Horizontal Transmission of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana among the Spruce Bark Beetle, Ips typographus (Col., Scolytidae) in the Laboratory and under Field Conditions

In laboratory and field cage experiments, the horizontal transmission of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Boverol®) between adults of the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus was examined. In a laboratory experiment, conidia transfer between treated and untreated beetles at different ratios resulted in 96% mortality (MST 4.3 days) at a ratio of 1:1 and 90% mortality (MST 4.5 days) at a ratio of 1:2. At ratios of 1:5, 1:10 and 1:20, the mortalities at 7 days were 83, 77 and 75%, respectively. In a second laboratory experiment, the efficacy of B. bassiana was investigated after transmission from contaminated to healthy beetles over a period of 5 days. Two weeks later, the mortality of treated and untreated beetles was 99% (control mortality was 44%), while the rate of mycosis was 79% in the treatment compared to 10% in the control beetles. A single contact between one treated male (2.0×10⁵ conidia/beetle) and an untreated female was found to be sufficient to transmit a lethal dose of B. bassiana of about 1.2×10⁴ conidia. Two experiments in field cages in a spruce stand demonstrated horizontal transmission of B. bassiana (Boverol®) between beetles. In the first experiment the transmission was investigated following the introduction of B. bassiana-inoculated beetles into a population of untreated beetles. Significant reductions were observed in the length of maternal galleries, and the number of larvae and pupae. In the second field cage experiment, natural populations of beetles were lured into a flight cage using a pheromone trap, and treated with B. bassiana or left untreated on alternate days. In this experiment, significant reductions were observed in the number of bore holes and the length of maternal galleries, while no larvae, pupae or juveniles were found under the bark of spruce trunks in the Boverol® transmission treatment. It is concluded that B. bassiana has potential for control of I. typographus, and further field experiments are warranted to investigate its efficacy under more practical conditions.     

Interaction Between the Entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and the Mycoparasites Clonostachys spp., Trichoderma harzianum and Lecanicillium lecanii

Biocontrol agents of numerous insect pests and fungal pathogens exist but virtually nothing is known about their interaction if used simultaneously. Our objective was to investigate the compatibility of the entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, and the broad host-range mycoparasites Clonostachys spp., Trichoderma harzianum and Lecanicillium lecanii. In vitro host-range tests revealed that M. anisopliae was highly susceptible to all mycoparasites tested. B. bassiana was attacked by Clonostachys rosea, and P. fumosoroseus. was resistant to mycoparasites. M. anisopliae but not P. fumosoroseus killed nymphs of Bemisia tabaci in bioassays. B. bassiana and M. anisopliae proved lethal to Cosmopolites sordidus, Diatraea saccharalis and Sitophilus oryzae. Coapplication of mycoparasites with entomopathogens did not affect their biocontrol efficacy in vivo, although the reisolation success of entomopathogens could be significantly reduced, especially from smaller insect species. Trichoderma spp. were reisolated from mycoparasite-treated insects more frequently than C. rosea. The coapplication of the highly susceptible M. anisopliae generally enhanced mycoparasite recovery. Mycofungicide preparations caused some insect mortality but less than a copper hydroxide fungicide which is still permissible in organic agriculture. We concluded that the tested entomopathogens and mycoparasites are compatible elements of integrated pest management.     

球孢白僵菌种群在松林中的寄主转移及遗传多样性对松毛虫持续控制的影响

通过林间接种式放菌及其后一周年的野外调查,从林间采集到30种寄主昆虫及从土壤、落叶和气流中分离到119株球孢白僵菌.酯酶同工酶分析表明,它们属于32个不同酯酶型,呈现出丰富的遗传多样性.释放菌株所属的酯酶型02包括从11种昆虫上分离出的18个菌株,表明林间释放的菌株已成功地在不同寄主昆虫种群中宿存下来,并以常发的地方病状态存在于松毛虫及松灰象甲等12种昆虫种群之中;当林间目标寄主缺乏时,其它寄主可将食物链维系下去.其它酯酶型分别包括1～23个菌株.一周年内的寄主转移动态结果表明,球孢白僵菌在松林生态系统中不同寄主间可转移寄生.每个酯酶型中的菌株对松毛虫的毒力相差很大.表明球孢白僵菌在松林中的延续和扩散流行不是1条路线,每个酯酶型至少代表食物网上的1条支链.有些环节的寄主连接了不同的酯酶型,使松林中食物网变得十分复杂.另外,从土壤、枯枝落叶层、林冠层和空气中分离到的球孢白僵菌分属于不同的酯酶型,表明松林中还存在着复杂的腐生食物链,有利于松毛虫及其它害虫的持续控制.     

