Biological Control 1. Host-Seeking Behavior and Parasitism by Spathius Agrili Yang (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Parasitoid of the Emerald Ash Borer
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Biological Control 1. Host-seeking behavior and parasitism by Spathius agrili Yang (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of the emerald ash borer Xiao-Yi Wanga, Zhong-Qi Yanga, , , Juli R. Gouldb, Hui Wuc and Jian-Hai Mad aThe Key Laboratory of Forest Protection, State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China bAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture, Otis ANGB, MA 02542 5008, USA cForestry Bureau of Sanming City in Fujian Province, Sanming, Fujian 365000, China dForest Pest Control Station of Qinghai Province, Xining, Qinghai 810000, China Spathius agrili Yang (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a newly described and important idiobiont ectoparasitoid of the emerald ash borer (EAB) that has excellent potential as a biological control agent against EAB populations in the USA. In order to understand the ecological factors involved in the search and discovery of concealed hosts by S. agrili, we investigated the behavioral responses of adult female wasps to potential semiochemicals from host plants, hosts, and host frass as well as to vibration signals from host feeding and movement. Using a bioassay, we showed that S. agrili first finds the host’s habitats by detecting the volatile compounds emitted by ash. In the second phase of host location and acceptance, the parasitoids detect the mechanical vibrations produced by host feeding and movement under the surface of the bark and then probe to find the EAB larvae. Contact chemicals seem to play little or no role in short-range host finding. Female wasps avoided laying eggs on EAB larvae already parasitized and thus paralyzed. We hypothesized that female wasps were not attracted to these larvae due to their lack of feeding or movement. While an induced paralysis in the host is instrumental in avoiding superparasitism, we cannot rule out that S. agrili females also use an oviposition pheromone to deter conspecific females. Together, these results suggest that vibration and olfactory cues play significant roles in distinct phases of S. agrili host habitat and host location behaviors. Biological Control Volume 52, Issue 1, January 2010, Pages 24-29 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WBP-4X97CYF- 1&_user=586462&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2010&_rdoc=5&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc- info(%23toc%236716%232010%23999479998%231565121%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=6716&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=13&_acct=C0 00030078&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=586462&md5=c5e4912e789de704c9cde225ff5ba7ae Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2. Quantitative and qualitative changes of the carboxylesterase associated with beta-cypermethrin resistance in the housefly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) Lan Zhanga, c, Jing Shia, 1, Xueyan Shia, Pei Lianga, Junping Gaob and Xiwu Gaoa, , a Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China b Department of Ornamental Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China c Institute of plant protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Beijing100193, PR China Mechanisms of esterase-mediated pyrethroid resistance were analyzed based on our previous works in a strain of the housefly, Musca domestica. The carboxylesterase gene, MdαE7, was cloned and sequenced from susceptible (CSS) and resistant (CRR) strains, and a total of nine amino acid substitutions were found. The mutation, Trp251-Ser appeared to play a role in beta-cypermethrin resistance and cross-resistance between organophosphates (OPs) and pyrethroids in the CRR strain. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that MdαE7 was over-expressed in the CRR strain, the reciprocal cross progeny F1 and back-cross progeny BC2 compared with the CSS strain, respectively. Two α- cynaoester substrates as surrogates for beta-cypermethrin and deltamethrin, were synthesized to determine the pyrethroid hydrolase activity. Results showed that carboxylesterases from the CRR strain hydrolyzed cypermethrin/deltamethrin-like substrate 9.05- and 13.53-fold more efficiently than those from the CSS strain, respectively. Our studies suggested that quantitative and qualitative changes in the carboxylesterase might contribute together to pyrethroid resistance in the CRR strain. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Volume 156, Issue 1, May 2010, Pages 6-11 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T2R-4Y8G608- 2&_user=586462&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2010&_rdoc=3&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc- info(%23toc%234925%232010%23998439998%231793720%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=4925&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=13&_acct=C0 00030078&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=586462&md5=aed3fe97ee4f5af8578157d00317a68f Ecological Entomology 3. Permeability of receptive fig fruits and its effects on the re-emergence behaviour of pollinators HU HAO-YUAN, 1,2 NIU LI-MING, 1,3 MA GUANG-CHANG, 2,3 FU YUE-GUAN, 3 PENG ZHENG-QIANG 3 and HUANG DA-WEI 4,1 [email protected] 1 Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China , 2 Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China , 3 Key Laboratory of Monitoring and Control of Tropical Agricultural and Forest Invasive Alien Pests, Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou, China and 4 Plant Protection College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China 1. Figs and pollinating fig wasps provide a model system for studying mutualism. The permeability of the syconium changes during receptivity or between seasons, which may affect the behaviour of pollinators. Fig fruits are permeable during receptivity, and in some species, pollinators can enter and re-emerge after oviposition/pollination. We studied the relationship between fig permeability and pollinator re-emergence behaviour with a functional dioecious fig, Ficus hispida and the obligate pollinator Ceratosolen solmsi marchali. 2. The relationship reflects the interaction of figs and pollinators in the mutualism and also the conflicts of interests between the two partners: figs benefit from the enclosed fig fruits which have low permeability, but pollinators benefit from their re-emergence behaviour, which requires high fig permeability. 3. The results showed that at the end of receptivity, the permeability of fig fruits lowered rapidly with changes to the ostiole structures, and re-emergence rate was low, with more re-emerging pollinators trapped in the ostiolar bracts. Our results also showed that in the rainy season, the length of receptivity was shorter and fig permeability was lower. The re-emergence rates were also lower than those in the dry season. The results elucidated that figs' interests dominated in the conflicts between fig and pollinating wasp. 4. Based on a new criteria which employed the classification of pollinators found dead in the ostiolar bracts and which involved a survey of 6 monoecious and 12 dioecious fig species, we found that re-emergence behaviour was prevalent among fig species, and was more prevalent in functional dioecious figs than monoecious ones. Ecological Entomology 2010 Volume 35 Issue 2, Pages 115 - 125 http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123261305/abstract Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 4. Effect of food deprivation on the ambulatory movement of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Lian-You Gui 1 & G. Boiteau 2* [email protected] 1 College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Hubei 434025, China , and 2 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Potato Research Station, 850 Lincoln Road, P.O. Box 20280, Fredericton, NB, E3B 4Z7 Canada Modification of dispersal behaviour is a common response of insects to food and water deprivation. The literature suggests that different insects respond with different strategies: changing walking parameters, switching dispersal mode (walking to flight or vice versa), or changing the host searching path. The goal of this study was to add to the limited literature on the subject by investigating, whether the walking parameters of adult male Colorado potato beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), change in response to food and water deprivation. Observations on the distance walked, the travel speed, and the frequency of walking bouts were carried out in laboratory arenas using motion monitoring equipment. Summer and overwintered beetles were exposed to short starvation periods (2, 4, 8, 24 h) and two ranges of long starvation periods (1, 2, 4, 8 days and 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 days). Only the longest food deprivation periods of 16 and 32 days significantly reduced the walking distance, speed, and frequency of walking bouts of summer beetles. No changes were observed with overwintered beetles. The tolerance of the beetles without access to water to the different periods of food deprivation was similar to that for beetles with water except after a starvation period of 32 days, when the travel speed of summer beetles was significantly reduced by 33%. The absence of increased walking parameters found in this study and earlier observations of increased flight frequency suggest that the strategy of summer beetles will be to change the dispersal mode from walking to flight and/or to change the walking