Resistance to Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Euxesta stigmatias (Diptera: Ulidiidae) in sweet corn derived from exogenous and endogenous genetic systems

Field trials using Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Euxesta stigmatias Loew (Diptera: Ulidiidae) were conducted to evaluate resistance and potential damage interactions between these two primary corn, Zea mays L., pests against Lepidoptera-resistant corn varieties derived from both endogenous and exogenous sources. The endogenous source of resistance was maysin, a C-glycosyl flavone produced in high concentrations in varieties 'Zapalote Chico 2451' and 'Zapalote Chico sh2'. The exogenous resistance source was the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)11 gene that expresses Cry1A(b) insecticidal protein found in 'Attribute GSS-0966'. Damage by the two pests was compared among these resistant varieties and the susceptible 'Primetime'. Single-species tests determined that the Zapalote Chico varieties and GSS-0966 effectively reduced S. frugiperda larval damage compared with Primetime. E. stigmatias larval damage was less in the Zapalote Chico varieties than the other varieties in single-species tests. E. stigmatias damage was greater on S. frugiperda-infested versus S. frugiperda-excluded ears. Ears with S. frugiperda damage to husk, silk and kernels had greater E. stigmatias damage than ears with less S. frugiperda damage. Reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of nonpollinated corn silk collected from field plots determined that isoorientin, maysin, and apimaysin plus 3'-methoxymaysin concentrations followed the order Zapalote Chico sh2 > Zapalote Chico 2451 > Attribute GSS-0966 = Primetime. Chlorogenic acid concentrations were greatest in Zapalote Chico 2451. The two high maysin Zapalote Chico varieties did as well against fall armyworm as the Bt-enhanced GSS-0966, and they outperformed GSS-0966 against E. stigmatias.     

Oat cover cropping and soil insecticides in an integrated sugarbeet root maggot (Diptera: Otitidae) management program

Sugarbeet, Beta vulgaris L., producers occasionally establish cereal cover crops to minimize early-season soil erosion, wind abrasion, and mechanical injury of seedlings. We evaluated the use of living oat, Avena sativa L., cover cropping as a cultural tactic to minimize feeding injury from sugarbeet root maggot, Tetanops myopaeformis (R?der), larvae at five field sites during 1996, 1998, and 1999. Sweep-net sampling yielded 4.8-, 11.2-, and 7.2-fold more flies from oat cover-cropped chlorpyrifos, terbufos, and untreated control plots, respectively, than in noncover counterparts. However, larval feeding injury in terbufos-treated plots was reduced when cover-cropped (383 seeds/m2) at St. Thomas in all years. A reduced oat seeding rate (224 seeds/m2) also enhanced root protection in terbufos-treated plots at St. Thomas in 1999. Less root injury was sustained in cover-cropped chlorpyrifos plots than in noncover counterparts at St. Thomas in 2 study yr. Oat cover cropping also frequently resulted in reduced T. myopaeformis feeding injury in the absence of a soil insecticide. Although trends toward increased yields were often evident, significant yield benefits were limited to a 6.8% root yield increase in oat cover plots when compared with noncover treatments overall at St. Thomas in 1996 and an 18.4% sucrose yield increase in terbufos-treated plots at St. Thomas in 1999. These findings suggest that beneficial interactions between planting-time soil insecticides and cereal cover crops are achievable in areas infested by T. myopaeformis. Demonstrated reductions in root feeding injury, combined with additional agronomic benefits, may warrant use of this production practice as part of an integrated management program for this key insect pest of sugarbeet.     

Susceptibility of pest Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and parasitoid Trichopoda pennipes (Diptera: Tachinidae) to selected insecticides

Susceptibility of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), and its endoparasitoid Trichopoda pennipes (F.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) to acetamiprid, cyfluthrin, dicrotophos, indoxacarb, oxamyl, and thiamethoxam was compared in residual and oral toxicity tests. In the residual toxicity test, cyfluthrin, dicrotophos, and oxamyl were highly toxic to N. viridula. Thiamethoxam was moderately toxic to these insects. Each of the four insecticides was highly toxic to T. pennipes after prolonged tarsal contact with dried residues of these chemicals. In the oral toxicity test, where N. viridula fed on food covered with insecticide residues, none of the insecticides were toxic to adults of this stink bug, but acetamiprid, dicrotophos, and thiamethoxam were moderately toxic to the nymphs. In the oral toxicity test, where N. viridula fed on a gel-food containing insecticides, cyfluthrin, dicrotophos, oxamyl, and thiamethoxam were highly toxic to this stink bug. In an oral toxicity test using contaminated sugar water, all of the insecticides were highly toxic to T. pennipes. Because insecticides were as toxic, or more toxic, to T. pennipes than to N. viridula, it is extremely important to conserve this parasitoid by applying these insecticides for control of southern green stink bugs only when the pest reaches economic threshold.     

