稻水象甲成虫活动行为的日节律

为了摸清稻水象甲Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel成虫在稻田中的日活动行为节律, 采用室外单头隔离饲养的方法, 将成虫 行为分为移动、 取食、 离水静息、 触水静息和其他5个行为类型, 每30 min观察记录1次, 从2012年4月30日至5月4日连续观察5 d, 共获得7 200个行为数据。结果显示： 稻水象甲越冬成虫行为的日时间分配以离水静息行为最多（47.83%）, 移动行为最少（5.64%）, 各行为的时间分配存在极显著差异（P<0.001）。离水静息行为最高峰值在23:30 （72.67%）, 最低值在7:30 （14.67%）; 触水静息行 为最大峰值在7:30 （75.33%）, 19:00还有一个小高峰（37.33%）; 取食行为在15:00达到最高峰（26.67%）, 在21:00达到第2个高峰 值（18.00%）; 移动行为在22:00-9:00较少（0~4.00%）, 从9:30开始持续增加, 在17:00达到最高峰（20.00%）; 其他行为在 1.33~18.67%之间波动。离水静息、 移动、 取食和其他行为白天和黑夜存在极显著差异（P<0.001）, 但触水静息行为白天和黑夜无显著 不同（P=0.834）; 上午、 中午、 下午和晚上4个时间段之间各行为也有显著差异（P<0.001）。在空间上, 离水静息行为在叶片上最高 , 移动行为以水中最高, 取食行为仅发生在叶片上, 离水静息、 移动和取食在水稻不同部位存在极显著差异（P<0.001）。水中发生触 水静息、 移动和其他共3种行为, 以触水静息行为的日波动最大, 3种行为在各时刻之间有极显著差异（触水静息和移动： P<0.001; 其他： P=0.002）; 叶片上发生离水静息、 移动和取食3种行为, 以离水静息和取食行为的日波动较大且在各时刻间具有极显著的差异 （P<0.001）; 茎秆和瓶壁或封口纱布处主要发生离水静息和移动行为, 所占比例均不高, 但在瓶壁或封口纱布处的移动行为各时刻之 间有极显著差异（P=0.008）。水中和叶片上是行为发生的主要空间, 在水中行为的最高峰值（81.33%）与叶片上的最低值（12.00%）出 现时间相同, 为7:30, 一天中各时刻水中和叶片上的行为呈交错性变化。结果提示, 稻水象甲成虫活动行为受到时空变化的影响, 且 时间变化对其行为的影响较空间变化更为明显。     

稻水象甲田间种群动态及化学控制技术

稻水象甲在福建省霞浦县长春镇田间种群发生动态的调查结果表明:5月中旬是稻水象甲越冬代成虫迁入稻田为害高峰期,5月下旬成虫种群数量迅速降低,并有少量幼虫开始为害水稻根部;6月初是幼虫发生为害高峰期,蛹高峰期出现在6月中旬,并开始有一代成虫羽化。药剂筛选试验结果表明:20%丁硫克百威乳油、48%毒死蜱乳油、40%三唑磷乳油、5%锐劲特悬浮剂对稻水象甲成虫具有良好的田间控制效果,药后7d防效均在92.31%—100%;5%丁硫克百威颗粒剂、15%乐斯本颗粒剂、3%呋喃丹颗粒剂施药后7d对稻水象甲幼虫的防效90.03%—93.56%。化学综合防治示范区水稻分蘖数和株高均显著大于对照区。     

Integrating flood depth and plant resistance with chlorantraniliprole seed treatments for management of rice water weevil,Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Chlorantraniliprole seed treatments in rice provide effective suppression of rice water weevil populations in the United States; however, heavy reliance on prophylactic insecticide treatments as a sole strategy could destabilize management programs for this insect. The present research evaluated the compatibility of seed treatments with two other potential management tactics—plant resistance and shallow flooding–by conducting two split‐plot experiments in 2009 and 2011. In both experiments, no substantial antagonism was found among the 3 different tactics. Statistical interactions in these experiments arose from the strong and persistent effects of chlorantraniliprole on larval densities rather than incompatibility of tactics. In 2009, weevil densities differed among varieties and were significantly lower on the cultivar “Jefferson.” In 2011, weevil densities were reduced significantly in shallow‐flooded plots compared to deep‐flooded plots. Significant reductions in weevil numbers by chlorantraniliprole seed treatments, even at application rates 5 fold lower than commercially recommended rates, demonstrated the potential to reduce application rates of this highly potent larvicide. These latter results suggest that future studies on the relationship between chlorantraniliprole seed treatment rate and weevil fitness are warranted.     