Effect of combination treatment with entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Nomuraea rileyi (Hypocreales) on Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidaeae)

In biocontrol of insect pests, efficacy of treatment with multiple pathogens has not been frequently investigated but may have potential for effective management. The possible advantage of a combination treatment with two entomopathogenic fungi - Beauveria bassiana and Nomuraea rileyi - was assessed in laboratory bioassays on second instar Spodoptera litura. From among the fungal isolates of an epizootic population, two isolates of each fungus differing in virulence to S. litura were chosen, one highly virulent and the other with low virulence. The bioassays were carried out at either a continuous temperature of 25±1°C or at a temperature cycle of 32±2°C 8 h/21±2°C 16 h to mimic the field temperatures during the epizootic. Treatments with the two fungi were done both simultaneously and sequentially. In combination treatments at 25±1°C, in all isolate combinations, a majority of the larvae showed N. rileyi induced mycosis; the percentage mortality and speed of kill of insects in these treatments was similar to the N. rileyi isolate used in the combination treatments. At the temperature cycle of 32±2°C 8 h/21±2°C 16 h, in all combination treatments, all the dead insects exhibited B. bassiana mycosis; the mortality pattern was similar to the B. bassiana isolate used in the combination treatments. The adverse effect of high temperature on virulence of N. rileyi was however, not evident in in vitro growth assays. Combination treatment with both fungi did not have a synergistic effect on insect mortality.     

Evaluation of cultural practices for potential to control strawberry sap beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Strawberry sap beetle, Stelidota geminata (Say) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), adults and larvae feed on and contaminate marketable strawberry (Fragaria L.) fruit. The beetle is a serious pest in the northeastern United States, with growers in multiple states reporting closing fields for picking prematurely due to fruit damage. Three options were evaluated for potential to reduce strawberry sap beetle populations. First, the influence of plant structure on accessibility of fruit in different strawberry cultivars to strawberry sap beetle was assessed by modifying plant structure and exposing caged plants to strawberry sap beetle adults. Severity of damage to berries staked up off the ground was similar to damage to those fruit contacting the soil, showing that adults will damage fruit held off the ground. Second, baited traps were placed at three distances into strawberry fields to determine whether overwintered beetles enter strawberry fields gradually. Adult beetles were first caught in the strawberries approximately equal to 19 d after occurring in traps placed along edges of adjacent wooded areas. The beetles arrived during the same sampling interval in traps at all distances into the fields, indicating that a border spray is unlikely to adequately control strawberry sap beetle. Third, the number of strawberry sap beetle emerging from strawberry for 5 wk after tilling and narrowing of plant rows was compared in plots renovated immediately at the end of harvest and in plots where renovation was delayed by 1 wk. In the 2-yr study, year and not treatment was the primary factor affecting the total number of emerging strawberry sap beetle. Overall, limited potential exists to reduce strawberry sap beetle populations by choosing cultivars with a particular plant structure, applying insecticide as a border spray, or modifying time of field renovation.     

Do aphids infected with entomopathogenic fungi continue to produce and respond to alarm pheromone?

The response of pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, to aphid alarm pheromone was not modified by infection with Beauveria bassiana. Approximately 50% of uninfected and infected aphids responded to synthetic alarm pheromone. The simulated attack of aphids infected with B. bassiana did not elicit a response in uninfected aphids. Preliminary air entrainment experiments of both uninfected aphids and aphids at different stages of B. bassiana (generalist pathogen) or P. neoaphidis (obligate pathogen of aphids) demonstrated that B. bassiana infected aphids produced less alarm pheromone than uninfected aphids and, conversely, P. neoaphidis infected aphids produced more alarm pheromone than uninfected aphids. These results are discussed with particular emphasis on the different life history strategies of these two pathogens. We hypothesise that the obligate, specialist pathogen, P. neoaphidis, is under greater selection pressure to increase pathogen transmission and survival resulting in modified host behaviour, than the generalist pathogen, B. bassiana.     

