Insect Pathology

Adaptogens are non-toxic plants that are marketed as helping the body resist stressors of all kinds, whether physical, chemical or biological. Their repeated administration (adaptation) gives rise to an adaptogenic or stress-protective, leading to a prolonged state of non-specifc resistance to stress and increased endurance and stamina under extreme conditions. The genus Cordyceps has about 750 identified species which are distributed in many regions of the World, but mainly found in South Asia, Europe and North America. The species of the genus are highly priced and are widely used as food and medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Thirty five Cordyceps species have been reported in the literature to have medicinal properties or has a report on the isolation of bioactive compounds. Cordyceps sinensis was identified as the most frequently used and most explored member of the Cordyceps genus. Many subsequent studies were conducted using cultured C. sinensis and have yielded positive results suggesting the cultivated fungi might possess the same health-promoting functions as the natural counterpart. Conclusion. Having analysed scientific data, we concluded that Cordyceps sinensis Sacc has been extensively studied, mainly by Chinese scientists and the results showed that it represents an effective adaptogen that can successfully be used for treatment of various ailments. An ever growing list of symptoms remedied using C. sinensis include respiratory, renal, liver, nervous system, cardiovascular diseases, cancerous tumors, decreased libido and even stress, fatigue and aging. In fact, long before any of these studies had been published, C. sinensis has officially been classified as a drug in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia since 1964.

This study was conducted to test five substrates (whole rice, broken rice, dovme, wheat and burghul) for the mass production of Beauveria bassiana isolate 5-4, known to be affective against stored-cereal pests. A solid-state fermentation technique was used, and amount of product, number of conidia, germination, hydrophobicity and thermotolerance of conidia, and their virulence on Rhyzopertha dominica adults were used to evaluate the success of substrates. For production, 100 g of a substrate was used in a polypropylene bag. After sterilization and inoculation, the bags were sealed and incubated for 14 days at 25ºC. Hydrophobicity was assessed using the aqueous-solvent partitioning method with PM buffer, and liquid paraffin as two phases. Thermotolerance tests were conducted by exposing conidia to 35, 40 and 45°C for 15, 30 and 60 minutes. In virulence test, adults were released into 40 gr wheat mixed with conidia and kept at 25oC and 65% relative humidity in darkness for 14 days. Th...

Background Despite the ecological and agricultural significance of bumble bees in Alaska, very little is known and published about this important group at the regional level. The objectives of this study were to provide baseline data on species composition, distribution, seasonal biology, and parasites of the genus Bombus at three major agricultural locations within Alaska: Fairbanks, Delta Junction, and Palmer, to lay the groundwork for future research on bumble bee pollination in Alaska. © Pampell R et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY

Effective toxicity of different doses viz. 1.2 × 10 7 , 0.9 × 10 7 , 0.6 × 10 7 , 0.3 × 10 7 , 0.15 × 10 7 , and 0.9 × 10 6 PIB s / ml HaNPV along with distilled water as control was assessed against 2 nd and 4 th instar larvae of the tomato fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) under laboratory conditions. The LC50 values of HaNPV for 2 nd instar larvae of Helicoverpa armigera was 0.1603 per cent (0.19 × 10 7 PIB s / ml) with fiducial limit ranged from 0.22758 to 0.11300, while in case of 4 th instar larvae, the LC50 value was 0.2225 % (0.26 × 10 7 PIB s / ml) and fiducial limit ranged from 0.29946 to 0.16541.

Recent research has shown that low genetic variation in individuals can increase susceptibility to infection and group living may exacerbate pathogen transmission. In the eusocial diploid termites, cycles of outbreeding and inbreeding characterizing basal species can reduce genetic variation within nestmates during the life of a colony, but the relationship of genetic heterogeneity to disease resistance is poorly understood. Here we show that, one generation of inbreeding differentially affects the survivorship of isolated and grouped termites ( Zootermopsis angusticollis) depending on the nature of immune challenge and treatment. Inbred and outbred isolated and grouped termites inoculated with a bacterial pathogen, exposed to a low dose of fungal pathogen or challenged with an implanted nylon monofilament had similar levels of immune defence. However, inbred grouped termites exposed to a relatively high concentration of fungal conidia had significantly greater mortality than outbre...

Studies on pathogenicity of M. anisopliae against I st-VI th instar H. armigera larvae revealed that larval mortality. The effect of Metarhizium anisopliae spore/ml against Helicoverpa armigera larval instars was significantly higher recorded showed that in the results revealed that all the treatments were significantly larval mortality. The results revealed that all the treatments were significantly higher effective in larval mortality as compared to other larval instars. The data recorded on 4, 6, 8 11 and 14 day after pathogencity of various larval instars in the I st instar of H. armigera with 1.8 x 10 9 spores suspension, was the best I st instars larva H. armigera per cent mortality by M. anisopliae up to (35.63) followed by 73.39 (85.69) (98.37) and (100.0) production was significantly recorded.

