Dissemination of Nosema pyrausta in feral populations of the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis

Epizootiological studies of Nosema pyrausta in natural European corn borer populations show that while vertical transmission is the primary way in which N. pyrausta is transferred from one host generation to the next, it is horizontal transmission that is responsible for the annual build-up of infection in each nonoverlapping generation. During the first generation, larval corn borer migration to adjacent corn stalks is minimal and increases in the prevalence of N. pyrausta within the population result from horizontal transmission of infection among borers that inhabit the same stalk. During the second generation, corn borer larvae actively disperse to other corn plants and this results in an increased level of infection. Factors which facilitate pathogen dispersal in this generation include (1) higher host densities, (2) longer periods of larval development, (3) lower mortality among young larvae, and (4) possible mechanical transmission by the braconid parasitoid, Macrocentrus grandii.     

Dynamics of Nosema pyrausta in natural populations of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis: A six-year study

Nosema pyrausta (Paillot) (Microsporida: Nosematidae) is an obligatory intracellular parasite of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). This pathogen is maintained in natural populations of O. nubilalis by both horizontal and vertical transmission. The impact of N. pyrausta on fecundity of adults and survival of larvae has been well documented in laboratory and field research. In an extensive study covering a 6 year period at one site, we described the effect of N. pyrausta within O. nubilalis populations in a continuous corn following corn ecosystem. We documented the presence of the pathogen through all life stages of O. nubilalis (egg, larva, pupa, adult), by collecting throughout the crop season and examining each insect stage in the laboratory for the frequency of infection with N. pyrausta. The percentage of infection with N. pyrausta and magnitude of the O. nubilalis population fluctuated throughout generation 1 and generation 2. Both horizontal and vertical transmission played a role in maintaining N. pyrausta in the population in both generations. There were strong correlations between percentage adults with N. pyrausta and percentage larvae with N. pyrausta, and between percentage eggs with N. pyrausta and percentage larvae with N. pyrausta. There was a weak correlation between percentage adults with N. pyrausta and percentage eggs with N. pyrausta. The percentage of insects infected with N. pyrausta was always lowest in the egg.     

Partial mitochondrial genome sequences of Ostrinia nubilalis and Ostrinia furnicalis

Contiguous 14,535 and 14,536 nt near complete mitochondrial genome sequences respectively were obtained for Ostrinia nubilalis and Ostrinia furnicalis. Mitochondrial gene order was identical to that observed from Bombyx. Sequences comparatively showed 186 substitutions (1.3% sequence divergence), 170 CDS substitutions (131 at 3(rd) codon positions), and an excess of transition mutation likely resulting by purifying selection (d(N)/d(S) = omega congruent with 0.15). Overall substitution rates were significantly higher at 4-fold (5.2%) compared to 2-fold degenerate codons (2.6%). These are the 3(rd) and 4(th) lepidopteran mitochondrial genome reference sequences in GenBank and useful for comparative mitochondrial studies.     

Lyophilization, vacuum drying, and subsequent storage of Nosema pyrausta spores

Methods of preserving Nosema pyrausta spores were developed by subjecting laboratoryreared, nondiapausing larvae of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, infected with N. pyrausta to different techniques of lyophilization and vacuum drying. Such material was still viable when it was stored in an airtight container and held at ?12°C for 12 months, or when it was stored in a vacuum desiceator and held at 22–24°C for 6 months.     

Influence of plant severing on movement of Ostrinia nubilalis larvae in Zea mays hybrid seed production fields

Genetically engineered corn hybrids that contain a cry gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) are gaining popularity for controlling the corn pest Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner). Continuous use of Bt corn, however, could select for O. nubilalis that are resistant to this corn. Monitoring for insect resistance is important, because it could help maintain the Bt technology. A possible monitoring method is to collect larval insects in commercial drying bins after harvest from Bt seed production fields. A drawback to this method is that these collections may be contaminated by insects that moved as later instars from severed non-Bt male rows into the adjacent Bt female rows. These larvae have little to no exposure to Bt toxin, resulting in possible "false positives." The objectives of this study were to first find which combination of planting and severing dates produces the least number of larvae that move from non-Bt male plants to Bt female plants and to assess O. nubilalis larval movement from severed non-Bt male rows to Bt female rows. Field studies in 2002 and 2003 were designed to simulate a hybrid seed production field. Results suggest that movement of O. nubilalis larvae from male corn is minimized when corn is planted early and male plants are severed by 2 wk post-anthesis. This reduces the likelihood of false positives by reducing the number of susceptible larvae moving between Bt and non-Bt plants. Also, larvae moved to all four female rows that were adjacent to the severed rows, but there were significantly more larvae found in the closest row compared with the other three. These results could be used to develop a monitoring program to find O. nubilalis larvae with resistance to Bt corn in field populations of O. nubilalis.     