A yeast clade near Candida kruisii uncovered: nine novel Candida species associated with basidioma-feeding beetles

Yeasts similar to Candida kruisii were isolated repeatedly from the digestive tracts of basidioma-feeding beetles, especially nitidulids inhabiting and feeding on a variety of agarics in the southeastern USA and Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Based on the identical sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene (rDNA) and host beetle information, the isolates were grouped into 19 genotypes which varied from C. kruisii by up to 38 nucleotide differences in the D1/D2 region. Phylogenetic analysis of rDNA sequences and phenotypic traits placed the isolates in C. kruisii and in nine undescribed taxa. The new species and type strains are designated as Candida pallodes (NRRL Y-27653^T), C. tritomae (NRRL Y-27650^T), C. panamensis (NRRL Y-27657^T), C. lycoperdinae (NRRL Y-27658^T), C. atbi (NRRL Y-27651^T), C. barrocoloradensis (NRRL Y-27934^T), C. aglyptinia (NRRL Y-27935^T), C. stri (NRRL Y-48063^T), and C. gatunensis (NRRL Y-48064^T). A phylogeny based on analysis of a combined database of sequences of SSU and LSU rDNA and the ITS region showed that the nine new species formed a novel sister clade to C. kruisii that was strongly supported by bootstrap analysis. Candida pallodes, C. tritomae, C. panamensis, and C. lycoperdinae formed one subclade, while C. atbi, C. barrocoloradensis, C. aglyptinia, C. stri, and C. gatunensis formed a second distinct subclade within the larger clade. Candida pallodes and C. atbi showed a strong host specificity to beetle species in the genus Pallodes (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) collected from a variety of agarics. On the other hand, C. panamensis, C. tritomae, and C. lycoperdinae were associated with several unrelated beetles in Erotylidae, Scarabaeidae, Tenebrionidae, and Curculionidae as well as Lycoperdina ferruginea (Nitidulidae). Candida pallodes, C. tritomae, C. lycoperdinae, and C. atbi have been isolated repeatedly in the USA, while the other five new species have been found only at Barro Colorado Island, Panama.     

Biochemical and molecular characteristics of indigenous strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana of Central India

Forty-eight isolates of indigenous strains of Beauveria bassiana from various insect hosts collected from Central India were characterised by employing protease zymography and RAPD analysis. Results of protease zymographic profiles were reproducible and significant enough to contribute to the biochemical diversity of this species. RAPD analysis revealed the presence of high level of genetic diversity and indicated that 0-66% significant differences has evolved between these isolates. The sets of amplified bands showing identical pattern to others were grouped at 100% similarity level. A wide range in the value (0.25-1.00) of Jaccard similarity coefficient was observed among all the isolates. The grouping of the indigenous strains, obtained from numerical analysis of these data, appears to be related to the host specificity in B. bassiana. Clear groups were seen for strains isolated from Lepidopteran and Coleopteran insect hosts.     

Overwintering sites of the Japanese carrion beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eusilpha japonica</Emphasis>

Overwintering sites have recently been a focus of research into adaptive insect behavior in areas where winter is severe; however, little is known about the overwintering sites of most insects, including common ground or carrion beetles. Here, we reveal the overwintering site of Japanese carrion beetles Eusilpha japonica (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Silphidae). These beetles occupy various locations between spring and autumn; however, they are not observed in most of these places in winter. To investigate where they overwinter, a thorough scan was made of 109 sites. Overwintering beetles were found at 21 of 73 sites near to trees, and no beetles were observed at 36 sites that were not close to trees. To evaluate the influence of trees on the abundance of overwintering beetles, we established a quadrat consisting of 518 subquadrats in a suitable habitat with varying distances to the nearest trees. We caught 118 overwintering beetles in the quadrat. More beetles existed in subquadrats closer to trees, and analyses that considered spatial autocorrelation revealed a negative correlation between beetle frequency and distance to the nearest tree.     

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.     

Pathogenicity of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema glaseri, and S. scarabaei (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, Steinernematidae) Against 12 White Grub Species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

We compared the pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema glaseri, and S. scarabaei against third instars of 12 white grub species. The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) was highly susceptible to all nematode species. Oriental beetle [Exomala (=Anomala) orientalis], European chafer (Rhizotrogus majalis), Asiatic garden beetle (Maladera castanea), and the May/June beetles Phyllophaga crinita, Ph. congrua, and Ph. (Subgenus Phytalus) georgiana were highly susceptible to S. scarabaei but had mediocre to low susceptibility to H. bacteriophora and S. glaseri. The black turfgrass ataenius (Ataenius spretulus) was very susceptible to H. bacteriophora but had mediocre susceptibility to S. glaseri and S. scarabaei. Northern (Cyclocephala borealis) and southern masked chafer (C. lurida) had mediocre and southwestern masked chafer (C. pasadenae) and green June beetle (Cotinis nitida) had low susceptibility to all nematode species.     