Background Outbreaks of the casuarina moth, Lymantria xylina Swinehoe (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), which is a very important forest pest in Taiwan, have occurred every five to 10 years. This moth has expanded its range of host plants to include more than 65 species of broadleaf trees. LyxyMNPV (L. xylina multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus) is highly virulent to the casuarina moth and has been investigated as a possible biopesticide for controlling this moth. LdMNPV-like virus has also been isolated from Lymantria xylin a larvae but LyxyMNPV was more virulent than LdMNPV-like virus both in NTU-LY and IPLB-LD-652Y cell lines. To better understand LyxyMNPV, the nucleotide sequence of the LyxyMNPV DNA genome was determined and analysed. Results The genome of LyxyMNPV consists of 156,344 bases, has a G+C content of 53.4% and contains 157 putative open reading frames (ORFs). The gene content and gene order of LyxyMNPV were similar to those of LdMNPV, with 151 ORFs identified as homologous to t...

Farms biodiversity and food diversity of agricultural households are evaluated to understand some agroecology effects on cotton farms. This is a part of socioeconomic analysis of the agroecological transition underway in cotton zones of Benin. The surveys covered 509 farmers in 5 municipalities: Banikoara, Kandi, Ouassa-Pé hunco, Parakou and Savalou. Data collected are crops diversity, livestock diversity, natural vegetation, trees and pollinators of each farm and the various food consumed within 24 hours before the survey on each farm. Scores obtained by farm on each criterion were used to calculate the farm biodiversity index and household food diversity index; and the averages by type. Student's Chi-square test and Kruskal Wallis multiple comparison test were used to compare index averages, to analyze difference between farm types according to their ''Test'' or ''Control'' status. Analysis based on ''Tool Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE)'' method shows that surveyed farms are unsustainable (biodiversity index <50%) regardless of status, except farms of type 5 Test which have a better result and significantly different from the Controls. But their diet remains acceptable (5≥food diversity index<7); difference observed on most types except 1 and 4. This means that agroecology is not yet bearing full fruit in the study areas and that farming households are still vulnerable to food insecurity. However, there are clear differences between the types of farms and differences between individuals of the same type. These few disparities observed highlight the potential of agroecology to improve households' food situation if the process is intensified.

The honey bee Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera) is being affected by many diseases. The elimination of organisms in the insect hemocoel requires hemocytes recognition and response to the invader. After recognizing a surface as "foreign," hemocytes "spread." Spreading on glass surfaces by insect hemocytes is used as a measure of immune activation. Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling and immune effector molecule in response to microbial infection that has been proposed as a key molecule in invertebrate immunity. The participation of NO in the hemocytic response of A. mellifera upon recognition of non-self is herein analyzed. Glass-adherent hemocytes produce large amounts of NO. Treatment with NO donor sodium nitroprusside enhanced hemocyte spreading, while NO scavenger carboxyPTIO reduced hemocyte immune activation. These results are indicative of NO participation at the beginning of A. mellifera immune response to non-self. Apis mellifera / immunity / nitric oxide M. Eguaras and L. Lamattina contributed equally as senior authors.

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, a perennial herb belonging to herberidanceae grows on interior Himalayan ranges from Kashmir to Sikkim. Methanolic extracts of roots, rhizomes and whole plant as well as podophyllotoxin extracted from the plant were evaluated for their insecticidal properties against three cruciferous pests, viz., Pieris
brassicae L., Spodoptera litura Fab, and Helicoverpa armigera Hub. Among the three insects, P. brassicae was more
sensitive to different plant parts as well as to the toxin. Mortality ranging from 16.7-73.3, 8.3-66.8 and 12.5-73.6
and LC50 (%) values of 2.34, 4.36 and 2.42 were recorded at 0.5 to 10% concentration of the methanolic extracts
of rhizome, root and whole plant against second instar larvae of P. brassicae, respectively after 48 h of treatment.
A mortality range of 16.7-60.0% and LC50 value of 571 ppm was calculated at 50-1000 ppm of Podophyllotoxin
against second instar larvae of P. brassicae. The mathanolic extracts of whole plant (10%) and podophyllotoxin
(1000 ppm) significantly increased the larval and pupal period, reduced the larval and pupal weight and
adversely affected the reproductive potential of H. armigera and S. litura compared to their respective controls.
Among the toxin and whole plant extract, later was more effective for both the insect species.
Keywords: Podophyllum hexandrum, podophyllotoxin, Pieris brassicae, Spodoptera litura, Helicoverpa armigera, Cruciferous pest

Background Outbreaks of the casuarina moth, Lymantria xylina Swinehoe (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), which is a very important forest pest in Taiwan, have occurred every five to 10 years. This moth has expanded its range of host plants to include more than 65 species of broadleaf trees. LyxyMNPV (L. xylina multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus) is highly virulent to the casuarina moth and has been investigated as a possible biopesticide for controlling this moth. LdMNPV-like virus has also been isolated from Lymantria xylin a larvae but LyxyMNPV was more virulent than LdMNPV-like virus both in NTU-LY and IPLB-LD-652Y cell lines. To better understand LyxyMNPV, the nucleotide sequence of the LyxyMNPV DNA genome was determined and analysed. Results The genome of LyxyMNPV consists of 156,344 bases, has a G+C content of 53.4% and contains 157 putative open reading frames (ORFs). The gene content and gene order of LyxyMNPV were similar to those of LdMNPV, with 151 ORFs identified as homologous to t...

