孢悬液浓度和宿主体型大小对球孢白僵菌对松墨天牛幼虫的致病力的影响

【目的】球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana是一种被广泛用于害虫生物防治的生防菌。本研究探讨了孢悬液浓度和宿主体型大小对球孢白僵菌对松墨天牛Monochamus alternatus 幼虫的致病力的影响,旨在为松墨天牛的生物防治提供科学基础。【方法】分别用0.5% 吐温-80(CK)以及1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸和1×10⁹孢子/mL的球孢白僵菌孢悬液接种松墨天牛4龄幼虫,统计接种后15 d内幼虫死亡率和染菌率。同时用最佳浓度(1×10⁹孢子/mL)的球孢白僵菌孢悬液接种体型大小分别为100~150, 200~220, 300~320, 400~420, 500~520和600~650 mg/头的松墨天牛幼虫,测定接种后20 d内幼虫的死亡率和染菌率。【结果】接种1×10⁵~1×10⁹孢子/mL的球孢白僵菌后,松墨天牛4龄幼虫起初活动自如,后在头部出现烧灼状伤并且体色逐渐变红,最后周身长满菌丝。不同浓度下,随球孢白僵菌孢子浓度升高,松墨天牛4龄幼虫校正死亡率和校正染菌率增加。接种1×10⁶~1×10⁹孢子/mL球孢白僵菌孢悬液15 d的松墨天牛4龄幼虫累计校正死亡率均可达到100%,1×10⁷, 1×10⁸和1×10⁹孢子/mL浓度下,松墨天牛达到100%校正死亡率所需时间最少。接种0 (CK), 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁷, 1×10⁸和1×10⁹孢子/mL球孢白僵菌孢悬液的松墨天牛4龄幼虫校正染菌率在第15天分别为0, 20.00%, 86.67%, 90.00%, 96.67%和100.00%,表现为白僵菌孢子浓度越高,染菌率越高。1×10⁹孢子/mL的接种浓度下,松墨天牛幼虫个体越大,天牛幼虫死亡率和染菌率越高。表现在第20天时,体型大小为100~150, 200~220, 300~320, 400~420, 500~520和600~650 mg/头的幼虫的死亡率分别为76.67%, 76.67%, 66.67%, 93.33%, 100.00%和100.00%,染菌率分别为60.00%, 63.33%, 60.00%, 86.67%, 96.67%和100.00%。【结论】球孢白僵菌悬浮液浓度对松墨天牛幼虫的死亡和侵染有显著影响,表现为随孢子浓度的增加而增加;同时,松墨天牛幼虫个体越大,死亡率和染菌率越高。研究结果对开展利用球孢白僵菌防治松墨天牛具重要借鉴和指导意义。     

Toxicity of fatty acid salts to German and American cockroaches

The toxicity of fatty acid salts to German, Blattella germanica (L.), and American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.), was evaluated. Potassium and sodium laurate caused up to 95% mortality of German cockroaches and 100% mortality of American cockroaches. Even-numbered potassium fatty acid salts, C8-C18 were assessed for toxicity at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2% concentrations by a 30-s immersion of cockroaches. The more soluble of the fatty acid salts at 2% concentration caused 65-95% mortality of German cockroaches and 100% mortality of American cockroaches. Potassium oleate, C18, was most toxic to both German (LC50 = 0.36%) and American (LC50 = 0.17%) cockroaches. Fatty acid salt solutions on a substrate were tested by placing cockroaches in contact with treated floor tiles immediately after application (wet) or after the solutions had dried. Sodium laurate and potassium caprate caused mortality of German (62 +/- 17.4 and 58 +/- 12.6%, respectively) and American cockroaches (52 +/- 18.5 and 28 +/- 4.9%, respectively) on wet tiles, whereas potassium oleate caused mortality of German cockroaches (67 +/- 14.1%) only. Dry fatty acids caused no mortality among exposed cockroaches. Fatty acid salt solutions can be effective in killing German and American cockroaches but only when insects are thoroughly wetted with 1-2% fatty acid salt solutions.     