典型黑土区主要树种根系构型特征及其对固土能力的影响

为量化典型黑土区主要树种根系构型特征,探究其对固土能力的影响,以该区分布较广的榆叶梅、小叶锦鸡儿、白桦、糖槭、红皮云杉、樟子松单株个体为研究对象,采用全根挖掘和WinRHIZO Pro LA2004分析系统相结合对其根系空间分布、几何形态、分形等特征进行测定,同时采用原位整株根系拉拔的方法量化根系垂直拉拔力。结果表明: 榆叶梅以倾斜根为主,小叶锦鸡儿、白桦、糖槭和红皮云杉以水平根为主,樟子松根系在水平和垂直分布上较为均衡;除白桦总根表面积和红皮云杉总根长外,灌木树种总根长、总根表面积显著大于乔木,落叶阔叶乔木总根长、总根表面积显著大于针叶常绿乔木,白桦总根体积显著大于小叶锦鸡儿、糖槭、红皮云杉和樟子松;榆叶梅、小叶锦鸡儿和白桦根系分形维数和分形丰度显著大于红皮云杉和樟子松;榆叶梅、小叶锦鸡儿和糖槭整株根系平均最大垂直拉拔力显著大于白桦、樟子松和红皮云杉。主要受根系总根长、总根表面积和倾斜根数量的影响,榆叶梅、小叶锦鸡儿和糖槭根系表现出较强的固土能力,可作为典型黑土区水土保持植被构建中优先选择的树种。     

西藏马鹿与同域野生有蹄类、家畜草青期食性比较

西藏马鹿为我国特有种,曾一度被认定为野外灭绝。在其生境中有多种食性相近的野生有蹄类及家畜同域分布,探究青藏高原特殊环境下西藏马鹿与这些有蹄类的食物资源种间竞争与共存关系十分必要。2013年和2014年8—9月,采用粪便显微分析法确定了桑日县西藏马鹿自然保护区西藏马鹿、白唇鹿、藏原羚、牦牛、山羊草青期食物组成,并比较分析了西藏马鹿与同域野生有蹄类、家畜之间的食物重叠和分化状况。结果表明: 西藏马鹿与其他有蹄类具有相似的可食植物种类组成,但所占食谱比例不同。西藏马鹿主要可食植物多为其他有蹄类次要可食植物,其中弱小火绒草为西藏马鹿(在动物食谱中的百分比为11.2%)与牦牛(10.2%)共同的主要食物,西藏柳为西藏马鹿(9.6%)和白唇鹿(11.4%)共同的主要食物。从科级水平来看,豆科植物为西藏马鹿(21.4%)与藏原羚(42.5%)的共同主要可食植物,莎草科植物为白唇鹿(49.2%)、牦牛(33.4%)、山羊(50.3%)的共同主要可食植物。菊科植物作为西藏马鹿(29.6%)的主要可食植物,也是白唇鹿(7.6%)、藏原羚(11.6%)、牦牛(17.3%)和山羊(14.1%)的次要可食植物。禾本科植物作为西藏马鹿(7.1%)次要可食植物,较其他4种有蹄类(白唇鹿13.6%、藏原羚12.3%、牦牛11.5%、山羊16.0%)所占比例低。西藏马鹿与其他有蹄类食物重叠度均高于0.5,与牦牛的重叠度最高(0.65)。西藏马鹿食物多样性指数(1.32)、均匀度指数(0.37)和生态位宽度指数(15.79)均较高。与2007—2008年相比,西藏马鹿食物组成变化较大,豆科植物比例增大,莎草科植物比例降低,食物质量总体有所提高。西藏马鹿与家畜之间存在较高的食物资源竞争,这将进一步影响西藏马鹿的分布范围和生存空间。     

Dissemination of Microbial Agents Using an Autoinoculating Device and Several Insect Species as Vectors

A device for autoinoculating insects with marker dye and active agents, such as biocompetitors of plant pathogens (e.g., Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma polysporum, Bacillus subtilis) and entomopathogens (e.g., Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana) is described. Laboratory tests using a powdered dye indicated that the device worked for sap beetles, house flies, pomace dies, and moths. Quantitative studies with blue dye (as an indicator of dispersal) and some bioactive agents demonstrated that a high percentage of sap beetles became contaminated with the material placed inside the autoinoculator in a short period of time (minutes). In the laboratory, sap beetles carried B. bassiana from the autoinoculator to unexposed sap beetles, causing high mortality. In the field, sap beetles entered the baited traps attached to the autoinoculator, became contaminated with the dye, and carried it to damaged corn or apples.     