The initial effects of the infection by AgMNPV in the total and differential counts of the hemocytes in Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae were studied. The total number of the hemocytes did not decrease in infected larvae, as it occurred in non infected larvae. In infected larvae, the hemocyte types showed the following frequencies: plasmatocytes - 47.8%, esferulocytes - 25.9%, granulocytes - 15.8%, oenocytoids - 7.2%, prohemocytes - 2.8%, vermicytes - 0,5%. Only the percentage of the granulocytes was different among infected and non infected larvae, indicating that these cells responded quickly to the initial viral infection. These results showed the effective role of the hemocytes in the response of the A. gemmatalis to the infection by AgMNPV. The comprehension of the immunological mechanisms of this insect is an important tool to understand its biological control.

1. The thermal biology of the meadow grasshopper, Chorthippus parallelus, a common, habitat generalist acridid species found in the U.K., was characterised and the influence of thermoregulatory behaviour for resistance against a temperate (Beauveria bassiana) and tropical (Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum) fungal pathogen was determined. 2. Chorthippus parallelus was found to be an active behavioural thermoregulator, with a preferred temperature range of 32-35 C. 3. Both pathogens proved lethal to fifth instar and adult grasshoppers. No evidence of behavioural fever in response to infection by either pathogen was found, but normal thermoregulation was found to reduce virulence and spore production of B. bassiana. Normal thermoregulation did not appear to affect M. anisopliae var. acridum. 4. These results suggest that the effects of temperature on host resistance depend on the thermal sensitivity of the pathogen and, in this case, derive from direct effects of temperature on pathogen growth rather than indirect effects mediated by host immune response. 5. The implications for possible risks of exotic pathogens and influence of climate change are discussed.

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Bollworms such as Helicoverpa armigera, Diparopsis watersi and Earias sp., are a major constraint of cotton production in Mali. Up to now, their control has primarily relied on chemical sprays. Finding ecologicallybased alternatives to control those pests is a strategic issue for cotton production. We, here, report results from field experiments on cotton topping, as a promising technique to control bollworms.

Glossina pallidipes salivary gland hypertrophy virus (GpSGHV; family Hytrosaviridae) is a dsDNA virus exclusively pathogenic to tsetse flies (Diptera; Glossinidae). The 190 kb GpSGHV genome contains 160 open reading frames and encodes more than 60 confirmed proteins. The asymptomatic GpSGHV infection in flies can convert to symptomatic infection that is characterized by overt salivary gland hypertrophy (SGH). Flies with SGH show reduced general fitness and reproductive dysfunction. Although the occurrence of SGH is an exception rather than the rule, G. pallidipes is thought to be the most susceptible to expression of overt SGH symptoms compared to other Glossina species that are largely asymptomatic. Although Glossina salivary glands (SGs) play an essential role in GpSGHV transmission, the functions of the salivary components during the virus infection are poorly understood. In this study, we used mass spectrometry to study SG proteomes of G. pallidipes and G. m. morsitans, two Glossina model species that exhibit differential GpSGHV pathologies (high and low incidence of SGH, respectively). A total of 540 host proteins were identified, of which 23 and 9 proteins were significantly up-and down-regulated, respectively, in G. pallidipes compared to G. m. morsitans. Whereas 58 GpSGHV proteins were detected in G. pallidipes F 1 progenies, only 5 viral proteins were detected in G. m. morsitans. Unlike in G. pallidipes, qPCR assay did not show any significant increase in virus titers in G. m. morsitans F 1 progenies, confirming that G. m. morsitans is less susceptible to GpSGHV infection and replication compared to G. pallidipes. Based on our results, we speculate that in the case of G. pallidipes, GpSGHV employs a repertoire of host intracellular signaling pathways for successful infection. In the case of G. m. morsitans, antiviral responses appeared to be dominant. These results are useful for designing additional tools to investigate the Glossina-GpSGHV interactions.

The book discusses the issue of nosemosis, caused by N. ceranae infection in bee colonies, which has emerged as a significant concern for beekeepers and veterinarians. Proper diagnosis of nosemosis, caused by N. ceranae, and the regular monitoring of bee health are of utmost importance. Furthermore, it is essential to conduct further research on this problem to discover improved solutions. This paper provides insights into the biology of Nosema spp, as well as the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of bee diseases using innovative modern methods.
The content of this work encompasses both the biology of N. ceranae and the etiopathology of nosemosis, aiming to identify critical areas for both diagnosticians and scientists. It presents a comprehensive overview of N. ceranae diagnosis methods used worldwide, emphasizing their relevance for research and diagnostics, along with their respective advantages and disadvantages. This information should prove particularly valuable for laboratories newly venturing into work with N. ceranae, as we also introduce methods that do not necessitate specialized equipment and are cost-effective. We also delve into a discussion regarding which methods are time-consuming for distinguishing Nosema species (qualitative method) or assessing the infection level (quantitative method), or both. Such a comparison will assist readers in selecting methods based on financial, time, and equipment constraints.
Additionally, readers can gain insights into remedies used to combat nosemosis, their effectiveness, and safe alternatives for the well-being of bees, humans, and the environment.
The uniqueness of this book lies in its detailed description of field studies conducted in Georgia since 2016, aimed at determining the effectiveness of innovative biopreparations for treating N. ceranae, induced nosemosis in bee colonies on Georgia's apiaries.
Antibiotics have been historically employed to treat nosemosis caused by N. ceranae, as well as N. apis. However, their use has been prohibited in many countries worldwide, including Georgia (since 2018).
Currently, researchers are actively exploring biopreparations as potential alternatives for treating nosemosis. Several studies have indicated that plant extracts can positively impact treatment dynamics, but their effectiveness remains relatively low when compared to the innovative biopreparations tested in Georgia.
Biopreparations, such as Antinozema 18 and Antinozema Н1, demonstrated high efficacy ranging from 72% to 84.75% during the spring and early summer. Meanwhile, the immunomodulator BeePhyto emerged as the most effective in autumn, significantly reducing Nosema ceranae infection by 83.3%.

