p53, DNA damage regulated gene (PDRG) and apoptosis-stimulating p53 protein 2 (ASPP2) are p53-related genes which can promote apoptosis. The full-length cDNA sequence of the Px-pdrg and Px-aspp2 genes were characterized and their mRNA expression dynamics under heat stress were studied in diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella collected from Fuzhou, China. The full-length cDNA of Px-pdrg and Px-aspp2 spans 721 and 4201 bp, containing 395 and 3216 bp of the open reading frame, which encode a putative protein comprising 130 and 1072 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 14.58 and 118.91 kDa, respectively. As compared to 25°C, both Px-pdrg and Px-aspp2 were upregulated in chlorpyrifos-resistant (Rc) and -susceptible (Sm) strains of DBM adults and pupae under heat stress. In addition, Rc DBM showed a significantly higher expression level of Px-pdrg and Px-aspp2 in contrast to Sm DBM. The results indicate that high temperature can significantly promote apoptosis process, especially in Rc-DBM. Significant fitness cost in Rc-DBM might be associated with drastically higher transcript abundance of Px-pdrg and Px-aspp2 under the heat stress.

Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) are highly polyphagous fruit fly species and important pests of commercial fruit in regions of the world where they are present. In South Africa, B. dorsalis is now established in the north and northeastern parts of the country. B. dorsalis is currently absent in other parts of the country including the Western Cape Province which is an important area for the production of deciduous fruit. C. capitata is widespread in South Africa and is the dominant pest of deciduous fruit. The demographic parameters of B. dorsalis and C. capitata on four deciduous fruit types Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Prunus domestica L., Malus domestica Borkh. and Pyrus communis L. were studied to aid in predicting the potential population establishment and growth of B. dorsalis in a deciduous fruit growing environment. All deciduous fruit types tested were suitable for population persistence of both B. dorsalis and C. capitata. Development was fastest and survival highest on nectarine for both species. B. dorsalis adults generally lived longer than those of C. capitata, irrespective of the fruit types that they developed from. B. dorsalis had a higher net reproductive rate (Ro) on all deciduous fruit tested compared to C. capitata. However, the intrinsic rate of population increase was estimated to be higher for C. capitata than for B. dorsalis on all fruit types tested primarily due to C. capitata's faster generation time. Provided abiotic conditions are optimal, B. dorsalis would be able to establish and grow in deciduous fruit growing areas.

Dung-colonizing beetles provide a range of ecosystem services in farmland pasture systems. However, such beetles are declining in Northern temperate regions. This may, in part, be due to the widespread use of macrocyclic lactones (MLs) and synthetic pyrethroids (SPs) in livestock farming. These chemicals are used to control pests and parasites of cattle; the residues of which are excreted in dung at concentrations toxic to insects. While the lethal effects of such residues are well known, sublethal effects are less understood. Any effects, however, may have important consequences for beetle populations, particularly if they affect reproduction. To investigate, the impact of ML and SP exposure on the reproductive output of Onthophagus similis (Scriba), a Northern temperate dung beetle species, was examined. In laboratory trials, field-collected adult O. similis exposed to the ML ivermectin at 1 ppm (wet weight) over a period of 3 weeks had smaller oocytes (p = 0.016), smaller fat bodies and reduced motility compared to the control. In a farm-level investigation, cattle dung-baited pitfall trapping was undertaken on 23 beef cattle farms in SW England, which either used MLs (n = 9), SPs (n = 7) or neither chemical (n = 7). On farms that used no MLs or SPs, 24.2% of females caught were gravid. However, on farms that used MLs no gravid females were caught, and only 1% of the beetles caught on farms using SPs were gravid (p < 0.001). The association between ML and SP use and impaired reproductive output suggests that the use of such chemicals is likely to be ecologically damaging.

Pyrethroid insecticides were intensively used against Cydia pomonella in the Río Negro and Neuquén valley, main production area of pome fruits in Argentina. Therefore, the first objective was to evaluate lambda-cyhalothrin resistance levels in C. pomonella larvae from orchards in this area that are currently under pyrethroids treatments. The second objective was to evaluate the frequency of kdr mutation in C. pomonella across Argentina. High levels of resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin (resistance ratios > 30) were determined in all the populations evaluated. The L1014F (kdr) mutation was evaluated in 355 diapausing larvae collected in 12 orchards from San Juan to Santa Cruz provinces (1690 km away from each other). The highest frequency of kdr mutation was determined in larvae from the Río Negro and Neuquén valley (0.61), followed by those from Mendoza (0.36). The kdr allele was absent or present at very low frequencies in orchards subjected to low pyrethroid pressure. The frequency of detection of kdr mutation in C. pomonella from Argentina is related to the use of pyrethroids against this pest in different areas. Target-site insensitivity is, at least, one of the mechanisms involved in resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin in codling moth from the Río Negro and Neuquén valley.