环境因子对真水狼蛛胚胎发育的影响

研究了温度、相对湿度和光照时间对真水狼蛛（Pirata piraticus）胚胎发育的影响。结果表明,温度不仅影响真水狼蛛胚胎发育的全过程,也对胚胎发育的各阶段有影响,在20℃-35℃范围内,随着温度的升高,胚胎发育加快,卵的发育起点温度为11.9℃,低温下,卵的孵化整齐度高温下要高,28℃时,孵化率最高。为探讨真水狼蛛胚胎发育的影响因子和合适条件,考虑温度、相对湿度和光照时间3个因子的综合作用,按照二次正交旋转组合设计的要求安排实验,得出了影响胚胎发育历期、胚胎成形率和孵化率的二次回归模型,并分析了其影响因子,利用孵化率的回归模型,得到了真水狼蛛卵孵化的最优条件为温度为27℃-28.5℃,相对湿度为94％－97％,光照时间为14－17h。     

Diapause induction and termination: north-south strain differences in Ostrinia nubilalis

Diapause induction and termination responses of a northern strain (Minnesota [MN]) of Ostrinia nubilalis were compared with those of a southern strain (Georgia [GA]). A thermoperiod in constant light (12 hr at 25 degrees C alternating with 12 hr at 4 degrees C) failed to induce diapause in GA larvae, but approximately 50% diapause induction was observed in the MN population. Moreover, the 50% of MN larvae that continued their development (i.e., underwent pupation and adult development) did so at a slower rate, as measured by days to pupation, than GA larvae. In the laboratory, diapausing MN larvae responded more slowly to the optimal light-dark (LD) cycle for terminating diapause, LD 16:8, than did GA larvae. In the field MN populations are univoltine (i.e., are characterized by one generation per year). A delayed termination response in the spring, coupled with a longer critical daylength for diapause induction as daylength decreases during late summer (earlier diapause) restricts the time during which development can occur as contrasted with GA populations. In addition, it is postulated that these two phenomena, coupled with a possibly slower growth rate in the MN insects as revealed under laboratory conditions, may collectively represent the basis for univoltinism in the field.     

Thermoperiod-photoperiod interactions in the determination of diapause in Ostrinia nubilalis

Photoperiodic determination of larval diapause in Ostrinia nubilalis is shown to be strongly influenced by superimposed thermoperiods, here termed “thermophotoperiods.” Thermoperiodic cryophase temperatures (0–25°C) exert effects that are markedly different from responses evoked by thermophotoperiodic cryoscotophases of the same temperatures. The differences are attributed to the presence or absence of light (thermophotophase or thermophase). Perturbations of 12 h dark: 12 h light and 10 h dark: 14 h light photoperiods by low-temperature pulses of 4 h duration demonstrated that the biological clock reactions associated with both the scotophase and photophase are sensitive to temperature. Statistically significant thermoperiod-photoperiod interactions have been demonstrated.     

Modelling damage on maize by the European Corn Borer, Ostrinia nubilalis

The European Corn Borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a major pest of maize in many countries. Yield losses caused by larvae of this insect depend mainly on the extent of cavity damage, the timing of tunnelling, and their within-plant distribution. To describe these factors, a mechanistic model of cavity appearance is proposed here. It takes into account the main biological processes which determine damage. These are the development, mortality and within-plant distribution of the ECB larvae. The model has been estimated and tested on field data collected at INRA-Versailles in France. Model fittings showed that (i) creation and lengthwise extension rates of cavities per larva depend on location and instar of the larvae, and that (ii) only instars 4 and 5 make cavities. This model described, with a high precision level, the appearance and lengthwise extension of cavities over time and their within-plant distribution for two maize varieties, several infestation dates and levels, and various climatic sequences.     