Disc electrophoresis revealed aberrant electrophoretic patterns in the hemolymph proteins from Heliothis virescens (Fab.), Spodoptera eridania (Cramer), and S. frugiperda (J.E. Smith) larvae infected with Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. Alterations appeared dependent on host species and route of infection. Hemolymph of H. virescens infected via the integument and 5. eridania infected by injection into the hemocoel exhibited increases in various bands prior to the last stages of the mycosis. Decreases in all bands were characteristic of hemolymph of all diseased larvae which had ceased feeding and were dying. These decreases apparently were not due entirely to cessation of feeding in that electrophoretic patterns for diseased and starved larvae were not similar.

Background The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is a noxious pest of cruciferous crops all over the world causing serious economic damage. Management of insect pest generally depends on chemical control; however, due to development of resistance against all types of insecticides, alternative approaches especially utilization of a microbial agent is inevitable. Results Potential of 2 entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), viz., Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, was evaluated against 2nd and 3rd larval instars of P. xylostella by adopting leaf dip and direct spraying methods under laboratory conditions. Significant mortality rate was achieved by each fungus under adopted methodologies. However, B. bassiana was found to be more effective in both conditions than M. anisopliae. Highest mean corrected mortality (77.80%) was recorded, when spores of B. bassiana were sprayed on the 2nd instar larvae (LC50=1.78×104/ml) after the 6th day of treatment....

Bean weevil and maize weevil can cause considerable damage to stored grains. These insects are mainly controlled with synthetic chemical insecticides, which may bring serious problems to human and environmental health. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the essential oil of clove [Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merrill & Perry (Myrtaceae) (origin: Bahia, season Sep.2014-Feb.2015)] in the control of S. zeamais and A. obtectus under laboratory conditions. The essential oil was extracted through the classic hydrodistillation process and its chemical components were identified via gas chromatography. Oil efficiency was tested at the doses of 35, 17.9, 8.9, 3.6, 1.8, 0.4 and 0.2 μL g-1 (derived from a pilot study) for insect control and the LC50 was determined. The results showed that eugenol was the major compound. The essential oil caused mortality of 100% for both species 48 h after treatment with the concentrations of 17.9 and 35 μL g-1. The LC50 for A. obtectus was ...

An entomopathogenic fungus belonging to the genus Hirsutella was found infecting the mango hopper, Idioscopus clypealis (Lethierry) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), for the first time in India in September 2011. The report of a natural control agent of mango hopper during the off season has special significance because its outbreak depends upon its residual hibernating population.

1. The thermal biology of the meadow grasshopper, Chorthippus parallelus, a common, habitat generalist acridid species found in the U.K., was characterised and the influence of thermoregulatory behaviour for resistance against a temperate (Beauveria bassiana) and tropical (Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum) fungal pathogen was determined. 2. Chorthippus parallelus was found to be an active behavioural thermoregulator, with a preferred temperature range of 32-35 C. 3. Both pathogens proved lethal to fifth instar and adult grasshoppers. No evidence of behavioural fever in response to infection by either pathogen was found, but normal thermoregulation was found to reduce virulence and spore production of B. bassiana. Normal thermoregulation did not appear to affect M. anisopliae var. acridum. 4. These results suggest that the effects of temperature on host resistance depend on the thermal sensitivity of the pathogen and, in this case, derive from direct effects of temperature on pathogen growth rather than indirect effects mediated by host immune response. 5. The implications for possible risks of exotic pathogens and influence of climate change are discussed.

The importance of honey bees to the world economy far surpasses their contribution in terms of honey production; they are responsible for up to 30% of the world's food production through pollination of crops. Since fall 2006, honey bees in the U.S. have faced a serious population decline, due in part to a phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which is a disease syndrome that is likely caused by several factors. Data from an initial study in which investigators compared pathogens in honey bees affected by CCD suggested a putative role for Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus, IAPV. This is a single stranded RNA virus with no DNA stage in the family Dicistroviridae. Although subsequent studies have failed to find IAPV in all CCD diagnosed colonies, IAPV has been shown to cause honey bee mortality. RNA interference technology (RNAi) was used successfully to silence a virus gene critical for replication, in infected honeybees. Moreover, RNAi was shown to prevent bees from succumbing to infection from IAPV under laboratory and field conditions. This first-of-a-kind study is the largest field trial of a RNAi therapeutic for animal health (Honeybees). IAPV specific homologous dsRNA was used in the field, under natural beekeeping conditions in order to prevent mortality and improve the overall health of bees infected with IAPV. This multi-year controlled study included a total of 160 bee hives in two discrete climates, seasons and geographical locations (Florida and Pennsylvania). To our knowledge, this is the first successful large-scale real world use of RNAi for disease control.