Synergistic effect of entomogenous fungi on some insecticides against Bihar hairy caterpillar Spilarctia obliqua (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

A number of fungal parasites infect a wide range of insects and cause epizootics from time to time. Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin are two of the major disease-causing fungi in insects. Investigations were carried out to study the effect of these fungi on the toxicity of endosulfan, imidacloprid, lufenuron, diflubenzuron, dimethoate and oxydemeton methyl against 10-11 days old larvae of Spilarctia obliqua (Walker). For some products the combination treatments showed higher dose mortality response than the sole treatment of fungal conidia or the insecticide. The combination of insecticides with B. bassiana showed 1.26-35.8 fold increase in toxicity of insecticides over sole treatment, while the increase was 1.05-72.0 fold in case of M. anisopliae. Imidacloprid 17.8 SL and oxydemeton methyl 25EC may be used in combination with these fungi for management of S. obliqua.     

Entomopathogenic Fungi Associated with Natural Populations of the Moroccan Locust Dociostaurus maroccanus (Thunberg) (Orthoptera: Gomphocerinae) and Other Acridoidea in Spain

The entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana Vuill . and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) have been found in natural populations of the Moroccan locust Dociostaurus maroccanus (Thunberg) and other species of acridoids that cohabit the same locust breeding areas in southern Spain . Infection levels of B. bassiana on insects collected in the field and maintained under laboratory conditions were relatively high (1 . 6 - 20 . 5%) . The prevalence of the disease extended from spring to summer in the three consecutive years monitored . A local isolate of this fungus demonstrated high virulence (LD = 440 conidia / insect) against the 50 locust D. maroccanus in the laboratory bioassay . The relatively wide host range of B. bassiana and its adaptation to the dry and hot conditions dominating the locust breeding area suggest that this isolate could be considered in the development of a biological control programme against D. maroccanus.     

Effection of Ocneridia volxemi Bolivar (Pamphaginae, Orthoptera) hoppers and adults by Beauveria bassiana (Deuteromycotina, hyphomycetes) conidia in an oil formulation

Ocneridia volxemi Bolivar (Pamphaginae, Orthoptera) is one of the important insects pest in the heigh plains of north east of Algeria. Larval and adult stages caused severe damage to the leaves of cereals and an other various crops. Laboratory studies were conducted to the determine the potential of the fungus Beauveria bassiana for the control of the pest of larval and adults. Positive results were obtaved when larvae and adults were sprayed with different concentration of fungus conidia (D1: 2 x 10(6) conidia/ml, D2: 5 x 10(5) conidia/ml, D3: 8 x 10(4) conidia/ml, D4: 10(2) conidia/ml). Concentration at D1 and D2 in an oil formulation showed respectively 100% and 90 % larval mortality at the first day of treatment and 100%-9% adults mortality at the five day of treatement. The results revealed that the rates of infection and mortality were significantly related to the concentration of conidia in the corresponding samples. Beauveria bassiana can be considerd as a promising biocontrol agents of Ocneridia volxemi may be an other locuts, but field experimentation is necessary to subtantiate these finding.     

Neurophysiological changes associated with paralysis arising from body stress in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana

Two hours after physical stress, Periplaneta americana could be separated into three behavioural categories: normal to hyperactive; torpid with ataxia; and paralysed. At 2 hr, 68 per cent were either torpid or paralysed, at 20 hr, 83 per cent were paralysed. Weight loss was a distinct physiological symptom of stress paralysis: The calculated mean loss was 9·5 mg/hr for torpid insects and 12·4 mg/hr for paralysed cockroaches, losses were four to six times larger than those occurring in starved cockroaches. However, the haemolymph osrnolarities of the three categories showed no appreciable differences. Only starved and paralysed cockroaches showed a noticeable reduction in muscle fibre membrane potentials of the flexor tibia—a mean value below 40 mV for starved insects and a mean value below 50 mV for paralysed insects. Both of these categories consistently showed a lower amplitude for junctional potentials, but paralysed cockroaches showed a much higher incidence of complete failure to neural stimulation. Most muscle fibres of completely paralysed insects lost their sensitivity to direct extracellular stimulation while the loss in sensitivity was less evident in starved cockroaches. Axonal conduction on the crural nerve was not changed by stress, and the spontaneous efferent activity of completely paralysed insects was similar to the pattern of activity for normal cockroaches. Stress seemed to alter the volume and content of the intermyofibral spaces of muscles.     