Evaluation of insecticides and application methods against Contarinia nasturtii (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a new invasive insect pest in the United States

The midge Contarinia nasturtii (Keiffer), a serious gall-forming insect pest of cruciferous plants in Europe and southwestern Asia, was first reported in the United States in summer 2004. It had not been recorded in North America until its discovery in Ontario, Canada, in 2000. Efficacy of 20 insecticides belonging to 12 different classes was evaluated by using a foliar spray, soil drench, or seed treatment method. The broccoli cultivar 'Packman' was used in all tests at the suitable stage of four to five true leaves. Results indicated that foliar sprays of lambda-cyhalothrin, acephate, acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, and methomyl reduced C. nasturtii larval populations by 96.7-100%. Except for acetamiprid, the other four insecticides also were effective against adults and provided 100% mortality after 24 h. When applied by drench, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam provided 100% control of C. nasturtii larvae, and the duration of efficacy lasted at least 7 wk. When applied as seed treatment, clothianidin and thiamethoxam provided 100% control of larvae and did not significantly affect seed germination. Imidacloprid also provided 100% control but the percentage of germination after treatment was only 62% (96.9% in check). These results indicate that several insecticides may significantly reduce midge populations. The nicotinoid class of insecticides, which has strong systemic activity, is likely to be the first choice. It is necessary to explore and develop other control methods such as cultural control and host resistance to develop an effective integrated pest management system.     

Field and laboratory tests of new insecticides against the apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Laboratory bioassays and field tests were conducted to compare the effectiveness of the new insecticides, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, pyriproxyfen, spinosad, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam, against apple maggot. The activity ranking of the compounds in reducing oviposition in laboratory bioassays was: imidacloprid, 95% reduction at 11 ppm > thiamethoxam, 91% and thiacloprid, 89% reduction at 100 ppm > spinosad, 98% reduction at 316 ppm > indoxacarb, 80% reduction at 1000 ppm > pyriproxyfen, 0% reduction at 38 ppm. In laboratory bioassays, the only insecticides that were toxic to flies at concentrations equal to or below the recommended field rates were imidacloprid, (50% of flies at 11 ppm), spinosad (90% of flies at rates > 10 ppm), and thiamethoxam (approximately 50% of flies at 32 ppm). In field trials, thiacloprid was the only material that consistently controlled apple maggot fruit infestation that was comparable to standard treatments of organophosphate insecticides. Spinosad applied at weekly intervals, and indoxacarb applied as biweekly sprays provided adequate control of apple maggot damage when infestation levels in the field were low, but were not effective in preventing damage in small plots when apple maggot pressure was high.     

Insecticidal activity of Citrus aurantium fruit, leaf, and shoot extracts against adult olive fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Solvent extracts of differing polarity from Citrus aurantium (L.) (Rutaceae) fruit, leaves, and shoots were evaluated for biological activity against adults of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Using a petri dish residual exposure bioassay, we found that the petroleum ether extract from fruit alone showed insecticidal activity against the flies. The extract of the three fruit tissues (flavedo [peel], albedo, and flesh) indicated that bioactivity was limited to the flavedo, and this activity was significantly higher than that of the whole fruit extract. The most effective extract was obtained when fresh flavedo was used, whereas extracts of oven-dried flavedo were inactive. Fruit maturity also affected bioactivity; extracts of ripe fruit were more effective than those of unripe fruit. Our results suggest that C. aurantium flavedo contains secondary metabolites with insecticidal activity against B. oleae adults.     

