they can occur throughout cotton developmental stages causing defoliation and losses of reproductive structures. Therefore, the results validate field observations that these two species of Spodoptera are potential pests for cotton.     

湖北棉区转Bt基因棉对棉铃虫的控制作用

2000-2001年通过田间系统调查,表明转Bt基因棉（品种为GK19）在湖北江汉平原棉区对棉铃虫抗性稳定。试验设3个处理：转Bt基因棉化防田（使用化学农药控制害虫）、转Bt基因棉自控田（依靠天敌控制害虫）及常规棉对照田（利用综合防治措施控制害虫）。从棉铃虫的第2代到第5代整个发生期内,即使在不进行化学防治的情况下,棉铃虫在Bt棉田的发生量也保持在极低的水平(最高百株虫量为12头)。室内饲养结果表明,转Bt基因棉对棉铃虫的生长发育（幼虫体重、蛹重）有较为明显的影响,使6龄幼虫体重减少25.6%,蛹重减少18.2%。棉铃虫幼虫取食转Bt基因棉组织后,发育迟缓,相对于常规棉喂养的整个发育历期延长17 d,使棉铃虫在田间的危害减少至少一个世代。另外,接虫试验表明,棉铃虫幼虫在常规棉上的取食时间是转Bt基因棉株上的6.1倍,极大地减轻了棉铃虫的危害程度。     

转Bt基因棉对非靶标害虫及害虫天敌种群动态的影响

2000～2001年,在湖北棉区系统研究了转Bt基因棉对棉田非靶标害虫及天敌种群动态的影响。试验设三个处理：转Bt化防田（使用化学农药控制害虫）、转Bt自控田（仅依靠田间自然天敌控制害虫）及常规对照棉田（利用综合防治措施控制害虫）。结果表明,在转Bt基因棉田中,除棉蓟马外,其它主要非靶标害虫（主要是刺吸性害虫）的种群发生数量呈明显的上升趋势。2000年棉蚜发生的总计值,化防田和自控田分别比常规对照田增加37.9%和71.4%,2001年则分别增加92.5%和134.9%;2000年朱砂叶螨发生的总计值,化防田和自控田分别比常规对照田增加181.1%和298.3%,2001年则分别增加69.9%和105.0%;转Bt基因棉对于斜纹夜蛾与烟粉虱这两种近几年来对棉花危害有加重趋势的害虫,在大田中没有表现出抗性。天敌的发生种类和数量也都远远高于常规对照棉田,几种主要天敌种群发生的总计值及高峰值都明显高于常规对照棉田。2000年蜘蛛类发生的总计值,化防田和自控田分别比常规对照田增加66.3%和112.1%,2001年则分别增加95.1%和111.7%;2000年龟纹瓢虫发生的总计值,化防田和自控田分别比常规对照田增加140.8%和135.4%,2001年则分别增加67.2%和109.5%;2000年在两块转Bt基因棉田中种群数量较大的大眼蝉长蝽在常规对照棉田的调查过程中没有发现,2001年在对照田中也仅记录到1头。试验表明,充分利用Bt棉田中天敌种类较丰富、种群数量较大的优势而加强生物防治,是湖北棉区转Bt基因棉田综防体系中的一个关键措施。     

Carbamate and organophosphate resistance in cotton pests in India, 1995 to 1999

Monitoring for organophosphate and carbamate resistance was carried out on five major insect pests of cotton collected from 22 cotton-growing districts across India. Resistance was monitored in Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) for the period 1995-1999 and for Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), Earias vittella (Fabricius) and Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) in a survey conducted during the 1997-98 cropping season. Of the 53 field strains of H. armigera, only four were found to exhibit resistance to quinalphos, the highest 15-fold, whereas all 16 field strains tested were found to be resistant to monocrotophos. Similarly, out of 40 field strains tested, only eight were found to express appreciable resistance to methomyl. Resistance in P. gossypiella to quinalphos was high in the majority of the strains tested. Of the seven strains of E. vittella tested, two strains from northern India exhibited > 70-fold resistance to monocrotophos. Of the 11 S. litura strains tested, only four were found to exhibit resistance factors of 10 to 30-fold to quinalphos and monocrotophos. All of the B. tabaci field strains exhibited resistance to methomyl and monocrotophos and susceptibility to triazophos. Practical implications for pest control resulting from the observed patterns of cross-resistance between quinalphos, monocrotophos and methomyl are discussed.     