Susceptibility of adult Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) to entomopathogenic fungi

Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is an invasive parasite species in populations of honey bees, Apis mellifera L. Aiming toward substitution of chemical control, we here identified a naturally occurring fungal pathogen of adult A. tumida from its endemic range in South Africa [Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin variety anisopliae strain FI-203]. The susceptibility of adult beetles (n = 400) to this fungus and to three other generalist entomopathogenic fungal isolates [Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, and Hirsutella illustris Minter & Brady] was assessed using spore suspension bioassays. The data revealed significantly increased mortality in the B. bassiana (74.00 +/- 8.94%) and M. anisopliae variety anisopliae (28.00 +/- 16.43%) tests but not in the H. illustris (2.00 +/- 4.47%) and M. anisopliae (12.00 +/- 8.37%) groups. The results indicate a potential for entomopathogenic fungi as an alternative control of A. tumida.     

Comparative analysis of the production of insecticidal and melanizing macromolecules by strains of Beauveria spp.: in vivo studies

Eleven strains of Beauveria bassiana, and a further five species of Beauveria sp., were tested by injection of 8x10(2) conidia into the haemocoel of the larvae of the lepidopteran Galleria mellonella with the aim of analysing their toxin producing activity in vivo. Although the virulent strains killed 100% of the insects at slightly different rates (4-6 days) there were significant differences in the pattern and intensity of host melanization caused by isolates. The majority of the isolates of Beauveria spp. induced a fast and intense melanization of the cuticle of the integument and of tracheal wall, which followed one of three patterns. Another small group of two B. bassiana strains, isolated from Ostrinia nubilalis, induced very weak or no melanization. Strains 618 and 101 of B. bassiana, were selected as models of "melanizing" and "non-melanizing" strains, respectively. Ultrastructural alterations of cells of hypodermal and tracheal epithelium and of haemocytes, assumed to be at least partially caused by fungal toxins, were revealed in larvae infected by both isolates. However, their effects on the fine structure of the hypodermis were different. Injection of sera obtained from haemolymph of insects infected with B. bassiana 618 showed that they have insecticidal, melanizing, and cytotoxic effects similar to those occurring during mycosis. Chromatographic studies and bioassays with fractions prepared from crude serum have allowed a partial identification of the toxic molecules secreted by the fungus in vivo. They are proteinaceous, as shown by protease treatments, thermolabile, negatively charged, and not glycosylated with alpha-d-mannose or alpha-d-glucose. If strain B. bassiana 618 produces melanizing macromolecules which are vivotoxins secreted during the mycosis, the mode of action of isolate 101 is different. Its capacity to kill the host depends on active mycelial development, and on the production of low molecular weight toxins.     