Fluorescent sperm marking to improve the fight against the pest insect Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann; Diptera: Tephritidae)

The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) involving area-wide release of mass-reared and sterilized pest insects has proven successful to reduce, control and eradicate economically important pest species, such as the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly). For the efficient application, effective monitoring to assess the number and mating success of the released medflies is essential. Here, we report sperm-specific marking systems based on the spermatogenesis-specific Ceratitis capitata beta2-tubulin (Ccbeta2t) promoter. Fluorescent sperm can be isolated from testes or spermathecae. The marking does not cause general disadvantages in preliminary laboratory competitiveness assays. Therefore, transgenic sperm marking could serve as a major improvement for monitoring medfly SIT programs. The use of such harmless transgenic markers will serve as an ideal initial condition to transfer insect transgenesis technology from the laboratory to field applications. Moreover, effective and easily recognizable sperm marking will make novel studies possible on medfly reproductive biology which will help to further improve SIT programs.     

Synthesis and larvicidal activity of indole derivatives against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

In light of the challenges to control Aedes aegypti and the critical role that it plays as arbovirus vector, it is imperative to adopt strategies that provide fast, efficient and environmentally safe control of the insect population. In the present study, we synthesized six indole derivatives (C1‐C6) and examined their larvicidal activity and persistence against Ae. aegypti larvae, as well as their toxicity towards Raw 264.7 macrophages, Vero cells, Chlorella vulgaris BR017, Scenedesmus obliquus BR003, Caenorhabditis elegans N2 and Galleria mellonella. Among the bioactive compounds (C1, C2, C4 and C5), C2 exerted the strongest larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti, with LC50 = 1.5 μg/ml (5.88 µM) and LC90 = 2.4 μg/ml (9.50 µM), indicating that the presence of chlorine or bromine groups in the aromatic ring improved the larvicidal activity of the indole derivatives. C1, C2, C4 and C5 did not reduce viability of RAW 264.7 macrophages, Vero cells, C. elegans N2 and G. mellonella. Compounds C1, C2 and C5 did not affect the growth of C. vulgaris BR017 and S. obliquus BR003. Analysis of larvicidal persistence under laboratory conditions revealed that the effect of compounds C1, C2, C4 and C5 lasted for 30 days and caused 100% of larvae mortality within few hours. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that the indole derivatives C1, C2, C4 and C5 effectively control Ae. aegypti larvae population, without clear signs of toxicity to mammalian cells, algae, C. elegans and G. mellonella.     

Effectiveness of attract-and-kill systems using methyl eugenol incorporated with neonicotinoid insecticides against the oriental fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Laboratory bioassays and field trials were conducted to evaluate an "attract-and-kill" system using methyl eugenol (ME) with neonicotinoid insecticides against male oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae). In laboratory bioassays, mortality of male flies resulting from the conventional toxicant, naled was 98.3-100% at 24 through 72 h after treatment, whereas the neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid and acetamiprid caused only approximately 60-80% at 24 through 72 h after treatment. In the assays of residual effect, naled was persistent up to 96 wk, whereas imidacloprid or acetamiprid was persistent up to 150 wk, resulting in 38.9 or 61.2% male mortality, respectively. Imidacloprid, in particular, caused a delayed lethal effect on flies. In another experiment, male mortality within 28 wk from clothianidin, another neonicotinoid insecticide, was approximately 80% after exposure for 24 h, suggesting a delayed lethal effect similar to those treated with imidacloprid, and mortality was up to 91.8%, if observed, 72 h after treatment. In field trials, attractiveness was similar between ME alone and ME incorporated with naled or neonicotinoids, indicating that addition of these insecticides to ME in traps is not repellent to B. dorsalis males. Using an improved wick-typed trap with longer attractiveness for simulating field application, addition of imidacloprid or acetamiprid maintained 40.1 or 64.3% male mortality, respectively, when assayed once every 2 wk from traps placed in orchards for 42 wk without changing the poison, whereas incorporation with naled resulted in as high as 98.1% after 34 wk and approximately 80% at 42 wk, indicating that persistence is increased compared with sugarcane fiberboard blocks for carrying poison attractants. This study also suggests that neonicotinoid insecticides could be used as an alternative for broad-spectrum insecticides as toxicants in fly traps.     

几种杀虫剂对嗜虫书虱的触杀作用

采用滤纸药膜法比较了常用8种杀虫剂对嗜虫书虱Liposcelis entomophila的触杀作用,在药剂的推荐浓度下有机磷类杀虫剂对嗜虫书虱的急性触杀作用强于其它药剂.同时测定了杀螟硫磷、敌敌畏和溴氰菊酯(含增效醚)3种药剂对嗜虫书虱的触杀毒力,其24h内触杀作用的LC50分别为9.3284、2.1440和7.5007 μg/cm2,但杀螟硫磷的LC95为459.4949 μg/cm2,远高于敌敌畏的8.2453μg/cm2和溴氰菊酯(含增效醚)的14.5274 μg/cm2.此外,48h内敌敌畏等有机磷杀虫剂对嗜虫书虱的毒杀速度较其它供试药剂快.     

