Effects of different Beauveria bassiana isolates on field populations of Lygus lineolaris in pigweed (Amaranthus spp.)

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), is a pest of various fruit, vegetable, fiber, and seed crops; including cotton. Lygus spp. populations often build on alternate host plants before moving to cotton, and in the midsouthern U.S. wild host plants, such as pigweed (Amaranthus spp.), play a major role in L. lineolaris population development. Three isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) were evaluated for L. lineolaris control in redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.): one from L. lineolaris in Mississippi (TPB3); one from Lygus hesperus (Knight) in California (WTPB2); and one commercial isolate from Mycotrol^® (GHA). Fungal applications resulted in moderate to high mycosis in adults (33 to 80%) and moderate mycosis in nymphs (36 to 53%) that were collected from field plots at 2 days post-treatment and incubated under laboratory conditions. Although TPB3 was previously found to be more pathogenic in laboratory bioassays, there was not a consistent separation of this isolate from the other two isolates in field trials. Where differences in adult mycosis or mortality were observed, TPB3 was the most pathogenic. However, in one field trial 7 day mortality for nymphs treated with GHA was higher than those treated with TPB3 or WTPB2. Infection rates at 2, 7, and 14 days post-treatment from caged and non-caged adults suggested that movement of adults among plots occurred, which could have masked some treatment effects. Fungal treatments did not significantly reduce populations relative to controls. This may have been caused by delayed mortality rates under field conditions and/or difficulties with estimating population change under field conditions characteristic of wild host plant populations (e.g., heterogeneous populations, adult movement, and small plot size). Further work evaluating time–dose–mortality over dynamic temperatures, spring and fall field trials on this and other wild hosts, and improved methods for estimating populations on wild hosts are needed.     

Predator demographics and dispersal in alfalfa trap-cropped strawberry

Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae), is a highly preferred host plant of Lygus spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae). As such, intercropping alfalfa trap-crops in strawberry production can serve as a sink for both Lygus (primarily Lygus hesperus Knight) and its natural enemies. Here we investigated the population dynamics and dispersal characteristics of the generalist predator complex in strawberry fields with alfalfa trap-crops spaced 50 rows (62 m) apart. Predator abundance was determined by counting six focal taxa collected from strawberry and alfalfa. The data revealed that Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) were the numerically dominant predator taxa, comprising 84% of the focal predator population. In general, the population densities obtained for the various taxa throughout this agroecosystem were unexpectedly uniform. Predator movement from a central alfalfa trap-crop row was determined using a protein mark–capture procedure. Most protein-marked predator specimens were collected less than 2 m from the centrally marked alfalfa row, indicating that the trap-crop often produces a predator sink. Results suggest that alfalfa is a useful cultural (trap-cropping) and a biological (refuge for natural enemies) control tactic for managing Lygus spp. in strawberries.     

Bioassay method for assessing the virulence of Beauveria bassiana against tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Hem., Miridae)

A standard bioassay method for assessing the pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (GHA strain) against second instar tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hem., Miridae) was developed. Several types of inoculation methods, assay containers and incubation times were tested. Our goal was to minimize control mortality and maximize treatment mortality. Five inoculation methods (immersing broccoli florets or bean pods, spraying broccoli florets or bean pods, and immersing insects) and four types of plastic containers (114‐, 171‐, 228‐ and 455‐ml) were tested. Immersing insects directly in a fungal suspension was the most effective inoculation method, which resulted in a treatment mortality of 70–81.3% at a concentration of 1 × 10⁷ conidia/ml. The 114‐ml plastic container was the most suitable assay container when 10 tarnished plant bug nymphs were treated together, resulting in a control mortality of only 6% 12 days after treatment. Within the first 6 days after treatment, 71.1% of the insects were killed, compared with a total mortality of 81.3% after 12 days. Nymphs infected with the test fungus changed colour from green to black. Mycelial outgrowth and sporulation on the cadavers demonstrated that most nymphs died of fungal infection. A total of 61.1 and 80.5% of the cadavers showed signs of mycelial outgrowth 9 days after death among those that were surface sterilized and those that were not, respectively.     