Laboratory evaluation of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae against puparia and adults of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Laboratory experiments were done to measure the pathogenicity of 10 autochthonous isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill. and of five Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. toward puparia and adults of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Although all isolates applied via inoculation of the fungal suspensions on the ventral surface of the abdomen were pathogenic to adults, with mortality rates ranging from 30 to 100% and average survival times (ASTs) from 6.5 to 8.6 d, when C. capitata puparia were immersed in the conidial suspensions, only B. bassiana Bb-1333 and EABb 01/103-Su and M. anisopliae EAMa 01/58-Su isolates caused >50% mortality of puparia. In a second series of bioassays conducted on five selected isolates, adults were sprayed with four 10-fold concentrations ranging from 1.0 x 10(5) to 1.0 x 10(8) colony-forming units (cfu)/ml. The median lethal concentrations (LC50) of the four most virulent isolates ranged from 4.9 x 10(5) to 2.0 x 10(6) cfu/ml with estimated time to kill 50% of the insects ranging from 4.6 to 5.3 d. The effect of a sublethal dose (ca. LD50) of either B. bassiana EABb 01/103-Su or M. anisopliae EAMa 01/58-Su isolate was studied by reciprocal crossing. Treatment with B. bassiana reduced fecundity and fertility at 6, 8, and 10 d after treatment, with fecundity and fertility reductions ranging from 20.0 to 71.2% and from 33.6 to 60.0%, respectively. These reductions occurred in pairing combinations of treated females with either treated or nontreated males. M. anisopliae was more effective in reducing fecundity and fertility at 6 d after treatment, with the reduction varying from 58.4 to 72.1% and from 28.6 to 45.9%, respectively. In addition, the first oviposition was significantly delayed for 1 d in females treated by either fungal species. The above-mentioned five selected isolates were assayed against C. capitata puparia treated as late third instars in sterilized soil at 25'C under three moisture conditions (-0.1, -0.01, and -0.0055 MPa). At -0.01 MPa, all isolates were low pathogenic to C. capitata puparia, whereas significant differences in the puparia mortality occurred between isolates at -0.1 and -0.0055 MPa. The highest pupal mortalities ranged from 52.5 to 70.0%, as a function of soil moisture and were caused by EAMa 01/58-Su and Bb-1333 isolates.     

松褐天牛球孢白僵菌高毒力航天诱变菌株的筛选

【目的】松褐天牛Monochamus alternatus是我国松材线虫病Bursaphelenchus xylophilus的主要媒介昆虫。为了更好地开发利用松褐天牛病原微生物球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana, 本研究通过航天搭载诱变及室内筛选, 获得球孢白僵菌高毒力诱变菌株。【方法】将经神舟八号飞船航天搭载诱变后的孢子稀释液涂布在PDA平板上培养,获得单菌落菌株,进而筛选获得高毒力诱变菌株。观察所获9个航天诱变菌株的菌落形态、菌落生长速度、产孢量、孢子萌发率及抗高温胁迫能力等生物学特性, 在此基础上筛选出生物学性状优良的菌株B159, B252和B305, 并进一步对松褐天牛4龄幼虫进行生物测定。再通过撒菌粉和注射菌液方法, 检验B252和B305对松木段内松褐天牛幼虫的杀虫效果。【结果】球孢白僵菌航天诱变菌株的生物学特性与野生型菌株cfcc81357存在分化。9个航天诱变菌株的菌落形态发生了不同程度的改变,6个菌落生长速率出现负向变异,仅诱变菌株B159, B252和B305能产生分生孢子。航天诱变菌株B252和B305在浓度为1.0×107 cfu/mL时对松褐天牛4龄幼虫的校正死亡率均为100%, 半致死中时(LT₅₀)分别为8.08和8.56 d, 明显优于野生型菌株, 显示出对松褐天牛的极强毒力。使用撒菌粉和孢子液体注射方法, 诱变菌株B252和B305对松木段内松褐天牛幼虫死亡率比野生型菌株高。【结论】诱变菌株B252和B305可能是优良菌株, 对生物防治松褐天牛方面有潜在的实用价值。     