杀菌剂丙环唑对斜纹夜蛾的毒性

在研究比较了11种农药对斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura细胞（简称SL细胞）的毒杀活性基础上,选择毒杀活性最高的杀菌剂丙环唑,对其毒理学机理进行进一步研究。结果表明,丙环唑的细胞毒力最高,在100 μg/mL浓度下处理后48 h,SL细胞的死亡率为98.08％。处理后36 h,丙环唑对SL细胞的LC₅₀值为20.31 μg/mL。丙环唑能明显降低SL细胞的蛋白质含量。以0.5 μg/头的丙环唑注射斜纹夜蛾4龄幼虫,处理后72 h,试虫血淋巴总含量及血细胞数分别下降了26.80％和25.26％;在1.0 μg/头的剂量下,则分别下降了37.67%和36.32%。以0.5 μg/头和1.0 μg/头的丙环唑注射处理后,斜纹夜蛾幼虫体重显著降低。此外,丙环唑能降低斜纹夜蛾幼虫血淋巴含糖量及血淋巴蛋白质含量。在注射处理后96 h和120 h,丙环唑对斜纹夜蛾4龄幼虫的LD₅₀值分别为0.59 μg/头和0.45 μg/头。丙环唑对SL细胞和斜纹夜蛾幼虫均具有较好的毒杀活性,显示出丙环唑类似物控制害虫的可能性。     

Population dynamics of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Bt cotton in the Yangtze River Valley of China

Genetically modified cotton that produces a crystalline protein from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Berliner) (Bt) has been widely deployed to manage lepidopteran insect pests in cotton growing areas worldwide. However, susceptibility of different insect species to Bt protein varies, which may affect lepidopteran pest populations in the field. Studies on effects of two transgenic cotton lines (BG1560 and GK19) carrying a Cry1A gene on common cutworm Spodoptera litura F. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were conducted during 2002-2005 in the cotton planting region of the Yangtze River valley of China. Results showed that common cutworm larvae had low susceptibility to Bt cotton. There was no significant difference in larval population densities in conventional and Bt cotton fields. However, the larval populations of the insect on conventional plants treated with chemical insecticides for control of target pest of Bt cotton were significantly lower than that in Bt cotton fields. These results indicated that the common cutworm was the potential to become a major and alarming pest in Bt cotton fields, and therefore efforts to develop an effective alternative management strategy are needed.     

Field Evaluations of Augmentative Releases of Delphastus catalinae (Horn) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) for Suppression of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) Infesting Cotton

In 1992 and 1993, field evaluations were conducted to determine the efficacy of Delphastus catalinae (Horn) releases for the suppression of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring infesting cotton in the Imperial Valley of California. Augmentative releases of adult beetles, totaling 3.5 and 5.5 beetles per plant for 1992 and 1993, respectively, were made into four 0.2-hectare cotton plots and four exclusion cages covering 40 cotton plants. Equal numbers of field plots and cages served as controls for the D. catalinae releases. Open field evaluations revealed no significant difference in the whitefly densities between the release and the nonrelease fields. In addition, no differences in plant growth measures were detected in the year that these data were collected. Releases of D. catalinae into whitefly exclusion cages resulted in a 55% and a 67% decrease in whitefly densities in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Observational data suggested that intraguild predation on D. catalinae by the existing predator fauna may have limited the potential for D. catalinae to provide biological whitefly control in open field plots relative to the levels observed within the cages. Releases of D. catalinae did not adversely affect population densities of indigenous parasitoids, suggesting an absence of statistically significant, antagonistic predator–parasitoid interactions.     

