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The use of higher dosage and repeated applications of conventional pesticides have led to the rapid development of insect resistance to pesticide and adverse effects on human health and environment. Accordingly, researchers are prompted to identify an alternative entomotoxic agent for crop protection. Nanocides are being considered as alternatives to conventional insecticides because they are expected to lessen the application rate and reduce the chances of resistance development in pests. In this study, we evaluated the entomotoxic effects of nanosilica on larvae of Plutella xylostella, in a laboratory by using dust spray, larva dipping, leaf dipping, and solution spray methods. Dust treatment showed a more highly significant effect than the other three treatments. The mortality percentage increased up to 58% and 85% at 24 and 72 h after treatment, respectively, when nanosilica was applied at a rate of 1 mg cm−2. In all four bioassays, mortality rate increased with both increased time after nanosilica exposure and increased concentration. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images showed that larval death was due to desiccation, body wall abrasion, and spiracle blockage. These results suggested that nanosilica can be an alternative to conventional pesticides if dust formulation would be properly used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most insects must accumulate certain metabolites before entering diapause by virtue of photoperiodic regulation. Photoperiods influence diapause beyond the maternal generation in Cotesia vestalis (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), which is one of the most important larval endoparasitoid of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). The accumulation of metabolites in the non-diapausing prepupae, adults, and eggs (before and after oviposition) in progeny from C. vestalis cultures reared at 25°C under three photoperiods (8:16, 12:12, and 16:8 (L:D) hr), along with diapausing prepupae were measured to investigate the effects of photoperiod on the accumulation of metabolites during diapause induction. Compared with those of non-diapausing prepupae, free water, trehalose, total lipid titer, and total polyol contents in diapausing prepupae showed no significant differences; but weight, bound water, total sugar, glycogen, triglyceride, and protein contents were significantly higher. Under 8 hr short days, non-diapausing prepupae and adult females were significantly heavier, and held more bound water content, however, had less free water content than those under 16 hr long days; during diapause induction from maternal generation to progeny, the variation trends of triglyceride and protein contents were irregular, such as at one stage the contents under 8 hr short lights were higher, at another stage were lower, and there was even no difference at the other stage with those under long light. Total polyol (except at prepupal stage) increased with the increase of light period, but glycogen contents increased as the light period was reduced from prepupal, adult stages to egg stages (before and after oviposition) in progeny. These results revealed that in C. vestalis, the parasitoids might start accumulating glycogen, rather than other metabolites, before entering diapause, even at maternal generation influenced by short photoperiod. Meanwhile, lower total polyol content, and higher bound water content, dry weight under short light may be prepared for surviving adverse environments (desiccation and cold) after diapause. The condition experienced by maternal generation must be concerned during diapause induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the methods of headspace solid-phase micro extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and using Y-type olfactometer, this paper identified the volatiles from six tomato varieties (Zheza 809, Zheza 203, Hezuo 903, Kate No. 1, Huangtuoyan, and Jinfei), and bio-assayed the olfactory responses of female B-biotype Bemisia tabaci to the tomato plants and their released volatiles. Thirteen kinds of compounds in the volatiles collected from the six tomato varieties were identified, among which, terpenoids were the main components. However, the compositions and contents of the volatiles differed with tomato varieties. (+)-3-carene and β-caryophyllene showed stronger repellency than other terpenoids to B-type B. tabaci. B-type B. tabaci showed the lowest preference to the tomato varieties such as Zheza 809 and Zheza 203 which contained more kinds of terpenoids and had higher proportion of terpenoids in the volatiles, and showed the greatest preference to the varieties like Huangtuoyan and Jinfei which contained fewer kinds of terpenoids and had lower proportion of terpenoids in the volatiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory bioassay and field experiment were conducted to evaluate the toxicity and field control efficacy of pyriproxyfen and its mixture with organosilicon to B-biotype Bemisia tabaci. The laboratory bioassay indicated that pyriproxyfen had strong ovicidal activity against B. tabaci and high activity against B. tabaci nymphs, but had low toxicity to B. tabaci adults. After the