基于ISSR分子标记技术的稻水象甲遗传多样性研究

稻水象甲Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel是一种世界性的水稻害虫,已侵入我国23个省市区,发生面积近千万亩。为弄清我国不同地区稻水象甲的遗传多样性水平、居群间的遗传分化及可能的扩散路线,本研究采用ISSR分子标记技术分析了我国13个省28个地区稻水象甲样本的遗传多样性。利用15条ISSR引物共扩增得到258条带,其中247条为多态性条带。在物种水平上,稻水象甲的多态位点百分率(PPB)为95.73%,Nei's基因多样性(H)为0.3578,Shannon信息多样性指数(I)为0.5330;在居群水平上,以上3项指标的平均值分别为46.28%、0.1768、0.2620。Nei's基因分化系数Gst为0.5059,表明有50.59%的遗传变异存在于居群间,49.41%的遗传变异存在于居群内,居群间表现出较高水平的遗传分化。通过UPGMA聚类可将稻水象甲28个居群分成2大支系:安徽池州、安徽合肥、云南嵩明、云南曲靖、江西南昌、四川盐亭、辽宁盘锦、辽宁东港、山西太原、山东东营、天津蓟县、陕西城固、河北唐山、云南寻甸等14个居群聚成第一个分支;贵州、贵州开阳、贵州龙里、贵州贵阳、贵州修文、四川隆昌、四川泸州、湖北武当山、湖北荆门、湖北利川、湖南宁乡、湖南双峰、湖南邵阳、天津宝坻等聚成第二个分支。     

The influence of rice plant age on susceptibility to the rice water weevil,Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus

Plant age‐ and plant stage‐related changes in the resistance of rice, Oryza sativa, to its most important insect pest in the US, the rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus), were investigated in a series of field and greenhouse choice and no‐choice studies. Rice plants were susceptible to infestation by rice water weevils over a broad range of plant ontogenetic stages, from at least the early vegetative stage to well into the reproductive stage. There was, however, a clear preference expressed by rice water weevils in both choice and no‐choice experiments for plants in (or nearly in) the tillering stage of development, with pre‐tillering and reproductive stage plants less preferred. The relationship between rice plant age and susceptibility to weevils is thus nonlinear. This study constitutes one of the most thorough studies to date of the relationship in a grass species between plant age and susceptibility to herbivores. The results provide a biological explanation for observed patterns of weevil infestations and a rationale for the cultural practice of delayed flooding.     

Microstructure of mandibulate mouthparts in the greater rice weevil,Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The greater rice weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, is a serious pest of stored grain. It chews a hole in the grain and deposits an egg inside. For the purpose of excavating a tunnel, these weevils are equipped with effective mandibulate mouthparts for penetrating and boring holes. The mouthparts of the weevil are a long slender snout, which consist of a labrum, a pair of mandibles, a pair of maxillae and a labium. Mothparts exhibit typical morphology of phytophagous coleopteran beetles and have characteristics of chewing mouthparts. Mandibles are connected to the head capsule through dicondyous articulation, which allows movement along one single rotating axis. Both labrum and labium are fused to the snout and form the upper and lower lips, respectively. Along the depressed surface of the snout, a number of short sensory hairs are sparsely arranged. The distal apexes of the maxillary and labial palpi are deeply depressed into a sensillar field, and only one type of the basiconic sensilla, which function as chemo‐ or gustatory receptors, occurs in both sexes.     