Detection of European Peristenus digoneutis loan in mirid populations in southern Ontario

Lygus spp. Hahn (Hemiptera: Miridae) are serious pests of a wide variety of economically important crops in North America. A European parasitoid, Peristenus digoneutis Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), released in the northeastern USA for the biological control of Lygus, has successfully established in nine states and in eastern Canada, including southeastern Ontario, southern Quebec and Nova Scotia. To determine the extent to which P. digoneutis has dispersed and established in mirid populations in Ontario, a single-step multiplex PCR assay, designed to differentiate European species P. digoneutis and P. relictus from native North American Peristenus species, was used to identify parasitoid larvae dissected from field-collected Miridae. A total of 222 parasitoid larvae were analysed with the multiplex assay. Most (172) were identified as members of the P. pallipes Curtis complex; however, three from the Niagara region were identified as P. digoneutis. Specimens that did not amplify using the Peristenus multiplex PCR assay were screened with a PCR primer set designed to detect Leiophron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) species, and most were confirmed to be Leiophron larvae. This study confirms the presence of P. digoneutis species in southern Ontario, and is another example of the utility of molecular methods for the detection of newly introduced or dispersed parasitoids. The presence of exotic P. digoneutis in southern Ontario may expedite future releases to augment already-established populations. Following such releases, the Peristenus multiplex PCR assay will be a useful component of post-release studies to evaluate the success of the biological control programme for Lygus plant bugs in Canada.     

Factors affecting progeny production of Anaphes iole

Anaphes iole Girault(Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is a native, solitaryegg parasitoid of Lygus spp.(Heteroptera: Miridae) in North America. Current research is considering factors thatmay optimize the in-vivo rearing of A.iole using Lygus hesperus Knight(Heteroptera: Miridae) as host. The effects ofhost density, day of oviposition and foodpresence, parasitoid age and mate presence onproduction of A. iole progeny weredetermined in this study. After exposingindividual parasitoids to host patches for 24h, the percentage of hosts containing a latestage A. iole pupa wassignificantly greater at a moderate hostdensity (41–70 eggs per patch) than at a lowdensity (10–40 eggs). But, no differenceswere detected between moderate and high density(71–100 eggs) or between high and low densitytreatments. More adult progeny were generatedby females (of variable age; 0–2 d old) onthe first day of oviposition rather than thesecond day, regardless of food presence. Progeny sex ratio was decidedly male-biased onthe second day. Female age (0 d vs 1 d old)had a marginal effect on production in 24 h; 0d old females tended to generate more adultprogeny than 1 d old females. Overall, thisresearch suggests that exposing newly-emerged,unfed, mated A. iole females to amoderate to high host density for 1 to 2 dcould lead to time-efficient production ofadult progeny in an in-vivo rearing system.     

两种室内生物测定方法评价杀虫剂对绿盲蝽的相对毒力

随着Bt棉在我国的广泛种植, 绿盲蝽Lygocoris lucorum Meyer-Dür的危害日益加重。化学防治作为棉田盲蝽综合治理的重要策略, 仍是其主要的防治手段。本研究主要用闪烁管药膜法和点滴法两种测定方法评价了传统杀虫剂、新型杀虫剂等30种杀虫剂对绿盲蝽成虫的急性触杀毒力, 其中多种杀虫剂是首次使用两种生测方法同时进行毒力测定。结果表明：有机氯类、有机磷类、氨基甲酸酯类和拟除虫菊酯类等传统杀虫剂对绿盲蝽成虫具有较高的触杀活性。8种对绿盲蝽成虫具有较高毒力的药剂, 其中5种为传统杀虫剂, 分别为马拉硫磷、毒死蜱、联苯菊酯、灭多威和硫丹。新型吡咯类杀虫剂对绿盲蝽表现出较高毒力, 以氟虫腈的毒力最高, 两种生测方法测定的LC₅₀分别为0.13 μg·mL^-1 和 0.15 μg·mL^-1。而昆虫生长调节剂、抗生素类及植物源杀虫剂对绿盲蝽成虫没有明显的触杀活性。     

Relationships between the occurrence of misshapen fruit on late-season strawberry in the United Kingdom and infestation by insects, particularly the European tarnished plant bug, Lygus rugulipennis

In experiments in which the European tarnished plant bug, Lygus rugulipennis, was caged on the developing flowers or young fruits of strawberry, the insects caused malformation of the fruits. Another species of capsid, Plagiognathus chrysanthemi, caused similar damage; this species is less numerous than L. rugulipennis on late-season crops of strawberry in UK. Other insects which sometimes occur in large numbers in the flowers of late-season strawberry, i.e. various species of thrips and pollen beetles, did not cause fruit malformation in caging experiments, though thrips sometimes caused discoloration of the fruit. In field experiments where numbers of L. rugulipennis were reduced by the use of insecticides, the amount of misshapen fruit was reduced greatly compared to untreated plots. Correlations between the numbers of L. rugulipennis present at the early stages of fruit development and damage scores for fruit deformity were highly significant. This capsid is likely to be the major cause of fruit malformation in late-season crops of strawberry in the UK.     