The susceptibility of second instar Helicoverpa armigera (L-2) to seven strains of Beauveria bassiana, was tested under laboratory conditions at ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru during 2016-17 using the larval immersion method. The highest virulence (100%) was recorded in strain-4 with LC50 value (2.02 x 10spores ml) followed by strain-1(92.50%) with LC50 value (2.48 x 10 spores ml) at 120 hours after treatment. Corrected mortalities ranging from 59.50 to 100% at different hours after treatment were recorded in all the strains with more profound effects in strain4 and strain-1.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed national guidelines to track species recovery of the endangered rusty patched bumble bee [Bombus affinis Cresson (Hymenoptera: Apidae)] and to investigate changes in species occupancy across space and time. As with other native bee monitoring efforts, managers have specifically acknowledged the need to address species detection uncertainty and determine the sampling effort required to infer species absence within sites. We used single-season, single-species occupancy models fit to field data collected in four states to estimate imperfect detection of B. affinis and to determine the survey effort required to achieve high confidence of species detection. Our analysis revealed a precipitous, seasonal, decline in B. affinis detection probability throughout the July through September sampling window in 2021. We estimated that six, 30-min surveys conducted in early July are required to achieve a 95% cumulative detection probability, whereas &gt...

Tenebrio molitor is one of the most reared species of insect at industrial scale. The entire life cycle of mealworms takes place in the same ecosystem and the duration of the different stages is highly dependent on environmental and physical conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, diet and population density. Most of the environment conditions as well as diet have already been studied and are documented. Tenebrio molitor is deeply adaptable to extreme dry conditions, obtaining water from both food ingestion (even substances with low water content) and/or atmosphere, however larvae grows faster in moist conditions upper than 70%. At the industrial scale, water can be provided as pure water, through wet paper, fresh vegetables with high water content or even polymers capable of absorbing water (polyacrylamide). Chapter 1 is a review of the optimal conditions for Tenebrio molitor rearing. In Chapter 2, the effects of relative humidity and the effects of ingesting fresh veget...

The initial effects of the infection by AgMNPV in the total and differential counts of the hemocytes in Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae were studied. The total number of the hemocytes did not decrease in infected larvae, as it occurred in non infected larvae. In infected larvae, the hemocyte types showed the following frequencies: plasmatocytes-47.8%, esferulocytes-25.9%, granulocytes-15.8%, oenocytoids-7.2%, prohemocytes-2.8%, vermicytes-0,5%. Only the percentage of the granulocytes was different among infected and non infected larvae, indicating that these cells responded quickly to the initial viral infection. These results showed the effective role of the hemocytes in the response of the A. gemmatalis to the infection by AgMNPV. The comprehension of the immunological mechanisms of this insect is an important tool to understand its biological control.

Citrus melanose, caused by Diaporthe citri, has been one of the serious diseases, and chemical fungicides were used for protection in many citrus orchards of Jeju Island. Establishing a disinfectant resistance management system and reducing pesticide usage would be important for contributing to safe agricultural production. In this study, monitoring of chemical resistance was performed with 40 representative D. citri isolates from many citrus orchards in Jeju Island. Four different fungicides, kresoxim-methyl, benomyl, fluazinam, and prochloraz manganese, with seven different concentrations were tested in vitro by growing the mycelium of the fungal isolates on the artificial medium potato dextrose agar. Among the 40 fungal isolates, 12 isolates were investigated as resistant to kresoxim-methyl which could not inhibit the mycelium growth to more than 50%. Especially isolate NEL21-2 was also resistant against benomyl, whose hyphae grew well even on the highest chemical concentration. ...

The insecticidal activities, toxic and histopathological effects of clove, Syzygium aromaticum L. were studied. Adult male albino rats weighing 150-60 g maintained in standard cages with free access to food and water were used for this experiment in year 2020. The plant powder was cold macerated in methanol to produce filtrate reconstituted for determination of median lethal dose (LD50) using Bruce's revised up and down procedure. Other assays followed standard methods too. The results showed that the botanical material, host resistance and permethrin are effective in controlling the maize weevil pest, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky infesting stored maize grains. Varietal resistance had no effect on the mortality of S. zeamais adults caused by S. aromaticum botanical insecticide at short storage period. Dry flower bud powder of clove, permethrin standard insecticide and resistance status had no effect on seed viability of maize grains when planted. The LD50 for S. aromaticum flower bud powder extract was 3000 mg kg-1 and this caused chills, convulsion and eventual death of the rats. The lowest weight gain in group IV rats administered 75% of the powder (2250 mg kg-1) in diet was an index of high powder concentration. The study revealed that 25 (750 mg kg-1) and 50% (1500 mg kg-1) supplementation of S. aromaticum did not adversely affect the serum biochemical indices, liver and kidney of the albino rats. The 75% S. aromaticum supplementation caused physiological damage in the animals. Therefore, supplementation of < 75% is recommended in the safe use of the botanical insecticide in pest control and herbal therapy.

The decrease in rice production can be caused by pests that can damage the quality and quantity. Pests that always attack rice plants are Brown planthopper. The BPH causes several effects, namely hopperburn, as a virus vector and can cause crop failure. The control of BPHs by farmers to date is by using synthetic pesticides. The use of synthetic pesticides can cause residues, resistance, resurgence, and the destruction of natural enemies. The use of synthetic insecticides can be minimized by using environmentally friendly and sustainable control alternatives, namely by using the local entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana. This study aims to determine the effect of the application of local Riau B. bassiana on BPH and rice production.The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Plant Pests and Experimental Gardens, Faculty of Agriculture, Riau University from April to July 2020. The research was designed a completely randomized design with five treatments local entomopathogenic fungi...