Although the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is the most destructive insect pest of coffee worldwide, there is much to learn about its thermal biology. This study aimed to develop temperature-based models for H. hampei development and to provide the thermal requirements of immature stages in the laboratory. Using a new observation method, larval development and survival were monitored daily on fresh Arabica coffee seeds, under seven constant temperatures in the range 15–35°C, with 80 ± 5% RH and 12:12 L:D photoperiod. Linear and non-linear functions were fitted to the development data plotted against temperature, using Insect Life Cycle Modelling software (ILCYM). Temperature significantly affected the development time of all immature stages. Egg incubation period ranged 4.6–16.8 days, under temperature between 30 and 15°C. No development occurred at 35°C and the larval stage did not develop to pupa at 15°C. The minimum temperature threshold (Tmin) estimated from linear regression was 10.5, 13.0, 15.0 and 13.0°C, for egg, larva, pupa and the total development from egg to adult, respectively. The maximum temperature threshold (Tmax) estimated from the Sharpe and DeMichele function was 32°C for egg to adult development. The thermal constant (k) was estimated at 78.1, 188.7, 36.5 and 312.5 degree days, for egg, larva, pupa and for egg to adult, respectively. Our results will help understand and predict the pest population dynamics and distribution in coffee plantations as impacted by temperature, and as such, will contribute to a more efficient management of the pest.

The effect of three green gram cultivars (PDM 54, PUSA BAISAKHI and SAMRAT) on the biology of Spilosoma obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) was studied using age-stage, two-sex life table. We also studied food utilization efficiency measures of larvae on green gram cultivars. The nutritional and antinutritional factors of leaves of green gram cultivars were determined. The preadult development time of S. obliqua was shortest on PDM 54 (35.54 days) and longest on SAMRAT (39.29 days). The fecundity was highest on PDM 54 (318.32) and lowest on SAMRAT (250.20). The net reproductive rate (R0) ranged from 37.53 on SAMRAT to 79.58 on PDM 54. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was higher on PDM 54 (0.1148 day−1) and PUSA BAISAKHI (0.1018 day−1) than SAMRAT (0.0875 day−1). The finite rate of increase (λ) was lowest on SAMRAT (1.0915 day−1). Mean generation time (T) was shortest on PDM 54 (38.12 days) and longest on SAMRAT (41.42 days). Population projection revealed that the population growth was slowest on SAMRAT. The growth rate of sixth instar larvae was highest on PDM 54 and lowest on SAMRAT. The lower level of nutritional factors such as total carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, amino acids and nitrogen content, and a higher level of antinutritional factors such as total phenols, flavonols and tannins influenced higher development time and lower fecundity of S. obliqua on SAMRAT than other cultivars. These findings suggested that SAMRAT is a less suitable cultivar to S. obliqua than other cultivars, and this cultivar can be promoted for cultivation.

Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important pest of Lathyrus sativus L. plants, and causes retarded plant growth and loss of seed production. The insect sucks cell sap from flowers and lays nymphs on flowers. Hence, an attempt has been made to observe whether flower surface wax compounds (alkanes and free fatty acids) from two cultivars (BIO L 212 Ratan and Nirmal B-1) of L. sativus could act as short-range attractant and stimulant for nymph laying by adult viviparous females. The n-hexane extracts of flower surface waxes were analyzed by TLC, GC-MS and GC-FID analyses. Twenty one and 22 n-alkanes between n-C12 and n-C36 were detected in BIO L 212 Ratan and Nirmal B-1, respectively; whereas 12 free fatty acids between C12:0 and C22:0 were identified in both cultivars. Pentadecane and tridecanoic acid were predominant n-alkane and free fatty acid, respectively. One flower equivalent surface wax of both cultivars served as short-range attractant and stimulant for nymph laying through Y-tube choice experiments and I-tube viviparity assays, respectively, by adult viviparous females. A synthetic blend of nonacosane, tridecanoic acid and linoleic acid, and a synthetic blend of tetradecane, pentadecane, nonacosane, tridecanoic acid and linoleic acid resembling in amounts as present in one flower equivalent surface wax of BIO L 212 Ratan and Nirmal B-1, respectively, served as short-range attractant and stimulant for nymph laying by adult viviparous females. This study suggests that both these blends could be used in lures in the development of baited traps in pest management programmes.

