Chemical signals have an important role in the survival of many animals and are essential for the exploration of the resources available in their habitat. All phytophagous insects, including ...dipterans, use diverse chemical compounds released by plants as olfactory signals to locate their hosts. Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a generalist fly that uses numerous plants as hosts. In this study, we evaluated the attractiveness of extracts from six plants commonly used as ornamental and medicinal plants in the southern region of Mexico. When the flies were exposed to Piper auritum Kunth (Piperaceae) extract, we observed a stimulating‐attracting effect, especially on females, whereas the other five extracts showed no significant differences from their respective controls. In addition, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis of the P. auritum extract revealed 11 compounds, where safrole and methyl eugenol (ME) showed the highest concentrations of all the compounds found. ME has been shown to attract flies, mainly males of the genus Bactrocera. In this case, we found a stronger effect on female D. suzukii, indicating a potential effect of ME as a kairomone that mainly stimulates the attraction behavior of females.
The attraction effect of extracts of six plant species was evaluated, where Piper auritum (Piperaceae) showed a stimulant–attractant effect on Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) adults. The results show evidence of a potential effect of methyl eugenol (ME) as a kairomone that mainly stimulates the attraction of females of this species. ME could potentially be used in monitoring and control programs of this important pest.
The Lonchaeidae family includes economically important species, worldwide considered major insect pests of fruits and vegetables. In Mexico, little is known about this group of insects and their ...interaction with their hosts. This study contributes to knowledge of the two Lonchaeidae species in the genus Neosilba, Neosilba batesi Curran and N. glaberrima Wiedmann, associated with Annona fruit. A total of 642 Neosilba adults emerged from the fruit of Annona spp. collected. N. batesi was more abundant and widely distributed in the areas sampled, and was collected from fruit of Annona muricata, A. reticulata, A. cherimola, A. diversifolia, A. squamosa, A. glabra, and A. globiflora, while N. glaberrima was collected only on A. muricata, A. reticulata, and A. squamosa. Biological aspects of each species are described, and photographs of adults taken with the aid of a light microscope are included. The associations of N. batesi and N. glaberrima with Annona plants are new records for all localities in Mexico.
The agave weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most important insect pest of wild and cultivated agaves in the world. Combined gas ...chromatography-electroantennography (GC-EAD) analysis of male volatile extracts showed that four peaks elicited antennal responses from males and females. The peaks were identified by GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as 2-methyl-4-heptanol (1), 2-methyl-4-octanol (2), 2-methyl-4-heptanone (3), and 2-methyl-4-octanone (4). Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings of both sexes to 0.01-, 0.1-, 1-, and 10-μg stimulus load of synthetic compounds showed that the dose of the tested compounds and weevil sex significantly influenced the antennal response of S. acupunctatus. However, there was no sexual dimorphism in the antennal responses to the four synthetic compounds evaluated because the EAG profiles revealed no interaction between doses by sex. Antennae of S. acupunctatus were most sensitive to compounds 2 and 4, reaching the threshold at a 0.01-μg stimulus load. Weevil antennae were less sensitive to compounds 1 and 3, and the threshold response to these compounds was 0.1 μg. Behavioural evaluation of the synthetic compounds showed them to be attractive to both males and females in a Y-tube olfactometer. Field experiments confirmed the laboratory results, showing that all components, singly or in blends, were attractive to the weevils. In general, traps baited with the quaternary blend of compounds 1-4 captured significantly more weevils than traps baited with males. However, compounds 3 and 4 were sufficient to obtain captures equivalent to those by the quaternary blend. The potential use of the aggregation pheromone in the development of a mass-trapping programme as a viable pest management alternative for S. acupunctatus is discussed.
Hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES) is a rare primary immunodeficiency characterized by elevated levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), eczematous dermatitis, cold abscesses, and recurrent infections of the lung ...and skin caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The dominant form is characterized by nonimmunologic features including skeletal, connective tissue, and pulmonary abnormalities in addition to recurrent infections and eczema. Omalizumab is a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody against IgE. Several studies reported clinical improvement with omalizumab in patients with severe atopic eczema with high serum IgE level. We present the case of a 37-year-old male with HIES and cutaneous manifestations, treated with humanized recombinant monoclonal antibodies efalizumab and omalizumab. After therapy for 4 years, we observed diminished eczema and serum IgE levels.