云南稻区稻水象甲Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel种群发生特征

【背景】2007年6月,云南省首次在嵩明县发现稻水象甲,为掌握其年发生世代、成虫和幼虫种群消长动态及其越冬特点开展此项研究。【方法】2008—2010年,采用田间系统调查法对云南省昆明市嵩明县大桥村稻区稻水象甲的种群发生规律进行了研究。【结果】每年4月初气温回升(4月气温9.0~24.1℃,均温16.1℃),稻水象甲越冬成虫开始出土活动,从稻田周边越冬场所迁移至稻埂或秧田取食杂草和秧苗。5月中旬,随水稻的移栽,迁移至大田为害并产卵,孵化后的幼虫取食水稻根系。6月中旬水稻分蘖期,幼虫发生量达到高峰,虫量为3.17~11.33头·丛-1;7月中下旬水稻孕穗期,也是形成土茧的高峰期,土茧量5.90~9.00头·丛-1;7月下旬—8月中旬水稻抽穗和扬花期,成虫大量出现,数量达0.21~4.85头·网-1;8月中旬水稻乳熟期,成虫逐渐迁移至稻田附近向阳坡面的田埂和沟埂上,主要集中在0~3 cm有杂草覆盖的浅土层越冬,直至翌年的4月底,最大越冬虫量98.33~266.00头·m-2。【结论与意义】稻水象甲在云南省嵩明县水稻区年发生1~1.5代;种群发生动态与水稻的生育期紧密相关,4月初越冬成虫为害秧苗,7月份是防治成虫的关键时期。     

浙江早稻谷中稻水象甲的存活研究

研究了早稻收获和储藏期间稻水象甲Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel一代成虫的数量动态及其存活时间与温湿度的关系。早稻收割时尚未迁离稻田的象甲中,仅3～13%的个体随脱落操作落入稻谷中,且这些个体经太阳曝晒2天后存活率不足1%;收割时残留于稻草中的虫量为稻谷中的5.1～12.3倍。储藏1个月的稻谷中所有成虫均死亡,但储藏相同时间的秕谷和稻草中存活成虫分别达到250头/50 kg秕谷和17头/50 kg稻草。成虫在≥90% RH下的存活时间显著长于35～75%RH下,在玻璃管中的存活时间显著长于稻谷中。在稻谷中,温度对成虫存活时间的影响不明显,但在玻璃管中,20℃（恒温）下的存活时间显著长于27.0～33.2℃（室温）下。利用生存分析的指数模型分析了成虫存活与湿度、温度和存放基质的关系,表明在75～98% RH之间,湿度越低则成虫死亡风险越大,较高温度（27.0～33.2℃）和处于稻谷中其死亡风险亦高。这些结果为开展稻谷中稻水象甲的检疫提供了依据。     

Fine-tuning the composition of the cranberry weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) aggregation pheromone

The cranberry weevil Anthonomus musculus Say is a key pest of highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) in the northeastern United States. Previous studies have reported A. musculus adult attraction to traps baited with the aggregation pheromone of the pepper weevil Anthonomus eugenii Cano, likely because these two weevils share similar pheromone blends that differ only in two components. The A. musculus aggregation pheromone contains (Z)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene) ethanol (Z grandlure II), (Z)-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene) acetaldehyde (grandlure III), (E)-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene) acetaldehyde (grandlure IV) and (E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol (geraniol); whereas A. eugenii produces a pheromone blend that includes (E)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene) ethanol (E grandlure II) and (E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienoic acid (geranic acid) in addition to the four A. musculus pheromone components. Here, we hypothesized that differences in pheromone composition between these two species influence A. musculus adult attraction to its aggregation pheromone. To test this, we studied the response of A. musculus to its pheromone blend with and without E grandlure II and geranic acid, a commercial A. eugenii pheromone lure and a no-lure control in highbush blueberry and cranberry fields in New Jersey and Massachusetts, respectively. Regardless of crop type, A. musculus adults were more attracted to their four-component pheromone blend and the blend plus geranic acid than the commercial A. eugenii pheromone and the no-lure controls. The A. musculus pheromone blend plus E grandlure II and the A. eugenii pheromone blend also captured more A. musculus adults than the no-lure control but not compared to the commercial A. eugenii pheromone. Further analysis showed that A. musculus adults are significantly (~27%) less attracted to their pheromone blend if it contains E grandlure II, although the addition of geranic acid did not affect their response. These findings may help guide future efforts towards the development of behaviour-based tools to monitor and manage A. musculus.     