Four Beauveria bassiana and three Metarhizium brunneum isolates were evaluated, as soil drenches, against Spodoptera littoralis prepupae. Treatment efficacy was determined by assessing total mortality during development from prepupae through to pupae and adults; mortality and sub-lethal effects on reproduction were also quantified for adults emerging from surviving prepupae/pupae. All isolates were pathogenic but overall mortality varied between 31.7 and 83.3% (0% for control); average survival time was 7.5–10.5 days (14.0 days for control). From 1.7–15.0% of adults emerging from surviving prepupae/pupae were deformed (0% in control). Contact with fungal suspensions as prepupae/pupae caused a significant reduction in fecundity of emerging adult females (15–58.9%), and a significant reduction in egg viability (6.8–28.4%) compared with controls. Two isolates were selected for virulence evaluation against S. littoralis prepupae. The LC50s were 1.7 × 107 and 1.8 × 107 conidia ml−1 and the median survival times were 7 and 6 days for isolates EAMa 01/58-Su and EAMb 09/01-Su, respectively. Destruxin A was present in pupae developing from prepupae treated with isolates EAMa 01/58-Su (0.010 ± 0.002 µg pupae−1) and EAMb 09/01-Su (0.015 ± 0.003 µg pupae−1). The use of entomopathogenic fungi as soil drenches could be a key component of S. littoralis IPM strategies due to direct reductions in the number of soil-dwelling life stages and, also, the significant reduction in reproductive potential of surviving adults.

The effect of structurally related sesquiterpenoids (E,E)-farnesol and cis-nerolidol on the host-plant selection behaviour of the peach potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulz.) was evaluated using electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique. No repellent effects of (E,E)-farnesol and (Z)-nerolidol to M. persicae were found but aphid probing activities on (E,E)-farnesol- and cis-nerolidol-treated plants were restrained. During non-phloem phases of probing, neither (E,E)-farnesol nor (Z)-nerolidol affected the cell puncture activity. On (E,E)-farnesol-treated plants, the total duration of phloem phase, the mean duration of individual sustained ingestion periods were significantly lower, and the proportion of phloem salivation was higher than on control plants. On (Z)-nerolidol-treated plants, the occurrence of the first phloem phase was delayed, and the frequency of the phloem phase was lower than on control plants. The freely moving aphids were reluctant to remain on (E,E)-farnesol- and (Z)-nerolidol-treated leaves for at least 24 h after exposure. (E,E)-Farnesol and (Z)-nerolidol show complementary deterrent properties, (E,E)-farnesol showing ingestive and post-ingestive activities and nerolidol showing pre-ingestive, ingestive, and post-ingestive deterrent activities.

Species of Agonoscena (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) are key pests of pistachio in all of the most important pistachio producing countries in the Old World. The efficiency and accuracy of DNA barcoding for the identification of Agonoscena species were tested using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (mtCO1) and cytochrome b (cytb) gene sequences. Moreover, morphometric sexual dimorphism was studied. Finally, the potential geographical distribution of Agonoscena pistaciae, the most important pistachio pest, was calculated using the MaxEnt model. Similar relationships of clustering were found in the morphometric analysis and the molecular analyses with mtCO1 and cytb genes, with A. bimaculata and A. pistaciae being closely related, and A. pegani constituting their sister group. Although the results showed that the cytb gene is a better marker for barcoding in this group, the mtCO1 gene clearly separates the three psyllid species making mtCO1 suitable for diagnostic purposes. A geometric morphometric analysis showed that the distance between landmark number 7 (bifurcation of vein M) to the fore margin of the forewing, and the distance between landmarks number 6 (apex of vein Cu1b) and 11 (wing base), are the most important geometric characters for diagnosing the studied species. Moreover, the forewing shape of males vs females is similar in A. pistaciae and A. bimaculata but differs significantly in A. pegani. In the ecological niche modeling of the distribution of A. pistaciae, the most important contribution was made by the variable ‘minimum temperature of coldest period’. The most suitable areas for A. pistaciae are restricted to Eastern, Southern and some parts of Central Iran.