The efficiency of the entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin and Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill against 2 nd instar larvae of Spodoptera exigua (Hb.) was investigated under laboratory conditions of 27º ±1ºC and 65% ±10 % R.H. Both of the tested entomopathogenic fungi proved to be effective on larvae of S. exigua, the mortality percentage increasing with increase in spore concentration. Results revealed marked changes in the duration of the larval and pupal stages and in the different biological aspects in general. There was a decrease in percentage of pupation and adult emergence in addition to appearance of deformities.

We sequenced the Hyposidra talaca NPV (HytaNPV) double stranded circular DNA genome using PacBio single molecule sequencing technology. We found that the HytaNPV genome is 139,089 bp long with a GC content of 39.6%. It encodes 141 open reading frames (ORFs) including the 37 baculovirus core genes, 25 genes conserved among lepidopteran baculoviruses, 72 genes known in baculovirus, and 7 genes unique to the HytaNPV genome. It is a group II alphabaculovirus that codes for the F protein and lacks the gp64 gene found in group I alphabaculovirus viruses. Using RNA-seq, we confirmed the expression of the ORFs identified in the HytaNPV genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed HytaNPV to be closest to BusuNPV, SujuNPV and EcobNPV that infect other tea pests, Buzura suppressaria, Sucra jujuba, and Ectropis oblique, respectively. We identified repeat elements and a conserved non-coding baculovirus element in the genome. Analysis of the putative promoter sequences identified motif consistent with t...

Many biotic and abiotic stressors impact bees' health, acting as immunosupressors and contribute to colony losses. Thus, the importance of studying the immune response of honey bees is central to develop new strategies aiming to enhance bees' fitness to confront the threats affecting them. If a pathogen breaches the physical and chemical barriers, honey bees can protect themselves from infection with cellular and humoral immune responses which represent a second line of defense. Through a series of correlative studies we have previously reported that abscisic acid (ABA) and nitric oxide (NO) share roles in the same immune defenses of Apis mellifera (A. mellifera). Here we show results supporting that the supplementation of bee larvae's diet reared in vitro with L-Arginine (precursor of NO) or ABA enhanced the immune activation of the granulocytes in response to wounding and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection.

This study characterized the distribution of total drosophilids within a cherry block and tree canopy by sampling ca. 1,700 cherries over six weeks in 2015. Our findings promote a better understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of drosophilids, including Drosophila suzukii, and should be considered in future management programs. Flipping Phenotype: Creating resistant Aedes aegypti to prevent dengue transmission Dengue is the most widespread arbovirus, transmitted by Aedes aegypti. In Colombia, 30 percent of feral Ae. aegypti are resistant to dengue. We used RNA sequencing to compare gene expression in susceptible and resistant mosquitoes. We knocked down gene expression of pro-viral genes and reversed the phenotype from susceptible to resistant. Preliminary lifetable analysis on diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) in British Columbia The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is a globally distributed pest that infests brassicaceae, such as canola, mustards and cabbage....

As a sustainable food source for humans, mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) have a great deal of potential, due to the fact that they have a very favorable nutritional profile and a low environmental impact. For meal production, feed formulation and optimization are important. The mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is the most consumed insect in the world. Mealworms were given a variety of diets, including wheat bran as constant diet supplemented with different levels of Ospor (Bacillus clausii) at 0.002 g, 0.004 g, 0.006 g, and 0.008 g; imutec (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus) at 0.2 g. 0.4 g, 0.6 g, and 0.8 g; fungi (Calocybe indica) at 250 g, 500 g, and 750 g; yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) at 50 g, 100 g, and 150 g; and wheat bran (standard diet) were examined in complete randomized design (CRD). Different parameters, i.e., the larval, pupal, and adult weight, size, life span, and nutritional profile of mealworm were studied. When compared with other insect growth pr...

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different concentration of entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin against white grubs in the Entomology Laboratory, at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, Chitwan in 2015. For the experiment, 6 treatments were tested against white grubs at the rate of 10 7 commercial conidial spores per ml and indigenous 10 7 , 10 5 , 10 4 , 10 2 of conidial spores per ml including control and each treatment were replicated thrice. Total 270 grubs were treated, with 15 grubs in each replication of each treatment. They were screened for relative pathogenicity, and the mean lethal time eliciting 50% mortality (LT50) was calculated. Indigenous 10 4 spores/ml concentration of fungus had the lowest LT50 value of 61.45 days followed by 10 2 spores/ml with 65.35, 10 7 spores/ml with 68.98, 10 5 spores/ml with 76.04 and commercial 10 7 spores/ml with 152.71 days. Indigenous isolate showed higher mortality of white grubs in comparison to commercial isolate.