The influence of plant age on tolerance of rice to injury by the rice water weevil,Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

For most plant species, tolerance to many types of herbivory increases as plants age, but the applicability of this pattern to root herbivory has not been tested. Injury to roots of rice plants by larvae of the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, causes severe reductions in yields in the United States. It is generally thought that young rice plants, because their root systems are smaller, are less tolerant than older plants of root feeding by L. oryzophilus. Field experiments were conducted to test this hypothesis. Plots of rice (4.7 to 6.5 m2) were established and subjected to natural infestations of L. oryzophilus larvae. A soil insecticide was applied to plots at different times during the tillering phase of rice in order to manipulate the timing of weevil infestation. The impact of these treatments (timings of insecticide applications) was assessed by comparing relationships between yield loss and larval pressure for each treatment using analysis of covariance. Yield losses ranged from 13% to over 40% in plots not treated with insecticide. Patterns of yield losses from plots treated with insecticide at different times were best explained by the hypothesis that yield loss is determined both by the age of plants infested and by the size of larvae infesting plants. Young plants appear to be less tolerant than older plants, and feeding by large larvae appears to be more deleterious than feeding by smaller larvae. Management practices that delay infestation of rice by L. oryzophilus until plants are older may be an important component of management programmes for this pest.     

稻水象甲越冬成虫的耐寒力测定

测定了浙江乐清 (北纬 2 8 1 4°,东经 1 2 0 94°)稻水象甲LissorhoptrusoryzophilusKuschel越冬成虫的耐寒力 ,从 1 1月下旬至 3月下旬平均过冷却点温度为 -1 5 3～ -2 1 2℃ ,结冰点温度为 -1 4 0～ -1 8 6℃。结合发生地气温条件 ,讨论了该地冬春季低温对该虫越冬群存活的影响。     

Impact of azadirachtin on vine weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) reproduction

Abstract 1 The dose–response of azadirachtin on vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius), reproduction is investigated by confining adults to feed on treated Taxus × media leaves, and by counting and evaluating development in the resulting eggs. 2 A dosage‐dependent reduction in oviposition is discovered for foliar surface residues of azadirachtin, with an EC₅₀ of 25–50 parts per million (p.p.m) and 99.2% inhibition of viable egg production with 100 p.p.m. 3 Switching weevils from treated to untreated foliage allows reproductive capability to be restored for weevils that cease egg laying after azadirachtin exposure of 50 p.p.m. Weevils that had already started laying eggs in untreated groups soon cease oviposition once switched to azadirachtin‐treated foliage. 4 A transovarial effect results in a decrease in the percentage of viable eggs as the azadirachtin concentration increases. 5 The amount of feeding on foliage does not appreciably decrease at these hormonally effective concentrations, and adult weevil mortality is only slightly greater in the azadirachtin‐treated groups. Therefore, the overall effect of azadirachtin on weevil populations in the field is difficult to assess, except by collecting weevils to determine whether they are able to lay viable eggs.     

感染稻水象甲的Wolbachia基因组中插入序列的鉴定与分析

共生细菌Wolbachia对宿主的生殖起多种调控作用。以往研究表明, Wolbachia基因组中广泛存在插入序列(insertion sequence, IS), 它们对宿主基因组的可塑性、 多样性和进化起重要作用。稻水象甲Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel在东亚是一种外来水稻害虫, 在原产地北美营两性生殖, 而在所有入侵地均营孤雌生殖。本研究采用PCR法从河北唐海孤雌生殖型稻水象甲体内克隆获得了Wolbachia的2条IS序列, 即ISWosp4和ISWosp6; 从美国德克萨斯州两性生殖型稻水象甲成虫体内克隆获得了Wolbachia的2条IS序列, 即ISWosp3和ISWosp5。碱基序列比对显示: ISWosp3和ISWosp4属于IS3家族IS3组成员, ISWosp5为IS4家族IS231组成员, ISWosp6为IS5家族IS1031组成员。对这些IS的ORF结构、 所编码氨基酸序列的结构等进行了分析, 推测ISWosp5具有潜在转座活性。所得结果增进了我们对Wolbachia IS3, IS4和IS5家族插入序列的认识, 同时为今后从IS的角度探讨Wolbachia与稻水象甲生殖的关系奠定了基础。     