Importance of plant size, distribution of egg masses, and weather conditions on egg parasitism of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis by Trichogramma ostriniae in sweet corn

Trichogramma ostriniae (Hym: Trichogrammatidae), an egg parasitoid of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lep: Pyralidae), were released into sweet corn (Zea mays L.) fields to study the effects of weather, plant size and distribution of egg masses on egg parasitism by the wasp. Sentinel European corn borer eggs were stapled onto leaves located in the upper, middle and lower third of sweet corn plants 5 to 35 meters away from the wasp release point in either a radial or grid manner. Weather conditions and plant architecture were monitored during the experiments. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data. The results indicated that percentage of eggs parasitized was negatively related to an increase in leaf area as well as an increase in distance eggs were located from the point of release of wasps. Eggs distributed on plants at different directions from the release point received different levels of parasitism. Eggs that were stapled onto leaves in the upper third of a corn plant received much less parasitism than those on the middle and lower third of the plant. Higher mean temperature adversely affected the level of parasitism during hotter times of the season and conversely, lower temperatures (<17 °C ) reduced the egg parasitism during cooler times of the season. The longer the exposure of eggs to wasps, the higher the level of egg parasitism. However, the levels of egg parasitism for 2 day's exposure were almost the same as that for 3 day's exposure due to the limited longevity and egg-laying behavior of the wasp. These results suggest that inundative releases of T. ostriniae should be made every two to three days, with multiple release points per hectare. In addition, weather conditions and plant architecture, especially temperature, plant height and leaf area must be taken into consideration to optimize levels of parasitism.     

The fate of immunoglobulin G fed to larvae of Ostrinia nubilalis

Since plants can be transformed genetically to produce functional antibodies, an immunological approach may be developed for controlling their arthropod pests. Specific antibodies would protect plants from arthropods if they could gain access to the pest antigen in sufficient amounts such that the normal function of the antigen is disrupted. In order to study the fate of ingested antibodies in the body of the European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), we fed the larvae on serum-containing diet. When larvae were fed on the serum-containing diet for various lengths of time between 12 and 96 h, no significant differences were noted in the immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration in their body. Immediately after the larvae stopped feeding, the concentrations of the IgG in their midgut was about one half that of the diet itself, but it decreased significantly after 6 h and again after 18 h (about 3 and 10 fold, respectively). Immediately after the larvae stopped feeding, the concentration of the IgG in their hemolymph was about 1/500 that in the diet. The concentration of IgG in the hemolymph of ECB larvae was influenced directly by the titer of antibodies in their diet. During the first 6 h after the larvae stop feeding the concentration of IgG in their hemolymph did not decrease significantly; however, it did so after 18 h (about 6 fold). The possibility that specific antibodies will gain access to antigens in the ECB body is discussed.     

Temperature effects on egg development of the rosy apple aphid and forecasting of egg hatch

The development of Dysaphis plantaginea (Pass.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) winter eggs was studied at six different constant temperatures ranging from 7.5 to 16.5 °C in order to improve the basis for phenological forecasts in early spring. The mortality was generally low at temperatures below 13.5 °C but increased considerably at 16.5 °C. The effect of temperature on development rates could be described with linear regression within the temperature range under study. The lower temperature threshold for development was estimated to be 4.0 °C and the thermal constant 140 day‐degrees. A time‐varying distributed delay approach was used to establish a temperature driven phenology model for winter egg hatch of D. plantaginea considering the intrinsic variability in development time. The model parameters such as temperature‐dependent development times and corresponding variances were quantified based on the experimental data. When compared with independent observations on egg hatch under semifield conditions, the model gave satisfactory validation results. It can be used as forecasting tool for the optimal timing of monitoring and control measures for D. plantaginea in early spring.     