不同温湿度下球孢白僵菌对小猿叶甲的致病力

本文在室内研究了分离自小猿叶甲的一株球孢白僵菌(SCAU-BB01D)在不同温度和湿度条件下对小猿叶甲成虫和2龄幼虫的致病力。结果显示温度和相对湿度对白僵菌的致病力有显著影响。在17℃和29℃,小猿叶甲成虫和2龄幼虫的死亡率显著低于其他温度; 在23℃下,成虫接菌后第14天的累计死亡率达到最高为95.60%; 在23℃和26℃下,2龄幼虫接菌后第10天达到最高累计死亡率96%。随着相对湿度的提高,球孢白僵菌对小猿叶甲的致病力显著增加,当相对湿度从50%增加至100%时, 成虫第14天的累计死亡率从55.70%增加到88.80%,2龄幼虫第10天的累计死亡率从62.00%增加到96.00%。机率值分析结果表明,在17、20、23、26和29℃温度下,白僵菌对小猿叶甲成虫和2龄幼虫的LT₅₀分别为 13.63、10.27、8.05、8.87、12.41天和 6.06、5.72、4.90、4.86、6.73天。随着相对湿度的升高,球孢白僵菌对小猿叶甲的致死中时(LT₅₀)呈缩短的趋势,当相对湿度为50%、60%、70%、80%、90%、100％时,成虫和2龄幼虫的LT₅₀分别为12.97、10.97、10.13、9.79、9.14、8.29天和7.68、6.92、5.76、5.57、5.48、4.82天。由实验结果可以得知,23～26℃是球孢白僵菌感染小猿叶甲最适宜的温度范围,环境湿度越高越有利于病原菌侵染,当相对湿度大于90%时,最有利于球孢白僵菌对小猿叶甲的感染。     

Susceptibility of Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) to Entomopathogenic Fungi from Ethiopia

The efficacy of 13 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi belonging to Beauveria , Metarhizium or Paecilomyces spp. was assessed against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) using a total immersion bioassay technique in the laboratory. Fungi were applied at concentrations of 1 ×10 7 and 1 ×10 8 conidia mL -1 for P. truncatus and S. zeamais , respectively. All isolates tested were virulent to P. truncatus (98-100% mortality, and median survival time (MST) ranged from 2.85-4.05 days). Metarhizium anisopliae and B. bassiana were also virulent to S. zeamais (92-100% mortality, MST ranged from 3.58-6.28 days). The isolate of Paecilomyces sp. was found to be the least virulent against S. zeamais , causing only 26.32 ±4.29% mortality with MST of 10.38 ±0.29 days. P. truncatus proved more susceptible to the entomopathogenic fungi tested than S. zeamais . One M. anisopliae (PPRC-EE) and three B. bassiana isolates (PPRC-HH, PPRC-9609 and PPRC-9614) were selected for further study and dose-mortality relationships were assessed on S. zeamais . The tested concentrations ranged from 1 ×10 4 -1 ×10 7 conidia mL -1 . M. anisopliae (PPRC-EE) showed the lowest LC 50 (3.39 ×10 5 conidia mL -1 ) followed by B. bassiana PPRC-HH (2.04 ×10 6 conidia mL -1 ). PPRC-9609 and PPRC-9614 showed slight differences in LC 50 but not at LC 90 . The results revealed the higher potency of M. anisopliae as compared with the B. bassiana isolates tested. The study suggests that the use of entomopathogenic fungi may hold promise as an alternative method to control pests of stored-products in Ethiopia.     

Cumulative impact of a clover cover crop on the persistence and efficacy of Beauveria bassiana in suppressing the pecan weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The pecan weevil, Curculio caryae (Horn), is a key pest of pecan. Endemic levels of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin can occur in pecan orchards and contribute to natural control of C. caryae. Commercial formulations of the fungus can also be applied for suppression of C. caryae. We hypothesized that a clover cover crop enhances B. bassiana efficacy and persistence (e.g., by protecting the fungus against abiotic environmental stresses). The hypothesis was tested by conducting field trials in a pecan orchard in Byron, GA, in 2009 and 2010. The study included four treatments arranged in a factorial with two levels of fungus (endemic fungus only, and application of a commercial B. bassiana product), and two levels of clover (white clover, Trifolium repens L., and no clover). Fungal persistence was measured by determining the number of CFUs per gram of soil over time (during 42 d postapplication of B. bassiana in 2009 and 29 d in 2010). Efficacy was measured by capturing naturally emerging C. caryae and subsequently determining mortality and mycosis (over 24 d in 2009 and 17 d in 2010). In 2009, greater prevalence of B. bassiana conidia was detected in plots receiving fungal applications compared with no fungus applications, and no clear effect of clover was observed in plots receiving B. bassiana applications in either year. In 2010, B. bassiana prevalence in the endemic fungus plus clover treatment was higher than fungus without clover, and was similar to plots receiving additional B. bassiana applications. Given that we observed enhanced persistence of endemic B. bassiana in 2010 but not 2009, the impact of clover appears to be a cumulative effect. Mortality of C. caryae (averaged over the sampling periods) ranged between 68-74% in plots receiving B. bassiana applications and 51-56% in plots with endemic fungus only. C. caryae mortality and mycosis data also provided evidence that endemic B. bassiana efficacy was enhanced by clover relative to plots without clover (with no clear clover effect on plots receiving fungus applications). Thus, we conclude that natural control of C. caryae can increase when clover is grown in pecan orchards with endemic populations of B. bassiana.     