Polymorphic adaptive insecticidal resistance in Rhynocoris marginatus (Fabr.) (Het., Reduviidae) a non-target biocontrol agent

Rhynocoris marginatus (Fabr.) is a polymorphic reduviid predator inhabitating tropical rainforests, semi-arid zones, scrub jungles and agro-ecosystems and predates upon insect pests. It exists in three different morphs; (1) with black connexivum (niger); (2) with red connexivum (sanguineous); and (3) with black and red banded connexivum (nigrosanguineous). Insecticides used to manage insect pests affect non-target biocontrol agents such as R. marginatus . Hence laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the adaptive polymorphic resistance of the morphs of R. marginatus to the toxic effects of three insecticides, namely, dimethoate, methylparathion and quinalphos, with each in five concentrations. The 50% lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values clearly indicated that methylparathion was the most toxic insecticide followed by quinalphos and endosulfan to all three morphs. Among the three morphs, the niger was the most resistant and the sanguineous was the most sensitive.     

Cry2Ab蛋白对甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾低龄幼虫的抗性

【背景】在我国,由于Bt棉的种植,棉铃虫和红铃虫等靶标害虫得到了控制,但棉田其他鳞翅目害虫如甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾的危害仍较严重。美国商业化种植的双价棉BollgardⅡ所表达的Cry2Ab蛋白不仅对棉铃虫有较好的控制效果,而且对甜菜夜蛾和草地贪夜蛾有较好的控制作用。因此,该双价棉在我国被环境释放前,有必要研究其对棉田其他鳞翅目害虫的影响。【方法】在人工饲料中分别添加质量浓度为1．25、2．5、5．0、10．0和20．0μg·g^-1的Cry2Ab蛋白,采用生物测定的方法,在室内研究了其对甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾低龄幼虫存活率和体质量抑制率的影响。【结果】随着Cry2Ab蛋白浓度的增大,甜菜夜蛾初孵幼虫和1龄幼虫的存活率逐渐降低,2龄幼虫和3龄幼虫以及斜纹夜蛾各龄期幼虫的存活率在不同浓度处理下与对照差异均不显著。但与对照相比,高浓度处理对这2种害虫各龄期幼虫的体质量均有显著影响。【结论与意义】高浓度Cry2Ab蛋白（10．0和20．0μg·g^-1）对甜菜夜蛾低龄幼虫有较好的控制作用,但对斜纹夜蛾低龄幼虫的控制效果不太理想。这为该双价基因棉花在我国的推广提供了依据。     

Growth vigour and yield of transgenic RRM2 (RNA recognition motif 2) cotton and their effects on arthropod community in cotton field

Aims This experiment was carried out to assess the breeding value of the transgenic RRM2 (RNA recognition motif 2) cotton and to evaluate its environmental safety on cotton field.
Methods The indices of structure and composition, community characteristics, biodiversity, species richness and the seasonal changes of the arthropod community in transgenic RRM2 cotton field and the parental conventional cotton field were studied systematically in 2012 and 2013, respectively. We also analyzed the climate data from June to September of the two years, and compared the cotton growth vigour and the yield parameters between the transgenic cotton and the non-transgenic cotton.
Important findings The results showed that there were no significant differences in the indices of structure and composition, biodiversity, evenness, dominant concentration and the seasonal changes of insect communities and sub-communities between the transgenic cotton field and the non-transgenic cotton field within the same years. Comparing with in 2012, all the indices of arthropod communities and cotton growth vigour and cotton yield parameters in 2013 showed an overall downward trend in both the transgenic and the non-transgenic cotton fields. The dynamics of functional groups of dominant natural enemies lagged behind that of the dominant pests both in the transgenic cotton field and the non-transgenic cotton field, indicating a need to control the pests at the early stage of cotton growth.     

转tcdA1B1杀虫基因的阴沟肠杆菌对4种农业害虫的杀虫活性与毒力

tcdA1B1为昆虫病原细菌一发光杆菌Photorhabdus luminescens的杀虫毒素基因。本文测定了转tcdA1B1基因的阴沟肠杆菌对甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua、斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura、黄曲条跳甲Phyllotreta striolata和东亚飞蝗Locusta migratoria manilensis4种重要农业害虫的杀虫活性与毒力。在室内条件下,浓度为5．0×108cfu／mL的工程菌悬浮液,采用叶片浸渍法饲喂甜菜夜蛾2龄幼虫、斜纹夜蛾2龄幼虫、黄曲条跳甲成虫、东亚飞蝗2龄若虫,在11d、11d、15d、19d后的致死率分别为80．05％、81．83％、72．31％、39．74％;LT50分别为8．64d,8．38d、11．04d、28．22d。     

