Search results for "INSECT"

Ovine Catarrhal fever (bluetongue): Analysis of Culicoides species in seropositive farms

2010

Bluetongue (BT) is an orbiviral disease of wild and domestic ruminants, mainly sheep. In Sicily, the first Bluetongue outbreak occurred in October 2000; there have been 76 recorded outbreaks so far. The National Surveillance Plan, based on European Union Commission Decision 138/2001/CE, establishes serological and entomological surveys. This plan consists of controls of seronegative cattle, called 'sentry' as indicators for the presence and circulation of virus in defined areas. To check the seroconversions, the regional territory has been subdivided in 400 km2 areas including 58 seronegative cattle, periodically checked by serological tests. All positive sera have been tested to detect the…

Environmental distribution and diversity of Bacillus thuringiensis in Spain.

1998

Bacillus thuringiensis was isolated from 301 out of 1,005 samples collected in Spain from agricultural and non-cultivated soils, dust from stored products, and dead insects. Based on the production of parasporal crystals, 1,401 isolates were identified as B. thuringiensis after examining 11,982 B. thuringiensis-like colonies. We found a greater presence of B. thuringiensis in dust from grain storages than in other habitats. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the spore-crystal mixtures revealed diverse populations of B. thuringiensis which were differentiated in at least 92 distinct protein profiles. Serological identification also showed great diversity among the S…

Characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis ser. balearica (Serotype H48) and ser. navarrensis (serotype H50): two novel serovars isolated in Spain.

2000

The novel strains of Bacillus thuringiensis PM9 and NA69, isolated from soil samples in Spain, were classified and characterized in terms of their crystal proteins, plasmid profile, cry genes content, and their toxicological properties against several species of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera. Both strains share morphological and biochemical characteristics with previously described B. thuringiensis strains, although their unique H antigens identify them as two new serotypes. Two new serovar names, B. thuringiensis serovar balearica (H serotype 48) and B. thuringiensis serovar navarrensis (H serotype 50) are proposed for the type strains PM9 and NA69, respectively.

A Bacillus thuringiensis strain producing epizootics on Plodia interpunctella: A case study

2012

Abstract After several disease outbreaks in laboratory cultures of pyralid moths in Tabriz University, Iran, during 2004 and 2005, a new Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai strain EF495116 (BTA) was isolated from a dead Plodia interpunctella larva. A complete characterization of the strain was performed, including serological identification, protein and plasmid pattern determination, a PCR-based identification of virulence-related genes, nucleotide sequence analysis of the 16S rDNA and gyrB genes (in order to find out relationships between the species with other virulent Bacillus pathogens), and biological activity assays. These studies revealed that BTA produced a major parasporal protein band …

Susceptibility of ostrinia nubilalis to bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki

2003

Baseline susceptibility of European corn borer larvae, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), to a commercial formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki was determined for different strains in 7 geographic locations in the corn area of North Italy (Po Valley). For the bioassay 7 different doses, raised on a meredic diet, were used and the data was analysed with the Probit analysis. Differences in the susceptibility among the northern Italian populations of O. nubilalis were recorded, which can be attributed to natural variability. The ECB collected near Como and Torino was the most susceptible, respectively with LC50 of 0.23 and 0.57 mg/ml. The most tolerant ones were the larvae coming from …

Eficacia di alcuni insetticidi su Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lep.: Gracillariidae) ed effetti collaterali sui suoi antagonisti naturali.

1997

First record in Algeria of two eulophid wasps: Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault) and its host, the eucalyptus gall wasp Ophelimus maskelli (Asmead) …

2010

The endophagous parasitoid Closterocerus chamaeleon, released in Israel, Italy and Corsica, for classical biological control programs, and its host, the gall-maker Ophelimus maskelli, were recorded for the first time in Algeria, in a straight line 450 km far from the Sardinian release site and 700 km far from the closest Sicilian release site. Their presence is confirmed in Andalucia (Spain), about 2000 km far from release sites of Sicily and Campania. In about two years the parasitoid spread and was established in many Mediterranean countries.

Foraging behaviour of a scelionid egg parasitoid exploiting chemical footprints from associated and non-associated host

2017

Chemical footprints deposited by herbivorous pentatomid host bugs hosts when walking on the plant are adsorbed by leaf surfaces and perceived as substrate borne semiochemicals by scelionid egg parasitoids during host selection process. They act as indirect host-related cues, as they are not able to “promise” to parasitoid females the presence of the suitable host stage, but they drive them in the areas where their hosts are potentially present. Once in contact with host chemical footprints, scelionid wasps evidence an innate arrestment response characterized by an intense searching behaviour on host-contaminated areas. Exploiting of these cues allows the parasitoids to optimize their search…

Chemical Ecology of Insect Parasitoids

2013

Oviposition deterrence and repellent activities of selected essential oils against Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): laboratory and g…

2022

AbstractTuta absoluta, an invasive pinworm characterized by high reproductive potential and adaptation to different agroecological conditions, cause serious damage to tomato crops. Chemical control with synthetic insecticides is widely used to control this pest, although pesticides exhibit side effects on non-target organisms and negatively impact the environment, with the occurrence of resistance to some active substances in the target pest. The use of essential oils (EOs) from aromatic or officinal plants could represent an environmentally safe control method, alternative to synthetic insecticide application. In this work we investigated the effect of EOs from Spanish oregano, laurel, bas…