Background Outbreaks of the casuarina moth, Lymantria xylina Swinehoe (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), which is a very important forest pest in Taiwan, have occurred every five to 10 years. This moth has expanded its range of host plants to include more than 65 species of broadleaf trees. LyxyMNPV (L. xylina multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus) is highly virulent to the casuarina moth and has been investigated as a possible biopesticide for controlling this moth. LdMNPV-like virus has also been isolated from Lymantria xylin a larvae but LyxyMNPV was more virulent than LdMNPV-like virus both in NTU-LY and IPLB-LD-652Y cell lines. To better understand LyxyMNPV, the nucleotide sequence of the LyxyMNPV DNA genome was determined and analysed. Results The genome of LyxyMNPV consists of 156,344 bases, has a G+C content of 53.4% and contains 157 putative open reading frames (ORFs). The gene content and gene order of LyxyMNPV were similar to those of LdMNPV, with 151 ORFs identified as homologous to t...

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems frontiersin.org Tovihoudji et al.. /fsufs.. absolute control. However, the highest plant growth parameters were obtained with MF which were similar to those obtained with TP _ (P > .). Likewise, at farms, the highest plant growth parameters and yield were observed with MF followed by TP _ (with a cotton seed yield increase of % compared to the control, P < .). In addition, no significant di erences were observed between organic fertilizers treatments for growth variables. However yield di erences occurred. To resume, TP _ kg/ha performed best in terms of growth and yield in on-station experiments, while on-farms, TP _ kg/ha produced the highest responses of cotton. Value Cost Ratio (VCR) and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) values were generally as good or even better for MF treatment and treatments involving CP at both on station and on farm, compared to Ck. Although applying mineral fertilizer (MF) alone as currently done by many farmers appears to make economic sense, this practice is unlikely to be sustainable in the long term. Applying TP _ and TP _ are two possible strategies that are a ordable to farmers and provide returns on investment at least as good as the current practice of sole application of MF. However, a long-term study to assess the e ect of compost-activated biochar on crop productivity and soil quality is advised.

oxicological, biological and histological effects of the isolated entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae from the red palm weevil adult on the newly molted 2 nd and 4 th instar larvae of the Egyptian cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.), were investigated under laboratory conditions at 27º ± 2º and 60% ± 5% R.H. Results revealed a decrease in the mean larval, pupal, and adult durations for the 2 nd and 4 th instar larvae surviving treatment with the LC 50 of 2.8x10 8 and 2.8x10 9 spore/ml for the two tested instar larvae, respectively. Treatment also caused a reduction in the pupation and adult emergence percentage. There was also a great reduction in the mean number of eggs/female and the mean number of hatched eggs; The histological changes in the mid gut tissues in 6 th instar surviving treatment with LC 50 of M. anisopliae as newly ecdysed 3 rd instar larvae was investigated. Sections in mid gut of untreated S. littoralis showed linning with columnar cells surrounded by cross longitudinal muscles fiber, the epithelial cells linning mid gut with its brush border and goblet cells. While, in mid gut of treated S. littoralis some epithelial cells which linning mid gut have lost their brush border, others were completely destructed.

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), is a blood-feeding ectoparasite of vertebrates, primarily humans. In contrast to many other hematophagous arthropods, such as kissing bugs, mosquitoes, sandflies, and ticks that intermittently seek blood meals from vertebrate hosts, C. lectularius does not vector disease-causing pathogens and parasites to their human hosts. In this review, we summarize currently known immune responses by C. lectularius, and propose worthy research topics. Challenged by microbe ingestion or infection, C. lectularius mounts cellular immune responses such as phagocytosis of bacteria, as well as humoral responses such as secretions of antimicrobial peptides into the hemolymph. The functional immune system of the hemimetabolous C. lectularius resembles that of holometabolous insects but exhibits distinct deviations, including a sparser immune repertoire, the production of DNA nets by cells in response to pathogen invasions, and reproductive im...

Background Outbreaks of the casuarina moth, Lymantria xylina Swinehoe (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), which is a very important forest pest in Taiwan, have occurred every five to 10 years. This moth has expanded its range of host plants to include more than 65 species of broadleaf trees. LyxyMNPV (L. xylina multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus) is highly virulent to the casuarina moth and has been investigated as a possible biopesticide for controlling this moth. LdMNPV-like virus has also been isolated from Lymantria xylin a larvae but LyxyMNPV was more virulent than LdMNPV-like virus both in NTU-LY and IPLB-LD-652Y cell lines. To better understand LyxyMNPV, the nucleotide sequence of the LyxyMNPV DNA genome was determined and analysed. Results The genome of LyxyMNPV consists of 156,344 bases, has a G+C content of 53.4% and contains 157 putative open reading frames (ORFs). The gene content and gene order of LyxyMNPV were similar to those of LdMNPV, with 151 ORFs identified as homologous to t...

A weekly survey of pests present on cabbage crop was undertaken from October 2014 to January 2015. Data show that, several insect pests were found to attack cabbage crops which were identified under three families and two orders. These are the imported Cabbageworm, (Pieris rapae L., Pieridae, Lepidoptera), Cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L., Aphididae, Homoptera), Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L., plutellidae, Lepidoptera) and Beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua L.), Noctuidae, Lepidoptera). The most common brassica pests, are Pieris rapae (17.9 %) followed by Cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L., (7.59 %) and Plutella xylostella (diamondback moth) was (1.38 %) while Beet army worm (Spodoptera exigua L). which occurred as secondry insect pests on cabbage crop record (0.27 %). Both Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) and Beet army worm (Spodoptera exigua L) were less collected. Effects of weather factors on population dynamics of the most common cabbage pests were ...