Temperature-dependent development and reproduction of the boll weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract Effects of temperature on development, survival, and fecundity of boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, were assessed at 10, 11, 12, 15,20,25,30,35,45, and 46 °C; 65% relative humidity; and a photoperiod of 13:11 (L: D) h. The mortality of boll weevil immature stages was 100% at 12°C and decreased to 36.4% as the temperature increased to 25°C. When the temperature increased from 30 °C to 45 °C, the mortality of weevils also increased from 50.1% to 100%. From 15°C to 35°C, the bollweevilpreimaginal development rate was linearly related to temperature. The average development time of total boll weevil immature lifestages decreased 3.6-fold and the preovipositional period decreased 3.3-fold when the temperature was increased from 15°C to 30°C. The lower threshold for development was estimated at 10.9, 6.6, 7.0, and 9.0 °C for eggs, larval, pupal, and total immature stages, respectively, with total thermal time requirement to complete immature stages of 281.8 DD (degree day) (15°C) and 247.8 DD (35 °C). At 1LC and 46°C, weevil females did not oviposit. Longevity of adult females decreased 4.6-fold with increasing temperatures from 15°C to 35°C. Fecundity increased with increasing temperatures up to 30°C and significantly decreased thereafter. These findings will be useful in creating a temperature-based degree-day model for predicting the occurrence of key life stages in the field. An accurate predictor of a pest's development can be very important in determining sampling protocols, timing insecticide applications, or implementing an integrated pest management control strategy targeting susceptible life stages.     

Characterization of microsatellite loci in Brachyderes rugatus,the Canary Islands pine weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The Canary Island pine weevil Brachyderes rugatus (Wollaston) consists of four allopatric subspecies that are thought to have arisen from several historic colonization events within the archipelago. We have isolated and optimized seven microsatellite loci from Brachyderes rugatus calvus from Gran Canaria. Six of these loci are polymorphic within B. rugatus (11–22 alleles per locus; heterozygosity between 0.43 and 0.84). There is no evidence for heterozygote deficit within populations or for linkage disequilibrium between pairs of loci. These molecular markers are likely to prove useful tools for quantifying the genetic variability of bottlenecked island populations.     

Japonica cultivars' susceptibility to the rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Brachyceridae)

Italy is the largest rice‐producing country in the European Union. In Italy, only japonica cultivars are listed in the Italian National Register. Almost all of the rice production is concentrated in the Po Valley, where the rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel was first detected and settled. This study investigated the performance of this pest in terms of feeding, reproduction and plant injury on 10 rice cultivars chosen among the most widely grown in Italy. No‐choice experiments were conducted to evaluate the plant susceptibility to larval attack and to find out how cultivars can influence the adult leaf area consumption. The results gave evidence of different types of attack depending on the density of the insect (0.6 adults/plant vs. 0.9 adults/plant), the cultivar type and climatic conditions. Different cultivars with the same level of infestation gave different results in terms of productivity. Production was significantly affected by the larval presence in 4 of the 10 cultivars tested. A different population structure reflected a different damage severity. Statistically different values for total adult leaf area consumption were found according to adult female age and to the cultivar.     

稻水象甲Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel卵巢、飞行肌及消长动态研究

本文在福鼎对稻水象甲消长动态进行了调查．并对成虫卵巢、飞行肌进行了解剖。通过解剖,所预测的各虫态发生期厦一代成虫迁移期与田间调查结果基本吻合。稻水象甲产卵高峰在4月底至5月上旬．幼虫、蛹和一代成虫的盛发期分别在5月上中旬、6月中下旬和6月下旬;一代成虫在6月下旬开始从稻田迁出。飞行肌解剖结果表明,飞行肌宽度随时间变化而变化,而长度则比较恒定,与发育历期无关,所以飞行肌宽度可作为监测依据,而长度则不宜采用。     