Predation by Engytatus varians (Distant) adults on different development stages of the prey species Bactericera cockerelli (Sulcer) (egg, second, and third nymphal instars), Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (egg, first, and second larval instars) was evaluated using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) leaflets or plants. These insects are the primary pest of several agriculturally important crops. The influence of E. varians age on the predation capacity was also analysed. Engytatus varians females consumed significantly more B. cockerelli eggs and nymphs than males. Additionally, female predators consumed significantly more second than third instar prey at two predator ages, while males consumed significantly more the second instar than third instar prey at all predator ages. In most of the cases, females also consumed significantly more S. exigua and S. frugiperda eggs than males; however, in terms of larvae consumption, this difference was observed only in some predator ages. Females consumed more the first than second instar S. exigua than males, whereas this behaviour was only observed in males when the predators were 15 and 17 days old. No significant differences were observed in the consumption of first and second instar of S. frugiperda for both sexes of the predators. Predator age did not cause any systematic effects on the predation rates of any prey species. Based on these results, we confirmed that E. varians has potential as a biological control agent for B. cockerelli and also for the Spodoptera species bioassayed.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of toxic baits and attractants for fruit flies on the biology of its parasitoid Fopius arisanus. We tested two food-based attractants; hydrolysed corn protein (Biofruit® 3%) and sugarcane molasses (7%), their mixtures with spinosad and malathion-based insecticides, and a ready-to-use commercial bait (Success 0.02 CB®). Malathion-based lures were used as references for mortality (i.e., positive control), while negative control was honey. The formulations Biofruit® + malathion (T1), molasses + malathion (T2), and spinosad + molasses (T3) were toxic to F. arisanus, being classified as harmful (class 4). In addition, toxic baits composed of Biofruit + spinosad (T4) reduced parasitism by 97.99%, being rated as moderately harmful (class 3). Yet, Success 0.02 CB® (T7) was considered slightly toxic (class 2), causing a 64.55% reduction in parasitism. Regarding the biological parameters of F. arisanus, offspring number and parasitoid longevity were significantly reduced by using hydrolysed protein attractants when compared to the control (honey). However, sugarcane molasses improved parasitoid reproduction and longevity, as did the honey. Lastly, ingestion tests showed the major role of attractants in toxic-bait formulations against F. arisanus.

Greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood, is one of the major insect pests of agricultural crops such as eggplant. Due to various difficulties associated with synthetic pesticides, more environmentally friendly alternative methods are greatly appreciated for controlling pests. In the present study, the induction of resistance was investigated in eggplant using root and foliar application of jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, as well as Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) either individually or in combination against T. vaporariorum. The experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions inside a growth chamber, which was set at 27 ± 2°C, 50 ± 5% relative humidity with a 16 h day length. Our results showed an increase in plant resistance due to the higher immature mortality rates, longer immature periods, lower longevity of adults, and fecundity. In free-choice situation, oviposition on root jasmonic acid (RJA) + N. tenuis and root abscisic acid (RABA) + N. tenuis was similar, but numbers of eggs deposited on these plants were lower than other treatments and control plants. The plant enzyme activity and phenolic content were significantly greater in RJA + N. tenuis and RABA + N. tenuis, intermediate in individual treatments, and the lowest in control plants. Correspondingly, T. vaporariorum longevity, number of eggs produced per female, oviposition preference, all were lowest when the insects fed on these treatments. These findings suggest that the induction of resistance in eggplants with the physiological changes in the host plant leads to a reduction in whitefly damage.

Stictococcus vayssierei is a major pest of root and tuber crops in central Africa. However, data on its ecology are lacking. Here we provide an updated estimate of its distribution with the aim of facilitating the sustainable control of its populations. Surveys conducted in nine countries encompassing 13 ecological regions around the Congo basin showed that African root and tuber scale was present in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Uganda. It was not found on the sites surveyed in Chad and Nigeria. The pest occurred in the forest and the forest-savannah mosaic as well as in the savannah where it was never recorded before. However, prevalence was higher in the forest (43.1%) where cassava was the most infested crop, compared to the savannah (9.2%) where aroids (cocoyam and taro) were the most infested crops. In the forest habitat, the pest was prevalent in all but two ecological regions: the Congolian swamp forests and the Southern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic. In the savannah habitat, it was restricted to the moist savannah highlands and absent from dry savannahs. The scale was not observed below 277 m asl. Where present, the scale was frequently (87.1% of the sites) attended by the ant Anoplolepis tenella. High densities (>1000 scales per plant) were recorded along the Cameroon–Gabon border. Good regulatory measures within and between countries are required to control the exchange of plant materials and limit its spread. The study provides information for niche modeling and risk mapping.