转RRM2基因棉生长势和产量及对棉田节肢动物群落的影响

为了评估新型转基因棉花的育种价值, 评价其对棉田生态环境安全性的影响, 2012-2013年连续2年以新型转RRM2基因棉花(Gossypium hirsutum)为材料, 以其亲本‘中棉所12’为对照, 系统研究了棉田节肢动物群落的结构与组成、群落特征参数及其季节性动态变化, 同时结合气候条件分析比较了转基因棉花和非转基因棉花的生长势和产量构成因素。结果表明: 相同年份新型转RRM2基因棉田昆虫群落、害虫亚群落和天敌亚群落的结构与组成、多样性指数、均匀度指数、优势集中性指数及棉花生长期相对丰度动态变化均与对照无显著差异; 与2012年相比, 2013年转基因棉田和非转基因棉田节肢动物群落、棉花生长及产量构成因素的各项指标总体上呈下降趋势; 转基因棉田和非转基因棉田优势天敌功能团动态均滞后于优势害虫功能团, 因此棉花生长前期应适时防治棉花害虫。     

Rickettsia slovaca and Rickettsia raoultii in Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks from Slovak Republic

Rickettsiae, obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria, responsible for mild to severe diseases in humans are associated with arthropod vectors. Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor reticulatus are known vectors of Rickettsia slovaca and Rickettsia raoultii distributed across Europe. A total of 794 D. marginatus, D. reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus adult ticks were collected from the vegetation, removed from horses, sheep, goats and dogs in Slovakia. The DNA of Rickettsia sp. was found in 229 ticks by PCR amplifying parts of gltA, ompA and sca4 genes. Next analyses of Rickettsia-positive samples by PCR-RFLP and/or sequencing showed D. reticulatus ticks were more infected with R. raoultii and D. marginatus were more infected with R. slovaca. The prevalence of R. raoultii was 8.1-8.6% and 22.3-27% in D. marginatus and D. reticulatus, respectively. The prevalence of R. slovaca was 20.6-24.3% in D. marginatus and 1.7-3.4% in D. reticulatus. Intracellular growth of R. raoultii isolate from D. marginatus tick was evaluated by rOmpA-based quantitative SybrGreen PCR assay. The highest point of multiplication was recorded on the 7th and 8th day postinfection in Vero and L929 cells, respectively. R. raoultii was transmitted during feeding of R. raoultii-positive ticks to guinea pigs and subsequently rickettsial infection was recorded in all organs, the highest infection was in spleen, liver and heart. Our study describes the detection and isolation of tick-borne pathogens R. raoultii and R. slovaca, show that they are spread in Slovakia and highlight their risk for humans.     

Abundance of boll worm, flower beetle, predators and field colonization by Rhynocoris kumarii (Het., Reduviidae) following mulching and shelter provisioning in cotton

Abstract:  Field colonization of the assassin bug Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone and biocontrol potential of predatory arthropods after mulching with sorghum trash and coconut leaflets and with shelter provisioning with pieces of clay pots and stones was studied in a cotton field experiment at the Agricultural College Farm, Killikulam, South India. Third and fourth nymphal instars of R. kumarii were released. There were fewer Helicoverpa armigera Hübner larvae in plots with mulched cotton trash than in control and other (mulched and shelter provisioned) plots. But mulching did not affect the number of adult Mylabris pustulata Thunberg. The flower and boll damage was significantly less in trash and leaflet mulch plots than in other shelter provisioned and control plots. The percentage of good quality cotton was also greater in mulch plots than in control plots. The yield of seed-cotton was also significantly greater in plots with trash mulches and coconut leaflet mulches than in control plots.     