White grub pests have been destroyed a lot of plantation of dry land. Farmers rely on synthetic insecticides to overcome the white grubs problem. Concerning the ecosystem pollution, it is necessary to improve the method of preparing M. anisopliae which is more effective on white grub-infested land to substitute synthetic insecticides. The research was conducted by  mixing compost fertilizer produced by the Faculty of Agriculture UPN &quot;Veteran&quot; Yogyakarta with the M. anisopliae according to the treatment (6.25g / kg; 13.5g / kg; and 20.25g / kg). The pathogenicity test was carried out in a plastic container. Each container is filled with a compost mixture with compost and sand (1:10) and one white grub larvae instar 4. Each treatment consisted of 30 white grubs. The result reveals that mixing compost fertilizer in the application of M. anisopliae was effective in increasing white grubs mortality by up to 16.67%. The greater the dose of M. anisopliae will speed up the mortali...

Bumblebees are important pollinators for many wild plants and crops. However, the bumblebee populations are seriously declining in many parts of the world. Hence, the bumblebee conservation strategy should be urgently addressed, and the species distribution modeling approach can effectively evaluate the potentially suitable areas for their conservation. Here, one of the most abundant and endemic species of bumblebee in China, Bombus pyrosoma, was selected to assess current and future climates’ influence on its distribution with MaxEnt. Nine high-resolution bioclimatic/environmental variables with high contribution rates and low correlations were used. Four of the nine bioclimatic/environmental variables, min temperature of the coldest month (bio_06), annual mean temperature (bio_01), precipitation of wettest month (bio_13) and radiation of warmest quarter (bio_26), were found to be the most critical factors influencing the distribution of B. pyrosoma. The modeling results showed tha...

Background The baculovirus Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpliNPV) is an entomopathogenic virus utilized as a biological control agent of the Egyptian cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis. Several studies have focused on the identification of different SpliNPV isolates from a biological and molecular point of view, but few of them conducted in-depth analyses of the genomic composition of these isolates. Results Identification of a novel isolate of SpliNPV, termed Tun2, which was purified from infected S. littoralis larvae from Tunisia was reported. This isolate was propagated in vivo and its median lethal concentration (LC50) was determined to be 1.5 × 104 occlusion bodies (OBs)/ml for third instar S. littoralis larvae at 7 days of post-infection. OB production in late fourth instar larvae was estimated to be at least 2.7 × 109 OBs/g larval weight. The completely sequenced genome of SpliNPV-Tun2 was 137,099 bp in length and contained 132 open reading frames (ORF). It...

Ginseng root rot caused by Cylindrocarpon destructans is the most destructive disease of ginseng. Six different fungicides (thiophanate-methyl, benomyl, prochloraz, mancozeb, azoxystrobin, and iprodione) were selected to evaluate the inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth and conidial germination of C. destructans isolates. Benomyl and prochloraz were found to be the most effective fungicides in inhibiting mycelial growth of all tested isolates, showing 64.7% to 100% inhibition at a concentration of 10 µg/mL, whereas thiophanate-methyl was the least effective fungicide, showing less than 50% inhibition even at a higher concentration of 100 µg/mL. The tested fungicides exhibited less than 20% inhibition of conidium germination at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 µg/mL. However, the inhibition effect of mancozeb on condium germination of C. destructans was significantly increased to 92% to 99% at a higher concentration of 100 µg/mL, while the others still showed no higher than 30%...

A granulosis virus strain infecting Pieris brassicae (PbGV) was isolated from the dry temperate region of northwestern Himalayas as a potential microbial agent for its management. The effect of different botanicals (having insecticidal action against P. brassicae) on the bioefficacy of PbGV was evaluated under laboratory conditions using leaf disc bioassays on cabbage for improving the insecticidal performance of the PbGV. The synergistic action of different botanical extracts was evident in terms of reduction in LC 50 values against different botanical extracts. Among different extracts, petroleum-ether extract of neem seed kernel (NSK) when combined with PbGV resulted in maximum reduction of LC 50 value (4.39×10 2 occlusion bodies [OBs] ml −1) followed by methanolic extract (7.38×10 2 OBs ml −1) and aqueous extract (9.36×10 3 OBs ml −1) as compared with PbGV alone (1.85×10 4 OBs ml −1) for 2nd instar larvae of the test insect. These trends were found analogous in cases of 3rd and 4th instars of P. brassicae with different solvent extracts of NSK. The other botanicals evaluated, viz., Eupatorium and Artemesia, also resulted in reduction of LC 50 values for 2nd, 3rd and 4th instars as compared with PbGV alone when different extracts were combined with virus for bioassays. The studies suggest that the PbGV in combination with botanical pesticides could be more useful as a bio-pesticide against cabbage butterfly (P. brassicae) in IPM programs.

Effect of four plant extracts (vinca, ak, neem and chinaberry) were evaluated against 3rd instar larvae of the cabbage worm, Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera; Pieridae). The data proved positive correlation between mortality rates of 3rd instar larvae of P. rapae L. and concentration of each extract (vinca, ak, chinaberry and neem). Also, the results indicated that, ak was the most effective plant extracts to larvae of P. rapae L. with LC50: 600.52 and LC90: 6824.409 ppm, while LC50 of neem, vinca and chinaberry extracts were 2355.603, 2623.907 and 3153.93 ppm, respectively; and LC90: 6824.409, 11758.833, 19534.269 and 33813.166 ppm, respectively