Effects of nutrient medium composition and temperature on the germination of conidia and the entomopathogenic activity of the fungi

The effects of nutrient medium composition and temperature on the germination of conidia of the fungi Beauveria bassiana (strain AlG) and Metarhizium anisopliae (strain M-99) and their entomopathogenic activity have been studied. It was demonstrated that the presence of carbohydrates alone was sufficient for the spores of M. anisopliae M-99 to germinate, whereas the germination of B. bassiana AlG spores was inhibited by carbohydrates. Addition of KJ, ZnSO4, or KBr into the Czapek medium increased the entomopathogenic activity of B. bassiana. The optimum temperature for spore germination was 20-35 degrees C in both fungal species.     

Insect fauna in nests of the Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Croatia

Qualitative, quantitative and trophic structure of insects found in Eurasian griffon vulture nests were analysed. A total of 249 insects belonging to six orders were found in 18 griffon vulture nests, collected in three colonies on the islands Cres and Plavnik (Adriatic Sea). Eudominant orders were beetles (64.26%) and ants (22.49%). Dermestid beetles were present in all examined nests and comprise the permanent nest fauna. Other groups of insects (cockroaches, web spinners, ants, flies, aphids) were found to occur occasionally in nests.     

The Susceptibility of Boophilus annulatus (Ixodidae) Ticks to Entomopathogenic Fungi

The pathogenicity of five species of entomopathogenic fungi (Deuteromycetes, species: Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Metarhizium flavoviride, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Verticillium lecanii ) to the various developmental stages of Boophilus annulatus ticks was compared under laboratory conditions. M. anisopliae and B. bassiana strains were most virulent to engorged females and caused 85-100% mortality within 7-10 days post-inoculation (PI). The highest mortality of engorged females caused by other fungi reached only 25-60%. All tested fungi prevented or reduced the egg laying capability of the ticks several days before their death. Females surviving after treatment with the most virulent M. anisopliae strain (Ma-7) reached only 7-8% of their egg laying capacity as compared with the control. Other fungi caused a reduction of the weight of laid eggs by 35.4-80.8% as compared with untreated females. Only M. anisopliae and B. bassiana strains caused 70-98% mortality of the treated eggs. Unfed larvae of Boophilus annulatus were sensitive to M. anisopliae and M. flavoviride strains. The Ma-7 strain was most virulent to unfed larvae, with a mortality rate of 80.4% at a concentration of 1 ×107 spores ml -1 and 100% mortality at a concentration of 1 ×108 spores ml -1 .     

Evaluation of attractants for monitoring populations of the German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Lures that are used to attract German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), to traps were compared in olfactometer assays in the laboratory and in trapping experiments in cockroach-infested homes and a swine farm. In olfactometer assays, AgriSense GP-2 was the most attractive lure, followed by peanut butter, and distiller's grain. Other lures, including Trapper tablet; Victor pheromone, a crude fecal extract that ostensibly contains B. germanica aggregation pheromone; and Victor food lure elicited upwind orientation from <50% of the test insects. Peanut butter and distiller's grain were equally attractive in trapping experiments in swine production barns and they captured significantly more cockroaches than the GP-2 tablet or the Victor pheromone lure; the commercial lures failed to attract significantly more cockroaches than the unbaited control traps. When tested against blank controls, cockroaches preferred to rest in shelters that contained the aggregation pheromone-based lure (Victor), but this lure was the least attractive to cockroaches in olfactometer assays. These results do not support claims that commercial crude fecal extracts attract cockroaches to traps, and they highlight a need for developing more attractive lures for detection of cockroaches and for monitoring populations.     