Variability in virulence of Beauveria spp. soil isolates against Ostrinia nubilalis

European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) is an important maize pest which is treated mainly by synthetic pesticides with many negative effects for ecosystem and human health. Soil borne entomopathogenic fungi of species belonging to Beauveria genus may provide an alternative strategy for biological control of this pest. In this article, we report results of virulence testing of 46 soil isolates of Beauveria spp. against O. nubilalis in relation to isolates origin and haplotype. All strains were collected from soil using Galleria mellonella bait method. Conidia suspension with concentration 10⁷ conidia in ml was used for virulence test against 4th instar larvae of O. nubilalis at temperature 25°C. After 14 days, mortality of larvae was in the range 34%–96%. Median lethal time LT50 was estimated to 5.5–21.3 days. Mortality was not in relation to habitat or any other environmental parameter of sites where isolates came from. Differences among species were insignificant. Isolates were divided into 8 genetic lineages and 14 haplotypes using sequencing of ITS and Bloc nuclear regions. None of the lineages showed higher mortality than others. Despite more or less virulent isolates being found in each lineage, the three most virulent isolates belonged to the same lineage Beauveria bassiana A3. The four most virulent isolates were compared to commercial isolate GHA to assess medium lethal concentration. LC50 were estimated in range 7.5 × 10⁴ to 9.5 × 10⁵. Three of the four isolates showed equal or greater efficiency than strain GHA.     

玉米螟卵期寄生性天敌调查

在玉米螟卵期的寄生性天敌中,玉米螟赤眼蜂占93．51％,其它寄生蜂仅占6．49%．玉米螟赤眼蜂是卵期的优势蜂种。年度之间玉米螟卵的被寄生草差异较大。逐步回归分析表明,第2代玉米螟卵的被寄生率与第1代玉米螟卵发生量(X1),6月份温雨系数(X2),第2代玉米螟卵发生量(X2),7月上旬雨量(X4)和7月中旬雨量(X3)有极显相关(X1、X4为主要影响因于)。第3代玉米螟卵的被寄生率与7月上旬雨量(X2)、7月下旬雨日(X2)、8月上旬气温(X3),8月上旬雨量(X4)和8月下旬雨量(X5)有极显相关。由此可见,第1代卵发生量大,上代次卵发生期多雨,当代次卵发生期前少雨,当代次卵发生期多雨,有利于赤眼蜂寄生,玉米螟卵被寄生率提高。     

Olfactory neuron responsiveness and pheromone blend preference in hybrids between Ostrinia furnacalis and Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) and behavioral responses of hybrids between the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis, and the E-strain European corn borer (ECB(E)), Ostrinia nubilalis were examined and compared to the parental populations. In hybrids and both parents, the large-spike-size ORN was capable of responding to all four pheromone components of ACB and ECB, despite differences in which compounds elicited the greatest spike frequency in each population. There was a small-spiking ORN more narrowly tuned to the minor pheromone components in both ACB and ECB(E). In hybrids the homologous small-spiking ORN was tuned primarily to the ECB(E) minor pheromone component, with some responsiveness to the ACB minor component. Both species and all the hybrids had an intermediate spike-size ORN tuned primarily to their common behavioral antagonist. Dominance of responsiveness to the ECB(E) versus the ACB minor pheromone component on the small-spiking ORN may explain the greater tendency of hybrids to fly upwind to the ECB(E) pheromone blend than the ACB blend. This finding points toward a distinct evolutionary role for this ORN in allowing a pheromone shift.     

Peritrophic membrane structure and secretion in European corn borer larvae (Ostrinia nubilalis)

Peritrophic membrane (PM) secretion and formation occur primarily in the anterior region of the mesenteron in the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) as determined by light and electron microscopy. Nascent PM first became visible as fibrous linear chitin-containing structures stained with gold-labeled wheat germ agglutinin between and at the tips of the microvilli. No formed PM was visible at the foregut-midgut junction, but a thin single PM appeared first in the lumen between the stomodeal valves and the midgut epithelium. Just posterior to the stomodeal valves, multiple PMs were observed that became progressively thicker and more numerous in the mid and posterior regions of the mesenteron. The PM consists of an orthogonal chitin meshwork with openings slightly larger than the diameters of the microvilli. As it delaminates from the microvilli, the meshwork becomes embedded in proteinaceous matrix that greatly reduces the pore size of the PM.