In vitro rearing ofTrissolcus basalis [Hym., Scelionidae] an egg parasitoid ofNezara viridula [Hem., Pentatomidae]

In vitro rearing of the egg parasitoidTrissolcus basalis (WOLL.) from eggs collected on the natural hostNezara viridula (L.) was initiated. Several oligidic diets containing insect material (Manduca sexta hemolymph or host egg content) were tested. Our initial medium with 50% hemolymph induced a high egg mortality, but by decreasing the hemolymph concentration, increasing the hen egg yolk concentration and adding 15% of free amino acids mixture, a hatching rate of 85% of the parasitoid eggs was obtained with 39% reaching the second instar and 33% the third instar. In a medium without hemolymph, but with 18% liquid from parasitized host eggs we obtained 90% to 100% hatching, 25 to 27% reaching the second instar and 8% the third instar. We did not obtain pupation from eggsin vitro, but did get pupae and adults from larvae rearedin vivo to second instar and transfered to anin vitro system.      

Diseases diagnosed in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) of the southeastern United States

Diagnostic findings are presented on 139 sick or dead wild turkeys examined during the period 1972 through 1984. Turkeys originated from eight southeastern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia) and included 31 turkeys categorized as capture-related mortalities and 108 turkeys categorized as natural mortalities. Frequent diagnoses (greater than or equal to 10% of case accessions) in the natural mortality group were trauma, avian pox, and histomoniasis. Less frequent diagnoses (less than or equal to 4% of case accessions) included malnutrition/environmental stress syndrome, coligranuloma-like condition, crop impaction, bumblefoot, organophosphate toxicosis, infectious sinusitis, a lympho-proliferative disease, salmonellosis, aspergillosis, toxoplasmosis, crop trichomoniasis, and melorheostosis.     

Precipitating antibodies to epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bluetongue viruses in white-tailed deer in the southeastern United States.

From 1981 to 1989, sera were collected from 3,077 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Georgia and from 1,749 deer from 12 additional states in the southeastern United States. In Georgia, prevalence of precipitating antibodies to epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV), as determined by agar gel immunodiffusion tests, was dependent on physiographic region, age, and year. Overall prevalence of antibodies to EHDV and/or BTV was 11, 33, 48, and 14% for the Mountain, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, and Barrier Island regions, respectively. Results suggested varying patterns of EHDV and BTV activity throughout the state. Serologic results from other southeastern states were consistent with the Georgia sample; prevalence estimates (EHDV and/or BTV) for corresponding physiographic regions deviated by less than 10%. Over this larger geographical area, antibody prevalence in deer appeared to increase with decreasing latitude.     

A substance from Heliothis virescens larvae stimulating larviposition by females of the tachinid,Archytas marmoratus

A chemical present in faeces, haemolymph, and whole bodies of larvae of Heliothis virescens stimulates females of the tachinid Archytas marmoratus to deposit maggots in the vicinity of the host. The larvipositional stimulant is soluble in water and in 0·1 N HCl and 0·1 N acetic acid and is insoluble in apolar solvents. Considerable activity is present in 0·1 N HCl extracts of acetone powders of whole H. virescens larvae. Larvipositional activity is destroyed by alkaline solutions. The activity of acidic extracts is greater than that of aqueous extracts when extracts are stored at 2°C for several days; however, extraction of the larvipositional stimulant is not necessarily more efficient with acidic extracts because there is no difference in the activity of the residues remaining after water and acid extraction. Thus, low pH appears to retard the decomposition of the larvipositional stimulant. Gel filtration, chromatography, and membrane filtration demonstrated that the compound has a molecular weight of 30,000 ± 5000. Rapid loss of activity during incubation with a proteinase (pepsin) indicates that the chemical is a protein. Larvipositional activity is present in larvae, pupae, pharate adults, and newly emerged adults of H. virescens. Most species of noctuids tested are highly active, and some activity is present in pyralid larvae. Very little or no activity is present in larvae of the beetle, Anthonomus grandis, or in Apis mellifera.