Coating Beauveria bassiana with lignin for protection from solar radiation and effects on pathogenicity to Lygus lineolaris (Heteroptera: Miridae)

The entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, is highly susceptible to the damaging effects of solar radiation. This study demonstrates protection from simulated solar radiation by coating B. bassiana (GHA) spores with lignin and effects on pathogenicity to Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) adults in direct spray and contact uptake bioassays. Spores were coated with either lignin or cross-linked lignin by spray drying to produce spore coatings of high and low water solubility, respectively. Non-coated spores and the two spore coating treatments were suspended in either water (0.04% Silwet L77) or oil (Orchex 692) to produce six formulations. Rates of loss in spore viability under simulated solar radiation were approximately ten times lower for the three formulations in which spores remained coated in suspension (cross-linked lignin in water, cross-linked lignin in oil, and lignin in oil). However, these three formulations were the least pathogenic. Estimates of LC₅₀ and LC₇₅ values for the most pathogenic formulation (non-coated in oil) were 5 and 12 times lower, respectively, than the least pathogenic formulation (cross-linked lignin in oil), but these differences were not significant. The three lignin-coated formulations that provided the greatest UV protection were also the least pathogenic based on LT values, which were significant. Overall, L. lineolaris mortality was approximately 80 times less when exposed to treated broccoli rather than sprayed directly, based on LC₅₀ values. If the contribution of spore uptake from plant surfaces to L. lineolaris mortality is similarly low under field conditions, then improving persistence may be less important for improving efficacy. However, under control conditions where solar radiation significantly impacts mycoinsecticide efficacy, the improved persistence of lignin coating formulations may outweigh negative effects on pathogenicity.     

绿盲蝽及其天敌在不同生态条件下的发生动态研究

2005年～2007年,在山东省德州市农科院良种场棉田内系统研究了不同生境对抗虫棉绿盲蝽及其天敌发生动态的影响。试验设5个试验10种处理：即远离果园棉、紧靠果园棉,亩株数3600株均行、亩株数3000株并大小行种植棉,合理化控棉、不化控棉,纯作棉田和插种葵花棉田,双基因抗虫棉和单基因抗虫棉。在棉花的整个生育期系统调查不同生境棉田主要害虫及其天敌的种群数量。结果表明,不同生境抗虫棉田内绿盲蝽天敌的种类基本相同,主要为龟纹瓢虫、七星瓢虫、中华草蛉、大草蛉、华姬蝽、小花蝽、T-纹豹蛛、三突花蛛、草间小黑蛛等。不同生境抗虫棉田内绿盲蝽及其天敌种群数量差异明显。远离果园棉、低密度亩株数3000株并大小行种植棉、合理化控棉能减轻绿盲蝽的发生,但不利于绿盲蝽天敌的发生;种植双基因抗虫棉能减轻绿盲蝽的发生且对绿盲蝽天敌影响不大;插种葵花的棉田即能增加绿盲蝽天敌的数量,又能减轻绿盲蝽的发生。研究还表明绿盲蝽及其天敌在远离果园棉、紧靠果园棉下发生趋势基本一致,仅是发生量存在明显差异,远离果园棉田的绿盲蝽及其天敌百株发生量显著低于紧靠果园棉田（P〈0.05）;合理化控棉田、亩株数3000株大小行棉田内的绿盲蝽及其天敌发生数量显著低于不化控棉田、亩株数3600株均行棉田内的发生数量（P〈0.05）;双基因抗虫棉田内的绿盲蝽百株发生量显著低于单基因抗虫棉田发生数量（P〈0.05）;插种葵花棉田内的绿盲蝽百株发生量极显著低于纯作棉田（P〈0.01）、插种葵花棉田内的绿盲蝽天敌百株发生量显著高于纯作棉田（P〈0.05）,葵花对绿盲蝽及其天敌的诱集效果非常显著,在转基因棉田插种葵花是保益灭害控制绿盲蝽的有效方法之一。