41种植物精油对淡色库蚊的熏蒸活性

为发现具有较高杀蚊活性的精油, 推动植物精油类卫生杀虫剂的创制, 本研究采用三角瓶熏蒸法测定了17科41种植物精油对淡色库蚊Culex pipiens pallens雌成蚊的熏蒸活性, 并进一步采用密闭圆筒法验证其杀虫毒力大小。三角瓶熏蒸法测定表明, 在12 μL/L浓度下, 留兰香油（spearmint oil）、 薰衣草油（lavender oil）、 山苍子油（Litsea cubeba oil）等26种精油均有较强的熏蒸作用, KT₅₀小于15 min。该26种精油用密闭圆筒熏蒸法进一步测定表明, 在浓度为10 μL/L时, 冬青油（wintergreen oil）、 艾叶油（blumea oil）、 薄荷油（peppermint oil）、 桉叶油（Eucalyptus robusta oil）和蓝桉油（E. globulus oil）等植物精油熏蒸活性较强, 其KT₅₀分别为16.91, 21.20, 22.57, 18.43和19.48 min。结果证明冬青油、 艾叶油、 薄荷油、 桉叶油和蓝桉油等5种精油对淡色库蚊具有较强的熏蒸活性, 具备作为淡色库蚊防控剂开发的潜力, 值得进一步研究。     

Sublethal and transgenerational effects of six insecticides on Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

To clarify the effects of sublethal concentration of insecticide on the growth, development and reproduction of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), the sublethal and transgenerational effects of the LC₃₀ of six insecticides on adults and progeny (F₁ and F₂ generations) were studied using age-stage, two-sex life tables. Exposure to six insecticides had significant negative impacts on the life-history traits of B. dorsalis and led to reduced adult longevity and fecundity in F₀, a longer larval stage duration in F₁, and reduced fertility and survival. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and net reproductive rate (R₀) were reduced in F₁, with the greatest reduction observed in the chlorpyrifos treatment. In the F₂ generation, the adverse effects were weakened, only the cyantraniliprole treatment had lower values than the control, and the fecundity of other treatments returned to normal. Obvious “hormesis” phenomena were not observed in any of the generations. Based on the population hazard index, chlorpyrifos had the best control effect in the early stage, and cyantraniliprole had the best control effect in the long term. These results indicate that the LC₃₀ of the six insecticides exert different transgenerational effects on the B. dorsalis population.     

Macrogeographic population structuring in the cosmopolitan agricultural pest Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The macrogeographic population structure of the agricultural pest Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) was investigated in order to identify the geographic origin of the species and reconstruct its range expansion. Individuals of B. cucurbitae were collected from 25 worldwide‐distributed localities (n = 570) and genotyped at 13 microsatellite loci. The Bayesian clustering reveals that B. cucurbitae can be subdivided into five main groups corresponding to populations from (i) the African continent, (ii) La Réunion, (iii) Central Asia, (iv) East Asia and (v) Hawaii. The proportions of inter‐regional assignments and the higher values of genetic diversity in populations from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh suggest that B. cucurbitae originated in Central Asia and expanded its range to East Asia and Hawaii on one hand and to Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean on the other. A number of outliers (10–19 specimens according to different clustering algorithms) show high levels of admixture (Q > 0.70) with populations from different regions and reveal complex patterns of inter‐regional gene flow. Anthropogenic transport is the most plausible promoter of this large‐scale dispersal. The introduction of individuals from geographically distant sources did not have a relevant role in the most recent African invasions, which originated from the expansion of local populations. These results could provide a useful background to better evaluate invasion risks and establish priorities for the management of this cosmopolitan agricultural pest.     

First record of the quarantine pest Atherigona (Atherigona) oryzae Malloch (Diptera: Muscidae) in Korea

Occurrence of the invasive quarantine pest fly, Atherigona (Atherigona) oryzae Malloch, is hereby recorded for the first time in Gyeongsangbuk‐do Province, Korea. Morphological characteristics for accurate identification of the species, a list of hosts, and damage patterns are described to provide plant quarantine information for pest management.