Suitability of commercially available insect traps and pheromones for monitoring dusky sap beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and related insects in Bt sweet corn

Two trap types and pheromone sources for the dusky sap beetle, Carpophilus lugubris Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), were compared in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and non-Bt sweet corn fields over a 3-yr period. Overall, commercial traps and pheromones were equally effective as experimental traps and pheromones used previously for capturing C. lugubris and other sap beetle species. The commercial trap often caught significantly more Glischrochilus quadrisignatus Say than the experimental trap that had been used in previous studies. Bt corn significantly reduced caterpillar damage to ears compared with the non-Bt isoline and did not adversely affect levels of Orius sp., the most common insect predator. Sap beetle damage was the most common insect damage to Bt sweet corn ears. Sap beetles were detected by traps at population levels below that which are likely to cause economic concern, indicating commercially available traps and pheromone lures for monitoring sap beetles should be suitable for detecting them under commercial growing conditions.     

武夷山自然保护区土壤可培养芽胞杆菌 的物种多样性及分布

为了解武夷山自然保护区土壤中可培养芽胞杆菌的分布状况, 2012年6月从该保护区的黄岗山顶部、中部、底部和桐木关、挂墩、大竹岚等6个地点采集土样75份。用80℃水浴加热、稀释平板法进行芽胞杆菌的分离, 并根据16S rRNA基因序列分析对菌株进行初步鉴定。从土样中分离出芽胞杆菌418株, 鉴定为8个属42个种, 其中Bacillus属的种数最多, 有20种, Paenibacillus属和Lysinibacillus属分别有8种和7种。不同地点分离到的芽胞杆菌在种类、数量上存在差异: 从大竹岚土壤中分离到的芽胞杆菌种类最多, 从黄岗山中部和底部分离到的种类数则较少; 挂墩、大竹岚土壤中芽胞杆菌的数量较大, 达3.6×10⁶ cfu/g以上, 而黄岗山顶部和中部土壤中的数量则少于4.9×10⁵ cfu/g。Bacillus cereus、B. mycoides、B. thuringiensis和Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus等4个种在6个地点的土样中均有分离到, 其中B. thuringiensis、L. xylanilyticus是该保护区土壤中的优势种。桐木关土壤中芽胞杆菌的种类多样性和均匀度指数都比其他5个地点的高, 而挂墩土壤中芽胞杆菌的Shannon-Wiener多样性、均匀度和优势度指数都最低。B. mycoides和B. thuringiensis的数量与海拔显著相关, 相关系数分别为0.852和-0.834, B. cereus、B. mycoides、B. thuringiensis的分离频度与海拔的相关性极显著, 相关系数分别为0.960、0.952和-0.931。研究结果表明, 武夷山自然保护区土壤中可培养芽胞杆菌的种类丰富、数量较大, 具有较高的多样性。     

Microhabitat selection in intertidal gobiid fishes: Species- and size-associated variation

Patterns of space use and the individual-based behaviour of microhabitat selection were investigated in three intertidal gobiid fishes, Bathygobius fuscus, Chaenogobius annularis and C. gulosus, from Kyushu, southern Japan. While the three species tended to occupy slightly different types of tidepool, their patterns of distribution largely overlapped in the field. Laboratory experiments involving choice of shelter (i.e. underneath a stone plate) and four different substrate types were conducted to examine size- and time-related variation in habitat selection. The shelter area was preferred by small- and large-sized C. gulosus (day and night), large C. annularis (day and night) and small C. annularis (daytime only), while no preference was evident in small B. fuscus (day and night) and small C. annularis (night). Patterns of substrate choice also differed among species, size groups and between day and night. Size differences in substrate use were evident in B. fuscus and C. gulosus but not in C. annularis, while diel differences were shown by all species groups except large B. fuscus. The gravel and sand substrates tended to be used more frequently than the bare rock substrate, but the strength of preference of a particular substrate type varied among individuals/species. Our results demonstrate that habitat selection by the three gobiid species is variable depending on species, body size and time of day, which must ultimately bear upon mitigating intra-/interspecific interactions in tidepool environments.     