Intraspecific variation and population structure of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, revealed with RFLP analysis of the non-transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA

Little information is available on genetic variation within and between populations of pest cockroaches. In this study, intraspecific HindIII polymorphism was investigated in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Linnaeus) (Dictyoptera, Blattaria: Blattellidae), using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of the non-transcribed spacer (NTS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Individual male insects were collected from infestations at three different pig farms. Each population was characterized by HindIII restriction fragment frequencies and haplotype (a particular X-chromosome pattern) frequencies. The inheritance of the X-chromosome HindIII rDNA patterns over 12 generations (3 years) follows Mendelian patterns, and the stability of this polymorphic marker indicates infrequent genetic recombination of variable sites. Although pairwise genetic distance measures were uncorrelated with geographical distance, the pattern of genetic differentiation of the three cockroach populations suggests that human-mediated transport of cockroaches is an important force in shaping the population genetic structure of cockroach infestations, at least at the regional scale of 10-100 km. Sequence variation in the ribosomal NTS is a useful marker, and RFLP of rDNA is a simple, robust and reproducible technique for differentiating recently diverged cockroach populations.     

杀菌剂对感染越冬桃小食心虫的白僵菌的抑制作用

【目的】桃小食心虫是我国果树上发生最普遍的食心类害虫,其室内人工饲养是综合防治研究的基础,但面临着田间越冬种群大量感染白僵菌死亡,给实验室种群的建立带来很大困难。因此筛选出对球孢白僵菌高效的杀菌剂用于解决桃小食心虫种群建立时感染白僵菌的问题。【方法】利用液体摇床振荡法和平皿十字交叉法测定16种常见杀菌剂对球孢白僵菌孢子萌发和菌丝生长的影响。【结果】筛选出9种杀菌剂,其中,腐霉利和中生菌素对孢子萌发的抑制效果好,常规用量抑制效果分别为97.88%±1.53%和93.22%±2.36%;抑霉唑和戊唑醇对菌丝生长的抑制效果明显,常规用量抑制效果分别达100.00%±0.00%和98.43%±0.99%;咪酰胺、丙环唑、噻菌灵、腈菌唑和吡唑醚菌酯对孢子萌发和菌丝生长的抑制效果都好。同时测定了这9种杀菌剂常规浓度及其5倍和10倍稀释液对桃小食心虫的毒力,结果表明有5种杀菌剂对桃小食心虫稍有不利影响。【结论】4种杀菌剂,中生菌素、戊唑醇、吡唑醚菌酯和噻菌灵可用于解决桃小食心虫种群建立时越冬幼虫的感染白僵菌问题。     

Effect of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycetes) upon the coffee berry borer (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) under field conditions

The effect of three strains of the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and two strains of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin upon the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), was studied in three coffee farms at different altitudes (450-1,100 m above sea level) in Soconusco, Chiapas, Mexico. The maximum average percentage mycosis varied according to altitude. At 450 m asl (El Rincon) mycosis was 14.3% for B. bassiana and 6.3% for M. anisopliae; at 880 m asl (Santa Anita) mycosis was 40.6% for B. bassiana and 12.6% for M. anisopliae, and at 1,100 m asl (Alpujarras) 33.9% for B. bassiana and 22. 1% for M. anisopliae. The effect of fungal mycosis through time was not significant (P > 0.01) in any of the farms, but there was a significant difference between the strains of the fungus (P < 0.01); the best strains being Bb25 and Ma4 at the lower altitude, Bb26 and Ma4 for the middle altitude and Bb26 and Ma4 at the higher altitude. Environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity and rain were not correlated with the percentage mycosis caused by B. bassiana and M. anisopliae. However, in the case of B. bassiana there was a significant, positive correlation (P < 0.01) between the infestation levels of the pest and the mycosis response of the entomopathogen.