Sphenophorus incurrens Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an insect that feeds mainly on plants of the family Poaceae in the Neotropics. In Mexico, this weevil is an emergent pest of sugarcane. ...In this study, first the behavioral responses of both sexes to conspecifics were evaluated in a Y-tube olfactometer. Second, the volatiles of S. incurrens were sampled by the dynamic headspace technique and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). Third, the antennal-active compound was identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Finally, the biological activity of the identified compound was evaluated in laboratory and field tests. Our results showed that males emitted a pheromone that attracts both sexes. The GC-EAD analysis of the male volatiles showed that one peak elicited antennal responses from male and female weevils. The compound was identified as 2-methyl-4-octanol. Laboratory and field tests showed that the identified compound is attractive to both sexes of this weevil species, confirming its pheromonal activity.
Diversas especies de curculiónidos espermatófagos incluidos en los géneros Curculio L. y Conotrachelus Dejean (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) son responsables del fenómeno denominado ...depredación-predispersión que afecta a las bellotas de encinos (Quercus L.: Fagaceae). Se reporta a Cholomyia inaequipes como endoparasitoide koinobionte solitario asociado con las larvas de Curculio sp., y Conotrachelus carinifer en el Estado de México. Este hallazgo contribuye al conocimiento de una nueva interacción trófica huésped-parasitoide, así como del incremento del área de distribución de Ch. inaequipes hacia el centro de México. Spermatophagous insects such as Curculio L., and Conotrachelus Dejean (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are responsible for the phenomenon known as predation-predispersal that affects oak (Quercus L.: Fagaceae) acorns. We report Cholomyia inaequipes as a solitary koinobiont endoparasitoid associated with the larvae of Curculio sp., and Conotrachelus carinifer in the State of Mexico, Mexico. This finding contributes to knowledge of a new trophic host-parasitoid interaction, as well as updates the distribution area of Ch. inaequipes toward Central Mexico.
Species that coexist nowadays will not necessarily match their distributions in the future due to different climate suitability. The aim of this study was to identify potential distribution areas ...where the bark beetle Dendroctonus adjunctus and six of its host tree species overlap under different climate change scenarios. Potential distribution maps were built with species presence data using the MaxLike R library. For each projection, we used WorldClim bioclimatic variables, current and future (2050, 2070) condition climate data, two greenhouse gas concentration scenarios (RCP 4.5, RCP 8.5), and three general circulation models. The results show that the projected current potential distribution area of the bark beetle extends over 216 000 km.sup.2. This potential distribution range spans across 28 of the 32Mexican states, eight of which have not yet reported the insect's presence. Of the 72 overlapping maps that we made, the largest covers more than 118 000 km.sup.2 for Pinus duranguensis, while all future projections show a reduction in spatial coincidence. Given future climatic scenarios, D. adjunctus will probably reach higher altitudinal sites. The information contained in this study can be used to identify areas to prioritize monitoring, management, plant sanitation treatment, and reforestation strategies in Mexican pine forests.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BF, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Mexican avocado producers face phytosanitary barriers that limit the ability to ship avocados to foreign markets due to concerns about invasion by unwanted pests. The principal regulated pests are ...the big avocado seed weevil, Heilipus lauri Boheman; the small avocado seed weevils Conotrachelus aguacatae Barber and C. perseae Barber; the branch borer weevil, Copturus aguacatae Kissinger (all Coleoptera: Curculionidae); and the avocado seed moth, Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae). In Mexico, distribution information of these pests is largely based on a slow integration of the geographic data. This study was conducted to determine the potential distribution of these 5 insect pests in Mexican avocadogrowing areas by using the maximum entropy algorithm. Distributional data of these insects were obtained from scientific literature, databases, and field collection, and incorporated into the MaxEnt model using 19 global climatic variables and elevation data. Distributional models for Mexico, and geographic interaction with avocado-growing areas of the country, were calculated. Conoctrachelus aguacatae, C. perseae, Copturus aguacatae, and H. lauri showed similar environmental suitability patterns in Mexico, with a potential distribution from central to southern Mexico. High suitability was projected principally in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and surrounding biogeographic provinces. Stenoma catenifer exhibited an irregular environmental suitability pattern, with preference for western Mexico. Altitude, isothermality, and seasonality of precipitation were the variables that most influenced potential distribution of analyzed species. Geographic interaction with avocado-growing areas ranged from wider (Conoctrachelus aguacatae, C. perseae, Copturus aguacatae, and S. catenifer) to narrow or irregular (H. lauri), but the last species has the potential to invade new geographic areas. For the first time, the geographic distribution of these 5 insect pests was determined based on environmental suitability and their geographic interaction with avocados. These data could support development of management strategies throughout the country, and help focusing surveys and control tactics.
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