Priority effects of early successional insects influence late successional fungi in dead wood

Community assembly is an integral process in all ecosystems, producing patterns of species distributions, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning. Environmental filters and colonization history govern the assembly process, but their relative importance varies depending on the study system. Dead wood decomposition is a slow process, allowing decomposer communities to develop within a slowly changing substrate for decades. Despite this, there are few long‐term studies of priority effects from colonization history in this ecosystem. In this study, we investigate the importance of insects in early succession of dead wood on the fungal community present one decade later. Sixty aspen trees were killed in two study landscapes, each tree producing one aspen high stump and log. Insects were sampled with flight interception traps during the first 4 years after tree death, and fungal fruiting bodies were registered in year twelve. We found positive priority effects of two fungivorous beetles, the sap beetle Glischrochilus quadripunctatus and the round fungus beetle Agathidium nigripenne, on the Artist''s bracket (Ganoderma applanatum) and a positive priority effect of wood‐boring beetles on the ascomycete Yellow fairy cup (Bisporella citrina). The Aspen bracket (Phellinus tremulae) did not respond to insects in early succession of the dead wood. Our results suggest that early successional insects can have significant, long‐lasting effects on the late successional fungal community in dead wood. Also, the effect can be specific, with one fungus species depending on one or a few fungivorous beetle species. This has implications for decomposition and biodiversity in dead wood, as loss of early colonizing beetles may also affect the successional pathways they seem to initiate.     

Influence of temperature on spring flight initiation for southwestern ponderosa pine bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

Determination of temperature requirements for many economically important insects is a cornerstone of pest management. For bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), this information can facilitate timing of management strategies. Our goals were to determine temperature predictors for flight initiation of three species of Ips bark beetles, five species of Dendroctonus bark beetles, and two genera of bark beetle predators, Enoclerus spp. (Coleoptera: Cleridae) and Temnochila chlorodia (Mannerheim) (Coleoptera: Ostomidae), in ponderosa pine forests of northcentral Arizona. We quantified beetle flight activity using data loggers and pheromone-baited funnel traps at 18 sites over 4 yr. Ambient air temperature was monitored using temperature data loggers located in close proximity to funnel traps. We analyzed degree-day accumulation and differences between minimum, average, and maximum ambient temperature for the week before and week of first beetle capture to calculate flight temperature thresholds. Degree-day accumulation was not a good predictor for initiation of beetle flight. For all species analyzed other than D. adjunctus Blandford, beetles were captured in traps only when springtime temperatures exceeded 15.0 degrees C. D. adjunctus was collected when maximum temperatures reached only 14.5 degrees C. Once initial flights had begun, beetles were often captured when maximum ambient air temperatures were below initial threshold temperatures. Maximum and average air temperatures were a better predictor for beetle flight initiation than minimum temperature. We establish a temperature range for effective monitoring of bark beetles and their predators, and we discuss the implications of our results under climate change scenarios.     

小菜蛾应对球孢白僵菌感染的免疫应答基因分析

通过室内生物测定,筛选对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella具有高毒力的球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana菌株,分析小菜蛾应对球孢白僵菌浸染的免疫应答基因。采用新一代Illumina高通量测序技术对接种/感染48h与未接种的小菜蛾样品分别进行转录组测序,筛选差异表达基因;结合生物信息学分析差异表达基因的功能、分类及涉及的信号通路等。结果表明接种小菜蛾48h后诱导2 434个基因发生差异表达,包括1 080个上调基因和1 354个下调基因。GO分类结果表明,这些差异表达基因（DEGs）被注释到45个GO term中,包括23个生物学过程,12个细胞组分和10个分子功能。KEGG分析表明,1 308个DEGs被富集到25个功能途径,这些DEGs包括497个上调基因和811个下调基因。分析发现,DEGs编码蛋白包含肽聚糖识别蛋白、丝氨酸蛋白酶55、丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂以及细胞色素P450 6K1类的免疫相关蛋白。另外,组蛋白、磷酸泛酰半胱氨酸脱羧酶、双链RNA结合蛋白、黑芥子酶等基因在球孢白僵菌侵染过程中也高表达,推测这些基因可能参与小菜蛾应对球孢白僵菌侵染的免疫反应。研究结果为进一步研究小菜蛾免疫相关基因的功能奠定了基础。