播种时间对棉田害虫和天敌种群的影响

通过对3种不同时间播种的棉田内害虫、天敌系统调查,分析和比较了播种时间对棉田害虫、天敌种群和群落的影响。结果表明,播种期推后,可减轻或避免第二代棉铃虫的为害,加重第三代和第四代棉铃虫的为害;但不同播种日期对不同时期的棉蚜影响不同,苗蚜以迟播棉田内种群数量最高,伏蚜则以夏播棉田内种群数量最高。播种期的推后,不利于棉田捕食性瓢虫、蝽类、蜘蛛和寄生性天敌种群增长。棉田害虫和天敌群落多样性指数也随播种期的推后而下降．因此．应针对不同时间播种的棉田开展相应的害虫生态管理。     

江苏棉区种植转基因抗虫棉GK22对棉田害虫、杂草种群的影响

2001年在江苏选择南京、盐城两地,试验观察转Bt基因抗虫棉GK22的种植,对棉田害虫及杂草种群变动的影响,结果是：咀嚼式口器害虫的棉铃虫（Helicover pa armigera),红铃虫（Pectinophora goosypiella),玉米螟（Ostrinia nubilalis),金刚钻（Earias cupreoviridis),棉不造桥虫（Anomis flava),棉大卷叶虫（Adoxophyes orana)等虫口数量,蕾铃被害均表现出较好的控制效果,处理区咀嚼式口器害虫的幼虫总 量,比对照区分别减少92．51％,78．4％,其中：棉铃虫幼虫数量分别减少88．3％,72．9％,蕾铃被害虫减少87．5％,90．7％,74．11％,55．85％,红铃虫虫花减少74．4％,51．64％,铃内活虫减少90％,100％,玉米螟虫口减少72．7％,100％,金钢钻,造桥虫,卷叶虫虫口减少93％以上,对刺吸式口器盲蝽象（Adelphocoris suturalis),棉蚜（Aphis gossyppii),棉红叶螨（Tetranychus cinnabariuns)等害虫,试验区和对照区种群消长动态趋势基本一致,差异不显,两试对杂草种类及数量调查,抗虫棉区和对照区差异亦不明显。     

Population dynamics of caterpillars on three cover crops before sowing cotton in Mato Grosso (Brazil)

Direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems under a preliminary cover crop such as millet are common in some areas of Brazil. Lepidopteran pests that damage cotton, soybean and maize crops can proliferate on cover crops, so preventive chemical treatments are necessary. Very little data is available on these pests on cover crops. This paper presents the dynamics of Spodoptera frugiperda, S. eridania, Mocis latipes and Diatraea saccharalis caterpillars monitored at Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso state (Brazil) during the of 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 cropping seasons on four cover crops, i.e. finger millet (Eleusine coracana), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and ruzigrass (Brachiaria ruziziensis). The pests were visually counted on plants within a 1 m2 transect (wooden frame). Caterpillars were reared to facilitate identification of collected species and parasitoids. Many S. frugiperda caterpillars were observed on millet in 2005, with a maximum of 37 caterpillars/m2. On sorghum, we found 30 caterpillars/m2, or 0.83 caterpillars/plant. The Diatraea borer attacked sorghum later than the other pests. M. latipes was also observed on millet. The millet cover crop had to be dried for at least 1 month before direct drilling the main cotton crop in order to impede S. frugiperda infestations on cotton plantlets, thus avoiding the need for substantial resowing. The comparative methodological aspects are discussed.     

Efficacy of spider and ant predators on the cotton fleahopper [Hemiptera: Miridae]

The efficacy of predators of immature cotton fleahoppers,Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter), was calculated using field and laboratory cage confinement tests for consumption rate. The predators tested were the striped lynx spider,Oxyopes salticus Hentz; the black and white jumping spider,Phidippus audax (Hentz); the celer crab spider,Misumenops celer Hentz; and the red imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta Buren. The spider predators were evaluated in a cotton field using predator-prey confinement cages on cotton plants. Average percent control (sensuAbbott 1925) of fleahoppers byO. salticus, P. audax, andM. celer were 42%, 66% and 32% respectively. The rate of fleahopper consumption by red imported fire ants was measured in the laboratory using various numbers of ants and fleahoppers. Daily percent control by ants ranged from 0.5% (single ant and fleahopper) to 100% (colony linked). The functional response of the 4 arthropod species to different prey numbers is illustrated and discussed as is the relative potential usefulness of natural enemies to suppress fleahoppers on cotton.