The natural presence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) has been investigated in the Piedmont region (Northern Italy) in areas infested by the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica. Thirty-nine out of ...155 soil samples (25.2%) were positive for EPNs. Most of the samples contained only steinermatids (92.3%), 5.1% contained heterorhabditids, and one sample (2.6%) contained both genera. All the recovered isolates were identified at species level both morphologically and molecularly. Steinernema carpocapsae was the most abundant and it was mainly distributed in open habitats, such as perennial meadows, uncultivated soils, and cropland, characterized by sandy loam soil texture and acidic pH. Steinernema feltiae has been found associated mainly with closed habitats such as coniferous and deciduous woodland, characterized by sandy loam-texture and extremely acidic soil. The three isolates of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora were collected only in open habitats (perennial meadows and uncultivated fields) characterized by strongly acidic soils with sandy loam texture. The virulence of all EPN natural strains was evaluated by laboratory assays against P. japonica third-instar larvae collected during two different periods of the year (spring, autumn). The results showed that larval mortality was higher for pre-wintering larvae than post-wintering ones. The five more promising EPN isolates were tested in the semi-field assay in which H. bacteriophora natural strains have been shown to be more efficient in controlling P. japonica grubs. All of these results are finally discussed considering the use of these natural EPNs as biological control agents against P. japonica, within an eco-friendly perspective of management.
Abstract
Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is considered the worst pest of palm species, and few natural enemies are reported for this parasite in its area of origin. Here, we report the first recovery of ...the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium pingshaense associated with R. ferrugineus from Vietnam. The morphological, biochemical, and toxicological features of this strain were studied and compared with those of another Metarhizium strain associated with this weevil in Sicily (Italy), an area of recent introduction. The potential use of these fungi as biocontrol agents was tested against adult insects in laboratory trials and a similar mortality rate was found. Both strains were able to produce toxins and cuticle-degrading proteases, but they showed dissimilar enzymatic and toxicological profiles, suggesting a different virulence activity.
First discovery of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium pingshaense associated to Red Palm Weevil in the native area.
A new species of mermithid nematode,
Hexamermis popilliae
n. sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) is described from the Japanese beetle
Popillia japonica
Newman in Italy, an area of new introduction for this ...invasive pest. The combination of the following characters separates
H. popilliae
from other members of the genus
Hexamermis
Steiner, 1924: adult head obtuse; amphidial pouches slightly posterior to lateral head papillae in female but adjacent to lateral head papillae in males; amphidial openings large, well developed; amphidial pouches elliptical in females and oblong in males; cuticular vulvar cone well developed, vulvar lips greatly reduced or lacking, vagina curved at tip where meeting uteri, without reverse bend (not S-shaped), spicules slightly curved, with a slight bend in the basal portion, approximately equal to body width at cloaca. This is the first record of a species of
Hexamermis
parasitizing the Japanese beetle
Popillia japonica
. The only previous mention of mermithid nematodes from
P. japonica
was an undescribed species of
Psammomermis
in North America.
Hexamermis popilliae
will be evaluated as a potential biological control agent in an integrated control program of the Japanese beetle in Italy.
ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyse the diversity and composition of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the dry and rainy seasons in a Brazilian Cerrado stream, where it was hypothesized that ...the dry season has higher diversity and it differs in terms of organism composition in relation to the rainy season. Sampling was carried out in the dry (May and August/2016 and August/2017) and rainy seasons (November/2016 and February and November/2017). Individuals were identified at the family level and classified according to functional feeding group (FFG). There were 3,776 individuals, in which Chironomidae was the most abundant taxon with 2,226 organisms. The FFG with the highest number of individuals and species richness were collector-gatherer and predator, respectively. The species richness was higher in the dry season than in the rainy season. The ordinance generated by NMDS showed that there was no distinction in the composition of the assemblage between the dry and rainy seasons. Seasonal variations do not alter the abundance and composition of the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage, but the species richness does decrease in rainy seasons.
RESUMO Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a diversidade e a composição da assembleia de macroinvertebrados bentônicos nas estações seca e chuvosa em um riacho do Cerrado Brasileiro, testando a hipótese que a estação seca tem maior diversidade e difere em termos de composição de organismos em relação a estação chuvosa. A coleta foi realizada em estações secas (maio e agosto/2016 e agosto/2017) e chuvosas (novembro/2016 e fevereiro e novembro/2017). Os indivíduos foram identificados em nível de família e classificados de acordo com o grupo funcional alimentar (GFA). Foram identificados 3.776 indivíduos, onde Chironomidae foi o táxon mais abundante com 2.226 organismos. O GFA com maior número de indivíduos e riqueza foram coletor-catador e predador, respectivamente. A riqueza de espécies foi maior na estação seca do que na estação chuvosa. A ordenação gerada pelo NMDS mostrou que não houve distinção na composição da assembleia entre as estações seca e chuvosa. Concluímos que variações sazonais não alteram a abundância e a composição da comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos, mas a riqueza de espécies diminuiu na estação chuvosa.
The jasmine lacebug Corythauma ayyari is a pest of cultivated and ornamental plants mainly associated to Jasminum spp. This invasive insect is native to Asia, and it has been recently introduced in ...several countries, mainly within the Mediterranean basin. Here, we updated the known distribution of this species, including five new Italian regions (Liguria, Tuscany, Latium, Apulia, and Calabria); Salamis Island in Greece, and the Occitanie region in France. Citizen-science data have significantly contributed to the knowledge on species distribution, and the online platform for sharing biodiversity information can represent an effective tool for the early detection. Molecular analyses revealed that the specimens collected in Peninsular Italy and Sicily belong to a unique clade, suggesting the possibility of a single introduction, whereas those from Menton (France) and Calabria (Southern Italy) are separated from the others and probably originate from separated introductions.
A new phoretic association between Bursaphelenchus minutus and the bark beetle Orthotomicus erosus collected on Pinus pinea is described for the first time. Nematode identification was based on ...morphological observation and biometric measurements of males and females. Moreover, B. minutus was characterized by ITS sequences and RFLP profile.
Highlights • DNA analysis of several samples from various post-mortem and environmental conditions. • Complete DNA profiles were generated from bone marrow, femur, metatarsal and patella. • ...Amplifiable DNA can be generated from bone marrow transferred on FTA® card. • Amplifiable target DNA maybe obtained using 0.1 ng DNA template. • 0.5 ng DNA template increased allele recovery and improved peak balance.
This paper is concerned with the estimation of integrals of
2
π
-periodic functions with respect to the Hermite weight function by passing to the unit circle of the complex plane and considering ...Szegő and interpolatory-type quadrature formulas with respect now to the Rogers–Szegő weight function. Several numerical experiments are given along with estimations of the error.
Caspases are cysteinyl‐aspartate‐specific proteases known for their role in apoptosis. Here, we describe the characterization of Aedes Dronc, a novel caspase in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes ...aegypti. Aedes Dronc is predicted to contain an N‐terminal caspase recruitment domain and is a homologue of Drosophila Dronc and human caspase‐9. An increase in transcripts and caspase activity coincides with developmental changes in the mosquito, suggesting that Aedes Dronc plays a role in developmental apoptosis. Exposure of third instar larvae to ecdysone resulted in a significant increase in both transcript levels and caspase activity. We present here a functional characterization of the first caspase recruitment domain‐containing caspase in mosquitoes, and will initiate studies on the role of apoptosis in the innate immune response of vectors.
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