小型植保无人机超低量喷雾防治稻水象甲

【目的】通过建立适宜新疆荒漠绿洲特殊生态环境的稻水象甲超低量喷雾技术,为稻水象甲的大面积统防统治提供新型施药技术。【方法】以小型遥控多旋翼植保无人机(UAV)为施药机械,以稻水象甲常规喷雾防效大于90%的药剂为首选药剂,开展了药剂、施药量、助剂以及施药机型的筛选试验。【结果】施药后3、7、14和21 d虫口密度高于防治指标的样地所占比例依次为35.71%、21.43%、35.71%和78.57%。30%氯虫·噻虫嗪187.5 mL·hm~(-2)防效最佳,14 d药效高达93.43%;药后21 d,球孢白僵菌3000 mL·hm~(-2)的防效最高,达84.65%。各药剂施药量与防效呈正相关。此外,UAV喷雾防治稻水象甲时,添加助剂的平均防效可提高22.29%~28.49%。【结论】在农业精准施药、绿色生产中,综合考虑供试药剂的施药量、持效期、防效和药后存活虫量,建议以30%氯虫·噻虫嗪SC和14%氯虫·高氯氟CS作为全程以UAV为施药机械防治稻水象甲的首选药剂,在稻水象甲种群发展前中期优先考虑低浓度施药量;同时,为避免UAV在实际作业中药液雾滴发生飘失和流失问题,可以考虑添加飞防助剂提升防效。     

Flooding influences ovipositional and feeding behavior of the rice water weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, is the most destructive insect pest of rice in the United States. As part of an effort to develop strategies to manage this pest, the ovipositional and feeding habits of L. oryzophilus on rice plants subjected to different flooding treatments were characterized in greenhouse studies. Presence and depth of flood had a direct influence on the ovipositional behavior of weevils in no-choice studies. More eggs were found in flooded plants than in unflooded plants. Moreover, plants flooded to a depth of 5.1 cm received more eggs than plants flooded to depths of 1.3 or 10.2 cm. Presence and depth of flood influenced both the proportion of females that oviposited in plants and the number of eggs laid by those females that did oviposit. In choice studies, female weevils showed a marked ovipositional preference for plants flooded to a depth of 10.2 cm over unflooded plants and plants flooded to a depth of 1.3 cm. In separate choice experiments, adult rice water weevils fed more on flooded plants than on unflooded plants. In a third set of experiments, flooded plants were taller and had higher concentrations of 10 of 13 plant nutrients than unflooded plants. Thus, flooding may influence rice water weevil behavior both directly, by acting as a stimulus for feeding or oviposition, and indirectly, by inducing changes in the suitability of rice plants for feeding or oviposition. These data suggest that it may be possible to manipulate populations of weevils in rice by changing water management practices.     

Proteolytic activities in body and faecal extracts of the storage mite, Acarus farris

Trypsin, chymotrypsin, cathepsins B and D, aminopeptidase and carboxypeptidases A and B were detected in body extracts of the storage mite Acarus farris (Oudemans) (Astigmata: Acaridae). Faeces-enriched medium exhibited higher (10-50-fold) specific protease activity rates than those measured with mite body extracts for trypsin, chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidases A and B, suggesting that they are involved in mite digestion. However, the activity of cathepsin B was only three-fold higher in faecal than in body extracts, indicating that its presence in the lumen of the digestive tract is low compared to that of serine proteases. The activity of aminopeptidases was higher in mite bodies, indicating that they might be membrane bound. Cathepsin D activity was only detected in body extracts, indicating that this enzyme is not a digestive protease in this species. Zymograms resolved three major bands of gelatinolytic activity, but at least one protease form was only present in body extracts. Protease inhibitors of different specificity were tested in vivo to establish their potential as control agents. The development of A. farris was significantly retarded when the immature stages were fed on artificial diet containing inhibitors of serine and cysteine proteases and aminopeptidases, whereas no such effect was found with inhibitors of aspartyl proteases and carboxypeptidases. Interestingly, the most significant effects on A. farris occurred when a combination of inhibitors targeting different enzyme classes was supplied mixed in the diet, suggesting a synergistic toxicity. Several plant lectins were also tested, but only wheat germ agglutinin and concanavalin-A affected development.