adults were exposed to pyriproxyfen-treated eggplant leaves for 48 h, their oviposition on untreated egg-plant leaves was not affected, but the egg hatching rate was sharply lowered, suggesting that pyriproxyfen had high transovarial activity. Organosilicon auxiliary agent did not show any synergistic effect when mixed with pyriproxyfen. Field trials showed that pyriproxyfen could effectively control the B. tabaci nymphs on eggplants, but could not effectively control the adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximizing the contribution of endemic natural enemies to integrated pest management (IPM) programs requires a detailed knowledge of their interactions with the target pest. This experimental field study evaluated the impact of the endemic natural enemy complex of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) on pest populations in commercial cabbage crops in southeastern Queensland, Australia. Management data were used to score pest management practices at experimental sites on independent Brassica farms practicing a range of pest management strategies, and mechanical methods of natural enemy exclusion were used to assess the impact of natural enemies on introduced cohorts of P. xylostella at each site. Natural enemy impact was greatest at sites adopting IPM and least at sites practicing conventional pest management strategies. At IPM sites, the contribution of natural enemies to P. xylostella mortality permitted the cultivation of marketable crops with no yield loss but with a substantial reduction in insecticide inputs. Three species of larval parasitoids (Diadegma semiclausum Hellén [Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae], Apanteles ippeus Nixon [Hymenoptera: Braconidae], and Oomyzus sokolowskii Kurdjumov [Hymenoptera: Eulophidae]) and one species of pupal parasitoid Diadromus collaris Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) attacked immature P. xylostella. The most abundant groups of predatory arthropods caught in pitfall traps were Araneae (Lycosidae) > Coleoptera (Carabidae, Coccinelidae, Staphylinidae) > Neuroptera (Chrysopidae) > Formicidae, whereas on crop foliage Araneae (Clubionidae, Oxyopidae) > Coleoptera (Coccinelidae) > Neuroptera (Chrysopidae) were most common. The abundance and diversity of natural enemies was greatest at sites that adopted IPM, correlating greater P. xylostella mortality at these sites. The efficacy of the natural enemy complex to pest mortality under different pest management regimes and appropriate... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1 Accurate assessment of the impact of natural enemies on pest populations is fundamental to the design of robust integrated pest management programmes. In most situations, diseases, predators and parasitoids act contemporaneously on insect pest populations and the impact of individual natural enemies, or specific groups of natural enemies, is difficult to interpret. These problems are exacerbated in agro-ecosystems that are frequently disrupted by the application of insecticides.2 A combination of life-table and natural enemy exclusion techniques was utilized to develop a method for the assessment of the impact of endemic natural enemies onPlutella xylostellapopulations on commercialBrassicafarms.3 At two of the experimental sites, natural enemies had no impact onP. xylostellasurvival, at two other sites, natural enemy impact was low but, at a fifth site, natural enemies drastically reduced theP. xylostellapopulation.4 The calculation of marginal death rates and associatedk-values allowed the comparison of mortality factors between experimental sites, and indicated that larval disappearance was consistently the most important mortality factor, followed by egg disappearance, larval parasitism and pupal parasitism. The appropriateness of the methods and assumptions made to calculate the marginal death rates are discussed.5 The technique represents a robust and easily repeatable method for the analysis of the activity of natural enemies ofP. xylostella, which could be adapted for the study of other phytophagous pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the methods of headspace solid-phase micro extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and using Y-type olfactometer, this paper identified the volatiles from six tomato varieties (Zheza 809, Zheza 203, Hezuo 903, Kate No. 1, Huangtuoyan, and Jinfei), and bio-assayed the olfactory responses of female B-biotype Bemisia tabaci to the tomato plants and their released volatiles. Thirteen kinds of compounds in the volatiles collected from the six tomato varieties were identified, among which, terpenoids were the main components. However, the compositions and contents of the volatiles differed with tomato varieties. (+)-3-carene and beta-caryophyllene showed stronger repellency than other terpenoids to B-type B. tabaci. B-type B. tabaci showed the lowest preference to the tomato varieties such as Zheza 809 and Zheza 203 which contained more kinds of terpenoids and had higher proportion of terpenoids in the volatiles, and showed the greatest preference to the varieties like Huangtuoyan and Jinfei which contained fewer kinds of terpenoids and had lower proportion of terpenoids in the volatiles.